St. Tammany farmer., 1922-02-18
Staff Correspondent Talks
Truck Raising and
Farm Matters &
MANDEVILLE TO
HAVE ASSOCIATION
Henry Keller, Mr.. Simmons
and Mr.. Matthews Give
Views on Trucking
(By A. E. Briggs)

On Saturday last ten farmers in
the vicinity OF MG nde,l:.e met ana
organized the AiaAueyllle Truck
Growers Association" for the purpose
of growing and marketing co-opere.-
tive snap beans and other vegetables.
MIR. Henry Keller, Mr.. rimmons and
Mr.. Matthews, of Slidell, were pres
ent and assisted by suggestion and
counsel as TO methods OF procedure.
Mr.. Simmons has had wide exper.-
ence with every phase of CROWN <
and marketing truck crops, as he
grew up in the Crystal Springs truck
growing district and had persona
contact with the business both as a
grower and merchant. Mr.. Matth-
eWs is son Of the largest truck
producer up there and is now in the
employ of the Farmers Truck Com
pany at Slidell for the purpose vi
teaching the Slidell growers proper
methods for the conduct of the Dusi-
ness. Their advice to the Mande-
vile farmers wl4l be of value to any
other communities which are nov
organizing.
Mr.. Simmons said that it is
feasible now to plant peas ii they
are put III at once, but OF course the
ground would have to be all ready
Immediately before planting. 1t Is
time also Tor planting of Irish pota-
toes. AS to potatoes our article lost
week covers the subject. Mr.. SIM
mons recommends very heavy fertll
lzlng for potatoes, as much as 2OUr
pounds per acre. His suggestions a.,
TO cultivation are worth repeating.
He plows flat or level, points up rows
with 6-inch shovel, sows the fertil-
lzer IN the furrow, runs the shove.
back through the furroW to mix w
the fertilizer well; then with harrow
IN two weeks he runs right across
the rows, and as soon as potatoes are
up cultlvates with spring tooth har-
row. He urges to spray as soon as
potAtoes are up, whether you see
any bugs or not.
A farmer who has not had pre-
Vlous experience in growing should
uot Try too much the first season, AMI
Hh.le the Ianke.ing associations are
new at the business it is well to be
conservative, which should not be
l-ken " approve disposition to be-
Htt.e and discourage first attempts.
This year being the first year CO.
Operative marketing has been given
a trial lr this parish should be re-
sarded by the grower not as a final
tSat. out as Il period of learning the
1ualne $. There is no question at all
mat truck growing is a very profit
aJie business for the man who learns
now, and everyone in the parish
should be anxious to see and help
the Farmers succeed. AS far as
possible we will give assistance in
lhls column as to methods of grow
ing and marketing.
The Vaudeville farmers are pianr-
ing to grow beans, and in this article
we Will give standard directions as
TO preparation OF soil, planting, fer
tlllzlng, cultivation, varieties, ali
picking for market.
What was said last week as to
ploWlng applies equally to al truck
crops. The ground should De plov-
ed as deep as the top soil will per-
mt, never turning up more than
inch OF subsoll. to 10 inches is a
deslrabie depth. The ground should
De thoroughly pulverized and fairly
cohlpacted before planting, and care
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