The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-08-05


nOunced successes that has ever been
achieved in the history of the industry in
the south.
Taken all in ALL the crop that is now being
gathered. has been without a parallel. and.
though much was hoped for. 4 great deal
more has been realized.
IT was predicted early in the spring that
an immense crop would be gathered but
even the most sanguine hopes OF the growers
have been realized. and the crop has 10y far
exceeded all estimates. The early freezes
that occurred just before the opening of the
season and the propitious weather that fol-
lowed. have. in a great measure. produced
the finest peaches and the largest crop that
have ever been harvested in the south and
especially in this state. In many ways the
crop has been one OF the most remarkable
that has ever been gathered, and from all
sections the most encouraging reports have
been received.
The crop is simply immense, and though
the market has been amply supplied. the
demands have been steady throughout the
entire season. The prevailing prices have
been good. and at no time has il been APP
parent that there would DE "A decrease in
values. In fact. the prices paid this year
have been a matter Of surprise to the grow
ers themselves, and instead OF being disap-
pointed. they are encouraged 10 believe that
the prospect for the peach is brighter than
ever before. The season Of % has been a
red letter one in the annals Of the indus
try. and the result viii be that more or
chards will be set out and better attention
pald the trees that are already in good
faFr
nectcd with the culture OF the fruit has
been most propitious this year, and the
growers are thoroughly satisfied with what
has been accomplished.
The handling Of the crop. which has al
ways been "A perpleNing question. las been
accomplished in a most satisfactory man
ner this season. ana not single ear that
has been shipped from this state has been
damaged while IN the care OF the railroads.
When 1t Is remembered that more tnan a
thousand ears will have been handled by
tie roads before the season is closed. IL viii
BE- seen that this record is a most excellent
showing The cars that Ire now being used
hy the shippers are ol tac us"St improved
pattern. and when thoruughiy ICED and
with COED schedules. 81 IS almost Impossible
% have q ear become stale while in ;rans.
BE-. The crop aas been handled with more
care. get with Jess loss of time. ana when
tlr peach b. pulled irnm tht tree ia the al
torno5n So has almost Invariably been lock
ei ia tha ear ON the following aav and start
ii without delay ola its hong journey. This
-apsd movement Of the crop has accomplish
81 wonders and the losses OF ears on &C
count Of long and really unnecessary delays
while ia the care OF The railroads nave be-
come a thing of the past.
The Eln.rta. queen or aer tribe. has beer
the peach that has Pre- .oWinat"j in ali
shipments this year. ana 81 continues to
hold SOS wonderful popularity wIlh t1t trade
r. tf4. sa- --a" cess -rt' F.. 10. tae
E.lt.--.a ss-e s.rr4- .l1,..r- s-=-f. ,s.s..
prices arr remuuerAt.Vr. bf all varieties OF
peaches that have been shipped from this
state it IS probable that this grade of peach
has composed more than Cd per cent. The
EIberia is "a hardy peach. AMI when prop
eriy packet ana well iced. viii last for
weeks If POSSESSES qualities that are not
60 De- found iu the other varieties. and new
81 has hecu known 10 suffer on account ot
delays DO shipping.
THE season of - has been most success
ful ami al details connected with the Gull
ture VI the fruit and the shipment OF the
crop have received special attention. ami
th. fruit growers arr more than SATISFIED
with the results that have been accomplish
FL. The crates and boxes have been made
better. ana the ventilation Of the ears has
been greatly improved upon. No detail has
been overlooked and without a break the
crop has been handled iva "a most satisfacto-
IS manner.
Rapid Transit.
The railroads have solved she perpleNing
question as To- transportation facilities
that have been so long demanded 10y the
growers. When the industry was in ats in
fancy. 90 difficult matter 10 have tho
crop handled with the necessary dispatch.
and many were the cars of fruit that wers
allowed to spoil ON account OF delays occa-
STONED by the system that was at that time
practiced by the roads. This season has
revealed a wonderful change I'm this depart
ment. aud now IL is no unusual thing 20
rush "A peach train through from Atlanta
10 Chicago in thirty-siX hours and about
forty TO New York. The ears are loaded
promptly and D.. vt-ioed there is little
risk attached 10 the safe delivery of the
fruit.
At the beginning Of the season when the
roads were pulling hard for the business.
some exceedingly fast runs Were made 10
Chicago. and the distance has been made
this season in less than thirty-threo hours
This was an unusual run. and though il
IS possible 10 make all of the trips ia this
length Of time il does not begin TO pay the
roads as the traffic does not justify them
In attaching an engine 10 ear. and MAX
ing the entire trip for the freight that one
car VIII bring. II the cars We're 10 be re-
ceived by the roads in large quantities At
one time. then the question % transit would
result in passenger train schedules, but
this is not the case. As rule, the cars
come i'm one at q time. and unless there IS
a watermelon train that is ready 10 leave,
the peach car Is attached TO a regular
freight. and. Of course. the schedule IS nee
essarily slow AMI the trip tedious. To the
credit Of the railroads it can truthfully
b. said that they have proven themselves
equal TO the emergency, and have handled
the cars with entire satisfaction 20 their
customers.
How the Crop Il Gathered.
The peach crop is gathered the cotton
crop Early every morning a large force
OF pickers go into the orchards just after
the dew is dried from the grass and weeds
and with them they take large baskets
into which the peaches are dropped as fast
as they are taken from the trees. The
peaches that are Ia be shipped are pulled
as soon as maturity is reached, and just
before they begin 70 turn. II peach is
allowed To remain upon the trees until il
begins 10 color. il is unfit for shipping pur-
t,,ses and is either sold in the nome mar
kct or is thrown away. When the basket
IS nllef with the fruit. il Is hauled from
the orchard 10 the packing house. which Is
usually located ia close proximity 10 the
place At the packing house the peaches
are sorted. and the best ones put IN one
- -