<fknrtolrm. 
BEYOND THE MISSISSIPPI. 
To-day I want to tell something about the 
dairy interests in this county. In dairy mat¬ 
ters but few of the tanners here are prepared 
to successfully compete with Eastern farmers. 
In building a new bouse it is but rarely that a 
cellar is built under it, the excuse being that it 
is impossible to drain it. This may be true in 
6ome instances, but I have never seen in Mis¬ 
souri a prairie so tint that a good building site 
cannot be easily found, that can be drained at 
but small expense. The real reason is that 
farmers here, as all over the United States, are 
too prone to follow in the same ruts their 
grandfathers made. Fortunately all are not so 
minded. Six miles north of our county-seat., 
Kirksville, stands a large farm-house, almost 
hidden from view by two fine locust groves 
that border the drive leading up to the 
entrance. This is the home of Judge David 
Ely, the largest land-owner in the county, and 
one of its best and most progressive farmers. 
A half-mile further on we see a neat white cot¬ 
tage, literally embowered aud engulfed in a 
mass of vines, trees, shrubs, and rare Mowers 
of every description. Here wo have the home 
of John Ely, son of the judge. He is as far in 
advance of the majority of farmers in method, 
order, neatness and head-work, as one of bi6 
own magnificent Devons is ahead of acommon 
•‘native.” I have frequently been over his 
farm, garden, orchard, dairy, cow-stables, 
sheep-yards, pig-pens aud poultry yard; and 
have on every visit been more impressed with 
the fact that If farmers would only use brains 
more and muscle less, they would achieve 
grander results. The great wonder is that some 
farmers succeed at all. so little of forethought, 
and brain-work is brought to bear upon their 
farming operations. 
Most of Mr. Ely’s cows are Devons, and bis 
dairy product hears evidence to the excellent 
milking qualities of that breed. He is now 
milking 21 cows, and ships weekly to 8t. Louis 
from 60 to SO pounds of delicious golden 
butter. This is nicely packed in twelve-pound 
pails, the lid securely fastened, and in three 
days from the time the milk is carried to the 
dairy, some of this butter finds its way to the 
table of the consumer. The cows during milk¬ 
ing time, are fed with oats in the sheaf, cut fine, 
and, judging by the noise they make, they 
enjoy their allowance—rewarding their owner 
with overflowing pails. The calves on this 
farm are not allowed to obtain tbeir morning I 
aud evening meals trom nature’s source, as I 
other more privileged calves are allowed to I 
do; but are early tauglit to eat what is set ( 
before them. Skim-milk thickened with corn- I 
meal mush has made as nice a herd of calves I 
as ever chased each other over the meadows, 
ami they cat their rations with as much gusto, 
and as many enthusiastic “ bunts” of the pail, I 
as though they had never tasted warm sweet 
milk fresh from the cow. The process of raising 
calves in this way, is called “ yanking.’’ from 
the fact that the Yankees practice this method I 
extensively. Very few being prepared to pas- I 
turo their cows on their own premises, the 
practice of letting the calves take thu “top - ’ I 
milk, the owner taking the rest, prevails hereto I 
a great extent. Cows that run on “ the range” 
will not come home unless they are “sent for,” if I 
their calves do not obtain their meals in this 
way; and as it is agood deal of trouble to bunt I 
for them every evening, farmers generally prac- I 
tlce this plau and leave “ yanking” 10 those 
who have “home pasturage.” Everything 
that runs out on the prairies wears a Dell, and 
any one accustomed to it can tell the sound of 
his own bell a long distance off. Tim wild pas¬ 
ture contains a good deal of blue-grass, which 
is indigenous to Missouri soil, and helps to 
makegood butter. Mr. Ely has his meadows I 
set with blue-grass and red clover, and on one I 
6ide of the meadow a miniature lake sparkles 
and glistens in the sunlight. This was built 
for the accommodation of the farm, and is 
about 10 feet deep. On the side ot the embank¬ 
ment, and so arranged that all offensive drain- , 
