greatly needed, for there are many broad acres of good land unimproved, and many noble streams for manufacturing, yet unemployed. The price of land is very low, and there is plenty of it for sale. As a general rule, the farms are too large, and many of the farmers desire to sell a part so that they can better improve the remainder. Indeed, we think that trying to cultivate too much land is the greatest drawback to the prosperity of agriculture, not only in this, but in most of the counties of the State. Although there is a great deal of land for sale there are not many of the farmers who wish to move away. General contentment prevails, and a spirit of improvement is manifest. There is an Agricultural and Mechanical Association which holds annual fairs at Cookeville. The fair grounds embrace five acres, and the value of the improvements are estimated at five thousand dollars. There is also one farmers' club in the county.

ROBERTSON COUNTY.

COUNTY SEAT-SPRINGFIELD.

Robertson and Montgomery counties were, previous to 1796, known as Tennessee county. The Territorial Legislature, sitting at Knoxville, passed an act bearing date April 9, 1796, dividing the county, the western half taking the name of Montgomery and the eastern that of Robertson, named in honor of the brave pioneer who planted the first colony west of the Cumberland Mountains. On the 6th of June of the same year, the State was admitted into the Union, taking the name of the county previous to the division. The county contains about 550 square miles, and is bounded on the north by Kentucky, on the east by Sumner county, on the south by Davidson and Cheatham, and the west by Montgomery. The first settlements in the county were made on Sulphur Fork. Tradition has it that one Caleb Winters, in the year 1781 or 1782, settled on the place now occupied by Hon. G. A. Washington, and never eat a piece of bread from the time of settling them until he made it. It was about this time that corn was worth $165 a bushel in Kentucky, in Continental money.

Topography and Geology. The topography and geological features of Robertson county are so much like those of Montgomery that a description of the one may well answer for the other. The surface is

generally broken, except near the Kentucky line, where it becomes a level plain. A small strip of level plateau land also bounds the southern and eastern borders. The middle belt running east and west is more broken, but is quite fertile. Geologically, the county belongs to the Lower Carboniferous and to the upper or Lithostrotion bed of that group. The St. Louis limestone abounds in the county and crops out all along the streams in high bluffs.

Water Courses. Sulphur Fork runs centrally from the eastern extremity of the county, passing about one mile north of Springfield. It is a fine stream, affording sufficient water for almost any manufacturing purpose. It has numerous rapids which would render the harnessing of it for driving machinery comparatively easy. North of this stream are good farming lands, being in the main level, but well watered and somewhat broken by the smaller streams and the inevitable two hills between which they ripple. Red River, a much larger stream than Sulphur Fork, runs westward through the northern part of the county. It has several merchant and one or two woolen mills or factories on it. As affording water and sites for manufacturing purposes it is almost unsurpassed. Buzzard's Creek, Miller's Creek and Elk Fork are small streams, the latter entering Red River from the north. These are suitable for small mills. Red River has two prongs known as Middle Prong and North Fork, both of which are utilized to some extent. Stock-water is everywhere abundant and convenient, if not in running streams, in the numerous ponds that form in the basin-like depressions which characterize the county. Springs are quite common, and cisterns are easily and cheaply constructed in the stiff clay, requiring no wall to hold the cement. Sulphur Fork may be considered a dividing line near the center of the county. North of this line is the highest and levelest country and the richer and more fertile soils. South are more hills, more streams and less productive soils. There are, however, many farms in this part of the county. The bottoms along the larger streams are usually rich and last well. Carr's Creek empties into Sulphur Fork, three miles west of Springfield, and the two form a V, Springfield being situated in the fork. It is something smaller than the latter, but has more fall, is more rapid and dashing, but would be still more easily harnessed. Sycamore Creek forms the southern boundary of the county, rising in Davidson and emptying into Cumberland River in Cheatham, just below Ashland City. It, too, is a large stream, affording fine water-power and almost innumerable mill sites.

Lands and Soils. These are very much as in Montgomery, to which the reader is referred. A strip of thin porous land with siliceous soils, begins on the Kentucky line, near the north-west corner of Sumner county, and rims the county on its east, south and half of its west boundaries. This land has a whitish subsoil and though well suited for the growth of fruit, is not considered fertile or suitable for general farming. All the lands north and east of this rim rest upon a good clay foundation, and until impaired by injudicious cultivation were among the best in the State. The soil is strong, durable, quick and productive. It abounds with flinty gravel, which, without impairing its fertility, adds to its friability. From Sulphur Fork to the Middle Prong of Red River, there is a very fine body of land, constituting a fine agricultural region. From the Middle Prong to North Fork of Red River the lands become more level, though not less productive. South and west of Sulphur Fork, a portion of the lands are very fine. The rim of thin lands, which we have mentioned, has a few good spots of arable land that will richly repay cultivation. From Tyree Springs to Cross Plains, the country is very thickly settled, the land high and level. The finest soils for tobacco lie on Sulphur Fork, Buzzard's Creek and that portion of the county east of Miller's Creek. There is also around Fort's Station some very excellent farming lands, probably, all things considered, the most desirable in the county. A few elevated swamps occur in the various parts of the county. One on the railroad covers probably 600 acres. It goes dry, or nearly so, in summer.

