The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-01-05

BoTTINEAu TO THE rRoNT.
EDrroE Or Tar BorrlxEAu PIoxxxH,
-. Sm:-As you
wish to get information from farmers
regarding their practical experience
in farming in this County, permit me,
as one of the number, to give you
some Of my experience in farming on
a small scale. :
We moved into this County from
Ontario, in the summer Of 1883, 10.
Gated, built q house and stables, and
broke and prepared land for seeding
the following year. In 1884 we seed.
ed said land with wheat and oats and
had very good crop; broke and
backset more land and in 1885 seed.
ed the same with wheat and oats.
This being rather wet summer we
had as heavy crop as I ever saw, but
being without q binder and depend.
ing on others to cut our grain, frost
coming about the LIST Of September,
damaged all ofour wheat. If we had
had binder ourselves we would lave
had it all cut aud stacked before the
frost came. The summer of 1885 be-
ing unusually dry aud warm our crops
were not heavy; still we had fair
average, nearly 30 bushels to the acre.
Season Of 1887 had a larger acreage
under crop than previous years, and
up to the 1st of July the prospects
for heavy crop could not have beeu
much better; but about that. time
some unaccountable blight affected
our wheat and the prospects Of a large
crop vanished like the morning dew;
still we do not complain as we we'll
remember by-gone days in the Coun.
" Of Glengary, Ont, when we would
have been we'll satisfied with the av.s
erage per acre that we had this year.
/ have now given you some Of my ex.
pcrience in grain growing in this Co.
and I have no doubt that such is the
experience of some other farmers in
the County. ..
From the foregoing the question
will naturally be asked, what do !
think Of Bottincau County, for farm
ingi
In answering this question I must
confess the absence Of that experience
ed eye that can see in a short time
that the secret of wheat raising lies in
the soil. What q misfortune to us
poor farmers to be uneducated. I
thought in my ignorance that sun.
shine aud showers contributed to ma.
ture and perfect the wheat in this
county. Would I were a geologist and
were able to tell about the foundation
Of the Mouse River Valley; how lay
or after layer Of the soil was formed;
how from two to four feet of black
mould was laid on q bed Of organic
clay, and how evenly lime and am
monia were distributed through the
soil. But there always existed hew-
ers Of wood and drawers Of water, and
let us poor farmers be content with
our, lot and congratulate ourselves and
the County Of Bottineau for tho ap.
pearance amongst us. recently, Of .
geologist Of no ordinary caliber. who
i willing without fee Of reward to cd
ucate US poor farmers from tho grand
science Of geology down to laying out
1 cart road.
am quits willing to leave theoretical
farming to our geological professor, and will
answer in part tho question.
an highly satisfied with the county for
farming. Tho average Of wheat this year,
Notwithstanding tho unusual ravages or
gophers, was twenty-five bnshels per acre,
(thrsshsrs aecount.) This consider good,
and will return fair margin Of profit TO the
farmsr. would not Like 70 deceive any
man II tho east Although il is much easier
% farm here than many places 10 tho east,
still ron viii have many things to contend
with, and The good old book must and will
b true here % well as there, BY tho sweat
ofthy brow thou shalt sarn thy bread.
Thers are thousand of acres Of choice land
in this county open Tor settlement. Although
not covered . the depth Of four feet with
black mould, rim Il viii produce good wheat,
asts, bArlsy and vegetables os III kinds. m
tsndinS saisranis sAouid not expect SOL
hnshsls . tho aevs II tbey d. shsy viii -.
disappointed. But cone expecting = fsir sy-
srsgs and your expectations win y rcAllssd.
~ economical industrious ~ sleH T. grow
u M ~. - u -