WT -v-- p^::yrir^^^:yff:^-^'-T^^^':^r^^^^^yf3f^^^p9.f!.i^'_^-^^/_!^ 'T ,i ' •<*-^>!h?'»V3'*^^^F^'.- >;WP.«W!l«f IMMWlllJIl - THE ILLINOIS FARMER. SIMEON FRANCIS, Editoh. BAIIHACHE «Se BAKEP, PrsLisHBRS. Vol. «. jf^jTu^mr, 1837. ./n>. i. The New Year. Man should never be satisfied nnless he is in a way to benefit himself or others. This doctrine is simply that of progress, — a doc- trine that should ever have an efifective influ- ence on every rational mind. To no class of society can it have a more useful applica- tion than to farmers, in the broadest under- standing of the term. Probably more improvements have been made in farming within the last few years than in any other profession. Men have not been satisfied with the old routine of Agricul- tural operations. Land has been worked better — seed has been provided with more care — crops in their growth have received more attention — causes of failure as well as of success have have been ascertained, and the farmer now feels that if he does his duty, in nineteen times out of twenty, he will be well rewarded for his labor. And so of stock. He finds that his stock can be improved, with great profit to himself, He seeks better stock of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep and mules, and finds a great benefit in the change — besides, he feels a pride in progress, in a conviction that he is not lag- ging behind when all his agricultural breth- ren are going ahead with improved stock. He is also impr6ving his farm by erecting the proper and convenient buildings in good taste — laying off his fields in suitable sizes and forms— planting out his orchards and taking care of them— ^his gardens, his yards — and he sees to it that there are no un- sightly places about his farm to destroy its beautv; and if there should chance to be, be has still plans for improvement which will be carried out in due time. The New Year ! And what of it, brother Farmer ? The old year has passed. It is a good time to ask yourself what, mistakes have you made in farming the past year ? When you entered upon that year, did you . mature plans for cultivating and improving your farm ? Did you determine what lands to give to certain crops; how they should be cultivated; whether they should be drained, if they needed it; whether you should follow the old system of shallow plowing, half cul- tivatiog, and gel half or no crop, or whether, as poor Richard said, you should £. . "Plow well and deep, And have corn to sell aud to keep." Have you made up your mind that your success was caused by particular attention in working your grounds, or your failure, by neglect ? Have you cast your eye over your neighbor's grounds and noticed the success or failure of particular modes of cultivation ? These are common questions and common thoughts, but they are those which can be made most useful. There is no magic in farming. Good farming is brought about by industry well directed — we may say di- rected by judgment and^knowledge. Every advantage gained by new modes of cultivation, by changes of seed, by changes of stock, by new implements of Agriculture, should be seized as Tieiv positions from which you are to originate and practice other plans and improvements. We believe every intelligent farmer is wiser in his profession than he was one year ago. We hope, at least, that none of our readers have lost a YEAB ! We have now entered upon a new year — Editor, Readers, all. We trust it may be a year of prosperity. Much depends on ourselves. " God helps those who help 1^^-^^qJ^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. themgelyes. " The employments of Agrical- tare are the most inviting conferred on man. All the virtues are enjoyed in its practice. We can look over the broad expanse before us and mark the crops, the herds, the fruits, the forests — :everything that can delight the eye and rejoice the heart; and looking up to the Giver of every good and perfect gift say, in truth, " My Father made them all. " Reader, vre give you our hand to do the best we can to add to the interest and suc- cess of your calling for the present year. <•• Legislative Aid to Agriculture. We have a few thoughts that we desire to give on this subject. Politicians of every name are in the practice of commending the profession of Agriculture, and of representing that farmers are the " muscle, bone and sin- ew of the country." This is mainly done, as we are forced to believe, to obtain the use of this " muscle, bone and sinew," to elevate themselves into power. Wc have too long listened to these compliments without reflect- ing on their objects. It would be well, even now, to examine the matter, and learn whether this great interest of our State — without the success of which, with all the inherent richness of our soils, our fine cli- mate, our easy access to markets — has been duly and properly represented in our gov- ernment, and received that attention from it which is really due to that great and lead- ing interest. The farmers, mechanics and working men comprise an immense majority of our popu- lation. And of what material was our last legislature composed ? There were in that body, forty-three lawyers and thirty-two physicians, beside other professional men; and there were ten mechanics and thirty-two farmers in the same bsJy. W hiie, therefore, the support of the government, to a very large extent, is taken from the landed inter- est, that same interest had but little more than one-third of the legislative and execu- tive officers of the State, leaving the entire control of the public welfare to professional men and non-producers. Is not there an error in this policy on the part of the farm- L ing interest ? We are for giving profession- al men their due weight, bat not for aban- doning to their management the entire reins of government. Professional men are not to blame for the position they occupy in this matter. They hare so mw^lded public opin? ion that we are too apt to believe we need their services, when we have practical men of our own prof«Bsion who would represent us, and whose interests are united with ours. The advance of Agriculture in our State augments our wealth and importance in % degree which can scarcely be estimated. In our last number we referred to the causes which struck down the early prosperity of Southern Illinois, and which have long hung like a black pall over that beautiful region of our State. We have shown that any oth- er country subjected to the same policy by government would have suffered as she has — in retarding settlements; in discouraging improvements; in preventing the establish- ment of schools, in keeping away capital, in- telligence and industry. We know that all those causes which have marred the pros- perity of the south, are passing gradually, slowly away; but their influences will be felt in that region for a long period to come. We rejoice that there is, tho^gh long delay- ed, a " better time coming, " in Southern Illinois. We have alluded to the composition of the last legislature for the purpose of referring to one item of its history. Among experi- enced and observing farmers, it is believed that annual county exhibitions and fairs of the products of agriculture, have great effect in promoting the prosperity of farming, by the presentation of fine stock, grains, friiits and other productions of the farm, as well as the products of the dairy, and household manufactures. The exhibition of mechani- cal skill, also, benefits that class of citizens, and the sight of new agricultural imple- ments, designed to lessen the labors of the farmer and to increase his profits, presents a new field for investigation, and stimulates him to go in the path of progress, which has done so much to advance the wealth, the happiness and the intelligence of farmers in '^■^•^^K?!7^^,^'S7XK'^^^^'?iv'^'^^K'>B'^^ ■"^:-i?^''^ ssr«^!g^!«;^?s^iiu,^*,4i!pu»pfe^_^^^ll^.t^ i ■ Tftte ILLINOIS ^ARMEll. "bther parts of the country. A few members on reriewing what had been done for asso- dated we<h — for making, by acts of incor- poration and other measures, the rich, rich- er, thought it not impertinent to ask the le- gislature to grant some legislative aid to agriculture in ,the different counties of the State, by which agricultural county societies should be organized, farmers brought to- gether, and their productions by exhibition should stimulate all clajses to industry and progress in their profession. For this pur- pose a bill was introduced into the house appropriating $100 00 to each County Soci- ety duly organized, and the funds of which should equal the sum to be given from the treasury. It was found necessary to reduce the amount of appropriation to $50 00, in order to effect its passage; and thus redu- ced it passed without serious^pposition. In reference to this appropriation, we find the following remarks in an address delivered before the Clinton County Agricultural Soc- iety, on the 17th of October last, by W. S. Wait, Esq.: " Here was an appropriation requested for the most useful of all purposes, for the encouragement and itnprovement of agricul- ture, which is the sole employment and principal dependence of some three-fourths of the people of Illinois. An appropriation calculated to do the State a vast service by encouraging institutions which tend to ele- vate the character of the farmer, increase his means, improve his morals, and add to the permanent wealth and prosperity of the State. An appropriation to involve a dis- bursement exceeding altogether two or three thousand dollars, which amount would return immediately to the same pockets from which it was drawn, that of the farmers and tax- payers of Illinois . Yet it was cut down one- half and then reluctantly passed. Thus was appropriated for the encouragement of agri- culture in each county of the State which complied with the provisions of the enact ment, the sum of fifty dollars. On the same day was passed without opposition, an addi- tional appropriation of sixteen thousand dollars for the (Governor's House !" Our argument is not aimed against the last named appropriation, but to show the immense disparity in importance in the en- cOuif&geiment of Agriculture in all the coun- ties of this State, and the construction of a Governor's house; the first received an ap- propriation of some five thousand dollars in all, and the other some thirty-five thousand dollars ! We repeat that our argument ic not against the appropriation for the Gover- nor's house, but we wish to hold up to pub- lic view that small appropriation, given to aid an interest on which the success of all other intrests is based in our State. We conclude by expressing the hope that in the legislature which is now convened, there will be found men who will follow the example of their predecessors in granting to the County Agricultural Societies not trifling, but sufficient means to render them more useful than they have hitherto been, in bring- ing out the agricultural wealth of the State. The money comes from the pockets of the farmers, and goes back into them. Our State has means, and our legislature should never forget in their legislation the sources of the wealth of our State, and should in all proper ways seek to promote its great interests, which are inseparable from the prosperity of Agriculture. 4*. Improviiig Conntry Eesldences. Hovey's Magazine for November, says: "Throughout the Western States there is room for great improvement in every class of country or farm dwellings. The timberless prairies offer free scope for the blasting winds to sweep across them, and nothing appeared to us more desolate than the small but neat houses, standing solitary and alone, without so much as a single tree on the vast expanse of broad prairie almost as far as the eye could reach. At what slight expense and in how little time could this be altered, simply by the planting of a dozen ♦rees, or even by the sowing of a handful of seeds; for in that rich soil every- thing grows with great rapidity, and there can be little excuse for neglecting the work. Shelter from the wind and shade from the sun are two of the most important objects in ornamental plantations" Mr. Hovey thus depicts scenes which he witnessed in many parts of our State in the autumn of 1855. He seemed hardly to real- ize that these neat dwellings on timberless prairies were the result of the labor of one or two brief seasons. In that time protec- !R . ^1" 4JJ»',MPI?!"W9^(rfH T^y W^lUWjMjWWtTW I'^iliU'L'i.i V+^ii ■^-f'JWuySWSWl'"'' ^ ' f ' "- ' ^ *fiiTBKrr».trr-T««i.ii,ii;j(*,J. *;tyifrs'^vr^^:n^^fpv^:i^-K:-'^'ri^'j^^9:^':y •'■^\i-'Kr^'^z'"^.i^ -^ ZTf. ^*V^?V W^^'-Wf'^f?*''*"*''"'"™*. THE ILLINOIS FARMER. tioa fi'om trees could not be secured. Some time must pass before this desirable state of improvement can be effected. It will be done in time. Men who go upcn our open prairies and make their farms at a distauce from timber, generally understand the ad- vantages of shelter and shade, and so soon as they can provide cover for themselves and fences to protect their fields, will labor to secure other comforts, among them trees for protection from the blasts that sweep across the prairies, and orchards for providing themselves with the fruit to which they have been accostomed. Almost every species of tree found grow- ing upon our water courses, will readily grow and flourish on our prairie lands. Experi- ments with the seed of the ash have been entirely successful, and the same fact may be stated of the white oak, the black walnut, the maple, poplar, sycamore and other trees. Were it not for the destructiou caused by the borer, the yellow locust might be recom- mended for planting on the prairies. ^In a few years they make a compact and valuable grove. The more trees you remove from the grove, the more you will appear to have. So necessary are skirts of timber near prairie dwellings, that the tree that will make them soonest is most desirable. The cottoiiwood grows at once, and rapidly, and in two years will afford protection. Other trees, more valuable, sre of slower growth. Mr. Ilovey is right in his estimate of the worth of tree protection, and we thank him for urging the occupants of prairie farm.s to proceed with all possible alacrity in securing so great a necessity. In seeking for trees for such locations, we are in favor of those varieties which flourish best in our soil and latitude. We doubt much whether the larch or cypress will suc- ceed to a great extent here. The same fact may be stated of many of the evergreens. The best evergreen we have seen for onr region is that which is indiginous in Illinois, and if not the red cedar is a good deal like it. It stands drought well, and cold does not affect it. A protection on the north and west by these trees, suffered to grow up without trimming, would indeed be a valua- ble and effective protection. Nurserymen would consult the wants of our prairie farmers by raising forest trees for sale. The maple, the beech, ash, black walnut, oaks, linn and poplar could be raised in any amount, if attention was given to their propagation, and there would be a market for them. We supply ourselves from the nurseries with Osage orange plants at $2 50 per thousand — why could not the young maple, ash, beech and tulip tree be sold for the same money ? We do believe that there is a field opened here to enterpris- ing nurserymen which would pay. But we would not have our prairie farm- ers wait to be supplied with trees from nur- series. They should supply themselves from our forests. Ascertain when the seeds of t le different varieties of trees are ripe, and be on hand to gather them. A few honrs labor will furnish you with all you want; and it is all important that in this business there should be no procrastination. Take time by the forelock, and you have him at your command. We have occasionally in onr business been called upon for fruit trees by aged persons. They had cultivated their farms for fifteen aud twenty years without planting out a good fru't tree. Their sons, more thoughtful in later years, had planted out orchards, and had secured valuable fruit. The aged pro- ca.stinators, when the sun of life was descend- ing, wero about doing a work which should h..ive been done a quarter of a century be- fore. They reminded one of the lamenta- tion, the "summer is ended, and the harvest is past," and we are without the blessings which should have enured to our old age ! Young men upon the Prairies ! lose no time in securing your groves and your or- chards, and before you are aware you will be enjoying the comforts, the absence of which your old friend, C. M. Hovey, in the extract before us, so truthfully pictures. -•9*- 8^» An Indiana editor, ppeaking of a rogue who lives in his vicinity, says: "The rascal has broken every bank and jail, and Sabbath, we have had in this county for the last five years." .IJi.aa^ A Hard Winter. Observers inform us that within the last few centuries there have been a series of hard winters, continued for several years, and which have been followed by as many warm winters. They also state that we are now going into the series of hard winters, which may, as before, continue for several years. Judging from the commencement of the present winter, and its continuance thus far, these weather-observers seem likely to be right; and our farmers, if they have not al- ready, should do what they now can to pro- vide for a winter of unusual severity. If it should prove warm nothing will be lost; and if it should be equal in cold and in length to the last winter, much will be gained. The last season, in consequence of great drought, furnished a limited supply of food for stock. Many farmers, with a long win- ter, unless they use mucli economy and good management, will be short of food for cattle ia the coming spring. If they shall be com- pelled to purchase fodder, they will find it very seriously to afi'ect their pockts; and if they stint their stock in the last part of win- ter, such stock will make a poor show in the spring and a good part of summer. Cattle properly protected from the weath- er, do not require as much food as those ex- posed to all its inclemencies. Cold rains and snows, and heavy winds, always render cat- tle uncomfortable. Look at them under such circumstances I If they could speaki they would remind you of their suflferings in a way more sensibly than by their shrinking and shivering, as they stand exposed to the peltings of the pitiless storm . , But farmers who cannot provide shelter for their cattle, must do the best they can for them. They must feed them in a way to give all due nourishment, and, at the same time, to make their food go as far as possible. A farmer would be justly censur- able for wasting fodder the present winter. All straw can be made useful as fodder by using the cutting box, and even hay will go much further by being cut up in that instru- ment. Our horses are injured by the large quantities of corn given them; and it is con- ceded that horses fed with oats and rye, with the straw properly cut up and prepared, are much better fitted for labor and made soun- der and better animals than if they were ful- ly fed with corn. Eastern horses are pre- ferred to western horses; not on account of superior blood, but because of the manner in which they are fed and reared when young. ■ V - vu^,,: ..v We need not prepare a long article on the subject under notice. Our object is to give a word of caution to our farmers —to induce them to practice economy in the feeding of their stock the present winter; and to re- commend to them to employ the best means suggested by experience to make their fod- der go the farthest and do their stock the most good. The straw cutter will save the farmer twice the cost of the instrument in a single winter. The time for feeding hogs is nearly past, but experiments within a few months, made in the most careful manner, by distinguished and reliable men, prove that when corn is fifty cents a bushel, fed raw to hogs, will make pork costing ten cents a pound, while ground and in a cooked state it will not cost more than two cents a pound. Such facts ought to open the eyes of farmers to the necessity of economizing food for stock, and to the great advantages which they may derive from a careful and practical management of their farming operations. . — .«•» Chinese Sugar Cane. ;- ' We have been favored with the Patent Office Report — Agricultural Department — for 1855, just published. It contains much valuable information. We suppose this vol- ume has not, as yet, been generally distrib- uted. We shall make a short summary of some of the communications contained in the work on the Chinese Sugar Cane, - Mr. Joseph C. Orth, of Wabash county, Illinois, states that he found the fodder val- uable for cattle, and that in making an ex- periment with the juice, he was fully con- vinced that fifteen per cent of good sugar could be made out of it. His experiment produced about twenty-five per cent of mo- lasses. Dr. Ray, of Tennessee, foond the plant an 6 TH!E ILLINOIS FARMER. excellent forage crop, and that the juice contained ten per cent of saccharine matter, clear as crystal. Several persons were de- termined to go into its cultivation exten- sively the coming season, and fully test the value of the plant. Mr. J. Hammond, of South Carolina, gives in detail many experiments with the plant. He came to these conclusions — that the cane made choice syrup; he was not prepared to make sugar, but he says that there can be no doubt that it can be made of such syrup; and he believes it will make better syrup and sugar than the Louisiana cane, because the Chinese cane perfectly matures, and the Louisiana cane does not. Several other gentlemen cultivated the cane as a forage plant, and with decided sat- isfaction. Mr. Hammond states a fact which should eter be borne in mind by the cultivators of the Chinese cane. It belongs to the mil- let tribe of plants, and if planted near broom Corn will mix with it, and the seed become worthless. -<•»- Failure of the Sagar Cane in Loaisiana. The sugar cane has been cultivated in Lou- isiana since 1151. It was then introduced by the Jesuits from St. Domingo. It has been ^constantly subjected to vicissitudes since its introduction. In the spring of 1854 the plants had so degenerated that the cut- tings were of little service. The summer was unfavorable to those which survived, and when the season for making sugar returned, the cane was not ripe, and there appeared to be little or no crystalizable sugar in the juice. Last spring it was found that a large portion of the cuttings, had been destroy- ed by the winter, and though attempts were made to procure a supply from Cuba, these failed, and we are now informed that the new crop of sugar and molasses will not be more than one fourth the amount of 1853. We notice that efforts are now being made to restore the cultivation of cane in Louisi- ana. By some it is contended that the pre- sent condition of its culture is owing to bad management, especially to the neglect of a rotation in crops, cane having been grown on the same fields until some of the lands are entirely unfit for its production. Gov- ernment, to aid in this measure, has dis- patched a vessel to the coasts of foreign cane growing countries, to obtain supplies of fresh cuttings, and thus give the planters a new start in the cultivation of the cane. This effort may be successful; but we apprehend that sugar culture in Louisiana will ever be an uncertain employment, and always will be subject to disappointment in untimely seasons whether of wet or frost. Sugar cane is a tropical Iplant, and the experience of Louisiana is sufficient to show that it cannot be acclimated in temperate latitudes. Gov- ernment has done what it could to increase the product of sugar and molasses in Louisi- ana, by giving it a protection of thirty per cent; and as a great national object, the protection was popular; but the production having failed, it seems to be useless to force the people of the country any longer to pay an unwilling tax, from which neither them- selves nor their country can receive any ben- efit. At this very moment there are thou- sands of tons of Cuban sugar in New York, in bond, which, but for the present duty, could be purchased in any quantity at seven cents per lb. The sugar duty is felt severely by the masses, and we hope that the present congress will place sugar on the list of free articles, with tea and coffiee. We have seen it suggested that the west, when it goes into the cultivation of the Chi- nese sugar cane, and when Illinois will make not only the sugar and molasses for her own consumption, (as wb are confident she soon will) the sugar duty will be quite conve- nient and satisfactory to us. In regard to this matter then, we will only say that th« sugar duty was established for a great na- tional object, the production of sugar in our own country, to meet the wants of our peo- ple. The production has failed— the sugar duty has failed to effect its object. Let it be repealed. If, hereafter, a sugar duty, by giving the production of sugar from Chi- nese cane protection, can make the pro- duction a national object, then let the duty V Tmr is^^WiWABm^i 1 bC; reviTed. Let us have no sogar duty un- til there is some other object to be attained by it than the raising of revenue^ -<•>- A Narsqry on the Central Railroad. West Ubbana, Champaign Co., Ills. Dgcember 16th, 1856. S. Francis, Esq. — As I am about remov- ing my nursery from Leyden, Cook cQunty, to this place, it is bat natural that I stiould ta^ an intftrest in the local a^ricaltural press qC tliat commxiQity where I intend tg make my future home. I have perused with pleasure and profit the ten numbers of the Illinois Farmer; the work fully, meets my expectatipn of its mer- its, of which I had formed a high conception Irom the long editorial experience and rural taste that you wojild bring to its aid. Until the railroads had penetrated this section of the country, it was a terra itico^- nita to the most of us at the north part of the State. A winter's residence in your city and a few excursions through this fine region soon made me in love with its soil aujd climate, and I am now making prepara- tion to pursue my favorite calling at this point, located directly on the Illinois Central Railroad, three miles south of the station at Urbana. And here on the fertile soil of Central Illinois, if life and health is spared, I will carve out a home dedicated to Flora and Pomona, where the latch string will ever be out to the lovers of fruits and flow- ers. I have about eighty acres broken up, twenty-five of which will soon be covered with nursery stock and thirty acres in or- chard. In fitting my grounds I plow a foot deesp, by running the plow twice in the same furrow, using three horses. In running the first time the off horse goes in the furrow, and in the second time around the plow is dropped down and the middle horse takes the ftirrow; the same plow is used, which is one of the Grand de Tour plows of L. An- drus. I intend to fit" all of my cropped land in this way, as I have observed that here you are more liable to drouth than the coun- ties bordering on the lakes, I think deep plowing an essential requisite to ward off this defect in your climate. I find the soil here better adapted to withstand drouth than Cook county lands, as the sub-soil is permeable, allowing mois- ture to ooze through its texture by expelling attraction, and with deep tillage farmers may confidently rely on a crop under almost any condition of either excess or want of rain. ' '' "' "■"' ./' /"■; ■- ' '" '"f; "' ' That this part of the State contains the dor- mant elements of fruit growing to as great perfection as any State in the "Union, can- not be doubted, and what we now want- is active lovers of the useful and beautiful to develop this latent power, to furnish an abun- dant supply of this health giving food for the hardy sons of toil — that shall gladden the brow of laboj, wi4 g^se-^tto, tb*,.!m- joyment of all. Tours, M. Ll Dunlap. The above letter wa;?, no doubt, intended as a private one, but it contains laatters of general interest. Mr. Dunlap is not only a good writer, but a good nurseryman and farmer. He has chosen a position for his nursery, where he will find a good demand for all the trees he will have for sale. Real- ly his nursery is an old establishment; he has not to wait until his trees can grow; but, as we suppose, he will be in market at once with a good supply of nursery articles. What a field is there in Illinois for the sale of fruit and ornamental trees, and use- ful and ornamental shrubbery and plants ? And there are sources within our own State where, as yet, all demands of this kind can be supplied. And, it is important, when farmers purchase fruit and other trees for planting out on their farms, that they should obtain them from reliable sources. The names of the nursery-men of our State (well known, of high and honorable standing, enthusiasts in their calling,) are a guarantee for the faithful performance of their obligations. Send your order to the nursery, and it will be filled at the proper season, and your trees reach you by railroad, fresh and sound, in a few days; and you can plant them out with confidence that you are not cheated. ^ •; ^ 4*> .3? ■■ Divorce in Indiana. — Putnam's Monthly for December, has a spicy sketch, designed to burlesque somewhat the facility with which divorces may be obtained in Indiana and Michi- gan, and the trivial pretexts which are deemed sufficient to sever the marriage bond. The writer concludes, from his legal experience in the matter, that all that is necessary for a stranger to obtain a divorce in Indiana, is to sleep one night in the State, and thereupon appear at court, swear that he is a citizen oi ft, file his petition for a divorce, have it published in some paper where, his wife is sure never to see it> and lien return six weeks after and take his decree. ' ^ ---'.■;-; :;,:;•; 8 THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. THE GRAZIER. From the Valley Fanner. Cooking Food for Hogs. ■ZPIBIKENT OF SAMUIL H. CLIT, OF BOURBON COUNIT, ET. The advantages of cooking food for hogs and other farm animals have never yet been duly ap- preciated by 'American farmers; although ou- meroas experiments have been made (usually upon a small scale, it is true) that have gone far to demonstrate its importance. In the October No. of the Valley Farmer, we published an article upon this subject, in which we gave the result of the valuable and interest- ing investigations of Dutrochet, Dumas and Baspail, going to show the mysterious and beau- tiful operations of nature in the formation of the various grains and roots which enter iuto the food of man and beast, and of the necessity of their being submitted to a certain degree of heat before their entire constituents could be reduced to that condition most available for digestion and assimilation. In that article we alluded to an experiment in feeding hogs, then in progress by Samuel H. Clay, Esq., of Bourbon county, Ky., and promised to give our leaders the result as soon as the facts could be ascertained. Mr. Giay has since very kindly furnished us with a state- ment in full of the number and weight of the hogs, the quantity of grain they consumed, the form in which it was fed to them, and the gain of each animal un 3er the different forms of treatment. Mr. Clay's experiment was commenced on the 16th day of July, with six barrows, each about twelve months old. We shall indicate each hog by the same number throughout the experiment. 1, 294 2, 318 3, 290 4, 276 5, 290 6, 282 Their several weights, a* the time they were put up, were as follows ., No. 1, 255 pounds. « 2, 285 " "3, 240 " " 4, ■^ 240 " " 5, 265 " '• 6, 245 " These were all fed for twelve days alike, on cooked meal, reduced to a thin slop, so that they could easily drink it; and also on dry corn at the same time. At the end of twelve days they were again weighed, showing the following in- crease: No. 1, 294 pounds. Gain 39 pounds. " " 33 •• " 50 " 36 " 25 The hsgs were then separated. Nos. 1 and 2 were put in a pen to themselves and fed on boil- ed corn thirty days. The corn consumed was 390 pounds, or 6 bushels and 54 pounds, when dry. Under this treatment No. 1 gained 50 pounds ; No. 2 gained 52 pounds. The two to- gether grained 102 pounds. No. 3 and 4 were put together in a pen and fed the same length of time on- boiled meal, re- duced to thin slop. The mekl consumed, when dry, weighed 270 pounds, equal to 4 bushels and 46 pounds. No. 3 gained 30 pounds, and No. 4 gained 50 pounds— both together gained 80 pounds. Nos. 5 and 6 were fed on dry corn for the same period, and consumed 405 pounds, equal to 7 bushels and 13 pounds. No. 5 gained 10 pounds, and No. 6 gained 32 pounds, or both together gained 42 pounds. We illustrate the whole in tabular form as fol- lows : Nos. I Bnghela consumed. | Gain in 30 days. | bs. of Pork to 1 ba. Corn. | Corn per b.i. | Cost of pofk per lb. 1 & 2 I 6 & 54 lbs. boiled corn. 3 & 4 4 & 46 '' " meal. 5 & 6 1 7 & 13 « dry corn. 102 pounds. 80 pounds. 42 pounds. 14 lbs. 65-100 16 lbs. 61-100 5 lbs. 80-100 2S cents. 28 cents. 28 cents. 1 cent 9 mills. 1 cent 6 mills. 4 cents 8 mills. At the end of 30 days the ho^s were changed as follows : Numbers five and six that had been fed on dry corn were changed and fed on cooked meal for 26 days, they consumed in that time 234 pounds of meal, or 6 bushels and 10 lbs. No. 5 gained 40 pounds and No. 6 gained 34 pounds — the two together gained 74 pounds. Nos. 3 and 4 that had been fed on cooked meal were fed the same len2;th of time on dry corn; they consumed 364 pounds, or ^ bushels; No. 3 gained 34 pounds, No. 4 gained 10 pounds — the two together gained 44 pounds. Nos. 1 and 2 were continued on the boiled corn with about the same results as ou the first trial. The following table shows the result of the second trial : Nog. I Bushels copsamod. | Gain in 26 days. | bs. of Pork to 1 bu. Corn. | Corn per bu. | Cost of pork per lb. 3&4 4 & 10 lbs. boiled meal. 6 & 28 lbs. dry corn. 74 pounds. 44 pounds. 17 lbs. 72-100 6 lbs. 77-100 28 cents. 28 cents. 1 cent 5 mills. 4 cents 1 mill. It will be seen that during the twelve days, when the hogs were first put up and all fed to- gether on cooked meal, that No. 5 gained twen- ty-five pounds, which on the first trial after they were separated and fed thirty days on dry corn, consumed 202J pounds, and gained but ten pounds; this, estimating the corn at 28 cents per bushel, brings the meat at 10 cents and 1 mill per pound, and when changed again on the sec- ond trial, to boiled meal, consumed but 117 pounds in twenty-six "days, and gained forty pounds, which at the same rate per bushel redu- ces the gain to one cent andybwr mills per pound. No. 4, in the first twelve days, fed on the cooked meal, made a gain of thirty-six pounds, or three pounds a day ; and when separated and continued thirty days on cooked meal, consumed but 135 pounds, and gained j^/t!?/ pounds, which brings the cost of the meat to one cent and three mills per pound ; but when changed to dry corn on the second trial, consumed 182 pounds in twenty-six days, and gained but ten pounds, which %, Jt,J!!l».LPi -li't-r.-S^^RI '-J,^ WIJJ-. H|tPaMW.i!U*.'!i!-!i kHl,'i'-jS!*.'?.V-'*™* again increases the cost of the pork gained to nine cents and one mil) per pound. In couclusion Mr Clay states: "I now give my mode ol" preparipg the food. I hare two large 60 ^gallon ket'les, fixed upon small taraaces. (Mott's Agricultural furnaces) that when full bold bat a small armtal of wood. I put 50 pouuds of meal to a kettle aud thpn fill it with warer ; when cooked this makes 405 pounds of slop. I find that my cows aud horses are T^ry fond ot it and improve finely on it. I am of opinion it would be better to cook tnod for uU kinds of stock." Wt. Clay did not take into the account the quantiiy ot Wo( d consumed, as that was chips and trash picked up on rhe farm With ail apparatus arranged upon a larjre scale pomethinff as we proposed in our Octuber number, iht* codkmjr we bel eve cou d oe tione inuctj more econoiHicaliy both as io fuel and lab<'r. rbe exp- riraf'Dt shows theailviiHtages of cook- ing lood tor hugs, even m'>re ccnclnsively tlian we had anticipated, or in the articles we huve " frequently written oa the subject, even claimed for it. Tie srain of the hogs f d on cooked meal, is about three times as great is tlie gain o! those fed on tlie dry corn, althnu^h we think tlie vliff^r- ence in 'avor ot th« cooked ueai woul;l have bee;: still greater h.id the hogs not rrwircd the «t;irt ot twelve days ""ef u us on cook' d meal before the experiment o' putiing them on iirj corn was coHiUieoced Whether the slop fed i" thip iasta-JC^ we,s re- . du'jpu to thdt'consistpcce caicala.cJ m eivy the most favorahie result-, L; .st:'" - mjitter eT \v-f}\- eresnenment. Somewb"'' '(rs w^tfir roiorbt hare a:iven a greater ,i;aiu ,• for it wil. , weeu that iho hogs tha' were led on mc b?ilv,d ,cora, although they ?at more poun.ds. i''. was If s x~n"n ' v-\ boiliflT than the cooked meal, and tb ..^tis j; alli- ed considerably more in the jiame time th«n >'nose fed on the meal, though they eat more corn. Farmers heretofore have failed to cook the food for their stock under the imoression t^^at the saving would not be equal to the troubit ""H expense of the operation. Mr. Clay's experi- ment proves that one bushel of corn fed in the form oi' cooked meal is about equal to three bushels of corn fed drv, making a saving of more than 60 bushels in 100 bushels ot corn. Now we believe, that with a properly constructed steam vat, 100 bushels of corn in the form of meal, can be cooked at a cost not exceeding the market value of ten bushels of corn. K or is that all that may be gained by this system of feeding. If a hog fed on cooked meal can be made to gain 50 pounds in the same time that another hog (eqaal in all respects) will gain 10 pounds when fed on dry corn, bringing it to the maturity of 200 or 300 pounds in the same time that one fed on dry corn can be made to weigh 100 pounds — thus avoiding the risk, trouble and expense of more than half the lifetime of the animal — then certainly every farmer should adopt the system of cooking without delay. — ••» JI^^The Rev. Daniel Waldo has been re-elect- ed chaplin of the House of BepresentativeB. Blood wiU M. Oar pleasant Qaaker correspondent, Samoel William, of Neir York, tells the fol- lowing calf story to the Rural New Yorker: Our amatenr faroier and stock fancier, Jo- seph Wrigbt, having strong faith in Bovine liueage, took pains to send a fine red cow of simple pedigree to the famed grey imporiftd bull of 8. P, Chapman, at Glockville, Mud!- son county! He was afterwards assured by Mr. C. tiiat if the calf should be small, and not otherwise realize his first expe<-tati6ns, it would improve and " come out right in the end." The cow was )tlaced with Garret Ltiverge, a shrewd Yankee farmer, three miles south of this village. Among the ma- ny good things Mr. had L. learued from his Pennsylvania German neighbors and en- grafted on his farming, were also some of their egotistical prejm.ices against book tanning, improved breeds of stock, switie, etc Hence Mr Loverige verily, believed t'nat all was iu the keeping of stock, and nothing in the breed; but as a true Yankee is never quite satisfied until be is certain he is right, he adopted the experiment of chang- ing Wright's blood heifer ca'f at its birth, wiih one of the same gender dropped ot'lj fonr dfij? before by one of his Daichco^s — well knowing that Mr. Wright '^otild give his calf t'^e very best of keep'ng, while the biood calf would only have the ordinal/ keeping of his otui,r farm 3tO'.-k. This expc rimeut would at least test the fact whether a plebeian calf, if extr„ well fed, would not erow iuto a better cow than a blood calf with ordinary keeping. When Mr Wright came to take home his cow and calf, Le told Loverige that he was rather disappointed in its big Dutch tail and other marks of scrub origin ; but as Mr. Chapman had told him that it would " come right" «t maturity, be now took the best care of the cow, ai:til she weaned the calf, and then the young blood, as he supposed it to be, was fed and pampered in order to bring ont its good qualities at maturity. Bot all his care and feeding was in vain. After she had her first calf, he was so chagrined at her poor milking qualities that he sold her and her calf to the butcher. Now Loverige made known all tlie facts of the case to his own neighbors, and brought to Mr. Wright his own Clockville sired calf in the shape of a beautiful red cow, which I need not say elicited from Wright more astonishment and delight than he ever would have exhibi- ted had a rich friend died saddenly, leaving him heir to a large estate. The rery sight i- - rW i*^ 77-~. ^^7 ■v^Rf ?*-*«■ ST^T'-'''^^" "-'^.T^li*™ ^''^^^^''"^^■P^'^iT^f'^S'T'^^W^'ffT^ 10 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. of such a fine-limlDed, graceful, gentle animal, to say nothing of her round, plump bag, shook the taith of all the Fayette Weibsleute in their old Pennsylvania breeds, and Love- rige was cured of his prejudices against book farming and fancy breeds forever. -•••- Logan County, Illinois, December 19, 1856. Edit*^ Farmer: In looking over the De- cember number of the Illinois Farmer, I no- tice Mr, Griffitli's large hogs. I will give you my experience with hogs. I had two sows that dropped their pigs on the 23d day of March last. They saved eight pigs each. At at>out fonr months old, I sold cue half of the pigs at four cents per Ih., which amount- ed to $30 50. The other eight I fed and killed — killing four of them at the age of seven u\onths and eighteen days, and the re- maining four at the age of eight months and two days. The first lour averaged 206 lbs. net, and the last four averaged 238 lbs. net; and I am certain the last were gaining two lbs, each day when killed I have given you the precise dates and age, and I think tliey are the best hogs ever raised in the State where date and age are given exactly. I wish you would give my statement in your next. Respectfully, Yours, t R. SKINNER. <•> Brood Mares— In-Calf Cows, and Heifers. Tliese should be fed moderately liberal, and receive that which is good and nourish- ing. Feed them in sufficient quantities to keep their stomachs at peace, and- preserve their bodily integrity. Pregnant animals should be fed on such nutritious food as will keep them in good thriving condition. The feeder should recollect that the young ones within require substance, as well as their mothers; that they have bones to be form- ed, flesh and tendons to be elaborated, and fat to be formed, and that these things can only be perfected through the agency of the dams, who can fulfil these demands only when such food is provided for them as will yield them. Good, well ventilated stables, or dry, warm, comfortable sheds, are indispensable to animals in such condition. <•» A Suggestion— Illinois Farmer's Dictionary. A most intelligent and patriotic farmer of our State, in a private letter to the Editor, says: " I constantly feel, and perhaps a very large portion of farmers, more skillful and practical by far than myself, also feel the want of a farmer's " Vade Meaom" for every day use. A small volume, say on the plan of "Dean's New England Farmer," alpha- betically arranged, and giving plain direc- tions relative to the management of crops, animals, seeds, instruments, &c.,&c., that we could turn to at any moment. We forget what we have known, and want something of the sort constantly within reach to jog our memories. ■'A cheap book of this kind, called, if yoa please, the " Illinois Farmer's Dictionary," would be a most valuable adjunct to your excellent Journal, and largely increase its circulation. Such a book would require no abstruse or painfully exact science; pretend- ing to nothing more than a useful collection of every day knowledge. Every fai-mer needs it." We venture to say that the suggestion here presented will meet the hearty concur- rence of the farmers of this State. Such a work every farmer needs. It would furnish liim with a store of information, which would be invaluable to him. We are aware that there are works to be had on the different branches of .Agriculture (and none better than the series publlfched by Sax ton, and found at all well supplied seed and agricul- tural implement stores in the country;) but there is not one embracing, in a condensed and convenient form, what is needed by the Illinois farmer. We say Illinois farmer, be- cause Illinois farmers know that agricultu- ral works of the east are not fitted to the processes of Agriculture in our soil and cli- mate. Such are undoubtedly useful; bat they are not precisely what we want. There are men in this State who have been long engaged in farming, of studious habits, and of practical education, qualified to prepare such a work. Wiiliam S. Wait, George Churchill, M. L. Dunlap, we think of now, and we doubt not, many others could be named, who would, in getting up such a work, not only secure a remunerable reward for their labor, but confer great ben- efits on their fellow farmers. We commend tills matter to the attention of the farmers of Illinois, and the Illinois press. If such a work be undertaken, it should not be a catch-penny affair, but should possess merit to make it popular and useful We would like to hear from friends furth- oa the subject. k_iii;^: -i.^S.UW.,w«^V..,l)^j.|.p.iijiii^l^>P»^^ ^mmF. THE ILLINOIS FARMER. II THE DAIRY. A day or two since we were sitting in a store, when a half-grown lad entered, dress- ed in a large, torn overcoat, and going to the shop keeper, said, " Don't you want to buy a roll of butter ? " at the same time drawing from his capacious pocket something that was done np in a rag very nearly the color of saffron, and which, apparently, had not visited the water for the last twenty years, althongh constantly undergoing liard service. The shop-keeper looked aghast — " Sir," said he, " I have not time to examine your butter." The lad left. He was un- doubtedly some relation to Miss Sally Sly, mentioned in the following report: Report on Butter. Joe's wife was Sally Sly — when a small girl she was sly — she would not half wash the milk-pail, but sly it away and let it sour. Slie was sly at school, and did not half get her lessons, but as she grew older she learn- ed that to get well married she must appear well, and so she bent all her cunning to get a superficial education in everything, from roasting a potato to playing the piano. Poor Joe fell in love with her, and " love has no eyes; " so he married her. But soon after they entered on house keeping, his eye sight came, and he saw. his fix, that it was for bet- ter or worse, and he thought it was all for worse. Like a true philosopher, he coridii-<- ded to er.dure what he could not avoid or I cure, and got along tolerably well, only when he came to her butter, for his mother was a real butter maker. Every time he saw or tasted daily's butter he felt the horrors. Her manner of making butter is somewhat as fol- lows: She thinks it of no consequence whether the milk pail is sweet or sour — sets the milk in a warm room because it is easier than to go into the cellar, and if some dirt should blow into the pans, she thinks every man must " eat a peck of dirt," and in no place will it slip down easier than in butter— she lets the cream-pots be open, and when she churns, forgets the poke; leaves the rream at blood heat that it may come quick. When she takes it out of the churn, she picks out the bodies of all flies and spiders; the legs and wings are so small, they can be swal- lowed. She works out half the buttermilk and sets it away, Poor Joe has seen so much of this kind that he declares that but- ter does not agree with his health, and will not taste it. Yet, his wife wonders why he does not try it, and marvels that he does not keep a dairy and make butter for the mar- ket. Jonathan was a younger brother than Joe, and he had occasion to eat at his brother's enough to know why he did not eat butter; and he declared he never would marry with- out knowing what side of bis bread was but- tered. Following the bent of his fancy, Ju- lia Jumper almost caught him— for there was always good batter on the table for tea, but he was determined to know by whom it was made. On inquiry, she says : " La me! mother makes the butterf^X take lessous on the piano." ■• - " Well," says Jonathan, " I want a wife that takes lessons on the churn. I shall look further." • After several unsuccessful attempts, and just ready to despair, he started in pursuit of stray cattle before breakfast, and wander- ed through the forest to the next town, and weary and hungry, called at a decent look- ing house and asked for refreshments, which were cordially granted, for the family were what are called Scotch Irish — in religion Presbyterians, and in hospitality boundless. Here he found the butter exactly right; though the weather was hot, the butter kept the shape as will as the beeswax. He cat- echised the old lady about her housewifery, for the bread was as right as the butter; The old lady said her health was feeble — she could do but little, and Jenny had the whole management. He made some round- about inquiries concerning Jenny, and heard that she wa-s a hearty black-eyed lass of two and twenty; she had never seen a piano or 'attended a ball, but knew the Assembly's Catechism, and could sing Old Hundred to a charm, spin flax and darn stockings, and was then gone to town with butter. He lingered, but she was delayed, and when his excuses for staying were exhausted, he start- ed. He could not get the butter out of bis mind, and how it happened I know not, he soon found hrs way there again, and the re- sult of his adventure was, he made a wife of Jenny McKearn. And now one lump of his butter is worth more than all Joe's wife would make in a month. There is no trou- ble in going to market — the keepers of ibe genteel boarding houses in the neighbor- ing villages send and take it at the highest market price. Now the main difference between these two women arises from the manner of train- ing, though there is no difference in natural disposition. Old Madam Sly never looked on to see that Sally did right, but suffered -»-j,.-.- T- ■^■"■^ . r r^f^'-rH' :-.%z,i^^vr -7 -:-'?=T":^.'?«"V- %-^ ' 12 ->..— .-^^ .. - .-^-.^-^p--,^ ,,-. - THE ILLINOIS FARMER. her to sly off h^r work qs she chose; and though a good housekeeper herself, was al- together too indulgent, and, like some oth- ers, thought more of getting Sally well mar- ried, than of making her fit for a wife; while mother McKearn was determined that Jenny should be fit for any man's wife, wheth- er she got married or not. Perhaps there is no more certain criterion by which to judge of a woman's character for ne&tness and good housekeeping than by the quality of her but- ter. Find on the ft-rmer's table a good, solid, properly salted, well worked slice of butter, and you need not fear to eat the cakes or hash; but see a splash of half-work- ed butter — salt in lumps, and sprinkle of hair and flies' legs, you may be sure that if you board there long, death will not be obliged to wait much for you* to finish your peck of dirt. • My advica to young farmers is, to make it a sint qaa non in a wife that she makes prime butter — and the young ladies who aspire to be their wives had better be im- perfect in filagree and muatc, than he defi cieiit In that most important art of maklug butter, which smooths not only the 8b«r; corners of crust a"^ crackers, but wiii smooth the asperities of the hasband'e tem- per- -*»•- Thi: Fcr Tradh. — Tne Journal of Com- ';jifi/":e stare:- that en -oartiaular inquiry the fur trade in Xew York will reach $1,375,000 this year. The price of American furs has lately risen considerablj'. Mink, which formerJy commanded from 30 to 50 cents,, now brings §2,50 ; other furs, too, are much higher. The JoMrwrtZsays: " We lately saw a box of Russian sable, not more than three feet long, of camphor wool, which contained 400 small skins bearing the seal of the Rus^".an Government, valued at fourteen thousand dollars Some of che skins cost S25 00 each. A lower grade of inferior color are worth $23, and some not more t&an $16. These are commonly sold at a nrofit of 30 to 32 per cent. Sixteen or eighteen skins are required to make a full sized cape, so that the cost of a clioice quality garment of this de- scription would be about nine hundred dollars. Adding the cost of making and the profit, such an article could not be procured for much less than $1,400. Hudson Bay sable cost this year about $25 00 per skin.' 4»» About thirty fresh water springs are discov- ered under the sea, on the south of the Persian Gulf. A wasp's nest usually contains 15,000 or 16 000 cells. Dr. Bright publishes a case of an egg pro- ducing an insect 80 years after it must have been laid. HORTICULTURE. Culture of the Blaekberry. Within a few years the attention of Hor- ticulturists has been drawn to the cultiva- tion of the Blackberry. Occasionally, there have been found varieties in a wild state that promised to do well when cultivated, feut few of them, however, have proved to be of any value. The Blackberry produces good fruit in favorable seasonu. When the sum- mer is dry the fruit is small, imperfect and sour. This same variety, if cultivated in a garden, and the roots kept damp by mulch- ing— (that is, by having leaves from the woods, or tan-bark, to keep them moist, placed about the roots) will bring you good fruit. The New Rochelle or Lawton Black- berry is a ntiw variety, and is worthy ail that has been said of it. Such is the demand for the ^.lants, th^t prices are kept up. Few ^f them have been brought to the western coud- irv Ml. D 0. Richmond, of Sandusky, Ohio t, . - . , i... i "nt and energetic fruit grower, has given bis esperiencs in the cultivation of the Blackb»ii., ;r. the foilowirig article, co- pied from the Cjii'tAJ CixUiydtor : Mr. BaTeham : You are aware that the Blackberry is universally esteemed as one of our most wtolesoaie '■ummer fruits; c;omir>g ill at just the right time to counteract the bilio'is disea-^es incidental 10 oar ciiciaie, and (illi'g ii gap ia the succession oi small fruiis. >vhen strawberries, raspberries and currants have disappeared tVoxn our mar- kets. Being convinced that this valuable fruit could be much improved by the selection, I commenced, six years jjgo, selecting from the woods and fence rows the most promising plants I L'Onld find when in fruit — spending much time, and traveling many miles each season, in m«king observations. In this way I collected three or four varieties that I deem quite valuable. One of these has very tall, dark canes, resembling the New Rochelle, and I think it is the same species, (not the same variety;) another has light green canes, also a strong grower, and good fruit; anoth- er still, is of a dwarf habit, hence perhaps better suited for garden culture, with scarce- ly any thorns, fruit very fine. The new Rochelle I have had in bearing the two past years, and I consider it a most l.li IJ.IP*,4 I pJlil.ll, lpJUIip|RP^^p«p||{jp||||p|p^ ^liiiPiiPPipP THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 13 ralnable lacqaisition to oar list ol small fruits. It is unquestionably a new variety; and the fruit shows its superior " breeding " among other yarieties, just like a sleek Dur- ham among a lot of scrub cattle, by its lar- ger size and rounder form, and the juiciness of its flesh. The past severe winter killed the canes of nearly all Blackberries, nearly down to the ground; bat the New Rochelle produced a few fine berries from shoots sent up from near the roots. The white Blackberry is the hardiest variety that I cultivate, producing sooae fruit this season on the main branches — but it is too small to be of mud value, except as a cariosity. My patch of natives, over an acre, in a somewhat sheltered local- ity, produced a few blossoms but no fruit. The New Jersey variety was the most in- jured, being killed quite down to the ground. All my plants have grown well this sea- son, and the dry fall has ripened the oanes perfectly, so that I confidently expect a fine crop of fruit next season. I would advise all who have a garden, to plant a row or two of Blackberries, (as well faf raspberries.) If you can spare the mo- ney, bny hfllf a dozen ir 2iore roots of the New Rochelle; but if not, take up so.ue of the best rook yon can find in tae woods, and cJv-vate them hom"! iheotiiers btcO'ne ohs'ap an*^! plenty. Iti in>4k:ng a selection of the wild ones, the stronj? growins- ki.ids produce the largest and best fiuit. Any tMue will answer for transplanting, from the time when the leaves fall in October, till the buds be- gin to open in the spring. Tiie best soil is a rich, deep, moist loam, but it must not be too wet, and good cultivation is required. The strong growing kiuis, as the New Rochelle, i plant in rows six feet apart, and four feet apart in the rows; and this distance is not too great for any of the varieties. The plants must be thinned out each year as they mu'tiply, and pruned twice a year. In pruning the New Rochelle, when the plants have attained the height of six or eight feet, cut off the tops, which will force out lateral branches, from near the ground upwards; in the fall, these branches should be shortened in, so as to give the bushes a compact form. Cut away the surplus shoots, and dig out the small plants, (which should have been cut down to about one foot in height at the August pruning.) for making new plantations. The weaker growing va- rieties do not need as severe pruning as the others, but they must be shortened some, and the bhoots thinned. Mulching the roots of Blackberries with leaves from the woods, aboat the 1st of May, when there is a prospect of a crop of fruit, will be found of great advantage. fWhere leaves cannot readily be found, tan bark or saw dust will answer.) Cultivators should remember that this fruit ripens in oar hottest weather, and when there is liability of a se- vere drought, hence a little extra labor in mulching may greatly increase the amount of fruit, and prolong the season of ripening. -••^ Native Grapes. Hovey's Magazine of Horticulture for November, thus notic«s two varieties of our native grapes: Thb Delaware GIrape. — This new grape, which has attracted considerable attention, and which we gave a full account of in a late number, has fruited in the garden of B. A. Brackett, of Winchester, Mass. The grapes were fully mature September 15th, thus proving it to be as early as the Con- cord. It promises to become a popular va- riety, anil particularly adapted to our New England climate, being entirely ha'dy. The Carter Grape. — This is the same which is given to a new variety cultivated in Milfoi-d, Mass., and recently shown at the auDual exiiibitioii oi tne Massachusetts HoriicuUura! So-iety. It is a very fine grape, earlier than the Isabella, and superior to it in every quality. The berries are round, of large size, and of a deep reddish color, ap- proaching to black at full maturity. What its origiU is we do not know, but if it can be traced we shall give a full account of it at another time. <:, -«► Trees Received Frozen. ; Packages of trees, sent lr>Tig distances late in autumn, and arriving frozen in winter, are often needlessly sacrificed by the want of a little knowledge and attention. If the roots are frozen stiff, and and are not allowed to thaw, until they thaw buried compactly in snil, they will be uninjured. Trees which stand in open ground, have, as a matter of course, the roots frozen every winter, with the soil in which they stand. But they thaw out while still imbedded in the earth, and are unharmed. Whenever, therefore, trees are received with frozen roots, immediately procure some placewhere mellow earth may be dug np, eitherout of doors under buow or leaves, or in a cellar, and bury the roots closely at once settling the earth about them by dashing — cold water on the earth which has been freshly dashed over the roots. If they have ^,7 -'— - , .■«,-i,--_T,T-^^^ (^v?-Ty-^.-T-^rT^7J^j -TWf"; r.^-^Tl •r;-'=r If:- ■<• 14 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 1 not been previously frozen and thawed ont of the ground, 1 tie fear need be felt of their growth. But if they have beeu previously frozen and tliawed. the roots when cut with a knife, will have a dull brown color, and not exhibit the lively, white, fresh appear- ance possessed by uninjured trees, and noth- ing can save, thera. If taken into a cellar, avoid thawing the roots in the warm air — bury them immediately. Trees well muddled before packing, and then compactly imbedded in plenty of fine damp moss, will be as little liable to injury by freezing, as if packed or buried in moist earth. — Country Gentleman. -—*- 5 Tricks of the Tree Peddlers. Onr old fiiend, S. H. Ellis, who docs something at the nursery business at New Moscow, Coshocton county, has ^'ent us an article, rather too long for our use, on the frauds practiced upon the farmers in many parts of Ohio during a ft'.w years past, by the pretended agents of dis-tant nurserymen. Ho says: It seems to be a tiling of nature for some people to pay theii' money for arti- cles brought a long distance, when better ones of the same kind can be had :\earer home for a less price. A couple of men came into this county the past winter as agt'Ots for the old " Rochester Nujsery," and wirJi smooth tongues and much sophistry, they told the folks that there were no fruits to be had in the nurseries of Ohio at all to bo compared with those from Rochester, and this was the reason why t!ie Ohio nursery a)en sold their trees for about half the price of the Roches- ter trees. In tiiis way, they persuaded the simple ones to subscribe for a lot of trees, and without being aware of it, in a ti-jtijority of cases, to sign a note for the amount of the bill, which note is then transferred to a third perssn who delivers the trees at some place specified, and if the note is not paid instanter, it is put in suit, no matter wheth- er the trees ure dead or alive, or the kinds specified or not. The following are the prices at which these men furnished trees: Pears, not of rare sorts, $1 each; pluins and cherries, 75 cts. ; apples, peach>-s, currants, gooseberries, etc., 25 cts., more or less, as they could catch it. The trees when delivered were so badly bruised and broken at the root, that but few of thera could be expected to live, and at best could only become harbors for borers and other insects attracted to them by the bruised and dead spots. Again, the selec- tion of varieties when left to the agents, as was commonly done, was often such as are of little or no value in this cUmate; and some of the names are not to be found in any book or catalogue. The remedy which onr friend Ellis re- commends, as the best means by which far- mers can protect themselves against such, imposition, is the diffusion of intelligence by means of Agricultural papers, the mere ad- vertisements in which ought to be sufficient to save any reader from being duped by these Yankee tree peddlers. — Ohio CuUiva- tor. -*»■ Snccessful Cultiration of the Prune in Pcnn- • sylvania. Mr. Victor Scriba, of Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, states that in the heart of Germa- ny, from which he came, plimis, and especi- ally the Zwetsche prune, are grown in great abundance for home consumption and for exportation to Belgium, Holland, and the northern part of Germany. Some farmers raised there from eighty to one hundred bushels, and in some cases more dried prunes. The trees are generally planted along the banks of large and small streams, along the watering ditches of the meadows, and in the shades of orchards, between apple and pear trees. They grow there most luxuriantly, and the fruit attains a larger size and deep- er color than in more elevated and exposed locations. This observation induced Mr. S., four years ago, when he rented a neighbor- ing oichard, in which some large plum trees stood that scarcely ever had produced any ripe fririt before, to dig little holes around the trees, and to fill the same occasionally (every three of four days during the warm season) with rain water, dish water or soap suds. He found the trees growing more luxuriantly than before, and every year a good crop of most excellent plums remuner- ated him for the little trouble. Last year the crop was larger than any he hud seen in his life, on account of the wet, rainy season, the plums hanging like clusters of grapes on ttie trees. One tree of the grafted prune kind had about ten bnshels. They sold read- ily for eight cents a quart in the market. In 1854 when scarcely anybody raised any plums in this vicinity, on account of the great heat, he had, nevertheless, a small crop, which sold in market at twenty-five cents a quart. During all this time he had not much trouble with the curcnlio. In its country plum trees and cherry trees nre never pruned; only the dead branches are occasionally removed. Even in trans- planting, the knife is not used, except in trimming the roots. An old pomologist in ^Jlj. m. ; - -i'^'i/PPWipR^^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. u this neighborhood, of whom he had purchas- ed some choice peach trees, advised the writer, in transplanting the same, not to cut off the branches as injurious to the irees. This advice was strictly followed, and the trees grew most admirably, some bearing fine fruit the same year. The writer planted some prunes which he procured from Mr. Schmidt, of Winesburg, Holmes county, Ohio, who has done a great deal in propagating this luscious fruit through the greater part of Ohio and Wes- tern Pennsylvania. The grafted or budded prune degenerates, and is not so highly val- ued as that raised by the seed of the shoot. These observations are corroborated by those of the economists of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, who imported the genuine scions of the prune and grafted them on plums. Mr. PfeifFer, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, who raised prune trees |n large numbers, and sold them at exorbitant prices, some as high as $5 and $10, and who had some of the fruit at the Pennsylvania State Agricul- tural FaT, he'd at Pittsburgh, which sold readily at 50 cents a quart. Mr. vSchraidt's prunes are of a like kind and quality, the writer having eaten at his house, a few years since, seme of the most delicate and highly flavored fruit he had ever tasted. -<••- State Hortieultnral Society. Pursuant to a call, by a Committee appointed for the purpose, at the last State Pair at Alton, a large and respectable meeting of the Nursery- men and fruit-gwwers of Illinois met, in conven- tion at Decatur, on the 17th instant, for the pur- pose of organizing a State Horticultural Socic- ty. On motion of Hon. M. L. Dunlap, the meeting was called to order by appointing Hon. D. J. Ba- ker, of Alton, chairman, and C. R. Overman, Esq., of Bloomirgton, secretary. v^: ' The chairman, in an appropriate and happy address presented the objects of the meeting. On motion of Dr. Hull, the chair appointed a committee of five, consisting of Dr. Hull, Mr. Ellsworth, Mr. Dunlap, Mr. James B. Starr, and Dr. H. C. Johns to draft a constitution and by laws for the Society. On motion of Dr. Long, a committee of three, consisting of Mr. Atwood, Mr. Shaw, and Mr. Galusha, was appointed to prepare business for the action of the convention. During the absence of the committees, the time was occupied chitfly in discussing the merits of various fruits. The committee to dra't the con- stitution and by laws returned and niadft thrir report, which was received, and thereupon the conveation adjourned till 2 o'clock in the after- noon, at which hour the convention assembled, when the constitution and by laws reported, were diseusred insectiiins.and after maklaj^socae modifications, were adopted. , ' v" «:■-■# Thereupon, the State Horticultural Society was organized by the election of Dr. E. S. Hull, President, and James E. Btarr, Secretary, and , Assistant Secretary, Dr. B. F. Long, Trpasurer. Nine Vice Presid. nta were elected — one for each congressional district of the S tate. In pursuance of the report of the committee to prepare business for the action of tlie Society, the President, Dr. E S. Huil,M. L Dunlnp and David J. Baker, were appointed a commiHie to prepare and present to tlie General Assembly of the State at iheir next session a petition of the Society for ihe grant of a charter of incorpora- tion and at) appropriation from the State Treas- ury for promoting the interests of the Society. To the samis committee was also charged the duty of preparing and pubiisliif)g a manfesto to the public, settitig forth the importance of tlie subjects in which the Society is engaged and the great interests both pecuniary and others involv- ed therein and the joint claim of the Society up-* on the fostering care of the S tate and the pat- ronage and encouragement of the public. ,0, Curious Facts of \atural History. A single female house fly produces in one season 20,080,320. _ Some female spiders produce nearly 2 000 eggs. The Atlantic Ocean is estimated at three miles, and the Pacific at fou? miles deep. A swarm of bees contains from 10,000 to 20,000 in a natural state, and from 30,000 to 40,000 in a hive. The bones of birds are hollow and filled with air instead of marrow. A cow eats 100 lbs. of green food every 24 hours, and yields five quarts, or 10 pounds of milk. Two thousand nine hundred silk worms pro- duce one pound of silk; but it would require 27,000 spiders, all females, to produce one pound of web. Captain Beaufort saw near Smyrna, in 1841, a cloud of locusts forty-six miles long and 300 yards deep, containing, as he calculated, 169 billions. Lewenhoeek reckoned 17,000 divisions in the cornea (outer coat of the eye) of a butterfly, each one of which, he thought, possessed a crystalline lens. Spiders, etc, are similarly provided for. tSS'*^" > -^ ''^Vn^-'^ ■ • . ^•iW^ -T^ljl^" "fT' THE GARDEN. A Good Garden. The New York Agriculturalist says : " We induced one of oar neighbors to keep an account of the products of his garden du- ♦ring the past season. It is a place hired for a long series of years, unblest with a fruit tree or shrub of any kind. Not even a cuy- rant bush produces its annual crop of cC(b- webs and wormy berries upon the preoaises. Probably the garden has not had a hundred dollars worth of manure laid ont upon it in the last half century. Indeed there was not much but the soil there. Nothing can be credited to past liberal treatment. It was not more than half manured the present year, with Peruvian guano, and the contents of a pig stye. On the credit side we have for green corn sold, $40; potatoes, $15: peas, $12; cabbage, $10.; onions, ^; beans. $T; sage $2; corn fodder, $2; S'.indry small items, $12, making $105, as the ainonnt of vegetables sold. No account was kept of the amount of vegetables cocisamed in the family. "The labor was all perforn?ied by the man himself, without interfering with the bnginess upon which he reli^^s f )r a l; velihood The amount consumed in the family was at least equal in value to the money paid out for the manure, making the amount of vei^etables sold, the reward of a few days labor that would otherwise have been lost." Tbe Field Beak. — Our soils generally are too rich for the common small field bean. This bean has a good deal of stalk, which is so heavy that it falls on the ground, and the beans are discolored or mildew. For the small white bean our sandy lands would be suitable. In heavy rich lands, large beans, which produce strong stalks, are best. They keep the beans from tbe ground, which can be gathered in good order, and bring a bet- ter price than those which are small and dis- colored. -«••- Salsify, or Yegetable Ovster — This is a fine vegetable, easily grown and easily preserved. The seed is sown like those of the parsnip; they grow of the shape and size of small parsnips, and can be gathered in the fall, put in barrels and covered with sand. They are cooked in several ways, and are pleasant food. -«••- Comstock's Early Dwj»rf Pea. — This is one of the earliest peas grown. It is a new variety. It grows about eight inches high, and is remarkably productive. This pea is the thing for city gardens. It does not re- quire bushing. -<•*- The Lima Bean. — This is the best pole bean ; but it often fails to produce good crops. If the sense n is wet, the vines grow on until frost killing time. Tiiis bean produces well, and early, if the tops are pinched off when about five or six feet high. This can be done with little labor, and it throws the strength of the plant iiito the producticui of beans. Such is the excellency of this befin. that it is worthy of a little extra trouble to obtain a supply. 1*» Cabbages. — To have cabbage head well, the plants sl'-'-.ld be strong aud set early, and ihey wiii head often in dry weather. To set ou t plants late in tbe reason, to p'-e- veiit t'le hoad fro-ji cra-jking by over-g!Ow„a, is a great laliacy; when the bend is full and liable to crack, break the large roots by bending the cabbages on one s'de. All late planted cabbages have failed the ya^i ocason fron the tffccs of drought, t?bile the early planted never were better. I often have to reflect how long-sufifering nature is, when her seasons have to bear the blame of so many short crops — Ohio Cidtivatcr, — ••» ScoEZONRKA. — A DativB ot Spain, re.sembling the salsify plant in flavor and character, and is cultivated more for variety than for absolace utility. The seeds are sown annually ia an open, light spot of ground, at the period of the flower- ing of the apple and pear. The ground may be trenched, turning under a little dung with the bot- tom spit. Sow in drills halt an inch deep, and twelve inches asunder. 1'hin the plants after they are up, to ten inches apart, and the roots will continue to increasi' uniil fall. Tney may remain in the ground, to be drawn as tbej are wanted, or entirely taken up in the autumn, when their leaves decaj, and preserved during the win- ter in dry sand . «•* Fish are common in the seas of Surinam with four eyes ; two of them on horns which grow on the top of their heads. ■X^.'. . .Jiiyjijin, I [JA,mw9m^BI^S^flKim ^mmmmmmmWWf^^??^^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 17 THE HOUSEWIFE. Preserves for Winter. Transparent Preserve. — This is one of the most beautilul, palatable and wholesome pre- serves that we know of. Take fair, smooth, sweet apples, with firm flesh, pare them nently, cut them across the core in slices one-fourth of an inch io thickaess, remove the seeds bat not the core, as it improvts the appearance of the preserve. Boil them very gently in a little water till tender, and then lift them carefully on to platters. Take one-half or three-foartbs the number of lemons that you have taken of apples, cut them across the core in dices the same thick- ness as the apples, remove the seeds and spread the slices on earthern platter?. Titke pulviM ized loaf sugar — the weight equaling that of all the fruit, weighed before boilinjf — and sprinkle one- half of it over the lemon slices, let it stand a few hours till liquid enongh has formed to cook them in, then drain it ofiF, and pui it over the fire in a porcelain lined kettle, vvith the rest of the sugar. When it boils, drop in both lemon aud apple slices and boil gently Liil the fruit is clear. Apple Pcesebve. — For those who dislke the flavor, of lemon peel; the apples can be made as above, substituting lemon juice for lecica slices. The apples can be left whole, if desired, by care- fully cutting out the cores. Apple Jelly. —Take any high flavored tart apple — pippins and bell flowers are good — boil them in a little water till soft, but not broken, removing neither skin nor seeds, but only defects, stem, etc. When soft, lift out the apples, mash with a spoon, aud squeez3 them through a flannel bag. To each pint of the juice thus procured, allow a pound of loaf sugar, boil slowly end skim thoroughly for ten or twenty minutes, till it jel- lies, and dip it into your moulds. Let them btand in the sun a few days, and then ?»-al them up, — Ohio Cultivator. ,»»_ GixGEKBBEAD. — Two cups of molasscs, one cup of melted barter, one egg, one cup of sweet milk, one teaspoonful of soda, one heaping tea- spoonfal of cream tartar, two tablespoon fuls of ginger, and flour enough to make a stiff batter. This should be baked with care as it burns easily, and if burned has a bitter taste. -*•*- Mock Spoxge Cake, — One quarter of a pound of butter, one of sugar, three eggs, one half a pint of milk, one even teaspoonful of soda, three cofiee cups of flour, one heaping teaspoonful of cream tat tar, a little salt, and essence of lemon. This will make two loaves. Bake in a quick but not too hot oven. * -««- Cookies, — One pound and a qnnrter of sugar, three-quarters of a poun4 of butter, one half a pint of warm water, lour lablespoonluls of cara- waj seed, one teispnonl'nl of soda dissolved in three of warm water, three pounds or flour. R )11 out very thin, and bake in a very quick oven. Punch says there arc two things a rhan rarely forgets — his first lovo and his first cigar. MISCELLANEOUS. Illinois Wlieat in the Londott Market— Verdict of a Corn Factor. Last season the Illinois Central Eailioad Company, caused to be sent to the London Cora Exchange a number of varieties of wheat grown in different portions of the State. The samples we^e submitted to Mr. Exeley, an experienced corn factor, whose report we now present to the readers of the Farmer : Report of Mr. J. Exeley on samples of Illinois Wh:::i received from the Illinois Central Railroad Company. No. 1. Winter Red Chaff Lasalle County— A nice quality, but notot great strength in flour — now worth in Mark Lane 70j per quarter, im- perial— will weigh about 62 lbs. per bushel. No. 2. Union County — A splendid sample of red— will weigh in every opinion full 65 lbs. per imperial bushel — would cjnimaud 70s per quar- ter if here now. Its berry is about the size of English " Nursery Red"— much approved by tto town millers. No. 3. White Winter Wheat — Resembles onr " Ohidbum" — worth 74s per imperial quarter — weighs abont 62 lbs. per bushel. Union connty. No. 4. White Winter, Blue Stem — A eery fine and strong quality — fully 63 lbs. — worth 743 per imperial quarter—Perry county. : No. 5. Red Winter Wheat, Mediterranean, Perry county — strong aud heavy — 64 lb.s. per bushel — such as we get from Leghorn — worth C8j per imperial quarter. No. 6. Red Winter Wheat, Velvet Chaff- Prime, worth 683 per imperial quarter — will weigh 63 lbs. — Perry county. No. 7. White Winter Wheat, Ferry county — 63 lb.s. per bushel — worth 66s per imperial quarter. No. 8. Spring Wheat, Perry county — Good, 62 lbs. per bushel — worth 66s per imperial quarter. No. 9. Lasalle county — Pair quality — worth 55s per imperial quarter— 62 lbs. per bushel. No, 10. Lasalle county — About 63 lbs. per bushel— worth 643 per imperial quarter. No. IL Lasalle coustv, Red Spring, about 61 lbs.— worth 643. No. 12. McLean county — A nice quality, about 62 lb?., worth 663 per imperial quarter. No. 13. McLean county,— White Winter Wheat — Worth 74s per imperial quarter, prime, useful sample. No. 14. Iroquois county — White Winter, very heavy, C4 lbs. per bushel — worth 74? per impe- rial quarter. No. 15. Ircqaois county— Prime Wheat, 64 lbs. per bushel— worth 74s per imperial quar- ter. No. 16 Iroquois county — Winter Wheat, 62 lbs. per bushel— .worth 743 per impsri::! quar- ti.r. rnfrr^.- '' ■wTTr*'™^^ .4- 18 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. No. 17. Will county— Winter Wheat, 733 per imperial quarter — weighs 63 lbs. per bushel. No. 19. Dewitt county— White Winter Wheat. 733 per imperial quarter — weighs 63 lbs. per bosbel. No. 20. Kankakee county — White Winter Wheat, worth 73s per quarter — about 62 Ibfl. per bushel. No. 21. Lee county — Spring Red, about 64 lbs. per bubhel — worth 68s per imperial quarter. No. 22. Marshall county — Fair White Win- ter Wheat, about 62 Iba. per bushel — worth 72a per imperial quarter. No. 23. Union county — Winter Wheat, about 63 lbs. — worth 733 per imperial quarter. Ho. 24. Mason county -Fair quality, about 62 lbs. — worth 72s per imperial quarter. No. 25. Williamson county — Red Winter Wheat, 64 lbs. per bushel, prime sample — worth 72s per imperial quarter. N. B — All the sample? are in the best condi- tion anid cleanly dretsed, in both respects better than the cargoes arrive, and the whole would bear the passage well and no doubt come out in good order, I never saw a finer specimen of samples from the United States together. (Signed.) J. Exeley. November 27, 1856. -t' Sea-Kale. — This hardy perennial is found growing on the sea coasts of Britain. It is cul- tivated for its blaached shoots, which are cooked liked asparagus, and is esteemed as a delicate and wholesome vegetable. As yet,it is but litte grown in the the United States. Sow the seeds early in the spring, an inch deep in fourteen inch drills. When the plants are one year old. transplant them eighteen inches apart, in straight rows five feet asunder. The ground must have been thoroughly trenched and manur- ed. Late in the fall, when the leaves have sepa- rated themselves from the crown, heap over each plant a shovelful of clean sand or ashes, and earth up a ridge a foot and a half high over the rows, from a trench dug along the space between them, and beat it smooth with the back of the spade. In the spring, after the cutting is over, the earth should be levelled into the trenches, so as to ex- pose the crowns of the plants, and a good coat of strong manure dug in around them. It is adapted to the coldest climates, and deserves to be more extensively cultivated. -••»- Young Colts and Cattle. — ^The half feed- ing of your stock is one of the most mistaken and injudicious systems ever pursued by man, besides being positively sinful. They should be provided with good tight, warm, dry sheds, facing the south, opening into yards. They should be so fed, as to be always kept in good growing condition — ?o fed, as that the elements of l)one, mu.scle, tendoius, and ft moderate degree of fat, nre always to be fou.id in the quantity and quality of tlic food given to ihcni. — vfw. Fanner, Gutta Pereha and India Rnl)ber. These two articles which were scarcely known when the Merchants' Gazette was establiished in 1839, now occupy a large space in the com- merce and industry of the world Very many persons, say our cotemporary, the Southern Argus, wheth they first arise in the morning, . takes a bath in a Gutta Percha tub, comb their hair with a gutta percha comb, and shave with a gutta percha handled razor, sharpened on a gutta percha razor strop, before a mirror with a gutta percha frame; eat their breakfast on a gutto percha table cover, and over a gutta percha crumb cloth, and after they have finished take their gutta percha walking-stick and rally forth to their business; and if it is raining, don them- selves from head to foot in gutta percha gar- ments. And yet many of these intelligent peo- ple are totally ignorant of the article which they use so extensively, and many imagine that it is a preparation of the old fashioned India rub- ber. Mr. E. L. Simpson, of New York, a gentle- man of eminence in the scientific world, sheds some light on thiz subject, and furnishes a suc- cicn and most interestina; account of the discov- ery and proprieties of this article. Perhaps no material was ever discovered which was so extensively shipped as an article of commerce — taken up so eagerly, and manu- factured at once so extensively, as has been the article of gutta percha. The first that was known of this wonderful production by the Europeans, was in the year 1845, when Doctor Montgomerie, an English gentleman, residing at Singapore, observed in the hands of a Maylayan wood chopper, a strange material used for a handle to his axe. On learning from him that it was made from the sap of a tree, which soon solidified on being ex- posed to the air, also, that by the use of hot water it could not only be made plastic, but made to take (and when cool retain) any desi- red form, he immediately obtained samples of the material, which were forwarded to the Lon- don Society and Sciences, with the best descrip- tion he could obtain regarding them. These samples arrived in England about the time the importance of the discovery for vul- canizing India rubber was made known, and the vast monopolies created by the issue of rub- ber patents. The London Society equally im- pressed with the singular properties of these strange samples, lost no time in having them examined and reported upon, Avhich report was of such a character as to create a great excite- ment, and to induce large orders foa its impor- tation, which continued so to increase, that in 1848, its importation amounted to 21,508, valu- ed at $275,100. This article is produced from a juice or sap, taken (mm the Isonmdra or Gutta tree, which is indigenous to all llie islands of the Indian Archipelago, and especially to the Mayalan Fen- insular. Borneo. Ceylon, and their neighborhoods, in which are found imniMise forests of it-all yielding thi.s product in great abundance. Its fruit Contains a concrete (diltle oil, which is ustd by the nativt'S with their Icod. mmmm iiPi||i||piiLV i..,.,4iliBiipiilii|i^^ 1,11^, '^^*'^»iit*pn""Pli In its cru le state, iriitta ptrcha has no resem- b!anc«; whatever to ImHa ra!.)bpr, nor are it-i chwmic^l or ni'c'ianci! properties ilie Mime, nor d tea the tree trora which it is taKen belong lo the same family of trfe-i or jjrow in ibe 8;ime soil ; Jet, Iroin the fact that it ctm be dissolved, and wrought into water-proof wares, reany, not in- formed on the suVtject, have inclined to the belief that the two materials are identically, or very De4rly the same. But nothing could be more er- roneous, as may be seen by the foilowine com- parisons, which prove that India rubber and got- ta percha are chemically and mechanically, as well as commercially, very difiFerent: India robber, or caoutchouc, is produced from a milk-white sap. takes chiefly fmm the Seph- ODca Cahuca tree, afterwards coagulated, and the whey pressed out or dried oft by heat — the residue is the India rubber of commerce. Gutta percha is produced from the Isonandra or Gutta tree ; is of a brownish color, aod when exposed to air, soon solidifies, and forms the gut- ta percha of commerce. India rabber of commerce is of a gummy na« ture, not very tenacious, and astonishingly elas- tic. Gutta percha of commerce is a fibrous mate- rial much resembling the inner coating of white oak bark, is extremely tenacious, and without elasticity, or much flexibility. India rubber when once reduced to a liquid state by heat, appears like tar, and is unfit tor further manufacture. Gutta percha may be melted and cooled any number of times, without injury for future man- ufacture. India rubber, by coming in contact with oil or other fatty substances, is soon decomposed or ruined for tuture use. Gutta percha is not injured by coming in con- tact with oil or other fatty substances — in fact, one good rise of it is, for oil cans. India rubber is soon ruined for future use, if brought in contact with sulphuric, muriatic, and other acids. Gutta percha resists the action of sulphuric, mnriatic, and nearly all other acids in fact, one great use of it is for acid vats, &c., and other vessels for holding acids. India rubber is a conductor of beat, cold and electricity. Gutta percha is a non-conductor of electricity, as well as of heat and cold. India rubber, in its crude state, when exposed to the action of boiling water, increases in bulk, does not lose its elastic properties, and cannot be moulded. Gutta percha, in its crude state, when exposed to ihe actioB of boiling water, contracts, and be- comes soft like dough or pasle, and may then be moulded to any shape, which it will retain when cool. India rubber is not a perfect repellant of water, but is more or lees absorbent, according to qual- ity. Gutta percha has an exceedingly fine grain, and its oily property makes it perfect repellent of liquids. HYGIENE. Fever and Agoe; How to live in Unbealthfti! Sitoatious. To go west, and lo liave lever atid agae, are almost synonymous. Indeed, we once knew a Methodist pre-icher, who was going out w< st on purpose to catch the affue, in ordrr to cure him of bronchitis, or preacher's sore throat ! Every man expects to have lever and ague who goes into a new country to settle. The westprn parts of the State of New Tork, and even the adjacen*; parts of the counties of New York and West- chester, are very much infested with this disease. The consequence is, that the value of the pro- perty ill these parts is depreciated. We have no doubt, that if there could be dis- covered a certain cure for — or, still better apre- vention of this disease, the value of the land would, in many cases, rise fifty per cent, at once. We should be very muct elated inbeart, and en- riched in intellect, if we could prescribe a sure remedy tor the country, or the inhabitants. But, as we do not profess to be priests, nor prophets, nor even "wonderful doctors," but simply medi- cal philosophers, we must inquire as rigidly for ourselves as for others, the cause and the remedy. What is fever and ague? and what is its cause? Many, and learned, truly, are the treatises on these questions; but like many other subjects, authorities are not agreed upon them. We can- not, therefore, refer you to any one authority on the subject for satisfaction, but we must try to satisfy you ourselves. Fever and ague, or rather ague and fever, is a peculiar kind of fever, which consists in having a distinct cold stage, hot stage, and sweating stage, and then a period of fteedom from fever at all. It has many varieties- bnt our descrip- tion covers them all. The cause of this disease, is an alternation of hot and cold, damp and dry, condition of the ground and air, whereby the heat of the body is raised and lowered suddenly, and the vegetable remains are quickly decomposed, giving existence to noxious vapors. Either the direct loss of heat of the body, or the indirect loss of it, by the action of the noxious vapors on the respiration and blood, will produce the cold stage, and that will cause the hot and sweating stagps. If only one of these cattses operate' the fever is mild. If both operate the fever' is sevsre. The temperature of the human body in health is 98° of Fahrenheit's thermometer. If this be raised, as is the case in sun-stroke or burning, fever, with little, if any, cold stage ensues. If this temperature be lowered, just in proportion to the lowness of the temperature, and the sud- deness of it, fever, with considerable cold stage, ensues. The immediate cause of the fever, is the reflec- tion of the temperature of ihe blood. No matter how this is prodneed, whether by some subtle poison inhaled in the atmosphere, or by the heat of the blood being abstracted. If, therefore, you feel cold and shivery in an agueish locality— at once do everything that can be done, to restore the heat to the blood. ''i4.»t V|«W )! "■^'^WT'T^g.V.' '^'•p • ^•■T'*rfJ^T?^'''^^--'rr«fiF^^5TOprw!^^ 20 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. Qiiif^cr-tcja, coninon tea, clove tea, or anv liot drink, taken to make you sweat, is good. Warm cIothin«r, such as woollen clothes, i>l;Uikets, feather beds, and lying before ?. hotfirt^, vvith your back to the beat, is good. A hot bath, if you can have a real one for the whole body. i« thfi best ot all. A good b^^d, with blankets only, and healed with a warming-pan, is a good sub» atitate. Perhaps the very best treatment for immedi- ate use, is lying with your back to the fire, well wrapped up in blankets, and drinking hot and stimulating fluids, until you are hnt, and sweat. Then begin Ani take tincture of bark, quinine, or any other stimulating tonic, as fast as you please. There are two very di.stinct substances in the bark, quinine and cinchonine. We need them both. Whee the fit of fever is over, whether from remftdi-il causes, or natural ones, give plenty of bark, quinine and good food, and if the person can take it, ale, porter, wine or spirit, simply to keep up the temperature. Daily, at the hour of the expected or possible time of the cold stage returning, repeat the hot applications in some mode. We have forgotten one of the most effectual modes of obtaining heat — the spirit-bath. Put a couple of table spo^uls of alcohol, or any other spirit, into r. sa'^«^ and place in the centre under a wooden chair. Undress and sit on the chair, wrapped round with a large blanket. Set fire to the spirit with a taper, and cover your head. You will soon be in a sweat. This much for yoarself. Now for the locality. Fill up the marshy ground, or keep it covered with water. Plow and sovv your land, or dig -and plant it, so that it may have to grow something wholesome. If you build your own house, and may choose your site, select, if you can, some spot where you can turn a stream into your ground, and surround your house with a stream. of running water, eight or ten feet wide. It is n singular fact thai the peculiar poison that gene- rates ague is absorbed by water; neither will it pass from a swamp across a belt of trees. Build your house, therefore, so as to avail yourself of such protection, if possible: If you should con- duct a stream of water round jour house, let i*: be a running one. Mind you do not make a stagnant moat, and if you can, prevent any one else from so do- in? do, or having a stagnant pond or dam. Water, to be useful to us, must like our blood, circulate. Both live byconstant motion. Bath dii by being still. Even the air dies, by being shut up in some place of seclusioij. We go fur- ther, even thou!?ht and feeling die from w?"* c!:' use. The writing of this article is as good for as as for you. We have more matter on a sub- ject, at the end of an article than at the begin- ning. So as for you, as readers — the more you read us, the more you will want to read us. Weshall be as necessary to your healthful existence, as your newspaper is to your politica' existence. The first command ever given to man was "Be fruitful, anc multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it." The man who goes into a new part of the country should remember this part of the command, 'Subdue tt" We are exceedingly (lelif'itcd witlivhe work of any pioneer who obeys this command. It is an inspiring thought, that man can sub- due mouutains, riveis, seas and continents — aye, and even fever and ague. 'I'here is a granduer in the fVeling, while we pen these lines, (bat we are lielping to fulfil our great destinj- — to subdue the earth — its natural tvils and mal.idies. If fate compel you to live in a swampy coun- try, never leave the house alter sundown if you can help it : if you live in a valley wfcere ague exists, never leave your house alter four o'clock in summer, for by that time, in places that cool rapidly from the absence of the sun, the dew be- gins to fall, and dew is deadly to those who are predisposed to igue from weakness : women and children suffer terribly from moonlight walks : if you must go out, wear a great coat and thick boots, even in Augnst. Build fire in the sitting room early in September, and close the doors and windows. iVever mind what your ignorant neighbors say; let them call you eccentric, crazy, or what they please. Perhaps they will soon be glnd to imitate you, when they find you in health, and feel the ague twice a year. Live well — generously. Drink a little good wine or found ale. Eat fresh meat — sever salt, unless you cannot avoid it. Drink good cofiee in the morning, and be exceedingly careful to avoid ciiiiis from too little bed clothing. The temperature of the human body always falls four degrees towards lour o'clock in the morning. Remember this, and have an extra blanket or nnilt at hand. Nevtr sleep with your chamber windows open afier ihejirst day of August; but by no means clujie your door. Air you mus.t have, but not September night air; it is deadly.' — Neio York Scalpel. [There has been but little of the ague and fe- ver in Illinois the last season; not as much as in many localities in the Eastern States. Thearti cle above ia a good one, and may be generally useful, especially in some parts of New York.] -«•»- River watei contains about 28 grains of solid matter to every cubic foot. Hence such a river as the Rhine carries \.'h:Jlpi^^^^ E32a?^^?vw?J»»w»™ra!K^S!™|B«H' w THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 21 EDITORIAL NOTICES. The Ohio Board of Agriculture, at tht-ir meeting on ihe 3rd of December, at Colambus, decided upos taking measures to test the vulae of the Chinese Sugar Cane for making sugar and Eiolasses, in the soils and climate of Ohio. )«> 'The celebrated stallion horse. Black Hawk, owned by David Hill, of Bridgeport, Vt., died a few days since, at the age of twenty-three years. He belonged to the Mrrgan stock, and was the sire of maiiy successful trotting horses. ••*- ^ J8@"The raspberry is an old fruit." It is said that some years ago a stone coffin with the re- mains of human being, was found in a tamulus, in England. Where the stomach would he, some seeds, supposed to be those of the raspberry, were found. These were carefully gown, they genera- ted, and proved to be plants of the common rasp- berry. The remains from which the seed was taken, was deposited as early as the fifth or sixth century. This shows a wonderful vital- ity in the seeds of the raspberry, and also that our Saxon and Cimbrian forefathers used the berries as food. ^ ^ jj®*The " Catawissa Raspberry," a native variety, which bears from July until frost, is ad- vertised in Washington. The plants can be had there at SI each. The berries are fine, flavor excellent, but they are not as g-ood as some of the improved varieties. Their excellence consists in the hardiness of the plants and the long time they continue bearing. <» S&^ The United States Agricultural Society will hold its annual meeting at the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, on the 14th instant. ^«, Chinese Sugar Cane. — Persons should be cautious in purchasing this seed. There is a great demand for the seed ; and there are sever- al kinds of seed that bear a general resemblance to it. We have been told that peddlers are al- ready in the field selling chocolate corn seed for the sugar cane seed. -*—' New Snbscribers. We are con.^tantly receiviiag the names of new subscribers, but they do not come as fast we de- sire. Come on friends I We can send back num- bers. How TO KEEP Mice from Fritit Trees. — The Ohio Cultivator says : Mix fine gun powder and tallow together and rub on the bodies of your trees, and yon will not be troubled with mice. If the powder is coarse it should be pulverized in some vf&y after it is mixed with tallow. Any atteuipt to pulverize before will most likely re- sult in an explosion. Llamas for Ccba. — Large stocks of Llamas from South America, are being shipped to Cuba. Thesa are used for beasts of burden. Robert A. Alexander, the dlsiiogalshed stock raiser of Kentucky, is the son of Mr. Al- exander, who emigrated from Scotland at an early day. The father wat a brother of the late Sir William Alexander, of Scotland, and the present R. A. Alexander is entitled to the title. But he prefers to remain here as an American farmer. He occasionally visits Scotland to see to his es- tates. He is a bachelor — the worst thing that can be said of him. Cutting Grafts.— Now is the time that this should be done. Tie them up ia separate bunches and label them welL They can then be buried in sand or earth, and kept till wanted. Get your cuttings for Gooseberries, Currants and Grapes and treat them in the same manner. These should be planted 6ut early in the spring. ••• The Dioscorba Buttatoas. — Wm. R. Prince has issued another circular for the sale of the tu- bers of this plant. He insists that it has been successful wherever properly cultivated. Out ef the great number of publications in the agricul- tural papers, from those who have experimented with the plant, we have seen one which speaks of it in high terms. -^^t Chinese Sugar Corn. — There is great anxiety among farmers to obtain the seed of the CbiQese Sugar Cane. It will not be likely to be plcntr, but the prospect is that there will be a sufficient supply in the fall of the present year to meet fu- ture demands. We have strong confidence that the Chinese Sugar plant will within five years be among onr most valuable crops and wili sup- ply much of the domestic demand for sugar and molasses. " Mareetino.— This is high in our market. At retail— Batter, 25to35 cts.Ib; Egg6,25to30doz.; Chickens each, 12tol5 cts.; Turkeys, 8to9 cts. ft».; Fotatoss, 40 cts. per peck, Apples, 35 cts. per peck; Cheese, 15tol62 3 cts. per ft. We need a large number of small farmers in the neighborhood of our city, for furnishing our citizens with market articles. Most of the fiar. mers of our State are engaged in raising large crops cf wheat, or large stocks of hogs aod cattle for market. ..w*^i ^i«"^w',*!.ij!5.i^'-"j«^5?^^Pv*= T r* ^ C.iixE«E Sugar Cane. — The vaIuc of Chinese S;igar Cane will be thoroughly tested the coin- ing 333300. Wt! have seen it noticed that large field- — one hundred acre?, fifty acres and ten acres — will be planted in the south : and even in our own State fields of ten acres and l.'Ss will be planted. Seed will be scarce and hiijh the com- ing season ; but thereafter it will be more plen- ty. "Wool. — There is a decided tendency to high- er prices in the wool market. It is said the for- eign stock is exhausted. We look for good prices the next season. *•> Teial of MowKRri. — At the great trial of mowers, at Worcester, Mas«., last fall, Heath's Mower, manufactund by D. C. Henderson & Co., of Sandusky City, Ohio, was the successful competitor. The trial was a very thorough one, and the prize of $1,000 was won by the Heath Mower, with a large competition. 1 be decision was for mowing fifty acres in the best manner. We learn these facts from the Ohio Cultivator. This mower has a zig-zag movement in the face of the drawing wheel, without gear, and if well made, cannot fail to work well. Agricultural Books. — Saxton & Co., of New York, tre publishing a series of Books on Agri- culture, and subjects connected with it, most valuable for farmers. They make a handsome and useful Farmer's Library. We take it for granted that farmeis, at the present day, are benefitted by information to be found in Agri- cultural works, and we know of no series better adapted to th^ir use than that published by Saxton & Co. «•> American Apples. — Mr. Brown, a nursery man of Montreal spent recently two years in his native country — Scotland. He says : "they know nothing of fruit as we do in America. He could not get any eatable apples, till he fell in with some Newtown Pippins." — «•» J®*Copies of this number of tae Farmer will be sent to individuals who we hope wish to be- come subscribers for it. Should they not desire to do, they will please return the same by mail. : 4«» J®" We have not yet received the official re- port of the proceedings of the Horticultural Con- vention held in Dccatar in the last month. <•« j|®*We should be glad of the assistance of the members of the Legislature in extending the cir- culation of this publication. To those who will favor cs in this way, we should be glad to furnish our prospectus, to be sent to their friends. PROSPECTUS OF TII£ iijijMjyois FAn^nmR, In December, 1855, we presented to the pub- lic the prospectus for the first volume of the Illinois Farmer. Wc did this with some hesita- tion; that hesitation was overcome by the wishes and judgment of our friends. Considering the short time the prospectus was before the public previous to the time fixed for issuing the first number, we had reason to be gratified with the number of subscribers whose names were promptly furnished. We shall not forget the kind assistance rendered us by friends, as well in neighboring, aa in distant counties. It was given at a time and in a manner which rendered it of great value. A year has nearly passed. Those friends near us insist that we shall present to the ag- ricultural public a prospectus for the second volume of the ** Farmer.'" We feel certain that an agricultural paper, published at the Capital of the State, is needed — that it can be rendered of great value to our farming interests — and published in the present form, and at the pres- ent price — should receive a very large subscrip- tion— so large as to be reasonably remunerative to its publishers. While many improvements are designed in the coming volume, — in illustrations and in the mechanical work — we shall still aim to make is practical and tiseful. Progress is a distinguish- ing feature in the Agriculture of the present day, — but there are humbugs which are sought to be forced upon the community which should be mercilessly exposed. The agricultural papers of other States, al- though ably conducted, do not suit the condi- tion of Agriculture in Illinois. We have a peculiar climate, and soils differing from those in the East. While therefore Eastern periodi- cals are valuable to us, they do not supply the want of well conducted agricultural publica- tions in our own State. An exciting election has now passed. Otir farmers, as good citizens, have been deeply en- gaged in it. In this country, all men should make themselves acquainted with the principles and designs of parties, and should act under- standingly, with clear convictions that they are in the right. It is only in this way that the in- stitutions which have come to us from oxir fathers can be transmitted to posterity. But there in now to be a lull in political affairs. Our agricultural friends will be able to give their attention to matters which eapeci iip-A.-.;^.',.'- ■■', -'TrT^v* i ;- .^" 'J^^-t t* •■■.f*?.^^'^^^":* -^ i*^- - '•^-^.^'^■■ '^~'" r'^^^J^-T -■^: -=r=75?v^^?^^^^y r:-T.j^?^siW5aapF^*f^??'??^--^ ■■' -'^;^^»^*??^'r^ar':*-'jF*^:^r-T.'^;^^ -I-i^iafc^i^.iffc^ J-,.VK*;^fc- *(!jiK.- ^ f^^-^c^--*---- ally belong to their profession. This will enure to their advantage. They will be dispos- ed to patronize the agricultural press, and by means of it carry into their families a. fund of knowledge which will greatly benefit them. — There is among our farmers a manifest disposi- tion to avail themselves of the experience of others, as given in the agricultural press, for their own advantage. No farmer can reswi at- tentively any agricultural publication of the country without obtaining jwocficaZtTi/iwwMiiion that he would not part with for thrice the amount of its subscription. We send our prospectus to our old friends, — who labored for us in procuring subscribers for our first volume, — and to many others, — and solicit them to make up clubs wherever pos- sible. Send us the names and subscription price — and we promise to do the best we can to give them a paper worthy of their patronage. S. FRANCIS. Terms of the Farmer. In Clubs of five or over, sent in one package 75 cents each — to be paid in advance. Singl copies $1 a year in advance. ISTov. 18, 1856. _ <» THE IliMHroIS STATE JOUENAL. A LUerary and News Journal for the Family and Fireside. PROSPECTUS^ FOR 1857. In presenting our Prospectus for the coming year, we take occasion to return thanks for the very liberal patronage be- stowed ui)on the Daily and Weekly Journal, since the paper passed into our hands. We have endeavored to keep pace with this increase, by a corresponding effort upon our part to-make the Journal still more worthy of public favor and support. — In the amount and variety of reading matter jpimlshed, le stands unrivalled by any competitor in Illinois, and having recently at great expense, clothed it in an entirely new and beautiful dress, we flatter ourselves that its typography and general appearance is likewise superior. Of this however, it does not become us to speak at length— every reader can judge for himself. A heated partisan contest, just ended, has prevented oar paying as much attention to pleasing the palate of the gen- eral reader as could have been desireii. We design to' make up for this in the future, and intend to serve up every week stich a pleasant variety as shall make the Journal a welcome visitor into every family. Our contents for 1857, we need scarcely say, will be as varied as the Life with which we keep pace. Time and the ever changing World are the great baskets' out of which we pick Wisdom and Amusement as we go— the ezhaustless variety of event and novelty assuring, to us and to our readers, ex- haustless themes and subjects of interest. Litxbatur£,Qen£bal News, and interesting Misczil^nxods EEAMSQ will occupy much of our space. We design making the Journal emphatically and especially t Newspaper for the Family and the Fireside. Cont^uing Literary Tales, Biographical Notices, Sketehes of Character, Letters from Abroad, Anecdotes, and generally whatever will be most entertaining and most instructive to the great mass of Newspaper Readers. In addition to its Literary and Miscellaneous character the Weekly Journal will give, in a clear and condensed form, AU the News of the Day, From all quarters of the world, and in all departments -of activity,— embracing Agrlciiltural, Commercial and F^ai^cial Intelligence, r .^ - , Prepared expressly for its columns, and fbr fee use of those in all parts of the country who wish to be kept informed upon all these topics. : rf.-*'.:* ' The Doings of Congress, Witli a synopsis of all important documents, valuable speech- es, and full reports of the proceedings of the -. -_ Illluois I^iJ<4^'i;,''ft«Pj'."-*'-' '||1^-^: 24 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. COMMEECIAL. Springfild Market. Office of the Illixois Farmer, 1 Springfield, January 1, 1857. ) There is a good demand for wheat, at present quotations. Most articles of marketing are in request. HOOS — Hogs have taken a rise. They are now selling at $6 25®$5 60 ^ 100 S>s, depending on i\ze. FIiOUR— Bxtra White, $6 SO; Snperflne, $0 00; common, $6 00. WHEAT— Sales at SOc to $1 00 « bo. CORN— Sales at 26@30c ^ bu. OATS— Sales at SSc ^ bn. HIDES— Dry Flint 12>^. BRAN— 8c ^ bushel. SHORTS— 12}^c. MARKETING- Chickens, $1 60 f( doz.; Onions, $2 00; Ap- ples, $1 26; Cabbages, none in market. -»••- Chicago Market— January 1, 18§7. The business transactions of the past week have been large in many departments of trade — the holidays do not appear to have withdrawn the trading public r:ry, much from business avocations, nor kept the country people at home, the roads being so good for wheeling and railroads again being free and open. In the produce and hog trade the effect has been a considerable increase of receipts, and the market is bouyant and In good condition. Every article is ia quick demand, ex- cept, perhaps, poultry, butter and beans. In spring wheat there is an Improvement, owing to the competition of buyers for Michigan mills, our city dealers and eastern shippers by rail. Other grains are taken at steady rates. The hog mar- ket has improved, being sought after at increased rates for packing and shipping. This has caused receipts to increase and the higher prices paid will draw out all the hogs that can be prepared for the market; though even under these circum- stances, the result will show, if not a decrease in the number packed below last year's business, a short crop compared with the wants cf the country. Provisions, particularly mess pork and other hog products, have been similarly affected. Sales of mess pork having been made as high as $18 00 ^ bbl, and there is but little left on the market. We give the following quotations: Bags — Lewiston 26c; Stark mills 26c. Beans— $1 d0(g)$2 00 ^ bu for good white with but little de- mand. Butter—The supply is pretty full, but prices heretofore giv- en are maintained. Di£ferent grades of Ohio bring 2S@2Gc $ O), and western firkin, jars and roll range from 18@24c ^ lb. Candles— Stearino 16@20c $ lb; Star 2.^@27c; Adamantine 37J^: Sperm 40c; Tallow 14®143^c. Cheese — ll@ll^c for Western Reserve, and 12@12^ for Hamburg. Eggs— 23®2Sc ^ doz by the bbl. Feathers— Live geese 60c ^ B). Fish— White fish $4 75 for hlf bbls No. 1; and 25@50c less for 2'8 and S's; Trout halves $4 50; Cod $a 7o@$6 fi 100 Bs, Mackerel, No. 1, $20 00 fi bbl; halves $10@11; Herring, lake, $5 00 fi bbl; halves $2 00@$2 50; Eastport do $8 00; No. 1, box 50@62}^c; scaled 70@75c. Fruits— Apples (green) $5 00®$6 00 ^ bbl; dried $2 37® $2 SO $ bn; dried peachc-B, anparcd, ll@l234c ^ fc; cranber- ries $3@$3 50 fl bu; lemons $8 00 ^ box; raisins, new M. R.'s $5 00; layers $5 25@$5 SO: nsw oranges $9 00 $ bbl of 400; cherries SOc fi B). Flour— The market is quiet at $4 25 for spring wheat extra; and from this up to $6 50 for common to choice red and white winter wheat flour. Rye flour is $1 60@$5 00 ^ bbl, and buckwheat flour somewhat plenty at $2 60@$2 75 ^, 100 Rs. Cora meal 87^c@$l. Hidee— Green 1@7]4c; dry salted 8J^@9c; dry flint 16@16}.^c ^ B>; city slaughtered palts are $l@5l 15 each. H}g3 — Prices have again advanced since last week, owing somewhat to the favorable cold weather, and number of eas- tern buyers. The market closes buoyant at $5 00@$5 12 for live hogs and $6 00@$6 25 net for dressed hogs averaging 200 lbs, and sales are mostly at the outside figure. Lard — We quote No. 1, city kettle rendered 10J^@llc. Lumber — No change. Wegive the following as the unchang- ed rates at the yards: 1st clear and dry $35@$40 Flooring, dressed 424@$26 2d do _ 3U@ 36 Joists andscantUng... 16® 20 3d do 22® 25 Fencing IS® 16 Cleariiding 18® 19 Common..^ ~ 16® 10 Com « 16® 16 Culls „ 8® 12 Flooring.... 20® 22 Clear Flooring..- 28® 30 Lath— About $2 75@$3 00 at the yards. Shingles— City warranted $4@$4 25. Provisions— Mess beef $12@$12 50$ bbl. Mess pork $17 00 $18 00 ^ bbl. Pickled hams $15 00@$1G 00 ^ bbl. Smoked are ccar;s and nominal at lie. Smoked shoulders 7c. Dry salted do at e@6J^c. Poultry and Game — Chickens 16@18c each; dressed turkeys 8@10c ^ ft): prairie chickens are scarce at $4 00 $ doz; veni- son is rather plenty at $4 50@$5 00 $ 100 B) in the carcass; sadU:. - 10@li:c ^ ft); quails $1 ?5@$2 00 f» doz. Rice 5%@6c ^ ft). Seeds— Timothy $2 20@$2 50; clover $6 50@$7 ?ier bu; flax $1 26@$1 50. St. louis Market— Jan. l. Weather cool and cloudy and river falling slowly, with about six feet in the channel to Cairo. Boats to Kew Orleans are asking 75c for Flour, $1 for Pork, 45c ^ sack for wheat and Corn, 45@50c '^ 100 8)s for weight freight, $8 '<^ head for stock. Hemp — Sale'of 66 bales undressed at $160 $ ton. Bale Rope — Sale of a small lot city machine at lOJ^ ^ ft). Flour — Sale of 300 bbls city superfine at $0, and a rumored sale of 1,000 do at $5 90. Nothing in country brands. Wheat — Very little offering, anU sales of 50 sks mixed at $1 12^ ; 192 do good red at $1 14, sks returned. Corn — Sale of 1.200 sacks at 60@62c ^ bu, new gunnies in- cluded. Oats— Sale of 780 sacks at 66c ^i bu; 370 do at 68c, sacks included. Hay— Sale of 21 bales at $1 40 f> 100 lbs. Barley— Sale of 200 sacks spring at $1 75 ^ sack, sacks re- turned. AVhisky— Sale of 207 bbla at 27J/^ cash ; 20 do at 28c ^ gallon. Lard — Sale on Saturday of 600 tierces, to arrive at the open- ing of navigation, at lOj^c, part cash down. Pork — l^c 'i^ 100 ttis. Flaxseed — Manufacturers paying $1 75 ^ bu, packages re turned. ••*•>- Money Market-Chicago, Dec. 31. HXINOIS SrcCX SECTEIIT 3.\}iK9. Chicago City Banks par Other Illinois Banks 1 dis COUNTET AyX> OTHESS. New York and N?tv England Banks IJ^dis New Jersey and Pennsylvania li| dis Interior Bank, Orifiiu, Georgia , 1V| dis Merchants' Bank of Macon, Georgia IJ^dls Atlanta Bank. Oeorgia ..lV| dis La Grange Bank, Georgia IM dis Michigan Tlanks 1}^ dis Ohio State Bank and Branches 1)-^*^^ Ohio Stock Banks (new plate) li^ dis Indiana State Bank and Branches l^ dis Indiana i'ree Banks par to 75 dis Wisconsin Banks IJ^ dia Bank of Circleville, Oiiio 50 dis Newport Satety Fund, Ohio 90 dis Virginia Free Banks l}4 dis Ohio Stock (old plate) a dis Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, Rent County, Md 25 dis Trans-AUeghana, Va IJ^ die Tennessee, UIJ Banks S dis Tennessee, Now Banks < 8@10 dis Warren County Bank, I'cnn 5 dis Erie City Bank, Peuu 6 dia Bank of Newcastle 5 dis ui£aLi.-M z^ r** ■ »;■# THE SIMEON FRANCIS, Editob- BAIIiHAGHi: dc BAKEB, PmusBSBS. Voi. d. FEBRU^Rjr, t»Stk JVb. »^ legislatiTe Aid to Agriculture. We called attention to this subject in an article in the last Farmer. We are in faTor of Legislative aid to Agriculture. — Agriculture is, confessedly, the great ind^ trial interest of the State. It is the sourW of all our wealth and all our prosperity. A large portion of the public revenues of this State are derived from lands, and other property belonging to the agricultural part of our population. They have, therefore, peculiar claims upon the Legislature for aid in developing the Agricultural resources of the State. The Agricultural press in different parts of the country, is pressing this subject upon the attention of Legislatures. We have now before us the Valley Farmer, which reminds us of what has been done in several States by Legislatures in aid of the great interest for which we plead, We transfer to our columns most of the article to which we have referred, as embracing facts of gen- eral interest. "Ohio has made appropriations to the State Agricultural Society and has also ap- propriated a liberal sum for each county, when the fanners thereof shall organize an agricultural society and raise a like sum to be appropriated as premiums. Missouri has made similar appropriations. The Legislature of Kentucky at its last session, in the act incorporating the State Agricultural Society, appropriated $6,000 a year for two years; for the encouragement of the farming interests of the State. Had an additional appropriation of two or three hundred dollars a year been offered to the farmers of each county who would organize a county agricultural society and raise an equal sum to be offered in premiums, we think that no more wise appropriation could have been made. Such an appropriation under the management of intelligent and judicious officers, would not only encourage and improve the agriculture of the several counties, but would greatly promote the in- terests ef the State at Is^ge. Mich^an has done nobly £or the cause of Agriculture in that State. We do not now remember the amount that is given through the State Society, bat a large appropriation has been made for an Agricultural College, wMch is now nearly or quite completed and ready to be opened for the reception of students. In connection with the College, is an experi- mental farm, where the practice as well as the theory of Agriculture in aU its varieos departments, is to be taught. The New York State Agricultural Society is one of the oldest in the country. The Legislature of the State has done more to foster and encourage this great interest in New York than has been done by any other State in the Union. Besides the aid that has been extended through this society, an appropriation of forty thousand dollars has been expended in erecting the new State Geological and Agricultural Hall in Albany. This is a model institution of its kind, such as should be found in every agricultural State in the Union. The building is of pressed brick, and was erected , in 1855. The main building is 81 feet front on State and 52 1-2 feet deep, with a wing 68 by 40 feet, each four stories high. The front part of the basement story is for the ac- commodation of the Taxidermist, Janitor, Chemical Labratory, heating aparatns, etc. The principal floor of the main building on the east of the main entrance, is devoted to the Office and Library of the State Agri- cultural Society, and on the west to the Geological collection. The principal floor of the rear part is occupied as a lecture room and for the meeting of the society, 40 by 68 feet square and 15 feet high.. The halls above the lecture room, of fiie same size, vrith two galleries, lighted with sky- lights and windows, are for the society's Agricultm'al Museum. T^ wj^ole cf ^e* ^"W "HW^bfiffffSMM^ "S ■ ™?-l:': ^.^^Vk^T^-^^^TT'-. ' lip-'J.'f'jp^^'^'WT" "v^^^^^^lir^S* ■^y\,v^"r''r^^- *jgffnrj^ff^'^:>fimj^f;7 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 29 memory of not the oldest inhabitant, in con- sequence of drainage and cultivation, but more in consequence of .the barbarous sys- tem of levelling the forests and not planting others in their place. It is known that rain will not fall so copiously where moisture finds no protection, and we can imagine these level prairies, without anything to ar- rest or condense the vapors, to become in time deserts, instead of gardens, as they are at present. If we disregard the phenomena of nature, its necessities and wants, we, or our posterity will suffer, that we may be as- sured. The Chinese Sugar Cane. The Patent Office is now distributing the seed of this plant, in the different State*. — That which was distributed from the same office a year since, was sown by many in dif- ferent parts of the country, north, west, east and south, and the result has been very satisfactory. The plant has been found to make most excellent fodder, and when the experiment has been made of its saccharine 'qualities, has given decided satisfaction. — No to go any farther than our own State, we know, that in Wabash county, Sangamon county, and Rock Island county, most ex- cellent molasses has been made of the juice of the plant. We have tested the molasses made in this county and Rock Island county, and are perfectly certain that the article was fully up to the standard of any we have seen from Louisiana. Specimens made in this county, with little care, granulated; so that we are sure the syrup can be con- verted into sugar. In the Patent Office Report for 1856, just published, are several communications in relation to this cane. Mr. Joseph C. Okth, of Wabash county, in this State, from some imperfect experiments, estimates that "fifteen per cent, of good clarified sugar can be obtained from the juice." Mr. Fred- EaicK Munch, of Warren county, Mo., says he "succeeded in a superior syrup from this plant." Mr. Samuel Clapham, of Suffolk cotmty, New York, "looks upon this plant as of great value as a forage crop; yet pos- sibly'it may be cultivated for sugar, as the juice contains nearly ten per cent, of sacchar- ine matter, clear as chrystal; and on a very small scale, beautiful clarified sugar was produced by Dr. Rat." J. H. Hammond, of Barnewell District, South Carolina, made several careful experiments. "In one in- stance, from 400 canes, 37 1-2 quarts of juice were obtained by an imperfect press. It was estimated that one quarter of the juice remained in the cane. These 37 1-2 quarts, boiled two hours in a very unsuita- ble pot, produced six quarts of choice syrup. All who have tasted it, agreed that it was equal to the best from New Orleans," — Mr. Hammond adds, that "a good sugar mill; with three wooden rollers, may be erected for less than $25, and a sugar boiler that will make thirty gallons of syrup per day, may be purchased in Augusta at less than $60." We trust that the value of this plant for making sugar and molasses will be per. fectly tested the coming fall. To do this we must have suitable mills for expressing the juice and suitable boilers for manufac- ing it into syrup. We annex a copy of the circular issued from the Patent Office in reference to this cane. — ^ United States Patent Office, . December 10, 1856. Sib: This new plant seems to be destined to take an important position among our economical products. Its seeds were sent, some six years ago, from the north of China, by M. de Montigny, to the Geographical Society of Paris. From a cursory examin- ation of a small field of it, growing at Ver- rieres, in Prance, in the autumn of 1854, Mr. D. J. Browne, then on a mission from this Office for coUecting^gricultural inform- ation and products, was led to infer, that, from the peculiarity of the climate in which it was growing, and its resemblance in ap- pearance and habit to Indian corn, it would flourish in any region wherever that plant would thrive. From this source, he ob- tained some 200 pounds of the seed, which was distributed in small packages, hj this Office, among the members of Congress, with the view of experimenting with it in all parts of the Union, and thereby ascer- taining its adaptation to our soil and climate. r.flr»(fi^;/.?ir(7iW'-r*T.'T'T^wrr*r^- *r. . fiTyK^ Tt?^- " ""TWflw.^- 30 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. In numerous instances, the results proved highly satisfactory, as it attained the height of eight or ten feet, as far north as St. Paul's, in Minnesota, and matured its seeds at various points in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and other places further south. The following year, while in France, on a similar mission as above, Mr. Browne obtained several bushels of the seed of this plant, grown from that reputed to have been brought from South Africa, by Mr. Leonard Wray, of London, and which has since proved to be identical with that obtained by this Office ia 1854. There appears to be a doubt among many in Europe, as well as in this coun- try, as to the true botanical name of this plant. M. Louis Vilmorin, a scientific cultivator, of Paris, provisionally gave it tlie nameofHolcus saccharatns, which had pre- viously been applied to the common broom - corn, if not to other species, or at least var- ieties, of some allied plant. He also con- jectured that it might be the Sorghum vul- gare, (Andropogon sorghum of others,) and thought that it might comprehend a variety of it, as well as Andropogon cafra, bicolor, etc., of Kunth. Mr Wray, who has devoted much time and attention to the cultivation of this plant, with the view of ex- tracting sugar from its juice, at Cape Natal and other places, states that, in the southeast part of Caflfraria, there are at least fifteen varieties of it, some of them growing to a height of twelve or fifteen feet, with stems as thick as those of the sugar cane (Sac- charum ofiBcinarum.) M- Vilmorin, also, says that, in a collection of seeds sent to the Museum of Natural History at Paris, in 1840, by M. d'Abadie, there were thirty kinds of sorghum, among the growth of which he particularly recognised several plants having stems of a saccharine flavor. Others are of the opinion, that the common broom corn (Holcus saccharutus,) the chocolate or Guinea corn, (Sorghum vul- gare,j and the Chinese sugar cane, (Sor- ghum saccharatnm,) allof which, containing more or less saccharine matter, belong to the same species, but are variations caused by differences of soil and climate, or by a disposition to sport, after the manner of In- dian corn and other plants under cultiva- tion. The Chinese sugar cane, however, differs from the others, in containing a far larger propoit on of juice, and consequently is more valuable for fodder and other eco- nomical uses. In 1766, a plant analogous to the one in question, was experimented upon at Flor- ence, in Italy, by Fietro Arduiho, for the extraction of sugar; yet it must have been of a different variety, as he describes its seeds as of a clear brown color, while those of the Chinese sugarcane are of a shining jet black, and in appearance identical with those of the Sorghum vulgare, of the old collections, DESCRIPTIOX AND HABIT OF GROWTH. The Chinese sugar cane, when cultivated on ordinary laud, in the United States, some- what after the manner of broom corn, grows to a heisiht of from 8 to 16 feet, while in Europe it does not attain much more than half of this altitude. Its stems are straight and smooth, often covered with a white bloom, or down, having leaves somewhat flexuous, falling over and greatly resembling in appearance those of Indian corn, but more elegant in form. When cultivated in hills, containing eight or ten stalks each, it puts forth at its top a conical panicle of dense flowers, green at first, but changing into vio- let shades, and finally into dark purple, at maturity. In France and the central and northern sections of the United States, it has thus far proved an annual; but from ob- servations made by M. Yilmorin, as well as experiments in our southern Stages, it is con- jectured that, from the vigor and fullness of the lower part of the stalks, in autumn, by protecting them during the winter, they would produce new plants the following spring. It stands drought far better than Indian corn, and will resist the effects of con- siderable frost without injury, after the pan- icles appear, but not in its younger and more tender state. If suffered to remain in the field after the seeds have ripened' and have been removed, where the season is sufficiently warm and long, new panicles will shoot out at the topmost joints, one or more to each stalk, and mature a second crop of seeds. The average yield of seed to each panicle is at least a gill. CULTIVATION. Since its introduction into this country, the Chinese sugar cane has proved itself well adapted to. our geographical range of, Indian corn. It is of easy cultivation, be- ing similar to that of maize or broom corn, but will prosper in a much poorer soil. It does not succeed so well, however, when sown broadcast with the view of producing foJder, as it will not grow to mueh more than one-half of its usual height. If the seeds arc planted in May, ia the Middle States, or still earlier at the South, two crops of fodder can be grown in a season from the Same roots — the first one in June or July, to be cut before the panicles ap- w^i^- THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 31 pear, which would be green and succulent, like young Indian corn — and the other a month or two latter, at the time, or before, the seed is fully matured. In the extreme Northern S'ates, where the season, is too short and cool for i^ to ripen in the open air, the cultivator will necessarily have to ob- tain his seed from regions further South. If it were important for him to raise iiis own seed, he could start the plants under glass, in the spring, and remove them to the field or garden about the period of planting Indi- an corn, after which they would fully mature. One quart of seeds are found to be sufficient for an acre. If the soil be indiferent or poor, they may be sown in rows or drills about 3 feet apart, with the plants lO to 12 inches asunder; but if the soil be rich, they may be planted in hills, five or more seeds to each, 4 or 5 feet apart in one direction, and 3 or 4 in the other. The plants may be worked or hoed twice in the coarse of the season, in a similar manner to Indian corn. Any Backers or superfluous shoots, which may spring up, may be removed. The seed should not be harvested before it acquires a dark or black hue. If the plants lodge, or full to the ground, by the excessive weight of the heads, during storms of wind or rain, before the seed matures, chey may remain for weeks without injury. In collecting the seed, a convenient method is to cut off the stalks about a foot below the panicles, tie them up in bunches of twenty-five, and sus- pend them in any secure, airy place, shelter- ed from rain. If intended solely for fodder, the first crop should be cut just before the panicles would appear, and the second, as soon as the seed arrives at the milky stage. It may be tied up in bundles, shocked and cured, like the tops or stalks. of Indian corn. If not intended to be employed for any oth- er ecoonomical use, after the seed has been removed, and the weather be cool, and the average temperature of the day does not ex- ceed 45 deg or 50 deg F., the stalks may be cut up close to the ground, tied in bundles, collected into shocks, or stowed in a mass in a succulent state, for fodder in sheds or barns, where they will keep without injury, if desired, until spring, In this condition, however, the lower parts of the stalks will be found ^o be quite hard and woody, and will require to be chopped into small pieces for feeding. Precaution. — Particular care should be observed not to cultivate tiiis plant in the vicinity of Dourah corn, Guinea corn, nor broom-corn, as it hybridises or mixes freely with these plants, which would render the seeds of the product unfit for sowing. Yours, very respectfully, CHARLES MASON, Com'r. «•» Foreign Demand for American Prodnee. The foreign demand for American produce greatly influences the home prices. The Cin- cionati Gazette has an article' on this subject containing facts and specalatioss of maeh inter- est. An investigation proves that the produc- tion of live animals in the Uaited States does not increase in proportion to oar population; and, indeed, in some of the older States that there bad been an actual decrease between 1840 and 1850. This fact, says the Gazette, explains in a meas- ure, the apparent mystery connscted with the market for bread stufis and provisions, and wh\ch for several years past has pozzled the most shrewd and best informed operators. From a superficial view of the progress oi ag- riculture in the United States, it might appear that our products increased more rapidly than the population; such, however, is not the fact. It is true, that the quantity of land sold by tht government has been very large, but the purchase of land is one thing and the cultivation of land is another. Tjae increase of population has been greater than the increase of lire animals. The same is probably trne of breadstafia, but upon this point we are not yet prepared to speEtk. This, as already remarked explains in part the mystery connected with the present condition of our markets, inasmuch as it accounts for the high prices that have for several years past prevailed throughout the country for hog products, and indeed all kinds of domestic provisions. Connected with this, however, is another feature of importance, and one which has exer- cised, and must continue to exercise, a great in- fluence upon prices of produce. We refer to the foreign demand. We now present a statement, prepared from official sources, showing the value of hog pro- products, viz: hogs, pork, baeon and hams; and bread-stuffs, viz: corn, corn-meal, wheat, flour, rye meal, rye, oat??, Src, rice, biscuit, and pota- toes, exported from the United States, each fiscal year, from 1840 to 1855, both inclusive: Years. Hog Trodncts. Provisions. 