The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-07-09
THE MINI ESQ TIA N
Saint Paul, sataraas, sulg 9, 1858.
Farming Resources Of Ramsey County.

most of them it appeared there was too much
sand in the soil, and too little fencing timber,
to justify the outlay of opening farms. PreJu-
dices to this extent had been created in various
ways. In the first place, it was not taken into
consideration that the soil in all countries, by
nature, is adapted to the climate-that IN Mis-
souri, or Tennessee the sandy loan OF Minncso-
IA would be parched and dried into an ash-bed
by the August sun of those latitudes; while the
cold. clayey surface of those States, transferred
to the prairies of Minnesota, would chill and
rot in the ground the seeds which seek germi-
nation and development during our compare
lively short productive season. In the next
place, the lands in our vicinity were compelled
to pass through the same, though more severe
ordeal of all other western lands. They en-
countered the prejudice of interested persons
sent from abroad to survey them. In nine ca
ses out of ten, persons who are SO lucky as to
procure surveying contracts, however well they
may understand the science of running straight
lines and meandering streams, are interested in
keeping back the sale and settlement of the la
test surveys. They belong to somewhere else;
and although their official field notes, SO far as
their warped judgment will allow, may, in the
main, be correct, yet their remarks made unOf-
fcially to those seeking information in regard
to the region they have traversed, arc mostly
of depreciating character, and to the pre-
judice of the lands. This may proceed from
two motives: First, they may be vitality inter
ested in the growth and success of some other
place, Jour surveyors were mostly Dubuque
men, and for Dubuque and nowhere else) and
secondly, if they are not interested elsewhere,
they wish the good locations kept out of view
until such time as they can get chance to
take possession themselves We do not wish it
understood as inferring that all surveyors are
culpable in this respect but that the particu-
lar locality we are now considering, as we'll as
the whole of the surveyed portion Of MinncsO-
ia, has suffered from this cause we know from
personal observation. More surveyors than
one have carried below false reports in regard
to these Upper Mississippi lands which have
gone abroad to the prejudice of their settle
ment. The only way to remedy this evil is for
those having proper influence. to be careful and
own surveyors, men who reside in our midst,
and will fell it their duty to do our fertile acres
justice.
Our lands were thus compelled to rest under
serious charges of unproductiveness, until such
time as the hand of the husbandman chose to
allow them an opportunity of indicating them
selves. This period has now arrived. Crops
of wheat. rye, corn, oats, barley, potatoes and
roots of all kinds, as well as vegetables and
fruits, have been tested upon the comparative
ly few farms opened in Ramsey county, and
found to yield in equal abundance when COM
pared with the crops of the favorite farming re-
gions situated in other parts of the Territory.
or the States below. a trip from st. Paul to
ST. Anthony will convince any incrcdulous per-
son of this fact. "You cannot, however. grow
tame grass on these lands was the cry even
one year ago, of some of our visiting friends
from abroad. This assertion is practically
refuted by Mr.. Larpentcur, between st. Paul
and ST. Anthony, who has a large field of tim
othy, ready for the sythe, standing as heav-
lily and waving as gracefully to the summer
breeze as any growth of the kind we have ever
seen in any part of the West
But we can do somewhat better than this
Some two miles east of Mr.. Larpenteur, upon
the farm of Mr.. B. F. Hoyt, is field of twenty
acres of this same species of cultivated grass.
1t was sown in June of last year upon newly
broken ground, and We all rccollect that last
year, after June, there was no rain worthy the
name of respectable shower until late in the
fall. Yet this timothy now stands upon the
ground so thick that one can scarcely walk
through it,-waist high, and with many of the
heads eight inches long! We have not the
least doubt that this grass, properly cut and
secured, will yield three tons to the acre. Two
tons is considered good crop in the far-famed
agricultural region of our nativity-Southcrn
Ohio. Taking into consideration all the disad-
vantageous circumstances we have never seen
anything to equal this growth of grass in any
country, and we believe no one of proper expe-
rience and unbiased judgment will disagree with
us after examining Mr.. Hoyt's field.
The agricultural qualities of the layd in that
vicinity may be judged from this single instance.
Other crops look we'll and are growing finely.
There are several fine farms open in the neigh
borhood, besides that of Mr.. Hoyt-those of his
son and Messrs. Gibbs, Smith, Pratt and Hen
Erickson being among the number This neigh
borhood is designated by the appropriate name
of Farmland The location is an elevated and
beautiful one, situated in the centre of the town
ship Immediately adjoining and north of ST.
Paul. No one can fail to become more attach
ed to St. Paul, and more firm believer in the
great agricultural resources of Ramsey county.
If he will follow our example, and take a trip
one Of these pleasant afternoons out to Farm
land.
The Minnesota Democrat
The Democrat of this week comes out under
the auspices of its new editor and proprietor.