USA > Minnesota > Polk County > Compendium of history and biography of Polk County, Minnesota > Part 18
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manure, for ordinary farm erops grown in rotation. This work is to be extended for tests of typical soils of Northwestern Minnesota, including peat lands.
The weed eradication work is planned so as to de- termine and test methods of eradicating noxious weeds common to Northwestern Minnesota. This work is to be done on Northwestern Minnesota farms in typical areas. This project will be greatly extended.
HORTICULTURAL DIVISION.
In the Horticultural Division, one of the principal lines of work is with the potato plant, including va- ricty testing, to determine the varieties best adapted to Northwestern Minnesota ; a study of tuber and leaf diseases, to determine the best methods of handling these diseases; a test of several methods of planting, to determine the method giving most profitable yield ; and seed selection of potato seed, to determine relation to yield, vigor, and resistance to disease.
Extensive fruit, tree, and shrub investigations em- bracing variety and hardiness tests of tree fruits, small fruits, trees, shrubs and vines are in progress.
Garden erops and field root erops are being grown
to determine the best varieties for Northwestern Minnesota.
LIVE STOCK DEPARTMENTS.
In the animal and dairy husbandry work, feeding experiments with horses, eattle, swine, and sheep are in progress. The station herds inelude animals of the different breeds which are used, in addition, for school stock judging work.
In the poultry department extensive trials eom- paring artificial with the natural incubation of chiek- ens have been conducted. Cockerel fattening work, egg preservation, goose feeding, wet versus dry mash feeding, the influence of various plans and methods of poultry house construction, have been tested. Sev- eral bulletins have been published dealing with poul- try raising.
The experiment work at the Northwest Station ean now be said to be well organized. A report published early in 1916 dealing with the preceding five years, showed an extensive program of work, much of which gave immediate results, but many projeets seemed to require longer periods of time for results to be of any value.
CHAPTER XIV. HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE IN POLK COUNTY.
BY PROF. C. G. SELVIG.
LOCATION OF TIIE COUNTY-EARLY GEOLOGICAL HISTORY-SOILS-TEMPERATURE-SETTLEMENT AND FIRST SET- TLERS-RED RIVER CARTS-IMMIGRATION AFTER 1876-PIONEER WHEAT FARMING-AGRICULTURAL DEVEL- OPMENTS AND PRODUCTION STATISTICS-PRESENT FARMING CONDITIONS-CORN-POTATOES-FRUITS-LIVE STOCK INDUSTRY-DAIRYING-POULTRY RAISING-LIVE STOCK FARMING-CATTLE STATISTICS-GROWTII OF LIVE STOCK RAISING-STATISTICS OF FARM PRODUCTS AND LIVE STOCK-DRAINAGE WORK IN POLK COUNTY, BY GEORGE A. RALPHI, C. E.
Polk County, Minnesota, is located in the heart of the Red River Valley of the North. When first estab- lished, it extended from the Red River on the west to Lake Itasea and the Mississippi River on the east. In 1866, all east of the line between ranges 38 and 39 was taken to form part of the new county of Beltrami. In 1881, Norman County was ereated by taking the four sonthern tiers of townships from the county of Polk, and, in 1897, the county of Red Lake was or- ganized by taking twenty-four full and seven frae- tional townships in a somewhat irregular form from its northeastern part. Polk County, as it is today, is forty-six miles from east to west in its main part, and about thirty miles from north to south. It has several streams and in the eastern part there are innumerable lakes. The average elevation of the western half of the county is between 750 and 1,000 feet. The south half has an elevation of between 1,000 and 1,200 feet, while in the south-eastern corner, the elevation is between 1,250 and 1,500 feet.
EARLY GEOLOGICAL HISTORY.
The Kewatin iee sheet, advancing from the north- west and entering Minnesota through the Red River
Valley, spread a gray drift over most of the western and southern parts of the State. This gray drift, de- rived in larger part from shale and limestone, has proved to be intensely fertile. Polk County is located on this gray drift area, and in that part of it that was covered by the ancient glacial Lake Agassiz. This lake was formed during the recession of the ice sheet. At its maximum development, it exceeded in size the five Great Lakes of today. The finest parts of the soil carried by the iee, or carried from the surrounding land were deposited towards the center of the lake where the water was deepest. This was the origin of the heavy clay soils which have made the Red River Valley one of the greatest grain growing regions in the world.
