The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-04-14
Farming in Northwestern Ohio.


| 10 THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: Per-
haps description Of northwestern Ohio
would be interesting to some of your
readers. Twill try and give them an idea
of it. / arrived here Jan. Goth, at which
time it was very cold, with no snow, the
thermometer registering from y to 16 be-
low zero. 1t was 25 below at one time
this winter. There was a small amount
of snow during December and the first of
January, but not enough for sleighing.
The weather has been very damp and
slightly foggy much Of the time, and the
mud was simply awful-four OF five inches
deep and sticky as wax. 1t is about all u
team can do to haul an empty wagon
through it. A man told me he was on
the road one day and his team become
stuck by the mud rolling up on the wheels
He was obliged to get a fence rail and
clear it off in order to get along. | was
much amused one day looking at a chick
en- vainly trying to make her way through
the yard, her feet loaded up until she was
almost unable to move | had like ex-
perience few hours later which remind
ed me OF the saying, They laugh best
who laugh last" | was walking out and
became so firmly stuck that | was obliged
to call for help or leave my boots less
than foot below the surface. | can give
but a faint idea of the mud here during
an open winter. If d New Englandcr Wis
its here in such time he will need to
take jack-screw along, and perhaps dy-
Mantle might be necessary in some cases
to release him when stuck.
As farming country | consider this far
superior to the east The soil is very rich
and deep. Farmers tell me they can raise
good crop for years without dressing.
Last year the corn and wheat crop was
abundant. Much of the corn yet remains
in the fields unhusked. 1t is selling here
for SO cents per bushel and wheat is sell
ing for 90 cents per bushel. The wheat
sown last fall is looking fairly well, but it
is not thought the crop will come up to
that of last year. Some of the farmers
sowed their oats last week. The land is
easy to till, there being no rocks, and lies
very level except around the creeks, where
it is rolling. This country is being much
improved by draining. Three inch tile is
generally used and placed about every six
rods through farm. The cost Of the tile
is about Is cts. per rod. Much Of it is be-
ing put i'll this spring. These drains run
to the big bitches, which are from six to
ten feet deep and from ten to twenty wide.
These empty into the creeks, some of them
running several miles. They are construct
ed by tax on each farmer whose land is
benefited by it and according to the bene-
tit he receives from it,
The large timber is nearly all cleared
Oft, the woods in many places presenting
rather dilapidated appearance. The elm
is fast being manufactured into slaves
and hoops. Steam mills are very plenty
in this section, and Judging from the rate
they cut out lumber it cannot last many
years longer.
The farming is principally done with
horses. | have seen but three yoke Of
oxen here and those were very ordinary
looking. More pride seems to be taken in
raising nice horses and COWS. They have
some heavy horses here | saw Il brood
mare few days ago of the Norman Perch
eron blood that weighed / 700 pounds
Not SO much care is given to a comfor-
table shelter for stock us in the New
England States | have noticed in many
places no shelter but straw stack. which
the cattle and hogs get around. Others
ting posts in the ground, covering the
tops with poles, then building straw
stack on top, and in some cases it is put
around the sides. This adds much to the
comfort of the stock Many Of the peo-
pie have nice buildings, but frequently a
log house is seen.
The water is not quite up to that from
the crystal springs of Maine could
scarcely drink it at first but have become
accustomed 20 it, SO | do not notice it
quite so much now. Many sink wells for
water for their stock, in some cases to
a depth of 80 OF 20 feet. a wind mill is
used for pumping. | saw one well 20 feet
deep that was drilled in solid rock one
half the distance. The water looked as
if mixed with milk and had a very strong
sulphurous odor. The stock appeared to
like it, but | very much doubt whether
our stock in the east would drink it.
expect to visit the oil region before long
Perhaps will then give you another let
ter. receive the Journal every week
and am much interested in the county
correspondence. j. +. HALL.
''relton, Henry Co., Ohio, Mar. %, ~.
Fast Day and -Arbor Day.