SOLON ROBINSON, 1842 323 



will prove a very valuable improvement. These mills are 

 only about half the size and price of the old-fashioned 

 kind. 



There is an improving disposition in La Porte to raise 

 more wool and flax, and to encourage domestic manufac- 

 tures. This is all-important; for, at present, the whole 

 county is so dependent upon the wheat crop, that a fail- 

 ure of that brings ruin in its train, and they have no 

 resources to fall back upon. It is now about ten years 

 since this county began to settle. Some of the oldest 

 farms already begin to show considerable fruit. 



At a meeting of the friends of the agricultural society, 

 July 4, I accepted an invitation to attend their fair in 

 October; and a resolution was passed to give you a spe- 

 cial invitation, which I hope you will accept, together 

 with a large delegation from Illinois, who would meet 

 with a hearty welcome among the warm hearts of La 

 Porte. 



Nothing is better calculated to promote good feeling 

 between different sections of the country than an inter- 

 change of visits during the season of agricultural fairs. 



The shades of evening admonish me to make this ram- 

 bling epistle no longer. 



Yours, friend, Solon Robinson. 



Lake C. H. la., July 12, '42. 



A Present of Peaches. 



[Chicago Union Agriculturist, 2:83; Oct., 1842] 



[August, 1842] 

 Mr. Editor: Herewith you will receive a small com- 

 pliment, in the shape of a little box of peaches, from my 

 garden ; not that I suppose peaches will be any rarity to 

 you, but I wish to offer the strongest possible argument 

 in favor of growing this fruit in this section of country. 

 I regret that I had not an apportunity to send some a 

 week or ten days past, as the specimen would have been 

 far superior ; the best of my fruit having ripened earliest, 

 is all gone. However, such fruit as I now send, is cer- 



