2 SOILS OF FENDER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 



Holly Shelter, Swamp, Doctor, Sills, Cypress, Bee, and Long creeks. 

 The bottom lands in the valleys of some of these streams are only a 

 few feet above sea level. A conspicuous feature of the county is 

 seen in the numerous " bays," or wet areas, which usually support a 

 dense growth of shrubbery and trees, as bay, pine, black gum, sweet 

 gum, and gallberry bushes. The better drained lands support a 

 growth of pine, with a sprinkling of oak and hickory and an under- 

 growth of wire grass and huckleberries; while the poorly drained 

 soils support mainly pine and a thick undergrowth of gallberry" 

 bushes, bay, pitcher plants, etc. Probably less than a third of Fender 

 County is under cultivation. 



The population of the county in 1900 was 13,381. There has been 

 some increase, especially in the towns, but there are a number of 

 rural districts so sparsely settled that agricultural development has 

 not made anything like the headway warranted by the productivity 

 of the soils. The white population is largely of English and Scotch 

 descent. There are a number of Italians in a recently established 

 colony at St. Helena, and a relatively large number of negroes 

 throughout the county. 



Three branches of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad cross the 

 county. These, together with the usually good public roads, give 

 the area excellent transportation facilities. Fast freight is offered 

 to northern markets, Burgaw being within thirty-six hours of New 

 York b}* refrigerator express freight. 



CLIMATE. 



The climate of Fender County is mild and pleasant throughout . 

 most of the year. The summers are long, but the temperature is mod- 

 erated by sea breezes. The winters are marked by moderate cold, 

 with an occasional light snow. With a mean temperature of 48 F. 

 for the months of December to February, inclusive, a number of vege- 

 tables can be grown throughout the winter, especially with a little 

 protection, such as an occasional covering with cheese cloth, bagging, j 

 or some material like pine needles. A good idea of the climate is con- 

 veyed by the fact that such crops as Irish potatoes and radishes are I 

 planted in January and February. The average season free from kill- 

 ing frosts is seven months and nineteen days. The frost line moves . 

 northward in the spring at the rate of about 13 miles a day, so that 

 following this recession vegetables and berries average about a day 

 later in maturity for every 10 to 15 miles traveled northward. This \ 

 section is nearly intermediate between Charleston, S. C., and Norfolk, 

 Va., in date of vegetable and berry shipments. 



The following tables give the normal monthly and annual tem- 

 perature, rainfall, and frost records for Wilmington, X. C., and, for 

 the sake of comparison, for Charleston, S. C., and Norfolk, Va. : 



[Cir. 20] 



