192 GEOLOGY OF ILLINOIS. 



water obtained. Two miles north-west, also on high prairie, another 

 well was dug 30 feet deep, and has generally contained about 25 feet in 

 depth of water. 



Springs. — In sec. 4, T. 17 N., E. 2 E., there is a large spring, the water 

 of which is reported to contain sulphur, but I could not detect its 

 presence. 



On the land of John Good, near Bethel church, 4 miles north-west of 

 Decatur, is a boiling spring. Carburetted hydrogen gas accompanied 

 with small white flakes frequently escapes to the surface. The surface 

 of the water presents a slightly irridescent appearance ; it is very cold 

 and pleasant to drink, with a faint taste of sulphur. Along its margin 

 a small species of Physa is found. The flat ground is marshy for as 

 much as an acre in extent. 



In the Decatur fair grounds are several large and fine springs.* 



Agriculture. — It is apparent from what I have heretofore said, that 

 all the prairie land is very rich, most of the timbered land either rich 

 or of fair quality, and all capable of producing fine crops. On the prai- 

 ries, especially in the northern part of the county, tine corn crops are 

 annually produced, in ordinary seasons yielding Co bushels per acre 

 and often more. Although the soil is very rich, good wheat crops are 

 rare, fall wheat extremely uncertain, except near the south county line. 

 The farmers generally sow spring wheat and raise from 15 to ~Q bushels 

 per acre. They consider the ground too loose for fall wheat, but some- 

 times raise good crops of it on new laud. Ol her grains, oats, barley and 

 rye yield well. The potato grows finely when not injured by the bug, 

 but late vines during the last few years have suffered very much from 

 their depre lations. 



Fruit. — As yet, there are very few bearing orchards, but the county 

 bids fair to become a good apple growing district. There are only one 

 or two small vineyards near Decatur, and they promise well ; this soil I 

 believe to be admirably adapted to the vine. Other small fruits when 

 planted do well. The peach crop of 1868 was very good, but such crops 

 may not be expected every year. 



A few good hedges were observed on the prairies. The Osage orange 

 does very well. I observed, growing, some good walnut groves on the 

 prairies 



* Note. — Mr. Wm. A. Wilsox of this county, living ten miles south of Decatur, struck gas on his 

 farm in the autumn of 1871, at a depth of 45 feet. It came from immediately beneath the hard pan 

 and was found at seven different localities on the place, and the now appearing to be constant he 

 utilized it in furnishing his dwelling house with both light and fuel. It comes from a bed of quick 

 sand Deneath the bard pan, which has been penetrated to the depth of fifteen feet without reaching 

 the bottom. When hist heard from some eighteen months after its discovery, the gas still continued 

 to now without any apparent decrease in the quantity. 



A quarter of a mile east of this gas well another boring was made, which at a depth of about fifty 

 feet passed through a bed of black peaty soil some four or five feet in thickness, but no gas was found. 



A. H. W. 



