 |  | |
 |
|  |
 |  | |
| | |
|
| |
| | |
|
|
Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2002
Specialization in farming has reached a remarkable peak on Seabrook
Farms, Incorporated, just north of Bridgeton. Here, on 5,000 acres owned
or leased by the corporation, industrial technique and efficiency engineering have been applied to agriculture. Lands once worked by small farmers
living in perennial semi-starvation have been absorbed by the company
and converted into profitable acreage. The similarity to industrial method
extends into the financial set-up, for here is a farm with a holding company, and a subsidiary company to handle canning and packing operations.
To illustrate the intense agricultural specialization: Peas are planted in
patches covering as many as 200 acres, with rows so close together that
the usual method of cultivation 'is impossible. Aphis and other pests are
controlled by dust sprayed from the farm's two airplanes; and, instead of
being picked by hand, the vines are harvested whole by reapers and the
peas separated by specially built viners.
The farm has its own reservoirs, railroad sidings, and concrete highways, plus a trucking fleet with special refrigerating apparatus for hauling
frozen foods to market. Farm hands as well as factory girls punch time
clocks, and company police patrol the land. Two bitterly fought strikes in
1934 for higher wages and union recognition carried the industrial parallel
even further. The first strike brought a wage increase, but the second resulted in withdrawal of union recognition, although wages were not
altered.
Nurseries represent an even more intense type of specialization. Trees
and shrubs, vegetable and flower seeds are raised for an international
market. At Bound Brook is the largest orchid-growing plant in the country
and Camden County has the largest dahlia farm in the State. Rose growing
is centered in Morris County; the extensive greenhouses of Madison have
given that community the nickname of the "Rose City." Nursery and
greenhouse products total nearly $10,000,000 in value annually.
|
|
|
Return To |
|
|
