The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-16
RAIN GREE TLY NEEDED.
VEGETABLE CROPS SUFFERING
FROM THE DRY WEATHER.


Producing Yields of Vegetables
and Fruit in Prospect-The Potato
Crop the Largest in Many Years
The Strawberry Season-More Atten-
ton Being Paid to Berry Culture
The Truck Interests Increasing
Every Year.
The truck farming interests in the vicinity
of Savannah are very large, and they are
continually growing. A MORNING NEWS re-
porter spent yesterday afternoon in the
suburbs on a tour of the truck farms along
the line of the Thunderbolt road, Waters
road and Lovers lane and found the crops
looking remarkably well, although a good
rain is needed to soak down into the potato
ridges and help the tubers which are nearly
marketable.
The early crop of potatoes is in full bloom
and will soon begin to ball. Nearly every
truck farm visited shows an increased acre
age of potatoes. On the farm of Jacob
Cell, on the Waters road, hill of an early
variety of Early Rose potatoes was grab
bled and the potatoes were found to be
about the size of a matured walnut in the
hull. Rotating crops of potatoes have been
planted here.
PEAS AND BEANs
The pea crop is looking finely although
the March frosts gave them setback. The
general vegetable season is earlier than last
year Shipments Of peas have been made
for the past ten days. and increased ship
lnents will be made this week and the sup
ply will be maintained for the next month
by the system of rotating crops.
SQuaShes are doing well. and in some in
stances not only are they in bloom but they
are also in fruit. The cold winds of last
week retarded their growth somewhat, and
the tips of the first leaves, and i'll many in
stances the leaves themselves are withered,
but the warmer air and subsequent showers
revivilied the vines and they are looking
very thrifty.
Early beans will soon be in blossom The
bean being very tender plant, those who
forced the season had to replant, and this
later planting now gives promise of an
abundant crop.
vested, ana succeeding crops of other and
later vegetable have either taken, or are
taking, their place.
TOMATOES AND CUCUMBERs.
Tomatoes have been hansplanted from
cold frames and hot beds, and while they
are growing nicely, need a good shower to
force them.
Beets, lettuce and cab age have been I'M
dergoing shipments for several weeks, and
the older crop and later crops are thrifty.
Onions and leekS show "a healthy growth,
and have long been on the market
Cucumbers, where they have been care
fully nursed and covered from the cold,
show blooms and fruit, but in general they
have not begun to vine yet They have
stood well, and with rain will bear pro
fusely.
paip will bo bo AZ, ,oolol +l,;n ,.ro.l- 4.
transplant sweet potato vines which are
ready for the ridges.
Early corn ranges in height from six
inches TO a foot and half i'll height accord
ing to the condition of the land and the late
or early planting.
Muskmelon vines are beginning to show
third leaf on some farms, on others they
are just coming up out of the ground
Very few watermelons are grown in this
immediate vicinity, the nearest water
melon fields of any extended acreage being
found on Wilmington, Dutch, Cabbage and
Dead Mans Islands,
BERRIES AND FRUIT.
Strawberries have not done so well here
this season owing TO the blizzard and March
frosts. The fruit is comparatively smaller
aGd the berry softer There have been some
fine berries, though, on the market. where
the vines have been properly protected or
had natural shelter. The culture of straw
berries Is attracting moro interest among
truck farmers and an increased acreage
may be looked for next season. 1t is
learned that Eastern dealers offered
hve cents quart more for straw
berries grown here than growers
were getting at retail, but as many truck
farmers have stalls in the market they de
clined the offer, preferTng to take a less
sum and accommodate their local custom
ers. The truck farmers have been investi-
eating the cost of strawberry culture and-
the large revenue TO be derived from that
fruit, aud will pay more attention to it in
the future They say that they can raise
Strawberries here as well or better than
Charleston truck growers and get the fruiton
the Eastern market earlier, selling all they
raise so that with these incentives an in
creased planting may be looked for next
fall.
THE PLUM CROP.
Plum trees are heavy laden this season.
In fact, the limbs could hardly have room
for more. This will be a big plum year.
Pear trees are in full and bountiful bloom.
and The prospects are encouraging for
heavy yield.
Those who have peach trees do not look
favorably on their orchards. The blooms
were protuse, but the worm has been very
bad, and much Of the fruit has been
blghted. The fruit which has escaped the
idNdtsts VI Jllt l'eots however, VIII make uD
in quality for what the trees will lack in
quantity.
1t is surprising that no more attention is
paid TO fig culture here. An occasional fig
tree, more for ornament than fruit, is seen
in most every yard on the truck farm, but
nothing more. The fig would thrive well
here and come to bearing very soon after
planting. the mulberry would do well,
and the fruit is an article of commerce
which is always in demand, but it is only
met in rare instances, and then it is planted
more for shade than fruit, and little atten-
ton paid as TO whether it is barren or fruit
bearing
ACREAGE AND SHIPMENTS
An estimate, the accuracy of which may
not be as satisfactory as could be desired,
shows that this season there are about 500
acres Of truck farms under actual cultlva-
ton IN the immediate vicinity, the acreage
divided as TO locality about ms follows: Au-
gusta road 400, Thunderbolt road $50,
Waters road 300 Springfield us, Hutchrn-
sons Island 100, White Bluff 1850, Beaulleu
Island 100, Lovers lane 70.
First shipments Of vegetables are to near
markets, such as Macon, Atlanta and Au-
gusta, and pretty well through the early
season, and shipments begin In March and
continue through the season to the further
tstC If Na,s N,,,.I. "A.