271 



substance, gradular from small stone to the finest sand. These 

 substances are in a state of disintregation, which greatly con- 

 tribute to enrich the soil. This condition of the sub-stratum is 

 favorable to the production of vegetable matter, and renders 

 manuring less necessary ; and from its porous nature, the 

 heat draws the moisture from below, when most needed, 

 whereas, in stiff clay sub-stratum the reverse takes place. 

 The sun, in the absence of rain and during crop time, by its 

 intense heat bakes this kind of ground, which efTect is visible 

 in the cultivated plants by their exchanging the livid green 

 of summer for the autumnal yellow. From this fact, it is 

 obvious that to counteract this unfavorable condition in stiff 

 soils, deep turning up by sub-plowing is highly indispensable. 

 This plan will furnish depth of mould for the roots of plants 

 to penetrate downwards, and thus receive moisture, which 

 they do not, nor can they obtain under the system of shallow 

 plowing, in dry seasons. There is not a section of land in 

 this county, but what is susceptible of cultivation. The sur- 

 face is not too broken, boggy, nor is it submerged. The face 

 of the ground on the contrary, for the most part is undula- 

 ting, with sufficient declivity lor the water of rains to pass 

 gently into the natural channels, which run through every 

 portion of the county. The best system of farming such 

 land, where the clay sub-stratum prevails, is to plow deep, 

 and put down in clover ; mow the first crop, and when the 

 second is in full bloom turn under with the plow and sow in 

 wheat or rye, sowing at the same time clover and timothy. 

 Pasture and mow for three years ; then break up in the 

 spring — plant with corn — next year in spring, barley — in the 

 ensuing fall haul manure, sow in wheat, at the same time also 

 with clover and timothy. Then pasture and mow until the 

 grass wants renewing, letting the lands rest as long as the 

 grass continues to occupy the ground to advantage. 



The most usual crops raised in this county are corn, wheat, 

 oats, barley, flax, potatoes, rye, buckwheat, timothy, herd, 

 and clover, in quantities about in the same order as they are 



