The Iowa patriot. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1839-1839, 1839-07-04

ldescribed, especially when fiat, is kept
back by its too great wetness to time Ia
ter than the climate would make necessa-
/ ry. Perhaps this will in measure be
remedied in time by cultivation and drain
[age. These prairies, every where fit for
the scythe, bear a grass which, both for
summer range and dry fodder, furnishes
support for any number Of cattle.
The timber land differs from the prai-
RE, the soil being a fine clay loan. In
places you may seek in vain in this soil
for a pebble as in the prairie, but in other
parts, chiefly in the wash of the bluffs
upon the bottoms, or on the brow or de-
clivity Of the former, collections of gravel
intermixed with sand are found, sifted by
the rains from the clay above. Among
these stones and lining the banks of the
river are found many ornamental stones
suited to the use Of the lapidary and Jew
| eller. These consist of a great variety,
and some by no means without preten-
sions to beauty. / have not discovered
any of the matchless gem
that polisl'd bright,
And all its native lustre set abroad
| Dares, as it sparkles on the fair ones breast
With vain ambition emulate her eyes.
But there are comedians and agates of
a good quality and some stones of finer
kind.
! This land is productive and perhaps
not inferior at the first to the prairie in fer
tility, but | think must be sooner exhaus-
TED, and will require better husbandry to
keep it in condition.
The bottoms are formed by the alluvion
OF the streams and the diluvion of the
bluffs conjoined, and are, as would be
thence anticipated, an extremely rich san
Idly loan. These lands are each well
adapted to the culture of the different
kinds of grain and other fruits of the earth,
which they produce abundantly and with
comparatively little labor. 1t has Leen
thought that the winters are rather too
open in the southern part for profitable
culture of wheat, which from some cause
has not succeeded according to expecta.
tons. But the winters here must be very
nearlythe same as in parts of Pennsylvania
where the climate is not adverse to this
grain, and the failures in its culture must
be set down to some other cause not con.
nected with climate or soil; perhaps to
the moisture of the prairie. think the
timbered land when cleared will prove
best suited to this crop.
The bottoms may perhaps be turned
to best account for English hay or for
beet culture, to which think them adj
mlrably adapted. If there is any part of
the country where sugar may be made
probably it is here, where the article
bears the highest price, where the land is
favorable for beet, and bearing native ma
pie, and where fuel, considerable item
1.-THE expense of manufacturing, is cheap.
With such soil as this we need not
look to it for further contribution to the
resources of the state than will be afforded
by its skllful and industrious cultivation.
But it contains beneath the surface addi-
tional treasures of wealth. l have men
toned the limestone. | have seen spe
cimen of very fine marble similar in it's
grain, sofness, polish and variegated
streaks to the Egyptian, which it undoubt-
eddy is. am told a yellow marble has
been found in this town, but have not
seen it. Specimens, very fine, of lead
and copper were shown to me, which the
possessor informed me were found west
ward OF this place: you know that lead
mines are worked and produce well in
the northern part of the territory, whence
and from the opposite side of the river
steam boats daily pass here heavily laden
with the metal in pigs: and iron has been
found, as l am told, near the Wabepee.
sippimecon river.
The land of the territory being smooth
aud unmarked by any rugged features,
handsomely diversified with wood and
prairie and highly productive, think a
little taste in laying out and fencing, and
planting fruit, skill in cultivation, with
very moderate toll, will make it equal to
or surpass my idea Of the best cultivated
English farms.
My excuse to you for this meagre ac-