Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-08-04

is very deep, but on the prairies it is
usually from one to two feet The sub
soil is almost invariably quite argilla-
ceous loan, and there is gradual pas
sage downward into a material in which,
though containing sandy portions and
occasionally pebbles the argillaccous ele-
ment greatly prcponderates."
DR.. Charles A. White, late State
Geologist, adds his testimony to
that of his predecessor. He says:
"Thc soil of Iowa has become justly
famous for its fertility, and it may well
be doubted whether there is an equal
area of the earth's surface that contains
proportionably SO little untillable land, or
whose soil has so high degree of average
fertility. After careful consideration of
the results of my examinations, | do not
hesitate to thus publicly announce my
estimate that ninety five per cent. of the
surface of Iowa is tilable land. The
State being, as previously explained,
without ranges of mountains or hills, or
other barren surfaces, and everywhere
covered with soil of such fertility and
depth, it's agricultural capabilities are al
most beyond computation, and agricul-
ture must ever remain the principal ele-
ment in the prosperity of our common
wealth."
And this soil readily yields it's
hordes Of wealth to skill and labor.
Wheat, Indian corn, oats, barley,
rye, buckwhcat, potatoes, sweet po-
tatoes, peas and beans are produced
abundantlv. The estimated yield
Of these and other productions, for
1870, is as follows:-Indian corn,
96,00O,o 900 bushels; wheat, 22,ooo,-
600 bushels; oats, 2l,5O0,O00 bush
els; barley, 100000 bushels; rye,
500, 900 bushels; buckwheat, 1000
bushels; potatoes, 100000 bushels;
sweet potatoes, 100000 bushels;
hay 2,loo,o 900, tuns; butter, $780,
900 pounds; cheese, 100000;
sorghum syrup, 3,o5o,o0O gallons.
The amount of grain produced in
the State the past year may be set
down as averaging 10 bushels to
each inhabitant.
Indian corn, for which our soil
and climate are eminently adapted,
is, as you will perceive, the great
staple Of our State. This grain may
be raised on the freshly turned
prairie sod, requiring no cultivation,
and Welding a remunerative return
for the outlay Of time and labor;
therefore the return is abundant
Wheat, next to Indian corn, is the
leading cereal production Of Iowa.
1t is mostly sown in the spring ana
harvested in July. In the southern
part Of the State, more fall wheat is
raised. In reference to the capa-
city of our soil and climate for the
production of this grain, l ask your
attention to the following extract
from the report of Joseph G. Ken
nedy, Superintendent of the United
States Census of 1860. lie says:
"High quality in wheat can only be OBJ
tanned where there is sufficient heat in
summer for its perfect elaboration
There is nothing that will take the place
of sunshine. In this respect the climate
of the United States is far better for the
production of wheat of high quality than
that of Great Britain. The year 1868,
with its great heat, was the best wheat
season ever known in England. The
crop was never before so large. or the
quantity so good The heat of the sum
mcr months approXimated closely to that
,T irh e., mar
there is nothing which the English wheat
grower breads so much as a cold, moist
summer Could he be always sure of an
American summer, he could calculate on
obtaining an average yield of not less
than forty bushels per acre, and of the
highest quality, But should he make
his land rich enough to produce heavy
crop in dry season, and n cool, moist
season should cnsue his wheat would be
AL laid, and not yield half crop. So
far as the summer climate is concerned,
therefore, the American wheat grower
has everything he can desire Ours is
the climate for high farming"
| What is here said of the Ameri-
can summer is pre-emincntly true
of that of Iowa, so much SO that our
agriculturists, without anything like
the high farming of England, have
produced an average OF nearly thir-
ty bushels to the acre throughout an
entire county, while "many Il man
has more than paid for his land and
all expenses out Of the proceeds Of
the first crop Of wheat"
Stock-raising is an increasingly
important interest, furnishing the
larger part in value of the exports of
the State. In the year 1870, the re-
port Of the Secretary Of the State
| Agricultural Society shows that
there were sent from the State, by
rail, 1922 head Of cattle, 524, 10
hogs, 29,222, $40 pounds Of dressed
hogs, pork, and lard, 1906 sheep,
and 5,s9l, lo2 pounds Of wool. There
were, in addition, large amounts
shipped from towns on the borders
of the State, both by river and rail,
Of which no statement can be fur
nishcd.
The adaptahility Of the climate
and of the soil in most parts of the
State, to the production Of fruit, is
every year more clearly demonstra-
ted. The number of fruit trees in
bearing in 1864, was G3G,45s; in
1866, 1915 III; and in 1868, $685.
943. The number at present is es-
timatcd at 1885, 1000.
What has been accomplished, it
should be remembered, has been
done with less than onc-quartcr OF
the surface Of the State under cult
walton. OF 35, 100000 acres of
land, not 100000 have yet been
under the plow; and among the I'M
developed lands, scientific investi-
CATION places the very best soil Of
the State.
That the progress of the future