Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-09-06
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
The Cumberland Table Lands.
No. xXXvI.

few weeks since, is very interesting coun-
try. We have recently had the pleasure
of visiting that locality ourselves, and
though our correspondent may oyeresti-
mate the advantages in some respects
we are forced to the conclusion that
for stock raising country, this is unsur-
passed in the State. The wild grass, three
feet in height, stands thick upon thousands
of acres, and furnishes nutritious
pasture for cattle, hundreds of which we
saw in fine condition. We believe that
for this business these Cumberland table
lands will give satisfaction. Many immi-
grants have already gone there, and find
ing land so cheap, they have invested all
their capital in land, thus rendering them
selves, in the language of a Northern gen
tleman we conversed with there, Gland
poor" This is wrong, and in the future it
will be avoided, no doubt. Stock, and
not so much land, is what is needed.
We were also struck with the thrifty
appearance of all kinds of fruit trees on
the mountain. Many of the immigrants
have established nurseries which appear
in very thriving condition. Grapes seem
to thrive with little or no attention. We
have no doubt but that the time is near at
hand when this will be the fruit-growing
country of the South.
Mr.. Powell sends us another letter which
we take pleasure in laying before our
readers and inv attention to it:
CRossvILLE, vMBERLAND Co, Tenn,
E, August II, 1871.
GENTLEMEN-For several years past, I
have had large correspondence with the
people of the various Northern States, and
have been frequently inquired of, for
what are these table lands best adapted ~
To the same inquiry, if made now, /
should reply: For stock raising, dairy
business and fruit culture; and for each of
these departments of business this locality
is admirably adapted. Ride through our
vast forests to-day, and one finds an al
most unbroken carpet of fresh and nu-
tritious wild grass, besides a variety of
weeds, which are as much sought for, in
their season, as the grass itself; such, for
instance, as the Wild pea-vine, red-root,
and beggar's lice. These various articles OF
stock food give flesh rapidly. aett % IN
Our native farmers are careless of their
stock int the winter, giving but little food;
and as result, 5heir stock comes into the
spring in very low condition of flesh
This very same stock before August be-
comes fat, and entirely so on the grasses,
&C., of the woods. Such facts demon
strate the importance and profit of stock
raising as q business on these table lands.
At the present time there is scarcely linn
it to our forest pasturage. The safety of
the business ,is assured by the healthful-
ness of the various kinds of stock, viz
horses, cattle, sheep and swine. Our
climate seems to assure the health of
these animals as certainly as it does
n mo N hn oil, yiaA ;,,o
condition of health, in this pure atmos-
phere, man must in some way abuse HIM
self. Cattle are otapt TO act foolishly as
man is, and therefore are exempt from
the penalties inflicted upon man for his
excess and follies.
In the spring of the year / lave fire.
quently seen cattle turned out to the range
so low in flesh and with so little strength
that they could scarcely walk, and in July
or August have seen those same cattle
fat. Their only food was found on the
range; of course it was nutritious.
But we need not depend upon the range
as our pasture ground, because we can,
with complete success, raise clover, timo-
thy, red top, orchard grass, &c. Glover is,
with us, a perennial plant. Not so at the
North, where twill scarcely remain in the
ground and flourish for consecutive term
of three years. L think there are but few,
if any, places at the North where more
pouIluS vi nay per acre are produced IMAM
can be raised on the lands of this county.
Our citizens are going into the business of
seeding their land to grass in right good
earnest. And this is intended as prelimi-
nary to the dairy business, and more par
ticularly to the manufacture of cheese.
Some of our citizens are prepared to com
mence the cheese making business next
spring. This is true of one gentleman,
formerly from Ohio, who during the past
two or three years has been seeding his |
land TO grass, preparatory to cheese maxi
ing. He will commence, in a few months,
with twenty-five cows, and being qualified |
by experience in the business of cheese |
making, and being also a man Of much !
energy, and withal very industrious, his |
success can scarcely be doubted.
There Is one particular neighborhood in
THIS county, made up of citizens from |
eight or ten of the Northern States. who |
intend to cooperate, and have their cheese
factory next season. --.s .-.u
Why should not the manufacture of |
cheese here be made a lucrative business?
Our land Is low in price, our winters short
and mild, our streams numerous, and the
water thereof pure, soft and sweet our
seasons for business long, our nights cool,
so, and the whole South for a
market. There are those amongst US who
thoroughly understand the business. [
doubt not it is soon to become one of the
most important interests of this county,
and one of large value. There is room for
thousands to engage in the business, and
Instead OF harming, they will benefit each