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

soil OF nearly uniform texture. The calca-
reous element prelominates on tho lower
Slopes Of the Mississippi where the soil Is
produced BY the decomposition Of magne-
sian limestone on which it Immediately rests.
A black vegetable mould covers the sill
ceous loan Of the Blue Earth and its tribu
taries. Between the Minnesota and the up
per Mississippi, the soil Ia siiceocalcaseous---
IL rich andy loan. Over the whole district
the soi! lies from one to two or three feet 10
depth, thinning on the SUBMITS Of the ridges
and deepening on the slopes, and everything
u various subsoil irregulsriy distributed in
sections OF clay, mari or and, In all the
valley bottoms rich allavial soil prevails
TO the depth Of from two to four feet.
z. Between the st. Croix valley and the
Upper Mississippi to Crow Wing, the soil
ia a sliceous loan, the organic claycy and
calcareous ingredients being unevenly dis.
tributed according TO local situation. The
country abounds 10 lakes, meadows, oak
openings and swamps. In the low grounds
and level prairies the soil is generally deep
and fertile, but ofen ,hins into loose ire
tentivc sandy loan Oh the ridges. Sections
Of deep vegetable mould frequently occur.
The soil generally deficient in clay, but this
il TO some extent compensated by its rich
uess in organic sediments.
3. The Red River valley is one Of the
richest agricultural districts Of the State,
The soil. an ailuyinl, black, argillareous
mould, rich in organic deposits, and resting
for depth Of from two to four feet on te-
naccous clay subsoii 1t is universally re-
garlcdas the best wheat region Of the north,
| west
| 1. The country above Grow Wing,
around the sources OF the Mississippi, to-
wards the summit level; The multitude OF
lakes, streams. meadows, morasses, &c,
break up the -oil into as almost many vari.
cites as the contour Of the surface. 4
great deal Of the soil il Of rich lacustrine,
alluyal deposits, the bottoms are deeply al
lnvial, supporting heavy growth Of timber.
Among the lakes are intermediate tracts OF
great fertility The sandy soil Of the up
lands is highly 'mprguated with lime, and
when the ealcarcous clay which underlies it
approaches the surface, It forms a strong
rich soil.
). The Superior country supports four
! principal varieties Of soil A drift soil
which pr,yvls over the billy ranges between
| st. Louis River and the Lake; thin, sandy
and sterile; red clay and marty soil, gen.
orally wet but rich and rcteutive, support
ing dense growth OF cedar, balsam, spruce,
birch, Sc; capable Of profitable cultivation,
extending up somc Of the valleys and slopes
on tho shore OF the Lake, and the Rainy
Lake district described above; trap soil
of limited ex,en, on the high ridges and
slopes near the shore. supporting heavy
growth Of sugar maple, oak, &c. and the
a|luvial bottoms which line some Of the
rivers.
DISTRIBUTION or TIMER.
| The character of the tres indicatss an-
mis,akably the character Of both soil aud
! climate
The country above aiitae &c, may be dc.
scribcd as forest country. large bodies
Of pine x,cnd from the St Croix River up
rs lar as Red Lake, and pine in'ermiugled
with birch, maple, aspen ash and elm. is
scattered over tho whole country and the
bead waters Of the Mississippi. ard thence
northeast TO the British line. The allavial
I bottoms OF the extreme northern rivers
OF the Mississippi support heavy growth
cfhasswood, cIm,aspen, bu,'ernut ash. birch,
hard and soft naples, linden, balsom frs,
and some oaks
The range of the sugar maple which ex.
tends up the northern terminus OF the Mis-
sissipp, level near latitude -. comedies in
that direction with the range OF fmiian corn
II IL observed that whenever the cone bear.
ing sott woods are burned ofi this district
the hard woods take their place. Tn the
river flowing into lake Superior, hemIock.
cedar. >prucr FIR and birch, prevail; On The
ridges. pine, birch, maple. ash and elm. he
low latitude 10, the pine. hemloek, spruce.
birch, and all the oomfsyas generally diaap.
pear 4 narrow range oi cedar and lama
rack swamps between 81. Croix and Crow
Wing anil some piue mingled with arye
maple, oak, ash, and small birch. aud spruce
intervene for half degree further, when the
oak oscomes the prevailing tree on the up
lands, distributed in groves and large parks,
It's growth usually dwariei by the annual
.aN..,... II ,.....,. a.. ~.