29 



EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 



Increase in dairying. — Piscataquis, Me. : The largest increase in 

 stock is in milch cows, probably caused by the number of cheese- factories 

 built the past season, and the consequent demand for more cows. '• Waldo^ 

 Me. : With the introduction of cheese-factories, farmers in this ' county 

 are changing somewhat their style of farming. Cows are being kept in 

 larger numbers, and the numbers of oxen and steers are diminishing. 

 Too many horses have been raised, and too few sheep kept, but these 

 matters are regulating themselves. Hillsborough, N. H. : The milk, 

 business is increasing, and milch cows are taking the place of other stock 

 Rutland, Vt. : Milch cows are increasing, and sheep decreasing in num 

 bers. Queens, N. Y. : Many of our farmers have gone largely into the 

 milk business, to supply New York and Brooklyn. The stock has been 

 increased, and the improvement of the same by crossing with thorough- 

 breds has increased the value. Warren, N. Y. : The demand for cows 

 for dairy purposes is increasing. Erie, Pa. : Milch cows have increased 

 one-fourth, for cheese-factory purposes. Jackson, Wis.: There has been 

 a good demand for milch cows for cheese-factories, &c., and they bear 

 a better price in proportion than beef steers. iSauTc, Wis. : Farmers are 

 generally turning attention to dairying ; hence the increase in cows. 

 Swift, Minn. : Dairy farming is increasing, and as fast as our population 

 learn to make good butter, it will continue to increase. Mower, Minn. : 

 ])pich cows have increased, owing to the high price of butter for the 1 

 two years. Ottawa, Kan. : Steps are being taken to organize two or 

 three cheese-factories in our county, and the number of milch cows has 

 materially increased. 



Wadena County, Minn. — This county was organized two years ago, 

 the date of its first settlement. It is well adapted to the dairy business, 

 having great quantities of the blue and red top varieties of grass upon 

 the river-bottoms and along the margins of the streams running through 

 the county. The very nutritious blue-joint is the principal grass upon 

 the prairies. There is plenty of tamarac and oak timber at convenient 

 distances, throughout the county, for fuel and fencing. The county is 

 settling rapidly by a good, industrious class of American and English 

 farmers. All crops for 1874 were good, this county having had no rav- 

 ages from grasshoppers. 



A PROSPEROUS" COUNTY. — Harrison, loiva : This county has had 

 some settlers for twenty-five years, but the last seven has added most 

 of the 12,000 now here. The population is increasing rapidly ; the im- 

 migration being considerable. Except the bottoms of the Missouri 

 River, its western boundary, and the Boyer River, from one to eight 

 miles wide, the land is all rolling, and almost all tillable and ex- 

 ceedingly fertile. Though mostly opf'^ --^^^-^^-o th^re are many thou- 

 sand acres of timber^ enough, i^^' ' house-build- 

 ing. The soil is clear ^'' •-<-. 

 lying 10 or 12 feet ^ 

 value. The Br 

 vallevR -'n <-'- 



