The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-08
GARDEN TRUCK HIGH
The Lack Of Rain Has Al
most Doubled Prices
Local Merchants Com
plain.


The two months drought from which
the farming districts OF New Jersey ar
now suffering has had a very serious
effect on farm products OF all kinds.
There is hardly a farmer in the State
who has not suffered loss through the
lack OF rain. Many say they Will not be
able to raise CROPS enough to pay ex-
peuses, while others declare they will re-
quire all they raise for the use of their
W households. There is great fear
thai unless rain falls within the next ten
days the crops will be entirely burned
sp, and it is presuged, that whether the
rain comes or not the farmers will nave
Il hard winter.
Farmers VINO last ye1r and preceding
years hired fifteen or twenty men have
now sever OF, eight, aud instead of driving
three heavily laden wagons to the mar
ket every day, now onlv send one SEAL
wagon. The tomato crop has probably
been affected most. 1t being completely
ruined in some sections of Brookdale,
Woodbridge and Roselle. In Carlstad5
the crop of tomatoes mas not more han
one-fiflh Of the bulk it had last year. and
the few thai are growing are small aud
green, and, the farmers say. are hardly
worth bringing to market. The crops of
potatoes, beets, corn. green peas. cauli-
flower. lettuce and, IN fact, green We ge-
tables Of all kinds are from two weeks to
a month behind tine season, and the best
OF them are of poor q,altty.
wINDMILLS HELP THEM.
The farmers OF kictifisid and Harrison
do not feel the need OF rain as much az
their brother Rrangers IN other places.
In Richieid most of the farmers have
windmills which they use in times of
drought 10 force water through SIN Ill
pipes which they have spread around
their farms. and by attaching a hose 10
the pipe at certain parts they can water
the crops that require it most. Sui at
the best this method is one which
involves considerable labor and takes
men away from other wofK, which
must be neglected for it, aud it is
Of course bat a poor substitute for
rain. A similar method of watering the
crops is employed 1t Harrison, anti al
though the farmers in both places work
day aud night with the hose their crops
are poor. Where iney last year picked
100 heads of eabnage. this year they ouly
get thirty. Corn ears and potatoes ali
over the State felt the effects Of The
pnrchiug% drought, and are oily halt the
size they should be at this ri..ie of the
year.
Potatoes sold t is time last year at from
50 tn 81 25 u barrel. but now the price is
81. rs to 50 Cabbage last year ut this
time could be bought al from So To IS II
uGuIC y IL 10 oGiiliS "a Cf w
So. The best corn last Year sold ut $I.25 a
hundred, but how the farmers are get
ting 81. IS. and SO 1t is through the entire
list OF vegetable products. The prices IF
everything in that line has advanced all
the way from 20 TO 10o per Cent. But de-
spite this tie crops are so ANAL this year
that farmers who las year put 81 600
away, will nor be able TO make Il dollar
beyond tAeif absolute needs.
WHAT U LOCAL MERCHANTS SAY.
Several beers OF. this Mercfiants'
Protective Association were asked b q
NEWS reporter last evening If the drought
had any apprsclable effect upon garden
products. Mr.. Beach said that the
price OF several pieces OF garden truck
had taken an upward march. Especially
marked was tiiis in tomatoes anu put;t-
toes, he said. Tomatoes are not big
this year s last, Tile lack OF rain being
r~espouSibis to very great degree for
J his. MrsBanks says lnab things are on
the jump. Hs cannot sell ve9ei abIes at
SO low a figure as isss year hecanse they
cost hun more. Farmers iii he
says. OF the ltck OF rain. Potatoes which
formerly sold for HIS per barrel bring
S3.W now, aud other pJtatoes nre proper
t~Iouateey nign. The country nap is tak-
lug advantage OF this atlu Is laying on a
thick coat. II they get II they promise
10 tduee prices Ui their wares. Ii Dol
wv ivy POOHfS 80 ~ 1f6
mouey 10 make Vi The loss.
IL tina farms near The Oranges. Cald-
well. Livingston and Milbnrn the arouud
is very dry. A reporter for THE NEWS.
visited Harm III Caid IS ell aud asked h.
Proprietor of the place what the prospects
were II rain did not do the proper thing.
WALL" sail lie. j reckon o ely
folks III nave TO pay We people fer the
truck. that's all. Ell some garidsru rain
machines could tie got here | reckon it'd
do a heap of good. Rain's scarce"
This farmer said that he did not think
that the peach crao would tie affactea
much by the lack OF water. asked him
how his water melous are coming along.
He shrugged his big shoulders and an
seered tina they were so,;Ie what Dig ger
than peanuts, but tn IT'S all he could say
about Them. His potatoes were not up
to times. lie snid he had to cart water
up 10 his garden or let IL 20 without the
fluid. Things may take a serious turn
il we don't have u visitation OF rain; and
ne need a good big one, too.