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TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

ILLINOIS STATE

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

WITH NOTICES AND

PEOCEEDINGS OF COUNTY SOCIETIES,

KINDRED ASSOCIATIONS.

B. Jranrig, dCorttspottMirg £ttxttux$, tibitot.

VOLUME III.— 185r-'58.

SPRINGFIELD:

BAILHACHE & BAKER, PRINTERS,
1859,

Resolved ly the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That the State
Printer be and he is hereby directed to print three thousand copies of the Transacts of
the State Agricultural Society. ^ r MORRISON,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

JOHN WOOD,

Speaker of the Senate.
Approved Feb. 24, 1859.

WM; H. BISSELL.

PREFACE.

In presenting to the farmers of Illinois the third volume of
Transactions of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, it is with
entire confidence that its contents render it a worthy associate of
the two volumes which have preceded it.

We shall be indulged with a brief glance at these contents.
They embrace the proceedings of our State Agricultural Society
for the years 1857 and 1858; the proceedings of the Executive
Committee, for the same period of time ; the proceedings of numer-
ous County Agricultural Societies, with the names of officers of
Societies reported ; the proceedings of our State Horticultural
Society; of our Southern Illinois Pomological and Horticultural
Society ; of the North Western Fruit Growers' Association ; of the
Sugar Cane Growers' Convention ; of the State Natural History
Society; and of the Illinois Stock Importing Association. Con-
nected with these proceedings are valuable discussions, reports and
essays upon agricultural and other kindred subjects, embracing a
vast amount of valuable information. Associated as is the State
Normal School with the interests of agriculture, the paper from the
President of that Institution is deemed important.

The thanks of the Society are due to the authors of the essays
contained in this work; to others who have contributed to make up
its contents, and especially to M. S. Bebb, of Marion county, and
to Dr. Frederick Brendel, M. D., of Peoria county, for their
valuable contributions.

The work has been printed by Messrs. Bailbache & Baker,
State Printers, and its appearance is their best commendation.

Necessary absence at times, during the progress of printing, will
be my apology for some few obvious and immaterial errors of
names and dates.

S. FKA1SCIS.

Springfield, July 25, 1859.

ILLINOIS STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

OFFICERS FOE 1857-'58.

president:
CYRUS W. WEBSTER, Salem, Marion county.

VICE-PRESIDENTS :

1st District — H. Capron, , Alden, McHenry county.

2d " L. Ellsworth Naperville, Du Page county.

3d " J. E. McClon, Bloomington, McLean county.

4th " J. H. Stipp, Canton, Fulton county.

5th " J. W. Singleton, Quincy, Adams county.

6th " A. B. McConnell, Springfield, Sangamon county.

7th " Wm. Kile, Paris, Edgar county.

8th " S. A. Buckmaster, Alton, Madison counly.

9th " H. S. Osbourn, Pinkneyville, Perry county.

ex-presidents :

J. N. Brown, Berlin, Sangamon county.

H. C. Johns, Decatur, Macon county.

S. Francis, Corresponding Secretary Springfield, Sangamon county.

Phil. Warren, Recording Secretary Jacksonville, Morgan county.

John Williams, Treasurer Springfield, Sangamon county.

OFFICERS FOR 1859-'60.

president:
L. ELLSWORTH, Naperville, DuPage County.

VICE-PRESIDENTS :

1st District — C. B. Denio, Galena, Jo Daviess county.

2d " Wm. H. Van Epps Dixon, Lee county.

3d " John Girard, Georgetown, Vermilion county.

4th " A. Dunlap, Peoria, Peoria county.

5th " J. W. Singleton, Quincy, Adams county.

6th " S. Dunlap, Jacksonville, Morgan county.

7th " Wm. Kile, Paris, Edgar county.

8th " S. B. Chandler, Belleville, St. Clair county.

9th " H. S. OoBOURN, Pinkneyville, Perry county.

ex-presidents :

J. N. Brown, Berlin, Sangamon county.

H. C. Johns Decatur, Macon county.

C. W. Webster, Salem, Marion count .

S. Francis, Corresponding Secretary Springfield, Sangamon county.

John Cook, Recording Secretary Springfield, Sangamon county.

J. W. Bunn, Treasurer Springfield, Sangamon county.

ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

OFFICERS FOE 1859-60.

president:
C. R. OVERMAN, Bloomington, McLean county.

VICE-PRESIDENTS :

1st District — R. Douglas, "Waukegan, Lake county.

2d " A. R. Whitney, Franklin Grove, Lee county.

3d " M. L. Dunlap, West Urbana, Champaign county.

4th " Lloyd Shaw, Tremont, Tazewell county.

5th " K. K. Jones Quincy, Adams county.

6th " Jona. Huggins, Woodburn, Macoupin county.

7th " Uri Manly, , Marshal, Clark county.

8th " Jas. Hunter, Ashley, Washington county.

9th " Wm. Yates, Tamaroa, Perry county.

0. B. Galusha, Corresponding Secretary Lisbon, Kendall county.

S. Edwards, Recording Secretary La Moille, Bureau county.

F. Starr, Assistant Recording Secretary Alton, Madison county.

A. Bryant, Treasurer Princeton, Bureau county.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS POMOLOGICAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

OFFICERS FOR 1859.

president:

B. G. ROOTS, Tamaroa, Perry county.

vice-presidents :

Wm. S. Wait, Greenville, Bond county.

Urial Mills, Salem, Marion county.

Wm. S. Bainbridge, Jonesboro, Union county.

Wright Casey, Mount Vernon, Jefferson county.

Wm. Yates, Tamaroa, Perry county.

N. D. Ingraham, Corresponding Secretary Centralia, Marion county.

J. M. Hunter, Recording Secretary Ashley, Washington county.

J. P. Reynolds, Treasurer Odin, Marion county.

CONSTITUTION OP THE ILLINOIS STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The style of this Society shall be "The Illinois State Agricultural Society" Its

objects shall be the promotion of Agriculture, Horticulture, Manufactures, Mechanics and

Household Arts.

Section 1. The Society shall consist of such citizens of the State as shall signify, by
writing, thei xwisb.es to become members, and shall pay, on subscribing, not less than one
dollar, and one dollar annually thereafter ; also, of honorary and corresponding members.
The President of County or other Agricultural Societies in this State, or a delegate from
each, shall, ex officio, be members of this Society.

Sec. 2. The officers of this Society shall consist of a President, nine Vice-Presidents —
one to be located in each congressional district — a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding
Secretary, a Treasurer, an Executive Committee — to consist of the officers above named and
the ex-Presidents of the Society — and a General Committee, one of the members of which
shall be locatedin each of the counties of the State.

Sec. 3. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Society. The Corres-
ponding Secretary shall carry on the correspondence with other Societies, with individuals,
and with the General Committee, in the furtherance of the objects of the Society.

Sec. 4. The Treasurer shall keep the funds of the Society, and disburse them on the
order of the President or the Executive Committee, countersigned by the Recording Secre-
tary, and shall make their report of receipts and expenditures at the biennial meeting.

Sec. 5. The Executive Committee shall take charge of and distribute and preserve all
seeds, plants, books, models, &c, which may ba transmitved to the Society, and shall have,
also, the chargeof all communications designed or calculated for publication, and, so far as
they may deem expedient, shall collect, arrange and publish the same in such manner and
form as they shall deem best calculated to promote the objects of this Society.

Sec. 6. The General Committee are charged with the interests of the Society in the
counties in which they shall respectively reside, and will constitute a medium of communi-
cation between the Executive Committee and the remote members of the Society.

Sec. 7.* The election of officers of this Society shall be biennially, on the Fair Grounds
of the Society, at the door of the office of the Recording Secretary, at two o'clock P. M , on
the third day of the fair, by delegates of the legally organized Societies (Agricultural) of
this State. Each of said Societies shall be entitled to three delegates, and no more. The
Presidents of the said County Agricultural Societies shall bo, ex officio, one of the said dele-
gates. The said officers elect of the State Agricultural Society, shall enter upon the duties
of their respective offices on the second Monday of January following their election. All
vacancies which may occur in the offices of said Society shall be filled by the Executive
Board. Extra meetings may be convened by the Executive Committee. Nine members
shall be a quorum for the transaction of busim ss.

Sec. 8. The Society shall hold an Annual Cattle Show and Fa;r at such time and place
as shall be designated by the Executive Committee.

Sec. 9. This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members at-
tending any biennial meeting.

January 3, 1855.

At the biennial meeting of the Society, the following amendment was made to the Con-
stitution :

" That in all elections for officers of this Society, when there is but one person put in
nomination, the election may be had viva voce."

January 6, 1857.

At the biennial meeting of the Society, the Constitution was so amended as to provide
that all officers be elected viva voce."

*Note. — This section was adopted to take the place of the following, at the biennial
meeting, 5th January, 185i) :

Sec. 7. There shall be a biennial meeting of the Society on the third day of the session of
the Legislature, in the city of Springfield; at which time all the officers shall be elected by ma-
jority, and by ballot, with the exception of the General Committee for the counties, which
may be appointed by the Executive Committee, who shall have power to fill any vacancies
which may occur in the offices of the Society during the interval-

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

State Agricultural Society, proceedings 17, 24

Biennial Report of Executive Committee .... 9

Catalogue of Plants to be added to Mr. Lapham's List of Illi-
nois Grasses : by Frederick Brendel, M. D. ... 583

" of Plants to be added to same by M. S. Bebb 586

" of Trees and Shrubs of Illinois : by Dr. Brendel. . . 588

" of the Oaks of Illinois : by Dr. Brendel 605

Circular letter , 66

County societies ,.....; i ; . . . i . 179

Committee, general, of the State . . . k 22

Discussion at the Agricultural Meeting on the Fair Grounds

at Centralia 110

Essay on the various breeds of stock, and their adaptation to

the prairies 457

" on Raising Horses and Mules in Illinois 463

" on the Embellishment of a Country Home 466

u u a a a a 4Y2

" on the Culture of Forest and Ornamental Trees on the

Prairies 475

" on the Cultivation of Fruit Trees on the Prairies 487

" on the Cultivation of Orchards 495

" on Practical Gardening in Illinois 501

" on the Prairie Fruit Garden 512

" on Sorgho and Imphee Sugar Cane 518

" on the Culture of Rice in Illinois 527

" on Domestic Fowls, their rearing and management; . i 532

" on Agriculture — The Anglo-Saxon 544

" on Agriculture, as connected with Schools 556

" on Agricultural Colleges in Illinois 564

« on Self-Education 570

" on the District School-House 577

VI

Exhibition of Steam Plow 99

Meteorological observations, 1857 and 1858 : Dr. Frederick

Brendel 633

Nurseries of Illinois 370

Normal University 399

Proceedings of the Executive Committee 18, 68, 97, 99

" of the Illinois Stock Importing Association 302

" of the Illinois Sugar Cane Convention 305

" of the State Horticultural Society 310

" of the Pomological and Horticultural Society of

Southern Illinois 378

" of the N. W. Pomological Association 378

" of the State Natural History Society 637

Premiums awarded, 1857 26

" " 1858 78

Keports of committees, 1857 44

" " 1858 94

Soils of Kentucky and Illinois 403

Statements of field crops;, 1857 61

" " " 1858 103

embellishments:

Tulip, (premium cow,) ...Frontispiece.

Bracelet, " Page 77

Lady Francis, " " 274

Kachel, 2d, " " 95

Renick, 2d, " " 27

Empress, " " 158

Caroline,2d, " " 167

Transit, (Spanish Merino buck,) " 81

Fa wkes' Steam Plow, " 99

Lindley's Seed Sower, " 105

Kugg's Reaper and Mower, " 32

Brown's Corn Planter, " 244

Kuhn & Co.'s Grain Drill, " 84

Joice's Corn and Cob Mill, " 33

State Normal University, Bloomington, " 398

Wilson's Seedling Strawberry, " 380

Oaks of Illinois, " 605

TRANSACTIONS,

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

To the Governor and General Assembly

of the State of Illinois :

The Executive Committee of the Illinois State Agricultural
Society beg leave to report the acts and doings of the Society for
the years 1857 and 1858.

The appropriation by the General Assembly, at their session in
1857, of three thousand dollars a year, to be used in premiums,
has enabled the Society, with the addition of its ordinary means,
to hold two successful fairs — the first at Peoria in 1857, and the
last at Centralia in 1858. The Society was also enabled to hold
a trial of reapers and mowers at Salem, in July, 1857, and also a
trial for steam plows at Decatur, in November, 1858. The Soci-
ety was also greatly aided in accomplishing these objects by the
liberality of the various railroad companies of our State.

FIFTH ACTUAL FAIR.

The Fair of 1857 was held at Peoria, on the 21st, 22d, 23d,
24th and 25th days of September. H. J. Chase, President of the
Peoria County Agricultural Society, and other public-spirited citi-
zens of that city and county, to wit: Smith Frye, Chauncey
Wood and W: Commington, Esq's, entered into obligations with
this Society to furnish the grounds and fixtures necessary for the
State Fair. This was done in the most ample and satisfactory
manner: Twenty-one acres of ground belonging to the County
Agricultural Society, within the limits of the city, were inclosed,
stalls constructed, and buildings erected, highly satisfactory to the
officers of the Society, and to the large number of people who
attended the exhibition. The halls, indeed, were of superior
order in taste and construction — designed ultimately for the per-
manent fixtures of the Countv Agricultural Society. The excel-
—2

10

lence of these fixtures may be judged from their cost, which was
upward of thirteen thousand dollars.

The entries at the Peoria Fair exceeded those of any preceding
Fair. These entries amounted to nineteen hundred and seventy-
eight. In detail they were as follows :

Class A— Cattle..
Class B — Horses,
Class C— Sheep..
Class D — Swine .

Class I— Worked Metals, &c.

Class K — Painting, &o

Class L— Needle- Work, &c...
Class M — Natural History, &c.

... 88

... 65

... 267

... 17

Class N — Miscellaneous Articles 276

Class 0— Plowing Match 13

Total .

, 174

473

109

, 14

Class E— Poultry 29

Class F — Agricultural Implements 147

Class G — Farm Products 147

Class H— Fruits, Flowers, &o 199

An arrangement was made with the officers ot the State Horti-
cultural Society to hold their exhibition in connection with that of
the State Agricultural Society. Dr. E. S. Hull, President of the
Horticultural Society, in connection with Vice-President Ells-
worth, took charge of the Horticultural Department. Under
their control, the union of the two Societies in that department,
rendered it one of the distinguishing features of the Fair. A
report of the officers of that Society will be found among the
papers herewith submitted.

The railroad companies of Illinois, without exception — the
Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company, of Iowa — the St.
Paul, Fon du Lac and Chicago, and Milwaukie and Chicago Rail-
road Companies, of Wisconsin — in the most liberal manner carried
stock and other articles for exhibition to the Fair, returning the
same free of charge, and also passed passengers at half the usual
prices to and from the Fair. This was done in the most satisfac-
tory manner, and contributed most essentially to the success of
the Fair.

The weather was fine, the appearance of the grounds beautiful,
and there was a gratifying assemblage of people present from the
counties in the neighborhood of Peoria, and a fair representation
from every portion of the State.

SIXTH ANNUAL FAIE.

The Sixth Annual State Fair was held at Centralia, on the
14th, 15th, 16th and 17th days of September, 1858. The Execu-
tive Committee, in considering the question of location for the
sixth Fair, very generally concluded that the Fair was due to the
south part of the State ; and to determine on its location in that
section, they only awaited evidence, that proper conveniences for
the exhibition of stock and other articles, and boarding and lodg-
ing arrangements for the people who might desire to attend, could
be secured. R. D. Koleman, A. K. Corey, J. M. Hawley, L. P.
Tufts, Thos. J. Evans, N. D. Ingraham and A. J. Pearcy, Esqs.,
of Centralia, came forward and gave adequate guarantees that
they would fill all the requirements of the Executive Committee.
These gentlemen proceeded to carry out their engagements, and

11

on the week previous to the time fixed on for the Fair, had all the
fixtures required completed. They had also made arrangements
for boarding and lodging in the towns near, and in buildings
expressly prepared for the purpose on and near the grounds, for
all persons who should be present at the Fair. And it may be
here very properly stated, that the arrangements for boarding and
lodging at the Centralia Fair, gave general satisfaction.

The Executive Committee had confidence that the Fair to be
held at Centralia, if it should not equal other State Fairs in the
amount of articles exhibited, and in the number of persons in
attendance, would be productive of great good. We now believe
that such will be the result. There was a large attendance of the
farmers of the south ; every county, it is believed, was well repre-
sented at the Fair. A State Fair had not hitherto been held in
Southern Illinois, and the fairs in other sections had not generally
learned the people to bring out the choice productions of the field,
the shop and the mines ; but there was a very respectable display
in the various departments from the south, and which would, on
another similar occasion, be largely increased. The people of the
north and south met together at Centralia in harmonious action,
and they se}3arated in kindness, under the full conviction that
State Fairs have a powerful influence in promoting the great
interests of agriculture.

The liberality of the Central Railroad Company, in connection
with this Fair, is without precedent. The Company contributed
money and transportion for getting up the fixtures on the grounds.
A large part of the stock and other articles exhibited were brought
upon the Central Railroad, free of charge. The Ohio and Mis-
sissippi Railroad Company also donated money, and did much
transportation, for the benefit of the Fair. More was required of
these roads, from their localities, than of others ; and their super-
intendents and other officers readily performed all that was asked
of them by the Executive Committee. The other railroad com-
panies of the State, with a single exception, transported articles
for exhibition at the Fair, and passengers to and from the Fair, on
the same terms as in the previous years. While it is certain that
©ur State Fairs cannot be successful without these railroad facili-
ties, it is also believed to be true that the railroad companies do
not suffer by their liberality in this matter. We are led to this
belief by the statement of Mr. Clarke, the Superintendent of the
Central Railroad, who expressed the belief that the road was not
a loser by its liberality, as connected with the State Fair.

The entries at the State Fair at Centralia were seventeen hun-
dred and eighty-eight. It will be seen, by comparing this state-
ment of entries with those of the previous year at Peoria, that
there was a falling off of one hundred and ninety entries. This
was less than was anticipated. The season and the locality of the
Fair were against the exhibition of many articles; and, under all
the circumstances presented, the Executive Committee were well

12

satisfied. Such an exhibition of fine Durham stock is believed
never to have been seen before in one inclosure in this State, if
out of it. Agricultural implements and machinery were present
in large numbers. The plow was there in great variety, and in
perfection unequaled. The steam plow of J. W\ Fawkes, which
was present, giving evidence that steam can be used in plowing
and other important farming oj)erations — with further improve-
ments likely to be adopted — was one of the distinguishing features
of this Fair.

TRIAL OF REAPERS AND MOWERS.

There was held a trial of reapers and mowers, under the super-
vision of the Executive Committee, at Salem, on the 8th and 9th
days of July, 1857 — the Executive committee acting as the
awarding committee. There were five reaping machines on trial.
The first premium of $100 was awarded to the machine of G. H.
Eugg, of Ottawa; and the second premium of $75, to the
machine of Buckmaster & "Wise, of Alton. There were four
machines exhibited for mowing. The first premium was awarded
to Buckmaster & Wise, of Alton, on their combined reaping and
mowing machine ; and the second premium of $75, to Haines,
Hawley & Co., of Pekin, on their mowing machine.

TRIAL OF STEAM PLOWS.

J. W. Fawkes, who had exhibited a steam plow at the Centralia
Fair, asked for another trial of his machine. Understanding
from several sources that other inventors desired to make a trial
of their steam plowing machines in Illinois, the 10th of Novem-
ber, 1858, was fixed upon as the time, and Decatur as the place,
for such trial. The unusual wet season operated against the trial.
But a single machine, that of Mr. Fawkes, was present. Its per-
formances were such that the committee — while they felt that
they would not be justified in awarding the premium which they
had offered for a machine for general farm purposes, in which
opinion Mr. Fawkes concurred — made a donation to the pioneer
in steam plowing in Illinois, of five hundred dollars.

EDUCATION THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

From the peculiar organization of the State Normal School, the
industrial classes ol this State have a deep interest in its success.
The statement of its Principal, Mr. C. E. Hovey, presented with
this report, must give general satisfaction.

ENDOWMENT OF AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.

The movement in behalf of the establishment of agricultural
colleges in the different States, by obtaining from Congress for the
endowment of such institutions, public lands or their equivalent,
was so far successful at their last session, that a bill for the purpose

13

passed the House of Kepresentatives, but was left among the
unfinished business of the Senate. We trust that at the present
session the bill will become a law. Agricultural schools and col-
leges in many European countries have been found to be produc-
tive of great good, and measures have been adopted in several of
our States for the establishment of such institutions. Illinois, the
first of the States which made a movement in this direction, is yet
without an institution specially devoted to the education of the
industrial classes.

COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

We have in this State ninety-two County Agricultural Societies,
recognized by law. The appropriation of one hundred dollars to
each legally organized County Agricultural Society, annually, for
the last two years, has served as a great stimulus in increasing the
number of county societies, and in rendering them useful. Many
societies, at this time, have annual fairs, which are not far behind
our first State Fair, in interest, in the number of entries, and in
their receipts. Wherever these societies flourish we are sure that
farmers are progressing in improvements and agricultural know-
ledge. Many county societies which commenced with small
beginnings are now large, have beautiful fair grounds, and are in
a very flourishing condition. We have endeavored to obtain
returns of the proceedings of all these societies, some of which
have been furnished, and to which we invite attention.

LAWS FOR PROTECTION OF AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

These laws, enacted at the last session of the General Assembly,
have been found eminently useful. The State and County Agri-
cultural Societies, under the protection of these laws, have been
able to prevent the sale of spirituous liquors and the getting up
establishments of different kinds, which before had been great
hindrances to the successful management of fairs. Within the
last two years our fairs have been quiet, and visitors have not been
disturbed by such scenes as were formerly witnessed on such
occasions.

AGRICULTURAL TRANSACTIONS.

The Executive Committee, in accordance with their previous
practice, have reserved from distribution a sufficient number of
the second volume to supply the members of the General Assem-
bly each with a copy. When this is done, but few copies will
remain within the control of the Society. Of the 8,000 volumes
of Transactions printed in 1857, by direction of the General
Assembly, nearly all are in the hands of the people. That they
were wanted by the people, and are highly valued by them, is
evidenced by their anxiety to obtain them. The materials reported
for the third volume of Transactions are of exceeding interest.
A list of the same is presented at the close of this report.

14

TEEASUREK'S KEPCRT.

JOHN WILLIAMS, Treasurer,

In account witJi the Illinois State Agricultural Society.

Jan.

7,

1357.
1858.

Jan.

5

1859.
1859.

Jan.

5

1859.

To balance in Treasury ,

To amount received from Members

To cash for entries on Reapers and Mowers..

To cash from the State of Illinois

To cash received at State Fair at Peoria

To cash received from the State

To cash received at Centralia

To cash received of Smith Frye ,

Total

To balance on hand this day.

$ 3,320 91

339 00

175 00

3,000 00

12,363 91

3,000 00

6,874 75

10 00

$29,083 57

$1,203 49

Jan. 5, 1859.

By paid premiums in 1857

By paid premiums in 1858

By paid sundry expenses in 1857..
By paid sundry expenses in 1858.
By balance

Total.

$8,104 54
6,306 20
6.542 85
6.926 49
1,203 49

$29,083 57

1357.
1858.

Total receipts....
Total receipts....

$15,877 91
9,8S4 75

1857.
1858.

Total exp'res.
Total exp'res.

$14,647 39
13,232 69

$27,880 08

All of which is respectfully submitted.

JOHN WILLIAMS.

All of which is respectfully submitted ;

S. FRANCIS,
Cor. Sec. III. State Ag. Society.

LIST OF MATTER

DESIGNED FOR THE THIRD VOLUME OF TRANSACTIONS.

Biennial Report to the Governor and General Assembly.

Proceedings of the State Agricultural Society for 1857.

Proceedings of the State Agricultural Society for 1858.

Reports from County Agricultural Societies for 1857 and 1858.

Proceedings of the Illinois Stock Importing Association for 1857.

Soils of Illinois : Statements, etc., from J. G. Norwood, late State Geologist.

Proceedings of the Illinois Sugar Cane Convention, 1857.

Proceedings of the State Horticultural Society, 1857 and 1858.

Proceedings of the North-Western Pomological Association, for 1857.

ESSAYS.

On the "Embellishments of a Country Home:" By Frances E. Willard, Wisconsin.
On the "Embellishments of a Country Home:" By Mrs. R. B. Hatch, Pope county, III.
On the "Cultivation of Forest and Ornamental Trees on the Prairies:" By 0. Ordway,

Marshall county, Illinois.
On the "Rearing and Breeding of Horses:" By Phil. Warren, Sangamon county, HI.
On the "Advantages of Southern Illinois for Settlement :" By E. R. Roe, McLean county.
On " Self-Education :" By J. C. Powers, Peoria.
On the " Raising of Sheep and their Adaptation to the Prairies :" By A. B. McConnell,

Sangamon county, Illinois.
On the " Cultivation of Orchards :" By C. R. Overman, McLean county.
On "Agriculture, as connected with Common Schools :" By Miss L. A. Platte, Kankakee

county.
On " Practical Gardening in Illinois :" By S. Francis, Sangamon county.
On " Rearing Domestic Fowls :" By C. N. Bement, New York.
On " Practical Farming in Illinois, as connected with the Culture of Upland Rice:" By J.

Russell, Blufidale, Illinois.
On the " Fruit Garden :" By Samuel Jacob Wallace, Hancock county.
On the " Cultivation of Sugar Cane :" By J. A. Hedges, Cincinnati.

On "Agriculture, as connected with Schools and Colleges :" By Thomas M. Gore, Dixon.
Discussions in the Agricultural Meetings at Centralia, 1858 : Reported by C. D. Bragdon,

Cook county.
Meteorological Observations for 1857 and 1858 : By Frederick Brendell, M.D., Peoria.
Amendments to Mr. Lapham's List of Illinois Grapes : By same.
Ligneous Plants of Hlinois, especially Forest Trees, with Drawings : By same.

MEETING OP THE STATE SOCIETY.

Springfield, January 7, 185T.

The Illinois State Agricultural Society met in the capitol, and
the President, Hon. H. C. Johns, took the chair at seven o'clock
in the evening. Three hundred and thirty-nine persons had their
names enrolled as members of the Society.

After propositions had been submitted for going into the elec-
tions of officers for the ensuing two years, a motion was made to
amend the constitution, so that the officers should be elected by
viva voce, instead of election by ballot.

The yeas and nays were called and the constitution was amend-
ed as proposed.

After some further proceedings the Society adjourned their
meeting until next evening at seven o'clock.

January 8, 1857 — seven o'clock.

The Illinois State Agricultural Society met pursuant to ad-
journment.

Mr. Mills, of Marion, moved to reconsider the vote of last even-
ing, changing the provision of the constitution, which j>rovided
that the officers shall be elected by a viva voce vote.

Upon the vote being taken the motion was lost.

Mr. C. Gr. Taylor moved that a committee of one from each con-
gressional district be appointed to make nominations for officers of
the Society; which motion was laid on the table.

The Society then proceeded to elect their officers for the two years
ensuing.

Hon. Stinson H. Anderson, of Jefferson county, was nominated
for President ; Lewis H. Ellsworth, of Du Page county ; William
Reddick, of La Salle county, and Cyrus W. Webster, of Marion
county, were nominated for the same office.

18

Mr. Ellsworth, declined the nomination, and Mr. Reddick was
withdrawn.

The roll of members was called, the members voting as their
names were read, when it appeared that Cyrus W. Webster was
elected president.

The following officers were then elected by acclamation :

Simeon Francis, of Sangamon county, Corresponding Secretary.

John Williams, of Sangamon county, Treasurer.

Phil. Warren, of Morgan county, Kecording Secretary.

The following named gentlemen were elected Yice Presidents :

1st district, H. Capron, of McHenry county.

2d " Lewis Ellsworth, of Du Page county.

3d " J. E. McClun, of McLean county.

4th " J. H. Stipp, of Fulton county.

5th " J. W. Singleton, of Adams county.

6th " Andrew B. McConnell, of Sangamon county.

7th " William Kile, of Edgar county.

8th " S. A. Buckmaster, of Madison county.

9th " Hawkins S. Osborn, of Perry county.

The Society then adjourned.

S. FRANCIS, Bee. Secretary.

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,

Springfield, January 9, 1857.

Present — C. W. Webster, President ; Messrs. Ellsworth, Kile
and Buckmaster, Vice-Presidents ; Simeon Francis, Correspond-
ing Secretary; John Williams, Treasurer; and Phil. Warren,
Becording Secretary.

On motion of Mr. Francis,

Resolved, That the Board desire to express the opinion, that whereas, the late Corres-
ponding Secretary has proceeded very far in the collection of papers, and their arrange-
ment for the second volume of the Transactions of the Illinois State Agricultural Society,
he be requested to complete the preparation of the same, after which he can transmit tho
same to the present Corresponding Secretary for publication ; and in the opinion of the
Board, the Corresponding Secretary who commences the preparation of a volume of the
Society's Transactions ought to be employed to complete it.

Resolved, That this Board, in parting with the Hon. H. C Johns as President of the
State Agricultural Society, are deeply sensible of their indebtedness to him for his faithful,
arduous and untiring services in behalf of the agricultural interests of this State, and of
this Society, for the past two years.

Resolved, That we part with Dr. Kennicott, in his official capacity as Corresponding
Secretary of this Society, with a realizing sense of his arduous and valuable services to the
Society, and to the State, and express the ardent hope that health will soon be restored to
him, and that the public will realize for many years the benefit of his efforts for the pro-
motion of the agricultural and horticultural interests of the State.

Resolved, That our best wishes attend tho retiring members of the last Board. They
have performed their duties well, and deserve the thanks and kind regards of the people of
Illinois.

On motion, the Corresponding Secretary was authorized to pro-1
cure a suitable writing desk, and to pay for the same.

On motion of Mr. Buckmaster, the following resolution was
adopted :

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary furnish to each Vice-President and the
President, a copy of the Premium List of 1856, and that each of them examine the said
list, and report immediately upon the same at the next adjourned meeting of the Board,
with the view of perfecting the Premium List for the present year; and that tho Corres-
ponding Secretary procure a copy of the articles entered in the Miscellaneous Department
of 1856, and a copy be sent to the President and each Vice-President, with the object of
introducing the proper articles under the proper heads in the Premium List for 1857.

On motion of Mr. Williams,

Resolved, That the sum of ten thousand dollars be expended in the purchase of suitable
premiums for the Fair of 1857.

Resolved, That the Fair Grounds, wherever located, shall embrace not less than twenty
acres, all to be inclosed with a close board fence, not less than seven feet high, the boards
running horizontally; one hundred and fifty close stalls, eight by twelve feet; three hun-
dred open stalls, eight by twelve feet; all stalls to be covered; one hundred tight pens for
sheep and swine, eight by ten feet, four feet high, boards horizontal; fifty of these pens to
be covered with loose boards; and sufficient accommodation for poultry; the fencs making
one end of all the above fixtures ; one show shed, forty by one hundred feet, arranged for
the exhibition of fruit; two show sheds for the exhibition of manufactured articles of art,

skill, models; one show shed for the exhibition of musical instruments, paintings, and
other specimens of the fine arts ; these sheds to be arranged in the general manner of
those on the Fair Grounds at Alton ; a ring well inclosed with posts and two plank, four
hundred feet in diameter; a floral hall; a business office, twenty-five by sixty feet, with a
partition across the center, with two outside doors and one middle door; a sufficient num-
ber of windows glazed ; desks on each side of the buikling its entire length, with a suffi-
cient number of seats ; a police office and a ticket office, twelve by sixteen feet each, with
necessary fixtures; four privies; the grounds to be supplied with sufficient water for all
purposes, and at convenient points on the ground.

Resolved, That when this Board adjourn, it shall adjourn to meet in Springfield, on
Wednesday, the fourth day of March next.

Resolved, That the President be authorized to receive applications from citizens of such
places as desire the location of the State Fair, so that the subject of location wJl be ready
for the action of the committee at the next adjourned meeting.

On motion, the Board adjourned till 3 o'clock p.m.

Three o'clock P.M.

The Board met.

Present — C. W. Webster, President ; Messrs. Brown and Johns,
Ex-Presidents; Messrs. Ellsworth, Singleton and Buckmaster,
Yice-Presidents ; S. Francis, Corresponding Secretary ; Phil.
Warren, Recording Secretary ; John Williams, Treasurer.

On motion of Mr. Francis, the report of the Executive Com-
mittee of the proceedings of the Society for 1855 and 1856, was
read, and ordered to be transmitted to the Governor, with a
request that he lay the same before the General Assembly.

On motion of Mr. Buckmaster, Messrs. Singleton and Johns
were appointed a committee to present a memorial to the General
Assembly, asking an appropriation for the benefit of the Illinois
State Agricultural Society.

A motion was made by Dr. Johns, that the proper engravings
shall be made upon the medals awarded at the last fair ; which
was carried.

On motion of Mr. Williams, it was

Ordered, That the Recording Secretary procure a suitable record book for recording
proceedings of the committee, and to make a complete copy of the proceedings of the
Illinois State Agricultural Society, and of the Executive Committee, since their formation.

On motion of Gen. Singleton, the Board adjourned, to meet in
Springfield on the 4th day of March, 1357.

Springfield, March 4, 1857.

The Executive Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present — C. W. Webster, President; J. K Brown, Ex-Presi-
dent ; Messrs. Ellsworth, Kile, Capron and Buckmaster, Yice-
Presidents; John Williams, Treasurer j S. Francis, Corresponding
Secretary ; and Phil. Warren, Recording Secretary.

On motion of Mr. Ellsworth, the minutes of last meeting were
read and approved.

21

A communication from Dr. Kennicott was read and laid on the
table, and ordered to be taken np with the list of premiums.

Communications soliciting the location of the State Fair were
called for, when a communication was read from the Peoria
County Agricultural Society, requesting the location of the next
State Fair at the city of Peoria.

Also, a communication from the Edgar County Society, request-
ing that the fairs of the Illinois State Agricultural Society be
permanently located at Springfield.

Which were ordered to lay upon the table until to-morrow
morning.

On motion,

Resolved, That a premium of ten dollars be offered for the best treatise on the cultivation
of the Chinese Sugar Cane, and the growing and manufacture of its juice into sugar and
molasses, and a medal for the second best.

Adjourned till t o'clock p.m.

Seven o'clock P.M.
Board convened.
On motion,

Resolved, That there be four distinct classes of thorough-bred cattle, viz : Durhams/
Devon s, Ayrshires and Herefords.

The premium list was then taken up for consideration. After
proceeding some time in its examination, adjourned till 8 o'clock
to-morrow morning.

March 5, 185T— eight o'clock P.M.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

The appointment of a General Committee of one from each
county in the State was taken into consideration, and the follow-
ing appointments were made.

22

GENERAL COMMITTEE FOE THE ILLINOIS STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

COUNTIES.

