The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-29
GOOD CROPS FOLLOW
LONG, COLD WINTERS
This Claim Made BY Old Settlers;
There Is a Reason.
Especial to The Free Press.1

lSpeclal TO Ine Free PTCSS.J
Redwood Falls, March 25.-The
f1rmcrs in this section Of the state
are feeling very enthusiastic over
the outlook of crops the coming year.
Many of the earliest settlers in
this county say that in judging from
the history of winter weather in
this section, that bountiful crop
invariably follows a long steady
winter.
Ample moisture is assured this
spring on account of the heavy rains
last fall, which froze with the early
advent Of winter. The first thaw
will permit this boarded moisture to
soak into the soil, thus insuring an
encouraging start. 1t is said that
the largest crop sown in this vicfn-
ity will be eclipsed this spring both
in quality and quantity. Farmers
report that the conditions of the soil
is in good shape and that blowing
will begin after a few. more days
Of warm weather.
Heavy Demand For Seed.
The demand for all kinds of seed
as unusually large this spring, which
is attributed largely to the poor crops
last fall. The farmers are skepticai
rs to the terminating quality OF
seed corn, and are doing their buy
ing with keen discrimination. Seed
corn should terminate better than
So per cent, but it has been reported
through the columns of various farm
papers that 80 per cent of the seed
corn on the market this spring is
on-germinating, and farmers have
been warned to exercise caution In
buying it. This report may have
been circulated to boost the price of
seed corn, which is selling from
So to SIS bushel. Dealers are ask
ing 81 for seed wheat and 80 to IS
cents for seed oats. .-
A big sweet corn crop will be
planted by the farmers near Red
wood Falls this spring. Many con-
tracts to supply sweet corn to the
big canning factory in this city
have been made. 1t is expected
that the canning factory. output for
1912 will be the largest in its his
tory. .s:
Prospective Land Buyers.
Land owners in the county assert
that they have received numerous
communications from Ohio and Ill.
inois farmers through real estate
agents who want to- buy and rent
farm land in this section of the state.
Since late in February eleven families
from both states have settled in
Redwood county, while as many
more are expected by the middle of
April. -, 49,.
w. H. Gold, the banker,farmer of
this city who owns and controls
over 1000 acres of Redwood county
farm land, thinks that the renting
farmer is wise in moving in the
spring instead Of the fall.
He bases his belief on the fact
that no farmer wants to plant big
corn crop and then have to sell it
in the field when he vacates and
also lose the fodder which would
fatten his stock. Hence the farm
who moves in the spring reaps this
benefit. -. .-,..' '...,
The forage question has been a /
serious proposition both to the stock
man and farmer in this county thel
past winter. The excessively severe
drouth last spring is considered
largely responsible for this imminent
famine of home grown forage, be-
cause of the grass and clover seed
ings sown then which did not ger
inmate. .-.-a -;
Baled hay is being imported here
for the first time in the county's
history and is selling for $40 ton.
However, aside from the seed situa-
ton, everything points to bounti-
full crop for this year. - ->sh"