

Gulfport, Miss. 



THE GULF COAST 



Those counties in Southern Mississippi bordering on the Gulf Coast, although 

 located in the "yellow pine" district that has had the merchantable timber 

 removed, are considered a distinct section of the State, and this strip along the 

 Southern border is internationally known as the "Gulf Coast." Some of its resi- 

 dents, however, who have traveled in many lands before selecting this as their 

 permanent residence, prefer to call it "The Riviera of America," because it has 

 the charm of Europe's favorite section, with none of its disadvantages. 



While the Coast towns have developed into winter resorts for the Northerners 

 and summer resorts for the inland Southerners, the rural sections are intensively 

 developed as trucking and fruit-growing districts. 



Practically every vegetable and fruit known to the gardener and horticul- 

 turist is grown in great quantities along the Coast, and many subtropical pro- 

 ducts have been developed which find here an exceedingly congenial home and 

 prove highly profitable to the grower. 



Trucking Industry 



One district specializes in radishes and ships them in carloads each year. 

 These radishes mature in a very short time and, being grown in midwinter, com- 

 mand almost fabulous prices on the Northern markets. 



As an instance of the intensive manner in which these truck farms are operated, 

 some of the growers plant lettuce in October, and when it comes off in January, 

 plant Irish potatoes. A week later radishes are planted in the middle of the potato 

 rows, and when the potatoes are up a few inches, the radishes are picked and 

 shipped and corn put in their places. Then, when the potatoes are dug, cow peas 

 are sown in the middles, and all of these crops are grown usually between groves 

 of Satsuma oranges or paper-shell pecans. 



Large quantities of peas, carrots, shallots, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, 

 turnips, beans, watermelons, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and other 

 vegetables are also raised profitably, and asparagus is a permanent and never- 

 failing source of profit, as it never winter-kills, grows to a tremendous size and 

 sells for hot-house prices. 



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