USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The history of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 45
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For several years after this, the reports showed only sixteen or eighteen creameries in Redwood county, but the quality of the butter was very good. In 1908 it was a fact that Minnesota but- ter ranked the highest in quality in the markets of America. In national contests the buttermakers of the state had invariably won more prizes than the buttermakers of any other state in the Union. Minnesota creameries and cheese factories were famous for their excellence from a sanitary standpoint.
In Redwood county, in 1910, there were thirteen creameries, nine co-operative and four independent. There were 1411 patrons, 8,268 cows, and 1,109,663 pounds of butter made at a running expense of $26,596. In 1911, there were eight co-operative and five independent creameries, 1,669 patrons, 12,010 cows, and 1,151,- 863 pounds of butter produced at a running expense of $28,677. In 1912 there were seven co-operative and seven independent creameries, 1,834 patrons, 12,990 cows and 1,493,981 pounds of butter, made at a running expense of $35,394. In 1913 there were fourteen creameries, seven co-operative and seven independ- ent. There were 1,815 patrons, 11,358 cows, 1,493,745 pounds of butter made at a runing expense of $35,781. This shows that for the same number of creameries, there were not as many patrons nor as many cows; that the production of butter was less and the expense greater than in 1912. Therefore in 1914 there were only twelve creameries, five co-operative and seven independent, 1,346 patrons and 9,913 cows The production of butter, 1,115,748 pounds was larger in proportion to the number of creameries; the running expense of $25,459 was comparatively smaller. The butter produced is of a very good quality.
Minnesota has won ten of the twelve silk banners offered by the National Creamery Buttermakers' Association, at each of their conventions to the state whose average of the ten high- est entries is the greatest.
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This fact speaks for itself and shows that the state has a great future in the creamery industry. These banners have been won by the combined efforts of the dairymen and buttermakers in the state of Minnesota, in each county, and in each creamery.
In 1914 Redwood county ranked high in the creamery indus- try with a dozen fine creameries located there in the following places : Belview Creamery, Belview, ind .; Brookville Dairy As- sociation, Morgan, co-op .; Clements Creamery Co., Clements, ind .; Lamberton Creamery Co., Lamberton, stock ; Morgan Co-operative Creamery Association, Morgan, co-op .; North Redwood Co-opera- tive Creamery, North Redwood, co-op .; Revere Creamery, Revere, ind .; Scenic City Creamery, Redwood Falls, ind .; Vesta Cream- ery, Vesta, ind .; Wabasso Creamery Co., Wabasso, co-op .; Wal- nut Grove Creamery Co., Walnut Grove, ind .; Consolidated Farm- ers' Co-operative Creamery, Wanda, co-op.
The report of the Minnesota State Dairy and Food Commis- sioner of 1914 for 1913 gives the following statistics: Creameries, 14; co-operative, 7; independent, 7; patrons, 1,815; cows, 11,358; milk received, 635,664 pounds; cream received, 4,587,100 pounds ; butterfat, 1,238,744 pounds; butter made, 1,493,745; average price paid per pound for butterfat, 30.59 cents ; average overrun, 20.58; paid patrons for fat, $379,041.45; running expenses, $35,781.10.
The report of the commissioner issued in 1915 for 1914 is as follows: Creameries, 12; co-operative, 5; independent, 7; patrons, 1,346; cows, 9,913; milk received, 147,212 pounds; cream re- ceived, 3,350,988 pounds; butterfat, 912,052; butter made, 1,115,- 748; average price paid for butter fat, 28.64 cents; average over- run, 21.34; paid patrons for fat, $261,221.71; running expenses, $26,459.55.
The decrease is due to the fact that much more milk and cream is being shipped outside the county than formerly.
Authority. Statistics of Minnesota, 1869-1898.
Federal Census, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900 and 1910.
Reports of the State Dairy and Food Commissioner.
"The Development of the Dairy Products Industry of Min- nesota," by Martin J. Anderson, Dairy and Food Department Bulletin, No. 52.
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
CHAPTER XXX.
AGRICULTURE OF TODAY.
(By J. E. Neil.)
Redwood county is situated on the southern bank of the Min- nesota river, in the southwestern part of the state. It is about 100 miles from St. Paul and Minneapolis, with which it is con- nected with the M. & St. L. and the Northwestern railroads.
The area of the county is 893.83 square miles or 572,052.87 acres, of which 557,122.74 acres are land, and 14,930.13 acres are water. The land surface is divided into about 2,311 farms.
