624 



THE GLACIAL LAKE AGASSIZ. 



The winter climate is too severe for apples, pears, peaches, plums, and 

 grapes; but many hardy small fruits, as currants, gooseberries, raspberries, 

 blackberries, and strawberries, thrive and yield bountifull)' wherever they 

 receive proper care. 



STOCK RAISING AND DAIRYING. 



Dixring the early years of rapid development of wheat raising, little 

 labor or thought was given to stock and the dairy. Most of the farmers 

 bought for their work imported horses wdiich had been raised in Iowa or 

 adjoining States. Butter also was imported from the same States, and 

 the majority wei'e willing to live without fresh meat or milk. Nowhere, 

 however, can more favorable climate and natural conditions be found for 

 the successful raising of all the stock needed by the farmer in diversified 

 agriculture and for the dairy than in the Red River "\^illey. Recently, 

 therefore, many entei-prisiug farmers have secured the best blooded stock 

 of horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs; and this portion of the farming inter- 

 ests of the district bids fair to assume its due importance. In the near 

 future probably the sale of butter and cheese will form one of the prin- 

 cipal sources of income in many townships. Poultry and eggs are also 

 coming to be considered a needful part of every provident farmer's 

 resources. 



The following tables give the numbers of live stock in the counties of 

 the Red River Valley in Minnesota and North Dakota. By the kindness 

 of H. T. Helgesen, commissioner of agriculture and labor for North Dakota, 

 the assessed valuations of the horses and cattle in the counties of that State 

 are also noted. 



Live stock in 1891 in counties of Minnesota lying mainly within the Bed River Valley. 



Sheep. 



Number. Number. 



Wilkin 3,373 5,485 



Clay 6,405 13,201 



Norman 5,682 13,595 



Polk 13,108 30,214 



Marshall 4,425 10,433 



Kittson 3,917 7,e 



Total 36,910 80,594 



1,387 

 6,601 

 4,656 

 9,136 

 2,180 

 2,042 

 26, 002 



Number. 

 1,143 

 2,326 

 2,009 

 5,720 

 2,007 

 1,268 



14, 473 



