Daily Republican., 1880-02-17
Neles srem 4 D.laware Farmer.

and strike him as being peculiar. First
there 10 the great scarcity OF timber a.
compared with the older states Of the
East and South. As you approach the
prairie region, timber becomes more
scarce until 1t finally disappears, except
along the streams, and such groves a.
have been planted by the settlers The
farther west, the greater the scarcity.
The valley Of the great Platte river in
Nebraska is, in some places, nearly
destitute Of tim Der. In Iowa there Ia
much more timber than when the state
was first settled by the whites.
Much has been planted, and the
prairie fires being kept down, the nat
ural growth extends Its limits very fast.
From the limited supply Of wood the
Iqusstion naturally arises, what do the
Inhabitants do for fnel. For the frst
two or three years fuel is somewhat
scarce for the new settlers on the open
lprairie. Corn-cobs, sunAower stalks
and coal have to supply the fire until
growth OF timber Is sufficient. An acre
OF sunfowers will furnish fuel for q
small family for year. A large farmer
In Western iowa has so acres of timber
which he planted ten years ago. It now
furnishes all the posts used In fencing,
frames for his cattle sheds, and fuel for
the family. 1t is mostly cottonwood
and black walnut. or the latter lie
has about $1,000. Timber grows very
quick. In the Missouri Valley q tree
that had been planted IL years meas
ured inside the bark over 20 inches In
diameter, and boards ten inches wide
have been sawed from trees 8 years old.
One person in Iowa who had a plen
tiful supply Of timber, said he could
keep his fire supplied with corn cheap
er than he could cut and prepare the
wood. This OF course would not apply
to much of Minnesota or other parts Of
the West where 1t 10 too cold 10 raise
corn. Coal is cheap at the railroad
stations. The Iowa coal field covers
an area Of about $4,000 square miles.
Turf is found in some OF tue Northern
counties Of Iowa, in beds Of from 80 to
1000 acres. In Nebraska thin seams
Of coal are found in some of the South
ern counties, and are worked to con
siderable extent. Turf is said to b.
plentiful in the Northern portion OF the
State.
From the scarcity Of timber there is
necessarily an absence of fence. In
travelling alcng the public road 1t is
not uncommon to see the corn, wheat,
potatoes, truck garden and lawn, all
open to the public, not q sign Of fence,
only around small stock yard and the
hog pen; the latter In some instances
larger than those usually seen In our Sec
tion. One noticed in Iowa was said 10
contain 40 acres. The fences most In
use, are made Of barbed wire, put up at
a cost Of 40 cents per rod. Three wires
fastened to rough unhewn posts, plan
ted one rod apart, Is considered suffi-
cient for cattle and horses. Horse pas
lures are occasionally seen, enclosed |
with one wire placed about four feet
from the ground. For hogs or sheep a
board fence is required.
Stock is generally herded, Or where
a small farmer has but a few head,
they are tied to stake with rope 80
TO so feet in length, and are moved two
or three times daily, according to the
quantity Of pasture. In the older set
tied counties, hedges of osags orange,
white willow, and honey locust are
common. Often the willows are suffer.
ed TO grow to considerable height to
answer the purpose Of q wind break,
which is very necessary on the north
and west Of buildings in bleak situa-
tions on the open prairie.
Another striking feature is the ap-
parent scarcity of inhabitants in pro-
portion to the extent of land under cul-
tivation. 1t is not uncommon to see
hundreds of acres of splendid growing
crops, with no buildings in sight ex
cept small house and stabling sufi-
Gent for few horses.
This disparity between the acres cul-
tivated and the number Of laburers
may be accounted for, by the ease in
which the land can be titled. One per-
son stated that he had in one season,
planted, cultivated, husked and mar
keted so acres OF corn, besides attend.
ing to his other farming, doing all the
work himself except hiring to the
amount Of 81 IS. He hauled the crop
four miles. The land being we'll adap-
ted to the use of labour saving appli-
anceS, makes farming much less labor.
Ious than in the old settled states, where i
q large portion of the land is both hilly 4
and stony. On the prairies there are
no roots, stumps or stones to interfere
with the cultivation of the soil. They
commence breaking prairie with self
guiding breaking plow, with two wheels
and sulkey seat, followed next year
b it'll sulkey gang pillow, sulksy seeder, =
louble sulkey cultivator, sulkey
hay rake and finally the farmer com
pletes his education in the art Of driv-
ing, on the marsh harvester, self bind
ing reaper, or the great grain header.
rhe old fashioned plow, one horse cul-
ivator, hand scythe and grain cradle {
are only remembered for their inefi- ,,
,iency. Such Implements are too slow
and involve to great an expenditure of
human muscle to suit the disposition Of
! ordinary prairie farmer. With the
improved implements and easily Guilt =
vated soil, farming instead of being
wearisoma occupation, becomes a pleas
ant as we'll as profitable and healthy =
the same amount of la
Dor that is usually expended on 25 or
80 acres in the East will easily cult. =
Vate 100 acres in any of the prairie
States and whsn we take into consid-
,ration the cost of fertilizers and fenc. =
ng, the eastern farmer is far behind his =