The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-05-08
MINNESOTA.

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MINNESOTA.
Correspondence Of the Aibany Register
ST. PAUL, March 20, 1852.
The geological features Of this part of
the Territory are very uniform. A STRAIT
um of thin layers Of limestone, overlies
deposit of soft quartzose sandstone, gen.
orally of a white color, but stained in
many places with oxyde Of iron. The
limestone is covered with clay, sand and
gravel, interspersed with erratic boulders
of granite rocks. Over the whole is
spread a dark mould, the remains of de-
cayed vegetation. The soil is composed
Of clay and sand, the latter prepondera-
ting, and Of the vegetable mould inter-
mixed. 1t is rich, quick and warm, and
produces abundantly. Above the Falls
of St. Anthony, in the neighborhood of
the falls of St. Croix, and on the upper
st. Peters, a new geological formation
commences, composed of crystalline rocks
Of the metamorphic series, corresponding
with those in the basin of Lake Superior,
and extending nearly or quite across the
Territory. Along with tins formation,
begins corresponding change in the
character of the soil, diminishing its fer
tility in many localities.
The general surface of the country is
undulating, rolling, but not broken, ex-
cept on the banks of the streams. Below
the falls of st. Anthony, the banks of
the Mississippi are high and bold, and
thinly covered with trees. But the gen.
eral level of the country corresponds
more nearly with the tops Of the bluffs,
than with the bed Of the river. 1t seems,
during the lapse of ages, to have worn
down for itself broad, deep channel, far
below its original bed. While, therefore,
the bluffs rise to a considerable elevation
above its waters, they have very little on
the other side, where they spread out into
groves and prairies. Their submits,
however, are notched by the wash of
streams and freshets.
Take the Territory together. and the
supply of tin,LUI is better than III Illinois.
The proportion Of the woodland TO the
prairies is probably not far from one
fourth, or perhaps one-third. But while
there are many large tracts Of timber,
there are also many other tracts nearly
bare. Post and burr oak, maple, ash and
elm are the most common kinds of tim
Der. Red and white cedar are frequently
met with, tamaracks abound in the
swamps, of which there are plenty, and
on some Of the rivers are large forests of
pine. Several varieties of wild plum are
common, and the thickets are filled with
frost grape vines, from which, at the
proper season, depend clusters of fruit.
In the rich>bottoms, the wild hop twines
its tendrils in great profusion around the
trunks and branches of the tall trees.-
The wild strawberry grows spontaneous
ly and in great abundance. Raspberries,
blackberries, gooseberries, and several
other kinds Of berries, are also indigen-
Gus to the soil, and quite common.
1t is doubtful whether Peach trees
would survive the severe frosts Of Win
ter. But there is no doubt that the finest
varieties of the apple, pear, plum and
other similar fruits, may be cultivated
here as well as anywhere. Many Or
chards have already been planted, and
all that is wanted, is time to mature
them.
Almost every species of vegetable
grows in great luxuriance. Cabbages,
beets and turnips, are produced Of enor-
nous size. Wheat is raised of a fine
quality, and the yield is good. The same
is true Of rye, oats, barley and other
grains. The summers are sufficiently
long and warm to mature almost anything,
which can be grown in any of the north
ern States.
Winter usually sets in the latter part
of November, and breaks up the latter
part of March. Its most remarkable fea-
ture, is the dryncss of the atmosphere
which accompanies it. During its con-
tinuance, there are no rains, and show
er even is very rare. During the past
season, from the middle of November to
the 9Th of March, it scarcely sprinkled.
In the course of the winter, there are
usually ten or twelve days in all, Of in
tensely cold weather the rest of the
time it is for the most part moderate and
pleasant. 1t is not usual to have thaw
sufficient to render it wet or muddy un-
der foot, till spring sets in. But this
year, there was a considerable thaw in
the latter part of January and first part
of February, which was decidedly the
most unpleasant period Of the winter
I do not think the climate Objectionable
on account of the cold. The cattle run
out and thrive upon the prairie grass
sticking through the snow, and the rush
es which grow plentifully upon the bor-
bers Of the the lakes and streams. The
Indian horses, of which there are many,
also run out all winter, with very little
care beyond the occasional Telling of a
tree for them to browse upon. And to
the northwest of this, herds Of buffalo
winter in much higher latitude. The
prairie grass is finer than in Illinois, and