296 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



When shall we get our eyes open wide enough to see that 

 many of our present importations are more ridiculous, 

 and more detrimental to the best interests of the country? 



This house, still in a good state of preservation, is 

 owned by a gentleman by the name of Wood, who owns 

 "those chickens" that can eat corn off of a flour barrel 

 standing on end. They are tall subjects. 



I was surprised to learn that in this state, so cele- 

 brated for peaches, the trees have entirely failed. New 

 Jersey peaches are now no more. 



And now, my dear readers, if you are as tired of read- 

 ing as I am of writing, you will be glad that I come here 

 to an abrupt close — promising, however, that you shall 

 again hear from your old friend, 



Solon Robinson. 



Lake C. H. la., Dec. 1841. 



Ac Repository at Washington. 



[Chicago Union Agriculturist, 2:5-6; Jan., 1842] 



Lake C. H., la., Dec. 15, 1841. 



Dear Sir, — You are well aware of the deep interest 

 that the Hon. H. L. Ellsworth, Comr. of the Patent Office, 

 takes in all matters that tend to "elevate the character 

 and standing of the cultivators of the American soil," as 

 well as the interest of the mechanics and manufacturers 

 of our country. 



The following is a copy of a note addressed to me while 

 at Washington, during my late and interesting agricul- 

 tural tour through the United States. And as this is the 

 day upon which the friends of a National Agricultural 

 Society, meet at Washington to form a Constitution, 

 which meeting I have been prevented from attending, 

 mainly in consequence of a severe cold which I contracted 

 during my passage home in November, on our Northern 

 lakes, I feel as though I could not better employ myself, 

 than in drawing public attention to the subject of the 

 letter, which follows: 



