Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-12-14
OBSERVATION

AL ppsSliiS = anu COWH CaI GOIu
ty for the .ast elght years lna9c ha.
a very good opportunity to observe
the education, agricultural, and eco
nomical changes taking place.
Taking the county as whole
, we have Solomon's ideal citizenship
in one respect at least, neither the
very rich nor the very poor. an
not quite sure just what he would
say about other necessary quantity
about which he has so much to say
Wisdom, however l think he would
pass us up as good average al
least and ! think little above.
The social and economical con
ditions have certainly made long
strides forward in the recent years
You could hardly stop at any home
in the county where you would not
find welcome and a good dinner
on short notice.
Living conditions have greatly i'm.
proved, better homes, nicely painted
houses in the most remote sections
better living conditions in the homes
cleanliness and health conditions
carefully looked after, with de.
creasing fewness of exceptions.
Many of the old ideas of tie form.
er days have disappeared, however
we still have pretty good number
of citizens Of the moon and few
still have faith in the disembowIad
gentlemen on the first page of any
of the othodox almanac. There are
things however that effect better
the good citizenship of any commun,
ity.
The agricultural progress of the
county for these years has been mark.
ed, | would say, in every community
in the county. The method of pre-.
pairing the sale of crops has changed
very much.
The one-horse plow in the rarest
thing Of all, in fact, l don't remember
having seen one in use for five years
The old method of shallow plowing
is no more tolerated, hence you see
very little soil washing any more.
The methods of cultivating have
prehaps change as much as any one
thing. The one time method of cul.
tivating corn by tearing up the roots
with a single plow, followed by pill.
ing high hills around the corn is a
thing of the past in Watauga.
The introduction of improved farm
machinery, with the reading of agri.
cultural papers and other means of
farm education have made most mar.
velous changes in Watauga, howevei
| have felt that we have not gone
forward to the extent that we should
in the very recent years. | have very
recently had the opportunity of OBJ
serving agricultural and other condi
tions in four of our e;ghbcrine
counties and when l come back anC
compare our conditions and oppor
tunities with others about US | an
much impress F., tn the wonderful
possibilities OF or own county. II
seems to II, ..cy are almost unlimit
cd. 1t o.c"is to m, As I % over tho
coGnty t. - We are not r...ng enough
cas-! or steep a0G >crt& ,iy th'
gr.l, O. cattle il ,.,:rh p3o,2r thar
! =. vas "a yeGN lgo. ~ not know
! W:at We ta', BOOKS ShJw as, the Aum
b IT Of she y, but oIu sees very f.
q comp, I'D with, few years ago
! Il occ; r. TO me .hat nature has givel
us very bro d hint by covering thes
/ Vie h i with finest grass in tn
v Ord iLi!e she has denied so man.
o.hcru | do know chat sheep raisin!
u.tcr proper conditions is certaini,
JIe Of the best paying proposition
oi any county so far developed.
Sheep raising in Watauga is YER
much Ike raising blackberries, ge
a good kind and well, just let ther
alone. The writer had little floc
of eight ewes last year from whic
| raised twelve lambs that average
90 lbs at selling time, and brough
$l10. The total feeding cost of tn
ewes and lambs was about one dolla
for the whole bunch besides the graz
ing.
| am sure that our farmers nee
lot of education along the line o
marketing in order that they ma
get above the cost Of production.
| trust our farm demonstrate
agent may be able to help them wor
out many ways and means Of ir
creasing the income.
Next week | desire to give some @
| ~,