Crop Culture and Evaluation: The demonstration area had been treated with Thimet 20G insecticide over the unplanted seed row and liquid fertilizer had been knifed in about three inches to the side of the unplanted seed row. Using a jabber, one to two seed were planted per hill on 22 Feb. and thinned to one plant on 15 March (21 days after planting). For Rogers 9686 and Abbott & Cobb Summer sweet 8102 BC two seed were planted per hill and for Abbott & Cobb 945, only one seed was planted per hill because of a limited amount of seed. To help determine maturity, ears with silks were counted from all plots on 10 (no silks), 16, and 19 April.

Results of 3 surveys on the status of the Florida greenhouse vegetable industry over the last decade were presented at the 2001 annual meeting of the Florida State Horticultural Society. Considerable change has occurred in the industry. Results showed that the amount of acreage devoted to greenhouse production was 66, 58, and 95 acres for the 1991, 1996, and 2001 surveys respectively.

The major crops grown in vegetable greenhouses during the decade changed with European cucumbers the predominant crop in 1991. The 2001 survey ranked colored peppers first, followed by tomatoes, herbs, and European cucumbers (Figure 1). Production systems in use also changed with an increase in perlite and a decline in rockwool systems (Figure 2). New hydroponic systems such as vertical and float production along with older standards like bag/pot and floor/bed systems were all in use during 2001 (Figure 3). Greenhouse design was predominantly multi-bay, double polyethylene plastic covered, with pad and fan systems in 2001 (Figure 4). About one third of the acreage was using natural ventilation.

Greenhouse growers are under significant competitive pressure from imported greenhouse vegetables. Tomato greenhouse growers in the United States recently banded together and brought an anti-dumping complaint against Canada. The U.S. International Trade Commission found sufficient preliminary evidence that Canada was materially harming the U.S. industry by selling their product here at less than fair market value. The investigation is expanding and early bets are that a floor price will be established at $.60 to $.70 cents per pound at the border. With shipping costs added, this should help the Florida tomato growers who market locally compete better with the Canadian product.

Another development which illustrates the rapid changes in the greenhouse industry was the announcement that Burnac’s, one of the largest and oldest greenhouse producers in Florida, will not be putting in a fall crop and is up for sale (28 greenhouse acres). They were producing primarily colored pepper (which will now drop to 4^th behind European cucumbers).

The challenge for the Florida greenhouse vegetable industry will be to find ways to reduce the cost per pound to produce greenhouse vegetables and establish reliable markets that are willing to pay more for this quality product. Does that sound like being caught between a rock and a hard place?

The adaptability of the strawberry root system promotes transplant establishment. Strawberry plant root size is usually well established within 2 to 3 months of the beginning of the growing season (Galletta, 1990). Rapid growth insures the delivery of water and nutrients at times critical to flower and fruit development. The six-week period just prior to harvest is when strawberry plants accumulate nutrients at the greatest rate. (May, 1994)

Northern latitude or high elevation nurseries produce strawberry transplants during the summer months and begin digging plants in September for Florida’s winter production season. The nurseries are open fields where plants produce daughter plants on stolens (runners) in response to long days and high temperatures. These daughter plants radiate from the mother plants, taking root if soil conditions are suitable. Digging implements are used to loosen the soil around the plants, lift them from the ground, and shake any remaining soil form the roots. The method of digging daughter plants is efficient however the plants experience some damage in the process. The green topped bare root transplants arrive in Florida with varying amounts of root damage and 3-6 mature leaves. These plants are planted on raised, black polyethylene mulch beds and then are overhead irrigated for 10-14 days, 10 hours a day to aid in reestablishment of the root system. The objective of this study was to determine if mechanical root pruning has an effect on early or total season fruit yield of strawberry bareroot transplants grown in a Florida winter production system.

‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberry plants were graded so that all plants were of equal size and apportioned into three groups, with each group containing 64 transplants. The plant roots in the first group were trimmed to 5 cm, the second group’s roots were trimmed to 9 cm, and the third group, which served as the control, had roots that were not trimmed and measured 12 cm or more. Severed roots were placed in a drying oven for 48 hours at 60^oC. Pruning to 9 cm removed an average of 26% of the total root mass of a typical transplant. Pruning to 5 cm removed 60% of the root mass. Immediately after trimming the roots, the transplants were placed 14" apart and planted. The plants from each treatment group were divided among four 16-plant plots arranged in a randomized block design. Following industry standards, the plots were irrigated for 10 hours a day for 10 days. The experimental trial was conducted during the 1999-2000 season and again in the 2000-2001 season.

