The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-19

porous Colony at Chadbourn.
is a diversified farmer, that is to say, he
puts his dependence in no one crop. One
man. for instance, will plant strawberries
and potatoes, another will have straw
berries and cabbage still another will
raise Strawberries and dewberries, while
a fourth will put in strawberries and
asparagus But all will have Strawberries
and just as certainly all will have grain
and gardens and hogs, and some even
plant cotton, and few have tried tobac-
CO.
The cultivation of strawberries on land
enriches it greatly and after that, fine
CROPS of any sort may be grown on 1t. 1t
is especially adapted for grain and easily
produces a bale OF cotton to the acre.
I'VE have long ago learned an Iowa
man told me, mot to depend on any one
money crop, for the best of them fail
some times Nor would we put our de-
pendence in all the money crops in the
world We have found that it does not
pay to raise money crops exclusively and
then have to buy our corn and hay and
meat We raise these things and then
our money crop becomes practically clear
profit"
people have?' asked Senator Brown
Strawberries, he replied. Expert
ence has shown us that we can make
money on berries three out of four years.
Last year we made money, despite the
fact that on account of scarcity of labor
thousands of dollars worth of berries
rotted in the fields. This year we are,
so far doing even better. If the sales
will sell more berries and at better prices
than we did last year." Turning to his
books, he added: Shipments began this
year on April 2Sth at 40 cents quart, or
$12 crate; now they are selling for 81
a crate, and even at that figure there is
good money in them. l have six acres
in berries and my sales from them SO
far this year amount to $1,355 or 500 net
profit-over 800 an acre. If the market
will hold up another week I'll ship as
many more, but of course the price is now
such that the profit will not be SO large"
The cultivation of strawberries at
Chadbourn began in moderate way about
six years ago. with the establishment of
this colony there. 1t has grown from
year to year until it has assumed enorm-
Gus proportions and this season from Is
to 20 cars or 5000 crates day are being
sent from here. Not only are the
colonists engaged in strawberry culture
but the natives for many miles around
have taken it up and it has brought
prosperity to the whole section. At first
the freight rate was very high ($17S a
crate), but gradually it has been reduced
largely through the efforts Of the Fruit
and Truck Growers Association, which is
very strong in Chadbourn, having three
directors there The rate is this season
so cents and even at that the railroads
are making big money, as the following
figures show:
Berry movement over the Atlantic Coast
Line last season
Wilmington and Weldon -. 29S,45S crates
Atlantic and Yadkin ..... 1904
Chadbourn Road $1,000. 35,554
Total for season .945.o51
Largest shipments made in one day last
season
Wilmington and Weldon ..25.1 1913 crates
Atlantic and Yadkin $500. 1893
ChadboGrn Road .......... 3,488
Total for one day ..... 39,2S0
Last year the first shipments on the
Coast Line were made April 2tst. and the
first SHIPMENTS by refrigerator cars were
on April 2Sth. This year the season was
week later and shipments began on
April 2Sth, aud by refrigerator cars May
End Last year the season ended May