age is carried away from the lake, stands the ] 
pig-pens, and a steam-heater near by cooke the i 
rations for the Berkshires and Poland-Chinas. t 
In dry seasons, stock on “the range' some- j 
times have to travel five or six miles in search * 
of water, and then, when they do Mud it, it is t 
full of all sorts of filth, and nothing but over- ] 
powering thirst would induce cattle to drink it. g 
Here, at this lovely artificial lake, every pie- r 
caution is taken to keep the water pure and j 
clean, so that the cows have this supply to c 
assist them in yielding an excellent quality of p 
milk. Thereis nothing which becomes tainted so o 
soon or easily as milk, and the drinking of v 
impure water just as certainly affects it as im- a 
pure odors will after it i6 taken to the dairy. g 
This fact Mr. Ely not only knoios, but has v 
profiled by, and the result i6 good stock 
water. tl 
The same cleanliness aDd care prevail in tl 
the making of the nutter. The milk is set in S 
large, shallow pans, about three inches deep, tl 
and is placed on the cellar bottom, which is ei 
cemented and sprinkled with dry lime. The 
churn is a patent. The power stands outside 
the dairy, and is a big woolly sbeep, that 
patiently walks its treadmill, cheered by sweet 
apples occasionally, until the butter comes, 
when it is released from its labors and set at 
liberty. Between the dairy and the stables 
extends a ravine which is now effectually 
bridged by a hand railroad. The track is about 
four feet in width, and at the highest point is 
15 feet from terra firma. Almost everything 
that has to be conveyed from the barn to the 
house, or from the house to the barn, is carried 
upon the car which plies its trips free of charge. 
This piece of farm equipment is entirely 
of home construction, and saves every year 
in time, to say nothing of hard labor and ner¬ 
vous force, more than the cost of constructing 
it. Another triumph of mind over muscle! 
You who have the milk of 10 or 15 cows to 
carry by main strength from the cow-stables 
to the dairy, please make a note of this con¬ 
venience, and construct one immediately; and 
remember that those only are successful far¬ 
mers who use their brains to plan, as well as 
their hands to execute. All others are but 
plodders, and wiJl always remain such. 
Sublette, Adair Co., Mo. Bessie Victor. 
NOTES FROM WESTERN ARKANSAS. 
Leaving Erie, Penn., some two weeks since 
for atrip to this State, having in view the se¬ 
lection of a suitable and permanent location 
for a home in Western Arkansas, I arrived here 
in due time well pleased with my journey. 
From general report, we had expected to find 
a lawless set of people inhabiting Arkansas, 
but were exceedingly surprised to meet with 
straightforward, honest, hard-working and 
law-abiding citizens, wherever it became our 
lot to stop; and by strict attention to their 
business, they will soon lift from the State the 
name she has borne since the war. All they 
need is help in the shape of good, healthy and 
industrious people to clear up the mighty 
forests, till the vast amount of rich soil, and 
unearth the boundless treasures of mineral re¬ 
sources, and one day she will stand second to 
no State in the Union. The Indians, who are 
just over the line, are friendly and hundreds 
of them come over every year to pick cotton. 
After leaving St. Louis, the soil is rather 
light, but, passing dowu through the State, it 
becomes more ricli and heavy. Not much 
prairie land is found northeast of Little Rock, 
but upon striking a distance of twenty miles 
west, it is a splendid rolling country to Fort 
Smith, abounding with luxuriant- pasturage, 
and capable of raising an endless amount of 
fruit aud produce, grain and cotton. Very lit¬ 
tle rocky soil is found except on the ridges. 
The climate of Arkansas is mild and salu¬ 
brious. Sudden changes of temperature are 
less frequent than in the Eastern States in the 
same latitude, and eases of sun-stroke and 
headache from heat are rarely known, as in 
the summer it is no warmer than in the North¬ 
ern States, and m the winter the thermometer 
rarely marks lower than 20 deg. above zero. 
