Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-19
RICH COUNTY OF NELSON;
MINERALS AND FRUITS
Home OF Fat Cattle, Fine Horses and
Great Flocks Of Shcep-Grape
Industries That Were.
AMPLE RAILWAY FACILITIES
Grazing Lands Make Live Stock In
dustry Very Profitable-Rutle for
All the World-Water Powers to
Move All Manner of Machinery.

There is no poor land in Nelson Coun-
~. That is the claim OF the people
of that county. From the lofty Blue
Ridge Mountains on the north and
northwest border down to the James
River bottoms on the south and south
west line every acre OF the soil IS rich
and very productive. This soil is gem
orally red clay, except along the James
and Rockfish Rivers and other streams.
where IT is dark alluvial. With such
soil the county grows pretty much
everything known to Virginia agri-
culture. but its specialties are :oba-co.
wheat. corn oats buckwheat and the
grasses.
Nelson is especially adapted to the
growth Of fruits and vegetables IL all
kinds. in fact it is considered one Of
the best sections in all the state for
fruit and for the past several years has
been giving Albemarle a very close
race'for first place in the ranks Of ap-
pie growing counties. The Albema rle
pIppin does as we'll In Nelson as IN
Albemarle. and the Pilot, another very
famous apple is 4 native Of Nelson and
has acquired population that almost
equals that of the pippin. Other fruits
such as peaches. pears. cherries, etc.
flourish here and are profitable to the
orchardsts.
Grapes also grow to perfection IN
all parts of Nelson and there are with
la Its borders several Of tho largest
and most productive vineyards In ire
State. Before the days of bone dry
ness" In Virginia there were nearly as
many wineries and wine cellars In the
county as vineyards and these made
the vineyards exceedingly profitable.
HORSES, CATTLE AND
SHEEP ARE DIG ASSETS
The mountain lands furnish as ma
pasturaGe as may be found anywhere
in the State and in recent years ;he
raising of horses. cattle and sheep,
has become great industry. Some
very fine horses are grown in the coun-
~ for the markets of the country and
beef cattle for Northern markets are
grown to great extent, also much
cattle for dairyinE purposes The
sheep raising industry is also attract
ing almost universal attention in Nell
son. Very few farmers in the coun-
ty are without focks of sheep and
from which lambs are shipped to all
of the reachable markets of the coun-
try. and wool brings in much money.
AT the famous Oak Ridge farm
Thomas Fortune Ryan several years
ago Set the pace for cattle and sneeu
the farmers Of the county tool note
OF and governed themselves accord
lngiy. There is but one Oak Ridge
farm. but In the matter of the Guilt
walton OF the grasses and the raising
OF live stock for the outside markets.
rom nne horses down to pigs. many
Nelson County farmers became apt and
most successful imitators OF the multi
millionaire farmer. 1t thus happens
that Mr.. Ryan did vast amount of
good before he cut loose from iSel-
son County.
This county used to be and still is
famous for growing clover and tim
othy hay. but in the last few years
alfalfa has been taking the place of
tneSe grasses to large extent Very
lew farmers in the county have failed
10 experiment with alfalfa, and prob
ably nine out Of ten OF them have sue
ceeded so we'll that they have from
year to year increased their alfalfa
acreage until now about as much
alfalfa as clover is grown.
MINERALS AND TIMERS FOR
VARIOUS MANUFACTURING
Where the grains and the grasses
grow so well one naturally expects
10 see the poultry raising business
flourish and so 1t is In Nelson. Chick
en- raising for the outside markets ia
extensively engaged in In many parts
OF the county.
The minerals to be found in the
county are iron ore, both hematite
and magnetic; copper. manganese
lead. asbestos. kaolin and soapstone
OF which iron. copper and manganese
nave been worked to n considerable
extent. -Four companies are working
up soapstone into wash-tubs. etc.
and they cannot supply the demand
from New York and philadelphia
alone
The rutile mined in this county 4.
or excellent quality. being very pure
Ihe market for this mineral is vet
united. For the present uses made
OF rutile. the demand Is not very
great. These include limited ouan,
iitY in alloys and certain grades o,
steel. for the manufacture of a-+i.
hctal teeth. and OF porcelain ware,
serving in both as pigment.
UP to short while ago the de.