- pletely removed in this climate. The numerous deaths,
and the yellow appearance of the native settlers, are proofs not to be disputed. Mr. Birkbeck felt sure of constructing a plough, (which he did) and ploughing up the tough prairie turf, with a very small horse power, but he broke his plough at the beginning, and instead of 100 acres of corn, had half an acre of potatoes! The experienced native farmers have found from six to eight oxen necessary for breaking up the land in the autumn; then it lies till spring, and in summer is fallowed, and lies a second winter till spring; then, being completely rotten, it is sown with corn.
{313} I dined to-day with Mr. Wheeler, a mealman and baker, from Chelsea, who, having a wife and eight children, was determined on emigration, by soberly looking into his affairs, and finding that he had an increasing family and decreasing property, having lost, during his last year, amongst his tradesmen, 1,500l. He came here in expectation of finding America a land of labour, and had confidence in the prospect. He is not deceived, and expects many to follow him, but shall advise them all to come in their working jackets, and do as he and his family do, hew and split wood, and clear land themselves, without hiring. He finds that a house here, though he grows the wood, will cost nearly as much as a brick-house in England, finished both in the same style; the finishing determines the expense. He gave us for dinner a fine wild turkey, weighing 20lbs. The wild cat is a tiger cat; it kills the deer and pigs.
Mr. Kelhorn never expected to gain money by farming, but only by the increased rate of land. He is sorry that he settled not near flourishing Maddison, on land, at five dollars per acre. He abhors the prairies, which are all
