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of the Ohio river and Laughery creek ; they are very valuable 

 in consequence of their richness, many portions of which 

 will never wear out, because of receiving a fresh coat of ma- 

 nure at every spring freshet, and some seasons oftener. In- 

 dian corn is grown in these lands in larger quantities than 

 any other grain. In fact it may be said to be the leading and 

 decidedly the most important and profitable crop to the Ohio 

 county, and also to the Switzerland county farmer. The 

 article of Indian corn is more or less used as food in various 

 forms, entering into the entire system of the farmer, furnish- 

 ing in large proportion the most economical, and desirable 

 extra food for working-cattle, horses, beef-cattle, hogs and 

 stock of all kinds ; and from the comparative certainty of 

 obtaining a crop, under all the vicissitudes of seasons and 

 accidents, it would be hazarding little to say, that fifty per 

 cent, of the entire profits of Ohio county, and probably 

 Switzerland too, in agricultural operations flow directly or 

 indirectly from the production of Indian corn alone. The 

 manner of raising Indian corn is so uniform and well under- 

 stood by the citizens of the State, that it would be unneces- 

 sary to say anything on that subject. Next to corn, is the 

 article of what we in this country usually denominate Irish 

 potatoes, they are probably raised in greater quantities in 

 Ohio than any other county in the State. It is not an unu- 

 sual thing for one farmer to cultivate forty acres in one year, 

 producing from fifty to three hundred bushels per acre. 



In Switzerland county, after leaving the bottom lands 

 bordering on the Ohio river, the soil is better adapted to the 

 production of grass than any other article, and it may of a 

 truth be said of this county, that but few counties in the 

 State excel her in the improvements and facilities brought 

 directly to bear in the culture, saving, curing and preparing 

 this commodity for sale or shipment. The same is true to 

 some extent of Ohio. The farmers are beginning to view 

 the subject of agriculture as a science, and we think that as 

 the soil wears, this subject will increase in importance, and 



