The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1922-04-28
NoUNTAI&&y
SUBJEC1 AK
Courier-Journal Gives Edi-
torial Attention to VII
tai Matter. 7

Il . -
The people OF Eastern Kentucky are
Interested in views expressed by the
press outside Of their territory on sub
jects relating to them and their home
county. The following editorial Is ac-
curate: - 'st.
Improvement OF agricultural. meth
DDS and Introduction Of .pure- blooded
livestock in mountain counties as a
result OF cooperation between county
agents and the Berea College Exten-
sion Bureau may do much to improve
welfare in the Kentucky highlands.
Even in the more rugged counties
there are opportunities for farming
and livestock raising. Where the area
OF land At for tillage or grazing is
limited there is lively demand for
soil products. The mining camps and
the towns and cities which owe their
growth to mining are buying at dis
lance a great deal which might be
produced nearer home, with benefit
10 both producer and consumer.
The limiting factor at present In the
problem OF producing and distributing
fruits and milk in majority OF the
mountain counties Is the condition Of
the public roads. or, in many Instances
lack OF other highways than mere
wagon trails.
With roads adequate Cor d.s.r.ha-
ton of commodities which must be
moved in vehicles the Kentucky
Mountains could produce large guam
titles of fruit and livestock for ship
ment. The excellent quality OF apples
grown in the mountains: their great.
superiority TO Pacific Coast apples
sold in the Central and Eastern States
is well known. But mountain orchards
must have outlets in the form OF roads
to market, or to railroads, II they are
to be made profitable Road improve
ment, and the promotion OF sentiment
favorable 10 vigorous effort to procure
road improvement is rightly, part of
the Berea College campaign for bet
terment.
For the benefit OF health, the health
Of children especially, there should be
more mich cows in the mountains,
and better cows, and more pasture for
cows on lands which soon are ruined
by erosin when plowed for corn. Roads
are necessary for distribution OF dairy
products, but mllch cows for family
use, moving upon the hoof. can be
brought to any mountain farm.
There should be more sheep raising
in the mountains. but production OF
wool and mutton depend to a large
extent upon good dog laws well en-
forced, and the enforcement OF dog
laws depend, In turn, upon a favor
able local sentiment. Land too rugged
for tillage and not sufficiently pro-
ductive TO serve we'll for cattle graz
Ing will produce wool and mutton pro-
vided the, sheep killing dog is elimi-
mated.
"old ring" is loyeable. and where
"Old ring" is loved sufficiently to be
fed regularly he Is not likely to- be-
come menace to the sheep industry.
Sheep farming suffers more from un-
loved, unfed dogs than from beloved
ones.
Mountain farming save in the mar
row river and creek valleys and the
"coves" is hillside farming. Wherever
1t is hillside farming crops which hold
the soil and livestock which enrich the
soil are necessary elements OF con-
structive farming. The labor of get
ting a living from slanting fields Is
reduced greatly where there is more
reliance upon livestock and less de-
pendence upon tiilage.
survey Of the mountain section
of Kentucky would show a surpris-
ingly large area of land At for profit
able tillage and much larger area
which could be used advantageously |
for grazing.
The tin can should play a smaller I
part in the provisioning OF the noun
tain towns. Towns and cities in the
central and western sections OF Ken /
lucky should, and gladly, buy noun
tain fruits. More mountain cattle and |
sheep should come to market.
The development OF soil production
in the mountains and the development I
Of roads and the Improvement Of /
health and financial welfare must be I
projects.
The three projects must be recog-
nized as being of interest to the State, /
and not to the mountains merely, and \
as being OF interest TO the State upon |
practical grounds, nor upon sentiment
tai grounds merely.