Western Arkansas abounds In valuable tim¬ 
ber in all sections, and the revenues from it 
are of the first importance, constituting the 
great wealth Tet to be realized in the improve¬ 
ment of the State. The Yellow Pine forests 
predominate, covering about one-tenth of the 
area of the State. Several varieties of Oak 
abound and attain large proportions. Cabinet 
woods occur in abundance, of which the Black- 
walnut, Cherry and Mapie are the most valua¬ 
ble. Besides these varieties there are the Ash, 
Hickory, Cum. Sycamore, Eiin. Cottonwood, 
Cedar and Black-Locust, with an undergrowth 
of Spice, Paw-Paw, Hazel, Cane and large 
Grape-vines. Arkansas is. beyond doubt, the 
best watered State In the Union, having nearly 
3.000 miles of inland navigable, waters, so dis¬ 
tributed that they Intersect nearly every por¬ 
tion of the State, aud afford steamboat facili¬ 
ties the greater portion of the year. Its min¬ 
eral resources are beyond estimation; coal, 
iron, lead, zinc and associate metals, together 
with marble, gypsum, salt, bone aud whet¬ 
stone, granite, (fee. Cotton has been the staple 
product for many years, but of late corn and 
wheat have received considerable attention, 
and are found to yield a better profit to the 
farmer. Corn yields 30 to 50 bushels to the 
acre, and grows to an enormous hight. Pota¬ 
toes grow abundantly and as the season is 
long, have plenty of time to mature, Avhile the 
sweet potato is right at home here, aud speci¬ 
mens have been shown to us as weighing five 
pounds. Fruits of all kinds are almost a sure 
crop, and are of excellent flavor and large 6izc, 
peaches sometimes measuring 13 inches iu cir¬ 
cumference. The forests abound with several 
varieties of wild Grapes, which are gathered 
and made into excellent wine. Sorghum also 
grows to an immense size, and is cultivated 
very extensively for sirup. 
Gardening soeniB to be a favorite pursuit for 
those who reside near the larger towns where 
they cau command a good market for produce. 
Stock-raising will eventually become oue of 
ihe leading occupations, as the winter is short 
enough to admit of their running at large the I 
-YORKER. 
entire season, while the lands abound with 
excellent grasses. 
I would, say in conclusion, that all those who 
contemplate going West, had better look in on 
this part of the State before going elsewhere. 
They can, I think, get suited here somewhere. 
The Government land is mostly taken up. Rail¬ 
road lands vary from $21 to $5 per acre. Those 
wishing to rent farms can do so either on 
shares or by the acre. Pioneer. 
Franklin Co., Ark. 
-- 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
N. Y., Fluvanna, Chautauqua Co., Oct. 12.— 
The Beauty of Hebron potatoes were a grand 
success. I planted 21 hills with only one eye 
in a hill, and the result was three pecks of as 
fine tubers as one could ask for. They are at 
least- one week earlier than Early Rose. The 
Blount Prolific corn will require a longer aud 
warmer season than this latitude generally 
furnishes. The seed sent me germinated slow¬ 
ly, making it at least oue week behind usual 
seasons. Thejgrowth was all one could desire 
averaging 12 feet — highest, 13 feet, lowest 
11 feet two Inches. Several stalks produced 
seven and others nine ears each; none bore 
fewer than five. Most of it got hard, but the 
yield was go poor, that it is not worth trying 
to compete for premium. The Acme tomato 
is superb, when uot affected with rust or rot. 
Many of them showed signB of decay at the 
under-side or blow end. The Golden Rurals 
are fine, but, nothing to be compared to the 
Acme. The Pearl Millet was about half a crop. 
Owing to the cold, dry season, some of the 
other seeds did not gertuiuato; those that did, 
have proved a success. The weather is de¬ 
lightful. if one cau so speak of October weather, 
with mercury at 88“ and 90“ at 2 p. m. in the 
shade. Crops generally are good. The apple 
crop is very ubuudant. and buyers are picking 
up all they can, at $1.25 for good wiuter frnit 
and $1 for fall apples. Winter wheat is look¬ 
ing fine. During a ride of 40 miles yesterday, 
I saw many pieces looking all the farmer could 
wish. Potatoes are a liberal yield and of fine 
quality. They are. marketing at 30c. per bushel. 
