118 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



High-pressure Gardening 



PRODUCER AND CONSUMER — SAVING YOUR 

 OWN SEED. 



Just about a year ago I wrote aDoui my 

 troubles in getting seed of sweet corn to 

 plant here in Florida in December. Before 

 I could get any I sent to three different 

 seed-houses. The first, after considerable 

 delay, said they hadn't yet got in their seed; 

 the second didn't list the corn (Golden Ban- 

 tam) I particularly wanted; and finally I 

 sent to one of the great seed firms in the 

 North, and had my order promptly filled; 

 but although the Bantam came up, almost 

 every seed of the Black Mexican, in a row 

 close by, gave only here and there a jDlant. I 

 advised the seed firm to look after their 

 Black Mexican, and" test before time to plant 

 in the North. Never a word in reply; but 

 several of our readers called my attention 

 (as you may remember) to the fact that the 

 Bantam, not being a sweet corn, is more re- 

 sistant to cold, etc. I accepted this expla- 

 nation, but yet I did not quite excuse the 

 seed firm for entirely ignoring my courte- 

 ous letter. I finally succeeded in growing a 

 fine lot of green corn. The neighbors said 

 that it was the best they ever ate; but on 

 account of delays I have mentioned, it ma- 

 tured just after we went North, about April 

 20. 



Now we are ready for what I have to tell 

 you. When our nice sweet corn was at its 

 best in Oliio (that I have told you about) I 

 tied strips of cloth to certain stalks to be 

 reserved for seed ; and when the ears were 

 finally mature I dried them out back of the 

 stove, and brought three kinds down here- 

 Bantam, Mexican, and Evergreen, planting 

 all three side by side in November. All 

 three came up, every kernel, apparently 

 Black Mexican just as well as the Bantam. 

 How much is it worth, friends, to have good 

 seed that you know will grow? Let us go a 

 little further. 



For some time past I have got into the 

 habit of using more seed than is needed, 

 proposing to " thin out " the plants at the 

 proper time ; but there are three serious ob- 

 jections to this plan : It takes a lot of time ; 

 it is often neglected ; and, besides, the small 

 plants are hindered by coming up too thick. 

 Down here we plant in drills because the 

 fertilizer can be worked in so much better 

 with a hand cultivator. Well, with my own 

 good seed I placed just one grain of corn 

 to about every foot of drill; and as I look 

 out of the windows while I write I see my 

 corn about a foot high, no crowding, and no 

 missing hills; and it is so easy to hoe and 



cultivate that not a weed can be found. 

 Don't you think that " growing your own 

 seed " will be another " short cut " between 

 " producer and consumer," and a gi-eat sav- 

 ing of loss and disappointment? The man- 

 ager of the great onion-farms in Ohio de- 

 clare they miost grow their own onion seed. 

 They get far better seed, and seed they 

 knoiv will grow. 



DASHEEN — WHERE CAN THE SEED BE PUB- 

 CHASED FOR PLANTING, ETC.? 



So many are inquiring, I have thought 

 best to copy, by way of answer, the adver- 

 tisements below, taken from the Florida 

 Weekly Grower (Tampa, Fla., $1.50 per 

 year). 



Trinidad Dashebn. — Edible, wonderful yield. 

 Very decorative. Send 25 cts. for sample tuber and 

 directions. Dr. H. A. Smith, Samville, Fla. 



Dasheen fob Seed foe Sale. — $4.00 per bu. ; 

 quick delivery ; choice stock. 



Mrs. R. p. Burton, 

 800 So. Willow Ave., Tampa, Fla. 

 The Dasheen. — The South's substitute for the 

 Irish potato. Very productive. Have yields up to 

 500 bushels per acre. Successfully grown from the 

 Carolinas south. Plant here beginning February 1, 

 and until April further north; seven months to ma- 

 ture. Cultural directions sent with seed ; cooking 

 directions with cooking tubers. Seed $4.00 per 

 bushel, f. o. b. Write for prices on five-bushel lots 

 or over. Cooking tubers, $2.00 per bushel f. o. b. 

 f Reference, The Grower.) 



Thos. Porteus & Sons, 

 Rt. 3, box 126, Ybor City, Fla. 



Besides the above, Crenshaw Bros. Seed 

 Co., Tampa, in their new seed catalog ad- 

 vertise " 1 lb., 25 cts. ; per bushel, $4.00." 

 Of course, the above are all small tubers for 

 planting except where noted. The big "corms 

 for cooking " are cheaper. From Brooks- 

 \'ille I have an offer as below : 



Dasheen Seed. — $3.00 per bushel; $2.50 in five- 

 bushel lots or over. Geo. Kitchen, Brooksville, Fla. 



DASHEEN TUBERS FOR PLANTING OR FOR TABLE USE. 



Two of my neighbors, Mr. Ault and Mr. Harrison, 

 have a limited amount of dasheen which they grew 

 from seed I furnished, which they offer as follows: 



Single pound, 10 cts.; 10 lbs., 80 cts.; 25 lbs. 

 (% bushel), $1.75. The above are for small tubers 

 for planting; larger ones for table use, one-half above 

 prices. Your postmaster can tell you how much to 

 send in addition to the above for postage if wanted 

 by parcel post. Address Arthur E. Ault or C. L. 

 Harrison, Bradentown, Fla. 



BUYING LAND IN FLORIDA ; SOME " BOILED 

 DOWN " COMMON SENSE IN THE MATTER. 



I clip the following from the Times- 

 Union : 



Don't buy land till you have actually seen it in 

 person, and made the acquaintance of a few people 

 (in the vicinity) who have no land for sale. 



I have two swarms of bees, and took off 250 lbs. 

 last season. 



Grand Haven, Mich., Jan. 15. I. N. TUBBS. 



