From New Hampshire to North Carolina.
R. M. Couch, Southern Pines, N. C.—The statement of facts I shall make in this letter will lean to the conservative in all cases, as after a residence of eight years and an extensive correspondence with inquirers after facts, I have learned that the truth is good enough and exaggeration folly. By the advice of my physician I left New Hampshire and located here, and have not been North even on a visit since, and as the climate was the first consideration with me, let me say unqualifiedly that I believe it as near perfect all the year round as can be found in any part of the world. I am confirmed in this conclusion by the testimony of scores who have sought this haven of health after trying such places as Colorado, California, New Mexico, Arizona, and even the South of France and Italy. The healthfulness of this section being established, the next question which confronted me was the means of support, and as we make no claim that this soil (a light sandy loam) is adapted to general farming, we were compelled to look to the fruit industry as the most likely to help us out, and well are we repaid for the venture. It is proved that a dry atmosphere and porous soil produces very fine flavored fruit and that in this climate, also, the fruit “colors” up better and makes a much better appearance than that grown in a colder and less sunny climate. But one strong hold on the fruit industry lies in our geographical position as regards the ripening season, which brings our fruit into market, out of competition with any other section. This fact was proved by our shipments last season.
Within five years there have been planted in this immediate section 1500 acres in fruit, and in order that your readers may have the advantage of direct correspondence with any or all the growers of fruit, I will give the names from memory: C. J. Eaglesfield was the pioneer on a small scale; S. N. Whipple, extensive peach, plum, grape and nut farm; Van Lindly Orchard Co., 350 acres peach, pear, plum and blackberry; Niagara Grape Co., 107 acres in grapes; Southern Pines Fruit-Growing Co., eighty acres in grapes; Benjamin Douglas, Jr., of Orange, N. J.; Tarbell & Carlton, H. P. Bilyeu, Dr. C. W. Weaver, C. D. Tarbell, Thomas Carlton, Fred Oberhouserheur, James H. Murray, S. W. Thomas, Charles H. Thompson, Edwin Newton, Doctors Boynton, Stevens and R. M. Couch, Rev. A. A. Newhall, B. Van Herff, J. T. Wilson, Dr. W. P. Swett, H. P. Stebbins, J. A. Morriss, R. S. Marks, L. S. Johnson, C. C. Mitchell, John Huttonhomer, F. J. Folley, Rev. J. W. Johnston, Mrs. L. A. Raymond, Mrs. Louisa Young, P. Pond, Fred Dixon and others. There were shipped from this point last season 150 tons, being the first bearing year of the oldest vineyards of much size. The bearing vineyards and orchards the coming season will more than double the shipments, and in two years all the vineyard trees mentioned will come to bearing.
The prices in Washington and New York last July were six and seven cents per pound for black grapes, and thirteen and fourteen cents per pound for Delaware and Niagara, and $3.50 to $4.50 per bushel crate for peaches and plums. The demand was as good at the close of the season as at first. Write to Dr. C. W. Weaver, S. N. Whipple, H. P. Bilyeu, C. D. Tarbell, C. B. Mabore for prices obtained for their own shipments. Dr. Weaver realized from three acres of his best Delaware grapes $150 per acre net.
I have thus, in a rambling way, given your readers an idea of the climate and agricultural resources of the sand hills of Moore county, N. C.
Southern Pines is a town eight years old, in the midst of the turpentine region of North Carolina, sixty-eight miles southwest from Raleigh, on the Raleigh & Augusta Railroad (part of the Seaboard Air Line), fifteen hours from New York, and is six hundred feet above sea level, the highest point in the whole turpentine belt. The soil is a sandy loam and has a perfect drainage. Malaria is unknown. The presence of the long-leafed pine in large quantities causes the generation of ozone to such a degree as to make this locality almost a specific for throat and lung difficulties. Many physicians and a large number of the cured and benefited testify to its wonderful effects. The town is filled mainly with Northern people, and has four hotels, a good school, and church services every Sabbath. There are three stores, and railroad, telegraph and express offices. There are many fine residences and a large hotel 300 feet long and four stories is being built with modern improvements.