The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-03-26

/ said or every winter since we came
west. We have spent four winters
here. but have seen nothing that has
the least semblance of a blizzard. nor
have we seen or heard OF anything
that looked like cyclone. This Is
what is called the big Bend Coun-
try" and Is the main wheat country
of Washington. The wheat ranchers
here are quite jubilant over the pros
/ pect OF good price for wheat for the
next year or two. consequently all
available land will he planted this
spring. The soil all through the Big
Bend country is what they call vol.
canic ash" II Ia very light when dry.
but not sandy, and retains moisture
surprisingly, when properly worked.
/ All kinds of farm and garden tools
used keep bright all summer through,
and Il Is really a pleasure TO make
a garden here i'm such fine soil, that
! never gets lumpy,- and with very few
weeds to contend with compared TO
! the middle states. The roads get pretty
dusty I'm the summer time. but for my
self prefer a little dust to thunder
storms and mud. think the coun.
I try Is hard TO find that will show amer
natural wagon and automobile roads
| than we have here in the Big Bend.
The system of cultivation used here
is called dry farming" and the best
results are obtained by thoroughly
1 working the land. not so much to de-
stroy the weeds as to conserve the
moisture. This was demonstrated
last season by neighbor. Mr.. Rine.
bolt. who believes i'm farming right.
His wheat on q ninety acre field aver
aged fifty.two bushels per acre. The
soil here is very productive II handled
right. Half an acre of carrots in my
garden last summer produced over
three tons. One carrot weighed eight
pounds. raised ESQ sacks of potatoes,
and had some that weighed five
pounds. In the Spokane valley they
say that they frequently raise pota
toes weighing eight pounds and over.
| called on one Of my friends last
summer and he presented me with a
watermelon that weighed forty
pounds. I had wheat in my field that
stood six feet and three inches high
This shows what can be done here
with proper care and cultivation. and
without irrigation. can see no good
reason why q man in this country.
who Is endowed with good sense. and
little ambition. cannot In the course
of u fcw years become financially in
dependent. The following Ia an OK.
ample of what can be done here in
wheat raising: Robert Cunning, one
Of our neichbors, started In as q rent
or about eighteen years ago. and re-
Gently sold part OF his wheat for
which he received a neat check for
S27.12C. so. and still has on hand 1000
bushels of wheat. 500 bushels of oats,
and 500 bushels of barley Mr. Gun
ming cuts all of his grain with a com.
bined harvester. which Is drawn by
twenty-eiaht head of horses, and
driven by one man. with two lines,
and not a horse with fly net on.
How would that work in Minnesota?
Mr.. Cunning owns most OF the land
which he farms, which Is valued ut
$50 per acre. He has 700 acres plant.
ed I'm winter wheat. and 200 acres 10
SOW this spring. lie owns about forty
head of horses. and has his ranch well
stocked with thoroughbred cattle. He
also has the finest barn was ever in.
Mr. Cunning informs me that he has
made every dollar of his money right
here In Lincoln county In less than
eighteen years. We are located nine
miles north of Davenport on the bord-
er Of heavy body OF timber, which
extends many miles north. South of
us is the Big Bend wheat country
which extends about 1E9 miles. 4
nj Of l..
have nothing that is called big trees"
in this country. Still my hired man
finished cutting a tree yesterday that
piled up nine and two-thirds cords OF
wood. This tree delivered I'm Daven- (
port would bring about so. or 81 per
cord i'm the woods. The conditions in
the timber country north of here are
very favorable for the production OF
vegetables and fruit without irriga.
ton, and are raised I'm such great
quantities that the only trouble Is to
find a market. This timber country Is
also proving very favorable for stock
raising. Many horses and cattle are
wintercd here with no other sh alter
than straw stack. \ few days ago
some stockmen drove n bunch OF 3G2
market b.: here. Hog cholera Is un.
known In This country. and many OF
the ranchers never saw a potato bug.
Although this is comparatively new
country. land values have gone ND at
a very rapid pace. Choice, well inn
proved ranches are selling at SIS per
acre ten miles from town. Most OF
the ranches are equipped with modern
ccnveniences. They have daily mail.
and good telephone service at s1.25
per month. But above everything
else, and OF inestimabe value, is this
delightful and healthy climate. Now
am not In the real estate business,
but If any OF my Minnesota friends
should take notion to come to
Dayenport they will find the latch
stiing ont at our house, and | will
be glad to show them what we have
got. and verify the statements have
made In this letter. Yours truly. w.
II. Tidland.