Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-08-12
: FARMING ON A LARGE SCALE.

: FARMING ON A LARGE SCALE.
What large tracts of land are sometimes
TILED in the Western States under the name
of farms may be judged from the following
articles which arc found IN the Peoria
Prss:-
An Winois Prairie Fmm.-Mr. Isaac
Undcrhill, of Peoria, has a farm, about Is
miles above this place, at Rome, on the
Illinois river, which is the largest, or, at
least, ono 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 called Vir-
gina or worm fence, eight rails high. Three
hundred acres of this arc in wheat, princ-
paly 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 a full crop is never expected, before
the large burrows, which had laid in a solid
body Of matted roots for ages are thoroughly
dcconposcd and pulverizod, which cannot
take place in few months. The wheat is
now (July 9th) "whilc for harvest; =" aud
it is estimated that parts of the field will
yield twenty-five, and some, thirty bushels
to the acre, though the whole may not aver
age over twenty bushels. The difference IN
the crop is mainly attributable to the time
and the manner in which the ploughing and
sowing were done. The balance of the
field is in corn and oats
The second field, which is ncarcs, Rome.
and separated from the first named bv the
road leading from northampton to that place,
consists OF two hundred acres, which is en-
closed with beautiful aud excellent board
fence. This was done at the cypcncc of
81 ,265, which was about the cost of the
fence around the five hundred 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
culllvator. The wheat here presents a
scene beautiful beyond description. 1t over
tops the fence, which exceeds five feet in
heigth; il is clean, well headed and even.
ana must produce ihirty-flvc bushels to the
acre. A description of the rye and oats
would be such as might excite doubts of its
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 i, is
at the same time Of the year in ordinary
seasons.
The third field, which lies north of the
second, will be of uncouth size when com
pIctcd, which will be in short time. Much
OF 1t is now under fence, broken up, and "A
part OF 1t in corn. 1t will consist of sixteen
hundred acres, all under one fence.
HE whole farm comprises about two
t;nIISHnI thrpn IupIr,J
straight line Of fence on one side, three
miles long.
Mr.. U. expects this AL to be able to put
seven or eight hundred acres in wheat. Much
OF this will be in ground a second year under
cultivation, and with an ordinary season.
the next years crop of this and the sod
wheat, or what will be put in new ground,
may be reasonably calculated to Weld at
least, an average production of twenty five
bushels per acre.
The breaking or plouglng of the prairie
cost MIR. CndcrhilI $3.50 per acre by con-
tract, and wheat sold here nearly all last
winter AT - cents per busllel; if it came
little under that on some days it went higher
on others. We add these prices to the pre-
ccding 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,
30 by 80 feet, on the bank of the river at
Rome, where there is one of the best steam
boat landings on the river. The FIRST 0.
these was raised last Saturday, and the
flame Of the other will be ready to 90 up in
short time.