The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-04-19
VEGETABLES.

VEGETABLES
TomdtOes.-This vegetable probably re-
qulres more care in preparing for mar
ket hen shipped from distance than
any other, to ensure its arrival in good
condition. The best varieties only should
be planted. We have received in former
years from all sections of the South, in
ferior v arieties irregular in size and shape
and watery, which varieties not only do
not sell we'll if received in good order,
but rarely arrive here sound, being apt to
heat md spoil rapidly on the way The
Hathaw way's Excelsior has lately been
planted extensively and proved very sue
cessful. The Trophy and General Grant
are also excellent varieties. These are
round, smooth and solid tomatoes, very
prolific, carry well when properly put up
and are taken in preference to the Bermu-
da stoc k, with which they often come into
competition. Florida tomatoes should be
allowed TO remain on the vines until they
attain their full size and show just the
first faint blush of color; small, prema-
ture tomatoes almost invariably rot before
ripening and are total loss. Lots from
Florida should be carefully paper-wrap-
ped. Bushel slat crates, with cross parti-
ton, should be used at g all points" 1t
is very important to pick Of uniform ripe
ness so as never to send green and ripe
tomatoes in the same packages in which
the tomatoes are in all stages of ripeness,
and half become rotten before the rest
have begun to turn All small, irregular
and unsound culls, ETC., ahould be dis
carded and the selected tomatoes should
be paek ked perfectly dry, and as cool as
circumstances permit, snugly and care
fully in the crate, so as to allow no shift
ing or shucking on the way. The trans
portation companies are often very care
less about handling packages, and only
those put up with the greatest care and
attention to details are apt to come
through in fine order.
Peas and String Bedns-In picking
string beans, the grower should begin
when the bean is young and tender, as
old tough beans cannot be handled salts
factorily. Snap or fiat beans are gener-
ally preferred to the round or refugee,
excepting wax beans Peas should also
be picked green, for if they are left too
long on the vine they are apt to turn
yellow. Green peas from Florida rarely
arrive here in good order and only the
earliest meet much demand; after we
begin to receive stock from Charleston
and Savannah it is never worth while to
ship from Florida Florida, Charleston
and Savannah shippers should use bushel
crates for both peas and string beans, but
lots sent from Norfolk and more norther-
" points may be packed in / bbl crates /;
lots shipped in barrels are liable to heat
Crates should be constructed of Stats,
placed Car enough apart to admit free
circulation of air and to show contents Of
crate TO advantage. If barrels are used
they should be cnt on all sides and on the
bottom Il is very important to have
beans and peas perfectly dry when pack
ed Never pack with dew on, as it inya-
riabIy canses rot. After picking it is
well to spread out in . shady place until
perfectly dry. Fill the package fun and
shake down thoroughly but do not press
90 close a. to canse them to heat and
spoil Pack cleAnly, keeping oat al
pieces Of vine and all old or yellow pods.
Wax beans, when in fine order being
bright colored and unspotted, usually
meet ! good demand, bat it hardly pays
TO ship here from points south OF Norfolk,
~ nearly all lots become more or leae
spotted They require 70 be very dry
when packed and as cool rs possible; the