230 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



when they commenced operations. If the people of the 

 southern states desire to prevent the country from be- 

 coming a desert, they must open the navigation of 

 streams and build railroads. Do not say "we can't;" 

 look at the New York and Erie Railroad, carried through 

 almost impassable mountains, and you will then say, "we 

 can, we will." Besides, if all the land upon the Roanoke 

 were under such cultivation — and it is all susceptible of it 

 — as these plantations and a few others are, there would 

 be a daily line of steamboats, instead of an occasional ves- 

 sel linding its way up to carry off the produce. Mr. Burg- 

 win, senior, told me that he got one cargo of lime at his 

 place on the Trent, for four cents. It came as ballast, 

 which will often be the case when the quantity of grain 

 increases as it may, by the use of lime. 



Mr. H. K. B. pointed out a spot in the midst of one 

 clover field, still covered with broom sedge, which he left 

 as a memento of what the whole was before lime and ma- 

 nure altered the whole appearance as well as fertility of 

 the place. Mr. B. told me that there are about thirty miles 

 of fencing upon these places, to keep out other folks' cat- 

 tle. What a tax! But it is just so all over the United 

 States. At his house I found a most lovely and accom- 

 plished lady, delightfully situated in the new mansion at 

 the "Hill Side," but which, I regret to learn, has since 

 been destroyed by fire. I hope Mr. B.'s valuable library, 

 in which was an abundant supply of agricultural books, 

 was saved. Mrs. B. appeared more lovely in my eyes, in 

 consequence of meeting her in the negro quarter admin- 

 istering to the sick — an occupation, in my opinion, that 

 always makes a woman angelic. She was a Greenough, 

 of Boston ; and it gives me pleasure to bear this just meed 

 of praise to her friends there and elsewhere. 



P.S. — Since the above was written, I have had the 

 pleasure of meeting Mr. T. P. Burgwin in this city, and 

 he informs me that they have just shipped five head of 

 shorthorn cattle, purchased of Mr. Vail, last summer, 



