The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-12
MELONS BY THE MILLION
THREE THOUSAND MORE ACRES
PLANTED THIS YEAR THAN LAST.

The Total Acreage of Melons in osor-
gia Estimated Between 1900 and
2O,OOO-The Crop about Ten Days
Late on Account OF the April Freeze.
Shipments to Northern Markets Ex-
pected to Fegir bout June 1o-The
Central Eauroad and the Savannah,
Florida and Western Railway Crop
Reports.
The railroads are preparing to handle the
largest watermelon crop this year they
have ever handled. Advices received from
growers and agents show that the acreage
this year exceeds that of last year by about
5000 acres, and that the total acreage in
the state is between IS 900 and 20, 900 acres
The reports also show that the crop is In
good condition. aud with fair prospects Of a
large yield.
| Reports received by the transportation
department CT the Savannah, Florida sud
| Western railway show an acreage of about
| 5000 acres in melons between Townsville
and Albany, the great melon growing sec
! lion, and between 4 QUO and 5000 acres
along the rest Of the system, Of which about
500 are in Florida.
1t is estimated that the acreage planted
this year along the Savannah, Florida and
| Western railway is ABOUT ], 500 acres greater
than that Of last year.
The crop is about ten days late on ac-
count OK the late April frost, which nipped
| the young plants. The late cool spell was
Of no benefit to the vines, and little more
rain would be welcome, bat altogether the
weather generally has been very favorable
| to the Drop.
The Savannah, Florida and Western rail-
| way expects to begin moving melons by
June 10. The first car last year was moved
on June 6. The movement increases very
| rapidly after the season opens, and the ship
ments are at their heaviest by June 20.
On June 10 OF last year the Savannah,
Florida and Western moved 1873 cars. The
shipment OF melons along the Savannah,
Florida and Western are about evenly d.
vided between through shipments by rail
and over the Ocean Steamship Company's
line via Savannah.
Supt. w. W. Starr Of the Central rail-
road estimates that there are about 5000
| acres planted in melons along the Central
system, about three-fourths OF which are on
the Southwestern division. The remainder
are scattered along the main stem, the Sa-
vsnnah and Western, and the Carolina
division. The acreage is a large increase
over last year.
The reports show the crop to be doing
uuelys ana Win every pfOSpeCg OF dig
yield. The season Is little later on the
Central than on the Savannah, Florida and
Western, and the first car will probably be
moved about June 15 From then on it will
be a rush. The melon growers always
make a point of stocking the markets
by July 4. The negro that didn't eat
watermelon on the Fourth of July would
he ostracised by the rest of the race. The
season is virtually at an end by Aug. l.
The greater portion Of the crop along the
Central railroad is shipped north and west
by rail. The greatest takers of Georgia
melons last year in the west were Cincin-
natl, Chicago, Kansas City, st. Louis, and
Evansville, Ind, the latter being a great
distributing point.
The freight rates on melons will be about
the same as last years, which were very
satisfactory to the growers.
The Georgia melon fills the markets of
the country now. The Florida melons come
on a few days earlier, but the crop is SO
small, comparatively, and 80 soon gone,
that it practically outs no figure in the
melon market.