The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-15

Especial TO The Richmond Virginian9
HEATHSVIILE. VA. Oct. IL
Northumberland county. lying be-
tween the Rappahannock and Poto-
mac rivers, in the Northern Neck Of
Virginia. it's banks being washed by
the waters of the Potomac and ches-
/ apeake Bay. Is conceded to be the
wealthiest county on the Peninsula
| All that strip OF land lying between
the Potomac and Rappahannoek rtv-
ers originally bore the name of North
UNI beriand, in honor of the Earl OF
northumberland. This land is now
known as the Northern Neck of Nir-
ginia and ia composed Of I'VE counties
/ Lancaster, Richmond and King
George.
| northumberland is blessed with a
| natural location and FOUNTAIN of
| resources which pours into the ccners
OF its citizens an envfahie wealth. In
no rural section OF the State has there
been greater progress along Industrial
lines in the last decade than has been
made in this favored section. Signs
| of thrift and advancement can be
| seen on every hand. Farm lande
/ have about doubled In value. and the
/ farmers are more scientific in their
| farm laborers has made 1t necessary
/ for the farmers to use the most i'm
proved and economical machinery on
/ their farms, and this unavoidable con-
dition has placed farming upon a
more profitable bass. as the farm
managers give the work their own
/ personal attention.
/ Farmers Are Prosperous.
Farming In northumberland county
| is no longer drudge. The tillers or
| the soil are an Intelligent, prosperous
and conteuted people. Having access
to the daily, weekly and monthly
newspapers. they are in touch with
current events and national AFFAIRS
and they are acquiring Information
that is making them more and more
prosperous every year.
! But trucking In recent years has
| become the most profitable branch of
farming In the county. particularly
| in the Coan and Yeocomico river Sec
ttons. where the soil seems especial
| ~ adapted to the prolific growth of
tomatoes. cantaloupes. etc. The to-
mato crop is the greatest soArce of
profit to the trucker. however. The
seed are sown In hotbeds. under grass.
in late winter. and these beds are
watched most carefully. transplanted
and tended until the season of rros,
! ia past, when they are set out" in the
fields. The crop requires much at
tention and there IL no "let-up" 10
the trucker until the crop II market
ed. 1t is a matter OF impossibility TO
estimate the number OF crates or the
! fruit shipped from Coan and Yeo-
comico rivers during the early tomato
season, which lasts until about July /.
when the local canneries begin work.
The receipts from the crop In this i'm
I mediate section amounted to thous-
ands of dollars. The cannertes utilize
/ all of the late crop, closing about the
LIST of October These factories are
located throughout the county and
their packs go principally To BATH
more.
Fish Industry Pays.
The chief source OF revenue to the
people of Northumberland and decid-
i edly the most profitable Is the great
fish and oyster industries which ex-
tends directly or indirectly to the re-
hottest parts OF the county. The Po-
tomac river, Chesapeake hay and the
Atlantic Ocean are the gold mines
of Northumberland. and from these
I waters Is broughta the wealth or the
people. Trap and menhaden fishing
engage more men than the oyster in
dustry though the latter is carried
on mainly in the fall and winter.
Reedville. in the lower end of the
county IL the center OF the fishing
industry. and II IL said to be the
weafthiest town OF its size In the
United States. During the menhaden
fishing season a large fleet. maintained
at an expense OF several thousand dol
lars day. goes out from Reedville
daily In search Of menhaden. usually
returning in tina evening loaded Ia the
many factories situated at Reedvtilc
and other points on the Great WIco1n-
i leo river The menhaven are made
1 into manipulated ard Rcitluiated
Il guanoa and AHh oils 4mA shipped 81
putslee neskes.. Elsa - Z
! = r. X l1||1