1840 $1,894,894 $15,676,066 1841 2,621.637 12,420,466 1842 2,629,403 11,841,407 1843 2,120.020 6,922,083 1844 3,236,479 . 11,187,872 1845 2.991,284 9,779,212 1846 3,883,884 19.061,362 1847 6,630,842 66,977,395 1848..... 9,003,272 25,097,003 1849 9,245,885 26,648,468 1850 7,550,287 • 16,797,419 1851 4.368,015 16,708.427 1852 3,765,470 19,842,948 1853 6.202.324 23.686,101 1854 11,061,015 61,138,913 1855 11,690,100 28,499,323 BBi 32 THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. The figures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1856, we have sot at hand. These would show a large iacrease over 1855/ The aggregate value of breadstuffj and pravisions exported for the last year has been published. It ia $77,187, 301. This includes the produetB of beef a« well as hoga. The value of the hog products for the j year, however, may be estimated at 315,000,000. It is thus seen that the demand from abroad for the product of the hog, has, with a few ex- ceptions, steadily increased since 1840. Prior to that year, the demand was insiffnificant. The total value ot the exports from 1821 to 1840 did not exceed in any year $2,000,000, and it reach- ed that amount only in 1833. Its increase com- menced with 1840. The value of export* in 1821 was $1,354,116, while in 1839 it was only $1,777,330. The average for the twenty years preceding 1840 was about $1 ,500,000. The. fel- lowiag figures show the quantities of lard aud l)acon exported at different periods from 1821 to the present time: Bacon lbs. I^rd lbs. Forth* year 1821 1,607,506 3,996,561 do' 1831 1,477,446 do 1841 2,764,617 do 1851 18,027,302 do 1865 38,188,989 6,963,516 10,597,654 19,683,082 39,043,049 coBtinusd, and we find English operators busy in all the Western pork markets securing mid- les. It is evident tharefore, that the exports of the current year will be large, and in value, if not in quantity, they promise to equal those of 1855-56. We have not presented these facta with a view to stimulate the pork market. It needs no stimulant. It is alraady dangerously inflated, and it is by n« meaBS certain that with the foreign demand anticipated, the season will prove a profitable on«; but aside from this, the facts presented are important, and should be un- derstood. They indicate clearly the tendency of our trade, and are sufficient to stimulate the productive energies of the country. The increase in pork was also large, but not 80 great, in proportion, as lard and bacon. The coneluaion to be drawn from these fact is this: Europe is every year becoming more de- pendent upon this country for provisions, and a very large proportion of the hog products of the United States will coatiaue to find a market in the Old World, regardless of prices. Most of the nations of Europe are densely populated, and their lands are already cultivated to the highest extreme. There is no room, therefore, for in- crease in agricultural products; yet the popula- tion is of course swelling, and this forces the people of Europe to look to the United States for food to meet their increasing wants. The de- mand fluctuates as the crops prove full or short, and prices rule high or low, but ia any event the increase in our exports of domestic produce to Europe must continue. High prices of course influence the consumption at home and abroad, and more in Europe than in this country; but for a heavy draft upon our resources, even at current rates, we may rely; and to a more rapid increase in our agricultural products than has recently been experienced, we must look for cheaper food in the domestic markets. .Last year Eoglaud and France purchased largely of our brcadstufls and provisions. This was at- tributed to war influences. This year, however, with a peace establishment, heavy purchases are Chinese Sugar Cane. We give a valuable communication on this new plant from J. 0. Obth, Esq., of Wabash county. The facts in his communication are derived from his own experience. To the Editors 0/ the Illinois Farmer : Just at this time nothing can be brought be- fore the farming community of more interest than some reliable information about the newly introduced plant, the Chinese Sugar Cane, or Sugar Millet. I planted the seed of this plant in 1855, and again in 1856— and am fully satis- fied with the result of my experiments with it. It wants no extra cultivation, and any one who understands the cultivation of Indian corn knows all about raising Sugar Millet, I am satisfied that it should be pknted in the same manner, and after planting attended like corn. The only difficulty I found was in knowing the time when it should be cut for boiling. I made several experiments, and am fully convinced that it should not b6 cut until the seed has fairly turned black, and has nearly or altogether dried off and hardened. It may be cut sooner, but the syrup will never attain a clear, and proper color; it remains cloudy and murky. But if left stand- ing until it is fairly ripe, the syrup will become 01 a beautiful clea.r color, equal to the best New Orleans reboiled, with a pleasant and e-Kcellent flavor. Cut too early, the flavor is musty and easily betrays the fact, that it was cut before ripening. It may, however, stand 10 to 14 days after it is ripe, without any particular injury. From trials I made I feel certain that as a fod- der it cannot be surpassed by anything else we can raise, either ia a green or dry state. Plant as early as frosts will permit, to insure a well ripened crop, and if you wish to grind, plant successively until the middle of May. THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 33 In pail of saccharine matter, my experiments have proved that the average stalks produced one pint of juice. — a few large ones produced a quart each. In Wabash county a few staiks were raised 22 feet long and 2 1-2 inches In di- ameter. But they were uncommonly large. Careful measurement proved that the juice con- tains not less tnan 16 per cent of saccharine matter, and that one pound of sugar can be made from every six pounds of the juice. This state- ment and all my experiments warrant me in saying that from 150 to 250 gallons of syrup may be made from an acre, accordinn: to the quality of the land on which it is planted. I ground upon a mill constructed of two rol- lers, of hard timber, plain surface, 15 inches di'^ra- eter and 18 long, put up verLica'lj, in the same manner as the old fashioned apple mill, and key- ed together by means of followers. The horse was attached to a beam placed on the top of one of them like the apple mil!. The stalk was pressed through these rollers, and a trough or tub underneath canorht up the sap as it was ex- pressed by the rollers. This is the cheapest and most effective miil upon a small scale. Bat is not large enough to grind a, large crop. Hori- zontal rollers made of cast iron would be the best, but require a separate horse power, and vfould of course be more costly. The mill used need not exceed in cost ^10. "Whatever doubts I might have had as to the saeceas of this plant, I am fully satisSc-d now, that it will more than prove to the Northern States what sugar cane has to the South and the Gulf Islands. The stalk contains more juice, and according to the tests of Mr. Peters, of Georgia, contains a larger percent, of saccharine matter. In 1855 I ripened it from a planting as late as the 25Lh May, but in 1853 that portion which was planted so late did not ripen, owing to the fact that we had a killing frost a month earlier than usual. I am anxious to diEtribute the seed as far as possible, so that this season every farmer in the country can procure a sufficient quantity to make his own sugar. To all post paid applications, with a six cent postage stamp inclosed, (to pay return po.stage.) I will forward a quantity sufficient to plant a quarter of an acre. This> with care, planting not more than three or (our in a hill, will pro- duce from eight to ten bushels of seed. Address me at McOleary's BluS, Wabash county, Illinois. JOS. C.ORTH, Scarcity and Cost of Provisions. There is room for much reflection ia the high price of provisions, — in the clearness of human sustenauce, that prevails so general- ly over the world. In early times, through the records of all history, men have suffered from the want of food; the Patriarchs went into Egypt, or sent there, after corn ; and Egypt was afterwards visited with a famine. The inhabitants of India and China, forming the balk of the Asiatics, are not a well fed people, — flesh being almost unknown to them; and in the latter country, snakes and reptiles are exhibited in the market stalls of the great cities, and are readily taken by those who have the povrer wherewithal to buy. In Europe there are few countries where the iov.er or middle classes have the power of much selection in the quality or quantity of their food. Indians and the bar- barous, all the world over, are celebrated for the precariousness with which they live; the want of nutriment; the abstinence they suf- fer; the obstacles they surmount, at all times^ in the keeping of the body together. In this country, until of late years, we have prided ourselves upon the general abundance of food ; but at this time there is much complaint, in every direction, and much sufiering in consequence of the dear- ness, and therefore general scarcity, of our supplies. Though seed time and harvest are interrupted by droughts, by contingencies that man cannot compass, by absolute fam- ines; yet we are not prepared to arraign, the providence of God for the cause of this limited dispensation of the prime necessar- ies of life. "We must seek for its solution in our own limited views of what is right in the premises; in our short comings; in our improvidence; in our ignorance; in our pos- itive viciousncss; — but quite as much we think in the very plethora of our abund- ance, and to which we will now address our selves. The earth teems with sufficient sus- tenance for countless millions more of in- habitants than now dwell upon its face. Taking the more Christian and civilized por- tions of men, for our data, we find that Europe in the Middle Ages, after the down- fall of the Roman Empire, assumed the feudal form for its society; and this form is probably the ground work of our present civilization, substantially the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few. In England, vast estates, the greater por- tion «f the country, ie held by a few in- dividuals, some of them of fabulous wealth; and these domains that might feed the hungry millions, are given over to deer parks, and to purposes of waste so far as nine tenths of their product is concerned. On the Con- tinent of Europe land is monopolized in much the same way, or subjected to such taxation to sustain monarchips and aristocracies, the titled rich and the titled poor, the debts growing out of wars and dissensions that al©ne concerned these interests, that no fair remnnerption accrues to the struggling and unnoticed poor. In this country our feudalism consists in paying undue respect to wealth, — in the all absorbing attention that is given to riches, — putting into disdain all other human con- cerns. To get rich is the one thing need- ful, and as there are only a few in compar- ison to the great body of the people who possess the requisite talents and tendencies to accumulate, these few are fast getting possession of the property of the country; inequalities are yearly getting broader. To possess land, to possess unlimited quantities of it, to hold it in an uncultivated state, and for children and children's children, who do not need it, and would be all the better without it, — is the mania of our countrymen, — is our madness. It is worse than this, — it is driving the poor and those of moderate means away from the Eastern States, away even from the Western States, toward the setting sun, where they find that the specu- lator, with the visage of Shylock, has al- ready preceded them; and sections held now in the sparsest districts, not far from the Rocky Mountains, are much higher in price than any product of the soil could justify or remunerate. We know of nothing that can alter this condition of things; no legislation can reach it; no communist associations or socialist sentiments, are worth a straw to remedy it; it concerns alone our moral nature; it con- cerns a higher purpose of the individual life than we have yet reached; it resolves itself into more moderate desires on the part of men in reference to wealth ; it resolves itself into a higher Christianity than the earth has yet seen. If men possess and centre in themselves so much that might belong and be useful to others, we may expect that hunger and destitution will stalk the earth. The poor we shall always have with us, says the inspired testimony; but they may be re- duced to the most harmless proportions, if the inequalities of human condition on the upward side were restrained by some rational check, were tempered more to the matter of fact demands of life. To step away from the scene of active absorbing gain, to give place to others when fears of present or prospective want are not to be thought of — and they would be less thought of in a more equal condition of life — would make this earth an Eden, as the pretty song says, and give opportunity for other labors, other duties, other work. With vast properties their arises a horde of dependent beings as a necessary sequence, and through our desire for accumulation we are but repeating a condition of society that makes the old world so repulsive to us. Industry is employed too much in worthless things, to minister to desires that are no part of our necessities, to tastes that are an utter waste of labor, that neither exalt nor purify our manhood; and so long as we adhere to this course the bread question will find it- self as much embarrassed as by the influx of the precious metals, the draughts and inun- dations, the famines and adverse seasons, that now so much occupy our attention. -••►- When a daughter remarks : — Mother, I would not hire help, for I can assist you to do all the work in the kitchen," set it down that she will make a good wife. -*•*- Both erudition and agriculture ought to be eecouraged by government; wit and manufac- tures wiU come of themselves. Too much sensibility creates unhappiness; too much insensibility creates crime. THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. 35 THE GEAZIER. Arab Horses. We find a most interesting letter from one of a party of three Americans, who recent- ly visited Palestine, Syria, Damascus and the homes of the Bedouin Arabs, for the purpose of obtaining and bringing to Ken- tucky iome horses of pure Arab blood. One of these gentlemen was A. K. Rich- ards, well known in Kentucky, as the owner and breeder of fine horses. The whole let- ter is interesting, but we have only room for that portion of it directly relating to oar subject. The letter is dated at "Gavston near Liverpool." The writer says — "Tou are doubtless acquainted with A. K. Richards, the importer of some Arab horses a few years ago, and the owner of »ome of the best stock in America — Peytona, Blonde and many others. It has ever been his opinion that the Arab horse is superior to every race in the world, either for racing, riding, or, crossed with the proper kind of mares, for carriage purposes. Although the importation he made was much approved by the best judges, he was still dissatified, and determined to make another For this , purpose we went to Europe, and being joined by Mr. Troye, traveled through England and France expressly to examine and compare the hones of those two countries, and also to see the character of the importations made from the East, as Arab horses. We saw no Arabs in England that we consider- ed thorough-bred, and but two in France. These belonged to the Emperor. We saw a great many called Arabs, and have since seen hundreds such in Syria; but they are a mixture of the Arab, Turkish and Koord races. We went to Turkey, and thence to Syria. We traveled through every part of Palestine and Western Syria, without meet- ing with a single horse that would do to import. Having stayed a few months in Damascus to gain some knowledge of the Arabic, of the Bedouin tribes, &c., we launched out into these wild tribes East and South of Damascus dressed as Bedouin Sheiks, and well armed with Colt's revolvers and Minie Rifles. Mr. Troye was very hard to please, for in the course of his pro- fession you know he has had much to do with the horse, and is a thorough judge. We would sometimes see an animal that looked perfect, but something would be wrong about the pedigree, and however given a Bedouin may generally be to lying, he will always speak the truth about his Jiorse. An oath, too, is always required by the buyer from the owner, and from the Sheik of the tribe. Thus we would find about six out of ten whose pedigree could not be established. They have three varie- ties— the noble, the doubtful, and the ked- desh," or mixed. The nobl« races are five — the Coheylan and Sacklowee beiug con- sidered the best — the former for bottom, the latter for speed — and these, of course, bring the highest prices. The sum demanded for a fine mare is sometimes incredible to those unaccustomed to the Bedouin's estimation of an extraordinary animal. I will give you an instance of this kind, I saw a mare of the most symmetrical form and the purest blood. I wished to purchase her. A Be- douin never fixes a price, but leaves you to bid until he is satisfied with the. offer. I commenced bidding, and at last went to what I considered a very extravagant price ; but still the savage merely shook his head and showed his teeth . Then I asked him if he wouldn't sell her if I doubled my offer. He threw out his arm, and pointing towards her, asked me if I could load her with gold. I told him that was far beyond my means. "Well," said he, "if you could the gold would still be yours, the mare mine. Such is the Bedouin's appreciation of his horse. And yet that same mare stood chained in front of the tent, exposed to cold nights and rains, or ready at any time for a run of twenty miles over the burning sands of the desert. We at last selected two stallions and a yearling colt. One of the stallions and the colt are Nesjda bred, of the most perfect forms and purest pedigrees; the former, a dark gray, being of the Coheylan; the latter a dark chestnut, three years old, also of the same race. The other stallion is a rich bay, nearly four years old. bred near Palmyra, of the Sacklewee race . This horse Mr. Troye considers one of the most perfect animals he ever saw. He is very much like the Darley Arabian, according to the plates we have seen, and resembles Wes<" Australian, but is a much more blood-like horse. I have, also a magnificent mare. I am now going to show why the Arab horse has been so underrated since the time of the Godolphin or Darley Arabian. If, in the deserts, six out of ten, as we found, are not thoroughbred, is it probable that a thoroughbred is often to be found in the town and villages of Syria or Egypt? When a Bedouin visits a towii he never rides a fine horse, and this we often observed. There is pii( i,^ii. II I jniqujiJ )•"» iiWf^^'*. ■!> , ■ ' " ". fl^' :-'^ — ijr, ■ •■• -r ^yT^-r^i " - •■^ ^' w •^ ^ «.• rjTT^V^ T»y>-;w-:> a 3G THE ILLINOIS FARMER. little comraunication between lliera and townsmen, whom they despise, and frcm traders they always exact a heavy tribnte. They are jealous of strangers, few venlnriu"- among them. A Bedouin holds a thorough" bred at many times the value of any other horse which may look equally well, tliough impure, and therefore pure bred animals a'l-e seldom sold. Purchases are jjenerally made in the towns and villages by Europeans from traders who would not be hkely to pay so high for pedigree when they can make out one themselves to answer every purpose. I will cite two instances that occurred whilst I was in Syria. An English gentleman in Damascus told me one day that he had pur- chased two Arabs and intended to carry them to England. He wished me to seo them and give my opinion about them. He could not understand why I was so much amused at the stable. I told him he had been "done." One was a little Egyptian pony, the other an ordinary Syrian 'horse, He sold them. The other was a horse that came on the same sleamer with me, belong- ing to Lord P n, and will doubtless pass in E'lgland luv anything bnf a very common horse of Syria. Just such, lam inclined to believe, have been the character of importa- tions for the last fifty years; and I am sus- . tained by Mr. Layard, who, at Muevah and I among the Bedouin tribes, had a good op- i portunity for observation. i This selection has been made with refer- I ence to size, symmetry, and pedigree, and if } our stock are not improved, it will be use- less lo lalk any more of the Arab for im- ■ proviug the racing stock. These hor.ses will iicTer do to train, for they have been broken with the severe cnrb-bit, which shortens a horse's stride. Mr. Richards, whether suc- cessful or not, deserves great credit for ]m efforts to improve our race of noble animals. I am staying here several weeks to rest my animals, previous to shipping them to New Orleans on the "Saltan," which leaves on the 10th of August. An Arab groom goes with them. Crowds of people are here daily to see them. Judges give a very favorable opinion of them in the papers, and say that such have never been brought to England. '-49* The love of glory can only create a hero; the contempt of it creates great men. The errors of great men, and the good deeds ;^f reprobates, should not be reckoned in our estimates of their respective characters. It is sometimes quite onpugh for a man to feign ignorance of that which he knows, to gain the reputation of knowing that of which he is ignorant. Illinois Stock Importing Association. On the 9i.h of January, there was organ- ized in this city an Association, the object of which is briefly expressed in the caption to this article. It is intended as an institu- tion to embrace the whole State, and sub- scriptions to its stock are invited from every part of Illinois. We need not say that the object is an important one. That is self- evident. Illinois is fast becoming a leading. stock-raising State. Our climate, our soil, the excellence of our native and cultivated grasses, compel us to believe, tliat IlliDois may justly aspire to compete with any State in the Union in the advantages of rearing stock. What we want now is to secure the best breeds of every variety for propagation. If these are to be found in Europe, (and it I is believed that they are,) we want them in Illinois. To secure this great object, is the des'gn of this Association; and the appea[ is made to our enterprising aud progressive farmers to add to the stock of this Associa- tion, and by doing so the object will most certainly be accomplished. ' Men have taken hold of the matter in this city who do not know the world "fail." The Constitution, he, will be found be- low: 1st. This Association shall be styled "The Illinois Stock Importing Association." 2d. The object of the Association shall be the selection, purchase, and importation into this State from Europe of such domestic animals, aa may seem to be required by the interests of the stock growers of Illinois. 3d. The Capitol Stock of this Associotion shall be Twenty-live thousand dollars— a sub- scription of one hundred dollars to constitute one si)are— and each stock-holder to be entitled to cast one vote in all meetings of the stock- holders for each share he may hold. 4th. The officers of this Association shall be one President, one Secretary and one Treasur- er, whose duHes shall be those usually apper- taining to their respective offices. 5th. The first election of officers shall be pro tempore — except that of Secretary whose duty it shall be forthwith to open books for subscrip- tion to the Capital Stock of this Association, at his office in the city of Springfield. fith. Whenever the simi often thousand dol- laxs shall be subscribed to the Capital Stock of this Association, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to give notice by mail or otherwise, to trie stock-holders to convene at the city of Springfield, at some specified day for the pnr- p(.S3 of transacting such business as may be jn!'^" > g?^"^'^ -^T^ . ?>*«^tf-^r?y?'-T¥^x ^ll^ivi<^.iiukii.«u> n. THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 37 presented for their consideration — at which meeting the majority of those stockholders pres- ent shall elect permanent officers for this Asso- ciation, and chose a committee ef three whose duty it shall be under the instructions of this Association to select, purchase and import such animals as the Association may direct^provi- ded that no person shall be entitled to vote at this or any subsequent meeting w lo shall not heve paid in to the Treasiirer at least live per cent upon the amount of his subscription. 7th. All stock imported by this company shall be sold at public auction in the city of Springfield as soon after the arrival of the same within the limits of this State, as due notice of such sale can be given, and upon such terms as a majority of the stock-holders present at the meeting referred to in the Sixth rule may determine — and the proceeds of such sale be divided among the stock-holders in proportion to their respective subscriptions after deduct- ing the entire expenses of the importation. 8th. The stockholders present at the meet- ing referred to in the Sixth rule shall designate the times at which those who have subscribed to the Capital Stock of this Association shall be required to pay to fhe Treasurer the unpaid balances of their respective subscriptions. — Any stock-holder failing to pay the remaining balance upon his subscription as may be di- rected by resolution of this association, shall if the association shall so order, forfeit his stock to this association upon such terms as the asso- ciation may determine-provided, however, that there shall be no forfeiture of stock unless no- ' tice of at least twenty days shall be given by publication in some of the newspapers in Springfield of the time and place at which the unpaid stock shall be required to b« paid. NO. OF TOTAL BCBSCRIBEES. COUNTIES. SHARES. BUB. James N. Brown Sangamon 10 $1,000 A.G.Carl Champaign 10 1,000 Calif &Jacoby Piatt and Sangamon 10 1,000 John Williams Saugamon 10 1,000 K. C. Johns Maoon 5 600 Joseph Stockdale Sangamon 5 600 E. S. Hull Madison 1 100 Washington lies Sangamon 5 600 George W. Chattarton Sangamon 2 200 James M.Hill Cass 5 500 W. Brown Morgan 5 500 J. C. Crowder Sangamon 1 100 John C. Maxcy Sangamon I 100 Cyrus W. Webster Marion 5 500 E. Stevenson Morgan 5 600 J.J.Elliott Sangamon 1 100, S. Dunlap Morgan 5 500 S. A. Bnckmaster Madison 5 500 John Williams Sangamon 6 600 James W. Singleton Adams 3 300 John Wood Adams 10 1,000 E. Rigney Sangamon 3 300 John H. Bro'n'n Sangamon 2 200 David A. Brown Sangamon 2 200 J. S. Smith & D. Brown Sangamon 4 400 J. T. Smith Sangamon 2 200 JohuB. Ousley Sangamon 5 600 Tl^nas S. Mather Sangamon 1 100 JolR Gatewood Piatt 5 500 William Rea Macon 5 600 E. B. Hitt&Co Scott 13 1,300 The Post ofBce address of the Officers of the Association are as follows: JAS. N. BROWN, President, Berlin, Sangamon County, 111. Jno. Williams, Treasurer, Springfield, 111. Geo. W. Chatterton, Sec'y, " " From the Ohio Farmer. Close Breeding — Its Effects, and the Cause Thereof. ■ There is an impression that in-and-in breeding produces an inevitable deteriora- tion, and that this is made manifest in a cer- tain and invariable manner. This dogma has passed into certain sciences — physiology for example; and then diffusing itself over the face of society again, re-appears contin- ually in newspapers. I have expressed my conviction of the total erroneousness of the common opinion, in some articles which my good friend Mr. Brown permitted me to publish about a year since in the Ohio Farmer, on the culture of domestic animals. Repeated conversations since that time, both with practical and scientific men, have led me to suppose that I would have done well tu have attempted, at that time, a more pre- cise explanation of the real nature of those evils which are often seen to attend extreme in-and-in breeding, and a more distinct statement of the real working of the prac- tice, both for good and for evil . It is this which I now propose to myself. Nature, if left to herself, acts with invaria- ble steadfastness; and this is the first and the grand principle of all re-production. It is culture, ^'using the word in its widest sense.) which seduces nature into all her variations; and this is the second and crown- ing principle of all re-production. With these two, we can do all that is doable; without both of them, we can do nothing. Uuder the variations produced by culture, it is pure blood — high breeding, which stands in the place, and represents the stead- fastness which nature manifests when left to herself. Culture is tantamount to variation; pure blood is the only safeguard under and against endless variations under culture. lu other words, high bred is steadfastness un- der culture. Such is the state of the case, as it comes into the hands of the breeder. If he com- prehends and respects nature under both of the aspects I have presented, she will do for him everything in her power. If he abuses, tortures, insults, neglects, and crosses her, why, he must expect to rule her with infinite rifior and intelligence, or to be defeated by her at last. What then, will she say and do, when obliged persistently to breed extremely close? Look at the first flock of partridges or crows you happen to see; look at a herd of buffalo or deer; look any where upon nature, pure and simple, and she responds with perfect distinctness. This is what she will do: she r- 38 THE ILLINOIS FARMEK will make the most perfect type of which the materials are capable, ondor the circum- stancei; and then ishe will re-produce that type with perfect distinctness. In reach- ing these resalts, first, she will intensify the blood; second, she will cast ont heterogene- oas elements which are accidental; thirdly, she will make prominent, elements that are inherent ; fourthly, and every now and then, she will throw out some individual mark to show that the work is in progress, but not finished. Each one of the four statements, in that last sentence, if true, and I am sure it is, is of supreme importance to the breeder. The four statements cover the entire prin- ciples and results of close breeding, consider- ed scientifically and considered practically. But now coraes the trouble. Beyond a doubt, certain familits have deteriorated under close breeding ; what then? The close breeding did it. True enough, in one sense, but not in the common one. Close breed- ing did it, by revealing, intensifying, and making permanent, the inherent evils pre- dominant in the original blood, and obscured by certain previous crosses. It ruined your stock, not by making it base, but by reveal- ing how base it was; and the remedy is, not to quit that mode of breeding, but to quit breeding creatures that cannot stand that test. It is easy to get better blood; it is impossible to change the laws of nature. Men have rushed to a superficial conclu- sion, because it was obvious. ■• The true con- clusion lay in the opposite direction. Certain families of men and of inferior animals are said to be ruined by too close breeding. If they should say, the close breeding brought out the original staple, and it prov- ed, after being stript of some better crosses, to be worthless, they would hit the mark. All mixtures give way, under persistent close breeding; if tne thing is dross at the foundation, it will turn up dross; if gold, it will turn up gold. And to my notion, all history, from that of universal man, down- wards, and all philosophy, the most abstract and the most practical, alike incontestibly establish the distinct and overwhelming preference of nature for what is pure and unmixed in all reproductive processes; and her positive refusal to have anything to do with mixtures, even in inert matter, except upon terms so rigorous, that they form the fundamental laws of many of the experi- mental sciences. How close? As to man, the word of God has clearly defined, in great detail ; and the laws of Christian States follow it, in general. As to all inferior creatures, each must be judged after its kind; each must be subjected to culture, before the precise de- grees of closeness, and the exact extent of persistency can be fixed, even approximate- ly. The first point is undeniably and long ago reached, to-wit: breed within the limit of pure blood. The second point is, that which is now considered ; shall we keep to the inner, or the onter use of thatimpossibje limit? All the old breeders who left any mark, said, keep to the inner edge ; all the ambitious young ones, seem to be hunting for what they call distinct crosses on the outer edge. What we ought to do, depends on what we seek. If we seek a many sided man or animal, we had better keep to the outer edge, if we want a specialty, we had better keep to the inner edge. If we seek only, and in general, a fine horse, or bull, or ram, we may as well keep pretty far out, but still in pure blood; but if we want the best race horse, the best Durham bull, the best Saxon ram, or the like, we had better keep very close indeed to the inside edge of the charmed circle of blood which represents to us, under culture, the steadfastness of the re-productive power of nature. They who honor me by reading these few lines on a very important topic, will be pleased to observe that I do not attempt to do more tlian state clearly, and illustrate simply, the opinions I favor. If I am dis- tinctly understood, it is all I desire, or at- tempt now ; not imagining for a moment, that I have done more, than by that means to awaken the attention of enlightened men to the more careful consideration of a mat- ter, which is, I fear, drifting in a wrong direction. <•• The Murdek Mania. — A murder trial has re- cently taken place at Maidstone, England, where the plea of murder monomania was set up in behalf of the prisoner. Society is deeply indebted to the judge, Mr. BaronBramwill, for the plain spoken way in which, in his charge to the jury, he demolished this defence : "If he understood the meaning of the term 'homicidal monomania,' it was that the man en- tertained the bad desire to kill another and could not control it; and he would only observe, that if it were to go forth that any man who killed another would escape the consequences if he established such a fact, it would have a most dangerous effect upon society; and it appeared to him that the object of the law was to ch^^ such feelings, and to teach those who were base enough to entertain them, that certain punish- ment would follow if they carried them out. The real questions they had to consider were whether the prisoner knew the nature of the act he was committing; and whether he knew it was a wrong act; and if so, it would be their duty to say that he was gmlty." J •^.^ ,-j.. '^';^?^»^7's?'rf:;^:^^sss«^*3'5f^^5''^?^17^'^^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 39 HQETICULTIJRAL. Illinois Fruit Cnltwe. At the meeting of the Illinois State Hor- ticultural Society held at Decatur ou the l7tli ult., the committee appointed to ex- amine fruits made the foUovring report on the specimens presented by Dr. B. P. Long of Alton: Newton Pippin — Has not succeeded well North. Decided true. Dr. Long says: Medium productive, slow coming in to bearing; second only to Lady in price; keeps until March. President says: Early bearer; keeps without decay until May in cool cellar. Best single variety for latitude of Alton. Winter Wine — Distinct from Wine or Wine Sap — deep red; showy; size small. Dr. Long says productive; bears regular; best in quality. Committee say only good. Rawle's Janet — True. Dr. Long says enormous bearer: requiring thinning; the most popular winter apple, with proper at- tention in thinning. Committee coincide. Gilpin or Small Romanite — Good for ' baking and cider, and will always sell in spring. Milam Apple — True; great bearer- third quality; small. Pryor's Red — True ; late fall and early winter; productive; profitable for market. Lady Apple— True; late coming into bearing; commands high price in market. Winter Greening — Dr. Long says great bearer; does not like it; never ripens well; will regraft in the spring. A. and F. Starr of Alton, presented: Newton Pippin — True. Gilpin, Lady Apple, Rawles Janet, also Pennock or Big Romanite — True, worthless. White Belleflower — True; very good. King of Alton — Worthless. Red Canada — True; President says best e|fly winter for latitude of Alton. Baldwin Apple — True; variable; at the North winter; very good; fall at Alton. Wine Sap — One of the most valuable winter apples; quality best; very productive throughout the State; hardy. The following remarks upon the subject of grafting, may be of benefit to some of our readers, and will interest all. Grafting the one year old Mazzard Cher- ry.— This operation, as described by Hon. M. L. Dunlap, differs from the ordinary mode of splice grafting in the more perfect manner in which it is effected. With a sharp knife sever the stock with a smooth sloping cut upwards at such point as will exactly correspond in size with the graft, and a similar slope downwards on the scion; place the two together so as to make a per- fect fit; then with a strong linen thread pre- viously secured to a button hole in the vest, take the end of the thread in the right hand and proceed to bind very firmly the graft to the stock, holding the scion and stock with the left hand to prevent slipping; hav- ing tied the ligature, or rather having drawn the end of it down between the graft and j stock, which has been left a little ©pen at the top to receive it, with a brush apply a thin coating of wai'm wax to exclude air and moisture; this coating of wa^j being very thin, is sufficiently transparent to admit of seeing the union of the stock and graft; they will generally be found to have united when two or more perfect leaves are formed on the graft; it will then be proper to cut the thread, which, up to this period, held the stock and scion in contact. The more perfect success of this style uf grafting stone fruits, particularly the cherry, over the or- dinary modes hitherto practised, is attribut- ed to the close contact in which the parts to be united are held, ftid to the partial obstruction of sap along the edges, causing the parts to cicatrize in a few days. This kind of grafting was practised extensively the past spring on year old stocks in the nursery rows by Messrs. Dunlap and Ells- worth, their loss not exceeding one per cent. In answer to a call, Dr. Hull stated that grafts of the peach embracing a portion of the two year's old wood could be success- fully inserted, either in the peach or plum stocks by cleft grafting, thereby making it practicable to send grafts of new and de- sirable sorts to distant places for spring use The current year's shoots when large and -.>.-■,. TV „^,. 40 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. very fine would sometimes succeed, He had seldom failed to secure a perfect union of the stalk and graft when a portion of the two year's old wood was employed. Dr. Long desired to know how grafts in- tended for distant places should be packed to prevent their shrivelling or becoming dry. Mr. Hull — First cut into conveniea lengths, immerse the cuttings in a thin solu- tion of gum shellac dissolved in alchohol; then carefully wrap each scion in cotton to protect it from bruising; it may then be sent to any part of the country in good condition. C. R. Overman had pracUsed covering the grafts with warm wax. His grafts us- ually arrived in good order. Mr. Dunlap, by request went into a minute practical description of a process of root grafting the peach, which so far as tried, he had found to be quite successful. He uses firm and well matured shoots, cuts them into couvcnient lengths, with two or three wood buds to each; he ihen selects one year old peach roots of convenient length to trans- plant woll. These pieces of roots p.re split from the side nearly through, so as to leave the bark entire on the opposite side. Hav- ing cut the graft wedging both ways, it is laid into the root and firmly bound, waxed, and the treatment the same as for root graft- ed apple trees. He believes that this kind of grafting will, when better understood, be practised in the propagation of peach trees. The best method of preserving soions was also discussed. C. ^. Overman said that he had tried all the methods that he had heard or read of, and had met with partial success in all. They must be kept fresh to succeed well. The best plan, so far as he had tried, was to cut the scions as early as admissable in the fall, then dig a hole in the ground, selecting a dry spot, in this place a box in which to put the scions, covering first with straw and then with earth. Another method was to box up wiih sawdust, nearly dry, and keep in cool cellar. For grafting- prefers roots of one year's growth. Has grafted peaches and nectarines on roots, but did not succeed well. Used the roots of one year's growth. Has had poor success in grafting pears on their roots. The roots of one year old Virginia Thorn, he had found to do well for dwarfing the pear. Dr. Haskell cut scions with the leaves on, and keeps them well by closely packing thera in bulk. Has cut the scions at all times of the winter. If frozen thaws them out carefully. Thinks the graftsfrom frozen scions do not do well. L, Ellsworth was next called upon. Keeps his scions in a cellar by planting the butts in saw-dust; do well if kept cool; best time to cut was just as the leaves were dropping; has cut at all times; if frozen must be thawed before using, the frost must be taken out by placing the scions in cool water or burying in the earth. 0. B. Galusha had tried different methods; now uses a box, closely packing them until nearly full; puts then a few strips to secure them firmly in their place; then having dug a hole in the ground, turns the box over into the hole; throws on some straw and dust to keep them from the frost. M. L. Dunlap uses saw-dust just from the logs; prefers basswood saw-dust; scions kept in a cellar, kept cool and ventilated, but not allowed to freeze, should be cut in JS'ovembor and December; terminal bud grafts succeed as well as side bud grafts, if mature; the ?iue shoots of nursery trees are generally mature; if the terminal bud is im- perfect, cut back to a sound bud; frozen seious should be thawed out gradually. : ««> From the VaUey Farmer. Shade Trees on the Prairies. With all the natural beauty of the Prairies there is a nakedness around many a farm house, that in the season of winter imparts a shudder to the beholder, and under the burn- ing sun of July the opposite sensation is very forcibly brought to mind. With proper care and fore' hought in es- tablishing nurseries of shade trees in various sections of the prairie region, not only profit- able trade might spring up with the grower, but he would have the proud satisfaction of witnessing a few years hence, the vast im- provement he had caused in the landscape, and the comfort he has been instrumental in imparting to his fellow neighbors. There ■^ Zi' TT^aCf f^;.5*T7y* '^•^r; ^;w'v-:^^™r.,'"«'^ J^PC^r^-'sprw!^.*?^"??* %^^*'';^*r^T*^^T^™*??5rvef^w»T^T=^^ n THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 41 are a variety of fast growing shade trees suitable to 611 the great blank around the many farm houses of the prairies. But all need not wait for the trees to be planted and grown in the nursery. There are thousands of native trees of large size upon the borders of the streams, and in the wood-skirts that may be removed with ihe most perfect success, if due care is only taken in the operation- We have removed trees twenty feet high and eight inches in diameter and hardly lost 5 per cent, of thera, by the removal. The proper season is now ap- proaching, and we will give the necessary directions. If the tree to be removed is large, say from four to six inches in diameter, a trench of from eighteen inches to two feet should be dug from the body, all round the kree, saving the earth about the roots entire, ex- cept on the top it maybe thrown off to the surface of the roots. Cut off the roots that come within the trench, leaving the ends smooth and clear, let tlie tree stand uatil the ball of earth around it has become so tirmly frozen that it may be handled with- out breaking. The holes to receive the trees should also be prepared and *he richest parts of the earth that is thrown out should be laid in a corupaet p'-r-, ond covered with "Stalks nr straw ro prevent it from being frozen when wr nted to fill iu around the tree. To remove the tree the tap roots must be cut, leaving the bail of- earth as large as can coiiveiiieatly be hahdU'd, or according to the size of tiie tree. Wi'h a rope .secured near tl e to;), tiie tree may be pnlieu over upon the fore axle and* wheels of a w^gon, or x coiaraoa slide ^s!ed) and hauled to the p' ice where it is to be planted. Care should be taken to bind the body of the tree with straw or corn stalks, wher-^. it ou ofs iii coulact vifirli the sled or axle of the wagon, so as not to bruise the bark. Before the tree is set, its branches should be th'iiucd and shortened, in proportion to the loss of the roots, in the act of removal. Care should be taken to cut and thin out the branches so as to leave a well balanced head, and to shorten them according to the size of the tree, from three to five feet from the stem and not according to the absurd practice of some by cutting everything close .to the body of the tree, leaving it -as bare as a bean-pole, without an eye or a bud to furnish a leaf. A tree to grow with cer- tainty, when removed, requires a proper number of vigorous buds, which are as es- sential to its growth as due portion of roots. THE DAIRY. New Phocess of Making Bcttib. — Mr. D Minthorn, of Jefferson county, exhibited at the late State Fair at WatertowD, New York, soQie samplea of very fine batter, made b/ a process which he dsscribes as follows: "This sample of butter is. made by my im- proved nieihod, whtreby every drop of wuler or buttermilk is taken out ol it by solar evapora- tion. In this process, I claim tuhe^efo perfect- ed batter makiDg,tbat batter maybe kept eweet tor several djiys. without the rancid odor caused by the decomposition of water and batter milk, that pervades moat of the butter at the present lime. " rbe following is an outline of my improved process: Firstly, in pJiurning the cream, euough ice should be put iuto ituocasionuuy, ;o make liis baiter come in crumbs; pour oil the buttermilk and wash the bfttter several times in soitice water, uolil there ceases lo be any milky appear- ance. Daring the process of washing, sboald there be a so. id lump of butter large enough to contain a ceil of fluid, that lump should be crushed while in the water, aod brokeu into a coiresponding size with the other crumbs. Lastly, wasu it in brine made of rock salt, salt- petre, soit water and icc; skitn the crumbs out off the Drine, wi;.h a sk.mmer; dram each skim- mer full weii,auu spread the crumbs of' butter oq zinc pltttes, (in cold weather, wcodea labit s will 00 'nst'^afl.} In very warm weither, tho zinc pl-^Jes shou''] be set on ice water. VVhLe the crumbs are opreau out inuji_v, ^h<-^ ■L-^ bi'tcer in the inidJie of a milk room; open all the windovva, and a cuneot of air passing over it, will evapor:»;t all the moisture ,:. wa-aiweuiher, if th(^ room Is suittiblv veoiila'ed. Care should ue taken not lo huveanv other cioisinrtf iii the room, like wjter oq the floor. Of wei dairy luraiture iu the roon.. VViieii iLe butler is perfectly dry, pack it dofrc immcdiate- 1/; let ihere be no moie work ng of it than is necessary to pp^k it solid in & jar or tab. This will ssc'jr" ULibrokeo the crystals of b»iit*r anj its oriyinal fiit>or. As near .. > I c-io ascertain, .iitri- will uu. !rxc?.ed o;.o cu.'j-' ;: sait. :o tea pounds of bdttcr, by the process ot brine saltiuff. As a general th'mg, in making: for hospitals, goaty luvdlidsand sicK peisons. the salting pro- cess should bs Gtaitted altogether. Butter siade in this way, (without laii,) if sealed iu cans or jare, and placed in au aiiuosphere or chamber of bin-oxiJe of nitrogen, I believe will keep auy practical number of years." ■^^^- To Make Yellow Buttek in Wintib.— Messrs. Editors — For a churning of ten or twelve poands of butter, take about three or four car- rots, grate them fine, and press out the juice, then pour some hot water on thera and prpss again. Take the juice thus obtained, and mix it with about a piat of new er sweet milk, and put lo the cream and churn as asaal. — Country Genilt' man. il n M i 42 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. THH FLOMST. The Hose, — This will ahvnys be regard- ed as the Queen of Flowers. In Eastern lands, and wherever civilization has at all made advances, to the rose has been assign- ed the first place among ornamental plants. Formerly there were but few varieties known in Europe and Western Asin, and those blossomed only in the spring. Within the memory of many, varieties of the Chinese Rose were brought from China, which had the quality of perpetual flowering. These have been hybrdi«ed with other Roses, and we have now at this time a class of Hardy Perpetual Roses, some of which may be found almost in constant bkom, and others blooming in Spring, in mid-i^.nmmer and in Autumn. The producing of these classes of Rosea, has been deemed one of the great- est achievements of the professional florist. Most of them come from France, but there are several of the finest which have originated in this country. They vary in color from white to the deepest crimson. A hnlf dozen can be selected that will always give satis- faction. Augustine Muuchlet, is a deep crimson. Ronton Des Fleurs, is a light crimson. Caroline de Sausal, is a delicate flesh color. Clempntine Seringe, is a dark clouded rose. Dr. L'iidley, 'u'-iglit red with a purplish centre. Dutchess of Sutherland, a pale rose. Giant dcs Battailes, a Cory crimson. Marquis Boccella, delicate rosy blush, nearly white. Ponetii, spotted or mottled. White Portland, white. There are many Bonibon Roses, which with slight protection, will withstand, out doors, the cold of our winters. Of these we have had growing in our garden many years the Hermosa, which blooms profusely and constantly, in spring, summer and autumn. There are others of this class equally hartiy. The Noisette and Tea Roses are general- ly tender and require protection; but their bloom will repay all the care and attention paid to them. There are varieties of the Bengal Rose, that will witlistard uur winters, treated as an annual. Tiic wood should be cur do>vn in the fall within si.x inches of the ground, and a mound of earth placed over them, to be removed in a; damp, cloudy day, in May, when there is no danger from frosts. They will send out strong shoots at once and be in blossom as soon os the June roses. Many of the Sengal roses are fine in shape, various in color, of most agreeable perfume, and their constant disposition to flower make them great favorites. The Moss Rose is popular with the ladies. There is now a variety of them, and some which are called perpetual. Of these the General Drouet is best. The Moss Rose is most beautiful when in bud. After they have expanded, there are many other roses which e.xcel them in fragrance and beauty. The Princess Aidelaide is one of the most jirolific iu buds, and of strong and rapid growth. Climbing Roses are beautiful in suitable situations. Of this class there are few such as the Florist would desire. Some of the hybrids of tht Prairie Rose are fine in ap- pearance. Indeed, there can scarcely any thing be more gorgeous than a large plant of the Queen of the Prairies, Mrs. Hovey, theMilledgeville.or the Baltimore Belle, cov- ered with flowers. Many of this class, how- ever, lack fiagrance~u great fault; — the Baltimore Belle is not, however, of this number, and evidently had for one of its parents a tea rose. Tlie ro^es named, how- ever, are liardy, except in the severest win- ters. They grow rapidly, and in flower command tlie admiration of all. AH the Roses we have mentioned, and numerous others, can be purchased here in the proper season, in the latter part of Feb- ruary, and afterwards through the spring, summer and fall, if wanted. -<•► The Yei^bexa. — This is one of the most lovely ornaments of the Flower Garden. A few years since, it was scarcely known in gardens, and there was only one variety. In 1827 a new variety was brought from Buenos A\ res, and since then others from dif- ferent parts of the world. They are found to hybridise freely and the varieties are now '■7. Kwv^^*«y3-'ni-J»r--^-Hi.O'''^'7W553S»CW!»?^^i7r?i ^y^l\^\i?^s«e*:X'''^''^'f.^rF!r- r^"''P*5*^p^?T»^rfsw=^Tj!B^ixTWB^ large and most beautiful. The original varieties make no show along side of their progeny. There is now in the Green Uouse of M. Doyle & Co,, near this city, in culti- vation, some fifty varieties, embracing all colors,— crimson, scarlet, blood red, striped, white, &c., &c. The cultivation of the Yerbeoa is very simple. The ground should be in good or*, der, kept moderately moist, and the jdants exposed to the sun. These plants are purr chased in pots, at very low prices, and a few of them will make a beautiful bed, which wil! furnish flowers the whole season. ■^o*- IlARnT Herbaceous Flowering Flakts AND Bui-Bous R-T-OTS. — There are many of these, a few of which planted about the yard or garden, will make a fine show, and as their roots are perennial, will give but little trouble, when once planted, in their cultiva- tion. Among these we would note: The New England Aster; Daisy, double white and red; Dielytra Spectabilis, a new and splendid plant from China; American Cow- slip; Day Lilies, copper colored^ yellow and grass leaved; Lillies, white, Chinese and tiger; Scarlet Lychnis; Forget-me-not, the true and the common; Double Feverfew; GladioluF, varieties; Rosea Achillae; Chinese and Siberian Bee Larkspur; Aconite; Peon- ies; Iris, &c. It is not supposed that these will all be required in a single garden or front grounds. Plants and flowers never look well if crowded. They require room to develope their growth and beauties. A sijigle well established plant of the Dielytra, would command admiration. True taste will direct that plants be placed in suitable positions, where they can be seen, and where they can grow, and in soils suitable to them. The Flower Garden — Annuals. — The se^ds of these cost but litLle and a few of the plants make a beautiful show. Young Misses, especially, should be induced to cul- tivate them. The beds should be prepared for them, and they should be taught 1iow to sow the seeds and to take care of the plants. This employment would be health- ful, create a fine taste, and they would learn much that would be useful to them in after time. Chiidren, girls especially, love flow- ers. God has implanted this love in them. It is a love of the beautiful in Nature. The little girl, who cannot toddle about the room, will show at once her love for flowers when placed withiu her reach. And older persons love them. Indeed, there are few ladiet, whenever the taste can be indulged^ will ever cease to love flowers. The memory of them is associated with the early seen s of childhood, and there are some, per- haps now not regarded as the most beantiful, that will bring back scenes to the memory and associates and loves, that will come to us like the green oasis on the desert of life. We love to see the pink, the larkspur, the marigold, the sweet W illiam, the lavatera, the poppy, the tassel flower, and some other flowers we could name, because of their connection with early asaociations, with a mother and sisters now resting beneath the clods of the valley. We say to the yoang, cultivate flowers. Settling Accodnts. — The close of the year siiould find every account squared np, and the farmer should be able to tell how he stands v/i th the world, and how much he is worth. This is the only satisfactory way of prosecuting any business, — the only way by which system can be introduced into our farming operations. A multitude of un- necessary articles are purchased upon credit, for want of some such settlement of accounts as every December, sliould bring with it. Every man ought to know, once a year at least, what his pecuniary ability is, and ought not to purchase anything that he has no means to psiy for. Accounts of long standing often lead to unkind fneHnffs bfctwten neighbors, and to expensive liiigaiion. If they* only run a year the items can be remeuibered by both iiiirties, and a satisfactory settlement be made. To avo"d these disputes and feuds, make annual setilements, and if you find a man that yon cannot bring into the measure, give np business dealings with him. It is far better to give up trade with him than to run the risk of permanent alienation by un- settled accounts. .>.-■ ■.- V- w^ ■■' • ■ ■ ■H'?l-- - -K '^■"■T-J7'-^«^t-7« ■i.7V9P">V! 'T"^^■,^-.--,^v■,■7^^f^J=^'*,;^J■r^v-r^■W^.■^*-^*I .Ti;--yi»i«:-,"7T»7aWif-f.^7V;T.-^m»^t^^W»^.,VT' :" ■ ..-,j.- --r-., -.--., v™ft--> fTTOJHW THE GARDENER. It will sooB be time to prepare for garden- ing. Every man knows that the ground should be put in good order, should be rich, — weii manured with well rotted maaure. When this is done, you should have fresh sound seed. Seed that has been handed dowu and carried about in boxes from year to year, though they may be had very cheap, pay poorly. * For a common garden, where you wish a few varieties of good vegetables,. — you wanf Earlv SnaoBeaus; Pole Beans: EnHv and lute Beets; Early and late Cabbage; a*few rnrro*:- Ce'ery; "r^T'v and ;:ite Cucumbers' Cref!s; Egg r.ai.t; varietio? sngar Corn; early and late samraer Lettuce • Cantaloupe ; watermelons; Onions- Parsley; Porsnins; Early and iate i^eas; Peppers; Early and 'atetlaaish; 6-. These make a good '"".'•- ieiy. ^v\^i^uc TliC ■:;:ire not tnken the pains to understand the fact, would be liLmlv to bp surpr sed at the great improvements which Utive b^en made wiihm the iast few years i;i vegeiauies. Seed G-ardners,' who make it their business to raise seeds, are constantly perfecting their vegetables. Instead of saf- fering them to degenerate, they are contin- ually improving them. An evidence of this can be seen in the seed Peas now in market — Early Emperor, Comstock's Dwarf, Champion of England, &c. Sweet Corn — Early, large and Mammoth; Cabbages — "Wakefield, Battersea, Comstock's Flat Dutch, &c., &c. ->**- The China Cane.— ^On the second day of the meeting of the National Agricultural Society at Washington, as we learn from the proceedings of the Society, Mr. J. D. Browne, of the Patent Office, was called upon for his "experience" in respect to this cane. This he gave with great readiness, tact and ability, and apparently to the gen- eral satisfaction of the numerous and intelli- gent members of the Society. Every sort of inquiry was made, and as promptly an- swered by Mr. Browne. We append the main noints in relatioa to this addition to our cultivated plants, as elicited from* the remarks and replies of that gentleman. He tirst oboei vcd thut iie could say no more than had been already published, but was willing to icply to any queries that ini^;!.! be put. .ixb to i\.i. process of granulation of the ior^huiQ lie could r.?: say mucli, but tl'c proportion of c ■; Li-ilizablc ?jr'jp depends on the uryiie?s or moisture of the l.ii.d on which the nlaiit, grows. It siiOuid ue cu^ v'hen in its milky state. When pressed it is deprived of i-s leaves and passed through Food for Chickens. — Mr. J. J. Gold- smith, of Morgan counfy, in a business let- ter, says: »"I enclose you a sample of Dourah Corn. It will be appreciated by the poulterer in one season in the raising of young broods of chickens. This corn will accelerate their growth, and enable him to dispense with the wet and washy diet which destroys so many of them in their early stage." There is much good sense in these sentences. rolleio, ai'/l for orys'-^li-zatinn the syrup should be raised a little above blood iieat. In 'O-^ne cases the old-fashioned cider press had succpfded. Could not say how the free acid evolved would be best neutralized, but it is generally done by lime water. When a saccharaie of lime is formed the fluid remains sweet. When the plant is cut at 45 ® or 50 of Fahrenheit it does not ferment, but keeps sweet, but if cut earlier in the season that when this temperature prevails it is apt to run into the acetous fermentation. Five cuttings of sorghum had been made in Florida last year. Sugar could sometimes be made from the dried stalks, but it is expensive. It contains saccharine matter as far North as the milky state can be had; in Massachu- setts it has shown 23 per cent, of sugar, here in Washington only 14 per cent. It requires a dry soil and hot sun. Should not be planted so soon as Indian corn by several days. Will mature in less than a hundred days from sowing the seed. For sugar it flourishes best on poor soils, bot for fattening animals on rich soils. For sugar „ ■.._j.>i.^« >,,,^,_^...'.. PJff»i Illinois Bkrf. — Next to the State of Ohio, Illinoi^^as furnished the largest num- ber of cattle for the Xew York market dur- ing the year 1856, of any State in the Union. She hassent.and sold there 1,312 more head than New York, and 1,273 more than the State of Indiana. As for the other States, they are so far behind that it is no use to mention them. -«♦»- Illinois Stock Impohting Associatiow. — It will be seen by the proceedings of this Association following, that the plan of im- porting stock of various kinds, from Europe, is fairly under way. J. N. BrowD,-of Ber- lin, H, Jacoby, of Springfield, and H. C. Johns, of Decatur, have been selected as agents to visit Europe — E. Stevenson, of Jacksonville, as alternate. The money on the stock is to be paid to the Treasurer, and as suon as means are provided, we suppose, the agents will proceed in the performance of theu" duties. We consider this an important movement, and the public will be anxious to learn the future proceedings of the Association. '-.,"*i.?JJ*".'«»>^ii>'J(l'>K"*'"'U .1. IMHi ,rW,!»'y.'W!-WJlJ^»Wlli«!PfpBW!»5nB!^^!»f B®.The Ohio State Fair is to be held at Cincinnati on the 15th to 18lh Sj^plember. The State Bjard of Agriculture have de- termined to hold e trial of implements, mowers and reapers, at Hamilton, Batlcr county, on the 1st of July. 4«» B®*The time to make maple sugar will Boon be here, and we would ^st say that those who have the trees would be like'y to make the article pay tiie present year. There is no prospect of a full in the price of sugar and molasses, at least, until nest autumu. Officers of ihe IIlluuis Horticultural Society. Dr. E. S. IIULL, Alton, President. 0. B. Galusha, Lisbon, Cor. Secretary. J. E. Stark, Alton, Kecording Secretary. F. K. PHoemx, Bloomington, Assistant Rec. Secretary. Dr. B F. LoNO, Alton, Treasurer. Vice Presidents — id District, R. N. Hunt, Naplervllle; 8d district, F. K. Pfacenix, Bloomington ; 4th district, L. Sfaaw, Fremont ; 6th district, S. Francis, Springfield ; 6th district, Wm. Stewart, Quincy ; 7th district. Dr. Wm. Kyle, Paris ; 8th district, J. P. Reynolds, Salem ; 9th district, Allen Bainbrldge Jt'uebloro'. Committee ad interim — Lewis Ellsn-orth, Naplerville ; F. K. Phoenix: A. R. Whitney, Franklin Grove; Wm. Stewart: Hen- ry Oswald. .Jouesboro'; Tvler M. Whorter, Millersburg; A. Williams, Qalesbnrg; J. E. Starr, £. S. Hull aud A S. Barry Alton. State Fairs.— I he Ohio State Fair is to be held ai Cincinnati, on the 15th to the I8th September ne.\t. The Annual State Fair at St. Louis will commence on the 4th Monday of September. That is the time usually fixed upon for the Illinois State Fair. B@.We have heard it suggested that the fruit buds of the apple were in danger from the late cold weather. We think not. From the peculiar character of the fall the young wood matured well, as also did the fruit buds. The prospect now is that there will be a good crop of apples the coming season. I^^The Washington Star gays: "Lieut. D. D. Porter, oommandiug United States store-ship Supply, writes to the War Depart- ment, on the 14th ult., from Smyrna, that he would sail for tho United States on the I5th, (the ne.it day,) and expected to reach the mouth of the Mississippi by the 20th of January, there to turn over his cargo of camels to an officer of the War Department, prepared with a steamer to receive them, and take them to Texas. Lieut. Porter had on board the Supply forty-four camels, six of which were presented to the Govern- ment by the Sulian, the remainder were pur- chased by Lieut. Porter." «••- -<•► Canada Club Sfrixg Wheat. — This wheat, the last season, maintained its high reputation. It is equal in vilue to winter wheat, and produces large crops in a good season, in suitaMe grounds well prepared for it. Mr. Sykes, from whom we have pur- chased much of this wheat for seed, says that thirty and thirty-five bushels an acre have been raised by himself. B®,We have frequent calls for Garden- ers, to be hired by the month cr year. Gardeners in want of employment would do well to call on the Editor. fi^The Wational Agricultural Society at their late meeting at Washington, re- solved that they would have a national ex- hibition and trial of agricultural imple- ments and machinery at Louisville, Ky., during the fall of 1857. Prune Youa Grapes. — It is time this was done, aud save enough cuttings to make new plants. These may be buried in the cellar until yoti waut to set them out. ^^^''^'^:yyJlt by her side or in foal. 5th. That the agents purchase at their discre- tion, from ten to twenty hogs, and from tea to twenty head tf mutton sheep. 6th. That if agents should deem it best, they can purchase aline roadster stallion adaoted to all work, if to be had at a reaaonablo price. 7th. That the agents can use their discretion as to buyiug one or more jacks. Oil motion of J. T. Smith, Retnlved, That upon th-- return of the agento to Illinois the as^ociaiion be called togeth- er and that the agents report there to the re- sult of their agency. Resolved, That the 3d article of the associa- tion be so amended as to read : The capital stock of the association shall not be less than twenty nor niore than thirty thousand dol- lars. On motion of Hon. H. C. Johns, Resolved, That the agents appointed to select and purchase stock for this association shall re- ceive no compensation for their services, but that their necessary and proper expenses shall be paid out of the funds of the association. Resolved, That the stockholders {)ay to the treasurer, the balance due on the amount of their" subscription by the 2Uth of April. That the treasurer and secretary be authorized to confer with the Sangamon county Agricultural Society and procure the fair grounds for the ac- commodation of the stock on its arrival from Europe, Resolved, That the papers friendly to the cause be respectfully invited to publish the proceedings ot this meeting. J.N!BROWN,P»»'t. Qe. "W. Chatterton, Sec'y. ■»» Trses—Cllmats. It is a common obssrvation, that our summers are becoming dryer and our streams smaller. Take the Cajahoga as an illustration. Fitty years ago, large barges, loaded with goods, went up and down that river; and oue ot the vessels engaged in "the batile of Lake Erie,'' when Perry "met the enemy, and they were ours," was built at Old Portage, six miles north ol Al- bion, and floated down the lake." Now, in uo ordinary stage of water, a canoe or skiff can hardly pass down that stream. Many a boat of fifiy tons burden, has been bailt and loaded on the Tuscarawas, at New Portage, and sailed to New Orleans without breaking balk. Now, that river hardly afiords a supply of water, at New Portage, for the canal. Tne same may be said ot our other streams. They are growing smaller anc beautifully less. Uur summers are growing dryer, and our winters colder. The cause of all this is in the destruction of our forests. In the woods we find springs and streams of water, that indicate a permanent sup- ply— clear of the woods and the dry up. To show how this operates, let us suppose an electric clouJ p issing* over a dry, lerel desert. So long as it meets uo obstiueting object it re- mains suspended. If, however, if it meets a ciuad in an opposite state of electricity, rain, hail and a toniado is the consequenue. This il- lustrates the principle. Iiistetiu of meeting a elouv] ia a'li opj.K)iiic state of electricitj, sup- pose it meets a turestot treea sufficiently elevat- ed to reach the cloud, the trees, being good con- ductor.*, ?ct in a les-s degree to be sure, but in the same manner as an oppusmg uon-eleciric CiOUii in drawing the ilroricity Irom the cloud to the e irtii, diaiurbtng the vaporous particlcsof the cloud which are iniiigled and become drops of rain, which fell lo the earth iashowers. This is the c.iu.^e of the perpetual want of ra'n in portioDS of Egypt and Souin Americ;!. Tli-y art^ alwi-ys in the vicinity of high moun- iain.s, covtiLd with forcsrs, which take the rain from clouds, forming those mighty rivers that flow from the mountains of Upper Egypt and fcjouth America. If the destruction of our forests goes on, and none are set out to pupply their place, we shall feel more and more the eff.iots in the drought of fc:umniers, the diminution of onr streams and coldiJCiS vt our winter. — Ohiu Farmer, • Attempts are being made to raise cotton in Australia. The quality of that which has already been grown, is like the variety known as the 6ea Island, and bears the very highest price in the Liverpool markets. . -^■w^i^'rT^V ^ *:■ >r'T' 48 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. No Gloom at Home. — Above all things there should be no gloom la the home. Tbe shadows of dark disconteut aud wastefulness sbould never cross the threshhold, throwing their large, black shades, like funerf^l palls over the happv young spirits gathered there If you will, your home shall be heaven, and every inmate an angel there. If you will, you sball sit on a throne, and be tiie presid- ing hoaseliold deity. 01 faitnful wife. Wiiat privileges, what treasures greater or purer tiian thine? And let the husband strive to forget his cares, as he winds around the long narrow street, and beholds the soft light illuming his little parlor, spreading its precious beams on the red pave before it. He has been harrassed, perplexed, persecuted. He has borne with many a cr«el word, and nerved himself up to an energy so desperate, that his frame and spirits are weakened and de- pressed. And now his limbs ache with weariness, hiii temples throb with the pain- heat, caused by too constant application. He scarcely knows how to meet his wife with a pleasant smile, or sit down cheerfully to their little meal, which she has provided with so much care. But the door is opened — the overcoat thrown hastily off. A sweet, singing voice falls upon his ear, and the tones so soft and glad that Hope like a winged angel, flies right into his bosom and nestles agaiasc. his heart. A home where gloom is banished — pre sided over by one who has learned to rule her household. Oh! he is thrice cuiisoled tor all his trials. He cannot be unhajipy. Tuat sweetest, best, dearest soiuce is his — a clieerful home. Do you wonder tliut the mau is strengthened anew for to-mor- row'cj care^ >? -«••- Carrots are very iro">a to jjro.iuce yellow but- ter, but ibey should b;' fed lo ilie cows. We hope this artificial coloring of butttrwili never be countenanced by the cousuiiRr. ThTe i? no d fficulty in making butter of a good color in wiiitcr, provided the cows arc properly led and the cream kept and churned at the proper lem- per.iiure. — Louisville Journal. -—— The spring of a watch weighs 015 of a grain; a pound of iron makes 50,000. The pound of steel costs 2d, a single spring 2d; so that 50,000 produces £416. With a view to collect their webs for silk, 4,000 spiders were once obtained, but they soon killed each other. Manufactures and war never thrive together. , Orollers. — One cup of butter, tffo of sugar, one ot niilK, one teaspootiful of soda, three eggs, aud flour suffieieat to roll with ease. Fry in plenty ot eo<»d lard. Jacksonville, Alton and St. Louis Rail- boas. — By reference to our advertising columns it will be seen that the company are aboutready to receive contracts for the grading, &c,, of this road between JacltBonville and Monticello. They are now procuring the right of way, and expect to have the plans, profiles and specifica- tions ready for examination by the 10th of next month. We are pleased to see that the managers of this road are determined to lose no time in its construction. Everything has been said and done necessary to give the enterprise a fair start, and ve hope that the proper energy will not be wanting to push it through in the shortest possible space of time. — Morgan Jour- nal. -<•»- PcBLisHiNG Newspapers. — Thurlow Weed, the veteran editor of the Albany Journal, re- cently said t ) a person who applied to him for advice with regard to starting a newspaper : "With all my experience, I should shudder at undertaking a hew paper. It is as difficult of creation as a State." Who that has ever under- taken the work, has not realized the full truth of this remark ? COMMERCIAL. Springfield Market. OtiiuE OP luE Illinois Fakmrk,,> February 1, 1857. j There is a demand for Wheat. Corn finds sales. Most pro- duce articles are in good bemand. lIuGS have hardly been sold at 6@6}4 cts. Packers have closed their killing uusiiiL-ss for the season. J-'LOUK — txtia wince, Sb.&u; superffut $'J; common $5. WUii AT— Sales at from 90 cts. to $1,00 ^ bu. CUilN — Sales 25fe:ao cts. %i bush OATS— Salfs at 3u@35 cts. %i bush. HinJiS— Dry flint. l-Ji^cta. %i it). BKAA — 2 cts. %4 bush. SUORTS— 121^ cts. %i bush. CHlOKiiNS— j,l,5o %( doz. TU RK K Y e— Scg^i* cts. ^ a. O.NiuXS— $2,5u fi busn. Pjr.iTJd3— il,oj wr buJh. Af PLES— $l,26(g$ii ¥• huoh. BUTTKK— •20@:;5 cts. '^ ft). Cllr^Jirii;— lo cts ^ ft). tUUs — 20 cts. ^doz. Mox;:.T Matters— iL!.iN-oi? P.\xk Paper. — Tlie brokers in ?t. Louis aud Chicago are taKiug the ji.iper of all B.uii>ii iu this State at jiar, except that of (ijv, isauko of Uushville, btock ce- curity at bauviile and I'eople's Hank at Laiini. lln paper of tha three last named IJanko Las been sold in market at 10 per cent discount. At the time of writing this paragraph we have not letrned that the discr^'dited Banks are to be wound up. Umii-r any oircumstnnces we trust tliat they will be able to pay wiihin live per cent, of their notes The Hani's which have before closed in this State have paid for their pnper dol- lar for dollar. St. I.'tnis Market, Feb. 2. Wheat — Sale of 90 bagsai $l.^■0; sackt- returned. Corn — Sales to-day, 14B bags white at 67c ^ bushel. Oats — The ^"yply is small. Sale today, 163 bags at 38c, In bags, and 70 bags at a7c, without bags. C;lover Seed — Sale of 39 bags at $7 ^ bushel. Whi^ky— Sale of 45 bbls at 28c ^ gaUon. Dried i ruit— Sale of 241 bags peaches at $2.90 f^ busbeL Sugar — Sale of 50 hhds Muscovada at lOc %i lb. ^ Provisions — No oiTeriuiite aud nothing doing at all. -w». Chicago Market. Feb. 3. Flour — Superfine City, $e.76. AVhcat — Kules dull. 90c for common spring; $1.15 for white winter. Corn — 41@43c. Oats — 360. Hogs— Dressed 734@7c ^ lb. Beef— Dressed, 5@5J-^c. Jbeans — From New York, $2.25@$2.50 per bushel. Great preparationg are said to be making for th» spring trade. ?' 'e*'^W''-W'i»'^^^73F='T ~T'?^^T?3?Rp?55^^RS* ->^S.'S¥i^,4*'' ' TP!pW"W!!!'W!P' • "fT^ ""t** , ■ "^ .-y.myriwjir f.'' 'aSW!*'- 50 THE ILLINOIS FARMEB. fleshy pods. Largp White Kidney — excel- lent green and dry; good for field culture. White Cranberry— the handsomest white bean — excellent green or dry, and good for field culture. Plant two inches apart in two and a-half feet drills. Beans — Pole. — Early Dutch case-knife — an early and abundant bearer. Horticultu- ral Cranberry — has all the good qualities of the red cranberry and is larger. Large Li- ma— undoubtedly the best pole bean that grows. There are other varieties, but these here named are the best. The beans should be planted in hills, three feet apart, in good mellow earth, raised in hills. Beet. — ^The early Bassano and the Early Blood Turnip, are the best early beets ; and the Long Blood the best for winter. The seed can be sown very early in warm, dry, deep soil. Cabbage — Of these there many are excel- lent varieties. Early York,Early Wakefield, Early Drumhead or Buttersea, furnish early varieties; and the Green Globe Savoy and Comstock's Premium Flat Dutch, are as good as any for winter. The Premium Flat Dutch is very certain to produce large and fine heads The Red Dutch is good for pick- ling. Cahkott. — Early Horn is the earliest va- riety, and the Long Orange is best for late table and for stock. Cauufloweh. — The Early London is said to do well here; and sometimes other varie- ties succeed. Cultivated as cabbage. Celehv. — There are very many varieties. The White Solid and the Superb Red are as good as any. To have Celery early, it should be sown in hot beds. For late crop «ow in the spring, very shallow, in a seed bed. When plants are large enough, they should be transplanted into trenches, four feet apart, a foot wide and ten inches deep, made very rich with well rotted manure. The plants should be placed four inches apart. They should be earthed during their growth,hoiding the leaves close with the hand while the earth is thrown in,takiDg care that none of it falls in the centre of the plants. Ckess. — This can be sown very thickly broadcast on beds, and once a fortnight. CucDMBEa. — Early Russian is the earliest that grows. Early Frame good for table and pickling. Early Prickly, fine for pick- ling. Long London Green, an excellent and late variety, grows a foot in length ; for pickling and for the table. Extra Long Green Turkey grows a foot and a half in length — fine and productive. Gherkin — very small, productive, good for pickling. Egg Plant. — Early Long Purple, the ear- liest and most productive. Fruit of superi- or quality. The plants should be started in a hot bed. EwDivE. — Green curled is the best varie- ty. It can be made very crisp and tender. It is cultivated for salads. Plants should be thinned to a foot apart to blanch,the leaves must be tied up, and earth thrown about the roots. They will blanch in three weeks. Indian Corn. — The three varieties of Sweet or Sugar Corn, known as the ear- ly Red Cob, Large Sweet, and Mammoth are all that is needed for table corn. The first should be planted in hills two and a half feet apart, the second the same ditstance, and the third three feet apart. StoweU's Evergreen is an excellent variety. Leeks. — Broad Scotch and London — The seed is sown very early. The plants can be transplanted, but if designed to remain in the seed beds they should be six inches apart. If transplanted they should be planted out deep, nearly up to the leaves. This branch- es the neck and increases the size. The bed requires much water. Lettoce, — There are many varieties. Ear- ly Curled Siberia, and Drumhead and Ice head Lettuce, are among the best. For early, sow as soon as the ground is fit. Melon, or Cantaledp. — The new varie- ties are of delicious flavor. Green Citron, Pine Apple, Nutmeg, Skillman's Nettled, Beechwood, are all excellent, and nearly or quite equal to pine apples. Plant late in spring in hiiis five or six feet apart: scatter a dozen seeds in a hill, and after they are out of danger from bugs, thin them to three T^-:nf>tf, ■ y^^": ■*- -^^^•^ . r^-'T- Si;?'Ti!v7?- ■'^•™-r -. .-T^---; THE ILLINOIS FABMER. ifil or four plants. The fruit is at perfection when the stem will cleave from it. Water Melon — The water melon is high- ly estimated. Monnntain Sweet, Moantain Sprout, Ice Cream, Long Island, and Span- ish, are well known varieties. The new Or- ange, when in perfection, cannot be excelled* The Citron is only used for preserving. Mustard. — The white is excellent, culti- vated as sallad, and is also a snperior article for greens. Sow early in the spring. Nastubtium.— The plant is ornamental, and the flower bud and green seed pods, preserved in vlnegar,make a pickle equal to, if not better, than capers. Oeba,or Gumbo. — This plant is cultivated for its green seed pods, which are used in soups, or stewed and served like asparagus. The seeds when ripe, are sometimes used as coffee. Plant late in the spring in drills, and thin the plants to two feet apart. OifiONs. — The seed should be sown as early as the ground is in order. It will an- swer from' the middle of March to the mid- dle of May, and when desired to obtain ' small bulbs for another season, the seed may be put into the ground even later. In Wetherefield, cultivated in beds, six pounds of seed are sown to the acre. When sown brtmdcast 2 1-2 pounds of seed will be suffi- cient for an acre. In cases where the land is new and clean, the seed can be sowed broad- cast, when it should be raked or harrowed in with a light harrow, and the ground rolled afterwards. Large Red, New Yellow, or Silver Skin, and White Portugal are good varieties. The small onions of these varie- ties are good for early crops the next spring. Parsley. — A well known savory herb The seed should be soaked a few hours in warm water, and should be sowed early in the spring. The Double is dwarfish and most tender. For winter, the plants should be taken up and set out in a light cellar. Paksnip. — This vegetable requires the warmest and richest soil. The seed should be sowed in drills a foot or more apart, and the plants thinned to eight inches apart. Long Smooth is the best variety. PsAS. — There are numerous varietitt. They are so hardy that the seed can be plan- ted in drills soon as the absence of frost will permit it. Comstock's early Dwarf is the earliest of the Dwarfs. It is a ^reat bearer, growing only ten or twelve inches high in the richest soil. Early Emperor, a vtry early variety; Dwarf Blue Prussian growi three feet high and very strong. Pods large and long, containing eight blue peas. One of the best varieties and an excellent summer pea. Champion of England — nniversally admitted to be one of the richest and best flavored peas grown, and very productive. It is early, with large and long pods, pro- ducing a great many pods to a stem— rone and a half feet high. Sow thickly in rovB two feet apart. Large White Marrowfat; a standard variety, cultivated more for a summer crop than all others. This varie- ty is so well known that it is needless to speak of its qualities. It is doubtless the best summer variety; it grows about five feet high. There are many fancy varieties of peas, of delicious flavor, but moderate bear- ers. The planting for an early crop should be made in the spring, as soon as the ground can be worked. The ground should be rich and warm. The seed should be planted about three inches deep. Peppers. — The Bull Nose and Sweet Mountain are best for pickling. The Cker- ry and Cayenne for pepper sauce. Potatoes — Early Kidney, Early Neshan- noc. Hall's early, are the best for an early crop. They can be planted as soon as the ground is in order. Radish. — Sow as early as the ground can be worked, and every two weeks for a suc- cession. Early short top scarlet is a very early variety. Scarlet Turnip or Cherry is beautiful small radish. Long Salmon is a later and good variety. Yellow Turnip Radish does well in summer. Black Fall Radish is sown a little earlier than fall tur- nips, and the roots must be taken up and stored in the cellar for winter. To grow radishes well, they must have good ground, plenty of room, and grow quick. ; v Rhus A KB . The principal seed sold at the snki:^.,k:^..'- - =^-- -»--f. >■- • I HA »l!!.^W^ .' j;»*«v-," ■ W-?*^' IJ I! 'VTil^^Jp»W^W^R;J7's*"W*vyM!W«iw V! f *i. .^r^^j, (.1 w . I- .•! 1 .-■ ^«j^^iui(i;iHP-.' 62 THE ILLINOIS PARMER. stores comes from Wyatt's Yictoria and ear- ly Tobolsk. Few of the varieties seed well. The seed cannot be relied on to produce the same varieties as the parent plant; they may produce better or worse. Sow the seed ear- ly in a seed bed. In the fall throw away the plants that have shining or glossy leaves. Set out the others where you wish them to remain, three feet apart. The ground should be very rich. No garden should be without this plant. Where roots can be purchased of known varieties it would be well to get them. Sage. — The seed should be sown the lat ter part of May, and so thin that the plants should not be nearer than three inches of each other. When six inches high, they should be thinned to six inches apart. You can transplant them in the fall to permanent beds, if you choose; and they should be pro- tected in winter by straw or litter. Salsify, oh Vegetable Oystrk: Sow and cultivate as for carrots or parsnips. The roots should be taken up in the fall and kept in sand in the cellar. The Scornoze- ra is very similar to the Salsify, sometimes called Black Salsify,and its cultivation is the same. The leaves blanched make a good salad. Sea Kale is a delicious vegetable. The seeds ara sown in the spring and the plants are transplanted in the fall to a place where they aro to stand. Late in the autumn they should be covered with a spadeful of sand first, and rich rotted manure afterwards After the cutting is over, the manure and sand should be removed. Spikach: For an early spring crop, the seed should be sown very early. Squashes: Early Yellow Bush, Early Bush Summer Crookneck, are excellent early varieties. Winter Crookneck, Autumnal Marrow and Lima Cocoannt, are excellent fall and winter varieties. Tomatoes: Large Red, Large Yellow and Cherry, furnish all the varieties necessary. To get them early, they may be sown in pots placed in Northern window or in hot beds. Cover the early plants when there is danger from frosts. Turnips: There are several varieties of early turnips for the garden. Spring Flat Dutch, Early Six Weeks, and Garden Stone are among the best. We have named the principal vegetables and our readers can make such selections as they desire. "«•»- Illinois Stock Importin; Association. The agents of this company made arrange- ments to leave on the 6th instant, for Eng- land, for the purpose of purchasing, and im- porting into our State, the best stock that can be obtained in that country. The stock raisers of this State are determined not to be behind those of any other State in the good qualities of their stock. They intend that it shall be unnecessary for any citizen of this State, or of the States and Territo- ries West of us, to go East or South to ob- tain fine stock. The gentlemen employed as agents of the association, J. N. Brown, H. C. Johns, and H. Jacoby, understand stock business, and we anticipate confidently that their purcha" ses and importation will be of the first char- acter. We suppose the agents will be ab- sent for at least three months; and they may not return until the latter part of June. The stock, when brought here, will proba- bly be kept on the Fair Ground of the San- gamon Agricultural and Mechanical Asso- tion. A communication suggesting to the asso- ciation to purchase and introjduce some milch breed stock, we give below. It is very certain that large sums of money are sent oat of this State every year for butter, and cheese brought and consumed here. This ought not to be. Editob of the Illinois Fakmeb: I notice that the Illinois Association are fully organ- ized, and have appointed agents to purchase stock in England. In the list of stock they are directed to purchase, there is nothing said of stock for the Dairy- We need a dai. ry stock in Illinois. The State loses much for want of Dairies. A great portion of the cheese consumed here, is imported from Otb- - ■.''^-iKivr^^-^ . ,•:;?'-»'*- - /fr^^s' THE ILLINOIS PARMER. 53 er States, while we have the best pasturage in the world. There are some good milkers among th( ) Dnrham and Devon cows, though not fur- nishing a large amount of milk, give milk: of a rich quality , But neitherof these breeds; possess the milking qualities that we desire. We can occasionally find as good milkers: among our native stock. The Alderney cow is famed as a milker — does not give much niilk, but she yields milk, that has no rival for richness. A single cow has been known to give milk from which nineteen pounds of butter were made for sev- ral weeks in succession. This, of course^ is a rare occurrence; the average is from six; to nine pounds weekly, during the. season,, supposing the cow to be first-rate of her kind.. This stock is small; generally of a white and. sandy red, or fawn color; the latter being- dispersed in large patches. They are re- markably gentle, and great favorites. Th© Ayershire is an improvement on the Alder- ney. It is said to be a cross between Alder- ny and Durham. The stock is a favorite with, dairy-men. It is particularly valuable be- cause when it'cesises to be a profit for other purposes, it is good for beef, being readily fattened, and the meat yielded is highly nu- tritious, and of the best flavor. It has been estimated that a good Ayer- shire cow will yield, for two or three months after calving, five gallons of milk daily; for the next three months, three gallons daily; and a gallon and a-half the following three months. This can be increased with rich feeding. This milk is calculated to aflford 250 lbs. of butter annually, or 500 lbs of cheese. This estimate is for first-rate cows. The Ayershire is of good size, has some- thing of the appearance of the Durham; the the color usually varied, mingled with sandy red; horns crooked; eyes lively; fore-should- ers thin; straight body; capacious udder, and broad behind. The Illinois Association would, I think, subserve the public interest by importing some of the Ayershire stock. We want milk slock as well as beef;— so, at least it appears to the writer. FARMER. Revenues, Tariffs, Taxation. Editor Illinois Farmer. The revenaes of most commercial nations are derived chiefly from the foreign commodities they consume. Without denying the advan- tages of this 8ystem:aside from the protection of home interests, to which we will hereafter allade, they seem to consist in convenience, and the satisfactory unconscioasness with which large and extortionary sums are taken from yoa, and pat into the dark and anknown abysses of the treasury. It may be tolerated tinder goveru- ments with which the people have nothing to do, hot is a reproach to those who administer their own government, and have a lively and in- telligent sense of their rights. Daties on foreign goods bear nneqaally and nDJastly upon the different members of society; a poor man may from a variety of circumstances consnme more of foreign goods than his richer neighbor, and as revenue is based upon property, the system becomes doubly hard upon those who have small means To this it may be said that daties are discriminating, bsing levied mostly upon laxaries; bat oar people scarce recognize the distinction. Sugar is required for all, and a multi- tude of othbr articles that enter into common use, and if we descend to a silk dress, we shall be disposed to let it pass, as it is deemed a re- qnisite to good society, in the improved or bd- improved usage of the times. If this reasoning be true, their property escapes the taxation that justly belongs to it, and the Astors and Sears' may contribute as little to sustain the general government (not the ireal authorities.) as tens of thousands of other families in the land. Bat, as before hinted, thic system of revenue suits an ignorant people; not we should trust so applicable to oar want of iii- telligence as to our thoughtlessness and nnbouud- ed prosperity; but year by year becoming more and more a reproach. Instituted in a dark age, to fill the coffers of corrupt princes, it should now be scraticized with antiring vigilance and curtailed wherever possible. Protection is considered necessary in new countries to develope their resources, and for pro" t«ction alone would we advocate a tariff, until wealth, means, and labor get a controlling power, when we would dispense with daties alto- gether, and level custom houses to the gronnd- Undpr a system of direct taxation, saddeuly imposed, the rich would find themselves very much involved, and the poor very much relieved. The former living where his property had con- ^™fPilP«BlW??"Pf«'1f'"il?P?«P!'»WW!^^ "•."'(.Biy*".'" i,u[,i,««iji^!|i.ii lJ.J('*^'!'!W^^'^^«'*iS*S?'l'^™ff -■sir'9ir'?^*T^^^5*?^?^:5^.:r^F-^ff^^ daily using in my family, I am so well sat- isfied with my past year's experience, that another year I shall plant several acres, and with a good machine that will press all the juice, I have no doubt but I can produce eight to ten barrels to the acre, at a cost not exceeding twenty-five cents the gallon. I see no reason why, in a few years, every farmer who can raise Indian corn should not raise his own molasses, as the same climate is favorable to both, and I have little doubt but it vrill be the ccse. I have omitted mentioning that when cut down for fodder, at about four feet high, it sprouts again and produces a good second crop. J. D. HEWLETT. KiNGsviLLEi Ohio, Jan. 1, 1857. To^ Editor of the Am. AgricuUurist: Last spring we received a paper of tne Chinese Sugar Cane Seed from the Patent Office, by Hon, J. R. Giddings, which we planted in four rows, four stalks in a hill, eleven hills in a row. We cut it up about the 17th of October, stripped the leaves from the stalks, crushed it, and cut it into short pieces, and boiled it in water. The liquid was then strained through a coarse cloth, boiled down to molasses, and to our great surprise we found that we had made , two gallons of quite palateable molasses. I do not think we expressed all the juice that we might if we had been more experienced in making it. We think of raising a larger quantity another year. The cattle of Mr. I. H, must have had quite unusual tastes if they would not eat this nutritious food, for our's ate it both before and after it was boiled — in fact, they would leave good pasture, and eat it up before leaving it. So far the matter is settled. Our farmers can make their own molasses. This is a fixed fact. In regard to the sugar, an- other year's experience, will render that also a fixed fact. On this latter subject we here give a communication from the Chicago Democratic Press: Portage City, Wis., Feb. 16, 1857, To the Editors of the Dem. Frees: Feeling a lively interest in the success of the Chinese sugar cane, I willingly give my suggestion (opinion I could scarcely call it,) t» be experimented on by those having syrup on hand. Ube a table-spoonful of bi- sulphate of lime to each gallon of Rvrap, stirring them well together before boiling the syrup. Bisulphite of lime has been much used of late years in Louisiana, has s cveral virtues, but is generally most effici- ent when used with frosted cane, as it cor- rects the acidity of that kind of cane, and allows a greater quantity of syrup to granu- late that would otherwise be sent to market as molasses If my reading and conversa- tion with southern chemists be rightly re- membered, this salt, being solvent, becomes a nucleus for a grain; converting syrup into a solid, and, as above stated, corrects all acidity. Let not those who fail to granulate their syrup now be at all discouraged, as that pro- cess should be done at the time of grinding, as juice, after expression, soon becomes fer- mented; and to prevent this is the secret of sugar making. Should it ferment much, then molasses alone is hoped for. Should this suggestion of trying bi-sulphite of lime meet the eye of a chemist, it would be well for him to make a few gallons for the use of those who wish to experiment. This is known as "Melsen's process," fully detail- ed, I think, in Dr. Tire's work on the Arts and Manufactures. I would further suggest that a communication be addressed to Prof. Riddle, sen., of the Louisiana University, New Orleans, who has much experience in analyzing the bi-sulphite of lime miade by the various makers in Louisiana. It sells for $7 a barrel. Unlike many, it is not to bring Louisiana sugar into disuse that I feel an interest in the Chinese cane. I am satisfied that if it will granulate, that Louisiana will be the point where it will flourish in perfection, if corn growth be taken as an index. It would become the interest of the planter to use it instead of that now in use. Having the expensive sugar works already built, it could be made cheaper; and, not to be lost sight of, less negro labor would be required ; white folks could grind and granulate in their houses. And if ever slavery is to be discontinued amongst us, it will be when white labor is substituted and becomes more economical than dark. The result of the question, "Can Chinese cane juice granu- late?" is fraught with much interest, and worthy the thought of all who can throw light upon it. Every farmer who can, should provide himself with a small quantity of seed for planting the coming spring ig- -<•»- B@„During the period included between the year« 1847 and 1856, 1,779 persons sentenced i to State prison have been pardoned by the Gov- I ernor, 409 of whom have been restored to citi- zenship. ^^pirV>^'^V^'~ ■ry^sw T".-<.- T- -••'^■, jiup^ .■i--";- -Tf-nr^ ^yr: .r. =' ^T^^giWSS! '' ■ ^-^ '--'»* -J — '#'"-»- -I'J^ '^fT^'^T'^***'^**^^^ 56 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. New Orehards. Editor Illinois Farmer. I have been at work some five years on my farm, which, when I took hold of it, was raw prairie. Being poor and short handed, it required all my time to get it fenced, plowed, and the buildings necessary, (and they are very common ones,) put op to make my family comfortable. For two years I had no time to spend in making such improvements as render a country residence beautiful. I mean I had no time to fix np yards, and lay out my garden grounds as I had always intended to do, and plant trees and shrubbery so as to make the place look like a home. But I have prospered on a small scale, and I now have more time to spend in regulating these matters, not much time for this, however, but as I tel 1 my wife, I am determined to take time. And now I want a little advice from you. I want you should tell me what I want in the way of garden fruit, trees and shrubbery, just a few, and how many apple trees I ought to have for an orchard for a family; and I want you also to tell me something about the kinds and quantities of seeds I want for my vege- table garden. Here I will just say to you, that more than a year ago a traveling agent induced me to buy some apple trees of him, which I planted out; but when the fall came there was hardly one of them alive; and the trees themselves when I got them appeared to be stunted, ugly and altogether unthrifty. I do not desire to buy any more trees from pedlars, who bring them from New York, Canada and elsewhere. A. t&^Oar correspondent has imposed on us a hard duty ; but to oblige him, and perhaps benefit others, we will append some hints to his communication. We like to see the dwellings of a farm, especially in this prairie country, on a somewhat elevated piece of ground, which will be dry at all seasons. We care not if this is near or at some dis- tance from the road. A pleasant residence cannot be had where the ground is not high, dry and where a good cellar cannot be had. We do not like to see a few rods square of ground, "pailed in" in front of a country dwelling. There should be some ten or a dozen acres at least about the dwelling, the front portion of which should be in grass, relieved at little distances with clumps of shrubbery (roses, snow balls, lilacks, &c.,) and trees of smaller growth, such as the Mountain Ash, evergreens, and the like. On either side there can be peach, plum, quince, cherry, pear trees, grapes, and on well arranged plats, a flower bed, if you like In the rear, a kitchen garden, and a good space devoted to it^ There can be no ques- tion that a proper use of vegetables and fruit are among the securities for health. The vegetables of the present day, where good seed is procured, are far better than those produced by the ordinary, degenerat- ed and mixed seeds, usually produced in our gardens. Wo venture to say that farmers would be the gainers if they would throw away most of their old seeds and purchase fresh and new and improved varieties. It would be a difficult matter to give such a list of seeds as you would need for a vegeta- ble garden. Tastes differ; but we suppose, like most people, you want early vegetables. Then you must have early Silesia lettice, early radishes, early onions, (these must be grown from setts,) early beets, early beans, early cabbages, early corn, early squashes, early potatoes, early peas. You want all these early varieties. The tomatoe can only be made early by forcing the growth of plants in a hot bed, afterwards to be transplanted into the garden. You want also the same kinds of vegetables when the season for these early varieties has passed. You can procure the seeds of later beets, beans, cabbages, &c. To do this, it would be convenient if you had a small work on gardening, which usually can be procured at book stores at the cost of 25 cts. There is no necessity of failing to have excellent garden vegetables, in ordinary seasons from the time the early arrive at maturity until frost destroys vegetation, and then to be able to put away in your cellars or in other secure places, a variety of delicious vegeta- bles which would last you until spring. We find that oar correspondent has cut ■.:*,-. WyHj- ^^ .■V'f!^-^^-~^*fF^':i^?f^'v^^^ •jii^fiKii^>**'77'^s''^'T>,vii.^^ -'._ ^^'^^-i- ~ k_Jfyj',tj-iJ»?yy™^'i'^- '^ystr*?^. ■'V.jp^^ii-r.*^ "^i-j%it?^yy-^.^*'v*j^ 1. i3?HE ILLINOIS FARMER. 57 om a deal of work for us; too mach to be disposed of in a few paragraphs. We refer him to the article on gardening which pre- cedes this; and we would say to him, that if he desires good fruit trees, varieties that can be depended on, accustomed to our soil and climate, which can be had fresh from the nurseries; he can do so by sending to the nurseries in his neighborhood, or by ap- plying to the Editor of this paper; who will give him cheerfully all the information he requires. Ffty apple • trees is a small or- chard for any farmei. Good fruit always pays well. •,,-' , , ...:;..-•,, u :,■■ .;-; Eaw Intelllgfence. ■a-: Important Decision of the Supremi Court. — Cattle must be kept off the Railroad Tracks. The following account of a case recently de- cided in the Supreme Court, is from the proof sheets of the forthcoming seventeenth volume of Illinois Reports. ' ■ ' '-";-- '■ The 'Illinois Central Railroad Compdie^; Pldin- t^, in Error, vs. Henry Reed, Plaintiff in Error. : v/;:-; .i ■". ,i-.Mk;r'--^'?'', EBEOR TO LASALLE COtTNTt' COCRt. ' Trespass vi et arinis, is not the proper fdrm of action f6i in- juries, resnlting from ;tbe negligence of the servants '.^il<^'Us'l»?Wil«l"r»'V rt-;Jf.W'T r njjjrr'rj^^ ^•™7'^^^?p^^?T^^'R^:T???^ 58 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. THE FARM. French and English Farming. The last published number of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society contains a few particulars concerning French and English farming, which present the diflFerent results obtaining in the two countries in a peculiarly striking light. To raise corn, the immediate food of man, has for years been the prime object of the cultivator on the other side of the Channel, and with a bad effect on the land, because he has not not suflSciently cared for keeping up the fer- tility of the soil. The Englishmen, on the other hand, by devoting a considerable area to green crops and the raising of cattle, not only maintains the fertility of his fields, but produces more wheat from a smaller surface. Taking England alone, a country not larger than one-fourth of France, the produce is 38,000,000 hectolitres of wheat, 16,000,000 of barley, 34,000,000 of oats. France produces 75,000,000 hectolitres of wheat, and 100,000,000 of oats and other kinds of grain. The difference is remarkable; and the writer who is a Frenchman, stalies that, "caking all products into account, animal and vegetable, it appears that the produce of England per hectare, nearly doubles that of France." The French farmer contents himself with an average of seventeen bushels of wheat from his hectare, the English farm- er reaps his sixty-five or seventy bushels from the same extent of land. In the United Kingdom there are 35,000,000 sheep; and France has an equal number; but while on this side the Channel there are 31,000,000 hectares available for feeding, on the other there are 53,000,000. The sheep in France ought therefore to number 60,000,000, to be in the same proportion to the land as in the United Kingdom. And if the comparison be made with Englund alone, the difference is yet more surprising. In England, on 16,000,000 hectares, 30,- 000,000 sheep are fed; three times as mauj as in France. And this is not all; the weight of an English sheep is twice that of a French sheep; so that an English farm on an equal surface gives six times as much mutton as a French farm. The result is not less favorable to English skill and jndg- ment, if we look at cattle. France posses- ses 10,000,000 head of cattle, England 8,- 000,000 and yet more meat is produced every year in England than in France. Of the 4,000,000 head of cattle killed every year by our allies, 2,000,000 are calves, weighing about seventy pound each. And then your Frenchmen must have labor out of his cattle, as well as milk and meat; so he keeps his ox till it is too old, and kills it when the meat is scanty and poor in quality. The Englishman is content with milk and meat, and kills the animals just when they weigh heaviest. Hence it is that while the 4,000,000 head of cattle killed yearly in France average no more than 100 kilogram- mes per head, the 2,000,000 killed in the United Kingdom average 250 kilogrammes per head. Two million cattle on this side of the Channel give 100,000,000, kilogram- mes more of meat than 4,000,000 on the other side. In other words: "with 8,000,000 head of cattle and 10,000,000 hectares of laud, British agriculture produces 500,000,000 kilo- grammes of meat; while France with 10,- 000,000 head of cattle, and 68,000,000 hectares of land, produces only 400,000,000 kilogram- mes."— [Chambers' Journal. -—^ Profitable Farming. A gentleman farmer, we do not mean one who puts on airs, or farms at the expense of money made in other callings, but an earn- est, self-reliant, enterprising man, one who farms for profit and wins, wrote us last November, as below: "My carrot crop has just been harvested. I employed a practical surveyor to measure oflFjust one half acre on the west side of the field you saw, and the carrots were all sold by the pound, and I was satisfied of the weight, and found it to be 21,250 pounds. This lot was entered for the premium offer- ed by our Society. They required all to be weighed, and thinking it less trouble I sold them on the lot for one-half cent per pound, and received $106,25 in cash for the half acre, besides nearly enough tope to feed to pay the harvesting. Nothing more was done after you saw them than harvesting and loading teams on the lot. I am sorry that I did not thin one row so as to compare the difference. If any one had told me two years ago that a crop would grow like this, standing, as they did, about ten to the foot in the row, I should not have believed it; but I am now convinced, after two trials." We had visited this gentleman a few days before. The carrots of which he speaks were exceedingly thick-rowed, not more than twelve to fourteen inches apart, and the carrots a real thicket in each row; two or three to an inch, as it appeared to us. His doctrine was, that they must be so thick in order to shade the ground. They served, as he thought, as a sort of mulching to keep the ground moist. We thouf fat Ti^^WWTr ^^-^^'f'f!y^^r^iS^'^^mf^^^ -p"->w?^=-t^;' -tjifl^i^.-^jri-^v^ "■'^■^ - yrP^iT^-^ THE HiLINOIS FAKMER. 59 otherwise, that they should be thinned to one in three or four inches, and we are ob- stinate enoagh to think so still; though it mast be confessed that he had a great crop without thinning. ' The same gentleman wrote: "My odions harvested 900 bushels of a first-rate article, and sold for seventy-five cents a bushel." The carrots on the west side of his field were no better, as we could see, than those on the east side. The value of the crop on the whole acre must have been $212 55 and and the two acres of onions brought him, at seventy-five cents per bushel, $675, mak- ing on the two acres of onions and one of carrots, $887 6*. The cost of cultivating was undoubtedly more than is requisite for small crops; but after hearing his statement, knowing him as we do to be a most reliable man, we think the increased cost was little compared with the increase of crops. The net profit was equal to that of some large farms slatternly cultivated. Perhaps we might say a thou- sand times greater, for we doubt whether there is much next profit in slatternly farm- ing.— [Plough, Loom and Anvil. From the Country 0«ntleman. Deep and Shallow Plowing. So various are the opinions on this sub- ject, as expressed in the manuals of culture, and the weekly publications, that positive authority can be found for either; leaving the anxious inquirer for truth in the condi- tion of "the ass in the fable, standing be- , tween two stacks of hay." So far as my own observation has extended, I have never known any injury to accrue from sinking the plow to a generous depth, provided a cor- responding application of fertilizing material was made to the land at the same time, but on the contrary, I have often known the la- bor applied to land almost entirely sacrificed for the want of proper attention to depth in plowing. There is scarcely any plant cultivated, the roots and fibres of which will not sink to the depth of 12 inches or more} if the soil is in condition to admit of snch penetration. Take for instance, Indian corn, a plant more extensively grown than any other; what depth should the land be stirred for the most advantageous growth of this crop? Should it be six or twelve inches? I say twelve inches; and whosoever attempts to operate on less than this, "takes in at the spiggot to let out at the bung." I know that there are those who say that their lands will not adtnit of being plowed so deep, and that they have raised as fine crops as any of their neighbors, wid have never suffered a plow to sink on their fields to a greater depth than six inches; and that they would not thank a man to plow deeper than this. I have heard this said by gentlemen who stood high in the world, whose opinions were referred to as authority wherever they were known, chiefly because of the author- itative manner in which they were uttered. The truth is, the time is gone by #hen any man's ipse dixit is to be taken for law in the culture of the land or in relation to the rights of man. Pacts, established by repeat- ed experiments, in accordance with scientific demonstration, can only be relied on in the management of the farm, or in the govern- ment of the State. Wi ■ ^" ••> Bxperiments in Corn Planting. The following experiments were made by the Hon. Adam Beatty, of Kentucky, a few years since, in order to ascertain the advantages or disadvantages of planting com more closely than usual: "On one side of the field I laid off, in an oblong square, four acres, each acre lying equally well, and of equal fertality. It was laid off for planting the long way, with great accuracy, three and a half feet from centre to centre of each furrow, and then checked off the other way in rows as follows: The first acre four feet a-part; the second acre three and a half feet a-part; the third acre three feet a-part; and the fourth acre two and a half feet apart. The whole was planted the same day; and in due time the three first acres were thinned out to three stalks in the hill, and the fourth acre to two stalks in a hill. The number of stalks to an acre (if none had been missing,) would have been as follows: , Na 1, Sli by 4 feet.... 9,856 No. 2, 3}| by 3U feet .10,668 No. 3, 3j| by 3 « 12,447 No. 4, 3>| by 2)^ " (2inahin) 9,966 Upon gathering and accmrutely measur- ing each acre separately, I found the product as follows: No. 1, 68 bushels; No. 2, 69; No. 3, 69; No. 4, 77^ bushels. The acre planted three and a half by two and a half feet, and only two stalks to a hill, produced eight and a half bushels more than either of the others, being decidedly the best. The hills, nowever, were too close one way to be plowed with convenience. Planted three feet each way, would be bet- ter." ■.VJIK ~ w.m";jp<^»>.»i|yw;BV7' TT ^iJlVJMii-.VI JfJUH* I ^- W ■7pi^BPPVSf-'i.f«?>'.''^?»'^S?^T'Wv.!p(rJ!.':i:U.,^ 60 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. THE GRAZIER Fattening Animals. The following bints on the subject, from the Albany Cultivator will be found of in- terest: Substances in which the nutriment Is much concentrated should be fed with care. There is danger, especially when the animal is first put to feed, that more may be eaten at once liban the digestive organs can man- age. Meal of Indian corn is highly nutri- tive, and when properly fed, causes animals to fatten faster than almost any other food. They will not, however, bear to be exclu- sively kept on this article for any length of time. Meal made from the heaviest varie- ties of corn, especially that grown in the northern and eastern States, is quite too strong food for cattle, sheep, or horses to be full-fed upon. Hence one of the advantages of having the cob ground with the corn, by which the nutriment is diffused through a greater bulk, lays lighter on the stomach, and is more thoroughly digested. The ef- fect of pure corn meal on animals, we sup- pose to be similar to that sometimes pro- duced on our own species by the use of fine wheaten flour — the subject becomes dyspep- tic, and is forced to use bread which has the bran mixed with the flour. The mixture of the cob with the corn answers the purpose of bran — the health of the animal is pre- served, and the process of digestion goes on uninterruptedly . In fact, the advantages of grinding the cob and corn together for feed- ing cattle may be said to be well establish- ed. For hogs, the benefit of the cob is not, we think, so evident; those animals appear- ing to be better adapted to taking their nourishment in a more concentrated form than those which ruminate or chew their cud Yet food sufificiently bulky to effect the dis- tension of the bowels is necessary for hogs. Hay or straVv cut into lengths so short as to be readily mixed with meal, answers a good purpose in rendering the meal easy of digestion, and in enabling the animal to ex- tract all the nutriment from it. The conclusion arrived at from the result of a series experiments, instituted by the Highland Society of Scotland a few years ago, was, that the superiority of cooked over uncooked food for cattle is but trifling, and not sufficient to balance the cost; but for hogs, the extra cost of preparation was re- paid. The appetite and health of the animals are promoted by giving a variety of food. This fact has led to the preparations for fat- tening stock. For fattening h(^s we have used, with advantages, the following mix- tarea: 1. Two parts potatoes and two parts pumpkins; boil together until they can be easily mashed fine, then add one part meal, stirring and mixing intimately togeth- er. The heat of the potatoes and pumpkins will scald or cook the meal, and when cold, the mixture will be a stiflf pudding. 2. Two parts of potatoes and two of ripe palatable apples (either from corn, barley, or oats and peas, allowing the same weights,) and mix together vrhile the potatoes and apples are hot Hogs are more fond of food when it is slightly fermented (hot becoming pungently sour,) and they appear to fatten faster if it is given to them in this state. We have never seen bogs fatten faster than when fed on these mixtures, with occasionally a little dairy slop, and we have always found the pork solid and of good quality." -***- . . •• . From the Country Gentleman. How to destroy lice on Calies. It will often happen, in spite of one's best efforts, that a calf will become lousy; soon he will communicate the vermin to all in the flock, and they will increase with astonish- ing and alarming rapidity. It is not always an easy matter to rid the youthful bo vines of these pests, and many will contract divers other ailments in consequence, which too often prove fatal, Some of the books re- commend one remedy and some another — most of which either prove unsatisfactory or troublesome in application. A simple, but invariably • effectual remedy is used in this section, which mav not be known to the ma- jority of your cattle-breeding readers. It is smoking them with tobacco — one of the very few good purposes which the vile weed may be made to subserve. We use a pipe made after this fashion: the bowl is a round piece of wood fifteen inches in length by three and a half inches thick, with an inch and a quarter hole, bored through it longi- tudinally. A hollow mouth-piece should be made to fit into the bowl, and also a pipe somewhat sharpened at the point, to carry off the smoke, each about six inches in length. With the latter snugly fitted into its place, fill up the bowl with the cheapest smoking tobacco, put in a coal of fire at the top, adjust the mout-piece, and you are pre- pared to blew destruction to millions of lice. The smoke is easily blown through the crea- ture's hair to tbe skin; but to facilitate the operation a thick blanket should be thrown .-L-: •■'j(pf.Jrr>T!J;'7: - Tr,i^-»;3D«W^wij™r^ R5^sm^w®^ "^^SXH- !JiJi!"M!ip'J!i;.)WHfe\«™* n^pmKfft-i* <^S>lwSlSP«HBf over the calf, leaving the head uncovered, when the smoke will search out and destroy every louse. Five to eight minutes smo- king will be sufficient. The nits will sur- vive, but a second smoking will do the busi- ness for that generation also. Smoking affects the lice as it does this hu- man creature" — it kills them off. The same remedy will be found effectual for ridding colts of the nuisance. C. A. Little Valley, N. T., Jan. 12, 186T. <•»— To Fatten Horses. ' - Every horseman knows that a horse looks twenty per cent better if fattened in a short time, than if several months are employed in the process. I don't believe in loading a horse down with fat — they do better in me- dium condition. A horse if not very thin, can be put in fine condition in three weeks. But a narrow-headed, yardnecked, narrow- breasted, lighquartered animal, if he has never been fat will give you a two or three months' task, and will look ; the better for all the flesh you may put on him. To fatten a poor horse quickly is no easy task. It is to be done by a variety of the best feed, and with close attention in giving it. Many persons feed sufficiently libe|ral, and yet their horses are low in flesh, simply because of the careless pnd irregular manner in which it is given out, — When I wish to fatten a poor Iiorse, I put his stable iq a clean and neat condition, and commence by giving him small feeds of corn or oats, (which ever he takes best,) every two hours, rrom the time of rising in the morning till I retire at night — ;say six or eight feeds a day— rta- king care so to feed, that he will always eat with a relish and be hungry for the next meal. At no time do I suffer his food to lay by him; if he leaves any I take it from him and let him stand till he asks for it. For the first ten days 1 am careful not to let him get quite all he will eat. There is no better way of getting a horses appetite up to the fattenin point than to feed very often of good clean feed. By paying strict atten- tion for ten days you you will have him faily under way; and this is the most difficult part of the task. If at any tijoae he gets cloyed, so thai he refuses to eat, let him stand till gets hungry. During this time his stable must be kept clean and comfortable. He should have but little hay, but as much pure, soft water as he will drink three . times a day. Salt all the time at his will. He must be curried thoroughly once every day. Few men curry a horse as it should be done. Take your currycomb firmly in your hand, and with it make a quick motion back and forth, pass all over your horse, getting to the skin and removing the dirt therefrom; then pass all over more gently with comb and brush; replacing the hair, and finish with the naked hank — ^putting every hair to its place. Never give medicine of any kind — you eaii succeed better without. If I wished to reduce a horse in flesh in the least possible time, I should bleed and physic. If you have have the time to spare, it will be bet- ter employed in scalding or grinding your grain, and feeding warm mashes, &c. It appears that friend Munson has little faith in our no-doctrine advice. If he finds the oil to answer I advise him to stick to it, for if he does nothing worse than to pour a pint of grease^ down a horse that has a tooth or belly ache, he will hardly lose any. I have known it employed for thirty years— It is like mush to^ stone bruise — does neither good nor harm. How Much Should a Cow Eat ?— Cows, to give milk, require more food than most farmers imagine. J. W. Johnson, writing from Munich to the Country Gentleman, gives an interesting report of some experi- ments which have been made in Bavaria, from which the following is an extract: "Our trials have confirmed the view that cows, to give the greatest possible quantity of milk, must daily receive and consume one-thirtieth of their live weight in hay, or an' equivalent therefor. If more food be given, it goes to the formation of flesh and fat, without occasioning a corresponding in- crease in the yield of milk ; but if, on the contrary, less food be furnished, the amount and value of the milk will be greatly dimin- ished." Paying to Suppokt another Man's Wife. — -A novel and strange case of alimony has just been decided at L6ui8ville, Ky. A man named Ferguson separated from his wife and she sued for alimony. A settlement was made, he agree- ing to pay her $500 a year during her life. Subsequently the parties were divorced, and neither party was restricted from marrying again — the husband relying upon the religious faith of his wife (she being a Catholic) to pre- vent her from taking another husband. She did marry, however, and Mr, Ferguson there- upon stopped the supplies. He did'nt relish the idea of feeding and clothing another man's wife without deriving some little benefit from the outlay. A suit w'a:s brought to compel the payment of the $500 per annum, and it was decided in favor uf the wifSi / *T^?»!^'Wv~^"^ B5?;ywir"'TO^S»H-w^^W59fl^S5!P^g^j^g^pp^»S»Iiy?5^^ "if . 62 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. THE GARDENER. We have devoted considerable space ia the first pages of this number of the Farm- er, to the Vegetable Garden. It is now time to be provided with the proper seeds, and persons should be careful to obtain fresh seed. Vegetables make a considerable por- tion of the food for the summer season, especially, and furnish a diet that may save many doctor's bills. Farmers will find it mueh to their advantage to renew the seed, from year to year, of many kinds of vegeta- bles. —»- From the American Agriculturist. Small Gardens. What you say in relation to the profits of a small garden is very true. I have in this city, (Roxbury, Mass.,) about one-third of an acre adjoining my house, well set with fruit trees of all varieties. I have more than fifty pear trees, all of which are doing fine- ly. One Bartlett this year yielded five and a half busTiels of pears, worth |4 a bushel. A Bonne de Jersey, only six years of age, gave a bushel of beautiful pears, worth at least $6. For the past three years, I have had one hundred boxes of strawberries each year, and in addition, this year I have raised fifty boxes of raspberries, and twenty-five of blackberries. I also raise my currants and cherries, and all the vegetables for my fam- ily, with the exception of corn and potatoes. I had this year about two bushels of grapes, and my grape vines are doing well, and in a few years will supply a great many mouths with a delicious fruit. I expend annually about twenty-five dollars for manure, and do my own garden work before eight o'clock in in the morning, It would cost at least two hundred dollars per annum to purchase in the market what I gather from my little garden, but the advantage to health of body and mind, and energy of action, is worth far more than any other species of profit, JAMBS RITCHIE. ■ -•••- Upland Cranberries. To the Editor of the Am. Agriculturist: In the great variety of new fruits brought before the public, many of them will prove of great value to the cultivator. Among them is a new cranberry which was brought to my notice by Prof. F. Shepherd, of New Haven, and by whom I was favored with a sample of the berries. This season, an en- terprising merchant of Newfoundland brought several thousand gallons into Bos- ton, and disposed of them at a remunera- tive price — less than the common cranberry. In many respects they are found to be superior to our berries; they are not as tart, and need less sugar. By boiling them three- quarters of an hour they make a fine clear jelly, of a beautiful purple color, which can be kept for a long time. It will make superior tarts, and is also very valuable for dyeing purposes. I was not able to pro- cure the plants until late last fall, and have not had an opportunity to learn how they will adapt themselves to our soil and climate. I shall plant them out the coming spring, and shall be glad to have others do the same. The few plants I have obtained were taken from the rocks and barren places, by pulling the most and plants and decayed leaves, in which they grew, all up together, leaving no soil under them, which shows that they grew on poor shallow soil, on the high- lands of Newfoundland, and the gentleman from whom I procured the plants, says: from the manner in which they are found, he has no doubt they will grow on any soil in the United States. The plants are similar to our low cran- berries, the leaf round and deep green, throwing up shoots from the roots like a mat, and covering the ground with bright scarlet red berries, which look beautiful. They are gathered by hand, and was inform- ed that in one case a female gathered fifteen bushels in a day, which show their great productiveness. I have the promise of a commnnication from a gentleman whose statement can be relied upon, and who is acquainted with its growth, habits, &c., and when received I shall lay it before the public. F. TROWBRIDGE. New-Haven, Conn. -*»- High Mixed. — A widower at Camden who was not very young, became smitten with a young and beautiful girl, and married her. A short time after, the son of this man by a for- mer wife, became also in love with the mother of his father's new wife, a widow lady still in the bloom of life. Soon the young man and the widow were united, so that in consequence of these two connections, a father became the son-in-law of his son, and the wife not only the daughter in-law of her own son-in-law, but still more, the mother-in-law of her own daughter ; while the husband of the latter is the father-in- law of his own mother-in-law, and father-in- lawto his own father. Singular confusion may arise if children should spring from these pecu liar marriages. : , ?5^^^?s?;'!??!r?'''^'5r7v?'w^ THE ILLINQIS FABMEE. 63 HQETICULTURAL. Remedy for Bet in Grapes. uAt a recent meeting of the American Wine Growers' Association, in Cincinnati, the following communication was read from Mr. Werk, on the subject of Grape Rot: Allow me to explain to you the trials I have made in this country, in the cultiva- tion of the grape, during the last eleven years, and my intentions for the future in re- gard to the rot. It is a remarkable fact that vines never fail, in this country, in their flowering period; at least, I never have wit- nessed it. They hang as full of grapes as they can, every year. The favorable flower- ing of the vines, in the greatest part of the old country, generally is the barometer of an abundant crop, and if the flowering of the vines is a failure, the crop, of coui*se, is a failure ; the enemy there and the rot here. The quality there depends alone on the dry, warm summer, to bring the grapes to ma- turity, which is never the case here, (if the vines are not overladen with fruit,) this rot is the only main destroyer of our grapes. Professor Liebig in his complete book of Chemistry, speaks of the observations of Dr. Halez on the blight in hops and other plants (pages 39, 40,) who states that the development of the growth of plants de- pends on the supply of nourishment and moisture from the soil, which is determined by a certain temperature and dryness of the atmosphere. The absorbent power of plants, the motion of their sap, depends on evaporation; the amount of food necessary for the nutrition which is absorbed, is pro- portional to the amount of moisture given out (evaporation) in a given time. When the plant has taken up a maximom of mois- ture, and the evaporation is suppressed by low temperature or by continued wet weather, the supply of food, the nutrition of plant, ceases, the juices stagnate and are al- tered. They now pass into a state in which they become a fertile soil for micro- scopic plants. When rain falls after hot weather, and is followed by great heat without wind, so that every part of the plant is surrounded by an atmosphere satu- rated with moisture, the cooling due to far- ther evaporation ceases, and the plants are destroyed by "fire blast" or scorching (sonaer brand,) "sun burnt or sun blight." Kow, if these remarks are well founded, and I do believe they are, then we will be nearer to our point of preventing oar grapes from rotting, in avoidhig too rapid growth in the forepart of the season. We have been cultivating our vineyards in the same manner as they do in the greatest portion of the vine countries of Europe. We hoe and dig them three or four times at least twice in a season, and by so much cultiva- tion in such rich and fertile soil and climate, we urge the vines in their growth, keep the soil moist, and procure for the plant too much nourishment at once, by retaining the moisture in the soil, call forward in the loose*cultivated soil, the influence of the at- mosphere, and in this way have our plants fairly prepared f«r the approach of our enemy, with which we are all very well ac- quainted; cold, fog and warm moist atmos- phere; so that by the appearance of one or the other of these enemies, our grapes rot, and often from one-half to three-fourths are gone in twenty -four hours. As the supera- bundance of moisture is taken up and the evaporation suppressed, it ot course leaves the enemy a greater chance for his ravages. This is not the case so much in the greatest portion of the vine countries of Europe, as the soil and climate is not so rich and fer- tile as here, and of course frequent hoeing and higher culture is necessary to obtain from the soil the substance by provoking the influence of atmospheres to the soil. The largest portion of us vine growers have often noticed that about the time the rot appears, vine plants of a yellowish pale color alongside of other vines with a dark green healthy color, both fruit and leaves remain healthy and sound, whist the dark green and healthy-colored fruit are partly destroyed, and the leaves have lost their healthy appearance after the attack of the enemies, cold and fog, or a warm moist at- mosphere. The cause of this is admirably explained in the remarks of Dr. Halez in his observations on plants in general. I dug down to the tooU< of many pale and also dark green colored vines, after the rot had made its appearance, and without exception, I found the pale colored in a harder soil and generally on places where the water could run off easily; the reverse was the ease in the dark green colored plants. Eleven years ago I planted my first vine- yard in this country, in a timothy field of eleven acres. I had learned the cause of the rot from other experienced wine grow- ers, they remarking that the fog and the wet summers were the cause of the rot, and this led me to think that if the plants were far apart and the soil covered with other vegetations, the fog and the wet summers would not have the same effect, as the soil :■ — '^^^!T'T!''rTr"ar'''T!f?i»i!