Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-11
THE HISTORY OF THE TRUCK
BUSINESS.


BUSINESS.
The growing OF fruit and vegetables Is
dependent upon certain favorable natural
conditions. The placing OF these perish
able products upon the market one or
two days earlier spells the difference be-
tween profit and loss. for today they are
Iuxuries. while tomorrow the market may
be glutted- In the production of truck
especially, season. soil. climate and loca-
ton play an important part II the soil
is very sandy IL will heat up more
quickly i'm the spring and will also ma
ture its crop with greater rapidity. The
climate must be uniform and mild. for
sudden variations in temperature and
hard freezes constitute the nightmare OF
the truck grower. The season must also
be early, while location is quite as es-
sential as any OF the other factors, since
IL will determine the climate to a large
extent and the ease and rapidity with
which markets may be reached IL -
not surprising. therefore. that some OF
the most famous trucking areas of the
south should be situated along the At
lantic coast from Maryland TO Key West,
as large bodies OF water help TO maintain
a uniform temperature and insure the
early maturity OF the crop Since most
truck soils are deficient in plant food.
they must Be enriched. for vegetables are
only palatable when quickly matured.
This difficulty has been overcome through
the use OF commercial fertilizers. and the
truck business has thus Indirectly been
the means Of stimulating what now con-
stitutes a great and growing industry in
the south-ths manufacture of CONNER
cial plant foo. and Of which millions Of
dollars worth are consumed annually IN
the production OF garden and orchard
crops
THAT the fruit and truck industries OF
the south have made marvellous progress
In the last few years is admitted by all
familiar with the situation This has
been brought about not only by favor
able natural conditions and the use of
fertilizers, but by the dissemination of
knowledge with reference to spraying
plants and trees which effectually ena-
bles the horticulturist 10 protect them
from the depredations OF various insect
pests and fungous diseases. which until
recent years proved a serious obstacle
20 the advancement OF the trucking inter-
ests- Labor Is another essential element
~ this industry. 1t must be cheap and
abundant. especially at certain seasons Of
The year, and on this account many
trucking areas are located rather close 10
large cities, which not only afford a con-
siderable market for home consumption,
but also provide excellent shipping ia
cilities. Now that the refrigerator car
has come. truck and fruit Of the most
perishabIe character can be shipped long
distances and placed on the market in
the best possible condition
That the trucking industry has done
much for the south Is Witnessed by the
fact that land in the vicinity OF Norfolk,
Va. and many other centres which not
- - e. l1rrA
now frequently brings as much as 81, 500
per acre. There are men engaged IN
the trucking business in various parts
OF the south who do not own more than
i've or ten acres OF land. and yet are
able to make a living for a good-sized
family and increase their wealth from
year 10 year In some instances truck
ers in favorable seasons have cleared
from $500 TO 1900 per acre. This shows
the intensive character OF the business
end the profits which may be made
therefrom when IT is conducted along the
latest and most scientific lines. The fruit
and trucking industries bring millions
OF dollars into the south every year. ana
have enhanced the value OF lands many
times. have given employment to thou
sands OF persons. have had much to do
with the rapid development OF many or
our towns and cities with their varied
Industries. and supply the railroads with
a considerable per cent OF the tonnage
they haul As a result. the fruit and
truck industries have exerted a marked
influence on the development OF south
ern agriculture and by giving diversity
and variety TO the crop have insured
better prices for many OF the staples
produced on the Farm
The first shipment OF truck by rail
from Norfolk occurred I'm 1856: from the
region in the vicinity Of Newborn. y. G,
in ISS7. and from Charleston. s. c.. I'm
ISIS. The first carload OF oranges was
shipped from Florida in ISIS. and OF
Strawberries in 1889. This will indicate
to the reader how marvelously the veg
etable. fruit and trucking industries OF
the south have developed in the last