The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-02-17

W buIct uuuuIcu uusucls, anu OtucI UIOps
in proportion, They say that these figures
viii more frequently fall short of the act
ual crop than they will exceed them. 1t
is the finest country for a general vegeta-
BILE crop | have ever seen. Glover and
timothy grow as finely in that country as
any country l have ever been in, in life.
Blue grass grows almost spontaneously,
spreading out through the prairies and
timber lands as the country is being set
tied up. | have travelled through the blue
grass portions of Kentucky, and | have
no hesitation in saying that this country
equals if not snrpasses Kentucky in the
growth of this grass. | know that this as
sertion will be doubted by some, for there
are persons who think that Kentucky has
no equal upon this continent Cor blue
grass, but | have seen both countries when
blue grass was at its most thoroagh per-
lection, and | have no hesitation in saying
that as a general thing the Platt Purchase
excells any country in the grOth Of blue
grass | have even seen. The red top or
herd grass grows beautifully and is culti-
waited to a very great extent in this coun-
try, having seen frequently from one to
two huRlred acres growing on the farms,
and when just ripening for the mower, it
is a rich and beautiful crop. In short all
grasses grow to perfection and DO well.
There ia an idea prevalent in the minds Of most
people of East Tennessee that timber is too scarce
in that country for extensive farming purposes.
In answer to such objection | viii just state that
the country is nearly equally divided inthis re-
spect, being about one half timber and the other
prairie. Along the water courses YOU will find
timber Of all qualities extending fun length OF
same and out into the prairies from one TO five
miles. Also narrow slopes of timber extending
out into the prairies along with the small sloughs.
The timber is gradually encroaching upon the
p%rairies rs the country is becoming settled and
as the farmers protect it from the fires. In all
such places the country grows up rapidly in good
timber. The citizens say that there is now al
ready plenty Of good timber in 1.-THE country for all
farming purposes, and that there will be more
than the country needs in u few years with prop
er management.
The time will soon come when but little tim
Der will be used for any other purpose than fire
wood, for already around every mans farm you
viii see the hedge fence in all stages of maturity
from the young plant just coming up to the full
fence from six to ten feet high aiIOrding
perfect protection TO all kinds of crops, &c. The
Usage Orange grows rapidly here, making a per-
feet fence in from three to four years, at which
time the fences are removed from around the
farms which have protected the hedges while
small, aud with the rails they run their cross
fences through their farms on the inside of the
hedge fence. In a short time this whole country
will be enclosed with the hedge fence. The fer
mers make their hedge fencing perfectly straight
and run them on section lines North aud South
East and West, which will check the county of
beautifully when once completed. The road law
in this country is very strict, compelling all cOun-
try roads to run on section lines, and1placing the
gage at sixty feet wide, North and South, and
forty feet East and West, so that no man has a
county road running through his farm. If he
should own a full section of land the county
roads run on the line all around him; but if he
should own a fractional farm, he has the right
Of way for II small road running out TO these coun-
ty roads which he contracts for when he makes
his purchase. This system of road laws will
make this a beautiful country when once settled
up Gnd checked off in this manner, which is rap
idly being done. In speaking of the soil of this
country 1t is only necessary to say, that, as far
as | am capable Of Judging, | have never seen a
better soil in any country, and is so nearly uni
form in its extent, for the whole Northwestern
portion of the State of Missouri il one vast body
of black loan Of the richest quality, and differ
ing, as ! before said, only in depth of soil which
averages from twelve inches to four feet deep,
easily cultivated, there being no roots o. rocks
to disturb your pillow, and with a soil that scOurs
your plOws we'll, compelling them to shed the
dirt most beautifully. The sod crop Of that cOun-
try is the first crop raised on the ground after
breaking the prairie, and is almost an entire
profit to the farmers, never having to cultivate
them in the least after the corn is planted, and
Of a good year averages from 20 to 30 bushels Of
corn per acre. While breaking this prairie land
for your sod crop, by running Il small one-hOr8e
turning plow as u suhsoiler in order to afford
more dirt to the roots of the corn while young,
you will then raise perhaps as much and Us good
corn as you will ever raise on the ground, many
times reaching to forty and fifty bushels. This
looks incredible to one not accustomed to the cul-
~tiyation Of prairie land. but | believe such is the
case with the sod crops of the whole Northwest
While raising your sod crop, by simply planting
between the rows of corn you also realize an a.
bundant crop Of pease and pumpkins, all OF which,
with the sod crop of corn, are generally fed to
fall beef cattle, preparatory to selling about the
ldoL VI 4NbhtllDOlI NJ NllCh lllllC ut hlb bNOth
market closes out, there being q second sale Of
fat hogs and beeYes about the middle Of June, for
mess pork, &c., which are shipped to the large
Eastern cities by Rail Roads.
MARKETS.
As to the market facilities Of this country, you
have only to look at any Rail Road Map Of the
and you at once become satisfied that
this portion of the country is fast becoming q
Rail Road centre, which will very soon equal that
of any of the older and more densely populated
States, giving a short and direct OUTLET to all of
the large cities of the East as well as those now
rapidly growing up on the Pacific coast, which is
bound to spring a competition in trade, surpassed
by no country on the American continent. I'm
mediately North OF this portion of this State OF
Missouri is the great Western Pacific r.. r., while
obliqueing through the State is the Union Pacific,
with Il large number of interesting branches run
ming North and South, connecting these two
great r.. r. trunks, and affording a direct rail
way connection and outlet for the vast produc-
lions of this country to any market YOU may de-
sire, either East or West, while the Missouri and
Mississippi rivers, connected as they are by the
Hannibal and st. Joe r. R., places you in direct
contact with the best p~rairies and lumber mar
kets Of the world.
As to the success of the farming business OF
this country | know of no better manner of prov
ing it than by reducing the whole thing toa prac-
teal matter of fact, business, and simply taking
the liberty of referring the reader to many East
Tennesseeans who are now there and have been
for a number of years, and contrast their pres