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IJovotcil to Agriculture, Horticulture, triccltanics nnd the Useful Art*.
RICHMOND, January 1,185G.    j^'i^f c?:'.Pu^'_*"_,'.*
D.   P. HoLLOWiY  & W.  T.
■  D«N.vs—Editors.
8
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coramuwiCATioNS.;
For the Indiana Farmer,
NOTES FROM KANSAS.
Having left thc Mission service,' and become n bona fide settler in Kansrs, with favorable- opportunities for making agricultural observation, I am- induced to oiler somo
notes for the Fanner.    . '
My location is near Pottawatomie creek, a
branch of Osage river, about fifty miles a little west of south from Kansas City, on the
Missouri jiver, that city being the nearest
steamboat landing, nnd about twenty miles
west from the State of Missouri, and a little
above 38 degrees of north latitude. My observations have not been very extensive in
the Territory, hut I have spent several weeks
in seeing it, and for several reasons. This
is, in my opinion, thc most desirable part of
Konsas. It is much the best timbered •fnr-
tion that I have seen.. We have heavy forests of black; red, burr and pin oak, walnut,
hickory, ash, and a smaller proportion of several other kinds. We have but little of the
underbrush that is so annoying in somo parts
of the territory. I believe there is timber
enough here for the wants of the country*.—
The prairies aro comparatively level, sufficiently so to prevent any great inconvenience
from Slashing. The soil is a deep loose
earth, with a slight shade of yellow, and is
unsurpassed in fertility, as is evident from the
heavy growth of vegetation which covers it.
On the bottom lands, the grass is about seven
feet high, and so thick that one on foot can
see but a few feet before him. On the uplands, the grass is four or five feet high, but
not quita so thick as in the bottoms, though
much better adapted to hay making. There
is a dense coat of soft grass, about one foot
high, that makes the prettiest hay of every
wild grass I ever saw. A patent mower would
pay well here.
- The few settlers' who broke. ground last
Spring, have been constantly rewarded with
corn and vegetables, some of which would
contast closely for a prize at one of the Fairs
iu the State.
Lime and sandstone, of excellent quality,
are abundant every where,.-and easy of access; and there are favorable' indications of
coal. There are some springs of excellent
water, and in almost every instance, where
wells have been tried, good water has been
four-d'tit from twrnfv to'.thirty feet. There
k one feature in Kavisi-s, not. generally found
in prairie countries; we havo no bogs or wet
sloughs—the ravines are always rocky.
In common with other parts ofthe Territory, we have been visited pretty generally
this Fall with chills, but they are mostly
mild, and yield readily to qroper remedies.
Very few deaths have occurred, and those
few were thc result of very improper exposure. In point of health, Kansas, thus far,
will* compare very favorably with other new
couutries.
This region is admirably adapted to the
raising of cattle; large numbers of cattle,
wintered here last year on these bottoms,
without any* feed, and were in living order
in the spring. - In the summer season, cattle
arc fit for beef on the grass, and the herdman
need only have his mower and make hay to
keep his cattle in good condition through the
winter. This will be a fino country for sheep
when the prairie wolves can be subdued, but
they-are very annoying. Their bowlings,
make night hideous, and since I commenced
this article, I have laid down my pen to chase
them away from the door of our cabin. They
have been making havoc with some favorite
Shanghais and Brahmas.
They are a sneaking,  saucy little "varmint," but too small to be feared by human
beings.    They, only  destroy  lambs among]
sheep,  and by keeping the  sheep  safely'.
penned  at night,  there would be uo difficulty.
The Pottawotomie and Merideyine or Little Osage unite and form the Osage river.—:
Between the former, there is a beautiful ridge
of prairie, bordered on each side with heavy.
timber.
On this prairie, near the junction, a town.
has been laid out by a company of New:
Yorkers, and called Osawattomie, fromOsagei
and Pottowatomie. Two or"three'6tores are
already in operation there, and a steam sawmill and grist mill are now in process of erection, and with proper industry, and the blessings of Providence, we hope in a year or two
to have most of the comforts of life.
But beautiful as the country is, and ample
as are the prospective rewards of industry,"
there are not charms sufficient to hold the.
Eastern emigrants spell bound to the place.:
Many of them arc* returning to thc father's.'
roof, and  to  the  mother's fireside. * They:
leave their  native hills with -high-wrought:
pictures of Kansas in their imagination^ but
when they arrive here and fail to find all
the comforts* aii'd ■ ln'yst of the luxuries of life
ready prepared to their han-lt-*, thuy become.
■>>gs-cEfeSo
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