San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-20
FRIDAY, JANUARY, 20, 1888.
TEXAS TRUCK PATCHES.


The San Antonio and Arkansas Pass
people are endesvoring to stir up the
farmers along the lines Of their road In
Wilson, Ksrnes, Bee, Dewitt and other
counties, to the Importance OF raising
potatoes and other vegetables for the
markets OF north Texas, Arkansas. Mis-
souri, and st. Louis. The soil OF these
counties is very admirably adapted to
the growth OF early vegetables, and
these can be sent to st. Louis from this
section OF the country before the product
Of more northerIy regions can possibly
reach market. The ground that Is
plowed up IN the fall and prepared for
early spring work can be readily planted
Ia February and the potatoes will be
ready for market in ninety days. This
product will reach st. Louis and
Kansas City markets at time
when there is always great difficult
ty In securing supplies and prices will
rule high. The entire region Of country
from a few miles below this city to
Beeville and from Kennedy junction to
Cuero is admirably adapted 10 truck
farming. II the owners Of large tracts
of land along the lines Of the S. A. p
will cut them up into sections suitable
for truck farming and engage In this
work the railway authorities will put
refrigerator cars upon the rails and
give such rates to st. Louis and inter-
mediate points as will insure hand
some profit to the farmer. In CONVEX
sation with the officials of this road the
LIGHT was Informed that q rate very
little in excess of one cent per pound
from Cuero to st. Louis could be made.
1t does seem that with such rate a
good business could be establish
ed and one that would yield q
revenue to the road as well as
profit to the producers. Green
peas, beans, lettuce, onions, spinach,
radishes can all be grown here and
landed in st. Louis weeks before such
vegetables reach them from points nearer
market. This whole region could be
made the garden spot Of the southwest.
Grapes, peaches and pears grow here
in abundance and with proper cultiva-
tion would attain a reputation that
would not be surpassed by the fruits Of
any section.
The LIGHT was informed that one OF
the matters to be considered by the
In Ia
Tuesday wac this same question OF
raising vegetables for the st. Louis and
Kansas City markets and the establish
ment Of some systematic work in con-
nection Herewith.
Could this scheme be inaugursted, 1t
would be good thing for this whole
section OF the state. The productive
lands OF the region trsversed by the
San Antonio road within one hundred
miles Of this city are largely
uncultlvated, and fortune awaits those
who enter upon this work intelligently.
Very little Of the land passed over 10
the journey to Cuero has as yet been
plowed. No preparations are made for
the spring crops and yet the winter has
been most favorable for this work Of
preparation. II none are helped by
Providence save those who help them
selves, it lie very evident that many Of
our Texas farmers will go unhelped.
Labor, system, intelligently directed
effort, and energy are required to make
msfset gardening q success in this
country, as we'll as else where. The pos
siDiliSies that lie within the compass OF
this whole region agrioulturally and
hortlculturally are not even remotely
apprehended as yet. When they are,
south Texas will be the early market
garden OF such vast region as will tax
her capabilities to the full, In the mean
time, who moves In this work as it's
pioneer?