The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-07

Minnesota q wheat 0row'ag State.
Mr.. CnARiSs WaurLHsxy, ia . late
number Of tho OHIO Farmer, presents some
facts with regard TO Minnesota as u wheat
growing country which are both truthful
and to the point. lie says;
"Ten years since, l had m opportunity
OF examining the soil Of the country water.
I'd by the tributaries OF the Mississippi,
north OF the Falls OF st. Anthony. At
that time there was not TO exceed Ave hun
drcd white inhabitants within the territory
Of Minnesota, exclusive Of the soldiers, iur
traders and missionaries. Nothing was
farther from my thoughts than the rapid in
crease in population that has followed.
expected 10 live 10 see it contain one hun.
drcd thousand people, il my lie was spared
to three score years without the ten. In
less than half that period the census shows
more than twice the number had antici-
pated.
My text is Whsat, for where this flour
shes, population will take care Of Itself.
IL had frequently advanced the idea that
the great wheat producing field Of the
United States must necessarily be sought
Tor TO the northward Of latitude A deg
north. This was based upon climate. aud
the results in Europe. When in ls45
thu Lake Superior interests were presenting
petitions and arguments TO Congress, for
the construction Of st. Mary's canal, she fu.
ture wheat business Of that lake was urged
among the prominent arguments in favor Of
the work. II made no Impression, merely
because the wise men Of the nation did not
credit the assertion that wheat aud -four
would eventually come largely through Lake
Superior. The masses OF copper, aud the
mountains Of iron ore did attract attention
and tho canal was constructed.
But where in NIL this northern whea, 70
growY In answering this question, the
farmers oil Ohio, Michigan aud Wisconsin
would do well TO listen, Il is already shown
that Ohio can produce crops that are better
for her soil and climate than wheat; one
good crop in three years is about all we can
expect. Ia Southern Michigan, = ,uthcrn
Wisconsin Indiana and Illinois, the result Is
no better; while the soil was new, the crop
was more sure, but after twenty five or thirty
years trial, il In found 10 be about the pro.
portion have named, one good yield to tmo
poor 0n0.
"a more northerly climate, II tho SOIL Is
right, Is better adapted to wheat; Il does not
attain Ito full development, along with the
peach and vine, on tho confines between the
fever aud ague and the fruit producing ro
gions Of temperate ATTITUDES, aud the more
healthy and less fruit growing dis,ricts- say
about latitude ~ deg north, il does very
well but above the reach Of chiils and lever
il does better. 10 the Selkirk settlement 90
the Red River Of the North, above our M
tional boundary Of 40 deg. wheat Is raised.
aud has been for generations past; ] have
eaten Of IL coarsciy ground by hand. With
out boiling, which was sweet and heavy. aud
was sad TO have yielded 40 bushels TO the
acre Every one who has seen the rude
farming Of the half breeds Of that region,
wonders that Il can he raised 10 chcap,y.
Farther south on the American side, to
the westward Of the Red River, 10 \ vast
tract Of The same kind Of country. mostly .
prairie. lf q line Ia drawn from the west
esd of Lake Superior due west 10 the Mis-
sissippi, which N there only about sixty
miles distant, and thence ~ tho waters o.
the Red River. and continued down that
stream TO our boundary, what remains Of
Minnesota south and west OF such line il
to be the great wheat district Of the United
Stats
Corn may be oIuccI but il In not the
natural and profitable crop, except 10 limited
districts have seen ii at lied Lake, in
latitude ~ deg, producing thirty bushels
TO the acre, but Il wss only raised on the
rich and low lands at the margin 0f The
water ia the valley Of the vt. Peters. II
iiourishes with more certainty thaD wheat
does 10 Ohio. Corn. however. is not a sta.
pie OF Southern Minnesota, nor Of Northern
Iowa or Wisconsin; those countries show
u moderate capacity for both corn md
wheat.
Farther south wheat declines, aud corn
takes tbe lead Bear 10 mind, therefore,
that when the country has had few more
years Of cultivation, there will appear 10 the
New York market. flour barrels With Min.
bcsota brands, and that il will h. Of suIe-
rior quality. II connections are made with
lAge Superior, that Ia The natural route Tor
this -Four 10 take"