The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-02-19
TRUCKING INTEREST.
What The ArgOnaut Has to Say
on this Important Subject.

Tie conditions which are most fa-
vorable for the profitable cultivation
OF vegetables and fruits for market,
are suitable soil, early III maturity,
cheap labor, and rapid transportation
All these conditions exist i'm Eastern
North Carolina to greater extent
than at any other point on the At
lantic coast. Only eighteen nc urs
from New York, we can put our veg
etables and fruits in any of the
Northern markets in condition as
fresh as the localities near by. In
this particular, as well as in the cost
of transportation we have largely
the advantage Of the States South of
Us, and the consequence il, that al
though Florida vegetables get in
market ahead of us, they do not
bring any better price than those
shipped from North Carolina, from
the fact that they arc not so fresh.
1t is also true that when the distance
is so great, IL large quantity is lost
from decay before reaching market.
AS our vegetables get in market
ahead of those shipped from any
point North Of US, and yet get there
in fresh and nice condition, we get
much better prices. Thus it will be
seen that Eastern Nor.h Carolina as
to location, occupies the most desira-
BILE position of any State on the At
lantic Coast.
The soil Of this section is special
ly suited for trucking. 1t is warm
and friable, and easily cultivated,
and susceptible of very high state
Of mprOvement. The experiments
which have been made, fully de-
monstrate that no better, or mere
suitable soil for the purpose can any
where be found. = he facilities for
transportation for much of this te,-
ritory is good. The Atlantic Coast
Line, during the season, put special
train on for the accommodation of
the trade. The territory north of
the AlbemArle sound finds shipping
facilities by the S. & r. n. & G. and
the n. & S. railroads. There is a
large territory, embracing the coun-
ties Of Jones aud OnslOw, and parts
Of adjoining counties which has some
Of the finest trucking lands in the
world, which have at present no rail-
road facilities, but roads are project
ed and will be built, when this ter
ritOry will become the truckers par
adise.
1t has been only few years since
any attempt was made to raise veg
etableS and fruits for the northern
markets, and such has been the sue
cess which has attended the expert
ment, and the enormous profits of
the business, that already it has de-
veloped into large proportions, and
is destined to become one of the
most important industries, ifnot the
most important in Eastern North
Carolina. The number of crops
which can be made on the same land
constitutes great advantage. The
trucking season begins in January
and ends in June. The truck lands
are then planted in cotton, corn and
millet, o, allowed to grow in native
grass for hay. To illustrate the ca
pability OF our lands in this particu-
lar, Mr.. Geo. Allen. of New Berne,
on September 18th, 1885, planted one
acre in Garman kale, which was sold
during February 1886. In March
the ground was planted in bunch or
snap beans. The crop of 1913 half
barrel boxes was gathered during
the first half of June. The land was
then sown with German millet which
was cut September 1st and weighed,
after being we'll cured, 5000 pou.. .ds,
giving three profitable crops within
twelve months. We give this in
stanre to illustrate the capacity of
our soil, and to show what may be
done. With a climate and soil po :
sessins such splendid capacity, it is
impossible that the future should
fail to develope the most magnifi-
cent results. The trucking interest
having grown up since the last CEN
sus, we cannot give the figures of
what has beed done in detail, but
some instances will serve to indicate
the proportions the business has as
sumed.
In the vicinity of New Berne
aboot $500 acres are occupied Tor
trucking and produced last year
100000 packages valued at over
$500, 900, or S120 per acre. This land
after the trucl' crop was taken off,
was in the very best condition for 8
crop OF cotton, corn or anything else
desired to be planted. At Elizabeth
City, Washington, Kinfton, Mount
Olive, Wilmington and many other
points the business is largely follow
ed, while to smaller extent truck
ing is carried On at every station or
all the railroads running through the
Eastern part of the State.
Nowhere in The world can man
live easier, make more money and
surround himself with more com.
forts, with the sans labor, than in
Eastern North Carolina, and the flu.
ture of this sectIon is destined to be
more prosperous than any other on
the South Atlantic coast. Already
the value of real estate has greatly
increased, and it will quadruple il
| the next few wears.