THE UNIVERSITY

OF ILLINOIS

LIBRARY

From the library of
Henry M. Dunlap
Purchased, 1934

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The Illinois

VOL. IX.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., JAN., 1864.

NO. 1.

DEVOTED TO THE

FAEM, THE ORCHARD AXD THE GARDE>5,

PUBLISHED BY

BAILHACHE & BAKER,

SPRINGFIELD, ----- ILLINOIS.

M:. ILi. r>XJNi..A.I», Editor.

All business letters should be addressed to the
publishers.

^®~ExcHANGES and all matters pertaining to the
editorial department, must be directed to Illinois
Farmer, Champaign, 111., as the editor resides at
^•&% point, and is seldom at the ofiBce of publication,
from which he is distant over eighty miles. ■ ,

%* For terms see prospectus and special notices in
advertising department.

January.

The figures are again changed, the
three has now become a four. Another
wave of time — a new volume is unroll-
ed, and to-day we make the first entry
in its open pages. The year just clos-
ed will live long in history; a year in
which ignorance and barbarism has
sought to crush out the happy homes
of the free, the lovers of social order, of
education, of refinement and of progress
in the world's art. The savages of the
wilds and the barbarians of the sunny
South have made common cause against
the in8titutionB,that are dear to a moral
and industrious people, and have met
them on the field of blood, but valor and
reckless daring hare been no match for

the graduates of the district school an 1
of the industrial pursuits, and they have
turned back the wave of war, that would
have passed over them and returned
the bitter cup to the lips of the invader.
The poor misguided and vicious Indian
has sued for peace, but the barbarian,
ever true to the instincts of his tribe,
must be cut off from his kind and his
hearth made desolate, it is not for him
to save his family from ruin, he knows
no half way measures, he must rule or
ruin, be either master or slave ; and as
he is not to be master in this case, we
must push on the war until he is utterly
routed. There will be no peace until
our armies pass over every foot of soil,
from the Ohio to the Gulf, and have
laid waste the country. Until this is
accomplished, no laborer will return to
his home, no father will resume the
plow, no son will comeback to the farm
or the shop, no brother will make fond
greeting to his sister. We may there-
fore make up our minds that grim vis-
aged war shall stalk through the fields
of the South to crush out its system of
barbarism, to make it pass through the
fiery ordeal, where the wrongs of long
years shall be wiped out in blood. New
calls will be made for soldiers in the
field, and not all who plow and sow in
the spring shall reap in autumn , for the
continuanc of the war wiH be the great
work of the year, now just taking its
place on the stage of action. ;-i

It is a slow process to change the

■*t? ..

86C372

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■ ''^."^">*!^S^».?^^

2

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

Ian.

habits of a people, long used to the
peaceful pursuits of rural labor, of me-
chanics and of commerce,to that of the
soldier, but the process is sure, and
the barbarian must yield to the steady
persevering valor of the educated sol-
dier, who makes all ready before he
strikes.

During the past year genius has not
"'been idle, to make amends for the want
of laborers on the farm, the gang plow,
the wheel rake, the two horse cultiv^a-
tors, the hay pitcher, the binder and
improved mowers have taken the place
■ of thousands of hands that are away
handling muskets and training huge
guns.

We shall look for other improvements,
to fill up the drain on farm labor. What
these may be we know not, but of what
we yet need we can speak with more
confidence. First we need a combin-
ed planter and roller, for the planting
of corn. We want our plows to run
with wheels, so that the driver can ride.
We want the reaper so arranged that it
will gather and carry the sheaf to the
binder, who will ride and deliver the
bundles ready for putting into shocks.
We want a machine to cut the standing
corn ready to shock up. We want a
corn sheller adapted to hand or horse
power, so that each farmer may shell
his own corn, so as to save the cobs fur
fuel, as the cobs of a hundred bushels
of corn is equal to half a cord of wood,
or half a ton of coal. In addition to
these new implements we wish to im-
press upon all farmers and owners of
small lots, the value of the small fruits,
Bueh as currants, strawberries, grapes,
etc., as well as to give renewed atten-
tion to a good garden. But above all
miner considerations let the farmer on
the prairies plant timber trees, white

willow, golden willow, box alder, silver
maple, cotton wood or pomething of the
sort. We have several cords of weep-
ing and golden willow, set out in cut-
tings in the spring of 1858, that we
shall use this year and which has cost
us but a trifle, we can make it ready
for the stove cheaper than to haul it
from the grove a distance of eight miles.
Putoutyour timber belts, live fences and
orchards, and if you do not have as
many greenbacks in the autumn, you
will have laid in more real wealth that
will bring or save you greenbacks at
some future day.

X)o not forget to hand your Illinois
Farmer to your neighbor and ask him
to subscribe, that he too can make pro-
gress with you.

Brains are now coming into use on
the farm, and the farmer who neglects
to use them at the proper time, will rue
it. See, therefore, that the stock is
ready for every day use. Brains, ma-
nure, good implements and muscle are
the elements to depend on for the year
1864.

Air the Cellar. — It is important
that the cellar, where the vegetables for
the family are kept, should be well
aired. On all pleasant days when the
air is above freezing, we open the out-
side cellar door ; in fact, there is not a
day that this door is not entered for
some purpose, the door leading to the
kitchen being seldom used. In this
way the cellar is always kept sweet,
and no noxious gasses are there to pass
up into the living room, to poison the
air. The bottom of the cellar is ce-
mented and is nearly as hard as stone.
Much of our spring sickness can be
traced to foul and damp cellars that
have been kept cjiosed during the win-

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

3

ter. So well is this understood that
many persons will not have the cellar
under the house, but made separate.
This we think an extra expense, and
imposing extra labor on the family.
These out door cellars, as they are call-
ed, jire never well aired, and the veg-
etables do not keep s^o well in them, as
the kind that we have when well aired,
as it can be ; besides this the house will
last much longer with a good dry cel-
lar under it.

[Correspondence Chicago Tribune.]

Farm Labor and its Equivalent.

The cropa of 1863 — Care of the corn Crop — Fall
plowing — Killing of Vie Peach Buds — Frozen Cellars.

Champaign, 111., Jan. 4, 1864.

The holidays are now over, and we again settle
down to the staid realities of farm life. The Gov-
erniiieiit Assessor will ?oon be looking into the
profit side of the ledger, for the purpose of making
up our incomes. Have your book posted, p ly what
1 ou owe, renew your subscription to the Tiiibuxe,
your county paper, and at least one agricultural
journal, keep good fires, and be happy.

The season, or rather the year 1863 has been
a most singular one for the farmer. Commencing
with a large stock of ten cint corn, and closing
with a light supply at ninety cents, a difference of
nine hundred per cent. It is not probable that such
extremes will occur again in the history of the pres-
ent generation.

During the year a lirge per centage of the labor
has been drawn away from the farms to assist in the
war, not ouly as soldiers, but in the corelatire de-
partments of the army. These drafts have been
seriously felt, but less so than if the country had
produced the usual crops and no new improvements
had been made in farm machinery. This latter can
be reckoned as a respectable per cent, of the labor
abstracted. The boy on his sulky two-horse culti-
vator has done more and better work than two men
with their old double-shovel plows, and three to
four times that with the single shovel or one horse
plow. The girl driving the sulky rake rolls up the
wiurow and bunches the hay ready for the pitcher.
Two horses and the boy have done the cutting of
the grass, and in many case>? have bnilt the loads
and tended the hay fork, and with the aid of one
horse, put it far up in the hay-mow or on top of the
stack, thus saving the labor of strong arms under
the old mode. The millions of bushels of com that
have been sent to market, have been shelled in ma-
chines with self-regulating feeders and bagging ap-
paratus that have saved largely in human muscles.
The threshing machine has b«en armed with a straw

carrier that has done the stacking, while the new-
screens cleaned the grain ready for market.

Thus have the farmers of the Northwest kept on
in the eiren tenor of their ways, and had the season
been a usu '1 one for crops, would have made a lar-
ger aggregate of farm products than ever before.
The spring was favorable, on the whole, for the put-
ting in of the spring crops, and all those which ma-
tured Curly, such as spring wheat, flax, oats and bar-
ley, have made good nturns ; while sorgho, corn,
buckwheat, potatoes and late vegetables have suflTer-
ed seriously.

The autumn has been favorable for the gathering
of the light ctop, for plowing and the setting of or-
chards. In the north part of the State the plowing
is well along, but in the center and south little of
it has been done. With the exception of our own
work in that line we do not know of an acre that
has been turned over. Now that the Tribune has
a large circulation in these parts of the State, we
have some hope of arousing the farmers to the great
value of fall-plowing their land.

Great complaints are made, all through the basin
of Egypt, that the spring rains prevent getting the
crop in, in season. The land cannot be plowed, con-
sequently the crop cannot be put in until after the
rain ceases, when, too often, the summer drouth
comes in to cut short the hopes of the farmer.
Xow, if the land hod been plowed in antumn into
narrow beds, say of two rods wide and in early
spring stirred to the depth of four or five inches
with a six-shovel cultiviitor, and the crops sowed
or planted in March and Apiil, so as to have the
benefit of the spring rains, we can see uo reason
why that part of the State would not produce annu-
al crops with as much certainty as other parts.

The late call of troops will make another draft
on farm labor, which we must be prepared to make
good with new implements and a more economical
application of labor. This is attainable to a great
extent. In the first place, now is the time to be-
gin, bj getting up the year's supply of fuel, of fence
posts, timber for shed:^, corn houses and other pur-
poses. The man who has to send a team to the
woods for fuel in harvest time, will find that he
committed a fatal error in January, and if he fails
to have his cribs ready at the time for husking corn,
he will have cold fingers before the crop is harvest-
ed. Every fall we see hundreds of teams wending
their way over muddy roads^to haul rails, four to
eight miles to make corn cribs. We never could
afford to put our corn in a rail pen, as we have no
money or time to throw away in that direction, and
a crop of corn once made is worth the saving in
good order. Farm after farm c;m be pointed out
within sight of our window, where not only hun-
dreds but thousands of bushels of corn have been
thrown out of the cribs or rail pens as rotten and
I worthless, and that within the List three years. It
would appear that lessons thus appealing to their
pocket would sink deep into their hearts, for many
of them are now paying seventy-five to eighty-five
cents a bushel, six successful crops gave us an over
supply, and the price went down so low that on ev-
ery dollar received for corn another dollar wm
lost, but a single short crop occurs and the price
goes up nearly four times that at which it can be
profitably produced. If it takes six full crops to
^arry the price down to half its cost of production
j^nd but one failure, to place it four hundred per
ent. above, will it not be found good economy to

, I-: .' '. -^- . - :-r-?;7T*rg!'.of^395S!5?s<?

4

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

Jan.

provide like the Egyptians of old, against the
famine? Then look to it and make your cribs du-
ring the leisure of winter, not rail pens covered
with the fleecy clouds, but with a good board or
shingle roof.

The winter promises to be one of unusual severi-
ty, and it will stand the farmer in hand to shelter
his stock so as to economize the short supply of
fodder which has been made still shorter by large
sales to contractors to the government.

EFFECT OF THE STORM ON PEACH TREES.

This morning, knife in hand, we waded out to the
peach orchard and examined over a hundred buds,
not one of which was alive ; all had the well known
brown speck in the center, which but too
truly points to the failure of the peach crop. It is
not probable that a further investigation will show
a more favorable result.

As the apple trees made a moderate growth, it is
not probable that they are injured by the co)d.

Cellars are reported badly frozen, and of course
the remnant of the short vegetable crop will come
in for further shorteniRg.

Rural.

-«••-

Climate and Production of Illinois.

We clip the following from the circular, of
Commissioner Phillips of the 111. Cent. R.R. land
Department.

Climate and Soil. — Tlie climate of Illinois
is healthy, and here the mortality is loss than
in almost any other part of the country. The emmi-
grant seeking a location regards the healthfulnoss
of the district as matter of primary consideration,
and it is not without gratification that we arrive at
the conclusion that Illinois, so far as its sanitary
condition is concerned, ranks with the most favored
States of the Union. The vital statistics collected
in 1860 show that in this State the deaths per cent,
to the population were in that year only 1.14, while
the average of the whole country was 1.27. The
ratio of deaths to the living population in Massa-
chusetts was 1.76 ; Tennessee 1.39; Arkansas, 2.06;
Kentucky, 1.45; Mississippi, 1.57; Missouri, 1.52;
Connecticut, 1.35; Kansas, 1.37; Louisiana, 1.76 ;
Maine, 1.23; New York, 1.22. For the purpose of
this comparison we have selected States in every
section of the Union. The figures are accessible
to all who will take the trouble to examine the oflB-
cial reports, and are a sufficient reply to much mis-
representation. Extending 380 miles from north
to south, Illinois has all the varieties of climate to
be found between Boston, in Massachusetts, and
Norfork, in Virginia: in the southern part, the
genial climate of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee,
and in the northern section more nearly resembling
that of Pennsylvania, Sout lern New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut.

The soil in the different parts of the State pre-
sents very marked characteristics. From the lati-
tude of Chicago as far south as the Terre Haute and
Alton R. R , the country for the most part is open
prairie, with here and there groves of timber, and
timbered on the banks of the various streams. The
soil in this region consists of a rich black loam, and
is remarkably adapted to the produciton of corn,
sorgho and tame grasses. For stock raising no
better land can be found. South of this line the

soil is lighter and of greyish tinge — the country is
also more broken, and the timber more plentiful.
The small prairies in this region produce the best
of winter wheat, tobacco, flax and hemp. From
Centralia to Cairo, in the South, the country is
heavily timbered. In this district, fruit, tobacco,
cotton, and the different productions of the border
States, are largely cultivated and highly remunera-
tive. A large number of sawmills are erected near
the line of the Railroad, the lumber from which
comman ds at all times a ready sale.

Indian Corn. — This is perhaps the mo.'st importent
crop in the country. It is applied to such a great
variety of purposes, and is so indispensable an
article for foreign consumption, that however abun-
dantly it may be produced, the constantly increas-
ing demand will press heavily upon the supply. la
1859 the United States yielded 827,694,528 bushels,
of which Illinois contributed 115.296,779, about
fifty millions of bushels more than any other State ;
and from the greater breadth of land which will be
planted in 1863, we may fairly calculate that the
next harvest will afiford 150,000,000 bushels. Illi-
nois stands pre-eminently first in the list of corn-
producing States.

Wheat. — For the culture of wheat the lands of
the Illinois Central Railroad are in all respects
equal to any in the State. One great advantage
which these lands have, is their nearness to the Rail-
road, by which the purchaser has the means of put-
ting his crop in the market at the earliest or most
favorable time, and at a cheap rate of transportation.
During last year the stations on this road sent for-
ward to market 4,688,755 bushels of wheat, besides
567,627 barrels of flour. In Southern Illinois, win-
ter wheat is almost certain to yield a good return
to the grower. The reaping, threshing and clean -
machines, now so generally in use, have made wheat
growing a source of great profit to the farmer.

COTTON. — It seems well established that cotton is
to become a remunerative crop in the southern part
of Illinois. It was cultivated last year in almost
every town south of Centralia, and if wc regard the
planting ae an experiment, the result is completely
satisfactory. It would be a low estimate to assume
that 5,'^00 bales of ginned cotton were grown in
this State last year. The reports that come in are
in the highest degree favorable, and there are nn-
merous indications that the planting this spring has
been increased four fold. It would be fair to pre-
sume that all, or nearly all the seed grown in the
State, has been planted but it is impossible to state
the quantity with exactness. In March and April
there was a large demand made upon the neighbor-
ing States, (particularly Tennessee), for cotton
seed, and up to the 1st of May more than one hun-
dred tons had been sent forward from Cairo and
distributed at the following points on the Illinois
Central Railroad. The quantity is given in sacks
of fifty pounds each :

Carbondale, . .711 sacks.
Jonesboro, ... 64 "

Dongola, 117 "

Villa Ridge,.. 49 "
Cobden, 21 "

Sandoval,. . . .140 sacks,

Centrlia, 63 "

Ashly, 115 "

Richview, 447 "

Tamaroa, 197 "

Du Quoin,.. 1245 "

Tobacco. — It is supposed that fully|ll,000,000
fts. of tobacco were grown in Illinois last year,
much of it, particularly that produced in the south-
ern part of the State, of the very finest quality.
It is well known that, besides producing more

1364.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

pounds per acre, the grade of tobacco from new
lands is of superior description to that from old
lands. The average pioduce per acre is consid-
erably larger here than in Virginia; and of the Illi-
nois Central lands now oifered for sale, there are
many thousands of acres equal, if not superior to
any tobacco lands in the world. Benring in mind
the fact that the industry hitherto directed to the
cultivation of the plant in Virginia ; and North
Carolina, and the tobacco States, has in a measure
'been diverted into other channels, it is almost cer-
tain that for years to come tobacco must bear a
greatly enh;inced price.

Fruit. — Much attention is directed to Southern
Illinois, on account of its p'^culiar adaptation to
fruit raising. It ha' the advantage of early season,
as well as a soil especially suited to the giowing of
fruits and vegetables, together with unequalled rail-
road facilities, by means of which the product is
brought to the very door of all great markets of
the North-West. Fruit placed upon the cars in the
eve. will reach Chicago the next morning. St.Louis
is still nearer th in Chicago ; and strawberries, toma-
toes, etc., are supplit^d to Cincintiati nearly a fort-
night in alvanceofthe ripening of these luxuries
in the immediate neighbourhood of that city. It is
the early market that gives the greatest profit to
tlie fruit grower. This very year, strawberries,
from C'lbden and Makanda were placed in Chicago
as early as the 14th of May. The Railroad Compa-
ny supplies every eonvenien'-e for transporting fruit
to market. Cars are run with especial reference to
this branch »f trafic, and the time of running the
trains i- so adjusted as best to suit the requirements
of shippers. Southernllinois has become the best
f.uit growing region of America. While every part
of Illinois is to some extent adapted to fruit culture,
it is onlv in the southern part of the State tliat all
conditions are found in the highest perfection.
Pears, apples, peaches, grapes and st' awberries, are
produced in all abudance. During the last year up-
wards of 200,000 fru t trees were platited in or-
chards south of Centralia, within six miles of the
railroad track : but no matter to what extent they
may bemuliiplied, the demand for fruit will alway.-^
be in advance of the capacity to furnish what is
wanted.

Stock Raising. — Illinois is the great stock-raising
State of the countr — sending two thousand head
of beef cattle a week to the New York market.

In the census return of 1859 the live stock
in Illinois had a valuatian of $24,209,258, and
in 1860 it had incre.ised to $73,434,621— only
two States (New York and Pennsylvania)
exceeding that amount of value. The raising
of stock for market has been the source
of many fortunes in Illinois. The Company has
large tracts of land well adapted by nature to the
raising of cattle, sheep, horses and mules — better
adapted, indeed, than are the lands of almost any
other State of the Union. During the year 1862,
the Illinois Central Railroad has brought to Chica-
go, from various stations along the line, upwards
of 80,000 head of beef cattle, and about 10,000
sheep. Wool growing is a branch of industry that
canivjt be overdone, and will inevitably be largely
increased.

partment at Washington, by J. C. Thompson, of
Tompkinsville, Staten Island : —

"For winter use, before the first frost select a dry,
clear day. Cut the vines with a scythe, leaving
the stem to which the* potatoes are attached, three
or four inches long, to lift them by. The Tines
arc readily eaten by cattle. Use a fork for raising
the potatoes ; lift them by the stem, and lay them
on the ridge to dry. In a few hours they will be
ready to pack. Prepare plenty of dry cut straw
(old is preferable), and take straw and barrels or
boxes to the field. Select the best potatoes, hand-
ling them carefully without bruising them. Put a
layer of straw at the bottom of the barrel and
then alternate layeis of potatoes and straw untilit
is filled. The barrels are then to be moved to a dry
room or cellar, where there will be no frost. If
they are placed in a cellar they must be raised from
the floor, and must n»t touch the wall. Keeping
warm and dry is the secret of their preservation.
They will keep six or eight months and improve in
quality. From one plot of ground 39 by 100 feet,
I gathered, in October last, 43J bushels."

Preserving Sweet Potatoes.

The following mode of preserving sweet potatoes
is given in the last report of the Agricultural De-

Chieeory.

Mr EniTOR — Having noticed in one of last spring
numbers of the RuraL American, an article on the
cultivation of ehiceory, and of its being an excel-
lent substitute for coffee, I was induced to send to
you to obtain some of the seed, and try my luck
with its cultivation. Well, you sent me an ounce
of seed, with instructions to cultivate, with a prom-
ise to instruct us how to prepare it tor the table.
Now, I sowed the seed, and cultivated the plants
according to instruction, except I sowed about as
thick again. I think, as I ought to, oonsequeutly,
the plants did not grow as large as they would if it
had been sown on perhaps twice the amount of
ground. But as it was, I got about eight bushels
of roots.

We prepare it for use in this way : Wash the
roots clean, and then slice them up in slices about
a quarter to half an inch long, and then place it on
tins, and dry it in the stove oven till it is about
the consistency of roasted coffee, and then pound
it up. and it is fit for use, and is cooked the same as
any other coffee. It think that it is far prefera-
ble to any other substitute that I have ever used ,
and, in fact, I think it is about as good as the real
coffee, an 1 I am well convinced that it is much
more healthy.

If you have any better way for preparing it for
the t ible, will you please tell us in your next num-
ber as you promised last spring.

Yours Truly, g. h. p.

Cotton Raising in Iowa. — Hon. Isaac Newton,
the commissioner of the Agricultural Department,
has received a letter, dated Washington, Iowa,
November 26th, in which the writer says: "We
had a frost about the 20th of September, but not
sufficient to hinder an average crop (cotton.) I
made 1,200 pounds of cotton to the acre this sea-
son. The 'green seed' will turn out better than any
other cotton, while the 'North Carolina' does ex-
ceedingly well." The cotton seed from which this
cotton was raised was furnished by the Agricultu-
ral Department.

:^^»rT'"?^r'iW*T3p3!P57s» "^.^

THE ILLmOIS FARMER

Jan.

Illinois State Horticultural Society.

WINTER MEETING.

',7.JZ FIRST DAY MORNINC. SESSION.

Alton, Dec. 15, 1863.
I jThe Society met this nion.ir.g in tlie Mercantile
Hall, a fine building just coinpictcrl, and owned by
Mr. Reed ; President Minior in tlie chair. The at-
tendance was very fair eoiisideriin^ tli,,t only the
Ohio and Missis.sippi r.nd Oiiicago and Alton rail-
roads grant return pa.^sea. We can see no renso:i
why tlie railroad companies slioiiM r.nt p:i'nit the
same courtesies to t'uis valuable State intitution,
that thoy do to the State A^iriiruitural Soci- ty,
more especially the Illinois <^>,:!itiMl. which !s so
deeply interested in the progress of fruit culture
and market gardenias from <.'lur;.go to Cairo. We
observe but oi:e mcmbv^r ir,.!;i tljat part of the
State, reaching a distance ol' ;jt).> in h s, and no one
from the main line, but we tsu-t th;;t more will ar-
rive. Over fifty meniiiers fiave aiiswen-d to the
roll call and taken their sear-;

S. G. Minkler, of Spicit- Giovo, offered the fol-
lowing resolution :

Resolved, That each ses-'oii of liie soci'ty be
openvd with prayer; th't tlv.' clergy of the city be
invitfd to conduct thereligi.iiKcxireises ; and that
in the absence of the ek'r:^^, ( iie preS'-nt session
be opened with prayer i)-- t!:e I'rtvidvnt.

The resolution was ndoptiNl.

An ap/iropriate prayer wis made by the Presi-
dent, memi'ds risi';g to th i. l"( t. W. ('. Fhigg,
Corrtsponding Secretary, g'(<'tvd and welcomed
the society to this city, on li-h.;lf of iis citizens.

Mr. Miller, chairman of tl;' committee of recep-
tion appointed l.'y the A!to- Flortienltiiral Soeict}-,
stated that it was the puipos and pleasure of the
citizen;' to entertain mcHibcr.s ut their homes, dur-
ing their stay in the city, U'd suggested a rece>sof
ten minutes, that i!;embir-) nrglt register their
names and be a^s'gned placs by the ccnnmittce.

C. D. Braglon moved t';at delegates present
from societies be requested to liand in their names
and credentials to the Secret iries. Carried.

The following nanvnl p -rsoiis were reported :

II. T. Mudd, Dr. H Cl.gg tt, J J, Kelley, dele-
gates from the St. Loi;is Horticultural Society; H.
T. Mudd Gi'O. Husiiiann and John Scherer, dele-
gates fiom the Missouri Stat llorticnltural Societv.

By vote, these gcntli-men were invited to take
seats with, and participiite in the discussions by the
society.

President Minier th"n read his annual nddress
It was mainly congratulitory. The suggestions of
importance in it were tin- appointment of a com-
mittee, a standing committie, in CHch of the three
(or more) g'and divisions or fiuit sections of the
State, to report and revise fruit lists adapted to
these sections respe>i fully.- And he suggested
■whether the Vice Presidents of the Societj — one
in each Congressional district — might not with
propriety do this work, they hav only nominal du-
ties to perform.

He call'd attention to the fact that the " Old
Guard," the veterans in horticultural service, are

passing away, and suggested the importance of fill
ing up the ranks with recruits.

He reviewed the history of the Society's Fair at
Rockford, and congratulated the Society upon its
i moral ami financial success.

He called attention to the fact that the rnilroads
of tiie State do not adequately recognize the service
this society is doing and has done them, by promo-
ting the production of fruit for market, and in-
creasing tlie ;imount transported over their lines.
H'^urg'd that a more liberal recognition of the
work of this society on the part of railroad compa-
nies woul 1 be only what is due the society, and no
d im, ge to railroiid interests.

H«' called the attention of members to the pro-
priety of paying greater attention to the cultivation
of the honey-bee, in connection with horticulture.

He also urged the propriety of investigating the
claims of the Ailanthus silk-worm of China, recent-
ly introduced in this country.

The address was brief, sound and suggestive ;
and was, on motion, referred to a committee of
three, consisting of Dr. Long, of Alton ; Jno. Hig-
gins, of Woodburn, and S. Shepherd, of Hennepin.

On motion, W. C. Flagg, Dr. E. S. Hull, W. F.
Miller, were appoinned a committee on Pro-
gramme.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Messrs. Pheonix, Bryant and Stewart were ap-
pointed a committee on Fruits ; Mr. Husmann and
Mr. Mudd, of Mo., Dr. Shroder, Dr. Warder and
Whitney, committee on Wines, of which there is a
good display.

The Treasurer reported cash on hand of $116, af-
ter paying the expenses of the Rockford Fair, and
other expenses, up to this date, showing the Socie-
ty in a good, healthy condition.

The Corresponding Secretarx made a verbal re-
port, stating that he had been endeavoring to get
fruit lists from different parts of the State, repre-
senting the principal distinct leealities. To thi.^
end he had distributed about 5*^0 circulars, and
had received replies from about one-tenth of
them. From these replies he had been laboring to
make a report : but circumstances had prevented
his completing it. He asked that it be referred to
the Executiue Committee, and, if approved by
them, that he have further time wherein to com-
plete it. The matter was referred to the Executive
Committee.

DIVISIONS OF THE STATE.

This proved a knotty question in which the
meeting soon became tangled up, and it was finally
decided to compromise the matter between science
and convenience, and adopted the line of the Lo-
gansport, Peoria & Burlington railroad, for the
southern limit of Northern Illinois, and the Terre
Haute and Alton railroad that of the northern lim-
it of Southern Illinois.

APPLE LISTS FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

The list of summer apples recommended by the
society heretofore for general cultivation was taken
up, read over, and where members objected to any
on the list, such objection was stated, and the ob-
jector moved to strike it from the list.

Early Harvest. — M. L. Dunlap, of Champaign
county, moved to strike it from the list. He had
fruited it in North Illinois fifteen years, and had
got but two crops from it. He would strike it out j

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

would scarcely put it in the list for amateurs, al-
though it was an excellent table apple.

J, tf. Sliearman, of Winnebago county — The tree
of the Eurly Harvest is rather tendt r with me to
succeed well.

W. C. Fl;igg. of Midison county — I have looked
over forty lists of apples from gentlemen in differ-
ent parts of the State, with a view to learn which
variety is the m'lst fr quently recommended, and
it is found to be the E rly Harvest.

0. B, Galusha, of Kendall county — There is no
other fruit to take it-i place in its season. That is
why I sh:ll vote to retain it.

J. H. Stewart, of Ad.uns county — The American
Pomolofrical Society has recommended it, basing
the recommendation n\rm lists furni.~hed them from
all parts of the country, and I think their recom-
mendations sliould stand.

Mr. Shearman — It by no means follows that we
of Northern Illinois should be governed in our se-
lection lif varieties in our locality by what the
American Pomological Society may recommend.

A. R. VVhitnev, of Lee county — I have marketed
about twenty bbis of tliis variety the past season,
from old tiees; and it is as good and hardy in the
nurserv with me as it is good in the orchard It
should be cultivated early in the season, and lei
alone late.

Voted to retain it on the list.

Yelloin June. — This apple was identified as Kirk-
bridge \^'^hite ; i. e. the apple on the list as Yellow
June is vot the Yellow June, but the above named
fruit, and the list was corrected in this respect.

The Yellow Jane. — W. C. Flagg moved to add it
to tlie list.

C. R. Overman, of McLean county — It is not to
be reco > mended because of its superior quality,
but because of its earlii^ess. It occupies a distinct
place in the season. I know of no other variety
to put ill its place.

Mr. Dunlap moved to amend, recommending it
for further trial. It was so recommended.

Benoni was added to the list for general cultiva-
tion.

The list of Autumn Apph's was taken up.

Makkh's Blush. — 0. B. Galijsha moved that it
be struck from the list for general cultivation.

Mr. Overman — It is one of the most profitable
apples of the season. It will always be popular.
The people will have and pay for it.

Mr. Oalusha— If the people have a depraved
taste, we want to correct it. This society is not
organized to follow public opinion, but to lead it
-—to educate taste.

The Maiden's Blush is not worthy of cultivation
to gratify anybody's taste,

Mr. Overman — The right estimate of the value
of anything is obtained by compiirison. I would
very much rather have the Maiden's Blush than
the Keswick Codlin.

Mr. Stewart, of Adams county — We cannot give
up the Maiden's Blush. It is a most profitable
market fruit — ^a good bear r, handles well, bears
transportation well, and sells well when in market.

Mr. Redfield — It is a cheat, a snare and a delu-
sion.

D. Andrews — To recommend this apple is to be
fifty years behind the times. While it is beautiful
and tempting, it is worthless to any one with or-
dinary good taste'

Mr. Stewart-^ We cannot ignore the popular de-

mand. We have produced and sold thousands of
barrelsof them ; and the public estimation of the
fruit is the best test of its merit.

Mr. Galusha — If we follow to the position taken
by the gentleman from Adams county, we shall
graft and cultivate the Milam and other worthless
varieties, that are good-looking and yet vile trash.
We musf lead public opinion and taste I again
urge the rejection of this apple.

Mr. Barton, of Madison county — He had been
told by fruit dealers in this city that there is more
money in the Maiden's Blush, for shipment to Chi-
cago and the N^orth, than in any other variety of
apples.

Mr. Flagg — Chicago contains a class of people
who like large and fine-colored apples, regardless
of their quality.

Mr. Bragdon — The reason why Chicago people
pay so much for the Maiden's Blush is because they
are governed in their purchases largely by the
price asked for a fruit. Because it is fair and
beautiful, the dealers charge much more for it than
for much better apples. Because they charge more
nine-tenths of the consumers suppose it the best
the market affords, and purchase accordingly. —
Your best fruit goes to market without any in>truc-
tions to dealers as to the relative value or real
merit of varieties. You charge him no more for ft
good than for a poor variety. In nine cases out
of ten you do not label your fruit, so that the con-
sumer, who is rarely a promologist, knows nothing
of the indifferent-looking fruit ; and if he does hap-
pen to get hold of it, and wants more, he has no
name by which he can call it and ask for more.
He cannot describe it, and he takes the best offer-
ed him next time. Name your fruit as it goes into
market, make the dealer pay more for the best, and
insist that he ask more for it, a taste will quickly
be educated to distinguish between the good and
the indifferent.

Mr. Bryant — ^This discussion is not one in which
I take mu'^h interest. It seenis to be a dispute be-
tween taste and profit. JtTTsa jioor but profitable
apple ; and whatever we may do with it, so long
as it will sell it will be cultivated.
The motion to strike from the list was lost.
Bowel. — Mr. Galusha — It has a reputation for
blighting. 1 ask for information on that point.

Mr. Andrews, of Winnebago county — It is a fav-
orite apple with me. I am glad that it is brought
up. Where I have known it, it has been very
profitable — the most profitable of any apple I
know. It should be more cultivated than it is. It
does not blight where I know it.

Mr. Murtfeldt corroborated the above statement
and the variety was recomended for trial.

Holland Pippin. — Mr Galusha moved that it be
added to the list for general cultivation. It is su-
perior to the Maiden's Blush, and he wonld have
put it in its place if he could have got the latter
stricken from the list. It was added to the list.

Dyer. — Mr. Bryant moved to add the Dyer to
the Hit of fall apples for amateur cultivation. He
spoke in very high terms of it. It was so added.

Rawle't Janet — Mr. Dunlap moved to strike oat
this apple from the list of winter apples for gen-
eral cultivation. He had fruited it for fifteen
years, but had grown but one good crop of it dur-
ing that time. He had yet to hear of its ripening
well in the north part of the state, it had the ap-
pearance of immaturity. In the south part of the

8

THE ILLINOIS FARMEK.

Jan.

State it was valuable and should be in their list,
but north it must give place to a better apple.

Mr. Murtfedlt — It is a good apple with me. It
is productive. Its chief merit is that it blossoms
late, and is sure to escitpe late spring frosts.

Mr. Whitney — It b ars well with me. The great
trouble is that it overbears.

Mr. Minkler — That is precisely its character with
me.

Mr. Galusha — There are lots of money in it.

Mr. Dunlap— Coe says that the trees should be
root-griifted — my trees are top or stock-grafted ;
that m:iy make the difference.

Mr. Whitn'='y — My trees are both root and top-
grafted. It does equally well on both.

Mr. Redfield — It bears better if it is top-grafted.
It is a poor fruit unless well cultivated

Mr. Dunlan withdrew his motion.

G-ilpm or LHtle Romanite, &c — Mr. Galusha — I
move than it be struck from the list. It has a rich
juice and the property of keeping well. But it is
not fit in its raw state, to put into the hnman
stomach.

Mr. Murtfddt — tt is an excellent baking npple,
good for sweet pickles, and an excellent market
apple.

Mr.^^VTiHqey — It is one of the best apples, if not
the best for spring ci(ier. Cider manufactuied
from it in the spring will sell at a dollar per gal-
lon, and it keeps-w^I till spring.

The motion was lost.

Paradise Winter Sweet — Mr. Muitfeldt moved
that they be added to the list of wintei- apples for
general cultivation. It was so added.

EVENING SESSION.

Mr. Galusha moved the appointment of a com-
mittee for each division of tlie State, to report a
list of apples : 1st for market purposes ; 2d for
family use ; 3d for trial.

Messrs. Galu.^ha, Whitney and Murtfehit, for
Northern Illinois ; Messrs. Stewart, Hull and Over-
man for Central Illinois ; and Messrs. Baker, Flagg
and Wright for Southern lilinois.

PEACH CULTURE.

Dr. E. S. Hull, of Alton, read an essay on peach
culture. The Dr. is one of the most successful and
intelligent cultivators of the pe ich, and the essay
attracted no small attention, as will he seen by the
discussion. We prefer to let tlie Dr. speak for
him-'elf, and therefore copy his essay :

*'It may be considered an axiom in horticulture,
that all of our cultivated [il uits do best in a soil
and atmosphere that most nearly resembles that of
the countries of which thev are natives; and that
any great removal from these conditions will re-
quire some difference ©f treatment at the hands of
the cu'tivator.

It is true that the peach will exist within wide
StEiits of latitude ; that in almost all sections of the
"world, whi-re the severity of winter does not kill
■the trees, or wherever the cold of the southern
wntfcrs is sufficient to give the trees a period of
rest, the peach tree will grow. There are facts,
liowever in vegetable physiology that are of the
highest importance to the horticulturist. To learn
the eondJtions of success in the prosecution ef any
objeet, is a.-atep in the direct path. Merely empir-
ical >«ffQiitSiadd nothing to the general store of I

knowledge where many conditions are combined,
and it can be of no permaneet value to be able
from actual observation to record all the changes
of phenomena of a seed by the peach from the pe-
riod of germination and growth ; to give the ele-
ments that ohtei- into its sti ucture ; or to be able
to state with accuracy the several ingredients and
the exact proportions of each of which the soil is
composed, — so long as the real cause of the action
is unknown or unexplained, or the natural struc-
ture of plants are disregarded. Various results
are produeed by a deviatioii from the laws which
regulated the formation of vegetable secretions.
Light and heat are the agents, though not the only
agents, upon which all plants dipend ; and as light
and heat increase or decrease, so must the treat-
ment of plants be varied to suit the altered condi-
tions to which we would subvert them.

The peach is generally considered to be really
indigenious only to parts of Persia or China ; and
from the former country to have been early intro-
duced into Italy; thence to different p«rts of Eu-
rope and into England about the year 1550; thence
to Spain and France, and by the colonists into the
United States. But whether the peach is really
indigenious only to the countries first named, is a
qu stion we consider open for investigation. It
was recorded by Father Hennepin, who was the
first who has given us a description of the regions
of Louisiana as it then was. In his voyage down
the Mississippi river, he describes the peach trees
discovered by him in all those regions as being of
great size. Father Hennepin's statements, taken
in connection with recent observations of the
Creole or native sorts, by which it is known that
the trees of the more southern portions of Alabama,
Mississippi and Louisiana bloom from two to three
weeks earlier than cither the seedling or improved
Virii'ties of the North when removed to those
States, has led to the belief that those sections of
country may justly claim the peach to be a native
habitant of those parts of the world also.

Botanists regard the peach and nectarine as only
slight varieties of each other, differing only in the
skin, with a perctpitable Prussic acid flavor in the
neetarine not contained in the former fruit. Many
insfances are recorded of both peaches and necta-
rines growing on the same tree and branch, with-
oit artificial aid. Horticulturists are, I believe,
agreed in considering them one species of fruit
which they have arranged in four divisions, viz:

1. Peaches — those whose flesh separates freely
fnim both skin and stone.

2 The Free-Stone smooth peaches or necta-
rines.

3. The Cling-Stone peach, the flesh adhering to
the stone and skin.

4. The Smooth-Skinned peaches, or nectarines
the flesh adhering to the stone.

There are other divisions necessary to be under-
stood before any -certain progress can be made in
id'-ntifying varietieshf the peach. These relate to
the leaves, and are divided into three classes :

1. Trees whose leaves are crenated or sawed to
a moderate depth, or have globular glands on the
foot-stalk.

5. Those whose leaves are crenated and have ear
or kidney-shaped glands.

3. Those whose leaves are deeply sawed or tooth-
ed, and are without glands on or near the foot-
stalk.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

^.

Let the horticultural student acquaint himself
with these several characteristics, and then divide
these into two sections, — the one having large
flowers and the other small flowers. He may then
proceed with the examination of fruit<, and will,
with the aid of the distinctions named, be able to
arrive at some dt finite results ; will be able to give
satisfactory reasons why this or that variety of
fruit is the one under consideration. Without a
correct understanding of these natur.il divisions of
the peach, but little knowledge can be reached in
the nomenclature of sorts.

To the English much is due that has been writ-
ten on the growth and cultivation of the peaeh. —
Perhaps it is a little curious that we shonld have
adopted so many of the principles of our transat-
lantic brethren in the management of our trees.
They have written treatise on treatise to demon-
strate the^ course pursued in Britain; they have
provided us with books descriptive of their mode
of practice, and gardens to re-produce in our soil
and climate what they have learned at home. How
preposterous it would be to introduce their modes
of practice into this country will appear when we
consider that, out of all the known species of
fruits, only strawberries and gooseberries attain
perfection in their climate ; and that all other
fruits require specific attention to secure a limited
degree of success in Englai,d, when the sun can
but seldom show a disc brighter than would appear
to the beholder here when viewed through smoked
glass, and where the moisture in both the ground
and atmosphere is in excess, a eoldne^s of soil ex-
ists, the effects of which it becomes of the fir~t im-
portance to guard agrtinst. Hence we find the
English gardener reducing the roots of all plants
to one type — that of the fibrous-rooted, that they
may not penetrate to so great a d-prh as to be be-
low the infiuenee of the warmth imparted to the
soil by the sun's rays.

Here, where in the main the temperature of the
earth exceeds in warmth that of the atmosphere,
we have followed the example of our English cous-
ins, and received our trees from the hands of nur-
serymen after the foreign sample. Nov does it ap-
pear that we have ever thought it best to inquire
into how many nntural divisions the roots of trees
are divided, nor the reasons which have induced
the English to disregard those di\ isions.

How few either of our orchard sts or nursery-
men, wh o have bestowed much thought on the nat-
ural requirements of the peach tree; or have for
once considered the nature of the roots with which
they have to deal ? Supposing as is common, that
trees with a mass of fibrons roots ate such as are
best suited to their wants, without recognizing the
fact that nature has made the roots of :;11 cufiiva-
ted treesof two types, viz: the one w th tap roots
or with its main rrot extending perpendicularly
downward to a great depth, those portions below
the soil very much resembling the branches of a
tree whose main stem or trunk tapi rs regularly to
the top. This model or type is called deep-feed rs
or tap-rooted, and to this type the peach i oot be-
longs. The other model is known as the forcicu-
lated, or fibrous rooted, or sui face-feeders, being
destitute of the main or tap root, dividing just be
low the surface of the soil. No models could he
devised that would so cle irly ind cate the require-
ments of the two classes of roots as those <iescrib-
ed. This difference in the formation of roots may

be made serviceable to the horticulturist in several
ways.

When the trees of both types are planted near
I each other, each will seek much of its nourishment
I as though- the other was nut present. The deep-
j feeder will draw its food deep down in the s</il ; the
other, owing to the more complete diversion of its
; roots, branching latterally just below the surface
( of the soil, reaching out in all directions, without
I penetrating to any great depth. The surface-feed-
1 ers will, when'growing vigorously, destroy all with-
' in their reach.

By a proper mingling of the two, two plants may
literally be said to grow where only one grew be-
fore. Hence it is in bringing forward an orchard
that advantage should be taken of the- kind of
roots we cultivate.

For example, most persons wish to grow some
crop under the trees until they are so fir advanced
as to take possession Of the soil. Oidy those plunts
that are of the opposite type should be u-ed.

Corn and potatoes are found to do well among
peach trees. Corn, deriving all its food war the
surface, is, in all things considered, the best crop
to plant, and the one gner^lly, employed. It would
be far more valuable for the object named than it
is, but for the practice so universally adopted — "
that of forcing the trees to become surface instead
of deep-feeders. To this wholesale mutilation and
deprivation of the natural structure of the peach
tree is due many of the failures and diseases now
so common in this country.

This tree, by nature so well adapted to our cli-
mate and soil, and so jidmimbly adapted by its pe-
culiar structure to draw its support from a depth
rarely affected by drouth, has, by reason of being
forced to derive a sc:inty supply of nourishment
from light and sandy soils, aft^r the nnmner (5£:^trr-
face-feedera, beconie so enfeebled th t, in many
parts of the United States, where it was formerly
vigorous and productiv(% its cultivation is now
nearly or quite abandoned.

The limits of this paper will not admit, and I do
not propose if it would, to go into the whole de-
tails of planting, but simply to describe, hs briefly
as possible, my own mode, leaving the more tech-
nical points to be brought out by the discussions.

It is of the first importance that the soil should
be deep, rich iind free ftoin an excess of moisture
to as great a depth as the roots of the tree will
penetrate. If these conditions cannot be secured,
better not plant at all ; oth.rwi.se the attempt will
cost more than the fruit will be worth.

No peach tree should be planted in ground not
moved to the depth of at le 'St three feet, and if
holes are dug instead of loosening the whole ground,
they should be dug out at least five feet in diame-
ter, and filled in with g od soil; not less than one
wagon-load of manure should be mixed with the
earth of six or seven holes, at the time of filling
up.

Having your trees ready, and the bruised ends of
the roots smoothed off, spread out the roots in the
soil where they are to rem.iin, in as natural a po-
sition as po8.sible ; then fill in the soil, not tramp-
ing the soil about them as 3 on proceed, until the
excavation is filled even with the surrounding sur-
face. If the tree has been planted in a hole, the
earth will settle with the tree, about three or four
inches. If, however, your planting is to be done
in ground, the whole of which has been deeply

SttiAfr'ifiii r ' 1

10

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

Jan.

worked, you may put your tree three or four inch-
es dei-per than it slood in the nursery.

Si' ce it is true that our chemists agree that barn-
yanl munure contains all that is essential to the
wclfiire of our fruit trees, you may maka as liberal
use of it as cither your convenience or purse will
allow ; and that, too, without troubling; yourself a
great deal about the specific ingredients so much
needed in the development of healthy trees.

We s*hould recoHect.in pruning our trees, that to
the healthy action of the leaves we owe much of
our success in fruit-growing. They collect, through
the medium of the roots and the atmo?phere, all
tho*e ingredients so necessary to the vital welfare
of the pliints. The crude juices taken up by the
roots, and all the food they absorb from the air, in
them undergo that chemical change from which
the structural cells are formed. Most of the im-
proved varieties of the peach have larger leaves
than are produced by the healthy seedlings, which
will direct your attention to the fact that they must
in proportion to their increased size, be fewer in
number. They must be carefully cared for. If the
tree is showing fruit, they must be so subordinated,
by careful pruning until the fruit shall, by the de-
mand on the tree, prevent the further formation
of leaves, except at the extremity of the vertical
or leading branches, that each individual leaf shall
receive its full share of work in the maturing a full
crop of large and high colored fault, and at the
same time, provide the extra share of material that
is needed for the safety of the fruit germs for the
succeeding year.

No art can produce the sugar and certain flavors
of fruit due to the agency of light and heat, nor
can it impart that degree of health due to those
agents. Hence it should always be remembered
that no two leaves should be allowed to so far
compete for light as to lessen their utmost limits
of growth.

One other remark and I am done. Were I called
upon to describe two conditions of success of the
most importance in the growth and management
of the Peach, I should say :

1. Do all in your power to restore and encour-
age the dct'p-rooting of your plants.

2. The pruning of the trt'cs on the principle
herein described.

To these add continued stirring of the soil dur-
ing the period of growth the judicious thinning of
the fruit, the removal of borers, &c., &c. Other
conditions being favorable, your success will be
certain."

At the close, the Doctor submitted the following

list for orchard planting,
of the figures annexed :

1 — Serrate Early York.
2 — Haines Early Red.
8 — Large Early York.
3 — Earfy Crajyford.
4 — Bergen's'S'eliow.
-Old Mixon Free.

These are in the order

5 — George the Fourth,

5 — Late Crawford.

6 — Late Admirable.

6 — Columbia.

1 — Smock.

8— Heath Cling.

The system of deep holes recommended by Dr.
Hull, was assailed by several members as not adap-
ted to clay soils or in any other than soils naturally
dry like the bluffs along the river, as is the loca-
tion of the Doctor.

Mr. Colman, editor of the Valley Farmer, made
an attempt to add several cling peaches to the list,
but the taste of members evidently did not run to
clings. After various attempts to strike out and

add to the Doctor's list, it was adopted without
chavge.

Hale's Early was recommended for trial. It ia
said that this is the earliest peach of the season,
Mr. Teas, of Indiana, claimed that it is ten days
earlier than Serrate Early York, our earliest peach.
Mr. Baker, of South Pass, had fruited it last sum-
mer, and found it some seven days in advance of
the Serrate Early York, and nearly ten days ahead
of Troth's Early," which is the earliest peach sent
to the Chicago market in any quantity. In this
connection, considerable sparring was had over
the value of the Serrate Early York as a market
peach. Dr. Hull said its only value was its earli-
ness, and that some of the Serrate (saw-edged) va-
rieties were of little value. The growers from the
South part of the State found this variety of no
value, and depended mainly on Troth's Early for
an early market peach, and they had great confi-
dence that Hale's Early would prove a valuable
addition to the list of early peaches.

It may be interesting to state the time of ripen-
ing of peaches, as set forth by growers, both at
Alton and Cobden.

At Cobden— Hale's Early, July, 1st ; Early Til-
lotson, 5th; Troth's Early, lOth ; Large Early
York, 15th ; Honest John, 20th ; Early Crawford,
25th ; Coolage's Favorite, August 1st ; Old Mixon
Free, 10th; Late Crawford, 15th; Lagrange, Sept.
1st; Smock, 5th.

At Alton — Early Tillotson ripens July 5th. By
this, planters and others can see what varieties to
select for a succession of this delicious fruit.

The rule requiring twelve votes to place any
new fruit on the list, was changed to six, and^
majority of all the votes cast.

PLANTING AND CULTURE.

The discussion under this head took a wide range,
but the conclusion arrived at was that trees should
be planted no deeper than they stood in the nur-
sery, and that the ground should be deeply plowed,
not less than a foot deep ; that deep holes should
not be employed unless the soil was thoroughly
underdrained, either naturally or artificially. One
man would plant one or two feet deeper than they
grew in the nursery, but he was soon laughed down

as a quack.

Several members came in on the evening trains,

among them a large delegation from Cobden.

Several of these members, fruit growers, took
an active part in the discussion of the peach. The
Alton people admired Haine's Early red, while the
Cobden growers have Troth's Early. An attempt
was made to prove them identical, but it was not
conclusive. If not the same peach they must be
very similar. The discussion brought out the fact
that peach orcharding has received a new impetus
the past year, aad that nearly all the peach trees
in the nurseries, both East and West, have been
disposed of. The Michigan planters have cleaned
the East of peach trees, and our own planters the
large stocks in this State and Missouri. The pros-
pect is that this fruit will in the course of three or
four years be more abundant, if not cheaper.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

11

SECOND DAY'S SESSION.

AtTON, Dec. 16, 186S.
This morning Alton came out in the regal robes
of winter, dashing as a belle, but without the
aleigh-bclls so necessary to realize the poetry of
the occasion. The seven inches of snow lay soft
and fleecy, but as no sleighs came, the weather
king became disgusted, and the result has been a
drizzling rain all day, and by to-morrow, if this
state of thing continues, the city will be bathed
in mud.

MOBNING SESSIOX.

A letter was read from Gen. Wil!?on, of the State
Board of Agriculture of Iowa, asking information
in regard to certain parties from Illinois selling
White Willow cuttings in Iowa. Yesterday a
committee was appointed to report on the subject,
and thoy say they do not know the patties named,
but as they have the evidence that thousands of
willow cutting^ were taken from our swamps and
creek bottoms List winter, and sold for the White
Willow, it stands our Iowa friends in hand to be
careful of whom they purchase, and to see that
the parties can give good references

A letter was read from Mr. Henry Ware, of Mar-
blehead, Ma-sachusets, stating that he grew, on
fourteen acres, seven thousand bushels of onions
of the Danver.^ silver skin variety. Mr. W, sug-
gests that onions can be cheaply and certainly
grown on the prairies. The new lands are clear of
weeds, and we should pay more attention to "the
crop.

The committee made the following

REPORT ON THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

The committee to whom was referred the Presi-
dent's address respectfully report that, highly ap-
preciating the spirit and sentiments of the addrrss
gener. lly, they are specially bound to report for
the expression of the Society, the resolve that we
most earnestly urge the formation of Horticultural
Associations in towns, counties, and large districts
all over the State, that through them we may
learn the comparative value of each fruit in the
diflFeront parts of the State, under the modifying
conditions of climate, soil, and situation.

We recommend further, a vote of thanks to the
Horticultural Society at Rockford for their gener-
ous and most complete arrangements for the far
of this society, held there last September. To
them is justly due the credit of those nieasures
that resulted in such gratifying success to our
cause.

We further note as worthy of your attention, the
information that an insect has been discovered ca-
pable of subsisting on the leaf of the Ailanthus,
and producing, without care or protection, a silk
of good quality. We recommend the appointment
of a committee to inquire into the matter, and re-
port to this Society at an early day.

We report further to you, that we note with re-
gret the persistent refusal of the managers of the
Illinois Central Railroad, and Terre Haute and Al-
ton Railroad, to extend to the members of this So-
ciety the courtesies awarded by most other roads

to_all organized associations laboring for the bene
fit of the public. And we here enter and record
our solemn protest against such a policy, as most
unjust and oppressive to us, as we have been and
are laboring gratuitously, at a heavy expense of
time and means, for the development of thofc re-
sources of our common country thst already have,
and in the future will still more, abundantly in-
crease the revenues of these railroads.

The report was adopted.

A Committee consisting of Messrs. Overman,
Earle, Flagg and the President were appointed to
confer with the railroad companies in regard to the
above subject.

DR. L0?fG ON THE PEAR.

Seekel, hardy and proStaide. Oswef^o Bucrre
blighted the fifth year ; would recommonu it for
further trial, as it is a valuable pear. Biicrre Bose,
all dead the second year. Urbanist bligltts sli^lit-
ly. Steven's Genesee, blights badly jind is temlcr ;
although a fine fruit is nothnrdy enough for Alton.
Tyson, would try it further. Belle Lucrative,
bears young: fruit fine, but blights to some extent.
Rouselet de Stutgard is an excellent pear and suf-
fered but slightly. Chaptel, a fine jrrower and ra'h-
er large fruit; affected this year for the firs' time.
St. Andre, hardy as is -also Fig. For 11 . iiuffuui,
Bastizier, Beurre Dial, badly blightcc. Henry the
Fourth, hardy and a good beare;. Swan's 0::«nge
killed. FK-mish Be^aity highly cultivated ; killed
the second year ; those on uncu'tivattd iai d har-
dy. Glout Morceau killed. Du(h'.'?s <;^ Angou-
leme, hardv on poor soil. Vicar of Winkfield. all
dead. Louise Bdnne de Jersey, a p: oiitab <■ fruit ;
only slightly affected. Howell, hardy .nd promise
well. Passe Colonar, fruit fine and tree hardy.
Lawrence the same. B;irtiett, profitable and iiitle
affected. Kingsissing, hardy, fruit po^'r. Napo-.
Icon, hardy, bidsfiir; fruit sells will. Midaline,
hardy and profitable. White Dovenn*^, bears well
and is profitable. Doyenne de Ete, produ -es well
and is hardy. Grey Doyenne, hard;- but tiot profit-
able. Beurre Glairgu, hard', fruit very large.
St. Ghistlain, hardy and profitable. Sheldon, hardy
and bears well Ott, a good pear. Tlie ab^ve trees
were planted in the spring of 1857, giving seven
years experience.

The committee reported .''pple list, which by
common consent wltc to go on the minutes with-
out discussion. At the next mei ting wc .«!iall have
the fruit list from the entire St -te, anil the Society
will then know more of the subject, and be able
to agree on a list. .

APPLE LIST.

LIST FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

For Market. — Red Astrachan, Red .Tune, Kes-
wick Codlin, Early Peimock, Sweet June (Hightop
Sweeting of Downing), Snow Apple, Bailey's
Sweet, Maiden's Blush, Fall Swaar, Lowell Striped
Gilliflower, (probably Setllnped Gillflower,) R^.ms-
dell's Sweet, Yellow Siberian Crab, Winesap,
Rawles' Janet, Dnmine, Willow Twtg, Gilpin (Lit-
tle Romanite), Minkler (probably s me as Brandy-
wine of Adams county), Tolmaii Sweet, Yellow
Bellflower and Northern Sweet.

Family Use. — Early Harvest, Red Jun-. Keswick
Codlin, Benoni, Hocking, Sweet June, Snow, Bai-

12

THE ILLmOIS FAEMER.

Jan.

ley's Sweet, Maiden's Blush, Fall Swaar, Autumn
Strawberry, Holland Pippin, Lowell, Rambo, Strip-
ed Gilliflower, Dyer, Mother, Haskel"s Sweet, Yel-
low Siberian Ciab, Fulton VVinetap, Rawle's Janet,
Domine, .lonuthan, Toliiian Sweet, White Winter
Pearmain, Westfield Seeknofurther, Roman Stem,
Northern S|.y, Swaar, Ram>dell's Sweet.

For Trial. — Kirkbridge White, Duchess of Old-
enburgh, Fall Orange, Northern Sweet, Fall Wine,
Montre.il Beauty Crab, Transcendant Crab, White
Pippin, Paradise Winter Sweet, Ben Davis, R. I.
Greeniug.

FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

For Market. — Early Harvest, Golden Sweet,
Maiden's Blush, Bailey's Sweet, White Winter
Pearmain, Domine, Winesap, Ben Davis, Willow
Twig, Rawle's Janet, Newtown Pippin, (on lime-
stone soils, with high cultivation.)

Family Use. — Yellow June, Early Harvest, Sweet
June, Red Astrachan, Keswick Codlin, Golden
Sweet, Ram>deirs Sweet, American Summer Pear-
main, Benoni, Bed June, Maiden's Blush, Fall
Wine, Buckingham, Bailey's Sweet, Fulton, Hub-
bardston. Nonesuch, Fall Swaar, (of the West,)
Snow, Domine, Jonathan, Pryor's Bed, Swaar,
W^hite Winter Pearmain, Roman Stem, Peck's
Pleasant. Esopus Spitzeriburi;h, Winesap, Ben Da-
vis, Rawle's Janet, Newton Pippin, (on limestone
soil;:,) White Bellflower, Lady Apple.

For Trial. — Early Joe, Downing's Paragon,
Rome Beauty, Ladies' Sweet, Sweet Romanite,
White Pippin, Nickajack.

LIST FOR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

For Market — Early Harvest, Red Astrachan,
Red June, Yellow Bellflower, Rawles' Janet, Wine-
sap, Newtown Pippin, Pryor's Red.

Family Uxe. — Early Harvest, Large Yellow
Boush, American Summer Pearmain, R.iwles' Jan-
et, Yellow Bellflower, Pryor's Red, Newtown Pip-
pin, White Winter Pearmain, Buckingham

For 2'rial. — Yellow June, Sinequanon, Benoni,
Porter, Rome Beauty, Willow Twig, Nickajack.

Had the above list been discussed, it would prob-
bly have been somewhat modified, but it now stands
on simply the reports or recommendation of the
several committees. The reasons for not discuss-
ing thi-i, are found in the fact that over flve hun-
dred circulars are out asking for lists for the above
purposes. Returns have been made from thirty-
six counties, and it is expected that the whole
State will be represented. These list? will appear
in the transactions, and must prove highly valua-
ble. Dr. Warder has his Western Fruit Book near-
ly ready. It was therefore decided to leave the
apple list in this shape at present.

Orchardists have quit planting everything that
the nurserymen are disposed to send them, and
now demand certain varieties only. Of these
choice varieties, the nurseries are pretty well ex-
hausted, and they cannot be purchased below the
usual retail prices, even when wanted by the thou-
sand.

Two different apples have been sent from the
south part of the State, under the name of White
June, one of which is Kirkbridge White. . The
former is the first ripe, but is a dry fleshed apple,
only valuable for its earliness.

PEAK BLIGHT.

This subject was now taken up and considerable
talk had over it, a portion of which we give :

Dr. Schroeder — trees near wells ; over drains ;
in all condition of shelter blight more or less. He
believed that the cause to be a species of itch
(scabius) that affected the bark. He would call it
tree itch.

Colman — We must look for a remedy, the dis-
ease is inherent Ukc the whooping-cough in chil-
dren ; he would cut back, and thinks root pruning
would prove valuable. Dr. Long is in error in
planting on poor soils. It won't do; he plants in
rich, well prepared, and thoroughly cultivates ;
succeeds well in his land, which is a heavy clay.
Hu.^mann has had good success with the pear on
high land, and moderately so on bottom or low
lands. He thinks to maintain the health of the
pear, it should be cultivated early in the season,
and to stop the growth as early in the latter part
of the growing season as it is possible, in this way
the wood lipens up freely, and the trees winter
well. What we fear most is a late growth, as that
leaves the wood in a bad condition to enter the
winter, and the result is blight. He never culti-
vates very high nor late in the season ; cuts back
in summer when the growth is too rampant. On
the high land the crop is certain, as tliat of the
apple — has annual crops.

Dr. Clagget would corroborate Mr. Husmimn.
The rampant growing pears suffer most, but this
damage depends on the condition of things. A late
growth sometimes escapes, while at other times a
different result follows.

He had paid some attention to Mr. Pettengill's
theory of cutting off the outside bark of the pear
tree, and in many instances with good results, and
he believed that there was value in it. Thinks
there are two kinds of blight, one of which is frost
or frozen sap blight, and which is the more com-
mon. It appears in all situations, though some vari-
eties are more liable than others.

Seckel and Winter Nellis are more hardy than
most pears. The summer blight is another thing,
but not so common ; can see the blight in the bark
by the patches of d^^a.d dermis, which should he
shaved off at once, and in most cases will save the
tree. He finds pears very profitable, notwith-
standing the blight ; cultivates high and manures.

Johnson, of Adams county, had grown the Cath-
erine peai- for severiil years ; had scraped off the
outside bark, derm.is, and applied a paint of lamp-
black and spirits of turpentine with the be?t re-
sults, as all the trees revived and are bow healthy.

Douglass does not think the blight caused b\ the
itch, as alleged by Dr. Schroeder ; it is in the »ir-
culation, and the skin. Believes in s'opping
growth in July. This will save it from winter in-
jury. Underdraining is valuable.

Bryant had suffered from the blight more or less
for the past twenty years. He had, at diffei ent
times, different theories on the subject, but n. w he
confessed he knew nothing of it ; he did not think
that any progress had been mnde in thi.- directi- n.
He should continue to plant dwarf pears ; give
them good culture so as to get as much fruit f. cm
them as poshible before they die with the blight.

Galusha would check the growth by sowing
oats, the latter part of summer, thickly about his
trees.

1864.

THE ILLIlSrOIS FAEMER.

IS

The debate was closed by appointing Dr. Clag-
gett, Dr. Schroeder, Mr. Shepherd, Mr, Douglass,
and Mr. Hull, a committee to report further on the
subject at the next meeting of the Society.

Messrs. Douglass, Anderson and Bryant, of
Northern Illinois, Overman, Minier and Hull, for
Central, and Baker, Flagg and Earle for the South
division, were appointed to report a list of pears
on the same plan as that adopted for the apple.

AFTERVOON SESSION.

The pear blight was still the theme with mem
bers, although not formally before them, but in a
sort ef desultory way.

The whole subject is a mystery, and we are wil-
ling to accept the views of Mr. Bryant, one of our
oldest and most careful pomologists. In common
with many others we have learned to look to him
for valuable advice, and now after having studied
the above subject for twenty years without lifting
the vail from the mystery, we must pause, and
seek the cause in some other direction.

At all of our winter meetings this subject ha4r
been brought up, and warmly talked over, but no
remedy has been discovered. All sorts of reme-
dies have, at times, been supposed efficacious, but
none answer the second time. We have no faith
in any yet proposed, not even that of Mr. Pettin-
gill, in that of scraping off the outside bark, nor
that of Mr. Johnson. We have trees that have
recovered as remarkably as his, without any appli-
cation, that have bore full crops the past six
years.

EsRay OH Blackberry Culture — By N. J. Colraan
of St. Louis. — The essay takes the ground that the
Lawton or New Rochelle is the only variety worthy
of attention. The Dorchester and Newman's
Thornless as worthless. This doctrine in regard
to the Lawton, is doubtless good for St. Louis, but
planters at the North and Eastern part of the
State want a more hardy plant.

He plants in rows eight feet apart, and the plant
two feet apart in the rows. The new plants should
be allowed to grow like a hedge ro-w, and the
space between these hedge rows kept clean by
cutting down the intermediate canes. In the sea-
son of growth the canes are cut back to about
four feet, and the new shoots should be cut back
as they appear This is the best plan that we have
seen to grow the fruit.

The Minority report of the Committee from
Northern Illinois, on apples, by 0. B. Galusha,
protesting against the Little Romanite, was receiv-
ed and placed on file for publication.

Mr. Galusha takes the ground that we send no
poor apples to market. That none but the best
should be grown, so as to correct the public taste
for such apples as the Maiden's Blush, the Milam
and Little Romanite.

This is all very well, yet, these fruits will con-
tinue to be grown so long as tastes differ. Mr. G
is in favor of the Rawles' Janet at the North, an

apple that in that location we have never seen in
good condition, and which is to our mind less val-
uable than the Milam, neither of which we would
plant largely. So long as cooking apples are in
demand, so long will the Little Romanite hold a
place in the orchard. It is a profuse bearer, keeps
well under almost every condition and in spring
when other apples are not plenty is in demand for
cider and for cooking, and at that time is not very
bad to eat, as thousands will testify who travel
through the West during the spring months, when
the train boys have few other apples to sell.

Essay on Native Forest Trees — By 0. B. Galusha.
— American Arbor Vitas is recommended for
screens. He estimates the cost of a screen of a
double row, half a mile long, at one hundred dol-
lars at twelve years old. Norway Spruce is prob-
ably the best of all the conifer family for screens.
Early spring is recommended as the best time to
transplant.

Among those that are the most valuable are:

Yellow and White Willow, White and Ash Leaf
Maple, Red and White Elms, Yellow, Black and
White Birch, Blue and White Ash, Lombardy Pop-
lar, and the Black and White Walnuts.

He looks upon the White Willow as the most
valuable of this list.

All of these are valuable in protecting crops
from high winds, as well as the orchards and
house grounds, and should be placed on every
farm.

Mr. Overman moved that 10,000 copies of the
address be printed and distributed. This was de-
bated, and withdrawn, and the manuscript placed
on file.

Box Alder. — Smiley Shepherd made a report in
regard to this tree for sugar making. He found
the sap nearly as rich and abundant, and identical
with that of the sugar maple. Recommends it for
wind-breaks and timber, and further trial in regard
to its value for sugar.

We need not say that a recommendation com-
ing from Mr. S. is of the highest value.

We intend to set a few hundred plants in the
spring.

Mr. Galusha had a sample tree on exhib'.tion,
and also distributed packages of seed; he also has
the plant and seed for sale. He said of this tree,
that "The sap is rich in saccharine matter ; is har-
dy, can be tapped in from six to eight years. The
sap of this tree is as rich as that of the sugar ma-
ple and as valuable." He thinks that it will be
largely planted for shelter belts and for sugar.
When set for sugar, set sixteen feet apart and cul-
tivate with care for a few years.

Essay on American Wine — By Geo. Husmann
of Hermann, Mo.

This essay was particularly interesting and val-
uable, but too long to copy.

Wine-making is simple ; but first, we want good,
well ripened grapes ; second, good, clean casks;
third, vats ; fourth^ mill. This last will cost about
seventy dollars. (^

14

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

Jan.

Nortoti's Virginia is put at the head of red wines,
and sells at $2 50 per gallon.

Clinton iiKikes a good claret wine.

Delawiire nnkes a wine of great body, and well
suited to the taste of Americiins, but not sufficient-
ly acid fiir p]uropeans.

Catawba wine i.* sold at $1.50 — a good wine.

This country, within the next fifty years, will
produce iriore and better wines than that of all
Europe, in which all tastes will be gratified.

Dr. Srhroeder on Vegetables. — Adam was the
first gardeiur ; Noah packed his garden seeds in
thcaik; Abraham brought the system in good
.'•hape, but the Israelites, while in Egypt, neglected
the art. The otd Romans brought the art to a high
perfection, growing cauliflower seven feet and two
inches in diameter.

The Dr. was down on meat eaters. They were
ever hard drinkers, and did other naughtier things,
while the vegetable eaters drank wine, make good
husbands and good citizJns. We could not follow
the Dr. in his remarks, half English and half Ger-
man, with a style peculiar to hira.sclf ; besides this
the house was kept in a roar. <

EVENING iKSSION.

Alton, III., Dec. 16.

Most of the evening sess'on was occupied in list-
ening to the eulogy, b}' Arthur Bryant, on the late
Dr. John A. Kennicott, and to a biography of the
same by C. D. Bragdon, both of which jiapers were
verv able. As they will appear in the transictiens,
we will not attempt a synopsis

■WINES.

We had the pleasure of a place on the
Wine Committee. There were twenty-one bottles
offered in the s'veral classes, neaily all of which
were of high merit.

CatoKhn Wines of the Vintage of 1862. — In this
list wtre five competitors, or lather samples.

No. 1— Englemanof Bellville. No. 2— V. Huff,
ofBellville. No. 3 — Dr. Feldman, of Hermann,
Mo. No. 4— W. C. Flagg, of Ma<l!Son. No. 5— V.
HufT.

All of the.se samples were of excellent quality,
and it required no small amount of tasting and re-
tasting, to decide the nice difference between
them. They finally stood No. 2 best, and No. 3
next best.

Catoii'Ja 0/1863.— No. 1, M. Paeschel, of Her-
mann, and No. 2, F. Kuhn, of the same place. The
award stands in the order above. Those samples
were decided excellent for new wine.

Concord Wine — No. 1, M. Paeschel, of Hermann,
Mo.; No. 2, Wm Paeschel, of the same place ; No. 3
Geo. Husmann, of the same place. All of these
samples are of the vintage of I860, and of course
new wines.

This is the first time that the wine of this grape
has been introduced in so public a manner, and
no little interest was manifest on the subject. The
wine was new and rather acid to our taste ; not
equal to Catawba, but close to it. It is very
probable that age will make it a good wine. No.
1 was decided best, and No. 2 next, by a close
vote. In fact the samples are almost identical.

Delaware Wine. — One sample of Wm. Paeschel,
of Hermann vintage of 1863, is too new to judge

well of its merits, but was decided that it was in-
ferior to the Catawba. The wine is of a beautiful,
nearly transparent color. It is evident that some
other grape must be mixed with it to make it what
it should be. The committee were diSiippointed
in this sample of wine.

Gassady. — One sample from Geo. Husmann, of
Hermarm vintage of 1863, is a wine of good prom-
ise. Throe samples of unknown, but of new and
of medium quality, one of which was doubtless
Clinton, a very good claret, made by Dr. Edwards
of St. Louis.

Isabella. — One sample of Isabella, as good as can
be made from this grape. This grnpe must go out
of the wine grape list.

NortorCs Virginia and Concord.— One sample
made of the above grapes mixed. From M. Paes-
chel, of Hermann vintage of 1863.

Herbimo7it and Norton's Virginia. — This is a
first rate wine, and fully confirms what the Her-
mann vine growers claim — that these grapes must
take a nigh stand. On comparing these two sam-
ples, the committee decided in favor of the mixture
of the Concord as the best.

JVorton's Virginia. — No. 1. From M. Paeschel,
of Hermann.

No. 2. From Geo. Husmann of Hermann.

No. 3. From F. Kuhn, of Herm;mn.

These were all good samples, but No. 2 took the
preference.

The best wine on the table was decided to be
Norton's Virginia and the Concord.

The above lact is of no SL_all importance to our
State, for in it we have two grapes for the table
that, for ease of culture and abundance and cer-
tain crops, stand out first and foremost, while both
of them combined make a superior red wine — a
wine superior to what either would make sepa-
rately.

DELEGATES ABROAD.

Ind'ana State Horticultural Society. — Messrs. Dr.
Schroeder, Phoenix and Overman.

Ohio Pomological Society. — Messrs. C. D. Brag-
don, J. H. Stewart and Dr. Schroeder.

Missouri State Horlicvltural Society. — Messrs.
FLigg, Dunlap and Starr.

PRUNING OF APPLES.

. For Northern Illinois : Messrs. Galusha, Whitney
and Murtfeldt.

For Central Illinois: Messrs. Stewart, Dunlap
and Dr. Hull.

For Southern Illinois : Messrs. Baker, Finley and
Hadley.

The following Committee was appointed to meet
with the Industrial Convention at Spriagfield, Jan-
uary 5th, 1864:

Messrs. Minier, Dr. Andrews, Galusha, Murtfeldt,
Prof. Turner, Dunlap, Dr. Hull, Quick, Flagg and
Hadley.

WHirE WILLOW FOR FENCE POSTS.

The sbove subject was somewhat debated to-day,
in which Mr. Galusha estimated that eighty acres
set with willow, on land costing ten dollars an
acre, will cost at twelve years old |4,044, or about
fifty dollars an acre, and providing posts at lest
than two'cents each. Mr, Overman, who is enthu-

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

m

Biastic on the subject, said he had seen White Wil-
low in good order after having been used twelve
years. These did not sprout, but had been set in
low ground, and remained nearly sound after
twelve years. The impression was thut this tim-
ber would decay very rapidly, but the truth is,
very little was known in regard to it by the mem-
bers. Should it prove durable by the use of gas,
tar or other chemical that can be cheaply applied,
it will prove valuable to the grape grower, who
must needs use a great many stakes. It should be
largely planted in low land, and if it won't last
well for posts, it will make good fire wood.

THIRD DAY'S SESSION-.

Alton, Dec. l"?, 1863.

MORNING SESSION.

The morning sessions have been opened with
prayer, the city pastors officiating.

Messrs. Warder, Hull, Dunlap, and Sehroeder,
were appoin:ed delegates to the American Pomo-
logical Convention to be held at Rochester, Now
York.

GRAPES.

Dr. Warder read an essay on grapes, now at-
tracting more attention than any other fruit.

In the culture of the grape, the soil mnst be
worked deeply, either by trench, subsoil plowing
or with the sp;ide. The land must be made rich,
old bones should be deposited in the trenches or
bottom of the holes, in planting the vines. Good
drainage for this fruit is of the utmost importance,
or, as the Doctor says, is a sine qua non in grape
culture. If you cannot drain, build up the grape
border above the surface bed, with rich soil and
compost. In this way every farmer, every cotta-
ger, can have an abundance of this healtli-giving
fruit of his own growing.

The Doctor recommends the use of the double
Michigan plow, to be followed by Mapes' lifting
subsoil plow. The vineyards of the steep hill sides
of Cincinnati have cost six hundred dollars the
acre in spade trenching and training ; but this,
as a general thing, has not paid well, and it has
been found that land prepared with the plow pro-
duces equally well, at a great saving of cost in the
outlay of a vineyard — a point not to be overlooked
in this connection.

The soils along this river are most admirable for
the grape, and must in time stand high in grape
culture. The great body of water of the river has
a modifying effect The Springs are somewhat
later, and when Summer comes, the vines grow
right along, and are nearly exempt from frost. Of
aspect, the Doctor says that some grapes can be
grown even on the north side of hills. The direc-
tion of the rows should run north and south, so
as to give all sides of the vines the benefit of the
sun. On steep hill-si Jes this is more difficult.

The distance to plant is another thing not to bo
overlooked. We plant too close, buti are now im-
proving by making the rows eight feet apart, and
the plant six feet in the rows, and some varieties
need even more space.

Ill training, the renewal system of pruning must
more or less be adopted, or at least a mi diriction
of the system. The simplest form of train' ng i^
the bow system. The most stupid laborer can be
easily learned how to do this. Trdlia training is
more difficult than the former, both are valuable
systems.

In summer pruning, the early pinching back of
the lateral is doubtless the best.

It is certain th.it various modes of training will
succeed, if we bear in mind that the fruit is pro-
duced on the previous season's woo-l.

The Isabella and some other varieties do not ri-
pen well when cut back to the bow system, and
must be .illowed to run at large.

Grafting the grape is but a poor mode of propa-
g;>ting the vine, as the connection is not a good
one. He would not reconsmend it.

The propagation from single eyes is a most ex-
cellent mode. Long cuttings arc not so much
used as formerly, and we now m-ko them short.

Stakes are cut seven feet long and diiven into
the ground a foot. In case of high winds, when
the stake blows over, it does not carry the whole
trellis with it.

In cultivating, the soil should be well stirred
parly in the season, and neglected late in the sea-
son. In siiuie cases a strip two foet wide in the
middle of the rows, is sown with clover and mown
several times during the seai-on, and used as a
mulch. This plan is doubtless a good on'", and
is not so expensive as at first sight might be sup-
posed.

In regard to the diseases of the grape, too little
is known to take up the subject.

The essay was listened to with marked attention
and the Doctor was plied with numerous ques-
tions. ■

The culture of the grape is taking a deep hold on
planters, and no branch of fruit growing is being
pushed so vigorously. J. H. Stewart, will set four
thousand of the Delaware in the spring, in fact,
notwithstanding the slow growth of the grape, and
its unproniisitig condition in many localities, every
plant will be set. Mr. Stewart sold some five thou-
sand cuttings of the Delaware at the meeting, at
twenty-five dollars a thousand, which will show
something of the demand for this grape alone.

A discussion on varieties followed the essay.

DELAWARE.

Husmann said he would stlect or reject only for
his own location. The question of varieties is one
of local importance only. At Hermann this grape
has not met our expectation — it is liable in autumn
to leaf blight. He prefers to graft it on a vine of
the Norton's Virginia. Has three hundred and
fifty vines. It grows from cuttings ; use three to
four buds on each cutting, though a common way
is to use layers.

CONCORD.

Colman says this is one of the best — the variety
for everybody. It makes a good wine, and when
mixed with the Norton's Virginip., makes the best
wine, better than Delaware wine. It is the grape

■-■ <fs??rvvi^ai!TO^'?fi?^^r'''^'aw

16

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEii.

Jan.

for the million. Douglass considers this the best
grape next to Delaware.

Several followed, all commending this grape for
hardiness, and great crops. Dr. Warder and oth-
ers say that it has a short season and does not
keep well when shipped, and some day will give
place to some other sort.

CATAWBA.

Colman would strike it from the list for general
cultivation. Hunter would not strike it off. It
is too valuable. Motion to strike it oif the list
was lost.

DIANA.

It was moved to add this grape to the list for
general cultivation. Dr. Humbert, of Alton, con-
sidered it worthless. Sherman says it does well
at Rockford. Dr. Edwards says it is a good grape
— vine hardy. The vine needs age to mature it
perfectly. Colman says it does not ripen well.
Dr. Andrews says it does well. It keeps the best
of all our grapes. Young vines do not ripen the
fruit so well as they do on the old vines. The
motion was carried.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

List of pears for Northern Illinois, as ; cported
by the Committee :

For Markii — Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Louise
Bonne do Jersey.

Family f/se— Doyenne d'Ete, Osband's Summer
Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, White Doyenne, (stand-
ard and dwarf,) Belle Lucrative, Louise Bonne de
Jersey, Sheldon, Howell, Seekel, Beurre de Anjou,
Urbanist. Lawrence (dwarf)

J^or Trial — Beurre Gifford, Beurre Clairgeon,
Tyson, Onondaga Beurre Hardy, Duchess de An-
gouleme, Beurre Dial, Winter Nellis, Doj'enne de
Alencon.

Pears for Southern Illinois :

For Market — Doyenne d'Ete, Bartlet^ Fondonte
d'Automne, White Doyenne, Louise Bonne de Jer-
sey, Dnchess de Angouleme.

Family C7se— Doyenne d'Ete, Rostizer, Bartlett,
Fondonte de Automr.e, Howell, Seekel, Duchess de
Angouleme, Easter, Benrre Tyson.

For JViai— Osband's Summer, Beurre d'Arigon,
Glout Moi ceuu, Bloodgood, Lawrence, Onondaga.

It appears that the Committee could not agree
in regard to dwarf and standard, and presented the
list as above.

ELECTION or OFFICERS.

The election was harmonious, and of course soon
disposed of as follows ;

President — Smily Shepherd.

Vice Presidents— T)\&X.v\ct No. 1, J. Periam ; 2d,
C. N. Andrews; 3d, A. R. Whitney; 4th, J. H.
Stewart ; 5th, W. A. Pennell; 6th, J. C. Dent ; 7th,
M. L. Dunlap ; 8th, P. M. Colman ; »th, C. C. Stur-
tevant; 10th, J. Huggins; llth, Chas. Kennicott;
12th, E. S. Hull ; 13th, T. J. Evans; at large, 0.
B. Galusha.

Corresponding Secretary — W. C. Flagg.

Recording Secretaries — C. W. Murtfeldt and Par-
ker Earle.

Treasurer — C. H. Dimock.

Mueutive Committee — G. W. Minier, S. Shepherd,
0. B. Galusha.

On motion of Dr. Long, the common chestnut
was added to the list of the deciduous trees. The
Doctor stated that he had measured several to-day
that had been nine years transplanted, and meas-
ured from seventeen to twenty-eight inches in cir-
cumference.

EVENING SESSION.

0 W. Hoff, of Augusta, Hancock county, deliv-
ered an essay on fruits and their association.

The apple called the New York Pippin, in the
lists of fruits, being known in Downing's Fruits as
the Ben Davis, it was voted to change the name
in accordance with Downing.

The time and place of holding the next Fair of
the Society was referred to the Executive Board,
with power to act.

The same disposition was made of the time and
place of holding the annual meeting.

STRAWBERRIES.

Dr. Schroeder has planted this fruit in his vine-
yard, but has found it a bad practice. He would
recommend Early Scarlet, Longworth's Prolific,
and Willson's on high land; on low lands, Tri-
omphe de Gand, Jenny Lind, Extra Red. The
land must be plowed deeply to guard against
drouth, and to furnish plenty of food for the plants.
Thinks we can grow three times as many bashela
of strawberries as corn.

Colman, cultivates for market — plow deep with
trench plow. Willson's is more productive than
Longworth's Prolific. The Willson is the best for
market, as it carries so well, and improves during
the time of handling, as it becomes more fully
ripe on the route. The Triomphe de Gand is not
a good shipping fruit — too soft. Don't plant on
meadow land just turned over, as the white grub
may destroy your plants. Plant early in spring,
ami renew plantiitions often; ship in drawers, hold-
ing one bushel each.

Booth, plants Longworth's Prolific, McAvoy's
Superior and the Iowa as a fertilizer. Mulch with
leaves and shavings. Would recommend Mr. Col-
man to feed his grubs on manure. He finds that
McAvoy's Superior to ship in good order, although
it is a soft berry, yet it always arrives in Chicago
in good order.

Stewart had grown for market for ten years.
Must have the clay on top, trench with the spade
two and a half feet deep ; never manure ; mulch in
winter with straw. Willson's best for market — re-
new the plantation after three years, as the plants
do not do well after three years. Ships in drawers.
Plants a foot each way and keeps off the runners.
As the subsoil is at top we have few weeds. Top
dresses with ashes — gets three crops and then re-
news. Bragdon said too little attention is paid to
the mode of shipping — fruits must reach the mar-
kets in good order if you want good prices.

Booth ships in half-bushel boxes. The material
costs six cents each, and we make them at leisure
times. These are sold with the fruit.

Mr. Mudd thinks we need the clay, and to get it
must trench plow, or trench with the spade.

Dr. Warder would plow deep with the double
Michigan plow, and add to this the subsoil plow,
stirring the soil very deep. He now believes in
keeping down the runners, and to use the stamin-
ate plants, and would mulch with straw. The

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.,

plants will come up through this straw in the spring.
Willson's Albany is a poor berry, and should be
kicked out. The Halleck box is fhe one he pra-
fers to ship in.

PLUMS.

Dr. Hull said that plums can be grown in all
parts of the Stata, that it is too late in the day for
us to be driven from the field by insects. The
curculio can be shook from the trees at little cost.
He grows abundant crops annually.

The apparatus used is made of cotton cloth in
form of an inverted umbrella. This has a slot in
the side so that it will enclose the tree, when a
8li<''ht jar on the tree brings down the insect, when
h«°is destroyed. This form is made to correspond
to the size of the trees, but not to exceed twelve
feet in diameter. It is placed on a sort of wheel-
barrow.

It is the curculio that lays its eggs in the peach,
which produces the worm that is so often found in
the fruit from the south part of the State. The use
of this insect catcher in our peach and plum or-
chards will add thousands of dollars to their value.
Dr. E. S. Hull, of Alton, is the inventor— it is not
patented.

A FRUIT PICKER.

Elias Hibbard has on exhibition a valuable im-
provement of this kind that should be more gener-
ally in use. It is not patented, and can be cheaply
made. No attempt has been made to supply the
demand. "We used one of them the past season,
and found it better than any thing of the kind yet
in use.

FOURTH DAY'S SESSION.

Alton, Dec. 18, 1863.

This morning the newly elected President, Smily
Shepherd, took the chair. Mr. S. is a veteran hor-
ticulturist. His head is whitened with the frosts of
many winters, but his eye is as bright, and his in-
terest in the cause as lively, as the most ardent
lover of the Godess Pomona. If we mistake not,
Mr. S. was the first man in the State who attempt-
ed the culture of the grape for market. This was
some twenty years since, at his residence near
Hennepin, in La Salle county. To him the West
is indebted for many valuable facts in fruit grow-
ing, showing the difference betweea the soil and
climate of the West and that of the East

The morning was occupied by Dr. B. S. Hull, on
the subject of the plum culture, showing his cur-
culio catcher and how to work it. As we cannot
describe it without drawings, we will not attempt a
further description than that made in our last
letter. The implement is not patented, and as yet
used only by a few persons about Alton ; but the
rapid increase of the curculio on the peach, as
well as on the plum, will soon bring it into more
general notice, and we trust that some mechanic
at Alton will yet thrive under the direction of the
inventor. We have been personally acquainted
with its use for the past seven years, and can bear
testimony to its efficiency and great value. With
it the entire crop of peaches and prunes can be
saved from the ravages of the curculio with but
little cost. Every consumer of early peaches
knows how this curculio worm deteriorates the
value of this excellent, and during July and Au-

gust, rather costly fruit, and anything that will
abate the nuisance will be hailed with pleasure.
Last year the Doctors trees were oaded with'plums,
as in fact they have been for the past seven or
eight years. In consequence of this successful
experiment the fruit growers about Alton are pre-
paring to plant this fruit largely the coming spring.

Plums, which have been ranked with the lost
arts in fruit culture, will again appear in market
more abundant than ever.

After passing the usual resolutions and provid-
ing for the publication of the traasactions, the
Society adjourned.

Strawberries and Grapes af Pittsburg,
Pa.

We give below clippings from a report of Dr. J.
A. Warden, of Cincinnati, of his visit to the
grounds of Kev. J. Knox, of Pittsburg, Pa. Our
readers have heard much said of the success of
this gentleman in the growing of small fruits, and
it will interest them to hear of the mode of culture
by one so well qualified to do it justice.

We wish to call the attention of our readers to
one very prominent fact, and that is the growing
of staminate strawberries, by cutting off the run-
ners. It has been supposed that all that was worth
knowing in regard to this fruit was contained in
and about Cincinnati ; but here we see a Cincin-
nati man who has given the world law on this sub-
ject, gradually yield the palm to the gardens of the
coal smoke city, which has upset the old theory
that none but pistillate plants can be made to pro-
duce a full crop of this delicious fruit. In the re-
port of the proceedings of this meeting at Alton it
will be seen that otheri besides Mr. Knox keep
down the runners and plow deep for this fruit. —
The result of this will be in greatly increasing the
quantity of this fruit in market.

It will be observed that the Dr. does not so much
run to conclusions as in the giving of facts. It
is not probable that the trellis of Mr. BLnox is the
best, and certainly not the cheapest. Of this here-
after.—Ed.

Having recently enjoyed an opportunity of in-
specting the plantations of Rev. J. Knox, in the
vicinity of Pittsburg. Pa., I proceed to give yon
some account of his admirable management and of
his wonderful success. These experiments of Mr.
Knox have demonstrated that he has an excellent
soil and situation for fruits, especially for grapes
and strawberries, and also that he has known how
to take advantage of his favorable surrounding*,
so as to bring about the most admirable results.

The situation is upon the high rolling land south
of the Monongahela river, above which it is eleva-
ted between four and five hundred feet The slopes
incline variously, but those looking to the south
and west are chiefly selected for grape planting.
The soil is a clayey loam, with a liberal intermix-
ture of sandstone, but also has lime enough to im-

18

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

Jan

pregnate the percolaiing water. In some plac^
the fissile sandstone constitutes a larger proportion
of the soil. This is particularly the case on Troy
Hill. Reserve township, north of Allegheny city,
where there are numerous vineyards covering near-
ly one hundred acres, some of which are very pre-
cipitous, hanging npon the eastern and southern
declivity, supported by massive walls of sandstone
built at great expense.

In other places, the tenacious, light colored
clayey subsoil of this region, approaches the sur-
face, and intermingling with the soil, makes a
strong clay. In some situations under draining is
yery desirable.

Preparations — The plow, followed by the sub-
soil lifter, has been found by Mr. Knox to be all
sufficient for comminuting this soil. With a strong
pair of horses to the plow, followed by two pair
of oxen to the lifter, he is able to work about one-

• thijd of an acre per diem. [This is probably inten-
ded for the agregate of the three plowings, and not
for each plowing. — Ed.] This process is perform-
ed in the autumn. The ground is next cross-
plowed with the same implements, going deeper,
and a third plowing is done in the spring before
planting, so that the soil is thoroughly prepared,
being stirred from a depth of from 15 to 18 inches.

The vines are of a summer's growth, from single
eyes that are started in Mr. Knox's extensive pro-

• pagating houses in the spring, and set out in well-
prepared soil about the first of June, for the sum-
mer's growth in the open air, which gives them
very fine roots, and substantial stocky tops. From
this soil they are carefully lifted with their abun-
dant fibres, and are planted in the vineyard ground
with their ro«ts carefully spread out in every di-
rection. Sometimes a portion are planted in their
stations from the pots directly from the propaga-
ting house, instead of spending a summer in the
nursery, but such are not considered to be so good
though a season is gained by this plan.

The distance between the vines is six feet in
rows that are eight feet apart ; this is for trellis
training upon the renewal system. A small stake
is set by each plant, to which the shoots are tied.
Instead of cutting the little vines back to two eyes,
only the feeble wood at the ends is cut off, leaving
several buds on the larger plants, and as these
grow the weaker are rubbed out and only the
strongest allowed to remain. The reason for this
is evident — it is to insure against accidental inju-
ry to the prominent buds in handling the plants.
During the summer the shoots are tied to the
stakes, and the next spring they are cut back to
two eyes to force otit two strong canes, which are
tied up and trimmed of their laterals for three or
four feet. In strong vines a third cane is some-
times allowed to grow the second season, the ob-
ject of which will appear presently.

Training on the trellis commences with the third
season of the vineyard, when the stakes are dis-
pensed with. Posts are planted in the rows that
run north and south, about twelve feet apart ; to
these, strips of boards, three or four inches wide,
are nailed a foot from the ground, and seven feet
above it, these are the rails to which the upright
strips, about an inch square and eight feet long,
are nailed. These are placed nine inches apart,
from center to center. The vines are trimmed
this spring so as to form the two arms, each three
feel long, from which the fruit canes are to be

produced. In a very strong vine, that had been
allowed to produce three canes the previous sum-
mer, the third shoot is trimmed to three or four
feet for fruiting, and tied upright to the trellis bar
nearest to the vine stock, while the arms are se-
cured to the lower part of the trellis. As the buds
on thet<e last break, they are thinned ^ut by rub-
bing off a portion, so that only the strongest are
left, and these are so arranged that one of them
can be trained to each of the upright trellis bars,
each arm, eight to each vine. This we should think
a tremendous amount of wood for the third sum-
mer, but with the soil and treatment to which they
are subjected, many of the varieties of grapes re-
quire assiduous labor to confine them to the num-
ber of shoots, which reach the top of the trellis,
and most of the c:'.ne8 also bear a great deal of
fruit. Mr. Knox feels confident that his Concord
vines will average ten pounds of grapes the third
season. Some other varieties, such as the Taylor
or Bullitt and Herbement, grow as vigorously,
reaching the top of the trellis, and then stretching
along horizontally for some distance ; but some
kinds do not cover the trellis the first year it is
set up. These canes produced from the arms are
divested of their laterals during the summer.

The renewal system of trimming is adopted in
these trellises, with some modifications, by adopt-
ing the spur pruning when necessary, as will be in-
dicated below. In the fourth season from planting
and always afterwards, every alternate cane is cut
back to two eyes, while the other is shortened, ac-
cording to its strength and tied vertically to the
trellis for fruiting ; the ?pur produces a new cane,
so that one spur supports fruit and the other pro-
duces wood. If it happen that the cane of last
year is not strong enough for the fruiting, it is cut
back and that which bore the previous year has
its fruit-bearing laterals trimmed to spurs for fruit-
ing, in its stead. In this way, by judicious man-
agement, the whole trellis is kept covered with
fruit from year to year, and the amount produced
is really astonishing, as an instance, I may cite
twelve Hartford Prolific vines, which are four or
five years old, that produced 620 pounds of fruit
this year, from which $125 was realized — apply
this to an acre which supports about 1,000 vines,
as planted six feet by eight, and we may calculate
the proportionate yield at fifty thousand pounds of
fruit, this at the low price of five cents a pound
would produce $2,500 per acre ! an incredible
yield, and one justifying a large annual outlay in
assiduous care and labor.

VARIKTIKS.

I propose to transcribe a few of the remarks made
upon my note paper while passing over the grounds,
among the vines, but shall not describe all the va-
rieties in cultivation. The first varieties planted
were the Isabella and Catawba, the kinds then gen-
erally cultivated. Both of these are bearing abun-
dantly, the former heavily laden, but not at all the
richer for its treatment here, being, as in other
places, flat and insipid in comparison with other
sorts. The latter less deeply tinted than in more
southern latitudes, but producing a magnificent
crop of splendid bunches of beautifully perfect
fruit.

The Concord was in vigor, covering the trellis to
the top with foliage and fruit — a perfect show.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

19

The bunches are not uniformly so large as we some-
timey see them, nor are the berries equal in size to
the stereotype illustrations on nursery-men's cata-
logues, but the skin is thin, the pulp melting, the
juice sweet and abundant, and though the flavor
be somewhat musky, not to say foxy, or as some
salesmen expresses it, of certain varieties, "with a
characteristic native aroma," still it is the fiivorite
wii h the people, and is selling freely at double the
price of the Istbellas and Catawbas offered in the
m irkets. Indeed for general planting at every
man's door-stone, throughout the country, this
h<irdy, vigorous and productive variety, apparently
free fiom all the ills of grape-vines, has the highest
claims to universal favor. Still, some of us may
be allowed to have our preferences for a table grape.
For wine, the Concord has begun to assert its
claims, and a few samples have already been pre-
sented to the connoisieurs, who have pronouced it.
a promising red wine. A good deal of it has been
made at Herman, Mo., this year and Mr. Husraaun
writes me that the must weighs from 85 to 90.

Next is the Diana, which is vigorous and pro-
ductive the bunch compact, the berries of beautiful
color tough skin, and rather firm pulp, juice sweet
and having a peculiar flavor, which has been called
"feline." The thickness of skin enables this grape
to be kept a long time, so as to be on sale in the
Christmas holidays — when it eommads a high price.
The wine from this grape is very highly flavored
with the aforesaid /e^me, and though peculiar, and
at first perhaps repulsive, it strangely grows on
one's afiections; it will be valuable for mingling
with the juice of some other grapes of less decided
character ; the ^eZaware itself has been suggested
as one that might borrow piquancy from the I)iana.
The Delaware has succeeded admirably in this
vineyard, where it has been extensively grown, and
with such success as to induce much further plant-
ing ; Mr, Knox has several acres in course of prep-
aration for vineyard, and extended nursery rows of
the vines produced this year, stand ready to be set
in their future stations. Whatever complaints
may be made of this variety elsewhere, and some
of us have had our tronbles with the slender little
things for which we have paid our money, this vine
appears to find a congenial sail upon the coal meas-
ures of the Monongahela hills. Three years old plants
have made a splendid growth of firm, close-jointed
wood, and in many cases the vines have completely
covered the trellis, and run along on the top — sev-
eral shoots were seen of at least twelve feet in
length, and in most cases there were more than the
the regular apportionment of eight canes to the
vine, as well as an abundant crop of fruit. This
grape has attained so much attention of late years,
and is so familiar to the horticulturists of our coun-
try, that it is not worth while to describe its beau-
tiful clusters of transparent, rosy berries — thickly
spread along the vines. The wine is attracting
great attention, and $5 per gallon has been refused
for that made by Mr. Mottier, near our city, who
has had perfect success in growing this grape here.
The weight of the must with him iu September was
102 — Mr. Werk's, (probably the first run) weighed j
108. The wine sells at $24 per box or dozen.
The vines, once established, bear most abundantly,
and the luscious fruit is only too sweet for most
palates, as a tablegrape, and to be eaten as honey
rather than as food. The fruit sells at Pittsburgh
for fifty cents a pound.

The Union Village is also quite a successful grape
with Mr.Knox ; on account of its great size and fair
quality, commands a high price, bringing fifty cents
a pound. The vine is vigorous and productive, but
the fruit is to much like the Isabella to give much
encouragement to wine-growers; it is essentially
an amateur and market fruit. The excessive growth
of the canes on this vine renders it somewhat ten-
der, but I did not hear any complaints in this re-
gard where the growth is diffused upon the trellis,
as the canes are not then so rank.

The Herbemont showed all its vigor and greenness
of foliage even at this late date, making a perfect
screen of the trellis, and the numerous large clus-
ters, thickly packed with the delicious, yinous,
dark-colored berries, were almost concealed from
view. This vine is somewhat t ender, and the canes,
like those of the Diana, are taken down and cover-
ed with earth in the winter, but the fruit is so spicy,
and so free from pulp, it is fully appreciated by the
proprietor, who rates it among the best table grapee.

Its qualities for wine are well known here. The
must this year weighs 101.

The Msinboro, an old variety but not generally
cultivated, is a prime favorite with Mr. Knox, on
account of it« hardiness, productiveness, and the
rich sweetness of its small, dark-blue berries, with
rt d juice ; the bunches are rather large, loose and
shouldered. The grape is desirable for table and
for wine.

The Hartford Prolific is an early variety, ripen-
ing its fruit for market early in September. The
vine is hardy, vigorous, and very productive, yieldT
ing more than fifty pounds at four years. The friiit
is not first-rate, but very desirable for market.

The berries do not drop, as reported heretofore.

The Crevding is winning favor wherever known.

The vine is vigorous, hardy, and promises to be
productive. The bark and leaf-stalks are very red ;
the foliage is smooth, the angles pointed deeply
lobed and healthy. The bunch is loose, the berries
rather large, and blue, soft and melting, rather
sweet — a fine market variety; ripening at Pitts-
burgh August 24, it makes a fine market fruit.

The Tokalon is moderately vigorous, but does
not appear to be very productive. The foliage is
good, healthy, angular, pointed and pubescent.

The bunches large, loos?, and the berries are
rather large, blue, soft and melting. They hold
tenaciously to the btanch, which makes this grape
desirable for late use It is sweet and not musky ;
quality from good to better — a table grape. Though
well favored enough, it can scarcely be said to jus-
tify its cognomen, which means, emphatically. The
Beautiful.

Since there is a great desire with the public, and
especially with amateurs, for white or light colored
grapes, they may now be gratified by cultivatiig
several varieties of this character.

The Taylor or BuUitt^ is one of the most promi?-
ing of this class. The wood is very vigorous, but
slender, and of abrowapale color, with some bloom,
the joints are rather long, but the canes exceeded
the hight of the trellis. The foliage is good, angu-
lar, serrated and smooth. The bunches upon these
young thriftily growing vines, were small and com-
pact, crowded with rather small, green, amber col-
ored, red, and dull red berries, which are melting
and juicy, slightly pulpy, wild sub-acid to rich sweet;
a very good table grape, ripening September 20.

20

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

Jan.

The Anna is but moderately in its canea, but they
are firm ; the foilage is small, pubescent and dispos-
ed to curl and fall. The bunches are scarcely me-
dium and rather close ; the berries are from medi-
um to large, round, of a whitish amber color, cot-
ered with a thick, white bloom ; they are juicy,
sweet, aromatic, but the skin is thick and the pulp
firm. This is only an amateur variety, ripening the
end of September.

The Rebecca and the Cuyukoga have higher claims
for our praise, being more refined and delicate.

Both of these are desirable amateur varieties, the
former rather bearing the palm of excellence in the
opinion of most judges.

These are some of the varieties that are now be-
ing subjected to the test of fruitage by Mr. Knox.

THS STRAWBERRY BEDS.

After setting the grapes in their stations in the
vineyard, Mr. Enox plants the eight feet spaces
with three rows of strawberries, eighteen inches
apart, the plants being separated from ten to twelve
inches ; the whole surface is kept perfectly clean
with the hoe during the summer, and the runners
are trimmed off as they make their appeanince. By
this means the plants become very stocky and
strong. At the approach of winter the beds are
covered with clean straw, which protects the
plants from freezing and thawing, as a winter
mulch. The new leaves and flowers come through
the straw in the spring, the fruit is protected from
the dirt, and the whole crop is mulched by the de-
caying straw during the summer. By this means
the most wonderful crops of magnificent berries are
produced — such, indeed, as must be seen to be
realized. The method of shortening in by cutting
off the runners, in combination with adaptation of
the soil and high culture, makes even the stamen-
bearing varieties abundantly productive in his
hands. Such kinds as under ordinary treatment
are considered shy bearers, producing only an av-
erage of ten perfect and well sized berries to an
hundred blossoms, are here made to yield 75 per
cent ; but the stools are so strong, having so many
points of inflorescence in each crown, that the ag-
gregate of fruitage is much larger even than the
per centage of fruit-producing flowers would make
it appear to be.

. Thus, in the numerous counts, very carefully made
upon the ground last June, I reached the following
results : One plant of the Wonderful produced 358
blossoms. A plant of the Bonte St. Julien had 84
blossoms, which yielded 61 fruits, or .80. KiUey's
Goliah had 64 per cent, of fruit ; Trollope's Victo-
ria, 52 per cent.; and all of these varieties are con-
sidered strongly staminate, and, with the usual cul-
ture, they barely yield 10 per cent.

A very extensive investigation by counting in
in the case of the Triomphe de Qand^ gave less than
42 per cent, of the blossoms yielding perfect fruit,
and yet, so numerous were the flowers on these
plants, that the number of resulting fruits was very
great, being nearly fifty on several plants ; whereas,
with common field culture on our soils, this beauti-
ful fruit had proved itself unworthy of culture from
its unproductiveness, many plants having no fruit
whatever, succeeeding a plenteous blossoming.

The enterprising proprietor of these grounds is
eminently a believer in progressive horticulture,
and gpares'no expense in procuring new kinds that
have promising characters. Among the hundreds

of varieties that have beon tested by him he espe-
cially recommends the Triomphe, Golden Seeded,
Hericart, Filmore, Victoria, Wilson. Of newer
sorts the Russell, and a plant numbered Seven Hun-
dred, possess admirable qualities, and prove the
possible development of this fruit in a remarkable
degree.

»^>

Grape Growing and Wine Making in

Hancock County, 111.

"Warsaw, Hancock Co., III. Dec. 26, '68,
Editors Chicago Tribune :

Observing errors in our Springfield dispatch,
giving items from my statement of vine plaming,
&c., please allow me to give you the statistics of
grape planting and wine making in Warsaw and
its immediate vicinity, from the "beginning" up to
date. There were planted here :

lu 1855 20 vines.

In 1858 101 vines.

In 1859 666 vines.

In 1860 3,929 vines.

In 1861 3,135 vines.

In 1862 2,365 vines.

Total up to 1863 10,206 vines.

In 1 863 there were planted here, 65,000 vines.
The first wine made here was in 1861 — 86 gallons .
in 1862, 1,138 gallons were made, in 1863, 1,770
gallons. But Narfvoo is far ahead of us in grape
culture. There were planted in Nauvoo prior to
1863, apout 90,000 vines, and in 1863 they plant-
ed about 100,000 vines. Their crop of 1862 was
about 25,000 gallons, and of 1863, has been esti-
mated at about 50,000 gallons, worth from $1 60
to $2 00 per gallon. It is also estimated by Nau-
voo grape growers that 100,000 vines were planted
in the country round about Nauvoo during 1863.
In the neighborhood of Bascoe, on Bear Creek,
there has also been considerable grape planting by
a French settlement — as well as in other parts of
the county. By the foregoing statement you will
see that the grape interest in Hancock county,
though now in its very infancy, bids fair to become
an important and profitable business.

The number of vines planted in our county up
to date may, I think, be estimated as follows :

Planted in Nauvoo prior to 1863 90,000

" in 1863 100,000

" County near Nauvoo in 1862. 100,000

" Warsaw prior to 1863 10,000

" " in 1863 65,000

" Bear Creek and other parts of
the county 35,000

Grand total 400,000

making the number of vines now planted in' our
county, 400,000. There will be large numbers add-
ed to this total during the coming year. Respect-
fully yours, N. W. Buss.
*9» _

Packing Grapes for Market.— The following is
from the proceedings of the New York Farmer's
Club:

One of the most interesting features was a fine
show of grapes from the Rev. J. Knox, Pittsburg,
Pa., which, notwithstanding their long railway
journey, appeared as fresh and well covered with
bloom^as though just from the vineyard. Perhaps

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

n

the secret of this is worth knowing. The grapes
are transported in shallow baskets, upon the bot-
tom of which green grape leaves are placed, and
also against the sides ; then a layer of bunches,
and then more grape leaves, and so on, and leaves
on the top, upon which the lid presses and holds
all firmly, but does not prevent the free circulation
of air. In this way Mr. Knox sends grapes five
hundred miles to market in perfectly good order.

The Yeddo Grapk. — A young vine of this new
wonder was shown at the late Penn. Hort. Exhi-
bition, from the Hon. Isaac Newton, Commissioner
of Agriculture at Washington, who has now grow-
ing in the garden of the Department a number of
vines. It has a leaf more like some of our native
than the foreign grapes, and may possibly prove
hardy. What the merits of the fruit are, is only
known from what has been already recorded in our
pages, from Mr. Fortune, who introduced it to
English gardens. These vines will probably be
distributed among our prominent nurserymen for
trial. — Hovey^s Magazine.

— Should the Commissioner have any of these
vines for the West, we should be pleased to put
them on trial, both under glass and in the open
ground. We have our arrangements made for a
somewhat extended culture of the vine, and in-
tend to give all the new sorts that promise well a
trial.

Grapes in Iowa.

Burlington, Iowa, made 25,000 gallons of wine
in 1 862, and abeut the pame in 1863. Fort Madison
made in 1862 some 31 000 gallons, and a much larg-
er quantity in 1863, amount not yet ascertained by
me.

The Concord Grape.-Wc notice that this grape,
BO much underrated by some of our pomological
Magi, has so rapidly forced its way upon its own
merits that it is now to be found for sale at all the
fruit stores of this city. It is always prominently
displayed, with large signs informing the public of
its name. They have been so displayed for sale for
nearly four weeks. Nobody is dissatisfied with this
grape, who is not prejudiced. True, it is not equal
in quality to the Delaware; but with all the boasted
superiority of the latter, who has seen it oflFered for
sale in a similar way ? It may be so oflFered, but we
hare not yet encountered it in our walks. — Qer-
manioum Td., ZOthvlt.

-*»»-

Good Sorghum Crop. — H. & D. McWilliams, near
Pontiac, in this State, report that they harvested
last fall three acres of Sugar Cane, which yielded
609 gallons, or 203 gallons to the acre. Consider-
ing the bad season, this is an excellent yield. The
ground was common rich prairie, considerable dis-
tance from timber. It was plowed early in the
spring to a depth of six inches, and well harrowed.
The seed was well sprouted before planting, which
was done early in May. The plants were hoed once,
and cultivated with a wheel cultivator four times.
The cane was not injured by the first frost, and was
out of the way of th« leoond.

Culture of the Barberry-
Attention has of late been directed, says a co-
temporary, to the Barberry, as a suitable plant for
hedging. Indeed, many believe that this is the
plant we have been so long in search of, to make a
hardy, durable hedge, and one that will afford all
the protection required, and never prove trouble-
some on account of succoring. E. C. Frost, the
well-known nurseryman of Havana, Schuyler coun-
ty, furnishes the following information on the mode
of propagating the plants and forming the hedge :
Seed of the barberry maybe picked and planted
in the fall in drills, or during the winter, (the ber-
ries remain on the branches during the winter, and
a portion until it is in blossom the next spring,) or
the seed may be mixed with sand or dirt in the fall
or winter, and kept out exposed to the changes of
the season, and planted in the spring.

The plants may be set for the hedge, one, two,
or three years from the seed, nine to twelve inches
apart, either in the fall or the spring.

Each spring, sprouts start from the cellar, at the
ground, and grow higher and stronger than those
of the preceding year, until the plant is, in our soil
seven to eight feet high — each year's growth thick-
ens and strengthens the bottom of the hedge.

It should not be trimmed or pruned at any time
when young or old. The single plant or hedge is
fan-shaped, upper surface even, the leaves, blos-
soms and fruit covering it to within about two feet
of the ground. If well cared for it will turn stock
in about four years.

I have grown it fifteen years in grass and culti-
uated ground, and have not known a sprout to
come from the roots, but always from the collar of
the plant, and hence, say it never sprouts or
spreads, but thickens by the youngest wood. It
is very hardy ; the cold winters have not injured it,
nor has any of the oldest wood died out.

The bark of the whole, root and branch, is bit-
ter, so that mice, nor nothing else will eat it. The
plant has thorns. The blossoms are yellow, the
fruit red and sour — used for tarts and jellies, and
is substituted for cranberries. — Rural American.

Last fall we sowed several quarts of the above
seed, to grow plants for our own use, as we know
that it will make one of the very best of hedges for
orchards and gardens, as nothing, not even a bird
can get through one eight or ten years old. It is
hardy and easily grown. Of course this hedge must
be on dry land or that can be underdrained. We
have before called the attention of our readers to
the notice of this plant for hedging. — Ed.

We think, with some of our English breth-
ren, that rotten straw is not manure; coarse rub-
bish, when applied as a top dressing to meadows,
will increase the yield of hay twenty-five per cent.
It may be carried on any time in the winter, when
it can be handled on account of frost. Care should
be taken not to drive in the meadow when your
wagon wheels will cut through the sod, because
these ruts will remain through the season.

Treatise on Sugar and Sirup from Soeghwm, by
John L. Gill & Son, Columbus, Ohio. A pamphlet
of twenty pages, in which the subject is ably haf
' died.

22

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

Jan.

An Editor Taking Lessons.

It is our aim to devote the mid-summer season
of every alternate year, to a tour of observation
through the western or mid-western division of the
great Agriculturist Parish which extends from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. This year we went on our
fifth western tri-p, out through New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania, Central Ohio, and Indiana, into Illinois -nd
Iowa, and returned through Michigan, Northern
Ohio, and New York, making occasional 8tops,going
and returning. (In thesr; trips we gener^illy ride
only in the day time, and wsutiUy arrange to secure
a position in the center of the baggage cars oi tlie
railway trains, because the wide doors give an un-
obstructed view of the country "n cither side, and
we there have the company of local employees of
the roads, who are able to point out objects of in-
terest, and to give much general information. In
this way we see much of the face- of the country,
the style of culture, the condition of the ornps, etc.
Indeed, were we not to stop at all, hut travel thus
for 3000 to 5000 miles, we should consider the time
well spent). — Our main object, this year, was to
atudj' prairie farming, especially in Illinois and
Iowa, which are par excellence the prairie States.
We stopped at some twenty to twentj-five locali-
ties, and from observation, and conversation with
practical men, gathered a large amount of informa-
tion. It would be impossible to give a minute jour-
nal of what we saw, heard, and learned — as some
may expect — a large volume would be needed,
sundry items will appear in this and other numbers,
and we hope our western readers will find us still
better prepared to supply a journal specially adapt-
ed *o their wants, so far as there is any specific dif-
feri;nee in the modes of cultivation East and West.
— AmericaiL Agriculturist.

The above is rather a new mode of studying the
agriculture of a country and may be considered as
the study of prairie farming made easy. We have
traveled several thousand miles in the panic posi-
tion and gazed with admiration of the country as
ire rapidly whirled throiigh it, and in addition have
rode a thousand or two miles on the engine, looking
at thecouutry from the tops of the tender and hold-
ing converse with the stoker between the repeated
feedings of the rapacious monster, whose maw was
a young .^tna, all the time wondering if the engi-
neer did not know more of the lay of the land than
any of them, and if he would only open his mouth
he might say a great deal but no, nothing could
be got out of him, though by his continual looking
at the country there could be no doubt that he
was in a deep study and revolving in his mind,
how he would stir up the soil if he could once get
off the rails. Hereafter we shall the more highly
prize the American Agriculturist, published by
Orange Judd, No. 41, Park Row, N. York, at one
dollar a year. For have we not taken lewons in

prairie farming with the same teachers, gaz >d over
the same corn-fields, and drmk in the same inspi-
ration from the soft zephvrs that flow in through
the baggage c^r. How much practical agric d ural
knowledge we have thus unconciously taken in, we
leave to our readers to be the judges. We did not
know before what blessings came to us thus all un-
asked, and during all of those rides after knowh'dge
were just green enough to suppose it necessary to
stop at the station and visit the farmers to learn
how crops were made or lost, we now see how much
time has been thus thrown away. Next year we
think some of writing a book on the agriculture of
N. York, and if the N. York Central will give us a
pass and the middle of the baggage car we shall be
able to do the subject full justice. Friend Judd>
when you make your next binneial visit to the par"
ish do try the tender, you will drive a subsoil deep
into prairie farming. Ed.

From the Rural New Yorker.
Sheep and Cows.

Fiend Moohe — Seeing a communication in your
paper of April 4ih, in regard to the respective
profit of sheep and cows, in which our friend, T.
C. P. makes the profit of cows double that of.
sheep — and in this week's number another from D.
F. B., in which the respective profits are nearly
equal — now, as I have had some experience in
these matters, I beg leave to say a few words on
the subject.

In the first place I think our friends have made
their es-tiniates on sheep too low; not on the profit
of a sheep, but on the number that can be kept on
the feed required to keep a cow. I shall assume
that one cow is equal to ten sheep in capital
invested, (in common times, I mean,) and expense
of keeping ; and, as my friend says, " now for the
figures." Allowing five pounds of wool per head,
and 40 cents per pound, (which is about the aver-
age price, and one lamb for two sheep, that are
worth $1 50 per head, we have the product of 10
sheep 5 lambs, $21 60. We will take his figures
on the cow, for by my own experience I find them
nearly correct — 550 gallons of milk. Allowing 3
gallons to make a pound of butter, we have 183
pounds, which, at 12J cents per pound, (which is
&< much as we can make it average in Ohio,) we
have $22 90; deduct $5 for trouble, and we have
$17 00. Difference in favor of sheep, $9 60. If
made into cheese one gallon of milk will make a
pound of curd ; 3 pounds of curd will make 2
p<mnds of curd cheese — which gives us 866 pounds
at 8 cents per pound, amouting to f 27 28. Deduct
$5 for trouble and we have $22 28 profit. Dififer-
ence in favor of sheep, $5 22 ; and then, too, the
difference between the cheese and butter, and the
wool market. The latter is always a cash article,
and but little trouble to get to market, while the
former obliges a man to always be a peddling; and
beside the dealing with irresponsible men there ii
a vexation of spirit about it I never could endure.
Perhaps some of our friends who have the advan-
tage of a good market for milk, at a good price,

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

can realize more than this from their cows. Diflfer-
ence in situation makes a vast diflPerence in this
matter.

I have given you an estimate based upon actual
experience of what can be done in common times,
where I Jive, with sheep and cows. But if we
take them as they are now, when, instead of 40
cents we are likely to get nearer 80 cents per pound
for wool, and a lamb is worth from $2 to $3 as soon
as it can stand, my friend, T. C. P., will find the
profit on the other side of the house ; besides, a
man can keep any amount of sheep without doing
what a cheese maker is always obliged to do — that
ie, break the fourth Commandment. c. o.

From the New England Farmer.

Materials of Which Soil is Composed.

CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS.

Soils are named from the amount or proportions
of the various substances which enter into their
formation.

If a soil consists of sand, it is called a sandy
soil.

If the largest portion is clay, it is called a clayey
soil.

When lime predominates, it is called a calcare-
ous soil.

Those substances may exist together, but in
different proportions, in the same soil, in which
case it usually receives a distinct name.

A mixture of sand and clay, with a small propor-
tion of lime, is called a loam.

If it contain much lime, it is called a calcareous
loam.

If it is composed of clay with much lime, it is
called a calcareous clay.

A certain proportion of these substances has
given specific names to soils.

Pure clay, which is commonly called pipe clay,
is composed of about sixty parts filica, and forty
parts of alumina, with a small quantity of oxide of
iron. This kind of clay contains no silicious sand
which can be separated by washing with water.
It forms but a small quantity of soil, and is found
in comparatively few localities.

The clay forms the strongest ot clay soils. It
consists of pure clay, mixed with from five to
fifteen per cent, of silicious sand, which can be
separated fiom it by boiling or washing.

Clay loam contains from fifteen to thirty per
cent, of fine sand, which can be separated by boil-
ing. The different parts of the soil may be very
easily separated, and it is consequently more easily
worked. Such soil is very properly sought for in
the selection of a farm.

A loamy soil contains from thirty to sixty per
cent, of sand, which is retained so loosely that it
can be readily separated from it by washing.

A sandy loam leaves from sixty to ninety per
cent, of sand.

A sandy soil consists mostly of sand, and con-
tains no more than t6n per cent of clay.

In a marly soil the proportion of lime must be
more than five per cent, but less than twenty per
cent.

Marls are called sandy, loamy and clayey, in
accordance with the proporHons they may contain
of these substances, provided they b« free from

Hmc, or do not contain more than five per cent, of
this material.

Soils are denominated calcareous when the pro-
portion of lime exceeds twenty per cent., and thus
by its quantity becomes an important constituent.

There are also calcareous clays, calcareous loams
and calcareous. sands, which take their names from
the proportion of clay and sand which they may
contain.

Vegetable mold is sometimes a prominent char-
acteristic of a soil.

In peaty soils its proportion may be equal to
sixty and sometimes as much as seventy-five per
cent of organic matter.

The Honey Bee in California. -We have heard
a very singular, yet very plausible reason why bees
have not done well lately, or why they do not lay sp
their usual store of honey for winter. It certainly
will be remembered that on the first introduction
of bees into California, it was with great eclat and
a furor was raised — everybody was on the " bee
mania," sarae as every other mania, or speculation.
At first bees did remarkably; even most wonderfully
overflowing the hives with honey until it "cropped
out" like our "quartz leads," and often paid better.
The increase of swarms was without precedent, giv-
ing four, six, or eight, and sometimes ten swarms
in a season — the product from one hive. This was
a result never known in any other country. This
continued for some three years — the increase being
less and less and their products being also less until
the past year, from all quarters of our State, the re-
port is the bees have not done well, neither made
much honey and have not increased swarms. The
change has been most singular. The cause is un-
doubtedly the want of/<s«cf and the want of care and
attention — fsr the bee speculation, like everything
else when it "don't pay," the thing is neglected
and given up, and so the hives lay round loose, a
poor neglected " by-gone."

The reasoning and philosophy of our friend was
this wise : when the bees first came, being pleased
and delighted with the genial clime and the abund-
ance of flowers, went to work in good earnest, the
same as the early miners did, to lay up their winters
store, to "jpt their pile," but after a little, when
they found there teas no winter and that they could
play rotted all the year, they could not see the use for
working so hard all the time. They found they
could get their food any time of the year, and aa
there were so many gardens in full bloom all winter,
they conclued these gardens, like the "/rec lunches,^
would supply them, so they concluded they would
adopt the "loafing system," and now the beautiful
busy bee — that little emblem of industry — of which
every child hae been taught to sing, "How doth th«
little busy bee" — this useful tiny insect — has act-
ually been spoiled by coming to California and ac-
quiring the habit of "bumming around," living only
from day to day without a thought of coming win-
ters. What a reminiscense this is for the Bee spe-
culators of past years. — Cal. Farmer

Hogs and their Culture. — This is a paiaphiet of
sixteen pages, by Reuben Hurd, of Springhill,
Whiteside Co., Illinois, a most excellent, common
sense view of breeding, growing and fattening

hogs.

f?!

24

THE ILLINOIS FAHMEK.

Jait.

From the Atlantic Monthly for January,

The Planting of the Apple Tree.

BT WILLIAM CULLEN BRTANT.

Come, let US plant the apple tree !

Cleave the tough greensward with the spade ;

Wide let its hollow bed be made ;

There gently lay the roots, and there

Sift the dark mould with kindly care,

Aiid press it o'er them tenderly.
As, round the sleeping infant's feet,
"We softly fold the cradle-sheet;

So plant we the apple-tree.

What plant we in the apple-tree ?

Buds, which the breath of summer days

Shall lengthen into leafy sprays;

Boughs, where the thrush with crimson breast,

Shall haunt, and sing, and hide her nest.

We plant upon the sunny lea
A shadow for the noontide hour,
A shelter from the summer shower.

When we plant the apple-tree.

What plant we in the apple-tree ?
Sweets for a hundred flowery springs.
To lead the May-wind's restless wings.
When, from the orchard-row, he pours
Its fragrance through our open doors ;

A world of blossoms for the bee ;
riowers for the sick girl's silent room ;
I'or the glad infant sprigs of bloom.

We plant with the apple-tree.

What plant we in the apple-tree ?
Fruits that shall swell in sunny June,
And redden in the August noon.
And drop, as gentle airs come by
That fan the blue September sky ;

While children, wild with noisy glee,
Shall scent their fragrance as they pass.
And search for them the tufted grass

At the foot of the apple-tree.

And when above this apple tree
The winter stars are quivering bright.
And winds go howling through the night.
Girls, whose young eyes o'erflow with mirth.
Shall peel its fruit by cottage hearth.

And guests in prouder homes shall see.
Heaped with the orange and the grape.
As fair as they in tint and shape,

That fruit of the apple-tree.

T*ie fruitage •f this apple-tree
Winds and our flag of stripe and star
Shall bear to coasts that lie afar.
Where men shall wonder at the view,
And ask in what fair groves they grew;

And they who roam beyond the sea
Shall look and think of childhood's day.
And long hours passed in summer play

In the shade of the apple-tree.

Each year shall give this apple-tree
A broader flush of roseatebloom,
A deeper maie of verdurous gloom.
And loosen when the frost-clouds lower,
Tne crisp-brown leaves in thicker shower ;

The years shall come and pass, but we
Shall bear no longer, where we lie.
The summer's songs, the autumn's sigh.

In the boughs ot the apple-tree.

And time shall waste this apple-tree.
Oh, when its aged branches throw
Thin shadows on the sward below
Shall fraud and force and iron will
Oppress the wt-ak and helpless still ?

What shall the task of mercy be.
Amid the strifes, the toils, the tears.
Of those whe live when length of years

Is wasting this apple- tree?

'•Who planted this old apple-tree ?"

The children of that distant day

Thus to some aged man shall say ;

And, gazing on its mossy stem.

The gray-haired man shall answer them :

"A poet of the land was he,
Born in the rude but good old times ;
'Tis said he made some quaint old rhymes.

On planting the apple-tree."

BAKER & PHILIil-S

• FUBLISHEBS.

M. L. DUNLAP, Editor.
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, JANUARY, 1864.

The year eighteen hundred and sixty-three has
quietly gone to its grave, but its memory will long
remain. If it has shown great virtues and high
patriotism, it has also shown deep vices and treach-
erous disloyalty. If the Western farmer has been
made happy in high prices for the products of his
acres, he has had to pay higher ones for his needs
and luxuries while his crops have been less than
usual. It is little satisfaction to him if corn is
worth a dollar a bushel, if he has none to sell, and
still less interesting if he has to buy. The drouth
and the early frost combined have shorn the far-
mer of a large share of the years labor, and should
this be followed with what we now predict, a long,
cold, snowy winter, the cup of the stock feeders
and of the wool growers will be filled with an un-
pleasant reminder, that the weather is not in their
keeping. Let them be admonished that shelter is
to some extent food, and that pine boards and wind
breaks of rails and refuse straw will assist to eke
out a short supply of fodder. " Shelter your stock"
should be written on every corner of the farm, on
every post, and at night when he sleeps with his
cattle exposed to the pelting storm, or stand ahiy-
ering behind some dilapidated fence, he should
dream of the wizzard's of the storm riding him
throug the night air amid the biting cold.

Cut AMD Housx touk Firxwood. — An abuadact

??^¥='^r"T

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

25

supply of wood should be hauled up, cut ready for
use and put under 'cover. Going after wood in
harvest or late in autumn when the roads are mud-
dy is very bad economy.

Corn Cribs.— -These should be made during tht
winter ; none but a rich man can afford to put his
corn in a rail pen and leave it exposed to the storm,
but a rich man has generally too much good sense
to do so, and often the farmer who can ill afford it
is the one to make a victim of himself Let us have
a change of base in this respect throughout the
central part of the State, where this abuse stands
out the most glaring. If it has taken six full crops
to make it so plenty that the price went a hundred
per cent, below the cost of production, it has taken
but one failure to put it four hunrded per cent,
above. These are significant facts that strongly
urge the value of good, well covered cribs.

Report of the Commissioner of Agricultttre. —
We are under obligation to James Grinnell, Esq ,
Chief Clerk, for extra copies of the Report for
* 1862. 'rtie more we examine this work, the better
we like it, as it contains much valuable infoima-
tion, not found in other works.

The Report for 1863 is also at hand, or rather
theiniroduction toil, as the accompanying papers
have not been printed. This part of the report con-
tains thirteen pages, from which we clip the fol-
lowing:

" Although the year just closed has been a year
of war, on the part of the Republic, over a wider
field and on a grander scale than any recorded in
history, yet, strange as it may appear, the great in-
terests of agriculture have not materially suffered
in the loyal States. With the exception of some
fruitless incursions along the border, and the inva-
sion of Pennsylvania and the defeat of the insur-
gents on the now historic field of Gettytburg, the
loyal people have everywhere enjoyed a " broad
and quiet land," with abundant health and pros-
perity, while a wider territory has been cultivated
and a larger yield realized, except where drought
and frost interfered, than during any previous
year. Notwithstanding there have been over one
million of men employed in the army and navy,
withdrawn chiefly from the producing classes, and
liberally fed, clothed and paid by the government,
yet the yield of the great staples of agriculture for
1863, as compared with the previous year, has been
as follows, viz :

1662. 1863.

Wheat, in bushels 169,993,500 191,068,239

Gate, in bushels 1'72,520,9»Y 1H,858,16'7

Gorn, in bushels 586,'704,4'74 449,163,894

Hay in pounds 20,000,0'^0 18,600,009

Toba«co, in pounds 208,207,0*73 258,462,413

Wool, in pounds 63,524,112 '^9,405,215

The comparison, with the exception of corn and

hay injured bv drought and frost, is even more
favorable for i863, if instituted in regard to the
general products of the farm.

This wonderful fact of history— a young repub-
lic carrying on a gigantic war on its own territory
and coasts, and at the same time not only feeding
itself and foreign nations, but furnishing vast quan-
tities of raw materials for commerce and manu-
factures, proves that we are essentially an agricul-
tural people that three years of war have not, as
yet, seriously disturbed, but rather increased in-
dustrial pursuits, and that the withdrawal of ag-
ricultural labor, and the loss of life by disease and
battle have been more than compensated by ma-
chinery and maturing youth at home, and by the
increased influx of immigration from abroad. In
spite of the vast influence of free institutions in
Europe, brought to bear on the masses of her peo-
ple against our Republic; notwithstanding the
flame of civil war still rages within our borders,
yet the tide of immigration was never stronger,
healthier or more promising. While some, as ad-
venturers, seek this western world for military
fame, stimulated by our large bounties and the
chances of promotion, or to fight sincerely the bat-
tles of freedom and equality, the greater part come
to labor, to enjoy independence and quiet, and to
make happy though humble, homes for themselves
and their children.

According to the report of the New York com-
missioners of immigration, the number of immi-
grants arriving at that port during the eleven
months ending November 30, of the year 1863, was
145.519, against 16,306 during 1862. This pro-
portional increase holds good' in respect to the
other great ports of our country. Independent of
the large number of persons from Canada and oth-
er portions of America.

A GREAT FACT.

Whatever, owiiig to the war and the march of
events, may be the future condition of land and la-
bor in the rebellious States, or the legal decisions
of the courts arising out of confiscation, litigation,
or the demands of the military service, yet a
change must gradually take place, not only in the
tenure of the soil and its modes of culture, but in
the people themselves and their institutions. Much
of the land will gradually pass out of the hands of
its present proprietors, either by purchase, the de-
cisions of the courts, or by the force of circumstan-
ces. Estates will be divided into smaller farms
and occupied by the humbler classes ia the south,
whites and freed men, and by industrious and en-
terprising settlers from the other States and from
Europe. The old fallacy, so long inculcated by
politicians and accepted by the people, like many
other fallacies respecting the south, that none but
negroes can toil there, will be thoroughly exploded
during the present generation. Once divide there
the yast estates, and elevate labor to its true dig-
nity by hiring, instead of owning it, and I venture
the prediction that in less than ten years after the
close of the war, a million of the industrial classes,
native and foreign, will have settled in the sunny
south, makmg it teem with new beauty, progress
and wealth. The tides of immigration which now
flow across the sea, and sweep with such irresistible
power, bearing and leaving in their course the rich
depoaites of induetry and art, of prosperity and

26

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

Jan.

life, will then divide at the Alleghenies and equally
enrich the hills, the valleys and savannas of the
Bouth.

The great laws governing the flow of population
are as p ilpable as those governing the physical
world ; and these laws should be studied and heed-
ed by our leg'slatorsif they desire to populate and
develop, equally, every pur* of our country. Men
who have been oppressed in the Old World, and
have yet ma hood enough left to seek a free life in
the New, will not settle in the mild latitudes of the
south, where l:ibor is legally degraded, but go,
thouiih it be to the forests and winter snows of the
northwest, where hibor is honorable in all.

Now, in respect to the south, with its magaifi-
cent zones of climate and naturally fertile soil,
there is no question but that her agricultural pro-
ducis and general prosperity will be vastly increas-
ed by the new condition of things imposed upon
her by the rebellion. Terrible as is the ordeal,
time, moderation, freedom and imdustry will be the
great healers and rectifiers ; so that it shall be
seen that even war offers its compensations as well
as peace. Plantations that now contain from three
to five thousand acres of land will be divided into
farms of from three to five hundred acres, which
can be more easily and better tilled, and made far
more productive. While the south will continue
to grow the great staples, such as cotton, sugar
and rice, many other semi-tropical productions
may be introduced, of equal value, and more easily
cultivated, together with all the cereals, grasses,
fruits and vegetables of the temperate zone.

HOW STATISTICS ARE OBTAINED.

About two thousand circulars, with questions
plainly put, and requiring but simple answers, have
been sent monthly to correspondents in every
State and almost every settled county, the replies
to which, requiring much labor in their compila-
tion and arrangement, have been, with reports on
the weather from observors of the Smithsonian In-
stitution, and with other timely suggestions from
the department, published monthly, ten to fifteen
thousand in number, and spread over every portion
of the country.

The success attending the first attempt of our
government to collect the agricultural statistics of
the country is attested by the newspaper press all
over the land, commercial and political, as well as
agricultural ; and is an indication of what might
be done in a well arranged plan, provided for by
Congress, and carried out by governmental aid.
There have been issued in all about 20,000 circu-
lars of inquiry ; and sent out TO.OOO monthly re-
ports.

WHO GET THE SEEDS.

The whole number of packages of seeds, cereals,
Ac, distributed, is about 1,200,000. Of these over
half a million were sent or given directly to those
applying for them. About 300,000 to agricultural
societies. About 40,000 were quart packages of
wheat and other cereal grains ; about 950,000 gar-
den and flower seeds ; about 120,000 tobacco seed,
and the remainder cotton, flax, &c.

The anxiety of the people of the country to ob-
tain the seeds, and the satisfaction manifested at
their reception, and the resulting productions, are
a suflScient attestation that the distribution of val-
uable seeds by the department is a recognized cus-

tom and duty which may not be abandoned, the
complaints of captious or interested parties to the
contrary notwithstanding. And I hazard nothing
in saying, that in no department of this government
does the expenditure of a like sum confer upon so
large a proportion of the people anything like the
same amount of pleasure and substantial enjoy-
ment.

ABOUT THE GARDEN.

The propagating and experimental garden, a
most important branch of this department, in for-
mer years suffered much through incompetency
and neglect. In order to remedy these evils, and,
in so far as it may be possible, to make up for lost
time, I have taken great pains to secure the servi-
ces of a gentleman eminently well kmown in the
department of science needed, to carry on success-
fully, the experiments to be made.

During the year there have been distributed
from the gardens of the department about 25,'750
articles comprising vines, bulbs, cuttings and
plants. About one-half of these were distributed
through members of Congress ; the remainder has
been sent for dissemination by agricultural and
other rural associations.

Just the Thing. — The limited facilities of the
present garden greatly reiard the full developmant
of this object. It is highly necessary to establish
specimen orchards of the best fruits, in order to il-
lustrate the best modes of culture, and arrive at a
correct knowledge of the nomenclature of varieties
of fruits. This want is now severely felt, and its
fulfillment would be hailed with genuine delight by
all who are fully alive to the growing importance
of fruit culture.

We want an experimental farm in each State of
the Union. Not a pattern farm, by any means, but
one on which the various trees, plants and farm
products, both new and old, can be tested and
compared , and where also the various modes of
culture could be tried side by side. Wc hope the
grant of lands will do something to teach agricul-
ture ; but in this we want experience. — Ed.

At Alton.— When at Alton attending the Stato
Aorticultural Society winter meeting, the commit-
tee on reception assigned us to the care of H. C.
Sweetser, Esq., whose hospitality we enjoyed dur-
ing the session, and who will please accept our
thanks. On such occasions we generally report for

tVie , which pretty fully occupies our time

and have made it a rule to occupy a room at some
hotel, but in this case we had all the benefits of a
hotel and excellent society, not only in the host
but in several visitors who were taken in in the
some manner. We can say that Alton is a good
place to hold such meetings. The people are more
or less interested in horticulture and fruit growing
and have taken a deep interest in these winter
meetings. They have done themselves great cred-

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

27

t on this occasion. We intend to visit them in
their gardens and orchards next summer.

To Clubs. — The getters up of clubs will remem
ber that they are entitled to an extra copy in clubs
of twenty at ten dollars. Send along the ten dol-
lar clubs and you will double the value of your
money.

Hog Tamer. — We acknowledge the receipt of
this valuable instrument, from Reuben Hurd, of
Springhill, Whitesides county, 111. We had used
one of them last spring with great satisfaction, a
notice of which can be found on page 26'7, for 1863.
The one received is an improvement by having
three sizes of cutters, adapting them to adolescent
and aged rooters. They are invaluable to hog
growers. See advertisement.

The Horticulturist. — This standard work is
now in its nineteenth year — almost of age. Our
library contains the full set, and a goodly array
they make. They contain the best history of rural
improvements now extant, forming an Encyclope-
dia of the art of gardening in plain cloth, embel-
ished with vegetables, and highly embossed with
the ornamental. Send $2 to Mead & Woodward,
New York city, all you who would like to make
progress in grape culture, gardening and the orna-
mentation of your grounds ; or, if it will please
you better, club it with the Illinois Farmer at
$2 50.

■«•»-

Scientific American. — This is the only paper of
its class that we are acquainted with, and it should
be in the hands of all farmers who have large fam-
ilies of boys, for some one of them cannot be oth-
erwise than benefited by it, as it may be the means
of arousing dormant genius that would otherwise
remain undeveloped. The farmer should take it to
aid him in his business, for in it he will find draw-
ings aud descriptions of most new machines and
implements for the farm.

" Mechanics will find in the Scientific American
valuable information concerning their various
trades, and details of all the latest and the best
improvements in machinery, tools and processes •
together with snch useful knowledge as will tend'
to dignify their occupations and lighten their la-
bors.

Inventors will find in the Scientific American all
necessary instructions how to secure letters patent
for their inventions; also excellent illustrations
and descriptions of all the principal inventions re-
cently made in this country and in Europe ; like-
wise an official list of the claims of all patents
granted weekly at Washington, with numerous ex.
planatory notes ; also discnssions of questions con-
cerning the patent laws of the United States, re.

ports of trials in court, with legal opinions, etc.

Manufacturers will find in the Scientific Ameri-
can illustrated articles descriptive of the most
recently invented machines used in various manu-
facturing operations, the different processes being
lucidly described ; also practical recipes of much
value to manufacturers, with hints upon the eco-
nomical management of factories. #i

Engineers will find in the Seientific American
valuable descriptions of all the best inventions
connected with steam, railroad, marine and me-
chanical engineering ; together with a f litbful
record of the progress of science in all these de-
partments, both at home and abroad.

Chemists will find in the Scientific American
details of recent discoveries made in chemistry,
and articles on the application of that science to
all the useful arts.

Agriculturists will find in the Scientific Ameri-
can engravings and descriptions of all the best and
most approved farm implements ; also original or
well selected articles on matters relating to general
agriculture ; great care being taken to furnish far-
mers, regularly, with such information .is will be
valuable in the field, as well as in the household.
All classes of readers will find in the Scientific
Ameiiean a popular resume of sli the best scientific
information of the day ; and it is the aim of the
publishers to present it always in an attractive
form, avoiding as much as possible abstruse terms.
To every intelligent mind, this journal affords a
-constant supply of instructive reading.

Subscribers should remit so as to have their sub-
scriptions begin on the 1st of Janunrj, with the
new volume. Those who preserve their numbers
for binding have, at the end of the year, two iTand-
some volumes of 416 pages each — 832 — with seve-
ral hundred engravings.

Terms of subscription — $3 for one year ; $1 50
for Bixmonths; fl for four months; 20 copies in
a club can be had for $40. Specimen copies sent
free ; also, gratis, a pamphlet of "Advice to In-
ventors." Address Munn k Co., Publishers, Bl
Park Row, New York city."

t9r

D. Warderls Fruit Book.

Col. Harris, writing of an interview with Dr. W.
says :

" The werthy pomological Doctor is still gath-
ering materials for his book ; but tis the progress
of knowledge has rendered his earlier notes ob-
solete, and the undertaking stares him in the face
if he should undertake to revise them, he has pru-
dently concluded to issue a yearly abstract of the
progress of pomology, which shall at once be avail-
able as well as feasible. The bulk of his notes
may be issued in a manual which « ill comprise a
practical treatise on the general subject."

— What we want and what the West must have
is just snch a manual as the Doctor can get up and
for which he has the material. We have certain
varieties of fruit that do well in most parts of the
West, and of these we want the full history, leav-
ing the unsuccessful and untried fruits to a more
fitting opportunity.

To give our views a little more in point. Take,

28

THE ILLmOIS FAHMER

Jan.

for instance, the Yellow Bellflower apple, give its
pomological description with out lines, the form
and peculiar growth of the tree ; the soils best
adapted to it, and the location where it is cultivat-
ed ; in fact to completely exhaust the subject. We
C||e not if this one fruit occupies a dozen pages, no
matter, we want all that can be said in its favor
and against it, where it will flourish and where it
will not. Let the book be filled with our leading
fruits, until a dollar volume is reached, when send
it out into the world, and the next year another,
each year CKperience will furnish material for a
book of fruits that will go to make up a history
of fruits that will have a permanent value. Down-
ing as a catalogue cannot be dispensed with. Barry
and Thomas on culture are valuable, and what we
now want is the history and value of individual
fruits.

The Illinois State Horticultural Society meet at
Alton this month, and we trust this subject in hand
and encourage its prompt execution.

Catalogcks Received. — Parsons &. Flushing, N.
Y. Wholesale standard and small fruits. Also
list of exotic plants.

Andrew S. Fuller, Brooklyn, N. Y. Strawberry
Catalogue. Also one for small fruits and orna-
mental trees and plants.

Rev. J. Knox, Pittsburg, Pa., strawberries and
grapes.

J. C. Maxwell & Bro, Geneva, N. Y., general
nursery stock, wholesale and retail.

David J. GrisQom, Woodbury, N. J., evergreen
and ornamental trees.

F. K. Phoenix. Bloomington, 111., general nar-
sery Stock, probably the largest in the State.

E. Moody and Son, Lockport, N. Y., general
stock, largely of pears.

Hooker, Farley & Co., standard fruits and grape
vines at wholesale.

*. John G. Teas, Raysville, Ind., general nursery
stock.

Babcock & Bro., Summerfield, 111., general nur,
sery stock.

H. E. Hooker & Co., Rochester, general nursery
stock.

Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia, Pa., select list of
bulbous flower roots.

James Vick, Rochester, N. Y., flower and vege-
table seeds.

Frost & Co., Rochester, N. Y., general nursery
stock.

A. G. Handford & Bro., Columbus, Ohio, general
nursery stock.

Norman J. Colman, St. Louis, Mo., general nur-
sery stock.

Joseph N. Wertford, Cambridge City, Ind., gen-
eral nursery stock,

Starr & Case, Indianopolis, Ind., farm imple-
ments and wagons.

J. M. Bailey, Flattsburg, N. Y., Adirondick
grape.

Cowles, Roberts & Co., Syracuse, N. Y., nurse-
ry stock.

Carbon Coal Mines J
December 27, 1863. J

3f. L. Dunlap, Exq :

Dear <Sir— Your very kind note in relation to the
Christmas-tree, was received yesterday, and I beg
to offer my sincere thanks for the pleasure you
have enabled me to give to more than a hundred
children. The tree arrived in fine order, and is
not only a most beautiful specimem of its kind, but
admirably suited to the purpose. I never saw one
more so. It did duty twice — on Christmas Eve,
for forty Belgiam children, not one of whom can
speak a word of English, and again the next eve-
ning, for between 60 and 10 of the mixed kind —
Welsh, German, Irish and American — who make
up my other Sunday School On such occasions
every one is sure to turn out, even to the smallest
toddler. The tree was brilliantly lighted with
candles cut small for the purpose, and in addition
to these was hung, on the first evening, only with
packages of bonbons, whose white paper and gay
ribbons formed a lovely contrast with the dark foli-
age of the tree, and with apples that looked as nat-
ural as if they had grown there. The next evening
the decorations were more elaborate, consisting,
besides the candy, of books, pin-cushions, dolls,
toys, &c., and it would have done your heart good
on both occasions, to have seen the delight of the
little creatures, not one of whom had ever witness-
ed sueh a sight before. They walked round and
round the tree in rapt admiration, and when they
had feasted their eyes on its beauties and it had
been stripped of its gifts, we adjourned to the par-
lor, sang our Sabbath School hymns, and had some
refreshments. On the whole, it was a most perfect
success. I had enquired about here in every di-
rection without hearing of a single evergreon. I
have had the tree planted in our yard, hoping that
it may live to be both a beautiful ornament, and a
lasting memorial of the occasion. Its having
weathered such storms already encourages me to
hope that it will not resent the " change of base,,'
and the being compelled to bear such unaccus-
tomed fruit for a short time.

Wishing you and yours all a Happy New Year, I
remain very truly vours,

Miss E. S. K.

Such care for the children of those who delve in
the dark mine, will have its reward, not only, in
the hearts of those who ministered to it, but in the
making of better men and women. It is seldom
that the children of the laborer have so rich a treat
on the day that their fathers have so long and so
joyfully celebrated, as the one above mentioned.
We receive our coal from this mine, and when we
fill the grate shall often cast a thought after the
children of the sturdy miners whose Christmas was
so joyfully kept.

1864.

•■«■

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEE.

m

CONTENTS:

Editorial: pase.

January 1

Air the Cellar 2

Agriculture :

Farm Labor and its Equivalent 3

Climate and Production of Illinois 4

Preserving Sweet Potatoes 5

Chiccory 5

Cotton raising in Iowa 6

Horticulture :

Illinois StateSociety— Winter Meeting 6 — 17

Strawberries and Grapes at Pittsburg, Pa.. 17 — ^20
Grape Growing and Wine Making^n Han-
cock Co., Ill 20

Packing Grapes for market 20

The Yeddo Grape 21

Grapes in Iowa 21

The Concord Grape 21

' Good Sorghum Crop 21

Miscellaneous :

An Editor Taking Lessons 22

Sheep and Cows 22

Materials of which Soils are Composed 23

The Honey Bee of California...... 23

Hogs and their Culture 23

Poetry :

The Planting of the Apple Tree ; 24

Editor's Table :

The year 1863 24

Cut and House your Fire Wood 24

Com Cribs 25

Keport of the Commission on Agriculture 25

At Alton 26

To Clubs 26

Just the Thing 26

Hog Tamer .• — 27

The Horticulturist 27

The Ssientifie American 27

Dr. Warder's Fruit Book 27

Catalogues Received 28

Christmas Tree — Carbon Coal Mines 28

AeENTS. — ^We do not appoint any agents — all are
voluntary. Any person so disposed, can actasagen
in any place.

ENLAHaE Your Club. — Will not the friends of
the Illinois Farmer inquire how many copies of
the Farmer are taken in their respective offices, and
pass around among those who ought to have their
names added to the list? Our terms are so low to
clubs of ten and twenty that we ought to have one
or the other made up at every office in the State, and
at every office in Central Illinois, one of twenty or
more. Will our friends, and the friends of practical
agriculture see to it, and thus lay us under renewed
obligations? ■' ;

How TO Obtain Subscribers. — The best way"is to
send for sample numbers. Any young man by can-
vassing his neighborhood, can easily make up a club
of five, ten or twenty, but no time should be lost in
doing so, for your neighbors may send east for their

paper which, though valuable there, is much less so
here, the difference of soil and climate putting them
out of their reckoning when attempting to teach us
Western farming.

How TO Help. — The friends of the Illinois Far-
mer will find a prospectus in another column. We
desire to suggest a few ways in which they can use it
to advantage :

1. Show the Farmer to those who are unacquaint-
ed with it, and tell them what you think of it.

2. Send for prospectuses, and put them into the
hands of those who will use them, and place posters
where farmers will see them.

3. Get post masters interested. They see every-
body, and ai-e efficient workers.

4. Send us the names of persons in your town to
whom we can send prospectuses and sample num-
bers. '";- ^y '/-''^ .■■■:"'■-' ":. ■ '-. :''''\[:

5. Begin now, before the agents of Eastern pa-
pers get up their clubs. ,

This last hint is especially important. Let us
hear from you soon. See terms elsewhere.

^^* Clubs may be composed of persons in all
parts of the United States. It will be the same to
the publishers if they send papers to one or a hund-
red post offices. Additions made at any time at club
rates. We mail by printed slips, which are so cheaplj
placed on the papers, that it matters little whether
they go to one or a dozen offices.

^^^ Correspondents will please be particular to
give the name of the post office, county and State.

^^~Specimen numbers will be sent gratis, upon
application. -;

^^^^ Address

BAKER A PHILLIPS,

Springfield, Illinois.

Special Notice. — For terms see prospectus on
last page. All exchanges and communications for
the eye of the editor should be directed to Illinois
Farmer, Champaign, Illinois. Electrotypes and
business matters, and subscriptions, to the publishers,
Springfield, Illinois. Implements and models for ex-
amination should be sent to the editor. The editor
will, so far as it can be done personally, test and ex-
amine all new machines and improvements submitted
to his inspection. He will be found at home, on his
farm, nearly all of the time. So far as it is possiUe.
the conductors on the Illinois Central Railroad will
let off passengers at his place, which is directly on
the road, three and a half miles south of the Urbana
Station, now the city of Champaign.

30

THE ILLmOIS FARMEK.

Jan.

G ROVER & BAKER'S SEWING MACHINES
wero av/ardcd the highest premiums at the fol-
lowing State Fairs of 1S63, for the Best Family
Sewing Machine, the Best Manufacturing Maehine,
and the Best Machine Work :

NEW YORK STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
First Premium for Double Thread Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

VERMONT STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

IOWA STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

MICHIGAN STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
Fii.st Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

INDIANA STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

KENTUCKY STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Beautiful Machine Work.

OHIO STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine AVork.

The above comprises all the Fairs at which the
GROVER & BAKER MACHINES were exhibited
this year. At nearly all of them the leading Sewing
Machines were in competition.

The GROVER & BAKER S. M. Co. are the only
parties who manufacture and sell Machines which
both SEW PERFECTLY and EMBROIDER PER-
FEC TLY.

GROVER & BAKER S. M. COMPANY,

115 Lake Street, Chicago.
jaaI8-64-ly

Fruit Farm in " Lower Egypt" for
Sale.

Forty Acres 4^ miles from Anna, (Jonesboro Sta-
tion, I. C. B. R.) Log House, Cistern, Stable, Ac.
20 aores improved. 600 young fruit trees, a few of
them in bearing, including Apple, Peach, Pear,
Quince, Cherry, Plum, Mulberry, all the choicest
Borts, selected by a good pomolgist.

Also half an acre Wilson's Strawberry, a good sup-
ply of Grape, Gooseberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, <fec.

The place is adapted to growing earl} Apples,
Quinces, Pears, Small Fruits, Sweet Potatoes, for
Chicago market. Is well watered by a creek, and
would suit well for keeping a few cows and making
butter. A Horse, 2 Cows, Poultry, Implements, Ac,
will be sold with the place if desired. Good road to
Depot, and but one mile to School House. Price
$700 in Greenbacks, payable when deed is delivered.

If you really wish to purchase, address Box 57,
^nna. Union County 111. janl-lt*

■p OSS, THOMPSON & CO.

(Successors to G. S. Thompson.)
CAPITAL PENSION & BOUNTY AGENCY.

OFFICE ON WEST SIDE OP 5tH STREET,

Opposite State House, over L. Greeble's Clothing Stor«
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

BOUNTY AND BACK PAY, PENSIONS, HECRUITINO
CLAIMS, CLAIMS FOR HORSES LOST IN
SERVICE, ARREARAGES OF PAT
DUE RESIGNED OFFICERS,

&c., Ac, Ac

Our experience and acquaintance 's^ith the details
of business in the various departments, and the per-
sonal attention of one member of the firm at Wash-
ington, afiFord us every facility for the prompt collec-
tion of all classes of military claims.

If you have any claims of any description against
the government, give us a statement of the facts, and
we will tell you what your rights are in the case. A
letter of inquiry may save you much trouble, expense
and perhaps loss. All communications enclosing a
stamp for return postage p romptly answered. In-
formation gratis. No fees charged until money is
collected. Charges low. Pensions for $5, as regula-
lated by act of Congress. Address

ROSS, THOMPSON A CO.,
Capita Pension and Bounty Agency, Springfield, 111.

dec63-tf

100,000 ='"" '"""*■

4 to 12 inches high per 1000 $ 5 00

4 to 12 inches high per 5000 20 00

4 to 12 inches high per 10,000 30 00

Carefully packed and shipped at Cobden Station,
South Pass, 111.

J. A. CARPENTER & CO.
dec-63-lmo*

T

HE AMERICAN HOG TAilER-

Invented by Reubien Ilurd, a farmer of twenty-
seven years experience in Illinois.

My Tamer will stop any hog on earth from rooting,
from a pig to an old hog by one simple application.

By any one sending three dollars to Reuben Hurd
at Mor'-ison, Whiteside county, li!., he will receive
one free of freight; and I will warrant them to give
perfect satisfaction, or money refunded.

To those sending : Please name the railroad sta-
tion you wish them shipped to, as I keep a constant
supply on hand, and will be able to fill all orders
with promptness and dispatch.

Directions for using will accompany all orilers.

REUBEN HURD.

Nov. 1, 1863— 6m.

agricoltorI'' warehouse

AND

SEED STORE.

Has one of the best selected stock of implements
andseeds to be found in the West.

A. H, HOVEY,
Novtfl862 No. 194, Lake st, Chicago DL

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

31

EVERGREEN SEEDLINGS.

A very large stock of superior grown Evergreen
Seedlings, at less than one-half the Eastern Prices.
^ PER 1,000.

Norway Spkucb, two years old,
three to five inches, $5,00

Norway Spruce, three years
old, six to nine inches, $8,00

Scotch Pine, two years old,
three to five inches, $7,00

Austrian Pine, two years old, $2 per 100.
Balsam Fir, Red Cedar, Arbarvit^, &e., Ac,
of large or small size, at very low rates.

A large stock of CONCORD GRAPES, one of the
best varieties for the West.

A large stock of RED DUTCH CURRANTS, the
best for market, two to three years old, at half the
isual rates.

STANDARD AND DWARF PEARS, of well
tested varieties, together with a good assortment of
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Ac, &.

Send for Catalogue. ROBT. DOUGLAS.

Waukegan, III. tf

TO GRAPE GROWERS^

The subscriber has a large stock of the most vigor-
ous growth layers of the following desirable varieties,
which he will sell at very low rates, to wit :

COIsCORD. $55 per 1,000.

A few thousand of bearing age, of large size at

$75 per 1,000.
These will produce a good crop the second yeiir.

HARTFORD PROLIFIC, $10 per 1,00, or
ten for a dollar.

REBECCA, $10 per 100.

DIANA, $10 per 100

The above will be well packed,
to go any diatance.

Terms — ?ash, or approved bank paper o
short date.

JAMES SMITH.
Dbsmoines Iowa, Jan. 1, 1863.

'WANTED.
KNITTING MACHINES.

Every Farmer to know that his "Women Folks
can earn $6 to $20 per week with one of Akin's Cele-
brated Knitting Machines. It will earn its cost in
thirty days. Price complete $75. Weight 45 pound.
Freight from 50 cents to $1 50. Send for circular
and samples, (send stamps.)

BRANSON & ELLIOT,

General Agents,
Apr '63 ly 120 Lake street, Chicago, 111.

BliOOMINGTON NURSERY

r.LOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

Eighty Acres Fruit and Ornamental Treec

OAA NAMED SORTS TULIPS, ALSO HYACINTH^
Jm\J\j Crocus, and a general assortment of Bulbs
and Flower Roots for Fall and Spring planting.^
Nursery stock, Evergreens, Greenhouse and gardeu
plants — all at wholesale and retail at lowest cash
rates.

Xt^Tor particulars see Catalogues or address subscribti

F. K. PHfflNIX.

Bloonaington, 111., Aug. 1, 1869.

Dunlap's Nuxsery.

This nursery has good atock of apple trees of all
ages and of choice varieties for the west, low heads
and stacky. The genuine " May Cherrv," (Kentish
or Early Richmond of Downing.) Dwarf and Stand-
ard Pears, the Purpl^ Cam. Raspberry, the best of all
raspberries for the farm ; Lowton Blackberry, Hough-
ton Gooseberry, Grapes, Strawberries, Ornamental
Trees and Plants. An immense stock of Silver Leaf
Maple, from $5 to $15 per 100, 6 to 10 feet high. The
green house is well stocked with roses and other bud-
ding out plants. This stock is grown to retail and
not adopted to the tree peddler,as all trees and plants
are large, sta<sky and thrifty, and intendedfor tha
plan'er only. Terms cash with low prices.

Address, M. L. DUNLAP,

Champaign.

March 1, 1863.tf

GEORGE S. THOMPSON,

Late of Com. Gen.'s Office,

Attornej for U. S. Military Claims,

West Side of JPublic Square,

Sj'ringficld, HI.

Entrance office one door north of Banking House
of Messrs. N. H. Ridgely & Co.

Having had much experience in prosecuting claim
against the United State.", particular attention ia
given to Recruiting Bills made by officers and men of
volunteer companies and regiments, for su sisting,
and, collecting, organizing and transporting troops
prior to muster into service : Back Pay due Resigned
Officers; Back Pay due Discharged Soldiers; Pay
duo Deceased Officers, their Widows or Heirs ; Boun-
ty and Pay due Heirs of Deceased Soldiers ; Pensions
due Deceased Soldiers' Widows and Minor Heirs;
Pensions due Invalid Soldiers ; Pay for Horses lost,
killed or died in the United States' service; All
Claims growing out of the Present War.

Pensions collected semi-annually, from the Agent
of the United States at Springfield.

Any kind of claims for service, or for property de-
stroyed, stores or property sold officers of the United

States.

Would respectfully refer to Messrs. John Williams
& Co., Bankers ; J. C. Bunn, Esq., Banker; Capt. C.
B. Watson, U. S. Mustering Officer ; Lieut. Geo. W.
Hill, U. S. Mustering Officer; Major C. S. Hemp-
stead, U. S. Paymaster; Capt. Ninan W. Edwards,
U. S. Commissary ; Captain W. H. Bailhache, U. S.
Quartermaster; Col. P. Morrison, 8th U. S. Infantry,
Superintendent Recruiting for Regiments of Illinois,
Springfield, 111. Major J. G. Fonda, 12th 111. Caval-
ry, Commandant at Camp Butler.
August, I862.tf

STANDARD

SCALES

OF ALL KINDS.

Also, Warehouse Trucks, Letter Presses, Ac

FAIRBANKS, GREEN LEAF & CO.

172 LAKE STREET. CHICAGO,

Sold in Springfield by

E. B. PEASE.

Be careful and buy only the genuine. junel-Iy

'"-^Rv'^'Siifw-nv^.; f.f^-"^

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

S2

A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

PUBLISHED AT

SPRINGFIELD, - - ILLINOm,

BT

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

AND IS EDITED BY

M. Ii. DUNLAP, Tribune's Bural.

TJ1RM3 IN ADVANCE.— $1 a year; two copies 1 50; five
opies $3; ten copies $6, and one to getter up of the club
wenty copies $10.

It is not necessaey that the club should all be at one office
— we send wherever the members of the club may reside

The postage on the Farmer is only three cents a year in
he State of Illinois, and six cents out of it.

Specimens numbs rs sent free on application.

Subsciiption money may be sent at the risk of the pub-
lisher.

Exchanges and communications for the eye of the Editor
should be addressed, Illinois Farmer, Champaign. Illinois.

All business letters are to be directed to the publishers,
Springfield.

TERMS OP ADVEKTI.-ING :

1 mo. 3 mo. 6 mo. 12 mo.

One page, or two columns j8 $20 $35 $50

Half a pace or one " 5 12 20 8o

Cne fourth page or half column.. 3 7 12 18

One eighth or one fourth " .. 2 4 7 10

One square of ten lines 1 2 4 7

Card of five lines one year $6 00

Ten cents a line for less than a square each insertion.

All worthy objects advertised, and those of importance to
the Farmer will receive, from time to time, such editorial
notices as the Editor may consider them worthy of, without
additional charge.

Implements and seeds to be tested should be sent direct
to the Editor, at his residence .Champaign.

We have put the price of advertising within reach of all.
It will enable those who like to freely advertise their goods,
to do so at a cheap rate.

Terms, cash. Yearly adverti4ers will pay semi-annually,
and all transient advertisements must be accompanied with
the cash to insure insertion.

BAlLliAOHE k BAKFK, Publishers,
Spr'ngfield, Ills.

THE ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL

J 3 CONFI! ENTLT OFFERED TO THE FEOPIK OF
Illinois as the best and most reliable news, political
vnd commercial paper within their reach. It is published
•it Springfield, the Capital of the State, and is the medium
f all official notices, published by State authority. Partic-
ular attention is given to commercial affairs and every
J lumber contains copious reviews of the markets in the
irincipal cities.

TERMS :

One copy one year. $2 09

Three copies one year 5 00

Six *' " 7 50

Ten " " 12 00

Twenty " " .20 00

Payable always in advance. Persons sending clubs of ten

upwards shall be entitled to an extra copy.
Addreu BAILHACHE k BAKER,

Bprin^firld, Illinois.

Sanford & Mallory's Flax and Hemp
Machines.

These celebrated machines are on exhibition and
in operation in a building adjoining the Chicago Su-
gar Refinery. For circular telling all about them,
price, Ac, address NELSON STILLMAN,

General Agent, Chicago, 111.

P. 0. Box 5823. May]'63.1y

A GOOD INVESTMENT.

ONE TEAT FAYS.

THE

"PRAIRIE PARMEU,'

Has now been published in Chicago, 111., for twenty-
two years, without intermission. It is devoted to the
Producer's interests, treating of
GENARAL AGRICULTURE,
STOCK RAISING,
HORTICULTURE and POMOLOGY,
And DOMESTIC ECONOMY generally.

The Publishers' aim will be to give such informa-
tion and assistance as will enable the farmer to grow
the largest crops with the least expense, and what is
equally important to assist him in securing the

LARGEST PRICES

the market affoids, by giving such reliable informa-
tion that is obtainable concerning the markets at
home and abroad — the cost of forwarding produce to
market, and other attendant expenses — thus enabling
the producer to take advantage of the conditions of
the market in dispensing of his produce.

FORM OF PAPER.

The paper consists of 16 pages large quarto, mak-
ing a convenient size for binding and reference. A
full index is given at the end ol each six months.

CONTENTS. «i

About five pages are devoted to Gei'cral Agricul-
ture : one to two pages to Horticulture; one page to
Literature ; two or more pages to General War Mis-
cellany and News ; two .pages to Markets and Rec-
ord of Season, and asking and answering questions,
and general editorial items.

A portion will also be devoted to Advertisements
of such character as is appropriate to an Agricultural
paper.

DR. GEO. H. DADD.

This celebrated Veterinary Surgeon will contribute
regularly to the Fakmer, giving especial attention to
the anfiwering of questions and giving information
upon matters interesting to stock growers.
A NEW VOLUME

Commencing January 1st, 1863, and the present time
affords the best time to form clubs for the year.

One copy one year $2 00

Two copies one year 3 00 •

Larger clubs furnished at liberal rates, or prem-
iums given where clubs of six or more aro sent at
$1 50 each.

Specimen copies and show bills sent to any one
who desires them for examination or the purpose of
raising a club.

For sals by news dealers generally.

For samples or other information concerning the
paper, address

EMERY k CO., Chicago, HI.

The Illinois Farmer

VOL. IX.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., FEB., 1864.

NO. 2.

DEVOTED TO THE

FARM, THE OHCIIARD KID THE GARDEl^,

PUBLISHED BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,
SPRDJGFIELD, ----- ILLINOIS.
M:. X.. DTJNL^I*, Editor.

All business letters should bo addressed to the
publishers.

^^~ExcHANGES and all matters pertaining to the

editorial department, must be directed to Illinois

Farmer, Champaign, 111., as the editor resides at

that point, and is seldom at the office of publication,

from which he is distant over eighty miles.

*4f.* For terms see prospectus and special notices in
advertising department.

February.

The new year is slowly marching on.
The great store house of Arctic cold was
opened npon her, at her incoming, but
this is now yielding to more genial
days. • .„ ■'..:'■■■, ., ■

The great wave of cold, if of short
duration, was crushing, and left the
traces of death in its pathway. The
stalwart mm fell before it, when ex-
posed to its deadly touch ; the maiden,
though wrapped in thick robes of the
shaggy buffalo, could not indure its vis-
itation, when the driving storm blinded
the team that wandered on the trackless
prairie; the sturdy school boy of seven-
teen, with his younger brothers could
not stem its fierce onset, that came

drifting from the direction of their
home. One just budding into beauty
sets againsi a shock of corn stiff and
stark, while in vonder drift folded in
the robe of winter, lies the little boy
with his school basket under tim with
his shawl over his head.

Such scenes marked the track of the
storm, as it rolled its wave of snow and
cold ; cold, deep freezing, deathly cold,
down the long stretches of prairie. —
Dead horses, cattle, sheep and swine,
piled in fearful winrows, to be counted
by thousands but added to the desola-
tion. The embryo blossoms of the
peach, the apricot, the nectarine, the
almond, the pear, the plum and the
cherry, nearly all died at the touch, only
a few of the two latter left to give
promise of fruit. The summer drouth
and the early frosts had so ripened the
apple that its buds are nearly unharm-
ed. The covering of snow that came
with the wave of cold, saved many a
tender plant which otherwise would
have been destroyed.

This sudden change and its conse-
quences have taught us many lessons,
some ofwhich are fearful ones. Let us
therefore take them as they are, and
learn to guard against their influences
as much as possible.

It is our purpose to study the subject
in all its bearings and we shall from
time to time give the result to our
readers.

34:

THE ILLINOIS FARMEK.

Feb.

The first shock of winter has been
hard on almost all kinds of stock, and
it will stand ns in hand, to give them
our best care for the remainder of the
winter. Do not allow yourselves to be
deceived by a few warm days in this
month, to slacken the care that is thus
due, but to see that all are well pro-
tected from the cold winds and driving
storms, that so often occur at this sea-
son of the year. The loss of hogs by the
cold has been very large, enough to tell
on the next year's supply of store hogs.
Those lost in the delayed trains only
lessens, by so much the supply of meat,
while those on the farnis are so much
from the productive stock of the coun-
try.

Peach trees will soon show by the
dead and shrivelled condition of their
branches how far to cut back. The
pear should be cut back to within three
or four buds of the old wood, that is
leaving so much of last year's growth.
Keep tour knife off fkom all feuit
teees and sheubs while they aee
IN A FKOZEN STATE. On Warm days
when the frost is aut, you may begin to
prune your orchard and to cut back
your raspberries. The trees damaged
by frost can also be cut back and thin-
ned out.

If the fire wood is not cut and piled
up, see to it at once, for next month the
active duties of the farm begin, in such
earnest that you will have little time
for such work.

Have all your tools in order, so that
when you want them for use they will
be ready. If you have not all you want,
give your orders in season for the new
ones.

Prepare to fill the blank spaces in
your orchards and to extend them. —
New trees should be planted every

spring, in order to keep up a good suc-
cession of fruit. In attending to this
be careful not to overlook the small
fruits, the new grapes, such as Concord,
Hartford Prolific, Delaware, Diana,
ISTorton's Virginia, and Taylor's Bullit.
Spring wheat may be sown the last of
the month, if the weather is favorable.
In this case see that no water can stand
on the newly sown grain. ,~ ■

Overhaul your garden seeds, to see
what you want and order them in sea-
son. Look out for old onion seed, there
is plenty of it in market, don't buy an
ounce of this seed unless of reliable
parties. The new demand at three
and four dollars a pound is bringing
out the old seed, that would not at the
time when it was new and fresh bring
over fifty cents a pound at wholesale —
it will now go into market in some
shape.

If you want trees or plants, order
them direct from the nurseries, and
have nothing to do with traveling
agents, either domestic or foreign.

-*—~

Fencing.

Farmers are too apt to delay putting
up fences until the spring w^ork is upon
them. In the heavy timbered portion
of the State a rail fence is admissible,
but on the prairies a post and rail, picket
or board fence are the only dead fences
that should be put up. These will stand
against the prairie winds. To a great
extent live fences will soon supply the
demand, but these cannot be made in a
month, or a year ; and in the mean time
dead fences must be had to secure the
crops. The post and board fence is
the most generally used, and the most
common way to set the posts is with the
use of the spade or common auger. —
Now in our humble opinion, a post

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

35

should not. be set with either of these
implements, unless in case of necessity,
where the ground is too hard to drive
them. Posts should be got ready by
the middle of January, sharpened and
hauled on to the line where they are
to be used. They should be cut ceven
feet long, and when sharpened, see that
you sharpen the top or upper end of
the post, as we know by experience
that a post set top end down will last
much longer than one set with the but
end down. We are not disposed to
argue this point or to attempt to ac-
count for it, as we are positive that it is
a fixed fact, and will bear any amount
of scrutiny. It will cost no more to
put the top end into the ground than
the but, and if there is no advantage,
there certainly is no loss. Iq sharpen-
ing be careful to leave the point in the
centre, and dress down all sides alike,
that is to the same bevel. During the
January thaw is a good time to drive
the posts, the ground is then soft and
yielding, when two men will set from
one to two hundred per day, depending
on the size of the posts and condition
of the soil. With a spade or post au-
ger, one hand will set, sr.y, forty posts,
but to do this he must work very hard,
nor can he set them when the ground
is very wet, which is just the time to
drive them. In seven and a half days
at this rate he will set three hundred
posts. To sharpen three hundred posts
will require three days of ordinary
hands, though a good chopper will do
them in less than half the time, and to
drive them, two days with two hands,
mjaking a total of seven days, nearly
the same amount of work. But this
latter can all be done when the former
is impossible. With common farm
hands, such as can sharpen and drive

the posts, you will not get on an aver-
age more than twenty set in a day.

Posts that are driven two and three-
fourths feet into the groimd, as is con-
templated with a seven foot post, that
is four feet and four inches above
ground, will stand much better than
when put in any other way, and we
have a fancy will last a much longer
time. The earth is packed so close
about it that the air is to a greater de-
gree excluded, and does not undergo
so many changes from dry to wet and
wet to drv.

A fence set with the spade or post
auger, is very apt to be leaned over by
the winds, or be thrown out with the
frosts, a misfortune that seldom occurs
to those driven as described. For the
past twenty years, we have been in the
practice of driving all our posts, and
visitors have always remarked the rBg-
ularitv of our fences.

In setting the posts, we put them
eight feet from centre to centre, using
a sixteen foot board. As these are
generally cut longer, many of them
overrunning eight inches, we never saw
them off, but lap the end back on the.
last panel, and use a twelve or
twenty penny nail by driving through
both boards. In this case the end of
the last panel is not nailed until it is
ascertained whether the next board
will lap over or not. When it does not
lap over use a common eight penny
fence nail, and if it laps a larger one.
In this way the fence is quickly made,
with the same cost of nails, and no saw
is used. In case the fence is taken
down for removal there is less waste of
material, while the saving of labor in
putting up, is no smallitem, .,t . : --i, v

In this mode of making fence, you,
do not have to wait for the boards, but

36

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

Feb.

can drive the posts and put up the
boards when it is convenient to get
them. We very much dislike to see
farmers making fence when they should
be at their spring work.

Dead fences are a great drain on the
farmer's profits, and should be replaced
with live ones as fast as possible, to
this end we have Osage lor high land
and willow for low land, and in addi-
tion to these two great sources of sup-
ply, we have the barberry and numer-
OTis other plants and trees of more or
less value.

««^

"White Willow Impostors.

A few days since we received a call
from a gentleman, who desired an
agency to sell nursery trees. He was
canvasing for the "White Willow, and
at the same time could take orders for
fruit trees. On inquiry, he stated that
the White Willow was grown at Car-
bondale, and sent out by one J. W
F , who had a large stock.

The idea of getting the white wil-
low pure and uncontaminated, from
the deep forest of Southern Egypt,
struck us as novel, and we cross exam-
ined our visitor rather closely in re-
gard to the matter. The result was,
that he had met this willow man at
Carbondale and agreed to canvass for
him, and was to receive a dollar a thou-
sand for cuttings sold, for obtaining the
orders. The delivery and collection
to be done by others. The price fixed
to customers was to be $5,00 per thou-
sand. So far all right, if he could con-
nect the sale of fruit trees from some
reliable nursery, the thing would work
to a charm. Smelling a big mice, the
offer to sell fruit trees was declined.
At this our man was somewhat disap-
pointed, and said if he could not com-

bine the two, there was no use to make
the effort and he should drop the bu-
ness.

We at one wrote to an old and well-
known citizen of Carbondale in regard
to the matter, and here is the reply :

" In answer to your inquiry I have
to say, that no such man as J. W. F —
resides either here or in this county,'
nor does any one grow the white wil-
low at this point, or to my knowledge
in Southern Illinois."

Thus the riddle is unravelled. The
swindle was to be located here, with a
confederate to cut the willow along the
Drury or Cache rivers. One of whom
would take the orders and the other
deliver and collect. The endorsement
of some nursery establishment was
needed to make the thing work.

We have no idea that the thing is
dead, but that it will turn up in some
other place. White willow from Car-
bondale may vere properly be declin-
ed by those making willow fences and
wood lots.

We had supposed that almost every
phase of swindling in white willow had
been exhausted last winter. But here
is a pretty scheme that gave good prom-
ise of working well, but which like the
peach crop of Egypt has met a chilling
frost.

For the benefit of all such petty swin-
dlers, tree dealers and their victims,
we copy from Purple's Statutes, page
393.

" See ck. Ill — If any person or persons shall,
knowingly and designedly, by any false pretence
or pretences, obtain from any other person or per-
sons, any chose in action, money, goods, wares,
chattels, effects or other valuable thing whatever,
with intent to cheat or defraud any such person
or persons of the same, every such person so of-
fendiug shall be deemed a cJieat and upon convic-
tion, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one
thousand dollars, and imprisoned not excecdiag
one year, and shall be sentenced to restore the
property so fraudulently obtained, if it can be
done."

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

37

If the above law was occasionally put
in force it would be of immense benefit
to the fruit growing public.

We trust our readers will keep watch
of this class of men hereafter, and save
not only their money, but much bitter,
disappointment.

To send men into the Winnebago
Bwamps to cut white willow and to buy
bogus cuttings of the honest Dutch
farmers of Pennsylvania has had its
day. Had it not been for the drouth
that swept away the evidences of the
swindle, some responsible parties would
have had a rather unpleasant time,
even now the thing is not quite closed
up, further growth is needed to show
the cheat. Sorgho has had a ten years'
struggle with patent pans, rollers and
seed men, then why not other valua-
ble products have their day of trial.

Income Tax.

The Assessors of the State of lili-
nois, in convention last May, adopted
the following example as a guide.

INCOME OF A. B. (FARMER.)

Do not value increase of stock 4 years old and over.
Am't of farm produce of 1862, sold previous

to Jan. 1,1863 $2*78 00

2,000 bushels of corn unsold, sold prvioua

to Jan. 1, 1863, at 18 cts 360 00

240 bu. wheat, sold previous to Jan. 1, 1863

at 60 cts 144 qo

135 bushels potatoes sold previous to Jan.

1,1863, at 40 cts 54 oo

200 bushels oats, sold previous to Jan. 1,

1 863, at 15 cts 50 00

40 tous of hay, at $4 per ton 160 00

All other orchard aad farm produce 60 00

14 calves of the spring of 1862, worth Dec,

31, 1862 70 00

Increase in value on 16 yearlings over the

cost of feed consumed 32 00

Increase in value of 20 two-year olds, over

cost of feed 40 00

Increase of all other cattle over cost of feed 26 00
4 colts of the spring of 1862, worth Dec. 31,

^ 1862 100 00

Increase in value on 8 yearling colts, over

cost of feed 30 00

Increase in value of 4 two-year old eolts,

over cost of feed 32 00

Increase in value on other horses and mules 26 00

50 pigs of the spring of- 1862, worth Dec.

31, 1862 15 00

Increase in value on other hogs over coit of

feed 60 00

Amount made in buying and selling stock

in the year 1862 125 00

Amount received for personal services or

salaries, in the year 1862. 42 00

Amount received for rents and interest. . . 182 00
Income from other sources than the above 63 00
Lambs as the increase of sheep at $1 pr hd.
Number of pounds of wool sold

Total income from all sources $2,008 00

DEDUCTIONS.

Take no account of hay and grain consumed

on the farm.

Am't exempt by law $600 00

Am't paid for taxes for the yr 1862 12Y 50
Am't pd. for labor on the farm do 285 00
Value of board of hired laborers . . 143 00

Amount paid for rent 116 00

Amount paid for insurance 31 00

Amount necessary repairs to farm

and buildings 28 00

Interest or encumbrances on estate

on which the person resides. ... 46 00

$1,366 00

Total deductions ,$1,376 00

Am't liable to an income tax of 3 per ct. . $ 632 00

There are scarcely two Assessors who
adhere to the same rales, except in re-
gard to the most prominent features of
the law ; for the reason that they don't
understand the law themselves, when
some new matter comes up, not partic-
ularly provided for in the enactment.

By the above list farmers will see
what they have to account for, as an
income tax, and should keep an account
accordingly.

We have 9, large number of very
stupid assessors, besides many who do
not understand the law, in fact, no two
men agree on all points, and it is to be
hoped that it will assume a more defi-
nite shape. That the law is wrong in
itself there can be no doubt in our mind.
We do not hesitate to say that we are
opposed to it in toto. We are not op-
posed to taxation, but on the other hand
think it highly necessary, but in this
income tax the wrong parties must pay.
It is an unequal tax, and it is for this
that we object to it. If the farmer is

jmr:

i ■'<ii».ji>«*tTT?>7V5r-^

^TTr»«<»H»P»^r?'Y^''

..j^

■» •XSV^.wiS-M^S'-J'^

*^^

38

THE ILLINOIS FARMEK.

Feb.

Vf

SJ-.

taxed why not tax his land and his cap-
ital in stock and other personal proper-
ty. If he has more land than he wish-
es to pay tax on, or finds profitable, let
him sell it to the man who can make it
pay. Under the present law the old
land sharks are protected and the in-
dustrious, hard workinor farmer must
pay. The man who holds a lot worth
ten thousand dollars, for an advance
pays nothing, but the man who im-
proves his property must pay. Thus
making one class pay the whole ex-
pense of the war, l^Tot long since we
saw an account of three individuals in
Chicago, one of them a merchant of
moderate means, paying a tax. of three
per cent., on a hundred thousand
dollars, and two among the most weal-
thy in the city, worth at least a quar-
ter of a million each in real estate pay-
ing nothing.

Why? because they chose to invest
in real estate that would improve in
value as the city improved, instead of
doing business. We know them per-
sonally, and know too, that nineteen-
twentieths of their worth has been de-
rived from the natural advance in their
property, caused by the growth of the
city. If this property increase in val-
ue twenty thousand a year, they pay
no income tax on it, while the growth
on the farm stock that feeds on his
acres must be accounted for.

' A farmer who devotes a portion of
.grounds to the growth of trees andi
■plants, must pay a licence of ten dol-
lars, and then an addition of three per
cent, on his sales, for income. At the
same time, the law says, that products
mean every species of thing grown or
produced on a farm. The commission-
er who in the face of this law decided
that he should pay a license, should be

awarded a leather medal at every State
and county fair throughout the country.

We last year purchased of a farmer
a thousand currant bushes, and the
assessor decided that he was a nursery-
man, and should pay a license as a nur-
seryman. This man grows his own
nursery trees, and of some sorts has an
excess which he sells, probabjy to the
amount of one or two hundred dollars
a year, and for this he must pay ten
dollars license, and three per cent, in-
come. In this case the law is not at
fault, and the blame is with the ofiicers.
But it may be asked why pay it ? stand
a suit on it. This is all very well, but
most farmers prefer to be swindled out
of ten dollars, rather than lose a hun-
dred in going to law.

We want plain, simple laws, and a
set of honest, intelligent ofiicers to ex-
cute them, but instead we have a set of
blatant politicians, with now and then
an honest man, who gets in throvgh
mistake.

Ohio Wool Growers' Convention.

In accordance with the expressed wishes and ad-
vice of many members of the Ohio Wool Growers'
Association, notice is hereby given that there will
be a mee-ting of the Association, together with a pu-
blic Convention of Wool Growers and those inter-
ested in wool growing, in the city of Columbus, on
Tuesday the 5th day of January, 1864, to meet for
the presentation of business, at 10 o'clock A. M. o
that day, and to continue in session at the pleasure^
of the Convention. .

A public Address will be delivered before the Con
vention, on Wednesday evening, Jan. 6th, by Hon
Henry S. Randall, of Cortland Village, N. Y.

We cordially invite the attendance of all persons
interested in the production, handling .or consump-
tion, of sheep and wool.

S. D. HARRIS, President.

J.Paek Alexakdkr, Secretary.

There should be a large representation from thi«
state. This convention cannot result otherwis*
than beneficial to the wool growing interest. Wash-
ing of sheep will doubtless be settled Xor or agialnst
at this meeting, — ^Ed.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

^

From the Champaign County Unioa.

King Cotton.

BY J. S. WOLFE.

That wonderful King, whose surname is Cotton,
(He began to feel weak, and withered and rotten
From the dawn of Rebellion), had a moment's reflec-
tion.
Inspired by the news of the Northern election ;
So betaking himself to a glen in the wild.
Where Treason had nursed her belligeient child.
Enthroned on a stone at the foot of an oak,
Forth in accents of wailing the banished King broke :

"In the sunlight of Peace, when the spindle and loom
Were sounding instead of the cannon's loud boom —
When the shuttle was netting my delicate threads.
For human apparel and clothing for beds —
When I mingled in peace with the warp and the woof,
Ah, then I was KING, and the crowd stood aloof!
Then Ifroighted the vessel deep down in the water
With the weight of my body — for cash or for barter;
Then I sped on as rapid as engine could whirl
To pass throuo h the hands of the factory -girl.

(Do plants ever love? Dr. Darwin, in rhymes,
Has told how the plants have their lovers at times .
And 1, though a King, have felt tender ''in spots"
AVhile these nymphs have caressed me and tied me in

knots ;
And, like others in love, found it bliss to be seized
By these spotless young damsels, and sensibly

squeezed.)

Yes, then I was King, with the girls on my side,
My white locks were honored, and flattered my pride,
And daily, by thousands, the beautiful girls
Were anointing my locks and applauding my curls .
I was feasted, and feted, and petted and dandled,
And admired by the millions by whom I was handled;
I danced on the spools, on the spindles and reels,
And felt always at home — as an honest man feels.
The stories I told, and the ^aj-ns that I spun,
Were the wittiest known since the world was begun;
I was twisted and wove up in every variety.
And received with delight in the best of society :
I was warmth to the back, and ermined the breast
Of the dignified host, and the worshipful guest ;
To men I have proved the best friend ever given —
I've been "bosom companion" to most of the women.
Who assured me that I, for my delicate arts.
Should be cheered by their friendship and warmed by

their h' arts.
I was King in the market where money is made —
I ruled in the meetings of each board of trade —
I traveled on ocean, on river and road,
.A.nd was always considered the "cream" of the load:
WheneTr a journey I chanced to commence.
The bullion was ready to pay the expense ;
I was lifted, and carried, and carted around —
My imperial feet never touching the ground —
And I always was sure of arousing ovation
In the councils and workshops of every nation.
The kings and the queens and the autocrats fine
Sent their merchantmen, coasters, and ships of-the-

line,
To escort me from India, from China or Tesas,
With such pomp and parade as oft did perplex us.
I figured in fashion, and often in Paris
Have made up the ruffle and frill of an heiress :
All were proud to present me, and prompt at my beck
The banksr would honor my heaviest check.

When I slumbered in bud — when in blossom I laiu^faed
'T was the same as receiving a million by draft"
When I emptied my "bole" of its floccnlent lock*
The '-bulls" and the "bears" left their gambling in

stocks.
And hastened, all eager to furnish the "tin"
To pick me, and "tote" me, and help me to "gin."
Sure, wasn't I King! 'Tis no prevarication ^
To say I was courted by all the creation ;
But alas, my ambition ! it shivered my throne.
Divided my kingdom, and left me alone —
Broke my sceptre to atoms, and dashed to the earth
All the hopes I have had from the day of my birth.
Here, throneless and houseless, in this gloomy dell,
A fugitive outlaw hereafter I dwell ;
By rude "speculators" I'm constantly hurt.
They "conscript" me, and burn me, and roll me in

dirt;
They cobble up walls with my body and bones —
Hold me "cheap as the dirt," or a cartload of stones ;
They smoke mo with powder and stain me with blood,
And smear me all over with water and mud.
I am therefore determined to vacate the field ' <t

To some other monarch my kingdom I yield.
And proclaim to the world, from this stone by the oak,
That Cotton is fallen and the S^ing is •'flat broke."

