The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-11-29
DUTCH HORTICULTURE
IS WORTH INITIATING
Science of Intensive Cultivation
Has Been Successfully Prac-
ticed for Years in Holland

ticed for Years in Holland
Many visitors in HARLEM, Holland
have had glimpse of the great fields
devoted to Horticulture, and particu-
| larry of the numerous acres covered
with crocuses, hyacinths or tulips in
| the spring. OF this section the WELL
named village of Bloemdaal (flowery
vale) constitutes the center. Few are
aware, however that an almost equal
4 ly interesting and noteworthy region
| is found in the neighborhood of The
Hague, one not devoted to the raising
Iof flowers, but to the intensive culti
walton of choice fruits and vegetables.
| Within short ride IRON the Dutch
ca pital lies the village of Loosduinen.
The electric line runs between the tow
path of canal and the brick paved
highway, the latter shaded on either
side by rows of noble trees. AS one
nears the village small canals or
bitches are seen branching from the
main canal at short intervals. Along
these the products of the gardens and
truck farms are conveyed in small
/
nal, where they are loaded on canal
boats and conveyed to the city. The
boats are not drawn by horses but
propelled by the boatmen, who use
long poles set against a cleat near the
bow.
This region so criss-crossed by
canals and ditches is one of the most
productive horticultural ections OF
the Netherlands. Along the smaller
bitches lie gardens and truck rarms,
where the finest early vegetables and
fruits are raised for home and for
eign markets. At regular intervals
have recently been erected suitable
buildings for temporary storage and
sale of products. In one of these a
large auction room is devoted to the
disposal a wholesale of fruits and veg
etabes raised in the region
Novel Method OF Auctioning
In this a curious contrivance is en-
ployed to facilitate sales. 1t consists
of metal disk with an indicator and
with numbers around it's circumfer-
ence corresponding to the numbers
given to the intending purchasers.
/ L
site side of the ditch on benches, each
of which is provided with an electric
button connected with the indicator
on the dial When the auctioneer
names a price for any part of the
wares to be sold, one of the bidders
simply presses the button before him
and the indicator at once points to
the number belonging by previous as
signment to him, and the sale of that
particular parcel is closed
| The advantage of this is that all dis
pute among the bidders as to who is
the successful purchaser is eliminated.
If any bidder hesitates for a moment
before pressing the button on his seat,
the indicator remains stationary and
the party loses his bid. The same
thing occurs in the case of one who is
| behind in his payment for previous
! purchases made by him. he may press
the button, but the needle does not
bulge. This is effected by a contriv-
ance under the control of the aution-
eer; but the entire matter proceo Is
without the possibility of being noticed
| by the other bidders, so that no one
of these has any knowledge of the I'M
successful bid or of its cause.
This auction was established in 1902
by union of truck farmers and has
since been followed by two others,
Their united sales amounted in 1909
to nearly three million forms ($1,2OO,-
00).
The section where these truck and
fruit farms are found goes by the
general name of Westland There are
acres upon acres of glass, either of
low hOtbeds or of great lighthouses. In
the former are raised early lettuce,
spinach and cucumbers For the last
named, however, and for the cultiva-
ton of tomatoes, larger lighthouses
have of late years been employed.
The cucumbers raised here are of
enormous size, three or four times
larger than those produced by our
truck farmers. They make an inter-
esting picture when seen in full size
suspended from the vines in the hot
houses. The cucum Der harvest lasts
from the middle of February to the
middle of March. the product finding
a market mainly in neighboring coun-
tries, because of the high prices there
secured. In Berlin which buys enor-
nous quantities, they often sell at a
mark "a cents, for a single cucum-
| Der.
Peaches and grapes formerly raised
in the open air are now raised here
entirely in hot houses. The most lus-
cious peaches / have ever eaten came
from this section. The production of
grapes has been specialized here to
the utmost degree. From one of the
establishments, that of New Housed
the Gross Colmar there raised ex-
clusiVely, finds its market almost en-
tirely in London and Manchester, Eng
land. The proprietor of this estab-
IIishment holds himself ready to ship
100000 pounds of grapes at once.
The grapes are packed in wicker
baskets, in two rows of three punches
each, so laid as not TO touch each
other. No wrapping or covering is
used In order not to disturb the bloom
or the berries. The lunches are fas-
ened to loose bottoms that may be
easily lifted out. In this way they
can be transported to any distance
without damage.
Plums and pears are raised mainly
ON trelises zen espalier" AS the WISH
tor enters the orchard of one of the
largest pomoculturists. he sees brick
walls SCRATCHING I'm every direction lit