Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-07-28
BY CHARLES SHEFFIELD,
Assistant Director, Agricultural Ex'
tension Service, North CarolinS
State College.

Geographically, piedmont NORTH
Carolina comprises "a counties which
are divided into three districts, known
as northern piedmont, central pied
mont and southern piedmont. The re-
gion as a whole presents a gently roll
ing appearance, with here and there
isolated ranges of hills in the vicin'
ity of the larger streams. The eleva.
ton ranges from 500 to 1000 feet
The area is intersected by numerous
small streams.
Along the Catawba and Yadkir
rivers are extensive tracts of lowland'
which were formerly considered the
most productive lands, but in recent
years these bottoms have been dam.
aged by deposits of sand and clay
washed from the hills. Then too, thu
development of hydro-electric power
has brought about the flooding Of
many thousands Of acres Of these low
lands to harness the enArgy Of these
two streams.
Throughout the region, the problem
of soil erosion on the hill farms is Sc
rious. The heavy clay soils predomi-
nate, holding their fertility we'll and
being susceptible Of improvement.
They are we'll adapted to livestock
farming and the production Of all
crops and legumes such as small grains,
hays, cotton and tobacco.
Because of its moderate elevation
and rolling surface with good drain
age, the piedmont has a remarkably
healthful climate. The average annual
temperture is so degrees F. The range
in temperature in summer and winter
is greater perhaps than in any other
section of the State, yet it is o great
enough to cause discomfort. The an
nual rainfall is around 4S inches and
is well distributed throughout the
year. The growing season extends from
April 10th to October 10th and is
sufficient for all staple crops of the
region.
LAND AREA IN FARMS
The land area of piedmont North
Carolina as given in the 1881 census
report is approximately 100000
acres Of which 7,S79,733 acres are in
farms. Farm lands comprise approx
mately . per cent Of the total acre
age. Approximately 2,75o,ooo acres Of
the region is planted annually to crops,
the remainder being in woodland, pas
ture and other lands classified as farm
steads, roads and waste land.
MAJOR CROPS
A list Of the crop, grown in the
piedmont according to acreage inn
p%ortance is as follows: Corn, 1884,
143 acres; cotton, 510,72S acres;
cleared pasture, 327,426 acres; hay,
255,93S acres; wheat, 294,764 acres;
tobacco, 196,092 acres; oats, 129,041
acres; rye, 39,305 acres; commercial
truck crops, 3S,246 acres; home gar
dens, 37,496 acres; cowpeas (for seed)
34,346 acres; sweet potatoes, 27,036
acres; barley, 22,0So acres; soybeans,
(for seed), 2o,74S acres, and Irish
potatoes, 15,707 acres.
Corn is the most essential and the
most generally grown crop since it
may be used for both human food
and livestock feed and the acreage ha.
been greatly increased in the past few
years. In 1881 this region alone grew
approximately As per cent Of the
States entire corn acreage. The aver
age yield per acr~ is u bushels, while
many of the good farmers readily get
a yield of from 40 to so bushels. The
low prices received for the 1881 cror
which was marketed through livestock
was very Disappointing, but even So
this crop probably offers the best bas'
is for future farm prosperity. A ma
jority Of the piedmont farmers utilize
their corn by feeding t o livestock
which in turn may be sold as a fin
ished product, which>ultimately is thu
best basis for permanent success.
The section has long been noted fol
it fine wheat and other small grains
In 1881, the piedmont counties grew
over II per cent of the entire whea'
acreage Of North Carolina. The yiele
per acre was exceptionally good ane
perhaps the best in several decades
The average yield was IS bushels Will
hundreds of farmers secured yields o.
from so to 50 bushels per acre. Will
the crop did not bring a handsom'
profit to its growers, it did provid
a very essential and a valuable foo
and feed. Wheat also acts as a fin
catch crop, since it is planted in tn
fall and early winter. It requires n
cultivation and is harvested in tim
for hay crops to follow for harvest il
the same year.