nd acquainted with methods of agriculture, more rapidly. From he time of the establishment in 1872 until 1876 there was a steady but small increase; from 1876 to 1880, however, the growth was such s to establish clearly the success of the settlement. At the present ime there are Polish farmers on practically all the land held by the ailroad at the time of the establishment of the colony and on large racts in addition. In Bolo and Dubois townships in Washington County there are more Poles than Americans, and several other townships in the three counties have a large Polish population.

MATERIAL PROGRESS.

Very few settlers bought less than 40 or more than 80 acres upon first settling in the community. Few, however, were content to rest with their first purchase, and as soon as they could see their way clear to pay for the first holding they bought more land. In this way many settlers who started thirty years ago with 40 acres, untillable and not paid for, have acquired from 160 to 400 or 500 acres, paid for and well improved. All are not equally progressive. Some have been content with their first purchase, especially where it amounted to as much as 80 or 120 acres, but in the majority of cases more than one purchase has been made, and the average farm owned by representative Polish farmers in the locality, as shown by family schedules collected by agents of the commission, is 147 acres, with 500 acres the largest and 40 acres the smallest holding noted.

For many years the payments on the land and such improvements as clearing and increasing soil fertility occupied the entire attention of the farmers, and but very few comfortable and attractive farmhouses, barns, and other improvements in buildings were made. However, with the prosperity which has come during recent years a pride has developed which has resulted in the erection of many comfortable and substantial dwellings to take the place of old log cabins of two and three rooms. Good barns have been built, and as a rule the fences are also good. Very few log houses are now seen in the community, and those that are left are fast being displaced by larger and more attractive frame structures.

The colonists who have come in later years have had a much easier time than the early settlers. In the first place, most of them had been in the United States longer before turning to agriculture and had accumulated more money; they also had the advantage of advice from fellow-countrymen who had learned by experience. Within the past ten or fifteen years, the railroad and other cheap lands having been taken up by earlier settlers, the majority of more recent homeseekers have bought out Americans and obtained improved land where crops could be raised from the beginning.

Forty-three typical families in these settlements were selected for investigation by the commission, among them being families who have settled in the locality at various times since the establishment of the colony in 1872.

The heads of all of these families were foreign-born, 41 being natives of Germany and 2 natives of Russia. Thirty-seven came from the Province of Posen.

Only two of the heads of families came to the settlements directl from Europe, all the remainder having lived for a greater or less period of time elsewhere in the United States following their immigration. Eighteen of the 43 came to the settlements from Chicago and 6 from other parts of Illinois. No immigrants at present come directly from abroad to the farms in this neighborhood.

The table which follows shows the condition of the land at time of purchase; the average number of acres in each of the 43 farms under consideration; the average price per farm and per acre; and the average cash payments made.

TABLE 24.-First purchase of land, condition, size of farms, and price paid, 43 typizal Polish farms, southern Illinois.

Those settling on farms with more than one-half their area tillable are in every instance the more recent settlers. When the first settlers came to the locality, practically everyone of them bought land that was all in forest. The number of acres represents only the firs purchase, and a great majority have increased their acreage. None bought under 20 acres and only 3 bought less than 40 acres; 26 bought between 40 and 80 acres, and 8 per cent bought 80 and under 120 acres, while 6 bought 120 and under 240 acres.

Of the 43 heads of families, 31 had been engaged in agriculture abroad, either as farmers on their own account or as farm laborers, while of the remainder equal proportions were "at home" and in miscellaneous small trades or labor. Only 4 heads of families who lived elsewhere in the United States before coming to this locality had been in agricultural pursuits in this country, the majority having been common laborers in mines, factories, brickyards, lumber yards. and on railroads, while a few were skilled laborers, and one a soldier in the United State Army.

Fifteen of the farmers investigated were able to make a living from their farms from the beginning, while 25 were obliged to supplement their income by borrowing and by outside labor for one year, and 3 for two years after coming to the farm. Various supplementary occupations were entered upon during this period, among them those of farm laborer, railroad laborer, and lumberman. The incomes secured both from farms and other occupations were scant, and rigid economies had to be practiced. The chief obstacle was the necessity of clearing the land of the brush and heavy timber, and the lack of capital to provide good stock and farming implements.

SOIL AND CLIMATE.

The following table, taken from the records of the United States eather Bureau station at Plumhill, shows the normal temperature 1 precipitation in Washington County:

Normal monthly and annual temperature and precipitation.

[United States Department of Agriculture. Field operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1902.]

The average date for the last killing frost in spring is April 14, hile the first destructive frost in the fall occurs October 13. It is en that the greatest precipitation is in the months of March, April, ay, June, and July, which constitute the growing season for crops, though there is a fairly well distributed rainfall."

