Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1905-08-11
A. 1900: ::ACRf: FARM

M PIG NNeAA1l~il ~ ,Aaxi0SV14
% g. MoRae in. Aitkint'~'
.' County . :;"'
a recent issue Of the Duluth News.
Tribune contained the following de.
scription Of the large stock farm In
Aitkin county of Davidson & McRae
of Duluth. both formerly Of Little
Falls:
The most conspicuous example of
progress made in the last year OF two
in this or any other county in the
state, for that matter, is seen in the
Davidson & McRae ranch southeast of
Kimberly. About five years ago these
men, who reside at Duluth, purchased
few hundred acres on Rice lake with
the id:a Of starting stock farm. A
year or 20 latter it was decided to en-
large their plans. The homesteads of
the settlers were purchased until the
company now owns everything touch
ing Rice lake except two 40-acre
tracts, the whole farm comprising be.
tween twelve and thirteen Thousand
acres.
Two years ago last spring forty
acres would cover the cleared land on
all the tract outside of the natural
meadow, but today the grass and
grain are tossed in the breeze on two
thousand acres. The clearing process
was undertaken and carried out with
system, and Mr.. McRae informed the
writer that the cost of clearing did
not exceed S. per acre. The timber
was not heavy on that which was
cleared, but the natural condition of
the land may be said to be fair aver
age Of the land in this region, and
hence may be taken as flair criter.
ion of what can be done by the
homesteader who is ambitious to get
his land under cultivation.
The plow has not yet been used to
till the soil on the big farm, although
the grass and grain were growing
luxuriantly all over when the writer
visited it few days ago. The land
was thoroughly cleared and then
seeded with clover, timothy. Ken
lucky blue grass and alsike, the disc
harrow being used to stir the ground.
That which was cleared and seeded
the first year was pastured last year,
and there Is now growing on it q fine
crop Of hay, and that which was
cleared and seeded last year is now
furnishing fine pasturage for the
stock.
In addition to the two thousand
acres cleared land the big farm con-
tains about two Thousand acres OF
meadow land producing a fine quality
! of wild hay. For experience a consid.
cradle number of cattle was fed upon
this last winter and came out in good
condition in the spring.
A fine field of rye attracts the at.
tention and one could hardly credit
the statement that only the disc har.
row was used to prepare the ground
for the seed. =
There are over 700 head of cattle
now upon the farm, 400 sheep, horses,
pigs and In fact all the farm animals
These are housed in comfortable barns
and stables in the winter. The cattle
barns are each built to accommodate
so or 90 head. They are 30 feet wide
BY. $50 feet long and feeding racks ex.
tend the length OF the barn on eithe,
side. being filled from openings on tbe
outside. The barns are rooted with
POLES. covered with boards, and thu
sides are boarded up and the cost Of
each is $3.50. Sheds In the pastures,
built OF pcles-a double row on th(
sides and ends and filled with hay,
and also rooted with hay and costina
nothing but time and a dollar,
worth of nails. furnishes protection
for the stock from flies and storms,
Everything seems to be done. with
the idea in mind of being practical,
and to demonstrate that stock FARMING
Is profitable, If proper management
is applied.
The buildings. are located on thu
shore of the lake and from here AZ
idea of the magnitude of the fsru
may be conceived, for in front ia tn.
beautiful lake, comprising four thou
sand acres, and on every side thu
limits of the big range are only cir
cumscribed by the length the eve ca1
rec. II
Mr.. McRse IL enthusiastic and
optimistic. but he 10 modest ani
gives all the praise for tho ane show,
ing made to the superintendent, "
L. Nevius, whose plans have beef
faithfully carried out with intelli