294 Transactions of the American Institute. 



owing to the fact that fires could not run so readily in the broken 

 sections, being more hindered by streams, etc. The timber is mainly 

 oak of various kinds ; also chestnut, hickory, soft maple, tulip tree, 

 pine and yellow poplar. In some flat, open sections there is consider- 

 able "black jack." There are some open natural meadows. The 

 grass is very nutritious. It is only second to Kentucky blue grass. 

 No matter how poor cattle are in the spring, they are quite fat by 

 early fall. The soil is of moderate fertility, and varies considerably. 

 Its quality depends more on the range of former fires than anything 

 else. In some places it is too sandy, but not usually so. It is nearly 

 all underlaid with a yellow clay sub-soil. Under about one-fifth of 

 the area, the rock is too near the surface for agricultural purposes. 

 It crops along the slopes and ravines. The rest of the land is gene- 

 rally free from loose stones. The rock is nearly all pure sandstone,. 

 and makes good building material. The effects of barnyard manure 

 are very marked and apparently permanent. A little goes a long 

 way. Lime and ashes vary in their effects. Green soiling would 

 seem to be the thing, but it has not been tried to any extent. This 

 is not a grain-raising country. Wheat and corn yield moderately. 

 The grain is very heavy. Oats and buckwheat do very well some 

 seasons, but occasionally fail. Rye, sorghum and Irish potatoes do 

 well. Sweet potatoes and vegetables generally are of fine quality, 

 and do reasonably well when cared for. The cultivated grasses have 

 done well when properly set. Clover, timothy and red top have been 

 sown ; the latter grows wild in some places. The little blue grass I 

 have seen was growing finely. White clover springs up wherever a 

 seed is dropped. Horses, mules, cattle and swine will pay well for 

 their raising. Sheep are the best to start with. By having inclosed 

 winter pastures, but little feeding is necessary. There is about a 

 week of snow each winter ; not much mud. Apples are nearly a 

 sure crop; the yield is large, and fruit sound and well flavored. 

 Peaches yield largely, when they escape frost.. Pears, cherries, 

 quinces and all small fruits have done well as far as tried. Grape 

 vines are healthy and the fruit sound. Their prospects are very 

 promising. Dairying and bee-keeping are doing well, and promise 

 to do better. 



No murrain, hog cholera, foot rot or regular potato rot has origi- 

 nated here. No chinch bugs or potato bugs, and few musquitos. 

 The summers are comparatively cool. The mercury seldom gets to 

 ninety-five degrees. The days are breezy and nights cool. The air 

 and water are very pure. There are numerous springs and small 



