Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1856-03-19


llsort of expoepre, ttpoa warm eopi IN
nook, 70 cool northern holloWs M. $
Although The loil e 30 various, and
quite steepy i y not ept 70 be Chilled
by rams q the oIlt. " slopes q East
Nkginias scf the lire Tone soils Of We
Valley. nv Z g
a. remArkab lGaic iccnndk Enct isy1
|that cEops gnStha nn1tsinb 6idesorel
iesss Infected by dzQpg than they esel
|pn the river bottop,l n cQnr5e they
les injured hY exetseiye Nef; but
why should theyI pff e1fIer noee than
level lands "a 8 dFy oeeeopf The
|reaapn - ithah ~ 1>op ~ re
<elnroge6 a ps8r ye75
~ Poroat sand stone md clay slate
The rains and SHOWS OF the winter
and spring, keep the pores and crew
ices Of those rocks charged with wa
ter, which oozes ont during the sum-
mer into the soil that cOverst the rocks
Of the mountain sides, and keeps the
soil moist, while the water that falls
on level grounds, ell sinks away. or
is eyapored IN dry season. This
also accounts for the fact, that many
small but permanent springs, are
found on the mountain sides, and at
their feet; but SONG even near the top,
which never fail. But the small
streams in the valleys often disappear
in the dry season, because they flow
under theirloose gravelly beds, where
they can always be found by q little
digging. At their sources in the
mountain sides, the water seldom dis.
appear entirely. s
Fine crops Of corn may be raised
no these mountain sides, but the soil
is more especially adapted to wheat
and tobacco. For these valuable stas
pies there is nobetter soil and climate
in Virginia. No where il the crop
more certain, more plentiful, Or OF
superior quality. The Kanawha noun
tain tobacco commands q high price
in the Richmond market. Potatoes
and turnips succeed equally well -
For orchard fruits, grapes, berries
and nuts, the mountains are decidedly
better than the low grounds, the crop
being more certain, and Of = superior
quality. Every sort Of fruit can find,
on almost every square mile, the soil
and exposure which suits il best.
Finally these mountains are des-
tined to becomes fine grazing country.
Rich, moist levels, produce more
grass to the acre, but for pasturage,
few countries can excel these noun
tains, after they are cut and yet in
grass. as III .. ag
On newly cleared lands, the strong
grasses, such as timothy, clover, and
orchard grass, do best; but after 9 few
years, the winter grasses, such Is the
Kentucky blue grass, the Randall, Or,
as some cali it, English blue grass,
the Mesquit grass, ect,, # they once
get . star, take possession Of the
ground, and become permanent.
There is no doubt that the rescue grass
and the sweet veral grass will also
succeed. With winter pastures, IN
this mild climate, cattle viii need lit.
tile dry pasturage. Meanwhile, the
woods afford good spasturage during
six Or seven months in the year.
sheep and hogs can live al the yeal
in the woods; the mast often keeps
hogs fat during the winter.
i The clearing Of these mountain
lands with the, axe and mattock, costs
much labor. The custom is to girdle
the large trees, and let them stand,
while crops are raised alnohg them
Gradually the cattle and sheep xii
1.-THE sprouts, while the grass takes roo
and occupies the ground: Is
Ia. many parts, the flne oak and
popular timber may be sent proitablJ
Ito market. The demand il now great
and yearly increasing, atthe kanawhs
salt works snd coal mines, and along
the Ohio river.
Why the trees on these mountains
could not De profitably converted int
| potash, we know not. It'll not done
i But If northern farmers have thu
Hoe Ia