St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1912-03-30
FARMERS
Meet IN
COV|NGTOh
Looking Into the Matter of
Truck Growing.
G.. F. Verlander of the Illi-
.nois Central, and
H. D. Wilson, of State Agri-
cultural Department,
Talk Railway Service and
Trucking Industry.
C.. F. Verlander of the ILL
.nois Central, and
H. D. Wilson, of State Agri-
cultural Department,
Talk Railway Service and
Trucking Industry.

truck growing in st. Tammany par
ish was held at the courthouse Thurs
day forenoon as advertised in the
Farmer and by circulars. The mis-
erable weather probably kept many
away who would otherwise have at
tended, but as Mr.. Wilson humor-
ously remarked. it is always either
too hot or too cold, too wet or too
dry. for the farmer. However, there
were some farmers who came ell the
way from Vaudeville and Madison
Vile and some others who had travel
ed quite long distances. Gustave
Daussin, manager of the Goodbee
Truck Growers Association, and
Capt. G. e. Millar, manager Of the
Abita Springs Truck Growers AS
s0ciatiOn, were among those present.
The speakers we're introduced By
D. H. Mason, Of the Farmer, and
talked very interestingly and to the
point. Mr.. c. F. Verlander spoke
drst. He said that the Illinois Cen
tral was anxious to do al in its pow
er to assist the farmers. and to place
them on the same footing in the mat
ter Of shipments as the farmers of
other truck growing districts that
are now making large shipments.
That the schedule would be set back
one hour in order to allow ccnnec-
tion with the same train that car
Ffed products from the Hammond
district. and that IL refrigerator
car was wanted one would be fur
nished for the minimum load of TO-
900 pounds. Anything under. this
would have to be shipped to Ham
mond and could there be transferred
In fact, II We entered into the busi-
ness With any degree of energy we
should be able to enjoy all the ia
cilities of any other section; that the
average cost of shipping to Chicago
by refrigerator car was ~ cents
package. As for ordinary freight
shipments In car load lots, cars would
be placed for service and afterwards
attached to the regular train that
runs out of Hammond, at one and the
same rate that was charged to all
truck shippers. He said that our
lands were rs high and we'll drained
and as suitable to truck growing as
those Of any other section which was
now making large shipments; in fact,
that it was better than a great deal
of it.; yet it was expected that Tan
gtpahoa parish would ship between
1000 and 5000 carloads this season.
But he did not wish to encroach upon
the theme Of Mr.. Wilson, who was
practical farmer, truck grower of
large experience and well able to give
Information on the subject. But he
wanted to impress upon the farmers
the fact that the railroads were will
ing to do al In their power to assist
the farmers in the business If they
would only raise the truck.
Mr.. Harry D. Wilson, of the State
Agricultural Department, spoke next.
Mr.. Wilson said that it had come to
his ears that some one made the re-
mark that these fellows didn't know
anything about farming" Now he
wanted to say that il any people
thought he did not know anything
about farming he would like to have
them come to his place near Rose
land. La. and see for themselves.
That he WAS q practical farmer and
made his living out of farming, the
kind Of farming that would bring
prosperity to every farmer in st.
Tammany parish who engaged in it.
He said that diversified farming was
. great thing, but he wanted to i'm
press upon his hearers that any sys-
tenn of farming that did not embrace
the raising of corn was failure.
That the farmers of Louisiana had
helped to build those massive red
r. 1nd
all over the farming districts of the
state Of Ohio. That we had bought
their corn and paid them to haul it
all the way from Ohio. when we
could raise it ourselves at cost of
Is cents . bushcl. Raise corn and
cattle to eat It, and then take the
fertilizer and put it on the land and
we could make truck farming pay.
That there was . time when stable
manure could be gotten from New
Orleans at $11.50 Z carload; but
some one who thought the farmer
IN easy mark had cornered the mark
ct in the stable manure and had it
piled up In New Orleans vacant lots
% high - the Southern Hotel and
wanted $3.50 q ton for 1t. The
farmers could not afford to pay this
price. Save what you can on the
farm and plant cow peas and velvet
beans 40 the next best thing. That
velvet beans left In the field until
after frost would keep the cattle fat,
and that they were great milk pro-
ducers.
As to truck growing. there is mon
ey In It IL managed right. The
CONTINUED on fourth page.)