Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-10-13
Chr freeman.
Minnesota Correspondent,


others not. During the summer travel.
ed through south western Minnesota, and
ftom the north west to the middle of Wis.
consin so that | can write intelligibly
from a part of two states. In the first
part of the summer in south western
Minnesota the winds blew and the rain
descenledn so that there was an unusual
fall of rain which delayed the sowing of
crops little later tn IN common but not
so as to make it detrimental. For few
years past the grain has been in very
early too early some times for its good
Every thing seemed more favorable for
large crops than for some time, but as
usual the "big wheat crop" did moi
come, it was only moderate or small
This ought 20 satisfy the people after AN
experience Of nine years that they cannot
get rich by raising wheat in that part of
the state. Though great things are said
in its favor by spectators TO induce people
to 90 there vet mtny and sometimes Bit
ter are the disIpDintments of those who
have gone there. Almost yearly since
its settlement to the present time some
thing such rs grass-hoppers, blight,
drouth or storms have blasted the hopes
of the people, and you sometim IS hear
the question aIke |; Is not this the fated
belt of country that scientists speak of?
There are also mtny things in this coul.
try's favor. A man can 20 out on the
prairie anil break right along with three
horses and many do with two. 1t is also
grand grazing country, and usually
healthy. | noticed in letter you pub
lished short time ago from u Minnesota
correspondent to the FREEMAN these
words: Somehow it seems to be the fate
of all these western states that for "A few
years after the virgin soil is opened
bounteous crops of this indispensable
cereal will be raised but soon begins to
fail" There is good reason for this
believe. If a man continually overworks
and does not take needed rest and proper
nourishment everyone knows that his
constitution will soon be broken and
weakness and sickness will be the result.
So it is with his western land. The far
mer pows, and sows and reaps, taking
all he possibly can from his fields. This he
does year after year, and while the land
yields him bountiful harvest what does
he in return give the land to refresh it,
or reinvgorate it? Just nothing ut all!
not even the grain that is left after the
grain is removed. One Of the strange
things that IN eastern man noticed in Il
wheat growing country after thrashing is
the many fires day and night; and asking
the reason of this he is told that the far
mers are burning their straw stacks to
get them out of the way. Of course in
this way the land gets no rest, no nourish-
ment, and connot hold out any length of
time. The wheat fields saw in Wiscon-
sin this summer were very much like
those of Minnesota, rather light; ye-
lowish sickly color came over the wheat
in both states suddenly. | saw some
wheaticlds in Wisconsin that were en-
tirey ruined by hard hail storm This
year we witnessed two great hail storms. :
had heard AS | supposed very exagger-
ated hail stone stories but after seeing !,
great hail my self am no more faithles
but believing. The first hail storm came
in south west Minnesota Just as the grain
was starting SO it did not damage the
crops. The clouds assumed a frightful
aspect; at Il distance a Water spout was
visible; overhead the clouds in the form
ofa waterproof were rolling and tumbling.
The rain began to fall, soon small hail
stones came down, then they came larger |
and larger until one was reminded of
war time when shells went whizzing
through the air and cannon balls pounded |
the ground. After the storm was over | |
went out and brought in a painful which |
were about the size of my fist lady |
took one and put it into a pint bowl which
just filled it. Some were described rs
much larger, but as | did not see them
will not vouch for them. After remain
ing few days which was later in ihe
season and grain had reached its usual |
height, another hail storm similar to the
first struck there. The hail was not quite
as large but did far more damage some
wheat fields were entirely destroyed
others half, others two thirds. The houses
being larger and having more windows
than those in Minnesota, and the hail
stones coming more slanting, the quantity
of broken glass was great. Such ii storm
had never been in that part of Wisconsin
before. Neither storm was great in ex-
tent of country. This year my work is in
Richland County Wisconsin. This county
is known for its stock raising and cheese
making But very little wheat is raised
here now. The present business is more
profitable than wheat raising. Much of
the cheese made here finds it way into the
English market, and is of harder con-
sistency than that required for the Ameri-
can taste. This part of Wisconsin re-
minds one of New England especially
after having been out on the broad prair-
les of Minnesota. There are numerous
villages here with bluffs rising quite per-
pendcuar and of considerable height.
Religion and politics are both too quiet
and untaked of for the good of the coun-
try and the people, yet it seems quite The
custom in the west TO leave everything TO
the last moment Doubtless both Wiscon-
sin and Minnesota will follow the
example of Vermont (Which is always
square and straight on all questions) at
their elections.
The faded flowers, the hoar frost, the
beautifully variegaed forest leaves the
dropping nut, the flight of birds and the
chill in the air remind us of approaching
winter which we expect little earlier
~