vi AGRICULTURE 



section. Much of this territory is adapted to the growth 

 of forage crops and dairying. In recent years stock raising 

 is becoming important. 



Horticultural products are not grown on a large scale 

 in Middle Virginia, though much of the section is adapted 

 to the culture of small and bush fruits. Some grapes are 

 grown. In certain districts along the western boundary 

 of Middle Virginia apples are grown with fair success. 



The Piedmont region. This is the next region to the 

 west, and comprises a long but rather narrow belt of ter- 

 ritory along the eastern base of the Blue Ridge. Pied- 

 mont varies in width from 40 to 50 miles and in elevation 

 from 500 to 4,000 feet above sea level. 



The northern portion of Piedmont consists of rolling 

 hills and gentle slopes, with an altitude of from 300 to 500 

 feet above sea level. Here we find limestone, as well as 

 other rocks, and this section assumes somewhat the char- 

 acter of a bluegrass country. Stock raising, general farm- 

 ing, and fruit growing are the principal industries. The 

 counties of Loudoun, Fauquier and Rappahannock are 

 noted for their bluegrass lands and their fine stock. In 

 the southern part of Piedmont the surface is more rugged 

 and the soils are less adapted to grazing. 



Red clay lands predominate and the territory as a whole 

 is well adapted to general agriculture. Tobacco is a very 

 important crop in some sections. 



Piedmont has long been noted as a great fruit-growing 

 section. Throughout this region are found soils which 

 produce red apples of the very highest quality (Fig. 220). 

 An important and well recognized fruit soil is the so-called 



