FARM MANAGEMENT IN CATAWBA COUNTY, N. C. 3 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AREA. 



Catawba County, N. C, is near the center of the western or more 

 elevated half of the Piedmont region of the State. Newton, at the 

 c?nter of the area surveyed, is about 150 miles west of Raleigh and 

 about 75 miles east of Asheville. The surface of the region is rolling, 

 the elevation varying from about 700 feet to about 1,100 feet (fig. 1). 



A fringe of rich bottom lands, varying in width from only a few 

 r>>ds to a half mile, borders the important streams. When properly 

 drained these lands produce large yields of corn, small grains, and 

 grasses, and where the elevation is sufficient they make good yields 

 of cotton. Between the bottom lands and the uplands are a series 



FIG. 1.— Map showing location of area studied. 



of slopes. When erosion is prevented by deep plowing and careful 

 terracing, these slopes produce good yields. The steeper slopes in 

 many places have become 90 eroded Unit their cultivation is difficult 

 and unprofitable. 



The uplands, which constitute by far (Ik; greater pari of the area 

 aurveyed, are more or Less lulling, free from steep slopes and bluff 

 formations, and -how but few outcropping ledges and bowlders. 

 Modem farm machinery can be used to advantage over nearly all 

 these lands. All crops common to the central Piedmont region of 

 the South are grown more or less extensively and successfully. Most 

 of tin- better class of farm homes are located on these lands "igs. i', .'!, 

 and i . 



The climate, faitly 'mid and equable, is suitable for the '/rowing of 

 a large rariet\ "f farm crops. Extremes of temperature are alxno I 