Planting date for the 1999-2000 season was 22 Oct., and 18 Oct. for the 2000-2001 season. First harvest was 17 Dec. and 19 Dec. for the ’99-’00 and ’00-’01 season respectively. Thereafter, strawberries were harvested twice weekly until 9 Mar. both seasons. The number and weight of marketable fruit harvested were recorded. Root pruning had no detectable effect on early or total yield (Table 1). Seasonal differences in yields were evident due to the 2000-2001 season being unseasonably cold in Dec. and Jan. Apparently root regrowth is rapid during the 10-day overhead irrigation period, and an extensive initial root system is not needed for water and nutrient uptake. As the strawberry industry pursues water conservation goals, further studies will be needed to establish the exact period of overhead irrigation necessary for root establishment.

Works Cited

Darrow, G.M. 1966. The strawberry: history, breeding, and physiology. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York

Galletta, G.J. and D.G Himelrick (Eds) Small Fruit Crop Management. 1990. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs N.J.

Mays G.M., M.P. Pritts, and M.J. Kelly. 1994. Seasonal patterns of growth and tissue nutrient content in strawberry. J. Plant nutrition. 17: 1149-62

White, P.R. 1927. Studies of the physiological anatomy of strawberry. J. Agric. Res. 35:481-492

Wilhelm. S., and P.E. Nelson. 1970. A concept of rootlet health of strawberries in pathogen-free field soil achieved by fumigation. P 208-215. In T.A. Toussoun, R.V. Bega, and P.E. Nelson (eds). Root diseases and soil-borne pathogen. University of California Press, Berkley.

Watermelon production in Florida amounted to 864,000,000 pounds for 27,000 acres harvested in 2000, which represented a value of $45,360,000. Because the water content of watermelon fruits is high (90 to 95%), water management is an essential part of watermelon production. On one hand, water stress may increase the incidence of blossom-end rot and may result in poorly shaped, bottleneck unmarketable fruits. On the other hand, excessive field moisture has been associated with hollow heart and movement of mobile nutrients, such as nitrate-nitrogen and potassium, out of the root zone.

Current IFAS irrigation recommendations for watermelon grown with plasticulture are to use a crop water use estimate and to keep soil water tension (SWT) between 6 and 15 cb in the 0-12 in zone. For most vegetable crops, crop evapotranspiration (ETc) may be estimated using historical or real-time weather data. Average monthly reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) may be used to estimate crop evapotranspiration (ETc) by using a coefficient called crop coefficient (Kc). Another practical method to schedule irrigation is to adjust class A pan evaporation data (Ep) with a factor called crop factor (CF) to estimate ETc. Unfortunately current Kc and CF values currently available for watermelon were developed for bare ground production. Moreover, real-time ETo or Ep are seldom available.

Because growers need a practical method to schedule irrigation in real-time, this research was conducted to develop and test CF for watermelon grown with drip irrigation and plastic mulch. This report presents the preliminary results of the Spring of 2001.

Irrigation was scheduled according to the water balance method. Daily irrigation supplied the amount of water lost by evapotranspiration on the previous day. Class A pan evaporation (Ep) was daily recorded on-site (Figure 1) and a two-entry table with evaporation and crop age was used to determine the needed amount of water (Table 1). CF values of 0.20, 0.40, 0.70, 0.90 and 0.70 were selected for watermelon growth stages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. In an attempt to make scheduling practical for growers, these growth stages were the same as the ones currently used for fertilization recommendations.

Between 31 and 86 days after transplanting (DAT), SWT was monitored at the 6 and 12 in depths, twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays) before irrigation using granular matrix sensors (model 200-5, Irrometer company, Inc, Riverside, CA) and a reader (Watermark 30 KTCD-NL, Irrometer company, Inc, Riverside, CA). Sensors were placed in the four replications of N2 treatment.

