El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-03

~ TASHINGTON. D. c., April. s.
M The Easter lily is popularity
supposed 10 be the principal
agricultural product OF Bermuda. But
the truth is that it is merely an incl
dental crop. the early onion and potato
being Of vastly more importance from
a commercial point Of view.
Easter is the time OF year when carly
vegetables are expected TO make their
appearance in our markets, the pota-
toes and onions coming chiefly from
Bermuda The traditional early worm
must surely have had its original home
in that group Of islands, which is es-
peciaIly the place OF production for
things that come out of the ground
ahead Of time.
The Bermuda farmer looks upon the
Easter lily with no sentimental eye,
CHASING the plant IN the same business
category with the equally fragrant
and much more profitable onion. The
onion. indeed, is his chief source OF
revenue, the potato coming next, and
the lily third.
Annual Output Marvellous.
In point Of quantity the annual out
put OF the islands is little short OF
marvellous, their total area being only
"a square miles The warm current OF
the Gulf stream runs close BY the
tiny archipelago, modifying the eli
mate While II is still winter with
US. fields Of onions and potatoes are
carpeting the Bermudas. No very
large tracts are devoted to Easter lily
culture. which is restricted to small
scattered patches Of from one to half
a dozen acres-the plant flourishins
best in fertile pockets OF RICH red vol
canic soil among the hills inland
In Bermuda the fields are so small,
the rock so close to the surface In
many places, and the rent OF tillable
land so high (seldom less than $50 an
acre., that every inch OF ground must
be made TO produce a maximum out
put. Hand labor admits Of close plant
ing, and so all cultural operations are
conducted by that means, the onions
being set out in beds four feet wide,
and weeded with finger and thumb.
Great Winter Garden Of T. s.
Stretching all the way from Camden,
n. J.. TO Savannah, Ga, Is the great
winter garden OF the United States
vast out OF doors greenhouse from
which early vegetables OF many kinds
come to market at Eastertide. This
garden" is a long and narrow strip
OF sandy soil. Being low and flat, and
near to the ocean (Which regulates
temperature and lessons liability 10
severe frOsts), it has a relatively warm
climate. and fruits and vegetables
grown in this belt mature much earlier
than in corresponding latitudes else
where.
The soil OF the strip. which once up
on a time was sea bottom, is loose and
sandy so as 10 be we'll drained ana Is
made up OF a great variety OF minerals
which best contribute TO the nourish-
ment OF plants. II is mealy and fine
grained, never forming ciods. and
with a clean surface suitable to the
cultivation OF tender vegetables. For
cabbages, lettuce, early potatoes, Gu
cumbers. radishes, carrots, beets, egg
plants, and peppers it cannot be sur
passed
In the neighborhood OF Wilmington.
n. C.. early lettuce is grown under COW
erings OF canvas to prevent injury by
frost. 1t natures some weeks before
Easter, and sometimes yields a profit
Of as much as $4,000 an acre Straw
berries have been known to produce as
much as $1,000 an acre in the districts
Of which Chadbourn. y. C.. and Com
way, s C, are centers. These are
great producing sections, from
which immense quantities OF straw
berries begin to be shipped at Easter
time.
Potato Tastes Differ.
In this country a potato is always a
potato. Europeans are more discrimi-
mating: they recognize certain varie-
ties as most suitable for certain pur-
poses. For example, the potato that is
best for salad or for frying in deep
fat is likely TO be poorest for boiling,