Watauga Democrat

ADMINISTRATION FOR LARGE CROPS
Agricultural Prospects Bright as the Farmers Increase Acreage. Livestock Industry on Incline. Many Tracts to Be Planted to Burley Tobacco. Home Garden Idea Being Carried Out in Boone.

Whether the citizens of Watauga are endeavoring to co-operate with Governor Gardner in his live-at-home program or, on account of the prevailing money depression, are forced to get to work, one thing seems certain: never in all time has the effort been put forth to produce crops that is being shown so far this year throughout the county. Small farms which in years gone by have produced but little above the support of the owner's family, have been well plowed, abundantly fertilized, and planted to various crops. Every inch of soil on many of these farms that could possibly be cultivated has been seeded, Irish potatoes predominating. The recent drought has been broken by rains and the outlook is bright for large yields.

Agriculture has been on the incline throughout the entire section for several years, but last summer an organization, the Watauga Livestock Association, was formed and a concerted effort started to make a self-supporting county out of Watauga. The Association does not confine its work to the field of stock raising, but includes in its program various plans for the advancement of agriculture. Through its efforts, a farm institute was held at the State Teachers College in January, and experts of State and national importance lectured nearly 1,000 farmers and farm women on the growing of horticultural crops, poultry raising, the care of sheep, dairy and beef cattle, and hogs. Two speakers from the Division of Markets addressed these audiences on marketing farm products. An interest was created at that time which, it seems, is sure to bear fruit during the current growing season.

Watauga has no farm agent, and, therefore, it is difficult to make an estimate of the area that has already been planted to potatoes. However, it is safe to state that fully twice as many acres have been seeded to this crop as last year. Ten acres has always been considered a big "patch" in Watauga, but it is nothing uncommon now to hear a farmer say that he has 20 or 25 acres in "spuds." L. H. Hollar and son, Mack, who live two miles east of Boone, have the largest potato crop planted in the county, more than thirty acres in one boundary having been seeded.

And cabbage is yet to be planted, which, incidentally, has always been a leading money crop for the farmers here. The Blue Ridge Canning Company, manufacturers of sauer kraut, have contracted for several hundred acres of cabbage, their agreement calling for a very substantial cash price at harvesting time. This crop, it is predicted, will be much larger than ever before.

Burley tobacco, which for the last two or three years has been successfully raised on several farms in the western part of the county, has gained such popularity among the farmers that more than 200 acres, mostly in tracts of one-half to two acres, will be planted this year. This weed will find its way to the Abingdon, Va., warehouses where prices ranging from 25 to 32 cents per pound have been averaged for the past two years. It is claimed by those who have made experiments that Burley grown in the mountains will bring to the farmer nearly $300 per acre.

Cattle-raising, which for the past several years has been on the decline here, is again coming into its own. Through the enterprise of the Livestock Association, more than thirty purebred Hereford, Shorthorn and Angus bulls have been imported into the county from Southwestern Virginia. A campaign to eliminate the scrub sire has been successfully carried out, and today, it is stated, not a single one remains in the county. More than 7,000 head of cattle will be grazed in Watauga during the summer, about half of them being of the beef types. Arlie W. Brown, of near Boone, now has nearly 800 head, mostly Hereford, which will be marketed this fall.

Mr. Brown, who is considered one of the leading stockmen of the entire section, states that at least 12,000 head of cattle should be the goal of Watauga within the next three years. He is of the opinion that the Hereford strain, which now seems to be the favorite here, should be maintained, and predicts that the industry will be returned to its former importance ere many years have passed.

Smith Hagaman, Superintendent of Schools and president of the Livestock Association, says that there are now more than 9,000 sheep which have been or are ready for shearing on the farms of the county. Counting the lambs, the sheep population should be in the neighborhood of 18,000. Mr. Hagaman believes this is practically as large a number of sheep as was ever ranged at one time in Watauga. It is estimated that these animals will shear an average of five pounds of wool apiece, which will be pooled and sold near the 20th of this month, an arrangement having been perfected with the State and Federal Divisions of Marketing to carry on this sale.

Numerous farmers, who never before attempted the raising of livestock, are buying a few head of cattle or a few sheep. They are diversifying their crops, adding to their equipment; and going into their work (Continued on page four.)

WATAUGA FARMS PREPARED FOR EXTRA LARGE CROPS
(Continued from page one.)

as if they meant to make a go of it. The sentiment of the entire class seems to be: "make enough to live on and some to spare." It has long been acknowledged that the mountain section produces a superior grade of produce, and Watauga cabbage and potatoes have for generations been the choice of housewives "down the country." If these crops turn out well. the demand for these vegetables will be amply taken care of.

Unlike Eastern North Carolina, where very few feed crops are grown, and where the farmers have been in desperation for the past two years, Wataugans have enjoyed a nominal prosperity, and it has been stated by dealers that practically all of the fertilizer that has been used on the farms thus far was paid for without a complaint. More than twice the'amount of fertilizer used to this date last year has been delivered from the cars in Boone already.

The Boone Civitan Club, co-operating with other organizations, early in the spring began a movement for home gardens. It was carried on as a part of the Governor's live-at-home program, and the people of the town and county fell in love with the idea. Today there is scarcely a back lot in Boone that has not been plowed and planted. Bank clerks, garage mechanics. barbers. clergymen, doctors and lawyers have donned their overalls and after work hours are doing their bit to live at home. Men who, perhaps, had never known the feel of the hoe handle, are disturbing the soil, and when the season has passed and the crops have been harvested and sold. it is likely that, if prices are anywhere near what they should be, a reign of genuine prosperity will begin in Watauga County.