Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-09-04
of the Yorkville Enquire
LETTER FROM GREENSBORO.
GREENSBORO, N. c., September

LETTER FROM GREENSBORO.
GREENSBORO, N c., September 1.
In my former letter from this place, ad-
verted to the fact that capital and industry
are flowing into this section, if not so rapidly
as some would desire, at least in sure and
steady current, promising the most gratifying
results. The industry of the people is diver
si6ed, and though tobacco may be regarded
as the staple product, yet such being the ag,
ricultural tendencies of the soil, and so favor
able the facilities of getting to market, no
single crop is cultivated to the exclusion Of
another. The land being owned principally
by small proprietors, it is cultivated almost
as garden, and the finest fruits, as we'll as
the cereals and cotton and tobacco, flourish
side by side.
Fruit culture forms an important item Of
the resources of the people. With less than
half a crop this season, more than four thous-
and bushels of peaches have already been
shipped from this place to the northern and
western cities. This fruit is bought direct
from the farmers by dealers, who pay, at this
stage of the season, from 70 cents to $1.OO per
bushel on the street. These transactions,
however, are small, as compared with the
sales of dried fruit, the season for which is
just commencing. Here, thousands and thous-
ands of pounds are sold every season. AL
ready are dealers here from New York and
other northern cities, watching the market
and making engagements for Futures" So
great is the demand for dried fruits IN the
North and West, that the competition Of bid
ders is always brisk, and prices are remuner.
ative to producers, while, Of course, the middle
men-most usually the merchants-make a
satisfactory profit. The supply is never equal
to the demand. Apples, peaches and cher
ries are the fruits thus prepared for market !;
though the old-feld blackberry, as insigni6-
cant as it may seem, plays an important part.
This crop alone is worth not less than $4,000
per annum in this one county. No attention
is given to the culture of the berry, and as it
is gathered and dried by children and others
who would otherwise be idle on the farm, it
is, virtually, so much clear gain. I am thus
particular to note these facts, hoping it may
stimulate some of your own people to engage
more extensively in the culture Of fruit.
There is nowhere in the Union more favored
section for the production of the finest varie-
ties of fruit than the upper counties" of
South Carolina, and by devoting to it little
proper attention in the "drying season." it can
be made profitable business.
Speaking of fruit raising calls to mind the
nursery business, or the propagation of the
trees. Six miles from here on the North.
western North Carolina railroad, lives the
pioneer nurseryman Of the State, if not the
first to commence the business in the South.
I allude to Joshua Lindley, whose name is
familiar throughout your State. From a
small beginning, and with discouraging pros
poets, many years ago, his business has now
grown to vast proportions, and his trade ex'
tends throughout several States. The sales
of his productions last year, I am informed,
reached the sum of $20,O00; and learn that
the engagements of his nursery for the ap-
preaching fall delivery are already consider
ably in excess of the above amount. Besides
the nursery of Mr.. Ii ipdley, there are, in this
county, several others, though not so exten-
sive, doing an equally prosperous business.
In this county, near the town Of High
Point, is the "Model Farm" which was estab'
lshed under the auspices of some northern
Quakers, soon after the close of the war. AS
its name indicates, the object Of the establish
ment was to prove to the incredulous and
preiudiced mind that scientific or "book farm.
ing" is the only correct plan to be pursued by
the people of the South. A "poor" piece Of
land, consisting mainly Of "old fields" and
gullies, was selected, and work at once COM
menced on the same system by which agricul-
tural operations are conducted on the natural
ly sterile lands of the less favored northern
climate All the improved machinery is
used; clover and grasses are grown; the
ground is thoroughly plowed and cultivated
a four-horse team being used for "breaking"
or turning the sod-the proper attention is
given to the deficiencies of the soil as adapted
to the seed to be planted, and the proper
fertilizer is applied and, in Short the whole
business is conducted in the most approved
scientific manner. As was expected, seven
years ago, the scheme had its scoffers. There
were those who were constitutionally created
to believe that the only safe plan for going
to mill was to put the grist in one end
of the bag and rock in the other, and to
make it "easy on the horse" if the mill
boy rode, he must carry the bag on bis
shoulder. Others again doubted, simply, be-
cause they desired failure and venture that
many of this class would have suffered the
inconvenience of a prolonged and disastrous
drought without a word of complaint, just
simply to see the "Model Farm" miss crop.
But the superintendent, Friend Sampson,
quietly went his way; his mode of farming