TOMATOES. 131 



TOMATOES. 



The history of tomato growing in the South may be 

 cited as a good illustration of the wonderful effect 

 that transportation has upon the product of a section 

 of the country. Twenty years ago it was thought im- 

 possible to raise tomatoes in the South ; at present there 

 are many localities in the extreme South in which 

 this is the only marketable crop. More and more 

 attention is being constantly given to having this 

 vegetable in the market all the year round. The crop 

 of the far North is usually cut off by frosts in Septem- 

 ber or October, while that of the States farther south, 

 as North and South Carolina, is not usually cut off 

 until November or December. During December the 

 crop from South Florida is brought forward to the 

 market, continuing to be shipped in as long as the 

 crop will bear transportation. Under favorable con- 

 ditions, by the first of May, the crop as far North 

 as Georgia begins to ripen, and is pushed forward 

 to the market, crowding the Florida crop out. There 

 are so many engaged in growing tomatoes that 

 only those who are nearest to the market can grow 

 them profitably. 



The very high prices paid for tomatoes a few years 

 ago will not be realized again, but those who are 

 engaged in the business must content themselves with 

 small profits. It is rapidly getting to the conditions 

 when only those who have the best information and 

 equipment at hand will be able to make a fair profit 

 on the money invested in the growing of this vegeta- 

 ble. While the Northern gardeners will continue 

 to grow large quantities in greenhouses, the indus- 

 try will not reach the immense proportions that 

 it was once thought it would. The gardeners of 