The population of the county in 1910 was 18,425, of which 14,968 were native born, the foreign population being as follows : Germany, 1,527; Sweden, 268; Norway, 499; Great Britain and Ireland, 147; Austria, 247; Denmark, 458; other countries, 361. Their occupations are the ones incident to farm life. Two mar- ble dressing establishments and a few cement plants constitute the manufacturing industry. Everything else in the county, the professions, merchandising and the like, are all dependent upon the farmers for their support.
The agriculture of any section is controlled to a great extent by its climate. The main factors which limit the growth of crops are temperature, rainfall and the amount of sunshine. In Ren- ville county these elements are so favorable that a majority of the crops common to the temperate zone may be successfully grown and a failure in the important crops is unknown.
Rainfall is an important factor for most crops, because the amount of water in the soil at the critical period of development of the plant is necessary to produce a large crop. The length of the growing season is also very important and probably no other factor from the standpoint of the farmer should be given more consideration.
Redwood county is favored with these factors which help to make successful production of crops. The following statistics on the climatic conditions of the county are from the reports of the United States Department of Agriculture Weather Bureau from observations taken at Bird Island only a few miles from this county, over a period of twenty-two years.
Average precipitation (rainfall), 24.57 inches; average precipi- tation (snowfall), 25.8 inches; highest temperature recorded, 105 degrees; lowest temperature recorded, -38 degrees; prevailing wind direction, northwest; average date of first killing frost in autumn, September 25; average date of last killing frost in spring, May 9; earliest date of killing frost in autumn, September 9;
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
latest date of killing frost in spring, June 7; elevation of county above sea level, 1,000 feet.
The distribution of the rainfall is particularly favorable to agriculture, being in favorable years heaviest during the crop season and ample for the full development of crops. The most rainfall from the reports is shown to be in the months of April, May, June, July and August. The average date of the last kill- ing frost in the spring and the first in autumn are May 9 and September 25, respectively. This gives an average length of growing season of 139 days which is ample for the growing of corn.
The soil of Redwood county is a black loam surface on all the prairie portion of the county, which runs into a brown sand surface along the streams, all being underlain with clay. In some portions of the county, such as the soil that is found along the bluffs of the Minnesota river, a very fine sand crops out in places, which is also true of portions of the Redwood river. There soils carry a very high percentage of mineral matter and while they are not regarded as a heavy soil they are very fertile and are much easier to handle than the extremely heavy soils. The soil is quite uniform in type and the shallow depressions which are seen over most of the county only need drainage to make them as valuable as the rest of the county.
The following outline of a survey of the soils of the county was taken in the fall of 1915 and shows the various types of soil found in the county, also the condition of the soil with reference to acidity.
Redwood County Soil Samples. Field 1-Sec. 3-112-36. N. W. Cobleigh, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a black loam sur- face, with a clay subsoil-neutral soil. Alfalfa sown alone 6/15, 12 pounds of Grim seed per acre. Stand 100 per cent. Inocula- tion 25.
Field 2-Sec. 8-112-36. McRae & Clague, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a black loam surface with a clay subsoil-intense acid.
Field 3-Sec. 18-112-36. W. D. Lines, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a brown sand surface, limestone pebbles, with a loam sub- surface with clay subsoil-neutral soil.
Field 4-Sec. 26-112-37. W. H. Gold, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a dark fine sand surface with a heavy loam subsoil (allu- vial)-neutral soil.
Field 5-Sec. 20-112-37. E. Mosek, P. O. Seaforth. Soil is a brown sand surface, with fine sand subsoil-intense acid.
Field 6-Sec. 19-112-37. Michael Kramer Estate, P. O. Seaforth. Soil is a black fine sand surface, with a clay sub- soil-very slight acid.
Field 7-Sec. 13-112-38. Chas. R. Furhell, P. O. Vesta.
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
Soil is a brown fine sand surface, with a coarse yellow sand sub- soil-intense acid.
Field 8-Sec. 19-112-38. S. F. Scott, P. O. Vesta. Soil is a black sandy loam, with a clay subsoil-neutral. Sown 5-15-14 with one bushel barley, S. D. seed used. Inoculation with Com- mercial culture, stand 80 per cent. Inoculation 100 per cent. Seed was covered too deep.
Field 9-Sec. 19-112-38. D. J. McConnel, P. O. Vesta. Soil is a black fine sand surface with a coarse yellow sand subsoil- neutral.
Field 10-Sec. 16-112-39. Christ Rust, P. O. Vesta. Soil is a black fine sand surface, with a clay subsoil. Alluvial surface -intense acid.
Field 11-Sec. 33-112-39. James Scott, P. O. Milroy. Soil is a black clay loam, with a clay subsoil-neutral.