Selected nitrogen (N) fertilization rates were N1, N2 and N3 and represented 75, 100 and 125% of the recommended IFAS rate, respectively. Based on soil test results using the Mehlich 1 extractant, the fertilizer recommendation rate was 150-0-150. The fertilizer injection schedule followed the recommendation of SP-170.

Testing the target CF values was done under three N rates and consisted in creating two lower and one higher water regimes than the I3 reference with values of 33%, 60% and 133% of I3 for I1, I2, and I4 respectively. The typical drip design was altered to allow separate application of water and fertilizer (Figure 2).

Five week old ‘Mardi Gras’ watermelon transplants were established on March 27 in 2001 at the North Florida Research and Education Center-Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV) on a Lakeland sandy soil. Plots were 30-ft long and beds were on 7.5-ft centers. Distance between plants was 3 feet and each plot contained 10 plants, which created a stand of 1,815 plants/acre (Figure 3). Pest control consisted of applications of Ambush (permethrin, insecticide) six times at 10 oz/acre. Quadris FL was applied once at 12oz/acre and Bravo 81W was applied five times at 3 lbs/acre for disease control. Watermelons were harvested twice (73 and 83 DAT) and graded as marketable and cull (Figure 4).

Thanks to the modified drip system, the experimental design was a completely randomized block design with 4 replications and all factorial combination of 3 N rates and 4 irrigations regimes. Data were first analyzed using analysis of variance (SAS, 1987) and linear and quadratic orthogonal contrasts. Optimum water application rate was determined using regression analysis.

Weather during the Spring of 2001 was warm and dry, and overall favorable for watermelon production. Under these conditions, total water applied to I1, I2, I3 and I4 were 2,100, 3,800, 5,400, and 7,100 gal/100lbf, respectively. The drip system was designed so that I1, I2 and I4 represented 33%, 66% and 133% of I3, respectively. Observed water rates were numerically close to the target values (39%, 70% and 132%, respectively).

These irrigation regimes affected SWT and the magnitude of the water stress imposed to the watermelon plants (Figure 5). The number of sampling dates SWT remained within the recommended range at a 6-in depth ranged between 14 and 17 for I1 and I4, respectively. At a 12-in depth, this number ranged between 8 and 17 for I1 and I4, respectively, and increased linearly over the range of water regimes created. This suggests that the low irrigation rates (I1 and I2) maintained SWT within the recommended range less often that the high irrigation rates (I3 and I4). Similarly, the number of sampling dates that SWT was in the 15-24, 25-34 and above 34cb ranges increased from the 6-in depth to the 12-in depth, and decreased from I1 to I4.

The interaction irrigation rate x N rate was not significant for early and total marketable yield (p=0.14 and 0.75, respectively). The effect of N rate was significant for early yield (p=0.02) but not for total yield (p=0.90). Early yields were 22,444, 18,605, and 26,356 lbs/acre for N1, N2 and N3, respectively. Total marketable yields were 45,430, 44,634, and 46,385 lbs/acre for N1, N2, andN3, respectively. Mean fruit weight was 21, 21, and 22 lbs/fruit, for N1, N2, and N3, respectively. The relatively small size of the plots (30-ft each) and plants per plots (10) resulted in a relative variability larger than desirable. The observed coefficients of variations were 32% and 24% for early and total marketable yields, respectively.

The response of mean watermelon early and total marketable yield (kg/acre) to irrigation (gal/100lbf) were describe by: Total mkt. yield = -0.0002 Irr² + 3.11 Irr + 10,150 and Early mkt. Yield = -0.0002 Irr² + 2.53 Irr + 3,115 (Figure 6). These two quadratic equations have a downward concavity. Highest yields occurred at irrigation rates of 5,200 and 6,500 gal/season/100lbf for early and total marketable yield, respectively. As I3 corresponded to 5,400gal/season/100lbf, these values represent 96% and 120% of I3 for highest early and total marketable yield, respectively. Mean fruit weight was 20, 21, 22, and 22lbs/fruit for I1, I2, I3, and I4, respectively.

Florida has a history of residency older than any other state in the Union. Early settlers arriving in the sixteenth century found native Indians already growing such vegetables as pumpkins and squash along with corn for food and trade. Spanish settlers brought citrus and other crop-introductions, and these were grown in ever expanding amounts before and after Florida officially became a Territorial state in 1821 and an "official" state in 1845.

