West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-08-29
SHEEP OK RED PERMiAN SOIL.
BY S. b. BROWN. A NJ.

From the W. Va. Far;n Reporter.
The intimate relations existing
between Agriculture and Geology
Gave been known and recognized
for long time. The soils orignat
ing from the breaking down OF
different geological strata have for q
long time been known to be favor.
able to the production of certain
crops and unfavorable TO others.
OF the relations existing between
the geological structure af region,
aud the animal life and products OF
that region much less is known;
and indeed the discovery of these
relations form promblem of con-
siderable complexity. During the
past year | have had occasion in
connection with the class in Eco
nomical Geology in the University
to give some attention to the re.
sources and productions of the Diff
ferent sections of West Virginia
Hardly anything can be OF more
interest than TO observe the changes
IN the quantity and quality Of pro
ductlons, both vegetable and ami.
NAL, as we proceed from one geo.
logical stratum to another.
Historically considered West Vir.
ginia is oldest in the Eastern Pam
handle, and newest in the Western
Panhandle and its adjoining coun-
ties.
Mere age has however perhaps
little to do with the productions OF
any gwen horizon.
Mechanical and chemical prop.
critics Of n soil have much more to
do with the products than the age.
Thus We find the limestone soils of
Jefferson and Greenbner are best
adapted for wheat, the light Slice
Gus soils Of Preston and Tucker
are best adapted for rye and buck
wheat, while the red soils of the
more Western counties have
special qualities not found in the
others.
The red soils Of the upper Ohio
Valley may be said TO begin in West
Virginia, and to extend northward
nearly to Pittsburg' occupying two
tiers OF counties east Of tho Ohio
river, and one west OF it and send
ing off Irregular areas from side of
the principal area.
These soils are not soils OF trans
portation with the exception of the
river bottoms, but are derived from
the decomposing strata Immediately
beneath them, and are classed us OF
Permian age or of permo- carboni =
ferrous age. Ia the Northern
counties, of this area. as Washing
ton and Green counties, Pennsyl-
vania, and Ohio and Marshall
counties, West Virginia, there is
much limestone among the rocks
and the soil has a maly character,
but as we pass south of the Little
kanawha river the limestones have
largely disappeared and sandstones
are found in their stead, and IN
consequence of this the hills are
higher and sleeper and more rugged
and the soil less productive.
i have been thus somewhat par
ticular in describing this region, the
Importance of which will be seen a
little further on. In most of the
States east of the Mississippi river,
the number Of sheep has been de-
creasing for the past thirty years;
IN nearly all the counties within the
above described permo carbonifer.
Gus area the sheep have been rapid.
ly increasing. Now it is in the
very nature of things that every
pursuit should grow in localities
where it is profitable and decline IN
localities where it is not. Thus
while the principal centre Of sheep
raising has shifted from the Eastern
States to the region west Of the
Mississippi river, yet here in the
upper Ohio Valley we have region
consisting Of ten or twelve counties
that has not only resisted this gem
eral decline in the sheep business,
but has actually made great gains.
The great State of Pennsylyania
had in 1860, 1851 900 sheep, vet
in 1890 this number had sunk 20
945, 900, of which about COO. 600
were in the three counties Of Wash
ington, Greene and Fayette. These
three counties had increased their
mum bers from fifty to one hundred
per cent, while the remaining coun.
ties Of the State had greatly de-
cllned in their numbers Of sheep.
while others like Lancaster and
York and Adams, formerly great
sheep producing regions, had al
most ceased production entirely.
Greene county, for instance, had in
1860, $4,000 and IN 1880, 158, 900
sheep, aud Washington and Fayette
counties show a similar growth
Now what can be the meaning of
this! Evidently there must be
some specially favorable conditions
for these counties TO secure two
thirds Of the sheep produced in the
whole State Of Pennsylvania. and
TO continue to increase their num-
bors i'm spite Of a general decline in
the whole State. Now these three