184 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
that can handle their goods to advan¬ 
tage, and ship to them each year, year 
after year. It places their goods on 
sound business basis, and does not bring 
it into competition with itself, and* in a 
short time they will often build up a 
trade that is enviable. No sensible 
grower will change his house without 
serious cause. He cannot afford to do 
it for in so doing he throws away all 
the prestige and reputation he has been 
years in building up. He would in chang¬ 
ing have to begin all over again with a 
new firm, and the new firm’s customers. 
It is like going into a strange city. It 
requires a long time to become ac¬ 
quainted with its people, and it is the 
same way in the produce markets. 
GROWING AND SHIPPING CELERY AND PEPPERS. 
By W. E. Robinson. 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 
The first thing necessary is good land, 
well drained and irrigated; subirrigation 
is the best. The next important thing 
is good seed which can be obtained from 
any good seedsman. The best varieties 
to grow are “Golden Self Blanching Cel¬ 
ery,” and “Ruby King Peppers.” An¬ 
other consideration is good fertilizer. 
This can be obtained from any reliable 
fertilizer company. Be careful not to 
use fertilizer that runs high in ammonia, 
as it will cause heart-rot in celery and 
black-rot in peppers. Fertilizer should 
run at least io per cent, in potash and 
not over 3 per cent, in ammonia. Lands 
should be thoroughly cleared off, well 
plowed and harrowed thirty days before 
planting. Fertilizer should be applied 
broadcast and harrowed in both ways 
ten days before planting and land thor¬ 
oughly irrigated. For celery one ton per 
acre should be applied before planting, 
and one-half ton five weeks after plant¬ 
ing by spreading in the middle of rows, 
harrowing or plowing in, always plowing 
shallow after planting. For peppers, one- 
half ton should be applied before plant¬ 
ing, and one-fourth ton in four weeks 
after planting by drilling in middle of 
rows. One-fourth ton should be applied 
in eight weeks after planting for last 
application. Pepper will grow and con¬ 
tinue to bear till frost comes or season 
closes for shipping. Seed beds are the most 
important of all in these crops. Celery 
should be sown about August 20th broad¬ 
cast and not too thick on seed bed well 
prepared and raised eight inches above 
the level of the ground. Seed beds 
should be partially shaded—the best way 
is to cover with slats four feet above the 
seed bed slanting towards the south with 
cracks two inches wide. All shade 
should be removed after September the 
20th. Seed beds should never get dry, 
and should be watered twice a day for 
eight days after sowing and then kept 
wet. Plants should be sorted so all will 
run one size as near as possible and set 
in straight rows three feet wide and eight 
inches in drill, either single or double 
