New-York tribune., 1869-06-18
THROUGH THE SOUTH
u,p ,ND TTRPENTINE REGION.

,,N.tou IN Raleigh the country is low and the soil
- 1T ir,nroyemeuts are few and recent For sew
oral miles one sees frequent patches OF peas eaOpage
ord other vegetables and in one place large young
vipoyard of Concord grapes growing Iuxurlantiy'
WI. cranes will do in this alluyial soil Is to be
proved sklful grape growers would have ttie 1altn
Those growinRvegetabes live in small houses stand
inc in the SUM- and it is evident they have not yet got
rich. Three miles from Norfolk is gardener from
Bprlipgton NJ named Cox, who came hther 20 years
with little capital and he has now 100 acres IN cul
tiyation have visited him, and herelated bls expe-
rience First he had planted large peach orchard,
but his crops were seldom that the investment
does not pay and he is engaged in growing potatoes
peas beans asparagus cucumbers and tomatoes.
He said that he has made about $1,000 year, one
wear after another; still the business is much like
lottery, for only part of his crops sell we'll Cucum-
bers have ceased to be profitable, and tomatoes and
potatoes are relied upon Last year his beans rotted
after reaching New York. He buys about $1,000
worth of manure every year. in Philadelphia or Bal
timore; that made in Norfolk not being worth mucn
because the horses are not well fed. He uses con-
siderable guano, but only to produce rapid gro"Ih
for If his vegetables are not early they are ol no
value. He said that if he wished to rum Iain ITO
would only use guano. Managing in the best manner
with a large force of hired help with SOIL MAI uraiy
rich, and shipping from his fields drecIy upon suV
II will he seen that his land yields an annual profit
of $40 an acre 1t is not likely that another could do
halter Strawberries are supposed to be more proht
able Int why he does not grow them did not learn
OLD oRCHARDs--NiANIA FOR FRUIT RAISING.
Fairly reaching the agricultural region in Suffolk,
The cheerful sight of old orchards was presented,
but the houses old and messy and the fields
were much wasted, and neither grass nor clover
were to be seem Only here and there was wheat grow
al
cotton, and much corn was planted. Weldon Is
poor.looking place, and the negro women focked
around with fried chickens biscuit, and coffee, anx-
ious to supply the passengers AS we passed on, the
country opens with woods and bleak fields, with
remnants of orchards surrounding decayed farm
houses Negroes alone at work, and these
slowly plowed across the red fields. As to country
school-hOuses none were to be seen, nor have yet
seen any, Ridgeway is a place, settled by North
ern men, Of which had heard wonders They seem
TO have taken up new land, and are building large
hotel and there are several new houses and plant
ings of peaches, apples, pears, and strawberries.
Near the station is farm belonging to the President
of the road. to which my attention was directed.
The house looked comfortable; there were several
large fields of wheat, which may yield Is bushels to
the acre. and think some were seeded to clover.
An idea prevails that immense fortunes are TO be
made in this county by growing fruit and vegetables
for the New-York market, Washington, Baltimore,
and Philadelphia not being considered as worthy of
any attention Grapegrowing is supposed to be par
ticulaTly promising; there said to be mines of
gold in the Scuppernong, for the wine is worth S4
gallon, and was told of one man who has planted
$500 acres in various kinds Of grapes My impression
is that the Scuppenong grape would not sell fOrmOre
than five cents pound in New-YOrk and doubt
whether the wine, at least snch as has been made
would sell at all. Whether any kind of Northern
grapes will be exempt from rot and other diseases can
be ascertaned best after they bear
SLOW TRAvELING-OPINIoN OF A NATIVE.
The train consisted of two passenger cars and a
baggage car; there were about 20 passengers, and
the rate of travel did not exceed IS miles an hour;
but this was owing somewhat to frequent stops of
half an hour at a station, unless meals were taken
when the stop was 20 minutes. Falling in company
with leading citizen of Raleigh he told me that
land along the road is held at from s. $40 an acre.
farms seldom containing less than 400 acres and that
such would be about half timber and partially fit for
corn. while quarter would be to bring
nothing. Clover and grass not sown, but was
told they will grow. Land becomes poor from crop
ping and washing. To prevent the action Of rains
on uneven ground. dyking is resorted to-that is, |
deep furrOWs are laid out around the hill, with a
spirit level; all the furTOws correspond, and the
age will be done After field is exhausted the fences
are removed, and it grows mp TO the Old-held pine.
est when they are fit to be cut down, new land is
obtained and the process of exhaustion is repeated
Properly speaking, this is rotation of crops. The
soil species Of red cay often as red as blood and
it is such had supposed naturally productive hut
was told that it is better when less red.
- s{UATioN AMP RR9SSSECTs OF TIE NEGRO.
took occasion, IN the long stops at the letter sta
tiOns 10 inquire of the negroes, who were always
present. how they got along They said they were
doing the best they could; cotton looked mighty
bad there had been so much cold wet weather but |
looked well, and it seemed they raised only cot
ton aiS Corn. Wages we've from - to $40 per month
for Cer and frcm S3 to s. for women and TatiOns--
that is peck of corn meal and three pounds Of pork
q week. If they worked otherwise than by the
year they got about so cents day, and they paid s.
a month garden and house rent-that Is for a |
wretched shAnty not worth more than s.. remark
In passing th6t the taxes 400 acres of land is not
generally much above s. year, and that every {
farmer expects TO pay his taxes at least by this
neaIFS The rent in towns is about so per cent i
higher and wages from 80 cents to % cents day. At
present the cOlOred people do not to have i'm
proved their condition by being made free. At n
me poor station / found the cOOred people still 4
worse of Wages were from s. 70 81 a month"; and v
rom - cents to 80 cents day. When expressed a o
iOubt, the one who answered me beckOned that | 81
mother should come Everywhere among the blacks v
re leaders VINO are more intelligent and energetic
han the rest. This leader came awkwardly, and Fl
et with a sort of confidence. He was tall, we'll il
made. and able-bOdled, and had extremely white | Y
me teeth indeed most of the sepeOpe are remarka-
lie IN this respect. He had on shirt which was S
early whole one suspender fastened his pantalOOns,
'hlch were made OF coarse cotton most of the filling
au worn away and the warp was left III Thousand h
trong strings. Since then have seen thousands Of
eonl@@ alI some of them white wearing these Ii
tnDgs The questions repeated, and he con- p
rmed the answers. lasked if they got money! 80, 81
10; they never got any money" L asked IT they IL
Always got their payf WELL mostly; but some ! "
lines notn Then poor creature came out from ! g
,meug them, said that lie had worked for man a d
year and 10 had had anything but his TatOns,
and he had tried and tried to get it, asked If there Il
Mas no Bureauf Not now ; It had gomez And were a
there no sehoOlsf "No they never had any schOOlsn