 | History of Roanoke County |  |
Agricultural Resources
The soil of Roanoke County is above the average
in fertility. Wheat is the principal cereal, the average
yield being fifteen bushels to the acre. Corn
and the grasses thrive. The valley lands are specially
adapted to trucking and nearly all garden vegetables
thrive and grow to perfection. Salads, parsnips,
turnips, beets, melons, cantaloupes, celery, potatoes,
and sweet potatoes thrive. Small fortunes
are being made by Roanoke County truckers. They
find a ready market at Roanoke, besides many thousands
of tons of fresh vegetables are shipped from
Roanoke into the coal fields over the Norfolk &
Western and Virginian railways. All farming in
Roanoke County pays.
The Bent Mountain section is specially adapted to
the growth of the cabbage, which is noted for its
size, flavor, and sweetness. Heads of cabbage
weighing fifteen pounds are not uncommon on Bent
Mountain.
The Catawba Valley is specially suited for grazing
and stock raising. Sheep raising can be made
the most profitable of all stock raising in the county.
Owing to the great productiveness of the Roanoke
Valley and its enchanting mountain scenery, it has
been very aptly styled one of the garden spots of
Virginia.
All the woods peculiar to central Virginia flourish
in Roanoke. Oak, chestnut, pine, hickory, cedar,
ash, poplar, locust, birch, and maple are the principal
forest trees.
| History of Roanoke County | |