The Dawson journal., 1883-04-26
Absolutely Pure.
To T uck F.l2mers.

!
/ In this number of the Journal we begin
a series Of publications which we get from
a small pamphlet issued by p NJ Kiely &
Co, st. LOUIS, Mo These gentlemen fare
understood to be perfectly reliable, and in
speaking Of the history of truck farming in
the South they say:
In connection with our subject, a few
words concerning the growth and history
Of the trade in this city will not be out of
place here. When the writer (P NJ Kiely)
embarked in the business in this city in the
fall of 1865, there was but one fruit COM
mission house in st, Louis, and, indeed,
one house was all that was then necessary
to take care of what was consigned here.
Al the Southern States, including Arkansas
and Tennessee, were then unknown as
shippers Of domestic fruits or vegetables
Southern Illinois was then the remotest
part as field for such supplies known to
to the city, and the fruit season was so
short as to be of little value of interest.
Since then dozen Of houses have sprung
up, many Of whom we believe claim now
to be the oldest and most experienced in
the city.
Each year new railroads opened up new
fields and new territory, fron which sup
plies began to come iberally, notably Ar
kansas and Tennessee, with shipments
from more Southern points each year the
8 sason heightened, until the present time
when we have an unbroken selling season
Of seven months beginning in April with
strawberries and ending about the first of
November with grapes and peaches An
increase Of commission houses to take care
Of this constantly. growing trade was of
course natural result. rnd tended to de-
yelop and encourage the production.
The large amount Of such goods grown
in this vicinity and county crowds out of
the market most of the shippers at dis
tance when home growers get fairly started.
Still the more Southern growers have a
long and profitable season, and being first
/ in market always secure the highest Or. IS.
1t will be seen then how the industry has
/ spread, as shown in the receipts here, and
it is also very evident that the demand'ha
kept pace with supply and aften exceeded
it, and always at remunerative prices.
THE FUTURE OUTLOOK
The most encouraging feature in connec-
tion with the growing Of fruits and vegeta-
bles, is the wonderful progress made to-
wards utilizing the surplus. The past year
or two introduced so many new and APP
proved evaporators and fruit dryers, and
into 50 many districts where they were
comparatively unknown. that new hope
has b'an inspired and q fresh impetus given
to tn lines7. The canning industry has
also made rapid strides, and canning es-
Establishments viii no longer be novelty in
the WeSt and S1dth. We know that some
of the big packing houses of Baltimore
seriously contemplate opening branch
houses near the fields of supplies in the
West, where the goods are cheap and
abundant. They begin to realize, as do
the dried fruit opcrat 2ss that there is a
great dea Of money in these new fields
that little enterprise and capital can
acquire. Statistics the past ten years show
how each Of those industries here spread
and prospered especially the past two OF
three years, and how easily it is to find a
foreign market for them in this way. En-
deed the question of what shall we do with
our surplus, ne ID no longer fill the heart Of
the grower with dismay The outlook is
very bright.
We are often asked what certain pro.
ducts will bring at a certain time. the pro.
ducer seeking information or basis or
which to operate or figure on for the future
; crops. This is a question it is very difficult
ty to answer satisfactorily, for the plices
say, of car load of watemclons on the 1st
OF next July may differ widely from tha
paid year from that date. There is sucl
a difference in the seasons, some early anC
some late, and what is ssil! more uncertain
is the amount Of receipts from ANY giver
point. For instance, "a vicinity that ship
. certain goods quite freely this season ma,
: ship little or nothing next season, ami so i
: runs. At best information of this character
e predicting future prices, is guess work.