Field 12-Sec. 9-111-39. T. P. Pederson, P. O. Milroy. Soil is a black clay loam surface, with a clay subsoil-neutral.
Field 13-Sec. 6-110-39. M. Grotta, P. O. Milroy. Soil is a black sandy loam surface with a clay subsoil-alkaline.
Field 14-Sec. 8-112-39. P. H. Kelley, P. O. Tracy. Soil is a black sandy loam surface, with a heavy mixed subsoil-allu- vial-neutral.
Field 15-Sec. 10-110-39. John Christianson, P. O. Walnut Grove. Soil is a black fine sand surface, with a sand subsoil- alluvial-strong acid.
Field 16-Sec. 13-110-39. Carl Soch, P. O. Walnut Grove. Soil is a brown fine sand surface with a heavy sandy subsoil- distinct acid.
Field 17-Sec. 32-110-38. Albert Carlson, P. O. Walnut Grove. Soil is a brown fine sand surface with a clay subsoil- alkaline.
Field 18-Sec. 16-110-38. B. A. Fellefson, P. O. Walnut Grove. Soil is a black fine sand surface, with a clay subsoil- neutral.
Field 19-Sec. 4-110-38. Geo. Schmiessing, P. O. Lucan. Soil is a brown fine sand surface, with a clay subsoil-distinct acid.
Field 20-Sec. 27-111-38. Marty Lange, P. O. Lucan. Soil is a black loam surface, with a clay subsoil-neutral.
Field 21-Sec. 19-111-37. Albertina Kiecher, P. O. Wa- basso. Soil is a dark loam surface, with a clay subsoil-slight acid.
Field 22-Sec. 22-111-37. Dan Zimmerle, P. O. Wabasso. Soil is a brown fine sand surface, with a clay subsoil-intense acid.
Field 23-Sec. 11-110-37. Otto Newman, P. O. Lamberton. Soil is a black loam surface, with a clay subsoil-neutral.
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
Field 24-Sec. 27-110-37. Stewart Rogers, P. O. Lamber- ton. Soil is a black clay loam surface, with a clay subsoil. Sown alone in 1915, S. D. seed. Stand 100 per cent. Inoculation 25 per cent. Neutral.
Field 25-Sec. 3-103-37. John Black, P. O. Lamberton. Soil is a brown sandy loam surface, with a clay subsoil-distinct acid.
Field 26-Sec. 19-109-36. G. W. Roger, P. O. Lamberton. Soil is a brown sandy loam surface, with a clay subsoil-slight acid. Sown in 1914, after wheat, with S. D. seed. Stand 85 per cent. Died out in spots, winter killed. Inoculation 50 per cent.
Field 27-Sec. 22-109-36. John Voss, P. O. Sanborn. Soil is a dark fine sand surface, with a sand subsurface and clay subsoil-(alluvial)-neutral.
Field 28-Sec. 1-109-36. Richard Flaig, P. O. Sanborn. Soil is a black sandy loam, with a clay subsoil-neutral.
Field 29-Sec. 20-110-35. C. G. Lawrence, P. O. Spring- field. Soil is a black loam, with an old alfalfa field. Clay sub- soil. Stand 100 per cent. No inoculation found. Neutral soil.
Field 30-Sec. 5-110-35. M. Neudecker, P. O. Clements. Soil is a black loam surface, with a clay subsoil. Old alfalfa field. Stand 100 per cent. Plant crowns small 5-10 stalks. No inoculation found. Grass is crowding in. Slight acid.
Field 31-Sec. 33-111-35. August Schenk, P. O. Clements. Soil is a black elay loam, with a clay subsoil-neutral.
Field 32-Sec. 34-111-35. J. Wolter, P. O. Clements. Soil is a black sand loam surface, with a elay subsoil-distinct acid. Field 33-Sec. 31-111-34. Albert Kiesow, P. O. Morgan. Soil is a black loam surface, with a clay subsoil-intense acid. Field 34-Sec. 16-111-34. A. B. Diffbenner, P. O. Morgan. Soil is a black loam surface with a clay subsoil-distinct acid.
Field 35-Sec. 28-112-34. Fred Ulrich, P. O. Morgan. Soil is a black loam surface, with a clay subsoil-intense acid.
Field 36-Sec. 16-112-34. E. H. Bluhm, P. O. Morton. Soil is a black sandy loam, with a clay subsoil-intense acid.
Field 37-Sec. 8-112-34. W. T. Tussenhay, P. O. Morton. Soil is a black sand surface, with a sand subsoil-neutral.
