FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
131 
ject, read before the members of this society since its organiza¬ 
tion. 1 should like that paper to be considered introductory 
to what I now have to say. Its condensed presentation of 
the history and extent of irrigation, its conclusions and prac¬ 
tical suggestions are all so good and so complete that I do not 
now need to touch at all on the same lines. Bnt inasmuch as 
they are important lines and belong to the subject, I make 
the request that you all keep the paper of the former commit- 
ree well in mind. 
I go back now to the fundamental inquiry: “Shall we, here 
in Florida, under our peculiar conditions, engage in irriga¬ 
tion? ” I see members of this society before me who have 
settled this question some time ago by installing a plant for 
this purpose, and I doubt if there is an owner ol an irrigating 
plant in this house who regrets the investment, providing it 
is of ample capacity and its operation has given him no 
trouble. 
The total rainfall in Florida averages about 54 inches. In a 
cooler latitude, where the loss by evaporation from the ground 
and from vegetation is much less than in Florida, 54 inches of 
rainfall per annum, if properly distributed, is generally suffi¬ 
cient for the usual needs of growing crops. But in this state 
the rainfall is not distributed uniformly either geographically 
or in point of time. Mr. Demain’s reports, and statistics ob¬ 
tained from individuals located at various points, demonstrate 
the fact that some sections receive a great deal more moisture 
>than others. But here, with our conditions of sunshine and 
■ heat and light soil, even were the rainfall evenly distributed 
'throughout the state, all cultivated crops would still lack suf¬ 
ficient moisture to develop their best growth and set aud ma¬ 
nure a maximum amount of fruit. 
It may be said further, that there is in reality but a very 
•small percentage of Florida’s improved lands which, during 
the growing season, receive sufficient to accomplish the best 
results. Our rainy season usually covers a period of perhaps 
•six weeks. During that time all vegetation seems to be in one 
mad rush and scramble, each plant vying with its neighbor in 
luxuriant growth, flowers and fruitage. 
It occurred to me some years since that these conditions 
might be made to exist eight months in the year instead of 
six weeks. In spite of the protests against this way of doing 
from some of the oldest and most experienced agriculturists 
and horticulturists, I persisted m the conviction, and the posi¬ 
tion I then held and still adhere to has never met with discour¬ 
agement when accompanied by good judgment. 
The citrus family and nearly all other fruit trees, forage 
