Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1856-02-09
From the Minnesota Republican.
MINNESOTA AS 1T is.

From the Minnesota Republican.
MINNESOTA AS 1T is.
-GRAZING-MARKETs.
Inquiries are often made whether this is
a good country for stock raising. If an
abundance of natural grazing, and we'll
distributed streams and lakes, can make a
good stock country, we have one here
The severity and length Of the winters is
the only objection. This is partly compen.
sated for by the ease with which hay car
be procured, and partly by the high price.
which will be paid for beef, oxen, and al
live stock, as we'll as the products of the
dairy. The severity of the winters makes
it necessary for the farmer to provide com
Portable quarters for his stock; but this
need not be considered disadvantage
when it is taken into account that cattle
we'll cared for through the winter are much
more valuable than those poor staggering
skeletons which are left by the farmers
further south to pick up miserable living
on the prairies; or feeding out Of doors
are exposed to all the sudden changes and
chilling winds which belong to winter in
that climate.
The climats which is healthful to man,
is the best for beasts; and accordingly we
hear it said that while Butchers East and
South never kill hog which has not a
disordered liver, the same animal here gen.
orally gives post mortem evidence OF none.
Few of the farmers as yet have found it
necessary to build large frame barns TO ae-
commodate their stock though this is Ger
tainly desirable when practicable. A cheap
log structure, caulked with mud ard thatch-
ed with straw, keeps cattle equally comfort
able; and the hay which in summer was
stacked on the ground where it was cut, is
easily drawn on sleds in winter and fed out
40 it is wanted.
Farmers here express the opinion that
it will BET fine wool-growing country as
the ground is dry, the weather regular, and
the country mostly free from carnivorous
beasts, except prairie wolves, which will
disappear as settlements advance.
A man who is casting seed into the
ground cannot be Indifferent about the pro-
liability of harvest. We take occasion
therefore to cay that one Of the attractions
which Minnesota holds out to farmers is
this: A FAIR harvest epery gear is almost
certain. We have before shown that the
nature Of the soil prepares it to resist the
effects Of drouth and of long continued wet
weather, and that late frosts in spring, and
early frosts in. n.fal! are almost unknown.-- -
!; We now add that we know of no other
natural cause to interfere with the Crowd.
and maturity ofordinary crops. And yet we
ought to mention hele some of the farm
er's annoyances. The birds settle down in
clouds on tile fields of wheat, and devour
large quantities. They can be scared off by
discharging gun, but soon return. The
! SQUIRRELS do much leas damage, but quite
en- ough to make it an object to get rid of
them. TIE gopher is an underground ras-
cal, shy as 4 weaze!!, and just as spry. He
is Of the same species with the rat, about as
large, wears tremendous w,.islere, and lives
like gentleman-by stealing. Potatoes
are his special delight; but other roots are
not refused. Ts~
BY various method. Of shooting, poison
ing, and frightening, these plaques are
mitigated; aud it is not improbable that
some of our intelligent farmers will yet hit
on some plan Of getting rid Of them en-
tirely.
AS to market for the surplus products
Of the farm, we may mention that hitherto
there has never been enough raised to meet
the home demand. This is especially true
of bread stufs, large quantities Of which are
annually shipped to Minnesota from 1lli-
nois and Iowa. Ofstaple products, every
thing raised here meets with ready sale
at prices which range from ten to fifty per
cont higher than in the States below. The
consumers: Of the surplus are the people of
the villages, the numerous lumbermen, the
several Indian tribes among whom the
General Government annually distribute
large sums Of money, the United States
troops at three different forts, and the con-
tinual tide Of new settlers, all of whom must
purchase their provisions until they can
raise for themselves. Such is the present
home market, which keeps wheat at an
average Of over dollar per bushel; corn at
Soal00; potatoes 25al00; oats 40a90;
and other produce in proportion. These
prices though they may not look very large
in New England, are considerably in ad-
vance o. Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin,
It is concluded therefore that the same out
lay in labor and expense will bring more
liberal returns to the farmers in Minnesota
than in. any other portion of tho great
North West. - ais f,..s,,s
p,A - ..:1 IL $4,000 49,. J.