Adams,

Alexander, ...

Bureau,

Brown,

Boone,

Bond,

Crawford, ....
Christian, ....

Cook,

Champaign, ..

Cass,

Clark,

Carroll,

Clay,

Clinton,

Cumberland,

Coles,

Calhoun,

De Witt,

De Kalb,

Du Page,

Edgar,....

Edwards,

Payette,

Pulton,'

Franklin,

Gallatin,

Grundy,

Greene,

Hamilton, ....
Henderson, ..

Hancock,

Hardin,

Henry,

Iroquois,

Jefferson,

Jersey,

Jasper,

Jo Daviess,..

Jackson,

Johnson,

Kendall,

Knox,

Kane,

Kankakee, ...

Lake,

Logan,

Lee,

Lawrence, ....

La Salle, ,

Livingston, ..

Macon,

Massac,

Moultrie,

McLean, ,

Morgan, ,

McHenry, ....

Madison,

Marshall,

Marion,

McDonough,.
Montgomery,.
Macoupin, ...

Col. Samuel Jamison,..

William Massie,

Arthur L. Bryant,

A. J. Provost,

L. W. Lawrence, ,

William T. Hall,

S. Park,

C. Goudy,

H. D. Emery,

J. Curtis,

Samuel Christy,

William Stevens,

David H. Wheeler,

S. Evans,

0. B.Nichols,

Alexander Caldwell,...

B. F. Jones,

Benjamin F. Childs,....
Charles Brown,

D. M. Kelsey,....

James S.Wright,

S. H. Elliott,

F. B. Thompson,

Presley Funkhouser,...

F. Reman,

John Piersoll,

Levi Browning,

John Olney,

James N. Redding,

L. S. Norton,

Charles H. Hurd,

William Henderson,....,
George W. Batchelor,..

J. M. Warren,

J. Willard,

G. B. Joiner,,

E. B. Tanner,

J. M. Hurd,

William Nye, ,

•S. S. Brown,

Cyrus Thomas,

William L. Morris,

J. K. Le Barron,

P. H. Sanford, ,

W. K. Parker,

J. M. Perry,

E. M. Haines, ,

R. B. Latham,

T. J. Little,

Randolph Heath,

E. Baldwin,

W. J. Murphy, ,

Isaac C. Pugh,

A. B. Brown,

Bushrod Henry,

C. M. Holder,.'

A. Rockwell,

L. S. Church,

J. Gillespie,

Theodore Perry,

S. L. Bryan,

Alex. Blackburn,

Solomon Harkey,

J. Fishback,

POST-OFFICE.

Quincy.

Thebes.

Princeton.

Mt. Sterling.

Belvidere.

Greenville.

Hutsonville.

Taylorvillo.

Chicago.

West Urbana.

Lancaster.

Marshall.

Mt. Carroll.

Maysville.

Carlyle

Prairie City.

Charleston.

Hardin.

Clinton.

Malta.

Naperville.

Paris.

Albion.

Ewington.

Vandalia.

Lewistown.

Benton.

Shawneetown.

Morris.

Carrollton.

McLeansboro^

Oquawka.

Carthage.

Elizabeth.

Wethersfield.

Middletown.

Mt. Vernon.

Jerseyville.

Newton.

Galena.

Murphysboro*

Vienna.

Kendall.

Knoxville.

Aurora.

Kankakee City.

Waukegan.

Lincoln.

Dixon.

Lawreneeville.

Farm Ridge.

Pontiac.

Decatur.

Metropolis.

Sullivan.

Bloomington^

Jacksonville.

Woodstock.

Edwardsville.

Lacon.

Salem.

Macomb.

Hillsboro.

Carlinville.

23

GENERAL COMMITTEE — CONTINUED.

COUNTIES.

NAMES.

POST-OFFICE.

T. McWhorter,

Millersburg.

H. Mclntire,

Oo-le,

Pike,

J. M. Bush,

Pittsfield.

Hennepin.

Piatt,

C. A. Keyes,

Du Quoin.
Pleasant Ridge.
Sparta.
Olney.

C. W. Matheny,

W. S. Gray,

Springfield.

Freeport.

Shelbyville.

Shelby,

M. D. Gregory,

E. G. Miner,

S. B. Chandler,

Belleville.

Lawn Ridge.

B. R. Wiley,

R. Emerson,

M. S. Henry,

Sterling.

R. T. Cassell,

John H. White,

Will,

D. G. Young,

The location of the next State Fair was then taken up, and, on
motion of Mr. Buckmaster, the following resolution was adopted :

Resolved, That this Society hold its next Fair at Peoria : Provided, That a satisfactory
guarantee shall be given to the President that the grounds, fixtures and police shall be fur-
nished without cost to this Society.

Resolved, That the President be authorized to employ any assistant or assistants he may
think necessary in arranging the fixtures of the next State Fair.

Messrs. Ellsworth, Kile and Capron were appointed a committee
to take into consideration the remarks of Mr. Powell in relation
to the establishment of township school libraries.

A medal was awarded to C. W. Murtfeldt, for an essay on the
rearing of cattle.

On motion of Mr. Capron, the following gentlemen were
appointed a committee to report on the papers submitted by Dr.
Kennicott, yiz : Messrs. Johns, Capron and Buckmaster.

On motion of Dr. Johns, the design for a diploma presented by
Mr. Jos. A. Miller was adopted, with the following proposition :

24

" I hereby propose to engrave the diploma presented by me for the following prices :

Engraving $500

Printing each 100 copies on fine drawing paper 20

Design 60

"All copies ordered to be furnished on or before August 15th, 1857.

JOSEPH A. MILLER."

On motion,

Resolved, That when a diploma is awarded as a premium, it shall be framed.
Resolved, That Mr. Buckmaster be authorized to contract for the framing of the
diplomas.

Adjourned till 2 o'clock p.m.

Two o'clock P.M.
The Committee met.

The consideration of the Premium List was resumed.
On motion,

Revolved, That the trial of reaping and mowing machines be made at Salem, in Marion
county, at such time in June as may be designated by the President.

On motion of Mr. Buckmaster,

Resolved, That the " Headers" be allowed to compete with the reapers for premiums.
Resolved, That the next Illinois State Agricultural Pair be held on the 21st, 22d, 23d,
24th and 25th of September, 1857.

The committee appointed upon Dr. Kennicott's papers made
the following report, which was received, and resolutions adopted :

" The committee upon Dr. Kennicott's papers beg leave to report that they have had the
same under consideration, and offer to the Board the following resolutions :

Resolved, That the Board indorse the action of Dr. Kennicott, in accepting Mr. Lap-
ham's essay on the grasses of Illinois, and that the Recording Secretary draw an order on
the Treasurer of this Society for one hundred and fifty dollars, in favor of Mr. Lapham
for such essay, with the use of explanatory plates.

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be authorized to employ such assistance as
he may need in editing through the press the forthcoming volume of Transactions ; and be
authorized to draw from the treasury such compensation as he may agree to pay for such
services.

H. C. JOHNS, Chairman."

Adjourned till 7 o'clock p.m.

Seven o'clock P.M.
The Committee met.
On motion,

Resolved, That the President be authorized to procure the services of a band through
the next Fair.

On motion, the following appointments for Superintendents of
the different departments of the next Fair were made :

25

1. Cattle H. Capron.

2. Horses S. A. Buckmaster.

3. Sheep, Swine and Poultry A. B. MeConnell.

4. Agricultural Implements J. E. M'Clun.

5. Farm Products, etc H. S. Osborn.

6. Fruits and Flowers L. Ellsworth.

y. Machinery, Metal Work, Cabinet Work, etc Win. Kile.

8. Music, Paintings, etc J. W. Singleton.

9. Textile Fabrics J- H. Stipp.

10. Natural History, Botany, etc S. Y. McMasters.

11. Miscellaneous Department John P. Reynolds.

12. Plowing Match Uriel Mills.

Adjourned till 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.

Friday Morning — eight o'clock A.M.

The following named gentlemen were appointed a committee
for the examination of Farms, Nurseries and Groves : William S.
Wait, Bond county; W. Bebb, Winnebago county; and S. H.
Elliott, Edgar county.

On motion of Mr. MeConnell,

Resolved, That the Recording Secretary and S. A. Buckmaster be appointed a committee
to contract for the plate to be used by the Society in payment of premiums at the next
Fair.

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be authorized to insert obvious omissions in
the Premium List.

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be authorized to draw on the Treasurer for
fifty dollars for contingent expenses of his office, to be accounted for on a settlement with
the Treasurer.

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be authorized to receive and distribute, or
safely keep, as the same may be, all books, seeds, or other articles, sent to or procured by
the Society.

Resolved, That L. Ellsworth and S. Francis be a committee to confer with Mr. Powell in
the selection of agricultural books for district school libraries.

Resolved, That we recommend for 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 for than are distributed by the Society as premiums.

Resolved, That we desire the extensive introduction of agricultural books into the district
school libraries throughout the State, as a measure of great practical importance to the
interests of the people.

Resolved, That the Superintendents of Departments report their committees to the Cor-
responding Secretary, and that it shall be the duty of the said Corresponding Secretary to
ascertain from said committee-men if they will perform the duties of their appointment.

Resolved, That Smith Frye, Esq., be General Superintendent of the Fair Grounds.

On motion of Mr. Ellsworth,

Resolved, That the Corresponding and Recording Secretaries, and Mr. MeConnell, be a
committee to complete the Premium List.

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be required to procure for each member of
the Executive Committee, Agricultural and Horticultural works, to the amount of five dol-
lar? for each, and that the Treasurer pay for the same.

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary direct that the periodicals awarded for pre-
miums at the last Fair, be sent to the persons entitled to them.

On motion, adjourned, to meet in Peoria on the Saturday even-
ing previous to the next Fair.

FIFTH ANNUAL FAIR

OF THE

ILLINOIS STATE AGKICTTLTUKAL SOCIETY,

HELD AT PEORIA, SEPTEMBER 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, 1857.

PREMIUMS AWARDED:

Note.— The State is not designated except where premiums are awarded for articles from
other states.

CLASS A.

No. 1— DURHAM CATTLE-BULLS.

Best Bull, 4 years old and over, Vanmeter, Kennedy & Doyle, Bloomington $40

Second best, Mont Blanc, Pollock & Retter, Jacksonville 20

Third best, Sir. Worthy, E. B. Hitt, Winchester, Scott county 10

Best Bull, 3 years old and under 4, Defender, A. G. Carle, Urbana, Champaign co 40

Second best, Belmont, Pollock & Retter, Jacksonville 20

Third best, S. A. Douglas, Stephen Dunlap, Jacksonville ' 10

Best Bull, 2 years old and under 3, Tern-pest, James Strawn, Jacksonville 40

Second best, Yeudor, James N. Brown, Berlin, Sangamon county 20

Third best, Young Moses, C. C. Wright, Knoxville 10

Best Bull, 1 year old and under 2, Young Whig, James N. Brown, Berlin, Sanga-
mon county 40

Second best, Snow Drift, E. B. Hitt, Winchester, Scott county 20

Third best, J. G. Fremont, Pollock & Retter, Jacksonville 10

Best Bull Calf, under 1 year old, Young Buckeye, James N. Brown, Berlin, Sanga-
mon county 40

Second best, Oakley, J. P. Henderson, Morgan county 20

Third best, Gen. Cass, J. M. Hill, Cass county 10

COWS.

Best Cow, over 4 years old, Beauty, Calef & Jacoby, Springfield 30

Second best, Isabel, E. B. Hitt, Winchester, Scott county 15

Third best, Santa Anna, S. Dunlap, Jacksonville 10

Best Cow, 3 years old and under 4, Lady Harriet, Calef & Jacoby, Springfield 30

Second best, Lady Blanche, S. Dunlap, Jacksonville 15

Third best, Maud, Jas. N. Brown, Berlin, Sangamon county 10

HEIFERS.

Best Heifer, 2 years old and under 3, May Flower, S. Dunlap, Jacksonville 30

Second best, Empress, Calef & Jacoby, Springfield 15

Third best, Orphan, J. N. Brown, Berlin, Sangamon county 10

i

27

Best Heifer, 1 year old and under 2, Countess, Stephen Dunlap, Jacksonville $30

Second best, Renick, James M. Hill, Cass county 15

Third best, Red Bud, Calef & Jacoby, Springfield 10

Best Heifer Calf, under 1 year old, Bracelet '6d, J. M. Hill, Cass county SO

Second best, May Dacre, J. N. Brown, Berlin, Sangamon county 15

Third best, Red Rose, J. P. Henderson, Morgan county 10

CLASS A.

No. 2 — DEVONS — BULLS.

Best Bull, 4 years old and over, May Boy, Horace Capron, Alden, McHenry county... 40

Second best, Megunticook, C. D. Bent, Iowa City, Iowa 20

Third best, Rob Roy, H. Capron, Alden, McHenry county 10

Best Bull, 3 years old and under 4, none worthy

Second best, Duke, A. Van Volkenburg, Hillsdale, Michigan 20

Second best Bull, 2 years old and under 3 (only one entry) Wyoming, B.Van Volken-
burg, Hillsdale, Michigan 20

Best Bull, 1 year old and under 2, Bale, E. Van Volkenburg, Hillsdale, Michigan ... 10

Best Bull Calf, under 1 year old, Red Jacket, C. D. Bent, Iowa City, Iowa 40

Second best, Boreas, Horace Capron, Alden, McHenry county 20

Third best, — ■ , Horace Capron, Alden, McHenry county 20

COWS.

Best Cow, over 4 years old, Flora, Horace Capron, Alden, McHenry county 30

Second best, Adeline, Horace Capron, Alden, McHenry county 15

Third best, , David Clow, Chatham, Sangamon county 10

Best Cow, 3 years old and under 4, Bessie, H. Capron, Alden, McHenry county 30

Second best, Victoria, C. D. Bent, Iowa City, Iowa 15

Third best, Florence, H. Capron, Alden, McHenry county 10

Best Cow, 2 years old and under 3, Belle of Winchester, C. D. Bent, Iowa City, Iowa.. 30

Second best, Maud, C. D. Bent, Iowa City, Iowa 15

Third best, Prude, C. D. Bent, Iowa City, Iowa 10

Best Heifer,! year old and under 2, Octavia, Horace Capron, Alden, McHenry county 30

Second best, Beatrice, H. Capron, Alden, McHenry county 15

Third best, > E. Van Volkenburg, Hillsdale, Michigan 10

No. 5— NATIVES AND CROSSES, ALL KINDS.

Best Cow, 4 years old and over, Elizabeth, A. G. Carle, Urbana 12

Second best, Daisy, A. G-. Carle, Urbana 8

Third best, Eliza Walcott, J. P. Henderson, Morgan county 5

Best Cow, 3 years old and under 4, Jenny Bind, James Strawn, Jacksonville 12

Second best, Little Martha, A. Gr. Carle, Urbana 8

Best Heifer, 2 years old andunder 3, Lizzie Fairfax, Godfrey' & Sumner, Knoxville... 12

Second best, Honora, Josiah Sandusky, Catlin, Vermilion county 8

Third best, Miss Pyle, Jno. W. Jackson, Westborough, Clinton county, Ohio 5

Best Heifer, 1 year old and under 2, Princess Ann, A. G. Carle, Urbana 12

Best Heifer Calf, under 1 year old, Bess, Godfrey & Sumner, Knoxville 12

Second best, Lady Fisher, S. Dunlap, Jacksonville 8

Third best, Emeline, A. G. Carle, Urbana , '. 5

Best 10 Calves, owned byone person or from one county, A. G.Carle, Urbana.. .Diploma and 25

No. 6— MILCH COWS — OPEN TO ALL BREEDS OF CATTLE.

Best Milch Cow, Cherry Spot, J. W. Brock, Mackinaw, Tazewell county Diploma and 20

No. 8 — WORK OXEN AND STEERS.

Best 4 yoke of Oxen, owned by one person, Horace Capron, Alden, McHenry county.. 40

Second best, Thomas Johnson, Peoria 20

Best yoke of Oxen, 4 years old or over, Samuel McCann, Peoria 15

To boy not over 16 years of age, training yoke of Steers, 2 years old and under, J.H.

Miller, Rosefield, Peoria county , Medal and 5

28

SWEEPSTAKES— OPEN TO ALL BREEDS OF CATTLE.

Best Bull and 5 Cows or Heifers, from 1 year old and upwards, and from one county,

James N. Brown, Berlin, Sangamon county Diploma and $50*

Second best, Calef & Jacoby, Springfield..... Medal and 25

Best Bull and Cow, from any one county, James N. Brown, Berlin, Sangamon

county Diploma and 40

Best 5 head of Calves, male and female, under 1 year old, and from one county, James

N. Brown, Berlin, Sangamon county Diploma and 30

Second best, Stephen Dunlap, Jacksonville... 1&

CLASS B— HORSES, JACKS AND MULES.

No. 10— THOROUGH-BRED STALLIONS.

Best Stallion, 4 years old and over, Pryor, Hoppin & McConnel, Springfield 40'

Second best, Commodore Stockton, Peter Roberts, Franklin, Morgan county 20

Best Brood Mare, over 4 years old, Nell, Phil. Warren, Springfield 40

Second best, Sue Hartley, Thomas Stacy, Jacksonville 20

Best Filly, over 2 years and under 3, Cinderella, W. E. Davis, Bement, Piatt county... 40

No. 11 — ROADSTERS.

Best Stallion, over 4 years, Green Mountain, L. P. & W. D. Sanger, Springfield 40

Second best, ,W. M. Warren, Carter, Sangamon county 20

Best Stallion, over 3 and under 4 years old, Young Darby, Deland & Co., Milford

Center, Union county, Ohio 40

Second best, Mohegan, G. W. Stebbins, Galesburg, Knox county 20

Best Stallion Colt, over 2 and under 3 years old, Young Green Mountain Boy, J. P.

Taylor, Bloomington 30

Second best, Morgan Eclipse, Samuel Powers, Decatur 15

Best Stallion Colt, over 1 and under 2 years old, Yankee, R. Crocker, Little Detroit,

Woodford county 30

Second best, Champion Eagle, Samuel B. Emery, Trivoli, Peoria county 15

Best Brood Mare, over 4 years old, Jenny Lind, Joseph Morton, Jacksonville 40

Second best, Lilly Bale,!,. P. & W. D. Sanger, Springfield 20

Best Filly, over 3 years old and under 4, Fanny Leslie, William Fitch, Jacksonville.. 40

Second best, Bess, Richard Longsdale, Peoria 20

Best Filly, over 2 years old and under 3, Andrew Kirkpatrick, Chilicothe, Peoria co'y 40

Second best, , Benjamin Tucker, Kickapoo, Peoria county 20

Best Filly, over 1 year and under 2, Betty, Benj. Tucker, Kickapoo, Peoria county... 30

Second best, Queen, H. Franks, Groveland, Tazewell county 15

Best Sucking Colt, (horse or mare), David Stitt, Trivoli, Peoria county 20

Second best, Prairie State, Charles Stone, Lawn Ridge, Marshall county 10

No. 12- DRAUGHT HORSES.

Best Stallion, for draught, 4 years old and over, Young Sampson, George H. West,

Ottawa 20

Second best, Black Hawk, R. T. Hughes, Ewington, Effingham county 10

Best Stallion, for draught, 3 years old and under 4, Prince Morgan, H.Franks, Grove-
land, Tazewell county 20

Second best, General Ney, Calvin Pinkham, Hopper's Mill, Henderson county 10

Best Stallion, for draught, 2 years old and under 3, Sampson, Richard Howorth, Ed-
wards' Station, Peoria county 20

Second best, John G. S. Bohannon, Smithville, Peoria county 10

Best Stallion, for draught, 1 year old and under 2, Young Napoleon, A. P. Cushman,

Groveland, Tazewell county 20

Seoond best, Diligence, A. P. Cushman, Groveland, Tazewell county 10

Best Brood Mare, for draught, 4 years old, Daniel Hodson, Dillon, Tazewell county.. 15

Second best, Lucy Stone, A. P. Cushman, Groveland, Tazewell county 10

Best Mare, for draught, 3 years old and under 4, Contract, W. H. Renfro, Springfield 15

Best Filly, for draught, 2 years old and under 3, Dan'l Hodgson, Dillon, Tazewell co'y 15

Second best, Daniel Hodgson, Dillon, Tazewell county 10

Best Mare Colt, for draught, over 1 and under 2 years, A. P. Cushman, Groveland,

Tazewell county 15

29

Second best, J. R. Butts, Southampton, Peoria county $10

Best Sucking Colt, for draught, Daniel Hodgson, Dillon, Tazewell county 10

Second best, G. W. Marchant, Farmington, Fulton county 5

Best pair of Draught Horses, for farm, James McKipsic, Farmington, Fulton county 20

Second best, Bill and Mike, A. L. Armstrong, Peoria 10

No. '13— CARRIAGE HORSES-MATCHES OF GELDINGS
OR MARES FOR THE CARRIAGE.

Best pair matched Horses or Mares, "Geldings," Wm. Patrick, Chicago 30

Second best, "Mares," O'Donald & Warner, McLean county 15

No. 14 — SINGLE HARNESS HORSES.

Best Gelding or Mare 4 years old and over, Sam Maxcy, W. H. Renfro, Springfield.. 30

Second best, Bipton, Wm. Patrick, Chicago , 15

Best Gelding or Mare 3 years old and under 4, Sir Cassius, Smith Frye, Peoria 30

Second best, Fashion, W. W. Williams, Canton, Fulton county 15

Best Gelding or Mare for saddle, 4 years old, Lexington, W. T. Scott, Springfield.... 30

Second best, "Gelding," S. C. Skank, Canton 15

Best Stallion for single harness, 4 years old and over, Silver Heels, J. W. Singleton,

Quincy 40

Second best, Sam Slick, Samuel B. Emery, Trivoli, Peoria county 20

Best Stallion for single harness, 3 years old and under 4, Buckeye Boy, Benj. Ladd,

Mahomet, Champaign county 40

Best Stallion Pony in harness, Le Duke, W. T. Scott, Springfield 30

Second best, Quehec, Geo. H. West, Ottawa 15

Best Gelding or Mare Pony, Ben. Gray, John Cook, Springfield 10

No. 15 — JACKS, JENNETS AND MULES.

Best Jack 4 years old and over, Compromise, Pollock & Retter, Jacksonville 40

Second best, Sam, J. M. Irwin, Smithville, Peoria county 20

Best Jack 2 years old and under 3, Gray Eagle, Frank Fassett, Virden, Macoupin

county 30

Best Jack 1 year old and under 2, G. W. Taylor, Chatham, Sangamon county 20

Second best, Grand Turk, Frank Fassett, Virden 10

Best Jennet 4 years old and over, W. B. Egan, Chicago 30

Best Jennet 2 years old and under 3, Jane, Pollock & Retter, Jacksonville 20

Best Jennet 1 year old and under 2, G. W. Taylor, Chatham, Sangamon county 20

Best air of Mules for draught or farm, J. F. Jackson, Mackinaw, Tazewell county.. 20

Second best, M. Socks, Kickapoo, Peoria county 10

Best single Mule over 3 and under 4 years old, Lola Monies, D. Stafford, Decatur.... 10
Best single Mule over 2 and under 3 years old, Jenny Lind, E. B. Hitt, Winchester,

Scott county 10

Second best, Florence Nightingale, Noah A. Jones, Hudson, McLean county Medal.

Best single Mule over 1 and under 2 years old, Eliza, W. H. Renfro, Springfield 10

Second best, Fanny Fern, E. B. Hitt, Winchester, Scott county Medal.

Best Mule Colt, Robert Wrighley, Trivoli, Peoria county 10

No. 1 6 — SWEEPSTAKE S — OPEN TO EVERY COUNTY
AND TO ALL BREEDS.

Best 10 Colts from any county, A. P. Cushman, Groveland, Tazewell Co Diploma and 30

Best Stallion and 5 Brood Mares belonging to any one person, or from any one
county, "black Horse African and 5 Brood Mares," Henry Morton <fc Co., Jack-
sonville Diploma and 50

Second best, 2 Stallions and 5 Brood Mares, L. P. & W. D. Sanger, Springfield,

Medal and 25

Best Mare, Queen Isabel, Joseph Morton, Jacksonville 50

Best Stallion, Pryor, Hoppin & McConnel, Springfield 50

CLASS C— SHEEP.

No. 17 — LONG-WOOLED, B^AKEWELL, ETC.]
Best Buck 1 year old and under 2, General Lane, Calef & Jacoby, Springfield $10

30

No. 18 — MIDDLE WOOL, SOUTH DOWN.

Best Buck over 2 years old, Z. B. Wakeman, Rockford, Winnebago county $10

Best Buck under 2 years old, Cumberland Duke, Calef & Jacoby, Springfield 10

Best pen of 5 Ewes over 2 years old, Z. B. Wakeman, Rockford, Winnebago county 10
Best pen of 5 Ewes 1 year old and under 2, Z. B. Wakeman, Rockford, Winnebago

county , . 10

No. 19 — FRENCH MERINOES.

Best Buck over 2 years old, Young Sutton, John McConnel, Springfield Diploma and 20

Second best, Matchless, Aug. Emery, Canton 10

Best Buck 1 year old and under 2, Young Matchless, Aug. Emery, Canton..Diploma and 20

Second best, Young Progress, A. B. McConnel, Springfield i. 10

Best Buck Lamb, Sangamon, A. B. McConnel, Springfield 15

Best pen of 5 Ewes over 2 and under 3 years old, John McConnel, Springfield,

, Diploma and 20

Second best, A. B. McConnel, Springfield..... . 10

Best 5 Ewes over 1 and under 2 years old, Stipp & Latourette, Canton Diploma and 20

Best pen of 5 Ewe Lambs, Stipp & Latourette, Canton Diploma and 20

Second best, John McConnel, Springfield 10

No. 20 — SPANISH MERINOES.

Best Buck over 2 years old, Dick, Daniel Kelly, Jr., Wheaton, Du Page county,

Diploma and 20

Second best, E. E. Gorham, Hadley, Will county 10

Best Buck 1 year old and under 2, E. E. Gorham, Hadley, Will county Diploma and 20

Second best, Peleg S. Spencer, Danville 10

Best Buck Lamb, Charles, Daniel Kelly, Jr., Wheaton, Du Page county 15

Best pen of 5 Ewes over 2 years old, Daniel Kelly, Jr., Wheaton, Du Page county,

t Diploma and 20

Second best, Truman Humphreys, Elmwood, Peoria county 10

Best pen of 5 Ewes over 1 and under 2 years old, Daniel Kelly, Jr., Wheaton, Du

Page county Diploma and 20

Second best, P. S. Spencer, Danville 10

Best pen of 5 Ewe Lambs, Daniel Kelly, Jr., Wheaton, Du Page county Diploma and 20

Second best, P. S. Spencer, Danville 10

No. 21— CROSS OF SPANISH AND FRENCH.

Best Buck over 2 years old, Stipp & Latourette, Canton Diploma and 20

Second best, Ira F. Elrod, Bernadotte, Fulton county 10

Best Buck over 1 and under 2 years old, John B. Wyman, Amboy, Lee county,

Diploma and 20

Second best, G. W. Taylor, Chatham 10

Best Buck Lamb, A. B. McConnel, Springfield 15

Best pen of 5 Ewes over 2 years old, A. B. McConnel, Springfield Diploma and 20

Second best, John McConnel, Springfield.... 10

Best pen of 5 Ewes over 1 and under 2 years old, G. W. Taylor, Chatham. ..Diploma and 20

Second best, John McConnel, Springfield.. 10

Best pen of 5 Ewe Lambs, G. W. Taylor, Chatham Diploma and 20

Second best, Truman Humphreys, Elmwood, Peoria county 10

No. 22 — FAT SHEEP.
Best 5 Fat Sheep under 2 years old, A. B. McConnel, Springfield 10

No. 24— SWEEPSTAKES.

Best lot of Sheep, not less than 1 Buck and 10 Ewes, owned by any one person,

Daniel Kelly, Jr., Wheaton, Du Page county Diploma and 25

Second best, John McConnel, Springfield 10

31

CLASS D.

No. 25 — SWINE.

Best Boar for use in this State, Perfection, Isaac M. Gillett, Hadley, Will county,

Diploma and $20

Second best, Venus, J. M. Wetmore, Ontario, Knox county 10

Best Boar, 1 year old, Prince, Isaac M. Gillett, Hadley, Will county Diploma and 20

Best Boar 6 months old, Chester White, C. W. Graves, Groveland, Tazewell county,

Diploma and 20

Second best, Jerry Butler, J. R. Galstan, El Paso, Woodford county 10

Best Breeding Sow 2 years old and over, E. Bartholomew, Elmwood, Peoria county,

Diploma and 20

Second best, Tillexj, Isaac M. Gillett, Hadley, Will county 10

Best Breeding Sow 1 year old and under 2, Isaac M. Gillett, Hadley, Will county,

Diploma and 28

Best Sow 6 months old and under 1 year, Chester White, John Graves, Groveland,

Tazewell county 10

Second best, Pet, Isaac M. Gillett, Hadley, Will county 5

No. 26 — SWEEPSTAKES.

Best lot Hogs, Shoats or Pigs, not less than 1 Boar and 10 Sows, owned by any one
person, or from one county, " 1 Boar and 10 Sows," I. M. Gillett, Hadley, Will
county « ..., Diploma and 30

CLASS E.

No. 27 — POULTRY.

Best pair Polands, J. B. Waiiow, Stout's Grove, McLean county $5

Second best, D. Callahan, Springfield 3

Best pair Shanghais, J. B. Warlow, Stout's Grove, McLean county 5

Second best, James La Tourette, Canton 3

Best pair Brama Pootras, B. H. Streeter, Morris, Grundy county 5

Second best, B. H. Streeter, Morris, Grundy county 3

Third best, B. H. Streeter, Morris, Grundy county , Ag. Periodical.

Best pair Cochin Chinas, Alex. Lisk, Peoria 5

Best pair Turkeys, J. B. Warlow, Stout's Grove, McLean county 5

Second best, D. Callahan, Springfield 3

Third best, L. B. Corrington, Peoria Ag. Periodical.

Best pair Silesian Ducks, D. Callahan, Springfield , 4

Best lot Guinea Hens, not less than six, D. Callahan, Springfield 5

Second best, E. H. Clapp, Rome Farm, Peoria county 3

Best pair China Geese, D. Callahan, Springfield 5

Pair Pea Fowls, second, J. B. Warlow, Stout's Grove, McLean county 3

Best pair Fancy Rabbits, P. M. Bartholomew, Peoria 5

Second best, Walter Colburn, Peoria 3

Best exhibition of various breeds of Poultry owned by exhibitor, D. Callahan,

Springfield Diploma and 5

Second best, T. A. Miller, Peoria 3

CLASS F— AGRICITLTUEAL IMPLEMENTS.

No. 28 — PLOWS.

Best Plow of newly invented principles or arrangements, not heretofore known,

Which, on trial, proves beneficial to the farmer, Marshall Turley, Galesburg Dipl'a.

Best Plow for old prairie, M. D. Mendenhall & Sons, Farmington, Fulton county,

Diploma and $10

Second best, Toby & Anderson, Peoria , Medal.

32

Best Plow for clay soil, Vaughn & Peck, Naperville, Du Page county Diploma and 10

Second best, John Deere, Moline, Rock Island county Medal.

Best Sod Plow for oxen, Toby & Anderson, Peoria, Diploma and 10

Second best, John Deere, Moline, Rock Island county Medal.

Best Sod Plow for two horses, Vaughn & Peck, Naperville Diploma and 10

Second best, Toby & Anderson, Peoria Medal.

Best Sub-soil Plow, Toby & Anderson, Peoria, Diploma and 10

Second best, John Deere, Moline, Rock Island county Medal.

Best Plow for all uses, Vaughn & Peck, Naperville Diploma and 10

Best Clod Crusher and Roller combined, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Diploma and 10

Best Horse Rake, Robinson, Dunham & Co., Peoria Diploma.

Second best, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago , 3

Best Corn Cultivator, Toby & Anderson, Peoria Diploma.

Second best, Vaughn & Peck, Naperville 3

No. 30 — SHOVELS, FORKS, ETC.

Best and largest variety Agricultural Implements, H. D. Emery, Chicago,.,, Diploma and 10

Second best, Vaughn & Peck, Naperville 5

Best 6 Manure Forks, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago 3

Best Ox Yoke, John Deere, Moline, Rock Island county 3

Second best, Andrew Dow, Bloomington Ag. Periodical.

No. 31— DRILLS, CORN PLANTERS, ETC.

Best Gauged Grain Drill, B. Kuhns, Dayton, Ohio, Diploma and 10

Second best, Selby, Jones & Co., Peoria 5

Best Corn Planter for horse power, Geo. W. Brown, Galesburg, Diploma and 10

Second best, Hinckley's patent, Charleston, Coles county 5

Best Corn and Seed Planter for horsepower, George W. Brown, Galesburg, Diploma and 10

Second best, Jarvis Case, Peoria 5

Best Broadcast Sowing Machine, F. A. Gall & Co., Sterling, "Whiteside county,

Diploma and 10

Second best, J. Green & Co., Dayton, La Salle county . 5

Best Timothy and Clover Seed Planter, B. Kuhns, Dayton, Ohio, Diploma and 10

Best Sod Corn Planter for horse power, Drew & Maihofer, Ottawa, Diploma and 10

Best Hand Corn Planter, J. Herva Jones & Co., Rockford, Winnebago county,

Diploma and 10

Second best, S. L. Edwards, Griggsville, Pike county 5

No. 32 — HARVESTERS AND MOWERS.

Best Reaping Machine, G. H. Rugg, Ottawa, Diploma and 100

Second best, Buckmaster & Wise, Alton 75

Best Mowing Machine, Buckmaster & Wise, Alton, Diploma and 100

Second best, Haines, Hawley & Co., Pekin 75

No. 33 — OTHER IMPLEMENTS.

Best Threshing Machine and Horse Power, C. Altman, Canton, Stark county, Ohio,

Diploma and 25

Best Horse Power for general purposes, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Diploma and 10

Best machine for cutting corn fer shocking, Will*am Bailey Coate', Bloomington,

Diploma and 50

Best Corn and Cob Mill, "Joyce's Star Corn and Cob Mill, Improved," N. T. & T.

E. Hunt, Indianapolis, Ind, Diploma and 10

Best portable Saw Mill, H. N. Goodrich, Aurora, Diploma and 10

Best Fanning Mill, H.N. Goodrich, Aurora, Diploma and 5

Second best, D. R. Knight, Henry, Marshall county Medal.

Best Clover Seed Hulling Machine, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Diploma.

Best horse power Corn Sheller, J. Van Home, Magnolia, Putnam county,....Diploma and 10

Second best, A. Dillman, Plainfield, Will county .' Medal.

Best hand power Corn Sheller, Robinson, Dunham & Co., Peoria Diploma and 5

Best Straw and Hay Cutter, H. D. Emery, Chicago Diploma.

