The Press., 1893-08-24
Number 21.

teen feet from the top of the well. This we'll is entirely housed in. Men digging a cistern near the main business street after throwing out few feet of earth struck frost, which was about four feet through. This was the last of June. Nothing like this can be found in nothern Illinois. Nevertheless, children are born here ill the winter, and at all other seasons of the year, and are raised. None freeze to death.
 Corn fields and fine gardens meet one every where in northern Illinois; but here the former are no where to be found, and few of the latter. Not much attempt is yet made to grow corn, and the short ness of the season is a serious barrier in the way of it. A variety may be discov- cred which will grow and mature. Pos- sibly there is already one which needs only to be introduced to answer the pur- pose.
 As for gardens, with few exceptions, but little is attempted with them. Vege- tables of fine quality and good yield can be grown. Give the soil plenty of moist ure, and once it it is subdued as fine gardens can be made here as anywhere else. The hot winds, to which the coun- try is subject, are severe on some plants, and corn, especially, as we have seen this summer; but, if followed by showers, the damage they do may be somewhat re- paired. Small fruits can, also, be culti- vated successfully. We have been glad to discover, here and there, garden which would look well, even, in northern Illinois. Gardening begins about the middle of May, or as soon as the frost is out enough to get the seed in the ground. This is timberless prairie, but timber will grow. That is an important fact which is settled. Timber must be cultivated, as corn is, otherwise it will fail Many attempts to grow timber have failed; and some say that no great amount of it can be grown, and cite the condition of it along the streams. There are, however, many thrifty groves under way, and grow ing rapidly. Timber culture has to be learned as well as the cultivation of lesser plants.
 Farming in every new country is an ex- pertinent. There is plenty eff soil, and it is rich; but it needs to be mastered. The soil will submit to your hand if you know how to make it. In this it is just like a horse.
 This is rolling prairie, dotted with mounds, and traversed by ridges which give the landscape a pleasing aspect. One day it will be beautiful country. Wheat fields, of course, meet the eye everywhere. Wheat is king here; but he sits upon precarious throne, and is al. ways in danger from the weather god who holds the north wind, and the south wind and the hoar frost and hail in his hands he controls the rain clouds, also. An old world monarch holds the scepter in the midst of greater dangers than he. De. throne him and his subjects are distress ed. How long wheat will be king no body can predict; but that he will be re- stricted, ere many years, in his power in this country is what is to be expected from the past history of his movement. We shall not trace them at this time, but they are very similar to those of the Indian, who has had to give up territory after territory by the fiat of Providence which has said to him "Go," and he go- eth without standing on the order of his going.
 Barley and oats, with some flax, are, also raised; but wheat is the staple arti- cle. Now you may go the length and width of that land out of which we have just come and not see wheat-feld.
 The contrasts are great. There are others. Here much breaking and plow- ing is done with oxen; but there with horses. Since we left New England, years ago, we have not seen so many cat tie to the yoke and wagon as we have seen here. Oxen are cheaper, and work as we'll as horses and, except for the road, are better at this stage of farming. We have not seen much stock of any class-cows, sheep, hogs or horses-on the farms this way. These are found more largely in corn producing countries.
 But we will not pursue the matter further now. Harvest is here. Cutting is under way. Harvest hands are numer- ous. Hundreds of men are in the towns of this northwest for chance to get work. The market is over-supplied, and wages fall. Multitudes will have to tramp on or beg.
 What an unsettled condition of things we do behold; and, principally, because man is afraid of his fellow men. Money is plenty in the land; bnt every man is afraid to let go what he has. The circu- lation of money would put a new face on things, and congress might go home.
 O. P. CHAMPLIN.