Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-05

The following article from the New York
Herald will be of interest to our truck farm
ers. 1t will be seen that the Georgia water
melons are accorded the palm as being the
best =:
"New York, with the assistance of few
OUTLYING places really part OF the city, can
consume, when in full melon eating trim
and in the height of the season, about 2OO,-
600 melons per Week-at least, so says a
dealer of West Washington market, who
has good reason to know, as they are all
sold by count, and his firm handle great
majority of those reaching this market
Taking into account the shipping trade
from this city, including the melons sent up
into the State, to the watering places
and away into the Eastern States, and
the grand aggregate has reached close
up to half a million Of the fruit In
week. In weight the melon runs up to
forty and fifty pounds. Those reputed the
best melons-and the earliest shipments
come from Georgia by way OF Savannah.
The fruit is favorite wherever known, and
It is loved as much by the poor laborers Of
the North as the poor white aud the negro
OF the South. Indeed, at the South, the
'watermillion' is a favorite with all classes.
It Is an irresistible attraction to the negro,
who will run almost any risk to obtain 1t.
The present and growing demand at the
North FOR Watermelons has quickened the
enterprise of Southern farmers in the pro-
duction of this fruit, and sure and ade-
Ouate supply is guaranteed at rates which,
compared with other fIWit, make them, SIS
one dealer said, 'as cheap as the water they
are named after
"The very first melons TO strike the market
come from Florida and they readily bring
81 each. Next the products begin to come
from Georgia, and by this time the pickings
in Florida have largely increased. Next
melons are shipped from Charleston, 3. G.,
and as the season advances they begin to be
brought from Moorehead City, n. c., by way
of Point Lookout from Powell's Point, N.
c., through the canal and sound, and max
ing the sea at Cape Hstteras. The fruit
from Norfolk is brought by the Old Domin
ion steamships, and just now they are load
ing up very heavy deck. and between-deck
loads of the fruit. Up and down The coast
the watermelons may be seen in transit
piled high on the decks Of the trim little
. oyster boats. These boats In the winter sea-
son are engaged in carrying the luscious BIZ
valves; then, after a few trips carrying up
Irish potatoes from Southern ports, the water
melon season opens and keeps them busy
until the sweet potatoes demand few trips
Up to thirty schooner loads in single day
have arrived at this port, but somehow all
the fruit finds market, though occasion
ally a dealer insisting on a certain price
finds himself with lot of soft fruit on his
hands, and is compelled to throw the stuff
overheard. The fruit coming by the sail
ing vessels is the more carefully handled,
and there is less loss, though now and then
q sudden extra lurch may send score or
two from the deck load bobbing overheard.
At the steamer docks there may often be
seen a heap of several hundred broken
-. AwrV1 ~
street bows and 'longshoremen, each greed
ily breaking out chunks Of the red, succu-
lent meat within and eating 1t with great
relish and little ceremony"