Lower coast gazette., 1909-06-19
SATURDAY. JUNE 10, 1863.
The Truck Gardeners Rest.

The Truck Idrde1erS EeSt.
Within the limits Of two miles at the upper
entl eff the second ward in this parish about 'V,Ooo
bushels, or bushel crates and hampers. Of lettuce
and cvcumbcrs have been shipped during the last
ninety days. Doubtless other sections of the
parish have done prcportionately well and the
Jes,,its' Bend section. Home Place and some other
special localities have added their quota. The
truck gardeners are now engaged in marketing
some minor crops. rather less eXacting in their re-
ouircmcnts. S~Quashes, egg plants and melons are
being marketed in a moderate way and Mexican
June corn planting is going on as IS also the plant
inc Of all of the vacant fields with cow peas, TO-
reiuvenate them for active work in garden crops
for the next season.
A story was told to us recently of some of our
Young friends in this parish who had done very
we'll on cucumbers and meeting in the city, they
resolved to celebrate in a mild way their W sue
tcesses. For this purpose they went to West End,
ordered a handsome dinner a Ia carte, and While
there reveling in the good things of this life, both
eatable and drinkable, one Of the coterie in a mo-
ment of inspiration offered a toast to Lower Coast
Cucumber, which had brought so much comfort
and happiness to hundreds Of our people.
Wem e one of our colored friends in town a
few days ago and asked him what he was dong
and his response was that he had been up to pay
off a mortgage debt that was not due until July or
August, but that he thought that he had better
attend to it. as he had the money, the result, or
rather the outcome of lettuce and cucumbers.
We don't know just what our worthy truck
gardeners will row do. One coterle has bought
a sugar plantation, and we know from experience
that they will have enough to keep them busy for
some time to come. We hear some talk about
automobiles. but don't know how many will o
into the parish as a result Of the seasons truck
gardening business. In Minnesota last fall e
were told that the farmers were the chief buyers
of automobiles. They are not so numerous IN
Plaquemines parish as they ought to be but we
presume that their numbers will increase. One OF
our most prominent truck gardeners spends part
of his surplus in occasional visits to Europe. 1t
NAV be, however, that the old country will grad
ually pail on his taste and that this summer he
will take in the Hockey Mountains and the Pacific
coast, and possibly visit distant Alaska. We know
he has money enough IN bank to pay the expenses
Seriously, however, our truck gardeners DC
seem to have done extremely we'll. 1t IS SIMPLY q
plain question of very hard work and that work
during the active season is a work OF night ac
day. 1t is a work of good taste, Of excellent Judg
ment and Of untiring industry. When these arg
all combined, good results are generally reached
The garden produce must be put up in desirable
packages; must be honestly and carefully packed
must be promptly shipped by fast freights and t.
the proper markets. All Of these conditions arr
~practiced by our most successful gardeners ant
through their tuition many others who are gradu
ally getting into the business are also earning sue
cess. The work is so strenuous during its activ
season that it certainly deserves all of the success
that it has earned and while there may be a few
weeks of rest, still the land has to be we'll take
care of and fall and winter plowed for futur
crops and really the work goes on all the yea
around, but not under that intense strain that ha
characterized it during the last ninety days.