The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-11-28
The Melon Growers.
A Rep, sentative Meeting---Farm-
ers Who Are Tired of Cotton
and Will Plant any Crop
That Yields q Profit.


Sumter l. Northern Railroad, who were invi'ed
to attend meeting here Wednesday BY Mr.
E. 40: Averill, General Freight and Passenger
Agent OF the Charleston, Sumter + Northern,
responded more generally than many ex-
pec,ed. When they assembled ln the Court
House at noon, there were not less than one
hundred present, and the crowd WAS increased
by late arrivals; At least half of those pre-.
sent came from Darlington and Marlboro
aud Clarendon Counties, and when the crowd
first assembled Sumter County had very few
representatives.
The meeting was organized by the unan-
imous election of Col. E. r Mclver, of Dar-
lipg,on, Chairman. Sir. j. II. Knight, Secre-
tary.
Mr. E. NJ. Averill, General Freight and
Passenger Agent of the Charleston, Sumter &
Northern Railroad, and the prime mover for
the meeting, was requested to state the ohjec;
of the meeting. He did so briefly, promising
his remarks with brief review Of the condi-
tion of the farming interests
He sketched the growth of the melon
industry in the counties traversed ny the
South Carolina Railway. Ten years ago no
melons were growt. for shipment, now 900
carloads are shipped annually. That this
and adjacent counties are adopted to the
growth Of melons he had abundant proof.
The freight rates and railroad facilities are
superior 10 the section on tie s. G. Railway
aod with the proper effort the returns would
be proportionallg greater.
The advantages Of melon growing he Tn.
umerA,ed as follows:
Cheap cultivation not exceeding $50 Ptr
acre from planting
Poor land may be utilized.
Melon crop Is followed by crop OF pea
vine hay that enriches The land aud more
than PAYS the cost of cultivating the melons.
Hay crop may te followed by oats or other
small grains.
And that the re,ur, from melons average
more than cotton nj 81 to cents.
a letter from Col. T. II Emerson. Gene
raj freight agent of the Atlantic Const Line
was read lie expressed regret ths, be could
not attend the meeting and assured those who
should engage in melon planting that the
A. G. L. would give hearty cooperation.
In response to an inquiry Mr.. Averiii went
into the details of shipment and sale Of
melons. The custom of shipping north on
consignment, he said, had proved unss'is-
factory and Improbable and had, therefore,
been abandoned. Whenever any sectlo"
planted sufficient amount of melons buyers
come down aud bought the melons on the
spot as rapidly rs loaded into cars on the
side track. he assured his hearers that the
railroad company would see that buyers
would be on hand # enough melons were
planted, even if the road bad to pay the
expenses of the buyers.
Mr. Harry Sanders, of Bamberg, who Was
present by request, gave very Interesting ac-
count of his experience IN growing melons.
He has planted melons for three years. The
FIRST year be planted twenty acres OF poor
land. This was highly mauured With we'll
rotted stable manure The melons were
peanted in hills, ten feet apart each way. For
the irst two cars he received 1928, on the
side track, and for the crop grown he received
$3.50 Each year since then he has planted
a larger crop and each crop has yielded fair
profit.
To make money on melons, Mr. Sanders
said, good land should he planted, the melons
should be we'll fertilIzed, and we'll cultivated
Any sort of high grade commercial ferill'ser
gives good results, but there IS nothing better
than q we'll rot,ed compos, OF cotton seed and
stable manure For next .rnr's crop, now
ever, \ compost should "e prepared now.
Fresh compost or green cotton seed will not
do
The usual custom is to plant melons either
l0xlO, l2xl2 or 8xl0 When planted III
hills l0xl0, 300 pounds of fertilizer should
be used when 'Sxl0, 400 pounds Seed
should be planted the last week 10 March,
next week should be planted again, and again
the next week to insure regular staad,
should the frst aud second plaotings De
killed by frost. As soon as the plants are
out of the ground they should he thinned to
one in hill. The object is TO obtain melons
as early as possible. Melons planted as nd
vised, should be ready for shipment between
July lst and 10th, and the bulk Of the crop
should come in about the Goth. Melons Al
this date find ready sale when averaging from
% TO As pounds. There is no risk on such
melons.
In shipping an experienced packer IS essen
tial. otherwise the melons will be total loss
Melons should come up to the average weight
aud no irregular or misshapen melons should
be shipped ms it will cause the loss of the en-
tire car.
After Mr.. Harry Sanders finished giving
his experience IN growing melons, aud bad
answered the various questions asked, oiner
gentlemen gave very interesting talks based
on their experience with melons and truck OF
various varieties.
Among the gentlemen who spoke were,
Messrs. George W. Waddil, of Marlboro: W.
P. Carter, of Darlington and DR.. 4. 81. 5.
Snyder, of Orangeburg. Many valuable
| hints were given and many experiences given
that showed what can be done in this section
with diversified crops. After an informal
and general discussion and exchange OF views
permanent organization was effected. The
name adopted was The Melon and Truck
Growers Association of Eastern South Caro-
lima. The officers elected were:
President, Col. E. R. McIyer, of Darling
ton; Vice President, R. NJ. Cooper, Of
Wisacky Secretary, J. II. Knight, of Sum-
ter.
1t was decided to hold an annual meeting
in this city on the third Wednesday of DC.
tober, each year.
RESOLUTIONS of thanks for the use Of the
Court House to Col E. R. Mclver for the
efficient and courteous manner in which ne
presided over the meeting to Mr.. +. NJ.
Averill for the interest evinced in calling
the meeting; and to Mr. Knight for acting
as secretary were adopted.
nj. oooonoittoe 1yaa annOinfpd 20