Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-03-19
Mr.. MUMFORD ON
STRAWBERRIES
Tells How To Grow And Ship
Them PrOfitab|y--- Success
At Shovel.
showelI. Md. Mar. 10. 1910.

Shovel, Nd. Mar 10, 1910.
Editors Messenger In the last issue
of your paper read with interest a re-
port OF the meeting of your Board Of
Trade. and what they had to say rela-
tive to the growing and marketing Of
Strawberries. and the facilities for trans
portation. AS have had some expert
ence along these lines, will contribute
some facts and figures on the subject,
and how they will profit others. Seven
years ago. shipment of car loaded
with berries in one day was thing
unheard of from Shovel. Our people
prior to this time, thought $50 crates in
one day was a big shipment. The only
markets they knew were Wilmington,
Philadelphia and New York. shipping
their berries in hot box cars.
Selbyvile had been loading refrig-
orator cars a few years prior to this
ftime, and shipping their berries to
points farther away, and getting very
satisfactory results, while the growers
at Shovel complained of low prices,
hardly being able to meet their crate
and fertilizer bills. Six years ago
announced that would bring berries at
Shovel. and our first season we loaded
ears and sent them to Buffalo, N. Y.
paid the growers little over 81,
800. 90 that season. The next season
we loaded Is cars the next season As
cars and our last season we loaded Sc
cars. and would have loaded over 100
cars. if weather conditions had been
favorable. We have for the last three
years paid to the growers from $50, 000.-
90 to $45, 000 90 each year. Choice land
in our community could be bought from
$40. 90 to $500 per acre, s years ago.
The price now for choice land here is
$50. 90 to $780, 90 per acre. With favor
able weather conditions this season, the
farmers will load $50 cars at Shovel,
and under normal conditions they will
get $50. 900 to SIS. 900.
AS a buyer | have watched the va
rieties closely and as your people are
expecting to plant few acres this
season in berries, ! was prompted to
write this letter to tell them my OBJ
servation and experience. have found
for an early berry the "klondike" to
be the best. They have long stem
that keeps them from getting covered
with dirt during a rain, are to 10 days
earlier than the parsons Beauty. and
last as long to pick, while the Par
sons" have short stem and get covered
in dirt almost every rain. which cuts
the price so per cent. They are not as
heavy a bearer as the Parsons, but
they are very firm. and will ship to
Canada in good condition, while the
middle varieties are soft and must have
closer market. The Candy is late
berry, but the best shipper of them all.
With the "Klondike" as an early berry,
and the "Gandy" for the late, you have
all the varieties you need. The middle
varieties have tendency to depress the
prices ut the latter end of the "klon-
dixie, and they lap over on the Candy,
causing the price of them to lower, and
if your soil suits the "Klondike" and
Candy" plant them, and none other.
In putting out new plants, it is well
to use small quantity of bone mea.
under them. Acid phosphate seems to
cause the plants to die in July and
August. Use on your beds in early
spring, from the LIST to the 18th of
March. z, 6, 5. fertilizer. When your
farmers grow berries enough to load 3
cars per day. or more, they will have
no trouble in having home market
with competitive buyers, and with an
honest package. with cups well filled
and not capped off. believe you will
make money.
Hoping what have said will help
some new beginner. | am
Respectfully yours.
C. C. MUMFoRD.
p. S. The afternoon train is badly
needed all the way up the line Of the
D., NJ. & v. Many times orders from
Boston and Eastern points would come
to the d., NJ. & " branch if we had an
a fternoon train whereas they are now