The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-08-10
Prosperity on the Eastern Shores of
Maryland and Virginia.

The Wicomico News. of July 20 says Farmers
and truckers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and
Virginia have been particularly fortunate this year
in having good crops. The weather has been sea-
sonable and all crops have produced we'll There
have been no long continued droath to destroy
crops such as have prevailed in many sections of
the country. particularly in the West, and the
suit is that Maryland and the Eastern Shore of Vir
gina truckers and farmers have been called upon
to furnish less fortunate sections with supply of
fruits and vegetables, at renumeative prices. Near
ly every crop farmers planted this season pro-
duced well and sold at paying prices First came
the strawberry crop, which brought thousands of
dollars in clear profit to the growers. Then follow
ed the blackberry and whortberry crops; these add
ed thousands more to the wealth of the commune
ties The wheat crop was light, but it never
amounts to great deal in this section compared
with other grain crops.
The best paying crop far this year is the round
Qrish) potato crop, and farmers and truckers
have made big money. Early shipments sold from
S2.25 to $500 per barrel, and prices have touched
$50 per barrel with the probability of going to S.
or over. Maryland is at present the only state in
the Union enjoying fair crop of potatoes The
early crops in the Northern, Southern and most OF
the Western States over. Those in the latter
States were considerably damaged by heat and
come in. The damage there by heat and drouth has
also been great. As the result OF this condition
Maryland is being called upon to supply the de-
mand in nearly every State in the Union. The sup
ply in the Western States is limited and the de-
mand so large that Baltimore merchants have been
asked by the dealers out there to make their own
prices. The Western merchants, besides have of
fered to assume all risks of shipping. Many such
orders have not been filled. Such a condition has
not been known during the last 80 years. The po-
tato market has risen in manner unprecedented
within the memory of living truckgrowers and mer-
chants Here again our farmers and truckers have
benefited by the failure of the Irish potato crop i'll
other sections 1t is said that this crop has brought
to the growers more clear money this season than
ever in the history of this county. The same re-
ports from all sections of the Eastern Shores
of Maryland and Virginia.
Now the watermelon and canteloupe crops are
going to market, and the prospects are that good
prices will be realized Again are the Eastern
Shore truckers in excellent luck for the Southern
melon crop is very short and there is an active de-
mand for our product. The yield in this section
will not be as large as in some former years. but
the quality and prices will make up for the short
ness in yield.
The peach crop will also bring in quite hand
some revenue to the growers Taken all in all, the
Eastern Shore farmer ana trucker is exceedingly
fortunate this year-if he has been the gamer
through the misfortunes of other sections.
The Cape Charles Light recently gave a very in
eesting article showing the shipments of Irish po-
tatoes from the two Eastern Shore counties of Vir-
ginia over the New York. Philadelphia & Norfolk
Railroad during the past sixteen years Beginning
with 80 81 barrels in 1885, the shipments increased
yearly until 1900 when AS 9l barrels were shipped
The full figures for 1901 not yet obtainable as
the season is not yet closed but up to July 34O9
sos barrels had been shipped by rail- aud that the
total would reach 100000 barrels. Commenting on
on the enormous figures the Light said:
1.-The above figures do not represent the large
quantities of potatoes shipped by steamboats, and
sail vessels, which swell the number of barrels
enormously. The total shipment of potatoes by
rail for the past l6 years is 1874 1872 Taking these
figures basis, and placing the net profit at $40
per barrel (Which is a conservative estimate) we
have coming to the Eastern Shore in sixteen years.
from this crop alone, 81 Jas 3SI average year
ly income of 0l4 for the past l6 years We must
not forget the fact that the home consumption and
those shipped otherwise than by railare not nclud
ed in this estimate.
1.-The above estimate is very significant because
il shows that farming on the Eastern Shore is
paying industry if properly managed The small
fruits and vegetables that go from here TO say
nothing of the staple crops such as wheat, corn
and oats is great source of revenue TO those farm
ers whO raise them.
The chief shipment of potatoes by rail is from
Accomack. and Northampton counties, ana the
above table shows average gradual increase from
1875 to 1901 is "a $50 barrels or 81 barrel is 49,
800 increase each year from potatoes alone"
Later the sweet potato crop comes in, which is
usually an enormous one.