Timber. The finest timber in the county is to be found on Sulphur Fork. Black oak, red oak, white oak, poplar, ash, black gum and walnut are the most valuable varieties. In the northern part of the county, on the level lands, the timber is not so good, being mostly black jack and hickory. Near the Davidson county line, chestnut is abundant. A large amount of the best timber has been used in the making of staves for tobacco hogsheads, whisky and flour barrels, for which there is a great demand. Saw-mills are quite numerous and a considerable amount of lumber has been shipped by railroad. Much of the land lying contiguous to the railroad has been stripped of its timber, and the lumber trade is not carried on to the same extent as formerly.

Crops and Farms. Precisely the same crops are grown in this county as in Montgomery. Corn, wheat, oats and tobacco are the staple crops. The yield of corn has been greatly lessened by bad cultivation. When first opened the best soils will produce, per acre, from forty to sixty

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bushels of this cereal, bnt there are thousands of acres in the county that have been so over cropped that it would be a difficult matter to gather ten bushels. Everywhere the farms are scarified by deep gullies and the fatness of the soil is being continually swept away by every rain. Tobacco on the best lands will yield from 800 to 1,200 pounds per acre. The quality is excellent and is classed with the best Clarksville tobacco. Wheat and oats on the fresh soils yield bountifully. Clover is not sown to the extent necessary to keep up the fertility of the soil, though there is no better soil in the State for its production. Meadows are scarce. Most of the hay made is from the annual grasses. Both sweet and Irish potatoes do well and yield abundantly. The amount reported by the Census Bureau will compare favorably with any county. Milk and butter are produced in considerable quantities, and much of the latter is sold in Nashville. Bees are prolific, and the supply of honey is good. Farmers pay great attention to providing for home wants, and usually live well at their tables. Sorghum was a favorite crop for many years, but is now pretty well abandoned. The system of farming may, as a general thing, be called slovenly, though there are many neat farmers in the county. Fences, with few exceptions, are not good, and the corners are suffered to grow up in bushes and briers. Broomsedge puts up on all the old fields, and there are but few counties that have more abandoned land or land that is worn out. On the old fields sassafras and persimmon sprouts vie with the broomsedge in occupation. The aspect of the county is by no means inviting. The farm-houses, while they are comfortable are not tasteful. The cultivation of tobacco, prevents any attempts at ornamentation. But few localities exists in the State that show more plainly the earnest fight for the almighty dollar, at the expense of the soil. And yet we should do injustice to a large class of excellent farmers, were we to fail to mention the fact that some of the best improved farms in the State are in Robertson county. Such farmers are scattered like bright lights in every portion of county. Their farms are pictures of beauty, surrounded by frames of waste and desolation. Yet their examples appear to be lost. Though they thrive, yet their thrift does not inspire a desire to imitate. Corn succeding corn has destroyed more fertile land in Robertson county than would be sufficient, if sold, to build two railroads throughout the entire extent of the county. The habit contracted in early times of working land until exhausted, and then turning it out, has a firm grip upon a large per cent. of the farmers. They have the virtues of economy and industry, yet their econ

omy descends into stinginess, when practiced towards the soil. More clover is needed on their heretofore fertile soils. Rotation of crops with regular rests, is imperatively demanded. Their industry, under a different system of tillage would fill their pockets, while their capital in trade would be preserved. There are but few better citizens, so far as the observance of law and the requirements of society are concerned than those of Robertson county, bnt they have an idea that what their fathers did with virgin soil and a superabundance of land, can still be done with impunity. The earth cries out against it, and the haggard and red fluted old fields show that the abused soil will no longer render its rich rewards to those who so abuse and mistreat it.

Labor, Rents and price of Land. The county offers a profitable field for the employment of both additional labor and capital. Wild and exhausted lands sadly need husbandmen and can be bought very cheap. Land ranges in price from about two to sixty dollars per acre. There is land in the county that could not be bought for $100 per acre probably, but such land is not for sale at any price. The usual way of renting is for a part of the crop. One-third or one-half is charged, according to the producing capacity of the soil. Twelve and a half dollars is about the average price paid for farm hands per month. Good laborers are in demand, and can obtain higher wages than the above. Farmers have to rely principally on the colored class for labor. Those of this class that have stuck to the farm since free are generally good hands, but these are few.

Live Stock. Considerable interest is being manifested in importing and raising fine stock. The Robertson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association is doing a great work in this direction. The Messrs. Bell (Bell & Co.) have made several importations of Berkshire hogs direct from England. They are extensively engaged in raising fine stock of different kinds, as also are many other persons in the county. The raising of hogs has been always carried on extensively. The numerous distilleries supply slops in sufficient quantity to rear large droves. Before the war there were but few counties in the State that surpassed it in this branch of breeding. The prospects are more hopeful of an improved agriculture, with its ever accompanying blessings to the county, under the stimulating effects of the Agricultural Association. Premiums should be offered for reclaimed lands and for the largest yields of corn, wheat and tobacco.

Fruit. The high plateaus on the east and south are said to yield