Field 38-Sec. 12-112-35. Frank Clague, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a light sand surface, with a gravel subsoil-strong acid.
Field 39-Sec. 3-112-35. A. C. March, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a black fine sandy surface, with a clay subsoil- strong acid.
Field 40-Sec. 6-112-35. I. P. Schmidt, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a black fine sand surface with a clay subsoil- neutral.
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
Field 41-Sec. 31-113-35. D. F. Crimmins, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a deep fine sandy loam surface, with a gravel sub- soil (alluvial)-neutral. Is on top of bank between Minnesota and Redwood rivers. Sweet clover growing along the road.
Field 42-Sec. 19-113-35. George Hepner, P. O. North Red- wood. Soil is a brown sand surface with a sand subsoil (allu- vial)-strong acid.
Field 43-Sec. 14-113 and 114-36. H. Mority, P. O. Delhi. Soil is a brown sandy loam surface, with a clay subsoil-neutral.
Field 44-Sec. 35-113 and 114-36. D. W. Whittet, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a black loam surface, with a clay sub- soil-neutral.
Field 45-Sec. 14-112-36. J. F. Connor, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a black loam surface, with a clay subsoil-intense acid. Old alfalfa field. Stand 100 per cent. Inoculation 100 per cent.
Field 46-Sec. 28-112-36. Wm. Johnson, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a black loam surface, with a clay subsoil-neutral.
Field 47-Sec. 8-111-36. G. I. Davis, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a black loam surface with a clay subsoil-distinct acid.
Field 48-Sec. 21-111-36. S. A. Witwer, P. O. Redwood Falls. Soil is a black loam surface with a clay subsoil-distinct acid. Old field, common seed used. Stand 85 per cent. Inocu- lation 50 per cent.
Field 49-Sec. 30-111-36. Martha Smith, P. O. Wabasso. Soil is a black loam surface, with a clay subsoil-strong acid.
Field 50-Sec. 25-111-37. Henry Meyer, P. O. Wabasso. Soil is a black loam surface with a clay subsoil-strong acid. .
The first settlers located at Redwood Falls attracted by the water power. From Redwood Falls they spread up and down the Minnesota, and up the Redwood river. A few settlements were also made along the Cottonwood. The early railroads came to Redwood Falls and across the southern part of the county, and the development of the central part of the county did not come until many years later.
The parts of Minnesota over which the last continental ice sheet passed, is characterized by many lake-like depressions which hold water until late in the season, which not only makes considerable wet area, but prevents the early seeding of crops in the spring. Redwood county lies within this portion of the state and the farmers and officials of the county realize the neces- sity of drainage to this section and also the value of the land when it is drained. Up to the present time many thousands of dollars have been spent on drainage projects within the county and there is still under construction an extensive system of county and judicial ditches. These systems of drainage provide an outlet for the farms within their territory. Complete drain-
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
age can then be taken up by the individual farmers and the entire area can be thoroughly drained. As the drainage of the county has become more important it has become necessary to change the system that was started a few years ago. This is partly due to a better understanding of the work and partly due to an increase in the value of the land which has made it possible to bond the county heavier and thus put in more thor- ough systems of drainage. At the present time the old plow ditch, as it was called, is not in use at all. It, however, served its purpose and at one time was the only kind of drainage used in the county. The new system in use at the present time, and which was started a few years ago, provides for both open and tile ditches for main outlets. In many cases it being necessary to use an open ditch where it would not be practical to use tile on account of the excessive cost. The benefits of drainage are readily recognized by everyone and it is only necessary to travel a short distance in Redwood county until a good demonstration can be found as to the practicability of draining land. There is no one thing which will add more to the returns of a farm than a good thorough system of tile drainage. There is no upkeep to the system when properly laid; there is no waste land where the tile are placed and the productive capacity of the land is doubled by the constant water level. It goes hand in hand with road building which requires the removal of the surplus water before permanent roads can be built. These facts are all being made use of in the plans for drainage systems in the county and many sections of the county are in first class shape at the pres- ent time.
The natural outlet for all drainage in Redwood county is the Minnesota river. The Redwood river and the Cottonwood river, each supplemented by their tributaries carrying the water to the Minnesota. The Redwood river supplemented by Ramsey creek and Clear creek, takes care of the northwestern portion of the county, and the Cottonwood river, supplemented by Sleepy Eye creek on the north, which is the largest factor in direct drain- age in Redwood county, and the several smaller creeks to the south, takes care of the southern, central and eastern portion of the county. The divide which separates the water going to the Minnesota river and the water going to the Des Moines river being located south of Tracy.
