Greenbrier County, West Virginia - 160th Anniversary Booklet - Part 17 *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. *********************************************************************** Historical Booklet - Greenbrier County 160th Anniversary - 1778-1938 Published 1938 Transcribed by Lori Samples DAIRY CATTLE, HORSES AND SHEEP DAIRYING The first settlers brought their cows for their milk and butter. This of course was consumed in the home. The milk products consisted of cream, butter, and "baughnaughclaughber" "smear case" (Casein) or cottage cheese. After the cows were "fresh" and a little butter was produced in excess of home needs the patties were traded in at the country store for "coffee and sugar." As the area of grazing land were extended the tendency was to emphasize the raising of beef cattle and while this is still the principal agricultural "crop" we find beginings of the dairy industry in the eighties and nineties of the last century. A number of creameries were established to which the farmer took his milk for "separation," the skimmed milk returned to feed the hogs, and the cream was churned into butter. The methods of handling the cream and butter were crude. The early "creameries" were located at Franford, Lewisburg and other places. They were financial failures and so passed out and for a number of years the dairy industry was dormant but beginning with the early years of the present century it began to revive. Today a large number of modern up to the minute dairies are found in the Greenbrier Valley and they are operating successfully under efficient management. There are many reasons why the dairy industry should succeed in this area. In the first place the Greenbrier Valley BLUE-GRASS area is larger than that of the state of Kentucky! It includes areas in the counties of Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe and Summers. Chemical analysis shows that by weight the dried substance of Greenbrier blue-grass is 17% protein. Proteins is the most expensive item in any diet, fats second and carbohydrates third. Greenbrier blue-grass is recognized as one of the best of fat producers since the sheep and cattle fattened on it bring as good prices as those finished for market on grain from other sections of the United States. Another factor bearing on the success of the dairy industry in the blue-grass area of the Greenbrier Valley is that Iodine is found in such quantities in the blue-grass that it occurs in the milk of cows which graze on it in sufficient quantity to act as a preventive of goitre. The limestone area of the Greenbrier Valley was once the bed of a warm sea. That it was warm is evidenced by the fact that coral deposits abound. On coral reefs sea weed abound, the source of iodine. Physicians have observed that the presence of the iodine in springs and limestone wells in this area prevent goitre and that the water from these sources is of value in curing goitre contracted elsewhere. Iodine springs are found in the area. A notable one is as Old Salt Sulphur near Union, Monroe County. Since the Greenbrier Valley shipping points are only twelve to fifteen hours distant from the populous centers of the endemic "goitre belt" of the Great Lakes region which extends from Buffalo, including Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit to Chicago, the milk could easily be shipped to these centers for distribution and sold at a price that would insure a handsome profit to say nothing of the health giving values to the people of these cities. HORSES >From the time the first settler came to the Greenbrier Valley it has been known for its fine horses. In the early days the horses were of the general utility type. They were of medium weight and were used to ride, drive and work. Later two types were found. The work type or draft horse which was still of the medium weight class and the riding-driving combination. Today three types are found work horse, saddle horses, and driving horses (trotters). The draft horse type is still characterized by the fact that the majority of farm work horses are of the medium weight type although there are a number of the heavy type found on some of the farms in the more level areas and in the lumber camps. Probably the reason the farmers have never come to a more general use of the heavy work horse is because he has not the nimbleness of the lighter horse, and is not therefore able to get about over hills as well as his lighter brother. in the endurance of the Traveller is a lesson for horsemen of today. This horse was raised at a igh altitude, at an elevation of over 2000 feet above sea level. General Lee used him at a low altitude, only a few hundred feet above sea level. Scientists have demonstrated that all mammals, including man, which live at high altitudes or are taken there to live for some time, have larger red blood cells than tose living at lower levels. The larger sized red cells are for the purpose of increased oxygen consumption which at high altitudes is necessary because of the rarefaction of the air. Larger oxygen consuming capacity means better "wind" at low altitudes. That the "horse racing fraternity" has not learned the advantage of raising and training horses at high altitudes and racing them at lower ones, indicates that full advantage has not been taken of the scientific facts which have to do with "wind" and endurance. The Greenbrier Valley has the blue-grass for muscle building protein constitutes 17% of the dry substance of blue grass and is the principal constituent of muscle (lean meat). the limestone is excellent for bone formation, the iodine in the water and grass promotes growth and heart action through its influence on the thyroid gland, and the high altitude increases the oxygenation which means better "wind," or increased endurance. The climate is excellently adapted for the breeding and training. The raising of horses for work, saddle and racing purposes is another resource of our area which should be promoted. SHEEP When the pioneers entered the Greenbrier wilderness they brought their Merinos with them along with their spinning wheels, cards, knitting needles and foot-powered looms. The merino was a hardy breed well adapted to the country to which he came. He was soon followed by the shropshire and southdown. The latter was favored not only for its fine grade of wool but because of the fine quality of its mutton. At first the wool was of prime consideration but later the whethers were consumed as mutton. This has now changed and we find that the prime consideration is the mutton quality. That this question is unsettled is evident from the presence of the Cheviots, Hampshires, Ramboulets, Dorsetts, Delaines, and cross breeds, as well as those first mentioned. NEXT: GREENBRIER FAMOUS FAIRS