Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-06-04
Season and Crops Improvements On Blakes Prairie
Barns and GranaIics- Curious Remarks.

Up to This time better season for crops
has not been known in these parts for
many years. a fine rain has fallen Just
after each planting ana sowing, and there
after warm sunshine. Slight frosts have
appeared but not to hurt in the least.
We hear Of breaking prairie and fencing
in every part of the county, and perhaps in
no former year were 50 many new acres
nclosed and brought under cultivation.
Esqr Mase, who has Within the past two
weeks walked over nearly every section in
the west part Of the county, informs us
that the very last tillable acres Of unbrok-
en- land on Blake's Prairie, are yielding to
the plowman, and that vast amount Of
lands hitherto considered waste or untila
lie, In tie timber skir.s and along the side
slopes, is being cleared off and put in cul-
tiyation. New orchards have been started
in every direction and new fences Of posts
and boards erected partly or wholly for in
closing nearly every farm. New barns aud
gfanalies Of recent erection are almost as
common a, late breakings and Indicate a
great change in the management Of far
mers; these granaries are designed for
keeping grain from fall ill spring and
spring till fall so as to take advantage Of
markets. Selling Immediately after bar
vest at whatever prices may be offered is
practice that can only be avoided by pro
yiding storehouses on farms, and by so
keeping clear Of debt as to not necessitate
selling Immediately after thfeshing. The
Blake's Prairie section possesses magnif-
cent advantages for farming. We do not
know that the soil is superior to other parts
of the county, or that farmers are greatly
skilled, more industrious or even more de-
voted to the farm arts than those of other
parts Of the county. They long enjoyed
certain advantages Of markets up the Mis-
sissippi, for years supplying the Minnesota
deficiency of bread stufEs, meats and live
stock, and thus got rich start. This adj
vantage falling at last, they continued to
enjoy the full benefits Of the river trade
which has been to some extent in competi
ton with the railroad business. They also
possess the advantages Of cheaper lumber
markets than their interior neighbors and
cheaper freights, the river terms for carry
ing being always cheaper than car rates.
The farm population Of the west part Of
the county are judged to possess an infam-
matory degree of general intelligence; for,
according to the say Of postmasters,
greater amount Of reading matter passes
through the mails for the Offices Of that
part Of the county than for all other parts,
including Crawford county and Northern
Iowa; they read everything offered, Of
whatever persuation, creed, ism or scism.
Any rural people who thus cultivate the
intellect along with the physical powers
must attain to very hish stand and OBJ
tain an influence in public affairs which 9th
ers would do well TO initiate now and all
the time, else the strong arm OF wealth and
Of influence must slightly shift toward the
west. At present such culture may only
develop schisms and apparent intellectual
disorders, as spiritualisin, exploded systems
Of theology and fanatic notionseof some
things which long ago concerned scientific
men but which have long ceased to bother
the world. Physical development along
with mental culture always leads to level
Of reason; brings abous a mastery state
Of practical ability and is guaranty that
any people who associate manual labor
with mental culture must assume leading
control in society.