The Dawson journal., 1883-05-10
Melon and Berry.


On the train, April 30-as We move to.
ward the berry and melon, the cucumber
and the cabbage, let us take advantage Of
the waits and stons, to ascertain in a gener.
Al wsy what the truck farms and patches
of Georgia amount to.
Five years ago when few enthusiasts
talked about raising vegetables and fruit in
Georgia for northern markets, the figures
they presented were received with incre-
duity and their suggestions were laughed
At Here and there, however, a practical
man, who saw nothing but dependence
and ruin in cotton, planted a patch of
berries or put few acres in melons OF
vegetables. The result was satisfactory
and the good work went on until now the
truck farmers make up one of our most
important industries. Buyers from the
northwest are attracted to our state, fur
nishing cash and competition, and the
railroads vie with each othersm the facili-
sies they may afford for transportation.
AN ESTIMATE OF MELONS.
The melon is the most important item
in the Georgia truck farm, and it is vastly
more important than most people think
| have before me letrer from Mr.
Joseph Taylor, general freight agent of
the Savannah, Florida and Western rail
road, in which he says: ''From reliable
daaa furnished, it is es.imated that the
crop OF melons along the line of the road
will reach for this season from 5000 to
$500 car loads"
Mr.. Dorsey, of the Georgia road, esti-
mates that GfoSetown, Burke county, and
other points along his line of road will
yield this year from 400 to 600 car loads.
Mr. A. J. Butler, of Terrell county, esti-
mates for me after careful research, that
the line of country from Smithville, Lee
county, to Fort Gaines will furnish 1000
car loads-niofe than 1000 acres having
been planted. Of this he says that at least
800 acres are planted in melons this year
for the first time. In Terrell and CLAY
and Randolph counties the increase has
been phenomenal.
The strip of country from Macon to
Townsville via Albany, will furnish at
least 1000 car loads.
Without counting other points of culture
it is safe to say that the state will produce
this Seat 5000 car loads Of melons or more
than 7,500,0 separate melons. The price
Of melons ranged in Chicago last year from
twenty.eight to twenty cents. Averaging
she crop this year at twenty cents and
putting $50 melons to the car, each car
will be worth $3.50. This will make the
crop worth 81, 500, 600. This amount of
cash poured into the state in the middle
Of the dull summer will be of incalcdlable
benefit
THE QUESTION OF fEANsroRTAT1oN.
But when will the crop be carried to mar
ket?
That's very serious problem.
The shipment will begin about the mid
Ole OF June and end about the middle of
August. The bulk of it must be moved in
40 days This will give ali average Of
l5O cars, or ten solid trains of 10 cars each
sday. | have no doubt that the roads Will
be frequently called to move 20 full melon
Trains day. 1t will take at least seven
days for train to reach the market and
return. We may expect, therefors, to see
during the month of July 100 trains of Is
cars each, loaded with Georgia melons and
on the road to and from market. At the
same time cars will be needed at the melon
Stations to load for new trips.
Is the equipment of the roads equal to
this requirement
4 think it is. The truck farmers Of
Heorgia can never fully appreciate what
me Savannah, Florida and Western and
siic central roads have done for them. The
lScs that the roads wtfe selfish in the mat.
yer does not lessen the fact of their efficien.
" OF OF The generous encouragement they
extended to this industry when it was in
!" infancy. But it does argue that tbev
"ou'o pe worse than foolish to lef the
business they have watched SO carefully
iSli now that it has attained epormous pro
PORTIONS tor lack Of adequate facilities Il
may De agreed, therefore, that the Savan
.Sn' FLORIDA and Western and Central ar,
iuliy prepared to do their part of tn,
work. 'A'
gAR OUTLET TO THK NoRfii.
The truck and melons for tbo oos+ov,
markets Will find their way mainly by til,
.ean routes and the coast lines. TIL,
last Tennessee and Virginia dnd the Ken
neSaw and Airline routes will carry t.
,u' east whatever surplusage is offered
~ accommodate the great rush to tin
r'''hwest there are three routes open-tn
louisville and Nashville, the East Ten
n'''ee and the State road and each o
"'ese have provided heavy special eouip
meht. O1'''r
nad talk with Mr. Joseph NJ. Brown
general freight agent of the State road
s u"y before left Atlanta. He ha
., s'en great deal of study to the subiec
'nt, moving the melon crop He said;
r, VIC handled eight hundred carload
nielonsl last season, and expect to hav
w cast TWO thousand carloads this season
r.s "'s prepared to handle three thousan,
~,.oausi II it is necessary, without della,
VI overcro%ding."
,,u nave you established freight scheduled