The warm climate during the winter months gave rise to Florida becoming a leading supplier to the rest of the nation for such crops as citrus and tender vegetables. Spanish explorers brought oranges to Florida as early as 1579, and by 1835, groves a mile wide and ten miles long were known to exist.

Grapefruit was being grown in Jamaica in the 1700's and is thought to have been grown in Florida (Pinellas County) as early as 1809 by a Spaniard named Don Phillipe. However, grapefruit was not shipped north until about the 1880's.

Severe freezes took their toll on the citrus industry (notably in 1835 and again in 1894-95), forcing the industry to move southward to the Central Florida Ridge. By 1885, production had reached 5,000,000 boxes. The succeeding year, there were only 150,000 boxes! But by 1909, the crop was again 5,000,000 boxes. By 1920, orange production had increased to 10,000,000 boxes, by 1954, 128,000,000 boxes, and by 1960, almost 100,000,000 boxes were harvested from 400,000 acres of groves statewide.

The first serious canning in Florida occurred in the 1921-22 season when Polk and Street canned 9,000 boxes of grapefruit sections. By 1947-48, orange concentrate was also on the scene, with almost 2 million gallons of frozen and 1.7 million gallons of hot-pack concentrate produced. Chilled juice did not start until later, but by 1958, about 10 million boxes of oranges were squeezed for this purpose.

Other fruit-crops contributing to the total fruit-crops industry over the years have been blackberries, blueberries, grapes, peaches, pecans, persimmons, pineapples, strawberries, and such sub-tropical fruits as avocado, lychee, mangos, and papaya.

Strawberry growing began in central Florida sometime in the 1880s. The first major variety appears to have been ‘Neunan.’ It was replaced by ‘Klondike’ ( c.1900), which was replaced by ‘Missionary’ (c.1910), then by ‘Florida 90.’

The production of vegetables followed the migration of pioneer settlers into Florida. As they came, they grew vegetables for home consumption, then pioneered regional production of crops that eventually vaulted Florida into the country’s winter vegetable capital. Most of these crops were first brought to this country by immigrants. Cowpeas (Southern peas) arrived with slaves from Africa. Although pepper is native to tropical America, seeds were carried to Spain by Columbus in 1493, then on to the United States by European immigrants.

Little official data are available prior to the establishment of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station at Lake City in 1888. However, that year it was estimated that the gross value of Florida vegetables was 2 ½ million dollars.

Research on watermelons was initiated at the Station that year. Jasper P. DePass wrote a bulletin on growing cabbage for home use in 1887. Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture reported for the period 1901-1905 an average of almost 2,000 acres of cabbage per year.

Commercial production of potatoes developed in the 1890's in the Hastings area of north Florida. By 1900, 1,700 acres of potatoes were growing in Florida, according to the USDA Yearbook of Agriculture in 1900. (By mid-century, the acreage of potatoes had risen to 36,000 acres, with a gross value of $16,000,000).

Likewise, Florida’s leading vegetable, the tomato, was being shipped to northern cities prior to 1890. Tomatoes grown in Bradenton were shipped to Cedar Key by boat, then across the state and on north by rail.

After the disastrous freeze of 1895 killed out the citrus, many of these growers sought new money crops, and other crop-industries were born. S.O. Chase grew celery near Sanford in 1895, and was followed by B.F. Whitner who brought celery from Michigan to plant in 1896.In 1897, celery was shipped to Jacksonville by J.H. Terwilliger, and on to New York. In 1899, four cars were marketed. By 1960, the major acreage had shifted southward to Palm Beach County but had increased to 11,000 acres producing 11,000 cars.

From these humble beginnings, many other crops have contributed to a thriving vegetable industry: beans, carrots, cucumbers, sweet corn, eggplant, endive, lettuce, muskmelons, okra, onions, sweet potatoes, radish, and many minor crops like cooking greens.

The value of vegetables was greater than for citrus until about 1910. Afterward, citrus was generally king, although there were years when the value of vegetables exceeded that of citrus. The chart below for 1939 will show them about equal.

