The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-05
WATERMELON INDUSTRY.
A PROBABLE DECREASE IN SOUTH
GEORGIA PRODUCTIONS.


Reductions-Consum Increas-
ing-The Melon Outiook-Efect of
Late Rains The Biggest Melon
Patch
VALDosTA, GA, June 3.-By far the
most important item in the truck farming
of the south in the traffic in watermslons.
Despite the excessive freight rates the
breadth of soil devoted to this single in
dustry is simply enormous. According TO
the estimates recently made at the meeting
in Atlanta of the several traffic managers
of the various lines, the grand total of car
loads for the present year from South
Georgia is put down at S,729 or 1000 loads
above the receipts of 1883.
Competent judges believe, however, THAT
the crop will fall considerably short of
these figures. This will be owing in part to
reduction in the acreage, and the May
aad April drought. The growing vines.
though generally clear of grass and healthy
are quite short and have not as vet borne
abundantly. a dry season. 1t is true, Is
favorable to the growth of melons, and
nothing can affect them more disastriously
than long-continued rainy spells. Subjected
t. this ordeal, the fruit changes color and
becomes speckled or decays. and the vines
frequently die outright. But still
gentle showers and sufficient
amount of moisture are indispensable to
the perfect growth and development of the
melon. These, until now, have been lack
ing, and, as consequence, the fruit is
scarcer than usual and more backward.
Timely seasons, however will do much to
remedy this deficiency and the drought
already seems TO be broken.
WHERE THE MELONS ARE GROWN.
For long period Richmond and Burke
were the banner melon counties of Georgia.
The "Rattlesnaken variety of the former
and the Lawson" melon of the latter, the
seed of which came from the sea coast of
Liberty county, were the favoriteS and
became famous all over the country
Once established as an article of COM
merce the production of this delicious
fruit has lee largely extended and is now
an imp 2rtant source of revenue, when sold
both in the home and northern markets, for
large portion of Southern Georgia. The
principal exporting counties are Richmond,
Burke, Jefferson, Columbia, Chatham,
Bib, Houston, Loe, Macon, Taylor,
Dougherty, Mitchell, Thomas, Brooks,
Lowndes, Berrien, Pulaski, Dodge and
Clinch, other localities also embarking
more or less in the business.
Is MELON RAISING PROFITABLE?
Hitherto owing to high freights, dis
honest middlemen, tardy TRANSPORTATION,
lack of ventilated cars, and ignorance of
the best markets, the number of truck
growers who have realized satisfactory re-
turns for their melon shipments is distress
ingly small.
Within the past few days l have visited
Berrien, Lowndes, Brooks, Thomas and
Mitchell counties and made diligent in
quiry in the premises. The experience of
the Mitchell farmers will suffice for them
all: AT Camilla, the thriving county seat
of Mitchell, it was my privilege to consult
with D. X. Butler, Capt. p w. Twitty, c.
r. Twitty and others, all first-class farmers
and representative men, from whom |
elected the following information:
Last year Mitchell county produced 800
carloads Of melons. The acreage the pres
ent season is somewhat reduced, but foots
up about 2, 800 acres. The first shipment in
1888 was made from Pelham on June z.
This year, owing to the drought, none will
go forward SOONER than from the 18th to
the 10th of this month. At present the
melons are about the size of a mans head.
In answer to the question, what pro-
portion of the melon shipments had de-
frayed freight chargesm the emphatic re-
Spouse was, mot more than one-half" In
addition, was told that barely one-fourth
of the planters ha0 realized cent of profit
last year upon their melon Investments
This was ascribed to the high freight rates
and the false dealing of agents
The general desire now is to invite. in
future, northern and western dealers to
send out their own agents and purchase the
melons delivered at the railroad. Better
take cents piece at home, they saw, than
be subjected TO the vexatious delays and
losses that are entailed when shipped
abroad. This it is thought, will inure to
rla Cd ntae - hntb A.
will be In position to make better terms
will the roads, and can then follow up their
purchases in person.
The prospect, however is more favorable
for the coming crop. Freight reductions
have been quite liberal Thus the present
rates at Camilla are SO 80 against $91 per
carload in 1888, to New York Boston and
Philadelphia and find upon careful in
quiry of the railroad agents at Townsville.
QItman and Valdosta that. counting in
the increased allowance in loading, of two
tons to the car the present year, the reduc-
ton is rully $50 on each carlo I'd. More
over, the number of ventilated cars will be
largely augmented on all of the routes.
Experience has shown that melons packed
in close box cars seldom pay any profit to
the Shippers Had these reductions and i'm
provementS in transportation facilities been
made known earlier the melon acreage
would have been largely increased. Now,
of course, it is too late to plant.
The consumption of this refreshing sum-
mer fruit is reported to be rapidly extend
ing, especially in the northwest. Hence the
strenuous and partially successful efforts
that have been made for a reduction of
rates beyond the Ohio river
1t would seem that in view of the vast
magnitude of the melon traffic, and its inn
portance to the railroads during the COM
paratvely idle months of summer, that
they ought to be willing Co make still fur
Their concessions to the growers. The fact is
patent that under the former tariff of
freights this industry was beginning TO
languish IN some of the best melon districts,
and was in danger of dying out.
Our railway magnates would do well to
remember the fable of the goose that laid
the golden egg. No farmer Will follow the
occupation that does not afford the promise
Of reasonable remuneration, and thus far
the balance-sheet in thousands of instances
have been against them.
THE MELON OUTLOOK.
The late refreshing rains, after many long
weeks of continuous drought, have greatly
encouraged the farmers. In Mitchell county
cotton blooms are reported, and corn every
where was not so much damaged bat that it
may yet recover and prduce an average
yield. But it is the melons that viii receive
tho greatest impetus. Now the dormant
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