The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

in New Hanover. Rice is grown both
/ by the wet and dry culture. Upland
rice is becoming u common crop.
The whOrtleberry and blackberry
grow wild and luxuriantly. The straw
berry cultivated in the mixed clay
and sandy soils, natures early and
has a most lucious flavor. The rasp-
berry and gooseberry also are culti-
waited with success. This area is Pc
.uliary adapted to the peach, but the
apple grows well, and many varieties
OF the plum, apricot, and like fruit.
The pumegranate as wei as many
tropical or semi-tropical fruits, are
almost native to the soil Especial
mention viii be made OF the grape
and sugar cane.
GRAPE CULTURE.
Already an incidental mention has
been made Of the daptability of this
section for growing grapes. Perhaps
a further detail wall interest any rea-
ders, in view Of the fact that the con.
tinued rayages of the phylloXera may
result in the abandonment Of the
grape culture in Europe. In this
event the worlds wine supply must
come from the United States Hence
any section upon the Atlantic slope
that is remarkable for producing the
native grape must have more than
iocal interest, when the fact is con-
sidered that the PhYlloXera does not
attack our native grape vines, while
they do the exotic vines Of California
Some seventy or eighty years back
DR.. Laspere had an extensive vineyard
in Bladen county, and supplied the
county with most excellent wine. He
here originated the Las2ere grape that
is now known as the Isabella, ,Thich
n turn became the mother of a great
number OF varieties, Of which some
are the leading fayorites OF the Amer
lean grapes of the present day. After
the death Of DR.. LaspeTe the scupper-
nOng was the only grape grown until
recently. The Noble vineyard in New
Hanover, one of several, has passed
from an experiment to assured and
profitable success. Here in a small
way the experiment of grape culture
was commenced, but the results were
so wonderful, that this small expert
mental garden has grown into large
Vineyard with an annual increase Of
over twenty thousand vines.
The large yield, and the great size
This fruit attains, its bloom and flavor,
and the early maturity or the ripening
oe the grapes, show conclusiyely that
this section has an individuality of
its own, being unlike any other known
place; no other section even competing
with it, unless it is California. And
it may be that when the same varie-
ties are grown here, they may equal,
il not surpass, the perfection attained
in California.
The vine here has a very luXuriant
growth and the leaves measures fire.
quently from 10 to 10 inches.
The extraordinary results obtained
in grape culture, now in its infancy,
is in a measure not only owing to prop
or cultivation and the climatic infu-
ence, but it is further aided by the
phosphate clay over which the lands
IN this section lay.
This soil comes nearer in chemical
composition to the noted volcanic
soils OF Italy, than any other sec
ton on the Atlantic coast.
THE SUGAR BELT OF NORTH CAR
OLINA
The adaptability of this area for the
production of Sugar Cane, equally
as well as in Louisiana, has been dem
onstrated. 1t is not open to question.
Our people have not engaged in its
culture, but the conditions are favor
able for its being profitably.
In 1888, Maj. Young, exhibited az
the State Fair his map of this area or
sugar belt. At the same time there
was an exhibit made of sugar cane
raised in this area. The News and
Observer. in speaking of the exhibits
ut the State Fair, said, IN its issue of,
October 81, 1888:
Mr. r. NJ. Middleton has on exhibit
ticn at the fair fine samples of sugar