Beans, snap and lima - $6,139,000
Tomatoes - $5,082,000
Celery - $3,329,000
Irish potatoes - $2,868,000
Strawberries - $2,511,000
Peppers - $1,313,000
Cabbage - $986,000
Cucumbers - $682,000
Green peas - $610,000
Watermelons - $509,000
Total $25,000,000 value of Truck Crops
Total $27,000,000 value for Citrus

In 1952, cash receipts from vegetables was 162 million versus 129 million for citrus. But by 1954, there was a more normal relationship when vegetables brought in 145 million compared to 188 million for citrus. And by the end of the 20^th century, vegetables produced from 300,000 acres were worth about 1.5 billion dollars.

Vegetable Gardening. Through the early years most Florida families grew a vegetable garden for home use. In 1947, 4-H girls completed 3,500 garden projects while the boys completed about 2,000 gardens.

Academic Development

Florida’s first governor was Andrew Jackson (1821). Its first territorial governor was William DuVal (1822). After it was granted official statehood in 1845, William Moseley became its first statehood governor.

The higher education system in Florida goes back to 1853 when Gov. Thomas Broome created East Florida Seminary in Ocala. Then, in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act which granted each state land to be sold to perpetuate colleges of agriculture, mechanical arts, and military sciences. But it was not until 1884 that Florida was able to take advantage of this act and establish its own college. It was called the "Florida Agricultural College," (FAC) and was established in October 1884 at Lake City.

The Florida Agricultural Experiment Station

In March 1887, the federal Hatch Act provided for an agricultural experiment station to be established at each of these state colleges. As a result, in 1888, the "Florida Agricultural Experiment Station" became a part of the Lake City FAC. (Incidentally, 1888 was also the year the Florida State Horticultural Society began).

The Station’s first director was J. Kost, who was soon to be replaced in 1889 by The Reverend Jasper P. DePass of Archer, Florida.. In 1893, Oscar Clute became both director of the Station and president of FAC. In August 1897, Clute resigned and was replaced by W.F. Yocum, a former president of FAC.

President/Director Yocum held the dual position until 1901, when Dr. T.H. Taliaferro became President of FAC and director of the Experiment Station. Dr. Taliaferro, from the Ivy League schools, broadened the academic curriculum beyond agriculture, and named James M. Farr, history professor, as the first football coach of FAC.

In 1903, under Governor Jennings, the name "Florida Agricultural College" was changed to "University of Florida." That year, Dr.Taliaferro resigned and was replaced by Dr. Andrew Sledd for both director and president. In the fall of 1905, the University opened its doors in Lake City with 24 instructors and 136 co-ed students.

The State Buckman Act was passed in 1905. As a result, Gainesville was selected as the new home for both the University and the Agricultural Experiment Station.

In February 1906, the positions of Station Director and University President were separated.. Dr. Sledd continued as President and Dr. P.H. Rolfs was appointed as Director of the Station

Thomas Hall was the first building on the new campus, and in December 1906, the Station’s library was moved into it. Dr. Sledd moved into it the following month (January, 1907).

In 1909, Director Rolfs moved the Station into a newly constructed building first called the Agricultural Experiment Station building, which later was named Newell Hall.

In 1915, Station Director Rolfs took on two other important agricultural positions- that of Dean of the College and head of the brand new Agricultural Extension Service (founded by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914). Rolfs served in this multiple fashion until he resigned in 1921.

Rolfs was replaced in 1921 by entomologist Dr. Wilmon Newell, who was the commissioner of the State Plant Board. Thus, Dr. Newell now held four administrative positions: dean of the College, director of the Station, director of the Extension Service, and commissioner of the State Plant Board, all of which he held until his death in October, 1943.

Upon the death of Dr. Newell in 1943, four appointees were named to head the four agencies. Harold H. Mowry was a Horticulturist who became director of the Station, a position he held until he retired in January, 1950. In May, 1950, Willard M. Fifield became the new director of the Agricultural Experiment Station.

In May, 1950, Dr. Joseph R. Beckenbach was reassigned to Gainesville as Associate Director. When Director Fifield was promoted to Provost for Agriculture in June 1955, Dr. Beckenbach became Station director.

In 1959, Dr. John Sites moved from the Chairmanship of the Fruit Crops Department into the Experiment Station office as Associate Director. Then, when Dr. Beckenbach retired in 1967, Dr. Sites became the new Director of Research (IFAS). Today: Dean for Research is Dr. Richard L. Jones.

