The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1909-06-12
TRUCK GARDEN.

The following article taken from the
Picayune of May 3Oth will show what
other sections are doing In truck farm
ing:
1.-THE accompanying picture shows
5000 sacks of onions and potatoes about
to be transferred from barges and boats
in the Bayou I.afOurche to freight cars
for shipment to Northern markets.
The 5000 sacks shown in the picture
filled twenty freight cars. and the ship
ment made one solid train from the low
or LOfOurche to the North. Yet this was
but one days shipments. Every day re-
Gently quite as many sacks of onions
and potatoes have been shipped from the
lower Lafsurche and for some time to
come this will continue to be the daily
programme.
The picture and these facts show strik.
ingly what Importance the truck grow
ing industry in Louisiana has already
assumed and give an idea Of the future
possibilities along this line. Few peo-
pie in the State know that any thing like
this quantity Of truck Is shipped from
any one section during any twenty four
hour period. and few people except those
acquainted with condition realize what
the industry will be developed in the
course Of few years.
Encouragement has been given the
planters in that section this year by the
Southern Pacific. which has put in
through rates from Lafourche points to
Northern markets. By means of these
rates growers Of truck are enabled to
market their crops in the great centsrs
Of population In the North almost as
cheaply a. they formerly marketed them
here. Incidentally they are able to get
very much better prices and there is
practically no danger low that their |
output will be thrown on an OverstOck- |
cd market and prices reduced to starva-
ttOn basis.
The section along Bayou LafOurche |
from LafOurche Crossing to Leesville.
some sixty miles. has always been noted |
for the superior quality Of Creole onions
and potatoes produced early in the spring |
Of each year. and during the present sea-
son the acreage has been increased, Ow-
ing largely to the action of the South
ern Pacific in establishing favorable
line of rates of New Orleans and North
ern and Western markets for the dis
pOsal Of the shippers facilities for band
ling business in through vsntilatOr cars
direct to the principal markets.
The section along Bayou LafOurchs
south Of Lafourche Crossing Is served |
by the Williams Barge Line. operating
in connection with the Southern Pacific. |
and the territory below LOckpOrt bv the
Lower LafOurche Barge Line Company.
operated by Captain Victor Won SchOeler
the veteran steamboatman. These boat |
lines have vessels up and down the ba-
you daily picking up shipments Of pOta-
toes and onions just as fast as offered.
and the cOnsignments are loaded direct |
into ventilatOr cars at LafOurche Cross
ing and Lockport and are transported to
various markets throughout the United |
States with the utmost dispatch.
1t is estimated that at least 100000 |
sacks Of onions and potatoes will be pro- |
duced this season along Bayou Lafourchs
and the planters are greatly encouraged |
by the superior transportation facilities |
and satisfactory rates of Southern Paci-
fic and it is predicted. as q result. that |
the production will be materially in
creased in the future.