The Washington herald., 1913-06-22

This is the epoch of the early vegetable.
Our grandparents knew not the luxury
which even folks of moderate means
nowadays enjoy. In the shape of garden
truck of all kinds practically throughout
the year. They would have looked upon
tomatoes and lettuce in winter. not to
mention Strawberries. as well-nigh mirac-
ulous. We regard them quite as matters
of course.
In truth. early spring and winter vege-
tables. at prices relatively moderate. are
marvel. The forthcoming Year Book OF
the Department OF Agriculture tells some
thing about the wonderful region that
produces them, and explains why IL is
that a long and narrow strip of sandy
soil. stretching all the way from Camden.
N. j., to Savannah, Ga, Is the great
winter garden of the United States-a vast
jout-of-doors greenhouse which during
many months of the year. when all the
region OF the North is in the icy grasp
OF Jack Frost, keeps New York, Boston.
Philadelphia. Chicago. and other great
cities supplied with vegetable delicacies.
This belt of territory. for truck-growing
purposes, possesses certain climatic ad-
vantages which cannot be equaIed by any
other region in the world. 1t is relatively
warm. not only because IL lies very low
and fiat, but also by reason of its near
ness to the ocean, which in a manner
regulates the temperature, lessening LA
bility to sudden and severe frosts. This
Is helped by the fact that the Underwater
estuaries and embayments; and not far
away Is the tepid Gulf Stream. flowing
northward from the tropics.
Hence II is that fruits and vegetables
grown In this belt mature much earlier
than in corresponding ATTITUDES elsewhere.
But the soil also is of such a character
as to be extraordinarily well adapted for
the production OF garden truck. 1t IS
loose and sandy, so as to be well drained,
and represents a mIngling of a great
variety of minerals which best contribute
to the nourishment Of plants.
Enormous as has been the develop
ment of the trucking industry along the
strip here described. IL Is small as yet
compared with what IT Is destined to
be in the future. when such intensive
agriculture will extend over millions of
acres at present unemployed for any
purpose yielding for the support of
coming generations quantities OF food
products almost inconceivable. The
winter garden" OF today IL. of tririing
area relatively to what it with have be-
come a century from now-the portions
OF II at present cultivated being mere
patches here and there, mostly In the
near neighborhood Of cities.
Character OF Soil.
Recent surveys made by the govern
ment Bureau OF Soils have shown that
one kind OF soil characteristic OF the
strip, known as the Norfolk fine sandy
loam," probably covers a total area OF
not less than 100000 acres. Less than
1 per cent of this total area is now &C.
cupied for the production OF truck crops,
and not SO much as one-fourth OF the
whole is used for any agricultural pur-
pose, unless here and there for grazing.
This gives notion of the possibilities
OF the future extension OF what is al
ready the most profitable intensive ag-
riculture in this country.
This particular soil was formerly sea
bottom. For six to fifteen inches of
depth 1t is a mealy, fine-grained sand.
which never forms clods and with a.
clean surface suitable to the cultivation
OF tender vegetables. For cabbages, let
tuce. early Irish potatoes, cucumbers.
radishes. carrots, beets, eggplant. and
peppers IL cannot be surpassed. SO well
suited Is 1t to cabbage culture that in
the vicinity of Charleston. ). C., It Is
known as cabbage soil, and in the neigh
borhood of Bloomington. n. c., 1t is the
chosen soil for lettuce.
Another variety of sandy loan soils is
characteristic Of the great berry-produc-
ing sections, which center around Con-
way. S. C., and Ohadbourn, n. c. From
this territory immense quantities of
Strawberries are shipped from the middle
of April to the middle of June, and. when
crop yields are normal and prices for
the fruit are well maintained. the grow
ers frequently harvest from $3.50 to 500
of berries per acre. In one instance an
acre of Strawberries produced $1,000 in
a single season.
Such are the agricultural possibilities
of the strip. thanks to soil and climate,
that, crops OF different kinds are grown
in rapid succession on. the same land.
A given acre may bear a crop of winter