The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-04-19
merino rams from Germany and Spain to improve

close with sheep, it, in few years, gives way to
blue grass and white clover-which come natural
" of themselves and without being sown. But
the plan he recommends for laying down into good
meadow and pasture, is to break up the soil some
time between the middle of May aud the middle OF
July "a few days earlier or later may be tolerated.
but not more, as if prairie land is broken out of
season the labor is worse than lost. Sow wheat
in end of August or LIST of September: the follow
ing season, after wheat take crop of Indian corn
which must be kept clean; after the crop is re-
moved, level the ground well, and in February SOW
one peck of timothy to the acre-if on the snow
so much the better, as the dark seeds attract the
suns rays and gradually melt passage for them
selves to the soil below, and the moment the snow
disappears, they, being already imbedded In the
damp SOIL spring up at once and take the start OF
all other vegetation. Late in March add two
pounds of clover-seed per acre. and good hay
crop will be certain. can testify to the success
of this management as | walked over a meadow of
many acres on this gentlemans land, on which
there was ricked crop of at least two tuns an
acre of very excellent mixed clover and grass hay
The aftermath was rich, close, luxuaiant clover: on
which flock of lambs were grazing, just such
clover aftermath as we should find i'll this country
on good land after the first crop of hay L thought
it had been the first crop, but learnt to my sur
prise that the meadow had been out twelve
had borne crop of hay every year, and been fed
close afterward with sheep, during Winter and
Spring, till the prairie grass grew. L have never
seen land in Britain that would bear close clover
aftermath at period So distant from the time of
being seeded, and cannot withhold my belief in the
fertile qualities of soil capable of doing so. Mr.
M'Connell has no doubt that the prairie land
would benefit by the occasional application of
manure, but he never met with any other soil so
A. - hoc
the first wheat crop to pay the price of the land,
with the cost of fencing it, and all the labor and
leave small balance over.
With regard to sheep farming, his opinion is
that corn and hay should first be provided by a
few years cultivation before going largely into a
flock. The prairie grass will furnish Summer
keep at little or no cost, but provision must be
made for Winter. Good merinos can be bought
for SIS. to l2s. Cd. head in focks There is pro-
badly no kind of farming on the prairies from
which the returns would be so regular and certain.
Mr. Mcconnell had tried timber country before
coming here, and was very energetic in expressing
his opinion of the superior advantages to settler
on the prairie.
When in the capital I did myself the honor of
visiting the Governor who lives in handsome
house provided for by the State, who also grant
him the modest revenue of $500 a year. He was
distinguished soldier in the Mexican war, and
had long been one of the Senators of Congress-
He has the highest hopes of the future of Illinois,
and he like other of character and position to
whom have put the question, expressed the be-
lief that fever and ague in this State are on the
decline, though from special causes there had this
year been an exceptional prevalence of both.
l visited also the State House, where the two
branches of the State Legislature held their sit
tnes, and in which are the bureaux of the various
State officers. The Secretary of State very polite
ly showed me over the building; the State Auditor
supplied me documents showing the valuation and
taxation of the State and the Treasurer, who locks
up the money and disburses it exactly like the
clerk in a bank, for which he is paid a salary of
9400 year, explained 10 me the rate of taxation
in the State the desire they all had to pay off their
debt, the prcseRt increase rate 10 which they sub
mitted for that object, the probability of future de-
crease in expense and the general frugaity of the
management. There is a total absence of form
and ceremony about these gentlemen who are
high officers of State. The Secretary of State acts
also as librarian. He and his clerk conduct the
public correspondence and business While was
there man, about thirty, with his hat on and his
hands in his pockets, came lounging in, and, after
listening to our conversation fer WHILE asked if
this was the Secretary, because he wanted to get
some information about old country road of
which no record could be found in his county,
but which he "reckoned' would be posted up at
the capital in the books of the State. The Sec
rotary Immediately went off to ''fx" him about
the road. In the same way the Auditor was at
everybodys call, and the Treasurer also. The
officers of State are not above doing their own
work here.
If there is not much official ceremony, there is a
total absence of it in the manners of the bulk of
the people. The nasty habit of chewing tobacco,
and splitting, not only gives them a dirty look,
but makes them dsagreeable companions. They
eat so fast, and are so silent and run off so soon
eating in this country is like feeding of wild
animals than men. The food is both various and
plentiful, but it is generally badly cooked and
served
Violent thunderstorms are not unfrequent.
Every house on the prairie is fitted with light
ming conductor, but | did not hear that accidents
from lightning were very common.
Again taking the railway, proceeded to Deca-
tur, station thirty miles east of Springfield, and
drove for whole day through the prairie country
in that neighborhood. After driving few miles
through the inclosed farms which surround the
town, We reached the open unbroken prairie, and
turning short off the track on which we had
hitherto been driving, stood across the great
plain which stretched out before us. The horses
grass, through which they pushed on with very
little Inconvenience, although it was in many
places higher than their heads. 1t was not thick,
and parted easily before them; then sweeping un-
der the bottom of our wagon it rose in contnu-