OHIO. 475 



i 

 tion from all considerable hills. This formation of surface has, in 

 many places, produced swamps and marshes, but few or none are of 

 such extent and depth as not to be drained, when the increase of 

 population shall render it necessary. The middle of the state, nearly 

 from the eastern to the western boundaries, is champaign. The 

 prairies, generally, are not many square miles in extent ; they now 

 and then appear solitary, with well defined boundaries, being sur- 

 rounded by thick woods, but they are oftener broken and interrupted 

 by clumps of oak and other forest trees. These prairies seem to 

 have been woodlands on which the primitive forest trees were burnt. 

 Prairies are rarely seen nearer than 40 miles from the Ohio ; but in 

 the vicinity of lake Erie and along most of its rivers they are common. 

 No sandy or rocky tracts of any considerable extent are found in any 

 part of the state, and the whole may be considered fit either for cul- 

 tivation, pasturage or timber. The surface of the ground is in most 

 parts sufficiently irrigated with permanent springs, rivulets, and mill 

 streams ; and where the former are wanting, good water can be ob- 

 tained by digging from 20 to 50 feet, which, from the structure of the 

 earth underneath, is easily done. 



Agricultural productions and domestic animals. ...The dry, 

 fertile prairies, yield all the products of the farm, which require a 

 rich soil, in great abundance. The wet fertile prairies form inex- 

 haustible meadows and pastures. The poor prairies, or barrens, are 

 said to produce good wheat and rye. Many tracts of forest land are 

 too rich for wheat, but yield vast crops oi Indian corn. The first rate 

 wood lands, after a little reduction, and all the second rate land that 

 is not too wet, afford profitable crops of wheat and rye. Oats succeed 

 well when too luxuriant a growth does not cause them to be blown 

 down by gales of wind. Flax is generally good. The bottoms or in- 

 tervals afford vast crops of hemp, an article not yet, however, much 

 cultivated. Barley does well, and in the western part of the state be- 

 gins to attract attention. White and red clover and timothy grow 

 luxuriantly. The first has sprung up spontaneously in all places that 

 have been cleared and trodden for some time. Cotton will generally 

 succeed in the southern part of the state, and has even ripened on 

 lake Erie, but little of it is however planted. The various kinds of 

 esculent, roots, which are objects of agriculture and horticulture in the 

 middle Atlantic states, are generally and advantageously cultivated. 

 Grapes (vitis vinifera) from the few experiments that have been 

 made, flourish and bear well ; which might be expected, as this state 

 has three indigenous species of the vine. Apples, peaches, and 

 pears, are pretty certain fruit along the Ohio and lake Erie ; and do 

 not often fail on the uplands, if planted in proper situations. Many 

 thousand gallons of cider and peach brandy are annually made. Cher- 

 ries and quinces succeed well. 



All the domestic animals common to the middle and eastern sec- 

 tions of the union have been introduced and thrive in this state. In 

 the north-east quarter milch cows are numerous, and considerable 

 quantities of butter and cheese are annually exported clown the Ohio. 

 The prairies afford advantageous pastures for beef cattle, herds of 

 which, have, for several years past, been driven to the Atlantic cities. 

 Hogs grow up, and even become fat, on the numerous nutritious 

 roots, in which the prairies abound, and on the beech nuts and acorns 

 of the woods. They have for some time past been an object of ex- 

 portation to the Philadelphia and Baltimore markets. Sheep come 



