Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-02-25
value OF Western North Carolina Lands
for Pasturage, Wool, Agriculture. &c.

saLuS OF western North Carolina Lands
Ior Pasturage, Wool, Agriculture, &c.
From experiments made, it has been de-
termIned that the mountain lands of Chero-
kee, Macon and Jackson Counties, North
Carolina, are well adapted to the growth of
the tame grasses and clover, and are admit
raoly adapted to pasturage, either for sheen.
mules or cattle, but especially for the former.
But to say that the soil and climate of
western North Carolina are better adapted
10 the raising OF sheep than of other animals.
Is to state only half the truth. North Caro-
ma can DC made to compete successfully,
IN Wooi.groWlng with the world at large
Inc altitude OF the country, the purity of its
atmosphere, the mildness of it's climate. the
abundance OF Its never-failing springs of pure
water, its freedom from all malarious ;nfp.
ences, Its unvarying healthfulness. all com
bine to make it the most attractive no;nt of
immigration in the Union and when once
It IS generally known that it presents the
most inviting field for the production of
WOOL, one of the great staples Of the country.
the WOOL growers will not fail to accent the
advantages it offers.
IL is no exaggeration to say, that Western
North Carolina can be made to compete with
the word, In the production of the finest
qualltles OF Wool. There can be no appre-
claUIe dlherence, rs to climate and other
conditions, between it and Tennessee, which
has already competed with the world, for the
Golden Fleece, and won the prize.
Mark II. Cockerell, ESQ.,, an extensive
Wool-grower of Tennessee, attended the
Worlds fair in London, in 1851. and pre-
sented some of his wool in competition with
the woods of Europe. The contest, under
the rules, was between countries, not indi-
yiduals. The premium of the Golden
Fleece was awarded to Tennessee. and Mr.
Cockerell bore the pleasing intelligence home
to his tellow-citizens The Legislature of
that State, the winter following. nassed .
resolution rendering Mr.. c.. its thanks. and
ordering the preparation of \ gold medal to
be gwen him as a token of their respect.
On It's pres e~ntation, among other things.
he said 81
Germany, Spain, Saxony and SILICA
were there the competition was honorable.
strong and fair. Nature gave me the advan-
tage In climate, but the noble Lords and
worthy Princes of Europe did not know it.
until we met in the Crystal Palace of Lon.
don, before a million of spectators. While
their focks were housed six months in the
year, to shelter them from the snow of a
high latitude, and were fed from the granaries
and stock yards, mine were roaming over
the green pastures of Tennessee. warmed bv
the genial influence of a southern sun-the
neece thus sottened and rendered oily bv the
warmth ana green food, producing q fine,
even fiber" '
But TO return to the lands of North Caro-,
INA. The general bearing of the mountain
ranges Is from N. E. to s. w. A large pro.
portion OF the lands are thus found facipo
the south. This exposure to the sun serves
sPeealiy TO melt off the occasional SHOWS
WHICH Iail during the winter and | am as.
surea tnat 1t is very rare for snow, on these
lhceInatons' to remain more than thirty-siz
or forty-eight hours at one time. As b1,,l
grass and aohite clocer remains fresh and
green the year round, their substitution 70,
the native grasses would secure the hest al
sheep-pasture through the winter. and hut
little grain should be needed by the shen
herq Ior the support Of his focks.
NOR Will there be much waste lands If
these mountains. The surface of the coun
Try generally, IS smooth, the rocky preci
pee belng limited mainly to the course Of
the rivers. A rich carpet of native nlant,
ana grasses, IN spring and summer, every
where covers the woodlands, afordinp am
pie pastures for focks ard herds. But thes,
Wlld pastures, in autumn and winter. GROW
harsh and dry, and are of little value a,
1000 Tor stock. Besides, as the country !,
settllhg up, and domestic animals multinlv
TINS pasturage wears out to some extent. anC
Is lhSumclent Tor the support of the stock O.
the settiers. The substitution of blue grass
ana white clover, will remedy this defect
1hlS change with the aid of a little capital
n"y pe easily effected. The practice pre-
V"liS oi burning the fallen leaves from the
srounu every spring, to destroy the under
oiuSh' ana promote the growth of the ma
1--WE pasturage. But these burnino s
have done more than to keen down H.
growth OF tangled forests, that the cattle
may have ample pastures. They serve +,
keep the woodlands in a constant state O
preparation for the introduction of the tame
grasses among the forest trees, as is the Gus
tom IN kentucky, and will supercede the
necessity OF clearing up the grounds prepar
0t1Iy 70 tne establishment of sheep farms,
"ool growers, then, we repeat, must b.
attracted to North Carolina as soon as tha1
come to a knowledge of the ADVANTAGES r.
De gained in that region. It will cost n(
more to purchase lands there than elsewbare
ana 1t Will cost two-thirds less to fced thu
year round there, than it does in Vermont
OF pennsylvania, and the wool will he more
valuable when clipt.
Inc burning of the fallen leaves. alluded
70 above does no material injury to the
lorest trees, but leaves them, generally f.
~conunse their growth. The size of thu
trees Is ABOUT equal to that of those on sim.
H n geological formations in Kentucky anc
Ohlo-ln some places low, in others LOFTY. Tr
Tue coVes OF the mountains, however. there
are trees of equal size with those nrodncoG
ooy the best lands at the North. Take tbf
leiiowing measurements, in Tuskeegee Cove
near the Little Tennessee River. in Cbero
kee county. North Carolina, as examnlesN
the line being stretched around them. ahout
four feet above the ground:
PACK Locust, in circumference feet, 81