CHAPTER XVl. 



A SOUTHERN STRAWBERRY FARM, AND METHODS OE CULTURE 

 IN THE SOUTH. 



TTAVING treated of the planting of strawberries, their 

 cultivation, and kindred topics, in that great northern 

 belt, of which a line drawn through New York city may be 

 regarded as the centre, I shall now suggest characteristics 

 in the culture of this fruit in southern latitudes. We need 

 not refer to the oldest inhabitant, since the middle-aged 

 remember when even the large cities of the North were 

 supplied from the fields in the suburbs, and the strawberry 

 season in town was identical with that of the surrounding 

 country. But a marvellous change has taken place, and 

 berries from southern climes appear in our markets soon 

 after midwinter. This early supply is becoming one of the 

 chief industries of the South Atlantic coast, and every year 

 increases its magnitude. At one time, southern New Jersey 

 furnished the first berries, but Maryland, Delaware, and 

 Virginia soon began to compete. Norfolk early took the 

 lead in this trade, and even before the war was building up 

 a fine business. That event cut off our Southern supply, 

 and for a few years June and strawberries again came to- 

 gether. But after the welcome peace, many Southern fields 

 grew red once more, but not with blood, and thronged, but 

 chiefly by women and children. Soil, climate, and superb 

 water communications speedily restored to Norfolk the van- 

 tage which she will probably maintain ; but fleet steamers 



