The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-06-05
From the American Agricu,,uralist.
Rocky Mountain FARMING.
by A CoLpnADr FARMER.

Our climate here is generally the mos,
delightful have ever experienced. Ou,
rains are periodical and of short dura
ton, say about four weeks, commencing
the last Of June ana ending the last o.
July. In the mountains the rainy sea
son is longer. The atmosphere is ligh'
and dry, the nights cool, the days warm
During the summer of 1860, we had nc
warm nights all cool enough to bear
a good comforter-but the Summer d
1861 had all comfortably warm nights
The former year developed no mosqui
toes-the latter produced multitudes
Last season we had but little frost in
April or May, none to hurt lettuce
radishes, and hardy vegetables. Blu,
little snow falls in the valleys during
Winter, and we have but few days oil
severe weather. The cold snaps usually
come from January ! to Is, bnt some
times either earlier or later. September
October, November, and December
except a few days, are pleasant beyond
any thing ever experienced elsewhere
Our warm weather in Winter does no.
produce lassitudc; the atmosphere is
clear and bracing. Except On the
highest, or Snowy Range, little snow
falls in the mountains, where the most
Of the quartz mills are running, and that
little does not lie long, except where
drifted in valleys. The changes from
hot to cold are not greater than l have
always experienced in the North, East,
and South. Vegetables have been
drawn into the mountains all Winner So
far; at no time has The grass been
covered BY the snow. Our cattle have
been unhoused and are fattening finely
I This Winter i. mi!ler than last-abcul
! like that of SO and 60. and a fair aver.
age es the winters in this climate.
Severe and killing frost comes Sep
,ember ii to II, uniformly-in three
Falls it has not varied from these dates:
then follows the most beautiful weather
ever saw. Certain warning is given
to secure all pcrishahlc products, and
ample time to save fall crops. We have
an occasional hail storm; severe blows.
with cloudless skies, and sudden chang
es Of weather; we have dry roads ali
the year-thc best natural roads the
| world ever saw-and general freedom
from colds. With proper care this is
certainly healthy climate. But we
.avc yet no system, no care and few Of
the comforts Of our former homes. A
the country improves the little sickness
We have will greatly diminish; and
am satisfied our mineral springs, noun
tain ranches, and country seats, will be
the resort of invalids Of other climes.
Exposure and neglect, with improper
diet produce scuryy, fever and rhcuma.
tism, with an unusual amount Of ervsip-
elias; all which yield readily to proper
treatment. Among the prominent eau
ses of diseases may be counted the uni
vcrsal and immoderate use Of soda in
cooking. Yeast bread must remain Il
scarcity until the supply Of women is
inc, eased.
SoH.--Our valley soil is composed of
sand, ashes, and dccomposed vegetable
matter. Most of the tilable land lies in
the creek valleys, though there is much
Of the high lands on the divides, [e'e-
waited land between the creeks or torks7
which can be made highly productive
by the application Of water; these up
lands have more clay, less sand and
decomposed mountain vegetable matter
What we call willow land OH the bottom
is very rict and produotivc-yielding
200 to 400 bushels of potatoes per acre.
The soil in the valleys vary from in.
ches to 4 feet an depth, the whole being
regulated by the irregular action of the
streams in chasying their channels in
past ages. The bottoms Of these are
uniformly covered with powders and
sand. The mountains yield an annual
supply ofashes tiom the burnt districts,
which can be rendered useful by irriga-
ton. Our large, valleys, further from
the mountains-such as the Platte
have fewer boslders, sud more rich
tillable land. When our lands are
brought fully ito use we shall be able
to support aplrge mining population
and raise nesh everything We want.
Capacity Of Nn and Climate. Wheat
rye, oats, barleycorn (early sariet,es),
vines (cucurbipus) Of all kinds; roots