The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-12-31
GROWING CRa>BERTsIES
IN NORTH CAROLYN A.
The Finest Quality Of berries Growing
Wild in harshs- In u1e Eastern Part
of The State Points the Way to a
New but Important industry.

Especial 70 News anl Observer
Columbia. y. g. Dee zs-It may
not be generally known ina. the cram
berry. which - - much In demand f8r
the Christmas dinner liable and which
~ said 10 be the most hsa3taful berry
known. grows in great abundance in
Eastern North Carolina That sue
IL the case. however. = proved by the
fact that large quantities q aid Gran
berries are every fall and winter ped
died through the streets Of Columbia
and sold in many. other towns q this
section. In addition 10 It's Gale in the
local markets. vessels frequently carp
berries gathered from these marshes
TO Northern markets. nnding ready
sale at fancy prices for their rEocs
As soon as the berries are ripe many
OF the native people visit the marshes
and gather enough berries u pay them
well for their Irouble.
There are extensive cranberry
marshes within five miles Of this place.
one OF the finest being near the head
waters OF Riders Greek. other
marshes arc found in Hyde and tyr
rell counties. and still another report
ed as producing an extra fine berry,
Is an island near the mouth OF North
west river in Currituck county Also
the fruit grows in n wild state on q
stretch OF land bordering the north
ern part Of Croatan Sound in Dare
county.
These cranberry areas have never
been cultivated, in fact. very little at
tention has been given them, mainly
for the lack. up TO a few months ago.
Of railroad facilities, and the further
reason that the ownership OF the land
is in many instances unsettled. Other
wise it might be made a very profit
able business, as the lands here are Of
that rich, peaty nature peculiarly
adapted TO tie growth OF cranberries
TNha,4ah ,h,lJ .ha., harr;n- a~a 80
usually large and richly colored. IN
delicacy Of flavor they cannot be sur
passed. If one may Judge by the
plentiful crops now annually borne By
the wild bushes, a little attention 70
the industry IN his section would
produce an enormous yield OF the
finest possible quality. In fact. there
is every reason to believe that these
marshes could be made. by proper Gull
tiVation and care, a source of great
profit with but small expense, were
they in the hands OF enterprising men
who understand the growth and hand
ling of this species Of fruit. No doubt
as soon as the title to this land is set
tied cranberry culture will become ar
important business in Eastern North
Carolina. The recent completion OF
the Norfolk and Southern Railway TO
this point is expected to aid greatly
in developing this industry along with
the growing of onions and other Vege-
tables for which the soil and climate
of this section are peculiarly adapted,
In New Jersey, Michigan and Wis
cOnsin, which are now the principal
cranberry-groWing states of this coun-
try, the cranberry formerly grew wild.
but is now a cultivated product. A
rich peaty soil Is required, and a small
bed can be started at very slight ex-
pense. The yield IN a small we'll
tended bed is said to be enormous and
the berry always sells at a good price.
Our people are hoping hat the re-