Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-08-18
FARMING ON A LARGE SCALE.

What large tracts OF land are sometimes
titled in the Western States under the
name Of farms may be judged from the
following articles which are found in the
Peoria Press
AN ILLINOIS PRAIRIE FARM.-Mr. |.
saac Underhili, Of Peoria, has farm a.
bout Is miles above this place, at Rome
on the Illinois River, which is the largest,
or at least one of the largest in the State.
The first field of this farm that meets
your view in approaching Rome, consists
of five hundred acres, under what is some
times called Virginia or worm fence, eight
rails high. Three hundred acres of this
are in wheat, principally put in last fall,
and which was sowed upon the sod, last
year for The first time broken up by the
plough. From such ground full crop
is never expected, before the large fur.
rows, which had lain in solid body OF
matted roots for ages, are thoroughly de.
composed and pulverlzed, which cannot
take place in few months. The wheat
is now (July 9th, "whlte for harvest !"
and il is estimated that parts OF the field
will yield twenty-five, and some thirty
bushels to the acre, though the whole may
not average much over twenty bushels.
The difference IN the crop is mainly at
tributable to the time and the manner in
which the ploughing and sowing were
done. The balance Of the field is in COIN
and oats.
The second field, which is nearest Rome,
and separated from the first named, by
the road leading from Northampton to
that place, consists Of two hundred acres,
which is enclosed with beautiful and ex-
cellent board fence. This was done at
an expense Of $l265, which was about
the cost Of the fence around the five hun.
bred acres. This field contains wheat,
rye, oats, and corn, and shows what the
La Sale prairie can do when under full
subsection TO the hand of the culivator.
The wheat here presents scene beautiful
Beyond description. 1t ovsrtops the fence,
which exceeds five feet in height; II is
clean, well headed and even, and must
produce thirty-five bushels to the acre.
A description of the rye and oats would
be such as might excite doubts OF It's truth
in the minds of those who have never seen
the crops OF our prairie State. The corn,
though fine, is not so well grown as II is al
the same time of the year in ordinary sea-
sons.
The third field, which lies north Of the
second, will be Of mammoth SIZE when
completed, which will be in very short
time. Much of it is now under fence,
broken up, and a part Of it in corn. 1t
will consist of sixteen hundred acres, all
under one fence.
The whole farm COMPRISES about two
thousand three hundred acres, and has
straight line Of fence on one side, three
miles long.
Mr. u. expects this fall to be able 10
put seven or eight hundred acres in wheat.
Much of this will be in ground second
year under cultivation, and with an ordI-
nary season, the next years crop of this
and the sod wheat, or what will be put in
new ground, may reasonably be calculat.
cd to yield at least an average crop OF
twenty-five bushels per acre.
The breaking or ploughing of the pral-
RE, cost MIR. Underhill 50 so per acre by
contract, and wheat sold here nearly all
last winter at rs cents per bushel f: if it
came a little under that on some days, it
went higher on others. We add these
prices to the preceding account, that the
reader may form some idea of what can
be done in the way of prairie farming in
Illinois.
Mr.. U. is now building two large barns,
80 by 80 feet, on the bank of the river,
at Rome, where there is one Of the best
steamboat handbags on the river. The first
of these was raised few days since, and
the frame of the other will be ready to go
up in a short time.