Lee, Collier and Broward. Areas of minor importance are: (1) Polk and
Hillsborough counties, designated as Other Central Florida; (2) Alachua,
Bradford, Columbia and Union counties, designated as North Florida; (3)
Seminole County and (4) Marion County, included with Lake and Orange for
reporting purposes.

 Seasonal pattern of production.--Sweet corn has had a changing
seasonal production pattern. Florida growers have been extending their pro-
duction in the fall and winter months and increasing total production.

 During the 1961-62 season about 15 percent of the season's production
was harvested in the fall, 15 percent in the winter and 70 percent in the
spring. Of the 7,900 acres for fall harvest 97 percent was in Palm Beach
County and 3 percent in other counties. Of the 8,600 acres harvested during
the winter 84 percent was in Palm Beach County and 16 percent in Other South
Florida. There were 29,200 acres harvested in the spring of 1962 of which
76 percent was in South Florida, 23 percent in Central Florida and 1 percent
in North Florida.

 Soil types.--Sweet corn is grown on a variety of soil types ranging
from fine sands to highly calcareous marl, "custard apple" muck and "saw
grass" peat soils. In the important Everglades area of western Palm Beach
County, peat and muck soils of the "custard apple" and "saw grass" types are
found in depths ranging from 3 to 10 feet. In the Zellwood area are found
muck and mucky peat soils varying in depth from 4 to 19 feet. These soils
are underlain with limestone or marl. Soils of the Other South Florida
counties range from the highly calcareous Perrine marl over oolite limerock
found in Dade County to the Leon-Portsmouth sands and fine sands of Lee,
Broward and eastern Palm Beach counties. Pockets of muck are found in
Sarasota and Highlands counties. Light sandy soils of the Leon-Portsmouth,
and Norfolk series are found in the other areas where sweet corn is produced.
They are underlain at a depth of from 18 inches to several feet with a clay
or organic hardpan and are, in general, poorly drained.

 Drainage and irrigation.--All areas of the state producing sweet
corn are relatively level. Although the level land lends itself to large
fields, moisture control is a problem and the necessary drainage ditches
ard water furrows tend to cut up the fields. Water furrows connecting with
perimeter ditches reduce the danger of flooding by heavy rains. Where pumps
are available excess water may be drawn off more quickly and in case of
dry weather the ditches and furrows may be filled to provide irrigation by
seepage. In the Everglades and Zellwood areas the desired moisture level
can be maintained by controlling the level of water in the drainage ditches
and canals. Mole drains are opened each year under these fields with
special equipment. They run from one ditch almost to the other at about
10 foot intervals. In other areas some farms are equipped with portable
sprinkler systems although these appear to be little used for sweet corn.

 Size of farm and type of farming.--Sweet corn is seldom grown com-
mercially on small farms in Florida. Specialized equipment for its pro-
duction and harvesting is expensive. Therefore, few small farmers have