The Cecil Whig., 1882-10-28
LETTER FROM HIGHLANDS.
The Blue Ridge Mountains of North
Carolina-The Thermal Belts,

The Blue Ridge Mountains of North
Carolina-The Thermal Belts.
On this 18th of October the autumn
woods which crown these mountains, is
all aglow with spangled foliage. natures
cerements for her wintry grave which
will soon be provided for every green
leaf and blade of the vegetable kin ydOm.
We as yet have had but two sharp, hoar
frosts, and ''the scar yellow leaf" came
not by the chilling touch of the ice kings
! finger, but by the gradual ripening of
the foliage. And now the changing hues
of autumn reveal the famed thermal belts
which wind their warm zones round the
mountain sides, where frost does not APP
pear till all heritage above and below
these favored belts has been smitten.
These belts are protected from the early
frosts of autumn and the still more de-
Structive late frosts of spring. and afford
the best sites tor tender fruits, such as
the peach, catawba, and grapes of the
Delaware. and other fine varieties. The
thermal belts are generally but 10 to 40
perches in width. extending round the
mountains a few hundred feet above
broad valleys; winding often over the
tops of ridges that lie between the higher
peaks. The warm air from the valleys
is pressed up by the colder air descend
ing from the mountain tops as the sun
disappears below the horizon, and these
favored thermal belts, by the mingling
of the counter currents, are kept near an
even temperature during the night, and
but little dew or frost is formed within
their limits. When these wild mountain
frosts have partially given way before
the changing process OF agriculture, these
belts will be the favored locations for
orchards Of the finest varieties of fruit.
and a yearly crop almost reduced to a
certainty.
4 WET SEASON.
The season in this region has been a
very untavorable one for late crops of
potatoes, milltt and buckwheat, there
being almost daily. showers from the
middle Of July till the first of September.
The excess Of moisture drowned out the
late crop of potatoes, seriously njuring
buckwheat and late sown millet. This
Is one o! the most productive potato
countries. and the finest crops OF large
and eXcelleutly favored potatoes. are the
rule, while a failure or shot crop is the
exception.
LAUREL THICKETs,
The laurel of arous species is found
here in all its gnarled magniticence, from
he gigantic gorgeous, blooming rhotlo-
dendron down to the tiny. dwarf ivy and |
kama. There dense, laurel thckets, in |
some places covering hundreds oi acres
OF low, level, bottom of the most fertile,
loamy soil, when cleared up. which re
quireS considerable labor and expense to
accomplish, make the most productive |
meadows, and produce abundautly all |
crops, especially onions, cabbage, pota-
toes and the various root crops. The |
laurel has a shallow root, which is scarce
ly beneath the surface, resembling. in |
this respect, the ounce. and | am per-
suaded. when cleared and brought under
cultivation would prove the most con- |
genial spot for that dwarf tree The |
ounces | have seen produced here were |
OF the SIN, othest and finest in appear
ance have met with anywhere.
TROUT STREAMS.
Winding through these beds are al |
ways found clear, sparkling mountain |
streams, Inhabited by no other fish than !
the Specli'ed trout. No species of fish |
are found in these mountain waters but |
trout, and it has not been many years |
since this game fish was introduced in |
many of these higher waters, by the
llamptons of South Carolina. Senator |
Wade Hampton and his brother, in unte
Gettam days used to resort to these mot.n-
tans to hunt and spend the summer, and
finding no fish of any species in the
streams, brought trout from lower down
and planted the mountain rivuletS, and
ere long they were sporting in every
spring book that glances from the noun
tain side. Any land owner may have a
trout pond here who will take the trou
bic 10 make it, and protect the fish from
poachers.
HEALTH SEEKERS
from all parts of the country are finding
this region ont and reSortinu here for
protection from the trying climate of the
northern winters and the malaria poison
ed atmosphere of the gulf States; the one
seeking refuge from the stealthy steps
o! consumption and the other from the
parching and wasting lires OF fcverS; and
with them the prospector for mines (for
all kinds of minerals are found in these
mountains, the g"ln.ical report of North
Carolina giving Isl varieties found iii the
State! the tourist and pleasure seeker:
and trcadmg IN the heels OF the former
the Eien of Industry. the farmer and me- !
chan!c. who come to rcdeelu the land
from ITS prinlativc state and better tit it
tor Tie .liDltatIon and comfort ut man.
freparatlo 's are iii progress by some
Massachusetts capitalist to build large
SUMMER hotel here next season, and lots
are being bought tol the sites of future
cottages; and soon the Rabuu railroad
will extend through these mountains,
crossing the Blue Ridge at Rabun gap
opening up this magnificent country to
the approaches o! the outside world
This region is entitled to the name given
1t as the Switzerland of America, and in
the near future will rival the alpine foot
hills, if not surpass them in its produc-
tions Of honey, fruits, butter and cheese,
and its crowds of tourists in search of
health, recreation and mountain scenery.
E. E. EWING.