The farmers of Redwood county are taking up the idea of diversified farming very fast and the single crop system is being discarded almost entirely by the more stable system of growing corn, clover and livestock. Redwood county has proven its place as a great corn growing county, not only in the quantity pro- duced, but also in the quality of the product, and the corn that is shown at any of the corn shows in this vicinity, or the larger
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
shows, amply proves this fact. At the present time several men in the county have taken up the breeding and improvement of corn for this locality ; among these are, Thomas Hoskins, of North Redwood, who has done exceptionally well with Minn., No. 13; S. O. Mason & Sons, of Redwood Falls, with Minn., No. 13 and Silver King, and H. C. Lau, of Tracy, with Silver King. These men have established their corn and the varieties grown by them are the most prominent. There are many others in the county who have taken up the improvement of corn in a less degree and all are working toward the type of corn that is safe and matures well.
The climatic conditions of Redwood county are such that practically all of the crops common to the corn belt area can be grown successfully, the predominating ones being corn, oats, wheat, barley and rye with flax grown to some extent and buck- wheat to a less degree. Among the tame grasses, timothy and red top are the most common, and these along with red clover, alsyke clover and alfalfa, which produce wonderful yields in all parts of the county, constitute a great combination for hay and pasture, as well as the important part which the clovers and alfalfa play in a crop rotation.
The growing of fruit in the county has become an important factor and at the present most of the common varieties of apples and plums are grown besides the bush fruits, such as raspber- ries, gooseberries and currants. The fruit grown in the county is all used locally, and on most of the farms all of the fruit needed for home use is produced. There is but one nursery in the county, belonging to J. M. Kenyon, of Lamberton, which does considerable business in that locality. The majority of the nursery stock used in the county comes from outside sources.
There are no commercial orchards in the county and outside of a small amount of local trade no fruit is shipped out.
The beginning of alfalfa growing in Redwood county, just as in many other sections of the country, cannot be said to have started at any particular, definite time. The early fields that were sown were certainly not started with the common opinion back of them, that the crop could be grown in this county with any degree of certainty. Much credit is, therefore, due to the first men who conceived the idea that this wonderful crop was worth a trial in this section of the country; and in this particular county. The way some of these older fields have developed and produced year after year is one of the biggest arguments in favor of encouraging the crop at the present time. It is true that there were many failures among these early fields, just as there are some failures today, and as there will, no doubt, con- tinue to be for some little time yet, but these early pioneers who held their faith in the crop are today enthusiastic believers in
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
alfalfa. It has proved itself worthy of consideration and more and more people are beginning to see the value of it, so much so that it can now be classed as one of the substantial crops of the county.
Previous to the year of 1914 there were a great many different varieties of alfalfa tried out by different people in this county ; the seed was also varied, coming from many different sections, south as well as west and north. The Grimm alfalfa was among these and was tried by several different men, who were wont to risk a little more money than the average, and the results from this seed have been uniformly good. It has withstood the win- ters, yielded good crops of hay and in a few instances some seed has been produced. The scarcity of the seed, which in turn brought up the price, has kept it from general use among the majority of the people. Several different strains of South Da- kota and Montana seed were also tried with varying success.
In the spring of 1914 a campaign was started to encourage more farmers in the county to try some alfalfa in a small way, it being proven by the foregoing statements that alfalfa could be grown profitably, if care and judgment were exercised in the seeding of the crop. At this time thirty bushels of South Da- kota dry land alfalfa seed was shipped into the county. This seed was distributed on between forty-five and fifty different farms. This does not include a number of other men, who started a field, but who did not procure seed through this ship- ment. The germination and the purity of this seed was very high and as a result good stands were secured on all of the fields, with the exception of two or three. This seed was sown under almost all possible conditions; some of it was seeded in the early spring with a nurse crop and some was seeded alone; other fields were sown at various other times through the year from May until August. In the majority of the cases, however, the seeding was done without a nurse crop. During the forepart of June and under these conditions the success was exception- ally good. This was especially true, where the ground was plowed during the forepart of May and harrowed and disced continuously until the time of seeding. All of these fields showed a good green color in September and went into the winter in good condition. Out of this lot only two or three fields were in- oculated, either with soil or Commercial inoculation, the great trouble being the high price of Commercial inoculation and the failure to get soil from old established fields. The effects of the inoculation, however, can be seen much better in the future and it is probable that as the acreage is increased more inocula- tion will be practiced. Each one of these fields has served to act as a demonstration, as the majority of the seed was sown on farms where alfalfa had never been grown before, and it has
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