Year: 1877




Of over twenty bushels to the acre, on
land which has been in cultivation for
more than twenty-five years, and upon
which no fertilizers or manure has ever
been used, but wheat year after year has
been grown in the same fields, and the
product Of the last crop as good as the
first, when the land was new. While your
committee cannot approve of such a con-
slant and continual drain upon the soil,
the fact is only mentioned as an instance
OF the extraordinary fertility and endur-
ance Of the wheat lands in question.
When we consider that but minor
portion Of the arabic lands OF the State
in cultivation at this time, AID that
millions of acres of just as rich, fertile
lands arc now opened for settlement, as
those which have already been occupied
| by the husbandman, and have every con-
venience necessary for the emigrant, be-
ing readily reached by the different rail-
roads and the public highways, and en-
braced in one Of the most healthy, vigorous
cline tes, capable, with the proper cult
vation, of producing copious crops of
wheat, oats, corn,, barley, potatoes, and
vegetables of many varieties, together
with stock, it would seem proper that
the chamber of commerce of St. Paul.
and the board of trade of Minneapolis
should take immediate steps, and act in
conjunction with the State and other
authorities, with view of an early occu-
patton by emigration of those broad vast
tracts, which, when once settled upon.
will add so much to the wealth of the
State and to the prosperity of St. Paul,
Minneapolis and the other cities and
towns within our boundaries.


1t would seem that most of the wheat
crop for 1877 is of such a superior quail
ty that it is graded as No. 1. For in
stance, out of over $4,000 bushels sold
one day to the millers of Minneapolis,
less than 300 bushels was graded as No.2,
and none under that grade.


From the sources of information gath
cred at the fair, your committee are led
to the conclusion that the product of oats
and barley this season has been more than
an average crop. 1t appears that an un-
usually large breadth of land was set
aside by the farmers last spring through
out the State for the purpose of seeding
it with these two varieties of grain, and
that the yield is very heavy. Returns from
the State indicate something less than
the average yield of corn, yet the product
will be creditable. Potatoes will not he
an abundant, but fair crop, while vegeta-
bles will hardly be an average. In re-
lation to fruit the crop is light. These
are the opinions OF those in attendance at
the fair.


A great interest is being developed in
regard to the growth of stock. 1t is de-
monstrated beyond all doubt that in all
portions of the continent where the ag-
| riculturist devotes attention to this
branch of industry the farmers are fore
handed, thrifty and have the most wealth.
The stock producing counties of New
York, for example, are much more
| wealthy than the exclusive grain regions
of the Genesee valley. Vermont has be-
cone rich with hef dairy, sheep and
horses.


The portions of the west which have
for the past few years been afflicted with
| the grassbopper plague have not suffered
to any extent where the farmers were
! mostly engaged in the the manufacture
of cheese, butter and raising stock.
Our climate and soil appears to be pc
culiarly adapted for grazing purposes.
Its heaithfulness for cattle of every kind
is we'll established. The abundant and
prolific yield Of both tame and wild or
natural grasses, Of every description Incl
dent to the west, affords abundant and
cheap pasturage during the summer, and
the choicest hay for winter, which is pro
duced at less expense per ton than in most
any of the States in the Union. If neces-
sary your committee could refer to count
less instances in regard to the profit of
raising stock in the State. The demand
for horses has always been in excess of
| the supply. Thousands are introduced
into our midst every year from the ad-
joining States. The demand will increase
as the country west of us becomes settled.
Choice herds of cattle have been imported
into the State during the past few years,
| and attended in every instance, as far as
your committee have been able to learn,
with much profit to the enterprising par
ties who embarked in the lucrative
business. The dairy is being introduced
| in the shape of cheese and butter facto-
ries in many neighborhoods, and attended
with much success. Itappears that ship
ments of both these home products have
been made to England, with satisfactory
results. The sheep fold to some extent
has been neglected, but those who have
engaged in wool growing are greatly en-
touraged. Stocks of sheep which have
been brought from the east, have, with
their progen y improved to such an ex-
tent by the influence Of our climate, that
they have been purchased by those from
whom the7 were originally bought, and
transported east, to improve the breed of
their stock. The wool becomes of a
finer texture produced in the State, and
an increase in the size of the carcass of
the sheep.


| The superiority of our beef over that