Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-06-03

tain sides are SUSCEPTIBLE of profitable
cultivation upto their SUBMITS.
The French Broad and Mills River
valleys are noted for their fertility.
beauty and extent.
Henderson County has 260,699 acre:
af land. The agricultural Industry of
the County is quite largely directed to
the cultivation of cabbage and other
vegetables, for the Southern market
and much attention is given to the
canning of fruits and vegetables.
Forests There is little hazard in say
ing that there is nowhere in any of the
counties greater area of land cover
ed with timber, trees of such various
kinds, and of such value The total
variety OF trees found in N. G.. are 112
and about twice as many shrubs. Nine
tenths of these are found in this sec
ton. The only hard wood in the Eas-
tern part of the y. S. is found in Wes-
tern N. e. and larger portion of this
is found in Henderson County. The
walnut, tulip (poplars) and oaks at
tain size that could hardly be credit
ed by one who had not seen them.
Most of the forest lands lie on the
mountain slopes where up to the pres
ent, but little land has been cleared for
cultivation. The forest is mostly of
hard woods; red, chestnut, white and
spanish oaks, yellow poplars and chest
nut all of which reach as large a size
as is attained in the United States, and
with these are birches, hard and soft
naples, beech, ash and wild cherry,
There are also hemlock, spruce and fir,
yellow pine grows South of the French
Broad
FlOra-The Predoninating forest,
growths allowed named On the mid
die terraces birches, lines elms, ashes.
naples almost complete the flora.
Besides the gorgeous flowers of the
semi shrubery, magnolias, we find in
profusion the even more striking
bloom of the rhododendrons. In ferns
are flora members about thirty five
species-mines a hundred and ninety
five species. icherns fengi and mush-
rooms of many species. The noun
tains contain vast quantities of valuable
wood suitable for furniture and cabinet
work. The forests may be best serv-
ed for6 the production of timber. 1t
furnishes in part the supply of the
sweet chestnut and is sold in the
stores.
Henderson County is one of the chief
sources of the national supply of crude
vegetable drugs. The Importance of
this industry is only appreciated by a
few outside of the medical and pharm-
acentical professions. The number O..
distinct species OF important Medical
! plants found growing wild is enorm-
| n1rC hill -
County's wealth consists in the for
ests, it as well as the soil is being
! wasted by conservation.
Over the larger part of the region are
to be found the older crystalline rocks
greatly bolded and turned on Ihei1
edges, and they contain intervals val
liable deposit of iron and ore; in soma
places these rocks are also penentra-
ted by veins of curry gold, and silver
and copper bearing ores. The rocks
are decayed to considerable depth.
thus producing granite. The granite
takes a polish like marble, and is Of
ten used for building purposes
The largest gold mine of the section
is the Bolyston Nine While there has
been no production of gold reported
from this mine in the last two years,
considerable interest is being aroused
! in the report that it is to be re-opened.
The gold of this mine is very finely di-
vided.
! Fauna-The opossum, the gray fox.
the fox squirrel, and the hare are an
imals characteristic of this county
Among the birds we find the wren, the
cardinal and lively bob-white.
Agriculture-corn, wheat, rye, oats.
hay, IRISH potatoes, apples, sorghum.
buck wheat, butter, cheese, milk, hon
ey, and Vulnerable vegetables. The
field is wide one for growing, the
finest winter apples; for dairy pro-
ducts, for vegetable growing and for
canning adjustments.
Horticulture region is the
home of the apple, and is destined to
become one of the greatest apple grow
| ing regions in America, when its capa-
| bilities in this respect are fully known,
to fruit growers. Many of the native
seeding apples are of find quality. It
must not be assumed that the apple is
the only fruit that thrives in these val
leys, and the elevated plateaus. In
some places the peach grows to perfecz
ton, cherries, plumes, ounces and
pears, are perfectly at home; berries
of all kinds grow to an ample size, and
| the grape renders high degree OF iex-
| cellence. The most noted fruits are
most successfully operated in the Blue
Ridge Township in the Eastern part OF
the county.
Water Powers-The water powers
and the streams are little developed.
They are numerous; and gorges, which
are often deep and narrow; dams can
be constructed at little cost-Electric
| transmission could render practicable
the concentration of power from sever
all of their developments.
The water powers are very valuable
in connection with the industrial de-
yeIopments. The value of these pow