PRAIRIE AGRICULTURE. 445 



CHAPTER X. 



Prairie Agriculture Capital required Crops and Prices 

 Wages of Labour compared with Land and Produce in Illinois 

 and Britain Future prospects Sheep Husbandry Illinois 

 and Upper Canada Illinois and Britain The Canadas and 

 Illinois estimated by the standard of Nature Emigrant Infor 

 mation. 



THE agriculture of forest land in Illinois, is the same as in 

 other parts of America, but is seldom followed, the cultivation 

 of the prairie being so much more simple and profitable. It 

 has formerly been observed, that the grasses have strong 

 creeping roots, and that six oxen are required to plough the 

 land for the first time. The plough which is used in breaking 

 up the prairie has a very broad share, which cuts a turf seven 

 teen or eighteen inches wide, by two or three in depth. The 

 thinner the tarf is cut the less grass is found to grow after 

 wards, which must be owing to the neck, or vital part of the 

 plants, being near the surface. After the first ploughing the 

 soil becomes friable, and is easily cultivated. The breaking up 

 of the prairie is often performed by contract at $2 per acre. 

 It is common to drop Indian corn into every third furrow of 

 the first ploughing, and the ground is not afterwards operated 

 upon until the crop is reaped, when it is sown with wheat, and 

 simply harrowed. Thus two important crops are obtained by 

 once ploughing and harrowing. A bushel of Indian com was 

 stated to be sufficient seed for ten acres, and half a bushel of 

 wheat sows one acre. The first crop of Indian corn commonly 

 yields fifty bushels per acre, and the following wheat crop 

 twenty-five bushels. When Indian corn is not sown as a 

 first crop, the ground is sown with wheat, which is covered 

 by the harrow. Grass seldom springs after the land has been 