^^ 64 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. keeps dry under tlie grass. The rains fall- ing in the morning, during which the rot prevails, will run off in part, and what is ab- sorbed by the soil will soon be taken up by the grass. The result of this was, I made the first crop in this vine and timothy field, with- out any rot in 1850, and so every year in in succession, until '54, but in the spring of '54 my timothy ran out. I plowed the field, and that year the greatest porjjon of my crop was destroyed by the rot, in spite of the wide planting. By plowing, of course I urged the vegetation and made the soil more fertile, and retained the moisture of this already rich soil, and prepared my fruit for destruction by the enemy. One of my vineyards was not hoed for two years, only scraped to keep the grass down, planted three by six feet apart; the vines are laid dry by drawing the soil to the plants as we do in a potato or corn field, 80 that the water can run off. The result of this was, I obtained in the year '55 near seven, hundred gallons of wine, and in the year '56 about five hundred gallons to the acre, while in the same year, in vineyards along- side, of the same age, and on the sams exposure, only one hundred te one hundred and fifty gal- lons to the acre wasjobtained. Last summer was a very dry summBr, but our grapes rotted. By the obstrvations of Dr. Halez we can easily account for this. The winter of '55 and '56 was very eold and the soil was frozen from one to two feet deep. The whole continent was covered with snow one or two feet deep. — The result of this was a late spring — the soil en- riched by the snow and loosened by the frost, caused such a luxurious vegetation at once, that in four weeks we had flowers and grapes formed; the vine plants were met in the highest and rieh" est state of vegetation, with a cold night at first, second and third; the rot we bad last season and the mischief was done. This was the reverse in 1853, as the winter of '52 and '63 was mild and dry, and the spring of '53, with the fore part of the summer, dry and warm, the growth was reg' ular and less rapid, and the consequence was a rich grape year. According to all this, I came to the conclusion to lay my vineyards dry winter and summer, not cultivate them in the spring, except to scrape them, to keep the grass down, summer prune and with all those planted wide enough apart to ad- mit of it, I will roll with a path roller, as soon as the frost is out of the ground, to prevent ab- sorption of rains and atmosphere moisture to check the growth in part, put in the fall as soon as the kernels are formed, and the fruit begins to change collor, at this moment we know that all plants want all their nourishment to ripen their fruit and wood, a period of growth of which we are all aware there is no more danger of the rot — then I will set plow' and hoe at work. My experienee last year, in a vineyard cultivated at the change of color of the fruit, is this: Cataw- ba must of this part of the vineyard weighed 98 degrees, and the Isabella 101 degrees, while the mast of another part of the samo vineyard, and of the same exposure, not cultivated in the autumn, the Catawba must weighed 92 degraea, and the Isabella 90 degrees on the eaccarometer. It seems to me that any means we can discov- er to check the growth of vegetation in the early part of the season, will be a help to conquer the enemy, the rot, be it by the reverse of culture — that is, cultivate in the fall when the grapes change color — press the ground in the spring to check the absorption of atmospheric moisture in part, or by any means we can imagine, cheek the too luxurient vegetation in the^ spring and first part of summer a step will be taken toward the production of grapes instead of wood, and per- haps enable us to plant many European kincs of vines in this rich and fertile climate, as for them the too rich and rapid vegetation, with too long a season is destruction. . — ,0, From the Chicago Press. Elmi^ratiou Westward. The tide of humanity has already begun to set westward for the season. Through our ex- changes and correspondence, we learn that New England will send larger deputations of her sons and daughters to the promised land than in any previous season, and New York and Pennsylvania exhibit strong symptoms of the "Western fever. Ohio, too, which but compara- tively a few years since was on the verge of civ- ilization, is npw reckoned as one of the old States, and the Cincinnati Gazett informs us that a large number of its citizens have started for different portions of the Northwest, chiefly Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska. Other States will send a full quota to the general mi- gratory army, and it will be further reinforced by thousands from the old world. The arrivals during the winter months show a considerable increase in foreign immigration over the corres- ponding months of two or three previous years, and the next quarter will doubtless exhibit a still stronger tendency in the same direction. A very large proportion of this immigration is and will be from Germany, the main body of whom invariably seek the Northwest as their home. Let them come in any number. There is no class of immigrants to whom it offers a more hospitable welcome, or who make more valuable citizens. 1^ Child-Stealing. — The business of stealing little children, for the purpose of obtaining a reward for their restoration, has been practiced for a long time unsuccessfully in this city. — Probably on an average, two children a week are abducted from their homes while playing on the side walk, and are detained until the afSict- ed parents offer a reward for them, when the kidnappers bring their little victims to light and receive their money. This infamous busi- ness is made to pay very well, for the rewards frequently amount to over $100, and the pa- rents joy at recovering their offspring is sogr6at that they do not hesitate to nand over the amonnt without a careful inquiry into the facts. !SpiP||P|PPl)ll.p|IJ..4)ipWl-J^;P,l-.-^.^^ TBS ILLmOIS FABMEB. §7 sic, musical instrumeiite, paintings, designs, and models. Jv '^^ 1:'^^^£.: ;*^1*: ; 9th. J. H. Stipp, supenntendent tez61e fab' rics, Sua. 10th. Bey. S. Y. McMasters, superintendent natural history, geology, botany ^.chemistry, 11th. John P. Ri^olds, superintendent of miscellaneous department. 12th. Uriah Mills, superintendent of plow- ing match. : K ;r Adjourned till 2 o'clock P. M. when they met pursuant to adjournment. On motion, W. S. Wait ofBond co.; W. Bebb, Lockport, Winnebago co.; L. H. Elliott, of Paris, Edgar co., were appointed committee on farms. On motion, 'Resolved, That the Treasurer, Becording Secretary and S. A. Buckmaster be appointed a committee to contract for the plate to be used by this society in, the ^yme^tof pre- miums at the next fair. " .;: ^v i=f;.^ On motion, Resolved, That the cbtirespond- ing Secretary be authorized to insert obvious omissions in the premium list. Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be authorized to draw upon the Treasurer for fifty dollars for contingent expenses of his ofSce, to be accounted for on settlement with the Treasurer. Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretajry be authorized to receive and distribute or e^ely keep, as the esse may be, all books, seeds, or other articles sent to, or provided by the Soci- ety. Resolved, That L. Ellsworth and S. Francis be appointed a committee to confer with Mr. Powell in the selection of agricultural books for the use of schools. Resolved, That we recommend to general attention the series of. agricultural books pub- lished by S. M. Saxton & Co., New York. Resolved, That a portion of the premiums of the society be paid in agricultural books, and that the Corresponding Secretary contract for the same, subject to this provision, that no more books be paid tor, than are distributed by the Society as premiums. Resolved, That we desire the extensive intro- duction of agricultural books in the District school libraries throughout the State, as of great practical importance to the interests of the people. Resolved, That the Superintendents of De- partments report their awarding committees to the Corresponding Secretary, and that it shall be the duty of the second Corresponding Sec- retary to ascertain whether said committeemen will serve ; that he shall report the facts to the Superintendents of the respective Departments to which tiie coouuittees belong ; that the Su~ perintendents fill out said committees, if any members decline to serve, and that the Superin- tendents be held responsible that their com- mittees are fiill. !. , .1 ,• I,'" The Premium list was gone through with by the Committee. .^ , »>i^^- .^,f .„^^^^^^^^ On motion, Resolved, ^ttxat the Corresponding Secretary be authoriz^ to procure for each of the Executive Conimittee, Agricultural and Horticutural periodicals, to be designated by the members respectively, to the amount of five dollars for each, and that the Treasurer pay for the same. On motion. Resolved, That the Corre^onding Secretary direct that the periodicals awartffed for premiums at the last Fair, be sent to, the persons entitle! to them. , « -^ On motion, adjourned, t5 meet »t Pebria on the Saturday evening previous to the next Fair. Phil. Warren, Recording Sem^^i '*•• ■"'"'^''''.:,; *' Sangamon County Asricnltural Society. The annual meeting of the Sangamon County Agricultural and Mechanical Association, was held in Springfield, on the 7th, inst. at 2 o'clock, the meeting was callea to order by the Presi- dent, H. Jacoby, Esq. The minutes of the last meeting w«re read and approved, when, on motion of Mr. Vander- en, it was— ^ ,. ■;.;.-:.:^,>^i?i.v: • .:..>i^,::;.^..^v-^^, Besofeed, That a committee of three be ap- pointed to examine and revise the constitution of this Association, and that the coitimittee re- port at a special meeting of the Association, to be ixeld at the office of the Secretary, on Satur- day, the 11th day of April next, at 2 o^dock P.M. On motion, the^President appointed the^fol- lowing committee on this subject: Messrs. G. W. Vanderen, S.,M. Parsons, and S. iVands. On motion of Mr. John MoConnell, the fol- lowing amendment to the constitution was sub- stituted for the present provision of the consti- tution, relative to giving notice to stoekhoklers to attend annual meetings of the Association. "Notice shall be ^ven to the stockholders of this Association, of the time and place of hold- ing their annual meetings, by circular, sent to each stockholder, by the Secretary. On motion, it was Resolved, That the Treas- urer report at the next special meeting of tills Association, the names of the stocnbolders, their post office, address, and the number of shares held by each. Several accounts were audited and ordered to bejpaid. ;., \.:M'> > ■..- . : , . ■ -^-^ n? ^c^r^ The Treaburer presentMl his report, with vouchers. On motion. Resolved, That the Secretary ex- amine the report with. the accompanying y(^(^- OPS* '"^ \ -A .-(.• On motion. Reserved, That after the next special meeting of tiie Board, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to receive money for stock, and pay the same to the Treasurer, and that he slidU keep a list of stockholders, the amount of tiie stock held by each, and he sh^ |^e ^i^ckLs^--'?^ jif= !ar^TwwaTr.3r^r^'*^f?i!aK?^r"5WT3?9»?^ TT^.^^''^^'^^'^f:^^7'^'^^ff!fm^'^^ 68 THE ILLINOIS FARMEB. certificates of stock to persons entitled to tkem. Mr. Jacoby, from the committee appointed at the meeting of the Executive committee of the Association on the 8th day of November, 1856, to borrow money for the use of the Association, presented the following report: That — "The committee had borrowed of Abraham Lanterman, twelve hundred dollars, from the 2^ of March 1857, for one year, at ten per cent, interest per annum." On motion, liesolved. That this Association endorse the action of said committee, and au- thorize said H. Jacoby to give said Abraham Lanteiman a satisfactory note, and for the pay- ment of which the Association will be held re- sponsible. The Treasurer reported, that the debts of this Association is now $1475,63— of which $1200 are due to Abraham Lanterman, and $275,63 to John Williams, both sums ^bearing ten per cent, interest &om the 2d of March current. On motion, the Association went into the election of officers for the year ensuing, when the following persons were elected to the offices annexed to their respective names :" C. W. Vanderen, President ; John C. Crow- der and A. B. Cast, Vice Presidents ; S. M. Parsons' Treasurer ; S. Francis, Secretary. C. W. Vanderen, J. C. Crowder and A. B. M'Oonnell, were elected Trustees for the man agement ofthe Association. On motion, 'Resolved, That the Association hold their Annual Fair for four days, commen- cing on Tuesday, the 15th of September next. The following persons were elected superin- tendents ofthe several departments named: J. D. Smith, Cattle ; Jesse Pickrell, Horses, Jacks and Mules ; A. B. McConnell, Sheep and Poultry; Wm. H. Orowder, Hogs; Henry Grubb, Implements, &c.; John N. Poorman, Farm Products ; C. W. Matheny, Mill Fabrics, Needle Work, Painting, &c.; Preston Brecken- ridge, Ham, Bread, Cake, &c.,&o.; J.B. White, plsnts and flowers; Wm. 0. Jones, Miscella- neous. On motion, 'Resolved, That the superinten- dents prepare the premium lists for their re- spective aepartmenta, and appoint the awarding committees for the same, and report at a spe- cial meeting on the 11th of April next, for its action, to be held at the office of the Secretary. 'Resolved, That the Secretary inform the su- perintendents of their appointment and duties. "Resolved, That the editors of the newspapers published in this city be respectfully requested to publish the foregoing proceedings in their respective papers. S. FRANCIS, Secretary. -<•»- J. C, Davis, of m., is appointed Marshal of Kansas. EDITORIAL NOTICES. Trial of Reapers and Mowers— Under the Su« perintendence of the Officers of the Illi- nois State Agricultural Society. Spwngfxeu), III., March 11, 1857. At a meeting of tae Executive committee of the Illinois State Agricultural Society held in Springfield on the 4th of March, it was resolved thatthere shall be a trial of mowingand reaping machines in the month of June next, under the following rules and regulations: . Exhibitors of machines must enter them with S. Francis, Springfield Corresponding Secretary ofthe Society, on or before the loth day of May next; and the persons entering them are re- quired to pay $50 cash, in order to defray the expenses of the officers of the Board, Commit- tees, &c. The trial is to take place at or near Salem, in Marion county ; the time to be desig- nated by the President. The Executive Com- mittee will act as the awarding committee on the trial. The committee will seal up their de- cision, which will be opened at their meeting during the next State Fair. All the imple- ments on trial must be exhibited at the Fair. The trial is to be under the direction of J. E. Mc'Clun, Vice President of the Society, and Superintendent of the Agricultural implement department, and such assistants as he may des- ignate. This trial will not be entered into un- ices six entries are made. The scales of merit which shall govern in this trial, were published in the premium list of the society for last year, and a copy ofthe same will be furnished to ap- plicants. By order of the President : S. Francis, Corresponding Secretary of iihe Illinois State Agricultural Society. fH^ All papers friendly to the objects of the Agricultural Society, in this State, are request- ed to publish the above. •<•*- The Dairy— Trial of Milch Cowtu The Illinois State Agricultural Society have offered the following premiums for the best milch cows, under the rules and regulations an- nexed: OPEN TO ALL BREEDS OF CATTLE. Best milch cow _ Dht.and $20 2d do do ...M...... •••.■MooaI ftnd 15 8d do do 10 The cow to be kept on grass only during the experiment. The time of trial from 5th to the 15th of June, and from the 5th to the 15th of Aimist. Statement to be furnished, containing : ■'^'^^-■T^''v-v'!^.\y-:.' . .'" 's:;^' -- ^:5^ ' Ist. The age and breed of cow, and time of calving. 2d. The quantity of milk is weight and meas- urement, and also weight of butter during each period of ten days. 3d. The butter made to be exhibited with cow at the fair, and the statement to be verified by the affidavit of competitor. The awards will be declared at ike next State Fair, by a committee especially appointed for that purpose. v This notice is published at an early day, to enable all those to enter into competition for the premiums who desire to do so. By order of the President; S.FRANCIS, Cor. Sec, 111. State Agricultural Society. IQU Papers friendly to the objects of the Agricultural Society, are requested to publish the above. — »» Premiams. The gold medals awarded at the fairs of the Elinois State Agricultural Society, for the years 1855 and 1856, are engraved, and are ready for distribution. The first volume of the Transactions of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, was award- ed in many cases as premiums at the Chicago fair, 1855. They will be sent as ordered, te persons entitled to them. The postage on medals, prepaid, is nine cents; OB the Transactions, prepaid, thirty one cents. S. FRANCIS, Cor. Sec. 111. State Agricultural Society. <» Encouragement to Agiicaltnre. The Legislature at its recent session made an appropriation to the State Agriculture Society of three thousand dollars a year for two years, to be Hsed by the Society for premiams. The bill passed the Senate with only four negative votes, and in the House there were but seven votes in oppositioo. This is a liberal appropria- tion, and we doubt not will be paid back into the treasury in a short time more than a hun- dred fold. The Lei^islature also made an appropriation of one hundred dollars a year, for two years, to the County Agricultural Societies. We hope this appropriation will induce the establishment of societies in every county in this State. Our impression is that at this time there are not sixty oountj agricultural societies in Illinois. Ki HA-There will be much clover seed sown the Jtresent month. Ten pounds will be suffident or an acre. It answers well to sow it on a light ■now, or better, when the ground is frozen on a warm morning. Illinois State Agricultural Society. The Executive Committee of this Society met in this city on the 4th instant. They were principally engi^ed in making arrangements for the next State Fair — preparing the premium list, appointing committees, &c. There was only one application received for holding the State Fair, and that was frdm Peoria. The citizens of that county, repre- sented by Messrs. Chase and Arnold, agreed to comply with all the requirements of the Committee, in ftiroishing grounds, fixtares, police, &c. The grounds are said to be most beautiful. They belong to the Agricultural Society of the county. They are situated a about a mile from the city->-contain some twenty-three acres — ^part prairie and some groves — beavti- fuUy overlooking a great extent of country, as well as Peoria lake and river, with excellent water, in great abundance, near the grounds. We are told, and have good reason to be- lieve, that Peoria county will make an effort to get up such fixtures and arrangements for the coming fair, as have not been excelled in this estate. : ■"■>::>''■■*■":' ^ The Committee determined to have a trial of Reapers in the latter part of June, in Ma- rion county, provided that six entries should be made. We believe, that so far, there is only entry. This trial, should one be held, will be held, will be of great interest, not only to ex- hibitors but to farmers generally and must at- traek a great erowd of people. The wheat crop looks well in Southern Illinois, and ample fields will be furnished for the trial. .We lament to state the death of Jas. C. Orth^of Wabash county, Illinois. A few days after he wrote the article over his name in the last number of the Farmer, be was taken sick in this city and died with only a few days illness. He was an excellent man, a good farmer, — a citi- zen of whom Wabash county might well be proud. ■■■ ' .. ^" ;.-■;, V ' m^This number of the Farmer contaips two important laws passed at the last session of the Legislature. The first, a general law for incor- porating county agricultural societies; the second appropriating $100 a year for two years for each county agricultural society, and giving all agricnltural^societies, police powers, on the days of their fairs, oyer their fair grounds, and 200 yards distanee outside of their fair grounds. ■HiMaaiBOMHii ■MaMii MMMii lail ..iJgU||;v«.,,lJWfS^Jll9fiill^ip!HI#,V!|!ltg?t;ip^ipiP^^ Spring Work. Our farmers are now called to this work in earnest. — Has the drought of last fall and the cold ©f the winter, cut off your wheat? If so, what ia to be done with the land. You can s«w apon it spring wheat, sping barlej and flax, with a reasonable prospect of a handsome profit. Either of these crops are better than oats. What is to be done ? There is no time to be lost. — Wheat will be likely to bring a good price the coming summer. We are told that St. Leuis operators are contracting at $1,70 for the next crop of barley; and flax seed is bringing large prices at St. Louis and has done so for the last two years or more. The supply is not at all ade- quate to the demand. " Farmers should now attend tu their orchards. Trim where necessary. If you have no orchard, you should lose no time in putting out one — especially should yon not lose another year. — Fifty apple trees will make an orchard for a fam- ily. No land pays better than that filled with apple trees. The market cannot be overstocked with good fruit in Illinois for fifty years to come. Farmers, should by no means neglect their or- chards. The State Normal SchooL The Legislature have authorized the establish- ment of a State Normal School. This school is mainly intended for the instruction of young men, so as to qualify them to be the instructors of youth. We notice that many of those who had been urging the establishment of an Industrial University, united in sustaining the project for a Normal School. They required the Normal School as the beginning of a system which shall be extended, as necessity shall require, until such means of education can be provided as are demanded by the beat interests of oar agri- cultural population. i^^There are many opinions in regard to the proper time for trimming trees. We prefer spring. Do this with sharp instruments, that the wounds may sooner heal over. Shrubbery must now be trimmed and pruned so as to make com- pact and handsome bushes. Roses blossom best by cutting oS the tops ot shoots and trimming out superfluous wood. Currants and f ooseber- ries early in the spring, and superfluous wood taken out. Ladies you should have your pruning knife or shears whenever yougointo the garden; and this you should do often — there is iaterest and health is it. Sngar and Molasses from the Chinese Sogar Cane. The Executive Committee of the State Ag- ricultural Society, realizing the importance of deciding for the Society the value of this plant, and adding . another staple to the productions of the country, have offered in their forth- coming pre'nium list, the following premiums: Best 60 Ibfl. Sugar, nutdefrom the Chinese Sugar Cute. The Society's QohD MxDiX. Second best $15 00 Third best 10 00 Best five gallons MoISMes made from Chinese Su- gar Cane The Society's Gtou MxDAl. Second best $16 00 Third best 10 00 We are of opinion that there will be specimens of sugar and molasses from the China sugar eane, at the coming State Fair at Peoria, which will satisfy the public that sugar and molasses can be readily and cheaply made in Illinois. If this is done, if Illiaois can manufacture sufficient for her own consumption — what will be the re- sult? Illinois has, say, a population of one and a half millions; these require an average of $3 dollars worth of sugar in each year. Here are three millions of dollars saved in the State, on a rough calculation. We hope every farmer who can, will procure a few seed, and try the experiment on a small scale. He can, at least, make sufficient seed, to plant a large field, the coming year. ■^.HedgeB & Free, of Cincinnati, have been getting up a sugar mill, te answer the wants of the farmers of the west, who design to manufac- ture molasses from the Chinese sugar cane. — They intend to have one on exhibition in Wash- ington City, at the fair held there the present month. The cost — a material point — is not stated. But we shall hear more of this mill. .Mr. Kroh, of Wabash county, writes that he made seventy gallons of syrup from the Chinese sugar cane last fall, and that he is now using the article in his family with great satis- faction. He is making arrangements to increase, extensively, the eultivation of the plant. Kore than a hundred acres will be occupied with it, in that county, the coming season. <•• IA.Several persons will receive the Farmer for the present year without ordering it. The publishers are instructed to say that the Farmer is sent to such persons by order of the Corres- ponding Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, in pursuance of direetions by th« Ex- ecutive Committee, — as premiums for articles exhibited at the last State Fair. m^ ^-jw- ' t^-'fm' - V 3i?V' -: > 'r?«p..'i«iijBinii.rsiJ;,"*^^ ■H ^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER; 71 tiie In Central Illinois tfre coming crop of wh0at will be light. Many fields will not lAake their seed. This is the opinion of many of our best farmers. This is a great misfortune — ^but what is to be done? We say, lose no time in lamenting Over a state of things that cannot be helped. Many of yon, farmers, have lost yodr wheat. You do not wish to pat your' wheat land into corn. There are some spring crops which you can get from your wheat land. Oats, spring wheat, barley and flaxseed. All these articles pay well; and, in a favor able season, well pat in, they all yield good crops. : > ■ : Mr. Sykes, of DeWitt county, has raised with ordinary culture, 36 bushels an acre of Canada club wheat, and that, too, sown as late as the l5th of April. Barley is now bringing $1 90 per bushel in St. Louis by the quantity; and we are told that operatoi^ there are contracting for the coming crop at $1 10, Oats are worth 54 cents; and the last quotations of flax seed were over $2 50 a bushel. . >.V We tell our friends tb be busy— to obtain seed of wheat, barley, oatSi flax — and put these seeds into the ground well —and, with the blessing of Heaven, you will not be great losers by the loss of your fall wheat crop, . • , i -»•»■ Raising Spring Wheat. Mr. Editor: — Under the above caption I give you my modus operandi with several years experience in the cultivation of spring wheat. As the season is fast approaching, preparations should be commence at once. li corn has been raised the previous year, and the stalks remain on the ground, they should be broke down, raked up in heaps or long rows and burned previous to seeding. The earlier wheat is sown the better, provid- ed the ground be in good order. A few days later is better than sowing in mud and water; therefore, let the ground settle, If plowing has been done in the fall, of course no clearing is necessary, but both are brought now to a common level; with one horse and a one horse plow, (which every good farmer has one or more for cultiratii^ com,) mark out in lands twelve traces wide, which is very convenient, three breadths to the land (where a machine is not used.) From one and a half to two bushels to the acre should be sown with the same horse and plow;— turn it under as shallow as the plow will turn a farrow. The advantage of plow- ing in wheat on ground that was plowed in the fail, is, that it kills to a great extent all running vines or wild buck-wheat, as it is commonly called; and will produce from five to ten bushels per acre more than if put in the ordinary way; not being so likely to lodge. Each horse and hand will put in from two to two and a half acres per day ; harrow once the same way it was plowed and the whole is complete. J. H. S. West Jersey, March 6, 1851. i9t—. ■/■■■:*;■' I^^Every man who has a garden or farm should not negleet to have some good grape vines In cultivation. The Catawba aad Isabella do well here. Thy should not be planted where the roots stand la the water during winter. A OENEEAL ACT for the Incorporation of County Agrlcnl* SECTION I.— Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General AssemiHy, That an Agricoltaral Society may be formed in any ceon^ cf the state, by the yoluntu'y association of any nxunber of legal voters of the same — not less than twenty — who may meet and organize for that purpose, under a constitution and by-laws of £elr own construction, which they may alter and amend at pleasure ; the use and benfit of the same to be alike free to every citizen of the county who is disposed to associate with them under the constitution and by-laws so provided, and in accordance with this act, upon such terms as may be provided. "g 2. Each County Society, thus organized, may thereupon Ee constitued a body corporate and poUtic, under an appropri- ate name ; which name, together with that of tiie Prosident, Secretary and Treasurer, shall be recorded on the books of the county clerk of the county wherein said Society is located ; whereupon said Society shall be deemed legally constituted, and under this name shall be capable of contracting and being contracted with, suing and being sued, pleading and being implMtded, in all courts of law and equity in this State; and in said county shall have power to sue for and collect all g^ra- tuitouB subscriptions which are or may be made to such So- ciety; and may have a common seal, which they may change at pleasure ; and may, in their corporate name, acquire by purchase or otherwise and hold real estate, for the use and to promote the objects of the Society, not exceeding in quantity, at any time, five hundred acres. 1 3. Any person who shall, without the permission of the officers of the corporation, enter within any inclosure which may be used by such corporation for an agricultural or me- chanical fair, and any person guilty of disorderly conduct, or such as may interrupt or be prejudicial to the interests of said Mr, show or exhibition, whether inside the inclosure for the same, or at any distance within two hundred yards of such nclosure, shall be liable to immediate arrest, and to the pay- ment of five dollars to the association, to be recoverable at suit of said corporation in action for debt, before any justice of the peace or other court in this State. g 4. The provisions of the third section of this Act arerhere- by made applicable and legally available to aU Agricultural Societies within the State, whether incorporated or unincor- porated, and which desire to take the benefit of the same. g 5. This act to be in force from and after its passage. Approved Feb. 8, 1857. -'1|apipi|p|^l(nilPH^ui.iiiiMi^j.Mi>.j«i%««i,^)i«<aat7 Agricnltural 80- cietlea. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the PeopU of the State of lUinoii, represented in the GeJieral AssmhXy That the sum of one hundred dollars is hereby appropriated to the use of each and every Agricultural Sociuty throughout the State, fbr the purpose of giving them aid and encourage- ment in the general object of promoting agricultural im- provements. And the Treaaurer of this State is hereby au- thorized and directed, when called upon for that purpose, to pay over to the Treasurer or fiscal agent of each County Ag- ricultural Society in the State, the sum of one hundred dol lars, on receiving his receipt therefor, accompanied by the certificate of the County Clerk of each county respectively, where such Agricultural Society is located, that such society is organized, and that such Treasurer or fiscal agent is au- thorized to receive and receipt for money on behalf of the same. Seo. 2. The grant of one husdred dollars to each Coxmty Agricultural Society aa aforesaid, may be demanded and r^ ceived for the year 1867, by each and every County Agricultu- ral Society that is now duly organized, or that may be so or- ganized on or before the first day of June next, and a further sum of one hundred dollars is granted to each County Agri- cultural Society throughout the State, for the year 1858, that is now duly organized, or that may be so organized, on or be- fore the first day of June, 1858, and the Treasurer of this State is hereby authorized and directed to pay over the same under the same conditions as provided in the first section of this act. Sxo. 3. This act to take effect and be in force after It* passage. Approved Feb 12,1867. «»> China Sugar Cane. — Tb« seeds of this plaat are likely to be disseminated in erery part of the coantry. Some persons will get them for the purpose of making experiments satisfactory to themselves; others to secure seed for another year; and a few, such as have already made satisfactory experiments, will cuitirate the plant extensively for the purpose of making molasses and sugar. If there be failure in any case to obtain syrup, we believe it will be from the im- perfection of machinery and apparatus. This sugar cane is cultivated in France as feed for stock. The cool summers there do aot give the plant the richness found in our country, under a more genial and powerful sun. The French are introducing the cultivation of the plant in Algeria, where they anticipate great success. InFrance, the juice of the plant has been employed extensively in the maoafao- ture of Champaign; the leaves and stalk as food for stock; the seeds as feed for cattle; and the dark covering of the seed to make a deep purple dye. The plant itself, after being deprived of all its juice, it is stated, caa be raanufacted into paper. Before the season arrives for expressing the juice, we have no doubt Yankee genius will be snecessfally employed in getting up cheap mills for that purpose, as also cheap pans for evapor- ating the juice. -!•»- |^"Wm. G. Warring, Esq., principal of the Farmer's High School at Boalsburgh, Penn., writes as that evergreens can be grown by those who UDderstaad the bussiness, such as Pines, Norway Spruce and Cedars, at $5 per 1,000. These evergreens planted out properly, would greatly meliorate the climate in Illinois. COMMERCIAL. Springfield Market. Oinox OF THx lumoiB Fabiob, 1 March U, 1867. j" The roads have been so utterly impassable for several weeks that there has been a perfect dearth of transactions in grain. The weather however is now pleasant and business will soon be resumed. All kinds of marketing is in demand. FLOUI^— Extra white, $6 50; superfine $6; common $5 60. WHEAT— Sales Red at $1 %i bu. CORN— Sales at 30@35 cto. ^ bn. OATS— Sales at 30 cts. bu. HIDES— Dry flint 14 cts. %i ft. BRAN— 10 cte. "^ bu. SHORTS— 16 cts. f) bu. CHICKENS— $1 60 ^ doc. TDRKEYS— 8@9 cto. « B>. ONIONS— $3 ^ bu. POTATOES— $1 60 ?* bu. APPLES— Green, $1 26@$2 %i bu.; Dry 2 50®$3. BTJTTER^20@26 cts. « ft. CHEESE— 12>^ cts. ^ &. EGOS— 16 cts.fidoE. HAY— $2011 ton. CORN MEAL-60C.9 bo. HAMS— Smoked 1234;t ^ lb. MOLASSES— Plantetion 00c. « gal. S. H. SYRUP— 11 « gaL GOLDEN SYRUP— $1 20@1 26. SUGAR— Brown, 20c %1 lb. , <•» St. Lonii Market— March 7. Flour— Demand for city with sales of 1000, 500 and 200bblar superfine at $6. Sales of country as follows : 100 bbls city. Quincy, superfine, at $5 70; 40 bbls country at 6 76; 100 bbls branded extra, private; 200 bbls fancy at 5 87}4 delivered; 50 do at $5 90, and 130 at 5 92>C Wheat— Prices advanced. "Bales 2,800 bags spring, in lots, from $1 12 to 1 14; 52 bags fair Mediterranean at 1 16; 300 bags, fair red, a little damp, at 1 17 J^ ; 124 bags fiur white at 1 20; 675 bags prime red and white at 1 21 and 1 26, and 57(V bags prime red at 1 20; choice red would probably conmiand 1 23@1 25, and choice white 1 28@1 SO, without bags. Com — About 3000 bags fikir at 66c, prime mixed yellow and white at 65c, in new gunnies. Oats— Sales 300 bags in lots at 66c, and 203 bags, in infe- rior bags, at 53c. Rye — 51 bags sold at 873^c in bags. Pork — Sale 200 bbls mess up Illinois river, at $21. Cut Meat steady and firm; sales 500 pounds here not well salted — shoulders at 8c, sides and hams at 9c; 1300 shoulders, 1300 hams, also 1400 shoulders, 600 sides and 1900 hams, all up the river — shoulders at 8c, sides and hams at 9c. Grease — 114 tierces yellow and white sold at 10c. Bacon — Sales 5000 ibs shoulders, sides and hams in loose and rough packages, at 9^c; small lot new shoulders and hams at 9 and lie; 26 casks old rib and clear sides in bad or- der at 10c. Whisky drooping. Sales two lots of 60 bbls at 251^ 60 bbU city at 26c. Potatoes — Sale 60 bags Missouri at $1, and 200 bags prlmo and choice Northern at 147^c in bags Hides — Dry PUnt steady at 20c. Seed— Sales 23 bags aover at $7 12i^, and 22 bags at 7 26. FRUIT— 91 bags dried apples sold at $2 50. Molasses— Sale of 138 bbls N. 0. Sugar House at 72c. Sugar— 130 boxes yellow Havana sold at lie. St. louis Lire Stock Market-'-March 7. Belle vua House— There has been a fUr supply of Beef Ckttte of all descriptions for the i>ast week. Shippers are holding back, owing to a low market below. Butchers are paying for common to fair 7 to 8e, for flood to choide 8V^@9c ^ 100 pounds net. Shipped South about 270 head. About 950 head unsold. Hogs scarce and in demand, selling from 1)^ to 81^ net. Sheep are in demand; few lots have arrived during the week, and sold at prices ranging from 3 25 to $4; choice will bring $5 a head. Cows and Calves — A fair supply, and selling at $20 to $30 for common to fair, and $35 to $45 for good to choice. «»» Chicago Liie Stock Market— March 7. Cattle are in &ir supply ; packers pay $3 60 to 3 76 gross for common stock, and butchers $4@4 60 for the best that come in. HOGS— Live Hogs have been very scarce and in demand, $6 being the regular rate, gross weight. A lot of 400 head of plump pigs to average 200 fts were offered to-day for delivery, the last of this week at $6 12; only $6 was offered. ™!^?v;R?»!;^'PBi!!'gs??7 Ukely to take tl^ years of (another jubilee to slough it off England must make our door locks, whether she could make one that would keep out her villains Coming among us or not. Her smithy must have twenty-five cents for making it j her export- ing merchant must have twenty-five more for bringing it here; the jobber would get twenty-five more, and the retailer another twenty-five; and the farmer pay one dollar lo. „ 1.^ ^^^^ would make a rogue laugh and an honest man crj. It may be said that this is not so very i.»a, uv w«,.ea than we are doing now, when we buy English razors for & dollar, which everybody knows, or should know, are retailed in England for one shilling. British manufacturers at home, and Brit- ish merchants stopping in New York, love to shave us, and if we love to be shaved, let it go on. But the trouble with our fathers, was, that they had no money to buy those locks to let in rogues with and those razors to be shaved with. They could grow pro- duce, but there was no manufacturer among them to consume their produce. It went a begging. Nobody would buy it. Now, when any one has a great deal to sell, but can raise no money for it, he feels like rather a small sort of a man. He can hardly hold up his head among merchants and others who have money enough. And yet this is the very training which American farmers have been through. Even since this cen- tury came in, fatted calves have been killed, the fore-quarters thrown to the pigs, and the hind-quarters carried a long way and sold for two and a half cents a pound. Pay was often taken in India cotton at fifty cents a yard. Nothing could tie more un- favorable to agriculture. We have often wondered why the farmer did not lie down in the furrow. There is a sense in which he did; — he became unenterprising, nor was he to be blamed for it. He lacked incentives. He, in a measure, lost his self-respect. Anybody that could get some money was better than he. He rejoiced if a young law- w THU JLIJlfOIS FABMiaL 75l i yer, or a sprig of a merchant's clerk, took a fancy to his daughter, and would rather his son should I«am to turn broomstocks or make shell combs from oxen's horns, than to be a farmer. Now the times are better. If the farmer ean grow something, he has a reasonable prospect of selling it at a living profit. But the depressing influences of such a state of things as the farmers of this country have been through, do not cease in a day or a year. They run through generations. Out of this non-manufacturing system, this dependence on a foreign power for nearly all that was worn by day, or slept in by night, articles without which we could not be born comfortably or buried decently, or work the soil while we lived, grew among other foolish ideas, this most foolish of all, that the farmer alone has little need of edu- cation. We mean that this ridiculous idea grew out of that state of things, as an American idea. It was old in Europe three centuries ago. ...Kra It may be nearer the truth to say that it was imported; but it became acclimated, confirmed, made, we sometimes (ear, as im- movable as the everlpting hills, by that very state of things wnich we have describ- ed, a dependence on England for our swad- dling clothes, and grave clothes, and all the clothes we vroar between, wedding suits and all, forour pots, axes, dish-kettles, and log chains, everything we wore or used, and consequently no home market for our pro- duce, twenty pounds of veal for the writing of a dunning letter at us, and then no money for the veal, but a yard of Indian cotton, that the wind might not blow upon too rudely, and that the lawyer would by no "manner of means" accept as pay for a three-line dunning letter. Those who op- pose American manufactures would re-inau- gurate precisely such a condition for the farmer; would leave him to the sorry chance of raising a great deal and getting precious little for it. All the commerce in the world would not save him. It would only filch away the little money he could get, and put it quite beyond his reach, concentrating a large share of it in our own commercial centers, and dividing the rest between the foreign merchant, the foreign farmer, and the foreign mechanic, instead of leaving it here to go the rounds, from the farmer to the manufacturer, from the manufacturer to the laborer, from the laborer back to the farmer, through everybody's hands, baying what everybody wants. It is nothing but the supplying of our own wants, and, as fast as possible, oar own lax- uries, by home industry, that can keep this latter state of things in operation. Nothing else will save us from being cheated as badly as our fathers, when they bought their door locks of England, and as we are when we buy a certain class of razors that sell here for a dollar, and there for a shilling, or another class, that shave when we buy them, but won't shave afterwards: It is true that foreign immigration, and oui exportation of farm produce, great in itself, but destined for ever to be small compared with the amount we ciaji grow, might a little retard the return of times when the results of the farmer's labor would go a begging. But it should be considered, that a failure to mui- ufacture for ourselves would stop immigra- tion, while it would stimulate foreign agri- culture, and would soon leave the American farmer without a buyer. While the old order of things lasted, while we imported all our manufactured goods, instead of importing only as now too large a portion of them, while the fanner got almost nothing for his produce, and that not in cash, but in slazy cotton cloth, or in pot-metal nails, or pewter tankards, or pew- ter gimlets, what wonder that the idea of a young man's wanting no education to be a farmer took possession of the public mind? Alas! if educated, he might be spoiled for his condition. If one of his brothers was dull, educate him for a minister. If another was trickish, make a lawyer of him. The one that was to b&a farmer, was bom to the trade, and that was enough. Let him stay at home, work hard, and help his brothers into a better position, one from which they '9i^i.^ii*:. ' -y^"- iriT-j*' ""^K^-waw'-'v^'."!*' ■iM..*wil!J|p!,!lf!J.»!i|(.ip n W'^.-;-"T "^! would be pretty sure to look down upon him for the rest of life. This was the reasoning. The idea became abont as fast in the public mind, as a thorough-going former wishes his gate post to be in the ground. To read tolerably, to spell badly, and to cypher worse, was enough for the unlucky boy that was condemned to farm life. Well, where is this old idea, half justifiable fifty years ago, gone to now? Nowhere. It sticks in the heads of some people like a well-set gate-post in the ground. Too many farmers still think that reading, reflection, reasoning, the brightening up of the mental powers, is of no use to them. They laugh at science; call it book farming with a sneer, if some neighbor tries to pry into the secrets of the trade, or sends his son to an agricultural school. The farmer, they think, need not know much! ! Tliis is a terrible mistake! 1 1 It has been true since time began, and will be while time lasts — a truth unaltered and unalterable — that any profession is hon- ored just about in proportion as the men ex- ercising it are intelligent, mentally cultiTat- ed, self-improTed. To improve your soils, your fruits, your breeds of cattle, is well. But it generally happens that, when a man fails to improve himself, nothing improves around him. He rusts, and his buildings rot; all becomes worse, and his profession suflfers in the pub- lic estimation. An ignorant farmer is a dis- grace to his profession, j ust as an ignorant minister, an ignorant lawyer, an ignorant doctor, or an ignorant, narrow.minded mer- chant is a disgrace to bis. We do not say that the farmer should know all that these men know. "Every man to his trade." But he should know his business as well as they theirs; and in order to do this, he has much to learn beyond what fell to him by being born on a farm, or will come to him of course by being brought up a farmer. We would not counsel farmers to read poetry in seed time, or romance in harvest. The tendencies of their calling are rather scientific than literary. Their business is an art, but it is so interwoven with many sci- ences, that to speak of the science of Agri- culture is no absurdity. The soil is a sort of chemical laboratory, and if the farmer knows enough of chemistry to comprehend steadily the chemical allusions in his agri- cultural journal, it is of immense advantage to kim. Plants have peculiar laws for drawing nourishment from the air and the soil, and if he understands these laws he can better minister to their wants, and will there- by gain enough in a single year to pay him for carefully studying a small treatise on vegetable Physiology. Animals have causes of thrift and unthrift, laws of growth, dis- eases; and how can he be ready for every emergency in the stall unless he understands the nature of the animal he cares for? We grant that his knowledge on this sub- ject is to be obtained mostly from observa- tion, bat then his power of observation will be quickened and made far more useful to him by some reading. His profession is in some respects like that of war. He has en- emies, and how can he win, unless he keeps himself informed on the nature, positions, and probable movements of the enemy? But we forbear. The benefits of study to the farmer are not all payable in dollars and cents. It gives liim personal consider- ation, a high standing in the community — influence. It makes him an honor to his profession. The intelligent, inquiring farm- er, of awakened intellect, elevates his pro- fession, just as the ignorant farmer, of no in- quisitiveness, with no mind aroused to action, sinks it. The one honors, as the other dis- graces, the whole body of farmers. The intelligent farmer, and we have more such than any other country after all our deficien- cies, is a pattern to bis fellows, and in this way is pre-eminently useful; for of all the model farms we have ever seen, none are more instructive than those of some self- made, but well made thoroughly instructed farmers among ourselves. Where a majority of farmers will consent to become like them, aiming at a high self- culture, with a wise reference to their busi- ness, and a generous desire for usefulness, and a high standing before the community, K= *. THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 77' their profession will be honored, the govern- ment will respect their interests, empty- headed coxcombs even will know enoagh not to speak contemptaonsly of them as a whole* and the country will be safe. Of all the means within the farmer's own control, for elevating his calling and secur- ing for it a just consideration, this self-cnl- ture is the first. The second is like it — the edaeation of his sons for the farm. Of this in a future number. Ploughing by Steam. Much has been said and written and pub- lished lately on the subject of plowing by steam. The attempt of Mr. Hussey, in Maryland, was partially successful. While we have been talking however, there have been those who have been acting in Eng- land. The first trial there was by a station- ary engine. This did the work well enough on a small field, but it was not what was de- manded. A new engine has been introduced in England, lately, which is likely to answer the wants of the farming community to some extent. It is called "Boydell's Traction Engine," with revolving railway. Its oper- ation seems to demonstrate, that the engine will work on even grounds, like those of the prairies of the west. We doubt much whe- ther any locomotive can be made to work on uneven or hilly soil. The London Agricultural Gazette, an authority which may be relied upon, gives the following account of some recent exper- iments made in England with "Boydell's Traction Engine:" "The trials having been advertised, we attended on Tuesday and Friday, the 16th and I9th inst., and I shall present the read- ers of the Agricultural Gazette with a brief account of what came under our observa- tion. "On Tuesday the engine w«w trench- ploughing a small field on Steam Farm, with two of Cotgreaves' trench-ploughs, Mr. Cotgreaves himself superintending them. The work was being done about twelve inches deep, and at the rate of five acres per day, or half an acre per hour. The en- gine, to appearance, would have hauled nearly another plough, as it was never working up to its full pressure of steam ; but the two ploughs being all that were at com- mand, we had not an opportunity of bring- ing this to the test of experiment. The quality of the work gave great satisfaction, especially to the market gardeners of the neighborhood, some of whom offered to give 30s per acre for land so trenched, assuring Mr. Middleton — who lets out engines — that a large area of market garden grounds of the capital could he had at this rate. "The daily expense of the engine and hands was estimated at about SOs., so that the cost per acre would be 6s. ; consequent- ly the profit would be 24s. per acre at the above estimate-— equal to £6 per day, or £36 per week. "On Steam Farm there was also a good deal of ploughing done by the engine, In two large fields, with four of Howard's P. P. ploughs, the depth of the furrow being nine inches, and the rate of ploughing from eight to ten acres per day. The quality of the work was superior — fully equal to what could have been done by four horses in each plough. Both fields were well adapted for traction engine work, being comparatively level, and of great length. "On Friday the engine was at work In a large field dn Butts' Farm. It was again hauling fonr common ploughs, ploughing nine inches deep, and at the rate of an acre per hour when timed. The field was still better adapted than the former, being near- ly as level, of greater length, and rather lighter in quality of soil. Both fields on Steam Farm, although of a gravelly char- acter, were yet rocky hard in the bottom; but here the soil wias more friable and sandy, consequently the ploughs were more easily held — enabling the ploughmen to make far better work than that done by them with horses in the same field. "The steady, equal draught of the 'steam- horse' deserves especial notice, as it differs widely from that of horses. Accustomed to the latter, we think little about the irreg- ularity of their traction force, when holding the plough behind them, but we have only to examine their mechanism and the ever- varying position of the fulcra (footprints on the ground) over which their muscular force acts, and compare them with those (the endless rails) of the traction engine, to per- ceive that the difference is great, and wholly in favor of the latter. In point of fact, Howard's P. P. ploughs, after being entered behind the Bteam-horse, almost went alone, for we saw Mr. Middleton remove his r 78 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. hand from one of them for a considerable distance, and how much further it would have gone cannot be said. The expense of plough- ing nine inches deep, with four ploughs, is £1 16s. 6d., or about $7 50 per day. "The «um of 36s. 6d. per ten acres would be something less than 3s. 8d. per acre; but say £2 per day and 4s. per acre. "The value of the work done was esti- mated at from 20s. to 24s. per acre; say the lowest of these two figures, which would give ^10 per day, so that deducting the £2 (the expense of the engine,) we would have £8 as the profit per day over our present system; £48 per week; or tha prime cost of the engine in some ten weeks' work. "When the engine was timed it was ploughing fully an acre an hour, but that time it was going rather over its ordinary pace. In point of fact, the boiler is only calculated to keep up a maximum pressure of 45 lbs. of steam per square inch, and with the most successful stoking it seldom much exceeded this pressure, while it very fre- quently fell below it. Midland we found it atone time ae high as 50 lbs., and at an- other as low as 35 lbs. We may also men- tion here, that we had the diameter of the cylinder measured, and found it 6^ inches. Probably at the ordinary pace of the engine it was ploughing at the rate of §ight acres per day of ten hours. We insisted very hard, on Tuesday, for a ten hours' trial without intermission; but owing to the ur- gent demand of visitors, — some of them from the continent of Europe, the East and West Indies, and the United States of America, — to see it trench-ploughing, etc., etc., our request was found impracticable on any of the days advertised for public trial. "At eight acres per day, the expense per acre would be 5s., and the profit per day, £6; per week, £36; over the present system — a profit which would soon pay off the prime cost of an engine. In the provinces the expense of such ploughing would be, on an average, only 16s.; at ten acres this would yield £8, or £6 of daily profit; at eight acres, £6 Ss., or £4 8s. of profit, allowing the expense of the engine in each case to re- main as before. "There was no two-horse or six-inches deep furrow work done, and therefore we cannot say from experience what the ex- pense of such was; but we may safely con- clude that, at ten acres per day, it would not be more than 2s. 6d. per acre; and at eight acres per day, 38 "Such are the leading facts we gleaned from two days spent with the Messrs. Mid- dleton. That they involve a revolution in agriculture no one will deny who compre- hends their importance. To those of our readers who have hitherto been opposed to Boy dell's steam-horse entering their fields, the above results may appear startling, and even incredible; but to such we say, go and judge for yoursejves, and be guided by facts, not opinions. We omselves hope very soon to witness far more triumphant results in favor of direct traction than the above, for. several of our most intelligent and leading agriculturists have traction-engines of an improved construction, and with better im- plements for tUlage, nearly ready to enter than what were used on the above occasion." -<•»- 'If tobacco must be used, it would be well for those who can, to grow it. Yon will then have the satisfaction of knowing that you are asing a pare article. Who can tell what in- gredients make ap the article sold as tobacco in the shops? The seed should be sown early in the spring in a warm and sheltered place — the soatb side of timber woald be best. The groand should be burnt over. A pipe bowl of seed will be enough tor 16 feet square. The plants sboald be transplanted in May. The groand should be light, rich and loamy. The plants should be ; kept clean. The tobacco worm should be destroyed. The top of the flower stalk 'shoald be taken off and the suckers re- moved, to make large leaves. "When yellow spots come on the leaves, the plants should be cat, carried to the barn and hung up separately, to dry. To do this in the best manner, the bars shoald be heated by stores. Goonecticat tobac- co cared thus is worth 40 cents per pound, while Kentunky tobacco brings from 14 to 20 cents. <» 'The heart cherries fail here. This is at- tributed to many causes. Mr. James Fountain, of Jefferson Valley, New York, says: "For many years I lost all my cherries. I gave them the richest soil I could gather. They grew finely; bore some good crops, then split and died." He tried again. Planted out trees in loamy and gravelly matter — making poor groand. The cherries are doing well, but grow slowly. If^Henry Shively, Esq., residing in Wood county, Ohio, the last season, raised for his first crop, 12 tons of clover, worth 0144, on five acres of land. The second crop 19 bashels of seed, worth at 05 75 per boshel, $109 25. So that the land yielded him in hay and seed 050 05 an acre |!piip^p|(P(!ip5PJ5(«w»!^»?BJW!»l*|,i,'(l{i>J.litW>K Cfieap irtiele for Bnilding. , A comfortable dwelling is one of the leading comforts of life. To obtain these at the least possible expense, has always been the study of architects and other scien- tific men. In the west, we have a large class of people who begin liie with little means — ^perhaps more without means— and Who seek, by industry, to secure the com- forts of a Home in the shortest possible time. In Illinois, before our railroad were built, it was supposed that when we had such facilities for obtaining pine lumber, we should be able to build cheaply; but dwel- lings now cost as much as they did fifteen years ago. Mr. Willis H. Johnson, of this city, sup- poses that he na« u^„ , discovery which wdl greatly lessen the cost of building, and for which he has procttea -t~^— .. td-^ fearjwe cannot give all the particulars of his process J— but they are mainly these. He makes bricks out of the common prairie soil, —dries them by the sun — ^puts them into the wall, and immediately covers them with a cement made of the same article by being mixed with coal tar. The cemposition be- comes at once as hard as stone, and impen- etrable to water. We have seen some of the composition some months old, which was apparently harder than limestone. The coal tar used in this outer cement was some five per cent. A house, with walls of this ma- terial, could be built very cheap. Mr. John- son will put up one the present season. Our readers are familiar with the process of making cement houses. The walls of such cost not more than one-third of those made of brick. But even in the building of these houses there can be great improve- ments, lessening materially the expense. Our attention was called to this subject by an article in the Country Gentlemaa. The statements made in that article, are so reasonable, and we believe so just, that we oflfer no apology for presenting them to our readers, and we invite the attention of those persons to them who desire to erect cheap and comfortable houses. Eds. Countkt Gehtlemaw-^T wish to say some words to your readers upon the best and cheapest material for building houses, and the mode of use. I like the material used and recommended by Fowler and others — artificial stone walls, made of lime, sand, and stones — that is, cobble stones, fragments of brick, coal, cinders, fcc. But I object to the usual method of using it in what are called "grout" houses, cement honsts, &c. It is sloppy and annoying work to build it up in troughs, as is usually done. The fluid runs down over the walls, and each layer does not harden fast enough to build on, as soon as is often wished. J^; - : I use the same material, and propose to obviate these objections by a neater and pleasanter mode of use, which shall be easier and stronger work than the osoal mode. I make my material into blocks of stone, and build my house of these. Thu», make cheap- ly soine 20 or 30 boxes, of sides only, with- out top or bottom, of proper size, say two feet long, one foot high, and 14 to 18 inches wide. These are the dimensions of the smooth the tops, and go off. Next morning lift off the boxes; let the blocks stand to dry and harden; set the boxes in a new place, and fill up as before. Do this under a shed, or if out-dbors, cover over the blocks during the first rains, and ^ey will soon harden enough to use. In this way any Irishman may, in twenty-five mornings, at 60 cents or less, each, hew out stone enough for a large house. Then build your house, as any one would, of stone. The blocks for first story may be 14 or 16 or 18 inches wide, and for second story, 10 or 12, narrowing the mould boxes by nailing a board or two inside, or sawing the ends narrower. Walls so built are dry; bat they may be made still more so, and warmer if possible, and still cheaper, if any one could wish it, by putting a wooden cylinder or two irfto the mould-box, and knocking it out after the box is lifted off, thus making dead air in the wall. Besides this, the wall is of course to furred and lath- ed and plastered inside. Of course some blocks are to be made solid, for corners and ends of the walls. Given the dimensions of your house, and one can easily calculate the number of blocks needed, and any farmer's boy may make them. In laying the wall, if, in order to bring a flush wall for door or window, it should be necessary to leave a few inches between some blocks, the space may be easily filled 3e: .;imit;.:j^t^-'-^ ■ j'TW^C^JCff-iWT^-'lJ^W!*' ' ' -~ .-«j-. t«:>^.-<^3^*;^p^nFVT>^<:>"nr77^nw^--i ^1 p-T^ r iyir;p-^/^,^ ^aMMj^nm^nu n J.ii, by pieces of brick or regular stones weU mortared in. /. u -u I commend this as the best plan for build- ing a cheap and durable bouse— better than brick, as good as stone, and lasts forever. If nice finish is needed, cement and color the outside wall, and lay it off bylines, like stone, as indeed it is. If any one doubts this plan, try it on a smoke-house, or hog-pen, or shed of any kind or indeed, a stone wall. No rats infest this boose, no storm can shake it, no wind whistle through it. Dry, tight, warm in winter and cool in summer, it is the cheapest, strongest and best. A good proportion of the ingredients which Fowler and all others recommend, is —say 10 bushels or barrow loads of lime, 20 of sand, and 70 of stones, &c., and any quantity of water. I take it for granted your readers understand something of the gravel wall plan. I write merely to advo- cate the block stone plan— the same mater- ial, but in different shape. One can^ see how --±^P.^2^\^VVnd"'tha^^^^^ other materials, nine-tenths, which cost nothing. J. E. S., Barre, Mass. i»i — - Keep your Boys at Home. All experience shows that no boy is safe as long as h^ is suflered to run about the streets at night. If the cause why boys of the city are more vicious than those of the country, were ascertained, it would be found to be in a great degree owing to their night street associations. Keep your boys at home evenings, and to do so you must make home a desirable place and pleasant. — ••• — ■ — ^^ -We understand that the new foundery and machine shop at Alton, carried on by Messrs. Stigleman, Miller & Co., is getting up a mill to be used in expressing the juice from the Chinwe Sugar Cane. .We trust that this will be a cheap and efficient machine; and if the gentlemen would also get up cheap pans for boil- ing the juice, they would bs likely to make money for themselves and benefit greatly the public. Th« MicHiGAiT DouBM Plow.— But few of these plows have been used in this section ot Illinois. They can be employed for many pur- poses. In foul grounas, whether of weeds or blue grass, they place the seeds and turt so deep in the ground, that they are out of the way of doing mischief. They also plow the ground well and leave it in the best possible order.— They are used, too, with buccess as prairie- breakers. Prairie broken by these plows is as good or better than old ground for any kind of crop. Orchards can be planted, or any use can be made of grounds broken by the Double Michigan Plow, that can be made oh old grounds. We annex two statements on the subject of the performanees of this plow by gentlemen well known in this State: Ottawa, August 6, 1856. John Derre, Esq., Moliae, Ills ^^^ We purchased at ♦ p ^^ t^is spring of the Michigan Doable^^^^^^.^.^ ^^ ^^^^ another from^Mr^ to cur satisfaction, and we Sialf have anotheJ this fall. Last fall we had about ifty acres late bioke prai"« sod^ unrot- ted; common pW- r-'^fe-^^ •K ; f BT WILSOH Fl^iOO. 14 *r^e selectioQ of a site for one*g dwelling- hpnse,, whetlier it be designed only for asammer residence, or for a permanent abode, is a sabject of ereafer dilScalty than is generally supposed. In treating of tbis matter, we should consider those circumstances which are most favorable for shelter in winter, for shade in sammeti for recreation, and for prospect. In this essay, I shall treat less of the coaxparatiTe advantages of living north or south of a «ea:tain latitude, on tbe.eoast or in the interior, than of the import- anoe of certain circumstanoM attached to par- ticular locations,, that may be found in all places. The average of the weather tbrooghout the y«ar might prove the advantages in favor of a residence on the coast But whether we live near the sea-shore, or a hnndred miles back of it, the American climate is so cold at one time, and so hot at another, and so variable at all times, that the true art of enjoying it consists in using the best means to avail ourselves of its beniefits, and to secure ourselves &om its evils. It does not involve the question whether we shall live in this latitude and longitude or another; but what rules should our govern choice of a location fov pur dwelling-houses, and what means should be .used to protect them from the cold winds, and secure to them tlie advantage of the sun's rays. None will dispute that, in the same . township, certain locations are more favorable fpr comfort, as well as for prospect, than others; and were all men. to pay proper regard to the selection of a site, and to the use of all available means of protection from the disagreeable effects of the weather, lam persuaded that the people would en>oy more comfort, both at home and abroad. We should also hear less fault-finding with the climate, which, on account of the great porpor- tion of clear, sunny days, adinits of improve- ment, both by adopting the means of shelter from the cold winds, and of collecting and rever- berating the heat of the sun. If our climate were a cloudy one, a hill or a grove would be of equal: value to protect us from the winds; but, under present eireuinstances, they may be con- trived to afiord no positive heat whd& the sky is clear, in the coldest of weather. Hence a wdl protected inclosure may be comfortable daring all clear days in winter ; while an unprotected one is no warmer on clear days than at other times, because all the heat mected from the surfiaice is immediately dissipated. By considering the great catise of the dijQfer- ence between the climate of America and that of the same latitudes ou the old continent, we might easily be convinced of the importance of a natural or artificial bulwark, to increase the comfort of our inclosnres, and to make a pleasant climate about our homes. The great Himalayan range of mountains runs east and west, separ- ating the continent of Asia iuto two grand div- isions, one on the north, and the other on the south. By means of this natural barrier, the country lying south of it is completely defended from the north winds, and seldom experiences a severe degree of cold* The countries aortik of the range, on the other hand, are just as effect- ually cut off from the warming influeBoe of the south winds. The returning currents of the at- mosphere, from the equator tp the poles, cannot freely pass over tbrae mountains, but are divert- ed to the outside of the chain, and return ^ioog the Valliey of the Bed Sea and the Mediterrait- ean, and over the western coast of Europ^. Hence, the climate of that country is the most delightfal in the world; and while Pearsia and the Indies, on the south of the Himalayan range, enjoy an almost perpetual summer, Siberia, Tar- tary, and other countries en the north of it, art rendered almost uninhabitable by cold. : ,^ ,„ The character of the American cbntfnebt, which is divided by the Bocky Mountains, in the direction of north and south, is quite the re- verse of this. The northern regions feel the full influence of the returning winds from the equator to the poles, and the southern regions are equally subject, in winter, to the freezing winds, that meet with no barrier to intercept their progress from the Arctic circle. Hence, Korth America has the most variable climate known; and often, while the New England States in nlid- winter are enjoying the mild weather of the Carolinas, brought to them by a few days* prevalence of the south wind, the orange trees in Florida are in jeopardy from the freezing gales that pour down west of the AUeghaniesr directly from Labrador. All this difierence between the climate of Asia and America may be attributed to the different course of the great ranges of moun- tains in these two continents. Were the Bocky Mountains stretched uninterruptedly across the continent of America, from the coast of Labrador to that of the Russian possessions on the Pacific — ^the Canadas would have a climate as mild as that of Europe; and Newfoundland, now al- most uninhabitable, receiving the atmospheric currents from the equator, turned aside by the int^cepting mountains, would be a land of per- petual spring, and the garden of the work). Nature in these cases has presented us ex- a'Jiples, from which we might derive 8om« useful instruction. Rules for the improvement of the soil have been carried almost to perfection; but little has been done for the improvement of cli- mate, which is nearly as much under our control as the soiL The laws that influence climate are the same in all parts of the world, and the same proportionally en a smaller as on a lai^r scale of operation. In a land of so much sunshine as our own, we may economize it for our use and benefit, or we may allow it to be lost, according as we adopt or neglect co'tain contrivances for this purpose. Nature has shown, by her own example, the effect of woods, of mountains and ranges of hills, upon the weather in their vicinity. Let us study these effects, learn the laws of eli' mate, which are vastly more important than ^e prognostics of the weather, and we might soon be enabled to double our own comforts. This essay cannot contain anything beyond a few hints that may lead to further investigatioD of these laws. In many cases our farmers seen to have been governed by them, and in geaeral rjj^ji-n i-iiuWIl-ll.JMJWl.. :»SH)^4«J|k^ V'fll- CWI'jUJPPI- ll,-'li«JI,'."-«W..'..'»U'-!'.»Hfi. '"''''''^w^"'''*^'T5"'»7''r=^H5'''^PT'S™^ bar* located their hooses on the south side of a kill. Many a farm is exposed all winter to the bleak northwest wind, which might be rendered comfortable by a plantation of trees on its north- ern boandary, and be farnished with an agree- able promenade all along snder the edge of the groTe. It may be objected, that every man cannot bare choice of a location for his hoaie. This might be said with troth, if the whole land were eoTered with baildinga, as in the town or city.. Bat every man who owns a farm, or even a solitary aere of land, unless the whole of it lie OB the northern slope of a hill, may plant a grove of evergreens, of greater or less width, around its northern limits, which, if well supplied with undergrowth, thoogk but two or three rods in width, would protect his grounds as well as half a mile of forest. A. house en a bleak exposure would suffer the ineonvenience of it during eight or nine months of the year; while another, in a sheltered vale, though exposed to more heat in July, would suf- fer vastly less from the inclemency of the weather Ib winter and spring. But it is not necessary to plant one's house in a valley to secure these advantages. An elevated site may be as warm as a low one, if its slopes are in such a position as to receive the direct rays of the sun during the best part of the day, and if it be provided with a boundary of wood that will save the solar heat from being scattered by the winds. I would never allow this bulwark, if it could be prevented, to extend round so far east or west as to intercept my view of sunrise or sunset, con- sidering a view of the heavens, at these hours of the day, as more valuable than any other kind of prospect; and, daring the short days of au- tumn and winter, I should set a high value upon any circumstance that would hasten the arrival of mom, and prolong the light of declining day. The best kind of protection is a hill qr a ridge forming a bend, with its concave side facing the south, having its lower part open, and its sum- mit crowned with a wood. The wood in this case cuts ofi the force of the winds, while the lower sarfaee of the slope acts as a reverberator of the sub's heat. The same hill, without the trees, would be an excellent reverberator; but it needs the wood on its summit, to retain the heat which is thus accumulated. As the width of surface protected by any such barrier is propor- tional to its height, other things being eqnal, a wood on the summit of a ridge or a bank must protect a much wider surface than could be pro- tected by the hill without the wood, or the wood without the hill, or by the hill with the wood only on its lower part. lo spite of the awkward appearance of a northern boundary of wood near one's dwelling- house, it seems to be almost indispensable in a climate like our own, which, more than any other, admits of sAch improvements. If my house were protected only by a wood, I should plant a close thicket of undergrowth outside of the belt, to prevent the winds from sweeping un- der the trees. In that case, the members of the family might walk with comfort in the grove, which would freely admit the beams of the sun to enter on the south side. It is hard to determine whether the northeast or the northwest wind, in this part of the ooao- try, produces the most discomfort. Ne rj^li(t hjutMv- erwTong? — An angle. . ' .. iWi?*5p™??^?*!W^^TW'f?^»^^5W?''T^W^ ■ ; THE mJNOIS FARMEB. I L AGRICULTURAL. Tlie Fusion for Large Farms Prejudicial There is a passion for large farms, which very extensitely prevails in this country. It leads men to add field to field, tract to tract, and small farms or portions of farms all aroand them to their original purchase, until they come into possession of far more land than they can cnltiyate Or manage to good advantage, and into the possession in- deed, of what, in Great Britain, would be quite an estiate, or of what would elevate the possessor of it into the envied class of landed proprietors. The ownership of as msiny acres there, as are frequently owned by some of our large farmers here, would give to their possessor the much-coveted and much-prized title of a "Country Gentle- man.'^ This prevailing passion operates so often injuriously, not only to the individuals mpre immediately concerned, but also to the neighborhoods and school dis- tricts in which they are located, that it would be a contribution to the good of many communities, and to the well being of in- dividuals and neighborhoods, if it could be eflfectually restrained. Notwithstanding the many and the obvious prejudicial con- sequences which have been seen, or may, at least, be seen, to flow from this passion, it appears to be just as strong and as urgent at it was many years ago when the evil con- sequien^es flowing from it had had less time and opportunity to develope and manifest themselves. We presume that some of the ridiculous or hurtful consequences of this passion,, and of the p<>s8ession of large farms by one individual, are known to almost every one, as almost every neighborhood afibrds an instance of the fruits of this folly. These natural consequences, demonstrating the iDJnriousness of the folly under consider- tion, may, in time, work out such a revolu- tion in public opinion as may put a check upon this passioi^ for large farms; but as tiiat. reformation, like some others not a little needed may come rather slowly j we would give it an impulse by any and every other means which present themselves. For this purpose we would submit to the considera- tion of the more intelligent and patriotic or pubUo-spirited of our readers, tha following lensible observations, which were originally {nresented by Judge Woodford, in his ad- dress before the Penn. State Ag. Society at its recent Fair at Pittsburgh. JLmattg several of what Judge W, calls the WANTS of farmers, elsewhere as well as in 'Pennsylvania, is the want of smaller farms :' ' ■,"-■' '.'■■:' \XV^^'*5r'{^ " As a general rule, Pennsylvania farms are too largei If a man have capital enough to stock and carry on a large farm property — that is, so as to make it yield up to its full capacity, and, at the same time to be growing. better, tbeie can be no just ob- jection to his adding field to field, and farming largely. And there are some ad- vantages peculiar to large farms, such as a greater diversity and a more systematic ro- tation of crops, which the man of large means has a perfect right to pur- chase to himself. But, generally speak- ing, the capital employed in carrying on farms is very small, and the size of farms is out of all proportion to the means invested. It is a distressing sight to see fields half tilled. Such farming is pernicious as an ex- ample ; it corrupts' and finally kills the soil, and degrades the cause of agriculture. It is not for me to say how many acres a far- mer ought to cultivate; but I will say that he ought to attempt no more than he can cultivate thoroughly and well. If, instead of hurrying his sons off to the West, as they grow into manhood, he would divide his farm of two or three hundred acres among them, until each of them and him- self should have but fifty acres apiece to cultivate, it would not surprise me to hear that he and each son had found fifty acres, properly cultivated, more productive than the whole had been before. The Romans illustrated the importance of thorough til- lage by the following apologue — A vine dresser had two daughters and a vineyard. When his eldest daughter was married, he gave her a third of his vineyard for a por- tion, notwithstanding which he had the same quantity of fruit as formerly. When his youngest daughter was married, he gave her half of what remained, and still the pro- duce of his vineyard was undiminished. This resulted from his bestowing as much labor on the third part left, after the daugh- ters had received their portion, as he had been accustomed to give to the whole vine- yard." There can be little doubt with those who will reflect upon such facts as good garden- ing, maket gardening, and small farms well tilled, have often presented, than an experi- ment like that named might be repeated with success in many neighborhoods. Many a man might sell half his farm and profitably employ the proceeds in making the rest more productive. J -, .^^" ■2)ii:S£j'=;u.. 84 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. of the northern counties of England, where the breeding of cattle is practiced to any great extent. The dairies in London, also, are mostly supplied with cows so bred. In both of these respects we might follow the practice of our British brethren, with good proipect of similar results. For here, as ther6, the Short-horn breed is peculiarly characterized by a tendency to early matur- ity and to a great accumulation of fat. This breed is also possessed of valuable qualities as dairy stock, though their lactative capa- cities have not been cultivated so much as their capacity for laying on fat and flesh. -••»- Tbe Cholera among Hogs. The Buffalo Republic, referring to the malady that has prevailed among hogs in the Ohio valley, says: "The same malady appears to have pre- vailed extensively in the adjoining States. In Western New York, especially, we learn it has been very fatal, but is now over. In conversation with one of the most extensive dealers in the neighborhood, a day or two since, he informed us that about six weeks ago he lost about 400 in a very short space of time. A distiller in Jordan, during the month of September, lost fourteen hundred, which cost him in addition over $1,000 to have them buried. In Rochester, at all the principal points, and even among the farmers, the mortality has exceeded any- thing ever before heard of. A butcher in this city not long since, purchased five hund- red dollars worth of fat hogs, but they died 80 rapidly on his hands, that he scarcely re- alized $75 on his investment. In this quarter the disease appears to have been confined to no particular class of hogs, but to have prevailed indiscriminately among "all sexes, ages and conditions" — corn-fed, still-fed and grass-fed, have fared alike. The fattest, however, seem to have been more susceptible than others. When first attacked, the hog was noticed to fall rapidly away. Soon the skin about the neck and ears assumed a purplish hue, and generally in about an hour the hog was dead, after which the whole carcass became purple. The lungs, liver and kidneys, on examination, were found to be like sponge in appearance, but nothing like the symp- toms of cholera has been noticed in this vicinity. In the neighborhood of Cincin- nati, it is said that the disease appears to have assumed the form of ersiypelas in the throat ,AU efforts at finding a remedy which should prove the least effectual in staying the ravages of the epidemic have thus far failed. In this quarter, however, the disease appears to have ceased its ravages some four or five weeks ago; but it is not improbable that it will return again another season, and in the meantime its origin and progress, should be investigated. Whether the sub- ject is of sufficient importance to call for legislative interference in regulating the 5ale of pork we shall not attempt to decide. We presume every person will consult with his own taste in pork in this respect. > Mange in Swine. — I have noticed in one of your late papers an inquiry for the cure of what we "back woods" people, call mange in pigs. Permit me to assure you that I have a never-failing remedy, to-wit: Give the pig or hog affected, (according to age) from ten to twenty grains of arsenic twice a week for three weeks, feeding him plentifully during the time, and I will warrant that he will soon shed off, and become perfectly well, fat and slick. It will also cure the worst case of mange on any dog. I speak from experience, and there is no danger of doses of that size killing either pigs or dogs. JOHN BONNER, Hancock, Ga. Great Geographical Discovery in Georgia. — Interesting intelligence has just been receiv- ed from the State survey of the Okefenokee Swamp, which covers nearly a fourth of the map of Georgia. The ^eat swamp does not appear to be a swamp after all. So far from bemg impeded by water, the expedition suffer- ed severely from the want of it, and were com- pelled to sink three wells fordrinking and cook^ ing purposes. The under wood, also, was found of most fabulous thickness, through which they were compelled to cut their way with knives, whereby they were so much delayed as to be in danger of starvation, their supplies being ex- hausted. The most erroneous opinions nave been entertained of the extent and nature of the whole region. No published map gives any idea of its geography. The survey will prove a fortunate venture'. The submerged portion is found to be easily drained, whereby thou- sands of acres of the most valuable cotton lands in the south will be reclaimed. <•» Plant Trees. — The proper season for trans- planting both ornamental and fruit trees, is now at hand, and we would take the opportunity of impressing it upon the minds of our readers that it is their duty not less than their interest to let not the time go by without improving it. «» t^^What is that, that can^e right butnev- erwrong? — An angle. .( £ ,..^......J:._. ■fiR(innffpv.i.iAV"^ n.IllJJ J. llwini4UWU.iujlBip!m^w««p(!^|]||(^9W^l5iWP Jiwijil ii'1J#f!t..'i"i|«iiM,> ,.ijw.iui..ii|v .1 ,iiijnji)||UH . THE lUJNOIS FABMEB. 85 AGRICULTURAL. Tbe Fusion for large Farmi Prejndieial. There is a passion for large farms, which very extensively prevails in this country. It leads men to add field to field, tract to tract, and small farms^ or portions of farms all aronnd them to their original purchase, until they come into possession of far more land than they can cultivate Or manage to good advantage, and into the possession in- deed, of what, in Great Britain, would be quite an estatie, or of what would elevate the possessor of it into the envied class of landed proprietors. The ownership of as many acres there, as are frequently owned by some of our large farmers here, would j^ve to their possessor the much-coveted and much-prized title of a "Country Gentle- man. '; This prevailing passion operates so often injuriously, not only to the individuals mori> immediately concerned, but also to the neighborhoods and school dis- tricts in which they are located, that it would be a contribution to the good of many communltiee, and to the well being of in- dividoals and neighborhoods, if it could be effectually restrained. Notwithstanding 'the many and the obvious prejudicial con- sequences which have been seen, or may, at le«^t, be seen, to ' flow from this passion, it appears to be just as strong and as urgent at it was many years ago when the evil con- sequfin^e? flowing from it had had less time and opportunity to develope and manifest themselves. We presume that some of the ridiculous or hurtful consequences of this passion, and of the possession of large farms by one individual, are known to almost every one, as almost every neighborhood aSords an instance of the fruits of this folly. These natural consequences, demonstrating the injnriousness of the folly under consider- tion, may, in time, work out such a revolu- tion in public opinion as may put a check upon this passioi^ for large farms; but as tilat. reformation, like some others not a little needed may come rather slowly; we would giv^ it an impulse by any and every other mea^s which present themselves. For this purpose we would submit to the considera- tion of the more intelligent a,nd patriotifi or pnbUc-spirited of our readers, tho. foUowing sensible observations, which w^e originally presented by judge Woodford, in his ad- dress before the Penn. State Ag, Society at its recent Fair at Pittsburgh. iLmo% several of what Judg'^y^ calls the WANTS of farmers, elsewhere as well as in 'Pennsylvania, is the want of smaller farms : .^ ' / -• " ' .U'^'-^'vV " As a general rule, Pennsylvania farms are too large. If a man have capital enough to stock and carry on a large farm property — that is, so as to make it yield up to its frdl capacity, and, at the same time to be growing .better, there can be no just ob- jection to his adding field to field, and farming largely. And there are some ad- vantages peculiar to large farms, such as a greater diversity and a more systematic ro- tation of crops, which the man of large means has a perfect right to pur- chase to himself. But, generally speak- ing, the capital emj)loyed in carrying on farms is very small, and the size of farms is out of all proportion to the means invested. It is a distressing sight to see fields half tilled. Such farming is pernicious as an ex- ample ; it corrupts' and finally kills the soil, and degrades the cause of agriculture. It is not for me to say how many acres a far- mer ought to cultivate; but I will say that he ought to attempt no more than he can cultivate thoroughly and well. If, instead of hurrying his sons off to the West, as they grow into manhood, he would divide his farm of two or three hundred acres among them, until each of them and him- self should have but fifty acres apiece to cultivate, it would not surprise me to hear that he and each son had found fifty a^res, properly cultivated, more productive than the whole had been before. The Romans illustrated the importance of thorough til- lage by the following apologue — A vine dresser had two daughters and a vineyard. When his eldest daughter was married, he gave her a third of his vineyard for a por- tion, notwithstanding which he had the same quantity of fruit as formerly. When his youngest daughter was married, he gave her half of what reumined, and still the pro^ duce of his vineyard was undiminished. This resulted from his bestowing as much labor on the third part left, after the daugh- ters had received their portion, as he had been accustomed to give to the whole vine- yard." There can be little doubt with those who will reflect upon such facts as good garden- ing, maket gardening, and small farms well tilled, have often presented, than an experi- ment like that named might be repeated with success in many neighborhoods. Many a iniin might sell half his farm and profitably employ the proceeds in making the rest more productive. ^ ISL 86 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. From the Scientific American. Eiperiments with tlie Chinese Sngar Cane. Messrs. Editobs — Knowing that you take a deep interest in anything which promises to be valuable for our country, I send you the result of an experiment which I made with the Chinese Sugar Millet — Sorgum Saccharatum. Having received from the Patent Office a paper of the seed, I planted it as a matter of curiosity, though not having the least confidence that it would prove to be worth anything. The seeds and stalks so nearly resembled our common broom corn as to make me feel quite sure they were. I planted it in hills about two and a half feet apart, with from six to ten seed in a hill. It was greatly neglected during its growth, from an impression ofits worthlesg- ness. Some time in August there was a chance frost which nearly terminated its growth, and, in fact, completely destroyed some sweet corn growing in the same garden. The millet was just putting forth its seed stalk, and the seed was, consequently, all destroyed. The stalks, however, were left standing until some time in October, when still supposing them to be worthless^ — I had them cut and thrown into piles, to get them out of the way. After they had lain upon the ground for some time, I took a handful of the stalks and gave to my horse, who eat them gread- ily — eating both leaves and stalks. About this time I saw a statement in the papers that some person had made some molasses from this plant. This led me to make the following experiment with mine, although I had reason to suppose that the frost and the exposure on the ground would have destroyed any good qualities it might have originally possessed. I took some of the canes and cut them into pieces about three inches long, when they were readily ground through one of Hickox's Portable Cider Mills, with cast iron grinders; and then press with the powerful pressers attached to the mill. The quantity ground was about half a bushel of the pieces, and the juice expressed was about seven quarts. This juice when evaported, made one quart of molasses that ia pronounced, by those who have tasted it, to be superior to the New Orleans molasses, and some say, equal to the flavor of the maple syrup. It is, at all events, good mo- lasses. From an estimate made, I judge that the square rod of ground planted — if the canes had all been used — -would have prodnced four gallons of molasses, or at the rate of 640 gallons per acre. Such a crop #duld have proved valuable the last year, since sugar and molasses are so higk. There is little doubt in my mind that any person who has a small piece of land may manufacture his own molasses, and, perhaps sugar. If cultivated on lO small a scale as not to warrant the expense of erecting the rollers for expressing the juice from the cane, they may be cut up in a straw cutter, and ground in one of Hickok's portable cider mills, with such facilities that two men could ob- tain five or six barrels of the juice per day by hand, and proportionally more if horse or other power is used., This juice could be cheaply boiled in one of the evaporator! with which you are acquainted, without burning the syrup or wasting any fuel. Besides the molasses obtained from th« stalks, the leaves will make good forage, the seed will nearly equal that of a crop of corn or oats, and the tops Will make brooms. With all of these advantages, may not the sngar millet prove of great value to the community? Every family in the country can make their own sugar and molasses, while, at the same time, the seed, forage, and brush for making brooms will pay all the expenses of raising the crop. Those having seed to spare, will do well to make it public, that more experiment! may be made during the next snmmer. H. G. BULKLEY. Kalamazoo, Mich., 1867 II From the New York Tribune. . '^ A Tbreatened Bfouey Criili. We are heavily in debt to Europe. Our city merchanta and bankers owe those of Great Brit- ain; the country owes the cities; the farmers owe the merchants — in short, two thirds of ui are in debt. To "owe no man anything" ii not the rule, but the exception. The bare interest on our foreign debt is a heavy item in our an- nual oatgoes. The tariJBf reduction, which takes effect in July, will inundate us with more goods, goods even though we do not order them. We may not be able to pay off much this year, but let us resolve to go in debt no further. Let us stem the current this year, that we maybe able to roll it back thereafter. And, as our foreign debt is mainly made up of the debts of com- panies and individuals, let us sternly resolve that we will, individually and eorporately, go in debt no further. It is high time that we recognized and enforced the sound old maaum of payasyougo. /; , - . :, -<•• to 'itch darkness has been to improTMi i read "bituminous blackness.^' 3U wm wtgfmfmmimf^iii^'ii^fmis^^ TffJBi ^{WNJIS FABMEB, m HOBTICULTUEAL. The Orehard. Now is the time to plant oat jonr joang Orchard; The ground is in good order to r^ceire the trees. See that 70a plant them out well, and where <;attle will not get hold of them, or careless working hands, who let the plow and harrow braise them. As a general fact, not one half of the trees plant- ed ever amount to any thing. They are ■offered to die by neglect, choked with turf or weeds, or killed by cattle, saffered to be blown down, or dragged over by the plow or harrow. Good fruit is one of the great- est blessings giren to us, either as a source of pleasure, profit or health; it is one of those things, which to succeed, must be taken care of. The orchard will reward this care. Pbach TiiEia.— The terrible winter of 1855-6 killed nearly all the peach trees in this country, young and old. The fall of 1855 was peculiar, and kept the trees in a growing state till winter; and, in this state, the cold destroyed them. Bat this is a cap- ital peach country, and as we may not have another such season for many years, we would do well to put out new peach or- chards. The sprouts from the old stamps will neither make good trees or good fruit. We suppose trees will be found this spring at the nurseries, although they may not be plentiful. Every farmer should provide him- self with a few, and those of good varieties. The tresis subject tomjury by the grub, which can be found now in the body near the earth, and its locEftion is generally shown by the gum which oozes from the tree. Search for him with a sharp knife and kill him when you find him. Yalnable trees are destroyed by this worm. Dwarf Fka.rs seem to be in fashion at the present time. In good soil, well taken care of, they will bear, usually, the second year from planting them out. Plums— Ah, if we could kill off the cur- culio, wonld'nt we 'have fine plums in this country? We trust a remedy will yet be found for preventing injury by this villain- onsinsect. ns^: "lu^ ■ Cherkixs — ^The Dokes do well in many localities— the Morellos in all. Heart cher- ries OQght to be planted outgin poor soil, and limbs encouraged to grow near the ground, so as to protect the body of the tree from the sun. Gooseberries. — It is an idle tale that English Gooseberries cannot be successfully cultivated in Central Illinois. There is no difficulty at all in doing this. We have grown the larger kinds of English goose- berries BuccessfuUy; but we do not regard them as profitable plants as Houghton's Seedling, which is a hybrid, and wonder- fully prolific. Raspberries can be put out now; but those who do this, if they expect crops, must protect them in winter. j Currants. — There are now a great va- riety of these; but for general crops the Dutch White and Dutch Red are the best. Fir Plant. — If you have not the roots of some of the new varieties, you had bet- ter get them if you can; and if you cannot, you can find seed at the seed stores. Farmers and Gardners must be busy now. You have not a moment to lose. Those who are opening new farms, should put out an orchard without fail. A year lost in do- ing this, is an essential loss in Illinois. The Grape. Hovey's Magazine of Horticulture for January, contains a valuable article on the progress of Horticulture for the present year. In reference to the grape, and the new hardy American varieties, introduced the present and last year, the writer says: "The grape, that most delicious of fruits, so abundant in France as to be within the reach of every peasant, has for a long time, owing to the unfavorableness of our climate, been confined chiefly to the gardens of the wealthy, where it could alone be produced by artificial means. But, thanks to our en- terjjfising cultivators, the time is coming when we may have them in as great abund- ance, and of as fine quality, as the inhabit- ants of Southern Europe. Oar native grape, alone adapted to our variable climate, is, after a while, yielding to the ameliorating influence of cultivation through the seed, and we are no longer compelled to eat the half-matured Isabellas, so long the only var- 88 THE ILLINOIS FABMER. 1 iety of any value. The Diana, the Con- cord, the Delaware, the Rebecca, the Carter, and other varieties of promise, can now be obtained, which produce their fruit with as much certainty as the Baldwin apple; and every individual who possesses a rod of ground throughout New England, may now enjoy the luxury of fully matured grapes. The warm and the cold grapery, may, and probably always will be, necessary append- ages to every complete garden; but the same advancement made in this fruit that has been made in others, the strawberry for ex- ample, will render these structures no longer indispensable, as they have hitherto been to all who would possess good grapes. In our opinion it is doubtful whether any of the foreign grapes, unless we except the Mus- cats, exceed the Rebecca in quality. And even the Concord, in the size of its berries and beauty of its clusters, is to be preferred to an ill-matured Black Hamburgh. Mr. J. F. Allen's efforts at hybridization promise well, and if his grape sustains the same reputation under open culture it has receiv- ed under glass it will quite supersede the growth of the Chasselas and other common grapes." THE GARDENER. Seeds for early vegetables should now be in the ground — lettuce, radishes, cress, on- ion seed and setts, peas, beets, parsnips, early cabbage, celery, spinach, and some others. The ground should be well shaded, and finely pulverized, and the seed should be sown carefully, not too thick, and should be properly covered. The larger seeds can be planted deeper than the smaller and lighter seed. Farmers, if they choose, can sew peas broadcast, cover them well, and they will produce good crops. Even the Champion of England, Blue Prussian and Marrowfats, will produce well when sown broadcast, or what would be better, drilled into the ground. Some early corn may be planted. At- tention to the garden will pay our farmers well. THE FLOHlST. ii The Mess Rose is a favorite with the ladies. But few of them, however, are beautiful except in bud. A few years a^nce^ there was only a single variety;— now there are the following, and perhaps some others: Luxemburgh, fine purplish crimson; Alice Leroy, lilac rose; •" ' Crimson; ^ , Elizabeth Rone, bright crimson; i ♦General Drouet, purplish crimson; New White, pure white; Princess Adelaide, blush; ■> Princess Royal, bright rose; Pacific, Rose; • Queen Victoria, rosy lilac; Red Moss, very common; Yiolace, delicate pale violet; ' , White Moss, white. ?* * Thiaif ahardy piwptttoal, andia said to boftv^i/ibw rose. -<•«- ' If a spoonful of yeast will raise fifty cents' worth of flour, how much will it take to raise funds enough to buy another barrel ? Verbenas. . , A few years ago only two or three var rieties of this beautiful flower were known* Now the varieties are numerous, and em- bracing all shades or colors. In the list of Verbenas for sale by Francis k. Barrel!, among many others, we notice the following beautiful varieties — Defiance, light fiery scarlet; Gen. Scott, blood red; St. Margaret, rosy criihson, violet centre; Belle of St. Louis, blush, large crimen do; Reine de Jour, white' do do; Stirata, white, with rose stripes ; : Heroine, bluish white, dark eye; Madame de Journay, blush, motlled with rose and crimsom; ;. ? White cluster, pure white; Mt. Etna, crimson scarlet, dark eye; Blue Defiance, bluish purple, very large; Phlox — ^This is a perennial flowering plant, and grows in gardens with very little care. There are now many beautiful va- rieties, and they bloom at a season when there are few other flowers. They can now be had of many diflferent colors. No flower garden should be without some of them. P ^-«^F<'ri?r>^.w.>^jpi^>F3^^^4s<^;il|^-|^^ ■^_'^-:^i'ti^^^mMi^_r-h^^ =T THE ILLiiSrOIS FARMER. 89 TTT -r-r—r— . ■ ; = — ;: — TTTr; — • > i ;'^v been a great increase of tne list \iy plants from California. The Aster class of plants, for fall flowering, produce many gorgeous varieties. Every little girl and big ^rl shoold have her flower bed. It will give them health, improve their taste for the beautiful, and lead them to look up from "Nature to Nature's God." It is said that one of the most impressive lessons ever given to Washington was by his mother ia the ?. flower garden. ^ ^^ \l Bengal Roses. These are known as China, daily and monthly ones. Usually when plants be- come of good size, and when not all day exposed, to the burning sun, they bloom through the whole season. Some years ago it was not supposed that they would not livo in the garden in winters but this they will do with a little care. The ground where they stand should be dry; late in the fall the tops should be cut off within six inches of the root, and a mound of earth thrown over them, to be removed only when danger of frost is passed in the spring. The following are good varieties — Aggrapina, velvet crimson; Bellon, dark crimson; Belle Isadore, light blush ; Cells, blush; Fortune's, colored, striped semi-double; Louis Phillipe, dark crimson ; Mrs. Bosanquet, pale flesh color; Meillez, white; Palida, bright rose; , Vesuvius, dark crimson; -«•»- Trim Roses and Shrubs. The ladies can now see how far their roses have been .killed down, the buds hav- ing started, and when they go into their gardens, they should carry their garden shears and trim their roses. Cut off all the dead wood. Trim out all the weak shoots, and put the bush into shape. It must be manifest to every one that the flowers will be better when there is not too much top to dissipate the strength of the plant. Other shrubby plants want trimming. Don't be afraid to use the knife or shears. They do all the better for trimming and their appearance is much improved. "Scraggy" plants show neglect and bad taste. Every lady should have a pair of trimming shears. ~f*~ Annual Flowering Plants. The list of these has been greatly in- creased within the last few years, and the old varieties much improved. There has -«•»- THE HOUSEWIFE. To Cure Dried Beef and Hams— Sausages. Messrs. Editors — Last year, after using up our dried beef w6 bought some, and found it so much inferior that we desired that all might know how to make good dried beef or hams. For this purpose I send you our BBCEIPT FOR B^^BT OX HAVS. To 36 lbs. meat, 1 pound salt, 1^ table- spoonfuls saltpetre, one-third rubbed on once a day for three or four days, and they are ready for drying or smoking. KECEIPT FOR SAUSAGES. -i v'Ca ', i To 36 lbs. meat, 9 or 12 ozs. salt; 1 1-2 ozs. pepper, 1 1-2 table-spoonful saltpetre, 3 table-spoonfuls molasses, 6 handfuls or more of sage. - ; r^iivrass; ;| I send you the above, ' hoping some ^ne ^ may get a slice of bacon without soaking out ail the juice of the meat before it is cook- ed; E. S. MALTBY, Bristol, Conn. Daniel Webster on Cooking Potatoes. - It would seem from the following extract from his published letters that Mr. Webster was fond of good potatoes, and knew how they should be cooked : Dear Fletcher:— I send a quarter of lamb to roast; and if not too rainy will come to dine with you. Tell Mrs. Baker the hour. Potatoes. Let these potatoes be peeled early, and thrown into a basin of cold water till time to cook them. Let them be boiled in a good deal of water. When done, pour off all the water, shake up the potatoes a little, hang on the pot again, and then bring them to the table. I remember when we heard Hannah Curtis shaking her pot. we knew that dinner was coming. ' ' "' ■ =ii 7 '>ys!'T"™s;^^< r ■7H'■«?. ^J^'trn^^r^^''^ 90 THE ILLINOIS PARMER. THE POULTRY YARD. Poultry. Nearly every family can, with very little trouble, have eggs in plenty daring the whole year; and of all the animals domesti- cated for the aae of man, the common dung* hill fowl is capable of yielding the greatest profit to the owner. The Hen-Hoase should be warm in win- ter, well ventilated in summer, whitewashed and kept clean. Rootts of sassafras poles are less infested with lice. Have no ground floor. Supply slacked lime, fine gravel or ashes, or burnt oyster shells, &c. Feeding. — They will sing over Indian corn with more animation than any other grain. The hen must have secrecy and mystery about her nest, watch her, and she will forsake her nest and stop laying. [This is not always the case. We have known hens to come into the kitchen, when permitted, and lay upon the mats, or in the wood-box.] They eat less, if allowed to help them- selves to what they want, than if fed in the usual way, for, in the latter case, each tries to get as much as it can, and thus burdens itself; but finding in the former case, that they have an abundance, they eat but little, and that generally in the morning early, and in the evening before going to roost. A farmer may keep an hundred fowls in his barn, may suffer them to trample upon and destroy his mows of wheat and other grain, and still have fewer eggs than the cot- tager who keeps a single dozen, who pro- vides secret nests, chalk eggs, pounded brick, plenty of Indian corn, a few oats, lime, water and gravel, for them; and who takes care that his hens are not disturbed about their nests. Three chalk eggs in a nest are better than a single nest egg, and large eggs please them. A single dozen fowls, properly attended, will furnish a family with more than 2,000 «gg8 a year, and 100 fall-grown chickens for fall and winter stores. The expense of feeding the dozen fowls, will not amount to 18 bushels of corn. They may be kept in cities as well as in the country, and will do as well shut up the year round as to run at large, with proper care. A Fact. — Eggs the nearest to roundness, produce females, and those pointed at one end, always produce males. For Fattening. — Boiled Indian corn, wheat and barley, are better than oats, rye or buck wheat. One-third is gained by boiling . — [The Orator . EDITORIAL NOTICES. AST'Tbe attention of the reader is in- vited to two valuable articles in the first pages of this number of the Farmer, — from the Plow, Loom and Anvil— the first head- ed, "American Farmers," and the other, "On the means of securing the advantages of Climate,'' from Hovey's Magazine. Chinese Sugar Cane. The time is fast approaching for putting in the seed of this new plant, and a few re- marks in regard to planting, &c., will be in season. The seed can be planted from the period when we commence corn planting until June. Those who design to grow any considerable quantity for the manufacture of syrup, should so plant that the canes will mature from late in August until they are killed by frost. Even after heavy frost the juice will make syrup, though as with the Louisiana cane, it may not make sugar. We do hope that our farmers will thoroughly experiment with this plant the present season, so that they will be ready with seed and experience to go more thoroughly into the cultivation of the plant and the manufacture of its juice the next They will then be one year ahead of their neighbors; and this is no trifling matter in Illinois. We learnt a few days ago that Mr. Thomas, of Waverly, intended to plant thirty acres of land the coming season with the Chinese sugar cane. He experimented with the cane the last season and is satisfied of its saccharine qualities. Messrs. Ham- mond & Co., of Jacksonville, iron founders, are at this time building for him a mill for expressing the juice from the cane stalk. He supposes his mill will do the work per- fectly. The failure of the sugar cane in Louisiana, the great and increasing demand for sugar and molasses, and the high price of these articles, which will not probably be much lower at present, have drawn the attention of enterprising men to the cultivation of the Chinese sugar cane, to supply sugar and I'^.Ts'lS^'' V'^Jt!^" • |W^V ''*''*P^ W J-STf^TTO* T" ^iem»*,'ST^jw«!pHr'''»T»" » ** fcy^'W ■tW-J'TP^i^y'- ^- THE ILLINOIS PAEMEB. 91 molasses. Experiments and chemical an- alysis go very far to prove that this cane will answer the purposes required. Should future experiments sustain our present hopes, it is hardly possible to estimate too highly the advantages which will result to the country from the cultivation of this new plant. The southern agricultural papers contain a communicatiom from Dr. Robert Battey, on this subject. Dr. Battey is professor in the College of Pharmacy in Philadelphia. He cultivated the cane in the summer of 1856, and made experiments with the juice of the stalks, from which he obtained sugar and molasses. His investigations go to prove that the Chinese sugar cane adapts itself to all the vicissitudes of our varied cli- mates; that it succeeds well in Georgia and as far north as the northern parts of Illinois and Massachusetts; on rich land and land of a poor quality — ^indeed, where corn will grow to advantage, there the Chinese sugar cane can be made to grow. At this time, when seed isicarce and it is an object to make most of the seed, it should be planted in hills and cultivated as corn. Harvesting should be done when the seed has passed the dough state and become hard. And be- fore harvesting preparation should be made for expressing the juice and manufacturing it into syrup. For this purpose there should be a mill and three kettles of the capacity of from 60 to 100 gallons. No matter how rich and valuable the juice may be, to suc- ceed in realizing its value, yon must have apparatus to work with. Mr. Peters, in Georgia, found the lyrup he obtained from one eighth of an acre of good canes, 63 1-4 gallons, and from another eighth of an acre of inferior canes, 43 1-4 gallons. He esti- mated the syrup that might be obtained with suitable apparatus at 570 gallons per acre. Dr. Battey says — "If the opinions I ex- press should seem to some too wild and ex- travagant, I trust they will be received as the honest and candid sentiments of one who has carefully examined the subject, and that others will be led to experiment for themselves.'' Dr. Battey supposes the Chinese sugar cane will take the place of the cane now cultivated in the south, and that the pro- duction of sugar will in consequence be limited and its value enhancedt We hold, however, a different opinion. If the cultiva- tion of the Chinese sugar cane can be made profitable in the north, it will be extensively cultivated here, and that southern cultiva. tors will find that slave labor, in this case, will not successfully compete with free labor. The Season. — ^The loss of wheat threw "a damper" upon our farmers; but they never say "die," and they have gone to work to sow and plant the ground where the wheat has failed, \nth a hearty will. There was a great breadth of land sowed with wheat last fall; in this county, probably twice as much as was ever sown before. We believe that two-thirds of the winter wheat is killed beyond hope; bat spring wheat has been sown in large quantities, as also barley, and we are inspired with the hope that the loss of our farmers will not be great. More corn will be planted this year than usual; and we hope, earnestly, that our farmers will plant potatoes and beans enough to supply the demands of the home market Potatoes have become^ an "institution" in families that cannot be dis- pensed with; and the article of beans can be used also to great advantage. Beans at one dollar a bushel can be grown with profit; but there is no likelihood of their being be- low $1 50 per bushel. Let us go ahead, brother farmers; let as put the seed into the ground again, and we may yet be prospered in the crops of the coming season. Indeed, so far the season promises well. The earth is well saturated with water, and with the usual season crops will be abundant. When matters go wrong in any business, then yon will sefd what the man is made of. If he is of "the right stuff," he will still go ahead. If he is of the baser material, he will sink under difficulties. We shall see these truths ver- ified, noc only in the present spring, bat in all time afterwards. # # ■■"■ ■ 92 THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. Illinois Soils. Mr. D. D. Owen, State Geologist of Ken- tucky, made a report to the Legislature of that StatCj while ia session last winter, one of the principal objects of which seemed to be to depreciate the value of the soils of Illi- nois. He had made an analysis of a speci- men of soil from Hancock connty and com- paring it with some soils of Kentucky, he came to the conclusion that the soils of Illi- nois would soon wear out by cultivation, while those of Kentucky would not; and on this basis he urged the people of Kentucky not t© emigrate to the State of Illinois if they regarded their future welfare. The Corresponding Secretary of the Illi- nois State Agricultural Society drew the at- tention of Dr. J. G. Norwood, Geologist for Illinois, to this matter, and deeming the subject important, by circular he communi- cated with many distinguished citizens of our State, and asked them to give their ex- perience in regard to the lasting qualities of the soils of Illinois. We are favored with an answer to one of these communications, which we here append. No comments are now required. The experience of the writer, we doubt not, will be confirmed by thou- sands of our citizens: Makine SETrLEMENTjIlls- March 28, '57. Dr. J. G. Norwood: Sir: I reside in Madison county, and have done so ever since March, 1820, to the present time. I have been tilling the farm on which I now reside for 37 years, and part of it had a crop on it during all that time. When I fell heir to this old homestead it was very impoverished, owing to my father not knowing any thing about farming. In 1839 and '40 I sowed it with timothy, and much to my surprise, it pro- duced a ton of hay to the acre without man- ure. In 1849 I ploughed it under, when the timothy and clover were in blossom, al- ♦though there was no clover sowed on it. It win get in my old meadows and I am glad of it, for I have convincing proof that when ploughed under at the proper time, it makes it equal to new prairie. I have raised five crops of corn off" of this land in succession, which has averaged 60 bushels of corn to the acre. In 1863 it produced eighty bushels to the acre, with no eitrft work, only deep ploughing, and no manure. I consider my farm about an average soil of our State. I know of . some better and some inferior. I am not surprised at so many persons emigrating from Ohio and Kentucky to our State, where they can put the plough to work on our rich and fertile prairies, which will produce forty bushels of corn to the acre the first season, or an equivalent to it, if cut up forfoddfer; and for durability, I have no doubt that the soils of Illinois are superior to the States which they left behind them. With respect, DANIEL GROUND. ■—>- , "Stick to the Old." So said an old fogy farmer. He did not think where this doctrine would carry him. It would prevent all improvement. If practiced 2,000 years ago and from thence down, we should be now clothed with skins and live in holes in the earth. For such was the case with our British ancestors, when Caesar invaded Britain. In this coun- try, almost every article of vegetable food is exotic; wheat, rye, oats, barley, buck- wheat; and so of other things, cotton, in-, digo; indeed, we are indebted to other countries for the most valuable articles, we enjoy in this. The world is a stage of improvement. He who does not catch the spirit of the age, will find himself in the back ground. There are doubtless hum- bugs in the world. We may try all and hold fast to that which is sure. The cul- tivation of the potatoe was once called a humbug, and the beet and the cabbage. Indeed, the writer of this paragragh though not an octogenarian, recollects when a very small lad, an old gentleman eaid that when he was a boy if a farmer raised three bush- els of potatoes it was regarded as a remark- able thing. The first cultivation of cotton in this country, is within the recollection of many. The Morns Multicaulis proved a failure for a variety of causes. The Chineae sugar cane will not, we believe, be a failure. That boy who "sticks to what is old," will be sadly behind his fellows in time to come. We urged our friends last fall to drill in their wheat. Mr. James M'Connell, near our city drilled in a field, which will show what he has done by not "sticking to what 1.1; I ' ■■I'flWJPWflftl, -¥' P- :ltJ|Jl. liJ||lll,,MilJJJI THE ILLINOIS FARMEB. % 93 I is old." It now presents a beautiful sight. Let him who would "stick to what is old," ^0 arid view this field, and learn a lesson. 1»> The Fruit.— The apple buds are not hurt, and we shall be likely to have a plenty of that fruit. The apple is the great relia- ble fruit of this country, and every farmer shoui* plant out his orchard, and take care of it when it is planted. Apple trees will not grow in blue grass sod, or in any close sod, at least when they are young. The ground of the best orchard we ever saw was cultivated for many years in potatoes, corn and beans. Even corn grows too high to benefit young trees, and grain does not agree with them. An orchard in a field oc- cupied by potatoes will grow twice as fast as in another occupied by grain. This has been tested in Bureau county, in this State. Indeed the orchard first mentioned flourish, ed remarkably, while many of the trees in the second died out-right. Take care of your trees, good friends; furnish your fam- ilies with the health-giving fruit of the orchard, and enable the hungry denizens of cities to enjoy also a fruit that can be grown to any amount in oar own country. We have seen Belleflower apples sold for two dollars a bushel the last winter, and even Jennetings are now sold at that price. We are selfish in this matter of fruit, ''We own up," kind reader. »t 8©.„Many farmers have lost all, or nearly all, of their fall wheat. What is to be done? Spring wheat, barley, flaz and oats can at once be made to occupy the ground. If this is done promptly, the loss may not be as great as is now supposed. White beans are also a good crop. It will not be well, we think, to plant all the land on which winter wheat was sown and lost, with com; because, in such case, there would be more corn raised than would be required, and the price would be very low. We have not hogs or cattle enough to consume a large crop of corn. The coming crop of hdgs #ill be light. There are but few in thie country, as is evinced by the price, five cent8..per pound live we%ht. [on. Wm. S. Wait, of Bond county, will plant eight acres with the Chinese sugar cane, the present spring. J. D. Pat- terson, Esq., of this county, will plant some fifteen acres with the same plant. We be- lieve that experiments the coming season will determine the value of this new cane. As we have said before, we do not believe there will be a failure in any case where the experiment shall properly be made- <«^- 'wo years ago Mr. James Sikes, of DeWitt county, sowed spring wheat on the 16th April, which yielded thirty-five bushels to the acre: of the variety known as the Canada club. I. P. Baker, in Wabash county, will plant 25 acres with Chinese sugar cane the present spring. I^ is said more than 100 acres of land will be devoted to that plant in Wabash county, the present season. Mr. Kroh, of that county, last fall, made 75 gallons of Chinese sugar cane molasses, a good stock for his winter supply. ••« Asparagus Beds. — A good depth of soil is necessary — say from from two and a half to three feet — well enriched with rotten farm yard manure. Thorough and effectual drainage should also be provided. Early in every spring apply a dressing of salt, to the extent of one or two pounds to each square yard. An additional dressing of rotten stable manure should also sometimes be given. Asparagus is a marine plant; hence an occasional application of salt should by no means be omitted. <»i Manny's Reaper. — The reader will no- tice an advertisement of these Reapers in this paper. Some one hundred forty were sold in this county last year. — <•» ■ . B@:.In answer to the qugstion often asked — ^We say, that there have been no entries, as yet, for the Reaper trial in Marion coun- ty in June next. <»> B®>The silk worm malady continues in France. The Emperor has just offered a pre- mium of ten thousand francs to discover the causes of this malady, and indicate an effica- cious remedy. ppBiy^gi^ ijpijIJiliUjp^ 1 . 1 1,. 'iin.|i^iii!;.i^»ipi<,WB' # 94 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. White Beans as a Crop. Mr. Editor: — Much of the land on which wheat has been killed out will bring good crops of white bean§. They can be grown on sod land broken last summer, and which ia now clean and in good order. If drilled in the crop would be most certain, but even if sown broadcast, and covered by harrow- ing, and the land rolled, they would be likely to do well. Fifteen bushels an acre would not be a large crop, and they have been selling from last fall to this spring at from $2 to $3 50 per bushel. If raised largely, I do not believe they would by any possibility be lower tlian $1 SO per bushel. The small "Yankee bean" would do best oa the poorest laud. For richer lands it would be well to plant larger beans, which would make strong stalks, and would not be so likely to fall and injure the beans. There is the navy bean, larger than the "Yankee bean;" the marrowfat bean, or white cranberry; and the royal white kid- ney. All these produce well and the beans sell readily in market. i*?-;-'. Field peas can also be raised to advan- tage. These are sown broadcast, and if of good quality, they sell well in winter for cooking. The usual variety used in this country for that purpose is a small white pea; but in England all our garden peas are sown broadcast and produce good crops. Market gardeners raise them in this man- ner. They run on the ground for a foot or 80, then shoot up perpendicularly, and it they do not produce as many peas as they would if "bushed," they produce well. I desire to draw the attention of your readers to these subjects. Our farmers have a great space of fine ground to occupy this spring, and it will be well for them to put it into crops that will pay. Large quantises of beans and some peas (the lat- ter hard to be got,) were imported from dis- tant places last winter and even the present spring. BEANS fc PEAS. Roosting LADnERS. — The best roost in e poultry house, is the ladder shaped. Make a ladder three feet wide, and of convenient length, to slope at an angle of forty-five de- grees, (that is, the foot of the ladder resting as far from the wall, if the ladder rests against a wall or partition, as the top is above the floor.) The rounds should be two feet apart, that the fowls above, may not foul those beneath, Octagonal roosts are better than round ones. Spring Management of Sheep. A. Nichols, of Westfield, New York, gives the following article on the subject in the Genesee Farmer: * ' ; Great care must be taken with sheep in the spring. They should be driven to shelter from every cold storm ; grain must be given to them until the pastures get good;. they must have salt once a week during the whole summer, and once in two weeks during the winter. About the first of June in this latitude, or in the south in April or May, according to the climate, the sheep must be washed in running water until clean, recol- lecting that the water must be warm enough to make the men, standing in it to wash the sheep, sweat at their work; if colder, it is abusing both men and sheep. As soon as dry, or in about one week, they mast be shorn by good hands, who do not get angry and handle them roughly while shearing them. The fleece should be folded up, flesh side out, very neatly and packed in close, clean bins or boxes, until disposed of. The ram lambs must be emasculated, and all the lambs should have their tails cut off, at least as soon as they are four weeks old, as they bleed but little, and it does not hurt them so much as when they are older. Before turning out to grass in the spring, all the sheep should be tagged, that is, have all the wool on each side of, and under the tail, and some distance down between the hind legs, sheared close, to keep them from get- ting sickly. After the sheep are shorn, they should be marked with the owner's name, and put back to their pastures. They should be changed from one pasture to an- other as often as once a month. About the first of August, take the lambs from the ewes, and put them into good pasture, that they may not get poor. If you wish your lambs to come in March, put the ram with your ewes in October, (the average gesta- tion of the ewe being one hundred and fifty- two days ) As soon as he has given a ewe one leap she should be thrown out, as more than that injures both the parent and the offspring. Use the best ram you can get, and the lambs will be good. He should be at least four or five years old, for if younger than this, or over ten years old, his lambs will be weak and puny. He should have all the grain he can eat, or he will get poor. As soon as he has served all the ewes, put him in a pasture alone, and it is better that he be kept by himself the whole year. Never use the same ram mor« than two seasons. Never sell the best ewes at any .L__ (^ THE ILLINOIS PARMER. price. Whenever yoa buy a ram, buy the best, whatever it costs, and the flock will improve in quaUty, will be hardy and profit- able. For Marking Sheep. — Pot into a pan a quarter of a pound of lampblack, two ounces of Venetian red, and linseed oil enough to make a good paint. Mark either with stamp or brush. To Cure the Foot-rot. — Put into a quart bottle a quarter of a pound of blue vitriol, one ounce of verdigris, a/nd fill up with chamber-ley. Put a quill through the cork, turn the sheep on its back in a trough, open the hoof and scrape out clean with a knife all the diseased flesh, put on a few drops of the above mixture, and a cure is effected. If there are but two or three lame ones in a flock, put some of this mixture in the feet of all the sheep in the flock — with this mixture, an ouce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. , To Cure the Stretches. — Administer a table-spoonful of pulverized saltpeter im- mediately or the sheep will soon be past all cure. To Resuscitate Lambs when Chilled. — ^3 Give a tea-spoonful of Thomsonian No, 6 in some warm milk, a little at a time, and wrap him in warm flannel. '-^ m* — - To AnvEaTisEHs. — The attention of Man- ufacturers and dealers in Agricultural Im- plements, and all others who wish to com- municate with the Farmers of Illinois, is directed to this periodical as an excellent medium for advertising. Terms reasonable. «•• A Cheap Paint. — A correspondent of an exchange gives the following simple method of making a mixture which he recommends as both fire and water proof, besides being very durable: Dissolve potash in water, and mix the liquid with fine clay till it is as thick as molasses, then apply with a paintbrush. ••» ttSuAir Interestikg Relic has lately been presented to the Pennsylvania Historical Soci- ety by Mr. Grenville S. Penn. It is the beau- tiful wampum belt originally given to William Penn by the deputation of Indian chiefs at the time of the great treaty. This is an important curiosity, and will be highly valued by tne so- ciety. <♦» ■Why are sheep the most dissipated and unfortunate of animals ? Because they gambol aboat in their youth, frequent the turf, are very generally black legs, and are universally fleec«d. AN ACT to prevpnt the sale of spiritnous liqnors and other articles of trafiSc at or near agricultnral fair-groands. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of JUinois, represented in the General Assembly, That no person shall keep any shop, booth, tent, wagon or other carriage, Teasel or boat, for the sale of spirituons or other liquors, or a'-y prorisions or any article of traffic what- ever, or sell, or expose to sale, give, barter, or otherwise dis- pose of^ in or near any such shop, booth, tent, wagon or other carriage, vessel or boat, or in any other way or place, any spirituous or other liquors, or any provisions, or any article of traffic whatever, at or within the distance of two miles from the place where any agricultural, horticultnral^r me- chanical society or people are collected, holding any (^ricul- tural, horticultural or mechanical fair or public exhibition; nor shall any person within the distance aforesaid, exhibit any shows or plays, unless the same shall have been duly au- thorized by the proper authority, previous to the commence- ment of such exhibition; nor shall any person, within the distance aforesaid, promote, aid or be engaged in any racing of animals, or in any gaming of any description; nor shall any person obstruct the free passage of any highway or tra- veled road within the distance aforesaid: Provided, that nothing in this act shaU affect tavern keepers, distillers or others, exercising their calling at their usual, legitimate ~ places of doing business, nor any person who shall have a written permit from the president of such agricultural, me- chanical or horticultural society to sell bread or other pro- visions for the supply of persons attending such fair or ex- hibition, their horses or cattle, such persons conforming to aU regulations of said society and the laws of the state. ^ 2. That any person who shall be guilty of a breach of this act, shall be notified by any one of the officers hereby authorized to make an arrest or seizure, or by any person, that he, she or they are violating the law, and if alter such notice any such person shall continue in such violation, he, she or they shall forfeit and pay for every such offense any sum not less than five nor more than fifty dollars to the so- ciety holding such fair or exhibition, to be recovered before any justice of the peace' or court having jurisdiction of the prosecution ; and any judge of the circuit or county court, sheriff, coroner, justice of the peace, or constable of the pro- pep county, ehaiX, upon view or information, and without warrant, apprehend any person so offending, and seize booth, teat,*wagon ot other carriage, vessel or boat, spirituous or omer liquors %nd other articles of traffic, and convey the same to a place of safe keeping, and take the said persons be- fore any convenient justice of tbe peace having jiurisdiction, together with an inventory of the things so seized ; and the justice of the peace, upon complaint or oath, or af&rmation of any competent witness, shall issue his warrants, which the said officer or constable shall have authority to serve, and cause the said offender to be arrested, and proceed forthwith to inquire into the truth of the accusation, and if found true, shall enforce the penalty of this act. § 3. If the accused shall fail to pay such fine as said jus- tice of the peace shall inflict, together with all costs of pro- ceedings, including the necessary expense of such seizure, the said justice of the peace shall f irthwith issue an execution, commanding any constable of the county in which such in- quiry shall be had, to make the said fine, costs, necessary ex- penses and costs of execution, by sale of so much of the things so seized, and of so much of the other property of the accused as shall be necessary therefor, and to make return thereof in ten days thereafter, and the overplus of the things so seized as aforesaid, after the satisfaction of said execution, shall be delivered to the defendant, on demand. g 4. In case the o'fficer to whom said execution shall be delivered shall be unable to find sufficient property of such defendant to satisfy such execution, such agricultural or other society upon affidavit of any of its officers, shall be en- tiiled to a ca. sa. against the body of the defendant as in other cases. The defcn>'aDt in any suit under this act shall have the right of trial by jury, as in other cases under the laws of this State. g 5. This act is hereby declared a public act. Approved Feb. 13, 1857. 1* , Midas was so great a man that every- thing he touched turned to gold. The case is altered now — touch a man with gold and he will change into anything. «•» loving friend's rebuke sinks into the heart, and convinces the judgment; an enemy's or stranger's rebuke is invective, and irritates, not converts. «•» — ■"Trees which abide age," said Burke, "grow slowly. The gourd that came up in a night, withered in a day." iii,l/t I mail 96 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. COMMEECIAL. Springfield Market. Otnoi o? THE IiiiNois Farmzr, 1 ' April 3, 1867. J AU kinds of marketing is indemand. FLOUR— £xti» white, $6 60; superfine $6; common $5 60. WHEAT— Sales Red at $1 to 1 60@1 15 fi bu. CORN— Sales at 30@3S cts. %( bn. OATS — Sales at 40 cts. bu. HXDES— Dry flint 16<§>18c cts. f) Si. BAAN— 10 ct8.fi bu. S HORTS— 15 cte. f» bn. ' CHICKENS— $1 50 ^ doi. TURKEYS— 7 @8 cts. ^ ft. » ONIONS— $3 ^ bu. POTATOES— $1 @1 50 fi bn. APPLES— Green, $1 25@1 60; Dry $2 50(3l$3. BUTTER— 20@25 cts. ^ ft. CHEESE— 12>^@15 cts. ^ ft. EGGS— 10 ©V^i^cte.