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Show KANSAS REVISITED. 445 ern third is as fertile as any equal area in the world ; the western third has not yet been proved to be of much value except for grazing ; the middle third consists of both grazing and agricultural land, the latter predominating. Thus we have 25,000 square miles of first- class farming land, as much of mixed grazing and farming lands, and a little more of the region fit for pasturage only. The eastern border of the State has an average elevation of some 800 feet above the sea ; the western from 2,500 to 3,000 feet. The eastern third 25,000 square miles or thereabouts when settled as thickly as rural Ohio, will sus-tain a population of two millions; at present it contains not quite half a million, " and there's room for millions more." Of land subject to preemption and homestead there is very little. Nearly all the land of value belongs to the railroads or private owners. Some people of my acquaintance, who talk very glibly of the immense public domain, would be amazed to learn how little good land is still at the disposal of government. Deducting diminished Indian reserves, railroad grants, and lands long ago preempted and sold to speculators, there is not much left this side of the barren plateaus. But the rail-road lands in Kansas can now be bought at from $ 4 to $ 10 per acre,, and are generally located in old counties where church, school and society have made great progress. The railroads, as a rule, sell on seven years' time, with interest at seven per cent, on deferred payments. All the fruits and grains of the temperate zone can be produced in Kansas, and for some things it seems specially suited. In small fruits, especially grapes, no State east of California can excel Kansas. Wheat has not yet proved a perfect success in southern Kansas, because, as I think, the farmers have not experimented sufficiently. They still sow the same varieties, on the same system, as in Ohio. In oats the product is amazing. Mr. A. Hall, whose farm is at the junction of Deer Creek and Neosho River, in 1870 harvested seventy bushels per acre from a large area ; and J. C. Clark, on the upland, near lola, took four thousand bushels from sixty- five acres. Of ground crops all kinds grown in Ohio flourish exceedingly on this virgin soil, potatoes and turnips especially. Vines of all kinds do well; all sorts of melons attain a size and perfection of flavor unsur-passed in this latitude. Peaches are a sure crop at least three years out of four. Apples, for a new country, are about average. But the most money is made on cattle and sheep. The country is generally well watered; there is still abundant range on the open prairie, and enough of sheltered and wooded hollows. And in this respect the settlers west of the Verdigris think they have a great advantage, as |