For the Illinois Farmer.
Chatsworth, Ford Co., IlL, Jan. 15, '64.
Mr. Editor:

The farmers in this neighborhood are turning
their attention to flax growing. We have had
but little experience in raising it, consequently
would like to ask a few questions of some one that
has tested it and had more experience in raising it.
It has been raised here entirely with reference to
the seed, but now good flax straw is quite an ob-
ject. We have sown about one-half bushel to the
acre, but that is not enough to get long straw. If
we were to sow one bushel or one bushel and a half
to the acre, would we get as much seed as though
we had sown less ? If it will not yield as much
seed how much difference would it prpbably make?
How much seed would you recommend to sow to
the acre with a view of raising both ? Hdw much
straw is an average yield when about one bushel is
sown to the acre ? How many tons of straw does
it take to make a ton of fibre ? What is t be best
kind of machine for breaking it, and how much
does it cost ? What is the fibre worth per ton
generally ? Where is the best market for shipping
the fibre ? Chicago, I think, intends to make a
monopoly of it, consequently if there is any other
place where there are several manufactures it
would be likely to bring more.

Please answer in your next issue, and you wiH
oblige me. Wallace W. Wicks.

The culture of flax is spreading very rapidly, and
can now be reckoned among the best paying crops .

In sowing for both seed and lint a bushel of seed

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

Feb.

ia t^ usual amount sown to the acre. There is no
crop more benefitted by manure than flax, and
where it is possible to use it even in small quanti-
ties, it should not be neglected. When highly
manured and sown thin the straw will be coarse
with lint of poor quality ; to make the best lint
thick seeding is necessary. We have not been able
to see that a better yield of seed is obtained in
sowing half a bushel of seed, and have always pre-
fered a bushel of seed for this purpose. In very
rich land a bushel and a half of seed would make
an excellent quality of lint. In Belgium and Rus-
sia, where the finest linens are produced, from two
to four bushels are sown. The richer the soil the
less seed is required. ^

In sowing the land must be made fine by repeat-
ed borrowing and rolling, if at all cloddy. When
the seed is sown, lightly harrow in and then roll.
It is very important to roll the ground when the
crop is to be cut with a reaper.

The Belgians sometimes sow a crop of carrots
with the fiax, which produce a good crop. Mr.
Phinney, one of oar neighbors, made trial of this
last season, but in consequence of the long and se-
vere drouth, it was a failure.

An ordinary yield when half a bushel has been
sown is about ten bushels, but with a bushel to a
bushel and a half of seed on land well manured,
fifteen may be called a gaod crop.

A ton of straw will make 500 to 600 pounds of
fibre, which is a fair average per acre, though
twice that is grown in good seasons.

The Mallory machine has a high reputation but
there is one in Chicago probably better. Of the
prices we know nothing at present. One machine
will do the work for a neighborhood.

As to the prices, we have seen no list of late.
By the time your crop is ready you can post your-
self on the best market. The Chicago firm that
you allude to have a superior machine and can af-
ford to pay the highest price for the straw ; at the
same time we presume they will sell your fibre on
commission.

You can sow flax as late as the middle of May,
but the best crops are sown the last of March and
early in April. Use a roller in seeding an J see that
the soil is well comminuted ; to do this sow and
roll the day you plow. You may in this case har-
row and sow afterwards and roll the ground, as
this will in soft ground cover the seed. — Ed.

For the Illinois Farmer.

Wintering Grapes— EflFects of Frost.

Bloominqton, 111., Jan. 1864.
Jf. L. Durdap, Esq., Dear Sir :
The severe cold of the first of January has left its

traces. The peach trees are all gone, tender pears,
apricots, a part of the cherries, and to some extent
the apples. Grape vines not covered have suffered
severely, and some varieties are entirely killed.
The most hardy of all is the Concord ; next comes
Taylor's BuUit, a white grape. Cuyahoga or Cole-
man has stood well. There are some new varieties
more hardy than aa oak tree — more so than the
Concord, but they are as yet little known on ac-
count of their high price. North Carolina Seed-
ling , Mary, Arkansas, Winslow, Raisen, Mary Ann
and a dozen other new sorts, are oak tree grape
vines.

The covering of my ten thousand vines could not
have cost me more than twenty dollars, but the
devil persuaded me to become a careless American,
but it is the last time, as I shall protect all my
grapes hereafter. Hartford Prolific is a very har<
dy grape.

I have been experimenting to see what kind of
wine would first freeze. This is a new subjecj
and one that I have not seen noticed before.

I must say of the Delaware that it has sufiFered
very severely this winter. Yours truly,

H. Sheoder.

— The Dr. is one of our live men, one who will
never rust out.

At the winter meeting of the State Agricultural

Society he took the first premium for essay on

market gardening $ 10 00

1st premium best 3 bottles Catawba 10 00

1st " " 3 " Isabella 10 00

1st " " 3 " Delaware... 10 00

Total $40 00

Pretty well for the little Dutchman, when we
have so many great grape growers and old wine

makers in the State. — Ed.

<•> .

For the Illinois Farmer.

Patent Bee Hives.
Three Oaks, Mich., Jan 30, '64.

Mr. Editor : — By inserting the following card in
your paper as long you can afford, you shall be en-
titled to an individual deed of my Round Glass
Hive and Box in your name, or in the name of
some friend you may designate.

W. Warren.

Use the Round Glass Hive and Honey Box, with
barrel cover, a double ventilating hive, excelling in
honey and wintering bees ; easily made, costing
but little more than the common box hive. Hive
and honey took the first premium at the Illinois
State Fair in 1863. Save agent's fee. Two indi-
vidual rights by mail for $5. Send stamps for il-
lustrated circular, or see the one put up at your
post office. W. Waeesn.

Three Oaks, Berrien Co., Mich.

We have inserted the above, not for the de«d to
use the hive, for we shall be at no cost to try the

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

*1

experiment, but for the purpose of allowing the
beekeepers of the State a chance to test the value
of the awarding committee in this particular case,
an award that we think was made without due
consideration. Our readers will know where to ap-
ply for the right and a drawing of the hive.

We think the hive too expensive and complica-
ted to be of practical use, but as the committee
have decided it to be the best, we can do no more
than to recommend that they verify their opinion
by testing the hive, and to this end Mr. Warren
may send them all the deeds due us for this notice.

For the Illinois Farmer.

Hand Sowing Machines— Stafford's
Cultivator as a Harrow— Combined
Planter and Roller— Washing Ma-
chines and Clothes Wringer— Ridges
for Sweet Potatoes— Wild Morning
Glory.

M. L. Durdap, Esq., Dear Sir :

May I trouble you to answer a few inquiries ? —
I want a hand sowing machine and a cast iron
roller, such as you have. Will you tell me what is
the diameter of yours, about the price, and where
I can obtain them ? I am writing to-day to Messrs.
Barber & Hawley, of Decatur, for Stafford's patent
two-horse cultivator. You speak of harrowing
with it — how is that done ? I have Brown's corn-
planter ; — you speak of attaching the planter to
the roller, and then the planting and rolling is done
at the same time. How would you be able to turn
with this attachmant ? Can two horses haul the
whole without difficulty ? In a former essay on
corn planting, you speak of placing on the roller a
X, to mark rows for the planter.

I want, also, a good washing machine and wring-
er. These machines are numerous, but a good one
is desired. Putnam's wringer is much praised.

How do you ridge with the cultivator for sweet
potatoes and Irish? Do you plant the seed of
Bweet potateg, or always sprout them ?

I am much pleased with many of your sugges-
tions about corn, and farming generally. Will you
oblige me by a reply to my enquiries and much
oblige one of your constant readers and your friend.
Yours, &c., very respectfully,
S. W. Bobbins.

N. B. As a corn cultivator it has four shovels
and for other purposes two more are added — can
you harrow with shovel plows ? There is a vine in
Sangamon river bottom called a potato vine,
which is very troublesome, and when once fully
growing no ordinary shovel plow will kill it or ex-
tirpate it. Do you think the two-horse cultivator
will fight it successfully ? Have you any knowl-

edge of this vine ? — it is abundant on this farm.

■/ ':- '■ ■ ---r-'-- : S. W. R. -.

— ^We will attempt to answer our correspondent

in regular order.

The hand machine spoken of is CopeLmd's and

made at Loda (Okalla P. 0. ) Station, on the Chi

cago branch of the I. C. R. R. Whether they are

now made at that point, we cannot say. Cahoon's

hand sower can be had of A. H. Hovey, Chicago,

The iron section roller was had at Morris from
the shop of Isaac Atwater. The last we heard
from them J. C. Carr had succeeded to the busi-
ness, though much to his regret the demand was
more limited than was profitable. The farmers
must and will give up the use of wood land
rollers, so soon as good cast section rollers are put
on sale. The cast rollers sent out from Boston
and Chicago, were perfect horse killers and die"
gusted the farmers. If our implement makers will
but get up good ones, they will soon find custom-
ers ; but they must not be in too big a hurry, old
prejudices must have time to wear oflf.

The cultivator is furnished, when ordered, with
two extra shovels, which make it a six -shovel cul-
tivator. Run these two or three inches deep, and
you have a cultivator harrow af more value than
the old harrow. There is no reason why other two-
horse cultivators may not add the like improve-
ment ; perhaps some of them do.

Brown's corn planter cannot be attached to the

roller in its present condition. The planter must
be geared to one of the sections of the roller, so as
to operate it ; add to this an apparatus for cover-
ing the corn an inch deep, and the thing is done.
A patent was granted last December for such a
combination, but we have not heard whether or
not it will be sent out for the spring planting. In
this connection the planter will not cost over fif-
teen dollars in addition to the roller. The follow-
ing saving will be effected. Marking off one way,
one harrowing and one hand to work the machine
to plant. To harrew fifteen acres will require :

Two days, $2 50 | 5 00

One " marking 2 50

" " planting 2 50

" " one hand extra, ..-. 100

Total Ill 00

WITH KOLLER AND PLANTEB.

One day planting and rolling, $2 50, making a sav.
ing of $8 50, or over half a dollar an acre. We
Jinow from several years' experience that the latter
mode will insure a better stand of com, and bring
the crop forward much faster than by the old pro-
cess. The after culture is much better done be-
cause the clods are crushed and the plants have a
finely comminuted soil instead of a cloddy one, in
which to send out their roots in search of food. -

iX3<lj-=\^'iJ*!.J^. .-

.

42

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

Feb.

We saw a very good washing machine at the
Macoupin county fair. It was made at Bunker
Hill. We have mislaid the card and therefore can-
not give the parties' names. It is the only machine
that we have seen that looks as though it had mer-
it, but even that we would not recommend you to
purchase except on a ^nonth's trial, to see what
effect it would have on the clothes. We have used
one of Putnam's wringers for over two years and
have no expectation of getting a better one. If
there is a better one we have not seen it. Th*^
charge that the galvanized iron will rust th
clothes, has not in this case been discovered.

In ridgiug up for the sweet potato with the Stat-
ford cultivator, place the shovels so that the earth
is thrown to the center. The plow is not used but
you make the ridges by going three to four times on
each row. You then turn and work down these
ridges, making the center over the deep furrow.
In this way the" ground is thoroughly pulverized
and ready for the plants. These are sprouts grown
in a hot bed, and set sixteen inches apart in the
ridge.

The vine mentioned is doubtles the convolvulus
panduraius, sometimes called wild morning glory,
wild potato, or man of the earth. Where it once
gets a hold it is very troublesome. If the shovels
of your cultivator are kept sharp they must destroy
the most of them. We saw this weed in numerous
fields in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee ; have
also seen it along the Wabash valley in Indiana. —
Ed.

The Extent of damage to fruit trees
—Cotton Culture in the South of
the State.

[Letter from Rural.]
Champaign, III., Jan. 25, 1864.

The damage to the fruit crop by the severe cold
is yet an absorbing subject to all classes of people,
equal to those who buy and those who sell. We
will, therefore give all the facts so far as they ap-
pear. Of the fruit district about Cobden, Anna
and Makanda, we have spoken in our last letter,
with the exception of trees that were budded last
August and September. All of those budded above
the snow-line or say eight inches from the ground,
are killed ; while those below that line, protected
by the snow, are in good order.

At Duquoin and St. Johns the trees are less in-
jured, though the blossom buds of the Peach and
Pear are all killed, with a portion of the Cherry
and Plum. The Apple to all appearances, are not
injured in the least.

The following letter gives a gloomy account of
the fruit prospect at Ashley, which we hope is over-
drawn.

"Ashley. 111., Jan. 22, 1864.
Mr. 'Rural' — Dear air — My peach trees are all
killed from one year to seven years old — killed to
the ground. Also all my buds inserted this last
Fall. An awful blow on all of us. My friend,
Joseph Barber, lost 7000 three year buds, just com-
ing into bearing. Very discouraging. I know not
where to get buds and scions to work from — have
you heai'd of any locality not killed West. All my
roses, most sorts of pear, peach, the finer kinds of
cherry, are all dead.

Truly Yours, John M Hunter."

In our own ground the blossom buds of the Al-
mond are all dead. All of the heart and duke cher-
ries, and about one third of the May cherry and
half of the common morello. This is the first time
that the May cherry has been injured during ruo
acquaintance with it. The peach trees do not ap-
pear to be much injured, at least much less than
further South. This is doubtless due to the drouth
that lessened the growth and ripened up the wood
before the early frost, that found the trees in the
south pare of the State in a more thrifty growing
condition. At Cobden the cold on the first d.iy of
the month was nearly the .same as here. Your
proof-reader transposed the figures making it colder
on the hills than in the valleys, which is not the
case. All of the peacli orchards near Cobden are
on the hills. They are never planted in the valley
or near the base of the hills. On the hills the
cold was eighteen, and in the valleys twenty-two
degrees below zero. At that point the cold is al-
ways the most intense in the valleys, while further
north it is the reverse. But to resume. The pear
trees are to some extent injured in the last years,
growth. This should be cut back to within three
or four buds of the old wood, when it is probale
that no serious result will follow. The apple,
plum and May cherry are not in the least injured
in the tree. Had the same degree of cold occured
a year ago, the apple trees in the nursery and prob-
ably the orchard trees would have suffered the
same as they did in the winter of 1856, as the
growth the preceding autumn was a rank spongy
one, illy adapted to stand the cold. If the drouth
and frost cut off our crops last season, it has made
us some compensation in protecting our fruit trees
from distruction.

While in the south part of the State we found
among the people a wide difiference of opinion in
regard to the cold of previous years, Mr. Frick, of
Jonesborough, has a memorandum of the weather
for some years. In February, 1856, the thermom-
eter was down to 22 degrees below zero, and a few
days later to 14 degrees. The peach crop was kill-
ed and trees slightly injured. The same winter
nearly all the peach trees in the north and central
parts of the State were killed outright. Between
the years 1856 and '64 the thermometer seldom
went as low as 2 degrees below zero, and at this
point 12 degrees below, growing seven successive
crops of this fruit. We much doubt if any other
nf the whole country has done better than that.

Last autumn nearly all the nurseries sold out
their entire stock of peach trees, there having been
an unusual demand for trees. As few of these trees
were set in orchards, but heeled i?i, they are now
in good order for planting. Nor do we believe there
is a large per centage of trees entirely killed ; there-
fore, with the exception of thft loss of the crop for

1864.

THE ILLINOIS EAKMER.

43

the current year, and half that of the next, we look
hopefully forward to prosperous times for the or-
chardist, and happy ones for the coHsumer, who
will find them more abundant than ever. In the
mean time, the apple, the cherry, the plum, the
grape and the small fruits will increase in volume
in our markets and on the tables of the farmer.

In a continental climate like this, we must expect
just such visitations of cold as those of '55, '56, and
'64. But as the value of shelter is better under-
stood, we shall to some extent be enabled to guard
against its severity. Our shelter belts of silver
maple are but five to six years old, yet they Lave
been uf no inconsiderable advantage in this cold
ordeal through which we have passed.

COTTON AT COBDEN.

The field culture of cotton in the south part of
the State is no longer an experiment but a fixed
fact, and must hereafter claim a place .among the
the staple products of the farm.

Last season Major S Stewart had .thirty eight
acres that yielded six hundred pounds of seed cot-
ton to the acre, and T J McOlure forty acres, yield-
ing the same amount. The growth was rampant,
and would have turned that amount of clean cotton
had it not been for the early frost. Here was two
hundred pounds of clean cotton to the acre worth,
at fifteen cents a pound in the seed, niuty dollars
an acre.

These parties now think that with an improved
two-horse sulky cultivator they can grow cotton at
about half the cost of last year, and are to plant a
much larger crop. These crops are grown on the
Mississippi bottom near the mouth of Clear Creek.

Mr. M. demons, at Cobden, has a steam gin.
The whole cost of engine, gin, press and buildings
was thirteen hundred dollars. He has ginned four-
teen thousand pounds and has not quite half of the
crop grown in the neighborhood ginned. As
twelve hundred pounds of seed cotton makes a bale
of four hundred pounds, he will make some twenty-
four bales. He has paid for this cotton fifteen to
sixteen cents a pound in the seed, or an aggregate
of $4,200. It has been reported that the cn)p was
such a failure that no further attempt would be
made to grow it. The frost of the 30th August
killed all in the valleys, and that of the 18th Sep-
tember on the hills. The heavy rains of June and
the subsequent drouth had retarded the growth
80 that the early frost found it in a bad condition!
and it is estimated that only one-fourth to one-
sixth of the crop as grown was saved, many of the
best grown fields having been entirely ruined. At
one time it was supposed that no cotton would be
ginned at this point, but in this case the croakers
must give place to stubborn facts.

The bulk of the crop has been grown in small
patches of one, two and three acres. It is safe to
estemate that in an ordinary season from four to
six times the amount would have been produced.
The present cost of ginning is two cents a pound.
In the above estimate uo allowance is made for the
cotton reserved for domestic use, of which almost
each family have more or less ginned. At the gin
we found several of these grists for the family lin-
My and for comforts. Mr. Clemens says that more
than double the number of acres will be planted
■ext year.

Seed is sold to planters at twenty cents a bush-
el, against two to three dollars a bushel last year.

At Jonesboro, seven miles south, is another ^n
that has done a much larger buisnesa, as has been
the case at Dongola.

Notwithstanding the adverse circumstances at-
tending the first attempt at the field culture of cot-
ton, we think it will take rank with the most profit-
able crops. In this neighborhood the farms are
small, running from twenty to fifty acres, and this
so hilly and so full of rocks and stumps that our
best farm implements cannot be used ; and the old
coulter or bull tongue plow is yet in use. But there
is a greater draw back in the general ignorance of
the farmers, who are, with the exception of the
fruit growers and traders, mostly from Tennessee
and Kentucky. School houses and agricultural
journals are alike almost unknown.

The next half a dozen years will regenerate the
dark spots along the grand chain, in proof of which,
houses with the chimneys on the inside, school
houses and churches are beginning to appear. To
grow cotton or crops successfully, brains are an es-
sential element. — Chicago Tribune.

Great destruction of the peach crop —
The trees supposed to be Badly In-
jured by the Cold— Fruit Prospects.

[Letter from Rural.]

OoBDEN, III., Jan. 18, 1864.
A great calamity has befallen the fruit growes of
this part of the State. The next peach crop, if not
a large part of the trees have been utterly ruined.
The great cold wave that rolled down from the
Arctic region.s on the first day of the year, has
crushed in its pathway every blossom bud of the
peach, the apricot and the nectarine, from the
northern limits of this fruit southward, beyond
the limits of the State of Tennessee, if not far into
the States. South. Never within the history of the
West, has there been such a wide spread disaster
— never such a far extended wave of Arctic cold.

Near this station the peach orchards numbered
not let^s than 50,000 trees ; at Makanda, {seven
miles north, about the s-.ime number ; and at Anna,
seven miles south, some 20,000 ; making, within
twenty miles, 120,000 trees. These are worth, in-
cluding the land and buildings, nearly or quite a
half a million of dollars, an investment that has
been made mostly within the past six years, and
whicli would have been quadrupled in the next two
years. That the trees are seriously injured, all ad-
mit ; but it is difiicult to judge of the real damage
to a peach tree by the discoloration of bark. All
are more or less injured, and many of the large
trees that we have examined are dead to a certainty.
We should not be surprised to find most of them
killed outright, while, at best, they will be two or
three years in recovering, and will in no event
make good orchards. It will require twenty-five
thousand dollars to replace these orchards with
nursery trees to say nothing of the labor for four
or five years to bring them into a good bearing
condition. This estimate is for the peach on a
section of twenty miles, but it is well known that
there are large orchards, streatching from Pulaski
Station as far north as Mattoon.

But to get the trees to replace these orchards, is
the question, as the nurseys have been exhausted,
of the stock and those budded the last season are

u

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

Feb.

involved in the general disaster. It is probable
flome of them will be saved, where snow lodged
among the trees of sufficient depth to cover the
buds.

Unless the Michigan orchards have been more
fortunate, the Northwest will be without peaches,
at least the present year, and but small supplies
for the next two or three years.

From what we have seen and heard we have no
doubt that all the blossom buds of the peach are
killed west of the AUeghanies. and at least a hun-
dred miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.

The cold at this point on tlie hills was 1 8 degreeg
below zero, and 22 degrees in the valleys.

The peach had become a necessity to all classes
of people, either in their ripe state, canned or dried.
Last year hundreds of thousands of bushels of this
fruit were grown within the bounds named, and to
cut off this supply for a single year will be a hard-
ship. Verily it may be said of a truth that the loss
of a fruit crop is a public calamity. We have never
been called an alarmist, yet the above will startle
many an owner of a peach orchard, who is solac-
ing himself with the idea that he may have at least
a small crop, but on investigation will find that he
has hugged a delusion. On our way to this place
our enpuiries as to the peach crop was answered —
" all killed North, for so 'Rural ' has stated in the
Tribune, but Egypt will have peaches enough."
Alas for Egypt, the destroyer has passed over her
rich orchards that we have so often seen laden with
luscious fruit.

Since our arrival here, we have met the same
answer, but now the excitement is intense, as we
visit orchard after orchard, knife in hand and show
the truth as it exists. We know that the wood
and bark of the peach can be badly discolored and
yet the tree survive ; let us hope for the best, for
even that is sufficiently unpleasant

THE APPLE.

The early harvest is the only one in the list at
this point that appears at all injured, and on this
a portion of the blossom buds appear sound. The
apple crop, to all appearance, will be an usual one.
We have examined a large number of varieties, and,
with this single exception, have not found a twie
injured by the cold. Orchardists at the North will
do well to take a look through their grounds.

THE PLUM.

The trees do not appear to be injured, but the
blossom buds are dead.

Thus far this crop has been of no value here, as
the love of the curculio for this fruit has been too
great to withstand his attacks on it, though just
now orchardists suppose themselves possessed of a
remedy that will prove effective, but they must
wait another year to give it further trial.

THE CHERRY.

The blossom buds on the May cherry, or, as it is
called in the north part of the State, Early Rich-
mond, are more than half killed, but enough is left
to make a fair crop, if they should open as their
present appearance indicates. The common Mor-
rello buds are still worse injured. On the Duke
and other sweet cherries scarcely a bud is left. —
The trees are apparently not seriously injured, es-
pecially the May cherry.

GRAPES.

The grape crop at this point has thus far proved

a failure, on account of the rot. In examining the
vines they do not appear to be much injured. This
may be deceptive, however, and may not show the
effect of the cold until they begin to grow in the
spring, but now the canes look sound.

STRAWBERRIES.

Of course the snow covering that came with the
cold has protected this crop from harm. The
drouth and white grub combined have injured the
prospect, and it is estimated that at best there can
not be more than two-thirds of the quantity grown
last season.

VEGETABLES.

Potatoes, apples, and other vegetables are badly
frozen, and their loss will prove a serious inconven-
ience. Sweet potatoes for seed will be a scarce
commodity.

ANOTHER STORM.

Yesterday morning was clear and spring-like ;
the snow which was about three or four inches
deep, was rapidly melting, and the roads in places
became muddy. During the afternoon it clouded
up, and at seven o'clock it began to snow ; great
flakes came down like a northern winter, thicker
and faster ; the wind moaned among the hills, and
soughed through the forest walls, that stood but a
few rods from our sleeping room. We never wit-
nessed a wilder night, the wind and snow beating
that of the never-to-be-forgotten Thursday night
which closed the old year, and only lacked its in-
tense cold to be as fearful. Nor have we ever
known a greater fall of snow in the same length of
time in the deep forests of New York, as fell with-
in the past night. The snow is now two feet deep
on a level in the woods, an amount in this part of
the State (lat. 3*7 deg. 80 min.) before unknown to
either the oldest inhabitant or his father. At this
writing it is still snowing.

We shall mail this letter to-day, but if the storm
has been as severe north as here, it will not reach
you in a week.

To-night was set for a grand gathering of the
fruit growers of this section, numbering some for-
ty establishments, but of course it must be delayed
until they can shovel out a passage-way among the
deep gorged, narrow lanes that are dignified with
the name of roads. During the previous storm,
thousands of hogs, that have mostly been in the
woods, were frozen to death, and those which es-
caped will have the prospect of starving to death
for the want of food. — Chi. Trib.

■«•»-

Purther about the Fruit Crop— Sweet
Potatoes to be Sent to Market
throughout the Winter— Varieties of
Fruits- Cotton growing.

CoBDEN, III. Jan. 29, 1864.

We met a large number of the fruit growers on
the evening of the 18th. They all concurred in the
views that we expressed in our last letter, in re-
gard to the fruit prospect and the damage to the
trees, both grafted and seedling, are damaged, and
that the fruit is killed.

On further examination, we find the older peach
trees the most injured, the young orchard in some
cases being but little affected.

It is said that there is never a loss without some

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

m

. little gain. In this case, some of the fruit growers
are rejoicing that the curculio, the worst enemy
of the peach, must starve out for the want of his
favorite fruit to breed in. But we appiehend that
this will bQ about as futile as the idea of shutting
up the ports of the rebels, and thus starving them
out. Enough of the vipers will live for seed, — so
of the curculio, — they will breed in the apple,
when they can do no better, and though greatly
thinned in numbers they will increase as rapidly
as the peach trees recover. The only reliable mode
to get rid of either is to kill them off.

SWEKT POTATOES.

To supply the loss of the peach crop, to some ex-
tent, large quanties of sweet potatoes are to be
planted ; in fact, this crop has been steadily gain-
ing in popularity, and must become one of the
great staples of the garden at this point. The Nan-
semond is the principal variety grown. It is early
and very rich and a most excellent keeper. We
find them on the tables here instead of the Irish
poiatoes. The farmers keep them in their cellars
nearly in the same manner that we do Irish pota-
toes, but they do not keep as well as in a regular
sweet potato house. Mr. J. W. Tenbrook, the
sweet potato king of Indiana, and other gentlemen

would be replaced by those enough more valuable
to cover their loss in a short time. If the orchards
of peach, pear and apple were to be replaced, three-
fourths of the present trees would be discarded. If
this is. true of this part of the State, it is no less
true in others. And is it not time that farmers
and others setting trees should investigate the
subject, and no longer depend on quack nursery-
men and interested tree dealers ? If they cannot
get the varieties best adapted for them, let them
set out seedlings vnd graft them with the varieties
wanted.

Let us ask what commercial nurserymen know
in regard to varieties ? Just as much as the dry
goods dealer does in regard to the goods that will
sell, when his blandishments are added. The one
buys bright colors and the other cultivates strong
and showy growers. Let fruit growers order what
they w^ant and take nothing else ; failing to get it,
do their own grafting.

THE KOT. - -

This is a disease that attacks certain varieties of
the peach and the apple in this part of the St■^te.
Thus far a few varieties of each have been exempt
under all conditions, while the others are more or

associated with him, are here making arrangements ' less healthy at times, but not being reliable should

to put up a mammoth sweet potato house,
with a view to supply your city with this excellent
vegetable throughout the winter. The building is
to be twenty-four feet wide and a hundred feet long 1
and two stories above the basement, and is estima- 1
ted for ten thousand bushels. These are put in !
bins of twenty bushels each, and filled in with dry j
sand. They are to be shipped in cars lined so as I
to exclude the frost, and with a stove to save them |
in any event ; for if the sweet potato becomes !
once chilled, or the temperature falls below 40 deg., j
it soon spoils, or at least loses that sugary sweet- ■
ness that makes it so palatable. By this plan the '
people of your city can have this potato for six j
months loHger ihaja. usual, as this house would give
y»u a daily supply of seventy-five bushels, an
amount totally inadequate to the demand after
they had once become accustomed to their use.

This is the fiist attempt of the kind iu the Uni-
ted States to supply the North, and if successful
will be followed by others. The sweet potato in
these houses will keep until the next crop comes \
in, or to the last of June, leaving a narrow space \
of two months. j

The present stock of sweet potatoes for seed is
mostly in the hands of speculators, and will be
placed in the hands of parties to sprout on shares,
and the plants sold at high prices. Farmers should
keep over their seeds when possible to do so, ho as
not to be subject to large expense for seed. A few
bushels can be kept through in a warm room, by
mixing in dry sand, providing the potatoes have
been dug before frost, and not bruised before pack-
ing.

As we have made some improvements in the pre-
paration of the ground and culture ef this potato,
we shall give a chapter on the subject in season
for use.

Experience has demonstrated that certain kinds
of peaches, pears and apples do much better than
others. So highly is this valued that a fruit grower
remarked to os that the killing of the orchards at
this time would be no great loss, as it would sweep
the orchards of thousands of worthless trees, that

be rejected.

As many northern men continue to come here
for the purpose of orcharding, and supposing that
in such -a favored region all varieties will do equal-
ly well they have ordered their trees without re-
gard to the facts aa they have been proved to exist,
and the result is loss and consequent discourr.ge-
ment.

We have not time now to write upon this subject
but will do so soon.

The culture of cotton is engaging nosinaU atten-
tion, of which we shall speak in our next.

The snow has settled and is now fifttin inches
deep on the level. The natives are out in all sorts
of improvised sleds and jumpers and enjoying
themselves hugely. — Chi. Trib.

Tree Protectors.

We continue our record of comparative tempera-
ture, commencing on the 18th of December, the
first zero weather of the season. Our expc. imcnts
this winter include the temperature of three struc-
tures. The one which afforded the data for our
table last year, eighteen feet long, twelve wide
and twelve high, constructed of a double covering
of boards, with an intervening space of six inches
filled with sawdust, has again answered our expec-
tations.

Another the same width and heighth, eighty
feet long, made by nailing inch square strips, hor-
izontally, six inches apart on each side of rafter?,
eight inches wide, constituting movable frames,
the intervening space of eight inches being closely
packed with leaves, with the intention of thatch-
ing on both sides with straw. The season, however,
only allowed of placing the leaves, which unfortu-
nately contained numerous lumps of soow. These
having since melted away, on the occurrence of a
warm rain, have left many loosely packed spaces,
unfavorable to the degree of tightness desirable.
The low temperature indicated ia this enclosure,
on the 1st and 2d of January, was probably owing

46

THE ILLIFOIS FAEMER.

Fee-

in part to a near vacancy in the leaves, admitting
a current of air directly upon the thermometer.

The third structure, six feet wide, six high, and
sixteen feet long, consists of a single covering of
rough boards, one inch thick and twelve wide,. nail-
ed to the rafters after the manner of lapped siding
reversed, beginning at the top, thus forming the
shoulder of the joints upwaid, which it was pro-
posed to render air tight by luting, with coal-tar,
the joints in the gables to be battened with strips
bedded in ttie same muterial. The weather sud-
denly changed cold before the joints were closed,
and simultaneously with the fall of a foot of snow,
which has since protected all the joints except
those in the gables. This structure incloses .sever-
al quince and one low peach tree, near the base of
which a cistern was dug five feet in diameter and
eight feet deep, with an open neck two feet wide,
constituting a subterranean air chamber, no water
having been admitted into it.

The modifying influence of this air-chamber is
regarded as important, and we have in view other
experiments in connection with it, which if the
weather soon becomes sufficiently mild to enable
us to complete the enclosure, we shall report in the
spring.

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"

The fruit-buds of the poach were generally kill-
ed by the cold of the 19th of December, and it is
greatly to be feared that the extreme and protract-
ed temperature of the past two weeks will be mani-
fest in its disastrous effects on those of some varie-
ties ot the cherry and plum, and also on many trees
and shrubs.

— ^It is very evident from the above, that Dr.
Weed will succeed in two if not all of his enclo-
sures, in saving his peach crop. The house with
the dry cistern shows remarkable results most cer-
tainly. In such a winter as this, these protectors
will be valuable if ever.

We hope that the Doctor will give us monthly
reports of the condition of his trees. Ed.

From Harris's Rural Annual.

Protection to Orchards.

. It is well known that peach and other fruit tree?,
'" many sections of the country do not flourish as
they did in former times. Some of the older inhab-
itants of the ctuntry can well remember peach
trees that were thirty or more years old and still
vigorous, and continued to bear annual crops of
good fruit. What is true of peaches is also true in
some degree, of apples, and other fruits. These
trees do not survive as long, and continue fruitful
as they did in the times of the early settlement of
the country. Some have attributed this to an ex-
haustion of the soil. But this is not satisfactory,
because the effect is the same when the trees are
planted upon the virgin soil. Others assert that
the seasons have changed, without giving any cause
for such a change. It ma}' not, perhups, be difficult
to account for this change in th? durability of the
orchards of the present day, from natural and
known causes. During the last forty or fifty years
immense tracts of forests have been removed, giv-
ing place to open, cultivated field?. This has cauf-
cd the summer showers to fall less frequent, and
has resulted in the drying up of many of the small
streams, and exposing the entire country, more or
less, to the fierce, blasting winds of winter; and,
so far as these causes operate, have changed the
seasons. It is no doubt the effect of these cold
winds of winter upon the open and exposed country
that has caused the destruction of thousands of otir
peach trees, and wrought serious injury to otber
fruits. The only partial remedy for this is to select
the most exposed sheltered and favorable locations
for orchard sites, and when practicable to shelter
the mo.st exposed side by planting belts of ever-
green and deciduous trees. The benefit of such
practice was made the most striking in an instance
that came under the writer's observation during a
severe winter that occurred some years since. Two
extensive fruit gardens, both devoted to the various
fruits and occupying adjoining enclosures ; one was
protecte'd on the north-eastern to the north-western
side by a belt a of young native timber, and the
o'.her was open and exposed to the winds from these
points. A severe cold wind occured during the
winter. In the exposed grounds the trees and vines
were more or less injured, and many were killed
outright — while in the other enclosure, protected
by the young timber, not a tree was killed, and feir
sustained any injury at all.

-«•»-

A "Word to Managers of Fairs.

We often see a premium offered for the best
fifteen varieties of apples for Northern or South-
ern Illinois, the best early or late grape, &c., and
see the one award to A. or B., and the other to P.
or Q., but the public are no wiser for it ; for the
names of varieties are withheld and published in
the volume of Transactions (if published at all)
and so kept out of sight for a year or tw o. Now,
in two years we could have a grape vine of the
variety named in fruiting, and for apples and pears
we could have a very good start toward fruit ou
these even. Peaches also might show fruit in two
or at least three years from the bud. Now, gen-
tlemen, when you award to E. P. Snow, Esq., the
first premium for the best fifteen varieties of ap-
ples, including summer, fall and winter fruit, pleaie

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER

47

to give us also the names of his fruit ; because the
fruit has been, and can be again produced in our
latitude. So at the State Fair, if you award to
C. H. R. the first premium for the best late grape,
why not toll us it is the "Concord," when you
name the award, and so through the catalogue.
The benefit derived from Fairs in this direction is
small unless publicity is given to such matters of
general interest. — Rockford Register.

Management of Sheep in Winter.

The different ideas on the manner that sheep
should be treated in winter are about as numerous
as flock-masters. As a wool-grower I would say a
few words on the management and treatment of
sheep in winter.

As soon as your flocks fail to improve in the
meadows or pastures in the fall, then commence
feeding. Do not wait for snow, to feed your sheep ;
neither let them run, even if they are "holding their
own," and not improving. To have a sheep come
out well in the spring, it is necessary that they are
improving in the fall or commencement of winter.
As a sheep is doing in the fill, just so they will
do all winter. If they go into the yard in the fall,
improving, they will continue all winter, and vice
versa. I begin to feed grain to my sheep now once
a day — say half a pint each daily, and that in the
morning. When I get up in the morning and find
it cool and raining a little, I take a few cornstalks
and throw into their racks, and leave them after
they are fed their grain until noon, unless the rain
is over and the air is dry. If so, I let them out.
When it rains all day I feed grain and cornstalks in
the morning ; hay, with a few pumpkins, at noon,
and a very little grain with hay at night. I have
water in the sheep barn so they can drink any time
when they want it. This latter arrangement is of
no small consequence in winter when sheep want
to drink every hour, and only a swallow or two at
a drink. If sheep have to go out in the weather on
stormy days for their water, they will wait just as
long as they can stand it, and then go out and drink
so much that they will stand all humped up for half
an hour with the cold.

It is very essential that you have good racks for
your sheep — almost as much consequence as the
feed. I use one that is very convenient. It is
made with three scantling for the corners, two
boards nailed on about ten inches or a foot apart,
clear around, then three inch slats of inch stuff put
on up and down, about six inches apart. In fact
very much like the one in your last paper, only I
have" the grain trough inside the rack, and consider
it quite important to have the trough fixed in such
a manner that the sheep cannot crowd each other
as in feeding hay in racks. Another thing, I can
get into my rack and feed the grain, and not be
jostled and run oyer by the sheep. Frequently you
have your grain upset while pouring it into the
trough in the other way. I feed com unground
mostly; sometimes corn meal, with a few oats mixed,
to give the sheep something to make a mouthful,
80^ they can chew it. A little sulpher once a week
mixed with their «orn, keeps them in a healthy con-

dition, while the salt once a fortnight keeps their
appetite sharp.

Keep them warm if they lamb early, and feed a
few turnips or potatoes two weeks before lambing
until two weeks after. Be careful not to feed too
many potatoes, so as to scour and lose your lambs ;
a bushel to fifty sheep a day is my rule. Be care-
ful not to let the lambs get too much salt when
young, as it is very injurious while young.

I consider good clover hay the best for sheep in
winter. — Country Gentleman.

—%*-

Setting Fence Posts. — ^In the winter of 1838 I
moved to Iowa. In drawing logs to the mill to
build my first house, I had a log fifteen feet long
and four feet at the stump, so large I could not
draw it. I made lengths of it for fence posts, as
timber was very scarce in this part of Iowa. I got
it sawed to the halves. It was sawed four by four
at one end and four by two at the other, which re-
versed one-half of the posts, bringing one-half of
the posts in building my door yard fence, and let a
neighbor have some for the same purpose. In ten
or twelve years some of the posts rotted off in my
fence. My neighbor's place changed hands, and
the present owner four years ago, built a new pick-
et fence in the place of the old one. I was present
and examined the posts. About one-half of them
were rotted off, and had been for some years ; the
other half appeared quite sound, so much so that
he reset them in the new fence. The carpenter
that was building the fence and I examined the
posts to see the cause of the difference, and we
found by the notches near the heart that the sound
posts were set with the top or upper ends down.

Thus writes a correspondent of an agricultural •
paper. We have seen many proofs of posts lasting
longer with the small ends set in the ground, the
cause being, as we believe, that the pores of the
wood turn the water off, like a shingled roof, when
posts are thus set, while they conduct the water in-
to the wood, like a reversed roof, when set with
the butts down. — Rural American.

So fully hare we been impressed with the value
of settng posts top end down, that for the past fif-
teen years we have been careful to practise it. We
have hundreds of posts thus set that were set dur-
ing the winter of 1839, twenty-five years ago, and
which are but little decayed — they are of burr oak.
We prefer to cut posts in June or July, but this is
not always convenient. In getting out stakes for
vineyards we shall be carefal to sharpen the top
end, and only set this winter what we must have
early in spring; leaving the remainder for summer
cutting. — Ed.

-<«•-

Squeaking Boots— a Crying Kuisance.

Messrs. Editors : — ^I wish to call your attention
to what I consider a grievous annoyance, for which
I suppose the bootmakers are responsible. I al-
lude to the disturbance produced at lectures and
other meetings (where silence is essential), by those
who enter late with creaking boots. If they made
other wearers of them as nervous as they do me
when aflaicted with a pair, I think some remedy
would be adopted. It seems to me, however, that

48

THE ILLINOIS FARMER

Feb.

the gentlemen who come late into such meetings
are i^itirely unconscious of the effect they are pro-
ducing. Where the voice of the speaker is not
very powerful, or he docs not keep an even tone,
and the; closest attention is required from the au-
dienco, a creaking pair of boots often causes the loss
of a st>itemeutor a, link of an argument essential to
the light understanding of the whole subject on
hand. I want jou to urge the adoption of a reme-
dy on your readers. Bootmakers have told me
that Fi'^nuh chalk, or something like it, put be-
tween the soles will prevent the evil. The last
bootmaker from whom I purchased a pair having
assured me positively that they would not annoy
me in that way, agreed that if they did he would
take the sules apart and apply the corrective. But
when I came to wear them I found they screeched
horribly ; though as it wa.s in a distant city that I
bought them I could not call upon the seller to ful-
fill his agreement; so I determined to try some
remedy myself, however desperate, to cure them.
I had frequently tried saturating the soles with
common oils, but though this mitigated the evil it
did not cure it. It occured to me that boiled linseed
oil might do better. I accordingly applied it to the
soles keeping them quite hot during the process to
enable them to absorb the more. I did not know
but that the hot oil might be ruinons to the boots ;
but though I could not aflFord to throw away such
an article, I was determined to sacrifice the boots
rather than to be so sadly troubled with their noise.
I saturated them accordingly with as much oil as
they would absorb, and am happy to say that my
experiment appears to have succeeded. I have
worn them now for a number of weeks and they
have been as quiet as the best behaved boots ever
made. 1 can march up the broad aisle of a church
without disturbing one serious listener, or enter' any
other meeting as noiselessly as a lady in velvet slip-
pers, and as far as I can see, the boots are none the
worse for the application. H. W.

[As this correspondent has provided his own
remedy, we cannot do better than circulate it for
the benefit of others. — Hds. Scientific American.

,^

The Peat Beds of Holland.

The peat beds play a most important patt in the
domestic economy of Holland. There is no co^l
in Holland — none nearer than the great carbonif-
erous basin at Liege. By way of substitute, Na-
ture has provided peat. Enormous beds of this
deposit lie in the provinces of Friesland, Gronin-
gen, Drenthe, and Overyssel. The land there quiv-
ers perpetually, and the inhabitants say Het land
leeft — the land is alive. Peat was burnt in Hol-
land long before coal was burnt in England. The
consumption increased 50 per cent, between the
years 1834 and 1852, at which latter date it was
83.943,630 tons. The peat beds are of two kinds
-^high beds, hooge veeneu, and low beds, lage veenen.
Aesen, the chief town of Drenthe, stands in the
middle of an old peat bed. The fields and gardens
by tkeir smiling aspect would never betray their
origin. In the high lands peat is supposed to have
been formed by the decay of vegetable life, chiefly
that of heath and moss, on the surface of the ground,
which forms a mould that increases year by year
until it has undermined the trees, and having caus-
ed their fall, gradually covers them over with a
yearly-increasing deposit. Ages afterwards the

trunks are found whole several feet below the sur-
face of the bed. The forests protected the growth
of peat and were destroyed by it.

In the low beds, peat is formed by the decay of
aquatic plants under water, which, dying, fall to
the bottom, and form layer upon layer. These are
often floating upon the surface of the water.
Sometimes, after a long drouth, in which the peat
is left stranded on the bottom of the marsh, the
plants take root and prevent the bed from rising
when the marsh becomes again full of water. At
other times the beds are carried away by the force
of the wind, and lawsuits have arisen, in which the
plaintiff sought to recover possession of an estate
which he had floated away, with all the owner's live
stock on it, and stranded itself within the bounda-
ries of a neighbor's property. The Romans were
greatly alarmed by the floating forests in the Ruy-
derzee, which, more formidable than Birnam
Woods to Macbeth, came sailing towards them,
and threatened their galleys with destruction.
The modern Dutchman, less superstitious, but not
less anxious to prevent the land from playing tru-
ant, is accustomed to fasten these fugitive estates
by ropes attached to stakes fixed in the more sta-
ble earth.

The working of the peat beds gives employment
to a large number of hands. The first step is to
drain the bed by digging trenches son.e 24 feet
apart, and from three to four feet deep, lined with
an earth wall to prevent the peat from falling in.
These trenches are gradually deepened, until some
eight years from the commencement of operations
the peat is fit to be dug. One great danger in
working these beds is that of setting them on fire.
M. Esquiros, from whose most interesting de-
scription we have borrowed some of the foregoing
facts, mentions a case in which the fire lasted
twelve days and the only meaas by which it could
be stopped was to dig a trench round the burning
field.

The chief of the low beds is at Wateringen, near
the Hague.

As the working of these beds necessarily causes
the formation of a lake, the government lays great
restriction upon this occupation. When permis-
sion is given, the proprietor skims ofl^ the ground,
which consists of valuable agricultural clay land,
and carefully removes it to another portion of the
field. The clay is usually performed in the winter.
In the spring, workmen clad in long waJ;er-pr»of
boots descend into the water, cut the peat beneath
the water, and then, guided entirely by their eye,
seize the sods, and pitch them into a barge. This
barge is emptied some six times a day into a wood-
en trough 12 feet square and two feet deep, where
the peat is trodden down by human feet until it ii
kneaded into dough — a process which by force of
contrast as well as of similarity recalls the grape
presssng of Italy. The peat is afterwards taken
out, arranged in blocks, covered with planks, and
allowed to harden. It is then carried to the vari-
ous towns in barges, the conductors of which are
forbidden to smoke.

The peat of the low beds is preferred to that of
the high. To put against this, the working of the
low peat beds leaves a lake, which the high beds
do not.

Latterly, a daring speculator bought up these
lakes at a low price, dyked them, drained them,
and obtained as a reward of his enterprise some

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

49

most valuable agricultural land, oa which he grew
most luxuriant crops.

Peat id used in manufactories, breweries and
limekilns as well as in private houses. Being bulky,
it is subject to pressure before carriage, and this '
compressed peat ii converted into charcoal.

Peat forms the basis in the manufacture of paper
ink, varnish, and animal black. In marshy coun-
tries it is used as the foundation of houses. It
swells under water, and centuries after, when the
house is pulled down, it is as good as ever, and is
then u^r^ed for fuel. Spender,

In Trans of Bath and West of Ene;. Society.

From the Scottish Farmer.

On the Immutability of Species.

We often read of extraordinary things even in
newspapers. There is one strange tale that has
frequently been repeated, and which has lately
been referred to in our columns. It is, that cer-
tain people persuade themselves that the seed
wheat which they have sown, has produced a crop
of oats, oa that barley sown has yielded a return
of wheat, or vice versa. Wheat is a species of a
group of grass like plants, termed Tnticnm ; oats
is a species termed Avena, and barley a species
termed Hordeum. The group to which each of
these belongs, is a genus in botanical arrangement,
and each group or genus usually consi:it of several,
(indeed, in the cases referred to, of many species.)
Again, we have the group of Daucus the carrot, of
Beta the beet, and Pastinaca the parsnip, which
although not so long in a cultivated state as the
wheat, barley, or oat, have been sufficiently long
under the observation of man to convince him
that whatever change in improvement they may
have undergone since being reclaimed from a state
of savage nature, neither of them have shown the
least disposition to change into the state of the
other. The thing is physically impossible. Nor
can an instance be stated where any of the wild
species of Triticum — say the common couch-grass,
Triticum repens of our fields, or the sea-wheat
grass of our sea co^ists Triticum junceum — have
made any advance towards being identified with
the Triticum aestivum or T. hybernum, our summer
or winter cultivated wheats ; or that the meadow,
sea-side, or wall barleys, the only species indigen-
ous to Britain, have changed to the useful state of
those species which have been cultivated from the
earliest ages. The same rule is applicrible to the
genus Avena, or oat family, which is even much
more Numerous. Oats will remain oats, barley
barley, wheat wheat to the end of the time, as dis-
tinct in themselves as different species, as they
have continued to be from the begining. That the
one should change into the other is just as possible
as that either should change into an onion or a
potatoe. It would be a waste of time to argue
against the belief that such could by possibility
take place, or even to confute what many believe,
but which is equally untrue, that wheat is derived
from rye. It is quite time that such absurd no-
tions should be dispelled. These are popular views
and just as certain popular errors. Those who
h^ve studied the natural history of living forms
carefully, whether in the animal or vegetable king-
doms, are quite satisfied as to the truth of the
axiom, " that one species never passes int» anoth«r

species." All the support which can be brought
in favor of such changes having taken place, is
merely traditionary, and no more worthy of belief
than the traditions descending fiom heathen my-
thology, such as that Lombardy poplars are the
metamorphosed sisters of Phaeton ; or that the
garden white lily sprang from the youth Narcissus
as he pined away for his own image ; or that the
Hyacinth sprang from the blood of a youth killed
by Zephyrus with the blow of a quoit.

The "Wine Plant" Once More.

Although our opinions on this subject were quite
distinctly indicated in the Co. Gent, of Nov. 5,
1863, p. 304 inquiries from new subscribers neces-
sitate another reference to it.

A reader in Kane county, Illinois, forwards us a
most extravagant circular issued by parties having
for sale what they style in large type

WINE PLANTS

FOR MAKING

AMERICAN SHERRY!

What they have is simply the ordinary Shttharb
or "P/e Flanf" of the kitchen garden. A passable
domestic beverage can be made from it, of which a
few bottles or gallons might perhaps be sold or
exchanged with one's neighbors, but it is not a
wine which can ever be sold in any quantity, and
such calculations as the following extract contains
are the sheerest humbug :

'•This plant for making wine, is creating quite a
sensation in this vicinity, from the fact that such
large profits are derived from the small amount of
capital invested. The product of a single acre the
first year, is from 3,.500 to 6,000 gallons of wine.
This readily brings at one year old f 1.50 to $2.00
per gallon The increase of the root at the same
time is at least Si, 500 to |2,000. This may seem
visionary and extravagant, but nevertheless, it is
the actual product, as every person will testify who
has seen it grown and made the wine, also hun-
dreds who are not engaged in the business will
testify."

In the first place, we do not believe that an acre
of Rhubarb roots the first year could be made to
yield anything like this amount of so-called wine ;
and if it did, we are entirely confident that, with
all the labor and care possible expended in secur-
ing a pleasant beverage, it would still be quite a
valu( less commodity unless in so far as the maker
and his famity can dritik it, or s<ll it to those who
have the roots to palm off and who might desire it
to aid in promoiing this object.

As to the quality of the " Rhubarb wine," we
have tested various samples, but rone that ap-
pro:ich in quality a good currant wine. We do
not say that it is impossible to make it as good as
currant wine, but that the latter is certninly quite
as likely evr to become a merchantable article
on a scale of any extent.

No reader of an agricultural paper should be
imposed upon by these specious circulars. For
farmers who do not read an agricultural paper, we
have no sympathy whatever, and no doubt a thriv-
ing trade in the plants will be done among them. —
Country Gent.

— ^In the above we have the best possible evi-
dence that the fools are not all dead. Can It be

50

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

Feb.

possible that an intelligent reader of any agricul-
tural paper can be swindled with such barefaced
falsehoods as the above. We know that hundreds
are thus taken in, but we have not heard that any
of the subscribers of the Firmer are among the
number. We hope the schoolmaster may be por-
permitted to visit the land before the fool killer
makes his appearance. En.

The New Staple— Coal oil.

Our fossils are making the nation rich. It is
surprising how suddenly a new discovery is
made to take rank as an important staple. No
other country in the world has been so ripe for
such extraordinary transitions. The Romans knew
that England abounded in tin, but centuries elapsed
before it rose to the dignity of a commercial staple,
and it was exactly so with her iron. North America
seems to be in all respects an exceptional region.
Coal and iron rose here, within a single lifetime,
into national importance. The gold of California
became a gigantic staple within a twelvemonth.
The last of these extraordinary eccentricities is pe-
troleum. Four years have been sufficient to elevate
it from the worthless condition of a floating pellicle
on the surface of an obscure creek to the rank of a
prime staple, of which the world cannot get
enough. There is nothing in the history of indus-
trial development to equal the progress it has made.
When the country first heard that an adventurer
in Western Pennsylvania had dug a well from
which gushed out a thousand gallons of oil daily,
the multitudes refused to believe. Many of those
who did believe were sure the flow would quickly
fall off — it wag impossible such luck should last.
It not only did last, but has been matched by hun-
dreds of others.

In this country development is in proportion to
the crowd that can be collected. As in the gold
mines, so in the oil region. The latter was already
within a day's ride of dense population, who, amaz-
ed at the discovery almost at their own door, flock-
ed in to sec, to be satisfied, and to bore wells.
Outsiders, a thousand miles awiiy, became simihirly
affected. Presently Oil City was founded, and
population flowed in as rapidly as the oil flowed
out. Thousands took to boring ; it was, in fact, a
community of borer.o. The rush was in a small way
equal to California itself. Within a single year
petroleum became an important staple. Its hid-
ing place in the caverns beneath us has been pene-
trated, only to prove that the supply is inexhausti-
ble. It has already founded new cities and given
prodigious vitality to old ones — even quickening the
trade of such as this, and built a railroad twenty-
seven miles in length, over which, in the four-
teen months ending with 1863, there were carried
430,684 barrels of oil, 22,727 tuns of freight, and
within thirteen of 60,000 passengers. The receipts
were $384,705, and the dividend 25 per cent. All
these wonders have been wrought within four years
in a wild region, into which strangers never pene-
traated, where the land was of little agricultural
value, and where population had never gathered.

Up to 1863 the progress of the petroleum trade
astonished everybody. But that of the past year
has exceeded all expectation. It is evident the
wells have no bottom. What the product for the

year has been we cannot say. It may be tliat in
the excitement of a highly prosperous buisness no
accurate account h;is been kept. But the Custom-
House figures give same indication. Petroleum ia
exported to every country in the world. In 1861
we shipped 1,112,476 gullons ; in 1862 it rose to
10,887,701 gallons, and in 1863 it reached the ex-
traordinary quantity of 28,000,000. Of this total,
19,544,604 gallons were shipped from this port. In
addition to this foreign export the home demand
is enormous. Thouj^h the whole buisness is strict-
ly a new one, yet it has already assumed shape and
stability. Ships for conveying it to England are
constructed oil tight, and the barrels emptied di-
rectly into the hold, thus carrying it in bulk. The
export of last year employed what was equal to
252 ships of 1,000 tuns each, and was worth near
$15,000,000 if refined, or about 12,000,000 if crude.
The export for this year is estimated at 40,000,000
gallons.

Refined coal oil is now as colorless as water, and
quite as free from smell. It is burned in lamps in
tens of thousands of families, and fortunes have
been realized by the inventors of lamps and the
manufacturers of shades and chimneys. The con-
sumtion for illuminating purposes is only just begun.
As the pleasantest and cheapest light, next to gas,
it is destined to supercede all but the latter. Like
iron, gold and coal, no one can fix the limit of
consumption. It can only be arrested by f ;ilurc of
the wells to yield. Of this geologists say there is
little probability. The petroleum wells of Burmah
have yielded uninterrupted supplies for thousands
of years. How long our coal mines may last has
been frequently calculated, but no calculator has
ventured to predict th;it they were likely to give
out. The iron and gold they give up as inexhaust-
ible. If they abandiin petroleum to the same ex-
tended term it may justly claim to take rank beside
them as anequally enduring staple. — N. Y. Trib.
= <•» — — — - — —

Tobacco of California.

The valae of the tobacco used, in California,
would astonish any one that would give time to
make the estimate, and yet now that the cultivation
of it has commenced the growers have great diffi-
culty in inducing manufacturers to purchase our
home raised article. This is a very great error,
and to show how the thing is brought about we
quote frum a grower's letter to us — a curious idea
but a good one. The writer says :

"I have raised three acres of tobacco this year
and it has done well. I have some samples put up
to bring down to you, but was not able to come
last week ; it is a good article, and fine as can be
raised in the East. What is the reason the mer-
chants will not buy anything raised in California,
if they can help itV They ask 50c ^ 5> for tobac-
co in the leaf, and it is black and musty, and some
of it rotton at that, but California tobacco sent to
New York arid then shipped back is considered an A
JVo. 1, article."

Now this short letter lets the "cat out of the
bag," here the merchant or speculators combine to
depress the value of native tobaccos, then buy it
up for shipping to New York, to be le-shipped to
California, invoiced as "genuine Kentucky Leaf,"
"Maryland" or "Connecticut," and it sells readily
for 56c ^ ft). Suppose large growers should try
this experiment themselves? We think it would
pay ! — Cal. Farurb.

.^\l-JBSi

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

Si

Corn Planter and Roller.

40,822.— Corn Planter. —Wm. Craig, Urbana,Ill.

I claim first the roller C, constructed of sections
a' a' a' a* which are provided with flanges, b*, as
shown for the purpose specified.

Second, The button L, attached to the back
part of the firaught pole B, and arranged as shown
for the purpose of keeping the front part of the
frame A elevated and the shares F above the sur-
face of the eaith when required.

Third, Arranging or placing the driver's seat M
on supports, N, the upper parts of which are horri-
zontal and are fitted in slots made longitudinally
in the ends of the seat, M, to admit of the adjust-
ment of the latter as set forth.

This invention relates to a new and improved
aeed-planting device by which seed may be planted
either in drills or hills and in check rows, and the
aeed-distrihuting device operated either automical-
ly or by hand, anJ the seed also properly covered
and the e^irth rolled so that the latter will be firm-
ly compacted over the seeds and the clods of earth
crushed or pulverized, the device also, by a simple
manipulation being capabi; of having its furrow
shares raised out of and free from the earth, as is
necessary in turning at the ends of rows, transport-
ing the device from place to place and in rolling
land. — Scientifia American,

The above described machine, or a similar con-
trivance, must be had for the large corn planters,
and it will stand the makers of corn planters in
hand to look after it. We not only predict but
know that a planter attached to an iron roller,
whereby the corn field can be planted and rolled
at the same operation, will at once revolutionize
the present system of marking off, planting and
iiarrowing. Three years of success with planting
in drills and rolling, have brought these facts so
Htrongly before us that we know that it must and
will soon be adopted. Who will put the machine
into the field and make himself famous therebv ? —
Eo.

Coal Ashes and Cherry Trees. — An Indiana
correspondent of the Dollar Newspaper says : " I
recollect well, when a boy, of carrying the coal
ashes from the grate, and piling them round a lit-
tle cherry tree, which was known by all the family
as the 'little orphan,' on account of its sprouting
from the roots of an old tree which died, and the
peculiar hard time it had in reaching the stature of
even a bush. The summer after the coal ashes
were deposited around its base, it put forth vigo-
rously, and in three years was quite a thrifty tree,
heavily laden with luscious fruit. My father seeing
the good result of the ashes, a wagon load was
thrown around the base of each tree on the farm,
and the effect was astonishing. Old trees that were
fist decaying were resuscitated, and sent forth new
branches, and bore fruit abundantly."

A friend sends us the above. We suppose that

the same quantity of sand or gravel would have

been equally valuable. We see it stated that the

lack or dust from coal is an excellent manure for

plants, which is doubtless true, as it will not •nly
supply carbon, but absorbs heat and ammonia both
of which are valuable to plants. — Ed.

-•>-

The Weather. — On Monday last, and for a few
days previous, the weather had been very like early
spring, and so moderate that skating parks were
deserted, and for a few hours overcoats laid aside.
About three o'clock Monday afternoon a cold, bleak
wind sprung up from the northwest, and the tem-
perature rapidly descended the scale, so that dur-
ing the night the mercurj* indicated 12 degrees be-
low zero ; nor has it since then at any one time,
we believe, been more than 20 degrees above zero.
On Tuesday night it was down to 11 below, and oa
Wednesday night to 8 below.

The Skating Parks have advertised carnirale,
and the street cars have been well patronized bj
men and maidens with their skating aceoutrcments;
steamboatmen and sailors, who had hoped for an
early opening of navigation, as they saw the rlTCr
almost free Irom ice, now find it firmly closed over
again ; dealers in fuel take fresh courage, and the
price of fuel as usual goes up as the mercury goes
down ; the poor are more earnest and persistent in
their appeals for food and fuel, and all complain of
the unexpected " cold snap." However, during
yesterday the weather moderated considerable, and
last evening the thermometer ranged 5 deg. abore
zero, and still later had an upward tendency. The
weather-wise predict a "January thaw." So mote
it be ! — Chi. 2Yibune 18<A.

The weather at this point was also cold and the
change sudden. At 9 o clock p. m. on Monday it
was 30 deg. above, and at Y a. m. Tuesday, 4 deg_
below ; the next morning at 20 deg. below. The
change on Monday night was therefore 84 deg. ia
ten hours. Not anticipating such a change of
base our greenhouse suffered rather severely, on
the east side exposed to the wind. We also fear
that it may have a bad effect on many trees and

plants exposed to the sharp winds.

II

Sorgo Sugar. — The Washivgton Repttitican sayg :
" An experiment was made in the Department of
Agriculture a day or two since, before a large num-
ber of persons, clearly demonstrating the practica-
bility of every man in the North making his own
sugar. A gentleman from Nebraska, Mr. J. F.
Riggs, who is about taking out a patent for hi«
process, was the operator. From sorgo sirup sent
to the Department for exhibition, in the course of
a few moments, he produced a clean and pure 8«-
gar equal in all respects to the best coffee sug^,
the residue of the sirup proving to be an excellent-
ly flavored article, strongly resembling amber or
golden sirup of the shops, and entirely free from
sorgo taste,"— JV: Y. Trib.

We have seen the above going the rounds of the
papers, and nail it as erroneous. No sugar has
been made in the mode described, but from what
is called mtuh, that is granulated sirup, which was
pressed several times in a coarse cloth, after stir-
ring some chemical in the mush. The residae of
the golden sirup is strongly made up of bosh. — E».

,. r'- [I.!! !f I iin'. ^.MiittiTiTJ'avr'ailiif^iiiifatfiM

52

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

Feb.

Cotton in Illinois.

It is stated that Messrs. Fentoii & Co.. of this
city, intend to plant 300 acres of cotton this sea-
son. The firm is satisfied from last year's experi-
ence that cotton can be made a profitable crop in
Southern Illinois, and are, therefore, preparing to
enter into the business upon an extensive scale.
At their gin in this county they have ginned and
pri'ssed twenty bales, and have at least tea more
to pre-;a — Cairo Oor. Chi. Trib.

In the last number of the Farmer we stated what

was doing in this direction at Cobden, 42 miles

north of Cairo, and are now pleased to learn of fur

Tther good news in this staple. There is plenty of

■ seed to be had at the gins in the south part of the

:State and at St. Louis. We have no fears of the

result ; cotton and sweet potatoes will hereaftei be

grown side by side in Egypt.

^'*i — •• — — 11 '

Number of Sheep in Illinois. — In looking over
Randall's Practical Shepherd, we discover in the
chapter on Prairie Sheep Husbandry, he gives Illi-
nois credit for only 50,000 .sheep. On turning to
the table of comparison by States in an article on
the condition and prospects of Sheep Husbandry
in the Con'r of Agriculture's report, probably tak-
en from the census of 1860, we find that Illinois
had in 1860, 775,S20 sheep. With that number
' in 1860, our State must now possess nearly or quite
1,000,000 head.

We suppose Sangamon county must have from
75,000 to 100,000, and there are a number of coun-
ties which have as many as Mr. Randall has stated
to be the number owned by the entire State. We
have one man in the State who is wintering nine
thousand. — Prairie Farmer.

Currants — Dried currents of commerce, as they
are miscalled, are in reality a grape, and free from
stones or pits ; they come from the Isthmus of Cor-
inth and several places in the Indian Archipelago.
A small Spanish current is sometimes sold in their
stead. It is the island of Zante which furnishes
the largest amount of these currents, and their cul-
tivation is materially lessening, as the jealousy of
the Ottomans does not allow large vessels to enter
■ the gulf for their purchase. These currents grow
on vines like grapes; the leaves are somewhat the
same figure, and the grapes similar ; they are gath-
ered in August, and dried on the ground ; when
kegged they are trodden down closely with the
feet. Zante Island produced enough to load five
or six large vassels; Oephalonia three or four, and
other islands one. — Ex.

A Flax Crop. — The Peoria (Illinois) Transcript
mentions the purchase of a flax-brcakiug machine
by Mr.McKinistry, of Delaware Prairie and says he
' this year grew one hundred acres. His first at-
tempt in this direction was made last year, when
he put in twelve acres as an experiment. This net-
ted him $50 per acre from the seed, all of which
he sold in his neighborhood. Of the one hundred
acres of it sown this year, but seventy or eighty
will do to break, and from this at the present pri-
ces he thinks he will realize about |S,000.

New Way to Patten Hogs.

Farmers Plant Sweet Corn. — During our visit
at the East we we-e asked to look at some fatting
hogs in the sty of Dr. Caleb Plaistridge, of Leba-
non, N. H They are very fine ones, but not as
good we were told as the doctor usually raises.
His system is this: for twenty years past he has
planted one-fourth acre of sweet corn, and killed
three hogs. The hogs have a good large, airy sty,
with feeding trough so arranged that they cannot
interfere with each other at feeding time, and
free access to a large, yard, through which runs
a spring of clear water. When his sweet corn is
large enough to roast, he commences feeding it,
stalk and all, in the yard, giving them all the swill
they will eat. This he continues until they refuse
to eat the stalks, after which the ballance of the
corn is fed in the ear, and the fatting process fin-
ished with corn meal. During the whole twenty
years he has failed but twice of killiung hogs of
over five hundred pounds weight each, each and he
gives credit for most of the weight to the sweet
corn. He says properly fed it adds at least two
hundred pounds to each of his hogs. Until the
frost kills it, they will eat the iweet corn stalks
and all. — Pontiac Jacksonian.

The Weather.

The extreme cold of the first half of January has
been followed through Wisconsin and Minnesota
by numerous and heavy snow-sto' ras. but in the
greater portion of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, the
the weather for three or four weeks has been very
fine, frosty at night most of the time, with mild
but not unsaesonably warm days, and with but few
storms of wind or rain ; the consequent .ictivity of
buisness in these last named States has been grati-
fying to all commercial interests. Monday night
the weather here changed suddenly from mild to
very cold and windy, but without indications of
long continued severity. — WtUs Commercial.

•■ » ■»■

A Few Statistics of the Reaper Trade. — ^But
few persons not actually engaged in the enterprise
have any very definite idea of the immense propor-
tions the buisness of manifacturing reapers and
mowers is assuming in this country. We have re-
liable information that there were made for the
trade of 1862, 33,000 of these ftiachines; for that
of 1863 something oviH- 40,000, and tlio business
of the present year upward;" of 70,000 will be made.
Mark the wonderful inccreasij smce tin- war began.
Out of the 70,000 between 14,000 and 15,000 will
be manufactured in the State of Illinois.

Seventy thousand machines at n average of
$130,00 each, (combined michiues soil ng the en-
suing season at $150,00 to ^160,00 or fvtn higher,
and mowers from $105,00 to $140,00,) and we have
the enormus amount of $9,100,000 [ aii b.v the agri-
culturists of the NoJth in a single s as'^n for a sin-
gle class of iiiipliments. Probably tlie repairs on
machines, old and new, will swell the amount to
nearly $11,000,000. Canany couiitr\ in the world
equal or even approach these figures ? — Ex

It costs a great deal of labor, wear and tear, to
produce and haul to market a load of wheat or
corn, and it brings at best only from thirty to fortj

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

m

dollars, even at the present "war pricps " but a
load of butter equal in weight to forty bushels of
wheat (2400 lbs.) would bring between four and
five hundred dollars; or the same amount of cheese
would bring nearly three hundred dollars. We
have again and again alluded to this subject, and
we would urge all who possibly can to arrange
their fields and pastures with a view to dairying
gome.

In dairyins you have your harvest everf day,
aight and morning, you can do your labor in the
cool of the day, and you aie sure of a good arti-
cle to obtain a good price, war or no war ; folks
will eat, and every bo'ly almost, likes to have his
brea*! butter d, "to make it go down easy hie."

We have kept dairy for a number of years and
should keeo one now were we living on a farm, and
we know whereof we nfBrm. There is no more
profitable branch of farming, one year with anoth-
er, excepting perhaps the keeping of sheep, than
to keep a dairy of cows for the manufacture of
butter and cheese. — Rockford Register

Home-Brewed Ale.

G-. Burton, in the Rural New Yorker, gives his
method of making home brewed ale as follows. —
" The art of brewing is very easy to be understood,
for it is exactly similar to the process of making
tea. Put ii handful of m 'It into a tea-pot ; then
fill it with wat'T — the first time rather und'^r boil-
ing he 't. After it hns stood some time, pour off
the liquor ju«t as you w< mid tea, and fill up the
pot asain with boiling wat'T. In a similar manner
pour that off, and so go on filling up and pouring
ofi'till the malt in the pot is tasteless, which will
be the case whf-n all its virtue is extracted. The
liquor or malt tea must then be boiled with a few
hops in it. and when it becomes cool enough — ^that
is about blood heat — add a little yeast to ferment
it, and the thing is done. This is the whole art
and process cif brewing ; and to brew a large quan-
tity requires the same mode of proceeding as it
would to make a tea breakfast for a regiment of
soldiers. A peck of malt and four ounces of hops
will produce ten quarts of ale, and of a better qual-
ity than can usually be purchased."

Vice's Illustrated Catalogue op Seeds. — ^This
is a pamphlet of forty-eight pages, containing not
only a list of seeds, but pretty full instructions for
their cultnre, in fact a valuable work for the farm
and vegetable gardea.

" I t ike pleasure in offering to the lovers of
beautiful flowers and choice vegetables my New
Illustrated Seed Catalogue for 1864, which for
beauty and real value, I think, has no equal. It
will be found to contain not only a complete list of
the leading floral treasures of the world, with full
and accurate descriptions, but such plain yet com-
plete directions for culture as will enable all who
heed them to avoid the failures so common yet so
vexatious to those who love flowers but lack expe-
rience in their culture. My Catalogue for the
present season is a complete Rural Directory or
Guide for the Flower Garden, and may be consul-
ted with profit by those who wish to select seeds,
or learn how to treat them after they are obtained.

The habits of the diffi-rent varieties, the best loca-
tion, .^oil, etc., distance t* part at which the phmt
should be grown, best method of sowing the seed,
transplanting, and all other necessary directions,
are given in full with each variety, so that the
most inexperienced amateur need not fail In ad-
dition to this, I have given fine, life-like engrav-
ings of many of the most popular and b^-autiful
flowers, which, with the descriptions, cannot fail
to give a correct idea of their character."

The above will give an idea of the value of the

work. Send for a catalogue. We have had flow- «f

er seeds of Mr. Vick, and have always found them

of superior quality.

A New Grafting Wax.

Several of our friends who have tried the follow-
ing composition as a grafting wax, have been
much pleased with it. We see it also recommen-
ded in some of the horticultural journals — to wit :
One pound of rosin, five ounces 95 per cent, alco-
hol, one ounce beef tallow, one table spoon of
spirits of turpentine.

Melt the rosin over a slow fire, add the beef tal-
low, and stir with a perfectly dry stick or piece of
wire. When somewhat cooled add the turpentine,
and last, the alcohol in small quantities, stirring
the mass constantly. Should the aloohol cause it
to lump, warm again until it melts. Keep in a bot-
tle. Lay it on in a very thin coat with a brush. In
a room of moderate temperature, the wax should
be of the consistence of molasses. Should it prove
thicker, thin it down with alcohol. It is always .
ready for use, is never affected by heat or cold,
and heals up wounds hermetically. — Germdntown
Telegraph.

«•>

Ohio Pomologieal Society.

This society held its winter meeting at Cleveland
last month. Grapes occupied considerable atten-
tion. The Clinton was returned in the list, altho*
a strong attempt was made to throw it out. Cuy-
ahoga white grape was said to mildew badly
when young. Delaware was highly commended.
Concord still held its position at the head of the
list for the million. F. R. Elliott stated that in
the county in which Cleveland is located there
were TOO acres in vineyard, 400 of which was in

bearing last season.

. ,^»

Making Cider.

We have seen several samples of cider in which
bi-sulphate of lime was used. It makes the cider
very clear, but an excess spoils the cider taste.
Ten ounces is the rule for a barrel, but it is prob-
ably three or four times too much. The making
of cider is becoming annually of more importance,
and a good article is desirable.

These cheap cider mills make a great waste of
the raw material, as they are not capable of pr< ss-
ing out more than half the juice. One mill in a
neighborhood costing four or five hundred dollars,
buildings included, would be worth moie to the
orchardist than twice that amount in cheap mills.

ba^^

54

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

Feb.

Mitm'^ ialb.

BAKEE & PHILIiItS -

PUBLISHERS.

M. L. PUNLAP, Kditor.
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY, 1864.

The first month of the year has been one of un-
usual severity, and long to be remembered.
* * » * »

" 'Twas I, the spirit of the storm.

He waved hU sceptre north away.
The arctic ring was rift asunder.

And through the heavens the startling bray
Burst louder than the loudest thunder.

The feathery clouds, condensed and furled,
In columns swept the quaking glen ;

Destructiou down the gale wiis hurled.
O'er bleating flocks and wandering men."

The destruction of sheep, of hogs and cattle has
called us back to the days of the Ettrick Shep-
herd, when the wraith swept the best flocks from
the hills of Scotland.

One of our large flock master.*, counted two
hundred and fifty dead c-heep on New Year's day.
The delayed railroad trains turned out their thou-
sands of dead hogs — frozen stiff and stark during
the storm, while in the timber portion of the State,
where the store hogs usually run out in the wood-
land, the frost king counted his victims by scores
and hundreds. These may be called lessons in
unth ift, calling for more barns, more sheds and
more shelter of all kinds.

Our shelter belts though young hiive proven val-
Qable in this trying time. They hold the snow and
prevent the drifts from forming, in and about the
sheds.

Such a visitation of cold did not come for the
first time, nor will it be the last. That it swept
farther south is only from the fact, that the clear-
ing up of the forests permitted its onward unob-
Btructi'd sweep. Elsewhere we give pretty full ac-
,eounta of the damage to trees, but Ihe full summing
no must be delayed to May, when the damage in
all its sad significance will have become fully appa-
rent.

Stab Hobticultd^i, Society. — A large amount
of the space for January was occupied with a re-
port of the winler meeting. With the exception
of the essays, it wi}l be found to contain all of much
value that will be found in the transactions. We
have not heard what progress has been made to-
wards printing them.

Byron, sends us specimens of this bark louse. We
have never seen it in our grounds, nor do we think
it will prove troublesome. It is without doubt a
native and identical or similar to that described
by Dalman in the "Transactions of thoRoy:d Acad-
emy of Sciences of Stockholm," under the naL.e of
Coccus Cryptoganius. A full account of it is given
by Harris, in his "Insects Injurious to Veget.»-
tion."

Smith's Cider and Willow Twig. — A. S. Coe
of Port Byron says in a recent letter, " If you are
not troubled with the blight, you will find Smith's
Cider, all you desire for a market apple."

"Although Willow Twig is 2d and perhaps 3d
rate as a dessert fruit, I find it by far the most
profitable apple for market that I have as yet
grown."

Mr. Coe had four thousand bushels of apples last
year, and ought to know something of v.uietiea.
Along the Mississippi, Smith's Cider appears liable
to blight, but on the east side and interior of the
State, we have not observed this tendency, and
therefore shall plant it largi^Iy. The Willow Twig
is gaining fi iends where known. The tree is hardy,
an abundant bearer, the apple a good keeper and
in use when the market is r^ither bare of fruit. The
tree is a slow and feeble grower and not popular
with nurserymen on this account. How long tree
planters will bow to the behe-ts of nurserymen
we know not, but the day must come wlii^n nurse-
rymen w'll be compelled to grow those sorts that
are re;illy valuable, or planters will set out seed-
lings and graft to suit themselves.

-*—■

yjeus Whim Bark Lorsx.— A. S. jSqe. of pprt

Trkes and Tree Planting. — We are in receipt of
a package of pamphlets with the above title, sent
out by order of the State Horticultural Society,
by J. Periam, Thornton Station, H. D.; Emery of
the Prairie Farmer, and 0. B. Galush a, of Lis-
bon, Kendall com ty, who will supply copies to all
applicants inclosing a two cent stamp, or we can
send them on the same terms.

The pamphlet contains much valuable informa-
tion. As it can be had at little cost, we do not
propose to repnblish it.

Doolittle Black Cap Ra.spberrt. — Among the
small fruits the Black Cap deservedly holds a high
place. Last year, Mr. S. Hood of Springfield, this
State, gathered from a half acre 1459 quarts, for
which he received $182 85; and he says the pros-
pect the coming season is for a third larger crop.
The price per quart was not large, being only

'fP^^W.i-S .'.•■•'

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

m

twelve and a half cents, or four and a half dollars
a bushel. Reducing the quart* to bushels — 36
wine quarts to a bushel — and we have eighty bush-
els to the acre. Allowing two and a half cents a
quart for picking, we have $292 per acre for the
crop.

To set an acre of plants and cultivate them two
years will not cost forty dollars.

In five yoai s we will wager, that the Black Cap
raspberry will be more abundant than the currant
in our markets.

Improved Blacberby. — Our new blackberry ap-
pears to have stood the winter in good condition;
of course we cannot yet decide as to the crop, but
think it is not yet injured. Mr. Joseph Barber of
Richview writes us that the wild blackberry in his
section are ail killed. If this blackberry stands
the past winter unharmed we shall send it out
with tlie utmost confidence in its value as a hardy
plant.

Ohio. The apple is a little above medium size,
round and very regular in form, stem long and
slender, inserted in an even smooth cavity ; color
yellow ground, very much striped and splashed
with pale red, flesh white, with a pleasant subacid
flavor. It hangs on the tree well, becoming quite
ripe before it drops. The tree makes a very straight
upright growth, is rem^irkably hardy, having stood
all the hard winter without any damages — bears
regular and abundant crops. In season it follows
Red June and Early Harvest — quality of fruit 2d
rate."

Evans, in his catalogue of native fruits, calls it
an Illinois seedling, but it will be seen by the
above that it should be credited to Ohio.

Orcharding in Missouri. — Col. A. Bainbridge,
formerly of Cobden in this State, but now of De
Soto, some forty miles southwest of St. Louis,
writes us that he has 9,500 peach, apple, pear,
apricot and cherry trees and 600 grape vines. Of
these trees 3,000 are apple, set two years since,
some of which fruited last season.

Garde;} Seeds. — We observe that S. Wilbur of
Momence the garden seed man, is out with a fine
stock of seeds. Fortunately for the country the
drouth was less severe on the upper Kankakee
than in many other parts of the State.

Those buying seeds at springfield and other parts
of Central Illinois will do well to note the label, if
they want good home grown seeds.

Hutchison Cider Mill. — This mill is having a
great run, and is doubtless valuable to make cider
in a small way for daily use, but for a mill to put
up cider on a large scale is worthless, as, not one
half the cider can be pressed from the pommice.
Many people who have large orchards have been
induced to purchase it, but find it of no value in
that connection.

Sorgo Culture. — Next month we intend to de-
vote a large space to the above subject, including
variety, culture and manufacture.

Wrought Iron Wagons. — In returning from the
Fair grounds to Decatur solitaire, we were overtak-
en by Mr. John Kirkham of Peoria, driving his
iron wagon and who kindly invited us to ride. The
whole of the running gears of the wagon arc of
wrought iron except the hubs which are cast.

This kind of wagon would be valuable to those
farmers who are in the habit of lotting wagons
Stand out in the rain and sun, for the spokes and
felloes will not warp or rot like oak. This wagon
runs light and we have a very favorable opinion of
it. The cost is more than one of part wood, say
about |110. They must prove durable.

■«^

The Dana Apple. — In a previous number, we
made mention of this apple. Since then we have
a letter from J. H. Stewart of Quincy, in which he
says:

"The Dana, is an apple which we have cultivat-
ed for more than fifteen years. It was named for
the man with whom it originated in some part of

Missouri and Illinois Horticultural Importing
Association — Its object is to meet a want longfelt
by nurserymen in the West.

Article 1. — This Society shall be known as the
" Mis-^ouri and Illinois Horticultural Importing As-
sociation."

Art. 2 — ^Its object shall be the importation of
such Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees, Plants, Stocks,
Bulbs, &c., as may be ordered by its members.

Art. 3. — Any person may become a member by
the payment of one dollar, and signing this Con-
stitution.

Art. 4. — The officers shall consist of % Presi-
dent Treasurer and Secretary, who, in connection
with two other members, to be elected by the So-
ciety, shall constitute an Executive Board, charged
with the direction and control of the affairs of the
Society, subject to its instructions ; they shall hold
their office one year, and until their successors are
chosen.

Art. 5. — The society shall hold its annual meet-
ings on the Thursday after the second Tuesday in
January, and the Society or the Executive Board
may be called together at any time by the Presi-
dent.

Art. 6. — This constitution may be amended at
any meeting, by a two-thirds vote of the members
present. ' -.

The following gentlemen then paid their fee, and

became members :

°*^-'~-'^'"-- '•-

56

THE ILLINOIS FARMEK.

Feb-

E. S. Hull, Alton, 111.; C. W. Spauldii.g, St.
Louis, Mo.; N. J. Colman, St. Louis ; Jonathan
Huggins, Woodburn, 111.; James E. Starr, Elsali,
III.; L D. Votean, Eureka. Mo.; John A. Pettingill,
Bunker Hill, 111.; B. F. Edwards, St. Louis; Geo.
Husniann, Hermann, Mo.; John Hcnvvood, St.
Louis ; Carew Sanders, Caronddet, Mo.; W. 0.
Fliigg. Alton, 111.: H. Claggett, St. Louis ; J. H.
Tice, St. Louis; J. J. Kellev, Rock Hill, Mo.; H.
T. Mudd, St. Louis.

Wilber's Map of Illinois. — We are just in re-
ceipt of this map, not the one at the State Fair
but an improved edition, containing many new
features. The map is 36 by 48 inches, and mount'
ed on rollers.

It is the most valuable map of the State by far.
that has been presented to the public. We have
seen no State map that compares with it. Fiist,
we have all the counties, townships, cities, villa-
ges, railroads with their stations, streams, etc.,
that belong to an ordinary map. Then comes the
coloring that shows the difFerent geological forma-
tions and coal fields, the rain districts, showing the
annual amount of rain in the several parts of the
State, with isothermal lines of temperature ; and
lastly, the sylvia of the State, divided into dis-
tricts.

The above is the map proper, while the margin
is filled with useful tables, such as the elevation at
the principal points ; a colored diagram of the ge-
ological formations, population, time table, show
ing the diiference in time between important
points, etc. The map is designed particularly for
the use of schools, and should be in every distriet
in the State. Business men cannot well do with-
out it, and will see its advantage at a glance. Eve-
ry family, with any preti n.sions above the poor
white trash of the Slave States, should have one of
these maps.

We are proud of this map, from the fact that it
is gotten up by one of our own State. Prof. Wil-
bur has shown that we are not fully dependent on
New Y«rk for our maps. The work places Chas.
Shober among the best artists of the day.
We learn that it is to be sold by canvassers.
We should have said that Dr. Vasey of Peoria,
is responsible for the b»tany, and that Loren
Blodgett, the well known author on climatology
assisted in tkat department.

Grape Culture. — The grape fever is at a high
stage of excitement, too high we think to be good
for the patient We propose to throw a little cold
water on it to cool it oif.

To grow grapes to advantage, requires no small
amount of practical sk'll ; and to obtain this, time
is required. Hundreds are rushing into vineyard

planting, who have never grown a pound of grapes,
and this tor the simple reason that somebody has
made a fortune at it. We have a friend who had
the fever some years since, having taken the fever
from the Cincinnati growers. A thousand vines
were ordered, and the ground trenched two feet
deep. The vineyard is now nearly ten years old,
some years he has grapes for family use and again
he has none. Last year the crop was very good
and he sold two hundred pounds, at eight cents a
pound. The varieties are Isabella and Catawba.

Our advice is to begin moderately, buy a few
vines at first, and if you can succeed, you can soon
get all the vines you want, from your own stock.

First try the Hartford Prolific, Concord and Di-
ana, and if you want a white grape, take Taylor's
Bullit. To these can be added others as the vines
cheapen. Adorondick at $5.00 will hardly pay,
for you will soon be able to get them at better
rates, and will know more of its value. At pres-
ent it should be remembered that these new grapes
are highly praised to sell the plants. Some of them
will doubtless prove valuable, but let old h.mds
at the business decide this fact.

Shade Trees in Highways. — The importance of
planting shade trees along our highways has been
almost entirely overlooked. A general adoption
of the system would be of great advantage to the
health and comfort of the people and add largely
to the beauty of the landscape. In winter these
rows of trees would break the wind and hold the
drifting snow, and in summer make long, pleasant,
shady lanes for the traveler. On our open prai-
ries they would also contribute their influence to-
wards the summer shower, thnt so often seek the
groves and wood begirt margins of the streams. —
We have an abundant supply of rain for the year,
but it is not evenly distributed. These avenues of
trees, if planted along all of our highways, would
without doubt do much to equalize the distribution.
" The beauty and comfort that would be afforded
by these trees after a few years, can hardly now
be conceived. They would also contribute much
to the public health. The beautiful law of com-
pensation established by the Creator, between the
animal and the vegetable kingdoms should not be
lost sight of. Trees as well as men and animals
breathe, but they do not appropriate from the at-
mosphere precisely the same elements, but rather
the opposite. In the process of respiration the an-
imal organism appropriates the oxygen of the at-
mosphere, and exhales carbonic acid gas, while the
trees through their leaves, give off the oxygen and
appropriate the carbonic acid ; the carbon thus
obtained goes to build up the tissues of the tree i

ppssi^w^ ,:

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAE-MEE.

57

thus an equilibrium is maintained between animal
and vegetable life, which is essential to the health
of mankind. In populous cities and neighborhwods
this equilibrium is in some degree destroyed, and
is one of the causes of the mortality which prevails
in such districts, and is not the least among the
considerations which should encourage the plant-
ing of trees in the streets and highways in every
settled country. Then, what could be more beau-
tiful than long avenues of thrifty trees extending
through every highway, and besides the grateful
and cooling shade they would cast upon the trav-
eler in summer, as well as the protection they
would afford to everything living in breaking the
force of the bleak winds of winter."

Trees from the forest can be planted, if others
cannot be had, but care must be used in selecting
those that grow in the more open exposures or in
old choppings, where they have become stocky and
hardened to exposure. Where trees can be had
from the nursery, all the better, for these have bet-
ter roots, and are in all respects better adapted to
tran.splant.

Evergreens, as a general thing, are too expensive

to set for wind-breaks, and are not adapted to high
ways ; we mu.-it, therefore, select deciduous trees.
The Lonibardy poplar is being extensively used for
lanes and roadsides in many parts of the State. In
Winnebago and Boone counties they are quite
abundant. In the north part of Dupage county we
have seen long lines of this tree. The tree is of
rapid growth, and by planting eight feet apart will
soon make a wall of foliage almost impervious to
the wind. As a shade along the highway they are
the least valuable of any tree. On the south side
of an e;ist and west road they might be admissable,
but less so in any other aspect. When planted the
fence could be set ten feet into the bounds of the
road and plant cuttings, or two year old trees,
eight *feet apart, and eight feet within the road
bounds, that is twenty-three feet from the center of

the highway.
The white elm, although a slow growing tree, is

too valuable to pass by, and should be put in the
more wet places, interspersed with the white wil-
low. The soft maple of our river bottoms and
grove swnmps, is also a rapid growing, hardy tree
for this purpose, especially if the soil is a little
moist. The silven maple of the nurseries are bet-
ter adapted to dry land and make a beautiful tree.
Of this latter we have a line of a mile bordering
•ur farm. The Linden or basswood is also a pretty
tree, as well as the sycamore.

Farmers can grow their own trees if they choose,
and if properly protected with a fence, can be set
out when quite young, which plan is the best in
niost cases.

We have seen apple trees set in the manner
above stated, and which made a very pretty ap-
pearance, especially when loaded with fruit ; but
in this case none but upright growers shoxild be
used.

In the spring of '58 we set a row of near half a
mile, of the silver leafed maple, of trees some two
inches in diameter, but a neighbor's oxen took
such a fancy to them that we had to move the
fence ten feet within the highway boundary and
make a new plantation some three years since. —
These are now growing finely, and in a few years
will bid defiance to our neighbor's kine.

Blackberry Wine.— While attending the Ver
million County Fair at '■ atlin last September, our
attention was called to a sample of the above wine
made by Mrs. Carr. The superiority of the sam-
ple induced us to obtain the mode of making,
which Mrs. Carr very kindly gave us :

To one gallon of berries add one gallon of water,
mash the berries and add two pounds of sugar ; let
this stand twenty-four hours and then strain thro'
a cloth. Put the strained liquor in a jug or barrel
to stand until wanted for use. It will be ready in
a few months, but a year is better.

Comstock's Rotary Spader. — ?ince the State
Fair we have received several letters of enquiry in
regard to the above machine. We have no means
of knowing what is being done in the way of man-
ufacturing, but presume that the inventor is not
idle. We shall be pleased to see it in the field in
competition with gang and clipper plows. Its cost,
$200, will preclude it from small farms, nor wilj
large farms be disposed to invest in them, only as
they become satisfied of their value. This proof
must of necessity come slow. While ten and twen-
ty dollar implements can soon be spread over the
State and find a lodgment in every neighborhood,
it is a comparatively slow process to place even
one of the $200 implements in each county
of the State much less one to each neighborhood.
A million of dollars would not supply the demand
for the State, should the spader prove, as it now
promises to be, a success.

-«••-

Onions.

In Spain and other European countries onions
are among the staple products of the garden and
consumed in large quantities by all classes of peo;de.
In a pathological point of view they are indispen-
sable. They are considered a sure preventive
against dropsy, a disease too common in this coun-
try, and one of the best remedies for the disease in

58

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK

Fes

it3 advanced stages. As an antiscorbutic, it has
no rival ; it is, therefore, in great demand among
our sohliers, who eat it in all forms.

Many ppople suppose that scurvy only occurs
among seamen who have made long voyages, but
this is a great mistake, as the disease is common in
our armies, and not so very uncommon among the
white traxh of our State, who live on bacon, strong
coffee without milk or sugar, and corn bread.

The fir-t symptoms are sore gums and loose teeth'
followed with lassitude, if that is possible in one of
these persons who are never around except at a
dog fight, a turkey match or a raffle.

The demand for onions in the army has largely
increased the quantity planted in the Western
States, while the home consumption has also in-
creased of late. This has made a dnin on the
istock of s,>ed to that extent that the wholesale price
of forty cents a pound two years since has gone up
to ncnrly four dolhirs — a rather wide difference. —
Top onion seed has also advanced to some eight
dollars a bushr-l.

One man planted one hundred and fif^y bushels
of onions List fall for seed, and is to plant the
name amount this spring. The fall is the best time
to plant onions for the seeds or sett^, or for an
early cron, but i.i this case they n«ust be covered
with straw to prevent heaving out.

As a jreneral thing, too much seed is powu, thus
crowding the plants, the result of which is small
onions. We have several inquiries iu regard to
sowing broadcast on sod broken up last summer.
We have considerable pro and con in r.gard to this
mode, but have no confidence in it. The best
mode th.it we have tried is to sow in July or Au-
gust very thick, let the onion get of the size of
small hickory nuts, when they are pulled, dried
and packed awav secure from moisture and too
much fiost. These are set out early in the spring
and are sure to make large, fine onions very early
in the season. In this way we never fail of a crop,
while the black seed is not always relied upon for
an annual crop. The onion is a bienial, and
to make good bulbs the first season must be
forced by rich soil and good culture.

Cheese MiNUFACTURiES. — At a Convention re
cently held at Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., the fol-
lowing chef-se manufacturies were represented,
which show -an interesting matter of history. This
system of manufacturing cheese upon a combined
plan, and on a lirge scale, is one of recent origin,
and this list shows how it has absorbed the dairy
interest of that region. List of the delegates pres-
sent, their localities and the amount of cheese in-
terests they represent :

Names Factories located JT* cows.

Hugh Quinn Oneida Co 527

Williams, Adams & DewvOneida Co 350

G. W. Davis ".Oneida Co 380

F. Clark Oneida Co 350

Hiram Brown Chenango Co 500

James Rathburn Oneida Co 707

Charles Rathburn Oneida Co 126

J. W. Brooks Oneida Co 820

G. E. Morse Madison Co 650

J. Greenfield Oneida Co 300

D. Ellis Warren, M;iss 500

Isaac Shell ..Herkimer Co 600

A. Anstead Oneida Co 500

J. G. Co ites Oneida Co 300

Henrv Hill Oneida Co 500

G. W. Wheeler Oneida Co 200

Gold Creek Factory Herkimer Co 600

Collins Factory.. . .' Erie Co 1,000

New Woodstock Factorv. Madison Co 1,200

F. Smith .".Oneida Co 575

Crosbv & Huntington. . .Oneida Co 510

G. B. "Weeks Oneida Co 640

H. L.Rose Oneida Co 1,000

B. F. Stephens Lewis Co 800

T. Tillinghast Cortland Co 900

Kenney& Fnzer Cortland Co 1,400

Rome Cheese M mu'g Ass.Oneida Co 624

Wright & Williams Oneida Co 550

Whiitakor & Curry Oneida Co 500

D. Thomas Oneida Co 500

L. M. Dunton Lewis Co 800

Asel Bnrnham, jr Chautauqua Co. . . . 500

Hanck, Wikox & Co Chautauqua Co 600

Clear Spring Factory. . . .Chautauqua Co. . . . 600

A. L. Fish Herkimer Co 500

Schnser & Davis Fulton Co 600

Caydatte Cheese FactoryMontgomery Co. . . . 600

West Eaton Factory Madison Co 600

Miller, Fowler & Co Oneida Co 800

R. U. Sherman Oneida Co 130

Jerome Bush Lewis Co 700

A. S. King Oneid) Co 200

S. Allen Oneida Co 500

Alfred Buck Oneida Co 475

Brown & Co Madison Co 800

F. A. No> ton Madison Co 500

S. Conan Madison Co 600

Savery & Coventry Madison Co 600

Kirkland Cheese Co Oneida Co 800

J. M. Dean Oneida Co , 300

Colosse Cheesa Factory. .Oswego Co 500

Harvev Farrington Herkimer Co 470

J. H. "Hubbard Oneida Co 400

David Yourden Oneida Co 1 50

Ezra Barnard Oneida Co 220

Asa Chandlar Oneida Co 270

J. M. Farnam Lewis Co 897

David W. Wilcox Oneida Co 750

Levi Tanner Oneida Co 960

E. S. Bennett Oswego Co 250

PRIVATE DAIRIES.

J. W. Davidson Herkimer Co 55

J. B. Smith Erie Co 39

Isaac Goodwin Erie Oo 41

Moore Adams Erie Co 78

Asahel Burnham Chautau(}ua Co ... . 61

F. M. Wilcox Chautauqua Co 81

D. H. Golden Chautauqua Co ... . 41

John M. Phillips Oneida Co 30

Geo. Sisson Chatauqua Co 40

Total cows in factories, 6,881

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

m

These comprise only a part of the factories in
twelve counties.

This new mode of dairying is becoming very pop-
alar, and bids fair to supersede the home dairies
altogether. This will relieve the female portion of
the dairy farm of no small amount of hard labor,
and tend to a better quality of cheese. The appa-
ratus in these Luge factories will of course be the
best that can be procured, and must, of course, be
under the charge of competent cheese makers who
make it a trade, instead of those who make it inci-
dental to other business. Will not our western
dairies look a little into this matter.

The Temperature.

TMERMOMKTER I\ THE OPEN AIR.

Day of Month.

Y A. M,

1864. January 1

" " 2

" 3

■' 4

" 5

" 6

7

8

" 9

10

" ll!

" 12!

" 13j

" 14j

" 151

" 16

17

«' 18

" 19

" 20

" 23

*< 24

" 25

" 26

" 21

•< 28

" 29

» 30

" 31

Means

—22
—14
10
6
—12
—22

— 3
—19
—10

9

— 2
25
18
25
16
20
36
26
20
28
20
38
36
32
42
39
42
44
39

2 p. M. 9 P. M.

—18

— 4

IT

12

0

0

16

3

12

20

22

34

35

62

24

32

20
35
50
58
56
57
64
61
68
56
49

—14

— 4
8
8

— 6
—14

2

— lO
8
8
16
22
32
26
18
36
24
26
25

40
43
44
42
50
48
43
42
64

16i

29

22

Mean for the month 22J

It is interesting to h ive a record of the degree of
heat and cold during the year, so as to compare
one season with nnothcr, or ascertain how great a
degree of cold will kill any given plant. But this
is not all, we must know the average heat of the
summer months, to enable us to know what plants
and trees can be grown in a given place ; we must
iSilso know the average temperature of winter, to
show us what plants can be wintered in any given

exposure. We must learn further, that plants in
one condition will endure more cold than in anoth-
er. To enable us to be the judge of this, we must
certainly study temperatnre, and the physiology of
plants, or we shall often be I ft in the dark.

This year we intend to publish monthly recorde
of the temperature at this point.

A dash before the figure, or the sign minus,
thus, — denotes so many degrees below zero, or
at the point when a mixture of melting snow and
salt will freeze. The freezing point being thirty-
two degrees above this.

The cold of the 1st of January has attracted the
attention of most people, and they generally ex-
claim that it is the coldest they have known. Let
us look a little into this matter. At Jonesboro it
was 20 ® below and in 1856, 22 ° below zero.

At Highland, in Madison county, (lat. 38 * 40'),
we have the following table:

1841— 2» 1842—3® 1843 — I® 1844-5®
1845 —7 1846 —1 1847 —5 1848 —5
1849 —3 1850 —8 1851 — 4 1852 -15

The coldest day occurring in December on tUree
occasions, in January six and F.'bruary three.

It will will be seen by our recoid for J;inuary
that the average of the month is 22^®. In 1854
the average at St. Louis for the month was 20^, or
three degrees lower than at this point ; in 1849,
40^', making a wide difference. In 1834 the mer-
cury went down to — 19 ® , in '45 to 23 => , in Feb-
ruary of '35 it was at — 25.

We can thus easily infer that this is strictly a
continental climate and not eisily effected by the
ocean air currents. Shelter belts will enable us to
guard against these sudden changes to some ex-
tent.

For the Illinois Farmer.
Muscatine, Feb 9 th, 1864.
M. L. Dunlap, Mg., Dear Sir :

Yours of the 4th is duly received. I read with
much interest your letters in relation to the de-
struction of fruit buds and injury to fruit trees in
Southern Illinois by the extreme cold of the first
of January, and can well appreciate the calamity
to the enthusiastic fruit growers of that usually
mild climate, having myself so frequently lost a
small fortune in prospect by similar climatic draw-
backs.

It is excessively aggravating to one of moderate
means, who may happen to be imbued with an irre-
sistable love of fruits and their culture, after hav-
ing planted and cultivated with untiring zeal and
solicitude his choice trees through several years to
their maturity, to lo.«e through the untimely oc-
currence of a spring frost, all hopes of a crop for

60

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

Feb

one year, when he must draw on his banker or
himself for their coutinued culture, resting his
hopes on the uncertainties of the next year ; but
when we add to the loss of a year's crop the loss of
trees, obliging one to ref)lant and again wait trem-
blingly in view of the liability to future disasters,
the case becomes absolutely distressing:.

But how are we to help ourselves, is the ques
tion. We must either trust in Providence or cover
our trees. We all know tliat the laws which govern
climate are wise, notwithstanding it is sometimes
too wet and sometimes too dry, sometimes too hot
and sometimes too cold, to answer our particular
and immediate wants. A kind Providence has
given us intellectual faculties by which we can ob-
viate many of the casualties which result from such
emergencies.

TJnderd raining and irrigation are our remedies
for too much or too little rain, but they involve
much labor or capital ; nevertheless they are be-
coming every day more important, and will soon be
generally regarded as absolutely essential to good
culture.

Will it pay to cover trees with such an inclosure
as will protect them agamst the terrible cold which
at intervals sweeps over the length and breadth of
this fair land ? I think so. As in underdraining,
it will require capital, but it is believed the crop
will pay interest on the investment, even in seasons
when it is in competition with local crops in the
open air, as a general crop seldom occurs through-
out the entire country in one and the same season,
and in seasons of scarcity the profits would be
large. It is probable that, the capacity of the
trees for productiveness will be much increased by
an eflScient winter protection, and the crop can be
easily advanced one week by openmg the shutters
to the sun in warm days early in spring and closing
at night, as we are in no fear of late frosts.

Large peach trees are apparently killed in this
region, and some varieties of apples and pears are
slightly damaged in the fruit spurs, which may pro-
bably shorten the crop of fruit this season ; but
the plums and Richmond and Morello cherries look
perfectly sound in wood and bud.

Yours respectfully,

James Weed.

— Dr. Weed has promised drawings of his plan
for protecting fruit trees for the purpose of insur-
ing a crop every season. That he will succeed we
have no doubt, but the profit is the next question.
With the peach and apricot noi th of 40 ® , it is the
only way by whijh a crop caa be secured, and if it
will not pav for market purposes, yet might do for
family use in a small way. — Ed

CONTENTS

Editorial: page.

February 33

Fencing 34

White Willow Impostors 36

Income Tax 37

Ohio Wool Growers' Convention 38

Poetry :
Kins

49

-Cot-

Co(ton

Correspondence :

Flax Growing 40

Wintering Grapes — Effects of Frost 41

Patent Bee Hives -.. 41

Useful Machines, etc 41

Horticulture :

The Extent of Damage to Fruit Trees-
ton Culture in the South of the State 42

Great Destruction of the Peaeh Crop 43

Further about the Fruit Crop, etc 44

Tree Protectors 45

Protection to Orchards 46

A Word to managers of Fairs 46

Miscellaneous :

Management of Sheep in Winter 47

Setting Fence Posts 47

Squeakinff Boots — A Crying Nuisancce 47

The Peat Beds of Holland 48

On the Immutability of Species 59

The Wine Plant once more 49

The New Staple— Coal Oil 50

Tobacco of California 60

Corn Planter and Roller 51

Coal Ashes and Cherry Trees 51

TheWenther 51

Sorgo Sugar 51

Cotton in Illinois 52

Number of Sheep in Illinois 62

Currants 62

A Flax Crop 62

New Wav to Fatten Hogs 52

The Weather 52

A Few Statistics of the Reaper Trade 52

Home Brewed Ale 53

Vick's Illustrated Catalogue of Seeds 53

A New Grafting Wax 53

Ohio Pomological Society 63

Making Cider 53

Editor's Table :

January 54

State Horticultural Society 54

The White Bark Louse 54

Smith's Cider and Willow Twig 54

Trees an H Tree Planting 54

Doolittle Bt ck Cap Raspberry 54

Improved Blackberry 65

Garden Seeds 55

Sorgho Culture 55

Wroughtlron Wagon ., 55

The Dana Apple 65

Orcharding in Missouri 55

Hutchison Cider Mill 55

Missouri and Illinois Importing Horticultur-
al Associalion 55

Wilbur's Map of Illinois 56

Grape Culture 56

Shade Trees in Highways 56

Blackberry Wine , 57

Comstock's Rotary Spader 67

Onions 57

Cheese Manufactories 58

The Temperature 59

Letter of James Weed, Esq 59

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAKMEil.

61

Agents. — We do not appoint any agents — all arc
voluntary. Any person so disposed, can actasagen
in any place.

ExLARGE YouB Club. — Will not the friends of
the Illinois Farmer inquire how many copies of
the Farmer are taken in their respective ofiSces, and
pass around among those who ought to have their
names added to the list? Our terms are so low to
clubs of ten and twenty that we ought to have one
or the other made up at every office in the State, and
at every office in Central Illinois, one of twenty or
more. Will our friends, and the friends of practical
agriculture see to it, and thus lay us under renewed
obligations ?

To Single Subscribers. — You receive the only
copy of the Farmer that goes to your post office.
Can you not send one, two, three or more new sub-
scribers, without any trouble ? Try. Sample num-
bers, etc., sent free.

Drafts. — Those remitting us large amounts of
money, will please send us drafts on Springfield or
Chicago, less they exchange. If you send cash in a
letter, be sure that it is well sealed and well directed,
to Bailhache & Baker, Springfield, Illinois.

The Farmer as a Present. — Any of our subscri-
bers who wish to make a present of the Illinois
Farmer for 1863, can have it at the lowest club rates,
when out of the State. For fifty cents you can treat
your Eastern friends to a Western Agricultural Pa-
per. In no way can you invest that amount to so
• giod advantage to emigration.

Send Now. — Any person who remits pay for a club
of ten or fifteen, or any other number at the specified
rates for such clubs, can afterwards add to the clubs,
and take advantage of the reduction. Thus a person
sending us five subscribers and three dollars, can af-
terwards send us three dollars more and receive six
copies.

To The Casual Readeb.— This and other num-
bers of the Illinois Farmer will be sent to many
persons who now use it for the first time. Will they
not examine it, and if they like it, subscribe for it,
and ask their neighbors to subscribe ? Sample num-
erbs, prospectuses, etc., sent free to all applicants.
See terms elsewhere.

How TO Obtain Subscribers. — The best way is to
send for sample numbers. Any young man by can-
vassing his neighborhood, can easily make up a club
of five, ten or twenty, but no time should be lost in
doing so, for your neighbors may send east for their

paper which, though valuable there, is much less so
here, the diflference of soil and climate putting them
out of their reckoning when attempting to teach us
Western farming.

How TO Help. — The friends of the Illinois Far-
mer will find a prospectus in another column. We
desire to suggest a few ways in which they can use it
to advantage :

1. Show the Farmer to those who are unacquaint-
ed wi'h it, and tell them what you think of it.

2. Send for prospectuses, and put them into the
hands of those who will use them, and place posters
where farmers will see them.

3. Get post masters interested. They sec every-
body, and are efficient workers.

4. Send us the names of persons in your town to
whom we can send prospectuses and sample num-
bers.

5. Begin now, before the agents of Eastern pa-
pers get up their clubs. ■ ■

This last hint is especially in'portant, Let us
hear from you soon. See terms elsewhere.

j^T' Clubs may be composed of persons in all
parts of the United Stutes. It will be the same to
the publishers if they send papers to one or a hund-
red post offices. Additions made at any time at club
rates. We mail by printed slips, which are so cheaply
placed on the papers, that it matters little whether
they go to one or a dozen offices.

^§^ Correspondents will please be particular to
give the name of the post office, county and State.

^^^•"Specimen numbers will be sent gratis, upon
application.

^^^ Address

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

Springfield, Illinois.

Special Notice. — For terms see prospectus on
last page. All exchanges and communications for
the eye of the editor should be directed to Illinois
Farmer, Champaign, Illinois. Electrotypes and
business matters, and subscriptions, to the publishers,
Springfield, Illinois. Implements and models forex-
amination should be sent to the editor. The editor
will, so far as it can be done personally, test and ex-
amine all new machines and improvements submitted
to his inspection. He will be found at home, on his
farm, nearly all of the time. So far as it is possible,
the conductors on the Illinois Central Railroad will
let off passengers at his place, which is directly on
the road, three and a half miles south of the Urbana
I Station, now the city of Champaign.

JT^=FT^^

62

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

Feb.

EI^XJIT TJREES,

Having largelj increased my variety of

NURSERY & GREEN HOUSE

STOCK,

I am now prepared to fill orders for

PBTJIT & ORNAMENTAL TREES,

A new and complete assortment of

Grrapes, StraAvberries,

Raspberries, Ouri-aiits,

And all other kinds of

SMALL FR ULTS.

Also — A Full Assortment of

GREEN AND HOT HOUSE PLANTS,

FLOWER A^'D VEGETABLE SEEDS,

Bouquets and Cut Flowers,
GOLD FISH,

and all kinds of

Omamental "Woi'k:.

All orders addressed to

J. S. COOK,
Box 1029, Oin. O.
■will receive prompt attention.

Seed Store, 197 and 199 Walnut st.
February, 18G4. 4m.

O TV L "4^

TWENTY - FIVE CENTS A YEAR.

THE CULTURiST,

A handsomely illustrated monthly Journal, devoted
exclusively to

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

Specimen copio? furnished without charge. Ad-
dresFEditor and Publisher,

A. W. SPANGLER,
No. 25, North 6th st.,
Feb., 1364— 3m* Philadelphia.

AGRICULTURE WAREHOUSE

AND

SEED STORE.

Has one of the best selected stock of implements
aadseeds to be found in the West.

A. H. HOVET,
Novtf 1862 No. 194, Lake at., Chicago lU.

6 ROVER A BAKER'S SEWING MACHINES
were awarded the highest premiums at the fol-
lowing State Fairs of 186."^, for the Beft Family
Sewing Machine, the Best Manufacturing Maehine,
and the Best Machine Work :

NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Double Thread Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

VERMONT STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Maehine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

IOWA STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

MICHIGAN STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
Fiist Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

INDIANA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

KENTUCKY STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Beautiful Maehine Work.

OHIO STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine Work.

The above comprises all the Fairs at which th«
GROVER & BAKER MACHINES were exhibited
this year. At nearly all of them the leading Sewing
.Machiues were in competition.

The GROVER & BAKER S. M. Co. are the only
parties who manufacture and sell Machines which
both SEW PERFECTLY and EMBROIDER PER-
FECTLY.

GROVER & BAKER S. M. COMPANY,

jaal8 64-ly

115 Lake Street, Chicago.

T

IHE AMERICAN HOG TAMER-

Invented by Reuben Hurd, a farmer of twenty-
seven years experience in Illinois.

My Tamer will stop any hog on earth from rooting,
from a pig to an old hog by one simple application.

By any one sending three dollars to Reuben Hard
at Mor-ison, Whiteside county, 111., he will receive
one free of freightj and 1 will warrant them to give
perfect satisfaction, or money refunded.

To those sending : Please name the railroad sta-
tion you wish them shipped to, as I keep a constant
supply on hand, and will be able to fill all orden
with promptness and dispatch.

Directions for using will accompany all orders,

REUBEN HURD.

Nov. 1, 1863— 6m.

SWrt.^Ji^'s^---

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

63

EVERGREEN SEEDLINGS.

A very largo stock of superior grown Evergreen
Seedlings, at less than one-half the Eastern Prices.

FEB 1,000.

Norway Spruce, two years old,
three to five inches, $5,00

Norway Spruce, three years
old, six to nine inches, $8,00

Scotch Pine, two years old,
three to five inches, $7,00

AusTRiAsr Pine, two years old, $2 per 100.
Balsam Fir, Red Cedar, Arbarvit^e, &c., Ac,
oflarge or small size, at very low rates.

A large stock of CONCORD GRAPES, one of the
best varieties for the West.

A large stock of RED DUTCH CURRANTS, the
best for market, two to three years old, at half the
isual rates.

STANDARD AND DWARF PEARS, of well
tested varieties, together with a good assortment of
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, &c., A.
Send for Catalogue. ROBT. DOUGLAS-

Wackegan. III. tf

IDunlap's ISlxjirseTy.

This nursery has good atock of apple trees of all
ages and of choice varieties for the west, low heads
and staeky. The genuine " May Cherry," (Kentish
or Enrly Richmond of Downing,) Dwarf and Stand-
ard Pears, the Purple Cam. Raspberry, the best of all
raspberries for the farm ; Lowton Blackberry, Hough-
ton Gooseberry, Grapes, Strawberries, Ornamental
Trees and Plants. An immense stock of Silver Leaf
Maple, from $5 to $15 per 100, 6 to 10 feet high. The
green house is well stocked with roses and other bud-
ding out plants. This stock is grown to retail and
not adopted to the tree peddler,as all trees and plants
are large, staeky and thrifty, and intendedfor the
planter only. Terms cash with low prices.

Address, M. L. DUNLAP,

Champaign.

March 1, 1863.t.f

TO GRAPE GROWERS.

The subscriber has a large stock of the most vigor-
ous growth layers of the following desirable varieties,
which ho will sell at very low rates, to wit:

CONCORD $55 per 1,000.

A few thousand of bearing age, of large size at

$75 fer 1,000.
These will produce a good crop the second ye:ir. |

HARTFORD PROLIFIC, $10 per 1.00, or |

ton for a dollar. |

REBECCA, $10 per 100. !

DIANA, $10 per 100

The above will be well packed, |

to go any distance.

Terms — "ash, or approved bank paper o

short date.

JAMES SMITD.

Desmoines Iowa, Jan. 1, 1863.

^\^ANTED.
KNITTING MACHINES.

Every Farmer to know that his " Women Folks
can earn $6 to $20 per week with one of Akin's Cele-
brated Knitting Machines. It will earn its cost in
thirty davs. Price complete $75. Weight 45 pound.
Freight from 50 cents to $1 00. Send for circular
and samples, (send stamps.)

BRANSON & ELLIOT,

General Agents,
Apr '63 ly 120 Lake street, Chicag(t,Ill.

B I. O O BII NG TON NURSERY

r.LOOMTNGTON, ILLINOIS.
Eighty Acres Fruit and Ornamental Trees.
OAA NAMED SORTS TULIPS, ALSO UYACINTH-

aUU Crocus, and a general aRSortmont of Bulbs , ^
and Flower Roots for Fall and Spring ptanting.j
Nursery stock. Evergreens, Greenhouse and garden*
plants— all at wholesale and retail at lowest cash

JtSf-Yor narticulara see Catalogues or address snbBcribri

K. K.PBKENIX.

Bloomington, 111., Aug. 1, 1S59.

"p OSS, THOMPSON & CO.

(Successors to G. S. Thompson.)
CAPITAL PEI^SION & BOUNTY AGENCY.

OFFICE OS WEST SIDE OP 6tH STREET,

Opposite State House, over L. Greeble's Clothing Stor«
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

BOUSTY AND BACK FAY, PENSIONS, RECnUlTINC
CLAIMS, CLAIMS FOR HORSES LOST IS
SERVICE, ARREARAGES OF PAT
PIJE RESIGNED OFFICERS,

ic, <fcc., Ac.

Our experience and acquaintance with the details
of business in the various departments, and the per-
sonal attention of one member of the firm at Wash-
ington, afford us every facility for the prompt collec-
tion of all classes of military claims.

If you have any claims of any description against
the government, give us a statement of the facts, and
we will tell you what your rights are in the case." A
I letter of inquiry may save you much trouble, expense
I and perhaps loss. All communications enclosing a
I stamp for return postage p romptly answered. In-
I formation gratis. No fees charged until money \s
\ collected. Charges low. Pens.ions for $5, as regula-
I lated by act of Congress. Address
' ROSS, THOMPSON & C©..

I Capita Pension and Bounty Agency, Springfield, HI.

! dec63-tf

STANDAKD

SCALES

OF ALL KINDS.

Also, Warehouse Truckfi, Letter Presses, <tc.

FAIRBIiNRS, GREEN LEAF & CO.

172 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO,
sold in Springfield by ^ ^ ^^^^^

Be cuefnl aod bay only the genuiue. junel-1/

■>%"

64

THE ILLINOIS TARMEK.

1864.

A MONTBLY JOURNAL OF

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

PUBLISHED AT

srmxaFiELD, - - iLimom,

BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

M.

AND IS EDITED BY

L. DUNIiAP, Tribune's Rural.

TKI'.MS IN ADVANCE.— 11 ii yoar; two copies 1 5C; five
cjjjies $"; ten copies $6, and one to getter up of the club
twenty copies $10.

It is uot neeeasaoy that the club should all be at one office
— wo send wherever the members of the club may reside

The postage on the Farmer is only three cents a j-ear in
the btate of Illinois, and six cents out of it.

Specimens numbtrs sent free on application.

Subsc.iption money may be sent at the risk of the pub-
lisher.

Exclianges and communications fur the eye of the Kditor
should be addressed. Iiuxtis Farmed, Champaign Illinois.

All business letters are to be direc.ed to the publishers,
Springfiidd.

TERM.S OP ADVEhTI--IXG:

1 mo. 3 mo. C mo. 12 mo.

One page, or two columns 8 $20 $35 $50

Halt ii page or one •• 5 12 20 3o

uno I'uuith page or half colnmn.. S 7 12 18

One eighth or one fourth •• ..2 4 7 10

Ouo 'square of ten lines 12 4 7

Card of live lines one year $S 00

Ten cents a line for less than a square each insertion.

All worthy objects advertised, and those of importance to
the larnier will receive, from time to time, iuch editorial
notices as the Editor may consider them worthy of, without
add tional charge.

Implements and seeds to be tested should be sent direct
to ttie Kditor, at his residence .Champaign.

Wo have put the price of advertising within reach of all.
It will enable those who like to freely advertise their goods,
t* do so at a cheap rate.

Terms, cash. Yearly advertissrs will pay semi-annually,
and all transient advertisements must be accompanied with
the cash to insure insertion.

BAKEh & PHILLIPaS, Publishers. ^rT?
Springfield, Ills."

THE ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL

XS ( ONFi' F,\.1»LY O FKllEU TO THE I EOP; E OF
Illinois as the best and most reliable news, political
md I'DUiniercial paper within their reach. It is published
•t -piuigfieM, the Capital t.f the f tate, and is the medium
f all official notices, published by State authority. Partic-
ular atteiiticai is given to commercial affairs and every
.lumber contains copious reviews of the markets in the
i.rincipal cities.

TEUMS:

One copy one year J2 00

Ihree copies one year 6 00

Sis " " V 50

Ten " " 12 00

Twenty" *' . •••• .20 00

Payable always in advance. Pernouu sending clubs of ten
and upwards shall be entitled to an extra copy.
Addreis BAKER k PHILLIPS,

Sprin^firld, Illinoia.

Sanford & Mallory's Flax and Hemp
Machines.

These celebrated machines are on exhibition and
in operation in a building adjoining the Chicago Su-
gar Refinery. For circular telling all about them,
price, &c., address NELSON STILLMAN,

General Agent, Chicago, 111.

P. 0. Box 5823. Mayl'GS.ly

A GOOD INVESTMENT.

ONE THAT PAYS.

THE

"PRAIRIE PARMER,'

Has now been published in Chicago, 111., for twenty-
two years, without intermission. It is devoted to the
Producer's interests, treating of

GENAllAL AGRICULTURE,
STOCK RAISING,
HORTICULTURE and POMOLOGY,
And DOMESTIC ECONOMY generally.
The Publishers' aim will be to give such informa-
tion and assistance as will enable the farmer to grow
the largest crops with the least expense, and what is
equally important to assist him in securing the

LARGEST PRICES

the market affoids. by giving such reliable informa-
tion that is obtainable eonceining the markets at
home and abroad — the cost of forwarding produce to
market, and other attendant expenses — thusenablinjr
the producer to take advantage of the conditions of
the market in dispensing of his produce.

FORM OF PAPER. f

The paper consists of 16 pages large quarto, mak-
ing a convenient size for binding and reference. A
full index is given at the end ol each six months.

CONTENTS.

About five pages are devoted to Gereral Agricul-
ture ; one to two pages to Horticulture ; one page to
Literature ; two or more pages to General War Mis-
cellany and News ; two pages to Markets and Rec-
ord of Season, and asking and answering questions,
and general editorial items.

A portion will also bo devoted to Advertisements
of such character as is appropriate to an Agricultural
paper.

DR. GEO. H. DADD.

This celebrated Veterinary Surgeon will contribute
regularly to the Faumer, giving especial attention to
the answering of questions and giving information
upon matters interesting to stock growers.

A NEW VOLUME

Commencing January 1st, 1863, and the present time
affords the best time to form clubs for the year.

One copy oi.e year $2 00

Two copies one year 3 00

Larger clubs furnished at liberal rates, or prem-
iums given where clubs of six or more are sent at
$1 50 each.

Specimen copies and show bills sent to any one
who desires them for examination or the purpose of
raising a club.

For sala by news dealers generally.

For samples or other information concerning ih«
paper, address

EMERY k CO., Chicago, HL

U-

LLIN0I8 Farmer,

YOL. IX.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., MARCH, 1864.

XO. 3.

DEVOTED TO THE

FAEM, THE ORCHARD AW THE GARDEN,

PUBLISIIED BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,
SPfilNGPIELD, ----- ILLINOIS.
IM. L. IDJJJSriuAJP, Editor.

All business letters should be addressed to the
publishers.

^iS^ExcHANGES and all matters pertaining to the

editorial department, must be directed to Illinois

rARiiER, Champaign, 111., as the editor resides at

that point, and is seldom at the office of publication,

from which he is distant over eighty miles.

%* For terms see prospectus and special notices in
advertising department.

March.

"When on the bough the purple buds expand
The banners of the vanguard of the Spring,
And rivulets, rejoicing, rush and leap.
And wave their fluttering signals from the steep.

Longfellow.

"With Marcli begins the active duties
of Spring — the first putting forth of
the muscles of the year. "With us the
buds be'gin to swell, the grass sends up
its tiny blades in the sheltered nooks
and swale like meadows. The spring
wheat and barley must be sown, and
towards the last of the month the oat
crop and the flax must be put in. The
grass and clover seed is sown, and large
preparations making for the great sta-
ple, corn. The orchard, the small

fruits, shrubs and plants must be set
during this and the following month.

If we do not lay the foundation of
the year's crop with care during this
month, we may not expect to succeed
during the remainder of the year. It
is in getting a fair start, that will enable
us to keep up with the seasons work.

JSTorth of this, little can be done un-
til the last of the month, bevond ffettina:
ready, as the land is often in the hands
of Jack Frost, but hereaway, there is
seldom any impediment to the plow
after the tenth of the month.

The canes of the raspberry should
now be cut back, before they commence
their annual growth. If you want im-
proved berries, do not neglect this work.
The very old wood should be cut out
of the currant bushes, bilt keep your
knife and shears out of the gooseberries.
In England and north of 44 '^ , where
the sun shines as through smoked glass,
it is well to thin them out for heat and
air, but in our climate this will ruin
them; hetter give them shade and thick
bushy tops, than the English mode of
treatment.

This spring we intend to ridge up for

strawberries, and plant with a view to
cut off all the runners. The ridging
can be done with Staftbrd's cultivator
or any one that is arranged to throw
the earth to the center of the row.

Amid the sowing and planting of
spring do not forget the small fruits —
currants, gooseberries, strawberries,

itiii^

tt7i^\fi^i'-ii''Aii^ft'i-i I "i

3,

■:;'^j,;..--;.»;^ia.-ifc'-«a»£.jfe<:„,^.--.i.-.:.||-'-j iliViiftiiiiiriiir^iiii'iiiiiiiiiiai'i

6Q

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

March

raspberries and blackberries. You bad
better let the orchard go another year
than to leave out of the garden these
great healthgiving fruits, so desirable
during the heated term of summer. If
you cannot plant more than half a doz-
en trees, have three of these the Kes-
wick Codlin, and three May Cheny,
(Early Eichmond,) as both of them Avill
fruit early and abundantly.

In planting potatoes the last of the
month, cover them deeply, say three to
four inches. The Early York and Ne-
shannock are the best sorts, Mathevrs
Earlv Blue is also good. In the cen-

t; CD

tral and South parts of the State we
cannot recommend any of the late
growing sorts, such as the Carter,
Peach Blow, Garnet Chili, Pinkeye,
or English Fluke. The slow growing
late kinds, in this climate grow too slow
to be good, and we have settled down
on the early, quick gTowing sorts ; of
these the most valuable for the main
crop is the Neshannock. In looking
over the New York market report for
several years we have observed that
this potatoe has continued at the head
of the list for a uniform high price.
"While it is not the best potato for spring
use, bntits good size and smooth sur-
face, destitute of deep eyes make it a
favorite with the good housewife.

Among early cabbages the Early
"Winningstadt bears a high place.

In the culture of tobacco, we should
by all means employ the hot bed, in
which to start the plants. The crop
will be a month in advance of that
grown in the open ground, and in part
out of the way of the tobacco worm, as
the plant will be so far advanced that
the worms will have less effect upon it.

Cotton planting received a severe
check by the drouth and frost of last

year, but we are not disposed to give
up the idea that it cannot be grown as
far north as this point. We have no
idea that it will do as well as farther
south, but at present prices, we can af-
ford to take something of a risk. The
Tennesse green seed is the only variety
that has thus far proved of any value
in this State. The Chinese seed im-
ported by J. N. Griswold, Esq., of the
111. G. W. E. E", proved a failure, as
we do not hear of a single instance of
the seed germinating.

We do not expect to see either cot-
ton or tobacco planted this month, but
we give the hint that it may not be
forgotten in April. We have a bushel
of the green seed, to make trial of, in
the hot bed, parties wishing a few seed
can have them by sending a stamped
envelop, or the seed can be had at Cob-
den at twenty cents a bushel.

-»•-

Manufacture of Sorgho Syrup.

The sorgho question to a great ex-
tent has been monopolized by patent
evaporator men, and those having seed
for sale. An immense amount of puff-
ing, if not downright lying has been
done on their account. Instead of a
detailed history of facts, we have had
a surfeit of sorgho literature or book
culture, from Wray and Olcott down
to the present time, in "^hich has been
sandwiched now and then a fact.

Nearly every new enterprise has to
pass through the hands of sharpers, and
the slow process of incubation, as the
children do with the measles and
whooping cough, or for the calf to go
through the grades of yearling, two-
year old, three-year old, and finally is
of suflficient ag^ to be crowned with the
yoke and bows, and at once becomes
the useful ox.

BWIv^t^rr' '

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

67

These different stagos may not be
necessary in tlie progress of introduc-
tion, but there is a class of men who
never let an opjDortunity pass, and like
the loafer who hangs around some re-
cruiting station, watching his opportu-
nity to introduce some new recruit to
the ofiicer, in hopes of obtaining the
coveted fifteen dollars ; so this class of
men, wait around the nucleus of some
new enterprise, in the hopes of sharing
in the money that may be expended to
develop it, or to place ii among the ne-
cessities of the ao-e.

Sorgho has been the child of fortune,
since its first introduction ; a perfect
godsend to this class, who yet run it
with cheap rollers, wonderful evaporat-
ing pans, sell seed of unquestioned pu-
rity and of surpassing virtues.

It is time we had a chano-e of base,
so as to place this valuable staple in its
proper relation to the producer and the
manufacturer.

In the first place, when the seed of
this cane was presented to the people
of the West through the Patent Office,
the first idea promulgated in regard to
the making of sorgho syrup was that
each farmer should own a crushing and
boiling apparatus, so as to work up his
crop. Fancy soon built , fortunes, and
a grand rush was made, that put the
enterprise back at least three years.
From a hundred shops came these do-
mestic fixtureSjStamped as patented, and
of course supposed to be useful, Wood-
en rollers or cheap, light cast iron ones
M^ere used for crushing, or rather capa-
ble of wringing out half the juice, with
pans of the one horse kind to reduce it
to syrup, all of which were valuable as
a six dollar cider press, or a garden
engine at a village fire.

It is a well attested principle, that a

farmer should only be a producer of
farm products, and not a manufactur-
er in the'general acceptation of the term.
It is true that during the leisure of win-
ter that he might make a few dozen
broomp, repaii his implements, or get
up his beehives, but to attempt to man-
ufacture his raw products on a large
scale — to work up his wool, to reduce
his corn to meal, or wheat to fiour, is
simply absurd. With no more proprie-
ty can he work up his sorgho crc>p, the
cost of which is equal to producing and
delivery at the mill. And yet the in-
terested pan men and the roller men
have generally fugled him into the idea,
that this is the only true road in which
to succeed.

At an early day we saw the absurdi-
ty of this plan, and have advocated the
policy of sorgho mills on a large scale,
at points where steam or water power
could be cheaply applied.

At all stations where corn is shelled,
the cobs supply an excellent and cheap
fuel for either the fire pans or steam
boilers. A thousand bushels of corn
will furnish five tons of cobs, equal to
the same weight of IlHnois coal. This
source of fuel has been nearly overlook-
ed, and thousands of tons of cobs thrown
out to rot in the streets. During the
shelling season these should be stored
in sheds from the weather.

The slack or coal screenings of our
coal mines, are another source of cheap
fuel, where the cost of transportation
is not large. To use this coal the fines
and fire grate require a little more space.

The farmer should either sell the
cane to the manufacturer at the market
price, or have it worked on shares. At
present the the latter plan is gradually
adopted, but will undoubtedly give
place to the former. The manufacturer

':ny_

68

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

Maech

liaving both capital and skill, will be
enabled to obtain a better price than
the farmer, as his products will be of a
more uniform quality, and holding it in
large lots can the better supply the
dealer, or ship to distant points.

Of course the large outlay for cheap
fixtures will go for old iron, and the
cost of the experiment fall upon the

li'arraer.

The making of maple sugar is quite
another thing, for neither the trees nor
the sap can be transported to distant
points for the reduction of sugar. The
process is cheap and simple, while that
of sorgho needs a powerful pressure to
extract the juice, large settling vats and
clarifiers, with expensive steam appa-
ratus for boiling and other fixtures, the
sum total of which, amount to several
thousand dollars, say six to eight thou-
sand for a crop of four to six hundred
acres ; an outlay of fixtures, the interest
of which would swamp the whole pro-
duct of a sugar orchard.

One of the most complete if not the
best establishments for the making of
sorgho sirup, is that located at St.
Johns on the Ill'nois Central K. R., 286
miles south of Chicago, and owned by
the Illinois Central Coal Mining Co.,
and under the Charge of A. W. ]S"ason,
one of the principal owners.

These works are substantial and con-
structed with a view to use rather than
show. As Mr. I^ason has no other in-
terest in the mill than its use, no pat-
ent men to pufl:' and no seed to sell at
speculating prices, we can rely upon
his estimates.

We spent a day with him in looking
through the establishment, and taking
notes for the benefit of our readers.

Parties intending to go into the busi-
ness, would do well to take a look at

this mill before deciding on their plans.
The main building is 35 by 60 feet,
with eighteen feet posts and lighted in
the roof. Attached to the south side
and flush with the east end is a shed
for cane, also 35 by 60 feet. An end-
less apron runs through this shed to
carry the cane to the rollers, each twen-
ty inches in diameter, and three feet
long. The cane is placed on the apron
to the depth of four inches, and is run
through in that manner.

This mill is capable of crushing the
cane from eight acres of heavy cane a
day, or not less than one hundred and
sixty loads a day. It requires three
men to feed the mill. Here the labor
ends, steam taking the place of manual
labor.

The hegasse is carried by another
endless apron to the opposite side of
the mill, and elevated into carts, whence
it is hauled for mulching, or left in
heaps to rot. No leaves had been strip-
ped from the cane last fall. Some twen-
ty head of cattle and the same number
of mules were being wintered on the
legasse with the addition of a small
amount of the seed. Had the cane been
stripped and fully matured we doubt if
the hegasse would have been of any val-
ue for feed in this way. When other
fodder is abundant we would prefer the
legasse on our meadow or in the orchard,
where it would be of more value, espe-
cially for the latter uses.

The engine is forty horse power, per-
haps more than is required for crush-
ing, elevating the juice to the iron tank
above and running the fan to force cold
air into the steam pan and cooler, but
an extra boiler is required to supply
steam for the boiling which must be
run at a pressure of seventy pounds.

Of course a mill can be made of a

W^W^'-

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

69

much less capacity, but it is probable
that this size will be found the most
economical, as its capacity is six to
eight acres of heavy cane a day, and
from the middle of August to the mid-
dle of November, say one hundred
working days of ten hours each, six to
eight hundred acres of cane can be
worked. Allowing an average of two
hundred gallons to the acre, we would
have over 20,000 gallons of sirup for
the season's work. This at 20 cents a
gallon for the use of the mill will make
the pretty little sum of four thousand
dollars a year on an investment of six
thousand. Mr. Nason estimates the
vinegar will pay the whole running ex-
pense of the mill. This estimate was
made, when highwines the chief ingre-
dient used in vinegar making, ruled
much lower than at present. In mak.
ing 5,000 gallons of syrup there was
200 barrels of vinegar from the skim-
mings. In domestic practice it is well
known that the skimmings are thrown
away and this source of profit lost.

The boilers are placed under a shed
on the north side of the house, thus
leaving the whole interior for working.
The rollers are horizontal and placed
on the ground floor, under which is a
large vat for the juice. From this vat the
juice is pumped to the upper story into
a large tank,firstit runs into the heating
and clarifying pan, then into the set-
tling tanks, from which it flows into
the steam pan, where it is reduced to
syrup, from this into the cooler, and
lastly into the barrel, which is on the
ground floor near the rolls. In all this
arrangement, the saving of labor is care-
fully considered.

From the large tank the juice is
drawn into the fire pan. This pan is
twenty-seven feet long and four and a

half feet wide. The sides are horizon-
tal as is also the end next to the arch,
while the other end is more sloping for
the purpose of skimming. Coal screen-
ings or what is called slack or siftings
from the coal mine is used to heat this
pan, which is near a dozen feet frojii the
ground floor. This is clowly heated
when the scum rises, and by the ebuli-
tion is thrown back to the hind end of
the pan, where it is easily skimmed off".
The saving of labor in skimming is one
of great importance, and at once throws
all other pans into the shade. At the
end of the pan is a trough connecting
by a spout with the vinegar tank, into
which the skimmings find their way,
thus keeping the floor and ground clean
and tidy ; and here is one great point
gained, instead of the filthy, sloppy
condition of the ground around the
pan, which is so often seen in domestic
practice — this filthy stuff is made to
pay the running expense of the estab-
lishment, and is in no way obnoxious
to good taste. The boiling is continued
until the juice is reduced to fifteen de-
grees £eaume, when it ^s run into the
settling tank, two of which are used.
At this stage lime is added to correct
the acid. After remaining a few hours
in these tanks the juice is then run into
the steam pans, drawing from and filling
ing the settling tanks alternately. This
steam pan is sixteen feet long and five
wide, and made on the same plan as
the fire pan. The steam coils in this
are arranged transversely across the
pan and are of brass. Under these
coils which are raised three or four
inches above the bottom of the pan, are
several led pipes some two inches in

diameter, and which were perforated

with a row of small holes on the under

sides. These lead pipes are connected

70

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

March

with a fan that forces cold air throngli
them, thus keeping the boihng liquid
at a comparatively low temperature and
aid in the evaporation. When the sir-
up is reduced to a proper consistency it
is drawn into the cooler, on the bottom
Of which is several coils of lead pipe as
described above, by which the hot sir-
up is rapidly cooled, thus preventing
any danger of scorching or imparting
to tlie sirup a burnt taste, so common

to all samples in domestic use.

This plan of forcing cold air into the

boiling s irup is not new in sugar mak-
ing at the South, but is believed to be
the first instance in which it has been
applied to the boiling of sorgho sirup.
By tho use of the blower the color of
the^sirup is improved, making it of a
clear amber, and it also prevents any
sediment settling on the bottom of the
pan, as all impurities are forced to the
surface and thrown back to the slonino-
end of the pan and skimmed oif. The
skimmings run into a tank directly un-
der this pan, where it settles, and the
liquid is drawn off. One gallon of

this pure liquid makes three of vinegar.
To prevent the steam from the pans

filling the building with its unpleasant
odor, they have covers or lids that close
all but the end where the skimming is
done. These are hung with pullies, so
as to bo easily handled ; over the open
end is suspended the mouth of a large
wood ventilator flue, which conducts
all the offensive matter out through the
roof, thus relieving the entire building
of the odor arising from the fecculent
matter, and the steam that would con-
dense on the roof and be constantly
dripping down. The building is thas
kept dry and pleasant at all times, and
free from that sloppy condition that so
often renders a cane mill a very un-
pleasant place.

The water for cleaning tanks, pans,
etc., is elevated into a large tank near
the roof, and is carried through hose to
the point where it is needed, thus giv-
ing it great force, to wash out such im-
plements as are required.

The reader will see that in this mill
the labor is comparatively light, the
whole is clean and neat, while a supe-
rior sirup is made.

Labor is economised in every part,
the cane goes direct from the wagon to
the endless apron, or is stored along
side of it where no extra hauling is re-
quired. The hegasse goes into the cart,
is hauled out of the way and dumped
in the usual manner. The juice is pump-
ed to the highest point, from whence it
is drawn at easy stages until it arrive?,
in the barrel, on the ground floor ready
for market. The labor of skimming is
reduced to a mere trifle, as the form of
the pans is such as to throw all the im-
purities to one end, in the act of boiling,
when with the aid of a wooden hoe it
is scraped out into the trough that leads
to the vinegar tank.

The mill cost six thousand dollars
and is capable of working up six to
eight acres of heavy cane a day. The
quantity made last fall was 5,000 gal-
lons from 250 acres of cane plant-
ed, or twenty gallons to the acre,
to which is added two hundred barrels
of vinegar. The drouth and frost com-
bined to nearly ruin the crop.

The barrels used are made of Don-
gola of cypress in the same manner as
those used on the plantations of Louis-
iana.

We might further extend these
notes on the manufacture of sorgho, but
have not the time at our disposal. Our
object is to place the manufacture of
sorgho sirup on its proper basis, by

FJ:'?

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

^

taking it from the kitchens and sheds
of the farmers to the well regulated sor-
2;ho mills that must be erected to sup-
ply the demand. Of the culture and
varieties of seed we shall next treat.

-••»-

Fruits for Egypt.

Notwithstanding the valuable labors
of the State Horticultural Society at
Alton and previous meetings, we pro-
pose to have our say in regard to the
fruit list of Egypt, and trust ourself to
the tender mercies of the orchardists
of that section to see that we have a full
hearing and a fair field, before we are
turned over to our enemies, the ped-
dlers and amateur nurserymen. We
do not ask any great favors of these
parties, for like leeches on other impor-
tent interests, they must be fed, clothed
and have their being ; not that it is ne-
cessarv to the advancement of the
orchardist, but that like barnacles to a
ship, they will still cling to it, and as
soon as one lot is scraped ofi:' another
gathers on. "We are an orchardist ra-
ther than a nurseryman, and while we
grow large in the first capacity, we de-
crease in the latter. We have long
since come to the conclusion that the
world was made a trifle too large for
any one person, though some people of
rather mature age hug the folly that
they can grasp it without diflBculty, but
to the list of fruits, and first of

APPLES.

TheEai'ly Harvest has a well earned
reputation, and would receive more
votes to-day throughout the State than
any apple of its season. The reason of
this rests upon its previous reputation
rather than its merits as compared with
others. The Red Astrachan is the bet-
ter apple for the orchardist, and will

return him more dollars nett profit. —
The tree is hardy, a good grower, bears
large crops, like the Early Harvest al-
ternate years, and being showy and of
red color, will sell better in a distant
market, as the bruising does not show
so badly as that of the Early Harvest.
Red June may be put down as next
in value.

Sweet apples are little wanted at the
season of early appL's, as the appetite
at that time craves the acids. Yet a
small quantity can be sold from the
stands, but the kitchen demand is limi-
ted. Eor a cooking apple the Keswick
Codlin has thus far proved valuable,
but as yet it is too little known to assert
that it is positively the best, although
those who have it give it this reputa-
tion.

Autumn apples are of little value in
that part of the State to the orchardist,
as he must be the first and last in mar-
ket, leaving the middle season to his
more northern neighbor to supply the
demand of late summer, fall and early
winter. Si these remarks we are con-
fined strictly to the supply for distant
markets :t— the north for early summer,
and the south for late winter. The up
country furnish the supplies for late
summer and fall to the south.

The best fall and early winter apple
is doubtless the Buckingham, next in
order is Tellow Bellflower, American
Golden Russet, Smith's Cider, Wine-
sap, Ben Davis, White Pippin, White
Winter Pearmain,Rome Beauty (prom-
ises well), Rawle's Janet, Willow Twig
and Little Romanite for spring cider,
Pryor's Red is a good but not a profit-
able market apple, Newtown Pippin
must give place to White Pippin
which is good on all soils. Sweet apples
have not been sufficiently tested as yet

T2

THE ILLIFOIS FARMER.

Maech

to make up a list. It is probable that
time will prove that other varieties are
equally valuable, but to those who wish
to be positive, to plant an orchard that
will not fail them, to keep within the
above list.

PEAKS.

Doyenne de Ete, Osband's Summer,
Belle Lucrative, Bartlett, White Doy-
enne, Louise Bonne de Jersey, (Flem-
ish beauty rots at the core,) Duchess
de Angouleme, Swan's Orange, and
Yicar of Winktield, may be classed as
the best on a dozen years trial.

GEAPES.

Isabella and Catawba rot badly, Del-
aware has not proved satisfactory in all
situation, Diana promises well, as also
Concord. What eftect it may have to
put a shelter of say a foot wide over the
top of the trellis wg cannot say, but
have hopes of it.

STRAWBEEKIES.

Willson's Albany in the timber land
of Egypt is the berry for market. The
longdistance and time required to reach
the north, give this berry the advantage
of all others on account of its keeping
qualities. •

TOMATOES.

The apple tomatoe is the only one
now planted for market.

PExVCHES.

Hale's Early promises to be the ear-
liest by some four or five days, and is
being largely planted. Troth's Early,
or as some suppose, Haine's Early and
Galbraith seedling are the same and
not distinct.

Cole's Early Red, Coolage's Fa-
vorite, Honest John or Large Early
York, Early Crawford, OldMixon Free,
Late Crawford, with Smock and Heath
Cling, follow in the season as named.

and make up the best possible collec-
tion for market.

These kinds are more particularly
selected, because they seldom rot on
the tree, while manv sorts otherwise
equally good are of no value on account
of the rot. This remark holds good
also in the case of the apple.

The Pet Plant.

A florist a sweet little blossom espied,
Which blossomed, like its ancestors, by the road-side;
Its sweetness was simple, its colois were few.
Yet the blossom looked fair in the spot where it grew.
The florist beheld it and cried, "I'll enchant
The botanical world with a sight of this plant;
Its leaves shall be sheltered and carefully nursed.
It shall charm all the world, though I met with it first
Under a hedge."

IIo carried it home to his hot-house with care,
And he said: '•Though the rarest exotics are there.
My little pot plant, when I've nourished its stem.
In tint and in fragrance shall imitate them.
Though none shall suspect from the roadside it came;
Rodum-sidum I'll call it — a beautiful name —
While botanistslook through their glasses and view
Its beanties. they'll never imagine it grow
Under a hedge."

This little pet plant, when it shook oil the dirt
Of its own native ditch, began to be pert.
And tossed its small head, for perceiving that none
But exotics were round it, it thought itself one.
As a wild flower ail would have owned it was fair,
And praised it,though handsomer blossoms were there;
But when it assumes hot-house air?, we see tlirough
The forest tints of its hues, and suspect that it grew
Under a hedge.

In the byways of life, oh ! how many there are
Who, being born under a fortunate star.
Assisted by beauty or talent grow rich,
And bloom in a hot-house instead of a ditch;
And while they disdain not their own simple stem ;
The honors they grasp may gain honors for them ;
But when, like their pet plant, such people grow pert.
We soon trace them to their orig inal dirt —
Under a hedge.

Wonders of the English Language.

The English language must appear fearfully and
wonderfully made to a foreigner. One of them
looking at a picture of a number of vessels, said :
" See, what a flock of ships." ■ He was told that a
flock of ships was called a fleet, but that a fleet of
sheep was called a flock. And it was added for
his guidance in mastering the inaccuracies of our
language, that a flock of girls was called a bevy,
that a bevy of wolves is called a pack, and a pack
of thieves is called a gang, and a gang of angels is
called a host, and a host of porpoises is called a
shoal, and a shoal of buifuloes is called a herd, and

P?^^-««(^-:

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

7«

a herd of children is called a troop, and a troop of
partridges is called a covey, and a covey of btau-
ties is called a galaxy, and a galaxy of ruffians is
called a horde, and a horde of rubbish is called a
heap, and a heap of oxen is called a drove, and a
drove of blackguards is called a mob, and a mob of
whales is called a school, and a school of worship-
pers is called a congregation, and a congregation
of engineers is called a corps, and a corps of rob-
bers is called a band, and a band of locusts is call-
ed a swarm, and a swarm of people is called a
crowd, and a crowd of gentlefolks is called elite,
and the elite of the city's thieves and ras-
cals are called the roughs, and the miscel-
laneous crowd of city folks is called the
community or the public, according as they are
spoken of by the religious community or secular
public. — Ex.

For the Illinois Farmer.
Durability of Willow.

Bloomingdale, Dupage Co. Ill, Feb. 9, '64.
M. L. Dunlap, JEsq., Dear Sir :

In answer to your inquiry in regard to the wil-
low trees on the creek bottoms, I have to say that
the posts lasted only from six to seven years, while
the rails appear very durable. These willows are
fast growers : on examination of the stumps I find
they have thrown up from four to eight sprouts
each, and which are now four to ten inches in di-
ameter and fifteen to thirty feet high.
Yours truly,

C. E. KiNNET.

— The trees alluded to grow along the margin of
Mecham's Creek, a small stream that runs through
Mecham's Grove. The most of thom were about a
foot in diameter, but one that stood out near the
edge of the prairie had been broken off -by the
wind some twenty feet from the ground, and was
two and a half feet in diameter three feet from
the ground. It is now about twenty years since
these willows were cut for fence posts and rails,
and it is probable that the heavy thicket of alders
and other dense swamp growth have retarded the
growth of the willow sprouts. It is also probable
that willow grown in a more open aspect would be
more durable for fence posts.

We wrote to Mr. K. for the purpose of ascer-
taining the durability of the swamp willow, so as
to form some conclusion in regard to its value for
posts. We have not supposed that it would make
a durable post unless kianized in some way. The
soft woods unless resinous are not very durable
when set in the ground. Had all the sprouts but
one at each stump been rubbed off, the young
trees would now compare very well with the origi-
nal in size, but not in hight, as the old trees were

very tall and of very equal growth for thirty or
forly feet before they formed the top branches. —
We trust that farmers who have waste places and
odd corners will plant them to the willow ; the
timber will be wanted for fencing, for firewood
and other uses. We do not expect to see a steam
sawmill on every section to saw up willow logs,
but we do expect to see willow extensively used
for firewood and other purposes. — Ed.

For the Illinois Farmer.
Grafting the Cherry.

Crete, Will Co., Feb. 18, '64.
M. L. Durdap, Esq., Bear Sir :

The May cherry scions came to hand in good
time, and up to this date I have set 1,800 grafts.

We have an abundance of the common Morello
cherry here for stock, but which are otherwise
worthless except for shade Many of these trees
are twenty years old. Three years since I grafted
two of these trees standing in my yard, which were
four inches in diameter, by cutting ofi'some of the
larger branches and inserting some twenty grafts
in each tree, of the May or Early Richmond cherry.
The second year or in June last, I picked a peck of
nice cherries from these two trees. This was quite
encouraging for the second year. For several
years large numbers of the finer kinds of cherries
have been sold here, while from the high price of
the Early Richmond few of them have been pur-
chased. But none of these finer cherries have
proved of any value, and we now depend upon the
Richmond entirely.

Last spring I set for my neighbors 1,600 grafts at
the rate of §3 00 per 100 and warranted them. I
have now contracted to set some 5000 at the same
price and have made a good beginning. I find no
trouble in budding the one and two year old
shoots, but the bark is too thick on the larger
branches. On the whole I prefer the grafting. —
This grafting of these otherwise worthless Morello
stocks and making them produce good crops of
cherries, will be worth thousands of dollars to this
part ©f the county, and is creating no little excite-
ment. I think my mode of grafting a valuable one.

Yours truly,

D. Cornish.

— For the past two years we have been making
an effort to introduce the May cherry, as being for
our climate the only one of any value that we have
yet had on our grounds. We are gratified to see it
becoming popular. We have seen hundreds of
trees that had been purchased for this variety, of
trae peddlers, both from the East and of our home
grown peculators, in fact some of our nurserymen

74

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

Makch

yet have it a little mixed, having purchased the
Early May cherry, of New York, and the Early
Montmorency under the name of the Early Rich-
mond. This cherry is called the "Kentish" by
Downing and Thomas, Early Richmond by Elliott
and others. In Kentucky, Southern Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois, it is known as May cherry, from the
fact that it ripens the last of that month. Here it
ripens the lOtli of June. It belongs to the Morello
f.imily and should be worked on Morello stocks.
With us it is of little value on either the Mszzard
or Mahaleb stocks, and we have ceased to work
on them. Those on the Mazzard die out in a few
years, while on the Mahaleb they make slow
growth and produce poor crops. The Morello has
the bad habit of sprouting, and is very objection-
able on that account; but if set on land plowed a
foot deep, and set rather deeply, we find less trou-
ble with it.

This cherry has proved a sure crop from its first
introduction into the north part of the State, near-
ly twenty years since. — En.

teJ

It

Winter Meeting

Of the Executive Committee of the Illinois State Ag-
rtcroltural Society.

The time fixed for the meeting of the Board was
Tuesday, Jan. 5th, but owing to the great snow
storm which seriously interrupted communication
by railway throughout the whole State, and entire-
ly blockuded it throughout the northern half for
several days, there was not a quorum present.

The Farmers' Convention engaged the attention
of all who were here until noon of Jan. 8th, when
it was deemed advisable to organize the Board and
proceed with such matters of business as could not
properly be deferred to a sub.sequcnt meeting —
such action as might be taken, to be subject of
course, to review in full Board.

Accordingly at 2 o'clock p. m., President Van
Epps assumed the Chair and called the Board to
order.

On motion of Dr. Kile, calling the roll and read-
ing the minutes of the last previous meeting were
dispensed with.

By consent, Dr. Shrceder, of Bloomington, read
his statement on Market Gardening, illuitratinghis
practice of that art, at the conclusion of which the
Corresponding Secretary read the statement of S.
W. Arnold, of Cortland, DeKalb county, on the
same subject.

After hearing these statements the premium of-

fered by the Society for the best Market Garden
was awarded to Dr. Schroeder, $20.

Suggestions made by Dr. Schroeder in the course
of his statement and the remarks accompanying it
directed the attention of the members of the Board
to the propriety and necessity of inaugurating
some movement for the purpose of encouraging the
immigration of the industrious laboring population
of Europe to this State, and accordingly the Cor-
responding Secretary prepared and submitted a
preamble and resolution, which was unanimously
approved and adopted.

Premium on Apple Orchards awarded to S. R
Hurd, Sangamon Co., III. $15.

On Motion of H. S. Ozburn, Board adjourHed to
9 o'clock, A. M., to-morrow.

9 o'clock, A. M., Jan. 9, 1864.
Board met pursuant to adjournment. On mo-
tion of A. B. McConncll, the subject of awarding
premiums on Essays was taken up, and after read-
ing the essays presented, the following awards
were made :

On "The In-door Adornment of Home," to Mrs
John R. Woods, Upper Alton, III., premium $10.
On same subject, by Miss Sarah E. Rumsey, Man-
teno, Ills., and another by Mrs. Frank C. Edwards,
ofWoodburn. Ills., were highly commended and
the three were ordered to bepubjished in next vol-
ume of transactions.

On the breeding, rearing and management of
swine, to H. C. Smith, of Ridge Farm, 111., premi-
um, $10.

Iliscellaneous. — On "The Education of Farmers'
Daughters;" by Miss M. E. Murtfeldt, Rockford,
highly commended and ordered to be published in
the transactions.

Grape Wines. — Best three bottles of Catawba, to
Dr. II. Schroeder, Bloomington, 111., $10; Best
three bottles Isabella, to same, $10; Best three
bottles from any other grape (Delaware), $10.

Fruit Wines. — Best Strawberry Wine, Thos.
Bradbury, Pike county, $3.

Vinegar — ^Best six bottles Vinegar, S. R. Hurd,
Sangamon county, $3.

Miscellaneous. — Best Morello Cherry Wine, Thos.

Bradbury, Griggsville, 111., $3,

The last named exhibitor had a large number of

samples of domestic wines on exhibition and de-
serTes great credit for his enterprise and energy,
but unforuunately many of the bottles containing
the samples had been used for purposes which se.
riously affected the flavor and quality of the wines.
There were also exhibited, by Mr. Eisenmyor and
Mr. Engleman of Mascoutah, St. Clair county, 111.,
samples of Catawba, Concord and Norton's Virgin-
ia Seedling, wines, which were pronounced superior.

PlPy #15^^.

1864.

THE ILLIKOIS FAEMER

75

to those or Dr, Schroeder, but not being in compe-
tition they could not receive premiums. The Board »
however, highly commended them, and expressed
the hope that these gentlemen will make a full dis-
play next year.

On motion of E. H. Whiting, the awards on
Farm products, Dairy Products, Sugars and Sirups
were postponed to next meeting, with permission
to all who wish to do so to yet make entries and
forward them samples.

The following resolutions were on motion of Mr.
Whiting adopted :

Resolved, That the Board hereby tender to Prof.
C. D. Wilber, Secretary of the Illinois State Natu-
ral History Society, their thanks for a copy of his
map of Illinois, just published and embodying geo-
graphical, geological, topographical, meteorologic-
al, botanical and statistical information of great
value to farmers and other citizens not to be found
elsewhere in a form so convenient for reference.

Resolved, That we fully appreciate and commend
the eflferts of the Illinois State Natural History
Society and its Secretary, Prof Wilber, to diffuse,
by means of popular lectures, publications and oth-
erwise, a correct knowledge of the mineral and
other resources of this State.

On motion of Dr. Kile,

Resolved, That the annual exhibition of this So-
ciety for 1864, commence on Monday, Sept. 12th,
and continue six days at Decatur.

On motion of Mr. Ozburn, the Board adjourned
to meet at these rooms on the 1st day of March
next. John P. Reynolds,

Cor- Sec'y 111. St. Ag'l Soc'y.

Agricultural Rooms, Springfield, Jan. 9, '64.

From the Country Gentleman and Cultitator.

Farming "Long Time Ago,"

Every observing man who has been for the last
sixty years upon the stage of action, must have
seen farming in all its simplicity — where the far-
mer had no resource to renovate his soil but his
own scanty barnyard manure, and even of the val-
ue of that he was imperfectly informed.' It is not
many years since the use of clover was first intro-
duced— that of gypsum soon followed ; the effects
of the last struck every one with surprise, particu-
larly when applied to the former, and it was really
thought by those who observed it that no other
renovator of the soil would be necessary. But
time has since developed that great as it was and
is now the benefit of gypsum, yet it requires not
only constant renewing, but cannot supersede the
application of stiible manure, and successful farm-
ing now requires an augmentation of the list to an
almost indefinite extent.

If we remember rightly, our list of fertilizers
thirty-five years ago extended very little if any fur-
ther than the two substances already mentioned i

and gypsum was especially required to the growth
of clovci ; so too it was then a principle in farming
to task the soil to the utmost capacity to raise
wheat and corn — if we could ; and if we could not
to try rye, buckwheat and oats. We followed a
rotation of crops not to enrich the soil, but to im-
poverish it ; not to enrich ourselves, but to trust
alone to our own luck and the bounties of Provi-
dence. And who does not remember the slow
proeess when the harvest was gathered with the
sickle, followed by the use of the half cradle.—
That, however, wa's before the time we now speak
of, and the cradle as a harvest tool has not for ma-
ny years been very generally used. It is a tool,
however, of modern times, and its use was princi-
pally confined to this country.

The plow and the harrow were then almost the
only farm implements used for the cultivation of
the soil — the former made of wood, but shod with
iron, the latter clumsy and imperfect. The potatoes
grown were red and watery — no other kind was
known — it was hardy and strong to the taste, and
not very productive ; as to the different kinds of
seeds sown, sufficient care was not taken in the se-
lection, and much of it was unclean.

The farmers' cattle were of the ordinary common
kind ; a few valuable for milk, but none peculiarly
so for the carcass. Common horses were raised in
unknown numbers, and we have seen the whole
side of many a large barn, consisting of hor.^e sta-
bles, filled with them from one end to the other —
the consequence was that the horses emptied the
bam of hay and grain at the approach of spring,
and the cattle the straw. The first was an unpro-
fitable animal ; they were raised at a ruinous loss.

Such was the course of farming when our land
was cultivated by slaves ; it was an old adage that
"the hogs ate the corn and the negroes ate the
hogs." All this was literally true, as we have of-
ten been witness of the fact. Could our farmers
by such farming be otherwise than poor ? Could
they be otherwise than indebted for many of their
annual and family expenses * And do not all know
that many farms' in those days were encumbered
with mortgages ? The persons of capital at that
time were professional men ; they were considered
the gentlemen of leisure, respectability and char-
acter. These were the halcyon days of the profes-
sion, when that class of men monopolized not only
almost all the wealth, but the respectability of the
whole community. Living under a free government
where every man has the full benefit of all his fac-
ulties, and "can own the land he tills, if by industry
he will earn it — within the last few years the mind
of the farmer has been directed to the improve-
ment of his condition, and to raise himself by ed-
ucation, intelligence and industry, to a higher, if
not the highest rank in society. What is the first
step he takes to do this ? He wisely frees his
slaves, and turns his sons from the taverns, the
race-course, and the haunts of idleness and vice,
where formerly most of their time was spent — to
take their turns at the plow ; to sow in season ; to
work in harvest, and to lay up for him stores for
winter. This was a great step, and a thousand
blessings have followed its train. He looked upon
his condition as a farmer. It was work without
profit— labor without reward. What next ? He
brings into action the thinking mind, and natural-
ly asks himself— cannot the intelligent mind be

76

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

Maech

called to aid the industrious hands to the improve-
ment of my class, and relieve me from debt and
embarrassment ? c. n. b.

— We need not go back to th» "long time ago"
to see samples of poor farming, but can find it in
abundance among those who came from the slave
States, where too often the son graduated at the
tavern, the turkey match or the raffle. There la-
ber was only fit for the nigger, and the sons must
be brought up in idleness though thej fed on corn
bread and bacon, and were clothed in butternut
homespun.

In the south part of this State at this time, there
are hundreds of refugee families from the slave
States ; the most of these live, the Lord knows
how — work, they will not. Had we a choice, we
should prefer the negro to these grandee gentle-
men, who in most cases have left their country for
their country's good. All parties agree in the fact
that the sooner they leave the State tlie better. —
Had these parties been brought up in industrious
habits they would be welcomed as a valuable class
of new comers ; now the whole population ask how
and when they can get rid of them. Farmers from
East Tennessee, as a general thing, are intelligent
and industrious.

From the Country Gentleman.

Cattle Fastenings.

I have noticed several articles in the Country
Gentleman discussing which of the several ways of
fastening cattle in the stalls is the best, consulting
at the same time the convenience of the herds-
man and the ea-e of the cattle. Of course all the
different modes have their advocate?, and each
kind of fastening has its good and had points. —
None are more convenient for tlie herdsman, or
more easily worked, than the stanchions each side
of the neck of the animal, fastened with a latch at
the top. With this kind, and a raised floor four
feet ten inches wide, with ju-t descent enough to
let the urine pass off, while the excrements will
mostly fall on the offset, cows can be kept quite
clean. With ropes or chains cows wnll crowd for-
ward the length of their tethers to eat ; then back
up and lie down in their droppings, which, to the
milkman, is not very desirable, although it gives
ease to the cows.

In tying young cattle by their horns the rope
will make an indentation, which will disfigure the
growing horn. S. E. Southland, of Jamestown,
N. Y., had a patent cattle fastener at the State
Fair at Utica, which appeared to obviate the diffi-
culty attending the present stanchions with latch-
es. There are stanchions each side of the neck of
the animal, with a latch at the top hanging on a
pivot, which allows them to swing forward eight
inches when the animal rises, and an oscillating
motion to the right and left of six inches each
way at the bottom, which had the appearance of
relieving cattle very n.uch when compared with
unyielding stanchions. The expense of making

them must be more than twice as much as perma-
nent ones, which may prevent their early adoption.

Hiram Walker.

ro

Indiana Horticultural Society.

Through the kindness of George M. Beeler, Sec-
retary, we are in receipt of a copy of the transac-
tions for the winter meeting held at Indianapolis.

Mr. Beeler has presented an interesting report
of the doings of the society, and the printers have
served it up'in good style. We would like to copy
a large part of the report, but must be content with
drawing a few facts from it. The President's ad-
dress is an able one and we cannot resist the
temptation to copy a couple of paragraphs :

CANADA THISTLE.

" Before passing on to other topica, and lest I
may overlook it, I desire to call the attention of
nurserymen who purchase their propagating stock
of roots, plants, evergreeens, &c., at the East, to
beware of the Cattada TJdstles. This pest of pests
infests, I am told, many of the nurseries of the
East to a most alarming extent, who bow are sow-
ing it broadcast over the West by sending out trees
and plants, especially evergreens with thif^tle plants
and pieces of roots attached, every one of which
grow. The bolls containing seed are alse sent out
in the straw with which they are packed. Beware,
then, of whom you buy your trees, etc. Go in
person, and see for yourself and don't touch a tree
or plant if you see a single stool of thistles on the
grounds. Comparatively few persons in Indiana
know what the Canada Thistle is. Those familliar
with its character, it is unnecessary to admonish ;
to others, perhaps, it is suflScient to say that its
presence in a neighborhood reduces the value of
farms at least one-hnlf, and can only be sold to
those not f imiliar with the villainous character of
this worst of all noxious weeds or plants at any
price. This pest is regarded with so much horror
that legislation is being had in the Caiiadas and in
the Stales w^hcre it abounds, to preveat its further
spread. Let this Society do its duty then, by
sounding the note of alarm, and prevent its intro-
duction as far as possible into our State.

FRAUD AND MISREPRESENTATION.

It has been said that this was a progressive age.
It is essentially so. It is also a 'humbugging' age.
There never was a time in the history of this coun-
try when there was such a mania for novelties. It
is a truth that with all their shrewdness and saga-
city, the Americans are the easiest people in the
world humbugged. To say nothing about the de-
ceptions practised with the various other fruits, I
will only incidentally, without going into particu-
lars, allude to the unmitigated swindling that has
been practised upon the country by the introduc-
I tion of an endless number of new varieties of
j grapes, not a few of which have been sold at fabu-
j Ions prices, when they were not worthy of a place
I in the forest, from which in many instances they
were taken.

|VU .^J^KHIHWpiS'fl'.yji's

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

ft

I will not undertake to enumerate the frauds
practiced — they are well understood by you all —
but let this suffice, that of fifty or mote new vari-
eties introduced, not a dozen are really acquisi-
tions to the old varieties, But the people are mad

they are crazed upon the subject. They must

have grapes, and grapes they shall have, and they
can scarcely have too many if they only have the
right kinds. But I know of a per.-on who would
have made a profitable investment if he had joined
our Society, attended our last annual meeting, and
donated $100 to the Society for the information he
might have received. However, it is too late for
him — he has purchased his information al a much
dearer rate. So it is with hundreds of others who
are paying the penalty of their neglect. Neverthe-
less there are others yet to plant. Thousands of
acres will be planted in Indiana within the next
few years ; and the proceedings of this meeting are
looked for with interest by many who are prepar-
ing to plant quite largely, as well as those who
plant but a few vines, to see the drift of the dis-
cussions and the varieties recommended for gene-
ral cultivation. Let us look well to this matter
then, and see that wo mislead nobody. I think we
can with this past year's experience, speak posi-
tively in regard to some new sorts that we have
hesitated about heretofore.

Yery many of the new varieties are equally as
good, perhaps, as the older sorts, and ought not to
be rejected because they are not better. Others
should be cast overboard and the men who intro-
duced them held up to public execration. They
ought, in fact, to be indicted and sent to the peni-
tentiary for obtaining money under false pretence
and misrepresentation.

But whatever else we do — however anxious we
may be to introduce and encourage the growth of
all new and valuable sorts, whether of grapes or
other fruit, let us not recommend any variety for
general cultivation imtil every doubt is removed.
Then we shall have nothing to regret, nothing to
take back. We have thus far gone on slowly and
cautiously with our recommendations, and with a
few unimportant exception?, none could desire
a change that cannot be readily made, if we make
the geographical division of the State that has been
suggested. And if we go on thus carefully we will
establish a list of fruits that will be of invaluable
service to the public, besides the satisfaction to
ourselves to know that our labor has not been in
vain."

HOW TO SECURE APPLES.

Pick from the trees by hand, and put in a basket
that is hung by a hook to a branch near you ; these
are sorted — all the large, perfect ones put in a bar-
rel ; the next sixe of perfect fruit in a second bar-
rel, and the culls go to the bogs or for vinegar. —
Apples of a size always sell better than if several
sizes are in the same barrel. The barrels are to be
laid on their sides instead of the ends, as the pres-
sure is less on them. Some apples need to be kept
in rather tight barrels, and others need more air ;
the Winesap does better in open bins — it is liable
to be covered with fungus if kept excluded from
the air.

TAEIETIES.

The Belmont was highly spoken of — Mr. Nelson
would name it the most valuable for a single vari-
ety. We have found it hardy, productive and val-
uable on the prairie, and have planted it largely.
Gen. Orr, who is an old orchardist, said :

" I have experimented for twenty-five years in
keeping apples, and I believe the best way is to
barrel and lay them on their sides. There is little
danger of upples freezing if kept dry. They will
not freeze when open to the air until the thermom-
eter indicates 24 deg. When my apples are bar-
reled I leave them in a cool place until it is 12 deg.
below the freezing point, and then remove them to
the cellar. Winesap does better on the shelf, as
it needs more air than it gets in barrels. Rhode
Island Greening is rather tender, but we cannot
well do without it. It is not a long keeper, and
the tree should be top-grafted. In making a list
for planting one hundred trees, I would begin with
Early Harvest and Red Astrachan ; then Sweet
Bough, as the best early sweet apple. Maiden's
Blush is good for drying, is a great bearer and will
last as long as any of the fall app]c.=. Fall Pippin
and Rambo come next. Among the best is West-
field Seek-no-further. No one thinks of doing
without if. Vfindsap come in after Rambo, and
it is in Eeason from that time on till March. The
only drawback is that it will wilt if kept tightly
headed up. The trees bear too full sometimes. —
Rhode Island Greening and Prolific Beauty are my
next choice. Newtown Pippin scabs badly, and a"
large per cent, must be thrown out to make it sell
in market ; but it can't be dispensed with as an am-
ateur fruit for March, although a person using it in
December would say it was of no account. Lady
Apple is nice for March and April, but it is very
liable to scab. Yellow Bellflower does well with
me, and I believe it does generally all over the
country, but it is more of an amateur apple, as it
is tender and easily bruised, and therefore not good
for market. I do not consider an apple so good
after having been frozen. Persons must know
when an apple ripens to judge understandingly of
its qualities. Some people will use their spring
apples in December and January, while they are
endeavoring to keep their late fall and early winter
apples until March and April."

Mr. Lowder, of Hendricks. (In answer to a
question.) The White Pippin is perfectly hardy in
an orchard where Rawles' Janet has died. I con-
sider the tree and fruit both, as first rate — bears
every year and is one of the best keeping and mar-
ket apples.

Mr. Yancamp. I know trees of this variety
which are the best in the orchard and the fruit is
the same. It is always of uniform size, free from
scab and is a great bearer and deeper."

We have stated, a year or two ago, that our
Hoosier friends were planting the White Pippin
in place of Newton Pippin and White Winter Pear-
man. Wherever we have seen the White Pippin
it has given the most unbounded satisfaction. The
list of apples thus far recommended are : ..

" Autumn Seek-no-further, Yellow Bellflower,
Red Astrachan, Early Harvest, Sweet June, Tren-
ton Early, Benoni, Early Red Margaret, (or red

78

THE ILLIJS^OIS FAEMEE.

March

Stripe of Central Indiana,) Maiden's Blush, Eambo
Fall Wine, Belmont, (North of National Koad,)
Winesap, Jersey Black, Pryor's Red, (South of the
National Road,) Westfield Seek-no-further, (North
of National Road, Smith Gidor, Bawles' Janet,
White Pippin, Ganfield (for cider,) C.iyuga, Red
Streak (or 20 ounce »pple,) Keswick Codlin, Sweet
Bough, Ben Davis (or New York Pippin.")

APPLES RECOIIME.N'DED.

Summer Rose, Fenley, Porter. Dyer, Fall Queen,
Jonathan, Ladies' Sweeting, Broadwell, Winter
Sweet, Paradise, London Sweet, Pippin, Swaar,
Green Sweet of the West, Indiana Favorite, Gol-
den Sweet, Pickard."

CIDEB.

"The Society took up the 'cider question,' and
called on Wm. H. Ragan for remarks.

He said that the apples should be of good, rich
varieties, gathered and put into open slicds until
they are "somewhat ripened, and the weather is
cool enough so that the cider will keep without too
much fermentation. They should be carefully as-
sorted, all rotten and inferior specimens discarded
before grinding. He would recommend grinding
from twenty-four to thirty-six hours boibre press-
ing, as the quality and quantity of the juice will

thereby be greatly improved and increased. It y
should be filtered through several thicknesses of
cloth to take out all particles of apple or other
substances. Put into new barrels, (none other
should be used,) and put away in a good cellar. It
will be necessary when it begins to ferment to open
a small hole in the barrels to give it air: When it
is done fermenting close this hole and it will remain
cider as long as you keep it in a cool place and
air tight.

Mr. Fisher, of Wabash. I don'^t think cast iron
should be used in grinding apples. I always press
as soon as ground and strain through straw. The
larger the quantity in casks the belter it is. Fill
full and let it ferment. The time it demands de-
pends on the weather. The bitter will disappear
during fermentation. The casks must be always
kept full. A cask containing four barrels will work
off four or five gallons. In filling up the casks
care should be exercised so as not to disturb the
bottom. The gas will work off in four weeks, when
the cider will be very clear and will keep for two
years.

General Orr. I use small, sound, juicy apples and
make as late as possible. He uses Winesap and
Harrison, but believes Hewes' Crab to be better
than either of them. He is not particular about
having them stand after they are ground, but gen-
erally presses at once and strains through straw.
The barrels must be clean and purified by being
smoked thoroughly with sulphur ; when entirely
settled draw off into a clean barrel, leave the bung
open and keep it filled up. When it has fermented
to suit the taste put in sulphate of lime in propor-
tion of one ounce to four gallons of cider. Leave
it a week and again draw it off into a clean barrel,
put in two pounds of raisins and eight or ten lb?.
of sugar, bung up tightly and leave it until spring,
when it is to be bottled. In answer to a question
he says the sulphate leaves a slight taste, but the
advantages of this method overbalance that. Con-
siders it the best wuy he has yet tried. Don't like
large apples of any kind. The finer the apples are
grated the richer the cider will be. Considers it a

wholesome drink and second only to water, espec-
ially in warm weatlier. Uses it freely in the har-
vest field. It has a tendency to decrease the de-
sire for water, and believes in"its use on philosoph-
ical principles. It is a common practice in Europe
for stage drivers to rub and drench their horses
with hard cider or vinegar to induce a less use of
water.

Mr. Ragan. My cider keeps through the summer,
especially that made from the Hewes' Crab. Some
other kinds will not keep so well, as they have not
body enough. I think Gen. Orr is mistaken in mak-
ing .'uicinexs a requisite for a cider apple, because
the very Best we have, viz : the Harrison, is deci-
cedly a dry apple.

_ Mr. Jones, of Wayne. — I once made a barrel of
cider from sweet apples in August for immediate
u#e. Only about one-half of it was immediately
consumed, and at the end of ten days, on going to
the barrel, I found the remainder to" be No. 1 vin-
egar, in point of fact, it was as good as I ever saw.

PEAliS.

White Doyenne, Rostiezer, Winter Nelis, Vicar
of Winkfield, Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Scckel.
Belle Lucrative, Stevens' Genesee, Julienne.

PEACHES.

Crawford's Earl
low, Serrate E
Mixon
E

arly, Crawford's Late, October Yel
arly York, Old Mixon's Cling, qm
[ixon's Free, Early Barnard, Morris' Red Rarerine
ariy Tillotson. Cole's Early Red, Roval Kcnsing'
ton, Druid Hill, Late Heath Free, George thelVth

Concord,

Smock.

GRAPES.

Hartford Prolific, Diana, Delaware
Catawba, Herbemont, Clinton.

GRAPES FOR WINE.

Catawba, Concord, Clinton, Delaware Herbe-
mont, Ives, Madeh-a, Norton's Virginia. '

CHERRIES.

Early May or Early Richmond, Belle Ma^rnifique
May Duke, Late Duke, Early Purple|Guino-e, Reore'
Hortense, Governor Wood, Belle de Choisey.

STRAWBERRIES.

Triomphe de.Gand

"Wilson's Albany,
Washington.

Iowa

or

RASPBERRIES.

Purple Cane, Catawissa, Ohio Everbearing Doo-
little's American Black Cap." °'

We should^have been pleased to have met 'our
Hoosierifriends but the cold weather and blocka-
ded trains interposed too serious obstacles to at-
tempt.— Ed.

The Apple Crop of Monroe County.

As many of our readers are not aware of the ex-
tent and importance of the apple crop of this
county, and the vast trade in this fruit, we have
taken considerable pains to glean the statistics
from the dealers and shippers in this article. It
has been a work of much labor, and has taken sev-
eral days of inquiry and research. We think the
figures in the main will be found correct. It ig
possible that the names of a few of the dealers
have been omitted, although we have endeaTored

■i"HP!pu,i

^^wws?r-7»r'i*'^?*^^^T?=r^?^r^!F'^^^.'

'X ";_^r-i^.:5r'

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

n

to procure all in the city. It is estimated that
over 100,000 barrels of apples have been stored
for winter use, and perhaps 50,000 more kept for
spring sales. This, with those sold, makes a total
of 525,000 barrels of apples grown in this county
during the present year. Worth the princely sum
of §853,120. The entire apple crop of this county
for the past year, has probably reached a value of
not less than $1,000,000 ! The crop has been sold,
a large portion of it, in New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington. Large quantities have
also found markets in Boston, Hartford New Ha-
ven and other New England cities. Forty or fifty
thousand barrels have been shipped to Montreal,
and several thousand barrels to Toronto, thus af-
fording an immense freight traffic to the Ontario
line of steamers.

The prices realized have been quite satisfactory
to the producers, and much above the average of
former years. A large proportion of the early
fruit realized $2 per barrel. The price of winter
apples has ranged from $1 50 to $1 '75 per barrel.
The heavy, crop and ready demand for applc^? has
Ftimulated the barrel trade, and our barrel manu-
facturers have received high prices for all they
could manufacture. At times the demand for bar-
rels has far exceeded the supply, so that shippers
have been obliged to procure barrels elsewhere.
Large lots of the latter were brought from Canada.
The price of barrels has ruled from 33 to 50 cents
each, with 40 to 45 cents as the average. The
whole number of barrels of apples s^hipped from
this county is 3*75,500. We doubt if any county
in the United States can show a greater amount of
sales. In fact we think Monroe county beats the
world, not only in the extent of her nurseries, but
also in the production of fruit.

The Orleans Republican of Albany, gives the to-
tal sales of apples from the county at 278,000, and
challenges comparison with any other county in
the State, The sales from this county exceed those
in Orleans county nearly 100,000 barrels. The
garden county of the State is yet ahead, and de-
fies competition as a fruit growing county. Her
agricultural wealth and resources, the fertility of
her soil, and the vast extent and variety of her
productions cannot be exceeded in any section of
the country. — Rochester Democrat.

— The above gives us some idea of the value of
fruit growing in connection with farming. There
are few counties in the State that cannot make
more or less in this way, and in most of them cov-
er larger profits, as the price is much better than
at the East. — Ed.

How I Protected my Peach Trees.

In the fall of 1862 I had eight fine thrifty peach
trees, four years old the coming spring. I had ta-
ken great pains to "head "■ them low, (not more
than a foot from the ground,) and to " shorten-in, "
so in fact they were " regular pyramids, " about
five feet in diameter at the base, and eight feet
high. Now, peach trees in our vacinity are called
poor property, not having borne any fruit for the
last ten or twelve ■ years, I had observed that my
trees were " literally covered" with fruit buds, and
having heard and read a great deal about protecting
peach trees, I concluded to protect mine.

I bad heard from some source, that to lay them
down and cover them with straw or hay, was an
excellent method, so I would protect mine in ac-
cordance with this plan ; the way I did it is as fol-
lows : I took my spade and dug a semicircular
trench eighteen inches deep about two and a half
foet from the tree, cutting the roots that were in
the way. I then cut under towards the centre,
severing all the roots to that depth, (IS inches,) on
the trench side. I then pulled the tree over and
fastened it flat on the ground one half of the roots
unmolested, except being bent to conform to the
new position of the tree. I had a heavy stick of
wood across the branches to press them "down flut,
and then covered three or four inches deep with
damaged prairie hay. The roots that turned up
out of the trench I covered with earth thoroughly,
then a coat of hay over that, so that the tree was
covered entire. The way I protected the others,
excepting one is as follows: I put a rope with a
noose on one end, around the outside branches,
and drew them up to the centre of the tree, into
as close a bunch asj)Ossib!e, and tied them in this
position by means of crushed sorghum stalks, wet
SO that they could be tied. I then covered them
about two inches thick with w^heat straw, from the
ground to the tops laid on similar to thatching, and
bound with cru.>hed sorghum stalks. The other
one I left exposed. I accomplished all this myselj
in half a day. Now for the result. I had expect-
ed a rich return of lucious fruit the coming autumn,
but alas ! I was sadly disappointed. When the
balmy air and genial showers of spring had begun
to awaken sleeping nature into active life, I went
forth and divested them of their strawey coverings,
expecting in a few days to see them "covered"
with rose tinted promises of luscious fruit. Judge
of my surprise on uncovering them to find the bark
on the branches shriveled up and apparently half
dried. The buds were so dry that I could pulverize
them between my finger and thumb. The branches
had lost their fiexibiliy, and remained after being
disengaged, in nearly the position that I had bound
them. The one that I laid down appeared "all
right" when I uncovered and set it upright, but it
never opened a blossom nor started a leaf. So I
have the seven protected trees all dead, and the un-
protected one alive and doing well. It had a few
blossoms but no fruit.

There, readers, you have my experience in pro^
tecting peach trees. Will some kindreader inform
me why they died under this treatment, and oblige
a young farmer ?

North Henderson, Mercer Co., 111. Marion •

In Country Gent.

Scarcity of Nursery Stock — Ths Advance ik
Ageicultitral Products. — A writer in the Genese
Farmer says that a nurseryman from the West
was recently in his offiee, who eame to Rochester
to buy peach trees. He said that the nurserymen
here could not supply him. The^ had no more
than they needed for their own customers. He
offered $100 per thousand for them, but they were
not to be had. A few years ago they were bought
for $40 per thousand. Cherry trees are equally
scarce. The nurserymen anticipate lively sales the
coming spring.

As to the efifect of the war on agricultural and
other products, the same correspondent says : — I

■■■^

80

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

Makch

contended in the Geneve Farmer for Sept., 1861,
that if the war continued two or tliree years, prices
would rapidly advance. Some of my friends laugh-
ed at the idea. But " hi.story repeats itself, " and
it would he well for us all to heed its lessons. I
may be pirdoned for feeling a little proud of that
article, written when everybody thought we were
on the brink of ruin, and farmers sold their pro-
ducts for les^ than the cost of production. I was
offered corn that j^ear in Bloomingt )n, 111., for 0 ctj.
a bushel, cash, or for 10 cts. in "trade !" At Van-
dalia I was offered eggs at 3|- cts. per dozen, and
" the barrels thrown in !" .Potatoes were oifered
at 5 cts. a bushel, but found no purchasers !

From the Country Gentleman.

Which is the Best Bee-Hive.

Messrs. Editors. — As quite a number of the
bee-keeping readers of the Co. Gent, have address-
ed to me various inquiries on the subject of bee-
culture, I wish to avail myself of the use sf your
columns, not so much to relieve me from answer-
ing interrogatories severally, as an opportunity of
answering the general inquiries, that all who feci an
interest in the matter may judge for themselves.

One very general inquiry has been made, and
that is as to the character of the "hive that I use,
or whose p itetit hive is the bfst." I have used a
variety of hives contrived by different individuals,
and am acquainted with about all of the patented
features of the virious hives. If the beekeeper
expects to realize from this branch of ruarl econo-
my the greatest profit that it affords to skilful man-
agement, he cannot dispense with the use of mov-
able comb hives — in fact it is the only means by
which he can excel in this intercsing vocation.

The movable comb frame, the iscovery of which
renders to apiculture the only advantage — in the
arrangment of hives — gained during the present
age, is the invention of the Rev. L. L. Langstroth.
Simultaneous with this invention, and in America
long before it, fruitless attempts at rendering prac-
tical the moveable comb theory, was had in Eu-
rope; but to Mr. Langstroth are the public indebt-
ed, and to him justly belongs the honor of having
given utility and practicalness to the principle of
moveable c:jmb hives.

To those who are acquainted with patent right
affairs, I would say, challenging any and all for
proof to tho contrary, that all hives having mov-
able comb frames, no matter what may be the style,
size or peculiar features of the frame or arrange-
ment of the hive, it is substantially a "Langstroth
hive," and that irrespective of other claims to nov-
elty or patents granted, because it is for the use of
the moveable comb system, that is the essential feature
covered by his patent, and no two patents are
ever issued to different persons for the same, or
covering the same invention. Patents are granted
for additiojial improvements on former inventions,
but such subsequent issue, however, could not
grant the rigkt to vend or use what was embraced
or covered by the original and all prior patents.

Strange as it may seem to the uninitiated, the
hive that was awarded the " premium " at the N.
Y. State Fairin '61, '62, and' 63, inclusive, is a gross

infringement on, and a palpable counterfeit of the
Langstroth hive and patent. The contriver of said
premium hive, claims to different patents for it,
and a third patent pending, none of which relate
to the use of movable comb frames, nor does cither
of those several patents allow or grant him the
right to use or vend a movable comb frame of any
sort or kind in A's hive or in conjunction with his
patents. At those fairs, however, as elswhere, the
movable comb frames were displayed as the prom-
inent merit of the counterfeit hive.

But more strangely still may it appear when the
indicative fact is known that though this hive was
awarded the several premiums, no one of our sever-
al distingushed scientific aparians, among whom
is Mr. M. Quinby the prince of practical aparians
in this country, either commend it, use it, or coun-
tenance it in any way other than with contempt.

Mr. Quinby, who designed the best hive for and
in general use prior to the introduction of the
mcob frame, and himself the author of a very ex-
cellent treatise on the art of bee-keeping, approves
of no movable comb hive other than the Langstroth
hive with some slight modification of his own.

Mr. Quinby is the only person who has added
any utility to the "movable comb hive." Much
difficulty has been experienced in using the movable
frame, for the reason that bees do not uniformly
build each c;ird of comb correctly and separately
within each frame. To remedy this, very many
devices, several patented, have been tried with va-
ried success. This obstacle, however, is so com-
pletely removed by so simple a method discovered
by Mr. Q.'s ingenuity, as to entitle him to share in
the honor of giving to the public the eminestly
important advantages of the moveable system. His
method is to elevate the rear end of the hive, thus
inclining the frame lengthwise several degrees.
Tiiis should be done when the bees are first placed
on the stand after being hived, and remain in such
position until the combs are begun the whole length
of each frame. The writer has tried and proved
this method in his own experience, therefore he
commends it.