^doz. HAY— $20 fi ton. CORN MEAI,— 60c.fi bn. HAMS— Smoked 10@12J^c ^ ft. MOLASSES— Plantation 90c. ^ gal. S. H. SYRUP— $1 ^ gal. GOLDEN SYRUP— $1 20@1 25. SUGAR— Brown.l2@Uc %i lb. TALLOW--9@l6c %i lb. BACON SHOULDERS— «®»C. SIDE MEAT— 10c « lb. LARD— 12@15c. BEANS— 2 25®2 50 per bush. OOITEE— Rio U@16}^c li ft; Java 8@20c. • RICE— 10c. CLOVER SEED— $10 per bn; Timothy, $3V<@4. ; CANDLES— Tallow 15; Star 30c per ft. . jfe^.>- St. IB, of the 27 th, quote prime fellow at $5 50; 248 bbls extra, on its merits at $6 20. Yesterday 1,000 bbls city at $5 76, 30 days. Wheat — SalPB to-day 1,260 bags spring in lota at $CI®1 05; small lot mixed at$l i2i^; 143 bags fair red at $1 13; 357 bags good red at $1 17 @1 18; 80 bags white at $1 18; 120 bags prime red at $1 20; 118 bags prime and choice red at $1 22@ 1 25 Also including bags, 121 bags prime spring at $1 25, and 480 bags choice white at $1 45. Corn — Inactiye, though firmer, and without change. Sales 4S3 bags mixed at 46c; 766 bags prime yellow and wliite at 48c; 1,285 do do at 49c; 1,500 bags prime old do at 60c; 730 bags white in lots at SOc, including gunnies. Oats— Firm and higher. Sales 50O bags at 6l@61J^ 400 bags at 62c; 1,600 and 1,700 bags at private terms. Rye — Steady. Sales 140 bags at 90@9d, in bags, and 60 bags without bags. Pork — No sale cf mess— ^held at $22 and dull. Cut Meat- 4,000 shoulders and 4.000 hams in bulk, at Bur- lington, Iowa, sold at 8 and Q^/^o. Bacon — Sides scarce and buoj'ant; joints doll. Sale 40ckB shoulders at 9%; 46 do at 9c; 3 do clear sides at llj^ 4 do at 12c and 7 do rib sides at lie. Also, 60 tcs Sanford iSc Crane's celebrated canvassed sugar cured hams at 13c. L'ird-31 tcs No. 1 sold at 12}4c. Whisky— U. settled. Sales 86 bbls at 25c: 85 bbls at 25>^c, and 90 bbls in lots at 26c — all cash — but 25}^c is about the current rate. Salt — Sales 2,200 bags coarse Liverpool at 1 10, and 3,000 bags at 1 06. Seed — 57 bags clover sold at 6 26; 25 bbls, 32 bags private. Fruit— Sales 69 sks dried apples at 2 55; 20 at 2 65, and 33 bags peaches at 3 25 fi bush. Apples 30 bbls prime Genitons sold 3 76. Hides— Steady at22@22}^c. -*•*■ Chicago Market—Marcli 28tta. FLOUR remains about as usual at this season of year, no sale except for home consumption. The amount on hand in store, is something less than 40,000 bbis. Good sping wheat extra, can be had in quantity at $4.75 fi bbl . WHEAT— The market is but little chauged, neither dull nor buoyant, though at least two or three cargoes, of spring, might have been sold on 'change at about 90c on board, last of April and Ist of May. One party time to buy some 12,000 bushels is new receipts of spring at 84c in store : a couple of cars of spring brought 86e in store. CORN — The market is unchanged — firmer if anything. A cargo sold at 50c on board last half July, payable on delivery, and a few carloads went at 38c in store. OATS — Some sales at 36c to store— 40c to retail trade. PORE— A lot of 500 bbls mess and another of J20 bbls wld at $22,50 fibW. ^^ . SEEDS — There is comparatively little in the market. CSo- ver has advanced in Cincinnati to $7.75@$8, and is worth nearly within a dollar of tdis in the Chicago market, Timothy $2,75@2,87. HIDES remain firm. Some green sold et9@9J^c; and dry flint at 19@20c, though these are extreme rates. BEEF CATTLE are in good demand; 12 head Sold ji^ $4,62 par 100 lbs gross, to go to Canada. Ibey ' Averaged aear 13, 000 lbs. , <•> NEW YORK MARKET— MARCH 8Q. New York. March 30, 1 P. M.— Flour dull, prices drooping; sales 6,000 bbls 5 65@5 75 for superfine State; 6 80@6 50 ex- tra do; 5 C5@5 90 superfline w stern; 6@6 40 for extra do. Market closing dull, tendency downwards, sales 860 bbls Can- adian 7@7'40. Wheat market heavy, sales small, pAccelaat 1 41@1 45 for red southern and western, 1 68 white Cana- dian. Rye heavy, sale of Jersey 84@86. Oats unchanged. Fork, prime, better sales, 600 bbls 23 90 for mea^ 19 60 for prime. Beef unchanged. Hogs quiet at 9^@10. Cut meats and bacon steady, Lard firm, sales 300 bbls 14^^14^. Whisky, sales 250 bbls ^6}^® 27. Stock active and tendency up , money in brisk demand at 5c on ctdl; S'erling exchange 83^ per cent premium; Va sixes 92; Mo sixes 84; N Y C bonds 102; Erie 2d bonds 95^; Mo 3d bonds 92; Erie convertible 79^ Hudson first 97 1-2; C & RI106J6 I 0138. -<•»- Chicago Money Market—March '35. Since the issue of our circular of the 17th instaht, money has been in increased demand, and bankers have n^t been able to supply the demands of their customers, and many parties arenow seeking discounts who are not usually on the market as borrowers. The lumber dealers are generally very close, owing to the large stocks held by them, and the great difficulty in making ' sales and collections. Grain operators are quiet froin the uncertainty that exists as to the rates that are to rule during the coming season, and prefer to wait rather than enter into engagements at pre- sent. They are not, therefore, in the market seeking to bor- row. Merchants are now making preparations to meet their paper, which Asually becomes due about the first of April and May, but as sales have fallen very short lately, many of them require some assistance from their bankers to carry them over their heavy payments. Currency is very scarce with most of the bankers, aad t)tere s but little sorting. PHILADBLPHIA WOOL MARKET— MARCH 21. Holders are very firm in their views, but with a reduced stock in the hands of the dealers, and a limited demand ttom manufacturers, the market has ruled very quiet this week, and only about 65.000 fts pulled and fleece have been taken in lots at folly former quotations. -«♦»- BALTIMORE WOOL MARKET— MARCH 21. l%e receipts of Wool this week reached in all to about 6,000 fts. Demand good, but prices have a slightly drooping ten- dency. As soon as the new tariff comes into ^ect, prices will of course decline. We however quote as before, viz:— Unwashed 26@28 cents ; tub washed 35@39c; pulled 28@36c; Fleece, conmion 83@35 cents; quarter blood 35@38c; half do, 36@40c; three quarters do 40@45c; full do 45@50c, and Saxon 60@56c. 4«» : Chicago Cattle Market— March 24. The range of price is $4@$5 gross; 30 head of heavy ones sold Saturday at $6 to a Milwaulde buyer ; and 40 head, av- eraging 1280 fts to a city butcher, at $5. Hogs of very heavy lots, or those weighing 250 fts and over, would bring $6 50 gross, and ordinary Hogs are selling at $6 25. It would be a very common article to run so low as $6. Sheep are also in good demand at $5 gross. It would be a very poor lot to sell so low as $4. -<•>- NEW YORK CATTLE MARKET— MARCH 25. The market for Beeves is dull, with a decline of J^c, chiefly on the lower grades; receipts 290 head ; quotations are 8^ to 9>^c for inferior, 11 to 11}^ for best quality, 12 to 13c for premium Cattle. There was a tailing off in the supply of Sheep and Lambs, but no improvement in prices, the market closing dull. Re- ceipts 4,100 carcasses. In S\vine there is only a moderate supply, and priees are unchanged. Receipts 3000 head. Quotations are 7^ to 8c. '^■f-- ■ ^V- - nawT)^ f'^ THE ILLmOIS SIMEON FHANCIS, Editor. BAILHACH£ & BAJKJSB, PtiSLigEEfis. FV»I. 2. jrrw^!B, 1857. ' '""' \" "Jl^^ ilf Soils of Kentucky and Illinois. We hare before referred to the Q-eologi- cat Report, made by D. D. Owen, State Geologist of !ECentiicky, to the Legislature of that State, last winter, professing to "compare the soil of Illinois with the Blue Grass Limestone soils of Kentucky," We give below extracts from that Report which will enable the reader to understand, clear- ly, the results of the analysis of the soils, and the deductions therefrom by Dr. Owen. "The Illinois soil analyzed by Dr. Owen was taken from the prairie on the Missis- sippi, in Illinois a few miles east of Keo- kuk." The following is given as the result of the analysis: Organic and volatile matter 9,OS0 4.1umlna.. ~. 2,40P Carbonate of lime i ^.. ».... 890 Magnolia. - fi3d PtuMpfaorio asid.. ...<..............., „.;..^. 17£ Bulpborlc acid, not estimated..... ............Hi Potaeh i. 197 Soda 100 Band and insoluble iiUicates... .84,470 :';:-'^:-: :: 100,168 In communi^tmg ^he result of this an- alysis. Dr. Peter remarks: "Notwithstanding the luxuriance of the growth of the first crops on the prairie soil, occasioned partly by the large amount of available nourishing matter afforded by the decay of the thick sod, it is evident from the above analysis, that, taking into considera- tion durability as well as immediate fertility, as ascertained by the chemical analysis of the soil itself, apart from the sod there are many of our Kentucky soils which take the second rank, when compared with those of the blue grass region, which yet are fully equal to this prairie soil. Compared with the first rate soils of Ken- tucky that of the prairies contains a much smaller {jroportion of alumina and oxide of iron, as well as lime, magnesia, phosphoric acid and alkalies. It contains a much lar- ger proportion of fine sand and doubtless a larger proportion of the coarser sand than our best soils, and, therefore, while its large quantity of organic matters is held in the soil with a small force of attraction, because of the large proportion which the sand and silica bears to the alumina and oxide of iron; and hence they are readily soluble and im- jnediately available in the productiou of luxuriant crops; these very circumstances will cause its more spfeedy exhaustion ; and when the accumulated store of organic mat- ter has been consumed by thriftless has- bandry, this soil cannot rank beyond & second rate position. ^:' ^ ■ I ^^ v^j;:i-v^j;j 1 By a comparison of ttiier coil^ithent^ 6t this Illinois prairie soil with the average soils of Kentucky, fdr example with (a). of the following tablcj, which is au upland ^oil of Eranklin county, waters of Benson, near Hardinsville, and (b) ; a sub •carboniferous soil of the Barren limestoiie formation, Bar- ren county, we perceive that these Kentucky soils are as a whole in noways inferior: b 6,S0O Organic and ▼' latile mat wt,i..^.^^,sx..ji ^.9,18S Alumina only in (b.) alumina including oxide of iron and magneae (a) ..„„, 8,100 Oxide of iron Carbonate of lime.......»....... .,..,„........ 31§l Carbonate of magnesia in (a,) magnesia alone in Brown oxide of maganesa ...V...-. Phosphoric acid .„„ 3(S Sulphuric acid oeS Potash.^..... ; „. 173 Soda 049 Sand and losoluble silicates Loss in (a,) loss and sulp-acid in (b).. r.b. ...M JSV, i04 8.460 2,296 .SD& '2S4 ' 169 197 090 8yj686 ' 197 100,000100,000 The Franklin county soil is eveu rather richer in organic and volatile matter; both are richer in argillaceous matter^ the Frank- lin- county soil is considerably richer in phosphoric acid and the Barren county soil is almost equal to it and contains the same amount of alkalies. If we compare the Illinois soil with the best Kentucky soils we find that there would require to be added to the Illinois soil, for each acre, to m'ske it equal in the amount of fertilizer for only six inches in depth: 107,236-poun'ie of ferruginous clay. . 20,660 do of limestone. 1.881 do of phosphoric acid, o* :.'-''' S,802 do of on leached ashe*. ."592 do of soda, or - - ^bS do of common salt. ■r :wH ^i^mr^. ■7r'^'»*44(iwy'? ^^f^tjn^-Xt^fK^ If '■rjpr^f y^'^'.i»>wiMW;«.!WM*iiii«j,;; It is trae that the Illinois soil contains 1.28 per cent, organic matter, which would contribate to produce heavy crops for the first few years, but the above inorganic con- Btitaents are the true elements of perman* ent productiveness, and the Illinois soil, with 84.47 per cent, of sand insoluble sili- cates, must of necessity be far sooner ex- hausted than the more retentive argilo* cal- careous soil of the blue grass regions of central Kentucky. The rich black, fat silicious prairie soils of the West are indeed wonderfully produc- tive at first for the reason above stated, but they never can have that permanent pro- dactiveness of the best argillo-calcareous soils of Kentucky, cultivated with any de- gree of judgment. Let not, then, the Kentucky fanner, with out due coDsideration, leave the home of his nativity in the hopes of finding in the far West land more productive than his own; let him rather seek to gain an insight into the qualities of his soil and adopt a frugal method of husbanding the strength of bis new land and renovating the consum- ed ingredients of his old. i D. D. OWEN, State Geologist." We shall not undertake to depreciate the general importance of chemical analysis when applied to soils; but we may properly remark, that in this case, long and practical experience in Illinois is directly adverse to to the deductions laid down by Dr. Owen. Dr. Norwood, State Geologist of Illinois, in a circular addressed to many gentlemen , practical farmers and long residents of this State, solicited information from them in regard to their experience of the permanent productive qualities of our soil. He has numerous replies, all directly tending to the same point, — that our soils with a proper rotation of crops, will not wear out. Ma- nure undoubtedly stimulates these soils, — crops will be the larger and better for manure, — but with proper rotation, they are the best soils to be found in our country. We append a valuable communication on this subject, from Dr. J. M. Peck to Dr. Norwood, and this will be followed by others as we have room. This subject is im- portant to our people, on account of what we deem the unfair report of the Kentucky Geologist. We have chemical theory on the one side, and practical experience on the other. Let the world judge in the case: On the Prairie Soil of Illinois, arid its Produc- tiveness for a Succession of Crops, especially Com. Book Spbing, OfaUon Depot P. O., m., 1 AprU 14, 1867. J Dr. J. 0. Norwood, State Geologist: Dear Sir: Your circular of the 18th March, making inquiries about the capabili- ty of our prairie soils to produce a succes- bion of crops, and especially maize or corn, came into my possession on the 26th March. Being then extremely feeble from repeated attacks of illness, I was compelled to post- pone an answer. Even now I am unable to over memoranda made and documents pre- served, that would furnish collateral evi- dence of the correctness of the statements I send yon. ► At the very first of the discussion, I ob- ject against the mere chemical analysis of soils in settling the question of their certain and permanent productiveness, on the same principle that 1 object against chemistry as the ultimate arbiter on the question of ali- ment, digestion, assimilation, nutrition, and all other elementary principles in the animal economy. Chemistry analyzes and explains the nature and laws of matter in its inert state, It takes no note of the laws of physiology, or that occult, mysterious thing, called life, and its functions in animal and vegetable existence. This science has im- portant uses, and also its limits, when ap- plied to agriculture. But to rely on the science of chemistry as the sole and sure guide of the agriculturist is preposterous, of wijichthe comparison of Dr. Peter of the "argillo-calcarious soil" cf Kentucky wiih the prairie so'I of Illinois, taken from a vague locality, "opposite Keokuk, a few miles back from the Mississippi river," for corn growing, is proof direct. In the county in which I reside, we have the experimental facts of 150 years, to up- set the chemical analysis and speculations of Drs. Owen and Peter. Either the soil of Dr. Peter, was from a sand ridge, brought down by some of the great floods from the abraded sand stone in the Upper Mississippi, (for he denomin- ates it "silicious") or the laws of chemistry are contradicted by the laws of vegetative life. But in reply to your inquiries in a general way: I reside in the county of St. Clair, eighteen miles from the Mississippi river, due east from St. Louis. I removed 'from Missouri in the month of March, 1821, and resided that year on a farm that was settled and improved about 1810. The season il f^'^fHe^r^^srr'^^PTi^ ^,-yffkV!^:P-wf.-u^i«y«|jiipjy;iu.^^ )i«t.UjjyLiii9^i{,iiJ^j!,U4liiii("'.i_4ii^.MiJVV^^^ THE ILLINOIS FABMER. 123 proved very anpropitious for corn, and yet I made a good crop, say forty bushels to the acre, on land that had been cultivated with corn, without change, for ten years in succes- sion. True, the land when prepared for cultivation had been denuded of timber, but I am not old enough yet to find out any material difference between our timbered and prairie soils, on the uplands of this county in the production of crops, after many years of successive cultivation. A portion of my old farm at Rock Spring, two and a half miles north of the farm I cultivated in 1821, was first' culti- vated in corn in 1322. I settled on a tract of "barrens," so called from the timber be- ing shrubby, stunted aud scattering; with patches of prairie, intermingled with patches of under brush, of oak and hickory, grow- ing from grub roots. On such tracts of new country, the autumnal fires contend with the annual growth, and partially or wholly kill the young timber, until settlements are maie and the prairie grass killed out. Being like all my neighbors, unable to fence, break up and cultivate new groupd to the extent desirable, with every farmer, I had to plaac corn for many years in succes- sion in the same field. The . supposition tljat by such a process the rich soil would be soon exhausted, gave us no uneasiness, for it was a trifling matter to remove our fences and make a new cornfield, as some did. Congress land in great profusion for $1 25 per acre, adjoined nearly every farm, and from 1820 to 1835, we had no fear of specu- lators annoying us. Very little wheat and but occasional crops of oats were grown in this and the adjoining counties. Corn was the staple commodity of agriculture, and grown on the same ground for many years in succession. In this part of the State, the prairies ly- ing near the timber were first cultivated. Very seldom would a settler make his pitch in the interior of a prairie The same policy of successive crops of corn was pursued on these prairie farms. No difference in the character and quality of the soil was dis- covered in the farms near the timber, and those made subsequently in the interior of large prairies. The destruction of the. peculiar grass of the prairies (pbapratensis) by the feeding of stock in the summer, by the growth of hazel patches, shrubs, brush- wot^, and finally timber; and by the intro- duction of the Kentucky blue-grass, has de- stroyed the tough adhesive sward of our prairies that yet remain such, and modified, but not essentially changed the character of our prairie soiU. My farm at Rock Spring wai badly managed for many years. Absence from home a large proportion of my time, in my professional duties, for more than twenty years, compelled me to depend on hired men who had no skill or training as agricultur- ists, or on annual "croppers," who were ac- customed to skim over the ground with the primitive "Barshire*' plow; or on my sons in boyhood. The surface in barrens ii more undulating than the prairies, and while it drains off the water from excessive rains rapidly, it also has its soil washed away where the surface slopes, or small ravines exist. All these circumstances were anfavorafole to the successful growth of successive crops, and especially corn. Then these barrens had a thinner and lighter soil at first than the soil of the prairies in this part of the State. I have used very little manure, ex- cept on meadow land ; and in favorable sea- sons I have mowed and cured from two to three and half tons of bay (timothy and red- top,) to the acre by measurement and weight. I have repeatedly exterminated the sour dock, when it has made inroads into my meadow. An industrious laborer, with a sharp grubbing hoej by catting off each plant an inch or two below the surface, aud letting the hot June sun pour its scorching rays on the bleeding stump, need not give himself further trouble with this noxious weed. This operation should be performed when the weed is in blossom. My farm was brought under cultivation at successive periods from 1822 to 1845, which then included about sixty acres of land in cultivation. My oldest field of ten acres was left to grow up in grass, without seeding, after the harvest of 1842, and it was broken up again and sown to wheat In 1844. The soil had been resuscitated, and the crop of 1845 exceeded twenty bushels to the acre: an average harvest that season. Another portion of a field of mine measur- ing nine acres, was first cultivated in 1826, aud every year after run to corn, wheat or oats; the corn repeatedly three years in succession, with crops ranging from 35 to 50 bushels to the acre. This field had been skimmed over with the Barshire plow of "Croppers" till in 1845, it did not prodace ten bushels of wheat to the acre. In the spring of 1846, on my return from PhiladeU phia, after an absence of seventeen months, I found my sons had sown this field to oats. The crop was a good one. After the stock had used up the scattering stalks of oats, and eaten the fresh grass, I instructed my sons how to break up the oat field for wh*at. i^' . '^y>w :"*% !;^r '*.■ ' .^w'^ -I' ^ ' *VK ' * ^*»r^^w7e^WP«:»^pw^»nwrj?5rTTF««wpW9iP!^^ L To a arge diamond plow, (an invention c^ this ne. 'iborhood,) they attached the for® whe«l8 of the farm wagon, with a short axle and old cart tongue, drawn by two> stout yoke of oxen. The plow was put ia six inches deeper than ever a plow ran in that field before, and turned up the "argillo- calcarious" earth from beneath; and there is enough left below to supply the same field for a century to come. The result was a fine crop of wheat in 184T, not less than twenty five bushels to the acre. My old fields, when properly cultivated, and where the soil has not been washed away by excessive rains, will produce as much corn as they did thirty years by-gone. My opinion has long been formed, that where our Illinois soils are properly culti- vated, by a rotation of crops, deep plowing, aabsoiiing, and plowing under all the corn stalks, stubble and weeds, whether on land originally covered with timber or on prairies, it will last forever. The great chemical laboratory of Almighty God, in the at- mosphere and on the surface of the earth, will keep our prairie soil in order, if man will do his duty in cultivation. The general method of'cultivation, till within a few years, has been unfavorable to deciding fairly the capability of our soil for a succession of crops. Our pioneer farmers raked into wiurows and burned all their corn stalks before spring plowing. Wheat and oat stubble was also bnrut over, and the prolific crop of weeds frequently were cut, dried and burned. The soils in this portion of Illinois not only need "humus" for the successful growth of cereals, but the earth should be kept loose with these arti- cles in an undecomposed state* else, in a wet season the clayey soil will run together like melted lead, and when the drought comes, it bakes. The French, who settled the villages on the American bottom, about the beginning of the last century made "common fields" for cultivation. Each owner cultivated his separate plateau, but all under a comcon fence. They raised for successive genera- tions a small kind of white flint corn, and gathered from 25 to 35 bushels per acre — though no one recollects how long they cultivated this variety of corn on the same plat successively. More than thirty years since, I inquired of an intelligent and aged Frenchman how long corn had been raised each yoar on the land he was then working, but he could give me nothing definite. He remembered that his grandfather made corn on that plateau, when he was a small boy. American immigrants came into the pres* ent counties of Randolph and Monroe, nearly every year from 1781 to 1800. They commenced making farms in the prairies and about the skirts of timber on the upland of Monroe county, near the present site of Waterloo, before 1790. Farms in that lo- cality have been in cultivation ever since, and we hear of no failure of crops. The first American settlers came to the uplands »of St. Clair county about the commence- nsent of the present century. Captain Joseph Ogle, brought his family from Western Virginia, to the Illinois country in 1786, He and his three sons settled on the north side of a prairie, and long known as Ogle's prairie. Each made a farm and cultivated it while life lasted. Corn was their principal, though not exclusive crop, for they raised wheat for domestic purposes and manufac- tured some flour for St. Louis market. They, and some other old settlers I shall mention, when preparing for a crop of wheat, threw open the field from which they had gathered corn the preceding autunm, to the inroads of all the horseb, cattle and swiiae in tha neighborhood, to destroy the gra&is and weeds. After corn planting was over^ the field was broken up and left till about tde last of September, when it was plowied again atid the seed wheat put in, either with a light plowing, or with the har- row. When cultivated in this mode the yield was from 25 to 35 bushels. Our wheat in this county is regarded as defec- tive, if it does not weigh from 62 to 66 pound:S to the bushel. A nommon method of rstiting wheat in early times, was to sow among the corn rows, the latter part of August, and cover it with a light plowing between the rows. By this mode the farm- ers get from ten to fifteen bushels per acre. Next crop would be corn again with a suc- cess£"ve wheat crop intermixed. James Lemen, sr., brought his wife and two boys to the Illinois country in 1786. He settled first in the American bottom, and then in the prairie at New Design, (as the settlement was called, about four miles south of Waterloo. ) His three eldest sons, •Robert, Joseph and James, about fifty years sine- , settled with their young families on a prairie which they rightly denominated Richland. Their farms joined the north line of St. Clair county. The same soil makes the surface of all our prairies, on an aver- age of three feet deep, that once existed be- tween the American bottom and the Kas- kaskia river. ■wjF,'V..^'(fT(7— I, IHE ILLINOIS FAKMUR. The Lemens were"among~dar mbst^In- dustrioas and thrifty farmers. They made large farms, prepared their wheat groaod after the method of the Ogles, and raised large crops of corn every year. No man- ure was ever hauled on their plow-land. I think their corn crop for half a century, would average on the lowest estimate I can honestly make, fifty bushels to the acre each year. Often have I seen seventy five bushels (or as Kentuckians reckon, fifteen barrels,) gathered from each acre, after continuous cultivation for fifteen or twenty years. ' ' ' '. An observing and intelligent gentleman, and an old farmer withal, has just given me a fact from Jersey cunnty, where be resided in 1851. He boarded with a Mr. Landou, who settled on a prairie farm eighteen years previous. His corn field had been broken up from the. prairie the season before he purchased it. It had produced successive crops of corn each year, and the nineteenth crop was then standing in the field, and was estimated by the owner and my inform- ant at seventy five bushels to the acre. This is no tale of romance about Illinois prairies. I could give one hundred more individual proofs of the capability of the prairie soil of Illinois to last forever, under a correct system of cultivation. I do not regret in discussing your ques- tions, the very jmfavorable circumstances under which our experiments have been made. They add force to the evidence in our favor. I add one more fact.. Within sight of my residence is a field of sixteen acres, once a part of my farm, but now owned by a neighbor. It was first cultivated in 1840, and produced crops of corn, wheat and oats, each successive year Corn was repeatedly planted two years in succession. It now has the seventh crop of wheat on the ground in successive sea- sons. Each harvest has been a gain on the preceding one. Last harvest yielded more bushels to the acre, and of a better quality, than any preceding one. The straw has been removed each year, and no manure added. Though not in consecutive order, I think I have answered your inquiries to a suffici- ent extent. If other old pioneer farmers will furnish you the result of their observatio'^s and ex- periments, and those of their neighbors, yon will be able to convince Kentucky emigrants to this State of the fallacy of the specula- tions of the distinguished Geologist of that State, predicated on the analysis of his "as- sistapt," who obtained "sHicioris" soil [from some sand ridge,] in 1856, "opposite Keo- kuk,"—"and a few miles back from the Mississippi river" — "from the newly upturn- ed prairie.'' Respectfully yours, J. M. PECK. £dneation of Farmen. -r There is a capital weekly paper publish- ed at Richview, in Southern Illinois. The last number has a communication on the subject of Education for Farmers. We cut the following from that communication : "Law, Divinity and Medicine have each their scores of colleges and seminaries; but the Farmer, upon whom all are dependent for subsistence, and who has more invested in fences, alone, than the entire professions in the country have invested in professions, houses, lands and all, has not even one school devoted to his exclusive interests. It has been the commonly received opinion that any one will do for a farmer. If a boy is so dull that he cannot acquire a pro- fessional education, and has no turn for a mechanic, he is turned over to the farm as the last resort- So the parapionnt interest — that upon which every other depends, is not deemed worthy of even a medium talent of the country. Millions are lavished on the military — Commerce calW for its mil- lions— the professions have their millions — but Agricnlcure can only get its thougands, and that grudgingly given. /' Prussia has her system of Agricultural schools and Universities. France has her's, Scotland has her's; and even autocratic Russia has them. Why should not we profit by these examples? Is the thorough, practical and scientific education of the sovereigns of this Republic of less import- ance than the education of the subjects of the King of Prusia, the Emperor of France, Queen Victoria, or the serfs of the Auto- crat of all the Russians? Are our children to go on digging blindly for a subsistence in this age of magnetic telegraphs, loco- motives, reapers and mowers and steam plows? A few thousand dollars expended in an Agricultural and Mechanical University and experimental farm, would enable us to t6st the great number of new seeds and plants, and the thousand and one inventions offered to the public year by year; and thus save the cost of hundreds and thousands of troublesome and expensive, and, in many case*, useless experiments. ^pni^mpMiu u.. I wi jH^iuiw ^ wwif.f! This subject is of such vast importance, and is so intimately connected with the well- being of millions of oar fellow-citizens and their children, that the limits of a newspaper article will barely suffice to take a glance at it. I have almost lost sight of my text — Richview in particular. Bat why may not such an Institution be located here? Land is abundant. A suitable location can be found on the farms of some of our citizens in this vicinity. Our farmers have the means; if they will only exercise the will. Let us hear from you. If you will, say so. If not, tell us why." Egypt Looking np!— Bright Prospects in the Future!" This is the oaptioa of an article in the South' em lllinoisan (Shawneetown.) giving a notice of the influx of population, and genera] improve- ment in the Soath. We regard it as a most ap- propriate head to the document wc copy below from the same paper. Gallatin Oounty ig in ear- nest in taking measures to advance her agricul- tural welfare. She has set a worthy example to maay counties which have not yet organized county agricultural societies. The arguoieata and facts here given so entirely accord with our own views , that we take pleasure iu presenting them to our readers. An Appeal to those Interested in the Develop- ments of the Agricultural resources of GaUatin County. The Gallatin Oounty Agricultural Society call the attention of the citizens, especially the far- mers of this and adjoining ccuntiee, to the ne- cessity of their becoming members of the asso- ciation. The object of the society is to arouse the farming community to the benefits to be derived trom an improved system of cultiva- ting the land — to the adoption of a system of ro- tation of crops suitable to our soil and climate — to the iutrodaction of new and better live stock and the dissemination otrural knowledge of eve- ry kind. The farmer's past experien'^e has taught him that his business is not progressive — that he has not advanced beyond the knowlegde of his an- cestors— and that, while his average crops have steadily dr creased, his toils have as steadily lu- oreased. This is the natural effect ot the system now pursued, of each man working without any information in his business, other than his own experience furnishes. No class of society can improve its coaiition without combination and a uniiedefiort to that end. Merchants have Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce, and Me- chanics have L&agnes, institutes and schools of design to sustain and advance the special inter- ests of their occupations, while Farmers have totally lost the knowledge required in their pro* fession for centuries, for want of some such me- dium of commuHicating and comparing their respective discoveries and experiments. Within a few years Agricultural societies and Farmers Clubs have been organized in various parts of country, to introduce the same principle of combination in Agricultural pursuits that has given such po«7er and knowledge to merchants, mechanics, and students; and, wherever they have been sustained by 'he com-jinnity, they have developed unknown resources ol the soil, added immensely to the knowledge of the farmer, and increased the value of real estate. These desirable ends have been attained by enconragiDg the farmer to uausual exeiUons to produce large crops, to add to the number of staple products such grains, roots aad grasses as may be adapted to the soil and cliniate, to in- crease the variety and value ot orchards, and to induce greater care in breeding and rearing all kinds of live stock. They have also increased the health and com or t of families, by encoura- ging and rewarding the productions of the dairy , the garden and the apiary. They have urged mechanics to excel in their respective trades,and housewives to exhibit the fruits of their skill and neatness. The results oi these varied sfforts have been exhibited at the annual fairs of these societies, and valuable and enduring premiums have been awarded to those who secured the merit of supe- riority. All this we propose to do. and upon you it de- pends to sustain and assist as. Farmers, this is your own business, and your interest and your local pride, both demand that the society shall be liberally supported. We call on all interestbd in agricultural and mechan- ical pursuits to come forward and enrol them- selves with us. Let each man view it as his special business to bring the object of the socie- ty to the attention of his neighbor, and insist upon their becoming members. By such concert of action there is no doubt that a sufficient num- ber of subscribers can be obtained to enable the officers to ofier handsome premiums to every elass of exhibitors at the next fair. Farmers of Gallatin and adjoining counties, come forward at once and take an active part in this movement tor your benefit. It cannot succeed without your sanction and influence. We should have at least one thousand members this year. 8ucha turnout will give a permanency and power to the society that will insure its future success. It is of vital importance to start with a large subscription — with the name and influence of every man. if possible, in the commu- nity— and an earnestness and determination on tb(^ part ot all to do something toward making our next annual exhibition worthy of snpport- and enconragemeut. One such exhibition will fix the character and permanency of the society; for no man, woman or child who has once seen and felt the exbilerating and beneficial influence of such struggles for superiority, among the producers of food and manufacturers, will cocoent to forego the pleasure and profit annually for •jss: g|raB!f!E^S!ra|^f?!?5P??'S»^Pt^SPSB*5'5WW'!!p?^ the small Sam required to sastain it. On the 16th of May the society will meet at Equality to locale the fair grounds. This is an important move and wedesirs all present members and as many new ones as possible, to be with as and asdist in selecting the ground^ Those largely interested in the real estate of this county, should respond liberally to this call for assistance, and we confidently hope that we are not mistaken in expecting large donations toward improving whatsver ground may be selected by the society at that meeting. Yearly memberships can be secured upon the payment of SI to either of the officers of the society ; and $10 will secure a life membership. Members are entitled to exhibit their contributions free of charge ; they also have free admission to the fair grounds, and a voice in the selection of officers and the government ot the society. M. K. LAWLER, President. Oeval Pool, J B. P. HiNOH, V Vice Presidents, Bekj F. White, ) John B. Bailey, Treasurw. Wm. T. Ckenshaw, Secretary. S. K. Gibson, Corresponding Sec'y. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Geo. Moore, and other officers. VIOILANCE COMMITTEE. Jo. B. Barger, James W. Trousdale. James Davenport, Robt. Pierce, G. W. Akers, 0. 0. Guard, Joseph Bowles, Thos. Wjlbank, John T. Walters, G. D. Sacks. Drilling in Spring Grains. Editor Farmer: I am satisfied tliat the opinion among farmers is in favor of drilliug iii the seed of winter grains. The crops are less likely to be winter killed, are more uniform in their growth, and yield more grain to the acre. I do not think thdt there can be any doubts upon these points. But is there any advantage in drilling in spring grains — wheat, rye, barley, oats? I have in vain inquired of my neighbors. Have any of your readers experience in this matter? If they liave, they would greatly oblige the writer by communicating the same for publication in your paper. A. -*•>- The Coming Corn Crop. Editor of the Farmer: We liave had the best kind of weather for putting in our corn; The season has been cool, so that our teams could do a great deal of work, and the ground is in the best order. But I am told that the corn used for seed is not in many cases good, and that it will be likely to rot iu the ground. This would be a great calamity, considering the lateness of the season. It may be too late now "to cry for spilled milk," but we may learn some facts, by dear experience, which may be \iseful to us. We should secure our corn for seed in the fall. This can be done with little expense; and it should not be neglected. Com will germinate if gathered from the field when in the dongh. The process is simple. Go into your field and select the largest, finest, earliest ears, when the corn is iu the dough. Take oflf the ears, leaving on them some of the inner husks. Hang them or place them where they will dry without moulding, and you will have reliable corn for the next Ecason. This corn when planted will send up strong shoots, with broad blades, and will grow off rapidly. On digging up a hill, you will find that the kernel haa rotted or been absorbed in the plant. When you have done this, go to another where the seed has been taken from the crib, hard and dry. You will find the shoot weak, and the kernel will remain in the ground for weeks, inviting the crow and the squirrel to attack it. I have known an old Tennessean practice the plan I have stated for providing himself with seed corn, and he never failed of a crop, nor do I recollect of his having to plant ft second time. You say that you haven't time to save your seed corn in the fali! Haven't time? Why you could gather enougb, a single hand iu a few hours, to plant a hundred acres; — and very likely you would save by the operation a thousand bushels of corn. Haven't timel You had better take your wife and other females of your family mto the field than to lose the opportunity of sav- ing your seed corn. EXPERIENCE. For the Illinois Ftrmer. Facts Bliont Forest Trees. ViRDEN, May 9, 1857. Among the many kinds of trees of rapid growth, comprising the forests of lilinoip, there is one kind in the cultivation of which I have had some experience ; it is valuable alike for use- ful and ornamental purposes. I allude to the soft maple. It is ot very rapid growth and is easily prope^ated by seed. The seed falls in this country about the sixth ot June ; thej should be gathered immediately and planted m the same manner aa Osage Orange or garden peas. If they are well cultivated, and the season is favor- able, they will grow to the height 2J or 3 feet the first year, and will be ready to transplant the following spring, for artificial groves or nursery stock. Plants one year from seed are best to use in making new timber plantations, because they are cheaper, more apt to grow aud easier to haaiie. Last year, although the =M droath injured otker crops, maple seed sprouted finely and came up we!I ; manj of '±9 Diants ffi'ew to the heij?bt of three feet before frost. Mr. L. H. Thomas has oq his farm, east of Virdea, a forty acre lot planted with forest aud other trees, consisting of Cottonwood, soft maple, overcup oak,eim, chestnut, walnut, locust peach, pecan and Norway spruce fir. He be- gan tbe-first planting in the spring of 1852, and continued adding new plantations yearly. The cottoowoods are the talle8% being on ao average eighteen fett. The maples are next, averaging about fifteen feet. The outward branches ol the locust and the entire grove of peach trees were killed by the cold winter ol 1856. Li'St year the peach trees sent up thousands ol new shoots making a fine prospect for future firewood. 1 iic lastyra: "s planting of locusts were pariially kill- ed last winter; with these two exceptions the young trees were unharmed by the long and hard winters of 1856-7. JOHN P. WARD. The Orchard. Mr. Editor : T passed by an orchard the other day — a beautiful and promisng one, too — audit teas calling out to its owner /or help, to enable it to live under the attacks of an ei^my. It spoke as plainly as trees could speak. Caterpillars were upon the trees and were spreading out their nets over the youBg leaves and blossoms, appa- rently with the determination to rob them ©f their beautitul foliage and fruit, and if not kill them. There was no voice in the air except that still, small voice addressed to the reason of man, to his love of the good fruit that (J-od had proffered to him, as a reward of his care and industry, and which ought to find a responss in every man whose heart is in the right place. The caterpillar is an enemy which can be seen and can easily be destroyed. They dis6gure the trees — destroy the fruit; aad seriously injure, if not kill them — and, besides they pronounce the owner " slothful " — too much so to save his fruit, though we dare say in the fruit season he would enjoy the fruit of his neighbor's trees. Go about killing these caterpillars. Have a ladder to reach them; — put on a nair ol gloves and take hold of their nets and gather the rascals and squeeze and crash them. Do this a few times and ttie work will be done ; and you will save your trees and fruit — and with these perhaps save the health of yourself and family — and you will certainly save the mortification that every senf^itive man must feel when he knows his neigh- bors, and those passing' by look upon his orchard given up to the ruin and destruction of catterpil- iars. Mr. Editor, if yon have been as I have within a few days, an observer of the depredations of the caterpillar in beautiful orchards, yon would be likely to think these remarks "A WoKD IN Sbabon." -»—■ Prepare in Time. EorroR of the Farmer : Many of oar farmers would save themselves much bother, anxiety and ixpense if they would prepare for coniingencies in time. Our seasons are uncertain and we should ; repare for con'.iugencies. Last winter was a inii£ winter. As a general fact tbere was not suflScient grain and fodder saved for stock. Maay farmf^rs and cattle suffered. The same stdte of things may recur again. Let us prepare in time Many farmers have but little meadow. Fodder can be made of corn by sowing broadcast, and cutting and saving it early before the time of seeding is come. Millet can be managed in the same way, producing heavy crops. Buta Baga, it suwQ early, etten produees a plentiful crop ; and the Maquel "Wurizeil, a large beet for stock, can always be made to grow on good land — pro- uuuing an immense amount u( roots. Straw should be saved — everything ^hr-,- ■ill answer for fodder should be saved — and you will find your advantage in attepoing to this matter, when otherwise your stock would be starving or dying, or you would have to depend upon the savings of your more iudnslrious neighbors. Stock is bound to oriug high prices for years. The consumers of animai pioducis areinuieasiug taster than the pioducls themselves. Too many people have left the business of agriculture and gone into professions, or engaged in projects for living by their wits. But never mind, — we can make such men pay for the beef and pork, and flour and other articles of consumption — and if they deem the price too high, they can get apiece of land and become farmers tbemsulves^ W. lonng Orchards. Editor Illinois Farmer : The last winter was hard on young orchards. Probably the trees if set out this spring, they may Lave been in- jured the winter before. If the young trees show unbealthful limbs or beads, they should be cut back; that is, the would should be. cut off ud- til you come to healthy wood. This is less to be regretted in our open prairies^ because low head- ed trees will do better there than it suffered to grow high and thus be exposed to heavy and de- structive winds. Peaches do better also by be- ing cut back, and many think that they do bet- ter as a large spreading shrub from the ground than as a tree. Indeed, a tree suffered to grow high, with a I®ng naked limbs, will be either be broken down by heavy winds or will bedestroyed by heavy loads of fruit, which act as a weight up- on a lever. There is a great deal of bloom upon the apple trees ; and where there peach trees alive, they promise fruit. The wild apple and plum are full of flowers. We have a fair prospect of a good crop of apples. I have been over my orchard once an h ave killed thousands of caterpillars. TheyJseem uncommonly numerous this season. But I am determined to rid my trees of them, if labor will doit. Yours,&c -•••- A movement is on foot in New Orleans to orgtinize a State Agricultural Society, and make arrangements for holding annnal Fairs in Louisiana. PWW?!!"»W^!?5frP»'»'W!p7R?«T^^ I Sheep -Wool. The late severe winters, the high price of motton, and the verj great inducements which farmers have had latterly to go into the raising of wheat, have probably lessened th« number of sheep in this conutry, and the result will be that oar wool growers will obtain very high prices for their wool the present season. It is doubted whether the clip in Illinois the present year, will equal that of the last- In the article we copy below from a New York paper, it is said that the coarse wool- ed sheep in New York, are taking the place of the fine wooled, and that there coarse wooled sheep are grown for mutton. In our own State we do not think this is the case. Fine wooled sheep make excel- lent mutton, but the coarser wooled are selected and killed and the fine preserved. In Illinois, fine wooled sheep pay much bet- ter than the coarse; and we do not know of any persons, who made themselves acquaint- ed with the business of growing sheep, and who have steadily continued in the business, who have not been well rewarded for their labor. We are sure that this is the fact so far as our knowledge extends. Wool grow- ing in Illinois is a profitable employment, and the finer wooled sheep pay th© best. Wool. We notice that there is more than the usual excitement in regard to the probable price of this year's clip of Wool. The opinion is gener- ally prevalent among the farmers that the price will be seriously affected by the operation of the new tariff, which makes all wool free that costs twenty cents or under at the port of em- barcation. If invoices are honestly made, this alteration will not materially affect the finer wools that have heretofore formed ihe bulk of the production in the United States. The com- peting wools are the Austvalian and part of the South American, which correspond to our merinoes. These wools are now comparatively higher in London than in New York; so much 80, indeed, that it will be an object for manu- facturers to purchase our wool at prices in ad- vance of last year. The change which has been going on in the farming of the older States since 1840 has been more marked in sheep husbandry than any other branch. From 1840 to 1850, the total increase in the number of sheep was not far from five millions, while the decrease was about three millions, leaving the actual in- crease at only some two millions in the ten years, whereas by the natural law of increase the entire stock should have been at least doub- led. The decrease was in the older States, most of it in New-England and New- York, and almost entirely in fine-wooled sheep. In the State of New-York alone, since 1840, the de- crease exceeds four millions, and there were cot as many sheep in this State in 1855 as in 1821. Since 1850 there has been no pensibie increase in any State, while there has been during the last throe years a decrease in Ohio and Michi- gan. But the lowest point has probably been reached in the olde r States. The fine-wooled sheep have been exterminated, and the coarse- wooled mutton sheep are new fast taking their place. We may henceforth look for a gradual increase in numbers, and a large increase in the amount of meat brought to market. It is this kind of wool that will be most affected in price by the introduction of free wool. The quantity, however, at present is not large and cannot be materially affected this year, nor un- til foreign wool markets show a decline .from present prices. The clip of this year will not be equal to that of the last, eo that no surplus can be accumula- ted and held over to bear down prices, nor is there now any surplus for dealers or manufac- turers to fall back upon. The only means they have to frighten the farmers into low pricep, will be to make them believe that large stocks of foreign wool are to be brought in at low pri- ces under the new tariff. We hope no farmer will be duped by any such story, for, if told, it will be a sheer fabrication. The present price of wool in all the foreign wool markets renders the whole thing morally impossible. The price of the finer grades of wool has ad- vanced from 10 to 12 per cent, in all the German markets over the last year's prices. The H-er- man wools are so high that the English find it difficult to get a supply there, and are thrown upon the better grades of colonial, and have thereby enhanced the value of hH grades of Cape and Australian wools, as well as the bet- ter grades of South America. If it were not for the unsatisfactory condition of the hiarket for Woolen goods, tho pric? of wool, owing to the decreased production, would rule higher in this market than for many years pa =^" . So pre- carious and unsatisfactory has b^en the market for some two or three years thai the manufac- tuiiiig has not Increased; for while our own clip has not increased, the importations of wool for the past year have fallen off nearly five mil- lions of pounds as compared with the three past years. There is no good reason why the farmers should dispose of their wool at any less price than they obtained last year. The rates at which it would be safe to sell, should be, for Saxony _60®75c I Finegrades 38 @ 45c Merino 42 @ 65c 1 Low do & com'n 32 @ 38c It must be understood however, that these wool prices are only for wool m clean, Tell out un, and light. prime condition. The Santa F6 mail to •Arrived at St. Louis. the last of April has TJ-^mi«ptpp"gijPlw; I'.'tjijlL'J.'fl'.'ii JMl'Mmwifli!! 130 THE ILLINOIS FARMER, —<» THE GRAZIER Green Food for Stock. It is often the case that farmers and others would find it a convenience to keep up some of their stock, at least in portions of the season, when there is poor feed iu pastures. Especially would this be a con- venience in the case of milch cows. July, August and September, are the most trying months with them. Corn sown broadcast in June, and plowed in, makes a capital food cut green. Many farmers in the northern part of Ohio every year sow fields for this purpose, and the practice is constantly increasing. From the little ex- perience that has been had with the Chinese sugar cane, it is believed that it will furnish a richer uud better article for green food than corn; and besides being by far a richer plant, has this advantage — it may be cut at least twice in the season. We trust our farmers will aot only try t^is plant for the purpose of making sugar and molasses, but for forage, green and dry. A few seed, a pint or more, will furnish the means of making important experiments. Foreign Stock. Late letters from Messrs. Brown, Johns and Jacoby, agents of the Illinois Stock Im- porting Company, announce that they had made several purchases and s^ere visiting and examining different herds, with the view of making other purchases. They rep- resent themselves exceedingly gratified with many herds they had examined, and candidlj acknowledge that eome of the specimens pleased them better than any they had seen in this country. We anticipate some excel- lent importations We copy the following account of the travels and purchases of the agents referred to, from the Morgan Journal: Blooded Stock For Illinois. Mr. Geo. Anderson, of Lynville, has furnish ed as with the following list of purchases made by the Illinois Stock Importing Company in England, which he found reported in the York- ahireman of April 11th: At the sale of M. H. Ambler. Wilkinson Hall Halifax: Bull, Grand Turk, 300 guineas; Heifer, Western Cady, 175 guineas. > • At the sale of Rev. T, Cater, Kelbrook Park: Heifer, Pomegranate, 90 guineas; Heifer, Cas- sandra, 58 guineas. Wo understand the committee will return in June with all their purchases, of which the above are a part, when the stsck will be sold, after proper notice, to the highest bidder at Springfield. Since the above was put in type we have been shown a letter from J. N. Brown, Esq., one of the agents ot the Illinois Stock Importing As- sociation, to his brother, Hon. Wm. Brown, of this place, from which we have been permitted to make the following extract. It is dated Brumley, England, April 3d, 1857 : "We had a safe and quick passage (ten and a half days,) and rather a pleasant one. About t'.?-o hundred passengers were on board, and among them several Western men. — G. T. M. Davis, Esq., formerly of Alton, was one. W« left Liverpool on Tuesday, having spent Mon- day in forming acquaintances. We met Mr. Kercheval, formerly of St. Louis, a very polite and obliging gentleman. We find thatwe shall have no trouble in ship- ping stock, and upon better terms than we had expected. We attended two short horn sales this week—one on the Ist, Mr. Ambler's near Halifax, consisting of 48 head — 38 cows and heifers and ten bulls. The sales was largely attended, and the bidding was spirited, a large number of short horn breeders being present. The averacce of sale per head, was 38 guineas. We purchased three head, paying for one heifer 175 guineas. On the 2nd of April we attended the sale of the stock of Rev. Mr. Cator, of Kelbrook Park, Yorkshire. His stock was good, the attendance large, and prices well sustained. We purchas- ed at this sale two heifers, roans. Thi« morning we visited the herd of Fawks, one of the most spirited breeders in England. He has about 100 head. He asks high prices yet we hope to purchase two youag bull of this herd. This afternoon we examined Col- Towney's herd. His cows and heifers are fine, his bulls nothing extra. To-morrow afternoon we will look at a large herd near Liverpool, and on Monday go to Lon- don, and spend the week in looking ; at the cat- tle and horse stock in the south of England, Next week, we visit Scotland, and from thence go to the Dublin Cattle show, which comes off on the 2l8t of the month. There we hope to pick up more good stock. You may rest assur- ed, and may say to our friends, that there is as good stock in England as ever left it." -«»■ Ttom the Country Oentleman. The Arabian Horse. "A few wild horses," says a writer, "are yet seen on the deserts of Arabia. They are hunted by the Bedouins for their flesh, which is considered a delicacy if the animal be young, and also to increase their stock of inferior horses, which they often palm 3H py?i''j#-"-''^- - - "'*^-* ofif on tbe merchant as descended from the sacred breed, f hey are said to be even swifter than the domesticated horse." Mr. Bruer, however, doubts whether any wild horses are now found in Araba Deserta. "Although in the seventh century," cou- tinoes the writer, "the Arabs had no horses of value, yet the Capadocian and other horses which they derived from the neigh- bors, were preserved with so mnch care, and propagated eo uniformly and strictly from the finest of the breed, that in the thirteenth century the Arabian horse began to assume a just and unrivaled celebrity.'' There are said to be three breeds or var- ieties of Arabian horses: — the Attechi, or inferior breed, on which they set little value, and which are found wild on some parts of the deserts; Kadischi, literally horses of an unknown race, answering to our half-bred horses — a mixed breed; and the Kochlani, horses, whose genealogy, according to the Arab account, is known for two thousand years. Many of them have written and attested pedigrees extending more than four hundred years, and with true Eastern ex- aggeration, traced by oral tradition from the stud of Solomon. A more careful account is kept of these genealogies than belongs to the most ancient family of the proudest Arab chief, and very singular precautions are taken to prevent the possibility of fraud, 80 far as the written pedigree extends. The Kochlani are principally reared by the Bedouin Arabs in tbe remoter deserts. A stallion may be procured without much difficulty, although at a great price. A mare is rarely to be obtained, except by fraud and excessive bribery . The A rabs have found out that which the American breeder should never forget, that the female is more concerned than the male in the ex- cellence and value of the produce; and the genealogies of their horses are always reckoned from their mothers. The Arabian horse would not be acknow- ledged by every judge to possess a perfect form: his head, however, is inimitable. The broaduers and squareness of the fore- head, the shortness and fineness of the muz- zle, the prominence and brilliancy of the eye, the smallness of the ears, and the beautiful course of the veins, will always characterize the head of the Arabian horse. His body may b« considered as too light, and his chest as too narrow ; but behind the arms the barrel generally swells oot, and leaves sufficient room for the play of the lungs. In the formation of the shoulder, next to that of the head, the Arab is superior to any other breed. The ■ withers are high, and the shoulder-blade in- clined backward, and so nicely adjusted that in descending a hill ihe point or edge of the ham never ruffles the skin. He may not bethought sufficiently high; he seldom stands more than fourteen hands two inches. The fineness of his legs and the oblique position of bis pasterns, may be supposed to lessen his apparent strength; but the leg, although small, is flat and wiry; ana- tomists know that the bone has no common density, and the starting muscles of the fore- arm and the thigh indicate that he is folly capable of accomplishing many of the feats which are recorded of him. The Barb alone excels the ^ Arabian in noble and spirited action; and if ther« be defects about him, he is perfect for that for which he was desigiid. He presents the true combination of ipeed and bottom — strength enough to carry more than a light weight, and courage that would cause him to die rather than to give up. We may not, perhaps, believe all that is told us of the Arabian. It has been remarked, that there are on the deserts which this horse traverses, no mile-stones to mark the distance, or watches to calculate the time; ^nd the Bedouin is naturally given to exaggeration, and most of all, when relating the prowess of the animal, which he loves as dearly as his children, yet it cannot be denied that, at the introduction of the Arabian into Euro- pean stables, there was bo other horse com- parable to him. The Arabian horse la as celebrated for docility and good temper, as he is for speed and courage. The following anecdote of the attachment of the Arab to his mare, has often been told, but it comes home to the bosom of every one possessed of common feeling: 'The whole stock of an Arab of the desert consisted of a mare. The French Consul offered to purchase her in order to send her to his sovereign, Louis XIV. The Arab would have rejected the proposal at once with indignation and scorn, but he was miserably poor. He had no means of sup- plying his most urgent wants, or procuring the barest necessaries of life. Still he hes- itated ; — he had scarcely a rag to cover him — and his wife and his children were starv- ing. The sum offered was great, — it would provide him and his family food for life. At length, and reluctantly, he consented. — He brought the mare to the dwelling of the consul, — be dismounted, — he stood looking upon her; — he looked now at his gold, and then at his favorite; — he sighed — he wept. "To whom is it," said he, "I am^oing to yield thee up? To Europeans, who will »*~':r:^SB?f'?5''«?f?w''T^: .(-■ f- tie thee close, — who will beat thee, — who will render thee miserable? S.3turn with me my beauty, my jewel, and rejoice the hearts of my children.' As he spoke the last words, he sprung upon her ba'^k, ind was out of eijjht in a moment," Sir John Malcom gives another a .ecdote to the same purpose, but of a more anuis- ing nature: "When the Eavoy," .0,7^ be, "returning from hi? former mission, was ea- camped near Bagdad, an Arab roile a light bay mare of extraordinary shape anc! beauty before big tent, until he attracted his at- tention. Oa being asked if he won^d sell her — '^'^hat Trill yoa give me?' was the re- ply. 'That dtijjPDds upon her age; I sup- pose she is past iive?' 'Gaess again,' said he. 'Four?' Look at her moitb,' said the Arab, with a smile. On examinatioa, she was found to be rising of tbree. This, from her si/.e and symmetry, greatly en- hanced her value. The envoy said, 'I will give you fifty tomas,' (a coin nearly of the vain*? of a pound sterling.) 'A little more, if you please,' said the fellow, apparently entertained. 'Eighty — « hundred.' He shook tiis head, and smiled. The ofiFer at last came to two hundred tomas. 'Well,' said the Arab, 'you need not tempt me fur- ther,— it is of no use. You are a rich el-chee (nobleman,) you have fine horses, camels and mules, and, I am told, you have loads of silver and gold. Now,' said he, 'yoQ want my mare, but you shall not have her for all you have got.' -*9^ Vamufh for Bustie Garden Seafs. — First wash the woodwork with soap and water, and when dry, do it over on a hot, snnny day with common boiled linseed oil ; leave that to dry for a day or two, and then var- nish it once or twice with what is commonly termed "bard varnish." If well done, it willlastfor years, and will prevent any an- noyance from insects. Bats. — The Killing Operation. — A friend of mine destroyed some dozen rats at one haul, In the following manner. He took a door of the house from its hinges, placed it on the floor of the room, with a stick under one side of sufficient length to elevate it to suitable height. To this stick was attach- «d a string of sufficient length to reach into an adjacent entry. After putting meat under the door, and getting the rats well baited, he secreted himself in the entry, and by the light of the moon discovering when the rats in numbers had assembled nnder the door, suddenly jerked away the stick and sprung upon the door. rft«7- AGRICULTURAL. Sweet Potatoes. Messrs. J. W, Tenbrook & Co., are large and successful cultivators of the Sweet Po- ' tatoe, in Rock^ille, Ind. They have a var- iety, called Early Nansemond, which we have not seen surpassed for beauty or cicel- leuce. His experience gives 'o the follow- ing article great value: Brief Directions for Planting and OuUivaiing the Sweet Fotaio. Select laud for this crop that is loose and dry, that is either sandy or a light clay loam, and not too rich, or the crop will run too much to vine; wet prairies, rich bottom and black walnut lands are the most un- favorable. Rolling land, either in the prair- ies, or timber, is preferable, and in the north, sboald be selected if possible slop- ing to the south or southeast, and if elevat- ed would be less subject to white frosts in the spring and fall. To avoid cutworms and weeds, the Sweet Potatoe ground should have been cleanly cultivated the season previous, and plowed late in the fall, that it may be pulverized by the frost. Early in the spring, or as soon as the soil is in good working order, it should be plowed, harrowed and rolled, if dry and cloddy, in which condition it should lay until the plants are ready to set out, then it should be thrown into ridges, and crossed with a small plow into hills aboat three feet ea^;h way, in the centre of each of which set one good plant, by making a hole with the hand or a transplanting trowel, large eaough to bold one pint of water, in which place the root of the plant and pour the water directly on the roots, and draw the loose earth quickly about the plant with- out pressure. By this mode the roots are floated out in their natural position, and the soil settles around every hi tie fibre more than by any other mode of planting; the water is just where it is needed, and the soil left dry on the surface will not bake, as is the case when the plants are watered on the surface, or are puddled into the mud after « rain. We never plant when the ground is so wet as not to need water, and if the plauts are good, and the work well done, we do not expect to lose one per ce.ji. in the dryest and hottest days of May End June, and never water after the plants are set. Plants should be set go deep that one or two of the axils or leaf-buds are covered, that they, may sprout if cut down by frost, or worms. After the plants are ^^W|Wg||iW>pMpifK»U - -^Ty'-y-"'^ ,1, jlj !,iilll)||l^PPI>;g^^,».,..,iij.jM»;iW4,iJl llljl l.ipBp<||||||p^W'P!WWgpwr II THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. 133 set oat they should be carefully plowed each way, so long as the vines will permit, and earthed up a little at each plowing with the hoe. Perhaps the most certain plan for farmers to get their potatoes planted in time and well cultivated, would be to select ground in their corn fields, and make hills to correspond with the corn rows, and cul- tivate the same as the corn, putting two planti in each bill when planted four feet h..'ijCLTi.>. The hilU should be about as large as can be thrown up with a small plow, and where few are made the corners may be dressed up with the hoe, but it is not necessary if the ground has been well prepared, except for turning rows and near stumps. The season for planting in this latitude is from the 10th of Ma? to the 20th of June, or as early in the spring as we feel secure from frost. Those that want a few early potatoes may plant the 1st of May and cover with earth in cold or frosty weather, which will not injure the plants for a few days, if the ground is not too wet. Plants can be carried a great distance in good condition, if the roots are packed in damp moss or earth/but care must be taken not to wet the leaves when closely packed, , or they will rot in a day or two. Sweet Potatoes should be dug before frost, or the vines cut off immediately after, or the quality of the potatoe will be injured for the table or for keeping, and should be placed in a warm, airy room fori cellar, or use, as they will not bear a low temperature with- out injury. The proper time for taking up and ship- ping Sweet Potatoes from this country is the first week in April, from which time plants can be brought forward ready for set- ting in the open ground by the first of May. Our agents and others, wishing to secure seed, should send in their orders early, as it is too late for us to dispose of our stock at the time of taking them up; and we would add that we now think our business suffi- ciently established to justify sending the cash with the order by those that wish to buy Potatoes, by which much ticue, disappoint- ment and postage might be saved, J. W. TENBROOK & CO., Rockville, Parke Co.. Ind. From the Country Gentleman. Drill Seeding. In the fall of 1853, 1 engaged .a man who owned a drill to oonie and sow six acres with wheat in a field of ten acres. The part sown with the drill was the poorest and farthest from the barn; consequently had not received bo much manure as the other. The remaining four acres were sown broadcast. At the time of harvesting, the drilled wheat was much the beet — probably four or five bushels to the acre. The same season, (some time the last of Sept.) I had another piece sowed with a drill — clover sod, second crop; the green clover turned under would hay probably IJ tons to the acre) — of a long triangular form. The outside was sowed with a drill. A strip nearly the whole length of the piece in the middle, of about three-quaf- ters of an acre, was sown broadcast. At the time of harvesting, the drilled wheat would yield 25 bushels an acre, while that sown broad- cast would only go about three or four, and was badly shrunk and smutty at that. The winter with us here, was by far the worst for winter killing wheat I ever knew. Common sowed wheat here did not yield over one-third to one- half a crop that season. Having so good luck with a drill that season I purchased one in company with one of my neighbors. Then I thought I would try an ex- periment with spring wheat. I had a piece of low unreclaimed bog swamp land of fifteen acres which had raissd two crops of, and which I wanted to sow in wheat and seed down for a meadow, well drained with open drains. I fixed the drill, expecting to sow IJ bushels to the acre, but in consequence of white caps which clogged the feeding slides, it only put on one bushel and four quarts. Ten acres were sown in this way. The remaining five acres were sown broadcast on the furrows, IJ bushels per acre, well sowed and well put in. The wheat sown broadcast came up first, looked the best, and did the best until about knee high, when the drilled part came on, and after that did the best until harvest. When harvested the berry of the drilled part was nice and plump as wheat could be, while that sown by hj»nd was SDine shrunk; the hands while cutting judged the drilled part would yield three or four bushels to the acre the most. The fifteen acres yielded three hundred and ten bushels and -three pecks. I think from my own experience and others about me, that drilled wheat will yield on an average 3 to 4 bushels to the acre over broad- cast one season' wi,th another, besides requiring about one-half bushel less seed. Seed sown with a drili, are all deposited at an even depth and consequently can grow and ripen more evenly than if deposited at all depths, from the top of the ground to six inches bel»w. E. Din- NisoN. Forestville, Chaut. Co. Use of Arsenie in Steeping Grain for Seed. Boussingault has communicated to the An- nates de Chimic some experiments on the use of arsenic in steeping grain for seed. The pro- cess has two objects, the one to protect the har- vest from disease, the other to prevent the seed from being devoured by vermin. The substan- ces generally used are salt, glauber salt, lime and sulphate of copper. But although these may hinder the development of cryptogamic sporules, they have little effect in preventing 'r-'f^^ffjp.: •; >' • -.-*». J^Vt^B^rK^*"/-^.^-- the seed from being eaten. The greatest part of the substance need remains in the husk, which the animal rejects. The most effectual means is the employment of arsenic ; this not only preserves the seed from decay, but if eaten by the vermin, it des- troys them, being so strongly poisonous. By using arsenic in a soluble form, such as the ar- senite of soda, it may be added to the grain in perfectly definite proportions. Boussmgault's prooess is as follows : — A sol- ution of arsenite of soda is prepared, which contains 67 grammes of arsenious acid in the litre. Of this arsenical solution 3^ litres are taken and added to 12^ litres of water. A hectolitre of corn is placed in a large tub, and these 16 litres of mixture are added, the corn being continually stirred. In about an hour the whole of the liquid is absorbed, and the grain is then dried. It is, of course, necessary to exercise extreme care in using the arsenical solution and it is well to color it strongly by the addition of sulphate of iron and prussiate of potash, so that its presence would be readily betrayed. This steeping is not an unprofitable aff'air,for it first effectually preserves the harvest, and, secondly, by killing the vermin which might devour it, converts them into useful manure. — £. Atkinton Ph. D., PhMosophical Magazine, {English,) No. 76. Over-Feeding Plants. A correspondent of the American Agriculturist writes: I have found by experience that ynang fruit trees and some flowering shrubs wers often in- jured by over-feeding. For many years I lost all my cherry trees. I planted them around my yards, and gave them the richest soil I could gather. They grew finely; some bore g^ood crops. Id a few years they split from the branches to the roots, and in a few years more they died. I fonnd in journals that this splitting was sup- posed to be induced by the heat of the sun, for they generally occurred on the southwest side of the trunk, where the sun shone the hottest. I soon observed, however, that . the cherry trees never split when they grew on a poor soil ; so when I discovered them to cbeck, I at once re- moved all the soil for five or six feet around them and supplied its place with loam or poor grav- elly matter. Since then, not one has split, and I presume they never will. When cherry trees are large and old, they may be safely manured, for their energies are spent in bearing fruit, and they grow but slowly. Pear trees are more easily surfeited than cher- ry trees, bat it affects them differently. When overmanured, the leaves coming out of the new wood at the ends of the twigs, instead of being one inch or more apart, eome out in a cluster or bundle, and the limb ceases growing at once. A few years ago I procured a fine young pear tree, and wishini; it to grow and bear as soon as M possible, I planted it in the range of the low- est point ef my barnyard, so as to receive the draioiags of the manure. The new leaves all over it came out in thick bundles or whorls. I immediately removed all the earth from over the roots and filled the space with yellow loam, and turned the drain from it. In two weeks ihe new wood shot out and put forth its leaves, nearly two inches apart, and made a fine growth. I once manur(,d an apple orchard of seventy trees, and every twig threw out the same whorls^ wood ceased growing. The tips of all dried, and I lost one year's growth. So I find trees as well as men and other animals can be over-fed and sur- feited. JAMES FOUNTAIN. JBrricRsoit Valley, N.Y., Jan. 25, 1857. From the Ohio CultiTator. Praetieal Hints on the Goltnre of Tines. WATER MELONS. Soil and laying out. — The best soil for the water melon is a rich black loam, such as our black ash sWales, welldifained and plowed very deep, and thoroughly pulverized. The rows should be marked out at least ten feet apart each way. I know that it looks like wasting land when planting, and in the early tending of the crop; but the reverse is true — if you wish to lose the use of your land and also your labor, plow about five or six inches deep, and plant four or five feet apart each way, and you will be very sure to succeed. Seed and Planting. — The next all important point is to select good seed; which is not difB- cult, as they can be obtained at almost any country town of any size. But most persons plant any thing, rather than pay fifty cents or a dollar tor good seeds. The Mountain Sweet is the best in the list. I always buy the Wetherfield seeds, and have ever found them true to their kinds. Drop five or six seeds to the hill. It is better to raise the hills about three inches high before dropping the seeds, and then cover one inch thick with mellow soil. Cultivation. — The best thing to tend with is the cultivator, and the young vines cannot receive attention too soon. As soon as they are fairly up and spread out their two broad leaves, hoe them up as high as possible without cover- ing them up. This I have ever found to be the best preventive against the striped bug — that pest of all vines. Keep the ground well stirred, and the weeds under perfect subjection, till the vines are large enough to be beyond the power for harm of the striped bug, then thin to two plants in each hill. I would say one, but some mishap might kill that one, and then the hill would be lost. It requires some courage, Mr. Editor, after you have nursed your vines for a month or more, to pull them up and throw them away, but how disagreeable the task, it is abso- lutely necessary to obtain good crops. For the next dressing we plow them, throwing the fur- row to the rows and finishing in the middle, thus making a ridge for each row wide enough to not dry out readily. All that is necessary afterwards, is to keep the weeds down till the melons begin to ripen. Snbaking Thieves. — Look out that your -::Lj.^u..<^ ii|i,>uf iMi-ws^'jytti'i'jJJsywi'ysaW'W'WJy '''^'^^^^■PP^P^BillJPPHSlfPfl^RHB^WBBf^^ THE III/INOIS FABMEB. 13ft neighbors' boys, nay, even the neighbors them- selves, do hot come at night while you and yours, who perhaps are wearied from th« toils of the day, are sleeping, and steal your melons and tear up your vines. Oa this subject I have scarcely patience to say any thing, being almost afraid to venture, for fear of saying too much; for I have heard otherwise good citizens and even professing Christians, tell their sons in a boasting manner how they used to steal melons and tear up vines, and never uttei one word of condemnauon, or say they had done wrong, but laugh over their folly; thus in effect advising their sons to do as their fathers had done before them. I wonder if such men ever consider that for such influence they will one day be brought to account. It is very provoking, after having raised fine large melons, and got them nearly ready for the knife, to go into your patch and find here a melon mashed with some unruly foot, and there one stuck through with a cane, till all the best ones are spoiled, and that too by persons who would scorn to in- jure you or any one else in any other way. It is time this evil was corrected. MUSK UELOXS. Best Kinds. — I can remember the time, Col., when melons were scarce, that I thought the musk melon was goo^; but now, after trying the finer kinds, I am willing to let others enjoy them, if they can, as Skillman's fine netted melon and other varieties of the same class suit me infinitely better. Skillman's fine netted melon is as sweet as sugar, and as luscious as honey; and what is more, every person in our country can have them by bestowing a little care and labor on their culture. If those per- sons who go prowling about at night stealing their neighbor's melons, would bestow half of the labor upon a patch of their own, which they are compelled to take in hunting up others, they would have plenty at home, and could en- joy them with "a conscience void of offense to- wards God and man." Cake and Compensation.— Plant the rows five feet apart «ach way, and cultivate the same as the water melon, except leave three plants to the hill, instead of two. There is nothing that delights more in a good rich soil than melon vines, and nothing that such a soil and good culture makes more difference with. I would rather have one hill well managed, than a quar- ter of an acre botched over; and as a market fruit, nothing pays better. Indeed, they are a luxury that most people will have, when they can get them, at any price, even to the "wear and tear of conscience." CUCUMBERS. Should be planted not less than seven feet apart each way, and thinned to four stalks in each hill Cultivate the same as melons, ex- cept being even more particular about hoeing them well up under their two leaves, while quite yo-ang, thus protecting the stalks from their natural enemy, the striped bug. THE MARR'iW squash Should be planted eight feet apart each way SummT sauashes same. Parisian squash not less than twenty feet each way; the last men- tioned bdng better adapted to amateur coltore, as it is of little value, but very large and Bhowy. The sweet pumpkin should be planted ten or twelve feet apart each way, and if well tended will pay well, as it makes most excellent Yankee pies. Q. S. INNIS. Columbus, May, 1857. — «•» Large ts. Small Beans. I tried an experiment last season, to satisfy 'aiy- aelf,- which were the better beans to plant, and give you the result as follows : The small beau give nine and a half bushels from one of planting, and the large ones thirteen and three quarters from ose of planting. The land was light, as you see by the crop, but equal in both cases. I concede that a bushel of small beana will plant as much land as three bushels of large oees, and many will conclude from this that there are tour dollars saved in the item of seed. To such I would say, " don't be hasty, gentlemen." Don't you have to plant three times as many hills to ^et out a bushel of small as you do ol large beansY — and then they fall four bushels short of the large ones in product. Here then is a eaviiig in favor of the large beans of one-fourth in product from a given quantity of seed. I plant beans aorth aad south, ifpossibIe,rowB three feet apart, and eighteen inches apart in the row, abont six beans in the hill. I planted last season three and one-half bush- els ef beans in my corn field, the product of whi^ I sold tor about 8100, expenses as follows: Planting with Wakefirid'i Patent Corn Flantw ......$« M Seed „ „. 7 00 Pulling and cutting 6 00 Tbreehing and cleaning 7 SO Total expenu „$M 00 You wiU perceive that there is no item in the expense for hoeing. The reason of this is, that I plant the beans within four or five inches of the bills of corn, and they are both hoed at one and. the name time, without extra labor. I plant the beaes the south side of the com ; pall the beans and hang^ them on the corn hills, and let them remain until the corn is ready to 5at up. They are then thrown down into heaps,- the corn cat and set up ; at which time I can drive the team and get them, as Ida hay in tuoibles.-— W. L. B., in Genesee Farmer. BSANDON, Vt. ' «0> Dried Cherries. — Take 12 lbs. of the cherry; stone the same carefully, so that they may be as little broken as possible; pat them in a pan with plenty of powdered sugar (9 lbs.;) let them simmer gently for aboat twenty minutes; then take each cherry out separately on to a sieve to dry; shake a little sugar over them, and turn them for three successive days (in which time, if the snn is powerful, they will have dried;) when quite dry, put them into a tin box, with a la>er of paper between each row. Then keep them in a moderately warm place for use. '■■'" :J:■■*^■'^-^i-. 136 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. ^■r^'^ HORTICULTURAL. We have long supposed that the failure of the Heart Cherry in this regioQ was caused by the exceeding richness of the soil. In the same latitude, east of the mountains in poor soil, Heart Cherry trees grow to a large size, and, it is said, will last lor a century. ff lulching. This is a term used by horticulturists for shading the ground around growing trees, shrubs and plants. There are many plants so delicate in their structure, that they ab- solutely require mulching the first summer, to insure their roots a firm hold in the ground. But as most of our summers are so dry and hot, there are few plants that are hot benefi tted by mulching. If the ground around fruit trees is cleared of the weeds and grass, and mulched with leaves or straw, immediately after a rain, the tree will be invigorated, and a fine crop of fruit will be the reward. Roses that are wilting, and showing a^ickly bloom will be revived, and bloom in beauty, by mulching when the ground is moist. The Dahlia, a plant that requires a great deal of moisture, will bloom in perfection until frost, if kept properly mulched throughout the summer. Now, when we recommend mulohing, we do not mean a few leaves or straws placed im- mediately around the plant, but a ccating so thick that the sun cannot penetrate through, and placed as far from the plant or tree as the influence of the roots extend. Anything that will shade the ground; rock, brick or plank, will answer to mulch with ; but substances that in their decomposition will make a soil, are decidedly preferable. The native forests mulch themselves, and we see how rank and vigorons ^hey grow. We think that, unle*-? the surface be kept con- stantly stirred sronnd n *Tee or plant, the Tays of the sun shou; ; utr^v r;.vt upon it. Those who look upon labor anJ efl"ort as a great bug-bear, may get along v»-ithout mulch- ing. But those wLio mulch properly actual- ly save tiine and labor, for when it is well done, the labor is done for the year, and the soil is all the time being enriched, as the plant grows and perfects itself. Therefore we say to the orchardist, mulch around your fruit trees; to the vine-grower, mulch around the grape vines; to the gardt-ner, mulch among the vegetables; to our fair lady florists, mulch among the flowers, mulch — mulch — mulch. Never tire of mulching.— [Soil of the South. TransplatiDg Evergreens. I wish to give your numerous readers my rales for transplanting evergreens, for I think them as easily transplanted as the apple tree. The time here is about the I5th of June, or after the tops have made from one to two inches new growth. First dig your holes for your trees, dig them large and deep, then take a stake six feet long and drive it down in the center of your hole two feet deep, then fill the hole with fine soil to within six inches of the top, then dig up your trees with as many roots as you can get, and set them out as soon as you can, filling aronnd the roots with fine soil. After you have got the roots c'ovp'*ed two inches deep pour in one pail of water, then wind some lags around the top of your stake, and tie the tree firmly to the stake, and keep it so tied for two years; and don't forget to cover the ground for two feet each way from your tree, with old hay or straw eight inches deep, and put ou some stones to keep it from blowing away. In this way I have "set out Pine, Heui- lock. Spruce, and Balsam Fir, without losing one tree. — [Country Geat. W. -«•»- To Make Cream Cheese. — The following are two recipes: — Take a quart of cream, or, if not desired very rich, add thereto one pint of niw milk; ".'arm it in hot water till it is about the heat of milk from the cow, add a small quantify of rennet (a table- spoonful is suflBcient,; let it stand till thick, then break it slightly with a spoon, and place it in the frame in which yon havQ previously put a fine canvass cloth; press it slightly with a weight; let it stand a few hours, then put a finer cloth ia the frame; a little powdered salt may be put over the cioth. It will be fit for use in a day or two. Another Mf^thod. — If cream is scarce, so that r. snP .;.;;, r idantity cannot be had at once, take a fine canvas bag, and pour as much cream as you may happen to have into it, adding additional small quantities twice a day. and from its becoming naturally sour, the thin part will drain through the canvas, and the remainder will prove an excellent cheese. If one quart of cream can be had at once, and poured into a fine canvas bag, it will make a nice sizt-d cheese, and of i course equrjly good as those made by sev- eral small qnantiiies added at convenient in- tervals. The cheeses made in this way are not fit for use* so soon as those made with rennet. 8b;= » pppipipm^ A ';■■■■;■■ ' ■ v.: ■■""■ ■■'■■ -■ -■ ':".'way! T\ ■4^. THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 137 us THE GARDENER. Garden vegetables will be late in matar- ing this season. Many of the seeds sown early will be lost, and perhaps even the second sowing. Most varieties, however, do well planted any time in May or the first half of June. The ground is now warm and the temperature such as to force their rapid growth. If the weather should con- tinue favorable, the latest planted gardens will be the best. There is now ample time to plant the seeds of cucumbers, melons, squashes, beets, beans, corn, lettuce, okra, peas, radishes, aaisify, spinach, turnips ;T?ab- bage plants for. winter use can be put in the three first weeks of June. Hoeing and stirring the ground about vegetables, greatly accelerate their growth. The man who hoed his cabbages once a day to beat his neighbor, was surprised to find that the plants of the latter kept ahead of his own. The secret was his neighbor hoed his twice a day. Gahdex Peas. — Persons are not general- ly aware, that these peas produce well when sown broadcast. At this season, they should be covered in the earth at least three inches. \ This could be done by the cultivator. "We know of no better and profitable crop than a good patch of peas of the better sorts— a good supply of which could be gathered near nigh<^ and brought to market early in the morning. In England, all peas are sown broadcast. The old white marrowfat, the dwarf marrowfat, blue Prussian and Champion of England, would be degirable peas for broadcast sowing, for' market pur- poses. -—*- Onions. — We are informed thdt Messrs. Francis 3: Barrell, at their 'seed store, in Springfield, eince spring opened, have sold nearly 500 pounds of onion seed. With the exception of some fifty pounds of White Portugal and Yellow Silver Skin, this seed has all been of the variety known as the large Wethersfield Red. We have heard from some of the sowings, and the onions have come up and are doing well. . If the Garden Beans. — If the season favors, ' the early sorts can be planted as late as July. The Refugee Bean, which has a full fleshy pod, if grown late, can be made into an excellent pickle. To Grow Tomatoes. — A writer in the American Farmer says, that "when the plants have grovsin sufiSciently long to tie to the trellis, I select two or three of the strongest shoots and tie them loosely to the trellis, cutting away all other small laterals which mav sirow on the main branches. I let these main branches grow until they have come in flower and set the first bunch of fruit; then I pinch out the top, one joint above ttie fruit, le^^ving the leaf entire. I then ail ow it to go on again until it has flowered., and set another bunch of fruit, when tl le top is pinched out one leaf above the bur ich, the same as the first, and so on of all the rest, taking care to cut out all the lateralis which may grow on the main brandies down to the axels of the leaves, as often as they ar« produced, but leaving the leave s entire." The same writer goes on to say that "any pers on who will take this little extra trouble wilL be amply repaid and absolutely astonish- ed at the immense clusters of fine large toi natoes he will have. If planted in a fauorable situation, they will ripen at least as early as those grown any other way out of doors, and frequently three days ottt season continues favorable, oaions will be plenty next fall and winter- It is too late to sow onions now for a general crop; but the seed can be soWn to make "buttons'' for next spring's use. This is done by sowing the seed very thick, so that the onions cannot grow larger than a good sized cherry. Should the stalks re- main green in August, a small roller should be passed over them of weight only enough to break and bend down the stalks. We make this statement that our country friends may supply themselves with little onions, for next spring's planting, if they choose to do so. '■■•W^' -^,71^?»?R^^ ^TT.^ W ^^ a!ii«i -vi .„ week earlier. When ripe, they will hang longer on the vines without decaying. The situation can hardly be too eunuy. Deep^ light, loamy soil, isaits them best. I al- ways save my own seed. I began by sav- ing a few of the roundest and smoothest tomatoes I could find for seed ; now I have them, not flat or wrinkled all up, but as round as an orange, and as smooth as can be and quite large." ■«•»- THE FLORIST. The garden shrubbery the present season will exhibit an unusual amount of bloom and beauty. The double flowering cherry, peach and almond, have already dropped their flowers. The lilacs and snow balls are in their glory. Several varieties of the spirae are in flower, and these uuappre- ciated beauties will ere long be favorites in the parterre. The Wieglea Rosea is in full bloom, audits pink flowers jshow beauti- fully among the green leaves of the plant: they resemble greatly the Azelias of the green house. The upright honeysuckles are also in flower,and these miniature trees, when properly trained, make a fine show iu borders. The season of hyacinths and tulips has passed. The dielytra is now in full flower, and is in our opinion the most beautiful of all the perennial herbaceous flowering plants. Perfectly hardy, it springs up early in spring and is ii» flowers with the lilac, and these continue a lonj;^ time. Indeed, where the ground is rich, it has often a second flowering in autumn. Roses promise a fine show; the biads are nowprominent,andin three weeks more they will exhibit a mass of beauty in tLie gar- dens of Springfield greater than ever seen here before. Seeds of annuals are mostly planted, aud many t)f the young plants have appeared. We are in favor of their being put into clumps or masses, because In that posi tion we think they show best. The Petunia has become- a very popular flower, as T)7ell from its beauty as its hardiness and from its blooming during the whole season. There are now many varieties superior to the old sorts, and they are cultivated with much ease. The plant when once in cultivation ROWS its own seed, and the only difficulty is in thinning out the plants, so that each good plant shall have a foot of room, and the pulling up'of such plants as show poor flowers. The Yerbena is a most beautiful plant for .bedding out, indeed, it has no superior. The annuals should be kept free from weeds, for they lose their beauty when surrounded or dwarfed by weeds. In a few days, the time not yet fixed on, the Springfield Horticultural Society will have their annual exhibition of flowers. The prospect now is, that it will be a most gorgeous exhibition, probably exceeding in interest any that has been previously held. Flower vases, when the plants are chosen with taste, discriminately arranged, and carefully attended to, are very beautiful. To succeed well, in vases in a climate like this, where the sun strikes on any isolated object, as a vase, with 'extraordinary power, considerable attention is required in the watering, so that flowers never become parched. A mulcbins is of great benefit to arrest evaporation. The scarlet geranium or a faschia will do well for a centre plant. About this may be arranged some of the following, as fancy may dictate: Galairdia picta, or other varieties; cuphea plat.ycentra; heliotropes, verbenas, and petunias; the two latter suf- fered to hang over the outside. Besides these, a plant or two of tnamandia, loasia, and thunbergias niay be introduced to hang in festoons ovt-r the side. — [Exchange. -••>- jj^The fly has been very destructive to cabbage plants the present season. They take the plants as soon as they .appear above ground, and eat them oS smooth. This can be prevented by sowing the seed in a hot bed ; but* some of onr country friends have a way of raising plants which are en- tirely uninjured by the fly. They put a little manure into a trough or box, place earth upon the manure, and sow the seed as usual. They then elevate the box on a frame or fence, any thing that will raise the box three feet from the ground will an- swer the purpose, and keep the earth moderately, moist. In this way good plants can be always secured. ± !.mi^ijWJI.(W«H|^u WK^ ^^^^f^^^^^^'^!>ll'r^^^!f?!?!S^'^I^^W'^^^^f^^^'!^?^!T^ •'IP-* -.MIAHMWWSWPiS •MHPXHl.y.. y = THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 1». EDITORIAL NOTICES. The Season and the Prospect. The almost cheerless spring, preceded by a long and dreary "svnnter, has closed. The "leafy month of Jane/' is upon lis; and the fine weather, and the aboonding and rapidly advancing vegetation, almost make us forget the past. Most farmer's (and we should be sorry to believe that every one has not done it,) who under all the dis- couragements of spring, steadily went for- ward in the preparation of their grounds anJ in the planting of seed for future crops, have a fair prospect of abundant harvests. The early spring grains are looking well; generally, the corn is coming up well; early planted potatoes promise a fine return; meadows are rapidly improvmg; the orchards are loaded with fruit; health is every where; and farmers are receiving for the produce they have how to sell, good prices, and the prospect in advance is altogether promising. Rarely is it the case that industry, guided by judgment, and a steady determination to do our duty, does not meet with a suitable reward. The truth of the old adage of Dr. Franklin, that "God helps those who help themselves," has been strikingly illustrated for the benefit of the cultivators of the soil within thelast few months. "Be not weary in well doing." By the sweat of the brow man must earn his bread. The same industry, which has, with the aid of Providence, opened up the present fair prospects of crops for our farmers, must still be practiced to secure a successful end. It seems to be the universal fiat that an object, worthy of our desires, shall only be attained by labor. Let us continue in the way of "well doing," and "all will be well." Great Trial of Reapers and Mowers in South- ern Illinois. It will be seen by the notice published else- where, that a great trial of Reapers and Mow- ers, under the supervision of the State Agri- cultural Society, will take place at or near Salem, about the 1st of July — probably not until the 4th. In the present state of the crop of wheat, it is impossible to determine when it will be in a suitable condition for cutting. The day will be fixed by the President of the Seoiety, and information of the same will be circulated as soon thereafter as possible. :~ •■^ : ^ We anticipate that there will be a great gathering at Salem, not only of the fanners of Southern Illinois, but from other portions of the State. The Reapers and Mowers entered for premiums are among the most popular in the country, and their performances will fur- nish a most exciting spectacle. We hope thou- sands and thousands will be present. We are told that the "latch-string" will be hung ouf in Salem and all the region round about, on this occasion. We have learned that the wheat in Southern Illinois promises well. That whole country is now most beautifully clothed in herbage and green, and it will pay our northern citizens well to visit that favored portion of our State. Come^ farmers of the North ! let us go down together into Egypt — see the rich fields of wheat, the fine corn crops, the beautiful prairieis, the ex- cellent timber. Mark this prediction — those who ever rely on the predictions of newspapers — Southern Illinois is to become one of the most desirable portions, not only of our State, but of the great western valley.. Farmers of Southern Illinois ! will you be a the grand Exhibition at Salem ? Shall we see you there — old men, young men and boys? Shall northern farmers there give you the hearty grip of friendship over one of the most interesting exhibitions for your benefit that possibly could be gotten up ? Southern Illinois is rich in minerals ; but her best sources of wealth are in ihe agricultural advantages she possesses. She is to prosper as these are de- veloped ; — a truth not only applicable to that favored region, but to our whole State. We again express the hope that there will be a full representation at the Salem Exhibition from every county in Southern Illinois. : • -••*- Emigration. The ceaseless stream of emigration from the" east, seems to increase in volume as time progresses. We must suppose that business and the value of property in the east, is seriously affected by this emigration. Long lines of cars on the Chicago and Mississippi road, are constantly filled with emigrants. They are wending their way to Kansas and Nebraska in such numbers as must soon ■-■:;"; AjAiii^iHS^ ■ ".t.J.iti»!!l.-!!iillH.Ji|JU,: ■■; '1 *■ ^,^5*W«"{5l;TJ v-'?»!3»TT*^^^'Pf~ ffB= 138 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. =w week earlier. When ripe, thsy will hang longer on the vines without decaying. The situation can hardly be too suuuy. Deep^ light, loamy soil, suits them best. I al- ways save my own seed. I began, by sav- ing a few of the roundest and smoothest tomatoes I could find for seed; now I have them, not flat or wrinkled all up, but as round as an orange, and as smooth as can be and quite large." THE FLORIST. The garden shrubbery the present season w-ill exhibit an unusual amount of bloom and beauty. The double flowering cherry, peach and almond, have already dropped their flowers. The lilacs and snow balls are in their glory. Several varieties of the spirae are in flower, and these uuappre- ciated beauties will ere long be favorites in the parterre. The Wieglea Ro.sea is in full bloom, audits pink flowers .shov/ beauti- fully among the green leaves of the plant: they resemble greatly the Azelias of the green house. The upright honeysuckles are also in flower,and these miniature trees, when properly trained, make a flue show ia borders. The season of hyacinths and tulips has passed. The dielytra is now in full flower, and is in our opinion the most beautiful of all the perennial herbaceous flowering plants Perfectly hardy, it springs up early in spring and is in flowers with the lilac, and these continue a lovfr time. Indeed, where the ground ia rich, it has often a second flovvering in aalumii. Roses promise a fine show; the biads are now prominent,and in three weeks moi e they will exhibit a mass of beauty in tLie gar- dens of Springfield greater ihan ever seen here before. Seeds of annuals are mostly planted, and many of the young plants have appeiired. We are in favor of their being put .into clumps or masses, because in that posi tion we think they show best. The Petunia has become- a very popular flower, as v/ell from its beauty as its hardiness and from its blooming during the whole season. There are now many varieties superior to the old sorts, aud they are cultivated with much ease. The plant when once in cultivation ROWS its own seed, and the oniy difficulty is in thinning out the plants, so that each good plant shall have a foot of room, and the pulling np'of such plants as show poor flowers. The Verbena is a most beautiful plant for .bedding out, indeed, it has no superior. The annuals should be kept free from weeds, for they lose their beauty when surrounded or dwarfed by weeds. lu a few days, the time not yet fixed on, the Springfield Horticultural Society will have their annual exhibition of flowers. The prospect now is, that it will be a most gorgeous exhibition, probably exceeding in interest any that has been previously held. .._ . — -1^, . Flower vases, when the plants are chosen with taste, discrimiuately arranged, and curefuily attended to, are very beautiful. To succeed v/ell. in vases in a climate like this, where tiie sun strikes on any isolated object, as a vase, with "extraordinary power, corisiderable attention is required in the wateriiig, so that flowers never become parched. A raulchins is of great benefit to arres't evaporation. The scarlet geranium or a fuschia will do well for a centre plant. About this may be arranged some of the following, as fancy may dictate: Gahiirdia pieta, or other varieties; cnphea platyceutra; heliotropes, verbenas, and petunias; the two latter suf- fered to hang over the outside. Besides these, a plant cr two of inamandia, loasia, and thunbergias ciay be introduced to hang in festoons over *L j side. — [Exchange. '■ <» — JE@="The fly has been very destructive to cabbage plants the present season. They take the plants as soon as they appear above ground, and eat them off smooth. This Ciin be prevented by sowing the seed in a hot bed; but* some of onr country friends have a way of raising plants which are en- tirely unijijured by the fly. They put a little manure into a trough or box, place earth upon- the manure, and sow the seed as usual. They then elevate the box on a frame or fence, any thing that will raise the box three feet from the ground will an- swer the purpose, and keep the earth moderately. moi.'St. In this way good plants can be always secured. (F^sp^T^j'r'v'r''''"''?^!'*^'''^'^'''?^^ *r 't!?**^!™'?™**"*' ■•^'•■If'?'^!?! lf= THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. 139 EDITORIAL NOTICES. The Season and the Prospect. The almost cheerless spring, preceded by a long and dreary winter, has closed. The "leafy month of June,"' is upon iis; and the fine weather, and the aboiindiog and rapidly advancing vegetation, almost make us forget the past. Most farmers (and we should be sorry to believe that every one has not done it,) who nnder all the dis- couragements of spring, steadily went for- ward in the preparation of their grounds ani in the planting of seed for futare crops, have a fair prospect of abundant harvests. The early spring grains are looking well; generally, the corn is coming up well; early planted potatoes promise a fine return; meadows are rapidly improvmg; the orchards are loaded with fruit; health is every where; and farmers are receiving for the produce they have now to sell, good prices, and the prospect in advance is altogether promising. Rarely is it the case that in<5n?try, guided by judgment, and a steady determination to do our duty, does not meet with a suitable reward. The truth of the old adage of Dr. Franklin, that "God helps those who help themselves," has been strikingly illustrated for the benefit of the cultivators of the soil within the-last few months. "Be not weary in well doing." By the sweat of the brow man must earn his bread. The same industry, which has, with the aid of Providence, opened up the present fair prospects of crops for our farmers, tnust still be practiced to secure a successful end. It seems to be the universal fiat that an object, worthy of our desires, shall only be attained by labor. Let us continue in the way of "well doing," and "all will be well." Great Trial of Reapers and Mowers in Soatli- ern Illinois. It will be seen by the notice published else- where, that a great trial of Reapers and Mow- ers, under the supervision of the State Agri- cultural Society, will take place at or near Salem, about the 1st of July — probably not until the 4th. In the present state of the crop of wheat, it is impossible to determine when it will be in a suitable condition for cutting. The day will be fixed by the President of the Scoiety, and information of the same will be circulated as soon thereafter as possible. We anticipate that there will be a great gathering at Salem, not only of the farmers of Southern Illinois, but from other portions of the State. The Reapers and Mowers entered for premiums are among the most popular in the country, and their performances will fur- nish a most exciting spectacle. We hope thou- sands and thousands will be present. We are told that the "latch-string" will be hung out in Salem and all the region round about, on this occasion. We have learned that the wheat in Southern Illinois promises well. That whole country is now most beautifully clothed in herbage and green, and it will pay our northern citizens well to visit that favored portion of our State. Come^ farmers of the North ! let us go down together into Egypt — see the rich fields of wheat, the fine corn crops, the beautiful prairies, the ex- cellent timber. Mark this prediction — ^those who ever rely on the predictions of newspapers — Southern Illinois is to become one of the most desirable portions, not only of our State, but of the great western valley.. Farmers of Southern Illinois ! will you be a the grand Exhibition at Salem ? Shall we gee you there — old men, young men and boys? Shall northern farmers there give you the hearty grip of friendship over one of the most interesting exhibitions for your benefit that possibly could be gotten up ? Southern Illinois is rich in minerals ; but her best sources of wealth are in the agricultural advantages she possesses. She is to prosper as these are de- veloped ; — a truth not only applicable to that favored region, but to our whole State. We again express the hope that there will be a full representation at the Salem Exhibition from every county in Southern Illinois. -•^ Emigration. The ceaseless stream of emigration from the' east, seems to increase in volume as time progresses . We must suppose that business and the value of property in the east, is seriously affected by this emigration. Long lines of cars on the Chicago and Mississippi road, are constantly filled with emigrants. They are wending their way to Kansas and Nebraska in such numbers as must soon ■ ' * v.-i-^^-v ■ TT-' ' V give to those territories a large population. These are but a small proportioa of the numbers of emigrants who are pouring into the west. Crowds are rushing to Minesota and western Iowa; and vast nnmbers are locating in our own State. The lines of our railroads are .being settled b}^ eastern emigrants, who rapidly change, our beanti- ful prairie lands, into well cultivated farms. An eastern man in two years' time, will make of wild prairie a capital farm, and sur- round himself with many of the co.aforis of home. Southern Illinois is receiving many ■ accessions to her population; land there is now in demand; and there is seen in that region a spirit of improvement and enter- prise most certain and gratifying. The ad- vantages of southern Illinois — its excelleui climate, its fertile soil, its exhaustless stores of timber and minerals, its diversified sur- face— have been long overlooked; — but are now beginning to be appreciated, and tiiis fact is followed by a steadily increasing em- igration to that section of Illinois. We rejoice at this truth. We have long desired to see southern Illinois filled with an indus- trious, intelligent, enterprising popUlaiion, which will develope the great natural ad- vantages of that portion of the State, and make it, what nature designed it should, a most beautiful and desirable part of Illinois. It might naturally be supposed, that there is much opposition manifested in the old States to this tide of people passing from them. We feel a sympathy for old com- munities which are losing their most ener- getic and industrious popnlation, seeking homes in the great west, But this migra- tion cannot be stayed. While the west offers such advantages as she now does to the right kind of emigrants, they will come. Every thing here is new — every thing evidences progress — and that human mind most be dull indeed which is not pleased and captivated by the scenes which mark the efforts of human labor in the west. -••» rents for the purchase of wool, are now traveling over the country. The gen- eral opinion seems to be, that ihe price will be high, with a less than usual supply. "In Peace Prepare for War!" And in isammer prepare for winter! Die- tinguished men who have made meteorology their study, by examining the history of the seasons for the past one hundred and fifty years or more, have come to the conclusion that there is usually a series of warm win- ters, continued for some ten years, and afterwards a series of cold and long winters for ihe same length of time. These savans gave it as their opinion two years ago, that we were entering upon the series of cold imd long winters. The two late winters show that they did not err in their judg- ment; and we have reason to believe, judg- ing from the past, that some coming wmters may further confirm their opinions. Be this so, or not, we have been sufficiently admonished that farmers should, as a gener- al thing, be better provided with fodder for then' stock than thev were for the two last winters. They should preserve their straw, their corn fodder, hay, and if necessary, they should go to the bottoms and add to their stock of hay. It is not too late for them to sow corn for purposes of fodder alone. It yields an excellent fodder. Mil- let does the same thing. Chinese sugar cane or sugar millet, as it is sometimes cal- led, yields a rich fodder in large quantities, and it has this advantage — it can be cut twice in the season. But little seed, how- ever, can be procured foir the purpose of raising fodder the present year. Both var- ieties of the millet, as well as corn, can be sown as late as the middle of the present month. Farmers, who have plenty of fodder, in the months of March and April, when the season compels them. to feed their stock, it is said sleep, having no troubled dreams of starving cattle. ——^ Ji^'We have received a copy of the 3d vol. of the American Herd Book, by L. F. Allen, Esq. It can be seen at this office. We will receive orders for this work; as also for the previous volumes. The char- acter of this work is well known. It should be in the hands of all the breeders of Short Horned Cattle. 9- -.,--.. *'Iake Food!" Why ia it that provisions, of all descrip- tions, over every part of the United States, are bringing the present high prices? This question is being pressed upon the attention of our people every where. There must be a cause for it, perhaps many causes, and it would be well if we coasidered thera. In the eastern States, the soils, never rich, are are to some extent ext^austed of their fer- tility, and they do not produce as heavy crops as formerly. Agriculture, not paying well, farmers sons have crou'ded into the towns, into the manufactories, into mechan- ics shops and stores and into the profes- sions. There are far more producers than consumers. Good Ijnsiuess times has thrown into their hands means, and they have lived wellj paying such enticing prices for western beef cattle and hogs, that they have drained the west to an alarming extent. In the west, too, men are speculating. There are more loafers in our towns, who make their living by their wits, than was ever known, , and our railroads are employing vast num- bers of men. j\gain the great' emigration from the east to the west, even of farmers, must for some time be greater consumers than producers of food. It is thus, that while the demands for food are increasing, the supplies are not. There is not at this time, food enough produced in the country. We seriously believe this fact — and hence it is that our farmers should do their bebt to produce food. Stocks of cattle, hogs and sheep cannot be raised and grown for market in a moment; and it will be found true, that, do the best the west can, the prices for cattle, hogs and sheep must rule high for years to come. But we can make other food — corn, wheat, rye, potatoes, beans, and so on; and in doing this oar farmers will be well rewarded for their labor. Liv- ing even in the teeming west is high. Wc are now paying ten cents per pound for fresh beef, pork, mutton and veal; $4 60 per 100 pounds for wheat flour; 25 to 30 cents for fresh butter; 10 cents per dozen for eggs; $1 15 per bushel for potatoes; 13 cents per pound for ham and clear side bacon; 15 cents per pound for lard — retail prices. What a contrast with the past? We recol- lect when beef was 2 1-2 to 3 cents per pound; wheat flour from $1 50 to $2 per 100 pounds; butter 8 to 10 cents; 5 cents per dozen for eggs; 25 cents per bushel for potatoes; hams 5 cents; meat less; and lard 4 and 5 cents. We do not desire to see these old prices again; but we do wish to see such an amount as will reduce the prices so that the purchase of articles of food will be within the . means of every industrious man. At present prices, the most industri- ous laborers do well if they can support their families in comfort. We say to our farmers as we began this article — "Make food! MAKE food!"' Crops that can now be Planted. The seed for crops required to be planted early, is now in the ground, and, we think, doing well. There are some other crops that even now can be made, which will in' crease the quantity of human food, and the sale of which wilt fill the farmer's purse. Potatoes can yet be planted. The best crops of potatoes are often those planted late. Have yon any good land left for this crcp? If so, try and plant it Beans for several years past have-brought high prices, and a good article could scarce- ly be had, They are now worth $4 a bushel! Can't this price be reduced, and still the raising of beans be made profitable? They produce 20, 25, and as high as 30 bushels to the acre. One dollar a bushel will, in a go^d season, pay a profit to the farmer for raising them. New land on which wheat was winter killed, would be capital for beans. All who can would do well to plant if not a field, a good "patch." Turnips are a good crop for many purposes. They are valuable for stock, and excellent for the table. Sometimes the first sowing is destroyed by the fly. It would therefore be well to sow early, — so that if one sowing should be cut off, another should be tried. The Ruta Baga turnip is larger and far richer than the common white turnip. It is better for stock, and most persons greatly &= [■.^•Ti-^tvrj-rv 142 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. prefer it for the table. It is iu season for the table from December uniil the next June. These are larger than the common turnips and the seeds should be sov/ii by the 20th of this month. Buckwheat is a very essential article in winter. Lars^e quantities of the flour would be cousamed if it could be had pure and at low prices. This grain is easily raised, and yields well. For the last two years, most of the flour consumed in Central Illinois was made from buckwheat raised in other States. Please, fi'mers, to do your best to prevent this in future. Good cro})s of potatoes, turnips and buck- wheat, the coming fall, will prove a sensible advantage to the pecuniary welfare of many industrious and poor families, as well as a great convenience to those better off. The Chinese Sugar Cane, &f. A few days ago wa'had an interesting in- terview with Mr. Hedge':;, of Cincinnati, (ot the firm of Hedges & Scott,) who is at this time getting up mills for expressing the juice from the Chinese sugar cane, and boil- ers for converting the juice into sugar and molasses. Mr. Hedges informed us that his mills will cost from fifty to two hundred dollars, and his boilers (if we recollect right) five cents per pound These are to be of cast iron. Mr. H. also informed us, that in order to test his apparatus in time for the fall crop of cane, he had planted in green houses, and which was growing at this time in the open air, a considerable quantity of the cane, now three feet high. So soon as it matured he designs to have a public exhibition of his machinery, and show the whole process of expressing the juice from the cane, and converting the juice into sugar and molasses. Of the time which this exhibition is to take place he will give us due notice, and he desires all interested to attend and witness all the processes. Mr. Hedges has had already consider- able experience in this matter, and has every confidence of entire success in his un- dertaking. He has had frequent interviews with Mons. Wray, a French gentleman, who has cultivated the cane in France, and who is the discoverer of an easy and simple method of converting the syrup into sugar. Mr. Wray regards the climate here as better adapted to the cultivation of the cane, than that of France. He will remain in the United States and be present at the ex- hibition in Cincinnati. -'•^ England and America on the Turf. We learn from Porter's Spirit of the Times that "Lecompte," " Pryor," and " Prioress," the three gallant coursers which were sent from this country last Fall, to confront the renowned champions of the English Turf upon their own ground, and at their own terms, are entered for the Great Goodwood Cup! This great trial of speed comes off on the 29th of July, and at the latest advices, the American horses are in excellent condition. It is hardly necessary to add that the eyes of the whole sport- ing world of America are turned upon Mr. Ten Broek and the gentlemen engaged with him in this grand national affair. It is the first time the United States have ever measured them- selves against England on the turf. Under the conditions of this race considerable advantages ars offered to the American horses. Lecocompte will carry 124 lbs., Pryor 121 lbs., and Prioress 109 lbs., four pounds being allowed to Prioress as a mare. It will be seen, therefore, that Lecompte and Pryor will run at an advantage of 14 lbs. less. On these items, therefore, our readers can begin to form their opinions and calculations. ,a» 8@o.Sugar is still advancia . in price, and there is no prospect of its being any lower, unless the experiments now in progress in the United States, for making sugar from the Chinese sugar cane, prove successful, In the mean time, sugar must be used in families with more economy than formerly, or such families must incur great expense in using it. It will be a wonderful discovery, indeed, if at this moment, when the sugar enterprise has failed iu Louisiana, and the crop sensibly decreased in other sugar grow- ing countries, we shall find a supply in the cultivation of a plant at home. We believe that this will be the case, and that experi- ments will not fail of success when they are properly made. rsF^WWPT^swfTfiawSsWS^'?'*?!'^^!?!^ ■Ti»!piB^!|jm>n«<'.»u«[-i-ju«a(»i;Mi4(|i,jiji«^ n THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 143 Drilling vs. Broadcast Sowing. We have heard the question often asked, whether there would be any advantage in sow- ing spring grains with the drill, over the old plan of sowing them broadcast. We have pub- lished two communications asking information on the subject. We find the following article in the Country Gentleman, which is directly to the point : Having noticed a number of different opin- ions in regard to drilling and broadcasting, I am willing to give my opinion on this subject. I purchased, in company with a neighbor, a drill of J. M. Harvey & Son's manufacture, Amster- dam, N. Y. (J. P. Ross' patent.) In the spring of 1855, the first sowing was a piece of spring wheat. Not knowing anything about the drill- ing system, I sowed part with the drill and part broadcast in the same field and on the same day. That put in with a drill was more than a quarter better than that sown broadcast, both in straw and grain. I tried my oats in the same manner; they were also better where they were drilled. I have sowed all my grain since with the drill, being satisfied that it is the only proper method of putting grain into the ground. My neighbor, in sowing his buckwheat, had part sown with the drill and part broadcast, and when harvested, the drilled was about half better ; it was all well filled, while the broad- cast was hardly filled — both put. in the same day and In the same field. I think it is better on other accounts than broadcasting. It saves a quarter of the seed ; besides it cultivates the land, and leaves it in good condition for the crops, better than can be done with the harrow. The grain is all put in at an even depth in the soil, and I am satisfied that it is a paying machine. I also have a thresher and mower, and I think they are good machines ; but my drill pays me the most of any. It takes less time and seed, and betters the crop, and in dry sea- sons they are indispensable. Knowing what I do abeut the drill, 1 think farmers cannot afford to sow broadcast if they can obtain a drill. I would like to have others give their experience on the same subject. Saratoga Fakmek. -••»>■ B@,The Spring Exhibition of the Alton Horticultural Society will take place at the Hall of the Mutual Insurance Building, on Wednesday, June 10th. A splendid ex- hibition of fruits, flowers and vegetables is anticipated. W^ hope a large number of our citizens, as well as citizens from other adjacent towns and the country will be present. « -^ — J8^°The Low Chewans are great garden ers. Com. Perry's work says that they grow radishes to weigh fifty and si^^ty pounds. The Imported Stock. Our readers are aware that Messrs. Brown, Johns and Jacoby, as agents for the Illinois Stock Importing Association, have been absent several months in England, purchasing differ- ent kinds. They have completed their pur- chases and we may expect the gentlemen named, and the stock purchased, to arrive in this city in a few days. We find a very satisfactory com- munication in relation to tSe stock purchased, in a letter from London, published in the Mis- souri Republican of the 3d instant. That letter says:— ; I but speak the concurrent testimony of all cowpetent judges, who have seen their herd, that they are shipping, for the number, the best and choicest lot of stock that has ever been ex- ported from this country into the United States. I am well aware that this is taking very high ground, but I am perfectly willing to abide t£e judgment of the stock growers of Illinois and the ■'UiTCunding country, upon their inspection of the stock, after it shall have reached Spring- field, 111. Messrs. Brown, Johns and Jacoby first visited all the principal herds they could obtain information of, throughout the United Kingdom, before making any selections. They also attended the Royal Cattle Show of Dublin, Ireland ; and were present at several public sales of choice herds in different sections of Eng- land, and that had been advertised for some time previous to their arrival at Liverpool. The result of their seven weeks labor in this coun- try has been the purchase of thirty headof short horn cattle, ten of which are bulls, and twenty heifers and cows, principally the former ; twenty- six head of sheep, eight of which are bucks, and eighteen ewes ; twenty-one pigs, eleven of which are Irish and the remaining ten are Berk- shire, and three head of horses, two of which are stallions, and a brood maro. Six head of their cattle were purchased at the Royal Cattle Show of Dublin, and were the premium stock of the choicest short horns on exhibition ; three head were purchased from a Mr. Ambler, near Halifax, at his public sale, and who is confessedly one of the most distin- guished herders in England ; two head were procured from Rev. Mr. Caton, in the vicinity of Mr. Ambler's ; three head from Mr. Cruik- shanks, of Aberdeen, in the north of Scotland ; two at Lancaster, from Mr. Boulden, and the rest from various persons throughout the king- dom. Those purchased from Mr. Cruikshanks are beautiful heifers, and were selected from a herd of One hundred and fifty head, said to be the largest and finest herd of short horns in the kingdom. The two heifers purchased from Mr. Boulden have also been regarded with univer- sal admiration. One of them is a two year old, out of a dam by Grand Trunk, that was sold at Mr. Ambler's sale, and was purchased by Mr. Thome, of New York, at an enormous cost, as the best bull in England. Mr. Boulden also sold to Mr. Thome two Grand Dukes — one for ^■l^^^^^" ■' 7 ■»<^^Tj'. : y?ifl8R?^'~ n=^ 144 THE ILLINOIS FARIS^IER. eleven hundred and the other for a thousand guineas. The sheep are all Southdown and Cotswold — very fine selections — and regarded as the best for mutton that are bred in this country. A portion of the sheep were selected with great care from the extensive flock of Mr. Jonas Webb, near Cambridge, the most celebrated Southdown breeder in England. The eleven Irish pigs they have purchased were selected from the premium stock at the Royal Cattle Show at Dublin; and the ten Berk- shires were purchased south of London, and were the choicest they could find anywhere. Both of the stallions are beautiful animals, bright bay, with black mane, tail and legs, and very much admired. One of them is a three- year old, thorough bred, and of the best blood in the country. He is fifteen hands three inchea high, and has the reputation of being one of the finest colts of his age in England. The brood mare is thorough bred, bright brown, and was purchased in York. AH the above described stock is now going on board a first class ship at Liverpool, for Phil- adelphia, and is to sail on the 20th inst. The necessary room for the stock was paid for at the cost of £300, and will have every attention du- ring the voyage. From Philadelphia the stock will go by rail to PittsJ^urgh, thence to Cleve- land, and by the most direct route from Cleve- land to Springfield. .The selections have been made without regard to cost, and will reflect great credit upon the gentlemen whose unwea- ried exertions will huve secured this great ac- quisition to the stock growing interests of the West. -»♦»- seated in the shoulder, but is caused by some disease elsewhere. From my experience I think otherwise. I have a horse which was lame, and getting lamer for upwards of two years, till it became unpleasant to drive him off of a walk, A secret mixture given me — (form- ed, I judge, principally of stimulating or irri- tating oils) — I had rubbed on the place daily, and omitted for two or three days when the part became tender, and lard rubbed on instead, to prevent the hair coming off; then the irritant renewed. In about three weeks the horse was cured, and is free from lamenes" w. t. l. State Fairs for 1857. The following State Agricultural Societies have designated the time for holding their ex- hibitions:— • Pennsylvania, Sept. 29, 30, and Oct, 1, 2. New York, at Buffalo, Oct. &, 7, 8, 9. Ohio, at Cincinnati, Sept. 15, 16, 17, 18. Canada East, at Montreal. Sept. 16, 17, 18. East Tennessee, at Knoxville, Oct. 20, 21,22, and 23. Illinois, at Peoria, Sept, 21,_22, 23, 24. Iowa, at Muscatine, Oct, G, 7, 8, 9. Kentucky, at Henderson, Oct. 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. Maryland, at Baltimore, Oct. 21, 22, 23, 24, • and 25. .■ Massachusetts, at Boston, Oct, 21, 22, 23, 24. New Hampshire at Concord, U. S. Agricultur-al Societv, at Louisville, Ky,, . Sept. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Vermont at Montpelier, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, ■2. , Virginia, Oct, 28,29, 30, 31. West Tennessee at Jackson, Oct. 27, 28, 29, and 30. ••> Remedy for Sweney. In the Rural American, a correspondent says sweney in horses is not a complaint -'—- Illinois State Agricultural Society— Trtal of Reapers and Blowers A siafiioieut number of eatres of Reapers and Mo\'. srs having beon made, a trial of the same will take piacs under the resolu- tions of the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society, near Salem, Marion coun- ty, Illinois, at a time to be designated by the President of the Society, which time, judging from the -presentappearanceof the wheat-fields will be about the first of July next. Reapers and Mowers entered, or to be enter- ed for trial, may be consigned to the care of C- W. Webster, President of the Society, either at Salem, on the Ohio & Mississippi Road; San- doval, on the Illinois Central Road ; or at Tonti on the Chicago Branch of the Central Road — tho two latter stations being near Salem. Anticipating that a largenumber of persons will be present at this trial from different por- tions of this and adjoining States, arrangements will be made for their reception at Salem. By order of the President, C. W. Webster. S. FRANCIS, Cor. Sec'y Illinois State Agricultural Society. Saleji, Marion Co., III. June 4, 1857. g@=' Editors in this State are most respect- fully requested to publisli the above in their respective papers, and also to draw the attention of their readers to it by an additional notice. -»♦»- Curalierland County Agricultural Society. Ed, Illinois Farmer : At a meeting of the Agriculturalists of this County on the 11th inst., a Society was organized under the name of the "Cumberland County Agricultural So- ciety, and the following officers were elected for the year 1857 : President — George Ilentig. Vice-Preddeni — George W. Pickering, Mi- chael Ruffn^r, W. L. Morton. * Recording Secretary — A. G. Caldwell. Corresponding Secretary — C. C. Jones. • Treasurer — G. W, Albin, Yours Respt,, Geo, Hentig. ^.a» WW^^'^'Bff^^^^ ^^vfmpsT 'l|l»51,%."U.^lJltpj|ipi^JIJSHfi||;...J.^!J1115lJJ»,t«;!W ""V'SWE^-i ^T'.