The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1882-06-29
A Southside Farmer.


Quincy, Ills.. in 40, when he was 20 years
old. He remained there till IS. when he
came to Dakota county, this State. In
81 he came to Redwood county, home
steaded 100 acres and bought $50 acres,
constituting his present farm. His place
is three miles southeast of the village of
Lamberton and is composed of about
twothird bottom land and one third up
land.
The Dutch Charley creek. stream
larger than the Ramsey, runs the distance
Of over mile through his farm and emp
ties into the Cottonwood on the south
side. He has all the timber he will ever
need for home use. He has 275 acres
under cultivation. From 81. the year he
brought his family to Redwood county,
up to 72, the year in which the railroad
was built through the southern part of
the county. Mr.. Porter was extensively
engaged in the cultivation and manu-
facturc of sorghum. Says it was q
very profitable business in those days.
He still gives some attcntlon to 1t. -.
Wheat raising has been the thorn In
the flesh with his farming. Thinks IL
he had left that alone he would he worth
$4,000 more today than he is. He has
raised corn every year. Never got less
than forty bushels per acre except the
year of the grasshoppers, and always
got good price for what lie sold.
Since 70 his corn crop las averaged
about 40 acres per year! In 1880 he had
80 acre field that averaged one hundred
bushel shelled corn to the acre, Last
year he raised over $500 bushels on sixty
acres. Sold 400 bushels of seed corn at
from 81 20 to $500 per bushel and the
remainder at 50 cents per bushel.
lie has taken his son Clarence in part.
nership with him this year. They have
100 actcs of corn, 20 acres of wheat, 20
acres Of barley, IS acres of flax, acres
of oats, 10 acres of sorghum, and 2 acres
of potatoes. His crops are looking well.
Until few years ago he kept large
flock of sheep, about 500 on an average,
but had to sell them to pay the expenses
of worthless wheat crops. He has at this
time flock of II as fine sheep as you will
see in days travel They averaged this
spring IS pounds and ounces to the
fleece.
He has several large barrows and elev
en- brood sows. Expects to winter one
hundredDhogs next winter. Has an
abundance of woods pasture for his hogs
and says they have proved profitable
stock to him. They are mixed between
Berkshire and Poland China, He keeps
and owns an interest in scyen year old
Norman stallion that trotted one-half
mile in one and one half minute two years
ago at the county fair. Owns 7 work
herscs, two year old colts, two year.
lings and one sucking colt.
Mr.. Porter has undoubtedly the best
stock farm we have seen in Minnesota.
1t furnishes the best protection to stock
from stdfms and cold winds. He has a
large, we'll finished barn, 1Sx18O feet with
~ feet posts, and a cattle stable, 14xl65
feet built under the bluff, part Of it ex-
tending into it. He never drives his cat
tie Or sheep into barns, but leaves the
bars open that they may go in and out at
will. Never feeds cattle or sheep hay OF
grain of any kind. During the winter
they live on straw which is we'll stacked
when thrashcd, and corn fodder.
To many this may sound like shiftlesi
way of caring for stock, but after view
ing Mr. Porter's place with Its many nat
ural advantages and seeing the fine con
dition of his cattle and sheep at the pres
ent time we do not doubt that they have
been we'll cared for during the past win
ters.