Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-08-27
TOMATO SEASON.
THE CROP WILL NOT BE Is LARGE As LAST
YEAR.
Wheeling Good Narket-Ihousands Of Bushels
Used II the Manufacture Of Caslp-A
New Industry.

New llluSIy.
The tomato season this gear Is about
two weeks late, and there will not be a
full crop. Farmers have had several
discouraging facts to contend with,
commencing with the late spring. The
plants I'm many instances were set out
too early, and were afterward killed by
the frost and cold weather. The dry
and warm weather Of the past few
weeks has also had a very bad effect,
aud unless there is rain very soon the
effect upon the tomato crop will be very
noticeable.
The tomato worm, which is dreaded
by every farmer, has made its appear
ance again this year, and is destroying
plants by the wholesale. This worm
disappeared about five years ago, aud
has not been noticed since until this
summer. The tomato worm is very de-
structive. twill destroy plant with
in few hours, as 10 a6SOrbS all the life
working at the very heart OF the
plant. Farmers often lind three or four
worms on one plant, aud are kept busy
hunting the ugly green animal The
grasShopper, which attacks the tomato,
instead OF the plant, is also bOthering
farmers a great deal. and doing con-
siderable damage.
Wheeling is a good market for to-
matoes. Besides the great amount sold
and consumed here, il is a distrioutiye
point for the tomatoes of all the Pan
Handle, and some Eastern Ohio counties
Farmers generally are complaining,
some saying that they will have ogtone-
half the usual crop. The plants are
doing much better on the hills than 10
the bottoms.
In addition TO the large amount Of
tomatoes annually sold, and shipped
from Wheeling for domestic use' thous-
Rnds OF bushels are consumed here IN the
MANUFACrURE OF CArsUP.
Few people not familiar with the
facts have any idea Of the Importance
Of this industry 20 the city, or the
large number of people who are EN-
ployed, The manufacture or sweet
catSup In which three Wheeling firms
are now engaged Is comparatively Il
only factory made CaJsup sold was a
sour make. The first firm 70 sell sweet
Catsup I'm this market was Flaccus
Bros. This concern started rather
moiestly about five years ago, aud in
order 10 accommodate a large and cou-
stantly increasing trade, has been COM
PEELED 20 find more cOmmOdiOus quart
ers, where their facilities for turning
out the article are second 70 none.
Later MCMechen & Son, and Hunter
engaged in the trade, and both firms
are meeting with like success.
A REGISTER reporter yesterday called
At Flaccus Bros. factory, corner Seven
teenth and Chapline streets, and wit
messed busy scene. The season is
somewhat late, and few tomatoes are
coming in, but about $40 hands, mostly
girls, ind employment In manufactur-
ing and bOttiing the catSup. The fac
tory is turning out a carload a day.
which Is shipped 20 all parts OF the
world, England, Continental Europe,
China, Australia and South America.
THIS firm contracts yearly with farm
FRS i'm Marshall, Ohio and Wetzel COun-
ties, ia West Virginia, and Belmont
county, Ohio, ana the price of catsup,
therefore is not changed from year 10
year, unless there is a change in the
price of spices. Farmers place about
1000 plants 10 the acre, aud some aver
age $50 bushels 20 the acre. They agree
20 sell all raised on q certain amount of
land to the firm at specified price per
bushel.
Catsup is also
ROTTT.rD N WINTER,
as IL is impossible during the season Of
three months to put up enough to sup
ply the trade for year. The tomatoes
are boiled, aud the skin, seeds and core
taken from them. The juice is then
preserved and used in the winter
months. In this way large force Is
kept al work the year around.
Mr. FlacCus and Mr.. Geo. h. Nc
Mecben, who were seen yesterday by a
REGISTER reporter, stated that the de-
mand for sweet catSup IS constantly
growing, and new factories are spring
ing up every day throughout the coun-
try. The frugal housewife realizes, al
7 ter considering the expense and trouble
OF quitting up" Catsup herself, that
she can buy a superior artl-
Gle Just as cheap. The method
Of boiling and preparing sweet catSup
is a secret guarded strictly by The man
ufacturers. With possibly one eXcep-
ton Flaccus Bros. manufacture more
catSup than any firm in the United
States, making a speciality Of IL. The
firm yesterday received an inquiry from
Chicago house, that desired to sell the
article In Central America and Aus
tralia. They enjoy a good trade in Can
ada, which would be much larger tut
for the excessive duty. Germany also
levies a duty which practically excludes
IL from that market. McMechen & Son
have shipped two carloads this week
across the Atlantic.