The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-01-22
NEW DEPARTURES IN NORTH CAROLINA
AGRICULTURE.

"14OOOh 4ON40" VI NOEbu OdEOIlud
agricultural conditions by Prof. BENZ.
Irby, Corresponding Editor of The
Progressive Farmer. Last weeks
edition of the same paper contains
another article from Prof. Irby, sub
ject "New Departures in North
Carolina Agriculture, which we
are sure will be of interest to our
readers. Prof. Irby said:
The agriculture of this State has
undergone considerable change in
the last decade. Railroads have
opened up new sections and numer-
Gus factories are building up in the
various parts of the country. The
former makes transportation easier
and the latter concentrates a large
number of consumers, thus creating
the best market, a home market.
There is no risk in a good home mar
ket. People will economic on al
most anything but food; this they
will have if possible. The factory
people get their money in way that
enables them to pay cash, hence the
farmer need not run any credit bust
ness in dispOsing of his stuff.
The branches of farming that
would naturally build up around
these factory centers would be truck
farming, fruit growing, dairying
and poultry raising. Our trucking
in the eastern part of North Caro-
lima is growing in Importance to
such an extent that its influence is
now sensibly felt on the Northern
markets. At first few crates of
berries we're shipped, then a few
hundred, then a carload, and now
trainload after trainlOad of North
Carolina berries are hurried to the
Northern markets in season. The
growing of berries is no longer a
side issue, but the main feature with
hundreds of farmers.
ADVANCE IN TRUCKING INTERESTS.
Growing vegeta bles was soon taken
up and now early lettuce, radishes,
cabbage, asparagus and tomatoes
from Eastern North Carolina are
competing for place in the big mar
kets and holding their own wherever
introduced. The southeastern sec
tions are peculiarly adapted by ma
ture for this business. The lands are
gently rolling and of fine quality
sandy loan, with good clay subsOil.
! These lands were once not so highly
priced. When the farmer thought
his all in all was cotton and corn,
they sold for S. to $40 per acre, but
now the same lands cannot be bought
for 800. And why should they,
when that amount is often cleared
from one acre in one year? OF
course many fail and realize nothing,
but that can be said Of any business.
The New Jersey and Maryland
trucker has the advantage OF the
North Carolina trucker of only few
hours in transportation, but that Is
nothing compared to the advantage
of the latter in growing stuff earlier
by several weeks. The climate is sc
near semi tropical that the palmet
toes grow wild and of fine size down
near the coast. The rainfall is quite
regular and abundant. Irrigation is
easy and cheap, as water can be got
ten from nearby streams, or from
deep wells. The health is excellent
if water from deep wells is used
The trucking business has grown tc
enormous magnitude. Hundreds O1
Northern gardeners are recognizing
the superior advantages and are com
ing into this section. They fine
lumber cheap with which to, do theil
building, and good railroad facilities
Fruit growing of all kinds is attract
ing the attention of farmers in vari
Gus parts Of the State.
The peaches of Southern Pines are
rivaling the famous Georgia peach
and vineyards of that section are ex
ceptionaIly fine. Western NORTH
Carolina has always been noted fol
fine apples. At our State Fair il
October there was collection Of ap
pies from >Yancey county that fol
quality were equal to the display al
the Chicago Exposition. NORTH
Carolina apples were awarded pre-
miums at the Paris Exposition. The
great drawback is the people have
not learned to pack and ship this
fruit. The State has fortune ever
in her wild fruits, Strawberries