The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-02-07

At the Fruit Growers Association at
Crystal Springs ON last Saturday,
there were delegates from Hazlehurst,
Terry, Madison Station, and from the
surrounding country.
Also, Col. Brien Asst. Manager of
the c. ST. l.. Il n. o. r.. r. and Capt. ID.
b. Morey General Freight Agent, and
Coils. Osburn and Pardue of the Elk
press Company were on hand, ana
seemed to be much Interested in the
development of the fruit and vegetable
interest along the line of the railroad,
and will do everything in their power
to give lis quicker and better transport
tation than we had last year. Addi- |
tional fruit and vegetable cars, well
ventilated and adapted for the pur-
pose, will be placed on the road in
time to carry off the present crop.
But the present change of schedule
is a great advantage to the shippers
over that of last year. Now the express
train arrives in Chicago half after
seven in the morning, plenty of time
for fruits and vegetables to be ship |
ped out of the city on the morning |
trains, which ramify in every direc-
ton like net work, making Chicago
better market OH account of the faclll-
ties for distribution. Besides, we get
our fruit into Chicago from here i'll 90
hours, and as the trains run mostly
during the night, it is better ON fruit.
The Railroad agrees to run through
fast train, provided eight cars can
be furnished along the route; but we
have no idea it can be done this year,
as there is not sufficient acreage in
early fruits and vegetables yet to fill
so many cars.
AS the express can carry only 24,OOO
pounds, when this quota is reached,
and there is not sufficient quantity of
fruits and vegetables to make up the
fast train of eight cars, it may throw
omeof the perishable fruits, as straw
berries, on the slow train, which
would operate against their shipment
in good condition. But sufficient
unto the day is the evil thereof" and
no doubt, when larger amount is
furnished than can be forwarded by
the express, something will be devised
to get off the fruit in good condition.
The fruit and vegetable business
along the railroad has increased in the
last year at least thousand per cent.
and has reached proportions which
most of us are not aware of. Through
the Fruit Growers Association, we
learn that from Terry down as far as
Hazlehurst, there will be planted this
year not less than 800 acres in peas
and beans alone, besides there will be
Il large acreage planted in early Irish
potatoes, onions and tomatoes, and
now are planted out about POO acres in
Strawberries.
We have gone to the trouble of col
leCllHS up ullN "Iloulio va pN"' 1919
beans already sowed in Crystal
Springs alone, and find it to amount
to 225 bushels, and two-thirds Of the
beans are yet to be purchased.
Owing to the scarcity Of seed at the
North nearly 1000 have already been
paid out here for pea and bean seed,
1 IL l., - 4 n, |
those planting their vegetables to
raise their own seed at home. Some
of the vegetable growers raise better
and finer seed than those purchased
at the North, while even during the
present warm weather, they have
been frcer from weavils and insects
than those shipped from the North.
Besides there is getting t. be 50 much 4;
imposition practiced by the seed grow
ers Of the North, that it is almost I'M
possible to get pure article OF seed;
and almost anything is palmed off on :
you.
But as the business increases it will .
be the duty Of the vegetable growers
to look into the matter, and make the d
trial at least of raising their own Il
seeds, instead of making nlilliOnaires
ont of hundreds of seCd.men at the ~
North.