viii AGRICULTURE 



Ridge and outlying mountain spurs. Nearly every cove in 

 the Ragged Mountains contain some of this " Pippin- 

 land." 



The Blue Ridge region. The northern two thirds of this 

 region is made up of the narrow range of the Blue Ridge 

 Mountains, and here most of the soil is rather barren, 

 though choice lands also may be found similar to Pied- 

 mont soils. In the southern part of the State the Blue 

 Ridge Mountains constitute a broad, elevated table land, 

 with a usual height of 2000 to 3000 feet above sea 

 level. Deep, narrow ravines are the rule. This section 

 comprises the counties of Floyd, Carroll, and Grayson. 

 The soil is much like the prevailing type of the Piedmont 

 region. General farming, stock raising, and fruit growing 

 are the principal agricultural industries. 



The Valley region. This is a narrow belt of territory, 

 varying in width from a few to fifty miles, and extends 

 from the Potomac River to the Tennessee line. It is 

 sub-divided into five minor sections by cross spurs con- 

 necting the Blue Ridge and Alleghany mountains. 



The soil of this region is generally of limestone forma- 

 tion, but sandy and other soils are found in many portions 

 of the Valley. Throughout its entire extent the lands of 

 this region are noted for their productivity. The north- 

 ern portion is known as the Shenandoah Valley. This 

 section is rich in agricultural resources. The limestone 

 clays are largely utilized in growing farm crops etc., and 

 the soils containing an admixture of sand are well adapted 

 to the production of red apples and other fruit crops. 

 Frederick and Augusta counties produce more fruit than 



