The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-17

Our section differs in many re poets
from every other mountainous legion
OF which we have knowledge. While
mountains in the Eastern and Western
States are mainly bare rocky elera-
tons, there are but few mural escarp-
ments or bare rocky ridges in our
North Carolina mountains. Generally
the slopes are such as NAV be traversed
on horseback, and arr usually covered
with heavy forest trees to the very
notwithstanding a deep rich mold,
suited to the growth OF rye, oats. corn.
miilet. Irish potatoes, &c. and pro-
duclng luxuriant orchard grass, timo-
thy, redtop and clover, consequently
making excellent grazing lands and
pasturage for dairying purposes. In
deed, there is no section better adapted
TO dalrying enterprises than this. The
summer climate is fresh and invigorat-
ing the nights cool the pasturage
rich, yielding. perhaps, more cheese to
the gallon OF milk than anywhere else
and then the whole region abounds In
bold, pure springs, gushing out of
azolc rocks, and may be conveyed in a
few rods to the milk vats. and then
utilized in milk agitators. relieving the
cheese factory of the need Of ice and
some hand labor.
OF the fruits of earth the apple is.
We believe, the acknowledged staple,
entering more largely into general use
than any other single fruit. The sec
ton, therefore, which can excel in
producing it in the greatest perfection,
IS destined not only t o a high rank
amongst the lovers of good fruit, but
to the front rank in its commercial
value. In u trans-montane section
the apple has already gained an envia-
bic notoriety, and forced a recognition
OF its superior quality amongst fruit
growers everywhere, and that too
without any skill or system in its pro-
duction. Hence this superiority is due
to natural cause.-the a~daptability of
49, aAA L Viii VI VIC SIIOlSS
varieties in this section are seedlings !:
rather demonstrative evidence hat the
natural laws, as found here in soil and
climate, are singularly adapted to the
growth of the apple in its greatest per-
lection. The quality of our apples has
eve been excelled. For richness Of
flavor and the modification of that
acidity SO common in apples grown
further north, they have no superior.
The trees, too, attain large size, some
measuring sever feet in the girth.
What is most needed for a fuller deve-
lOpment of this f~ruit-growing business
is thorough, practical orchardists-
men with sufficient capital to make
large plantations of trees, and a strong
will to devote their whole time and
talent to a proper and successful Gull
tivation of them. To such there is an
open field, with large remunerative
results awaiting them. Lands suitable
to this enterprise may be had at prices
ranging from one to five dollars per
acre.
+ 1t is proper to state that this noun
tain section produces it's own supplies
in a great measure. There are grown
wheat, rye, oats, corn, millet, potatoes,
sbuckwheat, cabbage (unsurpassed),
beets, turnips, parsnips, carrots, &c.
Wheat, corn and rye are the leading
crops. Sweet potatoes are raised in
sufficient quantity for family use, and
Irish potatoes may be grown in large
quantity and Of excellent quality. 1t
is common to produce sufficient bacon
for home consumption, and to raise
beef cattle for the Southern market.
Our native breeds of sheep yield excel
lent mutton.
Farm land in the valleys and along
the rivers and creeks range in price
from two to thirty dollars per acre.
Some of these lands might be profitably
converted into much greater breadth
of meadow lands, yielding superior
hay to that SO largely shipped from the
North to the cotton planting States Of
the South. With railway transporta-
ton the hay business here would be a
safe and pleasant M 1t can, how
ever, now be used in rearing young
mules for the Southern cotton fields.
The mountain streams abound in the
trout, the culture of which may be
made profitable. The black perch. Or
black bass, the red horse, the salmon
and Jack are abundant in these waters.
Other are too numerous for
even poSSinO mention. We ask the