Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-12-10
The Hvsst.---Fasms Crops, &c.

Mr.. EDIToR:--It has been my lot. for the
past ten months, 10 travel in nearly every section
of this State, and in a part Of Illinois and Iowa,
and have thus had an opportunity 10 Judge Of the
uuthiullness Of the many descriptions given Of the
so-called g Flower of the West.''
The country may naturally be divided into
three parts. Timber Land, which extends from
Lake Michigan, westward, some twenty-five
miles, with sections in several parts Of the State,
though limited in extent, is composed mostly Of
black oak and elm, which grows to great heightr
n1aklpg Goad gnsseE ssaseia - - go 80
and timber. The surface is gently unduIatina
with here and there large marsh or pond
Alter clearing up theland, the farmer gets grea
crop Of wheat or other grain; but The expens
and labor of clearing is so great, that New Eng
lander wonld rather go back still further. wher
he can get crop without being troubled witt
stumps and stones, having had enough If then
where be came from.
The soak Openings which comprise a con
siderable portion Of the State, are covered witt
scattering oak trees, mostly " Burr oak'' which
grow from twelve to thirty inches in diameter
and from thirty to forty feet in height. The sea-
son they grow so short and scrubbed. is ON &C.
count of the fires which run through them every
season, killing all the small wood, and stunning
those trees it is not able 10 kill
The surface, like that Of the prairie, is rolling
with here and there a bluff or ravine MANY of
the inhabitants prefer these lands 10 the praires
for several reasons. First, they can, as general
thing. get fencing materials enough from their
lands, to fence in the same; second, the winter
wheat is not so apt to be killed by the frost. as
the snow remains, without being blown off. which
preserves it; and lastly, il is not SO bleak in win
ter, the wind being broken by the trees Ii is adj
United by all, that the soil.is not 50 strong and
deep as on the praires, but they say the growth
of grain is great enough on either; think, how
ever, the former will get exhausted much sooner
than the latter.
The Prairies, in this State, like those in iii
nois. are strips Of country from four to forty miles
in breadth, and from fifteen to four hundred in
length. They are found in nearly every section
of the country, from Galena Id the South. % fbe
Pinery in the North. The surface is covered
with wild grass, which grows from eighteen inches
to five or six feet high. though The greater part in
this state, is less than two feet in height. They
are entirely destitute Of trees, and often, as have
been travelling, my vision has been lost, to ali but
the wide expanse around; there being nothing but
wild grass to be seen as far as the eye could
reach, in every direction, being what the Suckers
term tout Of sight Of land" The soil i Of tie
deepest and richest cast, vegetation growing.
wild, TO great height. In some parts, living
springs are found, but as general thing. I'D
inhabitants have to dig to considerable depth n
obtain water When farmer commences one
rations. his farm. is as smooth as our Eastern
plans; rock, Or stump Is scarce ever touched
and, BY setting the Pow, i win fnn and turn oger