Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-03-17
The st. Croix Valley q good Grass
and stock Country. .

and stock Country. t.-s
The soil of the valley beng dry and por.
ous il was the conclusion of all early settlers
that it could not be good grass country.
Such an opinion still prevails with the un-
observant recent settlers. Acting upon this
| belief not many of the early .ttlers made an
effort in the cultivation of any of the grasses
Without trial. without experiment, the most
of our early farmers echoed the passing word
that we could not well raise grass here. ergo
| it could not be good stock country. A few
energetic farmers tried mostly with herds
grass without manure. and generally with
fair success. AS the years passed and the
country became more closely settled. neces-
| sity compelled the farmer into a better, anil
more systematic manner of farming. 81.
| He began to make use OF the manures ac-
cumulxted about his sheds and stables.-
Little patches of grass were sown upon man
ured soil aud lol a luxuriant heavy yield
astonished the natives. Glover was not
tried to any extent until within the past five
years. Year by year it has aimed in the
confidence Of the farmer, when now I think I
| am safe in saying that there are none who
have observed its growth but arc ready TO
assert that this is as good clover country as
can be found. The fact has recently been de-
| yeloped that the real blue grass is native of
our soil. IT is claimed bv many natives Of blue
grass regions that it is found growing luxuri-
antly in several places in our valley. Should
any one doubt this let him visit the farm of
G. w. McMurphey, near the city of Prescott.
| He can there be shown a blue grass pasture
of some years standing. Redtop pasture has
been tried the past three years and proved a
success, and that upon quite dry soil. 1t is
now an undeniable established fact with our
best farmers that this Is a .frst-rate grass
90 untry.
1t being demonstrated beyond a donbt
that our soil and climate is well adapted to
the raising all the most important grasses. then
why not raise stock? claim we can do it
as successfully and as proftably as is done in
the most of the northern states.
Some may say our winters are too long.
would ask them about N. Y. the Canadas
and New England. Do they not raise as
! good stock as is found in America? Do they
pretend to say that stock raising does not
pay? And are their winters shorter and less
severe than ours? When experience has re.
moved the doubts about the grass matter it
must be conceded by all that we have much
| The advantage over the sections ramed in
every thing but the market. When our sys-
tenn Of railroads is completed north and east
our market will be much improved.
Others complain of lack of water. and offer
it as serious draw back in stock raising.
There is hardly forty acre lot in the val
ley upon our rolling prairie. or undulating
timbered section where there might not be art
ifcial ponds constructed. The way and man
ner to accomplish this is generally well under
stood, but little practiced. Again. the fact is
being yearly demonstrated that our farms are
much better watered than was at first sup
posed. 9s aEat e,t ~vsfeY q
Water is not unfrequently found much
nearer the surface than was dreamed Of
And when found, not in some deep ravine as
in most well watered sections, creating the
necessity that the farmer should build his
house and home in an unsightly by-place!-
But here water is found more commonly than
otherwise. on the higher ground of the rolling
prairie a. ss4e III. .tr aaa
To make stock raising really a success i'm
proved breeds must be introduced. The far
mer must establish a system and make it a
business. "A pasture-of redtop and blue grass
must be prepared for summer use: Fields
of timothy and clover sown for winter use.
A clear clover lot for hog pasture with a
little corn. and we can raise pork as cheaply
as i'm most other sections as this is a healthy
climate for hogs, and other stock as well as
This system when once adopted and carrie
ed out will not fail to convince the most
skeptical that this is not only good grass
and stock country. but a good farming toun-
try in whi:h to accumulate property. 81
Artificial manuress accumulated by stock
raising viii still further help to illustrate the
fact of the excellence of our soil for the grasses
when manured and cultivated as have here
tofore attempted 10 show in this article. 81
be9ieai ,sa9aw Fgt j. NJ. BAILEY.
/ isai ed cla l.A.-l.1x 90 aaihxass &
Some rash fellows say that. the giving Of
the ballot to women would not an,ount 10
much, for none Of them would admit that they
were old enough to vote until they were too
old 10 take any iaterestin politics So
IA widow lady, sitting by cheerful fire
in msditative mood, shortly after her hus-
bands decease. sighed. OUT; -"Poor fellow
how be, did like good frel Ihope he has
gone where they. keep good 6resl''
There is gentleman in New Albany.
Ind. i. the father Of several children. who Is so
polite that his wife has not seen him in his
shirt sleeves for twelve years. He always re-