There are patches of sand and gravel in this area where glacial streams formerly reached the lake, and long ridges of sand, flanked on either side by sandy loam, which mark its early shore lines. In Polk County these shore lines cross through the center from north to south.
This glacial formation of the Red River Valley ere- ated a problem in securing adequate drainage, but a
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
great deal of work has been done which is proving satisfactory for the successful production of crops.
SOILS.
The soils of Polk County may be divided into three distinct areas as follows: First. The Eastern area of glacial-till, of a clayey nature, with a marked undu- lation to a hilly topography dotted with lakes, and which was originally wooded with hardwood timber.
Second. The "sandy ridge" area, a strip of land several miles wide and running north and south across the middle portion of the county.
Third. The prairie flats to the west of the "sandy ridge" area which extends in a magnificent plain to the Red River of the North, and which has a soil won- derful in its richness and fertility. It is of a lacus- trine and alluvial origin, being deposited there by the waters of Lake Agassiz and the flood waters of the streams that emptied into the plain at a later day. The top soil varies from a sandy loam to a heavy clay loam. This dark rich loam varies from a depth of 12 inches to 30 inches. It is underlaid by a silty clay, which, in most cases, is almost impervious to water.
The plain has been cut through by numerous streams and rivers whose beds lie from ten to forty feet below the level of the prairie, affording excellent outlets for the numerous drainage ditches that have been constructed by the state and county. These ditches have a fall of several feet per mile and where these ditches have been made, drainage forms a simple problem to the farmer, which can be easily and cheaply effected by shallow surface ditches.
TEMPERATURE.
The mean annual temperature of Polk County is between 37° and 38º Fahrenheit. The mean annual temperature during the months of April to September is between 57° and 58°, and during June, July, and August between 65° to 66°. The average date of the last frost in Polk County is between the dates of May
15 and May 20. The average date of the first fall frost is September 22. This gives an average grow- ing season for the county of between 120 and 130 days.
The average annual precipitation of the county is 22 inches, being greater in the eastern two-thirds of the county, where the average is 24 inches. The average of precipitation from October to March varies from 3.73 inches in the northwestern part to 5.31 inches in the eastern two-thirds of the county. The precipitation from April to September is 15.37 inches in the northwestern part of the county, and 17.07 inches in the eastern section. The evaporation varies directly with the temperature, and is, there- fore, less rapid in northwestern Minnesota than in regions farther south. A rainfall of 24 inches in Polk County is equal in crop producing power to 40 or even 50 inches in lower latutudes. In the north- ern Red River Valley as much as 77 per cent. of the precipitation occurs in the growing season. This, and the fact that the average annual depth of evapora- tion from a free water surface in Polk County is from 20 to 30 inches, makes conditions that are favor- able for crop producing and, particularly, for rais- ing of small grains.
SETTLEMENT OF POLK COUNTY.
The settlement of Polk County was a part of the general movement that occurred in the late years of the decade of 1860 and the early years of that of 1870. In 1843, Norman Kittson established a trading post at Pembina, in the Red River Valley, which later became the location of a Hudson's Bay Company's post. In 1823, Major Long had ascended to the Minnesota portage through to the Red River, returning later by way of Rainy River and Lake Superior. This indicated the means of entry into Polk County, located in the center of the Red River Valley. Between the Mississippi and the Red River, the principal water route led up the Minnesota River, and over the portage at Browns Valley, from Big
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPIIY OF POLK COUNTY
Stone Lake into Lake Traverse, and thenee north on the Red River. The distance by this route from St. Paul to Pembina was said to be 448 miles, and the time taken by earts was 30 to 40 days. The stage route over which the early settlers in Polk County arrived was laid out in 1859, following an inter- mediate course along the border of the hardwood belt by way of Sauk Rapids, Osakis, Alexandria, Pomme de Terre (near Ashby), and Breckenridge. It is esti- mated that during 1869, 2,500 river earts passed up and down the valley.
The first steamboat was called the Anson Northup and was launched on the Red River in 1859. Funds for its construction had been obtained in part by pub- lie subscriptions in St. Paul, the purpose being to secure the trade for that eity of Fort Garry (Winni- peg) and the Red River Region. The period of most aetive navigation in the Red River Valley was dur- ing the years following 1871, when the Northern Pacific Railroad had reached Moorhead, the usual head of navigation, and while the river north of that point was not yet paralleled by railroads. Dur- ing this period, there were four or five boats on the river which made from 35 to 65 round trips an- nually, depending largely on the stage of the water and the length of the season.
