Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-01-21
Fron the Carlisle (Pal Volunteer.

r.
the morning, we arrived at Wilmington,
n. c., at z in the evening, on the Weldon
cars. DISTANCE from Richmond TO VIII
mington, $50 miles. OF courseswe stopped
at Tie hotel of the city, which is the Pnr-
cell House,. Il. Davis landlord. Mr..
Davis is brother OF our former citizen,
now deceased, G. Z. Z. Davis. We en-
brace the present opportunity to return
our thanks to Mr.. Davis for the kindness
shown us during our stay in his house. He
is a prince OF a landlord, and ''knows how
to keep hotel"
Wilmington has a population OF 10, 900.
It was the great depot where many of the
blockade runners came in with their car
goes during the rebellion. A very large
trade is carried on here. AS the chief
market town of the coast, and point of eX-
port for the peculiar products of the State,
Wilmington is place OF especial interest.
We noticed several English vessels an
chored opposite the city, ready to receive
their return cargoes of rosin, spirits of
| turpentine, rice, cotton, peanuts, &c.
Crossing Cape Fear river, we paid a visit
to the rosin refneries and the spirits of
turpentine distilleries. They are great
curiosity.
at the invitation of Mr.. Charles Fl.
Robinson (merchant), we accepted q seat
in his carriage and accompanied him to
his plantation, three miles from tho city.
On our route we passed through large
tract of land covered with lofty oaks, and
from every branch hung festoOns OF gray
moss. ~ forest in mourning - We eN-
claimed. AS we had not been notified that
we would pass through this forest the APP
pearance of the velled trees took us by sur
prise We were amazed. The moss hangs
down ten or fifteen feet, making q shade
Iimpenetrabie to the suns rays. We
brought some Of the moss home with us.
When We arrived at Mr.. rs farm, his
hired men were engaged in thrcshing rice.
Mr.. r. has heretofore raised rice alone,
bat more recently he has appropriated q
large portion OF his farm to the cultivation
of fruits. He has planted 300 pear trees,
300 peach trees, 800 grape vines, "a num-
Der of them of the ScuppernOng variety,
two or three acres in strawberry plants,
&c. His strawberries were in blossom,
and presented very promising appear
ance. Beyond question he will make his
investments pay handsomely.
Domestic wine will hereafter be stand
ard product Of North Carolina. Three
leading American grapes have their origin
here-the Scuppernong, the Catawha and
the Lenoir. From the Scuppernong grape
chiefly, 81, 600 gallons of wine are reported
to hive been made III 1850, the larger
quantity in the low eastern counties, but
with u surprising distribution Of small
quantities in every part Of the State The
lScuppernopg grape is the most eXtraOr-
binary plant OF its class yet discovered
It is identified chiefly with the AIbemarle
and Pamlico districts, where il is a native,
growing wild in many localities. The vine
IS capable of making an enormous growth,
covering half an acre, almost, II the fertil-
Iity of the soil and other circumstances IA
vor. 1t need not be trimmed or cut back,
but must be allowed 10 grow over Il large
space, its production being in proportion
to it's size, Large vines will form cano-
) py covering thousands of square feet, and
} the production Of one vine may reach fifty
bushels Of grapes They are round, Of d
rusty white color, thick skin and sweet,
pleasant Juice. The wine is considered es-
pecially fine, and it has long been made III
considerable quantity IN many Of the east
ern counties fer the luc4l use Of the people.
It would warrant cultivation for export, a.
we'll on account Of It's quality, as for the IA
cility with which the grapes may be grown
to any extent. Though totally unlike Gny
European grape, since the vines, instead OF
being cut short AMI multiplied i'll number
on the surface, grow so large that single
plant will cover 600 to s, ZOO square feet,
the Scuppernong is an unfailing bearer.
There is no bunch to this grape, the fruit
being formed two or three berries. at most,
together, but the 3iZa Of these is equiva-
lent to many more Of the common az Eu-
ropean grapes. This picturesque and
peculiar vine is first met with ID North
Carolina. It will scarcely grow at Norfolk.
and not at all III States further North,
1t is q singular anomaly III grape cul-
tivation, and the only known wine grape
OF the giant North American wild
species.
A novel crop in the eastern part of the
State is tho ground pea, Or peanut, the
cultivation of which is very profitable on
the light lands near the coast. For many
years past these peau have been the
preference in the Northern markets, and
large quantities are sent there. The chief
production is in the counties near Will
mington, and at that city q constant ship
ping market has existed for several years
tpast. The average quantity shipped for
several years up to 1861 was about 200, 900
bushels. During the war OF course they
were not grown for shipment outward, but
the trade is now reviving, and nearly re-
stored to its best proportions.
OnslOW county, about so miles north
east of Wilmington, reported ia 1867 to
the Agricultural department that the
lgrowth Of groundnuts, or peanuts, was the
farming speciality, and that the crop grown
was so to 80 bushels per acre, and the
value $1.25 to 81. so per bushel The light
soil of the low pine lands is particularly
adapted to THIS crop, and at tho production
and prices reported above, it is very remu-
nerative. Tho cultivated peanuts of the
coast, from Virginia southwark, and par
ticularly those obtained at Wilmington,
are far superior to those imported from
Africa and other foreign countries.
The capacity of the low country Of North
Carolina for rice culture is much greater
than is usually supposed. In 1860 the
whole State produced 1858, 976 pounds,
four-ffths of which was in the county of
brunswick, but twelve or ff6een other
counties produced. notable Quantity
Brunswick county is as perfect rice dis
trict as any on the coast, and in this
county and vicinity many Of ;he most sue
cessful localities of Northern capital and
enterprise have been made.
At Wilmington cotton sells at 220924
cents per pound. Before the war 10 cents.
Peanuts are worth from 81 % to 81 so per
L. Ill IL