The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-04
so,-ruERy TRUCKING INTERESTS.


by the Southern States which are destined to
become the source of enormous revenue TO the
people of this section. is the adaptation Of the
Southern soil and climate to the development
of every branch of the trucking interests. A
very notable progress has already been made
in this direction. but it does not compare with
the progress which will be made in the future,
if the promise of the present indications is to
be fulfilled.
There are many substantial reasons for
thinking that our Southern trucking interests
are barely in their infancy if the extent Of
their development in the last few years be
alone considered. The census of 1880 did not
undertake TO give any statistical information
about truck farming in the L nited States as a
separate branch of industry. and it was not
until the census Of 1890 that any reliable light
was thrown on the subject. From ono of the
reports Of this census. which is devoted ex-
clusively TO the condition of the trucking
interests of this country, it will be seen that
a yearly product, valued at SIC, 81. 155, is
derived from this branch of agricultural in
dustry after deduction Of all freight charges
for transportation from farm to market, and
every form Of commission
Under the terms Of the report on trucking
interests tho sections of country in which
these interests have been chiefly developed
are divided off into the New York and Phila-
delphia districts, the Norfolk district and the
South Atlantic district. In the latter two
districts, the Norfolk and South Atlantic, the
acreage devoted TO truck farming is 1886,
as compared with 10s l35devoted TO the Same
interest in the New York and Philadelphia
districts-that is, one-thrd more. About ten
thousand more acres are cultivated in aspara-
gus in the Southern than in the Northern
States, and about nine thousand more acres
in peas. In the cultivation of beets, beans.
cucumbers and watermelons the truck gar
dens and farms Of the South show a marked
excess in quantity over those Of the North.
and this superiority has only been secured in
the course OF the last ten or fifteen years.
In 1850. for instance, only thirty-one thous-
and bushels Of potatoes were shipped 70 the
Northern States from the port Of Mobile, but
in 1880. this number had increased to seventy
five thousand bushels. This rate OF increase
has been observable in every department Of
Southern trucking interests and the effect
upon the same interests in the Northern
States is already most injurious. Not only
have the Southern truck-farns been able TO
compete with Northern in the mere point of
quantity. but also in what Is still more i'm
portant the time in which they can place
fruits and vegetables in the market. In this
matter Of time. the Southern trucking in
terests enjoy an enormous advantage. which
they have utilized so well already that North
ern farmers are finding their markets unprofit-
able unless they are situated IN the imme-
date vicinity Of towns and cities.
As the Southern trucking interests develop.
the outlook for the same interests in the
Northern States is rapidly becoming over
clouded. the prospect at present being that
these interests will decline in volume. and in
many places be abandoned altogether. In
the meanwhile the population of the North
ern States is rapidly increasing in size. the
cities are expanding at a rate never observed
before, and the towns are growing into cities.
Every year will see an enlargement Of the
market upon which the trucking interests Of
the Southern States will continue TO rely for
their most profitable custom. The limit of
production in the South has not yet been
reached, because the market is widening each
month. In order 10 meet the increasing de-
mands Of this market, the trucking interests
Of the Southern States will increase both in
variety and volume until their proportions
will be phenomenal.