Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1872 — Jasper County as Seen by a Visitor. [ARTICLE]

Jasper County as Seen by a Visitor.

Editors Union: Being on a visit for the first time “Great West,” viewing its delighfill scenery, the products ojt its fertile soil, enjoying the hospitality of kind friends and Providentially detained a few days, the following thoughts have occurred to me, which, being tho6e,of an “Eastern man,” may not be received amiss by your readers:

While here it has been my privilege to attend the Jasper county Fair. I can say with the greatest pleasure that your youthful effort bids fair to be crowned with respectable manhood. The exhibition of animals, agricultural implements, the products of your fields, orchards and gardens were in every respect creditable, giving unmistakable evidence of the thrift of your people and value of your soil. The demeanor of the masses ,71110 daily visited the grounds was truly commendable, your rules %rtd regulations being implicitly obeyed without rigid enforcement or'the aid of a burdensome police. The ladies were far in advance of theityEastern sisters; not, perhaps, in the display of floral ornaments, the,season for such display being too fa* gone, but in the display of the risihg hope of the country—their beloved little ones. With unspeakable pleasure the writer counted from one to five in every vehicle, of tho&eYittle ones who are to mould the destinies, not only of the West,,'but also of our great nation. The numbers in attendance at the Fair must have been highly gratifying to the officers of the institution; the receipts, I learn, were sufficient to meet current expenses and pay the premi-

ums. The balloon ascension was all the managers promised. And, with one exception, which was regretted by all, your county agri cultural Fair was a decided success. Unexpectedly presented with a complimentary ticket affording ingress and egress toypur beautiful grounds at pleasure, permit me to thank the managers and friends of the Jasper County Agricultural Society for their courtesy aud kindness. To the matrons I would say, train up the little ones„in the way they should go and they will prove your richest inheritance. , To the farmers and otffers, be grateful that your lot is'ealst in -a goodly land. Thp J° ur soil, your progress in reclaiming the wild prairie, in ereptiug-suitable dwellings, in sparing your forests, or, rather, promoting theiT growth, in planting fruit trees, each and all exceed the most sanguine-expecta-tions of your farmer brother of the East. Yet suffer a word tof exhortation, not in a captious spirit, but with a strong desire t'o promote your temporal iM’eflesfts. 'An Eastern man regrets to see your stacks of straw and cattle ' droppings almost emtirely wasted and turned to no account. Though your lands are now’ fertile, your children may suffer from your prodigality. Would it not be the part of wisdomto have good barns and stack yards and. stack what bay and straw your barns could not bold, around in such yard, not forgetting to keep the yard and stables weH covered with straw? In doing this I apprehend you would soon reap the benefit of ajertilizer, which in a few years, would be valued by every good farmer. The dry-dtraw may not have much of the; fertilizing elements within itself yet as an absorbent mixed with the droppings of the yard and the it is highly valued in the Easm whether applied ou plow’ lands or used as a top dressing on grassy I think that one winter’s experience would demonstrate to any reasonable farmer the superiority of such’ a course over the present method of sheltering cattle in groves wasting all yout straw’. And let me ask, is, it not bad taste to* leave your cattle before the door yard, after 1 milking them, through the summer? Why not return them to their pastures or fold them in the barn yard? As to your swine, an Eastern man would not 9 criticise so much the

breeds as the manner of fattening them. And' I am inclined to the opinion that the quantity of food given is insufficient for the | nuniber Why not have all ! your pigs in March or April, giving the pigs “when weaned tli|C~milk, and the hogs some corn all summer if you please?' “ In September select those you desire fop slaughter and be sure to give them All the corn they can eat. Your tygg having had the growth of the summer, will be able to stand the rigors of winter without becoming dwarfed; and do not fail to give them plenty of straw and covering. From three to five hundred pounds may as well be produced on oue animal as lessWith your astonishing fields of corn you have no excuse for such small porkers. That you are able to raise consecutive crops of wheat and corn —wheat after wheat, and corn after coi*n —for several successive years, is, to an Eastern man, astonishing. It must show the amazing strength of your soil. cannot think otherwise than a rotation of crops will some day be imperative, and may be even now. Would not your grass crop be improved by frequent seeding? t>iie word more and lam done. Do not farmers in general undertake more than is properly managed? Could not the same amount be raised on less acres with more labor applied? The truth is, brother farmers, you are all too rich in land. When the time comes that your farms are reduced to 150 or 200 acres your farms will be more highly cutrivsted, -your school districts be vastly benefited and the farmer’s life be a truly happy one. A Visitor.