There is only one other suggestion:  If you wish to make a start toward better crops as soon as possible, you may well use some kainit,—­say six hundred pounds per acre every four or five years, preferably applied with the phosphate.  In the absence of decaying organic matter, the potassium of the soil becomes available very slowly.  The kainit furnishes both potassium and magnesium in soluble form and it also contains sulfur and chlorin.  As soon as you can provide plenty of decaying organic matter you will probably discontinue the use of both kainit and acid phosphate.  If you sell only grains and animal products, the amount of potassium sold from the farm is very small compared with your supply of that element, which would be sufficient for one hundred bushels of corn per acre for seven hundred years.

I have some doubt if it will be worth the expense involved to have the samples of subsurface and subsoil analyzed at this time; but you might save them for future use if desired.

I shall always appreciate the kindness shown me by being permitted to enjoy your hospitality and to profit from the information you were so able to give me concerning the history and general character of your lands.

My mother asks to have her kind regards extended to you and yours.

Very sincerely yours,

PERCY JOHNSTON.

WESTOVER, January 2, 1904.  Percy Johnston, Esq., Winterbine, Ill.

MY DEAR FRIEND:—­We were all pleased to receive your letter informing us of your safe journey back to Illinois.  I had hoped that you might find a piece of land here in the East which would suit you; but I am not surprised that you and your mother should prefer to remain in Illinois, because of your former associations and your better knowledge of the Western conditions.  Northern men who come South often have serious difficulty to manage our negro labor.

I am surprised, however, that you were able to purchase, even in Southern Illinois, such prairie land as you describe for the price of $18 per acre.  I supposed $190 an acre for your corn belt farm was a good price, although it is commonly reported to us that Illinois land is selling for $150 to $200 an acre.

Now, in regard to correspondence with Adelaide, let me say that we could have no objection whatever, except that it might be misunderstood, more especially, of course, by Professor Barstow.  I do not think I mentioned it to you, but the fact is that the Professor and Adelaide are essentially betrothed.  I do not know that the final details are perfected, but doubtless they are, for they have been much together during the Christmas weeks.  The Barstows, as you probably know, are still among the most prominent people of North Carolina.  Adelaide is young yet and we respect her reticence, but her mother and I have both given our consent and Professor Barstow has every reason to be satisfied with the reception he invariably receives from Adelaide.