^'^r;r^,:"^^yz-^^ - ":»-r. ;;'<^ -n. Mi' THE ILLINOIS FARMEE: SIMEON FRAirCIS, Editob. BAIIiHACHE 6t BAKER, Pobliskxsb. fol. 2. JVJLir^ 1857. •11^ ^- The Season. In the month of May the weather was unusually cool. It suited the spring grains, but not the corn. Indeed much of the corn ground remained unplanted on the first of June; bat the ground was in good order, and if planted by the 10th June we feel quite sure of a good crop. At this writing the spring sown wheat and barley look well. Early planted pota- toes have come up finely, and some farmers are already plowing their corn. Spring weather very fairly commenced on the 7th, — about fourteen days before the longest day in the year; but with warm weather and seasonable rains, crops sown or planted in spring, in this section of the State will be good. But few crops can now be put into the ground for harvesting the coming fall. Buckwheat can be sown as late as the mid- dle of the present month, and it has yielded sown as late as August. Buckwheat pays well in favorable years, and makes a capital article of food. Ruta Baga turnips can now be sown, and they sometimes yield immense crops, valuable for the table and stock. The common white turnip can be sown later, and if on good ground, suitably pre- pared, will yield large crops. The fly is troublesome both to the Ruta Baga and white turnip — and if they take off the first sowing, another should be tried. It is said that the fly will not trouble the young plants if the seed is soaked in fish or other offensive oil. ■ We take this occasion to recommend again to our readers to save all the fodder, for the next winter, in their power. You had better have a few tons over, than a few tons too little. "Stock well wintered, is half summered," is an old and true saying. You have now busy times. Your com, your grain, your potatoes, your meadows, need aU yourcare. " "' ' Farmers are already making inquiries for grain drills. These instruments have fairly fought their way into public fiavor. We heard one man say, who had a hundred acres of tolerably fair wheat, that if it had been sown with a drill, he would have been five hundred dollars better off, with an in- creased crop. But farmers, in using the drill should recollect, that to have the drill work well, the weeds should be buried be- yond the reach of the teeth. It is possible to drill in wheat in badly prepared groand; but it cannot be done well. Farmers who use machinery in the cultivation of their farms, should adopt a thorough system of cultivation. It will pay well, — besides the handsome appearance of a cultivated field, the beautiful crops must afford great pleasure to the farmer. * Comets. Comets have been much talked of within the last few months. Our cold spring has been laid to the influence of one of those wandering bodies which it was said would come near the earth about the middle of last month. The expected visitant has, hotvever, not appeared to unaided vision, and some who profess to know, say he will soon be out of the reach of the telescope. The interest, however, which exists on the subject of comets, will render the fol- 1 lowing history of thfeir appearance in ^Muit ---v,;T7-TfT -:3»r r^.^^ i-^?a-^)f.g-'' y-TxyTfyT-r-jEiTwry-^Tr'iyyTff^T.^^ •^^'w.S^t'»w!V'iai>ICT5W»^'7r?^^W!!WS«|pi!r5'TTO^ ,:"?^ --■f-.y.J' >; , ''\l-^.^-''' rC'^\t*[^--:>-i-*f^>'^ It THE ILLINOIS PARMER. 147 twenty-first of April, fifteen hundred and fifty-six. Thus its period is about two hundred and ninety-two years. Another appeared in fifteen hundred and fifty-two,and again in sixteen hundred and sixty-one, having thus a period of about one hundred and twenty-nine years. The return of that comet should have been in seven- teen hundred and ninety. In that year three comets made their appearance, but neither of them resembled the one of sixteen hundred and sixty-one. While the periods of most of the comets ex- amined are comparatively short, those of others have been ascertained to extend to many thou- sand years. The great comet of eighteen bnndred and eleven remained visible for upwards of two months, and was considered one of the most brilliant of modern times. After a careful in- vestigation, M. Argelander fixes its period of reyoliition at two thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight years. The periodic time of the retnrn of the comet of eighteen hundred and seven was fixed by Bessel at one thousand five hundred and forty-eight years. A comet, denominated Encke's comet, ap- peared in eighteen hundred and eighteen, and Eucke's observations upon it enabled him to identify it with the one described by Messieurs Michier and Messien in seventeen hundred and ninety-five by Miss Herscbel, and the one in eighteen hundred and five. Encke predicted its re-appearance is eighteen bnndred and twenty-two, and his prediction was realized by its being discovered on the second of June of that year, by Thomas Brisltire; and its return was noticed again in eighteen hundred and twenty-five and eighteen hundred and twenty eight, and attracted much attention from the astronomers of that day. Another comet was discovered by Bella on the twenty seventh of February, eighteen hundred and twenty six, which revolves around the sun in about six years and seven tenths. Its return in eighteen hundred and forty six at- tracted a good deal of attention, on account of it having been discovered, by Lieut. Maury, of the Washington Observatory, that what bad hitherto appeared as a single body was aetnally composed of two distinct and separate comets. In the same year one of the comets which is now visible was supposed to be identical with -the third comet of eighteen hundred and forty six, discovered by Brorsen, and which is now the second which has made its appearance this year; its retnrn perihelion is calcnlated to be on the twenty fifth of June — and as the first one is now in Annges, and receding from the sun, the second (or Brorson's comet) is in Persens, and is now visible in the northwestern part of the heavens, and will be during the whole of May. All the comets that have heretofore been ob- served aave made their progress through very different parts of the solar system; twenty four have passed within the orbit of Mercurj , forty seven within that of Venus, fifty eight within that of the earth, seventy three within that of Mars, and the whole within that of Jupiter. Of s hundred oomets, or thereabonts, meiiti(»f|d hj Lalande, abont one half have moved from ) -west to east, in the same direction as the planets, And half in the opposite direction. Although the superstitious fear of comets, as portending harm to the inhabitants of Uie earth, has vanished before the light of philosophy, ' there are still a few remaining who ent^tafa ^ ■ fears of a collision with some of the comets that might cross the earth's path. Ithae often been predicted that that sad calamity would ulti- mately take place. It Will be recollected that no longer ago than eighte^i hundred and thirty two it was predicted that the comet of that year would cross the earth's track, and great fears were entertained of -a collision. Bat there is no evidence that such a collision evAr did happen, either with the earth or with any other planet; and there is no tn)rrect means of so calculating the place of a -comet as to be able to say with certainty that on a given day it will crOM the orbit of a planet. The motion of the earth ki its orbit is, in round numbers, more than a iiH>- lion and a half miles in a day, and as Ci^iraalt, with all his care, did not come nearer tfce truth than nineteen days, in regard to the return of Halley's comet, and his followers, with ail the additional light they possessed, could cot come nearer than nine days of its re-appearance at the point nearest the son, on its last return, in eighteen hundred and thirty five, and this comet will net return again till the earth wonki in its rapid course around the snn, be within nine days far enough removed from the influence of the comet to be out of the way of all harm. Pro- fessor 0. M. Mitchell, who is eminently dis- tinguished for his learning and scientific attain- ments, makes use of the following language npon this subject. He says: "It is aseless to spec- ulate with reference to the probable consequences of a collision, which there is scarcely one chance in millions can ever occur. Science has as yet discovered no guarantee for any plaviet against the probable shock of a comet; but an examin- ation of the adjustments of our system, and those of Jupiter and Saturn, won id seem to in- dicate to ns, that in all past tir^ae qo derange- ment has ever occurred from such a cause." We will dismiss this subject.^ by giving Pro- fessor Arago's division of the comets. He divides them into three claries, with reference to their physical constitntio'^. He thinks theyu)0- casionally appear round and with well defined planetary discs, showir^g them to be solid opaque bodies, in all r^pe^ts resembling planets and only differing from them in the great eccentric- ity of their orbit. ^ ^ second class of comets comprehends th' jge in which there is a nuclens, but devoid of^ opacity, permitting the light to penetrate throng], even that portion which may probably b^ golid. The third class, and that by far the most nnmerous, comprehends those conaets ieslitote entirely of solid nucleus, con- sisting^ of matter so attenuated as to eompare '"*'* nothing of which we have any knowledge on the' earth's surfaee. The comets named ^jtncke and Beila apx>ear to belong to this class, and even Halley's comet, according to the opin- { ion of Sir John Hersehel, at its last retnn, appeared to belong to this dasi also. ^i From the O]ilo ColtlTator. Mrs. Qage in Illinois. New Towns in the West — Enterprise, Thrift and Fertility. I am in Lincoln, Illinois, the county seat of Logan, for the purpose of lecturing to the people on education and kindred .sub- jects. Lincoln ia on the line of the St, Louis, Alton and Chicago Railroad. The land hereabout is a dead level, stretching off to the horizon, with scarce shrub or tree to relieve the weary eye. Three years ago last September, I passed here, and not a permanent house, if I remember rightly, graced the waving green, A few shanties, built for the railroad operators, gave all the sign of home life that could be seen. Here we took stage for Bloomington, Now there is a "right smart" village, and it gave mc a larger audience than I could dare to expect to gather together in Columbnu, Ohio. Five really neat churches, one in process of erection — churches, some of them with a style of architecture that would do credit to any town or village— gothic win- dows, heavy cornice stately belfries, and every indication of taste and refinement. Beautiful cottages, too, are growing up like magic, with observatories on the tops, and a kind of eity air that would throw some of our old towns quite into the shade. The court house is a large substantial brick columned and corniced building, in genuine modern style, and all this in three years. Such a soil! Pure lampblack and oil, in a state of liquid solution about the con- sistency of batter cakes, little less than a foot deep. But like the old lady's eels that were skinned alive, it don't trouble the people much, they've got used to it. Pave- ments, green trees and shrubbery, will come one of these days, and Lincoln will be a beautiful prairie town. These prairie towns grow up like mushrooms, upon the line of the railroads; not like new places in a tim- bered country, cr&wling along at a snail's pace for years, but here you find them with all the appliances of wealth and prosperity, as if by magic, with lecture halls, school houses and churches at the starting point, to induce settlers to coae among them; and you can hear the thrummings of the piano and the soft strains of the melodeon, from many a house that has hardly had time to settle quietly in its new place. These villages Fill never be large towns, but they will help to stay the monstrous growth of cities, and diffuse more elevated and progressive feelings among the people. There it a roughness and freshness, a deter- mined go-ahead hopefulness, that is to me delightfnl. I have found here in the country a half score of old Ohioans, who left Morgan coun- ty a few years ago, poor boys and girls, seeking their fortunes, as the story books say. They seem to have found them on the rich prairies, and are substantial farmers, raising hogs and cattle, corn and wheat, with (as they aver) one half the toil that was required to cultivate a farm among the hills of Morgan. The west is the place for young beginners ; but those who are esta- blished, let them stay where they are, for the old tree pulled up by the roots will never fasten itself fully in a new soil. April, 1857. , F. D. GAGE. The Horse and his Ifflprovement. It is not possible for a^y one to describe in advance, the size, form, or particular con- formation of parts in the horse, best suited to the fine development of the foal, unless those peculiarities of the mare are carefully considered; and hence the absolute neces- sity of attention and study on the part of every individual who attempts to breed an- imals. The experience, suggestions, and practices of the most successful, are not sufficient guides to insure success to those who rely on them alone. "What man has done, man may do," and more ; but although in dealing with inorganic matters — chemis- try, for instance — any given experiment may be described, and repeated by others, with almost infinitessimal exactness, there are such a multitude of ever-varying influx ences modifying all the operations of animal life, that it becomes a necessity to study those influences and their relations, and then to manage them as they occur. And now that the curse of the agricultural commun- ity, the prejudice against "book-farming," as it has been contemptuously styled, is rapidly dying out, and those who do not pay for and read at least one periodical, devoted to agricultural improvement, and the dis- semination of that knowledge most useful to the farmer, are beginning to wince under the conviction that their reading, and, con- sequently, more intelligent brethren are leaving them to hug the phantom of their delusion in the dark shades of old fogyism, there are encouraging indications of general improvement of both master and horse- It does not pay to be in the rear of the battle while those in front are gathering both the laurels and the spoils ; neither does it pay to be ignorant of facts, of scientific truths, which, when understood, put money in the '^?.7§7^iT*s;'*^'^f'fr^^^^^^ r-fr^^-!J^ yj' . THE ILLINOIS FARMER. U9 pocket, and happiness in the heart; and so fast as the clouds of vision are dispelled, and the crusts of bigotry and prejudice brokeiv up, will attention to this, and kindred sub- jects, secure desirable and profitable results. Ignorance is not bliss; neither is it foolish for even farmers to be wise. The farmer who has good land, but infer- ior seed, does not expect the same return as from good seed; and, if the seed be the best, but the soil poor, he does not expect the product of a better soil; neither does he, while depending on his labor on the soil for living and profit, sell the best soil he may possess, and rely upon poor or worn-out lands — unless he have the means to bring that land into a more productive condition — and expect the heavy crops of his rich lands. And, yet, while they do not so with their lands, they do it with their horses; and the same policy, that, in reference to land, would be regarded as foolish in the extreme, and suicidal to their best interests, they practice with their stock, and reap the re- wards, unfavorable though they be, and un- noticed and disregarded as they have strangely been. If it is more laborious and difficult to raise a second-rate crop from poor soil than a good yield from rich land, it is equally more unpleasant and expensive, compara- tively, in the end, to raise inferior animals than good ones. If a person feels that he is in any way responsible for the kind and condition of the stock he keeps, as all must, to some extent, he cannot but entertain a degree of pride and self-satisfaction in the possession of tbe best specimens of his own raising, and that feeling is a most potent stimulus to further improvement But the possession of inferior stock produces quite as marked an influence upon the owner in the opposite direction. Bach and every ill- formed or bad-conditioned animal is not only a "standing monument," but a living, mov- ing, telling placard, setting forth his want of knowledge or care, which the most ignor- ant may read as they run; and a "hard- shell" indeed must he be who is insensible to the effects. There is one source of disappointment, however, to those having good mares, which is but little understood, and which, so far as I know, has been noticed in agricultural journals only by Professor Cleaveland some time since, in the American Agriculturist and Albany Cultivator. I allude to the effect of progeny upon the mother. Farm- ers have frequently -taken much pains to se- cure the services of a blooded horse for a favorite mare, and been disappointed and mortified to find the foal resembling neither sire nor dam in the particular points sought for, but being rather a representative of an inferior horse, who had served previously. Many valuable facts are related in the articles referred to, illustrative of this sub- ject, and showing its existence in the human family, as well as among the lower animals; and the opinion is entertained that inas- much as the same blood must circulate through the veins of both mother and off- spring, that the system of the dam becomes thus modified, and rendered, to a greater or less degree, similar to her mongrel young. This condition seems to continue, and hence, having her blood contaminated in the first instance, by that of the foal resembling the male patent, and retaining that contamina- tion, thus affects future offsprings — the effect more observable if in the second in- stance the mare has been served with a hoise much unlike the first one. While there is no question in the minds of the few who have studied this subject, as to the rationale of its action, and its gen- eral application, it has doubtless been the source of many failures, and discouraged hundreds from further efforts to improve their stock, as well as furnished occasion for unfavorable and injurious reflections upon really excellent animals. It is an important fact, and a very good illustration of the necessity of beginning right, and of the dis- advantages of a single mis-step; besides, furnishing ample and reasonable evidence of the fact, that he who changes the sire each season, can form no safe opinion as to what the progeny may be, farther than that they may have the general outline of the horse, and certainly be hornless quadrupeds. Those who are known as the most success- ful stock raisers, have always carefully avoided such changing of sires and confound- ing of stock. Not to occupy too much space in a valua- ble journal, at present, a single remark as to the profits of stock raising, and especially horses, will be added. It will be evident, the writer thinks, to any one who will take the trouble to make careful estimates of the value of land in wheat and com growing re- gions, of the expense of raising and getting to market each of those crop», compared with the receipts for them, that much more attention to the raising of horses, — good ones, both for draught and saddle, — would be highly remunerative. And, considering the very great demand for horses, that such demand is not confined to any one locality, but is general, and increasing, there can be little doubt, that present prices will be °=: ■■^*TH7a*! ter. Yoa save all the manure, and the basiness is doae up tidily and well. The breeding sows can be pat iu the pens, when the fatting bogs are turned ofif, and rear the yocng pigs aafely, and with little trouble or loss, and thus pay yoa twenty-bve per cent, annually on its cost, in Bar- ing grain. Think as little of this plan as yoa may, yoa must.oome to it at last, my Western brethren, as we at the North have done for the last half century. LEWIS P. ALLEN. *If there be so ipring, etrtem, or well on the plMs, mm tronehi nsy be made to the Moft, and a targe mpglj of water ma; be ured in detenu. p^erstbe water, and only takes the mad as an alternativej and when his wallowing is ddne, he lotea to go and rab the dirt off his bides, and lie down in a clean, comfortable bed. Sachiswhat the hog likes, and what be will always do, if he can. It DO grorels in dirt and filth, it Is a mat- ter of necessitj, not of choice. Thus, then, the modes of tet;ding that have been noticed, are not what the bog wosid choose, if he had a choice, bat vhat he is obliged to submit to, and there- fore not natural to him. . I will now speak of what I believe to be the most economical ivayof fattening bogs, even at the West, where corn "costs nothing," but labor everything. lathe first place, a small field, or jard, of an acre or two, more or less, according to the&amber of hogs to be fed, sbould be in- closed. If a spring, or running wator, is in- closed, all the better. Within this inclosare, near the water, erect a building thirty feet wide, ai^ as many feet long as you have hogs to feed; lay a good tight floor in it; through the centre lengthwise ran an alley or passage, six feet wide, which will leave a room twelve feet wide on each Side; partition each room into apartments of 16, 20 or 24 fest, as yoa please, allowing a hog for erery two feet of length, measared on the alley; pat a good plank f^ing trough next to the alley, inside of each room so partitioned, with stancheoos on the side of the troagh next to the h3gB, to keep them from getting into it; six feet back of that lay a plank edgewise, and six inches higb, parallel with the trough, well se- cnrl^, so as to make a partition, separating their beds from the feeding floor, and in that bed room lay straw, or not, as you please — it wiU be warmer with straw than without it; let one or two open windows, say eighteen inches square, with sliding shatters, be cat in the rear, three feet above the floor, to let in air and light, or shot the light and air out, and to throw the manure out, which ought to bo done at least twice a week. Thus yoa have two rows of par- allel pens, each fronting on the alley, allowing two feet to a hog, as he stands with his hes^d to the troagh. Then, at od« end of yoar building which is one story higb — and that is enough.' tmless j(n want storage for some of yoar corcf or Other crops, over-head, when you may have it a story and a luilf, or two stories—put up an- othttr^ building, say forty feet long, by thirty wide, and two storieshigh-Hjependiag on the nuEOLberof hogs you feed. If the establishment is a l&f^~ oni^, I would have this additional build- ing In the ©enter, letting the Jong way of it run crosswise of fhe hog boose, and project five feet from eacb side, and run the roof the other way from the pens, so as to give it an agreeable ardiite^tural appearance. In this building shotild be set a cooking apparatus, somewhat like that deacribied for the cattle, bat without a false bottom in the cooking vat, as the vats are to hold meal Or shelled corn. The corn should be ground, if possible, and then thoroughly cooked; or If not cooked, large vats or tubs should be used, ia which to mix up the food with hot water,* and leave it to ferment before feeding. It wilt g^o mach further ih that way, and the hogs like It better. Tor choice, I should cook it. If <«- Postage ox Wixxty Papsks. — ^The Post Master General has recently decided that bona fide subscribers to weekly newspapers can re- ceive the same free of postage if they reside in the county in which the paper is printed and published, even if the office to which the paper was sent is without the county, provided it is the office at which they receive their matter. This will be an item of interest to newspaper subscribers living near the oooaty lines. ^_ ^ *ff»*\f • raE tLLII^QJS PABMEB. ^* |55 The Rata Baga Tarbip can now be sown. A half poond of seed will be.safficient for an acre of land, and then thejr will reqnire much tbinning; for when they grow they shoald have at least eight inches '^ ground to extend on. The English make great nse of this root in fottening cattto and sheep. It produces immense crops in favorable seasons;— -snch as the present seems to promise. The middle of this month is time enongh to sow turnips. Tarnips hare a mortal «nemy that often takes whole fields; . a little fly, which cats off the plant as soqi^aB it appears above ground. ' ; '^' r 'V'" ' It is said that the fly will not attack the tnrnip when the seed is soaked in a solution of arsenic. l» ■ Buekwheat This shonld occupy good ground, — light^ rich and well prepared. There should be no green manure put upon it. The seed may be sown as late as the middle of July. When ripe, it should be cut and placed in small stacks, where it will not heat, and threshed as soon as the hoalm and grain are dry. The houlm bad better be cat than torn np by the roots, because in the latter case it is filled with dirt and entirely nnfit for grinding, or market. Three pecks is enough seed for an acre of ground. A Sinpltr DiMovery. • In 1853, a few grains of wheat Were dis- covered in the tombs of some mummies found in the south of France, supposed to have been two thousand years old. These grains of Egyptian wheat were planted and produced, to the surprise of every one, 1,200 to 1. The Government took the affair in hand, and couaigned the manage- ment of it to the farmers of the Govern- ment farm at Rambouillet. The result has been most astonishing. Each year the pro- duct has been multiplied in such an immense proportion over the preceding year that the Minister of Agriculture in now enabled to distribute over France a large quantity of wheat to each of the departments gratuit- onsly,"witHlnstraction8 from the .Govern- ment farm as to the best mode cultivatioB. At a late meeting of the Aeademy of Science, the Baron de MenneviUe prcsent^^ several jstalks of tMs regenerated. Eg^ wheat which were six feet h^, and bore each several fine ears. A French lady «3E- plained ia my hearing the other dtjiy thifl great multiplying power of the Egyptiaa wheat loT the long rest it had. It If a great and important discovery Torvthestcudj of agriculturists.— [Cor, H. /^ 'X^U)a]B^%:u< Jj_ :, J_Si.J» :oo:v! ; - Faming Near Inge Citicfc - No profession more sternly requiref the exercise of economy than thatiif the farmer, and durii^ the-lflet'ten years the' improve- ments in methods of culture hate been so rapid, that those who have, not kept pa(^ with such advance in economic culture, caa scarcelycompete wlt¥ their more energejtic neighb(»rs. Enterprising farmers- rea(£ng near large cities, are becoming. loofe Jike merchapts, and'are adapting themsf^vea %o the growing of such (^ops as pay large profits, and such as cannot be brought from great distances. It is quite curion^ how- ever, even at this date, to observe many of the farmers near large cities and towns, who still continue on in the old style, to groir hay, oats, com and potatoes, thels^tter not often inclnded, for fear too many will be raised for the demand, while an ., energetic gardener in their neighborhood will realize larger profits on two or three acres of root crops, than does the farmer of one hundred acres with his regular crops, as he would call them, being an exact copy of the crops pf his great-grandfather, before the demand of the city called for tho&e of a diiSer^t character. ■,,; " .:^,.^.-^. rfc.=v' .;,^. :;;:;\>, k; y Fifst, then, the farmer ^hbnloaUio]i without pressure. iw THE GARDENER. .,': 0'. i -: : ■ — ^ ■ -^ flints for Gardeners. *^ Cultivate nothing carelessly. Whatever is wprth cultivating at all, is worth cnlti- tjiting diligently apd well. "Many kinds of garden seeds lose their germinatfng poorer when more than a year old. Therefore, be careful to sow fresh ■seed whenever practicable. Biit melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, and members generally of this family, are an exception to this rule The seeds of these :iboald not be sown till after they are several years old. The seeds of most kinds of weeds retain their germinating power for an almost in- definite period. Hence, weeds should al- ways be carefully gathered and burnt, as the mest effectual mode of destroying the ' seeds. -; i-The first leaves which appear on the sur- face (in many cases called cotyledons,) are • for the time, sole supporters of the life of the young plant, — sustain it till it has formjcid roots, and, if prematurely destroyed or much injured, the plant will die. Seeds will not germinate unless exposed to the influence of moisture, air, light and -heat. They should, consequently, not be covered too deep, or they may fail to sprout. It is, in ordinary cases, not profitable or advisable to raise your own seeds. Your soil and your time should be of more value .and importance to you than the cost of new seeds. Besides, such as are raised on a soil different in composition from your own, will most probably thrive better. The rootd of very young plants are rarely :hardy enough to bear transplanting well. The be»t time for transplanting seedlings, is when they have formed five or six leaves; beuaase, at about that period the young rootH and radicles are able to perform their proper functions more successfully than ear- li«r. Roots essentially requfre the admission and presence of atmospheric air. The sur- face soil should, therefore, always be kept loose and porous, and clayey ground should be frequently broken up or stirred in dry weather, or whenever it has become parched Dr baked. When abed has been dug over in the fall, it should be suffered to lie, during the win- ter, ia4he roagbest condition ia ^^ffhioh ihe spade has left it. A greater amoqntof -imir- face will thus be exposed to the effecHs 6f frost, and the grottnd become mcffe thoroi^ii* I'S pulverized in the Bprin§ ■'\r--- ' ■■■'>- j'-r' J:' Leaves absorb moistnre from the i^tmos* "^ere, and again part with it; they inhale and exhale air, and th|^ cona^itnte the more important organs of plants. If injured or removed, the entire plant soffers accordingly. The pores of the leaves, throngh whidi air and moisture are transpired, are exceed- ingly minute, and very liable to be closed by dust. The foliage of stove plants should therefore be frequently well sprinkled with pure water, to prevent or remove obstrac* tion to healthy action from this cause. In their natural condition or growth, the leaves and branches of plants rarely toach or cross each other. We should hence learn not to crowd our plants close together, or to place even a single plant in a confined po&ition, where its leaves and branches have not room to expand or develop themselves fully and freely. Air and light are as es- sential to their vigorous and heftUhy growtli as earth and water. The falling off of the leaf of a newly-set cutting, is an indication that the catting has began to grow. But, if the leaf wither and dry without dropping from the stem, it is an evidence that the plant lacks vigor to effect the natural process of shedding the leaf, and will probably fail to grow. When plants produce an abundance of foliage with few bods or blossoms, they should either be transplanted into a poorer soil, or some of the principal roots should be pruned off. Drying winds are injurioas, as they rob the leaves of plants of moisture more read- ily than it can be supplied by the roots. Plants need as careful protection from each winds SB fromfrost.— -[Farmer and Garden- er. SQ^Fnable a« we ue to withstand ib»|Ug of time and life, it often happens that thrqa^h disease and misfortune we become gray in ear^ ly lite and bald before we reach the fim gra^e of womanhoo4 or the full statate of mi^liood. 1 i-— #.i.JLi, •>-.-'i-...M,!j ■.* R^ v^*t !*V/IV.^K»^?:*''^ ^jeM^w<<)ji}>;t.ji>uiiJj^.i!W.«^iiii.il,jililu; sss ^^ JuiS) l.'Mj 393=^! jmE JLLINOIS PARMER. AH^ ■iiijifTiB» -«M< ;«fi> dJa ean Ira mofe igratefal to th» fbel- in^'of tbe btusbafid and father, than to look Qpon tii« garden of hisDimcreatioQ, where- in ht finds grpuring in hdalthfal Tig<» all those Ve^etabiea and fitiits and flowers that are!tp (Si;pplj ^is family^ wants, gratify theuiiiites, eontribnte to their health, aad excite itheira^irationv If there be anj* thing /i}ett«r ^atoalated to warm into actnr tf tfa# klndl J feelings of the faeart, we ire certainlj strangers to it. For oardelves weiriuit no bett^ erldence of a good hns- bsiid~ and kind and indulgent father than can Iw found in the possessor of sach a garden at we hare imperfectly describei^ And we Tentare (he assertion that the owner of snch a garden lores his home and its inmates all the better because of that garden. — [American Farmer, TiTAi.iTt OP Seeds. — The vitality of seeds, with proper care, and nnder fayorable circumstances, can be depended on for the following periods: Indian Com, Wheat, Rye, &c., for two years. Of course every farmer will sow fresh seed when it is possi- ble to obtain it of equal quality. Millet, Buckwheat^ and the grasses gen* eraUy,.will grow the second year, if sared OTQr with proper care, but not with the certainty and rigor of fresh seed. Henip will grow the second year, only wl»n kept dry, and in a small quantity to- gether, and not exposed to too great heat. Parsnipe, Rhubarb, and other thiiij 9caly seeds, fbr one year. ^ 'v"'^.'';7;;^"'=.f i-r '^'.i; Carrot,: Cress, Leek,' 'Onion, Peas, ipiep- per, Sa|;«|, Salsify, TomAto, for three years. Aj$p^gfls, £gg Plant, Lettuce, Mustard, .ParsUy, and Spinach, for three years. BFoeo}li, Brussells Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflow^, Radish, Seal^ale, and Turnip, \ Beet; Celery, Qncuinber, Melon, Puioupkin iandlqoash, £rom eight to ten years.— [Yal- lej Farmer. ^Cn^^ociasTKa Ba73>xbs.— TheBosfon 2Vao> s2er s^ys that Mrs. Brown and Katy Fox, the original Rpohester Rappers, have arrived in that city to meet an. arrangemeat with Br. Gardser, who proposes throagh their m»iim- shijp to convince the Harvard College profess- ors, among oiher things, that sounds expres- ing intelligence are made without conscious human agency. The investigation by the com< ^ttoiuBf professors is alMut to conuuenoa.: >, mUmm^Hlmi^ ■^MMMkoMMM* ' ' ;;mo THE jfidmst; ■M ^'.sdi MM^ ii .3&: Palestine in May.) i;;^ ^ ;?im T!^e tiimperature in Palestine' Tyecift^r' warm in May; varying from about Ot ® Fahrenheit to 86 ® , but it seldom Vi^ie» more than 10-® in any one day* -Westerly winds prevail, and the nights ara cooL— » The snows of Lebanon now melt rapidly, but still in the early part of the month the cold is severe on the hi^er parts of fte :. mountains, and the snow is frozen bard ^ enough to bear a horse's weight. The heat ^ at all seasons in Palestine is greatest io^d PUin of Jericho, and through the Valley of the Jordan. Violent thunder stonsui now occur, particularly in the monntainoBS districts. The borders of Lake Tiberias are richly fringed with the Oleander, (Nerium,) pre- ^ sentittg a magnificent scene, from the con- trast of their dark foliage with the delicate roseate tint of the flowers. The Arbutus, or Strawberry free, (whieii - is unfortunately too tender an evergreen to bear the winters of any but the more south' erly states of this continent,) grows in aR its native luxuriance; and together with _ the oak andtheflr, (Pinus Sylvestris,) gives the character to the woodland scenery of . the hills of Bashan and Gilead. t^g^^-J i^« ?e^i The Oriental Plane is one of th^mosi - beantifnl of the forest trees in Palestine, and is spoken of with great admiration by - most travelers. This is of the same famihf ^'J as the Button Ball or Plane of this con-/! tinent, but it is not subject to the inflaeBca^Ti that has spoiled the native Plane here, by the peeliug of the bark. The Orientidv: Plane can be obtained at the mirseries ^ here; and should be planted by all who love fine forest trees. Acacias, from the Shittim wood mention* ed in the sacred writings was^ obtained, are / still luxuriant in P^estine. Acacia gnm- mifera is one species which yielded that wood; and it is supposed it was obtained also from another, having the Arabic name of A. Seyal. Barley harvest commences io M&y, and the wheat harvest a fortnight later. The Flora of last month continues to enliven the Eastern landscape. u -> ^^i r-(i- Calczolaria as a Bedding Plaint. — The En^isb florists use the Calceolaria for bed- ding ont in summer. It is more hardy than the verbena, and flowers freely.—* When a good number are set ont so closely as to cover t^e ground, they have a very plsMing. effect. Those wJwl posfcBSs .green.: 100 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. •H^ hoases, and can raise a sufficieDt stock of these plants, shuold try them in the open ground, in this country. If they should be hurt by our ardent sun, then shade. If they pine for want of moisture, water freely. We see no reason why we should not add this beautiful flower to our garden lislf. Cattle Plagvc on the Continent of Enrope. There ia a cattle plague nuw in Germany. Heasares have been taken both in Eogland aud France to proveotits importation into their re- spective coantriei. It has destroyed vast nuiu- beraof cattle. The disease and its progress iu the nei(^bborhood of Meckltnburg is thus de- scribed: "From the taking, or first attack of the dis- ease, till its breaking out, Sdven days generaily elapse, during which the cattle attacked are at times more dull, at times more lively th.iu Uiiual. Tbry hold down their heads, but with their horns, freqaeoily low, and when driven to water o'ten jump about and become qui e unruly S Jmetimes they take their food and chew the cud with anusuai quickness, sometimes nut at all. Towards the fitth dayjespiration becomes some- what aSeoted; they are attacked by an uaire* queat but short dry cough; the back is somewbat beot, and when stroked is unusually sensitive. On the ^gbth day the disease breaks out: iLe hair stands on end, the eyes arefiztd and dull, nostrils and muzzle hot and dry, inside of mouth hot and of a deep red, gums spongy and swollen and i&arked with red spots; front teeth loose; hide hsrd like parchment, and adhering to bones; •ars and horns febrile, with intermittance ot Sreat heat and cold; respiration accelerated but eep, with visible motions of nostrils; cough more frequent, violent and ringing; palse bard, from 70 to 75 pulsations per miuute; appetite entirely gone. Though some cattle in this stage of the disease take their food as usual, most ot them are unquiet, toss up their heads, shiver and gnash their teeth. If stroked on the back, they bend down and low moanrully, seldom lie down, and when they do no instantly get up again; they void ezcrements frequently and urine seldom. In voiding excrements the back is roach bent, the animal turning its head towards the rump and striving to lick it. Excrements are dark colored, hard, dry ujtnlatious pellets, urine red and elear. The fever is more intense in the evening, than in the morning; and as it increases, the animal shakes its head, shivers, gaashes its teeth, and refuses to take food — Oows give but little milk, which is however more creamy than usual. Nine and tenth day fever becomes putrescent; small white pustules break put iu the month, which, when they burst, leave dark red spots that easily bleed. Similar postules appear in the nostrils and between the cleitaot the hoofs, the hide is in some placts is- tumesccnt, the eyes are dim, the eyelids hanging down. Prom the eyes flows a watery hum r which dries up at the edge of the nostrils; nostrils exude a dingy white viscous humor; the tongue is shrivelled, and often hangs loose out of the meuth, covered with an impure saliva: the teeth are loose; the mucous membrane of the mouth sab.tcc'OU!^, and falling oS iu large places; breath Dutrid and nauseous; muzzle hard and cracked like the b.trk of a tree; hair rou^b, and without the least gloss; parchrnent-like hide, now cofer- ed in some places with nodules, on which appear small pustules containing a yellowi- PPf !, .WHM.. pKUi^ip)ii^iijvw,<-;'i>-W'l4V^I«i-Jf ^W1HVI«,«^ THE ILLmOIS FARMER. 161 HYGIENE. Sleep, Its Physiological Dse. Just when all the animals, except a few, retire to rest, when all the useful laborers of every class have finished the labors of the day, the votaries of fashbn begin the toils of the night, and like the flies and moths, that are woke and roused up by the splendor of chandeliers, they buzz around the objects of their admiration and worship, until they are exhausted. Even the pauper patient at our hospitals, enjoys sleep — whereas the lady, whose income counts by thousands, can not have one night's good sleep. Oh! ye poor rich! Almost all headaches arise from deficient circulation in the brain; and nothing is so beneficial, nay, so absolutely requisite, as plenty of sound sleep. The remedy for Tic Douloureux, or Neuralgia, is sleep. One good night's sleep is of more use to a cough, than any remedy of the entire materia med- ica. If, on "taking cold," as it is called, we can lie down, wrap up warm, and sleep, our fortune is made — we are recovered. The best medicine that we can give in fever, is sleep. Sleep restores to the brain its circulation and functions ; and the healthy and active condition of the brain causes, a healing and healthful circulation of blood in every other part of the body. We have known of cases of fever of the lowest and worst kind, cured completely by the taking of some in- terdicted substance, as cold water, ale or wine, causing a sound and long sleep. The patient has awoke to health. In most cases of simple insanity, if sleep can be induced and repeated, the symptoms will disappear. External and internal warmth are requisite to induce sleep. In one of our tours in a foreign land, in search of the picturesque, we had been out all night, moon and star-gazing, and then spent the morning in exploring the ruins of an ancient castle. About noon we were ex- hausted, and it being the middle of summer, we lay down in a field of grass, and slept for three hours. We awoke, refreshed in mind, but shivering in body. The sun warmed one side, but the dampness of the ground cooled the other, and we felt therie was a serious illness coming on. We had four miles to walk to our resting-place, and never did we walk four such miles! Each mile seemed to be four. Arrived, we drank two tumblers of hot brandy and water, and as much , hot tea, and then lay down before a good fire, upon, and wrapped in, blankets. We slept from eight to eleven there, and then went to bed and slept till five, then we awoke as well as ever, ready for a new tour. Sleep saved our life. •-■ : h During one of the hot summers, a child three years of age, crawled np one of the houses in Eleventh street, and fell out of the fourth story window, to the ground, which was not paved. The child was tak- en np, apparently dead, and laid upon a bed — we being sent for, more for the purpose of giving a certificate for interment • than for medical aid. We found the child asleep, and the breathing not stentorious, that is, not hard, forced, load. We examin- ed the limbs and head, and found no fracture. We bade the mother leave the child to its sleep, and said we would call again. In two hours we called again, and the yoting one was running about, as well as ever. One of the ablest scholars and finest writers of the age, when a student, attempt- ed a voluntary Latin task, and was ob- structed in the middle of it by a passage in Yirgil's -iEneid, which seemed to be incapa- ble of translation; he bored his brain with it to no purpose, until he fell asleep. He slept four hours, and when he awoke, the passage translated itself. Afterwards, when he was puzzled, he tried a reasonable time, and if not successful, he put the diffi- culty and himself to sleep together, and the solution invariably occured . ^^0; >. «? If every person who suffers a loss, sus- tains an injury, receives an affront, is sul> jected to an insult, or placed in a difficulty, could have a good sleep before the trouble is examined and disposed of, one half of all the hardship would usually be gone, and what was left would be more readily dealt with. As a rule, those discourses, lectures and sermons which induce sleep, ought to be slept out. If the air be bad from closeness or heat, or the position be unfavorable, or the light be weary, the fault may not be in the discourse; but as a rule, discourses which make us sleepy are not worth hear ing. We had a fellow student who had in him some of the spice of life,* fun and wit. He had fever, and his good aunts were very anxious about him. One day they were questioning the physician as to the best means of obtaining sleep for him. He re- commended a hop pillow and a composing draught. "Oh!" said my fellow student, "bring our minister here, and let him preach to me; I shall be sure to go to sleep in a quarter of an hour." • ^ ri',!< iiii-^» ■ ■'twf "' ri'fT'^'ilr'^^F/ ^pPr^-*" ■^\ "Up yonderlife'S pure river flows, So sweetly murmurs, brightly glows, To that I still aspire!" The Willow looks to earth and speaks: "My arm to fold thee yeameth: I let my hair float down to thee: Entwine there in thy flowers for me: As mother her child adorneth!" And next the wealthy Plum-tree sighe: '•Alas! my treasures crush me! This load with which my shoulders groan Take off — it is not mine alone: By robbing, you refresh me!" The 'Fir-tree speaks in cheerful mood: "A blossom bore I never: But steadfastness is all my store; In Summer's heat, in Winter's roar, I keep my green for ever!" The proud and lofty Oak-tree speaks: "God's thunderbolt confounds me! A'nd yet no siorm can bow me down. Strength is my stem and strength my crown; Ye weak ones, gather round me!" The Ivy vine kept close to him. Her tendrils round him flinging; "He who no strength has of his own. Or loves not well to stand alone, May to a friend be clinging." Much else, not half forgot, they said} And still to me came creeping. Low-whispered words, upon the air, While by the grave alone stood there The Cypress mutely weeping. 0! might they reach one human heart, These tender accents creeping! What wonder if they do not teach? The trees by starlight only preach, When we must needs be sleeping. Proportion of Milk to Butter. The following account is compiled from Johnston's statement of the yearly produce of a cow, in Scotland, England, Holland and Switzerland: Ayrshiracow — 135 lbs., or 1 lb. of butter to a little over 8 quarts of milk. In Holstein and Lunenburg it is considered, on an average, that 15 quarts of milk will yield only 1 lb. of butter. In most districts the average of the whole year is much less than a pound a day, even for ten months only. In Devon, for the first 20 weeks after calving, a good cow will yield 12 quarts of milk a day; from which, by the method of scalding, a pound and a quarter of butter can be extracted. In South Holland a good cow will produce, during the summer months, about t6 lbs. of butter. In the high pastures of Scarain, Switzerland, a cow will yield daring the ninety days of summer, about 40 lbs. of but- ter, or less than half a pound a day. In Holstein and Lunenberg it is considered a fair return if a cow yields 100 lbs. of butter; and even in England [British Husbandry, 11 p. 404,] 160 to 180 lbs. is reckoned a fair annual produce for a cow, or from 8 to 9 ounces a day for ten months in the year, — [Johnston's Ag. Chem. p. 552, 553. -«•»- Timothy Seed. Mr. Editor: — ^Within the last few years our timothy seed has been mostly imported from abroad. This ought not to be. It can be saved by our farmers with little trouble; and the present season they can have no ex- cuse for not doing so — the timothy fields yielding good crops and of course a perfect article of seed. Farmers who have mowing machines can cut it, so as to gather it in bundles, and place it where the rains will not injure the seed; and afterwarrds they can get it out when they can conveniently spare the time. We must BOW more timothy and bar* larger meadows than we have been accustom- ed to have. We can get less expensive food for. stock by cultivating timothy than by growing corn. It requires less labor than corn, which is a matter of great importance with farmers. I am aware that the seasons for the two last years have been against the grasses, — but the present season is ex- cellent, and I hope we may have future favor- able seasons. It is a more difficult business to raise and secure clover seed than timothy. *We must have headers and cleaners for the purpose of getting the seed into marketable order, which cannot be done without considerable expense; — so much, probably, that small farmers may find it economy to buy their seed. I have thought, Mr. Editor, the subject of this short article an important one to my brother farmers, and that now is the time for making the suggestions given in it most useful. A SMALL FARMER. Ib= A dentist presented a bill for the tenth time to a rich skiofiint. "It strikes me," said the latter, "that this is a pretty round bill. "Yea, replied the dentist, "I've sent it round often enough to make it appear so, and I have eiJIed now to get it square." '''''"' '" 111- J V*^^'"" '^'^^^ 'f^W^VT 164 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. EDITORIAL NOTICES. The Season as it Progresses. All the great interests of commuuitj de- pend npoa the productions of the soil. In Illinois we more sensibly realize this fact than in, perhaps, any other portion of the country. Hence on the opening of spring there is a nervousness and anxiety among farmers and business men in regard to forth- coming crops. Last spring the public were astounded when the fact became apparent that the whole immense sowing of wheat in Central Illinois, was lost — that the sown wheat would not produce a tenth part of the seed to sow on the same wheat grounds the ensuing fall. Bnt most farmers went to work immediately and procured spring wheat, and sowed it where winter wheat had been killed — not enough to cover all the grounds devoted to winter wheat, but suflBcient, if it does well, to produce nearly as much wheat as was raised iu the country the year previous. The present spring wheat crop now has a fine appei0.rance, and if nothing should injuriously affect it, the crop will be large. An unusual breadth of land has been planted with corn. It looks well wherever there was a good stand from the first plant- ing; and the replanting will, with the pres- ent weather, soon be up with first planting. Seed corn this year was defective; although in appearance good. Indeed, farmers are always liable to be deceived in their seed corn when selected from the crib. The seed which was selected in the field last fall, has in every case come np well. The neglect thus to save seed, is a serious one. Consideiing the risks of every season, a farmer better pay four dollars a bushel for seed corn thus saved, than to have it given him for nothing, if selected from tlie crib in the spring. Many farmers the present year would have made fifty dollars a day, had they spent one day, last fall, in their fields selecting seed corn. The potatoe crop, planted early, is look- ing remarkably well. We hope that the vines will escape the flies the present season ; but if they do appear, try the remedy found successful in the south part of this county last season, by Mr. Smith Davenport — sprinkle the vines with brine. It is not too late to plant potatoes for a late crop. The late crop of potatoes is better than the early crop for table use. It is still in time to sow buckwheat, to plant beans, Mangold Wurtzell Beet for stock, and Ruta Baga turnip for ditto, Millet Seed can yet be sown for fodder. — The prospect of hay is good. Our farmers are having busy times, and in their toils are cheered by the fine prospect for crops. The vegetation about looks as it did in other years, when our farmers had scarcely means to save their abundant crops. -<•»- Springfield Horticultural Society. Seven years ago, last month, the Spring- field Horticultural Society was organized, and the first exhibition held. The room of the Supreme Caurt was then sufficiently large for the display of all the fruits, plants and flowers presented for exhibition, and for the comfortable accommodation of those who visited it. The labor of getting up the exhibition was done by a few young men, assisted by several public spirited ladies. The next season, public opinion called for another exhibition, and these ex- hibitions have been repeated yearly until last season, (when it was found absolutely neces- sary to relinquish the undertaking on ac- count of the paucity of flowers, occasioned by the severe drought,; and now the an- nual floral exhibition seems to have become one of our city institutions, which cannot, with satisfaction, be dispensed with. S. Francis was the first President of the So- ciety, and to his labors, with the able as. sistance of N.'Divilbiss and several other young men, it was sustained for three years. Since then N. Divilbiss has been at the head of the Society, and he has had able and reliable assistance from some young men of the city. At the last festival, from press of business, some of the veterans of the Society were unable to give their time to the preparations necessary, as they de- asz |ppi4,ijjiJ!ji||B«"!Wjijiki.^,i'j;''v^ THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. 165 sired; and in this emergency Harry C. Wat- son was induced to take the principal lead, and he well answered the public eicpecta- tion in getting up the festival, and bringing it to a successful close — though there were others, among them R. M. Ridgely, T. Mathers, Volney Ellis and John T. Jones, who were efficient auxiliaries, and to whom the public also are greatly indebted. The receipts at the exhibition, with great economy in the expenditures, have been sufficient to pay the necessary expenses. That was all that was desired or expected. Whenever there has been a surplus of funds, they have been used to purchase flower seeds for gratuitous distribution among the ladies of the city. The receipts at the last ex- hibition will just pay expenses. The beautiful scene presented at the State House on Thursday night, of the 18th June, in the great collection of flowers and plants, and the immense throng of pleased and happy men, women and children, has passed. It only remains among our recol- lections as a bright and beautiful vision, It hjts left no unpleasant reminiscences, and^lill can recur to it, in the witnessing of the per- fect creations of beauty by the Great Author of Nature, and in the gathering to- gether of our eminently social, liberal and intelligent people of both sexes, on the plat- form of a common brotherhood ; we repeat, all can recur to it with the conviction that the few moments spent at the exhibition, taken from the time usually devoted to- the routine of business or in domestic avoca- tions, were not lost. A few weeks ago our shrubs were devoid of foliage, our plants presented no marked evidence of life; there was a great apparent- ly natural death over all trees and herbs and plants, until the Almighty, by fixed rules and laws, gave to the earth the genial he§t of the sun and the refreshing showers, and vegetation sprang as from the grave — the dead came to life, and again earth and tree and shrub were decked with gorgeous and glorious beauty. , ' Shall man ever be so intense in pursuit of the objects that make up thegreat struggle of life, as to disregard these new and wonderful creation's of beauty, coming from the hand of Him in whom we live and move and have our being? Would not such a fact evidence a want of appreciation of some of the most obvious emanations from the power of Deity; and which are especially designed to elevate our perceptions and lead ns from an admiration of the beauties of nature, to adore and worship at the footstool of na- ture's God? What a glorious resurrection is now man- ifest! Pass round and through our city, go through our country, recollect their bleak and desolate condition a few weeks ago, ani now behold them arrayed in their robes of beauty, as a bride prepared for the bridal? We repeat, what a glorious resurrection? a work worthy of God, a type of that in which man is even more deeply interested. 4«> — -,-, The Time of Trial. With farmers now is the time of trial. The duties of the farm require constant at- tention— the labor of the hands and the la- bor of the head. Crops are to be secured; corn is to be cared for, the plow must be kept going; the grass is to be cut and the hay put into siack; preparations must be made for fall seeding; the farmer's eyes must be every where, his labors every where, and all this must be done coolly, calmly, steadily, until all these objects are accom- plished. A former, performing his work in this manner, will accomplish far more, and with greater comfort to himself and those around him, than one who do every thing by fits and jerks, talking large, planning large, and the result of which is half crops, poor stoek, poor comforts around him and poor every thing. The farmer should ever recollect the sentiment of Poor Richard: "He tbat by the plow woald thrive, "Must either bold himself or drive." ^ ' -«•> «©-We are sending off $2,000,000 in specie from New York to Europe, weekly, to pay for silks, brandies and fancy articles, and other things. There is little foreign demand for American breadstuffs at present. John Crapeau and John Bull want our specie. ■- -'. •' ' ^ ■■ ■ ■;: , yjTJ;'gi!H!J: 'J^-fv-.^'' vyi^ "iii;iy>'-ii^w^ j;^'y-y>^?yEB'y'^r^^-^ ^JT^M^TITTr^j'W^'SS,-^ , ■■■->^rwa>t7^T«i:'«-^'>'-'^ 168 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. wheat, and the wheat for seed, which will be required the coming fall, will be immense and must be brought from a distance. Within the two last weeks the demand for flour in Eastern cities, for transportation, has sensibly decreased; — and whether there will be a greater demand than now will de- pend upon crops in France and the British Islands. -«•»- The Price of Wool. — The better qualities of wool are selling readily for a trific more than they brought last year. We would urge our readers to be in no hurry to dispose of their clips at less than last year's rates. We quote the market in Springfield steady at 30 to 47 cents per pound for common to full blooded Merino. The great McConnell lots are sold. Goodale & Co of Cleveland are getting on all qualities, from two to five cents per pound more than last year. The "Wool Grower's Reporter," (Cleveland,) • for July says : '"The customary prices paid by merchants, throughout the State, are from forty to fifty cents, averaging forty-five cents. It add, "the pleasant weather we have had for the past ten days, has caused great activity in the wool trade, and more than three-fourths of the wool has been purchased. Judging from the eagerness of buyers, they would have paid an average of fifty cents, as readily as forty- five. But growers seem to be satisfied." CQMMERCiAL7~ Springfiela Market. OrnCB OP THE IlLINOIJ Fafueb, > July 7, 1857. \ FLOUR — Extra white, $8 50; superfine $8 00; common $7 50 WHEAT— In demand. Red$l 20; White $1 30. CORN— Sales at 40@50cts. ^ bu. OATS — Sales at 45 cts. bu. HIDES — Dry flint 12@13 cts. ^ ft. BRAN— 16 ct8.fi bu. SHORTS— ■26 cts. ^ bn. • CHICKENS— $1 50@$1 76 $ doz. TURKEYS— 7 @8 cts. ^ ONIONS— $2 f( bu. POTATOES— $1 50@1 60 ^ bu. APPLES— Dry $3 50@$4. BUTTER— 15@18 cts.'^ft. CHEESE— 12>^@15 cts. ^ ft. EGGS— 1214 cts. ^ doz. HAT— $10 ■^ ton. CORN MEAL— 80c. -^ ^u. HAMS— Smoked 12>^@15c!p ft. MOLASSES— 80@85c ^ gal ; sugar house $1. GOLDEN SYRUP— $1 20@1 25. SUGAR— Brown, 12@15c ^ lb. ' TALLOW-10@12c ^ lb. BACON SHOULDERS— 10@12g, SIDE MEAT— 13@15c ^ lb. ' LARD— 12@15c. BEANS — 3 50 per bush. COFFEB-^Rio,14@16}^c ^ ft; Java 18@20c RICE— 7i^c. CLOVER SEED- $8@10 ner bu; Timothy, $8V^@4. CANDLES— Tallow 15@20; Star 30@35c per ft. PEACHES— Dry $4 50. SALT— Q. A. $2 25 ii bag; barrell $3. WHITE riSH— ^ bbl $8. OOD FISH— ^ lb &/ic. MACKEREL— No. 1, ft bbl $18. BROOMS— f( dozen $1 50@$2. BUCKETS— i> dozen $2 50@3 26. WHITE BEAD— ^ keg $2 60. LINSEED OIL~^ bbl $1 10. «•» St. liOuis Market-- July 3. Flour— Sale of 200 sks at $3; 30 bbls superfine, |5 60; 106 do, $5 70; 40 do on board, $5 60; 119 do extra, $5 80; 315 do, in lots, $6. Wheat— Sales of 62 sacks spring at 1; 184 do at $1 03@1 05; 164 do mixed, at $1 12; 90 do at $1 15; 175 red at $1 17; 130 do at $1 20; 3S1 white, at $1 30; 167 prime red at $1 35, all without sks; 88 red, sks included. $1 55 fi bn. Corn — Sales of 1516 bags on private terms; musty at 67c; 400 yellow at 68c; 190 do at 70c, new gunnies included. Oats — Sales of 670 sacks, private; 330 In two lots, at 65c, sks included. Bran, etc.— 625 sks bran 65c ^ 100 fts; 300 do shorts 75c ^ 100 fts. Beans— Small lot white $2 36 ^ bu. Potatoes — 57 bags prime old, $1 80 f( bu. Whisky— Sales of 85 and 116 bbla at 25i^c; 85 do 26c fi gallon. Wool — 5 bags washed 341^0 ^ ft. Bacon — Sale of three casks country shoulders, 95^c; 3 do country clear sides, 123^c; 4 and 8 do 13c. Pork— 26 bbls mess, $22 50 '^ bbl. Sugar — Market feverish and nothing reported. We quote at]0^@12i6 75 for common to medium extra western; Canadian steady; sales 300 bbls at 6 90@9; rye flour dull at $4©6. Wheat market a shade firmer; sales 7,000 bn at 150c for in- ferior; 195c for choice spring. Rye dull at 116©118c. Corn lower; sales 40,000 bu at 83J^@84c; mixed western. Oats quiet. Pork heavy; sales 1200 bbls at $22 35 for mess; $19 85® 20 prime. Beef hams easy; cut meats nnchauged. Lard dull at 14@14i^. Whisky lower, sales 300 bbls at 42c. Money— supply offering is liberal, and demand active; 6@7 per cent, on call; 8@9c for short best paper. Stocks— M C 80%; Erie 27; C 4 T 56^; Lacrosse & Mil 44 NYC sixes 84)^; California sevens of 1866, 65. *•>■ New Orleans Market— July 3. Cotton firm; sales 500 bales. Pork very dull; $23, Exchange on London lOJ/^; on New York %. Other articles unchanged. -«•»- New York Cattle Market— July 1, The receipts for the week were from the following sources ; Ohio, 1160; New York, 667; Illinois, 1126; Kentucky, 80: Texas, 57. The average prices to-day, as compared with last week, are about leglike lower. We quote premium cattle, none ; first quality, 12}^@13c.; medium quality, llc@12c.; poor quality, l(Jc@10^c.;"poorest quality, 9c@10c.; general selling prices, 10c@12c.; average of all sales, 103^@llc. «•» ■ SU !Louis Cattle Market— July 4* Baldwin's Yards, Broadway.- An ample stock of Cattle ofiering. Butcherw pay 7 pnd 8J^ for fair to choice; inferior to fair sell at from 5 to 7, nett. Sfo shipping demand. Hogs — A gpoii supply in market. Good butchers' Hogs retail at 7}^ and 8c., nett. Shippers pay 5)^ and 65^c. I)e- mand moderate. Sheep— Plenty and selling at prices ranging from $1 26 to $3 00 f) head, according to quality. Lambs sell at $1 50 to $2 60 ^ head Cows and Calves — In demand at $25 to $60 per head. -•*- Philadelpnia Cattle Market— July 1. Beef Cattle — The offerings at both of the yards amonnted to 1,100 head of Ohio, Virginia, Texas and Pennsylvania stock. The prices averaged from $10 to 11, $12 and $12 60 fi 100 fts; only the very best realizing the latter price. Nearly all offered wera sold. asss? WSWWiWIBrapWSw: -»!? - 11 ,„ i«ty.u.vi)«»*!j#!»w|*i.A.-i|j».j,i .ie-i 'f^ifmii.:^!^¥^!^Wf^v*fV^^^' ?-wii^»T'7'SSWSf!W!''l'5P'W''T^5!r^ 4 \, i THE ILLINOIS FARMEE. SIMBOir FRAXCIS, Editor. BAIIiHACHE <& BAKER, Publibhees. Voi. 2. AUGUST, 1857. vn». 8. Agriculture of the Natives in Early Times. We do not expect to learn much of value from the agriculture of the natives of this coun- try at an early date, but the subject has some interest for the general reader. When the northern part of the country now known as the United States, was discovered, it was found that the natives cultivated corn, to some extent, probably about as much as the Indians of the Upper Missouri and Mississippi do at the pres- ent day. They did not aim to procure their sub- sistence from the grain of this plant; but. only raised it to a small extent, by the labors of the women, as a luxury, and the maturity of which was generally announced by the "green corn dance." In the southern part of the country, however, considerable crops of diflferent articles were raised as food, and the Indians themselves, it is said, were delighted with the labors of the field. Of course (in the words of Frederick Kidder,) their eflforts were not to be compared with those demanded in our own time. Their circumatanoes and necessities did not require it; for with a mild climate, the virgin soil yielded abundant harvests, without the manures or deep ploughing now required. But that their main subsistence was acquired from the productions of their fields, there can be no reasonable doubt. The variety of their productions must have been much greater than has been generally supposed. The most important of these was the Indian corn. To what particular part of the continent this plant was indigenous, has never yet been fully ascertained; but certain it is, thas nowhere does it seem to be more prolific, or show a more splendid appearance, than on the alluvial lands in the eastern part of North Carolina. There mauy fields have continued to produce large crops for two centuries without showing any ap- parent diminution of fertility. Cultivated as this plant is over the entire extent of our nation- al domain, it may be considered as the best 8ym«< bol of our country, more expressively represent- ing plenty than any other production of our soil. The ease with which it was planted, gathered and preserved, without risk of injury from in- sects or the elements, as well as the rapidity with which it could be prepared for use, made it invaluable to the aborigines. They also cultivated extensively a great var- iety of beans; some of which, particularly cala- vancies, are in use among the white people at the present day. Watermelons, squashes, pumpkins and gourds, were quite abundantly raised, as also ground-nuts, and uadoubtedly po- tatoes. With regard to this last vegetable, considera- ble doubt has been expressed whether it had been known to the aborigines of this part of our country previous to the arrival of the Europe- ans; but if we-cousider it a well authenticated fact that the earliest colonists carried it te England, and that Raleigh took great pains to cultivate it on his estate in Ireland, and dissem- inate it through that island, it would seem but a fair inference that it was once a native of Roanoke Island or its immediate vicinity. But as botanists have in vain looked for the plant in its wild state in that neighborhood, it has been decided that it could never have been indigenous to that locality. May it not, like the corn, have been a native of some uiore southern clime, and cultivated and perpetuated by the Indians, as no other vegetable would seem to answer as well the description which Harlot (the historian) gives of one of their principal productions. Perhaps the most remarkable production of their fields was tobacco. This plant was indis- pensable to their comfort and happiness, and was highly valued. The only use made of it was in smoking, and this was the manner in which it was consumed in Europe for a long period after its introduction there; and it is certainly to be regretted that its use was ever ex- tanded to chewing. -<•»- To Faemers. — Take care of all vour manure, and especially the liquid portion' as that con- tains a larger per centage of fertilizing matter than the solid part. ■i^fT-cT'^' : r- !■■ --^ ■-■% : r'^i^S I The Grain Crops. A good or bad crop of grain in the United States, in a given year, affects the markets of the world. A great foreign demand in a bad crop year stimulates prices, and makes the article of bread a dear food to all classes of our people. Hence it is for these and other reasons that the masses regard the grain crop as a sub- ject of great importance to them, and hence they watch with great solicitude the de- velopements of the crops through the year. We are constrained to believe that the wheat crop will be a more than an average yield the present year. In some localities the winter crop may have been wmter killed, but taking the whole country to- gether the yield will be better than usual. The effect of this fact is already felt in the markets. Flour haf already fallen in Cm- cinnati to $6 50 per barrel, and the price of wheat is going down. Even here, where the winter crop has failed, winter wheat at this time is not worth more than $1 30, and we apprehend it will be less. On this sub- ject however, we copy two articles from the United States Economist, which will be of interest to thope who desire a mote full invesiigation of this matter. Oar opinion is that wheat and flour will be bought m market at reasonable prices for the next year. 'ftkiiN CBOPS.-At this season of the year and particularly this year, after so many Years of Short harvests, the probabihties in relation to the crops, at home and abroad, are invested with more or less interest. In the last few years, the capital of Amer- ica has been absorbed, to some extent, m railways; and in Europe, railways, war, and speculation, have combined to absorb a larger than ordinary proportion, at the same time the earth has everywhere yielded less than its ordinary supplies. Hence it is chiefly that capital has been scarce, or m other words, money has been dear, liie corrective is now to be applied. The eternal law of compensation which nature seems to obey in all her works, is manifesting itselt in her crops, and everywhere the supply is abundant, while the demand is less Ihe nuantity of grain which England and France have purchased in the last year, becomes in this connection a matter of interest, and it is the foundation of every man's business m terest in the community. The Moniteur, of France, published recently the quantity of grain admitted into France from August 1 1856. to April 1. IBS'?; that is to say. eight months -of the present year since har- vest. Comparing that with the British re- turn, we have results as follows: hnmrts of Grain into France and Great Bni- ain, August 1 to April 1. Bushels. Value. T,- f^ 8 080 755 22,891,107 $40,196,204 Thus, the demand of these two countries was 66,243,549 bushels, at a value of $\1°'- 368,308. The stock in France April 1 was 1000,000 bushels, against l.DOU.OUU bushels same time last year. The crops are everywhere represented as good, compara- tively, but the small stocks prevent any de- cline in prices. If France has enough for her own wants, it is as much as can be ex- pected. She can no longer rival the United States in supplying England, who, accord- ing to the Mark Lane Express, reqmres 40 000 OOO bushels of wheat per annum, on au'average of good and bad years. That demand will suffice to take off the whole surplus of the United States. Wheat Crop of the United States. - The growing crop of wheat is everywhere reported as promising great abundance, and as the time of harvest in some portions ot our varied climate is soon at hand, will m others be prolonged into August, giving a great access of agricultural capital and promising cheap food to the mass of people it may be interesting now to look back upon the estimates of crops for the last tew vears The following table is one that we have continued from year to year based originally upon the census report of wheat crops for 1840 and I860: Consumption at Z14 bush. 64,665,447 64,182,986 Population. 1840 17,069.656 1850 23,267,726 1851...-. 24,023,916 1852 24,780,106 J1353 53,356,29(3 1854 26,292,486 1855 26,048,673 1856 27,804,863 1857 : 28,561,053 1858 29,317,043 Seed. 1840 8,482,727 1850 11,479,922 1851 12,000,009 1852 11,689,803 1853 12,600,000 1S54 13,000,000 1855 13,600,000 1856 15,000,000 1857 16,600.900 1858 16,000,000 64,483,895 66,730,815 89,377,025 93,023,690 94,670,355 97,317,020 99,963,670 102.609,650 tVop. 84,837,272 104,479,923 110,032,394 117,511,501 121,136,088 133,172,285 114,991,939 138,025,021 142 400,000 150,000,000 Actual Export. 11,198,098 8,829,017 12,948,490 18,600,680 18,968,990 28,148,695 7,821,584 25,708,007 27,000,000 80,000,000 Price In N.T. $5 44 5 01>4 6 63 4 87 4 94 9 25 960 8 00 7 05 10 iu,«.^,>. — ' - _ The population of. each year is given by the department according to the regular an- nual increase, per census. The assumed j^m?r^-:ir*:t'^''_ ."■^TrT"'- ,-tp. ". . ;->,•: ^^^Tv^sfy^! iii,L . I, V HfjyA."-^,-- ^."tL-ia^^y 1.1 mpiM', J .'.w^w^j^, # consumption of 3 1-2 bushels per head is what apparently took place, deducting from the crop, as per census, the known quantity exported and the estimate reqnired for seed. It is no doubt the case that this ratio is diminished in dear years and increased in cheap years. From estimates for 1856 we placed the aggregate export in face of the great wants of England and France as high as 30,000,000 bushels, out of an estimated crop of 140,317,000 bushels. The fact turned out to be an export of 25,708,000 bushels, per official figures, accompanied, however, by "a fall in prices, which indicated that the crop was as large as the estimate. For 1857, year ending June 30, we esti- mated the exports at 30,000,000; they thus far figure for 27,000,000 bushels, and prices have fallen. Thus, the export has been large whil^ the high prices and extent of land put under plough have caused a greater demand for seed wheat, nevertheless prices have largely fallen. The crops abroad now promise well, and prices in both France and England have fallea to very low points. In Great Britain wheat is 50 cents per bushel lower than at the same time last year. The export will, therefore, in all probability be smaller, even although prices and freights may be lower in face of large crops. These are circumstances which, with the probably abundant heavy crops indicate a return to moderate prices for food and raw materials, promotive to a consequent restor- ation of business activity in the commercial and manufacturing districts. The Wheat Crop and the Railroads. — The Cincinnati Railroad Record, concludes an article on this subject, with the following remarks, which are of interest as furnishing a tolerably just estimate of the coming crop of wheat in the west — the amount of con- sumption here, the probable amount of sur- plus, and the benefits which will accrue to the railroads in the transportation of ^hat surplus: 1st. The wheat crop will be much greater than usual, unless the rust, the last enemy of wheat, should cut it off'. We have ac- counts from every portion of the northwest, which agree in two facts — that generally the wheat crop promises a most abundant harvest, and that in some districts there is an apparent failure, but that is much more than made up by the greater breadth of land sown. The conclusion from these facts is, that the whole crop will be a large one. 2d. The oat crops and the hay crops will be good; for, without a Providential mis- fortune, there is nothing to injure them; and the grass has never appeared better. On the whole, the late spring has proved advantageous; for it has kept back the plants till they cannot be injured by frosts or severe weather. Besides this, the heavy snow3 and spring rains have brought the ground into a very mellow and good con- dition. Looking, then, at all the existent facts, we cannot avoid anticipating good crops. We except, of course, those extra- ordinary Providential events, which may in- terfere with the current course of events. Supposing the crops to be as good as we anticipate, the following will be something like the difference produced by the increase of crops. The estimate is made by a com- parison of all the facts within our know- ledge: Wheat crop of 1856. Wheat crop of 1857 est*- No. bns. mated. — No. bus. Ohio ^6,000,000 22,000,000 Indiana 7,000,000 9,000,000 niinois .10,000,000 12,000,000 Michigan — ... 4,000,000 4,600,000 Wisconsit. 4,000,000 6,000,000 Iowa 8,000,000 3,500,000 Aggregate.....44,000,000 57,000,000 Number of inhabitants , » 6,600,000 Consumption at 5bu8h- per head 32,500,000 Surplus of 1856 11,500,000 Surplus ofl857, at an increase of 10 per cent, for con- sumption 21,260,000 It will be seen in our estimate, that while the crop increases 30 per cent., the anrplus increases 100 per cent. The consumption we have placed at a low rate. We doubt whether the northwest has really sent out 11,500,000 bushels of wheat, of the crop of 1856. If the crop of 1857 yields a surplus of 21,000,000 bushels of wheat, the railroads of the northwest will increase their receipts for that single article full two millions of dollars. This will be done, too, at an in- creased expense of not exceeding 10 per cent, on that amount. For the locomotives will not be increased, and probably not the cars, or the repairs of the roads. The in- crease of fuel and oil will be the principal increases of expense. We give this estimate as an example of the influence of good crops on the roads of the northwest. Should the corn crop be a good one, of which scarcely anything can now be known, the aggregate in the profits of railroads, this year, will be sereral mil- lions of dollars. Thus the prospect now is, that this will be a very good year for railroad business. ./ • B^'Thalberg and Strakoscli have returned to New York from their "Western and Canadian tour, having cleared some $20,000, it is said by their performances. -n,J^- .-■^....-.-•TT»=i^--;> ■■^f? 172 THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. THE GRAZIER From Porter's Spirit of the fimes. The American Horses in England. Mr. Tea Broeck has thought fit to enter two of the American horses, viz, Pryor and Pryoress, for races to be run at the Ywk August meeting, commencing on Wednes- day, the 19th of that month, or three weeks subsequent to the conclusion of the Good- wood gathering, whence they will have to be sent per railroad upwards of three hundred miles. Prioress alone is entered for the first event, namely, the Chesterfield Handicap. For the second, the Great Ebor Handicap, (Ebor being the ancient name of the City of York,) both Pryor and Prior- ess are named. We cannot but express our surprise that Mr. Ten Broeck should have ventured to enter the American horses for any English handicap race — or entrust the weighing of them to any English handicap- per. Our readers are, by this time familiar with the method adopted of afiSxing such weights *o each htJrse entered, as will, in the opinion of the handicapper, or disposer of weights, bring good, bad and indifierent animals to one common level, and give each and all an equal chance of winning. From his decision there is no appeal; his will is autocratic, and, if not content to run at such weights as he thinks proper to impose, nothing is left you but to withdraw your horse or horses, and of paying the lesser forfeit nominated in the bond. The system of English handicaps was in- stituted for the express purpose of giving profitable employment to inferior horses, and not with the view of rewarding merit, or equine superiority, which is, whenever found among the entries, and publicly known as such, "crushed down" by weight to the level of the veriest "leather flapper" that ever started for a race. Out of the im- mense number of race horses annually bred in England, but a small minority exhibit that degree of excellence which fits them to become contestants for great "weight fdr age events," with any probability of suc- cess; for the balance of "weeds and the wasterells," it was necessary to do some- thing, or else their owners would have been compelled to have sent them into the horse market for sale at any price they would fetch, which would be a mere trifle, as the modern English thoroughbred is unfit by breed and nature for any laborious work. There was a time when the English coach- ing system was at its zenith, and speed was required, when cast off blood stock was in demand ; but that time is past, for the rail- ways have annihilated the fast stages of other days, and "park hacks," "ladies' horses," and "street cabs," are, with a few hunting and steeple chase exceptions, the only uses to which inferior race horses could be applied, were it not for that compara- tively modern racing innovation, "the hand- icap." Well designed, it is true, to en- courage inferiority, and yet like all other systems, imperfect and obnoxious to censure from the fact that the participators will dis guise, as far as they can, the quality of the animals they intend entering, in order to get them as lightly weighted as possible, whilst it is no uncommon occurrence for a horse to be "ran to lose" an entire season, with the view of his reputation being sufficiently damaged to enable his winning some one or other of the rich handicaps of the ensuing one, to be calculated on as next akin to a certainty. Many such instances we could cite, whilst others have occurred, and will again, where several parties have "played the same game" aad the would be victim- izers have themselves beea victimized. It is for such a scramble as this that our horses are entered. The Period of Gestation in Mares. [From an Essay written for the Notto- way ("Va.J Farmers' Club, by Geo. Fite gerald.] The rearing of colts possesses sufficient practical interest to make it worthy of such inquiries and observations as will tend to render it most successful and profitable. After a mare has been let to a^horse, it may become a question of some moment to her owner, at what time to expect her to bring forth her foal. There is a tradition among us, to the effect that this event takes place, if I mistake not, at the end of eleven months, with as many days added as the mare numbers years of age. How nearly this period would conform to actual results in the multitude of cases, I am not pre- gpared to determine. But from some obser- vations which I have been enabled to make and researches into natural history to which my atteatioa has beea drawn, it would seem that there are many cases in which it bears but a faint semblance of truth. In the year 1848, 1 put two mares to a jack on the same day, the 5th of May, and without being put again, they foaled respectively on the l4th and 25th of April following. In the one case 1 1 months and 9 days, aud in the other 11 months and 20 days. One mare supposed to be 6 years old, and the other was 8 years old about the time of mmi^mn "HP" ^P^(pBpB5(P|P|^||ll|||jj»(p«l«pS(P THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 173 foaling. In the year 1856, one of the same mares was put once again to a horse, and brought forth her foal in 12 months and I day, at the age of 15 years. These per- sonal observations coincide with the investi- gations of Tessier, the naturalist, in show- ing the inconstancy of the period to which the mare, in common with some other an- imals, carry their yoang. The investiga- tions of the latter inquirer led to the follow- ing conclusions: "In 277 mares, with foal for the first time, 23 foaled between the 287th and 329th days, average 322 days; 226 between the 329th and 360th days, average 346 days; and 28 between the 360th and 419th days, average 372 days; average of the whole, 347 days; difference between the extremes, 132 days. "In 170 mares which had foaled before, 28 foaled between 290th and 329th days, average 321 days; 128 between 329th and 360th days, average 341; and 14 between the S60th and 377th days, average 370; average of the whole, 341 days; so that be- tween the shortest and the longest period, there was a difference of 97 days, more than one-fourth of the mean term." -«•»- Animals Sometimes Get too Mneli Salt. Necessary as salt is to the healthy con- dition of most animals on a farm, and though there are probably more who give too little than there are who give too much of this article to their stock, yet there are times, and seasons, and conditions of an an- imal when salt is administered in too large quantities. A brief indication of some fo the occasions when animals get more salt than is good for them may be of service to some, who may never have had their atten- tion directed to the mode in which this sub- stance operates. 1. Animals sometimes get too much salt in consequence of having been long deprived of it, and then having access to it in too large quantities. Disease, and even death has resulted from this cause. Cases of this kind have been put upon record, and may have come in this way or otherwise to the knowledge of the reader. The mode of preventing such mishaps consists in keeping salt, with the addition of leached ashes, a little sulphur, perhaps, within reach of stock at all times, or in feeding it more frequent- ly, or in giving it in small quantities after long abstinence. 2. Another occasion when salt is given in too large or improper doses is when an- imals are first turned out to grass. As scouring is a natural and common conse- quence of making this change it only ag- gravates the matter to give them salt in liberal doses. Dry hay, or bran or meal in a dry state, with a very small dose of salt, would be a better corrective; while making such a change slowly and gradually, not suddenly, would be the proper preventive. 3. Some give salt to their milch cows when feeding them on turnips, in order to correct the peculiar taste which they are apt to communicate to the milk and batter. Now, if the turnips are given in such quan- tities as to produce more or less scouring, the administration of salt will only aggravate the evil, and diminish the secretion of milk. Indeed; according to the authority of Stephens, in his Farmer's Guide, it is the large amount of common salt in turnips, as also in mangel wurtzels, which causes cows fed exclusively upon them to fall off. in milk. 4. It is the opinion of some at least, that stock put up to fatten will lay on fat much faster without salt than with it. This fact, if fact it be, is attempted to be ac- counted for by theorizing in this way. Salt increases the secretion of the bile, and, as bile is composed of fat, oil, gum, and other carbonaceous matters, all of these which are carried off in an excess of bile are just so much taken from the materials from which the fatty parts ol the animals are built up. In a word, it is supposed that the more bile an animal secretes and passes out of his sys- tem, the less fat it will produce. When the secretion of bile is so great as to produce scouring, fat will not be produced of course: but if saltcomes short of this result, are there facts suflficient to support the above theory? v ■ A Trap for Catching Sheep-Killing Dogs. Make a pen offence rails, beginning with four, so as to have it square, and as you build it draw in each rail as you would the sticks in making a partridge trap, until your pen is of sufficient height, say five feet. In this way yon will construct a pen that, when finished, will permit a dog to enter at top at pleasure, but out of which he will find it difficult to escape, should he have the agility of an antelope. All that you have to do to catch the dog that has killed your sheep, is to construct the trap, where a dead sheep is left, as directed, as soon as possible after an attack has been made on your flock, put a part or the whole of a sheep that has been killed in it, and remove the balance to some other field. In a majority of cases the rogue and murderer will return the sue- ' V?? T-iS'?''-"''"'.* ceediog night, or perhaps the next, and yoa will have the gratification next morning of finding him securely imprisoned. Some may object to the plan, perhaps, on the ground that you might catch an innocent dog. If so, he can content himself by not trying it. For my own part, I should pronounce the sentence of guilt on any dog caught on my farm within three nights after my sheep had been killed, and execute the law speed- ily without any qualms of conscience. — [Southern Planter. *m Ladies' Saddle Horse. A correspondent of the Boston Cultiva- tor, speaking of the different styles of horses, closes with these just observations: There is a class of horses but little known amongst us in this country — it is the ladies' saddle-horse of England, where only I have known it in perfection. It would repay the expense of a vjsit to that country, to take a stand at the entrance of Hyde-park Lon- don, and observe the lady equestrians and their superior horses in the ring on a fine day; the ease and gentleness of manner, so conspicuous in both being worthy of imitation in this and every other country that I have visited. Such a class of horses, if well bred and properly trained — not tied up and screwed down, as is customary amongst us, but left free and uutrammeled, would find good markets amongst those who would be able and willing to give good prices, especi- ally amongst rich families having unmarried daughters. -••» The Jersey Cow and her Cream. We cut the following paragraph from the Maysville Eagle, some weeks ago, when winter was down upon us in earnest. As good cream is always seasonable, the state- ment it contains is just as interesting now au it was then ; but we mention the fact on account of the allusion to the circumstance that the milk was "frozen hard." Mr. John B. Poyntz, one of the most enterprising farmers of old Mason, and the only one we believe who has imported foreign cattle, single-handed, for his own farm, showed us on yesterday morning a gallon crock of milk, frozen hard. This was from the milking of his fine pure blood Alderney or Jersey cows, mixed, however, with that of some excellent native cows. The curiosity was the amount of cream upon the top of it, which we measured and ascertained to be from three-fourths of an inch to an inch (averaging seven eighths) in thickness. Mr. Poyntz, in speaking of his Alderney cows, always refers to this peculiar and remarkable richness of their milk, as proving their superior excellence as milkers. He assures us that if this milk had stood in a warm room, more cream would have risen to the top, and that in summer it is uniformly thicker than in the crock shown us, whose top or surface was only nine inches across. The quantity of cream is always in proportion to the sur- face of the milk, so that the yield of this would have been still more remarkable if the crock had been larger and shallower. Can anybody beat this?" The Owner of the Soil. The man who stands upon his own soil, who feels that by the laws of the land in which he lives, bythelaw of civiliz.d nations, he is the rightful and exclusive owner of the land he tills, is by the constitution of our nature under a wholesome influence not easily imbibed by any other source. He feels, other things being equal, more strongly than another, the character of a man as the lord of an inanimate world. Of this great and wonderful sphere which, fashioned by the hand of God, and upheld by His power, is rolling through the heavens, a part is his — his from the centre to the sky. It is the • space on which the generation before moved is its round of duties, and he feels connected by a link with those who follow him, and to whom he is to transmit a home. Perhaps a farm has come down to hira from his fathers. They have gone to their last home! but he can trace their toot- steps over the scenes of his daily labors. The roof which shelters him was reared by those to whom he ovres his being. Some interesting domestic tradition is connected with every in- closure. He sported in boyhood beside the brook which still winds through the meadow. Through the field lies the path to the village school ot earlier days. He still hears from the window the voice of the Sabbath bell which called his father to the house of God; and near at hand is the spot where his parents laid dowa to rest, and where, when his time has come, he shall be laid by his children. These are the feel- ing's of the owner of the soil. Words can not paint them; they flow out of the deepest foun- tains of the heart; they are the life-spring of a fresh, healthy and generous national character. —[Edward Everett. Murrain in Canada. — The Quebec Mercury says that an alarming disease prevails among he cattle in the parishes of La Beauce, on the south side of the St. Lawrence, the origin of •which cannot be traced. Upwards of fifteen hundred animals, chiefly cows, have perished. i^iiij^^ LI. .a^ . -'-^v^.'j'^^ns^^npi^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 175 AGRICULTURAL. The Proper Time for Cntting Timothy. BY JAEED P. KJRTLAND, U. D. The proper time for catting timothy meadows, with reference to securing the best qualities of hay, has been a fruitful subject of observation and remark. Little or no attention has been paid to the influ- ence of the time and manner of cutting, over the health, permanency and produc- tiveness of such meadows. A vague idea prevails, among farmers, that if the mowing be performed before the seed of this species of grass is ripe, it will run out, from a fail- ure to re-seed the ground. Every observ- ing farmer has noticed that, in some . in- stances, extensive tracts of timothy sward have suddenly died, soon after the removal of the crop of hay, while, in others, the sward continued healthy, and for a series of years produced abundantly of this grass. The rationale of such opposite results, under apparently similar circumstances, had never been explained, so far as my informa- tion extends. My neighbor, Richard McCrary, an in telligent and practical farmer, has recently {)resented me with the annexed propositions and conclusions, as the results of his exper^ ience on this subject. These he illustrated by specimens of the grass, in every condition which he alludes. It is hoped they will be thoroughly scanned, by persons competent to test their accuracy. If they bear this test, to Mr. McCrary the credit of the dis- covery of the facts solely belongs; and I have no doubt the community will consider him as having conferred an important ben- efit. 1. Timothy grass fPhleum pratense) is a perennial plant, which renews itself by an annual formation of "bulbs," or, perhaps, more correctly speaking, tubers, in which all the vitality of the plant is concentrated during the winter. These form, in what- ever locality the plant is selected, without reference to dryness or moisture. From these proceed the stalks which support the leaves and head, and from the same source spread out the numerous fibres, forming the true roots, 2. To insure a perfect development of these tubers, a certain amount of nutrition must be assimilated in the leaves, and return to the base of the plant, through the stalk . 3. As soon as this process of nutrition is completed, it becomes manifest by the ap- pearance of a state of desiccation, or dry- ness, always commencing at a point directly above either the first or second joint of the stem, near the crown of the ttiber. From this point the desiccation gradually pro- gresses upwards, and the last portion of the stalk that yields up its freshness is that ad- joining the head. Coincident with the be- ginning of this process is the full develop- ment of the seeds, and with its progress they mature. Its earliest appearance is evidence that both the tubers and seeds have received their requisite supplies of nu- trition, and that neither the stalk nor the leaves are longer necessary to aid them in completing their maturity. A similar pro- cess occurs in the onion, just above the crown of the bulb, indicating the maturity of that organ. 4. If the stalk be cut from the tubers, before this evidence of maturity has appear- ed, the necessary supplies of nutrition will be arrested, their proper growth will cease, and an effort will be made to repair the in- jury, by sending out small lateral tubers, from which weak and unhealthy stalks will proceed, at the expense of the original tubers. All will ultimately perish, either by the droughts of autumn or the cold of win- ter. 5. The tubers, together with one or two of the lower joints of the stalk, remain fresh and green, daring the winter, if left to take their natural course; but if, by any means, this green portion be severed, at any season of the year, the result will be the death of the plant; From the foregoing cousideratioiis it is. concluded: --»-.-- -y- - 1. That timothy grass cannot, ander any circumstances, be adapted for pasture; as the close nipping of horses and sheep is fatal to the tubers, which are also extensive- ly destroyed by swine. 2. The proper period for mowing tim- othy is at any time after the process of desiccation has commenced on the stalk, as noted in proposition 3. It is not very es- sential whether it is performed a week earlier or later, provided it be postponed till that evidence of maturity has become manifest. 3. All attempts at close shaving the sward should be avoided, while using the scythe, and, in guaging mowing machines, care should be taken to run them so high that they will not cut the tunothy below the second joint above the tuber. — [U. S. Patent Office Report. *•»- Wool. — The South Bend Register hears that wool sold last week at Niles, Michigan, at 40 cents per pound. =zdf ■jRS'r^T*^^^^?^^'^-. - ^^^^'^^^- • ' " ^ ■"'WJIPSW!?''^ "" ':?»7"~ . ' '"'T-V 0!^'«-ia" ■]^f^,"^-?ViTW;^'-'XT^"^.'TTit"' -,,,-^^.,„^j. 176 THE ILLINOIS FAKMEB. What a Man Can do in tbe West. A correspondent of the New York Tri- bune who gives the facts in his own experi- ence, shows what a man who has the will to do, can accomplish in Illinois. Six years ago, the man came to this State from Haver- hill, Mass., bought him a quarter section of land for $5 an acre, and had only money enough to make one payment. He went to work himself, and hired a boy to help him for $10 a month. The following para- graph explains the rest: "At the end of the third year I had the whole farm paid for, with a house worth $1,000 and three miles of fence on it. The same year I had a crop of white winter wheat which yielded 27 bushels to the acre and sold for $1 25 per bushel, making a cash income of $33 per acre. Twenty bushels of wheat and forty bushels of corn per acre is a fiir average crop, although corn, if cultivated as at the East, would yield from 75 to 100 bushels per acre. A man and boy, with four horses, can plow ajjd cultivate 100 acres — say 30 of wheat, 20 of oats, and 60 of corn. He will need the assistance of a reaper to cut the wheat and oats, and a thrashing machine to thresh it. AH the rest of the labor he can do without additional help." These are the actual figures of a kind of "land speculation," which has no ups and downs about it. Such cases are numerous all over this State, and the west. We can go into every town in Stephenson county and fine^ scores of good well to do farmers, who are wholly oat of debt and have money to loan, whose experience is but a counterpart to that related above. That "farming pays" in Illinois, where lands cost not half what they do east where labor costs no more, and where the nett receipts from the soil are equally as large as they are east because the lack of a few cents per bushel is more than made up by the extra crop, it needs no discussion to show. Any young man with energy can in a few years build up tor himself on the fertile acres of Stephenson county, a beautiful home. Bnd an independent fortune, relying solely upon the product of honest toil^ for his returns. There is no need of western farmers turning speculators. They can have no more tempting inducements held out to them, than offered by the legitimate business in which they are engaged. The ready advance in wealth among our agricul- tural classes in the west is one of the grand facts of his era. The annual conversion of bone and sinew into substantial commercial value, is beyond computation, Every year is adding to our already bountiful resources, and the broad expanse of prairie which has for ages been but the play ground of crea- tion, where buflfaloes . roamed at will and sweet scented wild flowers bloomed all un- seen by civilized man, is being converted into one vast garden. Of the ^future of the west, when all these acres are producing what God intended them to produce, when farm houses are sprinkled over our land in rich profusion, and orchards bend with the weight of abundant fruit, no man can form an adequate idea. He who lives to see that day will behold the great Valley of the Mississippi the garden of the world, and Illinois the Empire State. With the pres- ent rate of increase, that day is not far dis- tant.- While the best of farming lands, all ready for the plow, can be bought here at less than half what average farms cost east, a large number of the most enterprising will certainly come west. Men will go where they can make their lobor pay the best, es- pecially where they are not obliged to sac- rifice the advantages of school, churches and good society, to do it. Hence it is that Northern Illinois is now filling up with a good class of eastern emigrants ; hence it is that this process of "filling up" is certain to continue until the vacant acres are all occupied. Come while there is room. -«•»- From the Eural New Torker. Less Land or More Labor. 'Is it true that we want less land or more la- bor?' asks Prof. J. A. Nash, of the New Engi land Farmer. In a review of our former article on this subject, the Professor enters into a fur., ther discussion of the question, bat bis remarks occupy too mach space for our colamns. Ws will try to give a brief idea of the argument. It is the nature of land to be prodactive, whether cultivated or uncultivated, but the value of its products depends on tbeir uses to man. An acre of wood is very valuable near a large city; it is worth nothing on the Rocky Moun- tains. It is the province ot man to make land produce the greatest value, in demand, above the cost of production, or the greatest profit. To do this there must be the requisite propor- tion between capital and labor. A hundred acres of high priced land, with one man's work put upon it, is, in great part at least, 80 much dead capital. Its products will pay the interest on the investment. Its capa- bilities are not drawn out — they are unused and profitless. It is the same as though a shoe" maker should build a shop one hundred feet long and then oecupy a few feet space in one corner. It is as if a merchant, should lay out all his capital in building a fine store andfilhng it with goods, and iheu refuse to hireelerks to sell them. ak BWWu^wiyMl.lNLJi-W'T' "-w-^«^^fT^^!--*!ii*i>*j-Hpjja!r^'(-*»t':+>;y*siiW^w^^^^^ ^l!ff!5>SS???«??^l''!!iPP>P'^ ^^^^^jHWWsww^si^psmpBiifiBlipwpiw^ppw^f^ A due proportion between fixed and floating capital is observed in every business, more care> fully than in farming. The 'track' is not only laid, but the 'rolling stock' is provided and kept in motion. A thousand acres of wild land might support an Indian hunter and his family. Set a thou- sand strong men to work on these acres, one man to each, and the whole would shortly be cleared, drained, fenced and cultivated — the whole would soon be a garden. Instead of feed- ing one lone family, it would yield food for ten thousand persons. But all this would involve a larga outlay. Ten thousand dollars a day is a large sum to pay for labor, and might not prove profitable. There might be other work wbich would produce a better return for a portion of the labor. These are the extremes. The golden mean is between them. Hundreds, however, invest the last penny in land, for units who give their land too thorough culture. Thousands of dollars are spent for 'more land,' where tens are laid out in reclaiming water, in underdraining and irri. gation. Never was there better encouragement to in-» crease the productiveness of our farms than now. Never, in this country, did it take less produce to pay a day's wages than at present. But how many farmers have profited by this? How many have lost the high prices by having ijo> thing to sell? And why? Not because their farms could produce nothing— but because they were not worked. The farmer himself has la- bored as hard as any one ought, perhaps too hard, but what is one man on a hundred acres. He cannot amend soils; cannot half cultivate those good by nature; cannot gather materials for manure nor find money to buy them. If he had cultivated ten acres well with his own hand, or if he had put through a hundred acres with the help of four men, (five men can do about as well with a hundred acres as one can with ten,) it would have been otherwise. In the first place he might have had a little to sell; and in the latter he could have shown an impreved farm, at least. ' Land well cultivated pays better than land run over. It is true that "more labor or less land" is wanted. But which is it — more labor, or less land? The first,, beyond question, if circumstances favor enterprise. You cannot afford, for a small farm, the variety and ex|pllence of imple- ments that are necessary to a good and profita- ble pr||duction of crops. The best implements — buildings ample and convenient — cheapen the cost of production upon large farms, but increase it in small ones. On a few acres crops are grown at a higher cost than oa a larger farm — hence they cannot be made as profitable. Still small farming pays as well as other small busi- ness. It suits .some men better than others, and if one has the desire to farm within himself, let him reduce his acres until he can work them. It will be his course, without question. To make farming truly profitable, give us more labor and land enough to employ it fully. With talent for the business, a love for it, and" the faculty to manage workmen, a big farm, is better than a small one. A large farm well tilled is a mine of wealth to the owner. -••»- THE dairy; The Cheddar Cheese. The particular manufacture of cheese, which has acquired a considerable notoriety for superi- or excellence, is made in tbe following manner: As soon aa tbe morning; milking is over, the milk is mixed with that of tke previous evening, and the whole is warmed to 80 ° by beating a small portion of the night's milk. Ai sooa as it is of the exact temperature, which is ascer- tained by the thermometer knd not by guess, pure, well-flavored rennet is added in the usual manner, and the whole allowed to stand one hour for coagulation. Next gently break the curd and take off a small quantity of whey, to be heated in a tin vessel placed in water. Break the curd carefully and minutely, and add as much of the heated whey as will raise the temperature to 80 ° , leaving it another hour, when a few pailfuls of the whey are heated so as to raise the whole mass to 100 ^ . Previous to pouring on this latter, the card is broken as carefully as before, and the whole is actively stirred to mix it regularly, and not allow any portion to become over-heated. After standing half an hour, remove the whey by dipping out the greater part of it from the top, and drawing off the balance from % spigot at the bottom. Wken most of the whey is thus drawn ofiF, cut the curd from the sides of the tub aed heap it in the middle, where it should remain an hour longer. The curd is next cut in large slices, and turned over in the centre of the tub as before, leaving it to drain for half an hour. After this interval, it will be ripe for pressure, but must first be cooled to 65 ° by breaking with the hand aad placing on a cooler. Having reached the proper temperature, put it in one or more vats (moulds,) and subject it to a moderate pres- sure for fifteen or twenty minutes. The next process coasists in taking the curd from the vat and passing it through the enrd- mill to break it finely, when it is salted and made into a cheese. A pound of good salt is sufficiest for fifty pounds ef eurd. The cheese is now carefully put into the press, where it remains till next morning, when it is reversed in the vat, and another cheese-cloth is put on it. The morning following, a fine cot- ton cloth is used, to give it a smooth surface, and it is again reversed in the vat, and pressed twenty- four hours, after which it is laid upon the shelf. When the cheeses are taken from tbe press, they are each placed in a piece of canvas to pre- serve their shape. At first, they should be turn- ed daily, but as they become firmer, they re- quire it less frequently. A temperature of 55 P to 65 ® is regarded as the best for ripening Cheddar cheese. ••> , The proverb, the longer a man lives, the more he'll see, can't allude to money nowa- days. .^^ 178 THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. New York Preminm Butter. At the last New York State Fair, H. N. Kimball, of Rutlan, JeflFerson county, obtained the first premium for 50 pounds of batter, made that season. The following are his answers to the ques- tions proposed to him by the Committee of Ex- amination: 1st. Butter was made in September, from fifteen cows. 2d. Milk is placed in a well ventilated room, with as much surface exposed to th^ north as possible, the rest shaded so as to keep cool; is warmed in fall and winter by means of a stove. The cream is taken off as soon as the milk be- comes thick, and sometimes before; it should be taken off before any specks show themselves on the cream. The cream is kept at about 56 ° or 58 ® , by means of coolers suspended in the well. Milk should be closely watched, and not let the cream stand too long, aa it injures the quality of the batter. 3d. The batter is rinsed with cold water. 4th. "Water is used as being the best and most expeditious way of freeing it of milk; and good butter, I think, (Jannot surely be produced in hot weather, without the use of water. 5th. We use the Ashton salt, three-fourths of an ounce to the pound, or rock salt. 6th. Use no saltpeter, as I think it does no food. 7th. I think the Syracuse salt injurious, aa there seems to be an earthy substance that does not dissolve readily, and it shows itself in small scales on the butter. 8th. We pack the butter in shaved ash tubs, made from heart stuff; as all sap timber in the tab will soak the brine tni become mouldy. Pack as solid as possible, and cover with a cloth and a thick coat of salt, and exclude from the air as much aa possible. The cows are native stock, with no extra feed- ing. -^•f RuTA BagasExtka — A Correspondent writes: To-day we have taken a lot of rata baga- seed (J ft) to} acre) and sown it broadcast all over our garden, dropping it thickly wherever there is likely to be a single foot of spare room, as for example, between the rows of early corn and po- tatoes, peas, &c. The hoeing is now going on which will cover the seed;"and hereafter the grow- ing young plants will be cut up with the hoe like weeds wherever they are in the way; but left to grow where there is room for a single turnip. A useful plant may as well occupy the ground as a useless weed, and in autumn we shall most likely gather several bushels of 'turnips lor the bare cost of the seed, or 25 cents. This plan may be pursued not oaly in gardens but iu fields, at any time in June, July and even into September. After, say July 15, some of tbe later varieties of turnips should be substituted for rata bagas. HORTICULTURAL. The Strawberry Culture. Cincinnati is confessedly ahead of all other cities and localities in the United States in the cultivation of the strawberry. Nicholas Long- worth may be regarded as having led the way to the extraordinary amount of production, not only there, but in every other part of the United States. This has been the result of a discovery made by Mr. Longworth, which has been often told, and is merely thus: An ignorant market woman, first in Philadelphia, and afterwards in Cincinnati, was famous for raising large crops, beating all her neighbors. Every spring she was observed to carefully go over her beds, pall up nambers of the largest blossoming plants and throw them over the fence. The rival gardeners, emulous of her success, carefully picked up these rejected plants and set them out in their gardens. But not yet had they caught the goose that laid the golden eggs. Her cast- aways did no better than the old ones, if as well, and still she raised five times as many berries as any one else. On coming to Cincinnati, she still distanced all competitors — why, no one could discover. At length her son carelessly dropped a hint in the hearing of Mr. Longworth who caught it up and experimented, until he found out the curious fact that the strawberry is sometimes male, sometimes female, and some^ times hermaphrodite, having both organs more or less complete — a fact, the judicious use whereof has brought the price of strawberries from 40 to 50 cents down to 4 and 5 cents per quart, and made them a staple of the State. It was the male strawberries, whose blossoms are always the largest, that the market woman threw over the fence, keeping just gentlemen enough in her beds for the ladies. Too many not only taking up too much room, but as their energies are not exhausted, in bearing fruit, grow and Sfitead so fast as seriously to encroach upon the harems, so that if not looked to in time, they are likely, as Mr. Longworth sajs, "to kick all the women out of bed." — Hence it is that many people find that they have fewer and fewer strawberries, though the blossoms are larger and larger every spring. On the other hand, the female can do nothing without intercourse with the other sex, of course. Hovey's seedling, so long the favorite strawberry of the east, is a pure female, and bears only when it has companions in the bed, as it is almost sure to have few or none. The English strawberries are said to be always her- Rwi^apB^wB^^^fWTfFpjrs^^T'w'^sr T^3W^JI?»3i?ri'^^-,- tHjnijiJH l^yi. I. I II, ■- THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 179 maphrodite, which renders it difficult for Joha Bull to believe that there are pure malea and females. Not the least curious thing is the way in which the male impregnates the female. He does it by proxy, honeybees and other insects playing the go-between. They carry the dust on their feet as they fly from flower to flower. This fact has been established I believe, be- yond cavil, by a series of experiments, such as covering some of the female plants with gauze, they are sure to be barren, bat begin to do their duty the moment the gauze is removed. There is, therefore, no need of putting the male plants in the same bed with the females, and in prac- tice each is now placed by itself, from a foot to a yard apart from its conjugal companions. Of the three varieties just mentioned as Mr. Long- worth's seedlings, now in general cultivation here, the Superior and Extra Red are females, and the Prolific is hermaphrodite. The amount of strawberries raised and brought into Cincinnati, is immense. Hundreds and hundreds of bushels, are brought in each day. One man, it is said, had three hundred bushels in market at one time, and the price places them within the reach of all. Strawberries do well planted out in the next and following month, August and September, if the weather is suitable. -*•*- THE GARDENEE. The Sbiped Bug.' — M. B. Bateman, in the Ohio Cultivator says that he effectually protected his cucumbers and melon vines by placing four or five bricks round the hills on edges so as to inclose them. Who will remember this? ->—- TMnning Out Vegetables. It seems a pity to put a hoe into those luxur iant rows of beets, carrots, parsneps, and onions, that already give promise of an abundant har- vest. But full two-thirds of them must still be sacrificed, before you can get a full crop. They are cransped for room. The carrot sends out its roots on all sides of the main tap, and if it have a chance, will completely occupy the soil on all sides of it with its fine rootlets. One root will appropriate the aliment in a square foot of soil, much better than a half dozen, and will make a greater weight of nutritious food at the harvest. This is what wise cultivators are seeking for, — the most food upon the least surface. Thin out then to six or eight inches apart, aadif you want very large specimens for the fairs, make the spaces a foot wide. The roots that are pulled np are excellent fodder for cows aud pigs, and if you throw a few into the poultry yard, they will be appreciated. Try it and see. THE POULTRY YARD. Gapes in Chickens. For a couple of years after commencing the raising of poultry, I was subjected to the loss of a large number of young chickens, and almost the whole of them by gapes. I inquired of an old lady, who has had great success in the chicken line, if she could tell what made the gapes. The reply was, lousy hens, and the cure, or I should say preventive, simply to grease the hen under the wings thoroughly, and around the neck as soon as s^tcame off the nest. Well, Iwied it, and the result has been, the more I did not grease the hens, the more chickens died, and vice versa. The whole matter, in my experience, is perfectly simple, and so far as prac- ticed with my chickens, has been, successful. When a hen comes off her nest with a brood, she is well greased, and from time to time, while confined to the coop, the operation is repeated, with occasional changes in the position of the coops. Should any of your readers try the ex- periment without a favorable result, 1 should b« glad to know it. — | Am. Ag. lice on Fowls. F. A. W., of Missouri, wishes to be informed how to exterminate the vermin that frequently infest hens and hen roosts, &c. Prevention, when practicable, is always better than cnre. Strict cleanliness about the roosts and nests will always prevent hens from becoming lousy. The droppings under the hens should be removed fre- quently, the nests often renewed and air-slaked lime and ashes scattered around the floors, boxes and roosts. Boxes of dry ashes and lime should always be kept under cover where the fowls can have constant access to them, that they may wallow in at pleasure. With these precautious fowls that are free from vermin will never be in- fested. But where they have become lour y, the roosts should be thoroughly swept and cleaoed, the straw and litter from the nests entirely re* moved and the wood work and roost poles of the house white-washed with fresh slaked lime, into which a quantity of sulphur or tobacco has been mixed. A day or two before this operation, the fowls should be fed with coarse corn meal wet with milk or water into which a quantity tf sulphur has been mixed. Feed with this sev- eral days, it may then be omitted for a f«w days, and repeated again at intervals of three or four days, and continued in this way until all the nits have hatched, when the insects will drop off and leave the fowls. Thorough cleanliness after this will generally exterminate them. Fowls are al- ways poor and unthrifty and setting hens are seldom successful in hatching their eggs when annoyed with vermin. A little care is all that is necessary to prevent it. — [Valley Farmer. -*•>- Illinois Central Railroad. — The sales of Illinois Central Railroad lands, daring the week ending the 23d, were 15,697 73-100 acres, for 1187,946.15. laz •,,-i-,*i' '».'*wf[»w!i.u.|^i*fjpj'.v^ !P» .y'iP«|u*j»'j^w.'' V'"iy '^ '"r?T!rT^^''''^Tiei»»W^'*w^7^;jp^«'j»7B?g[^^ 180 THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK. What is the matter with the Hens? "Have not had an egg for a week, and the corn they eat is a caution in these hard times." They are shut up in a yard, of course, and can- not have access to the green grass, and to the iaaects, which Froviience has provided for them in summer. "Man shall not live by bread alone." Aud tae proverb is true of fowls. What could you expect of sensible heas, but that they would stop layiag wbeQ you cut off the supplies. Now get a liver from the bntcher's stall, or any other cheap meat, and see with what avidity they will devour Jfc and almost quarrel for Vue last morsel. Onff from the fish market, or any animal food, will answrr quite as well. If at & distance from markets upon the farm, and you confine your beng, mix coarse meal with vrhey, cr skimmed milk, to satisfy their craving for animal food. Supply them also with clear water, and gra^g or weeds daily, and ashes and oyster shells. Look also at the roosts, and keep the droppings well sprinkled with plaster and muck. Attend to thpse things, and you and the hens will soon sing a new song over fresh laid eggs. -— — *&t~ Bugs. — We met a friend the other day, who "let on" in this style: "I say, Mr. Editor, what'a thu'der did you publish that whole column about bugs for, when you know of a much better way to get ride of the plaguey things?" "Do we?" we asked. "Why, yes — sperits turp'ntine! Don't you know you told me of it? Well, the little tor- ments were destroying my water, musk and other "millions" tremendjusly; so I got a quart of the sperits, went home and sprinkled it about the hills, dipped some feathers in it, and stuck them down all around, and, oh, scissors! you ought to have seen 'em travel. I don't know how fast a bug ought to fly, but I'll bet high that at any bug sweep-stakes they'd take the pile, for they did make beautiful time." "But they will return again," we said. "Just so; and then you will have the fun of giving 'em another dose. I only gave 'em the spcsrits twice, and I haven't seen nary bug for about two weeks. I think you ought to put that plan in your paper, for it's worth a V to any one." — Ottawa Free Trader. -*•*- Bugs awd Cucumbers. — Mr. Bergen of Lopg Island, recently stated that some farmers in his neighborhood plant as many as ten acres each of cucumbers, and that the way they save them from bugs, is to use plenty ot seed at first and then at four or five successive periods they plant on » new side of the hill, a lot more ot seed. This supplies an abundance of young plants for the bugs to feed on, and they leave the stronger growing plants untouched. When well out of the way ot bugs the surplus plants are dug up with the hoe. This is a similar plan to one we have recommended strongly for y«ari past, and have found it successful io practice. See Ag- riculturist Vol. XII, page 88. THE FLOMST. The flower garden should at all times be kept free from weeds. If you commence this in sea- son, the work will be comparatively light. Do not crowd your flowering plants.- They must have space if you wish them to show their flowers in perfection. Some require a good deal of room. The Petunia will co?er a space of r^round too feet square, and will be all the better for having this room in which to unfold its beauties. So of most other flowering plants. The Verbenas sometimes havs a disposition to grow erect, and at others to trail on the ground. They look well when made to spread over tha ground, but if you desire to make them grow erect, you can train them on frames or sticks. Some hardy shrubbery has a disposition to spread and make unsightly plants. Their growth can be checked by pinching off the terminal shoots. This is very early and quickly done. Hardy perpetual roses, to make them blossom in ths fall, should be cut back, so as to make them throw out new wood. Bolh these and the tender perpetuals would be greatly benefitted by liquid manure. This should be applied to the ground within their reach and not on the plants. A liquid manure can be obtained from hen or pigeon or animal dung; the two first are the best. Be careful that it is not too strong, and afterwards, and repeatedly, give good water- To Preserve Flowers. The secret of preserving flowers and leaves in their original colors, yet perfectly dry, is dry- ing quickly, and under suflBcient pres.-;ure to pre- vent the shrivelling of the leaf. This may be done thus: Prepare an abundance of bibulous paper — this is such paper as common newspapers are printed on, and which absorbs water so fast that you cannot write on it with ink, and when you touch jour tongue to it, it wets through directly; lay this paper in the sun to become warm and dry. The plants which you wish to prcss,if they are to be preserved as botanical specimens, should, if possible, show the whole plant, characteristic of the season in which it is picked; that is, root, root-leaves, ground-sprouts or "suckers," if these are characteristic of the plant, leaves, flowers and seed at the highest state of maturity at which it will press well. Generally plants press best when fresh, but if slightly wilted, stiff, brittle leaved plants do better. The specimen should be laid down on a sheet of white paper, of the kind described, in its most becoming position, withered and deformed por- tions being removed. Wherever leaves lie one apon another, and especially when flowers or !^!««sp?--iijpj."^.; 'ifF'Tt ^^^■" f^rf^pfr^^yp^ '^-^^■KIJ!P?;i:l^^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 181 petals lie thus, lay pieces of bibulous paper be- tween them, but so as not to make too great a thickness in any one spot. Then lay another piece of white paper upon it, and then place a couple of the warm dry newspapers on each side, making at least eight thicknesses of paper. Make then a pile of the flowers to be pressed, lay a board on it and then put on weights, 50 pounds or more — not enough to crush the suc- etflent parts, however. In three hours, if you wish to be very partic- ular about retaining the color, change the news- papers, not removing the white paper on each side of the specimens. Usfc the absorbing paper as dry and warm as you please, heating it in an oven, if it can be done without scorching, and if it can stay in long enough to become not only hot but dry. Change twice a day for the commonest plants, and the oftener at first the better. The speci- men is known to be dry when no part of it is in the least damp, nor has any cool feeling when pressed to the lips. — [Homestead. . — .>•* The New Sugar Cane. — Among all the ex- periments with the Chinese Sorghum, very few instances have occurred where the granulation of the syrup has been secured; but the following, from the Cincinnati Gazette, shows that it is practicable to obtain this result: "Mr. Hedges, of our city, -has shown us sam- ples of sugar maie from the "Sorgho," which, in flavor and appearance, is equal to the Brazil sugar. This is the first reliable and satisfactory evidence of the success of the Chinese cane as a sugar crop. This was made by Mr. Leonard Wray, of England, who has devated many years to the sugar business in various parts of the Indies, as well as France, Algeria and South Africa; and to his efforts we are indebted for the process for granulating this new species of cane syrup. Mr. Wray has just arrived in this country, at the solicitation of some influential men of the South, who were aware of his great skill and success in the manafacturing. He brings with him the seed of several species of the "Imphees," found by him in Caffraria, which he says is more precocious and better suited to our northern latitude than the Chinese variety, although he speaks in high terms of the latter. Mr. H. has also a sample of alcohol, made from the fermented juice of the cane, of a most super- ior quality. He has also some of the simple juice, considerably resembling the white wjaes of the Rhine." -•••- S^.A Western editor whose subscribers complained very loudly that ho did not give them news enough for their money, told them that if they did not find enough in the paper, they had better read the Bible, which, he had no doubt, would be news to them. -«•»- , French writer is represented as call- ing dyspepsia "the remorse of a guilty stom- ach." DOMESTIC ECONOMY. Cheap and Good Roofing. S. K. R., writes to the Yalley Farmer from Saline county — The cheapest roof that we are acquainted with, and one that we prefer to shingles, partic- ularly as many shingles are now made, is cover- ed with cloth. We know from an experience of more than fifteen years, that when properly made they are not oply cheap but good. For the foundation for the cloth a substantial covering of boards should be laid, giving the roof any desired pitch, sufficient to run off the water. Cloth known under the name of bur- laps, which is made of herap, is the best for this purpose. It is woven from one to six yards wide and is much used for oil floor cloths. That which is IJ yards wide is usually bought for about 14 cents per yard, but the widest is the best for roofing. It should be spread lightly over the roof and lapped at the seams and well tacked down with small pieces of cloth under the heads of the tacks, a few tacks should also be put in the middle to secure it from the wind until painted and finished. It should now receive a thick coat of paint j spruce yellow, or what is termed mineral or fire proof paint, costing but a few cents per pound, with linseed oil, makes a cheap, substantial paint. After the first coat of paint is laid on, small wood strips, half an inch square running up and down the roof should be nailed ou twelve or sixteen inches apart. Slim nails with small, neat points should be selected for the wood strips. Then one or more coats of paint should be applied. If the house is strong and the boards for the roof are well laid on, such a roof will oat- last the common shingle roof. Candles for Summer. Mrs. C. H. Price, of Ky., sends the fol- lowing item of household practice to the editor of the American Agriculturist: As I have just made some of the nicest tallow candles I ever saw, I will give my recipe for the benefit of young housekeepers. I bleached and hardened 34 pounds of very soft and yellow tallow and one pound of black beeswax by gently boiling the tallow out-doors in the sun two days, in two gal- lons of weak lye, stirring and skimming it often. Each morning I cut out the tallovv and scraped off the bottom that was soft and put in fresh lye, for two days. The third day I put in fresh water, in which was dissolved one pound of alum, one of salt- petre and a little blueing. After simmer- ing, stirring, skimming and straining it, it was as clear and white as sperm, and ready to dip. r : ,• l^-nj -TO liftfT^^FrTT^w;?*'^ I bleached my wick very white, and gently twisted it around small cane rods; allowing for one dozen candles to weigh two pounds, I put on wicks for fifteen dozen candles for the 34 pounds tallow. When the tallow was hot, I put halt an ounce of oil of bergamot in, which perfumed it sweet- ly. I then dipped the candles in the usual way, making them rather shorter for sum- mer, but as large as mould candles. When done, the end of the wick should be dipped in turpentine to cause them to light quickly, and the candles are ne plus ultra. Talk of a perfumed breath, it is iiot more agree- able than a perfumed caudle. (I think I deserve a patent for my invention, but I will give it to your readers gratis.) We dipped them in two hours, and did not have one drop of tallow on the floor! We had two or three pounds left — it is not well to dip too close. We dipped them twice over after cutting off the ends, and as the weathei*' was cool we boxed them immediately, to keep them^frora cracking, putting paper between each layer. I am sure they will be hard all summer, and as good as the star caudles. . -<•»- To Keep Butter Hard and Cool. A writer in the Scientific American re- commends to the ladies a very simple ar- rangement for keeping butter nice and cool in the hottest wef»iher. Procure n. large, new flower pot of sufficieut size to cover the butter plate, and also a saucer large enough for the flower pot to rest in upside down ; place a trivet or meat stand, (such as is sent to the oven when a joint is baked) in the saucer, and put on this trivet the plate of butter; now fill the saucer with water, and turn the flower pot over the butter, so that its edge will be below the water. The hole in the flower pot must be fitted with a cork; the butter will then be in what we may call an air-tight chambtr. Let the whole of the outside of the flower pot be then thoroughly drenched with water and place it in ascoola place as you can. If this be done over night, the butter will be as "firm as a rock" at breakfast time; or, if placed there in the morning, the butter will be quite hard for use at tea hour. The reason of this is, that when water evapor- ates, it produces cold ; the porous pot draws up the water, which in warm weather quickly evaporates from the sides and thus cools it, and as no warm air can now get at the butter it becomes firm and cool in the hottest dav. A Talk with Farmers' WiTes. Bread. — Dry bread, crusts, stale biscuit, etc., I always soak in warm water, mash fine, and mix with milk, when I make bread. The loaves will not be so white, but will be moister — besides, it is economical, and evey housewife must be saving, these hard times. All the cold potatoes that are not hashed with meat, come to our table the second time metamorphosed into light loaves of bread. Meat. — The best way to use pickled pork, if it is too salt, is to cut it in slices, and soak it over night in milk and water, then roll each piece in flour, and fry in a little butter, the same as fresh fish. It is nice for a change. Beans. — For laboring men at this season of the year, there is nothing more cutritious and wholesome; besides, there is no other food of which a little will go so far and do so much good. Boil them three hours in plenty of water, with a piece of pork to flavor them just right. Put in pepper as soon as they come to the boil ; when cook- ed, a lump of butter and some cream or good milk. The meat and butter generally makes salt enough. If there is plenty of soup about them, take them to the table in a deep dish lined with bread crumbs. Salt Fish. — My way of cooking salt fish, is to soak them well, then wrap and tie them in a piece of old thin white muslin, and boil them in plenty of water. Untie carefully, so they won't break to pieces, and season with butter and pepper. Rice. — My way of cooking rice, is to boil a pound or more until every grain is soaked through and swelled to its biggest, salt to the taste, and put it away in the coolest corner of the cellar. For supper, I pour cold thin cream well sweetened over it, and season with nutmeg or lemon. It is cheap and healthy food, and very good for children, but no better than Thickened Milk, made the good old way of rubbing an egg or two in flour, and then dropping the thickening into new boiling milk. Set away till cold, and pour over it sweetened milk or cream, and season the same as the boiled rice. One would be sur- prised at what a nice light dish it makes for a farmer's supper table. >•> Matrimonial Memorandum. — A gentleman who did not trust to his memory, wrote in his memorandum book — "Must be married when I get to town." 4*^ — B^. Regard the interests of others as well as your own. zssz SSI lpjipi],jfjl^Mi(i!ipi»ii.ii.n,,«»,W, ■u,i)i,.uiij.u«J)l*|!,!j^Jii|JJJ(^pp[yj^^ ■-« ■^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 183 EDITORIAL NOTICES. Mower and Reaper Trial. A trial of mowers and reapers took place near Salem, Marion comity, nnder the super- vision of the officers of the State Agricul- tural Society on Wednesday and Thursday, the 8th and 9th July. We learn that three combined reapers and mowers were put on trial,*^!!;: Brown's of Alton; Whiteley & Passler's, Springfield, Ohio; and Ruggs', Ottawa. Reapers, — Haynes & Hawley's, Pekin; and Flagg's, Bloomington. Also, Haynes & Hawley's Illinois mower. On Wednesday, all the reapers, with the exception of Haynes & Hawley's (called a header,) were on trial. They all performed well. All had their admirers. On Thurs- day, the Header was tried. It is a ponder- ous machine, but did its work well. In the afternoon, the combined mowers and the Illinois mower were put upon trial in a beautiful meadow of timothy. Every ma- chine stood up to its work nobly. There were differences of opinion in regard to the manner in which the mowing was done, — but while some performed better than others, • it was conceded that they all did good work- There was a deep interest .manifested by the spectators during the last trial. Every man present felt a glow of triumph on the success of American mechanical genius. Three of the inventors were present to work their machines. The whole trial passed off without a single unpleasant circumstance to mar the enjoyment it afforded. We cannot say which were the successful machines. Much calculation is required and many points are to be understood, such as, — cost of the machine, simplicity of con- struction to do its work; facility of manage- ment; durability and reliability; adaptation to cut at different heights; freedom from clogging; motive power required; labor in raking; rapidity of work; the manner of leaving wheat for binding; saving of grain in cutting, binding and handling, &c. All these points deserve careful consideration; and we learn that the decision of the com- mittee will not be made public until the next State fair. The committee speak in the highest terms of their kind reception by citizens of Marion, and the gentlemanly deportment of all those engaged in running the machines. To the credit of Southern Illinois be it spoken, that there was no liquor seen upon the trial grounds and not a case of intoxication was witnessed during their visit to Marion county. —•*- Preserving Fruit. Peaches, preseryed in cans or glass jara, ^are a great delicacy iu the seasons, when the fruit cannot otherwise be had. Within a few years past, large qaantities of this fruit have thus been preserved, and the practice is rapidly increas- icg. " Scarce a family can be found, when peaches are to be had, where this is not done. The following plan of preserving peaches in glass jars has been recommended: Take the peaches, either just ripe or fully ripe — this does not matter. Pare them, and if you desire to preserve them whole, throw them into celd water, as they are pared, to prevent them from losing color. When everything is ready, place them in the jar, adding merely as much sugar to each layer as is sufficient to render them palatable. Set the jar in a kettle of cold water and heat it, keeping the water ia a boiling state until the fruit becomes heated through. This will require, if quart jars are used, twenty min- ates, and larger jars longer. When heated sufficiently, seal at once. To do this the corks must be soaked ia water and put into the jars so as to make them air tight. Then the corks are to be covered with sealing wax, and it will still add to their security if a cloth of proper size, dipped in the sealing wax, should be passed over the cork and tied down on the neck of the jar, while the wax is warm. It is a point not to be lost sight of, that the jar should be air tight. It is not absolutely necessary to use sugar in this process, but, as it assists in the preservation of the fruits, they can be sealed at a lower tem- perature than if it is not used. As sugar is used to render the fruits palatable, there can be no objection to using it when preparing the fruit for family use, as it will, in any case, be neces- sary, and there is no reason why the sugar should not as well be used before the can is sealed, as afterwards. \ "■"^jc*",'-'' jF<'!'j'igl-'^y->'^J|«T-'"^ p|By»-v.,; ■-%^:rr.