With the exception of eggs sold, I have set them myself, and found them almost invariably fertile. (I will say here, that out of six eggs sent to Illinois, five hatched).

The chicks, when hatched, look exactly alike; and says one writer: " The Hou-dan chickens are very pretty when in down and first plumage. The neck, back, and wings are black, the breast and under parts white. From the very first they are lively and hardy, feathering very early and maturing with marvelous rapidity".

I have not had a sick or feeble chick this season, and in my fifteen years' experience in breeding poultry never saw chicks grow so fast.

The Houdans, taking them all in all, are among the very best breeds of poultry for all purposes, and can not fail to be highly prized by those that possess them.

P. W. Taunton, Mass., Aug. 17,1868.

Editor Horticulturist: In the June number of the Horticulturist I observe that Dr. M. A. Harding, of Vernon Co., Mo., is of the opinion "that they have in that climate a dryness of atmosphere greater than any other of the States." If Dr. H. had accompanied me in a recent trip, 300 miles west of here, on the Pacific Railroad, he would have changed his opinion, at least so far as a portion of Kansas is concerned. If grapes do better in dry climates, then western Kansas is the banner spot of all the States. I was told by the employees of the railroad that but two light showers visited them this summer. In traveling a distance of twenty or thirty miles, in many places as far as the eye can reach in the dim distance of the horizon, you will scarcely see a tree or shrub. In other places, along the margins of creeks that empty into the tributaries of the Kansas River, you will often see narrow groves of verdant forest trees. Here and there are seen the "dead carcasses" of the buffalo scattered over this vast plain, while the smaller inhabitants are the elk, etc. Thousands of acres are covered with the towns of the prairie dog, an innocent-looking little animal nearly as large as the common rabbit; but they have no "lugs" over their ears.

One of our company shot at one, the ball passing so near that it stunned the poor animal, by which means it was captured.

I brought home with me some of the soil of this region, and comparing it with that of the valleys here, I can not help but think it just as fertile. The railroad track runs along a ridge for a great distance, yet, where the soil had been stirred in building the railroad, I found corn, that had been dropped accidentally by teamsters, growing luxuriantly. The weeds under similar circumstances were as healthy as in our own cultivated fields.

Without occupying space in giving reasons, I would say that I am inclined to believe that all the authors, traveling correspondents, etc., who have pronounced this region to be a "barren waste," "a sandy desert," " arid plains," etc., are entirely mistaken. That this region is destined some day to become one of the greatest agricultural and grape-growing regions of the United States, I have no doubt, notwithstanding the hundreds of travelers whose opinions I have read all believe to the contrary. My observations were principally made at the stations where we "laid over" sometimes an hour, too short a time, it is true, to examine the country thoroughly, but sufficient to form an opinion. If the managers of this railroad studied their own interests, they would send a "free pass" to every agricultural and horticultural editor in the United States, and make provision to board them while traveling. In this way would the great natural resources of this broad, fertile plain become known to those wanting homes, and soon their lands would be worth ten times their present value, - but that is their business, not mine.

At these stations there are "piled up" thousands of cords of wood, hauled many miles from the streams; here also are the water pumps, operated by horse and wind power. The depth of the wells is from fifty to one hundred feet. At one place they bad dug two hundred feet, but found no water; these wells, you must bear in mind, are on the highest portions of the plains, the ridges dividing the valleys; in lower land, no doubt but that water could be obtained nearer the surface.

Now, what is to be done with these broad prairies? Even in this immediate region the time has come when, as A. S. Fuller says, "growing forest trees requires not only agitation, but action," and our people are planting them. Then let strong arms seek these plains, and with the prairie plow stir the soil, plant 160 acres of forest tree seeds on every section, plant orchards, vineyards, etc., and in seven years there will be plenty of timber. It will not require a lifetime (as it does in the East) to produce good-sized forest trees on the rich soil of the West. In the mean time your herds of cattle can be pastured, and you can raise corn and other grains to support yourself. If necessary, you can dig wells and put in wind or horse power pumps and throw water over your farm. When the forest tree seeds grow, the climate will be the most delightful on earth. Your readers know the effect that trees have upon climate. My belief is that from the start the farmer could succeed in growing grain, but the benefit that the planting of trees would be to this country could not be estimated in dollars and cents.

The United States Government would give 160 acres here to the settler who would live upon the land five years; and I have no doubt the railroad company would give an equal quantity, reserving one half to the company; but 160 acres there, in five years, with the trees growing that one man could plant, would be an independent fortune for the hardy pioneer who would settle thereon. Whether this broad expanse will, in our day, be dotted over with groves of forest trees or not is not for me to say; but of one thing I feel certain, and that is, at some distant period this region will be the garden spot of America, and above all other places the home of the vine. I care not for the report of a young army officer or a careless newspaper correspondent who, weary and thirsty, have hurried over these plains, their whole thoughts being, "how soon will we reach the end of our journey" Such men know very little about the capacities of the soil either for grain or fruit; and not even having an opportunity to have seen the scattered stalks of corn growing where the sod had been removed, or to observe the rank growth of different species of weeds, and at best but superficial observers in such matters, they have sent out to the world the idea that these plains are barren, and that nothing can ever be made to grow thereon; but such, Mr. Editor, is not your correspondent's opinion, although I have never found a man or seen the statement of any writer that will agree with me in this matter; and if I am the first to give 'publicity to the above views of the fertility of those plains, I will willingly bear any odium that may be thrown upon me in case of a mistake.

Yours truly,

.A. M. Burns. Manhattan, Riley Co., Kansas, July 14,1868.