River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-02-12
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS AT
RIVER FALLS.
Extracts from Letter by Prof. Henry
in the Western Farmer.


in the Western Farmer.
"All honor to the Patrons of HGs-
bandry! The more | see of the
Changers, and learn of what the
Grange is doing. the more firm my
belief becomes that it is accomplish
ing grand work, and that its mission
in wisconsin has only begun. AS we
sat by the roaring fire in Mr.. Davis
comfortable house, at Ono, that
fiercely cold night, there came rap
at the door, and upon opening in came
a form clad in fur, frost and ice. 1t
was Mr.. Lyman Healy, of River Falls,
who lad driven thirty miles for the
sole purpose of carrying me on the
following day to that place.
Those who look upon the Grange as
composed of few farmer cranks,
gathered only to rant about railroads
and monopolies, know nothing of the
order. Faults it has, no doubt, but
the spirit of hospitality and abiding
interest in their calling, visible in
every working grange, is something
we cannot afford to lose il we hope
for the elevation of the American
farmer to his true position, socially
and intellectually.
Never before have | so fully felt
my responsibility to the farmers of
the state, and SO keenly my weakness
and inability to render them the aid
their kindness merits as have on
this trip. Here was one, almost u
stranger, who had left his usual work
f,Nr -. III
long road ''for the good OF the
order" With such blood in it, who
shall say that "the Grange is thing
of the pastl'
Friday, Jan. 10Th. was given up to
the long ride to River Falls in cut
ting wind with the mercury still be-
low zero. A warm dinner at Mrs.
Gilman's in Ell Paso, cut the long
journey in two, and though night
caught us on the road, we soon forgot
all about the ride when seated by the
fire at Mr.. Healy's home. Here, as
cleaned, is large farm, managed by
two brothers and two sisters, all hav-
ing a common interest. 1t did my
eyes good to see Cooley milk cans.
and the Rectangular churn standing
guard beside them. l had talked my
self hoarse almost at each point upon
the Importance of modern dairying,
and felt that | might stop long
enough now to catch my breath at
least.
On this farm one can see between
20 and 80 skim.milk calves, which
are as thrifty as could be desired. A
fulI.blooded Shorthorn bull is kept,
and one doubling the value of blood
can see natives and grades of equal
age standing side by side, having
equal care and food. The difference
is as marked as the advocates of good
blood would desire it to be.
saw an excellent illustration here
of the statements so often made in my
talks upon the care of stock. Warm,
comfortable quarters are not neces-
sarily expensive. A long line of
fattening steers stood in a cheap shed
made of straw and boards. l look
upon the roof of this shed as worthy
Of special mention. Many will pile
up straw for roof eight or ten feet
high, endeavoring to make it thick
enough to turn rain. Such a roof
soon rots, leaks, and by its own
weight when soaked with water con-
stantly threatens whatever stands be-
low. Here, bright, dry straw was
pilea up, say five feet thick in the
middle and sloping to each edge OF
the long, low shed. Over this straw,
running lengthwiSe of the shed, wide
boards were laid, beginning with the
edge, each overlapping the one below,
making rounding sloping roof. AS
the boards rested on the straw NO
rafters were used.
Our American born farmers, anx-
ious to have capacious barns. often
are willing to allow stock to stay In
the weather rather than put up these
cheap but really comfortable quarters.
Cheap sheds will not last long, but
they are inexpensive. and one had
better put up with these than go IN
debt for expensive barns.
The meeting at River Falls on Sat
urday, Jan. 18th, was well attended
considering the intense cold, which
still seemed to almost pinch the life
out of one 50 bold as to venture out.
One fact cannot fail to mention.
At Mr.. Healy's were cribs of corn
with ears sound and thoroughly
ripened, that were as large and of as
large variety as | have seen from
any part of the state, excepting posi-
bly part of Grant and Rock counties.
How they dare plant such large yarie-
ties of corn, away up in the latitude
of St. Paul, was puzzle to us, and
the story it tells of. the agricultural
capabilities of this section is most
striking. A good corn and grass sec
ton, what more could be asked! Nor
is this all, bran and shorts are from
20 to 40 per cent. cheaper here imam
in Southeastern Wisconsin,; while
beef, butter and pork sell Tor
better prices as rule than
with us in the southern part of the
state. | am told that wool grown
here is of excellent quality, and .. 5.
Powell claims, and by his amber cane
syrup proves that this section Is ilrst-
class for raising amber cane.
Mr.. Powell's success in growing
amber cane and manufacturing the
syrup has been all that could be asked
this season. The total product this
wear of his factory is 900 gallons,
and the quality is the very finest.
Mr.. Powell is greatly elated with his
work this year and the high quality of
his syrup together with the excellent
WELD per acre bears him out In his
statements.
There is a most excellent opening
al River Falls for cheese factory,
and if some expert in cheese making
on the lookout for a good location
reads this, / recommend him to cores
pond with the people of this section.
Wheat is grown to too great an extent
yet, and only an extremely rich SOIL
would have held out so long.