Weekly Minnesotian and times., 1859-12-31


Respectfully submitted,
A. j VAN WORRIES,
THOS. McDONOUGH,
S. BROOKS,
Committee on Printing.
Dec. 30, 1859.
By our-own Reporter.
THE PARTNERS CLUB.
Interesting Discussion on Wheat Grow.
ing.
The meeting of the farmers connected with
the Legislature, and others interested in
Agriculture, was held at the capitol on We'd
nesday evening last, and was quite numer-
ously attended.
Col. John H. Stevens, the representative
man of Minnesota agriculturists, was called
to the chair, and DIR. Watson, of Freedom,
appointed Secretary, with B. f. Langworthy,
of Mower, as assistant.
On motion of Mr.. Jared Benson, the Club
was permanently organized under the title of
Legislative Agricultural and Mechanical
Club" and the officers Of the evening made
its permanent officers.
Mr.. Benson proposed as subject for the
evenings debate, the foundation of all agri-
culture-Plowing.
Mr.. Wells, of Fillmore county, said that
the meeting was an important one, as being
| the foundation of series from which he hoped
we would all grow wiser. He therefore pro-
| posed that instead Of having any particular
| topic, we should have a general talk over the
| Agricultural operations and resources Of our
| State. 1t is new State, and we wanted
| new systems of agriculture, unlike what we
| had practsed among the hills of the East
| Mr. Abraham, of Hennepin county, said he
had been an agriculturist all his life. He felt
| great pride in bOaSting over our products and
exports this year. He had always labored to
elevate the profession of agriculture-the first
of all professions. When he came to Mime
sofa, four years since, he thought what fool
| he had been to remain where he had lived be-
| fore, when a country of such resources as
this lay ready for the farmer.
Mr.. A. then pointed out the duty of the
farmers to raise wool and stock. Sheep, es-
pecially, would be profitable in this region,
and we could ultimately furnish our North
western neighbors [of Saskatchewan p with
stock. This was the best wheat growing re-
gion, he thought, in America. More and bet
ter wheat could be raised to the acre here
than in any other State. Sixty-fOur, five,
and even seven bushels to the acre are not
uncommon. He has seen six acres average
| 07 bushels to the acre, of uneNcelled quality.
Mr.. l.. M. Ford, of Groveland, proposed
"The yield of wheat: will the average of
Minnesota be % bushels to the acre this
year?" as topic for this evening. He said
that when at the Illinois State Fair, he had
said the average yield of Minnesota, this year,
would be % bushels. But since he had re-
turned, he had found out it would fall lower
than that--perhaps %. The yield in Illinois
this year will not be 10 bushels to the acre
| so that we are at least third ahead of them
yet.
Mr. Knox of Goodhue, said two men at
Cannon Falls, who ran threshing machine
had told him they had not thrcshed any fields
that fell below 20 bushels to the acre. The
highest ran "a, 8 and T.
Mr.. Kennedy of Houston, said that coun-
ty cannot be excelled in the State, as a grain
region. 1t has a very rich soil that will raise
anything The average yield of winter wheat
will be % bushels. Martin Younglove had
raised on one acre 60 bushels. Winter wheat
had been a perfect success. Of oats he had
raised $50 bushels on acres They had
their first county fair two years ago-a small
one, but their last one was great improve
ment on it.
Mr.. Shrewsbury, of West Hennepin, said
| the winter wheat among the Big Woods had
failed. The rust struck it. Spring wheat
did well. He asked the last speaker what
time they sowed winter wheat
Mr.. X. said, about September 1. His farm
was timbered land.
Mr.. Clark Thomson said the yield of Mr.
YOunglove was in oak openings, with CLAY
subsoil. This answered best Winter wheat
| had not been successful there until some Can
adams introduced Sole's ri wheat This an
| swered well.
Mr.. Shrewsbury said their soil was black
| loan, with little sand in it They sowed
| from September /, to October 10. He did not
know the average yield, but it would not ex-
| coed Is bushels to the acre of winter wheat
| Of spring, from Is to %. His wheat was 81
feet high, as fine as he ever saw, but the
| rust struck it after it was in bloom. He did
| not know the name of the wheat. 1t weighed
| IS pounds to the bushel. Where the sun
did not strike it until 10 O'clock it did better.
| Where it struck it earlier, it was worthless.
Mr.. Langworthy, of Mower, said in his
| first crop he sOwed 16 acres with Scotch Fife
spring wheat-it averaged % bushels to the
acre, of 60 pounds to the bushcl. 1t was on
prairie land, black loan, clay subsOil.
Mr.. Schriner, of Scott county, said he sowed
| 16 bushels of wheat on s acres of ground just
| cleared, and harvested 800 bushels from it
average yield 364 bushels to the acre. The
wheat weighed 6S lbs. He thought winter
wheat, to do well, should be sowed in August.
1t is generally killed in spring, and not by the
| winters. 1t will do well in timber, if sowed
| in August. lie did not know the name of the
| wheat he sowed.
Mr.. Keith, of Hennepin, sowed 6 acres,
and got 40 bushels from it. He sowed spring
wheat altogether. The first year he sowed
on the sod without cross breaking 1t was
late in the season, and he only got II bushels
to the acre. He cross plowed very deep the
next year, and got II bushels to the acre
The deeper he pLowed the better crops he got.
He wanted to see some of the 60 bushel crops
He had got AZ bushels on an acre and a half,
from bushels of Scotch Fife Wheat, but did
not think it profitable. 1t made dark -four.
Mr.. Abbott, Of LIE Sueur, spoke of the blow
ing of the light soil from the roots of the
wheat injuring it as it was exposedlto the cold.
He recommended sowing oats among it to pro-
tect it.
Mr.. Schriner said, in timbered land the soil
would not blow off.
Mr. Abraham said, the Hennepin county
farms generally had 20 to % bushels to the
acre. The average in the county would lie
between 20 and %. He agreed that August
was the best time to SOW winter wheat. 1t
wants good root, which it will get from the
middle of October to the middle of November
NJ Al. A.