Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-05
TRICK FARMING FOR rExAs.

March 10. is devoted to truck farming. The
writer. Ny. J. Il Hale, defines the term as
meaning something different from market
gardening. The character of production in
both cases may be about the same, but the
market gardener IS one who lives near
market and delivers his products with his
own teams. while the truck farmer lives
remote from the market for which he pro-
Gaccs, and is dependent upon transporra-
lion companies and commission men for the
delivery and SUE Of his goods.
Truck farming proper IS comparatively a
new industry for this country. Up to 1850
L WIS scarcely 50 much as in its infancy.
Railroads seem 70 have been the main fac
;ors il bringing it into prominence, as they
enabled the producer 10 ship his goods from
5y0 % Ia1J miles 10 distant cities, and place
them upon the markets there in frst-class
condition. within the short space Of time
intervening since 1850 the industry has
grown ialo gigantic VroporlioRs-the total
llgss ncumg from # for this country was
not less than 50 100000 last year. And
ye' considering Tie comparatively small
areas 20 which il IS confined, and the i'm
moas- areas with e44a. or superior capa-
D.5,ies now ulworked, 1t may Ill be put
down is IL lis infancy.
From This st might be inferred that the
business o. truck farming viii eventually
DC overlouc, but not SO, Great cities are
sprus.ug up WIKI rapid strides aud their
poop. mus, be fed. The products Of the
truck farmer offer the cheapest and most
wholesome foods 20 be obtained. SO il looks
as II the one would ever keep pace with the
other regardless u, any amount Of Increase
IL .luuA farming. But this amazing growth
uf cities is not ALL The use Of vegetables
IS rapidly en- the advance in our country.
More than double the quantity Of such food
IS now used per capita than was used Ten
years ago, aud it Is highly probable that ten
gears hence Will see The quantity more than
again doubled.
y large proportion OF this truck farming
business Is carried on IN nc Sou h-u
states, mainly 70 supply Northern m-rkc,s
win early fruits and vegetables. This last
gives the South great advantages over the
North, for their products come upon the
markets without local or Other competition.
The Northern truckster has the market
gardeners TO contend against. for the North
arm market gardener can have his products
before The people as early Us the Northern
truck farmer can. but when the products Of
he Southern truck farmer begin to appear
gpon the Northern market, neither the
Northern market gardener or the Northern
truck farmer have Jet planted their crops.
1-0st q our Southern truck farming ia
coated d; u few points near the sea coast,
as Mobile, A'a. Jacksonville, Fla, Savan-
nah, Ga, Charleston, ), {. and Norfolk
"a As yet the general business has not
much extended to the interior of any Of the
Southern states, but there IS no good rea-
eOu for This facJ-the people have not yet
got al ii. Is the only explanation that can
X offered. OF course the coast products
might be put upon the market little ear
Ior than those Of the interior, still there
would be IN opening for al, as u success
sion, to get in on ample time TO be ahead Of
-he regular Northern products, Water
melons ure quite largely raised in the iate-
FLOR but when tins has been said about all
ha. been said
The bulletin before us enumerates the
recognized products Of the trucl; farmer Is
follows Melons, cabbage, peas, asparagus,
Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes,
spinach. celery, string or snap beans, beets.
oucumuers cauHdowers, carrots, eggplant,
LaIe, lettuce, lima or butter beans. radishes,
rhubarb, sQuashes, sweet corn and turuips
One important product appears 10 have
hcca lett out Of the list: Strawberries. Our
Southern truck farmers invariably do
heavy business in Strawberries for the
ual,g Northern market.
Texas has done q good deal in truck farm
lng. especially IN melons, but not enough,
SO CONSIDERED, TO eu;itle any point in the
safe 10 special mention IN this bulletin
She ough, to be doing il all, 50 to speak
Al leas. she ought 70 be supplying every
CITY Of tn Mississippi valley above her
with many Of The upper cities further east.
Eer soils are the very best for the purpose
known. and her great length north and
south would enable her to run a regular
succession Throughout. the spring ana early
Eummur season, up TO the income Of North
era products. The southern point of Texas
Is almost three degrees nearer the equator
than any point III the United States
at which truck farming IS carried
ou-aI fine trucking lands. This
would enable her to get in al the North en-
tire,y ahead Of everything in the truck
line. When these almost tropical products
had been exhausted, the region next above
wou.d be ready 10 send out q fresh supply,
and 50 on. succession after succession.
until the upnermost limits of the state had
been reached. and it WIS time for the
Northern producers 10 oil up their wagons
aud g; ready to haul in their frstlings Of
tie season. Her shipping facilities, by
Railroads. are getting 70 be SO good as TO
enable her 10 have il all her own way
should she desire to do so. After consid-
S.ing a.. tie circumstances every thinking
Uau must see Ina. Texas has il entirely
within her power to completely mouopo-
lie the early trucking business in al the
cities JUS; referred to. While il is not, to
Us. subject Of pleasant thought, on &C
count Of our past relations with some of
tpc.a. We are Lo0es; enough 10 admit that a
move al along this line in Texac would
speedily run out the trucking industries
TOW EouraAins IL points on the coast east
q liza Mississippi river Her superior
soils would enable her TO do IT,