The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-02-22
BIG BERRY OUTLOOK.
ketS?

BIG BEllfi4 OOllNOOh.
Journey Over the Field OF Action In
dictates That Eastern North
is Going to Have the Best Straw
berry Crop of Years-Big Increase
of Yield This Year Over Last Pre-
dicted.
(The Carolina Fruit and Truckers
J~ournal.(
Mr.. J. y. Floyd, Of the Fruit Grow
ers' Express returned to the city yes
terday from something Of a swing
around the circle" reviewing the
strawberry fields throughout this ter
ritOry and confirming all the predlc-
tons and forecasts made by the Caro-
lima Fruit and Truckers Journal to-
gether with our special cOrreSpon-
dence from all the principal shipping
10th edition. Mr.. Floyd says he has
been in charge of the Fruit Growers
Express service for this territory now
for many years and that tho outlook
for 8 fine crop of S~traWberrleS the
coming a is far ahead Of any
thing he has ever known Last year,
he went on to say, the strawberry
vines were half grown and almost
ready to bloom at this time, while
this year there was, as yet, no evil
dence Of spring growth or blooming
about the vines. and that from his
cOn0lt1OnS on all sides were
we'll nigh ideal.
He predicts an increase in the yield
of Strawberries the coming season
over last year Of something like twen-
ty to twenty-five per cent, which will
give US about from fourteen and fif-
teen hundred car loads. The Journal
is willing to go Mr.. Floyd II better
and predicts a crop of sixteen hun
dred car loads, and this prediction
is based upon the acreage which yield
ed about eighteen hundred car loads
TOUR years ago. That is to say an
equal amount Of acreage with that IN
der cultivation this year produced four
years ago about 1884 car loads. Ger
talnly the conditions this year are as
favorable as we have ever known
them, and as many Of the vines now
under cultivation are in their second
/ year. we feel rather safe in the pre-
dlctlOn OF fifteen to sixteen hundred
car loads OF Strawberries for the com
ing crop. Mr.. Floyd. however, is
generally IN the safe side and we feel
no uneasiness whatever about his see
ing the predictions he has made more
than fulfilled.
As compared with four Years ago,
the cultivation Of the strawberry
fields during the present and MAST
year has been one hundred per cent
better, IN herein lies one Of the
rasons for our prediction Of q fifteen
TO sixteen hundred car load crop. It
IS also gratifying to be able 10 saw
that with such cultivation as The vines
nave been given during the present
year and last fall. that the fruit this
spring Will be of an ex~ceptionallv
nlsh grade and fine quality. Since it
IS the nigh grade berries that brig
the fancy prices, this fac; furnishes
another cause for congratulation. The
country viii be interested IN nowine
that Eastern North Carolina will he
apie 10 supply the wants OF the mar
keLs generally when the season onens
up in earneSt
Keports coming into this office are
unllOrmly favorable for q fine Nield
OF cholce berries this spring. Prenara-
uons Tor further caring for he vines
d"o adop'ing every p%recaution against
colu waves. frosts, etc, after the vines
ptSln 20 grow and shed their mink
ieaVes' are well under way and being
VIGOROUSLY pushed. While some pc
PIE are having a whole lot to saw
dpout the present cost of living. the
country generally is prosperous and
prlces next spring should rulc mi
TOMMY high. 80