iTu ' 



Exeter, situated near the Sugar iliver, is a mining town of some importauce. 

 New Glaris, a German town, and Monticello, also present favorable openings. 



With the warmest wishes for the prosperity of your Society, and the advance- 

 ment of the agricultural interests of the State, 



I am, youi-s truly, 



T. J. SAFFORD. 

 To Albert C. Ixgham, Esq. 



Sec. of the Wcs. State Agr. Society. 



AGRICULTURE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY. 



AzTALAN, December 30th, 1851. 



Dear Sir — I will endeavor to comply, in part at least, with the request 

 expressed in your letter. By way of preface, allow me to say that I have not been 

 much engaged in farming generally; but have occupied myself in fruit growing 

 for the past few years, which fact qualifies me better for giving a correct account 

 of the capacities of the soil of our county for fruits, than for other crops of the 

 farmer. I must therefore be excused if more space is given to the former, and 

 less to the latter than would otherwise be expected. 



Jefferson County comprises an area of twenty -four miles square, and is divided 

 into two parts from north to south by Rock River. I shall describe that portion 

 lying west of the Rock and Crawfish Rivers together for convenience, as it pre- 

 sents nearly the same gfeneral characteristics, and differs materially from another 

 portion of the county lying east of these rivers. 



The suiface of the coimtry west of those rivers is generally covered with oak 

 openings, with a small portion of prairie, and a larger portion occupied by 

 marshes, or natural wet meadows. The upland is generally wooded with white, 

 burr, and black or red oaks; with a soil varying with the vegetation found upon 

 it, in a state of nature. 



Much of this tract is underlaid with a bed of- lime rock, resting upon sand- 

 stone, at a depth of about forty-five feet, as is proved by piercing it for wells. 



The prairies have an alluvial surface soil of great depth, from eight inches to 

 two feet, with a clay subsoil slightly mixed with sand and lime pebbles. 



The marshes possess an alluvial soil of great depth, varying fi'om two to ten 

 feet, composed of vegetation in different stages of decomposition, and are under- 

 laid generally with a strata of fine washed beach sand, overlaying clay or rock. 



Next in order I shall place the " burr oak openings," occupying a large portion 

 of this rejrion. and the south-eastern portion of the county, bounded on the 