Thus much has been said on the arrangement of
hives, not with the intention to favor or prejudice
any inventor or invention, but merely to aid bee-
keepers who have not given the subject due atten-
tion, in a knowledge of the facts, to the end that
all may be able to distinguish without inquiry what
is valuable and what is worthless.

Tho writer hopes to continue in a future issue,
the subject of hives. C. J. Robinson, Richford,
N. Y.

A Short Chapter on Poultry^

It has been proven by many an experiment that
the keeping of poultry on a large scale cannot be
made profitable. When men come to count on the
profits of a few hens and calculate to receive the
same ratio of profits from three to five hundred,
they will be disappointed, for we believe there is
not an instance on record where these expecta-
tions have been realized, and there is a good and
valid reason for it.

1S64.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

CI

Cjl

You may provide for jour poultry everything
generally accounted necessary, such as grain, meat,
lime, ashes, good shelter, regular feeding, &c., &;c.,
and yet they will not do well. Poultry pick up
many a thing of which a poultry yard, even of one
or two acres, soon becomes destitute. Most vari-
eties are :dso pugnacious, more particularly the
males. Confining many hens in a poultry house
even with the utmost care on the part of the own-
er, will breed vermin, Hens will likewise quarrel
about their nests, no matter how plenty of nests
there may be, and so on to the end of the chapter.

As far as our experience and observation goes,
we think from ten to twenty hens a sufficient stock
in the sp: ing. Should you live any great distance
from town or market, it is not profitable to market
eggs after a very few weeks in the spring ; they will
hardly pay the cost of transportation.

The number of hens m.entioned above will fur-
nish all the eggs a family ought to consume, (for
although very nutritious, they are not accounted
very wholesome if partaken of every day, and as
some families are wont to do every meul, and pre-
pared by frying in fat,) and also furnish sufficient
for incubation. We do not consider it difficult
to raise a hundred chickens in a season and still
-have eggs enough for an ordinary family, from less
than twenty hens. You should allow one cock to
about twelve hens ; you should also change your
males often.

We like the cross of the Cochin, Shanghai or
Brama with our common barn-yard fowls. Such a
cross are not so pugnacious, do not scratch so
much in tlie garden, and are every way more do-
mestic. Tkey are also better nurses than the pure
of the above named breeds, attain a greater weight
than the ordinary kinds, and we think the meat is
more juicy than the former.

Turkeys can be made profitable where they can
have the" range of a piece of road way or pasture
and meadow. Three hens and a gobler are better
than a greater number. The black and bronze va-
rieties are esteemed hardiest and best. They will
mate about February or March. Take the first
litter of eggs and set under common hens ; the
turkey hens will soon lay again ; now let them
have all the eggs they can well cover, and set.

When the young are hatched, you should so di-
vide those hatched by the common fowls as to be
taken care of by the turkeys ; confine the small
chicks in a small pen, made of a few boards, on a
well covered grass plat, and change the pen every
few days. They should also have shelter in case of
storm." Feed bread crumbs and hard boiled eggs,
chopped fine. Avoid corn meal unless first baked
and soaked in milk. Young turkeys are very ten-
der, while the grown bird is very hardy. In pas-
' ture or meadow we think them very useful, because
they feed on and destroy innumerable insects,
while for "Thanksgiving," "Christmas" or "New
Years," they are a proverb and a by-word, and not
bad to take. They are almost the only bird Amer-
ica has contributed to the kitchen of the world.

To those who desire to keep geese, we recom-
mend the "Bremen" variety, because they are
white, which adds to the value of the feathers, and
are also larger. For ducks, the Cayuga is domes-
tic, large and of good flavor for the table. — Boek-
ford Register.

Farming in California.

No finer farms, orchards and vineyards c:m be
found in our State, than those of Nnpy (cuiu;..
The fine farm of G. 0. Yount, Esq., is oi)'' of ti^e
most interesting in the county, frojn t'::e Ciiily
associations of this venerable pioneer. V>'c hr.ve
often spoken of this place, its orchard and vineyard,
the fine flouring mill, and all its interesting asso-
ciations.

Oak Knoll, too, is one of the prominent fenti-rcs
of this county, one of the finest location^, and a
farm that, had the proprietor been perraimd to
live, would have been a model farm.

Oak Knoll Farm contains 1600 acres as fine Innd
as " lays out o' doors." The orchard coniain.s SO,-
000 trees — a splendid orchard. The air.ouiit of
packages of fruit sent to San Francisco, loNov. 1,
were 8,000. Seven and a half tuns of d.ioi f uit
were also put up at Oak Knoll this seaso>ii. The
farm produce for the large dairy stock is. SCO tons
hay, 50 acres of wheat, 10 acres of oats. The wheat
yielded about thirty bushels to the acre, oi-.ts ffty
bushels.

The dairy stock numbers 60 cows at present, in-
cluding 25 milkers. Some 150 pounds of butttr is
made a month, and the yield of milk, besides sup-
ply of farm, etc., is SO gallons a day. There are
seven full blood Ayrshires ; four of thcs'- were im-
ported, three as the increase. The stock is in gdod
order, the farm and orchard doing as well as can be
expected under the misfortunes and embarrass-
ments that have befallen it.

The farm is under the charge of Mr. At. drew
Bouton, the foreman, to whose care and attention
it is indebted for its present order.

When at Oak Knoll, on both occasions, we visit-
ed the tomb of Mr. Osborn. There beneath the
majestic oaks is the grave of him recently so full of
life and hope, even amid the storm clourls of this
world, that were howling around him. We stood
at his grave ; a neat white paling marked the spot.
Within its inclosure the hand of endearing aifeciir.n
had spread the earth with emblems of etfinitj;
the grave wa's beautifully covered with gv<;en, ar.d
upon the head of the grave was a cross mcii^ of ivy
and the berry of the snow drop. It was, and ever
will be beautiful in our memory, this grave of the
pioneer, hallowed by the hand of affection, ei dless
as eternity.

As we gazed upon this spot, and remembered the
orphaned children, and that widowed one, as we
looked upon that grave so tenderly guarded by her
care, it seemed to say :

Ever green shall thy memory be.

And I will bear my cross.
My life was thine. I lived for thoe.

Now daily mourn thy loss.

Among the farms of Napa which we visited, wa«
that of 0. Steinback, Esq. — a farm of 215 acres,
principally a grain farm. He has also some fine
stock. Mr. S. located here in 1859,has a very pleas-
ant residence, with fine scenery from every point
and with every desirable surroundiug to make ^

i" i '-hiiiri.iiiWkliitMliailitiii

??s?7^?!W!5

S3

THE ILLIIMOIS FAHMEE.

Maech

T,irn-perou3 farm, and a "happy home," save one, and
til t the jewel of all.

We notfd with great pleasure the completeness
of the niunageraent of this farm, as it was a proof
th it Mr. Stuinback wasa farmer from innate love
of it, uud'.Tstood what a farm should be, and had
managed so as to make it a prosperous one. As
an cvidciice that Mr. Steinback loves his business,
we s'ate wliat we saw, and think it proof of good
fanning.

lie h;>..s a large barn of 150 feet long, a large
ppi-iou-hay house, capable of holding 200 tons,
st.iblos for horses and stock ; blacksmith, carpen-
ter, and harness-maker's shops, each separate;
also buihliui^s for harvesting implements — of these
there v.\'re every kind, cleaned and put away in
order, witli all kinds of extra wheels, etc., to be
ready when wanted; added to all these is a smoke
hou-i\

On this farm was introduced the first steam en-
gine in CaKfornia. In the granary there was a corn
sheller, hai ley grinder, and every fitting and useful
tool and implement.

The residence was raised from the ground to
potectit fiom dampness. This home has a nice
libiary, with the papers of the day; and hanging
in the library is a handsome photograph of the
farm and building.^.

The g ird. n is small, but there is no hand to care
for tlie garden of a "bachelor." He has four hives
of bee*, wliich are emblems of industry.

The stock of the farm was all of extra quality,
including oxen, horses, etc. The work-horses
were specially fine. He possesses a noble Gen.
Taylor i'.nd Cheatham colt, and others of superior
exfellcnce.

The pleasure we experienced was great, and this
was increased by the cordial kindness and hospi-
tality extended in our young bachelor's home. We
sincerely t^ ust, as this is the ruling year for the fair
ones, tliat they will lay siege, or perhaps, they be-
ing of the gentler sex, rather than storm the castle,
th^y can take it by a better way, for it is a noble
farm, nobly managed, and highly creditable.

We liuve more to say of Napa farms and farm-
ing.— California Farmer.

Rhubarb Wine.

James Seelt writes from Caroline, Tompkins
County, as follows : " Is it not a fact that rhubarb
wine, so fir as profit is concerned, is established ?
If this wine possesses comparatively no intrinsic
merit, an 1 yot from it« cheapness and comparatively
liealthfu! nature supplies a common want without
jiractieally interfering with grape-wine manufacture,
should it not be recommended as likely to discour-
age the use of drugged and poisonous liquors ? Is
not the fact indisputable that its merits incite a de-
mand equal to the constantly and rapidly-increas-
ing manufacture, at prices leaving a munificent
margin of profit to the producer, and will it not be
some time before people familiar with the whole
matter will believe it a speculative juggle?

"It seems to me the best practical test of quality
Ihat tliL' consumer is satisfied. But it may be urged
thftt, to tho educated palate of the best wine judges,
com^iareu to the best qualities of grape-wine, it is
a nauseous, worthless compouad.

" Tho questdon may arise, however, whether they

are the best judges of the general want. There are
other considerations than mere taste, which go far
to decide the choise of the public, even if all pos-
sessed a like accurate discrimination.

"The difference of cost of grape andrhubarb wine
is an item to which no American is insensible. Add
to this the not infrequent depravity and morbidity
of taste which enables a large class of people to
endure the preparations called lager-beer, ale, &c.
and grape-wine is put at an exceedingly embarrassing
discount in the common market.

"Now, I have no pecuniary interest in the mat-
ter, not having engaged in its manufacture or sale ;
neither am I interested in grape-wine manufacture
pecuniarily. I say this because the seeming haste
used in the Club in condeming it tends to excite a
suspision that jealousy of a rival buisness, rather
than sound judgement, was paramount.

" I cannot, think, however, that any just ground
for jealousy exists, but rather the contrary."

John G Bergen — I recollect that Mr. Robinson
was one of the earliest advocates of the culture of
rhubarb for wine, and that he presented a bottle
to the Club, as American sherry, which was drank
by several who professed to be good judges, and
pronounced excellent, and that he then astonished
them with the assurance that it had not a drop of
grape juice in its composition. I should like to
know if he has changed his opinion ?

Solon Robinson — No. And, so far as I am con-
cerned, Ml'. Seely is mistaken in supposing that I
have condemned it. I have only condemned the
dishonest representations of knaves who sell roots
of "the wine plant, " representing it as something
peculiar, and the only variety that will make wine,
which they know to be a lie. All of the cultivated
varieties of the common garden "pie plant " (rhu-
barb) will make this kind of wine and one about as
good as another. One sort may afford more juice
than some other, and for this it is probable that
Gaboon's seedling, which is a coarse, strong-grow-
ing sort, would give the greatest yield per acre.
And speaking of seedlings reminds me that it is not
necessaay to go to the expense of getting roots to
establish a rhubarb plantation for wine-making.
Buy the seed and grow the plants, and if you do
not get "Linnaeus" or "Victoria" you may get a
seedling equal to either, or better than Gaboon's
Downing's seedlings, or at any rate you will get
cheap plants that will afford juice and save you
from being cheated in buying " wine plants, "
which, perhaps, you already have growing in your
garden.

Of rhubarb plants, a beverage can be made to
take the place of cider, in sections where apples
have entirely failed; as is the case in Northern
Vermont ; and also where grapes cannot be ripened
for wine, and in such localities, I recommend peo-
ple to plant rhubarb, but do not be cheated by
wine-plant peddlers. They are humbugs not the
plant. N Y Tribune.

Cornish Mode of Baising Early Pota-
toes.

Sprouting the seed is now universally practiced
wherever early maturity is desired. This is done
in the following manner: An aii-y light room or
loft, with windows to be closed in severe weather,
has tiers of shelves filling up all its available space

,M.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

83

These are often, from lack of room, too close to
each other, and a foot from shelf to shelf may be
given as a good average distance. On these shelves
the seed is carefully placed, each on its end ; one
sack weighing two cwt. will thus require about
thirty square feet of superficial space. With a due
supply of light and air, and the occasional removal I
of any tuber showing signs of disease, they may
remain till planting time comes. The great object
is to secure strong, healthy and colored shoots,
about two inches in length ; the neglect of ventila-
tion and a proper amount of light producing weak,
colorless shoots liable both to injury in removing
them, and to decay when planted. The earliest
crops are now invariably grown from sprouted seed,
and they are grown a good fortnight in advance of
former years when autumnal planting was the rule.
— Journal of Horticulture.

••»

Why Farmers should Write for Agri-
cviltural Paper.

A correspondent of the Canadian Agriculturist
says:

We have examples in the Gourdry Gentleman
and Albany Gultivator, and the Genesee Farmer of
very successful and widely read periodicals, attract-
ing much attention In Canada. It cannot be said
that our Canadian periodcal has not on its pages a
staff of able and responsible editors, and we there-
fore inquire what is the matter? Every reader of
the American papers referred to, knows that one
of their leading features consists in the contribu-
tions by farmers themselves from all over the
United States ; illustrating their occupation ? giving
their experience ; making and answering inquiries ;
criticising and commenting on the various practices
of each other ; enjoying communications ; establish-
ing acquaintance ; creating interest in each others'
welfare, and leading branch of industry. Their
journals are a ready source of correspondence be-
tween the leading farmers of the country, who
comprehend that nothing is lost by imparting to
others valuable knowledge derived fromexperiance.
There is much no doubt that is crude thrown to-
gether in this way, but the result is a great deal
that is valuable and instructive.

-•••-

How I Killed the Botts.

In life's experience we are inclined to remember
and speak of our good success, but more silent and
loss willing to mention or publish our failures ;
while if made known the unsuccessful experiments
might often benefit others. I am going to tell you
how quick I killed the botts, which attacked my
kind servant "Bay," as the team was fetching us
from the northern part of Vermont to the center,
some years ago.

On the road Bay had a severe attack inwardly,
evidently caused by this insect. An ostler claim-
ing skill in horseology kindly offered to remove
them ; and firstly he gave him about half a pint of
the spirits of turpentine from a bottle ; then, after
an hour or so, a quart of molasses and milk was
administered, the contents of which was poured
down the nostrils. She obstinately declined taking
any more good things at the mouth. This soon re-
lieved the uneasiness and evident misery which the
animal was placed in.

Soon after my arrival home another severe at.

tack occurred. Of course I sought .and applied
the same expedient. The poor distressed beast
refused the dose by the mouth, making strong re-
sistance. So we poured the spirits of turpentine
through ilie nostrils. Instantly the blood com-
menced flowing as from an artery or large blood
ves>el uncapped, causing the death of the horse
in less than ten minutes, and in due time the botis
atso died. S. W. Jewett,

El Tejox, California. In Co. Gent.

— This is doubtless the only sure cure for the
botts: that is, first kill the horse and the botts will
die. Colic is often mistaken for the botts, or the
attack may be a slight one. Any medicine that
will kill the botts will be pretty sure to kill the
horse, as the botts will live in almost all kinds of
liquid poison. We think very few horses die of
the botts, though they often suffer from too large
numbers of them in the stomach. — Ed.

From the Country Gentleman.

Income Tax.

The farmer's income tax is a puzzle, and shows
among other things, the inexcusable ignorance of
farmers themselves in regard to necessary accounts.
They do not seem to be able to give an approxi-
mate guess at the profits of their business for a
single year. And the attempts of the assessors to
direct them in making up their accounts in many
cases only perplex tUom the more. There is a
strange discrepancy in the taxes imposed upon the
farmers everywhere, some paying five times as
much as others, of apparently equal income.

This is not to be charged to any unfaithfulness of
the assessors, or generally to any disposition on the
part of the farmers to shun this tax, for I am un-
willing to believe that they are less faithful in the
duties of citizen than any other class. It is a new
thing, and the mistakes connected with it cannot
be corrected at once. It may be that this tax will
not be levied in this manner very long.

There are some errors which ought to be cor-
rected if the tax is to be continued. It can scarce-
ly be expected that the assessors or those who give
directions to the deputies, should be so well versed
in farm accounts as to be able to dictate to the
farmer how he shall make a statement of his incomei
What propriety is there in deciding, as in the case
mentioned in the Co. Gent, that the farmer sjjall
be supposed to have paid no more than $15 a
month for labor, when perhaps he has paid S,}.S or
more ? or that the allowauce for board shgJl not
exceed $6 a month, when the actual al!oi»anc9is
$8?

. I believe that most assessors so interpret the law
as to make no allowance to the farmer, as a part of
the expenses of working his farm of any labor done
by a member of his own family, or by _any female he
may have employed in his family. This is often
wrong, as he may have employed females exclusive-
ly in the dairy, or members of his own family may
have performed labor which bes-would otherwise
have hired, and which is truly a part of the expen-
ses of working the farm, pain in the clothing and
other expenses of his children, as if -paid in the
wages of a stranger. ; y ;--* '

Si

THE ILLIiS'OIS FARMER.

March

It is an inextricable inconvenience that the re-
turns must be made up to the first of Jan., which is
not the beginning of the year with the farmer's
business. His grain is unsold and unmeasured,
his stock is a part of it unsold, and his feed uncon-
samed and unmeasured. It is impossible for one
living on a farm to keep his accounts perfectly cor-
rect, to make a just return of his income, dividing
the rear at that point. With many it is only a con-
fused guess. They should be released from such a
dilemma if possible. The farmer's year begins the
first of April. If he has kept his account as he
should, it is a very easy thiTig to give an exact state-
ment of his income. And if he gives the income
of the year from April 1, 1863, to April 1, 1864, it
will be much more nearly the true returns for the
year 1863 than could be made out on the 1st of
January, 1864. lam sure my income for the year
ending March 31, cannot vary much from the in-
come of the year ending Dec. 31. I Icnow what the
former is, and I safely assume t!ie-n to be the same.
It is my surest method of finding my income for
1863. If farmers will adopt this plan, they may
escape endless confusion, and give a more satisfac-
tory return. If this tax is to continue, the law
should be altered in this respect.

The simplest manner of showing the increased
value of stock, &c., is to take an inventory at the
end of the year; any increase in value compared
with the inventory a year before should be set down
asa part of the products of the farm, and any de-
crease in value is to be placed among the expenses.
So of hay, grain, &c. All the products of the farm
consumed by the family are to be estimated at their
cash value. It would not be unjust for the farmer
to be taxed on the value of the rent of his house ;
he is taxed for the value of the fuel cut from his own
land, and for any wood and timber which ho may
sell, if it does not exceed the annual growth of his
timber land. I think ii wo'ihl sometimes be wrong
to tax the product of a sale of timber or wood , a
man may sell a lot of timber vrhicli has been grow-
ing fifty years. This is not the annual product, it
is the capital itself, almost the whole value of the
property. It is the annual value which the law
seeks to tax, and not the aucumulated capital of
fifty years.

The law itself is not unjust to farmers ; the misin^
terpretation of it by assessors, and the want of prop"
er accounts byfarmers themselves, work very great
inequality

It gives a rather favorable look to the business of
. farming, that correct accounts expose those who
keep them to larger drafts by the income tax.

Is not this a proper subject for the attention of
the New York State Agricultural Society to pro-
pose a system of taxation which shall become uni-
form and make the imposition of it jusc and equal ?
Xo doubt the department would give respectful
heed to any suggestions made to it l)y a committee
appointed by the State Society. Does not the in-
terest of the farming community demand of the
Society some such action?

Amknia. N". Eeed.

—The above has a value aside from the income
tax. Last month we published the instruction of
our assessors on this subject, and trust our farmers
will have their account books kept accordingly.

Something that Farmers jSTeed.

Every farmer needs a nail box, well stocked.
He should have, at leT!st, nine sizes. The follow-
ing table will show any one, at a glance, the length
of the various sizes, and the number of nails in a
pound. They are rated, "Spenny, up to 20-penny."
The first column gives the number, the second the
length in inches, and the thii'd the number per
pound. That is:

S-penny. .

4-penny. .

5-pcnny. .

6-penny.

"Z-penny .

8-pcnny.

10-penny.

.1 in. 55*7 na. 12-penny. ..3 in. 54 na.

.IJin. 356 na., 20-penny. ..SJin. 3s na.

.Ifin. 232na.i Spikes. ..4 in. 16

.-. :_ n,.^__ Spikes... 4^iu. 12

Spikes. ..5 in. 10

Spikes. ..6 in. 1

Spikes. ..T in. 6

2 in.
..2iriu

..2iin. 101 na
..2^in,

16*7 na.
141 na.

63 na.

From this tnble an estim.ate of quantity and
suitable sizes for any job of work can be estimated.

A farmer's nail box should be divided into ten
compartments, one of each sized nails and one for
spikes. It need not be large because it is only in-
tended for jobbing, and have a suitable sized nail
for all purposes, always at hand. It should have
a good strong handle like the bail of a has;ket.
Two or three gimlets, an awl or two, and a nail
set should have places in the nail box, and of course
the hammer. Another tool l^ox should contain
two saws, a plane or two, a drawing-knife, several
files, punches, cold chisel, etcetera.

Stalls for Horses.

The proper width of a horse's stall is four feet.
Length from partition in front nine feet ; deduct
one and a half feet for crib, and we have seven and
ahalf feet from crib to rear of stall. For the first
four feet of the rear end of the stall cut two-inch
hard wood plank into three and one-half inch
strips, and lay them five-eighths of an inch apart,
spike them down at each end. The remainder of
the floor in the stall should be laid tight of oak
plank. The floor under the animal's forefeet be-
ing tight, prevents the flow of any liquid manure
forward. The interstices in the rear floor conduct
it back to where it flows into an iron gutter, through
which .are drilled inch holes to carry it below. Back
of the gutter (which is three and one-half inches
wide) is an iron plate four inches wide and half
inch thick, to take the wear of horses hind feet ;
both pieces of iron to be headed into the plank so
as to be level with the bottom of tjie upper floor
should not pitch over one iuch. ~
is to have the forward floor level,
strip floor pitch half an inch.

The floor in rear of cows' stalls
ped, or the one upon which they stand raised six
inches, in order to keep the animals clean. The
floor upon which they stand should be just long
enough for them to stand upon, without stepping
down on the floor behind. From the crib, five and
one-half feet is long enough for small cows, and
one-half to seven for large ones, is about right.
These floors to be level. — Ux.

The better way
and the rear or

should be drop-

The Value of Dead Horses.

Some people will no doubt be astonished to learn
that large fortunes have been made every year since

.^.Mk

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAEMEE.

85

the commencement of the war, out of tlie dead
horses of the army of the Potomac. The popular
idea is that when Rosinante yields up the ghost, she
is buried in some field, or left to moulder into
mother earth in the woods somewhere. Not so .
She has made her last charge and gnawed her last
fence rail, but there is from $20 to $40 in the old
animal yet. A contract for the purchase of the
dead horses of the army of the Potomac for the
ensuing year, was let a few days ago, to the highest
bidder, at $1,76 per head, delivered at the factory
of the contractor. Last year $60,000 were ch^ared
on the contract, and this year it is thought $100,-
000 can be made on it. The animals die at the
rate of about fifty per day, at the lowest calcula-
tion.

At the contractor's establishment they arc thor-
oughly dissected. First, the shoes are pulled off;
they are usually worth fifty cents a set. Then the
hoofs are cut off; they bring about two dollars a
set. Then comes the caudal appendage, worth
half a dollar. Then the hide — I don't know what
that sells for. Then the tallow, if it be possible to
extract tallow from the army horses, which I think
(extremely doubtfnl, unless they die immediatelj'
after entering the Stervice. And last, but not least,
the shin-bones are valuable, being convertible into
a variety of articles that many believe to be com-
posed of pure ivory, such as cane-heads, knife-han-
dles, &c. — Army Correspondence.

Stirring the Soil— Cultivators vs. Plows.

The gradual extension of steam power in the cul-
tivation of the soil in England, has tended to pro-
duce sounder views as to the advantages which re-
sult from stirring the soil by cultivators or grub-
bers. At one time it was deemed essential for the
luxurient growth of a grain or bulbous crop, that
the soil should be inverted. This is now proved
not to be necessary ; on the contrary it has been
shown that on retentive soils the crops produced
on lands which have been stirred but not inverted,
are more abundant than where the soil has been
turned over by the plow. An intelligent corres-
pondent residing in Buckingham, who has the be<t
opportunities of ascertaining the results produced
by the use of cultivators compared with plows,
draws attention to this fact in his report for that
county. It is highly probable that, as the steam
engine is more generally brought into requisition
in cultivating the soil, that the implement most
commonly used will be a cultivator or grubber. —
Those farmers who are preparing land for wheat —
whether the previous crop had been beans, pota-
toes er turnips — could undertake experiments to
ascertain the difference of produce from one part
of a field stirred by a grubber or cultivator, com-
pared with that produced on another portion of
the fieli'., which has been stirred by the plow. —
The question is one of such great importance, that
it is to be hoped several farmers will conduct ex-
periments, not only in the preparing of land for
wheat, but for other grain crops, and report the
results. — North BHtish Agriculturist.

to Japan, for I have neither seen nor heard of it
in any other country. On the 10th of June — so
says my journal — fires were observed blazing all
over the country, and dense masses of smoke were
seen rising from every cornfield. This time it was
not the burning of rape stalks, for they had all
disappeared, having been converted into their ele-
ments of earth and air, the former of which was
already entering into another form, and was sup-
plying food for the summer crops. It was the
bearded barley which was now going through the
crucible, the object being to separate the heads of
grain from the .straw and awns. This was done in
the following way : — The grain having been tied
up in small bundles or sheaves; is removed to a
convenient spot on the edge of the field. When
the burning is to begin, the workman takes a sheaf
in one hand, and with the other applies fire to the
upper or grain end of the sheaf. It immediately
ignites, the awns go off in a blaze, and heads of
grain snap from the stalk and fall to the ground.
Lighting another sheaf, the workman throws the
first away in a blaze, regardless apparently of the
worth of the sti-aw, and so the operation goes on.
As the beard, ess heads fall to the ground the fire
goes out, leaving them slightly browned by the op-
eration, but with the grain unharmed. — Fortune^s
"Tedo aridFekin."

Harvesting in Japan,

Another portion of the crop was harvested in a
most curious way, which I think must be peculiar

IxTKRKSTixG TO WooL GROWERS. — A Correspond-
ent of the Free Press says that a bit of mercurial
ointment about the size of a pea, will cure the
itching of the fine-wooled sheep, which has been
so troublesome the past season, and caused them
to pick themselves, and injure the looks of the
fleece very materially. He warrants it to cure in
three days without the least injury to the sheep.

Beauty m Stock has no invariable standard. In
the estimation of some it results from small bones
and dlose, compact frames ; while others consider
that structure the most perfect, and therefore the
most beautiful, which is best adapted to the use for
which it is destined. With such beauty is relative.
It is not the same in an animal designed for beef
and in one designed for the dairy or for work. —
The beauty of a milch cow is the result of her good
qualities. Large milkers are rarely cows that please
the eye of any but a skillful judge. They are gen-
erally poor, iince their food goes mainly to the
production of milk. — Jennings cattle and their dis-
eases.

—•—

Blackberry Syrups.

Joseph C. Thomas, Chaplain and reading agent
of the army of the Cumberland ; writing to the
Sanatary commission last summer says:

Of all the blackberry preparations, I believe
the test of experience shows the vast superiority
of the blackberry sirup. I give in brief the recipe
for making it :

"Take two pounds of the bark ef the root,
cleanse well, add suitable quantity of water, boil
two hours, pour off the liquid, add more water,
thus continue to boil and pour off until all the
strength is extracted, strain, add all the boilings
together, simmer to two quarts, strain, add four

86

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

Maech

pounds white sugar, cool, add half pint French
brandy. Take a table spoonful three or four times
a day, eating sparingly. "

BAKEE & PHILLItS

- PUBLISHERS.

M. L. DUNLAP, Ij^ditor.
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, MARCH, 1864.

March is called the month of winds, of frost, of
sleety storms and deep mud. To these charges it
must in part plead guilty, yet March has many
redeeming qualities, many prominent virtues that
end.'ar us to its long days, though filled with no
little amount of fickleness. "It is in this month that
we lay the solid foundations of the season's opera-
tions, both on the farm and in the garden ; nor can
we allow the orchard to go unheeded — pruning and
planting, plowing and sowing is the order of the
day, to the full capacity of the muscles employed.
The stormy days of March are all needed in the
wood house, the barn or the cellar.

Cast Iron Rollers and Corn Planter. — The
advance in pig iron, in coal and in labor is so gi-eat
that we fear that these useful implements will not
be on sale at such prices that the farmer will feel
warranted in buying. A six section roller, twenty-
two inches in diameter and seven feet four inches
long, (the length for two rows of corn,) will weigh
six hundred and seventy pounds, add to this one
hundred and thirty pounds wrought iron, and we
have eight hundred pounds of iron. This at eight
cents a pound would cost S64 ; to this must be
added, ten dollars for frame and smith work, mak-
<^ ing the cost seventy -four dollars. Pig iron is worth
about three cents a pound, and it is probable that
the rou2;h castings can be furnished at six cents a
pound at the foundry at wholesale. Will some of
our foundry men put us right on this subject, if out
of the way in our estimates? Allowing the cost
of the roller to be $50, and the planter $15, which
is liberal, wc can have a roller and planter at $65,
allowing the dealer fifteen dollars, the machine
completed will be only $80.

"We are assured that several of these will be
made for this year's crop, when if they succeed as
anticipated, the present system of corn planting
will bo changed.

Ret. J. Knox — Grapes and Small Fruits. — The
card of this establishment will be found in this
number of the Farmer. An account of a visit to
the grounds of Mr. K. may be found in a previous
number. I'rom what Dr. "Warder says, the public

may be assured of well grown plants, as well as
those true to name, both points of no small impor-
tance.

Burson's Grain Binder. — "We have numerous
inquiries in regard to this binder, how it worked
last season ? and if they are again in the market ?

Since the State Fair we have heard nothing in
regard to the matter. At the Fair Mr. Burson as-
sured us that all the machines sent out that proved
defective, would be made to do good work, which
we presume will be the case. "We have faith in the
ability of this machine to do good work, but of the
cost of wire per acre and the liability to get out of
repair we know nothing. The fact that little is
said in the papers in regard to an implement of
this kind argues nothing in regard to it, as many
manufacturers of implements depend upon canvass-
ing for sales rather than advertising. The sys-
tem of a free canvassing of the merits or
demerits of implements in^ the columns of our
agricultural journals has had too much to do with
this state of things. The public have become dis-
gusted with this indiscriminating paid puffing,
that it is of little value. The result is that some
of oui best implements are little advertised.

HrsKiNG Corn. — Our readers have doubtless
heard of big days' work in corn husking, but the
following, will perhaps be found to be the largest
of them all. "We give it place because we think it
the largest day's work of the kind on record, and
because we also think it true.

Daniel Oyler, a farmer residing seven miles west
of the city of Champaign is the hero of the corn
field, and until a man is found to beat him must be
entitled to wear the busker's belt.

Mr. 0 made a bet of his time against a yoke of
oxen with a neighbor, a deacon in some church,
that he could husk one hundred bushels of corn in
twelve hours and put the same in cribs in good
order. The rows of corn were seventy rods long ;
at each end of the rows cribs were made for the
convenience of handling the corn. At 6 o'clock,
on the morning of October 26th, 1861, he com-
menced work, attended by two men to see that no
cheating was practised, but who in no way were to
assist him. In husking he only husked one row
at a time, and that on the left hand side of the
wagon. His team was trained to the work, and
moved along at the word of command without hii
touching the lines. At the end of the row the corn
was shoveled into the crib. At five o'clock and
fifty-five minutes p. m., he quit work, being five
minutes before the time.

Here was near twelve hours constant work for
the time spent in eating was very limited.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

87

On measuring the corn by the two referees it
proved to be one hundred and eighteen bushels,
and when sent to market was sold for and weighed
one hundred and seventeen and 27-70 bushels, after
feeding the two teams their noon meal, while load-
ing. It was sold in the ear at seventy pounds to
the bushel.

Mr. Oyler took the oxen home and kept them
several weeks, but the Deacon became conscience
stricken on account of betting contrary to the
rules of his church.and demanded the oxen. Mr. 0.
supposing the law to be on the side of the Deacon
gave them up for a paltry consideration.

The bet was not a bet after all, as the Deacon
was to give the oxen provided that Mr. 0. husked
100 bushels of corn in the twelve hours. We hard-
ly know which to most admire, the muscle and per-
severing skill of the husker, the honest simplicity
of the winner in quietly giving up his hard earned
reward, or the cool, calculating meanness of the
Deacon in dsmanding back what he had honestly
given for labor had and done him. We would
have given the name of the Deacon, but do not
wish to admit the name of so contemptible a per-
son to our pages.

New Use for Rats. — It is said that a company
of Frenchmen, after making a careful survey of
the West, have decided on Chicago as the best
point for the rat business. The Journal of a late
date says :

The Northwestern Rat-hide Company. — It is
rumored that a eompany of Frenchmen has been
formed in this city for the purpose of catching all
the rats possible, curing their skins and exporting
them to Paris, to be used in the manufacture of
gloves. For years, what is called " French kid"
gloves have been luade from the skins of these an-
imals, caught in Paris and other parts of Europe,
but the demand being greater than the supply, it
has become necessary to extend the rat-catching
arrangements to this country, and no finer field
than Chicago for such operations can possibly pre-
sent itself

The Cairo Democrat in reply to the above says :

We had supposed that Cairo could beat the world
on rats. We are too modest, however, to quarrel
with our Chicago neighbors upon this point. Chi-
cago is the rat headquarters.

Should the stock of rats fall short in both of the

above rat-holes, we might give the rat-catchers

some employment in this county.

Grape Culture at Bloomington. — Dr. Schroeder,
the well known German horticulturist of McLean
county, informed us at Springfield, that six years
ago he planted the first grape vines at Blooming-
ton^ Now in that immediate vicinity there are
fifty acres planted to the vine. The Dr. confidently
predicts that in five years McLean county alone
will beat the famous plantations of Hermann, Mo.,
in the extent of its vineyards. Put McLean coun-
ty and Dr. Schroeder on the record. We appre-

hend he is a true prophet in this respect. — Prairie
Farmer.

Culture of Tobacco. — We hear less in regaid
to the tobacco crop intended to be planted this
spring than usual. We think less attention wi!l be
given it than the crop of last year, on account of
the want of hands, and the discouragements of last
years frost.

Broom Corn. — Large fields of this will be
planted this spring in this county.

The February cold and Fruit Trees. — We c: n.
not perceive that the cold snap, injured iho fruit
treed in the least. The peach trees, as before s-tat-
ed, are looking better every day, and we trust \\\\\
come out in better shape than most people imtici-
pate.

Transactions III. Hort. Society. — ^W. C. Flagg,
Sec, has a card in this number, announcing the
Transactions in readiness.

To the untiring energy of the Secretary are tlie
people of this State uuder obligation for thejironipt
appearance of this work. Every reader of the
Farmer should send for the whole sett, if he has
not already obtained them. Make up clubs and
get them by express. You cannot afford to do
without them.

Domestic Sweetmeats. — It is a siugular fact
that many people who know how to preserve eve-
rything else, can't preserve their tempers. Yet it
may easily be done on the self-sealing jjrii ciple.
It is only to "keep the mouth of the vessel tightly
closed."

Grape Culture. — In reading the agricultural
papers of the day one would be led to suppose that
only two interests now absorb the rural population
— sheep growing and grape culture. The former
is confined mainly to stock farmers, while the lat-
ter pervades all classes.

The propagation of new, hardy sorts of suj-orior
value has had much to do in producing this st;'.te
of things. The people have had a taste of grape?,
and knowing i^hat they can be cheaply and certain-
ly grown, are disposed to invest largely. There is
not a house in town or city that may not have its
grape vine, not a south wall that could not be trcl-
lised with rich clusters from the middle of Angust
to the late frosts. We no longer need depend on
the sour and seedy Clinton to ensure an early crop
but have the hardy and productive Hartford Pro-
lific, the Crevaling, Logan, and other superior ear-
ly sorts, The desire for a good, hardy, produc-
tive and delicious white grape is also supplied in
the Cuyahoga and Taylor's BuUit, while the Con-
cord, Delaware, Diana, Norton's Virginia and Her-
bemont, bring up the ra.ain crop for winter use and
for wine.

ss

THE ILLINOIS FAliMEll

March

Ohio Wool Growers' Contention. — The annual
>-esJioa of the Ohio Wool Growers' Association was
ho!,1 i.t Columbus on tho 5th and GthFcb. Col. S.
D. IlarvirJ presided. Mr. Greer, from a special coin-
luittoo, reported the follo-.ving resolutions :

RcHohreJ, That wo petition the Congress of the
ITiiited States to so amend the Internal Revenue
luvi a-i t'j impose a tax upon dogs, with a view of
juvireeting sliecp from the depredation of dogs.

Rex,>I<<i:l. That washing is in itself injurious to
the slie.'p, is of no advantage to the wool, and is
o'ily ma;ie necessary by the present custom of wool
iiurers, and it is highly desirable that a reformation
hi fir- cl-.l.

R-^so/u.;d, That the existing tariff on foreign wool
is in ide.ju ue to the protection of American wool
gro\\'er3, upon the same footing as American man-
ufactures.

Th.'ST resolutions were discussed at considerable
L>ngtii liy Lieut. Gov. Stanton, Judge William
ijawrenc ■. and were finally adopted, witli the fol-
iv.vinj;adlit.onal one, offered by lion. Columbus
Delano :

li'^anlved, That a committee of three be appointed
to prc-p.vve a bill to be submitted to the Legislature
fn" promiting the interests of wool growers and
for protection against dogs, and that said commit-
tee mem )ria!ize the General Assembly in favor of
passing said bill.

Tlie following gentlemen were elected as officers
of the Wool Growers' Association :

President — R. M. Montgomery, Youngstown, Ma-
honing c^iur.tv.

Vice President — -John Gurney, Alexandria, Lick-
ing county.

Secretary — J. Park Alexander, Akron, Summit
county.

T ■I'-vmrei- — L. D. Harris, Cleveland.

Jj'irect-,t% — S. S. Mattliews, Outville, Licking
ODU itv ; K. Messenger, Marion, Marion County ;
John L ;ars, Litchfield, Medina county.

— T^vo important points are settled in the above.
Oae thenecessity of a dog law toprotect sheep own-
o:-^, and the other the useless and unhealthy prac-
tice of washing sheep. la Jfew York they have a
d ig law, a per capita dog tax which is used as a
f ;nd to p^y for sheep killed by dogs. Suppose
there is a thousand dogs in the county, these pay
•y dollar e ;ch, making a thousand dollars, which is
])' :;eed in the treasury for tho purpose of paying
damages. Xow suppose A has twenty sheep, five
\^i which are killed by dogs, a commission is ap-
!3ointed to assess the damage; when the amount is
paiil out of tbe dog fund. If we had a sinjilnr law,
nearty every farmer would keep a small flock of
sheep, while the flocks of worthless curs would
-apidly disappear under the dollar tax.

At the mext session of the Lcgisiature &n effort
mutt be made for a similar law.

New Mode of Pkeserving Apples. ^-At the
meet ng of the State Horticultural Society at Al-
ton, 3v)me person presented an apple in a good
iiiUe of preservatioBj claimed to be preserved b;/

a new process. It was first handed to Dr. Warder
for examination, who tasted of it and passed small
bi:s to the members, but no sooner was it tasted
than the melting tit bit went on the floor. In the
first place the apple had been dipped into a thin
solution of gum arable, but the person fearing this
might not prove effectual, gave it an additional
coat of copal varnish ; the varnish had penetrated
the fruit, not only preserving it, but imparting the
varnish to every part of it in a remarkable man-
ner. No formal vote was taken on the value of
the new discovery, but from the looks and actions
of members, the conclusion might be drawn that
they would not recommend it on a large scale.

PcRE Milk. — At Paris tho inspector stops the

milkmen at the city gates, examines their cans, and

if lie finds any that have been watered, kicks them
into the gutter. How would that work in our
American cities ?

Medical Examiner. — The January and February
Nos. of this valuable work are on our table. It is
published in Chicago at $2. Geo. H. Fergu* is the
printer, and must be reckoned •cmong the oldest
typos of Chicago, in fact our acquaintance dates
back almost to the village of Chicago ; while the
editor. Dr. N. S. Davis, has grown grey as the city
has extended her streets. It is pleasant as well as
profitable to thus renew old acquaintacc by these
monthly visits.

One of the correspondents of this work says :
"It has already been stated that those who are not
sufficiently intelligent to read and write are most
liable to diseaie." And the writer goes on to say
that exhilerating mental influences are valuable
prophyeactics in the army.

Of course all our physicians take or ought to
have this work, nor will it be found useless in large
families, where the application of some simple
remedy may often save a long spell of sickness.

Illinois Cotton. — From the Carlyle Union Ban-
ner, we learn that one hundred and twenty bales
of Illinois cotton, the prpduct of last year, will be
shipped from Oarbondale, this season. All that
has yet reached market brought .eighty cents per
pound. The lint is fine, silky, an(J wljite, though
somewhat shortej- than l{issis.sippi cotJ;on.

Seed Corn. — But little of the crops o* 1863 is
fit for seed and farmers are planting that of 1862,

Naty Beans— a large amount of these beans
will be planted, for array and navy purposes. Tho
use of beans are no longer confined to the Yankees
as the western people consunie a large amount.
Of the navy bean wc have two sorts, the small
bean that is very early and prolific and most esti-.
mated and the largo beau less reliable but oeca-'

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

80

sionally promising a large crop. We prefer the
small sort, and take great pains to keep them pure
and unmixed with any other.

<a»

Dbied Apples. — Wm. H. Eogers of Williamson,
Wayne County, N. Y., made 7,000 pounds of dried
apples out of the crop of 1863, which he sold at
10 cents per pound, making more money for that
one article than is realized by many farmers for
all their salable products. — JV. Y. Tr'ib.

Jf^~ Persons wishing to economize in clothing
their children, will do well to try metal-tipped
shoes. Children invariably wear out their shoes
at the toe first Metal tips never wear out at the
toe, and a pair of tipped shoes at an additional cost
of a few cents, will more than outwear three pairs
of the same quality without them.

For the Illinois Farmer.
Forcing Principally by Sunlieat.

In conversation with a gentleman from the East
on the subject of protecting trees, he remarked
that his father, a ci izen of Worcester, Mass., had
repeatedly ripened peaches in winter ; cost him
ten dollars apiece ; beautiful fine specimens to look
at, but in quality not as good as an apple — ten
thousand dollars for a green-house was an item.
His father had concluded he could not grow
peaches.

To produce choice fruits with certainty and
cheaply, has always been regarded an object wor-
thy of the best minds in horticulture, and engaged
the highest genius and skill of practical gardeners.

Geologists inform us that the earth is a molten
mass of matter, pervaded by the most intense heat,
except near its surfiice, which has, in time, become
a hardened crust by the natural process of cooling.
The rate of increase of temperature descending
from the surface, indicates that its solidity extends
only a distance of a few miles interior, and that the
constant radiation of heat from the earth is mainly
supplied from its internal fires.

When our north pole, in friendly attitude, in-
clines in summer to receive the sun's rays, they
operate in conjunction with this original and never
failing source of bottom-heat, and so increase the
temperature of the earth's surface, and its super-
incumbent atmosphere, that the whole vegetable
world is forced into vital action, again to rest when
it presents the " cold shoulder," and blows its icy
breath over our cherished gardens and fields until
we measure frost in the soil of formidable thick-
ness. But the Ice-King has his limits, and below
the frogt it is warm, then warmer, as we descend.

Advantage has been sought to be obtained in
forcing, by sinking pits below ground, and by plac-
ias lean-to houses against bank walls, not so much
to avail of subterranean heat, as to exclude frost ;
and the question arises, whether this subterranean
heat may not be appropriated to positive resultsi
and economically applied to the purposes of winter
forcing of fruits and vegetables.

The following illustrations are designed to show
the application of substantial and efficient shutters
to forcing-pit;?, or other glazed structures :

O

The house may be supposed to be fourteen feet
wide, eight high, with rafters eight feet long. The
shutters eight feet high and eight or ten inches
thick, should enclose, in their construction, a per-
fectly shut air-chamber, and close tightly over the
glazed structure, as shown in the first cut.

The house should extend east and west, and the
north shutter, when opened to a perpendicular
position, is fastened to substantial posts, and thus
forms a back-wall eleven feet high, the rocker-rails
being one foot from the ground, which should be
mulched with a suitable covering one or two feet
thick. The south shutter is, when open, also at-
tached to posts, and turned over sufficiently to ad-
mit the full action of the sun's rays upon the house,
as represented in the second cut. The base of the
shutters, below the center of the circle is weighted
with sand or other suitable material, until they are
balanced on the centers, when they may be opened
or closed with the greatest ease and facility. The
ends of the house are olosed with similar shutters.

.MltafctfO..-!-;....

90

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

Marca

The objects sought to be obtained by this mode,
are, so to enclose and protect the house that the
temperature may be suffered to decline naturally
during the night, without endangering the plants —
to economize fuel, simplify the management and
lessen the cost of heating apparatus.

If cisterns, or subterranean air-chambers are
used in connection vrith this kind of enclosure, they
■will increase the volume of air enclosed, without
otherwise increasing the dimensions of the house ;
and whenever the temperature of the air in the
house approaches forty degrees, its density will
exceed that of the air below, and will circulate and
become warmed in passing through the lower cham-
ber, the temperature of which can hardly be re-
duced below forty degrees, thus affording security
against frost.

"Writers on the subject of forcing, all agree that
the injuries resulting to plants from high night-
temperature, which is unavoidable in severe cli-
mates, subject to severe vicissitudes and sudden
changes, are among the most serious and difficult
to obviate. We are advised to " leave on a little
air all night," with so many cautions and counter-
instructions, which, put together, amount to just
as little as possible in the very coldest weather, when
the greatest fire-heat is required, and, consequent-
ly, the moat ventilation needed.

To apply this house to the purpose of forcing fruit
economically, put up the frame and shutters, and
plant the trees in the border at the base of suitabl*

trellisses, and after training the first season, close
the shutters over them until the next spring. Con-
tinue the training, and allow a few specimens of
fruit ; in the fall again enclose for the winter, and
the third summer a moderate crop may be raalized.
Thus we secure a perfect condition in the trees,
and raise " peaches without glass." As soon as
the trellises are- filled and the trees in condition for
a full crop, and for forcing, cover the frame with
hot-bed sash, and when desirable to start the trees
open the shutters daily to the sun, and close up
securely at night. A common stove and pipe, or
simple flues, will be necessary in cold, cloudy
weather, and in extremely cold nights ; but there
are many warm days in winter when the sun would
afford all the heat wanted.

The following directions, from the Gardener's
Chronicle, for the rranagement of peach trees in
pots, indicate that the peach requires much less
heat in forcing than the grape :

''The trees started in December should be com-
menced with the temperature of about 40 ° by
night and 45 ° by day. After the first fortnight
the temperature should rise to 45 ® by night and
60 ° by day, with an increase of about 10 ° with
sun heat. At the end of another fortnight, the
temperature should rise to about 50 ® b^- night
and 55 ® by day. The night temperature should
not exceed this until after the fruit is set. This is
the rock on which so many beginners suffer ship-
wreck. They forget that the peach must be flow-
ered under a comparatively low degree of tempera-
ture ; they are frightened to give air, especially if
the air be cold and frosty ; they keep a close, warm
atmosphere, and the results are that the petals all
drop off without any fruit setting. Whilst peach
trees are in blossom, air must be admitted abun-
dantly by day, and a little also at night ; precau-
tions must of course be taken in severe weather to
place some material over the openings to break the
cold draughts of air. So long as the temperature
is kept above 35 ® the blossoms are safer but on-
ly keep a close atmosphere and a warm tempera-
ture, and there is a certain end to the crop. This
is a point which cannot be too much insisted on,
as everything as regards the crop depends on it.
By admitting plenty of air and keeping a night
temperature of from 45 ° to 50 ® , if the wood
was, previous to forcing, well ripened, a much
greater quantity of fruit will set than is ever need-
ed for a crop. When the fruit is all set and about
the size of large peas, the temperature should be
raised to about 55 ° to 60 ^ by night, and 65 °
by day, with an increase of sun heat of 10 ® . Air
should be freely admitted. The night temperature
should not exceed 60 ° until the 'stoning' is over,
for this is a very critical period in peach-forcing.
After this the temperature should be raised to 65
° by night, and 70 ° by day. Peach trees will
stand a high temperature after this. When the
fruit is approaching maturity, which, when the
trees are started in December, and the foregoing
treatment attended to, will be about the beginning
of June ; it should have all the exposure to light
and air possible. Trees treated thus will be in the

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

M

best possible condition for forcing next season.
The above mode of treatment -will apply to the
trees started at any subsequent period ; and to
have a succession of fruit, a fresh batch should be
started every three or four weeks.'

If trees are started the last of January, instead
of December, in this climate, the average tempera-
ture, from sun heat, will increase after the first
month, in something like the proportion required.

When under this system of pot-culture in or-
chard-houses in this country, it is recommended to
remove the trees to the open grounds, we remove
the sash from the house, and use the shutters if oc-
casion requires.

The advantages of planting directly in the bor-
der, are aimed to be contrasted with pot-culture,
in the following quotation from the above authori-
ty, in 1862 :

"Glass Houses for Fruits. — ^I am sure that all
gardeners must bear testimony to the great stimu-
lus which 'T. R.' has given to his particular bianch
of horticulture, and to the indomitable persever-
ance with which he has continued to fight for a
number of years for his 'orchard houses,' and for
his peaches and nectarines 'in pots.' 'A look into
their roots,' he says, 'is like a look into the book
of Nature, most valuable to a reflective mind.' I
accept the cultivation of fruit trees in pots exactly
in this sense. JJut as a matter of pounds, shillings
and pence, and of supply, I must leave my potted
pets to keep company with my geraniums and or-
ange trees, where, as objects of beauty, they shall
have my attention still. That fruits of all kinds
can be grown in pots there can be no doubt ; but
when a constant and substantial supply is required
for table or for market, of the finest qualitits and in
the greatest quantity, then there is no question
that you must decidedly plant out. If my opinion
is worth anything, I recommend glass houses of
the lightest possible construction, and trees plant-
ed out for supply. In this way there will be no
disappointment, and if yon wish to grow in pots, let
it be understood that it is for the pleasure which
such a fancy conveys, and not for profit."

That the peach and all other choice fruits can
be grown on trellises, trained^on espaliers, to great
advantage in many respects, and in substantial
quantities for market purposes, there can be no
doubt, and it is believed the product of espalier-
trees will pay good interest on the investment re-
quired, embracing the cost of shutters for prevent-
ing injury to the trees or their blossoms, from au-
tumn, winter, or spring frosts, even in seasons
when it has to compete with local crops in the
open ground — the early varieties being thus care-
fully grown and sheltered may be easily marketed,
say ten days before the product of open-culture,
and in seasons of failure, from any of the common
casualties, a reimbursement of the whole capital
invested may soon be realized ; and when we add
the advantage of the practicability of forcing these
fruits, and bringing to market full crops, at a sea-

son when they always command very high prices,
with but little more than the simple cost of a glaz-
ed covering, the system appears worthy of the cap-
ital of commercial fruit-growers, and the enthusi-
asm of amateurs. ■; .

We have just passed through another scathing
winter ordeal. The record stands thus :

DATE.

TEMPEEATUBE
OUTSIDE. I INSIDE.

e'mk's

a .

c
o
o

60

□

o

T3 3

b =°

.. o
S >

^ <s
on '~'

2 5

„ -♦a

1864.Feb.l5
16
17
. 18
19
20

o

o

4°

o

o

0

—11

— 4

— 4

10

— 4

10

—13

— 4

— 4

8

— 6

6

— 2

8

— 1

8

2

12

4

40

.SI

10

4

14

1 28

• • • •

24

2S

32

Mild.
Windy

n
II

Mild.
Clo' dy

This trial confirms my confidence in the eflScacy
of shutters for the purpose they are designed to
answer.

This cold period, from its commencement
throughout, was attended with a high, piercing
wind, and the shutters filled with sawdust were
found, on examination, to be empty about one foot
down from the top, and also from the middle par-
tition which runs horizontally, leaving the joints
open between the boards on both sides ; conse-
quently admitting considerable circulation of air
through the enclosure, which was prevented in
the side shutters by the snow, in the former cold
period ; but the doors closing the ends, which were
constructed in the same manner, had the joints
open as far as the sawdust had settled down, dur-
ing the severe trial early in January.

The single board structure, the snow being all
off, and the joints being more or less open, was
unnecessarily ventilated. The leaf frames showed
more efficiency than we expected, considering their
imperfect construction, and the effect of the late
dry weather in shrinking their contents, and their
imperfect packing, still more loose. It will be no
ticed that the temperature in this house rose from
six degrees below zero on the morning of the ITth
to two degrees above on the morning of the 1 8th,
the outside temperature being still two degrees be-
low, not having been above in the day previous,
showing plainly the effect of the internal radiation
from the earth, even when its surface is frozen.

The buds of the plum, and of the Richmond and
Morello cherry, which were all perfect and unin-
jured after the severe and protracted cold of the
fore part of January, are badly damaged by thir-
teen degrees below zero in the late trial. In the
plum we cannot find a live bud, and the cherries

ilMth,

92

THE ILLmOIS FAEMER.

Maeca

are more than hulf killed. This result we attribute
to the occurrence of extreme cold later in the sea-
son, the sap having commenced circulating freely
in the mild weather since the middle of January.

James Weed.
ilcscATiNE, Iowa, Feb. 24, 1864.

— Above we present the subject at length in re
g;irJ to shutters, for the protection of peach and
other tender fruits. Should the plan prove feasi-
ble on trial, in a pecuniary point of view, we can
then npplv it to the growing of figs and other
semi-tropical fruits. Dr. Weed does not give the
ostimated cost of this kind of structure, nor the
best mode for their construction — whether in
short sections or extending the' length of the
house.

During the pnst winter we have seen the need
of shelter for our green-house, to guard against
sudden changes. On one occasion, at nine o'clock
in the evening, the weather having been very mild
through the day, was oidy two degrees below freez-
ing, the ordinary fire was made, but at daylight the
mercury was 4 ° below zero and two or three
hundred pots frozen up and the plants mostly dead.
Shutters would have prevented any such disaster,
and on all occasions would economize heat. The
illustrations will show how the shutters are ap-
plied,— Ed.

The Weather.

TMERMOMETER IX THE OPEN AIR.

Day of Month.

7 A. M.

2 p. M.

9 p. M.

1884. iY'bruarv 1

" ■' 2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

" 10

11

" 12

13

" 14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

" " 23

" 24

25

" 26

" 27

28

29

36
36
24
37
36
35
34
26
20
16
30
26
26
32
35
— 4
~ 2
4
6
31
38
45
41
33
38
34
42
30
22

38
36
34
48
40
38
42
34
30
30
48
36
48
43
48
7
7

16

30
46
45
60
54
54
46
48
52
32
28

36
28
38
38
36
32
36
24
28
30
46
30
48
33
30
3
0
10
24
42
35
44
38
44
34
38
40
24
26

Means

27

39

31,t

Mean for the month 32|

February, like January, has startled the farmers
with its sudden changes and sharp frost. On the
night of the 15th, the mercury was at 30 ® , only
two degrees below freezing, towards morning it
went down rapidly, and stopped at 4 ° below zero.
Green-house plants suffered severely, for the fires
had been slackened during the warm spell, and
this sudden change occurring at a time of night
when all were snug in bed could not be warded off.

We have not been able to detect any injury to
trees in either the orchard or nursery.

In our own grounds the injury to trees by frost
is very light. The last year's growth of peach and
pear are somewhat nipped. The Lawton blackber-
ry is killed to the ground, and our improved black-
berry has the tops severely nipped. Tlie purple
cane and black cap raspberry look uninjured ; un-
protected grape vines have their fruit buds more
or less killed. Winter wheat and rye look well
thus far, as we have had litte heaving of the sur-
face soil

We trust that fruit trees will come out better
than gennerally anticipated. Some very nervous
people have cut down their peach trees, just as
though the sanre work could not be as well done
after the spring growth had fully settled the ex-
tent of the damage. But over sanguine people must
have their ups and downs, and hence are not the
safest to be trusted with the orchard

CONTENTS:

Editorial: page.

March 65

Manufacture of Sorgho Sirup 60

Fruits for Egypt 71

PoExra' :

The Petn.-mt 72

CORUESPONDEXCE :

Durability of Willow 73

Grafting the Cherry 73

Forcing Principally by Sun Ileat 89

Agricultdre :

Winter Meeting 74

Farming Long Time Ago 75

Cattle Fastenings 76

Horticulture :

Indiana Horticultural Society 76

The Apple Crop of Monroe County 78

How I Protected my Peach Trees 79

Scarcity of Nursery Stock 79

Apiaky :

Which is the host Bee-Hive 80

Poultry :

A short chapter on Poultry SO

Miscellaneous :

Farming in California SI

Rhubarb ^tine 82

Cornish mode of liaising Early Potatoes 82

Why Farmers should Write for Agricultural

Papers ■ 83

How I Killed the Botts S3

Income Tax 83

Something that Farmers' Need 84

Stalls for Horses S4

1864.

THE ILLINOIS -FAKMEK.

61

GET THE BEST

CULTIVATOR

The only oae combining all the Mechanical Pprinoi-
ples necessary to a

PRACTICAL AND SUCCESSFUL OPERATION

IN THE FIELD.

The lateral or self-adjusting motion of the plows and
is an an effectual

BAB AGAINST BREAKING,

When it comes in contact with unseen obstacles

It is Made of the Best Material,

BY EPPERIENCED ■WORKMEN.

THE SHOVELS OF FIRST QUALITY

OF

OAST STEEL.

Altogether, it far excels all others in point of

Utility. I^tirability and

TVOIftltMIAlVSHII*.

Price $50 cash on board the cars at Decatur.
5^„Send for Descriptive Pamphlet.

March, lS6i— 3m.

BARBER & HAWLEY,

Manufacturers,
Decatur, 111.

Vilue of Dead Horses S-1

Stirring the Soil — Cultivators ve. Plows 85

Harvesting in Japan , 85

Interesting to Wool Growers 85

Beauty of Stock 85

Blackberry Syrup 85

Editor's Table :

March 86

Cast Iron Rollers and Corn Planters 86

Rev. J. Knox 86

Burson's Grain Binder 86

Husking Corn 85

New Use for Rats 87

Grape Culture at Bloomington 87

Culture of Tobacco 87

Brocm Corn „ 87

The February Cold and Fruit Trees 87

Transae«!ons 111. Horticultural Society 87

Domestic Sweetmeats 87

Grape Culture , 87

Ohio Wool Growers' Convention 83

New Mode of Preserving APples SS

Pure Milk 88

Medical Examiner 88

Illinois Cotton 88

Seed Corn 88

Navy Beans 83

KNOX FRUIT FARM AND NURSERIES.
Our new catalogue of

Small Fruits

For spring of lS6i, including
DR. JOHN A. WARDER'S REPORT
In the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, of a visit to
our grounds, during the strawberry and grape seasons,
giving descriptions of varieties, modes of culture,
Ac, is now ready, and will be sent to applicants on-
closing a stamp. J. KNOX,
March, '64 — Im. Box 155, Pittbarg, Pa.

GRAPE VINES.
The demand for our vines is largely increasing
every year. Parties wishing to purchase this Spring,
would do well to order early, as the demand promis-
es to exceed the suppiy.
Send for catalogue, enclosing stamp.

J. KNOX,
March. '64— Im. Box 155, Pittsburg, Pa,

STRAWBERRY PLANTS.
All our plants were laid in and carefully worked
last season. Such plants are much more valuable
than those produced in the ordinary way.
Send for catalogue, enclosing a stamp.

J. KNOX,
March, '64— Im. Box 155, Pittsburg, Pa,

Illinois State Horticmlturai Society
Transactions for 1863.

READY MARCH TENTH.

Price— In paper, by express 25c. by mail .35c.
muslin " 50c. " 76e.

ALSO.

Trans. 1861-2 in paper by exp. 25c. by mail 35c.
" muslin " 50c. « 75c.

ALSO.

Trans. 1860 in muslin by exp. 50e. " 75c.

Address, W. C. FLAGG,

Corresponding Sec'v,
March, 1864— Im Alton,' IlL

■'■^A 1

62

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

Eeb

li:i2.XTIT TI2.EES.

Having largely increased my variety of

iuesERY k mm mm

STOCK,

I am now prepared to fill orders for
FRUIT & ORNAMENTAL TREES,

A new and complete assortment of

Grrapes, Stra-wberries,

^Raspberries, Currants,

And all other kinds of

SHALL FB ULTS.

Also — A Full Assortment of

6KEEN AND HOT HOUSE PLANTS,

FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SEEDS,

Bouquets and Out Flowers,

GOLD PISH,

and all kinds of

OrnaiTieiital "Whorls:.

All orders addressed to

J. S. COOK,
Box 1029, Cin. 0.
will receive prompt attention.

Seed Store, 197 and J 99 Walnut st.
February, 1S64. 4m.

TWENTY - FIVE CENTS A YEAR.

THE CULTURIST,

A handsomely illustrated monthly Journal, devoted
exclusively to

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

Specimen copies furnished without charge. Ad-
dressEditor and Publisher,

A. W. SPANGLER,
No. 25, North 6th st.,
Feb., 18C4— 3m* Philadelphia.

AGRlCUmF WAREHOUSE

SEED STORE.

Has one of the best selected stock of implements
andseeds to be found in the West.

A. H. HOVEY,
Novtfl862 No. 194, Lake st., Chicago 111.

G ROVER & BAKER'S SEWING MACHINES
■were awarded the hi<rhest premiums at the fol-
lowing State Fairs of 1863, for the Best Family
Sewing Machine, the Best Manufacturing Machine,
and the Best Machine Work :

NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Double Thread Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

VERMONT STx\TE FAIR. .

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

lOVi^A STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

MICHIGAN STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

INDIANA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

KENTUCKY STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Beautiful Machine Work.

OHIO STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine AVork.

The above comprises all the Fairs at which the
GROVER & BAKER MACHINES were exhibited
this year. At nearly all of them the leading Sewing
Machines were in competition.

The GROVER & BAKER S. M. Co. are the only
parties who manufacture and sell Machines which
both SEW PERFECTLY and EMBROIDER PER-
FECTLY.

GROVER & BAKER S. M, COMPANY,

115 Lake Street, Chicago.
janl8-64-ly

rpHE AMERICAN HOG TAMER—

Invented by Reuben Hurd, a farmer of twenty-
seven years experience in Illinois.

My Tamer will stop any hog on earth from rooting,
from a pig to an old hog by one simple application.

By any one sending three dollars to Reuben Hurd
at Morrison, Whiteside county. 111., he will receive
one free of freight; and I will warrant them to give
perfect satisfaction, or money refunded.

To those sending : Please name the railroad sta-
tion you wish them shipped to, as I keep a constant
supply on hand, and will be able to fill all orders
with promptness and dispatch.

Directions fornsing will accompany all orders.

REUBEN HURD.

Nov. 1, 1863— 6m.

WT'-'^-^

1864.

THE ILLmoIS FARMER.

m

EVERGREEN SEEDLINGS.

A very large stock of superior grown Evergreen
Seedlings, at less than one-half the Eastern Prices.

PEE 1,000.
Norway Spruce, two years old,
three to five inches, $5,00

Norway Spruce, three years
old, six to nine inches, $8,00

Scotch Pine, two years old,
three to five inches, $7,00

Austrian Pixh, two years old, $2 per TOO.
Balsam Fir, Red Cedar, Arbarvit^, &c., &c,
of large or small size, at very low rates.

A large stock of CONCOPtD GRAPES, one of the
best varieties for the West.

A large stock of RED DUTCH CURRANTS, the
best for market, two to three years old, at half the
isual rates.

STANDARD AND DWARF PEARS, of well
tested varieties, together with a good assortment of
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, &c., &.

Send for Catalogue. ROBT. DOUGLAS.

Waukegan, III. tf

TO GRAPE growers!

The subscriber has a large stock of the most vigor-
ous growth layers of the following desirable varieties,
which ho will sell at very low rates, to wit:

CONCORD. $55 per 1,000.

A few thousand of bearing age, of large size at

$75 } er 1,000.
These will produce a good crop the second year.

HAPtTFORD PROLIFIC, $10 per 1,00, or
ten for a dollar.

REBECCA, $10 per 100.'

DIANA, $10 per 100

The above will be well packed,
to go any distance.

Terms — Cash, or approved bank paper r
short date.

JAMES SMITH.
DF.SM0I^'ES Iowa, Jan. 1, 1863.

WANTED.
KNITTING MACHINES.

Every Farmer to know that his " Women Folks
can earn ?6 to $20 per week with one of Akin's Cele-
brated Knitting Machines. It will earn its cost in
thirty days. Price complete $75. Weight 45 pound.
Freight from 50 cents to $1 50. Send for circular
and samples, (send stamps.)

BRANSON & ELLIOT,

General Agents,
Apr '63 ly 120 Lake street, Chicago, 111.

BliOOMINGTON NURSERY

r.LOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.
Eighty Acres Fruit and Ornamental Trees
OAA NAMED SORTS TULIPS, ALSO HYACINTHh
^« 'U Crocus, and a general assortment of Bulbs
»nd Flower Roots for Fall and Spring planting.!
Sursery stock, Evergreens, Greenhouse and garden*
plants — all at wholesale and retail at lowest cash
rates.

iBS^For particulars see Catalogues or address snbscrlbei

F. K.PH<ENIX.

Bloomington, 111., Aug. 1, 1859.

Dunlap's ISTursery.

This nursery has good atock of apple trees of all
ages and of choice varieties for the west, low heads
and stacky. The genuine " May Cherry," (Kentish
or Enrly Richmond of Downing,) Dwarf and Stand-
ard Pears, the Purple Cam. Raspberry, the best of all
raspberries for the farm ; Lowton Blackberry, Hough-
ton Gooseberry, Grapes, Strawberries, Ornamental
Trees and Plants. An immense stock of Silver Leaf
Maple, from $5 to S15 per 100, 6 to 10 feet high. The
green house is well stocked Avith roses and other bud-
ding out plants. This stock is grown to retail and
not adopted to the tree pcddler,as all trees and plants
are large, stacky and thrifty, and intendedfor the
planner only. Terms cash with low prices.

Address, M. L. DUNLAP,

Champaign.

March 1, ISBS.tf

"D OSS, THOMPSON & CO.

(Successors to G. S. Thompson.)
CAPITAL PENSION & BOUNTY AGENCY.

OFFICE OX WEST SIDE OF StH STREET,

Opposite State House, over L. Greeble's Clothing Store
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

BOUXTY AND BACK PAY, PENSIONS, RECRUITING

CLAIMS, CLAIMS FOR HORSES LOST IN

SERVICE, ARREARAGES OP PAY

DUE RESIGNED OFFICERS,

• kc, &C., &C.

Our experience and acquaintance with the details
of business in the various departments, and the per-
sonal attention of one member of the firm at Wash-
ington, afford us every facility for the prompt collec-
tion cfall classes of military claims.

If you have any claims of any description against
the government, give us a statement of the facts, and
we will tell you what j'our rights are in the case. A
letter of inquiry may save you much trouble, expense
and perhaps loss. All communications enclosing a
stamp for return postage p romptly answered. In-
formation gratis. No fees charged until money is
collected. Charges low. Pensions for S5, as regula-
lated by act of Congress. Address

ROSS, THOMPSON & Ct.,
Capita Pension and Bounty Agency, Springfield, 111.

dec63-tf ;

STANDAKD

SCALES

OF ALL KINDS.
Also, Warehouse Trucks, Letter Presses, Ac.

FAIRBANKS, GREEN LEAF & CO.

172 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO,

Sold in Springfield by

E. B. PEASE.

Be careful and buy only the genuine. junel-ly

64

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEiv.

t-

.^■•'^^^

1864.

& MMmn,

A MON-TIILY JOUllXAL OF

GARICOLTUHE hm KOBTICULTURL

PUBLISHED AT

SPRxYGFIELD, - - ILLINOIS,

BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

AND IS El>I'rf;D BY

M. li. DUNLAP, Tribune's Kural.

T3BM3 IN ADVANCE.— ,J1 a year; t\vo ropiosT 5C- f.ve
cjpies $3; ten copies $6, and one to gettor up of tlio club
t^-onty copi.?s$10.

It is nut ni'ccsi5ac3' that the chil) should all be at one office
— vo send wherever the members of the club may reside

Tlie postage on the Fap.ukp. is only three cents a year in
the State of Illinois, and six cents out of it.

Specimens numb- rs sent free on application.

Snbsciiption money may bo sent at the risk of the pub-
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E.xchanges and communications for the eye of the !':ditor
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TEIIM5 0? ADYEUTI-ING:

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All worthy objects advertised, and those of importance to
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Implements and seeds to bo testeii should be sent direct
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■\Ye have put the price of advertising within reach of all.
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Terms, cash. Yearly advertisers will pay semi-annually,
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Sanford & Mallory's Flax and Hemp
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These celebrated machines are on exhibition and
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price, &c., address NELSON' STILLMAN,

General Agent, Chicago, 111.

P. 0. Box 5823. JUayreS.ly

A GOOD INVESTMENT.

ONE THAT FAYS.

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, A NEW VOLUME v. ••.■ ■ ■-

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-V.^^TO^-^ - 'T^-^ W

*>..

■^:

VOL. IX.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., APRIL, 1864.

NO. 4.

DEVOTED- TO THE'

FARM, THE ORCHARD AI^^D THE GARDEN,

PCBLISHED BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS, i'

SPEINGFIELD, ; - ^i. -> - - ILLmOTS.
.31:. Ij, I)XJ]Snj A.T>, Editor.

All busitress letters slioald be addressed to the
■publishers. :^ - ' '■; . ■.:',:','':-:.,",■-,

j2^^ExcHAx<JES and all iDatters pertaining to the
editorial department, must be directed to Illinois
JPakmer, Champaign, 111., as the editor resides at
that point, and is seldom at the office of publication,
from which he is distant over eighty miles.

*^* For terms see prospectus and special notices in
advertising department.

April.

, ."With a steady proj^ress the sun
mounts the- southern sky, the heat is
'^faduallj increased and the buds that
■■Had swelled or bursted into tiny leaves
the past month, now appear in half
dress, while the vernal Flora begins to
spring up along the garden borders.

The spring wheat and barley have
been sown, the grass and clover are
springing up, the last of the flax and
the oats are in the hands of the sower
and the teams aTe busy for. the crop of
corn, tree planting is continued with an
renewed vigor, for the expanding leaves
begin to admonish us of floorers soon
to come ; the vanguard of spring is

past and we are now immersed in the
full tide of its rapidly increasing calls
for more active and unceasing toil. It
is no time to play the laggard, for if
we neglect our duties now, summer will
make not up the defect, nor autumn
give us the overflowing: srarners.

The spring fever is often fatal to our
gardens, and leaves our orchard sites
btXre of trees ; it permits the house to
stand in the fflare of the summer heat

as though more heat the better ;

5

it

compels its subjects to neglect the gar-
den borders, and the thousand conven-
iences that make up the comforts and
pleasures of home.

If you have the fever, break it at once ;
o'ccupy all your leisure in the garden,
the orchard or the house grounds, and
it will at once disappear! Plant the
small fruits, the vegetables and the
flower seeds that you may be pleased
in summer, and rich the whole vear
round.

While the denizens of the city are
busy heaping up fortunes which they
one day hope to enjoy in the country,
let the farmer heap up comfort as his
w^ealth expands, and thus enjoy from
day to day the real pleasures of life.

"Who would be idle? — who would
wish to rust out, or be loaded down
with mold and canker ? Rather keep
brJDjht with well directed industrv, and
cheerful with pteasant surroundijngs.
As we begin the spring, so may the

*

\r<^-

98

THE ILLINOIS FAliMEii

April

summer prosper us and the autumn
crown us witlidue reward.

Culture and Varieties of Sorgo-
Sorgo has been introduced into tliis
country over ten yours, and yet the
best mode of phmting and culture has
not been reached, nor has it been deci-
ded to the general satisfaction what va-
rieties are of the most value.

In giving our views on the subject,
the reader will bear in mind that it is
from an imperfect stand-point that they
are taken. This is not to be wondered
at, for after more than two hundred
years' experience in corn culture in this
country the subject is not fully master-
ed, and further improvements are antic-
ipated. It has taken twenty years to
educate the farmers on the prairie in
the true system of growing spring
wheat, and even now only the advanc-
ed classes fully grasp the idea.

Flax has been grown time out of
mind, and yet the enquiry comes from
all quarters for the best mode of culture
and time of sowing. Under such a con-
dition of things we may well be ex-
cused from giving any dogmatic form-
ula in regard to the culture of sorgo,
or the best varieties to be planted. —
That ten years' experience has laid
down and established some facts, all
niHst concede, and to these it is the duty
of the cultivator to turn his attention,
and to be guided in his operations, if
he would be successful.

It is evident that sorgo must occu-
py no small space among the staple
crops of the industrious North. Thus
far it has proved its ability to make an
excellent sirup for the table, when re-
fined, and in its raw state, equal to
Louisiana plantation for cooking purpo-
ses, while many people are sanguine

that it will prove a profitable sugar
making plant. Though of this we re-
ally know little as yet, as most of the
statements made in regard to it have
been more for the purpose of selling
some particular kind of seed at a high
price, rather than to report a veritable
fact. That sugar can be made from this
cane, has been demonstrated in a small
way, but the reported tons of it have
never appeared in the market, and the
most charitable conclusion to be arrived
at, is that it has been used up in the
family. The chemists have not concur-
red in its value, or fully agreed in re-
gard to its sugar making elements. The
close relationship between sugar, gum
and starch, baffles the chemist's art, and
we are left for real facts to what nature
may yet demonstrate, rather than to
the labratory.

"What we know in regard to its sac-
charine properties, is that it makes a
valuable sirup, and we have yet to
learn in regard to its value for sugar,
for it is safe to say that, thus far, we
have no practical method by which to
reduce the sirup to sugar, notwithstand-
ing we have numerous patents for the
purpose, and advertising statements
innumerable. It may, therefore, be
safely challenged, that out of the tons
of sugar claimed to have been made,
not a single barrel has ever been
put upon the market. If we are mis-
taken in this we trust that some gener-
ous-minded citizen will put us right. —
We are a little nervous on this point,
from the fact that several thousand dol-
lars was paid for seed last year, that
was supposed to possess in a high de-
gree this sugar making quality.

Under the name ol sorgo, we have
the Chinese sugar cane and the African
Imphee. The former is uniform in its

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

u

genenil appearance, while the latter is
divided into several sub-varieties.

The Chinese has less disposition to
granulate, or rather contains more of
the uncrjstalizable sirup than the Ini-
phee. In its growth it is more disposed
to sucker, grows tall and slender, and
is the most liable to be blown down by
high winds.

Of the Imphee we have the Neezea-
na, Oornseana and Red Cane, or Booni-
vana. The Neezeana, or White Cane,
is the earliest. The Oornseana, or, as
it is sometimes called Otahitan bv some
speculators in cane seed, is the next in
order, followed by the Red Cane. Be-
sides these we have several sub-varie-
ties, all of which it would be as well to
throw aside.

At the Sorgo Works, at St. Johns,
in Perry county, of which mention was
made in the March number, four hun-
dred acres are to be planted this sj)ring
by one person. This is to be divided
as follows : Two hundred acresllSTeezea-
na, or,»White Cane. This cane is very
early ; the growth is less vigorous, yet
it yields remarkably well, not perhaps
so much to the acre as the Red Cane,
but it has this advantage : that it can
be worked up before the other is lit to
cut. For this reason so large a propor-
tion is to be planted.

The next in order is the Oornseana,
known also as Black Cane or Otahite,
nearly one hundred acres. Less of this
would be planted had Mr. Nason a full
supply of the seed of the Red Cane. —
Enough of this will be planti d to make
up one hundred acres of these two vari-
eties.

It is claimed that the Red Cane is
the most vigorous and productive, and
likely to supercede all except the early
variety named above. It is said to

stand up against the most severe prai-
rie winds, which, in the late canes, is a
great disideratum, as we have som.e se-
vere gales during the months of Sep-
tember and October, One hundred
acres will be planted to the Chinese
cane.

VALUE OF THE SEED.

Last year Mr. JS^ason planted two
hundred and fifty acres, one liundrGd
and ninety-five of which was the Chi-
nese, fifteen Oomseana and fortv-five
of ll^eezeana. The planting was done,
from the first week in April to the 18th
of June, a period of over two and a half
months.

The crop was rolled after it came up,
and some of it after it was six to eight
inches high, with the most decided ad-
vantage. The Neezeana was ripe the
1st of September, or at the time of the
first frost, as was also forty acres of the
early planted Chinese, and which had
been planted sometime in advance of
the former. The frost of August 30th
damaged the whole crop, while that of
September 18th destroyed over one
hundred acres, which twenty daj's inore
would have so matured as to have made
fair sirup. Thirty acres was so injured
by drouth, being of the late planted,
that it was not cultivated at all. *

The frosted cane was cut up imme-
diately after the frost and shocked for
feed, and makes a superior fodder. The
Chinese stood the frost much the best,
making the best sirup and ripening the
seed, although the leaves had all been
killed by the frost, thus proving it to le
the best for the more northern planters.

Of the cane worked up, that made
five thousand gallons of sirup, over five
hundred bushels of first quality of seed
was saved. This seed is used in part
for planting, but the most of it is being

.^,

100

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

April

fed to Morking teams, and is considered
as valuable, bushel for bushel, ss oats
for this purpose, while the frosted, im-
iiKirure cane is fed in place of hay and
oats. Teams thus fed are in tine order
and have every appearance of doing as
vx-ell as those fed on hay and oats.

The cost of the crop, including rent
of land ut four dollars an acre, was
about ten dollars. The average yield
was twenty gallons of sirup and nearly
two bushels of seed. Estimating the
sirup at sixty-five cents per gallon, and
the seed at the same price per bushel,
tliis crop, which came near being a
failure, shows a respectable profit. —
Hero is four dollars an acre rent and
four ilollars profit to the acre.

Pj-evious to the past season but lit-
tle use has been made of the leaves or
seed ; now both are found valuable.

THE LEAVES.

If these are stripped and laid on the
grouTul to cure they become worthless,
but if put at once into stack or barn to
cure, are equal, if not superior, to Tim-
othy hay ; the whole value depending
on the mode of curing. "When sown
for f >dder and cut at the time of head-
iv'j; out, it is also considered very valu-
able.

TIME OF PLANTING.

Seed that has laid on the surface of
the ground during the winter, comes up
early and makes the best stand. It is
therefore reasonable to suppose that
the fall preparation of the ground and
jjlanting v/iil answer an excellent pur-
pose, if not proved to be the very best.
The shell or outer covering of the seed
is hard, and if planted in its dry state
in rather dry soil, will be tardy in
gerraiuating. Soaking the seed for
Bpring phmting is therefore advisable,
unless planted very early in the season.

There is no danger of the seed rotting
near the suriace ; it should, therefore,
be covered very lightly and the earth
pressed on it with a roller.

If planted in hills three feet and nine
inches apart, as is usual v/ith cane, a
dozen seed should be put in each hill,
otherwise there will be an abundance
of suckers. Some plant three to four
seed, putting the hills about eighteen
inches apart in the row, and the rows
as above stated.

HARVESTING.

In harvesting various plans have
been pursued, but that which is best
now in use, is a machine that cuts the
cane by horse power and deposites it
in bundles for loading. The tops are
cut off and the leaves stripped by hand
either standing cr at the mill. A ma
chine is patented to cut the cane, strip
off the leaves and do the topping, at the
rate of six acres a day, by the use of
tw-o horses and one man. Should this
expectation be realized it will material-
ly lessen the am.ount of labor required,
but we have little Jiope that it ^ill be
so perfected as to be of much value to
the incoming crop.

For sirup, the Louisiana cane can ne-
ver compete with the sorgo, especially
that used in its raw state. Labor will
always be much cheaper here than in
the lowlands of the south, among the
swamps and bayous of the sea level. —
The cost of food for both man and ani-
mals is here less than half that of the
sugar plantations ; and although a less
quantity is produced per acre, yet the
yield per man or the net cost per gallon
must be less. Plantation molasses has
been sold at about 20 cents per gallon
before the war, but that was also before
it became a necessity among all classes
of people, and the price had gradually

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAPwMEK.

101

augmented by reason of a largely in
creased consumption, and it will be a
Ions; time before it will agcain reach

CD CD

such a low fio-ure.

If Mr. Nason's figures are correct,
that the vinegar will pay for manufac-
turing, with the exception of cost and
interest on the mill, we shall certainly
have a cheap sweetening.

The use of automatic planters, two-
horse cultivators and machine for cut-
ting, to say nothing of other improved
implements, the sorgo crop is placed
on a good, prosperous foundation, and
must occupy a position only second to
that of hay and corn. Already numer-
ous steam works are beino- erected at
prominent points to work up the crop.

]^otwithstanding the early fi-ost there
is plenty of ripe seed in the center and
south part of the State, and no one need
pay interested seedsmen double prices
for good seed. Some of these w' orthies
are ofi'ering to sell at fifty cents a lb. or
twenty dollars a bushel, when four to
five dollars a bushel for the new sorts,
such as Neezeana andOomseanamio-ht
be considered a round price. 'No large
amount of the Red Cane can be had at
any price, but an abundant supply will
be had next season, wdien its value will
have been more fully tested.

-*>-

Grape Growing and "Wine Making.

The N. T. Tribune, wishing to post
its readers on the above subject, direct-
ed its western correspondent. Dr. X. 0.
Meeker, of Dongola, Union county, to
visit prominent vine-growers for the
purpose of arriving at the facts. The
Doctor has faithfully performed his du-
ty, having visited Cincinnati, Herman
and various other places, requiring sev-
eral thousand miles of travel and weeks
spent in the investigation. We would

like to give the article entire but for its
length, which occupies several colume.s
of the Tribune :

At Des Moines, Iowa, James Smith, long la v:^ r
and suecessfuUy has propagated tlie Coiicoid ;^r;ipe
and so far as I know has been most instriunci.tal iu
giving it notoriety in the West. He has always
raised good vines, some of which, if ])e:mitled,
would bear the first year. At various pl^u-es o:i
the Mississippi, particuhirly at Warsaw and Qiiiiicy,
grapes are doing remarkably'well. Mu-.-h «ns at-
tempted, some time ago, at Nauvoo, by a French
colony. Foreigners never have succeeded in this
business in our country, where they clhig to Euro-
pean methods. The experiment of the Swiss, at
Veviiy, Ind., was on a large scale and a fuluic.
Almost everywhere on the Upper Mississippi
grapes are doing well. Various parties have fine
success in the Rock River Valley, in Xorrhern Illi-
nois, near Wisconsin. Here all kinds of grapes arc
reported to succeed, and the Delaware in jiarticu-
lar. The soil approaches sand, with a deep sub-soil
of shale or gravel. It is known as hazvl hind.

It is important to know what success attends
grape growing on the prairies, which occupy so
large a portion of this State, a considerable portion
of Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Nrbi-aska
and Kansas. This is a wide region, and one nmst
travel and observe much to be able definitely to
make a statement which will apply to the wliole.
There is reason to believe that Illinois contniiis ev-
ery variety of prrdrie, as well as of timber soil com-
mon to the region named. To tell hovi- grapes do
here will indicate how they will do in similar sec-
tions.

In the heart of the black soil praric r^trion at
Bloomington, grapes have been thoroughly tried.
Dr. Schroder has four acres; K. H. Fell an acre,
Mr. Phceiiix five acres, though not in f.:!l iie-iring,
and is preparing to put out as much move ; uho
Messrs. Overman & Man ; as well as some other
parties. In all there are about thirty acres. Dr.
Schroder, a German, has given his vines great at-
tention ; trains them on trellis and is successful,
even with the ('atawba, though they rot with h'm,
as elsewhere. It seemed to me that his situation
is not favorable ; the ground though slight ly roll-
ing, is bordered by a slough, and there is higher
ground in the vicinity, though such a thing as a
hill is nowhere near. He trenches twc f et d -(^p,
but only two and a half feet wide where lie jdunts
For experiment he has all the various ldud-\ He
does not speak highly of Concord or Hartford Pro-
lific. I do not remember that he praised tlse Dela-
ware, for he showed some of the vines four years
old about three inches high. He showed two rows
of Catawba, planted on ground not trem'hf.'d ivhich
were poorer th;in any of the rest. He pi ;nts 4xfi,
and has strawberries between the rows, vrhich he
will take up because they injure the vines. Every
one of experience says nothing but grape?, should
grow in a vineyard."

Of the vines of J. Smith 6c Sun we
can speak from personal experience,
and from that of others. We think
them the best grown vines that we have

102

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEli.

April

seen. Whether this is the result of the |
soil at Des Moines or the culture, we !
cannot say ; perhaps part of both. Des \
Moines is on the great limestone region '
of Iowa, and it may be this gives such j
health to his vines. Vines grown at
Cincinnati are nowhere beside them in
value.

Tlie hazel land spoken of is always
a lighter colored soil, and contains more
clay than the common black prairie soil.
It should always be selected for orchard
sites in preference, as it is always bet-
ter drained than most other prairie
lands. For the small grains this hazel
brush land is invaluable ; but for corn,
has no advantage over any other prai-
rie. In Northern Illinois considerable
of this land occurs, and becomes less
abundant as we approach the line of
39a 30'.

Dr. Shroderprefers wine grapes, and
fir this use Norton's Virginia and
llerbeniont are his favorites. For the
tiil'lo and for market Hartford Prolific
and Concord please him, while the
Dclav/are has not given him satisfac-
tion.

" Mr. Foil has 1,500 vines of the Concord and
ILirtfoid Prolific, and is preparing four acres by
plowing from 18 to 20 inches, when he will plant
onp-foarth Delaware, and the rest of the sorts
nbove nur.ied. Last year his Hartford's averaged
eight pounds to the vine ; a few bear as much as
20 pounds, and sold for 20 cents a pound. They
itre planted over a brick drain and grow on trellis.
Till- Catawba is very uncertain with him. Of the
LV'lawi'.re, he says thousands of roots are sold
which are worth nothing, owing to excessive pro-
pagation, Init knows good roots can be raised.

Mr. Flioenix is largely interested in grapes. He
is a nurseryman, as intelligent and enterprising as
any of his class. He has neighboring con)petitors
not far bc^hind him. With from 50 to 200 men in
con.stant employ, 160 acres in apple trees, as well
as additional ground of other stock, he has need
of having his eyes open and his wits at work. And
ypt he is in doubt whether the Delaware, the best
i.f all our grapes, is going to be trustworthy. He
calls it his study night and day. He gave me his
experience ; it is candid, instructive, covers the
whole ground and ought to be his own answer.

Everybody wanted Delawares. He had several

vhousand. So soon as the vines made what was

uiTieient growth, he ordered his men to layer them

then, as they extended, and as laterals pushed out,
they were layered, and thus, through the whole
season, everything that could start a root was
smothered. Tiie best of those were sold — that
some were fair roots I know, for they grew with
me from three to four feet last year — the rest were
set out the next season, but did not grow very
well, and in the winter great numbers of them died.
This process, with the same results, went on seve-
ral years. Last summer he made a visit to the
vineyards on the Hudson; and in particular to that
of Mr. Mace, at Newburg. Here he was struck
with the sight of the Delawares. The ground was
clear, the vines were trained to stakes, even the
tendrils were pinched oif, they looked stocky and
fruit was abundant. Immediately he wrote home
to have his own vines tended in the same manner ;
when he returned he had been obeyed only in part
— he saw to having it done, but the season had
advanced and he must wait another year, or till
the vines can recover. A great many nurserymen
have had, I doubt not, the same experience. The
vines they have sent out have proved very unsat-
isfactory ; and it seems this is to be said of the
Delaware, and so long as this constant smothering
as well as raising roots from eyes of this same
wood, goes on, nothing good can come of the vines
so propagated. The simple requirement is this,
the stock from which new roots aie to grow must
be frotn fidly ripened ivood.

In the yard of Mr. Green Miller, in the suburbs
of Bloomiiigtou, I was shown the vines of the
Hartford Prolific, a grape not of first quality by
any means, but it is eailiest of all, or none are ear-
lier. The account of these vines ought to set peo-
ple thinking. They were obtained from Mr. Phoe-
nix four years ago last spring. They were planted
to cover an arbor ten feet wide and thirty feet long.
Two or three other vines were planted with them.
Mr. Miller told me he dug holes about two feet
square, put in bones, old shoes and such stuff, and
covered without much care. In the fall he put
two busliels of stable manure as mulching ;iround
the roots of ciich vine ; in the spring he takes it
off and spreads it on his garden. Last year and
previously he pruned them, according to his limi-
ted knowledge, but a German vine-dresser said he
would have no grapes because he pruned wrong.
Thii i* the fom-th yeitr, they bore a full crop. I
visited Mr. Miller in his store and got his account.
He seemed a very candid man, and I can imagine
no reason why his statement is not trustworthy.
Besides, I had a similar one of tliese grapes from
the neighbors. He said that they had all they
wanted to eat and to make into preserves ; that
they gave some away and that his wife sold some ;
in short, that from these three vines there must
have been five or six bushels. On my expressing
surprise he said he counted the bunches on one
vine, just for curiosity, iind there were four hun-
dred and twenty, and, it would seem that if they
had been sold at the market price they would have
brought more than fifty dollars.

M. L. Dunlap, at Champaign, fifty miles east of
Bloomington, is also preparing to plant grapes
largely. Li.st summer I saw his vines ; they were
treated in true nursery fashion, the laterals mak-
ing roots and the rest of the vine lying about in a
way that would distract a vine-dresser. And yet,
notwithstanding this treatment, almost every vari-
ety of sufficient age was loaded with fruit, and no

wmH'i'^

1864.

THE ILLmoIS FAKMER.

103

rot apparent. Perhaps Mr. Dunlap's plants and
trees have a partiality for hiai, for 1 saw very
small apple trees bearing so much as to seem all
apples. In planting 1000 vines, he proposes the
following divisions: 100 Hartfocd Prolific, 200
Concord, 100 Delaware, 100 Diana, 200 Norton's
Virginia, 100 Oatawba, 100 Heibemont and 100 of
the new kinds on trial. He prefers the mulatto
to the black prairie soil. He thinks the Diana
has been overlooked, that the Delaware must be
one of the best for some parts of the State, and
with special manures, for all parts. Should Mead's
Seedling prove what it is claimed, it must be the
grape. This is so similar to the Catawba that
judges cannot tell the difference, and all tlie differ-
ence claimed is in the vines, which do not grow
from cuttings, and the fruit does not rot. He
thinks the Concord and Hartford desirable at pres-
ent ; that in time they mast give place to better
ones. In planting he would not trench, but would
sub-soil a foot deep ; set six feet by eight and train
on trellis. He thinks it important that only one
shoot should grow the first year, and it be tied to
a stake, particularly the Delaware.

I have mentioned Mr. Buchanan's vinej'ard. He
says that after the first few years of planting, the
Oatawba does well ; when six or seven years old it
begins to rot ; hence it will take this length of
time at loast to try this new variety. Their suc-
cess is various in different vineyards. Mr. B. said
that last year some with fifty acres did not do as
well as he did with seven acres. Bear in mind that
all the vineyards around Cincinnati have been
trenched iwo feet deep. He has come to the con-
clusion, after many years of experience and obser-
vation, that they plant too thi'^kly and prune too
close. He thinks that the rot is caused from a sud-
den change from heat to cold ; that the vine takes
cold and becomes deseased. I believe a!l careful
observors have concluded that the rot follows a
change in the weather. The greates^t drawback
they have is a want of labor. Grapes need man-
ure, that from the stable is good, ashes are best.
Too much manure gives an unhealthy growth on
.sandstone soils ; lime is good ; here grapes rot less
than on limestone. If he were going to plaiit a
vineyard he would put two cuttings where he would
have the vine grow — he would trench or plow
twenty inches deep: if there is a gravel sub-soil,
common plowing will do. He is certain the roots
descend three or four feet at least.* All grapes rot
with them, but none so bad as the Catawba. —
Thinks Norton's Virginia will make a valuable red
wine, but a white wine such as the Catawba sells
best. When I told him the Virginia brought twice
the price of the Catawba at St. Louis, he said it is
because it is something new. He said that vines
having half a dozen bunches are just as likely to
rot as if they were lo:ided. Sulphur in a green-
house is a preventive — in the field it is useless. —
Volcanic regions are always good for grapes. Such
are the notes I took from Mr. Buchanan."

We have observed that in all cases
when a grape vine has been allowed
to run under the eaves or cornice of a
honse or the coping of a wall, that the
fruit in such situations is always sound,

and we have heard it whispered that
Mead's Seedling has been thus protec-
ted. The inference is that the heavy
dews which fall on the bunches of
grapes induce the rot. The immuni-
ty as above and in all cases when grape
vines run into the tops of trees that
ward of the dew, wouid appear to lend
some truth to the theory. Along the
lake shore where there is little or no
dew, the grape does not rot so much ;
while, on the contrary, in the south
part of the State, where dew falls like
a small shower, saturating the grass
and foliage of plants, the rot is the
most intense. We have suggested to
a grape grower near, Dr. Meeker, that
he make a shelter, say of a foot wide
or more, directly over his grape trellis,
with a view to protect them from the
falling dew, and thus test the theory.

" Some of Mr. William's struck me as sound. He
says Norton's Virginia does well in that region,
and that it will make excellent port wine. After
long experience he has become opposed to the sys-
tem of pruning as established. He would let the
vine grow pretty much as nature designs, and that
there may bo shade for the fruit, in which case it
always is sweetest, and that there may be room for
the sap to circulate. He would, however, keep
the vines within certain bounds. During the Sum-
mer their German vine-dressers go through the
vineyard .-md tear down the laterals with harsh
jerks, and make quick woik. Of course many of
the eyes are injured. I believe they call this busi-
ness " kiteing. " Mr. W. had a bitter experience,
which I give. On this place he had a fine border
of Catawbas. It was the pride of the place. It
bore well ; he would have it do better. He set a
German to work at it ; he spent two days in getting
it right. Then there was great lamentation among
the women ; their arbor wus destroyed. This was
several years ago. The vines have not done any good
since. He says decidedly, a vine must be trt ated
in a uniform manner, or it will be ruined. It will
not do to make ii dwari vine run on a trellis, nor to
dwarf one which has been extended. As it has
been trained the first four years, so should it ever
afterwards be trained. "Train up a vine in the
way it should grow, and when it is old it should
not depart from it." Mr. W. gave an instance of
a German ;it Sandusky who pruned close, and
whose grapes were the only ones in that region
which rotted. The German said the ground was
too rich. Does it not seem that the richer the soil
is the more room in and out of the ground does
the vine require ? Does it not seem that in prun-
ing, particularly in the Summer when the sap is

104

THE ILLINOI

E MEE.

Apri]

abundant, that tlio fruit receives more sap than it
c:m possibly use, and that it is the sap more than
the grapes ? "

There c;in be no doubt that our German vine
dressers prune too severely and many of them ac-
knowledge it and are giving their vines more space.

" Dr. Warder's vineyard is in a fine condition,
and yet the grapes rotteil badly this year. Every-
thing is in finest order and the fruit trees are thrif-
ty and in great variety. One sees tlionce many
miles of the Ohio. The house stands about three
hundred feet above tlie water. As a fruit farm,
the Doctor's place is but a few years old. Of the
Delaware, I was told they did not like it so
well as the Catawba, because, being sweet,
they can eat but few of them. They showed me
some of Dr. Grant's five dollar Delawarcs. I could
see thetn. They looked like dried sinait-weed, and
verv poor at that. I find many similar vines of
this variety from many other source?. They told
me what I had never heard before, that is, that
their dogs eat grapes, and they eat th<'m as readily
as a hog eats corn. Almost every one I have in-
quired or thinks it would be a good plan to hedge
a vineyard with evergreens. Beside the protection,
it would secure a more equal tenipcrature. It
might pievent rot.

What I have related of the three vines at Bloom-
ington would Iciid one to think that the prairie soil
is most excellent, if not superior, for grapes. I
know that it is a solitary instance, but I sec no
reason whatever why any one else may not do as
well. I think that success on the prairies will turn
upon giving the vine room, so that it may have
branches to correspond with the great mass of roots
which a soil of such wonderful fertility is certain to
produce. If this position is true, no one can esti-
mate the value of the prairies for grape-growing
»nd wine-making. The time may come when, in
many secticuis, a bucket of wine will be more easily
obtained than a bucket of water. ^Ve are only
beginnning to develop the riches of our country.
Clearly it is a sup'.Tior race which is doing it. For
two hundred years, California was known by the
Spaniards. The Anglo-American got po.-.session,
and in twenty years they have developed more re-
sources than Rome developed in her whole empire
during a thousand years. It is good for us to know
these things.

I should not omit speaking of the Islands. They
art nearly opposite to Sandusky. Here grape-
growers have been remarkably successful, and
comuieneed the business next after they at Cincin-
nati. Several years ago I was on Kelly's Island,
whence so many grapes are shipped to all parts of
the country. From my recollection they have a
soil of rather stiff clay and the rock are limestone.
The lime used in Northern Ohio mo-tly comes
from the Island. They claim that here the crop
always is certain. I have understood, however,
that they have been troubled, to some little extent,
with the rot. It is certain that the grapes raised
here and on the shore sell better in Cincinnati than
their own grapes. The fruit dealers tliero told me
so.

In preparing the ground on Kelly's Island they dig
ditches, pai'allel to each otiicr, three feet deep and
thirty feet apart; flat $tones are set up in the bot-
tom, so as to form a roof, and small stones are put
on these within fourteen inches of the surface,

when they fill the ditch with si plow. They think
the common plan of trenching c?oe.'! more harm than
good! Tlicy plow the whole ground us deep as
they want to plant the young roots. Their distance
is 6 by 8. They triiin on trellis.

Nine miles east of Cleveland, at collamcr, among
other vineyards, I visited those of Dr. Dunham.
He has four acres in bearing, and is putting out
eight or ten acres more. He has the Catawba
mostly, which is the best grape for that region. I
did not hear much of the Delaware. Of course,
it wou'd do well. Almost all these vineyards have
a noithern or north-western exposure. The vines
were loaded to their utmost capacity. I cannot
do better than to give Dr. Dunh-m's own account,
which he has kindly i'urnished me :

Dear Sir : In reply to your inquiries, I would
say : 1st. That in preparing the groinid for a
vineyard we simply give our land a good deep plow-
ing, and then with a spade prepare a place for the
roots. If the ground be sod-land I . should prefer
having it broken up late in the Fall, and then, be-
fore setting the roots in the Spring, I thoroughly
harrow to prevent the growth of grass, wldihia
apt to show its self at the edge of the furrow.
\Vhcn practicable I sliould much prefer the Michi-
gan, or double plow, which throws the sod at the
bottom of the furrow, jdacing it so doep tltat the
grasss cannot possibly grow, and furnishing food
fur the young vines.

2d. Our method of cultivation does not dififer,
materially, from that given to other crops. We
use the plow, cultivator and hoe freely, so as to
keep the ground clear. We are careful not to plow
deep near the vine, so as to endanger the main
roots, but prefer cutting off' the surf ice roots. Af-
ter the crop has been gathered, we plow, throwing
the earth to the vines, leaving an open furrow mid-
way between the rows so as to carry off the water,
and in the Spring plow from the vines.

3d. We train our vines to two stakes each (.-take
seven f^et long), placing them from twenty inches
to two feet on either side of tlie vine.

4th. We adopt the spur, or short pruning, leaving
spur.*, with two buds each, at regular intervals, and
the leading cane with five or six buds. When
vines first begin lo bear there should not be more
than one or two spurs left on each branch, but as
the vine acquires strength more should be left.

otb. Our vines are now seven and eight years
old, and this season yielded four and one tliiid tuns
per acre. I think they may be made to yield five
or more tuns to the acre.

The reader will observe that here is no trenching
at .§75 an acre, nor draining at half this sum:
and not even sub-soiling. The Cincinnati grape-
growers, in speaking of this method, predict that
after a few years vines planted in this way will
gradually die out. I could not see it. Suppose
they do. It is easier to replant a vineyard every
ten years than to trench. It is a small job to raise
roots from layers.

Four tuns and one third are 8,666 pounds. Twen-
ty bushels of wheat, a good vield for an acre, are
only 1,200 pounds; .50 bu-"hels of corn, 2,800
pounds; 100 bushels of potatoas, 5,000 pounds.
The average price nf these crops will not be two
cents a pound. If grapes will not bring eight cuts
a pound it is more profitable to make them into
wine. An acre of Dr. Dunham's grapes would
make more than 700 gallons of wine. After the

1864.

THE ILLIIS^OIS FAEMER.

105

fourtli year, the expense ottending an acre of grapes
will not exceed that of wheat, because what costs
more is balanced by the pleasure one has in work-
ing them. A horticulturist often prefds some
kinds of work to eating oysters or reading novels.

Here is the place to show how one is to be free
from the care which burdens so many in wanting
help. It is to be understood that no more is to be
undertaken, except in times of harvest, tlian you
and your family can do alone. As a general thing.
I never saw any good come of depending on hired
help to raise large quantities of fruit; and in com-
mencing the buisness it will not do at all. Often
will the wages consume the profit-, and more too,
and the deficiency must be met from other sources.
Where there is much hired help, there are repeated
complaints of carelessness, and of rare plants
being hoed up because they are supposed to be
weeds. The great evil lies in having to much land.
Twentv acres, well worked, make a large farm.

I s\ill ^peakofone more vineyard, and where
much other fruit also is raised. If I desire one
thing more than another, as regards our country
at huge, it is, to see professional and literary men
becoaie growers of fru't, and owners of ennugh
land to make them interested in faruiing affairs,
for there is no other way in which they can somuch
honor industry , so well preseive and build up their
health or lay deeper the foundations of Christianity
and Civilization.

I visited the grounds of the Rev. A. S. Hayden,
a well known and popular preacher in Northern
Ohio. A few years ago he accepted the place of
principal of the Western Reserve Eclectic In>titute,
indeed he was a prineip:>l founder, and under his
instructions, Maj. Gen. Garfield, then young, began
to unfold his powers — afterwards, he became a
teacher and finally, on the resignation of Mr. Hay-
den, the prineipal. At the same time, Prof. Wil-
bcr, now secretary of the Illinois Historical Society,
was a teacher and the three worked harmoniously
together.

Mr. Hayden's farm is seven miles east of Cleve-
land I had not seen him for several years. As
I approached, I saw him carrying a pail to the
barn. I searclied for him, and found him feeding
swill to his hogs, which were kept in a neat, dry
pen in the barn. I stood on the steps above ; he
did not see me; at last I spoke, and asked the far-
mer how he got tilong It was a mutual suipri^e.
He did not look a bit older than ten years before.
We remembered much ; we have forgotten more.
Almost the first thing he did was to show me his
gnipes, g owing in bountiful clusters on the trellis
and extended arbors. Through the grounds, and
interpersed with these, wore boughs bending with
beauiiful yellow peaches. How many men, brought
up excltisively to farming, have no such sight to
show — no such fruit for their families to enjoy. It
is to be added, that horticulture does not inteifere
with the reverend gentleman's sermons. On the
contrary, I am sure he is better able to speak by
being aequ.tiuted with so much that is of interest
to " men's buisne.-s and bosoms." Honor to all
inch literary men.

0 -ly a i'iiw years aso no grapes weresaeu in this
region. Now you see vineyards on rough and un-
level grounii and on the side hills, where bo\s used
to hunt for poor strawberries and wh"re two acres
of land would scarcely keep a sheep, they pick
•nough grapes to feed and clothe a family and to

educate the children. Springing through the flag-
stones at back doors are Isabella gaape-vines ; they
cover the kitchen and run alosig the wood-house,
often a hundred feet, and here they pick grapes in
large baskets. "

Our reader will excuse us for occupying so much
space, for it will well repay them for the perusal.

For the Illinois Farmer.

Alton, III,, Feb. 26, 1864,
M. L. Duidajj, Eng., Dear Sir : ,

Comins home to-nisrht I found the lUinolt
Farmer on my table, and am tempted to write you
after looking it over.

First, to say how well pleased I am at your good
resolution to make the Alton hottieulturists a visit
next summer, and to offer my services as cicerone,
having had a little experience during the past year.
To be sure, we shall be a poor show after this ter-
rible winter, but for that you will know how to
make allowance. Our peach trees are very sick at
heart, though the sap wood and bark promise to
make them partially good again. Some are cut-
ting the young trees to the snow line, and this in
case of trees set last year is, I have no doubt, the
best. Others shorten in severe!}'. Others are re-
ducing four and five year old trees to bare poles
with a few forks. It is found that upon getting
down to the large limbs of trees of this age that
they are quite sound and of a healthier color.
Older trees are more irjured again. Apple trees
unhurt. Pear trees have last year's growth hurt
in some localities. Cherry trees are generally good
out here, nine miles from the river; sweet cherries
are complained of at Alton somewhat. Dr. Hull
thinks his plums are injured ; I cannot see that my
trees are hurt. Apricot trees are but little in-
jured here er at Dr. Hull's. Quinces all right.
Grapes a good deal hurt — can't tell yet how much;
those loosened from trellises arc of course in much
the best condition. Lawton blackberries badly
killed back. Raspberries suffered a good deal.

The coming year we snail have apples, pear;:,
very few peaches, some cherries, few grapes
will show you what there is.

I have been purchasing part of Dr. Hull's tract,
which, with what I already have, gives me about
200 acres on the blufis above Alton, where I in-
tend to do my peach and grape growing hereafter.
From what running about I have been able to do
I am satisfied that the loei^s or bluff formation of
the Mississippi is the best fruit soil of the upper
valley : surpassing the South Pass region as more

106

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

April

pervious to moisture and more suitable in its con-
stituents; and having I believe a drier atmosphere
above it in the season of ripening fruits.

But I will put in a special plea for Alton, &c.,
some other time and go on. I only wished to say I
wished to call your special attention to the Alton
bluifs, and show them to ynu when you come.

In the second place I wish to remonstrate with
you in a friendly way for the delay in the appear-
ance of the Illinois Farmer. Its tardy monthly
appearance greatly injures its influence, which oth-
erwise wouid be excellent, for it is very generally
liked when received.

The printing of Transactions is pretty well along.
They will not, be so good as I could wish as re-
gards discussions, but many of the essays are ex-
cellent. I am afraid I shall be obliged to omit
many fruit lists, which I regret, as I regard
them of a good deal of pomological value. But
there is a terrible lot of matter to print, and some-
thing must be left out.

Truly Yours,

W. C. FLAGG.

— We shall be glad to accept the kind offer of
our good friend Flagg, in looking through the gar-
dens and orchards of Alton, for we know we shall
have a rich treat, not only for ourself but our
readers. Ed.

I grow on branches half an inch in diameter or larger,
i above the snow line. All my trees in the nursery
arc alive, and all that I set out last spring, but
peach trees three or four years old are very doubt-
ful."

— At this writing, March 15th, our own trees
have considerably improved, and we think will
mostly come out all right, though most of the visi-
tors to our grounds have no hope of a favorable
result, and some have cut their trees down. — Ed.

Damage to Fruit Trees.

J. A. Carpenter, of Cobdeii, writes under date
of March 10th : "Weather warm. Our losses in
nursery trets and plants will not reach ten per
cent, by the cold of January — never had a better
staml of buds; they hav(^ wintered finely."

N. C. Meeker, of Dcngola, writes : "This is now
March 6ih, and our peach trees arf improving, in
appearance at least. The inner bark is not so
black a-; it was, and thrifty limbs which some time
since were drying up, now are getting plump and
of good color. I should not wonder if the sap
comiiiij up from the roots did not, before they leaf
out, make tliem live and flourish. I am speaking
now particularly of my own trees ; still, they may
turn out as bad as any have prophesied, and all
have to start from the seed. I think it yet too
soon to definitely state what is the fate of the
peach orchards."

Mr. Viigil Beale, of Anna, writes : "Peach trees
are starting their leaves, so I do not think the frost
has injured them much."

Dr. W. Riehart, of Carbondale, writes : "My one
year old peach trees are all putting out leaves on
all the small twigs, some within two or three buds
of the point. I can find no buds alive or likely to

Carbondale.

Carbondale is just within the great forest of the
south part of the State, being a few miles south
of the Big Muddy river, and on the northern slope
of the great water shed of Egypt. The soil is rich
and the surface gently undulating, gradually rising
to the summit of the Grand Chain. A large amount
of white wheat of superior quality is grown in
the vicinity.

Peach orchards have of late largely miiltiplied,
and over four millions pounds of tobacco was ship-
ped last year. Add to this that cotton growing is
among the staples, and we have the fact that it is
one of the most desirable points in the south part
of the State. The Illinois Central have thousands
of acres of choice timber lands in the vicinity well
adapted to all the staple crops noted above.

There is a neatness about the streets and a show
of activity that always attracts the railroad pas-
senger. The fruit growers have formed an associa-
tion and are going ahead, holding their meetings on
the 1st and 3d Saturdays of the month. We shall
hope to hear from them often.

Book Farming-

Springfield, 111., March II, '64.
M. L. Dunlap, Esq. Dear Sir:

I have been a reader of your valuable paper, the
Illinojs Farmer, since you became its editor, and
have learned very much about farming, fruit grow-
ing, &c. It may be called book farming I presume,
but I have put it to practice and find it will work,
especially your views on orcharding. I have adopt-
ed low-headed trees and varieties that will bear
early and stand our hard winters. Will you please
send me some scions of the Stanard and Ben Da-
vis apples, a few of each any time before the graft-
ing season is over ? I presume you can send them
by mail, as you stated in a, former number of the
Farmer. Enclosed you will find twenty-five cents
for postage. Yours truly, Wm. H. Marsh.

— The scions are sent and you will find them two
of the most profitable apples that you have in your

'^^Hr^g?^gg^»?^^^^gy>?as;j^^ '. '.'"'.'y

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

107

orchard. Low-headed trees and hardy bearing
Borts. Book farming — well, that will do it in our

style.-

-Ed.

Cotton in Egypt.

Dr. N. C. Meeker, of Dongola, writes us under
date of March 6 th :

" We are going to raise cotton this year ; I know
of many who are so earnessl that they will plant
by the Ist of April, though the 10th of May has
been thought the best time. It is certain that a
month's early growth is worth two of late growth,
and this muy be said of all crops here. It requires
a different kind of management to succeed here
from what it does with you in farming operations.

Whatever crops do not get a good start, and are
not mostly or wholly made in June or July, are not
likely to be of any value, on account of the dry,
hot weather of the later months."

— Just so — we have for years been advocating
early planting, in the south part of the State, so as |
to make the growth during the rainy months. —
In this respect the Dr. is only approaching the
practice of the best farmers here. Plant early. —
Ed.

Alton Horticultural Society.

Saturday, March 5th, 1864.

Pursuant to adjournment the society met at the
residence of the president, Dr. E. S. Hull.

Present, E. S. Hull, B. F. Long, J. M. Pearson,
A. Starr, F. Starr, H. G. Mc Pike, J. Huggins,
•Jumes Xewman, C. W. Dimmoek, J. Burton, E. A.
Riehl, John Curtis, F. Curtis, C. Merryman, G. W.
Long, D. E. Brown, W. C. Flagg. A numbar of
ladies, also graced the meeting with their presence.

Dr. Long presented a quantity of garden seeds,
received by him from the commisioner of agricul-
ture, which were distributed among the members.

Members were requested by vote to report upon
the success of the new varieties disseminated, and
upon the correctness and vitality of the seeds gen-
erally.

F. Starr, the essayist for this meeting read some
notes upon March work, which, however, sickness
had previ'nted him from putting into shape. Snme I
of the subjects embraced therein were taken up for
discussion. The essay was put on file.

TRANSPLANTING.

Dr. Long said the first labor of this season,
should be the taking up of fruit trees while they
were dormant, and the ground soft. He had once
taken up and heeled in 1 1 1 3 trees, previous to March
12th, and only lost three in transplanting.

Dr. Hull tho»ght it important to take up treat
early, especially when planting is to be late, in or-
der that a callus may be formed before setting.

Mr. Burton had succeeded perfectly in planting
trees taken up after the leaves were started.

F. Starr has found September planting success-
ful.

It was voted that trees should be taken up as
early in March as possible.

PRUNING.

Dr. Long would cut off' the large limbs of apple
trees previous to the middle of March. Smaller
limbs he would trim later, when the growth is most
vigorous. Dr. Warder and Mr. Whitney's practice
is the same.

Mr. Starr prunes in winter or in summer alter
the leaves are out.

Mr. Burton prunes in winter because the wounds
then dry better, and then is the time of leisure.

Mr. Huggins prefers to prune large limbs in win-
ter, and small ones in June. "In summer for fruit,
in winter for wood."

Voted to recommend pruning of large limbs pre-
vious to March.

Mr. Mc Pike asked the opinion of the members
in regard to shortening in large transplanted trees
of Scotch Pine.

F. Starr has practiced shortening in Scotch and
Austrian pines. Does not do so with Norway
spruce.

Mr. Brown thinks it is an advantage to thin out
limbs of Norway Spruce.

Mr. Huggins would not prune Austrian or Nor-
way Pine branches except to put the tree in shape.

Dr. Hull thinks it important to retain the limbs
to peserve the vitality of the tree.

Dr. Long has transplanted the Red Cedar from
the bluffs in August, with perfect success.

PRUNING OF GRAPES.

Dr. Hull illustrated pruning by a sample of vine
from his vineyard. He trains two or three stakes —
cuts off last year's bearing wood, takes the strongest
cane of last year's growth for bearing — counts off
about ten eyes and cuts it off. The cane for wood,
he cuts down to two or three eyes — leaves say
three bunches of fruit to a spur and pinches off,
leaving one to three leaves outside the last bunch
— does not pinch off the laterals on the wood cane.
As regards pruning the present year, he would de-
f r it until we can ascertain more definitely the
effect of the cold of January first on the vines.
The buds upon his own vines are killed, except
upon the lower terraces or other points where they
were covered with drifted snow.

Mr. Riehl said that where the buds were all kill-
ed, the new growth must start from below the
snow line.

Mr. Dimmoek, from the Committee appointed to
invite old members to renew their membership,
reported that all he had seen wished to do so. A
few had not yet been called upon. The report was
received and the Committee continued.

The following gentlemen were proposed as new
members and unanimouslv elected: J. W. Schweppe.
E, A. Riehl, D. E. Brown, G. W. Long, Chas,
Merryman, John Curtis and F. Curtis.

EFFECTS OF COLD OF JANUARY FIRST.

Mr. Huggins exhibited sections of peach trees
that had passed through the winter of 1855-6
Being of Strong's Mammouth, and Large Early

108

THE ILLmOIS FAEMER.

April

York varieties. Tiiese were rotten at heart, but
new wood had formed outride, and tlio trees had
borne well since. Thinks th^.t wliere the present
season the baik is alive, that luoder.ite eultivation
and cutting b-ick wll save the trees. Thinks tlie
Liir^e Kai 1\- York and Early Tillotson are the mo^t
hardy this ye^ir.

F. Stiu-r said old trees have suiTered most with
him ; young trees less.

Dr. iiuil said that the injury in the winter of
1855-(i was not caused by excessive cold. The
thermometer then sinking no lower than 12 degrees
below zero. But in the fall of 1855 the peach and
cherry cast their leaves ; a new growth was put
fourth, and smail fruit of a second crop formed,
and the trees entered the winter in very bad con-
dition. The present winter the preceding sleet I
caused more injury than the excessive cold. In
the case of injury to trees he thinks the injury is
thrown off not covered up.

Mr. .M'Pike said the section exhibited by Mr.
Huggins looked like all other peach trees of equal
age'

Dr. Hall said trees here on the bluff were but
little injured. Heart cherry, contrary to his ex-
pectations had escaped. The wood of the peach
of hist years growth was a little discolored.

Mr. ILiggins thought trees of medium age, like
Dr. Hull's endured the cold better than younger or
older trees.

Mr. Brown said pcaoli trees were improving in
appearance.

On motion of Mr. Dimmick the Secretary was
instructed to write to the Commissioner of agricul-
ture, and solicit a supply of flower seeds for the
lady members of the Society.

On motion of Mr. Long, a similar instruction
was given as to new varieties of gr;ipe vines.

Mr. Riehl wiis appointed an essayist for .May.

Dr. Hull will readan essay upon " Roots "al
the next meeting.

Mr. Huggins, Maj. Long, and Mr. Burton, bein,',.
appointed a fruit committee pro tem, reported i'l.:
following apples on exhibitii n.

By M". Flagg, Pryor's Red and Newtown Pippin,
fine specimens.

By Mr. Curtis, very fine epecimens of Newtow::
Pippin, and a sweet red whicli may be Caiupfield.

Mr. Pearson, .Mr. Dimmock; and Mr. Flag:;, wei
appointed a committee to select future placi'S (!
meeting

The Society then adjourned to meet at Mes.'srs.
A. and F. Starr's on Saturday, April 2J, at Id
o'clock, A. M.

W. G. FLAGG, Sec'y.

The Alton Horticultural Society is among the
most useful institutions of the State and is having
a most decided effect on the surroundings of the
city ami the vicinity.

The fruit growers of that section are mostly men
of wealth and education, thus combining ability
and means, to develop the resources of what is natur-
ally one of the best locations in the west fortius
branch of buisness whether we consider the nature
of the formation of the river bluff, the equalizing
effect of the river, the mild summer climate, or
the facilitii'S for transportation. We shall look
forward to these reports with especial intercit.

We also hope to give our readers a more detailed
account from the gardens and orchards of that
locality early in the season, from a personal
inspection. Since our last visit to that place
great progress must have been made, judging
of the large shipments annually made since that
time.

In this connection we copy from one of the Alton
papers a discription of the grounds of Dr. E. S.
Hull.

" Dr Hull's f;irm is situated about three miles
above Alton, near the river on which it looks
down from an elevation of some two hundred
and fifty feet. The somewhat projecting point
affords a view extending from the mouth of the
Missouri, to far above the Portage des Sioux
on the river; and over the Missouri bottfim to the
St. Charles' bluffs, on the opposite shore. The
somewhat monotonous character of our level prai-
rie State, gives the force of strong contrast to this
picturesque view ; and meditations upon t!;e pres-
ent and past along the river chffs invest tliem with
the " rime of age, " and the romance of hi-tory. It
was along these rocky shores, if we may believe
Indian tradition, that the dread monster of the
Piasa preyed upon the red men, and anoth(>r Curiius
offered himself in sacrafice for the welfare of his
countrymen. Here came Marquette giding soli-
tary along the then lonely Father of Waters and
saw the terrible monster painted on the clifts, two
centuries ago. But now the laboring steamer
awakens the hollow echoes of the over hanging
rock, and the commerce of a thousand towns pass-
es by.

Biit the scenic attractions of this locality are
added others of more substantial character. The
Loesx or BInff Formatimi. of this part of the Miss-
issippi, is one of the best fruit soils. The cnflu-
once of the Mississippi, the Illinois and the Miss-
ouri, tempers the reverity of frost ; and the eleva-
tion of the bluffs throws off the cold airs of Spring
and .Autumn and the uuhealthful moisture of tum-
mer. "

Here Dr. Hull began his labors in 1850 having
sold his first fruit firm west of Mc^nticllo to the
Messrs. Starr. Tho-e who visited his place during
the past summer, will bear witness to the success
which has attended his severe labors. Ti:e Peach,
the Plum, the Nectarine, the Apricot, the Cherry
and the Grape, all griw in great pr.. fusion and
excellence. — For beauty, quality and quantity com-
bineii, the orchard wis never excelL'din the West.
Dr, Hull has growing
51) Nectarine Trees, 20 Quince Trees,
450 Apple " 2,600 Grape Vines,

200 Pear " 2,000 Current Bushes,

1,500 Peach '' loO Gooseberry "
100 Cherry " 500 Raspberry "

200 Plum ' " i Acre Strawberrv.

12 Appricot

One thousand Newtown Pippins are to be added,
it is believed, the present Spring, and the vineyard
will probably receive some accessions. "

2;^" A London journal says that as the habit of
smikinsc has increased in England that of deep
drinking has gone out. That is something in favor
of the smokers.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

109

A ITew Product of the Ort-tiard.

APPLE JELLY MADE CHEAP FROM NEW CIDER.

Atalit/i moetii'g of the Ohio Pnmological So-
ciety, at Toledo, considerable interest was excited
by tlie exhibition of a number of glass jars of
beaiitilul jelly, manufactured from cider on a Sor-
ghu;n eviiparator, Me-srs. Corey & Son, of Lima,
Indi aia. It was of lini- color and consistence, and
exee!le;!t flavor; and if it can be made as cheaply
R3 the followinji; statemi-nt of the Messrs. Corey
represents, it cannot fail to become an aiticle of
commercial importance. — Cor. Ohio Farmer.

STATEMENT OF COKEY k SON.

We send you by cxpjess several specimens of cl-

inch

you will pleas--' have the goodness

der jeiiy,

to test and dispose of ad libitum. — It is made pure- i
ly of tlie juice of the apple, without any mixture j
whiitever, no sugar, and no chen.ic::ls. The apples j
were ground and pressed in the ordinary way, and j
the cider, after being strained, and before its fer- I
mentation, was passed in a tl.in and nearl^y contm- ;
nous eurr:nt over the intensely heate 1 surface of j
our clarifying and evaporating sugar pan. The |
whole process of cleansing and and condensing i
to tlie requi-ite consistency of jellies, being about I
eight gallons into one, is performed in frinn iwenty I
to thirty minuits from the time th;'.t the cider enters j
the ciarifier until it leaves the oppi'site end of the
evaporation, duly cleansed, condensed and cooked.
From fifteen to twenty barrels of cider may be
thus transformed per day often hours' service, on
a pan of suitable dimensions for family or neigh-
borhood use.

Our ai)p:tratus is made of copper, and proves
equal y adapted to the manufacture of these pleas-
ant tarts and our Xorthern sweets. It is observa-
ble that cider jellies do not (at least in our three
years' experiments) congeal into candy, nor mold
on the surface. Its flavor also improves by age.
The jellies herewith presented, of the past season's
manufacture, were made of a mixture of tart and
sweet ap!)les, and the fair samples of several thou-
sand gallons made in this region by ourselves, and
by others who have adopted our implements and
method of manufacture. An abundance of the
like miiy, in propitious seasons, be made to advan-
tage in all the fruit-growing portions of our coun-
try. It has been much admired whenever intro-
duced, and our physicians prefer it for their pa-
tients to other jellies made of the best materials.

Spr.ucE Up. — If you get a moment to spare,
spruce up — put that gate on its hinges, put a little
paint on the picket fence you built last year, trim
up about your door yard, make it cosy and inviting;
don't say you can't find time for these things. The
fact is, you have no right to go slovenly — your
wife and children will be happier, your farm will
sell for more money in the market, and be worth
more to you at home if you devote an odd hour
now and then to spruce up.

Flax Culture— Porgie Oil a Substitute
for Linseed Oil— Culture of the Black-
berry—Grafting the May Cherry on
the Morello,

[Letter from Rural]

CfiAMPAiGX, March 1, 1864.

In the culture of flax for seed it has been cus-
tomary to sow only half a bushel of seed to tlie acre.
This practice was obtained frotn the oil mill men,
who have generally furnished s-'cd, and have been
desirous to obtdn the largest amount from the
seed sent out, without any regard to the }ield per
acre. In all cases a bushel to a bushel and a half
should be sown, making as a rule, that the richer
and fine;' the soil is [lulverized the less seed is re-
quired.

There is no crop that pays better for manure than
flax, and if possible to avoid it, this crop should
not be sown without more or less being applied. If
the hind for fl ix hns been fall plowed, or if corn
stalk stubb!-^ is used, tlie manure can be spre.id on
the surface and either harrowed in, or what is bet-
ter, u.^e a six-shovel, two-horse cultivator. In all
cases the roller should follow the sowing.

Flax should be sown eaily in April or the last of
MiU'ch, th( ufrh^ouietiines good crops are grown on
sward land t'urn.'d over tli^. fir-t Isalf of May. The
brown seed is the b^ st variety to sow.

In clearing the seed of foul seed, such as yellow
seed, cockle and charlock, use a long mesh wire
screen, just wide enough to allow fiax seed to pass
through edgewise, while all seed-, such as cockle,
oats, wild bu.kwh;at, etc., will pass over. It is
next passed over a square mesh scre<?n, the meshes
of which are th.e right cize to pass through fine
seeds, but do not admit the fl ix seed, which pass
over. It is very important to have clean seed, if
sown early and thickly seeded, the weed seeds in
the land thut have been deeply buried do not come
up in tiirie to do much harm before the crop is suf-
ficiently advanced to smother them down ; but. in
the case of the seeds soivn with the crop it is dif-
ferent, as those seeds having been well preserved
come up at once and present a vigor f^'.r surpassing
those that have been retained in the soil
the winter.

Tl«i high price of flax seed, and the new demand
for the lint,, make this a valuable crop, atid will re-
pay for an unusual attention to it. So long as ex-
change continues at present rates the price of lin-
seed oil must rule high, unless some new product
should take its place. Oil made from the fish called
Porgie is attracting considerable attention at the
East, for outside painting, and may prove a rival
to Linseed, as cflfectual as Benzole has to Turpen-
tine.

BLACKBE.^P.Y CULTURE.

This fruit has become so popular, and withal so
cheap, that iiicre;ised attention is being paid to it.
The Lawton is the variety mostly planted, yet the
main supply of fruit has come from the wild plant
about the fields and borders of the woodl.vnd. In
the south part of the State large amounts have
been gathered from the bushes growing along the
Illinois Central milroad, but these have all been
cut down, much to the regret of the inhabitants,
though none to passengers, or the pockets of the
Company.

through

l.ij;-,. TWr^^\^'i!mr

110

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

April

In setting out a plantation of blackberries the
land should be drv and rolling, of hazel brush or
mulato soil is the best. Trench plow a foot deep
and lay off in rows eight feet apart ; in these rows
set the pliints two feet apart ; keep down nil suck-
ers except for a width of six inches in the row,
which will soon form p perfect hedge. When the
plants attain about four feet cut the tops with a
pair of hedge shears, and "3 the new tops shoot
above this line cut them off. This will irake stocky
branching plants, that will need no st iking or trel-
lis work to keep them in place. The space between
the rows can be planted with cabbage the first
year and worked in the usual way, and tlie follow-
ing season with a double shovel plow or cultivator.
The rows should have an occasional side trimming
with the bhide of an old scythe or corn cutter to
keep them in place.

VVe are setting two acres in the manner describ-
ed al)ove, being oliliged to abandon the old phinta-
tion where the rows were set four feet wide, as the
plants filled the space so completely tliat a horse
could not go tlirough, and the whoh.' was given up
to the plants. Witli rows of eight feet, some three
or four feet will be retained for a passage-way for
the fruit-picker and the hor.-e for the purpose of
cultivation.

The Lawton has two faults : one is that it winter
kills, and the other that it is too spreading in its
habits, and a more upright grower is desirable. —
We therefore use plants selected from the woods
when in bearing. At this time our plants look as
though they are considerably irgured by the hard
freeze of January 1st, and of course it is not safe
to say they are perfectly hardy. In the woodland
the blackberry is if possible in a woise condition.
It is possible that the lower part of the plant not
injured may produce a partial crop. Too little is !
as yet known of field culture of this fruit to lay
down positive ruics in rciziard to pruning and the
hardiness of varieties. The mode of planting as
above is pretty well settled, as well as the fact that
we should look for a more hardy variety than the
Lnwton. It is supposed that several of these have
been found, but planters should not too implicitly
rely ("n the statements of interested parties, as it is
possible that the past winter may have sent some l
of them up.

The Dorchester and Newman's Thornless are of
little value, and it is useless to throw away time
and money with them.

CHERRIES.

Crete, Will Co., Feb. 20, '64.

Mr. Rural : — During the past eight years we
have planted hereabouts a large number of cherry
trees of the sorts from New York, but most of the
trees winter kill. A few trees of the May or Early
Richmond have been planted and produca fine
crops. Two years since a farmer here grafted two
large Morello cherry trees, and last year they pro-
duced a peck of fine fruit. Now there is a great
excitement in regard to this cherry, and one man
has contracted to set over five thousand grafts in
these large Morello trees, some of which are twenty
years old. Up to this date he has set tw« thousand
grafts.

I wish to know if it is not too early to set grafts,
and next in regard to the suckers about these Mo-
rello trees. If they will do to set out and graft, I

can soon get up a cherry orchard. Is there not
some stock that will Hot sucker that can be had
that is well adapted for that purpose ? J. B.

It is a better practice to graft after the buds be-
gin to swell, but grnft+of the cherry and plum can
be set much earlier. The Mazzard cherry, which
is used for stocks at the East, is too tender for this
climate, nor is the Malwleb any better. We have
seen nothing equal to the common Morello for a
stock on which to graft the May cherry. The
spi-outs of those can be grafted where they stand,
or set out in the orchard. In resetting it is bettor
to set them four or five inches deeper than they
grew, and to have the land deeply plowed, when
tiiey will be less inclin.'d to sucker, but when they
do they must be treated as weeds.

In almost every neighborhood arc thousands of
these Morello trees which seldom produce any fruit
in this country, but which are valuable for stocks
for the May cherry.

This cherry is attracting considerable attention
in the Eastern States from the fact of its hardiness
and great crop-!.

In grafting the clicrry do not split the birk, as
is done with the apple, but cut it with a thin,
sliarp-bladed knife ; the small shoots are not split
in grafting but chip l;ip{)ed, wound v.iih thread
and waxed.

The May cherry begins at Crete about the 20th
of June and at this point the 10th. Rural.

-*9*~

Sages in Council.

The New York Farmers' Club, as U well known
i.) the readers of the New York Tribune and other
ciry papers, is a great institution, brim full of
knowledge on all subjects pertaining to rural af-
fairs. The machine is run by prominent men, with
an occasional turn of the crank by visitors from
abroad. The most difficult subjiicts are discussed
nnd final decision made, from which appeal is use-
less— in fact It is a sort of weekly Congress, sitting
for the express purpose of settling all rural ques-
tions. Here is a sample of their wisdom :

" At a regular weekly meeting of the Fruit
Growers' Club, Feb. 18, the first business trans-
acted was to test a bottle of wine sent in by Geo.
Dunlap, from Ovid, Seneca county, N. Y., who
says :

' It is made from the pure juice of the Oporto
grape, so called in this region, with the addition of
three pounds of good sugar to a gallon of the juice,
and nothing else. The sample is three years old.
Please let me know through the lYibune what you
and your Club think of it.'

The verdict was unf ivorable, as it must be of all
grape juice of too low a quality to make wine with-
out the addition of sugar. The German proverb
is, ' God makes the wine, man never,' that is, wine
grows, and man has only to squeeze it from the
grape

Dr. Ward said he was not acquainted with this
grape, but, judging from this sample, it does not
contain wine.

Another sample of wine was presented by Mr.
Williams of New Jersey, and some of the gentle-
men present, who did not appreciate the Oporto,

■"W7

''S'WpS^^jSKSfgKW'S-'.'

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

Ill

smacked their lips over this sample, and said, 'this
is excellent, it is pure wine.'

They were slightlj' taken aback when informed
by Mr.' Williams that it was nothing but currant
juice and sugar. Thereupon a discussion arose as
to the propriety of calling any compound of fruit
juice and sugar by the name of wine, except the
juice of the grape. Webster defines wine, 'first the
fermented juice of grapes, as the wine of the Ma-
deria grape, etc.; second, the juice of certain fruits,
prepared with sugar, sonittimes with spirits, as
currant wine, gooseberry wine, etc' Finally, the
subject was referred to Pnjf. Thurber, requesting
him to find some original word, or compound of
words, to stand as a name for all other wine than
the grape."

Another chip :

" Gultivatimi of Strawberries. — In answer to the
inquiries of a correspondent who lives five miles
from railroad and fifty miles from market, whether
he could cultivate strawberries profitably, a con-
versation ensued from which we condense a few
of the leading facts. Dr. Ward said that in order
to make the cultivation profitable he would pursue
almost the same course as with corn ; plowing, ma-
nuring and preparing the ground thoroughly, set-
ting the plants in Spring in rows in one drection,
and working thoroughly between them up to July,
then letting them grow as they would the remain-
der of the season, and the next year, after bearing
their crop, turning the vines over as he would a
clover sod. Mr. Williams said that in that case
the best crop to precede the strawberries would be
corn or potatoes, and if the ground was then well
manured, it would not then be necessary to add
more when the plants were set."

This is doubtless good doctrine for the outside
cultivators about the villages of New York, but our
people would hardly see it in this light.

•«»-

Hints to Thriftless Farmers

III almost every agricultural community are to
be found men calling themselves farmers, who, to
say the least of them, are not as thriving and pros-
perous as others would like to see them. For no
well-wisher of his race desire to see his neigebors
unthrifty. No one who cares for the reputation of
his neighborhood, or the reputed value of his own
property, wishes to see the property or the condi-
tion of those around him deteriorating. No lover
of his country and of a sound political economy,
likes to see the resources of his town or of the
country unproductive from mismanagement. We
are aware that many in all classes of buisness,
meet with ill success and discouragements from ill
health, from sickness or death in families, or from
other unavoidable misfortunes. But we have no
reference to these. We allude only to those whose
ill success arises from causes within their own con-
trol.

Permit us just to allude to some of these causes
in the form of a few practical hints. Perhaps it
may help us.

" To see ourgels as ither see us,
And tkus frae mony a blunder f rae us. "

1. Live largely by borrowing, sagely concluding
that you cannot afford to buy or make your own
tools, till you get a little more "forehanded. "

2. After years of experence in borrowing of ac-
commodating neighbors, convince yourself that it
is cheaper to borrow th;m buy, and keep on bor-
rowing. Never keep a supply of such common
tools as harrows, plows, manure forks, and hoes, as
long as you can get them by going after them;
and if you chance to break one, return it in that
condition, and say you think it must have been
crocked when you borrowed it.

3. Attend all the farm auctiorm you can haar of,
and "bid off" all the old wagons and worn-out im-
plements that you think are "going" cheap, in-
cluding "any quantity" of old "trumpery" that
the owners have long thrown by as useless. Should
your new purchases need repairs, or break dowQ
soon, leave them in the roadside for future repairs ;
but do not disturb them again till they are rotten,
scattered, and gone.

4. When any vehicle or tool partially fails, or
shows signs of weakness, keep on using it thus,
(thinking it will hold this time,) till it comes to a
general "smash up ;" then throw it by till you can
get it repaired, (which you should mind never to
do,) and borrow your neiglibor's till the next auc-
tion.

5. Never think of roeni.ing a tool till you want to
use it. As you cannot stop to mend it then, leave
it unmended till ycm are otherwise provided, and
c vsnclude not to inend it at all.

6. Keep the waysides along your premises filled
up with pieces of wagons, carts, sleds, coal boxes,
hay riggings, superannuated harrows, old boards,
rotten logs, rails, and lumber.

7. Never do your haying till your grass gets
"dead ripe," your neighbors through, the days
shorter, and labor cheaper. Never dig your pota-
toes till after one hard freeze up, thus losing part
of your crop by the feezing of those near the sur-
face. In short, never do any sort of work till you
see you cannot put it oflF and longer.

8. Never have more than one load of wood up
to your door at a time ; nor any more of that cut,
ready to use, than is necessary to last over night
or "over Sunday."

9. Spend your stormy days in the bar-room or
store, instead of putting things to rights at homo.

10. Go to law whenever any one injuries or dis-
turbs you, and you think there is any chance to
"get a hook" on them. Justice and right are too
sacred to be left unrevenged.

11. Sell out and try another place as often as
you find anything about your farm that does not
suit you, instead of setting hands and wits to work
to remedy its defects.

12. Persuade your self that farming "am a hard
road to travel ; " sell your farm or leave it to ten-
ants, and gow into peddling merchandize, or gen-
eral speculation, until you nm aground ; then

Get back to farming as best yon can,
A wiser and a better man.

Southfield, Mass.

— In Country Gentlema.v.

KURDS.

The Camphor Storm Glass.

We have used one of the storm glasses describ-
ed in the annexed article from the Scientific Amer-
- ican, for several months, and it has proved one of
the best indicators of approaching storms of any we
have ever used :

"Dealers in philosophical and optical instru-

112

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

April

ments j^cll simple ?torm-gla!5ses which are used for
the puvposL^ of iiKJiL'utinj: approiiching storm?. One
of tht'rio consists; et a gl.iss tube, about ten inches
iti loiiAth inid three-fourths of an inch in dianitter,
filled with a liquid containing camphor, and having
its mouth covered with a piece of bladd(-r perfora-
ted with a i-eedle. A tall [iliial will answer the
purpose ne:irly as well as the ten-inch tube. The
com,jositi n placed within the tube consists of two
drarlim- of c:iniplior, half adriichni of puresdt pe-
tre and half a. drichm of the miiriat • of annnoni.i.
pulverized and mixed with about two ounces of
pt-oof sp rits. The tube is usually suspetided by a
thread n 'ar a window, and the functions of its con-
tent-; ate as f illo'.vs : If the atmosphere i- dry and
the weather promises to be settled, the solid parts
of the cair.phor in the liquid contained in the tube
will remain at the bottom, and the liquid above
will be quite ch'ar; but on the approach of a
change to rain, the solid inatt>^r will gradually rise,
and stndl crystalline stars will float about in the
liquid ();i the appioa(di of high winds the solid
parts of the camphor will rise in the form of leaves
and aj'pear near the surface in a state resembling
fe mcntittion. The indications are sometimes man-
ifested twenty four hours before a storm breaks out!
After some expciience in observing the motions of
the ca;nplior matter in the tube, the magnitude of
the stM'iii iiiay be estimtitcd ; also i^s direction, in-
asmuch as the partich's lie closer together on that
side of the tube tluit is opposite to that from which
the coming storm will approach Tiie cause of some
of till se indicatons is as yet unknown; but the
leaditig ]irinclpleis the soluliility of camph.or in al-
cohol, a ul its insolultility in water, comlitned with
the fact that the dryer the ataiosphere the more
aqtieous vapor does it take up, and vice versa. —
Jour. N. Y. State Agr. Soc.

"Plum Muss."

Under th.is euphonious title the London Grocer
dcseribos a new article of merchandise. It says :
"Plum muss or Ickwar consists of pure native
plums boilttd into a mass, no ingredient whatever
being added to it ; the plums being so sweet in
themselves, they require no sugar. In Hungary it
is used in both the cottage and mansion, and is a
common article of sale in every provision shop. —
Ttiii poor eat it with their bread, and all classes
use it for the several purposes in which our more
expensive preserves tire foutid useful. It is of a
more solid nature thtin our manufactured jams,
but if fjund too firm for cooking purposes, it may
be thinned with a little lukewarm water as i^. is re-
quired for use, without losing flavor. We are as-
sured that it will keep good for two or three years
if carefully stored ; it might therefore form an im-
porta.nt and economical article of export to our
colonies, and for ships' stores it Avould no doubt
prove invaluable. It possesses, as the reader may
judge, a very pleasant flavor, is undoubtedly very
wholesome, and in the event of its being piopcrly
introduced by a good house, mtist become a very
favorite article with housekeepers. It is certainly
a novelty, and as it can be obtained in the mass at
a very moderate rate indeed, it might be retailed
at a price to suit the million.

Sprinfif Wheat in Egypt.

Wheat. — We learn from our exchanges that the
farmers throughout the State, and especially south-
ern Illinois, are already sowing their spring wheat
and that large amounts if the weather continues
fiivorable, will be [)Ut in the present spring. The
only drawback there seems to be is the scarcity of
help, though this is remedied in part by many far-
mers doing their plowing last fiill. Two or three
years ago, wages for faun hands was only from -^ilS
to §18 per month, while now they are from %t<) to
$25, and in some instances, as high as S3() is paid.

It is also said that the winter wheat has not
been injured by the cold weather, and that the
prospects were never better fen- a rousing crop. —
Cairo Democrat, March Wth

There arc at least three good points in th.e above
— fall plowing, early sowing iind culture of spring
wheat. We want no better evidence that the
northern farmers are invading Egypt than the
above. Slip-shod farming is giving place to the
pincy woods style that has so long obtained — light
isbreakititr. — Ed.

To EiriiN Early Vegetables. — San Francisco
papers speak of new potatoes and green peas as
ainoiig the extraordintiry luxuries nov,' afforded iu
that market. They have also a limited supply of
fresh tomatoes, whicli command the fi'arfid price
of two dollars per pound. — MarysviUe Appeal, Jan.
28th.

The San Francisco papers that call the above
"extraordinary luxuries," are not well posted, and
hence not very good authority. New potatoes ar j
brought in successively, almost all the year round,
and have been in market all v.'intc-r, soiling at six
to eight cents a p )und, as our retail prices current
has shown ; so of green peas, except that their
price has lately advanced to '75 cents ; but toma-
toes have continued in market with scarcely any
advance, tind our weekly report shows that the
prices have been only six to eight cents a pound. —
Cal. Farmer.

— Green peas at 75 cents a pound must bo rath-
er a luxury, and now potatoes at $4 80 per busheL
San Francisco market must b3 a very paradise for
market gtrdcners, or it is a difficult climate to
grow such common vegetables. — Ed.

—•—

SuGAK AN Antidote for Wor?js. — M. Dcbont
says that sugar is an excellent destroyer of worms.
He once accidently put sugar instead of salt on a
leech which he wished to detach from the skin,
and was surprised at the spasms it produced. He
therefore tried sugar on earth-worms, and found it
had a similar powerful effect ; and has since used
it in solution with success as an injection in chil-
dren.— British Medical Journal.

The world moves ; in old times sugar used to be
considered the best possible encouragement for
these parasites. — Scientific American.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKHER.

113

The Goodrich Testimonial

From the proceedings at the Annual Meeting of
the State Agricultural Socifty, it will be noticed
that a movement was made for the purpose of pre-
senting a Testimonial Fund to Rev. C. E. Goodrich,
of TJtica, in view of the long and laborious exer-
tions he has made, with no pecuniary return, for
the improvemect in varieties and culture of that
most importa'it crop — the potato. Vfe give below
the subscriptions thus far received :

Orange Judd, New York ; . $50 00

Hon. E. Cornell, Ithaca 50 00

Hon. Wm. Kelley, Rhinebeck 50 00

Col. L. G. Morris, Fordham 50 00

G. H. Brown, Esq., Dutchess 50 00

Hon. A. B. Conger, Havurstraw 50 00

E. G. Faile, Esq., West Farms 50 00

S. Campbell, Esq., New York Mills 50 00

T. H. Faile, Esq., New York 25 00

J. 0. Sheldon, Esq., Geneva 25 00

T. L. Hiirison, Esq. St. Lawrence 25 00

S. Thore, Esq., Dutchess 25 00

"W. Chamberlain, Esq., Dutchess 10 00

L. W. Rathbun, Otsego 5 00

Joseph Harris, Rochester 5 00

Solon Robin<on, New York 5 00

H. T. E. Foster, Geneva 10 00

J. S. McDonald, Greenwich 2 00

E. S. Hayward, Brighton 5 00

Gash 10 00

Cash 10 00

J. McD. Mclntyre, Albany 5 00

James C. Carter, New York 5 00

Cash 5 00

Oa-^h 5 00

Luther H. Tucker, Albany 10 00

Total to this date $592 00

It is hoped that this amount may still be consid-
erably increased, and contributions from gentlemen
in this or other States who appreciate the labors
of Mr. Goodrich, may be addressed to Luther H. \
Tucker, Albany, N. Y., Treasurer of the Fund, who
will duly acknowledge the same in the columns of
this p:iper. We submit the subject, with no ether
remark than the brief expression of our most cor- j
dial approbation ©f the movement, to the syrapa- |
thies of the agricultural community. Mr. Goodrich
is now in very feeble health, and it may cheer the
last hours of his sojourn among us, to know that
what he has done meets the approval of the farmers
of the country. — Country Oentleman.

Vegetable culture.

One of the geatest faults in the cultivation of
vegetables, arises from the mistaken opinion enter-
tained by many persons, that the quantity of a
crop is increased by closely sowing or planting.
Nothing can be more erroneous than such a sup-
position. On the contrary, both in weight and
quality, the crop of all vegetables to be as large
as the quantity and nature of the ground sown
permits, will be found to increase in proportion as
sufficient space is afforded for the proper tillage of
the ground during its growth, and for the admis-
sion of the requisite influence and circulation of
light and air.

The greatest impediment to success in the produc-
tion of fine vegetables perhaps, is want of due at-
tention to the proper tillage of the ground ; noth-
ing can supersede the ndvantages accruing from
deep culture ; when the plow is used the subsoil
plow should follow it, and in all land, whether
heavy or light, (except a subsoil of pure gravel,)
will be bene ti ted by it. When the spadj is used,
the ground should be dug at least sixteen inches
deep.

Good draining is of equal importance.

It is best to sow and cultivate all crops in drills
and rows, in preferenc to broad cast. The crop is
tilled at less expense, both of time and trouble.
The hoe during the growing season, should be con-
tinually at work, and in direct proportion to the
complete eradication of the weeds and to the keep-
ing of the ground open and loose, will be the
weight and quality of the crop.

The rotation of crops should be attended to.
Manure should be given to crops above ground, as
the cabbage, peas, the potato, (foi thai is not a
root^) and similar vegetables. These should be
followed by root crops, as carrots, parsnips, &c.,
with less manure. *

Those who are experienced cultivators, have
no need of these suggestions but few, who are not
so, will nut be easily convinced of their importance,
until by direct experiment they are satisfied of
their value and truth.

We take this opportunity to call attention to the
advantage as regards the early maturity of many
vegetables to be derived from starting them in a
hot-bed iu Spring. The trouble is not great, and
the time saved ii valuable. — Farmer and Gardener

Protection to Orchards.

It is well known that peach and other fruit trees,
in many sections of the country do not flourish as
they did iu former times. Some of the older in-
habitants of the country can well remember the
peach trees that were thirty or more years old and
still vigorous, and continued to bear" annual crops
of good fruit. What is true of peaches is also true
in some degree, of apples, and other fruits. — These
trees do not survive as long, and continue fruitful
as they did in the times of the early settlement of
the country. But this is not satisfactory, because
the effect is the same when the trees are planted
upon the virgin soil. Others assert that the sea-
sons have changed, without giving any cause for
such a change. It may not, perhaps, be difficult
to account for this change in the durability of the
orchards of the present day, from natural and
known causes. During the last forty or fifty years
immense tracts of forests have been removed, giv-
ing place to open cultivated fields. This has caus-
ed the .<ummer showers to fall less frequent ; and
has resulted iu the drying up of many of the small
streams, and exposing the entire country, more or
less, to the tierce blasting winds of winter; and, so
far as these c.iuses operate, have changed the sea-
sons. It is no doubt the effect of these cold winds
of winter upon the open and exposed country that
has caused the destruction of thousands of our
peach trees, and wrought serious injury to other
fruits. The only partial remedy for this, is to se-
lect the most exposed side by planting belts of
evergreen and deciduous trees. The benefit of

".-n5

114

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

Apkil

such practice was mnde the most striking in an
instance that came under the writer's observation
during a severe winter that occrred some years
since. Two extensive fruit gardens, both devoted
to the various fruits and occupying adjoining en-
closures; one was protected on the Northwestern
side by a belt of young native timber, and the
other was open and exposed to the winds from
these points. A severe cold wind occurred during
the winter. In the exposed grounds the trees and
vines were more or less injured, and many were
killed outright — while in the other enclosure, pro-
tected by the young timber, not a tree was killed,
and few sustained any injury at all. — Rural Rrg.

Training of Grapes.

During a visit some months ago, to the extensive
vineries of Messrs. Underbill, Croton I'oint, they
pointed out the importance of allowing the vines
sufficient room to extend themselves, especially in
soil of much fertility — rich soils requiring higher
trellises and greater distuncc for the vines. JSoils
of moderate fertility are preferred.

It is becoming a common practice to insert the
stem of a tree into the ground, with the branches
trimmed and cut at a uniform length from the body,
but tapering upwards in the form of a pyramid.
The vines, properly trained on these, and thinned
during the summer, present a beautiful ditsplay
when loaded with the ripened clusters. Cedar and
locust trees are the best for these purpose.s.

The Annual Register, some years ago,
described another mode of training: Stakes eight
feet high are set seven feet apart, a vine planted
at each, and immediately cut down to two eyes.
The first year two shoots are allowed to grow, and
are carried up spirally, both in the same direction,
about five inches apart, until they reach the top.
They are pruned back in the fall to eighteen inches,
two shoots are carried up as before from the two
upper eyes, the laterals requiring some pruning.
In the fall, the vines are cut back to within eigh-
teen inches of last year's wood. This course is
continued till the vine permanently covers the
whole stake or post. Whatever surmounts it is
cut back. The fruit is borne on the side shoots,
the pruning is done on the short spur system, and
a handsome pyramidical form is given to the whole.
— Cultivater.

Important Discovery.

A curious discovery has just been made regard-
ing the influence of iron on vegetables. Prepara-
tions of iron are used as medicine where the blood
is poor in red particles. The pale cheeks of the
invalid often regain their bloom under the influ-
ence of such tonics. It is the same, it appears,
with plants. On the chalky soils of France and
England, where there is an absence of iron, vege-
tation has a sere and blanched appearance. This
is entirely removed, it appears, by the application
of a solution of sulphate of iron. Haricot beans
watered with this substance acquired an additional
weight of sixty per cent. Mulberries, peaches,
pears, vines, aud wheat, derive advantages from
the same treatment. In the cultivation of clover,
wonderful advanages have been gained by the ap-

plication of the sulphate of iron on soils in which
that ingredient is wanting, and in cases where it
was desired to produce an early crop. The mate-
rial is of course cheap, and the quantity applied
small. All the scales falling around the black-
smith's anvils should be saved for the land — they
are worth five cents a quart to the gardeners. No
fruit is so much benefitted by iron rust in the soil
as the pear. — Selected.

Flax and Hemp Manufactures.

The manufacture of flax-cotton goods has been
successfully carried on by Messrs. Daniels & Co.,
at Lockport, N. Y., for some time. They have
met with ?uch reward for the enterprise that man-
ufacturers farther East have, in some instances,
changed their cotton goods mills so as to work
flax.

Recent improvements have simplified the meth-
od of preparing flax-cotton so that it can be fur-
nished at less than half the present price of cotton,
and the demand for it has stimulated the erection
of mills for the preparation of the article. Mr. B.
0. Warner has constructed such a mill in Toledo,
with facilities to manufacture 2,000 pounds per
day, in the production of which 4,000 pounds of
raw material are used. The flax-cotton is contrac-
ted to an Eastern house engaged in the manufac-
ture of Satinet goods, at 85 cents per pound. The
Blade states that the supply of flax for the mill is
abundant, for which ten cents per pound is paid at
the mill, and eight cents on railroad lines leading
to Toledo. We wit^h the enterprise great success.
— Cleveland Herald.

*f

Hop Growing in Iowa.

You have not forgotten the series of letters
which I wrote you several years ago, and which
you pdblisehed over the signature of an " Otsego
Hop Grower, " giving minute directions for the
growing and curing of hops. Well, having some
little knowledge gained from experience in cultivat-
ing hops in New York, I thought I would try the
experiment and see if this soil and climate would
produce good hops. Accordingly I have been ex-
perimenting (on a limited scale) for the past two
years, with hops. My success in this line has been
fully equal to my expectations. I have grown as
good looking hops as any I ever saw, and they have
yielded well ; but, like most hops grown in the
West, they are not quite as strong as the Otsego
hop. The difference, however, is slight, and would
only be discovered by pergons who are fiimiliar
with hops. I am also the pioneer in hop growing,
as none are raised in several counties around, ex-
cept mine. — Country Gentleman.

. 4*.

A Snow Story — Deacon Chamberlain of Nevin,
Adams county, 111. has a large flock of sheep.
During a late snow storm many of them were
whelmed in the snow, but were soon relieved.
Twelve days after being thus relieved, the Deacon
observed what appeared to be the crater of a small
volcano, steaming up, but upon sounding discover-
ed to his surprse one of his sheep patiently awaiting
the resurrection day. It had been buried twelve
days and thirteen nights ! It appeared as usual,
excepting an unusual partiality for corn.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

115

Profit of Dwaif Pear Culture.

Has the success attending the culture of Dwarf
Pears in Western New York been such as to
promise profit if planted largely in orchards ?

Sharpz — A neighbor of mine planted 104 dwarf
pears. The third year after planting he sold $50
wonh of fruit. Another neighbor put out 400
bearing tree?. The second year his crop brought
him S69 50 ; the third year he got but little from
it ; the fourth year |175 ; this last year he receiv-
ed $600 for his crop. Another neighbor planted
an acre and one-eighth with dwarf pears. Some
of these trees did not bear the past year, yet he
sold his crop of fifty barrels at $10 per barrel in
the orchard — the orchardist to pick the fruit, and
the purchaser furnish the barrels.

I think nurserymen kave injured community by
selling trees so low that they are never cared for.
A man I know of bought trees for little or nothing,
and paid for them with what he did not think of
any value, and they are good for nothing now —
worse than nothing. If I can make a good hole in
a gentleman's purse when he comes to purchase
trees, I am sure he will thank me for it. I tell them
when they come to me and want to buy trees low,
that they had better not buy at all.

J. J. TnoMAS — Years ago, I was led to adopt the
erroneous opinion that trees should only be planted
in gardens. Now I am fully convinced they ought
only to be planted in orchards. In gardens they
are often neglected — the vegetables are cultivated
but the trees are not. Hand hoeing and spade
culture does not answer. The quince roots extend
and the soil needs stirring. A dwarf pear orchard
ought to be as large as a corn field, and cultivated
as often or of tener — especially when they yield the
figures given here. Horse cultivation will produce
better trees. I would plant them 12 feet apart in
the field — would grow them in large fields and give
them horse culture.

Sharps — I cultivated beans for two or three
years in my orchard ; but would not recommend it
as a practice.

Fisher — These pear orchards that we have heard
from are, I suppose, the best pear orchards in the
country. It is not safe to base our recommenda-
tions upon their success. With me, with good
culture, dwarf pears would not pay $10 per acre.
I do not believe that we are warranted in believ-
ing that 10 acres can be cultivated and net the or-
chardist $200 per acre. I selected under P. Barry's
advice, 16 varieties for a family and market or-
chard. Nearly all of them were dwarfs. They are
fine, healthy trees. I have a gravelly loam soil
with a clay sub-soil. These trees have been trans-
planted five years ; and three-fourths of them have
not borne a pear.

G. Ellwanqer — A difierent selection of varieties
is made when one plants for market, than is made
for an orchard for family use.

Sharpk — If the gentleman will plant Duchesse
d'Angouleme and Louise Bonne de Jersey, 430
trees to the acre, they will produce for him a crop
that will bring the figure I have named.

Judge La Rue — Has any gentleman grown such
crops five or ten years successively ; or in other
words, have dwarf pear orchards averaged such re-
sults that length of time ?

Fisher — ^I can report only on hidf an acre. They

have borne more or less for years. Trees all good
and healthy. I have 25 or .30 varieties — the Duch-
esse in considerable numbers, a few Seckles, and all
dwarfs. But I have had no such result in figures
as has been given here.

Olmstead — In 1858 I planted 800 standard trees;
in 1850, 600 dwarfs. From the standards the past
year, I gathered 47 barrels ; from the dwarfs, seven
barrels. I sold the whole at $10 per barrel. The
standard trees cost me $35 per 100 ; the dwarfs,
$30 per 100. The crops of beans taken from the
ground have paid for cultivation. The crop of
fruit the past year has paid the cost of trees and
planting.

Smith — I planted, about four years ago, 4,000
pear trees ; three-fourths of them were dwaifs. —
The latter were planted 10 feet apart; the former
20 feet apart. Crops grown on the ground between
the trees paid for the culture. During the four
years these trees have not produced five bushels.
They did bear some fruit in spite of all I could do.
They should never be allowed to bear fruit when
only three or four years old.

Fisher. — I do not wish to be understood as be-
ing dissatisfied with my pear planting, nor with
what the trees have done for me ; but I am not
disposed to let the figures given here go out as be-
ing what every man may expect who plants dwarf
pears.

J. J. Thomas — There are such orchards as 10
year old dwarf pear orchards. I may name Mr.
Yeoman's orchard of one-third of an acre, that has
borne at different times $400 and $500 worth of
pears — all from ond-third of an acre. One year he
sold his crop at $35 per barrel.

Fish — The gentleman named by J. J. Thomas
sold $500 worih of pears from one-third of an acre
one year.

Sharpk — He sold in two years over $1,000 worth
of pears from the third of an acre. They were
Duchesse d'Aagouleme. The two varieties I named
will give the orchardist in five or six years from
planting $400 to $500 per acre. I would plant 8
by 12 feet apart.

At this point a gentlemen read a letter he had
recently received from Mr. Yeoman, above named,
in which he stated that his crop the past year was
70 barrels, which sold at from $8 to $20 per barrel.

Ainsworth — ^I sold the crop from one acre of
Virgalieus and Seckles for over $400 ; they aver-
aged $15 per barrel.

Frost — I think it will be found to be the experi-
ence of most persons who have cultivated pears
several — say eight or ten — ^years, that they have
proved a total failure.

Ellwangbr — I have cultivated pears twenty
years, and cannot agree with Mr. Frost. There is
profit in pear culture. — Report of N. Y. F. S. Att.
in Rural New Yorker.

Sheep Chewing Tobacco.

Chester Baker, of Lafayette, Onondaga county,
New York — an experienced flock-master and
as truthful a man as lives — ^informs us that he
has fed thirty-two Merino breeding ewes with
tobacco stems all winter — ^^ving them about as
many daily, as a man can carry at once in his arms !
From the first the ewes greedily ate oflF the small
and damaged leaves from the tops of the stems

116

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

April

themselves, the occasional damaged leaves on the
buts, and they also usually peeled off the bark
from the entire stems ! The substance thus con-
sumed taste strongly of tobacco, and will readily
produce a decoction strong enough to kill ticks.
Mr. Baker has known a neighbor to do the samo
thing — and he proceeded on the the theory that
the sheep would not cat what was not useful to
them. They have abundance of hay and other
feed, and are not, therefore, induced by hunger
to indulge in this strange appetite. We shall
await the final result of this curious experiment
with interest. — Rural N. Yorker

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

On the vexed question of what is the weight of
an Enplish bushel of wheat, Mr. David Ogdt-n, of
New York, ^ends the Department of Agriculture
the following :

"I find on pages 22 and 23 of your last report a
letter from C. W. Atkinson, respecting the weight
of the English bushel of wheat. He is entirely
mistaken in his postscript. Wheat was formerly
sold in Liverpool, and is yet in Loudon, at '70 lbs.
to the bushel, or at 560 lbs. to the quarter of 8
bushels. I will give you an example In 1856 I
shipped 10,836 bushels of wheat, at 60 lbs. to the
bushel; it weighed 650,160 lbs. It was sold in
Liverpool for 9,278 bushels, at 10 lbs. to the bushel,
and weighed 649,460 lbs. In this country we sell
corn at 56 lbs. to the bushel ; in England corn is
sold at 480 lbs. per quarter of 8 bushels — 60 lbs.
to the bushel. "

But we recur to this subject principally for the
purpose of saying that Congress recognizes the im-
portance of acting upon it, for the House of Repre-
sentatives, at the present session, has added to its
standing committees one on weights and measures.
The Constitution of the United States confers on
Congess the power "to coin money, regulate the
value thereof, and of foreign coins, and fix the
standard of weights and measures;" but so long as
it allows State legislatures to declare how many
pounds shall constitute a bushel of any commodity
it fails to meet this requirement ; for the words
that it "shall have power" mean that it must ex-
ercise it. And, surely, few subjects of legislation,
in times of peace, deserve more speedy or better
matured action than this.

Green Pickles — Beware of them — Thet ark
Always Poiso.\ocs.-Dr. Gerard Avink publishes in
the Hochester Democrat and American a very sen-
sible article upon the folly of the common practice
of greening pickles, and tells how to detect the cop-
per, which he says is a "beautiful and simple expe-
riment, within reach of everybody.'. It may be
conducted thus: Cut a greened pickle into small
pieces, and put them in a glass of rai'i water, add-
ing ten to fourteen drops of sulphuric acid; put the
bright blade of a knife or any bright steel surface,
in the liquid twenty four hours, and if the pickle
contains copper it will be found upon the steel
blade, as though it had been coated by the galvanic
process. All pickles greened in brass or copper
kettles, show this result. The green color conies
from verdigris, which is a deadly poison. The
quantity usually taken with pickles does not often
kill, but it produces disease. Such pickles are

furnished to our soldiers in large quantities. Why
are they colored ? Only to please the eye, and
make them represent green cucumbers. A poison-
ous pickle may be eaten upon a full stomach, it ne-
ver should be upon sm empty one. They should
never be allowed among saiatary stores.

The Cold of January

Mr. John Hill, of Peterburg, Menard county,
lends us the following report from Toulon Stark
county :
January 1st, 30 degrees below zero.
2d, 23
3d, 18 "
" 4th, 7 " "

" 5th, 14 " "

" 6th, 21 " "

" 7th, 15 " "

" 8th, 22 " "

" 9th, 7 " "

" 10th, 3 " "

" 11th, 2 " "

He adds : " 5^0 head of sheep perished under
the suow-diifts in Menard county. All young pigs
that were not very well protected died, either
from the snow drifting or from the cold. Twenty-
five per cent, of the sucking calves were lost.
Many fat hogs, and those partially so, were smoth-
ered beneath the snow or died from piling — that is,
piling on top of each other. "

From Hennipcn county, Mr. William Darley
writes: " The peach trees in this county appear to
be all killed by the severe cold weather of the first
of January. Also some varieties of the apple. " —
M^ort Com. of Ag.

The World Going by Steam.

In the darksome depths of the fathomless mine

My tireless arm doth play.
Where the rocke ne'er saw the sun decline,

Or the dawn of the glorious day.
I bring earth's glittering jewels up

From the hidden cave below,
And I make the fount ains's granite cup

With a crystal gush o'erflow.

I blow the bellows, I forge the steel,

In all the shops of trade;
I hammer the oar and turn the wheel

Where my arms of strength are made.
I manage the furnace, the mill, the mint ;

I carry, I spin, I weave ;
And all my doings into print

On every Saturday eve.

I've no music to weary, no breast to decay,

No bones to be "laid on the shelf :"
And soon I intend you may all go and play

While I manage the world by myself
But harness me down with your iron bands,

Be sure of your curb and rein ;
For I scorn the strength of your puny hands.

As the tempest scorns the chain.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

IIT

BAKEE & PHILLI.S - - - PUBLISHEES.

M. L. PUNLAP, Kditor.

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, APRIL, 1864.

The weeping skies of April, if not ornamental are
useful, moisture is needful to expand the buds and
to force the germ, we may therefore be well con-
tent with April showers. The question has not
been fully settled, which of the two gives the most
enjoyment, anticipation or participation. In spring
we are busy planting, pruning and grafting, in an-
ticipation of fine crops in Autumn. The realiza-
tion of which is months hence, but the zest with
which we now enter upon the duty, and the pleas-
ure that we experience must surely be large, so
large — well we will not decide this vexed question
until the flowers shall have a chance to testify,
vegetablesto display their delicate texture,the small
fruits have tickled our palates with their rich acids,
the larger fruits have proved their melting lucious"
ness and the garners have been stored for winter.
From now all along the bronzed highway of the
summer months shall we watch for and anticipate
and enjoy ourselves with vived pictures, not only
well filled but set in rich borders.

Dead Sheep and Shelter. — Sad news of decimat-
ed flocks continue to come to us, the efiects of the
storm of January 1st. such practical and logical ar-
guments and in such overwhelming numbers have
never before been offered in favor of shelter. We
suspect that it will be the cause of a severe run
of barn and shed fevor during the coming sum-
mer, In some flocks nearly half have been lost.
Talk of wintering sheep on the open praries, or
in the corn stalk field, it is the hight of folly,
tight yards sheds and barns must be had, or we may
and will soon abandon sheep husbandry as not adapt-
ed to our climate. We shall look for a change of
base in this respect, but it comes after the slaugh-
ter of the innocents.

Gardening — This is the active month of garden,
ing, in which we have a deal of planting weeding
and hoeing to look after. Farmdrs should remem-
ber that upon a good supply of vegetables will de-
pend the good health of their respecnive families.

Bi-MoNTHLT Report of Com. Newton. — ^The Re-
port for January and February is at hand, March
lith, and is exceedingly valuable. In this No. of
the Faruer will be found several extracts from it.
Persons wishing the Report should write the Com-
mission of Agriculture.

Blackberries. — The Lawton so far as we can
learn are killed to the ground. Our improved
blackberry is partially killed but we intend to plant
two acres of them this month.

Grapes. — The grape fevor rages and all sorts of
vines good and indiferent are changing hands. In
fact the poor sorts have the best of it as |the d«al
ers praise them with the most pertinacity.

Tree Protector. — Dr. Weed has shown us peach
limbs cut from his trees under protection, having
every bud perfect, and the bark and wood as per-
fectly green and beautiful as in autumn, presenting
a very striking and favorable contrast with the
blackened branches cut from trees outside.

From Mr. Hovey's Annual Review of the Pro-
gress of Horticulture in 1863, we quote the follow-
ing commendation :

"Peaches without glass; on Mr. Weed's plan, are
well worthy of attention. He has stated all the
facts plainly, and we should be glad to see an at-
tempt made to thoroughly test its value. Such a
delicious fruit is worthy of every attention. It is
only by this mode, or in orchard-houses, that a
crop can be relied upon. The latter mode will
give a small quantity of superior fruit, the former
will supply it in abundance. Of orchard-house ex-
perience we hope to give more in our present vol-
ume."

Will Sorgo make Sugar. — F. L. Stewart, of
Mnrreysville, Westmoreland Co., Pa., says that he
has satisfied himself by numerous experiments of
the following facts in regard to true, unadulterated
Chinese cane.

I. The juice of this cane contains uniformly not
less than 16 to 18 per cent, of true crystallizable
cane sugar.

II. When completely ripe, all parts of the stalk
of this cane contain crystallizable sugar — the juice
from the lower half, however, being purer, richer
in sugar, and more abundant than from the upper
half.

III. No grape sugar (gluecose) in appreciable
quantity is found in the plant after it has fully ma-
tured.

IV. Any crystallizable sugar found in the sirup
is a modified form of crystallizable cane sugar, the
production of which is incident to imperfect meth-
ods of manufacture.

V. Crystallizable sugar cannot be extracted uni-
formly from the best cane, unles certain impurities
contained in the juice be removed.

VI. The soil best suited to the growth of the
plant and to its saccharine qualities, is a sandy
loam or clay loam, or almost any good upland soil,
such as is better adapted to wheat than to Indian
corn. The most congenial climate seems to be
that of which the mean summer temperature is
about "75 "^ Fah. It will ripen generally where the
summer mean does not rise above 70 ® , as at
Pittsburg, Cleveland, Chicago, Madison, Wis., and
southern Minnesota.

VII. No more difficulty necessarily attends the
manufacture of sugar from the sorgo than from the

-^;w

118

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

Apsil

Louisiana cane — the expense of production would
be considerably less — the product equal in quality,
and in quantity nearly equal to that obtained from
the juice of the latter.

The method by which the results above stated
were obtained is entirely different, however, from
that purjued by the sugar-growers of Louisiana or
elsewhere ; it is specially adapted to the nature
and peculiarities of the juice of the sorgo.

— A detailed account of the process is soon to
be given, when we propose to know more in regard
to this disputed subject which has thus far shown
considerable thimble-rigging. We have had such
promises before. Mr. Wray gave us a bookful of
sugar making, but he did not succeed himself, even
iathe favorable climate of Georgia. Can sugar be
made on a large scale from the sorgo, and at rea-
sonable prices, so as to compete with Southern
cane sugar, is the question. In regard to sirup the
question is answered in the affirmative — now for
the sugar.

Things in Egypt

William Nicholson of Floria, Clay Co., writes
under date of March 6th : "This weather is hard
on the winter wheat, which looks quite dead, but
the roots appear in good order. I have been roll.
ing my crop and it is rapidly improving.

I have never known such a yield of maple sugar
in this part of the State as has been made this
spring. The fruit buds of the peach and most of
the cherry are dead ; apples all right. Can you
tell me where I can get a small lot of Barberry,
Osage Orange and Chiccory seed ?"

— We have been expecting to hear of Osage seed
from Arkansas before this time. Permits have
been given by the Government for this purpose, but
thus far we hear nothing of their progress. It is
too late to get Barberry seed, which is gathered in
autumn or early winter. For yard and roadside
fences this plant will prove of great value. Its
moderate, compact growth will make it popular.

Chiccory seed can be had at the seed stores —
We allow the seeds to fall off and prick outjthe
plants which come up about the old plants.

Hops on the Prairie.

We have several letters of enquiry in regard to
hop culture in the west, or rather why hops are
not cultivated here. To these we might answer by
asking why many other crops of prime necessity
are not cultivated with us, but it will be more dig-
nified to discuss the whys and the wherefores of
the subject.

We have never seen a hop yard in this State nor
do we know any person who has made the trial.
We have heard vague reports of trials near twenty

years ago, that proved failures. The vines grew
rampant but failed in the crop of hops. A small
amount of hops are grown in the north part of
Wisconsin, but the main supply comes from a few
counties in the State of New York, of which Madi-
son, Otsego and Montgomery stand foremost.

The want of poles and of shelter from high winds
appear the great drawbacks to investing in this
crop on the prairies. In New York the hemlock
ridges and the tamarac swamps supply the poles, as
hard wood is too heavy to handle to advantage and
is seldom used. These last from seven to ten years,
when the whole yard must be renewed at a heavy
outlay. Of course this kind of timber is out of
the question on prairie farms, and hop growing as
a business must be postponed until such times as
we can grow the poles. It is probable that the
white willow will make a good hon pole, at least it
looks to us to be the most available. To prow
them will require at least eight years. The Euro-
pean larch (tamarac) grows freely on the dry cul-
tivated prairie land, and though longer coming to
maturity, will be found to be more durable than
the willow. Our native larch (tamarac) delights in
a wet soil, and grows well in any of our low lands.
The question of hop poles is theiofore a question of
time, and we call the attention of farmers to the
difficulty to be met at the threshold of the busi-
ness. Aside from the poles we see no difficulty
in the way, and that is only a question of time

Illinois Farmer.

When we have a leisure hour to devote to mis-
cellaneous reading, there is no paper or periodical
more acceptable than the Illinois Farmer. We
always pick it up in full confidence that we shall
find some practical fact, hint or suggestion, on the
fruitful subjects of agriculture and horticiilture,
that, acted upon, would greatly benefit the produ-
cing classes, and are rarely disappointed.

This favorite, however, is very irregular, of late,
ii its visits. We missed it entirely from our table
for some months. Last week the January number
came to hand. It was rather old, but still accept-
able, as the proceedings of the winter meeting of
the Illinois State Horticultural Society, which are
given in full, are worth a year's subscription. —
Aledo Record,

— Some of our readers as well as the Aledo Re-
cord, may be gratified to have the tardy appear-
ance of the Farmer accounted for. It will be recol-
lected that in December immense lists of the en-
rollment had to be printed in all the counties. —
Springfield being the central point for this work*
of large populous counties, the office of the Statk
Journal in which the Farmer is printed, came in
for a large share of this printing. No sooner was
this off the hooks than a printers' "strike" made
another dalaj ; this was again followed by a large

■■• ■ -is

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

119

amount of printing for the returned veteran regi-
ments. It will thus be seen that the enrollment
lists, the printers* "strike" and the blanks and oth-
er printing for the veteran regiments took prece-
dence, and the Farmer came out last. These diflS-
culties are now happily out of the way, and the
Farmer will soon be again on time. At the best, it
is difficult to keep up to time, from the fact that
the editor is ninety miles distant from the office of
publication, and as it must be more or less of a
guess in regard to copy, it requires some days to

make up the deficit of a short guess. — Ed.

•o*

Peach Trees in Egypt.

Dr. N. C. Meeker, of Dongola, Illinois, writes as
follows to the Farmers' Club, of the American In-
stitute, New York :

"I report to the Fruit Growers' Club the condi-
tion the peach trees have been left in by the cold
weather here in Southern Illinois, where orchards
of this fruit have been planted on an extensive
scale, the largest being over a hundred acres. —
Some parties were preparing to plant, this coming
spring, from 10,000 to 50,000 trees, and others
very many smaller lots At first I paid no attention
to my trees, and, though I heard that every tre«> in
the county was killed, I did not believe a word of
it. Not long ago, I saw a trustworthy fruit agent,
who had been continually travelling ; he informed
me that if I would closely examine my trees, or any
others all through this country, I would change my
opinion. On cutting into the bark of young and
old, thrifty and unihrifty, I find the bark and wood
of the same color — that of wood which has long
been soaked in oil ; and this to within three or four
inches of the ground. I have several hundred
peach trees set out last spring, which were budded
the fall previous — which, by the way, is the best
way to plant this tree where they are moved but a
short distance ; they were well cultivated and made
a fine growth ; these are in the same condition,
and, though we budded them very low, it will be a
pretty tight squeeze for buds to start on the wood
of the old bud. Trees of this kind show the best
chance, and I should say all others are killed. It
is likely they will sprout from the roots, and can
be budded again, but it is thought they will have
60 rank a growth that the buds will be in danger
of breaking off. More than this, the frost blight
appears to be working downward, for it was gene-
rally reported that the trees were all safe below the
snow line ; the fact is, they are blighted at least
ten inches below the snow line. They are wither-
ing day by day, and what seemed so thrifty during
and just after the snow look as if only fit to be cut
away and burned. Here we are, then, with our
grand, semi-tropical cotton and peach climate,
with a probable prospect of not seeing a peach for
three years. But I am not much disappointed, I
never had the peach fever very badly. Strawber-
ries have been my hobby. But we must keep try-
ing."

— It would appear by the above that the Dr. takes

a rather doleful look of the subject. We think he
is worse scared than hurt, as most of the trees we

think will recover, especially all the young trees.
It is probable that many of the old trees that bore
full crops last year are dead.

If ational Farms and Garden.

Washington, D. C, March 10, 1864.
M. L. Dunlap, Esq., Dear Sir :

I am exceedingly obliged to you for your kind-
ness in transmitting a copy of your periodical to
my address.

I propose trying various cotton seeds this spring,
but our grounds are entirely too limited for the
purposes of comparative experiment. We desire
to have facilities for growing specimens of every
kind of fruit, grain and vegetable, so that we can
describe them accurately, establish synonyms*
throw out useless varieties — ^in short, do for the
fiirm and vegetable garden what pomolgis*s have
done and are doing for fruits. But we want a farm
of a hundred acres, instead of a garden of five
acres as at present.

Yours very respectfully,

William Sacndkbs.

— The above letter from Mr. Saunders, Superin-
tendent of the government gardens at Washington,
is just to the point, and in a few words describes
what we need

Many people suppose the object of these gardens
and the contemplated farm is to get up a model
farm and garden, but such is not the case. They
are needed for experiment in testing new plants
grown East and for the purpose of settling the val-
ue and nomenclature of the older or imperfectly
known specimens. — Ed.

^m* ■

How to Grow Peaches every year.

An article is going the rounds of the papers, from
a correspondent of the Ohio Cultivator, which, if
followed, it is asserted, will insure a crop of peach-
es every year, beyound a peradventure, bidding de-
fiance to all the usual casualties to which this de-
licious fruit is subject. The whole secret of the af-
fair is summed up in the following: "Procure
your trees grafted on the wild plum stock.
The tree partakes of the nature of the plum, being
hardy, and will never winter kill, and putting out
late in the spring, will- never be injured by frost. It
is also a certain preventative against the workings
of the peach grub, while the natural life time of
the tree is beyond that of our own ; so you may de-
pend on peaches every year, and for a long period
of time, without the destructive and discouraging
influences attending the growth of the common
peach.

There is the mystery of the whole matter in a
nut-shell. Perhaps, if the said correspondent had
lived forty years ago, he might have heard the
same doctrine preached and practiced from to a
very considerable extent in some parts of the couil.

120

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

APEIL

try, when peaches were much more apt to "grow
every year" than they now are. Thousands of these
trees were then grafted and sold at two or three
times the price of '■'■common peaches,''^ and yet, if
they bore any more frequent than the common
trees, the writer heroof never knew it, and plum
rooted peach trees passed out of mind, until the dis-
covery again comes up as somethiiVg new and won-
derful.

The wild plum stock has a flight tendency to
dwarf the peach tree when budded on it. The
natural vigor of the peach being somewhat checked,
less sap is carried into circnhuion, and the wood
may be a little more thoiouuhly ripened. So far
as this effect is produce^, the wood may be less lia-
ble to be killed by severe cold. But the buds of
the peach will be influenced as early as by the
warm days of winter and spring, and will swell as
readily, and will be as sur'ceptible of injury by frost,
as if the tree stood on ^its own root. The peach,
when grafted upon the wild stock, of most kinds,
like the plum, when grafted on it, will be poorly
sustained, and will be short lived. Neither is it a
sure protection against the grub, though less liable
to be injured by this insect than liie more tender,
fleshy peach root.

Where ordinary industry is exercised, which
alone is entitled to reward, the peach worm oifers
no serious obstacle to the production of peaches.
Five minutes time to a tree, removing the t^urface
of the earth about the stem, in the month of Sep-
tember, when the worms are young and still upon
the outside of the bark, they are readily killed by a
slight rubbing with a piece of leather or old hat.
Repeat the operation in early spring, using a knife
in tracing out the worms, for at that lime they will
have eat their way under the bark.

In searching for the peach worm, just after a
rain is the best time to accomplish the work, be-
cause the gum being swelled by the moisture, read-
ily points out the location of the enemy. — h. p. b, in
Country Oent.

The above humbug had a very good run in this
State last season, trees selling at seventy-five cents
each, on examination a large part of them were
found to have been budded on the peach ; of course,
they were just as good if not better for it. Yet some
of the victims feel a little sore over this part of it.
Can any one tell us what will be the phases of tree
peddling swindling for the cominj^ season ; It
would seem that nearly everything had been ex-
hausted, yet from the utility of these gentlmen we
will have some new rich lode struck. Dont be dis-
couraged gentle readers,you will have another deal
yet. In this one county twenty two hundred dol-
lars was paid for peaches, on plum stalks, Siberian
crab and dwarf apple of the riding whip size, all
at seventy-five cents each.

Adirondac grapes ! at $3,00 and others equally
true to name at two or three dollars. Is not the
Editor surrounded by an enterprising community
of pomologists, and may he not feel fortunate iu
having his lot cast among such an enterprising
people? Surely he feels as though his services

might at some time be appreciated, and in proof of
this has the satisfaction of seeing the Farmer rap-
idly extending among them.

.«,

Agricultural Implements. — The Commisioner
of agriculture sajsthe total value of agricultural
implements manufactured in the United States for
1860 was $17,802,514— being an advance of 160
per cent, on the amount manufactured in 1850.
Among these implements are some of the highest
importance to the firms.

This shows a progress during the decade, but it
is probable that this development of labor saving
implements in our rural economy will be eclipsed
within the next ten years.

Within the current year we are to have the
pleasure of witnessing some very important improv-
ments in old machines and several new ones now
in the course of development.

Illinois State Agricultural Society.

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS

The Executive Committee assembled at the
Rooms of the Society, in Springfield, on the 1st of
March, 1864, pursuant to adjournment.

Pbese.nt. — President V^n Epps, Vice-Presidents
Rosenstiel, McConnell, Kile, Wait, Oaburn. Min-
utes of the last meeting were read and approved,
and, on motion, the action of those present at the
last January meeting (there having been less than
a quoium), was in every particular ratified and
confirmed. The report of J. H. Pickrell, Esq., Su-
perintendent of Grounds at the last Fair, contain-
ing many valuable suggestions in regard to the
economical management of his Department, was
read and referred to a committee who subsequently
reported favorably upon every recommendation.

A communication from the Macon Co. Agricul-
tural Society, calling the attention of the Board to
the supposed necessity for enlarging the premises
and re-arranging the list in regard to the Sweep-
stakes and Herd rings with the Stock Department
and also asking to have refunded to them the sum
of $175, claimed to have been erroneously paid out
on Citizens' Prizes, was read and referred, th®
Board subsequently ordering the money to be re'
funded.

Coi. Sec. read a very able paper from President
Edwards, of the Normal University, on "Agricul-
tural Education." It is full of good thoughts and
practical suggestions, worthy the distinguished au-
thor. Ordered, a vote of thanks.

Cor. Sec. also read a paper from the pen of Prof.
Sewall, of the Normal University, on "Some of the
chemical changes which take place in the germina-
tion, growth and decay of plants"— exceedingly in-

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

121

teresting and valuable, and elucidating scientifical.
Ijr, a subject little understood by those who need
to understand it best. Ordered, a vote of thanks.
Cor. Sec. read a communication from Wallace
Sigerson, Esq., of St. Louis, setting forth the im-
portance of the passage of a law by the General
Assembly of Illinois, requiring all stock to be kepj;
within inclosures, and dispensing with the necessity
for fencing, except for the purpose of such inclo'
sures, which, on motion, was referred to a commit*
tee consisting of Messrs. Kile, Rosensteil and Oz-
burn, who subsequently reported that, in the opin-
ion of the committee, such a law would not meet
the approbation of a majority of the people of the
State, but would be acceptable to the northern and
a part of the central counties, and would recom-
mend to the Board to petition the Legislature, at
its next session, to pass a special act, allowing the
citizens of any county, by direct vote, the privilege
of impounding or otherwise requiring the confine-
ment of their stock and turning their grain and
grass fields out.

The Treasurer, John "W. Bunn, presented his re-
port for 1863, showing balance in his hands to the
credit of the Society on the first of January, 1864>
of $2,033 11.

On motion of Dr. Kile, it was resolved that med-
als (gold and silver) be executed and forwarded to
the parties entitled to them, under awards hereto-
fore made, and that in all cases where a diploma
has been heretofore awarded a silver medal be ten.
deied in lieu thereof.

Delegates to State Fairs — Indiana State Fair —
Dr. Kile and Cor. Secretary; Iowa State Fair,
President Van Epps, Mattson and Whitins; ; Wis-
consin State Fair, Ellsworth, Rosensteil and Hol-
der ; Missouri Staie Fair, Walte, Ozburn and Sin-
gleton ; Kentucky State Fair, Brown, Johns and
Webster.

