The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-12-12
BAhRENS OF KENTUCKY
How the Name Of Rich AgrcuItur
al District Oriqinated.


For the first time in perhaps a
quarter of d century there will not be
more than half crop of corn raised
IN That portion OF Barren county
known as the "Barrens," so say re-
ports from many who have recently
had occasion to visit that section.
10 many who are familiar with that
section this will come in the nature of
a surprise, as that part of the county
mas been relied on to furnish corn for
the balance of the county when
drought made it impossible to raise
corn on upland.
mat portion of the county known
as the "Barrens" has had an uninter-
rupted series of good crops and the
people had come to regard the land
even better and more sure of corn
crop than river bottom, better because
more accessible and more desirable for
homes than near large stream, and
not subject to overflows as is low
lands; then too this land has been as
certain to produce for the length of |
time stated above as river bottom. /
The "Barrens," of which so little is
known and which are so highly priced
for agricultural purposes, begins near
Bowling Green, KY, and extends
through Warren, Barren, Hart and in
TO Hardin county, almost parallel with
the Louisville and Nashville railroad
track. the length being something like
30 miles. The width varies from one
% 10 miles. When this country was
1rst settled this land was not taken
Up, being considered worthless from
he fact that at the time no trees and
'ery little vegetation grew on the
and, besides there was no water.
This is how it came to be called the
Barrens." The settlers were unani-
nous in the belief that if the land
you'd not grow vegetation it was un-
It for cultivation.
Traditions tell that one man who
ad settled near this barren" coun-
~. at what is now known as Bear {
allow. traded 125 acres of this land I
neighbor for an old buck sheep. :
his gives some little idea how the i
md was valued. 1t is claimed that the 4
cords in an adjoining county will
cow this transaction.
No definite conclusion or explana- ~
on has ever been given of this
range land. Several years ago work r
en- found the trunk of tree 20 feet =
Glow the surface of the ground. 1t
as never known to what variety the
ee found belonged.
AT present this former barren"
nd is the finest farming land in this
ctlon and is not equalled by the
silly famed Bluegrass section. Near !
untordville, in the "Barrens' re-
rred to, is hole in the earth of fun
4 shape. 1t is about IS feet in d.
1eter at the top, but gradually de-
eases to about II feet, and is sup
sed to be bottomless. Visitors have
rown hundreds of carloads of rocks
% this place, but the bottom seems
yer to have been reached. Many
empts have been made with ropes. |
res and other things to find the bot
n, but all to no avail. |
N addition to the above there are -
my sink holes" small caves, etc.,
fact. the portion which lies in Bar
county is known to be underlaid -
n caverns and underground pas o.
res. Horse cave, Mammoth cave and
lossal cavern all lead out under this w
tion ru
his land now when sold. which is ~.
dom. brings all the way from $50 w..
$3.50 per acre, and to say Il own a y, w.
rren" farm and am out of debt and
ans that the speaker is in easy cir. tax
instances, usually what is termed "no
I in this section.
is no wonder that a report Of a -.
crop of corn in that section is ~
prising to those conversant with d.
country-Glasgow correspond 80
e, Louisville Courier-Journal.