Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-10-31
MISERIES OF FARMING.
THE AESTHETIC SIDE OF FARM
LIFE.
ALSO THE INTELLECTUAL--AR RIDE ACROSS
IowA-How THE NATIVES LIvE-A
LOW GRADE OF ENISrENCE-
ADVICE To THE FARMER.
THE ARTICLE REPERRED TO m TRAM" IN MS
LETTER LAST WEEK.


swells reaching an elevation of perhaps
thirty feet above the lowest depressions.
As soon as we are outside of the lefty
limits our read passes through cornfeld
and wheat stubble. In several places
the road occupies no more space than
the carriage track, and in some cases the
wheat has been sown clear across it, and
the harvest has been reaped from the
ridge between the double path for horses
single horses like old maids, being an
unknown luxury in this region. Houses
are infrequent. During the entire days
journey they will hardly average above
one for every four square miles of land
in sight. At times they stand as far
apart as six mile the II road, while to
the north Of US they are apparently much
more rare. What sort of houses they are
viii appear later.
Presently the settled farms disappear,
and our track becomes a mere "blind
trail across the raw prairie. The grass
upon the high ground is short and sweet.
As we descend into the hollows it be-
comes more'rank, and reaches a height
Of four or even six feet. These hollow 5
are "sloughs." They are inciPient wa
ter courses, which in time Of heavy rains
ure either raging torrcnss or impossible
morasses. The soil is rich and black.
With light buggy in a dry season We
pass these sloughs with little trouble.
The long grass folds under the wheels
and materially assists in preventing their
cutting through the sod. In places the
folds of the ground run in such way as
to prevent drainage, in these hOllows we
have "sink holes" circular meadows Of
course rank grass, and in places rush
somewhat ike the bullrush, or even a
trihing pond Of water. These sloughs
the experienced traveller avoids. The
road winds along the crests of the ridges.
Here and there are more pronounced de-
pressions which become lakes and ponds.
They receive the drainage Of the neigh
borhood, and afford valuable water
privilege for the herds OF cattle which
sooner or later will manufacture this
grass into butter or beef Such is the
present PHYSICAL aspect Of the prairie IN
the northern part of Central Iowa.
The crops in sight consist Of corn, oats
and wheat. OF the latter not enough IS
raised for home use. There is no timber
in sigh; excep, the groves" which gen.
orally surround the farm buildings. These
consist mainly of Lombardy poplars, with
a few cottonwoods, very few soft ma
Piles, locus,s, and other rapidly growing
woods. The poplars, planted when
abou, the size of a small buggy whip,
will reach height of forty feet within
ten or fifteen years. The trees stand IN
regular rows, and are generally planted
10 the westward of the houses, as pro-
lection against the high winds that rage
across these prairies at certain, or rather
uncertain times of the year. These
groves are usually made to cover tive
acres in order to secure the exemption OF
forty acres Of prairie from taxation, IN
pursuance of state law for the encour-
agement of tree culture. They mater
ially relieve the landscape from the des-
EFT, or ocean-like, aspect it had when no
trees were in sight.
The general impression Of the farm
buildings and surroundings is deplorably
shif,less. In consequence of the high
price of lumber very little is used in the
outbuildings. The old time stable Of
posts and poles covered with straw, is
still to be found on many farms. Al
though by no means clearly as to It's
floor. IL is warm and answers good pur-
pose. On some farms there are barn
wards enclosed with bsrbed wire fences.
This is the only fenced inclosure to be
seen. The cattle are herded during the
dav and driven into these Enclosures al
night.
The implements, such as harrows
plows, sulky plOw for the corn, planters
rakes, reapers, ETC., are standing about
promiscuously under the trees, or In the
field where last used. The house does
not stand in an Enclosure, and there arr
no plank or gravel walks about the prem
ises. Consequently whenever it rains,
single step out of doors serves to imbe'
the foo, in a coating of black, tar. liz
prarie mud, which, in spite Of an,
amount of care, sticks to you more o
less. On most farms 1t Is more. TIL
floor of the l;yinine room bears free ties
,;mony to the richness and hberality q
the soil, and the mud is accepted as ma
lures way of softening the asperities
life. The comfortless, shiftless, and uu