Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1904 — Cucumber Culture. [ARTICLE]

Cucumber Culture.

A Very Promising Industry For Jasper County. All will be interest rd in learn ing of the success of B. J. Gifford in securing the location of a pickle factory of large proportions, located on the line of the Chicago & Waoash Valley Railroad, and thereby opening a new industry to the people along the line of the road, the importance of which may not be recognized at first blush The Compiny have already ! made contracts with the farmers | for raising about 600 acres, and think it possible that this acreage may yet be increased to one

thousand, this season. Few may readily understand what this may mean. An average crop of cucumbers has heretofore been 150 bushels to the .acre, which on 1000 acres would mean 150000 bushels, and at 50 cents (contract price) would amount to to the enormous sum of $75,000, to be distributed among the farmers in the months of August and early September. New revenue, where heretofore was nqthing, and which militates but very little against any other source of the farmers revenue.

This e iterprise is fast growing in confidence and popularity among the farmers. Mr. Gifford endorsed it and made an appeal to all his tenant and all his neighbors to “try it.” Believing the Jasper county lands were very superior for such crop, his tenants responded with almost a unanimous vote, and very many of his neighbors have “seconded the motion” and the t’Factory” may now be considered a fixed fact. In addition to the money before mentioned (distributed among the farmers) there will be expended in I the handling of the cucumbere, erection of tanks for salting, and factory for preparing them for table transportation and other purposes another immense sum, possibly as much more, or an aggregate of $150,000, yearly espenditure. The sum of money nearly all given in exchange for labor, will soon overcome the depletion re. suiting from the MoOoy Bank failure. And eveu enable the county to pay their assessment for the Iroquois river ditch. This crop is not well understood by the general public, in addition to its probably being the most profitable crop that can be raised, it is the quickest crop that can be rais ed. It is only six weeks from the time it is planted (June 15th) until it begins to bring back money (last of July). It can be raised during the ordinary school vacation (planted and harvested.) Children can work at harvesting it, quite as well as adults. i The'sohool teacher, after closing his school can plant it and harvest it in time to return to his school in. the fall.

It requires no capital outside of plowing the ground, and hauling to market. No actual out lay of money. Seed is furnished free. No new toels outside of those kept on every farm. The crop is sold before planted thereby securing a certain market. By turning them in immediately (everyday) to the factory there can be no loss, and the money is obtainable therefore, the farmer I don’t have to "wait for returns.”! It comes to the large families of I the poor like a Providential bless- 1 ing, giving all a chance to work! for a reasonable compensation. I The many poor families of all the I little towns and cities, can profit- 1 ably avail themselves of the op- 1 portunity, to get out of Town, go I into the country and get fresh air, I good wages and healthy employ- 1 ment. I

Over two millions of bushels of this crop is handled by thy Factories da any average crop year in this country. While this is a promising crop yet it must have oare and attention. It must be planted right; should

s el fail to urow it must be replanted, if bugs appear they must be fought off; weeds must not be allowed to take the field: ani the cucumber must be gathered in time and nauleii to the factory; and then thero is nothing left, but to spend the money. Many farmers who at first contracted to raise one acre have secured an increase, to two or ihree acres or more. Harry Gifford of Newland, wh » seems to be a “chip off the cld block” has contracted to raise thirty acres. This industry has probably come to stay, and should a fair crop be raised this year, it is more than likely that the acreage will be largely increased, if not doubled another