EAST TENNESSEE. 7 



limestone valleys excel in fertility. In many cases, one side of a ridge, for 

 many miles in succession, may be seen covered with beautiful and lusur- 

 ient grain up to the very top, while the other, all rock or sand, is worth 

 but little more than the firewood upon it. There are extensive strips of 

 country which do not partake so much of the ridge or valley character, 

 that affords beautiful rolling farms and soils of excellent quality. ' ' 



Speaking of the high mountain districts, the same authority says : 



''On many of them the soil affords a fine growth, and an abundance of 

 wild grass and vines, upon which droves of stock are kept and fattened. 

 These, at present, wild regions, are well suited for excellent high land 

 pasture grounds, and ought, some day, to be covered with cultivated 

 grasses. ' ' 



Good improved farming lands in East Tennessee can be purchased at 

 prices ranging from five to twenty-five dollars per acre. Rich bottom 

 lands range from fifty to one hundred dollars. ^lountain lands can be 

 bought in large tracts at from thirty cents to one dollar per acre. In some 

 of the interior counties good upland farms can be bought at from one to 

 five dollars. Fine ridge sides cultivated and well adapted to fniit culture 

 can be bought at prices mnning from five to ten doUars per acre. Good 

 grazing lands can be purchased in large tracts at from one to five dollars 

 per acre. 



There is one fact in reference to our soil worthy of especial notice, 

 and that is, that experienced and scientific men all concur in the fact 

 that, even where it is thoroughly exhausted in appearance, it contains 

 the elements of rapid recuperation, by proper treatment, and that it can 

 all be brought up to the highest state of fertihty and productiveness. It 

 quickly responds to kind treatment. 



The Products op the Soil. 



The products of the soil of East Tennessee are exceedingly numerous. 

 Occupying a half way position between South Carolina, and the grain 

 growing States of the north west, with an altitude greater than either, 

 it combines many of the peculiarities of production of each of those re- 

 gions. Here the yam, the peach, the water melon mature in luscious 

 perfection. The fig also will ripen out of doors if shghtly protected in 

 winter. 



On the other hand many products, more peculiarly belonging to a 

 northern climate, do well in this region, such as wheat, rye, oats, timothy, 

 buck wheat, clover, apples, pears and the Irish potato. 



Wheat. — As before remarked, wheat does well in East Tennessee, and 

 especially in all that part of it lying East of Knoxville. The soil seems 

 to be peculiarly adapted to its successful cultivation. Owing to indifferent 

 farming generally, and the failure to use fertilizers, the average yield 

 per acre is veiy low. But in the rare cases where proper care has been 