Second best, W. F. Welles, St. Louis, Mo Medal.

No. 34 — HOUSEHOLD IMPLEMENTS.

Best dozen Corn Brooms, Wm. W. Davis, Slackwater, Stark county Medal.

Best Churn, Franklin Thorpe, Springfield Medal.

Second best, O. C. Walker, Wyoming, Stark county Ag. Periodical.

JOICE'S CORN AND COB MILL-IMPROVED.
N. T. & T. E. Hunt, manufacturers, Indianapolis, Indiana.

[ Face pnge 33.

33

Best Cheese Press, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

Best Clothes "Washing Machine, J. H. Jones, Griggsville, Pike county Medal.

Second best, Wm. Crispin, Northampton, Peoria county Ag. Periodical.

CLASS G— FAKM PKODUCTS.

No. 35 — GRAIN AND VEGETABLES.

Best sample Winter Wheat, not less than 1 bushel, Andrew McAllen, Shawneetown.. $5

Second best, Sidney S. Condon, Jonesboro Ag. Periodical.

Best sample Spring Wheat, H. Franks, Groveland, Tazewell county Medal.

Second best, J. C. Schnebly, Peoria Ag. Periodical.

Best sample of Rye, E. H. Clapp, Rome Farms, Peoria county Medal...

Second best, H. Hancock, Groveland, Tazewell county Ag. Periodical.

Best sample of Oats, H. Hancock, Groveland, Tazewell county Medal.

Best sample of different varieties of Indian Corn in the ear, H. Hancock, Groveland,

Tazewell county, medal and 6

Best sample Indian Corn, 1 bushel, in the ear, Benj. L. Wiley, Anna, Union county,

medal and , 5

Second best, H. Hancock, Groveland, Tazewell county Ag. Periodical.

Best sample Timothy Seed, 0. B. Galusha, Lisbon «5

Second best, H. Hancock, Groveland, Tazewell county Ag. Periodical.

Best sample Blue Grass Seed, H. Hancock, Groveland, Tazewell county 5

Best sample Potatoes, Alex. Lisk, Peoria 5

Second best, C. G. Taylor, Pleasant Ridge, Rock Island county 3

Best Seedling Potatoes, Alex. Lisk, Peoria 5

Second best, W. Durley, Hennepin 3

Best Sweet Potatoes, not less than 1 bushel. Jacob Hileman, Anna, Union county 5

Second best, John Bennett, Peoria 3

Best Beets for table use, not less than 1 bushel, H. T. Woodward, Kickapoo, Peoria

county 3

Second best, John Bennett, Peoria Ag. Periodical.

Best Cabbage, not less than 12 heads, John Bennett, Peoria 3

Best Tomatoes, not less than 1 peck, John Bennett, Peoria 3

Second best, H. Hancock, Groveland Ag. Periodical.

Best Egg Plants, not less than 1 peck, John Bennett, Peoria 3

Best Peppers, not less than 1 peck, Mrs. J. S. Schnebly, Peoria 3

Best Lima Beans, not less than 1 peck, J. T. Littie, Dixon, Lee county 3

Best Bunch Bean3, not less than 1 peck, H. Hancock, Groveland 3

Best Field Peas, riot less than 1 peck, E. H. Clapp, Peoria 3

Best and greatest variety of Garden Seeds, John Bennett, Peoria 3

Second best, H. T. Woodward, Kickapoo, Peoria county 2

Best lot Pumpkins, H. Hancock, Groveland 3

Best lot Squashes, A. J. Dunlap, Peoria 3

Second best, H. T. Woodward, Kickapoo, Peoria county 2

Best lot of other Melons, (citron,) A. J. Dunlap, Peoria 3

Best and greatest variety of Grain and Vegetables exhibited by one person, H.

Hancock, Groveland Diploma and 10

Best and greatest variety of Garden Seeds, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago. ..Diploma and 10

No. 36 — FLOUR, STARCH AND MADDER.

Best barrel Flour exhibited by maker, (white winter wheat, 4| bushels,) Goodman &

Davie, Jonesboro Medal and 5

Second best, (5 32-60 bushels,) P. Sage & Bros., Pekin

Best Starch of Wheat, not less than 10 lbs., (for laundry purposes,) C. M. Vandoren,

Ottawa 5

Best Starch of Indian corn, not less than 10 lbs., (for laundry purposes,) C. M. Van-
doren, Ottawa 5

No. 37 — HAMS, BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Best Ham, boiled, J. S. Schnebly, Peoria Medal and 5

Second best, Mrs. J. C. Schnebly, Peoria 3

Best Butter in tub, not less than 50 lbs., made at any time during the year, C. G.

Taylor, Rock Island county , Diploma and 20

Second best, Caleb Harding, Groveland Medal and 10

—5

34

Best Butter made in May or June, not less than 20 lbs., Charles Rich, Metamora,

Woodford county $10

Second best, C. G. Taylor, Pleasant Ridge, Rock Island county 5

Best fresh Butter in roll, not less than 10 lbs., Mrs. Caleb Harding, Groveland,

Tazewell county . 5

Second best, Mrs. J. C. Schnebly, Peoria 3

Best Cheese 1 year old and over, Avery Hough, Plymouth 10

Best Cheese under 1 year old, Avery Hough, Plymouth 10

Second best, Charles Rich, Metamora, Woodford county , 3

No. 38 — HONEY, SUGAR, CAKES, PICKLES, ETC.

Best lot of Honey, not less than 10 lbs., H. N. Schooler, Hennepin 5

Second best, H. I. Chase, Robin's Nest, Peoria county 3

Best 20 lbs. Maple Sugar, D. C. Jaysler, Tremont, commended.

Best 3 loaves Wheat Bread, Miss Molineux, Peoria 5

Second best, Mrs. A. P. Bailey, Peoria 2

Best 3 loaves Rye Bread, D. W. C. House, Peoria, highly commended

Best 3 loaves Corn Bread, D. W. C. House, Peoria, fair, no competition

Best Sponge Cake, Mrs. James Ivins, Peoria 5

Second best, Miss Anna M. Schnebly, Peoria 2

Best Pound Cake, Eliza Wilkinson, Robin's Nest, Peoria 5

Second best, D. W. C. House, Peoria 2

Best four Cakes, Mrs. Eliza Wilkinson, Robin's Nest, Peoria county 5

Commended, D. W. C. House, Peoria

Best Crackers, not less than 5 lbs., Childs & Bro., Chicago 5

Seeond best, D. W. C. House, Peoria , 2

Best Pickled Cucumbers, Mrs. S. Erancis, Springfield. 3

Best Tomato Catsup, Mrs. S. Erancis, Springfield 3

CLASS H— HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

SECTION I.

Best display of hardy Evergreen Trees from nursery, A. Bryant, Princeton 10

Best and greatest variety of Apples, named and labeled true to name, T. McWhorter,

Millersburg 25

Second best, Arthur Bryant, Princeton 10

Best 15 varieties of Apples for all purposes, A. Bryant, Princeton 20

Second best, A. R. Whitney, Eranklin Grove 5

Best 6 varieties of Apples for winter, A. Bryant, Princeton 5

Best and greatest variety of Siberian Crab Apples, A. Bryant, Princeton 3

Second best, O. P. Rodgers, Marengo 2

SECTION II.

Best and greatest variety of Pears, the product of this State, Robert Douglass, Wau-

kegan 10

Second best, A. & F. Starr, Alton 5

Best specimen of Autumn Pears, Uriel Mills, Salem 8

Second best, Robert Douglass, Waukegan 3

Best specimen of Winter Pears, Robert Douglass, Waukegan 5

Best and greatest variety of Peaches, A. &. P. Starr, Alton 20

Best 12 Peaches of one variety, A. & F. Starr, Alton 3

Second best, Dr. B. F. Long, Alton 1

Best collection of Plums, Robert Douglass, Waukegan 10

Second best, C. Breese, Ottawa , , 3

Best 3 varieties of Plums, Robert Douglass, Waukegan 3

Second best, M. L. Dunlap, West Urbana 2

Best 12 Plums of one variety, J. D. W. Bowman, Havana 2

Second best, Robert Douglass, Waukegan 1

Best 12 specimens Quinces, Dr. E. S. Hull, Alton 3

SECTION III.

Best collection of Autumnal Raspberries, one-half pint each, Dr. J. A. Warder,

Cincinnati, Ohio , Medal.

35

Best and gre test variety of Native Grapes, S. Shepherd, Hennepin $15

Second beat, Mrs. S. Franois, Springfield 10

Best six bunches of Native Grapes, S. Shepherd, Hennepin 5

Second best, W. Durley, Hennepin .' 2

SECTION IV.

Best Peaches in cans or glass, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 3

Best Quinces in cans or glass, Mrs. E. S. Hull, Alton 3

Best Cherries in cans or glass, Mrs. H. C. Johns, Decatur 3

Best Gooseberries in cans or glass, Mrs. H. C. Johns, Decatur 3

Best preserved Quinces in sugar, Mrs. E. S. Hull. Alton 5

Best preserved Peaches in sugar, Mrs. Susan H. Armstrong, Peoria 4

Second best, J. Hitchcock, Northampton, Peoria county 3

Best Siberian Crab Apples in sugar, Mrs. W. B. Lyon, Peoria 5

Second best, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 3

Beat preserved Pears in sugar, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 5

Second best, Mrs. J. E. Starr, Alton 3

Best preserved Strawberries in sugar, Mrs. S. P. Chase, Robin's Nest 5

Preserved Citron Melons, Mrs. E. H. Thomas, highly commended

Second best, Mrs. J. S. Schnebly, Peoria , 3

Best Crab Apple Jelly, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield , 3

Best Plum Jelly, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 3

Best Currant Jelly, Mrs. E. S. Hull, Alton 3

Best Apple Butter, not less than 1 gallon, Mrs. Wm. H. Epsey, Groveland 5

Second best, H. Hancock, Groveland 2

SECTION V.

Best three bottles Currant Wine, Mrs. J. C. Schnebly, Peoria , 5

Second best, H. Hancock, Groveland 2

Rhubarb Wine, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield, honorable mention

SECTION VI.

Best and greatest variety named Flowers, Lewis Ellsworth, Naperville 5

Best and greatest variety of Dahlias named. The committee could not decide upon
any one lot; they accordingly recommended diplomas to Messrs. Lewis Ellsworth

& Co., Naperville, R. W. Hunt & Co., Galesburg, and J. T. Little, of Dixon

Second premium, Robert Douglass, Waukegan 3

Best Dahlias, twelve dissimilar blooms, Robert Douglass, Waukegan 5

Second best, Lewis Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 3

Best Dahlias, six dissimilar blooms, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 3

Second best, Robert Douglass, Waukegan 1

Best and greatest variety of Roses, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 10

Second best, R. W. Hunt & Co., Galesburg 5

Best twelve varieties of Roses named, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 5

Best and greatest variety of Verbenas, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 5

Best show of Verbenas of this year's seedlings, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville, high

commendation and 5

Best and greatest variety of Asters, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville Floral Book.

Best Patunias, Lewis Ellsworth & Co., Naperville Floral Book.

Best collection Green-house Plants, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville $20

Second best, B. L. T. Borland, Peoria 10

Fuchsias, best collection not less than ten varieties, L. Ellsworth & Co.,Naperville 10

And strongly recommend a Diploma in addition.

Best and greatest variety of Heliatropes, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 5

Best display of Pansies, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 3

Best and most tastefully arranged Cut Flowers, Richard Reese, Naperville Floral Book.

And would strongly recommend Diploma in addition.
Best and most tastefully arranged basket Cut Flowers, Miss Satira Thompson,

Peoria Floral Book.

Best and most tastefully arranged plain round Bouquets, Richard Reese, Naper-
ville... Floral Book.

And would recommend a Medal for enterprise and taste.

Best and greatest variety Wild Flowers, named, Mrs. Ellen Gipps, Peoria 5

And recommend Diploma in addition.
Silver Medal recommended to Miss Cynthia Butler, of Lawa Ridge, for two fine

Bouquets, Wild Flowers.
Committee unanimously recommended a special premium to J. T. Little, Dixon, Lee

county, on Japan Lillies.

36
CLASS J— MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT.

No. 41— ENGINES, MACHINERY, ETC.

Wiggins, Murray & Co., Chicago, Steam Engine, entitled to Diploma,

John W. Hendall, Peoria, Steam Engine „ Silver Medal.

Campbell & Richardson, Springfield, Steam Engine $25

Rest Eire Engine, B. W. Raymond & Son, Chicago Medal.

Best Stave Machine, Hoyt & Pinney. Aurora, Kane county.... . Medal.

Best Pump for wells or farm use, J. L. Brown, Manomim, Minnesota Territory Medal.

Best Pump for cistern, B. W. Raymond & Son, Chicago Medal.

Best Water Ram or other hydraulic apparatus, B. W. Raymond & Son, Chicago Medal.

Eor a set of Self-emptying Buckets, Water Ram, etc., the executive board award to

Edwin Farnham, Janesville, Wisconsin, a ...Silver Medal.

Best Card Machine, S. P. Rounds, Chicago Medal.

Best portable Flour Machine, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

Best self-regulating Windmill, Mitchel Whiting, Galesburg Diploma and $10

Best Sewing Machine, Wheeler & Wilson's patent, G. W. R. Chittenden, Chicago Medal.

No. 42 — APPARATUS OF FINE WORKMANSHIP, EXHIBITED

BY MAKER.
Best specimen of Dentistry, J. P. Angle, Peoria Medal.

No. 43 — FINE WORKED METALS OF AMERICAN MANUFAC-
TURE.

Best Plated Waro, Ryan & Cromwell, Peoria Medal.

Best made Silver Plate J. T. Shoaif, Peoria Medal.

Best display of Mechanical Tools and Cutlery, Hotchkiss & Hansel, Peoria Medal.

No. 44 — BRASS AND BELL FOUNDERS' WARES, Etc.

Best Iron Fence, L. E. Cook, Chicago Medal.

No. 4 5— VEHICLES.

Best Carriage for one or two horses, P. C. Redding, Peoria Diploma.

Best Top Buggy, J. F. Mensden & Co., Chicago Diploma.

Second best, E. D. Potter, La Salle Medal.

Best Open Buggy, T. & II. Smith & Co., Pekin. Diploma.

Second best, G. S. Manning, Springfield Medal.

Best Wagon, G. W. & R. Smith, Peoria Diploma.

No. 46 — C AB INET WARE.

Best set of superior Parlor Furniture, E. B. Holmes, Peoria Diploma.

Best set of plain Parlor Furniture, E. B. Holmes, Peoria Diploma.

No. 47 — COOPERS' AND CARPENTERS' WARE.

Best specimens of Pine Ware, Demmock k Gould, Moline, Rock Island county Medal.

Best Window Shades, Chambers & Sanborn, Chicago Diploma.

Best Tight Barrels for liquids, George F. Whiteman, Lacon Diploma.

Best Flour Barrel, S. Ruby, Peoria Diploma.

N o. 48 — S AD D L ER S' AND SHOEMAKERS' PRODUCTS.

Best pair Gent's Summer Boots, George Ditewig, Peoria Medal.

Best do Winter do do do Medal.

Best pair Lady's Slippers, Lenhart & Spears, Peoria Medal.

Best pair Gent's Buckskin Gloves, Edward Keane, Ottawa Medal.

Best Lady's long Fur and Doeskin Mittens, Edward Keane, Ottawa Medal.

Best Wagon Harness for farm, A. & J. Haas, Pekin Medal.

Best Carriage Harness, A. & J. Hass, Pekin Medal.

Best Upper Leather, Calf Skin, George W. Hatch,'Princeton Medal.

Best Upper Leather, other kinds, George W. Hatch, Princeton Medal.

Best Gent's Riding Saddle, J. B. Molony, Vermont, Fulton county Medal.

Best Riding Bridle, A. & J. Haas, Pekin Medal.

Best Harness Horse Collars, J. B. Molony, Vermont, Fulton county -..Medal.

37

No. .49 — HATTERS' AND UPHOLSTERERS' WORK.

Best Paper Hangings and Borders, John Frederick, Peoria Medal.

Best Silk Hats, Alex. Bishop, Peoria Medal.

Best Cloth Caps, Alex. Bishop, Peoria Medal.

Best Curled Hair Mattrasses, W. H. Fullerton, Peoria Medal.

Best Moss Mattrasses, Johu Frederick, Peoria Medal.

No. 50— WORKED METALS, HARDWARE, Etc.

Best Iron Wire or Brass Gauze Seives, Screens, etc., H. G. Nourse, Moline, Rock

Island county Medal.

Best Window Shutter Fastener, 0. B. Fowler, Galesburg Medal.

Best Gas Burners, "Wolsthomes," Perry & Carpenter, Chicago Medal.

Best Lamps, F. Odiorne, Boston, Mass Medal.

CLASS K.

No. 51 — MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Best Square Piano, A. Weber, Peoria Medal.

No. 52 — SCULPTURE, PAINTINGS, AND DRAWINGS BY
AMERICAN ARTISTS.

Best specimen of Animal Painting, in oil, Miss S. A. Adams, Peoria Diploma.

Best speciman of Animal Paintings, in water, Miss E. Benson, Peoria Diploma.

Best Daguerreotype of a Domestic Animal, R. M. Cole, Peoria Diploma.

Second best, S. R. Baker, Peoria Medal.

Specimen of Fruit Painting, Mrs. Isabella Douglass, Peoria Medal.

Best specimen of Flower Painting, Miss E. V. Spencer, Osceola, Stark county Diploma.

Second best, Mrs. I. Douglass, Peoria Medal.

Best specimen Monechromes, S. F. Flint, Galesburg Diploma.

Second best, Sarah A. Adams, Peoria Medal.

Best specimen Daguerreotypes, R. M. Cole, Peoria Diploma.

Secondbest, S. R. Baker, Peoria Medal.

Best specimen Ambrotypes, R. M. Cole, Peoria Diploma.

Secondbest, J. J. Harper, Peoria Medal.

Best Illinois Landscape, in oil, Mrs. Anna B. Millikin, Decatur Diploma.

Secondbest, Mrs. H. M. Boggess, Monmouth, Warren county Medal.

Best specimen Fancy Painting, in oil, H. C. Ford, Moline Diploma.

Second besr, Mrss S. A. Adams, Peoria Medal.

Best Copper-plate Engraving, Martin Fay, Chicago Diploma.

Secondbest, J. T. Shoaff, Peoria Medal.

Best Wood-cut or Engraving, J. T. Shoafif, Peoria !. Diploma.

Best specimen of Lithography, Martin Fay, Chicago Diploma.

Best Pencil Drawing, Mrs. Gipps, Peoria Diploma.

Second best, Miss E. V. Spencer, Osceola, Stark county Medal.

Best Crayon Drawing, Miss Sarah A. Adams, Peoria ...Diploma.

Secondbest, Jennie Mudgett, Peoria Medal.

Best specimen Typography, J. J. Clarkson, Chicago Diploma.

Best specimen Penmanship, Bryant <fc Stratton, Chicago Diploma.

Second best, M. J. W. Clark, Peoria Medal.

Best specimen Sculpture, Otto Tribel, Peoria Diploma.

Secondbest do do do Diploma.

Best specimen Carving in Wood, E. W. Power, Chicago Diploma.

Best specimen Architectural Drawings, Rankin & Janes, Chicago Diploma.

Second best, Charles Ulrickson, Peoria , , Medal,

38
CLASS L.

No. 53 — TEXTILE FABRICS, AND MATERIALS OF WHICH
THEY ARE MANUFACTURED.

Best made Suit of Clothes, by sewing machine, Tappan & Bro., Chieago Diploma.

Best made do do by hand, do do -....Diploma.

Best 10 yds. Satinett, Boll & Hill, Menard county Diploma.

Best 10 yds. Flannel, J. Green & Co., Dayton, La Salle county Diploma.

No. 54 — HOUSEHOLD FABRICS.

Best Rag Carpet, 15 yds., Mrs. C. Maxwell, Peoria Diploma.

Best do 25 yds. Mrs. Hendel, Peoria $S

Best double Carpet Coverlet, Mrs. E. A. Slough, Peoria 8

Best pair Woolen Blankets, Mrs. C. Maxwell, Peoria ;, 5

Best 10 yds. Kersey, Mrs. C. D. Bent, Iowa City, Iowa 5

Best pair Woolen Knit Stockings, Mrs. B. Synott, Peoria 8

Best Stocking Yarn, J. Green & Co., Dayton, La Salle county , 3

Best Straw Bonnets, Mrs. F. Burrow, Peoria 3

No. 55— NEEDLE, SHELL AND WAX WORK.

Best evidence of taste and skill in plain Needlework by a girl under 14 years, Miss

Georgiana Barrell, Springfield 5

Best specimen of Darning or Repairing, Mrs. Maxwell, Peoria 5

Second best, Miss L. Woodward, Kickapoo, Peoria county 2

Best pair Knit Hose, Mrs. R. W. Elliot, Paris 2

Best pair Fancy Hose for child, Mrs. Lucy Wyman, St. Louis, Mo 2

Best Domestic Counterpane, Mrs. Elrod, Bernadotte 8

Second best, Martha E- Martin, Bernadotte, Fulton county 3

Second best, Miss M. M. Dorsey, premium for excellent article

Best White Quilt, Mrs. Martha Dilworth, Vermont 8

Second best, Mrs. J. S. Baldwin, Baldwinsville, Edgar county 3

Best Patchwork Quilt, Mrs. J. F. Elrod, Bernadotte

Second best, Mrs. J. S. Schnelby, Peoria 3

Best Ornamental Quilt, Mrs. Chas. N. Fox, Naperville , 2

Best Silk Quilt, Mrs. E. L. Baker, Springfield 8

Second best, Mrs. Charles G. Parker, Peoria 3

Best Embroidered Toilet Cushion, Julia A. Howard, Naperville 5

Second best, Mrs. Margaret Stone, Peoria 3

Best Embroidered Toilet Cushion, Bertha Cook, Kickapoo, Peoria oounty 5

Second best, Miss E. D. Collins, Henry, Marshall county 3

Best evidence of taste and skill in Ornamental Needlework, Mrs. Ellen Armstrong,

Peoria 8

Second best, Miss E. Fleck, Peoria 2

Best evidence of taste and skill in Ornamental Needlework by a girl under 14 years,

Miss Mary Laing, Peoria 5

Second best, Miss Abby West, Canton, Fulton county 2

Best Worked Collar, Lizzie Glover, Peoria 5

Second best, Mrs. E. Jones, Kappa, Woodford county 3

Best Needle Worked Undersleev6s, Mrs. West, Canton 3

Best Needle Worked Skirt, Miss F. Sweeny, Peoria 3

Best evidence of taste and skill in Silk Embroidery, Mrs. H. Rehder, Peoria 3

Best do do do Worsted Embroidery, Miss Lizzie Glover, Peoria... 2
Best do do do do do by a girl under 14 years old,

Miss C. Robinson, Peoria

Best worked Ottoman Cover, Mrs. C. H. Morrell, Peoria 3

Best pair Lamp Mats, Mrs. Horatio Nourse, Moline, Rock Island county 3

Best pair Slippers, Miss E. R. Bunniger, Peoria 3

Best fancy Work Basket, Miss Catherine Bergen, Peoria 3

Best fancy Card Basket, Miss L. A. Wilson, Groveland 3

Best embroidered Infant's Shawl, Mrs. G. Barrell, Springfield 2

Best embroidered Child's Dress, Mrs. William Robertson, Sparta, Randolph county.. 3

Best made coarse Shirt, Mrs. Caleb Harding, Groveland 3

Best Hearth Rug, D. W. C. House, Peoria 3

Best specimen of Flowers in Hair, Miss E. V. Spencer, Osceola, Stark county 3

Best case of Bonnets, Mrs. Sarah Daley, Peoria 5

39

CLASS M.

No. 56 — NATURAL HISTORY, Etc. NATURA*L PRODUCTS OF
ILLINOIS.

Best collection of Native Woods, J. S. Scott, Paddock's Grove $10

Second best, Isaac Merriam, Tremont Medal.

Best Botanical Collection of Illinois, 2d premium, Mrs. Ellen Gipps, Peoria Medal.

Best specimen (100 pounds or more) Bituminous Coal, H. C. Freeman, La Salle $5

Seoond best, Adam Showl, Peoria Medal.

No. 57 — CHEMICALS, Etc., TO BE EXHIBITED BY MANU-
FACTURERS.

Best specimens Soap, Mrs. J. S. Schnebly, Peoria Medal.

Best Lime, J. Lock, Alton Medal.

Best Composition for roofing, Wands & Butler, Chicago Medal.

Best Rose Water, Ritchie & Co., Peoria Medal.

Best barrel Salt, A. McAllen, Shawneetown Medal.

No. 59 — WOOD AND STONE.
Best Shingles, Rawson & Bateham, Chicago Medal.

CLASS O.

No. 61— PLOWING MATCH.

First premium, John Deere & Co., Moline, Rock Island county 25

Second premium, S. 0. Vaughn, Naperville 15

CLASS K

No. 60 — MISCELLANE OUS DEPARTMENT.

The articles entered in this class are those "for which no premiums were offered ; but if
found worthy were to receive the Society's commendation."

Ayre's Water Elevator, Henry A. Dyer, Hartford, Conn, (designed to raise water from wells
for the use of cattle, by their weight at the through) ; highly useful invention.

Lightning Rods, Insulators and Attachments, Cordy Cutter & Co., Chicago; safe and recom-
mended to the consideration of the public.

Dietz & Dunham's patent cam power Reaping and Mowing Machine, J. V. & D. J. Trump,
Somerville, New Jersey; cam motion the best in usa; recommended for simplicity and
durability.

Worsted Knit Cape, Mrs. Lucy Wyman, St. Louis, Mo.; very neat work.

One case Ladies' and Gents' Furs, Alexander Bishop, Peoria; extra fine articles.

Pair of Vases, Miss E. R. Buniger, Peoria ; unique and beautiful.

Miniature Cottage, Mrs. C. Bradley, Peoria; pretty.

Pair Poland Quail ->, Mrs. Wilber, Peoria ; resemble bantam fowls.

Pair Malaria Ducks, Mrs. Wilber, Peoria ; fair.

Pair Children's Cloth Gaiters, Lenhart & Spears, Peoria ; very fine.

The same firm exhibited "White Kid Gaiters, Oxford Ties, Congress Gaiters, Ladies' Glove
Kid Heel Gaiters, and Ladies' Embroidered Slippers." Thes« articles show remarkably
neat and good workmanship.

Self-raking Reaper and Mower combined, P. Manny; commended for self-raker and superior
faculty for turning.

F. M. Ray's Car Spring, F. M. Ray, New York city ; worth trying.

Cut specimen Wild Flowers, Miss L. Brentman, Peoria; very tasty.

Model Steam Plow, Shaw & Whiting, Peoria; may work well.

Fire Pumps, E. Sanderson, Chicago; highly efficient.

Mahogany veneered Wardrobe, Wm. Kechne, Peoria ; fine work.

40

Best uncolored Photographs, S. R. Baker, Peoria; neatly executed and very beautiful.

Lot Artificial Flowers, Mrs. F. Burrows, Peoria; charming.

Lot Chewing Tobacco, Robert Day, Peoria ; good.

Lot high bush Cranberries, John Hancock, Groveland ; good.

Lot Barberries, John Hancock, Groveland ; fine.

Safe, Lucus & Baider, Peoria ; first best.

Lot Confectionery, L. Myers, Peoria ; well manafactured.

Machine for 'Stuffing Collars, J. C. Tobias, Lincoln, Logan county; a cheap and efficient
machine; committee recommend diploma.

Bead Purse, Mrs. C. D. Bent, Iowa City, Iowa; very neat.

Perfumery, Ritchie & Co., Peoria, very fragrant.

Greatest variety of Pickles, Mrs. S. P. Chase, Robin's Nest, Peoria county ; well put up and
excellent.

Designs for internal arrangement of School Houses, V. Woodcock, Swansea, New Hamp-
shire ; excellent arrangements, highly approved and recommended.

Collection of Insects, David C. Green, Peoria ; fine collection and tastefully arranged.

Cider Mill, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago ; efficient mill.

Portable Log Saw, cross cut, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago; good.

Dog Power for Churning, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago ; fine machine for the purpose.

One Horse Power, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago ; best.

Case Masonic and Odd Fellows' Regalia, C. H. Dean, P«oria; a diploma recommended by
committee, as the workmanship is unsurpassed.

Corn Shucking Machine, George Morton, Cincinnati, Ohio; will be approved whenever
tested, committee recommend diploma.

Overcoat made by machine, Tappan & Bros., Chicago ; worthy a diploma.

Fancy Frosting of Cake, D. W. C. House, Peoria ; nice.

Harrow, Vaughn & Peck, Naperville ; good.

Hungarian Grass Seed, Isaac Sharp, Fairfield, Iowa; good; perhaps worth testing as food
for stock.

Two Cameos, Scott & Clay; fine.

Photograph of the statue of Washington, I. W. Hallam, Chicago; very fine.

Portable Platform Scales, S. S. Hitchcock, Chicago; good; intended as an improvement on
Fairbank's, committee recommend a diploma.

Other articles entered by S. S. Hitchcock: Pork Packing Scales, Flour Packing Scalas,
Counter Platform Scales, Even Balanced Beam Scale, Letter Presses, Sugar Mill; useful
inventions, too well knotvn to require commendation.

Gilmore's patent Bee House, H. N. Schooler, Hennepin ; very fine, probably best in use.

Bird Cage, Philip Brown, Washington, Tazewell county; very neat.

Sets Block Weights, S. S. Hitchcock, Chicago; fine.

Book Folding and Stitching by a girl of 8 years, Alice Paine of Springfield ; very com-
mendable.

Overcoats and Robes of Fur, Edward Keane, Ottawa ; very fine.

Target Rifle, William Bishop, Springfield ; very good, committee recommend a medal.

Spring Bedstead, E. B. Holmes, Peoria ; good and easy, as was proved by occupancy.

Machine for stuffing Horse Collars, Nelson & Newman, Springfield ; efficient, but compli-
cated and costly.

Sod Corn Planter for hand use, P. B. Green, Chicago ; quite an improvement, and recom-
mended.

Leather Work, Mrs. C. L. Parker, Peoria; best specimen.

Mammoth Pumpkin, Joseph Miller, Wyoming, Stark county; very fine and large.

Citron Jelly, Mrs. E. H. Thomas, Peoria ; fair.

Best Upsetting Wagon or Carriage Tires, bands or straight pieces of iron, W. W. & R. M.
Patchin, Springfield; just what it claims to be, committee recommend diploma.

Fancy Sign Painting on Glass, in oil, J. A. Bush, Peoria ; very fine.

Egg Beater, E. D. Potter, La Salle county ; useful.

P. Duff's system of Book-keeping, P. Duff, Pittsburg ; a good system, recommend diploma.

Machine for Cutting Corn from the Cob, Wm. B. Coats, Bloomington ; a new, novel and
nice arrangement.

Smyth's patent Platform Scales, D. Smyth, Peoria ; ingenious and simple.

Carpenter's Saw, Hotchkiss & Hansel, Peoria; finely finished.

Gun Case and Accoutrements, Colt's Revolver, Cork Screws, Hotchkiss & Hansell, Peoria;
well made.

Lot of German Soap, F. Tretschler, Peoria; will effectually take off the dirt.

Bryant & Stratton's Mercantile College Manuscripts, Bryant & Stratton, Mercantile College,
Chicago ; most excellent system and highly recommended for diploma.

Portable Cider Mill and Press, L. H. Case, Pekin ; good.

Dynamometer, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago; the committee recommend the highest award
for this useful instrument.

41

Half barrel yellow Corn Meal from corn of the growth of 1857, and samples of Corn, Thos.
B. Droger, Marion county ; good sample, the only one presented.

Snare Drum, Henry S. Wonder, Peoria ; good drum, finely finished.

Fancy Keg, R. W. Toppingall, Pekin ; ingenious.

Fancy Patch Work Quilt, Mary A. Barton, Peoria ; not easily excelled.

Kohl Rabi, R. W. Toppingall. Pekin; large and fine.

Horse-shoes, W. R. Howell, Peoria; well made.

Trusses, Rupp & Balchler, Tremont ; well made.

Patent Spring Bedstead, Dredge & Lincoln, Peoria ; very good article, committee recom-
mend diploma for workmanship and finish.

Hickory Broom, George Washington, Peoria ; good.

Common Chairs, Dredge & Lincoln, Peoria; well made. «

Common Rocking Chair, fancy rocker, Dredge & Lincoln, Peoria; very good.

Fancy Easy Chair, Dredge & Lincoln, Peoria ; extra of the kind.

Fancy Stand, Arch Lounge, Dredge & Lincoln, Peoria ; beautiful workmanship.

Phelp's Combination Bee Hive, H. B. Gifford, Danby, Du Page county, good arrangement.

Preserved Spiced Cherries, Mrs. E. D. Root, Peoria; nice.

Tomato Pickles, best and greatest variety, Mrs. E. D. Root, Peoria; deeidedly nice.

Needle Book, Mrs. A. R. Spurgin, Winchester; elegantly wrought.

Pin Cushion, Mrs. Spurgin, Winchester; neat.

Bushel Winter Barley, B. L. Wiley, Union county; good.

Combined Reaper and Mower, Gridley, Cogswell & Co., Ottawa ; arrangement and machine
unsurpassed.

Chinese Sugar Cane, B. H. M. Streete, Morris ; good.

Beardless Barley, B. H. M. Streete, Morris; fair specimen.

Photographs in Colors, FaSsett & Cook, Chicago ; hard to beat.

Reaper and Stacker, Murray, Van Doren & Glover, Ottawa ; does its work well and fast,
committee recommend diploma.

Chinese Sugar Cane, E. H. Clapp, Rome Farms, Peoria county; rich in saccharine matter.

Hominy, various grades, H. 0. Wagoner, Chicago; extra superfin*.

Hedge Trimmer, S. Bradbury, Griggsville, Pike county ; something new, and from appear-
ance will do its work well, committee recommend diploma.

Wind Engine or Mill, S. A. Wurtz, Quincy, Franklin county, Penn.; good combination for
safety ; works well.

Leather Picture Frames, Mrs. A. E. Petthebridge, Peoria; neatly wrought.

Spring Mattrass, W. H. Fullester, Peoria ; an excellent article.

Chinese Sugar Cane Syrup, C. G. Taylor, Pleasant Ridge, Rock Island county; an excel-
lent article; we recommend a diploma.

Corn Starch, C. M. Van Doren, Ottawa; unsurpassed; a diploma or premium, if allowable.

Fancy Painting, J. S. Hyatt, Geneseo ; good;

Model Sleigh, W. H. Giwitz, Lafayette, Stark county ; a decided advantage over the old style.

Improvement on Reaper, Pitman, same; commends itself at sight; should be put in use.

Improved Cant Hook, same; an improvement.

