The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-02-27
ror tas Hsnasd 81 Eeesoa..
Questions Answered
For The bsae6t of thOss suho ,oish to s#ssnete
to tie Neosko Ralsey.


Questions Answered
For the beaeja of Hoss suho soisk to szassrete
to TIE Neosho Ralsey.
BY SETH rABLEY.
Is there any timber on the prairie
No, not Of any account the nfe Woald
not allow IL have no doubt there viii
be mere timber in Kansas tsn years from
now, than now, If the fire is not allowed
to run.
Is there much timber on the river
Yes, considerable for Kansas. Perhaps
more than in almost any ether part
How far through is il !?
From half q mile to 8 mile; and IN
some places perhaps, farther. This may
seem q small amount of timber to you,
but this viii supply large country with
lumber.
What kind of forest trees have you
We have great variety such as oak,
hickory, blackberry, walnut, sycamore,
elm, ash, soft maple, Eastwood, cotton.
wood, mulberry, peacon, coffeebean, and
few minor kinds.
OF what kind is there the most
Oak, hickory, blackberry and walnut.
Does the timber grow thick and heavy?
Close 10 the river it does. Can ges
around with team if you are good dn-
yer.
How many rail cuts can you generally
get off from tree
That depends how long you make your
rails-average length, three.
You may think that am asking too
many queer questions that viii not amount
to much, but I am like any other Yankee
very inquisitive.
don't blame you, for I'd do the same
myself. But when / wanted to ask such
questions could not get any one to an
swer them. What tell you. tell your
neighbor, for that neighbcr may be as
was.
Well. I will. Now want to find out
about the prairie soil. Is it high or low,
uneven or level?
The prairies are rolling, Just enough for
the water to run of They are not high
or low some parts are quits level, Dus
not low or wet.
| Is it all tillable land ?
The most of it is. In some places, along
the creeks and in the rayines, limestone
projects.
Is this stone seen on the highest
points
and creeks It is, but out from the river
three or four miles there is none, only In
the hollows. 49,
VIII this stone make the prairie diff
cult to plow
1t may some but you can dig it out
and use it for fencing, &c. Where can
You find one hundred and sixty acres OF
land, without there being some waste
land on it :? This limestone answers Is
fertilizer. Every rain washes Of some.
mixing it with other properties, forms new
soil.
Yes, know that lime is great assist
ant in forming new soils, and N re-nerE-
ing old.
]! Liebig, and other chemists, tell us that
we ought to save all the alkalies, such IS
leached ashes, to put on old land. But
we here will not need it for some time.
You in the States must use such ferilliz-
ers before long, if you don't you Will not
raise much. Be more saving OF your
slops' and put them on your land.
! Yes, I know we ought; but Is there
any grayelly knolls on the prairie
No, have not seen any.
! Is there much grass on the prairie
Yes, considerable.
! How high does it grow
From one foot TO three, and in vet sea-
sons it grows higher.
Does stock do well on it
First rate. / never saw better looking
cattle than I have seen here this fall.
Is there any rosin weed that grows On
the prairie
/ Yes, but does not grow as abundant as
| in some places in Kansas.
What color is the surface soil
II is of different colors-blsck, brown
/ ish. red and yellow. On the highest
points It is of reddish cast on the low
est, black and brownish.
Is it very sandy ?
/ No; moro clay than sand
I Is il cold soil ?
No; grains come up very quick.
4 Does It grow hard or compact By the
\ sun shining on it for some time
No but it may. after being cultivated
for some time. To judge from what I
have seen, should say that It became
j lighter.
What Is the subsoil
4 Yellowish clay. There Is not much
i difference between il and the surface soil
After being brought whess the sir czn
4 come in contact with il, it becomes in
i year about the same color as the surface
!. soil. And the surface soil becomes daFk-
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