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distance from the markets. For the last six years its progress lias, however, been 

 quite rapid, and it hjis now a population of about ten thousand. It is situated 

 upon the soutliern boundary of the State, and is bounded on the north by Dane 

 county, on the east by Rock county, on the south by the State of Illinois, and 

 on the west by La Fayette county. It contains sixteen townships of land, cover- 

 ing an area of about five hundred and seventy-six square miles, but little of 

 which comparatively is waste land. The surface is somewhat broken, not hilly, 

 but forming gentle slopes and undulations, nearly all susceptible of cultivation. It 

 is well watered by the Sugar River and its numerous tributai-ies, and also by the 

 Pecatonica which passes through its south-western portion. 



The soil differs in the northern and southern portions of the county. In the 

 north it is generally a sandy loam and very productive, while in the south it is 

 mostly prairie, with a clay subsoil. Most of the crops usually raised do well; the 

 average yield of wheat being twenty-five bushels per acre — corn usually averages 

 fifty bushels — oats fifty bushels — barley forty bushels — and potatoes two hundred 

 bushels to the acre. 



The manner of cultivation doe^ not differ materially from that practised in the 

 East. Its greatest defect is the want of attention, farmers being too much dis- 

 posed to hurry over a great number of acres rather than to cultivate a few, and 

 those few acres cultivate well. Deeper ploughing, no doubt, is advisable, toge- 

 ther with a more general use of the harrow, and roller. Small grains should be 

 covered deeper than at present. 



Our markets as yet are distant, but they are good in prospect. Janesville, it is 

 expected, will soon become the market for the nothern part of the county, and 

 Freeport, Illinois, the market for the southern portion. 



In Stock we have an abundance, though but little of the improved blood. 

 Some half-blood Durham cattle have been brouo-ht amono; us which will, without 

 doubt, be of benefit. Our horses are of an excellent kind, although I am not 

 acquainted with their origin. 



The county is well adapted to Grazing, being well watered and properly inter- 

 spersed with meadow prairie and timbered lands. There is much heavily tim- 

 bered land in the southern portion of the county. 



Dairying and Horticulture have as yet received but little attention, although 

 our soil is well adapted to either. 



Monroe, the county seat, is a fiourishing town of about one thousand inhabi- 

 tants. Nearly all of the mechanical arts are carried on in the village, and a large 

 steam flouring mill, in successful operation, adds much to its facilities. 



Decatur, Albany, Attica, Dayton, Bellville, all are flourishing towns, though 

 some of them are as yet in their infancy. Belville, situated upon the Sugar 

 River, presents great facilities for manufacturing operations. 



