The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-10-18
CANNING SEASON.
CAME TO A CLOSE IN CECIL COUNTYJ
THIS WEEK.
The Season Has Been The Most Profit
able One In History of The Packing
Industry For Cecil County Growers
Pack At The ElktOn Cannery Large.

The canning season in Cecil and the
other counties on the Eastern Shore of
Maryland, practically came to a close
this week, after probably the most sue
ccssful season in the history of the pack
ing industry of Maryland. At nearly
every cannrry the pack is almost twice
cause for this increase, was that the sea-
son has been an unusually long one, not
up to the present time. has there been
any killing" white froStS. For this
reason the farmers and growers have
been able to gather nearly every tomato
on the vines. In past seasons there has
usually been killing" frost~ early in
October. and even as early as the latter
part of September One or two such
froSts render the Tomatoes left on the
vines practically unfit for canning pur-
poses.
This season has been Il remarkable one
i'll many respects, aS we'll us the most
profitable one ever known for the grower
and the employee at the canneries. In
past years the prices paid by Gamers for
tomatoes has been from 81 TO So per ton.
At these prices the growers claimed the
crop did not pay, but withstanding
this, the prices for the fruit did not ad-
vance. the Gamers usually being able to
contract with farmers to plant sufficient
acreage. Last year, however, came the
climax. The unfavorablc weather caused
the crop to be very short. and high prices
were paid in the city markets. Many of
the farmers who had contracted with the
Gamers. refused to deliver their toma-
toes. 70 the contrary they sold their
fruit in the open market, where they re
ceved good prices.
Last spring the canncrS rndCavored to
make contracts with farmers ana toma-
to growers ut the old priceS-SJ to Sc per
ton. Finding that they could not get the
farmers to plant ut those prices, they
offered 81 per ton. but were still unSuc-
ccssful. In the meantime many of the
large growers of the different counties
on the Eastern Shore held meeting, and
decided that they would not plant unless
they got IS per ton. At first the Gamers
strcnuouSly objected to such an advance.
but the growers still refused to contract
for less than $S. The Gamers finally
gave in and many of the growers plant
ed larger acreage than ever before.
\ number of the growers report that
their yield has averaged from 10 to 20
tons per acre. which ut SS per ton. re-
suited in Il return for them from $50 to
SlGO per acre.
The labor employed at these canneries
is largely a foreign element who come
from Baltimore. and live in barracks
near the packing house during the can
ming season, after which they return to
their homes. In past seasons the women
who peel the tomatoes have been paid
three cents per bucket but this year they
demanded an increase of one cent per
bucket, which was granted at most of
the cannerieS. At the FIlkton cnnnery,
operated by Baker and Arthur. of Aber-
deem, one woman WAS able to ''peel''
eighty buckets per day. making $500.
The average woman peeled 10 to 30
buckets
Owing to the large tomato yield. at
many of the cannericS the Bohemian
help and available native white help was
not sufficient to do the work, and the
packers were compelled to hire negro
help. At once trouble began to brew
between the foreigners and negroes,
which resulted in several strikes by the
foreigners. who refused to work with the
negroes. In most instances the trouble
was adjusted by the whites and blacks
being given separate apartments for to
work.
The pack at the Elkton cannery this
season. has been about $1,000 cases. or
49, 900 cans. Last season the pack was
only about 100000 cans.