POLK COUNTY'S FIRST SETTLERS.
It was during this period that Polk County received its first settlers. The following is from an artiele by Judge Watts in the "History of the Red River Val- ley :"
"In 1871, there eame from southeastern Minnesota some Norwegian families that settled along the Red River and near it, in what are now the towns of Hub- bard, Vineland, Tynsid, and Bygland. Farther north, at, and near the place where the Red Lake River joins the Red, and along the Marais, at this time also eame a considerable number of Seotch and Canadian people, who had been attraeted by accounts of the lower part of the Valley in the Dominion of Canada, but finding the desirable lands there already taken or reserved, returned to this place, one of the garden spots of the Northwest, to make fine homes for themselves and their families. A line of boats had been established
by Norman Kittson plying the waters of the river be- tween Moorhead and Winnipeg, and upon them, most of these settlers reached their new homes. Among those who eame thus, and made the deepest impres- sion upon the future of the county, were Robert Coul- ter, John Coulter, and William Fleming."
RED RIVER CARTS.
These Red River earts and steamboats-and es- pecially the steamboats-were, undoubtedly, great faetors in promoting immigration, and in developing agriculture in the Red River Valley. Owing to the earlier establishment of agriculture by the Selkirk settlers, more immigrants seemed to have come into Canada by this route, than stopped off in the Minne- sota part of the Valley. The railroad was constructed from Glyndon to Snake River in 1872 and, in 1875, from Crookston to Fisher's Landing. Interesting in- eidents are told of the early traffic on the railroad between Crookston and Glyndon. The people at Crookston built a platform on two pairs of railway trucks, and attached sails, and used them in making trips down to Glyndon, bringing back supplies.
Polk County was declared to be a legally organized eounty by an act of the Legislature approved Mareh 3, 1873.
Within the spaee of ten years, and for the most part within five years, the development of settlement in Polk County dependent upon Red River carts, stage lines, and river navigation for intercourse with the outside world, eame to an end, and a way was opened for the rapid settlement of the agricultural develop- ment of the country.
IMMIGRATION TO POLK COUNTY.
The population in 1876 was 937, of mixed nation- alities, but largely Norwegians. In 1877 lands sold for $2.50 per aere. The immigration during this period was largely from Norway and Sweden, and about one-half the population were Seandinavians or of Scandinavian descent. In 1878, a large immigra- tion of French Canadians and their descendants set in. In 1877 the railroad had been extended to St. Vineent.
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
EARLY WHEAT FARMING.
The period of wheat farming in the Red River Val- ley began in 1870. In 1872 the average production per acre was 17.4 bushels as against 12.28 bushels in 1871. The use of middlings, through the invention of a middling purifier, in 1870, greatly increased wheat production. This invention was in general use by 1876. The invention of iron or porcelain rollers, re- placing the old mill stones, added another strong factor in increasing wheat production. These inven- tions resulted in increased prices for wheat. During the years 1877 to 1884 there was a boom period in Polk County. This was followed by additional rail- roads tapping the county. In 1884, the railroad was laid from Shirley to St. Hilaire. In 1886 the D. & M. road was built from Fertile to Red Lake Falls, and west through to Grand Forks. In 1898 the Great Northern line was built from Duluth to Grand Forks
The territory included in Polk County at that time comprised the present counties of Polk, Red Lake, Norman, and Mahnomen, with a population of 11,400 persons. In the same year, only 4.3 per cent of the land area of Polk County was improved. The acreage of wheat in 1879 in Polk County was 31,000 acres, producing 535,000 bushels of wheat, or an average of seventeen bushels to the acre. Wheat farming con- tinued up to 1895, when diversified farming began to be practiced. The population of Polk County in- creased to 30,192 in 1890, and to 39,209 in 1895, and with Red Lake County taken out, to 35,499 in 1900; 37,212 in 1905; and 36,001 in 1910.
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS AND PRODUCTION STATISTICS.
The same condition of agricultural depression ex- isted in Minnesota during the decade of 1870 as in other Western States, though apparently in a less extreme form. As a result, farmers, on the average, found themselves able to accumulate little except through the rise in value of their lands. The infer- ence seems warranted that it was this relative un- profitableness of agriculture which started the rush to
the cities and likewise furnished the motive power both of the Grange movement to regulate railroad rates, and of the several cheap money campaigns designed to check the fall of prices.
