The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1921-05-25
State Record
From 1850
IN CENSUS OF 1850 THERE WERE
40 UNDER CULTIVATION; IN
1920 THERE WERE 157,170.

The progress of agricultural activi-
ties in Minnesota during the past
seventy years is shown in a compari-
son of farm census taken by the state
department of agriculture.
Another significant feature of the
two census reports is that the one
taken in 1850, when Minnesota was a
territory, was one of the country,
while the farm census for 1920, was
the first taken under supervision of
the state department of agriculture.
There were $40 farmers listed in the
territory in 1850, representing a total
number Of approximately ITO farms,
as compared with a total Of 1910
farms reported under operation in
1920.
The total improved acreage in ter
ritorial days was listed at 5,035; I'M
improved 23,846 acres Or total of
28,881 acres. The total improved
acreage of the state in 1920 is given
as 14,185,289; not cultivated 1874
237, or a total of 26,859,52 acres in
the state.
Rapid Strides in Dairying.
The rapid strides in dairying &C
tivities are also noted when the total
output of butter Of the territory
which amounted to LOO pounds, is
compared with the total production
Of the year 1919 for the state, which
amounted to 143, 176,204 pounds.
Livestock industry increased in like
proportions to other activities, and the
value of increase in this line runs in
to the millions of dollars. Seven humid
red and thirty-four swine were ac-
counted for in 1850, while the recent
census gives the number of the pork
er at 1,341 ,779. The mortality of the
swine in the state for the past year
alone was 1929. Thelvalue of live
stock slaughtered for consumption
purposes in 1850 is given as $3.50,
as compared with S77,437, 108 worth
slaughtered during 1920.
The wheat yield in 1850 was 1,401
bushels as compared with a total yield
Of 29,109,000 bushels of spring and
winter wheat, according to the report
of the bureau Of crop estimates, Unit
ed States department Of agriculture,
for 1920.
The Total Oats Crop.
The total oats crop in the terri
torial days during the 1850 season is
given as 3O,582 bushels, while the to-
tai yield for 1920, based on the state
farm census, was 33,004,425 bushels.
Corn, apparently was more popu
lar crop with the pioneer farmers of
the territory, as census figures show
that 1925 bushels of this grain was
raised. The state farm census reports
that for grain alone 3,125,048 acres
were planted to corn, which according |
to the average estimate of corn yield |
per acre by the bureau of crops esti-
mate, United States department of
agriculture, yielded 300 bush
els for 1920. This total in 1920 does
not include the acreage planted to
corn for silage purposes. Census fig
ures show that 407,95? acres were
planted for this silage.
Other grains were seeded in like
to those mentioned here
in, showing the vast increases in the
production of farmers in the short
space of seventy years. With the re-
turn Of the values Of the farm ma
chinery, including the tractor, electric
lighting plants and other modern
equipment, the story of the advance
ment Of the agricultural interests are
wildly portrayed