Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-06-15
4flillncsota Gcrritorp.
[From the Pennsylvania Telegraph
ORIGINAL SKETCH
OF THE
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
MINNESOTA TERRITORY.
By DR.. THOMAS FOSTER.
Number 3.
By DR.. THOMAS FOSTER.
THE SOIL AND ITS FARMING CAPACITY.

table matter of the soil is the portion which
chiefly communicates its fertilizing qualities
TO crops; and that the salts which also enter
into its composition, are considered by che
mists, as its stimulating ingredients-or, in
other words, that the different salts in any
soil, exert upon the organic matter a chemi-
cal action, and contribute TO regulate and fa-
cilitaie the process of nutrition. Submitting
it to these tests therefore, and it will be per-
ceived that the soil of Minnesota possesses
the principal essential elements of fertility.
Besides this, it has been shown, that al
most in proportion 10 the specific lightness of
soils is lis richness, and its capacity for the
culture Of every species of culinary vegetable
and small grains and it has been observed
likewise, that the power of absorption is gen.
orally in proportion to the amour, of organic
matter and the lishtness of the soil Lands
possessing this power in a considerable de-
gree, readily absorb the dew in dry weather,
and in wet weather do not suffer the super
fluous rain to accumulate on the surface
and these qualities are accordingly especial
characteristics of the lands of Minnesota.
Another view of the producing capacity of
the soil of the Territory, is obtained by par
ticular analysis of the principal rocks whose
decayed atoms compose it. The magnetism
| limestone for instance, contains from 80 10 40
per centum of carbonate of magnesa; on
the average, from Is TO 90 per cent. of pure
magnesa; and by mere solution in phuric
acid, is capable of yielding no less than 100
parts of crystalized sulpha,e of magnesia,
(epsom salts,) and sixty parts of gypsum or
plaster, (anhydrous sulp pha,e of lime,) from
every 200 parts Of the rock. The lime of its
composition, also coming in contact with the
Quartoze and granite sands of the soil, and
assisted by the atmosphere, acts chemically
upon the dissolving out portion of their ST.
lica, and setting free likewise, in liberal guam
titles, potash and soda; while the phosphates
are furnished TO the soil by The decomposition
of the marine shells inerspersed through all
the limestones of the region, especially in the
shell or fossiliferOus limestone
Thus, it will be observed, that for qrhcat
in which lime, the silcate ofthe potash, and
the phosphates, are mainly necessary; for
oats, which consumes so largely of potass,
magnesia, ana lime, along with SILICA; for
rye, whose food is the same as for wheat, but
with less lime, more potass, and smaller
amonnt of the phosphares; for corn, that
great feeder upon poass, soda, lime, magne-
sia and the phosphates for buckWhedt, in
which lime, potash and SILICA are such hea-
Wy ingredients for all these and more, the
soil of the Territory, from It's chemical con-
siiiuenls, is sapparently happily adapted
But climate, the lay of the land, and the
manner in which it is watcred and drained, are
scarcely less important in securing PRACTICAL
results in cultivation, than the mere abstract
chemical elements of the soil But equally
by the character Of the first, as by the nature
of the last named requisites the farmer in
Minnesota is guaranteed success in his labors
For, cold as it is in winter, it is dry cold
with but little wind, without any of those al.
ternate freezngs and lhawings that are SC
severe upon vegetation in fall and spring in
other portions of the United States The first
frost, for instance, of the past fall of lS49
which injured tender garden vegetation, sucl
as the cucumber tomato, and pumpkin vines
was not until the 9th of October. A month
before this, early in September, fros,s hac
entirely suspended garden vegetation in the
region of Southern Wisconsin and Noilherr
Illinois, two and three hundred miles farthe
south.
In the spring, the streams of tie Territory
may be ice-bouud later, and vegetation slow
er to begin than elsewhere. Yet finally
when the bonds Of winter are unloosed, they
are snapped suddenly, and are not again uni
ted. In other words, in the spring of Min
nesota, there i, little of the transition state
winter ends and summer begins almost a
once-vegetaton rnshes forward with ra
pidity that soon makes up Tor lost time-anC
farmers there snlier scarcely any of thos,
drawbacks incident TO farming in the ode
States, occasioned by "winter1ngering in tn,
lap of sprng''--by the weather at one periot
encouraging vegetation by genial smiles, Il
put forth It's summer livery; when at another
a ireacherous frost comes, nippng and des
troying its first buildings. The weather o
Minnesota, unlike this, is of a more decided
r character 1t can be depended upon, 1t i
, always one thing or the other. 1t is eithe
hot or cold, and not both in the same breath
Farmers everywhere will readily estimate
the advantages of this state of things
In describing the 'lay of the land, !" il ma,
. be most properly divided into prairie, GA
openings, and lake and swamp meadows. Th
{ two former are high and unduating, and tn
latter low and level. The prairies are mue
smaller generally, than those farther south il
Illinois and Iowa; and the proportion of Oal
and hard t6ood timber, scattered over the sur
: face of the land, is greater: while water
everywhere plenty, Locations can nearl