Grocer and Counter Scales, Portable Scales for warehouse and store, Fairbanks' Iron Lever
Hay and Stock Scales, Rolling Mill Scale, Beam Scale, Walker & McHvaine, Peoria;
the value of these scales is too well known to need comment.

Improved hand Drilling Machine, J. A. Tewksbury, Galesburg ; useful and efficient.

Lightning Rods, Lester Patee, Peoria; fine specimens.

Anatomical Plates, Elias Smith, Farmington, Fulton county ; good representations.

Lady's Bee Hive, Mrs. A. R. Green, Galesburg: very neat and ornamental.

Preserved Water Melon, Preserved Musk Melon, Sweet Pickles-, R. W. Hunt & Co., Gales-
burg ; good, and look fine.

Painting of Flowers, Miss Sarah A. Adams, Peoria; very beautiful indeed.

Lamp Mat, Mary Petti t, Trivoli, Peoria county; very nice and beautiful.

Lot of Silver Cake, Miss Anna M. Schnebly, Peoria; fine.

Road Scraper, Johns & Tribble, Albion, Edwards county ; a first rate implement; we com-
mend it for use.

Needle-Work, Mrs. S. A. Stevens, Peoria; fine.

Card and Cigar Baskets, Mrs. McCall, Peoria; well wrought.

Water Melon Preserves, Mrs. Agnes Mayo, Robin's Nest ; very nice.

Wild Grape Jelly, Mrs. Agnes Mayo ; fine.

Wild Plum Preserves, Mrs. A. Mayo; very good.

Apple Jelly, Mrs. A. Mayo; very nice.

Chittagong Fowls, D. Callahan, Springfield ; fine.

Agricultural Steam Boiler, J. B. Chadwell & Co., St. Louis, for cooking large quantities of
food for animals ; recommended as efficient.

Photographs in oil, R. M. Cole, Peoria; good.

Model of Riley's Reaper and Mower, John Heath & Co., Palmyra, Jefferson county, Wis.;
worthy of notice for equalizing draught, and for its general arrangement.

42

Lot various Saws, H. Dunn & Co., Peoria ; worthy of especial notice, as of domes ti manu-
facture; we recommend diploma.

Sickle, H. Dunn & Co., Peoria ; excellent.

Rubber Belting, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago; well made.

Speedometer, H. D, Emery & Co., Chicago; an important and nice instrument, worthy
especial attention; a diploma recommended.

Velvet Carpet, American manufacture, Geo. Stettenius, Peoria ; extra article.

Ornamental Gilt Frame, John A. Bush, Peoria; very good.

Lot of Starch, Peoria Starch Company ; good.

Hominy Grinder or Mill, J. H. Schnebly, Mossville, Peoria county ; good machine.

Lot of China, Grey & Davis, Peoria ; very rich.

Portrait of Henry Clay, encircled in his hair, Mrs. W. R. Phelps, Peoria; exceedingly
fine, and worthy a medal.

Net Shawl of Shetland wool, domestic made, Mrs. W. R. Phelps, Peoria ; very fine article.

Grafting Machine, Smith G. Minkler, Kendall county; worthy especial notice.

Mexican Spurs, S. Tustin; Magnolia; good.

Mexican Lassoes, S. Tustin, Magnolia; bad for neck-tie.

Mexican Saddle, S. Tustin, Magnolia; exquisite workmanship.

Kedzie's Rain and River Water Filters, J. A. Cheney & Co., Rochester, N. Y.; excellent
and effective for the purpose designed.

Jar of Lard, Mrs. Catherine Maxwell, Peoria; very superior.

Chopped Tomato Pickles, Mrs. Bertha Cook, Peoria; nice.

Two Bear Cubs, W. Jenning, Eureka; no competition, but supposed to he good cube.

Pair Chittagong Fowls, J. B. Wardlaw, Stout's Grove, McLean county.

Hungarian Grass Seed, Isaac Sharp, Fairfield, Iowa ; we recommend its trial.

Specimen of Transfer Needle-Work, Mrs. Mary Bergen, Peoria.

Lot of Jumbles, Mrs. Irons, Peoria; No. 1.

Vegetable Ivory Ornaments, Simon Horan, St. Louis ; very well executed.

Colored Printing, W. W. Pike, Peoria; fine.

Card Printing, W. W. Pike, Peoria; fine.

Collection of Camelias, winter blooming, J. S. Underhill, Peeria; very fine.

Lot of Foreign Shells, John Karny, St. Louis.

Vegetable Cutter, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago; efficient.

To Miss Fanny Baldwin and Mrs. Clark were awarded each the Society's medal for the
fine flag got up by them, and used by the Society.

S. FRANCIS,

Corresponding Secretary Illinois State Agricultural Society, j

SALES OF STOCK AT THE STATE FAIR..

BY J. N. BROWN, OF SANGAMON.

Young Whig, Yearling Bull, sold to John Elting for $300 00

Yearling Bull, sold to Thos. Johnson, Peoria county, for 100 00

Bull Calf, sold to McMurtry, of Peoria county, for 90 00

Young Townley, Yearling Bull, to H. C. Nelson, Fulton county, for 190 00

Pilot, Yearling Bull, to Wm. Hanna, Jr., Henderson county, for 75 00

Gen. Cass, Yearling Bull, to W. S. McGerrity, Woodford county, for 125 00 I

Tom Harris, Yearling Bull, to Thomas Hurf, Peoria county, for 115 00

BY G. W. CARTER.

Gold Finder, Bull, sold to Wm. Rowe, Marshall county, for 50 00

One year old Heifer, sold to P. Smith, Peoria county, for 80 00 ,

Rosebud, Yearling Heifer, sold to Wm. T. Hopkins, Grundy county, for 165 00 f

Florence, Yearling Heifer, to Wm. T. Hopkins, Grundy county, for 60 00 !

Betty Lewis, Yearling Heifer, to Wm. F. Blandon, McDonough county, for 45 00 j

Muley, Yearling Heifer, to Wm. F. Blandon, McDonough county, for 70 00 !

Jenny Scott, Yearling Heifer, to Wm. T. Hopkins, Grundy county, for 37 50 !

Nine Yearling Heifers, to Wm. T. Hopkins, Grundy county, each for 30 00

BY JAMES STRAW N .

Morgan, Bull Calf, sold to J. R. Hitt, La Salle county, for 60 00

One four year old Cow, sold to J. R. Hitt, La Salle county, for 35 00

43

One Yearling Bull, sold to Wm. T. Hopkins, Grundy county, for 90 00

Gen. Harrison, Yearling Bull, to W. Hueston, Hancock county, for 100 00

One Heifer, ten months old, to J. M. Harris, Henderson county, for 105 00

MISCELLANEOUS.

By J. P. Henderson, a Yearling Bull, to H. Schnebly, Peoria county, for 30 00

By M. Patten, Strawberry Day, a Calf, to M. C. Hildreth, Peoria county, for 35 00

By M. Sandusky, Honora, a Cow, to J. Hunter, for 75 00

By A. G. Carle, a full-blood Heifer, to C. Harris, for 85 00

By A. G. Carle, a two year old Bull, to W. Hueston, for 75 00

By Mr. Bosworth, Warren county, a red Cow nine years old, to Jesse Funk, Stark

county, for 40 00

By S. B. Emery, Stallion, Know Nothing, to Col. P. Menard, Tazewell county, for.. 125 90

By G. W. Carter, a Pony, to D. C. Ballance, for 150 00

By J. S. Schnebly, a red Bull, Calf, to parties unknown, for 29 00

By Col. Capron, (at private sale,) Florence, a Devon Heifer, to T. H. Kelly, Peru,

for 300 00

FIELD CEOPS.

PREMIUMS AWARDED AT THE JANUARY MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, J 857.

For the best forty acres of Spring Wheat, (32| bushels per acre,) Hugh Huls, St. Charles,
Kane county. [The premium for this crop is Manny's Reaper, donated to this Society,
by Messrs. Talcott, Emerson & Co., of Rockford, Illinois.

For best five acres Fall Wheat — premium — 240§ bushels on the five acres,

John Anderson, Sparta, Randolph county Diploma and $25

For best five acres of Spring Wheat — first premium — 35 bushels per acre,

Harrison Hancock, Tazewell county Diploma and 25

For best crop of Indian Corn, five acres — first premium — 122 bushels, 221bs,

per acre, Harrison Hancock, Tazewell county Diploma and 25

For best five acres of Oats — first premium — 95 bushels per acre, Harrison

Hancock, Tazewell county Diploma and 25

Second premium — 88$ bushels per acre, Daniel Kelly, Wheaton, Du Page
county Medal.

For best half acre of White Beans — first premium — 21 bushels, 201bs, Har-
rison Hancock, Tazewell county Diploma and 20

Second premium — 13$ bushels per £ acre, Levi Mason, Bureau county. Medal.

Best half acre of Potatoes — premium — 250 bushels per half acre, Harrison

Hancock, Tazewell county Diploma and 20

Best acre of Timothy Seed — premium — 15 bushels per acre, Harrison Han-
cock, Tazewell county 10

Best acre of Blue Grass Seed — premium — 24 bushels per acre, Harrison

Hancock, Tazewell county 10

Best one fourth of an acre of Onions — premium — 70 bushels per quarter

acre, A. B. Rumsey, Kankakee county 10

Best Chinese Sugar Cane Syrup, Josiah Sawyer, Tazewell county Gold Medal.

Second best, Moses Pierson, Sangamon county 15

Third best, J. H. Smith, Adams county 10

FAKMS AND NUKSERIES.

AWARDS MADE BY MESSRS. WAIT AND ELLIOTT, COMMITTEE ON FARMS AND NURSERIES, AND
CONCURRED IN BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Best improved and most highly cultivated Farm of 500 acres — first prsmium — Jas.

N. Brown, Sangamon county Diploma.

Second best, Benjamin Burt, Champaign county Medal.

44

For best and most highly cultiyated Nursery, containing the best variety of Fruit
Trees, Ornamental Shrubs and Plants, Charles Kennicott, West Northfield,
Cook county Diploma.

Second best, M. L. Dunlap, West Urbana, Champaign county Medal.

ESSAYS.

FOR WHICH PREMIUMS WERE AWARDED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AT THEIR JANUARY
MEETING, 1857.

On Rearing Horses and Mules, by Phil. Warren, Morgan county , $10

On the Culture of Forest and Ornamental Trees on the Prairies, by 0. Ordway,

Marshall county 10

On the Cultivation of Forest Trees on the Prairies, by C. R. Overman, Bloomington,

McLean county 10

Disquisition on Self Education, by J. C. Power, Peoria Recommended for publication.

On the Embellishment of a Country Home, by Miss Frances E. Willard, Janesville,

Wisconsin 10

COMMITTEES' KEPOKTS FOE 1856.

REPORT ON SHORT HORN BULLS.
To the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society:

Tour Committee have discharged, to the best of their ability,
the task which you confided to them, and beg leave to report that
they have never seen so fine an exhibition of short horn cattle in
Illinois ; and that some members of your Committee, who are
residents of States famed for their short horned cattle, know that
much of your stock would be dreaded in competition with theirs.
You must not wonder then, when we state that where we had so
many rival animals-, that decisions were often difficult and next
to impossible, and that even a fourth or fifth premium in some
of the rings would be a high honor.

BENJ. L. DORSET, Chairman.

REPORT ON SWEEPSTAKES.

We have about the same to say in reference to the stock that
came under our notice in this class, as in the class of Short Horn
Bulls. The herd animals were a splendid lot, and would be ad-
mired alongside the best English herds. The same may be said
of the exhibition of stock for premium, for the best bull and cow
from any one county.

BENJ. L. DORSE Y, Chairman. ;

45

DEVON COWS.

The Committee of Class A, of Devon Cows, respectfully report,
that they have attended to the duties assigned them with, all the
attention and industry they were capable of bestowing, with a
singleness of purpose promotive of the views of the Society in
awarding premiums in the spirit of an impartial and disinterested
judgment. We have endeavored, to the best of our ability, to
award the premiums to those animals possessing the most points
of excellence and the greatest purity of blood ; exercising how-
ever our best judgment in making the following awards ; trusting
that our decisions may be acceptable to the Society and give
reasonable satisfaction to the contributors in general.

Z. B. WAKEMA.N, Chairman.

[ The awards are given in the list published in the preceding

MILCH COWS.

The Committe would remark that there was but one entry of
'Milch Cows open to all breeds," and to do justice to the exhibitor
and the animal, we cheerfully awarded Mr. Brock the first pre-
mium of twenty dollars for his cow Cherry Spot ; his experiments
having been in accordance with the established rules of the
Society.

Z. B. WAKEMAN, Chairman.

The following is Mr. Brock's statement :

Cherry Spot is aged 1 years ; she is a grade Durham. On the
first trial of ten days, she gave 561bs of milk per day ; on the
second trial about 581bs. First trial of ten days, her milk made
201bs of butter ; and on the second trial, 221bs.

Cherry Spot was bred by Durrell & Owens, Mason county, Ky.,
sired by White Cloud, a thoroughbred bull ; said to have been the
sire of my celebrated cow, Giantess, that gave in 1854, in the
month of June, over 801bs of milk per day.

J. w. BROCK.

Mackinaw, Illinois, November 23, 1857.

FAT SHEEP.

This Committee take pleasure in expressing their decided pre-
ference for the lot of beautiful animals entered by A. B. McConnell,
of Sangamon county. They possess those properties so much de-
sired for the sheep by the prairie farmer. They have fine size,
beauty and symmetry of form, are fat at an early age, bearing
fleeces of superior texture.

DUMAS J. VAN DEBJN, Chairman.

46

FLOWERS.

The Committee would respectfully recommend to the Executive
Board that they grant the extra diplomas recommended by the
Committee to Mr. Ellsworth and others. They would also recom-
mend a special premium of a silver medal to Mr. J. T. Little, of
Dixon, Illinois, for the show of Japan Lillies, the first ever exhib-
ited at the State Fair. The Committee deem the exhibition of
flowers very superior and highly creditable to the Society and the
State. The display of Dahlias, in particular, they think, could
not be rivalled in the West, and they trust the Executive Board
will depart from its fixed rules, and award first premiums to
Messrs. Ellsworth & Co., J. T. Little, and K. W. Hunt & Co., re-
spectively. All of which is respectfully submitted.

.CHARLES K.ENNICOTT, Chairman.

[The Committee gave the first premium for the best fifteen
varieties of Apples, for all purposes, to A. Bryant, of Bureau
county ; and the second premium to A. H. Whitney, of Lee
county ; and for the best six varieties of Apples for winter, to A.
Bryant, of Bureau county. The names of these Apples are given
below.]

REPORT.

The Committee regret that there were no more entries made
and submitted to them, of the best fifteen varieties and best six
varieties for winter, as the list from which they were selected
might have profitably been three or four times as large.

They also desire to call particular attention to this fact, in con-
nection with their awards for the best fifteen varieties for general
purposes, and the best six for winter — that the exhibitors them-
selves were confined to such varieties as they were enabled to
keep and exhibit, and the Committee, in awarding, were restricted
to the lists as handed in by the exhibitors. Hence, the task of
selecting was a very embarrassing one, and the premium lists
must not be considered as embracing either their own or the
exhibitors's choice, the best fifteen or six varieties for cultivation.

E. K. PH(ENIX, Chairman.
LIST OF A. BRYANT'S APPLES.

BEST SIX VARIETIES FOR WINTER.

Jonathan, Talman Sweet,

Winesap,

Fameuse,

Willow Twig, Rambo,

Swaar, American Summer Pearmain,

Yellow Belle F^ur, Sweet Nonsuch,

Domine. Maiden's Blush,

To which should be added, to make fif- Early Pennock,

teen varieties for all purposes : Fulton.
Westfield Seek-no-further,

47

LIST OP A. R. WHITNEY,

OF BEST FIFTEEN VARIETIES OF APPLES FOR ALL PURPOSES.

Sweet June, White Winter Pearmain,

Hocking, Domine,

Keswick Codling, Swaar,

Fall Wine, Whitney's Russett,

Early Pennock, White Pippin,

Rambo, Willow Twig,

Fameuse, Maiden's Blush.
Yellow Belle Fleur,

The Committee on Wines report : Notwithstanding the very
great success that has attended the cultivation of the Grape in
portions of this State, and the many attempts that have been made
at different places within her borders to manufacture a refreshing
beverage from the juice of this fruit — one which invigorates, but,
when properly used, does not intoxicate — notwithstanding the
liberal premiums which have been offered for samples of Wines —
we regret to say we found very little competition.

In the first class — Catawba Wines — there was not a single entry.
This is the more to be regretted, because the Catawba grape is
largely cultivated in some parts of the State for the purpose of
wine making, and is, indeed, generally believed to be the best
adapted for this purpose of any of the grapes that have been exper-
imented with. So decidedly is this the case, that in your premium
list the product of this vine is set apart as a separate class, and
with, the highest premiums.

In the next department — " other native grapes " — a field is
open for competition among other varieties, into which two com-
petitors have entered with great diffidence. The Isabella, and the
wild grape of Illinois, were both presented. They neither re-
ceived sufficient commendation to entitle them to the premium.
The Isabella was not clear, and had evidently been sweetened so
as to injure it. The wine from the wild grape was not perfected,
containing a great deal of deposit, that stained the glass. It has
some acescence, but is not soured, and the astringency, though
not palatable to the committee, was admired by one member, who
voted it to be wine of medium quality and of great promise.

The display of Currant Wines was very creditable. These
wines are avowedly mixtures of juice, sugar and water, to which,
also, alcohol, in some form, is too often added. By these means a
vinous preparation is made, which suits many palates, especially
those which have been educated to admire the brandied wines of
Madeira, the Sherries &c. We are aware that, as the ladies gen-
erally prepare this kind of wine, we may be treading upon deli-
cate ground, but cannot forbear expressing our belief, that all
wines should have as low a percentage of spirits in them as shall
be absolutely necessary to preserve them from the acetous change

48

when they are properly protected from atmospheric influences.
Too much sugar is generally added, which remains unchanged,
making the preparation too sweet for some palates ; while that
which undergoes the change into alcohol produces too large a
proportion of that ingredient for a light wine; the free sugar gives
the wine a muscovado flavor.

The first premium is awarded to Mrs. J. C. Schnebly, of Peo-
ria, whose wine was not so highly sweetened as some others ;
the second premium to H. Hancock, of Tazewell county. This
latter article, however, had a strong muscovado flavor, from
excess of sugar. The other samples entered in this class were all '
clear, being well fined.

In the class of wines from " other fruits or vegetables," your
committee will not here question the propriety of calling such
liquids wines — though they have their own doubts upon the mat-
ter. Among the entries were found Rhubarb Wine and Elder-
berry Wine. Of the former, a sample prepared by Mrs. S. Fran-
cis, of Springfield, was fine and clear, and was declared to be
decidedly the best ; but it did not come up to the standard of
excellence which had been laid down by the committee as neces-
sary to entitle the article to a premium. This sample, however,
on account of its being fine, was so superior to others in competi-
tion that we recommend an " honorable mention."

The Elderberry Wine was not in a good state for exhibition.

JOHN A. WARDER, Chairman.

NATURAL HISTORY, GEOLOGY, ETC.
S. FRANCIS, Corresponding Secretary Illinois State Agricultural Society:

According to appointment, I attended the State Fair at Peoria,
which occupied the 21st and 25th of September, 1857.

The duties of my superintendency were not burthensome, the
number of entries in that department being small. This, how-
ever, is nothing extraordinary. The scientific interest felt in the
country has seldom been called forth on occasions of this kind. I
may here remark that the fear of confiscation has kept the best
specimens in Geology and Mineralogy from being presented —
most men of science attaching a far higher value to their speci-
mens than to. even the highest awards of a State Pair.

The number of entries, however, was quite respectable, and
many of them were of great value. An admirable collection was
presented " for exhibition " by Mr. Freeman, of La Salle county.
Had this been regularly entered for competition, it would have
taken several of the best premiums. As it was, however, it gave
intimation of the mineral resources of our State, and did great
credit to the zeal and scientific enterprise of the gentleman who
had, with so much labor and care, collected and arranged it.

49

Of native woods, there were two collections presented, one of
which contained ninety-two varieties. . In' this class, however,
I think there has been less interest, hitherto, than its importance
demands. The Botany of the State seems not yet to have awak-
ened any general interest ; though I was pleased to find a few
zealous devotees of this branch of science, from whose labors we
have much to expect.

The lime which was entered was of a superior quality; though
it was matter of regret that none came from any other point than
Alton. The impression seems to have gotten abroad that the
stone of this vicinity (Alton) is superior to that of any other part
of the State, or of the Mississippi Valley. Of the correctness of
this impression I have much doubt, as the same rock, in respect
of geological position, may be found in many other parts, and the
examinations have not yet been sufficiently accurate to justify
such a conclusion. It is sincerely hoped that before the next
meeting of your Society, there will be a general effort, in all parts
of the State, to present specimens of lime.

People should not be deterred by the high reputation of the
Alton lime, which, although it excel in whiteness, may not be a
whit superior, for building purposes, to the darker qualities which
are known to have been produced in several sections of the State.

The coal of Illinois must necessarily have been a subject of the
deepest interest, and although there were few districts represented,
there was enough to stimulate the pride of every citizen of Illi-
nois.

The coal of our State holds a place only second in importance
to its agricultural wealth. The Illinois coal field is bounded by an
outline, starting, say at the mouth of the "Wabash, and thence fol-
lowing the Ohio and Mississippi Kivers to the mouth of Rock
River, near Rock Island ; thence east, nearly by Joliet, through
the northern part of Yermilion county, and thence south "to the
beginning. Within this line, all may be said to be a coal field
Of course, within this field there are many places where there is
no coal; but these are only the " exceptions to the rule," and no
one has a right to say that there is not coal at any point within
this outline, until he is certain of having touched the carbonifer-
ous rock and failed to find coal. In some places it is doubtless
very deep ; though in no place is it too deep to be worked when
necessity or convenience shall have stimulated enterprise. No
one has yet realized the half of the applications of steam, as a
motive power ; and the time is not far distant when coal will be
the only fuel employed in the generation of steam. Every new
bed of coal is, then, to be hailed with profound satisfaction, and
cherished as a real boon to the country. The specimens exhibited
at Peoria were all of a quality eminently capable of usefulness ;
though that from La Salle would seem to justify the opinion that
in that region is a sort of central point in the great coal field.

—7

50

But our surprise was greatest on examining the specimens of
Bait from the Equality salt works of Gallatin county, near Shaw-
neetown. Of the quality of this salt, and its capacities for pre-
serving meats, we had no means of satisfying ourselves other than
by its general appearance, and the testimony of persons who have
used it. The impression we received was that it was vastly supe-
rior to the salt of the Kanawha Salines ; quite equal to the Saline
salt of New York, and but little inferior to the Turk's Island. If
this impression be nearly correct, then the salt of Gallatin county
is destined to exert an immense influence on the interests of our
Western country.

The annual consumption of salt in the packing business is
already immense, and must increase every year, as the agricultu-
ral resources of the State are developed ; and if the annual
expenditures for this article can be retained, it must tell materially
on the finances of Illinois. Col. A. McAllen informed me that
one single well, of eleven hundred feet deep, has been, for some
months, yielding one thousand bushels of salt per day, all of
which has been readily sold at thirty-five cents per bushel. But
he assured me that should the price of salt fall to one-half of that
price, they could, nevertheless, continue the business with success
and profit. This seems to preclude the possibility of failure to
the enterprise. We feel assured that it will now go on, and prove
a new source of wealth to the State.

Many articles of minor importance were entered, some of which
possessed much value, but which I have not time nor space to
notice. Most of them will be found by reference to the very judi-
cious reports of the committees.

In conclusion, I beg leave to tender you my congratulations on
the results of *your recent exhibition. Exhibitions oi this nature
are certainly calculated to stimulate enterprise, awaken a generous
and healthy emulation, and call forth the resources of our State.
No one can have attended your late exhibition without being
astonished at the new evidence of " hidden treasure,1' which must
be brought to light in due time, nor have returned home without
a loftier pride in his " Prairie State."

Yours truly,

S. Y. McMASTERS,
Superintendent of Department of Natural History, Geology, Eta.

FARMS AND NURSERIES.

REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE ON FARMS.

Greenville, January, 185S.
S. FRANCIS, Corresponding Secretary Illinois State Agricultural Society:,

Dear Sir: It was one principal object of the committee, in
making their report, to impress upon the minds of our farmers,
and fellow-citizens at large, a correct impression of the paramount

51

value and importance of agricultural associations — embracing, as
they do, the whole field of useful labor. Agriculture is no longer
a rude mangling of the earth's surface, to obtain a scanty and
uncertain supply of the coarsest vegetable productions, but it has
become a science — a science, too, which rewards industry, enter-
prise and skill, and at the same time exhibits problems in every
department of its diversified interests, which demand the best and
most thorough application of intellectual, no less than of physical,
ability to solve. The connection of agriculture with manual labor
is intimate. Without labor the physical man can never acquire
and maintain his natural strength, and vigor of muscle. If the
physical man is impaired, the intellect must suffer ; it is shorn of
a portion of its usefulness and power, and rendered positively
incapable of justly appreciating the importance and true dignity
of discharging, in a correct and skillful manner, the duties of life.
The institution of State and County Agricultural Societies in
Illinois has been eminently successful, and their salutary influence
in creating a new interest in the progress of agricultural improve-
ment, and the mechanic arts, can scarcely be over-rated; whilst
the invaluable effect of this same good influence is already felt,
and will continually augment, by promoting diligent inquiry into
every useful subject of general interest to mankind. The same
influences induce harmony and united action for the common wel-
fare, improves the moral and social character of every individual,
and gives the best assurance that human sagacity can devise, of
the continued purity and permanence of free institutions among
men.

With very sincere respect, your friend,

WILLIAM S. WAIT.

The Committee on Farms have awarded the premiums offered
by the Society for the best improved and most highly cultivated
Farms and Nurseries, with perfect unanimity, and with entire
satisfaction as to the merit of the competitors.

The entries of Farms, and of Nurseries, were, perhaps, less
numerous than the friends of agricultural improvement might
desire, yet sufficiently so for the time that the awarding committee
could conveniently appropriate to their examination.

The agricultural development of our State is yet in its infancy,
and whatever may be the intelligence and industry of the Illinois
farmer, the time and the facilities for agricultural improvement
which have been enjoyed by our brethren in the New England
and Middle States of the Union, are unknown here. It cannot,
therefore, be expected that our farmers, however industrious and
anxious to excel in all that pertains to good husbandry, should be
prepared to compete with the highly cultivated farms of the older
States, or that they should feel disposed to invite examination,
whilst many of their projected improvements were yet incomplete.

52

With a knowledge of these facts, it may readily be apprehended
that several of the farms offered for examination were entered,
more with the disinterested purpose of assisting to carry out the
views of the Society, than in the expectation of a premium. And
it is a fact highly creditable to the Illinois farmers, and indicative
of present and future progress, that your committee were every
where greeted with a hearty welcome, and received with marked
attention and respect, as the agents of the State Agricultural So-
ciety ; thus showing, in a manner not to be misunderstood, a just
and hearty appreciation of the objects of the institution, and a
warm and disinterested desire to sustain and render its action
effective.

In an exploration, comprising nearly a thousand miles in extent,
the farms all presented the appearance of successful cultivation,
with the most satisfactory evidence of thrift, and the design of
solid and permanent improvement. The committee would fail to
do justice to their own feelings, did they not express the high
satisfaction which they experienced in finding a manly and inteli-
gent spirit of enterprise universally prevalent amongst the farmers
of Illinois. Those who have been and still are successful in their
improvements, are animated with the hope and with the determi-
nation of continued progress, whilst the most liberal and disinter-
ested feelings prevailed for the encouragement of agricultural en-
terprise throughout the State. With this desire for more knowl-
edge, and readiness to impart the best results of their own
experience, we may rest satisfied in the assurance that the farmers
of Illinois respond heartily to the call made upon them by their
State and county societies, and that their individual effort will
unite most cordially with the associated action of these institutions
in effecting the successful accomplishment of every judicious en-
terprise which may be undertaken to promote the progress of
scientific and practical farming.

Any attempt to define the best and most* profitable system of
agricultural management would be out of place in this report, did
its limits permit, and were your committee prepared for the task ;
yet it may be their duty to embrace this occasion to recommend
to every farmer, the valuable suggestions on many of the most im-
portant subjects connected with agriculture, that are to be found
in the Transactions of the Society. Of these Transactions, two
volumes are already published, prepared by Dr. Kennicott, to
whose able, judicious and disinterested labors in behalf of agricul-
tural improvement, the farmers of Illinois are greatly indebted.
In this connection the committee have the gratification to state,
that at their request, Dr. Kennicott has furnished them with an
interesting statement of his fruit growing and nursery experience
in the northern part of Illinois, running back more than twenty
years, when the settlement of that region was in its infancy, with
the privilege of making such use of it as they may choose. For
this communication, embracing facts so valuable to all nursery-

53

men and fruit growers, and to every farmer in Illinois, the com-
mittee return their grateful and hearty acknowledgments, and
make the best use of it in their power to render, by giving it to
the public entire, as accompanying this report.

One of the more obvious needs in our prairie country, is the
means of fencing. In all new settlements, where timber is abun-
dant, the rail fence is universal, and will hereafter continue in
general use for the large inclosures, until rail timber is exhausted.
By a large portion »of intelligent farmers the Osage orange hedge is
considered the best and cheapest material that is available in Illi-
nois, for a permanent fence. The experience of your committee,
in their recent examination, fully confirms this decision. That
this hedge requires constant care, and in the hands of a slovenly
farmer might prove a nuisance under long continued neglect, may
be true. Yet can this possible fact be urged against the hedge,
when it is reflected that the crops, the cattle, the agricultural im-
plements, the buildings, and everything connected with the busi-
ness of the farm, demand unremitting care, or they deteriorate and
become profitless ? A neglected hedge is undoubtedly, to a cer-
tain extent, a nuisance, and so is also a neglected field of corn.

The wire fence is strongly recommended by some practical far-
mers, and no less strongly objected to by others. It is often con-
venient or necessary so to vary the system of culture upon a farm
as to render it expedient to change a line of fence. This change
ofinclosure is, to a certain extent, practiced on every farm, and
where such. change is required, the wire fence may be found the
most convenient. Next to the rail fence, which predominates, the
most prevailing kind in the districts visited by the committe, is
the common plank fence. About the dwelling house, garden,
stable, stock-yard, etc., the plank fence is decidedly the most con-
venient, and preferred to all others now in use.

A subject which the committee esteem of sufficient importance
to recommend strongly to the attention of farmers, is that of arti-
ficial pools or ponds of water for stock. They have long been in
use in some of the agricultural districts of England ; but this
method of providing stock water is not generally understood here.
In England these ponds are carefully excavated and the bottoms
furnished with a coating of cement, which serves to render the
water more pure, and in some degree preserve the pond from
filling up. They are, however, successfully used without any
coating for the bottom ; the subsoil, such as is usually found in
Illinois, answering every useful purpose. On the farm of J. M.
Blackburn, near Paris, Edgar county, comprising some thirteen
hundred acres, are five of these artificial ponds for the supply of
stock- water, which, as Mr. Blackburn states, furnish water for his
numerous stock in abundance throughout the driest seasons. One
of these ponds, which was dug out with the aid of a common sheet
iron scraper, at a cost not exceeding twelve or fitteen dollars, is so
located as to occupy the corner of four distinct stock lots, affording

I

54:

an ample supply for all in the driest seasons. Two or three of his
ponds were made by throwing a dam of earth across a ravine or
gully, which are equally effective in affording an unfailing supply
for his numerous s*"Ock.

In many situations where a supply of stock water by other
means is dfficult to be procured, these ponds, which are easily
prepared, and afford an unfailing supply, must prove exceedingly
valuable. Experience shows a very essential fact, that the water
thus supplied is entirely palatable and wholesome for every de-
scription of stock. Some extensive stock growers pronouncing it
to be equal, and others even superior to that drawn fresh from the
well.

The success which has attended the cultivation of the Chinese
Sugar Cane, is highly encouraging. Excellent syrup has been
made from this cane, not only in Illinois, but in all parts of the
United States. Every new trial of its properties, results in a new
test of its merit. That sugar could be produced from the expres-
sed juice of this plant, was at one time doubted, but subsequent
and very recent experiments from scientific and satisfactory
sources, have set this question at rest. The public may be assured
that it will readily granulate and yield pure sugar. And it may
be an object worthy the attention of the Society to encourage the
invention of economical apparatus and method of using it, by which
every farmer could profitably and conveniently manufacture the
sugar and molasses required tor his own family consumption.

The disposition to undertake the business of farming on a scale
beyond their means, is a general characteristic of western farmers.
We all feel that it is bad economy, yet all persist in the practice. It
is, however, well to point out the evil, although an effectual reform
may scarcely be hoped for until a more dense population compels it.
That time will soon arrive, and we may not be unmindful of the
fact that the same density of population which limits the practical
farmer, and reduces the number of his acres to a quantity more
suitable for thorough cultivation, will bring with it also that in-
equality of possession, and those social distinctions which are invar-
iably found in older settlements and more populous districts, wher-
ever the footsteps of man can be traced.

It is inherent in the constitution of man, and an important ingre-
dient of human happiness, that we should think well of ourselves,
of our own family and friends, of our own nation, and of our own
State and the district of country in which we live. This position
conceded, we may be pardoned for the opinion that no portion of
the earth's surface is more susceptible of profitable cultivation than
our own State of Illinois, and that it is inhabited by a race of men
who have no superiors in useful enterprise, industry and intelli-
gence. This opinion is not a mere assumption growing out of a
too nattering conception of indigenous merit, but founded upon
facts, with which it may be both practically useful and satisfactory,
that every western farmer should be familiar.

55

The United States constitutes the first government of intelligent
freemen that the world has ever known. So far as we may judge
from the records of history, the ancient republics were composed of
masses, who were in reality what a late distinguished American
statesman declared his own fellow-countrymen to be, a mere rabble.
They were led by the demagogue of the hour, who was in fact a
despot, or controlled by an oligarchy, that was irresponsible to the
people. Under all modern and existing governments but our own,
neither farmers, mechanics, nor laboring men of any description,
enjoy political privileges, or social consideration. Throughout
Europe it is but recently that those who cultivate the soil, have
emerged in any degree from the condition of vassalage or serfdom,
and to this day in the land of our fathers, the men who cultivate the
soil, rank as an inferior grade of society, with the best of whom no
"gentleman" could ever think of associating on terms of equality.
This universal degradation of labor, which pervades the old country,
was at once abjured by the early colonists who founded and gave
the moral tone to this great nation. They came to the western con-
tinent, not for wealth or conquest, but for personal freedom and lib-
erty of conscience. They found no difficulty in securing homes in
a region where land was abundant and unoccupied. Every far-
mer became an independent proprietor, and cultivated the soil by
the labor of his own hands. It was thus that the respectability of
labor was first established and acknowledged by a civilised people /
The man who held the plow was no longer the serf but the sover-
eign, who guided the affairs of state by agents of his own choice.

