A FEW ITEMS FOR SETTFERS. 4U1 



Passing through Henry the railroad just touches the Northwestern 

 corner of St. Clair county and the Southeastern corner of Bates. Both 

 of these counties have well established reputations for fruit growing, with 

 perhaps St. Clair slightly in the lead. This, however, is because of more 

 timber growth, with the consequent sheltering influence, than from any 

 other cause. 



The writer has seen old, healthy looking peach trees in this county 

 quite twelve inches in diameter at the stump, showing that though there 

 might be severe seasons sufficent to destroy the fruit buds, still not severe 

 enough to injure the trees. Passing out of Bates county you cross the 

 Osage river, and you note a very great change in the general character 

 and lay of the land. From the Missouri river to the Osage the limestone 

 rock is observed cropping out. After emerging from the low bottoms 

 ol the Osage only sandstone is seen; and now let your eye wander from 

 east to west, from the north to the south, and here before you lays as 

 fair a land as ever God's sunlight gladdened, with gentle undulations, one 

 succeeding another. Naturally drained, with not an acre in sight for 

 forty miles that is not perfect fruit land. This is Vernon county. I 

 trust I may be pardoned for telling the whole truth about my own county, 

 if from ignorance I have refrained from doing justice to others. But, from 

 long observations of fruit interests in several states, I unhesitatingly pro- 

 nounce Vernon county the best fruit section I have ever seen. If there 

 has ever been a failure in growing any of the different fruits indigenous 

 to this latitude, except by negligence or an injudicious selection of vari- 

 eties, the writer has not learned of the instance. 



Apples, Pears, Cherries, Grapes, all the small fruits, until the past 

 few years Peaches and Plums. In fact any and all have been grown success- 

 fully when attempted with intelligence and perseverance, and at a greater 

 profit to the grower, than has ever followed the planting of grain in any 

 county. With railroads accessible to nearly every portion of the county, 

 it does seem to me that it is not worth while to commence planting 

 orchards anywhere else, so long as Vernon has any space unoccupied. 

 Nevada, the county seat, is planted almost in the geographical center of 

 the county, a bright sparkling gem in a magnificent setting. For fear that 

 my readers might think I am exaggerating, I force myself to cease, with 

 endless words of praise unsaid. But will say that for about twenty 

 miles South and West from Nevada, the railroad is privileged to traverse 

 the hills and vales of Vernon, when all of a sudden the M. K. & T 

 plunges head-foremost and heels over head as it were, into the Great 

 American desert. I am told that eventually she emerges again some- 

 where down in the Indian Nation. But I will follow her no further. You 



