Page:Eastern North Carolina Encyclopedia.djvu/12



Duplin County, situated in the southeastern part of the State of North Carolina, has an ideal climate for farming. The population is, therefore, for the most part, rural, and of the purest American stock. This rural population is educating its children with modern means and methods, always steadfastly clinging to the curricula which will make for men and women trained both for citizenship and life. Of the 483,306 acres of land, there is a great portion that is offered for development, and the new vitality and knowledge of the new-comer is welcome.

Duplin County contains some of the best farming lands in the United States, and the second best in the South. 65,100 acres are cultivated by farm owners; 41,788 by tenants. Tobacco, cotton and truck crops are grown in greater abundance than any other. There are over 11,000 acres well suited to the production of cotton. In 1920, an average of 275 pounds of lint cotton was produced per acre. In 1920, there were 52,720 acres of corn, which produced on an average of 19 bushels an acre. The southern end of the county is well suited for the growing of tobacco, cotton, corn, and berries. The northern end is suited to the growing of cotton, corn, Irish and sweet potatoes, melons, berries, and cucumbers. In 1920, the bright leaf tobacco produced in Duplin County sold for approximately six and a half million dollars.

The largest shipping point for tuberoses and Magnolia bulbs in the world is at Magnolia. The largest cucumber market in the world is at Calypso.

There are 304,989 acres of wooded land, 6,083 acres improved pasture lands, 106,850 acres cultivated lands, and 23,267 acres of land Six