West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-04-27
FARMING IN THE SOUTHWEST.
Some Interesting Information From
A Member Of The Argus StaH
Travelling In the South.
Written Specially ror rur ANGUS

GUS are personally familiar with the
way farming is carried on in the
Southwest, | will tell something OF
what the visitor will see in two quite
different regions; the Ozark high.
lands and the prairies of Indian
Territory
The former district has not few
points of resemblance TO our own
Allegheny uplands. The streams
are perfectly clear; springs of good
water are numerous; the soil does
not make troublesome mud; there is
so much timber that wood is in gen
eral use as fuel; while the reddish
gray flint rocks, many in one spot
and very scarce in another, help to
make the scene look familiar. But
the surface is vastly more level than
anywhere in our State. AS gen
eral thing one looks in vain for even
a hill. There is no broken ground
except in the immediate vicinity Of
the streams. The entire Southwest
has been surveyed on the township
and section system, and usually the
roads are just one mile apart and
run like the lines on checker
board. But sometimes road is
thrown out of its natura course for
short distance, and when valley
is encountered the road may take
advantage of the lay OF the ground
and follow the stream.
There is considerable pasturagc
and the wild bluestem grows plenti-
fully even in the rocky bluffs. The
cultivated grasses also thrive when
given attention and the country Is
well suited to sheep. But cattle are
not raised so cheaply as in the pra-
irie region, where wild grass both
for pasturage and hay, is more abun-
dant. The clayey soil produces
wheat of fine quality and this is the
leading field crop. 1t is of the fall
variety and ordinary crop is fifteen
bushels an acre, though much larger
crops are reported. Oats do not do
so we'll as with us and no buckwheat
is grown, although not because the
climate and soil are against it. The
clay loan makes the tending of corn
somewhat slow and tedious and it is
not grown to near the extent that
one sees everywhere else in the
West In South Missouri it is
planted from the 10 to IS of April,
though sometimes even at the close
Of March. Wheat harvest comes on
in the latter half OF June.
The growing of apples, peaches,
strawberries and tomatoes for mar
ket is becoming large business,
where railroad facilities are conven-
lent. In favorable years there are
good profits, but the fruit crop needs
much attention and the best or.
chardist prune and spray their trees
and protect the trunks from rabbits.
Cherries and grapes also do well,
but pears are not so certain. There
is a good deal Of wIld fruit, especi.
ally blackberries and strawberries.
The fruit harvest makes a great de.
mand for labor, both of adults and
children.
Farmhouses are usually quite
small and cheap and without groves
or other adornment. Stables, etc.
are indifferent Farm machinery is
often left in the field where it will
be in good ~ order for the nexI
seasons work. The small log house
is as common as IN any part Of WesI
| Virginia. The native Missourian,
are very easy going. They show
an inclination to make way for the
settlers who have been nocking in
| quite numerously for some years
Such ones retire into the back dis
tricts where they can still live in
cabin, drink out Of a branch, leav,
their hair long, wear a single sus
pender and let their toes peep ou
Of their shoes.
The ozark country has had som,
settlement for 10 Years and over anc
yet IT has new, undeveloped look
It is a land Of promise and has no
yet come to its best Il is bette
suited to farming than much o.
West Virginia and the man from
this State will miss little Of what h,
is accustomed to at home.
Apple and berry pickers are PAL,
SLoo to $50 a day. A man will
a team earns Sz.oo. In the zln,
mines a boy earns SLso. a mai
earns from S7.oo to So. so, accord
ing as his labor is skilled OF unskill
ed. Living appears TO average
little cheaper than with us. In al
d eating house one will sec more mea
but less fruit.