Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-08

D1iiuGSO&as l. nc fattSf . 0OOAb y AAit40o
in length BY so in width, and Includes
the counties of Pierce, st. Croix and
Polk. containing about sixty. Ave town
shils, or over 100000 acres of land.
This land is far superior to the most Of
that in Minnesota, Immediately adjacent
to it on the west.
PACE OF THE COUNTRY.
The face Of The country is generally
rolling. Some tracts Of land are quite
blutfy, and otkers remarkably level, but
As whole it is finely suited for agrcul-
tural purposes. There are no barren
wastes or inaccessible heights. Almost
every mere is tilable, and the soil though
somewhat varied in different locations,
is uniformly deep and highly productive.
Almost two thirds of the LAID is prairie,
and the remainder mostly hard wood
timber, although in Polk ard ST. Croix
counties there is some very heavy pine.
The entire valley is belted by woods ex~
cept on the west, so that there is no sec.
ton that is not easily accessible to an
abundant supply of excellent timber. -
This is an advantage of immense vaiue,
aud one which few farming regions in
the west enjoy.
WATER AND WATER POWERS.
One Of the greatest disadvantages to
he met with in many Of the finest agri-
cultural sections of the west is the lack
Of water. In this respect the ST. Croix
Valley is particularly favored. Theirs
IS not only an abundant supply of the
purest water for the ordinary uses of
house and farm. but there are hundreds
of excellent water powers, which will
eventually be of great value, and
when improved will build up extensiys
manufacturing interests, which will be
among the country's chiefest sources of
wealth. There nre. already, scores of
saw aud iouring mills, and manufactures
tor the turning Of wood, and other work
now 10 operation on these water powers.
The principal streams tFaversing this
valley, are the Apple, Willow, kinnic-
kinnic Rush. Eau Gale rivers. These
streams are all of sufficient size to fur
ni-h an almost exhaustabIe supply of wa
Ter power, an1 with the exceptions of the
hinLickinnlc, upon which there is no
lumber, are used to float out to tho MIS-
issippi, many millions of feet of lumber
annually. Thery are numerous other
smaller streams, threading tue valley in
all directions, furnishing more or less
manufacturing power, giving TO thous-
and OF farms a never failing supply of
water, bringing added fertility 10 the
valleys through which they flow, and
creating diversity aud beauty in their
rich aud winding paths.
SOIL.
We have already said that the soil is
"strJng, deep and productive" What
more can be said in its favor7 Farmers
a.e not generally interested in the par
tcular compositions of the soil. or in the
geological featnres which underlie it
" hat they want to know is, whether it
will raise good crops, the kinds of grain
best adapted to it, its power of repeated
production, and whether it is easily sub.
iected This information can bes; be
gwen by stating q few facts in reference
10 the Kinds and amount of gran pro-
duced here, per acre, on an average, aud
the manner and expense of bringing ths
soil IN Ter cultivation. Our figures arc
in reference to the cultivation aud pro.
drctions of prairie land. The timber
and Erairie soil is mostly the same, the
advantage, if any. being IN favor of the
timber land rs to strength and richness.
Timber land here can be cleared much
cheaper than at the east for the reason
that the soil is mellow and easily work
ed, free from stones, and generally but
little uaderbrusb, as compared to the
woodlands OF tire eastern states
The average Of prairie land can ba
broke, ready to harrow in crop and
fenced, at an expense Of from 50 to sl2
per acre. A fair average is $40. The
breaking is done generally with OK teams.
from four 10 SIX yoke being used for
team. Horse teams are not unfreouent-
ly used. The land when once well
broke, is subdned, and is always after
wards, easily ti.lable.
The leading crop raised here at pres
ent is wheat. Il is also the most profit
able crop of The farmer. The magni-
luds and increase of the wheat trade, is
shown in the fact that in 1850, the first
shipment Of wheat was made from this
country, while in 1867, there was sur
plus CT over million bushels raised
These facts in reference to the yield of
wheat some seasons, seems almost fab
ulous. Ii IS not uncommon for farmers
to raise from 30 to 40 bushels per acre,
of No. wheat. The average crops for
the past tive years, have been from %
to % bushels per acre. Practical farm
ers viii see that such crops as these arc
rare. and that their productions must ba
highly remuneratve. Oats grow here
equally as well as wheat Corn also
produces WELL and would be raised in
large quantities. were it not that the
wheat crop is more profitable.
The so here is of unusual fertility.
wears remarkably,aud produces all kinds
of grain, grass and fruits found 10 other
sections 10 the same latitude.