The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-17

cnnIds, beans, mOlaSSeS, dried fruits.
flax. Jute, and a great variety OF native
and cultivated grasses. which for arr
ETY. and quality will compare with SIM
liar products from any other State in
the Union. Tobacco and wheat FROM
counties lying Immediately on the sea
coast. comparing favorably with that
produced, west OF the mountains, and
al an elevation of over 1900 feet. The
scuppernong grape-a native OF this
section Is a prolific and never-failing
producer. and grows 10 greater perfec-
ton here than anywhere else other
varieties 90 well. Sweet potatoes and
all garden vegetables grow finely: and
when we remember that almost every
farm Is within easy reach OF either a
railroad or navigable water. thus plac-
ing the producer within a few hours
of the markets of Norfolk. Baltimore,
Philadelphia and New York. and that
their products are marketable from
one 10 three weeks earlier than those
OF Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania
and New jersey, il will be readily seen
what advantage ii gives this section
for successful prosecution of that
profitable, and now. rapidly growing
industry.
Our first experiment with jute. made
this year, in eastern counties, under
the direction of this department. was
q gratifying success, and warrants the
belief that a large area of the eastern
section is admirably adapted to its
profitable production.
The middle section produces in ad-
dition to nearly all the crops numer-
ated, all the grasses, cereals, tobacco,
&C., IN great perfection. SO Of the
western section, except as TO cotton.
Besides the Scuppernong, the Lincoln,
the Catawba and Isabella-which
are native grapes-foreign varieties
are cultivated with success. Apples
grow we'll in every county in the State,
l believe, and ripen from May until
November. AS to the superiority of
this fruit, | may state that at u re-
cent State Fair an exhibition was made
from several counties, and numbers
of them weighed over one pound,
while some weighed as much as two
pounds. This came from the counties
to which were awarded the premiums
at the Centennial, and at the National
Pathological Display in Baltimore this
fall. Peaches and pears of superior
- - l-4. -, l., 80 al
the counties, especially those of the
middle section. There are hundreds
of acres of native strawberries and
cranberries in the middle and western
sections. Blackberries flourish in all
parts of the State, and the large guam
titles that are being dried and shipped
annually bring to u people a hand
some revenue. According to reports
made to this Office, over six millions
pounds of dried fruit had been shipped
from our State during the season, up
to the 1st of October. The rapid tran
sit of our fruits to northern markets,
placing it as we did during the past
season, in Washington market in the
city of New York, within 1S hours from
the time it was plucked in our orch
ards, and by its superior excellence
commanding the highest market
prices, will greatly stimulate this I'M
portant and rapidly growing interest
in all its branches. The mildness and
uniformity of our climate and the
length of our growing season with the
: steadily increasing demand for our
fruits, will without doubt, in a few
t years, build up for our State an i'm
portant and extensive fruit trade. In
addition, / will mention that the traffic
in medicinal herbs and roots which are
/ gathered from western counties,
t is of no inconsiderable importance
} approximating perhaps, this year. a
half million of dollars.
I Our are longer, but not
: more oppressive than in the State OF
Pennsylvania and New York, while
our winters are far less rigorous. We
perhaps have snow as often as in those
States; but it seldom lies on the ground
/ a week. Out door work is rarely sus'
: pended for more than two or three
| days at a time. Cattle, sheep and
hogs are not kept sheltered and fed,
) except for the purpose Of fattening
The work for winter is fencing, pillow.
S ing, ditching, clearing lands, repairing
and building houses, composing, &c
f OF the AS cotton factories and 3 wooler
t mills reported to this office in 26 coun
t ties in different sections of the State
all state tina their work is never sus
t pended on account of cold weather
s Sheep and hog raising a be made