The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-03-11
MILLIONS IN SEED.
Great Business which has sprung Up
--Cabbnae and Other Vegetables.

--cabbnae and Other Vegetables.
If the seed business increases with the
next twenty-five years as 1t has for that
period past railroads will be anxious to
secure the transportation to different Sec
lions, as they now are that of cotton and
grain" said downtown wholesale seeds
aaar-- g pi> L--;----- -i-----s a---l.-- st,,sAs
every quarter of century. Years ago the
few lighthouses around tried selling seed as
an experiment. The experiment has now
grown to be permanent and great indus
try. Cabbage seed ranks foremost as an
article of sale. Next comes oauliaower.
Any soil that will grow cabbage will grow
caulifower. twenty-five years ago It was
hardly known. To-day one firm has $50
pounds of the seed, which, at the price of
$S per ounce, foots up value of $4,000
slowed away in deposit vaults. By the TINA
this seed is sold and distributed 1t will have
produced under favorable conditions nearly
5000, 900 plants, which, If sold atsthe aver
nge price of six cents head, will have
yielded nearly 100000.
Better soil, however, Is required and
more work in raising it than with the cab
bage. This vegetable is merely higher
order of the cabbage and bids fair In time
to be the greatest source of profit to seed
raisers.
" Celery is third on the list OF stable
vegetables. As the manner of treating the
celery crop for the last few years has been
much simplifed, m unexpected impetus
has been given to the sale of the seed The
famous white plume celery Is crisp, solid
and has peculiar walnutty flavor. It ha,
an unprecedented sale. Next come the on
ion and pea, followed by beans, potato,
squash and spinach. Tomato and turnip are
also considered among the relables."
"One would think that the seed trade
would diminish In time, as people would
save their seed 2"
"They rarely ever attempt it and when
they do the vegetables produced from them
are of stunted and dwarfsh kind. Seed
seem to mature better in dollhouse. Flori-
do is the first to send vegetables to the mar
ket. All the seed whence they have sprung
is carried from Northern lighthouses. The
trade in seed annually amounts to millions
and the profits arc considerable. / think
in time to come there will be garden-seed
elevators built and the trade carried on in
bulk instead Of in paper packages.
Passing Two Trains on the Same Track.
I was on mule train once going up to q
mining camp. We were circling about q
mountain when we met another train COM
ing down. The road was just bit of ledge
in the mountain side, and was plenty wide
for one wagon, but not quite wide enough
for two. But the mulewhackers knew just
what to do, and lost no time In doing it..
They got out their pine blocks, pulled the
head wagons close together, set the brakes
on one, and put blocks under the wheels of
the other. The inside wagon was tight agin
the rocks while the tires of the outside
wheels on t'other one were within half an
inch of the edge of the precipice. II did
my heart good to see those mules pull. The
whole six of 'em would squat little, tighten
themselves in their collars, and pull gently,
steadily ogether-steadier nor six men
could have done 1t. Why, those mules knew
just what they were doing, and they knew
just as we'll as anybody that II they gave q
jerk and slipped wheel over the edge the
whole concern, mules and all, would be 81
900 feet down the gorge in jerk Of lambs
tail. Hub after hub and wagon after wagon
tho work went on, and that's the way we
pass two trains on the same track out West.