The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
Of the Old Ntrih State. PraCti-
cal Results Obtained.
FORTUNES ARE BENG MADE.
SpIend d transportation Facilities Of.
fered to the Truck Farmers
Along the Atlantic Coast
inc.

The establishment of the trucking in
dustry has resulted in considerable adj
vance in the value of land in Eastern
North Carolina and yet there are thou
sands Of acres of the finest land for
this purpose which can to-day be bought
at prices ranging from 50 to SO per
acre.
The lands best adapted for early vege-
tables contain 3 to per cent of clay.
and from 60 to 50 per cent of fine and
medium sand. The finest truck farms
around Norfolk have, for example, an
average of about S per cent clay and o.
to 20 per cent of fine and medium sand.
Such soils are well adapted for growing
early potatoes and asparagus and melons.
Soils containing from 6 to u per cent
Of clay are more retentive of moisture
and somewhat colder, but are still well
adapted for certain crops, such as to-
matoeS, peas. spinach and cabbage.
1t is estimated that in the territory Of
the Atlantic Coast Line in North Caro-
lima alone is planted an average of %
600 acres per annum in vegetables and
fruit-cabbage, potatoes, beans, peas, as
paragus, cucumbers, spinach tomatoes,
melons and grapes strawberries, pears,
peaches and other fruits. The acreage
will average 100 packages of vegetables
per acre per annrm, making 100000
packages, that sell at an average of
$3.50 per package, making the trucking
and berry growing industries of this sec
ton worth at close market value, So,
100000 per annum. This, of course, in
cludes the cost of production and trans
portation.
The Atlantic Coast Line shipped dur
ing the past season from points along its
line between Wilson and Wilmington
over 100000 creates of strawberries,
total of over 100000 quarts the sale
of which carried into the truck section,
from strawberries alone, about $3.50
600.
The huckleberry crop Of Sampson and
Duplin counties is worth to those cOun-
ties from $4,000 to 100000 per an
mum. and has sold in one season for as
much as $250,000. These berries grow
Wild and the only cost attached is for
gathering, packing and transportation.
1t is shown on the best authority that
two young men near Newbern cleared
over $4,000 on their second crop of
truck, the season having been 4 very
propitous one.
From carefully compiled figures it is
learned that the net profit per acre on
vegetable growing along the Atlantic
Coast Line is as follows:
Asparagus, S93.G3; beets, 800; snap
beans, S4296; cabbage, $113.61; cucum-
bers, S175; watermelons, $3206' cante-
loupes, 500; peas, 5737; Irish potatoes,
S101.60; sweet potatoes, SlO6.50; spinach,
$40: tomatoes, 94.72
Mr. James A. Westbrook, Of Mt.
Olive, n. c., is one of the most success
full truck farmers in North Carolina. lie
has made a fortune in the last few years
raising strawberries. One season he
had thirty acres in strawberries. for which
he received, after deducting freight and
commissions, over $4,000. The cost
of cultivating, picking, handling, etc,
was something over $4,000, leaving near
~ 81 900 clear profit on the thirty acres,
an average of about $3.50 an acre He
experimental with a tract of an acre and
quarter to see if the most careful and
elaborate and expensive cultivation that
could be reasonably given would pro-
duce results sufficiently great to justify
the extra care and cost From this acre
and a quarter he sold Strawberries to the
value of more than $1,000, after deduct
ing freight and commissions. The total
cost of cultivation and handling was
about $780, leaving a net profit of $500,
or at the rate of 5000 per acre.
These truck lands are easily cultivat-
ed, as a rule they are clear of rocks
and are level, so that they are specially
susceptible to high Improvement. The
winters are mild and open, and the sum-
rilers, while long, are not oppressively
,Is. - INlif r
full one, all things considered.
One great advantage to the trucker In
this section is the splendid transportation
facilities. The Atlantic Coast Line has
kept fully abreast with the times, and
furnishes the truckers with the very
finest fast freight and express transpor-
tation to Northern markets
y The Atlantic Coast Line management
is pursuing a broad-gauged policy in the
!, treatment of home-seekers along its lines.
4 The road owns no lands to sell home
seekers, but offers every inducement to
those who will east their lot in this
J most favored section. 1t is the policy
of the road to induce the better class Of
\ people along its lines, and by developing
Il the country add ~ the revenues Of the
SrOad.
ii Thousands of farmers in New England
q and the North West who are barely
#making a living on their worn-out lands,
Awith long. cold winters to endure, could
$soon become rich in the Carolinas grow
Z ing tobacco or early vegetables. The
y lands here are cheap, easily worked the
\ climate is most grateful one, the mar
kets are Of easy access, and the prices
are high for everything the enterprsng
&planter may wish to grow With profits
Mranging from 800 to $500 on truck and
= tobacco crops farming does not seem
Msuch an Improbable business after all.
4 And yet hundreds of farmers are making
Nsuch profits in this section, the examples
given in this article being taken ut
random to show that advantages are
held out here to the enterprising farmer.
If the picture is an inviting one, read
sIer, if it shows you an easier life than
II the one Won are now living, with a flu
7ture promising much for your pOsterity,
least your lot in this favored region along
the Atlantic coast, and you will never
regret the change.