The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-18
BLACKWELL'S S SPRINGS.
CAPT. r. w. PATTON DRIVES
THROUGH BUNCOMBE.
re COmmends the Farmers' ALI
ance-A Novel Way to get Rid
of DOGs-The Delightful Fare at
BIaCkwelI's-OIhe Topics.


anCe-A Novel Way to get Rid
of DOGs-The Delightful Fare at
BIaCkweII's-OIhe Topics.
Editor Citizen One ofthe most charm
ing drives in this county of lovely drives,
is that leading from Ashevlle across
Dryman's mountain, through a portion
of Leicester township, into the heart OF
the French Broad.
A life long and intimate acquaintance
with, and a heartfelt love for, every cor
ner of old Runcombe fails to remind us
of the single nook more picturesquely en-
chanting than that in which BlaCkwell'S S
White Sulphur spring is situated.
We also are sure that no other 10 .ality
can surpass this in attractions for the
farmer. Fishermen are proverbial tor
their love of the marvellous in the rela-
tion of their adventures, and these excel
lent planters seem to have imbibed the
same ambition; truly it takes a good
amount of faith to believe the grand sto-
ries of these successful farmers; but we
have plenty Of faith in both the honest
fishermen and the honest planters,S al
though the reports OF the latter do tax
our credulity rather much.
For instance we were told of one man
who had cultivated rough mountain
side patch one and one-fourth acres in
area, and sold his crop for seven hundred
and forty-two dollars and thirty-eight
cents. 1t goes without saying that this
crop was tobacco, and Of the finest,
brightest variety, such as our mountains
alone can produce; but this same farmer
and many others are learning the advan-
tage of following up the large returns Of
the first crop of tobacco by plentiful
sowing of clover and grass seed, before
the rich virgin soil exhausted or washed
away.
At meeting of a sub-allance of far
mers, held at Alexander on Saturday, we
learned there were orders placed for 1875
bushels of clover seed, and correspond
ing amount Of timothy, red top and or
chard grass. When you remember that
each bushel of clover seed plants six
acres, you will rejoice with us that $50
acres OF this valuable crop will be the re-
suit of this one meeting. All honor to
the Farmers Alliance say we.
The good effects are not confined to
clover and grass, but are becoming more
and more apparent, in the good will ex-
iSting among its members, which keeps
even pace with the extension of practical
knowledge among the intelligent men,
who form our farming classes. All jcal-
ousy between landlord and tenant is
passing away. The tenants are being
encouraged to buy lands, and establish
homes for themselves. The rough log
cabin is becoming more rare, and is being
supplanted with bright and cheerful lit
tie cottages, which vie with city houses
in tasty paint and general finish.
We heard a good plan suggested by
which to get rid of the dog nuisance,
without treading on the toes of those
who oppose a dog tax, One gentleman,
a large land owner and most successful
farmer, bought a large lot of pigs and
offered to give one to each of his tenants
for each dog that the tenant would sur
render. The offer was readily accepted.
the same amount of food which the
worthless cur had eaten. last year fat
tened a magnificent porker this year; all
the delights of sausage and spare ribs
and baCkbones were duly relished, and
best of all a flock of sheep may be seen
happily browsing over the hills of this
wise landlord. We commend this exam
pie. If followed, the dog days will soon
be over, and then all men will see proven
the truth that THE CITIZEN has often
contended for, that this country is in all
respects the equal of the highlands of
Scotland for the purpose of sheep hus-
bandry.
W. boua,, Ib;. communication, Io,,,
ever, to tell you about BlaCkwell's S
Springs, which is one of the most re-
markable we have ever visited Located
in lovely little valley. where the waters
of Turkey creek affords a few acres OF
rich bottom land, this spring of pure sui
phur water wells up from stone basin,
and fairly sparkles in the sunshine,
tempting one irresistibly to come and
drink. and come and drink, again and
again.
Its analysis we have never learned.
nor do we much care. We have tried it
ourselves, and can only beg all of our
friends to go and do likewise. If they
will accept our advice they will care no
more about the analysis than we do, but
they will as surely go again and again
as we will The extreme lightness of the
water induces one to drink immense
quantities without the slightest feeling of
oppression.
The effect upon the appetite is mar
velously invigorating but happily the
most active as we'll as the most delicate
taste can find full and complete safety
at the delightful table provided by "mine
~ Na hn, hnI I,a wood
to roam over many parts of the world
and to partake of many dinners, but
never have we more thoroughly enjoyed
one than we did that of last Sunday.
1t was indeed the very poetry of din
ner, abundant, rich both in quality and
variety, cooked Ill a manner that the
most stylish "cuisinier" might envy, but
rarely equal. 1t filled our souls with
rapture, even as we ourselves were filed
with roast turkey and many other de-
lightful edibles.
Those who think that that princely
cookery can only be found at Delmonico's
should visit BlaCkwell's, and surely they
will decide that the famous Metropolitan
restauranteur can learn lesson in his
own art at this unpretentious little
mountain hostclry, where on the 18th
of December, we basked in the sunshine.
The thermometer at dawn recorded 45o,
and at noon 65' Have we not a climate
for which we should be thankful?
We are not surprised to hear Of an in
valid who gained twenty pounds in two
weeks this past summer, for had we re-
mained another day our friends would
have tailed to recognize in our aldermanic
proportions the starved physiognomy
of the business manager of THE CITIZEN.
Oh We, who are sick and want to get
well; oh We, who are thin and want to
get fat oh We. who are poor and want
to get rich, if any such there be, go at
once to Blackwell's, and you can have
our assurance that each and all Of these
blessings will most speedily be yours.
T. w. p.