The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-26

The wheat crop in Roanoke county is
larger than it has been since 1876. The
farmers who were so fortunate as to get
a large crop planted are jubilant. That
the price of wheat will be high is gem
orally conceded, and the Roanoke county
farmers look forward to better times
than they have experienced for many
years.
Roanoke county has a reputation sec
ond to none in the State for wheat. Tho
yield on an average has not been so
large as that of Augusta, Rockingham
and Shenandoah, for there are several
sections Of the county in which tho crop
has often been failure, thus reducing
the average.
The Roanoke River Valley, in Roa-
noke county, is peculiarly adopted to
wheat. All the slate hills in the city
on the North side of tho railroad from
the furnace to tho West End, which are
now covered with houses, only few
years ago produced as fine wheat as the
river bottoms. Tho straw was not as
heavy but tho grain was of superior
quality, and the yield was equally as
good and in some instances heavier.
Hon. III. 5. Trout once owned tLcse
lands, and on the tops of tho hills above
mentioned has raised as high as thirty
five bushels of wheat to the acre. This
yield has never been surpassed in the
State.
For several years the bad seasons have
played havoc with the wheat crop in
Roanoke county, but it now seems that
fortune has smiled on the agricultural
region, and the crop is simply enormous.
The number of acres sowcd in this
immediate section is not as large as has
been in former times. This is accounted
for by the immense territory laid out in
town lots and by the planting of large
orchards o. fruit trees. But from the
eastern border of the county 10 the
Montgomery line not less than 200, 600
bushels of wheat will be thrcshed East
and North of Roanoke arc tho Reed and
Moomaw farms, and all that portion be-
tween the city and Hollins are many
more fine plantations. The Watts and
Sorrell plantations have larger crops
than known for years. Thence on by
Salem until the Montgomery line is
reached the crop is spread with lavish
hand.
Harvesting is about over, and the
fields present Il splendid array of gath
cred SheaveS. 1t is estimated that the
crop in the Roanoke valley will average
from twenty-five 20 thirty bushels to
the acre, and for the entire county from
eighteen to twenty.
These figures are not nero haphaZ-
card gatherings, but are compiled by
farmers who have raised tho crops and
have known the county all their lives
In some places whole fields will average
as high as thirty-five bushels to the
acre. The quality is unsurpassed, be-
ing of hard maccaroni nature and will
stand shipping to any part of the world.
In this particular Roanoke has some
advantage over the wheat raised in the
Valley. The character of the soil makes
it exceedingly hardy, and this year that
char teristic is more marked than has
beef Town for years. The weight and
bods is all that can be desired.
In less than three weeks threshing
Will begin, and the output will be ship
ped at once. The greater bulk will go
East, but much of it is expected to be
ground at the mills in and around Roa-
noke, as active preparations arc being
made by all milling companies for the
coming crop.
With all the immense crop there is
still several thousand acres of unim-
pgoved lands in the county that would
bring such crops. Hon, II. $, Trout,
Joel Moomaw, Rev. j. c. Moomaw, j.
Allen Watts, DR.. Sorrcll and many
others recognize the fact that an agri-
cultural boom would do as much for the
prosperity of Roanoke as anything else.
The county affords every possible ad-
vantage for all kinds of farming and
truck raising There are four sections
in which certain staple products seem
particularly adopted.
The eastern portion of the county
will grow the finest peaches in the
country and is not second to Botetourt
Small fruits may be raised there with
equal success.
The Catawba valley, or Northern
boundary is land of cattle and grass.
The stock farms in this region compare
favorably with those of Clarke and
Augusta counties.
Back Creek is the southern border and
noted for the wonderful success in the
production of apples Last year when
the crop was a failure Throughout the
State, tho eye of the apple dealer was
turned toward this section and many
crops were sold at round figures whilo
hanging on the trees. John Woodruff
sold his entire crop in this way for
~o,OoV. iptCh SIeeK alIHOSC sup
piled the market last year This year
the crop is enormous and Mr.. Woodrum
expects ( realize $1,000 from the sale
of his apples alone.
Tho Roanoke Valley, as has been
stated. is adapted to wheat and all other
cereals. Lying as itdoes along the line
OF three railroads, the crops arc easily
marketed at the growing cities of Roam
oke and Salem. II is the general opin-
ion of all practical farmers that the
whole county will ere long be highly
cultivated agricultural garden. and tina
the farming interests will be as thor