39 i FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



But the most striking feature of this county is the 

 glades, which are large, level bodies of land, a part of 

 which are open, natural, wild meadows, with a wet, marshy 

 soil. The ridges between those meadows are timbered 

 with white oak, are generally clear of stone, lay well for 

 farming purposes, and no doubt, when properly cultivated, 

 will form a good grain-growing country. The land has 

 mostly been in the possession of men who knew bnt little 

 of the proper mode of farming, and who probably never 

 entertained a thought about doing anything to increase 

 the fertility of the soil ; and consequently the land has not 

 been, nor is it now, near so productive as it can readily be 

 made. 



In many sections through the county, limestone abounds, 

 is easy of access, of the finest quality, and inexhaustible 

 in quantity. It is supposed, by those familiar with its use 

 for agricultural purposes, and who have examined this soil, 

 that in no portion of the State would the application of 

 lime produce more marked and beneficial results. 



It is my opinion that at one time these glades have been 

 large lakes, which have been gradually filled up by the 

 washings from the surrounding mountains, and by the 

 decay of great masses of grass and leaves — both those 

 grown on the soil, and what have been blown down upon 

 them from the mountains. 



This glady region abounds with thousands and hundreds 

 of thousands of the finest kinds of trees, comprising all 

 descriptions of pine, both white and yellow, curled maple, 

 wild cherry, curled white oak, and curled birch, as also 

 black and white walnut, wild cucumber, and chestnut 



There have been a few farmers in these glades who had 

 the means of giving the land a fair trial, and they have 

 succeeded in raising excellent wheat and rye. Oats never 

 have been known to fail there till the last summer, when 

 the crop was an entire failure there as well as elsewhere. 



This glade country is celebrated as a potatoe-raising 