This event has not been dwelt upon as its importance demands.
The fact that the founders of this great republic were the first to
establish the respectability of manual labor, and not only that,
but its priority in usefulness, and consequently in true dignity
and importance over every other employment of man. But it may
be asked by some, Is this fact established ? Most assuredly it is,
in the heads and hearts of all intelligent and practical men. No
question in morals is more clear. This great truth, so important
to the rising generation of freemen, may indeed be doubted by
such as have never had their nerves steadied nor their hearts mel-
lowed, by one month or even one clay spent in solid hard work, whilst
the sentiment will be scouted by those whose lives have been spent
in schemes to escape from that wise and holy decree — " in the
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." Yet the great fact re-
mains unshaken ; and it is an indispensable element of free insti-
tutions. Degrade labor, and the mass of the people may have a
parchment show of political liberty, but they are socially and prac-
tically slaves.

Natural causes induce emigration, which is greatly accelerated
by the cheap and fertile lands of the west ; and as a general rule,
the more resolute and enterprising of the parent stock are the pio-
neers. The population of Illinois, like that of the whole northern
portion of the Mississippi Yalley, is composed of a due proportion

56

of emigrants from nearly every State in the Union, and from
Europe. They come prepared to cast off what may yet remain of
early prejudices, and to harmonize and amalgamate with neigh-
bors who are thrown together from the four quarters of the earth.
In a community thus constituted, where every man owns and cul-
tivates the soil he occupies, the manly virtues are brought out, and
the best faculties of the mind developed. There is no foothold
for an aristocratic sentiment.

A just and full consideration of these facts may be deemed en-
tirely sufficient to fortily and at least render probable our position,
that the population of the new States and Territories is'composed
of a race of men who have no superiors in useful industry, enter-
prise and intelligence.

No people on earth can be more favorably situated to enjoy the
best gifts of Providence, than those who now occupy the Valley of
the Mississippi. The evils that attend great riches and excessive
poverty, the monopoly and exaction of associated wealth, aided by
existing laws, and aggravated by unjust legislation, are as yet but
partially felt in the great west. Yet many of us have smarted un-
der these inflictions in some of the older States of the Union, who
have found at least a present refuge from them here.

What subject then should be more interesting to farmers, than
some practical views of their political and social relations which
may enable them to guard against evils which have hitherto
afflicted all human governments. Since, under whatever pretences
set up, all have alike subsided into organized systems by which
the pride and luxury of the few may be sustained in idleness upon
the degraded labor of the masses of the people.

To guard against such evils from which no people have hitherto
escaped, is it not necessary that the farmers, the mechanics, and
those who perform manual labor, and who compose seven eighths
of the population of an agricultural State, should give a rigid at-
tention to the character and conduct of their public agents, and to
the latent tendencies of legislation.

Professional men, capitalists, and men engaged in trade or man-
ufactures, associate to sustain their respective interests. Of this
we have no disposition to complain ; but should not the plainest
dictates of common sense teach us that the producing classes should
also associate for the same general purposes?

It is therefore with heartfelt satisfaction that we congratulate
our fellow-citizens that this much desired association of labor,
promises to be most effectually accomplished by the establishment
of agricultural societies, which are now extending their beneficent
and salutary influence throughout every State and Territory of the
nation. Not only the farmer, but the mechanic, the manufacturer,
the artist, and those engaged in every useful occupation of life are
thus united in the same general objects of mutual improvement': —
For agricultural societies have this pre-eminent excellence above
all other associations, they are alike open and free to all. Every

57

good citizen, whatever may be his walk in life, is cordially in-
vited to unite in promoting the great objects of the association, and
welcomed to an equal participation in its advantages.

Thus united, with the great object of promoting general im-
provement before them, the increasing intelligence which must
prevail, and the fresh interest awakened on all subjects relating to
the common welfare, cannot fail to induce that rigid supervision of
men and measures, which is equally necessary to guard against
abuse, and to provide for the best action to promote useful pro-
gress and reform.

Having had no connection whatever with the original institution,
nor with its subsequent government, the committee may be per-
mitted to say, that the State Agricultural Society of Illinois, dur-
ing its brief existence, has been successful in its efforts to elevate
the character, increase the influence, and promote the improve-
ment of agriculture and the mechanic arts, throughout the State.
The people universally appreciate its merit and importance, and
are grateful to those intelligent and disinterested men, who have
freely bestowed both time and means to secure this salutary
result.

In behalf of the great body of their fellow-citizens, with whom
they are associated as practical and working farmers, the committee
will not be deemed presumptuous in offering their grateful thanks
to the officers of the State Agricultural Society, for their unremit-
ting, judicious, and successful efforts in promoting the useful and
beneticient objects of the institution.

WILLIAM S. WAIT,
SILAS H. ELLIOT,

Committee.

VALUABLE NOTES ON FRUIT CULTURE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS,
Furnished at the particular request of the Committee on Farms, by John A. Kennicott, M. B%
The Grove, West Northfield, Cook County, 111.

I commenced tree planting within a month after removing to
Cook county, in 1836, but did not do much till after the land
sales — say in 1841 — when we put out the most of our fruit
orchard, and laid the foundation of our present large share of
ornamental trees and shrubbery, flowers, &c. Our nursery of
fruit trees, for sale, has been in operation fourteen years, or there-
abouts. But we sold trees, &c, from the first — purchasing most
of our stock in Buffalo, New York. During these fourteen years,
the retail price of grafted apple trees, of from four to six years
old, selected, has not varied much from $18 to $20 per hundred,
or twenty to twenty-five cents each, in smaller numbers, at the
nursery ; and about $10 to $12 50 per hundred have been the
rates for the smallest sizes, fit to set in orchards — say well-grown
three year old root grafts, and two year old buds — or, the second

58

sizes, or those a year or two older. From $75 to $150 per thou-
sand, according to age and selection, have been the wholesale rates
of these same trees ; and $100 per thousand may be set down as
the present price of the best nursery sizes — say four years old —
all through the North- West. At these rates, the profit of an
honest nurseryman is very small indeed; though handsome look-
ing "whips" may be raised at the price, and give the grower a
handsome profit.

Pears, Cherries, Plums, Quinces, Peaches, &c, have not paid
the cost of growing them in Northern Illinois nurseries, as a gen-
eral rule ; though I have known some marked exceptions. And
the same may be said of much other nursery stock, on which our
Eastern friends make a large profit.

The Pear stock is liable to " leaf blight," and the Quince stock,
for the Pear, is very apt to kill below the bud, and the worked
Pear, itself, winter- kills or blights so badly as to discourage pro-
pagation.

The Heart and Bigarreau Cherries are sure to kill out, sooner
or later ; and it is hard to tell whether the summer or the winter
of Illinois does the mischief. Plum trees often winter-kill in the
nursery, and leaf-blight in both orchard and nursery ; and every
one knows that the Peach, Nectarine and Apricot are scarcely
safe, even south of the centre of our State ; and up this way they
are killed to the ground every five or six years, at the best. We
have had three Peach orchards killed within the last eighteen
years — the last one containing over one thousand bearing trees.
Except the Cherry, which has never borne well in this region,
(not even the hardy sorts, ) I am of opinion that healthy trees,
once in bearing, yield as large and fine crops of fruit m Illinois as
in any other State of the Union, other things being equal. But,
unfortunately, all the bearing trees of an orchard are seldom found
in good health and profitable condition. Unhealthy trees are not
unfrequently the rule, and the healthy and good bearers the excep-
tion. At the North, bark lice bear the blame when an Apple
orchard fails ; and heat, cold, or some mysterious blight, is charge-
able, (or at least charged,) with the destruction of other fruit
trees. But were I to designate any one deleterious agency, it
would be water. In my opinion, " wet feet," rather than frozen
tops or summer heat, are at the bottom of more than half the
losses in both nursery and orchard, so far as I have observed, in
Northern Illinois ; and the remedy is thorough drainage. Of
course, there are unhealthy and unprofitable trees to be found
growing over, or in, sand and gravel, where water never accumu-
lates; but in these cases the natural poverty of such soils will
often account for the condition of the trees.

As an almost invariable rule, the soil that contains the most
alumina, (clay,) with the usual elements of a good " corn soil," is
the best for fruit ; or, in other words, our best wheat soils are,
nine times out of ten, our best fruit soils.

59

It is rare, indeed, that a good soil is found, containing too much
clay for either wheat or fruit. The Quince, Plum, Pear and
Cherry delight in a dry, sandy clay, provided it is rich enough in
other matters ; and the Apple will thrive where the Pear will,
and the Peach where the Cherry can be grown. The Grape must
have a dry clay soil, containing plenty of lime. Grapes do not
succeed here, in our grounds.

Of the varieties of the Apple, it is hard to say which are best.
It is very certain that the best fruit is not always the most profit-
able. I do not yet feel justified in making out a list of Apples
for Illinois. So far as Pears are concerned, I have less hesitation.
Here, we have found the Buffum, Belle Lucrative, Beurre Diel,
Bon Chretien, Fondance, Flemish Beauty, and perhaps Seckel,
perfectly hardy, and uniformly good bearers. The Bartlett is also
a good bearer, but not cmite so hardy as some others.

We do not consider Dwarf Pears of any account, except in
small city gardens. We have lost more than 20,000 of them in
the Nursery, and perhaps 300 set out for bearing in garden and
orchard, and have never had a dozen bear well, though many
have borne a little.

We have had two or three large Plum crops in the last fourteen
or fifteen years. But all our first and second plantings died out
years ago ; of a third planting in orchard, perhaps one in six or
eight is now alive. But as yet no fruit — the curculio stinging the
whole — and the last two winters entirely used up three-fourths of
our large stock of nursery Plums, and top-killed nearly the whole
of them. The foreign varieties, as a rule, suffered most. North
of us, at Racine and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Plum does not
suffer so badly, and immense crops are gathered. Dr. Hay, of
Racine, writes me that he gathered about sixty bushels, last sea-
son, from his small garden lot. So you see it is not the extreme
of cold that kills the Plum. The soil at Racine is sufficiently
clayey, and naturally well drained, which will account for the dif-
ference. Good Plum crops are gathered at Alton, 111., on similar
soil.

We have never gathered a crop of Cherries here, though we
have had hundreds of trees attain to a bearing age and size. Not
even have the Dukes and Morellos given satisfaction in our soil ;
though in a proper soil, we have heard of some fair crops in Illi-
nois.

Whenever, and wherever, in this region, the Peach tree has
flowered, we have never failed of a crop proportioned to the blos-
soming ; and I believe I have already intimated that our standard
Pear trees, that have survived in good health, have borne as well
as the Apple, and I think better. But out of several hundreds in
orchard — many set sixteen years, and most six to ten years — we
have not over fifty trees alive, and perhaps not twenty in perfect
health. The Buffum is the only sort that has never been injured
in our grounds.

60

Our Quinces, Apricots, Almonds and Nectarines were all killed
with our Peach trees, two years ago. We also lost a good many-
large Apple trees that winter, but not so many as our neighbors.

Of small fruits, the Currants and Houghton Gooseberries have
never failed to give abundant satisfaction. All other Gooseberries
have mildewed here, though ripening beautifully within twenty
miles of us, in the Chicago gardens. Kaspberries and Blackber-
ries are in the same category ; though I do not think either of
these fruits fitted to our hot and dry summers.

We have not succeeded with Grapes; though in proper situa-
tions, with the right kind of soil, most sorts succeed admirably, a
little south, and some even north of here.

Last winter we had over two thousand two year old vines, of
Isabella and Catawba, killed, " root and branch," in our nursery.
And we also lost two squares of Dwarf Pears, and perhaps 30,000
seedling Apple trees, two years old, set in rows for budding. In-
deed, the winter of 1856-57 was much harder on nursery stock
than the one previous. And since we commenced the nursery
business, I think it is safe to say that we have lost, in various
ways, many more trees and plants than we have sold.

At one time we had about forty acres well covered with trees
and plants, while at present our grounds are sadly disfigured with
stumps of dead trees and " remnants " of living stock ; though
some recent plantations are remarkably healthy, and our fine stock
of noble Conifers — such as Pines, Spruces, Arbor Yitses, Balsam
Firs, Larches, &c. — is our pride, and pays us much better than
our fruit trees, on sale.

Our Apple orchards have always been profitable, and we have
made more money on our crops of Peaches, even, than we ever
did by selling Peach trees.

As you may have perceived when here, we pay great attention
to flowering plants, and especially hardy Poses and other desira-
ble shrubbery ; and from these, and other " little things," come
the chief profits of our nursery business ; though we have sold a
vast bulk of fruit trees in fourteen years, and have some hundreds
of thousands, of all sorts and sizes, now on hand. And of all
species and varieties of trees and perennial plants, including
shrubbery, of course, we now count about 1,500 names.

But, for all practical purposes, the list may be reduced to 500 ;
and we are reducing rather than extending our list of named vari-
eties, though we annually add some new ones.

Now, as I have tried to be candid, I will add, that we are well
assured of having sent out many trees, and some other things,
under wrong names — not more than others of the brotherhood of
nurserymen, perhaps, nor quite so large a proportion as some tree
peddlers, doubtless ; still, owing to our dependence on the accu-
racy of Eastern friends, whose errors we did not ■ detect till too
late, and perhaps, occasionally, our own mistakes, we have done
our full share in the way of sending off nursery stock not " true

61

to name." But our consolation is, that we have never sold a great
deal of trash, any way. Most of our wrongly named varieties, of
both fruits and flowers, have proved good. And if we remain in
the business long enough, we shall get the names right at last.

From all this you will please infer — 1st, that we know the nur-
sery business to be less profitable than raising fruit ; though it
must be admitted that soil, climate and situation are all rather
unfavorable here, compared with some other situations. But were
it to do over again, and I could have my choice of the whole
State, I would stick to farming and fruit growing, rather than
propagate fruit t fees, to any great extent, for market ; though I
would still raise my own, perhaps, and enough to supply the de-
mand of my neighborhood, but not a tree for shipment. We
know that with the same capital, and less labor, care and hard-
earnepl intelligence, a man can clear more money by good farm-
ing, and twice as much by any other branch of trade, than " the
trade " in trees.

And yet the business is most delightful, and many contrive to
live by it, and a very few make money, but oftener by the rise of
their nursery grounds than the profits on their nursery trees.
Your friend,

JOHN A. KENNICOTT.

STATEMENTS OF FIELD CROPS.

PREMIUM CROP OP SPRING WHEAT.

Hugh Huts, of St. Charles, Kane county, took the premium,
which was the Manny Keaper, donated by Messrs. Talcott, Emer-
son & Co., of Bockford, for that purpose. The soil on which this
wheat was raised was low, level prairie, rather inclined to fall west
and north, and of a moist nature. The quantity of seed put in
with the drill was seventy-five bushels, of the Tea variety, and the
amount of wheat raised on the land, of which there were forty
and three fourth acres, according to the legal weight per bushel,
was thirteen hundred and fifty-seven bushels.

PREMIUM CROP OF FALL WHEAT.

This premium, for best five acres of fall wheat, was taken by
John Anderson, of Flat Frairie, Kandolph county. The land has
a black, loamy soil, and has been in cultivation for the last thir-
teen years, and has produced sixteen crops. I always put in corn

62

as soon as the wheat is gathered for winter feed for cattle. The
land was in oats the last season. As soon as the oats were gath-
ered I had it plowed about 3 or 4: inches deep; then I gave it a
light dressing of manure ; then I had it plowed about eight or nine
inches deep ; then I went over it with the cultivator ; which left
the ground all in little furrows. I then sowed the wheat broad-
cast, giving the land one and a half bushels per acre, and then
harrowed it across the furrows. The wheat was sown about the
10th of September, and harvested on the 10th of July. The pro-
duce on five acres of land was two hundred and forty bushels and
forty pounds.

PREMIUM CROP OF SPRING WHEAT.

Harrison Hancock, of Tazewell county, took the premium for
the best five acres of spring wheat — 35 bushels per acre. He thus
describes his process for raising wheat : "First, I plow my ground
7 or 8 inches deep. I drill in my seed. I use one bushel and a
half to the acre. I sow my wheat about the 25th of March. The
last spring I sowed three kinds of spring- wheat : Italian, China or
Tea and Canada Club. The Club, though struck with rust so as
to shrink the grain, yielded better than the Italian. The China
is an excellent wheat, better than any other I am acquainted with.
The drill is the best instrument to sow wheat with. I can sow
twenty acres with the drill quicker than ten the old way of getting
it in, and the land will produce three or four bushels to the acre
more when the wheat is chilled in than when sown broadcast."

PREMIUM FOR BEST CROP OF CORN.

Harrison Hancock, of Tazewell county, took the premium for
the best crop of corn — 122 bushels, 2 lbs., per acre. The following
is his mode of cultivating this crop. He says : "If I want to get a
good crop of corn, I subsoil my ground to the depth of 13 inches.
I lay off my ground with a corn-masher, made for that business,
into checks of three feet three inches square. I plant, if possible,
between the 15th and 20th of May. The corn is dropped by hand
and covered with the hoe. I plant the white flint. It is rather on
the gourd seed order. When my corn is planted I roll the ground
so as to put it in good order for cultivation. I harrow my corn as
soon as I can see a row across the land. I take a bar-plow next.
I run the bar as close to the corn as I can each way. The next
time I use the shovel-plow, each way, throwing the earth to the
corn. I hoe my corn once. I give a few days' space between
each plowing. My land is a clay loam. It is a good soil for most

63

kinds of grain. I use about eight quarts of seed corn to the acre.
If the corn conies up too thick, I thin it to three and four stalks to
the hill."

FIRST PREMIUM FOR THE BEST OATS.

Harrison Hancock, of Tazewell county, took the first premium
for oats, which produced 95 bushels on the acre. In describing
the manner of cultivating oats, he says, that he prepares his ground
for oats as he does for wheat. He puts his seed in with a drill.
He believes that drilled oats will produce ten bushels to the acre
more than if sown broadcast. The ground on which his premium
crop was raised was plowed the previous fall.

SECOND PREMIUM FOR OATS.

Daniel Kelly, of Wheaton, DuPage county, took the second
premium for oats — 88i bushels per acre. Mr. Kelly says that the
land on which his oats were raised was prairie, corn stubble. He
manured the land for corn the year previous, putting upon it about
twenty loads to the acre. Last April the stubble was harrowed
well ; then a little less than two bushels of seed were sown to the
acre ; harrowed and cross harrowed the land after it was sown.
As soon as the ground was fit and the oats high enough, he turned
his sheep upon the oat field and left them upon it until his neigh-
bors' oats were six inches high, while his were fed off close to the
ground. The season being wet when the crop matured, some of
the oats fell to the ground, besides many were wasted in harvesting.
They were cut with Wright's self-raking machine. I did not feed
them with my sheep long enough for the season. The oats aver-
aged 88i bushels to the acre, and would have yielded much more
if all could have been saved.

FIE ST PREMIUM FOR WHITE BEANS.

Harrison Hancock, of Tazewell county, deserved the first pre-
mium for white beans — 21 bushels, 20 lbs., to the half acre. Mr.
Hancock says that his beans were planted on new ground, the
rows laid off only one way and dropped in hills say 12 inches
apart. They were plowed once and hoed once. He used half a
bushel of seed to the acre. If they come up too thick he thins
them out, leaving three and four plants in a hill. The beans are
known as Navy beans. They are white and twice as large as the
small sized wh'ite bean.

64

SECOND PREMIUM FOR WHITE BEANS.

Levi Mason, of Bureau county, secured the second premium for
white beans — 13s bushels to the half acre. In regard to the cul-
tivation, he states that he "plowed the ground last fall (1856) and
again last spring, in the latter part of May. The 8th of June he
commenced marking off the ground by drawing a chain across,
making the marks about twenty inches apart. He then took one
of Wakefield's hand corn planters and guaged it so as to drop six
and seven beans in a hill, and planted the hills about eight inches
apart in the row and finished the next day, the 9th of June. He
hoed them twice, which was all he did to them before harvesting
them. When they were ripe, they were pulled and threshed and
the weight of the beans was seven hundred and eighty-three
pounds.

The quantity of seed used was lOe quarts, weighing about 21
pounds, and were of the small white variety. The beans was the
third crop raised upon the ground since it was broken up. The
land is a light prairie soil, with a considerable mixture of sand,
descending towards the north. The quantity of ground was half
an acre.

PREMIUM FOR POTATOES.

Harrison Hancock, of Tazewell county, took the premium for
the best yield of potatoes — 250 bushels per half acre. Mr. Han-
cock subsoiled his potatoe ground, laid his land off three feet wide,
in straight rows, and dropped his potatoes in drills, say twenty
inches apart in the row. For winter potatoes, he plants on the
15th of June. He hoes them once, and plows them thrice ; and,
like corn, the plants should be thinned to three and four in a hill.
If seed potatoes are large they should be cut in pieces and only one
piece put in a hill. My potatoes are what are called the Mohawk
Blues and Neshannocks. They are good potatoes.

PREMIUM FOR TIMOTHY SEED.

Harrison Hancock, of Tazewell county, obtained the premium
for timothy^ seed. This is his mode of cultivation: He sows
twelve quarts of pure seed on an acre of land. After taking off the
first crop, in order to get a heavy crop, he dresses the meadow
with fine manure, which pays well. It does timothy good to
harrow the ground every spring.

65

PREMIUM FOR BLUE GRASS SEED.

This was awarded to Harrison Hancock, of Tazewell county.
He says that blue grass should be cultivated in the same manner
as timothy, when it will produce bountifully. He recommends
the sowing of about one half bushel of seed to the acre. After
the ground is thoroughly swarded, it should be harrowed early in
the spring, which will insure a good crop.

BEST CROP OF ONIONS.

A. B. Rumsey, of Kankakee county, took the premium for the
best fourth of an acre of onions — 70 bushels. The onions were of
the " "Weathersfield large red" variety. The seed was sown early,
on ground nicely prepared, and which had been broken up some
eighteen months. The seed was planted in rows about a foot
apart and sown by a hand drill ; the onions were thinned out, so
as to give them room to grow to a good size. The onions were
hoed three times and the weeds pulled from the rows.

To secure a good crop of onions, it is necessary that the ground
should be a light loam, that the onions should be kept free from
weeds, and that the ground should be stirred frequently with a
hoe between the rows.

PREMIUMS FOR THE SYRUP OF CHINESE SUGAR CANE.

Josiah Sawyer, of Tazewell county, obtained the first premium.
The syrup was made in the usual manner and without experience.
The syrup was expressed by a rude mill, the juice clarified with
lime, and the specimen for which the premium was given, was re-
boiled. Mr. Sawyer thinks that, with experience and skill, molas-
ses and sugar can be manufactured from the juice of this cane.

Moses Pierson, of Sangamon, received the second premium.
Mr. Pierson had an eighth of an acre of cane, and with poor
machinery he made from it forty gallons of molasses. His best
syrup was made from perfectly matured cane. He clarified the
syrup, some with eggs, some with milk, and some with blood.
He believes that his experience will enable him to be more success-
ful the ensuing year.

J. H. Smith, of Adams county, took the third premium. The
specimen sent the Committee had not parted with its acid, but had
to a considerable extent crystalized. His manner of converting
the juice into syrup, was this : " He puts into a hundred gallons of
juice a gill of lime; boils it down rapidly, skimming off all the
scum that rises ; when it is boiled to a thick syrup he puts it into
an open vessel, lets it remain a few days, when it gradually grains
into sugar."

These notices may be hereafter referred to, as furnishing some-
thing of the early processes of converting the juice of Chinese
Sugar Cane into molasses and sugar. Every season will give
more experience, and the great object, now difficult, will be suc-
cessfully accomplished.
—9

M

CIKCULAE

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE OF THE ILLINOIS STATE
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Office of the Corresponding Secretary,

Springfield, March 10, 1857.

Mr

Sir : — As one of the means by which the State Agricultural
Society aim to accomplish its great objects — "the promotion of
Agriculture, Horticulture, Manufactures, Mechanic and Household
Arts," — its constitution provides that there shall be " a general
committee for the counties."

This committee consists of one member for each county. Tou
are appointed as the committee for your county. This appoint-
ment has been made by the Executive Committee o± the State
Society, in the confident hope and belief that you will faithfully
and promptly perform the duties imposed by this appointment.
These duties are : to spread such information before the people of
your county as shall be transmitted to you for that purpose by the
State Agricultural Society ; to confer with the officers of your
County Agricultural Society, if you have one, and, if you have
not, to adopt all proper measures for the organization of one ; to
communicate to the State Society the condition and progress of
agriculture in your county; to transmit to the Society accounts of
your county exhibitions and fairs ; in a word, to furnish to the
Society whatever information you may obtain calculated to pro-
mote its general objects and designs.

Where does farming best succeed ? Where is the best stock,
the best cultivated farms, the best roads, the most flourishing
schools, the best-improved country, but in those portions of the
State where are found the most flourishing Agricultural Societies?

We would disabuse the public mind of the pernicious belief
sometimes sought to be imposed upon it, that there are no im-
provements in the farmer's profession. We would impress upon
the agricultural community that agricultural knowledge and sci-
ence will render the work of the hands most efficient and profitable,
and will raise the profession to its proper position as the leading
industrial pursuit of the country.

Whatever the Society can do to promote the great objects of its

formation in your county, they desire to do. They solicit a free

correspondence with you, and suggestions from you in what manner

they can be most useful. The corresponding secretary will at all

times promptly respond to communications from you.

[ l, s. ] Again repeating a strong desire that you may be
found efficient in promoting the objects of the Society,
I am, very respectfully, your obed't servant,
S. FKANCIS,

Corresponding Secretary III. State Ag. Society.

MEETING OF THE STATE SOCIETY.

Peokia, September 24, 1857.

A meeting of members of the Illinois State Agricultural Society
was held at the Court House, in Peoriaj on Thursday evening,
Sept. 24th, 1857, 0. W. Webster, President of the Society, in the
chair ; who explained the objects of the meeting.

The Hon. John Jones, of Delaware, addressed the meeting, and
Hon. M. L. Dunlap made a few remarks ; when the following
preamble and resolution were passed :

Whereas the Legislature of the State of Illinois and of several other States and large
and influential public associations have petitioned Congress for an uniform grant of 500,000
acres of land, or the value thereof, to each State in the Union, for the purpose of founding
and endowing in each State institutions for practical, scientific education in agriculture and
the mechanic arts ; and whereas the Agricultural Society of the United States, after a
thorough investigation of the subject, through able committees and discussions before their
Board of Agriculture, have decided to memorialize Congress to the same end ; therefore,

Besolved, That the Agricultural and Horticultural Societies of Illinois, assembled in
mass meeting at Peoria, hy previous notice, do most heartily and cordially approve of such
an appropriation of lands, and will co-operate with the United States Agricultural Society
and the Legislatures and other Societies of the several States, by all proper means, for the
attainment of the desirable end.

C. W. WEBSTER,

President of the III. State Ag. Society.

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,

Peokia, September 20, 1857,

Present— C. W. Webster, President ; Ii. Capron, A. B. M'Con-
nell and H. S. Osborn, Vice Presidents ; S. Francis, Correspond-
ing Secretary ; Phil. Warren, Recording Secretary ; and J. Wil-
liams, Treasurer.

The Committee adjonmed to meet on the Fair Grounds.

Faik Grounds, Peoria, September 23, 1857.

Present — C. W. Webster, President ; J. W. Singleton, S. A.
Buckmaster, H. S. Osborn, J. E. M'Clun, H. Capron and L. Ells-
worth, Yice Presidents ; S. Francis, Corresponding Secretary ;
Phil. Warren, Recording Secretary ; and J. Williams, Treasurer.

Mr. Buckmaster made a verbal report in relation to the diploma
to be furnished by Joseph A. Miller, of Alton, stating that Mr.
Miller had failed to comply with his contract.

On motion, the new design for a diploma furnished by Mr. Mil-
ler to the Board, was taken into consideration, and the following
action had :

Resolved, That the design for a diploma furnished by Mr. Miller be returned to him as
unsatisfactory to the Committee.

On motion of Gen. Singleton,

Resolved, That whereas Mr. Joseph A. Miller having failed to furnish this Society an en-
graving for a diploma of such design as was offered and contemplated by the contract of
the Board with said Miller, S. A. Buckmaster be and hereby is authorized to secure, as
Boon as practicable, a suitable engraving of the design heretofore c

On motion of J. N. Brown,

Resolved, That p<
me at any other I
a o'clock to-day.

Adjourned.

Resolved, That persons having stock on exhibition, and being desirous of exhibiting the
same at any other Fair, be permitted to take such stock from the grounds at any time after
ten o'clock to-day.

09

Fate Gkottnds, September 24, 1857— 9 o'clock A. M.

Present— C. W. Webster, President; L. Ellsworth, H. S. Os-
born and J. E. M'Clun, Yice Presidents ; S. Francis, Correspond-
ing Secretary; Phil. Warren, Eecording Secretary; J. Williams,
Treasurer.

On motion of Mr. Francis,

Resolved That our Senators and Kepresentatives in Congress be requested to use therf
influence in tie establishment of a Department or Board of Agriculture m connection^
the other departments of government at Washington, the duty of which shall ^ b s to^ aid
Agriculture by the dissemfnation of information, by the collection and d imitation l of valu-
able seeds plants and cuttings, and which shall have means to make trial of all new pro
ductions prom'sing to be of value in the vegetable kingdom, as well as of those the value of
which is but partially known.

Bills against the Society, for expenses at the Fair, were exam-
ined and ordered to be paid.

Peoria, September 26, 1858.

Present— C. W. Webster, President; A. B. M'Connell and H.
S. Osborn, Yice Presidents ; and S. Francis, Corresponding bec-
retary.

S. Francis acting as Eecording Secretary.

Various bills for expenses at the State Fair were taken up, ex-
amined and ordered to be paid.

On motion of S. Francis, the following resolutions were unani-

ously adopted

Resolved, That in closing our Fifth Annual Fair, we desire to express i our satisfaction
with the arrangements made by the officers of the Peoria County -Agricultural bociety in
getting up the beautiful fixtures upon the Fair Grounds, and with the gene* ^nd great
liberality of the citizens of Peoria city and vicinity in providing for ^ •«™0«ta*um 0t
the immense throngs of people in attendance upon our great annual exhibition.

Resolved That we tender, in this public manner, our obligations to t]?e,Rallr0,ad. ^^
paSsoflh^

accomplishing our present successful exhibition. The development ^ *e ^multural re
sources of oui State will secure the rapid appreciation of the stock of our Kailroads

Resolved That we award to the gentlemen of the press throughout our entire State our
unfeigned thanks for their assistance in bringing about the glorious consummation we have

just witnessed.

3t witnessed. ., ,

P«nW That we refer with feelings of gratitude to those ladies and gentlemen who

JSSZS^^^J^Sm^ ^ thisexhi^on. This they have done

largely and liberally, and for which they have our sincere thanks.

Resolved That when this Board shall adjourn we shall do ^ with the warmest feehngs
■ ' ith the determination still to give our best efforts for the advance-

me^o^gr^a^ltur;] ^Interests of our beloved Illinois,

which shall be engraved the following inscription:

they fitted up the Fair Grounds for our Fifth Annual Fair.

of the value of twenty dollars.

*a

70

Resolved, That Smith Frye be appointed to take charge of all property belonging to the
State Agricultural Society on the Fair Grounds, to sell or otherwise dispose of the same, un-
der the direction of the President ; and also to take charge of the property left upon the
grounds by individuals, and to hold the same subject to the awards of their owners.

FACILITIES FURNISHED BY THE RAILROADS FOR THE FAIR.

The Superintendents of tire following railroads carried passen-
gers to and from the State Fair at Peoria, at half the usual fare ;
and also stock, and other articles for exhibition at the Fair, free
of charge, if returned on the same road :

Illinois Central. Chicago and Rock Island.

Ohio and Mississippi. Galena and Chicago.

Terre Haute and Alton. Milwaukee and Chicago.

Great Western. Chicago, Burlington and Quincy.

Chicago, Alton and St. Louis. Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska.

Peoria and Oqaawka, and Eastern Ex- Missouri and Mississippi.

tension. Chicago and St. Paul.

The liberality of the managers of these roads contributed most
essentially to the success of the Peoria Fair.

Adjourned to meet in Springfield on the 6th of January, 1853.

tip*

ANNUAL MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Springfield, January 6, 1858.

The Executive Committee met at the office of the corresponding
secretary.

Present — C. ~W\ "Webster, President; H. C. Johns, Ex-Presi-
dent; J. E. McClun, A. B. McConnell, W. Kile, S. A. Buck-
master and H. S. Osborn, Yice-Presidents ; John Williams, Treas-
orer, and Phil. Warren, Recording Secretary.

The proceedings of the last meetings having been read,

Mr. Buckmaster made a verbal report in regard to procuring
diplomas, and stated that he had not made any definite arrange-
ments for that purpose.

A statement from Mr. Joseph A. Miller, of Alton, in relation to
the diplomas rejected by the Committee, was taken up, read and
laid on the table.

The following report of the Committee on Farms was read and
adopted :

The Committee on Farms, etc., of the Illinois State Agricultural Society,

Award the first premium for the best improved and most highly cultivated farm of five
hundred acres to James N. Brown, of Sangamon county.

They award the second premium for the best improved and most highly cultivated farm
of five hundred acres to J. M, Blackburn, of Edgar county.

They award the first premium for the best improved and most highly cultivated farm of
one hundred and sixty acres, to Dr. McFarland, of the Insane Hospital farm — with this pro-
viso :— That should it be the opinion of the Executive Committee that the farm of this in-
stitution comes fairly within the class of farms which were designed to fall under the action
of the awarding committee, they award the second premium for the best improved and
most highly cultivated farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to John H. Hosford, of La
Salle county.

Provided the Insane Hospital farm is ruled out, as not a legitimate subject for the action
of the awarding committee, then the first premium is awarded by the committee to John
H. Hosford, of La Salle county, and the second premium to Benjamin Burt, of Cham-
paign county

They award the first premium for the best and most highly improved and cultivated nur-
sery, which contains the best variety of Fruit Trees, Shrubs and Plants, to Charles Kenni-
cott, of Cook county.

They award the second premium for the best and most highly cultivated and improved
nursery, etc., to M. L. Dunlap, of Champaign county.

WILLIAM S. WAIT,
SILAS H. ELLIOTT,

Awarding Committee.

n

On motion of Mr. Kile,

Resolved, That, while we are gratified at the high state of cultivation of the farm en-
tered by Dr. McFarland— a credit alike to himself and our State — we do not think pro-
perty belonging to the State ought to be allowed to compete with that of private citizens.

The awards for farms are therefore as follows :

For best improved and most highly cultivated farm of 500 acres, first premium, Jas. N.
Brown, Sangamon county.

Second premium, James M. Blackburn, Edgar county.

For best and most highly cultivated farm of 160 acres, first premium, John H. Hosford,
La Salle county.

Second premium, Benjamin Burt, Champaign county.

