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Book II
CHAPTER VII
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
There are three kinds of land in Tazewell,
which will be noticed in order. It is generally known that it is the
celebrated blue-grass soil, strongly impregnated with lime, and very
productive. It is a clay loam, very tenacious in its nature, and
easily resuscitated. But to the description of the different kinds.
1st. The bottom lands,
generally limestone, soil stiff, and very productive. The soil of
the bottom lands may be regarded as slightly alluvial, for it is generally
deposited from the hill-sides and water during the wet seasons of winter
and spring.
Few rocks appearing above the surface
renders it easy to cultivate, and enables the farmer to do so with most
advantage.
Corn is mostly grown on the bottom lands,
because it is easier to plow. It makes fine meadows.
2d. The hill, or upland.
This is to be found on the base of mountains, and over small hills.
This class of land is quite as valuable as the bottom lands; it is
generally laid down in meadow grasses. It is somewhat disfigured by
rocks, occasionally near the surface, or jutting through the soil.
They really injure the land less than one used to rockless lands would
suppose. The soil near them is richer than it is a few yards from
them; hence, the grass is ranker, and produces as much to a given area
as if no rocks appeared. Experiment has tested this.
Very many acres of this upland is destitute
of rocks, and then nothing can exceed, in agricultural beauty, the soft,
luxuriant blue-grass with which it is covered.
The 3d class, or mountain land, is
generally used for pasturage. It is found on the mountains, above an
elevation of 600 feet. It is equally as rich as either the first or
second classes, but is too cold to mature grains, unless it be rye.
It is also too steep for cultivation, or even for growing grass had it to
be mowed. The stock, however, succeed in climbing the mountain-sides
for it, and during the summer keep fat. It was formerly but little
valued; it now bears a good price.
There is a strange phenomenon here (as in
other mountain countries), affecting the difference of lands found on
north and south hill-sides. The cause, or explanation, has been
given under the head of Meteorology. The soil on the north sides of
the mountains and hills is a dark, loose loam, and extremely rich; the
rocks (though few) are the finest quality of limestone. On the
south, they are essentially different in kind and quality, being flint and
clay slate, often pulverized so as not much to impede the plow. It
will require some geological speculations to account for this difference
in rock, and to such works I refer the reader. The growth on the
south sides, above 600 feet, is shrubby, and generally oak or chestnut;
and the land does not produce, by any means as well as the valley or north
side lands. The south side land, below 600 feet, was formerly but
little valued, being gritty, but it is now looked on as the finest wheat
land.
I remarked that the soil of the land in
Tazewell was "tenacious;" I mean by this that it wears
well. A field on the Crab-orchard farm, cleared in 1775, upward of
seventy-five years ago, has not had a year's rest, and now produces
equally as well as any land in the county. With anything like care,
the farmer here can never impoverish his lands.
I have never known a judge of land to
examine those of Tazewell, without passing the highest encomiums upon
them, and I hope I shall not be accused of partiality when I say--- I have
seen lands in most of the states and territories, and have found none, anywhere,
more deserving encomiums than those of Tazewell county, Virginia. To
the farmer it will be gratifying to know, that our lands, though broken,
do not wash.
The following list of plants and forest
trees, was furnished me by my excellent friend, H. F. Peery, M. D., a
gentleman who has, perhaps, paid more attention to botany, than any one
else in south-western Virginia. He informs me, that a few
unimportant shrubs have been omitted, but that the list embraces nearly
all plants known to botanists, growing in the county. A few exotics,
which, however, flourish well, have also been included. The genera
and species are given.
