The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1860-08-09
Thlngs vve observed.
Continued J

While il - true that there 10 not .
foot Of poor Or unproductive land in our
county, it 10 also true that the fertility
Of our soil varys somewhst in different
localities. The superior fertility and
productiveness is claimed by our river
bottom lands. We have observed this
for some time past,and recently noted
the evidences afforded BY the large crop.
raised upon the !arms Of M.ssre. J. II.
Holleo, Hall, Jaquot, Buruham, HUT,
aud others whose cultivated lands are il
part Or whd lly situated upon the Iowa
river bottoms. The exubcrant crops raised
by these farmers are attributable il part
to tho superior fertility Of the soil, sad
in part to the warm and protected loca.
ton Of the lands. But little, ,ompar.
lively however Of these lands on the
north bank Of the river 10 brought
under state Of cultivation. This 10
owing to occasional foods which psse
over part Of them and to the enkar
RAISING fact that non resident individual
owners, and railroad companies. control
another large part. These non residents
are the lceches IF our land, who, while
they contribute comparatively nothing.
are swelling and fatteaing upon the ia
dustry Of our rssidests. They forcibly
illustrate TO every western man the ne
cessity Of Homestead law 10 all new
countries to protect our hardy pioneers
in procuring for themselves home ard
extending the borlcrs Of civilization.
At Plsqnimine We "bscrved that Dr.
H. T. Badly, had manifested much taste
ia the arrangement Of . large plat Of
ground frorsing his house,. The Doct.
has fairly commenced the plan Of an OF
nsncated door yard, which whea com
pleted, by a little more labor, and few
years more growth Of trees and plants,
will far surpsss anything Of the kind
that We have seen in the County. We
commend the Doctor for his good
taste.
Messrs. Ha"cox, Byram, and Park.
have we'll cultivated farms ia this neigh
borhood. Messrs. Spence and Hunter
have large steam saw mill, which W.
were Informed is kept in almost con
slant operation. Much Of the lum her
sawed at this mill finds = market in and
about Irving.
About one and half miles east Of
this mill, We fad the residence Of J, A.
Wiley. one Of our earliest settlers
Besides carrying on large and very
productive farm, he has bestowed much
care and attention upon nursery and
garden products. Some Of the apple trees
in his orchard, have blosso ned and
borne fruit, to the satisfaction Of their
owner, and to the proof for thousands
that apples can be raised in our county
His large bushes Of currants loaded with
their crimson fruit and long rows Of
Hou.atons Seeding Goeseberries, were
really rich feast for the eyes, and
spoke volumes Of praise for their owner.
Mr.. Wiley thinks that orr farmers, in
setting out an orchard, pay too little 1t
tention to the selection Of their trees.
He says it is : waste Of labor and money
to e"deavor to raise any but the most
hardy. he is sstis6ed that he has ful,v
proven this by experiments. Let other
farmers profit BY bis advice and
experience.
The village Of Irving Is pleasantly
situated on the line Of our county adioip.
ing Benton. It boasts at present Of two
stores, ono Hotel, shoe shop, 1 CARR
age shop, blacksmith shop, and one
grocery.
It has also > water power which is i'm
proved It present By Mr.. Geo. Williams
Il contains about 400 inhabitants and i.
quite an enterprisiog inland town. The
merchants We learn are doisg ; very
good business, supplying > large sur.
rounding country. Mr.. Travis the GRO
prietor Of the Hotel keeps . ve-v cooa
house. aud receives considerable patron
age.
The place boasts OF Band Of Martial
Music, which il 30 much more than can