VI. 



LAYING OFF A FARM PASTURING. 



WHOEVER finds himself the newly installed owner 

 and occupant of a farm, should, before doing much 

 beyond growing a crop in the ordinary way, study 

 well its character, determine its capacities, make him- 

 self well acquainted with its peculiarities of soil and 

 surface, with intent to make the most of it in his fu- 

 ture operations. I would devote at least a year to 

 this thoughtful observation and study. 



To one reared amid the rugged scenery of New- 

 England, or on either slope of the Allegheny ridge, 

 all prairie farms look alike, just as a European sup- 

 poses this to be the case with all negroes. A better 

 acquaintance will show the average prairie quarter- 

 section by no means an unbroken meadow, " level as 

 a house -floor," but diversified by water-courses, 

 " sloughs," and gentle acclivities sometimes by con- 

 siderable ravines and " barrens " or elevated " swales," 

 thinly covered with timber, or brush, or both. But 

 I will contemplate more especially a Northern farm, 

 made up of hill and vale or glade, rocky ridge and 

 skirting bog or other low land, with a wood-lot on 



(39) 



