Eastern North Carolina Encyclopedia/Truck and Fruit Growing in Eastern Carolina
Truck and Fruit Growing in Eastern Carolina
By C. D. Matthews,
Chief, Division of Horticulture, N. C. Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension Service
There is probably no branch of agriculture that has developed in the past thirty years so strikingly as that of horticulture. It has grown in a quarter of a century from a more or less general and relatively unimportant line of agriculture to a highly specialized type of great importance. As a result of changing conditions, such as the concentration of population in the cities, the decrease of food producers in the rural sections, improved railroad facilities, the possibilities of truck transportation because of good roads, the development of varieties suitable for long distance transportation, and with the development of improved canning, handling, and storing facilities, the production of horticultural crops is of increasing importance. The economic advantages of comparatively cheap lands, and close proximity to the consuming markets of the East and South make horticultural development in Eastern Carolina an alluring opportunity.
The climate of the Coastal Plain Section is mild and equable, being suited to a large variety of fruit and vegetable crops. The rainfall is ample and fairly well distributed throughout the year. The temperature seldom goes above 100 degrees or drops below zero. The summers are long, but the heat in the counties bordering the coast and sounds is tempered by the sea breeze. The growing season is long enough for the tenderest vegetation. The modifying influence of the waters of Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds and the broad tidewater streams have an appreciable effect upon the climate and lessens the danger from late and early frosts. This fact accounts largely for the preferable use of the soils in these localities for trucking purposes, and for the production of certain fruits. The winter and early spring months are sufficiently mild for the growth of many vegetables for early market. Both the climate and the soil make this section admirably adapted to truck growing.
TRUCKING IN EASTERN CAROLINA
The improvement of transportation facilities and the increased knowledge of commercial fertilizer uses, together with ideal soil, climatic conditions, and cheap lands has made truck growing in the Coastal Plain Section of North Carolina one of the most important branches of horticultural work.
The rapid growth of our northern cities long ago demonstrated that local gardens could not produce the needed supply. With improved transportation facilities, the production of early vegetables naturally moved southward.
Climatic conditions in the Coastal Plain, with its level, mellow, sandy loam, easy of cultivation, and retentive of moisture, cause it to be highly adapted to the production of early vegetables for northern markets. With these unsurpassed natural conditions and the use of frames covered with cloth or glass, and in some cases the installation of modern steam-heated greenhouses and irrigation systems, the trucking industry has made wonderful strides, the production of vegetable crops in winter and early spring being conducted with great success.
IRISH POTATOES
Irish potatoes are generally grown through the State for home use and for local markets, but the commercial industry is localized in the Coastal Plain Section with the production of the early truck crop. The Irish potato industry brings more money into the State than any other horticultural crop.
The production of the early crop in the Coastal Plain Section is the most important commercial truck industry in the State. The climate and soil of the section make it possible to produce large crops of early potatoes so that they reach the market at a time between the Charleston section of South Carolina and the Norfolk section of Virginia. The counties of Pasquotank, Beaufort, Currituck, Carteret, Craven, Wayne and Pamlico are the chief producers of early potatoes, shipping approximately 4,500 cars during the 1922 season.
A second crop of Irish potatoes is often produced in the Coastal Plain Section of the State. This crop is planted in August from "seed" of the first crop, or from cold storage seed, which generally gives much better results. The second crop is allowed to grow until frost. Potatoes from this crop are sometimes used for seed in growing the early crop.
SWEET POTATOES
Sweet potatoes are the most important horticultural crop in the State from the standpoint of volume and value. However, in comparison with the total production, the commercial production is a comparatively small amount, but the crop is becoming of more commercial importance each year, and within the next few years it is expected to surpass the Irish potato as a commercial crop.
Sweet potatoes are grown for home use and local markets more or less in all parts of the State, with the exception of the highest portions in the Mountain Section. For market purposes they are produced principally in the Coastal Plain Section. The commercial sweet potato industry in this State is of two distinct types, being developed around different types of potatoes and different methods of growing. One type of the industry can be described as the early truck type, while the other is known as the main or storage crop. The early truck type is limited to the northeastern part of the State, with the principal centers of production in the counties of Currituck, Pasquotank, Beaufort, and Pamlico. The Big Stem Jersey variety is used almost exclusively in these counties, being planted early and, with shipments starting in July, continuing through until October. Approximately 700 cars are shipped from this section each year.
The State has both natural and economic advantages for the development of the sweet potato industry. The climate and soil are well suited to producing large yields of potatoes of high quality and the close proximity to markets is of distinct advantage. The cultural practices with sweet potatoes are not so intensive as are those of most truck crops. The sweet potato thrives best on only moderately fertile soil, and will even produce good crops on poor soil. The sandy lands of the Coastal Plain Section yield abundant crops, 300 bushels an acre being attained with only average attention.
The development of the sweet potato industry on the basis of a specialized crop industry, with the growers organized to properly produce the crop, provide adequate storage facilities, carefully prepare the crop for market, intelligently develop markets, scientifically distribute and sell the crop, offers one of the best horticultural opportunities in North Carolina.
