The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-07-02


Our friend Darlington, OF the Doyles
town IRtelHgeacer, after attending to hi
duties as delegate to the Chicago Conven
ton, went Westward, aud upon his re-
turn gave an interesting review of agri
cultural afaifs in the country through
which he passed He says ain the
vicinity OF Lawrence, Kansas, during the
last week IN May, some of the corn was d
foot high, the early potatoes were nearly
fit to dig, the peas and other early garden
vegetables were in full bearing, and the
wheat fields were already assuming the
golden tiuge of approaching ripeness :
The prairie grass was as high as ones
knees, and the horned cattle and sheen
had been reveling upon it since the be.
ginning of March. This advanced state
of vegetation, it was said, was rather ex-
ceptiopal-the spring having this year
opened unusually early. Lawrence is
nearly in the lattnde OF Washington city.
In Southetu Kansas the season was in a
state ct still greater forwariness, and peo-
pie were already beginning to cut the
prairie grass for hay. Very little cult
waited or tame grass is to be found in that
country. Coming east through Missouri
to st. Louis, the condition Of vegetation
was nearly the same as in Kansas. Plen
fy ofripe cherries and strawberries grown
10 the vicinity, where for sale on the
streets. Ia ccntral Illinois the corn was
not so large, but looked healthy aud thrift
~. 1t was all planted by machinery, of
ten in such manner that it would be
very difficult for crow or cut worm to
follow row from one end to the other.
y very common practice is to harrow the
gronud over thoroughly after the corn is
planted, which does not disturb the seed
but kills the young weeds aud makes the
top mellow and easily penetrated by the
shoots. Grass and wheat appeared to be
be very vigorous. Throughout Illinois
and Iowa spring wheat is mostly grown
being often sowu after corn without pow-
ing. 1t is also sown in the fall, upon
prairc which has been broken up in the
spring or summer In northern Ohio
the season was apparently much later
Little corn was to be seen in the ground,
nearly all had been planted The forests
were not yet in full leaf, and many fruit
trees were still in blossom. This was the
case until the Allegheny ridge was reach
cd, on the eastern side of which the
spring seemed to be more advanced and |
vegetation Of all kinds better developed |
In the West, crops of all kinds look ex-
cccdingly well. Beyond Pennsylvan
magnificent fields of spring and winter
wheat are constantly seen, and mo t.
bountcOus harvest seems to be at hand
Kansas has never heretofore been able to
supply her population of 100000 per
sous with bread from her own soil, but
this year she is pretty sure to do it
More beautiful fields of wheat than are
now ripening on the truthful bottoms of
Of the Kansas river were never beheld. |
A very large extent of corn has also been
planted, and unless great disasters should
intervene, the agricultural produces of
the West this year viii surpass all pre-
ccdents. Fruit trees look remarkably
healty, and are full of promise. In the
Mississippi valley, and beyond it, the ap-
ple tree is much more healthy and luzu-
rant than with US, and the fruit is rapid
ly becoming abundant. Orchards of
greater or less extent are being set out
on nearly every farm, and disposition to
promote fruit culture is observable every
where. In Missouri, especially, the graz c
is receiving great attention, and ''vinc-
clad hills" frequently occur along the
route Of travel.