The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-01-07
For tlo Kcgi7ter.
From Nebraska.

are interesting and far less arc truthful.
Correspondents of every new country
deem it their duty, seemingly, to act as
advocates, presenting the fairer features
of the picture only, leaving all deforui-
ties in the background.
Your correspondent has passed five
years in Nebraska, having meantime pitch
ed his tent turned over the virgin soil faced
the " north-westers, parted with honest
sweat, killed rattlesnakes, " seen bufia-
To- and experienced sundry other things
incident to western life, and will try to
communicate few facts with, at least,
an honest purpose.
Whether the western prairies, compar-
ed with eastern scenery, should be called
beautiful or not, will depend much On
personal taste. They possess wild, it,
dciinable grandeur, to many a charm,
stretching out in one broad expanse, here
perfectly level, there gently undulating,
often not tree, or stump, or stone 10 be
seen, until the horizon closes down, as
upon the sea.
Some weary at the sight. Generally
New Englander longs for the sight of
trees. Especially dear will be the re.
membrance Of the oak, the elm aud the
sugar maple; the two former are here,
though scarcely in so stately grandeur as
at the east. " Woodman spare that tire -
is emphasized as one moves westward.
The general lay of the ground in cast
ern Nebraska is that Of rolling prairie;
farther west it is quite level. Ravines
are plenty, but with slopes so gentle as
seldom to prevent cultivation down to the
verp banks Of the streams running there.
TIE .oii /, from ] 9 to 30 inches deep, OF
DIRK 'opm. very light, easily cultivated,
aud e,aarl,lbly productive. | have not
yet seen poor farm in Nebraska, the
soil being very uniform in quality. No
where in the state, within 100 miles of
the Missouri River, can you point to brc-
ken or untillablc ground, timbered land
and few river bluffs excepted. This IS
noteworthy, as persons living east could
safely purchase land in this section with
out having seen it with the fullest assur-
ance of its good quality. Timber, water
and proximity to a good market, howev-
er, are the great deciderata to be careful
ly looked after. This state, as a whole,
is not well timbered Every stream of
any size is generally fringed with more
or less, but it is in nowise adequate to the
coming wants Of the settlers.
The state is awake to this need an
Arbor Day has been appointed preni-
ums for tree setting offered, and already
millions of trcos nro cot out yoarly. Tho
cottonwood is indigenous to our soil, and
grows with surprising rapidity, ofen
shooting up eight, and sometimes even
twelve feet in single season. Cuttings
of this wood fake root readily, and make
a growth Of feet the first year. As vet
but little coal has been discovered in Ne.
braska, and this fast growing timber will
prove great blessing to the state. Black
walnut, sycamore, elm, oak, willow and
several other kinds of timber are also
found here
For prairie country this state may
justly claim to be well watered, especial
ly in the eastern part. Many small
streams course the ravines, which would
be unnoticed by the casual observer, but
which are perpetual, and very valuable,
being fed by the purest springs of water.
" But Nebraska suffers from drouth.'
Such certainly has not been the case for
the last five years. Rains are copious
during the growing season and kindly
disappear when least needed. Wells in
this vicinity are generally from 30 to so
feet deep, and really containing most ex-
celent water.
The following figures will give the
reader an idea of what crops are raised
here, per acre, near the Missouri river.
Corn on the ear. IS bushels oats, 80
bushei wheat, this year from % to 80
bushels, but often less; rye 80 bushels;
potatoes little variable from 80 to $50
bushels beans of little account, they nev-
n stop growing; barley, % bushels;
onions with no fertilizers 400 bushels
squashes melons &C., do finely.
This is no remarkable exhibit, but is
designed to give a fair general average
one year with another in large field cul-
ture.
The hitherto disadvantages arising
from distant markets are fast fadi'
away. Already our young State can boast
of over one thousand miles of rail, and
other roads are in contemplation. We
need them. The iron horse gliding over
our virgin soil, whistles in welcome tones
Civilization, more produce, better price"
At present date, farm productions are ru-
inously low. Corn, II to Is cts, oats.
10 cts, wheat, S5 cts, and potatoes -
cts. Corn is now quite generally used
for fuel Many like it, it saves chopping,
is clean to handle and burns first rate.
Two bushels a day will run one stove in
ordinary winter weather, With a little
wood to keep up the fire, its use at pres
ent IS deemed economical,
Farmers generally are giving more at
tention to stock raising and wisely. Our
rich prairie grasses should be utilized
Think of millions of tons to be had, for
the cutting,and corn for fuel at II cts,
bushel. There is money there we feel it
in our bones. Come stock raisers of the
east, and gather up the greenbaeks grown
in our prairie grass More anon.
l.. W. PET.
ANCIENT CASTLE SoLD-William the
Conqueror's castle in Normandy, France,
or rather the ruins Of it, was lately sold
at Trouville. The ruins are in village
called Bonneville, and are of considera-
be historic interest. 1t was in this cas-
tie that William prepared the plans for
his successful invasion of England, and
afterwards it was used for a prison for
Hughes du Chaumont, favorite of Phil
lipe Augustus, who began to reign as
King of France in llS0, Yrancis |. af-
. ta-.,.n II. ....l Al. ...-..l.