The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-05-12
PLANT STRAW BERRIES.
There's Money in It, It Gives En-
ployment TO Many Hands and
Puts Money Into Cir
culation.

- a car load of strawberries oa cDe morcl1R
is s, big shipment, bu, on Monday morning a
solid car Was shipped from Graham's farm to
one point besides a iumher of smaller snip
ments to other places. The shipments have
been large every day, but Monday vas the
high water mark up to this dale. That
morning I49 bushels of prime qsality berries
were gathered and shipped besides the Der
ries that were sold in the city.
Dir. Graham has every reason to ce sat!s-
fsd with the success ofhis experimentin grow
ing berries for shipment, for the yield has
been largely in excess of all estimates. and
the berries much 6ner than the average
grown anYwbere 10 this section of the South
The land in Turkey Creek bottom, which be
& has piauted in berries was carefully examined
by several experienced truck farmers before
Mr. Graham undertook his strawberry ex-
pertinent, each of whom proooIpced the'aod
to- be unusually we'll adapted TO the growth
Of berries aud predicted ssaccess from the
start. Mr.. Graham took their advice and get
ouk q small farm as an experiment, and, last
season gathered his FIRST crop. Notwifhstand-
inr that the Northern markets were elutsed
With berries early in the season and the sup
piy exceeded the demand throughout the
spTinp. Mr. Graham obtained profitable re-
turns from his shipments, aud this was due
entirely 10 the fine size and good shipp,ng
Qualities of his berries, which made them
command the besa prices. Tnis eeason the
cold weather cut off the berry crop in some
sections, and the supply has not been 80 ex
cessige, which mas naturally tended 20 keep
fas market frm and maintain higher prices
%, select berriess Il is too early yet to form
reliable opinion, but it is we'll within the
boaudss of probabilities that handsome
profit will be the return from the berry crop
now being shipped.
Mr. Graham viii increase the acreage OF
hia farm. and ne1t seasoo will be IN post
/. ton tc double his shipments, ana if the ber-
ries are as much 6Der ,haosthis season 8 crop
rs those Of this sear are than those OF last
yeafse, he will se able to realize fancy prices
for all that he eau ship-
There IS = great deal Of rich; sliluvial land
in the Turkey C eek bottoms that are as well
adapted TO berries as that DOW planted, and
there is no reason Why Sufficient quantity
of berries should rot he grown here TO make
Sumter one Of the leading shipping potts for
( strawserries in The State. There is eoough
land available To- produce berries to tlli
sofid train of refrigerator cars daily during
tbs season, and aii that is needed ia the enter
price to ntiisze fhe opportunity.
The land. is hsaend it can be bought or
reased on fayol BE terms, and if half
dozen or more msn would go into the business
aud plaut anywhere from one to ten ceres each
! thay would make money for themselves and
at tie same time furnish employment to
greas number OF womeo and childreo. II
NAV be deemed email and Insignificant 10.
4 dus,ry, bat when one sees the number OF
hands atwork every morning on As : Gra-
HAMS small farm, the idea Of how much ben
Ell it Is 10 thelaooring peopl in and aronn I'D
the city is moot forcibiy Impressed npon the
mSod Any industry that furnishes employ.
q mana tosa large number of people is OF im
porsanee to community, for it aids n
bsingiog money into the place and putting j
: into circulatiou
Sumter Beeds industries of any and al
kinds, aud Ne hope 10 see oil Of the land IL
! Tnskey Greek adopted TO the purpose planted
& IN berries within q few years.