(LINNĘAN
DESIGNATION) |
(COMMON NAME) |
Acer rubrum |
Soft or red maple |
Acer saccharinum |
Sugar maple |
Acer striatum |
Striped maple |
Achillea millefolium |
Yarrow |
Acones calamus |
-- |
Actęa
Americana |
Bane-berry |
Adiantum pedatum |
Maiden-hair |
Ęsculus glabra |
Buckeye |
Ęthusa cynapuim |
Fools' parsley |
Agaricus campestris |
Common eatable mushroom |
Agave Virginica |
False aloe |
Agrimonia eupatoria |
Agrimony |
Agrostemma githago |
Cockle |
Agrostis vulgaris |
Red top |
Agrostis alba |
White top or bonnet grass |
Aletris farinosa |
Star-grass---colic root |
Alisma plantago |
Water plantain |
Allium cepa |
Garden onion |
Allium Schosnoprasum |
Cives |
Alnus serrulata |
Alder |
Althęa rosea |
Hollyhock |
Amaranthus albus |
White coxcomb |
Amaranthus melancholicus |
Love lies bleeding |
Amaranthus tricolor |
-- |
Amaranthus lividus |
-- |
Amaryllis undulata |
Waved lily |
Ambrosia elatior |
Hog-weed |
Amyris gileadensis |
Balm of Gilead |
Andromeda calyculata |
Leather leaf |
Andromeda arborea |
Sorrel tree, or sour wood |
Anemone Virginiana |
Wind flower. |
Anethum fniculum |
Fennel |
Angelica atropurpurea |
Angelica |
Anthemis cotula |
May-weed, or dog-fennel |
Anthemis nobilis |
Chamomile |
Anthoxanthum altissimum O |
Sweet vernal grass |
Apium petrolelinum |
Parsley |
Apocynum androsemifolium |
Dog bane |
Apocynum cannabinum |
-- |
Aquilegia canadensis |
Wild columbine |
Aquilegia vulgaris |
Garden columbine |
Aralia racemosa |
Spikenard |
Aralia nudicaulis |
Wild sarsaparilla |
Arbutus uva-urai |
Bear berry---kinni-kinnick |
Arctium lappa |
Burdock |
Aristolochia serpentaria |
Virginia snakeroot |
Artemisia absinthium |
Wormwood |
Artemisia abrotanum |
Southern wood |
Arum tryphyllum |
Indian turnip |
Arum dracontium |
Green dragon |
Asarum canadense |
Wild ginger, or white snake root |
Asclepias syriaca |
Com. milkweed |
Asclepias incarnata |
-- |
Asclepias obtusifolia |
-- |
Asclepias quadrifolia |
-- |
Asclepias verticillata |
Dwarf milkweed |
Asclepias tuberosa |
Pleurisy root |
Asimina triloba |
Amer. papaw tree |
Asparagus officinalis |
Asparagus |
Aster rigidus |
-- |
Aster cornifolius |
-- |
Aster multiflorus |
-- |
Aster flexuosus |
-- |
Aster diversifolius |
-- |
Aster amygdalinus |
-- |
Aster cornifolius |
-- |
Aster corymbosus |
-- |
Aster amplexicaulis |
-- |
Aster versicolor |
-- |
Aster conysoides |
-- |
Aster carolinianus |
-- |
Aster tardiflorus |
-- |
Astragalus canadensis |
-- |
Atropa physaloides |
-- |
Avena pręcox |
Dwarf oats |
Avena sativa |
Common oats |
Azalea nudiflora (many species) |
Honeysuckle |
Ballota nigra |
Black horehound |
Baptisia tinctoria |
Wild indigo |
Berberis vulgaris |
Barberry |
Beta vulgaris |
Com. garden beet |
Betula populifolia |
White birch |
Bignonia radicans |
Trumpet flower |
Brassica rapa |
Turnip |
Brassica oleracea (many species) |
Cabbage |
Calamintha grandiflora |
Mountain calamint |
Caltha palustris |
American cowslip |
Carex sterilis |
Barren sedge |
Carpinus americana |
Moonbeam |
Carya alba |
Shellbark hickory |
Cassia marilandica |
Wild senna |
Castanea vesca |
Chestnut |
Catalpa cordifolia |
-- |
Celastrus scandens |
False bitter-sweet |
Centannea Americana |
-- |
Cercis canadensis |
Red bud, or Judas tree |
Chenopodium album |
Green pigweed |
Chenopodium botrys |
Jerusalem oak |
Cicuta virosa |
Water hemlock |
Clematis Virginica |
Virgin's bower |
Clinipodium vulg. |
Field thyme |
Cnicus lanceolatus |
Common thistle |
Comptonia asplenifolia |
Sweet fennel |
Convallaria bifolia |
Dwarf solomon seal |
Convallaria stellata |
-- |
Convallaria trifolia |
-- |
Convallaria racemosa |
-- |
Convallaria majalis |
