Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-04
GARDENER'SOUTLOOK
The Backward Season, While Unfa-
vOrable to Consumers,
is ADVANTAGEOUS TO PRODUCERS.
Less Work to Do and Much Better Prices
Received for Stuff.
A GOOD YEAR FOR DAIRY PRODUCTS
is ADVANTAGEOUS TO PRODUCERS.
A GOOD YEAR FOR DAIRY PRODUCTS
OFFICE OF PTTTsBURG DISPATCH,
TUESDAY, June 8 1890.

OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH,
TUESDAY, June 3 1890. {
An interview to-day with a market gar
dener who cultivates 27 acres of ground
within a half dozen miles of the city limits
ELECTED some facts of interest to the general
public. Said he: "In my time there has
been a complete revolution in the gardener
trade in this vicinity. The land 1 am now
working was worked by my father more than
half century ago. When he first invested
the cost of ground was $40 per acre. Now it
is valued at 81, 900 per acre. Ny recollec-
tion of gardening goes back to war times,
when everything produced by the earth
commanded high prices. Then it paid to
bring hay, potatoes and watermelons to
Pittsburg markets. Ny father gathered in
many an honest dollar at the old Scotch Hill
market on Second avenue, by selling sweet
potatoe. and watsrmelons to the old-timers.
In those old days there was no competition
with Southern markets. Railroads had not
then grldironed the country and fruit and
vegetables from Tennessee and Maryland were
an unknown quantity in PiJtsburg markets.
Gardeners in this section were monarchs of
all they surveyed, and their rights there were
none to dispute
t.But with the advent of railroads reaching
to all sections of the land there came great
changes IN our occupation. II we alLempteQ
now to follow in the same lines as our fathers
we would be left every time. The same meth
DDS followed now as a quarter of century ago
would bring starvation Our main dependence
at this day is on early garden stuff. Ground
has become too valuable in the vicinity OF
Pittsburg for late crops
Early Fruits uud Vegetables.
''Early corn. tomatoes. asparagus. etc, are now
our mainstay. In the line of late staff we are
no longer able to compete with gardeners and
farmers at a distance, where land and labor are
cheap The early bird catches the worm, and
the early gardener in this region reaps the best
profits. Our best profits of late years are from
early corn. Last year brought to this market
fully 2 600 bushels of roasting ears, and prices
ava aged 81 per bushel One-half of the re-
cei9s, probably, went to expenses in the way
of taxes, labor, freight etc. Roasting
ears do not bear long shipment,
and hence, that which comes from the South
cannot coInpete.with the home grown article.
We consider that we are doing well to have
corn ready for market by the 4th of July.
Prospects are that this year it will be later
than usual There was some Southern corn on
the market last Saturday but it was very poor
stuff. Gardeners prospects for this season,
are. SO far, satisfactory. To be sure, the season
has been backward, and the yield has been
below average. But this is more than offset by
the better prices we have received for stuff.
We have had better prices for our asparagus,
lettuce, and in fact, all garden products this
season, SO far, than we have been
This means more money and less work to the
producer. The consumer has to pay more for
his stuff these backward seasons, But SO far
as the gardeners side is concerned there is no
reason TO complain of the season so far"
In the interview with this market gardener
it was developed that the annual cost of manure
for the q acres of land cultivated by him was
not less than four hundred dollars on an aver
age, and that in the busiest part of last season
freight bills were up to thirty dollars per week.
Dairy Products.
Domestic cheese, which has been in short
supply for q few weeks past, is now coming in
freely, and prices are likely to drop within
few days. Prospects for trst-class yield were
never better at this season OF the year. Good
grazing and the cool backward spring have
been very favorable to a large yield and good
quality Of dairy products. As TO Swiss style
of cheese, receipts in this market have so far
The regular make of Sweitzer cheese is not
generally ready TO- the market before the
middle of June. That now offered being made
ahead of time to catch trade is in
the main of poor quality. Old do
mestlc SweitZer and lmberger cheese
are now practically out of the market for this
season. Imported is scarce and higher. The
prospects are for an abundant yield and excel
lent quality both here and abroad. Since the
first appearance of new Ohio cheese few
weeks ago supply has not been up to demand
until this week,
Ten days ago dealers were not able to fill
orders, and double the amount of stuff in the
market could have been sold. Now there is
enough and TO spare, and stock begins to accu-
mulate. With the great increase in supply
comes Improvement in quality and tendency