The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-28
"raUCKINa" IN THG sourH.
Tomato Growing for Northern Mar
kets.

,--- No. /. .--
As is well known distinction Is made be-
tween trucking" and market gardening. Z"
The former term Is applied to the business
Of raising vegetables for shipment in
quantity to distant markets, while market
gardening implies the growing of them for
g local market. Near the large towns and
cities throughout the country many persons
are engaged in vegetable aud fruit growing
20 supply those who are unable to grow
them for themselves. Census statistics show
very large amount of capital invested iu
this business.
Trucking" may be said TO be a strictly
southern industry, carried on chiefly in the
coast region from Virginia to Florida, but
developed to a considerable extent in South
ern Georgia and Florida to quite distance
In the interior.
During the past ten or twelve years there
has been great developments Of the in
dustry.
Thousands have engaged in It, some to
find it a very profitable aud satisfactory
business, while much larger number have
met with only loss and disappointment.
Those who engage in it must exhibi5 the
greatest of energy and good judgment to
make 1t tho remunerative business that it is
generally cracked up TO be. 1t is certainly
no FOOLS business. TIE lazy mantle man
who takes things easy will soon find that it
is not the business for him to succeed at
Energy and prompeness are essential
requisites here to success, and il is only
those who exhibit these qualities that make
successful truckers" The peas and toma-
toes and cuourn bers and the asparagus and
the like must be culled at the proper stage
and promptly shipped, else they become a
dead loss The potatoes and onions and
beets. ETC.. must be properly assorted and
put in the most attractive shape possible
The tomato, for instance, when cultivated
and shipped properly is one OF the most
profitable Of the truckers crop, but it re-
quires watchfulness and promptneSs to put
them in the northern markets in q shape to
attract purchasers. They must not be al
lowed to get overrlpe before shipping, AL
lowance must be- made for the time this
vegetable will be on the way TO market, and
particular care has to he exercised that it is
not too far advanced in ripeness as to rem
der it liable to become too ripe before reach
ing the end of the journey. sf
A great many truckers who ship long dis
tances frequently find very little profit in
shipments of tomatoes. IL there happens
to be any unusual delay In transportation
the tomatoes are spoiled before they reach
their destination. For long distances the
tomatoes must be gathered as soon as they
show the least indication Of colorlng, and
no imperfect specimen should be included in
the crates.
There is a great difference in the shipping
qualities of tomatoes. Some varieties will
bear shipment long distances, where others
Te d Cor
plant only those kinda that ship we'll, and
when he once finds such a variety he should
stick to it. The Paragon" and the
Beauty" are kinds that stand shipment
well, and there are still other kinds that
also ship we'll
On soil adapted to the tomato and Guilt
waited Co the highest degree, il is not a diff
cult matter to make 500 bushels of toma-
toes to the acre-at least three-fourths OF
which will be available for shipment, IN
less great deal OF wet weather should pre-
vail about ripening time. II much rain
should fall at that period much of the fruit
will crack and be unsuited for shipment any
great distance.
A perfect stand Of tomatoes implies about
4,S40 plants to the acre, and it is very I'M
proftfhl plants where nine of them will not
yield bushel of tomatoes during the sea-
son.
At distance of 3x3 feet there will be
4,S40 plants, but there is always some
plants lost through some cause or other
cut worms root rot OF blast, and if this
loss does not exceed 10 or Is per cent, the
remainder constitutes good enough stand
TO produce 500 bushels.
Where the land lies level the crop can be
grown to better satisfaction by checking
the land 3x3 feet and setting plant in each
check. This allows OF horse cultivation
both ways and obviates the necessity of so
haxa p xuit a hOo Tha Or
harrow or cultivator running first one way
and them the other, especially il started In
time, will keep the grass and weeds under
perfect control, needing perhaps only one
hoeing to give the finishing touches TO the
crop.
Another plan Of cultivating the crop is
one very frequently adapted by the writer,
ana which tends to protect the fruit from
routing, and this Is to have wide and narrow
rows alternate. Between the narrow rows
only two and a half feet, and between the
wide or alternate rows four feet Before
the vines begin to fall over the narrow mid
dies are cleaned perfectly, and the vines as
they begin to be borne down by the weight
OF developing fruit are made to lap over the
narrow middles and act as q support for
each other. From time to time as the rip
ening fruit is gathered il the vines are care
fully moved and loosened up from the
earth it will be found that only few torna-
Toes will rot. Stalking is entirely too ex-
pensive proceeding where tomatoes are
grown on a large scale, and this plan OF al
ternate narrow and wide rows Is the very
Dest we have ever tried for the economical
protection Of the fruit from rot.
We commend this plan most heartily to
our truckers as the very best that they can
Lohow toward getting maximum crop of
sound tomatoes. s. A. @.