The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-02
BLUE EARTH COUNTY !
lis Great Advantages for
Dairying, Stock and
Sheep Raising and
Diversified Agri-
culture.
II is Generally Accepted as the Gar
den Of the West, and Possesses
More Attractive and PrOmi-
nGnt Features than any
other County in
the State.
Peculiar Adaptation of Its Soil
and Climate.
Its Lakes and Wooded Streams
Teepling with Myriads
of Fish.
Its Fruit Producing Qualities
Equal to those of Eastern
States.
Its Markets and Roads, Schools
and General characteristics.
ITS AREAS, POPULATION AND
FINANCES.
Its Fruit Producing Qualities
Equal to those of Eastern
States.
Its Markets and Roads, Schools
and General Characteristics.
ITS AREAS, POPULATION AND
FINANCES.

II one looks At good map of Blue
Earth county; a map which exhibits i'll
full detail its rivers, railroads, timber
and prairie lands, he will be convinced
10y even slight examination that this
must bc Paradise for farmers. Seven
rivers mcandcr through thi. county, and
numerous lakes dot its surface, while
four railroads, with stations ut conven.
lent intervals. bring 4 market for his
produce almost TO the door OF every far
mer. The soil is rich and deep, with .
gently rolling surface. and is agrecably
diversified with timber and prairie
Every farm has some portion of timber
on it, or in near proximity TO H. With
all these advantages combined with
fine climate. pure air and water. and Il
capacity for raising in perfection every
crop that is grown in the same latitude
from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific. what
found by the cmigrant from the old |
world or the ncwi Blue Earth county |
challenges comparison in lis capabiIity
for producing wealth, with any other
agricultural county in the land.
THE SOIL AND IT> PRuDI CrIoNs.
The soil has been very accurately
described by former writer. Col. c.
Hewitt. Is a dark. CalcareouS, sandy
loan. containing various intcrmixturc
OF clay. aboundlng in mineral salts and
III organic ingredients derived from the
accumulation of decomposed vegetable
matter through long ages of growth and
decay. 1t Is from two 10 five feet in
depth, without boulders, very little al
tected 10y drought, and by reason OF its
rolling character. drying quickly on
the surface after the spring rains. All
kinds of grain are raised successfully,
vegetables grow 10 great perfection.
The potatoes OF southern Minnesota
have become famous throughout the
East and West. The sandy soil Of the
bottom lands is excellent for early vege-
tables and melons. Flax is extensively
cultivated and finds IL ready market at
the Oh mills of Mankato. 1t is also g.
natura! fruit producing region, notwIth-
standing It's high latitude When this
country WAS first settled, wild fruits
grew here in great profusion, plums,
cranberrics, Strawberries, raspbcrries,
blackberrics and GRAPES, and the same
soil hy cultivation readily adapts itself
10 the production OF many kinds OF
apples. Several vineyards of Concord,
Delaware, Catawba and other choice
varieties Of GRAPES have been success
fully cultivated for years.
The most valuable product of the
soil, however, in this as in all other
farming countries, is grass, and in this
respect Blue Earth county is the rival
OF the most highly favored localities that
can he found in any latitude. Here the
blue joint grass grows 50 high that
horse and his rider disappear from view
while passing through it. Four tons to
the acre is not an unusual crop. and the
grass, Notwithstanding its great height
IS OF most excellent quality. Timothy
and clover are also raised in consider
able quantities, but the best kinds of
tame grass are but little superior to the
native wild grass which grows thick
and tall everywhere on the prairics and
bottom lands
Grass alone, however, will not make
good stock raising or dairying coun-
Try. An abundance of pure water is
needed, and in this respect also Blue
Earth county has been highly favored
by nature. It's seven rivers spreading
out tan-like from a common point on
ITS northern boundary pervadc the whole
country. They are fed very largely by
springs, in consequence of which the
water Is always cool and pure. There
are also innumerable lakes within the
county, (some reckon as many as 300
varying in size from "a few acres To sew
eral square miles. These lakes are gen
orally clear and deep, with gravel bot
toms and shores. They, as well as the
rivers, abound with fish. The explorer
Nicollet, when he first saw this country,
long before any white men had settled
here, was so filled with admiration at its
sylvan beauty, its pure springs, and
trickling water Courses and sparkling
lakes, that he gave it the name of the
"Cndinc Region" connecting it in his
fancy With the beautiful Undinc, the
water nymph Of the famous old German
romance.
Another requisite for successful stock
raising lie favorable winter climate.
Now the winters of Blue Earth county
are usually dry: very little snow falls;
cattle thrive if only protected by sheds
from the northwest winds. The cold is
not so severe rs the same latitude in
New York or New England, nor is the
winter so loneas in those States. The
spring is frequently earlier even than in
Northern Illinois and Indiana, and not
so much care is needed to keep cattle
healthy and in good order through the
cold weather as IN those localities.
A good stock raising country is also
necessarily good corn producing coun-
try, and all farmers know that among
the sources of agricultural wealth corn
takes high rank. In the ante bellum
days cotton was king. When the great