Solaris Farm: A Story of the Twentieth CenturyEdson, Milan C. (Milan Chappel)
General
Solaris Farm: A Story of the Twentieth Century
Edson, Milan C. (Milan Chappel)
Agriculture, Cooperative; Cooperation; Utopias
"In the process of box-making, the layers of paper were saturated with a
chemical, germicide solution, which made the boxes insect-proof; yet,
which would not odorize, nor in any way injure the contents. In the
process of packing, each box and cover was lined with thin sheets of
parafine paper, as an additional guard against moisture. When the boxes
were filled and sealed, they were strongly coopered, by adding four thin
laths of strong wood. These laths, one-eighth of an inch thick, two
inches wide, and just the length of the box; two at the bottom, and two
at the top, were securely nailed to the cornerposts; thus completing a
package which was cheap, strong, light, durable, rodent and
insect-proof. With a capacity of a half-bushel, it weighed only five
pounds. Filled with cubes, the gross weight was but thirty-five pounds.
An ideal package, which could be piled high in transportation or
store-house without injury; the upright cornerposts taking all the
pressure.
"The half-bushel or thirty pounds of dried cubes in each box, represent
two bushels of fresh vegetables. Cured and packed in this way, they
reach distant markets, sound, sweet, clean and nutritious. No waste, no
worms, no musty smell, no decay! Frost cannot hurt them, heat preserves
them! For long voyages, army and navy use, mining, lumbering, and
hunting outfits, they are simply invaluable! For all classes of
consumers, they are cheaper, cleaner and more wholesome than the
ordinary stale and wilted vegetables, for sale in the city markets! We
have named these cubes, 'Solaris Vegetable Concentrates,' a title which
we have copyrighted. The packages readily wholesale at 75 cents, to be
retailed at one dollar. At these prices, they yield a handsome profit to
the farm.
"Last year we placed hundreds of sample packages on the general market,
which soon proved the excellence of the goods, and later brought heavy
orders for this year; even more than we can fill, for many of the
varieties. A valuable hint to us, that we must devote more ground to
growing those particular kinds.
"Our 'Solaris Mixture Concentrates' are almost equally popular. We also
have a growing demand for our 'Solaris Stock Food,' which we put in
cheaper packages, to wholesale and retail at 50 and 75 cents. This
mixture is made up of equal proportions of dried cubes of potatoes,
carrots, cassava, and mangel-wurzel. It has proved the acme of a
healthful, fattening stock-food; especially beneficial in counteracting
the evil effects of heavy grain-feeding; or in cases of emergency, to
take the place of forage or cut-straw food.
"In a weedless soil, much of the heavy labor of growing vegetables is
eliminated. In curing and preparing them for market in this way, a great
amount of light, pleasant work, is available for our women co-operators.
Considered as a whole, this vegetable scheme is one of the notable
achievements of Solaris farm, of which the members of the company are
justly proud."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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