EAST TEXAS. 11 



his negroes. Their forefathers had conquered the swamps from the 

 Potomac to the Mississippi. They entered upon the task with that 

 kind of enthusiasm which genuine, unalloyed hope inspires. It was 

 a task in which every feeling that animates the home-builder in a new 

 country finds lodgment, and which produces energy of the mind, soul 

 and heart. 



It was a country without ancient history. The Indians left no 

 mark, except a few mounds, to tell that they ever existed. Everything 

 was primeval. When the pioneers arrived they saw dismal forests 

 through which ran meandering streams as clear as crystal. At first 

 sight it was a charming picture. Wild flowers were in great profusion. 

 Game so plentiful that to slay it seemed brutal. The country was a 

 rolling, hilly land, few marshes and swamps, valleys teeming with wild 

 grass, little underbrush, luscious grapes hanging upon thousands of 

 trees, delicious berries everywhere, and nuts far beyond the needs of 

 squirrels and the animals which feasted upon them. It was, indeed, a 

 scene calculated to inspire the involuntary expression: 



"This is a great a wonderful country !" 



This country might be described as one of numerous small hills, in- 

 terspersed between with small valleys, winding branches and creeks, 

 originally covered with forests but now a land of fields, meadows, etc., 

 separated by forests, in many instances almost as primeval as they were 

 seventy-five years ago, since only about 30 per cent of the country is in 

 cultivation. 



There are many remarkable natural features peculiar to this coun- 

 try. Commencing with an imaginary line, which is about 200 feet 

 above sea-line, the surface gradually rises to an elevation of about 600 

 feet at the highest points, and perhaps 700 feet on the tops of the high- 

 est hills in Anderson, Cherokee and Rusk counties. 



Such is the remarkable diversity of the soil that it has proved capable 

 of yielding every fruit, vegetable and farm crop in North America, ex- 

 cept some grown in Florida. It is not intended to convey the impres- 

 sion that all do well. I have seen growing and ripening peaches, 

 apples, cherries, quinces, pears, grapes, strawberries, blackberries, goose- 

 berries, raspberries, almonds, figs, plums, and pomegranates. I would 

 not undertake to name the various kinds of vegetables, but the most 

 prominent are cabbage, beans, peas, tomatoes, beets, turnips, onions, 

 radishes, lettuce, etc. 



The staple farm crops are cotton, corn and oats. But, in addition to 

 these, wheat was an important crop prior to and during the Civil War. 

 While Irish and sweet potatoes have always been considered important 

 crops for home use, they are now beginning to attract wide attention as 

 commercial crops. Ground-peas or goobers, as they are frequently 

 called, are now considered by manv farmers as an indispensable crop 

 for stock. Ribbon cane is produced on bottom lands throughout East 

 Texas, and the syrup produced from it is acknowledged to be the most 

 palatable and healthful in the world, superior to the New England maple 

 syrup. Sorghum grows well, but nothing acts to deplete and impoverish 

 the soil more rapidly than this crop. It should never be grown except as 

 is provided by careful rotation, following it with some legume and 

 turning it back to the Foil. 