Lily of the valley |
Convolvulus panduratus |
Wild potato |
Convolvulus purpureus |
Morning glory |
Cornus florida |
Dogwood |
Corydulis cucullar |
Colic weed |
Cratęgus
coccinea |
Thorn bush |
Cratęgus
purctata |
Common thorn bush |
Cucubalus behen |
Campion |
Cucumis anguria |
Prickly cucumber |
Cucumis melo |
Muskmelon |
Cucurbita ovifera |
Egg squash |
Cucurbita pepo |
Pumpkin |
Cucurbita cetrulus |
Watermelon |
Cucurbita citrulus |
Ground calabash |
Cynoglossum officinale |
Hound tongue |
Cyripedium pubescens |
Yellow lady's slipper |
Cyripedium spectabile |
Gay lady's slipper |
Cyripedium acaule |
Low lady's slipper |
Datura stramonium |
Thorn apple |
Delphin consolid. |
Larkspur |
Dianthus armeria |
Pink |
Dianthus barbatus |
Sweet William |
Dianthus caryophyll |
Carnation Pink |
Dianthus chinensis |
China Pink |
Dianthus plumarius |
Pheasant ey'd pink |
Dianthus deltoides |
London pride |
Dirca paulustris |
Leather wood |
Dracocephalum canariense |
Balm Gilead |
Echium vulgare |
Blue thistle |
Epiphegus virginianus |
Beech drop |
Erigeron bellififolium |
-- |
Erodium ciconium |
Stork bill gera'm |
Erodium cicutarium |
Hemlock gera'm |
Eupatorium purpureum |
Purple thoroughwort |
Eupatorium perfolliatum |
Boneset th'wort |
Euphorbia corollat |
Saucy Jack |
Euphorbia lathyrus |
Caper tree |
Fagus ferruginea |
Red beech |
Fagus sylvatica |
White beech |
Fragaria virginiana |
Wild strawberry |
Fraxinum acuminata |
White ash |
Gaultherea procumbens |
Wintergreen |
Gentiana quinqueflora |
-- |
Gentiana crinita |
-- |
Gentiana saponaria |
Soap gentian |
Geraneum maculatum |
Crowfoot gerane'm |
Geraneum robertianum |
-- |
Gillenia trifoliata |
Indian physic |
Glechoma hederacea |
Ground ivy |
Gnaphalium margaritaceum |
Life everlasting |
Gratiola virginica |
Hyssop, or isop |
Hamamelis virginica |
Witch hazle |
Hedeoma pulegioides |
Pennyroyal |
Helianthus annuus (several kinds) |
Sunflower |
Helleborus ftidus |
Hellebore |
Helonias dicia |
Unicorn plant |
Hepatica tricolor |
Liverwort |
Heuchera Americana |
Alum root |
Humulus lupulus |
Hop |
Hypericum perforatum (many species) |
St. John's wort |
Ictodes ftida |
Skunk cabbage |
Ilex opaca |
Holly |
Impatiens pallida |
Touch-me-not |
Inula helenium |
Elocampane |
Iris versicolor (several species) |
Blue flag |
Juglans cinerea |
Butternut |
Juniperus sabina |
Savin |
Kalmia latifolia |
Broad leaf laurel |
Kalmia angustifolia |
Narrow l'fed laurel |
Laurus benzoin |
Spice bush |
Laurus sassafras |
Sassafras tree |
Leontodon taraxacum |
Dandelion |
Lepidum virginic |
Wild peppergrass |
Lilium (several species) |
Lily |
Linum usitatissim |
Flax |
Liriodendron tulipifera |
White poplar tree |
Lobelia cardinalis |
Cardinal flower |
Lobelia inflata |
Indian Tobacco |
Lobilia syphilitica |
-- |
Lonicera caprifolium |
Honeysuckle |
Lonicera flava |
Yel'w honeysuckle |
Macrotrysracemoss |
Cohash---rattlew'd |
Magnolia glauca |
Swamp laurel |
Magnolia acuminata |
Cucumber tree |
Magnolia tripetala |
Umbrella tree |
Malva rotundifolia |
Low mallows |
Malva crispa |
-- |
Marubium vulgare |
Hoarhound |
Melissa officinalis |
Balm |
Mentha borealis |
Horsemint |
Mentha piperita |
Peppermint |
Mentha viridis |
Spearmint |
Mimulus ringens |
Monkey flower |
Mimulus alatus |
Sq. stemmed do. |
Morus nigra |
Black mulberry |
Nepeta cataris |
Catmint |
Nicotiana rustica |
Common tobacco |
Nyssa multiflora |
Black lynn |
nothera
biennis |
Primrose |
Origanum vulgare |
Wild marjoram |
Orobanche uniflora |
Cancer root |
Ostrya virginica |
Hornbeam |
Panax quinquefolia |
Ginseng |
Pelargonium triste |
Mourning gera'm |
Phytolacca decantria |
