INDUSTRY OF COUNTIES. 
287 
clay and marl lands occupying the high plains skirting Lake 
Superior, are characterized particularly by the preponderance 
of oxide of iron, from which they derive their color, and which 
amounts to 4J per cent., or nearly one-half of the weight of 
the saline matter. It is always a retentive soil, from the abun¬ 
dance of argillaceous earth which enters into its composition, 
and has proved productive in the highest degree. Vegetables 
of the largest size and finest quality are grown in it, and for the 
production of wheat, rye, barley and oats, it cannot be sur¬ 
passed ; forty bushels of wheat to the acre is the average on 
these lands, and in many instances they have yielded fifty 
bushels.’’ Mr. F. S. Chasseur, practical horticulturalist, in a 
letter to me of October 20, 1858, says : “I began the spring 
work in my garden on the banks of the Nemadji, near Supe¬ 
rior, in a sandy loam, May 6th, planting beds of asparagus 
from last year’s seedlings, varieties of peas, beets, onions, 
parsnips, radishes, currants, &c. The peas, beets and onions 
were ready for market the latter part of June, and the radishes 
matured three weeks after sowing of seed. May 10th, planted 
Carter potatoes in drills 2J- feet, when dug, October 4th, the 
result from the half bushel planted was twelve bushels; the 
potatoes averaged from three-quarters to one pound each. 
One-third of the real Irish potatoes you sent me from Ireland, 
were cut with two or three eyes in each piece, and when dug, 
October 4th, resulted in 4J bushels; twelve of them averaged 
1 lb. 8 oz. each. May 15th, planted the early corn you sent 
me, the ears were fit for cooking the latter part of August, and 
the stalks were 10 feet in height. My tobacco was ready for 
cutting October 3d, and the leaves averaged 2J feet in length.” 
In this connection I will mention that cabbages have been 
raised weighing 27 pounds, of 12 feet in circumference ; par¬ 
snips 2J feet long; beets If feet long, from 14 to 18 pounds 
in weight. Mr. Rockford exhibited eight long turnips, weigh¬ 
ing 120 pounds. 
In regard to the climate of Lake Superior, Dr. Owen in his 
report to the United States Government, says : “A healthier 
region does not exist. The purity of the atmosphere makes it 
