164 



A large portion of this county is probably as well, if not better, adapted to 

 gi'azing than that of any equal area in any portion of the State. That portion 

 of the county lying west of Rock River is mainly oak openings, and prairie inter- 

 spersed with marsh land, producing an abundant supply of hay far beyond tlie 

 wants of the county as yet. The upland yields an abundant supply of pasturage, 

 whilst it is as yet left in the natural state ; and experience has shown, that after a 

 few years cultivation the soil becomes suited to the growth of English grasses. 

 That portion of the county lying east of Rock River is heavily covered w^ith 

 timber, which after it is removed by the labor of the farmer, the soil is found to 

 produce all the grain crops, with equal abundance, as in the other pai-ts of the 

 county ; and although there is generally an absence of those natural meadows 

 that are so genei'ally interspersed through the openings and prairies, yet the soil 

 appears to be more naturally adapted to the growth of the cultivated grasses, and 

 I think will be found, when brought under cultivation, well adapted to the raising 

 of grain, or to grazing. 



So sensible are our farmers of the adaptation of our county to the raising of 

 stock and wool, that they are changing their system and embarking in its differ- 

 ent branches as fast as their circumstances will admit. I have no means of ascer- 

 taining the number, nor no data by which I might arrive at any thing like a 

 certainty, as to the increase of sheep and cattle in this county during the past 

 season ; but it must have been very considerable, as very many droves have been 

 driven here from the south, and sold or disposed of in some way among the 

 farming community. 



There has been some attention paid during the past season to the cultivation 

 of flax ; but from the extreme wet season, I understand it was not as successful 

 as with a difterent season there is every reason to suppose it would have been. 

 The abundance of rain during the past summer was detrimental to many of our 

 summer crops ; the gi'eat abundance prevented the planting of corn in season for 

 its proper maturity, and whilst small, the wet hindered the growth of the plant, 

 and produced at the same time a rapid growth of weeds which it was about 

 impossible to destroy. Much of the hedge-row wheat sown last spring was 

 destroyed by the blight in the head, which is supposed in some way to be caused 

 by the great quantity of rain which fell during its growth. 



The potatoe crop, which is usually very abundant, has been almost a total 

 failure for the past season. Experience has shown that our soil is one of vast 

 productive energy, subject however to the influences of the climate, which the 

 past two seasons have shown is susceptible of very great extremes, which aft'ect 

 materially the prospect of the farmer who devotes his attention mainly to the 

 raising of grain. The opinion seems to be generally entertained by those who 

 lla^e engaged in the business, that (^ther systems of farming, particularly stock 



