The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-11-19
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI RESOURCES.
Along the Line of the Chicago, st. Louis
and New Orleans Railroad.

/ SOUTH MISSISSIPPI RESOURCES.
/ Along the Line of the Chicago, st. Louis
and New Orleans Railroad.
BY Dan'I bennett, in New Orleans
PicaJune.
EARLY FRUITS AND VEGETABLEs-wHAT
THE FRUIT GROWERS, GARDENERS AND
| FARMERS AROUND CRYSTAL SPRINGS
AND TERRY ARE DOING-EvERYBoDY
HOPEFUL BRIGHT FUTURE.
| After visiting the mari regions of Byram
and the strawberry fields of DIR. Mckay,
which we will notice next week, we lately
called and spent about two days with the
gardeners and fruit growers and farmers and
merchants of Crystal Springs Through
the politeness of our esteemed friend, Mai.
VIM. ID. Terry, ST., we were enabled to see
many places and many hopeful, practical
working farmers on that portion OF the
railroad. We have not seen as hopeful
people as these before for many long years
Merchants, farmers, gardeners, fruit growers,
preachers and everybody else in that section
talk as though they are fairly out of the
wilderness at last, and feel that the promised
land is in full view.
WHAT THE MERCHA NTS SAY.
The merchants of Crystal Springs say
that the farmers have been paying up better
this season than they have done for many
previous years. They say the farmers are
generally doing well, and prospects justify
the conclusion that they will do better next
year. They have been buying less, but
they have been paying for their goods-they
are working little harder, and economizing
a little closer-the keys that open the outer
and inner door to prosperity among farmers
and laboring men generally. The farmers
L IL 1
Springs between three and four thousand
bales of cotton for shipment to New Or
leans, and will largely increase these fig
ures before January. The merchants say
that the cotton crop, fruits and vegetables
sent to Chicago and other markets bring in
money and pay debts from October to July.
The fruits and vegetables bring money to
Crystal Springs and Terry, commencing
with strawberries in April, and winding up
their shipments in July, at a season of the
year when the cotton crop has been disposed
of, and the farmers need money to pay cur
rent expenses.
WHAT THE FARMERS SAY.
The farmers in the vicinity of Crystal
Springs and Terry say that their early
vegetable and fruits do not prevent them
from making a moderate acreage of cotton
and their provisions and home supplies.
They say that with such opportunities for
making money in the spring, summer and
autumn, it only needs industry and pref
ty good knowledge of farming to insure
success, provided they are economical, and
pay as they gO-that 'nO store accounts"
should be the motto of every good farmer.
Some of the farmers last season made
800 from a quarter of acre of early
garden peas sent to Chicago. Others made
about the same from early beans. From
$3.50 to 5000 an acre have been made by
several farmers from vegetables. Large
quantities of vegetables will be produced by
these farmers next season. A great many
are making preparations now for a good
crop of vegetables next May and June.
They hope to produce enough fruits and
vegetables next year, between Osyka and
Canton, a distance of lis miles, to load
special train of six or eight cars for Chicago |
three times a week during the shipping |
season.
WHAT PRUIT GROWERS SAY.
The fruit growers on the railroad are
much encouraged. DR.. McKay's success in
strawberry culture has electrified the whole
country with the strawberry fever. They
will plant immense quantities of strawber-
ries around Crystal Springs this fall and
next spring, and great numbers will be
planted around Madison Station and in
other places. Brookhaven will ship
The strawberry men claim that the good
cultivators make more than an average of
$3.50 an acre from Strawberries yearly clear
of expenses. One man at Crystal Springs,
lately from Illinois, last season cleared
@2500 clear of all expenses from seven acres
of strawberries. DIR. btackhouse has twenty
acres of Strawberries from which he made a
handsome sum OF money last year, and
also made money from his early vegetables.
We will in few weeks publish a more
complete account of the profits of fruits
and early vegetables at Crystal Springs.
EXTENDING THEIR ORCHARDS
The farmers around Crystal Springs,
after many years experience in fruit cul-
ture, conclude that fruits will pay. They |
intend to plant largely of fruits the coming |
winter and spring-peach, apple, plum and
pear trees, grapevlnes and strawberries. |
DIR. Stackhonse has been experimenting |
with raspberries. He thinks they will |
pay, and will plant more next season.
ADVANTAGES OF CRYSTAL SPRINGS.
Crystal Springs and Terry are in a
latitude which is about the middle of the
fruit belt that extends across the State.
Peaches and strawberries raised in South |
ern Louisiana are too far from the Chicago |
market and Chicago is the great fruit
market of the West, An express train
from Crystal Springs may take the early
fruits and vegetables to Chicago to meet /
the morning market and the outward |
bound trains which run to smaller cities |
and towns in a few hours. Forty car loads |
of Strawberries have been consumed in |
Chicago and sent of to ne:ghboring towns
in one day.
Strawberries from South Carolina have |
been sold in Chicago when there was foot /
of snow in Canada, but few degrees dis I
tant. They might have had them from Mis-
sissippi at the same time.
The Tennessee and Kentucky fruit
growers and gardeners are little too near
Chicago to compete with Mississippians
and little too far of to complete with
those of Illinois, is the fruit and vegetable T
seasons of these States. The fruit zone of /
Mississippi is more favorably located.
Peas can be sown IN Mississippi in jan
uary, and Irish potatoes may be planted at
the same time. Beans can be planted in |
February and March, and many other
vegetables in February and Asar1h
APPLES IN MIsaEssFp 1