Eastern North Carolina Encyclopedia
GREENE COUNTY
The county of Greene, so named in honor of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame, is bounded on the north by Edgecombe and Pitt Counties, on the east by Pitt and Lenoir Counties, on the south by Wayne County and on the west by Wilson County. It is drained by the Contentnea River and its tributaries, the Contentnea River crossing the county through the middle. It is a typical county of the once long-leaf pine section. The soils are characteristically gray sandy loams, with yellow to brown subsoil, and belong to the region of level piney uplands. Along the borders of the various streams are frequent and extensive tracts of alluvial lands, and on some of them, particularly the Contentnea River, occur cypress and gum swamps of considerable area.
The soil of the county has every variety, from the black peaty soil to the stiff clay. The predominating soil is a light friable loam, being about four inches in depth and shading off in most places to a subsoil of yellow sand. When first cleared it is in many places of a darkish color, wearing white by use when not well manured and properly cultivated. This soil is easy to till at all seasons of the year.
The variety, excellence and abundance of the products grown indicate alike the character of the soil and the intelligence and industry of the farmers. Those who at an early period assisted or directed nature in the use of her forces, and by the skilful application of fertilizers, and by the careful husbanding and the skilful manipulation of all domestic stores of fertility, made Greene County conspicuous as one of the best agricultural counties of the East. Tobacco, corn and cotton constitute the most valuable field crops, but almost any crop grown in the State may be grown within its borders, such as wheat, oats, rice, potatoes, peas, and many other crops are grown successfully. In some sections of the county marl is found in abundance, and is used to fertilize the lands, making the growth of the above crops an easy and profitable occupation.
For poultry and live stock this is an ideal county on account of the natural pastures, pasture crops and leguminous plants, such as velvet beans and soy beans. It is good for the growing of feed stuffs and is close to good live stock markets. For trucking, Greene County has the Norfolk fine sandy loam soil that is fertile and well drained. The soil is particularly adapted to the cultivating of blackberries, cabbage, lettuce, asparagus, carrots and melons, and is close to good trucking markets.
Much of the land of Greene County is particularly adapted to the growth of bright tobacco of a very fine texture, much sought for by the manufacturers of cigarettes. Fabulous prices
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