The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-05-16

preciated,7 said Mr.. Cole. Il wish
that every business man in Conway
would go to Morrilton with us Mon
day. | am sure we will be well en-
tertained and / don't believe a day
could be more profitably spent at this
time"
The Morrilton Headlight of this
week contains the following account
Of the growth of the industry in that
section, which will be read with in
terest by everyone here:
Monday morning the strawberry
season opened up in earnest for Nor
rilton and on Tuesday the first car
went to Denver, Colo. This, means
that the month VIII be busy one for
all and that there will be no excuse
for idle hands. Buyers commenced to
arrive Tuesday and are pleased with
the outlook. Pickers are here from
various points in the surrounding
county, and it is estimated that at
least 1000 families of outsiders will
make their living here during the
season. These pickers will average
from $3.50 to $3.50 day, including
even the work of the hands of the
children.
Morrilton is now considered the
second largest strawberry shipping
point in the state, Notwithstanding
that this is practically her third sea-
son. Four years ago the Conway
County Horticultural Association was
organized through the efforts of H. H.
Childress, J. w. Smith, j. w. Mas
sey and ed" Simpson, and few
acres were planted in strawberries,
resulting in nine cars being shipped
out the first year, consigned to buyers
in the north. The following year G.
l.. Mays of Rogers was placed in
charge of the selling and the acreage
increased. Eleven cars went out that
year, bringing in a total of about
SIP 900. Last year saw still further
increase in acreage and 81 cars were
shipped, bringing in nearly $4,000.
This season is starting off suspicious
ly, and it is expected that the output
will reach about 100 cars, with an
average of at least $1,000 a car.
And the end is not yet! During the
winter, mainly through the efforts of
ED Simpson, assisted by the MEM
bers of the Morrilton Park Band and
other enterprising workers; cam
paign was carried through for most
substantial increase in the acreage
and next year will see the producing
acreage almost doubled. Rather a
nice record, isn't it?
Another l:ce thing about the straw
berry industry is that it brings abso-
lutely all foreign money into the COM
munity and still another pretty thing
about it is that money nearly all stays
here. The only money that leaves the
hands of the home man is the small
sum of IL IL cents for each Of the
crates. This is money that you can
spend, too. Cash is paid for the ber-
ries as soon as they are sold, the
growers getting their money each
night 1t is also we'll distributed
money, for there is no crop that
makes a better division of the pro-
ceeds. Pickers get a liberal share,
and their money is ready for them
each week-but the tickets they re-
ceive daily are transferable and are
the same as cash at many of the
stores.
Score another point, also! The ber-
ries are not the only point of profit
to this industry. In fact, they are alb
solutely clear profit when the business
is properly conducted. Three years
ago Morrilton was shipping plants in,
but this year saw more plants ship
ped out, bringing in an additional in
come of nearly $1,000. Had the win
ter been an open one the number of
plants shipped out would have reach
ed ten millions. Off of six acres H. H.
Childress sold plants amounting to
81 008. Off of two lots, 75x120 feet,
w. J. Smith got 1854 for plants. r. c..
Hoskins off of two acres sold $148
worth; J. w. Smith $3.50 worth off ten
acres.
Mr.. Mays informs us that grower
can safely figure on selling $50 worth
of plants to the acre, and this will
more than pay for the plants you first
set out, the expense of cultivating and
the rent of the ground
We are not relating fairy story,
even though things do seem rather in
credible. Mr.. Mays has used Morrill,
ton as shining example" and as a
result, has developed this industry at
Westbrook, Bolton, Blevins, Prescott,
Arkadelphia, Benton, Camden, For
dyce, Kingsland and Pine Bluff. All
the plants for these places were sold
by local growers, and the secretaries
of all these newly formed associations
will be here during this season to look
over the big business and get pointers.