The Daily Dispatch: November 2, 1860., [Electronic resource]

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A thriving Swedish colony.

--At Bishop's Hill, in Henry county, Illinois, is a colony of persons from Sweden now numbering 7,000 souls. At present it is a communist affair.--The domain of the colony embraces 12,000 acres, about 9,000 of which are under cultivation. To men who are accustomed to farming on a small scale, the operations of the Colonies seem to be immense. Broom corn is a speciality with them, and they have now about 3,000 acres under cultivation. The crop averages about a ton to four acres, and the price about $100 per ton; upon which estimate this year's crop will be worth about $75,000. The colonists usually manufacture about 5,000 dozen brooms annually, and the balance of the crop is sold at the East. Of other crops, they have now on the ground about 2,000 acres of wheat; 2,000 of corn; say 2,000 of various other crops, such as sugar cane, potatoes, etc., and 1,000 acres of grass, Hungarian and timothy. The whole estate is in admirable condition, showing unwearied care and excellent judgment on the part of the managers. The stock of the domain is large, and the barns and sheds for cattle and broom corn are of mammoth proportions.