Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-03
N |HE NORTH COUNTRY
Some Impressions Gathered In
a Three Weeks Trip to
the Northward
COMPARISON WITH IOWA
All Crops at Least Two Weeks Behind
Those of This State, While the Out
look is Not Comparable Print
tive Methods Are Still in Use by
Many Farmers.

After travelling from Marshalltown
to Sloener, Wis. covering parts OF
three states-Iowa, Minnesota end
Wisconsin-one gathers some impress
sions which are interesting. Spooner,
Wis., is about 400 miles north OF Mar
shalltown and all crops are a. least
two weeks behind those Of central
Iowa. In the country around Rice
Lake corn is scarcely grown at all, and
what little there is looks small and
could not possibly mature before the
frost which is due to come early in
September, will catch 1t. Oats are just
turning and none had been cut on
Aug. /.
Hay is the principal crop and is now
being cut and is big crop.
The county. which was originally all
timber, has been cleared in many cases
with the exception of the stumps. A
great percentage of the work is done
by hand as the stumps preclude the use
of machinery. IN one field they were
using mower. One man was ahead
and lead the team around the stumps
another came behind with a scythe and
cut what the machine left They are
using stump pullers in few places but
with little success. as the roots cover
so much territory that when they pull
up a stump most of the farm comes
with it, The system is to pull the
stump, tipping 1t on one side. prop IT
up and let the rain wash the dirt back
to the hole again. This takes about
a year. Then the stumps are burned.
This work costs about three times the
original value of the land-but when
this land is cleared of stumps it Rises
good crops.
Live stock thru this part of the
country is scarce. Only a few raise
any and only those having ialge tracts
of land bordering on lakes OF streams
attempt it. In drive of sixteen miles
across country from Mikana to
to Rice Lake. l did not see a single
windmill. but saw a great many wells
with the old oaken bucket. The cattle
OF the people living here are in a great
many cases herded along the road side.
At this time. after the hay is cut from
the little clearing. l suppose they will
be put in pastures.
There are here great many small
towns inland and on railroads with
about the following make-up--a small
hardware store, medium size general
store, and big saloon. None OF these
towns are without the stuff that made
Milwaukee, famous.
As you leave st. Paul coming south
you again find farms somewhat similar
to what you see in Iowa, good buildings
and fine fields OF oats, hay and corn
1t seems to me. too, that in southern
they use more paint than
they do in Iowa. A few gallons OF good
red paint makes big difference In the
appearance OF farm buildings. Just at
night we came into the state of Iowa.
The following morning, taking the
Iowa Central train from Marshalltown
to Grinnell. what difference from the
day before. Haying finished, oats all
cut and in the shock, threshing going
on, corn six feet high all tasseled out.
and everything in fine condition, every
pasture filed with cattle and hogs. The
contrast was striking. and it is no
wonder to me now that so many of our
Iowa farmers who go to the newer
eventually find themselves
back on good old Iowa soil again.
GEORGE +. THAYER..