INDUSTRY OF COUNTIES. 
433 
last census, is 33,369, most of whom are of foreign birth, principally Ger¬ 
mans. 
The surface of the land is rolling, and well watered by rivers, creeks and 
small lakes. The rivers are comparatively short, the distance between Lake 
Michigan and Lake Winnebago being only forty miles; but they furnish 
splendid water-powers, and are mostly navigable for logs. The climate is 
milder in winter and cooler in summer than in the western part of the state. 
Spring commences later than further west, but the fall fully compensates 
for this loss. 
The lands were originally covered with timber, partly pine, partly oak, 
maple and beech. The pine has been cut away, but there is a good supply 
of hard wood yet, for firewood and manufacturing purposes. The timber 
is cut and shipped to Milwaukee and Chicago markets. 
In a timbered country the clearing of the lands and the cultivation of 
farms is more difficult than on prairies, but the lands fully repay for tine 
amount of labor expended on them. Our farms are therefore small, but 
well cultivated. The main products of the county are wheat and other ce¬ 
reals; the yield is not only large, and the crop sure, but the quality is supe¬ 
rior. The amount of wheat produced in 1870 was 523,985 bushels; of rye, 
93,742; of oats, 378,840; of barley, 30,155; of potatoes, 109,018 bushels; of 
wool, 51,963 pounds; of butter, 578,106 ; of cheese, 4,412; of hops, 1,200 
pounds, and of hay, 26,744 tons. A large area is sown with winter wheat, 
which yields well and is very seldom killed by frosts. Corn, however, is 
grown very little, the summer not being warm enough to ripen it. Flax 
and rape seed are cultivated somewhat, for home consumption; peas are 
extensively grown and exported; onions, potatoes and roots grow well; and 
command good prices. The country being partly timbered yet, and well 
watered by streams and creeks, crops are well protected against drought, as 
well as against the storms. 
Stock is not grown so extensively as in prairie countries. Enough stock 
is kept, however, to supply the home market with meat, and some for ex¬ 
port. The stock has been materially improved during the last few years, 
and the good work is still going on. 
The cultivation of fruit trees attracted the attention of our farmers at an 
* 
early time, and much money has been expended in planting orchards, but 
until lately all attempts have failed, and it was generally supposed that the 
soil and climate of our county was not adapted to fruit growing. These 
failures however did not discourage every fruit-grower, and for the last ten 
years orchards have been planted with great success. The failure in for¬ 
mer years may partly be attributed to the uncultivated state of our soil, but 
more generally to the selection of trees not adapted to our climate. 
Grapes are only raised in very limited quantity, but it has been pfoved 
already that they may be grown in sufficient quantity to supply the home 
demand. Small fruit, as gooseberries, currants, raspberries, strawberries 
etc., grow excellently, as well wild as cultivated. 
28—Ao. Tit. 
