Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-03-14
Letter From Minnesota.
CALEDONIA, Houston Co., Mimi,
March 2, 1877.

CALEDONIA, Houston Co., Mimi,
March 2, 1877.
Mr.. EDIroR:-In my last letter spoke
of cold weather and deep snow, for this
country. now have to retract, and state
that we have fine weather and no snow.
During the month of December and Jan
uary, up to the 25th of January, the cold
was severe, and the snow had fallen to an
unusual depth; but from that date to the
present writing it has thawed every day
and the snow has almost disappeared. The
roads are settled, dry and dusty, and the
fires are running on bluff and prairie.
Farmers have sown considerable spring
wheat, and some are anxious to put in the
remainder of their crops; but the wise old
heads prophosy cold, stormy weather yet,
together with a late spring. On the whole,
this is the strangest winter within the
memory of the oldest inhabitant," and
the description of New England weather
by Mark Twain will apply to Minnesota at
the present time.
PRODUCTIONS, &C.
Minnesota is emphatically II wheat
growing state, as from its early settlement
to the present raising of wheat has been
the chief source of income to the farmers,
and they depend on this crop to pay their
debts and support their families. In our
early history the average yield per acre of
wheat was twenty-five bushels; but OF
late years the average yield is reduced to
twenty bushels. This decrease is owing
mostly to the exhaustion Of the soil. The
prices of wheat have had II wider range
than the average yield, | have seen wheat
hauled forty miles to market and sold for
40 cents per bushel; and l have seen it
us high us S.. 50; but it would be safe to
place the average price for the past twen-
ty years at about $l,00. An entire failure
of the wheat crop is unknown here /;
though last season was the nearest ap-
proach to it. The yield in this county and
in the entire state last harvest did not av-
erago more than ten bushels per acre; con-
sequently our surplus for shipment is re-
duced in proporton-slill farmers are not
discouraged, but hopeful for the future.
Oats for home consumption, are raised
to considerable extent, and yield from
sixty to seyenty-live bushels per acre and
bring from % to 40 cents. Very little rye
is sown, but barley is considered II good
crop, as we have II home market at the
breweries for it. Corn is cultivated extern
svey, and yields from forty to eighty
bushels per acre, and the price ranges from
20 to GO cents Il bushel, though have seen
it us low as 10 or u cents. Potatoes give
fair return but do not think they are
as prolific nor of as good quality as those
we used to raise in Old Vermont.
A word with regard to fruit: do not
think Minnesota will ever become Il fruit
raising state--at any rate, in that direc-
ton, she has proved Il failure thus far.
Our orchards are like angels visits" few
and fur between, though there are few
bearing orchards, but this is an exception
to tile general rule. The experiment of
raising apples has been thoroughly tried
by many and doubtless, every bearing tree
in the county has cost its owner $40.
Withmy good opinion of Minnesota, |
am sorry to admit these failures, but they
are facts. Some hardy kinds of fruit may
do well here, but cannot pronounce Min
nesota rs adapted to fruit growing. We
have wild fruit in Abundance, which is
made to take the place of cultivated vari-
cites. am inclined to think that in order
to obtain the luxurics of apples, pears and
peaches, to any extent, we shall have to
import them.
POLITICAL.
In politics this state and county are de-
cidedly republican. At the late election
in this county the republicans elected Their
entire ticket by majoritics ranging from
100 to 1000. The county comprises one
judicial and oae senltorll district. 1t is
divided into five commissioner and foul
representative districts. Three Of the
representative districts are republican ant
one democratic.
All are anxiou5ly looking for the lina'
decision of the electoral tribunal. The
formation of such II court to decide tho
presidential election, does not give gener
nj satisfaction; though some claim that il
was the best plan that could be devised
for this emergency. Submission to the
decision, whatever it may be, will char.
acterizo the action of all lovers Of the ma
tion in this county. This pan of settle
ment seems TO me more like an appoint
ment by fifteen persons, than an election
by the people.
NEGLECTED ITEMS.
In any formerleLter l neglected to men
llbu tlllV Ulllo NOull1 - blO5SOu WIN wv
republican newspapers one published
here and the other ut Hokah. They boil
mlnage to exc out Il living by obtainin:
county IN local advertising. They are
printed on the cooperative plan, and
suppose do the best they can to give salts
faction,
Yolg readers may have gained the i'm
preston from my previous letter that thi
town was on some stream or water course
Such is not the case. We are high AM
dry on the praire-the water being OBJ
tanned by means OF artesiAn wells-o
which we have Il large number, The wa
ter from the town we'll is raised by wind
mill power, as it is also at the brewery.
In my next will speak Of our cduca
tional resources, and Of our interest in
and labor for public schools.
Truly yours,
l.. D. c.