Award of Premiums Completed. — For best gal
Ion of sirup, made from Chinese Sugar Cane, Thos
Bradbury, Griggsville, Pike county, $10.

For the best gallon of sirup made from Imphee
or African Sugar Cane, J. H. Smith, Quincy, Ad-
ams county, $10.

For the best cheese under one year old, Chas. H
Rosensteil, Freeport, Stepheson county, $10.

For the best fresh butter in rolls, Chas. H. Ro"
sensteil, Freeport, Stephenson county, $6.

National Department of Agriculture. — It was, on
motion.

Resolved, That the United States Department of
Agriculture, in the efforts put forth to diflfuse need-
ed information among the farmers, is entitled to
our continued sympathy and approval.

Resolvedy That its existence, with constantly in-
creasing power having been maintained for nearly

two years in an atmosphere toeraing with adverse
and unfriendly influences, in.^piresus with the hope
that, at some time in the future of our progressive
race and nation, the politicians of the country will
be driven, willing or unwilling, to recognize and
regard the fact, already apparent to the rest of
mankind, that to agriculture and the mechanic
arts this people must mainly look for progress, iu
all that conduces to the material wealth and pros-
perity of the United States.

Resolved, That we tender to the present head of
that department, Hon. I. Newton, and his chief
clerk, Hon. James S. Grinnell, and their successors
the assurance that we will always be ready to ac-
knowledge the value of their labors and extend to
them whatever of influence we may possess to as-
sist in enlarging the sphere of usefulness of the de-
partment and to increase its eflSciency.

Ordered, That a copy of these resolutions be for-
warded to the department.

Pleuro Pneumonia. — James N. Brown, the Stand-
ing Committee of the Society on diseases of cattle
and other stock, to whom has been referred letters
of Dr. A. M. McFarland to Gov. Yates, and com-
munication of Chas. L. Flint, Esq., to Gov. An-
drews of Massachusetts, in regard to the continued
and alarming prevalence of this disease among
the heads of the latter State, reported, — that he
liad given the subject due consideration, that he
had seen no good reason to alter his opinion for-
merly expressed to the Board, as to the highly con-
tagious character of the disease, and the ever-pres-
ent danger of its importation to this State by bring-
ing stock from the infected districts, and suggested
that a committee be appointed to confer with His
Excellency, Gov. Yates, in regard to the best
means to be adopted to prevent its introduction-
Committee appointed — James N. Brown, A. B. Mc-
Connell, and Corresponding Secretary. (Gov.
Yates left the city, to remain some days, before
the Committee had an opportunity of seeing him.)
it was Ordered that the report of Mr. Brown, here-
tofore made to the Board on this subject, be re-
published iu next issue of Society's Journal.

Miscellaneoiis Entries at tlie Fair of 1863. — These
were examined and the recommendatioms of the
Awarding Committees, with few exceptions, con-
firmed.

Dutif on Imported Wool. — On motion of Mr. Mc-
Connell.

Resolved, That justice to the interest of the wool
growers of the United States demands that a duty
of at least ten cents per Bb. be levied by act of
Congress on imported wools; and that we respect-
fully request the Senators and Represntatives from
this State in Congress to favor the passage of a law
to that efifect.

Flection of Officers €>f the State Society at the next
Fair. — It was Ordered that the Corresponding Sec-
retary be directed to issue a circular to the County

-;.'!5^^

1^2

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

April

Agricultural Societies of this State, calling their
attention to the election of officers of this Society
to take place at the next Fair, and earnesily urg-
ing upon each of them the appointment of three
delegates for that purpose.

Accounts were audited and other business, not
of general interest, transacted, when on Thursday
morning the 3d iiist , the Board commenced the
revision of the rules, regulations and premium lists
for 1864. This occupied their undivided attention
until the adjournment on Saturday the 5th.

It is not possible in this brief abstract to indicate
the many changes and improvments made. The
published list will be distributed during the month
of April, and it is hoped, will meet the approba-
tion of all who feel an interest in the development
of the industrial resources of the State. In amount
the premiums are considerably increasing over last
year's list, and, in designating the objects, the
board have endevored to fully realize the varying
conditions and practicalwants of the people and of
the country.

It will be borne in mind that the Fair of 1864
will be held at Decatur, commencing Sept. 12th,
that the grounds themselves, beautiful and conven-
ient as they were last ye.tr, will be greatly improv-
ed and ornamented ; that the railroads will contin-
ue to extend the usual facilities to fair-goers —
Passenc/ers at half rates articles for exhibition fi ee.

Swperintenpenls of departments. — Class A, Cattle
— R. H. Whiting, and Lewis Ellsworth.

Class B, Horses — J. W. Singleton, and 0. W.
Webster.

Class C, D, and E, Sheep, Swine and poultry, —
A. B. McConnell.

Class F, Mechanical — Wm. Kile, and H. C-
Johns.

Class G, Farm Products — II. S. Ozburn.

Class 11, Wra. S. Wait, and C. H. Rosenstiel.

Class I, Musical Instruments, and L, Natural
History, R. H. Holder.

Class K, Textile Fabrics — A. J. Mattson.

Class M, Plowing Match — Urial Mills.

Superintendent of Grounds. — J. H. Pickrell.
Respectfully, John P. Reynolds.

Cor. Sec. 111. St. Ag'l Society.

Agriccltural Rooms, }
Springfield, March 12, 1864.J

Clark's Sorgo Journal.

This journal, now in its second year, is doing a
good work. It is a live, practical work and should
be in the hands of erery cane grower. Address
Clark's Sorgo Journal, Cincinnati, Ohio, and en-
close $1.

Tobacco in Illinois.

Office of the Illinois Central R. R. Co.
JVew York January 30, 1864.

Dear Sir: You did me the favor last year to
send me a large package of tobacco seed, which
was carefully distributed in Southern Illinois. I
am sorry that I am not in possession of any special
report of the out-turn of this seed ; but I have no
doubt that its distribution has been of great benefit.
In our freight statistics for the year we notice large
increase in the weight of tobacco forwarded, and
it may interest you to see the quantity from various
stations, which I annex below :

Pounds.

Ashlev 272,900

Colonia 82,500

Tamaroa 315,560

Du Quoin 438,640

De Solo 124,260

Carbondale. 4, 254,000

Makanda 420

Jonesboro' 577,370

Cobden 430

Dongola 220,910

Ullin 4,450

Pulasld 26,540

Cairo 3, 408,280

Total 9, 726.260

Very respectfully vours,

W. H. OSBORN.
Isaac Newton, Esq.,

Oommisnioner of Agricidture.

The above is a very satisfactory exhibit, when

we take into consideration the severe drouth and

early frost of the season. To Mr. Osborn Prcst. of

the Illinois Central R. R. much credit is due foi"

this result, in the furnishing of seed and otherwise

encouraging the culture of this staple. We regret

that cotton has not also shown as good returns

from the eiforts of Mr. 0. but we shall yet see good

results from it. It is probable that the large

amount from Cairo came from the adjacent States

of Kentucky and Missouri. That at Carbondale

was all the product of this State. — Bd.

'V*

Frpit Trees in Hedges. — Pears and various va-
rieties of fruit are grafted into the hedges, in many
provinces in France not that the proprietor antici-
pates enjoying the fruit. They call them God's
part {la pert de Dieu). In the quince hedges of the
Prince of Desdogne, branches to bear fruit are al-
lowed to grow and form little trees, bearing quite
an amount of fruit " boquets of trees, " M. Gagnaim
assures the editor of the Revue Horticoh, " hanging
gracefully in the midst of the hedges, produce &
beautiful effect and render the scene less arid,
being at the same time elegant and productive. "
— i»

Plitm Trees. — The best soil for plum trees con"
■isis of a heavy clay loam, and then a gravelly
soil, while a sandy ground is the poorest of all,
and also the worst for the presence and ravages of
the curculio — that shy and destructive plum enemy,

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

123

M&tlm.

Agents.— We do not appoint any agents— all are
voluntary. Any person so disposed, can act as agen
in any place.

Enlarge Your Cltjb.— Will not the friends of
the Illinois Farmer inquire how many copies of
the Farmer are taken in their respective offices, and
pass around among those who ought to have their
names added to the list? Our terms are so low to
clubs of ten and twenty that we ought to have one
or the other made up at every office in the State, and
at every office in Central Illinois, one of twenty or
more. Will our friends, and the friends of practical
agriculture see to it, and thus lay us under renewed
obligations?

To Single Subscribers.—You receive the only
copy of the Farmer that goes to your post office.
Can you not send one, two, three or more new sub-
scribers, without any trouble ? Try. Sample num-
bers, etc., seut free.

Drafts.— Those remitting us large amounts of
money, will please send us drafts on Springfield or
Chicago, less they exchange. If you send cash in a
letter, be sure that it is well sealed and well directed,
fo Bailhache & Baker, Springfield, Illinois.

The Farmer as a Present.— Any of our subscri-
bers who wish to make a present of the Illinois
Farmer for 1863, can have it at the lowest club rates,
when out of the State. For fifty cents you can treat
your Eastern friends to a Western Agricultural Pa-
per. In no way can you invest that amount to so
good advantage to emigration.

paper which, though valuable there, is much less so
here, the difference of soil and climate putting them
out of their reckoning when attempting to teach us
Western farming.

How TO Help.— The friends of the Illinois Far-
mer will find a prospectus in another column. We
desire to suggest a few ways in which they can use it
to advantage :

1. Show the Farmer to those who arc unacquaint-
ed wi'h it, and tell them what you think of it.

2. Send for prospectuses, and put them into the
hands of those who will use them, and place posters
where farmers will see them.

3. Get post masters interested. They see every-
body, and are efficient workers.

4. Send us the names of persons in your town to
whom we can send prospectuses and sample num-
bers.

5. Begin now, before the agents of Eastern pa-
pers get up their clubs.

This last hint is especially important. Let us
hear from you soon. See terms elsewhere.

j^- Clubs may be composed of persons in all
parts of the United Stutes. It will be the same to
the publishers if they send papers to one or a hund-
red post offices. Additions made at any time at club
rates. We mail by printed slips, which are so cheaply
placed on the papers, that it matters little whether
they go to one or a dozen offices.

j^~ Correspondents will please be particular to
give the name of the post office, county and State.

Send Now.— Any person who remits pay for a club
of ten or fifteen, or any other number at the specified
rates for such clubs, can afterwards add to the clubs,
and take advantage of the reduction. Thus a person
sending us five subscribers and three dollars, can af-
terwards send us three dollars more and receive six
copies.

To The Casual Reader.— This and other num-
Dcrg of tho Illinois Farmer will be seut to many
persons who now use it for the first time. Will they
not examine it, and if they like it, subscribe for it,
and ask their neighbors to subscribe ? Sample num-
erbs, prospectuses, etc., sent free to all applicants.
See terms elsewhere.

How TO Obtain Subscribers.— The best way is to
send for sample numbers. Any young man by can-
rassing his neighborhood, ean easily make up a club
of five, ten or twenty, but no time should be lost in
doing 80, for your neighbors may send east for their

;^*Specimen numbers will be sent gratis, upon
application.

«®~Addre(i«

^^ BAKER A PHILLIPS,

Springfield, Dlinois,

Special Notice. — For terms see prospectus on
last page. All exchanges and communications for
the eye of the editor should be directed to Illinois
Farmek, Champaign, Illinois. Electrotypes and
business matters, and subscriptions, to the publishers,
Springfield, Illinois. Implements and models for ex-
amination should be sent to the editor. The editor
will, so far as it can be done personally, test and ex-
amine all new machines and improvements submitted
to his inspection. He will be found at home, on his
farm, nearly all of the time. So far as it is possible,
the conductors on the Illinois Central Railroad will
let off passengers at his place, which is directly oa
the road, three and a half miles south of the Urbaxa
Station, now the city of Champaign.

124

THE ILLIFOIS FAEMEK.

Apeil

FURST & BRADLEY,

MANUFACTURERS OF

AND OTHER

Agricultural Implements,

Xos. 55 and 58 North Jefferson Street,

near Gorner of Lake Street,

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Plows of all sizes and patterns, Cultivators, Horse
Hoes, Harrows, Corn Shellers, Straw Cutters, Gar-
den and Rail Road Wheelbarrows, Road Scrapers —
five different patterns — Sulky Corn and Grain Culti-

ators. Sulky Hay Rake, with steel wire teeth re-
volving.

Send for a priced Catalogue.

FURST & BRADLEY
Ai.rill-64-ly*

NANSEMOND SWEET POTATO PLANTS,—
strong and well rooted, from May to July.
Put up to carry 1000 miles in good order. Price,
300, $1.00; 1,000, $2.50; 5,000, $11,00; 10,00, $20.00.
My plants of this variety produce good crops at the
North.

Send for my circular of directons for cultivation,
Ac. Address M. M. MURREY,

Fruit Hills, near Loveland, Ohio.

WEED'S TREE AND PLANT PROTECTOR
WILL protect trees against injury from Au-
TTMN, Winter or Srins Frosts, and secure an annu-
al crop of Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines, Heart Cher-
ries, Blackberries, Strawberries in any part of the
Central or Northern States; and prevent all loss of
trees or plants by Winter killing.

Patented Oct. 2 1st, 1862, and Deo. 8th, 1863,

JAMES WEED,
ADrill-64-3mo* Muscatine, Iowa.

GET THE BEST

FIRST PREMIUM

OULTIYATOK

The only one combining all the Mechanical Pprinci-
ples necessary to a

PRACTICAL AND SUCCESSFUL OPERATION

IN THE FIELD.

The lateral or self-adjusting motion of the plows and
is an an effectual

BAB AGAINST BETAKING,

When it comes in contact with unsoen obstacles.

It is Made of the Best Material,

BT EPPERIENCED WORKMEN.

THE SHOVELS OP FIRST QUALITY

OF

OAST STEEL.

Altogether, it far excels all others in point of

Utility- I>iiral>ility a^xid.

Price $50 cash on board the cars at Decatur.
^^,Send for Descriptive Pamphlet.

BARBER & HAWLEY,

Manufacturers,
Decatur, III.

March, 1864— 3m.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

125

VICTOR OF THE WEST.

-«•>-

"WOOHD'S

SELF RAKER,

CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.

"^^m

COMBINED AND SINGLE.
This Machine has won for itself the enviable title
of " Ftcior" having vanquished all the self raking
maohines made or sold in the West, at the

GREAT DIXON REAPER TRIAL,

held under the direction of the 111. State Agricultnra
Society, which was the largest and most thorough
field trial ever held in this country — over forty ma-
chines entering for competition.

W.A.WOOD'S SELF RAKER
was awarded thojirst prize as a Reaper.

Again, at the DeKalb trial last season, where there
was a great struggle among all manufacturers for
three days in the fie'd, W. A. Wood's received

THE FIRST PRIZE

again as a Reaper.

This Machine is warranted to be the lightest draft
Reaper made.

The most simple and durable.

Having the least side draft, and

Being the best Self Raker in the world.

Making a gavel any size at will of driver.

For further particulars send for Circular.

CHARLES E. WHITMAN.

General Western Agent,

206 Lake St., Chicago.
April-Smo

WOOD'S PRIZE MOWER.

The superiorly of Wood's Mowing and Reaping
Machines is now fully established, both in this coun-
try and Europe.]!

The Prize Mower, of which there were made and
sold over Six Hundred last season — a larger number
by far than was made by any other manufacturer in
the world, yet the demand is not supplied — is offered
this season with many valuable improvements. (See
Pamphlet.)

To Wood's Prize Mower has been awarded more
high premiums than any other Machine during the
same time.

POINTS OF SUPERIORITT.

It is the lightest draft mower in use.

It is the most simple machine made.

It is the most durable.

It has no side draft.

It has no weight on horses' necks.

It will cut all kinds of grass without clogging.
It is sold at a very low price.
It cuts very close to the ground.
For full particulars call on Local Agents, or send
for pamphlets to

CHARLES B. WHITMAN,
General Western Agent,

206 Lake St. Chicago.

Large stock of Extras constaatly on hsnd.
April-Smo

T-?"*?!!!

126

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

April

F'JRXJIT TrJ^EES,

- Hating largelj? increased ray variety of

UUBSERY ^ GREEN HOUSS

STOCK,

I am DOW prepared to fill orders for
FRUIT & ORNAMENTAL TREES,

A new and complete assortment of

GJ-rapes, Strawberries,

Raspberries, Ouriants,

And all other kinds of

SMALL FR UITS.

Also — A Full Assortment of

GREEN AND HOT HOUSE PLANTS,

FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SEEDS,

Bouquets and Cut Flowers,
GOLD PISH,

and all kinds of

Ornamental "Wovli.

All orders addressed to

J. S. COOK,
Box 1029, Cin. 0.
■will receive prompt attention.

Seed Store, 197 and 199 Walnut at.
February, 1864. 4m.

TWENTY - FIVE CENTS A YEAR.

THE CULTURiST,

A handsomely illustrated monthly Journal, devoted
exclusively to

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

Specimen copie." furnished without charge. Ad-
dressEditor and Publisher,

A. W. SPANGLER,
No. 25, North 6th st.,
Feb., 1S64— 3m» Philadelphia.

agriculIurIl'' toehouse

AND

SEED STORE.

Haa one of the best selected stock of implements
andseeds to be found in the West.

A. H. HOVEY,
Novtfl862 No. 194, Lake st., Chicago 111.

G ROVER A BAKER'S SEWING MACHINES
were awarded the highest premiums at the fol-
lowing State Fairs of 1863, for the Best Family
Sewing Machine, the Best Manufacturing Machine,
and the Best Machine Work :

NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Double Thread Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

VERMONT STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Fiimily Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

IOWA STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
Firit Premium for Machine Work.

MICHIGAN STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Mai-hine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

INDIANA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine fi>r All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

KENTUCKY STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Beautiful Machine Work.

OHIO STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine Work.

The above comprises all the Fairs at which the
GROVER &, BAKER MACHINES were exhibited
this year. At nearly all of them the leading Sewing
Machines were in competition.

The GROVER & BAKER S. M. Co. are the only
parties who manufacture and sell Machines which
both SEW PERFECTLY and EMBROIDER PER-
FECTLY.

GROVER A BAKER S. M. COMPANY,

janIS 64-ly

115 Lake Street, Chicago.

1HE AMERICAN HOG TAMER-

Invented by Reuben Hurd, a farmer of twenty-
seven years experience in Illinois.

My Tamer will stop any hog on earth from rooting,
from a pig to an old hog by one simple application.

By any one sending three dollars to Reuben Hurd
at Morrison, Whiteside county. 111., he will receive
one free of freight; and I will warrant them to give
perfect satisfaction, or money refunded.

To those sending : Please name the railroad sta-
tion you wish them shipped to, as I keep a constant
supply on band, and will be able to fill all orders
with promptness and dispatch.

Directions fornsing will accompany all orders.

REUBEN HURD.

Not. 1, 1863— 6m.

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAEMER.

127

EVERGREEN SEEDLINGS.

A very large stock of superior grown Evergreen
Seedlings, at less than one-balf the Eastern Prices.

PEP. 1,000.
Norway Spruce, two years old,
three to five inches, $5,00

Norway Spruce, three years
old, sis to nine inches, $8,00

Scotch Pine, two years old,
three to five inches, $7,00

Austrian Pine, two years old, $2 per TOO.
Balsah Fir, Rbd Cedar, ARBARA'iTyB, Ac, Ac,
of large or small size, at very low rates.

A large stock of CONCORD GRAPES, one of the
best varieties for the West.

A largo stock of RED DUTCH CURRANTS, the
best for market, two to three years old, at half the
isual rates.

STANDARD AND DWARF PEARS, of well
tested varieties, together with a good assortment of
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Ac, A.

Send for Catalogue. ROBT. DOUGLAS.

Waukegan, III. tf

TO GRAPE GROWERS.

The subscriber has a large stock of the most vigor-
ous growth layers of the following desirable varieties,
which ho will sell at very low rates, to wit :

CONCORD. $55 per 1,000.

A few thousand of bearing age, of large size at

igTS 1 er 1,000.
These will produce a good crop the second year.

HARTFORD PROLIFIC, $10 per 1.00, or
ten for a dollar.

REBECCA, SIO per 100.

DIANA, $10 per 100

The above will be well packed,
to go any distaoce.

Tkkms — 7ash, or approved bank paper o

short date.

JAMES SMITO.
Desmoines Iowa, Jan. 1, 186.".

WANTED.
KNITTING MACHINES.

Every Farmer to know that his " Women Folks
can earn $6 to $20 per week with one of Akin's Cele-
brated Knitting Machines. It will earn its cost in
thirty days. Price complete $75. Weight 45 pound.
Freight from 50 cents to $1 50. Send for circular
and samples, (send stamps.)

BRANSON A ELLIOT,

General Agents,
Apr '6.3 ly 120 Lake street, Chicago, 111.

BLOOMINGTON NURSERY

r.LOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.
Eighty Acres Fruit and Ornamental Tree*,
OAA NAMED SORTS TULIPS, ALSO HYACINTHt
jL* f\J Crocna, and a general assortment of Bulbs
•od Flower Roots for Fall and Spring planting.'
Knrsery stock. Evergreens, Greenhouse and garden*
plants— all at wholesale and retail at lowest cash

jarFor particulars see Catalogues or address subscribej

F. K. PH(KNIX.
Bloomington, 111., Aug. 1, 1?69.

Dunlap's N"iirsery.

This nursery has good atock of apple trees of all
ages and of choice varieties for the west, low heads
and stacky. The genuine " May Cherry," (Kentish
or Enrly Richmond of Downing,) Dwarf and Stand-
ard Pears, the Purple Cam. Raspberry, the best of all
raspberries for the farm ; Lowton Blackberry, Hough-
ton Gooseberry, Grapes, Strawberries, Ornamental
Trees and Plants. An immense stock of Silver Leaf
Maple, from $5 to $15 per 100, 6 to 10 feet high. Th«
green house is well stocked with roses and other bud-
ding out plants. This stock is grown to retail and
not adopted to the tree peddler,as all trees and plants
ore large, stacky and thrifty, and intendedfor the
planner only. Terms cash with low prices.

Address, M. L. DUNLAP,

Champaign.

March 1, 1863.tf

T> OSS, THOMPSON A CO.

(Successors to G. S. Thompson.)
CAPITAL PENSION & BOUNTY AGENCY.

OFFICE ON WEST SIDE OP 5tH STREET,

Opposite State House, over L. Greeble's Clothing Stor«
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

BOUNTY AND BACK PAY, PENSIONS, BECRBITIXO

CLAIMS, CLAIMS FOR HORSES LOST IN

SERVICE, ARREARAGES OF PAT

POB RESIGNED OFFICERS,

Ac, Ac, Ac.

Our experience and acquaintance with the details
of business in the various departments, and the per-
sonal attention of one member of the firm at Wash-
ington, afford us every facility for the prompt collec-
tion of all classes of military claims.

If you have any claims of any description against
the government, give us a statement of the facts, and
we will tell you what your rights are in the case. A
letter of inquiry may save you much trouble, expense
and perhaps loss. All communications enclosing a
stamp for return postage p romptly answered. In-
formation gratis. No fees charged until money is
collected. Charges low. Pensions for $5, as regula-
lated by act of Congress. Address

ROSS, THOMPSON A C«.,
Cajnta Pension and Bounty Agency, Springfield, 111.

dec63-tf

STAin)ABD

SCALES

OF ALL KINDS.

Also, Warehouse Trucks, Letter Presses, Ac.

FAIRBANKS, GREEN LEAF & CO.

172 T.Airn STREET, CHICAGO,

Sold in Springfield by

E. B. PEASE.

B« carefU and buy only the genuiue. i nel-ly

128

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

April

mmtt

A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF

AGRICULTUriE AND HORTICULTURE.

PUBLISHED AT

SPB±VGFIELB, - - ILLINOIS,

BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

AND IS EDITED BY

M. L. DUNLAP, Tribune's Bural.

TERMS IN ADVANCB.— $1 a year; two copies 1 5C; five
c jpies $3; ten copies $6, and one to getter up of the club
twenty copies $10.

It is not necessaej- that the club should all be at one office
— we send wherever the members of the club may reside

The postage on the Farmer is only three cents a year in
the State of Illinois, and six cents out of it.

Specimens numb' rs sent free on application.

Subsciiption money may be sent at the risk of the pub-
lisher.

Exchanges and communications for the eye of the ^ ditor
• hould be addressed, I.UX is Fakmeb, Champaign Illinois.

All business letters are to be din c ed to the publit^hcrs,
Sprinj^fluld.

TSRMS OF ADVKKT[^IXG:

1 mo. 3 mo. C mo 12 mo.

One page, or two columns 8 S20 $3;') $.';0

Half a pacre or one " 5 12 20 3o

uue fourth pagf or half colnmn.. 3 7 12 IS

One eighth or one f.iurth " .. 2 4 7 10

One square often lines 12 4 7

Card of five lines one year $5 00

Ten cents a line for less than a square each insertion.

All worthy objects advertised, and those of importance to
the Farmer will receive, from time to time, such editorial
notices as the Editor may consider them worthy of, without
add tional charge.

Implements and seeds to be tested should be sent direct
to the Editor, at his residence .( hampaign.

We have put the price of advertising witliin reach of all.
It will enable those wlio like to freely advertise their goods,
to do 80 at a cheap rate.

Terms, cash. Yearly advertisers will pay semi-annually,
and all transient advertisements must be accomjianied with
the cash to insure insertion.

BAKEh & PIIlLLIP,iSr. Publisher8.'"_Ji
Spr'n_tield, Ills.

THE ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL

JS CONFIDENTLY Of'FEIlED TO THE lEOt'iF; OF
Illinois as the best and most reliable news, political
md commercial paper within their reach. It is published
it Springfield, the Capital of the ftate, and is the medium
f all official notices, published by State authority. Partic-
ular attention is given to commercial affairs and every
mmber contains copious reviews of the markets in the
i>rincipal cities.

TERMS :

One copj- one year $2 00

Three copies one year 0 00

Si.'i " " '50

'Jen " " 12 00

Twenty" " - ■ ••- - 20 00

Payable always in advance. Persuus sending clubs of tea
and upwards shall be entitled to an extra copy.
Address BAKER & PHILLIPS,

gprin^firld, Illinois.

Sanford & Mallory's Flax and Hemp
Machines.

These celebrated machines are on exhibition and
in operation in a building adjoining the Chicago Su-
gar Refinery. For circular telling all about them,
price, &c., address KELSON STILLMAN,

General Agent, Chicago, 111.

P. 0. Box 5823. May]'63.1y

A GOOD INVESTMENT.

ONS THAT !> AYS.

THE

"PR-AIRIE FARMER,'

Has now been published in Chicago, II]., for twenty-
two years, without intermission. It is devoted to the
Producer's interest.', treating of

GENARAL AGRICULTURE,

STOCK RAISING,

HORTICULTURE and POMOLOGY,

And DOMESTIC ECONOMY generally.

The Publishers' aim will be to give such informa-
tion and assistance as will enable the farmer to grow
the largest crops with the least e.xpense, and what is
equally important to assist him in securing the

LARGEST PRICES

the market affojds. by giving such reliable informa-
tion that is obtainable concerning the markets at
home and abroad — the cost of forwarding produce to
market, and other attendant expenses — thus enabling
tlii producer to take advantage of the conditions of
the market in dispensing of his produce.

FORM OF PAPER.
The paper consists of 16 pages large quarto, mak-
ing a convenient size for binding and reference. A
full index is given at the end o! each six months.

CONTENTS.

About five pages are -devoted t.i Gei eral Agrienl-
ture ; one to two pages to Horticulture; one page to
Literature ; two or more pages to General War Mis-
cellany and News; two pages to Markets and Rec-
ord of Season, and asking and answering questions,
and general editorial items.

A portion will also be devoted to Advertisements
of such character as is appropriate to an Agricultural
paper.

DR. GEO. IL DADD.

This celebrated Veterinary Surgeon will contribute
regularly to the Fakiier, giving especial attention to
the an^weriDg of questions and giving informatioij
upon matters interesting to stock growers.

A NEW VOLUME
Commencing January 1st, 1S6-';, and the present time
affords the best time to form clubs for the year.

One copy oue year $2 00

Two copies one year... 3 O'J

Larger clubs furni.<-hed at liberal rates, or prem-
iums given vfhere clubs of six or more are sent at
$1 50 each.

Specimen copies and show bills sent to any one
who desires them for examination cr the purpose of
raising a club.

For sala by news dealers generally.

For samples or other information concerning the
paper, addrc ss

EMERY & CO., Chicago, IlL

r'T^^^ Y-

The Illinois Farmer

VOL. IX.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., MAT, 1864.

NO. 5.

il

DEVOTED TO THE

FARM, THE ORCHARD AND THE GARDEN,

PUBLISHED BT

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

M:. L. JDJJNli.AF, Editor.

All business letters should be addressed to the
publishers.

^^©^BxcHANGES and all matters pertaining to the
editorial department, must be directed to Illiuois
Farmee, Champaign, III., as the editor resides at
that point, and is seldom at the office of publication,
from which he is distant over eighty miles.

*x* ^o"" terms see prospectus and special notices in
advertising department.

May.

May crowned with vernal Flora is
always welcome. It is the last month
of spring, that sends out tree and plant
fall'robed, for summer. Now the orch-
ards are sheeted with bloom and the
pastures carpeted with the richest
grass ; the gardens give their first of-
ferings of radishes, of peas, of lettuce,
of onions and other vernal vegetables,
and will have the strawberry and May
cherry ready to greet the incoming of
June. May has no idle hands, for she
keeps them all busy ; she must make
amends for the tardiness and fickleness
of March and April ; she must bring
forward and finish up what they have

neglected ; but bright, smiling May is
competent to the task, and she will turn
over to the keeping of summer whatev-
er the husbandman placed in the hands
of March and April, to perform or to
turn the unfinished task over to her
willing hands.

Proudly the farmer boy drives his
new sulkv cultivator astride the rows
of corn, or marks out the rows and cov-
ers the potato, that crop which to him
had always been a dread, now assumes
a new aspect. Father has cut the seed
potatoes and Brother John drops them
along the tiny furrow made by the
Stafford — one bout opens the furrow
and another has covered the seed far
better than it can be done bv the use of
the hoe. Let us see : this is at the rate
of four acres a day — just what John
can drop. When the plants first make
their appearance above ground, harrow
lengthwise the rows and roll them ;
when, a few days later, the sulky takes
them in hand, and once a week thereaf-
ter until the blossoms are ready to open;
they will then be nicely ridged up,
clean and thrifty — thanks to the new
sulky. The rows of beans, melons and
other garden truck, have been dressed
out in the highest style of the art, and
our farmer boy looks over the -work in
triumph. When the team is turned out
at night he is not tired out, his legs do
not drag heavily, and he enters the fam-
ily sitting room cheerful and elastic; an

130

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

May

hour at the melodeon, in conversation,
reading tlie daily paper or the Illinois
Faemek, and he is ready for a sound
and refreshing sleep ; not the fitful,
starting, overworked condition of the
boy without the sulky cultivator, but
the sweet, quiet sleep of needed labor.
What farmer will not provide his son
with one of these great labor saving
implements ? — whatfarmer mother who
will not feel proud of her boy, doing
the work of two men who use the old
implements ?

The prairies were mapped out and
made expressly to give Genius a clear
field for her ambition, and she is nobly
filling it. See what she has sent us for
the coming harvest. First in the row
is "Wood's unrivalled Prize Mowing
Machine, iS^o. 1." Two horses are to
work this at the rate of six acres a day
in grains, and eight in clover and Tim-
othy ; and our boy who has tended the
corn is to run it, while Joseph with old
Kate is to do the raking with "Furst
& Bradley's Sulky, Wire Steel Tooth
Mowing Rake." Next in the row is
the time honored J. H. Manny reap-
er, made by Emerson & (Jo., Rockford,
with Burson's binder attached, contain-
ing all the new improvements.

We do not use these in May, but you
see they are on hand, for it is part of
the duty of May to have things ready
for summer ; for if it is fitting that May
turn her tender plants over to be ripen-
ed up by summer, the proper tools and
implements should go with them.

But we must go back to the actual
work of May. The gardens must be
wed out, the weeds along the rows pull-
ed up — well, no ; suppose we cut them
just below the surface with a thin-
bladed, keen-edged knife. Gardeners
sometimes get these made, but a few

days since we found just the thing, and
what do you think it was? We have
no name for it, but it is used by black-
smiths and horse doctors to pare the
horses' feet. It is a crooked knife with
a crooked handle, the end of the blade
is turned up so that you will not cut
the plants ; the cost is sixty cents, and
will be worth at least fifty cents a day
for the use of it, as with it you can do
that amount more of labor in weeding.
One of these to the boy or girl who
tends the garden, will be a nice present
for the first of May.

The boys must have a barrel of com-
mon land plaster to put on the vines to
keep ofi" the stripped bug, and to give
! them a fine start ; and when you send
for plaster add a pair of pruning shears,
you will find both at Hovey's whose
card is in the Faemee.

In May the hogs go to the clover
pastures, but these animals often abuse
this luxury by rooting up the plants ;
Kurd's hoff tamer will teach them bet-
ter manners.

Here is another thing that is wanted
in May : The children must have sum-
mer clothes, but without the use of a
good sewing machine they cannot be
made up before green peas, strawber-
ries and cherries are ready to be picked,
and the wife or daughter who does the
sewing must look after these things, or
they may not be on the table. To rem-
edy this send for one of Grover & Ba-
ker's sewing machines, and the berries
can be picked and the green peas flank
the bacon for dinner. You will have
no trouble to master the use of this ma-
chine ; it is almost impossible to get it
out of repair, for sew it will, even in
the hands of the most unskillful. Such
a present to the wife is but a fair offset
for the sulky, rake, the cultivator or the

WS^^^'"

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

131

Burson, and as you are in honor bound
to divide the new implements with the
household, order it without delay.

The small grains, the trees and hardy
plants have been sown or planted in
April. You now finish up the corn,
the beans, the cotton, tobacco sorgo, the
late garden vegetables, potatoes, turn-
ips and beets, but you lack a few bed-
ding out plants for the front yard — just
a few verbenas, geraniums, — well you
may as well ask your wife or daughter
what they want and order them at
once.

Illinois for Fmits.

The State of Illinois forms the center
around which cluster the great group
of the ISTorthwestern States. In conse-
quence of her happy geographical posi-
tion, of the wide scope of latitude with-
in her grasp and the genial influence of
the great air currents that kiss her rich,
rolling surface, give her peculiar claims
in a pomological view to pre-eminence
over her sister States, that will enable
her to supply early vegetables and the
staple and choice fruits in advance of
all others. She may well be called the
garden of the ISTorthwest, not only from
her geographical position, but from the
nature of her soil and climate, which
embraces a wide range of temperature,
ripening the fig in latitude thirty-seven,
and yet perfecting the apple and the
pear in the northern limits at forty-two.

The great current of heated air that
comes from the tropics in summer pass-
es to the west of her, scorching the
plains of Missouri, Kansas and Iowa,
while the center of the great waves of
cold that come down from the north in
winter returns over the same channel
and touches her but lightly.

Although the climate is strictly con-

tinental, yet from the influence of the
rivers within and on her borders and
being out of the central current of heat
and cold, is less subject to sudden chan-
ges than the States to the west.

ORCHAKDiNa.

For a long time it was supposed that
the prairies were not adapted to this
branch of horticulture, but the culture
and grazing of these vast meadows, by
exposing them to the sun and air soon
dispelled this fallacy, and now we find
some of the' largest and most profitable
orchards in the State located on the
rolling prairies, thus giving them a new
value. From being wet even on the
high land they have become dry and
friable and well adapted to the growth
of almost all plants of woody structure.
The prairie orchards are or will be shel-
tered by artificial belts of timber which
ward off the cold and high winds that
would destroy the fruit at the time of
inflorescence, as well as other stages of
its growth, and in addition to this make
a valuable and cheap fence. A respect-
able percentage of the whole State can
thus be made available for orcharding
or fruit growing of some kind, more es-
pecially the apple, the most valuable of
all fruits; though central Illinois and
the loess or bluff formations of the Mis-
sissippi are the most valuable for this
purpose.

Geologically the State is divided into
four natural or grand divisions, each of
which require a different selection of
varieties to succeed the best. While
the Newtown Pippin is large, high-fla-
vored and productive on the river bluffs
and the mountain limestone formations,
it is worthless on the black loams and
granite drifts oi the center and north
part of the State.

The facilities of transportation afford

132

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

May

ed to all parts of the State, at all sea-
sons of the year, to either the north or
south, give to the orchardists of the
State great advantages that cannot be
overestimated.

While the climate of Ohio, Indiana
and Michigan is yearly becoming less
valuable for fruit growing on account of
the clearing up of their forests, this
State is becoming more valuable from
the increased growth of timber belts,
that tend to modify the climate, guard
against sudden changes and gives to the
country a more equable distribution of
rain.

The prairie orchards, thus far have
produced uniform good crops, and some
of them now send to market two to six
thousand bushels of apples annually.
An increased attention has been given
in this direction within the past three
years, and the number of trees planted
have been nearly doubled since the
spring of 1863.

GKAPE GROWING.

The State must soon stand first in the
list of grape growing States. This fruit
can be grown to more or less advantage
in all parts of the State, but the loess of
the Mississippi stand out most pre-emi-
nently in this respect. In Hancock Co.
it is estimated that there are now 400,-
000 vines, while Madison and Adams
counties are but little if any behind. —
The planting at Warsaw is as follows :

In 1855 there was planted.

In 1858 "

In 1859 "

In 1860 "

In 1861 "

In 1862 "

In 1863 "

.... 20 vines.

100 "

650 "

3,329 "

3,135 "

2,365 "

65,000 "

In Nauvoo up to and including last
spring, there was estimated to be 190,-
000 vines.

No branch of rural economy is re-
ceiving more attention than fruit cul.

ture, in the apple orchard, the vineyard
and the small fruit gardens; apparently
only limited by the trees and plants
within reach of the planters.

PEACH CULTURE.

The peach lands lie south of the 40th
parallel and within the Mississippi and
Wabash rivers. This section has no
serious competitor. The peach crop of
Michigan coming at the close of the
crop from this part of our State. The
banks of the Mississippi and the grand
chain of hills in the south part of the
State are remarkable for fine peaches,
and it is on those formations that most
of the peach orchards are located. These
orchards now cover some thousands of
acres.

SMALL FRUITS.

These are assuming no small impor-
tance, even if we do not include among
them the grape. The strawberry is
sent to market from the south part of
the State May 10th, at the time they
are in bloom at the north part of the
State, and the first ripe peaches go
north August 10th ; so the small fruits
fill a void that the orchard cannot sup-

The strawberry is followed by the
raspberry, and that by the blackberry,
between which is sandwiched the cur-
rant and the gooseberry. The May
cherry goes north with the strawberry
and follows the season in its progress,
thus extending the small fruit season
over a wide area of summer. Illinois
is the fruit and vegetable garden of the
valley of the upper Mississippi.

Reapers and Mowers.

Until within a year or two manufac-
turers have persisted in making com-
bined machines, but as soon as the far-
mers had an opportunity to test the

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

133

mower separately, the demand compel-
led the division. The difference in the
two is so radical that it has astonished
us that the change had not been made
before. More than ten years ago we
urged this change and persisted in its
accomplishment, but manufacturers
laughed at the idea. The argument
was this : most farmers want a reaper,
and are content to have one that will
cut grass moderately well; they will
not be at the expense of the two sepa-
rately. But we urged that they can af-
ford it, for a combined machine will
cost more from the simple wear and
tear of grass cutting.

In the cutting of grain a slow motion
is only required, and as the sickle is
long and consequently heavy ; the strain
on it and the wear at the wrist is com-
paratively light, but when the motion is
doubled, as it must be in cutting grass,
the machine cannot stand the strain on
it ; the wrist soon begins to wear, and
in two years' use the machine is worn
out and thrown aside.

We have three different reaping and
combined mowers in use on our farm,
all of which are good reapers, and for
the first season the J. H. Manny did
very good work as a grass cutter, but
since then has been of no value for that
purpose. The cutting of forty acres of
grass wore it more than four hundred
acres of grain would have done. As a
grain cutter it is yet an excellent ma.
chine, and being so well adapted to the
Bunson binder that we hope to use it
several years to come.
The Wood mower (see advertisement)
was generally used in this county last
year, but from two defects did not give
so complete satisfaction as its high rep-
utation warranted. Some of the sickles
were made of poor iron which was not

discovered until put in the field and
found wanting. The crank was also
defective, which caused the breaking
of the sickles. These defects were not
uniform and only attached to a few of
the mowers. These are now remedied
and but few other machines can be sold
in the county. When we take into
consideration that this countv of Cham-
paign is one of the great stock counties,
not only sending to market annually
thousands of head of fine cattle, sheep
and swine, but ships thousands of tons
of hay south, we may consider this a
strons: recommendation for the Wood
machine. In many cases these mowers
cut their hundreds of tons of Timothy
hay and prairie grass during the season,
and yet they have little appearance of
being worn. The short, (four feet,)
light sickle can be run at a high speed
without jerking, and if kept well oiled
will cost but little annually for a long
series of years.

In most of the combined machines we
must use four horses and of course will
require an expert driver to manage
them. It may be claimed that a six
foot combined machine will cut more
grass in a day than the four feet ma-
chine, but though the theory is correct
yet the performance is at fault, and as
a general thing the delays of the large
machine more than compensate for the
always ready little clipper that the
farmer boy is proud to handle. —
We can state th^ case in another form.
If we could hire a machine by the day,
we would pay more for the four feet
single mower than for the six feet com-
bined, even if an extra team was put
with it at the same price. We do not
know of a single combined machine hav-
ing been sold last season in this comity.
, The Woods self raking reaper b e-

134

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

Mat

comiDg very popular, and among this
class of reapers stands deservedly high.
We "saw its working throughout the
great reaper trial at Dixon, in competi-
tion with several others, and there
could be but one opinion : that it was
the most valuable for ease of draft, su-
perior work, simplicity of structure and
durability. The combination consists
of detaching the reaping gearing from
the main driving wheels and attachir.g
the mower. Strictly speaking it is not
a combined machine, for none but the
driving wheels and seat are used in
common ; and as a mower or reaper es.
sentiaily two machines ; yet in this way
the two are materially cheapened; that
is, the self raking reaper costs $155,
to which is added $30 for the mowing
apparatus, making the two cost $185,
while the two separately would cost
$260, or a difference of $75.

With a six foot reaper we can cut on
an average twelve acres a (^y, or about
two hundred acres during the harvest.
With a four foot mower and two horses
we cut about six acres of prairie grass?
or eight of timothy and clovtr. The
haying season for both of the above
grasses lasts from early in June to the
first of October, or over one hundred
days We know of one farmer who cut
three hundred acres of timothy grass
with one of Wood's mowers last season^

It is a matter of pride to the farmer
that we now have so many machines
for the harvest of such great excellence.
They make the haying and harvesting
comparatively easy, and it is no longer
to be dreaded for its sorry days of wea-
ry toil in swinging the scythe and the
cradle. The coming season is to test
further improvements in this direc
tion.

Latter-Day Warnings.

BT 0. W. HOLMES.

When legislators keep tbe law,

When banks dispense with bolts and locka,
When berries, whortle — rasp — and straw —

Grow bigger downwardn through the box —

When lie that selleth house or land
Shows leak in roof or flaw in right —

When haber-dashers choose the stand
Whose window hath the broadest light, —

When preachers tell us all they think
And party leaders all they mean, —

When what we pay for, that we drink,
From real grape and coffee-bean, —

When lawyers take what they would give,
And doctors give what they would take, —

When city fathers eat to live,

Save when they fast for conscience' sake, —

When one that hath a horse on sale
Shall bring his merits to the proof.

Without a lie for every nail

That holds the iron on the hoof, —

When in the usual place for rips

Our gloves are stitched with special care.

And guarded well with whalebone tips.
Where first umbrellas need repair, —

When Cuba's weeds have quite forgot

The power of suction to resist.
And claret-bottles harbor not

Such dimples as would hold your fist, —

When publishers no longer steal,

And pay for what they stole before, —

When the first locometive's wheel

Hulls through the Hoosac tunnel bore, —

Till then let Gumming blaze away,
And Miller's saints blow up the globe j

But when you see that blessed day,
Then order your ascension robe !

The Fruit Prospect. — Mr Orson Rogery, of Ma-
rengo, 111., an old and experienced hoi ticulturist,
has just returned from Berriu county, Michigan,
(across the lake from Chicago,) where he spent two
days in the extensive fruit orchards of Judge
Henry Fuller and Silas Sawyer, Esq., to ascertain
the extent of the damage done by the frost and
cold weather of the present winter. After a very
careful, thorough and extended investigation, he
came to the conclusion that the peach buds have
been completely killed, and that there will be no
peaches next summer ; that the peach trees are but •
partially killed, and will be readj to bear next
year ; that the apple and pear trees are not seri-
ously injured, and that we will probably have a full
crop of apples and pears next summer. — Bureau
Co. Republican.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

136

Baisine^ Calves on the Cow.

M. J. SMITH, of Northampton, Mass., furnishes
the following statement to the Hampden Agricul-
tural Society, of his way of raising calves:

" I give my mode of raising such calves as I ex-
ibited at our fair, knowing full well that it is by
gleaning a little here and a little there, by our
thinking and reading farmers, from agricultural
reports and farmers' clubs, that has caused the
vast improvment in agriculture which we have wit-
nessed within a few years, and raised the standard
of the farmer's life and calling. — I have tried most
all methods of raising calves. Formerly I raised
them by hand, that is learn them to drink from the
pail from ^ne to three days old, feeding them on
new milk, warm from the cow, from two to four
weeks, then changeing gradually to skim milk, that
is set the milk for twelve hours, then skim, warm
and feed a few days, scalding in some middlings or
oatmeal, and so on until the cream is . all taken
from the milk. We have also tried the hay tea, as
recommended in some agricultural reports, but
without any success whatever, and must say that I
never raised what a firmer would call a good
calf on the hand system, and for a time I gave up
raising calves from the fact that I could buy just
such herb tea, skim milk calves, from six to eight
mouths old, from §3.50 to $5, much less than I
could raise them.

I have come to the conclusion that if a calf is
worth raising at all, it is worth raising well. My
method is to put two good calves on to one cow.
If at the season of the year that stock is kept at
the barn, the calves are kept in a stable by them-
selves, wtih a manger coevenieiit for feeding; they
are turned to the nurse twice in twenty-four hours,
just long enough for them to take the milk clean,
which is done in a very few minutes. They are
then returned to the stable and fed with plenty of
rowen hay, with roots of some kind finely cut which
they soon learn to eat if placed in the mainger. A
light feed of shorts or oats is most excellent, and
in the absence of roots is absolutely necessary. —
In the summer season, with plenty of feed, I let
the nurse and calves run together in pasture, and
have no further trouble with them until they come
up to the barn, when if they are of proper age,
which is at least six months, and if older no harm,
they may be shut entirely away from the nurse,
and fed on the best hay, with a mess of roots, shorts,
or oats, daily. In this way we never have any
stunted calves. In this vray there is no standing
still 01 going baci three months after weaning,
and thfc calf at one yea* old it heavier and worth
more money than the average of calves raised in
the ordinary way are at two years old.

But, says the careful farmer, there are objections
to your mode of raising calves ; first, they contract
a habit of sucking, which they never forget. Sec-
ond, the great cost, keeping cows solely for raising
calves, would not pay. Third, calves forced along,
or bread and buttered up, as the saying is, the first
year, are like house plants, and when they come to
be exposed, or brought to hard fare, they will wilt.
They cannot endure starving and banging, like
those that are toughened in raising, and have less
conetitutional strength.

Now I can answer all the objections brought
forward, to my own satisfactiyn at least. In regard
to the first objection, I have never had any trouble
at all. Shut them a part for some weeks and they

are weaned, and I never knew them to take to
sucking again.

In the second I admit that it costs more to raise
a calf well than it does to raise one poorly, but
who can afford to raise a calf six months for four
dollars ? Yet we tan usually buy them at that price.
I think the difference in the cost is not so great as
is generally estimated, when we take it into ac-
count the time it takes to feed and care for the
calf raised by hand, the value of the milk for swine,
etc.

In regard to the third or last objection, I deny
that there is any unnatural forcing in my mode of
raising. It is only returning to the first and only
natural way of rearing young animals of any kind,
and I do believe one quart of milk drawn from the
cow by the calf, is worth two fed in any other way.
The calf that is fed on nutritious food, and kept
growing from the time it is dropped, so as to make
a year's gain at two year's old, over the common
method of raising, is the animal that has got the
constitution. The bone is formed, the muscle de-
veloped, the chest expanded, and you have a con-
stitution grown on to that animal that will last for
generations, whereas the feeble and dwarfed con-
stitution will be found on the animal that has gone
through all the stages of toughening in raising.

A Chapter on Dogs.

The prosperity of the canine race and the inter-
ests of sheep-growers are totally incompatible.
From all parts of the country, we have from farm-
ers the expression of a desire to engage in sheep-
raising if they could be secure from the destructive
raids of dogs.

The Government is sadly in want of money to
liquidate our National debt, and the best suggestion
we have seen is from the Ohio Wool growers' Asso-
ciation, that a revenue tax of $1 per head be laid
upon dogs, which would bring a large annual sum
into the National Treasury.

The damage from dogs in Ohio alone during the
past year, is asertained to be $100,000.

If the proposed tax would decapitate one-half
the worthless curs, millions would be saved to the
country.

In the State of Connecticut, such a dog tax has
been levied for a number of years, and tha proceeds
are paid into the County Treasury and applied to
the remuneration of owners of sheep killed by dogs.
When the offence of sheep killing is fixed upon a
dog, it ii thenceforward the duty of the town select-
men to give that dog no peace until his worthless
life is destroyed. But notwithstanding this whole-
some law, the losses of sheep-growers are not al-
ways promptly reimbursed, owing to the negligence
of the selectmen. We think that a national tax as
proposed by the Ohio Wool Growers, would be a
decided improvement, and may be imposed by Con-
gress, with decided advantage, not only to our
finances, but to the interests of sheep husbandry.

In the absence, however, of that protection
which the law ought to provide, we advise the own-
ers of sheep to have a " law unto themselves " and
destroy without mercy every sheep-killing cur who
crosses their premises. A combination on the part
of sheep-growers, with the determined purpose of
exterminating the whole thieving, wolfish pack of
ill-bred, ill mannered canines that infest the coun-
try, would soon effect a radical cure of this pest to

136

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

May

sheep husbandry. The great and growing interests
of wool-producers must be no longer subject to the
blood thirsty instincts of thes canine butchers,
whose worthless lives are not worth one single
innocent gamboling lamb. What more pitiable
sight than to see your fields covered with the
slaughtered remains of your darling flocks, the vic-
tims of a nocturnal raid of murderous dogs. It is
extraordinary that the patience of sheep-growers
has so long permitted this evil to prevail.

Dogs have their uses, and there are many noble
animals of this species whose lives need not be
sacrificed. A dog of decent training aud cultivated
breed would scorn to be seen in company with
these nondescript curs, to whose low instincts the
evil of sheep-killing is referable. The pure blooded
Newfoundland, the sagacious St. Bernard, the noble
greyhound, and useful hunter's and the shepherd's
dog may still enjoy the care and protection of their
masters, without the prejudice to our flocks. But
the men who foster and multiply those detestable
breeds of dogs that pester the community, consume
the "substance of the land, " and inflict irreparable
damage to the husbandman, ought to be so heavily
taxed as to compel them to join in the extermina-
tion of their canine favorites. Then each man
might enjoy his flocks without hesitation, his sheep
be allowed to multiply upon a " thousand hills, "
aud mutton and wool become staple productions of
all sections of our country. — Working Farmer.

Care of Dairy Cows.

A writer comments as follows on one point of
this subject : Dairy cows should receive their food
at regular intervals; their milk should be drawn at
stated hours, and by quiet gentle milkers ; and they
should be treated at all times with the greatest
kindness. In short, every means in the power of
dairy farmers should be used to insure their tran-
quility. Harsh treatment also exerts a very injur-
ious action on the milk, rendering it less buuttery
and more liable to acidity. Respiration is a spe-
cies of combustion. At every breath we inhale
oxygen of the atmosphere, which unites with and
consumes the fatty matter of the food. When
cows are worried or driven too rapidly, they breathe
more frequently, inhale more oxygen, and more of
the buttery portion of their food is consumed,
leaving less to be converted into milk.

It is well known to all experienced dairymen
that their cows yield more on pleasant days, or
when they have the run of warm well sheltered
pasture, than on cold, bleak pastures. — Workiiig
Farmer.

Economy in Wealth

[From the Scientific American.]
There is nothing which goes so far towards plac-
ing young people beyond the reach of poverty as
proper economy in the management of household
affairs. It matters not whether a man furnishes
little or much for his family, if there is a continued
leakage in his kitchen or parlor ; it runs away he
knows not how, and the demon Waste cries
"More !" like the horse-leach's daughter, until he
that provided has no more to give. It is the hus-
band's duty to bring into the house ; and it is the
duty of the wife to see that nothing goes wrongfully

out of it. A man gets a wife to look after his af-
fairs, and to assist him in his journey through life ;
to educate and prepare their children for a proper
station in life, and not to dissipate his property.
The husband's interest should be the wife's care,
and her greatest ambition to carry her no further
than his welfare and happiness, together with that
of her children. This should be her sole aim, and
the theatre of her exploits in the bosom of her fam-
ily, where she may do as much toward making a
fortune as he can in the counting room or the work
shop. It is not the money earned that makes a man
wealthy, it is what he saves from his earnings. —
Self gratification in dres^s, or indulgence in appe-
tite, or more conipiiny than his purse can well en-
tertain, are equally pernicious.

Surface Mamiring.

The following article on surface manuring, by
Mr. Bright, of Philadelphia, we copy from the Gar-
dener's Monthly:

It will be found especially valuable and those
who have been in the habit of plowing in manure
will do well to make a change. We have adopted
the practice of surface manuring for some years,
with satisfactory results.

The agricultural circles are very much exercised
at the present moment with the question, whether
it is better to apply manure in a partially rotted
state upon the surface of the earth, weeks or months
before they are required for crops, or to decompose
them in heaps, and plow them in as soon as appli-
ed, at planting time.

The best writers, both practical and theoretical,
in England and America, seem to incline to the
first-mentioned practic, in reference particularly
to grass and grain ; and the best efftcts are shown
to have resulted from this method of the applica-
tion of surface manure.

The practice of top-dressing, or of surface ma-
nuring, has long been the favorite method employ-
de by all inteligent gardeners within the the circle
of my acquaintance. We have long ago learned
that masses of rich, nitrogenous manures are appli-
ed more successfuU (and less injuriously) by
top-dressing, either in solid or liquid form.

Nature never manures her plants with crude
masses of concentrated fertalizing substances; but
imparts her stimulating and mineral food in a state
of the most minute division (almost infinitessimal,)
chiefly from the surface of the earth. No wonder
so many fruit trees have been killed, so many fruit
trees rendered barren by excess of wood, in conse-
quence of the too heavy manuring at their roots so
universally recomended by writers on gardening
and Horticulture.

The great objection to surface manuring is found-
ed upon the probable loss of ammonia, caused by
exposure of decaying manures upon the surface of
the earth. But this loss has been shown, by sound
reasoning and by facts deduced from practical ex-
perience, to be much less than commonly appre-
hended, while the benfits arising from surface ma-
nuring, in other respects, more than counter-
balanc any possible loss of ammonia from this prac-
tice.

In the first place, when manures are exposed

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

137

npon the surface of the earth, even ia hot weather,
decomposition no longer goes on so rapidly as when
the same manures are kept in a heap, and the am-
monia that is produced is gradually carried into
the soil by rains. The other soluable substance,
as potash, lime, the phosphates, etc., are, of course
not lost, because they are not volatile.

Nor are these soluable and valuable substances
lost to plants by being carried into the soil before
they are needed by growing plants. It has been
conclusively shown by eminent scientific athoritiep.
that any good soil, containing a fair proportion of
clay and carbon is capable of taking up and effect-
ually absorbing ammonia, lime, potash, soda, etc.,
in a soluble form, so that little, if any, passes off
in the underdrainage water of such soils. These
substances, it is true, may wash from the surface,
but they cannot pass through a good soil and go off
into the drainage water.

By surface manuring we mulch the ground and
render it cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Mere shade is an important element in culture, so
important that many writers have thought shade
alone to be equivalent to manure. A piece of soil
heavily shaded by surface manuring actually de-
composes like a manure heap ; that is it undergoes
a sort of putrefaction or chemical change, which
sets free its chemical constituents, unlocks, as it
were, its locked up manurial treasures, and fits its
natural elements to become the food of plants
Darkeness, moisture and air are the conditions re-
quired for vegetable and mineral decomposition.
These conditions are produced in the soil by sur-
face manuring.

Then, again, when the surface manure decom-
poses, its elements are washed into the soil, in a
state of solution precisely fitted to meet the wants
of plants, and they become themselves active
agents in promoting further decomposition and
chemicals changes in the entire body of the soil.

Manure, then, I say, chiefly upon the surface.
Do not wast your manures by mixing them deeply
with the soil. Plant shallow. Keep roots of all
trees, plants, and vines, as near the surface as pos-
sible. There are weighty reasons for the position
assumed in the last sentence, which I have not
space now to enumerate. I say again plant shal-
low. Let your soil be deep and dry, but plant
near the surface. To farmers I would say, manure
upon the surface as much as possible. Top-dress
your grass, after mowing in July or August, under
a burning summer sun ; top-dress in the fall, before
and during the autumn rains ; manure the surface
while the snow is on the ground, while the March
winds blow, and while the April rains fall. Manure
your grass, instead of your corn and wheat, broad-
cast, at any time when you have manure and lei-
sure, and I will guarrntee that you will be abun-
dantly satisfied with the result.

To fruit-growers I would say, do not fill your
8oil with manure before you plant trees, grape
vines, etc. Plant in good natural soil, and manure
from the surface, spring and fall, liberally and
properly, and I will guarantee you success far
greater than if you plant in holes and trenches filled
with manure, as the custom is, Surface manuring
and mulching are the true doctrines. I am sure of
it.

Cane Juice Evoporators.

In our last No. we offered some remarks upon
cane mills, referring to a few general principles of
universal application, which are always to be con-
sidered in connection with the subject. We now
propose in the same manner to treat of evapora-
tors and evaporation. But we are met at the very
threshhold of the subject with a difiBculty. We
shall not be able probably to name a single general
principle that is not a controverted point. Mill-
ing cane is a purely mechanical operation, and cane
mill may be estimated by fixed and acknowldged
mechanical standards, but evaporating juice is
quite a different thing, and there may be and are
almost as many notions and theories about it as
there are operators engaged in the business. We
may perhaps timidly remark that rapid boiling
with a shallow stratum of juice, is generally ac-
cepted in preference to slow, prolonged boiling,
with a heavy volume ; but this is the only general
proposition we would venture to make with any
hope of its being even complacently entertained.
We must, however, write something upon the sub-
ject, be the consequences what they may. It is im-
possible to tell what particular sect of evaporator
men we shall most offend, and as they are all about
alike voluble belligerent, we do not know that we
have any choice as to which shall take it upon
himself to return and overwhelm us.

EVAPORATING BY STKAM.

Water in its natural state, is a crystalline solid.
When combined, as the ancient philosophers term-
ed it, with a certain quantity of caloric, it becomes
fluid. When combined with a certain additional
quantity of caloric it becomes gaseous. The quan-
tity of caloric necessary to produce these changes
is always and under all circumstaces the same.
The temperature of ice is 32 " ; by the addition of
as much heat as would raise an equal weight of
to 174 ° , that is, by the addition of 142 =" of heat,
the ice becomes converted to water ; but the sen-
sible temperature of the latter remains the same aa
the ice, 32 ° , all the heat absorbed being rendered
Latent. If heat be now applied to water from a
continuous and regular source, its temperature will
be gradually raised to 212°, or the boiling point
of water under atmospheric pressure. At this
stage the temperature of the water ceases to rise,
and steam appears ; but the sensible temperature of
the steam will be found to be the same as the boil-
ing water, 212 ° . If the time which was occupied
in raising the temperature of the water from the
freezing point, 32 ° , to the boiling point, 212 ° ,
that is, in communicating 180 ° of heat to the
water, be carefully noted, and the same uniform
application of heat be continued, it will be found
that at the end of exactly five and a half mesures
of the time the water will have entirely disappeared
in the form of the steam ; the steam, however, as
above stated, is of the same sensible temperature
as the boiling water, 212 ° , all the heat communi-
cated, say 180 mul. by 6i=S90°, having been
rendered, as in the case of the melted ice, laienL
By this we see that it requires as much heat to
convert a given weight of ice to water without
raising its temperature as is required to raise the
same weight of water from the freezing point, 32 ®
to l*?*® , that is, 142 ° ; also, that it requires five
and a half times as much heat to convert a given

138

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

May

weight of boiling water to steam without raising
its sensible temperature, as is required to raise the
same weight of water from the freezing point to
the boiling point, that is, 990® , or, in round num-
bers, as usually stated, 1000 ® .

Without standing committed to any of the the-
ories upon the nature of heat, let it be abstract mo-
tion, or an intangible essence, electic or eclectic, as
may be di termined by those who think themselves
competent to decide, for our purposes it is allow-
able and very convenient to regard it as a sub-
Btance-matter, and to conisder an atom of heat to
be as indistiuctible as an atom of granite. We
have found that the steam of a given quntity of
water takes up as much heat as would raise the
temperature of five and a half times the weight of
water from the freezing point to the boiling point ;
and now, as heat is indistructable, we are prepared
to understand that if this steam be condensed or
returiud ngtiin to water, it must give out precisely
the amount of heat it had previously absorbed, and
it is obvious that if properly applied the heat thus
given out in the process of condensation mav be
employed in healing or in boiling and evaporating
other wat 'r always remembering that absolute and
unvarying equivalents are required in every case.
Th.it is, a pound of steam will, upon being con-
densed, give out heat enough to raise the tempera-
ture of five and a half pounds of waf^r from the
freezing point to the boiling point, or to convert
anotlier pound of boiling water entirely to steam.
It can never do any more, and never less. The
only place for management and economy in the
operation is in the means of utalizing the initial
heat, preventing waste by radiation, and in prop-
erly applying the heat set free by condensation.

These d:;ta require to be observed and kept in
view, a^ they will by and by assist in determining
the oft repetcd question as to the relative economy
of steam and direct fire evaporation.

But in employing the heat of steam for evaporat-
ing it is common to generate in the steam boiler
under something more than atmospheric pressure ;
say under a pressure of from one to six or eight
atmospheres. By this means a great quantity of
heat is contained in the same compass or volume,
although in the same weight of steam the amount
ofh"at remains the same. For example : a cubic
inch of water eonverted to steam under atmospheric
pressure, will expand to 1696 inches. If this be
subjected to a pressure of 14.6 pounds to the square
inch it will be compressed to 848 inches, and its
sensible temperature will be elevated from 212 ®
to 251 ° , resulting from a transfer of a portion of
heat from a latent to sensible state. The sum or
absolute quantity of haat remains the same it will
melt no more ice and communicate no more heat
to a certain volume of cold water than before it
was compressed and its heat apparently increased.
If it be further compressed by the weight of anoth-
er atmosphere its volume will be reduced to 565
inches, and its sensible or apparent heat raised to
272 ° , another atmosphere will reduce the volume
to 424 inches, and raise the sensible temperature
to 294 ° , and so on, the volume of steam diminish-
ing and the apparent temperature increasing at
each stage, but the absolute amount of heat remain-
ing the same. We thus have this apparent para-
dox, that a pound of steam, under a pressure of
fifty atmospheres, and having a temperature of

more than 500 ° Fahrenheit, has taken up and
contains no more heat and will melt no more ice
than the same weight of steam generated and ap-
plied at atmospheric pressure corresponding with
212 ° . This fact is interesting, and at the same
time important, in a practical point of view as we
shall hereafter show.

From the foregoing it will appear that the steam
generated in a regular steam boiler with a certain
amount of fuel, if applied in the ordinary way to
the evaporation of cane juice, will, upon being con-
densed, give out as much heat and evaporate pre-
cisely the same amount of water as wou/d 6e va-
porized by the same quantity of fuel applied direct-
ly to the juice pan. It is moreover to be mention-
ed that the water of condensation which leaves the
steam pipe in the operation is the exact mesure of
the water expelled in the form of vapor from the
surface of the pan. There are, however, a few cir-
cumstances of minor importance to be considered.
On the one hand, a regular steam boiler, having a
large heating surface, may be supposed to absorb
more of the heat of combustion than is utaJized by
juice pans, as ordinarily arranged. This is an ad-
vantage or saving effected by the steam process.
On the other hand, allowance must be made for the
loss of heat by radiation from a large boiler surface,
and from the steam pipes leading fi om boiler to
pan ; also for the heat expended in raising the wa-
ter in the boiler, and all the feed water, from what
may have been the temperature of the /brmer at
each time of starting, and of the latter when pump-
ed into the boiler, to the boiling point ; for it must
be remembered that effective results are not pro-
duced until the temperature of the generating ap-
paratus is raised to boiling temerature. These con-
stitute a drawback or a deduction to be made from
the steam process. On the whole it may be safely
assumed that tne gain and loss growing out of these
minor circumstances are about equalized, and that,
practically as well as theoretically, there is no
economy in either plan over the other. Each mav
be more economical than the orher accordingly a's
the absolute conditions upon which economy de-
pends are more perfectly complied with. — Clark'*
Sorgo Journal.

We give place to the above carefully prepared
article, for the purpose of enabling our readers to
make their calculation in regard to the size of their
pans and mills as compared to their crops.

A large bredth of cane will be planted k'" Spring
and farmers need make preparation to hayti t . rk-
ed up, when this can be done on shares, in some
cases this will not be the case and you will be ob
liged to put up your own fixtures. Ed.

White Beans. — ^This crop ought to be more gen-
erally cultivated by farmers- The small variety or
army bean, is in great demand for our troops, and
is worth at least $2.50 per bushel at wholesale.
They should be sown in drills about 2^ feet apart,
at the rate of at least a bushel to an acre. Sow
from the 10th. to the 25th. May. Fifty bushels to
the acre are known to have been raised. They
are a safe crop to grow between the rows in a
young apple orchard, ank always leave the ground
in fine condition. Let every farmer resolve to have
at least one acre this season. — Working Farmer.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

139

Hardiness of the Delaware Grape.

Eds. Prairie Farmer : — My attention has been
called to an article in jour paper of the 5th ult.,
from Dr. Shrceder, in which he classes the Dela-
ware as a teiider grape — saying that many varieties
which he names, are dead, "and the blessed Dela-
wares among the rest."

Now I want to have a little plain talk with you
about grape vines in general, and this "blessed
Delaware" in particular. The charge which our
genial friend, and «. few others in the northwest
bring against the Delaware is certainly a slander,
and I cannot permit it to pass without correction.
Mind, I do not accuse our friend of wilful misrep-
resentation. I esteem him to be entirely above
such vulgarity — but I believe his mistaken judg-
ment of the Delaware to be the result of error or
fraud on the part of those "rascally nurserymen"
who sold him the vines. I cannot believe, from
whaf he saya, — for I have not seen for myself, —
that he has a true Delaware on his grounds, unless
it may be some miserable culls, propagated from
"water shoots," or weak, barren wood, and obtain-
ed from that synonym of rascality, a tree pedaler,
and which have never borne and probably never
will. This state of facts too often met with in the
Northwest, the region especially cursed with tree
peddlers, is enough to account for nine-tenths of
the cases of "tender Delawares." But I am inclin-
ed to the opinion that the true solution of this
case is to be looked for in another direction. It
is probable that tlie doctor has got the old Red
Traminer — a tender, foreign variety much resem-
bling the Delaware, mixed up with his "hundred
and sixty sorts of grapes," under the name of Del-
aware. If I am right, then he must indeed "take it
to bed with him," as Rosensteil says, if he would
have it live in our winters.

And now for a {ew facts in regard to this "bless-
ed Delaware." Everybody, I believe, whose opin-
ion is worth having, concedes that the Delaware is
head and shoulders above all other natives in its
fi-uit, both for wine and table uses, and I now pro-
pose only to add the weight of my testimony to the
mass of evidence already before the public, in re
gard to its hardiness, vigor and prrductiveness.

Last fall I exhibited at the State Horticultural
Fair at Rockford, a fair sample of several hundred
two year old Delawares in my grounds at Kenwood.
These vines were propagated by myself, from buds
or single eyes, from old established vines. The eye*
were put into the sand in March, 1861, and the
plants turned out into the border in June and July
following, without disturbing the roots. The fol-
lowing season they made thrifty, handsome canes,
which last fall, two years from planting, or exactly
eighteen months from the buds, ripened an average
of thirty good bunches to the vine, besides making
canes for this season's work, averaging fifteen feet
in length and at least three-eighths of an inch in
diameter.

Now I would most respectfully ask, what more
can Dr. Shroeder or anybody else want in the way
of thrift and productiveness ?

And now, one fact more as to the hardiness of
these vines. Last fall, from lack of help, only my
bearing vines were protected, while several thou-
Band young Delawares in the nursery were left ex-
posed through the last terrible winter. They have
enduced a tempera^re of thir^d^m b^ov-jtero,

and there they are for the Doctor or anybody else
to examine. I will assure him, however, that they
are alive and can speak for themselves.

Dr. J. Asa Eennicott
Chicago, 111., April 1864.

The above we cut from the Prairie Farrtur for
the purpose of giving both parties an opportunity
of being heard, for we intend to have not only
something to say but something to do with the
Delaware. We have before said that the Delaware
is a valuable grape in certain locations, and the
lake shore at Kenwood is probably one of them.

As to Dr. Shrceder, he can take care of himself
in this matter, and knows the Delaware from the
Traminer.

We have some thousand plants in pots grown
from single eyes in the green house, as stated by
Dr. K., and shall follow his formula, and if they do
well shall be happy to make a note of it. All this
bosh about over propagating must have its day.
That the grape needs the best of care, and will no?
thrive under other conditions^ is the trouble. — Ed.

Wines. — Sam Patch said that "some things
could be done as well as others." And why not?
There is a man residing in New-Jersey who is mak-
ing thousands out of the sale of elderberry wine,
under the name of Sambuci Wine. He purchases
large quantities of elderberry (Samiucus vigra) in
their season, and make a very palatable wine, which
is pronounced by many as delicious, under the
name of Sambuci, but would be voted abominable
as plain common elderberry. Now I intend mak-
ing a large quantity of good old-fashioned farmer's
currant wine this season from one of the best re-
ceipts published in the Co. Gent., and adver-
tise it extensively as Ribes rubrum Wine. I shall
take good care to present clergymen, physicians,
and others, in dififerent localities, with a bottle to
each, to secure their good opinion. I find I am too
late to try rhubarb, as that is about to be made so
public under the name of Wine Plant, and then
the botanical name {Rheum) is so suggestive of salt-
rheum and rhumatism that it wouldn't ^ro domi with
the public. Look out for sparkling Ribes wine. —
Cor. Coimtry Gent.

Rural N Yorker. — ^While passing through Roch-
ester, recently, we dropped in on our friend, Ghas.
D. Bragdon, at the sanctum of the Rural New York-
er. Busy as ever with pen and scissors, he still found
time to entertain an old Illinois friend. Mr. B. is a
Western man and thoroughly western in all his
ways and notions, and we believe would prefer a
residence in Chicago as Western Aid to the CoL;
But he is needed in the office, because much of
the time of Col. D. D. T. More is required with the
publishing of the "Practical Shepherd," now, we
believe, already in its fifteenth edition. The Shep-
herd is having a big run. — We believe it is a yalu-
able book ; have not yet had time to examine it,
but shall do so as soon as an opportunity offers. —
Rockford Hegist^.

140

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEE.

Mat

The Lake Tunnel

Last Thursday the formalities of breaking ground
for the great lake tunnel took place, under the
auspices of Mayor Sherman, the Board of Public
Works, several members of the Common Council,
and other city ofBcers. A large number of specta-
tors were present to witness the ceremonies. The
first shovel-full of earth was dug up by Mayor Sher-
man and " hove-in " to a wheel-barrow — the per-
formance being signalized by the discharge of can-
non. Contractors Gowan & Dull are prepared to
commence operations with an immense force, and
the work will continue night and day, without in-
terruption, till finished. The tunnel will be two
miles in length, extending out into the lake — from
the persent water-works — to a point where the wa-
ter is clear as crystal.

The work is to be finished by November 1865.
Thus in a little more than a year and a half — if this
scheme proves successful Chicago will be supplied
with an abundance of pure water. Prospectively
thid seems like a long time for us to " worry down"
the filthy compound now furnished by the city wa-
ter-works. But "there's a good time coming," if
it is a long way off.— C^i. R. E. Gazett.

A grand scheme and all very nice on paper ;
if it but proves successful, thats the rub. Two miles
nnder the bottom of the Lake depending on the
integrity of the clay. — well we will see what we see
— a grand fizzle in the way of pure water by this
scheme, that has been hove-in^ to deplete the pock-
ets of the people.

Should the fool killer visit Chicago pine coffins
would be in demond by the City Fathers. — ed.

Hints to Farmers. — A good farmer will never
keep more than ten dogs to five sheep.

He will clean out his stables at least once a
month.

He will keep five or six sticks of wood cut up
ahead, more than what is necessary for immediate
use.

He will not go to town and get on a spree of ten-
er than three times a week, at least in harvest
time.

He will be very careful not to put up a rail on a
line fence unless his neighbor is there to help him.

He will not injure his health by lying in bed af-
ter eight o'clock A. M., but will have his cows
milked and breakfast over and his men at work as
early as ten o'clock. — Selected

There are two kinds of girls. One is the
kind that appears best abroad — the girls that are
good for parties, rides, visits, balls, etc., and whose
chief delight is in such things. Tiie other is that
kind that appears best at home — the girls that are
useful and cheerful in the dining room and all the
precincts of home.

» ♦

.^ ' More than 70,000 trees, shrubs and herb-
aceous plants were planted in the New York Cen
tral Park last year. The Carriage drive now com-
pleted is about eight miles in length ; bridle road
five miles ; and walks 20 miles. Over 4,000,000
persons visited the Park in 1863, and in one day
over 9,000 carriages entered the drives.

BAKEE & PHILLIFS

PXTBLISHEES.

M. L. DUNLAP, Editor.
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, MAY, 1864.

We could write a volume on May, but it is use-
less now, — to read of May when May is in her glo-
ry, would be like kissing the picture of a loved one
when that one was present. Rather revel in the
sunshine of May and see how she is robing forest,
field and garden in beauty, wherewith to greet the
coming summer. No month was ever gemmed
with such gorgeous splendor, such wreaths of flow-
ers, such festoons of vines and such rich carpets as
May presents to the eye of the farmer. The or-
chards are sheeted with beauty, under which lurks
the promise of luscious fruit, to tesselate the sun-
browned way of summer, and to give gladness
when autnmn dissolves the fields for winter.

How we sympathize with our cotemporaries,

who, cooped up in city sanctums, are compelled to

listen to the rattling of carts and wagons, as they

hurry to and fro through the busy streets, while

we of the country have the music of the birds that

have just returned with new songs, learned amid

the orange groves of the south.

"They have no sorrow in their song
No winter in their year."

It is well that they are used to it, poor fellows !

Let them write of May, and solace themselves with

its beauties — at a distance.

——-

Winter Wheat. — From all that we can learn the
winter wheat is somewhat injured by frosts, or
what is called winter killing. We sowed a sample,
sent us by Com. Newton December 8th, and a half
bushel of rye at the same time. Both look promis-
ing, although they did not germinate until early
this spring.

SnoAB FBoif Beets. — It appears that the Messrs.
Gennert Bro., at Chatsworth, have been disap-
pointed in getting their machinery in working or-
der for the last year's crop of beets, but we learn
through the Prairie Farmer that their faith in the
ultimate success of the enterprise is in no way
abated, but rather confirmed, and that the plant-
ing will be more extended this year. We had in-
tended to visit them before this, but have been
waiting for them to get in working order. We
must be patient, enterprises of this kind are not
mastered in a day ; and though it should prove as
successfol as its most sanguine friends predict, it

..U;m>ljUCU^

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAEMEK.

Ml

will be some years before beet root sugar mills
will send up their tall chimneys in all our villages.
After ten years sorgo is beginning to assume com-
mercial proportions.

Chicago Bank Note List.^How often is it that
the farmer is made the victim of wild cat and
counterfeit money, and how little he prepares him-
self to guard against these impositions. He seldom
thinks that a dollar paid for a monthly note list
will prove a good investment ; he can pay to in.
sure his buildings against fire, but he does not pay
to insure against these swindling operations. This
is bad economy and we recommend a change. This
bogus stuff is generally traded off for cattle, hor-
ses and farm produce, and is left worthless in the
hands of the farmers. It is impossible to keep
posted in all the variety of trash called moneyi
without such a list. Try it, for once.

In the last No. we notice a large number of rag
money mills quoted one-fourth to five per cent dis-
count. Breakers are ahead and we advise our read
ers to stand from under. You can safely keep the
greenback, national currency and that of our sol v-
ent Illinois banks, but get rid of the other trash.

Seeds from the Com. of Agriculture. — We are
ia receipt of a large package of seeds from the
above source. They have the appearance of being
good, fresh seeds that will grow. We shall plant
them and report the result. We had become dis-
gusted with most of the trash sent out from the
Patent Office, and are pleased to see a radical
change in the quality and variety of seeds that
Com. Newton is now sending to the country.

Culture of the Currant. — This fruit needs gen-
erous treatment, thorough culture and plenty of
well rotted manure. No weeds or grass must be
allowed to interfere with them. If shaded in the
afternoon, so much the better, but give them the
morning sun if possible, and we will guarantee you

large berries.

. ■•■

Clothes' Wringers.— A little over two years
since we purchased one of the first clothes' wring-
ers brought into this State. The frame was of gal-
vanized iron. A few weeks since the lower roll
gave out and we sent to the shop in Cleveland,
(Putnam Manufacturing Company,) and receivnd a
new roll, which makes the machine as good as

new.

We have several letters of inquiry in regard to
the place where these iron frame wringers can be
had in the State. One lady saya that her wooden

frame is so difficult to adjust and fasten on to the
tub that she must have one of the iron frames. —
We suppose they are for sale in Springfield, but as
we have not been there for near half a year we
cannot tell who keeps them. The number of these
machines sold is astonishing. There are three va-
rieties of them, two of wood and one of iron
frames, the rollers being the same in all. Of the
iron frame, sixty thousand have been sold within
the past two years and yet only a small per cent,
of the whole number of farmers' families have
them. In the cities and villages they are quite
common ; but the farmer's wife, who is most in
need of one, must wait a little longer. Has she no
right to tlie labor-saving implements of the house-
hold ? Here are the points ;

1st. It is a relief to the hardest part of washing
day.

2d. It enables the washing to be done in one-
third less time.

3d. It saves its cost by saving the clothes.

4th. It helps to teasfi the clothes, as well as
dry them.

6th. The rolls being of vulcanized rubber, will
bear hot and cold water, and will neither break
nor tear off buttons.

Osage Orange Seed. — C. R. Overman, at Bloom-
ingtoD, writes us under date of March 21st :

"Capt. Mimn has just returned from the frontier
army, having arrived to-day. Reports they were
500 miles beyond the region where the o.age is
grown, and that there is not the slightest chance
to obtain seed. Some 400 pounds have been sold
at St. Louis of lute, at $2 50 per pound, {$81 60
per bushel.")

Thus it will be seen the prospect of osage seed
is not of the best. Capt. Mann had a permit from
the War Department to gather seed if an opportu-
nity occurred. As the Capt. has been on severa-
trips for seed in Texas, he was just the man to get
it, but alas, we must wait over the border another
season.

Op

The Grape Culturist. — We are in receipt of
this work, but have had no time to give it a care-
ful reading. We therefore copy what the American
Agriculturist says of it, and will give our views in
full next month ;

The Grape Culturist, by A. S. Fuller, the well
known practical harticulturist. This long promised
work is at length issued. It forms a neat volume
of over 200 pages, and is amply illustrated with
upward of a hundred engravings. This treatise
covers the whole ground of garden and vineyard,
culture, from starting the plants from eyes or cut-
tings, to the established fruiting -vine. The whole

142

THE ILLINOIS FAliMEE

Mat

is told in a plain style and from the author's own
experience ; his system of pruning is very simple
and easily understood, and the reasons are given
for preferring it to others ; he however gives the
other modes in practice, and illustrates the whole
in the most liberal manner. The descriptions of
varieties are brief and pointed, and the list of val-
uable sorts is properly made very brief. The vol-
ume contains a list of all the works upon the grape
heretofore published in this country. This most
useful manuel will be equally valuable to the one
who cultivates a single vine, and to the vineyard-
ist. We can send it post paid by mail, on receipt
of price, $1 25.

4«r

A Broad Hixt. — "We are usually amused in read-
ing the discussions of our horticultural societies.
Most of the Soldns thece assembled, would befog
the most clear-sighted and reliant. Each has a
hobby ; or rather, has found the only variety, or
plan of treatment, which shall bring success. There
are generally as many opinions as persons, and he
who tries to walk in the different ways marked out
will find himself in the fix of the man and the ass
in the fable.

Many of these amateurs are experienced in their
profession, but many more are no better posted
than thousands who make no pretensions. In our
Farmer we now and then read the dictum of a nur-
seryman for or against certain varieties of apple or
pear, uttered witli an air which forbids appeal,
when at the same time we know to the contrary.
He was probably right , we are right, soil or culti-
vation accounting lor the difference. But wlicn
men gravely tell us that clean, thorough cultiva-
tion, generous feeding, etc., are essentials, we feel
overwhelmed with gratitude. We should feel
equally asgratelul were they to elaborately declaim
upon the benefits of good cultivation for corn. —
This ever recurring "hash" of common-place truths
is tedious. Give us items of progress ; new devel-
opments in agricultural science. — Wis. Chief.

Will not some of our fruit men take this hint

and give us something new ?

•«•

Culture of Onions. — A Hint to Farmers. — The
extraordinary rise in the price of onions, caused
by the great demand in our camps and array hospit-
als for this most valuable of all common vegetable
anti-scorbutics, has doubtless sufficiently indicated
to inteligent fanners, that the onion crop will be
one of the most profitable which they can cultivate
this season. In order to assist them in this prom-
ising work, we copy the following hint from the
communication of a farmer to a western paper.

The prevailing opinion is that to grow good on-
ions' the sets gjown the previous year should be
planted. This is an error. Better onions and
larger crops can be grown from seed than from
sets. The seed should be first sown in a hot bed
as thick as they can stand. As soon as the seed is
up, open the beds to the air and water freely. In
April prepare your ground and plant the sets from
the hot bed, singly, one by one, three inches asun-
der, in rows ten inches apart. If the ground is
very good and they are well cultivated, you may
have eight hundred bushels from an acre. — ed.

The above came to us without credit, shall give
it a trial. It certainly looks plausible. — ed.

Flour and Grain in Store in Chicago-

The following is the amount of flour and grain in
store in this city on Saturday, March 19, 1864, and

as compares with the corresponding period of last
year :

March 19, March lY.

1864. 1863.

Flour, brls 93,019 148,000

Wheat, bu 2,092,884 1,425,255

Corn, bu 845,677 2,492,068

Oats, bu 2,042,015 1,048,637

Rye, bu 60,306 135,176

Barley, bu 143,147 15,629

Total 5.672,294 5,850,965

It will be seen by the above that the amount in
store does not vary materially from last year. —
Corn shows a serious falling off, but wheat and
oats fully make up the deficiency.

The total amount of grain and flour received in
Chicago from all sources, except that by teams, for
four years, is as follows :

Total, 1860 35,040,776

Total, 1861 53,942,426

Total, 1&62 56,894,203

Total, 1863 52,892,159

The smallest amount received any one week
was 131,993 bushels for the 9th week of the year
186Q, and the largest amount was 2,577,262 bush-
els the 24th week of 1862.

The Illinois Central railroad brought up to Cbi-
cpgo for the week ending March 12Lh :

1863. 1864.

Flour, bis 1,107 2,091

Wheat, 9,050 7,000

Corn, 43,050 11,450

Oats 5,200 1,650

Reduce flour to wheat,.

57,300
. 5,535

62,835
30,555

20,100
10,455

30,555

Deficit 32,180.

This shows an important falling ofi", and that, too,
without any hope of improvement. A part of
this falling off is more apparent than real, as a
large amount of the grain along the line of the
road finds a market south, probably much more
than last year.

In live stock the difference is also large:

1863. 1864.

Cattle, 4,268 2,040

Hogs, 81,924 25,677

The emigration now coming in, absorbs no small
amount of our surplus. This is more particularly
the case along this line of road, which is selling a
large amount of new farming lands to be at once
put under the plow.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

143

The Craig Microscope.

The Microscope simplified, and adap-
ted to popular as well as scientific use.
A new optical wonder ! Patented Feb.
18, 1862. This is the only instrument of
high power which requires no local ad-
justment, and therefore can be readily
used by every one, even by children. —
Costing only Two Dollars in brass, or
Two Dollars and Fifty Cents in hard rubber, it is
within the reach of all in the commuuity, and
should be on the table of every family.

This beautiful and ornamental instrument ren-
ders the blood, pus and milk globules, and cancer
cell#, as well as the animalculae of stagnant water,
distinctly visible ; shows the tubular structure of
the hair ; the circulation of the blood in the web
of a frog's foot ; and opens up the minutiae of cre-
ation to the view of the astonished beholder,
"where the unassisted sight no beauty sees." It
furnishes an endless source of home amugement
and instruction to every one, especially to the
young.

As a Oift or Present to a friend or child, it is
unsurpassed, being elegant, instructive, amusing
and cheap.

There is no other Lens made like this. It mag-
nifies about 100 diameters or 10,000 times, and,
owing to its pimplicicy, it is invaluable for physi-
cians, scientific men, students and schools ; and for
every one who is a lover of the beautiful things of
nature ; for it opens up an unseen kingdom to the
view of the inquiring mind. It is amusing, instruc-
tive and useful.

Each Microscope is put up in a neat box, with
full directions for using it carefully pasted on the
box.

^^ All proper objects can be used without
their being mounteil, simply by placing them on
the glass side, or, if liquids, on the under surface
of the lens, but as mounted objects are very con-
venient and always ready for use, and as inquiries
have frequently been made for them, the proprie-
tor is having several dozen from among the most
interesting and beautiful objects neatly mounted
and boxed, and is now prepared to fill all orders at
a very low figure, as will be seen on the last page,
— only f 1 .50 a dozen, or half the usual price
charged by opticians for mounted objects.

Microscopes of any value have hitherto cost too
much to be in common use, but this objection is
now removed. Children must have something to
interest them, and that something might just as
well be a useful object as one of no value. While
the microscope pleases, it cannot at the same
^ime fiiil to instruct.

The almost endless variety of objects within the
reach of the child, and which he can soon learn to
arrange for the instrument, will prevent his be-
coming weary of it. Every class of persons, with-
out regard to age, are interested with it, from the
fact that it opens up a new field of vegetable and
animal life, that was beyond the reach of the naked
eye, — a new creation beyond that which was be
ore perceptible to him. To the gardener, the or-

chardist and the farmer it is useful as well as in-
structive. The line between animal and vegetable
life is marked by its use.

The novelty magnifying glass is also a valuable,
and we might say an indispensable accompaniment,
more especially to the botanist and entomologist,
as by it large bugs and other insects can be exam-
ined,] while only small portions of them can be
placed in the Craig microscope. The cost of it is
$1 50 when sent by mail, and f 2 25 for the micro-
scope. To a lad or miss of any age over six or
eight years, the two would make a valuable pres-
ent, and prove more valuable than the ordinary
toys. •

The n;agnifying glass can be used in the field by
placing it on a leaf, the bark of a tree, or any such
object, while small insects can be enclosed in it
alive, and can be examined in that condition.—
With the microscope we can see the wiggling eels
in a small drop of vinegar, or the nondescript ani-
malculae in river water.

Above we give a cut of the Craig microscope.
These useful instruments can be had in most of our
cities, or of Henry Craig, 180 Center St., Xew
York, by mail.

Can there good come out of Egypt ?— The
Red Cedar

Yes, we think so. There are millions of young
plants of the Red Cedar along tho Grand Chain, or
as it should be called, the Ozark Range, being an
extension of that well known range of hills. What
we want is for some enterprising parties to send
these plants to the northern prairies, to be planted
in timber belts and groupes. The wood will be
valuable for fence posts, but more so for vineyard
stakes for the millions of grape vines that at no fu-
ture day will grace the prairie gardens and village
plats.

The Cork Bark or Winged Elm ie a desirable
shade tree, which grows abundantly in the same
location. But little has been done as yet to send
out these cedar plants, though the time is not dis-
tant when it must and will be done.

For several years we have made it a rule to ob-
tain annually five thousand plants of these seed-
lings, and now we have a respectable plantation.
We have no more trouble in their living than with
so many hard wood tree plants of the same age.
A few other parties have also ordered from the
same stock of plants. No native Egyptian has
even thought it worth his while to see if money
could be made out of this native product. We
claim to be the first person who called the public
attention to these trees, and for an experiment re-

144

THE ILLIKOIS FAEMER.

Mat

quested G. H. Baker, of Cobden, to send us a hun-
dred trees one to two feet high. These came and
all grew well ; that was some years ago, since then
Mr. J. A. Carpenter has sent us thousands of plants.
These have been from four to eight inches high,
and have cost three to five dollars a thousand. —
The first lot came in the spring of 1859 and w^re
bedded in under the shade of some large peach
trees, and the following spring replanted in the
nursery ; those of 1860 were treated in the same
manner. Those of 1862 will go out in nursery rows
and timber belts this spring. Those of 1863 were
put out in the open ground in nursery rows, and,
notwithstanding the severe drouth, are more than
half alive ; hereafter we shall put them at once in
the open ground.

In taking up Mr. Carpenter puddles them and
encloses the roots in a ball of clay, which is found
to be the best mode. When ready to set these"
lumps of clayed roots are soaked to dissolve the
cliiy, when they are ready to set out

We believe this would be a safe way to send out
all young evergreens, and here suggest to Mr. Doug,
las that he try the experiment on some of his seed-
lings, side by side with the moss. As the season is
80 ranch in advance of other parts of the State
where the cedars are grown, they can be sent out
in time to set them very early, which is important.
If we could have a set of men as industrious as the
willow peddlers to distribute these seedlings over
the State, it would be a great boon, but we must
have such careful men as Mr. Carpenter to take
them up and pack them for shipment, or few of
them will grow. The roots of the cedar, like all
evergreens, must not be exposed to the sun or
wind.

The Storage Question.

We understand that the Legislature of Wiscon-
sin, at its late session, passed a bill requiring rail-
roads terminating in Milwaukee, to deliver grain
to the warehouse to which the shippers may con-
sign it. Heretofore they could deliver where it
best pleased them, as is now the course pursued in
Chicago, which, whether lawful or not, is unjust to
the shipper, whether farmer or dealer, and capable
of great abuse as in case of combinations with
warehousemen. Unless some of our roads adopt a
little more common sense by discharging certain
general freight agents the Legislature of our State
will step in and compel them to toe the mark. The
trouble, we apprehend, is with the percentage that
is divided with certain managers. Of this we may
have more to say.

The Marsh Binders.

Fifty of these machines are being made for the
next harvest, enough to test their value. If they
succeed as anticipated, they will produce a vast
saving of labor in the harvest field. With it two
men do the binding the same as on Burson's binder,
saving the cost of wire. We shall endeavor to see
a machine at work during the harvest, when we
can the better judge of its merits.

Flax Fibre Manufactokt at Aroma. — Th«;
Northwestern Flax Co., of Chicago, Messrs. Belch-
er, Gould & Hodges, have purchased power of Mr.
Beardsley, of the Aroma Mills, and are about put-
ting in machinery for the manufacture of Flax
straw into fibre and its conversion into cloth. —
They expect this season to manufacture bags, and
for that purpose are securing workmen and ma-
chinery. H. N. Corey, the agent of this Co. offers
to loan peed on favorable terms, and makes favor-
able propositions for the purchase of straw. He
also offers several liberal premiums for the best
fields of flax, varying from two to twenty acres.
We will notice their operations and propositions
more at length next week. — Kankakee Gazette.

Thus one after another valuable interest springs
up about our country. Linen bags are worth more
than double thosj of cotton. Go ahead, gentle-
men, better thus invest your money than in wild
lands.

Orchards in Wisconsin. — Last spring, in pass-
ing a large, finely kept farm, ws were struck with
the "pound foolish" economy of the proprietor in
the setting of his orchard. Two or three hundred
healthy looking apple-trees had been put out in —
his meadow ! Small holes, and barely dug through
the sward, were the graves into which he thrust
his trees ; not so much digging as would have been
needed for fence posts. And what the results?
But three trees were alive, and those on their "last
legs" — dying. By this time, probably, the man
has come to the conclusion that apple-trees don't
pay ! Uis fence posts will be as likely to bear
fruit, for they were better set. — Wis. Chief.

Well, that is the way they do up young orchards
sometimes hereaway. The practice will answer for
the rich who have the money to spare for the trees
and — fruit, but a bad one for the farmer of mode-
rate means.

Ruta Baga Turnips. — Mr J. B. Kendall, reports
to the Middlesex, Mass., Agricultural Society, the
following as his method of growing the crop the
past year.

"Sowed about the 25th of June, on land broken
up last fall. I manure with green barn manure, in
rows three feet apart ; cover with plow, and rake
off enough to run the sower. When of proper size,
thin the plants to within ten or twelve inches of
each other. By this method I seldom fail of a good
crop."

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

145

SuRROirNDiNGS OF HoME. — ^Iii passing through the
country, the eye quickly takes in the surrouTidings,
and the mind as quickly approveB or repels them.
Farms and direllings, like men and faces, hare
their language which is read at a glance.

We often see a large, expensively reared dwell-
ing, glowing in its unrivalled white, and no sur-
roundings to give it an air of home comfort. If a
tree has been put out in the yjnd, ii is stunted or
broken down ; shrubbery ditto. The orchard is
but a collection of ill-kept, i)l-lo<>king trees, chok-
ed with suckers and browsed by the cattle. A few
unkempt currant brush may possibly appear in the
garden. A rough grape trellis stands among the
weeds, but the vine has never been able to reach
it with a single tendril. A few stools of raspber-
ries, never pruned with the knife, tenaciously cling
to the Bward by the fence. And through the fierce
Bummer's heats or keen winter's cold, there is not
a tree to cast a shadow or to break the biHSt.

Again we see a low, unpretending home — some-
times logs — surrounded with fruit trees of various
kinds, and sheltered by a grove, atid a rustic frame
by the door, woven over with vines or climbing ro-
ses. The very heart warms while we take in such
surroundmgs, and away through the bleak winter
fields we see the days of spring on the march, with
the music of bird and waters and their banners of
leaf and bloom, soon to "go into camp" by the
pleasant home, and the fruit trees and shrubs to
bend under the wealth of blossom promise. As
our friend Dunlap says, ''it is just as easy to Iwe on
a farm as to stai/ on one " — Wis. Chief.

Well, Bro. Brown, that house is on the road just

miles from town. Last autumn he invested

five dollars with a tree peddler, but he thinks the
trees are all dead and that our climate is not adap-
ted to fruit growing. \ ? r

The other home you mention is on the same
road, about a mile beyond. You h;ive done it uo
more than justice — the family live there.

Neat's Foot OiL

"H. K." in Co. Gent, of March Slst, asks, "what
is Neat's Foot Oil, and how is it made? "

Neat's Foot Oil was originally made by boiling
cattle's feet and legs and separating th<' oil fr m
the mass, by skimming it from the surfac« of the
water. It is now more extensively made, or, what
is essentially the same thing, by separating the oil
from beef tallow, by pressing, as lard oil is separa-
ted from lard.

Nearly forty years ago, Samuel Judd, then a
great oil merchant of New York City, advertised
large quantities of Neat's Foot Oil. It was then a
surprise to those not f tmiliar with the treatment
of tallow, where Mr. Judd obtained so much Neat's
Foot Oil. It is now extensively manufactured in
the oil and candle f ictories in most large cities. *

Messrs. Editors — I notice on page 208, an in-
quiry from H. K. about " Neat's Foot OiL" In
answer — it is manufactured from cattle's feet.
The skin and sinews are taken off, leaving the shin
bone and hoof. They are then closely packed in
tanks, and slowly boiled, either with the aid of
steam or over a fire. Steam is best, as tbey can

be boiled more steadily. In making good oil great
attention is given not to boil too hard, as it thick'
ens and wastes by mixture with the water, and will
not easily separate after. w. d. h.

-<••-

Things in Wisconsin. — The Government may
want men but the people want butter. Gold " SOi"
and the butter mounting after it. Butter is the
universal cry ; butter, butter, butter !

Ohuked be the man who invented the use of but-
ter. Hain't fit to eat. Never liked it. WoaM
nut have the vile htufi'in the house. Won't allow
the children to touch it. Never c»mW bear it. The
man would insult us who'd offer us enough to lubii-
cate a crust. In the language of the psalmist,

This world is all a fleeting shuw.

In city or in town,
For people bold their batter low

At thirty cents per pound !

A word about the weather is in order. " Whit
weather ;"" have }0u sowed any wheat?" These
and similar expressions are current coin between
the men of the soil. And they indicate an interest
which pervades all classes How deeply and
broadly does the work of the plow underlie the
vast superstructure of a nation's prosperity ! From
the seed time springs the hope of all. From the
harvest field the healthful current of a nation's
life. The gamblers of Wall street may play with
their gold, but the men of the burii'shi d share and
1)1 de, stand pioudly between them and the Father
who giv th bread. The furrow unturned, the fire
would go out on the forge, the hamnier ceasi' to
ring on the anvil ; the spindle cease its hum ; com-
nieice fml its sails and the s^hip rot at the wharf;
dnst gather on the ledger and gri ss g' ow where
the Bulls and Bears toy with the weal of their
country in its hour of peril.

'* Will it ever conje g>>od weather?" Let vg
hope. We have the promise of seed time and har-
vest. The almanacs atmource spring. The birds
have so understood it. Men of Wondrous faith
have made gardens. Hay is short and butter
almost ceasi-d to be in many localities. For winter
at this late day to linger in the lap of spring, is
improper in the extreme. Our "C ty fathers"
have regulatf'd the rum traffic; can they not legn-
late the wehth<r? The weather is evidently "out
of health ;" eannot our stoutbacked Republicans do
something for it ?

Well, well, we borrow no trouble about the
weather. It has our permission to take its own
course ! That spring is comming, we believe. For
ten days, the tir.-t pale wild flowers have been
awaiting a ray from the sun. And manv a bud,
too, is watching a chance to toss a soft green
pennon to the winds. — Wis. Chief.

Hoven in Cattle.

This disease is usualy brought on by cattle being
removed from confinement and winter feeding to
the luxuriance of the clover field. In the atticle
on Veterinary Science in the new Encyclopaedia
Britaitnica, the oils of linseed and turpentine are
stated to be nearly a specific. For a large animal
take linseed oil raw, one pound ; oil of turpentine,
from one to three ounces ; laudanum from one to
two— and after mixing, administer the whole at •
dose.

II I iiiAlf^iiia'ii

VSh'<!ltA iiiifnllt liiH rriT 11 iHtlJilll

146

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

May

[From the Co. Gent, and Cultivator.]
Parmer's Gardens.

PUTTING IN THE SKKD.

In regard to planting a farmer's garden it may
not be to first say how not to do it ; though in
doing so I huve to condemn the practice of many
farmers. The most important of anything not to
do is to wait ; don't wait till done sowing spring
crops and you are over your hurry, and then go on
and prepare your garden and plant it all at one
time, and expect that to answer all purposes, when
if it does well, there may be something raised,but if
any portion fails, why that is the last of it. That
some Vegetables may be very well grown in this
way, is probably true though many kinds, like
potatoes, peas, onions, and not a few other things,
will necessarily be late, and more or less of tlie
most tender probably a failure.

But for all desiring a good garden it is a great
deal better to begin as soon as the ground will do
to work, and the garden ought to be, and if prepar-
ed as recommended (on page 207) it almost always
will be, the first land dry enough to work on the
farm. But here I wish to say if the garden is nec-
essarily on a rather heavy cold soil, it would bo an
excellent plan to put a good coat of sandy or
gravelly loam — a good gravelly loam is generally
warmest — on to a part of the upper side of the gar-
den, which, with manuring, will make the land dry
enough to work soon after the frost is out and the
ground settled. This small plot may be spaded up
and prepared and plai.ted to some of the choicest
early vegetables, as peas, beets, onions, radishes,
lettuce, cabbage for transplanting, &c., and if there
is enough for a few of the very earliest potatoes,
all the better. It may also be well to state that
in many gardens where there is no part that has
had, or perhaps has needed, any sand or other ad-
dition but manure, there is a warm sunny corner or
part of the garden that is dry sooner th:in the rest,
and as frequently weeks may be gained by taking
advantage of a day or two of warm, drying weather
when only such part can be worked, it would be an
excellant plan to spade up and plant such a corner
or part in the manner indicated. The Vegetables
grown on such a patch will be very early, if well
tended, and be very gratifying to every familj'.

But whether a part is spaded and planted before
the rest or not ; the rest, or the whole garden,
should be thoroughly plowed — no working farmer
will be willing to spade a garden half or a quarter
as large as will be needed — and prepared as soon as
it is dry enough to work. Then a httl* calculation
should be made in regard to the amount of ground
to be devoted to the different kinds of Vegetables.
First layoiFa portion for early potatoes, which
should be large enough to supply the family till
some of those grown in the field arc put in the cel-
lar. Then a portion for large marrowfats or other
large garden peas, which should be the main crop
for green peas after the earliest, and should not be
Hown broadcast ; and if put in very early, and pretty
thick, they will get and keep the start of the weeds.
There should be enough sown to have all the fam-
ily can use, and some for their less provident
neighbors, and if a part is left after the season is
over, the vines can be cut and fed to the hogs.
Hext lay off the ground for the cabbage and root

crops raised in the garden. With these, as well as
peas, it is be.-t to be sure and have enough, as any
surplus will sel well, while they are profitable to
raise to feed. The rest of the garden may be devo-
ted to sweet corn and the many and various other
things that should be raised in a good garden, caie
having been taken to provide room enough for
them all.

At the first planting all that the season will al-
low will of course be pat in. Other kinds should
be planted as fast as tlie season will answir. Many
are tender, not germinating well in cold, unfavora-
ble weather, or if they come up, are sometimes
cheeked, and sometimes insects di stroy the first
planting. Consequently it is necessary to have
plenty of the diS'erent kinds of seeds, and make cal-
culitions for frequent planting, some of which will
be f-ure "' to hit the season ri-iht," or by proper at-
teiition be saved from all insect depredators.

In regard to the different kinds of seeds, allow
me to say, I am not going to recommend many
novelties, nor only such as are considered very
choice or extra kinds, and are very scarce and high
priced, but only such as I know are what every
farmer ought to have. For early potatoes, few far-
mers want any of the very small, though very ear-
ly kinds, but they will prefer something like the
kind 1 use, which are here called the Early June,
but which more nearly answers the description (^f
the Mountain June. We begin to use them about
or soon after the fourth of July. They grow to a
good size, and give a fair >ield of good quality dur-
ing their season. There should be a good bed of
some very early peas; the early Kent or Daniel O'-
Rourke will answer very well. The earliest I have
raised, out often or more kinds, is called the Queen
of Dwarfs. Tlie early York, or large early York
cabbage — the latter the surest but later — should
be raised for summer use, find some laigerkind for
winter. I give a decided preference to the Maible-
head mammoth drumhead ; but the large drumhead
or flat Dutch, answers very well. Darling's early
sweet corn is the best I have been able to obtain.
There should be several filantings, a little very ear-
ly, more about the usual planting time, and two or
three weeks later, another planting. There ^hould
be enough in all to have plenty to use, which, in
most families, will be a good deal, as it is first rate,
and goes a good many weeks, and plenty to dry for
winter use. Of onion-', there should be a bed of
sets, or multiplieis, as they are called here, for ear-
ly use. For fall and winter use, there should be a
good large bed of red, or white Portugal, the latter
the best. I have never found any beats that will
compare with the early Bassano. We have them
by the fourth of July, and probably use more in
that month than any other in the year ; but we use
the same kind for winter, sowing some later for
that purpose. The long blood is a good late kind.
The early short green cucumber has given the best
satisfaction to use green and for pickles, of any I
have tried. Of squashes, the Summer Crookneck
and early scollop, for summer use, and Hubbard
for winter, are probably as good as any. The
sweet German turnip is decidedly the best for the
table of any I am aequainted with. Carrots, early
Horn and long Orange. Parsnips, loi'g Dutch and
Hollow Crown. Beans, tomatoes, radishes, and
lettuce, are so eommon, and the seed is so easily
raised, or saved, that probably every one has a

m^-'

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

m

supply, or can easily obtain it in their neighbor- ]
hood. But at the same time it will be best to only
plant what is known to be good, and never plant
any poor or inferior kinds, because "the seed don't
cost anything."

Every garden, of course, has, or should have, a
good asparagus bed, and plenty of pie plant. If
these are not already provided, good directions for
their culture can be found in back numbers of Co.
Gent.

I have only referred to the more common and
staple crop> for the farmer's garden. There are
many other kinds that can be, and more or less of
which will be grown, as may suit the taste or con-
venience of the farmer; but, as they w:ll only be
such things as he is more or less aequuinte with,
no special directions will be needed. "-With the
ground well prepared, and planting and hoeing
well and seasonably done, of course, whatever is
tried will be well grown.

As to garden fruits, in view of the great am-
mount of valuable information in regard to their
culture contained in the Co. Gknt., it would seem
to be superfluous to do more than to urge farmers
to pay more attention to them. But there are yet
80 many that entirely neglect most kinds of these
fruits, particularly berries, that I cannot close
without urging every farmer that has not these or
some other kinds — to set a good bed of Wilson's
Albany|seedling strawberry, and also one of Doolit-
tle's black cap raspberr}'. These are so produc-
tive, hard}', and easily grown, that I can hardly
imagine how can any one fail of being well satisfied
for his trouble, or see why they may not lead to
the cultivation of many other kinds and varieties
of garden fruits, and eventually lead to raising a
good supply of many of the best kinds.

But long before planting will be entirely out of
the way, another important operation will have to
come into play, that is hoeing the garden. This
will be attended to in the next and concluding
number. F.

Western New York, 1864.

From the American Agriculturist.
Early Beets and Carrots.

The earlier these can be had, the more accept-
able they are, and with a little pains they may be
brought on much earlier than usual. The soil for
both should be light, warm, deep, and rich with
manuring the previous season. The best early
variety of beet is the Bassano, or, as called by
some, the Extra Early Turnip Beet. This, though
not large, is quick growing and very good. Soak
the seed in warm water for 24 hours ; pour off the
water and keep the seed covered in a warm place
until the sprouts begin to show themselves, then
roll the seed in plaster and sow. — In treating the
seed in this way, do not let the sprouts get too long,
as there is danger of breaking them, but sow as
soon aa they begin to show themselves as little
tender points breaking through the shell of the
seed. Sow in drils, 12 or 15 inches apart, and
when the plants are 2 or 3 inches high, thin to 8
or 10 inches in the row. As the beet seed is really
a sort of cup, or capsale, containing two or more
seeds, it often happens that two or three plants
vill come up so dose together as to appear like

one. — These crowded plants should be looked to
and only one left. If there are any deficiencies ia
the rows, they can be filled by carefully taking
plants from the crowded places and transplanting
them. Hoe often and weed thoroughly.

The Early Horn Carrot is the best early. Soak-
ing the seeds in tepid warm water for two days
will hasten their geimination. A Friend inform*
us that he gets carrots up in three or four days by
keeping the moistened seed in a warm place for
five days and then drying off" in ashes or plaster.
We have not tried this plan. An ounce of seed
will sow 150 feet of drill. Sow in 15 inch drills,
cover half an inch, and thin to four inches. As
the plants are very small when they first show
themselves, it is a good plan to sow a few redish
or turnip seeds with those of the carrot seed, in
order to distinguish the rows readily at the first
weeding. >

[i?rom the Canada Farmer.]

Estimating the Weight of Cattle by
Measurement.

Many eipci-iments have been made by graziers
and salesmen to ascertain the net weight of cattle
by measure?nent, and a number of rules and tables
h;ive been formed from the results obtained. None,,
however, can be regarded as absolutely correct.
With the most accurate measuring is required a
practical acquaintance with the points and forma
of animals, and allowance must be made according
to age, size, breed, mode and length of time of fat-
tening, etc. ; conditions which require a practical
eye and lengthened experience to correctly appre-
ciate. We have found the following method to
lead generally to trustworthy results :

Measure carefully with a tape line from the top
of the shoulder to where the tail is attached to the
back ; this will give the length. For the girth,
measure immediately behind the shoulder and fore
legs. Multiply half the girth by itself in feet, and
the product will give the net weight in stones of 8
Sis. each. For example with an ox or cow 5 feet
in length and 1 feet in girth, the calculation will
be as follows :

Multiply half the girth by itself in feet 3.6

,-;--; tJ,

12.26
Multiply by the length in feet 6

Weight in stones 61.26

■ «••

[From the Detroit Free Press.]

The Wheat Crop in Michigan^

The warm rains for the last several days hare
materially improved the wheat prospects in this
State; and yet we do not consider that the chances
of over two-thirds of a crop are by any means great.
All the conditions of the season will have to b«
favorable to produce a full two- thirds crop. The
favorable weather thus far in this month hat
undoubtedly had a strong tendency to give many
of these " stools" that were seemingly dead such »
start that they may produce a good article of wheat.
It was thought in the fore part of March that ttw
"winter killing" would result in the growth and

■ .r??

148

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

May

production of a very inferior article of wheat while
manv of our farmers feared that much of the wheat,
as a result of winter killing, would turn eutirely to
" chess. "

From the Working Farmer.
Salt as Manure.

According to an experiment made by Mr Lawes,
of England, wheat, on his land, received no bene-
fit whatever from the application of salt, either
in grain or straw. He had always used 4 cwt. of
sale per acre, with other fertilizers, upon his man-
golds, in the regular course of farm practice, but
was led, by the failure to derive any benefit from
it on wheat, to test with care the yield of this root
with and without j^alt ; and evidently to his own
surprise, land without salt yielded 31 tons 2 cwt.
of mangle roots per acre, while that to which 5 cwt.
of salt per acre had been applied, produced only
20 tons 10 cwt. of roots, and that which had
received 10 cwt. of salt per acre, produced only 18
tons of bulbs. As to tops, " where there was no
salt, the produce of tops was 7 tons 6 cwt, where
the smaller quantity was applied it was 8 tons 5
cwt, and where the larger quantity of salt was
used it was 7 tons 8 cwt Therefore the result was,
that where the smaller quantity w;is used, there
was more top and less bulb, and where the larger
quantity was used, less top and less bulb. "
Although he does not appear to claim this as a
decisive experiment, nor that the wheat experi-
ment on his farm would necessarily apply to all
England, still he did not hesitate to assert with-
out qualification the belief " that the large amount
of money which is expended on salt as a miuure
throughout the British Isles is not returned in the
produce." — Knowing that a commission on the part
of the French Government had been engaged in
investigating the subject, he also communicated
with M. Barral, whose reply shows that that com-
mission reported that salt was no value as a manure.
In this report M. Barral states that he agrees, in
80 far as regards the application of salt alone, but
it is uncertain whether this can be said of it as
applied in connection with other fertilizing mate-
rials.

Alton Horticultural Society.

Saturday, April 2, 1864.

The Society met at the residence of A. and F.
Starr Present— Dr. E. S. Hull, J. Curtis, F. Curtis,
D. Williams, C. W. Dimmock, H. G. McPike, A.
Starr, F. Starr, D. Brown, J. Newman, and quite
a number of ladies.

The Secretary being absent, Mr. Dimmock pre-
sented copies of Agricultural Reports for November
and December, from the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture, apd letters received by the Secretary.

Ist. A letter from Isaac Newton, Commissioer of
Agriculture, stating that flower seeds were not yet
ready for distribution, and that there would be no
grape vines to distribute among societies the
present season.

2d. A Hote from George Husmanu, of Hermann,

Mo., giving his definition of a reserve bud : — "I

call the reserve bud the two small buds above and

elow each fruit bud on any strong cane. There

is a small bud above, and one below, each large or
fruit bud, which will very often n main dormant,
if the principal fruit bud stans in spring; but if
that is killed, they willgenenJIv push and produce
some fiuit ; though not us much or as fine as the
principal bud."

On moiion of Mr. Dimmock the letter was filed
for publication.

A cane was brought in and no such buds could
be detected, and many membirs seemed inclini d
to dispute Mr. Hu mann's opinion.

3d. A note from Mrs. Annie C. Trible, of Upper
Alt(m, giving the minimum temperature of '55, '56,
'57, and '64, as follows :

December 80, 1855 8°

Januiiry 9, 1856 18-

January 18, 1857 15 ='

January 1, 1864 22 °

From which it appears that the present year ex-
ceeds any previously observed, and that next to it
comes 1856, a _\ear very dertructive to fruit trees.

The following t»ble from Blodgt t's Climateology
shows the extreme cold of a series of years at
Highland, in this county :

1841 2® 1847 50

1842 30 1848 5^

1843 4° 1849 3=>

1844 6° 1850 8°

1845 7® 1851 4=>

1846 1© 1852 150

The thanks of the Society w.re tendered to Mrs.
Trible for her kindness iu furnishing a copy of the
record.

Dr. Hull having lost his paper upon " Roots, "
favortd the Society with his views orallv. He
believes the spoi gioles are like the leaves and
perish every year and that the large roots are more
important than the very r.mall ones.

On motion of F. Starr, a committee consisting
of Mr. Dimmock was appointed to obtain the books
belonging to the Society.

Mr. Daniel Williams was proposed and elected a
member.

On motion of F. Starr, members were requested
to collect insects injurious and beneficial for a
Sociitv's Cabinet Also to investigate the real
benefit or injury occasioned by birds.

" Birds " were made the subject for discussion
at the next meeting.

The time of meeting was made the first Friday of
each month, instead of Satuiday as heretofore.

Adjourned to m< et at D. E Brown's on Friday,
May ijth, at 10 o'clock, A. M.

After a t-umptuous dhmer, at which a superior
article of currant wine, of home manufacture, was
procured and tested, a thorough survey of tb*
premises was made by the ladies and gentleman of
the society.

The residence and grounds of Messrs. Starr
were formerly occupied by Dr. E. S. Hull, and were
the field of his early efforts and success in horti-
culture, .^he large peach orchard of 3,000 trees,
which has so long made Alton famous for choice
fruit, has suffered much from the severe winter,
and will doubtless, ere long, give way to new treea.
The magnificent evergreens, surrounding the un-
pretending stone house attract the eye from a great
distance, and guide to the premises without tke
necessity of making inquiry. These large ever-
greens, some twenty, were planted twenty y&u$

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAKMER.

149

^ce, and some of ihem are models of umbrageous
elegHni'e. They have also a large number of Nor-
way sp U'se in fim' c >nditioti and suitabl'^ size for
transpliinfing. They have vineyards coiitaining
about. 1300 vinps, mostly C tawbi, Concord Hnd
IsnbeUa. Thev have also 1000 chirry trees, 1500
pear tree?, 2700 apple trees, and 1000 currant
bushes. A large p rt of the trees lajst enumerated
were p'anted by Messrs Starr, who hiive Isitelligent-
ly perfoimed a va^t Hraount of labor, for which
they will doubtless find a rich reward ere many
yeard elapse.

-••►

[From the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.]
A Cure for Hoven or Wind Colic.

Last fill when making Sorghum Syrup, I threw
the skimmings from the evaporator to my hogs.
My milch cows being in the yard, they ate freely
of it; ill less than half an hour I noticed one of
my cows swollen to such an extent thnt death must
have ensued had she not got immediate relief. I
knew not what to do for her, but necessity, as the
old adage goes, is the mother of invention. I re-
flected tor a few moments what was the cause of
her complaint. I knew in a minute that it must
be fermentation of the skimm-ngs in the stomach.

I was uMng at the time bi-sulphate of lime to ar-
rest ferm'ntation in the juice of the cane previous
to boiling. I thougiit I would try it for the same
purpose in the cow. At a venture 1 drenched her
with about a gill of the lime; the result w«b that
in ten miimtes she was better, and in half an hour
she was perfectly well. I have no doubt but that
it would be equ tlly good in case of wi d coiiu in
horses, or hoven in cattle, from eating green clover.

Columbus, Ohio. Geo. E. Gill.

—9»-

Walter Brown's Monthly Wool Cir-
cular.

Niw Yore, April Ist, 1864.

The domestic wool trade coniinued to be very
inactive during the early part of the month just
closed, with a downward tendency in prices. Since
the middle of the month, however, there has been
more d mand from manuf ctures, and wools, to a
fair amount, have been taken for consumption at
p -ices ranging from 7 to 10 cents per pound below
the highest quotation of the season. The month
closed with a firmer feel ng, and with a pospect
that m nufacturers, who, in many ca» s, are in
light «tock, mav be induced by the pressent com-
pari'i/ely mode ftte rates to come into mft'ket for
more lib -lal supplies. A further motive to this
coar-ifl with some buyers may be apprehension
that Congress will pass an act amendatory to the
present tariff Liw. imposing an increased duty on
foreign wool. Should this measun^ be adopted, no
doubt that purchases made on the basis of present
rates woiiM be advantag -ous to the buyer.

The market is now well supplied with desirable
parcels from all the wool growing sections, and
holders are generally willing to meet the m&rket —
a condition of things which of late has existed to a
limited extent only. / As a consequence of this
condition, buyer and !«Iler being alike inclined to
operate more f^eq^uent and larg^er transactions are
occuring.

The fluctuations in gold, while they have to
some extent affected the price of foreign wools, do
not appear to have influenced in any degree the
market in domestic fleeces. The most efficient
cause in checking the downward course of prices
would seem to have been the anticipated action of
Congiess toward an increase of impost duties.

The demand for pulled wools has been moderate,
and they have changed but little in price. We
think present rates will be maintained, and should
our expectations of an increased activity be realized,
possibly an advance in these wools may occur.

California wools have sold freely, and most of
the desirable lots have been taken up by the kersey
and blanket manufacturers. Some other choice
parcels were taken for the fine cassimeres and sim-
ilar trade fabrics. The stock is light, and must
continue so for some weeks to come. Early par-
cels of the spring clipping will probably arrive by
steamer of May next, and if in good condition and
free from burs, they will be favorably received.

There has been a good trade in foreign wools of
all grades, and prices have not varied much from
last quotations. Our late advices from Europe
speak of an active trade, and of improvement in
prices of the most saleable descriptions.; ;-::

[Prom the Philadelphia Commercial List]

Maple Sugar Crop.

From present indications there is little douM
that the maple sugar crop of 1864 will vastly exceed
that made in any previous year. The season has
been a good one, and favorable for the early com-
mencement of operations. In all probability the
crop of maple sugar at the North for the present
year will reach 25,000,000 pounds, worth at the
low estimate of 15 cents per pound, 3,760,000 an
important item in the sugar product of the country.
Thi« will be but a small amount of the sugar coB-
sumed in the whole country, yet it will go far to-
ward supplying the deficiency caused by non-pro-
duction at the South. Few people comprehend
the great amount of su^^ar annually used in the
United States. In 1862 it is estimated that the
total consumption of sugar, both in the North and
South, was 482,411 tons, or nearly 29 pounds to
every man, woman and child. This consump-
tion was largely decreased in 1863, and will be still
more so during the present year. By the manufite-
ture of sugar from the maple and sorghum, the
North may in a few years be independent of all
foreign sugar producing countries. ;

Bek Culttt.e. — Among rural pursuits, there ii
probably no branch of business that pays better
than the keeping of bees. The introduction of
moveable frame hives has produced a new era in
bee culture. The internal economy of the hive is
now open to inspection and the nature of the insect
can be thoroughly studied and understood. Bee-
keeping used to be a matter of luck, or at least of
great uncertainty, but the bee-keeper can now, witk
the facilities furnished him, make it a matter of as
anxeh certainty as other branches of productive In-
dustry. The past season has been one of compar-
ative dearth in the honey harvest of many localities,
and many rtocks have starved or frozen to death
the past winter. Bat this should not be a matter

150

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

Mat

of discouragement, as such a season hiis not oc-
curred in Tears, and will not, probably, soo;i recur
again. Seisons of scarcity and dearth occur in all
rural pursuits. The whent crop fails, the coin is
cut off by drouth or untimely frosts, and cattle
meet with accidents, or diseases, yet no one thinks
of giving up these branches of husbandry. Let no
one, then, be deterred from enga<iing iu bee culture
because of the past untoward season.

The chief reason that deters people from bee
keeping seems to be the fear of being stung. Yet
bees can be rendered as " harmless ns flies."' A
few puffs of smoke, thrown into the hive, renders
them perfectly peaceable, and you can handle them
with perf'..-ct impunity if you ire careful not to hurt
them. The smoke of tobacco is the most effectual,
acting upon them quickly, but any kind of smoke
can be used. A pipe made on purpose, called a
"fumigation pip*'," is very convenient for thi.s pur-
pose. H. P. Kidder, of Builington, Vt., manufac-
tures a very neat and cheap pipe for this use. Any
one who dislikes tobacco can use it without inhal-
ing the fumes, as the smoke is blown from the pipe.
By wearing gloves on the hands and a bee-hat to
guard the face and neck, a whole ref;iment of
bees can be defied. A good bee hat can bo madf
bv sewing a cylinder of wire-cloth (suih as used
for the fine sieves of a fanning mill) to ihc brim of
a heavy straw or felt hat. Let the cUind'T be
large enough to hang clear of the head and face,
ami long enough to come about down to the chin,
-and have a piece of thin calico or muslin sewed to
the lower edge, to button down under the coat or
vest. It should be narrow behind, so as not to
rest on, or interfere with, the collar of the coat.
Ko (ilace is left where a bee can get in, and you
would be perfectly safe to enter a iie-st of hornets
otherwise well clothed. We have been using a
veil, manufactured from blark linen thread, that
pleases us much. It affords perfect protection, is
COfufortable to wear, and obstructs the sij^ht but
slightly. It slips over the crown of the hat and
buttons down under the coat. It is also manufac-
tured by the same party at Burlington. When the
writ.-r, years ago, fir.st commeisced to handle bees,
■ he suffered very much when stung. Now a stinu
in hands is not as annoying as a musquito bite.
The more stung the less the system minds it. This
. I fined is the exp'rience of others. By the use of
smoke and the bee har, or vail, the most timid per-
«on can handle bees with f .cility, and with the
great increase in the cost cf the "sweets of life"
we shall look for a rapid increase of bee hu>baridry.

Rolling Prairie, Wis. L. L. F.

Imraense Glass Structures.

DxAR Farmer: — Having missed my connection
by an accident to our train I here spent an hour in
the extensive private grounds and grape houses of
Capt. E. B. Ward, the wealthy boat owner and
manufacturer, and though I expected something
extensive, was not prepraed for what I saw. Some
five years since Mr. Ward built his first grape
hou-^e, a span roofed building 60 feet long, iu which
he has grown some choice specimens of the varie-
ties of the Hamburg and the C difornia vines, lat-
terly he has converted it into a forcii g liouse by put-
ting in a flue and arranging it for propag iting grapes
from eyes, a 1 irge and fine lot of which are now
coming on. The next jear he built a second house

80 feet long in which he now has grape vines and
intends to plant out in it this spring a row of
Peaches, Apricots Nectarines. The thiid house is
120 feet long, span roof 22 ft et wide. The fourth
one 110 feet long, same width. The fifth a smaller
house, 40 feet long, which is now used fi>r forcing
early vejjetables and propagating grapes f om cut-
tings. Tlie s-ixth buiidins is at least 80 feet long,
with the Hamburg grapes in varieties, and others.
The Tth to 11th houses, five in number, aie each
150 feet Ions, 24 feet wide, span roofed, three of
which are filled with four rows of Hamburg grapes.
In one of these houses betwi en the rows of grapes
are growing strawberries of the Wilson and Tri-
omphe de Gand varieties, now in blo-som and will
be out of the way as soon as the grapes make any
considerable growth. He is also now prep ring
the border for four more houses to be put up this
season, to be 125 feet long by 24 feet wide. The
ground is all thoroughly prepared, thiee feet deep,
by hair and offal from tanners, and manure from
cattle 'sards. &c.

Those different houses now contain 1,292 vines,
embracing all the choice varieties usually culti-
vated under glass; a large part of them will give
.'•ome fruit this year. Out side he has nearly 600
hardy grape vines, embiacing some 15 variet'es,
the Delaware predominating. While selecting
vines for this planting he was asked if he wanted
some Deiawares. Answeiing no, the gi ntleman
whose grounds he was at asked him if he had ever
tastid them. Answering no again, he produced a
bunch for him, and witn the first taste he said give
me 200 of them ; this was when the vines were
higher than now and before he commenced propa-
g iting His great love for choice fruit seems to
find no other vent than to go into the growing to
the extent already shown. Such an amount of
fruit as these vines will bear cannot of course be
consumed by his i'amily and friends, and will most
likely be found in market in the season of its ripen-
ing. In other parts of his grounds, which are
admirably laid out and kept, is a fair show of pear,
cherry, and other small fruits, and a choice collec-
tion of shrubbery. We here saw a new method of
forcing asparagus by setting a hot bed frame over
the asparagus bed, banking it up outside with
manure, a row or bed nearly a hundred feet long
being covered thu.s, while a corresponding bed out-
side ol it, without it is designed to follow this in
succes ion. These grounds aie under the charge of
Thos. G Angell, who seems to fully undeist md his
business and to whose courtesy we are indebted
for attention while there. H. D. K.

— In P. Farmer.

Lovers of Honey may bo inteiested, though per-
ha >s not gratified to know, if they have not already
lea ned that the stock of Bees, in this region, is
about used up. Many Bee keepers have lost every
swarm, while others, and those most extensively
engaged in the business, have barely a remnant
left for seed. The cause of this fatality is attrib-
uted chiefly to unwholesome food, supposed to
have been made from what is known as "' Honey
dew," a secretion from a worm which inf. sts the
oak in the early spring. Wherever stocks were
left exposed, the severe winter did the job for
them, while many that were housed in waim and
i ill ventillated cellars, have moulded and thui

'-^^^—^-^

•■ -'iiiii tiniria'ilf'^'^'^"^-^^

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

become worthies?. We do not know how exten-
sive thi-! troub'e is, but if that in thi^ sectinn is
a ly ciierion, the loss will be found quite serious
as well as annoying. — Btrlin Wis. Dem.

WEEDS.

BY J. S. G., ADAMS CO., PA.

T'le unusual quantity of weeds prevadinji the
past year throuuhout the farms in Adams County,
has become a>ul>j ct of inquiry araongour farmers.
Who hap noticed the vast qunnti y of soirel that
has I)e<'n preva ling every whire, in all kind-i of
soils and si nations? There, too, along side could
be seen th > chamomile, the red p"ppy, or thii de-
t' stable Shcttei-wfed. in t'ndliss profusion. —
Strangers Uiight suppose that firming had got to
b'' such a poor bu iness that we have turned our
fine fields into Botanical Gardens; but the dffioul-
ty shown in finding < ut the botanical name of the
Shelter- wecil, sli<i\vs how litt'e attention is paid to
t'le sulijoct of Botany in our midst. Our farmers,
instead of knowing the vari' us classes of weeds,
their nalnro, their power of impoveri-hing the soil,
care more about knowing h:rw to get rid of them.
The scien^'c of Botany may be said to have no
limUs, either in extent or variety ; the land and the
e.'ed botti \ield tlieir specimens. Even as an am-
usement it scarcely has a superior. In walking or
riding over the couiitiy the aitentioii is always
attracted by the trees and flowers. Its moral in-
fluence is als!> beneficial. The science of Botany
is the booi^ of nature. The very tr. es point us to
h av-n, the very weeds and flowers are maiked
wiih a ptirity, a loveliness which diiectsab'ive and
n turally leads us from nature's woks to nature's
God. In the most, delic iie flow rs that deck the
earth you may read the evidence of a Creator.
And yet how stniige it, is that it is not more a sub-
j<ct of study among our agricultudsts! Ask the
one-hiilf oftheni to }iive you the botanical name of
a weed, and you might as wi 11 ask them to "square
the circle " fur you — I suppose the reason is. that
iio money can be made by attending to it, and that
is a CO' elusive re:. son in our day. But to return
to our weeds. And by the way there is no such
thing as weed. Why is the wild flix any mote a
weed than the violet '! there is not a plant that
grows but is calculated to act some pirt in its
epiiere; either it assists to purify the air by throw-
ing off i.uie oxygen, its flower.-< gratify our seii.«es,
or it.i poisonous qualities may be useful in medi-
cine. Dr. John.«on says, '"The only fault weeds
liave is t> be out of their place." And the faitners
nni>t fill up the place they occupy so as to drive
them out of the fie d ; and one way to do this is by
sowing clover or tinioihy unusually thick, so as to
produce a shade so thick th^it the weeds cannot
get space, sun, or air ; and the grass w.ll in time
choke them out. Weeds cannot grow well, if
sniotheied by close adjoining plants. But there
are some weeds v\ hich start early and get ahead of
grass ; the only cure for them is to take them out,
root and all. Of this kind is the Canieliua, or wild
flax, which ought to be pulled out. It can be easily
done when the ground is wet, as the stem is very
tough, like flax, and will bear pulling. It will not
do to mow it off" before it ripens its seed, because
jou may in that way make a pereuial of it ; its sap

will descend and enlarge its roots for another
year, and thus when you prevent the forming of
the seed if an annua], you may make a prennial of
it. I do not say it will in all coses ; nothing ex-
hau.sts a weed so much as producing its seed, and
animal plants generally have the most setd, and
they mostly die from the effect produced by tbe
sap having all gone to form the seed. Now, if you
gaihir the seed of the Sshetter-weed as soon as it
is ripe, or take it up by the roots before the seed is
ripe, you will soon put an end to it. The seed
of the Shetter-weed is a very fine yellow seed,
smaller than clover ?eed. In one pod of it I
counted eighteen seeds, t-nd on one stem I counted
one hundred and six pods, so that it bears a tre-
mendous quantity of seed The seed nod(mbt will
make a good oil, but I hope it will never be culti-
vated for that purpose. The leaf of the plant is
not bitter or at all disagreeable; the tops of it
taste v< ry much like the radish. — The sheep in the
field wheie it grows will not touch it, but would
rather starve.

Some weeds have been noticed in certain spots
remaining there for years and then suddenly dis-
appearing. It may be explained in this way: the
seeds of tho parent plant fall down annually, and
of course biing forth the same species the next
.spring, and so keep on for years until they have
exhausted from that spot the particular substai ce
in the soil necessary for their existtnce, and not
being able to foim their seed at last, they must die.
•^ome persons may calculate on .getting r d of the
Shetti r-weed in that way ; but its seed is so light
that the winds will cary it off in all diiections.
One reason. I think, why we have such an unusual
quantity of weeds the past summer is. that we have
had such warm wet weather early in the spiing,
which caused the seeds then lying on the ground
to vegetate, and thus get a good start before the
dry weather came on. The great quantity of soirel
that prevails can only be killed by Lirge ajplica-
tions of quick lime ; as it is a strong acid the lime
will neutralize it.

It might be possible that all these noxious weeds
have been biought into our country by the droves
of cattle and sheep from the west. They have
brought »hem by degrees, bringing them a certain
distance one year, and leaving them in the field;
the seeds having passed t'^rough them in an un-
digested state, then springing up are eaten by the
cattle coining after, and taken on some distiince
again, until they have reached our field in this
way. It is to be hoped our farmers will »11 pull
out, root and branch, the Shetter-weed, and thus
effectually get rid of it. J. S. G.

— Farmer & Gardener. ■ ,. .

Cooking Pood for Cattle. '

Wishing to make an addition to one of my baniB
this season, and being anxious to put in an appa-
ratus for steaming dry food for cattle, and having
seen some excellent articles on the subject in the
current volume of the Courdry Gentleman, by H.
H. Peters, Esq., of Southborough, Ma-^s., 1 lately
visit«'d his place for further iufoimation. Mr. P.
is among the largest breeders of put e Ayrshire cat-
tle, if not the largest in the countiv. Uis herd
now exceed.s ninety head, all thoi ot^h-bred, full
blooded animals, very many having been importtd

>^iiitf-"i-.''rM-'ili

^<«.dJ

152

THE ILLIJSrOIS FAKMER.

Mat

for and on his own account, selected by his own
agent, sent out for the purpo-e, who is rtne of the
bedt judges in the Union. Th« farm which Mr. P.
occupies was formerly what is known in ihe region
as a Milk Farm. It was one devoted to a mil^
diary, to furnish milk for the City of B -ston. He
flUll continues that bu-iness upon the farm, and has
thus had a fine opp >rtunity to test the milking pro-
perties of this breed of catile. After trying ne irly
all breeds and grades of the diflFer<nt breeds, he
h 18 settled upon the Ayrshires, and is making his
milking as w. 11 as his breeding hi;rd exclusivel.
from full-blooded animal-) of this breed.

For a full descriptiori of his method of prepir-
ing the food, I shall refi-r the curious reftd-r to the
articles befon^ mentioned. My object was t ) b""-
come satisfied as to the fact of its adaptabi ity to
our region of conntry I bi'came fully satisfied,
form personal examination of the ca'tle and the
manure, that upon a grain farm,nranv other where
there is a large amount of course folder, as straw,
stalks, or coarse, rank clover or herds grass hity, at
leaat one-half of the expense of mantaiiiing stock
can be s iv d by cutting and stcaniing the food.
In other words, a per.-»on can keep well dotihle the
number of sheep or cattle or ho'ses upon thesam •
food steamed, that they can upon it fed dry. If
grain be fd, a still larger profit is received. But
at the same tim ■, care must be t ik>n to prot ct
the manure in a dry place until appii'd din-ctly to
the land, or an important source of profit will be
lost.

Mr. P. has erected a steam.^r in the cellar of one
of his barns, and steams, in properly prepared
ateam chests, or box"8, about one hundred bn-^hels
ia each at a time. He has had four year.-*' experi-
ence, and he is firmly in fav r of the system — as
it adds largely to the m mu'-e pile, as well as giving
a large surplus of market.ble hay, wh'ch ca-i b'
sold at hish figures — though I think this rule is,
to consume upon the farm the grass, grain, and
straw and stalks grown upon it.

So entirely satisfied did I become of the great
saving by steaming coarse food and grain, that I
shall put a Pmall engne into mv barn cell r to cut
and steam f >od this winter, even at conaderable
expense. I shall also sow sever 1 acres with corn,
as being the cheapest method of -upplying a laig •
amount of T iluabl>> f>od for steam'ng. I < xpeet
to winter double the number of cattl • that I cou'd
on dry food, and at less expense than if fed dry.
To be sure, it requires an extra outlaw of capita',
but thei. it repa>8 a very larg' interest, and -"avs
4he purchase of more 1 md to furnish winter forag •
for this increased stock.

I hope to have leisure to g've some n tes In re-
gard to the system of farming which Mr. P. i« in-
augueratingintliatporti'm of Massachusetts. Wih
ample m -ans, — an enterprising spirit that does not
know the wo-d *'f<il." — he has Kteral'y made
" two blades of grass grow where but one grew be-
/ore, " and he is demonstrating that both fir pub ic
^eod and financial snccfss, the intelligent applica-
Ifion of capital to tiie improvement of the soil, is of
vas public benefit as well as private gain. In the
■ «ity, the .successful merchant or busine.ss man sim-
ylv V -getates, his mind cramped and dwa^fsd bv
the fi-ivolities of a highly artificial m de of life.
B.it in the country, and upon the fann. th** mind
vxpauds by its constaat intereoar<ie with the grand

and beautiful objects of nature which are spread
out around one with so lavish a hand. And a man
feels that he is living for noble ends. T. C. P.

Abortion in Cows produced by Smut
on Corn.

The Belgian Annals of Veterinary Medicine pub-
lishes a statem nt that the Ustilago Madis, or par-
asitic mushroom, which occuis on maize or Indian
corn, as ergot does on rye, produces abortion in
cows fed with it. The article says, that in a stable
where cows wire given maize infe»ted with this
p irasite, eleven abortions occurred within eight
days, when, the cause being suspected and the
food changed i o further case happened. The au-
thor of the discovery then, to assure himself of the
.supposed fact, dried and pulverized some of the
fungi, and administered six drachms of the powder
to tw» bitch dogs heavy with pup, and abortion
W.IS produced in *»!ich This statement should be
studi' d and carefully investigated by stock keepers
in the United States, and more attention be be-
stow d by them upon the feed of breeding animals,
as it is very pos ibie that many otherwise unac-
countable cases of slunk calves can be attributed
to di eas'd lorn. Whether the ripeness of the fun-
gus, or its occurrence on green or dry fodder makes
any difference, are points to be settled.

EFFECT OF THE AIR ON WEIGH-
ING GRAIN.

There is generMlly much compl lint about cargoes
of grain fillinfi shi>rt, which have been weighed
into vess Is at the Western shipping port on the
Northern lakes, when they come to discharge at
the El-tern terminations of the different routes, as
Buffalo. Oswego Kingst n, &c.

It is nam al to suppos • th it grain in these trans-
its should in rease in weight to a slight extent, by
absorption of moisture: there being a arcely any
w ste in haniili g. But 1 ke ve sels, or their
manager.^, have b come so used to "shortage" that
they would readily pay flO, or $15, per trip >\a
insurince against sbortMge. and consider it a good
operation. It is re. llv quit" a tax upon the earry-
inff trade of that regio i. The reasons as-igned are
elose weijrht. management sometimes, &c. But
the;e is one item which works j'gainst the orrier
atid tend to make ti() the defieiency, which is not
taken into aceonnt. It i the difference of barome-
tric altitude of the po'nts 'f shipping imd dischnge
There is not much difference b twe-n Chicago and
Buff.lo — 32 feet only, but between Lake Michigan
port- ad those of Lak • Ontario, the difference of
altitud ■ i- 325 feet. In figuring the difference of
bu >yancv nf rhe atmosph re at these two levels,
and its effect on a ergo of grain of 18,000 bu.shels,
it is found that the diffrence is 9^ bu.shel8, after
allowing one-third to fill the interstices between
the kernels, so that a caigo .-hall represent a solid
of two thi ds its bulk.

The difference of altitude between Oswego and
New Yo k is 262 feet, and between Buffalo and
New Y rk it is 655 feet, so there must be still
another d -ficieney in reaching; tide water.

Nine and a half bushels of wheat at $2 or there-
abouts per bushel, is quite too much to p .y for the

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEU.

153

interference of the atmosphere, which refuses to
have that much weighed and accredited. "A
pound is a pound, &c.," hardlj holds good in such
a case, and when a transaction of weighing to
and from becomes large, a» in these cases, it is
/ sufEicient to be felt sensibly. — F. A. Hubelt, in
Sdetitific American.

Advantages of Draining.

Edward G. Faile, Esq , in his late valedictory
address as President of the Ni*w York State Agri-
cultural Society, made the following remarks.

" From observation of the results of the thorough
drainage of land, in which I have had a close per-
sonal interest, I am so entirely convinced of the
importance of the subject, that I think it cannot
be too persistently urged upim the attention of our
farmers. I have seen a large meadow of rank,
coarse grasses intermixed with rushes, which
was wet throughout the year, and did not yii-ld
'; even in pa-^turage, a tithe of the amount of the
interest on its cost per acre, thorough drained with
tile in the spring and early summer, fallowed, and
the following summer yi^l()ing a fnir crop of barley.
In another case the land was a swamp, yielding
absolutely nothing, and within one year, by
thorough drainage, it was made to produce a crop
of 54 bushels of shelled corn to the acre, which
was followed the next season by a good crop of
oats, and is now sown to winter wheat, which gives
extraordinary promise. There are small portions
of similar wet land on many thousands of the farms
in this State alone, which in the aggregate would
make a large tract, now lying waste and useU-ss, a
large portion of which could undoubtedly be
reclaimed by tile drainage, and, being gener:illy
rich, strong soils, made to yield a good interest
upon the outlay, to the owners, ami at the fame
time add to the healthfulness of the neighborhoods,
and the wealth of the of the State. In thus speak-
ing of the reclaiming of wet lands, I would by no
means be understood as considering the beneficial
effects of tile drainage as confined to them. On
the contrary, the testimony of the leading agricul-
tuists of Great Biitain, where the system has been
most extensively practised, is uniform as to its
wonderful effect in increasing the productiveness
of their clay lands. * * » * We are not
without instances of extensive draining by leading
farmers of this State, and with strikingly favorable
results; but with u^ it is exceptional, and not gen-
eral, as in Great Biitain, and I would urge upon
our farmers the importance of giving the subject
more con-^ideration than it has yet received. I am
convinced that in Tile Draining there is a mine of
wealth, that if worked wonid add millions to the
value of the agiicultural productions of our State."

Barly Food for Bees.

Eds. Praimk Fakukr: — I am pleased to rea;d
from .<»o many correspondents that bee culture is
receiving so much attention. A late article on bee
pasture reminds me of the importance of producing
some p:isture or feed during early spring, say at
least for two weeks before the early or spring
blossoms and flowers app^^ar. There are many that
osed flour, rve or wh(>at, (generally unbolted.) I
hope such will give thea experience aa to its irtil*

ity. Having used it myself say f om 50 to lOOBbs.
to 100 hives, dailv for at L^ast ten suceessive davs,
( such as the hees can work,) I c n but n port
favorably, so far as I hive been able to ju<1{;e of
its u^e, I noticed howevr, about the tenth day,
a floury di-sch rge from the be s, after which I
discontitiued its use. This was a4)0ut. the time
when the first flowers appeared. I think th'^re is
no question as to its utility in preventing r- bbery
and in supporting the young, but how much can
be safi Iv and profitably u ed, is a question which
those engaged in bee culture should better under-
stand. Ij. S. Pknningtom.
Whiteside County, Ills.

A Country School house and its sur-
oundings.

Two miles north of Phiio station on the Great
Western R. R. is a sohool house known as the
Eaton school house. The hou e is twenty-f ur by
thirty feet, Painted white with green blinds and
patent seats. N 'thing remarkable in all this
ceitainU, for we often se white school houses with
green blinds and p tent seats, but we do tiot so
often see an acre of play ground snugly fenced in*
set with shade trees and embossed with beds •f
flowers, tastefully laid out and nicely cultivated.
Such gems on the wide sea of prairie verdure, just
being redeemed into farms do not occur so often
and for this reason we take the more pleasuie ip
putting it upon the record.

Let us look a little more about this yard and see
what trees and shrubes are planted. The Silver
Maple forms the vascular system the stat<ly out-
lines of the plan, among which are Larches, Pmes,
Spruces, Balsims, Arborvitae, Horse Chestnut,
snowballs When these g'-ounds become full mbed
with their summer drapery we intend to make a
pilgrimage thither: We have an idea that the
children who attend that school will be more n at
and tidy in their appearance, more respectful and
intelligent than those in school houses standing
out in the open highway, around which the cattle
gather from the open prairie in fly time, »o seek
the shade, brush the flies or lis: en to the noisj
conning of half studied lessons.

STBA.W^ni&ISS AND PCAfmKS AT CoBOKW Ghag.

Calby of Cobden (South Pas^ P. Office) writes m
that "the Strawberries are coming out finely and
that nearly one hundred acres will be set out thia
spring. The Willson is almost exclusively planted.
Young Peach trees all right, while larg' seedling
trees and those which bore large cropis iaat aeaeoa
are iojured and in many cases dead " ^ s

Srx TaevsAiH) of Wood's Prize Mower were 8<4A
lut«eaMa. See adTertaemeni. >

ti^Aite^Aji^tl^ik. ^ A-w

;,^V ... .

"linfcrfTiiwi'iiflyfif^aiiTiaiii

^"•-^■^"■^

154

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK

Mat

ay

Agents. — We do not appoint any agents — all are
voluntary. Any person so disposed, can actasagen
in any place. *

Enlarge YatiR Club. — Will not the friends of
the Illinois Farmer inquire how many copies of
the Farmer are taken in their respective offices, and
pass around among those who ought to have their
names added to ths list? Our terms are so low to
fllubs of ten and twenty that we ought to have one
or the other made up at every office in the State, and
at every office in Central Illinois, one of twenty or
more. Will our friends, and the friends of practical
agriculture see to it, and thus lay us under renewed
obligations ?

To Single Subscribers.- -You receive the only
copy of the Farmer that goes to your post office.
Can you not send one, two, three or more new sub-
acribers, without any trouble ? Try. Sample num-
bers, etc., seut free.

Drafts. — Those remitting us large amounts of
money, will please send us drafts on Springfield or
Chicago, less they exchange. If you send caih in a
letter, be sure that it is well sealed and well directed,
♦o Baker A Phillips, Springfield, Illinois.

The Farmer as a Present. — Any of our subscri-
bers who wish to make a present of the Illinois
Farmer for 1863, can have it at the lowest club rates,
when out of the State. For fifty cents you can treat
your Eastern friends to a Western Agricultural Pa-
per. In no way can you invest that amount to so
good advantage to emigration.

Send Now. — Any person who remits pay for a club
of ten or fifteen, or any other number at the ."pecified
rates for such clubs, can afterwards add to the clubs,
and take advantage of the reduction. Thus a person
sending us five subscribers and three dollars, can af-
terwards send us three dollars more and receive six
eopies.

To The Casual Reader. — This and other num-
oers of the Illinois Farmer will be sent to many
persons who now use it for the first time. Will they
not examine it, and if they like it, subscribe for it,
and ask their neighbors to subscribe ? Sample num-
erbs, prospectuses, etc., sent free to all applicants.
See terms elsewhere.

r

IIow TO Obtain Subscribers. — The best way is to
■end for sample numbers. Any young man by can-
vassing his neighborhood, can easily make up a club
of five, ten or twenty, but no time should be lost in
doing 80, for your neighbors may send east for their

paper which, though valuable there, is much less so
here, the difference of soil and climate puttitig them
out of their reckoning when attempting to teach ug
Western farming.

How TO Help. — The friends of the Illinois Far-
mer will find a prospectus in another column. We
desire to suggest a few ways in which they can use it
to advantage :

1. Show the Farmer to those who are unacquaint-
ed wi'h it, and tell them what you think of it.

2. Send for prospectuses, and put them into the
hands of those who will use them, and place postera
where farmers will see them.

3. Get post masters interested. They see every-
body, and are efficient workers.

4. Send us the names of persons in your town to
whom we can send prospectuses and sample num-
bers.

5. Begin now, before the agents of Eastern pa-
pers get up their clubs.

This last hint is especially in'portant.
hoar from you soon. See terms elsewhere.

Let us

^^^ Clubs may be composed of persons in all
parts of the United States. It will be the same to
the publishers if they send papers to one or a hund-
red post offices. Additions made at any time at club
rates. We mail by printed slips, which are so cheaply
placed on the papers, that it matters little whether
they go to one or a dozen offices.

^^-' Correspondents will please be particular to
give the name of the post office, county and State.

^^©^Specimen numbers will be sent gratis, upon
application.

_^^~ Address

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

Springfield, Illinois.

Special Notice. — For terms see prospectus on
last page. All exchanges and communications for
the eye of the editor should be directed to Illinois
Farmer, Champaign, Illinois. Electrotypes and
business matters, and subscriptions, to the publishers,
Springfield, Illinois. Implements and models for ex-
amination should be sent to the editor. The editor
will, so far as it can be done personally, test and ex-
amine all new maohines and improvements submitted
to his inspection. He will be found at home, on his
farm, nearly all of the time. So far as it is possible,
the conductors on the Illinois Central Railroad will
let off passengers at his place, which is directly on
the road, three and a half miles south of the Urbara
Station, now the city of Champaign.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

155

State Fair.

The Quarterly Journal of the Illinois Agricultu-
ral Society for April is at hand, and contains the
list of premiums for the next Fair, which is to be
held at Decatur, commencing September 12ih. —
The list is much more extended than that of last
year.

The grounds at Decatur are the best in the Uni-
ted States, when we take into consideration ease
of approach, abundance of good water, shade and
well drained sui face. If the people of Decatur wish
t9 retain the Fair at that point, they will make an
effort to accommodate visitors on more liberal
terms than last year.

A Good Load. — A farmer took a single load of
produce to Syracuse, and sold it for |1,588,50.
It was the wool produced by his 380 sheep. Far-
ming and wool-growi!<g will .tlways pay in this
country. It, can hardly be ovi'rdone. A young
man properly educHted to the business can be al-
most sure of a fortune; while in other pursuits, not
one in twenty evpr gets beyond a comfortable liv-
ing, and aliirge proportion fail even of that. Still
our boys and \oung m n nearly all rush into mer-
cantile, raecthanicil or professional life, to meet
the inevitable and sharp competition which tliey
are sure to find there. In agriculture the compe-
tition is light. A farmer is sure of a good price
for all he can produce.

THE PRAGTIGAL SHEPHERD,

A OCUPLETB TRBATISB OM THE BRBEDINO, MARAOEHBNT AKD
DISEASES OF 8HEBP.

BY HON. HENRY S. BANDA;:,L. LL. D.,

Author of "Sheep Husbandry in the South," "Fine-Wool
iih<.ep Husbandry," etc., etc.

PUBLISHED BY D. D. T. MOORE, BOOBESTEB,
SEW YORK.

From the New England Farmer.
The Practical Fhefhbrd — Tsa work that has long been
BMded by our people. It should be in the hand and head of
•▼ery person owning (heep.

From J. n. Klippart, Sec'y Ohio State Board of Ag^e.
I shall with great pleasure recommend the "Practical
Shepherd" as heing the great American work, if not really
th» beat work 1u the English language on the subject.
From Bon. I. Setoton, Commisitioiier of AiticiMwre.
I keg to thank yon for the rery intereitinc work, " The

Practical Shepherd " It was much needed, and fully sup-
plies the wants of the farmer.

'y,.--.'^-^- From the Maine Fatmeri'' '' -' ''"
The name of the author, Hon. H. S. Rahdall, is a guar-
antee of its compleeness and reliability.

From the Prairie Farmer.

The ilIu3trations of sheep are by the best artists of N«w
York, and well done. The letter press an 4 papt-r are all
th->t enuld be desired in a work of this desc ipt>nn It will
undoubtedly meet with the large sale its merits demand.
From Col. B. F. Johmon Sec'y Jf. Y. bUtU AgU Society.

It is the best practical Sheep Book, I think, ever publish-
ed, and does great credit to Dr. Ra>dall.

From, the Ohio Farmer.

The reputation of the author — who ranks as the authority
in thii country upon all that, pertains to the breeding and
m >nagement nf sheep — will induce a large and continued de-
mand for " The Practical Shepherd." —

From the MicHgan Farmer.

Mr. Randall has made the very best book extant on
American Sheep Husbandry.

From the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.
As a TChole, thi- book is uuqdlstionxbly in advance of
anything of the kind now before the public

From J. P. Reynolds, Sec'y JUiwyin State AgH Soc'y.

I have little d<ubt the work will meet ful y ihe wants of
those enga;.ed in Sheep Husbsindry. It has bien looked for
with much interest, and seems, from the not vtry careful
examination I havt* >;iven it, to t-e what the author designed
to make — an impartial and useful book.

From, the Scientijic American.

It is vastly important that those who r i.=e cheep shonld
obtain all the iniorniation possible how best to manage their
flocks, and we unhesitatingly recommt-nd the "Practical
Shepherd" as the most interesting and reliable woik on the
subject extant.

THE PRAGTIGAL SHEPHERD

Is sold only by agents anr the publisher. It c mprises 454
large dun-dicimo pages, and is printed, 11 uttrated ami bound
in a superior style Price f 1 SOI Those not supplied by
agents can receive ccpies by mail, post paid in forwarding
the price to D. U. 'I'. iTIOOKI*.,

Editor Rural New Yorker, Rorht-ster, N. T.
Pg^County Agents wanted for the above work."

FLAX .\ND HEMP CULTURE.

Just published, the Sixth Edition of "A Ma» ual of Flaj
Culture a.vd Mancfactpre, eml>racing full directions for
preparing the ground, sowing, harvesting Ac. Ac. Also,
an Essay by a MTt-stern nian, on Hemp and FUx in the Webt,
Mod'S of Culture, Preparation for Market, Ac. with Botan-
ical Descriptions and illustrations."

Th 8 work, first published last season, is in handsom<' style,
pamphlet form. Price only 25 centa — for which a copy will
be sent to any point reached by the U S. or C nada tna Is.

Address, D. D. T. MOORE, Rochester, New York,

■■.■: .;■...•..-;:.'/; f -

MOORE'S RURAL NEW YORKER.

The second quarter of Vol. XV. of this valu.ible and Im-
mensely popular Agricultural, Jlortieultural, Litertuy
and Fimily W<ekly commences Apiil 2 — a good time to
subscribe. The Rural is known and admir< d in ail sections
(outtiide of rebeldom) from Maine to iXiini esota and Canada
to California. It comprises over a dozen distinct depart-
ments, including Agriculture, Horticulture, Sh< ep HusLand-
ry Domestic Economy, Literature, News, Ac . Ac , and em-
ploys the be«t t^nt. Among is Fditors and Contribat^
are Hon. H. S. Randall, author of "The Practical Shepherd,"
Ac, who conducts the department devoted 'o Sheep Hus-
bandry, and P. Barry, Esq., author of "Tht Fruit Garden,"
and former editor of The Horticultwift, who ably treats
upon Horticultural affairs. Indeed, as the JIT E. Fa mer
said yearsago, the Rural is like a honey comli, having sweets
In every cell. Tas e and see. Terms, f.nly $2 a year— less
to clubs. Two specimen numbers sent, post paid, on rect^pi
often cents. Address

D. D T. MO ORE, Rochester, New York.

maylm

156

THE ILLIFOIS FAEMEK.

Mat

FURST & BRADLEY,

MANnFACTURKKS OF

AND OTHER

Agricultnral Implements,

Xos. 66 and 68 North Jefferson Street,

near Oori^r of Lake Street,
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Plows of all sizes and patterns, Cultivators, Horse
Hoes, Harrows, Cora Shellers, Straw Cutters, Gar-
den and Rail Road Wheelbarrows, Road Scrapers —
five different patterns — Sulky Corn and Grain Culti-

ators, Sulky Hay Rake, with steel wire teeth re-
Tolving.

Send for a priced Catalogue.

FURST k BRADLEY
Aprill-64-ly»

GET THE BEST

FIRST PREMIUM

OULTIYATOR.

The only one combining all the Mechanical Pprinei-
ples necessary to a

PRACTICAL AND SUCCESSFUL OPERATION

IN THE FIELD.

NANSEMOND SWEET POTATO PLANTS.—
strong and well rooted, from May to July.
Put np to carry 1000 miles in good order. Price,
300. $1.00; l.«00. $2 50; 5,000, $11,00; 10,00, $20.00.
My plants of this variety produce good crops at the
North.

Send for my circular of directons for cultivation,
Jke. Address M. M. MURREY,

Fruit Hills, near Loveland, Ohio.

WEED'S TREE AND PLANT PROTECTOR
WILL protect trees against mjnry from Au-
vniN, WtNTEB OR Srino Frostr, and secure anamm-
ai ernp «f Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines. Heart Cher-
riwi. Blackberries, Strawberries in any part of the
Central or Northern States ; and prevent all loss of
teeM or plants by Winter killing.

Patented Oct. 21st, 1862, and Dec. 8th. 186S,

JAMES WEED,
ADrill-S4-3mo* Muscatine, Iowa.

The lateral or self-adjusting motion of the plows and
is an an effectual

BAB AGAINST BREAKING,

When it comes in contact with nnsoen obstacles.

It is Made of the Best Material,

BT SPPBRIENCED WORKMEN.

THE SHOVELS OP FIRST QUALITY

OF

CAST STEEL.

Altogether, it far excels all others in point of

XJtility. I>rwal>ility £Lnd
wo:rk:3m:a]vshii*.

Price $50 cash on board the cars at Deoatnr.
•^ Rand for Descriptive Pamphlet

BARBER k HAWLEY,
ManufactnreTS,
March, 18*4— 3m. Dwatur* BL

186*.

THE ILLDfOIS l^ARMEE.

VICTOR OF THE WEST, champion m the world

■WOOX)'S

SELF RAKER,

WOOD'S PRIZE MOWER.

COMBINED AND SINGLE.
This Machine has won for itself the enviable title
of " Victor" having vanquished all the self raking
maohines made or sold in the West, at the

GREAT DIXON REAPER TRIAL,
held under the direction of the 111. State Agricultura
Society, which was the largest and most thorough
field trial ever held in this country — over forty ma-
chines entering for competition.

W.A.WOOD'S SELF RAKER
was awarded the_^r«t prize as a Reaper.

Again, at the DeKalb trial last season, where there
was a great struggle among all manufacturers for
three days in the fie'd, W. A. Wood's received

THE FIRST PRIZE

again as a Reaper.

This Machine is warranted to be the lightest draft
Reaper made. -

The most simple and durable.

Having the least side draft, and

Being the best Self Raker in the world.

Making a gavel any size at will of driver.

For farther particulars send for Cironlar.

CHARLES B. WHITMAK*

General Western A^n^

206 Lake St, Chicago.
ApriI-3mo

The superiorly of Wood's Mowing and Reaping
Machines is now fully established, both in this coun-
try and Europe."

The Prize Mower, of which there were made and
sold over Six thousand last season — a larger number
by far than was made by any other manufacturer in
the world, yet the demand is not supplied — is offered
this season with many valuable improvements. (See
Pamphlet.)

To Wood's Prize Mower has been awarded more
high premiums than any other Machine during tbe
same time.

POINTS OF superiority; V

It is the lightest draft mower in use.
It is the most simple machine made.
It is the most durable.
It has no side draft.
It has no weight on horses' necks.
It will cut all kinds of grass without clogging.
It is sold at a very low price.
It cuts very close to the ground.
Far fall particulars call on Local Agents, or tend
for pamphlets to

CHARLES E. WHITMAN, •

General Western Agent,

206 Lake St. Chieag^^

Large stock of Extras constantly on iiaad.
April-3mo

^s^i^tsi^ae^iiaie

^i^a^iii^iitaitiiMittiiUlMiaai

iiiiiiiiiiii

158

THE ILLIJNOIS FAKMEK.

May

FJRXJIT TI^EES.

Having largely increased my variety of

NURSERY S GREEN HOUSE

STOCK,

I am now prepared to fill orders for

FRUIT & ORNAMENTAL TREES,

A new and complete assortment of

G-rapes, Strawberries,

Raspberries, Ouriants,

And all other kinds of

SMALL FR UITS.

Also — A Full Assortment of

GREEN AND HOT HOUSE PLANTS,

FLOWEll AND VEGETABLE SEEDS,

Bouquets and Cut Flowers,

GOLD PISH,

and all kinds of

Ornamental "Woi'lt.

All orders addressed to

J. S. COOK,
Box 1029, Cin. 0.
will receive prompt attention.

Seed Store, 197 and 199 Walnut st.
February, 1864. 4m.

O r« L ^i"

TWENTY- FIVE CENTS A YEAR.

THE CULTUmST,

A handsomely illustrated monthly Journal, devoted
exclusively to

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

Specimen copie? furnished without charge. Ad-
dressEditor and Publisher,

A. W. SPANGLER, '
No. 25, North 6th st.,
Feb., 1864— 3m» Philadelphia.

AGRICULram'' WAREHOUSE

AND

SEED STORE.

Has one of the best selected stock of implements
andseeds to be found in the West.

A. H. HOVEY,
Novtf 1862 No. 194, Lake at., Chicago lU.

G ROVER A BAKER'S LEWING MACMINES
were awarded the highest premium at the fol-
lowing State Fairs of 1863, for the Best Family
Sewing Machine, the Best Manufacturing Machine,
and the Best Machine Work:

NEW YORK STATE FATR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Double Thread Machine,

First Premium for Machine Work.

VERMONT STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

IOWA STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

MICHIGAN STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

INDIANA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

KENTUCKY STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Beautiful Machine Work.

OHIO STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine Work.

The above comprises all the Fairs at which the
GROVER & BAKER MACHINES were exhibited
this year. At nearly all of them the leading Sewing
Machines were in competition.

The GROVER & BAKER S. M. Co. are the only
parties who manufacture and sell Machines whieh
both SEW PERFECTLY and EMBROIDER PER-
FECTLY.

GROVER A BAKER S. M. COMPANY,

janl8-64-ly

1 15 Lake Street, Chicago.

rpHE AMERICAN HOG TAMER—

Invented by Reuben Hurd, a farmer of twenty-
seven years experience in Illinois.

My Tamer will stop any hog on earth from rooting;,
from a pig to an old hog by one simple application.

By any one sending three dollars to Reuben Hard
at Morrison, Whiteside county. 111., he will receiv*
one free of freight; and I will warrant them to giv«
perfect satisfaction, or money refnoded.

To those sending : Please name the railroad sta-
tion you wish them shipped to, as I keep a constant
supply on hand, and will be able to fill all orders
with promptness and dispatch.

Directions fornsing will accompany all orders.

REUBEN HURD.

Not. 1, 1863— 6m.

1864

tSe ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

159

EVEEGKEEN SEEDLINGS.

A very large stock of superior grown Evergreen
Seedlings, at less than one-half the Eastern Prices.

PER 1,000.
NoHWAY Spruce, two years old,
three to Rve inches, $5,00

No u WAY Spruce, three years
old, six M) nine inches, $8,00

Scii'!'<;h; Pine, two years old,
three to !ive inches, $7,00

AusTiiiAN Pine, two years old, $2 per TOO.
Balsam Fir, Red Cedar, Arbarvit^, Ac, Ac,
of large or small size, at very low rates.

A large stock of CONCORD GRAPES, one of the
best varieties for the West.

A large stock of RED DUTCH CURRANTS, the
best for market, two to three years old, at half the
isual rates.

STANDARD AND DWARF PEARS, of well
tested varieties, together with a good assortment of
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Ac, A.

Send for Catalogue. ROBT. DOUGLAS.

Waukegan, III. tf

TO GEAPE GEOWEES!

The subscriber has a large stock of the most vigor-
ous growth layers of the following desirable varieties,
which he will sell at very low rates, to wit:

CONCORD $55 per 1,000.

A few thousand of bearing .age, of large size at

$76 I er 1,000.
These will produce a good crop the second year.

HARTFORD PROLIFIC, $10 per 1,00, or
ten fur a dollar.

REBECCA, $10 per 100.
DIANA, $10 per 100

The above will be well packed,
to go any distance.

Terms — Cash, or approved bank paper o
ghort date.

JAMES SMITH.
Desmoines Iowa, Jan. 1, 1863.

WANTED.
KNITTING MACHINES.

Every Farmer to know that his " Women Folks
can earn $6 to $20 per week with one of Akin's Cele-
brated Knitting Machines. It will earn its cost in
thirty days. Price complete $75. Weight 45 pound.
Freight from 50 cents to $1 50. Send for circular
and samples, (send stamps.)

BRANSON A ELLIOT,

General Agents,
Apr '63 ly 120 Lake street, Chicago, 111.

BliOOMINGTON NURSERT

r.LOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

Eighty Acres Fruit and Ornamental Trees
OAA NAMED SORTS TULIPS, ALSO HYACINTHS
*«' »U Crocus, and a general assortment of Bulbs
*vA Flower Roots for Fall and Spring planting.
Wursery stock. Evergreens, Greenhouse and garden
plants — all at wholesale and retail at lowest cash
rates.

0*For particulars see Catalogues or address snbscribei

f. K. PHffiNIX.

Bloominston, IIL, Ang. 1, 1360.

Dunlap's Nursery.

This nursery has good atock of apple trees of all
ages and of choice varieties for the west, low heads
and stacky. The genuine " May Cherry," (Kentish
or Early Richmond of Downing,) Dwarf and Stand-
ard Pears, the Purple Cam. Raspberry, the best of all
raspberries for the farm ; Lowton Blackberry, Hough-
ton Gooseberry, Grapes, Strawberries, Ornamental
Trees and Plants. An immense stock of Silver Leaf
Maple, from $5 to $15 per 100, 6 to 10 feet high. Th»
green house is well stocked with roses and other bud-
ding out plants. This stock is grown to retail and
not adopted to the tree peddler,as all trees and planti
are large, stacky and thrifty, and intendedfor the
planter only. Terms cash with low prices.

Address, M. L. DUNLAP,

Champsiign.

March 1, 1863.tf

■p OSS, THOMPSON A CO.

(Successors to G. S. Thompson.)
CAPITAL PENSION & BOUNTY AGENCY.

OFFICE ON WEST SIDE OF 5tH STREET,

Opposite State House, over L.Greeble's Clothing Stora
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

B0U5TT AND BACK PAY, PENSIONS, RECRUITIM*

CLAIMS, CLAIMS FOR HORSES LOST IN

SERVICE, ARREARAGES OP PAT

DUB RESIGNED OFFICERS,

Ac, Ac, Ac

Our experience ami acquaintance with the details
of business ia the various departments, and the per-
sonal attention of one member of the firm at Wash-
ington, afford us every facility for the prompt collec-
tion of all classes of military claims.

If you have any claims of any description against
the government, give us a statement of the facts, and
we will tell you what your rights are in the case. A
letter of inquiry toay save you much trouble, expenst
and perhaps loss. All communications enclosing a
stamp for return postage p romptly answered. In-
formation gratis. No fees charged until money i*
collected. Charges low. Pensions for $5, as regnla-
lated by act of Congress. Address

ROSS, THOMPSON A C9.,
Capita Pension and Bounty Agency, Springfield, III.

dec63-tf

STANDABB

SCALES

OF ALL KINDS.

Also, Warehouse Trucks, Letter Presses, Ac

FAIRBANKS, GREEN LEAF & CO.

172 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO.

Sold in Springfield by

E. B. PEASE.

Be careful and buy only th» genuine. i nel-ly

160

THE ILLmOIS FARlffiR.

May

A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF

AGRiCULTUrtE AND HORTICULTURE.

PUBLISHED AT

SPRiYGFIELD, - - ILLINOIS,

BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

AND IS EDITED BY

M. Ii. DUNLAP, Tribune's Bural.

TE' M-* IN ADVA CB.— .1 a yean two ropies 1 5C; fire
CJpies $3; ten copies $6, and one to gettT up of the club
twenty copies $10.

His not necessaey that the club should all be at one office
— we send wherever the members of the club may reside

The postage on the Farmer is only three cents a year in
the ^t!lte of lllinuin, and six centi> out of it.

itpecitneus numb' rs sent free on application.

i^ubsciiption money may be sent at the risk of the pub-
lisher.

Exchanges and communications for the eye of the ' ditor
ofauuld be addressed, I lin is Fabme-, Champaign Illinois.

All business letters are to be dircc ed to the publishers,
SpriUi,fi.-ld.

TERM- OK aDVK T1 ING:

1 mo. 3 mo. 6 mo 12 mo.

One page, or two columns 8 $20 $3.5 f.'iO

Halt a pace or one '• 5 12 20 3o

One fourth pagi' or half column.. 3 7 12 IS

One eighth or one fourth " .. 2 4 T 10

One fnuiire of ten lines 12 4 7

Card of five lines one year $5 CO

Ten cents a line for less than a sqiiare each insertion.

All worthy objects advertised, and those of importance to
the Harnier will receive, from time to time, such editorial
notices as the Editor may consider Ihem worthy of, without
add tional charge.

Implements and seeds to be tested should bo sent direct
to the Kditor, at his ri'sidciice .• hampaign.

We have put the price of advertising within reach of all.
It will enable th' Be who like to freely adertise tlieir goods,
to do so at a cheap rate.

Terms, cash. Yearly ad'^ertiaers will pay gemi-annnally.
•nd all transient advertisements must be accompanied with
the cash to insure inseition.

BAKEa k PII1LLIP5. Publishers.' -S
Spr'n, field. Ills.

THE ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL

XS rONFi'ENTLY O PKREIi TO THE TEOP E OF
Illinois as the best and most reliable news, political
ind commercial paper within their reach. It is published
'.t Springfield, the Capital of the ^ tate, and is the medium
f all official notices, published by State authority. Partic-
ular attention is given to commercial afiairs and every
:^umber contains copious reviews of the markets in the
.rincipal cities.

TERMS :

One copy one year. $2 00

Three copies one year 6 00

Six " " 7 60

len " " 12 00

Twenty" " - — • JJO 00

Payable always in advance. Persous sending clubs of ten
and upwards shall be entitled to an extra copy.
AddreM ' BAKER k PHILLIPS,

Sprin^firld, Illinois.

Sanford &; Mallory's Flax and Hemp
Machines.

These celebrated macbiDes are on exhibition and
in operation in a building adjoining the Chicago Sn-
gar Refinery. For circular telling all about them,
price, Ac, address NELSON STILLMAN,

General Agent, Chicago, 111,

P. 0. Box 5823. May)'63.1y

A GOOD INVESTMENT.

ONE THAT FATS.

THE

Has DOW been publi-shed in Chicago, 111., for twenty-
two yoars, wilhont intermission. It 16 devoted to the
Producer's interests, treating of

GENARAL AGRICULTURE,
STOCK RAISING,
HORTICULTURE and POMOLOGY,
And DOMESTIC ECONOMY generally.
The Publishers' aim will be to give such informa-
tion and assistance as will enable the farmer to grow
the largest crops with the least expense, and what is
equally important to assist him in securing the

LARGEST PRICES

the market affoids. hy giving such reliable informa-
tion that is obtainable concerning the markets at
home and abroad — the cost of forwarding produce to
market, and other attendant expenses — thus enabling
hi producer to take advantage of the conditions of
the market in dispensing of his produce.

FORM OF PAPER.
The paper consists of 16 pages large quarto, mak-
ing a convenient size for binding and reference. A
full index is giren at the end ol each six months.
CONTENTS.

About five pages are devoted to Geieral Agricul-
ture ; one to two pages to Horticulture; one page to
Literature ; two or more pages to General War Mis-
cellany and News j two pages to Markets and Rec-
ord of Season, and asking and answering questions,
and general editorial items.

A portion will also bo devoted to Advertisement*
of such character as is appropriate to an Agricultural
paper.

DR. GEO. H. DADD.

This celebrated Veterinary Surgeon will contHbuts
regularly to the Fakmer, giving especial attention to
the anrwering of questions and giving information
upon matters interesting to stock growers.

A NEW VOLUME
Commencing January Ist, 1863, and the present time
affords the best time to form clubs for the year.

One copy one year $2 00

Two copies one year 3 00

Larger clubs furnished at liberal rates, or pren-
iums given where clubs of six or more are sent at
$1 50 each.

Specimen copies and show bills sent to any one
who desires them for examination or the purpose of
raising a club.

For sab by news dealers generally.

For samples or other inform.ition concerning the
paper, addr ^s

EMERY Si CO., Chicago, HL

;%

rv

The Illinois Fakmee,

VOL. IX.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., JUNE, 1864.

NO. 6.

DEVOTED TO THE

FARM, THE ORCHAED AID THE GARDES,

PUBLISHED BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,
SPIILNGFIELD, ----- ILLLXOIS.
I^. Zi. J:>JJNJL,A.F, Editor.

All business letters should be addressed to the
publishers.

^^^"ExcHANGES and all matters pertaining to the

editorial department, must be directed to Illinois

Farmer, Champaign, 111., as the editor resides at

that point, and is seldom at the office of publication,

from which he is distant over eighty miles.

%* For terms see prospectus and special notices in
advertising department.

June.

June is a glorious month. Spring
has just turned over to her use the
small fruits, the strawberry, the cur-
rant, the gooseberry, the May Cherry
and the raspberries, — a list of goodies
that, would have' pleased, the old epi-
cures, but alas, they had to leave this
world without feasting on them ; but
we, a more fortunate race, may enjoy
them to any extent that heart may
wish.

Beautiful and pleasant and full of
luxuries as June may be, yet we must
mix labor with the enjoyment, for June
is the great weed killing month. If she
is crowned with roses, and her walks

flanked with the acid fruits, yet the
corn rows are filled with weeds that
must be smothered with the cultivator
or wed out with the hoe.

Labor ought to be pleasant amid such
an array of use and beauty as is now
presented ! Ah, well, the picture is at
fault, after all, for roses bloom only
when planted and cared for. The
strawberry does not grow on bushes or
weeds, but in the garden, with good at-
tention ; the currant and gooseberry
must be well tilled, and the May Cherry
must needs be out of the reach of the
farm stock. These things come only
by the sweat of the brow, and^are best
enjoyed by him who has planted and
cultivated them. They please him from
the first opening of the leaf buds, the
expanding of the flowers, the gradual
swelling of the fruit, and at last when
the good wife puts them upon the table
the measure of his hopes is full. He
who buys them in the market has but
one feast, while the grower has been
feasted along the growing way, with
their foliage, their flowers and the ma-
turing fruit.

June begins to reap of the labors of
spring, and is making great preparation
for the autumn. 1^'ever can we see a
more busy, hard working June than
the present. The last twenty thousand
for the army have left us their work to
finish up, will give us little time for
play. It will be work early and work

t^-—-''-^^**-' '--■■■

>^>^iikjLwW;it:

.i:=.dfc;v

;M^iL^ii;iai^,«L^«Mitt&

162

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

June

late, while tlie brains ranst be added ;
l^rains in farming liave become a staple
commodity quite indispensable. Lay
well your plans and steadily carry them
out ; get the best farm tools and keej)
them in the best of order ; look to yonr
liired hands and see that they keep
their tools in order and lay out their
labor to the best advantage. Watch
your bees and keep out the miller ; if
they have not plenty of liowers sow
buckwheat for them.

The trees planted last tall, or within
the past two months, may now have
the mounds taken from them, if they
have been banked up, and the roots
mulched with well rotted manure. If
the heads of the newly set trees have
been properly shortened in, no leaves
or shoots should be taken from them ;
they need all then^w leaves to develop
the roots.

If you do not live well this month
lay the fault to your own neglect.

The Fruit Prospect.

In consequence of the unfavorable
winter, people are anxious in regard to
the fruit crop, a crop that has become
a necessity and the loss of which is
almost, if not quite, as serious as that
of the potato crop.

li^ince our trip of last Jamiary to the
orchards in the south part of the State,
we have not been five miles from home,
and ranst write now mostly of our own
ground. At this date, May 14rth, we
have determined the amount of blos-
soms or their absence and are thus eu-
abled to foreshadow the prospect.

THE APPLE.

Never have we seen a better bloom

ron the orchard, and with short, well

"^ matured wood, the indications must be

taken as favorable to an abundant crop

of this fruit. Many varieties in the or-
chard are white with bloom. Nature
always has some compensation or coun-
terbalance to severe losses, and in this
case she appears striving to make some
amends for the loss of the peach crop.

PEARS.

This fruit comes out equally fine
with the apple, but as the tips of many
varieties were more or less frosted, we
shall look for a large falling off of the
embryo fruit, yet we do not despair of
a full crop. Thus far this fruit has
given us great satisfaction. Since the
plan of setting the dwarf pear below the
junction of the graft the trees stand
well and make a good, healthy growth.
Our list is reduced to something like a
dozen varieties, which may account for
our success to some extent ; instead of
running after the new sorts we have
been content with a fev/ well tried old
friends.

PEACH.

The winter has proved very disas-
trous to this fruit, not only killing the
crop but lai-ge numbers of the trees. It
is probable that most of the old trees
are either dead or will die durine' the
summer. The borer in many cases
has iniured the trees which will has-
ten their end. But we have a worse en-
en)v tljan that — the curl. We see in-
dications that this disease is attacking
the trees, and in case of the old trees,
weakened by the winter will doubtless
finish most of them. The picture that
we drew of this fruit in Januarv, is •
proving too true, and as there indica-
ted, the young trees will be all that is
left to tell the tale of the winter of '64.
We have great faith in the peach for
this part of the State, but it must be by
continued planting and the dependence
on young orchards. Two or three crops

W I

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEJR.

163

always weaken the trees, and when fol-
lowed bj a severe winter they succumb
at once ; in that case we must have
young trees to take their places, when
but a single crop of the fruit is lost.

Suppose B. planted a thousand trees
in the spring of '59, and that they be-
gan to bear in '60, giving four crops,
the last a full one. We will also sup-
pose the borer to have damaged them
to some extent, then came the hard
winter of '64 ; the trees began to leaf
out in a sickly manner and are then at-
tacked with the curl, and of course die.
The orchard is ruined and must be dug
up. In the spring of '65 B. plants
again, and has a crop in '67. By this
method he will have peaches, say three
out of six years. "We ask our readers
if this is not the usual practice.

Now we will suppose K. planted 200
trees in each of the years '5S, '59, '60,
'61 and '62, the last planting would be
two years old, and those of '61 three
years old, neither of which are seriously
injured, his prospects for a crop in '65
are good ; and as but few peaches can
thus be grown for want of trees, he will
get double the usual price. Now, is it
not evident that K. with the same out-
lay will make more money out of his
peach orchard than B. ? If we want
peaches we must plant trees annually,
and we will have fruit on an average
of live years in six. In the winter of
'56 the peach trees were then more or
less killed, but the two and three year
old orchards were uninjured, and those
bore seven consecutive crops, but are
now killed. We can point to two or-
chards in this county that are in this
condition. Hereafter we shall be par-
ticular to plant out a small orchard ev-
ery spring, and thus have a young or-
chard to rely upon. We have, to some

extent, but not as fully as we should
have done. The necessity of this course
is now patent to us, and we shall be
direlect to our duty if the spring is al-
lowed to pass without the planting.

PLUMS

Show about half a crop, but there is so
few trees that no very accurate estimate
can be had. We shall now risk a large
plum orchard to be set out next autumn,
in which the Lombard will figrure
largely. , ^^

APEICOTS AlTD ALMONDS .;

Are seriously damaged, and the re-
marks on the peach will apply to both
of them. -

, CHEERIES.

The May Cherry (Kentish of Down-
ing) shows about one-third of the usual
bloom, and will probably give half a
crop. The May Duke, Keine Hor-
tense, Bauman's May, and a dozen
other kinds of sweet cherries six years
planted, do not show a single blossom.
The English Morello always blooms
full, but thus far has not held its fruit
satisfactorily ; the same is the case with
May Duke. We have one tree of May
Duke, planted in the spring of '46, that
always bloomed full, but in all that
time has not matured a bushel of fruit,
though nearly a foot in diameter ; it is
now nearly dead, having been on the
sick list five or six years.

GEAPBS.

All grapes that were laid down and
covered promise an abundant crop, but
unfortunately, as Dr. Shroeder says, we
are a set of careless Americans. As
the Dr. has taken a vow not to again
follow in the footsteps of his adopted
brethren, we propose to join him and
not again leave our grapes out in the
cold. Of grapes, more hereafter, as we

164

THE ILLINOIS FAHMER.

June

cannot do tlie subject justice in this
short review.

BLA0KBEBKIE8.

So far as we can learn this crop is a
failure, or nearly so, our new Improved
Egyptian among the rest. Canes slightly
sheltered promise a crop, but it is yet
too soon to determine the full extent of
the damage.

EA8PBERKIE8.

The Purple Cane and the Black Cap
are in the most promising condition,
and we are now extending our planta-
tion from the young tips. We cannot
too strongly urge attention to this fruit.
"While the blackberry is uncertain, the
raspberry gives us annual crops of the
most delicious fruit. We are clearing
our grounds of the whole row of suck-
ering raspberries, as they are of no
value as compared with the two named.

GOOSEBERRIES A2JD CURRAmrS

Promise an unusual crop. The Ohio
Prolific is quite a favorite with us,
from the fact that it is more upright
than the Houghton.

STRAWBBRRY.

The Early Scarlet commenced bloom-
ing the first inst., and to-day the whole
family are out in full floral regalia. The
plants are strong, and the promise of a
full crop was never better.

On the whole we have little cause to
complain, but should be thankful to the
all-wise Giver for such a bountiful
prospect before us.

.pimltinri^

Hepozt of the Agricultural Collego of
Iowa.

The Secretary, Got. W. D. Wilson has sent his
report for 1868, being the fifth of the series. It is
a closely printed pamphlet of eighty -eight pages:

OBJECT or THB INSTITUTION.

The Iowa State Agricultural College baa for its

object, to associate a high state of intelligence toith
the practice of Agriculture, and the industrial or me-
chanic arts, and to seek to make use of this intelli-
gence in developing the agricultural and industrial
resources of the country, and protecting its inter-
ests. It proposes to do this by seyeral means :

1st. As a purely educational institution, its
course of instruction is to include the entire range
of the Natural Sciences ; but will embrace more
especially those that haye a practical bearing upon
the every day duties of life, in order to make the
student familiar with the things immediately
around him, and with the powers of nature he em-
ploys, and with the material through the instru-
mentalities of which, under the blessings of Provi-
dence, he lives and moves and has his being ; and
since Agriculture, more than any other of the in-
dustrial arts, is important to man, and since, for
the complete education of its principles more sci-
entific knowledge is required than for all other in-
dustrial arts combined, it follows that this should
receive by far the highest degree of attention. —
The course of instruction is to be thorough, so that
it will not only afibrd the student the facts of sci-
ence, but will discipline his mind to habits of
thought, and enable him fully to comprehend the
abstract principles involved in the practical ope-
rations of life. In doing this it is not deemed
possible to educate every agriculturist, artisan,
mechanic, and business man in the State, but to
send out a few students educated in the college
course, that they, by the influence of precept and
example, may infuse new life and intelligence into
the several communities they may enter. A singls
individual, who is thoroughly educated in the prin-
ciples and practice of an art, followed by a com-
munity, will often exert a more salutary influence
upon the practice of this art, by the community,
than would result from sending the whole commu-
nity to a school of lower order than that which he
attended. A single practical school of the highest
order in Paris, (the Ecole Polytechnique), during
the last generation, made France a nation celebra-
ted alike for profound philosophers, great states-
men, able generals ai;d military men, and civil en-
gineers. If one high school of this practical char-
acter is established, subordinate schools, affording
the elementary education of the latter, will follow
in due time.

2d. As s, practical education the Trustees of the
Iowa State Agricultural College have adopted the
fundamental principle, that whatever is necessary
for man to have done, it is honorable for man to
do, and that the grades of honor attached to all la-
bor, are dependent upon the talent and fidelity ex-
hibited in performing it. It is further considered
essential at apart of a studenfs education, that he be
taught the practical application, in the field and lab-
oratory, of the principles he studies in the data
room ; and manual labor is also necessary for the
pr«servation of health, and the maintenance of tke
habits of industry. An incidental, but not unim-
portant result of the operation of these principles
is a reduction of the cost of tuition by the value of
the labor, so that the college can take students at
a very low rate of admission.

