222 [Senate 



small grains and grasses (excepting a few that flourish best in sand,) 

 in untold quantities. 



Indian corn upon this variety of soil is only a medium crop. But 

 roots of every description usually cultivated for feed in this latitude, 

 and particularly Irish potatoes, (what an Irish bull to call them so,) 

 grow with great luxuriance and richness. 



The natural grass of the prairie makes the best beef ever eaten, 

 and remarkably fine butter and cheese; it is also good for hay. 

 There is no description of land upon which sheep do better. The out- 

 let for the superabundant productions that the immense tracts of prai- 

 rie in this region are capable of producing, is through the northern 

 lakes and New- York canals, and down the St. Lawrence, &c. 



" The present condition of agriculture" in this region, is such as 

 you might expect in a country not a dozen years of age, as it re- 

 gards the works of civilized life, when you bear in mind that all 

 infants must •' creep before they walk" — and that but a small por- 

 tion of the first settlers in any new country ever read. 



The great object, apparently, of the great portion of the cultiva- 

 tors, is to cultivate — no not cultivate — but to plant the greatest 

 quantity of land with the greatest possible amount, not of labor and 

 attention, but of the careless, slovenly, skinning system; raising 

 grain to waste and straw to burn; moving barns to get away from the 

 manure; sowing wheat in November, to prove how easy it will die 

 in March; sowing, and consequently reaping, wheat and chess in 

 equal quantities, just to see how easily it can be separated in a good 

 winnowing mill; keeping cattle in winter for the purpose of getting 

 hides to tan in the spring. 



But understand me, this is not the universal system, for " the 

 sprit of improvement" is rapidly developing. Improvments in 

 stock, tools and husbandry begin to be seen; farmers begin to think 

 and read, and educate their children to be proud of, and able to 

 maintain the dignity of their calling. 



Now, sir, having told you something of the " condition and promi- 

 nent features" of this region, need 1 say a word as to " the pros- 

 pects of agriculture" upon the great, rich prairies of the West 1 



It appears to me that every discerning reader will discern that the 

 prospects of agriculture are almost incomprehensible. Who can 

 imagine the amount of the productions that the thousands of uncul- 

 tivated acres will bring forth, when all are brought under the do- 

 minion of the husbandman who shall cultivate the land with scien- 

 tific skill '? 



You, in the Empire State, should prepare for the coming events, 

 the shadows of which you may now see dimly. If you intend to 

 compete with the prairie farmer, who cultivates land of surpassing 

 fertility at a cost of only a few shillings an acre for the purchase, 

 you must break down your rail-roads and fill up your canals, or else 

 we can deliver wheat at your own doors for 50 cents a bushel. 



I will not attempt to say what, but I will ask you, what we can 

 afford to raise wool for in a country where the summer pasturage 



