The Arkansas banner., 1844-05-08
=---it countries we compare,
And estimate the blessings which they share Though men may ilatter, still shall wisdom iii


 An equal portion del 10 all mankind.
 The farmers of the fertil region of which we have spoken, are subjected to immense risk and trouble in conveying their produce to market. Their beef is sold Son foor' in the eastern cllies-Baltimore Philadelphia, New Y York and Boston--ther cattle being thus obliged to perform journeys of from four hundred, to more than thousand miles in extent. The soil of very considerable por ton of that country, IS not suited Co the pro- duction of wheat, Indian corn being almost the only grain that is cultivated; and the diff 1 ficulty of transporting this article to distant market without damage, or without mourning an unwarrantable expense, obiges the farm CT to feed it to cattle and hogs, which, with other circumstances, tends to keep beef and pork al a very low price.
 But we have thus far spoken only of the best soil under good cultivation; and t should by no means be inferred that what we have said of such lands, will apply universally, or even generally, to the western country. l. must not be inferred that the soil of the whole of that region, is of such lnexhaustible fertil- i ity. There are poor lands there, and very l large portion of all, may he said to be of not . ulpFt ttldll ibbuluil Ihdllls Ntl III lic Ahltl- yaton of the inferior soils, as lltle attention is generally paid to prevent exhaustion, as with the richest ones. The consequence is, that the older settled portions of the west, exhibit in too many cases, the most striking evidences of rapid deterioration. We speak more particularly of some of the hilly and wheat-growing districts of Ohio. The most prominent defect in the husbandry, IS the too frequent use of the blow, and running the land too much to grain crops, without ma nure and without the use of clover or grass by which course the land is much impovish- ed, and greatly injured by the washing ol rains, and by the growth of foul stuff which the slovenly cultivation has permitted to spring up. So bad has been the management, tha land which only very few years ago pro- duced good crops of wheat, now yields only a scanty harvest that scarcely pays for the gathering. But the injury from bad cultva ton is not confined to the hills, t is often seen oil the level lands and 'bottomgn No soil but that of the very richest quality, could be subjected to this devastating couise, with out exhibiting signs of deterioration,
 The system of renting which prevails in many districts, IS the cause of much bad man. agement The tenant occupies the land on ly on an annual lease, perhaps, and rAe terms are such, as in connexlon with the low prices of produce, oblige him to go on the do-for' tae-pressnt-pian; the skinning course is thr only one for him. The present crop is tn. only one thought of The fields becoml heInmed in with bushes and brambles, el ders and rank weeds gradually get possession of favorable spots in the interior, and thel are left to grow and flourish, gaining strengtl and wider possession every year, becans each occupant cannot Or supposeh he cannot afford to eradicate them. Neither are thes appearances confined to rented land; they are seen under the management of the owne himself