The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-06
SOUTH JERSEY FARMS.
They Cannot Be Excelled for Rails
ing Fruit and Vegetables.

Special to the Sunday 8for1lino Wees
ABsEcoS, Nov. 5, 1s9o-It is interesting
to watch the operations Of the truck"
farmers OF South Jersey in relation to the
chances Of making money Ia soil cheap
ly purchased. easily titled, and which at
first sight looks decidedly unpromising to
the eye of one accustomed to tine rich
prairies Of the West or the heavy soils OF
the North 1t is not necessary to enlarge
upon the fact that the soil OF Southern
New Jersey IS chiefly sand of various de-
gress of worth or worthlessness. The
farmers have very simple test to deter
mine its value. They take uD handful
and squeeze IL. Ii it adheres and holds
together like mud or putty it Is all right,
but II 1t resists this test aud the ''grains'
move upon each other when the pressure
is removed it Is comparatively valueiess-
q mere aggregation of silica.
Below the great pine, oak and cedar
forests is belt OF land that skirts the in
land waters along the Jersey coast for
many miles. While some of this belt is
not OF great value. much Of it is admira-
bly, adapted to truck farming and the rails
ing OF delicious fruits of ali varieties.
Celery grows rapidly and has crispness
and an exquisite flavor rarely found else
where. Asparagus, green peas and sweet
corn are not surpassed anywhere. Melons,
and especially canteloupes, have a juci-
ness and a peculiar sweetness unequalled
bv the production of the Southern States.
Tomatoes grow ia such abundance as to
be drug in the market. Onions, beeIs
radishes and other vegetables do well,
but are hardly equal TO the productions
Of the compact soil Of New England
Above all. strawberries grow to fabu-
lous size and unsurpassed excellence.
Nowhere will you see such magnificent
CO
be something IN the light sandy soil ex-
aetly suited 10 its highest development.
This State cannot hope TO compete with
the West in the raising OF wheat and
corn. IL Is not necessary TO do SO, for
other crops will pay better, but even in
the growing Of cereals the great cost of
transportation leaves but small margin
of profit to the Western farmer-certafn-
ly not greater than would remain in the
hands of his Jersey brother. A
good many acres Of land can be
bought in this State for the amount OF
money required TO reach the far West in
the single item OF railroad fares alone. for
a man and his family. Furthermore, he
is not self-expatriated beyond the borders
of civilization. Land can be purchased
tn many places in South Jersey as low as
IS per acre--in some localities even less.
The average cost of clearing and putting
it In condition to receive a crop is esti-
4
be what skill, labor and intelligence make
1T.
There can be no doubt that much OF the
forest land is destined to disappear at no
distant date, and the virgin soil made to
produce large quantities of fruit and
truck. There is no question of the capa-
bility of the soil in this direction when
supplemented by thrift and intelligent
labor. With sucn possibilities in the
future ii does not seem probable that the
great forest belt can remain intact much
longer. Indeed it is more likely that the
next generation will see it transformed
into vast network of gardens, vineyards
and orchards.
The little clearings. settlements, and
villages, springing up here and there along
the lines of railroad are the forerunners
of what is to come. The oak, the cedar.
and the pine will give way to the peach,
the pear, and the grape. The swamp,
where now the far-famed Jersey mosquito
raises its numerous and able-bodied fam
lily, must eventually be drained and yield
their beds of mari and mud to the plough
and hoe.
How can It be otherwise? There is not
an inch OF this tract of land that is not
within $50 miles of 5000, 900 people. and q
few hours transportation by rail. Avery
large percentage of its acreage is capable
of producing as fine fruit and garden
truck as can be raised anywhere In the
United States. With the rapidly Increas-
ing population of the great cities near by
Will come corresponding demand for
the products of the farm and garden. 1t
is, therefore, natural that the law of de-
and should seek its supply in the most
convenient neighborhood, for producer
and consumer are alike benefited when
distance is shortened and cost OF trans
portation reduced.