Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-10-27


is public benefactor who fairly intro
duces a good citizen, whatever may be
his calling, who will dwell permanently
in our midst.
In the brief time still to be occupied
in this address, | propose to consider,
1st. What inducements can be pro-
perly offered to encourage immigration
to this part of the State; and,
%. As citizens of this locality which
we have chosen as our place of residence,
to consider what we can do to make this
still more attractive to immigration, still
more inviting to people of enterprise and
capital, and also to show it is possible to
make our own homes the abodes of con-
teutmcnt and prosperity. A very large
proportion of the population Of every
civilized country must, Of necessity. be
engaged in agricultural pursuits. Upon
the cultivation Of the soil, animal subsis-
tence, to a very great extent depends
To eat, to be sheltered and clothed, en-
gross 10y far the largest part Of the skill
and industry Of mankind. Hence the
great body of emigrants to every new
country are farmers. In the selection of
their homesteads they aim at certain con-
ditions and facilities through which their
labor may be rewarded by the most lib
eral returns. Their bones and muscles
are the essential part of THEN capital,
which it is of the first importance to in
vest judiciously.
The farmer has many months TO feed.
The infirmities of his body require doc
tor; the waywardness of his moral ma
ture requires the admonitions of a spirit
uaI gaide; his ignorance of law and le-
gal advice, and his various wants require
artisans of every trade. They admins
ter to his conyeniences and necessities,
and he TO their support. If he leads
civilized life, the proceeds of his labor
must be adequate to meet such wants.
Hence, the first enquiry Of the intelli
gent emigrant farmer is for rich and pro
ductive land, in healthy climate, easily
accessible to wood, timber, water and
market, its surface, extent, and prospec
tive commercial facilities, all matters Of
primary importance in the selection
of homesteads; the kind of productions,
building materials, state of society,
schools, and price Of land, are also things
to be considered in determining bis future
residence.
In most of these respects, it is believed
the St. Croix Valley offers strong induce
ments TO immigrants.
The geological formation of this part
Of the Great Western Valley indicates
the character and quality of its soil. In
the region Of the unstratfied rocks,
which are supposed to be of igneous or
igin, the suffice is moro broken and the
soil less productive, requiring the con
slant application Of restoratiyes and the
most skilful tllage.
In the Great Western Valley, a plain
Of great extent, and nearly level, stretch
es from the Allegheny chain on the
East to the Rocky Mountains on the
West. Under this vast plain repose the
stratitiod rocks. Upon these rests q soil
well suited to n vigorous growth of all
kinds of vegetation. For thousands Of
years the sol has been enriched and
deePeucd by tho decomposition of vege-
tation and mineral substances.
One branch of this Great Valley it is
our privilege to occupy. The salubrity
of our ciimate-the richness and dura
bility of our soil, are unsurpassed. Our
soil, as is proved by analysis, con-
tains just tie elements which are needed
for the abundant production of the great
staples on which we now chiefly depend.
One of the Oldest farms, if not the oldest
in the st. Croix Valley, which has been
under cultivation for a period of nine
teen years, produced las. year a crop of
wheat which averaged twenty-three bush
els to the acre, and several others, from
which ten successive crops, without rota-
ton, lad been harvested, gave an aver
age Of twenty five bushels of wheat to
the acre. These crops were raised with.
out the application of manures, with the
usual depth Of blowing, and under ordi-
nary cultivation.
1t has been estimated that the average
yield of wheat per acre, in the year
1865, was thirty bushels in the two coun-
ties Of Pierce and ST. Croix. Many
farms in the newer portions of these
counties, reached thirty five, and even
forty bushels to the acre. Such facts,
together with the well known constitu-
ents of the soil, such rs the carbonate
and sulphate of lime, silica, alumina and
potassa, suitably mixed with decayed
vegetable matter, as also its extraordi
nary depth--from one TO three feet
prove couclusively both the durability Of
the soil and its d9ptedness to the growth
of cereals.
Said a neighbor of mine, who had
once been farmer in Illinois, "the land
down there is black and mucky, and to
appearance, richer than ours, but" he
continued, eve used to think fifteen
bushels to the acre, a good crop
" Why" said he, with great earnestness,
"ast year | raised here on my farm.
which had sown TO wheat ten years in
succession. tOentyJfve bushels to the
acre."
The explanation of this difference may
be found in the fact that one of the pre-
dominant conditions Of our soil is silica,
or sand, which not only imparts warmth
and friableness, but supplies the appro-
pirate nutriment to the culm or stock of
the smaller grains. Ia some localities
this is found in excess and inpairs the
equality of the soil, but in general, its
,1.,f, ,.y.41 l,o,r.- I. r