15-2 ^ 



they furnish, which, when propeily oured, is consiilered nearly or quite as gooJ 

 as English grass. It is also observable, that the marshes are gradually being 

 recovered from the dominion of the waters, the drier portions becoming suscep- 

 tible of tillage, and other portions which were formerly too wet for mowing, 

 becoming adapted to that process. This change is being effected, not by the 

 expensive process of draining, but as the natural result of opening the soil of the 

 adjacent land for cidtivation, in consequence of which it absorbs a large portion 

 of the water which the hide-bound soil was wont to shed ofl" into the marshes 

 and streams. And we may confidently expect that this reclaiming efiect upon 

 the marshes will continue to be felt, until the arable land is all brought under cul- 

 tivation. The advantage which the farmer will derive from this fortunate circum- 

 stance, will be, that much of his marsh land, which was once too wet even for 

 the wild grass, will be recovered for that product, while the drier portion will 

 become prepared for the reception of English- grass, which, if not materially 

 better in quality, will excel the wild grass in quantity, in the ratio of about three 

 to one upon the same area. 



General Character of the Soil. — The soil is generally a sandy loam — the 

 proportions of sand, clay and vegetable mould, of which it is composed, vary in 

 different localities, and with the undulations of the surface, vegetable mould being 

 most abundant in the prairie and bottom lands, sand in the burr oak, and clay in 

 the white oak openings. As the soil is penetrated, clay becomes more predomi- 

 nant, until, at the depth of from twelve to eighteen inches, a subsoil of brown 

 clay is reached. This deposit is from two to five feet in depth, and sufficiently 

 compact to prevent the leaching of the soil. Below it various formations are 

 found in dift'erent localities ; but the most common, so far as observations have 

 been extended, is a sandy gravel of great compactness. As we approach the 

 Wisconsin River, the sandy quality of the soil becomes more predominant. In the 

 eastern part of the county and extending a little west of the center, granite boul- 

 ders of almost every variety abound; but in the western portions these myste- 

 rious strangers disappear. Limestone, more or less mixed with sand and flint, is 

 very abundant in every part of the county, and the soil, of course, is well supplied 

 with lime. In the vicinity of Madison, and in some other localities, sand-stone 

 of excellent quality for building purposes is found. 



Agrictltural Products. — From the foregoing description of the soil, it will 

 readily be inferred that it produces, in greater or less perfection, all the varieties of 

 grains, grasses, esculent roots and fruits, commonly found in the temperate latitudes ; 

 but as some of those products flourish much better than othei-s, some notice of 

 particular products, and the causes of their success or failure, may be profitable. 



Wheat. — During the first few years of the settlement of Dane County, (and 

 the remarks which follow will apply to the whole of Southern Wisconsin, (this 



