and were well into North Dakota Mile after mile of wheat land could be seen from the train where numerous ploughs were at work cultivating. I have as yet seen only one of the steam ploughs, for most of them were drawn by five, six or seven horses. Now, at 10 o'clock, we are passing through rolling prairies, stretching as far as the eye can reach in every direction. Here & there a farm house may be seen out on the bare prairie, or perhaps nestled into the side of a little hill or gully. Occasionally, a little town, consisting of a saloon, a general store & a few houses, will come into view. These little towns seem to have no par- ticular reason for their existence at that spot, but like "Topeka" to have just "grown" - I in some spots see in this section of N. Dakota (the south central part) very little of the land seems to be under cultivation, it being mostly used for pasture. At several places near the track I have seen shallow groves in which were flocks of bluebirds out on the margins a few yellow legs