LETTUCE
The commercial crop of lettuce is produced in the lower part of the Coastal Plain Section, and amounts to approximately 700 cars each year.
For the area planted, and the time the land is occupied, lettuce is probably the most profitable crop of the Coastal Plain. Owing to the mild climate, the warm, responsive soil and bright winter sunshine, lettuce is successfully grown during the fall, winter and spring months.
According to the location, climatic conditions, and season of the year, lettuce growing in North Carolina is conducted under three different methods: (1) Steam-heated and irrigated frames; (2) covered frames without artificial heat and irrigation; (3) open field culture. The open field culture is practiced in the warm southeastern part of the State. The frame method produces earlier lettuce, and this usually finds a better market than the later crop. Market records show that North Carolina frame-grown lettuce commands a high place in the best markets. The spring lettuce, which is the most important of the lettuce crops, matures at a time when the northern market is hungering for something green; and if good lettuce is put on the market in first-class condition, the grower can rest assured that it will sell to advantage.
Lettuce being a rapid growing plant, maturing in from 70 to 90 days from the time of planting and growing more profitably under intensive culture, lends itself well to a rotation with other quick-growing high-profit crops, such as cucumbers, eggplant, and cantaloupes. Since the methods of successful lettuce culture are very intensive, they are necessarily costly; but the profits are correspondingly large, a good crop usually brings $800 to $1,500 per acre.
CABBAGE
Cabbage is grown commercially in the Coastal Plain Section as an early truck crop. The cabbage grown in the trucking regions of the Coastal Plain Section is the early cabbage produced for northern markets. In this section it occupies a foremost place among early truck crops.
The light, sandy soil and the mild bright climate are especially suited to the production of early cabbage. The seed of early varieties, such as Jersey Wakefield and Charleston Wakefield, are sown in beds at intervals from the first of September to October. The plants are transplanted to the field during the latter part of November and the first of December. The crop is harvested and shipped to market during the months of March and April. Cabbage yields heavily, and is one of the most profitable truck crops for Eastern North Carolina.
WATERMELONS
Watermelons are grown in all parts of the State for home consumption and local markets. For shipping to northern markets they are produced in the warm, light soil of the Coastal Plain Section. Melons of unsurpassed size and quality are produced on the sandy soils in the long-leaf pine section of the State.
Watermelon production for shipping to northern markets is one of the most important trucking industries of the State. For the commercial industry, the varieties grown are the smooth, firm melons that ship well.
CANTALOUPES
The growing of cantaloupes is one of the most important horticultural industries in the State. Commercial cantaloupe production is confined to much the same territory as watermelons. Where careful attention is given to producing high-quality melons and adequate marketing facilities are provided, cantaloupe growing offers splendid opportunities.
The crop is planted and treated very much as are cucumbers. Although they are more often grown in the open, cantaloupes are sometimes grown in frames after lettuce. Coming as they do, they fit in well in rotation with lettuce in frame or field culture. Lettuce comes off in March and April and cantaloupes occupy the ground until July, when they in turn vacate the land in time for a crop of cowpeas. For shipping to northern markets only the small early varieties, such as the Netted Gem or Rocky Ford are grown, as these are more in demand and will pack and ship better than the larger varieties.
CUCUMBERS
The cucumber, giving best results on warm, quick soils, filled with sufficient vegetable matter to hold a good supply of moisture, naturally finds an important place among the truck crops of the Coastal Plain Section of this State.
When they are grown early they are profitable; in fact, earliness determines to a great extent the degree of success of the crop. It will usually warrant the market gardeners to go to some extra trouble and expense to attain this end. The plants are started in frames and hotbeds, but as they are transplanted with difficulty, it is better to start them in pots and transplant to the field when all danger of frost is over. They are grown to a large extent in frames after lettuce, in which case they come off in July in time for a crop of cowpeas or some other late-planted crop.
The crop can be shipped north until the price falls. Early cucumbers often bring as much as $2 per bushel basket, and 800 baskets per acre is not an uncommon yield.
ENGLISH PEAS
The early crop of English peas is a very important one to the truck growers in certain sections of Eastern North Carolina. The main crop of the extra earlies is sown in January and goes to market late in April and early May. Single growers will often plant one hundred acres in peas. They are a cheaply grown crop and are soon off the land. The vines can be turned under for the improvement of the soil, and the land at once made available for some later crop, such as cucumbers or melons.
ASPARAGUS
Asparagus could be made an important crop for the truck growers of the Coastal Plain Section, where the warm, mellow, sandy soil produces early crops of excellent quality. Due to its earliness, the eastern part of the State is preeminently the asparagus-growing section to supply northern markets. As local markets are often meagerly supplied with this wholesome vegetable, a profitable industry could be developed in many parts of the State in producing asparagus for home markets.