There were no noticeable changes in the average size, value, and tenure of farms iu Polk County from 1860 to 1910, as shown by census figures. The larger increase in the average value per acre of land and buildings between the years of 1900 and 1910 indi- cates one important result of the transition from specialized wheat farming to diversified farming.
AVERAGE SIZE, VALUE, AND TENURE OF FARMS IN POLK COUNTY FROM 1860 TO 1910.
Val. of land and blogs.
Av. val. per Per cent acre land
Year.
Av. Size.
worked and blogs. byowners.
1860. ...
356.7 Acres
$ 16,000
$ 7.48
1880. ... 215.4 Acres
3,189,394
8.45
98.7
1890. ...
193.2 Acres
9,085,270
10.21
92.7
1900. .
.. 224.3 Acres
16,054,900
16,50
88.5
1910. .
252.2 Acres
29,738,082
33.46
81.1
Polk County carly became one of the foremost coun- ties in the Red River Valley group. The rapid ad- vancement made in production of the principal erops is here given :
In 1880 there were 7,000 acres of oats with a pro- duction of 240,000 bushels; 1,000 acres of barley with 20,000 bushels; 11,000 acres of hay with 7,000 tons. No statistics for wheat, rye, corn, and potatoes are available.
In 1890 there were 237,439 acres of wheat with 3,013,361 bushels; 44,215 acres of oats with 226,221 bushels; 16,474 acres of barley with 300,439 bushels; 153 acres of corn with 4,100 bushels; 2,393 acres of potatoes with 283,382 bushels.
In 1900 there were 305,807 acres of wheat with a production of 4,128,620 bushels; 65,267 acres of oats with 1,873,450 bushels; 28,194 acres of barley with a yield of 682,230 bushels; 575 acres of corn, with 15,- 030 bushels; 1,651 acres of potatoes with 252,965 bushels.
In 1910 the wheat area had shrunk to 164,229 acres with 2,621,256 bushels ; 96,774 acres of oats with 2,747,- 228 bushels; 53,268 acres of barley with 1,173,579
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
bushels; 2,903 aeres of eorn with 96,890 bushels, and 3,900 aeres of potatoes with 524,374 bushels.
PRESENT FARMING CONDITIONS IN POLK COUNTY.
The results of numerous chemical analyses of the soils of Polk County show them to contain all the plant food elements in abundance. Their high lime- stone content would class them with the best lime- stone soils in the world. They are, also, exception- ally rich in organie matter and potash. Many of these soils which have known no other than grain erops since first they were broken in the "eighties" still produce in a normal season, with good tillage, from 15 to 25 bushels of wheat to the acre. Where a rotation of erops has been followed, good plowing done, some manure applied, and good seed used, with proper preparation of the seed bed and adequate drainage, this soil will produce from 40 to 80 bushels of oats; 20 to 35 bushels of wheat of the finest qual- ity ; 30 to 50 bushels of barley ; 15 to 25 bushels of flax; 18 to 20 bushels of winter rye; 30 to 50 bushels of corn, or when cut for silage, 10 to 15 tons per acre. Timothy and clover yield from one and one-half to three tons per acre; alfalfa from two to four tons; potatoes from 200 to 300 bushels on clover land, where manure has been used, and from 100 to 200 busliels following grain, without manure. Maximum yields are often reported doubling the minimum of those stated above.
CORN.
Corn, it may be said, has completed the conquest of the State, since, according to the eensus of 1910, corn of some sort was grown in every county but two. Polk County has shared greatly in this development, as it is gradually becoming a standard crop.
POTATOES.
The opportunities for sueeessful potato growing in Polk County are unsurpassed. The soil and elimatic conditions are such as produce potatoes of excellent flavor, splendid keeping qualities, and high yielding
power. The counties of the Red River Valley have long been known as the home of the Early Ohio seed potato; however, both carly and late varieties grow here to great perfection. This region is not subjeet to many of the serious diseases of other potato re- gions of the United States. It is because of their great constitutional vigor that the Red River Valley seed potatoes are much sought for in the seed potato markets of the middle west.
FRUITS.
Contrary to the view of those not acquainted with Polk County conditions, tree and small fruits are casily and profitably grown here. Native fruits, such as plums, grapes, blueberries, high-bush eranberries, gooseberries, and many others grow in great abun- dance in the woods along the watercourses.
