Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-04-09
Wes<er.ss Correspondence.
ALBxSY, EnxAHA Co. KAxsAs.
March 9th. 1869.

ALBkNY, ~ ENAHA Co., kANSAS,
March 9Th. 1869.
Ed. O1ford Dcmocraf.- Thinking per-
haps it might not be embarrassing TO
your numerous readers to know some
what of this far-famcd country, and that,
too, from citizens of your own county, l
will endcavor to give truthful statement
of matters and things as l have found
them. after q sojonrn here Of some ten
months. l found the country quite equal
tony expectations IN fertility of soil and
genialiIy Of climate. Ofthc soil 1t may
interest your farmers to know its pro-
ductive abilities. What we term the bot
ton, lands is peculiarly adapted to corn
raising; the soil is deep, rich loan and
three feet deep. with aclay subsoil. The
upland has also clay s,ibsoil with top
dressing ofback. loan soil, some twelve
inches deep; the uplands are usually used
for wheat raising, and large crops of
wheat are raised on them. The soil Is
what Kansas men call limestone soil; II
is impregnatcd with lime; all farmers
East and West are we'll acquainted with
the lime properties for wheat raising
The stone on the uplands i combina-
ton of sand and lime.
The wheat crop is sure. and never has
been known 20 fail. except during the
memorable year of 1860, when every thing
was blasted.
believe II has been fully demonstrated
that the business Of this country in the
farming line is stock raising. and not
grain raising, although the winter wheat
crop, Tor the first two years on what is
called the sod, Yields most bountitully TO
the hands of industry For instance. a
man may buy IL section or 100 acres of
land. the first year. break say one hun
dred acres. put it into wheat in the fall.
and he will realize more than the cost Of
fencing, breaking. putting in the crop.
harvesting and the seed, from the first
wears crop. II is contended by some.
that 100 acres of winter wheat, on a ii
section. will pay for the land and all the
improvements.
As ,ad in the first instance. should
any one contemplate the most remunera-
tive investment, ID would be 10 follow
stock raising. lam told by m old stock
raiser that 100 per cent. profit, will bc
his profits this year, on the stock he bought
last year IL might he imagined that we
had 10 drive our stock TO market but
strange rs il may seem buyers from
Illinois and New York come right to the
farmer. door and take his stock from his
ward. Farmers here have learned 10 sell
stock at home; they realize more and get
better bargains.
II was not my intention 10 have spun
this letter TO its prcsen, length, but as one
thing hads 10 another when one get:
on this farming topic, II seems an in
exhaus6ble subject.
Land Is cheap. Prairie farms untitled
from $500 to- $500 per acre, according
tn improvements. When we say farms
we mean. generally speaking. lGO acres
A farmer can buy 100 acres from $3.50 &c
$500 each Timber scarce; fencing Is
principally done by hedging; water
plenty but hard; stock water plenty.
Eggs loc per doz., butter 81 per Id
flour, spring wheat. $50 per hundred
fall. 500.
f. Whittenhall is land agent a. TIM
place lie has lands to sell from $500
to $1,000 per acre, and timber land from
$500 to S50.ooper acre. Allour timber
is hard wood. Oak and Black Walnut.
p ). The difference in the price ofwil'
land from $500 TO $500, is not 50 muci
in the soil rs in the location of it.
III.