The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-11-03

IullCS, VI CS3OOO dCISS. ICo AiShOos
elevation above mean tide is about
300 feet. The entire north coast is
Il high, rocky bluff, much indented
with bays, and with no considerable
streams flowing in that direction.
The west coast is of a similar char
acter, and scarcely lower. The south
western coast is also mainly high
bluff-land, this continuing along a
portion of the southern shore, which
extends further into the sea than
the shore to the east of it. The
length of this south bluff is three or
four miles, the remainder of the
southern shore and a large part of
the eastern lie but little above the
level of the sea-. From the north
and the west the land descends
gradually, being divided by frequent
valleys, with rills and brooks, quite
to the southern coast, SO that the
general exposure is a little cast of
south, and we'll sheltered by high
bluffs on the northwest and south
west coasts from violent winds, aid
ing materially in the modification of
it's climate. x X X 1t is divided
into twelve parishes, each under its
own local government, the whole
being ruled by a Legislature which,
Tor local government, is compara-
t vely independent Of the British
Parliament. OF course, in SO small
a country there must be considerable
uniformity of habits, customs and
language throughout all its parts;
and the local differences which
exist, although they affect even the
languages of the people, need hardly
he considered in this de ,cription
x X X After the great fertility OF
the soil the agricultural prosperity
of Jersey is most indebted to its
remarkable climate. This is due to
the circumstances above limited at.
but it is difficult to understand how
these should have SO great an infu-
ence. Softer skies and milder win
ters it would be hard to find. Vari-
ations Of temperature T. gradual
and slight. 1t is never cold in win
ter and rarely hot in summer. The
vegetation growing in open air in
ornamental grounds is the best
index to this mildness. For exam
pie: The fuschia grows to a great
size, even running along the
of low two story cottages, and is
perfectly hardy. This and some
times camellia japonica is used as a
hedge plant. The semi-tropical
ferns which are entirely unknown
in Virginia, grow here with great
luxuriance. The yucca, the agave,
the oleander. the azalea flourish n
the open air. The orange and the
lemon ripen without protection.
The camellia japonica blooms
throughout the winter. The grass
is green and nutritious all the win
ter and the laurustinus blooms in
December. The luxuriant vegeta-
ton of the Norfolk Islands grows
vigorously, and it would hardly be
too much to say that the native
trees and shrubs of our extreme
Southern States are quite unframed
by the winters Of Jersey. While
however, all these plants are C.
fully grown without other protec-
ton than shelter from high winds,
the absence of intense summer
heat is favorable to the vegetation
of the North and the pine and the
oak grow as we'll as under their
native Skies"
The Island Of Jersey is smaller
than many Of our townships. It
has a population Of $4,000 inhabit-
ants, of which over 10000 reside in
the city St. Heller. About $4,000
acres is used in farming. There are
not more than six farms over fifty
acres, the average being from fifteen
to twenty acres. Many farms do
not exceed two or three acres, yet
all keep cattle, swine and poultry.
Thorough tillage and high manuring
have made these farms very produc-
tive-very few have pasturage suffici-
ent for their cattle to roam over. They
are tethered on plots Of grass and be-
ing constantly so ear their owners,
they have become very gentle-a
quality that has added much to their
reputation. How long the Jerseys
have been a distinct breed of cattle
is not known. More than a hun
dred years ago they were recognized
as a distinct breed and were highly
priced for the yield and quality Of
their butter. In 1889 the Legisla-
ture of Jersey passed rigorous laws