St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-26

There are no mountains in Minnesota,
and the height of is lOftiest hills do
not exceed 800 feet. 1t has none of the
disadvantages of mountainous region.
though possessing most of the peculiari-
ties of such localities that are bene-
fetal to mankind. For instance, its ele-
vationS above the sea gives it that
purity of atmosphere for which mOun-
famous countries are esteemed, and the
rapid descent of its numerous streams
from the high plateauS to the beds of
its great rivers afford an incalculabe
amount of hydraulic force, which is
ditfused throughout its entire extent.
The surface of the state is a high plain,
soping to the northwest. The atmOs-
phere is dry, clear and pure, and it is
seldom that a refreshing breeze is
not felt, even on the stilleSt sum-
mer day The heat in summer
is rarely oppressive, as is the case where
humid atmoSpheres prevail. The win
tiers are cold, sometimes severely so;
but ii is seldom, and only for short in
tervalS, that the term ''inclement' can
properly be applied to Minnesota
weather. The dIyness Of the air dimin-
fishes its capability of conducting heat
from the body. and men and animals,
therefore, suffer much less here from
cold than where there is even slightly
greater proportion of dampness. People
work at outdoor employments without
discomfort when the thermometer
ranges from zero to ten or twelve de-
greeS below. The greatest length of
Minnesota from north to south is $50
miles, and its greatest extension from
east to west, $50 miles. The area of the
state is 81, 2S7 square miles, and its acre
age 81, T6O, COO. Minnesota is larger than
the six New England states. and almost
equal to Indiana and Illinois combined.
Though far removed from the sea, it is
the best watered state in the Union,
having. in addition to numerous rivers,
nearly 1000 lakes, varying from fifty
yards to thirty miles in diameter.
This by way of introduction to the
subject Of this article - diversified
farming in Minnesota. There is a
grossly erroneous opinion abroad that
the lands of Minnesota are only capable
of raising; that the only thing the Min
nesota farmer can depend upon for a
living is wheat raising, and, if the wheat
crop be blighted or destroyed by storms,
nothing remained upon which he could
recoup himself for his years work.
There may have been excuse for such
an opinion thirty years ago, but today
TO make the statement that Minnesota
is purely a wheat raising country is a
gross libel on the state. True, Mime
sofa is a great wheat country. 1t was
so thirty years ago; it is SO today; ii
will be so thirty years hence. But Min
neSota is something more. Minnesota
possesses one of the richest soils OF
any state in the Union-a soil de-
Bcribed by the most prominent agri-
culturists of this and other cOun-
tries as being wonderfully rich" and
the farmer-the practical agriculturist
would be fool, ninny and wanting
to his own interests if he. year after
year. contented himselfin raising wheat
a visit to all the old countries discloses
the fact that farmers are yearly recog-
niZing this fact, and many of them dc
not raise q single acre of wheat. Not
that wheat raising does not pay. Fal
from ii. In q good year, and you save
your crop, the return is very good one
for the farmer, but experience is a hard
teacher. aud experience has taught the
Minnesotan not to plant all his hopes il
cereal. Thus year by year diversified
farming is becoming more general; the
farmers are becoming more prosperous
end the farming lands of the state are
rising in value. Southern Minnesota
has already been transformed into {
garden of husbandry: it is only ques
ton of time when Northern Minnesota
will show like condition.
A few more words on Minnesota soils
Some very valuable experiments have
been made by the professors of the state
experimental farm, and the results are
most gratifying. Their reports set fOrtt
that experiments were made in 1888 anC
1890 in four widely separated sections
and proceed: The fact that most Of
those soils which have grown wheat tOl
ten to twenty years without rest are
still rich enough to produce good crop
of corn, potatoes. etc, without the an
plicatiOn of manure shows the grea
fertility of all our best lands. True, W.
have many sandy lands and some cla1
soils which are not so rich but that sew
eral crops will make them poor il
available plant food, but these land
L
lands now cultivated are mainly TIL
rich, naturally drained soils that wer
easiest suhdued. The sandy and cla-
soils are not yet so much in use. w
have no small amount of wet land
also. which. when artificially thorough
drained, will be our richest lands; an
as the arabic lands become older an
worn these will be brought into use.
The report of the professors proceeds t
show that the richest lands, ''too ric
for oats" can stand wonderful amour
of abuse. and if weeds, rust, etc, d
not interfere, will support great crop
for a year.
The mere statement that Oversize
farming can be undertaken in Mime
Sofa as successfully as any Easterne
goes for naught if not backed up by ev
dence TO prove it. Such evidence
ready at hand. We have it from the re
ports of the state commissioner of sta
,tistics; the evidence Of farmers VIII
have been for years engaged in diver
sified farming. Such evidence cannC
be disputed; it carries conviction to tn
greatest doahtcr. The geographic