Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-02-18

from 80 to 200 gallons. The packing and
bottling establishment found very ,,on
arranged and full of work supplying orders
A ready market for all these wines at good
prices Is readily obtained. [ found also
very fine samples Of grape brandy which
pronounce equal if not better than tbs
best French brandy that ever drank.
tasted also very fine samples of vino
manufactured by Maxwell & Co.
The extensive grapevine nurseries Of
Ellis & Co. which is managed by my friend
Col. Memory deserve great credit for tho
fine plants they raise. and, Mr. Editor.
found the Columbus people, especially at
Whiteville, not alone good prape-raisnrs
and ne-makers, but at the same t;nlo
clever people. Nobody will regret it if
they make them visit.
The extensive vineyards and ochard of
the management of my friend Col. Cannon.
on the Northeast river about Q miles from
Wilmington, think is known to most Of
the readers OF the JOURNAL, and before
many years it will be one of the finest and
most extensive ochards and grapery III the
world, containing not far from 2, 600 acres
Not far from there I found one of thc
finest plantations and most extensive
ochards and grapery, Excelsior owned
by my friend G. z. French. Near
Goldsboro' l visited plantations of Messrs
Previt and Bouton and Hen. Mr., Dortch
l have noticed there the most systematic
farming In America, especially the farm
and plantation of Mr.. Dortch. under thn
management of his young and entcrprisinr
son, assisted by Mr.. Spicer. Il did me-
good to see such intelligent and scientific
farming. His orchard of 1000 youpo
fruit trees and vineyard Of fifty acres is
in n hourishing condition The orchard
ard vineyard arc worked and managed by
about eight Intelligent and faithful Swift
zers Colored hands are working very
faithfully. They are treated kindly and
paid punctually. Every ono OF them WHO
worked there last year arc still there,
which shows that the empIoyc and en-
ployer are we'll satisfied with each other
and that success under such system must
be sure. It would be of great benefit if !;
good many farmers would go there ana
see and learn something from those enter
prising men.
I went to Halifax and the surrounding
counties and found enterprises of whial
and good many readers of your paper
never had an idea that such a thing ex
listed in the State. The grapevine planta-
ton and wine manufacturing OF tne
brothers Charles and Frank Garrett are
the most extensive in the world Tile
grapevines which they have planted and
are planting now will yield, when fully
grown, some two years from now, about
2, 0OO.O0 gallons OF wine annually. They
expect to make all the wine they produce
into champagne, which now begins to get
in favor with the American people. This
champagne, properly made, is equal to the
best French wine. Mr. Harris sparkling
ScuppernOng, of Wilmington, is already
known and favored by wine-drinking
people Of the country. The annual sales
of the Brothers CARROTS sparkling wine
will yield not far from five million of dol
lars, which is ten times more than the
largest grapery IN the world az present
produces.
Not far from this mammoth gx4pery, at
Ridgeway, on tho Raleigh aud Castor
Railroad, there is the largest orchard III
the world. 1t contains $50, 900 peach trees
on one tract of land OF $500 acres, which
will produce III ten years from nov two
and onc-half million bushels Of peaches
Upon the calculation that every three
years one successful crop will be made, il
will pay 100 PEI cent. GA the Investment
A contract has been made for twenty years
with the railroad to ship on direct train
a bushel Of peaches for 90 cents direct IL
New York city. This enterprise Is build
ing nid6or"y 'tP rapidly. Several fac
tories and mills are going mp, as well Is
State, which will cost $50, OO0 The Ridge
way Press is also one Of the best and
largest weekly papers III North Carolina
When passed the place three years ago
saw nothing but few old farm houses
and one farm without fences, and now
find on enterprise which VIII astonish the
world.
From there 1 went through Edgccombc,
where [ found the most extensive cotton
farms l ever saw in my life. The pluEta-
ton of Gen. Estes, on the Wilmington y
Railroad, in that county, is nn
open tract Of land of l, 100 acres, all plant
cd in cotton last year. It's very extensive
buildings and dozens of cabins for the
hands make very nice appearance. His
orchard of 500 peach trees was rather
neglected. From what I saw and heard
from the neighbors left me under the I'M
preston that the Generals assistant Oh
this fue tract Of land is working ont
Of his pocket instead of into it, like his
Revenue Office at Whining
;on. [ hope / may be mistaken Adioin-
ng tho Generals land / found a planta-
ion of Mr.. Geo. Garrett, OF about 800
4cres open land, which was in splendid
condition. i found rich mari, the finest
muck, aud every acre on the plantation is
1ery rich soil, suitable for any horticultu-
al and agricultural purposes. Here also
of this plantation Is excel
ent. Mr.. Garrett is one of the most sue
essful farmers of that section. The peo-
lie generally around there arc starting
extensive graperies and orchards.
From there went to the town OF Tar
'oro', the appearance Of which surprised
ne. [ had heard great deal about this
'lace and its people, but L was surprised
O find snch beautiful place and such al
Intelligent and prosperous people. 1 saw
many very fine residences and factories.
nd an air Of business all around. must
ay that Tarboro' made q better appear
nee to me than any place that have Wis
ted in the whole South. saw more and
PETER horses and mules and farming i'm
dement's; more systematic farming; the
pest labor system and higher manuring
han in any other part of the State. They
Jay better wages than any other county,