THE contrast to view first Just three months have elapsed, and how great the change their fleeting days have brought!

Vast fields of grass, in gently undulating waves, now rise, and bow and rise again before the breeze; and each flitting cloud which veils the sky is revealed in shadowy form upon its surface, frequently changing its hue from a light chrome green to a dark maritime tint, which softens and gives grace to a scene so extended that otherwise it would be tiresome and even painful to the eye.

The numerous swells of land, - which, from almost any position, may be counted by hundreds, - covered by droves of cattle, made up of the stock of settlers, herding together, and seeking their own pasture, reminds one of the beautiful passage of Scripture, in which the sacred writer speaks of "The cattle upon a thousand hills," and illustrates it more forcibly than words could possibly do. This, indeed, seems to be a peculiar and most beautiful feature of the country; the farmer fencing only that which he intends to till, and leaving the cattle free to find pasture on the untold acres of meadow not yet broken from the natural sod; while roads are marked to the observer only by the beaten tracks which wind along the "divides," and by the rude bridges here and there thrown across the sloughs. But as the country becomes older and more improved, (?) this custom, so ancient and classically beautiful, instead of being kept up by sending out herdsmen, and shepherds to "watch the flocks by night," and follow them dy day, will undoubtedly be merged into the pent-up pasture lots of the many petty owners.

The enclosed fields now begin to show the richness of the soil; and the heart of the farmer is encouraged, as he looks over his ripening grain and extensive cornfields, standing rank and green, and so high that a horseman riding through could scarcely be seen. His garden, too, exhibits an abundance of everything in the vegetable line, for furnishing his table; and the long healthy vines which creep over the soft black soil, are so thickly set with melons that he begins to feel generous, and to congratulate himself with the hope that in a few weeks more he can indulge in social gatherings, and give his town friends a treat to their luscious juices.

The woodlands upon the borders of the water-courses have now put on "their coronal of green," and look extremely inviting; and the foliage, - owing probably to the winds which almost constantly sweep over the country, - has a freshness and cleanness about it which we never see elsewhere, it being entirely free from all accumulation of dust and smoke. But in our prairie homes, so far from the timber that we can see it but dimly in the distance, and not a near tree or bush to break the glaring light or temper the heat of these scorching days - the mercury ranging from 90 to 100 deg. F. - we begin to long for the cool, refreshing groves which cluster about almost every homestead of the older States; and many who have recently come from the east, and bought on the prairie, regret not having located in the timber; and some pay extremely high prices to secure farms there. Yet, on the whole, it is perhaps not altogether best, for it harbors innumerable insects, which quite destroy one's comfort; and even the grazing animals show their preference for the prairie in summer by always going there to feed and rest, although the woodland is open to their range. Ague and fevers, too, are almost entirely confined to timber locations.

It is in fact quite probable, that emigrants can much sooner fit up homes, and such as are in ail respects most desirable, by building where they have no trees to cut, brush to burn, or roots to dig out, but can at once put hand to the plow, and in a few months reap an abundant harvest; and then plant and train their own groves, - letting in here the bright sunshine, and there the ever-stirring breeze; and be free from swamp, under-brush, flies and mosquitos, ague and fevers.

The wheat crop, - which was an entire failure last year, on account of the constant rains just before harvest, - is now quite good, the average yield being, it is supposed, about two-thirds of what this soil produces in a favorable season. Some fields, it is said, were never better than now, but others are deficient in consequence of the poor seed which was sown.

The great June frost, so destructive in many parts of the country, did little or no harm here, our vegetables being in a less advanced stage at the time.

Corn could not look better than it now does, and it is estimated that the average yield will be about 75 bushels per acre. Better oats were never seen. Sugar cane - Sorghum - is very fine. And such grass I The wild prairie grass - for other kinds are not yet introduced to any extent - gives pasture and meadows, which indicate future wealth to the State, only in the raising of stock.

The deep rich loam, and the growth which has sprung from it in three months, naturally leads one to suppose that horticulture, as well as farming, must succeed here. But as yet there is scarcely anything done in that line, though beginnings are being made almost everywhere - and several horticultural gardens have for some time been in existence, but with what success, I cannot say.

Fruit, it is thought by many of the oldest settlers, will not succeed well. The long cold winter, the short, very hot summer, and the depredations of the Gopher, seem to most people difficulties not to be overcome. But the truth probably is, that the attention of the settlers generally and almost necessarily has been given to the cultivation of bread crops, and thus fruit has never had a fair trial. But time has now come for experimenting more fully upon the capabilities of the soil and climate. A State Agricultural College is about being founded, on a farm of 600 acres, just in the centre of the State, where experiments will be made, perseveringly and understandingly, to ascertain what can be raised, to what extent, and the best way of doing it, - and at the same time to educate the future cultivators of the soil in such a way as will make them efficient and successful laborers.

This is a good beginning for a State yet in its infancy, and speaks well for the intelligence and enterprise of the people.

July 20th. "Minnie".