The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-02
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Northwest began to assert It's suprcm-
acv wheat seemed for a time to have
crowded the ancient monarch OFF his
throne. but which ever of these may APP
pear TO hold in its grasp the regal
sccptre, 1t must be acknowledged that
corn is at least 1.-THE power behind the
throne" Blue Earth county is Il corn
producing region. The same writer
quoted above says: scientific men
have determined that the successful
cultivation of Indian corn requires II
temperature of sixty-seven degrees for
July, and of sixty-tive degrees for the
summer. Minnesota has u summer
temperature of seventy degrees and Il
temperature for July of Sevcnty-six de-
grees. 1t is well known fact that
cereals raised in southern ATTITUDES are
far inferior in quality to the same kinds
produced in the cooler climate of the
North. Corn which grows to the
height of thirty feet in the West
India yields but a few kernels on n
spongy cob. In the Southern States
the stalks grow fifteen feet high, and
yield fifteen bushels per acre; in highly
cultivated sections Of the North, from
eighty to one hundred bushels per acre
feet in height" The writer of this
article has lived in Blue Earth coutny
twenty five years, and in all that time
the corn crop of this county has never
failed, and only once has it been serious
ly injured by frost. Although our sum-
mers are shorter than those of Missouri,
yet nature has provided compensation
in the remarkable rapidity with which
all our plants grow, and arrive at ma
turity. There is seldom any frost be
fore the middle of September and fire.
qucntly not before the first of October;
so ample time is afforded for corn to
ripcn. 1t has been noticed that "a greater
degree of cold is required to produce
frost in Minnesota than in places further
East. A fall of the mercury which here
would be harmless to the tendersst
vines, would be destructive to the crops
of Illinois and Ohio. This is owing in
part to the great vitality of plants which
mature in our short hot summers; partly
to the heat retaining nature of the soil;
but chiefly to the dryness of the air;
which prevents that rapid radiation
which produces frost" The great wheat
fields of Northern Minnesota and Dako-
ia do not possess the immunity from
early frosts. And when the center of
wheat culture, following its swift and
inevitable westward course, leaves them
behind, then the supremacy Of Southern
Minnesota as farming country will be
clearly seen.
Corn in the shape of hogs and cattle
is another sure crop. Mankato, being
great railroad center, has extraordinary
facilities for shipping, and accordingly
the shipments of stock, beef, pork, lard
and hides have assumed large proportions
within a very few years. The last re.
port of the Mankato board of trade
shows an increase of 100 per cent. in
this business during the preceding four
years.
Sugar cane is also raised in Blue
Earth county to considerable extent.
The amber cane of Southern Minnesota
is already becoming celebrated in the
Eastern markets. Butter and cheese are
beginning to engage the attention of
our farmers. Ten creameries have been
established in various parts of the coun-
ty, and the experience of those engaged
in this business has already demonstra.
ted that it is both sure and lucrative.
There arc also two large butter packing
factories in Mankato, which shipped
last year 100000 worth of butter and
eggs to New York, and are making pre-.
parations to greatly extend their opera
tons the coming season. These fac
tories buy their butter directly from the
farmers, paying the highest market
price. But in tho neighborhood of
creameries farmers find it to their adj.
vantage to sell their milk at the cream
cry, rather than make it into butter
them selves. Honey is also produced in
considerable quantities. The best honey
is made where the Eastwood and buck