Milford chronicle., 1903-03-06
HOUSTON ITEMS.

nN
farmers to grow peas, tomatoes and
other vegetables. The price for
tomatoes has been placed at SS per
ton-so it is understood; but many
growers think that price too small,
and are holding off for So per ton.
The price for peas is 24 cents per
pound, and seed peas $3.25 per
bushel. These prices the growers
claim is the lowest they can afford
to grow these crops for, as the price
of labor has advanced about I215
per cent. and it is an absolute ne
cessitv that they receive more for
their produce.
In another week Mr.. Charles
Phillips and family, who now live
on the Zach Johnson farm near this
place, will move to Corbert, Penna.,
where Mr.. Phillips has accepted a
position with a hattering salary.
Mr.. Phillips came to Delaware sew
era1 years ago to benefit his health,
and has found great good followed.
During his sojourn he has followed
growing small truck and keeping
chickens for profit, and has had fine
results. From flock of about 200
hens, he cleared in 1902 the sum OF
$500. This is the result of an ac-
curate account kept by Mr.. Phil
lips in which he charged the pOul-
trv with every pound of corn, meal,
bran or other food he purchased
for them, and gave them credit for
every egg laid, and every chicken
sold or ate. He had never had any
previous experience on a farm,
neither had he ever grown any
chickens; it was positively new
business with him and his family
and shows the possibility of intelli-
gent management and study of a
business. Citizens of this kind
/ Delaware can ill afford to lose.
For two weeks Randolph Gra-
ham, the station agent, has been a
victim of "mumps, which have
prevented him attending to his du-
ties, but at present his condition IS
much improved.
Spring work is opening up, and
most farmers are pushing prepara-
tory work along. It now looks as
if the farmers would have to make
every hour count and get all the re
suits possible, if any profits are to
be had this season; every thing they
use, labor, machinery, tools and
supplies have advanced,so the mar
gin between profit and loss will
largely depend upon their watching
every opportunity to get results
from both labor and markets.
Onion growing has assumed quite
large proportions about Houston
and most growers have got the
ground in order to plant, or have
planted the sets already for this
: season S crop. A great quantity o
onions areshipped to the New York
market in crates, and bring from S.
to S2.so per crate early in the sea
son; this generally nets fine pro
fit and leaves the larger onions fol
; a winter market. To grow then
: successfully, the ground should be
( highly manured in the fall or early
t winter, and be absolutely clean o
, rubbish. 1t does not require a.
[ much labor as most people think
' as the labor of hoeing is done will
= wheel hoes that boys soon become
very expert with, and which are op
: Grated about as fast as a slow walk
S Only high grades Of fertilizer
t should be used, as results must b
i quick.
Sweet potato growing has forge
:. rapidly to the front, and is now on
e of the chief industries of not onl
n Houston, but of lower Kent county
: They are bought at the railroa
{ station the same as peaches, or othe
e fruits and vegetables, and this win
ter the prices have ranged from 3
+ to 80 cents per ve-eighth basket
v a very profitable crop to grow q
4 those figures. The acreage thi
:. year will be largely increased; BIT
r the larger quantity grown, will nc
= affect the market much, as the mai
e ket and competition among tn
It buyers will be larger. Prices ma
$ not, and probably will not, be S
n high as during the season jui
Is closed; but sweet potatoes alway
v pay fair profit to the grower.
re BURRSYILLE.
= Mr.. Thomas Cahall who has bee
- spending the winter in the emplo
- ! of his brother, Charlie Cahall,
. Philadelphia, has returned hom
Mrs. Angeline Koenemann, {
Wilmington, is visiting her pa
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. M. B. Smith.
- Mrs. Mania Hardesty spent la