The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-20
A NOVEL A|lROAD.OUR TRUCK CROPS
The State HorticuIturist
Talks of the Present
Conditions.

Prof. Fl. Fl. Hume, the incumbent
of the recently created office of State
Horticulturist who has just returned
from quite an extended trip through
the trucking sections of the State, was
asked yesterday by a News and OBJ
server reporter to tell him something
of what he saw on his trip.
He said he had visited Fayetteville,
Chadbourn. Wilmington, Rocky
Point, Wallace, Warsaw, Mt. Olive,
Goldsboro. Kinston and New Bern.
THE largest interest at Fayetteville, ,"
said he, sis in growing lettuce under
canvas. The dry weather and late
spring interfered greatly with the
crop. but still the output from that
section i'm lettuce is roughly valued at
100000. While this is the main crop,
people in this section are also inter-
ested in dewberries, cabbage, Irish po-
tatoes, asparagus and other truck
crops.
"In view of the lack OF sufficient
moisture for the development OF the
crops, a great interest is being taken
i'm this section in the subject of irriga-
ton. and a number of irrigation
plants will be put in during the sum-
mer in which the horticultural de-
partment will assist. The prospects
are for a good crop of dewberries,
though they would be greatly bene-
fitted by more moisture. If rain falls
within the next week, it will very ma
terially benefit the crop both in regard
the quantity and quality.
'rThe Chadbourn section is mostly
concerned in the growing of straWber-
ries. From this station and the sur
rounding county more strawberries
probably were shipped this season than
from any other part of the State. The
crop was very large, and growers are
we'll satisfied with the results. The
prices at the time 1 visited Chadbourn
we're $500 per crate net at the sta
ton. Practically all the fruit in the
berry district of the State is bought
at the railroad track and shipped at
the buyers risk.
AT Wilmington the trucking inter-
ests are quite diversified, but only
few strawberries are grown. The
most important crops on the ground
are beets, beans, cabbage and Irish
potatoes The season has been an
especially favorable one for this sec
ton, and the crops for the most part
are in excellent shape.
Along the road of the Atantt:
Coast Line between Wilmington and
Goldsboro, the principal industry is
strawberry growing. In the northern
portion of this district the crop has
been cut somewhat by the dry wealth
er, yet a good crop has been matured
and sold at remunerative prices. The
largest shipping point in this dis
trict is Mt. Olice.
"At Wallace and Warsaw there is
a considerable acreage in bulbs, the
largest grower being Mr.. w. l.. Hill,
of Warsaw. The trucking interest
about Goldsboro is mainly concerned
about the growing of garden peas and
snap beans.
"At Kinston the main crops grown
are cabbage and Irish potatoes, the
largest growers being Mr.. Granger
and Messrs. Harvey and Son. each of
whom have about one hundred acres
i'm Irish potatoes and about seventy
five in cabbage.
"At New Bern the crops looked
vel. and this is probably the largest
general trucking point that l visited.
In this section considerable attention
is given to the growing of lettuce UNI
der canvas, for which both irrigation
and heat are provided. In this way
the successful growth of the crop is
assured and handsome returns are
usually secured. There are about six
large plants engaged in this work. The
lettuce is usually followed in the
snring with cucumbers on the same
ground The acreage in cabbage, gar
den peas and snap beans is very
la rye !"