St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-26
NO. 1 HARD.
Minnesota Wheat Cannot Be Beat.
en- the World Over.

en- the w GRID over.
This article has been written with the
object of exhibiting the diversified nature
Ofthe agricultural calling as it is followed
in Minnesota. There has been an evi,
dent intention to keep the wheat crop
the greatest of all crops; the backbone of
the income of majority of the farmers
in the background. But in reviewing
the avenues which the Minnesota soil
and cline open to the farmer this arti-
Gle would not be complete without
something TO show what the state has
done in the way of raising wheat AL
though tits foolish for farmers to cHlfine
themselves to the cultivation of wheat,
no one will attempt to deny that. with
luck and in a SeaSonable year, nothing
pays better than wheat raising. The
cost entailed is less than on other cerealr
but the danger of saving the crop is
threefOld. Despite the danger, how
ever, as already stated majority of
farmers cOnhne themselves to raising
wheat, and in such year as this their
return is great. But the ascendency
OF wheat is not so great today as it was
even eleven years ago. To illustrate,
the total cultivated acreage in 1880 was
4,417, SIG, of which wheat was credited
with 1861, S42. The rest of the cereals
tOtaled 1,455,0)4. In 1889 the total acre
age was 5,95S,004. This time wheat fur
nished ,, 1858 acres, while the other
cereals doomed up with 1921, 49,. This
aScendency has also been continued in
1S90-9l, the official returns of which are
not completed. The reason for this
marked change in the difference of the
crops raised has been stated. The farm
er of today has become more enlight-
ened than his predecessor. He has
learned that tn diversity his pcOOS DOt
only improves his land, but also insureS
him some return for his years work.
The continual draining OF the land bya
lOng-cOntinued series of wheat crops is
a matter of most serious moment.
Farmers have been brought to see this
question thoroughly. The only way to
keep up and retain the remarkable fer
tility OF our lands is by making anda
outstanding manure, and by the use of .
crops like clover and peas, which fertil-
iZe the soil. Prof. Hays, of the state
experiment station, speaking on the
question, said:
10 stop expectation of much of the
fertility our excellent soils we must.
in more diversified system of farming,
cOndenSe our frelghtS into meat, butter,
cheese, flour, ETC., as near to the farm
as possible, using all the by-productS,
also rich grains, as oats, barley, bran,
ETC., for feeds, and eventually as man
ure. TO stop the throwing Of manures
into streams i'll our cities, the leach
ing" of manure piles i'll SlOughS, the
burning of straw stacks and the every
day waste OF substances fit for manure
around our farms, we must simply learn
to husband the small things. Diversi-
fed farming, an increase of our country
and country town population, encour-
agement of home or country town man
nf10tnFIpS n f1OnF OF will
not only assist in retaining the fertility
of our lands, but in the end will con-
duce to the welfare of our entire agri-
cultural, commercial, manufacturing
and transportation interests"
1t is in this line that agriculture is
tending i'll Minnesota. Farmers are not
given to waste so much of the products
of their farm. Mr.. Hays tells of man
who hauled the manure made from rich
feeds in his dairy barn TO a pond, and,
not being satisfied with dumping it in,
even covered it up from his sight with
earth, though his sandy fields were in
great need of such fairness. But the
farmer has grown wise. Such instances
as these are more the exception than
the rule.
TO return to Minnesota as a wheat
country. Minnesota is adapted to rails
ing better wheat than any other large
part of this country, if not of the world.
Farmers in the Red river valley, for
instance. can continue to make money
out of wheat. unless some dire calamity
befaIl that section of the country; but it
is not the best way to do this by raising
nothing but wheat. Let the wheat there
be the principal crop to bring in money
to the farm, and then keep up a rotation
of crops. as pastures, meadows, peas
and other forage crops, which rest land
and keep il in heart for wheat. These
crops, as pastures, etc, stock raising,
darying, and other lines of farming
which keep up the fertility of the land,
may even not pay very we'll of them
selves, but if they merely pay their own
way, in providing a part of the living
of the family, and in bringing in money
for meat, butter, etc, furnish employ
ment in the winter, and keep the land
in such condition that two to three good
crops or wheat can be produced Oh the
land every five years. Enough money
can be made out OF the WhSat to make
farming pay.
1t is true that the amount of wheat
raised yearly in this state since 1865 has
increased. but, as shown. has not in
creased with the same ratio as other
crops. The following tabulatiOn is self
explanatory:
Bushels AYerage