IN THE EVERGLADES 103 



I have known of no large acreages being planted here, but it 

 has been demonstrated that they can be grown to the extent of 

 from 5,000 to 10,000 quarts to the acre. As they will sell readily 

 for $0.35 per quart wholesale during January and early February, 

 it does not take much figuring to see that they are interesting 

 in a financial way. , 



Plants can be set out during most any month in the entire year. 

 A good way to start in the business is to buy plants in the early 

 Spring from the North, set them out in well fertilized soil, and 

 take good care of them until they begin to run, which they will 

 do a month or six weeks after being set out, provided the plants 

 are good and strong to start with. If great care is taken to prop- 

 erly place layers on moist soil, a great number of plants can be 

 grown. In fact, plants enough to plant several acres have been 

 grown from a single thousand. Before the rainy season closes, 

 say in September, these young runner plants can be transplanted 

 to the permanent field. They should be set about eight inches 

 apart in the row and the rows planted eighteen inches apart. An- 

 other way is to set the plants about ten inches apart and place 

 two rows together, a foot apart, leaving alternate spaces eighteen 

 inches. This is a somewhat more intensive plan, but admits of 

 mulching two rows at one time and helps to protect them from 

 drifting rains which are apt to throw sand upon the fruit. As 

 before stated, the ground should be thoroughly enriched some 

 weeks before planting. The foliage and roots are very susceptible 

 to strong fertilizer, especially those containing considerable potash. 

 As quickly as they have taken root they should be worked very 

 slightly on the surface. All weeds should be cut down and light 

 applications of fertilizer* added semi-weekly. As soon as they 

 begin to bloom, which will be about December ist, a mulching of 

 rotten grass or hay should be applied around and under the 

 plants. Should the land be inclined to be dry, a thorough system 

 of irrigation must be supplied as they are very susceptible to 

 drouths ; in fact, a crop will almost be annihilated should there 

 be a lack of proper moisture. 



* See last part of Chapter VI. 



