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CUBA FOR TRUCK FARMERS. I CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE. the truckers in the suburbs, who were Chinamen with the most extensive system in operation I ever saw. The results were such as to disappoint me. It was vegetables grown under these conditions that I saw in the Havana market. At Gaines I saw all kinds of vegetables grown by an up-to-date American trucker, with the best of seeds, etc. but the results were not as good as the Chinamen obtained under their methods. My opinion is that, as the land has been in cultivation three or four hun dred years, with no effort to build up the soil, it is worn out. As the land has no humus in it, fertilizers have nothing to work on, hence the poor quality of vegetables produce. CONSTANT WATERING NECESSARY Although it rained about every day while I was there, the Chinamen watered their Vegetables every mor ning with watering-pots, and I was told the lands dried out very fast. I felt disposed to go further and look for virgin soil, but was told they had eight months dry and four months wet weather, and vegetables could not be grown without irriga tion, and Gaines was the only point on the island where they had it to any extent, and that was the reason it was the vegetable section of the island. Also the railroad rates are so high one cannot get very far from Havana, as it is the only point where there is good transportation to the United States for perishable goods. I talked with a man who went from Florida to Jamica about four years ago, and he told me he went there expecting to make a fortune out of vegetables, and had about the game ideas I had about Cuba, but he lost money on them as long as he planted them. He said there was no difficulty in growing them and spoke of growing successfully egg plants on a black soil that was irrigated, but said he planted sevent-five acres of cucumbers on the same land and did not make a mess. Also that it would not grow Irish potatoes, and he thought anyone who went to Cu ba or any one of the islands to grow vegetables would lose money. FLORIDIANS SHOULD NOT BE IN A HURRY TO GO TO CUBA. If they have as much dry weather as they say, I don’t see how orange trees could do well, as the few dry weeks in the spring in Florida were a serious matter. I think anyone wishing to go to Cuba had better in vestigate cautiously and carefully, and under no circumstances go with out plenty of capital to operate with, and the abundance of cheap labor there that can be had for 50 cents per day and they board themselves does not make it a desirable place for laboring men. Living is high, as a duty has to be paid on imports, and where one exports goods to us a heavy duty has to be paid. I was told that charcoal was the cheapest fuel and it costs an ordinary family 25 cents per day for cooking purpo ses. There was no timber where I went, tees, onions, etc., there instead of shipping them ip. After seeing Cuba and four or five of the Southern States and several of the Western States, I have come back to Florida to stay,as I see the good place is always just ahead and they all have their drawbacks. Trees here are recovering nicely. J. H. S. Oakland, Orange County, Fla. Since the arrival of a boy at the home of Contractor Baxter, he has cut his old acquaintances, and to avoid coming in contact with them has purchased a horse and wagon, and now rides back and forth on the streets. There are others in town who have boys at their homes, which fact, however, seems to make little difference with him, as the cut is unanimous. The regular monthly business meeting of the Christian En deavor Society was held Monday evening, at the residence of Dr. Griftes. After the business hour, the society entertained the mem bers of the Epworth League, and the young people of the town, in a most delightful manner. The Misses Griffes proved themselves pleasing entertainers, and the oc casion will not soon be forgotten by those present. Sarasota stems. Mr. Eugene Thompson has a real monkey for a pet. Mr.T. Broadway is making an ad dition to his house. Mr. Harry Higels new packing house will be under construction shortly. The schooners Nemo and Gazelle arrived from Tampa, Sunday, with cargoes of lumber. The lumber for the addition to the school house has arrived and work of building will begin at once. The new post office and telephone building is about completed. It will be a credit to the town. Mr. C. E. Bradley and T. F. Blair have the contract for putting up the telephone poles from Sarasota to Oneco. The Vincent boys, Charlie and Marshall are doing a fine job of painting on the Sarasota Hotel build ing. Mr. A. I. Allbritton has some of the lumber on the ground for his new building, and will begin its erec tion shortly. Mr. G. A. Cason is helping the looks of his store with a coat of paint—Mr.T. Hanson having charge of the work. Our hog owners have not yet shipped their hogs to Key West, and Saracotaites still have their dreams disturbed by the fleas. Mr. Andrew Alexaky has open ed a salt-fish house here, and is employing several people in it. He buys the catch of the fishermen on off days, and the indications are that he will build up an immense busi ness here. CUBA A BETTER IMPORTER THAN EX PORTER, I saw shiploads of Irish potatoes unloading from Nova Scotia and thousands of barrels of Spanish onions, all of which brought big prices. In short I found a better market for vegetables than a place to grow them. With the thousands of acrea of open land and the idle peo ple who would gladly work for 50 cents a day, if all could be grown in the land which they claim, I think they would be growing these pota toe. J. B. Turner has fully recov ered from a recent severe case of fever, and she and the children have gone to Larton for several weeks’ visit. Mr.Turner accompanied them, but expects to return this week The following guests are register ed at the DeSoto Hotel: Mrs. L. L. White, C. C. Whitaker and family, Frank Brown and wife, R. A. Cro. Well, Mrs. J. J. Thorp, Mr. A. Keys and Mr. Jehu Mahoney. Sra Oats,
Newspaper Details
Bradentown Manatee River Journal News
Bradentown, Florida, US
Thu, Sep 14, 1899
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Dorothy K.
USA 06 Jul 2026
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