STRING BEANS
String beans are grown by truckers throughout the State with the crop receiving the greatest attention in the lower part of the Coastal Plain Section. Here they generally pay well when early. They are cheaply grown, need light fertilization, and are out of the way in early summer so that a hay crop of peas can be grown on the same land.
SPINACH
Spinach is grown by truckers for shipment during winter and early spring. During severe winters, when the crop is killed in the North, the southern-grown spinach sells to an advantage. In the South it is a hardy crop, cheaply grown, which yields heavily and occupies the ground only during the cool season.
FRUIT GROWING IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
While practically all fruits can be grown throughout North Carolina the production of certain fruit crops upon a commercial scale is restricted to Eastern Carolina. With its wonderful climate, long growing season, and adaptable soil, Eastern Carolina is especially suited to the production of figs, grapes, pecans, blueberries, and strawberries.
STRAWBERRIES
Strawberries are grown generally over the entire State for home use and local market, but from a commercial standpoint the production of this crop has become developed in certain areas of the Coastal Plain Section.
The main point to be considered in the production of this fruit for commercial purposes is the fact that the strawberry is grown commercially in all parts of the country, and that each section from Florida to Maine has its own season in the market. Hence to make the crop profitable for shipment to northern markets, the berries must be grown where the climatic conditions warrant an early ripening of the fruit, so that it can be placed on the market before localities further north and closer to the markets come in with their berries. For this reason, the production of the crop commercially has been confined to the lands of the Coastal Plain where soil and climatic conditions combine to make this business very profitable. During the 1922 season there were over 1,000 carloads of berries handled from the main shipping points of this section.
GRAPES
North Carolina is more favored as regards its opportunities for grape growing than most other states by reason of the fact that the wide range of grape species that are native to the State. The grape in North Carolina is represented by two different general types, the muscadines, which are native of the Coastal Plain region, and the labruscas or "bunch grapes."
The muscadine, or the rotundifolia type of grapes, of which the Scuppernong and the James are the most important varieties, is native to the sandy soils of the Coastal Plain region. The Scuppernong, a white variety of the muscadine or rotundifolia type is found as a domestic fruit on almost every plantation in Eastern Carolina. Like the fig, it has proved to be almost an ideal home fruit for the South. It will permit of much neglect and almost unfailingly produce an abundant crop of very excellent fruit.
The muscadines are practically free from the attacks of insects and diseases, and produce enormous quantities of delicious fruit with only the most indifferent attention. Owing to the fact that they do not stand shipment well, these grapes are almost unknown to northern people. Some very large vineyards of the Scuppernong variety have been developed in the State, primarily for wine purposes, but are now producing fruit for grape juice, jellies, and other products. At the horticultural branch experiment station located at Willard, N. C., extensive experiments with muscadine grapes are being conducted by the State Department of Agriculture, and the N. C. Agricultural Experiment Station in cooperation with the Office of Horticultural and Pomological Investigations, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The most promising varieties of the rotundifolia species from Virginia to Texas have been collected and are being tested. Breeding work is under way to develop varieties of this grape that will be valuable for shipping and market purposes. Utilization investigations have established methods of preparation for a number of products that are promising for commercial development.
FIGS
The fig is a fruit that should be more widely grown, especially in the eastern part of the State. There are fig trees in many eastern counties, growing luxuriantly and bearing good crops even under the greatest neglect. The fig is one of the finest fruits for home use grown in the South. It is delicious and wholesome when eaten fresh, and fig preserves are the standard of excellence. Fortunately, the fig is not seriously affected by insects and disease, and can be grown without the constant use of the spray pump.
Furthermore, the fig can be made one of the most profitable fruits grown in the upper South. Fig culture is really in its infancy; and very few people realize the possibilities of the industry. Even most of those who have grown this fruit for home use do not know that by selecting the proper varieties and by using proper methods figs can be shipped to the large distant markets.
PECANS
The thin-shelled pecan is rapidly coming into prominence in the Coastal Plain Section as an orchard crop. Orchards of budded trees of standard varieties are being planted every year, and now the earlier plantings are coming into bearing. Seedling groves have been top-worked to standard varieties of high quality with satisfactory results.
While here and there large seedling trees have reached tremendous size and have produced large crops, it has only been recently that the value of the thin-shelled, standard varieties of high quality and their adaptability to the Coastal Plain region has been definitely established. As a result of investigations and demonstrations extending over a period of fifteen years, the Division of Horticulture of the N. C. Department of Agriculture has definitely determined the advisability of planting certain varieties of pecans in that part of the Coastal Plain region where there is deep, fertile soil, and where the drainage is good. The Schley, Stuart, Ally and Success varieties have been found to be the most desirable for North Carolina conditions.
If the proper attention is given to the selection of location, soil, planting and subsequent care of the orchard, pecan growing offers one of the most lucrative opportunities in agriculture for the Coastal Plain Section of the State. The trees come info commercial bearing when about eight years of age and produce abundantly. There is a large local demand for the nuts at good prices.