-v>ra'OT™js^ dents not provided for by the statute will- be charged tuition. Students are expected to be. present on the first day of the session. It is presumed that board will be furnished the students by the citizens of Bloomington at moderate rates. <•• " Monmouth, 111., July 25, ]85t. S. Pbancis, Esq. — I send you some statistics in regard to our Agricultural So- ciety. We call it "The Warren County Agricaltaral Society." It is incorporated under the late law, The Society last year purcliased and inclosed with a close fence, eight feet high, fifteen acres of land, about one mHe from the centre of the city. The olficers for the present year are as follows, to-mt: J. L. MILCflNER, Pres, EwshaKye, See.'. .,,,.,r,. ..,-■■,'.-;.,„. . EEXcuTirs coidattn. Jompli H K1t]}7 Jainu McCay . JohnG WUIaon Saiqiul WilUiMP John B. McQinnis Samuel Douglas Set&^Sttitlt'' ' WilBam Lafarty C L Ar msby C. L. Armsby, Treas. Trial of Mowers. The following is the Secretary's Report of the Reaper Trial on the Farm of the Hon. James Curtis two miles w^st of West TJrbana. Illinois, July 22nd, 1857:- v-rr^ About 9 o'clock, A. M,, we came on the ground selected for the Reaper Trial. It is field of winter wheat on breaking of last season, containing two hundred and fifty acres . That part situated for the trial stood well, was even throughout, and would turn fifteen to twenty bushels per acre. Mr, C. estimates it at fifteen bushels, while several good judges put it at twenty. The morn- ing was cool and cloudy, giving promise of a comfortable day for the trial. Quite a large number of farmers were ou the ground fat this early hour, and soon the machines that were to try th^ir prowess were seen coming over the rolling prairie. First, we have the Self-Raker of Seynidur and Morgan of Brockport, 'N. York, under charge of D. D. White, General Agent. It was drawn by two hories. The sickle is obtuse scolloped, sickle edged, cutting over cast guards. The cutting is four feet five inches, inside of guards. It has a side draft, but which is in part relieved by pla- cing the driving wheel outside of the ton- gue, and the driver's seat is so arranged as to make his weight also compensate, in part, for this arrangement. A laxge number of th^e machines have been sold by Mr. Bacon this season, and are giving excellent satisfaction. Thev are well made of good material, and do credit to their ma* kers who arc so well known for their Reap- ers, Grain Drills, and other valuable agri- cultural implements. It will be recollected that this Reaper took the first prize at the Bloomington Trial, held by our State Agri- cultural Society, in the harvest of 1854. Next, we have the centre-draft Machine of Gr. H. Rugg of Ottawa, Illinois, This is the one that wop so much a,pplaiise, both in wheat and grass, at the late toial at Salem. The sickle is obtuse scollo|>ed sickle edge, with very fine cerratures, and cuts six feet one inch inside of the guards, which are of wrought iron three-fourths of an inch square. Alonzo Lyons of XJrbuia, is the Agent having it in charge assisted by Mr. A. L. Yowel, who also operated it at the Salem and St. Louis trials. But few of these Machines have been soldherjB, and the general impression was against them on account of the position of the team, Had betting been the order of the day, large odds woald have been f^aiast it f ^^^_ . . . . _ li ■P!'*i^T^?W'!PPP *? -V-".,^*" 'J 'f*J'J'JJ'"^'!l"'**''WP' * .'; ■ in the morning, but it will be soon that be- fore the close of the trial that the odds were as largely in its favor. This was driven by two horses. Next came in line the automaton of J. S. Wright & Co., Chicago, under charge of W. C. Barrett & Co., West Urbana, Agents, and operated by Mr. Webster of Bloomington and Mr. Dexter. No one can see this machine in motion without admiring the life-like evolutions of the raking appar- atus, and regret that the giant genius of Atkins was so early stilled in death. But his name will long live when waves the ripened harvest, on the wide savanahs of the West. This has a scolloped sickle- edged, sickle cutting over wrought guards. It cnts five feet two inches inside of guards and was driven by four horses. Next came the Manny Reaper, by J. N. Boutwell, Agent West TJrbana, also driven by lour horses. Over sixty of these mach- ines have been sold by Mr. B. decidedly taking the lead ip this market and before the trial sharing with the Atkins Reaper the general admiration. The sickle is acute scolloped sickle edged, after the pat- tern of the Hussey Cutter, cutting over east guards, which are placed to an even sur- face, giving a close fit and enabling it to cut grass without clogging, with a smooth knife. Mr. Curtis entered one of Danford's Reapers, but it broke down early in the tri- al, and no record was made of its operation, A Reaper is made at Urbana but from some cause was not on the ground. Wheth- er the makers had no confidence in sustain- ing its reputation, in competition with machines of such world-wide reputation as those on the ground, or a lack of that public spirit laudable m such trials, we know not ; but we do know that a great many farmers were disappointed in its non-appearance. Lands were laid off, — 66 rods long and 12 rods wide containing five acres each. At about 11 o'clock the meeting of farmers was called to order by Mr. Curtis, and on motion, Col. Btuart- of Champaign County, was elected chairman, and M. L. Dunlap secretary. A committee consisting of J. Curtis, Archa Campbell, and Dr. Pearce were appointed to nominate an awarding committee of seven, who would take charge of the trial and report the proceedings. They nominated B. S, Buckley of Iroquois county ; Joseph M. Sallivant ; Dr. Page; Ezekiel Boyden;E. 0. Chester; P. Stead- ham and John S. Beasly, of Champaign county, such committee, — which nomination was adopted by the meeting. An adjourn- ment was then had for dinner, and most of the large number present availed themselves of the hospitality of Mr. Curtis, where they partook of an excellent dinner. For our part, we drove to the farm of Messrs. Kelly and Campbell, not only for the purpose of enjoying a good dinner, but to see the farm which is probably under the best manage- ment of any farm in the County. Onr old friend Campbell, always does up things to a T. whether selling laud, playing mine host at the Doane House, or farming. Last spring C. K. purchased this farm, con- taining 760 acres including the crops in the ground, for $34 acre, old fogies predicted that John would hold this a long time be- fore he would see his money; but before three months he had sold it for $40 per acre, retaining the crops and use of the farm to the next April. It is one of, if not the verv best, located and beautiful sites for a farm in this County,containing as it does so many advantage and adjoining the farm of Mr. Curtis on the north. The fine farms, crops consist of : so 25 200 SO 10 lO acres winter wheat, spring wheat, Com, Timothy Meadow CloTer " Rye, in which a droTe of hoga are flUing'themselTeB for the corn crops. A fine bear, leg orchard, garden, Ac, closes the catalogue. At 20 minutes past one o'clock the sig- nal was given for the machines to start, which they did in fine style, followed by a large concourse of farmers, mostly on horse- back. We followed on foot, intending to make a careful examination of the work of each. We first examined the work of the Atkins Reaper. The parties in charge fancy they are on a horse race where speed is the only consideration ; and the arm of iron, with its sinews of steel, is hurled through its evolutions to the discredit of a still, sober individual as it should be, and the consequence is that scatterings abound, and the bundles are made of all sizes de- pending on the growth of grain, while the clutch, that ingenious contrivance by the use of which the bundles are made of any size at the driver's pleasure, remaining in its place. We suppose the object of the Self- raker is to save labor, but in this case we cannot perceive it; when the bundles are small and unequal, requiring them to be doubled before binding thereby taking the time of an extra hand. We would like to see this noble machine used as intended by its inventor, walking majestically into the standing grain and with a deliberate and graceful sweep of its iron fingers, grasp a U -■sisE-'!%Jo^w'»' r-^^SB^^ipw-s^^s^^^™ *'W— ^V.^'*^^"**''^'*^ ■ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. rr^ 189 ;<"J">^ full grown bundle and quietly place it be- side the Reaper. No spasmodic twitching from til e driver's whfp making it scatter grain, is at all to our taste. This machine should be driven slow and steady when it will do first rate work, but it was never in- tended for horse raicing. '^ • '- Eugg's machine looks a little awkward^ like a great tumble spider, rolling up the sheaves which it does expeditiously and neatly, leaving a very" clean stubble. It is winning laurels, and the farmers are gather- ing about and hovering in its track. — "Didn't think the awkward thing would work so," was a common expression. It is driven by two horses, cutting six feet one inch inside the guards, laying down bundle j»fter bundle with a steady hand, all of which are of the right size for binding. They are laid so compactly that the binder can grasp them without extra effort. Manny's machine is evidently in the hands of experienced men, and doing itself great credit. It was taken out of an adjoining fieJd and not in first rate order, the sickle had been used some days without grinding, and one of the boxes was loose; bat the , cutting was excellent and raking almost as perfect as that of the Rugg's machine, — occasionally a few heads fall out of line, but this was mostly owing to the horse racing spirit that the driver was imbibing from the Atikns' machine. The silk was soon freely used on this team, and the race was fully under way. The Atkins' machine was five feet two inch^ inside of' guards and that of Manny's five feet five inches, — a round must be gained by the former if he won, — an ex- tra whipper volunteered for the Atkins' team, and the Oiler was soon begrimmed with oil and dust. On they drove, kicking up a cloud of dust amid the shouts of their respective friends, — sinews of steel and iron against those of flesh and blood; oil was pOur6d freely into the joints of the iron. Bake, and running down over the uncon- scious automaton, it was soon begrimmed and its polished beauty marred. Water was poured into the other as freely and ooz- ing otit from the thousand pores, the gather- ing dust soon disguised him, so that, but from his stalwart form, his own mother would not have known him. In two hours and twetity -minutes and the cloud of dust settled down, the last sheaf was cut by both machines at the same time, and the excited multitude became quiet and turned their at- tention to the other machines. Rugg's machine after cutting part of its work, fail- ed by the breaking of a spurr wheel which was cracked in driving it on the shaft, and not noticed until in the field. A new one was sent for, but only arrived in time to try the draft. ..-:?^:-:.:^^tK:...^tti^i^;;•^r'^yff^.^^ The Self Raker of Seymour & Morgan, which we have before called Old Shark Mouth, Irom the peculiar way in which it pounces on the bundle, was working stead- ily away, doing excellent work, but does not lay the bundles so compactly as from the hand rake, yet doing this part of the work much better than the Atkins' rake. It made many new friends and confirmed the wavering of old ones. It was drawn by two horses of ordimary fcize, and had no appear- ance of being in. hurry, but aiming at doing the work welL This, we think, the true way of making a fair triaUi y? ? "^^j^^ 7^ • . The machines, were then put in position to try the draft. Draft. Atkins c Manny S. & Morgan.. Kugg Width of / Time Rate cat in'de Am. of for 10 guards. cut. Cufg h's av. 5f Sin 5,00 2 20 21,44 6 5 5,00 2 20 21,44 6 5 4,44 245 16,15 4 1 2,20 0 56 23.57 SSOlbs 426 lbs 400 lbs 860 lbs Rugg's machine was driven at a fair moderate pace, and having a wide cut, the raker couldl sweep his bundle off without much interference of the falling grain. This must account for the superior form of the bundles, as- the raker was a new hand, and as it could not be attributed to superior skill. Mr. Lyon contended that the draft would have been much less had the machine been worked a day or two to get the ma- chinery smooth. In this he was probably correct as Mr. G. does not put on as nice a finish as he might or should do, both for his own credit, or the value of the machine. Taking this machine as a standard of speed, the Atkin's machine would cut twenty acres in ten hours, which, we think, no team can do with it, judging from the trial. Taking the same standard, Seymour & Morgan's would cut 17 11-100, but its actual cutting was less, the higher draft probably making the differ- ence. Manny's would cut in the same time twenty-one acres. But it is evident that the Rugg machine on trial will cut an aver- age wider swath than either of the others as compared with the measurement inside of guards. The cutting of all the machines was first rate, the difference being in time of cutting, draft, raking, and binding. It appears that what is gained by the Self- raker in raking is lost in binding, by not having the bundles of full size and placed compact ho as to be bound readily. S£ J itsm The farmers shonid be proud that so many excellent machines are offered to them, and the competition growing oat of it among different makers, will also tend to their advantage. The Committee proceeded to make up the award and first balloted on the Self-rakers. The Atkins Reaper having five votes and Seymour & Morgan's two. The next vote was between Rngg and Manny, when Rugg's machine received seven votes. The next vote was, on the question, all thing!) con* sidered, which is the best Reaper. On this Ru^g had five and Atkins, two. We cannot but look upon this trial as of more practical importance than the late trial at Salem. The same number of machines were used ; the work in all respects was superior. The Committee went at their woik with system and performed their duties with a staid impartiality that is high- ly creditable. ^ In making"^ this Report the Committee are not responsible for the language or opinions offered, only so far as their action is indicated. We have taken the liberty to make it more lengthy than was perhaps necessary for a trial Report, but looking upon this trial as one rather of equity than than of law, we have entered more largely than we shonid otherwise have done in the premises. We were directed by the Committee to hand this Report to the AgricuUural Press, published at West TJrbana, and that through it the local papers, friendly to the cause of agricultural progress, be requested to give it a place in their columns. All of which on behalf of the Commit- tee, we respectfully submit to the reading public, and that power behind the throne through whom Reaper builders make or lose a fortune. M. L. DUNLAP, Scc'ry. July 23, 1857. To-day, in company with Mr, Chase, Ed- itor of the Agricultural Press published in West TJrbana, and J. N. Boutwell, Agent for Manny's Reaper, we examined several machines where they were at work in the field in the ordinary condition, as used by the farmer. No notice was given, and no preparation of the machines could be had to better fit them for the test. Frist, we tried the draft of the Grain and Grass Har- vester, made by Messrs. Sylla & Adams, of Elgin, Kane county, which is owned by us. This machine is novel in its construc- tion, as it is so arranged that the binders Cthree of them) ride on the machine, the raker raking them alternately a hnndle-. each, while a platform extending back top ceives the bundles, until about a dozen acr cumulates when by pushing a lever the plati- form cants down letting the bundle^ alide off, and a spring then brings it back in place. It was cutting in heavy wheat, cut- ting five feet,and tequired four hutidrea and seventy-five ponnds. Three men haye nd difficulty in binding; nearly or quite the | labor of one hand is saved in shocking* If this machine will not do as much work aOr some others, [t hat the quality of sating' more grain, and doing the work bettel:,! than any other machine. We are not aVrare that any of these machines are now mad$: or sold; this and one in Coles county are the only ones of the kind that have found their way into this section of the country.' The next was an Atkin's machine on the farm of John Walkington, adjoining the TJrbana Nursery. This was working with three horses, and Mr. W. says cutting 13 to 15 acres per day. The draft wa8.450' lbs. This machine was doing excellent work in heavy wheat, that will probably^ turn thirty bushels to the acre. We niext went to the fields of Messrs. Carle and Thomas, in which is a thousand acres in one field, about dozen machines were cutting ia this field, the first of which we tried was the Urbana Reaper, made by Wilson & Rob- inson. The measure inside the guards it five feet nine inches, draft 316 pounds in wheat of twenty bushels per acre, does ex- cellent work and runs easy. A hand raking reaper, of Seymour & Morgan's Patent was tried, cutting inside of guards, six feet, with a draft of 325 pounds, doing the work to a charm. Thd raking is well done, and stubble quite credit- able. A two horse machine of Manny's owned by Mr. Archer, measuring inside of gaards feet,, required 450 pounds. This Was a last year's machine, and not in the be^t order. Another machine, of same si^, owned by E. Fierce, of this year's make, worked 375 pounds, and a four horse Manny machine of five feet five inches* draws 425 pounds; all of these machines, did good work, satisfactory to the owners, The Seymour & Morgan patent works re^ markably easy, and its owner, Mr. Carie, was delighted with it. All of these nuft'! chines were drawn by four horses or mnleis, and no farmer here thinks of putting 09 l^^f , than three or four horses, even on the^^ machines. It is probable that spring Whieat cuts easier than winter whest^. trii^4iii^- TSS ^aJiIN(HS FABMEB. 191 account for the very common practice of ns- -ingT)riy two torses to the small size reap- ers in ^ ^he north pjttrt.of t^^^ State, where raring sf|i^i'^"|{^ in cutting 'iWit: neairy winter wheat <» this section, two |#ih0^ ifliqiijl^ m^ hf^idway with the great.majqpity (^ reapers. We leave liiiB ful^isiy^ ,wiih its weight of &ct8 subject to the criticism and deduQtlpas Qf thp farm- ii|g p«!^;.for onrsdf we have no pet reap- er whose clj^m we |ri|h tp^fdYOcate^ bat feel lost ,prihat the swelliog I^alme, on which now glitters the golden harvest, has received so many valuable gifts from the hand of genius, to eoAble as to gather in |rith jiajsiil pur vast harvest, wMch otherwise wcmid XiBtuin much of its lich burden back ^arjtl&^h^ gave it. M. L. DUKLAP. iMi^ 3^Tidiig PedluL Mr. l!siTOR:— We are certainly favored with Eastern tree p6dlars. We have laws against persons goin^ about in pur State find lewhg goods on samiples presented. Our legislators think such a practice not only favors impositiph pa pur people gener- idly, but takes business frpm those who pay taxes and support our institutions, iEind glveilt to those who have no farther inter- i^st p>^t stores, and there farmers can see them and take their choice. Yast improve- ments hare been made since drills were in- iQint^, and it is not anreasooable to sup* pp^e^at the Hrat drills made, or poor drilb, aire put on to those farmers who buy them pa the recommendation of peddlers. We have mea engaged in growing and selling trees, living in our State, who have come here to make a living out of the busi- ness, and who are responsible for the good- nesf of the trees and for the varieties they 9€^; and justice to them, as well as safety to our farmers, require these nursery men to be patronized. They s^ their fine trees, growa in Pur soil, h.igsv mh ^better, than do thepeddlars. The same general fact can be stated in regard to drills. No man should buy one without comparing the different kinds, and ascertaining for himself which is best. "One who has bebk bittkh." -i.,«t.. How TO Skt Cabba«e PLA.KT8.— ^nder a borniog sun, it is aemetimes difficult to make the yoaog plants live. The rainj^ day, so much coveted for this parpose, is sometimes a stranger for two or three weeks, and moeh time is lost upon the crop. With proper eare the plants may be pat oat and live, even in dry weather. The best time, if a rainy day canaot be had, is jast at evening. The seed bed trota which the plants are to be taken, lAoald be thoronghly satarated with water to ^e depth ofttereeor four inches. Then by taking up the plants geutly with a small spade or trowel, a baU ot earth will adhere to eaeh plant, and if put oat carefally they will lire and soon become esta- blished. They should be watered as soon as set oat to settle the dirt aronnd the roots. If the san comes eat very hot it is: a good plan to put a green leave of pie plant, burdock or cab- bage, over them by day, removing it at night. By Bianaging^ in this way, ninety-nine in a hundred of good plants will Uvs. Neverietcab- bages in groond mannred wk^titaowteats of the pig sty. '•-;.'■;/-'. — --:--•;'■ The PioNSEBs OF the Lead Beoion. — It is proposed that the pioneers of the lead Be^on of Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa unite on a jubi lee sometime tiiis season at such time and place as would be the most convenient, and compare reminiscenses of their struggles, success and disappointments in the mines. ,,, adi -riar: — ,^.j- -fc^j-i'^-i^BE^ -M- 192 THE ILLINO IS FARMER. !!!■'.'•' ?-;7 MtH' .'hi' Vii.ll i'iii COMMERCIAL. Spriugfield Market. >^ OmCX OF CHE iLUNOIt Fakmxk ) Angnat 6, 1867. S FLOUR— Extra white, $8 50;8uperfine$8 00; common *7 60 WU£AT— In demand. Kew|l 10; White $1 20. CORN— Saleg at 40@60ctB. ^ bu.; white ihaUed for bread, eocu. OATS— Sales at 42@60 cts. bo. HIDES— Dry flint 14 f) lb. BRAN— 15 cts. Vbu. SUORTS— fine, iOO f» cwt. CHICK£NS— $2 00 ^ dos. TURKBYS— None ONIONS— $2 fk bn. POTATOES— $1 25; new $2 ^ bn. APPLES— Dry $3 50@$4. BDTTER— 15@-20 cts.^ ft. CHEESE— 11 cts. ^ ft. EGM3S— 12@12»^cti.|idoz. , HAY- $6 1» ton. CORN MEAL— 80c. ^ bn. HAMS-Smoked 15@16;^c ^ ft. MOLASSES— 80@S5c '^ gal ; sugar house $1. GOLDEN SYRDP— $1 20@1 26. SUGAR— Brown, 12@16c » lb. TALLOW-10@12c ^ lb. BACON SHOULDERS— 10@12o. SIDE MEAT— 13@15c fk lb. LARD— 12@15c. BEANS— 3 50 per bush. COPFEB— Rio,14@16)^cii ft; Javal8®20c. RICE— 8@10c CLOVER SEED— $8@10 "er bu; Timothy, $3}^@4. CANDLES— TaUow 15@20; Star 30@35c per ft. PEACHES— Dry $4 50. SALT— G. A: $2 25 Flonr 5c better in com. grades. Sales 5,000 bhla at (&26(^ 0 50 for superfine state; $6 70@6 80 for extra do; $6 20@ 6 50 for superfine western; $6 6(>@7 for common to medium extra do; Canadian, steady; sales 300 hbla at (S 86®8 60 for huper fine; $6 80@9 for extra. Wheat firmer, salea 8,000 bushels; $1 44>^; Chicago, spring; $1 51@1 53 Mil club, and $1 90@2 06 ne«r ired and white southern. < Byedoill, $1 10@1 13. Cora market lower; salea 15,000 hushels, 86^^B8}^cfor mixed w estern . ■••iMtV' ''. t Oats fi;rmer, 60@06 for state and westeraL ProTis: ions— Pork market firmer; sales 200 bbft; t3A:20& 24 35 m< iss; $19 50@19 60 prime. Beefst.eady. Cut m eats firmer. h • . ! .< ii Lard better; sales 800 bbls 15Vg@165^c. Whisky— sales 400 bbls; 31 J^. Stocks are duil and all down. Money firm with good demand and supply. Sterling exchange $1 09^i8 firm ; C & R I 95c; I C 99i^c; M 8 49c; NYC 6b-85; Mo 6's 80; Lacrosse & Mil. 32J^c; G i ;C 95J^c; Erie 35c; OAT 69i- New Orleans Market— July 31. Cotton firm. Sales 900 bales at 14^®16c ; sales last week 4300 bales. Rio Coffee — 10}^@llc; prime llj^c; sales last week 690 bags ; stock in siore, including that at quarantine, 11S,000 bags. Mixed Corn— 75@80c. Mess Pork— $24 ; stock in port 12,500 bbls ; shoulders lie. Freight on cotton to Liverpool 7J^ ; to Havre lo. - • Sterling Exehange — 10 sliiUings. i ..if} —* . ■ .'[,.. St. I8i4c. Shippers pay 6J^@7c and the demand limited. Sheep — Light stuck offering and demand limited at prices rangiug frnm $1.25 to $3f^head, according to quality. Lambs sell at $1.55 to $2 25. Cows and Calves sell at $25@45 ^ head and demand light. New York Cattle Market— July 30. The market at Forty-fourth street was abundantly srip. plied with Beeves to-day. In addition to 2,646 firesh cattle received during the we.'tk, there were some 150 head remain ing from last week's sales, making the real supply 2,900 head. The footings at all the markets give 3,317 fresh cattle, against 2,963 for the previous week. The (oUowing shows from what States the supply of beef cattle at AUerton's cajne : New York 334 Kentucky.. 109 Ohio 486 Indiana...; 673 IlUinois 1014 ' . The current prices for the week at all the markets are as follows: BEir CATTLI. First quality. ^ cwt ».... $n.50@12.00 Ordinary 10.00@11.00 Commcn 8.60@ fr.50 Inferior 7.50@ 8.00 General spiling prices 9.5Q@1Q.50 Average of all >i?• For a few days past, says Thompson's Bank Note Reporter, the call for land warrants has been quite active, and caused an kdvance; but the supply now is about equal to the de- mand. We now (July 27) quote: Warrants. Buying. Selling. 40 acres $1.10 1 15 80 do 85 ' 1 00 120 do 91 , , 95 160 do 96 99 Chlcao^o Cattle Market— July 20tli. Cattle — ilarket for common beeves is dull. Good fat cattle will bring $4 50@'> "p! IOO tos gross, though 60 bead of very fine cattle averaging some 1,2UU fts, sold to a city butcher at about $4 50 ^ lOU ft^. Hogs — The range for fathog8i8$6@6grosS;Wlthfew sales. Sheep — They are dull sale at . ■■i JIP^WW^^^I^T^Sr^vf*;;*^ rj^sR^.???^-; «.^ ,. I I ^mr"" -;i j.iwt«i-jy SIK- -- .' ^4ii * THE ILLINOIS FAMEK: jji^'-rfea ■'*- i>Af^ SIMEON FRANCIS, Editor. BAILHACHE: & BAKER, Pitblishsbs. f*Ol. 2, SEPTEJflBEn, 1857. JVto. 9, Inventors. We can scarcely take up a paper at this time which does not contain accounts of the trials of mowers and reapers. We have now lying by us notices of the trials of these machines in St. Louis, in Indiana, Ohio, Maryland and New York. New ma- chines have been presented for trial, and with few exceptions, it seemed to be ad- mitted that the new inventions, in Eome par- ticulars, had advantages over the old. Per- fect AS the old inventions have appeared to us, it is not doubted that, to borrow the lan- guage of the inventor of "Brown's reaper and mower" — "other inventions and im- provements will follow until the farmer can attach his horses to a reaper or mower, with as much certainty that it will perform its work well, as be now does when he at- taches his horses to his wagon or plow." These trials and those which will follow, will test the value of the new as well as the old machines. At the recent trials great admiration has been expressed with the performances of the machines on trial. The farmer saw how much mechanical genius and science had done to lessen his labors in harvesting his grain and grass crops. Illinois Farmers -could realize, that without these machines, their immense grain crops could not be secured. There are not laborers enough in Illinois to cut the wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet and grass, by the old mode of using the sickle, cradle and scythe. The agri- cultural machinery of this State — including thrashers, drills, broadcast sowers, horse rakes, &c — supply the place of an hundred thousand laborers. This machinery does more for our State than all the slave popula- tion of Missouri does for its owners. We were glad to see that at one of the trials noticed, the hard-plodding, the la- borious, the patient, the untiring, the worthy mechanies, who have brought into existence the agricultural machinery of the country, were not forgotten. And, indeed, they never should be forgotten by our right- hearted farmers. The history of oar Illinois mechanics, who have successively brought into notice, "Manny's reaper and mower," "Atkin's self-raking reaper and mower," "M'Cormick's . reaper and mower," (this last machine was perfected in Illinois,) "Rugg's reaper and mower," "Haine's harvester," Brown's reaper and mov\rer," "Flagg's reaper," — their first efforts, their frequent disappoint- ments, their renewed efforts under great dis- couragements, and their final success — would be deeply interesting to those who can feel a sympathy in their struggles, in poverty, in opposition to the views of friends, and even, sometimes, when they almost lost confidence in their own powers to accomplish the object of their toils; Hon. Marshal P. Wilder, President of the United States' Agricultural Society, at the recent trial of reapers and mowers at Syracuse, New York, delivered an address, in which he thus paid the homage due to the inventors and manufacturers of our agri- cultural machinery: Reaping machines were in use in England towards the close of the last century. Since that period many improvements have been made and patents have been secured, but no very marked progress had taken place until towards the middle of the present century. A new era then commenced, and the entry of our American machines in the Loudon fair, awoke and directed to improve- ^'PJS'Wlw'T^^^JwppiipppB'l 194 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. meat in thisdepartmeot, the inrentiye gen- iosfof America andEnrope. Much titne, experience, and large expend- iture have been involyed in the production of improved implements of husbandry. Consider for how many centuries capital, science and practice have been at work to produce our present model ploughs. ,But the dispatch of our time requires a more rapid inarch towards the culminating point of excellence in this department of human indtssitj. The importance of labor-saving machines to the cause of American agriculture, it is scarcely possible to overrate, and the de- gree of excellence which we have already attained is a distinguished national honor. What American does not feel a generous pride in the success of these implements at | th» great Industrial Fairs of Europe, especially in our ploughs, reapers and mow- ers, distaneipg all competition, and exciting the astonishment and admiration of the world? For these hon(yj8 we would not forget our special obligations to you, gentlemen, the inventors and manufacturers of these imple- ments. We welcome you as the authors and almoners of these blessings, as the benefac- tors of mankind. Yon have promptly and generously responded to our call, and have come np'here as "Greek met Greek," in the ancient Olympic games. It was not the simple sprig or wreath of myrtle which fired their ambition, but the love of appro- bation, the desire to inscribe their names upon the roll of fame. But you are here for higher and nobler purposes, to relieve the fatigue of labor, to aid the conquest of mind over matter, to ameliorate the con- dition of your fellow-men, to make valuuble contributions to the cause of civilization and improvement. Those who shall be crowned with success in this exhibition, we trnst will bear mind that it is not the intrin- sic, but the relative value of t^ese national prizes which gives them pre-emment import- ance. Those who obtain no other prize, will certainly enjoy the high satisfaction of increasing an honorable competition, multi- plying facilities for improvement, and brightening the prospect of victory, on the rettirn of our next annual contest. N«W !Patint3. — Among the list of new pat-* esib isBued from the Patent Office last week, are the following : Grain Saparators — Amasa Curtis, of Lena, Illinoia. Corn Harvesters — Israel Dodenhoff, of Bloomington, Illinois. Grop> in Illinois. When it was found in spring that nearly the whole crop of winter wheat was destroy- ed in Central and Northern Illinois, — and added to this, a spring of unusual coldness and backwardness, our farmers were almost appalled by the prospect before them. It was, indeed, discouraging. The broad fields which they expected to see covered with grain, were as bare as the lands of the desert. But they went to work — procured all the spring wheat for seed possible — sow- ed this seed, — sowed barley, oats, flax seed, corn, millet; — the spring season was coid, backward, — but this weather, which kept the corn back, was just that required for the spring grains — and the result is, that we have now matured and harvested most wonderful crops of spring wheat, barley, oats, flax and millet — (the two last crops small in amount, because little seed was sown;)— and when the spring crops had ad- vanced to a point beyond great danger, the weather became excellent for corn, and we have now in prospect a far greater and bet- ter crop of corn than was ever grown in Illinois! From a well-founded calculation by the Chicago Press, taking into consideration all the facts of increase of population, in- crease of land cultivated, increase of pro- ducts to the acre, the Press arrives at the following result as to the production of grain in the State of Illinois for the present year: Production of Illinois, 1857. Indian Corn, bnsheU .-. 190,000,000 Wheat, bn 35.000,000 Oate, Rye, Barley and Buckwheat, bu 60,000,000 Total bushelB 220,000,000 We are aware, says the Press, that ihese figures will startle by their magnitude many of our readers ; but those of our own citi- zens, who are familiar with the productive capacity of the State, and who are aware of the impulse which railroads, agricultural machinery and high prices of breadstuffs have given to agricultural industry, will not be disposed to question their accuracy. If any one, however, either at home or abroad, is disposed to have doubts upon this sub- ll5«??iRy?5wr»!rw5r'ir?»'x^-r?^«7?^?'';yT55BP^^ Ss^Wff-WJ. v>«w;m»«iii, i,p«.imi!»«.i.i- . **'»»9'*^!*'»iW .-'•''. ,ttiU:l'i!lW?e5!!S'S!<"''''?'T 1 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 195 1 ject, let him in addition to what has al- ready been said above, consider what fol- lows. After some other comparative tables, tending to show that the above figures are not up to the ratio of former increase, the Preys proceeds to bring more surprising evidence. In 1850, the aiea under cultivation within the State of Illinois was 5,039,545 acres. There were little over 12,000,000 acres under fence, but only the foregoing area was actually under cultivation that year, a year of depression and of short crops. If we deduct from this area the amount de- voted to meadow, to orchards, to turnips, potat^oes and gardens, we shall have proba- bly 3,600,000 acres of corn, wheat and oats, and by the census returns this area gave a total yield of 77,232,184 bushels, or an average of about twenty-two bushels per acre. At the present time there cannot be less than 12,000,000 acres under cultivation within the State, of which we suppose at least 10,000,000 are devoted to grain. We have already stated that the yield per acre in 1849, was unusually small, and that the yield this year is about the average. But in 1842 the average of wheat, oats and corn was about twenty two bushels per acre ; this year it will certainly not be less than thirty bushels per acre. If this esti- mate is not too high, then the production of this year should be 300,000,000 bushels, which is fifteen million bushels in excess of oar estimate. What is here shown by pei'fectly conclu- sive facts in regard to Illinois, may 'with like ease, to a considerable extent, be establish- ed in the case of every Western State. They are all marked by the most amazitg growth in population, and increase of pro- duction. They are all turning out an in- calculable yield on the capital and labor em- ployed in them; and the "West" will show a heavier dividend, this year, in corn, wheat and oats, in beef and pork, and in railroad earnings — yes, and in "corner lots," too— than has been made on capital anywhere else invested in the civilized world. Importance of Attention to tlie Breeding of Stock. The Gardeners' Chronicle, London, gives some excellent advice,- throagh a corres- pondent, Willonghby Wood, on this sub- ject. It is^ equally important in America as in Great Britain. The points insisted on are: 1st, The propriety of using none but a pure bred ball to improve a herd: 2d, The stock to be liberally kept daring the first year. "Bad breeding and early starvation, are the two main causes of deter- ioration among stock, and ought to be abandoned, along with undrained land, foul crops and crooked fences, as relics of an age less enlightened than the present." The contrast between good and bad man- agement in breeding cattle is thus graphi- cally urged by Mr. Wood: ^ "He who wishes to lose by breeding," says Mr. Wood, "has only to follow the ex- ample of Mr. Thriftless, who buys at hazard any animals he may see at market, being guided solely by their nominal cheapness. He disregards the indications of breed, and pays no attention to nniformity of charac- ter, provided he has to. pay a trifle extra for the qualities. Health and strength of constitution he considers as utterly unworthy of notice. When he has got together a heterogeneous assemblage of cows of all breeds and crosses, the next step is to find a bull. Here again, cheapness being the main consideration, he takes the first male animal which a neighbor offers him. He makes no inquiry as to pedigree, because 'he is not one of your fancy breeders.' For a similar reason, he is contented to overlook the most glaring defects of shape, and the fatal absence of quality. He deludes him- self with the idea that the worthless mongrel is eheap, whereas, in reality, he is dear at any price. "Thus does Mr. Thriftless glide down the easy slopeof ignor ance and indolence, until after the lapse of years, he finds, to his m- tonishment, that no entreaties wHl induce customers to buy his weedy, raw-boned mongrels, while they are eagerly contending for the thriving stock of his neighbor, Mr. Thoughtful, who has pursued a course in every respect the opposite to that whith has entailed such heavy losses uptfh Mm. "Mr. Thoughtful had a few gd cows, of the ordinary Short Horn breed, on ^is farm, which he considered as well adapted for producing promising stock as they bad =? -T'" pro^-ed themselves for filling the milk pail — having discarded all which did not answer to this description, he neglected no oppor- tunity of filling their places with others of a similar character, and thonght little of giving a couple of pounds or so, over the market price for such as come up to his standard. But while he deemed liberality to be sound policy, whenever he recognized superior shape, high quality, and superior blood, he carefully avoided paying extra for mere condition, which was the result of high keep — for he possessed that rarest and most money making of all qnalificatioos, the power of discerning merit in an animal when out of condition "Aj'vp^'*>j-»"»T-7-w^^ ^" ^^ -J!t»*»**T"!!J*S-' ■"■'^.silili* \ 1 1 l! seed. Yoa caa tell by examiiing it wha'.- its condition is. If the seed is good in other respects, bat is foul, clean it yourself. But be sure to have it clean at all events. 4th. Reject seed tliat has been kept damp, or has been heated. Seed that Las suffered eitlier cr both of these injuries may germinate, bat it has lost a pa t of its vital- ity, and should never be used for seed it better can possibly be secured. 5t,h. Do not sow mixed seed on the same ground. Let the seed of one sowing in the same field be of one kind alone.. You will thus know what kind you are growing, -and be able to compare results, with an approach towards accuracy. (Jth. If possible, u-ever sow seed which j is more than one year, or at most, two i years old. Old seed may grow well. But ' it may not. Prudence will suggest that j seed should be u>sed before it has been ex- : posed to decay, to insects, to dampness, or ; Lo other injurious agencies. Experience ; has taugl'.t thai> some of these are likely to : ^irg'iire the kernel, if it is kept after the first , year. j One way to get good seed is to select the cleanest and best spot in your wheat field; j where the grain grows most perfectly and is i most mature. Then harvest and thresh \ these portions separately, with the greatest '■ care, and save the seed for sowing. Pur- i sue this course for a number of years, and you will produce what will seem to be a new Viiriety of wheat. But it will only be the same, developed and perfected in a higher degree. This operation for securing good eeed will pay in every department of farming and gardening. A good mode of preventing smut is the following: Spread seed w'heat on the barn floor. Upon four bushels of wheat dash from 12 to 16 quarts of human urine. Stir the whole well together, Then add about six quarts of fresh slacked lime, and ihovel the wheat over till the lime is evenly dif^ fused in the wheat. It should be sown as soon after this preparation as practicable; .for a long delay would injure its vegetative powers. This mode of treating seed wheat is deemed, in England, a specific against smut. It has been practised in America also by some wheat growers, who say it has been uniformly successful. Tar water will answer instead of urine, and is prefer- red by many. »♦>— fl@»"Waiter, if you call this bread order me a brick. I want something softer." . ^0, : . B^vMany complain of neglect ■who never tried to attract regard. The Nursery Business. Of all the avocations in society, there is none more responsible than that of the nar- seryman. In the various kinds of business pursued by our fellow men there is more or less opportunity for deceit and fraud. In the Nursery business there are peculiar fa- cilities for deception. The purchaser de- pends entirely upon the . representation of the Nurseryman, as it regards the varioas trees and plants which he obtains. If t'le Nurseryman is an honest and intelligent man and has managed his business with the strict- est system, having his grounds so arranged as to have each variety of fruits and plants in its separate department, and has also given his personal attention to the grafting budding, &c., of the different varieties, so there shall be no chance for mixture or confusion, then, we say, the purchaser may and will obtain the varieties of fruit trees, &c., he desires. But if the nurseryman is not honest and lets his business run to loose ends, depending upon the help he hires, the purchaser will be disappointed. And what disappointment can be greater than for one to purchase a large collection of fruit trees, prepare the ground and plant them with the greatest care, watch over aud nurse them year after year, trim and train them into nicely formed trees, with expectations that they will repay him for all the care and anxiety bestowed npon them, and hoping in the evening of life to enjoy the fruits that have been cultiva- ted and nourished by bis own hands, and as he thinks be is about, to enjoy them, finds that he has been deceived. That the mon- key paid for the trees has been squandered and worse, that the use of the ground, the labor be?towed upon them, have been lost, that the affection which had been formed from his long intercourse with them must be turned into hate, and the trees in all their beauty must be cut down because they do not bear good fruit. Instead of the finer varieties of fruits which he bargined for. he finds he has only the poorest seed- ling trees. What must be the feelings of a man, we ask, to find that he has been so outrageously deceived by bis nnrsery- man ? His work must all be done over again, But the next trees we warrant will come from a man whose word can be relied upon. Now this is no fancy sketch. — Cases like these we have heard of repeated- ly- The above, froiu tiu- Valley Farmer, is well aaid. We ari> aware that our farmers, in this fast State, hiive little leisure on their »-,,.!■» .jpw. i,.,|.;ui,i|»|iiii .n^lgJllJjJ^iJiiFii'H .-in.i^,j|i , J I , ,1 »^Ljp, ii^nspwstM 198 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. hands. Hence they credulously listen to the tales of tree-pedlars; and pay their money for stocks of trees, at high prices, on the bare word of men who are here to-day and gone to-morrow. They can buy any variety of trees from these men. They are sometimes known to transform an apple tree into a cherry, with just the label the appli- cant desires. When their eastern stocks of trees are exhausted, they sometimes supply themselves with the refuse stock of our nur- series. - We say to the farmers of Illinois, that we have as good nurseries in our State as there are any where; that they are con- ducted by responsible men, who will send trees true to the name; and all must be aware that trees grown in our soil are better fitted for planting out here than those brought from a distance and much in- jured before they arrive. If our readers desire fruit trees and will send us orders, we will forward such orders, to be filled, by responsible nurserymen of our State. -••»- The Chinese Sngar Cane. There was a good deal of the seed of the Chinese Sugar Cane planted in the spring, in this and the neighboring counties. Generally it promises well. Some has al- ready attained the height of eight feet. Wm. G. Cantrall, Esq., of Oantrail's Cr^ek, has already some of this height (August 5,) Many inquires are made for mills to express the juice. It is not expected that persons who have a small patch can afford to purchase good and effective mills at a cost of $110. Mills must be got up cheaper than such to make experiments. The lamented- Mr. Ortb, of Wabash coun- ty, informed us that his mill for making his first experiments cost $10; — that it was made of wood, and precisely in the form of the old cider mill, only the cylinders were smooth. We have an abiding confidence that good molasses can be made of the juce of the Chinese Sugar Cane. We have seen many specimens of such, and know that the mo- lasses was fine. But every one will not succeed in making molasses. We like the following remarks of the Pennsylvania Farm Journal on this point — There will be a multitude of disappoint- ments, or all the past has taught us no- thing. Some may make sugar out of it — some may make syrup — some will get mo- lasses, and some a stuff which neither men, dogs nor mules would like to own — and some will get just nothiag at all. Some will fail because failure is inevitable in their circumstances — some because some men al- ways fail, and some because they have no suitable light on the subject. Why should there not be failures, even though the thing be as good as claimed? Do not some men fail iu taking care of a flock of sheep, or in running a Reaper, or in churning butter? How much more ia a new thing, the suitable-! nes3 ot which to our climate is yet to be proved? Still, some men will succeed, and ultimately with more experience, knowledge and care, all may succeed. « Messrs. Hedges, Free & Co., of Cincinnati, are mauatacturing mills for expressing the juice from the cane, and also boilers or pans for evaporating it. Their circular will be interest- ing to those who are grovving the cane, and others who are looking to its oultivatioa in the north for supplies of the saccharine. Strawherries. August and September are suitable months for setting out new strawberry beds, and if the plants are set out well, in prop- erly prepared ground, they will he likely to produce some fine fruit next summer. The ground should be enriched with rotten stable manure, and if trenched two feet deep it will be the better. Plant out immedi- ately after a rain and when the weather is cool, if possible. Put the plants about nine inches apart, and after bearing next sum- mer take ont half the original plants. The plants should be in good order when put out. Mr. M. L. Dunlap, at his nursery at West Urbana, 111., has three varieties of the strawberries, the most hardy kinds, and which ripen successively through the whole strawberry season. He says that he has tried numerous vairieties and has dis- carded all but these. They can be sent BfBPFJ^'^P?!^Tv=!P?'f5?f«-^t-~'-~"*;T ■r^^^T'^r^gB^^fw'Tii'iF^^TiS? "("SJ-.'-*, "I*-!''' ^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. from his nursery, by express, to all the principal points of this State. Every farmer should have a strawberry bed. We annex communications on this "straw- berry'' subject, from the Pioneer strawberry cultivators in Cincinnati and IS'ewark, New Jersey: CiNciXNATi, July 12, 1857. Editor Western Farm Journal: Sir — In the publication, in which the strawberries I sent to your Horticultural Society, is named, the root containing 104 berries, is called the McAvoy Superior. It was the Extra Red, which I deem the most valuable to cultivate for market, from its great beauty of color, large crop, and uniform good size. In aroma, flavor, and size, I deem that McAvoy's Superior has no pistillate rival. That where raised for family use, it has no competitor. But is too soft to carry, even one or two miles, except in a spring wagon. I had a crop of Wil- son's Albany Seedling in fruit this season. My impression is, that it will be a valuable market fruit. It is hermaphrodite, and my impression is, that it will bear a full crop of perfect fruit, and proves, as our Prolific does, that from seed, we may raise a chance seedling, perfect in both male and female organs. We have never seen one of its perfect character from England, where they hold to the doctrines of the great Linneeus, J;hat all strawberry plants, are perfect in Doth male and female organs; that a plant entirely defective in stamens, or one entirely defective in pistils does not exist. Yet,where we raise seedlings, hermaphrodites, like angels' visits, are "few and far between." They believe if we have such plants, in their soil and climate, they would change their character. The justly celebrated Mr. Downing, published that this change had taken place in his garden. I shall believe these statements to be true, as soon as the Boston spiritual committee allows me to be- lieve in spiritual rappings. Until they do, I shall believe that Mr. Downing had |a "strange bull jump into the pen." Mr. Boyden, of Newark, New Jersey, has a new hermaphrodite seedling, that I saw in fruit, recently iu his garden. It is of extra large size, great vigor of growth, and ripens later than other plants, and appeared to bear a full crop. Seth Boyden ranks as their first inventive, manufacturing genius, and lead- ing horticulturist. I had them iu bearing this spring. I called on him last spring, to buy plants. He refused to sell, but insisted on giving me all I wanted. I was com- pelled to yield. He has been recently in- duced to sell. His integrity is undoubted, and I would advise persons to purchase from him. He resides two miles below Newark, New Jersey. His Post Office is Irvington, New Jersey. Yours, &c., N. LONGWORTH. P. S. The city of Newark has been bene- fitted greatly by his inventive genius. But he knows not the value of money, and is poor. Newark, N. J., June 16, 1857. To the President of the Farmer's Club: Dear Sir: Desiring to benefit the pub- lic, and at the same time incidentally to serve an old and valued friend, induces me to send with this, a strawberry plant in fruit. This strawberry is the results of ex- periments, by Mr. Seth Boyden, one of the most intelligent horticulturists in the coun- try— resident in Essex county. New Jersey, near this city. . The fruit, it will be observed by the specimens herewith, is of extra large size, measuring four and a quarter to four and a half inches— some of the berries last year measured five and five-eighths inches — is of good flavor, fine color, firm, and of a glossy waxy appearance. It is a seedling of the Scotch Goliah, hybridized with Hovey's Seedling, and although it has some of the characteristics of each of those fruits, it surpasses them both in several par- ticulars. The plant is thrifty, growing and hardy — the original plant, now four years old, being as thrifty as ever — more than an average bearer, and like Long worth's "Pro- Ific," every flower produces a perfect fruit. It is about ten days later than the flovey and Longworth, but it compensates for its tardiness in commencing, by its constancy and continued productiveness after it does begin — continuing to fruit after other var- ieties have ceased to bear, yielding a m^ch larger amount of fruit than either of its progenitors. Though Mr. Boyden has done much in advancing horticulture, it is mainly as an inventor and manufacturer that he has benefited his country. It is to his genius we are indebted for the introduction of the manufacture of Patent Leather and Malle- able Iron into this country ; and it is to him the world is indebted for the invention of the "cut off" to the steam engine, now un- iversally adopted, the first one being made and put into operation in this city. Re- tiring from these persuits, which have con- ferred so much benefit on his fellows, though yielding him nothing, he has, during the T'7^;"T.»^5WTO\f^'- . 200 THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK. past few years, devoted himself to the more agreeable and quiet pursuits of horticulture, and the plant before you only foreshadows something better to come from his fruitful experiments. Mr. Boyden's method of "hurrying up" nature in producing plants from seed the same season, struck me as curious and valu- able, and will doubtless be new to many. He picks the first ripened fruit, and having mashed it upon sheets of paper and dried it, he places the paper which contains the seed under a tin pan in which he has pre- viously placed a freezing mixture, when having become frozen sufficiently, say in about half a day, tiie seed is presumed to have passed through a winter. The seed is then planted, and in about six days the young plants appear. Mr. B. has, in one instance, with the seed of the "Alpine," produced fruit in this manner the same sea- son, but in all cases the fruit is obtained the next season, thus saving one year by the freezing process. Should any of your club or correspondents desire to obtain plants from Mr. I3oyden's variety, (and everybody should have them,) they may be procured by addressing him at Irving, New Jersey. Very respectfully, &c., MARCUS L. WARD. Directious for Sugar Making. Philadelphia, July 16, 1857. Editor of the American Agriculiurif.i.;.'*'i;?;ffjp.^j?!>w-^j:™«7i^rwr?s:i'-''»V^t5i3=i^' The coolers into which yoa discharge may be of good clear white piae without paiat inside, And 12 inches deep, and large enough to hold foar charges, and then left to cool and granulate or if you make molasses only, you will use barrels, stages of oak and heads of pine or cypress tboroujp^ly made. In regard to crystalizing the sorgho sugar, we, to-day, went with Col. Peters, to the sugar refinery of Messrs. Eastwick & Brothers, No. 73 Vine street, of this city, carrying with us some sugar made from the sorgho, by Ool. Peters, in Georgia, and"by Mr. Wray, in France. These specimens were subject to the sererest chemical test, and examined under a powerfnl microscope and both proTed to be true crystalizable sugar and not glucose. As the examiners are perhaps not surpassed for accuracy in this country, not even in Boston, we deem these experiments highly satisfactoryi They promise a public report of the examination soon. Yours &c., SEDGES, FREE & GO. ftom the Cleaveland Wool Reporter. Wool Trade of the United States. A Philadelphia merchant has received in reply to a note forwarded by him to an Eastern manufacturer now in the West, the following communication, respecting the present condition of the Wool trade: "Onio, July 7, 1854. I could recount transactions enough that would require a longer letter than I am disposed to write, which confirm all yoti say of the fool- ish system of buying wool in the West. In- competent and irresponsible men, who buy for one cent, per pound commission, do a vast amount of injury. I know an instance where an agent from — came to the lower part of this county last week, and said 'he waa going home that night, for he expected when he did go, to find an order to stop buying.' He continued purchasing for three days, a^ then returned and found his employer, who was a sub-agent under an agent in C, who was an agent for an . Eastern house, and he was withdrawn. I saw the wool which he bought at 48c., between one half and three-fourths blood, and rough at that. Good wool growers are discouraged, and all in- centire to improvement is lost, because four and a half pounds of fleeces of grease and some wool, sell as high as two and half and three pound fleeces. 's agent has paid here 55c. for wool that you or I would think dear at 45c. and tbe same price for best clips, that were well worth the money. Farmers complain and just- ly too, and the consequence is tnat only few good clips are left in the country. Spanish, French, and all manner of hybrid stock is introduced to obtain weight of fleece, and then to encourage the farmer, and give him a premium for iraud, some reckless buyer will pay this class of grow'^ ers for their filth, grease, and a little wool, about as much as for clean wool, providing the price is within the limit given him by his employer, and all this that he may get one cent p^r pound tor purchasing I have ridden through this county tor two weeks, and closely scrutinized the flocks, prices asked aBd obtained, and must say, as the result of my deliberate judgment, that Bnless a change is made in the system of buying wool in this country, not another five years will pass before our manufacturers must abandon their business, or rely on foreign wool. No mill can make money and pay 50 and 55 cents tor grease and dirt, when they think or believe they are buying wool. Many manufacturers never know this fact until it is shown in their 'loss account,' and then it is not attributed to its proper cause. In one evening, there was 30,- 000 pounds bought in this place — much of it never seen by the buyers — on contract closed with farmers who came into the village jsst at the right time to profit by the excitement in the- mind of and agents for , and all because I had calmly and coolly ex aminad and bought one good clip at 55 cents, and while was buying 50.000 pounds in forty hours, and , say 25,000 pounds, I bought just five clips. Tou can see the effect upon the minds of growers by such operations. Mr. of your city, has an agent here who has bought 25,500 pounds tor him, at high prices, without any discrimination or judgment. He is a good scavenger to take up that which a good judge does- not want. His lot as a whole, is rough and low for a fine wool section. What we want is men of brains and experience, when we may hope for improvement in the man" ner of western wool buying." «•» From the Wool R^wrter. I have been looking at the law upon "foot rot in sheep," and without reflecting upon those who made or passed it, 1 will set forth my views thus: 1st. Foot rot is an epidemic bat not cod> tagious. 2d. I would be as much mortified to have it in my flock as I would to hare my family dio with itch, and so should Qvery man. 3d. That (if we have a law at all) it should be on the ground of brutal abuse, and its pen* alty penetrating to the man allowing it in his flock 24 hours. This is somewhae new ground, but I hold myself prepared to prove if necessary. The above is an outline of an article I was preparing for publication, but concluded tojuat throw tbe thing up to you in this paper and see what the demand might be for more. C. 0. HUDSON. To Destroy Geub in the Head of Sheep. — Make a hole in a standing board, 24 inches from the ground, and large enough to let a sheep's nose through up to the eyes. Let one man hold the sheep in this position, and an- other with a syringe throw up each nostril of the sheep a slush of yellow snuff and water, strong enough to make them sneeze, and they will thus throw out the eggs of the fly that are deposited in July and August. A. W. ALLEN, <•• Normal University. — We understand that tbe contractors have already commenced opera- tions on the ground where the building is to be erected, and that the work will be pushed for- ward to a speedy completion. . ■" ^:^>Tt'>.T' ^>*tByrc» Ji .^W|f.7 4- i t. • >i ji.iiiiq^.p«8inp*|ipi9pi|p||p9pi|^|M^^ — -y 202 THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. THE GRAZIER The opinion appears to be coming general, that the English horse cannot be farther im- proved by a cross with the Arabian. If ran- ning qualities are to be the test of value, the following article from the London News would ieem to show that an English mare of not re- markable qualities was able to beat in a race some of the best Arab horges in Egypt. From the London News. "Fair Nell," the Irish Mare that Beat THK Pacha's Arab. — A short time since, some sensation was created by a paragraph which went the rounds of the press, stating that an English mare, in a race of eight miles, had beaten the best Arab in Egypt, by a full mile, doing the distance in 18^ minutes, and pulling up tresh. On inquiry, it was found that the Arab was the property of Haleem Facha, a son of Abbas Pacha, who, it will be remembered, about three years ago, challenged the Jockey Club to run any number of Euglish horses against his Arabs, for any sum not less than ten thousand poun^ sterling. The Jockey Club, which makes rules for racing, and by its stewards fixes the weights of certain matches and handi- caps, does not own or run horses in its Club capacity, and declined to take up the challenge. It was said that Abbas Pacha would not accept a challenge from any private individual; and the reputation of his stud (which had been col- lected at an unlimited expense, with the power of despotism,) was so high that the owners of good horses were afraid of risking their reputa- tion in a foreign country, over a long course of sand and gravel. , However, the other day a party of Cairo merchants made up the match above referred to, for about £400, and won it so easily that they now find it impossible to make another. We learn through private sources that El Hami Pacha, the youngest son of Abbas Pacha, who inherited his studs, not less than 300 in number, still fancies that he could find a horse that in a twenty-mile race would beat the European mare; but, although quite young, he is so indo- lent that he seldom leaves his harem; and it is doubtful if he will take the trouble to make the necessary preliminaries for a race. About the result there can be no manner of doubt. No Arab in the world can go through a day's racing with our best thorough-bred steeple-chasers and hunters — not even the stock of Disraeli's Star of the Desert, jockeyed by, Sidonia. Fair Nell is supposed to be thorough-bred; her sire, according to the best information, was the celebrated Irish horse Freney, to whom she bears a strong resemblance, both in appear- ance and temper, but she is not in the stud book. She is a beautiful light bay, with black legs, standing fifteen hands one inch and a half high, with a game, determined head, very lengthy, with beautiful shoulders, arms and fore legs, back and hind quarters, with very powerful thighs. She is a delightful mare to sit when going; her stride is great, strong and elastic, and from her form, she gives the feeling of "plenty before you." She is a hard puller, with a good mouth, graceful and easy even when plunging most vio- lently. In hunting, she rushed at her fenses at a terrible pace, but never made a mistake. As a hack, she was most luxurious, but at times it was a real work of danger to cross a crowded road with her. In the stable she was perfectly quiet. She was purchased in Ireland, by a well known old Irish steeple-chase rider and groom, Andy Rogers, for a gentleman of Bath, who found her too spirited and uncomfortable for a hunter, and seat her to be sold at Hetbrington's stables in the Edgeware road. Not finding a purchaser, she was put up at Tattersall's, where she was set down by the crowd asa"raking Irish devil," and found no favor. Alter being withdrawn, Mr. Edmund Tatter- sall, the junior partner of the firm, was so struck with her shape and beauty that, against the advice of his friends, he bought her as a park and cover hack. She often carried him sixteen miles within the hour, iscluding stoppages, to meet, and back again in the evening, at the same rate, without showiag the least fatigue; and was perfectly pleasant as long as ridden alone, and with Sue hands. Although more than once of- fered on loan to racing men, by her owner, who felt sure she must win a long race over deep ground, no one ventured to try her; a mistake evidently; for it turns out, that, on her trial in Egypt, before the race, she did five miles in ten minutes and a half. Eventually, Mr. Hethrington applied to Mr. Tattersall, to purchase Fair Nell back for the merchants of Cairo. She was in low condition when she was shipped, yet ran and won her race within two months from the time of landing. At various times, our Indian Uenerals and Governors have imported the best Arab blood they could procure. Among these the Wels lesley Arabian was one of the most celebrated. Our sovereigns have received presents from Ara- bian and Egyptian Princes, which have been crossed with the best blood of the Hampton Court stud, but nothing brilliant ever came of the cross, although we have Iieard of some fair hunters, and astonishing ponies. Of course it will not pay to breed small hacks or ponies, which, if ugly or blemished, cannot be sold for omnibus work. «•* Cattle Breeding. It is stated in the London Quarterly Review that the effect of Sir Robert Peel's tariff in abolishing the duty on the introduction of live stock into England in 1844, was to revolutionize the character of Dutch and Danish farming. Before that event the pastures of the two coun- tries were chiefly devoted to dairy purposes; but immediately p.fter, "the farmers began to breed stock, and consequently turnips and mangel-wurtz*] have been creeping over fields, where once the dairy-maid carried the milking pail." The Jutland beef is described as being especially savory, and some of the animals sent to England by the Danes are acknowledged to ■^^PPfW?ppP!PliPI!|!psp»^^ jfj^yUMg Jlgjig^ wgeyjytjijijj-ui If jujjwit.^^ - *- ^■**'-'' - '^^^^jr^.-^ ■'"■'W??^ B.^-'-'wy'-^h^,," Tt^'wygg jjti , j ^^b." ' . ^. I'm w^'w_'^ H THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 203 be equal to the Durham short-horns. The Americans are said to be the best customers of Great Britain for fancy specimens of stock; and the prices we pay them for bulls are described as fabulous by the Reviewer, who instances as in point, the fact that an American gave last year a thousand pounds for the celebrated bull bred by Earl Ducie, which, by the way, un- fortunately broke its neck in the passage out; and that, for another from the same breeder, six hundred pounds was paid. ~—^ Diseases of Sheep. JOHNSWORT Scab, ok Itch. — That pestifer- ous weed called Johnswort, if growing abund- antly where sheep are pastured, will cause an irritation of the skin, often over the whole body and legs of the sheep; but generally it is confined to the neighborhood of the mouth. If eaten in too large quantities, it produces violent in - flammation of the bowels, and is frequently fatal to Iambs, and sometimes to adults. Its effects when inflammation is produced internally are singular. The writer has witnessed the most fantastic capers of sheep in this situation and once a lamb, while running, described a circle with all the> precision of a circus horse; this was continued until it fell from exhaustion. Treatment — Anoint the irritated parts with hog's lard and sulphur. If there are symptoms of inflammation of the stomach, administer — putting it into the mouth with a flattened stick. Simply hog's lard is used frequently with snc- eess. Remove the flock to pasture free from the weed, and salt freely. It is said that salt, if given ofren to sheep, is an effectual guard against the poisonous properties of the weed. — [Morrell's Shepherd. Pelt Rot. — This is a disease of the skin, as the name implies. It causes a premature falling off' of the fleece in the spring of the year. It is produced by exposure during the wmter, and low condition — the latter princi- pally. Preventive. — Good shelter and good keeping. Let the wool fluid be kept healthy and abund- ant, and there will be no danger of any attack from this disease. — fib. Inflammation op the Lungs. — This is by no means an uufreqnent disease among sheep. It is caused bj cold and wet pasture — chills after hard driving — washing before shearing, when the water is at too low a temperature — shearing when the weather is too chilly and wet, and other circumstances of a similar description. Its first indication is that of fever — hard and quick pluse — disinclination for food — ceasing to chew the cud — unwillingness to move — slight heaving of the flanks, and a frequent and pain- ful cough. The disease soon assumes a more aggravated form, but farther description is useless; it is sufficient for the farmer to know the first stages ot the malady, and then pursue the course of treatment which experience de- termines as best. Treatment. — Bleed and purge freely, and secure the sheep in some comfortable place, free from all exposure to the vicissitudes ot the weather. Let noirritating food be given. — [lb. HORTICULTURAL. The Rebecca Grape. This is a new grape, which was first brought to notice near Toronto, Canada. A writer at that place thus describes it: I am with the merits of this vine. In the first place, I will say that I did not tell the whole truth about its size and prodnc- tiveness in my first notice of it, because I thought the story was large enough as it was ; but now that it is depreciated by some, I will say that instead of producing three barrels, it will produce five if the grapes were all made up~iuto wine. And now, as to the quality of the wine. I have submit- ted it to the best judges, these in parts, and without exception, they have pronounc- ed it a superior article, quite equal to the best Port wine, which it very much re- sembles . It sells readily at $2 per gallon, and some has been sold for $2 50. Now Uncle Sam, beat this — five barrels wine, 36 gallons each, is 180 gallons, which at $2 pel gallon would bring $360. This $300 worth of wine is from one vine in one sea- son, while 15 cents would cover all ex- penses. 1 will give you as correct a description of it as I can. In its general appearance it more nearly resembles the Clinton then any other with which I am acquainted, yet it differs very much in some particulars. The vines of the Clinton are of a dark color, while this is more like the Isabella. The leaves resemble the Chnton very much, but are larger, and have a more glossy ap- pearance. It is also the hardiest and earli- est grape with whieh I am acquainted. At this present date, the fruit is as large fin a few instances J as buck-shot. I measured to-day one of the longest shoots of this year's growth, and found it to be nearly seven feet. The clusters are not very com- pact, and sometimes very loose, and will hang on the vines for a long time after being ripe, without injury from the weather. For culinary purposes it is esteemed above every other kind vs?hich we have here, mak- ing a splendid jelly and preserve. , It yields of wine 100 per cent., a gallon of grapes making a gallon of wine. »•> Gnrrants as a Market Crop. We have just seen a single branch or limb of the Cherry Cnrrant, raised by Messrs. Wells & Provost, at Yonkers, N. Y. This branch is about 15 inchcft in length, and half an ineh in diameter, and yet contains fully three-fourths ot a pound & ZSE SS V^"^,- r " " ■ ^vr — •^?T^^f*'^'^r' of berries, the smallest of which are 1 1-2 inches in circomference, and the largest over 1 3-4 inches. These cultivators are putting out thirty acres of this variety, to raise fruit for preserving. We have also before us splendid bunches of the Cherry Currant, grown by C. F. Erhard, of Ravenswood, L, I,, who is raising a large stock of the plants for market. The berries before us are 1 1-4 to 1 5-8 inches in circum- ference. Another gentleman, whose name and residence we did not learn, recently brought into our office specimens berries still larger than either of the above. These, and many other specimens we have seen, give abundant evidence that there is sufficient opportunity to improve upon the old stereotyped small varieties, hitherto the standard crop. We are test- ing several varieties of the newer sorts, and shall be able to report by another season, So far, we incline to place the genuine Cherry Currant ahead of all othejs. There are some sold as such, which are not the genuine. " Common small currants now sell readily in this market for 5 to b* cents per pound, and the best large improved varieties bring 10 to 12 cents. Let us look a moment at the profit of raising currants at present market rates. Planted in rows four or five feet apart, they can be plowed and hoed between with ease. At four leet apart, 2,122 busdels will oc- cupy an acre. At a very moderate esti- mate, each plant will yield five pounds. These, at only five cents per pound (less than half the present price,) will give $685 50 as the product of an acre. This certainly shows a fair chance for profit on this crop. Usually the yield will be much larger than we have given above, on plants three years old and upward, and the price of the improved varieties we have named, will seldom, if ever, be so low as five cents. — Am. Agriculturist. .•» — The Grape Culture. — Since the failure of all attempts in this country to legislate a temperance reform, or coerce by law the dis- use of intoxicating liquors, the next move- ment, and it seems to us a very salutary one, is to extend the cultivation of the vine and the manufacture of wine, so as, if pos- sible, to make native wine take the place of native whisky as the common drink of the people. In various quarters we hear of the planting of vineyards and renewed attention to grape culture. Every friend to temper- ance must wish success to these efforts. It is very certain that if wine drinking could be substituted for brandy or whisky drink- ing there would be less drunkenness than there is throughout the land, because ex- perience has proved the fact in other coun- tries. There is now a salutary dread of drugged, medicated and manufnctured al- coholic liquors. Pure wine would have a better chanee now that pure other drinks are hard to obtain. — [Alexandria Gaz, Washington, A Horiienltnrist. We are apt, from all that has been pub- lished, to look upon Washington as a farmer on a large scale, but when we approach him nearly, we find him aUo a gardener and a horticulturist. In reading Irving's new life of the great Statesman, it is difficult not to extract a passage here and there, and to-day we must be indulged in this respect. In a letter to the Chevalier de Chastellux, for whom he felt an especial regard, he says: ' 'I will only repeat to you the assurances of my friend, and of the pleasure I shall feel in seeing you in the shade of those trees which my hands have planted; and which, by their rapid growth, at once indicate a knowledge of my declining years, and their disposition to spread their mantles over me before It'go hence to return no more. (Vol. iv. p. 455.) A few pages forward, we come upon the following passages, from the graceful pen of Mr. Irving: "He had a congenial correspondent in his quondam brother-soldier, Gov. Clinton, of New York, whose spear like his own, had been turned into a pruning hook. "Whenever the season offers, and an op- portunity offers," writes he to the Governor, "I shall be glad to receive the Balsam trees, or others which you may think curi- ous and exotic with us, as I am endeavor- ing to improve the ground about my house in this way." He recommends to the. Gov- ernor's care certain grape vines of the choicest kinds, for the table, which an uncle of the Chevalier de Luzern had engaged to send from Prance, and which must be about to arrive at New York. He is literally going to sit under his own fig tree, and de- vote himself to the quiet pleasures of rural life. At the opening of the year 1785, the entries in his dairy show him diligently em- ployed in preparations to improve bis groves and shrubbery. On the lOoh of January, THE ILLINOIS FARMER. ^05 he notes the white thorn is in full berry; on the 20th, he begins to clear the pine groves of undergrowth. In February he transplants ivy under the walls of the garden, to which it still clings. In March he is planting hemlock trees, that most beautiful species of American ever greens, number of which had been brought hither from Occoquan. In April, he is sow ing holly berries in drills, some adjoiiiing a green brier hedge on the north side of the garden gate.others in a semicircle on the lawn. Many of the holly bushels thus produced are still flourishing about the place, in full vigor. He had learned the policy, not snfiBciently adopted in this country, of clothing his ornamented grounds as much as possible with evergreens, which resist the rigors of our winters and keep up a cheer- ing verdure throughout the year. Of the trees fitted for shade in pasture land, he notes the locust maple, black mulberry, bl ack walnut, black gum, dogwood and sas- safras, none of which, he observes, material- ly iajure the grass beneath them. Is, then, for ouce a soldier's dream real- ized? Is he in perfect enjoyment of that seclusion from the world and its distrac- tions, which he had so often pictured to himself amid the hardship and turmoils of the camp? Alas, no! The "post," that "herald of the noisy world," invades his quiet, and loads his table with letters, un- til correspondence becomes an intolerable burden. -••»- The Apple Tree Borer. This is a great pest. It is believed to have been imported from Europe. Orchards are often ruined before the cause is suspected The farmer should have an eye upon his orchard at all times; — especially should he examine the trees for the borer during the spring, summer and fall months. An exchange contains the following which furnishes as much information on the subject in a small compass, as can be found any where; — Messrs, Editors — Can you or any of your numerous correspondents, give me any information in regard to "borers" in apple trees — their nature, and the remedy to be applied? In examining my trees I find that nearly all are more or less injured by "borers," and some past reco>ery. In a • new country like ours, this is a very serious matter, and I should like much to hear from some of your correspondents upon this sub- ject. I find in talking with my neighbors, that the trees all through this part, are troubled like my own. C E. BLOSS. Shiawasse, Mich., July 15, 1857. ; There is no doubt that the apple tree borer has become widely spread through several States, and that many have their orchards infested with it, who do not at all suspect its presence, who never saw it, and indeed who may know that such a depreda- tor exists. Its inconspicuous appearance leads to this overshight. The perfect insect or beetle varies from 5-8ths to 3-4ths of an inch in length, the males being smaller and more slender. It is covered with a fine whitish down, and has three brownish stripes. These insects deposit their eggs in the bark of the tree, near the surface of the earth, in the early part of summer, and only by night, when they are numerous, they often lay their eggs higher up, and in the forks of the larger branches. To prevent laying their eggs, soft soap deposited in the forks and rubbed about the bottom, has been found efficacious. Downing applied a mixture of tobacco, water, sulphur and soap, with suc- cess; but Dr. Fitch thinks all its virtue lay in the soap. When the eggs hatch, they produce a small maggot, whitish, with a a yellowish head. It eats into the bark, and discolors it for a small distance around and if the dry outer bark be scrjiped off at the end of summer or first of autumn, these dark spots will show where they are commencing their depredations, and now is the time to kill them most easily, which may be done at this stage by washing the scraped bark with strong ley. At a latter stage they cut into the sap- wood, and throw out their saw-dust, when they may be punched to death with a small twig. Still later, and when larger, they go into the heart wood, and now for the first, pack their, saw-dust excrements into the hole after them, rendering it more difficult to reach them. Hence the importance of tak- ing them early. We would recommend every orchardist to look closely to his trees at all times — to coat with soft soap early in summer — to scrape the outer bark later in summer, for the dark spots, if he has any reason to fear their presence, and to kill the young mag- got at once. If left later, their presence is shown by the saw-dust appearances around their holes ia the bark, when they must be out out with a knife, or punched to death. At any stage the knife may be "TipBPP'ifmppwMps^pif .HiP'M ■■),..upi^i!i,wwi!! y.. :=3I 206 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. freely used to cut them out, for wounds by cutting are better than death by the borer. At all times exercise watchfulness and vig- ilance, and be satisfied with nothing short of actually killing the insect. — [Country Gentleman. AGRICULTURAL. Benefits of Agricnltnrai Fairs. No fact is more apparent to the reflect- ing mind than the immense benefits Agricul- tural Fairs have contributed to our mater- ial prosperity. They have contributed more to our vigorous growth as a nation than all the gold California can pour into our coun- try for ages. They have awakened a spirit of inquiry in the breasts of thousands, who have elaborated and made known their ex- perience to the world, through t}ie agricul- tural press, contributing their experiments to the gelRsral stock of information (which at best is made up of atoms) garnered to- gether— a rich legacy of facts, from which the principles of truth shall be deduced by the band of the future historian. All this has been done quietly. The silent step of agricultural progress has not been noted by the world, as it should have beou, for the simple reason that it took time to nurture in man the high obligation he owed to his Maker, his country and himself, to so use and develop that which- was entrusted to his hand, that it might be improved, and the true design of our (Creator carried out. And what is an Agricultural Fair? Is it a place where the most superior speci- mens of agricultural produce are exhibited to the view of the visitors? Yes. What then? is that all the object, the aim, the end, to be accomplished? If so, let them go by the board. But a higher object to be accomplished —has been, and will con- tinue to be — the interchange of thought among those who have produced the arti- cles on exhibition. It is in this light that Agricultural Fairs are accomplishing the grand results which will continue to rjxnk us' as a practical farming and progressive people. It is not enough that we should see the superior crop of grain, &c., but we should have the man before us, and know by what process he produced it, so that we may know and realize the facts which are brought before us in its most practical term. It is not enough that we see fat cattle, but that we see the husbandman who produced them, that our less fortunate hus- bandmen may, by inquiry and observation, be aroused to the necessity of doing likewise — so that the object of the Fair may be the the means of perpetuating the progressive spirit of political and rural economy. Fairs, rightly conducted, are great stimu- lants, to good and thorough cultivation of the soil. Nothing is so well calculated to create as healthy a feeling, or develop so thoroughly the true dignity of Nature's noblemen, as this theatre, where all meet in the exhibition of the arts of peace and use- fulness; where those who have failed to realize their fond anticipations from the ex- hibition of their products, rejoice in the success of their neighbors. It is this feature which endears them to all good men who know the wants of our farmers, and who have, from the earliest stage of their ex- istence, stood by them, believing they were destined to accomplish as much good in their sphere of usefulness, as education has in hers. The benefits accruing from Agricultural Fairs are of atwofold nature, and apparent to all. Where the Fairs are made an ob- ject of attraction, you will find the greatest amount of thriftiness and prosperity pre- vailing in the sections which contribute to and take an interest in their prosperity. The benefits flowing from them are not to be estimated in a pecuniary sense. There are benefits conferred on the agricultural interest through the influence of this in- stitution, which command our most hearty admiration and respect for those public benefactors of our race who have nurtured and expanded this germ, so that agricul- ture should take once more her rank as one of the most honorable pursuits of man. —t S^^Eli Thayer has purchased seven steam engines, equal to 540 horse power, for the saw and grist mills, to be erected at his free soil city, Ceredo, Virginia. :r-' \ ':^'^r^^ii!f!!fi^i^!rf?^te'p'^<^^w^^^<'T^l^i^'i^'^f'!V^ THE ILLINOIS FAKMEB. 207 The Chinese Sugar Cane. The time is now rapidly advancing when the value of this new plant, for saccharine purposes, will be determined. If it should prove what many anticipate, it will add a most valuable article to our list of plants, and but less valuable than corn or wheat. We feel a deep interest in the results of experiments the coming autumn. Gener- ally the plant will not be sufficiently ad- vanced in ripeness for trial until next month. We have heard of one small experiment in this county, by Mr. Lucius 0. Francis. He had some forward plants, and near the middle of last month he expressed the juice from some of them, boiled it and made a beautiful molasses. He has an acre of the cane, and will make a mill for the ex- pressing of the juice. He feels encouraged to persevere in an effectual trial. Some trials have already been made in South and North Carolina, which are noticed in the newspapers. The following are the earliest notices we have seen of this year's crop of Chinese Sugar Cane.- We should be pleased to hear from any of our friends upon the subject. A correspondent 6f the Columbia, S. C, Times says: On Saturday last I had the pleasure of inspecting a very good quality of molasses, produced from the Chinese Sugar Cane, grown by Dr. D. W. Ray, a planter in the Pork. The specimen proved to be of superior quality, a half gallon of which (molasses) had been extracted from only twenty stalks. I learned that Dr. Ray, who is one of our most successful and influential citizens, has planted only four acres in this cane, and that he is satisfied he will be able to extract from it fifteen hundred gallons of syrup, which, if equal to the specimen inspected, will be regarded by the heads of families quite acceptable for table use, to say no-- thing of plantation purposes. Richard H. Smith, Esq., ©f Scotland Neck, N. C, writes to the Raleigh Regis- ter that he has made an experiment with the Chinese^Sugar Cane, with the following results: From three unripe joints of the cane, about one gill of juice was imperfectly ex- tracted, and after having been boUed for half an hour, a table spoonful of very good molasses was obtained — superior to the com- mon grades of molasses- I write this to encourage those persons who have planted the cane, to go to work and make their mills, and give it a fair trial. If they have not cane enough to justify the expense of a mill with wooden rollers, let them extract the juice, as I have done in this instance, by using the edge of a piece of thick plank or scantling as a lever- power. Make the experiment if with a pint of juice only. From the great yield of juice and the simple process required in making the mo-. lasses, I have no doubt of its complete sue- cesss, and that the day is not distant when the sugar-mill will be as common with our people as the cider-mill was years ago — when every family will make their own mo- lasses— and the children — white and black — will eat bread and molasses, and drink "switchel" to their heart's content. Sugar from the Chinese Sxtgab Cane. — Some of our theoretical college professors, in public lectures, have labored to produce an impression on the public mind, that sugar, made from Chinese Sugar Cane, would be of the variety known as grape or manna sugar, technically termed giucox. In a communication transmitted to this country from Alexander, Vattemare, in Paris, and written by the distinguish French Savan, Vilmorin, this opinion is durectly opposed; Mens. Vilmorin knows of what he writes. The following is his letter: [Translation.] Pa-bis, April 20, 1857. To Mr. Alexandre Vattemare: Sir: — The crystalization of the sugar of the Sorghum, it seems, should be easily ob- tained in all cases where the cane .can be sufficiently ripened.; and as the proportion of the sugar is an unfailing index of ripe- ness, it follows that we could always be sure of obtaining a good crystalization of juices whose density exceeds 1,075, while weaker ones would not yield satisfactory results after concentration. I attribute this pe- culiarity to the fact that the sugar is pre- ceded in the juice by a gummy principle, which seems to be transformed at a late date, for its proportion diminishes in exact correspondence with the increase of .the sugar. The uncrystalizable sugar, or glucose, undergoes the same changes- that is to say, it is more abundant before than BjiqpW'B^ I.II iTHiygK .pm J i» V^iw, I III jl u I, kpp after the complete maturity, but iis action seems less prejudicial to the progress of crystalization. The gummy principle ob- structs it in two ways; for, beside being a serious obstacle to the commencement of crystalization, it afterward renders it almost a matter of impossibility to purge the crys- tals if obtained. However, as I observed, this difficulty only presents itself in the em- ploy of unripe canes; for, as soon as the juices acquire a density of 1.089 and more, they contain but little else than crystaliza- ble sugar, and their treatment presents no difficulty. The lime employed, to a slight excess, is not detrimental, it seems to me, in practice, as theory would perhaps indicate. Perhaps a slight fermentation, which is in- evitable, may disengage enough carbonic acid to destroy the uncrystalizable com- pound formed by its union with the sugar. The fact is, that the best crystalizations ob- tained have been had in those experiments in which I feared to have used too much lime. I should remark that heretofore my operations have been but on a small scale, and it is nec^sary to be very prudent before applying the experiments of the laboratory to practical operations; but at all events, it seems to me, after all these trials, that the crystalization will not meet with serious ob- stacles wherever the plant attains a com- plete maturity. [Signed] YILMORIN. To Clean Cockle out of Wheat. Messes. Editors: — Having written you about chess, I will say a few words about cockle, which I have found far more trouble in clearing out of my wheat and laud than chess. I sifted the cockle out by hand for some years when I first began farming here; but this I found a slow process, the selves here being so small. Afterwards I went to a fanniugmill maker, and ordered him to get a screeu made for my fanningmill, con- siderably coarser than those in use. After getting that, and by letting the wheat run slowly through the mill, and turning slowly, all the cockle ran through the screen into the box under the -fanningmill. lu that way I got clear of cockle. True, a con- siderable quantity of small wheat ran through the coarse screen along with the cockle, but it was not lost, and 1 had made clean seed far better to raise wheat, in place of the chess and cockle. I guarantee that the plan for cleaning both chess and cockle will answer. I also guarantee that neither will grow unless sown either by man or beast. So long as my woods were not fenced, I saw lots of chess, cockle and pigeon weed growing there, from the drop- pings of my neighbors cattle. — [Genesee Farmer. "n many places the potato vines are are infested with ravenous bugs, Mr. J. Myers writes from Whitehall, New York, July 24, a remedy as follows: On the 16th instant I discovered my po- tatoes affected in the same manner, and im- mediately caused them to be thoroughly dusted with slaked lime and plaster, which was repeated two or three times while the dew was on, which has effectually cleared them and the tops are now looking as fresh and green as ever. Ashes no doubt will answer a good purpose in the absence of lime. Plaster I consider of less importance. I have great faith in the experiment, and advise ever one to test it immediately who have potatoes effected." <•» Hereditary Diseases of Cattle. Mr. Finlay Dan, in a prize essay on this sub- ject, in the Journal of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England, metitioDs as the most im- portant hereditary diseases of cattle, diarrhoea, rheumatism, scrofula, consumption, dysentery, malignant tumours, and the affections dependin^^ on a plethoric state of the body. The cbati acters which cattle should possess, in order to perpetuate in their ofispring a healthy and vigorous constitution, he gives amongst others the following: "The head small, muzzle fine and tapering, nostrils large and open, the eyes full and lustrous, ears small, and not too thick, the head well set on the neck, the distance between tbeears and the angle of the jaw short, but the width be- hind the ears considerable (no dairy cow shocjd have a short thick neck,) the chest wide and deep; the girth, taken immediately behind the shoulder, should closely correspond with the length from behind the ears to the rise of the tail; Itie carcase of a barrel shape, for a tain, flat -ribbed acimal eats largely, thrives badlj, and is unusually liable to diarrhoea; there should be little space between the prominence of the hip and the last rib, the quarter large, the measurement from the prominence of the haunch backwards to the rise of the tail, and down- wards to the hock, as great as possible; the lower part of the haunuh thick and broad, the hide thick and pliant; smallness of bone is A aarc indication of early maturity and aptitude for fattenmg: These, amongst other characters and qualities enumerated by Mr. Dan indicate the possession ot a vigorous and healthy con- stitution and freedom Irom all intierent disease." "Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait." ^sj.juillf^ijppyMi .Wi^lft^M' ■-''iJWapA i*> ^r'-VJ"*! THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. 209 THE DAIHY. The great cause of the neglect of the Dairy in oar own region of the State, is the want of female help acqaainted mth the process of making butter and cheese. The ordinary female help upon our farms does not enable families to give attention to this very profitable part of farming business. There is a great lack of good butter and cheese in our markets; — so much so, indeed, that if we desire to supply the demand, we must go into some other State to procure the batter and cheese demanded by con- sumers here. * ■ - ; We repeat the poor supply of butter and cheese in our market, arises from the want of suitable help in farmers families. Our foreign born young women, who go out to worl^ will not go into the country. They prefer to Utc in the cities; and indeed, but few of them have sufficient knowledge of the art of making butter and cheese, to get up a good article. Milk can be had. Our prairies and our pastures furnish feed for cows in summer, and we usually have an abundance of food for them in winter. What we want is a supply of young women from the butter regions of the East- ern States to come here and also from the Dairy Districts of England, Scotland, Ire- land and Germany. Such women,accuBtomed to country life, would find full and profit- able employment in the families of our farm- ers— should they choose to accept such situations — and emigrants, with sonoie means, who are acquainted with the Dairy business, and who would locate in the neighborhood of our cities and towns, could also find profit- able employment in turning their attention to this branch of farming. Butter has been worth since January lasc until this time (close of August) from fifteen to thirty cents a pound — generally twenty and twenty- five cents. These would be deemed great prices in the dairy districts of New York and New England. Cheese brought to market, in a green state, has sold here at eleven and twelve cents per pound. Can- not the Dairy business here be made profit- able? We think so. Let families provide themselves with competent butter and cheese-makers, and we think they can make it a profitable business. We are sure it would be of great benefit to the country. ?m: THE POULTRY YARD. What are the most profitable variety of fowls for keeping? This depends on cir- cumstances. If you live on a farm, where fowls have plenty of corn and grain for feed, and which if not used by them, would be wasted, I believe a cross of the Shang- hai, Brama or Cochin China, would pay as well as any other- These fowls crossed on the common dunghill, make chickens which will weigh five or six pounds. Their fiesh is not as fine for eating as the common dunghill, being coarser and less juicy; still, they are good eating, have substance, and are good layers. The large race of chickens, however interesting in their appearance, however musical in their crow, are mon- strous feeders, and a half dozen of them, kept in the city, will cost as much to keep them as it would to keep a good sized hog. They are a nuisance in the cities — at least they have been to me. What we want is a race of small fowls which are good layers, and will give us eggs pretty much the year round with liberal keeping. In the towns, there is no use in trying to raise chickens. They are very annoying and a* great deal of trouble. Can you tell, me, Mr, Editor, what kind of fowls are best for my purpose, and where I can get the fowls I desire? A. [They books say if you want fowls to lay, the Bolton Greys or Creoles, Black Spanish and Poland, are best. . These have little disposition to set; but where you can get these fowls, is more than we can say. Probably you can supply yourself at the State fair, if you should be there.] The crop of corn is ripening slowly. The probability is that a good deal will be in- jured by frost, unless we have hot weather and the frosts keep off later than usual. _ _ _ |p.ui^ui,u!.uj-iuivfnHqnpi^ 210 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. FLORIST. It will soon be time to plant ont hardy balbs. This may be done in the latter part of this month, and indeed they will do well if you wait a month later. This should be done in the fall. Spring plant- ing will give little satisfaction. Yon shoald now provide yourself with tulips, hyacinths, crocus, snow drops, narcissus, hardy glad- iolus, &c. K you desire that these bulbs shall put on their handsomest dress in spriug, you should prepare a bed for their reception that will secure the best developement of their flowers. In doing this, in our black soils, the bed should be made some three feet wide and as long as you please; it should be raised eight inches above the surface and the soil improved by a mixture of one-third river sand and some thoroughly rotted mannre. ^The bulbs should be put into the grounds in rows, at least eight in- ches apart Do your work in this manner and you will have a show of flowers that you may be proud of. Fine bulbs of the varieties named can be had at the nurseries. The Ameiiean Short Horn Herd Book. THB THIRD VOLtlMB. The following very just remarks are from a oorrespondent of the Ohio iarmer. We shall be breaking no confidence, and to many telling no news, in mentioning that his signature is that of Rev. Dr. Breekinridge of Kentucky. Lewis F. Allen, Esq., of New York, publish^ ed in 1846. ^'TTie Am&rican Herd Book" in one vol. 8vo., of 240 pages. In 1855 he pub** lished an additional 8vo. volume of 608 pages, with the title "American Short Horn Herd Book," vol. ii. And now, in 1857, he has pub- lished a 3d vol., containing 718 pages 8vo., un- der the title "American Short Horn Herd Book" vol. iii : this volume being just issued from the pressofJewett & Co. Buffalo New York, and in the course of distribution to the subscribers for it. All three of these volumes, and especially this third one, are illustrated with numerous engravings, showing precisely what the Short Horn is. This last volume contains also, sev- eral prints of very great value, showing what the Short Horns were: for example a superb likeness of Collins' famous bull Comet, and of Bates' famous cow Dutchess — likenesses which may well make the breeders of the present day pause, before thej assert that we have made any great improvement in this stock, in the last half century; and which ought to put to rest, with us, the question of close breeding, when we reflect on the pedigrees of these two animals, and on the pedigrees and character of their principal descendants, down to our own day. This volume is sot up in a beautiful manner and brings down with great completeness the history of the SborthornB in America, to the present moment. We are now in possession, through the skill, intelligence, and industry of Mr. Allen, of an almost perfect record of all the animals of this race, and of nearly all their breeders and owners, in this country — a record as indispensable to those interested in this stock, as a public repository of land titles is to the owners of the soil. If, with such advantan ges, breeders see fit to rematn in ignorance on these vital points, or to stand aloof from this common movement of our great brotherhood, for our common interest and security, they have, of course, a perfect right to do so, upon condition, hewever, of the inevitable risks at- tending any such course. Moreover, a great deal is due to the enterprising gentleman, who at considerable risk, and with so great labor undertook and has carried through a work of such magnitude and difficulty, the more so, as he is undoubtedly the fittest man in America, for the work he has done. It is not less our duty than our interest, to see that he a^all not fail either of just remuneration or the sincere respect, to which he is so eminently entitled. We have no interest more clear, as Shorthorn breeders, than that Mr. Allen should continue to preserve and issue in volames, from time to time» these permanent records for us; saving us alike from the evils of ignorance, and the dangers of imposition, and seouring to us the cheapest, the surest, and the most enduring method of knowing each other, and all the herds in the nation, while we advertise our own under the guarantee of an upright and comps- teut judge. The immense and continued extension of the Shorthorns in this country and the perpetually increasing demand for them in all countries suitable for them, and always at remunerating prices, have already brought this race of ani«. mals into such a position as to make them one of the great staples of all the Middle and Wes- tern States. Their present owners and breed- ers have a mine of wealth in their hands; and the satisfaction, besides, of knowing that they are conferring a lasting benefit on the country, while they are pursuing one of the most ra- tional, engaging and remunerating forms of rural economy. Let us be at once wise and just in our treatment of Mr. Allen, who has reduced to perfect order, out of great chaos, the vital matter of our pedigrees, and to whom we are so much indebted, by this means, fer the prosperity of this great interest. AGRICOLA. -*t- JB^^The total value of real and personal property in Chicago and Cook county, for the year 1857 is $42,875,543. THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 211 EDITORIAL NOTICES. The Orebard. No fanner can afford to be without an orchard. The great object with him is to know how to make one. In the first place, the land must be suitable. Technically it should have a dry bottom; — that is, when trees are planted out, the roots should not stand in water half the year. It should be a warm and generous soil. Then seek for your trees. Get them where you can rely that you obtain the varieties yon want; and see to it that you get good trees. They should not be kept out of the ground so long that the trees, although the bodies may look well, are sure to die. vWe have known trees brought from a distance to do well. This is the exception, not the rule. Packages of trees thrown on to the deck of a steam boat, placed near the boilers or where they are heated by sun or fire, will soon lose their vitality. And this will be the case too, when brought from the east, and suffered to remain for a time by the road-side, or on open cars, or otherwise ex-! posed to the weather. Some of these trees may live; but there are five chances to one that many will not. We venture to say that of the thousands upon thousands of trees brought from the east and set in our prairies, not ten per cent, of them are alive. If you want good apple trees, take sorar one of the catalogues of our nurseries (and you can find many of them at the Illinois Farmer office,) and select the trees you want, make out your order, direct where tbey are to be sent, send a reference, if you are not known to the nursery man, that you will pay, and when the season arrives to receive your trees, you can have them; —you can rely upon the variety sent you and of the excellence of your trees. Plant them out as directed in the catalogue fur- nished you, and you will be quite sure of having a good orchard, when your neighbor, who pays for foreign trees, will be likely to be cursing the "Yankees," when he ought to Curse his own stupidity and folly. It Now is the time to plant strawberry niinois County Fairs. We wish we had a full list of the times at which the different County Agricultural Societies will be held. Some of them com- mence on the 1st of the prraent and others as late as the first week in October. Of the counties in our neighborhood, Cass has already held her fair; Morgan commences bar's on the 8th Septiember; Tazewell on the 18th; Logan on the 9th; Macon on the 30th; Menard, October 1th; Christian, October 21st. The Sangamon Fair will commence on the I5th September, and cou;^ tinuc four days. We understand that the farmers of Macon county are determined to make an exhibition which will throw int® the shade all the previous exhibitions in that county. Every farmer should attend his own county fair and bs many others as he can find it convenient to do. -<•»- beds. Hams, Bacon, lard. This is a great country. It produces hogs4n abundance. Pork pays a ptofit at $3 a hundred pounds; and yet at this time, with a large crop of hogs the last year, our market is, we may say, entirely bare of Hams, Bacon and Lard. Why is this so? Pork brought a high price last fall, and our farmers sold every thing of the hog kind to packers (saving a scanty supply for themselves,) that would bear the name of pork hogs.^ These hogs were cut up, packed or smoked, and the lard worked up, and the prices of aU were • so high in distant markets, that the packers sent the whole production out of the coun- try. Now if some of our farmers had kept their hogs, packed them, or made bacon of them, saving their land, too, for our home market, they would have neiurly doubled the amount for which they sold their hogs! This is so, and some farmers see their folly. They sold their hogs for about five cents and have since been glad to buy bacon at fifteen cents, and lard for the sam« price per pound. .^ And this is going to be the case nez^ "r-.'.J-w^'#*ti»i 212 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. year — if not worse. Hogs will bring this fall six cents per pound — at these prices they will sell all they have — and the next year will see the same state of things that we do now I We make this prophecy — and we base our judgment on the fact that but few people learn anything by experience — not enough to change the general result; but those who do, "will put money in their purses." -<•»' Be Cautions in Time! There is abundant evidence, that while foreign demand is lessening for our agricul- tural productions, the importation of foreign goods is increasing. What is to be the result? We know that when a family bu ys more than they sell; — when they purchase a thousand dollars worth of goods in a year and sell but five hundred dollars' worth, they are in a bad way, They must have money on hand to the amount of five hundred dollars to pay over, or they are v«ry likely to suffer serious distress and have to give up their stock or farm to their creditors. Loss must result in this case: — if we do not sell as much abroad as we purchase abroad, the nation must be growing poor, and though we may have the cash to pay the balance against us, yet the paying out of this cash and sending it out of the country will be very likely to produce commercial distress and hard times, which may be felt even in the Par West. The New York Journal of Commerce presents the following statement: "The imports of foreign produce and mer- chandise at the port of New York, for the month of July, are larger than were ever before landed at any port in the United States during a single mouth. The total value landed during the month was $10,- 083,874 larger than for July of last year; '$19,491,259 larger than for July, 1865; and $15,571,856 larger than for July, 1854. The quantity thrown upon the market was still greater, as it included $10,470,820 withdrawn from warehouses, while only $6,796,835, were entered for warehousing. Thus the total on which duties were paid was $36,613,668, and to this may be added the free goods, making $38,968,898 of mer- chandise thrown upen the market. The value of foreign goods entered at this port during the first seven months of the cur- rent year is $22,711,393, in excess of the corresponding total for 1856, $72,413,257 greater than for the same period of 1855, and $41,687,908 greater than for the same period of 1854. The cash duties paid in July amounted to $6,987,019, against $5,- 441,544 in July of last year. The total foreign exports from New York since January 1st, exclusive of specie, is $3,178,176 less than for the corresponding seven months of last year, but $7^137,699 greater than for the same period of 1855, and $5,257,673 greater than for the same period of 1854. The specie exported during the last seven months amounted to $26,026,- 439 against $19,501,927 for the same time last year. We must exercise caution in time. This policy of the country, long pursued, will produce hard times. This cannot be doubt- ed. We have money yet to pay our foreign debts, but this will not last always. The sending of money away will make it scarce at home. A great demand of money by importers, is felt by jobbers, then by the retail merchant and then by the con- sumer. All we wish to say is — be cautious. Buy only what you need. Pay your debts as fast as you can. And be especially careful about promising to pay for wild land when you have more now than you can properly cultivate . Better by far ex- pend your labor on your present farm, making ic yield double its present amount, than to half cultivate and get half crops from twice as much land. We repeat, buy only what you need and pay for it. Paying time must come. The merchant must pay, and you must pay him. There is no dodg- ing in either case. -«•►- A New Seed Drill on a New Principle. — We have often thought that, at the present time, there was more mechanical genius en- gaged in inventing, perfecting and nianafactar> ing agricultural machinery, than was likely to receive its proper reward. We are often sur- prised and astonished at new inventions of agricultural machines. Scarcely a week passes that there is not some new machine presented for the patronags of farmers. One of the new machines is called " Em>> .. :..-iiL:^LllL 1^^.' ^ _ ~ -^^TTr!^'"^ t^TI^^'rv^'^^^ ' • ■ ■ ■^'7-:'--ry':'^^^^r^--^y?. ■T ■•m^Ji^^M" * I'W'juiswH THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 213 mert's Patent Roller Tine Wheat Drill, Broad- cast Sower and Corn Planter." We have seen the instrument which, it is said, wi'l perform all this work, and it is not a complicated ma- chine. The imprvement claimed in this mas chine over others, consists in the placing of wheels similar to rolling cutters on plows, so that the axles of the machine are in front of the drill teeth or plows, thereby preventing, in the progress of the machine over the ground, any obstructions from collecting on the points of the plows, and thus closing the machine. These obstructions are often met with by the ordinary drills, by coming into contact with sods, stubble, or corn stalks. The cutters also open the soil, cut through obstructions, and will cut down into the toughest sod, where the seed will be deposited. One man and a good team can, with this machine, plow and sow from eight to ten acres per day. The owner of this machine warrants it to work in cornstalk or stubble ground,and at the same time sow the seed as deep as if the ground had been plowed. This machine can also be made to sow broadcast and cover the seed bet- ter than it can be covered with a harrow ; and it can also be changed so as to plant corn without first cross plowing. The machine, as we repeat, is warranted to sow from eight to ten acres of small seed in drills or broadcast per day, and plant from fif teen to twenty acres of corn per day, all with one man and a good team. And this machine costs less than the common drill. There is one of these drills now standing among the crowd of drills, corn-planters, corn- shellers, corn and cob mills, Pitt's thrashers, and numerous other articles of agricultural machines, near the Journal office. North Sixth street, and for sale by Francis & Barrell. So much is said of this drill that we are desirous of seeing it tested by some of our farmers. It is manufactured by the inventor, E. Emmert, Franklin Grove, Lee county, Illinois. ••» H@-The fair gronuds in Macon county are one a half miles from Decatur, They are well fenced, have an abundance of good water, and other conveniences. Persons out of the county desiring to enter stock and other articles for competition, will please address Jas. S.hoaff, Esq., Decatur. B®»Miss Juliana May, the American Prima Dona, arrived in the Atlantic after an absence of more than six years. 15tb September, instant. The Fair of Sangamon county will commence on the 15th of the present month — one week from next Tuesday — and will continue four days. Sangamon county has been famed for her agricultural fairs. Her farmers, among the best and the richest of the State, have brought to them for exhibition the best of their flocks and herds — the best of their grain, fruits and vegetables ; — our mechanics have furnished fine specimens of their respective branches of industry ; our millers their best specimens of flour ; and we have had, in a very striking man- ner, illastrations of the handi-work of the ladies in the several departments of domestic cloths, ornamental needle work, plain needle work, made up clothing, quilts in great variety and excellence, food, bread, cake, preserves, condi« ments, butter and cheese, and various other articles, which has made our anual exhibition a fair index of the wealth, the industry, the business, and excellent taste of the people of Sangamon county. When spring opened, the weather was ad- verse to the farmers' interests, and all our peo- ple felt a sympathy in the fears, doubts and distrusts which pervaded the country in regard to the coming crops. GradauUy the season pro- gressed for the better —seed time caine, late, it is true — and the early crops have matured and are harvested, and, with the single exception of wheat, they were better than ever witnessed in this part of the great West. Spring wheat has yielded as high as forty fold ; oats as much ; and barley, in many cases, more than fifty fold. The meadews have been fine, and we are assu- red that food for man and beast will be abun- dant for the coming year. Our farmers have great cause to thank the Giver of every good and perfect gift, for the favor He has extended them in giving success to their labors. County fairs are an institution which can scarcely be too highly appreciated by our far- mers. There, within a limited circle, are ex- hibited the choicest results of their agricultural labors, skill and taste, for the preceding year There come together, after the toils o^ the sea~ son, our industrious sons and daughters, to meet together and exchange congratulations — to witness the improvements in stock- — ^in im- plements— in grains — in vegetables — in the mechanical arts — in all the various articles which make up the great annual display. Peculiarly is this exhibition worthy the farmers' encouragement and patronage by his presence. There we can witness evidences of progress, 'j^'.^'^\.£A-.£M,:tM.kJU,^ •^.v.lj^'-i. 214 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. that great principle, whether in agriculture, in manufactures, in all those arts which make up the comforts of human life, thatshould be the aim of all true men and woman. If we remain without effort to advance, we rtutrogade, and we do not fulfil the behests of Providence or the spirit of the age. For these, among many other reasons, we are anxious that the farmer and mechanics of Sangamon county, and including the ladies, should be present at our fair, and should bring of their best, to make the fair worthy of themselves and of the county. It is manly duty in us to make a fair worthy of eurselves and of Sangamon. It is a noble object to bring the young farmers together, to encourage them in their labors, to diseminate taste in the rear- ing of the best stock and grains and fruits, and the presence of the ladies adds to the pleasures and usefulness of the fair — indeed, without their presence and encouragement, it would lose half its value. We learn that a large number of the premium list for the coming county fair have been dis- seminated through the county. If persons de- sire more copies they can obtain them by call- ing on the Secretary of the Society, S. Francis, or any of its officers. There are some departments of the fair to which the ladies of our city, as well as the country, make contributions, absolutely essen^ tial to their success. We desire to call their special attention to these departments, at this this time — so that they can make the arrange- ments necessary to fill them. The ladies will excuse us for adding to this long article, a list of the premiums in those departments to which we especially refer. CLASS H— NO. 23. C. W, MATHENY, Superintendent. MILL FABBC8. B«Bt lot of cloths, 8atinett8, blankets, &c., from one manufoctory, Diploma and $5 00 HOUSSHOLD FABBIC8. Best 10 yards jeans do do linsey do pair woolen l)lanket8 do pair woolen socks do woolen stockings do do do by zirl under 12 years do 10 yards wool carpet do 10 do rag do do 10 d(^ flannel CLASS H^NO. 24. NEEDLE WOBK. Best eTidence of skill in needle work do Ai ko silk embroidery do do do thread do do do do by girl under 12 years do plain fine skirt do do do by girl nnder 12 years do quilt, silk patch work 00 00 00 00 09 00 3 00 2 00 2 00 $10 00 3 00 3 00 2 00 2 00 2 00 5 00 do do cotton do do worsted spnad or quilt do satin vest made by a lady do child's dress do evidence of skill in silk embroidery on velvet do do worsted embroidery 5 00 S 00 3 00 3 00 3 00 300 CLASS I— NO. 27. P. BRECKINRIDGE:, Snperi&tendent. HAM, BREAD, WINS AND GEDIB. Best two loaves wheat bread $2 00 do do do corn bread 2 00 do ham cooked ' 2 00 2d best do . 2 00 Best sponge crke 200 do pound cake 2 00 do jelly cake 200 do cookies, 2 lbs 1 00 do crullers, 2 lbs . 1 00 do keg of cider 800 2d best keg of cider 200 CLASS I— NO. 28. PRESERVES, PIOKLES, HOHET, tO. Best preserves of any kind $1 00 do apple preserves 1 00 do peach do 1 00 do quince do 1 00 do strawberry do 1 00 do jelly of any kind 1 00 do pickle of any kind 1 00 do cucumber pickle 1 00 do mango do 1 00 do gherkin do 1 00 do 10 lbs of honey 1 00 CLASS J— NO. 29. H. C. WATSON, Superintendent. PLANTS, FLOWERS AND FLORAL DESIONS. Best show of pot plants, professional $3 00 do do do ameteor 2 00 do vase of cut Qowers 2 00 2d best do do 1 00 Best two hand-boqneti 2 00 2d best do do 1 00 Best floral design 2 00 2d best do do 1 00 Best show of dahlias 1 00 Best show of Qerman asters 1 00 Discretionary premiums can b« gives for other articles of merit. CLASS K— NO. 33. WM. O. JONES, Superintendent. HI3CELLANE008 (>EPARTMENT. All articles for competirion not included in the premium Ust, must be entered in this department. We take the occasion to suggest to those of our farmers who have orchards, to bring to the fair for exhibition, their best fruits. A dozen specimens of each will be altogether sufficient, and to have each variety labelled with their names. We want our friends should know the names of the varieties of our best fruits. We have some expectations that there will be pres- ent a large amount of frait, which is intended to be exhibited by the State Horticultural So« ciety at the State Fair, and we have been told that specimens of fruit will be brought from Rochester, New York, and exhibited. We should like our farmers to see these specimens. They may be great in the number of varieties, but hitherto they have not equalled in size, in beauty, or excellence, the same varieties ^"-•■'.jffBr ."^^T '(iWSr?'^«?="«^!6^i*"- ■^^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 215 grown in Illinois. Another item may be of more interest to onr readers ; efforts are being made to procure, for exhibition at our ifair, a steam plow, which is nearly completed, and which promises to be a valuable agricultural implement. We may add also, that the "$5,050 horse,'' recently imported by the Illinois Stock AssoQiatipn, and ; sold to a company of our county citizens, it is expected will be exhiln itedatthefair»v • Hon. M. L. PiTKLAP, a distinguished fruit grower and farmer of Illinois, will deliver the Annual addrees.^ We cannot help but repeat the sentiment here, that exhibitions of the character under consideration, are calculated to elevate our perceptions of the noble employment of agricul« ture, and all the industrial pursuits connected- Men engaged in these employments, who have families, cannot do a more valuable service to them than in brining them to the fair. They will see things there, and hear matters discus" sed there, that will be subjects of useful thought thereafter, and make them better farmers, bet'' ter citizens, and better sons and daughters. -»•»- ILIINOIS STO€K IMPOBTING ASSOCIATION. The Great Sale of Imported Blooded StocK. The Illinois Stock Importing Association has already proved itself a grand institution for Il« linois, and has done a work which will ulti- mately add incalcaJably to the active wealth of the State. The Association, organized for the selection, purchase and importation of foreign stock, as our readers will remember, was formed last winter. The first meeting for the object was held in accordance with a call published in the iitate Journal, in the Hall of the House of Re- presentatives, on the evening of the 9th of Jan- uary. A constitution was presented and adopted ; and subscriptions having been made> amounting to more than enough to allow the Company to organize, James N. Brown was elected President, John Williams, Treasurer, and George W.Chattebton, Secretary. The Association was designed to cover the whole State, and a hearty co-operation was invited from all friends of the enterprise. As was anticipated, the total amount of stock $25,000, was readily subscribed and at a meet- ing of the associ<>tion held on the 2nd of Feb- ruary, Messrs H. 0. Johns, James W. Brown and HsNRV Jacobt were appointed agents to visit Europe for the purpose of purchasing stock for the association. Three fourths of the capital, less expenses, was directed to be inves- ted in the purchase of cattle, not more than one third of which were to be males — and one fifth to be invested in horses, sheep and hogs. The committee sailed for England on the 19th of March, completed their purchases during the months of April and May, and reached home early in June. Owing, however, to adverse winds and calms, the stock was sixty days on the passage and did not reach this country un- til the 21st of July. Several of the cattie and one horse died on the passage and all the rest were received in bad condition. The beauty and superiority of the stock, however, attracted the attention of cattle grow- ers immediately upon its arrival bere and up to the day of the sale, the Fair Grounds of the county where they were kept was the scene of one constant levee, visited by persons from every part of the State, who took an interest in discussing fine stock. The sale took place on the 27th ult., on the County Fair Grounds. There was a very large attendance of stock growers and others interested in fine cattle, from all parts of the State, During the forenoon the number was variously estimated at from two to three thoHsand and at no time was it less than fifteen hundred. Mr. J. C. Maxcy of this city acted as auctioneer. We append below a list of the cattie sold, the names and residence of purchasers and the price paid: COWS. ANIMAL. FXmCECASEE. Bella, 5 years old, J. Ogle, CaroUne,4 « J.N.Hill, . Stella, 4 <' Mr. Bondman, Lady Harriet, 3 y'rs, James Jacoby, Cassandra, 3 . " H. Owlsley, West -rn Lady, 2 " J. N. Brown, Empress Eugenie, 2 J. Ogle, Ponegranite, 2 years, T. Simpkins, Lilly, 2 ' " G. Barnett, Constance, 3 " Q. Barnett, Empress, 2 " J. Jacoby, Bachael 2d, 2 " J. N. Brown, Minx, 1 "J. G. Loose, Adelaide, 1 " B. Horrison, Emerald, 1 " J. C. Bone, Perfection, 1 « E. Hitt, Coquette, 1 " G. Barnett, Fama, 1 " Spears & Co., Coronation, " J. A. Priokett, Violet, 1 " Mr, Judy, HORSES. Young Baniton, J. C. Crowder, Baylock, B. S. Wilkins, BULLS. Defender, 3 y'rs old, King Alfred, 2 y'rs. Admiral, 2 " Master Lonnds, 2 Argus, 2 " Doubloon, 1 " Qoldander, 1 « J H. Thomas, J. Jacoby, S. Dunlap, J. H. Spears, B. Sauuders, W. lies, J. W Judy, COUHTT. FBIOE. St, Clair, $760 Cass, 600 St. Clair, 926 Sangamon, 1,300 (( 675 ft 1,326 St. Clair, 676 Pike, 976 Will, 660 (( 700 Sangamon, 1,726 (( 3,028 • u 800 Morgan, 825 Sangamon, 2,126 Scott, 900 Will, 650 Menard, 1,050 Madison, 50e Menard, 70o Sangamon, 5,050 Bond, 1,600 Champaign, 2,600 Sangamon, 1,300 Morgan, 2,500 Menard, 725 Jersey, 2,058 Sangamon, 1.075 Menard, 725 ■ If'Kf^^.-^ •v(Hf*". J».( ■« '■""TSPpiiPfr .> -; V* 216 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. SHEEP. mX-BRES COISWALS BAMS. "Gen. Lane," one year old, H. Jacoby, Sangamon.. "Emperor," one year old, C. W. Price, do . "Hewer," Sherling buck, M. U. Yocum, do SHERLING EWSS — lOHO-WOOLES. 1— H. 2r-C. 3— C. 4-H. 6-C. 6— M. 7— H. 8— C. »— C. Jacoby, of Sangamon .. W. Price, do W. Price, do Jacoby, do W. Price, do S. Ballinger, of Greene.. Jacoby, of Sangamon .. W. Price, do W. Price, do $300 160 86 60 60 125 70 35 30 60 SO SO SOUTHDOWN BAMS. "Cambridge Duke," yearling, H. .Tacoby, Sangamon, "Prince," yearling. Jamea N. Brown, do "Sir William," yeaiiln^, Miles Holiday, Morgan "Buckland," ram of spring of 1857, J. K. Meggison, Morgan SOUTHDOWN EWIB. 1— Yearling, G. W. Becraft. Morgan H. Jacoby, Sangamon G. W. Becraft, morgan D. A. Brown, Sangamon H. Jacoby, do Jamea .<< era wn. Morgan J N.Brown. Sangamon D.A.Brown, do 2— do 3— do 4— do 6— do 6— do 7— do 8— do 205 195 110 40 75 80 115 80 55 50 45 60 HOGS. BBSESHIBX BOABS. "Edward," one year old, W. D. Sanger, Sangamon 200 "Siddington," 6 months old, J. C. Crowder, do 40 "Tipton," 6 months old, W. D. Sanger, do 36 "Gipsey Boy, 18th," 7 months old, Jesse Cloyd, Cham- paign 200 •'Gipsey Boy, 19th," 7 months old, E. B. Hitt, Scoti 150 IBISa, CUM6EBI.AND AND YOBESBIBE BOAKS. "Boyle," 11 months old, F. Stephenson, Morgan 180 "fiaper," 9 months old, (crippled on ship) James Hill, I'ass 55 "John," 8 months old, S N. King, Sangamon 105 "Pert,"^8 months old, E. N. Taintor, do 126 BIBESHIB£ sows. 1— Eleven months, J C. Crowder, Sangamon 220 2 — Ten months old, Jos. Stockdale, do 250 3 — One year old, Conrad Bondman, St. Clair 380 4 — Eleven months old, John H. Thomas, Champaign... 195 IBISa, CUMBERLAND AND TORESHIRI BO^S. 1— Eleven months old, Jos. Stockdale, Sangamon 300 2— do do E. B Hitt, S<}ott 200 3 — One year old, T. G. Taylor, l.ogau 205 4 — do L. P. Sanger, Sangamon 215 5— do James Hill. Cass 40 6— Eight months old, E.B. Hitt, t-cott 110 The aggregate amounts of the sales of the association is $43,300. The day was delighful and the sale passed o£F pleasantly and satisfactorily to all concerned. At noon a fine collation, prepared by Mr. Myers, was served up to the company. We have not space to give the prices of the cattle to the Im- porting Association, but the figures at which they sold, generally exceeded the cost. In a few instances they fell below, but the competi- tion was pretty strong and to make up it will be seen that some of the stook wen toff at almost fabulous prices. The stallion, "Ynung Barn- ton" for instance sold for upwards of three thousand dollars more than he cost. Some of the heifers and bulls were likewise run up by the competitors, to corresponding high fii^ures The Association, we doubt not, has fully reali- zed all its outlay and expenses. Sangamon, Morgan and Menard counties have pecured qaite a number of the best animals though the stock is pretty well distributed. COMMERCIAL. St. I.ouis Market~September 3. Flonr — Country drooping; sales 84 bbls superfine at (4 75; 50 do at $5; 120 bbls fancy at same; 500 do branded extra at $5 30; 100 bags at %i 75; 50 bbls extra at $6; 100 do at $f 12^, and 24 do at $6 25. Wheat — Supplies mostly of low grades, which are dull and unchanged. The better qualities are active at full prices. Sales to-day 229 bags inferior and musty at 60c; 102 do damp spring at 75c; 196 do inferior fall at 80c; 269 do fair spring t.t 91@9:sJ^c; 139 do good at 96; 80 do prime doat $1 03; 359 do damp aud mixed fall at 90@95c; 2100 do lair and good fair red Irom $l(g)105; 77 do good red at $1 10; 595 do damp and fair white at $1 15; 1,165 do prime and choice red on pri vate terms; 240 do do at $1 18@1 20; primeand choice red may be quoted from $1 15@1 26, and white at $1 25@1 35. Corn — Sales to-day . 