The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-09-29
(Salmagundi for September.)

(Salmagundi +
A memorable ..Fourth of july
the last in the calendar of those pa
triotic days, was very sensibly and
enioyably spent by the Photographic
artist of Sdln,agundi,' by invitation
of its proprietor, at ''Poole's Rock
the picturesque country residence Of
John H. Sharp, in the county of
Vance, State of North Carolina.
While there he combined little pro-
fessional business with pleasure, the
result of which is seen in several in
teresting half-tone engravings pre-
sented in this issue. A photo recital
of groups, grounds, scenes and places
is much more graphic and satisfac-
tory than a statement OF facts or
descriptive writing. 1t is always ac-
curate in what it delineates, never
open to the objection of being un-
true to nature or exaggerated in
color. The reader sees things as
they actually exist, and the familiar
faces of friends Gf acquaintance has
progressed thus far) which he cam
not fail to recognize. Mr.. Sharp is
gentleman of high character and in
tluence in Portsmouth-Norfolk busi-
ness and social circles, as we'll as in
those of the State where he has from
choice located his home. The pic
torial revelation, therefore, Of his
happy domestic life, with its farm,
| garden and orchard accessories and
belongings. challenges far more than
ordinary attention and inspires a
public interest that stops little short
of being universal, at least through
out the South.
| The plantation of which MIR. Sharp
| is the fortunate owner contains be-
| tween 200 and 1900 acres Of land,
all arabic, and the greater portion OF
it under cultivation. Not having the
time to devote to practical farming,
or give to details much OF his per-
sonal attention, Mr.. Sharp maintains
the old tenant system, leasing large
area of his land to negro families
who have lived here (and generations
before them) all their lives, and
whose methods of agriculture have
not contributed much to what is new
or valuable to their inherited stock
of knowledge or later experience
But even if the farming here is not
conducted on scientific principles, OF
with the systematic thoroughness O
agriculture Of some of the Northern
states, the soil is so rich and the
natural conditions of water and eli
mate so favorable that abundant an(
satisfactory crops, in their mos
diversified forms, are the invariabl
rule OF every successive season. NO
only is there enough grown to assur
plentiful varieties.o .of the best fruit
and vegetables for>the owners use
and furnish ample food and raiment
for the tenants and their families
but grain, grass and provender TO
all the horses, cattle, sheep, swine
poultry and other live stock on tn
, premises, or that it is desirable t
: raise. 1t is very evident that MI
+ Sharp with comparatively little in
. dividual effort, lives literally on eth
: fat of the land"-a concise biblica
term than which no other can b
found more suggestive of the mea1
ing it was intended to convey.
u Vance county was created as lat
as 1881 from parts Of Granvlli'
i Franklin and Warren counties, an
h combines the best qualities OF eacl
e 1t is traversed by the Raleigh 4 Ga
J. ton, part of the Seaboard Air Lii
d system, and is peculiarly we'll favo
e ed as to railway transportation, wat
e power, fertility of soil and divers
2 fed crops. 1t comprises 1852
l. acres of land, with populate
2, (mostlv agriculturaD Of about Y
d 900. of which little more than hs
le are colored.
e The county is intersected by nul
IS erous streams, with rich valleys al
IS bottom lands, the uplands beil
er equally we'll adapted to cotton,
u bacco and the cereals. About 80
at bales is the usual annual crop OF ct
I'd ton, while tobacco averages 10000
I'd pounds. These are the princiE
lg crops, and they are usually market
he at Henderson and other towns with
the county at remunerative Pric
en- The cotton grown here is an u
es usually fine staple, while the tobae
I'll commands the highest market pric
ly Vance is happily situated in ,
heart of the .Golden Belt" distri
ry where the bright yellow leaf vari'
n of tobacco is produced. which is
On uuestionably the finest in the wor
he In addition to tobacco and cott
all wheat, corn and oats make sPlen'
ce, Yields, while the harvests OF r
ar millet. potatoes, peas. beans, pean
and melons are above the gene
State average. Apples. Peact
pears. plums, cherries. straw berl
len and grapes do we'll and are raised
the large quantities. chiefly for nc
his is consumption.
DR..
In Mr.. sharp place Is oui. uiS. d
ks. of about forty-tive minutes wv
covered with his horses and carri:
ow from Henderson. the county S
rha which is one OF the most progress
- thrifty towns in the State. hay
are about 5000 population. lnclude'
aat its limits are $l25,O0O cotton I
in. and several tobacco factories,
,ha sales warehouses where from ST.
tbs 900 to 10000, 900 pounds OF lea
bacco are annually sold. 1t IS
the market for 5000 to 10000
a of cotton, such sales attracting
ers from all parts OF the conr