All students, without regard to pecuniary cir-
cumstances, are therefore obliged to perform man-
ual labor as an essential part of the college educa-
tion and discipline and training. In these respects

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAEMEK.

165

consists a most essential diflference between the
idea associated with manual labor and that of all
other attempts made heretofore to combine manu-
al labor with study. Instead of the idea of poverty
and want being associated with those who labor,
that of laziness and worthlessness is associated
with those who refuse to work efficiently ; and the
experience of established institutions has already
most assuredly shown, that no young man, of whom
there is any hope for future usefulness in life, is
insensible to the disgrace which thus attaches to
the laay, who will work only as they are watched,
and cheat their fellow students by refusing to do
their share of the labor assigned them ; and noth-
ing is more conclusively settled than that those
students who are the most studious and industrious
in class, work the most efficiently and are the most
trustworthy in the performance of their daily
work.

3d. As an Experimental Itutitution, our college
has an unbounded field for labor. The principles
of Agricultural Science, which shall ultimately
constitute the subject of instruction in its class-
rooms, will be a prominent and important branch
of it. The development of no other department
will yield richer and more lasting results, or confer
more substantial benefit upon agricultural prac-
tice than this. Much time, however, id required to
make thorough and reliable experiments — they
will not pay at once ; as well might the farmer ex-
pect to reap his crop the day he sows his grain. —
They will, however, ultimately pay a thousand
fold, as have the practical application of the sci-
ences of electricity, heat and optics, in the present
day, paid for the half century of apparently un-
practical, purely scientific investigations that led
to the results now obtained through them.

GENEEAL WHEAT AND CORN CULTURE.

Notwithstaflding the fact that the culture of
wheat in our State is not a crop which generally
pajs the producers as well as either of the staple
crops, it is one, when considered in the aggregate,
of great importance to our people, yet its produc-
tion, beyond a mere supply sufficient for home de-
mand, except in a few favored districts where cheap
transportation can be obtained, should have more
consideration than is generally given to it. Those
who depend on wheat as the main crop, and those
who neglect its cultivation altogether, are perhaps
equally out of the way. The extraordinary crops
which are common some seasons, and others equal
ly extraordinary, at occasional places, to be found
every season, seem to make it plain that the diffi-
culty lies not in the soil nor the climate, but in the
generally defective and imperfect manner and me-
thod ot cultivation.

Requisites to a good yield of Com. — Of all other
crops grown by the farmers of Iowa, the produc-
tion of a fair crop of corn is generally best under-
stood. Still there is no other secret about it but
good seed and clean and careful cultivation. The
best crops of corn are raised in something like the
following manner :

1st. The ground is plowed deeply in the fall, if
the previous crop was other than corn.

2d. It is thoroughly harrowed, if the season is
dry.

3d. If plowed in the fall mark off shallow in the
spring, thereby preventing the weeds which may
be covered in the fall from springing up in the hill.

4th, Carefully selected seed is dropped and
covered.

5th. It is rolled after planting, to give the b«st
chances for germinating.

6th. It is harrowed just as the com is coming
up, that being the first assault upon the weeds.

Yth It is plowed out one way.

8th. It is plowed out the opposite way.

9th. It is plowed out a second time the first
way.

10th. It is plowed out a second time the second
way, and the com, even and completely, to the ex-
clusion of everything, takes full, and we may say
magnificent possessson of the ground.

A crop with such or similar cultivation, suited
to the soil and the season, is harvested in time to
be out of reach of any ordinary frosts, yielding
from 60 to ^5 bushels per acre The corn crop has
been the foundation, and will long continue to be
the foundation of three-fourths of all the agricul-
tural prosperity ot our State.

80R60 AND HCPHXX.

The first official report we have of the growth of
Sorgo and Imphee, and its manufacture into sirup
and sugar in the State is obtained from the State
census for 1853. Its introduction into the State
was through the U. S. Patent Office in the year
1856 and 1857, and proved at once a success, so
much so that in 1862 it occupied over 86,000
acres. It probably reached that amount in 1861.
From the State censuses and that of the United
States, we have as follows :

In 1858 were 5,606 acres, product, 416,774 galls.

"1859 " 26,846 " " 1,993,774 "

"1862 " 36,667 " " 8,012,396 "

The product of sugar was, 21,469 lbs.

The average product per acre of sorgo and im-
phee sirup is near seventy-eight and a haJf gallons.

It is unfortunate that the information was not
obtained of the number of acres worked up to pro-
duce the amount of sirup reported, as it is a noto-
rious fact that on an average at least one-third of
the cane grown was not made into sirup, owing to
want of faciliiies for grinding and evaporating. It
is also an admitted fact that the crude machinery
used did not extract more than two-thirds of the
juice. Deducting the one-third as not worked up,
would make an average of 117 gallons per acre, as
the most profitable yield of sirup. If appropriate
machinery had been used, one hundred and fifty
gallons per acre would have been produced.

The yield of 1863 was cut off at least three-
fourths by frost, and most of the syrup made was
of a quality inferior to that of the previous year,
the cane being injured by frost.

The aggregate yield in Iowa in 1869 was nearly
one4hird of the whole product of the United States,
and exceeding either of the States of Illinois, Indi-
ana, Ohio and Missouri, more than 1,000,000 gal-
lons. These four States produced not quite one-
half of the whole crop, and the highest, Indiana,
was 827,777 gallons ; the lowest, Ohio, 707,416
gallons. In all the subsequent years Iowa has
continued in the lead, so far as we can learn from
reliable sources. Notwithstanding the very gen-
eral failure last year, our farmers generally are not
discouraged, and we should not be surprised that
we would have a yield exceeding that of any prev-
ious year, if well ripened and pure seed can be ob-
tained. In quality the simp from sorgo made in

166

THE ILLIJSrOIS FAEMER.

Jimi!

Iowa ia generally of superior quality, and goes
largely towards supplying the wants of a large por-
tion of our farmers' families. The crop is as sure
as that of corn. The average cost of cultivation
and working into sirup does not exceed 20 cts. a
gallon, when properly prepared for making it.

There has nothing been developed within the
past year which can be relied upon in regard to
any great improvement in the manufacture of sir-
up or sugar from sorgo or imphee, beyond what
was known when the season for working commenc-
ed. Extensive and well prepared arrangements
were made to test the several modes, but the early
and severe frosts blasted every effort. If we have
a favorable season this year we will, doubtless,
have some reliable developments, although it is to
be feared that general success will not be so cer-
t:iin owing to the great scarcity of pure and well-
ripened seed.

A discovery of a process of making sugar from
any sorghum molasses of fair quality, has been
made by a gentleman in Nebraska Territory. His
process was recently exhibited before a company
of gentlemen in the Patent OflBco, Washington
City, where it is said he made sugar from sorghum
sirvip, on exhibition there, in a very few minutes.
The qnality in appearance and taste is equal to the
best Southern coffee sugar. The discoverer says
the cost is very trifling, for foreign material, being
only thirty cents for ten pounds of sugar. The
quantity made from a gallon is not less than five
pounds for table use. The process is so simple
that any farmer can make his own sugar. A patent
has been applied for, and will, doubtless, be gran-
ted. Another year will develop this wonderful
discovery, and if successful it will create an entire
revolution in sugar making of all kinds.

GRAPES AND WINK.

In 1849 Iowa is returned by U. S, census to
have produced 420 gallons of wine, and in 1859,
3,706 gallons. These embraced, it is very proba-
ble, everything made called wine, and much of it
from the wild grape. The State census of 1863
gives the number of gallons made from the culti-
vated grape only, in 1862, as 1^^,163 gallons, of
which there was made in Des Moines county, 4,457;
in Lee county, 2,882 ; and in Dubuque county, 1,-
'224 gallons ; being near two-thirds of the whole.
From the number and extent of vineyards which
( nly came into bearing the last year, the yield of
1863 must have been considerably more than in
IS 62.

Of grapes, the number of pounds reported as
grown in 1862, was 284,755, which was doubtless
doubled in 1863.

Grape culture in Iowa is an experiment no lon-
ger, there being many of the best varieties which
withstand our low temperature in winter very well,
e?pecially the Concord, for which it is claimed no
winter protection is necessary. There is scarcely
a section of our State where the wild grape fails
to produce abundantly every year, and especially
is this the case on the sandy bottoms of the Mis-
souri and Des Moines rivers, from which some very
nice wines have been made for domestic use and of
suiScient purity to be a valuable auxiliary to the
wines used as medicine.

The report abounds in valuable information per-
taining to the rural affairs of our sister State. It

can be had by addressing Gov. W. D. Willsou,
Secretary, Des Moines, Iowa. • *

Alton Horticultural Society.

Friday, May 6th, 1864.

The Society met pursuant to adjourument. at
the residence of D. E. Brown, on the Gratton road.

Present Dr. E. S. Hull, C. W. Dimmock, F. Cur-
tis, J. Curtis, D. Williams, S. B. Johnson, H. C.
Swcetser, Jas. E. Starr, A. Starr, F. Starr, N. J.
Colman, E. A. Riehi, C. Merriman, W. Tucker, Mr.
Holmes, Jas. Newman, H. G. McPike, besides the
families of many of the members.

The minutes having been read and approved,
Mr. Dimmock from the committee appointed to
collect the books belonging to the Society, reported
progress and was granted farther time.

A committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs.
Dimmock, Starr and Riehl, to report nominations
of st:inding committees for the year and reported
as follows :

On Fruits and Synonyms — Messrs. Flagg, T.
Starr, Huggins, F. Curtis and Riehl.

On Culinary Vegetables — Messrs. D. E. Brown,
W. T. Miller and D.' WilliMms.

On Trees, Flowers and Plants — J. E. Starr, S. B.
Johnson, Newman, Mrs. Curtis and Miss Robbins

Messrs. Sweeter, Tucker and Holmes were
elected members.

The Secretary presented copies of the circular
issued by the Horticultural committee of the Mis-
sissippi Valley Sanitary i air, asking contributions.
On motion of J. E. Starr it was resolved that the
individual members of this Society will do all that
lies within their power to contribute to the success
of the Fair.

Mr. Riehl read an essay on "Home Adornment"
a copy of which was requested to be put on file.

BIRDS.

In their relation to Horticulture being the reg-
ular subject for disscussiou. Dr. Hull said his
evei'greens had been lately attacked by the Sap
Sucker {Picus various.) He had caused specimens
of this and the Hairy Woodpecker {Picas villosiu)
to be shot and ascertained that, as reported in the
Transactions of the 111. State Hort. Soc. for 1861,
the S:ip Sucker is a bird with his short gouge
shaped tongue fitted for feeding upon the inner
bark and cambium of trees, whiLst the Hairy Wood-
pecker has a Jong slender barbed tongue for the
extraction of insects. The latter bird should b«
preserved the Sap Sucker destroyed ; but as there
is a good deal of resemblance between the two
care should be taken to distinguish them.

The Baltimore Oriole he found the greatest
rogue in the country for early grapes. He is a
sly fellow, slipping through the vines when he sees
you and eluding observation, Tlie Jay and Wood-
peckers are destructive to fruit especially cherries.

Mr. Brown called the attention of members to a
report on Birds by a comniitte^' of the French Sen-
ate, a transaction of which appears ia the If. ¥.
Weekly Tribunt of April 2d, whereby it appears

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

167

that the destruction of birds in France has been
succeeded by such an increase of injurious insects
as to very seriously injure the forest trees, field
crops and fruits of that empire and to call for the
interposition of government to restore the winged
destroyer of insects. The paper was filed for future
use.

GRAPE VINES AA'D GRAPES.

Dr. Hull introduced specimens of canes, and
illustrated his mode of pruning. There are two
kinds of buds. The former appear as a very gen-
eral rule only on last j-eurs wood, of which, when
we come to prune, there should be three canes.
Two of these should be cut down t:) two eyes e:ich.
The remaining cane which is to bear fruit, should
have say 12 buds left upon it, and each of these
buds should be permitted to mature about three
bunches of fruit, making about 12 pouuds to the
vine, formed by the renewal system, and trained
to a stake.

The Doctor objects to the training to horizontal
bars, because the upper buds then have much the
most vigor, a tendency which can by checked in
stake trail. ing by twisting the vine around a stake,
whereb}' the fruit buds from top to bottom can be
made of equnl vigor.

Does not pinch in the laterals of the canes for
next year's fruit ; and this .spring finds good buds
on such laterals where tlie niiiin cane has none.

Mr. McPike has found the Diana liarder than the
Cwtawba. With Mr. Dimniock it is dead. Dela-
ware and Clinton quite hardy with Dr. Hull. J.
E. Starr has the Rebecca and Herbemont most
injured. N. J. Colman finds Hartford Prolific,
Clinton, and Ta}dor's Bullit in best condition.

Dr. Hull thought he would have nearly a full
crop. F. Starr, having pruned last fall, no crop.
Mr. Newman a full crop on Clinton, and a half
crop on Delaware.

PROSPECTS FOR OTHER FRTJITS.

Of pears Mr. Colman expects a full crop on as do
also Newman, F. Starr and Hull, Curtis a half crop,
and Mr. Dinnnock very few.

Of apples Mr. Colman says the promise is extra-
ordinary ; Merriinan very promising; Curtis finds
Newton Pippin ready to bear in its ordinarily rest-
ing year ; Ikown an ordinary crop; Hull and J.
E. Starr full crops.

Of peaches there is no promise from any one of
the members. The destruction has been, as nearly
as may be thorough. — Orchards are reported in
bloom in Jackson county on the river, and there
are reports of living buds at St. Joseph, Michigan.

CONDITION OF PEACH TRfeES.

Dr. Hull apprehends no danger so long as the
bark does not separate from the wood. Mr. Dim-
mock has had two late Crawf»rd's killed, between
which an Early Crawford is left unhurt. McPike
has an Early Crawford on a southern slope badly
killed. Mr. Colman believes trees have passed
through the winter of 1855 6, will be finished by
the last. A gentleman of his acquaintance in 1856
pruned one orchard in February, and the other in
May, and the latter succeeded much the best.
Hence would prune the winter-injured peach in
full leaf. Dr Hull finds the Large Early York and
George the lY among the hardiest trees. Colman

called attention to the fact that there were plenty
of seedling peaches in 1856. J. E. Starr has lost
seedling trees as much or more than any this year.
Early Tillotson the most injured of any budded
variety. Colman thinks that large blossoms on
tlie peach are less liable to injury than others.
Riehl has noticed, however, that the Heath, a hardy
peach, has small blossoms; but this may be owing
to its earliness. Hull believed the preservation
due to carbonic acid gas in the flower. Had seen
peaches in bloom endure a cold of 8 ^ above zero.

CLOVER IS ORCHARDS.

Was briefly discussed. Colman believes in sow-
ing clover five or six years after the trees are
plimted and fairly established, and that is Dr. War-
der's view ; but John J. Thomas is strongly against
it. Merriman has found clover a great protection

from bruising to the

falling fruit.

FRUIT, &C., ON EXHIBITION.

The fruit committee reported on exhibition a
speciman of Catawba wine, from F. Dames, of
Weilsburg, St. Charles county, Mo; considered
very fine ; a bright red, medium sized, sweetish
apple, of good qualitj', presented by S. B. Johnson,
for iiame;n)t recognized. Pryor's Red and Gil-
pin, presented by W. 0. Flagg ; the former past
its season, but still palatable. , ,

TO FRIGHTEN BIP.DS FROM CHERRIES. )(

Mr. McPike s.iys suspend a horizontal cross of
wood in the centre of the tree by white twine lead-
ing from the top of the tree exteriorily to the ends
of the cross. No bird will risk his person inside.

The Standing Committees were increased by
appointing one on Entomology, consisting of F.
Starr, Huggins, Riehl, F. Curtis and Flagg, and
one on Ornithology, consisting of Colman, Johnson,
Bowman, Schweppe and Dimmock.

The Secretary was instructed to procure a micro-
scope for the use of the Society.

Mr. Newman having called attention to the fact
that the meetings were becoming too large for all
to profitably engage in the discussions, the com-
mittee on Tree Plants and Flowers were instructed
to inquire into the expediency of holding a floral
exhibition at the next meeting and to solicit the
aid of the ladies of the Society in carrying out anv
plan that may be decided upon. The committee
having consulted together reported that such exhi-
bition would be held. The President exhorted all
members to bring in specimens of flowers and early
fruits :

Mr. Newman was appointed the Essayist for
June.

Adjourned, to meet at Jas. E. Starr's, on Friday
June 3rd, at 10 o'clock a. m. An effort will be
made to charter a small steamboat, which will
make the trip from Alton to Mr. Starr's and back,
touching perhaps at one point near Dr. Hull's.

The elegant collation provided by the hospitality
of Mrs. Brown, was then discussed in committee of
the whole with singular unanimity and satisfaction.
All appeared to be animated by a common impulse ;
and the previous feast of reason did not seem to
at all blunt the carnal appetite of any.

A portion of the afternoon was spent in the in-
spection of the garden orchard and fields of Mr.
Brown. His farm consists of seventy-eight acres,

-E ■■■ ]

168

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

June

very hansomely located on either side of Grafton
road; and this provided with comfortable and
appropriate buildings. Of fruit be has 11,00 apple
trees ; about 2,000 peach and 100 pear, with some
grapes; and be;ween two and three acres of straw-
berries.. Last year he sold from about quarter of
an acre, $200 worth of Wilson's Albany. Use no
manure for them unless it be ashes, and plant gen-
erally in the fresh sod. He does not worm his
peach trees, but finds that a concavity about the
trunk — which will be filled up by the summer
showers — will keep out the berer.

Mr. Brow has still on hand 4,000 pounds of
tobacco — the product of 1663 — and the present
year is starting the tomatoes in great quantity ; and
is reckoned one of the most successful growers of
vegetables in the region.

Our readers who ape interested in fruit culture,
will always find something of practical utility in
the report of the above society.

These fruit growers are none of the silk glove
kind but pra«tical men who follow this calling as
a regular business and of course the dollars are

not lost sight of. The immense amount of the small
fruits, as well as large, that go out from the or-
chards and gardens about Alton furnish proof of
their success.

From such men we can well afford to take les-
sons.

The article on Birds alluded to is too long for
our space or we should give it an insertion. — En.

How c^n Farming be made more Attract-
ive ?

The following are some of the scraps and shreds,
drawn at various times from the discussions of the
"Wapping (Mass.) Farmers' Club :

1. By less hard work. Farmers often undertake
more than they can do well, and consequently
work too early and too late.

2. By more system. The farmers should have a
time to begin and stop labor. They should put
more mind and machinery into their w^ork. They
should theorize as well as practice, and let both go
together. Farming is healthy, moral and respecta-
ble ; in the long run it may be made profitable. —
The farmers should keep good stock and out of
debt. The farm is the best place to begin and end
life, and hence so many in the cities and profes-
^ional life covet a rural home.

p. By taking care of health. Farmers have a
healthy variety of exercise, but too often neglect
cleanliness, omit bathing eat irregularly and hur-
riedly, sleep in ill ventilated apartments, and ex-
pose themselves to cold. Nine-tenths of the hu-
man diseases arise from colda or intemperance. —
Frequent bathing is profitable, so is fresh air, de-
liberation at the dinner table and rest after a meal.

4. By adorning the home. Nothing is lost by a
pleasant home. Books, papers, pictures, music

and reading should all be brought to bear upon the
indoor family entertainment ; and neatness, order,
comfort, shrubbery, flowers and fruit should har-
monize all without. Home should be a sanctuary
so happy and holy that children ■will love it, wo-
men deliglit in it, manhood crave it and old age
enjoy it. There woulu be less desertions of old
homesteads if pains were taken to make them
agreeable. Ease, order, health and beauty are
compatible with farm life and were ordained to go
with it.

■<•»-

Improvements in Flour Grinding.

One of the great obstacles in the way of grind-
ing flour rapidly in an ordinary mill, arises from
the liability to heat. An English inventor, Mr.
Bovill, some time ago contrived an air blast which
overcame this dilficulty, by keeping a cool current
in constant circulation upon and beween the mill-
stones ; and in a late lawsuit against the proprie-
tors of one of the largest steam mills in London
or, indeed in the world, for infringement of his pat'
ent, some facts came out as to the value of the in-"
vention that are worthy of note. It was shown in
evidence, for example, that in grinding flour, the
saving of time was 70 per cent., of coal 51 per
cent., !ind an increase of flour of 2} per cent ; the
profit on manufacture was £8 17s. 3d., on produce
£2 0s.2d., on 400 bushels of wheat. In 1851 an
experiment was made at the government Victual-
ing Yard, Deptford, on 67,200 bushels of wheat,
which were ground into biscuit meal. On this
amount, the s"ving in manufacture would have
been £975 93 , and an increase in the value of pro.
duce to the amount of £106 los. This saving ari-
ses from the following reai'ons : 1st, speed in grind-
ing, by which di-ubio and treble the quantity of
wheat may be passed through the stones without
danger of heating or "dougliing them up" as it is
termed; 2d, an increased quantity and improved
quality of meal ; 3d, immediate facility for dressing
the meal without the necessity of being kept a
length of time to cool and recover from the fer-
mentation occasioned by its heating ; 4th, the pre-
servation of the mill.-'tone.-^, which will grind four
times the quantity of wheat before it will be neces-
sary to dress them, because being kept constantly
cool, they never get clogged by particles of flour
in a damp state, and thus are always clear, and
have a sharp edge ; 5th, freedom from dust, which
constantly flies about the mill on the old system,
this being by Mr. Bovill's blast and exhaust drawn
fiom the stones and conveyed to the appropriate
chamber, where it becomes available, instead of
being lost or mixed with the sweepings.. For the
rigiit of using this invention, the English govern-
ment have paid Mr. Bovill 1^ cents a bushel on the
wheat ground in all her Majesty's dock yards, un-
til lately when the rate was reduced to one cent
per bushel in consideration of a very large increase
in the amount ground.

^^We suppose we may notice among agricul-
tural items more properly than any where else the
marriage of Mr. James Hogg and Miss Ella
Beane, in Rushville, recently. Pork and beans,
says the Vevay Reveille, is a natural union, but it
thinks the allowance of a single bean to a hog a
small one.

T>--i-.

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

169

Cirsium arvense— Canada Thistle.

This is sometimes called the " cursed thistle " —
and very properly, too. It is certainly a curse and
accursed ! But we do not suppose it is so called
because " cursed " is synonymous with Canada!
We would not be so understood. But there is no
sort of doubt but Canada is cursed with it, as well
as some of the United States.

We trust they may long remain without seeing
it in their neighborhoods But the seed has wings.
It is migratory. It travels in the air, in crockery
crates, on railway trains, in emigrant wagons, in
dry goods boxes, in tree packages, with grass seed,
grain, and it is not altogether impossible that the
g»vernment may distribute it through its Agricul-
tural Department — as it did the ox-eye daisy a few
years since — as a rare flowering plant ! There are
a thousand ways in which it may get a foot-hold
on virgin soil. And if it once puts its foot in it,
long continued and active effort, alone, will eradi-
cate it. For if defoliated it does not die. Its root-
stock is perennial and extends through the earth
in all directions, sending up branches to the surface
which quickly develop into plants. The only way
we know of getting rid of it is to summer fallow the
land in which it makes its appearance, plowing it
when dry, (and harrowing it at once,) repeatedly,
taking care that no green things remains on it. If
it appears in grass lands, it is well to cut it in
August, when it is in bloom and the stalks are
hollow, before it seeds. The cutting must be fre-
quent so as to destroy all the seed panicles. But
this will not prevent the extention of the roots, nor
them from pushing their branches to the surface.
There is little doubt that if defoliation is continued
one season, and is complete, the roots will die ; but
this will require an amount of vigilance rarely
developed against any weed.

In some States there are laws compelling the
extermination of this weed, or levying a heavy fine
for neglect. Such a law should be enforced. In
the Western States, especially, where this thistle
is comparatively unknown, each individual fanner
is interested in its enforcement.

This is not indigenous to the prairies. But it is
getting firm foot-hold in some localities, and is only
treated with toleration because farmers do not
know its villainous character.

Canada is waking up to the evil effects of this
■weed which is too much honored by its name. A
bill has been introduced into the Provincial Parlia-
ment " to prevent the spreading of Canada thistles
in Upper Canada." The first section of this bill
makes it the duty of every owner, possessor, or
occupant of land, to cut, or cause to be cut down,
all Canada thistles growing thereon so often each
year ae to prevent them going to seed. If he fail
to do this so as to prevent the spread of the seed,
a fine of $10 for each offense is imposed. Section
second makes it the duty of the Overseers of High-
ways to cut, or cause to be cut down, all of these
pests that may be found in the highway in 'their
respective districts, and to notify land-holders or
owners in his district on whose lands these thistles
may be found growing. If the iand holders neg-
lects to cut them down within five days after the
service of the notice, it is made the duty of the
Overseers to do it. And he need give no notice to
the owners of non-resident lands.

Sections three, four and seven provide for the

compensation of the Overseers, for this work, and
punishment of delinquents.

Section five provides that any person who shall
knowingly vend any grass or other seed among
which there is any seed of the Canada thistle, shall
be liable to a fine of ton dollars for every such
offense. Section six imposes a fine of $20 upon
the Overseer who neglects or refuses to discharge
the duties imposed upon him by this act.

The Canada Farmer, discussing the merits of
this bill says: — "The most serious consequences
threten some of the most valuable sections of the
country unless something effectual is done in the
direction of the proposed enactment. * * * *
From the nature of the plant in question, effective
measures must of necessity, be simultaneous. The
seeds of the Canada thistle are so light and downy
that the winds readily convey them great distances.
Nine-tenths of the farmers of a given locality may
be vigilant and active in their eradication, but if
their neighbor is negligent they labor in vain. * *
* Our lines of railway are in danger of becoming,
to a large extent, seed-beds for this weed. In
various localities each side the track is one dense
mass of Canada thistles. The value of farm prop-
erty is begining to be affected in some localities by
the existence of this pest and we know of neglected
domains that are quite unsaleable because so over-
run with this weed."

All that our Canada contemporary says of this
weed is true ; and v/hat he says of the measures
which should be adopted in Canada to prevent its
extension, applies with equal force in the States.
Indeed the States east and west have no small
interest in the passage of this Canada bill ; for
travel and traffic through Canada, each way, con-
tribute to scatter the seed grown along its thorough-
fares, on our own soils. We do not propose to let
our readers forget this thistle during the coming
season. — Rural N. Yorker.

We say nip the evil in the bud. After a sojourn
in the west of twenty-eight years, we still retain
vivid impressions in regard to this " cussed thistle,"
and say to it avaunt, we cant nor won't have you
on our farm, hence we copy the above, which is
pretty exhaustive on the subject. Our friend Brag-
den knows whereof he speaks on this subject haviag
been brought up just over the border. — Ed.

[From Country Gentleman and Cultivator.]
The Cureulio and the Pea Bug.

On what does the cureulio feed ? I have seen
him perforating the plum leaf on the under side,
leaving a hole of the size of a small pin, entirely
through the leaf. Perhaps the sprinkling of lime
on plum tree leaves renders them distasteful to the
Turk.

I have noticed various acts of the Cureulio —
making his m«rA, puttilig in |the egg — rising from
the sheet, on which he had tumbled, to the height
of 5 or 6 ft, and flying off in a bee-line one hundred
feet or more. The idea that he cannot rise to the
branches of a tree from the ground, appears to me
a great mistake.

Shaking and Jarring. — What sort of feet have
these insects ? One day I had a cureulio in a com-

170

THE ILLmOIS FAEMER.

June

mon iii?ect glass for observation. At length he
fixed himself on the perpendicular side of the
instrument, and no shaking or jarring would bring
him down. This may illustrate the necessity of a
sudden jar, taking the creature off his guard; while
a shake only gives him notice to cling. Will Dr.
Fitch tell us whether the curculio has claw feet,
like the bee, or pump feet, like the fly ? If the
latter, we can easily see the need of a sudden and
violent blow to land him.

The greater difficulty of perforating clayey soils,
is the reason given by the late Mr. Downing for
the less abundant haunts of the curculio in tenacious
soils, compared with soils sandy and loose. This
may be true as far as it goes. Another reason has
appeared to me probable. The animal is easily
drowned ; and soils retentive of water tend inevi-
tably to his destruction. This may explain the
statement made in respect to trees on one of the
islands in a western river, the land being occasion-
ally inundated ; good fruit and no spoilers of it
before maturity being the result.

Pea Bik;. — Unlike the curculio, the pea bug w-i!I
recover from almost any ext.-nt of drowning. I
have found pretty strong and rnther warm soap
suds on washing days, the most cflcetual in cpielling
the pea depredator. E. S. E. Piuxirs.

Checktowiiga, N. Y.

P. S. — If every one will give his observations
upon this enemy of the fruit culturist — may we
not hoj.e for new modes of combat in the war
against him ?

Dish-washing Machine.

We knew somebody would invent a dish-washer.
Assured our lady friends oi it long ago— in fact'
told them we wouid invent the thing ourself if it
were not produced by somebody else within a rea-
sonable length of time. The idea of a housekeep-
er being required, in this tnbghtened nge, to do
penance after every meal over a pan of steaming
hot soup and water, is absurd. Clean, bright,
glistening crockery is very attractive, it adorns
even the humblest board, but what right-minded
husband or father can enjoy the sight without the
painful recurrence to the fact t])at his wift; or
daughter has achieved that immacuhite purity of
delf through great dishwater tribulations.

A. M. & J. J. D. Bristol, Detroit, Mich., has in-
Tented and patented a dish-washer, which also
cleans lamp chimneys, sharpens and scours knives,
etc. For the benefit of our lady friend.s we copy
the following from the Messrs. Bristol's circular,
which will hiform them of what is promised by the
invention :

The Dish-washer accomplishes the washing of
dishes in a safe, pleasant and agreeable manner,
saving a great deal of disagreeable and "detested"
labor. The degree of heat necessary to be given
to the water to dissolve grease upon a plate, the
hands cannot bear, and a dish cannot be cleansed
without using *ery hot water. When water not
Lot enough is used, as is usually the case, the
grease is not dissolved, being spread over the
dish with the "dish-cloth." Such dishes, after
washing, especially pUtes, can be finger-marked,
la u<ing a dish-washer there are no curning of hands
h. hot water, no changing of dresses and no "greas-
.'•■ dish-cloths." The dishes come from the ma-
i'.ine perfectly clean, because perfectly hot water

can be used, and they are washed much better than
can be possibly done by hand. They are then
wiped upon a large, clean cloth, and are really
clean. Knives can be sharpened very easily on
the machine and scoured with very little labor. —
The lamp chimneys need not be smoky and dirty
— in fact the Dish-washer is a peace maker and
should be in every family that can afford to have
it. It is a peaceful, quiet domestic, doing its work
without grumbling, never bi caking any dishes, and
never "falling out with the ladv ot the house." It
is ahnost incredible that the Dish-washer, a little
machine two feet square, should really do, in so
short a time a.'id in so perf<;ct a nninner, all that it
is designed to perform ; yet such is the simple
fact. — Sorg9 Jowr.

Sorgo Names.

It matters little what we call a thing if the name
be convenient and generally understood. If diffi-
cult to speak, no matter how correct and author-
atative a name be, it will not acquire general use
— it is vocally inconvenient and the vocal organs
win find a substitute for it. Tlie man who after
using up the names of all the evangelists christened
his fifth son Acts of the Apostles, we may be sure
found A convenient nick-name for the unfortunate
youth before loi'g. The term, "sorgo-grower"
can not be uttered without an exhausting vocal
effort. All, however, recognise the necessity and
propriety of using names which convey a correct
idea of the object. The modifications of terms
which find their way into general use, always
appear by a gradual transit or change, impercep-
tible even to those who assist in producing them.

W^ith reference to our noithem canes, ccdlect-
ively, we have as yet no convenient and appropri-
ate term by which to designate them. iSorghum is
neither correct nor convenient. It is a generic
name which includes a great variety of grasses,
many of them, such as the millets, broom-corn,
doura and others, quite unlike our cane. It in-
cludes, prob. bly, both the Chinese and African
varieties, though Mr. AVray, to maintain the superi-
ority of the Imphecs over the Chinese, claims that
the latter is botanically holcus sacckaratus. But in
the absence of any other generally understood col-
lective term we have applied the word Sorghum
to all the varieties of caue cultivated in the North
for sugar. For specific terms we use the word
Sorgo when speaking of the Chinese and Imphee
when referring to the African cane. The so-called
Otaheitan we regard as an Imphee, but the pre-
tumed new variety, called by Mr. Smith, of Quincy,
"Red Imphee," we have for greater distinction
called " Liberian cane." It may properly belong
to the Imphee family, but the term " Red Imphee"
does not distinguish it sufficiently from other varie-
ties of the same, and we therefore think best to
apply the title to which its immediate origin gives
it a claim, at least until it sh.all be located or shown
to belong to the Kaffir or Imphee group.

While upon this subject, we willl just say that
our use of the word Sorgho minus the h- -Sorgo,
has subjected us to not a little railery from a few
friends who accuse us of succuming to Webster
and Worcester. It is not very clear that a "bad
spell " should be persisted in simply to display a
defiance of such respectable lexicographers as the
above named gentleman, and we do not feel humil-

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

171

iated by adopting; what ■sre consider a briefer
orthography simply because they had indicated
the same in advance. But it was not solely a ser-
vility to authority which caused us to make the
change, it was mainly to save the time and labor
of writing the letter h unnecessarily, perhaps a
thousand times in a year, a purely monetary con-
sideration, amounting as near as we can estimate,
to about fifty cents, and as nobody is the poorer
for the change, and as the word looks and sounds
just as well and means the same thing and contend
that we have a right to save the foresaid fifty cents.
If oiher people are so self-sacrificing as to write
unnecessiiry h's for nothing, they are at liberty to
do so. — Sorgo Journal.

-••»

Mutton and Wool Growing.

The consumption of mutton in North America
has rapidly increased. The supply now as rarely
exceeds the demand as with any other meat, and
the best qualities outsell beef in the principal mar-
kets. No country is better adapted by natural,
and on the whole by artificial condition to the pro-
duction of wool, than the United States. Austral-
ia and South America contain the only very ex-
tensive regions of the earth now capable of com-
peting with equal arenas of North America in the
production of this great staple. The price of land
in Australia is much higher thau in the United
States ; its distance from the wool market of Eu-
rope equals nearly half the circumference of the
globe ; j-et its exports of wool rose, between 1810
and 1862, from 15Y lbs. to 68,000,000 lbs. South
America is also becoming an extensive producer
of this staple ; there were imported into Great
Britain alone, in 1861, 6.000,000 lbs. Yet South
America has no natural condition of superiority
over Nr^rth America for sheep farmino;, while there
are political and moral ones which undeniably are
hostile to the security and permanence of so ex
posed a branch of industry. Apart from the ques-
tion of the cheap production of wool, the experi-
ence of the most advduced agricultural nations,
like England, Germany and France, goes to show
that sheep are a necessity of a good general system
of husbandry, on even the highest-priced lands and
amidst the densest population. They afford as
much food to man, in proportion to their own con-
sumption, as any other domestic animals. They
are believed to return more fertilizing matter to
the soil. In addition, they alone furnish w»ol. —
England is estimated to hare 500 sheep to one
square mile, while the United States proper (ex-
clusive of territories,) has only 48. — Mark Lane
Express.

From the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.

American Raisins.

We are making our own molasses quite satisfac-
torily. We are beginning to make our own sugar,
■wine, &c., which we have heretofore imported, and
what shall hinder us from making our own raisins?
and yet I am not aware that this is done to any ex-
tent. I see in a report of Col. Harasthzy before
the American Institute Farmers' Club, that he says
they have a grape from which they have made in
California, raisins equal to the best imported, but
lie does not say what that grape is. Grape-grow-

ing and wine-making are largely on the increase in
America, to the great satisfaction of many, and to
the equally great dissatisfaction of many others,
who fear a great increase of drunkenness in a land
almost deluged already with intoxicating liquors. -
There is no manner of doubt but grape-gmwing v^^:
will become one of our most important industritj >
pursuits, and if so why should we pay 30 to 50 cts.
for imported raisins ? Why shall not those who
wish to cultivate the grape for use while /resA, and
who do not wish to make wine, use their surplus
grapes for raisins, and thus have the fruit in some
shape the whole year ? Where is the person who
does not like raisins, and where is the cook who -
could not use many more than she now gets to use?
Of course no such grapes as the Isabella and Ca- .
tawba could be made to serve this purpose, but if
we can raise coarse, tough, semi-sour grapes suc-
cessfully, why cannot we raise sweet ones ?

We predict a great improvement in the variety
of grapes for American cultivation, and that very
few now cultivated will be regarded of much ac-
count 50 years hence.

We cannot but believe that grape-growing for
the purpose of raisins may become a good branch
of industry so soon as we have the right grape, es-
pecially adapted to the American climate.

Who will tell us anythijg of drying raisins, and
if there is a grape, which is hardy in America,
which is reasonably suited to raisins ? We feel not
only pcne?*a% interested in this matter, but joerso»i-
ally, on account of our conviction that Kansas is to
become a great grape-growing country.

W. Beckwith.

Olatha, Kansas, Apr. Y, 1864.

[From the Counti'y Gentleman and Cultivator.]
Liquid Glue.

Perhaps there has enough already appeared in
the Co. Gent, on the " Glue " question. I would,
however, like to set myself right with your corres-
pondent, S. E. Todd. On perusing what he wrote
of dissolving glue in alcohol (see Annual Register,
page 121, for this year,) I did not think he knew
what he " was writing about," but, as my own
attempt at the same thing had proved an entire
failure, I only supposed he bad fallen into an error.
There is no question but what the quality of both
glue and alcohol varies. I obtained mine at the
hands of a respectable druggist, but was assured at
the same time that glue was not soluble in alcohol,
and perhaps nine out of ten of the same class (if
the question was put to them) would make a sim-
ilar reply. From what S. E. Todd says, I conclude
that good glue will desolve in good alcohol under
favorable circumstances, but that, as there is so
little of the latter in the market that posses the
requisite strength, it would be safer to recommend
some other solvent for general use. Joiners cabinet-
makers, &c., use, I think, only water, and have oc-
casion for it frequently ; others, again, require it oc-
casionally, and for such as these, good cider vinegar
answers very well, as far as my experience goes, and
dissolves it readily, and if kept in a warm place, it
will be always ready for use. "Muriatic acid " may,
perhaps, be better, but it is not always at hand.
Another correspondent, T. P., page 111, Co. Gent.,
gives a recipe, in which nitric acid is added to glue
already dissolved in warm water— this, he says, can
be used cold, and enumerates its good qualities.

172

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

June

The pale colored, hard and solid article, possess-
ing & brilliant fracture, is the beet and most cohe-
■ive (it is stated in "Ures' Dictionary of Arts, Man-
ufactures and Mines,") and is most suitable for
joiners, cabinet makers, painters, &c., and that for
use, glue should be broken into small pieces, put
along with some water into a vessel, allowed to
soak for acme hours, and subjected to the heat
of a boiling water bath, but not boiled itself. That
common glue (not isinglass or fish glue) is not sol-
uble in alcohol, but is precipitated iu a white,
coherent, elastic mass, when its watery solution is
treated with that fluid. That concentrated sul-
pheric acid makes glue undergo remarkable
changes, during which are produced sugar of gela-
tine, leucine, an animal matter, &c. That nitric
acid, with the aid of heat, converts glue into malic
acid, oxalic acid, a fat analogous to suet, and into
tanning ; so that, in this way, one piece of skin
may be made to tan another — and that, when the
mixture of glue and nitric acid is much evaporated,
a detonation at last takes place. Strong acetic
acid (it is further said) renders glue first soft and
then transparent, and then dissolves it, and that,
though the solution does not gelatinise, it preserves
" the property of gluing surfaces together when it
dries.

From the authority above quoted or refrred to,
it would seem after all that glue is not soluble in
alcohol, but as strong acetic acid will do it, and as
this exists in good cider vinegar (which is the best
of all vinegars for the table, pickling, &c.,) it
should always be at hand, and is easily applied.
Those who intend using tiitric acid, had better step
aside when the explosion takes place. W. C.

mous quantities of foreign luxuries as well as neces-
sities, while the high prices of our leading commo-
dities have restricted the export movement withia
narrow limits.

[From the N. Y. Shipping List.]
Speculation and Extravagance.

The mania for speculation, facilated by an
inflated currency, is daily iHcreasing, and the steady
gains of legitimate business enterprises are coming
to be considered much too slow for the times. The
licence which an exemption from specie payments
affords, undoubtedly stimulates to reckless extrav-
agance, and, although money flows freely, and many
departments of trade are brisk, a good many peo-
ple seem to forget that their wealth will shrink to
much smaller proportions when measured by a
depreciated currency. All the luxuries, and most
necessaries of life, are constantly appreciating in
value, but no inflation of prices seems to check the
tendency to lavish expenditure ; on the contrary,
it seems rather to increase it. The taste for com-
forts and luxuries are the natural growth of this
state of affairs, and to this growth it is diflBcult to
set the bounds. What were the luxuries of the
last generation have become the ordinary comforts
of to-day, and the cost of living sumptously a quar-
ter of a century ago would now be scarcely adequate
to meet actual necessities. When and where this
mania will stop, it is impossible to conjecture. Un-
less we solve the issues of rebellion by speedy milita-
ry successes, there is fear that the nation will be
overtaken by a financial revulsion, the magnitude
of which will have no parallel on this side of the
Atlantic. The rebellion is rapidly assuming an
aspect of finance, and by many the financial ques-
tion is deemed to have the more important and
inexplicable of the two. We are importing enor-

-—>-

[From the Missouri Democrat, 22d.J

High-Priced Tobacco.

A tub of choice leaf tobacco weighing 230 pounds
net wa» offered in this market yesterday, and
created no little .excitement on account of its
superb quality. It was exhibited among the rest
of to-day's break for public sale, but changed hands
at private sale before the regular commenced at
|200 ^ 100 fi)S, and again in a few moments by
private sale at an advance of $10. It was then put
up for bids and knocked down to Mr. Dausman, of
Liggeti & Dausman, the celebrated tobacconists of
this city, $231 ^ 100 fibs — the highest price ever
paid in this or any other market of the world !

The tobacco was grown by Dr. C. W. Jeffries, of
Franklin county, Missouri, and consigned to Messrs.
Hardwood, Warren & Co., Commission Merchants
of this city. The purchaser at $200 was Mr. Dam-
eron, of Nanson, Dameron & Co., and the second
purchaser at $210, was Mr. Rowland, of Shryock
k Rowland, all Commission Merchants of this city.

[From the Conntry Gentleman and Cultivator.]

Onion Sets.

A correspondent in the CocifTRT Gznthman of
April 21st, wishes to be informed the proper time
and method of sowing onion s«ed for sets, whether
iu drills or broadcast ? The answer to the ques-
tions of "J. C." should in some degree be in refer-
ence to his location, which he does not give. The
climate of New-England, and Northern States gen-
erally, is favorable to growth of the onion, and it
will perfectly mature from the first season. In
this section sets are much less extensively planted
than in the more southern portions of the country,
where the onion will not mature the first season
from the seed. In the Northern States then, sets
or small onions are planted for the purpose of rais-
ing "rareripe" onions, which are fit for the table
some weeks before those that are grown from
seed. Among the seedlings grown here, there is
generally small onions sufficient for sets for th«
following spring.

In the more southern portions of the country,
take for instance the maridian of Kentucky, and
the onion requires two years to arrive at maturity.
Two kinds of seta are planted by gardeners ; one,
the " Top-onion," — this is the variety that produces
sets or small onions on the top. These are very
extensively grown about Vevay, in Indiana, for
the southern market. Many thousands of bushels
are annually grown and shipped from that place.
In other neighborhoods the sets of the common
onion are largely grown for market. In order to
avoid excessive labor in weeding so small plants as
the onion, the seeds are planted as early in the
spring as the ground is in a proper condition to
work, say the last of February or the beginning of
March. The ground, of course, must be made fine
and moderately rich, with manure as free from
wild seeds as possible. Broad, shallow drills are.
then made, saj twelve inches apart. In these drilla

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

irs

the aeeda are scattered quite thick, nearly covering
a space two inches in width. The drills are then
lightly covered with earth. Nothing more is nec-
essary hue to keep the rows hoed out and the weeds
from among the young plants, and by July the sets
are ready to harvest. Being planted thick the sets
are small; the smaller the better, say from the siie
of a pea to that of hickory-nut. The smallest seta
will make full size onions the following season, and
from being small no centre or seed-stalk is pro-
duced, which is detrimental to our " rareripe "
onions. These sets, and the " Top onions," are
generally retailed from 12.60 to 16 per bushel,
according to the supply. The trade in them is
often very large.

The inquiry may be made, why will mot the osion
in the rich soil of the South and West, mature in
a single season from the seed ? The answer is, the
climate is too warm. No root crops succeed so
well there as in the cooler climate of New-England
and the Canadas. Hence early planting of all root
crops is in dispensable to tolerable success. Onions
in February, if the ground can be worked. Pota-
toes are also, and for the same reason, planted
early, and the best crops are matured in July.
The growth of all root crops is checked by the hot
weather if not cut short, for want of rain, which is
very common.

In the more favorable locations for the onion,
the seeds for sets may be sown late, to avoid their
becoming too large. Yet late sowing will increase
the labor of weeding. But very thick sowing will
in some measure check the weeds, and the sets
will be of more desirable size. h. p. b.

How to Trap Gophers.

En. Iowa Hombstkad : — You wished to know how
I trap gophers. Take a small steel trap (such as
is used to catch mink,) and close to where they
have been throwing up fresh dirt, dig down until
comming to their hole, (you may have to dig four
or five times before finding it,) and then dig down
until the top of the trap will be even with the bot-
tom of the hole. Sprinkle fine dirt lightly over
the trap, then take one or two short boards, sii or
eight inches wide, and lean them over the trap so
as to let the top edge of the boards come just
above the hole ; then cover it all up closely with
fine dirt, and when the gentleman takes his next
round, he will be apt to get his foot fast, which
will be in the course of twelve or twenty-four hours.
I do not use any bait. — R. D. McKik, Taylor Co,
Iowa.

Farming in Colorado. — Colorado cannot be re-
commended as an agricultunal State, since crops
can only be successfully grown by irrigation, which
much of the land will not admit of, owing to its to-
pography. But where it can be irrigated without
too much expense, farmers succeed in obtaining
crops of all kinds, particularly wheat, that pay
largely. Wheat is grown on some bottom lands
without irrigation. The quality of Colorado wheat
is represented as superior to that grown in Illinois.
The Denver Daily News, speaking of irrigation says:

"Proper precaution being taken, and ample pre-
parations made for supplying his crop with water,
the farmer can plant with as good an assurance of
a crop in Colorado as anywhere else. Upon many
farms, probably a majority of those in the torrito- i

ry, irrigation requires full as much labor in a series
of years as the planting and cultivation of the
crops in the same length of time. But when the
water is taken from small streams, in which dams
are not expensive, and easily kept in repair de-
cost of irrigation is much less. A great dealheid
pends, too, upon the lay of the ground. One »»-
or one farm may be very easily irrigated, while
other is quite difficult. Very rolling ground, 0
that which is cut up into small ridges with inter-
vening hollows, is hard to keep in good condition
for the growing crop. It is true that there cannot
be produced the variety that is found in some lo-
calities, nor can any one crop be made a speciality.
Neither can very large farms be seen here, nor
will it ever be profitable to make many such. The
secret of success lies in small farms well tilled. —
Upon such the profits can be made far greater than
upon five or ten times the quantity of land any-
where in the Atlantic and Mississippi Valley
States."

Sorgo Sirttp. — Perhaps the opinion of such a
man as one of the Messrs. Belcher, sugar refiners
of St. Louis and Chicago, upon sorgo sirup, may
encourage some who are weak in the faith about its
value as a farm crop, and induce them to plant
more. The Wisconsin State Journal gives Mr. Bel-
cher's opinion as follows :

"Mr. Belcher said there is no trouble in making
a first-rate article of golden sirup of any good,
light colored sorghum, and without much diminu-
tion or expense. That from ten to fifteen cents
per gallon would cover the whole cost and shrink-
age, and make an article that would sell in any
market of the world for a good price, and no one
could tell what it was made of.

"That in the fall and winter of 1862 they refined
at their Chicago refinery many thousands of gallons
of sorghum sirup, and made of it an elegant article
of golden sirup that easily sold in the market at
good prices under various fancy names, not being
understood to be sorghum sirup at all. They sold
it as golden, rather than sorghum sirup, because it
really was a good article, and because golden sirup
had already an established reputation and sorghum
had not.

"He said he had no doubt but what good sor-
ghum sirup would be worth six shillings per gal-
lon .It wholesale next fall, in any quantity that may
be offered, and that probably no country in the
world would, at least for a long time, be able to
produce a cheaper sirup than the rich prairies of
the West.

"He thought the farmers ought to and would
grow it extensively as a commercial crop just as
soon as they come to realize its great value and
profitableness as a farm crop, not merely for sirup,
but for many other important purposes and uses to
which if would be put."

Four Fxars. — G. W. Chase, in an article on the
selection of fruits in the Masi Ploughman, sayi
that if one can plant but a nnglt pear tree, that
one should be the Bartlett — if he can plant two,
the second be the Duchesse d' Angouleme — if three,
add the Vicar of Winkfield, and for the fourth,
Dearborn's Seedling. These four pears will furnish
a supply of fruit from the last of August to the first
of January. This selection is for Massachusetta.

174

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

June

From the "Sorgo Journal."

Clyde, Sandusky County, 0.,|
March 25, 1864. j"

Editor Sorgo Jouunal. — I want the Journal
and inclose one dollar.

Mv experience in the Sorgo enterprise does not
suggest, any thing worth the notice of our readers,
but what has probably been frequently laid before
them.

I would suggest, however, that all who are in-
structed in the matter, should impress upon their
neighbors the importance of cutting their cane
immediately after it is injured by frost, especially
if the cane is not ripe. Many persons let their
cane stand last year after the frost, supposing it
woulp ripen, by which they lost their crop. Sev-
eral lots were brought to my mill last year that
M-ere most disgusting to the taste and smell, and
utterly worthless.

The seed of cane when green or soft is easily
injured by frost, even when the effect of the frost
is scarcely perceptible on the leaves of the stalk ;
and when the seed is so injured as not to receive
the juice which forms the seed, that juice lodges
in the stalk, in the upper part of it first, and im-
mediately commences the ruin of the stalk, as that
juice is entirely separate from the saccahrine and
is of itself very insipid and di.-gu-ting to the taste.
If the Ciine is cut up immediately it stops the flow of
this juice and the cane is as good as if cut without
the frost; if housed, or put in piles of half a wngon
load in a place, and covered with k aves, it may be
kept for weeks without injur)-. I keep my cane
from four to six weeks after cutting.

In 186 1 I planted several different patches of
cane at different times, from the 3d of April to the
lith of June. The first plantings were twenty
days coming up. The best cane was planted about
the 9th of May. That planted on the 12th of June
got ripe.

In 1862, I planted a patch of cane on the 13th
of May. At the same time I transplanted cane
that was an inch high, by the side of that just
planted. The transplanted cane was no earlier
than the other and of an inferior quality, a large
portion of the stalks having from one to four
branches and as many heads

I have found no advantage in soaking the seed.

Diff"erent kinds of boilers are used in this vicin-
ity, and all-made to do excellent work, if used by
an experienced operator. Most men, I find, are
best pleased with that kind which they arc most
used to. Tlie Idea that the peculiar construction
of the evaporator or boiler will insure granulation,
is, I think, an error. I have known granulation
to occur readily in sirups made on all the different
kinds of boilers used in this vicinity. Cane grown
on some soils will readily granulate more or less if
properly liandled, while that grown on other soils
will not granulate by any ordinary process.

The pan that I use I think is the best I have
ever seen ; it is S^- feet wide, 9 J- feet long, but it
should be 11 feet'long. Over the fire is a division
three feet long into which the juice runs continu-
ally, and in which most of the skimming is done ;
a valve at one corner admits the juice to the other
parts of the pan ; at the opposite end is another
similar division, with a damper or apron under it
lo shut the fire off at any time. In this divi.>iion I
finish sirup continually, from three to four gallons

at a time. I dip the juice into this division with a
dipper; the juice becomes quite sweet by the time
it works to this end of the pan. I aim to boil
about two and a half inches in depth of juice, so
that the juice is not kept upon the pan but a short
time.

The sheets of iron are placed cross-wise of the
pan ; I use those two feet wide. Two inches of
each edge of these sheets are turned up, riveted at
the upper e ge and soldered. These form ribs
that keep the surface of the bottom level ; they
also remove the soldering from the fire. An inch
of the end of these ribs is turned down to admit of
the flow of juice.

I have no exclusive property in my pan, nor do
I follow making them for sale ; hence this will not
be looked upon as an advertisement.

Yours, T. J. CARLETON.

Care of Young Stock.

By 0. N Bement.

Nothing is more important to the successful
rearing of stock, than that the young animal should
receive a good start in life, and it is idle to expect
a profitable return from an animal which has been
half starved and uucared for during the first few
months of its existence.

When we look into a farm yard and see the
young calves cringing and shivering in the corner,
their legs drawn tog> ther under them as if they
were huddling together for synipathy, their long,
rusty, staring, lifeless looking hair standing at right
angles with the body, their paunches stuff'ed with
coarse and unwholesome or innutricious food until
they are swelled to an enormous size, their eyes
dull and dreamy and listless, and the whole general
appearance impressing one vividly with the idea
that there is indeed such a thing as a state of semi-
existence, we do not i-equire to be told that the
owner is a p;>or man. Such management will
make any man poor in a short time.

When in a state of nature, the calves are nour-
ished during this period almost entirely by the
milk of the datns, and there can be little d(mbt
that when the health and growth of the calf is the
principal object with the breeder, it should be
allowed to run with the cow. But to most farmers,
the milk is of too much value to permit this, and
the calves must be artificially reared. When this
is done the calf should not be taken from the cow
until four or five weeks old. We are aware that
many breeders advise taking the calf from the cow
before it is allowed to suck, urging as a reason that
the calf will much more readily be taught to drink
if it is never allowed to get its food in the natural
way. — This may be true, but we have found very
little trouble in teaching the calf to drink after it
has been allowed to run with the dam two or three
days, and there is a very important reason why
this should be done.

The faeces that accumulate in the intestines dur-
ing the latter months of the portal state are dense
and adhesive, and avoiding the excrement is at
first, often attended with some difficulty. By a
wise and admirable provision of nature, the first
milk of the cow possesses certain laxative properties
which materially assists in establishing the healthy
action of the intestines, and it is very important
that milk should constitute the first food of the
calf.

W^"

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

1T5

When the calf is first taken from its mother it
should be removed as fiir as is convenient from her,
moved to a calf stable, and there receive a dtink
three times a day, at the same time they used to
suck ; in the meantime they are allowed hay.

"The fiist peculiarity now of my mode of feeding
is this, that into the drink of the calves I mix a great
deal of linseed.

"Whoever examines the the milk which forms
the natural food of the calf will find that the calf
receives a great deal of fatty matter in its food.
Is it then justified to rob the calf at once of this
constituent by skimming the milk ? This was the
question I asked myself in 1856; and though, or
rather because I then had no knowledge of chen is-
try, I concluded to allow each calf a pound of lin-
seed, ill compensation for the cteani withdrawn.
For it must be remembered that in 1856 our scien-
tific men set no value upon fat as a constituent of
the food. Dr. Kuhn was the first to teach and
prove the necessity of giving our animals an allow-
ance of fat. I am now fully convinced that my
suncess is due chiefs to the mixing of fatty matter
with the food.

From the Boston Cultivator.

Cut and Uncut Potatoes.

Editors of the Cultivator : — A few years ago I tii:'d
several experiments to determine whether whole
or cut potatoes would yield the best. I had plan-
ted whole potatoes, but many farmers said that cut
potatoes a;-e hettei'. My experiments satisfied me
that whole potatoes are best in all cnses. I give
the result of one experiment. The variety used
was Jackson white.

The potatoes were carefully selected and weigh-
ed when planted, the produce dug when ripe and
weighed. The manure was spread on; plister
applied in the hiil, three bu-bels to the acre. A
few I'ows (if each kind were ])lanted through the
piece, and the calculation made for an acre of
each kind.

One acre planted with large, uncut potatoes, 58
bushels to the acre, yielded at the rate of 37*7
bushels to the acre. One acre planted with mid-
dling sized potatoes, 29 bushels to the acre, 333
bushels. One acre planted with' cut potatoes, 29
bushels to the acre, yielded 249 bushels. One
acre planted with small, whole potatoes, 9 bushels
to the acre, yielded 244 bushes.

If any of the subscribers of the Cultivator have
tried similar experiments with differeut results, j
should like to hear from them through its columns.

Holden, Me. D. B. K. Lowell.

Dairy Farming.

Since the commencement of the rebellion, sheep
and wool have been on a bender. High price in-
duced thousands to go into the sheep business to
the neglect and abandonment of the dairy. The
result is, as might have been expected, there is
now a short supply of dairy products in the mar-
ket, and probably in the country, and prices have
gone up to a high figure. Some assign the cause
of the present price to speculators, but tiowever
much that useless class of operators may have
to answer for, we think they will be acquitted up-
on that charge. The fact is, the supply is not
equal to the demand. This is brought about by

the cause referred to above, and other disturbing
causes incident to the great drain made upon our
producing population to fill the ranks of the army.

Really, the price of butter and cheese is no
higher in proportion than that of most of the oth-
er prime necessaries of life. But it has now reach-
ed a figure quite satisfactory for the manufiicturer,
and those farmers who have not exchanged their
cows for sheep, will have an opportunity the com-
ing season to demonstrate that it will pay to maka
butter and cheese, as well as to raise wool. Pres-
ent prices may not be maintained, but there is no
doubt these articles will rule high for the present.

As between butter and cheese, our impression
is that the larger profit may be realized from the
butter. The milk required to make a pound of
butter wiil make something like three of cheese.
What the difference may be in the expense of man-
ufacturing, we have no means of knowing. Far^
mers' wives and dairy maids can tell, and we sup-
pose they will govern themselves accordingly. —
Whichever they undertake to make, they should
take hold of tlie work understandingly and perform
it thoroughly. High prices can only be obtained
for good articles. Poor and indifferent qualities
will go hard at any price. So that those who wish
to turn their dairy products to a good account,
must see to it that everything connected with their
manufacture, be neai, clean and sweet. There is
no sort of excuse for poor butter or poor cheese.
It is the result of sheer carclessne?-s, which is very
often shifted off upon the cows. A thiifiy, wide-
awake, clear-headed farmer has no trouble on tiiis
score. He provides his wife with suitable rooms
and implements for her calling, and she soon im-
bibes h's s^piiit of enthusiasm, and cheerfully sec-
onds his efforts by properly superintending them.
77iey have swevt buttt^r and good cheese, which
always brings the highest market price, generally
at their door.

Tho^^e who undertake to carry on a dairy in a
car.h'ss, shifil?-^smannfr, need not be disappointed
if the incimie from their cows does not make the
prosecution of the business profitable. Bear in
mind that "anything that is woi'th doing at all is
worth doing well," and that this maxim applies
with as much force to dairy firming, as to any
other operation connected with a farm, or with
anything else. — iV. H. Jour, of A</riculture.

Grub in the Head.

A correspondent of the Wisconsin Farmer gives
the foUowimg as a remedy for grub in the head of
sheep. It is worth trying, and looks quite reason-
able:

"About the first of March, make a mixture of
one quart of tar, one pint of spirts of turperntine,
one pint of linseed oil ; simmer well, and when
coo], mix two ounces of black pepper ground fine.
— Make a small swab by winding tow or flax on a
small, tough stick, dip it in a mixture and gently
slip it up the nostril to the . bridge of the no^e. —
Go through the flock in this manner. If on the
barn floor, you will find grubs there in a little
while. The turpentine, kills, the oil loosens, the
pepper makes the sheep ?neeze them out, tar is
healing. — I never knew a sheep to die of grub in
the head after being treated as above.

Preventive. Take the above mixture without the
pepper, and go through ' ' flock as above in Oc-

"'"^■■^•''^•— '

:■..--;'."■' ■'■'r*fl^

176

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

JUNB

tober, or prior to putting them into winter quarters,
as it ivill destroy all the parasites, and the sheep
will do well through the winter."

A Humbiig Sugar Maker-

Edi. Prairie Farmer :

It was my fortune to fall in with a vender of a
patent right, or a secret for making 10 lbs. of good
dry sugar from any kind of cane sirup weighing 13
lbs. to the gallon.

This man had been experimenting in sorghum
14 years, (7 years longer than the canes have been
introduced ;) and about three years ago he discov-
ered this wonderful secret, which he soys he pat-
ented at that time. He accomplishes this wonder-
ful feat in the following manner:

First he "puts the juice in this ere vessel here,"
then he puts in some "stuff" to settle the "heavy
matters," just as simple as sand sinks to the bottom
of water. Next, he "draws it off into this ere vessel
here what sets under the first one, " and in here
he puts in some other kind of "stuff," that raises
all the swimming particles. This leaves his juice
perfectly clear, and ready to boil down to 13 lbs.
to the gallon. When it gets cool, you must stir it
with a scoop shovel to keep the sugar from set-
tling into a solid cake like maple sugar. (Be care-
ful not to omit the stirring up directions.)

All he asks for his secret is five dollars. For
this sum he will put one in the way of making an
everlasting fortune in a very short time. lie stip-
ulates that — if — he should sell out any territory by
the state or county, he will remember all the indi-
vidual rights he sells.

Now, as I am interested in making known all the
crooks and turns in the sorgo business, I thought it
was my duty to give him and his secret the bene-
fit of a special notice, and advise all persons that
are so verdant as to be imposed upon by this ven-
der of a wonderful secret, that $3 invested and a
year's careful practice, yiiW perhaps do them some
good. The name of this peddler is Lamphear. —
Remember that the Phear of the bugs is the begin-
ning of wisdom. — Prairie Farmer.

Balking. — If you have balky horses, it is your
fault and not that of your horses ; for if they do not
pull true, there is some cauoe for it, and if you
will remove the cause, the effect will cease. When
your horse balks he is excited, and does not know
what you want him to do. When he gets a little
excited, stop hin^ five or ten minutes: Jet him be-
come calm ; go to the balky horse, pat him and
Bpeak gently to him ; and as soon as he is over
the excitement he will, in nine cases out of ten,
pull at the word ; whipping and lashing and swear-
ing will only make the matter worse. After you
have soothed him awhile, and his excitement has
cooled down take him by the bits ; turn him each
way as far as you can ; pull out the tongue ; soothe
him a little ; unrein him ; then step before the bal-
ky horse, and let the other staftt first ; then you can
take him anywhere you wish. A balky horse is
always high-spirited, and starts quick ; has his pull
out before the other starts , by standing before him,
the other starts too. By close application of this
rule you can make any balky horse pull. If a horse
; been badly spoiled, you should hitch him to an
-'■'.'^ytj wagon, theu put on a little load, and increase

it gradually, caressing as before, and in a short
time you will have a good horse that will work
without troubling you. — Exchange.

High Prices of Wool. — The high prices to
which wool has attained, have greatly stimulated
the production, especially in the more remote
Western States. For the past two years large
numbers of sheep have been sent from Ohio, Mich-
igan, &c., to Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska, where
the climate and ranges are rarely excelled for
sheep husbandry. The clip of 1864 will undoubt-
edly be largely in excess of that of any previous
year, and it will all be needed at remunerative pri-
ces. The increased production of wool in Califor-
nia is remarkable. In 185*7, the quantity shipped
from that State was fifty-five bales of very inferior
quality — worth from 6 to 10 cts. The clip of 1863
— only six years later — was over 50,000 bales. —
According to this ratio of increase, the clip of
1869 will reach 200,000 bales; and in ISTS, 1,250,-
000. The quality and condition of California wool
coming forward, is much better now than formerly
and meets with increasing favor among manufac-
turers. Staple kinds in good order command 40
or 50 cts.

Cost of Cultivating Land by Steam. — A Mr.
Smith, of Woolston, England, has published an
account of the cost of cultivating land by steam
for eight years, in which he says that the cost of
preparing land for roots was, with steam, $2.88;
with horses, $10.03; for barley two years, $2.16
with steam against |5.05 by horse-power; four
years for wheat, $50.20 by steam against the same
for horse-power, and foots up a total for a number
of other articles, which show a gain of 200 per
cent, ia favor of steam. The writer says also that
besides the economy of the plan he had much bet-
ter crops.

4«*

(|t^~Buds that were inoculated last Fall should
not be forgotten, but as soon as vegetation has
pushed forth, the bud should be examined, and all
other issues from the old stock taken away. — Gar-
derier^s Monthly.

To Prevent a Hoese prom Pulling at the Hal-
TiR. — Tie a rope around the neck, put it thro' a
hole in the edge of the manger, and tie it around
the fore leg below the knee, and when the horse
pulls, the rope will slip through the hole and pull
up the fore leg, and he will soon give it up. — (7oun-
try Gentleman.

■ff

Bagasse Burning.

The use of bagasse for fuel is beginning to attract

considerable attention, and the time is not distant
when in all localities remote from paper mills and
•ther markets for this substance, it will all be util-
ized under the evaporating pans. This must be
done without the labor and trouble of sun drying.
The woody fiber of the cane is sufficient when
burned and the heat properly applied to reduce
all the juice to sirup. And it makes no difference,
80 far as the capacity of the woody matter to evap-
orate the juice ia concerned, whether the bagasse

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

177

is pressed dry or half the juice left behind. In one
case the water is to be evaporated from the surfac
of the pan, and in the other case, in the furnace,
the amount of heat required to vaporize the water
is the same in both. When the bagasse is sun
dried, it of course reduces the whole quantity of
water to be evaporated, leaving so much less to
be done by the fuel, but if fermented, the sugar of
the contained juice which is a fuel, is lost. But
we do not want the trouble of sun drying. We
want the bagasse to go directly from the mill to
the furnace and there perform its legitimate and
appropriate function of concentrating the juice
which it has given us, to sirup. But this is some-
thing like requiring the cow that gives us cream to
convert it into butter. To be sure it is, and why
not ? It is not the cow's fault that she has not
done this very long ago. It is our fault that we
have not asked her and made it possible for her to
do it. It is possible for the cane when pressed or
half pressed, to convert all the juice taken from it
to sirup, and this is shown by the revelation it
makes of the relative proportion of combustible
and aqueous substance w-hich it contains. It is
because we refuse to avail ourselves of its capacities
to serve us, that we are deprived of its services in
this respect.

Some talk of its great f alue as a manure than
as fuel. All wrong. By burning it, its useful
properties as a manure are not lessened, for they
all remain in the ashes, and in a much more con-
venient and portable fol'm than when in tangled
and cumbersome bagasse heap. Something is lost
by the floating away of a portion of the light ashes
from the top of the chimney but not much, we pre-
sume.

But we began this paragraph with the design of
saying that Mr. Jonas M. Frink, of Coral, McHenry
county, Illinois, has invented and patented a ba-
gasse furnace, and also a pair of chopping rolls,
attached to the mill for cutting up the bagasse.
The bagasse furnace is placed along side and opens
into the regular furnace under the pnn, the latter
being furnished with the ordinary door and grate
bars for a supply of ordinary fuel, if needed. We
do not know how the arrangement succeeds. Par-
ties desiring information can address Mr. Frink,
as above. ^SoRGO Jopbnal.

F. K» Phoanix And White Willows.

It will be remembered by our readers that on
page 119, current Vol. of Rural, we published a
letter from Mr. Ph(enix, propounding certain quer-
ies to Mr. Bragdon, to which replies were made
categorically. At the close of our reply, we ask-
edthe following questions: — "Will Mr. Phcemx in-
form the readers of the Rural in the West, whether
he employed men in the winter or spring of 1863,
to cut willows at, or near, or in the region of Peoria
Lake ? If so, how many men did he so employ, and
how long were they so employed ? And will he
tell us whether those were White Willows — ScUix
alba — or not ? If not, what did he do with those
willows ? — whither did he ship them ?" At last
we have Mr. Phcenix's reply which we give here-
with, omitting only that portion of his letter which
relates to matters already fully discussed in these
colums, and having no bearing whatever on the
subject in hand:

REPLY OF MR. PHffiNIX.

As to the queries propounded to us — Mr. B. is
welcome to the implication — we believe the first
of the kind ever made against us, during nearly a
quarter of a century in the tree-business at the
West, no doubt with fully our share of both friends
and foes. He is the only person we ever knew
with any such information, and he cannot deny
that such was our reply to him last fall, at the
Rockford State Hort. Society Meeting. He there
first named it, and though urgently requested to
do so lefused to give his authority. We then
utterly and contemptuously scouted the story, as
we do now, as false in every particular. We had
no men cutting swamp willow, and have never sold
a cutting but of the genuine White Willow. After
the emphatic contradiction then given, and his
seeming entire acquiescence we might be surprised
at this publication. As it is, we only asked him
to give his authority^'we have a right to ka©w the
name or names of parties who so informed him, or
does he publish the charges as of his own knowl-
edge ? F. K Phoenix.

Now, in the outset, it is proper that the reader
should under stand that our — Mr. Bragdon's rela-
tions to Mr. Phoenix have always been pleasant and
fraternal — that asking the above questions was not
the result of any desire to injure him or his bus-
iness. And we shall be glad if his reputation for
business integrity conies out of this trial unsullied.
We confess to having writen one reply to Mr.
Ph(enix's former article, in rather an angvlar man-
ner, because it seemed evident, either that he did
not know what he was talking about, or that he
was making an effort to place us in a false position,
for the purpose of advertising himself and his wil-
lows ; and our complacency was not increased by
the suspicion, to say the least, that he had cut and
sold swamp willows, extensively, as the White
Willow. What the grounds for that " suspicion "
are we shall now gratify Mr. Phoinix by disclosing.

Some time last August or September we were
informed by two prominent members of the Illinois
Horticultural Society, that Mr. Phoenix had em-
ployed, the previous spring, twenty men, more or
less, a number of days or weeks, (we think weeks,)
in the vicinity of Fure Lake, cutting and shipping
willows. These members professed to have received
their information from a railroad man over whose
road these willows have been shipped, — and who
objected to having his name used because Mr. Ph(E-
Nix paid the said road a heavy freight tariff. We
stated to the parties that if this report was true,
and it was true that Mr. Ph(ENIx was distributing
these cuttings for White Willows, it would be
our duty to let the public know it ; and we urged
that further inquiry be made so that the facts, what-
ever they might be, could be established.

Meantime we met Mr. P. at Rockford, and told
him what we had heard, and asked him if it was
true. He asked, without replying, " Where is 'Pure*
Lake ?" We did not know, and told him so. He
replied, " It is a foolish and a malicious falsehood."
We think he asked us for the names of our inform-
ants, but we declined giving them, preferring to
investigate further. Subsequently, we learned that
we had misunderstood the name of the locality
where this work was said to have been done — that
instead of 'Pure,' it was Peoria Lake ; so that Mr.

^.:,.iii^i^k^~<:-^'iv'-i^rJi'a&ts<it,r,<''^^^^^^

178

THE ILLIl^OIS FARMEK.

June

Ph(enix's denial might have been valid, and yet
not have affected the fact.

We were called East, but while in the East wrote
to the parties, or one of them, urging further inves-
tigation, and asking them to report such facts as
might be obtained. We heard nothing from them,
but late in the season had an interview with one
of the gentlemen who had no report to make cal-
culated to remove this "suspicion;" on the con-
trary, statements then made to us, by men whom
we do not believe would assail the character of Mr.
Ph(enix, nor any other man, wantonly, confirmed
that "suspicion." And it has not been removed,
although we have no knowledge of our own tending
to establish it. Thus the matter has remained
until Mr. Phcenix's recent letter decided us to do
what might be done to solve the problem. We
give the names of the parties who furnished us with
the information, and they can, doubtless, furnish
the name of the author of the story. This is certain-
ly due Hr. Phcenix, if, as he asserts and we hope, he
is innocent. It is also due t\iQ public that i\\e facts
should be stated — for they relate directly to the
public as a party interested. The names of our
informants are 0. B. Galusha, Lisbon, 111., and S.
G. MiNKLER, Specie Grove, 111., both, we believe,
personal friends of Mr. Phoenix. No one, that we
are aware of, has pursued this matter with any
personal ill-feeling whatever — certainly we have

not.

<•»

White Willows, again.

Eds. Rural New Yorker : — I have been reading
your Western Editor's remarks, at various times,
about the Gray, or White Willow. May I ask if
he has ever examined the many plantations of it
during his travels in Northern Illinois, certainly
within a few hours' ride of Chicago, by rail, any
day he chose to go out for that purpose. If he had
done so, and then deliberately concluded that it is
a humbug, he is the first and only person I know
or have heard of, out of many hundreds who have
visited them, that has come to such a conclusion.

How any true friend of the West, knowing the
destitution of trees on the prairies, can persistently
oppose any general effort making to remedy that
great want, is more than I can understand. But
for the severe drouth the past spring, I am confi
dent he would toon see and acknowledge his mis-
take. This I assert apart from all incidentals as to
high prices, quality or genuineness of cuttings, &c.,
— that here was in itself a meritorious ettbrt to
start general tree planting on the prairies, and with
the most hardy, enduring, valuable, soft-wooded
tree, of easy propagation, general adaptation, avail-
ability and usefulness known for our prairies, and
that Mr. Bragdon, against every other man I know
of at the West acquainted with the subject, op-
posed, cried down the effort per se. I must beg to
renew my query: — Has Mr. Bragdon examined
the growing plantations of the willow thoroughly ?
If not, let him do so. If he has, then it is his judg-
ment against that of hundreds of other, perhaps
equally competent, judges. Truly,

Bloomington, 111., 1864. F. K. Phcenx.

REMARKS BT MR. BRAGDON.

1. Mr. Ph(ENix has read the Western editor's
remarks very carelessly, judging by the above com-
PflUqic^tion.

2. Mr. Bragdon has vi^ted the White Willow
plantations of Northern Illinois. But he did not
visit them in the pay of any White Willow spec-
ulator, nor nurseryman, nor pedler; nor were his
expenses paid by any s^uch person, which cannot
be said of certain other contemporaries which he
might name, and which he will take occasion to
name at the proper time.

3. Mr. Bragdon has not concluded nor asserted
that the White Willow is a humbug. And it is
highly probitble that Mr. Pacf.nix kntw he had not
when he penned the above specimen of special
pleading. But he has denounced, and intends to
denounce, regardless of the interests of Willow
dealers, all efforts made to humbug farmers with
this White Willow or by means of it, any other
Willow.

4. Mr. Bragdon has never opposed any "general
effort," made legitimately, to remedy the great
want of trees on the prairies. But he has opposed,
and intends to oppose, the effort which has been
made and is making to take money out of the
pockets of the farmers of the prairies by false pre-
tenses. He has no objection to farmers planting
the White Willow. But he is determined they
shall plant it for what it is, so far as he can influ-
ence them, not for what it is not. And he is firmly
convinced that the rascalities which have grown
out of this White Willow excitement, have done,
and will do, more to retard the progress of tree-
plauting OTi the prairies, than any thing which has
happened dtring the past ten years.

5. It is not true — and Mr Phoonix must be wil-
fully ignorant in tho matter — that "Mr. Bragdon,
against every other man I know of acquainted with
the subject, cried down the effort per se." It is
true that Mr. B. was one of the first to commend
this White Willow as a timber tree. And it is true
that he has said it is not a hedge plant, according
to the common acceptation of that term ; and he
continues so to assert, very much against the wishes
of those who have cuttiugs to sell. And he has,
and does still doubt that it will be durable as a
stockade. And he has not been alone in these
positions and opinions. There are men whose
sames are quite as well known in the West as Mr.
Phcenix's, or any other White Willow dealer, and
whose judgements will be quite as likely to be un-
biased by self-interest, who occupy the same posi-
tion, and repeatedly expressed similar opinions
concernhig this White Willow, to those held and
expressed by Mr. Bragdon. In order to enlighten
Mr. Ph(enix it may be well to name a few whom
he will probably recognize. First the late lamented
Dr. John A. Kknnicott, who has had this wonder-
ful willow growing on his premises many years.
Arthur Bryant, Sen., of Princeton, whose judg-
ment and knowledge in such matters is not second
to that of any other man in Illinois. Prof. John
B. Turner, of Jacksonville, (see his article in pres-
ent Vol. of Rural, page 39,) who has had a great
deal more experience with this willow, for fencing
purposes than Mr Phcenix, as the latter will doubt-
less concede. Smiley Shepherd, of Hennepin — as
honest and ture a man as Illinois can produce, and
a practicl, scientific horticulturist, withal. A. R.
Whitnit, of Franklin Grove, who knows all about
this willow and the willow plantations to which
Mr. P. refers. Lewis Ellsworth, of Naperville,
whose letters of protest against the indorsment of

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

179

this willow for fence-making purposes by the State
Horticultural Society, are on file in the Secretary's
office probably. Robert Douglas, of Waukegan,
who has no superior in North Illinois as a well
informed horticulturist. And yet Mr. Bragdon is
alone !

6. Again in answer to Mr. Phcenix's renewed
query at the close of his article, he has seen and
examined the White Willow plantations of North-
ern Illinois thoroughly, and that said examination
did not suggest the changing of a single word he
has written concerning this willow. And, further,
Mr. B. has no motive nor interest, nor has he had
any, in his course with reference to this willow,
which did not grow out of his convictions of duty
to those whom bis writings might influence. He
has been offered a great deal more money to pursue a
different course to that which he has pursued! The
trouble is with Mr. P., probably, as we know it to
be with other willow dealers we might name, that
it is not found an easy matter to sell willow cuttings
to a Rural reader, without some guarantee that
they are genuine White Willow cuttings. And it
is found difficult to make a Rural reader believe
all that their agents choose to assert concerning
this wonderful willow. And it is found that too
many farmers take and read the Rural ! This is
precisely what is the matter, and it will continue
to trouble the venders of willow some time yet,
probably.

T. Having answered Mr. Ph(knlx;'s questions
fully and faithfully, Mr. Bragdon wishes to ask a
few. Will Mr. Ph(enix inform the readers of the
RuRTL in the West, whether he employed men, in
the winter or spring of 1863, to cut willows at, or
near, or in the region of Peoria Lake ? If so, how
many men did he so employ, and how long were
they so employed ? And will he tell us whether
those were White Willows — Salix alba — or not ?
If not, what did he do with those willows? —
whither did he ship them ?

Perhaps Mr. Phcenix will call these impertinent
questions. Perhaps he will refuse to answer them
on that account. If so, we may, probably, be
induced to give our reasons for asking them. And
we may ask others. — Rural N. Yorker.

We give up a large amount of space to the above.
We look upon this question in all its aspects
with no small amount of interest. Mr. Phcenix
will thank us for an opportunity to set himself
right in the matter which we hope he will be able
to do. We are satisfied that a large amount of
swamp willow has been sold, and all parties trying
to sell again have been liable to the imposition.
If Mr. P. has been dealing in that way it is possible
that he may have made some bad purchases in this
way without his knowing it. We gave an account
of a swindle attempted here with the head nomin-
ally located at Carbondale. Since then our letter
addressed to the reputed parties at that point has
been returned from the Dead Letter Office, which
indicates where the swindle was located.

We have more faith in the willow than our friend
Bragdon, but agree with him that as a hedge plant
it is of little value but for live fence in our low land

when shelter is also an object it is highly valuable.

Messrs. Brtajjt and others do not deny that it
will make a fence but that it will not be found
durable for that purpose, all of which may prove
true.

The Controversy between P & B, we trust will
prove valuable as both weild ready pens — and both
have pluck. It is the truth that "we want, and we
are disposed to give our readers b«th sides.

Influenee of Climate on Plants-

Indian corn, or maize, was first found in the
West Indies, by Columbus. There it grows thirty
feet in hight, and each stock, (or tree, as Grant
Thorburn would call it,) contains only a single ear,
that produces only a few soft kernels on a spongy
butt, which is used only for rough fodder. Pro-
ceeding northward, in Alabama it reaches fifteen
feet, and there yields thirty bushels to the acre.
Advancing still further this way, in Kentucky and
Ohio, it produces fifty bushels to the acre ; but
here in New England and in Maine, where it only
attains eight feet in hight, agriciiltural societies
have not unfrequently awarded premiums for 100,
and even in remarkablle cases, 150 bushels to the
acre. The heat of a more southern sun developes
the juices of the pl^nt too quickly ; hence it runs at
the South into stalks and blades, to the neglect of
the seeds or grain, and dries up before fructifica-
tion becomes complete. Hence here, in its most
northern limit of success, we can raise large crops
per acre, and secure a heavier and more valuable
g ain than in fcitates further south.

Wheat is another important cereal. Its native
country is said to be the valley of the Euphrates,
in Mesapotamia ; but on tracing its progress north-
ward you will find it growing more and more pro-
lific and farinaceous, till you reach the Russian do-
minions on the Baltic sea, where wheat is more per-
fect than in any other part of Europe or Asia. —
Wheat is a rarity in our Gulf States. It is in the
Northwestern States, in Canada, in northern Maine
and New Brunswick, that this important grain
grows the most luxuriently, and makes the best
flour. The reason is that the hot sun too early
forces the plant to head before its farina can be
concocted. The oame is true of oats and barley.
Wild oats are found in the southern country, but
the grain is not worth threshing. Who does not
know that the oats of Canada and Aroostook jield
more per acre, aflbrd a heavier grain, more suitable
for mealing and bread than the oats of the South
and West ? Before oats could do the world any
good they had to come north and get acclimated
to these high latitudes. The barley, too, of Maine
is superior to barley in the Middle or Southern
States ; a cold climate gives the surest grain.

Onions, beets, turnips, parsnips and other nutri-
tious roots, are sadly aflfected by a hot southern
sun, and are hardly worth cultivating at the South,
which must always depend upon us for all such ed-
ibles. There they fructify before they form perfect
roots, go to seed the first year, and make foliage
at the expense of the tubers.

The grasses are perhaps the most valuable crop
in the United States — irore so even than cotton.
These are proverbially in perfectiou only in north-
ern and cold regions.

" -i -'li'iiit'iiiiiiiiTaiiiiiiiiciif

180

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

JuifE

True, grasses can be grown in the sunny South
by planting the ground with the seed every year,
as is done for other annual crops ; but when the
first crop is cut, rank and vile weeds spring up
that spoil the soil for mowing or pasturage. It is
impossible to fatten an animal on southern grass
or hay. It is without richness or nutriment. The
consequence is that in all these regions most ani-
mals browse from necessity on the foliage and buds
of trees and bushes, and are poor, withont size or
beauty. In our pastures and in our barns, cattle
and horses grow fat on grass and hay. This is be-
cause of the superior quality of northern grasses.
I never saw such charming fields and pastures of
rich grass as in Aroostook county, where the earth
in the vernal season is covered with compact white
clover, on which oxen may grow fat, and by means
of which the hearty cows will give the richest milk
for the sweetest butter in America. If you are a
farmer and would go where you would enjoy the
luxury of the richest feed and choicest butter, let
me advise you to turn your face from Secessia, and
go at once to the fertile and healthy valley of the
Aroostook, where the State will sell you land for
fifty cents per acre, and give you four years to pay
for it in labor on the roads, which the State will
make to your grounds.

On the subject of the delicious and pulpy fruits,
let me say that these aflPord a still more striking
illustration of our principle.

The apple, pear, peach, nectarine, plum, cherry,
currant, gooseberry, and other fruits, came origi-
nally from the South, but are never found in such
perfection there as here. The apple of the South
is an acid thing, not fit for the dessert or to be
cooked dry, or to be pressed for cider. Plums ne-
ver mature till they come north. They are quite
good in New York, but much better in Maine, es-
pecially in Bangor and the Penobscot valleys. The
peach of Carolina is a gummy and knotty thing,
ni'ver well flavored. It must travel north till it
reaches the latitude of Philadelphia before it comes
to perfection. There are no good grapes in the
South, though that is their native place. The for-
ests and swamps of Alabama and Louisina are full
of the vines which cover the tops of the loftiest
trees, but seldom or never is a grape found on
them. The excess of heat blights the fruit, and
no persons pretend to cultivate it there. We must
come north to find good grapes — to Ohio, Penn-
Fylvania, and New York. Some varieties that are
in perfection in those States would pass the line of
success by emigrating to Maine, though we have a
few acclimated kinds that are as prolific and as de-
licious as the Catawba at Cincinnati.

By all this it would seem that Nature allows and
even requires her choicest products — both of field
and garden — to emigrate northward to meet the
homes of the hardy northmen, who are capable of
sagacious toil ; she does not make it necessary for
northern cultivators to emigrate south to meet
more perfect productions, imder a hotter sky. —
WpU would it be for our people if they would take
the hint from Nature's indications. The farmers
and gardeners of Maine can successfully grow all
the best meats, grains, vegetables, and pulpy fruits
which mother earth has produced for us and the
delight of man. We have all the elements of com-
fo t around us. It is a wise proverb to let well
enough alone. Let us do this, and instead of sigh-
ng for other and falsely believed better climates,

set ourselves about a cheerful performance of the
duties, and reaping the benefits peculiar to the fer-
tile and salubrious section in which a beneficent
Providence has cast our lot. — W. A. Drew inN. Y.
Trib.

—f

Respect to the Memory of Hon. Chas.
B. Calvert.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the
United States Agricultural Society, held at the
rooms of the Society, at the Capitol, on Tuesday,
May I'Tth, 1864—

The President of the Society, Hon. B. B. French,
stated that he had called the meeting for the .pur-
pose of enabling those present to pay some proper
testimony of respect to the memory of their late
Vice President, of the State of Maryland, Hon.
Chas. B. Calvert.

Mr Calvert, the President said, had been recent-
ly suddenly removed from his labors amongst us, in
the midst of his years and his usefulness. We were
called to mourn the loss of a good, a philanthropic,
an energetic, and a most deserving gentlemen — a
man who did with all his might whatever his hands
found to do.

Mr. Calvert was one of the formers of the Uni-
ted States Agricultural Society, and it'had no more
energetic friend and supporter than he was. Ever
ardent and ever eloquent in the great cause of ag-
riculture, he advocated most powerfully the estab-
lishment at the seat of government of a Department
of Agriculture, and he lived to see such a depart-
ment in successful operation, although not posses-
sing those full powers of a department which he
desired. Through his influence and indomitable
energy the Agricultural College of Maryland was
established, and in his death it has lost one of its
most worthy founders and ardent friends. As a
member of the House of Representatives of the
Thirty-seventh Congress, Mr. Calveit proved him-
self a useful, business-like and eloquent Represent-
ative.

I will close, said Mr. F., these brief remarks in
the eloquent words of another, so far as they apply
to our departed friend :

"The messenger of death has been amongst us,
and has left a bitter token of his visit. He whose
counsels were wont to advise us, whose exainple
was our encouragement, whose virtues was our
pattern, has no longer a place save in our memo-
ries; the voice with which he uttered words of
wisdom and truth is dumb ; the eye that ever kin-
dled with kindness is closed ; the ear that was ever
open to the calls of distress is deaf; the heart of
sympathy has ceased to beat ; the hands that la-
bored so well and so faithfully are mouldering in
the grave ; the silver cord has been loosed and the
golden bowl broken."

A good man has departed from amongst us ; let
us cherish his virtues in our memories, and imitate
them in our lives.

Hon. Isaac Newton, the Head of the Department
of Agriculture, then offered the following resolu-
tions, which were read and unanimously adopted :

Resolved^ That while we sincerely mourn the loss
of our late friend and co-laborer, the Hon. Charles
B. Calvert, Vice President of the Society, we sub-
mit with reverence to the decree of that All-wise
Being who has seen fit to remove him from amongst

U8.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEE.

181

Resolved, That ia the death of Mr. Calvert, soci-
etj has lost one of its noblest and most honorable
ornaments ; the nation a patriotic and able citizen;
the United States Agricultural Society one of its
best friends and most consistent and ardent sup-
porters ; and his family an indulgent, affectionate
and beloved husband and father.

Resolved, That as a mark of respect fot the mem-
ory of our deceased friend, we will wear the usual
badge of mourning for thirty days.

Resolved, That the newspapers of this city and
Agricultural press throughout the country be re-
spectfully requested to publish these proceedings ;
and that the Secretary communicate a copy of
them to the iamily of the deceased.

B. B. FRENCH, Frea. U. S. As;. Soc.

Ben. Perley Poore, Sec.

Salting Cattle.

Much carelessness is practiced in this respectr
There is liitle system in salting cattle, and this is
a great wrong. A creature may be killed by salt.
When given in large doses, say a pound or two, it
becomes a poison. When given in large but less
quantity, it purges, gets up inflamation of the mu-
cous membrane of the bowels, and other evils. A
proper use is what is wanted.

Salt always on hand where cattle can lick it at
leisure, is a practice with many dairymen, and one
of advantage they say. They hold that the crea-
ture knows best how much it needs. We shall not
gainsay this. But the rule applied by the farmer
to all his stock is what is practiced by the most
renowned farmers, and with profit. System is what
is wanted in this as in other things. The best ef-
fects have been obtained by giving to horses about
half a pound a week ; cattle double and triple that
portion, according to the size, age and feed ; as
abundant fresh feed requires more salt. Sheep are
more addicted to salt, and require it more than
any other animal. Though a small animal, it re-
quires half the amount of the horse. The hog al-
most the same. Salt is a stimulant. This should
always be borne in mind. When given too largely
it acts deleteriously. When properly given, as we
have pointed out, it aids digestion, adds strength
and vigor to the system, and, in addition, seems to
extend its preservative effect to the living as well
as the dead animal, as it shields it from disease. —
This has been proved by experiment, as well as by
observation generally. A German savan (Uberac-
ker), experimented with sheep, depriving ten of
his sheep of salt. The experiment was tried for
three years. "In the first year five of them died
of rot and worms'; in this year the remainder of
the flock, 450 head, lost only four sheep The sec-
ond year' a new lot of ten sheep, deprived of salt
lost seven individuals ; the remainder of the flock,
364 head, lost five only ; a little later the other
three died also of diarrhea. The third year was
very rainy. Sixteen sheep were selected and de-
prived of salt. The whole of them diedjin the
course of the year of rot and vermicular pneumo-
nia

Care should be taken, where cattle are salted,
that less be given in cases where fodder contains
salt, particularly hay, which is often salted to pre-
serve it. Allowance should always be made ; bu
we fear it is but seldom done. In fact salt is too

little given in the winter, when it is most needed,
and it has a warming effect upon the system. It
also corrects the bowels, which are apt to be rigid
in winter. — VcMey Farmer. >

Vitality of Seeds.

Farmers are often'advised through agricultural
papers to gather matured weeds and put them in
their compost heaps. Now, I very much doubt the
propriety of this advice. Although the decompo-
sed weed stalks may be of some vitality I am very
certain the seed do not lose theirs. When seeds
will stand cold and heat for years, or pass through
the stomach of the animal without being the least
impaired, I very much doubt the decomposing pro-
cess of matter with which they are connected, des-
troying them.

Years ago, there stood a small, thick hemlock
forest in a certain locality in Asht.abula county,
through which a winding wagon road, from neces-
sity was made, and farmers often drew loads of hay
through this piece of wood. When the public
roads were properly laid out and fitten for use, the
wood road was entirely abandoned; twenty years
later the forest was cut down, and as soou as the
sun's Titys struck the earth here, there came up a
beautiful bed of timothy, the whole length and
breadth of the old road. I believe people acquain-
ted with the circumstances, generally believe that
the hay seed scattered there twenty years before,
retained its vitality, and when the sun and rain fell
upon it, it germinated and grew.

During the early part of summer, while weeds
were in bloom, I dug a large pond-hole in my pas-
ture, some three feet deep ; soon after it was finish-
ed, there came a light shower and a warm sun ; a
week or so after this, the bed of the hollow was
covered with small weeds. It was impossible for
the seeds to have blown there at the season of the
year, and the only conclusion I could come to, was
that the seeds had remained for centuries in the
earth without losing their vitality.

I think it far more advisable to gather matured
weeds and burn them, rather than to put them into
the compost heap. — [Erastus in the Ohio Farmer.

[From the Country Gent. & Cultivator,]
How to cut Asparagus, &c.

Messrs. Editors — Yesterday, 1st May, we had
our first dish of asparagus from an old bed planted
some thirty years or more. I have generally had
it first from 2*7 th April to 3d of May, and several
times on the first of May, showing this about a
usual season. Cows and sheep getting a little bite
of grass, but not abundant

Two years ago it was stated in your columns
that the proprietor of Congress Hall had asparagus
on the Tth of May, which was spoken of as early.
Another person in the succeeding number, answer-
ed that he had it on the 6th. That year I had it
on the first.

A word about the mode of cutting asparagus. —
I have always seen the article in market and at
ublic houses, which had been cut about three in-
V hes under ground, leaving that length bleache<i
and not eatable, and but about one inch and a half
at green end useful. Why do they do this so ?

k. i.^lSSiSbB/t±^ rji.,~t..-l iitS-^CIc-j^-i^^

'•■ ' " fVT I'rin'iiiiiMliiMftMiiMiMI

182

THE ILLilSrOIS FARMEK.

June

I never have mine cut below the surface of the
ground, and use it when from six inches to a foot
high, all of which will be tender and good.

I find this vegetable grows spontaneously around
the slate rocks, and often very large and tender,
where no cultivation or manure has been bestowed
upon it. This would seem to indicate that a top-
dressing of slate gravel would be useful. My bed
has considerable slate in the soil, and the slate
rock underlays part of the bed, if not all of it, prob-
ably fifteen or twenty inches below the surface.

Z. A. Lelasd.

Mechanicsville, May 2, 1864.

. «••

Marvels in Fruit Growing— Humbug-
gery.

A class of minds exists in every community rea-
dy to adopt anything and everything in the line of
marvels, without ever troubling themselves with
an investigation of the senseless statements float-
ing around in the papers, giving credence to these
marvels. The ninety and nine persons who expe-
riment by book and fail, keep their own counsel,
regarding themselves foolishly sold by the . writer
of the humbug article. They shrink from an ex-
posure, lest their own want of sagacity might be
exposed thereby.

To expose all of these sells, is a task we do not
propose to undertake at this time. A few in con-
nection with truit growing only is proposed to do.
Not a few persons insist that the Apple, (one half
sweet, the other half sour,) was produced, not nat-
urally from seed, but uniting two buds in halves —
one from a sweet the other from a sour apple tree.
A moment's reflection will convince any one capa-
ble of reasoning, such a union to be impossible;
and if otherwise, that the union would only pro-
duce a tree, the buds and branches upon one side
producing one kind, and the other another kind of
apples like those trees from which the half buds
were taken. Commingling with the sap having
nothing to do with determining the character of
the fruit, as has been often, and may be again pro-
ven, by grafting different varieties in succession
upon the same tree or branch, each separate sec-
tion producing branches, leaves and fruit, accord-
ing with the original variety from which the scions
were taken, although the sap ascending and de-
scending, has to circulate through sections of wood
and bark of a different variety. The character of
the fruit ia, in all cases, determined or controlled
by the leaves, bark and wood, and not by the sap.
The character of the latter being fully controlled
by them. The apple in question is not divided in-
o two sections, the one half pure sweet, the other
acid, with a well defined line dividing the parts —
but is of an inferior, sweetish flavor upon one side,
and a mild, sub-acid upon the other, each quality
gradually blending into the other near the dividing
section. The apple is called sweet and sour, and
is sometimes propagated and sold by nurserymen
as a curiosity. It originated as do all varieties, as
an accidental seedling.

The public are humbugged periodically with an
article from some novice who hurries to print his
success in growii'g apple and pear trees from cut-
tings in the open ground, The cuttings will put
forth leaves, and if the Bummer is moist, live
tUrough tiie first season, but failing to strike roots

die before the next summer. We know some will
insist that they have seen the thing done, and can
do it again. Our reply to all such is — we will hold
ourselves in readiness to pay one dollar each for
three year oM trees produced from cuttings in the
open ground — the fact to be well established by
evidence of any intelligent nurseryman or fruit
grower, -watching the operation. Competitors
may commence this spring, and the experimenter
may have the benefit of sticking "his cuttings into
raw potatoes," or any other similar vegetable to
retain the requisite amount of moisture.

We consider what the old gentleman told a cor-
respondent of the Maine Farmir twentj -five years
ago (page 51, present volume of the Homestead,)
about the process of raising seedless apples, an-
other of this class of humbugs. In the first place,
apple branches, with the tips buried with the plow
accidentally or by design, will not strike roots
from the tips, and if they did, would not produce
trees by severing the connection with the parent
stock, But if this were possible, the tree grown
as directed, and bearing the inversion, could not
possibly change the flower, and if not the flower,
how could the fruit be changed ?

These seedless apples and pears are caused by
imperfect fructification at the flowering season
from excessive moisture, or cold, at that season.
Some varieties possessing weak organs, producing
no seeds ; others more perfect, others a part only
perfect. The same tree will sometimes produce
no perfect seeds ; in more favorable seasons, all the
seeds will arrive at perfection.

We recollect another of these marvels produced
by grafting currents upon maple trees, pears upon
butternut trees, and many other unnatural allian-
ces said to have been forced by skillful grafting. —
These are all cheats. They may, like the cuttings,
live one season, but can never form a union with
the stock, unless with a nearly allied species, as
the Peach, Plum and Apricot — the Apple, Pear
and Quince — the Potato, Tomato &c. — Iowa Home-
stead.

Report of the Agricixltural Depart-
ment.

The following is a synopsis of the bi-monthly
report for March and April of the Agricultural
Department.

The leading article shows the character of the
plans adopted in Great Britain, Prussia and the
United States to estimate and report speedily the
amount andj condition of the crops.

The table most interesting to farmers and pro-
vision dealers is the one that exhibits the amount
of farm stock in January last. Compared with the
amount in 1859, as returned in the census of 1860,
it is as follows in the loyal States :

Horses. Mules. Cattle & Oxen.

1859 4,199,141 301,600 7,941,148

1864 4,999,042 280,847 9,965,439

Cows. Sheep. Hcs.

1859 5,726,964 15,104,272 17,060^035

1864 6,066,748 24,346,391 16,148,712

This table exhibits an active decrease of horses,
mules and hogs, a very small increase of cattle, a
larger increase of cows, but one still far below the
usual increase, and a very great increase of sheep.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

The report points out the strong inducements
that farmers have to increase all kinds of stock
that is falling off. The number of Sheep will be
increased by the lambs of the spring to nearly
thirty millions, or double what it was in 1859.

The decrease in hogs is 914,323. This is an
important fact to provision dealers and farmers,
for it shows that but few hogs, if any, were kept
over on account of the loss of the corn crop, as
has generally been believed. The condition of hog
raising from 1861 to this time is examined, and
the opinion givea that even if there had been a
good corn crop there would have been a decrease
in the number of hogs packed.

The number of fattening cattle reported is to be
30 per cent, less than last year in Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, 25 per cent, less in
New York, Iowa and Illinois, and 20 per cent, less
in Missouri and Wisconsin. The general decrease
is nearly 30 per cent.

The condition of nearly all stock is below the
usual spring average, especially of hogs, but sheep
are in excellent order, having received more than
ordinary attention. Hence the yield of wool per
head will be as much as usual.

The condition of wheat and other crops sown
last fall is represented as indicating a largely
decreased product from the crop of last year,
but it is hoped they have improved from the
recent rains, and since the returns of the correspon-
dents were sent in, which was on the first of April.
The dryness of February and March retarded the
usual growth in these months.

It is believed that the production of maple sugar
and molasses will be unusually large as the pre-
parations for it were greater than usual.

Bees are reported as having suffered much dur-
ing the winter. The usual amount of statistics,
showing the trade in agricultural products, is given,
and the meteorological part of the report, prepared
at the Smithsonian Institute, is very full, and com-
pletely exhibits the phenomenon attending the
remarkable cold storms of the past winter.

The rains have been heavy and general, retarding
much the putting in of spring wheat add othci-
crops; but whether the amount put in will be
materially lessened in consequence cannot now be
known.

[From the Co. Gent, and Cultivator.]
Remedy for tlie Cureulio.

Editors Co. Gent — ^The ravages of the cureulio,
in many portions of the State of New- York, as well
as other States, have become so disastrous to the
plum crop as to render it at least uncertain, and in
some localities an almost utter failure ; atld yet cul-
tivators appear to have failed hitherto either from
supineness or want of energy, in discovering some
means of staying the wide-spread destruction, or
checking the rapid increase of the destroyer. For
the benefit of your readers, I cut the following
from the Cincinnati Gazette, in the hope that it
may prove as successful in New-York as the writer
claims it has in Kentucky. It is not impossible
that it may prove alike beneficial as an extermina-
tor of the coleoptera which infest the vines of our
gardens. Clark C. Haskins.

New Albany, Indiana.

Mr. Winn Gunn of Shelbyville, Ky., sends us the
following interesting statement in reference to the
destruction of this pest of fruit:

In the spring of 1860, 1 noticed some of my plums
punctured. Having succeded in catching the
striped bug that is so injurious to melon vines — by
placing wool on the hills around the young plants.
I concluded to try it around my plum trees. I re<
moved the grass about a foot around the tree —■
placed trash-wool on the cleared ground, and wrap-
ped it around the forks of the tree. On looking
the next day, I found my trap had caught "a num-
ber of tJie enemi/," they having become entangled
in the wool. This tree produced a bountiful crop,
while the fruit on the others in twenty feet of it,
"came to naught." In 1861 I treated part of the
others the same way, with like result. Also in 1862.
In 1863 I treated all my trees the same way. A
more healthy and abundant crop of plums I never
saw. I have eight varieties ; I have a freestane
damson that deserves a place in every fruit-yard
being harby and very prolific — a superior fruit for
canning or drying. .-■,;>,;.

— - — <•» '

Cheese per Gallon of Milk. — In family cheese-
making there is considerable diflPerence in the quan-
tity of cheese produced by different persons from a
given quantity of milk. A skillful manufacturer
should, during the season, average a pound of
pressed curd from a gallon of milk, idne measure,
or a pound of curd cheese from a gallon of milk,
beer measure. When at the factories in June, 1862,
I was told that 600 cows were then producing daily
about 1450 wine gallons of milk, which turned off
1250 pounds of pressed curd. The curd at this
factory was divided up and pressed into eight
cheeses. At another factory, where the milk of
some 400 cows was used, the produce was 965 gal-
lons, beer m.easure, making 1120 pounds of pressed
curd, or about 114 pounds of curd to 100 gallons
of milk, though I was told the quantity of curd va-
ried from day to day, some days being several
pounds less than in the proportion above stated.

At this factory the curd was divided up into four
cheeses of about 280 pounds each. The shrinkage
on the cheese while curing, in the first factory
mentioned, would average, it was said, about five
per cent. Milk of course varies in quality at differ-
ent seasons of the year. In the fall as the quantity
decreases, it is richer, and some cheese manufactu-
rers deem its condition too thick to be worked with
the best advantage into cheese ; they therefore thin
it down by adding water at the rate of one gallon
to ten gallons milk. This dilution, it is claimed
produces a better curd.— X A. WilmoL in TranL
ofN. Y. Ag. Society. '

— = — *•*■ .

Heavy Frost at Nashville.

The temperature of the weather dropped down
on Monday night. May 2nd, to 32 degrees ; and aa
a consequence, there was yesterday morning a
heavy white frost. A gentleman from the country
assures us that on his strawberry bed it was as thick
and white as any he has seen in December. Ten-
der garden vegetables were killed outright, and it
is apprehended that fruits have gone the same way.
We hope, however, enough has been spared for all
useful purposes. We don't like the idea of giving
up the fruit crop. How could we do without our
usual supply in season, of strawberries, peaches
eic—NashviUe Union. . ' ** **'"'*^»

',*

■ ■ ■-.— — .1-^i.jh.i^

.'fSI

184

THE illi:n^oi8 FAKMER.

June

The Probable Clip of 1864.

We learn from a correspondent in Michigan, who
is well situated for getting a good knowledge of
the condition and prospects of Wool in that State,
that the clip of 1864 in Michigan yill probably be
twelve millions of pouuds, and possibly more. The
estimate of well informed parties in Ohio, is that
the clip of this State will not be less than twenty-
four millions. We would be much obliged if the
Secretaries of State Agricultural Societies, or any
other informed friends of the wool growing interest,
would send us the estimate of the probable clip of
their respective States. — Wool Grower.
- ■•►

Kelly's Island Grapes.

The Isabella grapes on Kelly's Island are gene-
rally killed. The Catawba are sending out a few
buds ; some young vines will make pretty fair
growth, while the buds on the best and largest
wood are pretty generally killed. The Delawares
are all alive, and putting out vigorously. It is ex-
pected that there will not be a half crop this year.

Fom the Country Gent, and Cultivator

Barnyard Lyrics.

A robin builds my trees among,
Mid blossoms that perfumes distil ;

I know that with her fledgolings young.
She means her downy nest to fill.

I walked beneath the Mayduke tree,

Where, sheltered, hangs her safe retreat •

From rude alarm all round her free.
We daily there confiding meet.

I stand beneath the leafy shade.
Where from the soft maternal glow.

Each quickening pledge that there she laid,
Its mystic being it shall owe.

My step she knows, she knows my face,
Familiar seems each garden tree ;

Each year she seeks her ancient place.
As long from rude invasion free.

At noon her songs melodious rise,
Their echoes all the homestead fill ;

When twilight comes o'er evening skies.
She sings upon my window sill.

I doubt not He who reigns above,
By whom all prayer sincere is heard.

Counts this an ofFeringof the love
That thus attunes my darling bird.

Each warbler through creation wide,
A grateful tribute skyward brings;

The meanest thing with voice supplied.
His little anthem daily sings.

I would not harm, I could not slay
These songsters of the sunny earth ;

I would not rudely drive away

E'en the shrill cricket from my hearth.

I love the soft, confiding things

That cluster round my homestead old;

They need not all have glossy wings,
They may be either tame or bold.

The wrens have built their tiny nests.
In bush and tree my garden lo ;. i :

A box the bluebird's eye arrests,
And there his early home is found.

With gourd and squash, unsightly all.
My garden trees are thickly hung;

In barn and shed and open stall,

Attractive homes are round them strung.

The swallows build the eaves below,
Beside them builds the dull pewee,

And mounting high and plunging low.
The kingbird seems at heme to be.

A vine's ambitious tendrils sweep
A lofty cedar's utmost bight;

Its dense recesses safely keep
My noisy catbirds out of t>ight.

'Tis thus around my friendly home
I bid the gentle warblers stay ;

If long and wide by d ly they roam,
Not one at night will truant play.

When insect crowds my fruit devour,
When bugs the garden truck would kill.

My birds I see, ^'y daybreak's hour.
Attack the foe with hungry bill.'

From limb to limb, from spray to spray.

They seek the leafy vampire out;
The worm that crawls at break of daj ,
Is sure to find the birds about.

Though high upon the topmost leaf,
Though snug within a flowret gay.

His time is couie, the shrift is brief
He's gone unto the nest away.

My ripening fruits their care attest,
My grapes a melting record show;

My crops I find are alw^ays best

When birds are swarming high and low.

'Tis tiue the robin claims a share,
'Tis true the cherries he will take ;

I know the catbird's bill of fare
He'll often of the grapevine make.

I let them have their dainty fill.

The luscious taste with me to learn;

For thus I pay with right good will,
Whate'er my feathered laborers earn.

Oh ? brothers of the plow and hoe !

Oh ! tillers in the sunny field !
Oh ! maids that weed the garden row !

Oh I all whose hearts are yet unsteeled !

The birds that in the landscape sing,
Their gentle lives I bid you spare;

Your fields can show no living thing
That more deserves your tender care.

My pets my presence never shun,
It wakes no sharp, alarmed cry ;

I never yet, by bow or gun.

Have made a single, warbler die.

No loafers rude my farm invade.
No game to sportsmen it supplies ;

No wolfish dog lor thieving made.
My home approaches but he dies.

Oh, youth ! oh, age ! oh, maidens fair !

Attend my last imploring words —
I bid you in compassion spare

All these, our dear domestic birds.
May, 1864.

U.i/

■ iiiiiiiVl'i'ruiilii

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

m

BAKEE & PHILLIJrS

FUBLISHESS.

M. L. DUNLAP, KditoT.

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, JUNE, 1864.

Thus far May has been a favorable month for
the farmer, and this time of writing (May 23d) the
work is in good state of forwardness. On Saturday
21st we drove into the country several miles and
was astonished at the amount of corn planted,
thousands of acres of which was cleverly up. Far-
mers have been put to their utmost, and every
member of the farmer family are busy. Women or
little girls of twelve to fifteen years old do the
check-rowing, or rather, working a check-row ma-
chine, for we did not see a single field that wag
check-rowed so as to work the corn both ways. —
The two horse cultivators do the work so thorough-
ly that cross working is not required. Rolling
and harrowing is becoming more and more popular,
and although the land is not cloddy all roll who
have the time or the implement. We saw one man
who had listed his land ; that is, plowed out the
old corn hills, or "cut and covered," as it is called
at the East. He dropped the corn from a small
pail hung on his left arm, while with the left hand
he led his team with a harrow, dropping the corn
between the two furrows, thrown near together by
the listing, and thus covered the seed and smooth-
ed down the surface. In this way he could list
about four acres a day, and would probably drop
and harrow in six ; that is, with five days' work
would get in twelve acres. This man had no one
to help him but will put in at least sixty acres with
one team, his plow, harrow and tin pail.

Spring wheat and oats look well ; of the latter a
large breadth is sown. There is considerable rye
but little wheat ; corn is the great staple. Many
large farmers have laid their lands down to grass
and intend to ship the hay. At the present high
price of hay for shipment they will make money.

A New Plow. —John Deer, of Moline, the vete-
ran plow maker, has sent us for trial one of his last
cast steel plows, patented July last.

After several weeks' use in all kinds of plowing
we deliberately pronounce it the most valuable
plow that has come into our hands. We congrat-
ulate our farmers that they now have a plow supe-
rior to the Hartford cast steel plow, made in and
for the West. The fault with all Eastern plows
made for the West is that they are too heavy and
clumsy. In this new plow we have all the light-

ness simplicity and ease of drop of the Moline steel
clipper, with a durability added that render the
rowing parts of great value. The shoe, landside
and mouldboard being of the best quality of csst
steel, it is impossible to clay them in any soil when
the plow is in proper order. We hav^some land
that from continued deep plowing in which the
steel clipper (cast steel) would not scour, but in
which the new plow turns a most beautiful furrow.

The Moline steel clipper is the standard among
plows, and the nearest possible approximation to
it by other makers has been aimed at, and their
success has been in proportion to their skill in imir
tation. Mr. Deer should go one step further and
mount his new plow on wheels, when we will h^ve
all that is desired in a plow.

The castiug of plows from cast steel must mark
a new era in plow making, which will result in a
more durable implement, and one that will scour
in all soils, besides cheapening their cost. It must
be evident that it will cost less to cast than to
forge a plow. The Hartford cast steel plow has
become popular from its durability and should
have come into more general use, but the high
price at which it has been held and its great weight
— two stumbling blocks in its way, both of which
are removed in the new patent of Mr. Deer.

This plow IS admirable for all kinds of work,

such as old land, second sod and meadow lands, a

wheel coulter and gage wheel enabling it to do

good work in all turf land except raw, impastured
prairie.

*••

Culture of Corn. — Up to this date, May 20th,

we have planted 20 acres of corn at the following
cost : - -■. ■ ; '

Use of land fioo 00

Ten days' plowing last autumn 30 00

Three days' cultivating with Stafford's

Cultivator .' 9 00

One and a half days' planting 4 50

" " " boy to assist. 1 00

Three and a half days' harrowing 10 50

One and a half days' rolling 4 50

Three bushels seed corn 3 00

$162 50
or $8 12i per acre.

The three dollars a day is intended also to cover
the use of implements. We need not say that the
land is in fine order, for every farmer knows that
it cannot be otherwise.

We intend to continue these figures to show
the actual cost of our corn crops.

We are putting in twenty acres of corn on spring
plowing. We have now spent but a trifie over a
day to the acre with our corn ; had we a planter
attached to our roller we would have made a sav-
ing of six dollars in labor and had the work just

•■■:"5f

186

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

June

as well done. Six dollars on twenty acres, or
thirty dollars on a hundred acres, or three hundred
dollars on a thousand acres, or thirty thousand
dollars on & hundred thousand that will be plant-
ed in this part of the State — who will supply this
demand ? t^ new implement is called for, who
will invent it and pass it over to the farmer ? We
have been threatened with the use of one this
spring, but, thus far, the threat has not been put
into execution.

Perhaps we shall have further reductions to
make next spring, with the use of Comstock's Ro-
tary Spader. Come ahead, gentlemen inventors,
the prairies were made just to give you a chance
a wide field for your genius.

Culture of Potato.

In the first place our land was plowed lait fall,
(stubble land.) We should have planted in April
but the wet weather and hurry of tree planting
prevented. The first spring operation was to roU
the land to crush the lumps ; it was then laid off
three and a half feet wide with a Stafford cultiva-
tor, using five shovels, this gave the surface a pref
ty thorough culture. The seed was cut one to two
eyes on a piece, and these pieces dropped ten
inches apart, and covered with the cultivator. After
ten days the whole was thoooughly harrowed and
rolled, which brings the work down to May 20th,
when the plants are nearly up. The vines, all
planted, have cost 5 days, plowing, 1 day's rolling,
\\ days' laying off, 1^ days' covering, \\ days'
harrowing, and 1 day's rolling — 11^ days' team
work^; to which add 4 days' dropping seed. The
cutting was done rainy days and at odd times, and
no account kept. We will charge the crop up to
date :

Use of land, $5 per acre $45 00

Eleven and a half days' team work 84 50

Four days' dropping, $1 25 per day 5 00

Fifty-four bushels seed (small.) 27 00

Gutting seed 5 00

or $13 per aero.

facts.

$116 00
This is no estimate but actual

Small Potatoes for Seed.

Small potates may be planted for one year, and
perhaps the product may be as good and abnndant
as if the large and fair ones had been used for seed.
But it is bad policy to select and plant small pota-
toes from year to year. We once followed this up
for five years, for the purpose of testing the theory,
and we found that the fifth crop was hardly worth
digging, the potatoes were so iew and small. They
were literally "small potatoes," tops and all. — Cor.
Coun. Gent.

The Germans near Chicago furnish a large por-
tion of the supply of potatoes for the city, and it is a

rule with them to plant the small potatoes. This hag
been done for the past twenty years, and ihey con-
tinue to grow as good potatoes as any that is
brought to market. For more than ten years past
we have adopted the same plan as a general thing,
with an occasional trial of large ones, but we have
not been able to see the difference in the growth
or fairness of the tubers. Our potatoes always
command a ready sale, and generallyabove the
market for their fineness. We should have said
that the Germans think the crop better from small

than large seed.

«••

Comstock's Rotary Spader. — We have a letter
from W. L. Sullevant, of Homer, who has four of
these spaders to work, and is delighted with them-

We intended to have seen them at work but have
been too busy planting and other spring work to
leave home.

The Weather.

THERMOMETER I.V THE OPEN AIR.

Day of Month.

1864. April

1 A. M.

2 p. M.

i(

•

. 9
.10
.11
.12
.13
.14
.15
.16

.m

.18
.19
,20
.21
.22
.23
.24
.25
.26
.27
.28
.29
.30

Means

40

40

40

45

43

44

42

54

52

43

48

46

38

42

38

32

30

36

38

43

54

54

59

53

46

48

46

45

47

49

42

58

62

44

48

64

58

54

56

54

52

52

48

56

51

46

48

48

57

58

56

64

62

50

54

62

49

59

66

52

9 p. M.

44

46

48

42

46

50

64

46

46

46

60

44

44

46

40

42

44

44

42

50

52

58

50

50

54

62

44

48

61

50

27* 54i 48i

Mean for the month 49

During the month we had frost on four occasions,
17, 19, 20 & 29th. with a brisk snow storm the
16th. On the whole a cold backward month,
though favorable for wqeat rnd fruit.

w^^

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAKMEE.

187

Agents. — We do not appoint any agents — all are
voluntary. Any person so disposed, can actasagen
in^any place.

Enlarge Your Club. — "Will not the friends of
the Illinois Farmer inquire how many copies of
the Farmer are taken in their respective oflSces, and
pass around among those who ought to have their
names added to the list? Our terms are so low to
clubs of ten and twenty that we ought to have one
or the other m^e up at every office in the State, and
at every office in Central Illinois, one of twenty or
more. Will our friends, and the friends of practical
agriculture see to it, and thus lay us under renewed
obligations ?

To Single Subscribers. — You receive the only
copy of the Farmer that goes to your post office.
Can you not send one, two, three or more new sub-
scribers, without any trouble ? Try. Sample num-
bers, etc., sent free.

Drafts. — Those remitting us large amounts of
money, will please send us drafts on Springfield or
Chicago, less they exchange. If you send cash in a
letter, be sure that it is well sealed and well directed,
to Baker & Phillips, Springfield, Illinois.

The Farmer as a Present. — Any of our subscri-
bers who wish to make a present of the Illinois
Farmer for 1863, can have it at the lowest club rates,
when out of the State. For fifty cents you can treat
your Eastern friends to a Western Agricultural Pa-
per. In no way can you invest that amount to so
good advantage to emigration.

Send Now. — Any person who remits pay for a club
of ten or fifteen, or any othernumber at the specified
rates for such clubs, can afterwards add to the clubs,
and take advantage of the reduction. Thus a person
sending us five subscribers and three dollars, can af-
terwards send us three dollars more and receive six
copies.

To The Casual Reader. — This and other num-
ners of the Illinois Farmer will be sent to many
persons who now use it for the first time. Will they
not examine it, and if they like it, subscribe for it,
and ask their neighbors to subscribe ? Sample num-
erbs, prospectuses, etc., sent free to all applicants.
See terms elsewhere.

How TO Obtain Subscribers.— The best way is to
send for sample numbers. Any young man by can-
vassing his neighborhood, can easily make up a club
of five, ten or twenty, but no time should be lost in
doingjso, for your neighbors may send east for their

paper which, though valuable there, is much less so
here, the difference of soil and climate putting them
out of their reckoning when attempting to teach us
Western farming.

How TO Help. — The friends of the Illinois Far-
mer will find a prospectus in another column. We
desire to suggest a few ways in which they can use it
to advantage :

1. Show the Farmer to those who are unacquaint-
ed with it, and tell them what you think of it.

2. Send for prospectuses, and put them into the
hands of those who will use them, and place posters
where farmers will see them.

3. Get post masters interested. They see every-
body, and are efficient workers.

4. Send us the names of persons in your town to
whom we can send prospectuses and sample num-
bers.

5. Begin now, before the agents of Eastern pa-
pers get up their clubs.

This last hint is especially important,
hear from you soon. See terms elsewhere.

Let us

^^^* Clubs may be composed of persons in all
parts of the United States. It will be the same to
the publishers if they send papers to one or & hund-
red post offices. Additions made at any time at club
rates. We mail by printed slips, which are so cheaply
placed on the papers, that it matters little whether
they go to one or a dozen offices.

^^^ Correspondents will please be particular to
give the name of the post office, county and State.

^^^*"Specimen numbers will be sent gratis, upon
application.

^^^Address

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

Springfield, Illinois.

Special Notice.— For terms see prospectus on
last page. All exchanges and communications for
the eye of the editor should be directed to Illinois
Farmer, Champaign, Illinois. Electrotypes and
business matters, and subscriptions, to the publishers,
Springfield, Illinois. Implements and models for ex-
amination should be sent to the editor. The editor
will, so far as it can be done personally, test and ex-
amine all new machines and improvements submitted
to his inspection. He will be found at home, on his
farm, nearly all of the time. So far as it is possible,
the conductors on the Illinois Central Railroad will
let off passengers at his place, which is directly •n
the road, three and a half miles south of the Urbara
Station, now the city of Champaign.

188

THE ILLIFOIS FARMER

June

FURST & BRADLEY,

MANUFACirRERS OF

AND OTHER

Agricultural Implements,

Nos. 55 and 58 North Jefferson Street,

near Corner of Lake Street,
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Plows of all sizes and patterns, Cultivators, Horse
Hoes, Harrows, Corn Shellers, Straw Cutters, Gar-
den and Rail Road Wheelbarrows, Road Scrapers —
five different patterns — Sulky Corn and Grain Culti-

ators. Sulky Hay Rake, with steel wire teeth re-
volving.

Send for a priced Catalogue.

FURST & BRADLEY
Aprill-64-ly*

NANSEMOXD SWEET POTATO PLANTS,—
strong and well rooted, from May to July.
Put up to carry 1000 miles in good order. Price,
300, $1.00; 1,000, $2.50; 5,000, $11,00; 10,00, $20.00.
My plants of this variety produce good crops at the
North.

Send for my circular of directons for cultivation,
Ac. Address M. M. MURREY,

Pruit Hills, near Loveland, Ohio.

WEED'S TREE AND PLANT PROTECTOR
WILL protect trees against injury from Au-
TTMN, Winter or Sring Frosts, and secure an annu-
al crop of Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines, Heart Cher-
ries, Blackberries, Strawberries in any part of the
Central or Northern States ; and prevent all loss of
trees or plants by Winter killvig.

Patented Oct. 2Ist, 1862, and Dec. 8th, 1863,

JAMES WEED,
ADrill-64-3mo* Muscatine, Iowa.

GET THE BEST

FIRST PREMIUM

OULTIYATOR.

The only one combining all the Mechanical Pprinci-
ples necessary to a

PRACTICAL AND SUCCESSFUL OPERATION

IN THE FIELD.

The lateral or self-adjusting motion of the plows and
is an an effectual

BAB AGAINST BREAKING,

When it comes in contact with unsoen obstacles.

It is Made of the Best Material,

BT EPPERIENCED WORKMEN.

THE SHOVELS OPPIKST QUALITY

OF

CAST STEEL.

Altogether, it far excels all others in point of

XJtility. DDurability and
Troiii£M:A:ivsnii».

Price $50 cash on board the cars at Decatur.
^^..Send for Descriptive Pamphlet.

March, 1864— 3m.

BARBER & HAWLEY,

Manufacturers,
Decatur, IlL

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAEMEE.

189

VICTOR OF THE WEST.

->•*-

"WOOHD'S

SELF RAKER,

COMBINED AND SINGLE.
This Machine has won for itself the enviable title
of " Victor" having vanquished all the self raking
maohines made or sold in the West, at the

GREAT DIXON REAPER TRIAL,

held under the direction of the 111. State Agrioultur a
Society, which was the largest and most thorough
field trial ever held in this country — over forty ma-
chines entering for competition.

W. A. "WOOD'S SELF RAKER
was awarded the first prize as a Reaper.

Again, at the DeKalb trial last season, where there
was a great struggle among all manufacturers for
three days in the field, W. A. Wood's received

THE FIRST PRIZE

again as a Reaper.

This Machine is warranted to be the lightest draft
Reaper made.

The most simple and durable.
Having the least side draft, and
Being the best Self Raker in the world.
Making a gavel any size at will of driver.

For farther particulars send for Circular.-

CHARLES E. WHITMAN.

General Western Agent,

206 Lake St., Chicago.
April.3mo

CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.

WOOD'S PRIZE MOWER.

The superiorly of Wood's Mowing and Reaping
Machines is now fully established, both in this coun-
try and Europe."

The Prize Mower, of which there were made and
sold over Six thousand last season — a larger number
by far than was made by any other manufacturer in
the world, yet the demand is not supplied — is offered
this season with many valuable improvements. (See
Pamphlet.)

To Wood's Prize Mower has been awarded more
high premiums than any other Machine during the
same time.

POINTS OF SUPERIORITY. ,

It is the lightest draft mower in use.
It is the most simple machine made.
It is the most durable.
It has no side draft.
It has no weight on horses' necks.
It will cut all kinds of grass without clogging.
It is sold at a very low price.
It cuts very close to the ground.
For full particulars call on Local Agents, or lend
for pamphlets to

CHARLES E. WHITMAN,

General Western Agent,

206 Lake St. Chicago.

Large stock of Extras constantly on hand.
A.pril-3mo

■i^'jfniTri'rJi'TMTMVfnrrfaM

190

THE iLLlJNOiS FAKMEK.

June

3PIMJIT TR-EES.

Having largely increased my variety of

HURSERY k GREEN HOUSE

STOCK,

I am now prepared to fill orders for

PBUIT & ORNAMENTAL TEEES,

A new and complete assortment of

G-rapes, Strawberries,

Raspberries, Onrrants,

And all other kinds of

SMALL FR ULTS.

Also — A Full Assortment of

GREEN AND HOT HOUSE PLANTS,

FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SEEDS,

Bouquets and Cut Flowers,
GOLD PISH,

and all kinds of

Ornamental "Worlt-

AU orders addressed to

J. S. COOK,
Box 1029, Gin. 0.
will receive prompt attention.

Seed Store, 197 and J 99 Walnut st.
February, 1864. 4m.

TWENTY - FIVE CENTS A YEAR.

THE CULTURIST,

A handsomely illustrated monthly Journal, devoted
exclusively to

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

Specimen copies" furnished without charge. Ad-
iressEditor and Publisher,

A. W. SPANGLER,
No. 25, North 6th st,
Feb., 1864— 3m* Philadelphia.

agriculIur^ warehouse

AND

SEED STORE.

Has one of the best selected stock of implements
andseeds to be found in the West.

A. H. HO VET,
Novtf 1862 No. 194, Lake st., Chicago HI.

G ROVER &, BAKER'S LEWING MACMINES
were awarded the highest premium at the fol-
lowing State Fairs of 1863, for the Best Family
Sewing Machine, the Best Manufacturing Machine,
and the Best Machine Work :

NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Double Thread Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

VERMONT STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

IOWA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

MICHIGAN STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

INDIANA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR,

First Premium for Machine for All Purposei.
First Premium for Machine Work.

KENTUCKY STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Beautiful Machine Work.

OHIO STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine Work.

The above comprises all the Fairs at which the
GROVER & BAKER MACHINES were exhibited
this year. At nearly all of them the leading Sewing
Machines were in competition.

The GROVER & BAKER S. M. Co. are the only
parties who manufacture and sell Machines which
both SEW PERFECTLY and EMBROIDER PER-
FECTLY.

GROVER & BAKER S. M. COMPANY,

jaol8-64-ly

115 Lake Street, Chicago.

rpHE AMERICAN HOG TAMER—

Invented by Reuben Hurd, a farmer of twenty-
seven years experience in Illinois.

My Tamer will stop any hog on earth from rooting,
from a pig to an old hog by one simple application.

By any one sending three dollars to Reuben Hurd
at Mor»-ison, Whiteside county. 111., he will receive
one free of freight^ and I will warrant them to give
perfect satisfaction, or money refunded.

To those sending : Please name the railroad sta-
tion you wish them shipped to, as I keep a constant
supply on hand, and will be able to fill all orderg
with promptness and dispatch.

Directions for using will accompany all orders.

REUBEN HURD.

Not. 1, 1863— 6m.

1864.

THE ILLII^OIS FAEMEE.

191

EYEEGEEEN SEEDLINGS.

A very large stock of superior grown Evergreen
Seedlings, at less than one-half the Eastern Prices.

FEB 1,000.
Norway Spruce, two years old,
three to five inches, $5,00

Norway Spruce, three years
old, six to nine inches, $8,00

Scotch Pine, two years old,
three to five inches, $7,00

Austrian Pine, two years old, $2 per 100.
Balsam Fir, Red Cedar, Arbabvit^, &c., &c.,
of large or small size, at very low rates.

A large stock of CONCORD GRAPES, one of the
best varieties for the West.

A large stock of RED DUTCH CURRANTS, the
best for market, two to three years old, at half the
isual rates.

STANDARD AND DWARF PEARS, of well
tested varieties, together with a good assortment of
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, &e., A. .

Send for Catalogue. ROBT. DOUGLAS.

Waukegan, III. tf

TO GEAPE GEOWEES/

The subscriber has a large stock of the most vigor-
ous growth layers of the following desirable varieties,
which he will sell at very low rates, to wit :

CONCORD, $55 per 1,000.

A few thousand of bearing age, of large size at

$75 per 1,000.
These will produce a good crop the second year.

HARTFORD PROLIFIC, $10 per 1,00, or
ten for a dollar.

REBECCA, $10 per 100.

DIANA, $10 per 100

The above will be well packed,
to go any distance.

Terms — Cash, or approved bank paper o
short date.

JAMES SMITH.
Dbsmoines Iowa, Jan. 1, 1863.

WANTED-
KNITTING MACHINES.

Every Farmer to know that his " Women Folks
can earn $6 to $20 per week with one of Akin's Cele-
braied Knitting Machines. It will earn its cost in
thirty days. Price complete $75. Weight 45 pound.
Freight from 50 cents to $1 50. Send for circular
and samples, (send stamps.)

BRANSON & ELLIOT,

General Agents,
Apr '63 ly 120 Lake street, Chicago, 111.

BLOOMINGTON NURSERY

BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

Eighty Acres Fruit and Ornamental Trees
OAA NAMED SORTS TULIPS, ALSO HYACINTH&
iC» Fv Crocus, and a general assortment of Bulbs
•nd Flower Roots for Fall and Spring planting.
Kursery stock, Evergreens, Greenhouse and garden'
plant8---all at wholesale and retail at lowest cash
rates.

4®~For particulars see Catalogues or address subscribei

v. K. PHOBNIX.

Bloomington, 111., Aug. 1, 1860.

Dunlap's Nursery.

This nursery has good atock of apple trees of all
ages and of choice varieties for the west, low heads
and stacky. The genuine " May Cherry," (Kentish
or Early Richmond of Downing,) Dwarf and Stand-
ard Pears, the Purple Cam. Raspberry, the best of all
raspberries for the farm ; Lowton Blackberry, Hough-
ton Gooseberry,- Grapes, Strawberries, Ornamental
Trees and Plants. An immense stock of Silver Leaf
Maple, from $5 to $15 per 100, 6 to 10 feet high. Th«
green house is well stocked with roses and other bud-
ding out plants. This stock is grown to retail and
not adopted to the tree peddler,as all trees and plants
are large, stacky and thrifty, and intended for the
planter only. Terms cash with low prices.

Address, M. L. DUNLAP,

Champaign.

March 1, 1863.tf

■p OSS, THOMPSON & CO.

(Successors to G. S. Thompson.)
CAPITAL PENSION- dk BOUNTY AGENCY.

OFFICE ON WEST SIDE OP 5tH STREET,

Opposite State House, over L. Greeble's Clothing Stor*
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

BOUNTY AND BACK PAY, PENSIONS, RECRUITIKS

CLAIMS, CLAIMS FOR HORSES LOST IN

SERTICE, ARREARAGES OP PAY

DUB RESIGNED OFFICERS,

&C., Ac, &C.

Our experience and acquaintance with the details
of business in the various departments, and the per-
sonal attention of one member of the firm at Wash-
ington, aflford us every facility for the prompt collec-
tion of all classes of military claims.

If you have any claims of any description against
the government, give us a statement of the facts, and
we will tell you what your rights are in the case. A
letter of inquiry may save you much trouble, expense
and perhaps loss. All communications enclosing a
stamp for return postage p romptly answered. In-
formation gratis. No fees charged until money is
collected. Charges low. Pensions for $5, as regula-
lated by act of Congress. Address

ROSS, THOMPSON & C#.,
Capita Pension and Bounty Agency, Springfield, HI.

dec63-tf

STANDABD

SCALES

OP ALL KINDS.

Also, Warehouse Trucks, Letter Presses, Ac.

FAIRBANKS, GREEN LEAF & CO.

172 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO,

Sold in Springfield by

E. Bi PEASE

Be careful and buy only the genuine. 1 nel-lj

192

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

June

mmn

9

A MONTHLY JOrRXAL OF

AGRiCULTUrtE AND HORTICULTURE.

PUBLISHED AT

SPBiYGFIJELJj, - - ILLINOIS,

BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

AND IS EDITED BY

M. Ii. DUNLAP, Tribune's Kural.

TERMS IN ADVA^CJB.— $1 a year; two copies 1 5C; five
copies $3; ten copies $6, and one to getter up of the club
twenty copies $10.

It is not necessaey that the club should all be at one oflBce
— we send w^hei'ever the members of the club may reside

The postage on the Farmer is only three cents a year in
the State of Illinois, and six cents out of it.

Specimens numbe rs sent free on application.

Subsciiption money may be sent at the risk of the pub-
lisher.

Exchanges and communications for the eye of the Kditor
should be addressed, Illinois Farmeb, Champaign Illinois.

All business letters are to be direc:ed to the publishers,
Springfield.

TURMS OF ADVEKTI5ING:

1 mo. 3 mo. 6 mo. 12 mo.

One page, or two columns -8 $20 $35 $50

Half a pace or one " 5 12 20 3o

One fourth page or half column.. S 7 12 18

One eighth or one fourth " .. 2 4 7 10

One square of ten lines 1 2 4 7

Card of five lines one year $5 00

Ten cents a line for less than a square each insertion.

All worthy objects advertised, and those of importance to
the Farmer will receive, from time to time, such editorial
notices as the Editor may consider them worthy of, without
additional charge.

Implements and seeds to be tested should be sent direct
to the Editor, at his residence .Champaign.

We have put the price of advertising within reach of all.
It will enable those who like to freely advertise their goods,
to do so at a cheap rate.

Terms, cash. Yearly advertisers will pay semi-annually,
and all transient advertisements must bo accompanied with
the cash to insure insertion.

BAKEh k PHILLIP/S', Publishers.
Spr'ugfield, Ills.

THE ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL

JS CONFIDENTLY OFFERED TO THE PEOPLE OF
Illinois as the best and most reliable news, political
and commercial paper within their reach. It is published
at Springfield, the Capital of the !^tate, and is the medium
:f all official notices, published by State authority. Partic-
ular attention is given to commercial affairs and every
number contains copious reviews of the markets in the
tirincipal cities.

TERMS :

One copy one year. f2 00

Three copies one year 5 00

Six " " 7 50

Ten " " 12 00

Twenty" " - ••- .20 00

Payable always in advance. Persous sending clubs of ten
and upwards shall be entitled to an extra copy.
Address BAKER & PHILLIPS,

Springfirld, Illinois.

Sanford & Mallory's Flax and Hemp
Machines.

These celebrated machines are on exhibition and
in operation in a building adjoining the Chicago Su-
gar Refinery. For circular telling all about them,
price, Ac, address NELSON STILLMAN,

General Agent, Chicago, 111.

P. 0. Box 5823. May]'63.1y

A QOOD INVESTMENT-

ONE THAT FATS.

THE

"PRAITtlE PARMEU,'

Has now been publi.shed in Chicago, 111., for twenty-
two yoars, without intermission. It is devoted to the
Producer's interests, treating of

GENARAL AGRICULTURE,
STOCK RAISING,
HORTICULTURE and POMOLOGY,
And DOMESTIC ECONOMY generally.
The Publishers' aim will be to give such informa-
tion and assistance as will enable the farmer to grow
the largest crops with the least expense, and what is
equally important to assist him in securing the

LARGEST PRICES

the market afiToids. by giving such reliable informa-
tion that is obtainable concerning the markets at
home and abroad — the cost of forwarding produce to
market, and other attendant expenses — thus enabling
iha producer to take advantage of the conditions of
the market in dispensing of his produce.

FORM OF PAPER.
The paper consists of 16 pages large quarto, mak-
ing a convenient size for binding and reference. A
full index is given at the end of each six months.

CONTENTS.

About five pages are devoted to Gereral Agricul-
ture ; one to two pages to Horticulture; one page to
Literature ; two or more pages to General War Mis-
cellany and News ; two pages to Markets and Rec-
ord of Season, and asking and answering questions,
and general editorial items.

A portion will also be devoted to Advertisementa
of such character as is appropriate to an Agricultural
paper,

DR. GEO. H. DADD.

This celebrated Veterinary Surgeon will contribute
regularly to the Faumer, giving especial attention to
the answering of questions and giving information
upon matters interesting to stock growers.

A NEW VOLUME

Commencing January 1st, 1863, and the present time
affords the best time to form clubs for the year.

One copy one year $2 00

Two copies one year 3 00

Larger clubs furnished at liberal rates, or prem-
iums given where clubs of six or more are sent at
$1 50 each.

Specimen copies and show bills sent to any one
who desires them for examination or the purpose q£
raising a club.

For sab by news dealers generally.

For samples or other information concerning the
paper, addrf ss

EMERY & CO., Chicago, 111.

IW-

•#■*-

i

I ■ '

The Illinois Faemer

VOL. IX.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., JULY, 1864,

NO. n.

DEVOTED TO THE ;

FARM, THE ORCHARD AND THE GARDEN,

PUBLISHED BY ; :\

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

SPRINGPIELD, ' - - - - ULINOIS.

MI. Xi. DXnsriLi-A.I», Editor.

All business letters should bo addressed to the
publishers.

^^*ExcHANGES and all matters pertaining to the
editorial department, must be directed to Illinois
Farmer, Champaign, 111., as the editor resides at
that point, and is seldom at the office of publication,
from which he is distant over eighty miles.

*^* For terms see prospectus and special notices in
advertising department. ■ ■■. ■ .

July-

The "heated term" is now at hand,
and the sweat from the sun-browned
brow of labor must be poured out in
copious streams. Harvesting and hay-
ing are the order of the day ;, the corn
is being laid hy, and the small fruits
mainly marketed. The sun glows like
a furnace and the heated air shimmers
and waves in dizzy brightness ; the days
are long, with short, unquiet, heated
nights. When the rain falls it comes
in torrents and is quickly licked up by
the burning sun. The larger fruits
and the grape begin to round up their
forms, while the earlier apples are hav-
ing their rinds pencilled ready for. the
village and city market.

Farmers often overwork themselves
during this and the succeeding month.
This is bad policy and should be
avoided. Keep out of the dew at night
or in the morning. Early rising is all
well enough, but Poor Richard's advice
to be up with the early bird, will not
always pay, especially if you go into
the wet grass. - '^ v

In sharpening your sickle a good
sharp file is better than a grindstone.
Keep your tools in good order ; don't
drive yourself or hands, but make ev-
ery effort count. Fussing around and
growling at your hands will not pay ; if
they do not know how to do their work
to the best advantage show them how ;
be patient and persevering and lay out
your labor to the best possible advan-
tage. It is not the farmer who doubles
himself up with hard work who accom-
plishes the most, but the man who
works both his brains and his hands.

Gomstook's £otary Spader.

On several occasions we have made
mention of this new implement, but un-
til last week have had no opportunity
to see it in full working condition ; that
is, in performing its daily task in that
regular way to which all new agricul-
tural implements must sooner or later
come to the test of thorough trial.

As intimated in the June "No. of the
Faemek, the machine was having a
thorough trial on the farm of Mr. M. L.
Sulliyant, near Homer, in this county.

198

THE ILLmoIS FAEMER.

July

on this subject. You may cross over into Queen
Victoria's dominions and you will hear no adverse
opinion expressed. Without urging my own claims
farther, I appeal to the large number of gentlemen
from those regions which I see present." Several
members from difierent places then successively
gave their warm commendation of what had just
been said, and the chairman was about to put the
question on Mr. Baldwin's claims to general public
favor, when a person arose in the back part of the
hall and said: "Mr. Chairman — I am from the
State of Illinois. The fame of Mr. Baldwin has
extended to our region of country, and for several
years we had employed him in our service. I am
sorry to say he has proved an utterly worthless
fellow — he has been of no use to us whatever, and
we demand that he be utterly banished from our
State. We want no more such imposters." Sev-
eral Western members here sprung to their feet
and made the same assertions, some of them not in
a very decorous manner.

Mr. Baldwin rose a second time, his face fairly
crimsoned with indignation, "Mr. Chairman — I
protest against this wholesale denunciation. These
western men have not given me a fair chance. —
They have, it is true, a deep, rich soil, but it pro-
duces nothing but a rank, watery growth, entirely
unsuited to my purposes. Their summers are so
long and hot as to throw me entirely out of my cal-
culations, and their winters are occasionally so sud-
denly and intensely cold as to be only fitted for
hunters and wood-choppers — no well bred gentle-
man can endure them." Several western members
were about t© spring to their feet, when the chair-
man remarked in a very conciliating manner. "We
must not ask too much of Mr. Baldwin. It is evi-
dent the West does not suit him — but let him have
a fair chance in the eastern and northern part of
the middle States, and he will doubtless give entire
satisfaction. Now allow me, gentlemen, to intro-
duce a relative of Mr. Baldwin — Mr. King, of
Tompkins county." Here the gentleman designa-
ted arose and stepped forward. He was somewhat
tall and ungainly in appearance, but possessed a
fine, large countenance, and, although a stranger
to most present, evidently made a very favorable
impression. He said he should say but a very few
words — although he had given much satisfaction
to his employers in Western New York, he was
unwilling to promise anything in other places until
he had made a further trial of his ability, although
he had performed some successful experiments in
New England. All he should ask would be that
gentlemen from other places should allow him a
fair chance, and if he did not come up to the mark
he should request the privilege of quietly retiring
from their lands, and would ask little for his ser-
vices. In the meantime he would caution them to
make small expenditures on his account, till they
had learned whether he was able to give satisfac-
tion.

Several other characters were next successfully
introduced ; one of them, of fine and promising
appearance, but a stranger to most present, the
chairman remarked, was known in the neighbor-
hood where he was best acquainted, under the so-
briquet of "Ben Davis," but in other places as the
Ked Victoria, the Carolina Red, the Kentucky
Streak, &c., while some of the more intelligent
planters preferred to call him New York Pippin. |

He only stated that he had never sojourned to any
extent except in Southern Indiana and Illinois, and
in Northern Kentucky, and experiment only could
determine whether he could accomplish much in
other places — and the chairman be^^poke a favora-
ble notice for him on the part of those present whe
did not know him before. Another, having a
large, noble, clerical appearance, was introduced
merely as the " Minister," but he declined present-
ing himself in any other than in his commercial
character ; he did not lay claim to high excellence,
but thought he could assist the owners of land to
large profits. Several members said they did not
wish to say anything n gainst the reverend gentle-
man in his presence, but that they had found^ while
he made an agreeable impression at first sight, they
were rather disuppointed on long acquaintance. —
However, there was a number from different parts
of New England, and some from western New York
and Michigan, who asserted that the Minister
claimed no more than his real merits, and that they
had found him a profitable servant. Another oc-
cupant of the platform came forward, with a re-
markably pleasant countenance, and was introduc-
ed as "Mr. Peek," but was commonly known as
Peck's Pleasant ; he siiid he should offer no re-
marks, but should simply appeal to those who had
witnessed his merits for a recommendntion. A
large number of members from southern New Eng-
land, New York, northern Ohio and Michigan, ex-
pressed their highest opinion of his character, and
they had found him a particularly agreeable com-
panion during the early part of the winter ; as
spring approached he became rather more dull and
prosy, and was then eclipsed in company by other
claimants, known by the name of Swaar, Red
Canada and Northern Spy. At the mention of the
latter name there was a call for his appearance
from various purts of the hou?e, particularly from
several gentlemen of western New York, who
showed a little excitement in the matter. He came
forward, and at his fine upright, noble appearance
there was a strong expression of applause, and at
the same time I could distinguish a few hisses. —
"The famous Spy of the North," announced the
chairman, and the Spy immediately began by ob-
serving: "There is no person on this platform that
has been more misunderstood thau myself. The
trouble is, my friends have claimed everything for
me, however great the disadvantages under which
I may chance to labor ; while a good many fast
people, destitute of patience, can hardly wait a
single year for me to make a return of their ex-
penditure. I freely confess that I cannot endure
the rough and neglected treatment which my two
old friends here on my right, from Roxbury and
Rhode Island can bear so well. I have been ac-
customed to cultivated and civilized life. I cannot
endure the banging and jamming which they so
commonly receive. And I protest against the has-
ty feeling which expects instant returns from me.
I am strictly American in all my feelings, but I
cannot help admiring the slow and sure way of the
English, which so well exemplifies the paradoxical
but excellent saying, 'to make haste slowly.' Give
me time enough, and good and fair treatment, and
I will do by you, gentlemen, as even Mr. Baldwin."
To be continued.

— The above, from the pen of J. J. Thomas, can

not fail to please and instruct our readers, as it

m^-

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

109

serves to explain the cause of that wide diflPerence
of opinion that exists in regard to the value of va-
rieties.— Ed.

Orchards in Grass— Boot Pruning.

"We notice an article on "Orchards in grass,"
published in the December number of the Garden-
er^a Monthly, by "Dr. James weed, Muscatine,
Iowa," which is certainly worthy of attention.

The writer seems to widely advocate the grass
for orchards, with the view of promoting a moder-
ately vigorous growth, as most "likely to endure a
severe and trying climate." It is conceded that
the fruit fiom cultivated orchards is larger and
fairer, but that from the grass orchard was of fair
size and " abundant." He concludes, the impatient
ones, " willing to incur the risk of losses from
blight and severe winters, will plant in corn and
hoed crops." Others who are disposed to be
always on the side of safety, and are reluctant to
loose valuable trees occasionally when grown, will,
we think, prefer grass culture." — The writer claims
a further advantage in the cleanness of the fruit
when it drops from the tree. He does not say
anything about mowing the grass, but leaves us to
infer the mowing at least once in the season, else
the apples could not be conveniently gathered.

We know clean Culture with the cultivator and
hoe costs time--^and time is money. The grass
system is much the cheapest in outlay, and if no
other, than two to three years, in the length of
time required to bring a young orchard into bear-
ing, and a little inferiority in size of the fruit, com-
prised the objections to the system, its advocates
would rapidly multiply upon assurance of these
facts to the public.

The objections named, which seem to be the only
ones conceded by the article in question, are not,
in our view, the principle ones existing agaibst
sowing the orchards to grass. If grass culture is
adopted, it must be continued, otherwise the evils
supposed to be guarded off thereby, would as cer-
tainly follow the introduction of the plow as if the
land had been continually cultivated. In this light
the evil may be seen in its most objectionable fea-
tures. All old meadows become hard and sterile,
imparting Bterrility to all crops, not excepting
trees, with which the grass roots come in contact,
and surround. — These old meadows are a paradisal
nursery for most noxious insects and animals de-
structive to trees and fruit. Plowing and culture
destroy the eggs and nests of the one and the bur-
rows of the other. Bark lice, the destroyer of the
tree, as the apple moth is of the fruit, seldom httack
to injure free growing cultivated trees, but infest
especially those diseased, or from any cause, mak-
ing a slow growth. If the writer has seen a free
growing orchard "fifteen years "in grass, he has
the advantage of us. We never did. We never
saw one five years in grass, which had not lost at
least three of those five years in gtowth and healthy
appearance.

We are free to admit that trees protected at the
roots by an aftermath of fine grass, may escape
injurious freezing of the roots, which wOuld destroy
a subject of clean culture with the roots unprotected
in severe winters, during which little snow falls.
But this is easily prevented by mulching.
^We do not consider the breaking of a few surface

roots with the plow damaging in its effects upon
well cultivated trees, but rather beneficial, conduc-
ing to fruit-bearing, and checking overgrowth.
Some of our best grape growers deprive the young
vine of all roots near the surface, when one year
in vineyard, to promote these objects. If the vine,
with its netting of surface roots, may be benefitted
by surface root pruning, why not the apple tree
with its perfect system of downward striking roots ?
This method of root pruning to check overgrowth
and promote productiveness, if not of course tin
bes«^^, doing the work roughly and imperfectly.
The careful cultivator can, if he will, by judicious
root pruning with the spade and knife in mid-sum-
mer, check any tendency to a sappy orergrowtii,
and command the productiveness of his trees. By
root pruning he will leave no surface roots to be
necessarily broken, with the plow, will check late
growth and will fruit his trees at any age desirable,
and by combining therewith winter mulching, be
enabled to grow any hardy variety of the apple
without resorting to the exhaustive system of grass
culture to check over-luxuriant growth. Such is
our view of the matter. If, however, an orchard
may be grown and fruited profitably by sowing
and keeping to grass, in any part of the Northwest
where clean culture with mulching will not do
after a fair trial, let us have the facts. — Homestead
Iowa.

«■»

The London Gardener's Chrordde says of
the iV'ortnern Spy apple, in England: "Finer fla-
vored specimens we never tasted of this, the mcsc
delicious of United States apples, as well as one of
the very fiaest of table varieties. We prefer it to
the bust Newtown Pippin.

say 16 feet long,

it leans against a stable, barn

management of Poultry.

Almost every family, however poor have or ca:i
have its own chickens and eggs. And the follow-
ing hints will prove useful to all such of your reai'
ers as wish to raise chickens successfully.

Hen House. — Your hen-houses should be roomv,
10 feet wide, 10 feet high, wheiu
or wagon shed, and
seven feet high at its lower side. And its front
face — which should face the south — should hav^
glazed windows on hinges to let in the sun'.s
warmth and light in winter, and for the admissio;!
of fresh air in summer. The hen house may if de-
sirable, be built at the end of the hog pen, or over
it.

2. Roosting Place. — ^The roosting place of your
hens should consist of a ladder-like frame, whose
slats are about 18 inches apart, that can be leano(?
against the rear of the house at any desired incl -
nation. As the hens in roosting always occupy the
highest places first, this will bring them close to
gether, and keep them warmer in winter. And \\\
summer this ladder may be raised up to a level, s >
as to keep them farther apart and cooler. Th
floor should be made of stone, sand and lime, con-
creted or cemented together so as to form a har I
and dry floor and keep out rats. And a few shov
elsful of dry, pulverized clay sprinkled over t\ii
floor every week or two, will absorb all the moist

196

TliE ILLINOIS FAEMEK

July

six tines being placed further apart. —
Tliis machine was also drawn by three
yoke of oxen. The horse machine had
trucks in front and weigh about nine
hundred pounds each, trucks included,
while the ox spader without trucks
M-eighs about six hundred pounds. —
With these latter the work is not as
well done, from the fact that the speed
of the oxen is not as regular as that of
horses. The wide machine, which
spades five acres a day, does not appear
to require more power to draw it than
the other, both having the same num-
ber of tines to the fork probably ac-
count for the apparent discrepancy. A
trial is to be made with the horge ma-
chine to see if the effect is the same ; if
80 another acre a day will be added to
its capacity. The last mentioned spader
has worked six days and spaded thirty
acres. For twelve days the two ox
spaders were put in a gang drawn by
the six yoke of oxen driven by one man
and average eight acres a day, but they
arc found to do better singly, and it is
nut probable unless very short handed
that they will be worked together again.
The aggregate amount of spading done
up to June 1st, inclusive, was five
hundred and two acres, at an average
cost of seventy-five cents an acre, mak-
ing a saving of seventy-five dollars on
each hundred acres, over the use of the
])iOw, This must be looked npon as a
vast stride in the field of progress, and
will at no distant day have the eftect to
cheapen the great farm staples, for it is
not so much in the saving of labor as
in I he increased crop that will be pro-
duced by the superior work accom-
plished.

By the use of the spader the soil is loos-
nccd up to the depth of eight inches,
without throwing to the bottom the free

potash that has become disintigrated
by long exposure to the atmosphere ;
and which, upon being buried again to
that depth, would become fixed and no
longer available to the young plants,
which nmst await the slow process of
areation to prepare a new supply.

"We shall devote another chapter to
the subject of areation.

My Brother.

My brother's bands are large and brown,

His cheek has caught the hue,
And yet there beats within his breast,

As tender heart and true,
Fair lady with tlie lily hand,

As that possessed by you.

My brother is a faimcr boy.

And bears no titled name,
Save such as Nature's noblemen,

O'er all the world may claim.
More precious far than gold and gems.

And better far than fame.

That life has other noble tasks,

I willingly allow ;
But I I'refer nny brother's choice.

Whose brown hands hold the plow.
Who earns his portion by the sweat

Upon his noble brow.

I think a brother's love is strong —

A sister's is. I know,
These ties which eaily life impose.

While years so swiftly go,
Will bind like triple chains the heart,

And must eternal grow.

COUNTRT QlRI,.

The White Willow Controversy.

We have received the following copy of a letter
of 0. B. Galusha to F. K. Phoenix in regard to the
statement of the Rural New Yorker, as copied into
the Farmer last month. We have no doubt that
this misunderstanding will all be cleared up, for
misunderstanding it must be. That large amounts
of swamp willow have been sold, there appears to
be little doubt, but that regular nurserymen should
send men into the swamps to cut it, is beyond our
belief. That they may have been imposed upon to
some extent, is more probable. We have no anxi-
ety in regard to the position that the white willow-
will yet hold in the fence row. Our farmers will
soon learn to use strong cuttings, and will make

w^

.-■H-

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FARMER

197

of it thousands of miles tf valuable fence, especial-
ly in all low, moist lands, where the osage will not
thrive : - , .

Lisbon, May 30, '64.

F. K. Phcekix : — I returned home from the north
on Saturday last, and was much surprised and
grieved to see the article in the Rural New Yorker.
I well remep-ber, when on the way to the Fair at
Rockford, conversing with Brogdon about the wil-
low speculation, and naturally about the cheats
which had been practiced. We ?poke of the accu-
sation against you, which I had before on several
occasions heard mentioned by different persons,
but I distinctly stated that I did not and could not
believe it. Neither Friend B. or any other person
can say that I have ever mentioned this except
(when introduced) to express plainly "my opinion
of its being without foundation. I neither do or
have ever believed the report, or ever given the
impression to others that I did so. Friend Biag-
don has unintentionally mixed me up with this
matter, with those, if any, who are inclined to
credit the rumor.

I will write him to-day. I very much regret that
such rumors should arise, and have never aided in
any way their circulation as reflecting against your
reputation. I hope you will soon establish your
honor in this regard, and that this matter may
not prove any serious injury to you.

Yours truly,

(Signed) 0. B. Galtjsha.

From the Country Gent.

The Apple Convention.

A VISION.

As I was sitting one afternoon in my study, (my
physician having forbidden the use of my eyes, and
my amanuensis having left me for the day.) my
thoughts as I sat musing naturally ran over what
I had just been listening to — the proceedings of
the Fruit Growers' Society of Western New York,
the Illinois Horticultural Society, &c. Various
objects flitted before my vision in this state of half
consciousness — fruit trees — orchards — piles of rud-
dy specimens — crowds of men engaged in discus-
sion— until, assuming a distinct form, I found my-
self in a large and brilliant hall with a crowded au-
dience, reminding me of seme of the meetings of
the American Pomological Society. A large num-
ber of persons sat on the platform, many of them
rather singular in appearance, mostly with round,
ruddy faces, although a few of them bore a deci-
dedly sour expression. I inquired of a gentleman
at my side who these individuals were — he told me
they were certain candidates to public favor, many
of whom considered themselves as having been
misrepresented or aspersed by the community, and

that this convention had been called to allow tl.em
to present their jnst claims and to make their de-
fence, and that the body of the convention consist-
ed of orchardists and fruit-growers from all parts
of the country. Some of these fruit-grower.s he
stated, felt considerable hostility to a portion of
the gentlemen on the platform, and they had ecme
there with the express purpose of having them re-
moved.

On looking about the hall, I could not fail to ob-
serve its brilliant appearance — the chandeliers
were tastefully hung with beautiful strings and
festoons of grapes, while rich hanging baskets were
displayed in various directions loaded with fruit.
This fruit was arranged with the richest and most
tasteful combination of colors I had ever seen —
the fine, purple bloom-dustod plums, the crimson
of peaches and nectarines, the brilliant scarlet of
some of the handsome apples, golden colored apri-
cots and pears, and the various tinted grapes were
arranged with a richness of combination hardly
exceeded by the colors of the rainbow. The v.-^Jls
were decorated with fine paintings of fruit, views
of loaded fruit trees, gardens and orchards, i-nd
portraits of several distinguished pomologists. —
While I was intently observing these objects, the
convention had organized by the appointment of
a dignified and venerable gentleman as chairman,
whom I discovered at a glance to be no other tl-an
the present head officer of the American Pemolo-
gicitl Society ; and the Secretaries were our exc:-I-
lent friend Charles Downing, and the intelligt iit
and energetic Barry of the Mount Hope nurseries
at Eoches or

The chairman called the convention to order,
and opened the business as toUows : "Gentlemen
Fruit Growers and Orchardists of the United States
— we have met to perform a most important and, I
trust, lasting service to the whole American co:n-
rcunity. My worthy friends whem you see now as-
sembled upon this platform, have rendered to soma
of you their most valuable services; and I imi
sorry to learn that in some instances these services
have either been unappreciated or else have rciilly
possessed but slight intrinsic value. We have met
to settle this difference, and, without further re-
mark on my part, I shall proceed to introduce to
you the occupants of the platform that they mrxy
speak for themselves." With this remark he beck-
oned to a gentleman who sat near him, who imme-
diiitely rose and come forward. I was at once
struck with his appearance — there was an air of
confidence and self satisfaction both in his su-p,
and the round, healthy, ruddy appearance of his
countenance, which indicated that he had long
been a recipient of public favor. The chairman
announced him as "Mr. Baldwin, from Massachu-
setts," when he spoke as follows: "Gentlemen, you
will bear me witness, or at least many of you will,
that for many years, past I ^have been your best
friend. I have enabled you to obtain larger re-
turns from your land, wherever you have employed
me in your service, than any other gentleman bo-
fore you— although I see one of my friends he: e
from Rhode Island, and another from Roxbury
shake their heads at this remark — they shall be
heard for themselves at the right time. You my
travel through the whole length and breadth of
the New England States, you may visit New Yor!-,
and even Michigan, and you will find but one voice

l'.)4

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEB.

July

On visiting Mr. S. we found tliat not
oiiljhimself but foreman and all hands
Isad spader on the brain. Mr. Comstock
the inventor, (not the oi divant Prof, of
trre coltur6\ was present, and it might
bo that he mesmerized the parties so
as to produce the effect so fully appa-
rent.

Note book in hand, with a copy of
Daboll in our pocket, or at least a vivid
recollection of its pages as conned in
boyhood, we were fully armed against
any sinister influence from those in
cliarge, with the inventor included. —
For two days we gave it a thorough in-
vestigation, and are now satisfied that
we can speak of it by the card. A
careful account has been kept of the
work, which will give a very correct
idea of the value of the implement in a
];ibor-saving point of view. There are
four of these spaders in use on the farm,
each of which is in some respect differ-
ent from the others. We will describe
tliem somewhat At length.

In the first place, the machine con-
sists of a cylindrical cast iron frame, in
t\\Q ends of which there are slots, in
vrhich the cam or forks to which the
tines are attached, work. In passing
aiound the drum there is a stationary
bead or eccentric that changes the rela-
tive position of the forks in the slots,
bringing them in position to enter the
ground at the front, and so soon as they
h'vve passed the center, to fold back on
t;;e machine. They can also be folded
ir.) to pass around the ends of the land,
nv in passing from one field to another.
They enter the ground in a natural pro-
jection, like the spade in the hands of
ii man, ^iid, leaving the soil in the same
Avay, giving it a sudden shake by which
it is broken up and left in a tine condi-
tion. The lifting and shaking of the

earth behind the machine keeps it in a
constant flutter, like the water after a
stern wheel steamer.

LAKGE FOUR H0K8E SPADEE.

This spader is three feet long with a
cylinder of two feet diameter. It has
twelve forks with six tines eacli. The
cut is six and one- fourth inches ; that is,
the spading tines enter the ground that
distance apart. This distance is uni-
form in all the machines. This machine
has been run twenty six and three -
fourths days, and had spaded one hun-
dred and sixty acres, or within a frac-
tion of six acres a day ; in fact, so near
tliat it might be called six acres.

SMALL FOUR HORSE SPADER.

This spader is twenty-one inches in
diameter, has ten forks with five tines
each. Being less in diameter the mo-
tion is about oviK-Mih. quicker than the
large spader; and having less tines it
apparentlj' works with less power. In
every respect this is the best machine
and the one to be adopted for general
use. The team attached to these ma-
chines traveled at the rate of two and
three-eighths miles an hour, which will
give for ten hours' work something over
the six acres ; but there is always a loss
of time in turning and stoppages, and
the only safe way to get at the amount
of work done, is as stated above, taking
the peiformance of several days. To
plow an acre with furrow slice of one
foot requires eight and a fifth miles of
travel, just about what a good team will
average in half a day ; in fact, unless
the lands are half a mile long they will
but seldom accomplish this amount,
and oftener plow three-fourths of an
acre in half a day of five hours. It will
be seen that the teams alluded to trav-
eled sixteen and a half miles a day, be-
sides passing around the ends of the

86 4.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

im

lands and in going to and from their
work. We think this is a good average
days' work ; full as much as can be ex-
pected of any good team. A team
hauling a load on a solid road will travel
more miles in a day ; but in plowing
we must take into consideration numer-
ous stoppages that take in the aggregate
no little amount of time. The teams that
work the two spaders are no more than
a fair average of farm teams, either as
to size or speed, and we therefore think
the result will prove a fair average of
what may be expected of the perform-
ance of the spaders. We have seen
various figures and estimates in this
connection, some of which make the
work an acre to the hour. Doubtless
thiis can be done for an hour, but we
prefer the actual showing of a month's
work as above.

We should have stated that the small
spader has worked twenty-six and one-
fourth days, doing the same amount of
work as the other ; in fact, they both
work on the same land and j erform the
same number of "bouts" each. Here
is three hundred and twenty acres, or
half a section, spaded with the use of
eight horses and two men. They have
but to work eighteen days more at the
same rate to save in labor the cost of
the two machines, four hundred dollars.

THE SAVING- OF LABOR.

We see that one man and four horses
spade as much in a day as three men
and six horses turn over with the plow,
making the saving of one team and two
men, which will stand thus :

1 day team and man $3 00

1 day team 1 50

$4 50

Spading six acres at the cost of sev-
enty-five cents per acre :

8 days team and three men $9 00

or one dollar and a half per acre ; thus
making a saving of one-half in the cost
of plowing, without taking into account
the extra cost of the spader, but this
we offset against the cost of sharpening
the plow, which expense is not requir-
ed in the spade tines, as they are self
sharpening. The three dollars a day
cha,rged is intended to cover the use of
team, spader and wages of the man.

The spader pulverizes the soil to the
depth of eight inches, while the average
of spring plowing for corn is not to ex-
ceed four inches. We are not disposed
in this connection to speculate on the
difference in value of the two modes of
preparing the soil, but prefer to leave it
to the actual fact of the crop, as seven-
ty-five acres hare been plowed and
spaded in alternate steps of one hundred
and thirty feet wide, an amount suffi-
cient for a pretty thorough test. The
saving of labor as stated we do not think
can be controverted.

ox TEAM SPADEE8,

Two other spaders are used with ox
teams. One of these is three feet wide,
with a diameter of seventeen inches.
The speed of the oxen being slow, not
exceeding one and a half miles an hour,
the motion of the machine must be reg-
ulated by a less diameter. To this ma-
chine was attached three yoke of oxen,
and in fourteen days had averaged four
acres a day or fifty-six acres. Neither
yoke of these cattle could have handled
a common plow to do good work. This
spader had eight forks with six tines
each. The other spader was made three
feet and eight inches wide, intended for
the width of a corn row, to which was
to be attached a corn planter. This
had not been done, though the idea is
not abandoned. This spader has also
eight forks but no increase of tine^ the

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rifl1lilii¥M'SVfi?iTiifhi<Tiiaili

200

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

July

ure of the hen dung or droppings, and so keep the
house free from bad odor.

3. Breed of Chickens. — Carefully avoid breed-
ing your chickens from the same stock of fowls, or
from fowls closely allied to each other, for this will
invariably produce a small, delicate and unprofita-
ble stock, while cross-breeding of choice different
kinds of poultry will just as certainly yield you a
large, strong, healthy and very profitable supply
of hens and roosters.

4. Ego Nests. — The butter or lard tubs or box-
es, procurable at any grocer's, put on shelves rais-
ed two or three feet above the floor, at the rear or
sides of the hen-house, make the best laying nests
as their well-soaked greasiness will keep the hen
lice entirely away, as no hen louse can live on or
in grease. And hence it would, for the same rea-
son, be well to give the entire roosting ladder an
occasional greasing. And the boxes aforesaid
should be frequently cleansed and supplied with
fresh straw or hay.

5. Young Chickens. — As the earliest hatched
chickens, provided they have a dry, warm and sun
exposed house or coop, free from lice, generally do
the best ; the hens should be set to hatching about
the middle of February or the first of March, but
have fewer eggs than common so that they may
cover them well and keep them equally warm. —
And the young chicks should be kept off the cold
ground and out of the wet, and in a dry, warm
place, and fed with warm food, until they are old
and strong enough to do without warm food. If a
setting hen looks pale about the head, it is a sure
sign that she is lousy. To remedy this evil clean
out her nest, wash her eggs in warm water and
grease her under her wings and on her breast and
belly, and put her back again and feed her well
and she will soon improve and do well.

6. Eggs in Winter. — To make your hens lay in
winter, they must have a clean, dry and warm
house, and be fed on scraps of flesh or unsalted
meat, fat, finely powdered bones or oyster f hells
or refuse lime, green cabbage leaves, &c., and have
a proper supply of pure and unfrozen water to
drink. Hot Indian corn, buckwheat and oatmeal
contain a large amount of heat producing qualities
and so form the best winter food for laying hens.

7. Gapes in Chickens. — Holding gappy chickens
in or over tobacco smoke until they have inhaled
smoke enough to make them sneeze two or three
times, is said to be an infallible cure for this dis-
ease.

Sun Flower Seed. — Chickens are very fond of
sunflower seed, which not only fattens them very
quickly, but make their , flesh very tender, juicy
and fine flavored. And so it will be well for you
to plant sunflowers in some corner of your grounds
for this purpose. — Rural American.

Do Bees Injure Grapes ?

At a late meeting of the Cincinnati Horticultu-
ral Society, this subject receivod the following at-
tention :

"Mr. Wells said he wished to relate a circum-
stance about bees. Last winter soon after the very
cold weather, he was out in his yard on a mode-

rately pleasant day, and his attention was attracted
by the buzzing of bees around his head. On look-
ing up he saw a perfect stream of bees coming
from a certain hive of his apiary, and after per-
forming the circuit around his head returning to
the hives. This induced him to go and see what
the trouble was. On examining the hive he found
that all the honey had been consumed, and he con-
cluded that the bees had been trying to convey
this alarming intelligence to him whom they look-
ed up to as their natural protector.

"This brought up the general subject concerning
bees aad the effects of the severe winter upon
them. It appeared from various statements made,
that a great many swarms were killed by the cold
weather. In response to this information, Mr.
Sanford said he wished the cold weather had killed
them all within a circle of ten miles around Cin-
cinnati.

"Mr. Addis replied warmly to this wholesale de-
nunciation of bees. He said he presumed the re-
mark was made on account of the supposed injury
that bees committed on grapes. But the scientific
members of the Society, such as Dr. Warder and
Dr. Whipple, had assured him that the honey-bee
never atacked the perfect grape.

"Dr. Whipple, being present, stated that he was
fully persuaded that the honey-bee never made the
first attack on grapes. But after the fruit had be-
come punctured by wasps or other insects, then
the bees would come and suck the sweet juiee from
the opening made. Mr. Hodge, living one and
one-half miles from him, was a wine-grower, and
they both pressed their grapes in a common wine-
press. Mr. Hodge would not keep bees owing to
the alleged injury they committed on grapes. But
when they pressed grapes last fall, it was found
that his (Dr. Whipple's) grapes were no more in-
jured by bees than Mr. Hodge's, although he (Mr.
Whipple) kept bees, and there were none within
a mile and a half of Mr. Hodge's place.

"Mr. Sanford remarked that it was for this very
reason that he wanted them exterminated or re-
moved for distance of ten a miles. Ceasing to keep
them ourselves was no remedy while our neighbors
persisted in keeping them. Our vineyards would
be their pasture-ground the same as though we
kept them ourselves.

'•Mr. A. K. Williams, of Mt. Auburn, said that
if the honey-bee did not injure grapes, the bees of
a certain citizen in his neighborhood were greatly
slandered ; for so wide-spread was the opinion
among nearly all the grape-growers of Mt. Auburn
that the bees of the gentleman referred to, were
ruining their fruit, that they had felt like getting
up an indignation meeting, and see what could be
done in the way of compelling that gentleman to
remove his extensive stock of bees from that neigh-
borhood.

«•»

Bke Robbing. — When bees are robbing, close
the entrance so nearly that but one bee at a time
can escape. At sundown remove the hive to a
secure place well darkened, and keep there for a
week. This will get the robber bees used to the
new neighbors, and they will work and remain with
them. This should be done only when the swarm
is overcome by the robbing bees. Otherwise leave
the swarm on the stands, with the entrance hole
nearly closed. In such a condition they will fight
their way through.

f"»;-.

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FARMER.

201

Treatment op Bee Stings. — Many persons suffer
BO little from bee stings, tliat they fear them no
more than mosquito bites, and this is usually the
case with our most successful apiarians. Others
guffer severely: the slightest sting produces large
swelling and great pain. In such cases, Dr. Lalour
proposes the following treatment: 1. To pull
out the sting, which generally remains in the
wound. 2. To bathe the place with ice-water, or
else acetate of lead or ammonia. 3. To apply an
impenetrable coating of collodion, rendered elastic
by the addition of one-tenth part of castor oil,
whereby the production of heat in the living tissue
is prevented and inflamation avoided.

From the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.

Beer Measure-
It is somebody's duty to protest against the in-
troduction at this time of a new measure under an
old name, called "5eer Measure.^' There is not a
single good reason for its introduction, and as
there must be some reason for any change so radi-
cal and extensive as that sought to be effected by
the change referred to, it follows that the reason
must be a bad one — not unsound merely but mor-
ally bad. In short there must be some thimble-rig-
ging about it.

Jfow this is pretty plain talk, says the beer-mea-
sure man. Yes, sir, and it is meant to be. It is an
occasion that demands plain talk, and I have been
waiting for somebody to say it for a year past, but
as no one has said it, I can satisfy my conscience
no longer.

I suppose that some good old people who studied
Doboll thirty years ago, will open their eyes and
inquire if there is not ample authority for saying
that there is a wine measure of 231 cubic inches to
the gallon, and a beer measure of 282 cubic inch-
es ? If there are any such, then let them be in-
formed that the laws of the United States recog-
nize but one gallon, which consists of eight lbs. of
pure water at 60 degrees of Fahrenheit, and with
certain other conditions that insure accuracy. The
State of New York also has a statute gallon which
is just the same in quantity, and both are the old
English wine gallon of 231 cubic inches. It is not
the present imperial and legal gallon of Great Bri-
tain, that having been altered by act of parliament
from both.

That is the law and gospel of gallons. "What-
soever is more than these cometh of evil."

Suppose one of our cheese factory men wh» talk
so much about beer measure, should in one of his
vssits to the great city to look into the market,
chance into front street to buy some stores for his
family. He inquires the price of sirup — say Stu-
art's extra sirup. "Well, $1 25," says the bland
salesman. "All right," replies Oneida Co., "as far
as the price goesj but I always buy by beer meas-
ure." "Beer measure ?" asks the grocer. And I
know what else he would say. He would say,
"Friend, we are considered sharp in New York,
but we can't keep even with you. I would advise
you to go OTer to the North river side ; they will

accommodate you with any kind of measure you
want over there." [I hope my North River side
readers will pardon this expression ; they will rec-
ognize the naturalness of the remark.]

Oneida county would begin to feel ashamed of
himself by that time, and possibly inquire why
measures that are good enough to be used in all
the transactions of 30,000,o00 of people, from the
measure of brandy at $10 the gallon, down to ci-
der or vinegar at 31|- gallons to the barrel, is not
good enough to measure milk with ?

I tell you, gentlemen, there is thimble-rigging
about it. It is not square. It is not honest. Some-
body is to be cheated.

Don't blame the editors of the Country Gent, for
printing my plain talk. I have written a good
many pages for their paper, and I never offended
anyone before, but here is a case that demands
plain talk. The honor of the professsion demands
that all this nonsense about beer measure should
be dispensed with. It demands it for two reasons :
1st. It is a falsehood — there is no beer measure.
2d. It is illegal.

You may make all the contracts you please and
stamp them with all sorts of stamp?, and seal them
with all sorts of seals, and there is not a court in
New York State that will enforce a contract for a
beer gallon. They will tell you that the word beer
is tautological, but that gallon is gallon, and con-
sists of eight pounds of water or a certain well un-
derstood fraction of milk above that — say SJ lbs.,
which is near the truth.

I will relate one incident appropos to this, and I
have done, for I believe in short sermons. Some
years ago two men called upon me, and announced
their business as of a peculiar and personal nature.
A lawyer who thought I knew more about milk
than he did, had sent them to me for advice. They
were brothers-in-law, and one of them had bought
the other's milk for the preceding summer, and
had worked it up with his own into cheese. A
price had been agreed upon by the gallon, but
when pay-day came the buyer raised objections to
the seller's bill. He had discovered as DaboU and
some absurd modern copyists of Daboll who made
school books, say, that the beer gallon consists of
282 cubic inches, and that according to the au-
thority quoted, this measure was used also for
milk [!] and other coarse articles ! and so he wanted
to throw off 51 gallons from every 285 of his broth-
er's bill.

What my advice to these brothers were may be
inferred. I never heard how they settled it, but I
hope that honest counsels prevailed. Truth.

Coffee and Tea Ccltitre in California. — ^The
cultivation of coffee and tea promises to become
an important business in California. One nursery
at Sacramento has over five thousand coffee plants
on trial, and it is believed that there will be no dif-
ficulty in hanging up the plant to a standard of
hardiness to weather the mild winter of that cli-
mate. Near the Mission Dolores several thousand
tea plants have been raised during the last year.
The tea plant is grown in China and Japan very
extensively in latitudes corresponding to all Cali-
fornia, and the San Francisco journals think there
can be little doubt that it will be cultivated here-
after, for household purposes at least, on every
farm in that State.

206

THE ILLmOIS FAKMEK.

July

Remedy for Boise and Blood Spavin. — Here-
with I send )'ou a recipe for a blistering ointment
•which I have tried with success both on blood
and bone spavinii, and many other ills that horse-
flesh is heir to. I have found it a very valuable
remedy, and one I would not be deprived of for a
great deal — it is perfectly safe, does not prevent
the growth of hair, nor require that the animal
should rest under its application. Pulverized can-
tharides 1 oz ; oil origanum 2 oz ; Venice turpen-
tine 4 oz ; oil sassafras 2 oz. Soalt well and ap-
ply freely on the spavin. One or two applications
will cause a sore, and it will be necessary to desist
until it heals, when the application must be re-
newed, and repeated until cure is effected. The
remedy is perfectly safe, and will be effectual if
persevered in. — Oor. Rural N. Yorker.

About Sheep. — We find more Merino sheep up-
on hills than others ; and tliat is the place for
them. They are short nihblers and good little
climbers. A large sheep asscends a hill with more
difficulty, and has a larger mouth. Such a nheep,
like cattle, you want on a rich, level, or rolling
soil. Our prairies are fitted exactly for such a
sheep. But, then, the Merino will do equally well
here. For wool, let us again urge the Merino ; for
mutton, the long-wooled. The South Down is a
hardy sheep and an excellent nurse, which is an
excellent point. The Leicesters (we are now
speaking of the long-wooled) are more delicate.
The Oxfordshire seems to combine most of the de-
sirable qualities of this kind of sheep. It does
well for wool, well for mutton, and well for raising
lambs. It is the best for a general sheep, where
but one kind is kept.

may bo used instead
all the pioperties of

The Use of Lime. — Lime
of manure, as it has nearly

manure. It is one of the most efflcieni aids the
farmer has. But it cannot always be used, because
it is not always found in the locality, and to trans-
port it from a distance, makes it costly.

Let farmers, then, always bear in mind that
lime is a manure; and let tliem bear another thing
in mind, that lime has properties valuable to the
farmer which manure has not. Lime sweetens
your sour, wet soils ; it is an enemy to sorrel ; it
adds mealiness and sweetness to potntocs and
roots : it strengthens and brightens the straw of
your grain, which lodges the less in consequence ;
and it lasts for years without a lenewal.

A hundred bushels of lime to the acre, on soil
that never has been limed, is the general rule. But
often much more is used, and oftener much less —
too little.

Croup. — Dissolve half a teaspoonful of ipecac,
in half a tea cup of warm water. Sweeten it, and
give a half or a whole teaspoonful, according to
the age, until vomiting is produced; then give it
in smaller quantities, and less frequently. Wrap
up the child to promote perspiration, bathe the
throat with volatile liniment, or tobacco ointment.
The above will give relief in a short time, if taken
in season. Onion juice and molasses may be given
to vomit, but there should be no delay. It is
known by a peculiar whistling sound in the breath-
ing, and if neglected at all, proves fatal.

Illegal Saxe or Game. — An interesting case
was before the New York Common Pleas Court a
few days since. It was that of Lawrence vs. Far-
rington. An appeal from a judgment of $120 ob-
tained against the defendant, a market man on
Broiidway, near Twentieth street, by the plaintiflF,
who is a member of the New York Sportsman's
Club, for exposing for sale two dozen quails con-
trary to law.

The grounds of appeal were that the law for the
preservation of game, passed April 23, 1862, was
unconstitutional, as it creates a penalty for the
possession of merchandise ; also that it being
shown that the quails exposed for sale were killed
in Illinois, the penalty should not apply in this
State.

The court held the law to be constitutional, it
being deemed necessary for the preservation of
birds to iiuiko the possession of them as well as the
killing, illegal, and that the defendant must show
that the birds were killed in Illinois at the time
when it was not illegal to kill them by the laws of
that State.

Cutting and Curing Clover. — Clover ahould be
cut immediately after blossoming and before the
seed is formed. It should be cured in such a man-
ner as to lose as little of its foliage as possible, and
therefore cannot be treated exactly as the natural
grasses are. It should not be long exposed to the
scorching sun, but after being wilted and partially
dried, it should be forked up into cocks and left
to euro in this position. The fourth or fifth day,
when the weather is fair and warm, open and air
it an hour or two, and it will then be fit to cart to
the barn.

Clover cured in this way without loss of its foli-
age, is better for milch cows and for sheep than
any other hay. It may also be fed_^'to horses that
are not hard worked, or to young stock, but it is
iiiost valuable for cows in milk. For other farm
stock it is worth from two-thirds to three-fourths
as much^s the best hay. — Manuel of Agriculture.

Smoky Chimneys. — A correspondent of the "Lon-
don Builder" gives the following cure for a great
and common evil :

"A smoky chimney and a scolding wife are two
of the worst evils of domestic life, says an old
proverb, and to obviate the first evil, ingenuity is
ever racking its brain. Hence, Regent street and
every part of the metropolis has its house tops
bristling with pipes, and deformed by cowls of
every conceivable variety. Now, I have built
many chimneys, in all possible situations, and
found one simple plan everywhere succeeded, the
secret being only to construct the throat of the
chimney, or the part just above the fire-place, so
small that man or boy can barely pass through it.
Immediately above the chimney should be enlarged
to double its width, like a purse, to the extent of
about two feet in height, and then diminish again
to the usual proportions. No chimney that I ever
constructed thus, smoked.

Gigantic Australian Tree. — In a gorge on the
declivity of the Mount Wellington range, near To-
losso, about six miles from Hobart Town, a tree of
the blue gum species was found ,to be 84 feet in
circumference.

' ■■-^'^'t'

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEK

207

Vegetables for Cattle. — All kinds of vegeta-
bles, such as carrots, turnips, potatoes, &c., when
offered as food for cattle, should be sliced or bruis-
ed. Many valuable animals of the bovine species
die, ascidentallv, in consequence of devouring-
greedily, and without mastication, one of the above
vegetable productions ; ocoasiouallv, however, an
unmasticated apple is the cause of the diflSculty.

In view therefore of preventing the accident of
choking, which results from swallowing a substance
too large for the capacity of the esophagus, or
gullet, I advise husbandmen to slice, bruise or
grind the same ; for when a large foreign body of
the above kind becomes firmly lodgad in the gullet
it cannot easily be removed without endangering
the life of the animal.

The primary act of mastication in cattle is not
of a very thorough character ; the stomach is often
called upon to perform labor which properly be-
longs to the teeth ; the old story is, that the do-
mesticated bovine is an indifferent masticator, and
the act is a careless affiiir ; therefore all food of
the above character should be artificially prepared.

How TO MAKE A Stock Pond. — A. Subscriber
sends us the following : "Select a site near the
head of a ravine (clay soil), so that the natural sur-
face of from one to three acres will drain the wa
ter to it. Scoop out sufficient soil to form a dam,
at least three feet v/ide on the top, with sloping
sides inside and out. The depthof the pond if five
or six feet, will be sufficient to support any ordin-
ary farm stock the year round. An open tube of
plank one foot square and eight feet long, placed
near the top of the embankment, will carry off the
surplus water."

Hogs Eating Grass. — To see a large hog in a
rattling yoke, eating grass, reminds one of old-
fashioned times. An improvement has taken
place. Now and then we find porkie eating his
grass in the pen, where his economical mastur has
carried it to him. It will do you good to see him
(porkie) moving his tail (thinking he has one,) and
satisfiedly take his grass with the rest of the grass-
eating world. The grass should be out when short
and tender, and when moist. The dew on is a good
time. The hog will lose no flesh on grass alone;
improve with a little addition of milk, refuse of
the kitchen, &c. The grass comes in opportunely
when food happens to get short, as is sometimes
the case, especially when milk breaks off in August
and September.

Beans. — The cheapest and most nutritious vege-
table used for food is beans. Prof Liebig says
that pork and beans form a compound or substance
peculiarly adapted to furnish all that is necessary
to support life. A quart of beans and a half pound
of pork will feed a small family for a day with good
strengthening food. Four quarts of beans and two
pounds of corned beef, boiled to rags in fifty qnarts
of water will furnish a good meal for forty men.
■ «•»

Making Butter in Winter. — A farmer's wife
says in the Homestead, a little salt stirred into the
milk occasionally, while setting, will prevent the
white particles of curd so frequently seen" — an
excellent thing, if true.

Care of Sheep. — The best authorities say to
most diseases may be kept off by care and go
feeding. We see no reason to dispute this. Pe
pie who afford good shelter in winter for the'
sheep, even if the winter is 1 ^ ornble, and goo
feed the year round, are never iv > .til^d with gru
in the head among their sheep ; at j« st we neve
found it prevalent. It is wonderful ho.v ;.<<^od feed
fortifies; and good shelter and attention are feed
virtually. The humane man who has intelligence
will see to these things. Keep the grub out of th
head by putting grub into the stomach, says Dr
Dadd. . . ' ;

To Stop Blkedikg on Man or Beast. — A
Kemper, Ross county, Ohio, w?it;>s that bleeding
from a wound on man or bea^t may be stopped by
a mixture of wheat flour av.d common salt, in
equeal parts, bound on with a i-loth. If the bleed-
ing be profuse, use a large qutintity, say from one
to three pints. It may be left for hours, or even
days, if necessary. In this manner he saved the
life of a horse which was bleeding from a wounded
artery ; the bleeding ceased in five minutes after
the application. It was left on three days, when it
worked loose, was easily removed from the wound,
which very soon healed.

