In 1905 the freight shipments of vegetables by rail alone amounted to: berries, 433 tons; cauli- 

 flower, 10,075 tons; pickles, 20,962 tons; potatoes, 53,724 tons; requiring 3,250 freight cars to transport 

 this large yield to market, where the growers secured for potatoes, cauliflower, asparagus, cabbage, 

 celery, etc., etc., prices ranging from lO^o to 40% above those offered for the same varieties raised 

 elsewhere. 



The express service handled 3,500 tons of cauliflower, 375 tons of lima beans, 160 tons of Brussels 

 sprouts, 175 tons of peaches, 450 tons of tomatoes. 



Herewith Long Island data of yield per acre compiled from carefully kept records extending over 

 a number of years: 



POTATOES — Potatoes yield per acre 200 to 400 bushels; average price 75c. per bushel, varying 

 from 50c., when bulk of crop is marketed, to $1.50 and $2.00 for early and for potatoes kept into the 

 winter. The average gross return per acre is $225, cost of production $56.50, net profit $169 per acre. 



CAULIFLOWER — Long Island alone can grow this delicacy in large quantities in the open air, 

 the natural precipitation making this possible. This crop requires care, but protected and blanched, 

 its floweret-formed head nets a profit per acre averaging over $200. 



CABBAGE — Average 22 tons per acre. Price from $8 to $20 per ton. Easy to grow, gather, 

 and pack. One grower netted $935 from three acres. 



CABBAGE SEED — One of Long Island's specialties, being the biggest producer, nets over $400 

 per acre. 



CELERY — Long Island grown frequently commands a premium. Net profits vary widely from 

 $300 to $1,000 according to the care given the crop. 



BRUSSELS SPROUTS— Cost to grow $30. Yield frequently over 3,000 quarts of miniature 

 cabbage-heads per acre, which sell at 10 to 30 cents per quart. Average net return $555 per acre. 



ASPARAGUS — Yields for 30 years, but good business pohcy dictates renewal after 10 years' 

 cropping. Profitable crop after three years. Average yield per acre 2,500 bunches. Value 12^ to 

 25c. per bunch. Net yearly return for 10 years averaged over $550 per acre. 



FRUITS — Long Island has developed many famous strains. The Newtown pippin was valued 

 so highly that in 1758 England exempted this pippin from the payment of duty. 



PEARS have netted from $600 to $800 per acre. 



QUINCES especially adapted to the island, $1,500 being secured by one grower from a single acre. 



PEACHES do well, especially on the hills. 



PLUMS — The Japanese varieties thrive marvelously, paying the third year a good margin. 



SMALL FRUIT& — Gooseberries yield 200 to 400 bushels per acre, cost to raise and market 50c. 

 per bushel, bring $3 to $4 per bushel. Average net $900 per acre. 



CURRANTS — Annual yield sure and extremely heavy, two to four pounds per bush, frequently 

 net $300 to $400 per acre. 



BLACKBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES thrive well and return upward of $300 per acre. 



STRAWBERRIES yield heavily, as high as $800 per acre having been secured. 



CRANBERRIES — Long Island crops rank very high, yield over 200 crates per acre; value $2 

 and upward per crate. 



GRAPES — At present grown mainly for home use. Thrive splendidly and would pay well. 



SEEDS, PLANTS, AND BULBS — Floral growth has proven extremely successful on the island 

 and growers of specialties as well as a general line are exceptionally prosperous. 



It is not always possible to see ourselves as others see us, but the case of the Long Island Railroad's 

 Experimental Station No. 1, at Wading River, proves the exception to the general rule as the following 

 extracts from letters wTitten by prominent men will attest: 



Among the pleasant recollections that I carried away are the impressions of the possibilities that lay 

 dormant in this so-called "scrub oak waste" land. It was a revelation in several respects. I was greatly sur- 

 prised at the character and nature of the soil, especially the 3^/2 -foot loam section your cellar shows overlying 

 one of the most perfect beds of gravel as an underdrain that I have ever seen. What you have done in less than 

 a year en the so-called "waste lands" is convincing proof that all this section needs is intelligent management 

 and hard work to bring out the latent possibilities in vegetable and fruit growing. The character of the 

 products I saw on your place was most striking. I have never seen a better showing of alfalfa or a more pro- 

 fuse growth of corn than you have at the present time. Your alfalfa plot, particularly the one on which soil 

 from an old alfalfa field was used for inoculation, is a wonder. 



The work you are doing will certainly have a far-reaching effect in practically demonstrating the possi- 

 bilities of vegetable and fruit growing in that section. Your method of clearing land by blowing out the 

 stumps with dynamite is unique and interesting. This method will be of great value to others. 



Prof. W. G. Johnson, 



August 15th, 1906. Editor, The American Agriculturist, 



Orange, Judd Co. 



.Ml were surprised at the wonders of your farm work and will talk about it for months to come. The 

 "Home Hamper" is an excellent method of packing and is a fine method of shipping the splendid vegetables 

 raised at E.xperiment Station Number 1. Charles E. Shepard, 



August 16th, 1906. Editor, Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 



You could not have secured a better truck and garden soil if you had excavated and made it to order. 

 The demonstration you made in growing such a variety of first quality garden crops in one short season on 

 wild soil and without chemical fertilizer I consider nothing short of marvelous. 



I am especially gratified at the tine showing of alfalfa and forage crops. You have demonstrated not only 

 the possibility but the ease with which dairy herds may be maintained by the soiling system on soils always 

 considered too light and poor for such purposes. The problem of an adequate milk supply for New York City 

 becomes more acute each year and the opening of a vast territory of production within two hours' distance of 

 this great market, in a section hitherto considered impossible, should prove a magnificent opening for the 

 dairy interest. Col. F. E. Bonsteel, 



August 15th, 190G. Editor, Farming; Doubleday, Page & Co. 



You have delivered the goods. Long Island wood ashes and Yankee muscle and brains do work miracles. 

 July 22d, 1906. Walter S. Funnell, 



Editor, Brooklyn Daily Times. 



76 



I 