For the best and most highly cultivated nursery, which contains the best variety of fruit
trees, ornamental shrubs and plants, first premium, Charles Kennicott, West Northfield,
Cook county.

Second premium, M. L. Dunlap, West Urbana, Champaign county.

Premiums for the field crops were taken up for consideration,
and the following awards were made :

For the best forty acres of Spring Wheat — 32| bushels per acre — Hugh Huls, St. Charles,
Kane county.

[The premium for this crop is Manny's Reaper, donated to this Society by Messrs. Tal-
cott, Emerson & Co., of Rockford, Illinois.]

For best five acres of Fall Wheat, premium — 240| bushels on the five acres — John An-
derson, Sparta, Randolph county.

For best five acres of Spring Wheat, first premium — 35 bushels per acre — Harrison Han-
cock, Tazewell county.

For best crop of Indian Corn, five acres, first premium — 122 bushels, 22 lbs. per acre —
Harrison Hancock, Tazewell county.

For best five acre? of Oats, first premium — 95 bushels per acre — Harrison Hancock,
Tazewell county.

Second premium — 88-} bushels per acre — Daniel Kelly, Wheaton, Du Page county.

For best half acre of White Beans, first premium — 21 bushels, 20 lbs — Harrison Han-
cock, Tazewell county.

Second premium — 13J bushels per half acre — Levi Mason, Bureau county.

Best half acre of Potatoes, premium — 250 bushels per half acre — Harrison Hancock,
Tazewell county.

Best acre of Timothy Seed, premium — 15 bushels per acre — Harrison Hancock, Tazewell
county.

Best acre of Blue Grass Seed, premium — 24 bushels per acre — Harrison Hancock, Taze-
well county.

Best one-fourth of an acre of Onions, premium — 70 bushels per quarter acre — A. B.
Rumsey, Kankakee county.

A letter from Hon. Marshall P. "Wilder, President of the Uni-
ted States Agricultural Society, proposing to unite the next Fair
of that Society with that of the Illinois State Agricultural Soci-
ety, was taken up for consideration, and laid on the table for the
present.

On motion,

Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be requested to attend the
meeting of the United States Agricultural Society, in Washington, on Wednesday next, as
delegates for this Society.

Resolved, That we desire them to present the name of Hon. H. C. Johns, of Macon
county, for one of the Vice-Presidents, in behalf of the State of Illinois.

Adjourned till 2 o'clock p.m.

Two o'clock P.M.

Board met pursuant to adjournment.

A communication from l)r. Starbuck, of Peoria, was read and
referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs. McConnel, Osborn
and McClun.

73

On motion, essays were taken up for consideration.

On motion of Dr. Johns, the following Committees were ap-
pointed to examine and report upon the essays submitted to them:

On Hogs — Messrs. Kile, Crowder and Chandler.

On Horses — Messrs. Buckmaster and Yanderin.

On /Sheep — Messrs. McConnell, Osborn and Mann.

On the Culture of Fruit, Forest and Ornamental Trees — Messrs.
Johns, Charles Kennicott and Ketchum.

On the Culture of Sugar Cane — Messrs. McClun and Hedges.

On a Disquisition on Self- Education, addressed to the Farmer —
Messrs. Eeynolds, Francis and Warren.

[Note. — Several gentlemen present, on request, kindly acted on the above Committees.]

The Board took a recess for the purpose of examining these
essays ; after which,

The Committee for the examination of the essay on the growing
of Sugar Cane, reported adverse to awarding a premium.

The Committee to examine essays upon the rearing of Horses
and Mules, reported in favor of awarding the first premium to
Phill Warren, of Springfield.

The Committee appointed to examine the essays upon the rais-
ing of Hogs, reported against an award.

The Committee appointed to examine essays upon the rearing of
Sheep, reported adverse to awarding a premium.

The Committee appointed to examine essays upon the culture of
Fruit, Forest and Ornamental Trees, reported in favor of award-
ing a preminm to O. Ordway, of Marshal county, for the best trea-
tise upon the culture of Forest and Ornamental Trees, and a pre-
mium to C. R. Overman, of McLean county, for the best treatise
on the cultivation of Fruit Trees ;

Which several reports were concurred in.

J. Williams, Treasurer, made a verbal report of the financial
condition of the Society.

Several essays on the Embellishment of a Country Home Were
taken up and read ; when,

On motion, adjourned to meet at seven o'clock in the evening.

Seven tf clock P. M.

Committee met — same members present as before.

On motion, the first premium for the essay "On the Embellish-
ment of a Country Home" was awarded to Miss Frances E. Wil-
lard, of Janesville, Wisconsin; and the second premium to Mrs.
R. B. Hatch, of Griggsville, Pike county.

The Committee appointed to examine "A Disquisition upon Self-
Education," by J. C. Power, of Peoria, reported in favor of its
publication ; which report was accepted and adopted.
—10

74

The Committee examined seventeen specimens of CMnese sugar
cane syrup.

On motion, a Committee of ladies was appointed to examine the
syrups and recommend the awards, consisting of Mrs. J. A. Matte-
son, Mrs. S. Francis, Mrs. C. Birchall and Miss Shaw, of Tremont.

Adjourned till 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.

January 7 — eight A. M.

Committee met.

Present— C. W. Webster, President ; H. C. Johns and J. K
Brown, Ex-Presidents ; Wm. Kile, J. E. McClun and H. S. Osborn,
Vice Presidents ; S. Francis, Corresponding Secretary ; and Phill
"Warren, Recording Secretary.

On motion,

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary send twenty volumes of the last volume of
Transactions to each member of the Board.

On motion, the subject of diplomas was taken up for considera-
tion.

On motion,

Resolved, That action upon the communication of Mr. Joseph A. Miller in relation to
diplomas be indefinitely postponed, and that his papers be returned to him.

On motion of Dr. Johns,

- Resolved, That the resolution authorizing Mr. Buckmaster to contract for diplomas be
rescinded.

Resolved, That silver medals, properly engraved, be substituted for diplomas awarded at
our last Fair.

Resolved, That the use of diplomas by this Society be dispensed with, and that gold, sil-
ver and bronze medals be substituted for the same.

The communication from Hon. Marshal P. Wilder, President of
the United States Agricultural Society, in relation to uniting the
Illinois and United States Fairs, was again taken up and fully
discussed.

On motion of Mr. Warren,

Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board it is inexpedient to unite with the United
States Agricultural Society in holding our next Annual Fair; and that our Corresponding
Secretary be requested to inform President Wilder of the action of this Board.

Adjourned till 2 o'clock P. M.

Two o'clock P. If.

Board met — present as before.

Communications from Messrs. Talcott, Emerson & Co., offering
to donate a mower and reaper to the Society as a premium for the
best crop of wheat; and from Messrs. Selby, Jones & Co., of Peoria,
and Messrs. Kuhns & Co., of Dayton, offering for the same purpose
drills ; and of Charles W. Cahoon, a broad cast sower, for the same
purpose, were presented to the Board j which donations were ac-
cepted by the Board.

75

The Committee appointed to examine Dr. Starbuck's communi-
cation, made the following report; which was adopted :

The undersigned beg leave to report that they have had the communication of Dr. Star-
buck, of Peoria, under consideration, with all the facts, so far as they have been able to as-
certain them, and find that certain articles of dentistry were regularly entered by Dr. Star-
buck at the late State Fair, held at Peoria, and placed in their proper department for
exhibition ; but for causes unknown to your Committee, said articles were overlooked by
the Awarding Committee, and consequently were never examined, or come into competition
with those articles in the department in which they were entered.

A. B. McCONNELL, Chairman.

On motion of Mr. Warren,

Resolved, That the Treasurer be directed to make such a disposition of the funds now on
hand belonging to the Society, as will bring the Society six per cent, interest, and be sub-
ject to draft.

Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to purchase of I. B. Curran the amount of
plate left on his hands after the premiums are paid out: Provided the same can be bought
at eastern cost.

On motion of Mr. Buckmaster,

Resolved, That the same premiums, generally, upon the same articles, provided for in
our last premium list, will be given for articles offered for exhibition at the next Pair, ex-
cept No. 32, Class F., and that the Superintendents of the different departments shall fur-
nish the Corresponding Secretary such alterations in the premium list and Awarding Com-
mittees as they may think proper, within thirty days, and that the same persons be appointed
Superintendents of the departments assigned to them at the last Fair.

On motion of Mr. Brown,

Resolved, That the resolution heretofore adopted, "that the Society will hold its annual
Fair at no place that will not pay the entire expenses of the Fair grounds, fixtures and
police," be rescinded.

On motion of S. A. Buckmaster,

Resolved, That the executive Board of the Illinois State Agricultural Society offer a pre-
mium of Jive thousand dollars for the best steam engine, suitable for plowing and other work;
the practicability to be decided by this Board.

Resolved, That the Executive Board meet on the 9th of March, 1858.

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be required to give notice that proposalg will
be received from the cities and towns of this State for holding the next State Fair — the
proposals to be received by him in time for the action of the Board at their March

The Committee appointed to examine the Chinese cane syrups,
made the following report :

That they award the first premium to Josiah Sawyer, of Tremont ; the second to Moses
Pierson, of Springfield ; and the third to J. H. Smith, of Quincy.

Report accepted and adopted.
The Board adjourned.

Springfield, March 9, 1858.

The Executive Committee met at the office of the Corespond-
ing Secretary, pursuant to adjournment.

Present— C. W. Webster, President ; J. 1ST. Brown and H. C.
Johns, Ex-Presidents ; H. Capron, L. Ellsworth, J. E. McClun,
A. B. McConnell, Wm. Kile, H. S. Osborn and S. A. Buckmaster,
Vice-Presidents ; John Williams, Treasurer ; S. Francis, Corres-
ponding Secretary ; and Phill Warren, Recording Secretary.

76

The time of the sitting was spent in revising and arranging the
premium list for 1858.

Adjourned to meet at the Supreme Court Room at two o'clock,
to decide upon the location of the next State Fair.

Two o'clock P.M.

The Committee met, pursuant to adjournment.

Applications were laid before the Board for holding the State
Fair at Jacksonville, Centralia, Freeport and Peoria.

The friends of the different applications having withdrawn, and
the subject having been fully discussed by the members of the
Committee,

On motion,

Resolved, That the next State Fair be held at Centralia.

On motion,

Resolved, That the Becording Secretary prepare a bond, to be signed by the committee
from Centralia, as a guarantee that the requirements of this Society will be complied with.

Adjourned till seven o'clock p.m.

Seven o'clock P.M.

The Committee met, and spent the evening in revising the pro-
mium list.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning at eight o'clock.

March 10 — eight o'clock A.M.
The Committee met.
Present — the same members as before.

On motion, Messrs. Ellsworth, Francis and Williams were ap-
pointed a committee to procure plate for the next Fair.
On motion,

Resolved, That S. Francis and L. Ellsworth be a committee to complete the premium
list for the Horticultural Department.

Resolved, That in consequence of the complete arrangements made last year for holding
the State Fair at Peoria, and the great cost of the same, the note now held by this Society
against Smith Frye be given to the Peoria County Agricultural Society.

The revision of the premium list having been gone through
with,

On motion,

Resolved, That the following persons be appointed Superintendents of the different De-
partments for the next Fair :

1st Depai

2d

3d

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th
10th
11th

Ti

tment. CATTLE H. Capron.

HORSES S. A. Buckmestek.

SHEEP, SWINE AND POULTRY A. B. McConnell.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS J. E. McClun.

FARM AND GARDEN PRODUCTS H. S. Osborn.

FRUIT AND FLOWERS L. Ellsworth.

MACHINERY, ETC Wit. Kile.

MUSIC, PAINTING, ETC J. G. Vaughan.

TEXTILE FABRICS A. McDonald.

NATURAL HISTORY, ETC S. Y. McMasters.

PLOWING MATCH , Urial Mills.

J ohn P. Reynolds was appointed Superintendent of the Fair
Grounds.
Adjourned.

CALLED MEETING OF THE BOAKD.

Centralia, July 21, 1858.

Present — C. "W. Webster, President ; J. N. Brown, Ex-Presi-
dent; L. Ellsworth, "William Kile, H. S. Osborn, J. E. McClun,
Yice-Presidents ; S. Francis, Corresponding Secretary ; and John
Williams, Treasurer.

The subject of postponing the State Fair was taken up for con-
sideration, and after being fully discussed, the following resolution
was adopted :

Reeolved, That it is inexpedient to postpone the time of holding the State Fair.

Adjourned, to meet on the Fair Grounds, on Saturday, the 11th
day of September next.

SIXTH ANNUAL FAIR

OF THE

ILLINOIS STATE AGKICULTUBAL SOCIETY,

HELD AT CANTRALIA, SEPTEMBER 14, 15, 16, and 17, 1858.

PREMIUMS AWARDED:

Note. — The State is not designated except where premiums are awarded for articles from
other states.

CLASS A.

No. 1— DURHAM C A T T L E — B U L L S.

Best Bull, 4 years old and over, Crusader, R. G. Corwin, Lebanon, Ohio $30

Second best, Defender, A. G. Carle, Urbana 20

Third best, Mingo, Wm. M. Laehr, Bloomington 10

Best Bull, 3 years old and under 4, Yeodor, J. D. Smith, Berlin 30.

Second best, Abe Lincoln, W. P. Withers, Bloomington 20

Third best, King Albert, J.N. Brown , 10

Best Bull, 2 years old and under 3, Governor, J. B. Turner, Mattoon 30

Second best, Clifton, W. A. Eads, St. Louis, Mo 20

Third best, Young Ben, O. B. Nicholls, Carlylo 10

Best Bull, 1 year old and under 2, Gen. Harney, Jeremiah Turpin, Carrollton 30

Second best, Reform, J. N. Brown, Berlin 20

Third best, Matteson, S. Dunlap, Jacksonville .*. 10

Best Bull Calf, under 1 year, Lord Alexander, J. N. Brown,Berlin 30

Second best, Panic, J. N. Brown, Berlin 20

Third best, Yeodor 2d, J. P. Henderson, Jacksonville 10

COWS.

Best Cow, over 4 years old, Bracelet, J. M. Hill, Cass county 30

Second best, Sally Campbell, J. N. Brown, Berlin 20

Third best, Lady Blanche, S. Dunlap, Jacksonville 10

Best Cow, 3 years old and under 4, Ruby 2d, J. D. Smith, Berlin 30

Second best, May Flower, S. Dunlap, Jacksonville 20

Third best, Rachel 2d, J. N. Brown, Berlin. 10

Best Heifer, 2 years old and under 3, Lady Washington, J. P.Henderson, Jacksonville. 30

Second best, Flora, R. Calef, Piatt county 20

Third best, Countess, S. Dunlap, Jacksonville 10

Best Heifer, 1 yearold and under 2,* Lady Frances, J. N. Brown, Berlin 30

Second best, Sunshine, E. Stevenson, Jacksonville 20

Third best, Fairy, A.. G. Carle, Urbana 10

Best Heifer Calf, under 1 year^ Favorite, J. D. Smith, Berlin 30

Second best, Beauty, W. R. Combs, Mahomet ,. . 20

Third best, Hettie Smith, J. D. Smith, Berlin 10

79

No. 2 — DEVON CATTLE.

Best Bull, 2 years old and under 3, Bob Boy, Robert Mills, Marion county $30

No. 5 — NATIVES AND CROSSES.

Best Cow, 4 years old and over, Adelaide, A. Gr. Carle, Urbana 12

Second best, Peggy, Benjamin Burt, Urbana 8

Best Cow, 3 years old and under 4, Gaudy, A. Gr. Carle, Urbana 12

Second best, Lulu, A. G. Carle, Urbana 8

Best Heifer, 2 years old and under 3, Bell, J. W. Turpin, Carrollton 12

Second best, Lizzie Fairfax, E. Stevenson, Jacksonville 8

Best Heifer, 1 year old and under 2, Arabella, A. Gr. Carle, Urbana 12

Second best, Elizabeth, A. G. Carle, Urbana 8

Best Heifer, under 1 year old, Flora, A. G. Carle, Urbana 12

Second best 8

No. 6 — MILCH COWS.

BestMiloh Cow, Pied, Cyrus Jones, Bloomington r , 20

[The milk of this cow in ten days in June made 22i lbs. of butter; in ten days in
July, 20| lbs.]

No. 7 — PAT CATTLE.

Best throe Bullocks, 3 years old or over, R. Calef, Piatt county 20

Best fat Bullock, 3 years old and over, W. P. Withers, Bloomington 10

Best fat Heifer, 3 years old and over, Mary, M. W. Collins, Fairfield, Wayne county. 10

No. 8 — WORK OXEN AND STEERS.

Bestfour yoke of Oxen, L. W. Jennings, Centralia , 30

Best yoke of Oxen, C. W. Webster, Marion county 10

Second best, J. B. Cunningham, Marion county 5

Best trained 2 years old and under 3, Steers, by boy 9 years old, C. W Webster, jr.,

Salem 5

No. 9 — SWEEPSTAKES.

Best Bull and five Cows or Heifers, from 1 year old and upwards, from anyone county,

J. N. Brown, Sangamon county 50

Second best, S. Dunlap, Morgan county 25

Best five head of Calves, male and female, under 1 year old, from one county, J. D.

Smith, Sangamon county 30

Second best, A. G. Carle, Champaign county 15

Best Cow or Heifer, of any age, J. N. Brown, Sangamon county Gold Medal.

Best Bull, of any age, A. G. Carle, Champaign county.... Gold Medal.

CLASS B— No. 10.

Best Stallion, 4 years old and over, Barnton, Sanger, Jacoby & Co., Springfield....,,. 30

Second best, Glencoe, Col. Roberts, Jacksonville 20

Best Mare, 4 years old, Jenny Lind, Joseph Morton, Jacksonville 30

Best Mare Colt, 1 year old and under 2, Kitty Gloyd, A. G. Carle, Urbana 30

No. 11 — HORSES OF ALL WORK.

Best Stallion, over 4 years old, Granite State, J. Y. Sawyer, Godfrey 30

Second best, Whalebone, F. S. Casey, Mount Vernon 20

Best Stallion Colt, over 3 and under 4 years old, Neio York Blackhawk, W. Bos-
worth, Bloomington 30

Second best, Illinois Farmer, Solomon Miller, Belleville 20

Best Stallion Colt, over 2 years and under 3 years old, One, A. W. Scogin, Bloom-
ington 30

Second best, Bellfounder, F. J. Smith, Salem 15

Best Stallion Colt, over lyear and under 2 years old, Charter Oak, H. C. Bull, Alton.. 30

Second best, Young Grey Highlander, A. W. Hess, Areola, Coles county 15

80

Best Brood Mare, over 4 years old, Queen Isabel, Joseph Morton, Jacksonville $30

Second best, Mary Morgan, L. L. Dorsey, Louisville, Ky 20

Best Filly, over 3 years old and under 4, Mary Winchester, L. L. Dorsey, Louisville,

Ky 30

Second best, Anna, L. L. Dorsey, Louisville, Ky 20

Best Filly, over 2 years old and under 3, Miss Fashion, John Prunty, Ashland, Cass

county 30

Second best, Our Filly, Wm. L. Green, Mount Vernon 20

Best Filly, over 1 year old and under 2, Martha, John M. Coswell, Rome, Jefferson

county.

30

Second best, Maria, Nelson Montgomery, Edwardsville 15

Best Sucking Colt, Little Giant, Geo. W. Carr, Upper Alton 20

Second best, Youny Whalebone, F. S. Casey, Mount Vernon 10

No. 12 — DRAUGHT HORSES.

Best Stallion, for draught, 4 years old and over, Stallion Gilbert, James Oldman,

Davis county, Ky 20

Second best, Youny Gilbert, Andrew Ray, Vandalia 10

Best Stallion, for draught, 3 years old and under 4, Mingo, Geo. W. Anderson, Cen-

tralia 20

Second best, John Fender, Effingham county 10

Best Stallion, for draught, Young Louis Napoleon, A. P. Cushman, Waynesville 20

Second best, Perfection, S. Fleming, Effingham county 10

Best Stallion, for draught, one year old and under 2, Davy Crockett, W. Hodgson,

Pekin 20

Second best, Christopher, W. Hodgson, Pekin 10

Best Gelding, for draught, 3 years old, Isaac Jennings, Salem 20

Best Brood Mare, for draught, 4 years old, Bet, John Prunty, Ashland 15

Second best, Lyclia, Levi Dillon, Boynton, Tazewell county 10

Best Filly, 3 years old and under 4, Nancy, Robert Kinder, Edwardsville 15

Second best, Filly, James Johnson, Central City 10

Best Filly, for draught, 2 years old and under 3, Betsy Baker, A. P. Cushman,

Waynesville 15

Second best, Blaze, Nelson Montgomery, Edwardsville 10

Best Mare Colt, for draught, over 1 year old, Maria, Nelson Montgomery, Edwards-
ville 15

Best Sucking Colt, Ally, Levi Dillon, Boynton, Tazewell county 10

Best pair of Draught Horses, for farm, Tom and Bock, Henry Lusk, Bloomington.... 20

No. 13 — CARRIAGE HORSES.

Best pair matched Carriage Horses, Geo. H. Lindsley, Jonesboro 30

Second best, Geo. W. Chatterton, Springfield 15

Best pair matched Mares, Calvin Rowley, Rockford 30

Second best, L. L. Dorsey, Louisville, Ky 15

No. 14 — SINGLE HARNESS HORSES.

Best single harness Horse, Harry, S. A. Buckmaster, Alton 30

Second best, Jake, G. W. Chatterton, Springfield 15

Best single harness Mare, Julin, L. L. Dorsey, Louisville, Ky 30

Best Gelding, 3 years old, Honest John, J. E. Crooks, Central City 30

Second best, L. L. Dorsey, Louisville, Ky 15

Best mare, 3 years old, Wild Rose, R. Kinder, Edwardsville 30

Second best, Julia Bean, John Cunningham, Salem 15

Best Gelding for saddle, 4 years old, Felix Grundy, J. B. Affleck, Osborn 30

Second best, Mound City, Thomas Kirk, Mound City 15

Best Mare for saddle, Lady, W. B. Hundley, Madison county 30

Second best, Lady Kate, Geo. W. Botsford, Middleport 15

Best Stallion for single harness, 4 years old, Daniel Myers, Salem 30

Second best, Grey Messenger, Hiram C. Clark, Atlanta 15

Best Stallion for saddle, 4 years old, Sea Gull, W. B. Hundley, Alton 30

Second best, Buck Eye Boy, Benj. Ladd, Mahomet 20

Best Stallion Pony in harness, Smoker Boy, S. A. Buckmaster, Alton 30

Second best, A. S. Merritt, St. Louis, Mo 15

No. 15 — JENNETS AND MULES.

Best Jack, 4 years old and over, 3'ammoth, F. Todd, Kankakee 40

Second best, Tippecanoe, G. W.Pickering, Neoga 20

TRAUS

Owned by Daniel Kelly, jr., of Wheaton, Du Page county, Illinois. —
Winner of the first premium at the Illinois State Fair. 1858. Since purchased
by Peleg S. Spencer, of Danville, Vermilion county, Illinois, for two hundred
dollars, at six months old. Transit has descended directly from Humphrey
& Jarvis' importation, and is believed to have no superior, in point of blood, in
this country. The age of Transit, when ambrotype Was taken, was ten months.
Weight of fleece, one year's growth, sixteen pounds, and sold to Joseph Kirk-
land for fifty cents per pound. Value of fleece, eight dollars.

It is but just to say that the foregoing engraving, made from an ambrotype,
by no means flatters the animal. Indeed it is nearly impossible for the en-
graver to bring out the important points from an ambrotype, as Ave have
found to our cost.

[Face page 81.

81

Best Jack, 3 years old and under 4, Jack, V. Q. Lee, Salem.., $40

Second best, Young Western, D. Kennedy, Nashville 20

Best Jack, 2 years old and under 3, Moses, E. M. Carty, Coles county 30

Best Jack, 1 year old and under 2, Jack, Abraham Byram, Mitchelville, Tenn 20

Best Jennet, 4 years old and over, Jenny Bind, T. Boswell, Pilot, Vermilion county.. 30

Second best, Sail, S. Hull, Salem 15

Best Jennet, 3 years old and under 4, Isabel, T. Boswell, Pilot 30

Best Jennet, 2 years old and under 3, Jin, W. W. Collins, Fairfield 20

Best Jennet, 1 year old and under 2, Jasper Light, DuPoint, Perry county 20

Best pair Mules, for draught or farm, A. W. Ewbank, Bloomington 20

Second best, W. S. Crawford, Benton 10

Best single Mule, over 3 years old, John Prunty, Ashland 10

Second best, A. M. Crary, Cave, Franklin county Medal.

Best single Mule, over 2 years old and under 3, H. B. Newby, Mount Vernon 10

Second best, II. B. Newby, Mount Vernon Medal.

Best single Mule, over 1 year old and under 2, James M. Blades, McLeansboro 10

Best Mule Colt, W. H. Clayton, Nashville 10

Second best, Joseph Aldrich, Centralia Medal.

No. 16 — SWEEPSTAKES.

Best 10 Mule Colts, from one county, Joseph Aldrich, Centralia, Marion county 30

Second best 10 Mule Colts and Jack, Buchanan, J. M. Oglesby,' Salem 20

Best Stallion and 5 Brood Mares, belonging to one person or from one county, L. L.

Dorsey, Louisville, Ky 50

Best Mare, Queen Isabel, Joseph Morton, Jacksonville Gold Medal.

Best Stallion, Bamtou, Sanger, Jacoby & Co., Springfield Gold Medal.

CLASS C.

No. 17 — SHEEP — COTSfOLD, LONG WOOL, Ac.

Best Buck, 2 years old and over, C. W. Price, Berlin , 15

Best Buck Lamb, under 1 year old, A. Becraft, Jacksonville 15

Second best, Washington lies, Springfield 10

Best pen of 3 ewes, over 2 years old, C. W. Price, Berlin 15

Second best, C. W. Price, Berlin 10

Best pen of 3 Ewes, under 2 years old, C. W. Price, Berlin 15

Best pen of 3 Ewe Lambs, under 1 year old, W. lies, Springfield 10

Second best, Cotswold, John Lee, Carter 10

No. 18— MIDDLE WOOLED, SOUTH DOWN.

Best Buck, South Down, over 2 years old, A. Becraft, Jacksonville 15

Second best, W. B. Foreman, Nashville 10

Best Buck, under 2 years, W. B. Foreman, Nashville. 15

Best Buck Lamb, under 1 year, W. lies, Springfield 15

Second best, W. lies, Springfield : 10

Best pen of 3 Ewes, under 1 year, A. Becraft, Jacksonville 15

Second best, W. lies, Springfield 10

Best pen of 3 Ewe Lambs, under 1 year, A. Becraft, Jacksonville 15

No. 19 — F BENCH MERINOES.

Best Buck, over 2 years oil, John McConnell, Springfield 15

Second best, E. Gorham, Hadley 10

Best Buck, under 2 years, J. McConnell, Springfield 15

Second best, A. B. McConnell, Springfield 10

Best Buck Lamb, under 1 year, Anti-Leconvpton, A. B. McConnell, Springfield 15

Second best, Joel Acree, Butler's Point, Vermilion county 10

Best pen of 3 Ewes, over 2 years, A. B. McConnell, Springfield 15

Second best, A. B. McConnell, Springfield 10

B.st pen of 3 Ewes, under 2 years, John McConnell, Springfield

Second best, A. B. McConnell, Springfield 10

Best pen of 3 Ewe Lambs, under 1 year, John McConnell, Springfield

—11

82

No. 20— SPANISH MEEINOES:

Best Buck, over 2 years, D. Kelly, Jr., Wheaton $15

Second best, E. Gorham, Hadley 10

Best Buck, under 2 years, John McConnell, Springfield , „ 15

Second best, P. S. Spencer, Danville 10

Best Buck Lamb, under 1 year, Transit, D. Kelly, Jr., Wheaton 15

Second best, P. S. Spencer, Danville '. 10

Best pen of 3 Ewes, over 2 years, D. Kelly, Jr., Wheaton ; 15

Second best, D. Kelly, Jr., Wheaton 10

Best pen 3 Ewes, under 2 years, D. Kelly, Jr., Wheaton 15

Second best, D. Kelly, Jr., Wheaton 10

Best pen of 3 Ewe Lambs, under 1 year, D. Kelly, Jr., Wheaton 15

Second best, D. Kelly, Jr., Wheaton 10

No. 21 — CROSSES OF ALL BREEDS.

Best buck, over 2 years, A. B. McConnell, Springfield 15

Second best, P. S. Spencer, Danville 10

Best buck, under 2 years, A. B. McConnell, Springfield 15

Second best, J. McConnell, Springfield 10

Best Buck Lamb, under 1 year, Frank, Freeman Pollard, Warrenville 15

Second best, J. McConnell, Springfield 10

Best pen of 3 Ewes, over 2 years, A. B. McConnell, Springfield 15

Second best, P. S. Spencer, Danville 10

Best pen of 3 Ewes, over 2 years, J. McConnell, Springfield 15

Second best, J. McConnell, Springfield 10

Best pen of 3 Ewe Lambs, under 1 year, J. McConnell, Springfield 15

Second best, French cross, Freeman Pollard, Warrenville 10

No. 22 — FAT SHEEP.

Best 3 fat Sheep, over 2 years, C. W. Price, Berlin 10

Best 3 fat Sheep, under 2 years, C. W. Price, Berlin 10

No. 2 3 — SWE E P S T AKE S — LONG AND MIDDLE WOOLED.

Best lot of Sheep, of any age, not less than 1 Buck and 9 Ewes, C. W. Price, Berlin... 20

Second best, A. Becraft, Jacksonville 10

No. 24— OPEN FOB ALL FINE WOOLED.

Best lot of Sheep, of any age, not less than 1 Buck and 9 Ewes, J. McConnell,

Springfield 20

Second best, D. Kelly, Jr., Wheaton 10

MISCELLANEOUS.

One lot of Cashmere Goats, J. Kelly, Bainbridge, Ross Co., Ohio ; committee recom-
mended a premium of 15

No. 25 — SPEP HERD'S DOG.

Best Shepherd Dog, Ned, C. W. Price, Berlin 10

CLASS D.

No. 26 — SWINE.

Best Boar 1 year old and over, Berkshire, Jesse Clyde, Urbana. 15

Second best, A. C. Edgar, Mount Carroll 10

Best Boar 1 year old and under, Suffolk, J. M. Gillet, Hadley 15

Second best, Suffolk, J. A. Carpenter, Waukesha, AVisconsin 10

Best Breeding Sow 2 years old and over, Beauty, J. M. Gillett, Hadley 15

Second best, Queen of the West, J. M. Gillett, Hadley 10

Best Breeding Sow 1 year old and under 2, Benj. Burt, Urbana 15

Second best, Suffolk, J. T. Sylvester, Areola 10

Best Sow under "I year, E. N. Tainter, Springfield 16

Second best, Suffolk, J. T. Sylvester, Areola 10

83

No. 2 7 — SWEEPSTAKES

Best Boar and three Sows, J. M. Gillett, Hadley $20

Second best, E. N. Tainter, Springfield ]5

Best Boar of any age, Jesse Cloyd, Urbana 20

Best Sow of any age, E. N. Tainter, Springfield 20

CLASS E.

No. 2S — POULTRY.

Best pair Dorkins, J. A. Carpenter, Waukesha, Wisconsin. 3

Best pair Shanehais, Charles Heath, Central City 3

Second best, B. Sprague, Du Quoin Periodical.

Best pair Bolton Greys, S. Francis, Springfield 3

Best pair Brahma Pootras, D. Callahan, Springfield 3

Second best, J. M. Gillett, Hadley Ag. Periodical.

Best pair Muscovy Ducks, D. Callahan, Springfield 3

Best pair Liberian Ducks, D. Callahan, Springfield 3

Best pair Poland Ducks, D. Callahan, Springfield 3

Best pair Guinea Hens, D. Callahan, Springfield 3

Best pair Fancy Rabbits, J. D. Wilson, Urbana 3

Best exhibition of Pigeons, D. Callahan, Springfield 3

Best exhibition of Poultry, D. Callahan, Springfield 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Mixed Guinea Hens; commended.
White Top-knot Bantams; commended.
Gray Foxes, L. C. Schism; domesticated.

CLASS F.

No. 29 — AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

Best Plow of newly invented principles, R. S. Benton, New York .-, Medal.

[The Committee commended the two-wheel Excelsior Plow of G. D. Cotton, Gales-
burg.]

Best Plow for old prairie, Buford & Tate, Rock Island 10

Second best, Toby & Anderson, Peoria Medal.

Best Plow for clay soil, T. D. Brewster, Peru 10

Second best, Buford & Tate, Rock Island Medal.

Best Sod Plow, Toby & Anderson, Peoria 10

Second best, John Deere, Moline , Medal.

Best Sod Plow for two horses, Toby & Anderson, Peoria 10

Second best, John Deere, Moline Medal.

Best Sub-soil Plow, Toby & Anderson, Peoria 10

Second best, John Deere, Moline Medal.

Eest Plow for all uses, Buford & Tate, Rock Island 10

No. 3 0 — CULTIVATORS, ROLLERS, ETC.

Best Clod Crusher and Roller combined, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago 5

Second best, Geo. H. Both well, Calhoun county, Michigan Medal.

Best Horse Rake, John J. Squire, Bunker Hill 5

Best Corn Cultivator, Toby & Anderson, Peoria 5

Second best, Buford & Tate, Rock Island Medal.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Double Shovel Plow, John Deere, Moline; commended.
Single Shovel Plow, John Deere, Moline; commended.

Revolving Horse Rake, Spencer Day, Beaver Dam, Dodge county, Wisconsin ; a
first premium recommended.

84

Land Side Cutter for a plow, R. S. Stanton, New York ; believed to be a valuable

improvement.
Iron Harrow, J. M. Colburn/Camanche ; a first premium recommended.
Excavator and Conveyer, A. Taggart, Mattoon ; a medal recommended.
Forest Grubber Plow, Buford & Tate, Rock Island ; a medal recommended.

No. 31 — SHOVELS AND FORKS.

Best and most numerous variety of Agricultural Implements, manufactured by ex-
hibitor, or under his supervision, materials, workmanship, utility and durability to
be considered, H. D. Emery k Co., Chicago 10

Best set of Gardener's Tools, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago; .....Medal.

Best six Hay Forks, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago , Medal.

Best six Manure Forks, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

Best six Shovels, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

Best six Spades, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

Best six Hoes, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

Best Ox Yoke, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

Second best, John Deere, Moline Ag. Periodical.

Best Bush Scythe, North Wayne Scythe Company, North Wayne, Maine ....Medal.

Best pair Hedge Shears, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

No. 32 — DRILLS, CORN PLANTERS, ETC.

Best Gauge Grain Drill, B. Kuhns & Co., Springfield... .....Meda

Best horse power Corn Planter, G. W. Brown, Galesburg Meda*

[The Committee recommend a second premium to Thomas B. Houghton, Bloom-
ington.]

