The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-04-19
CIR ar stfrn gRmntrat.
CHARLOTTE, n. G.
Prairie Farming in the West.

lament, has been travelling in Illinois and other
Western States, and thus gives his impressions of
that part of the country:
From Bloomington I proceeded southwark to
Springfield, the capital, and hot far from the Gen.
ter of the State of Illinois. This is fine town,
with good streets and shops and the neighborhOod
is diversified BY timber 1t is like all other places
in this part of the country, surrounded by the
wide prairie The view from the top of the State
House very much resembles that of the plain of
Lombardy as seen from the Duomo of Milan ex
cept there is nowhere boundary of mountains.
But there is the same rich, far-srretching plain,
with trees in lines and groups, the timber becOm-
ing denser along the banks of the streams, which
have cut out for themselves hollow passages wind
ing about on the panoramic landscape spread be-
fore the eye. The inhabitants of the town, like
those in the country, are not this season exempt
from ague.
visited the County Cattle Fair or Show which
was then being held in a field close by the town.
The best short-horn stock were exhibited by Mr.
Brown, a celebrated cattle breeder of this State,
whose acquaintance had the good fortune to make
in the show yard. He exhibited a short-horn
COW, bred by himself, six years old, which had had
five calves, large, tat, handsome animal, which
would have been prize-taker at an English show
He showed also three year old short-horn bull
from Lord Ducie's stock, imported last year. The
large stock farmers of the West, who the real
ly moneyed men, are taking great pains to improve
the quality Of their cattle by the importation Of
the best English blood 1t is an excellent policy,
and they already abundantly reapng the re-
ward of their enterprise For, though at this au
tumnal season, the prairie grass looks coarse and
nutritious stranger has only to examine the
cattle which fed upon it to convince himself of
its feeding qualities. And, as this grass is every
where to be had here for nothing, the grazicr
suits his own interest by mourning some expense
in improving the present breed of cattle, and thus
obtaining earlier maturity, better quality, and
quicker returns from his extensive grazing. OF
the cattle common to the country there were sew
eral specimens exhibited, of enormous size. One
red and white OK with wide upturncd horns, four
and a half years old, measured 2,7G0 lbs. weight
He handled well, though very strong in bone and
limbs. Another of 1000 lbs gross weight was
reckoned on the spot worth eli at the current
price of beef, viz about ID pound dead weight
Mr. Brown has been many years in the country
engaged in farming He farms largely, and be-
lieves that money may be made and has been made
in this this State by stock farming and grow
ing Nor is this remarkable inasmuch grazing
land the parties could be had for nothing, cost
ing neither rent nor taxes, while corn land must
be bought, inclosed, and cultivated, and labor has
hitherto been expensive. However, till very
Gently there outlet for corn. Railways
are rapidly altering the former state of things
bushel. He has found short-horn stock the most
profitable which is no doubt chiefly owing to the
high prices he is enabled to realize the sale of
well bred stock for improving the breeds of the
country. Bu- he has not found them so success
full on the natural prairie grass, of which on his
own lands he has longer any. Though the
prairie grass may be extirpated in time by close
feeding, he has found it the best practice to break
it up, and, after course of tllage to the land
out with blue grass and clover. The blue grass
is rich, thick, succulent grass of blush colour,
which grows with great success on the limestone
soils of Kentucky and is found to succeed admira-
bly, on the prairies when laid down pasture 1t
improves every year, and yields feed for months,
beside half feed during the Winter, whereas the
natural prairie grass is in its best state only for the
first four months after Spring Mr. Brown has
all his lands now laid down in "tame" grass, as
the sown grasses are commonly termed here He
keeps no stock except his thorough bred short
horns, and lets his surplus grass for grazing at 81
month for each animal, during the Summer and
Autumn. He feeds his stock during Winter
the pastures, giving them corn and hay in time
of snow. As he can buy Indian corn in his part of
the State at average of Sd. bushel, he has no
doubt that this is the kind of farming which best
suits Illinois. He had tried sheep, and found them
to do well, but having no taste for them, he keeps
exclusively to cattle.
There were various novel agricultural imple-
ments exhibited in the show yard. Plows noun
ted on an axle, with high wheels, the only advan-
tage of which seemed to be that seat was thus
provided for the driver There were seed planters
of ingenious construction, circular self-cleaning
harrow, which always goes round about while be-
ing dragged forward-little hand-nachines for
washing clothes upon, which are said to economizc
labor 100 per cent-and chain-bucket pump, an
extremely simple cheap and efficient article.
drove few miles out of town to visit the farm
of MIR VI 'Connell, who recommended to me by
the Governor of the State man of great intel
ligence, integrity, and experience. l walked and
drove over his farm, examined his stock, and re-
ceived from him very clear and distinct Informal
ton. He is practical man who has been all his
life engaged in farming, and has fought his way
up to very comfortable independence. He left
''the old country" in 1911, farmed in a small way
for thirty years in the State of New York, where
he first settled, and moved thence to Illinois sew
enteen years ago. He had always preferred sheep
farming, and brought his small flock of merinos
with hiul. They have been remarkably healthy,
increase one-third every year, and his flock now
number %, 600 His aeeces average four to five
pounds each, and the wool sells for Is Sd to 2s a
pound. He bought his farm at Fl an acre, and
could sell it at el0, it is in good position
near the capital of the State. But he is SO firmly
persuaded of the rapidly growing wealth of this
fine State, that he has no doubt of his farm being
worth ego an few years hence. He con-
siders the land for 100 miles round Springfield to