To Free Molasses from its Sharp Taste. — Take
twenty-four pounds of molasses, twenty-four of wa-
ter, and six pounds of charcoal, coarsely pulver-
ized ; mix them in a kettle, and boil the whole over
a wood fire. When the mixture has boiled half
an hour, pour it into a flat vessel, in order that
the charcoal may subside to the bottom; then pour
off the liquid, and plHce it over the fire once more,
that the superfluous water may evaporate, and the
molasses brought to their former consistency.
Twenty-four pounds of molasses will produce
twenty-four pounds of sirup.
^ -«»> _

Apple Molasses. — Take new sweet cider, just
from the press, made from sweet apples, and boil
it down as thick as West India molasses. It
should be boiled in brass and not burned, as that
would injure the flavor. It will keep in the cellar,
and is said to be as good, and for many pvu-poses
better than the West India molasses.

A Good Recipe for Vinkgar. — Take forty gal-
lons rain water, one gallon mcdasses, and four
pounds acetic acid. It will be fit for use in a few
days. Acetic acid costs twenty-five cents per
pound. This is the recipe by which most of the
cider vinegar is made, which is sold in the country
stores.

GiKGSR Skaps. — Take two cups molasses, one
cup lard, one tablespoonful ginger, one teaspoonful
salt, two teaspoonfuls soda. Let these ingredients
boil up once, and then add flour untill stiff enough
to roll out, and bake in a quick oven.

Weeping Oaks. — The most distinctly pendulous
oak is Quercus pednnculaea pendula, a very lively
tree, combining grace with majesty. The weeping
Turkey oak, Q. cerris pendula is a great beauty. —
Gardener's Weekly.

204

THE ILLmOIS FAEMEPw.

July

The Best Time to Sow Grass Seed.

I have an impression that experimental knowl-
edge is the most valuable for the farmer. For
more than half a century I have been experiment-
ing to find the best time to sow griiss seed. For
more than 30 of the first years of my farming, I
did as my neighbors did ; we supposed that the
spring months were the only proper ones for that
purpose. But later in life, by reading agricultural
papers, I discovered that some enterprising farmers
were successful in sowing their grass seed in
August or September. I tried the experiment
with complete success; that being the season it
would naturally fall, it appeared evident to my
mind that it was the right one. But still later I
have not been particular, and have sowed grass
seed at any season when my ground was prepared
to receive it, and if the seed was good it has uni-
formly vegetated and done well.

Last fall we (my son and myself) after harvest-
ing my potatoes from the low, wet soil, which
would not admit of seeding down in early sp'ing,
sowed herds-grass and red top seed on the 14th
and 15th of October upon said potato field, doubt-
ing, but still hopiug for the best; and now the 8th
of July, it bids fair to give us the best crop of hay
produced on any of my faim lots. This grass prob-
ably will require two weeks longer to grow than
that which has been seeded down longer. I think
I never saw seed vegetate better at any season.
Grass seed will vegetate a long time after being
sowed. In the spring of 1862, I seeded down a
lot of good ground, but rather dry, with red-top
seed ; the months of June and July were uncom-
monly dry and at the middle of August there was
no appearance of a grass sprout on the piece. On
the 10th of August, the same year, it began to rain
profusely and continued raining for several weeks
till the ground was saturated. In September, more
than four months after the seed was sown, every
seed seemed to vegetate, and the ground appeared
like a beautiful lawn. And on the wliole, I have
concluded that any time when our land is in a good
state of preparation to receive the seed, is the best
time to sow it. — Silas BRowif, in Boston Cultivator.

West Virginia.

The Parkersburg Gazette has the following ac-
count of the natural resources and attractions of
the new State of West Virginia :

The largest portion of the State of "West Virgin-
ia is diversified with hills, and much of it is moun-
tainous ; but nearly all is adapted to some species
of profitable agriculture. Yet the main value of
this large tract of country will ultimately be found
in its extraordinary mineral wealth and its capacity
for manufacturing.

In proportion to its territory it is superior, as
an agricultural field, to Massachusetts or Western
Pennsylvania, for all purposes of manufacture, we
far surpass either. With all the water power either
of them possess, our climate gives us better use of
the power, and it has, beside its streams, the most
abundant supplies of coal for steam power, and
iron in immense quantities.

But the great wealth of this State is in its min-
erals, which are abundant beyond conception. The
product of petroleum oil as a source of wealth, is
scarcely yet in infancy. Wells are often bored,

yielding from one to two hundred barrels a day
and the oil is daily sold upon our wharves at eight
dollars a barrel, the cost of which with the praeent
low water, is not over lour dollars. A well is now
equal to a mint that makes its own gold There
is in the Eastern markets a demand still greater
than the supply. A question arises in some minda
whether the supply of this oil will continue. It is
inexhaustible, and all the evidences bear us out in
the hypothesis that it is neither an animal nor
coal product, but formed of interior gasses, as coal
is formed, constantly being upheaved to the sur-
face by the action of those gasses, and slowly dis-
charged through the rock fissures, aiid there lying
until tlie pump comes for it. It is in the power
of the pump to raise faster than the supply ; but
our whole earth for a hundred miles around us is
filled with these scams of oil, and while one is be-
ing exhausted another will be filled.

Undoubtedly oil is among our richest sources of
mineral wealth, but there are others of no small
magnitude. In the vicinity of the oil wells lead has
been discovered, evidently in sufiicient quantities
for profitable mining. The ore has been analyzed
by competent men, and yields 80 per cent, of pure
lead. This is equal to the Galena mines, and we
have no doubt they will be profitably worked.

There are thousands of acres of iron ore that is
as rich as can well be worked, yet there is not a
furnace in the whole territory. It would forever
have remained so had we not been relieved from
the oppressions of Eastern Virginia. Professor
Roffers was employed eight years in a geological
survey of the State, and what is now West Virgin-
ia proved so rich in minerals that the contemptible
politicians of the East refused to publish this re-
port because the West would thus become known
and populous, taking the power from the East.

Good Milkers. — It is an easy matter to distin-
guish a good milker. The farthest removed from
the bull the better. As the male has no milking
properties, and the female is devoted to them ; and
none so much as the cow ; so we are to judge from
this principle.

No person of ordinary intelligence would select
a cow with thick neck, heavy bones and a bull-
like disposition. On the other hand, the true c«w,
the good milker, is easily known by its thin neck,
sometimes almost amounting to deformity (the case
with one of ours) ; small bones ; thin, sensitive
hide ; thin tail ; and, most of all, a mild, plaeid
disposition, showing absence of animal heat, which
consumes, or prevents milk from fo'rming. A quiet,
motherly face, denoting intelligence and domestici-
ty, is what is wanted. The reservoir of milk, of
course, must be large, or there cannot be stored a
large quantit)'. A large, well-formed bag, there-
fore is a necessity. A small udder is an invariable
sign of a poor milker. The form and size of a coyt
are not always to be depended upon. The dispo-
sition is perhaps as much, if not more, than any
other one point ; some say than all other points.
We remember a heavy-headed, coarse-bodied cow,
but with the mildest of dispositions, as one of the
best butter makers we know. A good eater, al-
ways healthy. She made during the month of June
15 lbs. of the best butter a week ; and gave a good
flow of milk nearly the whole year round. Avoid
the bull, and seek the farthest opposite qualities
for the best milker.

1864.

THE ILLESTOIS FAEMER.

205

Langpage of Insects. — A most singular discov-
ery, the credit of which appertains, we believe, to
llr. Jesse, is that of the antennal language of in-
sects. Bees and other insects are provided, as
everybody knows, with feelers or antenna. These
are in fact, most delicate organs of touch, warning
of danger, and serving the animals to hold a sort
of conversation with each other, and to communi-
cate their desires and wants. A strong hive of
bees will contain thirty-six thousand workers. —
Each of these, in order to be assured of the pres-
ence of their queen, toucties her every day with
its antennae. Should the queen die or be removed,
the whole colony disperse themselves, and are seen
in the hive no more, perishing every one, and
quitting all the store of new useless honey, which
they had labored so industriously to coUect for
the use of themselves and the larvae. On the con-
trary, should the queen be put into a small wire
cage placed at the bottom of the hive, so that her
subjects can touch and feed her, they are content-
ed, and the business of the hive proceeds as usual.
Mr. Jesse has ;ilso shown that this antennal power
of communication is not confined to bees. Wasps
and ants, and probably other insects, exercise it.
If a caterpillar is placed near an ant's nest, a cu-
rious scene will often aiise. A solitary ant will
perhaps discover it, and eagerly attempt to draw-
it away. Not being able to accomplish this, it
will go up to another ant, and by means of the an-
tennal language, bring it to the caterpiller. Still,
these two, perhaps, are unable to perform the task
of moving it. They will separate and bring up re-
inforcements of the community by the same
means, until a sufficient number are collected to
enable them to drag the caterpillar into their nest.

Men who Mistook their Calling. — Mr. Charles
Mathews made his first appearance in the character
of a student of architecture. Ben Jon.«on was an
apprentice to a brick layer, and then enlisted for a
soldier, before he set up as a wit-co;nbattant with
Shakespeare, and fell out with Inigo Jones, who
was associated with him in the production, of the
fanciful court masques of his day, and before he
was a member of the club Sir Walter Raleigh
founded, and wrote that song, "Drink to me only
with thine eyes," that lies like a loose pearl among
his more lengthy works. James Cook, the navi-
gator, instead of running away to sea like another
Robinson Crusoe, was apprenticed to a small coun-
try shopkeeper, who, however, detecting the wist-
ful glances the lad cast towards the ocean, return-
ed him his indetures. As a reverse to this exam-
ple, enacted within remembrance. Clarkson Stan-
field, R. A., went to sea, instead of turning his
steps straightway to a studio. Mr. Charles Dick-
ens and the younger Disraeli both mistook their
roads on first setting out in life, thinking a lawyer's
office lay in their right paths. Barry Cornwall fell
into the same error, Mr. Thackeray likewise lost
his way at first and tarried in Rome, studying as
an artist. David Roberts, R. A., climbed the lad-
der that led to his present elevation from the level
of a house-painter's apprentice, with an interval of
noviciateship spent as a scene-painter in Drury
Lane Theater. Mr. Ruskin coquetted with the
brush before he took up the pen, as vigorously as
Bishop Colenso attacked algebra before he distin-
guished himself as a theologian. — Builder.

Anothek New Siij^worm. — Most of our readers
know that a few years since the French introduced
a silkworm that feeds on the allanthus, and that it
has been so successful that a very large area in
South France and North Italy is now covered with
allanthus orchards (so called), and that the silk
produced from it is becoming quite an important
article of commerce. Recently the Director of the
Society of Acclimations communicated to the
Academy of Science at Paris the fact, that Mr. Si-
mon had sent from Japan the eggs of a silk worn
that feeds on the oak. That from eighty-three
worms hatched, seventy-seven cocoons were ob-
tained ; that the only feed w^s the common oak ;
that they commenced spinning on the first of June
and ended on the 25th ; that the cocoons are the
size of those of the mulberry worm, and as easily
reared ; that the silk is as fine, is stronger, but not
quite as brilliant. The Japanese name for the
worm is Yama-mai, and the Directer thinks this
worm the most important one yet found.

TnE Oldest Rose Tree.— A botanical as well as
an archajological curiosity is seen nf^w at Hilde-
sheim, in Germany. Ancient legends connect, if
not the foundation of die city, at least the founda-
tions of its see, by the Emperor Louis the Pious,
the son of Charles the Great, with a certain wild
rose tree, which is supposed ty have stood in its
present place on the cemetery of the Dome long
before even those days. Although documentary
evidence as to its existence in Charles the Great's
time is wanting, it is yet distinctly mentioned in a
document of Bishop Hezilo, who in 1078 carried a
fence around it. There is no doubt whatever that
it is the oldest rose tree in Europe ; and for centu-
ries it has attracted the attention of naturalists in
a high degree. But the most extraordinary cir-
cumstance is this, that two new .-hoots have come
out of the root in the course of this summer, the
one of which has already reached a hight of twelve
feet, and its diameter measures no less than an
inch near the root. There is an interesting account
of this tree in Mr. River's invaluable 'Rose Ama-
teur's Guide."

Profitable Sheep.— E. A. Parks, of St. Johns-
bury, Vt. says ;

"I keep about 100 sheep. The flock was at
first of the Leicester breed. I have two rams of
that cross that will weigh 200 lbs. each. They
have yielded fleeces of 13 lbs. each. My whole
flock generally averages 4^ lbs. washed wool. My
flock last year gave me 6* lbs. of wool per head
unwashed, and raised 100 lambs from 98 ewes!
The sheep brotight me in about $4 50 per head
last year, and would have done as well this year if
I had not sold till now. I have mv lambs come in
April or last of March ; keep them under sheds
and give them what good hav thev will eat, and
give them grain when they first come to the barn.
About the first of March I commence giving them

grain, and continue it till they go to pasture.

\Vheu the hay crop is short I give them grain all
winter. I have sometimes bought in Boston the
second quality of beans, when they could be had
cheap. It is a good plan to give sheep some
browse through the winter, and give them sulphur
in their salt occasionally and let them have good
water as they want it."

j,^ -• ^iSi^^ir'riiVV-imt^iiiAiB

202

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

July

h** Advantages and Disadvantages of
Cheese Factories.

One of the most intelligent and experienced
dairymen in the State of New York, Mr. X. A.
Wiliaid, of Little Falls, briefly enumerates the
advantages of cheese factories thus: "The advan
tages claimed for the factory system are superior
quality, uniformity, higher prices, saving by buying
at wholesale such materials as salt, bandage, an-
natto, boxes, etc., and finally, relieving the farmer
and his family from the diudgery of the manufac-
ture and care of cheese." That tUese claims are
just there can be little doubt, and they certainly
go very far to commend the establishment in ques-
tion to public attention and favor. It is easy to
see that a factory superentendent, thoroughly
understanding his business, giving his entire time
and attention to it, and having every fieility for
doing things in the most approved manner, is likely
to produce an article of cheese far superior in
quality to that made, under many difficulties, it
may be in the farmer's family. No doubt, with
special care, as fine an article of cheese can be
made by the individual farmer as by the factor
but it is an unequal contest, in which the obvious
advantages of the factory must have their influence.
Cheese manufictured in small parcels varies much
in quality, and to command a good price, it is nec-
essary to have the quality as uniform .is possible.
The factories have already established for them-
selves a reputation in these respects which secures
for their products the highest price in tiie market.
The produce of single dairies is always bought by
large dealers with an allowance for unequal or im
perfect cheese. But it is affirmed by competent
judges that an aggregate of one hundred thousand
pounds of factory cheese is frequently so uniformly
excellent in quality, that the most practiced eye
can scarcely detect any difference in the manufac-
ture. It is said that factory cheese sells at a price
above that of single dairies equal to the whole cost
of manufacturing. In November, 1862, good cheese
of family manufacture sold from ten to twelve and
a-half cents per pound, while Oneida f ictory cheese
brought fourteen cents, and the larger sizes, weigh-
ing from VOO to 1,000 pounds each, brought in
some cases as high as seventeen cents per pound.
A better price, too, can be afforded by the whole-
sale dealer for the factory made article, because
less time, trouble and expense are consumed in
the purchase. It is as easy to buy the produce of
six hundred or a thousand cows as that of a " twenty
cow" dairy, so far as time and trouble are con-
cerned. Passing over the saving effected in the
materials used in cheese-making, it appears to us
that the relief afforded by the factory plan to the
farmers wives and daughters is an important con-
sideration. This argument is even more weighty
in Canada than in the United States, where the
men assist in dairy operations more largely than is
the case in this country. Here the entire burden
rests on the female members of the family, and
many an overtaxed wife and mother finds the care
of her dairy a very serious addition to her toilsome
household duties. That eminently practical medi-
cal writer. Dr. Hall, in an article on the health ot
farmers' families, expresses the opinion that "many
a farmer's wife is literally worked to death, in an
inadvertent manner, from want of reflection and
consideration on the part of her husband ;" and Mr.

Willard, whom we quoted at the outset of this
article, says : "It is believed, and we speak advised-
ly, that the old method of cheese-making has done
more to injure the health of women in cheese-dairy-
ing districts than any other cause." He styles
this the most important advantage to farmers in
this union arrangement, and adds: "It would be
difficult to estimate this in dollars and cents," since
the value of life and health is not to be thus com-
puted.

The drawbacks connected with cheese factories
are chiefly these: the difficulty of detecting adult-
erated milk ; the trouble of carrying it to the fac-
tory ; the danger in hot weather of its becoming
sour; the difference in tlie quality of milk, arising
from the m inner in which cows are fed and man-
aged ; and, finally, the loss of the whey. It is
evident that a dishonest person furnishing a large
quantity of milk could easily add a portion of water,
and thus increase the amount paid or credited to
him. — No effectual mode of readily detecting such
admixture has yet been discovered. Some cases
of this sort have been found out, and the dishonest
persons have been summarily expelled from the
association, and have justly become objects of con-
tempt among their neighbors. — We see not why
such dihonesty is not punishable by law. If not,
it ought to be. The daily delivery of milk at the
factory, at a regular hour, is doubtless attended
with trouble; but the question is whether that
trouble be not well repaid. As to the liability of
the milk to sour, extra care and cleanliness in all
the vessels used in milking, straining, and carrying
to the lactory will effectually prevent this. The
loss of the whey is regarded by some as an impor-
tant item, but the thorough manner in which the
work is done at the factory, is said to lessen very
much the value of the whey, while of course, it in-
creases the yield and profits of the cheese. — On
the whole, therefore, the advantages of this sjstem
would seem greatly to outweigh the disadvantages,
and we cannot but wish to see the cheese factory
become a popular and prevalent institution in
Canada. — Canadt Farmer.

How Tastes Differ.

Reamir relates, on the authority of M. de la Hire,
that young French lady could never resist the
temptation of eating a spider whenever she met
with one in Ikt walks. They are said to taste like
nuts, at least this was the opinion of the celebrated
Maria Schurman, who not only eat them, but jus-
tified her taste by saying that she wa.s born under
Scorpia. Latrille informs us that the astronomer,
Laianue, was equally fond of this offensive morsel.
Man is truly an omnivorous animal; for there ia
nothing which is disgusting to one nation that is
not the choice food of another. Flesh, fish, fowl,
insects, even the gigantic centipedes of Brazil,
many of them a foot and a half in length, and half
an inch broad, were seen by Humboldt to be
dragged out of their holes and crunched alive by
the children.

Serpents of all sorts have been consumed as
food, and the host of the celebrated inn at Ter-
racini frequently accosts his guests as politely
"requesting to know if they prefer the eel of the
hedge or the eel of the ditch." To evince this
attachment to their favorite pursuit, most natural-

m:'-

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

203

ists seem to consider indispensable to taste and
recommend some insect or other. Darwin assures
us that the caterpiller of the hawmoth is delicious ;
Kirby and Spencer think the ant good eating, and
push their entomological zeal so far as to distin-
guish between them the flavor of the abdomen and
the thorax ; and Reamir recommends the caterpillar
of the plastic grama as a delicious dish.

How much we eat, and upon how much we might
live, are curious matters of speculation, and in an
article on the snbject in an English Review, we
find the following suggestive facts:

The accounts which travelers give of the quan-
tity of food which can be consumed are extraor-
dinary. Sir John Ross estimates that an Ei?qui-
maux will eat perhaps twenty pounds of flesh and
oil daily. Compare this with Valentin's six pounds,
or with Canaro's twelve ounces of solids and four-
teen ounces of wine. Captain Parry tried, as a
matter of curiosity, how much an Esquimaux lad,
who was scarcely full grown, would consume, if
left to himself, weighed the following articles
before being given. He was twenty hours getting
through them, and certainly did not consider tlie
quantity extraordinary: — Sea-horse flesh, hard
froze, four pounds four ounces; do. do. boiled,
four pounds four ounces ; bread and bread dust,
one pitund and twelve ounces. To this must be
added one and a quarter pints of rich gravy-soup,
three wine glasses of raw spirits, one tumblerful of
strong grog, one gallon of water.

Captain Cochrane, in his "Journey through
Russia and Siberian Tartary," relates that the
Admiral Saritcheft' was informed that one of the
Yakutis ate, in four and twenty hours, the hind
quarters of a large ox, twenty pounds of fat, and a
proportionate quantity of melted butter for his
drink. To test the truth of the statement, the
Admiral gave him a thick porridge of rice, boiled
down with three pounds of butter, weighing
together twenty-eight pounds, and although the
glutton had already breakfasted, he sat down to it
with great eagerness and consumed the whole
without stiring from the spot. Captain Cochrane
also states that he has seen three Yakutis devour
a reindeer at a meal, and a calf weighing about
two hundred pounds is not too much for a meal
for five of these gluttons.

Some caterpillars daily eat double their weight
in food; a cow eats forty-six pounds daily, and a
mouse eats eight times as much, in proportion to
its own weight, as is eaten by a man. But when
such facts nre cited, we must bear in mind the
enormous diff rence in the nature of the food thus
weighed, their relative amounts of water, and the
indigestible material The same caution is requi-
site in speaking of a man's diet.

Oxen and Horses.

The enormous waste of horse-life by our armies,
both Xorth and South, affords material for serious
consideration to stock raisers, -and farmers gen-
erally. According to Gen. Halleck's official report,
our cavalry average a new set of horses every two
months ! We do not know what proportion of
them are entirely used up, but from what we can
learn, we presume that at least one half of them
are killed or die outright, while the other half are

mostly permanently disabled for such service. Of
the latter, perhaps one half may with ordinary care,
be able to do an average amount of farm work for
some years to come. But few of them, however,
will ever find their way back to Jfew England, or
the West, from which they were taken ; so that,
for all practical purposes, we may safely calculate
that none of the thousand horses taken from our
farms for the army, will ever return. — Their labor
is entirely lost to our farmers.

Prices of all kinds of stock and produce must
rule high for a long time to come, but this enor-
mous consumption of horses must inevitably exert
a double pre>sure in regard to them, and we desire
to call the attention of our farmers to the important
points connected with the subject.

This scarcity of horses, and consequent high
prices, will stimulate the breeding of horses for
some years to come, and our farmers may be cer-
tain that colts will pay better than ever before.
As manual labor will also be high, it will generally
be for the interest of farmers to raise those things
which require the least of it; and in this view,
the raising of coits has some decided advantages.
Each one however, must be his own judge as to
whether colt-raising may be profitable under his
circumstances.

The second point to which we wish to call atten-
tion, is in relation to the employment of oxen, in
place of horses upon our farms. — There are but few
farms on which oxen may not be kept with decided
profit. A yoke of oxen can be bought for the
price of a good horse, can be kept almost or quite
as cheap ; will do nearly double the work on a farm ;
and if carefully used and well fed, will sell, after
the crops are all in, for a profit over their cost.
There are but few farmers who could not easily
realize a profit of thirty or fifty dollars a year by
purchasing oxen in the early part of the winter,
and selling again the next fall, or early winter.
By generous feeding, and careful usage, they will
give a net profit on their growth, besides doing
work enough to pay for all they eat. We know
farmers do realize a profit of fifty to one hundred
dollars a year, by adopting a similar course to that
we have recommended.

Our object at this time is merely to call atten-
tion to these two points, which seem to us to be
deserving of the serious attention of our farmers
generally. The question of the comparative cost
of horse and ox labor, is one of greater importance
than is generally supposed, and at another time we
may consider it at greater length. Meanwhile, we
should be pleased to hear from our farmer readers
upon this subject. — Ilass. Plowman.

Illinois Chicory ix the N". Y. Markets. — The
market is firm, but has been quiet since our last.
5,000 lbs. handsome American Root brought lie
cash. We have been permitted to examine a sam-
ple of the American Chicory, above alluded to. It
is much clearer than the foreign, being entirely
free from mould, and was raised in Cook county,
Illinois, by Messrs. Floto & Co. The soil of that .
section is said to be admirably adapted to its cul-
tivation, and Messrs. F. & Co. have conclusively
demonstrated, during the last four years, that it
can be produced on our Western prairie lands in
unlimited quantities. — N. Y. Shipping List.

■'l^mf'

208

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

July

Department of Agriculture Report— What
it is to Contain.

The Washington Chronicle gives a list of the
names of articles, and their authors, that are to
constitute the next report of the Commissioner of
Agriculture. Ic says :

''The Report will contain about forty essays on
a variety of subjects of present importance. The
initial article is a description of the American as-
pects of the International Exhibition at Hamburg,
by D. Needham, of Vermont.

The natural capabilities and industrial develop-
ment of the Northwest are exhibited by J. W.
Hoyt, of Wisconsin ; of West Virginia by J. R.
Dodge, of the Department ; and of Minnesota, by
0. H. Kelley, of Minnesota.

The animals of the farm very properly deserve
attention, in view of the excessive demand for
■wool and meat, and dairy products, and the martial
consumption for horses and mules. Francis Mor-
ris, of New York, furnishes an excellent article on
breeding Cavalry Horses ; John Strohn, of Penn-
sylvania writes of the Conestoga horses. The
merits of Ayrshire cattle are judiciously canvassed
by Sanford Howard, of Massachusetts. Articles on
Sheep Husbandry, by H. S. Randall, of New York ;
'Sheep and Wool,' by J. R. Dodge, of the Depart-
ment, who has also a review of the dog law ques-
tion, with statistics of dog depradations ; 'Cash-
mere Goats,' by J. S. Diehl, District of Columbia :
'Hogs and Pork Packing,' by H. D. Emery, of Illi-
nois ; 'Distribution of Neat Cattle,' by L. C. Loom-
is, D. C.

E. A. Samuels, of Massachusetts, furnishes an
article on the 'Animals and iiirdsof New Engla.nd;'
T. Michener, of Pennsylvania, on the 'Inseetiveri-
ous Birds of Chester County ;' and D. Colven, of
Maryland, on 'Bees and Bee Culture.'

There is an interesting illustrated article on
'Fruit, by F. R. Elliott, of Ohio ; a sketch of
'Cranberry Culture,' by E. B. Phinney, of Mass-
chusetts ; 'Strawberry Culture,' by George H. Hite,
of New York ; 'Wine Making' and 'Silk Culture in
California, by Wilson Flint, of California.

An exhaustive review of cheese dairying, of
great practical value, is from the pen of S. L,
Goodale, ot Maine.

A concise and careful review of tobacco growing
is taken up, L. J. Bradford, of Kentucky ; also a
treatise on hemp ; of 'Flax,' by J. R. Dodge, of
the Department ; and of 'Teasles,' by R. Mosest, of
New York.

Another of those sensible essays of Dr. Hall, of
New York, so admirably designed to embrace the
health, comfort and happines of the rural popula-
tion, is found in 'Farmer's House.'

Mrs. Adams, of Michigan, offers suggestions
about 'Farmers' Boys ;' while Simon Brown, of
Massachusetts, gives country homes additional
cheer in improved 'Farmers' Gardens ; and Ruth
Hall, of Illinois, adds 'House Flowers' to their oth-
er attractions.

William Saunders, the accomplished gardener,
makes his report which is replete with valuable
suggestions. T. Glover, the indefatigable entomol-
ogist, writes, in popular style, of insects, and the
means of their destruction ; and L. Bollman, sta-
tistical clerk, makes his report upon the statistics
of production. An interesting paper on farm ma-

chinery is given by M. L. Dunlap, of Illinois ; a
sketch of the origin of the ice crop, by L. Wether-
el, of Massachusetts ; a comprehensive notice of
the sorghum manufacture, by William Clough, of
Ohio ; and a general outline of the geography of
plants, by J. S, Lippencott, of New Jersey. T. H.
Liverett, of New Hampshire, gives directions for
'root culture.' There are articles also on mete»r-
ology, coal oil in West Virginia, &c.

A New Enterprise. — A factory for making cheesa
is being erected in Bloomingdale by H. B. Hills,
which we learn is nearly ready for operation. The
plan proposed we understand, is for the farmers to
associate dairies, and bring their milk to the facto-
ry twice a day, thus saving much of the labor usu-
ally performed when each dairy is supplied with
fixtures, besides making a much better quality of
cheese. He has facilities for making into cheese
the milk of three hundred cows. This plan of
cheese making has been adopted in some of the
Eastern States with success, and we see no reason
why it will not prove a profitable branch of busi-
ness here. — Northern Rlinoian.

Coffee. — Let your coffee stand five minutes af-
ter the cream and sugar are mixed with it ; then
drink, as then the ingredients are all united, and
you have coffee, and not before — before, you have
a mixture of cream, sugar and coffee, tasting of
each — not so when united. Time improves coffee,
both in the raw bean and when browned, and
when poured out. Remember this, and improve
your coffee.

Small Batter Pudding. — 1 Pint of milk or wa-
ter, 1 teaspoonful of soda, 3 of cream of tartar, 3
eggs. Dissolve the soda and cream of tartar in a
little of the milk or water. Butter size of an egg,
add a little salt, mix as thick as pancake. Steam
one hour, and do not lift the lid during the hour.
Fresh frust improves it. Serve with sauce.

SuBSTiTDTK FOR CoTJEE. — To ouc quart of wheat
bran add one teacupful of molasses with one of
water, stir together, and dry in the shade, or jn a
stove; brown a dark color, and mix one-third coffee,
which, if prepared right makes excellent beverage.

Diseases op Sheep. — For the foot rot the Irish
Farmer^s Gazette gives the following simple reme-
dy : Pare the foot, removing all the jagged and
loose bits of horn, and annoint with butter of an-
timony. Repeat every second or third day, ac-
cording as the feet are more or less bad.

The Black Thorn fok Fences. — A correspond-
ent of the Valley Farmer has become thoroughly
convinced, from experiments made, that the com-
mon Black Thprn, which grows wild in our woods
and prairies, is peculiarly adapted for fencing.

|2^"A good glue is prepared by dissolving com-
mon glue in vinegar to the consistency desirable
for use. It will keep for a long time.

2^" Barley was found in the mountains of Him-
alaya.

1864

THE ILLINOIS FAllMEE.

On Churning

A talented Frenchman once wrote a pamphlet
upon the proper manner of blowinpj out a candle ;
and I suppose the reader will consider his book
and the heading of this article to be parallel cases,
and exclaim, "why, everybody knows how to
churn." But I thin* a careful examination will
show that everybody does not know hoa- to churn,
or rather how to produce butter from cream, or
we should have less growling from the 'gude wife,'
because the butter would not 'come.' Al! who
have had any experience ia the matter know the
apparently perverse natute of butter.^ At times it
will come, that is, aepafate from the buttermilk,
iu a few minutes, and so*meMmes it will not come
at all. This and many other curious facts may be
made clear by a little careful investigatvon in the
matter, which, with thy permission, friend editor,
I propose to make.

The butter exists in the cream in the form of
minute globules surrounded by a thin film of case-
in, and to obtain the butter we must first brenk
the film. This may be done in two ways, either
by agitating it or beating it. There are several
conditions which influence the time required for
separating the butter by churning ; and if these
are thoroughly understood and complied with,
there will be little or no trouble in getting buttf^r
to come. The main and most important conditir^n
is the temperature of the cream when it enters the
churn : there seems to be a certain medium estab-
lished, and it seems to make but little difference
whether the temperature of the cream is above or
below it, there will still be the same trouble in
breaking the casein which envelopes the globules
of butter. The cream when poured into the churn
should not have a higher temperature than 50 deg.
When put in at this temperature, it will rise from
5 deg. to 10 deg. during the operation of churning.

Another important condition which does much i
to influencs the time required for separating the |
butter, is the state of the cream when it is put m- I
to the churn ; if sweet it will require much longer '
than if sour — and it is an established fact that be- i
fore butter can be made the cream must be sour, I
and if it does not reach this state before it goes ■
into the churn, it must and will afterward, or no !
butter will be obtained. Some of those who al- \
ways take the premium at the county fairs, alwavs j
churn sweet crea n to obtain it, and I have often i
had this thrown into ray teeth when advocating I
the above doctrine, but that does not controvert '
my argument, for before the buttf^r separates it \
does get sour. I

A thermometer hanging in the room where the ;
cream is kept will indicate the temperature of the
creana at the time, and this may be either raised :
or lowered to about 54 deg. after it goes into the ■
churn, by adding cold or hot water, as the case
may require, wihile ^ chum is in motion.

The time occupied in churning has a great eflTcf^t
upon butter, and also upon the temperature of the
cream in the chum ; if the cream is at 55 deg.
when put into the chum, very fast churning will
raise it too high, and soft light colored butter will
be the result, especially in warm weather ; in cold
weather the motion should be faster, in order to
keep up the proper temperature. I have known
entire chumings to be thrown into the hog tub
because one or two of these oecessary conditions

1 were not complied with. Even when the churn
! fails to separate the butter, we have one unfailing
I agent left iu the form of heat, which never fails to
; burst the casein, but will not produce an article
I fit to be called butter — but it can be put to uses
I known to every good housekeeper.
! Some are in the practice of churning the whole
i milk ; in this case it should have a temperature of
! at least 65 deg. before going in the churn. — Dai-
\ ryman^in Oermantown, Telegraph. ,. .^ .' ,

-•»-

From the Country Gent.

Ducks— Rural Scenes.

The duck possesses many excellent qualities.
They were great favorites with the ancients from
the mildness and simplicity of their character,
from their great fecundity, laying a great number
of eggs, for the cheapness and ease with which
they are provided for. The feathers of the white
sort are nearly as good as those of the goose.

Shey are the mo.'t industrious of all fowls and
we have often gazed on them with admiration to
Fee them sputter in shallow and dive down in deep
water.

The inoffensive and harmless character, the so-
cial and conversational qualities of ducks render
them not only pleasant but profitable animals to
keep, and the contrast between them and chickens,
in their nature and iabits, is much in their favor.
Of the kind and social nature of the duck, the fol-
lowing is related by Mowbray ;
j We had drawn off f>>r the t;ible the whole of a
lot of ducks, ono excepted. The duck immediate-
! ly joined a cock and hens, and became so attached
I to them that it never quitted their company, not-
I withstanding some harsh usage, particularly from
I the coct It would neither feed nor rest without
them, and showed its uneasiness at their occasion-
I al absonce by continued clamor.
I We once had an individual of the crested varie-
! ty, which, after losing its mat-', would keep with a
I few particular fowls during the day, and at night
1 when the fowls went to roost, she would follow up
I the stairs on to the second floor, and sit as near the
fowls as she could get. But after we had placed a
fewoftho larje African geese in the yard, she left
the hens and contracted an intimacy with the
gee^e, keeping constantly with them.

The manners and actions of the duck, whether
upon land or water, are both cu ious and pleasant
to contemplate. Their regular afternoon parade
and march in line, the older drakes and ducks in
front, from the pond homeward;!, is a beautiful
country spectacle, to be enjoyed by those who
have a relish for the charms of simple nature. A
parcel of ducks which have been accustomed to
their libertv, were for some particular reason shut
up for several hours. On the door of their house
being opened, they rushed out, threw themselves
into rank and file and mirched with a quickstep
thrae or four times round a certain space, con-
stantly bowing their head-i to the ground, then ele-
vating themselves and fluttering their wings , the
ceremony finished they quickly adjourned to the
water. We have laughed a thousand times at the
conceit with which our boyish imagination was
impressed, namely, that the act we had witnessed
w«a nothing less than a dackish thanksgiving for
their deliTereoee. C. N. Bkxsmt.

•"i.^i£^=L:.rf_y

-...-^

210

THE ILLINOIS FAFvMEE.

July

[From the Co. Gent, and Cultivator.]

Summer Treatment of the Grapevine.

It is now very generally adinirted that the grape
is the most certain in its annual crops, the most
productive and the most profitable of the Ameri-
can fruits. The npple, pear, plum, peach, cherry,
&c., "produce their fruit from buds grown the pre-
ceding season, and are therefore subject to all the
casualties resulting from severe cold in winter,
and from early and late frosts of spring ; while
the grape is produced on wood of the current sea-
son's growth, and is seldom injured by frost. In-
deed, like the strawberry, it is the most certain of
all the fruits. There must ever be an unlimited
demand for good grapes, and at fair prices. A
knowledge of these facts has within a few years
past led to extensive planting of the vine in almost
every section of the country, and during the last
season there has been an immense number of vines
planted, probably more than all that have been
planted in the six previous years. Some have
planted many acres for extensive vineyard purposes
while thousands of others throughout the land who
own but a single house lot have set one, two, or
perhaps half a dozen vines where perhaps little
else could be grown, but which will furnish a sup-
ply of fruit for a family for several weeks. Many
of these persons who have gone quite extensively
into the planting, have no practical knowledge of
the proper treatment of the vine, and have been
content to follow their neighbors who knew but
little more than themselves. Evidences of their
lack of care of the vine are to be met with all
through the country. There is nothing intricate
in the training and treatment of the vine, but there
is a requsite system, and that must be followed
from the beginning, and it is at the start that
most inexperienced cultivators fail. When this is
the case the only proper remedy is to cut back the
vine, whatever its age, to the ground and start
anew. Yines when planted are generally produced
from cirttings, layers, and what is termed single
eyes. This last is the most extensive method of
propagation now, and when well conducted makes
good vines; but vines from well grown layers are
the strongest, and come into bearing soonest —
Vines when well grown are best when planted at
one year's growth. Plants from single eyes, when
not strong, may be root pruned and transplanted
for a second year's growth in the nursery, but be-
yond this no vine is improved by greater age be-
fore setting in the vineyard, and all vine:", when
permanently planted, whether of but one or more
year's growth, are treated the same during the
first summer. I had takes up this subject in an
article for the Omintry Oeid. before the close of
the planting season, but it was cut short by illness,
and what would then have been said will in part
be somewhat out of season now. Yet if the error
which is most common to inexperiened planters
has been committed, it is not altogether too late
to remedy in part.

The natural habit of the vine is to extend itself
onward and upward, wherever it can find proper
support, as we find them i a the forests extending
their arms to the tops of the tallest trees, in search
of the light and heat of the sun The object of the
vine-dresser is to secure all the advantages that
are thus derived fiom the sun, and at the same
time keep the vine subject to his own control, near
the earth. There are variou? methods or forms
employed for training the vine, as circumstances
or convenience may require, all, however, secur-
ing the same important end, viz., keeping the vine
within its proper limits, and at the same timekeep-
ing up a supply of strong, well matured bearing
wood of the previous season's growth. Plants, as
generally sent out by regular propagators, are cut
back to about one foot in length, leaving from four
to eight eyes to each plant. If the planting is done
before there is danger of "bleeding," it is well to
cut back the vine to about three good eyes, or if
the planting is after March, it is well to rub off the
upper eyes, leaving three. After these start, se-
cure and tie up the lowest strong one, and remove
the other two. The single cane is all that is re-
quired the first year, and all that should be per-
mitted to grow. It is here that great error is lia-
ble to occur with many ; they let every shoot grow,
and instead of securing a single strong cane they
have half a dozen weak ohoots, neither of which
will make a bearing cane for the next crop. Where
this error has been committed, the only remedy at
the present advanced period of the season, is to
pinch back the ends of all the shoots, except the
lowest and strongest. This should be kept con-
stantly tied up to a suitable stake. Whether the
shoots have been reduced to a single cane at the
proper time, or whether they have been negko'ed,
the one that is now selected as the cane for the
following year, the laterals should be kept pinched
back throughout the season. These lati rals spring
from the base of each leaf, and, in order to secure
all possible strength to the main cane, these later-
als are stopped after the third small leaf has been
formed, removing two of them ; the one being left
to mature, which if removed might have a tenden-
cy to injure the bud at its base, which it is impor-
tant to preserve to fill its office the following year.
These side shoots or laterals will start a second or
perhaps a third time, and should as often be
pinched back, leaving each time one leaf beyond
the last pinching. Securing the greatest strength
to one main cane, and keeping the laterals short-
ened and the vine well secured to stake or trellis,
constitutes the chief treatment of the vine the first
season after planting, always, of course, keeping
the ground clean and mellow. The winter pruning
and the subsequent treatment of the vine, is gov-
erned in some degre by the method of training
which is to be adopted. These may form the sub-
ject of another chapter at some future period. —
Many other important points would have been al-
luded to, could the subject have been reached at
the beginning of the planting season. h. p. b.

-•••-

Canning Fruits.

Mr. Quinby. of St. Johnaville, N. Y., supplies for
the Canajoharie Radii the following :

Although the practice of canning fruit has re-
cently become qnite common, there are some few
who are not sufficiently familiar with the process.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

m\

This method of keeping it should be encouraged .
till all understand and practice it, instead of wast
ing a pound of sugar to a pound of fruit, cooked to
an indigestible compound, in order te preserve it.
To say nothing of its superior flavor and healthi-
ness, the difference iu the cost of sugar in these
times is ii.n item worthy of some consideration.

The whole secret of success lies in expelling all \
the air contained in the pulp of the fmit, and then j
sealing hermetically to prevent its return. Glass |
bottles or jars are better than tin, as the fruit can !
be inspected ;it all times ; and, in case of failure
to shut out all the air, the incipient stages of fer-
mentation can be detected, and the fruit used be-
fore it is entirely spoiled. Many of the patent
jars are very good, and but little trouble. Com- ,
mon plain bottles with a good sized neck will an- '
awer every purpose.

A cement is made for sealing by melting and
stirring well together one pound of rosin and one
ounce of tall.jw. Instead of simply coating the
cork of the bottle with this — vvhich is frequently
enough — it is safer to make a paper cap one inch
deep, just a little larger than the top of the bottle,
into which is poured a spoonful of cement, and a
bottle ready corked is inverted directly into it,
and left standing until cold. Into the top, or ra-
ther bottom, of this cap should be put a piece of
paste-board, tin or thin piece of wood, cut to fit.
Patty pans, when they can be had, are very good
for this purpose, or any similar thing, even an old
saucer. To prevent breaking, the bottles should
be heated gradually. It will do to put them in
cold water and then bring it to a boil. Where
much is to be done, it is less trouble to heat by
steam. Have a vessel of tin or wood, sheet-
iron bottom, and three or four inches deeper than
the length of the bottle. They should stand on
some strips of wood to keep them oat of the wa-
ter, which may he two or three inches deep. A
close lid completes the steamer.

AH kinds of fruit may be put into the bottles
cold, and sulficiently heated in them. But many
kinds are much quicker done by cooking in a
porcelain or clean brass kettle, and transfer boiling
hot into the cans through a tunnel.

Rhubarb is the first thing in season to claim at-
tention. It should be stewed and the bottles filled
while hot. The cork should fit close, and as it is
pressed in all air bubbles should be excluded from
under it. Cut off even with the top, wipe dry, and
insert into the cup of cement, and leave to get
cold. If no cup of any kind to put it in can be j
had, the top must be dipped into the melted ce- '
ment, and held in cold water to harden. This
should be repeated, unless the fir^^t coat is very
perfect.

Strawberries come next. They should be just
ripe and fresh picked. Put them in whole, and
cover with sweetened water. Heat till they shrink
near one-half in size, when they are ready to seal
up. If the bottle lacks just a little of being full,
put in some hot water. Raspberries and black-
berries are put in the same way. Perhaps some
kinds will need less sugar —one pound to a quart
of water — and will not shrink quite so much. —
Cherries should have the pits removed, sugar add-
ed without water, scalded thoroughly, and then
put into the bottles and managed as the rhubarb.
Apples are also stewed ready for the table, bottled
and put away for next year. Peaches, pears, aad
sometimes tomatoes are cooked in the bo tics, in

order to save the bottles whole. Tomatoes are
saved with the least expense of any fruit. They do
not require any thing added, not even salt. They
should be ripe ; scald and remove the skin, and
then stew before putting them into the bottles.
When the cooking commences they will swell out;
but after it is continued long enough they shrink
somewhat, when they Inay be put into the cans for
sealing. Tomntoes contain a great deal of juice,
and with proper care to prevent burning, much of
it may be evaporated before canning. The cellar
is the best place to keep it.

Spading vs Plowing— Corn Culture.

Within the p.ist ten years many attempts have
been made to introduce a machine to spade or fork
up the soil instead of plowing it in the usual way,
but until very recently without any practical re-
sults. It is well known that land spaded or forked
over always produces better crops than that plow-
ed .md otherwise put into as fine tilth, but the rea-
sons therefor have npt been so apparent.

In the cultivation of winter wheat, the summer
fallow has been found of great value, and in the
culture of spring wheat, autumn plowing ; or the
sowing on the stubble of hoed crops without plow-
ing, has been e^sentiiil to success. No practical
faimer expects to giow a good crop of spring
wheat on land plowed in the spring ; and no one
expects a good crop of winter wheat on land that
has been cultivated in tobacco or a crop of worm-
wood ; nor would it be obtained from a meadow
that had been turned over to the depth of ten or
twelve inches by trench plowing; corn will not
grow well after buckwheat and but indifferently af-
ter potatoes. These facts have become patent to
most farmers from actual experience, while the
reasons therefor have not been well understood.
It cannot be that the spade more finely comminutes
the soil than the plow, harrow and roller ; and yet
we must concede that the crop is always better
that plants thrive more vigorously in the spaded
than in the plowed land.

We know that the facts alluded to are stubborn
ones, and constant in their stubbornness, we may
therefore consider them as fixed and beyond hope
of change.

W,hile spring wheat will not stand up and fill
out On spring plowed land, oats, on the contrary,
will make a good crop. Land for tobacco under-
goes a sort of summer fallow, the plants not being
set until the beginning of summer, having been
plowed early in spring and fully exposed to the at-
mosphere by subsequent stirrings.

When we look over the list of plants, we can, by
the aid of the chemist, class them so as to know-
how tp treat them, or rather how to prepare the
soil for them. All plants containing much potash,
such as wheat, corn, barley, tobacco, etc., iequir«
the following treatment :

OF POTASH.

All clay and clay loam soils contain potash.^
This is mixed in the soil, having once composed a
part of the lock from which the soil has been
formed. This potash when below the surface is in
a fixed state and insoluable in water, but by ex-
posure to the air becomes dissolved and is then in
a condition to unite with the soil {scli'ea) which
it dissolves, forming silicate of potash, {soluble
glass), which forms the coating of all the small
grains, the grasses and the stalks of corn. With-
out this coating these plants will not stand up and

:.-.i<-j-:.-:i^iAab.<ia

-■■i-,f'f'itiijii,h),^<-\f]':tiii,i^

212

THE ILLmOIS FAKMER.

July

the grain cannot be formed. As it requires time
to disintegrate the potash, any preparation of the
soil that does not effect this will prove disastrous
to the crop. It is difficult to conceive any condi-
tion of our prairie soil, in which more or less of
potash at the surface is not in the proper condition
for assimilation for the growing plants. In the
case of the corn crop the qunntity at the time of
planting is abundant for the young plant, but the
soil should be frequently stirred so as to give it
thorough areation. In this ease the alkali is rap-
idly developed, and the result is a large crop.

With the small grains the case is different ; the
surface not being stirred after seeding, the quanti-
ty of potash is not increased as in the case of the
hoed crops, and hence a different course must be

pursued.

In plowing, the soil is inverted and the free pot-
ash, that is that portion which has become areated,
ready for assimilation with the plants, is buried so
deep that it in turn soon becomes fixed and unfit,
for the plant, and these mnst await the slow pro-
cess of a new supply. Hence we may reason that
deep plowing in the early part of the season is not
to be recommended ; a fact that is verified in
practice. For this reason sub-soiling is more val-
uable than trench plowing. The stirring of the
soil to a great depth is always advantageous, while
the inversion of the surface has a contrary effect.
Spading or forking over the soil has the effect to
mix its several strata ; and while giving it deep till-
age retains the potash in the proper condition for
the use of plants. The usual depth of plowing in
the spring is four inches. Tiiis depth would not
affect the potash, but it is so shallow that the ser.
ies of downward roots cannot penetrate the soil so
as to secure an abundant supply of moisture. —
Nearly all of our grains hsive two series of roots-
one set that go down, which might be called tap
roots, and the other surface root.*. In Indian
corn the later roots start out above the surface at
the time of tasseling and spread over the surface at
a rapid rate. These roots absorb the potash and
which form the outside coating of the stalk, and
if the supply is abundant, the crop makes rapid
progress, and the ears fill out in the same ratio.

Here we have a solution of the value of the sum-
mer fallow. All hoed crops are in fact a summer
fallow to the laud, so far as regards areation and
the disintegration of the mineral elements of the
soil. The rains that carry the ammonia to the roots
of plants, has free passage through its finely com-
minutad surface, and are retained for present and
future use. The fact is that in most cases a surplus
of material for plant structure is laid up during
the summer fallow of the hoed crops, which makes

such land so desirable for the small grains. Spring
wheat and barley have long been favorite crops on
aueh land. Oats, requiring less potash, are liable
to grow too rank, and hence are found more safe to
follow the two former. It will thus be seen that
spading will have an advantage over plowing in
many cases, giving deep culture without disturbing
the surface or areated soil so wisely prepared by
Nature for the seed bed.

For the turning under of gi-een crops, of rubbish
and of sward land, the plow gives promise of long
continued usefulness, while for old land in good
condition the spader must come rapidly into uso
In another place we have shown that it reduces
the cost of plowing one-half, a very important item,
and one that carries great weight in a direct appeal
to the farmer's pocket. Another advantage that
the spader has over the plow — it always scours, nor
does it require sharpening, as it is self sharpening.
If a tine becomes bent or broken it is easily repair-
ed or replaced by a new one, and we need have no
delay in running after a blacksmith.

With the old strap plow and bull tongue, thirty
to forty acres was a good season's work, with one
team. Let us see how this was done. In this part
of the State we have April and May in which to
put in the corn crop. Generally we have in the
two months forty working days with the plow —
sometimes more but often less. With the old strap
plow, an acre and a half was a good day's work.
We had then —

FOR FORTY ACRES,

26 days plowing, 6 days harrowing, 3 days laying
off, 3 days covering ; 38 days with team. Add to
this, the laying off and covering having been done
with a single shovel or bull tongue, required an ex-
tra hand for six days. The dropping was also done
by hand at the rate of eight acres a day, making
the account stand thus : 28 days men and team,
$47 ; 11 days one hand, I5c, $8 25 ; total |o5 25,
or $1 38c an acre ; all with labor at half the pres-
ent rates Let us take a view of the same work
done with the spader :

FORTY ACRES SPADED,

6f days spading, $3 per day,f 20 ;6|- days extra team
$1 50 per day, $10 ; 3 J days planting and rolling
with combined roller and planter, $10 50; total,
$40 60 ; making a saving over the old mode, with
cheap labor, nearly fifteen dollars ; yet this is but
a part of the advantage. The difference in the
condition of the land for after culture, and the
increased crop thereby, are not to be overlooked.

THE SULLIVANT MODE OF CORN PLANTING.

To M. L. Sullivant, of Broadlands, near Homer,
in this county, is due the credit of the greatest im-
provement in corn culture ; and it is not detracting

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

^!tS

from others wbo have aided in the good cause. —
While others have been content with partial im-
provement, Mr. S. has swept the field and taken a
stand that places him in the van of corn growing.

We will simply detail what we saw. In one field
was two of Comstock's rotary spaders, run by eight
horses and two men, spading twelve acres a day ; a
planter followed, depositing the seed in the freshly
stirred land ; and this followed by a roller, pulver-
izing and packing the soil on the seed, which will
insure a speedy germination, oven under this try-
ing drouth. Here we have six teams and four
men putting in the crop at the average rate of two
acres a day to the team, or three acres to tha
hand. With a Craig planter attached to the roller
one man and team would be further saved. This
corn will need three workings, which at eight acres
a day, will be four and a half days to the twelve
acres ; or ten and a half d;iys to the twelve acres,
being less than a day to the acre. Taking twenty
working days to the month for the corn crop, and
counting April, May and June, we have seventy
acres to tlie team, with one hand to spare to other
work for twelve days. Two hands on the farm
with two teams, one spader, a Craig planter and
roller and two two-horse cultivators, and the two
would put in and tend one hundred and forty acres
and have twenty-four days' work of one hand to
devote to gardening and other work. If this is
not progress within the past twenty years in prai-
rie culture, we are at a loss to know what would
be progress.

By this mode the cost of corn is reduced to a
low figure, aud one that must to some extent as-
tonish our down east cousins. Will they heed it,
and leav the earn field to the f armeis of th ' westPrn
prairies, or will they dig out the stumps and stones
and follow us in the field of genius — the use of
brains in farming ?

Alton Hortieultural Society.

FaiDAY, June 3, 1864.
Seven o'clock being the appointed hour, the Al-
ton members left the lime kilns on board tho eight
horse power steamer, Slowboy, at 8:45, and moved
in a mysterious way up and along the Illinois sliore
of the Mississippi. The sky was blue, the river
bright, and the bold shore wore the softer green
of early summer. The speed of the boat was not
too great to prevent a thorough, scientific, asithet-
ic or horticultural observation of the bluffs, as
well as of sun-loving turtles, brooding ducks and
crows, stalking solitary on the sandbars, after the
Virginian type. Touching at Dr. Hull's and Mr.
Siehl's, where new accessions to the party were

made ; the Slowboy arrived at Eminence before
(the passengers') dinner ; and after partaking of an
excellent cold collation accompanied by superior
samples of strawberries and cream, the p.^ssengers
were ready to join the overland members and or-
ganize for business, at 3 o'clock p. m., President
Hull in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read an4
approved. . '-;; V^ :

The Secretary reported that he had purchased,
according to instructions, for the use of the Socie-
ty, a microscope of Paris manufacture, magnifying
about one hundred diameters, at a cost of six dol-
lars. Also a letter from Dr. Benj. D. Walsh, of
Rock Island, stating that he could furnish a col-
lection embracing aftout 100 families of insects,
arranged in a case, 'or $15. Mr. Huggins stated
that he had found such a collection veiy useful
and instructive, and offered to furnish his own, al-
so made by Mr. W;dsh, for the use of the Society ;
the offer was accepted with thanks.

Also a circular of the American Pomological
Society, inviting all kindred associations to send
delegates to the biennial meeting to be held at
Rochester N. Y., on the 12th of Sept. The Secre-
tary recommended that t'ne Alton Horticultural
Society arrange to send delegates in order by send-
ing a strong delegatioM and from all parts of the
west to secure the next meeting at St. Louis or
some other western city and also to gain infonna-
tion concerning new and untried fruits. The sub-
ject was passed over for the present. - -•.• ;, .

Isaac Snedocker, J. A. Barr, and Dr. Buffington
of Jersoyville, and J. M. Fay, Dr. Roberts and
Geo. H. Colby, uf Alton, were elected members.
Col. N. Niles and G. C. Elsenmayer, of St. CImt
county, were elected lionorary members.

An essay on ''Parlor and window gardening,**
read by Mr. J. W. Schweppe was highly commen-
ded by members .md requested for publication,

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEKS.

The Coiiimittee on Ei.tomology reported "the
receipt of a variety of insects from various mem-
bers, among which are a very fine speciman of the
Cecropia, from Master Frank Starr, injurious to
vegttaliou but not found here in sufficient quanti-
ty to be very dangerous ; the Lady-bug, which as
a destroyer of hurtful insects, should be preserved;
and the Carolina, May-bug, and army worm moth,
which are all destructive to vegetation."

FRANK STARR,

F. CURTIS,

W. 0. FLAGG, ^

Dr. Hull exhibited a specimen of CurcuKa,
caught in the act of depositing her eggs in the fruit
of the Strawberry, for want of a more congenial

214

THE ILLmOIS FAEMER.

July

fruit, J. E. Starr recommended that this being
the month most abounding in insects, each mem-
ber should carry a vial in his pocket and bottle up
all new interesting specimens. Had found difficul-
ty in killing them, a Cecropian moth wiis not af-
fected by chloroform and beat himself to pieces.
Dr. Buffington rocomraended Prussic Acid as in-
fallible.

The Committee on Fruits and Synonyms are of
the opinion that of the Strawberries exhibited the
best varietiee are McAvoy's Superior and Long-
worth's Prolific, presented by Dr. Hull ; Hooker's
Seedling, presented by J. M. Day ; rank next,
being large and fine. The Scarlet Magmite, by
Jas. Newman, is excellent. Wilson's Albany, by
Dr. Hull, is too well known to require any notice.
The Jenny Lind, by Mr. Reihl, is acid and said to
be very late. (?) The Iowa and Warner Seedling (?)
exhibited by Dr. Hull and the Baltimore Seedling,
by Mr. Riehl, were the other varieties exhibited.

The Whitesmith Gooseberry, by Mr. McNair, is
large and free from mildew. Very good.

The Newtown Pippin, by A. & F. Sturr, and the
Gilpin by Mr. Flagg, arc sound and in a good state
of preservation.

The Governor Wood Cherry, is presented by A.
k F. Starr ; not quite ripe. Respectfully submit-
ted.

GEO. C. EI8ENMAYEB, Ch'n.

N. NiLKS, Sec.

A special committee on wine consisting of
Messrs. Eisenmayer, Johnson, Schweppe. J. E.
Starr and Judge Niles, reported on two bottles of
Catawba of 1S63, exhibited by Dr. E. S. Hull.—
"The Committee find this wine to be of good body.
It would have been a number one Catawba had it
been preserved in a cool cellar. They regard the
grape from which it came as of a first rate quality.
Respectfully submitted."

GEO. C. EISENMAYER, Ch'n.

Eminence, Jersey, June 8.
To the Alton Horticultural Society :

The committee on Trees, Plants and Flowers, in
accordance with the instructions given at the May
meeting, notified the members of the Society that
a Foral Exhibition would be made at the June
meeting, at Mr. J. E. Starr's place. Eminence, Jer-
sey Co., 111. Bouquets and collections were re-
quested. A display highly creditable is the result.
Of cultivated varieties, a bouquet No. 1, with the
following card attached: "Presented by Mrs. Da-
vid E. Brown," contained the greatest variety, and
is very elaborately and skillfully constructed. The
flowers were contributed from the gardens of Hon.

Robert Smith, Dr. Marsh, Samuel Wade, Esq.,
Isaac Scarritt, Esq., Mr. E. P. Wade. Arranged
by E. P. Wade.

A bouquet No 2, by Mrs. H. N. Roberts, of Al-
ton, is little inferior in variety to No. 1, while in
construction we regard it as equal to the best.

A bouquet from Dr. Hull's grounds, contained a
magnificent Calncanthus, and an Oleander, which
was quite rare, and many other choice flowers,
which entitle the offerin<i to special mention.
^Mrs. Dimmock presents a beautiful collection
roses and pinks in variety.

Mrs. Newman's bouquet contains the greatest
variety of roses.

Mrs. Frank Starr brought us a large collection
of Peonies in variety.

In originality and exquisite taste, in combina-
tion and arrangement, a basket of wild flowers by
Mrs. Elli.^, crowns the collection. No one but she
who collected and combined the material and made
the arrangement, should attempt a minute descrip-
tion of this basket.

A collection of wild flowers, by Mr.. A. H. Dra.

per, of Alton, bespeaks industry ai:d good taste,

for which she will please accept the thanks of the

committee.

Respectfully submitted,

MISS ANNA H. ROBBINS.
MRS. F. CURTIS,
J. E. STARR,
S. B. JOHNSON,
JAS. NEWMAN.

The Committee on Vegetabh^s, through Mr. D.
E. Brown, Chairman, reported on exhibition a
very fine lot of Asparagus from Mr. Tucker, the
be?t of the season.

The Secretary reported bi-monthly reports of
March and April, received from the Commissioner
of Agriculture, which were distributed among the
members.

J. E. Starr introduced specimens of roots of the
Delaware, grown on the grounds at Eminence last
season, four feet and over in length.

GRAPE'PRTTNING AGAIN.

Mr. Eisenmayer, of Mascoutah, St. Clair county,
being called upon, said he had so far modified his
practice as to do almost no summer pruning.
In spring he leaves the Catawba with two canes
and about six eyes to a cane for fruiting. The
Concord and Norton, as also Cassady and Taylor's
Bullit, will endure twice that amount. Out instead
of rubbing off laterals in summer pruning, as re-
commended by the books, he permits them to
grow at will. The best fruit of the Concord and
Norton's Virginia grows on the laterals ; tops the
vines with a sickle in August to ripen the wood
perfectly.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

215

In planting puts the vines in the bottom of deep
holes and fills up gradually by cultivation. Thus
the ground is warmer about the newly set roots,
and the cut-worm, which works at the surface is
foiled. Lays down this year's growth for layers
about the first of July. Regards such layers as
good almost, as from old wood. Plows ground
twenty-four inches deep by a subsoil plow follow-
ing common plow and bringing the sub-soil to the
surface.

J. E. Starr believes that letting the lateral grow
may produce a stockier and stronger plant.

Dr. Hull would permit laterals to grow for fruit.
This year his Catawbas are producing fruit on the
laterals, when the true fruit buds are killed. Rubs
off the two leaves next the main stalk, as he be-
lieves they are competitors with the fruit. Rubs
outgrowth at fruit joints for the same reason. —
Would plant vines and all fruits deep to avoid the
effects of drought and the too sudden effect of
moisture after drought upon the fruit. The growth
of tree and fruit, when planted shallow, is checked
and incited with injurious rapidity.

Mr. Hiiggins presented sections of peach trees
that had passed through the winter of 1855-6, and
of trees grown since that time. The first showed
a distinct ring of rotten wood about that season
from which younger trees were free. Also sec-
tions showing a new growth of the present year,
already made over the discolored wood killed by
the freeze of January 1st.

The place of next meeting was referred to the
Committee with power to act.

It was voted in case the day appointed for any
meeting prove stormy, the meeting be held the
succeeding day.

Present at this meeting, Messrs. E. S. Hull, J. E.
Starr, J. A. Barr, Geo. R. Colby, F. Curtis, J. Cur-
tis, D. E. Brown, J. Huggins, J. Snedecker, Dr.
Buffington, S. B. Johnson, Dr. H. N. Roberts, Rev_
Mr. Johnson, J. M. Day, C. Merriman, H. G. Mc-
Pike, Jas. Newman, N. Niles, Geo. C. Eisenmayer,
Mr. Tucker, Holmes and others. Also Mrs. Starr,
Fearson, Brown, Curtis, Johnson, Newman, Dim-
mock, Roberts and others.

After the transaction of business a very brief
examination could be made of the grounds at Mt.
Eminence. Mr. Sta.rr came here hut two years
since, yet he has already set some 20O apple trees,
principally Newton, Pippiu, Janet and Winesap,
with some Rome Beauty and Ben Davis, 2,300
peach trees, about 500 pear, 200 cherry and 400
grape vines, embracing 30 varieties, but mainly
Concord and Catawba. The growth of the Dela-
ware here in trenched ground has already been

in some instances over six feet the present season,
and betokens great congeniality in soil and cli-
mate.

The estate of Mt. Eminence comprises some 400
acres, 100 of which are in cultivation, a part for
the period of thirty years. Some peach trees are
yet living of an orchard set in 1832. The point i8
highest ill the range of Illinois bluffs between AJ-
ten and Grafton, and commands a wide exte"nt of
beautiful landscape. Far inla-.^d are seen the tow-
ersjof Monticello Seminary, anl over the river the
houses and church of the ancient village of Port-
age de Sioux, backed by fertile fields of grass and
grain, with the distant waters of the Missouri be-
yond.

Geologically the cliffs are an older formation
than those below the mouth of the I'iasa, and pre-
sent quite a different aspect, being turreted by the
action of water, and crowned with varied and beau-
tiful forests. , . •:

The Grape Culturist — "We have before ealled
the attention of our readers to this valuable work.
Since then we have given it a careful reading and
can add our testimony to its practical value.

Every person engaged in grape culture even on
a small scale, should have a copy. Address 0. S.
Fuller, Brooklyn, New York.

TuENiP Seed. — A writer in the Canada Farmer
gays that he has sown turnip seed for 23 years,
and has annually proved its vitality by first sowing
a hundred seeds" in a flower pot. The result has
invariablv been from 96 to 100 plants from J 00
seeds ofone year oh). He now has sixtv-eight
plants from 100 seed gathered in 1856, against
68 per cent of vitality in turnip seed eight weeks
old.

. -91 ■'-.'''

Oiling Implements.

Many agricultural implements may be worked
with a much less amount of force by lubricating
the journals and other parts where two metals
work against each other, with a proper kind of oiL

The object of lubrication is to overcome friction
by filling the space between any two surfaces, sup-
posed to be in contact with oil or other material,
so as to prevent the metals from abrading each
other.

When common oil is used, this object is attained
but in degree, and in agricultural implements
which are occasionally out of use the effect cf time
is to render the oil gummy and adhesive.

All this may be avoided by u*ing cold pressed
speara oi", such as does not stiffen in cold weather,
and is fre'e from albumen and other impurities.

In warm weather lard may be used with good ef-
fect.

Transactions of the State Horticultueal So-
ciety FOR 1863. — This booklet contains one hun-
dred and forty-seven pages of highly valuable mat-
ter. The Corresponding Secretary, under whose
supervision the work appears, is entitled te the
thanks of fruit growers and gardeners for the large
amount of time and talent that he has devoted to
it. We could add to the value of our pages by
liberal extracts from the wosk. but as every fruit
grower and gardener should have a copy,
have, we will be content to call attention to the
fact that it is now ready for safe by A. C. Flagg,
Secretary, Alton, 111.,- at 40 cts. by express in pa-
per, by mail 60 cts. In muslin by express j;^ cts.,
by mailj90 cts.

216

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

July

BAEEB & FHILI'IirS .

FT7BLISHERS.

M. L. DUNLAP, Kditor.

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, JULY, 1864.

Yesterday, June 19t,h, we had a most refreshing
shower. Vegetation had begun to yield to the
drouth — newly set trees were crisping up their
leaves ; the late planted corn lay in the dry soil
half swollen and disposed to give up all hopes of
sending down its radicale ; the peas would not fil^
out ; the strawberry had ceased to yield other than
lilliputian berries ; the oats had a fearful shoit-
ness, and the grass refused to become luxurious,
while the newly plowed land came uj) in great
clods, eloquent of sterility. Now all is changed.
The soil has become friable and the whole green
surface, whether in rows, broadeuts, meadow or
pasture, is wearing the garb of renovation. What
a sudden transition for a few short hours ! Day
after day we had watched the clouds come and go.
The smoke of the passing trains was our weather
vane, and the course of the wind became a study.
Now it came fiom the northeast laden with the
coolness from the surface of Lake Michigan ; now
east, when our hopes grow apace ; aiion in the
southeast, a sure harbinger that the genii of the
Ozark Range was busy planning us a storm ; a
sudden shifting to the southwest — the skeleton of
the storm had passed, but the storm, alas, was
wanting. Thus week after week rolled by and
nought but a sprinkle gladdened the thirsty soil.
Speculation ran high — shall the sea-on of 18t)3 be
repeated — is the corn crop, the great staple of
central Illinois, to be another failuie — and wiil the
hay crop go down with it ? The latter is already
shortened and the f<>rnier cannot fully recover.
The signs of rain have all vanished and the sperect
of the Ozark has fled. The moon ro.e on [a.
cloudL'ss sky and proudly marched over the thirs-
ty waste, looking down with a stately aspect which
might say, "Boast not of your r ih soil, for with-
out the gentle shower that is gathered in the gulf,
you will be helpless. Would you win mo'Stiire
from the summer cloud, plant trees ; belt your
farms with conductors whose green spires shall
aid the lightning in staging the swift passage of
the clouds until the rain charged cluud shall have
the List drop of moisture driven from it by the con-
tending currents of air."

The rain came — delayed it was, hut it came at
last Ere the church bells had tolled to the morn-

ing worship, black clouds lay in lazy folds around
the horizon and shut out the sun, the spectre was
in the southeast and a low growl of thunder came
from the west. The smooth surface of the green
tinted sea like clouds bcgau to emerge from below
the horizon with the speed of the moving train. It
came steadily forward — the scattering drops, the
vanguard of the storm like a line of skirmishers, is
upon us, followed by the solid columns of moving
water. Tlie dust is washed from the drooping
vegetation. An hour, and the earth has drunk in
the kindly shower, and the flagging vegetation
stands erect, glistening v/ith the globules that have
kissed the gratified leaflets.

If the raiu has made buoyant and invigorated
ticc and plant, it has also gladdened the heart of
tlio cultivator of the soil, and braced him up for
renewed activity. The moon again rides an
almost cloudless night, but vegetation has no time
to di.-;cuss the loss of a segment irom her yester-
night full orbed circle, for they must take a new
start in life. Thi.^2'^*o''i*'''g every green thing
wears a sn.ilirig a.^pect. The adolescent apples
peer out from their leafy canopy ; the May cherry
glows witli a maturer cheek ; the currant is put-
ting on :i ;ii;ge of red ; the strawberry has assum-
ed a jiiore pleafing form ; the raspberry is looming
into iuipoitaiice ; the cabbage has spread out its
leaves, and the grape has put forth another ten-
dril ; the corn is fairly laughing down the long
rows, v.'hilu the potato i.s being bedecked with
ijh'oni, and leaves erect, inviting another passage
of the SiLiiford, that shall give a more ample ridge
of oiuth for the forming tubers; twenty-five acres
of cauary seed with its cone-like beads shall give
bette;" proraiso of grain to cheer the bird of song ;
the bailey, wjieat and oats shall now have fuU-
roe.iiJed and ample berry, while the meadow will
send oui new tilkvs to amplify the windrow ; the
school gill's leu of Sowers shall glow with richer
beauty, v.hile the miitrou's vines climb higher and
ca^l c> cr window and lattice a deeper shade.

Natueal IIlstoet Society. — The second volume
of Transactions, we' learn, is nearly ready for the
members.

The folio wir.g are among the articles:

1st. Prof. Timer's address on Education, at the
dedication of the Museum.

2d. Dr. George Yasey's new Catalogue of the

Plants of Illinois

3d. Origin ()f the Prairies, by Prof. Alexander
Winchell.

4th. Trees in Winter, by Dr. Frederick Brendel,
with fifty illustrations.

5th. B. D. Walsh's Papers on Entomology.
6th. Natural Resources of oar Commonwealth,

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEE.

217

The Temperature.

THERMOMETER IN THE OPEN AIR.

?^I

Day of Month.

1 Jl. U.

2 p. M.

9 P. M.

1864.

Mav

... 1

62

56

50

<(

t(

...2

42

48

44

(t

n

... 3

48

61

SO

<t

il

... 4

42

vo

58

tt

11

...5

62

81

71

C{

(1

... 6

68

80

68

((

(1

... 7

68

82

68

((

1(

... 8

66

72

65

«(

11

... 9

&1

82

72

I(

(1

...10

41

45

42

i(

It

• . a ■ .

...11

60

61

50

n

l;

...12

50

75

60

u

11

.. 13

58

64

58

n

11

...14

69

68

56

u

1(

...15

56

58

60

t(

11

...16

62

80

62

C(

11

...11

64

72

62

t<

11

...18

-70

78

66

tt

bl

...19

62

78

68

t(

11

...20

68

88

78

({

It

.. 21

74

88

68

((

11

...22

79

92

75-

((

11

...23

84

89

71

((

11

...24

62

68

54

n

• 1

...25

58

67

57

u

It

...26

68

73

62

u .

11

...27

•72

77

64

((

11

...28

53

59

66

11

11

...29

49

80

71

C(

11

...30

19

86

71

C{

11

...31

10

85

68

Means

63

74

62

Mean for the month 66

The average temperature of the month has been
low, with several sudden changes attended with
considerable high wind, from the direction of Lake
Michigan.

On the 2nd inst. strawberries commenced bloom-
ing ; on the 6th the pear was out ; the crab apple
on the 7th, and the cherry and apple the 8th. On
the morning of the 10th we had a hard freeze with
high wind, which has f eriously lessened the apple
crop. The 24th we bad a slight sprinkle, but not
sufficient to wet the ground an inch deep ; — no
other rain during the month.

The first ripe strawberries were picked the 30th
and the first fruit had on the t ible the Slst inst.
These were the Early Scaelrt, or Virginia Scarlet,
a favorite variety with us.

byC. D. Wilber.

7th. The Avalanche of the Ocean, by Prof, Tur-
ner.

8th. Limits of Aborescent Vegetation in Illin-
ois, by Dr. Vasey.

9th. New Theory of Respiration, by Dr. J. A.
Sewall.

10th. The Illinois Coal Fields, by C. D. Wilber,
with forty illustrations. ■

11th. Chess and Wheat.

12th. Miscellaneous Papers. '-

13tli. Secretary's Report.

14th. Curator's Report.

The number of specimens added to the Museum
since June 26th, '63, is 4,000, includtng plants,
fossils, minerals and crystals. A large and splen-
did collection of casts of rare fossils, from Europe-
an Museums, has just been received. The Society

is free from debt, and is rapidly carrying out the
objects for which it was founded.

It had been our intention to have attended the
June meeting of the Society, but we have some ac-
tive duties to perform at this time about the farm,
the orchard and the garden. In fact our time is
so fully occupied at home that it is about out of
the question to take even a hasty look through the
State. :, . :.-.-■ '■■-■■; .^

»3K When you are trying to sleep, it is not
pleasant to have two dogs half a mile apart, dis-
cussing a dogmatical difference of opinion.

Report op the Illinois State Sasitaet

BuEEAU — Through the politeness of Col. John R.
Woods, the Recording Secretary and General State
Agent, we are in receipt of this interesting report.
Whatever may have been or is now the difference
of opinion in regard to ihe war and its cause, it is
certain that this State is one of the hirgest contrib-
utors in men, money and material.

At the beginning of the war the resources of the
State were just beginning to be developed on a
scale of magnitude that was challenging admira-
tion ; but the plow was left in the furrow, the
tools in the workshop, and goods on the counter, to
grasp the musket and to train the cannon. But if
the stalwart sons of the State thus left their wont-
ed vocations, others, if not as strong, took their
plows and pushed the State forward on her career of
greatness She has poured out money like water
and men as trees to stay this rebellion, to wipe out

its curse and to reach an honorable peace. May
the end be not far off' !

The report is a closely printed pamphlet of
ninety-eight pages, and contains a detailed account
of the Commission. It is to be: hoped that a copy
will find its way to every aid society, if not to eve-
ry fireside in the State.

Address CoL John R. Woods, Recording Secre-
tary, Springfield, SL

mam

:,»v »i^..:a::^.i#- j ■fj..ff^^fii^LL^^:^iu^-!i.iA^,!.i..^-~,- -.: :.ii^i:..i^^..»a«.i.^ ;:^sjjaiki^^<ia*i^^

218

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

July

Cast Cast-Steel Plows.

We stated in the June No. of the Farmer that
we were using one of Deer's cast cast-steel plows.
"We are now through the season of plowing, and
again repeat, that for all kinds of cross plowing it
is the best plow that has ever come to our hand.
We have about a dozen plows, some of them but
little worn and mostly of cast-steel, but we cannot
afford to use them up, as we can more than save
their loss in the superior work and ease of draft of
the new plows. We gave it a trial in breaking
with two horses, and found it well suited to the
work. In some of our land that has been plowed
a foot deep, we have always found it difficult to
Set the plow to scour, and in some instances have
failed, but in no case has the new plow failed in
this respect, and we think that it will scour in any
and b11 kinds of prairie soil, under any condition.
We have one piece of land on which no cast-steel
plow would scour before this trial on account of
its loose friable condition, not even one of Deer's
best cast-steel, but the new plow turned it over
without the least difficulty. Why this difference
we cannot say, but only know it to be a fact. It
may be that granulated steel is better in this re-
spect than rolled or hammered steel, and it may
be that the casting of the share and land side may
have something to do with it. For cheapness, du-
rability, ease of draft and quality of work, the new
cast cast-steel plow is largely ahead of anything
that we have put into our soil. Success to the
persevering genius of John Deer, 'whose plows turn
up our matchless soil, and whose name is familiar
wherever the harvest rustles on the prairie of the
west.

For the Illinois Farmer.

Hand Looms.

Mt. Vernon, III., June 12, 1864.
Editor Illinois Farmer — D&ar Sir :

Can you givn me any information in regard to
hand looms ? I want something with which a fam-
ily can manufacture their own cloth, such as jeans,
linsey, rag carpets, &c. I saw two patents last
fall at the State Fair, but did not learn where they
were manufactured. I would be glad for informa-
tion on this subject, the prices and your opinion
of its utility, &c.

Our county fair commences on the 28th day of
September. Yours very respectfully,

John Wilbanks.

— The name of Arkright has become immortal,
for the reason that liis genius sought out the pow-
er loom by which the household became in part
disenthralled. If the music of the spinning wheej
peparted from the kitchen, and the steady slam of

the loom from tke woodshed, we have in their
place many pleasant surroundings to our homes,
and it is to be hoped that no retrograde movement
will ever bring back these toilsome implements
that for ages bound the larger portion of the rural
populations in bonds of ignorance and'uuequalled
toil. Give us the fast revolving wheels that twirl
the thread on the spinning jenny, and the clatter
of the iron loom that beats responsive to the puis
ation of the escaping steam, and we will be con-
tent. We have no respect for the genius that will
return us a hand loom, for he is but a tyro and
born out of time at least a thousand years. We
would as soon think of cutting our grass with the
old scythe, dropping our corn by hand, thrashing
out wheat with single blows of the hand flail, as to
have our wife and daughters again h ve the old
wheel and the hand loom forced upon them. We
feel proud that the spinning wheel, the hand loom,
the needle and the old cooking apparatus have
given place to the spinning jenny, the power
loom, the sewing machine and the cooking range.
The piano, the raelodeon, books, flowers, and a
thousand little comforts are i.ow at hand to adorn
and make pleasant our rural homes. Our wives
and daughters can take a higher social position and
attend to their household duties with more pleas
ant music. — En.

For the Illinois Farmer.

A Destructive Catterpillar.

Laomi, Sangamon Co. III., Juno 14, '64.
M. L. Dunlap, Esq. Dear Sir:

In this neighborhood we have been troubled
with a small catterpillar infesting the apple tree, in
some cases stripping the tree of its leaves, and so
injuring them that they fall off. When you shake
or jar the tree the catterpillars fall to the ground,
hanging by a web and by which they again climb
up.

Please give us the name and cure for this pest
of the orchard, and oblige yours,

A. BOWEN.

P. S. Can you tell me how to destroy moles ?

— The catterpillar is probably the hyphantria
textor. The only time that we have found availa-
ble to destroy this insect is when they are small
and in clusters near the end of the branches, when
they should be crushed beneath your feet. We
have been assured that no bird will eat this worm,
but of this we have some grave doubts. We find
little trouble in keeping them down when taken in
season, but depend on hand picking and the crush-
ing out process.

We do not apprehend that moles do harm, that
is, ao much as they do good. They live on beetles

1864

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

Mf

and cut worms, hence we never kill them. This
spring we hear great complaint of them in the
corn field, but found them to disappear as soon as
we put the cultivator to wo»k. We must have
more testimony against them before we can make
any attempt on their life. It is a little provoking
to liave them run through the flower beds or gar-
den, but the grubs are still more provoking and
we prefer the lesser evil. — Ed.

4*.

The Boyhood Home of the Hero Baker

2b the Editors of the Alton Tdegraph :

Stood you ever, Mr. Editor, on Mt. Eminence ?
It is a glorious spot ! — that boyhood home of the
hero of Ball's Bluff. Eminence ! — 'tis well named
— the highest point of land between the "Great
American bottom" and the mouth of the Illinois
river.

Piled here, stratum upon stratum, the giant
cliffs lift their massive forms high into the blue
air. And from this eminence how vast, how beau-
tiful, how grand the panorama spread out before !
With one sweep of the eye, you take in almost the
entire combination of nature's beauties and na-
ture's grandeurs — the mighty river, the beautiful
lake, the broad prairie, the waving forest, the tow-
ering clifli the lofty mountain — distance intermin-
able, and the blue vault bending over all. But let
us analyze this scene, Mr. Editor, and examine its
component parts. Mount Emiuence forms a part
of the north bank of the Mississippi river some
ten or more miles above the city of Alton; on its
summit we are told, you stand four hundred feet
above the great river.

From the water upward half this distance is
composed of an irregular facade of cliff lime stone,
here and there cut into columns, truncated cones,
pilasters and bastions. From the top of the rocks
to the summit the friable earth has an inclination
of a few degrees. Turning to the west and looking
up the river you see the village of Elsah at the wa-
ter's edge. With the mighty hills hanging over it,
here stooping gracefully to the water line, there
broken into massive cliffs — portions of the hills
densely and portions sparsely covered with forest
trees, and carpeted with green grass. And yet
further west you see the confluence of the Illinois
with the Mississippi.

From this point the great river sweeps round
and bears to the southwest for miles upon miles,
until it doubles a promontory almost at the far-
thest ken of the eye, and thence resuming its
northern course, is lost to the gazer. Turning to
the east and looking down the river, you view the
cliffs overhanging the city of Alton. On your
right hand and on your left in the river, are beau-
tiful islands — one heart shaped, opposite Elsah, so
thickly covered with trees and slirubbery that you
can see no land, but simply one dense mass of foli-
age extending to the very water, and up the vista
between it and the main shore, you look into the
very parlor of beauty. But now let ua turn and
front to the south, and what a pictui"e we have
there !

Looking down four hundred feet the eye falls
upon a perfectly level plain — its western and south-
western portions for many miles a magnificent
prairie — its eastern portion one vast, unbroken

forest — ^its central portion dotted with isolated
trees — patches of prairie and a large, winding lake,
the view of which is broken by occasional clumps
of trees. In the foreground immediately in front
of you, nestling amid shrubbery and fruit trees, is
gathered the ancient French village Portage de
Sioux. Radiating from this to the west, south and
east, are many fine farms with their dwellings, or-
chards and out buildings. And now peering on-
ward and onward through the hazy atmosphere,
as far to the south as the eye can reach, we behold
lofty ranges of hills — one succeeding another, and
still receding until at last we are in doubt as to
whether we are looking upon a mountain range, or
gazing into misty air. And breaking through a
deep gorge in one of these mountain ranges, the
mighty Missouri river, with its turbid flood, comes
dashing on until it approaches near you, when, ab-
ruptly turning to the east, the two great floods —
Mississippi and Missouri— flow side by side for
manv miles.

I have been thus minute, Mr. Editor, (and yet
have only partially painted the picture), because
this is said to be the finest scene to be witnessed
from any portion of the State of Illinois, if not
from any portion of the entire Mississippi valley ;
and farther that we may comprehend the influence
thrown around the early life of the lamented Gen.
Baker. More than thirty years ago the first ad-
vancing wave of civilization broke upon Mt. Emi-
nence, but its impression was so slight, its stay so
short, that its marks and traces have also passed,
and nature again asserts her almost uncombatted
sway. As a part of this pioneer wave came the
father of yoimg Baker (an Irish emigrant) and his *
family. He opened a store and around him was
built a village.

Through three deep ravines and over these great
hills, looking out upon these mighty rivers and far
spreading prairies, and magnificent forests, and
beautifuflake, and mountain ranges, and through
the blue air into limitless space. Master Baker
spent those gleesome hours of boyhood, when viv-
id impressions are indelible, and stamp the char-
acter for all time ; aye, for eternity too. With
such impressions and glorious surroundings, how-
ever low the mental organization of that boy,
but whose thoughts and aims and actions, on at-
taining manhood, would not be of a lofty and en^f
nobling character, carrying him forward to the
front rank of his compeers. From this schooling
we would expect to find a character imbued with
patriotism, a firm and steady man, leading forward
the front ranks of brothers in arms upon the bat
tie fields of Mexico, taking the van of the emigrant
train in scaling the Rocky Mountains iu quest of
adventure, and from the broad Pacific coming back
the champion of Freedom — the representative of a
mighty nation — the upholder of a noble Constitu-
tion. And should treachery raise its hideous head
we should expect him to strike it down, or in the
effort himself be stricken down. And how appo-
site that the life commenced on the frowning
bluffs of the Mississippi should terminate upon a
lofty bluff for the protection of the nation's life.

But time has passed and the second wave of
civilization has reached Mount Eminence, and we
find there now the grape and the peach, the well
filled library, the charm of social refinement, and
believe that ere long Mr. Starr, its present propri-
etor, will make of the Mount an Eden.

General Yiewxb.

• TA.flirtBltf-^Wlf^lriBii11<lViriklif^/ftfVA'it- ilr I- ^

.. - ..^i-A. - - - Hi nt^T Tl IMllimi 1 iilirgllitlrtifejtilMfc

220

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

July

Agents. — We do not appoint any agents — all are
voluntary. Any person so disposed, can actasagen
in any place.

Enlarge Youe Club. — Will not the friends of
the Illinois Fabiier inquire how many copies of
the Farmer are taken in their respective "flSces, and
pass around among those who ought to have their
names added to tho list? Our terms are so low to
ciubs of ten and twenty that we ought to have one
or the other made up at every office in the State, and
at every oflSee in Central Illinois, one of twenty or
more. Will our friends, and ihe friends of practical
agriculture see to it, and thus lay us under renewed
obligations?

To Single Subscribers. — You receive the only
copy of the Farmer that goes to your post office.
Can you not send one, two, three or more new sub-
scribers, without any trouble ? Try. Sample num-
bers, eic, sent free.

Drafts. — Those remitting us large amounts of
money, will please send us drafts on Springfield or
Chicago, !os3 they exchange. If you send cash in a
letter, be sure that it is well sealed and well directed,
to Baker & Phillips, Springfield, Illinois.

The Farmer as a Present. — Any of our subscri-
bers who wish to make a present of the Illinois
Farmer for 1863, can have it at the lowest club rates,
when out of the State. For fifty cents you can treat
your Eastern friends to a Western Agricultural Pa-
per. In no way can you invest that amount to so
giod advantage to emigration.

Send Now. — Any person who remits pay for a club
of ten or fifteen, or any other number at the specified
rates for such clubs, can afterwards add to the clubs,
and take advantage of the reduction. Thus a person
sending us five subscribers and three dollars, can af-
terwards send us three dollars more and receive six
copies.

To The Casual Reader. — This and other num-
oers of the Illinois Farker will be sent to many
persons who low use it for the first time. Will they
not examine it, and if they like it, subscribe for it,
and ask their neighbors to subscribe ? Sample num-
erbs, prospectuses, etc., sent free to all applicants.
See terms elsewhere.

How TO Obtain Subscribers. — The best way is to
send for sample numbers. Any young man by can-
vassing his neighborhood, can easily make up a club
o i five, ten or twenty, but no time should be lost in
doing so, for your neighbors may send east for their

paper which, though valuable there, is much less so
here, the difference of soil and climate putting them
out of their reckoning when attempting to teach us
Western farming.

How TO Help. — The friends of the Illinois Far-
mer will find a prospectus in another column. We
desire to suggest a few ways in which they can use it
to advantage :

1. Show the Farmer to those who are unacquaint-
ed wi'h it, and toll them what you think of it.

2. Send for prospectuses, and put them into the
hands of those who will use them, and place posters
where farmers will see them.

3. Get post masters interested. They see every-
body, and are efficient workers.

4. Send us the names of persons in your town to
whom we can send prospectuses and sample num-
bers.

5. Begin now, before the agents of Eastern pa-
pers get up their clubs.

This last hint is especially iu?portant. Let us
hear from you soon. See terms elsewhere.

_^©*' Clubs may be composed of persons in all
parts of the United Sth.tes. It will be th« same to
the publishers if they send papers to one or a hund-
red post offices. Additions made at any time at club
rates. We mail by printed slips, which are so cheaply
placed on the papers, that it matters little whether
they go to one or a dozen offices.

J^~ Correspondents will please be particular to
give the name of the post office, county and State.

^^*Specimen numbers will be sent gratis, upon
applicatisn.

^^©* Address

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

Springfield, Illinois.

Special Notice. — For terms see prospectus on
last page. All exchanges and communications for
the eye of the editor should be directed to Illinois
Farmer, Champaign, Illinois. Electrotypes and
business matters, and subscriptions, to the publishers,
Springfield, Illinois. Implements and models forei-
amination should be sent to the editor. The editor
will, so far as it can be done personally, test and ex-
amine all new machines and improvements submitted
to his inspection. He will be found at home, on his
farm, nearly all of the time. So far as it is possible,
the conductors on the Illinois Central Railroad will
let off passengers at his place, which is directly on
the road, three and a half miles south of the Urbara
Station, now the city of Champaign.

::■: ■ \--lf?':::Tf^:-

1864

THE ILLIFOIS FAKMEK.

221

FURST & BRADLEY,

MAN0FACT0REKS OF

AND OTHER

Agricultural Impiemeuts,

Xos. 55 and 58 North Jefferson Street,

near Corner of Lake Street,
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Plows of all sizes and patterns, Cultivators, Horse
lioes, Harrows, Corn Shellers, Straw Cutters, Gar-
den and Rail Road Wheelbarrows, Road Scrapers —
five different patterns — Sulky Corn and Grain Culti-

ators, Sulky Hay Rake, with steel wire teeth re-
volving.

Send for a priced Catalogue.

FURST & BRADLEY
Aprill-64-ly* - ■ .

NANSEMOND SWEET POTATO PLANTS,—
strong and well rooted, from May to July.
Put up to carry 1000 miles in good order. Price.
300. $1.00; 1,000, $2.50; 5,000, $11,00: 10,00, $20.00.
My plants of this variety produce good crops at the
North.

Send for my circular of direetons for cultivation,
Ac. Address M. M. MURREY,

Fruit Hills, near Loveland, Ohio.

WEED'S TREE AND PLANT PROTECTOR
WILL protect trees against injury from Au-
TTMN, Winter or Srins Frosts, and secure an annu-
al crop of Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines, Heart Cher-
ries, Blackberries, Strawberries in any part of the
Central or Northern States ; and prevent all loss of
trees or plants by Winter killing.
Patented Oct. 21st, 1862, and Dec. 8th, 1863,

JAMES WEED,
AprilI-64:-3mo* Muscatine, Iowa.

GET THE BEST

FIRST PREMIUM

OULTIYATOR.

The only one combining all the Mechanical Pprinci-
ples necessary to a

PRACTICAL AND SUCCESSFUL OPERATION

IN THE FIELD.

The lateral or self-adjusting motion of the plows and
is an an effectual "

BAR AGAINST BREAKING,

When it comes in contact with nnsoen obstacles.

It is Made of the Best Material,

BT EPPERIENCED WORKMEN.

THE SHOVELS OF PIEST QUALITY

;; - OF

OAST STEEL.

Altogether, it far excels all others in point of

XJtility. I^nrability a^n<l

Price $50 cash on board the cars at Decatur.
"^ai^Send for Descriptive Pamphlet.

March, 1864— 3m.

BARBER k HAWLEY, "
Manufacturers,
Decatur, IlL

Jtjlt

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

222

EYERGREEN SEEDLINGS.

A verj large stock of superior grown Evergreen
Seedlings, at less than one-half the Eastern Prices.

PER 1,000.
Norway Spruce, two years old,
three to five inches, $5,00

Norway Spruce, three years
old, six to nine inches, $8,00

Scotch Pixe, two years old,
three to five inches, $7,00

Austrian Pine, two years old, $2 per 100.
Balsam Fir, Red Cedar, Arbakvit^, &o., <tc.,
of large or small size, at very low rates.

A large stock of CONCOP^D GRAPES, one of the
best varieties for the West.

A large stock of RED DUTCH CURRANTS, the
best for market, two to three years old, at half the
isunl rates.

STANDARD AND DWARF PEARS, of well
tested varieties, together with a good assortment of
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, &c., A.

Send for Catalogue. ROBT. DOUGLAS.

WaukegaN; III. tf

TO^GRAPE GROWERST

Tho subscriber has a large stock of the most vigor-
ous growth layers of the following desirable varieties,
which ho will sell at very low rates, to wit :

CONCORD. $55 per 1,000.

A few thousand of bearing age, of large size at

$75 { er l,OUO.
These will produce a good crop the second year.

HARTFORD PROLIFIC, $10 per 1,00, or
tea for a dollar.

REBECCA, $10 per 100.

DIANA, $10 per 100

The above will be well packed,
to go any distance.

Terms — ?ash, or approved bank paper o
short date.

JAMES SMITH.
Desmoines Iowa, Jan. 1, 18C3.

WANTED.
KNITTIWG MACHINES.

Every Farmer to know that his " Women Folks
can earn $6 to $20 per week with one of Akin's Cele-
braled Knitting Machines. It will earn its cost in
thirty days. Price complete $75. Weight 45 pound.
Freight from 50 cents to $1 50. Send for circular
and samples, (send stamps.)

BRANSON A ELLIOT,

General Agents,
Apr '63 ly 120 Lake street, Chicago, 111.

BLOOMINGTON NURSERY

BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

Eighty Acres Fruit and Ornamental Treet
<r%f\f\ NAMED SORTS TULIPS, ALSO HYACINTH.-
Z." H/ Crocus, and a general assortment of Bulbs
♦nd Flower Roots for Fall and Spring planting.*
Sursery stock, Evergreens, Greenhouse and garden"*
plants — all at wholesale and retail at lowest cash
rates.

4S^7or particulars see Catalogues or address snbscribei

V. E. PH(ENIX.

Blooningtoa, III., Ang. 1, 1859.

Dunlap's Nursery.

This nursery has good atock of apple trees of all
ages and of choice varieties for the west, low heads
and stacky. The genuine " May Cherry," (Kentish
or Early Richmond of Downing,) Dwarf and Stand-
ard Pears, the Purple Cam. Raspberry, the best of all
raspberries for the farm ; Lowton Blackberry, Hough-
ton Gooseberry, Grapes, Strawberries, Ornamental
Trees and Plants. An immense stock of Silver Leaf
Maple, from $5 to $15 per 100, 6 to 10 feet high. The
green house is well stocked with roses and other bud-
ding out plants. This stock is grown to retail and
not adopted to the tree peddler.as all trees and plants
are large, stacky and thrifty, and intended for the
plan'er only. Terms cash with low prices.

Address, M. L. DUNLAP,

Champaign.

March 1, 1863.tf

T> OSS, THOxMPSON & CO.

(Successors to G. S. Thompson.)
CAPITAL PENSION & BOUNTY AGENCY.

OFFICE ON WEST SIDE OF 5tH STREET,

Opposite State Ilouse, over L. Greeble's Clothing Store
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

BOUNTY AND BACK PAY, PENSIONS, RECRUITING

CLAIMS, CLAIMS FOR HORSES LOST IN

SERVICE, ARREARAGES OF PAY

DUE RESIGNED OFFICERS,

&C., <fec., <&C.

Our experience and acquaintance with the details
of business in the various departments, and the per-
sonal attention of one member of the firm at Wash-
ington, afford us every facility for the prompt collec-
tion of all classes of military claims.

If you have any claims of any description against
the government, give us a statement of the facts, and
we will tell you what your rights are in the case. A
letter of inquiry may save you much trouble, expense
and perhaps loss. All communications enclosing a
stamp for return postage p romptly answered. In-
formation gratis. No fees cl^rged until money is
collected. Charges low. Pensions for $5, as regula-
lated by act of Congress. Address

ROSS, THOMPSON & C«.,
Capita Pension and Bounty Agency, Springfield, 111.

dec63-tf

•A.3Nr]B:s'

STAND ABS

SCALES

OF ALL KINDS.
Also, Warehouse Trucks, Letter Presses, Ac.

FAIRBANKS, GREEN LEAF & CO.

172 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO.

Sold in Springfield by

E. B. PEASE.

Be earefal wd buy only the genuine. i nel-ly

' 1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE;

223

VICTOR OF THE WEST, j champion of the world.

-••♦-

■WOOID'S

SELF RAKER, ^BSf™""™

COMBINED AND SINGLE.
This Machine has won for itself the enviable title
of "Victor" having vanquished all the self raking
machines made or sold in the West, at the

GREAT DIXON REAPER TRIAL,
held nnder the direction of the 111. State Agricultura
Society, which was the largest and most thorough
field trial ever held in this country — over forty ma-
chines entering for competition.

. "W. A. WOOD'S SELF RAKER v
was awarded the first prize as a Reaper.

Again, at the DeKalb trial last season, where there
was a great struggle among all manufacturers for
three days in the fie'd, W. A. Wood's received

THE FIRST PRIZE
again as a Reaper.

This Machine is warranted to be the lightest draft
Reaper made.

The most simple and durable

Having the least side draft, and

Being the best Self Raker in the world.

Making a g*vel any size at will of driver.

For further particulars send for Circular.

CHARLES E. WHITMAN.

General Western Agent,

206 Lake 3t.j Chicago.
pril-Smo ' ;

The superiorty of Wood's Mowing and Reaping
Machines is now fully established, both in this o<-ut.-
try and Europe.

The Prize Mower, of which there were made ai:l
sold over Six thousand last season — a larger uuiabor
by far than was made by any other manufacturer in
the world, yet the demand is not supplied— is ofTero-l
this season with many valuable improvements, li^va
Pamphlet.)

To Wood's Prize Mower has been awarded more
high premiums than any other Machine during the
same time. ',

* POINTS OF SUPERIORITY.

It is the lightest draft mower in use. ]

It is the most simple machine made.
It is the most durable.
It has no side draft. '

It has no weight on horses' necks. '

It will cut all kinds of grass without clogging. ~~
It is sold at a very low 'price.
It cuts very close to the ground.
For full particulars call on Local Agents, or ?snd
for pamphlets ,

CHARLES E. WHITMAN.

r General Western Agent,
:'.- 206 Lake St. Chicagi..

Large stock of Extras constantly on bncd,

April-3m ■'"' , '.;.■;■;.",""■.■ -"■'-;■,-<■

^7 VV V

July

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

224

mmn,

A MONTHLY JOTRNAL OP

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

PUBLISHED AT

SPIiiYQFIELJJ, - . ILLINOIS,

BT

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

AND IS EDITKD BY

M. L. DUNLAP, Tribune's Bural.

Sanford & Mallory's Flax and Hemp
Machines.

These celebrated machines are on exhibition and
in operation in a building adjoining the Chicago Su-
gar Refinerj'. For circular telling all about them,
price, Ac, address NELSON STILLMAN,

General Agent, Chicago, 111.

P. 0. Box 5S23. May]'63.1y

A GOOD INVESTMENT-

ONE THAT FAYS.

THBM3 IN ADVA'CB.— 11 a ytar; two copies 1 5C; five
cjpies $3; ten copies $6, and one to getter up of the club
twenty copies $10.

It ia not necessaey that the club should all be at one office
— we send wherever the members of the club may reside

The postage on the Fabmer is only throe cents a year in
the ^'tate of Illinois, and six cents out of it.

Specimens numbtrs sent free on application.

Subsciiption money may be sent at the risk of the pub-
lisher.

Exchanges and communications for the eye of the Editor
■-hould be addressed, IiLinois Farmek, Champaign Illinois.

All business letters are to be dircc ed to the publishers,
Springfield.

TERM-* OF ADVEKTI ING :

1 mo. Smo. 6mo. 12roo.

One page, or two columns 8 $20 $35 j50

Half a page or one '• 5 12 20 3o

One fourth page or half column.. 3 7 12 \i

One eighth or one fourth •■ .. 3 4 7 10

One square of ten lines 12 4 7

Card of five lines one year .f 6 00

Tea cents a line for less than a square each insertion.

All worthy objects advertised, and those of importance to
the Farmer will receive, from time to time, such editorial
notices as the Editor may consider them worthy of, without
additional charge.

Implements and seeds to be tested should be sent direct
to the Editor, at his residence .Champaign.

We have put the price of advertising within reach of all.
It will enable those who like to freely ad\ertise their goods,
to do so at a cheap rate,

Terms, cash. Yearly advertisers will pay semi-annually,
and all transient advertisements must be accompanied with
the cash to insure insertion.

BAKEh & PHILLIP;5, Publishers.
Spr'ngfield, Ills.

THE ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL

JS CONFiHENTLY OFFERED TO THE PEOPLE OF
Illinois as the best and most reliable news, i)olitical
■ind commercial paper within their reach. It is published
:it Springfield, the Capital of the ^ tate, and is the medium
;f all official notices, published by State authority. Partic-
ular attention is given to commercial affairs and every
number contains copious reviews of the markets in the
principal cities.

TERMS :

One copy one year. $2 00

. Three copies one year 5 00

Six " " 7 50

Ten " " 12 00

Twenty" " .20 00

Payable always in advance. Persons sending clubs of ten
and upv^rds shall be entitled to an extra copy.
Address BAKEE k PHILLIPS,

Sprin^ld, Illinoia.

■.- - ' ^.'•- THE • .. ■ :■

"PRAIRIE PARMER,'

Hag now been published in Chicago, 111., for twenty-
two years, without intermission. It iis devoted to the
Producer's interests, treating of

GENARAL AGRICULTURE,
STOCK RAISING, - , '

HORTICULTURE and POMOLOGY,
And DOMESTIC ECONOMY generally.
The Publishers' aim will be to give such informa-
tion and assistance as will enable the farmer to grow
the largest crops with the least expense, and what is
equally important to assist him in securing the

LARGEST PRICES

the market affoids, by giving such reliable informa-
tion that is obtainable concerning the markets at
home and abroad — the cost of forwarding produce to
market, and other attendant expenses — tb"us enabling
the producer to take advantage of the conditions of
the market in dispensing of his produce.

FORM OF PAPER.

The paper consists of 16 pages large quarto, mak-
ing a convenient size for binding and reference. A
full index is giren at the end ol each six months.

CONTENTS.

About five pages are devoted t j Gei eral Agricul-
ture ; one to two pages to Horticulture; one page to
Literature ; two or more pages to General War Mis-
cellany and News; two pages to Markets and Rec-
ord of Season, and asking and answering questions,
and general editorial items.

A portion will also bo devoted to Advertisements
of such character as is appropriate to an Agricultural
paper. i - : ^

DR. GEO. H. DADD.

This celebrated Veterinary Surgeon will contribute
regularly to the Fakmer, giving especial attention to
the an.vwering of questions and giving information
upon matters interesting to stock growers. _

A NEW VOLUME
Commencing January 1st, 1863, and the present time
aflfords the best time to form dubs for the year.

One copy one year ^....$2 00 •

Two copies one year. 3 00

Larger clubs furnished at liberal rates, or prem-
iums given where clubs of six or more aro sent at
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Specimen copies and show bills sent to any one
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For sab by news dealers generally.

For samples or other information concerning the
paper, addic^is

EMEBY h CO., Chicago, 111.

tp'^V^'3^^'.-: -

The Illinois Faemer

VOL. IX.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., AUGUST, 1864.

NO. 8.

DEVOTED TO THE

FARM, THE ORCHAUD AND THE GARDEjS,

PUBLISHED BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,
SPHIiNGFIELD, ----- ILLINOIS.
M:. L.. lDXJ3SrijA.E», Editor.

All business letters should be addressed to the
publishers.

^^"ExcHANGES and all matters pertaining to the
editorial department, must be directed to Illinois
Farmer, Champaign, IlL, as the editor resides a
that point, and is seldom at the office of publication,
from which he is distant over eighty miles.

*^* For terms see prospectus and special notices in
advertising department.

August.

The month of the Dog Star is at
hand. The sun comes up with a proud,
defiant look, as if he had never been in
the offing, looking hazily down on the
earth mantled in frost, or with its lakes
and rivers bound in thick-ribbed ice.
The white cumuli lay in lazy folds in
the upper stories of the air, or sailing
dreamily about indifferent to the fate
of the crops, so much in need bf the
gentle shower.

August begins the penciUing of the
more gorgeous fruits and flowers, and
puts on more elaborate colors and
showy dyes.

The music of the reaper is wafted by
summer zephyrs from distant fields,
while the soiig of the thresher gladdens
the tenants of the barnyard and cheers
the toil-worn farmer ; for with it comes
the culmination or the downfall of his
hopes.

Out through the orchard the full-
orbed apples are puting on the garb of
ripeness and the cider press shall soon
gush with its liquid treasure. The
days of the strawberry, the currant, the
gooseberry, the cherry and the rasp-
berry have passed. The blackberry has
dj-awn a blank, and the place of the
peach cannot be filled ; but the apple
and the pear are coming nobly forward
to make amends as far as possible. The
corn is laid hy and making good pro-
gress, while the sweet potato is fairly
laughing in the ardent blaze of the sun.

Summer is now culminating and we
must hasten to assist it in the last fin-
ishing touches to the products of the
field.....;. ^,, -,:-:.,. .... ;:.^ ■..-::, -

The double shovel plow must be run
through the rows of potatoes, but not
in any way to disturb the hills ; and the
weeds must be cut and pulled from
them, for who wishes to dig or pick up
potatoes from among the tall autumn
weeds ? — not us, and we trust not you,
gentle and industrious reader.

The corn is laid by with a double
shovel or wheel cultirator, but there are
strong weeds in the rows that have es-

■■■ '^^"^

F- .

■ "^^^y!^^

226

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

August

caped, or there are the autumn weeds
and grasses that grow with matchless
rapidity ; —such must be cut down with
the hoe, for they draw from the ears of
corn, that would otherwise be well till-
ed out.

A large amount of prairie hay is cut
this month. Allow it to wilt in the
sun, rake it at once and put it in cock
to cure. Hay thus cured is worth dou-
ble that which is crisped up in the sun
and bleached out by the dews.

Meadow and pasture land can now
be turned over for winter wheat or rye,
to be sown early next month. If you
are short of autumn pasture, sow rye
and you will find it valuable.

The garden should be worked often
and not allowed to be lost in a hopeless
swamp of weeds ; a little attention this
month will repay you in larger vegeta-
bles and in the better appearance of
your grounds.

Autumn, or rather summer plowing,
should begin the last of this month, so
soon as the harvest is over no time
should be lost in turning under the
stubble. If in a field that can be pas-
tured the feed will be valuable, if for
the small grains it will have the effect
of a summer fallow ; if for corn the
ground will be ready without re-plow-
ing in spring, merely by stirring the
8l^•face, enabling you to plant early,
which is a very important consideration,
when you come to sell or use the crop.

Early apples must be looked after,
the best sent to market and the poor
•ones made into cider or vinegar. Ripe
apples are very healthy for all classes
and ages of people, but the green are
too full of colic to be tasted unless well
cooked.

There are many active duties for
August, but not so full of hurry and

drive as the months past. We have
more of finishing up of the summer
work, less of the real hard work, yet
an abundance of work of odds and ends
to keep us busy. This is a bad month
in which to overwork one's self, or to
be exposed to rain or dew, for such
things are brought against us in Sep-
tember when we receive the penalty for
our ill doing.

If the overseer of highways has not
attended to his duty before, he must
not delay beyond this month to put
his road in order. Road work should
be faithfully done; for at best the roads
will be in poor enough order during
the autumn rains.

How a Large Farm is Managed.

Most people who purchase large
tracts of wild lands make their profit
out of them by enhanced prices occa-
sioned by those who improve the adja-
cent lands, thus making a demand for
them. In this way the speculators in
western lands have wrung millions of
dollars out of the hardy pioneer, for it
may be safe to say that not one-fourth
of the lands of the State were purchas-
ed of the Government by those who
now own and occupy them.

M. L. Sullivant, formerly of Ohio,
and who was a practical farmer of the
Sciota valley near Columbus, having
accumulated a large capital, entered
mostly with soldiers' warrants, some
sixty-five thousand acres of very choice
land in this State. Twenty-two thou-
sand acres of this land is in nearly a
solid body, lying in the southeast part
of Champaign County, and south of
Hormer Station, on the G. W. R. R.

Mr. S. conceived the idea that thia
body of land could be profitably farm-
ed, and some eight years since entered

1864

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

227

upon the experiment. The tract was
destitute of timber, which had to be
hauled six to ten miles to reach the sev-
eral parts of the tarm. Several thou-
sand acres were broken up, and sown
to the small grains or planted to corn,
but the low price of grain and immense
cost of improvements were not compati-
ble, and the scheme looked much like
a failure. JSothing daunted, Mr. S.,
who had remained with his family in
Ohio, lately moved to the new farm and
took the management into his own
hands, and from day to day directed
and superintended the whole minituse
of farm labor. That occurred three
years since. He his now so extended
the labor that it requires a general su-
perintendent under him, a book-keep-
er, a herdsman and a plowman, or
foreman of the farm hands. All of the
plow land, except about 1,600 acres,
was seeded down to timothy and clo-
ver. On the farm is over sixty miles of
good post and board fence, and all the
posts are on the ground for six miles
more, which will complete the fencino-
of the whole tract. -

The aim of the owner has been to
economize labor and to cheapen the
products of his broad acres. In this he
has been eminently successful, and in
many respects has set good examples
to follow. In a former number we
have given the readers of the Fakmer
the experiment with the rotary spader,
and the great cheapening of preparing
the soil for the various crops by its use.
To put in 1,200 acres of corn is no boy's
play, as this must be done with less
than forty working days. 500 acres of
this has been spaded, leaving 700 acres
to plow. This would require 350 days
with one team, to plow at the rate of
two acres a day. Sixteen teams plow

some thirty acres a day. This is all
harrowed by one man with two span of
horses, and it is well done. A double
whiffle tree some twenty feet long is
used ; to the ends of this the two teams
are hitched, and along it is attached a
gang of harrows, each five feet, work-
ing independent of each other, and of
course they yield to all inequalities of
the land. The driver rides the near
horse of the near span and drivcS the
other. He is followed with three of
Brown's planters, which complete the
work. Two teams follow with rollers,
and the thirty acres are completed,
making nearly two hundred acres a
week. This requires seven- tenths of a
day to the acre. The saving of labor
in the harrowing will more than com-
pensate the cost of the three boys who
work the planters, but as check-rowing
is of no value and not used, these plan-
ters should be mere automatic, so as to
dispense with the labor of this extra
hand ; and yet better where they are
attached directly to the roller, making
a further large saving of labor.

The crop will be worked with two-
horse cultivators, which will do eight
acres a day, and as it is rolled, two
workings is probably all that it will get.
This will bring the team labor to about
one day to the acre ; and if we call this
labor with the use of machine worth $3
a day, we liave the cost of an acre of
corn, exclusive of seed and use of land,
three dollars ; put the rent and seed at
five dollars and we have eight dollaiB
the acre, or twenty cents a bushel of
forty bushels to the acre, standing in
the field. - ; . ^

A great number and variety of im-
plements have from time to time been
tested on this farm, and which now
form a respectable museum or hospital

"''i-"rriii iirtiiiatfiiilTniid^

28

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

August

f rejected and worn out machines and
mplements, the works of misguided
enius ; or rather the steps by which he
as attained to the present position. —
renius, like any other man, must be
rogressive, whether he graduates from
le common school or the college. —
rang plows stand in stately rows, witli
le rust of two years on them ; single
nd doTible cultivators have become ig-
ored ; a whole school of planters, from
le one hand, one horse, through the
italogue, to Brown's, and that must
ow be changed or it will next year go
> the same ignominious heap of old
nplements ; Ketchum's mowers of fif-
jen years, half bedded in the debris
lat has gathered over them, while Ai-
m's, Danforth's and Atkins' keep
lem company ; plows of all shapes
ave passed the threshold of decay and
ecrepitude, but among tlieir number
•e do not see any from Moline, for the
mple reason that they are wanted in
le field. Threshing machines, hay
resses and headers are abundant, tho'
16 latter are used for grain and timo-
ly, and one of each of the former
'6 held in some repute. Combined
capers and mowers have been given
p ; the header for grain, and the Kir- ,
Y for grass is the rule. Clod crushers i
nd rollers of horse killing proclivities
•e giving place to more recent im-
rovements.

"We could enlarge on this point but
ave made this article longer than was
itended. "We will close by writing
[r. Sullivant down in our list of prac-
cal farmers.

Notes on the Strawberry.

Our first picking of the Early Scarlet
'eirge Virginia Scarlet) was on May
)th. although ripe berries had been

picked on them three to four days pre-
viously, but at that date the supply was
sufficient for market. Dr. N. C. Meek-
er informs us that the first shipment
of Wilson's Albany was made by him
May 22d ; and Capt. Evans, of Cobden,
says the first shipment made at that
point was May 23, only a week earlier
than our Early Scarlet. At this date

we have this variety on the table. —
(June 21.)

"With us the Wilson was but half
grown and not ready for market under
a week. In strawberry culture a week
is of some importance, especially when
we are to compete with points further
south. It is true that the Wilson is the
berry for long distances, but there can
be no objection to the soft berries from
this point. Mr. Booth, of Alton, finds
that McAvoy's Superior, a very soft
berry, reaches the Chicago market in
fine condition, and he prefers it to the
Wilson.

When the Early Scarlet |is properly
cultivated, it is of a good size, while
the flavor is always No. 1. For mar-
ket purposes we intend to give it a
more prominent pisition hereafter.

The next berry to ripen is the Mc-
Avoy, and one that should not be over-
looked by those cultivating in beds ; it
is of good size, hardy, and a profuse
bearer. Longworth's Prolific is large,
and to our. taste one of the very best
and should have a high position. Iowa
proves a profuse bearer with us ; the
fruit is large and showy. Neck Pine is
a profitable fruit. Triumph de Gand
is very large, and when grown in hills
must be productive, but if allowed in
beds with runners, is of no value. Gen-
esee is very large but acid. Several
other kinds have more or less good
qualities, bnt not sufficient to be re-
tained.

•' ;.** V-

232

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

AUGUS'

Hand corn planters do not work well; it is better
to bire a two-horse planter, costing $40, which can
be had with a team for $2 a day.

At Mr. Dunlivp's I was pleased with Stafford's

cultivator, costing

It is worked with two

horses, the driver rides, it has four shovels ; two
more may be attached, which can be guaged to
any d pth or angle, throwing the soil right or left.

A shield of net work lets only fine dirt to the
plants. It will perfectly finish any row, once go-
ing through, corn, potatoes, beans, cotton, beets,
carrot?, turnips — anything — and as quickly as 20
men can do it with hoes. It will put in small grain.
I saw corn put in with it which had no other plow-
ing. There are otht^r cultivators which do first
rate work. I know of none which will do so many
kinds.

A f rmer with 80 acres can hire reapers and
mowers, for which he wo'ild have to pay in inter-
est on these machines. One of each will an.^wer
for five farmers. Grass and frrain can he hirad cut
for 75c. an acre, the board of two horses and one
man includ d. The machine will cut from six to
eight acres a day. Joint owntTohip in machines
does not work wel. Re;ipers and mowers combin-
ed are not satisf tctory. 1 he mower requires a fast-
er motion than the reaper ; for this cause combin-
ed ma hines break down. Grain binders as yet
aie not approved. The high price of wire is one
prawbaek.

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ACRE FARM.

With 160 acr>:-s, four horses are ruquired. Such
fanners should own a reaper, a mower, a railroad
horse power to thresh and saw, a corn planter, a
sulky rake and all the implements on an 80 acre
farm.

Much is said of Comstock's rotary spader. I have
seen it work. It makes the ground fine eight
inchi-s deep. Four h irses are reqnired. It catmot
come into general use till it is made small ciioagh
for two hi)r>es, or 1 11 it shall be found profitable
to hi-e w rk done with it. It costs $200

Mr. Snllivaiit, the owner of 30,000 acres, plowed
or dug 500 acres with this machine this spring, at
the rat of six acres a day for e:'ch team, and at
thf! c st of 75 cents an acre. This farmer is pre-
paring to plow two rows of corn a day with eacli
of them. He proposes to ;^tart in the morning —
the men w'll feed and have their dinner at the end
of the fi St row ; they will tu;E out by sundown at
the en) of the second row.

I t ilk d with ih^' boys riding the cultivators.
They to'd me they liked rows a quarter of a mile
long. The horses get rested if they turn round of-
ten.

FORTY ACRE FARMS BEST.

My firm impressii n is that the best farming will
be done in Illinois when the farms shall be reduced
to 40 acres each. Then let everything, garden,
veget tbles, corn or smali fruit, be planted in rows.
These on 40 acres can be a quarter of a mile long.
Mr. Dunlap has tomatoes, cabbages, raspberries,
strawberries, sweet potatoes, and the like, planted
in rows of this length. They are perfectly straight.
I never saw a more beautiful sight on any farm.
With the use of the roller and Stafford's cultiva-
tor the cost of cultivation is reduced to a low
point. I was before convinced that this is the
best way to raise garden vegetables, and had put

it in execution, though not on so large a scale,
horse or so will in this way do the work of man]
men.

A NEW MACHINE.

Prof. Turner, of Jacksonville, has invented
machine which will break up, pulverize, sow whea
or other grains, and harrow by going over th(
ground once. The one he has was made for hii
own use. It is similar to Comstock's, though mor<
varied. It needs some improvements. The wai
took off his mechanics. He related to me wha
this machine did. A field had been in com nea
Jacksonville for fifty years. Finally it was rented
badly worked, plowed in lumps, and would pro
duce no more than 25 bushels of corn to the acre
This field was planted by his machine and the
suit was 120 bushels to the acre. >

VALUE OF MANURE.

Though the prairie soil looks wonderfully fertilt
it does not yield so much as one would expect.-
One reason is, as it has been explained to me b
those who ought to know, that the best element
fertility lies from four to six inches bolow the sui
face, in the shape of potash vitrified by sand,
as to be insoluble with water. Dunlap and otbei
claim that if the soil is turned up to this depth
the fall the air will decompose this potash, whei
it will be ready to be taken up by the youn
plants, providing it is not plowed deep in th
spring as to put it beyond their reach. Seven
farmers related to me their success in sowing sprin
wheat on corn ground, which is the same thioj
H'nce, land plowed in the fall will, by means
the potash afford moisture. This seems of grei
importance, but it would not be applicable in soi
which run together and harden, unless there is cl(
ver to keep it open to the air.

But there is a thing of greater importance !
gai ding prairie farming, and of which there can
no doubt. That which is called humus, which
similar to peat, and gives the black color, contaii
few elements which readily are taken up by plant
But when manure is applied a new compound
formed, and the result is a most wonderful growtl
I know of no soil on which manure works buc
marvels as on the black prairie. Here, and I mm
not fail to add, everywhere else, the applicatic
or manure is immensely profitable, for as plants l
an early start, they shade the giound. Dry weat
er does little damage. Insects cannot keep pac
with the growth, and the plant matures in spite <
bad seasons and a thousand enemies.

I am writing what I have learned by my own e:
perience, and from what I have seen on the far
of others. I say this : I can raise, one year wit
another, more grain, more potatoes and more vei
etables of any description, on ten acres with plei
ty of manure, than in ordinary farming can
raised on fifty acres. I would add a little manui
in the fall, then plow deep ; in the spring I woul
plow shallow, and spread the rest of the manure
the surface with a harrow. I am not certain bt
one acre so prepared would be more profitab
than the fifty, when you take into account interea
cost of cultivation, teams and the wear and tear <
tools as well as of hopes. I am saying this to <Mi
courage large farms ; to encourage those of for
acres or less. I am charmed with less ; saying
to those who talk of buying farms or of comin

■- '^-t^:^^

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEE.

229

: Early Scarlet, McAvoy, Iowa, Kin-
ney's Seedling, Longworth, Keck Pine
and Triumph de (land, form a list iVom
"which a selection can be made that will
give good satisfaction. Dr. Meeker
was at our place the 18th and informed
us that the season of this fruit had
closed with them on the 16th, making
24 days, though the active time of ship-
ping was only fifteen days, lo-day
will close the marketing; with us, mak-
ing some fifteen days of active ship-
ment, though the season - will linger
three or four days more, for family, and
giving us about the same number of
days when this fruit is in its season, by
availing ourselves of the Early Scarlet,
but to rely on the AYilson the season
would be shorter.

We have a patch of Early Scarlet

and McAvoy in the garden, two by
twelve rods, that has been in bearing
eight years. Alternate strips, some
eighteen inches wide, have been spa-
ded up annually and the plants turned
under, finely raked and the weeds and
grass wed out of the strips of plants not
disturbed with the spade. For family
use we think this the cheapest and
safest mode to be pursued. After the
ground is frozen it should be mulched
with fine manure or rotten straw ; and
early in spring rake the surface thor-
oughly, taking off the dead leaves and
trash. This leaves the surface in a good
condition, and the plants will make a
vigorous growth that will insure a fair
crop under almost any condition of the
weather ; at least we never think of a
failure. By this mode of culture we
would recommend at least half the space
to be occupied with pistillate varieties,
and the other half with staminates, such
as Early Scarlet, Iowa, and the Wilson.

The Eev. J. Knox, of Pittsburg,
finds the hill system the most profita-
ble : his berries are larjje and command
a high price. For this purpose he uses
staminate varieties, such as the Tri-
umph and Wilson. Doubtless this is
the best for market, as it produces fruit
that will command a ready sale at a
high price — two points of interest to
the grower. The spring is thereby far
the best time to set out the plants, tho'
any rainy spell during tiie summer will
answer very well ; but this time is not
to be relied on and should be resorted
to only in case of necessity.

We hear large stories in regard to
the yield of fruit, but our ambition is
very well gratified with fifty bushels to
the acre.

Berries are sold by wine measure, or
thirty-six quarts to the bushel ; this
would give eighteen hundred quarts to
the acre, which at 15c delivered at the
station, would amount to $270. De-
duct 1,8' 0 boxes at l^- cts, |27 ; 1,^00
qts., picking at 3c, $54 ; leaving to the
grower $18y ; a sum that should satisfy
the ambition of most men, and tend to
extend the culture ot this fruit. But to
attain this result the strawbery must
have good culture and be attende^l to
in season.

-«mf-

Small Fruits.

The" culture of the so called small
fruits is rapidly extending, and promi-
ses within a few years to form an im-
portant part of the daily food of all well
regulated families. Usually we begin
with the strawberry May 25th ; currant
pies and sauce have for some da3^s giv-
en variety to rhubarb ; June 10th the
May cherry is added ; when gooseber-
ries are also in order. The 20th of June

,■^^7^^"

Y^i!^.,>j^y^^-'

230

THE ILLINOIS FAJRMER.

AtTGUST

brings us ripe currants and the begin-
ning of the raspberry season. These
fruits overlap each other, and till the
season from May 25th to August 1st, a
period of over two months. At that
time we begin to have apples in abun-
dance, with the early pears and plums ;
and towards the close of the month
peaches, in ordinary seasons. We have
purposely left out the blackberry, a
fruit so abundant in our timber lands,
and so little understood in the fruit gar-
den that we have not given it the place
that it so richly deserves. We are mak-
ing some experiments with this fruit
that we hope will succeed in placing it
in a higher position.

In the culture of small fruits we all
err as to the distance at which the
plants should be set. We now set cur-
rants, gooseberries, raspberries, black-
berries and grapes, in rows eight feet
wide ; the grape eight feet in the row
and the others four. All of these fruits
need heavy mulching of coarse manure,^
such as sorgo begsse, straw, half rot-
ted manure, corn stalks or leaves. We
have had a good opinion of shade, but
now hold it in less repute than thor-
ough mulching. After the mulch be-
comes somewhat decayed, it is to be
worked in with the double shovel plow.
A good application once in two or three
years will be sufficient.

The strawberry, if grown in beds,
should be spaded up in alternate strips
soon after the picking season ; or if
in hills, be carefully hoed.

The farmer who continues to neo-lect

the planting of the small fruits, will

soon be called a niggard, and unwor-
thy the respect of all those who regard
the health and comfort of their families.

From the N. Y. Tribune.

The Fiairies in Summer-

DoNGOLA, Union Co., 111., June 25, 1864.

STRAWBEERIES IN EGYPT.

Our strawberry season commenced May 20, and
ended June 15. It was favorable. We got two
dollars a quart for the first shipment, and a dollar
a quart, on an average, for the first week After
that it was $6 a bushel, so far as I could learn.
The first were sent to Chicago. I was told that these
went to Montreal. The yield per acre did not ex-
ceed 30 bushels. The expenses of freight and com-
mission were over f 1 a bushel. Besides, it costs
us $2 a bushel to put them in the wagon at home.
On the whole, the profit is not large. One who
can succeed in raising strawberries can succeed in
almost am thing else. It is thought to be a very
nice business. It is delij;htful business. It is de-
lightful to pick what one's family requires, but
when one makes it a regular bu.-iness, and has
large lots, it seems to me like running a threshing
machine. Still one may save some money, and
it comes handy at this time of the year. There is
danger, however, of one having his mind so color-
ed up before the crop comes off as to agree to pay
away for divers things all he will get.

A NEW FRUIT THIEF.

The pilfering of fruit by expre.-s agents and oth-
ers is discouraging the busiiieas. The more rare
Mud costly the fruit, the more certainty of robbrry.
I have seen them get more than they could eat. I
could enjoy someihing from seeing mv hoirs eat
strawbe ries and fine pears ; there would be a pro.
fit in it. One would do well to invent and patent
a method which would prevent this robbery. It
h:is become customary to put newspapers around
boxes of raisins, but these pirates can get paste.
Express companies should look to this. Does any
body know where United St ♦■• s mail robbers get
the rudiments of their education?

COTTON AND OTHER CROPS. V

In Southern lilinois the whole season for a J kinds
of crops has been favorable. Wheat, corn, oata
and potatoes look well. Cotton grows rapidly,
and it is two weeks more forward than it was last
year this 'iaie, and in addition, it is clean. We
are d gging new potatoes and have had our first
cucumbers. The first st tting of peas are ripe, on-
ions are ripe, early cabbage is heading out, we
have young beets, and there are ripe blackberries.
The Carolina June is getting quite red. For eight
years we have not had a seasim so favorable. I
report of the rest of the State, for I have jusi re-
turned from a tour through its whole extent.

A LOOK THROUGH THE STATE.

I went up to Chicago on the branch of the Illi-
nois Central, and came back by the St. Louis aad
Chicago and the Main Trunk, stopping over at
Champaign and Bloomington.

Corn was planted earlier than last year and to a
greater extent. Ii came up well ; but north of the
Ohio and Mississippi railroad there was no rain,
and it seemed as if there would be no corn. I went
up on the 18th. I never saw a people so discour-
aged and gloomy in my life. Many had lost a part
of their st'ick ; thi y had no corn to feed their
working teams ; hogs had to shift for thems Ives ;
even young chickens must live on bugs ; they

•I

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1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER

231

could not have a kernel. And now the heavens
seemed brass ; the ground was dusty ; of course
the corn could not grow. Through Wisconsin the
drouth was so great as to affect the price of grain
in Chicago, and in somt' places there corn and oats
lay in the ground six weeks without coming up.
There were frosts, too. Had the Lord bidden his
countenance ?

THE CORN CROP SAVED.

On Sunday the 19;h as folks wn-e getting ready
to go to meeting, all through this whole region,
according to the tL'legr;iph, it commenced to rain,
and it came down heavy all the forenoon. It was
an answer to more prayers than had been made in
churches, and thousands without religion fit reli-
gious gratitude. The coin crop was saved — it was
as good as made. Even if there should be frost in
August, as there was lass year, there will be good
corn, for it is two weeks earlier ; and, now the
weather is hot and sultry, corn never grew faster.

OATS, WHEAT AND HAT.

Oats, for want of rain, will be very short, but per-
haps there will be an average crop.

Wheat is fully an average. It is turning yellow
even in the center of the State, while here a good
part ot it is cut and in shock. I have been told
by some who have been through central and north-
ern Indiana that the wheat there is much better
than in Illinois, and that the area sown is very
large. Of course in making these statements, I
throw out of the account the fields of many farm-
ers who slobber in thtir grain. These are the fel-
lows who talk of the fly, of hard winters, and all
maimi r of bugs and things.

Gras.s really is fine, and how hiuh it is I will tell
you. The skeletons of the animals which were
turned out early in the spiing, and which could
not g -t enough to e.tt, are hidden by the gmss. I
could just see the bars m ide bv their libs. Some-
time a ffood-sized yearling calf goes down out of
sight. All day long the cows' milk vessels are sha-
ded. This is remote from towns and where the wild
prairie has b'fen fene d in, and in many places
where it is common. It seems to me as though
there was grass en 'Ugh on these prairies to feed all
the cattle in our country.

THE SORGO CROP AND THE CONTRABAND.

The forwardness of the season is npparent in no
crop so much as in that of soigo, for it permitted
early planting, rapid germination, and immeiiiate
working of the young plants. These now are strong
and well advanced, and in the great race with the
weeds, which, since the rain all at once cover the
grou d. they are certain to keep the start.

Mr. Nason, of the Cetttral Illinois Coal Co., has
at UuQuoin about 500 acres of the different varie-
ties of sorgo. The help I saw employed were
negroes. They were working faithfully* and, as
they hoed, left beautiful hills behind them. Last
year some of them did not work well. They were
discharged; they came back and wore hired over.
They didn't know what it meant to be free. Now
they understand it and work well. Others worked
faithfully. As I passed by and saw these blicks
working in the largi- field, I thought of the picture
j in Woodbridge's old Geography, where a long row
: of nej:roes are at work in the sugar cane. Their
' garment is a cloth around the middle ; their heads

are bowed ; the overseer stands by them ; he is
well dressed ; with one hand he holds an umbrella,
with the other a whip, the lash of which extends
over tiie negroes' heads. Here is the sugar cane,
here is the negro ; where is the overseer ? Illinois
has done something to change this. She changes
them by turning them off .and hiring them over,
instead of whipping them. She pays them $1 25 a
day. He, once a slave, wears clothes enough to
make fifty bands going around the middle. His
wife is at home, making more clothes and cooking
his dinner. His children, most wonderful change,
are at school.

WHITE WILLOW FOR THE PRAIRIE.

In the absence of timber on the prairies various
kinds have been recommended. The locust and
other? are kdled by bor* rs. The white willow is
known to do well, when cultivated they have made
good growth. There is no mistake but in six or
seven years they will make a fence, and a valuable
timber belt. But they have failed when neglected.
The sale of cuttings has been large.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

A more beautiful or fruitful region is not to be
found in the whole earth than the great Central
Prairies of Illinois?, and from no other region is so
much expected at this time. It is true, and I am
glad to say it, that in other Western States, the
lands are equally fertile, but here is a large solid
area completely organized and fully prepared for
the demand made upon it. While other regions
faithfully will do their part, this is looked upon as
capable of producing a clean, net profit which can
be wholly appropriated. Upon Central Illinois
rests the task of giving the Govcrnmeiit the great-
est aid, and the rebellion the strongest blows. —
Other regions, I say, will do their part, but when
you count tlie deniand of northern cities and towns,
the waste, the losses, the captures, there will be a
deficiency, and Central Illinois is required to make
it up, and to send not only increasing streams of
hay, grain and beef to our armies, but also to feed
millions in the Old World. It can do it. For sev-
eral years farming has so improved that with the
best farmers it has almost becume a science. Let
me point out some particulars, that those who do
not know may profit.

THE WANT OF CAPITAL.

Farmers have labored under two great evils —
one of having too rich land, and one of not having
capital. Thousands, however, at least, have be-
come forehanded, and all their attention is turned
to working their land in the best manner. It is
simply impossible to cultivate those laige farms
without machinery. For several years, a great
variety has been introduced ; one would be aston
ished to learn how much has proved useless. Ex-
perience is deciding which is best. With many
kinds further time is required. I am indebted to
Prof. Turner and M. L. Dunlap for much informa-
tion.

TOOLS FOR AN EIGHTY ACRE FARM.

Farmers with 80 acres require a cast-steel plow,
costing $20 ; a double A harrow, $15 ; a cast-iron
roller, in six sections, 20 to 24 inches in diameter,
(a wooden one may do), which with a planter at-
tached, will plant and roll 15 acres a day ; or good
work can be done without a roller ; cost $76. —

pswswj's'-isf^sr^r?---':

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234

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

August

All-wise Creator has wrought such a universe as
ours ; its chaDging seasons, and its plant, and tree,
and shrub and flower, for no worthy purpose, is an
impeachment of such wisdom. So be sure he might
have grown trees bare of leaf and branch, the
limbs already sharpened for stakes. The flowers
and shrubs might have been potatoes and grain,
worth so much in bank bills. And even now, we
can be as utilitarian as we choose, raise nothing
but what will sell for so much money. We would
deem such a life a monotony — a curse.

This spring a friend remarked in town, "I would
like to be able to spend $25 in such things," point-
ing to evergreens.

"Humph," sneered a bystander, "I had rather
have the substautials."

He lives for the substantials ! He has a few ap-
ple trees, currants, partially put out by others. He
has a lombardy poplar or two — cost no money. A
few soft maples ; grow free in the woods. His
hogs and cattle : sell for money. Has a large farm;
brings in crops. Has money loaned ; biings in-
terest. And so he will live and die. Does not the
hog or the ox do as much ; and leave as much of a
record, so far as adding a mite to the weal of a
world's accumulating beauty ? He would sell the
bread and pork and cheat his very stomach, but
for the stern necessity of God's arrangements for
sustaining life, and thus add to the substantials of
a sordid gain. Things of beauty have no value to
him. If he could grow apples on his fence, wood-
pile, or cattle's horns, he would never put out an
apple tree. ■ If the sunshine was worth a penny a
ray, he would live in the twilight for life, as among
the substantials.

We grudge no hour's toil we ever expended in
joining with the Creator in adding a thing of beau-
ty to the family of the beautiful. Not one weary,
aching muscle. Not one drop of sweat. We wish
circumstances and means had combined to have
aided and added a thousand fold to our labors in
this direction. We, too, eat bread and meat, and
believe in the '"substautials," but we believe in the
beautiful and elevating also, and while the hands
are ours to use on earth, however gray the head
with years, no spring shall go by, God willing,
without some tree or shrub, anchored in the soil
for aye. From the window where we write, we
look out upon the shadow cast by a beautiful thing
— a poem of emerald leaf and whispering branch
— whose topmost pennons already peep into our
chamber window. Near by a Norway spruce and
a hemlock are nodding and coquetting with each
other as the wind surprises them around the corner.
Through the heats of the summer and the bleak
desolation of the winter, they will greet us greenly
through all weathers. In preparing and filling up,
and setting them, we spent a hard half day's work
with spade and barrow, and ou the eighth of June
and the thermometer excited at that. But they
live on, and an "X" greenback could not purchase
them. We once hated the hemlock — its logs
which never wore out in the logging field; its
lumber and rails with slivers infernal ; — but a more
welcome and graceful tree lives not. We now
look upon and remember it as a thing of the past
—an associate and acquaintance of our childhood
in the old Empire State, and no "fatting hog" in
the West is "substantial" enough to buy it. It is
one of the beautiful of God's great family of beau-
tiful things, and shall have a place by our window,

and where its shadow may fall acrots our door-sill
in the years to come. — Wis. Chief.

Circular of the American Pomological
Society.

In conformity with a resoluiion adopted at the
last meeting of the National As.soci ition, the un-
dersigned give notice that its tenth ses^sinn will
commence in the Corinthian Hall, in th- city of
Rochester, N. Y., Tuesday, Sept. 13, 1864, ; t 12
o'clock, noon, and will continue several day«. AH
Horticultural, Pomological, Agricultural and other
kindred institutions in the United Stat'-s at d the
British Provinces are iiivited to send d lefraiions
as large as they may deem expedient; and 1 1. oth-
er pert^ons interested in the cultivatioii of fruits;
are invited to be present and to take seats in the
Convention.

The great annual F^iir of the New Yo'k State
Agricultural iSociety will be held at Rochester on
the following week, so that delegates who de-ire to
to do so can attend both meetin;:s, and those who
contribute collections of fruits to the Poniul gical
Society can afterwaids exhibit them at the State
Fair.

Throughout a lar^'C portion of the country the
prospects of the fruit crop are very «'iic uraging,
and as the Fiuit Gioweis' Society of New York
will place its entire collection at the disposJ of
the American Pomologic d Society, a di play of
extraordinary interest may reasonaldy be expected.

Among the prominent subjects which will come
before the So. iety at this se.-sion will by thit of
the revision of the Society's Cat;ilogiie of Fruits.

The Special Conmnttce appointed for this pur-
pose are now, with the various Stale and local
committees, actively engaged in coll> cting ^uch in-
formation as will aid in determining what varieties
are best adapted to the difierent sections ai d dis-
tricts of our country ; and this informatin in the
form of leports, wi I be submitted to the action of
the Convention.

All the States an 1 Territories are urgently invi-
ted to be present, by delegation at this metting,
that the amicable and social relations which have
heretcfore existed between the members of the So-
ciety, may be festered and perpetuated, ai d the
result of its deliberut ons, so beneficial to the coun-
try at larf;e, be generally and widt ly diflTus; d

Members and deleg'tts are requested to c- ntrib-
ute specimens of the fruits of their res-pective dis-
tiicts, and to comtmmicate in regard to them what-
ever m ly aid in promoting the objects of the Soci-
ety and the science of American Pomo ogy.

Each contributor is requested to come piepared
with a complete list of his collection, and to pre-
sent the s: me with his fruits, that a report of all
the varieties entered may be submitted to the
meeting as soon as practicable.

All persons d -sirous of becoming members can
remit the admis-ion fee to Thos. P. Janes, Esq.,
Treasurer, Phil idi l|)hia; or to the Piesdont at
Boston, who will f irnish them with Traiisactions
of the Society. Life membership ten dollars; bi-
ennial, two dollars.

Packages of fi uit^ may be addressed as follows :
"American Pomological Society, care of James
Vick, Rochester, N. Y."

MARSHAL P. WILDER,, Pres.

James Vick, /Sec.

1864

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

235

Culture of Buckwheat.

The following article which we copy from the
Utica Herald, we presume is from the pen of X. A
Willard, Esq., of Ileikimer county.

The best soil for buckwheat is a dry, light, san-
dy loam, but it may be grown on almost »ny land
if properly prepared. As an exterminator of weeds
the plant can be employed to good purpose. The
daisy, Canada thistle and quuek, (switch gniss),
can be destroyed by plowing in raid-summer, and
roasting the roots by exposing them to the rays of
the hot sun, while the rapid growth of the buck-
wheat overshadows and smothers out what remains
alive of these pests, more especially if the crop be
followed by clover or oats.

The following method has been found efiectual
in cleansing out quack from grounds overrun with
this troublesome grasps Plow in the fall and again
in the spring, then harrow at intervals of a week
or oftener, as the quack grows up to the middle of
June. Sow the buckwheat by ihe 1st of July, and
if the land is not rich use manure, so as to grow a
heavy crop of straw ; this will smother out the
quack. Buckwheat straw' if cut i>efore frost, is
very palat;iblc to cattle aud.^hei-p, and can be used
with advantage during the early season of fodder-
ing. Many people throw the straw away or pile it
up for m inure. This is bad economy, as it can be
used, and thereby be a saving to the hay mow.

When sown for a foitilizer or for fodder, two
bushels of seed should be sown to the acre. As a
fertiliz T it is not so valuable as clover, but has
one advantage, inasmuch as it can be ;;rown on
land where ciover could not be profitably employ-
ed for that purpose. It should be turned deep un-
der the soil while the planis are in blossom, and
when used in this way rapidly enriches the land.
Buckwheat forms a very good "pa-turage for bees,"
and the api irian can m-.iko it worth while to grow
the crop for that purpose. The honey made from
buckwheat is iiiferior to that made frjm clover,
and this is in part compensated by extra quantity
ynd the rapidity by which the stores are g-thered.
Some years during the clover season it is so rainy
that bees are unable to gather their supply of hon-
ey A field of buckwheat may then prove the
means of saving the swarm through the winter.
Last year was a season of this character, and hun-
dreds of swarms were unable to collect enough
food for winter ; hence there were immense losses
ofswaims. But we have observed in several in-
stances when buckwheat fields were convenient
last season to the apiary, the loss of swarnis was
le.ss, and in many cases no more than u-ual. In
Europe ihe plant is extensively grown as food for
bees.

Buckwheat requires care in harvesting to pre-
vent loss from shaking off the seeds, more than anv
any other crop. Some writers recommend cutting
as eooii as one-third the seed are turned brown ;
others s ly two-thirds. If we wait for all to ripen,
the earliest and best part of the grain is lost. Per-
haps the best plan is to cut when one-half the seed
are turned brown ; the unripened grain then draws
enough nutriment from the straw, which is succu-
lent arul juicy, to fill out and mature the grain af-
ter it is cut. The most approved method of har-
vesting is to cut with a cradle, rake the straw into

bundles and set np. It will be often necessary for
them to remain in the field for a week or two be-
fjie they are fufiicicntly cured. When ready to
be carted from the field the grain should be thresh-
ed out immediately, or as soon as may be after the
loads reach the barn. The maximum yield of buck-
wheat is fioin 40 to 50 bushels per acre ; from 25
to 30 bu-h(ls is considered a fair crop. The suc-
cess of buckwheat is affected by the weather to
which it is exposed in the several stages of its
growth. In this state it is more susceptible than
any other kind of grain. In growing the crop suc-
cessfully much depends not only on the general
state of the weather throughout the season, but al-
so on the particular time which may have been
chosen for sowing. A week earlier or later often
makes a very great difference, and yet, notwith-
standing this uncertainty the crop, it is believed,
all things considered, is one of the most remunera-
tive a farmer can grow.

Stupidity of Farmers.

A great deal of gospel is preached in the world,
but few hear, and fewer still believe. It is our
humble duty to add line upon line and precept up-
on precept from tinie to time. So we shall contin-
ue to do, even though not one is saved from the
error of his way. We always travel through the
country with both eyes open, and the head on a
pivot. What a book ! Every farm is a chapter ;
an autobiography, so to speak, of individuals. —
Many dwellings (?) have around them but little of
the ornamental ; some pigs, geese and hens. Oth-
ers have a few currant bushes generously fed on —
grass. Others have more pretensions to taste —
some trees and shrubs thrust stake-like into the
sod, and tryiug to live under the infliction. Some
farms have splendid residences, finished elaborate-
ly, glaring in white, and not a shrub of small fruit
within sight ! What a place to stay. No ''straw-
berry patch" with half hidden fruit ; or raspberry
bushes with their deftly hidden dainties , no plums
to hang from the budding branches ; no cherries
to tempt the taste ; no— nothing ! The man will
show his house, his horse barn, hog pen and ten-
ants, etc., and flatter himself that he is one of the
"good livers !"

A thousand such dwellings would not tempt us.
He is a fool who builds such a house, and so ignores
the good gifts which God has vouchsafed to all.
The country is full of such, however, and of such
farms and dwellings.

Sugar from the Butternut,

The Farmer's Club, of the American Institute,
New York, is one of the best practical associa-
tions in our country, having for its object the dis-
cussion of the every-day occupation of the agricul-
turist.

At the meeting, April 19th, among the subjects
of discussion, we notice "Sugar from the Butter-
nut tree." The President, while discussing the
matter of maple sugar and its production, remark-
ed that as much sugar could be made from the
Butternut tree as from the Sugar Maple, and the
President gave it as his opinion, that the flavor of
the former was preferable.

Why do not our farmers plant forests of Sugar
Maple and Butternut trees also ? Why do not obf

pWUlL. ll»-I-Ti-5--

236

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

August

land owners take a hint ? A hundred acres of Su-
gar Mnple planted here ten years ago, would have
been worth a princely fortune now. — Col. Fartner.
The man who would plant the Butternut for su-
gar will wait until he can cut the tree into boards,
sell them to the cabinet maker, and exchange the
solid cash for sugar— that is all the time necessary
to get sugar from the butternut, and the simple
modus operandi. We have for a long lime been
aware that the Farmers' Club of New York has
been a great institution, but had supposed that
they ran more to vegetables and the small fruits
and must acknowledge our grati6cation in their so.
lution of the sugar question on such a simple basis.
The Butternut is alike valuable for sugar making
and as a stock for the peach. Could we not make
the Lawton blackberry hardy by grafting it on the

Buckthorn ? Will not the Club enlighten us. — Ed.
»%, .

Sending Seeds and Plants by Mail.

The last act of Congress in authorizing the send-
ing of seeds, plants and cuttings by mail at a low
rate of postage, is one of no small impoftauce to
the greai. mass of the people, extended as ihey are
over so wide a district of country. It is often dif-
ficult in many parts of the country to procure

J) fresh garden seeds, cuttings of rare trees, and new
and valuable plants, and to order them by express,
^ven on express routes, the charges in many in-
stances will exceed to several times the value of
the things ordered. But the late act of Congress
authorizes the sending of seeds, cuttings, &c., at
so low a rate of postage as to bring them within
the r'>ach of all. The law specifies "seecfe, bvlbs,
roots and scio7is" which may be sent in packages
not exceeding /owr pounds in weight, the specified
limits of the law, at a rate of postage of two cents
for every /owr ounces, or the same for any addition-
al fraction of four ounces, prepaid by stamps. —
Formerly these things were subject to letter post-
age, and were generally put up in oiled silk, which
is quite expensive, but since the reduction of post-
age this mode of carriage has been extensively

"■ adopted so that paper has been prepared to render
it impervious to water and air, and is now sold at
comparatively low prices. This paper is prepared
by giving it a coat of boiled linseed oil, with a
small quantity of dissolved India rubber added. —
Those who wish to prepare paper for their own use
can make an article equally good by giving it a
coat of linseed oil, and when dry or nearly so, give
it a coat of shellac dissolved in alcohol, reduced
to the consistence of common varnish. Fine man-
ilia paper should be used. To insure the safe trans-
portation of plants in the mail, the roots should
be protected with a covering of half an inch or an
inch in thickness of swamp moss, or that gathered
from the logs or rocks found in deeply shaded
woeds, and on the north sides of steep hills. The
moss should be made moderately damp, and spread
out upon the paper of suitable size, and with a
small portion of the moss mixed among the roots.
The whole is then rolled up snugly and tied, and
then again covered with a wrapper of common
post oflSce paper, to receive the directions and
marked "Seeds, " or "Plants," as the case may be.
— Iowa Homestead,

Why not take an Agricultural Paper ?

Is not the subject one of suflicient importance
to interest you ? Is not the practical experience
of other farmers of value ? Have you attained
that degree of perfection in farming that you can-
not farther improve by your own or the experience
of others.

You answer these questions, except the last in
Ihe aflSrmative ; but you say, "I have not time ; if
I get time to read the current news of the day, I
think I do well."

But is not agriculture of sufficient importance
compared with politics and passing events, so as
to give it at least one thirtieth of your reading
time ? When my boy comes from the postoffiee
with the newspapers and the VdlUy Farmer, I sit
down and read the last named periodical first, and
for the following reasons :

1. Etiquette requires it. If you have two or
more visitors, one only able to call once a month
and the balance calling once a week ; the former
able to give you practical advice in your business,
whereas the others only able to amuse and instruct
— if these Mr. Weeklies are men of sense, they
will excuse you for taking a preference to the con-
versation of Mr. Monthly, they knowing that when
he is absent you give them your undivided atten-
tion.

2. Interest requires it, because you may get a
practical idea, that you can in your business im-
prove by even the next day ; whereas if a train of
cars has run off the track, a steamboat or building
destroyed by fire, through the carelessness of oth-
ers, you could not help it. It may to certain par-
ties be a severe calamity, but the knowledge of it
to others is only valuable as one of those lessons
of experience by which we my profit.

3. Labor is saved by it. A thrifty farmer has
labor daily of a twofold character to peiform: —
mental — to plan ; physical — to accomplish ; his
success depends as much on the former as the lat-
ter. In a practical, agricultural journal, ideas can
be gleaned to save much of the former, and occa-
sionally much of the latter.

Lastly. Success requires it. The great secret
of success, coupled with energy, is: 1. Understand
your business : and 2. Mind your business.— Cor.
VaRey Farmer.

Convention of Plow Manufacturers. — Pursuant
to adjournment, the Plow manufacturers of the
Northwest assembled at the Tremont House in this
city yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of organ-
zing a Plow Makers' Societv.

The following firms were represented in person :
John Dement, Dixon, 111 ; Wm. Tobf y &jCo., Peo-
ria, 111. ; Deere & Co., Moline, 111., IngersoU &
Goodrich, Morris, 111., T. D. Brewst-r, Ptru, HI.;
Winchester & DeWolf, Whitewater, Wis.; W. B.
Young & Co, Chicago, 111.. Furst & Bradley, Chi-
cago, 111.; Buford, Tate & Co., Rock Island, 111.;
Andrus & Cummins, Grand de Tour, 111.; T. & H.
Smith & Co.; Pekin, 111.; Parliu & Or-sendorf, Can-
ton, HI.; Battel! & Boyd, Quincy, HI., W. T. & E.

^iJ;.^!y,75c

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

233

We.^t. To large farmers here I have nothing but
encourngeraeat ; they or their boys are seated on
their cultivators taking long, hot journeys, and they
are reall t doing a noble work. Still they are only
hair farmers ; the other half is the land speculator.
Bleaa t eir lar^e hearts; they intend a part for
thi ir boys and girls, and I am certain the boys and
girls will get them. Nor will they be worse for it.
One word more about corn these passing days.
Don't liank it up — don't. Work the ground level.
Keep the surface mellow and free from weeds. It
is too l<>te' now to work deep. When the brace
roots Starr, there is no more to be done. If there
are w^eds go through with the hoe, but keep out
the cultivator. You had better burn your plow to
ashes and old iron, than to be running through
your corn, rinping up the brace roots. In theear-
ly stages of corn the plow or cultivator cannot go
through it too often. In the latter stage they
should not go through at all. n. c. m.

Dr. Meeker is a close observer, a truthful writer
and withal a practical, plain, everyday farmer. —
Our readers will therefore ask uo apology fur the
space so well occupied.

The reaJer will be somewhat :<urprised in the
Doctor's strawberry experience.

About Evergreens.

That mattock does get so heavy and the hands
so weary ! Then, too, the sun is ou the rampage,
and the strong wind from the southwest is like
the breath from an oven. The sweut drops from
the brow, and it is voted to retire within our en-
trenchments for one hour, and dream of a day
when this group of evergreens shall lift their pyra-
mids of luxurient beauty skyward, in reward for
thi-< toil.

When this group of evergreens was put out, the
press of other work called us from a full comple-
ti(m of the labor necessary to the largest success.
We gave them holes three feet in diameter, and
two feet deep ; set them in fine, rich mold, with
the proniiso of making the hole "all over" and
mulching them generously, when it should rain.

But the rain comes not. So we wheeled up
twenty pails of water, added a heavy wheelbarrow
load of mulch, and then applied the mattock with
faith and zeal, giving the group a cultivated strip
six feet in width.

"Dear me, who would ever dig so much for ev-
ergreens !" You would not, probably, but we
would — we do. And the reason is simple. If they
are worth setting, they are worth setting well.—
We set them to have them live and grow rankly
and be utifuUy ; not to linger feebly and die at
last. While hundreds we have noticed this spring,
just put out, are departing this life, ours are taking
hold of the soil with a will, and putting Out their
delicate new growth as if "at home."

Four years since we put out some evergreens,
and the "vagary" furnished some wise ones a fine
opportunity to say smart things. "What a fool !"
May we remain a fool in such matters. Would
that our wise friends would exhibit a little of the
same folly. Some of the trees then put out are
now eight and ten feet high. Greenbacks could

not buy them.

It is not true that it is a difficult matter to make
evergreens live. Properly lifted, treated and set,
they are as sure as the apple. Torn up, roots dried
up, stuck in the turf like a post, and never mulch-
ed, they are sure to — die. And they ought to. —
They resent such barbarism.

Here, sir ; you think a rootless evergreen can
grow and feed in sward. Take the mattock and
try a few square feet of this, thoroughly dried in
weeks of sun. It is almost as hard as brick, and
almost as destitute of moisture. To think of tak-
ing out a few spader of such soil, and expecting
an evergreen to live !

Nurserymen are not always to blame for the
death of trees. They weary of preaching a gospel
to people who will not heed it. The latter obtain
their evergreens, and with the least possible trou-"'
ble get them into the ground. This spring we met
a man with evergreens in hand, not an ounce ot
dirt on the roots, or anything else, the sun and
wind doing their work ;tt leisure The mnn will
think evergreens a failure !

Evergreens should be lifted with as much dirt as
possible, and if going far, carefully packed in moss,
or what is better each one put up in a sacking,
put out with care and generoujily mulched. Hu-
manly treated they are sure to live. Those who
cannot so treat them, no business to pet them. If
they do they deserve to lose them. — Wis. Chief.
Just so ; the sun and wind and want of elbowgreese
are killing the newly set evergreens. In driving thro'
the village we cm see them, in passing by the farm
they hold out their crisped up leaves. We had
sold three larches of large size some ten feet high ;
two are dead and the other will die. The same
day we set three of the same size in our ground ;
two are growing finely and the other is starting
with new vigor. All will make a fair growth. —
The six trees were planted in turf, ours mulched
and watered. But the roots were not dried while
the man was digging the holes. — En.

The Useful and the Beautiful.

"I am'so much of a utilitarian, that I can see no
practical value in such things."

We were discoursing to a friend about ever-
greens ; about surrounding the home with thing.;
of beauty, and making it as attractive as possible.
This, we affirmed, was but a just acknowledgement
of the goodness of God in filling the world with
these beautiful things, and a duty we owed to our
children, friends, and to society. If not for beau-
tifying and rendering attractive to the eye and to
the thought, what were all these things created
for ? If an undevout astronomer was mad, what
shall we say of an undevout husbandman or horti-
culturist ? Are all things beautiful, valueless ? —
Has the Greater so blundered that He has filled a
universe with things to please and attract, without
plan or purpose ? The seed ; the casting into the
ground ; the germination and the fulfillment — is
not the whole process a miracle ? Men often doubt
the miracles of sacred history. Yet they live in
the midst of miracles. The concentrated genius
skill and perseverance of the human race, could
not perform one of the least of these. That an

^^

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

237

A. Rogers, Quincy, 111.; J. H. Wood & Co., War-
saw, 111.; Pratt Moorbery, Morton, III; Joseph
Maithoper, Ottawa, 111., Elliss & Dangerfield, Jack-
sonville, 111.; and Barber & Hawley, Decatur, 111.

John Dement was called to the chair, and L. 6.
Pratt chosen Secretary.

The constitution reported by the committee ap-
pointed at the last meeting, was accepted, and per-
manent officers elected, as follows :

President — John Dement.

Secretary — Charles H. Deere.

Treasurer — David Bradley.

T. D. Brewster, T. Cumniins, and D. E. Buford
were appointed a committee of arbitration.

The following were adopted :

Resolved, That the prices of all steel plows, ex-
cepting cultivators, be advanced not less than 25
percent, over the present printed- price list, as
near as may be, avoiding fractions.

Resolved, That the discount to the trade shall be
from 20 to 25 per cent, from list price.

Resolved, That the price of wheat cultivators be
advanced ten dollars from the present list prices.

Resolved, That the discount on wheat cultivators
shall not exceed 25 per cent.

The proceedings of the convention were marked
by the utmost unanimity, and very little discust^ion
was needed in arriving at the conclusion announc-
ed above. After the transaction of some other
i«iner business the meeting adjourned.

The above will not be pleasant news to our far-
mers in want of new plows. Old plows will be
brought out and tried again ; new shares and han.
dies will be sought for, and the lame and halt
among plows made to come forth to resume duty-
We have a small museum of old plows, but they
won't come at our bidding. The new cast caststeel
of Deer is in the way and the boys say nothing else
will make a good furrow, run easy for the team
and scour under all conditions. It is evident tha^
we shall lose largely by thus prematurely getting
the cast cast-steel on the old plows. Well, we
it;ope to survive the loss. — Ed.

Fruit Stealing. — A farmer and fruit raiser in
Western New York, gives his experience in fruit
raising as follows : — I have four thousand peach
trees in bearing condition, besides apples, pears
and other frait — all of which are exposed to being
stolen, but my firmness in carrying out my designs
has been/a preventive against having my fruit sto-
len or di^sturbed by any such persons as have a dis-
positioij to take that which is not their own. At
the riDi^ning of my first crop of fruit, being some-
what innoyed, I determined to plant a complete
osag^ orange fence around my fruit grounds as a
prote-ction as well as a fence ; but I am now happy
to pjjy^ that an occasional walk around the premi-
ss, at different hours of the night, using without
''Cfljitation good firearms, is a safer preventive
■g^nst thieves.

, ^his is a pretty peremptory mode of scattering
Wit thieves ; but unfortunately sometimes nothing
^^a will prove eflfective. In this and the near coun-
«3, we have a law for the protection of our prem-
f^a— our orchards, gardens, yards and crops; and

the punishment of a detected fruit stealer or garden
trespasser may be the common jail. One or two
examples in a neighborhood would thoroughly
protect it against these reckless marauders, and
we trust that in every instance where the thieves
are discovered or can be ferreted out, the law will
be rigorously put in force. — Oermantown Tel.

We have a pretty effectual law in this State
against fruit stealing, but thus far have not heard
of its having been put in practice further than to
hold it up to the petty vagabonds. Yet this, of it.
self, has been of great value in numerous instan-
ces. We shall have no hesitation in using it when
occasion requires. Osage hedges are only a fan-
cied security, not half as valuable as that of the
Dutchman's above described. — Ed.

Grapb Culture. — Mr. Knox thinks grape cul-
ture has been injured by its friends, who advise
great expense in preparing the ground ; some ad-
vise to stir the soil three and others four feet deep.
This is a usulesa expense, and positively injurious
to the vine. Fifteen to twenty inches is as deep
as the soil need be stirred. If worked much deep-
er, and manured heavily, the vines grow too ram-
pant. Bejiinuing with the newly planted vine, he-
cuts back to two or three eyes. The second year he
cuts out all but one cane, and the next fall cuts
that back to three eyes. These produce three
stroiig fruiting canes for the third year, two of
which are bent, to form the arms, and the middle
one trained upright. The trellis is not erected un
til the third year. The vines will each mature ten
pounds of grapes the third season, and throw up
canes for future fruiting. The process then con-
SlRts in cutting out each alternate upright shoot
every year, which leaves four bearing and four
glowing canes to each vine — the vines bting six
feet apart, and the upright about nine inches dis-
tant and eight feet long. During the summer the
new growth of the spurs is pinched in, retaining
as many leaves beyond (he last cluster as there are
clusters on the spurj Arms, he thinks, do not
afford sufficient room for cur rampant growers.
That if left to themselves, would cover a tree 100
feet in hight. Prunes in November. — Ama'ican
Agriculturist.

Fairbanks' Scales. — About thirty-five years ago,
the Messrs. Fairbanks invented and began making
platform Scales, which effected a complete change
in the manner of doing such business as requires
weighing, and without which it would be impossi-
ble to do the present amount of business in the
country. Since then they have given their con-
stant personal attention to the business, making
all such improvements and adding such modifica-
tions as their experience has shown to be desirable.
During this time many other kinds of scales have
been invented, and more or less tried by the pub-
lic, and mainly thrown aside, while the business of
the Messrs. Fairbanks has steadily increased from
year to year, their scales now standing higher in
public estimation, and their sales being very much
larger than ever before. This shows very stnmgly
the excellence and durability of Fairbanks' Scales.

238

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER

August

Berry Ctjltuke. — The "West Jersey Fruit Asso-
ciation reports that in 1863, there were 200 acres
under strawberry culture in Burlington, 47 in
Chester, aud 25 in Cinnaininson — total 272 acres,
yielding 12,596 bushels of fruit, and sold for $45,-
845 60, an avera^ja of 46 bushels to the acre. One
crop is reported from Chester of Hovey's Seedling
and Lady Finger, 8000 quarts on a fraction less
than 1^ acres, or at the rate of 166 bushels per
acre. Of the Raspberry, there were 40 acres in
the same townships producing crops, yielding an
average of 33 bushels per acre, and sold for $4 64
per bushel ; and of the Blackberry, 99 acres in
bearing, yielding 53 bushels per acre, sold for $3
30c per bushel. The three towns sold these three
kinds of berries to the amount of $70,000 last
year. — Boston Cullivaior.

It will be seen from the above that the small
fruits will pay. Another point we would call at"
teiition to, is the yield being an average of forty-
six bushels to the acre of strawberries. We hear
some wonderful stories in regard to yield, but
these may be put down as rather fishy, and, at
present advices, the average yield under good cul-
ture, may be put down at fifty bushels, and those
planting may as well take this as a base of their
expectations. — Ed.

Mantirinr. — Mr. Patten, of Hightstown, N. J.,
informs the Country Gent, that one-third of a field
in strips, received an autumn dressing of manure
at the rate of about 12 or 15 loads to the acre, A
second portion was manured in the spring with .^n
equal quantity, and a third was dressed with gimno,
at the rate of 300 pounds to the acre. The crop
on the fall manured part was about three times as
good as on that manured in the spring. The gua-
no gave an intermediate result. JUie second year
guano was applied over the whole, and the third
year the land was left in grass. During both the
second and third year the growth on the autumn-
manured portion was decidedly the best ; the 2d
best was on that which was guanoed the first year;
and the poorest of all was on the spring-manured
portion.

We are obtaining proof upon proof of the value
of top dressing our lands, instead of plowing in the
manure. Look to it that you top dress every acre
of meadow as soon after mowing as is possible ;
that is the place to put your spare manure. In
this way a crop of grass is always reliable, drouth
or no drouth. Try it, you who have light mead-
ows.— Ed.

Seventeen Year Locusts. — The Locusts contin-
ue to charm us by their mdody. They are also
making industrious preparations to perpetuate or
reproduce their kind in due time, by the deposit
of millions of eggs, in the limbs of forest or fruit
trees. This they do by making an incision in the
wood, with a horn which they carry underneath,
them, and which they thrust deep into the
timber, selecting limbs from one-fourth to one-
half inch in diameter. The incision is made ob.

liquely, raising portions of fibre, underneath which
the eggs are deposited, when the operation is re-
peated. If the mearest fraction of these dcposites
developes into locusts, there is no danger that the
race will become extinct.

Where these incisions are too thickly distribu-
ted, the tree withers and dies, but these cases
however, are rare in this loc^ility.

There is a diversity of opinion in relation to
these pests, whicn many aver are wrongly termed,
locusts. Some believe them to be liarmK ss, while
others have Jiea'd that their bite or sting, it is not
very clear which, is a deadly poison. We have
heard no well authenticuted cases of their having
bitten or stung any one this year, and from the ex-
amination we havo been able to subject them to, ^
are satisfied that they are harmless in this direc-
tion.— Berlin {Wis.) Cowant.

jr^

Drouth in Wisconsin. — "Our drouth" is becom-
ing a serious matter. The thoughts already reach
ahead and grasp the question of "bread for the
million." We liear of showers in localities, but
there has been no general rain. At tlie present
time of writing — 23d — the morning opens cloud-
less, and the sky ha>* that peculiar appearance
which reads of a day of "furnace heat." We have
frequent tableaux of clouds, but they mock the v
weary, watcliing gaze, and disappear.

Widespread damage to crops is already the re-
sult. A vast breadth of wheat, barley and oats, is
beyond tbe reach of rnin. Mo-^t nieadoivs are ruin-
ed. The prospect is gloomy for large masses of
our people, — Wis. Chief, June 15.

Curtis' Prairie Mower. — This is a new machine
in this section. It has been introduced at the
West and is a very popular machine there. We
saw it operate upon a field of clover, and it per-
formed its work well with a very light draught.
It is manufactured by E. A. & G. R. Meneely,
West Troy. — Jour. N. Y. Agricultural Society.

Origin of Mules in thr United States. — Up to
the year 1773 there was scarcely aiiy mules to be
found in the United States — those few had been
imported from the West Indies, and were of a very
inferior order.

When Washington returned to private life at
Mount Vernon, he became convinced that mules
would bo better adapted for use in the agriculture
of the Southern States, as they lived longer, vvere
less liable to disease, require less food, and were
more economical than horses.

On his views becoming known to the King of
Spain, he sent him a jack and two jennies. Thfli
jack was sixteen hands high, of a grey color, heav- ,,
ily made, and of a sluggish disposition. About the
same time he also received a jack and some jennies
from Lafavette, which were procured on the island
of Malta. These proved more ferocious and active.
By crossing the breed, Washington availed himself
of the best qualities of the two, and thus introduc-
ed excellent mules for farming labor into this
country.

Such was their superiority, that at the sale of
the General's effects, one wagon team of four mules
sold for $800. At this day these animals are ex-
tensively used in the Southern States. — Ex.

1864.

THE ILLmoIS FAEMER.

239

I he White Willow Controversy.

Bloomikgton, III., June 27, 1864.
M. L. Dunlap, Editor lUinois Farmer, Okampaigti

lU. :

Herewith please find copies of the replies of
Messrs. Miiikler and Galusha, in regard to that
white (or swamp) willow business. If convenient
please publish. Trulj', F. K. Ph<enix.

[Here follow two letters of 0. B. Galusha, one
of which we have already given, and *.hc other of
litter date is in substance a repetition. — Ed.]

S. G. Minkler writes June 18th, as follows :

"I received your letter about the white willow
yesterday. You use the word swamp willow ; I
never used the word. I said you cut a large quan-
tity at Peoria Lake. My authority i s one of the
employees of the I. C. R. R. He said it was sent
down that road to Bloomington. Now, if you ne-
ver shipped any willow in that direction, then the
thing was made out, of whole cloih. I think he
had no interest in the matter any way, for the con-
versation was like this : "Are you doing anything
in the willow ?" I replied, "No." He said Phoe-
nix was shipping two car loads per day or week, I
will not be positive which. He further stated that
he (Phoenix) had a large number of hands cutting
at Peoria Lake, and it came to the I. C. B. R. from
Peoria. And so I told Mr. Bragdon, and also Mr.
Galusha. Further than that Mr. Galusha has no.
thing to do in the matter.

Yours respectfully,

S. G. Minkler."

— The mystery grows deeper the further we look
into it. At first sight the case looks plain. Mr.
Phoenix is accused of shipping two car loads a day
or week, and cutting them at Peoria Lake. Now,
the inference is natural that the willow at Peoria
Lake is native willow. How easy in this connec
tion for Mr. P, to have solved the whole mystei7
and told us that at Peoria Lake is a large planta-
tion of white willow, that he purchased and had
shipped, or that he had purchased what was rep-
resented to him to be white willow, or any other
state of facts ; but on the contrary Mr. P. chooses
to be silent, and to leave the public to draw their
own consluaions, and he need not be surprised
f some of them are drawn unfavorable to him. —
There may be some strategy behind this that we
cannot see — some denounment that shall take
us all by surprise.

Our own explanation of the matter is this: that
Mr. P. purchased white willow cuttings at Canton,

in Fulton county, and shipped them at Peoria. —
We have no knowledge of this, but merely infer it
from the fact that at that place the Messrs. Over-
man get fhcir supplies, and that large trees exist
thereabouts, and that large amounts have been
sent thence ; and there is no reason to suppose
that Mr. P. did not deal largely in the Fulton Co.
willow. Wo arci unwilling to believe that Mr. P.
knowingly had cut or purchased any swtinip willow,
and yet from the letter from Mr Minkler and hig
reticence in the premi.-es, a contrary conclusion
might be drawn by the reader; and did we not
know that there was a large amount of white wil-
low in Fulton Co, and that Peoria was the nearest
point of shipn^ent we might also be led into the
same error. When it was so easy to explain the
whole matter we regret^that Mr. P. did not see fit
to do so, and thus end the mystery.

We vfi.l say a word in regard to Mr. Minkler
whom we have known for several years. No man
stands higher amongj^his acquaintances; straight
forward in his dealings and truthful in his state,
raents, we do not think he would knowingly say a
word to the disparagement of any one. At the
same time humbugs and petty swindles are not
his favorites.

We shall be pleased to publish any statement
Mr. P. may choose to make in the premises, more
particularly as from present appearances be is the
only one that can do it satisfactorfly to all con-
cerned. Had he done so with Mr. B. when the
subject came up between them, nothing more
would have come of it. As the matter now stands
many persons will conclude that some one has the
wrong willow. — Ed.

* Watching- the Bees.

We wintered sixteen out of eighteen hives of
bees. The two de«d swarms were small, and, on
account of the early frost, did not fill the hive
with comb. But few of the swarms had a sufficient
supply of honey, and from one to two months were
fed with melted sugar. This was poured into old
comb and placed inthe upper chambei of the hive.

So soon as the apple blossoms began to open
new era dawned upon them and they all made hon-
ey rapidly. Never were bees more active. The
old comb was filled and in a few days they began
to fill the drawers. But we had committed one se-
rious error in not giving them a good supply of un-
bottled rye flour, to aid them in breeding, so as to
enable them to swarm early. It was not untU May
25th that the first swarm appeared; this and a
succeeding one left for the woods, not having been
carefully watched.

240

THE ILLINOIS FAliMEK

August

We have the old pattern of the Langstroth, the
Phelps, w! ich is nearly the same thing, and various
box hives, some of them gotten up in a hurry by
unskillful carpenters. They stand about the laion
singly, some with the bottom board resting on the
ground, and some on blocks four to six inches
high ; some are well sheltered by evergreen and
other trees, and some of them stand out nearly ful-
ly exposed, generally just where they were hived.

We decided to become a little more attentive
and to get up the apiary on a more expensive if
not a better plan, and bogan by ordering half a
dozen Langstroth's hives, of the new pattern, of
S. C. Otis, Kenosha, Wisconsin. These came in
due time and we are much pleased with them ; so
much so that we have ordered another half dozen.
We will not stop to describe them now, but will do
30 at a future time.

In the next place we concluded to put the new
swarm? in a bee house, so as to give them good
shelter, and to this end adopted the plan ?o long
and so successfully pursued by Dr. L. S. Tenning-
ton, of Sterling, with a slight modification ; that
is, we would put only eight or nine hives in one
house. The house is sixteen feet long, four high
in front, five in the rear and four deep, the roof
being the lowest in front. The roof boards are cut
five feet and four inches long, making three
lengths from a sixteen feet board. The hives rest
on a two-inch playk floor, the width of the house
and one foot from the ground. Into this we put
four new swarms, placed close together, but soon
found that some of them were disposed to be
knavish, and on our return yesterday, July Vth,
found one of the swarms had^been robbed and the
bees incorporated into other hives. This morning
the same game was beginning to be played on an-
other hive, where the drug out system was in full
operation ; but the entrance was at once closed to
the width of one bee at a time, which will enable
the attacked hive to hold out against the intruders-

For some weeks we have had a supply of the
best of honey, whereas our neighbors, who have
the bee gums and large box hives, have not
thought of such a luxury. From the abundance
of young bees we shall expect a number of swarms
within a few days ; and, though late in the season,
yet with the aid of half a dozen acres of buckwheat
sown for honey and griddle cakes, we shall hope
to get up a respectable stock of bees and an abun-
dant supply of honey.

«■■

23^ The postal regulation allowing "book man-
uscripts and proof sheets" to be forwarded at the
rate of two cents for four ounces does not include
less, for periodicals nor communications for news-
papers, as some contend.

The Franking Privilege.

Department op Agriccltuee )
Washington, D. C, June 20, '64.J"

Editor niinois Fat~iner — Dear Sir :

The following is a copy of the law recently pass-
ed by Congress, restoring to this with other De-
partments the full franking privilege, by which it
will be seen that no prepayment of postage is re-
quired in addressing small parcels, seeds, cuttings,
&c., to this Department:

1. Public— No. 82.
AN ACT in relation to Franked Matter.

Beit enacted by the Senate and House of Represent-
atives of the United States of America in Congress as-
sembled. That all communications relating to the
ofiBcial business of the Department to which they
are addressed, of whatever origin, addressed to the
Chiefs of the several Executive Departments of the
Governments, or to such pi incipal oflScers of each
Executive Department, being heads of bureaus or
chief clerks, or one duly authorized by the Post-
master General to frank official matter, shall be re-
ceived and conveyed by mail free of postage with-
out being endorsed "Official Bnsines?," or with the
name of the writer.

Approved June 1, 1864.

I will thank you to make this as public as possi-
ble. Very respectfully, yours, &c.,

Isaac Newton,
Commissioner.

Swarming Bees. — Mr. Langstroth mentionB that
he finds that bees when a warming, can be deter-
mined to some "selected" spot. He speaks of
stringing bees on a thread, making a ball the size
of a hen's egg, and carrying it among the flying
bees — that the Rev. T. P. Hunt says, by this device
he can always prevent bees leaving the premises.
Mr. L. says "'A black woollen stocking or piece of
cloth, fastened to a shady limb in plain sight of
hives would probably answer a good purpose." —
That swarms are attracted to such places not only
by the color but by the ease of attaching them-
selves to such objects. It is well known that pla-
ces se lected by first swarms, are very apt to be
chosen by those that come after. That when one
swarm is followed in quick succession by others,
that they are very liable to cluster all in one lo-
cation. Analogy would then lead us to suppose
that the bee-keeper who furnishes imitation clus-
tering devices, at convenient points of the apiary,
would be rewarded by having his swarms settle
where they can be easily secured or hived.

Mr. Solomon Sawyer, of Rolling Prairie, Wis.,
informs me that he has had good success with a
decoy made of black felt hat, shaped like a cluster
of bees, about the capacity of a pint, stuffed and
hung in the limb or a tree or small shrub, in plain
sight of his hive& That most of the swarms set-
tled on these devices. They should be made so as
to be readily detached from their location, so that
they can be carried and shaken, or laid at the en-
trance of the hive. If such or similar devices,
succeed, the securing and hiving of natural swarms
will be much simplified. — Oor. Ooun, Gent,

u

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

241

Paper from Com Husks.

For many years the Austrian Govemmen have
encouraged a series of experiments made to test
the value of Indian corn husks for making paper,
and from the manufactured samples we have seen
it appears that so far as the practicability is con-
cerned, the scheme has been successful.

It is apparent that some substitute for rags is
very much required, for the supplies are yearly
becoming scarcer ; more particularly since the
war, when the cotton market has been so scantily
filled. Certain kinds of the softer woods are now
used to a great extent in the manufacture of paper,
and the peculiar machines and processes necessary
to work this substance have been brought lo gieat
perfection ; and wood paper may in time supply a
portien of the demand for the ordinary purposes
of business at a cheap rate.

Paper, it is well known, can be made from a va-
riety of substances ; but the cost of manipulation
is in many cases too great to make them available.
It is one objection urged against the use of corn
husks for paper that the stock commands at this
time a very high price, seven or eight cents a lb.
simply for use in mattresses, and that if brought
forward as a substitute for rags, the demand would
run up the price immediately. Be this as it may,
the Austrian Government now makes paper of a
superior quality from corn husks alone, and puts
it in the market against rag paper. The Govern-
ment has an advantage which paper makers in this
country have not, and that is in being able to pur-
chase rags at first hands, so to speak ; the great
ports from which they are sent to this
country are chiefly in Austria or the im-
mediate vicinity. There are, moreover, other
points in the manufacture of paper from corn husks
which render an investigation into its value impor-
tant. The process of reducing the pulp or fiber
from which the paper is made, leaves the stouter
fibres or skeleton of the husk uninjured, and these
are easily woven into strong, stout cloth, or a fa-
bric resembling crash towelling. Still another re-
sultant, besides the paper stock and fiber is ob-
tained. This is the starch contained in the husk,
which is all saved , pressed into square cakes, and
afterwards ground into flour from which bread has
been made. It is not desirable for this use here,
it is certainly valuable for feeding animals It is
therefore clear that the corn husk is capable of a
variety of uses, and it is important that it should
receive serious attention. It is not reasonable to
suppose that the Austrian Government are spend-
ing time and money in the pursuit of a chimera,
and if it can be made an article of commerce in
that country, there is no reason 'why we too should
not reflect upou this subject.

If we sleep upon mattresses made of husks, it is
plain by intelligent management we could turn
the material to much better advantage, and use
the fibers for bags ; we may extract the life sup-
porting principle, and set free the paper stock to
go abroad to our countrymen in the shape of week-
ly journals, and yet have mattresses from some
other and cheaper material.

These are not schemes which we have briefly al-
luded to, but only an incomplefe record of the uses
to^ which the Indian corn plant is now put in Aus-
tria. Rolls upon rolls of cloth are manufactured
annually, and it is both stout and strong ; a sample

can be seen at this office. The great question to
be looked at is simply — Will it pay ? The obvious
inierence is that if the Austrian Government finds
it advantageous to foster establishments for using
corn husks in this manner, manufacturers in this
country may at least examine into it with profit.
If it shall be found (and we are sanguine it will)
that corn husks can be put to better uses than
feeding cattle or stuffing mattresses, a very great
field is open for the development of a new source on
individual and national wealth. — Scietitific Ameri-
can.

Com husks can be sold at three cts. a pound,
with a good profit. Our plan is to pick, or Jerk
the com. put it in the barn, and in bad weather or
evenings, husk it ; spread the husks in the same
loft to dry, and when dry run them through a
threshing machine. A railway power with separa-
tor is the best for this use.

When the com is cut up and shocked a good
busker will save about one himdred lbs. per day of
husks. Of course the number of bushels husked
will be much less than when the husks are not
saved. — Ed.

Ice-Period in America.

The last number of the AUaniie McnUdy contains
an article by Prof. Agassiz on the glacial epoch in
America. Remains of tropical plants and animals
fouud in the rocks of the polar regions prove that
at one time the heat of the tropics extended over
the whole globe, but at a period long subsequent
to this — long even as geologists reckon time — ^the
temperate zones of the earth were far colder than
they are at present. The glacial epoch was next
to the last before the advent of man, while it was
preceded by forty-one others that have been ex-
amined and named, and perhaps each of these was
as long in duration as itself.

In his article in the AUanAe Agassiz presents
the proof that at the glacial epoch the continent of
North America, as far south as the Ohio river in
its middle portion, was covered with a mass of ice
six thousand feet in thickness. This vast field of
ice was constantly moving southward with a slow
motion, but with irresistible power, cmshing the
rocks, grinding down the hills, plowing furrows
through the ledges, and covering the continent
with a confused mixture of sand, gravel and bould-
ers.

This hurrying of the continent in ice to the
depth of more than a mile, destroyed of course all
life, both animal and vegetable, and through long
ages of solitude and desolation of an Arctic winter
prevailed over the land. After a time the return-
ing warmth of the earth melted away the ice, and
the retreating glacier was slowly followed by
springing plants, and by swarms of insects, birds
and qnadrupeds.

Agassiz thus presents the evidence of the gla-
cier's thickness, extent and use : —

"The slopes of the Allegheny range wherever
they have been examined, are glacier-worn to the
very top, with the exception of a few points ; but
these points are sufficient to give us data for the
comparison. Mount Washington for instance, is
over 6000 feet high, and the rough, unpolished sur«

W^ ':

^■fjrTTzr'-.Tr ■'."-■ - ■ .■ --t -' ■ -jT ■7t*^i«v!ri'=:c-^ ■»:- - -^ > jr?'^'^>vtar. ■'>.:" -rrriyi^gif^ ^^:™7>;>'/»- . r-v — vt'. !■■''■ ■ ■ >: . TTt^^wT^jsp^^^

242

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

August

face of its summit, covered with loose fragments,
just below the level of which glacier-marks come
to an end, tells us that it lifted its head alone
above the desolate waste of ice and snow. To this
region, then, the thickness of the sheet cannot
have been much less than 6000 feet, and this is in
keeping with the same kind of evidence in other
parts of the country; for, whereever the moun-
tains are much below 6000 feet, the ice seems to
have passed directly over them, while the few
peaks rising to that hight are left untouched And
while we can thus sink our plummet from the sum-
mit to the base of Mount Waskington and measure
the thickness of the mass of ice, we have a no less
accurate indication of its extension in the undvla-
ting line marking the southern termination of the
drift. I have shown that the moraines mark the
oscillations of the glaciers in Europe. Where such
accumulations of loose materials took place at its
terminus, there we know the glacier must have
held its ground long enough to allow time for the
collection of these debris. In the same way we
may trace the southern border of our ancient ice
sheet on this continent by the limits of the bould-
ers ; beyond that time it evidently did not advance
as a solid mass, since it ceases to transport the
heavier materials. But as soon as the outskirts
of the ice began to yield and to flow oflf as water,
the lighter portions of the drift were swept out-
ward ; and hence we find a sheet of finer drift-de-
posit, sand and gravel more or less distinctly strat-
ified, carried to greater or less distances, and fad-
ing into the Southern States, where it mingles
with the most recent river deposits.

"One naturally asks, What was the use of this
great engine set at work ages ago to grind, furrow
and knead over, as it were, the surface of the earth?
We have our answer in the fertile soil which
spreads over the temperate regions of the globe.
The glacier was God's great plow ; and when the
ice vanished from the face of the land, it left it
. prepared for the hand of the husbandman. The
hard surface of the rocks was ground to powder,
the elements of the soil were mingled in fair pro-
portions, granite was carried into the lime regions,
lime was mingled with the more arid and unpro-
ductive granite districts, and a soil was prepared
fit for the agricultural uses of man. Therefore I
think we may believe that God did not shroud the
world He had made in snow and ice without a pur-
pose, and that this, like many other operations of
Hi8 providence, seemingly destructive and chaotic
in its first eflfects, is nevertheless a work of benefi-
cence and order."

Legal Protection of Sheep.

An important law, having for its object "The
protection of Sheep Husbandry," was passed at the
recent session of the Legislature.

It provides that every owner of a dog in the
State shall annually "on or before April 80, cause
it to be registered, numbered, described and li
censed, in the office of the city or town clerk where
he resides, and shall cause it to wear around its
neck a. collar distinctly marked with its owner's
nunc and the registered number, and shall pay for
such license two dollars for a male dog, and ten
dollars for a female dog."

The clerks are to retain twenty cents on each li
cense, and the balance is paid into the county
treasury. Whoever keeps a dog contrary to the
provisions of this act shall forfeit fifteen dollars,
to be recovered on complaint, and the money to
be paid into the county treasury. The assessors
are required to take an aecurate list, on the first
day of May, annually, of all dogs owned or kept,
with the owners' names ; and the mayors of cities,
and chairmen of the selectmen of towns, shall an-
nually, within ten days from the first day of July,
issue a warrant to one or more police officers or
constables, directing them to proceed forthwith
either to kill or cause to be killed all dogs going
at large within their respective cities or towns, and
not licensed and collared according to the provi-
sions of this act. and any person may, and every
police officer and constable shall, kill or cause to
be killed all such dogs whenever and wherever
found. Such officers shall receive one dollar for
each dog so destroyed, from the treasurers of their
respective counties, except that in the county of
Suffolk they shall receive it from the treasurers of
their respective towns. All bills for such services
shall be approved by the mayor or chairman of
the selectmen of the cities and towns in which
said dogs are destroyed, and shall be paid from the
moneys received under the provisions of this act."

After issuing such warrant, mayors and select-
men are required to certify the fact, under oath, to
their respective district attorneys, whose duty it is
made to prosecute all officers who fail to comply
with the requirement.

Persons suffering loss or damage of sheep, or
other domestic animals, by dogs, may inform the
mayor or chairman of selectmen, who are required
to appoint two disinteiested persons, who, with
himself shall proceed to the premises and deter-
mine and appraise the damage. Their award is to
be certified by them to the county commissioners,
who in December, annually, are to examine all such
bills, and issue an order on the county treasurer
to pay all that they approve. In case the gross
amount received for licences is not sufficient to
pay all the orders, the treasurer shall divide what
he has pro rata, among such orders, in full dis-
charge thereof. The appraisers of damages receive
from their town treasurer one dollar each, for eve-
ry appraisement. Any town, city, or county offi-
cer refusing or neglecting to perform the duties
imposed by the law, is punishable by a fine not ex-
ceeding one hundred dollars.

