Evening star., 1901-10-09
RAlSlNGoF "GARDEN TRUCK"
GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY IN THE
EAST.
PROFITS to he Obtained From Small Es.
tablishments--supply the
Large Cities.

In q bulletin recently issued by the Agri-
cultural Department interesting tnforma-
tion is given regarding the truck growing
industry. The New England district en-
braces all the New England states. whose
crops supply Boston, Mass, and other New
England cities with late summer vegeta-
bles. This division contains the smallest
area devoted to the garden truck indus
try Of any of the districts of the coast
country, and its average Individual farms
are very much smaller than those found
in other sections. The growing Of veseta-
bles under glass is carried on extensively
around Boston, Mass, and Providence, r.
l., and 1t Is owing to this fact that the
raising Of crops is so much more expen-
sive in New England than in other sections
Of the country. These hot-house vegeta-
York. N. Y; Philadelphia, Pa; Balti-
more, Nd; Washington. D. c., and Chica-
go. ILL.,, where they find ready market
and command very high prices. Notwith-
CURED in carrying on this particular
branch of the garden truck industry, the
profits are probably larger than those re-
ceived in any other part Of the country,
with the possible exception of a few fndi-
vidual cases in Florida, where vegetables
are produced in the open fields in mid
winter and command nearly as high prices
as those grown under glass and by the
Boston is the center of the largest green
house vegetable industry in the United
States. Within radius OF twenty-five
miles Of that city may be found over 200
exclusively to the growing of vegetables.
Lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, parsley, spi-
mach, tomatoes, beets and parsnips are the
principal crops grown. In many instances
four crops are grown annually, and al
though naturally the demand for these
vegetables is greater In winter than in
summer, their excellent and unvarying
quality make them eagerly sought after
by both the rich and those of epicurean
tastes, and they can therefore be profitably
grown during all seasons of the year.
The wages of the men employed vary.
Ordinary hands receive about $40 month,
while men Of more experience are paid
from S45 to $50. An overseer or superin-
tendent of a large plant will often receive
a salary as high as from $1,000 to $500 an
nually.
An average modern greenhouse is about
230 by 40 feet square, and costs $1,000 to
build. Two experienced men can properly
care for the cultivation of vegetables in
such house, and the net profits for a
single year have run as high as 100 per cent
on the money invested, while 80 per cent
is considered low estimate for average
yearly profits.
The latest and most improved methods
are always employed by these New Eng
land greenhouse truck farmers. Every de-
vice known to insure the production of per-
surface soil to the depth of three or four
inches is thoroughly sterilized before being
placed in the greenhouses.
The New York and Philadelphia district
embraces New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the
more southeasterly section of New York
state, including Long Island, and contrib
utes to all of the leading markets in these
states.
The season in this region is about two
weeks earlier than that of the New England
district and probably four weeks behind
Norfolk, and that portion of its area which
is devoted exclusively to truck growing is
much larger than in any of the other coast
regions. It's season is comparatively
short one, but all the standard varieties OF
vegetables are grown, and they are of ex-
cellent quality.
The western end of Long Island is so
thickly occupied by this industry that ii
virtually presents to the eye the appearance
of one great truck farm; and the vast out
put from this section is almost entirely
consumed by the millions of people located
within few miles of the base of supply
In this New York and Philadelphia dis
trict are located numerous large cities
which not only supply market for garden
truck of local production, but which draw
enormously upon the southern districts for
both fruits and vegetables. New York
city is probably the greatest market in the
United States for the trucking districts of
the south.
Vegetables commonly known as greens,
such as kale, spinach sprouts and lettuce
begin to arrive early in December, and as
this is close to the time that the supply
from northern truck farms is exhausted it
virtually insures New York a supply of
these vegetables the year round. Florida
begins to ship Strawberries in February. and
IN March beans, peas, asparagus, cabba ges
potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes begin to
move northward BY the latter part of
April or the early part of May the supply
has become so plentiful that people of mod
crate means are able to enjoy many of the
ern farms, while a few decades ago the
wealthiest citizens were unable to procure
a single vegetable out of season. Peaches
from Georgia begin to arrive in New York
about the middle of June, and the markets
are supplied with southern melons from
July to October.