340 ATCHISON COUNTY, KANSAS. 



every kind of fruit, and in every case have failed. Not a sin- 

 gle tree has lived out of over four hundred. I attribute the 

 loss to the exposure of the roots of the tree to our severe winds 

 while in transit. The only fruit trees I now have are those 

 where the seed was planted where the tree was to remain. 

 They are making a fine growth, and look as thrifty as one could 

 wish. I have as fine seedling peaches, both in size and flavor, 

 planted as above, as I ever tasted. 



As yet none of tlie farmers in the east end of the county 

 have attempted to produce any of the tame grapes. 



The climate of central Kansas is good. Storms and cold 

 snaps in the winter usually are of short duration. Our first frost 

 in 1879 was on the 22d of October. I have frequently started 

 the plow in February, and continued without hindrance from 

 frost. I have sown wheat, barley and oats in March. I have 

 broken prairie in November, February, March, April, Ma}-, 

 June, and July, and so far as rotting of the sod or tlie produc- 

 tion of crops is concerned, I have never been able to perceive 

 that it made any difference in regard to what time of year the 

 Ijreaking was done ; the only point being to have it well done. 



WILLIAM L. CHALLIS, 



ATCHISON, ATCHISON COUNTY. 



Personal Reminiscences — No Cirain Raised on the Farm — Clover 

 the Principal Grrass — Sheep Corrals — Cattle Barns — Piggery 

 — Infirmary — Slaughter House — Advantages of Northern 

 Kansas for Stock Raising. 



WOODLAND FARM. 



June 3d, 1856, I stepped from the deck of a Missouri river 

 steamboat to the levee of Atchison, then a small territorial vil- 

 lage, now a great commercial city, with its eight trunk lines of 

 railroads radiating to every quarter of the continent. 



I had been educated for a physician, and for years previ- 

 ously had ministered to the sick of Burlington county. New 



