The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-14
Cannon Writes An Interes ting
Article About r. w. Hardin
And Kraft-Phenix Plant Here

serves a bigger place than the IL
cures would seem to give it. 1t
lacks a whole lot of being the
biggest money crop of the coun-
ty. Poultry, of which more than
100000 pounds annually is sold
from Ashe in addition to about
10000 crates of eggs, far outranks
cheese for bringing in money. The
sale of beef cattle annually brings
into the county more than $780,
900. Approximately $4,000 worth
of lambs are also sold each year
as we'll as 100000 worth of lum-
Der. Burley tobacco production,
which was just started recently,
will yield an income of more
than 100000 this year. The grow
ing of 100000 bushels of pota-
toes yields an ample surplus for
the market.
Can Produce Nearly Everything
The folks in Ashe boast that
their soil will produce nearly ev-
cry agricultural crop except cot
ton and citrus fruits. Florida and
California grow the citrus fruits.
Who wants to grow cotton at It's
present price? So you see cheese
is just part of the picture. The
milk production for this enter
prise largely comes from the
SURPRISES from the bigger planta-
tons. But the important thing is
the regularity with which money
from this source comes back to
the farm.
Poultry, beef cattle and lot Of
the other crops are seasonal but
the milk that goes into cheese can
be harvested each day and the
money therefrom goes to pay the
electric light bills-1,OO0 rural
homes have recently been electri-
fled in Ashe county-and those
other little odds and ends in the
way of expenses which are al
ways cropping up and which do
not wait on the fall cattle sales
or until the poultry market opens
up.
Cheese Farm in Operation
But as everybody knows, a
whole lot of statistics may not
prove anything any more than
the magnificent sight of milk
trucks lined up at the cheese
plant may not be the last word
on the prosperity of the man
down on the farm, or, as is the
case among these peaks "up on
the farm. What we wished to
see was a cheese farm in actual
operation. That is why we went
to see Mr.. Hardin, who was pick
ed because he is one of the few
farmers who depend for income
almost wholly on the milk sold to
the cheese factory, and, too, be-
cause he was one CT those who
first saw the possibilities in this
kind of industry.
It was milking time on the Har-
din farm when the reporter ar
rived. Instead of winding "slow-
ly DER the lea'', as COWS do in po-
ems, this herd of Is animals came
in business-ike from the pastures
which next summer will be lux
uriant with blue grass and white
dutch clover, and settled down to
a big supper of concentrates and
homegrown ensi1age.
Now, thought the reporter,
all they will have to do is to
take the milk from the cows, send
it to the factory in cans and sit
back and wait on the check. What
a cinch this cheese farming turn
ed out to be-"
But it isn't quite as simple as
all that.
The milking job, as Mr., Hardin
demonstrated sitting by one OF
his best COWS, is not a difficult
task to those that know how. But,
would you believe it, there is a
deal of science and a smattering
of politics in the production of
milk for cheese or anything else.
Put Science Into It
THE more science you put into
to milk farming" said Mr.. Har
din, as he patted the flank of his
friendly animal, 'the better off
you are going to be-"
The reporter looked around for
a Ph.D. or at least scientific pro-
fessor, but all he saw was an eff
ficient hired man weighing milk.
"You see," continued the IL
year-old farmer, you can't make
any money on a sorry herd.
You've got to get rid of your poor
mixers. There was a time when
we thought anything that would
eat hay and had horns ought to