THE WISCONSIN FARMER.


      J. W. HOYT, : : : : : : : : : : EDITOR.

VOL. XV.                         MADISON, JULY 1, 1803.                 
         No. 7.



           Water for the Prairies.

       BY D. S. CURT!98, OF THE ARMY.

  This is an interesting topic-one upon which
we have thought and planned very much ever
since we became acquainted with the peculiar-
ities of the Prairies; we have sometimes writ-
ten upon the subject and wondered that abler
hands had not taken it up, and furnished in-
structive papers upon it for the Patent Office
Reports, which are unquestiontably the most
widely useful documents published by our
Government; and we have a lively hope that
this important matter will not be longer neg-
lected by those amply able to elucidate it.
  EFFECTS OF GOOD WATER.-Beautiful is wa-
ter, and rich in health and vigor and pleasure;
and the effects of a full supply on the enjoy-
ment of a people is hardly calculable-cer-
tainly but inadequately appreciated, unless
when once deprived of it.



ing and bathing; nor would they withold it
from their animals.
  Frequent, even daily washing of the whole
person is conducive to health and strength;
but particularly so on our broad prairies where
there is more constant exposure to sun, dust
and wind, are more frequent ablutions neces-
sary to secure the same measure of health,
than is needed in forest or shaded localities.
  Certainly this is a too much neglected sub-
ject, and cannot be too earnestly pressed upon
the consideration of those who inhalAt the
prairies and extended plains of the West, and
new States generally, where the people are so
eagerly engrossed in money making that they
scarcely have a moment to study or think of
their highest personal comfort, so easily attain-
able. And all who know anything about it
must concede that no other practice does more
to promote health and elasticity of mind and
body than habitual bathing.



  Particularly, where good water is scarce or  Hence, no other temporal blessing
is of 4reat-
procured at considerable cost, is that full hab- er importance than an adequate
supply of soft
it of cleanliness, so conducive to high health water; and If he "who
makes two blades of
and comfort and moral elevation, too much grass to grow where but one grew
before, is a
neglected.  Nor will sufficient drink be fur- benefactor," then how
eminently is he also a
nished to animals, by which they will be ca- benefactor who is instrumental
in securing
pable of supplying that full vigor of flesh, abundant supplies of good water
in destitute
fleece, milk and service, which would result locations.
from ample drink; nor will the same quantity  These remarks are principally
called forth
of food do as much gosd, on scant drink, at by the lack of water on the Broad
Prairies..
different seasons.  Unless we have observed  DisTRIBUTIoN OF BLESSISos.-Many
per-
the bountiful results of plentiful drink-par- sons, aware of this apparent
destitution of wa-
ticularly of soft water-can we appreciate its ter on the prairies, are deterred
from settling
value; but those who do understand it could upon them; and hence, these extensive
fertile
hardly be induced by any means to dispense regions, so surpassingly favorable
for agricul-
with the use of soft water for drinking, cook- ture, remain comparatively
useless to the thou-