The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-08-25

u have neighbor who served in the
war as q private, and has worked since
thc war IS q laborer on a farm. He went
70 truck farming few years ago, and
now has farm of 90 acres, for which he
PAID $4,000, Tor 5000 an acre), and a
G"elling with nice farm houses, which he
quilt at cost of $4,000. He is pros
porous, contented and independent, and
owes 1t all to truck farming.
nave another neighbor, German
named Henry kirn, who after the war
WAS blacksmith working at his anvil.
ne look to market-gardening using q
steer Tor his first years work. He now
OWLS one OF the best and largest farms
On the western branch and another of
ooo acres on the Nansenlond River. His
property is valued at 100000, and he
owns country residences in this section.
mere are many cases like these, but the
most useful lesson taught by truck farm
ing Is that those who follow it are uni.
lormly successful. While few make
great fortunes, nearly all make compe.
tence"
In answer to question as to what are
tiie largest crops made by any one man
about Norfolk, Mr.. Griffin says:
Ihe largest crop Of Strawberries
snlpped by one man was that Of j. r.
l.on!ng. | do not know the whole value
OF his crop, but on one ship, as one davis
gathering, he shipped 800 crates of 40
quarts each, or 10000 quarts of straw
berries. This is pretty good for one day,s
shipping from one berry farm. The
same day he made this shipment there
were 35O,000 quarts of berries shipped
from Norfolk to New York, besides large
quantities to Baltimore, PHILADELPHIA
and other points.
Another truck farmer sold 10000
barrels Of potatoes one year, another
| io,0OO bushels Of tomatoes, and another
Ii2,oOO barrels of cabbages. These are
large crops, and were made mostly Oh a
few acres"
| In response to question as to what is
the profit per acre, Mr.. Griffin says:
The profit varies from 500 per acre
10 S3OO0. have neighbor who sold
! Zo'oOo quarts of strawberries from two
acres at an average of SO cents per quart.
VI late years such high prices cannot be
obtained for berries. Tie profit in mar
ket-gardening in this section though
should not fall below 800 per acre. I
have known, perfectly authenticated,
profit OF $500 per acre on potatoes, $500
per acre on cabbages, and 81 900 per acre
on cucumbers."
What are the main crops grown?"
kale, spinach, asparagus, cabbage,
peas, strawberries, snap-beans, potatoes,
cucumbcrs, tomatoes and citron The
fertilizers relied on TO produce the best
crops are stable manure and Peruvian
guano. This section uses more than one
tenth OF the Peruvian guano sold in the
United states. Since the Chilian war
several cargoes have been imported from
Europe The stable manure comes
mainly from Richmond. Washington and
baltimore and by ship load from New
York"
Such then is the record of Norfolk and
Nansemond truck farming And what
arc these results? Land increased to
slo0 to $3.50 an acre-profits Of $1,000
slonally, completeness usually, and n
good living always-and over s., 500, 900
income brought into the county.
| Wouldn't it pay Fulton county farmers
to try this system? Wouldn't it pay
Fulton county clerks, or professionals, or
mechanics to get an acre or two of land
and try it? At less work and much
hcalthier-with more independence and
comfort-it seems to me they would be
sure to get better results.
But let us look at another point
where the market-gardener has estab-
lished himself, and study the record he
| has made.
About ii years ago there were few
small patches of land about New Berne
| n. O., devoted to raising early vegetables.
1t was noticed that the profits of these
patches" was more, in many cases, than
the profits Of large farms, and the
patch" system became very popular.
Out of this beginning came scores Of the
best "truck" farms in this country, and
New Bernc and its surroundings are get
ting rich.
! In 1878 there were about $50 acres
about New Berne devoted to truck farm
ing. These we're divided about equally
in green peas and potatoes. The sue
cess attending them was so great that in
1879, the acreage was increased to 450,
still divided between these two yegeta-
blcs. In 1880 the acreage was devoted,
500 acres to peas, 800 TO potatoes and 100
diversified with melons, tomatoes, Gu
cumbers, etc. In 1881 the few acres have
grown to be about 5000, divided as fol-
lows: Peas, 1000 acres; potatoes, 900
acres radishes, so acres; beans, 100
acres melons, 200 acres; cabbages, 100
acres cucumbers, 100 acres strawbcr-
res, 100 acres; beets, IS acres; and
other vegetables and fruits about 100
acres. In 1880, with about one. fourth
the acreage of the presen. year, 10000
crates of peas (of five pecks each) and
| 5000 barrels of potatoes were shipped
from New Berne, bringing value Of
$4,000. The profits per acre on these
crops run from $50 to $3.50 per acre-one
farmer clearing 81 900 on seven acres in
potatoes. The pea crop is followed by
cotton crop, and the potatoes by cotton,
corn or sweet potatoes, the season admit
| ting of two crops per annum or q G same
| land.
In 1881 there had been canned or
| shipped about 1000 crates of peas when
| | investigated the matter and 10000
more were expected. The shipments of
barrels. Goldsboro, near New Berne, is
center of strawberry culture, some as
tonshing results being recorded there
Below New Berne, and on Bogue sound,
where every farm almost has q landing,
thousands &C melons are raised and
shipped by the schooner load to New
York. I give below the names of some
of the leading truck-farmers of New
Berne and vicinity, and the sorts of farms
they run:
Mr.. Joseph l.. Rhem has 250 acres,
divided as follows: Peas 100, potatoes 80,
melons 25, beans 20. tomatoes 10, cab.
bages 5. His profit is estimated at about
$4,000.
Thomas Redman, 100 acres in peas,