The colony is scattered over a very large area, and there is, onsequently, a large variety of soil types. One of the prominent ils in the region is a silt loam, which occupies the level praie lands. This soil is marked by a gray or yellowish-white surace soil consisting almost entirely of very fine sand or silt. It as an average depth of about 12 inches, and is usually underlaid y a white or ash-colored stratum or hardpan. This soil is devoted ery largely to the production of winter wheat, the yield being sually from 10 to 15 bushels per acre. A large area of it is, howver, devoted to hay, principally timothy and redtop, the yield being rom three-fourths to 11⁄2 tons per acre. Corn does not yield as much on this as on the other soils found and a comparatively small area s planted to this crop. The existence of the hardpan so near he surface and the level contour greatly retards the drainage. The precipitation is carried off by artificial ditches or by seepage hrough the soil. No deep-rooted crop like clover or corn does very well on this soil on account of the nearness of the hardpan to the surface. Fruit trees, especially apples, thrive, and pears also; in fact, these two crops do much better than any others. Practically every farm has an apple orchard of from one-half to 5 acres, or even larger. These orchards are usually very poorly cared for, which in large measure accounts for the frequency of crop failures.

The most extensive soil type of the locality is a silt loam, consisting of a very fine yellowish sandy and silty loam, similar to the prairie soil, but underlaid by a yellow clay subsoil several feet in thickness. The surface is friable when dry, but when wet it packs to a smooth, hard surface. The area occupied by this soil type is for the most part gradually rolling or hilly. It was originally heavily covered with timber, principally oak, and small areas of timber land are found on almost every farmstead at the present time. Owing to its elevation, this

soil possesses the best natural drainage of any soil type found n the region. The drainage is accomplished in part by seepage throu the soil and subsoil and in part by surface flowage. Because of the rolling surface this soil type is somewhat subject to erosion. along the steeper flanks of hills especially, and some care is required to prevent the formation of gullies.

This is the most productive general type of soil in this region. and a great diversity of crops can be successfully grown on it. It produces from 12 to 30 bushels of wheat per acre, from 25 to 35 bushels of corn, about the same quantity of oats, and from three fourths to 2 tons of hay. Clover and other deep-rooted crops car be produced successfully because of the absence of the hardpan commonly found on the prairie soils. Apples, pears, and some peaches are found on the farms of this type; the trees are thrifty, and when properly cared for and the seasons are favorable good yields of fruit are realized.

AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS.

The size of farms and general conditions of agriculture vary consider ably. The farms, both of Americans and immigrants, are devoted solely to general farming, and only sufficient garden or truck crops are raised to supply the tables of the farmers. Enough horses and mules are kept on all the farms to supply the needs of the owner for work stock on his farm, and some farmers raise from one to six colts a year. Sufficient milch cows are kept to supply milk and butter for the family, and from two to twenty-five more hogs than are required for home use. No milk is sold, but at some period of the year almost every farmer sells some butter. Nearly every Polish family sells considerable poultry and poultry products, and the revenue from this source amounts to $300 to $400 per year for some families. The principal crops are corn, wheat, hay, and oats. The average farm, as show by family schedules, is 147.2 acres, and 120 acres is the median farm. None are smaller than 40 acres and the largest owned by a Polish farmer is 500 acres. This land varies in value from $15 to $60 per acre, according to size of tract, improvements, fertility, location, and convenience to market.

Corn is raised by every farmer, and a greater acreage is devoted to this than to any other one crop. The principal part of this crop is fed to live stock kept on the farms. Corn seems better adapted to soils and climate and gives a better proportionate yield per acre than any other crop grown. While some farmers cut the corn and feed the fodder and stalks to cattle, most of it is left on the stalk until ripe and husked, leaving the stalk standing; stock is then turned into the fields to feed on the cornstalks through the fall and winter Winter wheat is the principal money crop of the region, the yield varying from 10 to 30 bushels per acre, with about 15 to 20 bushels as the average. The yield is dependent very largely on the weather conditions in fall and winter. This crop does no give as large a proportionate return in this section as corn. In most instances all of the crop except enough for seeding purposes is sold. A few farmers carry wheat to local mills and exchange i for flour, but generally wheat is sold and the flour bought from a dealer. Hay is grown by every farmer in sufficient quantities for

the live stock kept on the farm, and a great many farmers have a surplus for sale.

Timothy and redtop are the principal grasses. Very little clover is grown, due chiefly to the fact that ordinarily it is hard to secure a stand. Cowpeas are sowed, but not extensively. They are used both for hay and for green manuring, some farmers sowing them broadcast in the cornfields at the last plowing,

Oats are not raised extensively and a good crop is not secured in more than six out of ten years, and at times the oat crop is a complete failure. Very little of the oats grown in this locality are sold, but are fed to live stock on the farm where grown. Irish potatoes are planted by every family, and a larger area is given to this crop by Polish farmers than by Americans. The Polish people consume more potatoes than Americans, and a great many plant enough to have a surplus for market. Garden and truck crops are raised only in sufficient quantities for home consumption. There are no available markets, and if there were it would be impossible to devote any time to market gardening and follow the system of farming now carried on near Radom.

Table 25 shows the number of farms producing the various crops generally grown in the community, the average amount of each crop grown per farm, and the value of the crop. It is seen from this table that every farm reporting produced corn, hay, potatoes, and wheat, while more than three-fourths of the total number investigated produced oats.

TABLE 25.-Average quantity and value per farm of crops raised and sold, 43 typical Polish farms, southern Illinois.

TABLE 26.-Classification of live stock, 43 typical Polish farms, southern Illinois.