The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-01-20
LETTER FROM MISSOURI.
SALEM, Mo-, Jan. Sth, 1872.

SALEM, MO, Jan. Stn, lSIS.
Mr.. EDIToR:-In our last letter, we gave
the readers of The Wig description of
Dent county, Missouri, and promised to
give them letter on the soil and climate.
We find that our outlines are rapidly rum
ming into details. But we want to be SO
explicit. that persons who may happen to
read these letters, can form some idea of
the country.
As we have stated, there are in many
parts of the county stony hills and tlinty
knobs, which are frequently covered with
a scrubby growth of black jack, which
gives to the country rather forbdding
appearance These knobs will frequently
be found bordering the very best farming
land. As we have stated, the hills and
valleys alternate through the whole coun-
try, and while the valleys are universally
rich and fertile, the hills are in many
Instances comparatively worthless for agri-
cultural purposes. This being the case, it
has caused many casual observers to form
very inferior and erroneous opinions of the
country.
We would advise every person who med
itates locating in our county, or in any part
of the State, to always examine land
before purchasing. There is scarcely a
State in the Union, and more especially in
the West, where a man is not making a
fool of himself, when he purchases land
without knowing or seeing what he buys.
There are tracts of land in our county, as
we'll as in every part of the West, that are
dear at almost any price, and these are the
tracts that are offered for sale through the
Middle and Eastern States-the owners
have been sold, and they get their money
back by selling others. Beware of them.
We can conscientiously recommend the
other advantages possessed by our county.
But when man purchases piece of land
with the expectation of making it home
for himself and family, he should see and
know from actual observation, not only
the quality of the soil, the timber, the
water, &C.: but the situation, the society,
and various other advantages and disad-
vantages of the neighborhood in which it
is located.
Our climate is considered by persons from
other sections of the country, to be very
even. Now and then we have pretty cold
snap in Winter, and it sometimes gets a
little sultry in Summer. But our Winters
are not generally long or hard, and our
high, rolling country gives us pleasant
breezes in Sumper.
Timber and ~ater.-We have already
given some idea of the timber. Black jack,
are to be found more or less over all parts
of the county. Along the south side of the
Ozark, on the head waters of Currant River,
and in some other parts of the county, pine
exists in almost inexhaustible quantities;
along the water courses, black walnut,
white walnut. sycamore, ash, gum, wild
cherry, and many other varieties, too tedi-
Gus to mention. In some parts, we are
sorry to say, water is not so plentiful as
we should like. However, it can generally
be had, at no great expense, by digging
In the neighborhood of Salem, and along
most OF the streams, especially on the
waters of CuIrant River, beautiful, spark
ling, clear and cold springs of Nature
own beverage, burst from almost every
hill. side.
Stock raising.-There is no more healthy
country for stock, thin Dent county. 1t
appears to be more peculiarly adapted to
cattle, which rarely die of disease. The
ample range afforded by our unimproved
hills and valleys, is not surpassed by that
of any other western country. We have
noticed animals turned out in the Spring.
with barely strength to gain their feet when
down, which before the month of August
were rolling in fat: and we believe the
sweetest and best beef we ever tasted. was
of animals of this description. All the
anxiety farmers appear to have, is the
amount of stock they can winter.
Products.-As your readers will under
stand, the soil of Dent county is exceed
ingly varied, and everything that can be
profitably cultivated elsewhere in this eli
mate, can be successfully cultivated here
wheat corn, rye, oats, buckwheat, pota-
toes, grasses of all kinds, sorghum, tobacco,
&c, &c. We believe that stock-raising has
generally proved the most profitable with
our farmers, and in planting their crops
they generally make calculations for the
Winter months. The best quality of wheat
produced in the West, is grown in our
county, and those who are judges in this
matter, claim they can readily distinguish
wheat grown in this section, from that
grown in any other part of the State.
JOHN READY.