CHAPTER XVI. 



A SOUTHERN STRAWBERRY FARM, AND METHODS OF CULTURE 



IN THE SOUTH. 



HAVING 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 center, 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 marvelous 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 together. 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 vantage which she 

 will probably maintain ; but fleet steamers are giving more southern ports 

 a chance. Charleston, South Carolina, is second only in importance. In 

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