96 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
salt, we have confined ourselves to the 
sulphates using either the high or low 
grade, as percentage was indicated in the 
desired mixture, but usually the low 
grade. 
Sources of Phosphoric Acid. 
While we have not made any conclusive 
tests as to the relative merits of bone and 
acid phosphate as a source of phosphoric 
acid, we have been using and watching 
others who have been using both sources, 
and so far find no difference in value be¬ 
tween the two when made available with 
acid. Moreover, we note that the preju¬ 
dice against the use of acid phosphate is 
rapidly losing ground, especially with 
growers who are finding out that they 
have been using it for years under the 
name of “dissolved bone.” 
The pretended point against acid phos¬ 
phate made by some fertilizer catalogues, 
to the effect that the sulphuric acid used in 
its manufacture sours the ground, is, we 
think, simply a matter of words, used to 
sell goods that contain just about the same 
amount of sulphur; the truth of which is 
easily demonstrated, but requires too 
much space to give here. 
In conclusion, as the average Florida 
orange grower influences and largely 
governs by fertilization, not only the 
amount of oranges produced, but the size 
of fruit, thickness of peeling, amount of 
and character of juice, therefore, I repeat 
that he has learned at least a little of a 
desirable bill of fare for the orange tree; 
and speed the day when he can say as 
much of his own stomach. 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr. 'Pettigrew—Mr. President, in the 
matter of irrigation I have had consider¬ 
able experience with artesian well water, 
I had a good strong flowing artesian well, 
with a capacity at the well of 150 gallons 
per minute. This would cover twelve 
acres an inch deep in twenty-four hours, 
but upon practical application I could not 
get half of it. I do consider that for prac¬ 
tical purposes I got an inch of water on 
four acres from my supply in twenty-four 
hours. I have about three thousand feet 
of cement irrigation pipe, with a hydrant 
at about every 200 feet. I also have 100 
feet of hose and with ^he supply of water 
I can get the water tolerably quickly on the 
land. This artesian water is a sulphur 
water, but I consider it very good for irri¬ 
gation purposes if you can get a sufficient 
supply, but in the sandy soil of Florida you 
can not receive the benefit of the water to 
anything like near the extent you could on 
hard lands, such for instance as in Cali¬ 
fornia. Iron piping is not best for irriga¬ 
tion purposes in my judgment especially 
down where I am it is too near the salt 
water. They rust out too quickly. I have 
some Giant Bamboo which would make 
good irrigating pipes if I could get the 
joints bored out, so the water would run 
through them. My longest bamboo is 
forty-nine feet after cutting off the top to 
where the hole is one and one-fourth 
inches in diameter. The question of irri¬ 
gation is quite an important subject, and 
there is in some directions objections to 
it on account of the cost of a plant, yet 
there is no question but that a properly 
equipped irrigation plant will pay in the 
long run, for you are always thus sure of 
your water, and the water is what makes 
a sure crop. 
