The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-10
Estimate by the Carolina Fruit
and Truck Growers
Journal.
REPORTS FROM PLANTERS
Many Place The Injury to Truck and Berries at
20 10 rs Per Csnt---The Journal
Thinks the Lower Figure
Will Cover The
Damage.
Especial to News and observer)

Wilmington, n. c., April 9.-The Caro-
in it's issue of tomorrow will print a
symposium of opinions from many of the
strawberry and vegetable growers in this
district regarding the damage wrought
by the cold snap of a few days ago, and
editorially says: although many of
them place the loss at 20 and % per cent,
we must nevertheless, think the first
named figures will cover the greatest
per cent of damage. This statement is
predicted upon advices received up to the
hour of going to press, and that being
true the crop will be fully up to last
years average. The berries in the main
were we'll strawed and covered, and thus
protected they suffered but little. Those
barred to the elements suffered consid-
erably. The writer rode all the way
from Goldsboro to Wilmington yesterday,
and talked with number of growers at
different stations, and in almost every
case it was ascertained that the damage
is far below the first estimate.
The fields are all as white with bios
SONS as ever and picking, packing and
shipping has begun in earnest. Any
where from fifteen to twenty carloads
will 80 forward by to-days express and
refrigerator trains, and henceforth ac-
tivity viii be lively in shipping circles
as long as there is a berry in sight
The editorial opinion expressed above
is based upon detailed reports from re-
liable growers in the territory from
Charleston to Norfolk and is regarded
as authoritative and full of interest
throughout the trucking belt, as we'll as
on all the Northern markets.
Some of the opinions are as follows:
w. j. Boney, Wallace: Damage Is
per cent. Probably get as much out of
crop as if the crop was large enough
to produce a glut.
DR.. E. Porter, Rocky Point: Ten to
fifteen per cent damage; very little killed
but all hurt. Tendency to stop straw
berry beetle awhile at least.
Henry Fussell, Jr., Rose Hill: DAM
age VIII amount to five thousand crates
of Strawberries in this section.
John c. Mcmillan, Teacheys: Reports
vary from one third to one-sixth.
d. j. Aaron Mount Olive: Damage not
as great as at first thought; beetle, how
ever, has appeared, and is very destruc-
tive. Never saw such disaster in such
short time from both causes. Season
will be short
B. s. Gaines, Clinton: Damage to
strawberries 25 per cent; beans and
vegetables 10 per cent; huckleberries al
most total loss.
J. S. Westbrook, Wallace: Damage
certainly not less than SO per cent; un-
covered berries so per cent.
R. T. Rivcnbark, Willard: Damage
SO Is per cent.
w. L. Hill, Warsaw: Roughly esti-
mated 20 to 25 per cent.
B. B. Witherington, Faison; One-half
to beans; one-fourth to Strawberries and
Irish potatoes; one-half to strawberries
and nearly all peaches.
w. E. Thigpen, Chadbourn: Not ex-
ceeding IS per cent. Season retarded.
Giles Westbrcok, Wilmington: Straw
berries on sound not injured; beets, GU
cumbers and other vegetables injured
very much; some killed outright.
L. r. Barnes, Florence, S. c.. Damage
more or less; would say 10 to 20 per
cent to strawberries; fifty to vegetables,
peaches even greater
Norfolk reports lettuce almost total
failure and more or less damage to
Strawberries and vegetables.