TRUCK FARMING. 607 



regularly at UDiform depth, and the young plants may be more conven- 

 icutiy thinned, weeded, and worked, if necessary; besides the opera 

 tion may be- performed during the prevalence of a wiud with the ma- 

 chine. 



PROFITS. 



Truck farming is perhaps more than any other branch of husbandry 

 .=?ubji'ct to those vicissitudes and casualties which cannot be guarded 

 agaiust by any human care, foresight, or knowledge. It is carried on 

 over such an extensive area at present, the different acrea'ges of its croi)s 

 have been so eidargcd, vastly augmenting the production of recent years, 

 while the number and the demand of the markets have been proportion- 

 atel3' very slightly iucreasod, that the profits during the last two seasons 

 have been cousideraly reduced. The most unfavorable contingencies 

 seem to have combined during this period to depress the industry. 

 These influences, however, have nearly all been of temporary character 

 and, with the returning smiles of fortune, it will again revive. Under 

 ordinary circumstances thoroughly competent truck farmers, favorably 

 located and otherwise fully equipped with the essential elements of suc- 

 cess, will render it, even under the existing drawbacks, one of the most 

 lucrative branches of agriculture. But when they fail their losses 

 are proportionately heavy. If one or more of his crops be killed by 

 frost, it being too late to replant, the entire expenditure of money 

 and attention is a total loss; thus one of the most extensive farmers 

 lost his bean crop, involving a loss of $1,200 in expenditure. Not so 

 with the local Northern market gardener, who, even if he should be a lit- 

 tle late, has the entire season before him. Before truck farming had ex- 

 tended to Florida the bulk of the different crops from the vicinity of 

 Savannah and Charleston would be marketed before the same articles 

 could come into competition with them from Norfolk. Under a bare 

 market, prices would occasionally rule very high for a favorite vegeta- 

 ble. Thus a couple of crates of tomatoes sold ten years ago, on 7th June, 

 in Baltimore, at 810 each, and larger shipments frequently brought $8 

 and $ 1 per crate. At present Florida couid keep the markets supplied 

 from January to August, when those of Northern home production ma- 

 ture. Her shipments, together with the fiue quality of canned goods, 

 have affected the price to such a degree that, at the same season, the 

 value of Savannah-grown tomatoes hardly ever reaches $-1 per crate, $3 

 being considered a fair price. These influences affect the prospect at 

 Norfolk so seriously that the acreage in tomatoes will be considerably 

 reduced the coming season. Competition of California cabbages with 

 those of Gulf production in the Northwestern markets has, in the last 

 two years, had the same effect upon the cabbage crop at Mobile. 



The point where the industry maybe pursued with the greatest profit 

 seems to have receded with its growth. Although Florida produce 

 comes partially into competition with that from Bermuda in the early 

 markets, and is subject to loss and damage commensurate with the greater 

 distance of ti-ansportatiou, if current reports arc to be credited, her 

 truck crops command the most money ; yet I have heard Northern com- 

 mission men say they were disinclined to handle some of the varieties of 

 vegetables shipped from Florida in consequence of their too frequently 

 objectionable condition. The cost of a thoroughly prepared truck crop 

 about 2 miles from a city, estimated up to the time of harvest, including 

 all the varieties usually grown (except asparagus, which is more ex- 

 pensive and more remunerative) averages about 8125 per acre, and, 

 during a favorable season, a good truck farmer ought to net, clear of all 

 expenses, $100 per aero for the total area under cultivation. 



