The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-09-30


Press of Saturday is al evidence of
the value of our county fair as an ad-
vertising medium for the county and
surroundings:
REMARKABLE EXHIBIT OF A NEW
COUNTRY.
WADENA, Sept. 23.-The first an
nual fair Of the Wadena County Agri-
cultural society was held here yester-
day and to-day, and both in the num-
Der and character Of it's exhibits and
enthusiastic attendance, was q SUI
prising success.
Waden& county lies along the line
of the Northern Pacific railroad, in
what may be deemed an intermedi-
ate section between the pine forests
of the upper Mississippi and the IA
nous lake and park region stretching
westward. It is a district of which
comparatively little has been heard.
having been overlooked III the rage
| for broad wheat areas and bonanza
| farming operations. Yet it may well
| be doubted whether better conditions
for successful farming Of a legitimate
character can anywhere be found.
Heavy timber, scattering groves.
meadows. oak openings and rich prai-
ries are combined in admirable pro-
portion, while the soil is a black,
quick. friable loan, which, if less
strong than in some other localities:
| is kindly and productive in the high
est degree. No better wheat can be
shown in the northwest, while superb
! Nf f1,11x
are seen in every direction. The
wheat, large and well filled ears of
hard, ripened Indian corn, and superb
or qualities Of oats, barley and other
cereals were arrayed in abundance.
The display of vegetables was per-
haps the finest seen this year in any
! part Of the State. It was the uniform
verdict Of all, that no such potatoes.
as to size and quality, could anywhere
else be found. while squashes weigh
ing from seventy-tive to one hundred
pounds each, and every variety OF
garden product were abundantly dis
played.
The enterprising managers were
determined that as far as possible
every branch of legitimate farming
and every agency for its promotion
should be represented. Deeming that
not only adequate machinery and su-
perior farm animals, but also strong
and healthy men and women. are req
uisite to this end they provided for a
display Of babies as part of the expo
sition. A charming show Of ruddy-
faced, youthful humanity in every
proportion of vigorous limb and voice,
was the result. The award, a baby
carriage. was made by Il committee
of disinterested family men without
young children.
DAIRY PRODUCT AND OCK DISPLAY.
Dairy products have been made q
specially in that region, under the
lead of S. S. Gardner. Esq: who cred-
itably represented this State in the fair
Of the National Dairymen's Associa-
tion in New York, last December.
Very fine samples Of butter and
cheese were displayed. These arti-
clcs can be produced in the region of
pure water and rich grasses at pro|a-
bly, as small cost and Of as good
quality as in any quarter Of the coun-
try.
There was little display of fancy or
snowy live stock. but milch COWS of
productive capacity. fine working oxen
and heavy C!ydesdale horses, as well
as the best breeds Of hogs, sheep and
other animals, attested the practical
character OF the exhibits and the good
sense of the exhibitors. This was
further shown by the entire absence
of authorized horse racing and those
catchpenny side-shoWs which are
rapidly demoraliZing legitimate agri.
cultural fairs.
On the evening of the 23d. the clos
ing day, the crowd of spectators as
sembled in a large and elegant new
hall in the thriving town and listened
| to an able and elaborate address from
ex-Gov. Austin. He chose for his
sp Acial subject the necessity for u
regular and persistent diversitication
Of crops rs an essential condition of
agriculture. which he enforced with
pertinent facts and telling figures for
about two hour.
! GOV. PILLsBCRY SPEAKS.
At the conclusion of this address
Gov. Pillsbury, in response to a call
from the au!ienc. spoke few words
OF conGratulation upon the success
of their first effort to hold an agricu,-
! trral fair. H. alluded to the ama:-
ing changes which 4 very few years
had wrought in Il region which had
long been considered an irreclaima-
bic wilderness. He spoke Of the
struggles and long deferred hopes OF
the early settlers and rejoiced with
| them over the reward they were earn.