SscT. 10. The treasurer of any county may, in
an action of tort against the owner or keeper of
any dog concerned in doing damage to sheep in
said county, which damage has been ordered to be
paid by the county commissioners, recover the
full amount thereof to the use of said county."

The law is a very great improvement upon the

old one, and we hope it may result in diminishing

the number of curs, and increasing the number of

sheep in the State, one hundred fold at least. Such

a consummation is devoutly to be wished. It would
add millions to our valuation in a few years. Let
every dog be licensed or killed ; and let no owner
of a dog "whine" because of a just decree. — JTom.
Flaughman.

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAKMER.

243

Cold Water Laundry Soap.

The abeve is the title of a quack specific for
washing, and which smacks strongly of h-u-m-b-u-g.
We have never known one of these quack receipts
of any value, and should the thousandth one in this
line falsify our expectations, we shall soon begin
to look for the dawning of the millennium — of
washing day.

Read the following and then hold on to your
five dollars until you know that it is actually all
that it is represented to be. Remember, these
extracts are from the semi or special advertising
departments of the city papers. It will be seen
that the extract from the Prairie Farmer is very
guarded, just enough to save the advertising fee,
and just as little to overlook the bad effects to
the fabrics by the use of soda and other injurious
material. As we put in this advertisement for the
benefit of our readers, no charge is made to the
soap man. — Ed. •

"Sate tour Fuel — ^Interesting to Housekeep-
ers— Cold Water Laundry Soap — Patent Ap-
plied FOR. — Any person can, over an ordinary fire,
make in twenty minutes, sufficient soap to last any
family for three months, taking any common soap
as a base. It is not injurious to the finest fabric.
Read the following opinions of the press.

[From the Chicago Evening Journal.]

Housekeepers will be interested in learning that
the principal objection to the recurrence of wash-
ing day that has hitherto prevailed is done away
with by, to them, one of the greatest discoveries
of modern times. Dr. H. Huntington has discov-
ered a compound in the form of soap, which obvi-
ates the necessity for fire, hot water or boiling the
clothes. This soap has been tested by the family
of a gentleman in connection with this office, and
found to be perfect in its work. Our readers in
city and country will be visited by Dr. Hunting-
ton or his agents, who will offer the receipts for
saie.

[From the Chicago'Daily Tribune.]
H. Huntington, of this city, has invented a soap
which is destined to work a revolution in the old-
fashioned methods of washing as now applied in
the domestic economy. By the use of this soap
the housekeeper saves the fuel, labor and expense.
No fire is used at all, thus saving coal and wood,
which is no small item in these days of high pri-
ces. The labor is reduced at least one-ha&; the
clothes are not injured, while in the long run it is
an immense saving in expense. Mr. Huntington
has certificates — some of which are published in
our advertising columns — the chai;acter of which
will convince any one of the merits of the article
in question. Mr. H. is now supplying recipes, and
wie understand that arrangements are about being
made for the manufacture of this soap. He may
be addressed at present at the Hevete fiouse in
this city.

[From the Prairie Farmer.]

"We liave tried the new soap in our family for
two weeks past, and can second all that has been

said of it. It is an advantage both in the saving
of fuel and labor, enabling a washing to be done
much quicker and equally as well as by the old
way.
The following Certificates speak for themselves :;

Ghicago, June 20, 1864.
Dr. H. Huntington — Sir: — Having given the
'Cold Water Laundry Soap' a thorough practical
test, I have no hesitation in saying thai it will
wash as well, if not better, than by the old me-
thod, without the least injury to the clothes, sav-
ing all the fuel and one-half the labor. I would
confidently recommend its use to all families doing
their own washing. If properly used, it is cheaper
at double the price of ordinary soap, and cheaper
than soft soap at one dollar a barrel.

W. J. Ellknwood,
Proprietor of Chicago Laundry.
J. K Bottsfoed,
Of the firm ofBottsford, Kimball & Co., 109,
Lake street.

Chicago, June 21, '64.
The washing qualities of the 'Cold Water Laun-
dry soap' have been tested at my house, and I
cheerfully admit that the results were fully equal
to those of the old system, thus saving fuel and
labor, and being enabled to do the washing in a
cool comfortable way.

Thos. Wilson. , '._ /
Cashier Chicago Evening Journal.
H. Huntington, M. D. — Sia : — I have used your
'Cold Water Family Soap' in my kitchen with the
most satisfactory resnlts. It is a vast improve-
ment upon the soap in ordinary and general use.
Not an ounce of fuel was used in doing a week's
washing on the occasion referred to, and the work
was accomplished with less than one-half the labor.
I can confidently recommend this compound.
: Yours very truly,

A. H. BODMAH, "

Ass't Ed. City Department ChL Trib.

The undersigned will sell Rights for Counties
and Towns. Agents wanted in every Town in the
West, to sell Rights for family use. Address

H. Huntinotok.

P. 0. Box 2107, Chicago.

«••

Wht Hogs Eat Ashes. — Mr. Mechi, of Tip-Tree
Hall, England, has discovered that pigs, when
shut up to fatten, are fond of cinders, and improve
in condition by eating a certain portion of them
every day. Some persons are unable to account
for this singular propensity in swine. Poultry are
very fond of egg shells, lime, sand, &c., and it is
well known the substances are necessary in order
to form the shells of eggs, and to furnish material
for the bones of fowls. Now it is reasonable to
suppose that swine eat ashes and cinders for the
purpose of supplying material for their bones, and
this singular instinct in animals so low in the scale
of intelligence, is truly wonderful, for ashes con-
tain the ingredients which are necessary to form
bones, viz : clay, silicia gelatinized and made solu-
ble by the fire. When hogs are at large, they take
in clay and silicia with their food, and eat bones '
and roots which contain the necessary ingredients;
but when they are pent up they endeavor to sup-
ply the material necessary for keeping up their
frames by devouring ashes and cinders. Let them
have plenty of them. — J^oek Journal.

244

THE ILLDfOIS FAEMEli

August

Detkrioration of Orchards. — Nathan. P. At-
kinson, Elm Grove, Ohio Co., West Virginia,
writes as follows upon this subject. We particu-
larly commend his advice at the close of the letter
to those who have old orchards :

"I came and settled in Ohio county; at that
time there were something over twenty full grown
orchards within six miles of my residence. At
this time, 1864, there is not even a stump left to
show that the ground was ever occupied as an or-
chard. In more than one-half of the orchards al-
luded to, the scattering trees that are left, I think,
will not amount to fifty. In 1823, I planted be-
tween three and four hundred apple trees ; at this
time, which is forty-one years, there are at least
one-third of the trees dead, and many still living
are encunibered with dead and dying limbs, and
every indication of health and thrift has departed
from them, and the fruit they bear has become of
a worthless charac er. My orchard has heen kept
well trimmed, and most of the time it has been
plowed, and the ground under the trees has been
dug up with a mattock. The old orchards I spoke
of were mostly planted on the bottom lands of the
Ohio river or Wheeling creek, and were under the
operation of the plow more than one-half of the
time, hence never suffered for the want of tillage.
The conclusion I have come to is, that apple trees
have nothing in their character that resembles the
cedir of Lebanon or ©ur common oak trees. My
experience leads to this conclusion, that where aa
orchard has attained thirty years, the owner should
plant a young one, and when five years more have
elapsed, cut down the old one, for the imperfect
fruit obtained from an old orchard is not equal to
the use of the ground the trees occupy."

Large Sale of Illinois Wool. — The Rockford
Register of the 9 th ultimo says : We learn that Mr.
Shepherd Leach, of Rockford, has just sold his
wool clip for this season, realizing for it, at TOc. a
pound, |9,540 46. Mr. Leach is the largest wool
grower in the country, and has also one of the
most extensive farms — cultivating near a thousand
acres. During the past year he kept an average of
about 2,400 sheep, but has at the present time
about 3000. These are mostly grade Spanish Me-
rinos, which he considers the best in this section.

Bess in Louisiana. — A friend in New York sends
us the following letter from a correspondent in
New Orleans. We piesume that his bees are out
of the city. He says :

I send you by tbe Adams Express Company a
small box^of new honey. It may be a novelty to
you to get new honey so soon in the season. I
have opened one box, and it has the taste of the
plum blossom, I presume this box is of the same
sort

I must giv« you a short history of my box ope-
rations ; and if any one in the North can beat it, I
will give up. About two years since, a friend pre-
sented me with an old fiat box, containing a fine
swarm. Last year I hived five swarms from it ;
but one was in a bad hive and the beee were lost.
This year I hived eleven swarms from the five
hives, and one swarm I found in the woods,
giving me now seventeen fine hives. My hives
have three boxes in the lower part, each contain-
ing 30 lbs., and three upper boxes, each holding

10 lbs., the hive will contain when well filled 120
lbs. Now in less than two months a single swarm
in this hive has filled two lower and two upper
boxes, in all eighty pounds. I call this a good
yield for these models of industry, and do not think
any apiary in the North has ever beat it

As regards swarms we have never knowu an
apiary at the North to exceed the account as above
given. — Rural American.

—*-

Pratt's Ditcher, — Have you heard of, or do you
know anything concerning this ditcher, about
which considerable was said some years since ? —
Mason, Columbia Co., N. Y.

We do not It was found by those who used it
to be a material aid in ditching ; but we suspect
the demand is not sufficient to warrant continued
manufacture. Its price was an obstacle to its suc-
cess, thrugh cheap enough compared with the
cost of manufacture, perhaps. — Rural N. Yorker.

The above are part of the reasons for the disuse
of Pratt's Ditcher. An additional and prominent
one is that it is a heavy and complex machine,
and requires considerable force. As nearly all
land is more or less stony, and the weight of the
machine gives it much momemtum, striking a great
stone racks it badly; and some of its parts cannot
fail to be more or less injured. One part being
thus deranged, disorders the working of the whole
machine ; the consequence is that while the ditch-
er works admirably for a short time, while new
and uninjured, it gradually becomes unfit for ser-
vice and is cast aside for the pick and the shovel.
— Country Gentleman.

Having seen Ihis machine in operation, we con-
cluded it could be useful only in land free from
stone, stumps and roots. We were favorably im-
pressed with the machine for soil adapted for its
use. But the small demand at present for such a
machine would hardly warrant any one's engaging
in its manufacture to any considerable extent, as
draining is not very generally introduced. — Boston
Cultivator.

This machine had a pretty thorough trial on our
farm, some three or four years since, and pleased
us very much. So sooa as we can obtain tile near
by, we shall endeavor to get one of these ditchers
It appears sufficiently strong for the prairie, and
we know that it works most admirably. It is one
of the implements that we must yet have on our
prarie farms. The time is not distant when tile
draining will be resumed and then the ditcher will
be wanted. — Ed.

-*it-

SwEET Potatoes is Winter. — The operation of

J. W. Tenbrook & Co., at Cobden, are making
steady progress. The immense building which is
to store the sweet potatoes, is in a good state of
forwardness, and the crop to fill it promising. —
Farmers in this county winter the sweet potatoe,
and we hope to keep a full supply for family use
ourselves the coming winter.

1864

THE ILLmOIS FARMER.

245

Alton Horticultural Society.

Friday, July 1, 1864.

The Society met at the residence of Washington
T. Miller, in Alton, at 10 o'clock a. m„ President
Hull in the Chair. Among the members present
were Dr. E. S. Hull, Geo. C. Eisenmaver, J. M.
Day, C. W. Dimmock, J. McPike, H. G. McPike,
Ellis Hibbard, S. R Dolbee, H. N. Kendall. F.
Starr, J. Burton, E. A. Riehl, J. M. Pearson. W.
T. Miller, James Newman, S. B. Johnson and a
number of ladies.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and
approved.

Dr. Hull reported that having examined the mi-
croscope obtained for the use of the Society, he
thought for general purposes it was perhaps the
best.

Mr. Pearson tendered to the Socity the use of a
microscope of easier adjustment. His offer was
accepted with thanks.

The Committee on places of meeting reported
that the next meeting would be held at Mr. Hug-
gins, near Woodburn.

The Committee on Entomology reported on ex-
hibition.

1. A cedar fly, from Dr. E. S. Hull. It bores in
unpainted wood and is thus very troublesome when
numerous.

2. A squash-bug from Mr. E. A. Biehl.

3. A plant-louse from J. M. Day, very destruc-
tive to the water-melon.

Mr. Riehl said he had been unable to kill the
squash-bug with air slacked lime or in any way ex-
cept by hand. Dr. Hull found them exceedingly
destructive last year to the Hubbard Squash, at-
tacking the vines, the leaves, and finally the fruit
Thia year, however, he had found that by digging
a hole about the size of a goose egg near the stem
of the vine and covering it with a chip, the bugs
were induced to seek lodging on the under side of
the chip, whence they could be readily transferred
in the morning to a vessel of hot water or soap-
suds.

Mr. Day said the plant louse presented by him
had appeared since 185*7, on the water melon vines
in the extensive fields devoted to that product in
the American Bottom. They were most injurious
in 1857 and 1858. They begin upon the vines when
scarcely a foot long and disappear about the first
of August. Are most destructive in dry seasons.
Air-slacked lime and tobacco water did not seem
to check them. An insect supposed to be the lar-
va of the lace wing fly feeds upon them. Had re-
ceived a letter from Dr. Walsh in regard to them
which he would endeavor to produce at the next
meeting.

Dr. Hull presented the head of an enormous
sting beetle that had overcome a crawfish in a sin-
gle combat.

The Fruit Committee reported on exhibition.

From Mr. Flagg late Duke and English Morello
Cherries, not quite ripe ; Cherry, Red Dutch and
Black Naples Currants, very fine ; Houghton and

wild Gooseberries, large and fine ; Raspberries,
Red Missouri, firm, injured by drouth ; Doolittle,
large, firm, but also injured by drouth ; Purple
Cane, too soft for market ; Keswick Codlin Apple,
not yet ripe.

From C. W. Dimmock, Ohio everbearing rasp-
berry, large, and of a fine flavor for a cup berry.
Downing's everbearing mulberry, green, half ripe
and ripe, of exquisite flavor and worthy of trial.

Mr. Pearson wished to know wherein the com-
mon mulberry was excelled by the Downing.
Dr. Hull could see no superiority.
Day thought the Downing decidedly better. Of
better flavor and less stringy through the center of
the fruit.

Mr. Dimmock was disappointed at first in the
quality of the fruit, but finds it improve with use.
Bears until frost.

Dr. Hull presented a model of grape stakes in-
tended to combine the advantage of stake and trel-
lis pruning. It consists of three stakes set in a
line two feet apart and connected by a strip of
lath at the top and at the surface of the ground.
This permits the pruner to pass between the vines
and finish a vine that he has commenced upon
whilst it gives the advantage of lateral tr^ning.

Mr. Pearson brought up the matter of taking oflF
the laterals of tne grape vine. Had been in the
habit of doing so, but from the talk at late meet-
ings, was inclined to change his practice.

Mr. Miller said the larger the cane the better the
fruit.

Dr. Hull said that President Shepherd, of the
State Society, in former jears allowed the laterals
to grow on his Isabellas and Catawbas, and pro-
duced his premium fruit from such vines. His own
conclusions therefrom was that strength rather
than large size was desirable ; that letting the lat-
erals grow made a coresponding increase of roots
and consequent strength in the vine the following
year, whence resulted the finest fruit. But would
use the laterals as a means of acquiring strength
not to raise fruit upon.

Mr. Eisenmayor said he was intending to try
training vines almost upon the ground. The grapes
so grown are sweeter.

Elias Hibbard and John McPike were elected
members.

Ou motion of Mr. Riehl, a Standing Committee
to examine and report critically at the following
meeting upon the condition and culture of the
grounds of each member visited, &c., was appoin-
ted, consisting of Messrs. Biehl, F. Starr, D. E.
Brown, Flagg and Burton.

The Society then took a recess, which was very
agreeably spent in the dining room, under the hos-
pitable direction of Mr. and Mrs. Miller, and in an
examination of the vineyard, which is the largest,
it is believed, in this locality, as well as the most
fruitful. Five thousand Catawba vines are planted
around the sides of a large sink hole, presenting
in the season of full fruiting and foliage a most
picturesque and pleasing sight.

The Society being again called to order, Mr.
Newman read an Essay.

A special committee on Wines, consisting of
Messrs. Pearson, Dimmock, Eisenmeyer, Dolbee
Hibbard and Kendall made the following reports :

246

THE ILLmOIS FARMER.

Atjgttst

The Committee on Wines beg leave to re ort
the following samples on exhibition : Catawba,
Concord and Virginia Seedling, from the vineyard
of G. C. Eisenmeyer, Esq., of Mascotah, Illinois, of
vintage of 1863. The first your committee consid-
ered equal if not superior to any Catawba vine yet
presented: — "Virginia Seedling," not so well
known, but promising to become still more of a fa
vorite from its resemblance to the old varieties of
Port aud Maderia. "Concord" makes a light, pleas-
ant wine of not much body. Samples of Catawba
from frosted grapes, by W. T. Miller, Esq. This
although earlier in the season promised to do
something, is now worthless — '|/?a^ stale and un-
profitable."

Samples of blackberry wine by C. W. Dimmock,
injured by too warm a cellar.

Currant wine made in 1863 by H. G. McPike,
Esq., from three lbs. of sugar to one gallon of
juice, quality very good. Wine improves by age.

Currant do. exhibited by W. C. Flagg, Esq.;
made one gallon juice, 2 do. water, T lbs. sugar,
very fine, 14 years old ; very rarely found in this
vicinity.

Samples of Catawba contributed by H. Kuenster
of Monroe county, injured by transportation in
warm weather. Quality could not be judged of by
the committee.

Dr. Hull inquired as to the productiveness of the
Norton's Virginia, Had understood it yielded but
200 gallons to the acre, whilst the Concord produ-
ces 600 and the Catawba 800 gallons.

Mr. Miller said a late Patent Office Report did
not give such figures, but gave a larger yield to
the Norton's Virginia than to the Concord.

The Investigating Committee being called upon,
Mr. Riehl criticised Mr. Miller"s former method of
planting grape vines in holes. Would plant no-
thing in deep holes, would recommend entire pul-
verization of the soil and subsoil. In this connec-
tion he would recommend for the bluffs a side hill
plow he had procured from Cincinnati. It had
proved very satisfactory in its working. Cost here
about $20. In terracing the hills he believes the
triangular scraper described in the Rural Register
for 1864 would do excellent work.

Dr. Hull recommended root pruning as an effec-
tual remedy for the blight which he saw was here
doing some injury.

Adjourned to meet at Jonathan Huggins' on the
Woodburn road, on Friday, August 5th, at 10
o'clock a. m.

Above we give another statement of the proceed,
ings of the Alton Horticultural Society. For these
favors we are indebted to that ever active friend
of Horticulture W. C. Flagg, who sends us slips
rom the Alton Telegraph of that city. — Ed.

BAKES & FHILIiIl:S

PUBLISHERS.

M. L. DUNLAP, Kditor.
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, AUGUST, 1864.

Michigan Board of Agriculture. — Sanford
Howard, late editor of the Boston Cultivator, has
accepted the Secretaryship of this Board and has
entered upon its active duties. We congratulate
the farmers of Michigan in having the affairs of
the college in such good hands. We have no
doubt that they will make good practical progress.

—•-

Tab Purpls Cans Raspberry has proved too
soft to send a long distance to market with cer-
tainty. It will sour in twenty-four hours, if boxed
up close, should the weather prove hot When it
can reach the consumer in that time it will give
good satisfaction.

Comstock's Rotary Spader. — We learn that no
spaders will be made for the autumn work, but
that it is expected that all demands will be met by
the spring of 1865. Implements costing two hun-
dred dollars each, cannot be made to supply the
millions at once. The few that have been made
have come from shops doing miscellaneons work ;
but it is found that it will require an immense es-
tablishmant to do the work, and that the machinery
roust be adapted exactly to this end. This is an en-
couraging state of things in regard to the spader.
W^e again repeat that all useful implements are
slowly yet surely introduced to the notice of the
public. While some humbug churn or rattletrap
cultivator will travel through the land, creating a
sensation to sell rights, the really useful make slow
but sure headway ; and while the one is forgotten
the other gains a foothold from which it only re-
tires to give place to still further improvements.

Pickles. — H. A. Sheldon, Middlebury, Vt, says
after trying numerous plans he has adopted the
followii'g as thejjest way to pickle cucumbers : —
"Put them in very strong brine for forty-eight
hours, and from that direct into eider vinegar, add-
ing spice and pepper to suit. They are good in
three weeks and keep two years sound and crisp."

All should remember that the cider vinegar
made in cities at vinegar factories, is made Of
whisky, water and tartaric acid or cream of tartar .
to make it moire pungent sulphuric acid is used.—
As this acid is the cheapest of the three, it is often
used to excess. When it is present in the vinegar
it will destroy the pickles in a short time ; it is
therefore dangerous to use it. Farmers should use
none but pure cider vinegar or that made from
whisky and molasses. No cream of tartar or tar-
taric acid should be used.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEK.

247

Iowa State Agricttltcral GoLLsas. — ^Through
the politeness of Gen. W. Duane Willson, Secreta-
ry of Iowa Board of Agriculture, we are in receipt
of a photograph of the plan of this institution. Io-
wa is a progressive State ; there is a go-ahead en-
ergy among her people that knows no failure. —
She has not been cursed with a large emigration
of the poor white trash, to bar her way in the field
i>f progress. Hers is a bright record for common
schools and liberty ; and now she is to put the gift
of the General Government, designed to give the
farmer a splended education for his calling, into
practical use. Will our State allow young Iowa to
get the start of her in this grand enterprise ?

Iowa Houestead. — This valuable paper has
changed hands, Mr. Miller retiring from the busi-
ness department and giving his whole time to the
editorial. The paper has been enlarged and im-
proved and presents a highly prosperous condition.
We are pleased to see this state of things in our
neighbor over the river, as it shows that the
plains of Iowa are in the hands of a reading and
consequently intelligent class of farmers.

The Homestead aims at teaching western farming
in its practical bearings, and, thus far, has been
eminently successful.

«•*

Pumps. — We ordered a couple of pumps of J. F.

Powell, Chicago, some two months since, and was

pleased with both pumps and price. The cost

was as follows .

One pump, ten feet .$6 00

Eight feet pipe 1 20

Freight 60

^ :; -y., ^1 80

This morning a pump peddler called to sell us

one of same size and similar make. His prices

were:

One pump, ten feet $ 8 00

Eight feet pipe 4 00

$12 00

Diflference .$ 4 20

All peddlers will excuse poor men like us from
dealing with them — we can't afford the luxury.
All well to do farmers can always buy of peddlers,
as they have the money to spare ; but those who
wish to plant orchards and make their homes
pleasant must purchase at first hands or regular
dealers. They have no time or money to throw
away on any class of peddlers, homemade tree ped-
dlers included. But we forgot to tell the cost of
the other pumps. One ten foot cistern pump, $6.

Ganaky Sees, of which we have twenty-five
acres, is light. Next monih we intend to give a
full account of our experiment with this new crop.
It is very probable that another year will close the
importation of canary seed to this country.

TuENiPS. — Seedsmen report an unusual demand
for turnip seed. Although the crop is not a certain
one, yet we cannot afford to pass by the time of
sowing without an effort to grow a few hundred
bushels of this desirable root.

ScGAB Beet. — ^We hear nothing of sugar beets
this season. We trust the idea of making sugar
from them is not abandoned. .; V

On the whole the crops are fuHy up to the aver*
age, and are being got in in good order and in rea-
sonable season. The improved implements have
done much to make amends for the scarcity of labor
Not an acre of old land was idle ; in this respect
there is a marked gain over last year. Besides
this, a large amount of prairie has been broken up.
which wil add to the area for next year's planting*
With Burson's binder, the labor of binding is re
duced to a single hand, to from eight to ten acres
a day. It is true than when we take the cost of
wire into account the saving is not so much, but
then the harvesting is done and we do not have to
board and lodge the wire, nor will it strike for $3
a day and then take the work aiset/.

Bl-MONTHLY BSPOBT — DEPARTMENT OF AORICUL-

TCRE. — ^If the Commission would issue ten to fifi
teen pages monthly it appears to us that the re-
port would be more useful. This report is an im-
provement, being cut down to 38 pages, and con-
tains an immense amount of facts without being
loaded down with absurd theories. Our readers
who wish a copy should address Commissioner
Newton, who will take pleasure in supplying them.
-«•»

Shelter. — Every year's experience adds to the
testimony in favor of shelter, whether to stock or
crops. In the garden we use hot beds to forward
early vegetables, but the present price of glass is
making this rather an expensive luxury. ■

To overcome this difficulty Dr. Jas. Weed, of
Muscatine, Iowa, has been in the practice of using
what he calls a tree and plant protection, which is
simply a shelter from the winds and severe cold
For plants these shelters can be made cheaply, and
so simple that a child can handle them.

If lumber does not get more dear than glass we
shall give the plan a trial next spring. For the
covering of green houses they must be valuable in
the saving of heat and to ward off hail storms.

Our maple and willow belts are having a good
effect on our orchard, and no money would tempt
ns to dispense with them.

248

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

August

We have now entered on the last half of sum-
mer and to-day, July 21st, can write with some
degree of exactitude. The harvest commenced
late as the season is, at least a week behind th^
usual time. Winter wheat, though not largely
sown and thin on the ground, had long heads with
the plumpest possible berry ; bringing the crop up
to a good average. Spring wheat comes out very
fine, the chinch bug not injuring it in this pirt of
the State : in fact, this crop is never injured by
them when sown early, and on good, well cultiva-
ted lands. This crop is becoming more and more
popular in Central Illinois. It is but a few years
since it was supposed to be unsuited to this cli-
mate, but fall plowing and early sowing have
worked a change in the opinion of farmers.

Oats are very fine and a large breadth sown —
Ten years ago oats were but little sown, and then
they most generally lodged, growing too rank ;
but the change in the climate made by cultivation
and pasturage, giving a dryer air, has made this a
popular crop, and hereafter more oats and less
corn will be fed to farm teams. This mixed hus-
bandry will lead to the building of farm barns, and
we shall soon see a change in this respect. For
the corn crop, a crib of poles will answer, but the
oat crop is better secured in a barn or the hay
mow.

Barley is good though little sown. ' Barley will
never become popular among barnless farmers.

Flax. — A large breadth of this crop has been
sown. The staple is short but the yield of seed
is good. This is becoming a popular crop, and so
long as the straw will bring six to eight dollars a
ton, and the seed two to three dollars a bushel,
cannot fail of being profitable. The stubble is first
rate for winter or spring wheat and should be
plowed at once after the crop is taken off.

Potatoes. — The crop of early potatoes is light
and it is yet too early to determine the late plant-
ing.

Corn — Spring wheat, oats and flax have largely
trenched on the space ©f this crop, and less than
usual has been planted. Some fields are rather
late, but on the whole the crop looks very fine.

Our planting on fall plowed land is very fine in-
deed, showing a marked difference between that
plowed in the spring and autumn, planted the
same day and cultivated alike. We cannot too
strongly commend the practice of turning under
• the stubble immediately after harvest, where corn
is to be the next crop ; in fact, for any crop, as it
has the effect of a summer fallow.
^ We have seldom seen a better show of corn at

I this season. The stand is rather thin from the de-
[ vastationa of vermin, but the growth ia rank and

we shall look for large ears. Tho chinch bug is
abundant, but with such a vigorous growth, can
do little damage

Sorgo. — A large breadth was planted and we
have yet to hear of a poor field. Should the sea-
son continue as favorable, the yield must be very
large. This is particularly gratifying at this time
of dear sugar and molasses.

The Sorgo Journal, which took some exceptions
to our remarks on one-horse pans and horse-pow-
er rollers, is now out in favor of steam. It siys
that the difference is that between the value of a
bushel of coal and a bushel of oats. Water power
it says, is the cheapest, and coal next. As coal
will cost about 29 cents a busbel at most of our
stations, the advantage is a large one. We shall
yet live to see our theory of large sorgo mills the
rule, and the farm mills the exception We shall
not be surprised to see Clark's sorgo works engag-
ed on large mills next season, to the exclusion of
the small mills. The article on "Steam vs. Horse
Power" is a move in the right direction.

Rtb. — ^We omitted mention of this crop in its
proper place. The crop is good and more than
usual was sown. No spring rye is sown. Those
short of autumn pasture should sow a few acres of
this grain. For sheep it is invaluable, both for
fall and winter pasturage.

Buckwheat. — For the first time this is assuming
the position of a crop, and should it prove a good
one, this part of the State will'have its own sup-
ply of slap-jacks.

Apples will be an average crop, and as the trees
are not overloaded we may look for those of good
size.

Pears are doing well and present a fair crop.

Pluus appear an almost entire failure.

Peaches, of course, are out of the question, but
the trees are doing better than was anticipated ; we
shall look for a fair crop next season on all young
trees. Those who would grow the peach must
make annual planting of trees the rule ; in that
way they will have peaches in this part of the
State five out of six years.

Currants, Gooseberries, Stbawbebriss and
Basfberbies have produced abundantly ; the first
two have been unusually productive.

The Coming State Fair — Sept. 12th to 17th. —
The Premium List of out State Society, large, lib-
eral and well arranged, has been before the people
since early in the spring, and we hope our readers
have consulted it with the determination to become
competitors for some of the premiums offered ; not
for sake of merely the money value to be obtained
if successful, but that they may be benefitted by

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1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAKMEfl.

249

bringing their skill in grain growing, stock raising,
horticulture, floriculture, dairying, or mechanic,
or household arts in competition and close com-
parison with similar skill, on the part of other cit-
izens throughout the State. Such rivalry improves,
sharpens and benefits in every instance, and in
neighborhoods, communities, states, nations and
the world, has done more to stimulate enterprise,
diffuse intelligence and promote the general pro-
gress and welfare of mankind in social economy,
than almost any other one thing.

Our County and State Fairs furnish the times
and places for the appropriate display of this land-
able emulation, and the best opportunities for
learning the valuable lessons it is calculated to
teach. To these things quite as much as to her
natural advantages and resources Illinois to-day
owes her jyrominenee as one of the very front
States in agricultural production. Her Annual
Fairs have called attention at home and abroad to
her capabilities as well as wants, and intelligent
farmers have not been slow to avail themselves of
the one and to supply the other.

If in ordinary times, when the nation was pur-
suing the even tenor of its way, there was resting
upon any citizen any obligation requiring him to
use every means for the improvement of himself,
as well as his fellow citizens, how vastly that re-
sponsibility and obligation are increased and
strengthened in view of the present and prospect
ive condition of our beloved and bleeding country.
If ever any resident of this earth could be plainly
required to double his exertion, to seize every oc-
casion to increase his knowledge and educate him-
self in the art of producing human food, that time
is clearly now, and that resident the farmer of lUL
nois.

Relieved, almost entirely, from even the appre-
hension of being disturbed in the quiet prosecution
of his labors, with a certain market and high pri-
ces, and above all, with the assurance that patriot"
ism, love of country, love of free institutions and
civil and religious liberty, all require it at his
hands ; the Agriculturist of the prairie must and
will not be found careless and indifferent. Prepare
then for the County and State Fairs. Let our fair
country women upon whom rests heavily the trou-
ble afSicting our nation, join their husbands, fa-
thers and brothers, and manifest the interest in
these things they cannot help but feel.

One feature of the coming exhibition at Decatur
is worthy all the effort which can be made for its
success. "We mean

THE SANITABT FAIR. ',;

The Board have kindly consented that the State
Sanitary Commission shall erect a building on the

grounds in which will be deposited the frek gitts
of a PATKiOTic PKOPLK in aid of the efforts made to
supply the sice and woitnded Fnion soldiers of
our brave armies in the field with comforts they
need and which cannot otherwise be supplied. Ar-
ticles designed to be donated to this cause may
nevertheless go to their appropriate departments
of the Fair, compete for premiums and be sold at
public or private sale.

We understand that Gov. Yates is about to is-
sue a circular to all having trophies of this war,
requesting them to forward them for exhibition in
Trophy Hall. This idea, if properly carried out,
as it certainly will be, will furnish a collection of
more interest and value than any other which
could possibly be presented to the people ; and
which will of itself, amply repay the time and ex-
pense of a visit to the Fair. The war-worn and
blood-stained battle-flags that waved in the bloody
strife at the sacrifice of many a brave boy, and of-
ten being reduced to shreds and patches, forward-
ed to the State Capitol as monuments of patriot-
ism and valor, will be there, and, there too, will be
any number of the flaunting banners of the would-
be slave confederacy, captured by the Union arms
in many a historic struggle.

An Executive committee for the State Cominis
sion will at an early day give the programme to
the public and, in the mean time, we can only say
to our readers, be prepared to add your welcome
contribution to the sacred fund.

For the Illinois Farmer.

Crops in Egypt— Caster Oil Beans.

Clear Creek Landing, Union Co. III. J
July 19th, 1864. f

M. L. Durdap, Esq. Dear Sir:

Our crops are excellent ; I never saw corn bet-
ter in my life. Most of the fields are all silked out.
There is a great deal planted in this vicinity. I
have just finished cutting my oats ; they are like
most small grains in this neighborhood — about
three-fourths of a crop.

Mr. McClure has fifty acres of Castor beans,
which promise a splendid crop. Wheat not very
good, although very little sown. People are
threshing. There is some cotton planted and looks
very fine. Farmers are only raising enough for
their own use. Sorghum looks finely, and, as the
saying is in Egppt, "There is right smart planted.'*

250

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEE.

August

Tobacco is ahead of last year ; it is considered an
extra crop this year. Yours, truly,

S. B. Stkwart.

— Egypt will yet come out of the woods. The
infusion of Northern blood is already being felt.
There are numerous bright spots gleaming out here
and there. The natives, with their plantation ig-
norance, are giving way, running away, or becom-
ing assimilated to the go ahead of the new settlers
from the North. But a few years since and a lead-
ing Egyptian editor, now a leading traitor, said
there was "no cureuli or other blight," on the
peach crop of Egypt ; that the worm {eureulio) was
occasioned by late frost. No wonder that such
intelligent (! !) gentlemen turn traitors to their
country. Ignorance, swagger and meannees go
hand in hand. It is theirs to pull down, not to
build up.

The products of Egypt are becoming varied and
of importance to the North. Next winter our
Northern cities are to have daily supplies of sweet
potatoes from her cellars. But no thanks to her
native energy for this and like favors. She has
neglected the common school, and thus lost the
key to her development ; the North will find it
and unlock the rich treasures of her soil.

We had lost all traces of the whereabouts of the
Castor Bean, and are glad to hear from it again.
The counties of St. Clair, Madison and Macoupin
did, for a long series of years, supply the world
with Castor He. This oil is largely used for the
various hair oils and for machinery, and is now less
used to aid the running gears of the genus homo
tban formerly.

When the rebellion flung its dark pall over the
south part of our State, and the K. G. C.'s sought
its downfall, a hundred rifles gleamed along the
fields of Clear Creek Landing, and came at the bu-
gle call of the now lamented Col. Stewart. These
lifles have been kept bright and their bayonets
sharp for the domestic foe who, cowed, dare not
bum a house or steal a horse from any of the loy-
al hundred, for just on the edge of the settlement
dangled the skeletons of the cow boys and traitors
who could gain no farther entrance, and stand
a sentinel, pointing their bony fingers as a warn-
ing. This band of farmers have kept treason at
bay — have been little harmed, for no guerrilla dare
show himself within the settlement ; while Union
or rather Northern men in other parts of the coun-
ty have had their orchards cut down, horses sto.
len, houses burned and some of them murdered,
these men of the hundred rifles have not been mo-
lested, consequently peace and prosperity have
been their good fortune. — E».

For the Illinois Farmer.
The Crops— Apples and Peaches— High
vs. Low Heads— Cutting back the
Peach.

Patson, Adams Co., Ill, July 21, '64.
M. L. Dunlap — Dear Sir :

Thus far the season has been very dry at this
point. We have had no rain since the 3d inst.,
and crops are beginning to suffer. Last year while
the rest of the State was suflfering with drouth, we
had abundant rains and fine crops, but now the ta-
bles are turned and we in turn are like to have
short crops The corn and potatoes came up bad
ly; in fact some of it is just appearing above
ground, often one plant in a hill ; the consequence
will be a very uneven growth, as well as stand. —
Although late the color of the corn is good and
with timely rains may yet produce a tolerable
crop. The section thus suffering is not large, as
the adjoining country has been more fortunate.

The apple crop will be short, caused by the hard
winter and the late spring frosts.

No peaches, and trees are somewhat damaged by
the winter. When you were here, some three
years since, you remarked that my trees would not
produce another heavy crop, but such did not
prove to be the case, as we have had two heavy
crops since ; but this I attribute to severe heading
back. When the peach is badly injured this se-
vere heading back will save them. I shall expect
several good crops from the orchard that you sup-
posed near its end. I commenced shortening in
May, but that was rather late and have lost about
a dozen trees. Should have commenced the work
earlier.

You also took exception to the hight of the
heads of my apple orchard, but I am yet satisfied
that an apple tree should head say four to four and
a half feet from the ground, and peaches three to
three and a half. At this hight they are less liable
to split down, and even then will rest the ends of
the branches on the ground. With lower heads
you cannot get under them with a horse to work
the ground. Nor do I think high headed peach
trees kill as badly as the low ones. I have had
forty years experience in orcharding, and have no
reason to change my mode of practice.

Yours truly, Clabk Chatton.

— ^Mr. Chatton is certainly a very successful or-
chardist, but hie orchard is located in a most fa-
vorable spot The orchard is carved out of the
heavy forest on the east bank of the river, on a soil
of loes overlying the mountain limestone. He has
excellent drainage, rich soil and shelter made by
the forest walls that surround his farm clearing Ot

..Vj«^«ii

3 ^ ^/^^^^g^^g/f^^^ 9^-n

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1864

THE ILLmOIS FARMEE.

251

three or four hundred acres. Here high heads are
leas objectionable than on the prairie. With him
the Baldwin, Rhode I. Greening, and other tender
sorts thrive well. ' -c

The peach orchard is half clover; that is, a
strip of clover is sown along the rows of trees and
is cut and used for a mulch; while the middle strip
is kept, well cultivated. This is a practice highly
to be commended and just adapted to our low head
theory. The cutting back of the peach should not
be overlooked when it will produce the valuable
results stated by Mr. Ohatton.

We shall be pleased to hear from Mr. C. in re*
gard to varieties of the apple and peach. — Ed.

For the Illinois Farmer.

Yield of Wool.

Catlw, Vermillion Co., 111., June 8, '64
Editor Illinois Farmer — Dear Sir :

Enclosed you will find a* sample of wool from
my Leicester Iambs. I sheared seven head and
got seventy-two pounds of such wool as I send
you. Yours truly,

C. L. Pate,

The sample sent is very long and shows under
the microscope good fitting properties. We find
the long wool sheep growing in favor with our
flock masters. Vermillion county will show some
of the best sheep a; the next State Fair. Morgan,
DuPage and Sangamon will have to look well to
their laurels in this department. — Ed. ,

Illinois State Horticultural Society-

CIRCULAR No. 1, 1864.

Office Gorhespondiwo Secretary,)
Alton, July 1, 1864. )

Dear Sir : — For the purpose of ascertaining the
amount of injury done by the cold weather of the
past winter, the following queries are proposed to
the Horticulturists of Illinois, and answers solici-
ted from every section of the State :

1. Minimum temperature January 1 and 2 ?

2. Height of barometer ?

8. Humidity of atmosphere ?

4. Direction and force of wind ?

6. Amount of snow ? *

6. Other meteorlogical conditions ?

1. Nature of soil where trees, Ac. , were planted ?

8. Cultivation ?

9. Elevation?

10. Exposure?

11. Amount of crop in 1863 ?

12. Growth in 1868?
18. Pruning in 1863 ?

14. Apples, hardy varieties? half hardy? tender?

15 Pears, "

16. Peaches, "

IT. Plums, "

18. Cherries, "

t(

(t

«■...' ;

;:**

«l

M

u

. t<

19
20.
21.

Apricots, " " «*
Grapes, " : *»: - «;;
Currants, " « ■ **

22.

Gooseberries, " ** "

23.

Blackberries, " «* «*

24.

25.
26.

Raspberries, " ;« «
Evergreens. «* /«r: *t
Decid. Orna'l, " ** A*

21.

Orna'l Shrubs, " ** : **

28.

Vines, Creep's, " " «*

29.

Roses, ' " •* "

30.

Forest Trees, " " .. »»

Respectfully yours,

W. C. FLAGG.

To the above we answer : No. 1, see weather ta-
ble in February No. ; No. 9, 660 feet above the
sea; No. 11, good; 12, unusually small ; 13, very
trifling ; 14, 15, all in our grounds ; the tender va-
rieties have been wed out; 16, badly injured ; 17,
fruit killed; 18, May Cherry one-fourth crop, all
others killed ; 19, killed tree and fruit ; 20, all in-
jured where exposed, and all sound where shelter-
ed ; 21, 22, crops unusually abundant ; 23, killed ;
24, very fine ; 25, Red and White Cedar, White,
Austrian, Norway and Scotch Pines and Balsam,
uninjured ; 17, 18 and 19, most varieties more or
less damaged.

We have often stated that all the so-called ten-
der varieties of the apple can be grown when
sheltered, just as well as in New York or New
England. Spice Sweet, one of the most tender
when exposed, was uninjured and bearing. One
of our neighbors has the Baldwin in full bearing,
the trees of which came from New York in the

fall of 1867. Shelter, not shade, is what we want.
—Ed.

CIRCULAR No. 2, 1864. ;-

Office Corresponding SkcbetabtJ
Alton, Madison Co. 111., July 1, 1864. |
Dear Sir : — Desiring to collect facts concern-
ing the rise, progress and present condition of
Horticulture in Illinois, I submit to your consider-
ation the following queries, to which I would ask
an early response : ^ {:•;■'■

1 . In what year were the firsi fruit trees or or
chards planted in your county ? What were the
kinds and varieties? Whence brought, and by
whom? Their longevity?

2. In what year was the first nursery estab-
lished, and by whom ? The methods of propaga-
tion ? The kinds and varieties of fruit trees, &c.,
disseminated ?

3. In what year were ornamental trees, shrnbs
and plants introduced ? £[ind3 introduced ? Age
and size of finest specimens evergreens, &c.?

4. What is the progress and present condition
of Horticulture : the amount of apple, pear, peach,
cherry, plum, apricot, nectarine, quince, grape,
currant, gooseberry, blackberry and strawberry
plants now planted in your county ; the product
and general success ? The amo«mt of ornamental
and useful trees, hedges, screens, &c., planted ? —

5. The names and postoffice address of yonr
most successful Horticulturists ? y^ -

Respectfully yours, . - -

W.C. FLAGG.

252

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

August

The first orchard set in this county (Ghampaiga)
80 far as we can learn was set out by Henry Sado-
rus, about one mile south of Sadorus Station, on
the G, W. R. R., in the spring of 1830. They were
sprouts of an old orchard of the Milam, brought
from a point some fifty miles south of Terre Haute
The winter of '55 seriously injured them and the
orchard is now in its last days ; lor thirty year*
did not fail of a crop. Dunlap's Nursery was estab-
lished in ISSY. Root grafting of the apple, graft-
ing of cherry and plum, budding the peach. The
planting of apple trees is rapidly on the increase,
and the county must at no distant day stand
among the first, for apple, pear, May cherry and
the small fruits. — Ed.

on varieties, and sufficient shelter must be resorted
to to make up the waste of the old wood lands. —
Here we began at the bottom round of the ladder
and slowly climb, as belt after belt of wood is add-
ed to the prairie farm.

Ohio Pomological Society. — ^We have the re
port of the winter meeting of this Society, and
find it unusually interesting. The revision of the
fruit list is to the point, and must prove valuable
to the State at large. Here is what they say of
some of our favorites :

Jonathan — This apple was spoken of as doing
remarkably well in central and southern Ohio. —
Fruit very fair and good, not large, but just right

grower,

but

for the dessert ; tree rather a slender
very productive.

Give the fruit good culture and it is of fair, if
not large size. It has a genuine Spitzenburgb fla-
vor. We have ten trees, set out in the spring of
'58, bearing the 2d good crop.

"Benoni, much approved where known; espe-
cially South."

^ "Dominie, not generally known ; good and pro-
fitable for market."

"Early Pennock, or August; good for market
and cooking."

"Fallawater, {lulpehocken), large and popular
everywhere, though second rate."

Snow, generally approved where known ; espe-
cially North."

"Gilpin, or Jtomanite ; approved as a long keep-
er ; small, second rate."

"Hightop Sweet, or Summer Sweet ; small, but
approved as earliest sweet."

"Keswick Codlin, ; esteemed for cooking and

market,"

"Lowell, or Orange ; productive and profitable;
generally approved."

"Rambo, everybody wants it, and wtJH have it."

"Ramsdell Sweet, or English Sweet ; productivs
and profitable ; good grower."

"Rawle's Janet, much approved South and South
west ; small North."

"White Pippin, popular wherever known ; espe-
cially Central and South. "

"White Winter Pippin ; much estemmed in
Southwest."

The clearing up of the large forests begins to tell

American Pomological Society.

CIRCULA.R.

April 1, 1864.

Dear Sir :

The undersigned beg leave to remind you that
the next meeting of the American Pomological Soc.
will be held in the city of Rochester, N. Y., on the
13th, 14th and 15th days of September next, and to
request you to forward as early in the season as
may be in your power, any additions or alterations
you may have to recommend in the Catalogue of
Fruits for your region, with such information on
the subject as may seem to you important.

Observations upon the effect of the severe cold
of January last upon different varieties and under
various circumstances will be particularly valuable.

If you do not possess a copy of the Society's
Catalogue, you may procure one by addressing the
Chairman of this Committee.

Hoping to hear from you at your earliest con-
venieuce, we are very respectfully yours,

P. BARRY, Rochester, N. Y.

J. S. CABOT, Salem, Mass.

J. A. WARDER, M. D. Cincinnati, Ohio.

CHAS. DOWNING, Newburg, N. Y.

C. M. HOVEY, Cambridge, Mass.

F. R. ELLIOT, Cleveland, Ohio,

JOHN J. THOMAS, Union Springs, N. Y-

M. L. DUNLAP, Champaign, 111,

M. P. WILDER, Prest., (Ex-oflacio.)

Committee on Revision of Catalogue.

It is important that the list for this State be
thoroughly revised, and to this end I would ask all
fruit growers in the State to aid me in making up
a more perfect list. It has been my intention to
attend the next meeting at Rochester, but find that
it will be out of the question ; the last call for
men in the army has settled the point beyond an
appeal. But this need not interfere with the re-
vision of the Catalogue and the sending of speci-
mens, and I trust that others will be more fortu-
nate in time at disposal and attend the meeting.
This State has never been fully represented in the
American Pomological Society, but I trust that
such will not continue after the close of the war.
All communication on the subject of revision
should be addressed to the undersigned, who will
forward to the Chairman of the committee.

M. L. DUNLAP.

1864:.

THE ILLmOIS FAKMER.

258

Honey Bees — This season has been a remarkable
one, in regard to bees swarming in Central New
York. In some cuses not a swarm has issued, —
We have about 40 hives of bees and have not had
a single swarm; such a circumstance never before
occurring in our apiary.

The reason why the beas have not swarmed ia
our apiary, is the fact that no drones have been
reared in in it this season. We never before in
twenty-five years' experience, knew of such a cir-
cumstance with our bees. Why no drones were
reared we cannot tell ; but without drones swarms
are useless, as the young queens cannot be impreg-
nated ; as the bees, knowing this fact, destroy all
young queees — if any are produced — and in the
absence of queens no swarms issue. — Rural Amer-
ean.

-«•«-

Index.

August ..'. 225

How a large farm is managed 226

Notes on the Strawberry 228

Small Emits 229

ThqJBrairies in Summer 230

Aboltt Evergreena 233

The Useful and the Beautiful 233

Circular of Am. Pom. Soc 234

Culture of Buckwheat 225

Stupidity of Farmers 235

Sugar from the Butternut 235

Seeds and Plants by Mail 236

Why not take an Ag. Paper 236

Convention of Plow Makers. 236

Fruit Stealing- 237

€rrape Culture 237

Fairbanks' Scales 237

Berry Culture 288

Manuring ^ 238

Seventeen Year Locust 238

Drouth in Wisconsin 228

Curtis' Prairie Mower ~ 238

Origin of Mules in U. S 238

The White Willow Controversy. 239

Watching the Bees 239

Postal Eegalations 240

Tbe Franking Privilege 240

Swarming Bees 240

Paper from Com Husks 241

Ice Period in America 241

Legal Protection of Sheep » 242

Cold Water Laundry Soap 243

WhyHojgs Eat Ashes ^ 243

Deterioration of Orchards 244

Large Sale of Illinois WooL 244

Bees in Louisiana 244

Pratt's Ditcher „ 244

Sweet Potatoes in Winter, 244

Alton Horticultural Society 245

The Purple Cane Raspberry 246

Editor's Table 246

Michigan Board of Agriculture — Comstock's
Rotary Spader — Pickles — Iowa State Agricul-
tural College — Iowa Homestead — Pumps — Ca-
nary Seed — Bi-Monthlj Report Department of
Agriculture— Shelter — The Coming State Fair

Crops in Egypt 249

The Crops 250

Yield of Wool ~ 251

HI. State Horticultural See - 251

Ohio Pomological Society 252

American Pomomological Society ;..... 253

Advertisements 253—256

Large Sale of Blooded Stock.

Having associated with me in business my sons,
(William and Charles S. Brown,) I will sell at pub-
lic auction, at my residence. Grove Park, in Island
Grove, Sangamon county Hliuois, three miles
west of Berlin, on the road leading from Springfield
to Jacksonville, on Wednesdav and Thursday., Au-
gust 24th and 25th, 1864, (sale to commence at ten
o'clock,)

Thirty or Forty Superior Short Horn CatOe,
consisting of Cows, Heifers and Young Bulls; also
South-Down Sheep and Berkshire Hogs, Irom the
importation of the Illinois Importing Association of
1857 ; also a number of valuable

BROODMARES COLTS AND FILLIES,
of trotting stock.
Catalogues of Stock will be issued in due time. —
Persons desirous of obtaining them can do so bv ad-
dressing me at Berlin, Illinois.

Aug-'64-lt JAS. N. BROWN.

Swine ! Swine !

Those wishing specimens of the breed of Swine for
many years bred of the Illinois Hospital for the
Insane, and now favorably known as the "Hospital
Breed," can obtain choice animals at moderate pri-
ces. Apply to E. P. JONES,

Farm Steward.

N. B. — Persons having these Swine, if they wish
to effect sales, are requested to correspond as above
stating time and place of purchase.

Jacksonville, HI. June, 1864.
Aug, 1, '64

Cider Mills.

KEY-STONE & HUTCHINSON'S CIDER MILLS

for sale by

A. H. HOVEY,

194 Lake St, Chicago. ,
Augl-1864-lt

AGRICULTURE WAMHOUSE

AND

SEED STORE.

Has one of the best selected stock of implemente
andseeds to be found in the West

A. H. HOVEY,
Novtf 1862 No. 194, Lake st., Chicago lU.

254

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

August

Agents. — We do not appoint any agents — all are
yoluntary. Any person so disposed, can actasagen
in any place.

Enlarge Youe Club. — Will not the friends of
the Illinois Farmer inquire how many copies of
the Farmer are taken in their respective oflBces, and
pass around among those who ought to have their
names added to the list? Our terms are so low to
oluhs of ten and twenty that we ought to have one
or the other made up at every of5ce in the State, and
at every office in Central Illinois, one of twenty or
more. Will our friends, and the friends of practical
agriculture see to it, and thus lay us under renewed
obligations ?

To Single Subscribers. — You receive the only
copy of the Farmer that goes to your post office.
Can you not send one, two, three or more new sub-
scribers, without any trouble ? Try. Sample num-
bers, etc., sent free.

Drafts. — Those remitting us large amounts of
money, will please send us drafts on Springfield or
Chicago, less they exchange. If you send cash in a
letter, be sure that it is well sealed and well directed,
'to Baker & Phillips, Springfield, niinois.

The Farmer as a Present. — Any of our sBbscri-
bers who wish to make a present of the Illinois
Farmer for 1863, can have it at the lowest elub rates,
when out of the State. For fifty cents you can treat
your Eastern friends to a Western Agricultural Pa-
per. In no way can you invest that amount to so
good advantage to emigration.

Send ISoyf. — Any person who remits pay for a clnb
of ten or fifteen, or any other namber at the specified
rates for such clubs, can afterwards add to the clubs,
and take advantage of the reduction. Thus a person
sending us five subscribers and three dollars, can af-
terwards send as three dollars more and receive six
copies.

To The Casual Reader. — This and other nnm-
oer* of the Illinois Farmer will be sent to many
persons who now use it for the first time. Will they
not examine it, and if they like it, subscribe for it,
and ask their neighbors to subscribe ? Sample num-
erbs, prospectuses, etc., sent free to all applicants.
See terms elsewhere.

How TO Obtain Subscribers. — The best way is to
send for sample numbers. Any yotmg man by oan-
Tsasing his neighborhood, can easily make up a olab
of fire, ten or twenty, but no time should be lost in
doing so, for yoor neighbors may send east for their

paper which, though valuable there, is much less so
here, the difference of soil and climate puttiDg them
out of their reckoning when attempting to teach us
Western farming.

How TO Help. — The friends of the Illinois Far-
mer will find a prospectus in another column. We
desire to suggest a few ways in which they can use it
to advantage :

1. Show the Farmer to those who are unacquaint-
ed with it, and tell them what yon think of it.

2. Send fur prospectuses, and put them into the
hands of those who will use them, and place posters
where farmers will see them.

3. Get post masters interested. They see every-
body, and are efficient workers.

4. Send us the names of persons in your town to
whom we can send prospectuses and sample num-
bers.

b. Begin NOfr, before the agents of Eastern pa-
pers get up their clubs.

This last hint is especially innportant.
hear from you soon. See terms elsewhere.

Let us

J^- Clubs may be composed of persons in all
parts of the United States. It will be the same to
the publishers if they send papers to one or a hund-
red post offices. Additions made at any time at club
rates. We mail by printed slipa, which are so cheaply
placed on the papers, that it matters little whether
they go to one or a doaen offices.

^®~ Correspondents will please be particular to
give the name of the post office, county and State.

^^^"Specimen numbers will be sent gratis, upon
applicatien.

^^®*Addre83

BAKER t PHILLIPS,
Springfield, Illinois.

Special Notice. — For terms see prospectus on
last page. All exchanges and communications for
the eye of the editor should he directed to Illinois
Farmer, Champaign, Illinois. Electrotypes and
business matters, and subscriptions, to the publishers,
Springfield, Illinois. Implements and models for ex-
»mination should be s«nt to the editor. The editor
will, so far as it can be done personally, test and ex-
amine all new machines and improvements submitted
to his inspection. He will be found at home, on his
farm, nearly all of the time. So far as it is possible,
the condnotors on the Hlinois Central Railroad will
let off passengers at his place, which is directly xm
the road, three and a half miles south of the Urbac
Station, now the city of Champaigo.

P-KWBS?

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

255

EVERGREEN SEEDLINGS. .

A very large stock of superior grown Evergreen
Seedlings, at less than one-half the Eastern Prices.

PER 1,000.
Norway Spruce, two years old,
three to five inches, $5,00

Norway Spruce, three years
old, six to nine inches, $8,00

Scotch Pine, two years old,
three to five inches, $7,00

Austrian Pine, two years old, $2 per 100.
Balsau Fir, Bed Cedar, Arbarvitje, &o., Ac,
of large or small size, at very low rates.

A large stock of CONCORD GRAPES, one of the
best varieties for the West.

A large stock of RED DUTCH CURRANTS, the
best for market, two to three years old, at half the
m 11*1,1 i*s.^fis . .. ' ■

STANDARD AND DWARF PEARS, of well
tested varieties, together with a good assortment of
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, &e., &.

Send for Catalogue.
WAUEEGAjr, III.

ROBT. DOUGLAS,
tf

TO GRAPE GROWERS.

The subscriber has a large stock of the most vigor-
ous growth layers of the following desirable varieties,
which ho will sell at very low rates, to wit:

CONCORD $55 per 1,000.

A few thousand of bearing age, of large size at

$75 per 1,000.
These will produce a good crop the second year.

HARTFORD PROLIFIC, $10 per 1.00, or
ten for a dollar.

REBECCA, $10 per 100.

DIANA, $10 per 100.

The above will be well packed,
to go any distance.

Terms — Cash, or approved bank paper o
short date.

JAMBS SMITH.
Desmoines Iowa, Jan. 1, 1863,

Dunlap's ISTursery.

This nursery has good stock of apple trees of all
ages and of choice varieties for the west, low heads
and stocky. The genuine " May Cherry, ' (Kentish
or Early Richmond of Downing,) Dwarf and Stand-
ard Pears, the Purple Cane Raspberry, the best of
all raspberries for the farm ; Houghton
Gooseberry, Grapes, Strawberries, Ornamental
Trees and Plants. An immense stock of Silver Leaf
Maple, from $5 to $15 per 100, 6 to 10 feet high. The
green house is well stocked with roses and other bed-
ding out plants. This stock is grown to retail and
not adopted to the tree peddler,a8 all trees and plants
are large, stocky and thrifty, and intended for thie
planter only. Terms cash with low prices.

Address, M. L. DUNLAP,

Champaign.

March 1, U63.tf ^

T> OSS, THOMPSON 4 CO. ; V y w

(Successors to G. S. Thompson.)
CAPITAL PENSION & BOUNTY AGENCY.

office on west side of 5th STREET,

Opposite State House, over L. Greeble's Clothing Store
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

BOUNTY AND BACK PAY, PENSIONS, RECRUITING

CLAIUS, CLAIUS FOR HORSES LOST IN

SERVICE, ARREARAGES OF PAT

DUB RESIGNED OFFICERS,

&C., &C,, &,C,

Our experience and acquaintance with the details
of business in the various departments, and the per-
sonal attention of one member of the firm at Wash-
ington, afford us every facility for the prompt collec-
tion of all classes of military claims.

If you have any claims of any description against
the government, give us a statement of the facts, and
we will tell you what your rights are in the case. A
letter of inquiry may save you much trouble, expense
and perhaps loss. All communications enclosing a
stamp for return postage p romptly answered. In-
formation gratis. No fees charged until money is
collected. Charges low. Pensions for $5, as regula-
lated by act of Congress. Address

ROSS, THOMPSON & C«.,
Capita Pension and Bounty Agency, Springfield> HI.

dec63-tf

FURST & BRADLEY,

MANUFACTURERS OF

AND OTHER

Agricultnrsd Iinpleiaexi:^,

No8. 55 and 68 North Jefferson Street,

near Comer of Lake Street, ■ '
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. .

Plows of all sizes and patterns. Cultivators, Horse
Hoes, Harrows, Com Shellers, Straw Cutters, Gar-
den and Rail Road Wheelbarrows, Road Scrapers-r-
five different patterns — Sulky Corn and Grain Culti-
ators, Sttlky Hay Rake, with steel wire teeth re-
volving.

Send for a priced Catalogue.

FURST A BRADLEY
Aprill-64.1y*

266

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

August

A MONTHLY JOURNAL OP

AGRICULTUrtE AND HORTICULTURE.

PUBLISHED AT

SPBINGFIELB, - - ILLINOIS,

BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

AND IS EDITED BY

M. L. DUNLAP, Tribune's Bural.

TBRMS IN ADVAXCB.— $1 a year; two copies 1 5C; five
copies $3; ten copies $6, and one to getter up of tbe clnb
t wenty copies $10.

It is not necessaey that the clnb should all be at one office
— we send wherever the members of the club may reside

The postage on the Farmek is only three cents a year in
tbe State of Illinois, and six cents out of it.

Specimens numbers sent free on application.

Subset iption money may be sent at the risk of the pub-
lisher.

Exchanges and communications for the eye of the Fditor
should be addressed, IiUNOis f abmeb, Champaign. Illinois.

All business letters are to be direc.ed to the publishers,
Springfield.

TERMS OF ADVBKTISING :

1 mo. 3 mo. 6 mo. 12 mo.

One page, or two columns $12 $30 $52 50 $75

Halt a page or one " 7 50 18 30 45

one fourth page or half column.. 4 50 10 50 18 27

One eighth or one fourth " .. 3 6 10 60 15

One .square of ten lines ...150 3 6 10 60

t ard of five lines one year $8 00

Fifteen cents a line for less than a square each insertion.

All worthy objects advertised, and those of importance to
the Farmer will receive, from time to time, such editorial
notices as the Editor may consider them worthy of, without
add.tional charge.

Implements and seeds to be tested should be sent direct
to the Editor, at his residence .Champaign.

We have put the price of advertising within reach of all.
It will enable those who like to freely advertise their goods,
to do so at a cheap rate.

Terms, cash. Yearly advertisers will pay semi-annually,
and all transient advertisements must be accompanied witli
the cash to insure insertion.

BAKER t PHILLIPS, Publishers.

Spr<ngfleld, Ills.

THE ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL

Is CONFIDENTLY OFFERED TO THE PEOPLE OF
Illinois as the best and most reliable news, political
:ind commercial paper within their reach. It is published
Ht Springfield, the Capital of the State, and is the medium
>f all official notices, published by State authority. Partic-
ular attention is given to commercial afiairs and every
number contains copious reviews of the markets in the
t>rincipal cities.

TERMS:

One copy one year. $2 00

Three copies one year ~. b 00

Six " " 7 50

Ten " " 12 00

Twenty" " — .........20 00

Payable always in advance. Persons sending clubs of ten
and upwards shall be entitled to an extra copy.
Address BAKER & PHILLIPS,

Springfield, Illinois.

G ROVER & BAKER'S LEWING MACHINES
were awarded the highest premium at tbe fol*
lowing State Fairs of 1863, for the Best Family
Sewing Machine, the Best Manufacturing Machine,
and the Best Machine Work :

NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Double Thread Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

VERMONT STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premiam for Machine Work.

IOWA STATE FAIR. . ,-.:■ :■; ^
Fi^ft Premium for Family Machine.
First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

MICHIGAN STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine. ^

Fii 6t Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

INDIANA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work:

KENTUCKY STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Beautiful Machine Work.

OHIO STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine Work.

The above comprises all the Fairs at which the
GROVER & BAKER MACHINES were exhibited
this year. At nearly all of them the leading Sewing
Machines were in competition.

The GROVER & BAKER S. M. Co. are the only
parties who manufacture and sell Machines which
both SEW PERFECTLY and EMBROIDER PER-
FECTLY.

GROVER & BAKER S. M. COMPANY,

janl8-64-ly

115 Lake Street, Chicago.

STAND ABD

SCALES

OP ALL KINDS.

Also, Warehouse Trucks, Letter Presses, Ac.

FAIRBANKS, GREEN LEAF & CO.

172 LAK£ STREET, CHICA(K>, . .

Bold in Springfield by

E. B. PEASE.

Be careful and buy only the genuine. i iel-ly

■?%« v-->. - '

The Illinois Farmer:

VOL. IX.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., SEPTEMBR, 1864.

NO. 9.

DETOTBD TO THB .^ :

FAEM, THE ORCHARD AlfD THE GARDEJ^',

PUBLISHED BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS, " ' *
SPBINGFIELD, - - - - — ULLNOIS.
lyr. III. UTJNIj.AJP, Editor. *

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September.

lu many respects September may "be
counted among the most pleasant
months of the year. It is the cornuco-
pia of the fruit months, in which Po-
mona is more magnificently crowned
than in any other month of the year.

The harvest of the cereals is over,
with the exception of buckwheat,
among which the bees are singing their
happy songs and gathering in the lus-
cious sweete. The music of the thresh-
ers comes over the fields where the com
is being shocked, not the sound of au-
tumn flails that were wont to beat out
the grain by single blows, but the

steady buzz that sings its merry song,
as the feeder supplies the golden
sheaves, that follow each other in quick
succession, bagging the wheat and plac-
ing the straw in stack — a wonderful
worker that never tires, saving our
muscles from the steady toil of ' '

"The weary flinging tree." . /

This is the month of I^airs; the
month that divides the heated term of
summer from the sharp frosts of au-
tumn. We begin to shock the com
the last of this month and to harvest
the potatoes. The apple crop is receiv-
ing its rich pencilling, r%ady for the
picking season. The State Fair is held
this month and is an institution that all
should attend, ^e can all learn some-
thing that will be of value to us. You
will find hotel accommodations rather
crowded and of the cheap order. To
avoid this try the soldier's fare and lie'
down in your blanket at night,
and enjoy yourself hugely. We intend
to try it again at the coming Fair. —
This will make us independent of
crowded hotels, and as meals can be
had at all hours, we will be as inde-
pendent as a wood-sawyer's clerk. We
attend fairs to take lessons, not to have
a nice time at a hotel ; hence the ac-
commodations are of but little moment.
It is a Very poor place for wedding parr
ties and the like, though these some-
times make the experiment.

' 266

-"^^wp-^fl^PTT jr*V"-V'^'WI

THE ILLINOIS FARMEli

Septembbb

Of all the farming months Septem-
ber gives us the most leisure — a sort of
half-way house, a beginning and end-
ing of many of the farm processes. We
have threshing, sowing of winter wheat
and rye. We also begin the working
of the sorgo crop, cutting up the corn,
and looking after the potatoes.

In the orchard, the windfalls should
be worked into cider vinegar, and the
ripe fruit sent to market. Of course
none of the winter apples are ready
for the pickers. All excess of cooking
apples that are not marketed should
now be dried.

But above all, the fall plowing
should not be neglected, for upon this
will depend to a great extent the suc-
cess of the next year's crop.

In the garden we have little to do
but to luxuriate upon melons and oth-
er vegetables, provided always that we
have done our duty in the early part of
the season. Should you find the cab-
bage cracking open from excess of
growth, loosen the roots a little, and the
injury will abate. Of course you will
not allow the garden to be filled with
pig weed, bam grass, Spanish needles
or stramonium — not a bit of such trash,
though your neighbor Jenkins over
yonder, who does not take the Faemeb
will do all this, and more. Look thro'
your orchard and other trees for worm
nests, and destroy them.

The hay and grain stacks should be
looked after and thatched with prairie
hay or corn stalks. There are plenty
of odds and ends to be looked after, to
keep one busy, though the hard work
of haying and harvest is past. Kext
month we will have plenty to do — real
hard work — but during the mild days
of September we may enjoy country
life with a zest. Let us make of Sep-
tember a happy month.

Beaper Trial at Callin.

(C

u

a

a

mower

Some weeks since the Vermillion
county Agricultural Society offered the
following premiums : h*" ^

Ist premium $15 for the best reaper.
2d " 10

1st " 15

2d "10
To be competed for near Catlin, July
5th and 6th, 1864, entrance fee 10 per
cent., or $1 50 on each machine.

We reached Catlin on the 5th at 5 p.
m., and found only twe reapers at
work: Champion's No. 1, made at
Springfield, Ohio, and entered by W.
H. Games, local agent ; the Buckeye,
made at Canton, Ohio, and entered by
Milton Davis, a farmer residing near
this place. The Champion was a self
raker and did first rate work. The
Buckeye did good cutting but the rak-
ng was poorly done.

On the 6th onlv one mower entered :
the Buckeye, by the same parties. This
machine did excellent work and to the
satisfaction of the committee who will
make the proper award, -

The most interesting part of the ex-
ercises of the second day was the trial
of the reaper and hand binder of
the Messrs. Marsh Bros. This is a
combined machine intended only for
grain, with the new patent binder at-
tached, on which ride two men to bind,
the grain being gathered and delivered
to the binders by endless aprons. The
trial was made in heavy winter wheat
that would turn at least thirty bushels
to the acre. The width of cut was five
feet, and during part of the trial the
machine was drawn by two horses, but
as the draft was three hundred and
eighty pounds, another team was add-
ed that made the work comparatiyely

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-(jp-

864

THE ILLINOIS FARMER/

25ri

easy. A platform could be attac^e<i so
as to carry a dozen sheaves to be dump-
ed at will for shocking, that would make
a further saving of labor. Another tri-
al was made in rye that would turn
about twenty bushels to the acre, one
man doing the binding without any ex
traeffbrt. v ^

The great saving in the labor of
binding is the -travel from sheaf to
sheaf in the field, but, in this case, the
binder has no traveling, as the sheaf is
placed on a form at a convenient hight
just before him ready for binding.

The saving of labor is very great, as
well as the saving of grain. "When we
compare this work with that of the
hand raking, we must conclude that it
is a stride in the right direction.

Burson's binder was sent here for
trial, but from some unexplained cause
was not put in the field.

The system of raking off by Sand
and binding the old way will soon have
its day. "What with this binder. Bur-
son's, and the header we may count the
old mode nearly played out. The
Messrs. Marsh Bros, have made fifty-
one of these machines for the present
harvest, with the view of giving them
a thorough test. We fancy that in
building another lot they will have a
greater care for strength and durabili-
ty. "We see no reason why this ma-
chine will not prove a success, and shall
look forward with high hopes of its tak-
ing a permanent place in the list of use-
ful farm machines. The machine
weighs complete one thousand and ten
pounds, and cost at the shop $200.

-«•►

Haying Hade Hasy. ' I
The improvements in haying imple
ments of late years has been very great,
in fact, radical. Years ago the sound

of the little hammer tapping on the
edge' of the mower's scythe ceased in
the meadow, when the hardened edge
of the cast-steel scythe took the place
of the short wide heeled implements
that had been made in the common
blacksmith shop of the country. Scythe
making was then transferred to the.
ponderous trip hammer, tor no com-
mon hand forge could make them.—
Then we thought mowing was made-
easy indeed, and great rejoicing went
through the land. The man who could
mow his acre and a half a day was a
man of mark. Kow two horses and a
boy with a mower, cut six to eight
acres a day, without more exertion than
to work the com with a sulky cultiva-
:t(»r: In the old time we spread out
the hay, and the boy who can now run
the mower would then have found work
spreading and turning the hay after a
good mower ; or would have spent four
days to each six acres; more than four
times the time now required to mow
and spread it in the most perfect manner
Thus it will be seen that when we
thought mowing had reached its easy
stage we were only hugging a delusion.
"When a boy, we have spread and
pitched hay many a day with a wood-
en fork, cut from some sapling having
the natural prongs. These were dress-
ed out and sometimes steamed and
bent in a rude manner, but these die--
appeared on the appearance of the cast
steel fork of three tines as now made.

"We are putting up eighty acres of
meadow, mostly wild prairie. "We have
a "Wood's Prize Mower, drawn by the
lightest team on the farm and driven
by a boy not able to walk, to do the
cutting of more than an acre a day, yet
he averages six acres a day, working
less than ten hours each. "With a sul-

T'ti^'^'»r^*f: ''^•<»V •■•:

, . T- ■ ■■r^>'^""Iifc!r' '«V^.*^*I

268

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

September

ky rake (Furst & Bradley's,) a boy in
his eleventh and one in his thirteenth
year have done the raking, the larger
part done by the younger boy. The
next work in order is the bunching, re-
quiring a man, but which is rapidly
done. The hay is hauled from these
bunches, though if the grass is very
heavy it must be put in cock, to thor-
oughly cure before stacking. The con-
trast in haying between our boyhood
and our boys may well be considered
rather radical.

"While copperheads and traitors are
groaning over the prospective loss of
slave labor, the intelligent, loyal men
of the North are encouraging mechani-
cal genius to substitute animal labor by
the use of new implements for the pur-
pose. With all the cry of short of
help, every acre of old land is under
the plow, while thousands of acres of
new prairie have been broken this sea-
son to add to the area of farm crops.
Crops have never been better tended,
nor the farm work done up in better
season than now, in the palmiest days
of cheap and abundant farm labor. So
much for the new implements that gen-
ius has sent to the farm. This is but
half the story, for some of our large
hay growers are ahead of us, in which
wagons are dispensed with and the hay
(placed in stack with horse power. Yer-
■ily haying is made easy and taught in
one lesson.

Burson's|Grain Binder.

"We have used this binder the pres-
ent season and are much pleased with
it Last year Mr. Burson sent us one of
these machines, but we could not make
it work. About the 1st of July Mr. B.
came here and upon examination found

the machine defective. Asmall piece had
been nicked off the casting that held
the wire, and the wire cutter had not
been properly put in place. This ac-
counted for our failure last year. But
there is another difficulty : we doubt if
one man out of fifty can work the ma-
rine and keep it in order unless he has
had oral instruction. The machine is
complicated and must bo adjusted in
the most perfect manner, or it will not
work. To draw the wire around differ-
ent sized bundles, twist the ends firmly,
cut off these ends and then hold the
end of the cut wire for another bundle,
is a feat of mechanism not so easily at-
tained ; yet this machine will do all
this when well made, properly adjusted
and in the hands of a man who knows
just how to handle it.

Necessarily the machine is complica-
ted, yet it is strong, certain in its opera-
tions and very durable. Any person
can be taught to use it ; it is easily ad-
justed and kept in order. Every part
must work with exactness, yet when
once put in order it is not liable to de-
rangement.

It has two very important advanta-
ges over hand raking and binding : —
Ist. The cheapness of the work; one
man on an average will bind ten acres
a day. For this he will use, say in
heavy grain, twenty pounds of wire
costing, say five dollars. The figures
on labor will stand thus :

One binder one day $2 00

" " board 50

20 lbs. wire 5 00

$7 50

BY HAND.

Five binders, one day each.. $10 00
Board, one day each 2 60

: $12 50
Profits per day $5 00

f^ .'" /■(E^«s,-i- ■%"r — ^•"■^'

-1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

259

L

Fifteen days use of the machine
would pay for it. This is on the sup-
position that men can be had at the
calling, but during harvest this is not
the case, and this year farmers have
had to pay an average of $2 50 a day
and board, besides spending consider-
able time in looking them up ; and in
many cases a damaging delay in not
getting them. -• : : •

2d. The saving of grain. We have
seen no mode of harvesting in this re-
spect better. Many persons think the
header is in this respect perfect, but it
is no better, nor can it be more success-
ful in the saving of the crop. But as
there are serious difficulties in the way
of the universal use of the header, we
wil only revert to the usual mode of
harvesting by binding.

Grain, however short or brittle in
the straw, can be bound. Flax a foot
and a half high can be put into neat
bundles, while barley, with its long,
prickly'alons can be readily done up in-
to chubby bundles.

The cost of the machine is seven-
five dollars ; add to this ten dollars for
freight and attaching to reaper, and we
have the nett cost of eighty-five dollars.
Any farmer owning a reaper will find
it profitable to have one of these bind-
ers attached. If he has not sufficient
grain of his own to cut he can find
work with his neighbors at paying pri-
ces, for if he only gets the actual cost
of binding by hand he will earn at
least five dollars a day, providing he
can cut ten acres. The binder will
bind all that any team or machine will
cut. On this point there is no room for
cavil. "W"e would prefer the binder's
station to that of the raker's. The abil-
ity of the machine is therefore limited
to the number of bundles that can be

presented to it.

For the harvesting of ripe timothy
this machine must be valuable, as the
binding can be done without waste.

With this machine attached to J. H.
Manny's reaper, made by Emerson &
Co. half a dozen years since, the boys
have done our harvesting. We would
not like to say how young the driver
was for fear people might think we
made men of rather small boys. But
this we will say in defense that eight
to ten hours was considered a day's
work. We believe in saving labor, in
part to redeem the curse of Adam. —
We do not infer the curse entailed fif-
teen hours of harvest labor, with sweat
rolling in cascades, when with a Bur-
son he could do the same in one-fifth of
the time with moderate labor and a sav-
ing of grain more than equal to the cost
of wire and use of machine. Such im-
plements are rapidly placing the farm-
er on an equal footing with the mechan-
ic whose sweat runs in less copious
streams than formerly. What oceans
of sweat has not the busy saw, the
plainer and the morticer saved to the
mechanic ; and why not allow the farm-
er to save in the same direction,?^*^*' '*

The binder has won a place in the
list of valuable labor saving imple-
ments.

Trade of Chicago.
Through the politeness of Messrs.
Hammill & Satchell, commission mer-
chants, No. 32 North Dearborn street,
Chicago, we are in receipt of the sixth
annual statement of the trade and com-
merce of Chicago. It may be of inter-
est to our readers to take glances of
the growth of the West as indicated by
the trade at its great commercial cities.
All of the river towns, including St.
Louis and Cairo, have been great out-
lets of Western products that do ncA,
come in this report. A portion of the

f r ^ 'r^'^^m^-tk

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEE.

September

Illinois river trade goes to Chicago, but
the great arteries are the railroads, that
gather up these products at a thousand
stations.

SHIPMENTS OF FLOUR AND GRAIN FOR 26 TEARS.

The following Table shows the shipment of all
kinds of grain from Chicago, for the past twenty-
six years:

TEAR.

Wheat, Bushels.

Corn, Bushels.

1838

-78

8.678

10.000

40.000

686.907

688.907

923.494

1.024.620

1.509.619

1839

1840

1841....

1842

1843

1844

1845

1846

1847

2.136.994

67.135

1848. . . .

2.286.000

666.460

1849

2.192.809

644.848

4850

1.387.989

262 013

1851

799 380

3.221,317

1852

941.740

2.757.011

1863

1.680.098

2.780.258

1864

2. 744. 860

6.837.899

1855

'7.110.270

7.547.678

1856

9.419.395

11.129.658

1857

10. 783. 292

6.814.645

1858

10.909.143

7.498.212

1859. . . .

10.759.359

4.217.664

1860

15.892.857

13 700.113

1861....

23.855.553

24.372.725

1862 ...

22.508.143

29.452.610

1863-4..

18.2J.8.532

14.906.934

TEAR.

TEAR.

Oats, Bushels.

Rye, Bushels.

1838

1839 .

1840 . . .

184J.

1842. .. .

1843...,

1844

1845

« •«••••••

1846

1847. . . .

38.892

1848....

65.280

1849

26 849

31.453

1850

186 054

22.872

1851

605.827

19.997

1852

2.030.317

127.028

1853

1 748.493

120.275

1854....

3.239.987

148.421

1855

1.888.633

92.028

1856

1.014.647

19.051

1867....

316.778

17.998

1858....

1.498.134

127.608

1859

1.174.177

478.162

1860...

1.091.698

166.642

1861....

1.633.237

893.813

1862

8.112.366

871.796

1868-4. .

9 909.175

683.946

1838. • • •

1839

1840

1841

1842

1843 ...

1844

1845

1846

1847....

1848

1849

1850

1851

1852

1853

1854

1855

1856

1867....

1858

1869

1860

1861

1862

1863-4..

Barley, Bushels.

Total, Bushels.

....--. i

17.

815

82

162

41

153

20

132

590

7-569

131

449

267

449

226

.634

539

.195

943

.252

78

3.678

19.000

40.000

586.907

688.907

923.494

1.024.620

1.699.619

2.243.201

3.001.740

2.769.111

1.830.938

4.646.291

6.873.141

6.412.181

12.932 320

16.633 700

21.583 221

18.032 678

20.035.166

16.753.795

31.108.759

60.481.862

56 484.110

64.741.839

The last line represents shipments from April 1,
1863, to April 1,1864.

Previous to '49 the receipts were all
by teams, and these filled the streets so
completely that it was often difficult
to pass through them.
"We have often waited four or five hours
for one team to unload, and then had
often to weigh on platform scales, car-
ry the sacks of grain into the ware-
house and empty in a large bin ; rath-
er a wide contrast to the present system
of unloading a train of grain cars at the
present day.

We will suppose this grain to reach
the city in teams, each carrying forty
bushels and occupying two rods ; there
would be a- daily procession of teams
twenty-eight and a half miles long, and
at two miles an hour would require 14
hours to pass any given point. Put the
whole in one annual processions, and
they would reach 8,550 miles.

1^0 such amount of grain could be
sent to market by teams, the feat is im-

^■

•a^.

flt^ -^ ■■«■" -^ - -^f**^

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

261

possible. Suppose these teams were on
the road an average of three days each,
it would require nearly 6000 hotels with
a capacity for 20 teams each to take
them in. ■ f:' \

"When we add to this other products,
such as flaxseed, field seed, potatoes,
hay, wool, beef and pork, the figures
become still more formidable ; and yet
the capacity of our soil is just begin-
ning to be developed. Surely, here is
the material for an empire without the
South or New England, but we need
them to make a perfect whole.

Transplanting Evergreens-
Evergreens can be safely transplant-
ed in the autumn. All of the large ev-
ergreens in and about our house grounds
were set in October and November,
without loosing the first one. "We have
had twenty years experience in raising
evergreens, and have come to the fol-
lowing conclusions ;

1. Evergreens caube removed during
the season of growth, provided the
ground is quite wet and that the weath-
er continues cloudy and wet some days
afterwards. But as these conditions
are not always at hand, we look upon
the matter as generally unprofitable,
and would not recommend it.

2. All the autumn months and in
spring until the new growth begins to
show, is the only proper time to remove
evergreens, provided always that the
soil is damp, that the weather is not
dry or windy, for if the roots are ex-
posed to wind or sun for a very short
time the tree will die.

3. The very best time is when the
ground is wet, the weather rainy and
the tree in a dormant state. April, of all
months, presents these condition in the

greatest perfection j October isthe ncjxt
best month, -ir^-^r: \.- ,. ^.y/j,:^^^,:-^^. i.;,;^^-

Though evergreens can be transplanted
at all seasons of the year and stages of
growth, with proper care of watering
and shading, yet it will not be found
profitable to make the attempt; better
wait for the proper conditions of soil
and weather, and then attend to it at
once.

From the Country Gent.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

Preparing the Land for Fall Crops.

MuNSTER, Peussia, June 10, '64.

Messrs Editoes — Fail wheat and fall rye being
the staple crops in Germany, and considered the
most important ones — (Indian corn not ripening
at all) — and as, besides, our mode of operating in
raising these crops^is based on many hundred years
experience, I will briefly state how we prepare the
land before sowing, leaving it to your readers hoir
much or how little of my remarks may be applica-
ble to American Agriculture. From my own ex-
perience I know that, especially in the Western
States, this chapter is capable of some improve-
ment yet. : , w,.

We have two main rules : ^ , - .>

1. To give the field as much summer fallow as
possible.

2. To give it time to settle between the seed-
furrow and the sowing of the seed.

Besides it is important to know that wheat and
rye require different modes of treatment. For rye
it is best to plow two or three times ; for wheat
one plowing is much preferable to two. Young
farmers wanting to excel, will plow twice for
wheat, but this is a bad practice ; it loosens the
land too much, and the wheat afterwards falls a
prey to worms. Of course there are exceptions to
this rule ; there are cases when two plowings be-
come a necessity even for wheat. '

It is also of great importance to have a proper
rotation of crops. Wheat, as well as rye, wHl do
best where they are preceded by rape seed or flax,
next best after clover or beans, tolerably well after
ruta bagas or potatoes, doubtful after turnips and
beets. On most soils a good crop of wheat may
be followed safely by rye ; in fewer cases wheat
twice ; in even a smaller class of soils wheat af-
ter rye may do ; only jn exceptional cases wheat
or rye may follow oats. Oats are mostly the last
link in our rotations ; they care nothing for fresh
manure, and will do Veil where other crops would
require manuring; but the field needs a strong
dressing of manure after it has borne oats, so w«
let it mostly be followed by beete, potatotes or oth-

s^.

262

THE ILLINOIS FARMEK.

Septembeb

er root crops, or beans or rape seed, seldom by
clorer.

I must also remark that we raise more rye than
wheat, rye bread being the principal article of
home consumption ; but of late years the culture
of wheat has greatly increased, wheat being a more
profitable crop for export.
Now to my above rules :

1. We hare one mode for plowing for which in
America you have not even a name; I shall call
it "skimming." This operation cannot be carried
out with an American plow. I have on my farm
here seven different plows in use, all made in
American shops, from the Moline steel plow and
Mohawk Valley Clipper, down to New York Eagle
bat with none of them, excellent as they are for
deep plowing, can I "skim" the field. Still thi^s is
a highly beneficial operation. It consists in fust
skimming of the top or sod, aiming to leave between
every two furrows a narrow strip (^ to 1 inch wide)
untouched. The plowshare therefore is set slant
ing, going about 1 to IJ inches deep at the land-
side, and slanting out to the surface. We accom-
plish this operation of "skimming" generally by
the common plow (on wheels) and one horse but
of late have introduced plows with two, three and
even five shares. I prefer the plow 'with three
shares, as this can be worked by two horses will
finish five acres a day and work well under all cir-
cumstances. Now you may ask what this skim-
ming is good for ? It gives the land a summer
fallow, which is equal m effect to a half manuring
It not only exposes the turned up furrow to the
action of the sun and air, but this very furrow
serves as a mulching fcr the layer below, completely
changing Us appearance and texture. This is of the
greatest importance. Under such a mulching the
land will be enriched by the treasures of the at-
mosphere. Only compare a field so skimmed three
weeks ago with one that has been Iving unskim-
med, and you will need no more argument. But
your readers will say, why not plow deep at once ?
For two reasons : I want the summer fallow to
commence as early as possible. When cutting
wheat, for instance, I have all the cocks put up in
straight rows running the wnyl want to plow; and
the very next day after the cradle follows the
skimming plow. We cannot wait until the wheat
may be drawn off, for we would lose one week and
the ground would bake. Just examine the soil on
the day of mowing, and then again two weeks later
where the sun has burned on the naked ground
and you will be satisfied ; experience will confirm
your observation. This may suffice for the present.
It would be impossible to give the fields a deep fur-
row and keep up with the mowers ; by merely
skimming this can be done ; the deep plowing
comes thereafter ; the land never becomes too hard
for it where it has been skimmed. The surface
soil having had the benefit of a fallow is then
turned below, and another layer exposed to fallow-
ing. This skimming is much preferable to the
work done by cultivators, for in skimming I turn
under all weeds and grasses, converting them into
manure, while the cultivator makes them into hay.
This skimming also does not make the land too
loose for wheat. I will merely add that on clover
land we generally omit the skimming, giving a deep
furrow, directly following the scythe.

We want the ground to settle before sowing

Never sow wheat or rye on new plowed ground, if

you can help it, but give it the last furrow from
six to eight weeks before sowing time. This is of
the highest importance. The soil then becomes
thoroughly pulverized by the alternate action of
rain and sun — it rots ; aye, it will rise (puff) like a
well made dough — I can describe it in no other
way---the land must look as if yeast had been put
into it and had done its work well. Then is the
time to sow. A farmer must be able to discover
when this moment has arrived when he walks
across the fields, by the feeling of his steps, or by
rubbing some dirt between his fingers ; if he can-
not he is like a physician that cannot feel his pa-
tient's pulse.

But my letter is growing too long- Let me close
by saying that it will not do simply to cover the
seed by the harrow, but that the harrow and roller
united must completely Jpack the ground and de-
stroy all intervals created by the plow. Your feet
dare not sink in ; the harder the better. Pack it
at the bottom ; leave it open on the surface. Small
clods on the surface are an advantage ; dust on
top is not desirable. I mistrust all smooth rollers ;
but with least success have covered the seed
(wheat or rye) by Crosby's clod-breaker alone, and
finished the whole job without any harrow.

Of course there are soils so infested by certain
weeds, and there are climates so dry and burning,
that in such localities it will not do to plow the
ground eight weeks before sowing for the last time.

L.

The above contains many valuable hints to our
prairie farmers, especially plowing land immedi-
ately after harvest. Will not our farmers look
further into the subject ? — Ed. III. Farmer.

-«•»- . ■

The Destruction of Forests.

The most notable and serious modifications ef-
fected by man's agency are those caused by the
destruction of forests. The cutting away of wood
not only changes the appearance of the landscape,
and the character of the spot laid under the axe ;
when practised to a large extent, its effects extend
to great distances — perhaps over the whole conti-
nent, and almost revolutionize climate, soils and
surfaces. The forest retards evaporation, and of-
fers an effectual barrier to the wind. Its porous
soil and still more porous accumulation of vegeta-
ble debris absorb and retain the moisture, and its
tangled masses of sticks and roots restrain the fu-
ry of torrents, and prevent the devastation they
might otherwise occasion. From these circum-
stances, it is free from the extremes of summer and
winter temperature ; it acts as a constant condens-
er of moisture in the atmosphere, and promotes
frequent and copious showers. When the forests
are taken away, these conservative elements go
with them. The order and character of the sea-
sons are disturbed ; they become more uncertain,
the lines that divide them become less distinct —
Noah Webster observed this fact in America even
before the commencement of the present century.
Said he, in 1799, "When the forest is gone, the
reservoir of moisture stored up in its vegetable
mould is evaporated, and returns only in deluges
of rain to wash away the parched dust into which
that mold has been converted. The well-wooded

:v^-

'^r^rw-

1864.

THE ILLIKOIS FAKMEE.

and humid hilla are turned to ridges of dry rock,
which encumbers the low grounds and chokes the
water-courses with its debris, and — except in coun-
tries favored with an equable distribution of rain
through the seasons, and a moderated and regular
inclination of surface — the whole earth, unless res-
cued by human art from the physical degradation
to which it tends, becomes an assemblage of bald
mountains, of barren, turfless hills, and of swampy
and malarious plains. There are parts of Asia Mi-
nor, of Northern Africa, of Greece, and even of
Alpine Europe, where the operation of causes set
in action by man has brought the face of the earth
to a desolation almost as complete as that of the
moon ; and though within that brief space of time
which we call 'historical period,' they are known
to have been covered with luxurient woods, ver-
dant pastures, and fertile meadows, they are now
-xtoo far deteriorated to be reclaimable by man ; nor
can they become again fitted for human use, except
through great geological changes, or "other myste-
rious influences or agencies, of which we have no
present knowledge, and over which we have no
control."

He foresees that a desolation, like that which
has overwhelmed many more beautiful and fer-
tile regions of Europe, awaits an important part of
the territory of the United States and of other
comparatively new countries, over which Europe-
an civilization is now extending its way, unless
prompt measures are taken to check the action of
the destructive causes already in operation. —
Man and Nature, by G. P. Marsh,

Perhaps the above views, expressed with author-
ity, will be impressed upon our minds and memo-
ries by the long continued and excessive drought
of the present season, says the Republican. Let us
have more trees. We need them everywhere,
along our roads, in our pastures, on our hillsides,
in eveay spot where nothing else will grow, — any-
where but around our houses. There we must let
in sunlight. The cottage, deep embowered in. shade
sounds very pretty and sentimental, but suggests
to the thought of experience, damp, mould, rheu-
matism, fever, pallor, depression and consumption.
It is a great mistake in some of our towns and vil-
lages, the excessive shade close about the houses,
making them look damp and sepulcral, as indeed
they are. True, it is very hard to cut down trees
planted by one's own hands, but if they shade our
houses, it is necessary to make the sacrifice, unless
we value shade more than health. We must let in
the blessed sunlight upon our houses. What
strength or vigor have plants that grow in a cellar
or under a board ?

Neither do we want trees in our cultivated fields
nor gardens; vegetables or crops will ^not thrive
under their shade ; and in a pasture, all that are
needed are for shades for cattle during mid-day
sun. We once knew a man who cut down every
tree in his open lots : he "would not be bothered
with them in mowing and plowing ;" so when they
were turned into pasture lots, it was pitiable to see
the cattle and horses try to shield themselves un-
der the side of a rail fence. Then he said they
were lazy, but we observed that when he stopped
for his nooning he always chose a shady spot, and
had a very nice "stoop" to rest in, when he took a
few moments' quiet. -

But we want more forests and larger wood lot^
systematically preserved. There is a mania for
clearing to€^ much, as if that were the great object
in life. Some more common sense views are now
and then put forth, and "a little farm well tilled,"
is maintained by some to be more profitable than a
larger one under half cultivation. Forests and
woodlots, judiciously thinned from year to year,
will take care of themselves, and perhaps yield
quite as large a profit in the long run as any por-
tion of the farm. Trees are "a growing" even while
we are sleeping, and subject to do drought or
blight.

WHl not farmers, instead of pooh-poohing at this
as a "newspaper notion," listen to the testimony
(rf authority and experience cited above, and set
about the preservation of trees ? If every man will
do his part, without waiting for others, the work
will be done, and we venture to say that if the re-, ~
cord were kept for twenty years, and with the al-
lowance for the enriching effects of the one, and
the terribly exhausting draughts of the other, trees
would be found even more profitable than — tobac-
co ! — Boston Cultivator.

While the East are on the down-hill road, making
their country less and less valuable, the Western
prairies are improving in regard to timber and for"
ests. Timber belts, hedge rows and orchards all
combine to make the country more and more val-
uable for agricultural purpose and more desirable
for residence. The seasons will become more
agreeable — the winters more geniiU and the sum-
mers less liable to excess of drouth or deluging
rains. Plant trees. Roll on the ball, nor faint in
the good work. — Ed, \ < - -;

■ «■» -:

; , ' • From the Rural New Yorker.

Galxisha and PhoBnix— White Willows.

0. D. BfiAenoN, Ed. Rttral New Yorker — Deab
Sir: — I noticed in your paper of May 14th last, an
editorial article referring to a conversation which
we held in Chicago last September, which is calcu-
lated to place me in an unpleasant position, and I
hope you will do me the favor of publishing this
explanation.

While we were discussing the merits of the
white willow as a tree of value for belts and screens
— for neither of us have ever had faith in it for a
hedge — the conversation turned upon the imposi-
tions which (Unscrupulous peddlers had practiced
upon the farmers by selling other varieties under
the name of "White" or "Grey Willow." I men-
tioned that some of our fraternity (nurserymen)
were suffering under charges of like swindling. I,
myself, had been accused, by peddlers of cuttings,
of "selling white willow of my own growing, when
I had never raised a tree or plant of it." Whereas,
the fact was I had sold only those of my own grow-
ing, and which had been pronounced genuine by
the highest botanical authorities.

Mr. Phoenix had also been charged with "receiv-
ing a large quantity of native willows from a swamp
near Peoria Lake." Of the fonndution for this
chajge I knew nothing, but supposed that I convey-

iuSS^^iA .^..■.-.^. -.1..

. .'^•-

:--f

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

Septembe

ed the idea to you that I did not believe it was
true. If, (as you say), I first spoke of the report
to you, I think you are the only person to whom I
ever mentioned it, and whenever it was mentioned
to me I distinctly said that I discredited it. I re-
gret exceedingly, if I was so unfortunate in ex-
Sressing myself^ as to be thought by you to regard
[r. P. as guilty.

I have known Mr. Phoenix for the last ten years,
and had denlings with him at different times, but
have never known anything in our intercourse
which would lead me to suspect him of dishonesty.
Had you written to me previous to the publication
of that article, I thiak I could have refreshed your
memory in respect to our conversation, so that Mr.
P. should not have seemed to suffer through any
words of mine. If Mr. P. is innocent, as I believe
him to be, he can soon set himself right through
the columns of the Mural, which, I am sure, will be
open for his vindication.

Yours, for Justice and True Progress. •

0. B. Galitsha.

Lisbon, 111., June 81st, 1864.

Remarks. — Of course we cheerfully give space
to the above letter. Mr. G. has stated the sub-
stance of our conversation in Chicago correctly in
the main. It was from him that we first heard
this rumor concerning Mr. P. And while we
think it trua that Mr. G. stated that he did not, or
could not believe it true, he conveyed the impres-
sion to oup mind that the source from which it
came, gave it a very bad look for Mr. P. And
when Mr. G. spoke to Mr. Minkler about it in our
presence at Rockford, and Mr. M. confirmed the
statement as having received it from a railroad
man who had charge of the transportation of these
willows, or knew of their transportation, we thought
so too.

But it matters little to the public what Mr. Ga-
lusha's opinion concerning this story and Mr.
Phoenix is. The fact is, Mr. Phoenix either did or
did not cut or procure the cutting of swamp wil-
lows at or near, or in the region of Peoria lake.
We have given the names of parties through whom
he can trace the story that he did not do so, as he
asserts, we should think it a matter vital to his in-
terests to so trace it and explode it ; if he did do
so, of course he will care little about agitating the
subject further. Both his own and the public's in-
terest are involved in this question. Of course he
will look after his own, and we shall do what we
may to protect the public ; and no considerations
of a personal character will swerve us from our du-
ty in this respect.

Mr. Galusha is right in supposing the columns
of the Rural are open to Mr. Phoenix for bis vin-
dication.— c. D. B.

So long as Mr. Phoenix declines to explain the
matter why need others trouble themselves in the
premises ? The public are satisfied that thousands
upon thousands of cuttings of native willow have
been cut and sold for the white willow, and they
care little who did the selling. Suspicion is direc-
ted to Peoria Lake, and Phoenix is accused of being
the operator. If he is guilty, the least said the
better, if innocent, his denial should exculpate
him ; but this he chooses to withhold at present.

Will he treat the charges with dignified contempt ?
We think not, unless he wishes to stand under the
obloquy. It is certain that the letters of Messrs,
Galusha and Minkler have failed to acquit him ;
the matter now rests with the railroad man. Who
is he — can Mr. Minkler tell us ? We wish to know
whence came the native willow that have been sent
broadcast over the State ; and will not our Fulton
county friends enlighten us as to the amount of
white willow in that county ? We panse for a re -
ply. — Ed.

State Fair.

JWe well recollect the many complaints that were
made last year by visitors to our State Fair, on ac-
count of high charges for everything here at that
iufe. We should profit by the experience of last
year and try to remedy the diflSculty this season.
Men who visit Fairs expect to be liberal with their
money, but they do not like to huve it extorted
from them. We should therefore commence early
preparations this season to furnish suitable accom-
modations for visitors at the Fair. The persons
who have the matter in charge should commence
at once, and when they have perfected their ar-
rangements, give notice through the press, so that
visitors may have some assurance of a place to
sleep, and a place to get their meals without hav-
ing to pay thribble prices.

One source of complaint can be easily remedied,
viz : the high price charged for carting, and the
prices charged for carrying persons from the city
to the Fair Grounds and return. The city grants a
license to every cart, dray, wagon, &c. It is also
an easy matter while regulating these licenses, to
also regulate the prices for carrying persons or
property. There is ample police force provided to
carry out all necessary ragulations of this kind,
and if there is any complaint this year, the city au-
thorities will be held responsible.

The accommodation of visitors to board and
lodging is a very difficult matter. Our hotels and
boarding houses have not room for more than one-
tenth the accommodations required. It will there-
fore be necessary to provide the next best accom-
modations in our reach We suggest the follow-
ing plan for the consideration of those who have
the matter in charge. Have a committee appoint-
ed to visit every family in the city and ascertain
how many boarders each family can take during
the Fair, and particularly how many lodgers each
house can accommodate at fair prices. Then ar-
range the houses by numbeas where accommoda-
tions are to be had. Then prepare a short circular
that will give information to visitors as to what ar-
rangements have been made for their accommoda-
tion.

A committee of reception should be in constant
attendance at the depot on the arrival of trains
and at some designated place on the Fair Grounds.
Then persons can be at once informed where to
go, and they will know what accommodations to
expect. The details of this plan can be easily ar-
ranged by an efficient committee ; we only suggest
the leading ideas.

1864.

THE iLLtsrOlS J'AEMER;

265

Respecting this committee we wouIt( remark
that it should be composed of active, efficient men
who will attend to their duties. Men who can de-
vote their time to this object alone. Not such a
committee as was selected last year, who had no
time to attend to their duties but simply hunted
out some of their friends and acquaintences and
played the agreeable to them, while the mass of
visitors went strolling through the streets through
the whole night, denouncing the town and people
because they could get no decent place to sleep.

K the right steps are taken the coming State
Fair can be made the most pleasant to visitors of
any Fair yet held in the State. For the reputa-
tion of our citizens and the good name of our city,
we hope this matter will be looked to in time.- —
Decatur Gazette. ',

The above contains sound advice. If the city of
Decatur wants the State Fair let them see to it
that visitors are accommodated and not over-
charged. Last year the city government charged,
we believe, three dollars for leave to carry passen-
gers two and from the Grounds. This of itself was
a great wrong, for it threw out hundreds of
teams from the country who would have carried
passengers but for this three dollar tariff. We
hope fer the good name of the city that no such
extortion will be repeated. Far better that the
city fathers should look out every farmer boy who
has a good team and spring wagon, and encour.
age him to carry passengers. On several occasions
we walked the distance rather than ride in an over-
loaded wagon with the spriags shut together, and
with a stand up seat for which fifty cents was
charged.

The suggestion in regard to the committee is a
good one and should be acted upon. Let a fund
be raised to pay this committee by the day, and
not depend upon business men to attend to its du-
ties. The city police, who are familliar with all
parts of the city, should be on the committee. —
People who have friends and relatives in the coun-
try would do well to invite them to attend the Fair
"We do not wish to draw a picture of last year,
but if it is repeated Decatur may close up its beau-
tiful fair ground, for it will be the last of the
State Fair at that point — Ed.

Profits of Sheep— Pine vs. Coarse.

A correspondent of Skohegan furnishes us a
statement of the cost of keeping one hundred sheep
of the fine, and also the coarse wooled breeds. He
says in reply to "Shiloh" that the oily part of a
sheep which goes into the wool, as in the Merino,
prevents that offensive taste to the mutton of this
breed, of which he complains ; and that the mut-
ton of the Merino brought a higher price in New
York in 1861 oud 1862, than that of the coarse
wooled varieties. We are not disposed at this
tune to argue the former nor deny the latter point,
but that many other breeds of sheep are superior

to the Merino for mutton, is conceded beyond con-
troversy. We present below our correspondent's
figures in regard to the cost and profits of keeping
the fine and coarse breeds :

100 COABSB WOOI.KD ShSBP.

Dr.

80 tons of hay, $10 per ton, $300 00
500 lbs. wool at 39c,
100 lambs at $2,

Or.

$175 00
200 00

Leaving a balance of $"75.

100 Fine Woolkd Shxsp.

20 tons hay, $10 per ton
500 lbs. weol at 45c.
80 lambs at $1 50, ■

|200 00

$376 00

$225 00
120 00

-, •-:■■-'. ■ ■ $846 00

Leaving a balance of $145. — Maine Farmer.

For the prairie we do not think the above a f«r

exhibit. Suppose we make a slight change :

100 CoARSK Wooled Shbbp.

^■■■"":^. ■-■■" ■^■" '/ ; Ur..";' z;";:'^,^

80 tons hay, $5 $150 00

500 lbs. wool at SOe, $400 00

100 lambs, $3 300 00

$700 00
Leaving a balance of $550. From this must be
deducted other expenses which will largely reduce
the sum before the nett profits can be reached.

100 FiNB Wooled Sheep.
20 tons hay, ' t, " $100 00 ' C-J

400 lbs. wool, ; - - $400 00

80 lambs. . ; ; . 240 00

$640 00

$540 00
The difference is really so small that it may wel^
be called a mixed question, and one for each
flock master to settle to suit himself. Our own
fancy is for the strong, healthy, long wool mutton
sheep ; but then we are near a good market for
mutton. When mutton is also an object we should
not hesitate to choose the long wool. If wool was
the only object the variety is more a matter of
taste. We put the price of hay at what it is worth
on the farm, not in the city or village market —
Ed.

Comstock's Spader.

M. L. Sullivant, of Champaign county, Illinois,
wrote the Farmer Clvb of New York, in relation
to this spader, as we find in the N. Y. Tribune of
a late date. We also observe that Evans' rotary
spader is to be at the State Fair. We shall look
forward to the measurement of the crop alluded to
with no small interest — Ed.

W"

"r- ■

266

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

BETTEiSSEB,

Here is a verj interesiing letter from M. L. Sul-
livant, the largest fanner in the United States,
which gives the detailed cost of procuring corn on
the Illinois prairie, by improved machinery. Pro-
-feably when steam is applied the cost will be much
less. Mr Sullivant says :

Broadlands, by Homer, 111., July 6, '64.

I have prepared and planted to com this season
1,335 acres of land. 844 acres were plowed in
our usual manner, say about four inches deep, at a
cost of

445 days manual labor, at $1 50 JeST 50

890 days horse labor at 50c 445 00

Total 11,112 60

Or $1 31 per acre.
. There were spaded (8 inches deep) with Com-
stock's rotary spader 404 acres, at a cost of

80J- days manual labor, at $1 50 ... $133 81

208 days horse labor, at 50c 104 00

291 days ox labor, at 25c 15 15

Total $310 62

Or 63 cents per acre.

I have had in operation two horse and three ox
machines. One machine was worked 33 days,
with the same team of four horses. At the end' of
the season their condition showed that they had
not been worked harder than in ordinary plowing.
The ox machines require a team of two or three
pairs of oxen each. A portion of the season I
worked two of the ox machines ganged with six
pairs of oxen, one man managing the team and
spaders readily. Four of the spaders are three
feet in width, each. For a few days in the latter
part of the season I had at work one three feet
eight inches wide, which is the usual width of our
corn rows. It is proposed to construct the most
of them hereafter this width, and attach a eelf-act-
ing corn-planter. This will be capable of spading
and planting one acre per hour, with a speed of 2J
miles, at a cost not exceeding 44 cents an acre, al-
lowing eight hours as a day's work. As a labor-
saving implement, and a deep and thorough tiller
of the soil, I am greatly pleased with it, and shall
watch with a great deal of interest the product of
the crop at maturity. At present there is no per-
ceptible difference in the appearance of the com
on the plowed and spaded land, but I shall expect
a yield of from 10 to 25 per cent in favor of the
latter."

The Club will be very glad to have the result of
the yield. If the drouth has been as severe there
as it has here, the yield of the deep tilth will be
double that of the shallow, and more than ten fold
pay the cost.

<•»

Preedman's Bulletin.

We have on our table No. 1 of this journal.

"It is the the organ of the Northwestern Freed-
man's Aid Commission. It will be published once
in two months or oftener. The second number
will appear in September.

It will concern itself chiefly with the|work of the
Commission which puts it forth ; but will have a
watchful eye upon the whole field of operations oc-
cupied by kindred organizations, and will hail their
successes as its own.

It will not hesitate to discuss, furthermore, ques-
tions of public policy directly bearing upon the
welfare of the Freedmen.

It will be regularly mailed free to all annual and
life electors, and to pastors who take collectious
for the treasury of the Commission, so far as their
addresses are known. Any such who fail to re-
ceive it will confer a favor by notifying the Edi-
tor."

"All communications relating to the Bfllktin,
to secure attention, must be addressed — 'Rev. J.
R. Shipherd, Box 4617, Chicago, III.' Enclos-
ures of money are at the risk of the senders. 50
cents a year."

Such a paper is much needed, not only for the
people at large but for the freedmen themselves,
thousands of whom are now learning to read. This
class of people must be educated and taught habits
of industry, or they will degenerate into a low con-
dition. We recollect the freedmen of New York,
along the Mohawk river. The schools were denied
th em and no pains taken to teach them habits of
economy, they became in most cases a perfect nui-
sance, idling their time away in summer, spending
their light earnings at the groceries and stealing
on all occasions.

We shall look forward to a better state of things
now that schools are opened to them ; so soon as
they become a reading people they will be in the
highway of success. We always find a man that
we hire, a common laborer who is a reader, a much
more valuable hand than those who have no incli-
nation in that direction. Such men are always at
their post and have more genius to unravel a knot-
ty subject about their work.

In education there is safety, but ignorance none.
Educated demagogues rule the masses of ignorant
people and mould them to their will. Were it not
for this, the non-slaveholders of the South would
have put down the rebellion long ago, without
Northern aid. This latter class are told that they
must set up a government for the South, while in
fact it is for the benefit of the slave owners, and
should they succeed this very class will be further
degraded, and the benefits of the common school
put further from them.

In the course of time, if the colored population
become educated they will gradually emigrate
South, to a climate more suited to them, where
they may set up for themselves ; but they must go
through God's mill that grinds slow yet sure. — ^Ed.

Evans' Rotary Cultivator.

The Detroit Advertiser says of this new imple-
ment:

Within the past year, two inventions have been
brought before the public, which are design-
ed to occupy the place of the spade, the plow and
the harrow. One of these is known as the Evans'

;;.^

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER/

267

Rotary Cultivator, or American Terracultor, and
the other as ComFtock's Rotary Spader. The
Evans' Rotary Cultivator (or Terracultor) we had
an opportunity of examining during a visit which
we made to the farm of E. 5. Wilcox, Esq., who
had recently received one of these machines for
trial. When we first saw it, it was boxed up ; but
in the course of an hour we had it set up and in
complete running order. This machine was calcu-
lated to work with two horses, and turned up a
twenty-inch strip of land to the depth of eight
inches. The working machine runs on wheels, on
the axle-tree of which is a large cylinder ; behind
this is a smaller one ; and over botJi pass chains
of a peculiar construction, of (malleable) cast iron.
Into the links of these chains, or broad, endless
bands, are bolted atfel teeth, chisel-shaped, eight
inches long, and which paps into the ground as the
cylinder revolves, and dig up the earth, throwing
it up behind, and leaving it in complete order as a
seed bed. The driver sat on the machine and bad
nothing to do beyond keeping his horses moving.
There were levers and ratchets, by which the
working cylinders were lifted out of the ground
and thrown out of gearing, so that the machine
could be taken from one place to another as easily
as a mowing machine.

In the trial we gave this new implement, it
was run partly on clay land, and partly on a sandy
loam. On the clay the soil was broken up very
thoroughly ; but to render it complete for seed,
would use the roller and fine iron harrow. On the
loam, the Evans Cultivater, or Terracultor, did the
work of the plow and the harrow, and left it in
more perfect order than those two implements
could possibly do — the surface being similar to
that of a well made garden bed, after it has been
dug and raked by a skillful gardener.

Our readers will compare this with what we have
said of Comstock's Spader. 500 acres against a
show of work — the last will win. — ^Ed.

Immense Strawberry Crop.

The Rochester Democrat says : "A single fact
which has come to our knowledge relating to the
strawberry crop of the past season will doubtless
astonish many of our readers. A prominent fruit
grower of Western New York, from a single patch
of 16 acres, sent to market 1,300 bushels of straw-
berries of the Wilson's Seedling and Triomphe de
Gand varieties. The entire crop was sold at an
average price of one shilling per quart, realizing
the snug sum of $5,200, as the product of 16 acres
of ground. We doubt whether any other 16 acres
in Western New York have yielded the like sum
as the result of a single crop. This may be taken
as an instance of the profitableness of thoroughly
scientific fruit growing."

The above yield would be eighty-one bushels per
acre, not a very extraordinary yield if planted
and cultivated in hills. A friend of ours at Onar-
ga, informs us that a person by the name of Gould
grew 108 bushels on a single acre, of the Wilson,
but they were cultivated in hills and had been
mulched with rye straw. They sold for about $900.
bringing eight to nine dollars a bushel. The pick-

ing, boxes, freight and commission cost about two ;:
and a half dollars a bushel, leaving a handsome :
profit. Our readers will take these for large yields
that only now and then occur, and we trust they »
will by careful culture lay themselves liable to the
same good luck, but not to hope for more than 30 f
to 50 bushels, until they get it, so that when the ■::
surplus comes it will be all the more pleasant r '

Summer Pruning.

We have long been in faver of the summer pru-
ning of fruit trees, of all sizes Full twenty years }
ago we were convinced of its good results. It is V;
advantageous in two ways : First, by shortening *
in the rapidly growing branches, it produces fruit
spars for the following year, and brings the trees ;
into any desired form. Second, when larger limbs
are removed, the wound, instead of leaving a bare, '■^
protruding and decaying stump, beautifully heals *;
up, making a perfectly sound amputatioa

The period when this pruning should be done, is
one of prime importance. We see June recom- "
mended, while the trees are in their full first
growth. Without having experimented, and look- "
ing to the condition of the trees in this month, it "
does not meet our assent We do not believ* that,
it is advisable to prune before the first growth of .
the season is completed, because of the immaturi-
ty of the wood, which must produce in the second ";'
growth less vigorous shoots, besides losing, to a '
large extent, the yield of fruit the succeeding year, ;
which is sure to follow judicious shortening in a
later period.

In our judgment "summer pruning" should take;'
place between the fifteenth of July and tenth of '
August — a period when the sap is quiescent an«frf*
nature is resting awhile from her labors. We speak
from our own knowledge of the value of midsum-
mer pruning of trees, large or small. — Iowa Home-
stead.

We prune from June to December, as we have
the time and the occasion in the nursery, while
o«r orchard gets very little pruning at any time«-^
—Ed. -^ . : --'^^^

i

A Parmer on Agricultural Education^

The Atlantic Monthly for July contains the f<d^% ',
lowing somewhat satirical view of Agricultnraf •'
Education, supposed to come from a conservatives. ''
cultivator in the rural districts: -.

Two words are beginning to be coupled in th<f ' ' "
newspapers and to float about in the air, whose
juxtaposition is the cause of many a demure chuc-
kle among the rural population. — •'Agricultural
College." Separately the words command all re-
spect ; united, they are a living refutation of the
■well-known axiom that "the whole is equal to all
its parts." On the contrary, so far are our farm-
ers from believing this, that, while they acknowK .
edge each part to be a very serious and important
fact, they look upon the whole as the flimsiest of
fallasies. ^

268

THE ILLIJSOIS FAEMEK.

Septembeb

"Gov'ment is goin' to build an Agricultnral Col-
lege. Farrain' an' learnin' marry and set up
housekeepin.' Guess Uncle Sam 'II have to give
'em a hist with a donation party now 'n' then
Agricultural College ? Yes, sir ! Well, sir, if
you'll show me a man, sir, that's a graduate from
that College, that'll ever be seen with a hoe in his
hand, I'l give him leave to knock my brains out
with it ! Yes, sir, an' it will be the best use he
can put it to, sir. He'll do less mischief that way
'n any other. Agricultural College ! Edicated
Farmers. Yes, sir, I've seen 'em. Got a grist up
in Topsell. Jint-stock farm. The best talent in
Essex county's been a-carryin' on that farm, an'
nigh about carried it off, an' themselves along with
it. Yes, sir, the best talent in Essex county, an'
had the farm given to 'em, an' they've suuk a
thoosan' dollars a'rcady. That's what I call a
sinkin' fund, sir, That's to begin with. Jones is
an edicated farmer. He made his cider last fall on
scientific principles. Well, sir, I could put an ap-
ple in my mouth, an' swim down Merrimac river,
an' have better cider 'n that all the way. Edica-
ted farmiu's a very pooty thing, if a man can be at
the expense on't ; but when it comes to get a liv-
in' farmin' 's farmin'. Agricultural College ! Yes,
sir, farmin' 's a hard life, lookin' at the best side.
Soil's light an' runnin' to stones. But this here
college stuff's the poorest kind o' top-dressin' you
give it. Learnin's a good thing. I've nothin' agin'
learnin', but 'ta'nt the best use you can make on't
to plow it in. The only way to promote the agri-
cultural interests of Essex county, sir, is to keep
the farmers jest as they are. Greek an' Latin, sir,
ain't state prison offenses, but they are sure death
to pork 'n potaters. Minute you edicate the farm-
ers they be as uneasy as a toad under a harrow.
What kind of a hand would Dr. Hall or Squire
Smith make, to come an' take a farm alongside o'
me?"

City of Champaign.

IiCPROVEMEifTS. — Champaign is on the move. —
The click of the busy hammer and trowel is heard
on every hand. Here and there and everywhere,
we see new buildings springing up, and where but
a few days before were naked lots, is now beauti-
ful residences and substantial business houses. The
scarcity of mechanics, and the high price of build-
ing material operates as a temporary check upon
the rapid growth of our young and enterprising
city. And still a stranger looking at our busy
streets would scarcely think that we felt the em-
barrassment of war. The mammoth brick building
on the corner being built by our enterprising towns-
man, Mr. W. C. Barrett, is being rapidly pushed
forward. Mr. B. will be ready to supply all his
friends with first class store rooms and offices be-
fore cold weather overtakes. Looking to the in-
terest and comfort of the]^ people, Mr. B. has de-
termined to put a public hall in the third story of
his building, which he is determined shall not be
surpassed in its appointments by any hall in the
West. This is right. A good hall is badly needed.
On Neil street, Mr. Young is putting the finishing
touch on a fine business building. The lower room
has already been taken by our enterprising towns-
man. Dr. Hamer, for the purpose of giving himself
room for his mammoth iron store. The Dr. moves

into his new rooms this week — let everybody con-
sult their own interest, and take particular notice
of the fact, that Hamer's iron store is on Neil street,
in Mr. Young's new suit of rooms. The Champaign
University is being rapidly pushed forward, on the
other side of the track. The workmen are on the
fifth story of this extensive building. The con-
tractor hopes to finish it up this summer. Let all
who are seeking a place to give their children a
thorough education at a trifling cost, come to Cham-
paign. Wii hout stopping to particularize, it is
our honest conviction, that there is no place in
Ceatral Illinois which presents better facilities for ,
money making, and where well directed industry
can be turned to better account than here. Mon-
ey invested in any of the ordinary pursuits of life,
yields a large per cent. Nor is the mere money ad-
vantages all that we have to point to strangers, to
induce them to settle here. We point with pride
to our various churches, to our excellent schools, -
to our railroad, and to an educated and intelligent
population, — and lastly, though not leastly, to '
more pretty women and girls than was ever before
crowded into a town of this size. Just think of it.
It makes us feel young again to see so much of
beauty, and the smiles of youth on every hand. —
Champaign Gazette.

There is no city in the interior making better ^
progress than the above. In this we take a just
pride ; for when we first saw it in '55, it contained
less than twenty houses. We then predicted that
from its location it must become an important
point. So fully were we imbued with this idea that
we made it (the vicinity, Z^ miles distant) our
home in the spring of '58.

At no distant day the State Horticultural Socie-
ty will be invited to hold its annual session here»
and the State will accept the offer in fee simple of
our magnificent college, to be used in connection
with the agricultural college grant.

The amount of grain, cattle and hogs shipped at
this point is immense. For fruit growing, no point
offers better soil, climate, and access to market.
Lands are cheap, and the I. C. K. R. have large
tracts near here that they offer on long time and
at low rates. Manufacturing is becoming a feature
that promises to be an important one. — Ed.

Bark Licb. — Many orchards are being ruined here-
abouts by bark lice, which cover the trees in many
instances from the roots upward. There have been .
many remedies published, some of which may be
valuable, and some of little or no account. We
have frequently been asked -'what will kill hark
lice without injury to the tree ?" Heretofore we
have never had sufficient confidence in any cure to
recommend it to the readers of the Courant. Now
we have it most unquestionably, and all who will
may -have clean trees. The process, which we
learned from Rev, A. Vedder, of Nepeuskun, who
has thoroughly tested, and proved it to be a per-
feet success, is a simple one, and is substantially as
follows:

•ii^

Iipppwjsfftiiii*^ ^tW{|i^W,*'^"w-J">''-*-'"'"v>'^tWH?"'^ iMi'Jiii*i»w»!jf>»ejij*j>i'"jwj(Ji«wi«iu»y' ip^' '"■)«

iL-ii-'»>u>ujuMupi iiui'^npiP^niim^cap^nvran

w«""W"P!r

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

269

Trim the tree thoroughly to facilitate subsequent
operations, Make a strong lye and apply it freely
with a swab to'every portion of the tree infested.
After a few days examine the trees, and if the lice
do not appear to be thoroughly dead, repeat the
operation. No fears need be entertained of inju-
ry to the trees. Those which Mr. Vedder has thus
washed are the most vigorous and healthy looking
trees we have seen this summer.

The operation is necessarily a slow and tedious
one, and the performer should lay in a large stock
of patience before commencing the job. It cannot
be done hurriedly and done well, and if not done
w«H, may as well not be done at all. It will pay to
do it well, as all will admit who will consider the
diflFerence between seeing a tree worth $5, to $25
destroyed by lice in two or three years, and spend-
ing a half day or even a day clearing the vermiii
off it. Undoubtedly the best time of the year to
apply this remedy is just as soon as you discover
that your trees are lousy, though if it should be
necessary to do considerable pruning, there may be
a choice of time to do that. As however the best
authors recommend August for the operation, we
recommend every reader of the Cottrant who has
an apple tree, to examine it at once, and if lice are
discovered commence manufacturing them into
soap at once. — Berlin {Wis.) Uourant.

This bark louse is a bad subject at the best, and
should be attended to without delay. We have
found the best time to prune in March and April,
before the buds began to swell, and then ap-
ply the wash of soda or wood lye made into a
whitewash An old tree should be headed back

■ ■ 1

cutting off all two year old wood, for on this will
be found nearly all the live insects. The old scales
do no harm and only disfigure the tree ; a wet cloth
with a little sand will take off all the insects if
properly applied, and is a good way to clean up the
tree. The insect is either carried by the wind or
flies some distance, generally in the direction of
the wind, during the few days that they are allow-
ed the privilege of action. — Ed.

Easpberkies and Blackberries — Prepare them
FOR A FuTCRE Crop. — The old canes have about
performed their duty, and the new shoots are as-
piring to overtop their parents. Remember, that
the next year's crop will depend entirely upon the
new canes. To insure a vigorous growth, cut out
all the old ones as soon as the fruit has been gath-
ered— they would never bear again — and unless an
increase of stock is wanted, cut out a portion of
the weak canes of the present year. This will
throw all the growth into the remainder, and se-
cure strong shoots for future fruiting. They are
often left too crowded. If in large hills four feet
apart, four raspberry and three blackberry canes
are quite sufficient for a hill. We prefer them in
drills, to be trained upon a trellis, with single canes
of rispberries fifteen inches, and blackberries
twenty inches distant, the rows four feet apart for
raspberries and six feet for blackberries. On rich
ground well tended, the growth will be sufficient
to fill the trellis, which need not be more than two
wires or slats in bight. When too aspiring, nip off

the shoot at a reasonable hight, to induce side
branches. This will make a miniature tree, which,
with the Lawton blackberry, has been known to
produce six and even eight quarts per cane. Do
not head back after the first of August, else the
late growth will not harden sufficiently to stand
winter. — £!x.

If raspberry plants are cut back one-third of
their length they will not require trellising. The
distance to plant raspberries is four by eight feet,
the latter the width of the rows. We know this
from actual field culture. When four feet rows
are used it is out of the question to work them
with ar horse, and six feet is too narrow ; we now
set in rows eight feet wide, and blackberries the
same distance. These we should confine to bedge
rows of six inches wide, catting down all sprouts
outside of that line, and shall shorten back the
plants in the spring. This space will admit of
working the ground with a horse and for the con-
venient picking of the fruit.

Mntton and "Wool-

Messrs. Editors : — In addition to the influence
of the steamboat and the railroad, affording the
means of rapid transit between large cities and re
mote districts, there are two principal points for
consideration in the determination of the choice
between the Merinos and the breeds of mutton
sheep.

^rst. The prices of coarse wools and fine wools
are steadily approximating. The demand for the
former is constantly increasing, while the demand
for the latter is relatively diniinishing. The popu-
lar taste for fine cloths for male attire is greatlv
changed, while those fabrics requiring heavy and
coarse wools are largely multiplied and extended.

Second. Since the introduction of good mutton
sheep, the American people are learning to eat
mutton. Next to beef in excellence — and by some
esteemed more highly — it is more cheaply produc-
ed. The demand for it is steadily and rapidly in-
creasing, and the prospect is that it will continue
to increase in an accelerated ratio, and that it will
in the end overturn the empire of pork.

These are the principal reasons why the produc-
tion of mutton should be paramount to that of fine
wool in all districts within easy access of a good
market, and why the production of coarse wool
and mutton should not in such districts be consid-
ered of inferior importance to that of Merino wool
with all the disadvantages of breeding, rearing, and
inferior carcass and flesh.

For these reasons it is considered by the best
friends of the Merinos that where the market for
lambs and mutton is good, the Merino sheep must
yield the preferment to the long and middle-wool-
ed sheep. The place of the Merinos is in the south
of Africa, the pampas of South America, Texas,
the prairies of the West, and other regions, which
have not been brought into easy communication
with some one or more of the large meat markets
of the country where high prices are paid. In such
I^aces the increase of flocl^ is sufficient at eighty

W"JW»)!H^J|pil|.

270

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

Septembeb

per cent, a year ; the carcasses of any sheep are of
trifling vahie, and at the same time, as the value
of wool is greater, the comparative expense of
transportation is less.

We will therefore dismiss the Merino, reminding
the reader, however, that the suggestions made
have no application to those who breed fine stock
for extraordinary prices. The beginner who has
concluded to adopt some one or more of the mid-
dle or long wooled sheep wants to know how to
choose among them. Of these, among many oth-
ers, there are the South Downs, the Cotswolds and
the Leicesters. There are also of recent importa-
tions, the Oxford Downs and the Shropshire
Downs. These last two are large, beautiful sheep
of coarse wool and finely developed bodies. There
is also a variety of English sheep called the Lin-
colnshires, which are said to yield a lustrous wool,
in considerable request for imitation of lustre fa-
brics. But none of these last three have been
thoroughly tried in this country ; and they should
be left in the hands of amateurs and men of wealth
until their characters have been further tried.

The choice is therefore to be made among three.
The Leicesters have their admirers. They were
refined, and for this country spoilpd, by Bakewell.
They lay on clear fat under the skin like a hog. I [
have seen this layer of fat three or four inches
thick over the shoulders ; and we are told that the
English graziers sometimes produce it five and
even six inches in thickness. This is too fat for
American tastes, and in my judgment ends the dis-
cussion of this sheep. — Maine Farmer.

Flax Culture.

A writer in the Bureau Co. RepuhUcan, thus dis-

courseth on this subject :

It is enough for the farmer to raise the crop and
remove the seed. Here the producer should stop '
and the manufacturer begin. The flax straw should
then be purchased by some one prepared with ne-
cessary conveniences, machinery and skill, to rot
the fibre, break and hatchel — changing the straw
into lint — when it is ready like cotton or wool to
be baled and sent to the next grade manufacturer.
These lower grades of manufacturers for preparing
the lint should exist in every neighborhood. The
lint when prepared should be shipped to such
points, paper mills or flax factories as would pay
the best.

ESTIMATE OF PBOEIT.

The value of the flax is in its seed and straw. It
has been considered a paying crop when raised for
its seed alone. The yield of seed is from ten to
twenty bushels per acre, and it is now worth about
$3 per bushel. Call the seed twelve bushels to the
acre and the value will be,

Seed .$36 00 |

And one ton of straw 10 00

Total per acre $46 00

This estimate is believed to be moderate, very
much under what the real value is, where manufac-
taring establishments exist.

SOIL AND PREPARATION.

A good corn soil, free from wee-ds, is a, good flax
soil, though rich bottoms and a too sandy soil are
not good. New land and old pastures are prefera-

ble. But as few farmers may have these, I pro-
pose to prepare stubble land for next year's crop
as follows :

As soon as the field is clear of grain plow shal-
low and let the weeds and grain grow till late in
the fall, when ph/w again quite deep that the sub-
soil may be acted upon by the frost of winter. —
Cultivate shallow in the spring as early as the
ground is fit, and then let the ground lie two
weeks for the appearance of more weeds, which
must be killed by thorough harrowing. If inclined
to lumps the ground should be rolled and then har-
rowed. Sow one bushel or a little more per acre,
and cover lightly. Finish by rolling. , :• .
«••

Gapes in Chickens.

We cut the following from the doings of the
Farmers' Institute, as reported in the N. Y. Trib-
une :

T. A. Goodwin, Indianapolis, gives a better plan
than all that have been devised for curing this dis-
ease. He would prevent it. He writes as follows :

"In the transactions of the Institute, June 7,
you discussed gapes in chickens. Not having seen
a case of gapes for nearly ten years, I had suppos-
ed them about extinct. I have nothing to say
againt the learned disquisition as to the origin of
the worm which canses the gaping. Whether it
ever was a louse or not I cannot say, nor is it ma-
terial. Ten years ago when Changhaes were young
I tested an infallible cure. Take a grain of black
pepper, put it in the end of a goose quill so cut as
to receive about one-third of the grain, hold the
chicken's legs between your knees, open the mouth
gently with the left hand, and thrust the quill,
loaded with the grain aforesaid, about four inches
down its throat ; withdraw the quill and the chick-
en never gapes but once more. It kills the worm
nineteen times out of twenty, and the chicken
about nine times out of ten ; but I never discover-
ed that it pays. In short I long since concluded
that in a yard infested with gapes, raising chick-
ens is unprofitable. Some one said new yards are
less affected with gapes than old ones, and thereby
hangs the preventive. To cure gapes is impossible
— to prevent them is easy. You want no sulphur,
no grease, no chives, no onions. It consists sim-
ply in giving the chickens access to plowed ground.
You never see gapes in the yard of a new settler,
around the cabin in the corn field. Gapes are pe-
culiar to a high state of civilization and refinement,
which deprives the young ©f its appropriate food.
You want no coops with plank bottoms to keep
their little feet dry. Put the hen in a movable
coop in your garden, and while the young ones
will destroy a thousand insects which would injure
your garden, they will never have the gapes, I
don't pretend to give the philosophy — I only state
the fact, and I wish to state it strong — chickens
having constant access to plowed ground never

have gapes."

«■>

A Blackberry Freak. — Some Lawton blackber-
ry bushes in our garden, have been in bloom for
over two weeks; berries in all stages of growth
may be found upon the bushes, from berries just
forming up to dead ripe. But the most singular
thing is that the wood is all new, grown this spring
— the old canes having all frozen out last winter.
— Decatur Chronicle.

:-7r.

-TW

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

M

From the Boston Cultivator.

- Malt and Malting,

Barley is chiefly used in America for making
malt for brewers. Malt is an article of quite ex-
tensive commerce. No other cereal will supply its
place for brewing purposes. Therefore, in order
to have good malt, a good article of barley is very
indispensable. Malt looks like barley that has been
sprouted, and the grain tastes quite sweet.

Makino Malt. — When barley is malted it passes
through the same process that it does when it ger-
minates, after being sowed in the soil. The pro-
cess of malting consists in evolving the saccharine
principle. And chemists tell us that the starch is
converted into sugar during the process of malting.
For this reason malt is sweet to the taste- It is
important to keep the different kinds of barley
separate, in order to obtain the highest price for it
per bushel. We collected the details of malt mak-
ing at a malt establishment in Phelps, Oneida Co.,
N. Y., where vast quantities of good malt are
raised.

Malting consists of three operations. The first
is steeping the barley. This is done by putting the
grain into spacious tubs, that will contain 100
bushels, or more. Water is then turned upon it
and it is allowed to steep from 40 to 50 hours It
requires not a little experience in malting to know
when the grain has steeped just enough, and not
too much. It needs to be soft enough to yield to
the pressure of the thumb and finger, and not pro-
duce a milky fluid. The second process consists
in spreading it out on a floor, after taking it from
the steeping tubs. The floors are made of stone or
of sheet iron. Here the grain germinates. Heat
is communicated from furnaces beneath the floor,
to promote germination. As the warmth increas-
es, roots appear from the grain, and in the course
of ten or twelve days the entire grain will have
germinated. The third operation is kUndrying the
grain. This is done by increasing the heat suffi-
ciently to destroy the vegetative power of the
sprouted grain. AH the moisture must be driven
out of it, and the roots must be made quite dry.
OtherwisjC the malt could not be kept in large bins,
as it would heat and spoil.

Loss OF Grain in Malting. — It is said that 100
lbs. of good barley will yield about 80 lbs. of malt.
Consequently, a loss of about one-fifth of the grain
in malting. And if it be not clean and plump, — if
oats, buckwheat, or any other grain be mingled
with the barley, or if different kinds of barley be
mingled, there will be a loss in proportion to the
amount of these impurities. Malt cannot be made
of any other grain, nor of the seeds of noxious
weeds. Therefore, all such impurities lessen the
value of barley for malting. Different kinds of
barley will not malt in the same period of time.
Therefore, if winter and spring barley be mingled,
as the two kinds will not malt alike, there must
necessarily be more or less loss in malting. The
two-rowed and the six-rowed barley will not malt
in the same time. If these things are true — and
those who profess to know affirm that this is the
fact — farmers will perceive the importance of
keeping their barley as pure as practicable. It is
also affirmed that barley which is more than a year
old will not malt well. This will be found correct,
so far as the grain has lost its vegetative power.
But if the grain will germinate well, it will make

Just as good malt, if it be ten years old, as it would
one year after harvest. The young farmer should
guard against all these sources of loss in the bar-
ley crop, and aim always to grow nothing but the
pure grain, and to have that of the very best vari-
ety and quality, and in the best condition as to
ripeness, purity of grain and age ; and to be sure
and raise only which kind that is considered the
best for malting. . V ., ; S. E. S.

Screens for Shelter.

Every year adds to the proofs of the value and
importance of belts or screens of trees as shelter
from severe winds to growing plants. An acquain-
tance in New Jersey recently showed us several ac-
cidental belts which had grown up from nursery
plantations. They were placed in different parts
of Jiis farm, and in every instance the shelter they
had afforded to adjoining crops, whether of grain
or hay, averaged about 50 per cent, additional to
the same crops when exposed to the sweep of
winds. This advantageous result extended to ma-
ny rods from the screens, and then gradually les-
sened as the distance increased. These screens
were mostly some eight or nine years old, and ave-
raged aboat 20 feet high. By selecting valuable
timber trees these belts may be made a source of
double profit, as they may be thinned out and the
timber used, as the trees extend in breadth and
hight. Evergreens have a great advantage over
deciduous trees by the complete barrier which
they afford against the winds of winter when most
needed. The white willow at the West has been
made to form high screens by quick growth, and if
the belts are several trees in breadth, they will
make a good shelter. Evergreens, however, have
the advantage of not sprouting up or suckering,
and they do not commonly injure or exhaust the
adjacent strip of land so much as deciduous trees.

In riding through the different parts of the coun-
try the fields of winter grain afford to the observ-
ing eye many examples of the value of shelter. On
the lee side of woods or trees, or of hills or ridges
of land, the crops have, in most instances, been
slightly injured ; while fields exposed to the full
sweep of wintry winds have suffered severely. It
is true that a thin top dressing of straw or coarse
manure in the few cases where applied, have prov-
ed a valuable protectien. But a more general and
continued shelter would be afforded by belts of
trees, and we invite the continued attention of
land owners to the subject.

We may add that the Norway Spruce usually
grows at least three feet annually when cultivated,
and two feet on good land when not. Consequently
allowing two years for young two feet trees to get
well under way, eight years will give a good twen-
ty feet screen when cultivated, and twelve years
without such treatment — the distance assunder be-
ing some six or eight feet. — Country Gent.

In these times of high prices, it is well to
remember that children can be supplied with,
shoes for less than half the usual annual cost by
wearing Metal-Tipped Shoes, to say nothing of
stockings destroyed and health endangered by wet
feet arising from the childlike habit of wearing out
their shoes at the toe first. — Boston Journal.

274

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

Septembek

Do Bots Kill Horses ?

From a very interesting article in Wilkes' Spirit
we glean the following :

A lawyer had a case to defend, and called on
his friend Dr. B. as a yi^tness^o prove that bots in
horses is a deadly disj?ase. The Dr. replied that he
was not the man to call upon for that purpose, in-
asmuch as it was his opinion that no horse ever
died of the bots. He had looked into the subject,
and h inded the lawyer a manuscript, of which the
following is an outline :

"The manuscript desciibed the bot-fly, which
has its habitation generally in the country, and is
seldom found in cities. It deposites its eggs on
the hair, accompanied with a glutinous subtitance
which adheres the eggs firmly to the hair. These
nits are generally deposited about the knees and
flanks of the horse, and by the slightest attention
can be easily seen. The fly deposites the nits at
tihese points because they are accessible to the
mouth and tongue of the horse. After the depos-
it the fly watches the horse, and as the nits are
liielets, they give no disti rbance, and as the fly
observes no licking at the place of deposit, and be-
ing armed with a weapon by which it can call at-
tention to its desires, it darts to the several places
of deposit and stings the horse. The irritation
caused by the sting induces the horse to lick the <
spot pierced by the fly ; the warm mucous, or sali- !
va, of the mouth and tongue, dissolves the glutin, j
the nit is taken on the tongue into the mouth, and '
with the food passes into the stamach ; there the
nit is warmed into life, becomes a bot, and com j
mences its growth and lives on the food taken in-' '

nous, and lived by suction — it would neither bite
nor bore more than an oyster. When the horse
is well fed, the grub eats so voraciously, that,
gorged, it becomes torpid, and in this condition
lets go its hold by the tail, and passes with the fae-
ces. Country horses almost always have more or
less of these grubs, especially those that run to
pasture. If the horse he kept with a full stomach,
the bot gives no disturbance, and through the win-
ter will void them, to sufifer a return, if let to pas-
ture, the following summer. The reason why no
medicine will eject them arises from their holding
on by the hook, and their refusal to partake of the
medicine. Dietetics alone must be resorted to.

The statement generally made by persons recom-
mending a horse, 'He is a good feeder,' probably
arose from this circumstance, and that owners of
horses had discovered that such horses would be
able to withstand the bots, whilst the horse which
had no appetite, or ate but little, became useless
and died from its effects. Strong, healthy children
in the same way, void them by keeping th^Ir stom-
achs full, whilst the weak and poor feedei?^ become
rickety and feeble, lose the appetite and die."

Top Dressimg Grass Lands. — The New England
Farmer gives some good advice on this subject,
from which we extract the following :

It is the practice of many farmers to top-dress
their grass lands with composted manure as soon
as they conviently can after getting off the hay
crop. It is a good practice. The manure protects
the roots a little from the rays of the sun, and the

- , . ^ , , - . . . first shower washes some of its nutritious proper-

to the stomach or upon the food prepared for it in ; ^j^^ j^^^^ ^^^ ^^jl ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^

the process of digestion. It is provided with a ^^ that they are stimulated to throw out new sets

of leaves, which afford a still further protection,
both to plants and the manure. The surface is al-
so sufficiently hard in summer to allow the teams
to pass over it without cutting ruts, or being poach-
ed by the feet of the animals drawing the load.

We refer to the matter at this particular time in
order to suggest to those who have grass lands
newly laid down — that is, that have been mowed
only one or two years — not to postpone the appli-
cation of some sort of dressing, if they desire to
continue cutting a remunerative crop for several
years. The mistake made by most farmers is, in
postponing the top-dressing too long. K clover is ,
allowed to seed, and is then cut, the roots die and
there can be no further crop from them. If the
clover is cut while in blossom, there will be a sec-
ond crop the same year, and perhaps two crops the
succeeding year, if the land is rich. Red top and
herd grass will continue longer than clover, but
the roots of both of these gradually die out, or
yield to stronger grasses, until the whole crop is
changed from the sweet and nutritious grasses just
named to the wiry "June grass," weeds, or some
other plants of litle value. All this comes from
not top-dressing in season. If this were done, even
though but slightly, after the first crop is cut, and
afterwards each year, the roots of the grasses sow-
ed would be kept in a vigorous condition, and our
mowing fields would not "run out" as they do now.
Under such a practice, moist, and naturally good
lands would yield a ton or a ton and a half of hay
per acre for eight or ten years in succession, with
more certainty than they now yield two- thirds that
amount.

process ot digestion. It is provided
small horny or bony hook at its tail, which it in-
serts into the mucous membrane or inner lining of
the coats of the stomach, and so retains its place.
The horse does not seem to be at all pained by
this operation, perhaps because this membrane is
said to be insensible. If the horse be a -good feed-
er and his master gives him plenty to eat, the horse
and bot thrive together. If he is ill fed, the ne-
cessary nutriment is unprovided, and here the
troubles of the horse begin. The bot is a cormo-
rant ; from the empty stomach of the horse it is
unable to procure its aliment; holding by the
hooks at the tail, it throws its head abo'it in search
of food ; finding none, in the agony of hunger it
beats its head against the sides or coats of the
stomach, applies its mouth to the mucous mem-
brane. This rubbing and violence produces irrita-
tion and inflammation, the stomach contracts, the
horse becomes fretful, suffers intense and unendu-
rable pain, bites at his flanks and at last dies of
his torture. The death of the animal shuts up the
portals of respiration, and the air bursts through
the stomach in every direction, perforating it with
holes ; the bot at once appreciates its condition,
and in the hope of escape from the fallen ruin, re-
laxes its hold by th« tail, makes for the holes,
crawls into and through them, and so, on opening
the animal, appear to have eaten through.

If I remember, he said it was a small white
worm with a black or brownish head, and upon dis-
section it was found that it was provided with no
instrument or tool with which it could make, eat,
scratch, bore, or in any manner make a hole for
itself. It had a smooth mouth and lips, membra-

'.j^

PPP^!BIWf?0?WBBg|^f*^W!*wgB^;^?«^^B^)!^W'!^p5^^ ;*^r

1864.

THE ftlti^IS FIMeK.

275

Time to Harvest Wheat.

A very interesting experiment to determine the
proper time for cuttinji wJieat, is reported in full
in tbe Germantowii Teeegraph, reproduced from
last year. We regret that our limits do not per-
mit us to give the article entire. A field of wheat
of uniform growth and appearance was taken, and
two sheaves cut and labeled eich morning from
the 26th of June t<. the 20th of July. Each lot
was left in the field one day and then placed under
cover, and at an appropriate time thereafter sepa
rately threshed. Equal measures of each was then
carf ?ully weighed, with the following results :
The measure of that cut on
July 20, weighed 18 pounds, 14 ounces.
" 19 " 18 " 14^- "

" 18 " 19 " 2 "

" 17 " 19 " 3 "

" 16 " 19 " 6 "

" 15 " 19 " li "

i<

14

19

8

((

l<

13

19

11

<i

<(

12

1*

12+

((

l(

11

19

14

<(

<(

10

19

13

(1

«(

9

19

12+

t(

li

8

19

10

((

1(

1

19

T

((

IC

6

19

6

it

l(

6

19

5+

it

((

4

\n

3

i(

((

3

19

1

i>

it

2

18

13

ii

l(

1

18

- 10

ii

June 30

18

6

it

((

29

18

5

ii

<(

28

18

0

ii

i(

2*7

17

10

«

<(

26

16

2

((

An experienced miller to whom the samples
were submitted without any knowledge of how
they were produced, selected that cut on July 1 1th
as the best, but hesitated between it and that cut
on the 9th and 10th. The parcels cut July 8th,
Tth, 6th and 5th, looked as well as the other, but
the miller reported them lighter, and said they
would dry away more. The experiment was con-
tinued by reducing the parcels cut after July 4th
to four lots, and grinding them separately. The
first or earliest lot yielded 16 per cent, of flour ;
2d lot, including the parcels cut on the 9th, 10th
and 11, yielded 78 per cent. ; 3d loty 76 per cent. ;
4th lot, 74 per cent. The flour from the 2d lot
was pronounced by far the best.

During the first six cuttings the grain when
crushed between the fingers left nothing but the
husk and a fluid tesembling city milk. During the
next five it seemed to become much thicker and
the husk became more solid. That cut on the 8th,
10th and 11th, when crushed, seemed to be a soft
pulp with no juice. That cut on the 12th could
be broken very readily, while the last cutting
cracked under the teeth, like wheat which has
been kept all winter.

All the members of the party instituting the ex-
periment resolved unanimously, that the proper
time to cut wheat is when the grain, in the middle
of the ear. can be crashed between the fingers,
and leave nothing but the husk and a thick pulp,
without any fluid around its edges.

What shall we Eat ? — Is an important ques-
tion in these times of high prices. Dr. Hall, in a
late number of his Journal of Health — good author-
ity, by the wav — says the cheapest articles of food
at present prices are bread, (especially corn meal),
butter, molasses, beans and rice. He shows that
25 cents worth of flour, at 8 cents per pound, con-
tains as much nourishment as $2 25 worth of beef
at 25 cents per pound ; and that a pint of white
beans, costing 7 cents, has the amount of nutri-
ment of 8^ lbs. of beeJF at 25 cents per pound, or,
in other words, the roast beef diet is twdve timet as
expensive as the beans. Furthermore, a pound of
Indian meal will go as far as a pound of fine flour,
costing nearly twice as much. Here are some of
the common articles of food, showing the amount
of nutriment contained, and the time required for
digestion :

Time of digestion. Amt. of nutriment.

Apples raw 1 h. 50 m. 10 per cent.

Beans, boiled. . . ..2 h. 39 m. 87 per cent.

Beef, roasted 3 h. 30 m. 26 per cent.

Bread, baked 2 h. 30 m. 80 per cent.

Butter 3 h. 30 m. 96 per cent

Cabbage, boiled. .4 h. 30 m. 7 per cent.

Cucumbers, raw. .. 2 per cent.

Fish, boiled 2 h. 9 m. 20 per cent.

Milk, fresh 2 h. 15 m. 7 per cent.

Mutton, roasted. .3 h. 15 m. 30 per cent.

Pork, roasted 6 h. 15 m. 24 per cent.

Poultry, roasted. .2 h. 45 m. 27 per cent.

Potatoes, boiled. .2 h. 30 m. 13 per cent.

Rice, boiled 1 h. 00 m. 33 per cent.

Sugar 3 h. 30 m. 96 per cent.

Turnips, boiled ... 2 h. 30 m. 4 per cent.

Veal, roasted. . . .4 h. 00 m. 25 per cent.

Venison, boiled. .1 h. 30 m. 22 per cent.

According to the above tables, cucumbers are of
very little value, and apples, cabbages, turnips,
and even potatoe?, at present prices, are expen-
sive eating. Some vegetables and fruits, however,
should enter into the family consumption. Among
those which contain the most saccharine matter,
sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets and carrots, are the
most nourishing. Boast pork, besides being an
expensive dish, requires too lengthy a drain upon
the forces of the stomach to be a healthy article of
food./ '■: V v. r < -.

■ ' i»» ■ " ' '* . ■

Shrinkage of Forage Plants in Curing. — John
Wells, of Dorchester, a distinguished agricultural
writer of his time, said the loss of weight in drying
green herbage will b£ found to vary essentially as
compared with that of Scotland. It should be pre-
mised that the time of cutting the several grasses,
&c., in the following statement, was that usually
practised by husbandmen in this Commonwealth.
Of 100 lbs. of forage plants cured in 1822, the pro-
duct was as follows:
100 lbs. of green white clover, gave of hay 17^4 lbs.' ^ ''
100 " of red clover, " " 27}4 "

100 " herds' grass, " " 40

100" fresh meadow, •« '• 38

100 » talt grass, •• " 39

100 •« mixed, 2d crop of rowan" " 18%
100 " com stalks, " " 25

100" ♦' cut in milk with ear 25 .

It should be observed that the weight will vary,
from ripeness and other causes, such as wetness of
the season, shade, thickness of growth, kind of soil
&c. The above statement will be read with inter-
est at this time. — Boston OiMimtor.

c< --. ,.

•• ■

«• ■■■'■'■

276

THE ILLINOIS FARMER

September

Morgan Horses.

Among the best horses of the Northern and
Eastern States, are those called the Morgans, in
not a few characteristics resembling the Arabian
horse. They are well known and esteemed for ac-
tivity, hardiness and docility ; are adapted for all
work ; good in every spot, except for races on the
turf. Some of these horses have been known as
fast trotters. They are lively and spirited, lofty in
their carriage and elegant in their action, carrying
themselves gracefully in the harness, and, for the
saddle none exceed them. These horses have size
in proportion to their weight ; bone clean, sinewy
legs, compactness, short, strong backs, powerful
lungs, strength and endurance. A mixture of the
Morgan blood, though small, iray be easily known
from any other stock in the country. There is a
remarkable similarity prevailing in all of this face.
They are known by their short, lean heads, wide
across the face at the eyes ; eyes lively and prom-
inent ; open and wide in the under jaws, lai^e
wind-pipe, deep brisket, heavy and round in the
body, broad and short in the back, short limbs in
proportion to size, broad quarters, a lively quick
action, indomitable spirit, move true and easy in a
good round trot, and are fast on a walk. Their
color is a dark bay, chestnut, brown or black, with
dark flowing mane and tail ; their hight is about
fifteen hands ; the head is well up, and they move
without a whip. Like the Arabian, they are high
mettled, but uniting the playfulness and good hu-
mor of the pet Limb, with the power and courage
of the war horse, whose neck, in the language of
Job, "is clothed with thunder, mocking at fear
and rejoicing in his strength." These horses have
been sold as high as two thousand dollars, and a
number of them occupy the stables of the Emperor
of France. — Am. Stock Journal.

Prairie Tea — Jersey Tea — American Tea. —
Charles Boynton writes from Lyons, Iowa, as fol-
lows :

"Inclosed with this I send a few of the tip-ends
of the sprouts or branches of a shrub that grows
plentifully throughout this region, on the higher
portions of the prairies, and which has been called
by some Prairie Tea, but is generally known as
Red Root. It grows about two feet high, in clus-
ters of shoots springing from the root, or from the
shoots of last year's growth — I think both. The
root is large when compared with the top, is very
tough and runs out in horizontal branches to a
great distance. It is much dreaded by prairie
breakers, and a higher price is paid for breaking
up land in which it abounds. It is of a red color
and is very astringent. The leaves of this plant
have, no doubt, in decoction, somewhat of the fla-
vor of tea, and they resemble it in shape and other
characteristics. I am led to suspect that it may
contain Thein, and I have or can gather sufficient
of it for an analytical test, if such can be had. I
think it likely that the same thing has been pre-
sented to you before, and that you are better ac-
quainted with it than myself. If you see fit to
show it to the Club, I shall probably learn some-
thing about it from the IVibune."

Yes, sir, you will learn that it is the identical ar-
ticle that was extensively used after "the great
Boston tea party," and during the Revolution was

called "Jersey tea," and of late has been called
"American tea," and as such has been gathered
and cured to sufficient extent to fill a great many
empty tea chests, and from these the tea has been
retailed in this city to considerable extent ; a good
deal of it h-'s doubtless been sent to the country
and sold at a dollar a pound to the very persons
who have had to pay an extra price for breaking
prairie that was covered with the identical shrub
bearing the leaves which furnish their tea-party
beverage. The leaves of this shrub do not contain
Thein, nor do they contain anything deleterious,
and they do make rather a pleasant beverage,
which is a very good substitute for the real Chi-
nese article. The leaves should he gathered when
fresh and green and dried in the shade, or else like
tea leaves, by fire heat in shallow pans, stirring
constantly. We recommend our Western friends
to try a little of the abundant "prairie tea."

The above we cut from Solon Robinson's report
of the Farmers' Club in the N. T. Tribune. Few
of our readers j in Central and Northern Illinois,
who are not familiar with the Red Root of the
prairie breaker. The root is of solid wood and of-
ten three inches in diameter. The top is annual ;
that is, it is always burned to the ground, and thus
makes an annual growth. If protected from the
fire we do not know that it could not stand the
winter. — Ed.

Lightning Rods. — S. H. Sutton, Naples, N. Y.,
says:

"I am an attentive reader of the doings of the
Farmers' Club, and would be pleased to have yon
present a subject to the Club for discussion, viz f'
Are lighthing rods a security and protection to
buildings against the effects of lightning ?

At this time there are two or three splendid
teams and carriages fitted up for the purpose of
'rodding' every man's house and barn that they can
by eloquent arguments, make to see the great dan-
ger of lightning, and the 'great protection' their
rods will give to life and property, Many of my
neighbors never have been struck yet with light-
ning ; yet they have been struck by these peddlers
with the idea of their danger, and badly struck
with the bill of expense. Now, before I 'rod' my
house I want to know what the Club thinks of the
utility of lightning rods,"

Well, sir, if you have been, as you say, an atten-
tive reader of these reports, you do know that the
subject has been most fully discussed, both by
lightning rod makers and by those who disbelieve
in their utility, and that the evidence adduced has
always been largely in favor of not incurring one
dollar of expense for a conductor. The reasons
for this conclusion are, that we cannot find that
they have ever saved a building, or that an insur-
ance office will take a risk for one cent less upon
a house with than it will without conductors. Be-
sides, we do know that buildings furnished in the
most "scientific" manner with conductors, have
been struck by lightning, and some of us would
not accept a conductor as a gift. That is what
the Farmers' Club thinks of their utility. r—^ofon
Bobinson in N. Y. Trib. .^ ... ,. ^.

■-''W^

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

27T

The Vegetable Gyrl. - ''

'", IN RHYME. ."'■::■;.;:

Behind a market stall installed, I mark it every
day, stands at her stand the fairest girl I've met
with at the bay ; her two lips are of cherry red, her
hands a pretty pair, with such a pretty turn-up
nose, and lovely reddish hair, •

'Tis there she stands from morn till night, her
customers to please; and to appease their appe-
tites, she sells them beans and peas. Attracted by
the glances from the apple of her eye, and by her
Jersey apples, too, each passer by will buy.

She stands upon her little feet, throughout the
livelong day, and sells her celery and things — a
big feat, by the way. She changes off her stock
for change, attending to each call ; and when she
has but one beet left, she says, "Now that beats
all."

••>

The Crops in Kankakee. — "We think from what
we can leam of the balance of the State, that Kan-
kakee county will be the banner county of the
State on crops this year. She has harvested or is
growing a full crop of all the staple farm products.
Wheat is a full crop, and has been harvested with-
out injury; oats a henvycrop, and the corn pros-
pect is truly grand. The ears this year are earing
up where the tassels have h-en in foimer years. —
Kankakee county is all right this year. — Kankakee
Gazette.

-"9*-

Salt for Sheep. — Salt is not, perhaps, quite as
necessary for the sheep in winter as in summer,
but still, all good shepherds regard it as indispens-
able. It should be fed as often as once a week, in
the feeding trough?, or by brining a quantity of
hay or straw. The "Vermont breeders almost uni
versally keep it standing constantly before their
sheep in boxes placed in the sh.ep houses. My
friend. Gen. Otto F. Marshall, of Stuben county.
New York, has an excellent and economical way
of feeding it. The orts when titken from the sheep
racks are thrown into a box rack wider and con-
siderably higher than the common ones and placed
under a shed. The orts are sprinkled with brine,
and the sheep when hungry for salt go to the ort
rack and consume them. Thus all the hay is sav-
ed.— Practical Shepherd.

Mowing the Roadsides. — The law excluding
stock from the roadways of the States is inducing
a new order of cleanlinens. It is purchasing tidi-
ness. It is made the interest of the firmer to mow
the roads" des. Good crops of grnss are cut there,
and we notice they are biding harvested generallvi
We also notice that in some cases the weeds, this-
tles and elders are kept standing. While we would
not urge cutting them with the gra«s scythe, we do
urge for the farmer's sake, that the bush scythe
follow the grass scythe. Do not let the roadsides
longer remain nurseries of weeds for the farm; the
labor exp^-nded in cutting them is time and labor
saved in the end. Just now theoldersarein bloom,
the thistles are bending, the daisies are making
seed, and shou'd be cut at once to save the exten-
sion of this army of occupation. — Rural N. T.

Crops in Champaign County."*"

Grain. — The new crop of oats and wheat is
now beginning to come in quite rapidly, and the
enterprising farmers of Champaign county aie reap-
ing a rich harvest of Greenbacks for tbeir labor.
The horn of plenty has been emptied in glorious
abundance upon our people. Ceres has cast her
golden showers in lavishness on every hand, and
everybody is ffejoicing because of abundant crops.
Never in this State were farmers better paid for
their labor than now. All kinds of farm products
command high prices. Wheat at the present wri-
ting is worth $1 90 per bushel, oats 53 cents, flax
sesd $2, potatoes $2, apples $1, &c. Our ware-
housemen have all thrown open their ample grane-
ries, and ready and waiting with loads of Green-
backs for the farmers. — Champaign Gazette. .

i^;;»' >i»v

Eg6s of the Bee Moth. — The eggs of Uie bee
moth are entirely round and very small, being
only about the one-eighth in diameter. In the
oviducts they are ranged together somewhat in the
form of a rosary. They are not developed succes-
sively like those of the queen bee, but are found
fully formed in the ducts, a few days after the moth
emerges from the cocoon. The female deposites
them in small parcels or clusters on the combs. If
any one wishes to witness the discharge of eggs,
he need only seize by the head a female two or
three days old, holding it between his finger and
thumb. She will instantly protrude her oviposi-
tor, and the eggs may be seen passing along the
semi-transparent duct.

That the moth does not deposit her eggs in the
po lun of flowers as some imagine, but on the
combs in the hive, is very certaini I have repeat-
edly found little clusters of eggs on combs which I
removed out of the hives — Dr. Donhoff.

New Stock Yards. — The new stock yards
of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R. Co.,
in Chicago, are being fitted up in the most ex-
tensive and convenient manner, and will add
greatly to the facilities for receiving and ship-
ping stock of all kinds. Four of Fairbank's
Stock Scales, forty-two feet long, and wid«
enough to weigh an entire car load at once, are
being built in the yards, so that all stock receiv-
ed or delivered can be promptly and correctly
weighed. '■''•'' •- '» ^ ' .r - - -

SAifiTARt Commission. — We are in receipt of a
circular from Col. John R. Woods, agent of the
State Sanitary Commission, giving notice that a
building will be erected on the Fair Grounds to re.
ceive contributions for Sanitary purposes. We
hope every person attending the Fair will contrib-
ute something toward this noble object. Take a
bushel of onions, a sack of potatoes, a bushel of
dried apples or some ready cash ; let the amount
be something from each individual, and our soj.
diers will be all the better ofiffor the effort.

^Hiii-i

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278

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

September

#lit0f's ®aMf.

BAKEB & FHILUFS • ■ ■ FTTBLISHEBS.

M. L. PUNLAP, Kditor-

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, SEPT., 1864.

The heat of summer has become more subdued ;
the air is hazey and we can see the changing sea
son. No more the fierce heat of the dog days is
shed down on us. The fields where waved the
small grains are russet, or present the browned
furrow where the thrifty farmer is already prepar-
ing for the next year's crop ; he wants the sun
and air, the dews and rains, to prepare the ele-
ments of plant life, and is now making of his stub-
ble a fallow, that will be of value. Instead of
growing a crop of autumn weeds to impoverish
his soil, he is calling in the elements to make it all
the richer. He is manuring his land with brains
from which he will harvest great returns.
*«• '

The Tribune Strawberry. — We saved the Mon-
itor and Brooklyn Scarlet, each of which has a
dozen new plants, showing that they are vigorous
growers. Mr. Fuller is to send us the Col. Ells-
worth, when the list will be complete. We like
the way in which Mr .F. puts up his plants to send
by mail, iis they come in good order. In all other
cases we have received them in bad order.

Wood's Prize Mower. — We purchased one of
these mowers early in the season. We know very
well that there are several very excellent mowers
besides this one, but there :s one very serious fault
with the majority and that is the want of a
good supply of all the parts that are liuble to break
or wear out. Wood is the only one that we know
of who keeps a full supply of these things at all
points where his machines are used or sold. We
would not hesitate to decide between two or more
good machines on this point. Several machines
are on sale here, but no other one has a supply of
extras. One of our neighbors has a good mower,
but breaking a section out of one of the sickles he
has had to send hundreds of miles after a new sec-
tion. His loss will be not less than five dollars in
the delay by using the one sickle, for his team
must stop while it is bt ing ground, and should any-
thing happen to it he is out of work, when team
and hands are idle. We have had too much sad
experience in this line to run any more risk than
we are obliged to. We hive one farm implement,
a most excellent one, by the way ; but we brok-

one of the parts and had to telegraph a long dis-
tance for a duplicate, and after waiting three days
it came, with no trifling charge, compared with the
actual cost of the part needed.

We were going to speak of the Wood mower,
and how we liked it, but got off the subject. Af-
ter cutting ninety acres of meadow, and expending
half a dollar for a new pin and for shrinking the
wrist, we sold it to a neighbor for $8 60 less than
its cost, repairs included, and received cash in
hand. Eighty acres of this grass was prairie and
part of it very rough at that. The team used was
the lightest of three that we have, and they came
through the work with the least possible effort. —
Ten cents an acre for the use of a mower is not a
large outlay. This same mower will doubtL s cut
two hundred more acres this season. Our hay hav-
ing been cut early, is of the best quality ; and we
do not have the mower to house nor lay out of the
use of the money. The wear is so slight on this
mower that it must be used a long time before it
will sell much below its cost as a second hand
mower.

SnMMER Apples. — There is not a supply of good
summer eating and cooking apples. Abnut one-third
of our own orchard are summer apples, but we shall
add another thousand trees to it this fall. Early
Harvest, Red June, Red Astra chan, Kiikbridge
White, Early Pennock, Sweet Bough, etc., have
the money in them. At this date they are in de-
maud at two dollars a bushel. The truth is, wc
have never known the market to be fully supplied
with summer apples. The Keswick Codlin is a
great bearer and should supply the market with
cooking apples, but orchardi&ts are afraid that they
will overdo the market with them. But of this we
apprehend no immediate da^^ger, so long as Codlins
will bring fifty cents to a dollar a bushel at the
orchard, no complaint should be had on that score.
We have two hundred and twenty-five trees of this
variety, now six years planted, paying us a goodly
sum, and we would not complain at several thou-
sand more trees. If you cannot sell the apples,
you can make vinegar, and dry apples of the sur-
plus. The trees are not plenty in the nurseries.
We have grown them very largely, but the demand
for the trees has reduced our stock very material-
I3'. We shall endeavor to supply our immediate
local demand for the summer apples within the
next dozen years. We have no objection to grow-
ing the summer apples at double the price that
winter apples bring, which is usually the case in
all our markets. A very common cooking summer
apple brings a better price than the best of those
for winter. ' .

r|f^

x^.iK^wi^^^T^ '-iyw-w

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

Thk Subsoil Plow. — No farmer should allow
himself to be without this plow. Deere and Co.,
of M oline, make a most excellent one, called Mapes'
Subsoil Lifting Plow. It is of steel and just the
thing with which to prepare orchard ground ; and
all soils when you are in need of large crops. Is
a farmer in debt ? — get a subsoil plow and make a
larger crop, just enough more to pay it oflF. Does
he want that other piece of land ? — subsoil for the
required dollars. Does he want a barn or new
house ? — put in the subsoil plow. In fact, if you
want money pretty badly, use the subsoil plow.

Kentttcky Nttrseeies. — Can fruit and ornamen-
tal trees come from Kentucky — fiom Westein
Kentucky, amid rebel hordes and Jeff. Davis sym-
pathizers ? In answer to this, we have the cata-
logue of Messrs. George S. Curtis & Company,
of Maysville, Kentucky, a pamphlet of fifty
octavo pages closely printed, containing a list of
all the heart could wish in the useful and ornamen-
tal. The trade list of the same establishment is
also extensive and worthy the attention of tree
planters and dealers. The mild climate, of West-
ern Kentucky offers advantages in the propagation
of many varieties of trees and plants. Among
these may be counted the Kentucky coffee tree,
the more hardy magnolias, rhododendrons, azelia
althea, etc.

The Old Rochester Nursery. — In the advertis-
ing department will be found the card of this old
establishment. The agent, Mr Perkins, called on
us a few days since, and we are satisfied that he at
least is a simon pure agent, and not one of the tree
peddling humbugs that float from place to place.
We shall therefore expect that his customers will
get what they bargain for. He is making rather a
specialty of the more hardy magnolias, such as the
acumineta, tripelata, purpura and conspicua, of
which he is selling trees eight to ten feet high and
of blooming age.

We are not prepared to say how well these mag-
nolias will stand on the prairie, but Mr. P. assures
us that he has found them in different parts of the
State doing well and appearing perfectly hardy.
In Indiana and Ohio we know the magnolia accu-
minata is among the most hardy of ornamental
trees, and we shall have confidence in it here. The
Country Gentleman says that this nursery occupies
250 acres.

The Grape Culturist. — We have numerous let
ters in regard to this work. It is first rate. Send
to Andrew S. Fuller, Brooklyn, N. Y. The price
is $1 25.

Agricultural College Grant. — We learn thafc
Gov. Yates has appointed the following gentle-
man a committee to report some plan in regard to
the above :

Rev. T. M. Eddy, Rev. W. W. Evarts, Hon. J
H. Muhlke, Chicago ; Hon. C. B. Lawrence, Gales-
burg ; Kersey H. Fell, Bloomington; J. M. ?tur-
tevant, Jacksonville ; Hon. Cyrus Edwards, Alton ;
Gen. Haynie, Cairo. '

All we a?k is that the fund is not used to bol-
ster up some debt-ridden or sectarian institution.

The donation was intended for the benefit of the
farming and naochanical interests, and it is due
these classes that the school to be instituted under
it, be free from iill other isms.

Neither do we want model farms or model work-
shops, but schools in which to educate these class-
es in their respective callings.

Chess in Wheat. — Now is the time to dispense
with chess in wheat : don't sow it. See that not a
grain of chess invests your seed wheat. The seed
will come u in the low ground, but unless the soil
is very wet it will not grow on the high land ;
hence, if the wheat is winter killed at all, it will be
more so in the low than on the high land, and it
is just there that the chess will be most sure to
come up ; and it is there it will tiller out the best
and make the bett show in the crop. That the
seed will lie in the soil for years and then grow,
we have the best of testimony. You can have
enough chess without sowing it ; birds scatter it
far and w'de, so you need not have it in your seed
wheat. We now have jjlenty of fanning mills that
will clean this pest out of the seed.

Yellow Seed in Flix. — In some lots of flax seed
coming to market, we observe a large percentage
of this seed. This is taken out of the flax seed at
the ware house aid th own away ? No such thing.
It is sent Enst and brings a good price, but the
farmers get nothing for it. The oil of yellow seed
is an essential oil and valuable for burning and for
machinery ; but as it will not combine with the
paints and dry, is not only of no value for the pur-
pose, but a decided damage to it. Pure linseed oil
will readily unite with the paint and dry in, but a
small percentage of yellow seed makes it like lard,
and it will not drv.

A Begasse Carrier. — In all corn mills a begasse
carrier should be used so as to load the refuse cane,
on a wagon rack, everj load of which should go to
the orchard or the pasture lot, direct from the
mill ; do not let it lie about the mill to sicken the
air where all should he sweet and clean.

^m&t::^

IWRWW^^BlBnifBBIpWWJBpwwp

280

THE ILLINOIS FARMEK.

September

Illinois Natural History Socbett. — The

second volume of Transactions is now being
printed. It will contain 300 pages, and will be.
beautifully illustrated with engravings on stone.

The following are among the articles :

1st. Prof. Turner's address on Education, at the
dedication of the Museum.

2d. Dr. George Vasey's new Catalogue of tha
Plants of Illinois.

3d. Origin of the Prairies, by Prof. Alexander
Winchell.

4th. Trees in Winter, by Dr. Frederick Brendel,
with fifty illustrations.

5th. B. D. Walsh's Papers on Entomology.

6th. Natural Resources of our Commonwealth,
by C. D. Wilber.

Yth. The Avalanche of the Ocean, by Prof.
Turner.

M 8th. Limits of Aborescent Vegetation in Illi-
nois, by Dr. Vasey.

9th. New Theory of Respiration, by Dr. J. A.
Sewal.

10th. The Illinois Coal Fields, by C. D. Wil-
ber, with forty illustrations.

11th. Chess and Wheat.

12th. Miscellaneous Papers.

13th. Secretary's Report.

14th. Curator's Report.

Address C. D. Wilber, Editor, Box 385, Bloom-
ington, Illinois.

Cotton. — We have often asserted that cotton
can be grown as far north as latitude 40. We
think it will pay at 25c. a pound. Tlie plants can
as easily and as safely be transplanted as the cab-
bage. We have plants that were set out about the
middle of June that have been in bloom for more
than a week. The plants are not large but ihey
can be set close, and will thus produce a fair crop.
When the sweet potato was first introduced few
thought it would succeed ; now nearly every far-
mer grows them. In the next place they could
not be kept until January, much less wintered
over. Now this is done in our common prairie
housies by many persons, and soon it will become
a common thing to do it. When cotton plants are
grown in hot beds and set out the middle of May
in good, rich, well cultivsited soil, we shwll have a
good crop. Perhaps not every year, for even corn
has been known to prove a short crop at times,
but a good average yield. Thirty years ago no one
thought cotton a diflBcuU thing to grow. Perhaps
some other crops can be grown at a belter profit
and exchanged for cotton ; if so we have no com-
plaints to m; ke if it is not grown. We write this
June 25th, and have the plants in bloora to verrify
our position.

The Temperature.

THERMOMETER IN THE OPEN AIR.

Dav of Month.

1864. July.

. 1
. 2

. 3
. 4
. 5
. 6
. 1
. 8
. 9
.10
.11
.12

13
.14
.15
.16
.17
.18
.19
.20

21
.22
.23
.24
.25
.26
.27
.28
.29
.30
.31

7 A. M.

2 p. M.

83

94

71

90

80

92

68

84

72

84

81

94

85

92

82

94

75

98

70

90

76

84

78

86

74

88

71

86

77

84

78

95

88

95

74

92

74

90

73

88

65

78

64

75

68

82

80

88

64

92

65

92

62

93

78

95

78

98

84

94

80

94

9 P. M.

72
70
64
68

78
84
80
76
80
78
74
75
71
80
77
80
82
75
76
70
62
64
74
70
72
74
74
80
85
76
78

Means

70

84

70

Mean for the month 66

The average of the month has been high, with a
sudden change on the 21st, occasioned by heavy
rain at the north. On the 6th and 18th we had
rain ; in some parts quite heavy, but light with us.
The month closed dry and hot. Corn is doing well;
the early planted is very fine, but the late is feel-
ing the effects of the drouth. Without rain soon>
the potato crop will be short. Farmers are just
beginning to cut prairie hay, though they should
have been through with it at this date. Thousands
of acres of prairie hay will yet be cut in this
county. Our last new swarm of bees came out on
the ?5th. On the 30th we saw them for the first
at work on the buckwheat. Turnips sown the 5th
came up, but those of the 15th have not oppeared.
The apples are doing poorly, needing rain very
much. On the 30th and 31st showers went round,
as usual following the streams and groves, giving
us cloudy days with promise of rain, but to be bro-

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

281

ken promises. Every year adds its testimony to
the value of early planted corn over that late plan-
ted. Some day we shall learn to plow for this
crop in the fall and late in the eummer, and to
plant early.

A bad season for grape cuttings and layers of all
kinds ; a good year to kill weeds, break up slough
land and prepare the line for willow fences. While
Phoenix and others are settling the veracity of
swamp vs. white willow, let every man who would
like a hedge in low ground, prepare the line, say
ten feet wide, and be ready to set the cuttings ear-
ly in the spring.

LocKPORT Nursery, of E, Moody k Sons. — ^The
trade list of this nursery is at hand. We observe
the prices of trees have gone up. When we add to
the extra price the extra freight tariff, trees for or-
chards will cost a trifle to the tree planter.

1863. 1864.

Peach per m |80 |200

Apple " 10 90

Pear " 800 850

Plum " 250 460

Cherry" 150 250

Rather important to those buying largely. Trees

of size for retailing are much above these prices.

Roses.— Every house must have its roses ; we say
must, for without roses a house is not a house. —
Every farm house must then have roses ; they can-
not and should not be dispensed with. A climb-
ing rose is a pretty thing in bloom, or when its fo-
liage is half grown ; but what we like most is a
bomantan) or monthly rose that gives as roses from
May to October ; — great round roses, with beauti-
ful, crimped petals, that laugh in the simshine and
gather the'dew into pearls. Such roses please us,
are hardy and require only rich, dry soil, cutting
back in autumn and a slight covering for winter.
By all means have them on their own roots and
they will never disappoint you. Grafted roses are
a fraud and a delusion, whatever may be said of
them bv those growing plants for sale. When
these roses have stood year after year in the same
place they become well rooted and send up strong
shoots that greet us with abundance of roses.

Moss roses are beautiful in their season and can-
not well be dispensed with.

All roses should be cut back in the autumn and
have some straw or coarse manure thrown over
them ; and do not take it off until late in April
Some of the Jime roses are very beautiful, and as
they are cheaply grown a few, such as George IV.
Aureti, Madam Plantier, &c. should be had. If you
have little time to cultivate roses, mulch the

ground heavily in the spring, and in August take

it off and dig up the surface. In this way you

make strong plants, and strong plants make large,

fine flowers.

««>

State Horticultpral Socibtt. — This Society
will not hold a Fair this year. A meeting of the
members will be held some time during the State

Fair. ,

••► .

Illinois Fairs.
State Fair Decatur. Sept. 12

County Fairs. V ;

Champaign Champaign Sept. it — 80

Cass Virginia. . . .Aug. 30 — Sept 1

Marion . . ... ....... Salem Sept. 5 — 8

LaSalle ;.. Ottawa Sept. 6 — 9

Morgan Jacksonville. . . . Sept. 6 — 9

St Clair Belleville Sept. 6 — 9

Union Central Atlanta Sept. 6 — 9

Lake Libertyvil.e. ....

Kankakee Kankakee Sept T — 9

Kane Geneva Sept. 7 — 9

Bureau Princeton Sept.13 — 15

Kendall Bristol Sept.20 — 22

Hancock Carthage Sept.20— 28

Ford Paxton Sept.21— 28

McLean Bloomington. . . . Sept. 26 — 80

DuPage Wheaton Sept.26— 28

Pike Pittsfield Sept 27— 29

Fulton Lewiston Sept.27 — 29

Warren Monmouth Sept.27 — 29

Whiteside Sterling Sept.27— 30

DeKalb DeKalb Sept 28—80

Carroll Mt. Carroll Sept 28— 30

Schuyler Rushville Sept. 28— 30

Ogle Oregon Sept.28 — 80

Cumberland Majority Point Sep. 29 — Oct.l

Washington Nashville Oct. 5 — 7

DeWitt Clinton. Oct. 6— 8

Macoupin Carlinville Oct, 1 1 — 14

Vermillion Catlin. . ; Oct. 11 — 14

Monroe Waterloo Oct. 12 — 14

For the Illinois Farmer.
Sterling, Whiteside Co., 111., Aug. 8, '64.
M. L. Dunlap, Esq. Dear Sir:

You ask what change in our railroad relations
since the union of the N. W. with the G. & C. U.
R. R. ? I would say, so far as I know, they re-
main the same, except a greatly increased tariff.
We had hoped for the permanent interest of
the road, to say nothing of those which belong to
Agriculture, that a more just and liberal policy
would have been pursued, that this unjust and odi-
ous warehouse monopoly might have been broken
up. If so it has not come to my knowledge. The
fanners of Illinois, if I mistake not, will sooner or
later awake to this subject and demand a law such
as other States have found necessary, to protect
and regulate its railroad interests, also the inter-

^^^7^^"™?!?!

2=52

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

Septembee

ests of the people ia this matter of the weak
against the strong. I hope it will be brought be
fore the people on every proper occasion.

BEES,

You speak of your bees. I am glad you take an
interest in trying to diffuse a knowledge for their
more humane and successful treatment. It would
be wrong to judge of the merits of bee-keeping by
this and the previous j'ear, (1863.) I have no re-
collection since my settlement in the State (1836)
of two seasons following each other so disastrous
and discourrtging as the present and the past. The
Langstroth is undoubtedly a good hive, but, after
all, any well formed and chambered hive, if used
with an intelligent care, cannot but succeed. Bees
need protection from the nun in summer and from
the cold in winter; also plenty of honey in store
to carry them thicugh the trying months of March
and April. Young swarms seldom do and never
should leave clean and cool hives, especially if pro-
tect'.'d from the sun. Artificial swarming I have
never practised, requiring some experience and
more time than I generally have had at command.
Bee-keeping, to make it a success, should be car-
ried on in a favorable locality, and with such num-
bers as will make it remunerative. It costs almost
as much time to look after ten as one hundred
swarms.

CROPS AND FRUIT PROSPECT.

The want of rain is here being seriously felt, and
except it rains very soon, our staple, the corn crop,
must be much shortened ; and at any time subject
to an eirly and destructive fro-^t. The apple crop
up t.) this time has been promising, but the drouth
is now telling fearfully on the older trees, especial,
ly those not cultivated or in grass. The gradual
' decay not only here, but I have noticed in many
of the older States, of our most reliable varieities
of apples, cannot but awaken serious apprehension
as to the permanency and future of our orchards.

STORING OF CORN.

I am now shelling the crib of corn noticed by
you when list here. That crib of corn is not with"
out, or rather has imparted some usefnl and prac-
ticiil lessons. The outside crib or bin, after being
stored nearly four years, was found well preserved,
except a few ears on the outside, and those might,
I believe, have been saved, had bevelled boards
been used instead of square edge. But I cannot
say as much of the middle crib or bin. You will
recollect it was eight feet wide, and surrounded on
all sides by at least one foot open space, yet it in-
spected, "soured," retaining at the same time its
fresh appearance. From this experiment I am sat-
isfied that Indian corn can be preserved if kept
dry and in the ear, provided the cribs are not too
large, any reasonable length of time ; an item of

experience which individuals may, but which

States cannot overlook. ■■'■'.'■>

, ^ Very truly,

L. S. Pennington.
— We have heard of numerous complaints in re-
gard to the Galena railroad warehouse monopoly,
but we trust the new management will see the mat-
ter in its true light and if they have not already
corrected it, will do so at once. Doubtless the
difficulty is more imaginary than real, yet railroad
companies should not allow even the appearance
of favoritism in regard to warehousing. The en-
hanced prices are what we all submit to in these
inflated times. While the Dr. complains of the

high freight he makes no similar allusion to the
high price of corn. We think he will survive both
these inflictions, especially the latter on his thirty
thousand bushels of ten cent corn, even if part of
it inspects sour

The Dr. is right on the storage of com. If put'
up dry and kept well aired it will keep sound a long
time. We had saved up four years' surplus, and
are now feeding and selling from the crop of 1861.
This had been exposed to several rain storms after
cribbing before the roof was put on, and inspects
sour, while that of the year 1861 is perfectly sound,
having been kept dry from the time of harvest.

We have before stated that Dr. P. is one of our
most successful bee keepers, and from him we have
had many valuable hints. Had he the Langstroth
hive as now improved, we have no doubt that he
would be pleased with it. To keep out the miller,
it is ahead of anything that we have used. If bees
are damaged by them it will be our own fault. —
Last year with us was a bad one ; but this year is
highly favorable, considering the bad condition in
which the winter left our stocks.

We have another suggestion in the good culture
of the apple orchard If we would make the apple
crop profitable we must plow and mulch. Not a
load of sorgo begnsse should be left at the works,
but all of it should go into the orchard and among
other trees ; it will pay to haul it out. — Ed.

Swine I Swine !

Those wishing specimens of the breed of Swine for
many years bred of the Dlinois Hospital for the
Insane, and now favorably known as the "Hospital
Breed," can obtain choice animals at moderate pri-
ces. Apply to E. P. JONES,

Farm Steward.

N. B. — Persons having these Swine, if they wish
to effect sales, are requested to correspond as above
stating time and place of purchase. ^ . '

Jacksonville, HI. June, 1864. -

Aug. 1, '64

1864.

THE iLLmOIS FAKMEB.

Index.

September ....• 355

Reaper Trial at'Catlin.,... 256

Haying made Easy,. i..„ 257

Bursuu's Grain Binder.. .'..„ 258

Trade of Chicago 259

Transplanting Evergreens 261

Preparing land for Fall Crops 261

Destruction of Forests.... 262

Galushaand Phoenix on White Willow 263

State Fair 264

Fine vs. Coarse Wool 265

Comstock's Spader ,■.,.. 265

Freedman's Bulletin 266

Evans' Rotary Spader ........ 266

Immense Strawberry Crop 267

A Farmer on Agricultural Education. ...„., 267

City of Champaign 268

Bark Lice „..- 268

Raspberries and Blackberries..'.'. 269

Mutton and Wool 269

Flax Culture 270

Gapes in Chickens „... 278

A Blackberry Freak 270

Malt and Malting 273

Screens for Shelter .*.............. 273

Metal- Tipped Shoes 273

Do Bots Kill Horses? 274

Top Dressing Grass Lands...... 274

Time to Harvest Wheat 275

What shall we Eat? , 275

hSrinkage of Forage Plants in Curing 275

Morgan Horses 246

Prairie Tea , 276

Lightning Rods 276

The Vegetable Girl 277

The Crops in Kankakee Co 277

Salt for Sheep , ,..,.. ...... 277

Mowing the Road Side..., 277

Crops in Champaign Co 277

Eggs of the Bee Moth „.... 277

New Stock Yards 277

Sanitary Commission , 277

Editor's Table 278

Wood's Prize Mower— Summer Apples — The
Tribune Strawberry — The Subsoil Plow — Ken-
tucky Nursery — The Old Rochester Nursery... 279

The Grape Cultnrist „ 279

Agricultural College Grant......... 279

Chess in Wheat 279

Yellow Seed in Flax 279

A Begasse Carrier 279

111. Nat. History Society 280

Cotton 280

The Temperature for July 280

Lock port Nursery ...^.. 281

Roses , , 281

111. Fairs.,... .,....,.. 281

Letter ef L, S. Pennington , 281

Bees .' 282

Storing of Corn 282

Galena R. R 282

Cider Mills. ■ >

KEY-STONE A HUTCHINSON'S CIDER MILLS

for sale by .

''^'"'\-:;':.\_ ■',",■' -:',/:.' "A. H. HOVEY,

. 194

Augl.l864-lt ■:■:. V

194 Lake St, Chieago.

THE inCTOBGAHE MILL.

CLARE SORGO MACHIirE CO.

^-' V ; : MANUFACTURERS,

122 Main SL, Cincinnati, Ohio.

This niill constructed upon entirely new principles,
was first presented to the Public last year, and im-
mediately took its place at the head of all machinery
in its class.

Five State Fair First iPremiums !

^ Ww© awarded it in rapid successiofty

Over the Six Leading Mills of th»
Country.

The folowing are its distinguishing features :
Gearing Lapped, by which the Scraper is discard-
ed and Choking rendered impossible. Diagonally
Braced,— Main Roll Flanged, Feed Roll Fluted. —
Shafting supported in Oil-Tight Step-Boxes,— No
Keys are used. — No Cog Wheels to break. — A Perfo-
rated False Bottom in the Rear of the Rolls, to pre-
vent Bagasse taking up the juice as it leaves the
Rolls. — Mill taken apart in Five Minutes, simply by-
loosening Four ScrejipS: """ - .

Six Sizes, $60 to $250. - - '■

JS^ SEND FOB SORGO HAND BOOK, . . ,• - , •. ,;

Septl-'64-lt

H OT E Y ' S

AGRICOLTURiL WAREHOUSE

AND

SEED STORE.

Has one of the best selected stock of implements
andseeds to be found in the West,

A, H, HOVEY,
Novtf 1862 No. 194, Lake St., Chicago HI.

284

THE ILLIISrOIS FAEMEK.

Septembeb

COOK'S SUGAB ETAPOBATOB.

Id consideration of the great prices of Sorgo Sir-

up,

COOElf §TOA3R, EVAPORATOR

Should be in th« itands of every Sorgro Cultivator,
as he cannot affi:>rd to wasteTiia crop lajrlnaiing poor
SiruJ) upon inferior pans ai3"d kettles^

i-t^i

COItWr# EVAPORATOR SIRUP

Comin&tids the highest price by 25 to 33 per cent.

The Evaporator has been tested and approved by
thousai^ds ot operators, is of the best manufacture, is
the only self-diefaoator, is the most rapid boiler, con-
sumes tke least fuel, infringes no Patent, is the only
one entitted to use channels, cooling sides or motion
in boiling a running stream. y^,

Ital#ays takes the First Premiums. '-I

]ilanufa6tured by

BLYMER, BATES A DAY,

. Mansfield, Ohio.

