Year: 1877

here let me remark that more bushels of
grain can be produced upon the region
Immediately about Bismardk-all Of
which is under the eye at one glance
from almost any of the elevated benches
north of the city-than can be raised in
the six New England states But our Wis
it was to satisfy ourselves as to the pro-
ductiveness of our soil. After dinner we
were invited by Mr.. Jackman into his
fields to see the result of his efforts IN
tilling. Te cay We were surprised hardly
expresses it properly, although we had


believed that the soil here would eventu-
ally be cultivated and would yield fair
return to COED husbandry, yet ~ we're
not prepared for the exhibition awaiting
us. Our sttsatioA was first attracted to
some young oottsnwoods, which Mr..
Jacan,an had planted near, the house,
and which have grown already this sea-
son aaarly i've feet. We passed on into
tho garden and saw all kinds Of vegeta-


bles % good as vegetable gardens near
eastern cities can boast of. Potatoes
thoroughly r1ps, beets which would have


to be cat twice to be put into common
sized boiling pot, parsnips eighteen and


half inches long, by actual measure
ment; corn eight feet two inches high,
and from one seed Of oats we counted
forty-six stalks we'll filled with heavy
grain. The soil seems to be sandy loan
with mixture of clay and decomposed
mari. And the fact that roots penetrate
readily eighteen and half inches down
when the soil is new proves beyond doubt
the richness Of the soil and the depth to
which it can be worked. The depth, in
fact, seems almost marvellous. Mr.. Jack
man, in digging his cellar, has gone down
ten feet and we were really unable to dis
cover any difference i'll the composition
of the soil and but little difference in COL
or. The lower soil being about two shades
lighter. Mr.. Jackman has one hundred
and ten acres under fence, and thirty-fve
acres broke and twenty-five in crops this


season. Certainly a good beginning
and of especial value, as it demonstrates
what can be done, at least on his farm.
But we were not satisfied to judge Of the
whole country by this favored spot; and


Mr.. Jackman kindly teok us into his bug
gy for further demonstrations. We start
ed north, up the long swell which at first
look seems abrupt, but as we rise higher
and higher proves to be very gradual un-
til the rounding summit is reached, and
the whole broad landscape lays spread
out before you for lnanv miles in all di-
rections. At our feet to the right few
of the many boats engaged in the Mon
tana trade lie snugly moored to the MP.
docks, while busy hands are loading them
for another trip to the far Northwest.
Away to the north the broad Missouri
comes out from among the hills and with
one majestic sweep rolls past us and dis
appears among the bluffs. Many miles
to the southeast-acrosso on the opposite
bank-Fort Abraham Lincoln stands out
in bold relief, while directly opposite
Heart River comes in from the west.
Away to the east and southeast we trace
the line Of Apple creek as it divides the
beautiful bottom lands of the Missouri
from the higher tables beyond. This is
all taken in at glance and forms a most
beautiful panoramic view. From here we
went directly north 10 the old Mandan


fortifcations, thought by some to be
Lewis & Clark's trading post in 1903. We


paid no attention to roads but drove


wherever there was anything we wished


to see. From here we started east pass
ing the cabins of the settlers and making
our way across the country to Colonel
Thompson's farm, laying two and half
miles northeast from the town. Here,


in addition to what we had seen before,
was as nesberried wheat as we ever saw
tahywhere: With us the agricultural
question is settled; and we predict that


within five years the. country Immediately
adjacent to Bismarck will produce sur-


plus of five million bushels Of wheat.
There was never greater inducements Of


fered to engage in agriculture than is Of
fered to our people at the present time.


Everything brings the highest price, and