Best broad-cast Sowing Machine, G. Lindley Chicago Medal,

[The Committee recommend a second premium to be given to Gait & Patterson,
Sterling.]

Best Timothy and Clover Seed Planter, Thos. Mast & Co., Springfield, Ohio .....Medal.

[The Committee commend the machine of B. Kuhns & Co., Springfield.]

MISCELLANEOUS.

Lot of Ox Bows, J. Deere, Moline; commended.

Lot of Axe Handles, Elias Pearson; Salem, commended.

Combined Potato and Corn Planter, Munn & Co., Louisville, Ky; commended.

No. 33 — OTHER IMPLEMENTS.

Moffett's Threshing Machine, Clark, Plant & Norris, St. Louis, Mo Medal and 10

[The Committee found it extremely difficult to award on threshing Machines, owing to
the excellence of the machines on exhibition.]

Best Horse Power for general purposes, A. Pitts, Chicago..... Medal and 10

Best Corn and Cob Mill, Wm. Scarlet, Aurora Medal.

Best portable Saw Mill, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

Best Fanning Mill, H. N. Goodrich, Aurora Medal.

Best portable Hay Press, Ingersoll's patent, North Wayne Scythe Company, North

Wayne, Maine Medal and 10

Best horse power Corn Sheller, Robinson, Dunham & Co., Peoria Medal.

[The Committee recommend to the favorable notice of farmers the Corn Sheller of
Shreffer, Vandersoll & Co., Plainfield, Will county.

Best hand Corn Sheller, Shreffer, Vandersoll & Co., Plainfield Medal.

Best Straw, Hay and Corn-stalk Cutter, G. B. Griffin, Peter & Buchanon, Louis-
ville, Kentucky Medal.

No. 34— HOUSEHOLD IMPLEMENTS.

Best dozen Corn Brooms, Stewart & Milligan, Mount Vernon Medal-
Best Churn, Stafford & Roth, Burlington, Iowa Medal'

Second best, S. M. Robey, Princeton Ag. Periodical-
Best Cheese Vat, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal

Best Clothes Washing Machine, T. W. Hamilton, Berlin, Green Lake county, Wis. ..Medal
Second best, E. Brown, St. Louis, Mo Ag. Periodical

MISCELLANEOUS.

Power Corn-stalk Crusher and Cutter, Griffin, Peter & Buchanon, Louisville, Ky.; commit-
tee recommend a gold medal.

B. KUHNS & Co., Springfield, Ills.

GRAI5T DRILL.

For which was awarded, at the Peoria fair, a diploma and the first premium
of the Society.

[Face page 84.

85

Ciller and Wine Mill, G. B. Griffin, Peter & Buehanon, Louisville, Ky.; cornniitteo

recommend silver medal.
Ked/,ie*s patent Water Filters, James Terry & Co., Rochester; commended.
Convertible Rotating Harrow, V. M. Chaffee, Grayville, la.; commended.
Former tor bending mould boards, Toby & Anderson, Peoria; committee recommend

silver medal.
Knife-cleaning Machine, Joseph Mourdon, St. Louis, Mo.; commended.
The committee commend Sausage Stuffer, Leading Clasps, Ox Bow Keys, Pruning

Saw and Chisel, and Coach Wrenches, entered by II. D. Emery & Co., Chicago.
Self-raking Reaper, J. N. A. Wcmple, Chicago ; commended.
Flag Knife and Scythes, North Wayne Company, Maine ; commended.
Apple Parcr, S. G. Paxton, Marietta, Ohio ; commended.
Reaper and Stacker, Murray, Van Doren & Glover, Ottawa; commended.
Tire Setter and Wagon Brake, R. M. Patchin, Springfield.
Portable Fence, Charles Mahan, Centralia ; commended.
Corn Husker, D. C. Smith, Tecumseh, Michigan ; best.
Deep Tiller Plow, Buford & Tate, Rock Island ; commended.
Road Scraper, Scofield & Johns, Albion ; best.
Carpet Sweeper; H. H. Herriek, St. Louis, Mo.; an excellent article.
Anti-friction Reaper and Mower, Geo. S. Curtis, Chicago; commended.

CLASS G.

No. 35 — FARM PRODUCTS.

Best sample Winter AVheat, A. H. Marshall, Jonesboro $5.

Second best, Dan Kimball, Jonesboro Ag. Periodical.

Best sample Spring Wheat, M. E. Richard, Carlyle Medal.

Best Oats, George Miller, Belleville Medal.

Second best, Samuel Hargrave, Jonesboro Ag. Periodical.

Best bushel Corn, W. H. Conner, Carbondale Medal and 5

Sample of Corn in the ear, S. Hargrave, Jonesboro Ag. Periodical.

Best Buckwheat, George Miller, Belleville Medal.

Best Timothy Seed, George Miller, Belleville Medal.

Second best, J. Snyder, Centralia Ag. Periodical.

Best Sweet Potatoes, Brush & Conner, Carbondale Medal.

Second best, red Sweet Potatoes, B. L. Wiley, Jonesboro Ag. Periodical.

Best lot of Onions, (Shalottes,) George Miller, Belleville Medal.

Best Table Turnips, Amos Duffield, Sandoval Medal.

Second best, B. L. Wiley, Jonesboro Ag. Periodical.

Best three lots Salsafy, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville ....Medal.

Best lot Celery, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville Medal.

Best lot of Tomatoes, Samuel Waters, Urbana ...Medal.

Second best, A. B. Fry, Centralia , Ag. Periodical.

Best Peppers, Win. Sculoch, Jonesboro Medal.

Best bunch of Beans, George Miller, Belleville , Medal.

Best and greatest variety of Garden Peas, Mrs. N. R. Thatcher, Naperville Medal.

Second best, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Ag. Periodical.

Japan Peas, Geo. Miller, Belleville ; committee recommend a second premium.

Best lot of Squashes, A. B. Fry, Centralia Medal.

Best Watermelons, A. M. Pettison, Patoka Medal.

Second best, Wm. Hearley, Walnut Hill, Marion county Ag. Periodical.

No. 36 — FLOUR, STARCH AND MADDER.

Best barrel of Flour 5

Second best 3

There were several entries under this head, viz : by Samuel Hargrave, Jonesboro ; H.
Saunders, Carbondale; Deshon & Standing, Cairo, (two;) A. B. West, Yandalia; D. &
C. Johnson, Vandalia; and A. Connel, Murphysboro. The Awarding Committee say
that they consider the flour excellent, but cannot decide which is best.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Peck KohlRabi, C. W. Murtfeldt, Oregon City; commended.
Bee House and Honey, John Cowgill, Kankakee ; commended.
Chinese Sugar Cane bandy, Wm. Peverill, Rockford; commended.

Corn on Stalk, A. Robinson, Pulaski county; fine specimen

Corn Meal, H. Saunders. Carbondale; excellent

Specimen Corn on Stalk, Wm. Conner, Carbondale; good growth and perfect.

Lot of Upland Rice, A. Conner, Carbondale; a perfect article, sehwing that rice of

good quality can be grown in Illinois.
Tomatoes, J. D. Wilson, Urbana; fine.

Chinese Sugar Cane, H. McGhee, Caledonia; excellent specimen.
Spring Barley, Geo. Miller, Belleville ; good.
Lot of Green Pole Beans, Geo. Miller, Belleville ; fine.
Lot of Top Onions, Geo. Miller, Belleville; good

Great variety of Garden Beans, Mrs. N. R. Thatcher, Naperville; very large variety
Lot of Garlics, Geo. Miller, Belleville ; perfect in their growth. J

Prolific Peabody Corn, W . B. Foreman, Nashville ; stalks produced several ears.
Large and perfect Sugar Cane Stalks, J. L. Gilbraith, Mount Vernon.

No. 37 — HAMS, BUTTER AND CHEESE.
Best Boiled Ham, Mrs. N. Scott, Belleville M„. , „„, -,.

Bt wuts.x, o^c,";!.::::^..!.0..^- m,de rt ^ ^ «r*S£ S5

Second best, Charles Rich, Metamora 1^

Best Butter made in May or June, 20 lbs., Charles wV Murtfeldt,' Oregon City 5

Second best, Monroe Bailey, Argo, Carroll, county • y Mn , ,

Best Fresh Butter, in roll, 10 lbs., Isaac Beaton, kilmundy.".'".'.".'.'.'. m"\T{

Second best, Monroe Bailey, Ar°-o .. ........... lueii.u.

Best Cheese, 1 year old and over, C. Rich/ Metamora::::.'.':.': " S" Penodlcal-

Second best, Monroe Bailey, Argo M , .°

Best Cheese, under 1 year, Monroe Bailey,'Argo.'".'.'.'.'."'.V. Medal.

.Second best, Monroe Bailey, Ar^o... "° »» , ,

•" ° Medal.

No. 38-HONEY, SUGAR, BREAD AND CEREAL FOOD.

Best lot of Honey, lOlbs, John Hodges, Salem s

Second best, G. Wilgus, Osborn ; '" ' M , °

Best two loaves wheat Bread, Miss S. Klien'/centraiia c

Second best, Mrs. Julia A. Frazier, Centralia X"

Best two loaves corn Bread, Mrs. N. Scott, Belleville Z

Second best, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Irwin, Centralia " I

Best Sponge Cake, Miss S. Klien, Centralia... Z

Second best, Mrs. N. Scott, Belleville """' ' ,

Best Pound Cake, Mrs. N. Scott, Belleviiie.'.'.'. ?

Second best, Mrs. M. C. Whiting, Centralia "'."'.'.'.'. 9

Jelly Cake, second premium, Mrs. M. C. Whiting, Centralia o

Best Crackers, Frank Fields, Peoria.... Z.

Second best, Mrs. R. T. Coffey, NaslivilTe".'.'.' I

Best Cucumber Pickles, Mrs. A. B. Trey, Centralia" ' {

Best Pickled Peaches, F. Exter, Shiloh ,

Best Tomato Catsup, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield %

Best Cucumber Catsup, Amanda Dunning, Cairo '."".".".".!.".'."".". '." »

MISCELLANEOUS.

Green Tomato Pickles, Mrs. N. Scott, Belleville; commended
Tomato Figs, Mrs. Sculock, Jonesboro ; commended
Preserved Tomatoes, same ; good

Lot of Rusks, Miss L. E. Masser, Salem ; excellent

Tomato Figs, Mrs. A. B. Milliken, Decatur; commended

Silver Cake, Mrs. C. M. Whiting, Centralia; nice

Bee Palace with Bees, J. Cowgill, Kankakee ; highly commended

87
CLASS H.

No. 39 — HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

SECTION I.

Bestdisplay of Evergreens, Samuel Edwards, Lamoille $10

Second best, F. K. Phoenix, Bloomington 5

Best and greatest variety of Apples, A. Bryant & Son, Princeton 25

Second best, J. W. Ten Brook, Parke county, Iowa 10

Bestfifteen varieties of Apples for southern Illinois, J. S. Galbrath, Mount Vernon... 15

Second best, A. & F. Starr, Alton 5

Best fifteen varieties of Apples for northern Illinois, A. Bryant & Son, Princeton 15

SECTION II.

Best varieties of Pears, U. Mills, Salem 10

Best and greatest variety of Peaches, A. & F. Starr, Alton 25

Best six varieties of Peaches, A. & F. Starr, Alton 10

Second best, W. Scott, Shiloh 3

Best twelve Peaches, A. & F. Starr, Alton 3

Second best, J. Jennings, Salem 1

Best and greatest variety of Native Grapes, S. Francis, Springfield 15

Second best, Geo. Miller, Belleville 8

Greatest variety of Wild Grapes, Wm. N. Scott, Belleville Medal.

Best six bunches of Native Grapes, one variety, W. Scott, Shiloh 5

Second best, S. Francis, Springfield 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Fifty varieties of Peas from Rochester, H. E. Hooker ; a good lot of specimens.
Thirty varieties of Peas from Rochester, Elwinger A Barry ; fine lot.

SECTION III.

Best can of Peaches, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield , 3

Second best, Mrs. C. G. Simons, Jonesboro 2

Best can of Cherries, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 3

Best three bottles of Gooseberries, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield , 3

Best can Raspberries, Mrs. J. Y. Sawyer, Godfrey 3

Best can Strawberries, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 3

Best preserved Quinces in sugar, Mrs. J. Y. Sawyer, Godfrey

Best preserved Apples in sugar, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 5

Second best, Mrs. J. Y. Sawyer, Godfrey 3

Best preserved Peaches in sugar, Mrs. J. Y. Sawyer, Godfrey 5

Second best, F. Exter, Shiloh 3

Best Plumbs in sugar, Mrs. J. Y. Sawyer, Godfrey 5

Second best, Mrs. N. Scott, Belleville 3

Siberian Crab Apples in sugar, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 5

Second best, Mrs. R. T. Coffey, Nashville 3

Best Pears in sugar, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 5

Second best, Mrs. M. M. Watts, Centralia 3

Best preserved Cherries, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 5

Second best, Mrs. J. Y. Sawyer, Godfrey 3

Best preserved Citron Melon, Miss Sarah Klien, Centralia

Second best, Mrs. J. Y. Sawyer, Godfrey 3

Best Crab Apple Jelly, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 3

do do do Mrs. L. P. Jennings, Centralia 3

[Two awards alike in this case.]
Mrs. A. K. Corey, the committee recommended should receive a premium of $2 for

Wild Plum Jelly.

Best Plum Jelly, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield ?

Best Quince Jcily, Mrs. J. Y. Sawyer, Godfrey 4

Best Pied Currant Jelly, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield 3

Best Apple Butter, A. J. Mills, Salem 5

Best Peach do F. Exter, Shiloh 5

MISCELLANEOUS.

Preserved Currants, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield; premium of $2 recommended.
Preserved Raspberries, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield; premium of $2 recommended,
do do Mrs. N. R. Thatcher, Naperville; premium of $2 recommended.

Blackberry Jelly, do Jam, do Caned, Mrs. A. B. Millikin, Decatur; premium of $2 recom-
mended in each case.
Wild Crab Apples in sugar, Mrs. R. T. Coffey, Nashville ; premium of $3 recommended.
Very large Blackberries (dewberries,) in alcohol, U. Mills, Salem.
Pear Butter, A. J. Mills ; commended,

SECTION IV.

Best Red Currant Wine, Mrs. N. R. Thatcher, Naperville $5

Second best, Miss Sarah Klien, Centralia

Best Black Currant Wine, Mrs. N. R. Thatcher, Naperville 5

Best Rhubarb Wine, Chas. Needham, Plainfield 5

Second best, Mrs. S. Francis, Springfield...- ,,...... 2

Best Blackberry Wine, Mrs. H. C. Johns, Decatur 5

Second best, F. Ester, Shiloh 2

Cherry Wine, Mrs. N. R. Thatcher, Naperville 5

Black Raspberry Wine, Mrs. N. R. Thatcher, Naperville , 2

SECTION V.

Best and greatest variety named Flowers, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 5

Best variety named Dahlias, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 5

Second best, Thomas Nelson, Sparta 3

Best twelve Dissimilar Blooms, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 5

Second best, Thomas Nelson, Sparta 3

Best sis Dissimilar Blooms, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 3

Second best, Thomas Nelson, Sparta 1

Best and greatest variety of named Roses, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 10

Second best, Reynolds & Kennicott, Odin 5

Best twelve varieties named, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 5

Second best, Reynolds & Kennicott, Odin 3

Best and most varieties, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 5

Second best, Samuel Waters, Urbana , 3

Best and greatest varieties of Asters, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville Floral Book.

Best display of Gladiolus, Reynolds & Kennicott, Odin Floral Book.

Best variety of Petunias, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville Floral Book.

Best collection of Green House Plants, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 20

Best Fuschias, ten varieties, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 10

Best display of Pansies, L. Ellsworth & Co., Naperville 3

Best and most tastefully arranged Cut Flowers, F. K. Phoenix, Bloomington... Floral Book.

Second best, Reynolds & Kennicott, Odin c Periodical.

Best arranged flat Boquet, Reynolds & Kennicott, Odin Floral Book.

Second best, Mrs. A. K. Corey, Centralia Periodical.

Best pair Vases of Cut Flowers, Reynolds & Kennicott, Odin

Best pair round Boquet, Reynolds & Kennicott, Odin Floral Book,

Second best, Mrs. A. K. Corey, Centralia Periodical.

Best specimens Wild Flowers, thirty varieties, Miss Alliee M. Kennicott, West North-
field 5

Best and greatest variety of Dried Plants and Herbs, Ruth Fenner, Fremont 10

Variety Dried Plants and Herbs, not named, Benj. Vancil, South Pass ; premium re-
commended.

MISCELLANE OUS.

A large lot of Bulbs, F. K. Phoenix, Bloomington ; highly creditable.

Great display of Phloxes, Reynolds & Kennicott; committee recommend Floral Book.

A large display of Coxcombs, by the same.

A handsome display of Funkies, Reynolds & Kennicott, Odin; worthy of a premium.

CLASS I.

No. 40 — ENGINES, MACHINERY, ETC.

Best Steam Engine for farm use, Clark, Plant & Norris, St. Louis, Mo 25

Portable Steam Engine for threshing and farm purposes, eight horse power, Owens,

Lake &, Dyer, Hamilton, Ohio ; was highly commended.
Best contrivance to prevent the explosion of Steam Boilers, Clark, Plant & Norris,

St. Louis, Mo .' Medal.

89

Under-ground Draining Machine, T. N. Zimmerman, Le Roy, Coles county; highly

commended.

Best Pump for farm use, Boyer, Brotherton & Co., Mount Carroll Medal,

Best Water Ram, Thomas George & Co., Chicago; highly commended Medal.

Best Sewing Machine, Wheeler & Wilson's, G. W. R. Chittenden, Chicago Medal.

Harris' Sewing Machine, 0. Holden, Chicago; was highly commended as a good and

cheap machine.
Best Spoke Dressing Machine, S. Draper, Troy, N. Y Medal.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Soda Fountain, F. Frankenberg, Columbus, Ohio ; highly commended.

Samples of Tin Ware, Jappaned Ware, Old Dominion Coffee Pot, Self-sealing Cans, Thos.

George & Co., Chicago; all commended.
Saw Gummer, W. C. Ward, Athens ; this invention was highly commended.
Brown's Unchangeable Bee Hive, J. Kent, Baltimore, Md.; highly commended.
Specimen of mechanical ingenuity in a bottle, Paul Frick, Jonesboro ; very ingenious.
J. C. Foster's patent Water Drawer, J. C. Foster, Union, Tenn.; commended.
D. W. Pheip's Combination Bee Hive, H. B. Gifford, Danby ; commended.
Best Labor Saving Machine, Clark, Plant & Norris, St. Louis, Mo.; highly commended.
Bee Hive, J. A. Carpenter, Waukesha, Wis.; commended.
Combination Pliers, W. Hart, Mayville, Wis.; commended.
Improved Blacksmith's Tongs, by same ; commended.
Model for a Lime Kiln, E. H. French, Anna; commended.

Patent Angular Bit Holder, H. H. Luddengton, St. Louis, Mo.; highly commended.
Fairbank's Scale Beam, Iron Frame Track Scale, 1000 Bright Beam, 1500 Brass Beam,
Wheat Beam, set of Weights, Drugghts' Scales, Post Office Scales, Counter Scales, Port-
able Platform Scales, Dormant Floor Scales, Flour Packing Scales, Dormant Warehouse
Scales, Six Ton Stock Scales, Rolling Mill Scale, all entered by E. & F. Fairbanks, St.
Johnsburg, Vt.; all received a thorough examination by the committee, and their unqual-
ified commendation.
Sugar Mill, H. J. Cox, Hamilton county, Ohio ; commended.
Sugar and Cider Mill and one horse Cider Mill, by same; commended.
Hominy Mill, J. Donaldson, Mount Morris ; commended.
Langstroth's Movable Bee Hive, John Cox, Clintonville :
Water Ram, H. D. Emery, Chicago ; commended.
Patent Gridiron, Thomas George & Co., Chicago ; commended.
Patent Coffee Roaster, by same ; commended.
Gilmore's Patent Bee Hive, John Cowgill, Kankakee ; commenc
Smith & Stonefice's Lard Lamp, Reuben Miller, Lincoln ; commended.
Langstroth's Improved Bee Hive, J. L. Wolcott, Bloomingtor
Model of Pettingill's Patent Steam Boiler, J. W. Pettingill, Rockford ; commended,
3J Ton Hay Scales, P. W. Gates & Co., Chicago ; commended as second best.
Sugar Mill, by same ; recommended for large establishments.

Portable Platform Scales, Counter Scales, Grocer Scales, Platform Counter Scales, entered
by P. W. Gates & Co., Chicago ; were examined by the committee and received thei v
high commendation.
Letter Presses, P. W. Gates & Co., Chicago ; commended.
Warehouse Trucks, P. W. Gates & Co., Chicago ; commended.

Model Machine for sawing Broom Handles, &c, J. R. Whitaker, Robinson ; com-
mended.
Saw Gummer, W. H. Jones, St. Louis, Mo.; commended.
Polychromatic Press, S. P. Rounds, Chicago ; commended.
Fire Proof Safe and Band Vault, Elderly's, Troy, New York ; highly commended.

No. 41 — ALL APPARATUS OF FINE WORKMANSHIP.

Best display of Philosophical and Mathematical Instruments, W. & L. E. Gurley,

Troy, New York Medal.

Best Theodolite, W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy Medal.

Best Level, W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy Medal.

Best Surveyor's Compass, W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy Medal.

Best Stereoscope, W. North, New Orleans, La Medal.

Best Barometer, James Terry & Co., Rochester, N. Y Medal.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Odomater, George Lindley, Chicago ; commended.

No. 42— FINE WORKED METALS.
Lot Soldered Cans, J. Q. C. Searle, Anna ; commended.

—12

90

No. 43 — ST 0 VES, &c.

Best and greatest display of Cooking Stoves, W. Resor & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio Medal.

Best Cook Stove for Wood, (Brown & Kent's,) Joseph Kent, Baltimore, Md Medal.

Best Cooking Range, Morning Star, Thos. George & Co., Chicago Medal.

Best Church Bell, P. Caughlan, St. Louis, Mo Medal.

Best Steamboat Bell, P. Caughlan, St. Louis Medal.

Best lot of Brass Work, J. Goodlaw, Mound City ....Medal.

Winship's Refrigerator, Thos. George & Co., Chicago Medal.

No. 44— VEHICLES.

Best display of choicest Carriages, G. A. Smith, Decatur... $10

Best display of choicest Buggies, G. A. Smith, Decatur 10

Second best, Variet & Corning, Highland Medal.

Best two horse Carriage, G. A. Smith, Decatur 5

Best Carriage, for one or two Horses, G. A. Smith, Decatur 5

Best Top Buggy, Wild & Horriuk, Highland 5

Second best, Calvin Bowley, Bockford Medal.

Best Open Buggy, G. A. Smith. Decatur 5

Second best, Variet & Corning, Highland Medal.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Lockport Band Carriage; highly commended.

Best set of Buggy Wheels, Woodburn & Scott, St. Louis, Mo.; commended.

Nos. 45, 46 — CABINET WARE — CARPENTERS' WARE.

Best Panel Door, W. D. Hutchens, Centralia Medal.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Cedar Bedstead. H. C. How rd & Co., Mound City ; medal recommended.
Set Camp Chair and Camp Bedstead, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago ; medal recom-
mended.
Model Patent Invalid Bedstead, David Kreitzen, Chicago ; medal recommended.

Nos. 47, 48 — FURRIERS, CURRIERS, &c.

Ladies' Riding Saddle, J. D.Wilson, Urbana Medal.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Set of Light Harness, H. Gouder, Nashville; medal recommended.

No. 49 — WORKED METALS.

Best sis Axes, H. D. Emery & Co, Chicago Medal.

Best Target Rifle, C. W. Webster, Salem Medal.

Best Fowling Piece, (Needle's,] C. Smith, Bloomington Medal.

Best Bank Lock,' Lewis Little, Troy, N. Y Medal.

Best set of Horse Shoes, A. Somerville, Ctntralia Medal.

Best Bolt, G. J. Gatchell, Rushaway, N. J Medal.

Best Log Chain, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

Best Trace Chain, H. D. Emery & Co., Chicago Medal.

MISCELLANEOUS.

One Four Pound Cannon, made of wrought iron scraps, by David Osley, Centralia,
at the machine shop of Central Railroad; a beautiful piece of work.

Fire and Burglar Proof Safe, Lewis Little, Troy, N. Y.; worthy of first premium.

Bank Vault, Lewis Little, Troy, N. Y.; highly commended.

Portable Gas Generator and Burner, A. M, Mase, Springfield, Mass.; worthy of first
premium.

91
CLASS K

Nos. 50, 51 — PAINTINGS, &c.

Best Painting, group of cattle, in oil, E. Troye, Artist Medal,

Three, views of one animal, in oil, E. Troye, ArHst Medal.

Best Animal Painting, in water colors, M. Hendricks, Mattoon Medal.

Twelve specimens of Fruit Painting, Mrs. Gr. II. Blelock, Centralia Medal.

Best Ambrotypes, Win. B. Mathers, Centralia Medal.

Monochromatic Paintings, Miss M. L. Ileukle, Decatur Medal.

Best Fancy Painting, in oil. Miss C. G. Simonds Medal.

Second best, Mrs. J. M. Hawley, Centralia Medal.

Best specimen Typography, C. H. Brainard, Boston, Mass

Best Crayon Drawing, L. Maria Ray, Richview Medal.

Second best, Mrs. P. Reas, Centralia Medal.

Best specimen of Penmanship Bryant & Stratton, Chicago Medal.

Second best, 0. A. Pennoyer, Rockford Medal.

Architectural Drawing, F. A. Lietze.. Medal recommended.

Map of Fair Grounds, F. A. Lietze Medal recommended.

Architectural Drawing, J. T. & W. Smith, Mattoon Medal.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Citizens Band of Lockport ; first premium recommended.

Periodicals of Illinois, a copy each, for 1S57 and '58, bound in volumes, S. Francis;

first premium recommended.
Specimens of card writing, W. H. Genin, St. Louis, Mo.; commended.
Pen and Ink Drawing Landscape, M. Dilly Fay; medal recommended.
Oriental Painting, Mrs. M. C. Whiting, Centralia; commended.
Historical Design, H. S. Blanchard, Centralia; commended.
Portrait, M. Friedman, Cincinnati, Ohio; fine.
Oriental Painting, Mrs. J. C. Larose, Centralia; very beautiful.
Grecian Heads, Mrs. S. Pease, Centralia; worthy.
Painting on Glass, Miss Mary L. Henkle, Decatur ; handsome.

CLASS L.

Nos. 52, 53— HOUSEHOLD FABRICS.

Best pair Woolen Blankets, Miss N. L. Melin, Xenia Medal.

Second best, M. A. Goodman, Jonesboro..., ...Medal.

Best Woolen Carpet, I. Heaton, Kilmundy, Marion county $5

Best Rag Carpet, Mrs. B. Sculock, Jonesboro 5

Best double Coverlet, Mrs. M. S. Spencer, Tamaioa 5

Best single Coverlet, Mrs. M. C. Whiting. Centralia 5

Best 10 yards Jeans, Mrs. J. S. Hough, Salem 3

Best Woolen Stockings, Miss S. W. Stacy, Jacksonville Medal.

Best pair Cotton Stockings, Miss M. M. Dorsey, Upper Alton

Best Netting, Miss Josephine Moore, Central City Medal.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Lot of Cordage, made by Jacob Schilling, Springfield ; the committee recommended

a medal.
Vest Pattern, J. N. Melin, Xenia; highly commended.

No. 54 — NEDLE-WORK, ETC.

Best plain Needle-Work, Mrs. T. H. Elmore, Joliet , $5

Best plain Needle-Work by girl under 14, Miss Mary Priest, Springfield 5

Best specimen of Darning and Repairing, Mrs. M. M. Vandeusen, Springfield 5

Second best, Mrs. T. H. Elmore, Joliet 2

Best knit Cotton Hose, Mrs. T. H. Elmore. Joliet 2

Best knit Woolen Hose, Sarah W. Stacy, Jacksonville 2

Best fancy Hose for child, Mrs. Wm. Brown, Jacksonville 2

Best white Quilt, Mrs. Thos. H. Foster, Jacksonville 3

Second best, Mrs. T. E. Peck, Mound City 2

92

Best patch-work Quilt, Mrs. T. P. Wesoot, Mt. Vernon .. $5

Second best, Miss Mary E. Wilderman, Belleville 3

Best embroidered Toilet Cushion, Mrs. Guy C. Clark, Centralia 5

Best plain Toilet Cushion, Mrs. T. H. Elmore, Joliet 5

Second best, Mrs. A. K. Cory, Centralia , 3

Best ornamental Needle-work, Mrs. T. H. Elmore, Joliet . . 5

Best Worked Collar, Mrs. Mary E. Bull, Upper Alton 5

Second best, Mrs. Mary E. Bull, Upper Alton 3

Best needle-worked Handkerchief, Mrs. M. M. Vandeusen, Springfield 5

Second best, Mrs. Mary E. Bull, Upper Alton 3

Best needle-worked Infant's Dress, Mrs. M. C. Whiting, Centralia..., 5

Best needle-worked Skirts, Mrs. M. A. Eads, St. Louis, Mo 3

Best needle-worked Cap, Mrs. T. H. Elmore, Joliet 3

Best Silk Embroidery, Mrs. Guy C. Clark, Centralia 3

Best Worsted Embroidery, Miss S. M. Cortelyon, Centralia 3

Best Worsted Embroidery by child of 8 years, Mary A. Roke, Bichview , 3

Best worked Ottoman Cover, Miss Sarah Rider, Fairfield j. 3

Best worked Chair Cover, Jenny Hunting., Bichview 3

Best worked Embroidery for chair cover, Mrs. A. H. Edson, Centralia 3

Best specimen Crotchet Work, Miss E. Lamb, Springfield , 3

Best pair Slippers, Mrs. A. H. Edson, Centralia 3

Best fancy Work Basket, Sarah Griffith, Decatur 3

Best fine Basket, Mrs. A. K. Cory, Centralia 3

Best embroidered Shawl, Mrs. E. Aldricb, (no post-office stated) 3

Best embroidered Child's Dress, Miss S. Rider, Fairfield 3

Best made fine Skirt, Mrs. T. H. Elmore, Joliet 3

Best specimen of Flowers in pair, M. Friedman, Centralia .. 2

Best case Bonnets, Mrs. J. S. Allen, Centralia 5

MISCELLANEOUS.

Chair Bottom Cover, Mrs. T. H. Elmore, Joliet ; commended.

Wax Flowers, Mrs. B. Holcomb, Centralia; commended.

Silk Hose, Miss H. Israel, Jacksonville ; premium of $5 recommended.

One Balloon, belonging to S. W. Brooks, of Centralia; apparently a perfect work of

its kind.

N0TE. — Some extraordinary circumstances connected with this balloon will be found in
the narrative appended :

ASCENSION OF THE TWO HARVEY CHILDREN, Ac.

As there have been several different accounts published about the balloon ascension of
the two children, after my aerial voyage from Centralia, and most of them very incorrect,
I have concluded to give the facts as they occurred.

Mr. Brooks, being indisposed, permitted me to take his place, which I cheerfully accepted.
As the balloon passed rapidly upward, I was carried to the north-west, until I reached the
hight of nearly two miles. Meeting with an eastward current, I was wafted slowly over
the Fair Grounds, and remained nearly fifteen minutes directly over Central City. I then.
discharged several pounds of ballast, and ascended a mile higher, where I found a stronger
current blowing to the eastward. I could now distinctly see the Mississippi, with several
steamboats floating on its bosom. Centralia, which is about one mile and a half from the
Fair Grounds, appeared but a few rods, and the cars seemed to move with the speed of an
ox team. The largest prairies were diminished to good-sized farms. The whole country
for a hundred miles around, with its rivers, towns, fields and forests, looked like an immense
concave map spread beneath me.

Soon after witnessing one of the most splendid sunsets my eyes ever rested upon, I found
myself slowly dsscending upon a large forest. I regretted very much to find the ascension
power giving out so soon, as I had anticipated a long and pleasant journey by moonlight.
In fact, I had prepared myself with sufficient clothing to reach the Atlantic Ocean, if the
aerostat would carry me there.

After feasting for an hour upon one of the most gorgeous views that nature in all her
loveliness can present, I amused myself by perusing some newspapers that were given to
me to distribute on the way.

I threw out ballast when I had descended within half a mile of the earth, and soon went
up to the hight of three miles, where I remained until near dark, when the power of my
machine again gave out, as it was not well coated with varnish ; and I descended in a field
on the farm of Benjamin B. Harvey, about seventeen miles from Centralia, and three from
Rome. The grappling iron caught in a small tree, and Mr. Harvey and son came to my
assistance. They then took hold of the anchor rope and drew the aerostat, while I re-
mained in the car, to the house. Mr. Harvey's family and some of the neighbors soon

93

collected around the balloon, and seemed as much, astanished as the Digger Indians and
the descendants of Montezuma were at my ascensions from Mexico and California. As
they had never seen the " elephant," or rode on his back, some of them concluded to take'
a ride in the balloon. Accordingly, the anchor was made fast to the fence. Mr. Harvey
mounted the car, while his sons and some of the neighbors let him up a few feet by holding
on the rope. I warned them several times to hold fast to the rope, as the air-ship might
slip her anchor and leave them in the lurch.

After Mr. Harvey had satisfied his curiosity in balloon riding, he placed his three young-
est children — two girls and a little boy — in the car. AVhile he ana his sons managed the
balloon I stepped one side to converse with the ladies, who were asking me many questions
about my aerial voyage. After the three children had remained in the car a few moments,
Mr. Harvey took out the oldest daughter, which gave the balloon so much f ower that it
jerked away from them and the fence in an instant, and in a minute was out of sight,
leaving us completely overcome with fear and amazement at an accident of so novel and
thrilling a character. The emotions of the parents may be more easly imagined than de-
eribed when they heard them cry, "Mother, let me down; mother, let me down," until
they had disappeared apparently among the stars, and could be heard and seen no more.
I informed them that the balloon w: s not very tight and would come down, I thought, in
one or two hours, and not go more than ten or twenty miles away, as there was but little or
no wind at the time. Although it went toward the northwest when it ascended, I told them
I thought it would go east, in the same direction in which I came from Centralia. I in*
formed them that there would be no clanger of the children falling out of the car, as the
ropes were too numerous and close. The most I feared was, that they might come down in
a large forest and not be easily found. I advised them to arouse the neighborhood for at
least ten miles round, particularly to the east, as I believed the balloon would go in that
direction. Mr. Harvey gave me his horse to ride back to Centralia to have the news sent by
telegraph and railroad in every direction. I reached Centralia about 12 o'clock at night,
and in the morning had an extra published and the news spread as soon as possible. Mr.
Knowles and I went in search of them on Saturday, and were told by different persons that
the balloon was seen passing toward the west in different places from eight to ten o'clock
at night. Saturday evening it was reported that they were found safe several miles from
where they went up, but it was not known to a certainty where they were found — at Cen->
tralia — until Sunday morning, when it was ascertained that they had safely descended
about IS miles southeast of Mr. Harvey's, near Mr. Atchison's house, suspended in the air^
the anchor having caught in a tree.

