Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-16
FRANKLIN COUNTY, UP IN
THE PIEDMONT REGION
II OF Tobacco and AL the Grains
and Grasses.
SOMETHING ABOUT "A LOST ART
Ideal Location for Cattle-Raising.
Commercial Apple Orchards Arc
Numerous - Other Fruits That
Grow Well.

Grow Well.
Ono Of tho most productive OF the
counties of Piedmont Virginia is the
County Of franklin. which lies at the
eastern base Of the Blue Ridge houn-
tair.e. in the southern part OF the state.
1t is a well-watered county, lies high.
is exceedingly hcalthful and the climate
lie ideal. Franklin is pretty large
county. being thirty miles loas sud
on an average twenty miles wide
The surveyors tell us II contains $50
square miles. /, is strictly farm
ing county and some of the best farms
in the State are within it's borders;
farms that grow profitable crops OF
various kinds, snd the people arc
1up-to-date farmers. who know how 10
make their lands produce to the best
advantage and how to teach the new
corners all the tricks OF the trade.
franklin is bounded on the north by
Roanoke and Bedford Counties, on Inc
east by Bedford and Pittsylvania. on
the south by Henry and Patrick Coun-
the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains
TIC
WHERE ALL KINDS OF
GOOD TOBACCOS GROW
The soil is largely red clay. and is
very fertile. producing large crops OF
wheat, corn. rye. oats, the grasses and
tobacco Franklin is ono of the crack
tobacco growers of the State. produce
ing perhaps more different kinds OF
the weed than any other one county.
The famous rich, brown and waly
leaf known the world over as Henry
County tobacco" is produced almost as
largely in Franklin as in Henry
County. This %axy tobacco, so popu-
lar with the chewers. is peculiar to
certain kind OF soil, and 1t so hap
pens that all OF Henry County is Of
that soil. and that is why ii is univer-
sally called Henry County tobacco. 1t
also happens that more than half of
Franklin County is also OF that pecu-
liar soil. and every inch Of II produces
tho rich. brown. waXy chewing leaf
that neither the expert tobacconist nor
the user OF the weed could tell from
that grown in the county from which 1t
takes its name.
In other parts of Franklin, where
the soil is somewhat different. that is
10 bay. SlOuS aHQ Hcdi " NuS Il itbSS
vania County line. the fine bright leaf
grows to perfection. and up towards
the Bedford County lire the farmers
grow a fine dark tobacco that sells
we'll on the Lynchburg and other dark
markets. II man knows anything
about the culture of any kind Of to-
Franklin County.
CORN AND OTHER GRAINS
LOST ART, MAYBE
Franklin Is also one OF the bis corn
growing counties of Virginia. In fact.
1t figures an extensive grower OF
all OF the grains. wheat. oats and rye
as well as corn, and it is no secret
that in the good old days that arc gone.
the prohibitionists say, TO come no
more. some Of the Franklin County
folks were experts in the manufac-
ture Of wheat, corn and rye into n
finished article that was not sold by
the bushel OF by the pound. but found
very ready sale by the keg, the barrel.
tho jug and the bottle, but that may
be lost art now, and. OF course there
is no business Uo speak of on Runnett
Bag Creek. All OF the farmers Of
Franklin make corn and the other
grains to sell.
The county is unexcelled for the
growing OF fruits. and in recent years
tho people have been giving great
deal OF attention to apple culture.
There are some as fine commercial
apple orchards in Franklin as in any
county of Piedmont Virginia. the IA
nous fruit-growing region. Peaches
pears. grapes and other fruits do as
az much business done along these
lines as In apples. the people up to
the present time growing them only
for home use.
THE LAND FOR CATTLE
AND HOG RAISING
In recent years. too. Franklin County
people have been giving considerable
attention TO cattle raising, to dairr!nr
and TO the raising Of poultry. and they
are finding these pursuits TO pay hand :.
somely. With ample grazing grounds
and all OF the grasses. including alfalfa
growing there in greatest abundance.
the raising Of fine beef cattle can be
made 10 pay the biggest dividends of
any line OF industry known to the
county, and any one seeking the right
place 10 branch out in that line need
go no further than Franklin County.
The county has always been a large
producer Of hogs. Very few people
there are buyers OF meat. blu, every
man In the county makes his own
bacon. Many more could make pork
and bacon for the easily reached out
side markets IL they would, and some
DAY they are coming to il. For the
past ten years or more hog raising for
the outside markets has been on III.
increase. and every year more corn
growers are learning 10 "manufac,ure"
their corn into bacon to be sold in
Danville. Lynchburg. Martinsviile and
other markets
The minerals Of this county are iron
mica, graphite. asbestos. granite and
soapstone. The iron mines. which are
said 10 be practically inexhaustibl.
nave been prohtaoiy worked from time
to time in limited way, and so hay.
tho granite and soapstone and graphit,
deposits The time is coming wh.r
all Of them Will be developed for al
they arc worth
A GOOD REGION