120 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
which running expenses are paid and for 
permanent improvements are $4,876.82. 
On October 1, 1920, Mr. John H. Jef¬ 
feries was appointed superintendent of 
the Branch Station and has given the 
property his constant and efficient atten¬ 
tion since that time. 
As a citrus property, the Branch Sta¬ 
tion is almost ideal. For the most part 
the land is sandy, typical of the Ridge 
Section and the topography gently roll¬ 
ing. As stated above, 14*^ acres are in 
citrus grove. About 12 acres have been 
cleared and will be devoted in part to cit¬ 
rus and in part to ornamental grounds, 
seed beds, etc. About 1 y ]/ 2 acres are in 
meadow and marsh and the remaining 40 
acres are as yet uncleared. It is undoubt¬ 
edly in the latter area that the principal 
experimental work with citrus will be 
conducted. 
You will bear in mind that no appropri¬ 
ation has been made for the Branch Sta¬ 
tion, that no federal funds are available 
for use in connection with it and the total 
resources have consisted and still consist 
of the donations mentioned above. Un¬ 
der such circumstances work has had to 
proceed slowly. Nevertheless, consider¬ 
able has been accomplished in the way of 
preparation for the serious business yet 
to come. Since acquisition of the prop¬ 
erty by the Board of Control about 12 
acres of land have been cleared, plowed 
and placed in good tilth, about half the 
total area has been placed under substan¬ 
tial fence, seed beds laid out, and a small 
tool house constructed. Through the 
kindness of the City Council of Lake Al¬ 
fred a road running the full length of the 
property, along its east side, has been sur¬ 
faced with clay. Dr. R. W. Ruprecht, 
Physiological Chemist of the Experiment 
Station, is conducting on the Branch Sta¬ 
tion property a study of the cause of die- 
back and for this purpose is utilizing the 
young 10-acre grove consisting of four 
varieties. 
It appears advisable, before proceeding 
with the clearing of the main tract, and 
with the platting and planting to citrus, 
to have a thorough soil survey, topog¬ 
raphy survey and biological survey made 
of the entire property. The information 
recorded by such surveys may go far, in 
future years, in explaining the outcome 
of experiments. We have not the funds 
now to make these surveys and they will 
have to wait upon legislative appropria¬ 
tions, but this work should precede all of 
the experimental work proper, as form¬ 
ing a proper basis for it. We do not 
want hap-hazard results from the Branch 
Station. We also have in mind giving 
careful consideration to the planting, so 
that plats strictly comparable as to drain¬ 
age, soil and past floral history will be 
obtained. This calls for careful study, 
based on the preliminary surveys and, 
doubtless also, conferences with various 
citrus authorities. Do not be surprised 
therefore, if the plantings on the Branch 
Station do not show up with incredible 
rapidity, for it is going to be our policy 
to “make haste slowly” and, as far as 
possible, avoid undoing, in future years, 
things hastily done in the beginning. 
Kindly remember too, that we intend to 
have at Lake Alfred an Experiment Sta¬ 
tion and not a curiosity shop or a tropical 
fair. 
