The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-28
rRrtrs-SArIvE FRUITS AND ROOTS.

FRrfrs--NATIvE FRUITS AND ROOTS.
The severity Of the winters is unfavora,
BILE to the tcndercr varieties OF fruits, but
apples, cherries, pIums, pears, &c, are cults
yaicd with success when due attention is
paid TO climatic anaogries. Several varie>
ties Of wild fruit are Indigenous, among
which a species of crabappe and the wild
plum are conspicuous. The wild grape
dourisbes in unbounded luxurancc in the
timbered bottoms Of the rivers The marsh
es and bogs of the watershed yield unex>
haustible supplies Of the cranberry, while
the innumcrable lakes and rivers Of the
north are fringed with wild rice, all valua>
bic esculents entering largely into the do
nestle consumption Of the country.
Cranberries are produced in large quan-
titles too upon the marshes Of the "uudine
region" OF the Minnesota valley. A spc-
cies of wild plum found along the banks
Of the Streams is very abundant in some
places and is very popular as preserve
Black currant, choke-cherries, raspbcrries
black haws, are found in plenty in localities
protected from the rayages Of prairie fires.
Several nadine roots form important ar
ticles Of consumption with the native In
dian tribes. The psincbincha which grows
in the sand along the margin Of the Mime
sofa River and lakes, is said by Mr.. Riggs,
to be quite eatable when boiled. Its aver
age size is about that Of hens egg. The
Mdo or Dakota potatoe deserves also to be
mentioned. 1t grows commonly in the bot
tom lands, and except that it is somewhat
oval in shape, it resembles in its vine-like
top, AZ well as in its taste, the sweet pota-
toe.
The tpanna, or Dakota turnip, grows
only in the high and dry prairie. 1t seeks
the high points and grayelly hills, where it
continues 10 grow in size from year TO year,
increasing with every summer that passes
over it. The root is roundsh or oval, and
Of various sizes, according TO its age. 1t
has thick, hard rind, which the Dako,as
usually remove with their teeth. During
the months OF June and July, when the top
can be easily discovered in the grass the
Indians Of the Upper Minnesota depend
very much for subsistence on the hps,nna.
They eat it both raw and cooked. This
root has lately acquired European rcpu
tation. NJ Picot, OF France, has, within
few years past, introduced it into his native
country, and the Swans Of Paris, it is said,
have given il the name OF "Picotianea. II
has been supposed that this dry prairie
root might yet take an important place
among the vegetables which are cultivated
for the support Of human life; but this *.
pectation will probably end in disappoint
ment
Then there is the Psinch, which is Of con
siderable importance as an article Of food.
In shape il resembles the white turnip, and
is gennerally perhaps one and half inches
in diameter, Ii grows 10 shallow lakes, and
Is raised from It's muddy ted By females,
who use their feet tor this purpose. This
Psinch is palatable and quite nutritious.
Another root. which the Indians call
Umnich, bean Is abundant on the river
bottoms, and Is much used for food Il il
the size Of large bean, and resembles il in
shapes.
The Chebecha root, which resembles ,be
pa, both in siz4and shape il found in some
localities.
Il grows 10 marshy ground on the prai-
re. This luxury Il collected and garnered
BY mice, in quantities varying from ooe 10
four quarts in o place. The Indians some
times rob IT, mice 0; considerable quantities
Of Chebecha Thus mice serve men.
GEOiI-5Y.
Some ATTENTION 20 The geological struc-
ture c' the county j.. scsssary 70 descrIp
ton a il. physical oGilloes.
The superior basin Of The s. iAxrenee
q terminated % the Eesi ana l0tth hy ~
tnmsn-e Development = The primary rocks
.nnr, caiA,l ~ ~ LrcaI d....rt.r1,s Atd !