The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-01

In its summary ana review of the
Irish potato crop this season. coupled
with the huckleberry and dewberry
situation, together with the outlook
for cantaloupes, melons and peaches,
the Carolina Fruit and Truckers
Journal, of this city, in its issue to-
day will say:
Next in Importance to the straw
berries in this district covering the
two Carolinas and Virginia is the
Irish potato crop, which has been
harvested and solo his year at prices
never before equaled in our recollec-
ton. Even the Florida and Georgia
potato crops, despite the high freight
rates. were sold at enormous prices.
In all this district, however, the crop
was sold at a big margin for the
growers, the figures not ~infrequeatly
reaching IS per barrel in Philadel-
phia, New FORK and elsewhere OF
course a large quantity was sold
around $3.50 and 81 per barrel, but
even at that the net returns to the
growers were something tremendous.
From information received at this
office there is not a station between
Wilmington and Lake City, S. c., on
n w C. & A, or between Whining
ton and Fayetteville on the A. & Y,
or between Wilmington and Hamlet
on the s. a. l., or between Whining
ton and Wilson on the w. & w, or
between Wilmington and New Bern
on the Wilmington and OnslOw rail-
road. but what more or less potatoes
have been shipped from this season.
OF course, the figures as to volume
thus far obtained lave been largely
apprOximates, but from the prices
realized and number shipped we fig
ure that Irish potatoes have distrib-
uted S1,125,O0 in the territory above
referred to. The crop, however, has
been practically shipped From New
Bern, G~Oldsboro. the Chadbourn sec
ton. Elizabeth City, Edenton- Tar
boTO, Washington, Plymouth, Orien-
tai Belhaven. Kinston. Dover and
Tusearora. the shipments this season
have been simply appalling. Ship
mentS through Norfolk have SurpaSs-
ed anything on record and the move
ment from that great city continues
large. We regret to advise, however,
that prices w already Sumped,
and slumped badly, but the people in
tnlS llSIrlct were fortunate enough
to- lave marketed three-fourths- if
not four-ffths. OF their crops before
the slump came, and. therefore, prof
tied accordingly.
Huckleberries3 fnom this dlstricS
have distributed many thousands Of
dollars among the people, and prices
nave ruled uniformly satisfactory to
the shippers The same has been
true with d~ewberries, b~lackberries.
plumS n things. Beans have
not done SO we'll, neither have squash
es, beetS or cucumberS, although
these vegetables have helped to swell
the farmers income. The eanta-
1oupe and melon crops will begin
moving from this territory within the
next ten days or two weeks at far
thest. and will likewise prove a
source of great revenue and wealth
TO our people. Abou the same time
peaches and June apples will begin
TO move and will continue more or
less actively during July n August.
Georgia peaches are already moving
IN good volume and that district is
now a scene of wonderful activity.
At will thus be seen that III stream
or money flowing into this territory
mas not by any means been brought
10 a standstill, but will continue for
weeks to come right along, until the
faII crops begin to move. which will
last until October. Is there then a
more favored land under the shining
u of heaven where peace and plen-
~ reigns more supremely? Nay.
nay.