The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-21

sarily small, Buckwheat Is a good, crop.
the season being usually favorable to FILL
ing Of the heads s,,.r
Winter rye is an absolutely sure crop.
It has never been known to kill out, as it
50 often does on the prairies further west.
In this latitude 1t should fbe sown quite
early in the fall, between Aug. IL and
Sept. 1, to give it plenty Of time to stool
out before winter. The protection offered
by the surrounding timber and snow COW
ering, which seldom, fails, often makes
possible the growing Of winter wheat, and
good crops of this cereal have been har-
vested as far north as the Rainy river"
Grass Crops.
Hay may be rightfully regarded as the
banner crop of Itasoa county. The mar
ket is always good, and prices range from
SO to SIS ton. The native grasses, blue
joint and red top, grow in profusion along
the river bottoms, In many places four to
six feet tall, and furnish a supply which is
invaluable to the settler just starting In
to clear up a farm. These grasses make
excellent feed, and stock can be Brought
through the winter in very fair condition
when fed little else.
But far more important in it's bearing
upon the future prosperity Of the farming
interests of the county is the fact that RED
clover fiourishes in this soil and climate
ity Of any soil can be maintained inded
| nitely. Glover adds nitrogen to the soil
Its roots add decaylng vegetable matter
which becomes humus and retains sol
moisture. Flowing under the second croI
will immensely increase these advantages
| and will make fertile the, poorest soils
There has never been failure to secure
catch of clover in Itasca county, anc
occasionally the first seasons growth hal
hAon heavy f0 oncaSaifo fe ma fy jv,c
| in the fall.
One is not confined to grasses for winter
forage. Corn fodder grows luxuriantly ant
| can be ripened anywhere In Itasca county
- Stock Raising.
This region seems especially adapted t.
the raising of stock, and undoubtedly
meets all the requirements of a. flrst-clas!
stock and dairy district. Cattle do ex
| ceedingly we'll on the native grasses
! which are Of the most nutritious kind
and the dairy products are Of the fines
favor, due to the superior quality Of tn,
grasses and water. go"
| Sheep are a valuable adjunct to a farm
as they can be used extensively in clearing
| up brush land.
| Standing Timber.
| The whole surface of the country, will
| the possible exception of some swamps
was originally timbered. The only gras
| land found native exists as beaver mead
ows and hay bottoms along creeks o
these there are In some places large areas
Pine timber, white, Norway and jack
originally existed in great quantities, bu
on all lands near to streams or railroad
! this has now been removed, though Their
| still remains much jack suitable for fire
| wood or dimension lumber. There ar
many swamps containing valuable cedar
| spruce and tanarack.
Areas of hardwood of considerable ex
tent exist IN some localities, in which vel
| low birch, Eastwood and oak reach larg
and valuable dimensions. Smaller patch
es of hardwood are scattered through tn
pine lands, but the most widely distribut
ed tree is the poplar, which is found OF
old burns and on soils slightly better thai
those occupied by the Norway and jacl
pine.
It is safe to say that there is not a.
equal portion Of the United States to- da
that can offer as great inducements to tn
man of moderate or small means as thi
! portion of Minnesota. Especially is thi
true Of the man with small means and
growing family, who desires to obtai
valuable land at a. low price for farming
and stock raising purposes. =