The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-27
FEVER ACRES THIS YEAR.
The Outlook in the Melon Belt as
Reported to the S., T. and W.

Statistics Showing How Last Years
Crop Compares With This Years
Prospects-The Acreage Smaller,
Butts Better Yield Looked For-The
Season a Little Late on Account of
Cool Weather-Western Shipments
Heavier Than Eastern-This Years
Outlook Good One.
So far the watermelon crop has pro-
crossed under themost favorable auspices,
and while the season may open little
| late, the outlook is a most favorable one.
Last year the season opened on June ?,
which was the date of the shipment of
the first carload of watermelons by J. r.
Forester, Jr., from Pelham to Chicago
The season was well under way by
June 10, This season will not
begin so early on account of the cool
weather that has prevailed during the
last few weeks which has had a tendency
| to keep back the crop. The difference,
however, will not be more than three or
four days, and the first carload shipment
from the heart of the melon belt is ex-
pected as early as June or 4, tho latter
part of next week
FROM AN OFFICIAL REPORT.
These facts are based on the official re-
port of Assistant Superintendent Aveilhe
to the Savannah, Florida and Western
railway. Mr.. Aveilhe gives this subject
careful study each year, and is authority
on all subjects relating to the watermelon
crop.
The melon belt proper of South Geor-
gia, or the area in.which most of the crop
is grown, extends from Valdosta west to
| cambridge Junction, and from Thomas
! vile as an approximate center to Month
cello, Fla, on the south, and to Albany
on the north. Mr.. Aveilhe will go to
brownsville June 10, and will make that
place his headquarters during the melon
season. All the melon trains are dis
patched from that point, and Mr.. Aveilhe
has general charge of all the shipments
throughout that entire territory.
For this reason he makes a thorough
study of the crop each year and embOdies
his observations in report to the road,
with comparative statements taken from
the record of the preceding year.
The crop, he says, will be little later
on account of the recent cool weather,
and ne thinks the first carload will be
ready for shipment next Saturday.
THIS YEARS ACREAGE.
The acreage this year is very much
smaller than that of last year, many cut
ting off their crop, it is stated, from fear
of cholera. In 1892 there were planted in
the area above mentioned 9,672 acres,
while this year there are only $3.50
acres, or a decrease of S33 acres.
This decrease in the. acreage
is hardly significant. as it is found in
every portion of the melon belt that this
season so far has been more favorable
than last years, and this means a larger
yield per acre and perhaps better melons
generally,
The heaviest acreage on the line of the
| Savannah, Florida and Western is around
the three small towns of Meigs, Pelham
and Camilla, all in Georgia. At these
three places alone the acreage is 3, 200.
These points are right in the heart of the
melon belt and generally produce the
earliest and finest fruits.
The planters are all eager to ship the
| first cars as they can, of course, be sold
at premium 1t would be well, however,
for them to take warning and not ship
green melons, as it Injuries them and the
trade in their section generally.
The Florida crop is never as heavy,
even in proportion as that in Georgia.
Some few melons have already been
! shipped from there by express, but no
carload lots have yet been sent out The
outlook this year in Florida, however, is
for a larger crop, and while they raise
earlier melons they do not get in the first
carload lots.
WHERE THE MELONS GO.
OF the crop of melons last year 50 per
cent. went west and northwest, 20 per
cent. east and northeast, and per cent
were local. The average yield last year
was :. 4S acres to the carload and in 1891
it was 2.5S. This year is expected to bring
an increase in, the yield over that of last
year and the prospects are that it will be
brought TO '2.42 to 2.45 acres to the car
load.
Western shipments all go by rail, but
from Savannah north and east they are
pretty well divided between the railroads
and the Ocean steamship lines. When
the melon season sets in the Ocean Steam
ship Company will have completed the
work of repairing its vessels, and the
schedule Offour ships each week to and
from New York will be put back on.
The demand in the western markets
is much heavier than in the eastern mar
ketS.
The MAORI ~ of the melons in this belt
are raised between brownsville and AL
bany, and the Georgia crop, most of
which comes, from that section, is not
surpassed BY amy in the south. Georgia
melons are given preference in almost
every northern market They are larger,
sweeter and more desirable. They aver
age 900 to 2,0W to the car, depending on
the size of the melon ordered by the Gus
toner.
TIE CENTRAL's TERRITORY.
The Centrals railroad draws it's water
melon business largely from the same
territory asa does the Savannah,
Florida and Western. The Southwestern
railroad runs right into the heart of the
melon belt and it draws much of
the business that is turned
over to it for northern shipment by the
Savannah, Florida and Western.
The other principal territory covered
by the Central is along the main line be-
tween here arS Macon, and along the line
of the Augusta and Savannah railroad.
This crop, no ever, is somewhat later
than that of s nth Georgia. and its sta
tistics have nCs yet been entirely made
up. The pros pect, however, is compara-
! lively the same as that in the southern
territory.
The Central 'sVill station special agents
both at Alban p and Macon to take charge
of the business This road always pre-
pares special facilities for handling the
melon crop, ard they are making arrange
ments this yetR to handle it with ease
and dispatch. In the meantime the croT
is progressing and buyers can look out for