372 
AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS IN MICHIGAN AND OHIO, ETC. 
as there, corn is the great staple, though much of it 
is in grass, both of which are produced in large 
quantities. Wheat is frequently raised in the valley, 
but is quite liable to rust and lodging. The use of 
lime and charcoal would probably remove these evils 
in part; but the abundance and cheapness of land, 
the remoteness from market, and the frequently low 
price of products, has thus far had, and will probably 
for years to come, continue to have a tendency to 
check such an accurate and well sustained system of 
agricultural experiments, as are indispensable to the 
highest success of this pursuit. 
As on the Miami, much of the corn raised in this 
valley is distilled and large quantities are converted 
into pork ; but a greater proportion is probably fed to 
cattle. Large numbers of them are annually brought 
from Kentucky and elsewhere, and “ finished off',” 
into stall-fed beef, a part of which is barrelled here 
for foreign exportation, and a part driven to the east¬ 
ern markets for sale and consumption there. Horses 
and mules are reared for other markets in considerable 
numbers, and the latter especially to a great profit. 
It is somewhat singular, that an animal whose use, 
and consequently the demand for which, has always 
been limited to an inconsiderable part of the country, 
which is more hardy and more easily reared than any 
other, ever has and still continues to afford a larger 
profit to the breeders than any other stock. The 
cultivation of madder has within a few years been 
introduced into Ohio, and as was to have been ex¬ 
pected when intelligently pursued, it has been attend¬ 
ed with great success and large profits. The castor 
bean is largely produced; and flax is extensively 
raised, but principally for its seed. The silk culture 
is slowly but surely growing into favor at the West, 
and is there, as well as in every part of the Union 
where systematically followed up, destined to yield 
large returns for the labor and capital bestowed upon it. 
Columbus is emphatically a “ city of the plain.” From 
the cupola of the state house, the eye stretches out in 
every direction, over an interminable level of uniform¬ 
ly fertile, and where cleared, of well cultivated land. 
Considerable portions of it are still covered by the 
original forest; yet numerous and large fields in this 
and the southwestern part of Ohio were found in a 
state of cultivation by the aborigines, which has un¬ 
doubtedly been subjected to more or less tillage for 
ages. The proof of the early and extensive occupan¬ 
cy of this country, is indisputably afforded by the nu¬ 
merous and sometimes immense tumuli and mounds of 
various descriptions, and undoubtedly designed for va¬ 
rious purposes, which everywhere pervade it. The 
capital is eligibly situated on the second bottom or 
plateau above the river, is handsomely laid out in large 
regular squares, which are well covered with substan¬ 
tial, and in many cases, elegant structures; while in 
the outskirts are seen the stately architecture and mas¬ 
sive proportions of the lunatic asylum and penitentia¬ 
ry ; and in a diminished degree, those for the deaf and 
dumb, and blind. It is a wealthy and growing city, 
though young and numbering comparatively few in¬ 
habitants ; but like every other incipient city, backed 
up by such certain and ample resources as surround 
her, and which are yet but partially developed, she is 
destined to a large growth and prosperity hereafter. 
My route from here to Cleveland lay principally 
through the counties of Knox, Wayne, Medina, and 
Cuyahoga, good counties all, but parts of them 
exceedingly broken and rough, and though affording 
but little of the best corn land, yet almost everywhere 
yielding good wheat. The fields on the Reserve, 
which in the earlier part of the season were exceed¬ 
ingly parched by drought, were looking somewhat 
better, and much of the corn was full eared and 
thrifty, but so backward that an early frost would nip 
most of it before sufficiently ripe to withstand its 
effects. So severe and long continued a drought has 
probably never before been experienced, or at least 
exceeded, in this or any other State. Although frost 
and drought have spread over one third of this large 
commonwealth, cutting off and drying up for an en¬ 
tire season so large a proportion of its whole agricul¬ 
tural resources, still the products of this great and 
fertile State are so abundant and overwhelming, that 
after supplying to repletion her population of 
2,000,000, she will export millions for consumption 
abroad during the present year. 
A great destiny awaits Ohio. She has aecora 
plished much already. So vast an accumulation of 
population and wealth, and such an incalculable 
amount of labor, in clearing away the forests, and 
covering them everywhere with the necessary and 
graceful accompaniments of civilisation, and all 
accomplished in that brief space of time, in the his¬ 
tory of a nation, comprehended within the limits of 
only half a century, are calculated to excite the won¬ 
der and admiration of even an American, accustomed 
as he is to similar, though somewhat less striking 
examples. Achievements thus conspicuous need 
only to be followed up, to place her high on the 
scroll of fame, the admiration not only of her own 
country, but of the civilized world. 
More minuteness and accuracy of details must be 
excused from me, hurrying through the country on 
business totally foreign from agricultural matters, and 
obliged to decline every invitation to examine the 
numerous and well cultivated farms and fine stocks 
of cattle, which are daily increasing in number and 
interest throughout the Western States. 
Buffalo , SepL 20, 1845. R. L. Allen. 
LEACHED AND UNLEACHED ASHES. 
I have perused your paper with profit and satis¬ 
faction, and find that it contains much useful infor¬ 
mation. I am a practical fanner, and wish to 
improve my mind and soil. The former can be done 
by making close observations on practice, at the same 
time storing the mind with useful knowledge, which 
may be gleaned from many works and publications 
which are abroad at the present day; and the latter 
by pursuing a judicious course of husbandry. Will 
you please to answer through your paper the follow¬ 
ing queries ? Can unleached ashes be profitably 
applied to land as a manure when they can be obtain¬ 
ed for $12.50 per hundred bushels? (a) What effect 
would they have on land, the soil of which is a yel¬ 
low loam, with a small proportion of gravel, and 
has been pastured with sheep for many years, and 
now produces but little feed ? ( b) That part of the 
field which has been plowed this fall we intend to 
sow with oats and grass-seed next spring. The 
remainder we shall plow in the spring, and plant 
it with corn. I shall apply 100 bushels of ashes, 
by way of experiment, to the oats. How many 
bushels ought to be applied to the acre ? At 
what time ought they to be applied ? (c) Are un- 
