Smyrna times., 1903-08-12
SMYRNA FRUIT GROWERS
ATTEND A FIELD MEETING
SPEND A DELIGHTFUL DAY DOWN ON TgR
EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND

Field Meeting Took Place on the Farm nj W
F. Allen, Near Salisbury. Was Held Uuder
Auspices of the Maryland Society
Mr.. j. E. Carter and Mr.. Walter r
Massey, two of Smyrna's most promi.
lnent fruit growers, attended the field
meeting OF the Maryland State Hort.
cultural Society on the farm of Mr..
W. +. Allen, near Salisbury. Thurs.
day. which was great success. both
as regards the attendance and the ad
ucatlonal features. The first attrac-
ton on the arrival of the guests abont
noon was the long tables in the grove
Ii was not lunch affair, but dinner
with hot fried chicken and variors
kinds of cold meats. In the wo, of
table decorations were vases of flowers
ana pyramids of magnificent peaches.
Near by was table about 10 foot
square, which was piled high with q
protusion of cantaloupes. All the ac.
cessorles for testing their quality were
at hand - spoons, salt and pepner
After dinner the attack COMMANDED
ana every one had satisfactory at
TACK on fine melons. Mr.. Aliens
farm consists of 500 acres, and he has
another near by of 23O acres, and one
at Princess Anne of 485 acres. What
the visitors came mainly ITO see was to
witness the picking and packing of
the cantaloupe crop, now in its height.
Mr.. Allen grows two varieties. the
Colorado Gem and the MARYLAND
Gem, the latter being one of his own
strains. He has in cultivation this
year sixty acres, from which he will
ship about twenty-five cars. These
are all packed in refrigerator cars.
carrying from four to five hundred to
the car, standard carriers. In addi- !
ton to the Standard size Mr.. Allen
uses some special size carriers for |
special goods and markets. Mr.. AL
len proved conclusively to his visitors
that one of the secrets of making the |
cantaloupe crop a success is IN the
asserting, packing and method of
shipping, including the refrigeration.
the stock being assorted not only as to
quality, but size, so that a retailer
who buys a carrier of As cantaloupes
knows that he will get that number all
alike, the last one in carrier being the
same kind, size and quality as the
hrst Mr.. Allen shipped twenty cars
last week.
Method Of Raising His Choice CantaIOupes.
In discussing his methods he saws
ne plants cantaloupe seed always in
hills AZ feet apart as early in April as
possible; fertilizes we'll before plant
ing, using good fertilizer, and also
believed in liberal use of BARNARD
manure; harrOws in and then plants
seed. He buys from New York from
30 to 80 carloads of horse manure every :
year; costs about $75 carload. Can
taloupes to be of good flavor and sweet
must have plenty of sunshine when
nearing the ripening stage.
Another subject of special interest
to many present was his 10 acre or
chard of peaches, containing 264 trees.
This orchard is now six years old.
The variety which is known as the
kay was propogated by Mr.. Allen ,
himself Last year he shipped from
IL about 250 carriers that cleared him
something over $500. This year he
will ship about 500 carriers and at the '
present ruling market Will net from 1
$500 to $1,000. It was currently re- ;
ported that Mr.. Harrison, the largest t
peach nurseryman of the State had .
opened negotiations with Mr.. Allen '
to propagate the peach and put it on L
the market. The peach experts of c
Delaware, we understand, were of the t
opinion that the peach had decided Q
merit. Mr.. Allen has so far had no 2
thought of putting it on the market
but has had trees grown only for him I
self. b
Prolific Strawberry Patch That Pays. :
The $50 acre patch of strawberries r.
which Mr.. Allen has under cultivation o
also attracts much attention. The tt
very unusual season has caused the b
Verdure to have the thrifty appearance a
OF June. b. F. Messick & Son, Allen le
postofice, shipped Wednesday so G
quarts of strawberries, which are +
second crop from Parsons Beauty
berry, which they say yielded at the D
rate of 1900 quarts an acre last spring. =,
One interesting thing connected with
MS strawberry patch is that he grew
This year 1000 bushels of onions in the
rows from sets placed between the t.
plants of his voung hada This was nj