The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-10-28
Minne sota-Its Advantages for Farming.

1t is prevalent opinion with emigrants. and
even with residents of the West, that in order
to farm prOfitably, o man must own and have
under cultivation large tract Of land. Very
few engage in the business with less than one
hundred and sixty acres. Anything less is con-
sdered as entirely inadequate and insufficient
to the wants of the practical farmer. The first
consideration in opening farm is usually to
secure a large tract of land. without reference
to the ability to properly stock and cultivate
it, This feeling prevails in Minnesota quite as
much as i'll any other section.
The opin on referred to. we think entirely
erroneous and its result most unfortunate to
the farming interests of the Territory. AS q
consequence Of this view. the farmer under
takes to enclose more land than he eau do sub
stantially and securely. lie undertakes to cul-
tivate more .han his means will permit him to
do in thorough and workmanlikc manner.
He half plows his land harrows it specifically,
half hoes, or often entirely ncglects hOeing. his
root crops, and obtains in consequence mode
rate crop OF grain and an abundance Ct weeds.
A considerable part of the former is left for the
birds, and the latter is left and permitted to
impoversh and poison the soil. No man can
ride through any section Of the country under
cultivation, without seeing abundant evidence
of the truth of these remarks. Probably not a
dozen farms in Minnesota produce half what
of cultivation.
These things ought not so to be. The diff
Guilty spoken of does not arise from any lack Of
enterprise energy or industry on the part O
farmers, but from the erroneous views they OBJ
tain on the subject. The prevalent mania for
large farms is the bane of the farming interest
1t stands in the way Of all true agricultural pro-
grcss. Farmers generally are not rich. There are
but few whose means enable them thoroughly
to cultivate and improve large tracts of land
Nor are they able to experiment extensively on
the adaptation of particular crops to the differ
ent varieties of soil. The great question with
most is, GLOW can | realize the most money
this season from the land have under cutiva
tion ~ Perhaps it is hardly TO be expected
that in so new country, where the virgin soil
produces so beautifully. care should be gene
rally taken to prevent impovcrshmcnt of the
soil. But if we could persuade farmers that the
same amount of labor now expended on a hun
dred acres would produce larger income il
bestowed on fifty. We might hope for favora-
bic change IN the present slovenly mode oil
farming. We have no doubt but that the pro,
position would hold true Of the great majority
of farms in Minnesota. Our agricultural jour.
nails TEEN with experiments on this subject, all
tending to show that thorough, systematic
farming is altogether more profitable than the
ordinary harum scarum method.
What is true of Minnesota is equally true Of
Kansas towards which the longing eyes OF
thousands of our hardy sons are now turned
Let them take heed Of our advice. and attempt
TO cultivate no more land than they can d.
with ease and in a thorough manner--.4ibau.
Daily Transcript.