Page:Eastern North Carolina Encyclopedia.djvu/10

 Atlantic Coastal Plain. There are twenty-one soil types in the county in addition to the swamps and pocosins. The main crops raised are cotton, peanuts, tobacco, corn and vegetables. The per acre production of these crops is largely above the average.

The Roanoke River on the west, the Chowan River on the east, and the Cashie River in the center furnish cheap water transportation. Railroad transportation serves the northern and western parts of the county.

The forests of the county have been cut over, but the soil is naturally timber bearing and reforesting is very rapid. Pine, cypress, ash, maple, oak and gum are the predominating commercial woods.

The population of Bertie County is agricultural and rural. There are a half dozen localities where the establishment of a factory of any character would enlist intelligent labor and not disturb the farm work by withdrawal of such persons from the farm. Large families are the rule in the county.

The county is splendidly adapted to the raising of large sheep, cattle and poultry. The cut-over lands and the pocosins and semi-swamps afford bountiful grazing on grass and young reeds.

The waters within the county and bordering on it are full of both food and sport fish. The herring, shad, perch, and rock of the Albemarle section are justly famed for their excellence and food supply. Bertie County borders on the head of Albemarle Sound and these edible fish reach perfection here. The canning of fish roe is an inviting field for profitable investment. Four