46 FACTS AND FIGURES OR THE 



CHAPTER IX. 



HOW TO GROW FOUR CROPS TO THE ACRE IN ONE SEASON. 



To the average farmer, in and out of Florida, the above 

 statement is apt to be doubted, but I have raised four crops 

 on the same acre of ground at Montrose Farm Trial 

 Grounds in one season, and if you will be a little patient, I 

 will try to prove to you that you can do likewise. 



To start with, you should have the land in the best con- 

 dition possible, and it is better to have it sub-irrigated or 

 irrigated by the Skinner system, if you are going to make a 

 success of the crops. 



The crops we will raise will be two of beets, one of sweet 

 corn, and one of cow peas. The last crop will pay best if 

 turned under for fertilizer, as you can use nothing better 

 for enriching the soil. 



We will deal with each crop, in the order which it is 

 grown. The first thing that has to be done in raising a 

 crop of beets will be to make up the seed beds. These beds 

 can be made as long as convenient, and just wide enough to 

 reach across. They should be free from any sticks, weeds, 

 stones, or trash of any kind. The best fertilizer to use in the 

 seed beds is a good article of commercial fertilizer, as weeds 

 and grass do not grow as fast on it as on stable fertilizer. 

 It is a good idea to put some castor pomace in the beds. 

 This is a low grade of fertilizer, which is a preventive for 

 cut worms, and as they are the principal enemy of the beet, 

 it is best to use preventives to keep them from getting a 

 start. The seed should be in the ground not later than 

 September ist. They should be planted in rows six inches 

 apart, and very thin in the rows. Keep them well worked 

 until the}" are a1)out si.x incnes high, \vhen thev can be trans- 

 planted to the field. One of the best varieties of beets to 



