Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-08-13
SUMMER NOTEs-NO. 4.


The name of this lake was bestowed
by the Indians, and signifies big water
mime means water and tOnkd is big;
hence the name, Minnetonka 1t seems
10 be big water decidedly, when nov
ice at the business rows yawl contain
ing four persons out to the fishing
grounds and back, q round trip of nearly
four miles, and finds after repeating the
severe exercise few times that his soft,
white palms are stuck full Of nice, ten
der blisters, and his face and neck all
bronzed over as if kissed by the sun
meath the burning skies of many a trop-
ical cline. However cool and bracing
the all, (which certainly suggests blankets,
if not fires every night, the sun shines
with peculiar force and effect which
never fails to change the complexion OF
any leisurely visitor, especially if from the
South. Knowing it must come to this
at last some of us struck out boldly at
the start and soon had faces the color of
raw beefsteak, and hands red and swol-
len. But perseverance soon turns the
blisters into little hoofs that would make a
politician squirm with delight at finding
one of the "horny handed yeomanry,"
and gives a cheek of iron almost imper-
yious to a blush. The initiation occu-
pies fully a week, but when once over it
is worth something and gives the APP
prentice access to the society Of the vet
Grams who come here every year to
rough it, and to the more favorable CON
sideration Of those who have the highly
favored privilege Of remaining here all
the year round. Then you begin to live
and to appreciate the muscular amuse-
ments of this country peculiar to both
land and water. / have served regular
apprenticeship at the boating and fish
ing business, and believe that / could
work my passage as deck hand from
here to New Orleans, although not in
the least inclined TO try it. But there is
a great satisfaction in the conscious
possession of brawny hands, swollen
muscles and expanded chest, even il
not to be applied in proving what we so
often hear about the dignity of labor,
but which, unfortunately, IS easier to
preach than practice.
This State, must say, though, main
tains the dignity and illustrates the
valae of labor as well as any in the
Union. The summers are short, and
they have literally to make hay while
the sun shines. They also do a heavy
business in the cranberry business, not
having to cultivate reclaimed lands and
Dogs like the people of New Jersey but
gathering the berries in the woods,
where in some counties the crop is al.
most exhaustess. The great crop of
course is wheat, of which at least 90
600, 900 bushels will be raised this year.
The land produces an average of thirty
bushels TO the acre. The stalk is short
and stiff, but the grains are heavy and
close together. Corn is not raised to
great extent, at least not to export, ex-
ccpt in South Minnesota. The stalks
seldom grow more than five or six feet
high the ears are hard and compact like
popcorn, only larger. The average
yield is perhaps twenty-five bushels to
the acre. Every vegetable nearly may
be and is raised here in abundance that
is found in our gardens in Tennessee,
and there seems to be an abundance
A few years ago and this was the from
tier, watched by garrisons in strong
forts to protect the few settlers against
the powerful tribes Of Indians, who, as
late as 1861, massacred whole settle
ments and drove thousands Of people
into st. Paul for safety. The State has
filled up with emigrants from the older
States and from Europe with astonish-
ing rapidity, and it ranks, according to
the last census, as second to any in the
Union Tor average produciiveness. The
thermometer stands about forty degrees
below zero here in the winter, but the
people, like the Laplapders in that re-
spect, think they have the finest climate
in the world, and very few Of them ever
think Of putting on aaRnels. However
incredible this seems, it is the concur.
rent testimony Of all with whom I have
conversed. Dews fall here end and
rather heavy, which is not the case in
Colorado, but the evaporation is sudden
and powerful, so that but little in effect
to health is produced. 0nly one
fog has been seen on the lake
since We came, and that vas
mentioned as something unusual
Vegetation comes on quick and fast