Page:Eastern North Carolina Encyclopedia.djvu/9



The home-seeker and investor will find in Bertie County, a pleasant land, a hospitable people, a productive soil, a low valuation of property, and a low tax rate; good schools, convenient churches, and a warm welcome.

Its population is homogeneous and law-abiding. The feeling between the races is friendly and cordial. We have nearly a half million acres of land, and around twenty-five thousand people. We have room for all who wish to better themselves.

The Bankhead National Highway passes north and south through the county; and the county has a well organized road system and force. The surface of the county is gently rolling, to rolling. Its highest point above the sea level is 97 feet. All of the lands are capable of drainage. A dozen rivers, creeks and swamps furnish an outlet for water.

According to Weather Bureau reports the mean annual temperature is 60.3 F. The winter mean is 42.5, and the summer mean is 77.5. The date of the last killing frost in the spring is April 26th, and that of the earliest in the fall, October 12th. The average date of the last killing frost in the spring is April 1st, and that of the first in the fall, November 1st. This gives an average growing season of 214 days, amply sufficient for maturing all farm and garden crops. There is an ample average rainfall of 50.93. The rainfall is well distributed, the heaviest in the summer and the lightest in the fall. The lands are wonderfully fertile and adapted to any crops raised on the Three