The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-20
Canning Factories for the South.

Canning Factories for the south.
There are two main reasons why
canning factories have not been estab-
lished more generally, especially in
the Southern states, says the Rural
New Yorker. One is the failure of
some of the large factories under bad
management, and the other is the
costliness of large outfits which have
been generally thought necessary for
good work After investigating the
subject and experimenting with
small factory for two years 1 am thor
oughly satisfied that small canneries
can be made to pay handsomely The
first cost is very light. thus enabling
individuals to put them up and run
them on fruit farms. When the mar
ket price of fruits and vegeta bles goes
down so low as not to leave a good
margin of profit for marketing these
products can easily be canned by the
grower and sold for ready cash. There
need be no fear of over-crowded mar
kets for fruits and vegetables with
plenty of small canneries. With these
canneries in use there need be no fear
of growing fruit and vegetables on
larger scale. The cost is so small for
first establishment that individual
growers would lose but little if they
did not run them every year In all
of the cotton growing states there are
cotton gins with ample steam power
which is usually idle during the can
ming season. After investigating the
subject | see no reason why a small
canning factory could not readily be
connected with a cotton gin. This
would encourage diversified farming
on many cotton farms and lessen the
area planted to cotton, which has been
much advocated during the past few
years. Besides furnishing a good
wholesome food for those engaged in
cotton growing these canneries would
bring in good revenue and lessen the
grocery bills. What is said in refer
ence to cotton gins may apply with
equal force where other steam power
is not in use during the canning sea-
son. The boiler is the most costly item
in establishing a small cannery. A
factory that will put up 1000 to 1000
three-pound cans per day can be pur-
chased for SIS to 800 exclusive of the
boiler and the building. Almost any
outbuilding could readily be fitted up
for small factory; the building usu-
ally found in connection with the cot
ton gins could be used.
supply of good, clean water is
necessary. Full instructions on how to
set up the factory and run 1t are
given by those who sell the machin-
cry Frequently it may be necessary
to employ an expert for week or two
to start the factory. However L have
had persons examine the small fac
tory that l was experimenting with
and then purchase an outfit, set ii up
and run it successfully. One impor-
tant thing in processing l learned was
that we had to process longer in the
hot climates of Texas than the printed
instructions called for in processing in
more northern ATTITUDES. 1 learned of
large quantities of canned goods spoil
ing in Texas that were processed ac-
cording to instructions given FOR pro-
cessing in Maryland. There usually
will be no trouble in marketing these
home canned goods in nearby towns
They can be put up and sold cheaper
than canned goods shipped in, because
the freight has to be paid upon those
mems profits. The labor is the most
costly item. Large canneries usually
pay by the piece, certain price for
tipping, Gaping, packing, labelling
| peeling, etc. Others hire mostly wom-
en- and children and pay them by the
| hour. There are still smaller factories
made to be attached to the cooking
| stove which are excellent for such
| things as peaches, apples. pears and
| tomatoes. l cannot recommend them
for sweet corn and beans Some OF
| these can be purchased for $40.
| might state that a small pickle fac
tory and small jelly factory could
easily be connected with the cannery
| The South especially needs more such
! factories. When more experience is
obtained by running these small fac;
tories where fuel is cheap the capacity
could easily be enlarged if the farmer
/ desired TO pO into the huSinesS mora
extensively Let the canning factory
come to the orchard and truck farm
where the products are grown and can
! be put up in a fresh condition direct
! from natures hand before they leave
| the producer.