St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-30
CORN IN NORTH DAKOTA
Is an Indian Variety, But Can Be Grown
With q Good Deal Of Success.
FARMERS ARE JUBlLANT
Over the Outlook. and Mandan Feels
the Stir Of the New
Life.
Special to the Globe.


have the idea that the weather is too
cold here and the summers too short.
Nobody would claim that North Dakota
can make success in growing corn the
seed of which would be obtained in
Louisiana. Our climate requires some
thing different from the corn of the
sunny South. But there are firm be-
levers ID the corn-growing qualifica-
tons of North Dakota where the right
kind of seed is used. There are farm
erS in this vicinity who have made
speciality of improving the Rec corn
s0-called because it was originally
grown largely by the Arickarees. a
tribe that is very nearly extinct now.
These people knew nothing about inn
proving the quality of the corn.
They, in all probability. ate the
best ears and saved the worst
for seed, instead of following the reverse
plan. Elijah BOley-a former resident
of the Hawkeye state, but an old settler
pOnent of the virtues of the Rec corn.
He has taken steps every year to i'm
prove his stock. He will only plant the
best kernels from the best ears, and he
has made remarkable progress in his
experiments. From short ears with four
and six rows on each ear he has got 1t
to twelve rows, and there is as much
difference between the ears that he
started with nine years ago and the
corn he produces now as between Maud
S and an Indian broncho. MIR. BOley
claims that there are far more Dutritive
properties in this Rec corn than in any
other kind, and he tried hard to make a
GLOBE correspondent believe to-day
that the time will come, and that speed
lily, when the farms of North Dakota
will be noted, not only for the fine quail
ity of wheat that they raise, and for
their potatoes, but for the excellence Of
the Rec corn. The one advantage of
this native corn is that it natures rap
idly, and because of its hardy character
it is never failure in this locality if it
is planted early enough. There never
was year when the West Dakota
farmer
FELT MORE JUBILANT
than he does this year. There have
been more and heavier rains in this re-
giOn than in most other parts of Dakota.
The southern part of the territory has
not been SO abundantly blessed, nor
has the extreme eastern part. The
grass here and the cereals are looking
fine. and if ever there was an excellent
prospect 1t exists to-day. The regular
coal dealer has gone out of business.
and turned over his summer orders to
the farmers, who make some little
money hauling coal into town from
their farms. The various cook stoves
in town use some little of the native
Ignite coal. but the farmers can fully
supply the demand. There are not
many towns of this size in Dakota that
are supplied with their fuel by the
farmers, who dig it from their coal banks.
There is constant demand in town for
more brick store buildings. At least
one business block will be erected
this year for local dry goods man.
The insurance rates in the frame
buildings are very high, and
the insurance companies don't care
about taking them even at the high
prices. AS business improves there will
be grand clearing away of several of
the frame buildings that now line the
main street, for the business can't stand
the enormous fire premiums that they
are called on to pay. Some little interest
is being taken in a new cooperative
store that it is claimed will soon be
started in town. The movement was in
augurated by the Knights OF Labor, and
they have gradually extended the field
and have decided to take in anybody
that is willing to subscribe and pay for
the stock. The shares are 800 each, and
the bylaws will be so fixed that one man
can only own one share. The location
has not yet been decided upon for the
new store. nor has manager been
chosen, but the promoters of the enter
prise say that they have got $1,000 sub
scribed, and they will very soon begin
in business. 1t is understood that gro
ceries only will be handled at the start.