The Dawson journal., 1883-03-01
TRUCK FARMING.
nj ore About the w aterme,on.

farming. and in the article published
after one of it's staff had attended the
convention OF the fruit and vegetable
growers of South Georgia at Quitman,
about two weeks ago, furnished
some facts and figures showing con
clusively that the watermelon is one
of the most certain and profitable
crops that can be grown in Southern
and Southwest Georgia.
The article above referred to has
been given such wide circulation
by the press and has awakened such
q general iateyeJt upon the subject
of melon culture that we have been
induced to follow it farther, with the
view OF encouraging trnck farming in
Southwest Georgia aud furnishing
as mnch:information as possible these
who have become interested in the
melon, its mode of cultivation, ex-
f,,ense of transportation, MAJ ket value,
etc. To possess ourselves oil this in
orm Ltiou Wa hays been TO th ose who
have experimented extensively and
satisfactorily with the melon, and
who have been making its cultiva-
tion and shipment to the Northern
markets 3 speciality for several years
past. The more we have learned
from these sources the more We are
convinced that the watermelon is
destined to become leading product
along the line of every railroad In
Georgia South of Macon, and that
it is not only one of the most certain.
but one of the most profitable crops
that can be made on the sandy soil OF
this region
A few farmers in Brooks and
Lowndes counties, along the line OF
the Savannah, Florida and Western
Railway, were the first in the State
to engage in the cultivation of melons
for shipment to the Northern mar
kets. We find that all of these have
made money, and that they are
gradually increasing their acreage in
melons every year. Mr.. W. R. Tai
ley, of Brooks county, shipped the
first melons ever grown along the
line of the S. F. &. w. R'y for dis
tant markets. At first he experience
ed great difficulty in getting his
melons transported and sold. The
railroads were not prepared with
suitable cars for their shipment, and
there was no very active demand for
them in the Northern markets. Fail
ing to get transportation for his Gu
tire crop the second year, Mr.. Tale
went to making watermelon sylup.
The syrup proved to be very palata-
BILE, and Mr.. Talley found sale for
enough Of it TO pay him out. Soon
others began to plant melons, and
finally the management of the S F.
&. W. R'y then the F'Atlantic & Gulf, .
began to make preparations for
moving the crop. Meantime large
quantities of melons and other vege-
tables were being shipped out lover
the same road from Florida, and now
an increase in the market demands
in the North and Northwest became
perceptible. Year after year, as mel
ons from Florida and South Georgia
were introduced in the great cities Of
the North and Northwest as early as
the latter part of June and the first
pars of July, the demand for then
increased. Now there seems to be-
no end to the demand. Last year
buyers came out from Louisville.
Chicago, Indianapolis and othel
cities and bought the melons from
the producers as fast as they could
load them So it would seem that
these melon growers Of South Geor,
gia have created a demand for the
Georgia watermelon, aud that the
demand has increased until pur-
chasers come to the fields after them.
Ten years ago such a thing as wal er-
melons iii June and July had never
been seen throughout the whole oi
Yankeedom; hut henceforth they
will be one Of the standard luxuries
of the season.
We have heard it said 10y some
that now since so many were going
into melon culture there was daneer
OF overproduction--that the markets
would soon become glutted. This
is not the experience of those il
Southern Georgia who have been
engaged in the business for five OF
six years, and who continue to in.
crease their crops every year. Upon
tie contrary, those who eag speak