46 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THiJ SOUTH 



the moiintaiiia of North Carolina, I fonncl myself where vegetation had scarcely clothed tb« 

 plains and woods with greeu. while the leaves of the high mountain trees were about ball 

 erovvn. I should also remark that the spiing of 1842 was from two weeks to a mouth ear 

 Tier than usual." 



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

 oliject of these communications being to arrive at the ^r?/^//, aim net to 

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

 it proper to give the substance of all this gentleman's remarks, eml)odying 

 as they do all the objections, real or supposed, which exist agaii.st the 

 highest mountains in the whole 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 vail succeed in North Carohna or not, I would 

 say that it depends entirely ujiou 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 high mountains, situated in the midst of many other mountauis, and 

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

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

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

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

 would afford the best pasturage for sheep ; if so he Wiis mistaken. On those mountains and 

 in their vicinit>' are the finest grazing lauds for cattle ; and so there is in the low, marshy 

 i.Tnd of South Carolina ; 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 lajid, which is so 

 damp and coJd that the iuhabitmits frequently do not raise com sufficient for their own 'cod- 

 fiumption.' This is partly owing to the climate ; but mostly to the character of many of the 

 inhabitants of those sparsely inhabited regions, where they too frequently depend upon tlio 

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



" But if Mr. Buckley, or any other gentleman of observation, will come GO 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 he will ascend in rising up from the level coun- 

 try east of the Blue Ridge, along the Howard-Gap Turnpike — high on the accli\ity of the 

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

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

 aever any dew to be found, and it is very rare that they have frost except in winter ; and 

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

 there is none. Here gi-ow the finest native grapes that I ever saw, and the fruit cro]) never 

 fails. And here are grown the heaviest wheat and i-ye in all the country. Here the inhabi^ 

 ants have the first dawn of the morning sun, and persons unaccustomed to the view fancy 

 that they can almost see him coming up from the wateiy deep. On the eastern side of tl is 

 mountain is the eai'liest pasturage ni spruig, and the latest in the fall that is found in tL t 

 whole range of mountains. 



" This location is about 46 miles E. S. E. from Ashville, and 20 miles S. S. W. from 

 Rutherfordton. Here two of those ever persevering men from the North, called Yankees, 

 have commenced to wall ui a vineyard, and to cultivate the broom-coni for manufacturing 

 brooms. They have the purest water that flows out of the earth, and around thcra are 

 beautiful cascades more than a hundred feet high, and above them the toppling pe;dc of the 

 Tryon. 



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

 bracing atmosphere, which on the eastern face of the mountain is dry and healthful ; but 

 faither back, iu the mountains of the French Broad, there is much more dampness and 

 heavy fogs. 



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

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

 fltH'.ks of native unimproved sheep, wliich wander here untended, regardless of wolve* or 

 dogs, theT gi-eatest enemies. 



" For two hundred miles along the eastern slopes of these mountains, south, there are 

 ■itaations well suited for large flocks of sheep, and land is cheap. In many places it do«« 

 not cost more than 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 Cultivator, 1846, pp. .335-336. 



tEelivered in Martinaburg, Va., Oct. 30th. 184.'5, before the Berkley County Agricultural Society, p*k 

 IUb<%i in the Valley Farmer, Dec. 1845, and Jan. 1846. 



