Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-09-24
ADVANTAGES OF TENNESSEE FOR
TRUCK GROWING.

cupies an important position as a truck
growing state, aud that those who are
to engage in this profitable pursuit will
soon begin TO make preparations for next
years work, the following article from
Mr.. r. T. DeBerry, Of Humboldt, viii be
of interest,
There are several things 10 be consid
cred by the man who contemplates go
ing into the trucking industry, among
them being climatic conditions, adapta-
bility Of the soil to meet the needs Of
the particular crops which he expects to
grow, whether the crops which he ex.
poets to grow win do well in that local.
ity or not, and most important Of all,
whether he can find ready market for
his produce after he has grown 1t sue
cessfully.
Tennessee meets these conditions as per-
Iectly as any trucking section with which
am acquainted, and much better than
most of them, especially as to reaching
the markets. The great bulk Of crops
of this sort find their largest outlet in
the comparatively densely populated mid
due north and northeastern sections Of
the United States and all Of territory
from st. Louis on the west to Pittsbug
and New York City on the east can be
reached in from - to 90 hours, the most
of Tennessee's early vegetables going
upon the markets Of Louisville, Column
bus, indianapolis, Chicago and that
section in about thirty-six hours after
leaving shipping station, with freight
rates varying from "a cents to 65 cents
per 100 pounds, the rate varying OF
course with the classification and the
distance hauled.
Several through lines Of railroad take
care of these shipments, among them be-
ing the NJ. & o., l. c. and L. & n. in the
western division of the state, the N, G.
& st. L. and L. & n in the middle di-
vision and the southern, /. & n. and the
Queen & Crescent in the eastern divis-
ion.
Regular fruit trains, as they are call
ed, are run over these roads during the
shipping season, their sole business be-
ing to pick up all fruits and vegetables
offered along their respective lines and
putting these products on the northern
markets by a rapid through freight serv-
ice.
Parties desiring to grow stuff for To-
cal markets would find desirable loca'
tions near our larger cities like Memphis,
Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and
Jackson.
The trucking industry in Tennessee is
already of large proportion, one county
alone, Gibson, having shipped in 1907
| 1.-THE last season for which have accu-
rate figures) 1000 cars of fresh, ripe to-
matoes, two hundred cars early cabbage
and 269 cars of strawberries, while in
! the Chattanooga district hundreds Of
cars of strawberries are shipped each
season, berries from this section usuallS
bring fancy prices on the open market
In Middle Tennessee Irish potatoes are
largely grown both for early market and
the second crop for seed purposes.
In thse sections transportation facili-
I ties are already arranged and the rail-
roads stand ready to afford similar facil-
tiles to those communities which desire
to engage in truck growing as a new de-
parture.
Tennessee is peculiarly fortunately sit
uated for the trucking industry from a
climatic standpoint, as the season for
these crops here comes just at tame
when the demand for early vegetables is
at its highest and while prices are still
high enough to make their shipment prof
liable.
Crops to the south Of us come in be-
fore the craving for such produce has
reached its maximum, while those to
the north of us find that aving in n
measure satiated, so that we have a
larger demand to compensate us for low
err prices than growers south of us and
higher prices for our produce than the
northern grower.
As to our soils we find that with an
understanding of the proper methods of
-ure we can grow any crop that will
grow in the temperate zone, West Ten
ncssee being adapted to the production OF
Il oarly vegetables, while on the Cum
be id plateau and in East Tennessee
can be grown late Irish potatoes and late
cabbage to compare favorably with the
1ore northern sections of our country.
| y.aA iNnl "
cheap considering their value for truck
ing purposes, ranging in price from $50
to $50 per acre, depending upon near
ness of our larger cities and to the rail
roads. but these prices are entirely rea'
sonable when we consider the fact that
they are already in cultivation with
houses, barns, etc.
The principal truck crops grown in
Tennessee are lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes,
sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, Irish po'
tatoes, watermelons, and strawberries,
strawberries and tomatoes beign grown
more extensively than the other crops
mentioned.
The returns of course vary with the
Weld and prices for each season, but most
growers consider an average return OF
500 per acre net an entirely reasonable
expectation, though he writer has known
Yields of $500 per acre on lettuce, $500
on tomatoes, $500 on early cabbage, 5000
on sweet pepper and $3.50 per acre on
strawberries.
The man who intends to stick to truck
growing year after year and intends to
give the time and attention to the bnsi