Corn, although injured somewhat by early 
frosts, is more tlmu an average crop. Feed is 
generally short, and the butter supply equally 
short; it is being held for 22@24c. Pork is dull 
at 5c.. dressed. Wheat was a fair crop, aver¬ 
age yield about 20 bushels per acre. Buck¬ 
wheat is a light crop, having been hurt by 
frost. From my diary of 32 years I fiud no 
record of weather like the two wcek6 past—so 
warm, equal to average August weather. 
NOV. 4 
Minnesota, Le Sueur, Le Sueur Co., Oct- 
13th.—Harvest has long since been ended, and 
thrashing is now in progress. There have been 
only five accidents from steam engines up to 
date. In two instances the separator, as well 
as numerous stacks, was burned. Grain 
turns out a fair yield to the acre, averaging 10 
to 15 bushels, according to locality. The 
quality is good. Prices are fair, with a pros¬ 
pect of a rise. My Blount’s corn is astonishing 
to behold. The stalks are from fifteen td 
sixteen feet high, and the ears as large as pop¬ 
corn, with from six to eight rows, and kernels 
as large as pumpkin seeds, ami as white as 
milk. P'q liar corn I call it. My wife acd£I 
think the Golden iWal tomato the earliest 
aud best we ever saw. From the seed obtained 
from the Rural we raised all we could eat 
and cau for future use, besides giving away a 
good many, while many more went to waste 
on the ground. I have just received four pigs 
and a South-Down ram from Philadelphia. 
The pigs and ram cost me $65.00. The Express 
charges amounted to $54.00. The weight of 
the lot, including boxes, was 000 pounds. 
“How’s that for high ? ” Our friend Yick, of 
Rochester, has been waging a bitter warfare 
on the U. S. Mail officials for the exorbitant 
charges on seeds, and I think somebody ought 
to bestow a little attention of a like character 
on the Express companies. G. n. s. 
N. Y., Hornby, Steuben Co.. Oct. 10.—We 
have had a very dry season. Crops are there¬ 
fore short. My Beauty of Hebron potato I 
cut to 10 single eyes and put one in a hill. On 
digging them I had 23 pounds of nice tubers, 
three of them weighing 17 ounces each. The 
Golden Rural tomato is a perfect beauty. 
G. W. B. 
Ohio. New Loudon, Huron Co,, Oct. 16.— 
September was a cool and somewhat frosty 
month, but the frosts were ouly just heavy 
enough to kill down the tops of vines and bite 
some pieces of corn on low land pretty hard, 
but on most grounds uncut corn and late pota¬ 
toes are quite green yet. October came in 
glowingly hot, aud keeps so up to this time. 
To-day the thermometer marks 100''’ on a limb 
Of a tree iu the yard at two o'clock p. m. 
Grass was light throughout this section. 
Wheat was very good; oats a large crop; 
corn very fair. Potatoes were a good crop 
where the bugs were kept off; the old long 
kind was with us by countless millious. Ap¬ 
ples and peaches are abort crops. Hickory- 
nuts are very plentiful. Fall feed is very 
good. I presume more wheat has been sown 
here than ever before, and it is looking well, 
but needs rain now. My Beauty of Hebron 
potato did not give me a large yield, owing to 
the long drought iu the fore part of summer ; 
1 have only nine pounds from the two small 
potatoes sent me. The Golden Rural tomato 
is well liked aud yielded a large crop of me¬ 
dium-sized fruit. My melons were gobbled 
up, or down, by the bugs as soon as out of the 
ground. My Blount corn was cut up yester¬ 
day aud pronounced fully ripe. After cutting 
it half waist high, 1 had to stand on a salt- 
barrel head to tie it three feet below the top 
of the stook. b. p. 
III., Elm Point, Bond Co., Oct. 15.—Wheat 
looks well now. It is uncommonly warm for 
this month. September was very cool. We 
have only had one frost, and that didn’t hurt 
anything. Tuberoses are in full bloom. To¬ 
matoes aud Lima beans are as green and fresh 
as in August- Corn is all dry and the leaves 
are ail dead, while Pearl Millet is green and 
glowing ; I intend to give it a good trial next 
year. Our stock relish it as well aB any feed 
they get; it has doue well for such a dry sea¬ 
son. Blount’s corn did well. The Beauty of 
llebrou potatoes are large and nice. We did 
not get them planted as soon as our old kiuds, 
so I can’t speak about their early qualities. 