Poke-weed |
Pinus canadensis |
Hemlock tree |
Pinus balsamea |
American silver fir |
Plantago major |
Plantain |
Podophyllum peltatum |
May apple |
Polygala senega |
Seneca snake root |
Polygonum aviculare |
Knot-grass |
Portulacca oleracea |
-- |
Primula farinosa |
Primrose |
Prunella vulgaris |
Fine weed |
Prunus virginiana |
Wild cherry tree |
Prunus domestica (3 varieties) |
Plum tree |
Pycanthemum incanum |
Mountain mint |
Pycanthemum linifolium |
Virginia thyme |
Pyrola umbellata |
Wintergreen, or pipsissiwa |
Pyrus coronaria |
Crab apple |
Pyrus communis (many kinds) |
Pear |
Pyrus mallus (many kinds) |
Apple |
Quercus alba |
White oak |
Quercus tinctoria |
Black oak |
Quercus bannisteri |
Scrub oak |
Quercus rubra |
Red oak |
Quercus coccinea |
Scarlet oak |
Quercus castanea |
Chestnut oak |
Ranunculis acris |
Crowfoot |
Rhododendron maximum |
Wild rosebay |
Rhus glabrum |
Sleek sumach |
Rhus vernix |
Poison sumach |
Rhus toxicodenfron |
Poison ivy |
Ribes triflorum |
Wild gooseberry |
Robinia pseudoac |
Locust tree |
Rosa parviflora |
Wild rose |
Rosa damascena |
Damask rose |
Rosa canina |
Dog rose |
Rosa centifolia |
Hundred leaf'd r'se |
Rubus occidentalis |
Black raspberry |
Rubus trivialis |
Dewberry |
Rubus strigosus |
Red Raspberry |
Rumex ascetosellus |
Field sorrel |
Rumex crispus |
Dock |
Salix viminalis |
Osier---bask't wi'w |
Salix babylonica |
Weeping willow |
Salix flova |
Yellow weeping willow |
Sambucus canadensis |
Black berried alder |
Sambucus pubeacens |
Red berried alder |
Scabiosa stellata |
Star scabious |
Scabiosa atropurpurea |
Sweet scabious |
Scheuchzeria palustris |
Flowering rush |
Scutellaria galericulata |
Common scull cap |
Silene virginica |
Pink catchfly |
Solidago bicolor |
White golden-rod |
Sirea apulifolia |
Nine bark, or snowball |
Tanacetum vulgare |
Tanay |
Trifolium repens |
White clover |
Trifolium pratense |
Red clover |
Trillium pendulum |
Nodding wakerobin |
Trillium erectum (several species) |
False wakerobin |
Tussilago farfara |
Coltsfoot |
Ulmus americana |
White elm |
Ulmus fulva |
Slippery elm |
Uraspermum vlaytoni |
Sweet cicely |
Veratrum viride |
White hellebore |
Verbascum thapsus |
Mullein |
Verbena hastata |
Vervain |
Veronica officinalis |
Speedwell |
Viola (nine species) |
-- |
Vitis vulpina |
Winter grape |
Vitis ęstivalis |
Summer grape |
Vitis labruscoides |
Fox grape |
Zanthoxsylum fraxineum |
Prickly ash |
In this list the botanist will find
many plants not generally supposed to grow in mountainous districts;
while the medical gentlemen will agree with me, that nature seems to
have made this county the home of the most important medicinal
plants in her materia medica. The following remarks, I quote
from an address to the public, by the author, prefacing the
constitution and by-laws of the Jeffersonville Historical Society,
and published in 1851.
"The Botany of western Virginia is
not surpassed by that of any other section in the temperate zones.
'This region,' as Torrey says, 'may be called a garden of medicinal
plants.'"
Ornamental, as well as medicinal
plants, are here scattered with a profuse hand. To every
disease of this region, nature seems to have furnished a remedy.
If in any country botany can be studied with advantage, it is here;
for flowers of the same class, genera, and species, are blooming for
several months. Those in the valleys first, and those found
upon the ascent of the mountains, later. Many have been the
pleasant days which I have spent in botanical rambles on these
mountains, where from frost till frost flowers are ever found.
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