The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-11-04
For the FARMER AND MECHANIC.
Eastern North Carolina.

The attention of immigrants and trucL
farmers, Is being directed TO the land O
Eastern North Carolina, bv the reports O.
the fine crops produced under the dpub..
cror system, as practical around Newbern
This portion of the State is lndented with
sounds. bays, rivers and creeks. and is quite
near the ocean which gives it a moist warn
atmosphere in the Springs months; making
1t one OF the best trucking localities of the
South. The land around Newbern is pre-
emlnently the pea producing section Of the
South. We cannot produce peas as early
as Florida or South Carolina, but we shin
them early in April, when Virginia Iambs
are tat, when the demand is largest, and the
highest prices are obtained. This i the
whole secret of our success in pea culture.
Truck farming IS rapidly developing al
Newbern, Morehead, Haveleck, Newport,
and other points on the warm water courses
OF Eastern Carolina; and large crops Of peas,
potatoes, turnips, radishes, tomatoes, straw
berries. melons &C., are shipped via rail and
steamer to all the principal Northern
Cities.
This kind of agriculture employs a large
number OF laborers In planting and gather
ing the CROPS, and it distributes in the
spring months considerable money.
The pea crop is planted early in February,
and Is gathered In April when the same
land is Immediately planted in cotton,
which is picked in October; giving two @,
marketable crops per annum. This fact,
that two crops can be produced in this por
ton of North Carolina which is warmed
by the near approach of the Gulf stream,
IS bringing experienced Norfolk truckers to
Newbern, and IS causing larger crops to be
produced each year. This means better pay
for labor and greater prosperity.
A field which netted one hundred and
thirty dollars per acre in peas last April,
has yielded over six hundred pounds per
acre of lint cotton. The cotton crop in this
section is very fine, and is probably the
largest ever raised by our farmers. We
hope to make up our report, of one thOus.
and acres.
The rice crop is now being harvested and
promises a fine yield, the crop of this imme-
date section is estimated at fifty thousand
bushels, much of which will be cleaned in
Newborn, at the new lice mill. We have
reports as high as sixty 900 bushels per
acre.
The Newbern wood plate factory is a de
cided success, and furnishes nearly all the
stamped circular wood plates that are used
by the grocers In the entire Union. Over
fifty thousand plates are made and shipped
to New York each day. This enterprise
gives employment to about one hundred
operatives and laborers, giving a support to
several hundred people. Other industrial
enterprises are at work, and Newbern is
feeling the good effects of the steady EN-
%ployment, and wages paid to operatives and
laborers The South has passed through rough
and trying times, but prosperity is now visi
ting every portion of this fair land. I'm
proved implements and culture are giving
increased crops, steam engines are displac
ing horse powers. Factories are being cree
ted. Population has increased from thirty
to forty per cent during the past ten years.
Immigration has turned Southwark. Land
is increasing in value, and we trust that
Hard Times are nearly over.
GEO. ALLEN.