The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-07-27
NOTES ABOUT FARMERS AND FARM
CONDITIONS IN BLUE EARTH COUNTY
w. w. BOYINGTCW

Duroc breed and has about hun
dred small chickens. They have d
beautiful home, we'll kept lawn,
about forty rods back from the road,
in a pretty grove everything looks
Clean and pleasant around here.
We next stopped at the home of
Grit Evans. Grifr happened to be
home when we called and was glad to
see him as he is an old friend Griff is
a very pleasant fellow. He just got in
from the field where he had been
shocking barley. All his other small
grain is cut and shocked and he says
he is not bit sore because it is fin
ished, don't blame him. He is milk
ing seven COWS, has about fifty
chickens. He has a dandy orchard
or about seventy five trees, mostly
apples. After telling me not to for
get the place and call again We left,
drove south to the home Of Earl J
Norman.
Earl, also happened to be home
when we called. He is an old Free
Press reader as nearly every farmer
in this neighborhocd is. He is work
ing a quarter section, has his nephew
helping him. Has a nice herd OF
nine thoroughbred Guernsey cows
that he is milking, also has bunch
Of pigs, flock of young chickens and
twenty young geese. He Is cutting
his oats today, says things need rain
badly.
Stopped for short call at the
Clyde Smith farm. He was cutting
his grain today so is busy in tine
field. The eight COWS he is milking
are Holsteins and his pigs are Of the
| Duroc breed, also has bunch OF
chickens,
Called to see my old friend W. G.
| Foster, but was disappointed as he
was not home. Always enjoy talk
with Bill as he Is a sensible fellow
and very congenial. Has good sensible
ideas and knows his stuff" when 1t
comes to farming: He has lived in
this neighborhood all his life. His
pet peeve" is the ditch" that runs
through his place. but if we were
disappointed in not seeing Bill, we
were glad to have talk to the rest
of the family, especially little Doro-
thy, his small daughter, who is an
especially sweet and cute little
J piece of humanity. She made par
! ticuar hit with the writer the first
time he saw her and will not be for
gotten soon. Bill is milking fourteen
COWS, has about fifty pigs in all in
the neighborhood of two hundred
chickens After waving farewell to
Dorothy and the rest Of the family
we drove TO the home of Ben E. Fox.
Mr.. Fox had not returned to the
field from dinner, so we got to talk
to him, says things are looking fair,
but q good rain would do a world OF
good right now. He has a new barn
in which to house his stock. He is
milking twelve COWS now but usually
has sixteen, also has a herd of about
thirty head Of yearling cattle, all
Holsteins. His bunch Of sixty pigs OF
the Duroc breed all look healthy. He
has been Free Press reader for d
number Of years.
Fred Baustian is working his
two hundred and forty acres, prac-
tically alone. Can only get help oc-
casionally and it keeps him busy
from daylight until way after dark
smiles in the face OF the hard work
He is milking fourteen short horn
COWS and has about forty Dutch
Relted pigs, the Hamshire breed
quite rare in these parts. but are a
fine breed Of hogs. Mrs. Baustian has
a nice flock Of two hundred young
chicks to care for and Winfred his
son is very proud Of his nice flock OF
thirteen White Pekin Ducks. which
he owns and cares for himself. He
called the writer's attention to them
l particularly. Here's hoping you can
raise them Winfred and get in on a
good market with them when you
Isell. He is sure bright, ambitious
looking fellow.
w. L.. Queen whom we next talked
to is milking sixteen cows. Has a
bunch of forty FIVE pigs and few
chickens. His son helps him with
the work in the field, reports crops
looking good. Has been here since
last March. Before we left, he gave
lis his subscription to the Free
Press We rambled along the road q
piece, finally into the yard of Merle
W. Fox.
Merle also has been on this place
since last March. moving here from
about mile east Of Rapidan Dam
Says things looking good, but needs
rain badly.