The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1912-05-11
MORR|LTON RFAPS.
A RICH HARVEST
MONEY in STRAWBERRIES;
CITY "A BUSY HIVE OF INDUS
TRY NOW, RECEIVING ABOUT
$4,000 A DAY.

So,OOO A DAY.
Right at the present season, when
business of all kinds is almost at
standstill in nearly every Arkansas
town, Morrilton is one of the busiest
places on the map, and Strawberries
are responsible for it, according to W.
ID. Cole, Jr., secretary of the recently
organized Faulkner County Truck
Growers Association, who visited
that place yesterday. Mr.. Cole says
the farmers IN the vicinity of Morrill,
ton are wildly enthusiastic over the
berry business, one of them going so
FAR as to cut down a 50-acre orchard
OF fine tlve-year-old liberia peach
trees IN order to set out Strawberries
this year. And yet the cold figures
snow that business sanity of the
shrewdest type characterizes such ac-
ton as this. From about LOO acres
IN berries this year Morrilton is re-
celvlng an average of $4,000 per day,
paid in cash to the growers as the
berries are delivered. The average
production is considerably above 500
per acre, running in numerous in
stances over 5000, and this despite the
|
the most unfavorable that could we'll
be imagined
While Mr.. Cole was in Morrilton
yesterday five cars of berries were
shipped. Yesterdays price was 1926
per crate, the average value of a car
being $1,315. The berries are being
shipped to Colorado, Nebraska, Wis
consln, Iowa, Minnesota and Canada.
People around Morriton are quit
ting everything and going into straw
berries" said Mr.. Cole. "Thev are
making more money per acre, even
with short berry crop, than five
crops of cotton on the same land
would bring them. An army of prob
ably 1000 pickers are kept at work.
Two cents a quart is paid and even
the society women are picking straw
berries. Experts make as high as
$4 day and school children easily
make 81 day. The cashier of one of
the banks told me his deposits were
day, the money coming from nothing
else except berries. With LOO acres
already bearing, several hundred
the acreage will probably be doubled
iiS%NG y efl.
Business men OF Morrilton extend
ed through Mr. Cole an invitation to
Faulkner county farmers and bust
ness men to come to Morrilton Mon
day and spend a day watching the
workings of the industry. He has Sc
cured promises from quite number
; already to make the trip and thinks
a large crowd will visit Conways
neighbor city on that day, provided
weather conditions are favorable.
What strawberry growing on a
large scale means to a town cannot be
described and must be seen to be APP
preciated, 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 l don't believe a day
could be more proftably 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 will 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 a 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, }. 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 q
l.. Mays of Rogers was placed
charge of the selling and the acE
increased. Eleven cars went oul
year, bringing in a total Of
$4,000. Last year saw stiX
increase in acreage and 52
shipped, bringing in nea
This season is starting q
ly, and it is expected II
VIII reach about 100
average of at least
And the end is not
winter, mainly throl
| HEdp Cipnncnn
bers of the Morri
other enterprisinl
paign was CARR
substantial ind
and next year.
acreage aml
nice record,
Another =