The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-03-23

We are informed that over 1000
bushels of wheat from lasS years
crop have mp to this date been de-
liyered at the Duluth elevators.
raised on soil similar to ours, by the
farmers living in the woods north
and west of Duluth. This is quite
an item, and is a iate-day practical
test Of what cur soil will do for
wheat. We are also informed that
the wheat raised here weighs gen
orally 65 pounds to the measured
oushel, being the heaviest grain re-
ceived at the elevators. Oats grow
luxuriantly and rIecn into large,
hard, plump gra;~st. This seems to
be the native home of the potato.
which grows rapidly, natures early,
keeps well the year round, and is
dry, mealy, sweet and nutriclous
As Tor cabbages, beets, turnips,
peas, etc., etc. they are equally at
home here all the ordinary garden
truck as well as field crops do as
well here as in any country, except
corn and tomatoes. The former
does not always mature, and the
latter in most seasons requires hot
bed pushing in the spring. Our
soil is essentially adapted to the
raising Of grass the native kinds
grow everywhere, and timothy
| yields seldom less than two tons to
the acre. For small fruits such as
strawberries, currants, gooseberries,
ETC., it seems to be without a rival.
a fortune is In store for the men
who will devote their attention ex-
clusively to small fruita. They
grow large, firm, luscious, and come
into market after the same fruits
further south are out of date. It is
true our soil requires vast amount
OF labor to subdue it, but when once
brought under subjection it does
rot soon tail; in fact the longer 1t
is cultivated the better it assimilates
with manures and yields crops.
Drought affects it but little, and in
wet seasons the water is easily
carried of. Our market b6;ng at
the door, we save the risk and ex-
pense OF transportation incumbent
upon tho farmers further west. In
fact, all things considered, this
country, right about Superior, has
much to commend it to the agricul-
tuiist, and we can hardly help be-
licVlnG that if people could make
themselves think SO they would do
quite as well here in working the
soil as on the prairies or in ithe
woods further west.
Land is cheap here. Within two
TO five miles of town many desirable
tracts can be bought at $500 to
$500 per acre, ard ten to twelve
miles from town free homcstea6s OH
nice, rich, rolling sugar-maple land
may be secured, acres cost
ing only ten dollars. The New
England states, as we'll as the great
states OF New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Kentucky were carved out
OF the woods, and there is really no
reason why the country around the
head OF Lake Superior, if brought
into notice, should longer remain
the almost virgin wilderness it now
is. We are pretty familiar with
Douglas county, and will venture
to say there is scarcely a section Of
acdSte land in the entire county; no
rocks except in narrow specific linn
its, and no swamps that cannot be
easily drained, and when once
drained they prove the richest
lands. On the whole, this country
has many advantages for the man
who desires to cultivate the soil and
build up home for himself and
family, and if the people here fail to
appreciate this, and profit by it, it
viii not be long before men, now
perhaps in foreign lands, will be
here enjoying the benefits which we
will then chide ourselves for our
blindness in not securing when the
opportunity lay awaiting our com
mand.