The standard varieties of plums, gooseberries, cur- rants, and erab apples grow with but little care, and produce large erops of fruit. Hardy varieties of ap- ples given intelligent care and attention yield abun- dantly, as has been proved by the many bearing trees and orehards of Polk County. The same as in any other region, the successful growing of fruits is more dependent upon the man than it is upon the elimate, and an inereasing number of persons are proving that there are no handieaps of note to prevent sueeess along this line, here.
LIVE STOCK INDUSTRY.
Beginning in 1890, live stock came to be gradu- ally introduced into Polk County. It had been reeog- nized all the time that the county possessed excep- tional advantages for the growing of beef cattle, horses, sheep and hogs, as well as for dairying.
The fundamental conditions which are necessary for live stock raising are amply filled here. There are many varieties of cheap feeds which will furnish the different food nutrients for growth and fatten- ing, such as are found in home grown feeds, as al- falfa, shock eorn, or corn silage, barley, oats, and flax. Another great advantage is found in the dry
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
climate, free from sudden and extreme changes. This fact regarding the climate is of greatest importance. The temperature in the winter is somewhat low but with the dryness of the atmosphere, this is not a seri- ous matter with beef cattle, and especially those that are being fattened. Sufficient shelter can be pro- vided at a very small cost, as, for example, simply a straw shed with openings at the south side. Beef cattle are different from dairy cattle in this respect, because they retain all the body heat, a large propor- tion of which, in the dairy cow, is withdrawn when the milk is removed twice each day.
Live stock raising with beef cattle production as the main object can be operated with probably the smallest amount of labor of all the different classes of farming. Polk County has the farms and the labor can be secured. The general conditions apply- ing to beef cattle also apply to sheep and swine. Great success has followed in this work. In raising beef, mutton, and pork, the good water, the dry cli- mate, and the easily grown feeds present unusually favorable conditions for the man of even moderate means. Many splendid herds are here now, with increasing numbers cach year.
DAIRYING.
It has been demonstrated year after year, that corn, clover, and alfalfa can be depended upon for a good crop in Polk County. With these crops, dairying is assured of its proper place in the front rank. Dairy- ing means a constant monthly income from the sale of the products, the utilization of the farm help dur- ing the winter months, when labor is comparatively cheap, and above all, the use of the home grown feeds upon the farm and the return of the fertility to the soil.
Polk County has all the elements of a dairying section. Dairy herds are springing up around every town. A co-operative creamery is the proud boast of nearly every community in the county. There are 21 creameries in the county, 19 of which are co-oper- ative. This can be said of only four other counties 8
of the state. These 20 creameries paid to the farmers of this county, $492,346.12, in 1912, for butterfat alone. There is room for many times as many dairy cows as there are at present. The earning ca- pacity of Minnesota cows has grown from $15.40 each in 1890 to $53.10 each in 1912. With such a showing the prospects are favorable.
POULTRY RAISING.
There is no section of the country that presents greater opportunities in poultry raising than Polk County. The markets are at its door, the Twin Cities to the south, Duluth and the Iron Range citics to the cast; and numerous summer resorts, scattered over a wide area, give access to the greatest markets in the Northwest.
The climate of this part of the State is extremely favorable to poultry raising. The steady, unvariable winter weather insures the best of health and vigor in the flocks, while the long cool summer days are conducive to the most rapid and steady growth of its young stock. Indeed, it is freely admitted by buyers of national reputation, that nowhere in the United States can be found young stock of chickens, ducks, and turkeys, that exhibit such marked indications of rapid growth and freedom from disease as are pro- duced in this part of the state.
LIVE STOCK FARMING.
The greatest asset of any county is the number of farmers that are using the natural advantages sur- rounding them to the best advantage. Live stock farming, be it with beef cattle, sheep, dairy cows, brood mares, or poultry, is profitable every year, and annually leaves the farm in better shape. This is what the Red River Valley counties are going into, and Polk County is going with the rest. The move- ment is strongly in evidence in every community.
The following table shows the total number of cat- tle and per cent of dairy cows in Polk County for 1860 to 1910, with the exception of 1870. The table following shows the dairy production of Polk County for the same period :
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
CATTLE STATISTICS.
Year.
Total No. Cattle.
Dairy Cows.
Other Cattle.
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