22 bags mixed at 63c; 455 do mixed and yellow at 65c and 170 do white at 68(§)70c, in new gunnies. Oats— 80 3ag3 poor sold at 35c; 2,000 bags good, in lots, at 36c part delivered; 534 bags prime, in lots, at 37@37 J^c, and 200 bags choice white, in two lots, at 38@39c in new gunnies. Rye — Market inactive; sales 171 bags at 66@66c including bags. Barley — Dull and no sale. Bacon — 12 cks city shoulders sold at 12c, and small lots clear sides, of which very few are in the market, sold at 16>^ @17c. . Salt— Firmer; sale 400 sks Q A at $1 17J^. Whisky— Cash price for large lots 223>^c Hay— 60 bales fair at $1 10; 20 bales prime at $1 20. Seed — Flaxseed declined to $1 30 for prime; sales small lot Timothy at $4 10, and 15 sacks herds at $1 50 per bnshel. Beans — 1,000 bn old white on private terms. Gunnies — 5,000 second hand sold at 10c. Hides -Steady at 2;@20i4c. Groceries— Very quiet. We quote sugar at 10 to llj^c for fair to prime. Coffee ll^^c to 12i^c. Molasses very (full at 55c to 60c per gallon. -*—- Cblcago Market--Sept> 2. There is a declining tendency in wheat, but prices for the most part are unsettled; sales of spring have been made dur- ing the day at prices between 95c and $1 per bu. Bed and white winter is probably worth 1 05 for red, and 1 20 for white. Corn is unsettled, and it is difficult to give reliable quota- tions; some sales took place at 70c, which is perhaps about the ruling rate. Warehousemen are buying up all the oats they can find, at 28 cents, but there are few in market, and farmers generally prefer to keep them at home till they can get a propbr prico for them; and in t'lis they are perfectly right. Oats are fiiirly worth 37o per bu and should not be sold for less. Large anantities of potatoes are coming in and they sell at from 35 to 40 cents per bushel. -*»- St. Iiouis Cattle Marketx-August 39. At Baldwin's Yard, Broadway.— Cattle— A moderate stock of good offering, with a heavy supply of inferior and common n the market. Fair to choice sell rather slow to butchers at 6}/g and 7i^c. Lower grades sell at 2}4@3cgro!'8. Hogs — kather limited supply in market. Fair to choice sell to butchers at 8@8}4c net. Demand fair for shipping at 6K@7^c. Sheep — Moderate; stock offering and selling $1 50@$3 per head, according to quality. Cows and Calves — A fair demand at $26@45 per head. Chicago Cattie Market— Aug. 24 Sales of 300 good beef cattle at from Z%@Z% to $4 1^ cwt ; 242 ordinary cattle at from 3 to Z\^. Packers have not com- menced buying. Salts of 715 hogs at from t@())/i to 6^, aud scarce at that. Sales of 1071 sheep at from 2@2J^ to 3^ per cwt. Lambs at from 1@13^ to $2 fi head. Sales of a few cows and calves, at from $25(g^3u to $45 ^ head. New Orleans Cattle Market— Aug. 23. Beef Cattle — The market is well supplied with vestern and Texas beeves, and prices easy for purchasers at 10c fi fi) net for western, and $16@35 ^ head for Texas cattle. Keceipts 249 head. Hogs — Prices at 93^@10c fi fi) net. A heavy stock. Sheep — The market in favcr of purchasers at $2 60@4 ^ head. A stock of near 800 head remain on sale, with receipts of -270 head. Milch Cows— Prices at$30@65 ^ head Veal Cattle — A good inquiry. Prices at $6 &0@11 ^ head. Searce. ■ %■ THE ILLKOIS FAMEE. BIMBON FRAVCIS, Editor. BAILHACHE A BARBR, PmiftsBits. FVI. 9. J%*OlfEJflSER, 1837. Wn». 11. Erergreen Trees on the Prairies. BY J. P. JAMES. The belief is very common, almost universal, that evergreens caunot be mude to iive atid thrive on the prairies. People, who have soiwe t*8te for rural adornment, when asked why thi y do not plant evergreens, will often reply, "its of no use; I have tried them till I r.m entirely ilii^^ coaraged; thej will never grow on the prairiets. ' We will give an illustration oJ these abortive attempts to grow evergreens. Late in October last, the writer, while passing along the street, in the town of Amboy, Illinois, noticed, amen::; other wares exposed for sale upon the sidewaii;, a large lot of evergreen trees. They w re spread out so as to catch the ere of every pa*st-r in the street The roots wen- entirely uupro- lected, exposed to the action of sun and air. People were very bnsy inspecting and puicim?.- ing them, at ''ten cents apiece." On t^xprensing ^to the vender some doubt as t© the propriety oi treating the trees in that manner, he iiiiurmed me that those tree.^ were taken oat of the ground, in Michigan, only last week, and could not poK- sibly be injured yet! Surely evergreen.*^ will never grow on the prairies with such ussgt. People who will buy them because they comr at ten cents deserve to be humbugged. But evergreens will grow, they do grow to perfection on these broad savannas; and they may be transplanted, from the nursery, with even more safety and certainly of success than mo*t deciduous trees. The reason ol this is, tiiat when several times transplanted, or root pruned, they will be fouud to have a large inus=< of fibrou.s roots; so that, on taking up the trees, much uior. root may be obtained with the everjj^reeu than with deciduous trees. But the roots are very tender, and if the fibrous roots are (itr^sr roved the tree will die; which is not always the case with deciduous trees. A few plain directions, strictly tollovred. wi,i insure complete success with hardy evertrreeus. In the first place, select such trees trom a nur- sery as have been several times iransplanied; they shoald be branched to the ground, and very stocky; observe that they made a good growUi the last year. Such trees will uniformly havo good roots. The trees nmst be taker, from dn: ground very carefully. Thy roo:s being very tender, will not t)ear the rough handling ol care- less hands. If tliey are to be carried but a lew mii^s, in a wagon, if will be sufficient to care- fully envelop the roots i wei si raw. Never al- low the roots to become drv while out of the ground; that is the great point. Remember that, while, ii properly treated, they are sure to live as any tree can be, they arc the first to sailer trom neglect. When practicable, they should always be planted out the day they are taken up. i'he ground for planting should have been ih;;ruughly enltivated the yciu b<-tbre. it must iio>v be dseply worked, and completely pulvf-r* ized. ['he earth, in the bottom oi the hole that IS to receive tii« roots, must be fine and meik-w, me roots placed in a natural position, and hue mould filled in closely auiuug them with tiie baud. If I he soil is in good condition to work, no waier need be applied; but, ii the ground is eitlier very dry or very wet, as soon as the roots are covered pour on a paii of water, to settle the eurth around the roots. Fill up the hole, and pre8.> the surlacc firmly with th- feet. The tree should i>e planted just as '.ieep as it stood in tnr ;ir.'und beloie. If. aHri- piauuug, the weatner ?h'ul(l b ■ dry, the ijroHnd muat be of'en iuricU wit, I \\i. ii^^^ 'i^-f^^-^ THE ILLINOIS FARICER. 243 To open a correspondence with agricnl- taral societies as well in Europe as America, for the mutual interchange of knowlei ge. To collect all th* information the in- dividual members of the society possess, as well as that derived from a correspondence with other societies, and to have such parts of it published as may be deemed useful. To collect and distribute the choicest farming and garden seeds, fruit trees and vines, yaluable timber trees, and hedge thorns. To encourage and facilitate the improve- ment or introduction of premiums or other- wise of the best breeds of domestic animals, as soon as the society obtains the necessary funds. To introduce the best system for breed- ing, rearing, feeding, and general manage ment of all kinds of live stock — and for the management of the dairy. To give descriptions or procure models of the best and most approved agricultural implements; and assist the farmer to get them at the lowest price at which they can be obtained . To point out the simplest and best modes of ploughing and bringing into cultivation the prairie lands, as well as the most eco- nomical inclosures,and the most comfortable cheap houses, where both timber and stone are difficult to be procured. To inquire into the simplest and cheapest modes of performing the various operations of agriculture and gardening. To discover and introduce into cultiva- tion valuable indigenous plants, and to se- lect and make experiments on the growth of fuch exotics as from use have become necessary to our comforts, and which our soil and climate might so far favor as to al- low their being cultivated to advantage. To encourage and promote the increase of domestic manufactures; on the :iuccess of which the prosperity of this section • of the union so essentially depends. To inquire into the propriety af substitut- ing to a great degree, steam, wind or an- imal power to propel mills and other mach- inery in place of water; — the daming up of which, in a country so level as this, being extremely noxious to the health of the in- habitants, and highly injurious to its char- acter and prosperity. To call the attention of the inhabitants to the substituting, as fuel in the place of wood, stone coal, which seems to have been bountifully provided for our use, especially in those districts most destitute of timber. To procure a library, by purchase, dona-^ tion or otherwise, of such books and per- iodical publications as may tend to illustrate the science and practice of agriculture and gardening, or which may in any way con- duce to advance the objects of the society — to investigate the statistics of the coun- try, particularly as relates to its ancient in habitants and antiquities — also to procure and treasure up in a museum specimens of every thing curious or valuable or in any wFse connected with the natural history of the State — and particularly to assist in the discovering and analysing its mineral pro- ductions. And finally, such other subjects in hus- bandry and the arts connected with it, as the society may think fit to propose for its consideration. HENRY S. DODGE. At a meeting «f the Agricnlttital Society of the State of Illinois, held at the Court House in Kaskaskia. on Thursday 10 o'- clock, a. m. November 11th, 1819, pursu- ant to adjournment. Present — S. Bond, Chairman, H. S. Dodge, Secretary, and a number of mem- bers. On motion. Resolved, That the persons now present be invited to come forward and subscribe the rules and regulations. Upon which, the following gentlemen ^bscribed the same, and paid the first an- nhal contributions: S. Bond, M. Birkbeck, Edward Coles, Nathal. Pope, Charles Trimmer, Thomas F. Herbert, Henry S. Dodge, Robert La- tham, B. C Berry, jno. H. Lambert, Curtis Conn, Warren Brown, R. Blackwell, Ed- mund Roberts, Thomas Mather and Robert Morrison. The society then proceeded to elect their officers, when upon a ballot beitig taken,, it appeared that the following gentlemen were duly elected: Morris Birkbeck, President. Edward Coles, 1st Vice-President. Nathaniel Pope, 2d do. Henry S. Dodge, Secretary. Elijah C. Berry, Treasurer. John H. Lambert, ^ ' Edward Coles, } Nathaniel Pope, \ Committee of Curtis Conn and I Correspondence, Henry S. Dodge J On motion of Governor Bond, Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to revise the rules and regulations of the society, and to repor^at the next an ■^ — ?y—->^frT^ I II wwiji 1 1 , "S?»™ ''*'f7:^7^-rrfi!*^jfl 333 144 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. Dual meeting such alterations aud additions an they may deem necessary. On balloting for such committee there wore elected Messrs. Coles, Pope and Dodgt'. Resolved, That there be placed in the hands of the President and Secretary, the sum of thirty dollars, for the purpose of pro- curing such periodical and other publica- tions, connected with the objects of this so- cioty, as they may see tit — and twenty dol- lars for the purpose of procuring seeds or plants, to be distributed when received, in such manner as they may think most cou- dr.cire to the interest of the society — the members of the society always to have a preference in such distribution. Resolved, That the President be,, aud he IP hereby authorized lo draw upon t^e Treasurer for the sums specified in the above resoluti( n. The following j^e/itlemen wer*- proposed »<> the coiiBitit'r;.r.ioii of the etc .f,\- as iionor- ary members: By Ml' •toleri — Tliomas Jetferson, J-jmc^ Mddiisou, John Taylor, William Pilgiiumu, R chard Peters, S.iinuel L. Mitchell and Blkanah Watson. By Mr. Lambert— Jacob Bigelow. By the President — General La Fayette, Ciiarl<^8 De Last^-rve and Sir John Seb- right. Bj Mr. Pjpe--Iaaac Shelby aud ..Wil- liam Henry Harrison, On motion of Doctor Lambert, Resolved, That the rules and regnlfitions, with the proceedi'jgo of the pociety, by printed in the Illiuois Intelligencer. Resolved, That the society adjourn to meet at this place on the first Monday ra May uext. HE.NRY B. DODGE, .>ec. Arabian Horses. Id Mr. William C Prime's interesting workfr, recently published by the Mt-ssrs. Harpers, "Boat Life in Egypt," and •"Tent Life in the Holy Land," frequent nieution is made of the Arab horses, renowned ail over the world for their beauty, docility, fleeiness, power, .endurance, and value to tbeir masiers, who live and roam upon the great deserts of the East. Mr. Prime says the Arabs prefer the mare to the horse, on account of her superior power of endurance. They trace their genealogy by their mother and not, as we do, by the sire. The favor- ite tradition is that tbey are descended from the five mares of the Prophet Mohammed, and that these came originally from one common stock, to wit the Kohailah. The finest breeds of horse are to be found among the Anazee and Shumar tribes, east and southeast of the Damascus, extending quite to the Euphrates. The value of an Arab mare is, literally, not to be estimated in gold, since no amount of money will effect the purchase ,of one of the pure blood. The fact arises from causes thiit are evident to one who knows the Bedouins. lu the first place, money is of no use to an Arab. He needs very little fir his ordinary purposes, and more would be an incumbrance — to be buried, given away, or loot. His mare is his life; with her iie is free to travel on the desert, to fight or fly, to rob his legitimate enemies, or I rot.jct iiih friends. If he should exchange isis naare for gold, he would be a fair sub- ject for plunder, without the means of de- fsiise, or escape, and having no home, would be at a loss to bury liis treasure whore it ! would be of practical use to him. The color of the Arab horse varies, but i-^ most frequently white, or light chestnut. Tbiy are not large, rarely above fourteen hands high, and while at rest, none but an ( .■cperieuccd lior.^eman would observe their points. Bat when in full motion they are gloiious animals "A high bred mare should bide her rider between her head and tail," saith the Koran, for the Koran is not silent on the sui>ject of hoises, and many of the.-e animals nearly perform ibis duty. Mr. Prime says, it is only by acddeut thai an Arub horse of pure blood, is ob- tained, so that out of hundreds of horses imported into England and America as Arabian, it is not probable that until with- in the last year, one horse of pure blood was ever brought into either country. He mentions that he met a gentleman in var- ious parts of Syria, who' was from 'New- i Orleans, whose object in visiting the East, was to obtain these animals. [This g^intle- man was probably A. K. Richards, Esq., of Scott county, Kentucky, who has imported several Arabian horses.] He had, by a ^3t^i^ r^iB 11 ■;<•<£; r'^'frrr^i^f;!^^^^^']...'. y *V^'lt^_-^il"-^''/-.i... !i*;^^>^Mecond beit do, medal. Best treatise on rearing horses and mnlee in TiUnois, diplo- ma and 10 00. Second beat do, medal. Best treatise on the Tarions breeds of sheep and their adap- tation to the prairies, diploma and 10 OO. Second best do, medal. Best treatise on rearing swine, diploma and 10 00. Second best do, medal Beet treatise on the management of ponltry, diploma and 1ft M. Second best do, medal Best treatise on the cnltore of forest and ornamental trees eo the prairies, diploma and 10 00. Seoood best do, medal. Best treatise on the cultore of fmit trpse In lUinoiPjdipIo- ID»aBdlO 00. fieoopd best do, medal Best treatiae oo the culture of fhe vine in IlIincrfB, diploma ■ad 10 00. geoond best do, medal. Bert treatise on the transplanting and culture of erer- greens in Illinois, diploma and 10 00. Second best do, med^. Best treatise on the caItiTatio& «rf,|^nNtr% (tipIoiBa and 10 00. ;■■- ■ : ;SS|^^*««"^;-- , ... .. Second best do, medal. Best treatise on the caltiration and prep«T«tioir of otiar willows for ba-sket making, diploma and 10 00. Second beat du, medal. Best treatise on the embellishments of a conatry home, dl- ploma and 10 UO. Sec'/nd best do, medal. Best treatise on the caltiration of Chinese ingftr cane, ex- pression of its juice, and its manofsctare into molasaes and sugar, ''iploma and 10 00. Second best do, medal. The essays and treatise must not exceed in quantity ten pages each of the published trans- actions of the Society. The executive committee will also receive for examination and consideration, other essays and treatise on subjects interesting to the mem- bers of the Society. AH entries under this head, with the mann* scripts, must be io the hands of the corres- ponding secretary previous to the first of Janu- ary, 1858. FIELD 0B0P8. Beat 50 fits.' sugar made from CfainoM mgar cane, (old medal. Second best do, $15 00. Tbird best do, 10 00. Beat 5 galluus molasses from Chinew sugar cane, gold medal. Second best do, 15 00. Third best do, 10 00. The specimens of sugar and molasses for which premiums are thus offered, must be sent to the corresponding secretary previous to the 1st of January, 1858. The specimeus must be accompanied by description of mode of cultiva- tion and manufacture. FIELD CROPS.- -( (7on■ Hogs.— ^s was stated in the Courier yester- day, the market for hogs for packing is flat, with no buyers at any price with, in fact, no price ofi'lered ThoMC who contracted some time ago, will lose heavily, as cr.ntracts f(ir over 25,- 000 bogn were made here at 6.i to 6^ cents. — Ziouiaville Courier, 14ik, AGRICULTURAL. Whiat and Chkss — Tb« following report is relation to the examiBation of the proofs of- fered by Mr. Davison, has been made by the committee; and it wii> be seen tiiat tbe commit- tee have decided to make a trial which it is hoped will result in a satisfactory decision oo this long agitated question. BooHESTSB, Aug. 24th, 1867. B. P. JoHNioif, Esq.: The cenmittee appointed to make an examin- ation of the proofs ot the traosmatation of wheat into chess, have failed to fiud any abso- lute or reliable facts to sustain that presamption; and, ahbough the exhibitor, Samuel Davison, Esq., of Greece, Monroe county, is a man in whom all confidence can be placed, and the proofs resting upon bis representation of the manner by which it was produced, and an ex- pectation of finding the attaebment of the original wheat kereeT to the chesa sUi-a, which was an entire failure, as the tarinaceous portion of the berry was entirely decomposed, leaving only the chaff and bran wholly unattached. The roots of the chess ii no casa was attached to the wheat stems or roots. The committee, consisting of Prof. Dewey, of Rochester, John J. Thomas, of Union springs, Cayuga county, and L B. Langworthy, of (ireece, Monroe county, have resolved to in- stitute the most stnngest tests of this mnch mooted subject; each individual to have an ex- ptriment in charge, and to follow the directions ot Mr. Duvison after preparing the earth in the following manner: A water tight box, 12 to 18 inches square 6 inches deep, is to be (iiled with any good loamy wheat soil wliieti lias been boiled with water one hour, to destruv all vegetable vitality, when a given cumber of wheat grains are to be plant- ed after some matherautical diagram, known only to the person trying the experiment, to guard against any possible outside interference by introjlucing 1 he seeds of ches?. After whif-b they are to follow, implicitly, the directions of of the proposer and report to the State Society. (.'. DEWEY, J. J. 1 HOMAS, L. B. LANGWORTHY. Stram Plows — It is interesting at this sea- son o."" Agricultural Fairs to notice what they are doing abroac in the way of agricultural pro- gre.«s; and we have, therefore, engraved a pic- ture of the trial of Boydell s steam plow, which has lately taken place in Lincbliishire, England. It consists of a locomotive with wheels not fashioned for a groove, but adapted for lerel or unevrn ground, and capable of being steered with the same .facility as a boat. Mr. Boydell's men drove it down the road near Louth as ea ily as one might rfrive a cart, and made a sharp turn into the fSfld on which their exper- iments took place. To this •'steam-horse," as it seens to be usually called, three double-breasted wheol plows were yoked, and worked •mmmmm »PIIW"?ppppspPHpiiP -^^mrw THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 249 satisfaetioi of the spectators. A iarge caltira- tor was then tried witk «qaal aaccees. Some lighter plowg which were hitched to the steam- horae proT«d aaable to risist the strain, and were broken to pieces. On a subieqaent occasieo a ttill ra*re carefal trial wag made. Three donble plows were yoked, and plowed an acre in 73 minutes, including stoppages and turnings, in strong clay land. This is at the rale of eight acres per day of ten. hours. The cost in labor and coals was equal to £1 10s., say $7 50, less than a dollar an acre. Had six eiigle plows bsen used, they would hare required the labor of eighteen horses besides saen; costing in England orer £2 10s., say $12 50; and they would set hare plowed orer four and half acres in the same space of tisae. The prime cost of the aachine is said to be about equal to that of eighteen horses. In this eoantry it would be less than one half that cost. The same "steam horse" was tried with a cal- tiTatorand olod crasher and harrows attached, and worked well. Next a subsoil plow was yoked, and answered admirably, working to a depth of twelve inches by a like w'dth. A draining plow was tried at the depth of two feet with equal success, though, from imperfections in the plow, the earth was allowed to fall into the trench. Altogether the experiments went to prote that the st-^am horse was capable of doing anything that flush and blood horses can do, and with a power of at least twenty-five of the latter. ***** dteam plows have been much talked of in this country, but have never yet been so succe.ss- ~ ful as to rank among our agricultural iaaple- ments. Both English and French ssem to be in advance of us in this respect. Yet it is quite obvious that our vast prairie lands are the very place for the "steam horse." Such locomotives as Mr. Boydell's, which was successful on the uneven lands near Louth, would infallibly answer in Illinois; and with us, who pay very high for labor, and very little, comparatively, tor machin- ery, they would be a blessing inestimable. We should be glad to hear that som3 of our en- terprising agricultural machinistsor farmers had given the steam plow a fair trial on the level lands of the West. Tbere is a fortune there waiting a claimant. — [Harper's Weekly. From the Journal of the Now York Ag. Society. Wheat and Chess. — In March last, Benj. Hodge, Esq., of Buffalo, "offered a premium of ^100, to the person wno shall demonstrate that wheat turns to chess; the premium to be awnrd- ed under the supervision ot the New York State Agricultural Society, under such rules and reg- ulations as a committee appointed by the society shall prescribe." We received a letter, 20th July, from Sam'l Davison, a respectable tarmer of Greece, Mon- roe county, saying, "that on the 10th of March last he commenced an experiment on wheat to produce chess there rom, and the experiment has succeeded; and requesting to have a committee appointed to examine the wheat growing, to test the truth that wheat tarns to chess." He also requested that the committee for oext year be appointed, to try the experiment under his direction, &c.; and he claims the premiara of- fered, &c. As here was a direct offer and an acceptance, it was thought advisable to have a committee selected, and an examination and thorough trial had J. J. Thomas, of Cayuga, Prot. Dewey and L. B. Langwonhy, Esq, of Rochester, were selected as the committee. The committee met at the office of the Rural New Yerker, in Rochester, on the 5th of August, and Mr. Davison was present with the wheat and chess which he had grown. The committee, after ob- taining all the information from Mr. Davison, aa to the manner of preparing the ground and managing the same after the wheat was sown, proceeded to separate and examine the stalks presented; but after a careful examination under the microscope, they were unable to find any ehess growing from the wheat; but as the grain and husks were so much decayed nothing satis- factory could be determined. A report will be presented, of the whole examination, by the |*mmittee. The committee, as requested by Hodge, drew up regulations for a trial hereafter, which was satisfactory to Mr. Davison, and per- sons will be selected to make the trial under the direction, as to management, of Mr. Davison, and the result will be given another season. Wg are glad that a careful and well arranged trial is to be had; and we shall hope that a trial conducted with all the care"" required by the regalations of the committee, will, in a single year, prove satisfactory. We were present with the committee at their examinations, and though, on the question of wheat turning to chess, we had never heard but one opinion; that the thing has never occurred; yet in the very proper remlirk of one of the com mittee, a trial is aot to test opinions, but to elueidiite facts; and when these shall be fairly ascertained, we will abide by the results. HuDgaiian Millet. The Hon. Charles L. Flint, of Massachui. setts, in his admirable treatise on the grasses, thus speaks of it: "Hungarian Millet, Muha de Hongrie (p»- niciim germanicum) has beea cultivated to some extent in this State, from seed received through the Patent Office. It is an annual forage plant introduced into France in 1815, where its culti- vation has become considerably extended. It germinates readily, withstands the drouth re- markably, remaining green even when other vegetation is parched up, and if its development is arrested by dry weather, the least rain will restore is to vigor. It has numerous succulent Iraves which furnish an abundance of green fod- der, very much relished by all kiads of stock. It flourishes in somewhat light and dry soils, though it attains its greatest luxuriance in soils of medium consistency and well manured. It may be sown broadcast and cultivated precisely like other varieties of millet. This millet is thought to contain a somewhat higher percentage :^^?!?5KK5«TiE^ I im P"^ of natriment than the common millet, though I am not aw&re that it has been analyzed. A practical farmer of Worcester county says of it: "I have raised the "Moha de Hongrie," on a snail scale only. In my garden it has grown thick and fine. As it is a leafy plant and re- mains green until its seeds mature, I think it may prove valuable for fodder, both green and dry." ( Raise more Food — The New York Post gives seme "advice to the tillers of thesoil,"frora which we take the following sensible and timely remarks: "The revolt in India is the harbinger of fam-< inc. One handred and eighty millions of human creatures will need large supplies of food from the products of other regions. The army of India, the transport fleet for that army and its supplies, the necessities growing oat of the dis- turbed state of that great English dependency, will call for much of our surplus beef, pork and flour. The two last named articles are the ^ product of every year, but beet requires years ^ of nourishment before it is ready for use. The wieked, wanton waste of breeding power, which is the bflsetting sin of American farmers, ought to be checked. Every farmer ouffht to be re- quired to give an account of himself who kills a female calf. "We ought to preserve every "cow- calf" for five years to come. By this method we might soon have a supply of beef, not only for ourselves, but for any emergency abroad." To Whiten Linen Ttjkned Yellow. — Cut up a pound of fine white soap into a gallon of milk, and hang it over a fire in a washkettle. When the soap has entirely melted, put in the linen and boil it half an hour. Then take it out, have ready a lather of soap and warm water, wash the linen in it and then rinse it through two cold waters, with a very little blue at the last. Washing. — Mrs. L. W. says — "I send the following for your housekeepers' depart- ment; I have tried it for the last four or five years. Whoever will soak clothes from twelve to thirty-six hours before washing them, will find they can do without patent washing fluids, &c., and save nearly all the wear of clothes by rubbing — any more than to rinse the loosened dirt. — [Mass. Plowman. <•» B^»The Scientific American gives the following cure for felons on the finger — "The past year we have known the spin- al marrow of an ox or cow applied to three different persons with the most satisfactory results, in relieving pain and securing cures of their felons. The spinal marrow should be applied once every four hours for two days." HORTICULTURAL. In selecting trees for on orchard, a grett many varieties are not required. There is s deal of good sense in the following article from the Ohio Vall«y Farmer. The applss recom* mended are fine, but a few additions might be made here. Rawles' Jenette is anexcelleat win- ter apple, though the two last seasons hare proved that the tree is tender — many in this sec- tion of the country having been killed and others injured beyond hope of reecvery: Cub Apple Orchard. — Aboit ten years ago, I planted out a small apple orchard containing about thirty-fi?e trees. At that time I had little or no personal experience in regard to the kinds of trees it was most profitable to plant. Realizing, however, the importance of making as good a selection as possible, I took plains to get the advice of persons eminent as cultivators of fruit. The consequence is that my orchard has proved more successful than the generality of orchards. Realizing, however, the" import- ance of making as good a selection as possible, I took paius to get the advice of persons emin- ent as cultivators of fruit. The consequence is that my orchard has proved more successful than the generality of orchards. It is, indeed, the admiration of many as they pass along the road. And yet, of the thirty-five trees of which my orchard is composed, there are bst fifteen trees that are entirely satisfactory to me. The remaining twenty have all, more or less, dis- appointed me. And had they been such other varieties, as my present knowledge of fruit trees would cause me now to select, I would wilK ingly give a hundred dollars. I believe the annual additional profit to me would be nearly or quite half that sum. How important then is knowledge? By lacking the proper knowledge ten years ago to make a judicious selection of fruit trees to plant an acre ot ground, 1 am now losing, from the effects of that ignorance, the sum of fifty dollars a year I And it my orchard had been twenty acres, in place of one, my annual loss would have been a thousand dollars a year. Wfth such facts before us, who can resist an ardent thirst for knowledge — for such practical knowledge as our every^day pursuits impera- tiveW require. The apple trees in ray orchard which are en- tirely satisfactory to me, and which I have no desire to displace for others, are as follows: 6 Wine Sap, 5 Smith's Older, 2 Benoni, 1 Summer Rose, 1 Early Strawberry. The places occupied by the twenty that are not satisfactory to me, I wish had been filled with the following: 4 Wine Sap, 5 Smith's Cider, 3 Benoni, 5 Maiden's Blash, 3 Porter. (•s: =3S itSmm Ji |JHI.W»1«> 4Mll.J«,H' 1 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 251 : My fntire orchard of tliirty~five trees wonld, ., .in .this latter case, hare contained only seren varieiies. Bat they wonld all have been gooi kinds, admirably adapted to the locality of the neighborhood of OincinDati, and all good bear- ,,,.ersi. :"" . FroB my own experience, I feel satisfied that an orchacdy properly taken care of, and eoni» posed of the Tarieties above named, woald yield an annaal profit ot $100 anacre, after attaining ,,.: »to an age of ten years from the time of planting. ' Aad yet there are those who pretend that fruit culture is set profitable! Although I give the abova as an approved list, still if an orohardist sought for profit only I do not beKeve ha could do better thaa have all Smith's Cider. This apple is in its prime dur- ing, the three winter months, and always brings the highest price. And it is the most astonish^ ; log bearer that I ever saw. It has also the ad- ditional advantage of being a fine healthy grow- er. The Wine Sap is a better apple, but it will ' sell QO higher in market. And, although a fair bearer; it is not loaded down with such over- whelming crops. Besides, it is a slow grower, and does not exhibit that vigorous health and rampant growth, which is apparent in the Smith's Cider tree. The Benoni is the very queen of mid summer fruits. It is a healthy, vigorous grower, limbs with aa upright tendency, and an excellent bearer. No orchard should be without the Benoni. If an entire orchard was composed of Smith's Cider and the Benoni, the owner would have little cause to complain. — [Editor Ohio Valley Farmer, New Remsdy for Octbculio. — At a late ex- hibition of the Cineinnati Horticultural Society, some very fine plums were exhibited by Mr. Walker, of Kentucky. And all wondered bow ite had succeeded so well in keeping ofif the the depredations of the Curculio. The plan adopted by Mr. Walker wub as fol- lows: As 600H the fruit begun to be worked upon by the Curculio, he taok a tin pan, — into which soap Buds had beeo placed, to the depth of an inch or so, — and aitar affixiag thii pan ia a level position in the tree he sat a small glass gioba lamp in the middle of the pan. Early erery evenia? this lamp was lighted and permitted to burn all nig at. The ceaseqaeBce was that every morning a large numker of the Curculio insects were found dead. In darting towards the light, they would strike the glass globe, which was two inches or 80 in diameter, and be precipitated into the liquid from which they were unable to extricate themselves again. It is well known that the Ourcalio does its mischief mostly in the night. We have heard of no remedy that strikes us so favorably as this. And if it shall really prove as efifectaal as Mr. Walker represents it, we may soon hope to have, not only an abundance of plams, but peaches also that are smooth and fair. Even our thin skinned apples are greatly injured from the attacks of this ugly insect. There has been nothing that has so much baffled fruit growers as th&rainoa* attacks of the Cureulio. Indeed, with many,' the culture of plums has been wholly abandoned; But the experiments made by Mr. Walker teaeb ns in a striking manner to not give up. Constant industry and unremitting persever- ance will accomplish wonders. Let us not sit supinely down discouraged at the first obstacle that presents itself, but if we meet with difficul- ties, let us proudly dstermine to conquer them. — [Ohio Valley Farmer. ..,,., «• — " "•. Thb "Allen Raspbbbrt." — The American Agriculturist says: "We have seen in our late summer travels, a Raspberrj, so superior in some of its qualities that we have strong confidence in its cultivation as a domestic garden fruit — the "Allen" Rasp- berry, for ten years past cultivated by L. F. Allen Esq., in his farm gardens near Buffalo, where we saw them in great luxiriance and perx fection. They are of the Red Antwerp family in appearance, both in wood and trait, but are not the true Antwerp, being hardy as a currant bush without winter proteetion, and throwing up a stoat, vigorous cane of six feet high and upwards in a good soil. The fmit is roundish, of full Antwerp size, prolific in bearing, bright red in color, and of delicious flavor. Where they originated, Mr. Allen, could not tell us. Ha obtained them in his own neighborhood, from a choice garden, beiag broken up we believe, and took all the plants left in it. Neither are they in cultivation in his vicinity, excepting a few lately taken from his own plants. Finding them so valuable he last year authorized his gardener to offer his surplus canes for sale, whfch he did to near ten thousand in number, and so much was a hardy, good flavored Raspberry demand- ed, that all plants which could be spared were taken in parcels from ten to a hundred each, and many of them sent into distant States." . <•» ^- ' • ■ ' • ' Savikq Cabbaob. — The best way to preserve Cabbages green all winter, so that their good qualities shall in no manner deteriorate, is as follows: — As late in the fall as the weather will allow, dig out your cabbages that you have set apart for winter use, — dig trenches, say eighteen oj twenty inches apart, and from twelve to twenty feet in length as may be most convenient, and in accordance with the quantity to be pre- served,— transplant your cabbages firmly in these trenches, as they will stand together. — When your bed is finished, rjise a platform some eighteen or twenty inches high, aver them, which can be made of any refuse posts, rails, or boards about a place; across this place a few bean poles or lath, and upon the whole throw a quantity ot bean hau'm, cornstalks, straw, or any material of this kind, as a protection against wet and frost. — and you can eat green cabbage up to April, finer than if plucked from the gar- den in October. — [Germantown Telegraph. *• V "Here comes Mr. Winter, inspector of taxes, I'd advise you to give him whatever be axes, rd advise yon to give him, witiiout any finmmery, lot, though his name's Winter, bis actions ars sommary:' pr^-PpiHMJiiji..- ■ ' :'^>'r^»;p»-7.s7^y.i5^o>=.i,j||^ '-J-." 252 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. I Raspl)erry and Blackberry. At a meeting of Horticulturists in New York, the following facta were giren hj the different cultivators present. It is a asrioQS truth that W9 have not at this time, in this section of the West, a good rasp- berry which will withstand the vicissitudes of oar climate and produce constantly good fruit. Many of the nsw varieties are oh trial, but we cannot yet speak with confidence of their merits. "Charles Downing said that the variety known as the Hudson River Antwerp was the only sort cultivated largely for the New York mar ket. The product was from $300- to .S800 per acre. Sold at wholesale at 10 cents a basket, aod three baskots made a quart. H. E. Hooker, at 10 cents a quart, found the yield here to be about 3140 per acre. Had taken correct account of one bed containing 16 rods — one-tenth of an acre, aod containing 136 hills four feet apart each way. The product was 200 quarts, which at 12 J cents per quart, would be ?25. Charging the cost of picking and marketing, manure and cultivation, and cost et plants, use of land, &c., at fair prices, thera was left a clear profit of fourteen dollars and eight cent* on this small piece of land. C^L. Hoag, of Lockpon, sold -over one hundred quarts this season at 16 cents. — Brinckle's Orange ia not only the best fruii, but bears altogether the best crop. He did not think it firm enough to bear carriage a great distance. The plant is hardy, though he found that when covered in winter a better crop is prodaced, and finer. The Hudson River Ant- werp killed back unless covered. Nathaniel Draper, of Rochester, had grown the Red and Yellow Antwerp on the same soil for twentysfive years. Used no manure during the time, but kept the weeds down and the canes tied to stakes. Never lost a crop, but plants taken from his beds and planted in hishly manured soils have proved barren. — Others hid observed that high manuring bad resulted in strong growth and unproductive.- B9S8. P. Barry thought that raspberries might be raised for six cents n quart at good profit. The following remarks on the management of the Blackberry, were made by 0. P. Bi^sill, who has many thonaand plants under cultiva- tion:— The young plants should have good roots. The first season the branches spread on the ground the second and third years throw up strong shoots. >^hoiild be planted in rows some eight feet apart, and about the same distance in the rows. For training, the be»t way is to set posts and run two wires from post to post, to which the bearing canes should be tied. In the spring cat the cane baek to about five feet, and also shorten the laterals to five or six buds, or or they become so heavy with the weight of fruit as to break from the cane. The black- berry fills a vacancy between raspberries and peaches. Had picked over 400 berries from one plant. After bearing is over, the canes may be antisd from the wires and allowed to fall by their own weight. When fully ripe, the fruit was good, but persons often picked it before ripe. P. Barry, thought the High Bosh or Dor- chester Blackberry, better and more valsabla than the New Rochelle. Charles Downing thought the former the best flaarored, but it was not 80 large nor productive as the New Roch elle. The Newman was sweeter than either, but not very productive. It was resolved unanimously, to adopt the name New Rochelle for the variety knowa by this appellation, instead of Lawton." Difficulties in the Way of Fruit Culture. f- L "One hundred millions of fruit trees should be planted the coining fall. The ground should be got ready at once. Now is the timt to ub- der>drain the ground for your future orehard. Have a compost heap, composed of muck, torest loaves, straw, leeched ashes, etc., ready, with which to mulch the trees when planted Do all this, then give your orders to a reliable nurseryman for a lot of the best trees, of the bast varieties of fruit Depend upon it, your (arm will sell for 50 percent, mure than the cost of the trees, within five years. Farmers, plant fruit trees! We have often called the attention of our readers to the vapt importance of raising a greater quantity and betier quality of Iruit; and we shull doubtless have occasion to give them "line upon line and precept upon precept." On this subject the public mind must be educated. We believe that the health of our people, the prosperity of ou? nation and the perpetuity of our institutions, are more intimately connected with the cultivation of fruit than with any other one subject that can be named. Why? Be- cause the people most have cheap food and good h'falth, or wunt, disease, vice and crime, misery and degeneracy, are insvitable.'" "It is true there are some difficulties in the way, as with every enterprise under the sun. — But they are to be studied, understood and over- corna." The above is copiecj from "Life II ustrated," by Fowler & Wv\U, New York. What h^ be- come of most of the orchards planted out in this State? Many of thtin have been nearly destroyed by the excessively cold winters, and others have been greatly injured. Thousands upon thousands of the trees brought from the east perish on our prairies the first year, even if their vitality is cot gone before they are planted out. We should not give up the eultivatian of orchards; but we should learn experience from tho past. We have now some knowledge of the varieties of apple trees which best stand our changing cliinate of winter, and we should profit by that knowledge. But few apple trees of varieties orignatiog in the East succeed well The Ohio Cultivator very properly says on this subject: ^"^"TTrO^^'T, THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 253 ^^Onr people hare heretofor* been almost en- tirely dependent spon Eastern books and cata- logues for their iufonaation about the Tarieti«s of fruita, and Kpon Eastern narterymea far their frsit trees, ao that of oar orchards are compos- ed of the Tarieties of fruits that are found most adapted to tha Eastern and Northern States; and it is found that, as a general rule, the most commoB and popular winter apples of those States are the sorest to fail here, both from rettinff and frem winter killing. In spite of these facta, which are bsf inning to be well known to some of our people, the evils are perpetuated and extended by the annual purchase and planting throns;hout the West of millions of trees of these Tery kiads that are des- tined to ceruiu failure. The greater part of the business of the numerous large nurseries of Western and Central New York, is in supply- ing trees at wholesale to the Western States; and in proof of the unfitnegs of these tr«*8 for the Western country, it can be shown that of the dozea or twenty varieties of winter apples that are found best adapted for the soil and climate of Central and Southern Ohio and the greater portien of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, etc., not one of them is commonly foand amon* the assorrmeati furnished at wholesale by the New York Nursprie3!"^Take, for instance, the toUowiB* most reiiabl^and approved kinds for this region: Wine Sap, Rawles' Janette, Rome Beauty, Red Vandervere, or Newtown Spitzenbergr, Smith's Superb, ('brmerlj Smith's Cider,) Ortley or White Beliflewer, Pryor's Red, Fallenwalder, Par»dise Winter Sweet, Willow Twig, Winter Piennock, Gilpin or Little Romanite." ,^ Barley— Economical use as rooa for Borscs. The value of barley, in one form or other, as an article of use, has acquired in some countries a factitious importance, from its easy convertibility into malt and spirituous liquors; but, viewing it simply as an article of diet for man, it must be assigned a lower position than w'leat,* oats or Indian corn. In an economical point of view, the grain or barley, when boiled, has long been em- ployed in Europe as a mash for horses after a hard day's work, or when unwell, acting as a gentle aperient, as well as a sudorific, opening the system and ofteuiug the skin.^ — In Egypt, as also in all parts of the East, it has been used in an uncooked state from time immemorial, as the common food of horses, where the use of rye and oats is un- known. Barley, when fed to horses in a half- malted state, is said to be perfectly harmless, however highly heated they may be, irre- spective of the quantity they may eat. The only preparation it requires for their pur- pose, is to soak it in water for twelve or twenty-four hours, after which it may be fed to the flnirnal in the usnal way. — [Patent Office Report, 1855. THE GARDENER. The Good Gardener, will remove all the weeds kosn his garden in the fall, throw the rab- bish which is to rot in heaps, and dig up a good portion of his garien. If trenched it will ad- vance the crops next spring. This is done by throwing the ground into ridges. In the spring the treaches will be found dry, and the ridges levelled, it will be in the best order for planting and so wing. • AspABAcus AKD PiE Plant. — The beds of Asparagus and Pie Plant should be covered with manure this fall; — s© that in spring the lighter portions of it can be forked into the beds. This will enrich the ground, preserve the roots from injury, and greatly increase the crops the coming year. Spinach. — Spinach, or spinage, may be sown during the early part of this month for fall, winter, and early spring use; the sowing may be oontinned at intervals up to at least the middle of the month. The quality of the spinach de- pends much upon the richness of the soil; the object should be to induce a rapid growth. Spread on and dig inder a goed eoatine of old tarn-yard manure; the older the better. Sow the seed in drills about six inches apart; for the last sowing, intended to be kept over for early spring use, the drills may be only four inches apart. When the seed is well up, give the plants a hoeing, as well to destroy the weed as to encourage a rapid growth. If the seed has been sown thickly, the plants will probably need thinning out. On the approach of cold weather, cover the beds intended to be kept over winter with hay or straw. This covering is not indis- pensable, but its advantages are sufficiently great t© warrant the trouble. The plants are not so liable to be thrown eat by frost; the tops are less injured by extreme changes in the spring. As to kinds, the broad-leaved Savoy is probably the best. -.<•>- The varieties of the Chinese chrysan- themum are many, and ihe flowers are exceed- ingly beautiful. These flowers come at the commencement of winter, when the gardens are desolate, and give a most cheerful aspect to the dwelling. They are of the easiest culture, and when the plants have done blossoming, they can be set away in the cellar, or buried in the ground, and will give no further trouble until spring. r'l .„ _.t;-, -,^. ... 3ar 254 THE ILLINOIS FARMEB.. THE DAIRY. Cheese Making in Vermont. An inquiry was made in a late number of the Farmer about cheese-making. Although I do not feel wortliy of writing for the public to read, I will give my method oi chee3e»mak!ng, which I learned of an old dairy woman, who ua.id she learned of a girl whose parents sent her to the Shakers, with whom sh« served time for that ex- press p«rpos8. The milk should be as warm as it conveniently can be had from the cows; if the rennet is good, the milk will curdle hard enough to eat in thirty minutes; it should then becareiHliy cut with a curd-knife made for the purpose. After ths whey is dipped off, which is done by putting a strainer over the tab, the curd sbould again be broken witis careful handling, as too much squeezing works away the riehest part of tha curd, which will be readily seen by the whey be- ing white. The whey first dipped off is put into a kettle or boiler for the purpose of scald- ing; it should be scalding hot, but not boil; while the wliey is heating, the curd is dipped off into a strainer placed over s. sink or ba&ket made for the purpose, then is tied up and a weight placed upou it for a few moments, after which it is crossed up two or three times, each time the weight beiug applied; the curd is then sliced about three- fourths of an inch thick, and placed as loose as may be into a tub. J3o it may scald evenly, car* shou'd be taken to stir it with a paddle for tha purpose as soon as the whey is poured upon it. When theceird feels a little tough, or will squeak beLween tlie teeth, it is sufficiently scalded; it is then dipped into the strainer which is over the basket, after which it is spread on tables or uoard« to be cooled as cool as it can be; then it is hung np in a strainer to drain about one hour; then it is cut by a curd- eutter and salted, three ounces to five pounds of curd. As to presses, they differ so much in power it is difficult to say auythitgof them. The cheesa, however, should be proised hard, and tlie whole power should not be put on at first; it should be pressed two days, and be turned three or four times from a tunnel strainer first to a cotton one. When the cheese coTues from the prea it should be bund ii,'ed by a bandage cat crosswisa of the cloth, with a string drawn into each edge »t it wide enough to briirr the bandage about three-fourths of an inch over the top of the cheese before the side bandage is put on; cut a piece the siz3 of the tep and bottom of the cheese, wring it oat in the grease, and put it smoothly on, after which the side bandage, with the ends sewed together, is drawn over, and strings drawn, which makes the cheese perfectly safe from the fly. The baadajjes are mad;; of the cheapest of cotton cloth. The best and cheapest grease is made of the cream or scum of whey, by the whey being set twenty -four or thirty-six hours, churned and simmered slowly to an oil. If double curded cheese is required, the curd should be prepared for the hoop, then hung in the cel- lar, which is added to the next day's after that is prepared. THE APIARY. There is Iniory, money, and opportanity for displaying fine taste, in the raising of Bees for their Honey. H. N. Schooler, of Putnam conn- ty, at the last State Fair, bad on ezhibitioD a bee house, some six feet high, about the same length and some four feet deep, occupied with boxes, one end of which was inclosed by glass, filled with honey. If we should be told that there waa a ten of honey in this bee house, we should cot be surprised. The honey was made in the house as it stood; and exposed as every box was to view, it was an interesting, and wo may say a magnificent sight. Mr. Schooler was present, and made all the explanations asked for of the management of the bees, and the peculiar advantages of his plan of raising them, and securinf saeh immense masses of honey. Mr. Schooler's bee house was oae of the most interesting exhibitions of the fair. We never saw any thing of the kiod to equal it. Bees in the Fall. In most places, bees will add nothing to their stores after the lOth of rfeptembar. "In some localities, they gain very little even in Angust; but in a few favored sectioas, they will increase their stores uutil October. This of course de- pends on what flowers there are to supply them. Clover usually fails the first of August, buck- wheat the first of September, but golden rod, when ix sufficient abundance, prolongs the honey season into October. As soon as the flowers cease to yield honey, the bees will be on the look out for a supply from other sources. All weak stocks and swarms, not able to keep sufl5cient guard, are quite sure to be found and plundered. Every hive should be examined now, and not wait till nftxt week, when it may be too late. Do not suppose because it was good in June, that it will of course be so now. All the de- fenceless on«s should be put out of harm's way at once, before honest bses are tempted into bad habits by appropriating forbidden sweets. Sea- sonable attention to this matter will often save much complaint between neighbors, about "first rate hives being robbed." It is not safBcientiy understood that good hive=i are not plundered on the start; they are left till Wviuker ones are dis- posed of. If tiiere are no weak ones, and bo refuse honey injudiciously exposed to entice bees, there will be no robbing! A family too weak to maintain a defense now, cannot be anceessfuily wintered with all possible a=?si3tance, and the sooner they are out of the way the better. Two or three weak ones miy be united, when the stands are within a few feet of each other, and if judiciously fed, may possibly make something. A queenlesa stock containing stor«s sufficient to winter a family, should receive tha bees and queen of some one or two weak or diseased stocks. A swarm that ^?^-»rwwwap?iwn r'^!F'^^^!^>s?&^M'r^^^'^^. ' ^ 'A'.*!*'--'^??' '^ THE ILLmOIS FARMER. 255 1.; iMI JMl^ Trorfe witTiout a qneen, and haa even stored ample provisions for winter, Bhould be broken upi as, in such cases, tbey always make too mach drotie comb for profit. In all localities where . diseased or foul brood prevails , every old stock should be thoroughly examined, and if diseased, it should be condemned without hesitation. If the bees are much reduced, remove them, and by no means allow healthy stocks to appropriate the honey, and thus induce disease. As long as the weather continues warm, any combs taken from the bees, whether filled with honey or not, will need watching to keep the moth worms out — should any appear, subject them to the fumes of burning sulphur.— fM. QuiwBT, in Am. Agriculturist. YALUABLE HECIPES. Blacking for Harness. — Melt foar ounces of mutton suit with twelve ounces of beeswax; acid twelve ounces of sugar candy, four ounces of soft soap dissolved in water, and two ounces of indigo finely powdered. When melted and well mixed, add half a pint of turpentine. Lay it on the harness with a sponge, and polish off with a brush. Here is another receipe: Take three sticks of the best black sealing-wax, dis- solved in half a pint of spirits of wine; to be kept in a glass bottle, and well shaken pre- vious to use. Applied with a soft sponge. Another recipe for black varnish is the following — Best sealing-wax, half an ounce; rectified spirits of wiue, two ounces; powder the sealing-wax, and put it in with the spirits of wiue, into a four ounce phial; digest them in a sand heat or near the fire, till dissolved. Lay it on warm with a fine hair brush. Spirits of turpentine may be used instead of wine. S©"The wife of an American agricultur- ist has been experimenting in soaps, and finds that the addition of three quarters of a pound of borax to a pound of soap melted without boiling, makes a saving of one half in the cost of soap, and of three-fourths the labor of washing, improvhig the whiteness of the fabrics; besides the usual caustic effect is thus removed and the hands are left with a peculiar soft and silky feeling, leaving nothing more to be desired by the most ambitious washerwoman. — [Exchange. cooking, lU^When molasses is used in it is a very great improvement to boil and skim it before you use it. It takes out the raw taste, and makes it almost as good as Bugar. When the molasses is much used for cooking, it is well to prepare one or two gallons in this way at a time. MISCELLANEOUS. Praise lour Wife. ^,:.d&: ;^--^.: Praise your wife, man, for pity's sake give her a little encouragement ; it won't hurt her. She has made your home com- fortable, your hearth bright and shining, your food agreeable — for pity's sake tell her you thank her, if nothing more. She don't expect it; it w^lll make her eyes open wider than they have for these ten years, but it will do her good, for all that, and you too. There are many women to-day thirsting for the words of praise, the language of en- couragement- Through summer's heat, through winter's toil, they have drudged uncomplainingly, and so accustomed have their fethers, brothers, and husbands be- come to their monotonous labors, that they look for and upon them as they do the daily rising of the sun and its daily going down. Homely, every day life, may be made beau- tiful by an appreciation of its very holiness. You know that if the floor is clean, manual labor has been performed to make it so. — You know if you take from your drawer a clean shirt whenever you want it, that some- body's fingers liave ached in the toil of making it so fresh and agreeable, so smooth and lustrous Everything that pleases the eye and the sense has been produced by constant work, ' much thought, great care, and untiring efforts, bodily and men- tally. Jt is not that many men do not appre- ciate these things and a glow of gratitude for the numberlesss attentions bestowed upon them in sickness and in health, but they are so selfish in that feeling .- They don't come out with a hearty — "Why how pleasant you make things look, wife I" or "I am obliged to you, dear, for taking so much pains !" They thank the tailor, for giving them "good fits:" they thank ihe man in a full omnibus who gives them a seat; they thank the young lady who moves along in the concert room — in s?aort they thank every- thing out of doors, because it is the custom and come home, tip their chairs back and their heels up, pull oat the newspaper, grum- ble if wife asks them to take the baby, scold if the fire has got down; or, if every- thing is just right, -shut their mouths with a smack of satisfaction, but never say, "I thank you." I teil you what, men, young and old, if you did but show -an ordinary civility to- ward those commo:n articles of housekeep. ing, your wives; if you gave them the hun \hs: dred and sixteenth part of the compliments you almost choked them with before yoa were married, if you would stop the badin- age about whom you were going to have when number one is dead, (such things wives may laugh at, bat they sink deep sometimes,) if you would cease to speak of their faults, however banteringly, before others fewer women would seek for others sources of happiness than your apparently cold, sottish affection. Praise your wife, then. And you may rest assured that her de- ficiencies are fully counterbalanced by your own. The Color of Rural Buildings. The question of color is a most interest- ing one in any design for a country house, and seems at present but little undeintood in America, by far the greater number of houses being simply painted white, with bright green blinds. By this means each residence is distinctly protruded from the surrounding scenery, and instead of group- ing and harmonizing with it, asserts a right to carry on a separate business on its own account; and this lack of sympathy between tlie building and its surrounding is very dis- agreeable to an artistic eye. Even a harsh vulgar outline may often pass without par- ticular notice, in view of rural scenery, if the mass is quiet and harmonious in color; while a very tolerable composition may in- jure materially the views neurit, if it is pain- ted white, the human eye being so consti- tuted that it will be constantly held in bond- age by this striking blot of crude light, and compelled to give it unwilling attention. In country houses, the design has to be adapted to the location, and not the location to the design; for it is undesirable, and gen- erally impracticable, to make the natural landscape subservient to the architectural composition. Woods, fields, mountains and rivers will be more important than T;he houses that are built among them; and every attempt to force individual buildings into prominent notice, is an evidence either of a vulgar desire for notoriety at any sac- rifice, or of an ill-edueated eye and taste. — The colors of rural buildings should be care- fully varied. They should be often cheer- ful and light, sometimes neutral, seldom dark and never black or white, and there is, for- tunately no end to the combinations of tints that may be used in painting a house. The constant recurrence of about the same re- quirements will, of course, lead to much similarity in plan, particularly in small buildings, but the monotony that this would occasion may be agreeable relieved by var- iety in color, both in the interior and ex- terior. Different patterns of paper will make two rooms of the same proportions no longer look alike; and the same result will be observed on the exterior, by adop- ting different tints for the walls and the woodwork. Another important point to be considered is, that it is entirely insufficient , to use only one or two shades of color for each house. Every rural building requires four tints to make it a pleasant object in the way of color; and this variety costs but little more than monotonous repetition while it adds much to the completeness of the effect. The main wall should be of some agreeable shade of color; the roof trimmings verandas, and other woodwork, being either of a different color, or of a different shade of the same color, so that a contrast, but not a hard one, may be established. The third color, not widely different from the other wood-work, should be applied to the solid part of the Yenetian blinds, and the movable slats should be painted of the fourth tint. This last should be by far the darkest used on the premises, for the effect of a glass window or opening in a wall is always dark when seen from a distance; and if this natural fact is not remembered, and the shutters are painted the same color as the rest of the house, a blank, uninterest- ing effect will be produced, for when the blinds are closed, which is generally the case the house, except to a person very near it will appear to be without any windows at all. Tills error is often fallen into, and re- quires to be carefully guarded against. -<©»- Budding Roses. — In roses, as in many other things, climate has a great influence in modifying our operations. For instance, budding can seldom be performed success- fully with us tlUJuly, and in many seasons may be continued till October. The con- dition of the stock is a better rule to go by than any given period of time. Budding ought not to be doue wlien the sap is too watery, which may be known by the bark very thin and delicate, on being raised with the budding knife. It sliould be quite hard and firm, at tiie same time separating read- ily and easily from the wood. The condi- tion of the scions is also of importance. Buds taken from shoots in active growth, are not so good as those selected from branches tljat have partially exhausted them- selves. To this end, stopping a strong growing shoot a few days before we intend to use it for budding, checks the circulation '^^wf^.^ifj^ipw -."iiyirtj<;?c(L>*'j;ffB ■ j-^^fcr-c^: =; THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 257 upward, and throws more orgauizable mat ter*into the buds. With us, also it is not of importance to take out the wood after cut- ting out our bud; the best operators take as little as possible with the bark. A great cause of failure, is in not taking out the bud with a straight, clean cat. The • edge of the bark, after the bud is cut out must not be split and cracked up, as if a jack-plane or siiingle-shaver hid been em- ployed, or failure will be certain. Use a thin-bladed knife, and keep its back well away from you, or downwards, while using it. — [Horticulturist. Northern Sngar Cane. Dr. E. Chandler, of Chester Co. Penn., has given his experience on the subject of convening the juice of the cane into syrup. He says from 190 hills of the eane he made ten gallons of syrup of the color and con- sistence of good honey. "You can boil it in an iron pot, though a brass, or large copper kettle, or even a com- mon cook stove, wash-h oiler would be pre- ferred to an iron pot. I allude to boiling less than a barrel or two at a time. Slake a small piece of fresh lime, have it appear like milk, or thin whitewash; place your ket- tle of juice over the fire, and when it be- comes milk-warm add a tablespoonful or wineglassful of thin whitewash to every six gallons of juice; slir and mix it well through the juice; then mix the white of two eggs with a bowlfull of juice out of the kettle; pour it into the kettle again and mix it thoroughly. IS'ow bring it almost to aboil as soon as possible, and as quick as you see it beginning to boil take it off the fire and let it remain off fifteen or twenty minutes; at the end of this time, but not before, skim off all the scum, and if you wish to make an extra article strain it through flannel or muslin. Now it is ready to boil down, or to be set aside that you may prepare more in the same way to he boiled with it down to syrup. After it is boiled down one half the boiler being near the fire, much care is required to prevent it from boiling too rap- id, which would blacken your syrup and give it more the dark appearance of molas- ses than a light colored syrup. Wooden rollers were used for the expres- sion of the juice. coquette is a rosebush, from vhich each young beau plucks a leaf, and the thorns are left for the husband. EDITORIAL NOTICES. Illinois Fapmer— Vol, III. We are now near the rerge of another year. Our publishers are making arrangements to largely increase the size of the Farmer, to print it on a smaller and better type, and otherwise to greatly improve its appearance. The in- creased patronage of the work, and its future prospects, we are pleased to say, justify these improvements. The publication of the Illinois Farmer was commenced some two years since, at the earnest solicitation of friends, who seemed to be im- pressed with the propriety of there being pub- lished at the Capital of the State, an aj^ricul- tural paper, devoted to Western, and especially Illinois Agriculture, in such a form and at such a price, that it could go into the hands of the masses of our farmers. It is useless at this day to deery agricultural periodieals. No good farmer can aflord to be without one. These periodicals contain information which is of great importance to him in his daily labors. Progress is markf.d on every industrial pursuit in life — and on none more than that of the farmer. It is a gratifying truth that in the families of our farmers there i* a spirit of inquiry w hieh is not satisfied with the old routine of the man- ual labor of making farm crops. There is a disposition to employ mind as well as bodily la- bor in the management of the farm. Hence there is seen a keenness of perception in the study of whatever concerns the farm in the fam- ilies of farmers at the present day, unusual and which promises the most satisfactory results. A large Dortion of the young men of the country seem to have a right appreciation of the profession of the farmer; — that the farm is not necessarily a place for the stagnation of mind; — that it furnishes a large and interesting field for mental exercise; — that it gives health to the body, — and presents an employment that carries with it manly independence of character and a fair reward for their industry. It is usual for politicans to talk flatteringly of farmers and of their profession, and this mainly to draw them into their toils. PoHticans have little use for farmers but to obtain their votes. We would have our farmers well informed on all subjects, and especially would we desire them to be so well informed as not to be de- ceived into the support of men or measures by the flippant sophistry and statements, as likely ■-.•'F.*y */^»m to be false as true, of men whose present liring and future hopes are dependent on the favors of party. Sach men are often found, one day, full of fire and zeal on one side of a great politi- cal question, aad the next ea the other, equally zealous and active — looking forward to the re- compense of reward. While, therefore, we desire that our farmers shall fully understand the f reat political ques- tions of the day, eo that auder all circvBslances they will be able and ready to act as worthy citizens, — we think that there arc other sab- jects that deeply conceri them — that while pol- iticans are looking to their personal welfare, farmers should have regard for their own. This is clearly their interest and duty. Hence it is that farmers should sustain thsir own papers. Look abroad in our State. "What is the great interest of Illinois? What interest absorbs the greatest portion of her capital and labor? What interest does the community every where — the farmer, the merchant, the me- chanic, the laborer — now rely upon to carry the State through the present financial distress? What is it but the farming interest — the untold wealth that now rests in her stacks of wheat, her fields of corn, her other grains; her hogs, her cattle, her horses, and the other products of her farms? And how meagerly is the great interest of Illinois repiesented by her public press! There are some 150 political newspapers — there are three agricultural papers! Are not these acri- cultnral papers what yoa desire them to be? Give them your patronage — and they will fully keep up with the improvements of the times. It was never known — at least we have never known the fact — that a press did not carry upon its face an evidence of the amount of patronage it received. In onr owncase, therefore, we ask ear friends ■ot only to e*ntinue their subscriptions, but to increase the number of our subacribers in their neighborhood. You can do this, without much sacrifice on your part, and with great benefit lo U8. We desire to publish a paper that shall be entirely worthy your patronage. We wish above all things, to publish a really useful paper to our farmers. We do net anticipate a long continuance of the present financial distress. It may continue until another crop. We regard it as the true interest of our farmers to sell off their preaeit crops at the most they can g«t for them, where they are in debt, and pay their debts. We may then be poorer than we expected to be the com- ing spring; but we will then be ready for onr coming crops. What would our wheat be ■vyorth next spring, if there should then be a good prospect for a crop of winter wheat? The west- ern States are full of produce. If we so ar» range as to sell two crops at once, we may break down those we owe, and we may distress our- selves with court tees and sherifl s calls— but we shall gain nothing. The price of the Farmer will remain as be- fore. Seventy-five cents will paj for it when taken in cluba. We shall in a few days publish a prospectus for the third volume. The Timei. Within a few weeks, our country has been subject to a great financial reverse. This has affected all classes of society more or less, Farmers have felt it especially in the low price of crops and the small demand for them. There is but little call from foreign countries for American provisions, and the throwing out of employ large bodies of workmen in manufactories, will lessen the requirements at home. Still our produce will sell at low prices, and it is a necessity that farmers, who are in debt, should sell their crops and pay their debts. The evil is not likely to be lessened by holding on to their crops. The yield of wheat, take the whole country through, is more than the usual average. Other crops are much larger than ever before. We are now but a few months from spring and with the demand then, equal to the pre- sent, with a great crop of wheat, and corn in prospect, what will your wheat and corn be worth? We regard it as the true policy for farm- ers to dispose of their crops, as usual. If it proves to be an unprofitable season, by your crop noc paying its cost, there is no better way than to put up with it, Your merchants have unprofitable seasons — so do your pork packers, your mechanics, and all other branches of industry; — but in all these cases, the true policy is to do the best that can be done, and go ahead with your calling. Your merchants, who have sold you goods, rely on receiving pay for the same in A^,ifl!».f!l"UWL15^'^-^> ',!!.l*^'W^H^'f»fi!''-'y.N-l!f^S. ^'r-?■^T'l^y'VW^fl^^!»SlnM^«<^■■>.^^r'•™■^T■->«■^^^.'*rVi^^ MlJfl(|jlJ.^».^W» ■ a few weeks. They fix the time of your credits by the arrangements they make to pay*for goods. Yoa cannot withhold your money from them without seriously affect- ing, if not breaking up their business. — Economize, manage your matters, and pay your debts, and it will be altogether best for you. Latterly there has been, under what is sometimes called "famine prices" for pro- duce, a great disposition to enlarge farms. Lands have been purchased on credit to do this, and the farmer has been made the slave of his ambition. Many lands thus purchased we fear cannot be paid for under the present aspect of the times. We be- lieve our farmers would find it most profit- able— we mean those farmers who "hold or drive," if they would cultivate smaller farms. The farming would be done better — crops would be heavier — and the appearance of the farm would be more satisfactory to the owner. He would not always be upon a strife to get money to pay for labor. His family would be more comfortable; and, smaller farms, by enabling you to have school houses convenient, and better roads and bridges, would greatly benefit yourselves and the community generally. Our advice to our friends is — to get their crops to market when markets are open — to pay your debts, to live economically, and work onl Times will change. The few weeks that we have been compelled to stop trading with England for articles which are better made here, has compelled England to send over specie to pay balances against her. The specie sent over there for iron and cloths months ago, is coming back, — for our merchants are too poor to keep up the importations. If by law we could so arrange our trade with foreign countries as to make it a healthy one, sending off our products in exchange for those we receive, we should in our judgment, experience no such convulsions as we are now passing through. But these matters are left to pol- iticans, matters which should never be con- sidered as bearing upon politics. The his- tory of the country shows that in early times, oar great men acted npon these sab- jects trithoat regard to ephemeral politics. Nortbern Sagar Cane. The Chinese sugar cane will hereafter be one of the staple productions of our State. Scattered over erery part of it, there were raised the season just closing, patches of this cane. lu most instances a trial has been made of its value as a saccharine plant, and with saccesi. We hare seen and conversed with many who have tried it, without finding a single exception to this conclusion. A fine article of the s jrnp of this cane has been and is selling here at this time, at $1 25 per gallon. This was manufactured by Col. M. Pierson, farmer, near this city. We shall undoubtedly have the article for sale in all our towns the coming winter. It is very gratifying that persons who commenced the manufacture of the juice into syrup, with no practical knowledge of the proper process, have attained results entirely satisfactory. In conversation, they unanimously say that they went on improv- ing their syrup, from the commencement of the trial, and that in the last boiler was the best. Within a few days we have had heavy frosts and indeed for two nights something of a "freeze." We are not certain what ef- fect the freeze will have on the cane. One of our farmers told us he had made the best syrups since the "freeze." Another that he thought the freezing lessened the saccharine matter in the cane. By the time the next number of the Farmer is is- sued, we hope to have statistics of pro- duction this season — the manner of ex- pressing the juice from the stalks, the proper mills, the best arrangements for boiling and for the purification of the syrup, the belt mode of cultivating the plant, the proper soils, the amount of syrup from the acre, and many other items of importance. We have many farmers in our State whose knowledge on these subjects, obtained by observation and experience, should not be withheld from the people. *H IH'I llfl. Mi l»n =s& Last spring and before, we urged a thorough trial of the Chinese cane plant. We had seen and tested syrup made from this cane, and did not believe that we conld possibly be mistaken in its value. We did not anticipate a failure where a fair trial could be made of it. Our eA'pectatioii.s are realized. Illinois at least will produce syrups for her own use, and for exportation, in a short period of time. The raue will hereafter be a staple production of lilinois. And we believe, not for the production of syrup only. Sugar has been made of the syrap, the present season, in many parts of the West. \fe hear of it in Ohio, in Dela- ware county; iu Indiana; m LaSille and Winnebago counties in this State , that sug;ir has been made from The syrup, and what has been done, can be done and more ex- tensively. It requires nice jinlgment and practical skill to make sugar from this syiup; but these will be obtained, and we now give it as our belief that Jiext :^eason large amounts of sugar will be made from this cane. In Louisiana, at their sugar- making establishments, they have a man expressly as a sugar maker, who, by long experience, skill and judgment, is enabled to granulate the syrups. The cultivation of the Cliinese sugar cane will greatly benefit Illinois. We have al)out one and a half millions of people. Their consumption of sugar and syrups will amount to an average each of three dolhvrs a year. That will amount to $4,500,000. Let this amount of money, or half of it, be kept in this State and circulate among us, instead of being sent off, and oar people will feel the benefits of it. The Chinese plant is now naturalized here, and we are in favor of throwing away its usual names of Sorghum, Chinese Millet, Iraphee, fee, and of giving it an Eng- lish name, one that all can understand. The South has its Southern Sugar Cane, and the North has its Northern Sugar Cane. Let us call them by these names, and no man need be mistaken in regard to the plant. Prepare for Winter. Bo sure and gather your seed corn. Pro- vide protection, as much as possible, 'for your stock in winter. See to the buildings, til at they are put in order for cold weather — cellars banked np, window glass put in, stoves ready, fuel on hand. See that your fiirming tools are under cover, and your garden tools [>ut in j)lace. Your potatoes should now be dug and placed beyond the reach of frost. Your cabbages should be gathered, trenches made, the roots put in the ground, a shed made over them, loaded with straw, bean vines or other articles, to keep them from freezing. Beets should be taken np, put into tlic cellar, and covered with sand. Apj.'les should be put into cel- htrs. All these articles do best in an at- mosphere a few degrees above freezing point. If yon expect egii's, you mast have warm places for your fowls to lay in and to roost, and they sliould be provided with meat to eat and lime ^uid ashes to wallow in. The great weeds should be removed from your garden, and if you trench it two feet deep, it will be all the better for working in the spring. Pi'otect ihe tender plants and shrubs in the garden. Tender roses may be bent down and covered over with earth, or the earth may be hdled up ten inches high on the wood. Asparagus and Rhubarb do best by being covered up with manure in the fall. You can p|ant beds of both, if you choose, now, A piece of the root of the rhubarb with a single bud, will make a good plant. Celery should now be taken up, and carefully protected iu trenches and well covered. 13e cautious about fires on the prairies; m^ny a farmer has lost his crops, his fences and sometimes buildingsby prairie fires. Apple and other trees jan be planted out. The evenings are now long, and when the labors of the day are over, you should have an agriculiural paper, to see what im- provements are being made in your profes- sion, that you may keep np with the im- provements of the day. What you read, understand if possible. Those who read most are not often the most intelligent. THE ILLINOIS FARMER. ■mt m^ They are likely to know almost a great deal. And last of the items we shall here mention, is your district school. The school house should be in order, you should secure a good teacher, and then see to it, with your noighborSj that every thing is provided to enable your teacher to do justice to himself and his scholars. -*—~ Northern Sugar Cane. The editor of the Ohio Farmer says in his paper: "At every fair I have attended this sea- son I fouud the Sorghum oa exhibition, varying from eight to eighteen feet in hight; at every fair I foun.l the Sorgho syrup, no two specimens of which wore alike. At Delaware, I found the best syrup, and also that which I had heretofore deemed an im- possibility, viz — a splendid article of sugar from the Sorghuiu! In appearance and taste it closely resembled the best maple sugar. It was a great gratification to know that sugar could be manufactured from this plant, whose reputation for being a humbug was getting very fair. In Ohio are, in round numbers, twenty-five millions of acres of land; now suppose that every two hun- dredth acre is sown in Sorghum, and the average product to be three hundred gal- lons of syrup to the acre, the result will be that instead of importing millions of gallons of syrup, we shall have thirty-seven and a half millions for consumption and export! Let us nextyear devote sufficient land to the Sorgho for the production of sugar for do- mestic consumption." The Editor of the Ohio Cultivator, visit- ed the Delaware county fair. He also no- tices t'le same sugar, thus — "But what was most satisfactory of all, we found at Delaware a jar of the bona fide grained sugar, beautifully crystalized, light and delicious, made by the ordinary process in a single kettle. We consider the ques- tion settled, and what farmers want fur- ther, is experience as to the best modes and implements of manufacture. These will come right along now." Judge Caton, at his farm in LaSalle county, has succeeded in making sugar from the Chinese sugar cane. He expressed the juice in the usual manner — put several gal- lons into an iron boiler, out of doors, adding two spoonsful of lime, first mixed with juice. In thirty-five minutes after fire was applied the juice was brought to the boiling point, when the fire was withdrawn, and it was allowed to cool twenty minutes — the scum was removed, and the juice strained through a cotton cloth,— and when the juice was so cool that a finger could be held in it, the whites of three eggs were added, and it was returned to the boiler, and again brought to the boiling point, — the fire was then withdrawn till morning. The scum, which formed half an inch thick and covered two- thirds of the liquor, was removed. The liquor was then drained ofif, and much im- purity which had settled in the kettle, taken away and the kettle made clean. The liquor was again returned and boiled down to two gallons; it was then removed to the stove and boiled down to six quarts. Four quarts were then taken out, and the remainder boiled down till bubblea rose, as they do in mush. It was then taken off and cooled; but believing that it was not sufficiently boiled to granulate, it was boiled again and until it would adhere to the skim- mer in broad flakes A portion of this was placed in a vessel, a little good sugar added and in a few hours it had so granu- lated that it was turned out into a cloth to drip and dry. And thus veritable Sor- ghum sugar was obtained. The Judge afterwards learned from a southern sugar- maker that the last boiling injured the syrup for sugar making. Mr. E. Andrews, of Chicago, seems to have made sugar without much difficulty. He boiled and purified his syrup as usual, set it away, and it granulated into sugar. PiCKLi.vG Cabbage. — Slice the heads very finely. A head ot red eabbage mixed with half a dozen white ones give the whole a pretty color. Sprinkle on and mix in a little salt. Scald together, say one gallon of jfoad vinegar two or three tabltspoonfuls of sugar, one table spoonful cloves, on* of ground cinnamon, and a teaspoontiul or lesg of ground black pepper The cloves, cinnamon and pepper sboald ba put into a bag while scalding. When cold poUf the pickle over the cubb;ige, and also drop in tha bag of spices. Keep the w;;ole well covered, putting a plate over the caboage to hold it down ifi the pickle. '=^J»5?IHJ»!11L 260 ■^I'lW-"-"''-- 'THE ILLINOIS FARMER. Last spring and before, we urged a thorough trial of the Chiuese cane plant. We had seen and tested syrnp made from this cane, and did not believe that we could possibly be mistaken in its value. We did not anticipate a failure where a fair trial conld be made of it. Our expectatiop.s are realized. Illinois at least will produce syrups for her own use, and for exportation, in a short period of time. The rane will hereafter be a staple production of liliuoi.s. And we believe, not for the production of syrup only. Sugar has been made of the syrap, the present season, in many parts of the West. Vfe hear of it in Ohio, in Dela- ware county; in Indiana; in LaSxlle and Winnebago counties in chis State, thatsu^-iir has been made from :he syrup, aiid what has been done, can be done and more ex- tensively. It requires nice judgment and practical skill to make sugar from this syiup; but these will be obtained, and we now give it as our belief tliat next season large amounts of sugar will be made from this cane. In Louisiana, at their sugar- making establishments, they have a man expressly as a sugar maker, who, by long experience, skill and judgment, is enabled to granulate the syrups. The cultivation of the Chinese sugar cane will greatly benefit Illinois. We have aliout one and a half millions of people. Their consumption of sugar and syrups will amount to an average each of three dolhirs a year. That will amount to $4,500,000. Let this amount of money, or half of it, be kept in this State and circulate among us, instead of being sent oflF, and our people will feel the benefits of it. The Chinese plant is now naturalized here, and we are in favor of throwing away its usual names of Sorghum, Chinese Millet, Iraphee, fee, and of giving it an Eng- lish name, one that all can understand. The South has its Southern Sugar Cane, and the North has its Northern Sugar Cane. Let us call them by these names, and no man need be mistaken in regard to the plant. Prepare for Winter. Be sure and gather your seed corn. Pro- vide protection, as much as possible, 'for your stock in winter. See to the buildings, that they are put in order for cold weather — cellars banked up, window glass put in, stoves ready, fuel on hand. See that your farming tools are under cover, and your garden tools {nit in place. Your potatoes should now be d'jg and placed beyond the reach of frost. Your cabbages should be gathered, trenches made, the roots put in the ground, a shed made over them, loaded with straw, bean vines or otijer articles, to keep them from freezing. Beets should be taken up, put into the cellar, and covered with sand. Apples should be put into cel- hirs. All these articles do best in an at- mot^phere a few degrees above freezing point. If you expect eggs, you must have warm places for your fowls to lay in and to roost, and they should be provided with meat to eat and lime und ashes to wallow in. The great weeds should be removed from your garden, and if you trench it two feet deep, it will be ail the better for working in the spring. Pi-otect ihe tender plants and shrubs in the garden. Tender roses may be bent down and covered over with earth, or the earth may be hlled up ten inches high on the wood. Asparagus and Rhubarb do best by being covered up with manure in the fall. You can plant beds of both, if you choose, now. A piece of the root of the rhubarb with a single bud, will make a good plant. Celery should now be taken up, and carefully protected in trenches and well covered. Be cauiious about fires on the prairies; m^iny a farmer has lost his crops, his fences and sometimes buildingsby prairie fires. Apple and other trees gan be planted out. The evenings are now long, and when the labors of the day are over, you should have an agriculiural paper, to see what im- provements are being made in your profes- sion, that you may keep np with the im- provements of the day. What you read, understand if possible. Those who read most are not often the most intelligent. 12= They are likely to know almost a great deal. And last of the items we shall here mention, is your district school. The school house should be in order, you should secure a good teacher, and then see to it, with your noighborSj that every thing is provided to enable your teacher to do justice to himself and his scholars. Northern Sugar Cane. The editor cf the Ohio Farmer says iu his paper: "At every fair I have attended this sea- son 1 found the Sorghum on exhibition, varying from eight to eighteen feet in hight; at every fair I foup.il the Sorgho syrup, no two specimens of which were alike. At Delaware, I found the best syrup, and also that which I had heretofore deemed an im- possibility, viz — a splendid article of the Sorghum! In sugar appearance and from taste it closely resembled the best maple sugar. It was a great gratirtcation to know that sugar could be manufactured from ihis plant, whose reputation for being a humbug was getting verj fair. In Ohio are, iu round numbers, twenty-five millions of acres of land; now suppose that every two hun- dredth acre is sown in Sorghum, and the average product to be three hundred gal- lons of syrup to the acre, the result will be that instead of importing millions of gallons of syrup, we shall have thirty-seven and a half millions for consumption and export! Let us nextyear devote sufficient land to the Sorgho for the production of sugar for do- mestic consumption." The Editor of the Ohio Cultivator, visit- ed the Delaware county fair. He also no- tices t'le same sugar, thus — "But what was most satisfactory of all, we found at Delaware a jar of the bona fide grained sugar, beautifully crystalized, light and delicious, made by the ordinary process in a single kettle. We consider the ques- tion settled, and what farmers want fur- ther, is experience as to the best modes and implements of manufacture. These will come right along now." Judge Caton, at his farm in LaSalle county, has succeeded iu making sugar from the Chinese sugar cane. He expressed the juice in the usual manner — put several gal- lons into an iron boiler, out of doors, adding two spoonsful of lime, first mixed with juice. In thirty-five minutes after fire was applied the juice was brought to the boiliog point, when the fire was withdrawn, and it was allowed to cool twenty minutes — the scum was removed, and the juice strained ttffough a cotton cloth,— and when the juice was so cool that a finger could be held in it, the whites of three eggs were added, and it was returned to the boiler, and again brought to the boiling point, — the fire was then withdrawn till morning. The scum, which formed half an inch thick and covered two- thirds of the liquor, was removed. The liquor was then drained oflf, and much im- purity which had settled in the kettle, taken i away and the kettle made clean. The j liquor was again returned and boiled down j to two gallons; it was then removed to the i stove and boiled down to six quarts. I Four quarts were then taken out, and the i remainder boiled down till bubblea rose, as they do in mush. It was then taken off and cooled; but believing that it was not sujBBciently boiled to granulate, it was boiled again and until it would adhere to the skim- mer in broad flakes A portion of this was placed in a vessel, a little good sugar added and in a few hours it had so granu- lated that it was turned out into a cloth to drip and dry. And thus veritable Sor- ghum sugar was obtained. The Judge afterwards learned from a southern sugar- maker that the last boiling injured the syrup for sugar making. Mr. E. Andrews, of Chicago, seems to have made sugar without much difficulty. He boiled and purified his syrup as usual, set it away, and it granulated into sugar. PicKLixG Cabbage. — Slice the heads very finely. A head ot red cabbage mixed with half a dozen white ones give the whole a pretty color. Sprinkle on and mix in a little salt. Scald together, say one gallon of good vinegar two or three tabltapoonfuls of sugar, one table gpoonfal cloves, on« of ground cinnamon, and a teaspoontul or less of ground black pepper The cloves, cinnamon and pepper should ba pat into a bag while scalding. When cold poUf the pickle over the ca.bbage, and also drop in the bag of spices. Keep the w;iole well covered, putting a plate over the cabOage to hold it down ia tha pickle. 262 :Wm' THE ILLINOIS PARMEB. Soft Maples for Shade Treei. We folly indorse the following commun- ication. Soft Maples can be raised easily from seed; the trees grow rapidly; make mnch wood and form beautiful heads. They would be just the tree for the prairie, where a grove a dozen years old, would brake the heavy winds and storms, or furnish fire wood. We have lately seen lines of these trees on roads, proving all that we have here said, and which commanded the ad- miration of those who had a taste for the beautiful. For the Illinois Farmer. Messrs. Editors: — Permit me to call the attention of all our fellow citizens who may read your valuable paper, and that are about getting out shade trees this fall,or the ensuing spring, to the claims of the soft or swamp maple. This graceful, hardy and beautiful tree is of very rapid growth, attaining to the height of from thirty to forty feet in ten years, at that time it will throw a dense shade over a large area of ground and it will send up no suckers from its roots, (which is a leading objection to the locust.) It will not be broken by heavy sleets, as the bark is per- fectly smooth and does not collect the ice to any extent. It is not annoyed by any insect, to destroy its beauty or affect is vitality. When planted merely for fire wood it will yield more and of a better quality, in a given time than any of our forest trees. Some fine specimens of these trees may be seen in the western part of this county on the farms of Mr. Myers and R. H. Con- stant, Esq. A Sojourner in Sangamon. Proteetion for Cattle. In the prairie sectiong of our State, where timber cannot be had, and where farmers are too poor at once to build good barns, farmers make very warm shelters by covering frames with straw, which latter article they have plenty of. It is cruel to subject cattle to the hard fare of laying un- der a fence for protection from our freezing prairie winds. Every feeling man should have a sympathy for the poor dumb brute, who cannot, in human voice, express its wants. Stock do not require as much food when warmly kept in winter as when they have to bear its pitiless blasts. Poorly kept stock on the prairies may live till spring, through all trials; but their value will be much less than if well wintered. We have fancied that a poor steer,who has lived in the open prairie in winter, if he could reason, would rather go to the shambles in the fall, than to pass another winter ex- posed again to the same sufferings. B^oManj of our readers have made experi- ments with the Northern Sugar Cane the pres- ent season. We would be glad to learn of their success, and their projects with regard to the plant for the fature. All tha light that can lie thrown upon the subject of cultivating the cane, the expression of its juice, and its manufacture into molasses and sugar, should be given to the public; — so that another year our manufacturers may rely upon experience, asthey generally have had to rely upon theory, the present year. We do not believe that it will require more skill and science to convert the juice of the Northern Cane into molasses and sugar, than it does the juice of the Southern Cane. In both cases it requires the utmost care and practical knowledge. We may be mistaken, but we believe the com- ing year Illinois will make the molasses, (and some portion of the sugar,) her people will con- sume. B®,The State Agricultural Society has offered good premiums for the sugar and molasses of the Northern Sugar Cane. We hope there will be many specimens on exhibition. Entries can be made of these articles with the Corresponding Secretary up to 1st January, 1868. [See official no- tice in this number of the Farmer ] -<•»- Digging Potatoes. The potatoe harvest is greatly facilitated by the use of the plough ; and one of the best methods is to commence by back-fur- rowing between the rows with a double team running the furrows a little lower than the potatoes in the hill and near enough to roll out a few of them the remainder of the work is to be performed with the hoe. Try it, brother farmers you will find it much ahead of the old back breaking way that has so much deterred people from raising that quantity they otherwise would. ..^,., :-t^ THE ILLINOIS PARMER. 263 What is Imphee. It is the African Sugar Cane. Sorgho is the Chinese Sugar Cane, which is now so mmch talked of and experimented on. The Imphee quite nearly resembles it in botanical properties and in the agricultural and commercial ralue which it may possess. If any great difference except in the appearance of the seed exists be- tween thiem, in these respects, it remains yet to be noticed. But the history of Imphee is, according to Mr. Leoaard Wray, quite diflerent from that of the Sorgho. Sorgho, or the Chinese Sugar Cane, was first introduced into Europe, in 1851, by the Count de Montigny, consul of France, at that time, at Shanghai infChina. It was planted by M. Robert, of Toulon. Prom this planting only one sprout appeared. It grew and ripened, and the seeds were distributed. A gardener of Hyeres succeeded in ripening eight hundred seeds, which were bought by Vilmorin & Co., of Paris, for eight hundred francs. The plant then mads it way rapidly. It was cultivated extensively and from this source mainly it was supplied to the United States. The Imphee, on the other hand, was, accord- ing to Mr. Wray, introduced into Europe in the following way :— While at Port Natal, in Afri- ca, in 1851, he found the Imphee, or "sweet seed," grown by the natives. He collected the seeds of all the varieties he could hear of, fifteen in all, planted them, and made sugar from each of them. He then left Port Natal, went to Europe planted it in England, France and Bel- glum, and established its culture in the West Indies, Mauritius, the Brazils and some other countries. It is now being introduced into the United States. Some varieties of the Imphee ripen in ninety days, from the seed. Mr. Wray thinks that Imphee, or the African Sugar Cane, will furnish the Northern States with means of making sugar for themselves. Several varieties of it will ripen perfectly in from 75 to 100 days. He thinks that it can be crystalized by a method which he has used, and for which he has applied for a patent in the United States, as well as in Great Britain, and some ceuntries on the Continent. The method consists of several distinct operations. 1. Treat- ing the juice with "cream of lime," without heat. 2. Filtering the juice through charcoal to remove all feculence. This gives a clear bright liquor, without any heat. 3. Heat the liquor to 120 or 180 deg. Fahrenheit; pat in nut galls, and bring the liquor to the boiling point. Keep it so a few moments, then cool and filter again. 4. Evaporate the liquor in open pans, skimming the scam as it rises, till the svrup is ready to grain. 5. Then remove to Vessels proper for this purpose. If it should not gran« ulata readily, throw into the concentrated svrup a few ounces of well grained sugar. This " will cause it 10 grain rapidly. By the use of this method, Mr. W. affirms that excellent white sugar can always be made from the African Su- gar Cane, If he is right in this matter, our farmers will do well to took into the subject. The experience of the last eighteen months will give additional interest to every effort to secure cheap domestic sugar. Our advice to all is, that they read ex- tensively, observe carefully, experiment cautions- ly, aad having proven "all things, hold fast to that which is good." — Ohio Farmer. Shape of a Goode HoFse. ' ^\: I From an ancient Record. J A goode horse shoulde have a black, smothe, drie, large, round and hollow hove and if it be soft and tender, and brode about the heles, it is the greater sign of lightness. The reason is, for that the horse, from the day of hys foling, tredeth light upon the grounde, for he is afray'd to trust to his hoves, being as yet verye tender, and there- fore he strayneth hys fore legges and back the more. The crownes above hys hoves shoulde be small and heavy. Hys pastors short, and that neyther too lowe nor yeat too high; so shall he be strong beneath, and not apt to founder. Hys joyntes great, with longe feawter^ locks behynde, whiche is a sign of force. Hys legges straight and brode; hys knees great, leane, and playne; hys thyes full of sinews, the bones whereof should be short, equal, just, and well-proportioned, and the brawnes thereof, when he standeth with hys legges together, ought to be muche more dis taunt one from another above, to- wards the breast, than beneath. Hys shoulders longe, large, and full of fieashe; hys breast large and rounde; hys necke rather longe than shorte, greate« to- wards the breaste, bending in the midst, and slender towards the heade; hys ears small or rather sharpe; hys forehead leane and large; hys eyes black and greate; the hollowness of hys browes well filled and shooting outwarde, hys jaws slender and leane; hys nostells so open and puffed uppe as you may see the redde within, apt to re- ceieve air, his mouth greate, and finally hys whole heade together would be like a shepe's heade. Hys wythers should not on- ly be sharpe-pointed, but also righte and straight, so as a man may plainlye see from them the departure of his shoulders; hys back should be shorte, and that neither ris- inge nor fallinge, but even and playne, hys sides should be long and large, with a small space between the hyndermost ribbe ani the huckle bone; hys belly orderlye hid un- der hys ribbes; hys flanks not gaunte, but full; hys tayle should be full of hairs and long, downe to the grounde; finally all hys members should be correspondent to the greatness of hys bodye, fashioned much like •a stag, somewhat lower before than behind. --t^Skis-'J, ■.^i^iJ.'^^ ^O^y^'- ''■■-':■ ^rrr *-"™?w™--'v«r'- f- _ ■ -y--^ -^^ ir^^-:, Concrete Cellar Bottoms. The facility and cheapness with which the bottoms of cellars may be made clean, sweet, and impervious to water, is not generally known to house owners, nor the ease and certainty with which water may be excluded from cellars when it is difificult to drain. In soft and pervious soils, this process is best performed by paving with small stone laid in sand, but common compact soils, the natural surface, well leveled, will answer all purposes. Make a thin mortar with water lime and coarse sand, of the consistency called grout, or so thick that it can be pour- ed from a pail on the ground. Commence with a portion of about eight or ten feet at one end and throw on sufficient to cover it an inch or more thick and with a scraper or rake head, spread it evenly and smooth; then throw on as much clean, coarse gravel as it will absorb, and so continue until it is finish- ed. In twelve hours or as soon as it has set, sweep the overplus gravel evenly on the surface, and pump it down with a short plank and pounder, until it is smooth and compact, and in a few days of good weather it will become like a solid rock. It assists in durability and firmness, to give it several good dashes of water after it gets dry. To render the sides impervious to water where drainage is difficult or costly, requires that the wall should be laid with mortar or- iginally; and at the time of constructing the bottom, good well portioned water-lime mortar should be plastered on, a little high- er than the source of water, and well and firmly slicked down when about half dry, and followed by another coat of the same when if a proper time intervenes before there is any outward pressure of water, it becomes as tight as a barrel or tub; it is always sweet, clean, and cool, and no vermin can enter nor fiod lodgement. The sand used in the grout and mortar should be coarse, clean and sharp and the gravel from the size of walnuts down to coarse sand. How TO Keep Preserves. — Apply the white of an egg, with a small brush, to a thickness of tissue paper; the paper must be sufficiently large to come an inch or two over the jar, and will require no tying. jg^AVe understand that Selby, Jones & Co. of Peoria have donated to the State Agricultu ral Society, one of their valuable seed drills, which will be offered for the best ten acres and over of drilled wheat, the growth of 1858. COMMERCIAL. St. L.ouis Market~Oct. 31. Flour— Sales of 200 bbls suporfine and extra, terms pri- vate; 42 do superfine $4; 60 do $4 n\^ 100 do fancy $4 30; 50 do extra $5; 160 sks S. F. $2 05; 40 6®5c Tiie following shows frow what States the supply of Beef Cattle at AUerton's came : From New York ^25 Ohio ■121 Illinois 350 Keutuckv 300 Indiana 300 New Jersey 32 Connecticut 22 (WWyw'Jujpii^i^iniiiii ^\. r-'>,W!.»tii.tU^u>.->i^'.W!U»fi';:^M*» -;iE5ss«!re:*!i--^ **:*.; »y- ."-»-;.-;»- ■ r'*^ - " -pa.A«* — -?^^yMf*-4e THE ILLINOIS FARMER. SIMEO?r FRANCIS, Editor. BAIX.HACHE & BAKER, Pubiisebks. »*ol. 3. JfJECJEJftBMR, 1857. «/ro. 13. Embellishments of a Conntry Home. £]/ Tyler McWhorter, Merctr County, Illinois. Let othera praise the architectural piles, the marbled columns, and the glitter ot art and the costly embellishments of the crowded city — • where hoarded wealth, that has been abstracted from the hands of honest toil, displays itself in the decoratiens of fashion — but from the pent up views of walled streets, let me hasten to where the pure breezes of heaven freely play over the green landscape, where the leafy bonghs spread their cooling shade over my head, while far away, on the broad old prairie, the glowing beams of light are softened to the eye — "Where the tints of the earth and the hues of tlie Bky In color though varied in beauty may vie" — From the ceaseless din, the tainted air, and the erowded street' of the city, let me steal away to some sunny bank, where the light zephyrs bear along the sweet fragrance ot opening flowers, where the warble of birde, the murmur of the dancing streamlet and the balmy freshness of aa'^ ture can soothe and tranquili^e every levered disturbance of the mind. Lat him, to whom the varied beauties of the smiling earth impart no delight, go the mart of trade and fashion; but give me the free air that waves the green meadows and rustles the fields of growing corD — let me eijoy the rich bounties of the orchard and the gardes — give me the social tranquility and all the rural endearmeuta that cluster around — X COUNTIT HOMI. And this la the subject to which it is proposed to call the attention of the readfr. "We live to enjoy happiuess; and the happiness of living necessarily depends very much upon what degree of convenience, comfort and enjoyment the place where we live will afford. The human mind is dependent upon something external to itself for its entire nourishment, cul- ture and expansion. External natsre impresses its images, and everything with which we are Burrounded and associated has its modifying in- flaence. Then let him who would cultivate a love of hoiBe, contentment, and the finer sensi- bilities, in his own laind- and more especially in the minds of his children — study to make a place PLEASINO AND DKLIGHTFDL TO THE SENSBS, As fine strains of music greet the ear and tranquiliie the mind, so, also, pleasing objects meet the sight and impart a more happy and abiding influence. Then, how important that the scenery and objects that are almost contin- ually before our sight shoald be such aa most delight our senses. With the individual that hag been reared in s pleasant home — in a place surrounded by inter- esting scenery — in thereminiscences ef that child- hood, the fondest associations of memory will ever cling around "ths old homestead;" and, with true emotions, he may sing — "IIow dear to myhpartare the scenes of Juy childhood.'' The object of this essay is not to recoramend an extravagant outlay for costly dwellings, or homestead embellishments. Nothing should be recommended that will not accord with economy and republican simplicity. Having been for twenty years a resident of the western States, we well know the many thiaes that press upon the care and attention of the western farmer; and will endeavor to offer some practical saggestions, with due regard to the cost of labor aad expense of doing things. And let it be distinctly un- derstood, that the following hints are designed for those who have, with their own hands, sus- tained the dignity of labor, and added to the growing greatness of our State. It is not ex- pected that people can do everything at once; but in arranging things abont a homestead it is very important to start aright. In a short essay published in the reports of 1855, we labored to skow that all correct taste in landscape gardening must spring from a love of nature; and that the most pleasing forms and aspects are always obtained by imitating the scenery of nature. And the same position, a£ a foandatioQ principle, will be adhered to in these remarks. In fitting up a place, the first matter that presents itself for consideration is — Til LOCATIOW. One of the first objects to be considered in the location of a place is landscap* iffict. And here arise two entirely distinct considerations: 1. The appearance of the grounds when view- ed from the house. 2. The aspect of the place when viewed from the main road, or some other position. On this point a decided difference exists be- tween the feelings or fancies of the English and the Americans. The Englishman prefers a sit- uation quite ofi from the main road; and the en- tire scenery of the place is arranged with refer- ence to the pleasing effect when viewed from the mansion. Or, if adjacent to ■ the highway, masses of trees are planted so as rather to hide the place from view — sufiBcient at least to give the whole an air of seclusion. The Englishman ■■^w»w: ■■'y;>!'^'^r^ '•■W' ^T-v-r . TT^j'^-v—.rf 'ww"*--'^rwj.' '^l?;'5fi>T'^^ ^. 266 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. can hardly feel that to be hia qjju, whioh is •qaally enjoyed by every passer by. But the Americao generally hai deeidedly a different fancy. And, it may be remarked, that' if there is anything in the work of the immortal author on Landscape Gardening, that will never wholly meet the American fealiag, it nay be presumed to be his proclirity to faror the English fancy for seclusion. The American must be situated "on the road;" hence tmi hiqhwat stands coaneeted with our subject, as a matter of consideration. And here the com'Jion practice justly comes up for con- demnatioB of foreing all our roads on a straight line, over hill and dale — whatever may be the obstacles — whatever the expense — whatever the inconvenience to the traveling public, the road must be cut through. This uniform adherence to straight lines and square turits ia laying out roads, regardless of make of ground; is an out- rage on good taste, economy and common sense. Observe when a road is allowed to take graceful wiadings, to suit the make of ground — how beautiful, how natural are these easy meander- ings! And how light aad free the willing steed moves the carriage aroaad the foot of tfee cir- cling hill! And above all, what interesting sit- uations these natural tariiS of the highway afibrd for country residences? This one thing consti- tutes an interesting feature in the location of a place. We can associate aa idea of beauty with a graceful curve; but what beauty is there in a stifl, straight line? But with the moving enter- prise of the Anglo- American there appears to be associated a remarkable geometrical genius. He mast and will square «p and straighten things — if it were possible it may be supposed he would even straighten the areh of the rain- bow! As he extends his industry over the wide domain he is ambitious to give his own labors a distinguishing feature; and the greater changes he can make, on the natural face of creation, the mere things present, to his ideas, an s.speet of civilization. In traveling over our State, in its primitive condition, abundance of beautiful situations for country residences present themselves to our view. But, alas, as the country settles the most interesting situations are overlooked, or the vandal hand of frontier eivilizatioii soon despoils them of all nateral b»auty. As an example, a few years ago one of the Icveliest natural sit- uations might be seen along the Mississippi bluff, in Rock Island county. The road meanx dered along the foot of the bluff, at a sufficient line of elevation to command a view of the fer- tile bottom lands; while, on the other side, the bluff ascended in picturesque irregularity, aad was clothed in sylvan beauty, with a scattering growth of young timber, extending in broken groups to the road. A gentle swell presented a natural situation for a dwelling. A few years passed; the place was located; a farm extended over the bottom; the road was distorted from its natural place; a house, that is an outrage on good taste, was erected on the very spot ; the industrious occupanthad cleared away theyoang timber; a portion of the poles were ingeniously constructed into a corn crib, that occupied a conspicuous position; and a goodly wood pile, in front of the house, revealed the fate of the remainder. Probably, as the enterprising man becomes able, he will "fix «p things," embel- lish his door yard with a pieket fence, and perhaps go to a nursery to get ornamental shrubbery. But, retorning to our subject, in choosing a situation in conformity with the American dis- position to live near the road, and to have the place present a dignity of appearance when viewed from the road, the house should occupy a piece of rising ground, ascending from the highway; and the place can be made more in" teresting if some portion of the adjacent grounds is somewhat undulating. The house should never be so near the high- way as to give the place a narrow, mean ap- pearance. If, however, the ascent from the road to the house is rather steep, the house may be within four rods of the road; but, on ground moderately ascending, or nearly level, more breadth is needed in front — not less than seven or eight rods — and a building always looks larger, and the whole aspect of the plaee more grand and imposing, from a distance of about sixteen rods: The amount of ground thrown in front of the house, however, should depend somewhat on what arrangements are made to keep the place in order. It may be regarded aa very fortunate if a na- tural growth of young timber is on the grounds, so that a luxuriance of shade may be enjoyed at once. The value of a living stream of water, if situated to afford water for stoek, should never be overlooked; and, if it has dry pleasant banks, nothing can give a greater charm to the rural scenery of the place. In connection with the lo- cation of the dwelling, we are to consider the convenient and — PROPER POSITIOK OP THE APPENDAGES. The next appearance of the homestead almost wholly depends upon getting these thiegs all in their proper place. Let it be held in view that all such esseatials as barns, stables, hog yards, stack?, sheds, corn cribs, pig pens, hen coops and fenced up gardens are objects of utility, but not of fancy. One would suppose that many of our farmers especially pride thetaselves in mak- ing as great a display as possible of their world- ly abundaace. To say the least, it is a viola- tion ef good taste to place any such objects so as to interrupt any view either way of the road, or across -the road in front of the house. Such things should oeeupj a back position. Gener- ally, the most convenient place for the barn, and objects natarally connected with it, is somewhat back of the house, with a lane passing from the barn yard to the road. If the barn is back of the house, it should generally be at a snfBcient distance to admit the vegetable garden between the hoase and barn, and also space near the house to get round with a team. To give a pleasing expression to a place, it is necessary to avoid getting too much hemmed up on the front side of the house, and secure, as far as possible, an extended view of clean sur- face; not a dead, lifeless surface, buta serface of living green, spread forth beneath a refreshing ■ ■' sFl^^^^^r'^^^^^rp ■ yarietj of shade. And the most inportant con- sideratioo associated with the embslliebmeit of a coantry bom* is a pnoper — AKBANGEHXNT 07 8HADB TBIB8. No definite rules can be given on this subject; bat general principles are inferred front wkat "WB most admirein the scenerj of nature. The eye is always delighted with a stretch of smooth, green tarf, beneath the shade of trees; and it is rendered more charming if the surface lays up t* oar yiew, in aseesding swells ef ground, open- ings or ristas, for the altersate play of sunshine and shade enliven the scene. It may always be observed that a fine dwel*' ling, or a pleasing scope •{ landscape, presents a more striking featsre when the view is broken beyond it by masses of timber; consequently, to give the most interesting expression, we would generally desire, as far as practicable, to break the view in the back ground by pla'nting trees of a large growth back of the house, extending the same o5 at the wings.which should finally fall off in broken lines towards the read. Then the remainder of the ground sheald be planted ac% cording to the extent and featares of the place. If there is a bread, open surrounding prospect, a few scattering trees towards the extremity, and two or three neatly formed evergreens near the hoase, may be all that is needed. If there is more extent and rariety of surface, and more diversity and interruption in the surrounding views, it may be desired to give a more sylvan feature to the plaee; then trees should be plant- ed in not very dense masses, bat is scatteriug groups, thrown into irregular lines, so as to leave oecasional openings or vistas through to the road. It is through these oppnings, also, that the passiig traveler catches a view of the place; hesce it is better to have them from an oblique direction than exactly in front, as a building always presents a richer appearance from a corner view; and, also, from such posi- tions the eye catches more extent of landscape. The heaviest trees and thickest groups shomld generally be at the extremity of the groands, next to the road. Thick masses may be plant- ed on steep banks. In rather sequestered places, perhaps at the foot of steep banks, low spreading trees may be planted, mingled with wild grape vines. Bitter Sweet or other vines, so that, while the surface may be kept clean, a thick canopy will spread overhead. Eustic seat, •placed beneath Cliaabing Vines, may add great, lyto the rural scenery of a place. A low broad topped tree, in a detached position, thick- ly overspread with wild grape vines, dropping around in pendant tufts, with rustic seats be- neath, looks inviting in the ho^ summer day and is something, too, with which frame work arbors bear no comparison. The Bitter Sweet; [Oelastrus Scandens — ed.J with its glossy foli- age in summer, and bright orange colored ber- ries in winter, looks beautiful spreading over the top of a small tree. Evergreens add greatly to the rich appearance of a place, and present a feature of life aad grandeur even in the desolan tion of winter. They are naost appropriate to elevated and dirersifitd situations. They may be planted on the sides of steep banks; or they may be mingled with other trees, at the wings of the house, where it is desired to break the view. If a steep bluff asceiids back of the hoose, a few cedars, scattered orer the ragged ascent, make a magnificeat appearance. Also, two or three are always appropriate near the front or the bouse, trimmed in symmetrical form. Let it be understood that these directisas are for country homes, where it is supposed there is room to give a fall expression. The means of doing it all are within the reach of aay one that is able to own a home. In the— CHOICE OF TRIES, , As4he first word of couasel, we would say, look to the native forest. The White Oak would be the first choice if it was not of such slow growth, and difficult to transplant. It is adapted to thick masses, or single positions, and is appro* priate in almost any situation. The Burr Oak, also, makes a good shade tree, and it presents a strikiog contrast among other trees in the winter. The White Maple is appropriate in almost any place; and if a laxuriant shade is desired, in the shortest epac6 of time, and with the least possible expense, this might enter most largely into the composition. The cheapest way is, to raise them from the seed. The seed ripens about the 20th of May, and should be gathered aod planted immediately. They will grow two or three feet high the first year, and the second may be transplanted. They grow very rapidly; and, being inclined to ascend, if it is desired to give them a spreading top, they may be headed back when three or four y^ars old. The Box Elder may, also, be raised from the seed; is ef qaiek growth; easily transplanted;* leaves out remarkably early in the spring; a spreading top; makes a dense shade, and has no superior where trees of moderate size are desired. The Sugar Maple should never be omitted. It is easily transplanted, and, like the White Oak, is appropriate in almost any situation; a more beautiful tree than the White Maple, but of slower growth. The Elm is easily transplanted, and should never be ovprlooked. The graceful form of its broad top should assign it a place rather by it- self; and it better becomes a level spot of ground. The Coffee Nut (Gymnocladus) presents • striking contrast among other trees; is easily transplanted, but of slow growth. The Buck Eye may be transplanted; it leaves out very early, and ia of quick growth. Its proper place is on level ground, and not too near the house, as its odor is not pleasant. The Cbestnnt makes a large, splendid shade tree, and when young, is not difficult to trans-- plant. The Tulip Tree bears transplaating; beftati- ful foliage; rapid, upright growth; like the Chestnut and Elm, it needs room. The Linn, Blue Ash and Honey Locust are also worthy of notice; and when smaller trees, of low form, are desired, the Siberian Crab, White Thorn, Persimmon, Judas Tree, Moun- tain Ash and Wild Crab Apple may be noticed. This treatise being intended mostly for the benefit of those who love to do something them- ■ • s^?^>-^;- ■ VMrT^^f^ selvei; it is thought proper to add some sag- gestions in regard to the — PRACTICAL WAY OF DOIWG THB WORK. Having the house built, or its location decid- ed, if there is oot on the place a natural growth of timber, the ground is all plowed and smooth- ly harrowed. Then the entire design is suryey- ei and staksd oat. In arranging the position of trees and groupa, avoid everything like geo- metrical forms; a n»vice may be assisted by cuttitg a quantity of bushes and sticking them Hp where trees are contemplated, and viewing them from diff«rent pointa of observation. Trees that have been raised in the uarsery are better; bat, if taken from the foreat, young thrifty ones are preferred, and should fcs taken up with aa nuch root as possible. Having the trees planted, the ground shoald be cultivated for two or three seasons. Flow- ers and garden productions of all kinds may be raised in the opea spaces; the groand being plowed by a careful hand, with one horse and a little corn plow. The Tankea nation having gained eomo no- toriety in the use of the pocket kuito, it may be well to add, as a word of admonition, that trees shoald not be "trimmed up" too mnoh. Allow them tegraw in their own natara! beauty. After the trees are growing well the ground should be smoothly prepared, la ths fall, and thickly seeded with stjcar gias3 (poa pratensia) early in the spring. It is gfnaraily b«it, not to give the walks a finished construction unii! after the grouad is seeded. The grsnnds slioald be catered from a tide 4ireetion, asd ;i;G road or walk should not be eiactiy straight; ihonjli we should not depart from commcri seD^e lo make it crooked. Everything' should appsar natural. If there ii a tarn in a wuUc, som'- rca- BOQ skould appear for it, such as curving arennd groups of trees, or swells of grouaJ. Neither should walks be made where there is no need far them — that begin no where and end no where. They may letid to the barn, orchard, garden, to a sprin* o! water, or to some se- qctestered shade with rsscic sv*:?, or to a ruitie arbor. In deciding the tUi-ns of a walk short pieces i>f cornstalks may be laid along on the ground in a continuous line, ani sidja^ttd by the eye. If only a grass walk is desired, little light furrows may be cut along each sids with a sharp spade. The great trauble with graveled walks is the difficulty of keeping them clean. Fine knot grass and white clever will work over them, which gives them a slovenly appearance. It i^ believed this difficulty woulc) be removed il the walk was constructed with a bed of eoal ashes ■nderlying the ground. Reads and walks made on ascending ground, on onr soil, need gravel to prevent theta trom washing. An amonnt of ground can be appropriated to flowers and small shrubbery, aeeordiag to i^ person'ij taste — or, according to the amount of time peo[jla are willing to devote to the care of such things. In laying out the detign of a place the cost of keeping it in O'-der should always be con- sidered. A Rmall place kept in good order is more to be admired than a great breadth of tall grass. A place of any extent shflald be arranged to have the principal part of the grounds grazed o5 by sheep. To effect this let the honse, with a small portion of adjacent ground for flowers and shrubbery, be protected by a wire fence, which, at a short distance, will be invisi- ble; or, a wire fence may start at the road, at the entrance gate, and continue along the walk, or carriage road, towards the house, and finally join some other fence, so as to throw the house, with a small piece of adjacent ground, togetner with the fruit yard and vegetable garden, into the same field with the orchard, from which all auimals are excluded, leaving the broad scope in front of the house to be pastured. By this arrangement only a small ansount of fancy ground will be need to be kept mo wed. In By former essay such fences were recom- mended AS least obstruct the view; and it was suggested that if they were painted, it should be with a eolor cerresponding, nearly, with the bark of the surreunding trees. Some appear to re- gard this as a mere arbitrary idea; but suppose a charming scope of landscape to be stretched before you, with no intervening obstruction to the view — then suppose, all at once, a glaring white picket fence is thrown up before you! There it stands, in self-display, as much as to say, "look at me — look at nothing beyond me." A picket fence is very appropriate for a poul- try yr.rd. A very appropriate fence may be conjtructt-d along the highway, with a board a foot wide at the bottom, and a Btrong net work vvire fenc:;, threo feet wide, above. Such wire 'tnces are manutactured in the east, and are not expensive. In the composition of all the things that to- gether cous'atuty the hemestead, THE DWILLIKO is tht object, to which everything else holds a .•ecoudary rcialiou. It should be seen — should present au attractive feature; and wben it stands back in a luxuriance of verdant scenery, it has a more cheerful expression painted some rather light color. But there is no reason why every house should be the "whitest of the white." — White looks very well; but he who thinks this is the only appropriate color, i^hould draw a lesson from the variety of nature. White is a pretty color for flowers, and a pretty color for dwellinpfs, but it does not follow that we would more admire the flowers if they were all white, neither are dwellings more objects of our ad- miration for being all white. If all creation were white we could n» longer admire the color. A dwelling presents a lively expression and a r.cher apjicarance with the trimmings osly pain red white, and the body or ground work some other light shade. A very little India red mixed with white lead, makes a lively color; then a very little lamp black added deepens the shade. A little ehrome yellow added to white gives a light straw color. Then an addition of a vGtry little India red gives a soft, pale orange i shade, &c. In mixing paints the colors asust be j well ground in oil before mixing. I The house should present a becoming appear- I ance, and afford comfort and convenience to its inmates; but this does not imply that it should rtMHMi ?*3^^!P ',. f: rT^wpspT':- =-^-';js^|^T^;"i7?j^iSP ^- ■SJ^br'' - ■■" ^' ■ :' be a eoBtlj edifice. It is feared there is an in- creasing extravagance, among the upper classes, in buildlHg orer-costly dwellings. Tke wealthy set the txample, and men of more limited means rain themielres io trjing to follow. It thtre is any s«bject on which a beck is Dzsdsd, it is on the conitractioB of chtap and commodious dwellings. A house nay be built in a square form, two stories high, hipped roof, medallion corxioe, good projoction and plain brackets, with a cheap ballastrads portico in front, all in plain style. Such a house presents a good appearance, and secsres a larga amount of room at a moderate expense. If a pic- turesque diversity in the situation seems io de- mand a rural gothic cottage, such buildings can be built appropriate to a coontry plaee with- out so much little, carved, expensive, fliMsy trimmings. Our pressnt subject doss not re- late to the internal arrangement of the dwelling, but to the external feature of the komeBtead. Anong the many evils that demand reform in ©ur country is the habit of American females of excluding themselves, almost wholly, from the open air. Our hcmesteads should have more outside attractions. If the pale faced consamp' tive*-looking inmates of the drawingrooat and parlor would invigorate their lungs with the fresh air of morBing, and spend the same amount of time in the flower garden that they spend in useless needlework, it would impart life and buoyancy to their spirits and the bloom of health to their cheeks. Better for a house to be with-^ out a "parlor" than withont its open air attract tions. That some of the foregoing SHSgestions may be better understood, it is thought proper ta present the followiag^ — M&A. CXSIQV FOK A HOHISTIAD. The hoase, A, (Gg. 1,} staads on rising ground, over 10 rods from the road. The high- way, H, curves around the situation, so as to keep on level ground. The barn is seen at B, northeast of the house, on Ivwer ground, with a point of the barn yard extending to the high- way. A wire fence starts at the entranee gate and contin«c8 along the south side of the car- riage track, E, and finally unites with the bars yard; and thus the whole extent, in front and east of the house, extending to the barn yard, is pas-^ tured by sheep, inclsding nearly two acres, but will appear to be much larger. The garden is located at 0; the erchard at D, protected, on the north, by a hedge. A walk leads to the road eastward. Another walk winds off east of the house, through a dense shade, down to a natural arbor, at the foot of a declivity, The sane path comes np the ascent and leads towards the road. Another path strikes off to where the sheep are turned from the lawn into the b*rB yard. A, full view is preserved westward to the orchard and road; also, several other lines Af view are had to the road, thro«gh vistas of the lawi, and the dwelling is seen from the road, for some distance, from both tke cast and the west. Situations similar to the foregoing can be ar- ranged almost any where on the rolling prairies. We will contlude this essay with a — ^ ■■» ."