The Ocala evening star., 1922-07-21

table deal, which came to close the
latter part of June, was the most out
standing in the history of Marion
county. The county shipped the larg-
est number of cars Of early vegetables
in it's history, including more than
700 cars of tomatoes and more than
1900 cars of watermelons. The sea-
son established Marion county as one
of the most important tomato grow
ing sections in Florida. and therefore
in the country. From packing houses
in Ocala alone were shipped more
cars of tomatoes than were shipped
from the entire county in any pre-
yious season. Many new packing
houses were built in the county this
spring. More attention was given
this season to the quality Of the pack
and more shipments were made under
brands. More buyers than ever be-
fore were here during the tomato
deal, including representatives. of
several of the largest produce houses
in the country. The acreage in toma-
toes was the largest the county has
ever known, and the biggest part of
the crop was grown under contract.
to spraying and pruning. The intro
duction of dry spraying was feature,
Ocala was again the watermelon
center of Florida. The leading buy
ers made headquarters here and the
United States Bureau of Markets
sent out field market reports on wa
termelons from this point. The acre
age in melons was very large, and the
number Of cars shipped totaled more
than double the shipments of last
year by some 286 cars.
In point of money returns to the
growers the season was not much o1
a success. AS a whole money was
made. Some individual growers lost
heavily. Very abnormal weather was
the cause. A severe drouth during
the early part of the season and ex.
cessive rains during the best part OF
the shipping period cut heavily into
what promised to be big returns fol
the growers. The buyers made mon
ey, on tomatoes especially. Marion
county tomatoes were practically thu
only fancy and choice tomatoes on tn,
market when shipping got under wa!
and brought excellent prices. Th'
growers had reached a point of prof
making. Water-soaked tomatoes un
der contract brought about difficulties
between growers and buyers. Gen
orally speaking, however, there is NJ
encouragement. Contracts for mex
season have already been made AM
the indications are that the acreage il
tomatoes next year will be larger thai
ever. 1t is fully realized that tn
weather conditions this season wer
abnormal, not only in Marion count
sections of the country. Based upo
the fact that the Marion county toma
toes come in between South Florid
and Mississippi and Texas, and upo
the normal number of cars absorbe
by the markets of the country, it
believed that this county should shi
something like 1900 cars of tomatoe
a season.
Figures obtained by the Mario
County Chamber of Commerce froi
practically every shipping point
the county show that there wei
shipped since the first of January 69
cars of tomatoes, 1916 cars of wate
melons, 81 cantalouPes, 127 bean
153 cabbage, SO lettuce, 102 cucumber
and seven cars of sweet corn. Beside
the increase in the cars of tomatoe
and enelons already mentioned, thel
were increases in the shipments
cucumbers, beans, cantaloupes, cal
bage and lettuce over the previol
season. With several shipping poin
from which information has not Y
been obtained the tomato shipmen
were undoubtedly well over 700 ca
and the other figures should be i
creased
The carrot shipments do not inclut
crate shipments in less than car 10
by freight and express.
Following are the figures obtains
by the Chamber of Commerce fro
the various shipping points. In eve
instance the figures are not an inC
cation Of what was produced in t
immediate vicinity of the station
Hauling by truck to the packing ce
ters for considerable distances W
true in many cases.
Anthony: CARROTS, tomatoes 4
sweet corn, 5; watermelons, 81; Il
tuce, 2; cantaloupes, 26; cabbage,
beans, 1. Crates in less than car 10
no figures available.
Belleview: Carlots, cucumbers,
tomatoes, 26; cabbage, l. Crates
less than carlots, figures not ava
able at this station.
Boardman: CARROTS, watermelo
Is; cabbage, Is; lettuce, 10. Cra