The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1869-02-12
lNtNt-h IoV we Juheso"E" leh''f Ihlon tlag
The Cranberry Lands In Johnson
County, Tennessee.

The culture Of toe Cranberry lands hiss
proved 4 success, aud At present constitutes
an object of prime importance in the United
States. The experience OF our most success
full and scientific farmers in the North aud
Northwest have given the most convincing
proofs that IL will WELD the most remREpra-
ting proits. 1t is not generally known TO the
public that Johnson, the extreme eastern
county in the State, presents a most inviting
Geld or the successful cultivation OF this
most valuable fruit. II may be said emphNt-
ically, that here is its national home, for here
it has grown spontaneously from time ia
memorial. It may be safely said that there
are twenty thousand acres Of wet. marshv
land peculiarly suited to the cultivation Of
the cranberry, and at many places on this
Land It annually grows, natures ard is gath
cred for use without the aid Of manual labor.
These lands are situated chiefly on Roan's,
Little Doe, Laurel and Beaver Creeks and
their tributaries There is a portion Of the
couRty called Shady, situated on the Sullivan
county, Tennessee and the Washington cnuu-
", Virginia, lines, and composing tho sth
civil district. This is much more elevated
than any other portion of the county, and
constitutes a beautiful basin, amid the sum
mits Of the surrounding mountains. In this
basin, on the head waters Of Beaver Greek
there is a large body Of level, wet aud mnrshv
land, comprising, perhaps, FIVE thousand
acres mo,e especially adapted to the growth
of the Cranberry. Many large springs as
well 81 numerous smaller ones rise Alou= the
edges of the marsh, aud their abundant WA
tiers spread out and cover hundreds Of acres
TO the depth Il several inches and although
owing to its great elevation, Shady il n very
cold region for. this latitude. yet the water
never freezes, on account Of the constant
supply Of warm water from the springs.
Grass grows all winter and cattle feed and
thrive as upon a good summer pasture.
Those who own lands near the submerged
portions scarcely ever iud il necessary to
feed their cattle. Ia past years, CranberrIes
10 the amount Of twenty bushels have been
gathered from this marsh 10 one season, and
many yet are annually gathered, though ow-
ing TO the depredations Of swine which root
among and destroy the vines. they are not so
fruitful as in former years. To the Cranberry
Culturist. in this marsh is a mine Of wealth.
On the 6rst visit Of the white man, this
marsh was the home Of a settlement of beA.
vers. Here they built their dams, every IA
cilitv for the purpose being afforded. aud
doubtless for many ages lived IN a state Of
great peace and prosperity. II is not dihicuh
TO imagine how happily they spent their days
luxuriatirg in thes. warm, temperate waters,
until the tide o: civilization spread over
their colony, aud the white man came and
eIterminHted them, and with them their H..
tie paradise Of bliss. From the Circumstance
Of these animals once having inhabited this
marsh, the name OF the creek heading hers
assumed the name Of Beaver Greek. From
Shady TO Bristol, the nearest railroad line,
the distance is twenty miles.
Taylorsville, the county seat OF JohnFon
county, is beautifully situated on a slight
elevation, almost surrounded by a natural
Cranberry marsh, comprising fsveral hun
dred acres. Cranberries grow tponianeously
within a few hundred yards Of the Court
House. u IL true much Of this land 10 eulti-
vsted for other purposes, bat without thor
ough drsirage BY d%itching 10 too moist for
nest crops, in the usual routine Of farming.
IL peculiarly suits The Cranberry. The read
er might be entertained By a particular ac-
count Of many other interesting localities,
out perhaps enough has been iaid for the
present.
The climate OF Johnson county 10 about
the same az that Of the State Of New Jsriey
Il is true The former IL situated much farther
south than the latter, but the greater slsva-
ton Of the former brings them about on an
equality 10 point Of tempsra,qrs. There
the thermometer scarcely ever rises ADORE 56
degrees Fareuheii In summer, and falls very
seldom below zero Ia wiutsr.
Two railroads are projected through this
county The Mineral Home Rail Road and
tbs Norfolk and Great Western Rail Road.
Both have liberal charters and The former
baa very liberal Stats aid By the Legislature,
vhiirt the latter IL under1tsod 10 be rich N
funds Tor ia conftrnctlou aud compilation.
0ns or both ihsss roads iii ers long BE-
built fayionTiiis n disisnt t~venty-eiKhi
niles nov ne Virginia sod Processes Raii
nsai Thsss ffsfs tfs msnnonsd fof fhs e.