418 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



the mouiUairis of North Carolina, I found myself where vegetation had scarcely clothed the 

 plains and woods with green, while the leaves of the high mountain trees were about hali 

 grown. I should also lemai'k that tlie spring of 1842 was from two weeks to a month ear 

 lier than usual." 



I record a portion of the last extract for subsequent reference ; and the 

 object of these communications being to arrive at the truth, and not to 

 ride a favorite hobby, or advance a preconceived theory, I have thought 

 it proper to give the substance of all this gentleman's remarks, embodying 

 as they do all the objections, real or supposed, which exist against the 

 highest mountains in tlie. icliole Southern States for the purposes of sheep 

 husbandry. 



Per contra, we have the following statements of Henry M. Earle, Esq., 

 of Pacolett, Rutherford Co., North Carolina : * 



" On the question whether wool-growing will succeed in North Carolina or not, I would 

 say that it depends entirely upon the exertions used, as I am thoroughly convinced that the 

 country and climate are altogether favorable. The objections raised by Mr. Buckley, if they 

 existed in all the mountain region, might be considered serious ; but as they can only be of- 

 fered against a few very higVi mountains, situated in the midst of many other mountains, and 

 far from any level or plain country, such a hiduig place as he speaks of would not be such a 

 place as persons raised in civilized or reiined society would wish to setde in. The Roan 

 and Black Mountains were selected by Mr. Tlios. Clingman, because they were the most 

 elevated and noted mountains in Yancey Co., and not, I presume, because he thought they 

 would aiford the best pasturage for sheep ; if so he v^'as mistaken. On those mountains and 

 in their vicinity are the finest grazing lands for cattle ; and so there is in the low, marshy 

 land of South CaroUna; but neither location is favorable for sheep. I agree with Mr. Buck- 

 ley, ' that a large portion of the county of Yancey is an elevated fcible laiid, which is so 

 damp and coJd that the inhabitants fretpiently do not raise com sufficient for theii* own con- 

 sumption.' This IS partly owing to the climate ; but i7iostly to the character of many of the 

 inhabitants of those sparsely inhabited regions, where they too frecpiently depend upon the 

 success of the chase for the largest portion of their subsistence. 



" But if Mr. Buckley, or any other gentleman of observation, will come 60 miles far- 

 ther south — on the line of the Blue Ridge, into Henderson and Rutherford counties, about 

 the Tryon Mountain, which is the first that lie will ascend in rising up fi-om the level coun- 

 try east of the Blue Ridge, along the Howard-Gap Turnpike — liigh on the acclivity of the 

 Tryon he will find a bench of land which possesses a very peculiai- characteristic. At night, 

 generally, there is a pleasant breeze, and for several miles along the mountain side there is 

 never any dew to be found, and it is veiy rare that they have frost except in winter ; and 

 when the whole country above and below is covered with sleet, along this mountjmi side 

 there is none. Here grow the finest native gi-apes that I ever sav/, and the fruit crop never 

 fails. And here are grown the heaviest wheat and lye m all the country. Here the inhabit- 

 ants have the first dawn of the moniing smi, and persons unaccustomed to the view fancy 

 that they can almost see hhn coming up from the watei-y deep. On the eastern side of this 

 mountiiin is the earliest pasturage in sprmg, imd the latest in the fall tliat is found in tlie 

 whole range of mountains. 



" This location is about 46 miles E. S. E. from Asln-ille, and 20 miles S. S. W. from 

 Rutherfordton. Here two of those ever perseveiing men frf)in tlie North, called Yankees, 

 have commenced to wall in a vineyard, and to cultivate the broom-corn foi' manufactmnng 

 brooms. They have the purest water that flows out of the earth, and aioimd them are 

 beautiful cascades more than a hundred feet high, and above them the top2)ling peali of the 

 Tiyon. 



" Thousands of persons throng this mountain region during the sunnner, to enjoy the pure, 

 bracing atmosphere, v^'hich on the eastern face of the mountain is diy and healthful ; but 

 farther back, in the mountains of the French Broad, there is niuch more dampness and 

 heavy fogs. 



" You may readily conclude that along the eastern slopes of these mountains, the climate 

 and country are finely adapted to the growth of wool, as may also be seen by many of the tine 

 flocks of native unim|)roved sheep, which wander here uutended, regardless of wolves or 

 dogs, their gi-eatest enemies. 



" For two hundred miles along the eastern slopos of these mountains, south, there ar& 

 Bituations well suited for large flocks of sheep, and land is cheap. In many j>lace8 it does 

 not cost more th;ui 20 cents per acre, and very fair land may be had for 40 cents per acre." 



In an Address,! remarkable for the force and pertinency of its sugges- 



■* See Albany CuUivfttor. ISlfi, pp. 335-336. 



t Delivered in Maitiuaburg, Va., Oct, 3Uth. 184.'>, bnfore the Berkley County Agricultural Society, pub- 

 lished in the Valley Fanner, Dec. 1815, and Jail. 184(5. 

 (850) 



