The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-16


species from 6 to 10 thousand bulbs per
acre, When housing time arrives the
bulb is taken uD and buried, and when
orders come in the buried bulb is un-
earthed and taken into a dry house and
artifcially dried or prepared for the
market.
This is quite strawberry ship
ping point, some $4,000 crates being
shipped this season The. first crate of
berries shipped from the State this year
went from Warsaw, on April 18th, by ex-
press to Boston, Mass. This is also a
great shipping point for huckleberries,
some $4,000 crates being shipped per sea-
son. This crop is now at it's height and
everybody is in his glory. The buckle
berry crop always brings happiness to the
people. The huckleberry grows wild in
forest and swamp lands, and is the prop
erty Of the people. Hundreds of thou
sands of the poor people feed and clothe
themselves by picking berries. Quite a
large number devote the time to buying
and shipping The marketing of the
huckleberry began here about 1868. in a
small way Mr.. D. j. Rivenbark, the
father of your correspondent, making the
first shipment 1t will be- of interest to
many to speak of the handling OF the
berry in those days. Crates were only
to be had in the North. Ny father con-
ceived the idea that there should be a
demand in the North for this very fine
produce of the swamp that was going to
waste, and if so the picking of the berry
would give employment to many poor
people. He purchased a dozen crates,
paying $3.50 each for them. When the
crates arrived he had number OF Whlte
people go into the woods and pick berries,
and when they brought them in they were
Grated and shipped North. About ten
days ELAPSED before the crates were re-
turned, when picking was in order again.
This followed every ten days throughout
the season. When he left the community
berry shipping ceased, only to be taken
up later on in a larger way. Crates Tor
late years have been easy to obtain at
about one tenth the cost of that day-a
large crate factory being established
near the town by my old friend. Mr.. Thos.
B. Pierce, which factory is yet in opera
tion making some 10000 tos12,0OO crates,
and giving employment to more than
hundred hands.
The back country is good and the soil
is adapted to the growth of any crop
grown within the State. Warsaw is a
town now CT 500 population, situated in
iDuplin county, about two miles from the
Sampson county line, on the Atlantic
Coast Line, 80 miles north of Wilmington,
and 30 miles south of GOldsboro. A
splendid moral sentiment permeates the
community, Reys. Jno. n Stallings, the
late DIR. Marrable and l.. r. Carroll hay
ing largely added to the building up OF
this There is a year school, conducted
by Misses Nellie tombstone and Carrie
Hussey. with an enrolment of 120 pupils.
The Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterians
each have a church building There are
some Is stores. Though apparently low,
this is the highest point between viii
mington and Goldsboro.
This is the home of Abe Middleton, the
negro politician, so widely known by the
News and Observer readers. Abe owns a
farm a few miles out from this town, where
he now resides For the present he is out
of politics and is devoting his time and
talent to farming and buying and ship
ping of huckleberries, Abe says he lives
among some of the best white people on
earth and guess Abe speaks the truth.
This is also the home of Rev Thos,
Parker, colored, Baptist preacher, who
has been laboring here among his race
for the past 90 years or more. Uncle
Thomas is now past 20, but is vigorous
and sways his people as in the days gone
by He has done a good work and is
held in esteem by the white people OF
the community.
There is evidence here of growth, and
the town is taking on new life. Mrs.
Carlton keeps the hotel and she knows
how to take care of her guests She oc-
cupies the new hotel building at the
DEPOT.
w L. Hill, President of the Trucking
Association of North Carolina, resides
here and is identified with the life and
progress of the town. He would doubtless
lend encouragement to any enterprise
that would tend to the upbulding of the
town Mr.. HIll advises that the Truck
ing Association meets in annual session
at Wilmington on Tuesday and Wedncs-
day next.
RIYENBARK.