570 UNION COUNTY. 



Climate, Diseases, Instances of Longevity. — The cli- 

 mate is delightful in summer. In winter sudden changes oc- 

 cur, which commonly produce colds, pleurisy, (fee. The dis- 

 ease called " Milk Sick," sometimes prevails upon the head 

 waters of Brass Town and Cythis creeks. Instances of 

 longevity are common. Mrs. Sarah Lloyd is over 85 ; Mrs. 

 Addington, over 80 ; Dicy Queen, 85 ; Mrs. Patterson, over 

 80 ; John Nickerson, a revolutionary soldier, over 90 ; Samuel 

 Reid, 95 ; Ruther Brown, over 80. 



Nature of the Soil, Value of Land. — This county 

 has some excellent lands, mostly on the bottoms and creeks, 

 adapted to corn and Irish potatoes, worth $10 per acre. There 

 is a description of land called table land, having a growth of 

 nickory and post oak, suited to corn, tobacco and wheat ; value 

 $3 to $5 per acre. Excellent ranges for cattle are to be found 

 in every section of this mountain region. 



Average product of corn per acre, 20 bushels, wheat 6. 

 No cotton is cultivated. Rye, oats, and Irish potatoes do well. 



Trees, Orchards. — Mountain birch, spruce, mountain lau- 

 rel, hackberry, black locust, sarvis, maple, white pine, &c. 

 The country being newly settled the inhabitants have not yet 

 paid much attention to orchards. Apples succeed admirably. 



Minerals. — A more interesting field for the mineralogist 

 cannot be found in the United States than this section of 

 Georgia. It is rich in minerals. Three diamonds have been 

 found in the county. Gold occurs in several places, particularly 

 on Gum Log, Ivy Log, High Tower, Brass Town, and Cosa 

 creeks. The mines on the last named creek have the repu- 

 tation of. being rich, having yielded 100,000 pennyweights of 

 gold since they were operated upon. 



White and variegated marble is found on Cat creek, and 

 Cut Cane creek, in the western part of the county. Iron is 

 abundant. Silver, it is said, exists in this county. Granite, 

 mica, quartz, alum, and sulphuret of iron, are common. Six 

 miles northwest of Blairsville, on Ivy Log and Brass Town 

 creeks, are quarries of millstone, said to be excellent. 



Mountains. — The Blue Ridge crosses Union, and its differ- 

 ent peaks are distinguished by the names of Ivy Log, Cooper's 

 Creek, Blood, Track Rock, Ball, and Round Top mountains. 