Potatoes are scarce aud high; it was too dry 
for them, r. c. p. 
Kansas, Parsous, Labette Co„ Oet., 4—Our 
growing season is being prolonged a little 
more than usual. Generally our first frosts 
are with us at this date, but so far this fall 
our coldest morning has not been lower than 
40 deg. As our coru has long been ripe aud 
as we have very few roots, there is no advan¬ 
tage iu this prolongation of the season other 
than for grass and the castor-oil bean. Our 
Pearl Millet is mostly ripe. It was sowu the 
24lh of May. Being instructed to plant four 
feet apart, each way. and having couuted 
the seeds, I found 1 should require an acre of 
ground and did not care to risk that much ou 
an article then unknown here. Finally I 
spared about one-tenth of au acre iu an aban¬ 
doned barnyard. The seed was used liberally, 
but no Millet cauie above the grouud in three- 
fourths of the hills. The cause may have 
been partly iii planting too deep, but chiefly 
iu our having too much rain a day or two after 
plautiug. 1 cultivated what grew, aud 
have lots of seeds. As I did not plow 
deep, owing to the hardness and dryness of 
the soil, some of the hills have blown over. 
I chopped off the mud and some of the roots, 
aud put the Millet within reach of the stock. 
The hogs have corn before them nearly all 
the time, and the cattle have a good pasture, 
but they “ made for” the Millet lively aud soon 
there was nothing left but the small bunch of 
roots, the fiber, aud the “ tail." I have never 
seen anything devoured with greater avidity, 
and it was uot because of a change from dry 
to succulent feed, as the hogs have every day 
more or less grass, weeds, beet-tops etc. But 
they did not eat the seed. This was three or 
four weeks ago. I don’t know how much oue 
of the hills weighed, but it was more than I 
found easy to shoulder. Each hill was thu 
product of one seed. Oue of the hills has 99 
tails, the others vary from 20 to 75 The Mil¬ 
let is from four to 8j feet high aud the tails 
five to 12 inches long. The smaller bight and 
smaller tails are where it was planted, say 
three feet apart. I intended mine for seed, 
aud so did not cut auy except one crowded 
hill. This was a month ago, aud despite un¬ 
interrupted aud intense heat aud drought, the 
cut stalks in this bill shot up well, t have 
not the least hesitation iu pronouncing it one 
of the best, yea, by far the best plant here for 
fodder. Ours should have been planted by 
April 15 at the latest, aud in that event, in an 
ordinary season, It might have been cut by 
July 1, aud as there will be 2,700 hills, at four 
feet each way, ibis would y ield, at 25 pounds 
per hii), over 33 tons of green fodder. My 
hills that were blown down, including a small 
portion of root, weighed, 1 guess, from 40 to 
60 pounds each. Now, in tills latitude two 
crops cau be had in any season; so the crop is 
a great deal greater and the quality better 
than anything known in these pam. Whether 
it will exhaust the soil much, 1 don't know ; 
hut one can afford to fertilize an acre of laud 
that will produce a crop such as I have figured 
upon. It must not be forgotten that our lati¬ 
tude is 37 deg. 40 minutes, aud our altitude 960 
feet. 
Our Kansas corn crop is made, and the 
yield varies from 30 to75 bushels per acre, the 
first quantity on poorish high land, and the 
last on rich creek aud river bottoms. Inter¬ 
mediate yields are on mounds and lauds be¬ 
tween the bottoms andtbe high “white" lands. 
The eastern tier of counties, bordering on 
Missouri, have an unprecedented crop. In 
this area, comprising 200 miles by 20, the corn 
is better than any corn ever seen iu Illinois; 
so says a reliable man who lived 15 years 
there. The yeomanry have got the recurrent 
fever badly; I mean the excited state in which 
this body finds itself every two or three years. 
Sometimes it has saccharine symptoms; at 
others cereal symptoms. The latter Is the 
