Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-02-03
four feet each way. If commercial ferti.

frost. The process Of cultivation is the
same as corn. No means are used to train
the plants on trellis as some suppose to be
necessary. To protect the vines from
worms. turkeys are used at the rate of three
to the acre. A boy should drive them over
the field during the day and return them
to the rOosting ground at night. Leave a
vacant row at proper intervals to facilitate
the driving of the wagon during the har-
vestlng season. When they are ready to
gather. one active hand will gather the
product of ten acres. They should be
gathered just before they are ripe if the
factory is several miles distant. Ordinary
Judgment will determine such matters.
THE COST.
What ia the cost of cultivating the
crop?
Ans.-The cost of cultivating is but
little in excess of that expended on crop
of corn, excepting the killing and plant
ing.
What is the product per acre ?
Ans.-150 bushels is the minimum; 200
to 800 bushels per acre should be raised if
the soil is adequately enriched and Gull
tivated.
What number of 2.lbs. cans will bushel
of good tomatoes fill
Ans.-An average of twenty.
What is the price paid for tomatoes de-
liYered at the factory?
Ans.-Twenty cents.
What is the price paid at the factory for
corn (?
Ans.-Thirty cents in the ear.
What variety of corn is most popular
Ans.-Sweet corn. Reliable seedsaen
will supply your wants in this respect, as
well as in tomatoes.
CANNING AND PACKING.
What is the cost of buildings and machin-
cry for packing goods?
Ans.-.For tomatoes, peaches. apples,
and beans. the buildings and machinery
need cost but a nominal sum. II you don't
care to lay out much money in permanent
improvements, a shed to protect ten to
fifty people from the sun and rain, and
pans such as are used for sugar boiling, Of
capacity in proportion to your crop, and a
few temporary tables and crane to handle
the heated goods, all OF which an average
carpenter can make, aggregating about
$500. This will equip you for ten years or
more, and brings the business within the
reach Of the average farmer.
What In your opinion are the pre-
requisites to successful prosecution of
the business?
Ans.-1st. Capacity to succeed in any
business you undertake. A person who
fails in any business will fail in hisquick.
81. Nerve and pluck to bear disappoint-
ments. Sd. More than ordinary good judg-
ment. There are no ruts or grooves in
this business to keep lazy drone or a
weak judgment from the wreck. 4th. An
ordinary farmer will continue to grow
wheat and corn year after year though
failures repeat themselves alternately. If
you should pack crop and sell at cost on
account of overprod uctlon, or from any
other cause, don't despondingly give
that is already ruIced. Such adversiuies
befall all avocati0ns, and packers suffer
the same. The profits are sometimes like
the historic flea, when you think you've
got him you are mistaken.
THE PROFITS.
What are the average profits of the bus
mess?
Ans.-TWenty-fve cents per case of two
dozen two.pound cans is about the mini
mum after the produce is delivered at the
factory. Fifty cents is sometimes real
lied. This has been prosperous year for
those engaged in 1t, and splendid profits
have been secured.
ABOUT OvER-PRODUCTION.
What elements of failure exist?
Ans.-The possibility of ver-produc-
ton, the incapacity of those who superin-
tend the processing of goods, and the in
attention of those who, failing elsewhere,
look to this for the royal road to fortune.
What are the probabilities of over pro-
duction9
Ans.-Remote. There may be surplus
one year, especially in tomatoes, but it will
be self corrective. Weak operators will ma
turally retire after failure or two and
over production will reduce the price, and
that in exact proportion will increase the
demand and the succeeding year will ine-
vitality yield remunerative prices. The
output is rapidly increasing and the con-
sumption is making equally rapid strides.
AS our cities are growing more rapidly
than at any other period of the world 8
history, those who produce are relatively
growing much smaller than these who
consume. We are now importing canned
goods from Europe. and this fact alone
eertifes to the fact that the hazards of
over production are practically nominal.
Where can the necessary machinery and
SO forth, be procured ?
Ans.-The packing of corn and peas re-
quires apparatus different to that required
for tomatoes, &C., and an advertisement
in the Manufacturers Record" Balti-
more, will place at your command all the
information needed on this subject.
ADVICE FOUNDED ON OBSERVATION.
Wonld you advise the adoption of the
packing business generality?
Ans.-WIthout hesitation. would ad-
wise those who give personal attention to
business. and whose energy and judgment
will give reasonable guarantee'of success
in any business, to make 1t factor in
the programme. n o farmer should aban-
don altogether the old lines. Reduce the
average of wheat and corn one-half, dou-
BILE the average of grass, and if there Is a
packing house within three miles put the
boys and girls to raise tomatoes, sweet
corn, beans, peas, peaches, &C., at the rate
of ten acres to each, and at the end of
half decade of years you can have the