Sept-64-lt

Also— The "VICTOR CANE MILL" at manufac-
turers' prices — the best ever brought before the pub-
lic. Sorgo Hand Book sent free^

CENTRAL NURSERIES,

YORK, PENN.

SKINNER'S

PATENT CLIMAX ADJUSTABLE

SUGAR CANE MILLS.

MANUPACTUKED BY '*\

E W. Skinner & Co., Madison, Wis.

This mill has been before the public for the last
four years, and has invariably given tho best of satis-
faction. The lever principle is a new and distinct
feature in this Mill, and secures a constant, unvarying
pressure, and expresses the juice much dryer and
with less power than any other mill. Our adjustable
principle is no make-shift, but is real and is all that
is claimed for it. We have a pamphlet containing a
full description of our various sized mills, with testi-
monials therefor, also a treatise on the Cultivation of
Sorghum, and the manufacture of Sugar and Sirup
therefrom, which we send free to any one requesting
it. ...

This Mill took the

Edward J. Evans A Co. respectfully invite atten-
tion to their superior stock of

EXTRA SEEDS AND PLANTS.

Grown with especial reference to the demand from
amateurs and planters for their own planting.

Their stock embraces all the leading varieties of

FBmT m OBHAMENTAL TBEES

Flowering Shrubs and Vines, Roses, Small Frnits,
Inclnding a very choice lot of

TWO TEAB OLD GBAPE TINES,

Grown especially for Retail Trade.
Special inducements offered to Clubs.
Descriptive Catalogues mailed to applicants ;

Wholesale List to the Trade.

Address EDW'D EVANS 4 CO.,

Septl-64-2mo * York, Penn.

^ *

First Premium at the Illinois State Fair

Last Fall, after a thorough and rigid trial. It receiver
commendation from the press everywhere.

The reporter for the Chicago Tribune, from the
Sorghum Convention, held in Madison, Wis., on the
3d, 4th and 5th of February, in speaking of the mills
on exhibition, remarks :

" The Climax Mill of Skinner's Patent seemed to
have the most friends, and warm approbation was ex-
pressed by all pressnt who had used it the past season.
Your readers will remeiober that this mill took the
first premium at the Illinois State Fair at Decatur,
last season, and it is the only one we are acquainted
with that adjusts its pressure by lever and weights, in-
stead of by set screws."

The reporter for the Chicago Times says :

"There were several other mills on exhibition, but
none that possessed the same adaptability for work."

Send for Circular.

Price of above Mill $120 00

Price of Plantation Adjustable Mill....... 225 00

Septl'64-2mo*

WM. CHAMBERLIN. Agent,

Springfield, Illinois.

Large Sale of Blooded Stock.

Having associated with me in business my sons,
(Willftm and Charles S. Brown,) I will sell at pub-
lic auction, at my residence. Grove Park, in Island
Grove, Sangamon county Illinois, three miles
west of Berlin, on the road leading from Springfield
to Jacksonyille, on Wednesdav and Thursday., Au-
gust 24th and 25th, 1864, (sale to commence at ten
o'clock,)

Thirty or Forty Superior Short Soiii Cattle,

consisting of Cows, Heifers and Young Bulls; also
South-Down Sheep and Berkshire Hogs, Irom the
importation of the Illinois Importing Association of
1867 5 also a number of valuable - -i - '

BROOD MARES COLTS AND FILLIES,
of trotting stock.

Catalogues of Stock will be issued in due time. —
Persons desirous of obtaining them can do so by ad-
dressing me at Berlin, Illinois.

Aug-'64-lt JAS. N. BROWN.

1864

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

285^-':

t M\m Ninis

:^--.,.^-^-''l<i'^:

SAMUEL MOULSTON^

I'laoiPiaiETOia.

OFFICE, 50 FRONT ST*,

;j3;fi-.;

i?.ooi3:eistei?., iTE^w -^01?.:^:.

•^m^

FRtttT*

Keeps constantly on hand a laj^ collection of -,>' .-v • ' > C: ivM^."?"

TRIES

A.i^D shrubbery; ;*?

' * . Also a large assortment of ' :^-;^:~<■.■.■':'■'-^,/\.:■-':-y'^■^':^-'i'l^r^x:

Such as

15oi\\Vvots, '^vtVv^ts, *5a\k.<v>£v XiWVve.^, W^oiecvwWvs, aw^ o\V>^v^^

:3E..::^' "r>EiiK:iNs,' '■'■■■

Gen'l Ag't for Illinois, Indiana and Ohio,

H, afc.

DWARF AIVID STANDARD F^EARS, -

OF LARGE SIZE AND PQIIBLK,W:aRKED::

"^

These Trees are very suitable for aged planters, to whom immediate fruiting is of consequence.

NATIVE AND FOEEIGN GEAPES.|f

Coweovdi, 'SicX.axjMXYe, l>\.a\tvoi, "BL«>oc/C-aoi, WotvV^o^^ "^oVv^vefi^

286

THE ILLIJS'OIS FARMEK.

Septeembbb

Agents. — We do not appoint any agents — all are
voluntary. Any person so disposed, can actasagen
in any place.

Enlarge Yo0b Club. — Will not the friends of
the Illinois Farmer inquire how many copies of
the Farmer are taken in their respective offices, and
pass around among those who ought to have their
names added to the list ? Our terms are so low to
clubs of ten and twenty that we ought to have one
or the other made up at every office in the State, and
at every office in Central Illinois, one of twenty or
more. Will our friends, and the friends of practical
agriculture see to it, and thus lay us under renewed
obligations?

To Single Subscribers. — You receive the only
copy of the Farmer that goes to your post office.
Can you not send one, two, three or more new sub-
scribers, without any trouble ? Try. Sample num-
bers, etc., sent free.

Drafts. — Those remitting us large amounts of
money, will please send us drafts on Springfield or
Chicago, less they exchange. If you send cash in a
letter, be sure that it is well sealed and well directed,
to Baker & Phillips, Springfield, Illinois.

The Farmer as a Present. — Any of our subscri-
bers who wish to make a present of the Illinois
Farmer for 1863, can have it at the lowest club rates,
when out of the State. For fifty cents you can treat
your Eastern friends to a Western Agricultural Pa-
per. In no way can yon invest that amount to so
good advantage to emigration. ^

Send Now. — Any person who remits pay for a club
of ten or fifteen, or any other number at the specified
rates for such clubs, can afterwards add to the clubs,
and take advantage of the reduction. Thus a person
sending us five subscribers and three dollars, can af-
terwards send us three dollars more and receive six
copies.

To The Casual Reader. — This and other num-
nerfl of the Illinois Farmer will be sent to many
persons who now use it for the first time. Will they
not examine it, and if they like it, subscribe for it,
and ask their neighbors to subscribe ? Sample num-
erbs, prospectuses, etc, sent free to all applicants.
See terms elsewhere.

How TO Obtain Subscribers. — The best way is to
send for sample numbers. Any young man by can-
vassing his neighborhood, can easily make up a club
of five, ten or twenty, but no time should be lost in
doing 80, for your neighbors may send east for their

paper which, though valuable there, is much less so
here, the diflference of soil and climate putting them
out of their reckoning when attempting to teach us
Western farming.

How TO Help. — The friends of the Illinois Far-
mer will find a prospectus in another column. We
desire to suggest a few ways in which they can use it
to advantage :

1. Show the Farmer to those who are unacquaint-
ed with it, and tell them what you think of it.

2. Send for prospectuses, and put them into the
hands of those who will use them, and place posters
where farmers will see them. . , .. t

3. Get post masters interested. They see every-
body, and aie efficient workers.

4. Send us the names of persons in your town to
whom we can send prospectuses and sample num-
bers.

5. Begin now, before the agents of Eastern pa-
pers get up their clubs, , f . . : •>:. ; ^

This last hint is especially in^portant.
hoar from you soon. See terms elsewhere.

Let us

^^^ Clubs may be composed of persons in all
parts of the United States. It will be the same to
the publishers if they send papers to one or a hund-
red post offices. Additions made at any time at club
rates. We mail by printed slips, which are so cheaply
placed on the papers, that it matters little whether
they go to one or a dozen offices.

J^~ Correspondents will please be particular to
give the name of the post office, county and State.

^^§~Specimen numbers will be sent gratis, upon
applicatisn.

,^©* Address

BAKER A PHILLIPS,

Springfield, Illinois,

Special Notice.^^Fot terms see prospectus on
last page. All exchanges and communications for
the eye of the editor should be directed to Illinois
Farmer, Champaign, Illinois. Electrotypes and
business matters, and subscriptions, to the publishers,
Springfield, Hlinois. Implements and models for ex-
amination should be sent to the editor. The editor
will, so far as it can be done personally, test and ex-
amine all new machines and improvements submitted
to his inspection. He will be found at home, on his
farm, nearly all of the time. So far as it is possible,
the conductors on the Illinois Central Railroad will
let off passengers at his place, which is directly on
the road, three and a half miles south of the Urbac
Station, now the city of Champaign. " ' ' "* ^ '

, -«?—•!=

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEB. I-

287

.■ EYEEGREEN SEEDLINGS.

Avery large stock of superior grown Evergreen
Seedlings, at less than one-half the Eastern Prices.

PEB 1,000.
Norway Spruce, two years old,
three to five inches, $5,00

Norway Spruce, three years
old, six to nine inches, $8,00

Scotch Pine, two years old,
three to five inches, $7,00

Austrian Pine, two years old, $2 per 100.
Balsah Fib, Bed Cedar, Abbabvit^, &c., &c.,
of large or small size, at very low rates.

A large stock of CONCORD GRAPES, one of the
best varieties for the West.

A large stock of RED DUTCH CURRANTS, the
best for market, two to three years old, at half the

STANDARD AND DWARF^ PEARS, of well
tested varieties, together with a good assortment of
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, &o., &.

Send for Catalogue. ' ROBT. DOUGLAS.

Waukbgan. III. tf

TO GRAPE GROWERS.

The subscriber has a large stock of the most vigor-
ous growth layers of the following desirable varieties,
which he will sell at very low rates, to wit :

CONCORD $55 per 1,000. ^

A few thousand of bearing age, of large size at

$75 per 1,000.
These will produce a good crop the second year.

HARTFORD PROLIFIC, $10 per 1.00, or
tea for a dollar.

'^ • REBECCA, $10 per 100. a-

DIANA, $10 per 100. ;

The above will be well packed,

to go any distance. - . -; •

Terms — Tash, or approved bank paper o
short date.

JAMES SMITH.
Deshoines Iowa, Jan. 1, 1863.

Dimlap's lSrTxrsei*3^:- V ^ "i

This nursery has good stock of apple trees of all
ages and of choice varieties for the west, low heads
and stocky. The genuine " May Cherry," (Kentish
or Early Richmond of Downing,) Dwarf and Stand-
ard Pears, the Purple Cape Raspberry, the best of
all raspberries for the farm ; Houghton
Gooseberry, Grapes, Strawberries, Ornamental
Trees and Plants. An immense stock of Silver Leaf
Maple, from $5 to $15 per 100, 6 to 10 feet high. The
green house is well stocked with roses and other bed-
ding out plants. This stock is grown to retail and
not adopted to the tree peddler,as all trees and plants
are large, stocky and thrifty, and intended for the
planter only. Terms cash with low prices.-

Address, M. L. DUNLAP,

Champaign.

March 1, 1863.tf

■p OSS, THOMPSON & CO.

(Successors to G. S. Thompson.)
CAPITAL PENSION & BOUNTY AGENCY.

office on west side of 5th street.

Opposite State House, over L. Greeble's Clothing Store

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

bounty and back pay, pensions, becruitis6
claims, claius fob hobses lost in
sebvice, arrearages of pay

DDE resigned OFFICERS, r "

' &c., Ac, Ac.

Our experience and acquaintance with the details
of business in the various departments, and the per-
sonal attention of one member of the firm at Wash-
ington, afford us every facility for the prompt collec-
tion of all classes of military claims.

If you have any claims of any description against
the government, give us a statement of the facts,' and
we will tell yon what your rights are in the case. A
letter ©f inquiry may save you much trouble, expense
and perhaps loss. AH communications enclosing a
stamp for return postage p romptly answered. In-
formation gratis. No fees charged until money is
collected. Charges low. Pensiohs for $5, as regula-
lated by act of Congress. Address

ROSS, THOMPSON & C@.,
Capita Pension and Bounty Agency, Springfield, 111.

dee63-tf

FURST & BRADLEY,

KANUFACTUBERS OF

AND OTHER

V ,» -

Alpricmlfnblm^ Imptements,

Nos. C5 anid "58 North JefFerson Streie^ ,' ■
: ' ' r V near Corner of Lake Street, ' V- '

. CHICAGO, ii*Lmqis. V • y^: ;'

Plows of all sizes and patterns. Cultivators, Hors«
Hoes, Harrows, Com Shellers, Straw Cutters, Gar-
den and Rail Road Wheelbarrows, Road Scrapers —
five different patterns — Sulky Corn and Grain Cnlti-
ators, Sulky Hay Rake, with steel wire teeth re-
volving. "•'■. -:.-■■,■■•»,,;■;.-; -.;: Xv- ■■-■- ^ ■■-.■

Send for a priced Catalogue. : - :• ^

FURST h BRADLEY'^"

iBSfc»j!.to.=.«»..J

I rii-iViirfrifciaaiigilii^

rW^'-

-^C^'Kf r*^*?!*^-**-* •***?

288

THE ILLIJSOiS FAKMEK.

SeptembiI^''

A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF

AGRICULTUriE AND HORTICULTURE.

PUBLISHED AT

SPRINGFIELD, - - ILLINOm,

BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

AND IS EDITED BY

M. Ii. DUNIjAP, Tribune's Kural.

TERMS IN ADVANCB.— $1 a year; two copies 1 5C; five
copies |3; ten copies $6, and one to getter up of the club
twenty copies $10.

It is not fiecessaey that the club should all be at one office
— we send wherever the members of the club may reside

The postage on the Faxmee is only three cents a year in
the State of Illinois, and six cents out of it.

Specimens numbr rs sent free on application.

Subeciiption money may be sent at the risk of the pub-
i isher.

Exchanges and communications for the eye of the Kditor
ibould be addressed, Illinois Farmeb, Champaign. Illinois.

All business letters are to be direc.ed to the publishers,
Springfield.

TERMS OF ADVERTISING :

1 mo. 3 mo. 6 mo. 12 mo.

One page, or two columns $12 $30 $52 50 $75

Half a pace or one " 7 50 18 30 46

Une fourth page or half column.. 4 60 10 50 18 27

One eighth or one fourth " .. 3 6 10 60 15

One square of ten linos 1 50 3 6 10 50

I ard of five lines one year $8 00

Fifteen cents a line for less than a square each insertion.

All worthy objects advertised, and those of importance to
the Farmer will receive, from time to time, such editorial
notices as the Editor may consider them worthy of, without
additional charge.

Implements and seeds to be tested should be sent direct
to the Editor, at his residence .Champaign.

We have put the price of advertising within reach of all.
It will enable those who like to freely advertise their goods,
to do so at a cheap rate,

Terms, cash. Yearly advertisers will pay semi-annually,
and all transient advertisements must be accompanied with
the cash to insure insertion.

BAKER i PHILLIPS, Publishers.

Springfield, Ills.

THE ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL

JS CONFIDENTLY OFFERED TO THE PEOPLE OF
Illinois as the best and most reliable news, political
md commercial paper within their reach. It is published
t Springfield, the Capital of the ?tate, and is the medium
f all ofiBcial notices, published by State authority. Partic-
ular attention is given to commercial affairs and every
.lumber contains copious reviews of the markets in the
iriincipal cities.

TERMS :

One copy one year. $2 00

Three copies one year - 5 00

Six " " • 7 50

Ten " '• ~ 12 00

Twenty" " - . ••• 20 00

Payable always in advance. Pemous sending clubs of ten
and upwards shall be entitled to an extra copy.
Address BAKER k PHILLIPS,

BpriD&fleld, Illinois.

G ROVER & BAKER'S LEWING MACMINES
were awarded the highest premium at the fol-
lowing State Fairs of 1863, for the Best Family
Sewing Machine, the Best Manufacturing Machine,
and the Best Machine Work :

NEW YORK STATE FAIR. ' ■ 5 ;

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Double Thread Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

VERMONT STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

IOWA STATE FAIR.
Firsr Premium for Family Machine. ,,-■

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

MICHIGAN STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
Fiist Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

INDIANA STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

KENTUCKY STATE LAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FAIR. '%, _

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine. "
Fir^t Premium for Beautiful Machine Work.

OHIO STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine Work.

The above comprises all the Fairs at which the
GROVER <fc BAKER MACHINES were exhibited
this year. At nearly all of them the leading Sewing
Machines were in competition.

The GROVER & BAKER S. M. Co. are the only
parties who manufacture and sell Machines which
both SEW PERFECTLY and EMBROIDER PER-
FECTLY.

GROVER & BAKER S. M. COMPANY,

janl8-64-ly

115 Lake Street, Chicago.

"1

STAFDABD rv > Wi ^^5;

S C ALES:^

OP ALL KINDS. ' - •'

Also, Warehouse Trucks, Letter Presses, Ac. :^^\>

FAIRBANKS, 6REENLEAF & CQ^'^

172 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO, .f^ '

Sold in Springfield by

E. B. PEASEi

Be careful and buy only the genuine. i nel-Iy

J^J^-F

The Illinois Faemee,

VOL. IX.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., OCTOBER, 18641

NO. 10.

DEVOTED TO THE

FARM, THE ORCHARD kW THE GARDEl^,

PUBLISHED BY

BAKER & PHILLIPS,

SPSLVGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

M:. L. TDJJNJiiA.'P, Editor.

All business letters should be addressed to the
publishers.

^S^ExcHANGES and all matters pertaining to the

editorial department, must be directed to IlTuINOIs

Fahmek, Champaign, 111., as the editor resides at

that point, and is seldom at the office of publication,

from which he is distant over eighty miles.'

*4t* For terms see prospectus and special notices in
advertising department.

October.

Soft and haze-like is the air of Octo-
ber, breathing ripeness to the vegeta-
ble world. The early frost is loosening
the leafy garniture of the forest, and
the disrobing for winter is everywhere
in active progress. Cool nights and
pleasant days hath October. The ap-
ples are falling in the orchard, and the
nnts dropping from the trees of the for-
est. The golden ears of corn peer out
from beneath the ripening husk, and
the team is turning the long furrows in
the stubble field. Gentle reader, did
you ever use a weed hook as you plow,
with which to turn under the tall
weeds which like Jonah's gourd have

sprung up in the stubble ? If you have
not make no delay to get one made; you
will then have a clean furrow, instead
of one fringed with the tip ends of a
row of green weeds, that will ripen
their seeds to be spread on the surface,
ready to grow after the first April
shower.

Make no delay in digging your po-
tatoes, if not done before frost. We
like best to attend to this work during
the last half of September. The time
to sort your potatoes is at the digging ;
you can then select the large, fine ones
for table use, and also separate the
kinds. This latter is of no small im-
portance, as two kinds should not be
platited together, unless you wish a
large share of small potatoes ; for the
strongest grower takes the lead and the
weaker one turns out only small tubers.

Market your products as fast as pos.
sible, if the price will warrant — be sat-
isfied with fair prices — the man who
always waits to get the highest price,
often takes up with a low one. Re-
member the old maid who took up with
the crooked stick on the hither side of
the grove of straight poplars. ' ;./ v

Kemember that brains are an essen-
tial element of successful farming, and
see that they are used. It is not the
farmer who does the most hard work
who makes the most money.

Fall plowing should be prosecuted
this month ; every foot of land tha

•■ -^^i^^ '^-'''''^ ^^^'^^f - J: TT^**?^^

290

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER

October

needs plowing for spring crops should
be turned over in the fall.

Kow is the time to set out orchards.
Do not put the work off until spring.
Last fall we intended to have set out a
small orchard, but was somewhat busy
and put it over until spring ; but when
spring came we were more busy and it
was not done, and the result is, a year
lost. We shall endeavor to be more
prompt this time, although labor is
high and difficul . to be had. The lot
contains forty acres, and at twenty feet,
the distance that they will be set, will
require 4,320 trees. These will be set
out, banked up, thinned out and all the
new wood cut back to within three or
four buds of the last year's growth. —
Trees six years old, and many of them
one to two inches in diameter, will be
used. Peddlers' whips are not our
» forte for an orchard.

The heavy rains of the last of Au-
gust have made the fall pasturage good,
but if you have a spot in your pastur-
age not well set in grass, plow it up,
BOW to rye and during the winter seed
with timothy and clover ; this will give
you early spring pasturage, especially
the rye.

October is the month of active farm
duties : the autumn harvest and the
'time of preparation for spring work. —
The buckwheat, potatoes, and the im-
mense crops of corn, are ready for gath
• ering. Apples must be picked and the
cider made ; but the mild, genial days,
long evenings and cool nights brave
one for the tasks before him.

Ho28 should be full feed now. while
the weather is warm, as they lay on
flesh rapidly at this season; and the
beef cow should have an extra feed of
small potatoes, pumpkins and com.

Should Farmers Insure ?

We had supposed this question dis-
posed of in the affirmative, but regret
to learn that there is a large majority
of our farm buildings uninsured. The
failure of so many bogus mutual com-
panies have tended to discourage in-
surance among this class of persons.

Our readers know our dislike to ped-
dlers, and insurance peddlers may be
ranked among them. Let us see how
the thing is done. Half a dozen nice
young men, or may bepartof them old
men, desire some easy way of making
a living or of retrieving their fortunes.
A mutual farmers' insurance company
is started under some general law, old
charter or no charter at all ; an office
is hired, blanks and circulars printed ;
A. is President, B. is Secretary, and a
dozen respectable citizens, in the be-
nevolence of their hearts, allow their
names to be used as directors. Now
all is ready, when C, D., E., F. and
G., thus dominant members of the firm,
start out on a tour of canvassing ; the
farmers are beseiged and offered insu-
rance at rates so astonishingly low that
they cannot resist the risk. If they have
no money, notes are taken, payable in
three or six months ; — as the company
have ample funds (?) there is no need
of ready money. Things thus go on in
a quiet way ; but fires will occur, and
the new company have a loss. This is
just what they wanted. It is prompt-
ly paid ; not a day is allowed to pass by
before the lucky farmer has his money
and the company have his certificate of
the fact, setting forth the immaculate
company. Every local paper publishes
the card in leads^ and the new insurance
company has obtained its majority ; it
has heen under fire and come out un-
scathed. The business goes on swim-

5**^^C; ■-■•■" i-

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FARMEE.

291

ingly. The officers begin to cut a dash,
speculate in town lots, keep fine turn-
outs. C, D., E,, F. and G., have re-
tired from the canvass and traveling
agents substituted. The risks are ex-
tended first to isolated village houses,
next to blocks of tumbled down wood
buildings, mills — any and everything.

* * * A windy night the fire
got too much headway, and — the whole
institution collapsed.

"We once held a policy of $1400 in
that same institution or one of its class.
It taught us a lesson, and since then
we have nothing to do with peddling
insurance agents. We now insure in
both stock and mutual companies ; but
we must know not only the standing
of the office, but the mode of doing bus-
iness. Responsible men do not take
risks below what is considered safe,
and which will allow of the employ-
ment of responsible business men for
local agents. In our State there is now
several insurance cor^panies well wor-
thy the patronage of our people, and to
them the preference should be given. ;
"We are pleased to see that a large num- 1
ber of our solid men are investing their !
spare funds in this direction, and it
will not be long before our own capital-
ists will take all risks required, and
thus save our monev at home. It is
now time that the "West stood upon
their own resources in this respect.

Chicago, Peoria, Alton and Freeport
have each their well established insu-
rance companies ; but Springfield has
heretofore done little in that direction,
and the farmers of Central Illinos have
taken their chance among the good, the
bad and the sham, about two to one
against them, but now we can congrat-
nlate our farmers on a change fo^ the
better. The Sangamon Insurance Co.

has swung into line and will fill up the
gap so long open to adventurers. Un-
cle Jesse, (Hon. J. K. Dubois), the
President, O. M. Hatch, Secretary of
State, Yice President, and Geo. Boyn-
ton. Secretary. Here is a happy com-
bination of solid capital, sterling busi-
ness tact and persevering industry. —
That the new institution will win its
way to the confidence of the communi-
ty, no one knowing the men having its
control, will for a moment doubt. Suc-
cess to this and all similar home enter-
prises. ■ ^■■■■^

From the Chicago Tribune.

A Chapter on the Raspberry,

Champaign, 111., July 20, 1864.

Among the small fruits, the raspberry is becom-
ing very popular, and by many persons is consid-
ered in all respects equal in value to the strawberry.

This fruit has a po^^itive and fixed position in
the succession of the summer fruits, with a grow-
ing popularity second to no other. It is not a ri-
val to the strawberry, as it follows it in the pro-
gress of the season, and thus has an independent
standing of its own beyond the reach of any rival,
and flanked by the goo^jberry and currant- The
blackberry comes next in order, and this in turn
is followed by the grape.

Sailors reckon the day of the week not as we do,
but by the material for dinner which is varied
throughout the week but occur the same on each
succeeding week day. We might reckon the dif-
ferent weeks of spring and summer in the same
way. First, we have the cowslip from the wood-
land slough, drenched in vinegar, a dainty that
pleases the appetite that now craves a mixture of
the bitter with the acid. "Greens of all kinds are
sought for until we become almost herbiverous.

First of the summer fruits comes the strawberry,
whose sharp acid mingled with sugar pleases the
taste of all, and appears to divest us of the malaria
that Inzy winter had gathered in the system. Next
comes the era of the raspberry, the blackberry
and the season is closed with the grape. Each of
these in turn becomf s the center around which the
lesser fruits revolve, and though numerous, hold
but the position of aid-de-camps to the command-
ing generals of the season.

At this time of political strife we should hold this
raspberry in high esteem, inasmuch that it is an
American, or at least the only variety that is of
any value. The European varieties will not stand
our winter, and though highly aristocratic, and
prized in refined society, is of no value to the re-
publican masses of the country, who prefer an

-i't-v-!V' -jTifija

2»2

THE ILLINOIS FARMEK.

October

abundant supply of good food to an occasional
taste of a rare dainty.

Nature has wisely graduated our taste to the
fruits sent us in their season, and we cannot say
that the strawberry or the raspberry is the most
delicious, for both of them are onl}' so in their re-
spective seasons. While the strawberry acts as
an alterative on the system, the raspberry furnish-
es the solid food to enable one to stand the wear
and tear of hard summer toil. It enables us to
dispense with pork and greasy dishes or demoral-
izes the appetite for cake, preserves and other
hurtful dainties with which our tables are too of-
ten loaded.

Every owuer of a city or village lot can grow
raspberries simply by training them against the
fence or wall, if they can have the sun for a part
of the day, all right, they will have good crops —
that is if you have the right kind.

THE BLACK CAP.

The American Black Cap stands the king among
the raspberry tribe. It is by no means the most
delicate berry, but its adaptability to all soils, its
hardiness throughout the temperate zone, its pro-
fuse annual crops, its solidity, enabling it to stand
carriage and its long keeping quality all combine
to render it the raspberry of commerce; whether
in its ripe state or dried An ordinary crop of this
varieti^ may be set down at fifty bushels to the acre.

Perhaps it would be well to figure up the cost
and profits of an acre. The Doolittle Black Cap
is only a selected variety from the woodland. I
have numerous plants from the woodland, in all
respects equal to the Doolittle, though I prefer to
plant the latter, for the simple reason that they
will average larger and better than those taken in-
discriminately from the woodland. But those who
have not the money to spare for the plants should
go to the groves for them. The usual prices at the
nurseries are for tips — which never buy if you can
get one year old plants at four dollars per hundred
when tips are offered you at half that price. The
land should be either trenched plowed or sub-soil-
ed a foot deep ; &et the plants in rows eight feet
apart, and four feet in the row, which will reqinre
about 1200 plants to the acre. If you get those
from the woodland, the outlay will be two or three
da}s' labor; if at the nursery, about |30 for the
Doolittle. When taken from either the woodland
or nursery, they must be cut back to within six
inches of the ground. This will enable them to
throw up strong canes for the next year's crop.
They will produce a few berries the first season, a
moderate crop the second, and a good one for mar-
ket the third. The first year the intervening space
in the rows can be used for cabbage or beans. In
March the canes are cut back about one-third their
length, and will need no staking or tying up. The
' ihlfd season the canes should be shortened back
in July and August. This will make them more
stocky and give larger fruit. This variety does
not sucker, only sending up canes from the old
stalks and new ones from the tips or ends of the
caues which bend over and take root. These take
root late in the autumn, and the following spring
furnish plants called tips, but it is much better to
let them grow one season before transplanting, un-
less they are to be removed a short distance.

The ground for new plantations should be pre-
pared in the autumn, so as to set the plant the last

of March or the fore part of April, as late setting
is not advisable. Cultivate early in the season
with cultivator, and then again after the picking
season. At this point this commences about the
25th of June, and lasts about three weeks, though
the season of marketing will not much exceed two
weeks. A good hand will pick 30 qts. a djy, tho'
the avcrnge of boys, girls and women may be set
down at 20 qts.

A bushel of berries are reckoned at 32 qts ; this
at four cents a quart makes the picking of a bush-
el amount to the sum of $1 20

Express freight, say 60

Commission at 10 per cent 60

$2 50
Allowing them to be sold at $6 the bushel, the
grower has for the use of his land, superintendence
and use of drawers for shipping, the nice little sum
of $3J|^ a bushel, or on a yield of fifty bushels to
the acre, $1*75. Who will not say that the rasp-
berry of our woodland transferred to the field will
not pay equal to the best of farm crops.

Berries are shipped in drawers of half a bushel
each, three of which form a case. They hold 16
qts. Dry measure, but when retailed by the Wine
quart, hold out at least eighteen quarts.

THE PURPLE CANE.

This is a variety of the Black Cap, with the
same habit, and requires the same treatment. It
has a more vigorous growth, and bears larger
crops, but the fruit is too soft to send a long dis-
tance to market, and in hot weather will sour with-
in 24 hours after picking. The fruit is very rich,
and to most tastes preferred to the Black Cap. —
For jam it is the most desirable ; it also makes a
valuable wine for invalids. It is the farmer's ber-
ry and should be in every garden in the country.
Its season is four to five weeks. It begins to ripen
with the Black Cap.

HUDSON RIVER ANTWERP.

Which freezes down, while the

LAKE SUPERIOR,

So valuable for jam in its native wilds, is but a
poor bearer here.

Among the English sorts, none have stood the
test as compared with the first named sorts.

BRINKLE'S ORANGE,

The most delicious, perhaps of all raspberries, c"»n
only be grown when covered during winter, and
will cost at least a dollar a quart. The same is the
case with the

MERVILLE DE QUARTRE SEASONS

With which our city and village gardens have been
regaled at 50 cents a plant.

THE YELLOW CAP.

This is similar to the Black Cap in habit, but is
said to be a poor bearer. I have never fruited it.

THE CATAWISSA.

This is another variety of the Black Cap, said to
be productive, bearing ail the season.

The shoots mostly lie on the ground, and the

fruit becomes dirty. The berries are large, of a

purple color, and in taste resembles the Purple

Cane. As a market berry, I think it has littie val-

; ue, being worth more to the nurseryman at $3 a

^^!^r

■r^'^^ ■•'^^:>?^=fm'^ij^y^_l^^'i*jf^^!^

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAKMEE.

293

dozen plants, than to the fruit grower. To those
desiring a late crop, this and the

OHIO EVERBEARING

are the most valuable.

But few if any of the English or red raspberries
can compete in the market with the American cap
berries. The whole tribe of these sucker so badly
that they are difficult to cultivate, and besides
most of them need protection in winter.

THE ALLEN RASPBERRY.

After six years' trial with tliis it is set aside as
worthless.

There is no more danger of over doing the rasp-
berry than the strawberry, for thus far the demand
is in ndvance of the supply. When the market be-
gan to be supplied with the strawberry the price
was from four to eight cents a quart ; now that it
is grown by the thousand acres, the price rules
from eight to ten dollars a bushel. Raspberries
that used to go begging in the tin pails of country
boys and girls at six cents a qtiart, now that they
are grown by the hundred acres readily sell at eight
dollars a bushel at wholesale.

It might be curious to count up the daily supply
for Chicago alone. Suppose its 160,000 inhabi-
tants to be divided into families of six each ; this
would make about 27,000. Each family will easi-
ly consume four quarts a day, or a daily aggregate
of 3,375 bushels, or the product of 67^ acres pro-
ducing SO bushels each. Now add to this a bush-
el to each family for jam and canning, and we need
the product of 550 acres. Multiply the daily con-
sumption by fifteen, the raspberry season, and we
have a total of 1,550 acres required for this fruit
alone. There is little danger of an over supply,
and farmers and market gardeners may govern
themselves accordingly. Rural.

Peach Trees and Tanzy. — D. M. Fisher, Arch
Spring, Blair Co., Pa., disputes the position of
Mr. Kohler, of Missouri, about tanzy being a pre-
ventive of borers and curl-leaf in peach trees. Mr.
F. says :

"I would say that I have tried ihe remedy
thoroughly, and in no case has it proved to be a
preventive of either, 1 have peach trees standing
among the tanzy dead and dry. I examine my
trees annually, and somi-^times oftener, and have al-
ways found the borers as plenty where the trees
were surrounded by tanzy as anywhere else, and
the curled leaf is just found the same as else-
where "

This gives both sides of the question. Mr. K.
thinks tanzy useful. Dr. Trimble thought the idea
ridiculou.s, and Mr. Fisher says that he has fully
satisfied himself by actual trial. — N. Y. Tribune.

Lice on Cattle. — The cheapest , best and easi-
est method to kill lice on cattle as follows : Take
half 11 wood pail of potatoes, boil them thoroughly
in water for about three hours, strain out the po-
tatoes, and wash the animal thouroughly with the
liquor. One application is generally sufficient to
send every louse on the beast "over Jordon." I
have tried it and know it to be effectual, aiid that
nothing dangerous to the animal can follow the
application.— D. R. P. in Rural American., .

Birds and Insects.

There are various insects that always threaten
the destruction of fruit and fruit trees ; and they
seem to be increasing. They already render very
uncertain many kinds of fruit. Bow shall they be
kept at bay ? We will answer. Their natural en-
emy is birds. Insects are food of birds. They are
on every tree, shrub, plant, in every pool, swamp
and soil. Everywhere they come into being in
teeming millions. Many of them attack the fruit
for food, or for nests, for their larvoe. The means
to prevent their doing evil is the birds. We should
therefore encourage them to grow and multiply in
all our fields and orchards. We should not alarm
or destroy them. We should consider them the
naturally commi?sioned sentinels of our fruit trees.
We should regard them as natural ornaments and
conservators of our orchards and gardens. We
should feel that birds are a standing army — on
picket duty — self-marshaled and trained to meet
and overpower the invading army of the insect
world. The wanton or intentional destruction of
a bird should be considered a public loss — a mis-
demeanor— and should be held an outrage on Di-
vine order and human instinct. God provides a
balance between insects and the feathered tribe ;
but man, in his cruelty and impiety destroys the
balance ; and the insects creep upon hjs fruit to
pay him for it. It is only after civilization has
destroyed the birds of a country that insects over-
run it. The birds live upon insects All agricul-
turists, gardeners, fruit-growers, philanthropists, —
all good people should discountenance the destruc-
tion of birds and encourage their multiplication by
the very kindest treatment. It should become
the settled conviction of every community, that
birds, by holding in check the insect scourges, are
public benefactors. So greatly has the stock of
birds been reduced, that cultivators are beginning
to be alarmed, and in some of the States have al-
ready secured legislative protection, ours among
the number.

There is reason to believe, that, although most
birds live on a variety of food, yet each particular
species of birds has a greater partiality or fond-
ness for some particular kind of insects or reptiles.

Many species of birds follow civilization. The
same may be said of several species of insects ; or,
at least, they multiply under its influence Hence
the necessity of birds following, in order to reduce
the number of insects. No man can study "Na-
ture's works Hnd ways" without becoming a wiser
and a better man. Let us then study and observe.

Incredible, is it not, that the birds should need
an advocate, that these bright and ^beautiful deni-
zens of our gardens, our lawns, and our groves
should fear harm at the hand of man — that his eye
and ear should be so dull as to find no charms in
their untaught melodies, in their forms of perfect
grace ? Yet not more strange than sadly true is
it, that boys, and "children of a larger growth,"
can delight in the destruction of these harmless'
creatures. One conld not believe it, did not eve-
ry day witness these noble bipeds sallying forth,
armed with deadly weapons, and on "murderous
thoughts intent." And at night returning with a
dozen robins, a few sparrows, and a blue-jay or
king-fisher — proud trophies of a well spent day !
"Well, and why not ? it is such sport I" says a lad
near by. I will tell you, my boy: These little

294

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

OCTOBEE

birds were not made in vain, not merely to furnish
"sport" for the idle.^The Creator formed them for
an important use ; if you destroy them you frus-
trate his plan, and nature always suffers when the
laws and plans of God are destroyed. You have
/ probably heard your elders speak of the great in-
j crease of the various tribes of voracious insects,
' and that the fruits are not so fine and fair as of
old ; but knotty and worm-eaten. Yet we suppose
that you nor they either ever dreamed that the de-
struction of the birds hnd anything to do with the
case. You would realize it, could we tell you how
manv bugs and worms and fli s were frequently
found in the crop of a single bird. We cannot
te 1 you the number, but have been astonished at
the amount as certified by creditable witnesses. —
Farmers and gardeners are beginning to find out
the birds to be the most u.-?eful aliie.s. Nothing m
the insect tribe comes amiss to their dainty-look-
ing bills, from the aphidis upon the rosebush, to
hideous caterpillars. And if they sometimes treat
themselves to 'a ripe cherry or a tempting straw-
berry, who can blame them if after such a dinner,
they fancy a little fruit for a desert — and how do
you know but their quick eye perceived a worm in
the very cherry you gi udge them ? "The laborer
is worthy his hire"-. and man can well afford this
small compensation for their tireless industry. —
Jfforticulturiit.

RuRAf. Refinements. — Our people have yet to
learn what value there is in a well kept flower
garden. Does it not supply to children their most
beautiful memories ? A child who has nothing
but a dirty house and neglected grounds to recol-
lect, a.s connected with his early home, lacks «n
important impulse to a well ordered life. Beauty
in morals can hardly be expected from deformity
in condition. And not only to childhood do flow-
ers minister happy influences, but also to the la-
bors and fatigues of manhood and old age. Is not
the farmer who returns from the labors of the
field to repose in a well kept house, in the midst
of gieen lawns and beautiful flowers, a happier and
better man for their presence ? Does not old age
find them an added element of its repose ? It were
v.Beless to ask, "What good e 'mes of flowers ? Can
we eat, drink or wear them '? How can I spare
the time to cultivate them, when the necessaries
of life demand so much of my attention ? Just as
if ministering to our love of the beautiful is less of
a necessity than eating, drinking and wearing. —
Virtue and happiness depend as much upon neat-
ness, order and beauty, as animal life upon eating,
drinking and sleeping. No class is so unpardona-
ble in neglecting to beautify their homes as the
farmers, who live where the means of doing it may
be had with so little care and cost. — Chronicle.
-—t~

Lice on Cattle. — Mr. Miner: — I see in your
paper a recommendation from your correspondent,
of soft soap for lousy cattle. It will cure if you
put on enough to take all the hair off. A much
better remedy is to give cattle sulphur, say a tea-
spoonful in salt three times a week, for two or
three weeks, a tablespoonful for large cattle, the
only efl'ectual remedy. If cows are lousy put a
spoonful in the calves' milk when you feed them,
three or fuur times a week ; if this fails, there ib no
cnre. Try it. — A. Richmond, in Bural Amenearw

Pleasant Surprises.

The sunshine that sometimes quietly takes a sea*
in your room in mid winter.

A forest brook in August, so full that the sea-
son has no effect upon it — and so clear it seems
but another air to show you the pebbles and the
smooth bottom.

A green field in March west of you, with the af-
ternoon sun upon it.

An eye that reminds you of a precious stone. —
But better — an eye that itself is precious.

A bird pelted by the storm, but singing after it.

The sight of even an indifferent Iriend when you
are homesick among strangers.

The pleasure of a dog when it meets an old
friend. The affection of a dog at any rate, remind-
ing you so much of human affection.

The word of affection dropped accidentally by
the pen of your sweetheart.

The sight of a child not your own, which you
love.

An eagle.

An angel (in human form) that yet does not
know itjs an angel.

A man just out of trouble that did not hurt him.

Forgetting your own meal when you are eating
a better at something else.

To see a poor, miserable man made happy.

To do a really meritorious act, when j our heart
is in it.

To save a maiden from disgrace.

To go to bed with a good conscience — (old, but
worthy to be repeated.)

To look upon death as another new field of en-
joyment— showing your lifef is right, and your
view of death the same.

To see an aged wayfarer shed tears at the re-
ceipt of needed alms.

Stars on a dark background of night, seen from
the city street.

The first breath of a buckwheat field, ere the
field is seen.

The idea that the simplest of flowers (small Ce-
landine) "heralds in the whole troop of flowers."

Your first sunset in Italy.

The first bumble-bee of the season — telling you
of summer days.

The pine tree looking over the other trees to
the sea, and responding with its melody. (liOwell's
thought.)

The sudden face of a friend when you expected
a bore.

The thought that there are many "pleasant sur-
prises" yet in store.

To Keep Flies from Working Cattlb. — ^Take a
piece of scantling 3x4 inches, and a few inches lon-
ger than the yoke. Through this bore four holes to
correspond with the bow holes in the yoke. Have
bows long enough to extend five inches above the
yoke, letting the bows come through the holes.
Bore several suvall holes in the sides of the above
piece, and fasten in a brush long enough to reach
the oxen's hips. The brush should be of some
tough wood with the leaves on. When it is worn
out put in more. Some use blankets for their cat-
tle while working, but it makes them unnecessarily
warm, and costs something at present prices. The
motion of the oxen while walking will keep the
brush waving about enough to keep the flies off.

^^pnpy^r

■ ^T-???^?™^^" -«5r^™*(:^Tw?'T^

T^?^^^!^;'^' •^'v* ' "^"'^ff.? :■;

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

29&

From the Country Gentleman and Cultivaror.

Importance of Knobs on Horns-

Horns, either on neat cattle or sheep, are a nui-
sance ; and they are just as necessary for horses
and swine, as they are for any of our domestic ani-
mals. Horns are a weapon that onr domestic ani-
mals do not need, and therefore, as they are often
the cause of no little damage, it is very important
that large knobs should be fastened on their sharp
ends. These little metalic knobs, which are screw-
ed on the horns, are not worth half the time and
expense which they cost to put them on.

When I was accustomed to keep neat cattle, the
horns of every one of them, after they were two
years old, were knobbed with large wooden knobs
as lar"-e as a man's fist. By this means my cattle
would°feed at the racks almost as close together as
sheep are in the habit of feeding. It was impossi-
ble for one to hurt another with such knobs on the
ends of their horns. But when the horns were not
knobbed, one ill-natured cow or a pugnacious bul-
lock, would often setup a general hooking through-
out the yard, when some of the feeble ones would
be seriously injured in the commotion. Many a
valuable cow has been ruined because the ugly,
sharp pointed horns of some pugnacious associate
were not knobbed.

I have always found that if animals get a hook-
ing it exasperates them, and they will vent their
spite on some one that they can hook, and so eve-
ry one gets a severe hooking, except the one that
struck or hooked "fust." But let these ugly horns
be knobbed, and these ill-natured, hooking dispo-
sitions will be softened down like the dispositions
of sheep.

The Way to Make Knobs. — Procure a few bil-
lets of hard tough wood, and have them turned in
the shape of an egg, with the small end cut off
square. Almost any turner will turn out a lot of
them for half a cent each. They should be not
less than three inches in diameter. I always made
them four inches in diameter for my cattle. Ap-
ple wood or yellow locust will make good ones, by
selecting such pieces as will not split easily. Now
bore a half inch hole through each one, lengthways
of the wood ; and then bore out the small end a
little with a borer, that may be obtained at the
hardware store, which -will make a tapering hole to
fit the end of the horns. Bore another hole with
a nail-bit or gimlet, through the knobs in a trans-
verse direction, for the purpose of fastening them
to the horns. Now put them in some vessel con-
taining linsead oil, and let them become well satu-
rated with oil. This will prevent their checking
in the sun, and keep them from shrinking and get-
ting loose. Mv practice was to make a lot of them
at one time, so that they would always be ready
for use.

The Wat to Put them on the Horns. — If an an-
imal will not stand still without tying, fasten his
head firmly to a low post or to a piece of timber,
which is faaatened in a horizontal position to two
posts, which will be much more convenient than a
post.

l^Fit the knobs to the horns by whittling with a
sharp knife either the horns or the knobs, or both
of them. When the knob fits well, thrust in a
nail gimlet, and mark the horn on both sides. Then
bore the hole both ways, and draw-bore the holes a
little.

F'or fastening on the knobs pieces of wire are
much better than nails. Procure some wire of the
size of the gimlet and cut off pieces not quite long
enough to reach through the knobs. Grind or file
one end to a point so that it will follow the hole
well. Put on a knob just as it was marked, and
let one man hold a heavy piece of iron or stone on
one side of the knob while the wire pin is driven
in. Let the pins be driven in by smart blows, in-
stead of little raps, as pounding on the horns is
very much like pounding on the forehead, and :
some cattle are very sensitive about blows about
the head. But by holding a heavy weight oppo-
site the hammer, they will feel but little of the
coiicassion.

Here is another very important consideration
about boring the horns. In the horns of young
animals the quick or live pith extends to within a ,
half inch or so of the tips. Therefore the pin holes J
must be bored very near the small ends, or the
gimlet will enter the quick. In the horns of older
animals pin holes ma be bored twoor more inches,
if necessary, from the tips, without touching the
quick.

When neat cattle are allowed to run in the same
enclosure with horses or sheep it is very important
that every horn should be mounted with a large
knob. S. Edwards Todd.

Auburn, N. Y.

Transactions of the Illinois State Horticul-
tural Society for 1863. — There is one important
fact that is urged on us year after year as we look
over our subscription lists and note the steady in-
crease from the State of Illinois, and that is the
prominence which is given to Horticulture
throughout the length and breadth of the Garden
State. Everybody has heard of the Massachusetts
State Horticultural Society, that is one of the fixed
institutions of our country. Something is occa-
sionally said of th^vPennsylvania State Horticultu-
ral Society ; but whoever heard cf the State Hor-
ticultural Society of the Empire State, or that of
Strawberry-growing and Peach-raising in New
Jersey. If we mistake not the indications before
us, Massachusetts will have to look well to her lau-
rels. These Western States do not grow nor move
slowly. Illinois has not yet distinguished herself
in doing anything in a small way, and her State
Horticultural Society does not appear to be organ-
ized on any other foundation than a broad, liberal
and comprehensive one ; it has all the elements of
talent, financial ability, energy and success. The
prominent and influential men of the State are
amrng its members, and it possesses a vitality that
has already marked out a prominent position. The
Transactions for 1863 can be had bound and post-
paid by mail for 90 cents. Address W. C. Flagg,
Cor. Secretary, Alton, 111. — Horticvlturut.

J^" There is no egg so fresh as that from the
farm. There is no milk so rich as the farmer's.
No water so pure as from the spring or well where
no city streets foul it. No health so good as the
farmer's — no life so free from offense. How he
sleeps ! how he enjoys his meals ! what an air he
breathes ! What an independent life he lives, giv-
ing bread to the world !

"''7*V*'^>,T»>1

■;I»'*^"T^^Bff. :

-T.i;i6j^?*r.

296

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK.

Octobeb

Dwarf Apples for Suburban Gardens.

But very few occupyers of small gardens know
with wh;it facility apple trees may be cultivated
even in the smallest plot of ground. A few in-
structions may therefore not be out of place. In
nurseries apples are generally grafted on two kinds
of stock — on the crab stock to form large staud.ad
trees for orchards, and on a dwarf growing variety
of apple called the Paradise apple, adipted for
gardens ; on this kind of stock apple trees form
small trees remarkably prolific. There arc two
forms under which they maybe cultivatcil in gar-
dens— ns pyramids, or upright trees, like the Lom-
bardy Poplar, and as bushes in the form of a goose-
berry or currant bush. It is this latter foim tliat
we earnestly recommend to town gardeners, and
we must urge upon them the necessity of buying
trees that can be warranted to be grafted on the
English Paradise ?tock. The very dwarf French
Paradise stock is too delicate for our climate, fur
while they are young, none but an experienced
fruit gardener can distinguish any difference in
their growth, so that trees bought of persons with-
out a reputation to lose m ly prove to be grafted
on the ciab stock, and wofully deceive the planter
by their vigorous growth and unfruitful habit.

The rather modern practice of cultivating ap-
ples as bushes grafted on the Paradise stock will
in time lead to a revolution in the culture of ap'
pies, for, instead of waiting from seven to ten years
before a good crop can be gathered from a vigor-
ous apple tree grafted on the crab stock, trees
grafted on the Paradise will, if two or three years
old when purchased, bear some fruit the first sea-
son after planting, so that a tree planted in De
cember, January or Februiry, will gladden the
heart of the planter by producing some tine fruit
the following summer. Apples grown on dwarf
trees are safe from violent winds, and are g.>neral-
ly much finer than fruit from the earth.

These bush apple trees may be planted from 3 to
SJ- feet apart, and the only pruning, or nearly so
they require is done in summer, after this fashion:

In the month of June, as soon as the young
shoots have grown to the length of 6 inches, 2
inches should be pinched or cut off from the end
of each, and this must be done all- through the
summer till the end of August, or as long as the
trees continue to make young shoots. In the
course of three or four years they become com-
pact, sturdy, fruitful bushes. At the end of that
time, if they are too much crowded with shoots,
soma of them may be thinned out with a sharp,
knife in winter, when the leaves have fallen. If
the culture of pyramids is preferred, the same sys-
tem may be pursued, but the leading shoot m'lst
not be shortened till the end of summer, and then
only to the length of 10 or 12 inches; on the
whole bush trees are best adapted for suburban
gardens. If the soil the trees are planted in be
too rich, so as to give over luxuriant growth, they
should at the end of two or three jear-s be taken
up and replanted ; this will give them a healthy
check.

A[)ple trees in small town gardens are apt to be
infested with the American blight, a sort of aphis,
which makes its appearance in the shoots, and is
covered with a white substance like floss silk ; a
certain cure for this is an infusion of 4 ounces of

soft soap to a quart of warm soft water, applying
it with a painter's brush.

A large quantity of useful apples that may be
grown in a very small garden, by pursuing the
method above dc-cribed, is surprising. — Engluh
Gardener's ^Imantt

Health of Farmers.

Farmers ought to be healthy ; if they are not it
is their fault. Their occupation is certainly a
healthy one. They are not cooped up in shops.
They arc not excluded from the sunlight. They do
not sit bent over the last, or, plying the needle or
the pen, gasping for pure air. Thev have abun-
dant exercise ; and, if they are not healthy, it is
because their diet is improper, or that they over
labor.

That farmers are careless of their diet as a class,
is true. They live too much on salt meats. They
do not have variety of diet. They should keep
fine flocks of sheep — if for no other purpc^se, to
supply their tables. It is but little trouble to kill
a sheep every few days, and of all mi'at mutton is
most healthful j it is far superior to pork.

Farmers are also neglectful of their vegetable
gardens. They should have an abundance of eve-
ry variety of the delicious vegetables. It is sur-
prising how much excellent diet can be obtained
from a well cultivated garden. The table can be
made to groan with abundance. An excellent va-
riety is always on hand to supply the most fastidi-
ous palate. The vegetable garden is indispensable
to the liealth of the farmer and his family.

But the cultivation of fruit is most neglected by
the farmer. It is true, every farm contains its .ap-
ple orchard. But is this enough in this warm cli-
mate, where bilious diseases are so prevalent? —
Why has the Creator given us fruits for early sum-
mer and all through the season and the year ? Is
it not to keep us healthful ? Has he not supplied
us with the most delicious as well as the most
healthful food during the hot months of summer ?
Have we not I;rge, luscious strawberries that will
produce hundreds of bushels to the acre with a
little care ? And v.'hen they are not gone, have
we not raspberries in profusion, if we will only
plant them and care for them ? And then we have
currants, and gooseberries , and blackberries, and
the luscii'US, glorious grape, all with thi'ir pleas-
ant acidity to act upon the liver, and purify the
blood and ward oflF disease. Cherries, plums, ap-
ricots, nectarines, peaches, pears and apples, also,
should supply the farmer's table. Thi-n there
would be health and cheerfulness, and home would
be pleasant and dear, and farming would be con-
sidered, as it is, the most healthful and delightful
of professions.

^^ A tree grows through the roots. The nu-
merous buds push forth, and there is the tree. —
You have it in your power how this tree shall be
formed — by pinching this shoot and favoring that,
or removing this. In this way, how beautiful the
order and arrangement of tree growing. And yet
how we neglect our trees ! Let them run at ran-
dom ; and the country at large tells us too much
what this random is. Poor, neglected trees ! When
they might be such fine, agreeable sights, and just
as useful as fine.

■,^^

-i-.i]iii.jjj»^jll!^

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

2^

Gathering and Keping Fruit.

It is becoming a well understood principle that
pears are improved by being gathered before fully
ripe. Some should approach nearer maturity than
others. But early apples should be fully ripe, as
a general rule, before gathering. Late fall and
early winter apples should not be eatable when
picked, and all the late winter varieties should be
gathered when too hard to yield to the pressure
of the thumb, and always before heavy fall frosts.
A dry time should be selected, if possible. There
will be a few specimens not yet mature, but you
can afford to throw them out to save the best and
the main crop. When a good keeping variety be-
gins to drop freely from the tree, as is sometimes
the case, secure the balance of the crop that re-
main? on the tree as soon as possible ; but they
should not be mixed with those on the ground —
not one should be saved with those picked. Wind-
falls will not keep, for in addition to the injury
sustained from the fall, they become heated by ly-
ing upon the ground exposed to the sun -and the
hot air, and the ripening process already com-
menced is hastening it lo a rapid decay.

No matter how hot the weather is, an apple is
always cool while upon the tree, and in that con-
dition should be taken care of, if we would have it
keep in its most perfect condition for the full de-
velopment of all the delicious juices with which it
is so abundantly supplied. How to obtain it in
that condition will be my purpose now to show. —
We have seen that it must be carefully gathered
before it is too ripe, as it is commonly termed ;
but I say before it is ripe, for when it is ripe it is
fit to eat, and should certainly be the case with
winter apples when gathered.

We have also seen that heat hastens the ripen-
ing process, and that cold retards it. Apples
should therefore be kept cool, barely so as not to
freeze. A minimum temperature of thirty-four de-
grees is probably about right, with as little fluctu-
ation as possible.

It is not foi the purpose of assuming to know
more than the most of you about the one best me-
thod of keeping apples, that I give the subject so
large a space in my address, but it is to give it
more prominence in our deliberations than it has
heretofore had. I regard it as one of the points
very much overlooked in all meetings of this kind.

Whether we regard the ripening process as a vi-
tal or a chemical action, it is quite sure that it
should go on gradual and unchecked until all the
good qualities are fully developed, and when the
highest point of excellence is attained, then the
fruit should be used. It is never so good as when
fully ripe ; but is frequently eatable for a long
time. Some varieties become dry and mealy, oth-
ers tough and leathery. Others, by being kept
very cool, will remain m a very good condition for
a very long time, or by the use of artificial means
may be kept for an almo^ indefinite period.

I hold that the ripening process once commenc-
ed, goes on, no matter how cold, if frost is not
present, slowly, perhaps, but uni»terruptedly, un-
til full maturity. Hence the importance of a cool
cellar, which should always be dry and dark. It
should be frequently aired, when the outside tem-
perature will admit of it. Some varieties are much
more sensitive to their treatment than others. —
The Winesap, for instance, which has a thick skin,

may be abused a great deal in handling and but
indifferently cared for in the cellar, and yet it will
keep pretty well ; that is, it will rot but little ; but ;,
if kept close and warm, it is subject to a fungus
that renders it scarcely tolerable to eat. But if it
is kept cool and dry, all its best qualities are re-
tained. It is also one of the varieties that does
best keep on open shelves. The Belmont, on the
other hand, which I regard as one of the best and
most profitable apples, is very impatient of bad ,
treatment. Its skin is smooth and thin, and flesh
of a delicate texture. If roughly handled and kept
in a warm room, it soon decays. If carefully han-
dled and kept in a cool place, it keeps with very
little waste till April or May. Indeed, it is with
me one of the best of keepers. — Trans. Ind. Hort.
Society.

4«>

Culture of Cabbage — Eleven thousand heads
of cabbage may be raised from an acre. This,
sold at five cents will bring five hundred dollars.
It is said by those who have raised extensively,
that it is one of the best crops to feed to stock —
young stock and cows in particu'ar. There is no
doubt of it, and give largely of milk. Some ob-
ject to its acrid taste and pungeaut flavor, as this
is perceptible in the milk. But the objection is
obviated in the case of young stock, and cows out
of milk.

To raise cabbage, the richest of ground is ne-
cessary. We have known cabbage raised for a
dozen years in succession on the same spot, and
each crop a a good one, varying, of course, with ;
the season. But the soil was of the best kind, so
that but little manure was needed. But the soil if
still better, would have raised better cabbage. —
Planted in a hogyard, or where manure has long '■
lain, gives the best of crop? — better than any we
have ever seen. It is almost impossible to get
your ground too rich for cabbage; and it wants :
depth as its long roots penetrate.

Cabbage, like berries, and all water-loving
plants, dries the soil rapidly, and hence gives it a
harsh sterile appearance, unless very rich and
mellow. Irrigation cannot be too largely indulged
in with cabbage. A thorough cultivation of the
soil, deep tillage, will aid in this respect.

The Varkish Tree. — As Americans, wemust be
as independent as possible of other nations. Eve-
rything that our nation can produce should be
grown here. Ic is bad policy to be sending our
coin off to other nations, to pay their laborers and
to build up their country at the expense of our
own.

We ail know the Japan varnish. It is obtained
from a tree — a species of Ailanthus, but the Rhvx
Vernix. It would undoubtedly succeed well here.
The Ailanthus that is so common here, was impor-
ted into this coimtry by the Eider Prince, if we
recollect right, and thrives amazingly. The Rhus
Vernix is grown to a great extent in Japan and
China, and the varnish obtained fiom it is a source
of much profit to tho-'C nations. It is obtained by
making an incision in the trunk of the tree in pret-
ty much the same manner as is practised in gath-
ering pitch from the p!ne. The yield is said to be
very large, and the production of the article pro-
fitable. Who knows but that in a few years we
shall see large plantations of the Ailanthus for Tar-
nish ;

'^BWwapwwswBjp^w.uwiM*'-

.Sf*B«i»wjiyiiijii||i!liy|||||ij,

298

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

October

Priming of Pyramidal Trees.

Some few years since, being much charmed with
the idea of cultivating the peach tree as a pyramid
I commenced that des^cription of culture by having
some trees potted. I am delighted with my per-
fect success in both modes of culture.

I found pinching in the young shoots of my pyr-
amids in the first year of culture to answer per-
fectly. The second year it was equally so with the
trees in pots — in short it continues so with them
to this day. This is the fifth year of their culture,
and I can see no reason why it should not go on
for many years, for no method can be more beau-
tiful and satisfactory. With my pyramids planted
iu the borders of my orchard house, I have had
some little trouble, owing to their vigorous growth
(in spite of occasional root pruning) and constant
inclination of sap to the head.

When pruning them to-day, I found their stems
pretty well furnished with branches full of blos-
som buds : but they are weekly and very unlike
the crowns of the trees, which from being pinched
in all the summer, are masses of well-ripened, ro-
bust, blossom- bearing shoots, by far too much
crowded. I have, therefore, felt called upon to
make some desperate amputations with my strong,
sharp pruning knife, done in this way : I have cut
out the central or crown branches of every tree,
so as to leave it almost a flat head. This will tend
to give the lower branches more strength, and the
sun will have more access to the fruit. I have in-
deed, reason to believe that with trees planted out
in orchard houses, either half standards or stand-
ards, this open flat-headed style of pruning will be
found the most eligible.

I have tried another way, besides summer-
pinching, to restrain the too vigorous growth of
peach trees planted out. This is described in the
'Orchard-House, 11th edition, p. 82: — "In 1862,
and again the past season, 1863, buds of some
kinds of peaches and nectarines were much wanted
for propagation. I therefore allowed some of the
trees to make their first growth without being
pinched. The shoots they made were most vigo-
rous, many of them from 4 to 5 feet in length. —
About the middle of July these were all cut ofi" to
within 4 inches of their base. The trees were
loaded with fruit, and I thought that this sudden
decapitation would put the crop in peril, and cause
it either to cease to grow or drop off in its then
immature statp. To my surprise, the fruit has
grown to its full size, ^rtid ri' ened well. The de-
capitated shoots have put forth numerous young
shoots, which this day (Aug. 30) have been pinch-
ed to within 3 or 4 leaves of their base, and the
trees look as they did last autumn — healthy, prom-
ising, and capable of bearing a good crop next
year. I observe that their growth seems much
more under control than those planted in the same
border that have been under pinching all the sum-
mer." I have slightly deviated from this method,
and have pinched all but 6 or 7 of these strong
shoots, leaving them to grow without control. —
Their vigor is most remarkable, and they exhaust
the tree of much superabundant sap. About the
third week in July they are cut down 5 or 6 inch-
es ; the buds at the base of each shoot break im-
mediately, arid form short spurs which ripen well
during the autumn.

By this method, my planted out pyramidal

peaches and nectarines have formed themselves in-
to flat-headed half-standards, slightly feathered
down their stems, with branches rather weakly,
still fruitful. These will in the end die off, and
leave the trees half-standards, with open heads in-
clined to horizontitl growth. As far as I can see,
this is a most excellent mode of cultivating peach-
es and nectarines under glass. Among these tiees,
if there be sufficient room, trees in pots may be
placed ; and these, if pyramids, mny be formed in-
to perfect fruitful 'cordons' by summer pinching.

I have to add something rather curious, and
which I confess is at present a mystery. In 1860
and '61 the fruit from the trees in pots in the
same house was much superior in flavor to that
from the trees in pots being in a warmer medium
surrounded by the heated airof the house. In '62
the fruit from the trees planted out was decidedly
superior to that from the potted trees ; but to my
surprise in 1863, although we had a bright, warm
summer, it was just the reverse, for the fruit from
the potted trees was infinitely richer than any
gathered from the trees growing in the borders —
I), in Jour. Horticulture,

Sow Rye. — Farmers would find it greatly to
their interests to sow more rye. For winter and
early sprmg pasturage, it is very valuable. All
kinds of stock like to get a green nibble whenever
it can be obtained in winter — and in spring it will
furnish good pasturage before it can be obtained
elsewhere.

It is not only as food for stock that we urge its
cultivation, but it is of great value to the soil as a
preparation for some other crop. It is almost
equal to a coat of manure if tlie gieen crop is
plowed in, in the spring. The soil is full of the
roots of the pl^it, and there is also the coat which
covers the surfite- — and if these are turned in, they
ferment and decay\and consequently enrich the

land. The coaling
tent the wa^^hing of th€
winter. The <rop, if not
one. If our readers will
they will not fail to sow
should be sown at the s
ner as fall sown wheat

also prevent to a great ex-
nd by the severe rains of
lowed in, is a paying
t in a few acres of rye,
every fall here.ifter. It
B time and in like man-
It is not necessary to be-

stow the same prepa^Stion of the soil as for wheat,
unless one feels disposed to do so.

Oil Springs in Missouri. — The Carrolton (Mo.)
Democrat mentions the existence of indications of
oil springs in Carroll county which mav ultimately
become valuable. For many years past, petrole-
um has been observed on the water of the springs
in the county, and it was sometimes used with
good effect in certain diseases. In some of these
springs the petroleum was so plentiful that they
were called Tar springs ; but the existence of oil
reservoirs in the earth was never suspected until a
short time ago, when some Penrisylvauians visiting
the county, having been attracted by the signs,
examined them and came to the conclusion that
the petrohum existed in sufficient abundance to
justify boring for it. They therefore leased a track
of land eight or ten miles square, and are prepar-
ing to bring forward machinery for vigorous opera-
tions. Should they be successful in opening oil
reservoirs, Ciirrol county will become the seat of
a trade of no little value.

°j"<gvv^y^!iryv>' it^-ayg^-'^ J»'«;g''y;^;pgT^-"" -»"^oiTS»«>ii'tj|spe«»»- '

■"■-wjjjii^^jjjiS^iimgF

1864.

THE ILLmOIS FAEMEK.

299

Stannard Apple-

We are indebted to the Prairie Farmer for the
above outliue of this apple. We have nothing fur-
ther to add than the fact that the trees are again
loaded with an abundant crop of fine fruit, and that
we have but few trees to sell . The demand of
those who had the pleasure of seeing this valuable
apple in bearing in our grounds having exhausted
tho stock of trees on hand. — Ed. III. FAuaER.

The above outline gives a fair average illustra-
tion of this apple, as we saw it growing a few days
since in the orchard of M. L. Dunlap, near Cham-
paign City. Mr. Dunlap has furnished us the fol-
lowing remarks relating to the apple.

"This variety of apple was received from the
Buffalo Nursery of Col. B. Hodge, Buffalo, New
York, in the spring of 1846. The trees came un-
der the name of peach apple ; subsquently under
its true n ime, the modesty of the Colonel seldom
allowing him to send out a fruit under its true
name.

The trees fruited in 1849 and have given large
annual crops of fine fruit up to the present time,
(Oct. 1863.) Not a twig has been injured by win-
ter, nor the crop in anywise lessened by frost. It
bears the same relation to Romanite apples that
the Keswick Codlin does to those of Summer, be-
ing an early and abundant bearer, and valuable
both for the table and kitchen.

DiscRiPTiox. — Col. Hodge, in his Catalogue for
1845, describes it as 'large, oblate, green, red and
yellow ; December to March ; very productive ;
juicy, pleasant, fine.' To be a little more precise :
the fruit is large size, slightly angular, rather flat-
ish, and in some specimen j tapering to the eye ;
skin at first a dull green, ch^mging to yellow at ma-
tunity ; deeply splashed and striped with red and
dotted with numerous large russet specks, with a
slight m irgin of pale russet about the stem ; otem
rather deeply inserted, half an inch long and bod-

ing the fruit firmly to the fruit spur ; calyx closed,
set in a moderate basin ; slightly corrugated ; flesh
yellowish white, raihir cearse, very juicy, with a
rather rich sub-acid flavor ; ripens in December
and keeps through March ; is a superior cooking,
and a very good table apple, For cooking, it is in
use from the first of September, and from that time
to the first of April, has no superior for this pur-
pose. Add to this that the tree is hardy in all
parts of the State, is a rapid grower, a young,
abundant and annual bearer it is a fruit that
should not be slightly passed over. The tree is a
crooked, spreading, irregular grower, with large,
deeply serrated leaves, the young shoots of a deep
wine color, covered with a white bioom, with prom-
inent white colored budsw

This variety has been fruited by several parties
in Cook county, among them the '0!d Doctor' at
'The Grove,' and his brother, Joseph Kennicott, at
Dunton Station. In my orchard at Leyden, Cook
county, there are three trees that have borne fif-
teen annual crops." — Prairie Farmer, Oct. 3, 1863^

-—>■

The Potato Rot. — At a meering of the Far-
mers'Club, Mr. Carpenter stated: "I have read
and observed a great deal on the subject of the po-
tato rot, and the sum of the whole seems to be that
potatoes planted in moist and tenacious soils are
much more subject to rot than if planted in dry
ground." Prof. Mapes remarked : "I had a field,
half of which was under-drained, and I planted
the whole to potatoes. On the under-drained por-
tion none of the polntoes rotted, while on the oth-
er half they all rotted."

„_^ He who pursues wealth and dispenses it
not in alleviating the woes of his less fortunate
neighbor, is aa alien in the uaiverse of God.

300

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

OOTOBEE

Alton Horticultural Society.

Friday, Sept. 2, 2864.

Met at the residence of J. and F. Curtis, on the
Grnfton road, at 10 a. m.

The minutes of last meeting were read and ap-
proved.

Also a letter from Henry Engelmann, Ass^istant
State Geologist, which was ordered to be pub-
lished.

"I have just examined," says Mr. Englemann, "a
salt obf.iiined by Mr. James E. Starr, from under
the limLVtone cliffs of his place. It proves to be
the Epsomite (natural Epsom salt), which, wrhen
pure, is stated in the Hand books of Miuerology,
to contain 16|- per cent, of niiignesia, 22^ per cent,
of sulphuric acid, and 51 1-6 per cent, of water of
crystaliz;ition. It might be used as a manure, es-
pecially for clover, instead of gypsum ; or Epsom
salts miuht be made of it by di.-solving and re-
crystalizing it."

J. E. Starr read the report of the committee on
Entomology :

Mr. President : The committee on Entomology
having been instructed to report at this meeting
on insect?, received at the last meeting, respect-
fully submit the following :

From J. Huggins, a large collection. See his
report.

From Jas. E. Starr, a caterpillar in spirits,
showing the cocoon of the lehneuman fly, which
had fed on its vitals. Also an insect, habits un-
known.

From H. G. McPike, specimens of the magfly.

I'Voui F. Starr, (injurious), 54 varieties of but-
terflies and moths, 11 do. of the grasshopper fam
ily, 9 do. of bosir.-J, 3 do. snapping beetles, 12 do.
of beetles, 3 do. of wasps, 3 do. curculios, squash
bug, pea bug, cicadia, horse fly, ants, and a bug
resembling the squash bug, which is a veritable
Vjlood sucker, and at least not refusing that of the
human family. (Beneficial.) Dragon fly, antlion
fly, 2 kinds of tiger beetles, 2 do. lady bugs, lace
wing, carrion beetles, 3 do. of spiders. An insect
resembling the horse fly, name unknown ; also 24
kinds of ins'Cts — habits unknown.

Among the butterflys and moths, we notice the
codlin moth, destructive to apples, and the hawk
moth, to tobacco.

The moths are attracted by lifihts in the night,
and small fires built in the orchards and vineyards
wou'd destroy very many.

In the larvae state they can be destroyed by syr-
inging wi'h whale oil, soap suds, by dusting with
air slacked lime, by crushing by hand, and by per-
mitting hogs to eat the fallen fruit. Buds feed
upon them and they also fall victims to spiders
and other predatory insects.

Among the grasshopper family, we find the
grasshopper proper, the locust, (tree), the cricket
and the Katydid.

Among the beetles, the maybug. This is very
destructive to strawberry beds and meadows in
the larvae state, and also to the leaves of cherry
trees in the beetle state. Hogs will root them out,
but of course also destroy the grass and strawber-
ries.

The fires built for the moths would also destroy
many beetles of various kinds.

The curculio should have uncompromising war

declared against him, and every means known
should be employed to destroy him ; jarring upon
sheets is the most efiectual, pasturing by hogs the
easiest.

We have thus but glanced at the habits of a few
of the insects exhibited, and at a few of the well
known methods of destroying them. To enter fully
into the subject would require more room than
would be admissable in this report and far more
knowledge than is possessed by your committee.
Respectfullv,

' E. STARR,
J. HUGGINS.

The committee on Fruits reported as follows :

We find upon the tables at the present meeting
a variety of fruit affording a fine display.

From Mr. J. Huggins — Apples — Fall Pippin,
Sops of Wine, Trenton Early, large and of fine ap-
pearance. Maiden's Blnsh, Rhode Island Greening,
Pensylvania Red Streak, Red Canada, Rambo,
Wagner, Fameuse, Ramsdell's Sweet, Power's
Large Red Crab. Pears — Howell, large, worthy,
Bartlett, Louis Bonne, Duchesse d' Angouleme,
White Smith, [?.]

From Mr. Curtis — Apples — Fall Pippin, Hub-
bardston Nonsuch, Crtley, Roxbury Russut. Pears
— Seckel and Bartlett.

From A. and F. Starr — Fall Wine, Maiden's
Blush. Grapes — ^Isabella extra, Catawba and Del-
aware.

From J. E. Starr — Grapes — Herbemont and
Concord.

From Dr. E. S. Hull — Grapes — Catawba, very
fine. Concord, Clinton, fine specimens.

From D. E. Brown — Apples — Boxford and Mai-
den's Blush, very large.

From L. W. Lyon — Pear, for name. Apple —
August Pippin.

From James D. Bishop — Pear, for namci Ap-
ple, for name.

From James Newman — Pear and Clinton
Grapes.

From C. W. Dimmock — Seckel Pear, very large
specimen. Grapes — Catawba, Anna, not recom-
mended, Delaware and Diana.

From Messrs. Eisenmayer — Grapes — Concord,
fine, Clinton, Herbemont, Norton's Virginia.

From J M. Pearson — Delaware Grapes.

From W. C. Flagg— Apples— Fall Wine, Coop-
er, Maiden's Blush. Kirkbridge White, Keswick
Codlin, Cole's Quince, Hawley, American Summer
Pearmain, Summer Queen, Sine-qua-non, Red June,
Yellow Siberian Crab, Power's large Red Crab. —
Pears — Bartlett, Seckel, Sumnier Bergamot, and
three for name.

From Louis Stieritz — Grapes — Catawba, Nor-
ton's Virginia, very large bunches.

From W. tJ. Miller — Grapes — Catawba, Isabella
and White Fox. Pears — Bartlett, very large,
Seckel, two pears for name, Louis Bonn.

From S. R. Dolbee — Grapes — Delaware and
Concord.

From I. Allen — Grapes — Isabella and Catawba.

For the committee :

F. STARR.

The committee on Vegetables find no competi-
tion. We find specimens of the sweet potato, egg
plant, lima beans and two varieties ef pepper,
from the garden of F. Curtis, all very fine.

D. E. BROWN, Chairman.

>j>-pww?w7»'^r ' ■'

= fliMf=s?*'^?^!^s^^r^ -

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

301

, The special committe on Planting Trees, report-
ed as follows :

Mr. Fresident : The committee appointed at our
last meeting to prepare a table of distances for
planting the various kinds of fruit trees, shrubs,
vines and plants, offer the following for the con-
sideration of the Society .

Apples 30x30, pears, 25x25 ; root prunes 15 ;
dwarf 10x10 ; peaches 18x18 ; plum 18x16 ; quince
12 ; grape 4x6, 6x6 , blackberry 2x3 ; currant 4x6;
gooseberry 4x6 ; raspberry 2x6 ; strawberry 1x4 ;
hills 1^x2.

Wc would here mention the advantages of set-
ting peach orchards in squares, each kind in a
square of itself, thus : if 100 of a kind, set 10 each
way. This will, by packing in the centre of the
kind, be found an economical method.

The orchards should also be so arranged that
hogs can be kept in such as it is desirable.

The above is respectfully submitted.

F. STARR,
J. HUGGINS,
E. CURTIS.

The subject was then taken up

A. S. Redfield thonght the report gave too wide
distances for apple trees. He would crowd trees
close east and west.

Dr. Long plants 33x33 diagonally, making the
distance 27 feet one way.

W. T. Miller would plant 35 feet rather than
less.

E. A. Riehl — Every one should plant according
to the fertility of his soil ; not less than 30 in
poor soil, and not less than 40 in rich.

J. Huggins — Set first at 32 feet ; 16 years later
at 30 feet, with additional tree in the center of the
square. Late spring at 25 feet.

Report was adopted.

An essay was read by Mr. J. E. Starr, and re-
quested for publication.

Mr. Riehl from the critical committee read a re-
port on Mr. Johnson's mistakes in culture.

Dr. Long said it could not be shown that a right-
ly managed grain crop would injure an orchard.
The Dr. would cultivate immediately after remov-
ing the grain crop.

The Secretary distributed copies of a pamphlet
on trees and tree planting presented by H. D. Em-
ery, of the Prairie Farmer.

A special committee on the best time and meth-
od of planting was appointed, consisting of Messrs.
Huggins, Long and Flagg.

Dr. Long presented specimens of clover stools
tightly wound together by a leaf-roller and killed.
Has found it only on clover of two years growth.
Referred to committee on Entomology,

Other insects presented were similarly referred.

It was voted that the Society send a contribu-
tion of fruits to the State Fair at Decatur.

Maj. Geo. Abbott, Stephen Ebert, Prof. Warren
Leverett, Prof. Washington Leverett, Louis Stier-
itz, Jas. Smith, jr. and laam Allen, were elected
members.

A committee was appointed to examine a speci-
men of Catawba Wine of 1863, presented by Mr.
Stieritz, reported :

Mr. President: Your committee on Winea
beg leave to report on specimens of wine made
from the Catawba grape of 1863, by Louis Steiritz
—of true flavor, high color, owing to the must be-
ing allowed to remain with the skins and sterna.

This latter mode of treatment also imparts an as-
tringency to the wine which is considered by some
an excellence, and no doubt adds to its value in a
medical view. Wine very clear and of great body.
Your committee regret to add that sugar was mix-
ed with the must previous to fermentation They
think that wine from grapes should be pure^ with-
out intermixture either of sugar or alcohol. The
different quantities of grape sugar in the difft^n-nt
varieties of grapes will make an agreeable variety
of wine and serve to indicate the quality of the
grapes and their perfection; whereas if sugar
be added it produces not only a sameness of flavor
but at once loses the character of pure wine.

Your committee dwell upon this because they
think it very important that any of us Avho con-
template making any wine should start aright, and
this they cannot do if they begin by adding sugar
to the juice of the grape.

Respectfully submitted,

J. M. PEARSON, Ch'n

J. M Pearson was appointed an essayist for next
meeting.

The October meeting was arranged to be at Mr.
Huggins', and the November one at Mr. Flagg's.

Mr. Huggins called special attention to the How-
ell pear as a fruit of great excellence and promise.
Endorsed by Dr. Hull.

The meeting was largely attended by ladies ns
well as gentlemen, and the repast furnished by the
hospitality of the lady of the house added no lit-
tle to the feast of pomological reason and flow of
horticultural soul.

The Messrs. Curtis occupy 100 acres of land five
miles distant from Alton, and within less than a
mile of the Mississippi. Forty acres are in or-
chard, 30 in other crops, and 30 in woodland. The
orchard contains about 2,500 apple trees, 12 years
set, consisting mostly of Janet, Newtown Pippin,
Ortley, Pryors' Red, Alexander, Yellow Belleflow-
er. Fall Pippin, &c. The Alexander has proved
very profitable with them, and they approve also
of Early Harvest, Red June, Newtown Pippin,
Hawles' Janet, Pryors' Red and Ortley, as good va-
rieties. Baldwin bears well ; but here is an early
fall apple. Roxbury Russet drops badly, ripens
early and is unprofitable.

There are also 600 peach trees in their orchard,
50 pear, 50 quince and 1^ acres of strawberries.

The apple trees are set 33x33 feet, with peach
trees between a part. Since coming into the hands
of the Messrs. Curtis, the orchard lias been either
cultivated or kept in clover.

Adjourned to meet at Jonathan Huggins', near
Woodburn, on the Alton and Woodburn road, at
10 o'clock on Friday, Oct. Yth. — Alton Telegraph.

44N-

A Primeval Forest. — ^The little town of Ega,
on the Upper Amazons, in the heart of South
America, originally a mission village of the Jesu-
its, but now a thriving Brazilian settlement, lies
pretty nearly in the centre of the most extensive
unbroken forest on the surface of our globe. It
requires little effort of imagination, even to those
who have not traveled beyond the limits of Eu-
rope, to form some general idea of what such a
realm of arboreal vegetation must be ; lying with-
in a few degrees of the equator, bathed all the year
through in an atmosphere like that of a forcing
house for plants, drenched by tropical rains and
heated by a vertical sun. The total length of this

■^'pTpC^'ST:!'!^^^

302

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

October

vast forest, from west to east is 1,200 miles, its
breadth var\ing from 600 to 800 miles. Towards
the east, indeed, it continues "700 miles further,
terminating only on the shores of the Atlantic. —
This easterly portion, however, or that which
clothes the valley of the lower Amazons, I exclude
from the present description, since it is, in one
part, much broken and contracted in breadth by
large tracts of open grassy land. The forest of
the great plain of the Upper Amazons has suffi-
cient compactness and peculiarity to be treated as
a separate area. But as there is no complete break
of continuity, the statement of Humbolt (who had
a glimpse of the immeasurable wilderness only
from its western commencement, in Peru,) still
holds good, to the effect that a flock of monkeys
might travel amongst the tree tops, were it not for
the^ rivers, for 2,000 miles in a straight line with-
out once touching ground ; namely, from the slopes
of the Andes to the shores ot the Atlantic. At
the top of the grassy slope on which the town is
built, rises a compact wall of foliage, with a small
narrow gap in the midst ; the leafy barrier is the
frontier line of the forest, kept from encroaching
on the few acres of cleared space only by the in-
habitants doing constant battle with powers of
vegetation, and the gap is the entrance to the only
road by land that the townspeople possess. A lew
minutes' walk under the shady arcade, and the
traveler finds himself in the heart of the solitude.
The crowns of the tall trees on both sides meet
overhead, and admits the rays of the sun only at
rare intervals, where some forest monarch has
been uprooted by the storm. The paih leads to a
few small plantations belonging to the poorer in-
habitants, and at the distance of about a mile
dwindles down to a mere hunter's tiack, which
none but a native can follow. Beyond this point
all traces of the presence of man cease, — the land
untrodden and unowned, — and so it continues for
hundreds of miles. — Good Words.

Value of Science. — The generalizer in botany,
zoology, or any other science which may rightly
be denominated the science of observation, must
rely for his generalities on the aggregation of re-
sults of innumerable observations. Thus it was
once supposed that a certain moss, Buxbaumia
aphyUa, was destitute of le(ivc?, and it might not
have mattered whether it h;\d leave or not, except
that there are physiological as well as technical
reasons for concluding that a moss without leaves
is an impossibility. It was Brown's good fortune
to discover at the base of the footstalk true leaves
like wisps of silk, and this observation tended to
confirm and establish the law that all mosses have
leaves, botli of necessity and in fact. No observ-
er can say what is the value of his observing ; he
may at the moment when he feels most deeply
convinced he is but admiring or examining what
has been admired or examined by every one of his
predecessors, be actually taking note of something
that was never observed before, and the result of
his observations may in the end prove the untying
of some gordian knot in classification, or the es-
tablishing some principle of utility that maybe of
incalculable benefit to mankind at large. The
great Linnaeus, by simple observation of the habits
of Cantharis Navalis, was enabled to point out to
the Swedish government how to avoid the loss of

many thousand pounds every year, through the ra-
vages of an insect which destroyed immense qaan-
tities of timber in the dockyards of that country.
The remedy suggested by Linnaeus was the immer-
sion of the timber in water during the period when
the fly lays its eggs, and this was found to be com-
pletely effectual in putting a stop to the ravages.
The same r-aster of the art of observing detailed
the cause of a dreadful disease among the cattle
of North Lapland, which was thought to be unac-
countable and irremediable, but which Linnaeus
discovered to be owing to the prevalence of poi-
sonous plants in the marshes where the cattle fed,
and the eradication of these put a stop to the ca-
reer of national calamity. — Gardener's Weekly.

Crops in the Great San Jose Valley. — What
of the drouth ? Let those who hear so much of
the drought in the San Jose and Santa Clara val-
leys, those who fear a famine for man or beast,
just go and visit those gardens of our land, and in
order to see them iruly, go to that grand semina-
ry of learning, the Santa Clara College, go up into
the observatory (about 100 feet above the college
ground) and take a view of the magnificent land-
scape from there. A grander scene was never pic-
tured than an hundred miles' circuit around, one
grand panorama of beauty.

This view presents no scene of drought or mil-
dew, but one of beauty and fertility — orchards and
vineyards, gardens and fields, richer than the
mines of Golconda, and wheat is plenty. To a
casual observer, the stacks of grain, the moun-
tains of hay, and the vast amount yet spread over
the plain, it would seem there was enough hay
and grain, and fruit, and luxuries to supply the
whole State. It is one vast sea of plenty. We only
wish every si)eculator would go to this observito-
ry and see what we saw this week — we don't think
we are very near a famine. — Ualifornia Farmer.

■«•>

The Raspberry. — No fruit except the curraBt
and perhaps the gooseberry, can be so cheaply
raised as the raspberry, and yet no fruit adapted
to our climate is so much neglected. The rasp-
berry, like most of our small fruits, has been much
improved within a few years. Dr. Brinckle, of
Philadelphia, has done more, perhaps, than any
other man, to improve this fruit, having given us
some of the best varieties now in cultivation, if
not the very best, and what has been said of the
strawberry may also be said of this, that it is diffi-
cult to tell how far this improvement may be car-
ried.

Raspberries will grow on almost any good soil,
but flouri-h best on a moist soil containing con-
siderable vegetable mold. For garden culture, af-
ter spading in a good coat of well rotted manure
and ashes, mark off your rows four feet apart, and
if you have plenty of room, five is better, setting
the plants two or three feet apart in the rows ; in
either case they will, if well mulched, (which I con-
sider almost indispensable) soon fill all the inter-
mediate space. A plantation of raspberries will
need but little care for five or six years, except
thinning out, so that the plants shall stand about
a foot apart — tying up and heading in about one-
third the length of the canes in the spring ; laying
down and covering the stocks in the fall with ey
ergreens, leaves, or anything that will shield them

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:?'^r7«^swF«S5^F^™E^:

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

S03

from the eiFects of the sun, when they are not cov-
ered with snow. If kept well njulched they will
produce much better fruit and require but little
weeding, and that can and ought to be done with
the hands.

Pigeon Manuke. — A subscriber wants to know
"what is the best way to use pigeon droppings. —
How would the manure do for strawberries in a
loose, sandy soil ?

Solon Robinson answers these questions as fol-
lows :

"I have used, within two or three years past
about 150 barrels of pigeon manure, obtained from
city dove cotes. It has proved eminently success-
ful until the present year, when, owing to the
drouth, it has in most cases been useless, and in
some injurious. My mode of using it has been to
mix it with five or six times its bulk of muck, mold
or loam, making up the pile out of doors where it
would be exposed to the rain which softens the
lumps, and by frequent turning mixing the ingre-
dients well together so that the whole mass is ex-
tremely rich, and well suited for any kiml of ma-
nurial purposes. It will be good for strawberries
in a rainy season, and good for nothing in a dry
one. It is purely an ammoniacal manure, and like
guano and other manures of that class requires
moisture to develop its value. — N. Y. Tribune.

——-

Tobacco for Cut Worms. — Some years since I
concluded on raising some cabbages for winter
feed for my cows. With the assistance of my boys
I planted several acres, and the next morning on
looking at them I found a great many of them de-
stroyed by cut worms ; we planted more, and kill-
ed what worms we could find, but the next morn-
ing found hundreds of the plants killed. We
planted more and strewed ashes, lime, salt, cow
manure, chicken manure — and, in fact, everything
I could then think of, but did not succeed in stop-
ping their depradations ; at last I came to the
conclusion that the 'critters' had learned to chew,
and that my best way would be to supply them
with tobacco at once ; I therefore put about half
a pound of tobacco into a bucket of boiling water,
and when it was cool, I took a pint cup and put a
little on each plant as I pricked it out. I looked
next morning and found one plant destroyed and
the worm beside it dead. I always practice the
same plan, and do not think I have lost a plant
since ; that year I saved 1500 out of 6000. I have
tried tobacco for the bugs that infest cucumbers
and melons, but it does not affect them as it does
cut worms. — Cor. Prairia Fanner.

Mocking Bird. — We see in the Country Gen-
Ueman of of July 14th, a communication from Ed-
gar Sanders, of Chicago, stating that a pair of
mocking birds have taken up their abode in his
girden, and are building a nest, &c. He asks if it
is a rare thing to see them so far North ? Mr. San-
ders is undoubtddly mistaken about their being
the well known Southern mocking bird. They are
never known to come so far North as St. Louis.
The brown thrush, resembling the mocking bird
in size and appearance, has misled Mr. S. They
mock and sing very well, but not equal to the real
mocking bird. The brown thrush is very abun-
dant here, and make the groves musical with their
melody. They imitate a great number of birds.

From the CouLtry Gentleman and Cultivator.| |

Prairie Scenes.

How broad and grand these waves of landj

On the vast solid sea !
The prairie swells of freedom tell,

Of boundless libertv.

Far as the eye can aught descry,
These waves of land are seen ;

Before and aft, from right to left,
Clad in a fleece of green.

The tinkling beUj)f comfort tells,

Grazing upon the mead ;
The joyous notes from feathered throats,

Proclaim all nature glad.

The stars of white and yellow light
Are sprinkled the grass between ;

While 'neath your feet verbenas sweet,
Mingled with foliage green ;

Their odors shed from their rocky bed,

Or to the breeze is flung ;
While in the vale modest and pale.

Grow the pretty adder's tongue.

The primrose opes on the rocky slope.
Its bloom at the hour of repose ;

At the dawn of day it fades away.
And its golden petals close.

The foxglove tells with its stalk of bells,

Of love and purity ;
And the phlox beside speaks joy and pride.

In its crimson gaiety.

There are larkspurs bright, both blue and white.

And yellow poUyanth,
And violet blue and lupin too.

And fragrant hyacinth. . '

The light how fa:r ! howpure the airt ■

Yet few and far between ;
The clouds above, in forms of love,

Like angel visits seem.

Yet when those clouds the earth enshroud.

And hide the eye of day.
And thunders hoarse utter their voice, •

And flashing lightnings play —

How changed the scene ! how dread earth's mein.

Upon this prairie sea ;
As torrents pour, mid flash and roar.

And winds howl dolefully. ^ '

In a sorry plight is that luckless wight,

Abroad in a prairie storm ;
Sad by daylight, but if in the night,

Then is "he doubly forlorn.

The smiling dawn, the glowing morn.

Bursts grandly on our view ;
All is ablaze with sunny rays,

As day rolls on anew.

Since for the head we find no shade,

The winds that want forestall ;
The cooling breeze from the verdant seas.

Boundless and free to all;

304:

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

October

The day rolls on and the sun goes down,

And twilight is o'er us thrown ;
Ere we are aware the shades appear,

And our brief twilight's gone.

The heat of the day has passed away.

The night is cool and still ;
Naught to molest our quiet rest.

And so we take our fill.
Olatha, Kansas. W. Bkckwith.

Little by little.

One step and then another

And the longest walk is ended ;
One stitch and then another,

And the largest rent is mended ;
One brick upon another.

And the highest wall is made ;
One flake upon another,

And the deepest snow is laid.

So the little coral workers,

By their slow but constant motion,
Have built those pretty islands

In the distant dark blue ocean ;
And the noblest undertakings

Man's wisdom bath conceived.
By oft-repeated efforts

Have been patiently achieved.

Age of Apple Orchards. — We obsorye in a
number of the agricultural papers, statements from
correspondents, particularly toward the South and
West, that apple orchards begin to decline and de-
cay at an average period of about 40 years from
planting. We cannot learn that there are any or-
chards in the Western States that exist much lon-
ger that this period. There are some in Naw York
and New England that are somewhat older, but
even many of these show indications that they have
passed their prime. Good cultivation in some in-
stances, does not seem to prolong their existence,
and it is questionable if the best system of pruning
would produce greatly differing results. We invite
information on this subject — for if this is general-
ly the case, and the fact is known to planters, it
would save unnecessary expense in attempting to
renovate old orchards that are too old to be reno-
vated. We are aware that works on fruit speak of
apple trees that are two centuries old, but are not
these instances very rare, if they exist at all in
this country, however common they may be in the
more equable and cooler climates of some Europe-
an countries. The dwarf pear is often quoted as
lasting fifty years in Europe when subjected to the
best management and pruning. In the best dwarf
pear regions in the United States there are now
many trees twenty-five years of age, of those few
sorts which succeed best. The question occurs,
how much longer lived the apple is than the dwarf
pear, when the latter is grown under the most fa-
vorable circumstances? — Country Gent.

An Ice Cave. — A correspondent of the Scientific
American writing from Decorah, Iowa, gives the
following report of a visit to an ice cave at that
place :

"A friend and I started on a mid-summor trip,
crossing the river in a boat, and commenced the

ascent of the bluff as usual; it being very steep,
and upon the whole like the river Jordon — 'a hard
road to travel.' All diflBculties, however, being
surmounted, we arrived a the mouth of the cave,
and sat down to rest awhile^and cool ourselves;
looking at the thermometer, we found it stood at
eighty. Here we found several pieces of candle
and one old candle-stick left by other visitors-

We then commenced the descent, and as we
walked, crawled and slid along, it began to grow
cold quite fast , it seemed like going out of a warm
room into the cold atmosphere of a winter morning.
We soon began to see the frost on the walls, spark-
ling in the light of our lamps like millions of dia-
monds. This one sight is worth as jnuch as all the
natural exhibitions of every lover of the beautiful.
As we came to our first stopping place we began
to find ice from a mere film up to six or eight
inches thick.

This part of the cave is in the shape of a wedge
with the small end up, it being about six feet wide
at the ba?e, the sides drawing together overhead
about twenty feet high — the one side covered with
ice, clear as crystal, and the other with sparkling
frost. Now we hung the thermometer on the wall
and awnited the result; the mercury going down
gradually to thirty degrees where it remained.

We also had a little water in a cup, and after
leaving it on the rock for about ten minutes, it be-
came skimmed over with i/e. There is not near
the amount of ice in the cave that there usually is
at this season of the year, and no doubt it is owing
to the dryness of the sea.son. The present spring
and summer, so far, has been very dry in Decorah;
and I have noticed that the more rain we have, the
more ice forms in and around the mouth of the
cave. Two years ago, there was so much ice in
the first fifty or sixty feet of the cave that we had
to cut steps in it with a hatchet to get down with
safety. A great quantity of rain fell that season."

LiTTLK Acts Great. — Little acts are the ele-
ments of true greatness. They raise life's value
like the little figures over the large ones in arith-
metic, to its highest power. They are the tests of
character and disinterestedness. They are the
straws on life's deceitful current, that show the
current's way. The heart comes all out in them.
They move on the dial of character and responsi-
bility significantly. They indicate the character
and destiny. They help to make the immortal
man. It matters not so much where we are as
what we are. It is seldom 'hat acts of moral he-
roism of life is to do all its little duties promptly
and faithfully.

[^~ Two things are necessary to make travel-
ing with children a pleasure rather than a trouble
— first, that they have faith in you ; second, that
they implicitly obey you. Having the first they
are without fear ; and where they have learned the
second well, a word controls them. In fact, this
is everywhere the secret of a happy life with chil-
dren. In going around among the people one finds
many a house where the children rule, or where
their obedience is a matter of bargain and sale.
Life in such a house is a bitter experience, and the
end bitter.

Wf^svzr^'-

Ss85?'«73*^^*''-

■-?s'^^^''^^^'^-^^':Z'}?*-T™^^^^^^<.

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

305

State Fair.

We propose to give the mere features of the 11-
linois State Fair from day to day. The notes were
taken at the time, and without any attempt at ar-
rangenient will be given as originiilly taken. We
arrived on the grounds on Saturday morning, the
lOtli, and remained until 6 p. m. of the last day
taking the last train that left the grounds.

Decatur, Saturday, Sept. 10th, 1864.

To day is to be seen the incipient stage of the
State Fair that is to be. The stream that is set"
ting in from the depot is small, but is constantly
gathering volume, and by night will have assumed
highly respectable proportions. A large part of
the arrivals so far are of stock, including sheep,
cattle, mules and horses. The sheep department
is likely to take the lead in the live stock depart-
ment. Sheep from Vermont, Ohio, Indiana, Wis-
consin and various parts of our own State offer un-
usuiil attraction. There will be no lack of entries
in the cattle and horse line, but swine will hardly
be heard of.

THE GROUNDS.

On entering the gate the Secretary's office will
be found on the right; next in order comes the
Sanitary Booth under charge of the ladies of Long
Creek, who have hot coffee, cake^, pies, oysters,
ice cream, new cider, etc. Next in order are the
grounds for agricultural implements, with "Fawkes'
Steam Plow Engine" for a setting of a center of
the picture. This engine will furnish the motive
power for the trial of machines, corn-grinders, and
the like. Farm Products Hall is on the rise of
ground just beyond and to the right of the Pres^i-
dent's office. In the narrow valley beyond is the
State Sanitary Bazaar — a large building in the
form of a Greek cross. In the front of this are
four refreshment booths similar to that of the
Long Creek booth. Two of these will be under
charge of the ladies from Champaign county, and
may be appropriately called '"Champaign booths,"
with this slight difference : the cider sold will be
sold as cider, without giving it a fictitious name.
An old lady who was passing by, was tolJ that
these two booths were retained for "Champaign.''
"La, me !" said she, "just to think : cider and la-
ger are bad enough ; but to have champagne is an
outrage ! Such drunkenness ! Well, I shani;
come to the Fair ; and, what's more, Eliza Jane
must stay at home. I will not trust her in such a
place !" The "Sanitary ladies" explained to her
and she is to assist iti attending one of these sol-
diers' saloons.

The Vennillion county ladies will run one of the
other booths, and those from Centralia the other,
which ie to be called the "Egyptian."

Moving farther on, we have "Fine Art Hall,'
and near it is a new fancy building, for the exclu-
sive use of the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Ma-
chines.

We have now reached the amphitheater, with
its tier of booths underneath. At the top of the
hill, to the right, is Fine Art Hall,! in the lower
part of which is the Fruit and Floral Department.

Passing down the hill towards the spring, we
find a new structure — a "Dancing Floor." In this
the exhibitor pays and the crowd will look on with-
out charge.

I should have said that the McLean county la
dies will have a booth near Art Hall.

THE DINING HALL.

A few steps brings us to the Dining Hall, in the
charge of the Sangamon ladies. This, of course,
will be the great center of attraction — about noon.
The bill of fare will be the most varied and gener-
ous ever presented at the State Fair. Lady mana-
gers and lady waiters, with Watson to superintend,
giva promise that the crowd of hungry patrons
will be pleased and the sick, soldier benefitted.

On Tuesday, at 2 p. m., the Sanitary Bazaar will
be formally opened by Gov. Yates. The Fair will
not be in full blast until that time, as it will re-
quire all of Monday to get things to rights.

The want of laborers is severely felt, and all de-
partments will be delayed more or less in conse-
quence.

The officers are all working with a will to get
things into shape as fast as possible. The indica-
tions for a great crowd are highly flattering.

The citizens of Decatur are active and determin-
ed to give satisfaction, and to this end will make
daily canvass of the city for accommodation, and
will have a committee at the Court House readv
to show strangers to lodgings.

The Sanitary Department will need the help of
the farmer and gardener, and each one should
bring in something — a sack of potatoes, a barrel
of apples, onions, beets, etc.

FIRST DAY.

Dkcatub, Monday, Sept. 12, 1864.
Enthroned on the people's "Tripod," in the
building set apart and dedicated to the "Press,"
we take our position, to note the doings of the
great industrial ingathering whose vanguard is
just beginning to enter the eastern gate of these
magnificent Fair Grounds. It is eight o'clock —
an early breakfast in the city, and an extra cap of
coffee with the ladies in the Sanitary Dining Hall,
and we are ready for work.

The note of busy preparation is heard on every
hand, and at^this early hour the scene is one of

pPWS-. -■'

"^^n*",;

"Tr l-n^

806

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

OCTOBE R

deep interest and gives promise of success. Doubt-
less some department will come short of the pub-
lic expectation ; but that the exhibition on the
whole, will be a fair exponent of the resources of
the State, none need doubt.

The weather is all that could be desired ; cool
clear, invigorating ; just such as will best suit the
grand holiday of the great army of workers, wheth-
er on the farm or in the work shop.

Proud are we that once a year, Labor can take
itself from the field, the shop and the studio, and
in a sylvan retreat like this, away from the noise
and dust of the city, the clanking of mighty foiges,
the hum of fast revolving wheels, the jostling of
commerce, the rustling of corn, and all the busy
walks of life, to meet and mingle, to show their
handiwork, to compare notes of progress, to gath
er up the products of their teeming soil, the useful
implements of labor, and the beautiful in art and
in nature.

To us the peaceful walks of life have a charm
and judging from the rapidly widening of the liv-
ing stream that is entering yonder gate, we shall
have plenty of company to join in doing honor to
the free labor and the free institutions of the
Prairie State.

THE SANITARY FAIR

Is a new institution that is interwoven into and
made a part of the order of the week. It speaks
to us of war and its attendant horrors ; that while
we are peacefully celebrating this progress of the
industrial army, there is another anny whose plows
are the keels of "iron-clads," plowing the wnters
wherever the commerce of the nation peacefully
floated ; whose pruning hooks are swords ; whose
seed sowers are the loud-mouthed cannon, and
whose reapers spread devastation and death.

"Who will not lay some offeiing at this shrine of
his country ? Who will not give some aid and
comfort to those who cannot attend this great
gathering, who are far away in the trenches, beat-
ing back the foe who would strike down the free
institutions of our land ?

One prominent feature of the Fair is the active
part the ladies are taking in it. The Dining Hall
is in charge of ladies, as are also a large number of
the booths. This of itself will form no ordinary
attraction, and cannot fail of giving a high tone to
the entire surroundings.

THE BAND.

E. Hull's Lee County Band have just arrived
and are marching through the grounds and giving
us a touch of their quality. This is one of the best
bands of the State. It is composed of ten young
men, and though called the Lee County Band, its
members hail about equally from Kane and Lee

counties. Most of them labor either in the work-
shop or office. ~ .

BEET SUGAR.

•'Chester, Sept. 9, 1864.
" W. H. Van Epps, President State Fair :

"We have this day shipped to your address one
barrel of Beet Sugar I'rom last year's crop of beets
It is the first barrel of beet sugar made in the Uni-
ted States. Respectfully yours,

Gannett Bross."

The above will be highly gratifying to the peo-
ple of the West at this time of high priced sugar
We shall endeavor to learn the particulars in re*
gard to this new production.

the city fathers.

Already we have heard complaints in regard to
transportation from the city to the grounds. It is
reported, with how much trjith we know not, that
the ci^charges a license fee of five dollars, to
which isadded fifty cents Clerk's fees for the priv-
ilege of carrying passengers to the grounds. This,
of course, must tend to lessen competition and
thus leave the public to the tender mercies of the
hackmen. This is to a great extent corrected by
the Great Western railroad, to carrying passen
gers at fifteen cents each way, though not much
effort has been made to post the public up in this
respect. The charge for freight is enormous. We
suggest to the City Fathers that they look to these
abuses and have then abated at once. If the price
cannot be regulated, do put in so much of compe'
titiou as will correct the evil. If farmers and far-
mers' boys were allowed to carry passengers and
do hauling without taking out license, the rates
would be speedily reduced. No efforts on the part
of the citizens appear wanting to make the fair a
success. Their charges appear satisfactory, and
doubtless all who attend will be accommodated.
The experience of last year has been useful, and
less complaint must follow. One advantage of the
permanent location of the Fuir will be to accustom
the people to its proper management.

SIDE SHOWS.

These are to come within the grounds and be
under the control of the Society, instead of keep-
ing up an everlasting din outside to draw off gap-
ing crowds, and to cheat the Society out of a much
needed revenue. Fat babies, Borneo children, gi-
ants, snakes, wild and tame animals, with an ex-
tensive list too numerous to mention, and which
we leave the public to investigate at their leisure.

AFTERNOON.

The busy note of preparation is going on, and
by to-morrow the Fair will be in presentable shape.
The want of help is more and more felt. Parties
from a distance are unable to obtain the usual as-
sistance, and consequently must lag behind.

Agricultural implements are being unpacked in

very respectable numbers, among them some new

' ones. A corn shock hauler pleases etock growers.

wc-T'f-'^ —/'^

IBS■jPv■^^'^"^^'?^?y'''?j!KgjFS8Sa^

1864:.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

307

Gang plows are largely represented, and show no
inconsiderable improvement over last year.

The only cider mill on the ground is the 'Hutch-
inson,' a cast iron mill, presented by Austin &
Boal, of Chicago, and which the Sanitary ladies
have taken charge of, supplying the thirsty multi-
tude with pure cider, but of course on not as large
a scale as those run by steam. The large mill can
be run by horse or hand power.

Brown's Corn Planters are, as usual, on hand,
and present some new features, such as more accu-
racy and certainty of dropping, the planting of
broom com, sorgo and beans, adjustable to wide
or narrow rows. It is too well known to require
further comment.

POWER HALL

Will not be in running order for one or two days
yet No sorgo machine has as yet arrived on the
grounds. The immense demand for this kind of
machinery is doubtless the reason for this neglect.

On the whole the shojr outside of the Sanitary
Department will be less than last year. At the
same time, there will be no want of attractions.

To-morrow the entries will close and the active
business of the Fair commence.

11^ A. M., pacing, mile heats, best three in five,
to go as they please. Premium, $300 ; $200 to
first and $100 to second.

NATURAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT.

The Natural History Department will be largely
represented, being the best exhibition of the kind
at any previous State Fair.

The receipts for tickets and gate fees reach $550
— two dollars less than the corresponding day of
last year. In addition $920 has been taken for
side shows, peddlers and swings, making a total of
nearly $1,500. We can therefore safely predict a
successful Fair.

SECOND DAY.

Decatur, Tuesday, Sept 13, 1864.

We now enter upon the second day of the Fair
and yet to a great extent chaos reigns. The note
of prepar^ition is becoming intensified, but must
soon cease. The trains all came in fully loaded
this morning, and already the grounds swarm with
visitors. The several Sanitary departments have
assumed form and are in working order.

The local train on the Great Western railroad,
with its ample accommodation and sharp competi-
tion, is reducii)g the hackmen to order and holds
them within bounds. Mayor Peddicord is looking
after the draymen and the prospect is that little
complaint will be heard hereafter on this score.

president's address.

At 10 a. m. the Board met to listen to the open-
ing address of President Van Epps, and were grat-
ified with what all who know the Presidenf would
expect — a straight-forward and practical address.

Two thousand copies of it will be printed and
circulated on the Grounds. A prominent subject
discussed in the address was the dispoBition of the
College Grant fund. Politicians run the country
fifty-one weeks in the' year, and the farmers run it
one — during the State Fair. As the industrial
classes form a majority of the people, and as the
College Grant fund was given to the State for their
especial benefit, the Presideht spggested that they

should be consulted in regard to its disposition,
instead of turning it over to politicians and pro-
fessional men.

It is proposed to hold a meeting some evening
during the week to consider what action, if any, ia
required to secure the College Grant fund to the
use of the industrial classes.

1st prize, $200;

PACING MATCH.

Purse $300— Best three in five.
2d, $100.

Entries. — Jas. Conlish entered "Capt. McKin-
ney," a gray roan. Lewis Glinn entered "Polly
Ann," a chestnut mare. J. W. Walkinfrton enter-
ed "Dick Turpin," a sorrel gelding, (withdrawn.)
J. E. McCoy entered "Shell Bark," a gray gelding.
The first heat was won by "Polly Ann" in 2:25J,
•'Capt. McKinnev" coming in second.

2rf Aea<.— "Capt. McKinney," in 2:23^^; "Polly
Ann" second.

3d Acaf.— "Polly Ann" won in 2:28^; "Capt.
McKinney" second.

Uh Aea^.— Won by "Polly Ann" in 2:29^. "Pol-
ly Ann" took the 1st prize and "Capt. McKianey"
the 2d.

Deere & Co. have a large display of Moline
plows, among them a cast cast-steel plow. The
latter plow we have used, and find it the best stir-
ring old iHud plow that has come under our notice.
The reputation of the Moline Clipper plow is well
established from Maine to California, and is a
proud achievment for our State.

Parlin & Olendorf, of Clinton, DeWitt county,
also have a good stock of plows of the various
patterns. John Dement, of Dixon makes a fine
display.

The above parties competed at the trial of im-
plements a year ago, the latter taking the blue
ribbon ; but a new trial might possibly change the
condition of things.

Two horse cultivators are in abundance ; among
them Furst & Bradley, Fielding & Co., Darling &
Preser, of Chicago ; Pratt & Woodbury, of Taze-
well county ; Stout, of Fremoht ; Taylor, of Cen-
tralia; Roberts, of Jacksonville ; Barber & How- '
ley, (Stafford patent,) W. D. Dorsey, of Decatur;
Brewster, of Nokomis; Houghey, of Atlanta;
Miller, of Livingston ; Sparks, of Wyanet ; Belt,
of Morrison ; Taliefero, of Rossitter, Henderson
county; Smith, of Peoria; Kinyon, of Amboy;
Hulinger, of Granville ; Deere & Co. of Moline ;
Markham, of Hushnell ; and Denton, of Pekin.

The above shows in what estimation these new
implements are held, and the commendable ambi-
tion to supply the demand. It would appear that
competition is active, and yet all find a ready sale. '

Cultivators with seeding apparatus combined
are also fully displayed as follows : ~

Swain, of Ripon, Wisconsin ; Broadcast Seed ,
Sower, covers with a series of double shovels ; T.
B. Wickidell, of Novane, Ohio; Barber & Howie v,
Decatur ; Furst & Bradley, Chicago ; Schofield, of ■
Freeport; Denton, of Pekin. This array looks
like a sharp competition with the grain drills, but
these come up to speak for themselves, and are ar-
rayed asjfoUows :

Swain, of Ripon, Wisconsin; Shockley, -of :
Litchfield, Illinois; McSherry, . Kneisly & Co., of
Daytonj Ohio ; Joseph Ingall, Milton, Indiana. It
yill be seen that only one of the above hails from '
bur own State, while the broad-cast cultivators are
fully popularized.

308

THE ILLINOIS FARMEli.

October

REVOLTING HORSE RAKK3,

Already so popular, are represented by a single
implement from Oswego, III., made by S. E. Arment
&Co.

SPRING TEETH HORSE RAKES.

Wm. Fielding & Co., Chicago ; J. S. Sheirman,
East Berlin, Pennsylvania ; W. H. Alexander, Can-
ton, Ohio ; Roach & Kennedy, Abingdon ; Gait,
Tracy & Co., Sterling ; Johnson, Richmond & Co.,
Chicago.

TWO HOBSE POWER

W. p. Sanger, Joliet ; Buvnum, Baker & Wake-
ly, Michigan, and E. W. Skinner, Madison, Wis.,
have well made machines.

FANNING MILL8.

Dickey, of Racine, has three very valuable
mills.

CLOVER HULLER.

John C. Birdsill, of South Bend, Ind., the only
exhibitor.

CIDER MILLS.

The competition in this line is quite active, and
we have three exhibitors, as follows : Cowles, Hig-
gins & Co., Freeport. This is a new mill, passing
the pummice between cast iron rollers. It should
have a thorough trial. Austin & Boal, Chicago,
"Hutchinson's patent ;" J. E. Baldwin's of Spring-
field, "Baldwin's patent ;" Cook & Utter, of Rock-
ford. Cider is becoming popularized, and it is to
be hoped it may drive out stronger drinks which
have been so much used in this State.

Later the Kentucky mill and one from Spring
Hill, Whiteside county, of Messrs. Hurst & Co. —
X/ider is becoming an important article of com-
merce in all of our towns, and the last cider mill
will of course be sought after. We had no time to
devote to a thorough trial, and the committee who
had the subject matter in charge were overburden-
ed with work and had only time to make a guess
as to the best mill, and we fear guessed wide of the
mark. We must defer a full discussion of this
matter until the November No. of the Farmer,
when we shall have had an opportunity of more
practical knowledge of these several mills.

HORSE POWER CORN SHELLERS.

W. P. ^Sanger, of Joliet, is the exhibitor.

HORSE HAY EORKS

Are attracting much attention, and they are in con-
stant work, loading and unloading, much to the
gratification of a large crowd of farmers. Of these,
"Palmer's" is taking the lead, in connection with
its hay cultivator. Belt, of Morrison, and Wicks,
of Kansas, HI., are competitors.

STRAW CUTTERS.

These are numerous and represented by J. Pow-
ers, "Landi's patent," South Macon, HI. ; W. D.
Schooley, "Hunt's patent," Richmond ; Godman,
Morris & Co., Indianapolis, Ind ; J. G. Page,
Rockford.

LARGEST AND BEST DI8PLAT OF AGRICTJLTTIRAL IHFLX-
HSNTS.

Emmerson^& Co., Rockford, are the only claim-
ants.

bttbson's binser,

Attached to J. H. Manny's Reaper, is attracting
crowds of visitors.

RECEIPTS. ETC,

The receipts to-day for gate fees and entries
foot up $2,140, against $1,355 same day last year.
Can we ask for a more gratifying start of things,
showing the onward progress of the State in popu-
lation, or Fair goers, to say the least.

Our fears of yesterday that the show would fall
below that of last year, have not been realized, as
the late trains have been loaded, and the grounds
now present a most magnificent display.

About 9 o'clock p. m., the gate keeper made an
inside survey of the grounds and found several hun-
dred persons camping inside without the "season
ticket," and made collection of 30 cents each, real-
izing several hundred dollars, much to the chagrin
of the delinquent parties.

THE farmer's MEETING.

The farmers met at the Union Club Room in the
city at 7 p. m. for the purpose of discussing the
College Grant Fund.

On motion of Col. J. Wentworth, C. W. Murt-
feldt remarked on taking the chair that the object
of the meeting was to have this grant applied to
its legitimate purposes. We do not want it par-
celled out to sectarian colleges. What we want is
to see that no one be sent to the Legislature but
those who will pledge themselves to give us their
best aid in favor of the proper use of this fund.

W. W. Corbf^tt was chosen Secretary.

B. G. Roots, Esq., of Tamaroa, away down in
Egypt, was called out and spoke to the point. He
maintained that Gov. Yates had doubtless been
led into an error in the appointment of the com-
mittee for the purpose of parcelling out this grant.
This grant is large, being the script for 480,000
acres of land.

When any of our farmers' sons attend one of the
old colleges, he is treated civilly only after he can
properly pronounce haec, hoc, not to learn how to
plow, how to hoe and how to manage a farm. Our
boys on the farm know something of farming, but
we want to extend their knowledge.

K. K. Jones, of Quincy, offered the following :

Resolved, That this fund shall only be used for
its legitimate purposes.

Mr. Periam, of Cook, said that the act is posi-
tive. The fund must be applied to educate the ag-
riculturist and the mechanic

Mr. P. proposes a committee of five to draft res-
olutions for the consideration of the meeting.

Col. Wentworth took up the subject of the Gov-
ernor's committee, and their claims on this fund.
He was for instituting a school which our sons
should be allowed to attend so soon as they shall
have graduated from our common schools, and
which he may attend and graduate in this commer-
cial and agricultural school. He would ask Gen.
Oglesby to tell this meeting whether he was for
the sectarian schools or for us.

Gen. Oglesby came forward and said that he had
no objection to giving his views. He did not think
that be knew more of Greek than the distinguished
gentleman himself. It was probable that both of
them understood the Sucker tongue better than
any other. He was himself a greasy mechanic
and a mudsill. He would leave this grant in the
hands of farmers and mechanics, and whatever
they may wish to do with it for their benefit-
Whenever the Legislature shall have passed a lair

' '"^■^^ -'^'^ ' ^Tr'v'?^!^^^^^^^

1864.

ilKE ILLINOIS FAKMEH.

dot

disposing of this grant, though he could not pass
any law, he would sign no law that should not re-
spond to the wishes of the people.

A committee was appointed to report at an ad-
journed meeting, viz : B. G. Roots, of Perry coun-
ty ; Capt. J. N. Brown, of Sangamon ; Jonathan
Periara, of Cook; 0. B. Galusha, of Kendall; and
Dr. Fellows, of Vermillion.

Gov. Yates being present, was called out. He
would say that he was charged with derellections
of duty to the farmer and the mechanic, but to
this charge he could not plead guilty. He would
say that he had not given this subject much atten-
tion, but that he had always stood by the cultiva-
tors of the soil. *

The subject was further discussed^ when the
meeting adjourned to meet at the same place on
Thursday evening, to hear the report of the com-
mittee and to take further action in the premises.

THIRD DAY.

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1864:.
This morning the attendance is immense, and
the grounds have never before been so well filled.
Contrary to the expectation of the most sanguine,
the number of entries show little falling off from
last year, whHe the receipts are greatly in excess
of last year.

FLORAX HAIX,.

Alas for Flora and Pomona I Few offerings are
laid on your shrines ; your halls look desolate. —
But there is one consolation, the Saaitary Fair is
the gainer, and at least partly accounts for this
neglect. The premium list is also at fault. May
we not hope to see it more ample for the next
show ?

APPLES.

Charles H. Rosentiel, of Freeport, makes a good
display of 32 varieties of apples Of grapes, he has
Hartford Prolific, Isabella, French Wine, Concord,
Diaaa, Catawba, Clinton, Delaware, Golden Chas-
selas. White Sweet Water, Marfaseen, Union Vil-
lage, liittle Burgundy, Black Cluster, Ontario, Ar-
roof. Certainly a large collection when we take
into consideration his Northern location. Mr. R.
has been very successful with the grape. He plants
6x8 feet apart, and trains on trellis. He has also
five varieties of pears.

Beth C. Jones, of Carbondale, shows 20 varie-
ties of apples and four of pears. All this fruit is
large and fine, as usual, from Egypt. This collec-
tion was grown on a six year old orchard, and is
part of a crop of 6O0 bushels of apples. A very
good beginning for 1000 trees.

Wm. Yates, of Springfield, from his orchard in
Perry county, exhibits a large collection of pears.
Among this fine display we note Duchess smaller
than usual; Belle Lucrative, Swan's Orange, Stev-
en's Genessee, very ne ; Deurre Dial, White Doy-
enne, &c. On the whole, the size is below the usu-
al standard for Egypt.

W. H. Hauson, of Lee county, has the largest
collection of apples — ^in all 64 named varieties —
and six varieties of pears. Mr. H. is one of the
most successful orchardists in the State, and his
collection of course is superb. He says he can
grow pears as cheaply as the apple. He is a be-
liever in locations favorable to the pear and these
should be saaght.out

Stillman Barber, of Piatt county, shows 40 vari-
eties of apples ; a good eoliection for a farm or-
chard. W. & A. J. Cutter, of Adams county, have
a good collection, comprising fifty varieties of the
grape; very fine Concords. ; ;.,.

CAPPS' MAMMOTH APPLE.

Capps' apple is a perlect Brobdignag for size
nearly round, with a fine blush on a yellow ground
These enormous apples first attracted my atten-
tion at the State Fair held at Jacksonville. They
average about two pounds each. Of course a knife
about them would be contraband, and we cannot
enlighten the public in regard to their eating qual-
ity.

Martin Allen, of Mendota, La Salle county, shows
35 varieties of apples and two of plums. One of
these is the "Lombard," the most valuable plum
for the prairies that has come under our observa-
tion.

C. Wi Murtfcdlt, of Rockford, has a good dis-
play of apples, but the drouth has lessened their
size.

Dr. Shroeder, the little Dutchman from Bloom-
ington, nearly monopolizes the grape show. Ca-
tawba in great clusters. Concords with their am-
ple berries covered with, bloom; "the grape for
the million ;" "Bland," that resembles the Diana,
etc. ; Mead's Seedling is later than the Catuwba,
and at this time presents in this respect, a marked
difference ; Ann i which the Dr. calls a humbug,
though Dr. Grant lauds it highly ; "Lincoln," not
hardy ; "Red Nonkey," a seedling from the Cataw-
ba, but of less value ; "Louisa," similar to the Isa-
bella; "Hartford Prvolifie," a very valuable grape;
"Perkins," an early and valuable table grape —
hardy ; "Hyde's Eliza," a tough skin — poor ; "Mus-
catella,"a rich, early, hnrdy and productive grape;-
"Blood's Black," the earlietit of American grapes —
rather musky ; "Herberaont," not ripe, a good
wine grape; "Crevellinj;," early and large;
"North C^irolina Seedling." large and showy;
"Mary Isabella," like th Isabella; "Muscadine
Franklin," similar to Clinton ; "Lenoire," a small,
late grape for wine ; "Norton's Virginia," the
great ^vine grape.

ART KALh. ':.-^'- _. .V- ^

This hall is not so well filled as it should have
been ; yet there are several valuable collections.

A collection of wo^ds of Illinois, with leaf,
twigs and flower, by Frederick Brendel, of Peoria.
This collection is quite fine smd attracts marked
attention.

Prof C. D. Wilber, of the State Natural Histo-
ry Society, has an extensive collection from their
rooms at Bloomington. First among them is a
large collection of fossil plants, from the coal
mines of St. Johns, in Perry county, numbering
about one hundred species of the flora of the old
carboniferous period, far away beyond the time of
Adam. A lady visitor called the attention of her
gallant to the Ueautiful "fish .scales" on tliose
rocks. Prof. Wilbur d-iew a -long sigh and said,
"Ah, yes, Jlsh gcales .'"

A fine collectien of petrifaction and corals are
flanked by a jaw of the mas' oden, dug out of some
hill side in Madison county. The c-Hection of
fresh .water shells is.qjiite complete for this State.
The collection of Illinois flora, by Dr. Vaaey, of
McHenry county, is very fige and valuable for the
botonist.

310

THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE.

OOTOBEB

Couchology and minerals, by 0. S. Munsell
Bloomington, attract a large share of attention-
The Illinois Wesleyan IJniversity, of Bloomington.
has a large collection of Insects, Fossils, Birds,
500 specimens of Illinois plants, 1*75 specimens of
minerals and iron ore, and a large collection of
fresh water shells.

Phil. M. Springer, a lame boy of Springfield, has
some dozen cases of insects, illustrating the ento-
mology of Illinois, numbering 890 species. T. Hart,
painter of Springfield, has a fine display of his gen-
ius and ready brush.

Pastel painting is presented by Mrs. Stevens,
Mt. Morris.

"Lincoln's Home," a photograph by W. B. Colt,
Springfield, is a truthful picture.

Marine views, by Thomas Hart, Springfield, are
very fine. Samples of painting by the same are
highly creditrible.

Brown & Chandler, of Chicago, have a fine dis-
play of wood engravings. Specimens of penman-
ship, off hand and round hand, by G. L. Mathers,
Carlinville, very tastefully done.

A large lot of photographs, by E. A. Burwell,
Decatur, attract attention. A very fine picture of
two animals, by Frank French, 12 years old.

Se^ral other paintings of various kinds finish
the circuit of the hall.

THE RING.

The ring is the place whore the crowd is found.
Men, women and children all have a love for the
horse, and in spite of all that may be said against
trotting and horse racing at our fairs the thing
Will be continued to an indefinite day, and only
end with the fair itself. There is and will contin-
ue to be, jockeying and betting, but I'rge num-
bers will go there simply to see that noble animal
show his speed and grooming. Take away the
amphitheatre and the trotting match, and you have
shorn the fair of half its proportions.
I^ We see ladies who attend the fair for the first
time, and who have been eloquent over the abuse
of horse racing, stand up hour after hour in pleas-
ed admiration, selecting the pet and entering into
the spirit of the ■course.

Tiie ring is, and will continue to be, the center
of attraction so long as the horse has a place on
the farm.

SINGLE TROT IN HARNESS.

Best three in five ; first prize $300, second best
$100. Lady Sherman, by J, H. Conlish, Chicago.
Lady Turner, by J. Turner. Lady Sherman won
in three hevts ; time 2:41, 2:28^, 2: 21^.

WOOL GROWING.

The Illinois Wool Growing Association met at 2
p M to-day, A. B. McConnell, President, in the
chair.

On motion of B. G. Roots, a committee was ap-
pointed to draft a constitution.

The meeting elected A. B. McConnell, R. P.
Thiiteher and Dr. Fellows as such committee.

Dr. Clapp, of Peoria, Mr. Boardman and others
advocated the importance of a permanent organi-
zation of Wool Growers. It was

Resolved, That this Association petition the Leg-
islature to offer a bounty on wolf scalps and a tax I
on dogs.

Meeting adjourned to 2 p. m. to-morrow. I

AWARD OF PREMIUMS.

Durham Bulls — 3 years old and under. Ist
premium $25, to Grand Duke Adrin, owned by J.
M Hill, Berlin, 111. 2d premium $15, to White
Cloud, owned by Lyman Marcus.

Two years and under 3. 1st premium |25, to
Woodford, owned by Wm. Sandusky, Catlin, Ver-
million county. 2d premium $15, to George B.
McClellan, owned by H. Sandusky, Vermillion
county.

One year and under 5. 1st premium $25, to
Woodbine Duke, owned by J. M. Brown, of San-
gamon county. 2d premium $15, to Mortimer,
owned by W. H. Beverly, of Logan county.

Bull Calf, under 1 year. Ist prize $25, to J. W.
Singleton, owned bj John Hill, Macon county. 2d
prize $15, to Highland Duke, owned by J. M._Hill.

Durham Cows — 4 years. 1st prize $25, to Fair
Frances, J. M. Hill, Macon county. 2d prize $15,
to Prince Royal, owned by J. N. Brown, Sanga-
mon county.

NUMBER OF ENTRIES.

Class A, Cattle — Short Horns 2'73

Devons 21

Sweepstakes 29

Work Oxen 4

Class B, Horses — Sweepstakes 60

Jacks. Jennets and Mules. ... 35
Carriage and Saddle Horses.. 69

All Work...' .52

Thoroughbreds 25

Draught 51

Roadsters 50

Class C, Sheep — French Merinos 13

Long Wool 21

Middle Wool 21

Spauish Merinos 46

Common and Grade 33

Fat Sheep Y

Sweepstakes, all fine wool. . . 5

Classs D, Svnne — 22

Claxs E, Poultry 16

The receipts to-day amount to $3,740, against

$2,402 last year, making a very gratifying state of

things financially.

BIENNIAL ELECTION — LIST OF OFFICERS FOR THE NEXT
TWO TEARS.

The regular biennial meeting of the delegates
from county agricultural societies to elect officers
of the State society, was held at 6 p. m. The at-
tendance was large. The following officers were
elected :

President — A. B. McConnel, of Sangamon county.

VICE PRESIDENTS.

State at large — Hon. John Wentworth, Chicago.

1st Dist. — Geo. W. Gage, Chicago.

2d Dipt.— Robt. P. Lane, Winnebago.

3d Dist. — Chas. H. Rosenstiel, Stephenson.

4th Dist. — Graham Lee, Mercer.

5th Dist. — Wm. A. Pennell, Putnam.

6th Dist.— 0. B. Galusha, Grundy.

Yth Dist.— J. H. Pickrell, Macon.

8th Dist.— G. W. Minier, Tazewell.

9th Dist. — J. Lasbury, Schuyler.
10th Dist.— E. D. Shumway, Christian.
11th Dist. — A. J. Pearcy, Marion.
12th Dist.— S. B. Chandler, St. Clair.
13th Dist.— H. S. Ozburn, Perry.
Corresponding Secretary — John P. Reynolds,

Marion.
Treasurer — J. W. Bunn, Springfield.

^;W*««5'W5'T3f'^ ^*?^7*

"---r^n^isrr^i^jtfi^^f^m

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

311

The election went off with great harmony. The
new Board is much larger than the old one, and is
believed to be made up of first rate material.

At the close of the meeting a resolution was of-
fered thanking the old Board for their care over
this great State institution, to which the members
added three rousing cheers for Prscident Van
Epps. The enthusiasm with which the old Secre-
tarj was re-elected, was a just tribute to his emi-
nent services as an officer of the Board.

FOURTH DAY. ^^^ V

Decatur, Thursday, Sept, 15, 1864.

Again the sun comes up in his majesty uncloud-
ed, with a cool northwest wind, giving a guarantee
of fine weather to-day and to the end of the Fair.
The dust is the only thing becoming obnoxious.
Yesterday we found it impossible to dive through
the crowd, either in the Farm Product Hall or in
that of Textile Fabrics. But to-day wo shall have
a more quiet time while the committees are mak-
ing their examination.

SEWIJJG MACHINES.

The most prominent features in the hall of Tex-
tile Fabrics are the sewing machines. As you en-
ter, to the left is the collection of machines from
the well known Chicago house of the Grover &
Baker Machine Co. Those number five, showing
the various styles in which the machines are offer-
ed to the public. They are not machines got up
for the purpose of show, but as samples from their
sales room. The prices of their machines range
from $55 to $150. All machines, so far as dura-
bility and execurion, are made alike, the difference
in price depending on the style of finish. Thus, a
farmer who buys a 1^55 Grover & Baker, will have
just as valuable a machine, for all purposes of use,
as his more aristocratic neighbor who pays $150,
the extra cost being mainly made up of mahogeny,
silver plating and varnish.

This company have also on exhibition the
most beautiful and varied assortment of samples
of machine work, embracing every variety of or-
namental, plain sewing and embroidery that we
have had the pleasure of examining. Among the
noticeable articles is a piano cover, made by a
young German girl who has had but a limited ex-
perience with this machine, and yet it is one of
the most elegant and tasteful articles of ornament
for that popular instrument that we have seen. —
Certainly no hand work can approach it. The
samples of plain and substantial work are also the
admiration of all visitors at the Fair. Who will
say that the sewing machine has not taken anoth-
er wrinkle from the brow of care, and brought ro-
ses to the cheeks and smiles on the faces of those
made only "a little lower than the angels."

L. Cornell & Co., of Chicago, exhibited three of
Wilcox & Gibbs' machines. These machines run
remarkably still, and are becoming deservedly pop
ular. They are sold at $56 to $175, and the same
remarks in regard to style of manufacture as used
above apply to this also.

The only other machine in the Hall is one of the
old Wheeler & Wilson, on which Messrs. Secor &
Butler, of Chicago, are exhibiting the "Secor im-
provement," a "loop check," which adds so mate-
rially to the value of that machine. We would
call the attention of all who have a Wheeler &
Wilson to this improvement, as it does away with

that old annoyance the pad, and will run over
seems at high speed, and draw up the thread with-
out the necessity of stopping to increase the ten-
sion, or danger of breaking.

Of Pinnos the display is not large, but the in-
struments are all of superior merit. Root & Cady,
of Chicago, exhibit one of the Wm. B. Bradbury
new scale piano, a most superb instrument. In
breadth and depth of tone it cannot be easily ex-
celled. The finish and style is that of a four round
with serpentine moulding and carved legs. The
laudations of this instrument th at have come to us
from the East, are fully sustained in the trial here.

Mason & Hamlin's Cabinet Organ, an instrument
similar to the melodeon, but in many respects su-
perior, is attracting no small share of attention,
and to all those who are unable or unwilling to
purchase a piano, it presents itself favorably. Al-
most any farmer boy, though his fingers may be a
little stiff, can easily master this instrument and
make it it a source of enjoyment to himself and the
other members of the family.

G. W. Chatterton, of Springfield, shows five pi-
anos ; one of Marshall & Trover's, the Parlor Gem,
and four from the well known house of Wm.
Knabe & Co., of Baltimore. They will combine in
an eminent degree all the qualities of a good pi-
ano.

Chatterton has supplied a large number of homes
in Central Illinois with those superb instruments.

' ARTIFICIAL LEG AND ARM. v^/ : ^^ ^^V;

No article in the Hall more fully absorbs the at-
tention of a large class of visitors than the above.
The war has left its victims over our prairies, and
it is no wonder that their faiends are anxious to
mitigate, as far as possible, their unfortunate con-
dition. The friend of the one-armed and one-leg-
ged soldier has a right to be interested in these
vduable artificial limbs, so indispensable to an un-
fortunate soldier.

Those on exhibition have been approved by the
United States Medical Department, and arrange-
ments made by which they are supplied to the de-
fender of his country without charge. The appli-
cation must be made to the nearest Medical Direc-
tor, who will give an order for them. They are
made by Wm. Selpho & Son, 516 Broadway, New
York, who are the inventors.

Mr. T. J. Bradley, the general traveling agent
has them in charge.

Mr. B. has had the misfortune to lose one of his
limbs above the knee, leaving him only a six-inch
stub, Jind yet few who see him walk would suspect
that he was Indebted to a wooden leg for the pow-
er of locomotion. So perfect is the substitute th^
Mr. B. is enabled to do nearly the same work to
which a sound man is accnstemed.

The limbs are eminently durable, elastic, light,
strong, and what is of no small importance, they
produce less painful friction than any that we have
seen.;; ■ .:, - z. >;.,:;;..':..,...,

FANCT WOEKS, BTC.

The specimens of shell work are not only numer-
ous but fine. The usual amount of quilts, crochet
wark, and the thousand and one little things that
the ladies know so well how to make for both use
and beauty, go to fill up the HalL

CLOTHING. ■ '

The only exhibitor in this line is the firm of G.
T. Belding k Co., of Chicago. They have a large

:?^i^'>~--'

312

THE ILLINOIS FARMER.

October

stock, larger, indeed than we usually find in a coun-
try store, and yok this large display is made up of
samples of the stock at headquarters. The quality
of the goods is first rate. The garments are taste-
fully cut and well made. The sewing machine has
done away with slop work on goods like those here
presented.

Mr. Matson, the Superintendent of this hall, has
made it one of the great points of attraction. Ev-
erything is tastefully arranged to show to the best
advantage, and the utmost decorum and good or-
der prevails throughout the hall. We regret he
would not allow himself to be re-elected.

STALLIONS IN HARNESS.

Purse of $300. Best 2 in 3. First premium $200;
2d, $100.

Bniries — Grey Eagle, grey, owned by J. D.
Franklin ; Georga M. Patchen, bay, owned by
Thomas Smith ; Clifford, bay, owned by S. and H.
Ghapin ; Daniel Boone, bay, owned by John Wil-
liams.

The first and second heats won by Daniel Boone
in 2:31i and 2:82.

First premium to Daniel Boone, 2^ premium to
George M. Patchen.

CATTLE.

Short Horn Bulls — 4 years old and over :

1st premium, Young Cato, owned by J. H.

Southors, of McLean county.
2d premium, $12, Lord Highland, owned by J.

H. Pickrell, of Macon county.

SHORT HORN COWS.

3 years, Ist prize, Zonobia ; J. K Brown, $25.

2d prize, $15, Julia Clay, J. H. PickerelL

The committee was unanimous in the opinion
that this lot of cows excelled, and that there was
so little difference, that they would have been
pleased to have awarded four premiums.

Heifer, 2 and under 3 years, 1st prize, Minneha-
ha, J. N. Brown, $25.

2d prize, Lady Jones, J. M. Hill, $15.

1 year and less than 2 years, 1st premium White
Lady, $15, J. M. Hill

2d best, Lady Childs, J. H. Pickerel!.

Calf under 1 year, 1st premium, Lady Frances
2d, $25, J. M. Hill.

2d best, Mary Bell, $15, J. B. Eyborn.

PURCHASE OF SHORT HORNS.

David A. Gage, of Chicago, purchased for his
farm at Brighton, near Chicago, of Capt. J. N.
Brown, of Sangamon county, one bull and seven
cows, at a handsome figure. These Dnrhams are
to make a trial of their feeding qualities on the
Chicago prairies.

Emry Cobb, of Kankakee, purchased of J. M.
Hill, of Macon county, the four year old bull.
Grand Duke of Adric, that took the first prize of
his class yesterday ; also two yearling Durhams,
very fine animals.

Mr. Cobb is the President of the Kankakee coun-
ty Agricultuial Society, and this purchase will be
a timely hint to others to brush up their stock, if
they do not wish to fall behind.

FARM PRODUCTS.

This Hall is much better filled than last year,
though nothing like what it should be.

Best bushel white winter wheat- — 1st premium
$10 to W. Frick, of Jonesboro, Hlinois ; second
premium $5, to Stillman Barber, of Milmine, UL

These were the only entries — samples very fine.
Bed winter wheat — 1st premium, $10, to R. K
Landson, of Wilson.

This is the only entry of red.

SPRINR WHEAT — NINE ENTRIES.

1st preiBiom, $10, to E. P. Jones, Insane Hos-
pital Farm, Jacksonville.

2d best, $5, to J. R. Moon, Decatur, HL

RYE.

ni.

1st premium, |S, to Stillman Barbor, Milmine»
1.
2d best, $3, to M. L. Dunlap, Champaign, 111.

CATS — SEVEN ENTRIES.

1st premium, $10, to J. S. Pardee, of Rockford,
111.

2d best, $3, to Frank Searles, of Hadley, 111,

SPRING BARLEr.

1st premium, $5. to James Hart, of Harristown,
111. No other entry.

BEST BUSHEL WHITE CORN SIX ENTRIES.

1st premium, $10, to J. R. Moon, Decatur, 111.
2d best, $5, to J. Jeflfrtrson, Decatur. 111.
Best bushel yellow corn — four eu tries.

1st prize' $10, to Wm. Sanders, Harristown. III.
2d prize, $1S, to J. Spangler, Decatur.
Best corn on stalk — IsJt prize, $2, to W. Sanger,
Harristown, 111.

2d prize, $1 A. A. Hooker, Decatur.

Best bushel timothy seed, 1st prize $5; Still-
man Barbor, Milmine, 111 — only one entry.

Best bushel clover seed, lot premium $10 to C.
H. Rosensteil, Stephenson county — no other entry.

Best bushel early Irish potatoes — ^six entries, 1st
premium $10, to M. L. Dunlap, (variety, Early
York,) of Champaign, 111.

2d best $6, to Dr. H. Shroeder, Bloomington.

Best bushel lute Irish potatoes, 1st premium $2,
B. N. Davis, Belleville.

2d best, $1, Dr. H. Shroeder.

Sweet Potatoes, l^t premium $3, J. A. Carpen-
ter, South Pass, Union connty. 111. — four entries.

Onions, 1st premiuia $5, S. Wilbur, Kankakee
county — two entries

Beets, 1st premium $2, Nancy Warren.

Best 12 stalks cilery, 1st premium $3, Insane
Hospital, Jacksonville.

Best six heads cabbage, 1st premium $3, Susan-
nah Talt. Decatur.

2d be^-t $1, Dr. Shroeder, Bloomington.

One-half bushel best tomatoes 1st prize $3, J.
F. Sehosk, Decatur.

Best peck lima beans, 1st premium $2, G. W.
Patt, Decatur.

2d best $1, Anna M. M. Garvin, Decatur.

Best and greatest variety garden seeds, 1st pre-
mium $5, S. Wilbur, Moraence — two entries.

Best lot pumpkins, 1st premium $1, Nathan
Harrindeen, Decatur — five entries.

Best and greatest variety of vegetables by one
person, 1st premium $10, C. P. Jones, insane hos-
pital.

2d best $5, S. Wilbur.

Best and greatest variety of garden seeds, 1st
premium $5, S. Wilbur — no competition.

Best ten pounds tobacco, 1st premium $ 5, G.
W. Piatt, Decatur.

•Tt^ww^Jfp '^J' i^)fl»r'W'ikwjy!iwjfiB|Fj^'

r- v^iri^ s^* ,'*';'» ■ST'*^.'^^

1864.

THE ILLESrOIS FAKMER.

313

MISCELLANEOTTS.

H. J. Dunlap, dhampalgn, one-half bushel flax-
Mad, 1st premhim.

Starch made from Indian corn, 1st premium $B,
Mrs. C. M. Rhorer, Decatur.

Firkin butter, — a solitary tub, like a lone star —
first premiuP" $10, Thomas Smith, Ogle county.

Best 20 lbs. butter, three entries ; 1st premium
$10, James Hart, Harristowu,

.S-ARMERS' MEETING.

The farmers held a meeting at the amphithea-
tre, instead of the club room, as preriously stated.
The attendance was not large. Prof. J. B. Turner,
Gen. W. D. Wilson, Secretary of the State Board
of Agriculture of Iowa, Hon. Cr, W. Minier, of
Tazewell county, and W. H. Van Epps delivered
eloquent and logical addresses. The committee
reported the following resolutions :

Whereas, The industrial interests are ef para-
mount importance, all others being dependent up-
oit their prosperity ; and

Whereas, Congress has made a magnificent
grant of four hundred and eighty thousand acres
of land, the proceeds of which are to used for the
eadowmedt of an industrial College for the promo-
tion of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts ; and

Whereas, Certain existing institutions have
sought to divide this fund and partition the same
among themselves, therefere,

Hesolved, That we distinctly reiterate that the
industrial interests of this State are one and indi-
visible; that the industrial classes are perfectly
competent to draft a plan and arrange the details
for the proper disbursement of this fund.

Hesolved, That we endorse the sentiments con-
tained in the resolutions of the Farmers' Conven-
tions held at Springfield in June, 1863, and Janu-
ury, 1864, that there should be but one institu-
tion created out of this fund, and that it should
be entirely untrammeled by connection with any
existing institution.

Resolved, That we, the industrial classes of Illi-
nois, pledge ourselves to combine to use our ut-
most efforts for the advancement of our education-
al interests, and, knowing as we do, that these are
the foundation upon which the permanent pros-
perity of the nation rests, we will continue to la-
bor to devote that fund sacredly to the purpose for
which it was intended viz : "the establishment of
one institution in this State in which the leading
object shall be to teach such branches of learning
as are rein ted to agriculture and the mechanic
arts.

Meaolved, That as the arts and sciences are inti.
niately connected with true progress in agriculture,
it is ofjthe utmost importance that this institution
receive an endowment commensurate with the magni
tude of the object in view.

Resolved, That seeing feeling and knowing the
want of -practical education in our several employ-
ments, we are determined to provide a better state
of things for our posterity.

Resolved, That we will support no man for oflSce,
whatever his political associations may be, unless
we have full assurance that he will labor to carry
out our views in this matter as herein expressed.

Resolved, That we consider the present candi-
dates for the office of Governor of this State as
pledged in iavor of using thig fund as contempla-
ted in these resolutiong.

Resolved, That we refer 'all to whom it may concern '
to the foregoing preamble and resolutions as em-
bodying our "claim" in the premises.

Eesdved That we hereby appoint Wm. H. Van
Epps, J. B. Turner, John P. Reynolds, A. B. Mc-
Connell, and B. G. Roots as a committee whose
duty it shall be to frame a bill, and urge its pas-
sage by the next General Assembly of this State,
for the organization of an inetitulion and disposi-
tion of the fund as contemplated -by the act of
Congress making the grjint, and in accordance
with these resolutions

Resolved, That we request all the newspapers in
this State to publish these resolutions.

CHAS. W. MDRTFELDT,

Chairman.

0- B. Galusha, Secretary.

FIFTH DAY.

' Decatur. Sept. 16, 1864. ^

Last night the full moon rode in statety grand"
eur, and the camp fires of the farmers who were in
attendiince and camping outside, sent a pleasant
glow through the old forest that skirts the Fair
Grounds. Everjbody seemed to be astir enjoying
the most beautiful evening, for no evening in ;the
year can compare with that of the full moon in
September, when, as is generally the case, the
weather is clear.

The weather continues fine, and were it not for
the dust, little complaint could be made. Inside
of the grounds and about the entrance gate the
dust is kept well under with the spritfkling cart,
and those who will avail themselves of the r:\ilroad
avoid the dust. We observe at this Fair, for the
first time, a large number of farmers' teams inside
of the grounds. The teams are turned to the hind
end of the wagon, to which the usual feed box is
attached, and the bed supplies a sort of headquar-
ters for the family, and make a rallying point. We
are pleased with the arrangement, and hope that
it may become somewhat universal The charge
for this privilege is but a trifle, compared to its
saving of shoe leather and the running in and ont
of the gates to camp or to look after the team.

Flanders, the "Bee King," is making a rich har-
vest i-n sellmg rights for his patent hee hive, the
"bee charm," and his little work on bees. With
half a swarm of bees on his cap, attracted by the
"bee charm," he of course holds his audience and
makes large sales. The bees fly in and about the
crowd, and no one appears to entertain the idea
that they are ever to do such a naughty thing as
to sting. Those bee men are doing good by show-
ing thai bees can be managed without difficulty,
when their habits are understood.

We Invested half a dollar for the "bee charm,"
which we suspect is something of a humbug. But
our motto is to try all things and "hold fast that
which is good," so if we lose in the operation our
readers will be the gainers, if they will heed it.

The committee in the Agricultural Department
are busy tying on the ribbons.

Among the cultivators are Furst & Bradley, of
Chicago, who took the blue ribbon for the best cul-
tirator.

PLOWS FOR OLD LAND.

The competition in this line was more than uau-
ally spirited, there : being eleven .eotrias. Fisai
'»f>remi«m silver medsd. ' ^ /'

iT^^JJWSPFy,:;

314

THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK.

1 m

October

John Dement, of Dixon, was again tlie fortunate
winner, draft, 475 lbs ; cuts, 13 inches wide. The
committee say of the Deere & Co. Moline plow
"highly commended." The committee regret that
there is no second premium Draft 425 lbs ; cuts
13 inches wide.

THRESHING MACHINE AND SEPARATOR.

J. I. Case & Co., Racine, Wisconsin, 1st premi-
um— silver medal.

BEST 8-HORSE POWER.

J. I. Case & Co., Racine, "Wisconsin, 1st premi-
um— silver medal.

CLOVER HULLER AND SEPARATOR.

J. A. Carpenter, Beloit, Wisconsin — silver me-
dal; cost 170.

CIDER MILLS.

Six entries. Competition very spirited. Ope-
rators making and selling cider on their own ac-
count at ten cents a glass, or at the rate of three
dollars a bushel. Our good friends will see that at
a dime a glass that windfall apples are worth pick-
ing up for this purpose.

1st premium, silver medal, F. C. Winslow, Free-
port ; cost of mill seventy-five dollars. This is a
new mill, and so far as we know, untried, at least
no thorough trial of it has been made. It has the
appearance of being valuable, and the committee
guess it will prove satisfactory on trial.

Clark & Utter, of Rockford, show a very excel-
lant mill ; strong, durable and simple. Price $60.

Austin & Boal, of Chicago, exhibited one of the
Hutchinson mills, which did rapid work and made
several hundred gallons of cider. The Spring Hill
mill was also at work. There was at least three of
the exhibitors who had plenty of apples and were
ready for a thorough test, and yet the committee
made a guess and tied the blue ribbon to a mill
that may and may not be valuable. It certainly
has one or two serious defects, though in the
pressing it has a new feature that if successful will
give it a prominent place. It is due the orchard-
ist that this machine should have been tried, and
not thus impose a premium machine on the pub-
lic in this manner. We protest against being thus
victimized by any committee. We want trials
when trials can be had and if the committee err,
it is not more than human ; they may do it honestly.
This is not the only complaint made against the
same committee, of which we may have more to
say.

Horse power corn sheller, 1st premium, silver
medal ; Sanger & Co., Joliet. A. Adams & Coi's
machine did not arrive.

HORSE HAT FORKS.

1st premium silver medal; T. G. & M. N. Pal-
mer, Chicago ; four entries. This is a very strong,
durable and handy fork, and has been busy illus-
trating its working facilities.

HAT PITCHING MACHINE.

Four entries, silver medal ; T. G. & M. N. Pal-
mer, Chicfigo. This is the best implement that
we have ever seen, and in company with the hay
fork has had a large share of attention.

STRAW AND HAT CUTTER.

Six entries, silver medal; W. D. Schooley,
Richmond, Ind.

SMUT MACHINE.

Geo. E. Throop, Chicago ; silver medal, j,^

Largest and best display of Agricultuaal Imple-
ments, silver medal : Emerson &Co., Bockford.

Dr. Crone, of Decatur, shows a lot of turned ax
handles ; commended.

James Mason, of Polo, had a corn stalk cutter,
a machine, by which it is claimed a boy and one
horse can cut and lay in bundles ready for shock-
ing, six to eight acres a day. The cost is $180.
The machine is highly valuable.

PLOWS.

Best two-horse turf plow, Deere & Co.' Moline,
2d premium ; silver medal.

GANG PLOWS.

Seventeen entries, making a much larger show
than last year. It is evident that the demand for.
this kind of implement is on the increase, or we
should not see so much competition. The silver
niediil was awarded to J. F. Black of Lancaster,
111., while the implement of E. Lewis, Kankakee,
and that of Jacob L. Runk, Nashville, 111. were
highly recommeded.

ONE HORSE PLOWS.

Silver medal to John Dement, of Dixon.
One-horse double or treble plow, silver medal to
Deere & Co.

TRENCH PLOW.

Four entries ; J. F & W. L. Black, of Lancaster,
was awarded the silver medal.

SUBSOIL PLOW.

One entry ; but it did not work to the satisfac-
tion of the committee.

NEWLT INVENTED IMPLEMENT.

One entry ; '"Simply a gang plow ; no award."

TWO HORSE INDEPENDENT CULTIVATOR.

Fifteen entries ; abundant competition and all
worthy machines. The committee say : 'The
committee find so many excellent machines of this
class that it is extremely difficult to make a dis-
tinction." With a few exceptions, all the horse
cultivators exhibited show great excellence in con-
struction, and did good work in the field. The
premium, a silver medal, was awarded to Furst &
Bradley, of Chicago.

Two' horse cultivators, with combination for
seeding and planting — eleven entries ; showing
that this new style of implement is rapidly becom-
ing popular. The silver medal was awarded to C.
Denton, Pekin, 111.

Thomas Short, of Fairmount, 111., had a very su-
perior machine in this class which may some day
graduate into usefuUness in the corn fields.

GRAIN DRILLS.

These are nearly all of new styles of seeding ma-
chines, and in some cases show a wide divergence
from the grain drill. McSherry, Eneisley & Co.,
of Dayton, Ohio, took the silver medal.

BROAD CAST GRAIN SOWER. ,

Gatt, Tracy & Co., of Sterling, took the silver
medal.

CORN PLANTERS.

Now comes the tug of war, juft where the great-
est excitement exists. Ten entries. The commit-
tee are at loggerheads with the competitors, hav-

18(i4.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

-•'-"fSJ.»J«'>''5,jrB'»''i?»^ia4r'

SIS

ing jf Winded the silver medal to Geo. J. Bergen,
of Galesburg. Well, wonders will not cease, and
we may not wonder how they came to make the
award to this machine. Doultless they were hon-
est in their conviction, as at a fair no thorough
trial of such an implement can be had. The corn
mu t be planted and allowed to grow up so as to
show the rows. Year jiftor year just such premi-
ums iire made, and yet the planting public persit^t
in buying such old fogy machines as G. D. Brown's
of Galesburg, Silby, and Elder, and Hay worth, of
Springfield. We have been patiently waiting for
a planter combined with a roller, but thus far it
does not appear, and we have passed our orders
over to Brown, for one of his new improved drill
planters. This will plant corn, broomcorn, sorgo,
bean^;, and is adjustable to wide or narrow rows —
to hills — to check-rowing and drill, what more do
we want in the way of a planter ? We, the special
committee of the people, have now had our way ;
and let corn-planter makt rs look well to new, as
well as to old laurels.

SHEEP.

Spanish Merinoes.

Best buck two years old, 1st premium, $15, C.
H. Smith, of DeKalb county.

2 1 premium, $10, Will Stewardson, Shelbyville.

Bucks under 2 years, 1st premium $15, Gorham
&Gi.lett, of I-Iadlcy, 111.

2il premium $10, Fowha & Bush.

Best buck lamb, under 1 year, 1st premium $15,
C. H. Smith, of Nej^eKalb county.

2(1 premiun $10, C. H. Smith, "Ney, DeKalb
county.

Best pen of 3 ewes under 2 years, 1st premium
$15, i;. H. Smith, Ney, DeKalb. county. i,

2d premium, John Foulk, Mendola.

Be t pen of 3 ewe lambs under 1 year, 1st premi-
um, 0. H. Smith, Ney DeKalb county.

2d premium $10, C. H. Smith, Ney. DeKalb
coui ty.

French Merinoes.
Buck over 2 years, 1st premium, C. H. Eosensteil,
Freeport, 111.

2d premium $10, W. D. Bonta, Pleasureville,
Hei ry county, Ky.

Bi-st buck under 2 years, 1st premium $15, C.
H. Rosensteil, Freeport, 111.

2d premium, P. G. Sander, New Milford, 111.

Best buck lamb under 1 year, 1st premium $15,
C. H. Rosensteil, Freeport.

2d premium $10, no entry. ^

Pen of 3 ewes under 2 years, 1st premiuin $18,
0. H. Rosensteil, Freeport.

2d premium $10, no entry.

Pen of 3 ewe lambs under one year, 1st premi-
um. $15, 0. H. Rosensteil, Freeport.

2d premium $10, no entrv.

Long Wooled.

Best buck over 2 yeais old, 1st premium $15, P.
G. Bander, New Milford, 111.

2d premium, $10, E. F. Hes, Springfield.

Bi^'st buck under two years, 1st premium $15, P.
tr. Bauder, New Milford.

2d premium $10, D. S. Allen, Harristown,

Best buck lamb under 1 year, 1 premium $15, E.
F. Hes, Springfield.

2d premium $10, D. S. Alzen, Harristown.
Pen of three ewes over 2 years, 1st premium $18,
P. G. Brtuder, New Milford.

2d premium $10, D. S. Allen, Harristown.

Pen of ewes under 2 years, 1st premium $15, C.
L. Pate, Catlin, HI.

2d premium, $10, P. G. Bander, New Milford.

Middle Wooled, South Doum, etc..

B"st buck over 2 years, 1st premium $15, J.
N. Brown, Berlin, HI.

2d premium $10, E. P. Hes, Springfield.

Best buck under 2 years, 1st premium $15, J.
0. Brown, Berlin, 111.

2d premium $10, E. R Hes, Springfield.

Buck lamb under 1 ye^j 1st premium $15,
H. Fickrell, Harristown,

2d premium £10, C. H. Rc^ensteil, Freeport

Pen of ewes over 2 years, 1st premium $15,
N. Brown, Berlin, 111.

2d premium $10, J. H. Pickrel, Harristown.

Pen of ewes under 2 years, 1st premium $15 ;
no award. ■:_

2d premium $10 ; no award.

Pen of ewe lambs under 1 year, 1st premium
$15, C. H. Rosensteil, Freeport.

2d premium $10, J. H. Pickrell, Harristown.

Crosses of Pure Breeds.

Buck over 2 years, 1st premium $15, P. G. Ban-
der, New Milford, 111.

2d premium $10. P. G. Bander, New Milford.

Buck under 2 years, 1st premium $15, E. E.
Gorham, Hadley, 111.

2d premium, $10, P. G. Bander, New Milford^

Buck lamb under 1 year, 1st premium $15, E

E. Gorham, Hadley, 111.

2d premium $10, P. S. Spencer, Danville, 111.

I 'en of 4 ewes over 2 vears, 1st premium $15,
P. G, Bander, New Milford, HI.

2d premium $10, C. H. Rosensteil, Freeport.

Pen of 3 ewes under 2 years, 1st premium $10,
P. C, Spencer, Danville, 111.

2d premium $10, C. H. Rosensteil, Freeport, 111.

Pen of 3 ewe lambs under 1 year, 1st premium
$15, E. E. Gorham, Hadley, 111.

2d premium $10, P. G. IBander, New Milford, HI.

Fat Sheep,
Best 3 fat sheep over 2 years, premium $10, EJ

F. Hes, Springfield.

Best 3 fat sheep under 2 years, J. N. Brown,
Berlin, III., 1 entry.

Sweepstakes. > -^^ -

Best Ipt of sheep of any age, not less than 1 buck
and 9 ewes, 1st premium $20, J. N. Brown, Ber-
lin, 111.

2d premium $10, D. S. Allen Harristown, HI.

Sweepstakes — all Fine Wooled.

Best lot of sheep of any age, not less than 1
buck and 9 ewes, 1st premium $20, C. H. Smith,
Ney, 111.

2d premium, P. S Spencer, Danville, 111.

The show oi sheep was the best that we have
had in the West. We have as .good flock? in this
State as in any part of the West, and our sheep
men may begin to talk of supplying their neigh-
bors with the best. There is no longer need to
import sheep from Vermont, but more need of
Vermont sending here for a new infusion of the
best to tone up the health of their flocks.

SWINE. ■■/■-'■/;■''-

Berkshires.
Best boar over 1 year old, Ist premium $10, Jes-
se Cloyd, Champaign, 111,
2d premium $6. T. J. Crowder, Springfield, IlL

J

:^^^*'^ ■ ■^■"^.; ^^ra^■^' ■:^;;?5:^-F^;-^;'iR

316

THE ILLmOIS FAKMEE.

October

Boar under 1 year old, 1st premium $10, Jesse
Cloyd, Champaign, 111.

2d premium $5, T. J. Crowden Springfield, 111.

Best sow over 1 year old, 1st premium $1-0, T.
J. Crowder, Springfield, III. ; one entry.

Best sow under 1 year old, 1st premium $10, T.
J. Crowder, Springfield, III.

2d premium, $5, Jesse Cloyd, Champaign, 111.

Best sow with Jitter of pigs, 1st premium $15, T.
J. Crowder. Springfield, 111. ; one entry.
. During the Fair Jesse Clovd sold about a dozen
pigs, to be shipped from his farm near Champaign,
at $25 each.

Cumberland^ Yorkshires, Chester Whites, Woburn,
Isish and Magic Breeds.

Best boar over 1 year old 1st premium ^15,
Ralph & Ferguson, Champaign, 111.

2d premium $5, 0. Wallact^ Springfield. III.

Best boar under one year, 1st premium $1©,
Ralph & Ferguson, Champnign, 111.

2d premium $5, Henry Faiik, Bloomington, 111.

Best sow over 1 year old, 1st premium $10, 0.
Wallace, Clayton, 111.

Best sow under 1 year old, 1st premium $10,
Henry Funk, Bloomington, III.

2d premium $5, Ralph & Ferguson, Champaign,

Best sow with litter of pigs, 1st premium ^15,
Frank Seails, Hadley, 111.

Chintz, Suffolk, Essex, and oilier small ■and distinct
breeds.

Best boar over 1 vear, 1st premium $10, P. G.
Bander, New Milford, 111.

2d premium $5, J. M. Gillet, Hadley.

Best boar under 1 year, 1st premium $10, Chas.
Snoad, Joliet ; one entry.

Best sow over 1 year, 1st premium $10, P. G.
Bander, New Milford ; one entry.

Best sow under one year, 1st premium $10, C.
Snoad, Joliet; one entry.

Crosses.

Best boar over 1 year old, 1st premium $10, E.
P. Jones. Jacksonville, 111.; Hospital breed.

2d premium $5, Chas. Snoad, Joliet, 111.

Best bo;ir under 1 year old, lot premium $10, E,
P. Jones, Jacksonville, 111.

2d premium $5, David Callihan, Springfield, 111.

Best sow over I ycMr, 1st premium $10, E. P.
Jones, Jacksonville, 111.

2d premium $5, L. M. Cillett, Hadley.

Best sow under 1 year, 1st premium $10, 0.
Wallace, Clayton.

2d premium $5, E. P. Jones, Jacksonville,

LADY IQUESTRIANSHIP.

IHntries.

Mrs. S. R. Smith, $20.

Miss -Ruth A. Gardner, $10. -

Miss Elizabeth Wittmer, $5.

Mrs. Lucy Cooper.

The riding was very graceful and reflected great
credit upon the lady riders. Considerable dissat-
isfaction was exhibited at the award by the Macon
county people. Doubtless fine dresses and flow-
ing robes have their weight with the committee,
for who has not something -of an eye to beauty in
dress as well as person ?

SADDLE HORSES, MAKES, ETC.

Best stallion over 4 years, 11 entries, W. Saxon,
North Amer, i' Sparta, 1st premium.
Adolphus Dillon, Boynton, Louis II. 2d premium.

Best stalion over .3 and under 4 years, Isiah Oil-
ier, Boynton, Interest, 1st premium.

Charles McKay, .Scoles Mound, 111., London Tom,
2d premium.

Best stallion over j2 and under 3 years, Levi Dil-
lion, Boynton, Little Giant, 1st premium.

Isiah Dilon, Boynton, Great Western, 2d premi-
um.

Saddle geldings over 3 years, J5 entries.

Henry Hedges, Indianolee, Cy, 1st premium.

John Megredy, Springfield, Paddy, 2d premium.

Best brood mare over 4 years, Isiah Dillan,
Boynton, 111. Fly, 1st premium.

Levi Dillan, Boynton, Hattie, 2 premium.

Best filly over 8 and under 4 years, Elias Dillan,
Boynton, Margaret, Ist premium.

Best filly oyer 2 and under 3 years, Isiah Dillon,
Boynton, Amanda, 1st premium.
Gavni Bisket, Sparta, 111., 2 premium.

Best sucking colt, Gavni Bisket, Sparta, 1st
premium.

G. Fisher, Armington, 2d premium.

SADDLE MARES.

John Nichols, Springfield, Rose, 1st prrmium.
W. D. Bonta, Pleasureville, Ky., Kite, 2d pre-
mium.

LABIES EQUESTRIAN MATCH.

Four entries: 1st premium, Mrs S. R. Smith,
Springfield ; 2d premium. Miss R. A. Gardner, De
catur ; 3d premium. Miss E. Waltner, Deca tur :
4th premium, Miss Lizzie Cooper.

TROTTING MATCH CITIZENS' PIUZK.

Best S in 5. Prize $500. Entries — Nobocelish,
by Jas. Conlish ; Lady Turner, by J. Turner.
Nabocojish won 1st heat in 2:30, and 2d in 2:29^.

Lady Turner won 3d heat in 2:28, 4th ia 2:29,
and 5th in 2:27.

CARRIAGE MARES.

1st premium, B. E. Deyo, Lee couaty.

2d premium, G. W. "Lory, Christian county.

The day has been one of great pleasure to the
large numljer of visitors. To-morrow will show
the breaking up and dismantling of the grounds,
until aiKxther year shall have rolled its ample
round.

The receipts foot up to-day $2,200 a£;ainst $1,-
891 same day last year, making a total of $12,'700 ;
a highly gratifying ?tate of things, and will show
to the outside world that the State of Illinois is
yet a live State, and as usual -ready to feed the
million.

The ladies at the Dining Hall have done nobly,
and for this exertion on behalf of the soldier, -peans
of praise shall go up to the throne of the Most
High.

SIXTH DAY.

Decatur, Sept. IT, 18fi4.

We havenowjeached the last morning of the
Fair. Throughout the week the weather ,lias| been
the most favorrble that could be desired. Not a
cloud has come up to threaten us with rain. The
sun has been a subdued September sun, with a
mild, cool breeze from the southwest, tempered by
the forest skirts that fringe the Grounds. The

.Ai

-^^jn-^^^f. Mi^w=^- ^ 'LHSlilHilJIiy-HJliJ l-J"Jw«uHlil!lW'^PIWB!l?!

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FARMER

31T

show has been good, the attendance large, and no
accident has accurred to mar the harmony of the
occasion. The Fair on the whole has been a grand
success.

The amount received will be a trifle above seven-
teen thousand dollars — the largest sum ever taken
at any of our State Fairs. Tlie Dining Hall, Booths
and Amphitheatre are held by the Macen county
Agricultural Society, and the police fines go to
them also. For these they allow the State Society
two thousand dollars, leaving them a handsome
net balance.

The citizens of Decatur have done all in their
power, and we hear no complaint from any quar-
ter but from the draymen and hackmen. The
Great Western Railroed has held this latter class
in check, and had the farmer boys who came in
from the country been allowed to compete with
them in the hauling of goods, the exorbitant char-
ges of the draymen would not have been heard of.

The chief business of the morning is the award-
ing and paying of premiums. The bleating of sheep
and the lowing of cattle are the main music this
morning, as they make their report from the
Grounds. Drays and wagons are loading with the
various inanimate objects that have made up the
show in the several departments. To sum up, the
Grounds are being dismantled to stand in solitary
grandeur for another year, when the great indus-
trial army may again enliven it with their pres-
ence. It is a beautiful spot, with its blue grass
carpet, its ample springs of pure water, set down
in a groat reach of the old forest that fringes the
Sangamon.

LABOR SAVING MACHINES.

We have only time to remark upon a few of the
more prominent features in the implement depart-
/ ment, the Hay Loader has attracted considerable
interest. It is attached to the hind end of a wag-
on, and will put a load on from the winrow in about
ten minutes. We know nothing of the workingof
the machine in the field, but suspect > that a more
correct appreciation can be had of it in that situa-
tion. If a high wind does not interfere with its op-
eration and it will do clean work, it will be a great
boon to the farming interest. The cost of it is #"75
at the shop in Chicago.

Palmer's Hay Pitcher has been the center of at
traction throughout the Fair. There has been one
opinion in regard to it, and that is largely in its
favor. It must become incorporated in the list of
haying implements, at least on large farms. By
its use large stacks can be made and most thor-
oughly topped out. Its cost, including fork, is
about $80.

SUGAR CANE MILLS.

Among the sorgo mills Skinner's mill, of Madi-
son, Wisconsin, took the first prize. This mill is
adjustable with weighted levers, and is the best
mUl that we have seen. It wrings the last drop of
juice from the cane. In evidence of this a lot of
begasse from one of the mills with set screws was
run, the "Skiuner," wringing out a large amount
of juice.

Brown's corn planter stands among the new fam-
ily of planters with age and freshness cfombined.
No planter is so widely known. Its adaptability
to drop all kinds of corn and cane, in bills or
drills at any required width, with or without being
hand checked, will make it hold tiie lead in tMs
useful class of machines.

mechanics' hall.
In the Mechanics' Hall we note little that is new
and useful in the household. There are two looms
and a spinning wheel, but we hope never more to
hear the music of the loom or that of the spinning
wheel. They have been banished from the domes-
tic hearth and sent to the shop where fast revolv-
ing wheels and the clank of the loom send out
their music with the pulsations of the steam en-
gine, or the murmur of the flowing river as it dash-
es its waters against the paddles that move the
busy wheels. Let the loom stay where it is, for
we have no patience or taste for hand looms or
hand spinning wheels.

WASHrsG machine.
The display of washing machines was large, bat
we regret that our fair friends have no new en-
couragement in these machines, and most continue
to bend and sweat over the wash tub. Yet there
is a reeeeming o^uality in the wringing of the
washed goods, though this has already become a
well fixed principle in the washing departments.
The blue ribbon was attached to the "Universal
Clothes Wringer," the cog wheels carrying the
day. The competition was very spirited^ and we
observed the ladies taking s-ides. Well, who has
a better right to. Genius now and then throws
them down a crumb and anon a shower. Now
that it has rained wringers, will not their good
genius send them a good washing machine.

BEET SUGAR.

Messrs. Gannart Bros., of Cbatsworth, Iroquois
count)-, have on exhibition a barrel of beet su^ar,
the first made in the United States. This sample
is crude sugar and contains the offensive beet
taste, with a dark color, and is unfit for use with-
out refining.

SORGO SUGAR.

Samples of sugar and molasses manufactured
from the Chinese sugar cane, by Sheldon's Patent
Rectifying Process, were exhibited. These sam-
ples are very satisfactory and show progress in
this direction. They are equal to the best Orleans
sugar. This process expels every vestige of that
disagreeable acid or flavor so common in su^ar
and molasses by other processes. The molasles
for all culinary purposes is equal to the best. The
first premium was awarded this sugar. The pat-
entee is a native of this State and hails from
Abington, Knox county.

PACING IN HARNESS.

Best three in 5. 1st premium $T 50 ; 2d premi-
um $50. At 11 o'clock A. M. this pace came off.

McKinney, owned by L N. Holcomb, won the
first three heats ; time 2:29, 2:28, 2:24^.

2d premium, Dick Turpin, owned "by Lewis
Glenn. Polly Ann was withdrawn.

THE POLICE.

Joseph Kaufman, Esq., presided over this de-
partment, and has done a thriving business. Pick-
pockets and petty villains stand a poor chance un-
der such efficient arrangements as Superintendent
Pickrell made for their accommodation. Nearly
all of the arrests were for selling whisky, climbing
over the fence and for common drunks. No fights
are recorded and but one pickpocket arrested and
he not convicted. But few cases of pocket pick-
ing have been reported. The fines amount to f 1-
500.

r;r*r>7i,-^>_7.»-y,-.- —,■;.■;. '.^- 1\';;^- .'-.^ :-»«--;t»7,^WV .

318

THE ILLINOIS FAKMER.

OCOBER

The experiment of a duncing floor has not met
the expectations ofits projectors — that of pleasure
and a high moral tone of its patrons was anticipa-
ted. It degenerated into a mere low d:ince house.
It is a failure and we hope to never see it repeat-
ed. In Europe these things are common among
the pcBsantry in the rural districts, and is pleas-
ant and healthful and, in a social aspect, moral.

Of the Sanitary Fair we sholl speak in another
place.

The officers of the Society have all worked with
a will, never before to as good advantage, for they
have learned at former fairs more of the wants of
the occasion.

We have now aimed to make a complete report,
but hiive many things laid up for future comment.
We trust our readers will be sati.rfied with our in-
dustry during the week.

THE CLOSE.

The twelfth Fair of the State of Illinois is now
drawing to a close. As we now write in the edi-
tors' room, 5 p. M., little of iuterest is going on. —
The crowd have loft, the tents are struck, and one
by one the exhibitors go out of the gate. Then
fades awav the glory of the show and the people
are homeward bound. The last train is thunder-
ing in the distance and we too must leave these
grounds- to st.and alone in their solitude.

BAKER & PHILIiliS - - - PUBLISHERS.

M. L. DUN LAP, Kditor.

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, OCTOBER, 1864.

September has proved a busy month in this part
of the State. The high price rf wheat and oats
has called out all the available threshing machines
to get the crop to market as fast as possible. Add
to this an immense sorgo crop, with a sprinkling
of beans, broomcorn and the sowing of an unusuaj
breadth of winter wheat, and outsiders can imagine
that at least some of the farmers have been busy.
But this is not all : State and county fairs have
been attended, even more freely than usual, and
now the inexorable draft must take sixteen thou-
sand laborers from field and shop. "But," says one,
"your county is out of the draft." Well, what of
it ? Chicago wants a thousand men and will pay a
laro-e price for ,thein ; other northern counties do
the same. Bounties are offered and away go our
laborers to fill up the quotas. Let it be so ; drive
on the war car through the red field until it reach
the shores of an abiding peace.

For ourself, work has driven us right along, and
we have had to take an active part in the field,
with the exception of the week at the State Fair.

Our notes on that occasion occupy a large part of
the present number

If the Farmer lacks interest it is becaus v ■ are
taking actual les-ons and perfecting our i d tion
in the field, that we may be all the more pable
of teaching when the leisure hours of the ling
year furnish the occasion.

The autumn frost lies just in the offing ""<! will
soon be down on us ; then we may be bu i re-
ality, with no time for State and county rs. —
How we shall get on must be left for th le of
trial to solve.

Our table is loaded with good things fc iture
use, but they cannot be served up at thi me. —
Forty acres of orchard must be set out ii ■■<■ lext
sixty days ; our customers at the nursery . i . t be
served; several thou-and evergreens mu- beset
out ; potatoes dug, apf les picked, cider mad , and
an innumerable lot of small jobs to be done uf) and
all this with the sntallest possible number f hands;
and some of thei=e of the poorest kind.

The whole country is enjoying most cxcill^nt
health, which enabl' s the farmer to diive an ad
and to accomplish large tasks. The neu iu ple-
ments also help us out. The cast cast-ste I plow
pleases us vastly, and two of them ar^- h ing run
by two of our small boys ; of course the\ h . ve . . ch
a weed hook and wheel coulter. Don t t!io-e ^oys
feel proud of their straight, smooth (uiiov,.-! —
well, we rather think they do. We have a ^reat
regard for boys who can make straight, s ooth
furrows, and they like nice plows with a 1 ihi new '
implements. Now, that so much fall plowing must
be done, it will pay to look a little aft' r a good
plow rig.

We hope our readers will excuse any present
short comings, for we know that like ourr-elf, ihey
have little lime to read or find fault.

Large Sale of Blooded Stock.

Having associated with me in business my sons,
(William and Charles S. Brown,) I will sell at pub-
lic auction, at my residence, Grove Park, in Island
Grove, Sangamon county Illinois, three miles .
west of Berlin, on the road leading from Sprifigtield
to Jacksonville, on Wednesdav and Thursday.. Au-
gust 24th and 25tb, 1864, (sale to commence at ten
o'clock,)

Thirty or Forty Superior Shm't Horn Cattle,

consisting of Cows, Heifers and Young Bulls; also
South-Down Sheep and Berkshire Hogs, rom the
importation of the Illinois Importing Association of
1857 ; also a number of valuable

BROOD MARES COLTS AND FILLIES, -• .

of trotting stock.

Catalogues of Stock will be issued in due time. —
Persons desirous of obtaining them can do so by ad-
dressing me at Berlin, Illinois. - i,

Aug-'64-lt JAS. N. BROWN, -ii

..v.jifc,,-

war^r^i^jTwjf,-,?— . T-^*jrt*--;^wiJ(J5'«Vfip— '-^ ^'»P?^^^tiSt'\»*jr'*j'*T!r

1864.

THE ILLINOIS FAEMER.

319

EVERGREEN SEEDLINGS.

A very large stock of superior grown Evergreen
Seedlings, at less than one-half the Eastern Prices.

PER 1,000.
Norway Spruce, two years old,
three to five inches, $5,00

Norway Spruce, three years
old, six to nine inches, $8,00

Scotch Pine, two years old,
three to five inches, $7,00-

AusTRiAN Pine, two years old, $2 per 100.
Balsam Fir, Ked Cedar, Arbarvit^, &c., &c.,
of large or small size, at very low rates.

A large stock of CONCORD GRAPES, one of the
best varieties for the West.

A large stock of RED DUTCH CURRANTS, the
best for market, two to three years old, at half the
isual rates.

STANDARD AND DWARF PEARS, of well
tested varieties, together with a good assortment of
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, &c., A.

Send for Catalogue. ROBT. DOUGLAS.

Waukegan. III. tf

TO GRAPE GROWERS.

The subscriber has a large stock of the most vigor-
ous growth layers of the following desirable varieties,
which ho will sell at very low rates, to wit:

^^

CONCORD. $55 per 1,000. • '

A few thousand of bearing age, of large size at

$^5 i er l,00i.) '
These will produce a good crop the second ye.ar.

, HARTFORD PROLIFIC, $10 per 1.00, or
ten for a dollar.

; REBECCA, $10 per 100.

DIANA, $10 per lOO

The above will be well packed,
to go any distance.

Terms — Cash, or approved bank paper o
short date.

JAMES SMITH.
Desmoikes Iowa, Jan. 1, 1863.

: Dunlap's Nursery.

This nursery has good stock of apple trees of all
ages and of choice varieties for the west, low heads
and stocky. The genuine " May Cherry," (Kentish
or Early Richmond of Downing,) Dwarf and Stand-
ard Pears, the Purple Cat e Raspberry, the best of
all raspberries for the farm ; Houghton
Gooseberry, Grapes, Strawberries, Ornamental
Trees and Plants. An immense stock of Silver Leaf
Maple, from $5 to $15 per 100, 6 to 10 feet high. The
green house is well stocked with roses and other bed-
ding out plants. This stock is grown to retail and
not adopted to the tree peddler,a8 all trees and plants
are large, stocky and thrifty, arid intended for the
planner only) i Terms cash with low prices.

Address, " M. L. DUNLAP,

- , Champaign.

March 1, iSBS.tf

■"" ■:■■ It^^j&z^ ■■■■ : f^r'r::

October \ ^_ nqg

Should Farmers Insure? {,........,".'."..".!!!!"." 290

A Chapter on the Raspberry ..L,... .'"!!,...."....'!.". 291

Peach Ttees and Tanzy .".'.*' *" 293

Lice on Cattle .!!"!!!!"!!!.*. 293 294

Birds and Insects "" * 993

Rural Refinements. "* 294,

Pleasant Surprises ".'.'.'.. 204

To keep Flies from Cattle....."'.*."","."'"!..'.*.""! 294

Importance of Knobs on Horns.....*.'.'.',.."" 295

Trans. III. Hor. Soe '...*....'.....'...'...! 295

Dwarf Apples for Suburban Gardens..'.'.*.'. .....*.."! 296

Health of Farmers __ '."'" 298

Gathering and Keeping Fruit .!!!!!!!'.!!!!!!!' 297

Culture of Cabbage..,.. ..*!!!!!!!.!! 297

The "Varnish Tree ..........'.'.'.'.*.'.'..!.'.'.'... 297

Pruning Pyramidal Trees....,.'.*'.*.'.'.'.*'.!*''.'.*.*.*,,....... 298

Sow Rye ..a... '. '>98

Oil Springs in Missouri .'.-.—!!!.*.*..!!!!!!!! 298

Stannard Apple ;' '\ 29s

Potato Rot ....'."..*.'.'!!!..','.'.'.'! 299

Alton Horticultural Society..... !!!! !!!!..! 30O

A Primeval Forest !!!!!!'.!!!! 301

Value of Sclenca... !.."..*..'.*.*.',...... 302

Crops in the Great San Jose Valley.!!!!!!'.'.'...*!!!! 302

The Ras|iberry " " ' oAn

Pigeon Ma Dure ..'.'.'.'*..,'.**,**,.'..' 303

Tobacco for Cut worms !.J.'.'.'.'..' 303

Mocking ird !'.'.'.'*.*.'.*'.'!!!*! 303

Prairie Scenes — Poetry.... on*

Little byfLittle " .'.*.*.*!.'.'.'.'.""! onJ

Age of Apple Orchardr !!!'.! *"*' on^

An Ice Cave '- * onj

Little Acts Great .",'.'.'.' on;

TbeState Fair !„:

Editor's Table gj|

ID OSS, THOMPSON & CO. .,.

^ (Successors to G. S. Thompson.) v\

CAPITAL PENSION & BOUNTY AGENCY.

OFFICE ON WEST SIDE OF 5tH STREET.

Opposite state House, over L. Greeble's Clothing Store
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

■BOVmr AND BACK PAY, PENSIONS, RECRTTITIN6
CLAIMS, CLAIMS FOR HORSES LOST IN
SERVICE, ARREARAGES OF PAY
,, BUB RESIGNED OFFICERS,

&c., <fcc., &c.

Our experience and acquaintance with the details
of business in the various departments, and the per-
sonal attention of one member of the firm at Wash-
ington, afford us every facility for the prompt collec-
tion of all classes of military claims.

If you have any claims of any description against
the government, give us a statement of the facts, and
we will tell you what your rights are in the case A
letter of inquiry may save you much trouble, expense
and perhaps loss. All communications enclosing a
stamp for return postage p romptly answered. In-
formation gratis. No fees charged until money is
collected. Charges low. Pensions for $5, as reeala-
lat«d by act of Congress. Address

ROSS, THOMPSON & C©.,
Capita Pension and Bounty Agency, Springfield, 111.
dec63-tf

■ -\' tj-!-A:

320

THE iLLiJNOiS EAKMEK.

t.-»^-

October

A MONTHLY JODKNAL OP

AGRICULTUriE AND HORTICULTURE.

PUBLISHED AT

srmsGFiELD, - - izzmois,

BY

BAKER & PHILL-IPS,

AND IS EDITED BY

M. L. DUNLAP, Tribune's Sural.

TEUMS IN ADVA\CB. — fl a year; two copies 1 5C; f.vD
opies $3; ten copies $6, and one to getter up of the club
twenty copies $10.

It is not necesaaej' that the cfub shonld all be at one oilice
— we send w^hertver the members of the chib may reside

The postage on the Farmer is only three eeota a year in
the State of Illinois, and six cents out of it.

Specimens numb* rs sent free on application.

Subsciiption money may be sent at the risk of the pub-
lisher.

Exchanges and communications for the eye of the Kditor
should be addressed, Illinois Farmek, Champaign Illinois.

All business letters are to be direc.ed to tl>e publishers,
Springfield.

TERMS OF ADVEHTIiING:

1 mo. 3 mo. 6 mo. 12 mo.

One page, or two columns S12 $30 $52 50 $T5

Halfapaseorone ■" T 50 18 30 45

•■jne fonrth page or half colnmn.. 4 50 10 50 18 27

Una eighth or one fourth «« .. 3 6 1(» 60 15

One square of ten lines 1 50 3 6 10 50

I ard of five lines one y«ar $8 00

Fifteen cents a line for leas than a square each insertion.

AH worthy objects advertised, and those of importance to
the Karmer will receive, from time to time, such editorial
notices as the Editor may consider them worthy of, without
additional charge. *

Implements and seeds to be tested should be sent direct
to the Editor, at his residence .Champaign.

We have put the price of advertising within reach of all.
It will enable those who like to freely advertise their goods,
to do so at a cheap rate,

Terms, cash. Yearly advertisers will pay geml-annnally,
and all transient advertisements must be accompanied with
the cash to insure insertion.

BASER 4 PHILLIPS, PubKshers.

Spr'ngfield, Ills.

THE ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL

JS CONFIDENTLY OFFERED TO THE FEOPLB OF
Illinois as the best and most reliable news, political
md commercial paper within their reach. It is published
it Springfield, the Capital of the State, and is the medium
f all official notices, published by State authority. Partic-
ular attention is given to commercial affairs and every
number contains copious reviews of the markets in the
principal cities.

TERMS :

One copy one year. $2 OO

Three copies one year .°~. 6 00

Six " " 7 60

Ten " " -12 00

Twenty" " — . .-..^...20 00

Payable always in advance. Persons sending clnbs of ten
and upwards shall be entitled to an eitra copy.
Address BAKER k PHILLIPS,

Springfield, Illinois.

G ROVER & BAKER'S LEWIN& MACMINBS
were awarded the highest premium at the fol-
lowing State Fairs of 1S63, for the Best Family
Sewing Machine, the Best Manufacturing Machine,
and the Beat Machine Work :

" NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Double Thread Machine.

First Premium for Machine Work.

VERMOU.T STATE FAIR,C -

First Premium for Family Machine.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machiae.

First Premium for Machine Work.

IOWA STATE FAIR.
First Premium for Family Machine.
First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Machine Work.

MICHIGAN STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Family Machiae.

First Premium for M*nufacturing Machine.

First Premium for Machiue Work.

INDIANA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work. :/ >

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

KENTUCKY STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine for All Purposes.
First Premium for Machine Work.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Manufacturing Machine.
First Premium for Bea^idfuL Machine Work;

OHIO STATE FAIR.

First Premium for Machine Work.

The above comprises all the Fairs at which the
GROVER & BAKER MACHINES were exhibited
this year. At nearly all of them the leading Sewing
Machines were in competition.

The GROVER A BAKER S. M. Co. are the only
parties who manufacture and sell Machines which
both SEW PERFECTLY and EMBROIDER PER-
FECTLY.

GROVER & BAKER S. M. COMPANY,

jaol8-64-ly

115 Lake Street, Chicago.

SIANDABD

SCALES

OF ALL KINDS.
Also, Warehouse Tmcks, Letter Presses, Ac.

FAIRBANKS, GREEN LEAF & CO.

172 LAKE STREET, CHICAOO,

Sold in Springfield by

E. B. PEASE.

Be csrefUl utd buy only the genuine. i oel-ly

TswBf^'jfTC'^ss'i'K'^^"^" .-'jisva

\

UNIVERSfTY OF LUNOS-URBANA

3 0112 062027021

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