The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-26


Of winter feed. \ good idea of the de-
pendence placed upon winter pasturage
and corn fodder may be had from the
fact that only "A tons of hay are cured
tor the use of 1891 farm animals-a sur
felt of 16 pounds to each animal for the
winter. This certainly does not indicate
Il poverty of pasturage, or extreme Sc
verify of weather Or depth Of SHOWS
Again, there is produced $30,S79 from
slaughtered animals, about two dollars
per acre for the entire area of improved
lands, exclusive Of forests, in addition to
other farm products.
Cabell county, on the Ohio river, is
intersected by the Guyandotte river, and
has more improved lands than Boone
this degree of Improvement, small as it
is, with somewhat better facilities for
transportation, makes the assessed value
of farms about ten dollars per acre. It
has some fertile lands; is a fine region
for fruit, and already derives some reve-
nue. from orchards; grows sorghum fine
ly, sweet potatoes, &c. This county is
also very rich in minerals.
Wayne county occupies the southwest
corner of the State, and is separated from
Kentucky by Sandy river. The surface
is more broken, well covered with valu-
able timber, affording some excellent
soil; and the earth beneath is rich with
a variety of Goals, including camel. 1t
is here that the enterprise of Eli Thayer
was inaugurated, at Ceredo, which ter
minated in failure from causes having
no connection with the intrinsic value Of
the resources there ready for develop
ment.
Logan, Wyoming, and Mcdowell are
drained by the tributaries of the Sandy,
and by the Guyandotte, and occupy the
extreme south of West Virginia. This
region is rough, but fertile, rich in woods
and mines, scarcely available or valua-
bic at present for want Of water or other
cheap transportation. tits Immediately
valuable, however-aside from the close
proximity of rebel territory and the
danger Of rebel marauding- WOOL
growing. Lying between the latitude
of 80 and 3S0, on the same parallel with
the southern point of Illinois, and yet
country of genial sunshine and bracing
air, of trout brooks and running streams
it is eminently fit and healthful To-
cality for sheep. Ample pasturage for
extensive flocks is afforded in the OPEN
ings Of the forest, in which nutritious
grasses spring up spontaneously, and
vigorously. A commencement has
been made, and this district, of eight
counties, unsettled as it is, and COMPARE
lively unpeopled, had, in 1860, 36,983
sheep, producing IS, 1873 pounds of WOOL !
This does not fairly exhibit the WOOL
producing ability Of the region, as the
sheep, roaming in the forests, are little |
cared for, and lose much of their wool
upon bushes and briers when warm
weather comes, and the upper shearing
time is neglected or delayed. It is ac-
knoWledged by all acquainted with this
section that the cost of keeping sheep
here ismerely nominal, and their growth
and condition as favorable to profit as
could be desired.
THE CENTRAL COUNTIES.
Having traversed the borders of the |
State, let the reader glance at the broad |
area embraced in the interior counties,
which are drained by the Monongahela |
and its branches, the little Kanawha, the |
Elk, and the Gauley, with numerous
smaller streams, which mingle with the
waters of the Ohio or the Kanawha. It |
is here that the prices of lands are yet |
that general agriculture |
promises to be most remunerative that |
is rife; and here, too,
of coal and iron and coal oil |
10 IOuIIu III W tIiC WEALTH. vi TIE
surface. The capital of the State must |
be located here; the Baltimore and Ohio |
railroad cuts this section in two direc- |
lions, and road cutting the State long,
itudinally is already contemplated, and |
it's commencement and completion cannot |
be far in the future.
The surface of this section is varied. |
Like most of the State it is uneven, |
billy, broken, and declivitous, in differ
ent localities, with small percentage |
of level bottom lands and smaller still of |
level uplands. The soil isgood, coming
into grass, and yielding ali |
farm products well. The northern slopes |
Of the hills contain more of humus than |
the southern, and produce most of the |
corn, while the southern slopes are stiff
fer and more tenacious, as though par
TALLY denuded of vegetable mould by |
by some old-time abrasion, or |
other cause, and therefore suited best to |
wheat culture.
Some items relativeto this section have
been kindly furnished by j. III. Diss
Debar, of st. Clara Colony, Doddridge
commissioner of emigration for |
West Virginia, who has enjoyed the adj
vantages of years of close and intelligent |