..i-^!. -J-ifl^^fi.;-— ^. ,,„^,^.. , ^, . .^r " . JW^^-p ^JATSV^ f-. ■??ri;y:K-" ^ '" 270 W:' .-0- THE ILLINOIS FARMER. ik\)S.K &«. EIQ,%. .SCALE10.ROD^ DBSIQN FOR A LBYXL flITUATIOV. This design, (fig. 2,) is on half the scale of the former, and is explained with the same letters. Also, U indicates the farn land — P the wagon track along the hedge. The hoase is 1 6 rods fr«m the road. The piece of groand appropriated to the lawn extsnds 40 rods oa the road and 20 rods back, and contains 4 acres, but being wide on the road, and covered with scattering trees, it looks mu«h larger than it really is. Here we have a tama, lerel sitaation, with the roadpass» ing directly by. It will not admit each iaterest- ing diversity, yet 8v«n hariw* can hare a braad- th of beaaty aad an air of f randear. We do not have such a variety af shade, bat wa have the broad, eittnded viaws. Every place neads a small pasture, and we hava it here with all the charms of a park. If w« are a few rods farther from the road than exactly suits car Yankee no- tion, we are jast that much nearer the eentre of our farm — that much nearer all our work. d; The Northern Sugar Cane. We have before alluded to the fact that but little was known of the proper man- ner of converting the juice of this cane into syrup until the present fall. Many scienti- fic modes were suggested, which on trial al- together failed in producing satisfactory re- sults. We know of several cases in which the use of lime made the syrap entirely worthless, and when no more was added to the juice than was necessary to neutralize the acid, tested by the litmus paper. It was, indeed, in most cases an unknown field, in which every thiag was to be learned by experiment. Would it be strange, then, if some of the trials failed to be successful? We do not, however, knew of such failure. Our present purpose is collate from the dififerent statements published in the news- papers now before us on the subject of man- ufacturing syrap from the juice of the cane, whatever may seem to be important or as furnishing hints by which "the best system [for doing the work may be accomplished. Mr. Ambrose Henderson, of Jackson- ville, in this State, has been very success- ful in making a capital article of molasses from the juice of the cane. In a few min- utes conversation with him we learn some- thing of his mode of operatioas. After ex- perimenting with lime and failing to make a good article, he discarded the use of lime and succeeded to his satisfaction. He found neither lime, [eggs or milk, necessary to purify the juice. He gradually brought the juice to the boiling point, then took it from the fire, the impurities rose, they were taken off, the juice then returned to the fire and the boiling completed. Unripe canes he found to make the lightest colored syrnp, but not the best. Ripe canes which were frozen twice, once solid, made good syrup but less in quantity than the same before they were frozen. ' Mr. S. S. Riby, of Macon county, has made some very fair molasses. The jnice ■^-rTr^^'t^.sT)_59s'- •»»'7 ,^T *;~ THE ILLINOIS PARMER. 271 was expressed by a mill with wooden rollers. He estimates that his caoe produced at the rate of 20O gallons of molasses to the acre. He thinks that the raising of the cane and the manafacturing of the jaice mast be a profitable business. Mr. Jas. D. Johnson, of LimaTille, Ohio, made of 208 gallons of jaice, 30 1-2 of very handsome thick molasses. He says that the manafacturing shoald be done in a pan which is exposed to the fire only at the bottom. If this is done, the syrap will bo of a color resembling the purest honey. He says that with his experience he is con- vinced that this cane will become as common in the North as Indian corn. Wm. Bonar, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, raised what would be equal to about five-eights of an acre. He evaported the juice in shal- low pans and made 112 gallons — the juice yielding about 12 per cent, of syrup. John Day, Lawrence, Kansas, writes — A great quantity of Chineie Cane has been grown in Kansas this year. I obtained 12 quarts of juice from 100 canes, and in every case I got one sixth syrup, I have two long pans, made of Russia iron, and use lime. A gentleman in North View, Baltimore county, Md., writes to the Country Gentle- man, that from 1 3 gallons of juice he made nearly two gallons of syrup, equal in flavor and quality to any similar article he ever saw. He believes the plant to be one of greatest acquisitions of our country, that has been introduced for many years. The Louisville Courier of the 2'7th Oct says — That the Chinese sugar cane is a per- fect success in that State, and that Dr. Broadnux, of Oldham county, who has eighteen acres, was manufacturing two bar- rels of superior syrup per day. Mr. J. H. Smith writes to the Commis- sioner of the Patent Office — "I have suc- ceeded in proiucing the most beautifully flavored syrup I have ever tasted. I think it will take the place of the Boston golden syrup. I have also succeeded in taking from the syrup the entire .cane taste, and boiling it down till it becomes quite thick. then setting it aside in some open vesiel a few days, it turns and grains gradually into sugar. The manner of my boiling is to put a small sprinkling of unslacked lime — say one gill into a hundred gallons of juice — will at least make 100 gallons of good syrup." Drs. Bowman & Cobbledicks, of Rock Island county, have grown the present season, forty-five acres of the Chinese sugar cane. Considering the season, they made a very fair crop. They have put up an efficient mill for grinding the cane — the rollers being of cast iron. The motive power is a steam engine. They make about 100 gallons of molasses per day, for which they find a quick market, in which they readily obtain $1 per gallon. Benj. Jenkins, of Kaneville, made a good syrup by putting a small table spoonful of soda into a kettle of 12 gallons of juice when when blood warm. He thus got a first rate article, clear as honey, and without the least bitter taste. Geo. W. Bushe, of Jerseyville, has been successful in raising the cane and making syrup. He says that an acre of cane can be raised at the same expense as an acre of corn, and that it will make 10 bar- rels of molasses. .The boiling process is the same as for making maple sugar, but copper or brass kettles are better than iron — (making the syrup of a lighter color.) Dr. C. B. Ostrander, of Livingston coun- ty, writes to the Prairie Farmer: "Last spring I obtained three dollars' worth of seed, and planted in rows four feet apart, one kernel or seed every twelve to twenty inches, on one acre of dry loam soil, a part of which I highly manured from my stable, I planted the seed May 19th, and in about a week it came up. On the manured ground it grew fast; the other very slow. The first named ripened its seed well; the other scarcely got into good dough. I purchased a sugar (crushing) mill of two iron rollers, 5 1-2 inches in diameter, and 14 inches longf had new gear wheels cast, both a size, to give equal motion to the rollers; then com- menced grinding and boiling, and soon found Mmiij^^i-. i-^^',:^-,: that six gallons of juice would make one gallon of saperior syrup. I then built a mill with wooden rollers, 18 inches in diam- eter, and went at it in good earnest, and found that it now took eight gallons of juice for one of syrup. Upon investigating the case, I found there were two juices dis- tinct from each other in the cane, viz: a crystalizable and an uncrystalizable sacchar- ine juice. The iron rollers expressed both ; the wooden rollers only one. The juice run from the iron rollers granulated eaily, while the juice from the wooden rollers could scarcely be said to grain. I made from one acre of cane 200 gal- lons of syrup, for which our merchants pay me, by the barrel, 90 cents per gallon. The result may be summed up as follows: lUnt of l«nd...» $3 60 Cost of seed 3 00 Plowing of ground and planting 2 50 One days'B plowing cane 2 00 Paid for labor in working 18 00 Paid for wood for boiling..... 2 00 Ono iron mill 28 00 One wooden mill 20 00 Two kettlss, 40 and 60 gsUons 17 60 Total cost $96 50 200 gallons syrup at 90 cts per g»l $180 00—83 60 Leaving a nett profit over every expense of $83 60, from one acre of Chinese sugar cane. The cane was twice frozen solid be- fore it was cut. Col. Belcher, of St. Louis, writes to a gentleman in this State: "I have made some experiments in the syrup of the Chinese Sugar cane, but have not succeeded ia gran- ulating it; and I very much fear it will prove a failure so far as sugar making is concern- ed, and if it will not granulate, the syrup does not contain a due proportion of cane sugar." Mr, J, B. Newcomb, of Elgin, in this State, writes to the Prairie Farmer, that he expressed the juice of the can before the seed had mature id, converted it into syrup and set it away,, and in a day or two after found half of it had granulated. He ex- amined the crystals with a microscope of one hundred d.iameters, and found them very well define d and almost transparent.: — No sugar was p nt into help the granulation. S. B. Shaw, of East Cleaveland, writes to the Ohio Fe.rmer: "From a little patch, containing about 240 square feet, I made 2 1-2 gallons of very superior quality — in appearance like honey and of very excel- lent flavor. Though only three-fourths of the juice was extracted from the cane, the yield of symp was equal to over 225 gallons per acre, and I am fully satisfied that this amount can be easily excelled by proper cul- ture and proper grinding of the cane." The editor of the Ohio Farmer has been sceptical in regard to the Chinese Sugar cane furnishing the north with molasses and sugar. We are gratified to notice the fol- lowing paragraph in that paper of the 14th instant : We have received several samples of syr- up made from the Sorgho. One from A. Turner, of Sharon, was a good sample of molasses, and the same may be said of that from A. Williams, of Jouth Kirtland; both of these we think, were made from cane that was rather or that had been somewhat hurt by the frost. We have little doubt that the profitable culture of this cane has become a fact, and that the Middle States and some of the Northern, have a climate in which it can be grown to advantage. Much has yet to be learned regarding the most favorable soils, aspects and coditions in which this culture can be prosecuted; and science as well as practical experience must poit out the proper methods by which the manufac- ture of both sugar and cane be brought to the proper degree of perfection. We anti- cipate that at no distant day, Sorghum su- gar and molasses will be articles of common consumption audsale. Many of our friends who have tested this plants, are sanguine of this, and think that this product will yet become ono of the staples of our State. We here take occasion to say that the seed of the cane will not poison stock. We know that it has been fed to stock not only without injury but with decided benefit. It is possible that stock may gorge themselves with it, and that it may thus kill them. But so they may do with corn, wheat and other articles. Fed out as it should be, the seed can be made useful for stock; and ground and converted into flour, it can be made to rival buckwheat flour for "hot-cakes." We regard the experiments in growing the Chinese sugar cane in the season just closed, the expression of its juice, and it ""^Wyw-s^vr^'^?^"^ '■&#: THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. 273 manufacture into syrup as an entire success. The syrup when well made, is equal to the golden syrup. Most of that we have seen, has been imperfectly made. Experience is necessary in this article of manufav^ture, to attain superior excellence. We have given the experience of many in this article. It will be of service to those who intend to prosecute the cultivation of the cane. The cultivation of the cane and the manufacture of its juice, was an unknown field of experi- ment. It is a marvel that the cultivators of the cane hare done as well as the results show — a marvel to others and themselves. All who have thus tested the plant, speak with pleasure and delight of their success. The following will be the results of the experiments the past season with the Chinese sugar cane: — Its cultivation will be greatly extended the coming year in Illinois, the growth of the cane will be better; better apparatus will be provided for expressing its juice, and converting it into syrup; the syrup will ba far superior in quality, as a general fact, than that made the present year. It will be a profitable business; — paying bettor than corn or wheat. The syrup will be consumed in our State, and thus keep in it and in circulation a lar^e amount of money now sent away for the foreign article. We shall dispense with that villainods compound, brought to us from a distance, of "green flies, dead rats, occasional non-descript lumps, which some have supposed might be bits of little nig- gers, and which goes under the names of "Sugar House," "Reboil," and "New Or- leans Molasses." We have an abiding conviction that the syrup of the Chinese sugar cane will yet be converted into the best sugar. THE GEAZIER. «e» ■ 'The "begasse," or stalks of-lhe Chinese Sugar Caae, after the compression of the juice, have been converted iu Masaaehusetts, into good wrappiflg paper. «c> |g@" A large importation of Llamas from Peru, is expected in New York. Tlaey are of the variety from which the alpaca wool is ob- tained. History of Fine Wool Sbeep. The following, which we extract from the speech delivered by Hon. J. Collamer, "on the Tariff and Wool interest," in the U. S. Senate, February 26th, will be found high- ly interesting to all classes of readers, and especially to fheep breeders. It is in reply to the suggestion of Mr. Hunter, of Vir- ginia, that we did not raise fine wool in this country. — [Vt. Watchman and State Jour. There are no fine wools in the world, raised anywhere on this earth, which are not all from the same family of sheep. By fine wool, I mean such wool as is sometiiji^g called spinning wool, which is spun and wove into broadcloths and kerseymeres, especially those which are required to take a finish ; that is, after they are woven and fulled, there is a face raised upon them, by either carding or teaseling, and then they are sheared and pressed and calendered, for the purpose of making a finish on them. That can bo done only with fulling wool. Now, where do the fulling wo*ls come from? I say they are all from the same family of sheep. At the period of our earliest acquaint- ance with Spain, there was found a certain breed of sheep called merino sheep. We do not know how early they were there. W^ have seen inklings that they were there at as early a period as the Romans had con- trol of the country. Where they come from we knew not; but the word "merino" means "over the sea," and it was connected with the idea that these sheep came over the sea, BO that probably they were not in- diginous to Spain originally. This is the family of sheep out of which all the fine- wool sheep of the world were produced. For a number of centuries these sheep were entirely owned by the nobility and royal family of Spain. They were pastured ani driven north in summer, and south in win- ter, so that they were always kept on green fields. They roamed south into Andalusia, and^, north into Castile. For many centmr- ies men were prohibited, oader the most severe penalties, from carrying any sheep out ef the kingdom. A man who exported a sheep was sentenced to the galleys for life. None of these sheep were obtained in the rest of Europe. In 1784 or 1185--I will not be exact in the date, but at any rate be- tween 1180 and 1190— the King of Spain gave a flock of these sheep, forty in num- ber, to George the Third. The English King gave him, as a royal present in re- turn, six English coach horses. These s 3Sy 272 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. that six gallons of juice would make one gallon of superior syrup. I then built a mill with wooden rollers, 18 inches in diam- eter, and went at it in good earnest, and found that it now took eight gallons of juice for one of syrup. Upon investigating the case, I found there were two juices dis- tinct from each other in the cane, viz: a crystalizable and an uncrystalizable sacchar- ine juice. The iron rollers expressed both; the wooden rollers only one. The juice run from the iron rollers granulated eaily, while the juice from the wooden rollers could scarcely be said to grain. I made from one acre of cane 200 gal- lons of syrup, for which our merchants pay me, by the barrel, 90 cents per gallon. The result may be summed up as follows: Rent of land $3 50 Co3t of seed 3 00 Plowing of ground and planting £ uO One day«'B plowing cane 2 00 Paid for labor in working 18 00 Paid for wood for boiling 2 00 Ono iron miU 2S 00 One woodenmill 20 00 Two kettles, 40 and 60 gallons 17 60 Total cost $96 £0 200 gallons ayrup at 90 cts per g-jl $180 00—83 50 Leaving a nett profit over every expense of $83 60, from one acre of Chinese sugar cane. The cane was twice frozen solid bo- fore it was cut. Col. Belcher, of St, Louis, writes to a gentleman in thils State: "I have made some experiments in the syrup of the Chinese Sugar cane, but have not succeeded iu gran- ulating it; and I very much fear it will prove a failure so far as sugar making is concern- ed, and if it will not granulate, the syrup does not con tain a due proportion of cane sugar." Mr. J B, Newcomb, of El^in, in this State, writes to the Prairie Farmer, that he expressed the juice of the can before the seed had mature »d, converted it into syrup and set it away, and in a day or two after found half of it had granulated. lie ex- amined the crystals with a microscope of one hundred diameters, and found them very well define d and almost transparent.: — No sugar was p nt into help the granulation. S. B. Shaw, of East Cleavcland, writes to the Ohio Fs.rmer: "From a little patch, containing about 240 square feet, I made 2 1-2 gallons of very superior quality — in appearance like honey and of very excel- lent flavor. Though only three-fourths of the juice was extracted from the cane, the yield of syrnp was equal to over 225 gallons per acre, and I am fully satisfied that this amount can be easily excelled by proper cul- ture and proper grinding of the cane." The editor of the Ohio Farmer has been sceptical in regard to the Chinese Sugar cane furnishing the north with molasses and sugar. We are gratified to notice the fol- lowing paragraph in that paper of the 14th instant : We have received several samples of syr- up made from the Sorgho. One from A. Turner, of Sharon, was a good sample of molasses, and the sam.e may be said of that from A. Williams, of Joutli Kirtland ; both of these we think, were made from cane that was rather or that liad been somewhat hurt by the frost. We have little doubt that the profitable culture of this cane has become a fact, and that the Middle States and some of the Northern, have a climate in which it can be grown to advantage. Much has yet to be learned regarding the most favorable sods, aspects and coditions in which this culture can be prosecuted; and science as well as practical experience must poit out the proper methods by which the manufac- ture of both sugar and cane be brought to the proper degree of perfection. We anti- eipate tiiat at no distant day, Sorghum su- gar and molasses will be articles of common consumption and sale. Many of our friends who have tested this plants, are sanguine of this, and think that this product will yet become ono of the staples of our State. We here take occasion to say that the seed of the cane will not poison stock. We know that it has been fed to stock not only without injury but with decided benefit. It is possible that stock may gorge themselves with it, and that it may thus kill them. But so tliey may do with corn, wheat and other articles. Fed out as it should be, the seed I can be made useful for stock; and ground and converted into flour, it can be made to rival buckwheat flour for "hot-cakes." We regard the experiments in growing the Chinese sugar cane in the season just closed, the expression of its juice, and it s ■■"* THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 273 manufacture into syrup a"? an entire success. Tiie syrup when well made, is equal to the golden syrup, Most of that we have seen, has been imperfectly made. Experience is necessary in this article of manufacture, to attain superior excellence. We have given the experience of many in this article. It will be of Ecrvice to those who intend to prosecute the cultivation of the cane. The cultivation of the cane and the manufacture of its juice, was aa unkno^'n field of experi- ment. It is a marvel tliat the cultivators of the cane have done as well as the results show — a marvel to others and themselves. All who have thus tested the plant, speak with pleasure and delight of their eucces.^. The following will be the results of the experiments the pasi season vrirh the Chirscse sugar cane:— Its cultiTatieu '.vili be greatly extended the coming year in Illinoi:;, the growth of the cane will be better; better apparatus will be provided for expressing Irs jaice, snd converting it into syrup; the syrup will ba far superior in quality, as a general fact, thaa that made the present year. It will be a profitable business; — paying bettor than corn or wheat. The syrup will bo consumed in oar State, and thus keep io. it and in circulation a lar^e amount of money now sent away for the foreign article. We shall dispenes with that vilhunO'US compound, brought to us from a distance, of "green Sies, dead rats, occasional non-dsscript luraps, which some have supposed might be bits of little nig- gers, and which goes under the names of "Sugar House," ''Reboil," and "New Or- loans Molasses." We have an abiding conviction that the syrup of the Chinese sugar caQo will yet be converted into the best sugar. THE GEAZIER. -o»- ^^^•The "begasse," or stalk? of tlic Chinese Sugar Cane, after the coispressiou of the juice, have beeo convortoJ in Masaaehuseiis, into good wrapping paper, *@== A large iraportatien of Llamas from Peru, is expected in JS' v5^ ^?*3r^. . :??5??vT'v' i^sf; THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 27& Shipmenit of fiigh-fired Stock to the United Statei. We fin d the following announcement in the Liverpool Mercary of Oct. 3: — Yesteniay, a collection of horses, &c., of the choicest English breeds, was shipped at this port for the United States in the ship Baltic, C&vpt. Zerega, lying in the Bramley Moore dock. The horses, numbering twelre include two celebrated racers well known in the sporting world, namely, Mickey Free and Bonny Scotland, the latter brother to Black Bonny ; a handsome Cleveland bay, a Clydesdale draught horse and a small colt, called Sir Tatton Sykes; the latter had it remained in this country, would have been entered for the Derby next year. There was also a thorough-bred mare from the stud of Sir Tatton Sykes, besides four French horses of the most approved kind for draught purposes. The horse Bonny Scotland wai shipped by Mr. Bell, of the Adelphi stables, for Capt. Cornish of New York. Mr. Bell also forwarded a fine two year old bull, called Defender, purchased from R. C. Lowndes, Esq. of ^icehouse, West Derby. Tlie bull is consigned to J. J. Williams Esq. of Florida, United States. All the animals, except those sent by Mr. Bell, were selected and purchased in Eng- land and France by Mr. Fullington, agent to the Darby Plains importing company, an association in America having for its object the selection of prize cattle to be employed in improving the breed of Ameri- can stock. In the task of selection, Mr. Fullington was assisted by Mr. Guy. Af- ter :rei4ching New York, the cattle will be forwarded immediately to the State ot Ohio and offered for sale. The stock altogether is of great value, some of the horsea being valued as high as 1,000 guineas. Every care has necessarily been taken to secure the safe arrival of the stock at the port of destination. The arrangements forthis pur- pose, as well as for the shipment generally have been under the direction of Mr. Bell of the Adelphi stables, who has so frequent- ly undertaken consignments of a similar kind intrusted to his charge. ««» Wolf Teeth and Hooks in Horses. BY PJIOF. CHARLES M. WOOD, V. S. Mr. Editor: — The Editors of certain newspapers, in various parts of the country, are accustomed to publish, occasionally, recipes in their papers for the cure of dis- eases in animals. Ib almost every case, such publications tend to do more hftrm than good; for diseases are liable to be mistaken, and a remedy for one disease may prove the reverse for another. Bat sapposing the disease to be accurately ascertained, in too many instances the remedy proposed is worse than the disease. These remarks have been proposed from reading a recent number of the "Country Gentleman." It was a reply to a com- munication on "Wolf Teeth" in the mouths of horses. The writer relates a case of disease of the eye of a favorite yoang mare, which, he says, cansed total blindness. He luckily met with a person who informed him that the cause was "wolf teeth;" and npoa examination of the mouth of the animal, he actually found a tooth adhering to the first grinder on the side of the mouth opposite to the eye affected. This excrescence was re- moved with an iron bar and a kammer in a moment, without any apparent pain to the animal; and soon after the operation, (as he says,) the eye became apparently cured. But in a short time it showed strong signs of the old difficulty. As no more wolf teeth could be discovered in the mouth, the a»- imal was thought to be doomed, so far as all seeing was concerned. But seeking ad- vice from a man skilled in all kinds of cases to which horse flesh is liable, he pronomnced it to be a heok! — not hook and eye; bat a hook in the eye. This he called a fleshy substance on the inside of the eyelid, tipped witk a hard point, which scratcTies the eye- ball, causing irritation, film, and consequent blindness. We are then told, that this "hoax" (for such it really is,) is more dif- ficult to 136 removed than the extracting of the woof toeth with a crow bar and ham- mer. Next comes the mode ©f securing the animal; and great caution is said to be necessary to prevent the animal from start- ing, as it might cause the operator's keife to wound and ruin the eye. Then the animal is made fast to a hole ia the side of a barn — the head, covered with a blanket, sheald be held firmly inside the barn by two men. Then coaes the operation. The finger is put between the hook and the eye-ball — the hook resting upon the finger-nail — then, with a small, keen blade, the hook is cat oat as Bear the root as possible. The eye thus wounded, he says, will be sore; and we should think that there could be no doubt of it. The animal, (as it appears,) had been "hoaxed" three times, at intervals of from six months to a year; yet, the writer is of the opinion that one thorough operation ■ T^?wr r^^Ti-^it-f^..] ■\,^"''?^- 274 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. sheep were placed at Windsor, nnder the care of Sir Joseph Banks, aad the utmost exertions were made to induce the use of that kind of fine sheep among the farmers of England. To this day, England does not raise a pound of wool out of which you can make a yard of broadcloth that any gentle- man in this house wears. For a long time all her fine wool has come from abroad. After Spain went into the business of dig- ging gold in Sonth America, all her v.'ool was exported to England, there manufac- tured, and sent back to Spain to be sold, and they dug gold to pay for it. The re- sult has been that, while they hare run down, England has rua up. I wish to show why that flock of sheep did not sacceed in England, and to show the difference between their condition and oars, to see why fine wools succeed here and cannot there. At tiie same time that that present was made to George the Third, a similar present was made to Louis the Sixteenth. TLe fiock given to the King of France was put on the Ramboailet farm, which was then the royal farm, and is atill, Bonaparte havin;j always kept it. That flock of sheep, bred in, c» I shall here- after mention, in the French merino of the present day. At the same time, the same present was made to the Elector of Saxony. The flock which was sent to the Elector of Saxony was attended to, and selected all the time for the finest wool, without regard to size. The French selected with rej-jrd to fize. The Germans belected for fiuoucas of wool merely. The fiock given to tr/j Elector of Saxony is the basis, the orijr'a, the parent- age of all the Saxony wool cf the worlf'i, now to be found a!l over Bavsu'iti, Silesia, Hungary, Rus«ia and this country — a« I shall directly shovr. About the latter \rivi of la^i C'Mitr.rv there was introduced into EiiginiiJ iiiut branch of farmin,!^ callfid the turnip 'MiUure, which is the basis of pros})erity to the Eng- lish agriculturist at the present (i:iy. Every- thing in England whieli sustahierl liumiui life, erery thing that the pt^oplo conid eat was very dear, as we all know, until u recent period, since they liave taken off thoir slid- ing scale of duties on wheat, and allowed foreign provisions to be introduce;! for t-.c benetit of maunfactares. I'iie turnip cul- ture was this; they sowed a large fid J, especially on the xiowcs of England, with turnips — generally the Swedish turnips — and then ia the fall of the year they would put upon the turnip fields a flock of their native long wool sheep — the best improved breeds of which are the South Downs and the Leicestershires. Those sheep ate the turnips on the ground. There was no ga- thering them — no cutting; them up. Vfhen they exhausted one field they went to an- other, and so on through the winter. The climate being mild, they wintered in the fields on the turnips, and were in a fine con- dition for mutton in the spring. A mutton sheep in England, at that day and now, averages from eighty to one hundred pounds dressed off. The French merinoes, with all the improvements they could give them by breeding in, do not average more than forty pounds dressed off. The mutton of the English sheep would command in the British market, and has all the time for thirty years back, from ten to twelve cents a pound. It is a very superior mutton. That is not all. When a piece of land in England had been tilled in the mannsr 1 mentioned, and the sheep herded upon it, it would produce twenty-two bushels of wheat to the acre, and that wheat averages from tv/o dollars to tv,'o dollars and fifty cents a. bushel in England tt all times. Bearing these facta m mind, yoa will see how fruit- less was the attempt to introduce into Eng- land these little merinoes, as they have im- proved them, yield but six, and ours from three to three and a half or f«ur pounds. The farmers were told by the nobility, "The King has made me a present of some fine wool sheep, and we want yoa to attend to them, &o as not to be dependent on foreign countries for our supply of fine wool." The farmer saw at once that the wool from these sheep would not bring him more than two shillings sterling a pound for three pounds, v/hile the long wool sheep would shear eight or ten pounds of v/ool , and then the in- (juiry wa3, how much will that little sheep bring for mutton;' Not a cent. You can never make valuable mutton of it. In Ver- mont, v.'bcre we have so many fine wool siicop, car peoi.lo use little or no mutton, tliough we have a little iamb occasionally. I never sav/ any mutton there that compar- ed at all with the Virginia mutton which I s:jc hero. Indeed, I am reminded of an anecdote of an old neighbor of mine who was rather fond of mutton. He u.-:ed to talk about these little merino sheep, and said, "Wiien you got a quarter of it dressed off, you could see the light between the ribs. In good old times, when we bad the large sliecn, a man might go out and steal a sheei), and bring home something for his family to eat, but now, if you bring home, these little merino sheep, you might as well have a tin lantern to eat." [Laughter.] ,»JIJI. THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 275 Shipmetti of fligh-Bred Stock to the United States. We fin d the following announcement in the Liverpool Mercury of Oct. 3: — Yesteniay, a collection of horses, &c., of the choicest English breeds, was shipped at this port for the United States in the ship Baltic, C&'.pt. Zerega, lying in the Bramley Moore dock. The horses, numbering twelve include two celebrated racers well known in the sporting world, namely, Mickey Free and Bonny Scotland, the latter brother to Black Bonny; a haudsorac Clereland bay, a Clydesdale draught horse and a small colt, called Sir Tatton Sykes; the latter had it remained in this country, would have been entered for the Derby next year- There was also a thorough-breti mare from the stud of Sir Titton Sykeg, besides four French horses of the most approved kind for draught purposes. The horse Bonny Scotland was shipped by Mr. Bell, of the Adelphi stables, for Capt. Cornish of New York. Mr. Bell also forwarded a fine two year old ball, called Defender, purchased from R. C Lownde.i, Esq. of Ricehouse, West Derby. T;ie bull is consigned to J. J. Williams Esq. of Florida, United States. All the animals, except those sent by Mr. Bell, were selected and purchassd in Eng- land and France by Mr. Fnlling.on, agent to the Darby Plains iiKporting company, an association ia America having for its object the selection of prize cattle to be employed in improving the breed of Ameri- can stock. la the lask of selection, Mr. Fullington was assisted by Mr. Guy. Af- ter rev^ching New York, the catUe will be forwarded immedintely to the State ot Ohio and offered for sale. The stock ultogethev is of great value, soaje of the horses being valued as high as 1,000 guineas. Every care has necessarily been taken to secure the safe arrival of the stock at the port of destination. The arrangements forthis pur- pose, as well as for the shipment generally have been nnder the direction of Mr. Bell of the Adelphi stables, who has so frequent- ly undertaken consignments of a similar kind intrusted to his charge. x^ Wolf Teeth and Hooks in Horses. BY PROF. CHARLES M. WOOD, V. S. Mr. Editor: — The Editors of certain newspapers, in various parts of the country, are accustomed to publish, occasionally, recipes in their papers for the cure of dis- eases in animals. la almost every case, such publications tend to do more harm than good; for diseaaeg are liable to be mistaken, and a remedy for one disease may prove the reverse for another. But supposing the disea^Je to be accurately ascertained, in too many instances the remedy proposed is worse than the disease. These remarks have been proposed from reading a recent number of the "Country Gentleman." It was a reply to a com- munication on "Wolf Teeth" in the months of horses. The writer relates a case of disease of the eye of a favorite yoang mare, which, he says, canaed total blindness. He luckily met v/ith a person who informed him that the cause was "wolr" teeth;" and upon examination of the mouth of the animal, he actually found a tooth adhering to the first grinder on the side of the mouth opposite to the eve affected. This excrescence was re- moved with an iron bar and a kammtr in a moment, without any apparent pain to the animal; and soon after the operation, (as he says,) the eye became apparently cured. But in a short time it showed strong signs of the old difficulty. As no more wolf teeth could be di^iccvered in the mouth, the aa- isial waa tbciight to be doomed, so far as all seeing v;as concerned. But seeking ad- vice from a man skilled in all kinds of cases to which horse flesh is liable, he pronoanced it to be a hsok! — not hook and eye; but a hook in the eye. This he called a fleshy substance on the inside of the eyelid, tipped with a hard point, which scratches the eye- bail, causing irritation, film, and consequent biindncs3. We are then told, that this "hoax" (for such it really is,) is more dif- ficult to be removed than the extracting of the woof tooth with a crow bar and ham- mer. Nest comes the mode of securing the animal; and great caution ig said to be necessary to prevent the animal from start- ing, as it might cause the operator's kiife to wound and ruin the eye. Then the animal is made fast to a hole ia the aide of a barn — the h^^ad, covered with a blanket, sheuld be held firmly inside the barn by two men. Then comes the operation. The finger is put between the hook and the eye-ball — the hook resting upon the finger-nail — then, with a small, keen blade, the hook is cat out as Hear the root as possible. The eye will be sore; and there could be no thus wounded, he says, we should think that doubt of it. The animal, (as it appears,) had been "hoaxed" three times, at intervals of from six months to a year; yet, the writer is of the opinion that one thorough operation Tsr: -T^o' I ■■ 276 THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. would hare been suflBcient. And he then itgelj remarki, that the eve has not regain- ed its clearness entirely. B«t, he sajs, the sight is not wholly lost! which is indeed wonderful. The last "hoek" was removed two years ago; and, he says, tliere has been no re-appearanc9. In closing his article the writer says, "these are facts — the opinions of writers on the subject to the contrary, notwithstanding." It is clear to ns that he has been pretty well hooked himself. This subitance iu the eye of the horse, called the haw, or hook, is known to an- atomists as the "nictitano membrane," and ia at appendage to the "retractor ociJi," or retractor mu«cle of the eye, and ou which its action depends. It h cartilagiaoas, ait- uated behind the inferior eanthus, betweea the eye-ball and the side ©f the orbit. Iu a healthy condition, the cuticular margin of this sabstauce is commonly black — wLich part is only visible externally. la disease of th« eye this membrane, or cartilagt, be- comea swollen; or its projection may be caused by the action of tne retractor muscle drawing the eye inward to escape the irrita- tion caused by the light. And tlms t'le nictitans membrane is fori-t'd orer the eye, acting, m it were, as a liiird eye-lid, for wiping away dust or other foreign bodius. Horse-owners, mistaking effect for cause, ftrgne that this membrane, which is more readily seen when the eye is diseased, must be the cause of all the trouble; and then they immediately secure the animal to a "hole in the side of the barn," and, armed with, needle and thread aud a small keen blade, extirpate, by piece-meal, the supposed offending substance, somotinic.H by three different operations. A.ud thuK the snppos- •d remedy becomes itself a disease which they cannot control. In "Mason's Farrier Improved," a writer gays, the "boeks" is a substance grov/ing npon the inner edge of the wn^her or car- uncle of the eye; that it cjuiscs great pain to the eye, tightness of the vkln, tA'i&atiH of the hind legs — and finally, a general spys- modic affection of the wliole system. All this is to be cured in the following manner, viz.: by securing che animal and rerooviug the hook — being careful to impress upon the reader that the piece cut aauBt not be larger than one-fonrth the size of a fourpence half- penny. Another piece meal operation. Subsequent treatment — The eye should be washed with salt and water, the leg."?, up to the belly, te be bathed iu equal parts of vin- egar, spirit and oil, or fresh butter. The food should be bran and oats, with a spoon- ful of sulphur aad saltpetre. And a cure is promised in four or i5ve days. He further says: — "Great care should betaken not to cut too large a piece from the caruncle, as it disfignres the eye and sometimes produces blindness." In an old number of the "American Farmer'' wa find the following in a com- munication from W. V. Murray. It was published in 1830, and shows the absurdity of the above treatment. ''Before I was ac- quainted with this subject, I had two fine horses sacrificed to this mistaken and ruin- ous operation. Ignorant quacks do not kr.ow the horse has a raeiBbrane,peculiar to the animal, Vv^hich is at pleasure drawn over the eye. The enlargement of this by fever produces the appearance, which, in jockey slang, ie called the 'hooks.' Reduce the fever by depletion, sach sa bleeding and purging, and the hooks will disappear. — That is, the membrane will be restored to its natural size aud ofiace ; which is, to clear the eye frem dust, etc. I need not say the cutting out of tliis membrane is unneces- sary, as i have proved the ueelessnesa of the operation by restoring a horae without it." Thus we see, that Mr, Murray has, years ago, declared what we now sustain. And if some of our practitioner^ hul mone ac' quaintf.iice with the writings of those who havo gone before them, and did not sappose that everything wiiich they had aot them- seivcs seen was seaiethinf^ entirely new, they would be much v/iser than they arc, aad would save tiic journals from the coaimnn!- cation ©f wonders and miracles. Much benefit may be derived from notice* of any new and peculiar feature of disease. Its successful treatment by any one (qualified) of the profession, will sara years oi experi- ment ana of fijijare. The veterinary jour- nals are open to all, for a «maU fee; aad no man who ue.>i;es to advance his own inter- ests, or wouM acciuirs t!ie coaSdence of tiie public, should fail to be a cormtaat re&dtr. — rAiuevic;in Veterinary Journal. Price of IIog:;. — We heard upon the street, yesterdny. of t-everal transactions in hogs, on foot, cit S3 gros*. Compared with prices a few months ago, thi? seems quite a falling off. Yet as the aimorit total dependence of our fanners this fall is upon their hogs, to raise money to meet their .January dues, we hope none will bo cheated into mal-:ing sales at a higher rate, on tune — with the ahn05t certain prospect of losing the vrhcle — rather than take the market price in cash. — Morgan Journal. "^^ ^w^ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 277 AGRICULTURAL. Au Agricultural Ode. BY WM. C. BRYANT. Far back in ages The plough with wreaths was crowned, The hands of kings and sages ISntwined the chaplets round, Till met! of spoil Disdained the toil By which the world was nourished. And blood and pillage were the soil In which their laurels flourished. Now the world her fault dispairs — The t'ilt that stains her story, And weeps her crimes amid tlie cares That forms her earliest glory. The throne shall crumble, Tho diadem shall wane. The tribes of earth shall humble The pride of those w.io reign ; And war shall lay His pomp away; The fame tliat heroes cherish, The glory earned ia deadly fray Shall fade, decay and perish. Honor waits o'er all the earth. Through endless generations — Tho art that calls the Iiarvosl fortli. And feeds the expectant nations. Hangarian Millet. BT z>. B. c:x«-ir, or mbicatins, I9wa. The Molia de Iloagrie, (Panicam germani- cum.) iaipsrted by the Patent Office ia 1854, and d'jgcribed in the Af^ricultura! Report of that yenr, was first grown in this region ia Maate* tdwnship, Monroe eoHiity, and ia here commonly kno'-m aauer lite name of "Hungar- ian Gr*»«." It 13 ianiriiint in it3 growth, and produces bay of tbe fiivst qaaiity. Horses i-nd cattle eat it with uridifcy. Farmers in every part of the country should give it their atten- tion, a« it x-iii make siore tind better feed than any other kind ot grass now known in tbe Uuit- ed'States. Our western iarmers, in particu;ar, should 'anrn its value; for ifs dcatiny is to change the agfrieultura! producta of this portion of tha Uninn, »nd 3'i';st;tati' cows. h»rses, mules, and sheep in pldce o,' h:)-s. We harv° raised hogs, heretofore, froi« necessity, siaiplj because our only reliable cr.>p wa» corn, and other domestic aniaials rrqaired h; years ago; fend, he f.zjh, tliers has bcon nore-appcaraac3. In closing hi« rvticlc rli',' writer says, "these arc facts — llie o;)i;iiop.r; of writers on the subjuct to th'^ co?itr2!-y, notwithstanding.'' It if; ohvar to iis ll'.;U- he liJis been pretty woll hotikcd liiin8u!f. Tiiis substance iu ihe eye of tlte horv]c drawing the eye iuward to egi:''.p;> th;' iri-.t:;- tion cansed by the lijiht. Ai;d li;:is t ^ nictitans menibraua ib fui--;.\, ox^er liie fevc-:. acting, as ii were, n3 a iiuia eyy-i d, i'-:r wiping away dust or otlier foroii;'ii bo, ;;,••;. Horge-owBcrs, mistt-kinj^ effect for cai: ;•, ftfgne that this memb/raag, wiiicii i.- lUfi.-- readily seen wiien the eve is ui*£as*d., i::;; ;i: be the cause of all the iroable; and ti.Lii tiiej i mined lately secure t'hc rtui'iial ti> •.■ "hole in the side of the barn," ana, anacrl with, needle and thread aud a aniali tcceu blade, extirpate, by picce-merd, the Enjjpo-;?'; offending substiincf, soinetir.KjH by ihi'ee differen: oper!iti'.o.l'' a wriitr Eayi, the 'diO!>k:,'' \k a sub^tr^nco ^'To-'I;:^^ upon the inner edge of ih.e \'':i ■.'.-,.'■ ;;" c;',!- uncie of the eye; ihut it ci:-:M-:^ irioit. j^:.;;; to the t>ye, tighlnesR of the .kin, t[\T::t:'i of the hiijd legs — and final: j, -.i <^'i:'!:Cr;;l ^]n- modic affection of the wh.o!* system A!l this is to be cured iu tlio foliaiviuir ii-Au:-''-, viz.: by ."secaring eke aiiiiiitd iin-l re;T.iriii^- the hock- -being carefid. to iiiir.res.* z[>ou tl:..- r;.'ader th;U the piece cut rwust not bi..' L\r;.iei' than onc-fonrth fiiesizi; of s, fop.r[)ence Indf- penny. Another piece m-'a! operaiioii. Subsequent treatment — Tho ey* should be washeri with salt aad AVRtfr. the leg.", uu to the belly, t© be batii-'d in eq:i«.l p.Lrt;s ofYin- egar, spirit and oil, or fre«h batter. 'L'iie food ihonld be bran and OAt?, wit)i ;i «:.^oo:> fu! of snlphnr and saUpetre, And a, cure 13 promi>-"d in four or five days. He further say?: — "Gro;it cava should be takeii not to cut too larue a piece from the caraiiclft, as it di.sllivni'es the eye (^Aid bometimes produceii blindnes>." la ci!i old number of the "AwiericMn Farmer'' w- iCVcV 1. uevucL: seoa ai! Oieeciing an.t purgi i:-. find the aookis vvil} u'sappeur.- Thiit U^. the V. :iine ^ wi'! iJO Tiiiored M) its nai,;;r!!) •■;;^e aivd omee* whi^-h \^, to cle;vr }ye i"rai:'i ui ^t, etc. i need Jiot i^ay thv f i:!;.-i mi?ndn'aii>? is unneoe-i- tae cuL:\n;.:; oj', or & \ry, a>; I i:avo proved the ur^Iessnef s of th*; 0;;i;r;a;*' 1 b- i';-.lo:'!ng a home, vrithout it." ' i'h;-s ve "':.■, thut Mr. Murray has, year? i: wo ncyf BMnlsilu. And 't:iciitiou:j'^^ ':Ad vuoje ac- iC ^y)dili^;i of t]iO-^> who Wi. if si.m.t' oi our qi.idnt;\,icc w'ili huve j.one twiovn ! 'K-m, and d:a ziot iappuse 1 thai cvcrv' hii'^;- \' 'iddi th^y h;id uot Ihem- I Sfive^; 5::e:; ^va.v Xf;..:!-ddvjg eati; elv iiCW, iliey wou'd i),; niii'di v.iser than tl'n.'y are, aad would -;;ve !iii' jo^c'ua's from the co:aivnii:i'- cation of w.jiide;-* an^i miracles. Mach bmitiit mav be di'rived from notice* of ar^v new si:;"! fv.^t ati: 2;ic;';. -i'^d fc-::Liia;!t by K.ny o:.;^ (q'ialjfied) of I hi.: prOi'rrv m-at au iof : nals a>'c Oj^'-n jv:aa who u,■;^ nu^^lii-, shi'n!' l)n, ;:! ^ai-s y^ur>i of eiperi- T:ie Vu'.iadnary joiir- fur a t^ia:';!; fee; sjid no .fidvi; ct" h » own inter- •:^ -.I.i cv.*nfidcncG , od fo;'t, ;:'■ S3 ::]■.■>:-•. (""rariur d iritii pricer a i'ow mv;!' :■ j'ais, t!;i- : .■•>ia.s nui;c a (:dh"n^; nif. YrC I as rhe :d:,i-j,- t'lr.d deMCiidviK-'^ of oiir iaraierri 1 tlii'-s f;d! is ii!.i,!!i tiMrir h.ijj;-^, to r:ii.s'.- nj<)iiey to j meet tladr Jaa'airy dl;e^, we !iope iioae will be ! c'loa'oii ii.i'! laaidiiij; sale.s ;vt. a iji^her rale, on I ti;!/c — v,-i:!. tiie al::\o.si oertain pros-pcC at hjsing j ilif \N li'jli! --}arhyi" than taky the market price ' in caah. — Monjan Journal. THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 277 AGRICULTUllAL. A3) Af^ricuitura! Ode. nv wr.r. c. hktant. Far back iu itgo? Till' pliiiijji wiih v>-rca!hs vrns crowro;!, Th." Iianiis uf kiiitjs and aa.itos iuitwiiH'd thy cbi'-plets rouuu, Till HiOii fit" .■jp.il I)i-,I:iiiv.r; th-toil Bj- Vi-hicJi the woi id w.-is uonrisli'^'.l, And b'0'j lirv story, And W'.'.'ps li'T i;Ti::i"< niiii ! ".Ik! cares Thai forms ult rarliiv't ghjry. Tiio lliroiio r/iir.li cn!:!!b;?, T'u(> Jiak'ra shall '.■.;'.;h-. Xho> iribtH nf oart'i sha'; Luai'iio The Jiridi' of thci-" v,-..o rs.!.:^:; ; And war shall hiy Thi- Tliiii- lliat ri-.:!'i:-s oh.'r;-7li. Tho i.;;:>;-y ^-ar;-.'.' in ^i- ..tlly fi-.y SrhaH lail v d.J;:<^y ;!^1 ;i visi). Ilpnor v.-iirs 'j'i-r nl) liif i',.]th. Xhrmiu'l. i-ir-iiv.ss ;;oni;ra*i,in.! — TU-' iivi th;;t Ci'la ;h:> harvi-.l i!.>;':h. And f;'-'d,s tliL' fvr.-eCt.'.iitnatiouB. U. £. 0? Mrsci'n;-;^, iswa. .itt.'.d (P. cim ...... ll'i liy Tb« Pateiti Office m l^i.-t anci !^I ;! n t * 'i i 0 A ii iun Grit*.' n Ji.??:'icnhara! Rr-poit ;j' vfAr (ir^t i:rr./W;) Im thifl r<«£;iou in ns' ijj, Mi'iiree c.'>m*v, and is hsM'^r '»a su/!-:" ;,Ve •. ^uii: of "Hu/ia'ar~ ; U !;i^ria?:t in il3 jrrovr!h. a^; i ■ 1(1 1"! ' ^1 J J. L' ... F^5";n?r5 iu evoiy ?^' k'p^wn in rb" Utii!;- for is d- -tii-j i~ to ciin!!':'!' i)-CL; t!ie seed ia, as it generally ghoald be, it is better than i^ood ? heaf-oats. I am sowiu„', this season, 100 aeres of this cras'^, from ■vrkieh I expect to raisa at Icaet 3,000 bushels of seed. -<*.•- proi^'-c-jes (■&■." pnrt g!" !hu cou'irT sh' tion, ae it t;M mtkt; bi any 'ilJi 'r k'lid ot pr;;^ shouhi If ;i: ' ;;p vsiu!-; { th;:" nfrriC'uUa--: p^M-i Usi'iu. .iii'i :; r a m; sjeeti in pl-iCt; ■. ';.> bcr-^to'orf). Tro,^ i:^:-;; -[^^y, gi'i^p^r iiLCL^^i^c ocv only reliaiile cr.-n \T'iji cn-u, yi;i or'vr domestic aiiivna!- r?(i:iired hit w-ii cfisij ij'i b.'Vijr.J, aiuiselJoiu i'aU be*- ioiT thii;. iducs c:ry}ifi w.vi'-^ gri>ri'D la^t »e!isf5ii, no*with6'aniii)g- tke dr-ii-2;!;t. 'I'bf seedBSAv bti^oirii in thi^ vjg'inn, from th'i Ist or May T" the loih of Jun-?, at th»:- r:irf .if ii buihfl to 3 fccrt-s. It shoaKi b.' put into the frroiud in ih^^ siimi' n;5nn?-r as ofcti, harrowisjc before i&i &fUT sowing. The tiDl'^ for eattitij is w'aeti the seei is nc&rij ripe, and the wiio'e plant of a fine yeihiw calor. If cut too tariy. th-? fQ'od Trii! nat \k'. jierfect, »nd if too lite, it ■will sb'-ll eut in caring; th^. :^t:!,]k'5 will tilso bj too woody. It naaj be cured ia the saa^e Man- ner ag other liay. A? !oiid:-r, i-^iter threshing, it i- tally cqsal to Tiraothy;and when fed out with .Natural Eflemics of Iiiieets. One of the most aaeful is the toad. He feeds wholly C2 insects. Perhaps eoEie reader may doiuur to thi?, and cite the authority of a so-cal- led "Fro'esior" aai gsineof his "IiiStitute" as- sociates, that "toads eat strawberries," and uot sati.s5ed with a fair avwrage of the crop, "they ai'.v.iys pick out the bestj"' But our strawberry cultirnttiri^ seed nat feel tny ipeicial als-rm at tho i!ri.^ie,^c5 of the tossi i'l their grcands, as it viud (iii'y the superioi' bcrriag that wer« pro- uu(:;\i hy the uppiic£.tioa oi' "tauic acid," that thi~ aui;u;ii Lias ever been c aecnsed of eating. Tiis ioaa feeu! ajostiy as tvtciEg twilight, at v.'bich time he hunts for his prc-y. Ke 13 DOt (ihiinty, bat Kwallowg buga, grub?, aad flies as they eonie is his way, or aa he chaucei to find them, ihfre era masy iciccts which stldom go iibr(!s,d by Uiijiighu — ::.iicb a« Tarious moths, the iilay bag (i#el li-'-utha,) and other beetles, and sen-ral .'pecies ofinsecrs. thelaryasof which are called -fu: -wonn:," &". All these are de- Toa'"ed by thi.- road. Later in the Sc&son he feeds oil crieuet:? and gr:i--shoppers. As before re- marxed. hs is entir:!? harni!o»=; ia reference to vcji'etatiris, ai;J on th« who;*, ia the most useful of all itidiVfiiy a? un inttct asBtroyer. Hi* man- ner of ca: chili? iT'sects is ?Beh that CTcn the rno't delic-ite plant is aot injured by the act. — His kog t!i!!^'-ue is thrust with unerring alia on the Tistiia. who Ttaishts so sudden that anlesj tae ob?i'rver pay-i cioso atleutioti ka caa hardly describe" vha (speration. The toad i? partica'sirly useful in gardeni, where pop.ltry t;aa;iut oe introduced oa aceouai of rhcinj.Ary they Wijuld in Vctrioua ways produce, liithosjh thsy nvght destroy many inaects. — Tbe t;);-.d aeith. r sci'r.tchca the izrcuudnsr fe ds iLk crop. his grujill *ze and (rilling wa",i:ht pi:r:ii* him l:> fO 'iv-.rjwiiere in search v,l hii ;ood. \V-s zYi' <=.'."rare that many people hive au an i:iarbv to ti;ii; insoceat little aniln^l '!'o ■■'couqKr'' ,5-(<;r/j "prejudices would n»t only b-i s rircae si; tiie score of hutcanity, but would be -'on :d to rrAj in a peeainary 8:^189, which relieveii liip car'!? of those eo'^jflicting points »o eiiibs,rra'?fi;:,i- to gome roiiids " Tiie irog- ij sn eaier o!in»ect.s to a considera* bli^ extent, b'.it as moat of the species Pt;iy near water, They t-^ko c.VinpvratiTeiy few ofthein- :fects mc,%t prfj'idicislto efrriculiure. But sointi kind? of ir^^rs by n :i mcAUS confine tiisir carni- inseets; tboy swallow fur- water, or chickens wJueu iaaepe.T te* eoaie n'.-t;;- it. Probably they would no> esLt in^eets enGii*h to m.tke it an ob- ject to harbor theui; aed to fs?;d them with, ducks and ekicke:28 w»;tild be ultogether too expenjive, even If •»¥« shouh.i adopt tha custom of the Gallia epicures, and turs the cavc-sss of the frog to tke best accoaat. Ths re-puislTo aaimal, the skunk [Mephiiia verou- prr, pens! ties to young duekw «>t;iehgoea '"■^Wfft^v' W americana), destroys mftoyinsscts. He appears to be particularly food of beetles and crickets bat eats the larrse of yarioas insects. The May bu|f, or Juae bay, {Melolontha vulgaris,) both ij the lafTSB (in which it is called the "white ^rub") and perfeet state, is much couj^ht after. The skunk dig;B oat the insect, and the slight ex- carations it makes in tloinf this are frequently seen. It is doabtful whether this animal would ereo commit depredations oa the poultry yard, if he could obtain insects euoagb. Xi any rato in situations renaote from the farm buildings, he is Tery useful in his ordinary mode of life. Bats lire on insects, taking tbera like the swallow, on the wing. So far as we hare ob- serred. they feed chiefly on small flies and moths which art) in the air "between sunset and dark." — Boston Cultivator. The Faramouat Importanci of Agriculture. Without derogating from the importance of any of the other pursuits, and occupations we may safely, I think, claim for Agriculture, in some respects, a eertain precedence before them all. It Las beea said to be the great and final object of governmsnt to get twelve impartial and intelligent men iito the jury box: by which of course, is meant, that the administration of equal justice between man and man is the pri- mary object of civilized and sotial life. But the teacher, secular or spiritual mifht plausibly urge that it xS of prior importance that the coaamanity thoald have the element*, at least of mental and moral culture, and be taught the ob* ligations of an oath, before sny twelve of its members should take part in the administration of juHtiee. The physician might contend that health is of greater importance than the trial by jary and with greater reason it might be claim- ed for agricultare that it supplies the first want of our natnre — the daily call of the great family of man for hiadaily bread — the call that must be answered before the work of life, hia;horlow, can begin. Plaintifi'and defendant, judge an3 jury must break their fast before they can meet in court, and .if the word of a witty poet can be taken, cerruin very important consaqaencps sometimes happen to culprits, in order that jury» men may got to their dinners. But to speak in a more fittiag and serious strain, I musk confess that there has always ap' peared te me something approacbiag the sub- lime in this view of jLgriculturo which (such is the eff«et of familiarity ) does not produce an impression on our minds in proportion to the grandeur of the idea. Thehumanraceis usually estimated at one thousand millions. IftheB«B<- tenance of a portion of these multitudinous mil- lions is derived from other sources than Agrical- ture, this circumstance is balanced by the fact that there is a great deal of agricultural produce raised in excess of the total demand for food. — Let then the thoughtful husbandman who de- sires to form a just idea of the importance of his pursuit reflect when he gathers his little flock about him to partake the morning meal, that one thousand millions of fellow men have awakened from sleep that morning craving their daily bread with the same appetite which reigns at his family board, and that if by a superior power they could be gathered together at tke same time for tbesamemeal, they would fill both sides of five tables reaching all round the globe where it is broadest, seated side by side allow- ing eighteen inches to each individual, and that these tables are to be renewed twice or thrice every day. Then lei him consider that in adr dition to the food for the human race that of all the humble partners of man's toil — the lower animals — is to be provided in like manner. — These all wait upon agriculture as the agent of that Providence which giveth them their meat in due seasen, and they probably consume ia the aggregate an equal amount of produce; and finally let him add in imagination, to this mntold amount of daily food for man and beast, the various articles which are famished directly or indirectly from the soil for building mate- rials, farniture, clothm? and fuel. EDWARD EVERETT. Progressive Agriculture. The N. Y. Observer says the following good things of progressive agrieulture : "Under its influence spring up tasty and con- venient dwellings, adorned witb shrubs and flow- ers and beautiful within with the smiles of happy wives, tidy children in the lap of thoughtful age — broad hearths, and acts as well as words of welcome. Progressive agriealture builds barns and pats gutters on them, builds stables for cattle, and raises roots to feed them. It grafts wild apple trees by tke meadow with pippins or greening's — it set out new orchards, and takes care of the old ones. It draiis new lands, cuts down bushes, buys a mower, house-tools and wagons, keeps good feaces, and practices soiling. It makes htm lay and chickens live, and prevents swine from root- ing up meadows. Progressive agriculture keeps on hand plenty of dry iuel, and brings in the oven wood for the women. It plows deeply, sows, plentifally, hanows evenly, and prays for the blessing of Heaven. Finally, it subscribes for good religious, agrieultural, and family jour- nals, and pays for them in advance, advocates free schools, and always takes semething besides the family to the county fair. -f— Jurying potatoes in the ground with rafters and boards so placed as to leave a little space between the potatoes and the boards, and to keep the weight of the earth from resting on the potatoes, is said by those who have tried it, to ba an excelleat method of preserving them. It keeps them dry, requires less earth to protect them, and diminishes the liability to rot. This, of course, is to be practised oofy when good eel* lara are not to be bad. -•e^ j|®*The total number of children in the St. Louis Public Schools is 5,341, average atten dance 4,785. Of the number 2,925 are boys, and 2,410 are girls. ■awp^w- ■".•^i^^ps:^ /^^l^-; ■ THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 279 HORTICULTURAL. Winter weather has come early this season, On ihe 19th and 20th November the mercury sunk to 8 and 10 ° above zero. If any of our readers receive trees from distant nurseries at this season of the year, they should bury them in the earth. Select a high piece of ground, dig a trench, and cover them up with earth, being very particular that theearth touches every part of .the roots. In the spring, when the proper time arrivei, take the trees up and plant them out where you wish them to stand. -*' Tbe Planting of Orcbards in Illinois. BT M. L. DUKL4P, OF WEST URBANNA, ILL. 1 October 22, 1861. The questioa of orchard planting is at this time assuming an importance second to few other rural occupations. The high price of fruit, and its now fully conceded prophylactic quality, has given the subject new importance, and the questions, what varieties shall we plant? what kind of soil and aspect shall we select? are more often asked than satisfactorily ans veered. Up to the winter of '65-6, most varieties proved hardy, though very many old and well known popular sorts at the "East" had made but poor return, while others heretofore little known, had givea high promise of great value. Orchardists were slow to account for this change, and at last reluctantly attribated it to the true cause, — difference of soil and climate. Further investigations have shown that few if any of the apple family generally cultivated at the East, maintain their peculiar character in our prairie soil ; some of them prove tender and after a few years of sickly existence die out; others prove indifferent bearers, while on the other hand, many prove much more valuable, producing a richer fruit and more abundant crops than in their native home. The time of ripening and size of the fruit here exhibit a marked change. Our more ardent sun and dryer atmosphere in most instances increase the size and hasten maturity. In most cases autumn apples are ripe in late summer, and early winter becomes late autumn. The Rhode Island Greening and Baldwin are familiar examples of this change. Rawle's Janet, Limber Twig and other western varieties almost unknown at the East, fill up the list of oar long-keeping sorts. It will thug be seen that in selecting an orchard no attention should be paid to the mere fact of value of the variety at the East, bnt to carefully ascertain what isT adapted to this locality. Such was the condition of our fmits until the winter before noted, and which will be long remembered throughout the valley of the Upper Mississippi for its wide spread destruction of fruit trees, north of latitude 39 deg., where full one half of our orchard trees were destroyed, whilst similar varieties in the nursery suffered in nearly the same ratio. Plums, peaches, pears, cherries, and other small fruits, shrubs and plants, suf- fered more severely. Such a wide-spread calamity to our orchards and gardens came with a crashing weight, tending to despond- ency, and seriously checking the progress of fruit culture. Whether another such winter will again occur, is a question upon which various opin- ions exist, some contending that it was an- omalous, and not likely to again occur. Be this as it may, we would do well to be on our guard, and plant such varieties as stood that searching test. In addition to the general view of the subject of adaptation, Tre have subdivisions that require our attea- tion, from the fact that this State presents three distinct belts of soil having their peculiar air currents, producing a change of climate quite marked and distinct in each division. So fully is this change adniitted, that at the late meeting of the Northwest- ern Fruit G-rowers Association at Alton, the committee on fruits adapted to general cultivation, divided their report so as to present three separate lists, each adapted to different latitudes. Several varieties of the apple were found worthy a place on all three of the lists, while others have only a local value. Under this state of things it is the height of folly for one to order trees from distant nurseries to supply our wants, which are peculiar and not well understood by these distant establishments. While our western nurserymen have been experimenting on the adaptation of varie- ties suited to the West, the "tree peddler," that bane of civilized society and leech upon the progress of fruit culture, has been busy filling our orchards with all sort of worthless trash. The rejected and refuse varieties of the eastern nurseries are by him renamed and sent broadcast over our beauti- ful State, to engender deep disappointment, and to crush the hopes of the too confiding farmer. Armed with fancy- high -colored drawings of fruit, which have no reality be- yond the fancy of the artist; tomatoes pre- served in alcohol to represent some new ZSi '■'■■ '' ■■'■>i^VV - 273 THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. americana), destroys many insects. He appears to be particularly food of be«tlos and crickets but eats the larvae of various insects. The May buf, or June bag-, [llelolontha vulgaris,) both ij the larvae (in which it i« called the "white p:rub") and perfect Et*te, is much eought alter. The skunk di\g* oat the insect, and the slight ex* carations it makes in ^oing tkis are frequently seen. It is doabtful whether this animal would erea coraiBiit depredations on the poultry yard, if he oould obtain insects enoagh. At any rate ill situations rercote from the farm buildiugs, he is very useful in his ordinary mode ot life. Bats lire on insects, taking tbem like the swallow, on the wing;. So far as we bare ob- served, they feed chiefly on small flies and moths which art) in the air ''between sunset and dark." — Boston CiiUivaior. Tiic Paramoaat Iinportanci of Agriculture. Without derogating from the importance of any of the other pursuits, and occapationa wo miy Baf«ly, I think, claim for Agriculture, in some refpacti, a eertain precedence before them ail. It has beea said to be the great uad final object of governmsnt to get twelve impartial aud inielligent men into the jury box: by which of course, ia »eant, tbas the administration of equal justice between man and man is the pri- mary obj'iet of civili-iod and soeial lifs. But the teacher, secular or •spiritnal mifht plausibly urge that it i« of prior importance that the cos«manity ehosld have the element*, at least of men al and moral culture, and be taught the ob* ligations of an oath, before sny twelve of its members should take part in the administration ofju-:tie8. The phvs^cian might contend that health i.i of greater icapoitance thais the trial by jury and with greater reason it might be claim- ed for ajriculcure that it supplies the first want of our natnre — the daily call of the great family of man for hijid&ily bread — the call that must be answered before Ihe work oi'life, hi»Thorlow, can begin. PlaintiCFand de'endant, judgfl and jury must bre ik their fast before they can meet in court, £:id if the word of a witty poet can be taken, cerruin very importtiat consequencrs sometimes hanpen to culprits, in order that jury* men may get to their dinners. But to snc-ak m a more fittiag a.nd ecrion^ strain, I must confess that ihare has always ap' peared te me something appioacbiug the sub- lime in this view of Agriculture which (such is the effjGt of familiarity ) does not produce an impression on our minds in proportion to the grandeur of the idea. The human race is usually estimated at one thousand millions. If the sus- tenance ot a portion of these mnltitudiuous mil- lions is derived from other sources than Agricul- ture, this circumstance i.s balanced by the fact that there is a great deal of agricultural produce rabsed in excess of the total demand for food. — Let then the thoughtful husbandman who de- siresto f )rm a just idea of the importance of bis pursuit reflect when he gatherg his little flock about him to partake the morning meal, that one thousand millions of fellow men have awakened from sleep that morning craving their daily bread with the Barae appetite which reigns at his family board, and that it by a superior power they could be gathered together at the same time for tbestmemetl, they would fill both aides of five tables reaching all round the globe where it is broadest, seated side by side allow- ing eighteen inches to each individual, and that these tables are to be renewed twice or thrice every day. Then let him consider that in ad- dition to the food tor the human race that of all the humble partners of man's toil — the lower animals — is to be providi^d in like manner. — These all wait upon ajriculturc as the agent of that Providence which giveth them their meat in due seasen, and they probably consume ia the agtrregato an equal amount of produce; and finally let him add in imagination, to this antold ameuut of daily food for man and beast, the various articles which are famished directly or indirectly from the soil for building mate- rials, faruitnre, clothing and fuel. EDWARD EVERETT. -««•- Progressive Agriculture. The N. Y. Observer sssysthe following good things of progressive agrieulture : "Under it^ infinence spring up tasty and con- venient dwellings, adornud TritQ shrubs and flow- ers and beautiful within with the smiles of happy wives, tidy children in tlie lap of thoughtful as;e — broad hearths, and act? as well xs words of welcome. Progressive agrieKiture builds barns and put.? gutters on ihtm, builds stables for cattle, and raises roots tu feed tbem. It grcLits wild apple trees by the meadow with pippins or greeniu^-s — it set out new orchards, and takes care of the old ones. It draiis new lands, cuts down bushes, bays a mower, honse^tools and wagoBS, keeps good feaces, and practices soiling. It makes htm lay and chickens live, and prevent? swine from root- ing up meadows. Progressive agriculture keeps on bawd plenty of dry luel, end brings in the oven wood for the women. It plows deeply, sows, pientifslly, fcanows evenly, and prays for the blessing of [JeavcD. Finally, it subscribes for good reiin'ioua, agricultural, and family jour- nals, and pays for theaa in advance, advocates free schools, and always lakes s«melhing besides the family to the county fair. •*o*- JS@p'Burying potatoes in the ground with rafters and boards so placed as to leave a little space between the potatoes and the boards, and to keep the weight of the earth from resting on the potatoes, is said by those who have tried it, to be an excellent method of preserving them. It keeps them dry, requires less earth to protect them, and diminishes the liability to rot. This, of course, is to be practised ooly when good cel- lars are not to be had. ®@*The total number of children in the St. Louis Public Schools is 5,341, average atten dance 4,785. Of the number 2,925 are boys, and 2,410 are girls. :::xj HORTICULTUHAL. Winter weather has come early this season, On the 19th and 20th November the mercury sank to 8 and 10 ® above zero. If any of our readers receive trees from distant nurseries at this season of the year, they should bury them in the earth. Select a high piece of ground, dig a trench, and cover them up with earth, being very particular that the earth touches every part of the roots. In the spring, when the proper time arrives, take the trees up and plant them out where you wish them to stand. -<♦•- T&e Planting of Orchards in Illinois. BT M. L. DUNL4P, OF WEST URBANNA, ILL. October 22, 1851. The questioa of orchard planting is at this time assuming aa importance second to few other rural occupations. The high price of fruit, and its now fully conceded prophylactic quality, has given the subject new importance, and the questions, what varieties shall we plant? what kind of soil and aspect shall we select? are more often asked than satisfactorily ansvvered. Up to the winter of '5.5-6, most varieties proved hardy, though very many old and well known popular sorts at the "East" had made but poor return, while others heretofore little known, had givea high promise of great value. Orchardists were slow to account for this change, and at last reluctantly attributed it to the true cause, — difference of soil and climate. Further investigations have shown that few if any of the apple family generally cultivated at the East, maintain their peculiar character in our prairie soil ; some of them prove tender and after a few years of sickly existence die out; others prove indifferent bearers, while on the other hand, many prove much more valuable, producing a richer fruit and more abundant crops than in their native home. The time of ripening and size of the fruit here exhibit a marked change. Our more ardent sua and dryer atmosphere in most instances increase the size and hasten maturity. In most cases autumn apples are ripe in late summer, and early winter becomes late autumn. The Rhode Island Greening and Baldwin are familiar examples of this change. Rawle's Janet, Limber Twig and other western varieties almost unknown at the East, fill up the list of our long-keeping sorts. It will thus be seen that in selecting an orchard no attention should be paid to the mere fact of value of the variety at the East, but to carefully ascertain what is adapted to this locality. Such was the condition of our fruits until the winter before noted, and which will be long remembered throughout the valley of the Tipper Mississippi for its wide spread destruction of fruit trees, north of latitude 39 deg., where full one half of our orchard trees were destroyed, whilst similar varieties in the nursery suffered in nearly the same ratio. Plums, peaches, pears, cherries, and other small fruits, shrubs and plants, suf- fered more severely. Such a wide-spread calamity to our orchards and gardens came with a crushing weight, tending to despond- ency, and seriously checking the progress of fruit culture. Whether another such winter will again occur, is a question upon which various opin- ions exist, some contending that it was an- omalous, and not likely to again occur. Be this as it may, we would do well to be on our guard, and plant such varieties as stood that searching test. In addition to the general view of the subject of adaptation, we have subdivisions that require our atten- tion, from the fact that this State presents three distinct belts of soil having their peculiar air currents, producing a change of climate quite marked and distinct in each division. So fully is this change admitted, that at the late meeting of the Northwest- ern Fruit Growers Association at Alton, the committee on fruits adapted to general cultivation, divided their report so as to present three separate lists, each adapted to different latitudes. Several varieties of the apple were found worthy a place on all three of the lists, while others have only a local value. Under this state of things it is the height of folly for one to order trees from distant nurseries to su|;p'y our wants, which are peculiar and not well understood by these distant establishments. While our western nurserymen have been experimenting on the adaptation of varie- ties suited to the West, the "tree peddler," that bane of civilized society and leech upon the progress of fruit culture, has been busy filling our orchards with all sort of worthless trash. The rejected and refuse varieties of the eastern nurseries are by him renamed and sent broadcast over our beauti- ful State, to engender deep disappointment, and to crush the hopes of the too confiding farmer. Armed with fancy high-eoiored drawings of fruit, which have no reality be- yond the fancy of the artist; tomatoes pre- served in alcohol to represent some new I I Is J 280 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. grape, morello cherries to represent some new wonder in the currant family, and other currants and small fruits shown in vials which are made to magnify the normal size of the fruit fifty per cent. Every farm- house and every village garden have been visited by these worthies, and the superlative merits of their trees and plants vividly set forth. Sometimes they represent themselves as the agents of some well-known nursery in New York. At other times they are the owners or partners of nurseries in this State. One thing is certain, they can furnish you with any variety of fruit you may please to name, though, at the time of taking the or- der they are not the owner of a single tree, shrub or plant. Should you wish to follow them further, after the order season is over, you may find them visiting the East, purchasing cheap trees by the thousand, which are labeled with such names as suit the wishes, whims, or caprice of their western customers, and when the first frosts arrest further growth, these trees are duly packed and sent forward in charge of a third party to their destina- tion, who, armed with the written contract, delivers the goods. In many cases these are of less size than represented, but this is of no avail; they fill the letter if not the spirit of the contract, and the purchaser has the satisfaction of believing, that if not as large, or well-grown as he expected, they will soon grow to it. Of course, he has full con- fidence in the integrity of the little wooden label which sets forth the name, for how is he otherwise to know whether it is a seed- ling or Putnam Russet, a Newtown Pippin, or a Swaar; to him the trees have the same general aj)pearance; those little characteris- tics form of tree, color and size of twig, size and feature of bud, have formed no part of his study. He sets his trees, cultivates them with care, but with his best efforts only a few of them show a thrifty growth. Year after year their numbers grow less. After a long delay some of them show fruit. He watches its development with an anxious eye, and wonders why its rich pencilings are so long delayed. It proves but an in- different fruit, perhaps a seedling. The wonderful grape would no*" produce the plum tomato and now discloses its foxy origin. The currants have long since disclaimed their relationship to the cherry, aad proved themselves of the common kind. But where is the peddler? — gone, no one knows where. His note for half the bill of purchase, payable in six months, is still held by the nurseryman, who was so anxious to close out his unsaleable stock. This is but an every day picture, the facts of which are patent to the West. Yet these leeches continue their vocation, and find too many simple-minded persons sufficiently credulous to give them a hearing. This system of fraud is fast working its own cure, but its effects have proved a deeper injury than many suppose. The ef- fect of the withdrawal of trade from our nurseries in consequence has been severely felt, and it will be sometime before the last traces of these vampyres will be obliterated. We hope no one will confound the well authenticated agents of responsible nurser- ies, who travel for orders, with the self-con- stituted vagabonds which we have noticed. DOMESTIC ECONOMY. Our Receipt for Cuuing Beef and Pork. — This receipt, which orginated with U3, and Las now had many years of tri&l, we believe to be unsurpassed as a pickle. Nearly all the modern receipts which have appeared in the different aQ[ricultural journals, partake, in some instances almost identically, of the ingredients and pro- poriious set forth in ours, which we first laid before our readers some fifteen or eighteen years ago. At this period in the season, when farm- ers and others will soon be putting down their winter's, and we may add, their next year'i sup- ply of meat, it may be of service to re-publish the receipt, which is as follows: To 1 gallon of water, take IJ lbs. of salt, J lb. brown sugar, i oz. saltpetre, and J oz. potash. In this ratio the pickle to be increased to any quantity de- sired. Let these be boiled together until all the dirt from th« salt and sagar (which will not be a little) rises to the top, and is skimmed off. — Then throw the pickle iul# a large tub to cool, and when cold, pour it over your beet or pork, to remain the usual time, say from four to six weeks, according to the size of the pieces, and the kind of meat. The m«at must be well covered with the pickle, and it should not be put down for at least two days after killing, dar- ing which time it should be slightly sprinkled with powdered saltpetre. Several of our friends have emittsd the boil-* ing oi the pickle, and found it to answer equally as well. It will not, however, answer quite so ■well. By boiling the pickle, it is purified — for the amount af dirt which is tiirown off by the operation, from the salt and su^ar, would sar- prise oue not acquainted with the fact. If auybody can prove that he has a better receipt tor the curing of maat than the forego- ing, we will send him the Telegraph for half a dozen years for his discovery. — [Germantown Telegraph. ) J.. I, . .JMHiPII:. V. 280 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. grape, morello cherries to ropresont some new wouder in the currant family, and other currants and small fruits sliov.n in viols which are made to magnify the noniial size of the fruit fifty per cent. Every farm- house and every village garden have been visited by these worthies, and tlie superlative merits of their trees and plants vividly set forth. Sometimes they represent tl-.eniselves as the agents of some vrell-knov.n linrscry in New York. At other times tliey are the owners or partners of nurseries in ihis Stoite. One thing is certain, tliey can fiiruish you with any variety of fruit you nniy {-(lease to name, tliouirh, at the time of tak!ii^^ the or- der they are not the owner of a siigle tree, shrub or plant. Should you wish to follow tiiem further, after the order season is over, yon inuy find tliem visiting the Ei>.sr, pnrelias'ng cheap trees by the tliousa)i(l, wiiich arc Libeled with such names as suit the vaslies, v.'iiinis, or caprice of their VYcstoru customers, and when the first frosts arrest further growth, these trees are duly packed and sent turward in charge of a third party to their destina- tion, who, armed with the writteu contract, delivers the goods. In many cases these are of less size tlian represented, but this is of no avail; they fill the letter if not the spirit of the contract, and the purchaser lias the satisfaction of believing, that if not as large, or well-grown as he e-xpccteu, they will soon grow to it. Of course, he has full con- fidence in the integrity of the little wooden label which sets forth the name, for b.ov* is he otherwise to know whetlicr it is a seed- ling or Putnam Russet, a >'ev/town Pippin, or a Swaar; to him tiie trees have the same general aj)jH'arance; ihore little charactfris- tics form of tree, color and size of twig, sizo and feature of bud, have formed uoj'art of his study. He sets his trees, cultivates them with care, but v.ith his best ciTorts ordy a few of them chow a thrifty growth. Year after year their number:* grow less. After along delay some of them show fruit. He watches its Uevelopment with an anxious eye, and wonders why its rich {/encilings are so long delayed. It proves but an in- different fruit, perhaps a seedling. The wonderful grape v,'ould nof i)ro(iuce the i.'inm tomato and now discloses its foxy origin. The currants have long since disclaimed their relationship to the cherry, aud i)roved themselves of the oommou kind. But where is the peddler? — gon?, no one knows where. His note for half the bill of purchase, payable in six months, is still held by the nurseryman, who was so anxious to close out his unsaleable stock. This is but an eYsrj day picture, the f icts of which are patent to the West. Yet these leeches continue their vocation, and find too many simple-minded persons sulficieutiy credulous to give tliem a hearing. Tliis system of fraud is fast working its own cure, but its efiocts have proved a deeper injury than many suppose. The ef- fect of tile wiilidrawal of trade from our nur.-:eries in consequence has been severely felt, and it will be sometime before the last traces of these vampyrcs will be obliterated.. "We hope no one will confound the well authenticated agenta of responsible nurser- ies, who travel for orders, with the self-con- stituted vagabonds which we have noticed. DOMESTIC ECONOMY. XJ Our RKcreij'T ran Cviw^o BjsF.r .\.nd Fokk. — This receipi, which orginated with a?, and has ij.j'.v hiid inaiiy years of irifd, we bei'eve to be unsurpassed as a pickie. iN'early uil the modern receipts which have appeared ;u the difierent a'^ricultural journals, partake, in some instances a,inaost ideaticaliy, ol the ingredicntH and pro- pwriions set hirta iu ours, which vre tirst {»iid before our readeisbome ilfteen or eighteen years v.go. At this period in the season, when farm- ers and cthera v/ill soon bo put'iiig down their v/inter's, and we may add, thei'; next year'* sup- ply of meat, it may be of service to re-pubiish Lhe receipt, wiiich is as fullows: To 1 gallon of water, take IJ lbs. ol' suit, h lb. brown sugar, A oz. saltpetre, and ^ oz. potash. In this ratio the pickio to be iaercasiu to any quantity de- sired. Let ihcse be boiled togeth^T until rdl the dirt from thg Ealt a,ud snjj.ir (-.vliich will not be a little) rises to tlic top, and is skimmed oli. — Then throw tha pirkle iu!,o a large tub to cool, and whru cr.ld, jionr it over your bei;i or pork, to reniiia liie usual time, sav from tour to six weeks, aecuruiug 1.0 the size of the pieces, and tiiC kind of hicat. 'i'he lac^it must be well covered wiih ilie pickle, and it sliould not be jjut down for at least two d-.ivs after killing, dur- ing vvddcli time it sho aid be si igluly .sprinkled v.dth powdered saltpetre. Several of our friends have emittad tlie boil-* ing ol the pickle, and (baud it to answer equally LIS ufcll. It will niil, however, answer quite so WL'ii. ]^y builing tlie pickle, ic is purified — lor the umoiuit of du'i vthieh is dTuwa oil b}' the ouerutiou, i'roni the sail and su^^ar. v/'tuid snr- prise Oi)e not acquaint L-d with the tact. If uuybjdy caa prove that ho has a better receipt iu: the curing oi uieat than tlie foregti- ing, we will r^cnd him tiie 'i'cK'gruph for half m d izen years I'ur his discoverv. — [Germantown Telegr,ipii. THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. 281 EDITORIAL NOTICES. Small Farirs. So men of small means, make farms are un- doubtedly the most profitable. We consider it a great error, that many of our farmers, vvho for the two past years have bad good cr-ops and se- cure great prices for them, here used ai! their means and stretched their credit, to increase the size of their farms by adding to them with lands. We apprehend that this is the case with many who are likely to sufier under the change of the times. They have even appropriated the money that really belonged to the aiechanic asd the merchant in making fast payments for these lauds. They have now arrived at the position where other payments are due for lands, and the mechanic and merchant is at the door with their bills, and when iaaportunities for payment cannot be put cff. This taste for annexation, who seems to be in- herent in the auglo-saxcn race, does not add to confifort or prosperity. We rcsollecfc an tauec- dote of one ot the first settlers of Illinois which is in point. When married, he told his • wife that they would be fugal and hard working until they had enough to make them " Comfortable,^' and with this understanding they commencfed a farm upon eighty acres. Icnced it, brought it all into cultivation and got up snug asd conven- ient buildings. This was accomplished in a few years and the old lady concluded she w^as then "comfortable.''' The husband thought not, and he delved on and she found it necessary to delve on with him until he added piece of land after piece, and he died without hemg^' com fortable," for the want of an eighty aero tract which would bring his farm up beautifully squfire with the road I He died without being at all '^com- fortable" and his last days were in entire slave'- ry to raise means to pay for wild lauds. You may go on to many of these large farms, owned by men who have a passion for aunexa- tiou, and the word ^'comfort" has no meaning there. Buildings poor, no shelters for cattle, fields filled with weeds, wheat half put in the ground, fences down, great balks about the fences, and every thing betokening discomfort. If the owner cultivates his land, he has to hire help, whose labor must be paid for in money, and this is raised and paid with the utmost difii- eulty. The family belonging to this farm, work like slaves, witbout reward. Now if this farm- er had confined his views, his means, and his la- bor to a small farm, would it not have been bet- ter for him ? He would have done most of the labor necessary with the hands in his own fami- ly; he would have produced better crops than when his own and his hired labor was spread over more fields; he woald not have been har- rassed to pay for his labor; he would not have made slaves of his wife and family in waiting on hired men; he would have enjoyed the pleasure <;if having a well cultivated farm; he would havs had time to cultivate taste ia lajing out his grounds, planting his orchard, putting up his buildings and fences — in a word, he would have enjoyed most ot the advantages and blessings which should be the reward of well directed in- dustry. We speak of these things as connected with the interests of farmers having small means. Those who are so iortnnate as to be rich, their hands full of money, can very properly own and cultivate large farms, — though we doubt very much whether such farms are an advantage to the country, though they may be to the individ- uals who own them. Large fariBS necessarily make settlements sparse — school houses are few and far between — reads and bridges are usually neglected, and the pleasures of neighborhood so- ciety cannot be enjoyed. . — _.»» Tlie Season. Winter came suddenly upon us about the 18th of the past month. For several days we expe- rienced a degree of cold that would have done credit t© January. On the 22d November the mercury sank to 2° below zero. We very much fear, although we bad a good deal of fine fall weather, all our farmers were not prepared for the sudden change. It is a capital plan always to drive our business. We often lose and suffer much discomfort and loss by letting our business drive us. We apprehend that much fall work is yet unfinished. Shelters for cattle have not been made — arrangements for feeding not com- pleted— potatoes remaining in the ground to spoil, — and others not suiSciently protected when designed to be saved in the field. So many serious losses have been experienced by neglect in this latter particular, that we deem a word of caution may be useful. Potatoes in heaps generate moisture which will cause freezing where there is no ventilation. A place should be left for this purpose, which can be opened in suitable weather. Manure, straw, corn stalks will help protect your potatoes where they are not sufficiently covered with other material. Yv"e think we are doing ■well to repeat our ad>» vice to those farmers who have not already done so, to save their seed corn. The crop of i.-...-,-^- 282 THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK. cora the present year, as a general fact, did not matare as well as usaal. It is tender in the germ. You should select yoar seed corn and put it where it cannot be injured by intense freezing. Many have suffered enough, one would suppose, by neglecting similar advice in former years. These may have to re plant their corn next year, and tbey will "curse their luck," when the charge should be made upon their own neglect of the use of a little common sense. Our farmers are now getting their produce to market — hogs, other stock, and produce. Prices compared with those for two or three previoug yeai;s, are low — much below what was expected six months ago. We regard it as the true poli'* cy of farmers to sell their produce when tbey have it ready for market. Farmers do not generally succeed well when they keep their pro- duce for speculation. If it does not now pay well, sell it off, cancel your debts, and begin again the coming year. Farm labor will then be likely to be lower than it has been and your next seasons' crops, will not cost you as much as they have this year, and you may thus make up your losses. The Dioscorea, Hovey's Magazine for November contains an article in which a high opinion is eipressed of the vegetable named above, and the declara- tion made, that "it will prove a valuable acqui- sition to the kitchen garden, become one of its annual products, and form one of the delicacies of the table." We have no data to controvert this opinion. The impositions which -were put off upon many of our citizens, in dealers send- ing them the small "tubers" which grow out of the ground on the vines, and in many cases only the skins of these — has very much opemteJ against the cultivation of the plant. If we hud good sized tubers, by which to mak« a proper beginning, we doubt not that in one or two years our western people would be able to form a correct judgment of the value of the Diosco- rea. Our deep soils in Illinois would be the very place to grow this vegetable. At the United States Agricultural Society Fair, last year, in Philadelphia, some very Hue specimens were present. On trial, a coniiniitee of gentlemen pronounced them a most delicious and nutricious vegetable. To the same effect, is the testimony of disting'iished French ciiltl- Tors. We wish the plant could have a fair trial in the deep rich soils of the West. "We do not believe so long as we can raise good crops of potatoes, that it will take their place as a gen- eral crop. Illinois Farmer for 18§8. We. are now obtaining the type and other ma- terial for enlarging and greatly improving the Illinois Farmer Jor 1858. It will be printed in a quarto form, on bettor type, and better paper than the present volume, and we design tha*- every number shall be embellished with some illustration. We intend that the work shall be fully up to the amount of patronage it re- ceives. Necessarily such publications as the Illinois Farmer for a time are experiments. "We thank the farmers of Illinois that our pre- sent and prospective patronag'o justifies us in making the proposed changes. The improvements made in thi present day in the various departments of agriculture are placed on record in one agricultural periodicals; and wo venture to say that no farmer can pe» ruse one of these publications, and store his mind with the infoimaiioa it contains, and practice upon the same, without receiving bene- fits to him a hundred fold more than the cost of the publication. What is wanted is, that thoFC farmers who receive these publications should ex-- araine them v.'ell, select what is useful, store it in memory, practice what is acedful, a.nd Ihus keep themselves posted up and benefited by all the improvements made iu farming. Yie repeat that we desire our friends, ail those into whoso hands this number of the Farmer and the prospectus for the same shall fail, to give us a lift in the way of lists of sub- scribers. The cost of subscription is placed at the lowest rate. This we have done to secure a large number of s'ab.^criberi;; and we are cer- tain, if our friends v.'il! bc-friend us, -.Te shall be able to count them by thoueand?. Now is the time to ho.^hi to send in their subscriptions. We shall have the first number of the 3d volume rr;ady for circulation belore the new year. Delays are uaufjci'ous. If you desire more prosp^ctur.os ©r sample numbers, send for them, and solicit all the n:traes vou can. The prospctas for the Farmer will be found on our advertisin;r sheet. Terms of tre Far^-isr fop. 1858. — Single copy §1; five copies $3 75; ton copies S7 50 and one to agent; over filtecn copies, G2J cen'a each, and one cnpy ii-ea to airont. Money may be forwarded bv mail nt our risk. ^@=> The Ehode Island Agricultural Society offer premiums for ornamental trees planted on highways. Orchards. We know a farmer, who ha? planted out sev- eral orchards ^yith suscess, and. practices on this wise : He obtains his trees in the fall; buries them in the ground; and sets, them out in the spring. Long experience satisfies him that this 13 the best for the trees, and that this practice secures a good growth the first season. It is a good thing to look at the young traes planted out often, and see if they are attacked by borers. If they are, cat out the borers — or get them out some way — and close up the wound with wax. ' There is danger that your youRg apple trees will be girdled by mice and rabbits this winter. Oiear away all the trash about them, and take domestic, tear it into strips, broad enough to protect the tree — saturate the strips with tar, and wind them about the tree above the roots. The cloth cr.u be m^de to answer for several years, if taken ofx in the spring. Shoald you desire to raise seedling apple, peach, qainci or peai' crecs, plant cat the seed in the fall. — d^*- Pears. This fruit has been cultivated in the United State.^, since the first settlement of the country. Tha Horticultural periodicals generally contain notices and illustratioas vt the new as well as old vari'^tios, and thero are long lists in the Fruit Books and Nursery Catalogues, In fact, the number of varieties of pears in many of the Nursery Catalogues, exceeds those of apples. We have been surprised in visiting the eastern cities, "ill pear time," that few pears were seen in the markets; and those found there were sold at very high prices. At a late Pomological mscting in Western New York, a gentleman stated that hs had 500 dwarf pear trees— that his white Doyenne's did not do well this year, but from the others he had said the trait at the rate of twelve dollars per bushel, or ten cents each! Dr. Grant, of Newburg, stated that he had sold 400 pears, the produce of a six year old tree, for 12;j- cents each — 550 — and obtained §12 per bushel for seckel pears." Now it does saera tons exlraordinarv, ifpear trees produce thus iu New York, and considering the fact that millions of the trees have been planted out with- in the last ten years of the best varieties — that pears are not plenty ia the markets. There is something unaccountable in this fact, taking all the published statements of nursery men and cultivators to be true. Chinese Sngar Cane. There is a great desire in this ^section of the State that there shall be a meeting here of the growers of the sugar cane, for the purpose of ob- taining and imparting information relative t© its culture and the manufacture of its juice into sugar and molasses. It is manifest that the plant is to be a staple of our State, and, whatever information will tend to make its culti- vation profitable, shoald, if possible, be obtained. Much good syrup was made in the season just closed, but every manufacturer had his own syss tern, and there is now no perfect rule generally known to insure the best success. Hence a meeting of those persons whojhave made success- ful experiments, can be eminently asefal to themselves, and to those who design to engage in the business. We append a call for the proposed meeting, and hope the editors of this State will not only publish it in their paper but call attention to it editorially. Springfield, Nov. 20, 1857. Sugar Planters of Illinois : — I am request- ed to give notice that there will be a meeting of the Northern Sugar Cane Planters of this State, at the office of the Corresponding Secre- tary of the State Agricultural Society, in this city, at 9 o'clock on Thursday, the 7th day of January, 1858. It is believed that such a meeting can be rendered of great service to those farmers of our State who design to grow the Northern or Chinese sugar cane. S. FRANCIS, Cor. See. 111. State Ag. Society. <•• Fruit Requiring Names. We anticipate a meeting of the State Horti- cultural Society in this city on the 4th of Jan- uary next. In our vicinity, growing out princi- pally of the change of ownership in farms, there are a great many apples the names of which are lost, and the owners are very desirous of obtaining their true names. There are also raised in this county a good deal of-seedlinsr fruit, much of which is "very good," worthy of propagation and to which names should be given. We expect at the January meeting sev- eral gentlemen competent to decide upon the names- of old fruits, and upon the value of the new. We therefore suggest that such fruit should be sent to the Corresponding Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, who will pass it over to the Horticultural Society, for their examination. It will be properly taken care of; and the decisions of the Society noted. When corn costs 50c per bushel, pork costs 0c per pound. 282 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. cora the present year, as a general fact, did not mature as well as usual. It is tender in the germ. You should select your seed corn and put it where it cannot be injured bj intense freezing. Many have suffered enough, one would suppose, by neglecting similar advice in i'orm:'r years. These may have to re plant tltcir ccrn next year, and they will "curse their lack," when the charge should be made upon their own neglect of the use of a little common scaso. Our farmers are now getting their produce to market — aogs, other stock, and produce. Price? compared with those for two or three prcvioaa years, are low — much belo^v v,hat wi:;-; expected six months ago. Vfe regard it as the true puli'* cy of farmers to sell their produce wheu tbey have it ready for market, Fitriuers do aot generally succeed well when they keep their pro- duce for speculation. If it does not now pay well, sell it off, cancel ycur dabis, and begin again the coming year. Furm labor will then be likely to be lower than it has bcL-n and your next seasons' crops, v/ill not cost joa aa much as they have this year, and you may Ihii.'? make up your losses. The Cioscorca, Hovey's Maga;:iuo for Novemi)er contr.iiiK an article in which a, high opiuion is ciipressed of the vegetable named above, and the dec'Lir.i- tion made, that "it will prove a valuable acqui- sition to the kitchen garden, becomo one i;f its annual products, and form one of the delicucijs of the table." We have \.o data to conlrovtvt this opinion. The impositions v,-hich v/crc- put off upon many of our cilize:i.-5. in dealers L-jnd- iug them the small "tubers" v.-hich gro;v cut of the ground on the vines, and in Minny ce.ses only the skins of these — ha.? very linuii Ojji iviteJ against the cultivation of tho plant. l! r;e [wCi good sized tubers, by which to m,"ik .• a rir,.per beginning, we doubt not timt in o:i'.. ov iwo years our western people would l.e ;. a correct jndgm-'nt of the value oi" rea. Oar deep soils in Illirjois v.'ould Le Mu place to grow this vegetable. P At the United States Agricul' ' ' Fair, last year, in Philadelphia, some very \n\>: specimens were present. Oa trial, a c.jiiii:!iit.e of gentlemen pronounced them a inn:-t d; licioLH and uutricions vegeti-ble. To Wi-:- s^.vne .sT-ft, is the testimony of distinguished Frencis c;;!wl- vors. We wi?h the plant could haven I'a'r ♦rial in the deep rich soils of the West. We do n.-^t believe so long as we can raise poiid cr..p.^ c.t potatoes, that it will take their piaee as a gen- eral crop. LiiO j'!0-;co- Illinois Farmci" for i^3S. We are now obtaining tl;e type and other ma- terial ior enlarging and greatly improving the lUinois Farmer for 1858. Ir will be prie;ted in a quarto lorm, (.:; better t}pe, e.r^d bet'er paper than the present vela>:ir^, ai'd we de^i~n that ii'V\^vy number shail be eriiijeJiislied v'iih so;!ic illustration. Wo intend th^it iec work Ehall be fully up t ■> the ^ii!ou:;t of patro::a::'e it re- ceives. "N'ecei^s^rily such p:;b;ieal!en.: vs the Illixois Fa;'n:e!: iZ': a livee eve ezperinioni-i. We thank the (ariu- :s raiMi^ioi; Aj oar pre- Jli:; U3 in t-;nt and p:o.;pect'\e Dati-cr-a ;e j i.naking the propo-"e 1 c;ia:!i;:3. The improven'ieati- ijerie i:: i':.-- rrerciit day in the various uep.s.i'ticc:;^;; of e;;ricaIiuro arc placed on record in o-r egricu'^ural n,«riodlcals; and wo Yenruve to say t::ril: no f.ir:iiCi; c^mi pc- rv:s8 one ol' the:ie p^iMic^ulons. :,\\o. rfiero i:lf; i;iind with the ii^lciirieiie:: it co'itaias, a;;d pra(.;ti:e rnou tl;? :;a;ae, irii^ievit r.-e^i/in;; b:i:e- t'ij to ni^n a iii;^:.lrcd ibid '.ac'e t' ..;i iLe ceeL of the publication. \V'h;.l ii -:v:^-^A : -, lleit tl;o?c farmers who r^eehe 'he^; ■ !;.r;:.'lleutio!!S should CX"- c\m;ne the:;i well. ::vle"-' wli.t 1;^ u-a..;.::', :tore it in vucmory, yviicEiee -:.\,\J 1:? -iecdfa;, : \A Wva-, keep themselvei; i-e^-le.] x.:j f:;;;! b'.:i.e;;tcd by all the in::proYe;uc::>s inede in lar:;:h. ■. "\ve repe::' the' t;.- (e l.e e'v :'rl ■:.;■.= , £.11 thosi; into vh r::; h;.;;;!- 'll; ;■■■:;i^i■■i■ if tlie I'aii, to give u^ a liit i;i lie ■:-:^y <'l ILiis cT'-uh- Fevlbe::-. Trie (-v^r.: ^ ,'■..: -IrC,--' ".; plae-d at the lovrcit rrte. Tle^ v-. i r/e (''oso to eecure a iai:pj nui'iibee ol , ';','~ciil: t?;; !;;v! we uee cer- tain, ii'onr ii^ie-.'l-^ wU' c. 'I'"*: ';• ",, • el'ali be ebb' to .'O'liV, ■hein V." ll;;v,- A',-"'. , Now ii He'/ iir:-.- {■'' :■;•;/': lei '■•'-.■] l.i Jxir :Mibse;'i'j!l. *:;.■. 'i\ !■ .-" r:., : 1 .. : i; ;!■: ii.e „ iuenber of the 2:1 v:.iu:r;:; e:r.-ly :■.■;• .-j\-u;,.iie;: le!oro tie; new veer, :J^i:''\c see i.--y/ 'in':. 1!;' yc^u desire more v.r.,;-y- r>::;. :_f^ r/.- ;;■■:!;■-•: i;iie\ucrf-, i' :.:] lor lij^./j. a!i.! .:■:';,:;: ■,'■' f.e n;.::-;e:i ycu 'fee nm^n- ■';,:-; ;cr (he Fe.-eev wi'l b^; loand on oar adv;;rtl.-ii! r "h' v, Tr::?.:^ 07 Tvr: lS:.::^-::.v ;■•->;: ^ -■j^\---i:'i~<^e cmc sl:l>'; eeeles ■' Z 'r' : t ;a e. : ^^:^ V7 eO anc; ore- u) aee;r: ev^■:■ ;..e: ■■: ( ach. aed 0::e e pv 11 .e :0 e ',e rorwevdjd :;v ;:;.^11 el c;ur r IMo.r y i"ii;iy f- .'. r i. .e' i. "Mie ;> r. J- It \^ L \j i ..;'«--- 1 ...... i '. . I i*: t> ' V.I «. i > . y I I - ... Ii. , . ] .- i \^ t i V. V_ .? v?iil be gifdkJ by mice and raibi^s this winter. Ciear awaj ai; ti"- trasli about tlieni, and take doDie?t!C, tenr ''t inio strip?, broad enou: soitif-.nont oi the country. I > > . .T i 1 .- I iV.t: ,,.,,]!r contain noaees a. .a i..a;' old v::irien:;.nnd r : noolii end :-,a-. '.■ :}Uiiib;r o' VLirie ;i\ Nur-^rj n.:ta"G: ;i T7e ::;:ve been ■ i Citio.i, ■•i.i pe^r "! ■;; :;:: ■ I Ine new as wed as : are io;;^ iist^ in ihe Fruit ' '.t.de^-ues:. In fact, the .1; r.ar^ in nuny rd the ('::c;. ei;i t;;e3e OJ apple^'. :ed in vi^ilieg; the eaetern tii.'i; i'ev/ pe;u'3 were £e':^n la me uim-.c -i-; '-:id tiu.^t i.,ine'.5 at very br:h p^!c.^^. -;V>: a lalj Po-noh\, in.--:tin::- in "i\'e^tcrn ?Je-:" Ycrh, a gentles^an fitalcd di^t Li iiad .ihjO dweri near trees— that his \'.ldlc I>oye;'"e'" d'd not do well this year, ba^ fronitije e:ee:;-; i:e had :^.=ti-l the trait at the rate of lu'cive d d:-^r:i .-er bu^nel, or ten cents each! r>r. Grant, ^^f ircwhurj;, erased that hp had r;oh'! di-^ peers, "'^e pvaduco o: a six year 12.^ cm' 3 cael; — ^oO — and obtained GiU i>: ',-,-a Now it decs §12 per r>ashel ier .^e seem to i:s oviraordiini: r, i' pear trees prodn^-e thui in Xev; Yorl:, an ! considering the fact tiait million:! oi' tlie tree^ iiave been planted out witii- in I'i^ hi;;t ten year,; oi ue best varieties — that pears are no: pieiUy in tiie markets. There is scmething unaccouritable in this tact, taking all the publiibed staternents of nursery men and cultivators to be true. Chinese Sngar Cane. There is a great desire ia this section of the State that there shall be a meeting here of the growers of the sugar cane, for the purpose of ob- taining and imparling information relative to its culture and the inanufacture of its juice into sugar and molasses. It is manifest that the plant is to be a staple of our State, and, whatever information will tend to make its culti- vation profitable, should, if possible, be obtained. Much good syrup was made iu the season just closed, bat every manufacturer had his own syss tern, and there is now no perfect rule generally known to insure the best success. Hence a meeting of those persons who'have made success- ful e::perimeats, can be eminently useful to themselves, and to those who design to engage in the business. We append a call for the proposed meeting, and hope the editors of this State wlil not only publish it in their paper but call attention to it editorially. Springfield, Nov. 20, 1857. Sugar Planters of Illinois : — I am request- ed to give notice that chere will be a meeting !-!l- -Upiipj^^^jp- W< $7S5 08 598 hams from block, 8.394 fi)s, 1^4 608 56 2 hams damaged, 26 fts. 2 52 600 sides from block, 24,252 fts, 61^ 1515 75 600 shoulders do, 11,074 fts, 4^^ 525 86 Offal 95 03 SOO heads 69 00 3,599 80 Loss on above hogs $536 55 It is seen that the "summer contracts" are proving decidedly unprofitable ; and a glance at the result of the above transaction also shovfs that purchases made now at $5 50, do not afford as wide a margin for profit as is de- sirable. There seems to be an improved feeling in the Cincinnati hog market. The Gazette of the 18th, says : The market for hogs may be considered as having opened at $5 50@5 75 'p 100 Bbs. net, and at present these figures are firmly sustained, with more faint indications of a lower curren- cy than were observable a week ago. Most of the hogs that have arrived, so far, or will come forward up to the 1st of December, will be re- quired to fill contracts. The market for fro- ducts opens more favorably than was antici- pated, and the probability is, the meat of the first seventy five or one hundred thousatd head cut, will be taken out of the market about as fast as it can be made ready for shipment. Slaughterers are paying 25c. 'p head premium for hogs. The whole number which have ar- rived from Sept, 1st to date is 28,256 against 73,628 the corresponding time last year. The St. Louis Price Current of the 19th, gives the following quotations : Sutchers are paying from 4|to 5|c 'p lb, and packers are offering 4}c for present delivery ; but we hear of no purchases or contracts, as feeders are holding for higher figures. . ■ — ~4©> The Joyce Coex and Cob Mill.— ^These mills, beside grindiagfor provender, can bs used to grind corn for table use. W. 0. Morgan, in the Ohio Farmer says that "the mill produces a quality and uniformity of work, equal to the best burr stone. Indeed, it may be set to fine. It makes one bushel of meal in five minutes." We have one of these mills set up in the rear of the Farmer oS.ce. . «•* j|@»The Commissioner of the patent office has requested Mr. Fortune of China, to make selections of the tea plant and other seeds for cultivation in the United States. <«> -, When corn costs 12Jc ^ bushel, pork costs IJc per pound. Tor the Farmer. in General. The panic which has jost' passed is the great ■event in men's minds at the present time. Too much bank paper is assigned as the chief cause by some; by others the issue of email hotes, driv- ing gold into foreign countries that should be retained at home and converted into coin. Our federal system of States, with their jealousy of the general government, may make it impossible to get a national bank currency that will equal- ize the exchanges all over the country, and be so guarded as not to become an engine of power to those who control it. Old Hickory, whose fame will ever be national, said, 'tjy the eternal,' that he could make a bank that would be guarded in every sense, and be beneficial to the country. The extravagance in living is thought to be a cause of our financial troubles — womens dresses, costly houses, expensive equipages, horses, wine, dissipation — but it is the efiect rather than the cause of inflation, arises from supposed sudden wealth, from lands and lots that have doubled their value within a very short time. Of extravagance, it has reached our farmers, less in their households than in their mania for buying lands, extending their farms, already too large in this State for profitable cultivation. Buy lands with spare money and not without. Let there be expense involved to live well; to live respectably; to encourage taste, so sadly abused on these prairies; to improve in mind and deportment, the possession of which gifts would never upiet the financial world. As a nation our energies are more directed into money ma- king than any other on earth, the Jewish family excepted, but no people spend more freely — we are foolishly lavish in our enjoyments — and as there are no entailments or laws of primogen- ture tg confine property in families, there is lit- tle fear of an aristocricy of wealth that can hurt any but its immediate possessor. Again the tariff, the free trade features of it, is supposed by many to betray the country into an overpurchase of foreign geods, requiring a drain of gold to fill up the payment which our produce is insufficient to supply and thereby producing a crisis. That the world is advanc- ing in the doctrine of free trade, is obvious enough, and if it endures through the ages a fi- nancial simplicity may be obtained, but while the European and other commercial portions of it at this day embrace protection, excluding ma- ny of our products, we must as an offset, corres- pondingly check the influx ot theirs. Again, in new countries, protection is supposed to aid the hidden and more difficult interests, of which iron may be the representative. We are reminded of another branch of our subject, and that is the credit system as being the cause of much financial disturbance. We think short credits the better plan; they place the payment day too near to tempt us into ex- cess; they are a rod of warning held over the rich, and poor, the high and low; but better even than this is the responsibility, the deep concern, of paying at some time, of certainly paying; of feeling remorse and stain if debts are not paid ::k.i 284 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. The Hog Market. We understand that Mr. James L. Lamb of this city, began cutting pork for packing on the 23d Nov. He has about 1,200 head nov,- m his pens, and is offering S3 gross for good hogi^. There were a good many druvers in tho city last week, and there seems to be a di.sposi tion among many of them to sell provided thi^y can realize §4 net. We are glad to Icnrn that sales "vvill be made in this region almost exclusively for cash. We subjoin information from other points as far as hoard from. The St. Louis News of Xov. IStli says : Pork packers are ready to buy hugs, but sell- ers are slow in coming in. Small lots arc Ijei:):^- slaughtered on the Illinoi.s, and a few lots '.k' mess pork and lard have been sent in. Tiic pork commands §12 50, and prime lurd is held at about lie. At Cincinnati, yesterday, hogs were selling at !f5 75 to till contracts, and mess purk ac §14 50. Tlie regular market has n(jt yet opej\- ed. Farmers, says the Coramerciul, are care- less about settling early, and packers are abo:;t as indifferent about buying. The Gazette says there promises to be an abundant supply cf facilities for moving the produce, and ^vhat is equally as desirable — a satisfactory market fia* wheat, flour, corn, pork, &c. At Now Harmony, a thousand hogs were slaughtered last week, costing five dollars on early contract. At Indianapolis, $4 is the high- est offer. The Chicago Tribune of the ISth says : Prospects are fair for an active hog lia'le during the winter, and buyers and packers will be plenty, if rates are reasonable, soy ^4 gross for good hogs. The Chicago Democrat of the 17th says: Tie market was rather more active on yes- terday than on the preceding Sunda}', and heavy hogs sold at better prices. No hogs were suid to our city packers, and they are siaughieri!!g none unless they are already cantract.d for. A few Eastern buyers were on tl;a market and made some purcha.ses, bwt they have now aban- doned the market, for the reason tliat they can- not pay the prices now ruling he;e, and tlie additional expense of $2 per cwt. in getting the stock to New York, and have a profit. Tiu-_), we believe, universally avow their intenti'jn ol' keeping out of this market iiiUi! tiie pi-f-sent exhorbitant railroad tarilf is rc-duceJ. oale- on yesterday at Myrick's Include 450 head :Lt ?4 10(al?4 12i; 88 head, very choice, averaiiii^g 331 lbs. at $4 40; 150 head, averaging 245 %<. at $4 25; at the new yardi» on State street 150 head, averaging 280 lbs, sold at 84 15; all of these were for the New York market. Keceipts for the week were 12,180 and for SatunJiiy 3,100. The Louisville Journal of the 17th, has the following : We are on the eve of the pork packing season, and very likely killing will be commenced to- day. There are, however, only aboutl, 500 hogs in pens, thus far, but if the weather continues favorable, they will commence coming in fast. Buyers are generally ofl'oring §3 50 on time, gross. There are, however some who have contracts to fill, and they would probably give §5 cash. The purchasers of late have lieen prim-iyialiy persons in the country. Prices are unsettled at present, and they may advance or decline. Our packers have supplied themselves for doing a large business, and tbose who desire tn pack on their own account, will find this as cheap a yjoint as an}'' other, wdiile as a market our '.acilities ai-e equally good. The Cincinp.ati Gazette of the 17t!i, says: The receipts are on the increase, but they are comprised mostly of contract hogs. The offer- ings are tliereforc light, and thus operated in favor of parties havii'g droves for sale. A lot of550he;id sold lato on Saturday evening at S5 75 per 100 lbs i;et. and there were buyers ti!-d;iy at t'le same figure. Tiie general feeling is better than hi^t week, and g.iod hogs may be quoted st(uidy ar v-55 50(r< >>5 75. Tiiere is iioLhin;^; doing in Alton. Tiie Clii- cago Uanocrat of the 10 th says : The market for live hogs is moderately active, but prices are without quotable change. Many of our dealers have Eastern orders for mess pork, and are busy supplying tiem, but are barely opet\'.ting on tiieir own account. Receipts are falling (jff and are hardly equal to the densaud, only 120 head arrived yesterda}', and l)ut a few car loads to-day, and those found a quick market at the following rates : 250 head choice at ?4 20: 150 head averaging oOO S)s at .S4 12.'?; 23 c;!r loads, averaging 277 tt)s at S4 lo: Tiic Chie; Tu)ies of tlib 20tb, remarks: Tiiere are a good many orders here for both pork and ho;^-, fro;"a tlio East, and our pork packer,-^ are m.Hking preparations for extensive opciiitioiis. 1^-iees of live ho2;s are a little higher to-day, say §4(ii ?4 20 per 100 tt.s. Mess beet is boii;;^ shipped in largo lots daily, and the market liere will soon be bare. A sale of ioO head, ii,vera;^ing about 205 lbs., was made in St. Louis on tlie 20th, at §4 50 "^ hundred. At Cir.citinatl, and some otlier points, con- sidoi'ible C! tiing iias been done in fullillment ot Ciuiy c^::i;r:i.-t-:, but tlie re^uU lias proved unproiitable. Tiie fdiewing statement from the C Loinv-ati Gozcltc, e.xliJbits miiiutely the deiieimcy pocketed by an ■ arly coritraetor on one stLiall [lurohase : Oiiuof our lading iiackers having just closed out the p (iduets of a lot of three hundred hogs, iiacked on ciimniission, Vi'o have obtained the luliowii.g statement, showing the result of the operation. The hogs were contracted for last summer at .Sij 50 Ji 100 lbs net, and were de- livered and cut on Monday. Full yjrices were '^lj*«iJ»<^81^"t.WUl"A "lil'^!" realized for the producti=), yet there is a net loss OQ the 300 hogs of $536 55, COST AND EXPENSES. 300 hogs, 61,rt49 lbs.. 6>4 (508 53 2 hams damaged, 26 fts. 2 52 600 sides from block. 24.252 lbs. G% 1515 75 600 shouldors do, 11,074 lbs. 4% 525 SG oma 05 C3 300 heads 69 00 -3,599 SO Loss on above hogs Qo3C> 55 It is seen tliafc the '' summer contracts " are proving decidedly unprofitable ; and a glance at the result of the above transaction also shows that purchases made uqw at .$5 50, do not aiiord as wide a margin for profit as is de- sirable. There seems to bo an improved feeling in the Cincinnati hog market. The Gazette of the 18th, says : The market for hogs nia]'' be considered as having opened at §5 50@5 75 "fi 1(30 lbs. net, and at present these figures are firmly sustained, with more faint indications of a lower curren- cy than -were observable a week ago. Mosc of the hogs that have arrived, so far, or will come forward up to the 1st of December, will be re- quired to fill contracts. The market for pro- ducts opens more lavorably than was antici- pated, and the probabiiity is, the meat of the first seventy five or one lumdred thousai,d head cut, v^^iil be takc-n out of the market about as fast as it can be made i-eady for shipment. Slaughterers are paying 25c. 'j^ liead premium fur hogs. Thi.-^ wiiole nunibe;.' wh:.ch have ar rived irom Sept, 1st to date is 28,25S against 73,028 the corresponding time last year. The St Louis Price Current Ol the 19th, gives the followin^r quot.aions : Butchers are paying i'vom -IJtoolo ciib, and TDackers are ciFcring 4^0 for present delivery; but we hear of lio purch:;,ses or contracts, as feeders lu-e holdirii; for higiiov iigurcs. iTl ~ O ,.^i. The Joyce 0!)i:x a:-d Cob Mill— These mills, beside grindhigfor proveuder, can ba used to grind corn ibr tablo use. W. G. Morgan, in the Ohio Farmer says that ••the mill produces a quality and uniformity ofwork, equal to the best b'Jrr stone. Iridecd, ii may be set to tuie It makes one liufhel of merJ in five miuutes." We have one of these mills set up in the rear of the Farmer office. £@^The Comralssioner of the patent ofSce has requested Mr. Fortune of China, to make selections ol the ten plant and other .^ecds for cultivation in the United States. When corn costs 12|c ^ bushel, pork costs l}c per pound. For the Farmer. Things in General. The panic which has just passed is the great event in men's minds at the present time. Too much bank paper is assigned as the chief cause by some; by others the issue of small notes, driv- ing gold into foreign countries that should be retained at home and couverted into coin. Our iederal system of State.'«, with their jealousy of the general government, may make it impossible to get a national bank currency that will equal- ize tlie exchanges all over the country, and be so guarded as not to become an engine of power to those who control it. Old Hickory, whose fame will ever be national, said, *by the eternal,' that ke coidd make a bank that would be guarded in every sense, and be beneficial to the country. The extravagance in living is thought to be a cause of oar financial troubles — woinens dresses, costly houses, expensive equipages, horses, wine, dissipation — but it is the effect rather than the cause of inflation, arises from supposed sudden wealth, from lands and lots that have doubled their value within a very short time. or extravagance, it has reached our farmers, less in tlieir households than in their mania for buying lands, extendiog their farms, already too large in this State for profitable cultivation. Buy lands with spare money and not without. Let there be expense involved to live well; to live respectably; to enconrage taste, so sadly abused on these prairies; to improve in mind and deportment, the possession of which gifts would never upiet the financial world. As a nation our energies ar^i more directed into money ma- king than any other on earth, the Jewish family excepted, but no people speed more freely — we are foolishly lavish in our enjoyments — and as there are no entailments or laws of primogen- ture te confine property in families, there is lit- tle fear of an aristocricy of wealth that can hurt any buf, its immediate possessor. Again the tariff, the free trade features of it, is supposed by many to betray the country into an overpurchase of foreign gsods, requiring a drain of gold to fill up the payment which our produce is insuflicient to supply and thereby producing a crisis. That the world is advanc- ing in the doctrine of free trade, is obvious enough, and if it endures through the ages a fi- nancial simplicity may be obtained, but while the European and other commercial portions of it at this day embrace protection, excluding ma- ny of our products, we must as an offset, corres- pondingly cheek the influx of theirs. Again, in new countries, protection is supposed to aid the hidden and more difficult interests, of which iron may be the representative. We are reminded of another branch of our subject, and that is the credit system as being the cause of much financial disturbance. We think short credits the better plan; they place the paym.ent day too near to tempt us into ex- cess; they are a rod of warning held over the rich, and poor, the high and low; but better even than this is the responsibility, the deep concern, of paying at some time, of certainly paying; of feeling remorse and stain if debts are not paid "W' •!''«!'-'?'«w*'";i(f iji»!Hi) . ^.i.iili'H'.liW'* -««af^'^ ■JiHWlii.'-t ^'^fWW?rs.?l 286 THE ILLINOIS FARMER. with the least possible delay, after the time of payment comes. Though we have the farmers flag at oar mast head, and know that many of them require no schooling in this matter at our own imperfect hands, still we are disposed to emphasize the class, more especially as they are the base upon which the business superstructure of the country mainly rests, and if they dishionor themselves, prove delinquent, the shop keepers fail or are in peril, and the eastern wholesale dealer goes down beyond all peradventure, drag- ging with him across the water those from whom we have descended, and belong to the family of man, though so far divided from ourselves. The East Indian war is a marked feature iu the aspect of the times. Were the Hindoos an un- mixed race, we should say let them govern them- selves, let the English go down. But Hindoos and Mahometans in the central and southern districts, mingled with the ferocity of the Af- ghan and Tartar tribes of the north, portions ot the earth from whence Europe m early times was overran, can only be kept in abeyance by some of the great powers. India has been governed in the main pretty well since the time of Clive and Hastings; the garrisons throughout have not swayed a very arbitrary rule, but the East In- dia Company who still hold the revenues, tax their Indian subjects too heavily for an Asiatic people, and hold monopolies over their produce, opium, indigo &c., that has caused great dissat- isfaction. This, coupled with the influences of Christianity, which, in barbarous countries gen- erally shows anything but Christian aspects, so far as trade and common intercourse goes, with a people singularly eupergtitious, religious, fa- natical, ready to burn up or be crushed for the rales of their faith, could only end sooner or la- ter, in an outbreak. Bat humanity requii'es that England shou'd succeed; anarchy would ensue under native rule; and who would deair* the al- ready bloated Russian Empire, stretching one wing on our own continent, semi-barbarous in all its distant confines, to place its feet upon the fair peninsula of Hindoostan ? In China, England is in another predicament, and our sympathies even there, are not with the Chinese. Much might be said in their favor if they were not such a treacherous, implacable race. Their Mongol, and worse, their Malay blood sticks right out ot them. Their preten- sions, not to desire foreign tra^le is all sham, what would they do without it? If a famine happens in any of the provinces, a very common evenV^Q American or English ship can bring them a cargo of rice in a tithe of the time that one of their own could doit, and at less expense. Their desires, their tastes, their wants, their ne- cessities, have been modified by a loreign trade, and it is useless for them to pretend that their welfare as a nation is not promoted by it. This then being granted, patting the opium traffic — the only known evil entailed upon them by trade — in the one scale, and the palpable benefits that result from trade as a whole; the abuse of for- eigners; the inhumanity toward them at all times when unprotected; the inflated vanity anJ non- sense in their addresses to foreign governments, and worse than this in aljading to the people, in the other scale, and we shall see that it will be quite up to the best ethics of our day for the English, Americans and French unitedly to give them a sound drubbing. All this may be wrong in a man of peace to advocate, but a demonstra- tion of force seems to be the only thing that can bring so supremely a bigoted people to estimate aright the power and character of those whom they affect to despise as barbarous. The Farmer's Occupation—Food for ThOBght. The occupation of the farmer furnishes food for thought, subjects for study, which are ever new and inexhastible. All the elements wait to do his bidding. All the occult forces of nature challenge his investigation, and promise him a rich reward for every secret he will bring forth from her hidden store-house. He can use head- work as well as hand-work. No form of labor invites so freely or pays so promptly tho head- work of the laborer, as agriculture. Nature has her secrets. She does not reveal them unasked; but to keen intelligence she constantly offers something new and valuable — chemistry, botany, geology, ornithology, all stand ready to help the farmer do his work. And just in proportion as he uses their aid, does he elevate his occupation from servile drudgery to a soul elevaling and ex- panding employment. He has to do with plants. How much is his interest in these plants awak- ened, if he knows something of tlie ingredients of which they are formed! of the influences ot soil and the atmosphere in their production. Hehas to do with the soil — geology will tell him how that soil was formed, and in what respect one soil differs from another. So far as the science of agriculture is concerned, it is still in its infan- cy. The farmers are intelligent, well informed as a class; but they have not yet given their study, and their best thonght to the occupation in which they are daily engaged. When they have read, it has been upon topics ■nidely remote from the objects of their daily pursuit. The farm itself, the soil, the rocks, the flowers that grow there, the springing crops, the insects that devour, the birds that protect or injure, all are interestinjo' subjects oisindi/: and all have imme- diate application to his daily labor. Tt is a lack of acquaintance with these things which makes labor upon the farm dull and monotonous, ard sends our young men, by crowds, every year, to the store or to the factory. It is an acquaintance with these things which will awaken a generous enthusiasm in his calling. It will enlist his mind and heart. It will not be drudgery— but a labor of love. It will call out all his best powers, and he will become not merely a toiling artisan, working for daily bread, but a living man, pur- suins: a noble calling with noble aims. — Sermon of John Moore. -—>- Winter Protbctiov for Plants. — About as good way as any, is to lay the plants down on the earth, and cover them over with a piece of turf. This is a capital plan for pinks, antir- rhinums and tender roses. •iir THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. THE POULTRY YARD. Laying Hens. — Just about this season of the year, when eggs are an indispensable ingredient in the good things to be got up for thanksgiving and Christmas, laying hens are a valuable and profitable portion of a farmer's stock. The propensity for laying, seems to belong to dis tinct families of the same breed. We know of a farmer whose chickens are a cross of Shanghai, Brama and the common ducghill. The pullets lay when four months old, and they keep on laying with little intermission, through the whole year. No especial pains are taken to feed them. Other persons having precisely the same cross, get but very few eggs. Why is this? We occasionally find a scrub cow an ex- cellent milker, while some cows of the same stock are worth nothing for the dairj^ To Prepare Poultry for Market. Preparing. — Make them fat. A grain-fed plump, fat fowl will sell for double the price per pound of a lean one. A liberal feeding, for a few weeks before killing will nearly double the weight and double the price, making a quad- ruple return for the finishing oS food. Killing. — Keep them from bruising tbema selves. Secure the wings the instant they are caught, and tie them behind the back. Tie the legs together, hang them npon a pole, and then cut off the head with a sharp knife, leaving as loHg a neck as possible. Let them hang until they bleed clean. Keep them from food for two or three hours before killing. Any grain left in the crop sours and materially injures the flesh if kept long before cooking. Dressing. — Pick them dry, taking particular care not to tear or bruise the flesh. If scalded at all let it be done quickly and in water not quite boiling hot. Be careful not to rub off the outer thin skin from the legs. If not to be packed in boxes, after picking dry or scalding, wash them in clean warm soap-suds, and 'plump' them, that is hold them in boiling v/uter about five seconds. If to be packed for carrying a long distance do net wet them at all, except to wa?h the neck. Strip back the skin on the neck bone, draw the loose skin over, tie it tightly, cut 03 the bloody portion a little way beyond the string and wash oft any blood, wip- ing dry. This will keep them clean and blood- less, and increase their saleableness. -«♦»- Currants and Gtooseberries. — These can now be trimmed. Cuttings for new plants can be planted out now, or when the ground is in order, or kept for spring planting. In the lat- ter case, they should be covered with sand or earth, to prevent the-Ji from drying up. -«•»- When pork sells for 5c per pound, it brings ^5 c per bushel in corn. ,, .^^ Famons Englisr The King Oak, Windsor Forest, |MDore than 1,000 years old, qaite hollow. Professor Bur-* net, who once lunched ioside this tree, said it was capable of accommoflatiag ten or twelve persoAs comfortably at a dinner sittinar* The Beggar^s Oak, in Bagshot Park, is 20 feet in girth five feet from the ground; the branches extend from the tree 48 feet in every direction. The Wallace Oak, at Ellerslie, near where Wallace was born, is 21 feet in circumference. It is 67 feet high, and its branches extend 45 feet east, 36 west, 30 south, and 25 north. Wal- lace and 300 of his men are said to have hid themselves from the English, among the branch- es of this tree, which was then in fall ^ leaf. — Downing' s Landscape Gard. '