The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-03-09
I,Iiuoia Farming.

A Jacksonville IH correspondent OF the
Chicago Press thus speaks of the way ~
which the people farm over IN the Sucker
State. We would remark that the same
extensive system OF farming has extended
somewhat into Iowa, though we generally
prefer to see men own each smaller guam
tity of land:-
suppose YOU are aware, and doubtless
vaur readers also are. that there are son't
farms in this part of the State. | have
often heard of Jacob StraWn. the largest
farmer in Illinois, if not in the United Sta ties.
went in sirht Of his farm where he resides
some three wears since, and regret my ma
bilitv for want IF time to visit 1t now. u
obiectsvast and sublime can excite the miro,
certainly these emotions must De "akehea
in looking over his homestead Of ten thou
sand acres, and in gazing upon his herds, tar
more numerous than that g.eat herds man oil
old. Job had thousand oxen, but ! was
told that probably no one knew how many
cattle Jacob Strawn has. A gentlemen
we'll acquainted with him told me 1t was
doubtful whether he knew himself. iheafd
various stories as to the number OF acres OF
corn he had this year. | Will give the
smallest number named. 1t is serentsen
1urlred. The gentleman who informed me-
said Tint he bought six hundred acres more
ms he feared that he had not enough TO keen
H. stock till corn should grow again.
T,rsot,,-tlyee hn1dred acres of corn is quite a
..patch." What say vou to this, We farmers
of New England! This at forty bushels
ner acre low average yield for the last sea-
son. pives ninetq-tno thousand bushels Inc
corn fed to cattle is not husked, but Is cnf
nm ond fed to them on the stalks. was
told of another farm owned by this same
man. which is six miles long and four broad
Inst wear he paid ont ten thousand dollars
for fencing materials. He has also large
tracts of unimproyed land. acknowledge
nv bump Of credulty is large, but notwith'
standing. I could not have given credence g
what have stated had not received the
statements from reliable source. rode
through a "patch Of corn in which it was
said there are fourteen hundred acres, owned
by a Mr.. Alexander. A genuine Kentucky
gentleman, whose acquaintance made 10
the cars, and who gave me many interesting
facts in regard 10 other farms, SAID he was
former in small way He wa. not rreNar-
cd TO farm /. on large scale, but thought he
would try his hand in Illinois, SO ne came
on about two years ago and bought nm a
small farm In reply to the question as %
how many acres his farm embraced, ne sara
he had only a thousand. lie did not tell me
how many cattle he keeps, but said he had
one hundred and seventy mules. ! asked
him the average value Of mule. He SAID
that he had refused one hundred dollars each
for his entire lot. He consideredthem worth
more. So much for Illinois4hrms and farm
ers. If any unhelievine "down-easter"
should chance to read this, would only say,
..come and see." met Nermonter VINO
had come to see, and he said he was amazed.
The one half had not been told him.
After having bought one or two farms. he
has gone home with the purpose OF senn'hg
on one of his boys in the Spring, with
flock of Merno sheep 50 may many
others come. There is much land yet to De
-nI