Year: 1874

We have recently, during the period
OF harvesting and stacking, taken
several shorts trips into the country.
During these trips we have seen great
deal to please US. Harvest is evidently
rapidly becoming with the newly i'm
proved machinery very different thing
from what it was even six or eight years
ago. The Harvester is working revo.
luton. For three men to 90 into
field Of wheat and ride in each others
company on the same machine all day,
leaving the grain bound and gathered
ready for shocking, is very different
thing from having five or six to do the
same work, and them scattered around
the field at their different stations,
running from one gavel to another,
slipping on shoes worn on the stubble
as smooth as glass, struggling along to
keep out of the way of the approaching
reaper, with hands not only worn nearly
to the quick by the straw but torn and
bleeding from the stubble, laboring
from morning till noon, and from noon
till night, with scarcely chance Of
speaking to a human being. Now too
by less number of hands being requir-
ed the house work is lessened, so there
is less WEAKNESS and more cheer all
around the farm.


We have often been pleased with. the
rapidity with which the different steps
in securing the crops and preparing for
the crops Of the succeeding year are TAX
en- in this State.


Among the best farmers of this Sec
ton, this year, we found that just as
soon as the grain was in shock, the
teams were at work hauling on to the
fields the accumulations Of the barn
yard. Then as soon as sufficiently dry,
which took but very short time this
year, the grain .w&s rushed into
stack, and the teanE St,work turning
over the ground for another years crop.


We find that very few thresh their
wheat from the shock. experience hav-
ing taught the farmers of this. State
that the risk from wet wed4er is too
great and their time too valuable to
wait.


Yet the time from cutting until the
threshing machines are running is very
short and the crops are stored away in
the granary are or are on their way to-
market before one can scarcely believe
that harvest is through


We have before alluded to the many
fine barns and buildings that are giving
such beauty and appearance of comfort
to the country. We do not believe that
there is any other country in the world,
as new as this, where so many well
finished, commodious and tasteful
dwelling houses can be found as in Min
nesota.


There is another thing that is adding
beauty to our prairies and comfort to
our prairie homes, that is the setting
out Of trees, and raising groves around
the dwellings, making one Of the finest
features of a Minnesota landscape.
One of the most beautiful of these ar.
ti6cial groves that we have ever no.
ticed, is in the town of Vasa on the
farm Of Frank A. Sammoson, The
trees are set in rows so as to be IN per-
fectly straight line every way. This
was done for the purpose Of cultivation,
Mr.. Sammoson claiming that the only
way to raise nice grove is to thorough.
ly cultivate it for the first 4 or years
His success would certainly go far to
prove the correctness of his theory.


The grove if we recollect correctly
has been planted some eight years, and
now it affords not only fine protection
for his house and orchard, but is q
most delightful place, would afford q
fine shade for picnic Maple is tht
most generally used in these groves.