Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-05-15
ADAPTATION OF THE MOUNTAIN
REGIONS OF THE DAIRY FAR,
MING AND STOCK BREED
ING.
BY A. X. VALLEE.

generally prevailed, that tho north
! ern portions of tho United States are
better adapted to tho purposes of
stock and dairy farming than the
southern, is gradually being removed
by successful experiments, showing
not only that this impression is toun-
ded in error, but establishing, conclu.
sivcly, tho converse Of this PROPOSE
ton; that is, that in all tho essentials
tor. profitable stock and dairy farming
II large portion of the Southern States
possesses advantages incomparably
superior to those presented by terri.
tory further north.
beginning at or near a point ca
the 3Sth degree Of north latitude, $50
miles from the Atlantic coast, and
preceding in southwest ward dircc.
tiop, as far down as tho 34tA degree,
VIC find oil cxpanse Of country cmbra-
cling about 10000 square miles, the
geological and Chronological charac-
torislics of which give to it advanta-
gcs for dairy husbandry uncqualed
in any other portion Of tho United
States, Of the same oxtent.
This area of say, ,.GOO miles in length
by 800 in Width, includes largo por.
tions Of Virginia and Tennessee, wilh
considerable parts Of kentucky,
North Carolina, Georgia, and Aaba-
ma, and small portion Of South
Carolina and Mississippi.
Tho natural conf guration of. this
vast regiou Is not tho least Of tho ma
ny desirable advantages it prosonts.
1t is situated many toct above tide
water, fannod by tho purost atmos.
phcre, and supplied with salubrious
streams. Having a high and dry
range so conductive to tho healthful-
ness Of stock and presenting q sue.
cession of mountain and valley, it af.
fords the most ample defonco against
the hoat of espmmor, as we'll as the
bleak winds of winter. Artificial
protection, Indispensable at the North
yet 80 apt to induce disease, is thus
rendered unnecessary in this most IA
| vEred situation.
tThese valley, or mountain gorges
ore most prolific in variety of her.
bage suitable for COWS and, during
winter, they afford supply Of pas
turage 30 abundant that very little
additional is required. Especially is
this the oasc when q portion of tho
range is reserved for the winter soa-
son, which ia the proper course.
Henco tho COWS have access to con-
tinuous supply of green food, by
which the secretary organs arc re.
tanned in full action, and an unintcr-
ruptod flows Of milk is promoted !;
while cases Of constipation, frequent
~ fatal at the North, by reason of
sudden changes from grcon to dry
food, arc unknown here, there being
scarcely day in the year in which
COWS cannot fndssuficicnt groom food
to keep their digestive organs in
healthy condition.
Many Of the more elevated por.
tions of this regionsare 80 naturally
disposed to grass that. it is only nee
essary to cloar out the underground
which can be done at an expense of
about 81 per acre-when tho indigen-
GUS grasses, such as Timothy, Iblue-
grass, white clover, &C., will immedi.
atoly spring up and take possession
of the land. There arefew ranges of
any extcnt that do not furnish ample
quantities Of arabic land for all pur-
poses of the dairy farmer; and they
frequently include fair proportion
of excellent meadow land. The soil
in this region is generally good, and
it is by no means uncommon to find
it fertile even to tho tops of tho
mountains; and although tbore arc
to be found considerable bodies of
thin soil, yet even these are moro
disposed to tho production of grass
than lands Of q botter quality fur
thcr south.
A comparative statement of the
expense of. maintaining COWS at tho
North and in this Southern country
will exhibit the decided superiority
of the latter, and materially assist US
in forming correct conclusions. We
shall find ovor tho average expense of
wiutering COWS at the north to be
about $50 per head, while in the re.
gion herein treated Of it does not ex-
coed one fifth the above amount; and
in most winters, when the snow does
not lie moro than q day or Two at a
time, tho cost of wintering is hardly
worth computing: This difference ia
the expense Of maintaining stock is
considerably widened whom we
contrast the value of lands in. the
respective districts. Those at the
North. we may safely place at an ay.
erage prioo of $50 por acre, while 10