Florida Cooperative Extension Service. In 1915, the Florida legislature reacted to the Federal Smith-Lever Act by establishing the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. This was based on a memorandum of understanding between the USDA and the University of Florida. The purpose of Extension was to take the knowledge base of the Experiment Station to the farms, markets, homes, and people of America. In 1915, Dr. P. H. Rolfs, who was serving as Director of the Experiment Station, took on the additional role of Florida’s first director of the Extension Service. Dr. A.P. Spencer became Rolfs’s Extension Assistant in 1917; Assisted Newell 1930-1935, then became Extension’s director 1943-1947. Mr. H.G. Clayton became Extension’s Director in 1947 and served until retirement in 1956.

Until 1948 there was not a vegetable specialist on the Extension staff. In 1948, Dr. F.S. Jamison’s appointment was split into one-half Extension and one-half research so that he could pull together all the work State-wide on vegetables. Today: Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Dean for Extension is Dr. Christine T. Waddill.

The College of Agriculture (Teaching). The basic degree granting unit for the University’s agricultural programs has been the College of Agriculture. The first class graduated in 1889 and contained three students, followed by the second class of five students in 1892. The first class at Gainesville contained 102 students, mostly male, for the Florida State College for Women opened in Tallahassee the same year.

In 1915, Dr. P.H. Rolfs , in addition to his Research Director’s role, was made Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of the newly-created Agricultural Extension Service. He was replaced in this role by Dr. Newell in 1921, who served until his death in 1943.Then in 1950 Dr. C.V. Noble was Dean of the College ( Dr. Nettles married the Dean’s daughter, Grace). In 1955, Dr. Marvin Brooker became Dean of the College, followed by George Thornton, Marvin Brooker, Charles Browning, Gerald Zacharia, and Larry Conner. Today: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Dean, Dr. Jimmy G. Cheek.

Provost for Agriculture. As can be seen from the discussion so far, the early leaders of the agricultural units assumed multiple administrative head-roles, but were not called "provosts.". In 1949, Dr. J. Wayne Reitz, a USDA economist, became the first so-called Provost for Agriculture. Dr.Reitz served as Provost until becoming University President in 1955. Replacing Reitz as Provost that same year was Dr. Willard M. Fifield, who was promoted from Research Director. He held this position until 1961, at which time Dr. Marvin Brooker, Dean of the College, became interim Provost. In 1963, Dr. E.T. York,Jr. was hired as Provost, and effectively reorganized the entire system into the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (1964).

Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). In April, 1964, the Florida Board of Control approved the creation of IFAS. This action organized the four major agricultural units of the University into a single budgetary and administrative unit- IFAS. These included the Experiment Station, the Extension Service, the Agricultural College, and the School of Forestry.

Instead of "Provost" the new title became "Vice President." The first Vice President for Agricultural Affairs was Dr. E.T. York, Jr., the 1964 Provost for Agriculture. His three designated administrators were already on the job in 1964: Dean of Extension, Dr. M.O. Watkins; Dean for Research, Dr. J.R. Beckenbach; and Dean for Resident Instruction, Dr. Marvin Brooker. Today: Vice President for Agricultural and Natural Resources is Dr. Michael V. Martin.

Before any history of the Horticultural Sciences Department can be continued, the historical development of the branch research stations must be addressed.. Over the years, there has been strong interaction between these branch research stations and the departments on the main campus. However, initially branch stations were independently funded.

Citrus Station. The oldest of the branches of the Agricultural Experiment Station is the Florida Citrus Experiment Station, established by the Florida legislature in 1917. Polk County growers provided 84 acres near Lake Alfred for the Station in 1919. In 1926, the first permanent structures were built from legislative funds. At first, the Station was operated out of Gainesville. Later, staff members working on citrus were stationed near the Station. In 1936, Dr. A.F. Camp became Horticulturist in Charge of the Citrus Station until 1956. In 1982, Dr. Walt Kender became Center director, serving until 1996. Today: Citrus REC- Lake Alfred. Director is Dr. Harold W. Browning. The staff includes 62 faculty working on citrus.

Everglades Station. The Station was authorized in 1921 on 160 acres three miles east of Belle Glade. In 1931, land area was increased to 800 acres. In 1960, 320 more acres were added for animal research. Dr. R.V. Allison was placed in charge in 1929. He was