The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1857-08-15


The season for harvesting has been unsurpassed in
the delicious weather we have had for it this year. Be-
ing anxious to witness the operations of farming in our
own vicinity, we set out on Il tour in company with
Anthony Reed, Esq, of this place, through the Valley
of the Vermillion, and thence into that of the Cannon.
Everywhere we were witness Of the most luxuriant
crops of grain that ever met our sight. Beginning with
the $50 acres which MIR. Albert Poor was harvesting
Just back of our town, onward to the farm of Mr..
Samuel Dunn, near Lakeville, everywhere the work Of
securing the rich treasures Of the field was going on
vigorously, and with Il promise of unexampled quantity
and quality. Satisfied delight beamed from the manly
and intelligent faces that everywhere prevail in this
fertile region, and no word of complaint was heard by
rs in regard TO the crops harvested, or those just ready
to be. A hope was expressed that there would be a
little rain, as the sod corn was beginning to look too
yellow and dwarfsl, and potatoes required this alone
to insure an extraordinary good crop. We are happy
to state that they have now been abundantly supplied in
the fine showers that have prevailed over this region.
These two valleys arc justly called the garden Of Min
nesota. Everything is here raised III the greatest per-
lection wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley, &c, vie with
each other when we seek to express which surpasses the
other. Wheat fields that seem better to be rcckoned by
VIZ tHbC ti'b thS "NiNt 50 NA"N b"ifN W. eNN3 i'iJ
bowed to the ground with their own weight. Corn
fields equally extensive could hide undiscovered an army
of cavalry and oat fields had grain so high and luxu-
rant that the eye could scarcely penetrate the mass one
foot, ana a horse had to reach up its head to secure the
higher stalks. So we might 90 on with grain and veg
etables describing their luxuriallce, each in turn, but it
would not suffice to enforce the richness OF the scenes
like once ~beholding them.
Our first visit was to 1Ir. Ioor's farm, whom we found
busily engaged in cutting an eighty acre field of wheat,
a small part Of his years farming. Close by Mr. John
Mckay was busy getting in his wheat and oats; here
we saw some corn that would convince any one that this
is a certain and lucrative crop in this Territory. At Mr..
Alexander McKay's we saw for the first time the wild
pea vine, which he had gathered and mixed with his
hay crop it is much relished by cattle, and by %cultiva-
ton, might become a kitchen vegetable of much desire.
His field of wheat was the subject of extol even among
his farmer ~neighbors. Near this gentleman house two
beautiful mounds arise clean. cut from the prairie around,
one of which his lady had named castle Mound, its
appearance suggesting the appellation.
In the central part of the Vermillion Valley, where
the various roads cross the prairie, is located Empira
City; it is prettiiy situated in a basin-like position, a
gracefully sloping bluff almost surrounding it; it has
the advantages of a post Office, a hotel-the Nermillion
House, kept by Brookman-and another about opening,
besides some branches Of mechanical trade. But here
as in Lakevile, the next succeeding town, things arr
left to take their natural course the farmers around