STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 241 



has been our privilege to enjoy. We have been favored with fruitful seasons; 

 abundant harvests of wheat and corn, and been provided with bountiful supplies of 

 choicest fruits of nearly every character and kind. And while other lands than ours 

 have suffered in notable instances from the ravages of war, famine, or pestilence, 

 we as a people have been favored with the blessings of peace, prosperity and plente- 

 ousness. Losses from heavy storms, disastrous rioods and destructive cyclones have 

 happily been averted within the borders of our own State during the past 3'ear, and 

 there are abundant reasons for heartfelt gratulation to the Giver of all good for the 

 many blessings that have been bestowed upon us 



It is a fact well understood that the larger portion of the people of Minnesota 

 are engaged in agricultural pursuits and that the farming Indus trj'' lies at the very 

 foundation of our wealth and prosperity. And while it is true that those engaged 

 in other avocations contribute their proper share, still to the well-directed efforts 

 of the farming classes are we mainly indebted for the real progress made in a 

 material point of view. 



The staple productions of Minnesota are chiefly those of the farm, consisting of 

 wheat, corn and other cereals; of cattle, horses, hogs, etc., the combined value 

 of our products for the year 1885 being considerably more than eighty millions of 

 dollars. There has been marked advancement in some departments of farm labor 

 within a recent period, which may be cited as an indication of the progress being 

 made; as for example that of dairying, which as a leading industry of the State, 

 has grown to vast proportions within the last five years. 



No one will question the statement that our people in the pursuit of their various 

 occupations are as a rule, active, earnest and wide-awake; and it is no exaggeration 

 to say that our industrial classes are generally intelligent, practical and thorough 

 going in their work and sevei'al callings. This is, perhaps, but natural and almost 

 necessarily the result in such a climate as that which jVIinnesota affords, where the 

 atmosphere is so remarkably pure, bracing, exhilerating and healthful; where our 

 summer seasons are comparatively short, and the growth of vegetation in many 

 instances so remarkably rapid and luxurient. 



But while no one will question or deny the rare fertility as well as great pro- 

 ductiveness of our Minnesota soil, it is also a fact which cannot be disguised that 

 there are certain disadvantages, or drawbacks to be contended with which need to 

 be most thoughtfully considered by our best statesmen, by every toiling farmer and 

 laborer as well. One thing to be deplored is unremunerative prices which prevail 

 for various commodities here produced, denying to the husbandman an adequate 

 return for labor necessarily bestowed. We come in competition with foreign grain 

 because of low rates of transportation by rail and by ocean steamers. Russian and 

 Indian wheat find ready market at leading seaports of the western world, and at 

 the same time statistics indicate that our production of the cereals is steadily increas- 

 ing. As one result of this condition of affairs, farmers throughout the State are 

 now diversifying their industries to some extent, instead of growing and depending 

 wholly upon one leading, staple article, that of wheat. They are directing their 

 attention to stock raising and dairying, and other methods of diversifying their 

 labor. The measure of success attending this new venture has thus far proven 

 quite satisfactory. There is, however, need of further change, for we must recog- 



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