TOPOGRAPHY. 



133 



cluster of the neatest looking farms, with handsome fences 

 and handsomer buildings, altogether presenting the most 

 agreeable picture of agricultural life, ever seen by the writer. 

 Such are some of the topographical characteristics of the 

 branches of Rock River. This country has been highly 

 commended, but the reality will not be found to be exagge- 

 rated by the description ;— the original cannot be heightened 



in the picture. 



Ogle, Winnebago and Whiteside, and Rock Island, are 

 counties upon Rock River. They contain some of the best 

 specimens of western lands and western farms. Great quan- 

 tities of wheat are raised here and in the whole Rock River 



country. 



Northern Missouri has forty-three counties. In its other 



political organization it is similar to Iowa. 



The counties are : St. Charles, Lincoln, Pike, Ralls, Ma- 

 rion, Lewis, and Clarke, on the Missisippi ; Warren, Mont- 

 gomery, Calloway, Boone, Howard, Chariton, Carroll, Ray, 

 Clay, Platte, Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, Allen, on the Mis- 

 souri ; and Audrain, Caldwell, Davies, Clinton, Livingston, 

 Macon, Randolph, Monroe, Shelby, Knox, Scotland, Schuyler, 

 Adair, Linn, Highland, Putnam, Mercer, Grundy, Han'ison, 

 Gentry, De Kalb, Nodoway, between the rivers and the north 



line of the state. 



Northern Missouri presents no ver>^ striking change in its 

 geology or in the essential features of its physical geography 

 from the characteristic formation and internal structure, or from 

 the superficial aspect, of the country, that has been described. 

 It is a limestome country, and a plain. The principal points of 

 diiference are that in the eastern portion the proportion of prairie 

 is rather less, and the soil much thinner. The subsoil is similar. 

 Springs are not so abundant. The larger proportion of timber 

 is an improvement m point of scenery. Proceeding west and 



