890 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Pioneer Industry. 

 Mrs. Kittie Miller, Erie, Neosho county, Kansas. — Perhaps the 

 Clnb Avould like to hear from this far-off place in the "West. "We 

 arrived here the 5th of Jnly, 1868, and now, after almost a year's 

 stay, we cannot speak too highly of our western home, with its 

 thousands of acres of prairie stretching far and wide, dotted here 

 and there with houses, each owner beautifying his quarter-section by 

 planting fruit and forest trees, turning over the sod with double 

 teams, preparing it for crops of corn, potatoes and grain. At this 

 season of the year the prairies are blossoming with millions of wild 

 flowers, the fragrance of which fills the air all around, making Neo- 

 sho indeed a delightful place to live in. Immigration is rapidly 

 coming in. Not six months ago we thought Ave were far out on the 

 frontier, but now we are considered back in the settlement, so fast 

 are the people settling it up. The 160 acres that I call home, which 

 the Giver of all things had permitted to remain untouched by man 

 or plow until we took possession, is undergoing a gradual change. 

 We have a hewn log house eighteen by twentj'-four, a story and a 

 half high, and here permit me to states that the country has passed 

 from the first stage of log-houses to the second stage of frame, which 

 adds both to the wealth and looks of om' country. Still, I love the 

 old log-house, with its climbing vines and roses. As yet we have 

 nothing but wild vines to adorn ours with, and a few of the common 

 flowers. We have a good well of water, twenty feet deep, which 

 was dug during the dryest time last summer, upon high land where 

 our house stands. We have over 300 fruit trees of different kinds, 

 some two years old ; also, some forest trees, some currants, straw- 

 berries and grapes. Our stock consists of two cows, two calves, and 

 two yoke of oxen. From our two cows we make butter enough to 

 serve six in family, and sell from [six to eight pounds per week. 

 As this is our first attempt at farming, we think we do well. This 

 country is well adapted for fruit, small grain and cattle ; the latter 

 do well in wild pasturage. As to health this is tlie place to come to 

 enjoy that great blessing, for it is the testimony of all that this is as 

 healthy a place as can be found. Some of our difiiculties, perhaps, 

 would not come amiss, and the discouragements we met. When we 

 first came liere we lived for five months in a muslin tent, which was 

 poor protection from the sun, the wind, the rain and the snow. 

 Owing to the hot weather in last July and August, it was impossible 

 to work in the timber, and when the weather became cooler it rained 