Saturday morning Mr. Atchison had got up early to look at the comet or "blazing star,"
as he termed it, and discovered the balloon, when the little girl called to him to pull them
down, telling him to do it "easily." The little boy was found asleep. The little girl said
her brother complained of being cold when they were very high.

She did not pull the valve-string. The balloon remained in the air probably longer than
I did, as it had more ascensive power in proportion to its weight.

A brother of the children gave me their names and ages — Martha Ann being eight and
David three years.

The joyful news reached their parents about two o'clock on Saturday, and the children
came home the same evening, on which occasion the rejoicing must have been equal to the
sorrow which had so lately preceded it.

SAMUEL WILSON.

CLASS M.

No. 55 — NATURAL HISTORY.

Best suit of Minerals, S. S. Condon, Jonesboro $10

Botanical Collection of Illinois, George Rarey, Ring wood, McHenry county; most ad-
mirably preserved and highly creditable collection.

Best Collection of Native Fruits of Illinois, Win. M. Wood, Central City 5

Second best, W. W. Bennett, Jonesboro Medal.

Nos. 56, 57 and 58 — C HE MI CALS, Etc.

Best Vinegar, J. Palmer & Co., Chicago Medal.

Vinegar exhibited by N. Scott, Belleville ; excellent.

Best specimen of Stone Ware, C. Kirkpatrick & Co., Mound City . Medal.

Best Terra Cotta, same « Medal.

Best Flower Vases, same Medal.

Best manufactured Poplar Shingles, J. McCord Medal.

Best Poplar Floor Plank, Flaugh & Bro., Jonesboro Medal.

91-

MISCELLANEOUS.

Potters' Clay, C. Kirkpatrick & Co., Mound City; premium recommended.

Oakum, C. Kirkpatriqk & Co., Mound City ; commended.

Composition Roofing, Wm. M. Parke, Belleville.

Specimens Terra Cotta, C. Kulsoluch, Mound City ; commended.

Clay Drain Pipe, C. Kirkpatrick & Co., Mound City; well made.

Bundle Butternut Shingles, Pine Shingles, Poplar Shingles, Cedar Shingles, Ransom & Co.,

Chicago; all superior articles.
Poplar Shingles, Samuel Spence, Walbridge ; commended.
Collection of Fossils, S. S. Condon, Jonesboro; premium recommended.
Boxes Hutchinson's Soda Water, T. 0. Dunn, Chicago; a premium recommended.

CLASS K

No. 59 — PLOWING MATCH.

First premium, R. Mills, Salem; plow made by John Deere, Moline $15

Second premium, B. Burt, Champaign county; plow made by Boyden & Osfield, Ur-

bana * 8

The Committee on Class N, No. 59, report-
That they have awarded the first premium of $15 to R. Mills,
for the best plowing. The work was performed with an old
ground plow made by John Deere, of Moline, Rock Island county,
entry Wo. 12.

The second premium of $8, they have awarded to B. Burt,
whose work was performed with an old ground plow made by
Boyden & Osfield, of Urbana, Champaign county.

Among those in competition was a double Michigan plow made
by John Deere, of Moline, Rock Island county, which performed,
very superior work. Your Committee was much pleased with it,
but did not think it was the design of the Society to place such
plows in competition with common old ground plows.

There were many plows entered for competition which did
good work and are highly deserving of commendation, but as the
duties of your Committee were limited to a decision as to the
merits of the different plowmen, your Committee will leave a de-
cision upon the comparative merits of the plows to the appropriate
Committee.

JAMES CURTIS,
JAMES M. RODGERS,
FELIX SCOTT,
DAVID PARDEE,
0. B. NICHOLS,
LINSEY CARTER.

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95

Statement of the amount of milk and butter made from one cow,
by Cyrus Jones, of McLean county, during a period of twenty
days — The first ten days, from the 5th to the 15th of June —
Second ten days, from the 5th to the 15th of August :

The age of the cow was eight years. Breed, three-fourths
Dloodecl Durham. She had a calf on the 20th of March. The
amount of milk in weight for the first ten days was five hundred
and sixty pounds, and measuring five hundred and eighty pints ;
or twenty-eight pounds at each milking, making fifty-six pounds
per day ; or twenty-nine pints at each milking, making fifty-eight
pints per day.

The amount of milk for the ten days in August, was five hun-
dred pounds, measuring five hundred and twenty pints ; or twenty-
five pounds at each milking, making fifty pounds per day ; or
twenty-six pints per milking, making fifty-two pints per day.

The amount of butter made in the first ten days (in June), twenty-
two and a half pounds, being two pounds and two and a half-tenths
per day.

The amount of butter made in the last ten days (in August),
was twenty and three-fourth pounds — making in the twenty days
forty-three and a quarter pounds.

I, Cyrus Jones, of the county of McLean, and State of Illinois, certify that the statement
is correct,

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30th day of August, 1858.

JOHN N. KING, J. P.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

The Committee on Class A, ]So. 5 (Natives and Crosses), would
say that there are but very few inferior animals in this class, while
the competition was strong, embracing stock from other States
than Illinois, and that some of the animals would nearly disgrace
thorough breds.

J. PERRIAM, Chairman.

The Committee on Class A, ]No.
three fat bullocks were very extraordinary animals, and that the
next best were so good that they would have been fully entitled to
a first premium, in the absence of the first ; and would respectfully
recommend a premium to them as worthy animals.

J. PERRIAM, Chairman.

96

In the Class of "Work Oxen there was but one yoke that required
special commendation — that of Mr. Webster. The steers, 2 years
old, by C. W. Webster, jr., 9 years old, were most excellently
handled.

J. PERRIAM, Chairman.

The Committee on Class D. (Swine) beg leave to report, that
•under the general classing of all varieties of hogs in one class,
they could not do the justice in their awards which they desired.
Under the circumstances, they have done the best they could.
They recommend that in future the premiums shall be offered for
different varieties — the breeds being distinctly separated.

The Committee would say also that the show of hogs is far su-
perior to any exhibition at any previous State Fair held in this
State.

A. BECRAFT, Chairman,

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Centralia Fair Grounds, Sept. 13, 1858.

The Executive Committee met on the Fair Grounds.

Present — C. "W. "Webster, President; J. N. Brown, Ex-Presi-
dent; S. A. Buckmaster, A. B. McConnell, H. S. Osborn, fm.
Kile, Yice-Presidents ; S. Francis, Corresponding Secretary and
Phill Warren, Eecording Secretary.

On motion,

Resolved, That the Superintendent of the Horse Department is hereby instructed to make
such additional classification in his department as he may consider necessary.

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary make arrangements for an intelligence office
on the grounds.

Resolved, That "W. Kile and S. A. Buckmaster be a committee to examine the seats
•erected around the show ring, in order to ascertain if they are sufficiently well built to insure
the safety of the occupants.

16, 1858.
The Committee met and adopted the following resolutions :

Resolved, That A. B. McConnell be sustained in the appointment of Committee of Awards
on Sheep.

Resolved, That the President and Corresponding Secretary be and they are hereby instruct-
ed to petition the next legislature to make a perpetual appropriation of a certain portion of
the seven per cent, fund paid by the Illinois Central Railroad Company, to this Society — to
be paid by them in premiums to the exhibitors of agricultural and mechanical articles, and
to suggest the propriety of so appropriating the balance as to combine the greatest interests
in this State against the probability of the repeal of that portion of their charter.

Centralia, September 17, 1858.
Committee met.

C. W. Webster, President, in the chair.
On motion,

Resolved, That we defer action in regard to the premiums recommended in the Miscella-
neous Department until our January meeting.

—13

98

The bills of expenses at the State Fair having been audited,
On motion, the following resolutions were adopted :

Resolved, That we congratulate the people of this State, and of Southern Illinois, on the
successful close of the Sixth Annual Fair of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, at
Centralia.

Resolved, That this success has been achieved, in a great measure, by the energetic ac-
tion of the committee of citizens of Centralia, in fitting up the grounds for the Fair, and
securing accommodations, board and lodging, for the large number of people in attendance.
The demands for jodgings in Centralia were not equal to the supply; the food furnished
was ample and excellent; and, indeed, the results of the great Fair at Centralia prove that
State Fairs can be made successful, without a compulsory resort to the neighborhood of
large cities for their location.

Resolved, That our thanks are also due to the citizens of the country adjacent to the
Fair, and of the towns on the line of the Central and Ohio and Mississippi Railroads, for
the extensive accommodations furnished by them to the vast numbers of strangers during
the week of the fair.

Resolved, That the State Fairs of Illinois cannot be successful without the aid and co-
operation of the railroad companies ; and that we acknowledge with gratitude the unprece-
dented liberality of the Illinois Central Railroad, and the great benefit derived from the
facilities furnished by the Ohio and Mississippi, the Terre Haute and Alton, the Great
Western, the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis, the Peoria and Oquawka, the Peoria and
Oquawka Extension, the Chicago and Burlington, and the St. Paul and Fon du Lac Rail-
roads. Whatever secures the settlement and improvement of the country, benefits our
railroads. The interests of our people and of the roads are one. May a liberality on the
part of both be perpetual.

Resolved, That James C. Clark, Esq., Superintendent of the Central Railroad; Phin-
eas Pease, Esq., Superintendent of the Southern Division ; Thomas Wright, Esq., Freight
Agent at Centralia, and other agents of the road, located at that point, are entitled to re-
ceive, and do receive, our unfeigned thanks for their ready co-operation in the efforts of
the Executive Committee and the Committee of Centralia, to make the Southern Illinois
State Fair a marked success, and an epoch in the history of Southern Illinois.

Resolved, That a public expression of our obligations is due to the committee of citizens
of Centralia — R. D. Noleman, A. K. Cory, J. M. Hawley, H. K. S. Omslveny, A. J.
Piercy, T. J. Evans, M. C. Kell and N. D. Ingraham — for the courteous and efficient man-
ner in which they performed their obligations to the Society, in preparing the grounds and
fixtures for the State Fair.

Resolved, That we acknowledge the liberality of Messrs. Omelveny and Gall, in fur-
nishing, for the State Fair, their beautiful grounds. A lovelier spot for that purpose could
not be found in the State.

Resolved, That we recognize our obligations to the Press of this State, for their valuable
services in behalf of the State Fair.

Resolved, That in closing our proceedings here, the Executive Committee congratulate
each other on the distinguished success of this Annual Fair. They believe that its influ-
ence will be felt here, in bringing Southern Illinois more prominently before the public as
a desirable region for settlement and agricultural enterprise — in introducing new breeds of
stock, and agricultural machinery, designed to lessen the labors and increase the profits of
the farmer — in uniting the citizens of the North and South in harmonious action for the
public good — in satisfying all of us that we are one people — that our interests are one —
that our State, from its extreme north to its southern termination, and from its eastern to
its western boundary, is, beyond all others, rich in agricultural resources, and must soon
take a front rank in wealth and poptilation with the leading States of the Union.

Resolved, That we thank J. W. Fawkes, Esq., for the exhibition of his Steam Plow at
our Fair. It was not as perfect an instrument as Mr. Fawkes designs to make it; but it
settled the question that the Steam Plow can be made successfully to work on our prairies.
The animated scene presented on its introduction upon the Fair Grounds will scarcely be
forgotten. The Steam Plow has begun its work in Illinois. Who will limit its future ?

Resolved, That we now adjourn, to meet in Springfield on the third day of January,
1859.

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EXHIBITION OF STEAM PLOWS.

Illinois State Agricultural Society, )

Office Corresponding Secretary, l

Springfield, October 7, 1858. )

By direction of the Executive Committee of the State Agricul-
tural Society, the 10th of November next has been fixed upon as
the time and Decatur as the place for the exhibition of Steam
Plows.

All manufacturers of other plows in this State are invited to be
present, at that time and place, with their plows for exhibition and
trial.

Ample accommodations will be found at Decatur for the great
numbers of people expected there to witness the interesting exhi-
bition.

Dr. H. C. Johns, Decatur, will take charge of all plows sent by
railroad for trial, directed to his care.

S. FRANCIS,

Corresponding Secretary Illinois State Agricultural Society.

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Decatur, November 10, 1858.

Present — C. W. Webster, President; H. C. Johns, Ex-Presi-
dent ; J. E. McGlun and Win. Kile, Yice Presidents ; and S.
Francis, Corresponding Secretary.

On motion, S. Francis was appointed Recording Secretary pro
tern. '

On motion,

Besolvcd, That having witnessed the performances of J. W. Fawkes' "Steam Plow," we
deem it our duty to record it as our opinion that this ingenious machine is well adapted as
a stationary engine for general farm purposes, and that with improvements it can be made
useful for plowing in our prairies ,• but that it is not such a machine as will entitle it to the
premium offered by this Sociei.. .

Resolved, That in consideratiqpf>f the expenses incurred in exhibiting this machine at
Centralia and at Decatur, the Corresponding Secretary is authorized and required to draw
an order on the Treasurer, in favor of J. W. Fawkes, for the sum of five hundred dollars.

Resolved, That H. C. Johns, Ex-President of this Board, be appointed a Committee to
further superintend the trial of steam or other plows, and that he have full power to call to
his aid any scientific or practical skill ae may require, and in behalf of this Executive Board
to award any commendation said plows may merit.

Adjourned.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLOWS.

We, the undersigned Committee, appointed by the Executive Committee of the Illinois
State Agricultural Society to examine the plows upon trial at Decatur, on the 10th and 11th
November, 1S58, report, that —

100

We have examined the Gang Plow and Seed Sower invented by Joel Lee, of Galesburg,
and that in our opinion it is an improvement on most other similar plows, and we believe it
is worthy the attention of farmers generally.

We have also examined the Gang Plow, manufactured byH. C. Dawson, of Jacksonville,
and pronounce it a great improvement on the old single plow, in common use.

We also examined the Single Plow, with wheels, manufactured by H. Prather, of Deca-
tur, which we think will be valuable for deep plowing and for foul ground.

S. M. PARSONS,
EZRA MARQUESSE,
F. MAT,
T. B. HOPPIN,
December 11, 1858. D. S. STAFFORD.

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Springfield, January 4, 1859.

Present — C. W. "Webster, President; Messrs. Ellsworth, Mc-
Connell, Kile and Osborn, Yice Presidents; S. Francis, Corres-
ponding; Secretary ; and Phill Warren, Eecording Secretary.

The Keport on Farms was taken up, read and approved, as fol-
lows:

To the Executive Committee of the Illinois State Agricultural Society :

Gentlemen: Your Committee, to whom was referred the examination of Farms, Nurse-
ries, and Groves of Cultivated Timber, beg leave to report as follows :

Of the best improved and most highly cultivated Farm, of not less than five hundred
acres, there was but one entry : that of Silas H. Elliott, of Edgar county, which we think
is certainly worthy of the Society's gold medal. The farm is a very fine one, conveniently
and well laid out and in good condition.

Of the Farms of not less than one hundred and sixty acres, there were two entries. We
have awarded the first premium to Sylvester Rider, Fairfield, Wayne county. Mr. Rider's
farm of two hundred acres is divided into small fields of five, ten and twenty acres, and
kept in the highest state of cultivation. His management of sheep, consisting of a flock of
six hundred, is most admirable and worthy of imitation by our farmers generally. It con-
sists of yarding them on the meadows, from the time the grass is out till winter, inclosed
with hurdles two nights in a place, thereby keeping the sheep healthy, keeping down any
weeds that may come up after mowing and enriching the land.

The second premium was awarded to A. G. Carle, of Champaign county.

Of Farms of not less than forty acres, there were two entries. The first premium we
have awarded to A. & 0. Bernard, Bloomington, McLean county, two brothers, who live
one on each end of a forty acre lot. By pursuing a system of deep plowing, high manuring
and clean culture for a number of years, they have distanced all competition.

Second premium to J. T. Atkinson, Union Grove, Whiteside county.

Of Dairy Farms there were no entries.

There were three entries of Grazing Farms. We have awarded the first premium to J.
M. Blackburn, of Paris, Edgar county, for his Pioneer Farm, he having resided on it since
1821. It consists of something over fifteen hundred acres, divided into fields, and so ar-
ranged as to have water on every lot. A large portion of the farm is timber land, with the
under brush cut out and seeded down with blue grass. We have no hesitation in pronounc-
ing it one of the best grazing farms in the State.

Second premium to Fielding L. Scott, of Champaign county.

Of Nurseries there were three entries. We have awarded the first premium to Lewis Ells-
worth & Co., of Naperville, Du Page county. We found their nursery in a good state of
cultivation ; and their ^cultivation of trees, evergreens, ornamental shrubs and plants, re-
markably fine.

101

Second premium to A. R. Whitney, Franklin Grove, Leo county. We most cordially re-
commend Mr. Whitney's plan of laying out his nurseries — also the mode of keeping a record
of all his sales.

Of Groves of Timber there was hut one entry : L. H. Thomas, six miles east of Virden, to
whom we have awarded the first premium for a very thrifty grove of young trees. Mr.
Thomas planted the seeds in 1852, '53 and '54. Many of the oaks, walnut and maple are
now twenty-five feet high, very thrifty and growing.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

HENRY I. CHASE.
JOSEPH MORTON.

October, 1858.

Field crops, entered for premium, were taken up for considera-
tion.

Hugh Huls, of Kane county, was awarded the premium for the
best 30 acres of spring wheat. Premium, Murray, Glover & Yan
Doren's Harvester and Stacker.

James Ervin, of Randolph county, best 20 acres of fall wheat.
Premium, J. H. Manny's Reaper and Mower.

Hugh Huls, of Kane county, best 40 acres of drilled wheat. Pre-
mium, B. Kuhns & Co.'s Grain Drill,

Hugh Easdale, Kandolph county, best 10 acres of drilled wheat.
Premium, L. Moore's Grain Drill.

Hugh Easdale, Randolph county, best 5 acres fall wheat. Pre-
mium, $25.

Hugh Easdale, Randolph county, best 5 acres Indian corn. Pre-
mium, $25.

Harrison Hancock, Tazewell county, for crop of rye. Premium,
silver medal.

Harrison Hancock, Tazewell county, best crop white beans.
Premium, $20.

Levi Mason, Bureau county, second best. Premium, silver
medal.
•Harrison Hancock, best crop of potatoes. Premium, $20.

Michael Lowe, Madison, best crop sweet potatoes. Premium
$20.

Hugh Huls, Kane county, best acre of clover seed, $10.

Robert Muir, Randolph county, best acre of castor beans. Pre-
mium, $10.

The Executive Committee went into the examination of the spe-
cimens of sugar and syrup of the Chinese Sugar Cane and Imphees,
entered for competition and premium.

Mrs. H. M. Tracy Cutler, of Grundy county, was awarded a
silver medal for sugar made from the juice of the Imphee or Afri-
can Sugar Cane.

O. B. Ostrander, of Livingston county, was awarded a silver
medal for the best specimen of sugar from the Chinese Sugar
Cane.

H. E. Walton, of Macoupin county, was awarded the gold
medal of the Society for the best specimen of syrup made from the
juice of the Chinese Sugar Cane.

102

Benjamin Yan Houten, of Edgar county, was awarded the pre-
mium of $15, for the second best specimen.

Orin Sholes, of Whiteside, was awarded $10 for the third best
specimen.

S. A. Appleton, of Cook county, was awarded a silver medal
for a fine specimen of sj rup from the Chinese Cane.

On motion,

Resolved, That the corresponding secretary be instructed to publish in the Transactions,
cuts, furnished without cost to this Society, of animals and implements for which premiums
have been awarded within the last two years.

Resolved, That Messrs. Kile and Osborn be a committee to examine the treasurer's ac-
counts.

Adjourned till 2 o'clock p.m.

Two o'clock P.M.

Board met, pursuant to adjournment.

Essays were taken up for examination.

A. B. McConnell, of Sangamon county, was awarded the first
premium for his essay upon " Sheep and their adaptation to the
Prairies," $10.

C. R. Overman, of McLean county, was awarded the first pre-
mium for his essay " On the cultivation of Orchards," $10.

Alexander McGow, of Lee county, was awarded the first pre-
mium for his essay " On Agriculture as connected with Colleges
and Schools," $10.

Miss L. A. Platte, of Kankakee, was awarded a silver medal for
her essay " On Agriculture as connected with Schools."

S. Francis, of Sangamon, was awarded the first premium for a
paper on "Practical Gardening," $10.

C. D. Bement, of Poughkeepsie, New York, was awarded the
first premium for his essay " On the raising and management of
Domestic Fowls," $10.

J. Russell, of Bluffdale, Greene county, was awarded the first
premium for his essay " On Practical Farming in Illinois, as con-
nected with the cultivation of Upland Rice," $10.

Samuel Jacob Wallace, of Hancock county, was awarded the
first premium for his essay '' On the Fruit Garden," $10.

Adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning.

January 5 — 9 A.M.

The Board met, pursuant to adjournment.

Present — C. W. Webster, President; Messrs. Osborn, Mc-
Clun, Singleton, Kile and McConnell, Yice-Presidents ; Johns
and Brown, Ex-Presidents; S. Francis, Corresponding Secre-
tary ; Phill Warren, Recording Secretary ; and John Williams,
Treasurer.

103

On motion,

Resolved, That the petition to the Legislature for a portion of the seven per cent. Cen-
tral Railroad fund, be referred to Col. Buckniaster, as a special committee.

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be directed to transmit to persons whose
articles were recommended in the Miscellaneous Departments at the late Fair, certificates
of the character of the awards proposed by the different awarding committees for the same.

Adjourned till three o'clock p.m.

Three o'clock P.M.

Board met, pursuant to adjournment.

Present — C. W. Webster, President ; Messrs. Buckmaster,
Ellsworth, Kile, Osborn, McClun and McConnell, Yice-Presi-
dents ; J. !N". Brown, Ex-President ; S. Francis, Corresponding
Secretary ; and Phill Warren, Kecording Secretary,

On motion,

Resolved, That S. Francis be allowed eight hundred dollars for performing the duties of
Corresponding Secretary for 1858.

Messrs. Kile and Osborn, the committee appointed to examine
the accounts of the Treasurer, reported that they had examined
the same and found them correct.

On motion, the report was accepted.

On motion of Mr. Kile,

Resolved, That in consideration of the services rendered by the President, he be pre-
sented by this Board with a silver pitcher, of the value of fifty dollars, with a suitable
inscription.

On motion, adjourned, to meet in the Representatives' Hall at
seven o'clock, to make our final report to the State Agricultural
Society.

PKEMIUM FIELD CROPS, 1858.

Mr. Hugh Huls, of St. Charles, Kane county, states that the
land on which he raised his premium crops was low and level,
somewhat on the moist order — say rather wet — inclining to the
west. '"I plowed the ground in the fall; first in the spring I
harrowed, then drilled in the grain, intending to roll the same,
but did not, on account of wet weather. We have had very bad
weather in Northern Illinois the past summer.

HUGH HULS."

104

Hugh Easdale, of Eandolph county, states : " The land on
which my wheat was grown is prairie — soil a light loam. The
preceding crop was partly wheat and partly oats ; the land was
twice plowed, and the wheat was drilled in the second week of
September. The crop was harvested in the third week of June.

HUGH EASDALE."

James Ervin, of Randolph county, states in regard to his pre-
mium crop of wheat : " The variety was white winter wheat ;
the crop was raised on new prairie ; broke up and plowed again
before sowing ; then harrowed and the wheat drilled in about the
third week of September. The quantity of seed was about three
pecks to the acre.

JAMES ERVIN."

Harrison Hancock states in regard to the crop of rye raised by
him: "My rye was plowed in among corn about the 15th of
September. I plowed it in with a shovel plow. I run the plow
three times in a row. I sowed one bushel and a peck of seed to
the acre. I cut the corn-stalks in the sj)rmg, so as to have the
ground clear for harvesting. There was a large amount of straw
on the ground. A great part of the straw did not till, on account
of the wet.

HARRISON HANCOCK."

CORN.

Hugh Easdale, of Randolph county, says of his crop of premium
corn : " My land is a light loam ; the corn was planted about the
middle of April, 1858, and the yield was 73 25-56 bushels to the
acre.

HUGH EASDALE."

BEANS.

Harrison Hancock, of Tazewell county, received the first pre-
mium for beans. He says : " The ground for my beans was
plowed in May. The weather still continued to be wet and rainy
until about the last of June. I then plowed again, harrowed the
ground down smooth, and then laid it off in rows one way, about
three feet apart. I dropped the beans in a drill form, say eigh-
teen inches apart the other way. I planted one half bushel to the
acre. The kind I planted is what we call the ' White Pea Bean.'

105

In regard to plowing beans, they should not be plowed or hoed
except in the dry part of the day. I plow and hoe from one to
three times. I did not get a full crop.

II. HANCOCK."

Mr. Levi Mason, of Bureau county, was awarded a medal for
his crop of beans. He says : " I this year raised, on a half acre
of ground, eight hundred and sixteen (816) pounds of beans.
The land on which these beans grew was broken two years ago
last spring. It is a warm, light soil in ordinary seasons. It is
prairie loam, with a moderate mixture of sand, with a southern
exposure. The quantity of seed was about twenty-seven pounds.
The kind was the small white bean. The beans were planted in
the first week of May. Marks for rows were made with a chain,
about two feet apart. I used Wakefield's hand corn planter, and
gauged it to drop about six in a hill, and made the hills about ten
inches apart in the row. The ground had been plowed in the
latter part of April. The beans were hoed twice after they came
up, by which means the ground was kept clean and mellow.

LEVI MASON."

POTATOES.

Harrison Hancock, of Tazewell county, gives the following ac-
count of the cultivation of his premium crop of potatoes : " My
ground was old timothy sod. I sub-soiled in March, as soon as
the frost was out of the ground. I then let it lay until June 22d, on
account of the wet weather. I then cross-plowed, and got ready
for planting. I run off my rows three feet apart; then dropped
in a drill form, say two feet apart the other way. I plowed only
once — hoed once ; that was all the tending they got. It was too
wet for potatoes this year. My ground was rolling. I planted
fourteen bushels of potatoes to the acre. The kind here are called
the ' Ehode Island Blues.'

H. HANCOCK."

SWEETPOTATOES.

Michael A. Lowe, of Madison county, took the first premium
for sweet potatoes. The following was his mode of cultivation :
" The above sweet potatoes were set out in ridges, 18 inches apart,
(the ridges were about three feet from each other,) next scraped,
then plowed down and throwed back, and hoed no more till dug.

M. A. LOWE."

—14

106

CLOVER SEED.

Hngh Huls, of Kane county, obtained his clover seed from
"rather low, flat, dry prairie, sloping slightly to the west."

CASTOR BEANS.

Eobert Muir, of Randolph county, received the first award for a
crop of castor beans. "These were grown upon what may be
called black hazel land. First crop, turnips and potatoes ; second
crop, castor beans and the above ; the third crop castor beans.
The beans were planted in hills four feet apart, and thinned out to
one in the hill. They were plowed five times and once through
with the cultivator. Harvested in the usual way, and the product
was twenty bushels and five pounds. The land has never received
manure.

ROBERT MUIR."

SUGAR PROM IMPHEE.

Mrs. H. M. Tracy Cutler, of Grundy county, was awarded a
silver medal for a specimen of well granulated sugar from the juice
of the Imphee or African Sugar Cane. Mrs. Cutler, in describing
the mode of cultivation and the making of the sugar, says : " The
Imphee seed was planted about the middle of June — two varieties,
the Nee-a-za-na, the earliest, and the E-a-na-moo-dee, the largest
variety. By the middle of September the Nee-a-za-na was pretty
fairly ripened, and in less than a month after the E-a-na-moo-dee
had matured sufficiently to crystalize well. From a small patch
of this cane — about twenty rods — we manufactured five gallons
and a half of syrup of the JSTee-a-za-na, and from the other variety
seven gallons and a half. From the first I made sugar in small
quantities without any trouble. From the latter I took enough
for about twenty pounds of wet sugar and boiled over the stove in
a common tin boiler, adding nothing to clarify but a small quan-
tity of lime water. I think more might have been added advan-
tageously, but the lime was very poor and I found it of very little
use in correcting the slight acidity of the syrup. The sample of su-
gar that I send is not as perfectly drained as it should be, but the
weather has not been as favorable as warmer and summer weather
would have been ; besides it has been draining but a short time.
You will see that the grain is clear and distinct and the color by
no means disagreeable, considering that no decolorizing agent
whatever had been used. I am satisfied, from imperfect experi-

107

ments, that the question of sugar for the prairies, is no longer a
doubtful one. Even from the newly broken sod and imperfect
utensils, to which add a season most unfavorable, the farmer may
at least count upon a hundred gallons of syrup or 500 lbs. of good
Muscovado sugar to the acre.

H. M. TRACY CUTLER."

SUGAR PROM THE SORGHO.

0. B. Ostrander, M. D., of Livingston county, was awarded a
silver medal for the best sugar made from the Sorgho or Chinese
Sugar Cane. The following is Dr. Ostrander's process : " Sample
No. 1 (sugar) was made as follows : to the cold juice was added a
strong decoction of nutgalls, one gill to ten gallons of juice ; then
brought to a boil and removed from the fire and the scum removed ;
then added lime water until reddened litmus was restored ; then
added two gills of bullock's blood to fifty gallons juice ; again
brought to a boil and the scum removed ; then cooled to 160 Fah-
renheit, and then filtered through six feet charcoal ; then boiled
rapidly to 20" Beaume, transferred to 'a finishing kettle and boiled
to 236^ Fahrenheit. The result is the sugar and syrup. Amount
of sugar made like sample, 236 pounds ; amount of syrup like

sample, 46 gallons

0. B. OSTRANDER, M. D."

SYRUP FROM THE SORGHO.

Hugh E. "Walten, of Bunker Hill, Macoupin county, was award-
ed the first premium — the Society's gold medal — for the best syrup
of Sorgho, or Chinese Sugar Cane. He thus states his mode of
manufacturing this syrup : " The process of manufacturing this
syrup, as per sample sent by me, is : to thirty gallons of juice,
strained into the boiler, add one tea cup full of slacked lime, by
thinning with water to the thickness of cream, and then boil as
soon as possible, and commence skimming on the first appearance
of boiling or the syrup will not be so clear. The boiling was con-
tinued as fast as possible, with frequent skimming, until the mer-
cury in Fahrenheit's thermometer rose to 224 degrees. The fire
was then withdrawn and the syrup taken up in stone jars to cool.
The amount of syrup made as per sample was thirteen gallons,
and the amount made from same lot of cane, by the same process
except boiling to 220°, was 180 gallons.

H. E. WALTEK"

108

MR. VAN HOUTEN'S STATEMENT.

This cane was the Sorghum. The cane was very ripe. It was
ground in a wooden mill. The juice boiled in kettles set on an
arch. He strained the juice from the press. Tilled up the kettles,
when the scum rose skimmed it off. Then to about fifteen gallons
of juice threw in a teaspoon full of soda, skimmed off again, and
strained into another kettle. When it commenced to boil again,
put in smaller portions of soda, and skimmed off; repeating the
process until the scum became white. A quick fire is necessary.
To boil with coals is more apt to burn than with a blaze.

Mr. Y. H. kept a tub of clean water by his kettles and some
clean cloths ; and when the " film " would collect round the top of
the kettles, he wiped it off with the cloths and then rinsed them —
repeating the process when necessary.

The quicker the juice is boiled down, the fairer the syrup will
be. By keeping a steady fire, the juice will be boiled down with-
out burning.

The same process will make sugar. I boiled some of my syrup
very thick, put it away in a warm room, and it granulated very
finely.

With good cane, fair weather and cleanliness, any body can
make a good article of syrup by my simple process.

BENJAMIN VAN HOUTEN.
Paris, Edgar county, III.

Orin Sholes, of Union Grove, Whiteside county, was awarded
the premium for the third best specimen of Chinese Sugar Cane
syrup.

Mr. Sholes thus describes his mode of manufacture :
" I have made about 125 gallons of syrup this season, and from
less than half an acre I made fifty gallons — of which I send for
competition and premium a sample. In expressing the juice I
used two wooden rollers, cased with sheet iron, of eleven inches
in diameter, and attached a horse power. I do not think I ob-
tained more than two thirds of the juice from the cane. I used
sheet iron bottoms with wooden sides for my boiling pans, placed
upon arches ; and for clarifying and neutralizing the acid I used
lime and soda. The manufacturing of syrup from the Chinese
Sugar Cane is now no longer an experiment ; it is a reality.

ORIN SHOLES."

The sugar from the Imphee, presented by Mrs. Cutler, showed
large and perfect crystals. It had the appearance of new Louisiana
sugar, not well drained.

The sugar presented by O. B. Ostrander, M. D., showed perfect
but small crystals ; was quite dry ; very sweet ; a good article, re-
sembling Muscovado sugar.

109

There were two other specimens of sugar exhibited ; one by
Josiah Sawyer, Esq., of Tazewell county, and the other by E.
Paine, of Sangamon, which were creditable to these gentlemen.

The syrups which did not receive premiums, were a great im-
provement upon those exhibited last year. A syrup from the Im-
phee, sent by Mrs. Cutler, of Grundy county, was very bright,
limpid and fine. All the specimens did credit to the exhibitors,
and show a remarkable progress, within the last year, in this
branch of home industry.

FARMERS' MEETING AT CENIRALIA FAIR.

[FROM NOTES TAKEN BY C. D. BRAGDON, ESQ.]

Wednesday Evening, Sept. 15, 1858.

The farmers met for the informal discussion of subjects of spe-
cific interest connected with their vocation, at the Cook county tent,
upon the Fair Grounds, "Wednesday evening, September 15th,
1858. Dr. John A. Kennicott was elected chairman, and the first
subject called up was —

rust on grain.

Mr. Roots, of Perry county, was called for. Said he grew a
crop of oats, had them cut and put in the barn. Came home one
night, put out his team, and went to find grain for them ; went
where he supposed the oats had been stored, and could find
nothing but straw. Finally, after digging soine time, got a
bundle. In the morning told his boy that the straw must be
moved. "Yes," said the boy, "if you want oats, this year's crop
must be moved until you come to the last year's crop, when you
will find oats." His crop was a failure.

Dr. Kennicott — Who has grown a crop of good oats this

season ?

Mr. Barnes, of Du Page county — I should have had a good
crop but for a storm, which beat them down ; harvested fifteen
bushels per acre ; weigh thirty pounds per bushel, machine meas-
ure ; were sown early — about the first days of April.

Mr. Roots, of Perry county — I have traveled somewhat exten-
sively in Egypt, Tennessee and Kentucky, and with my eyes
open; have taken pains to ask with regard to the oat crop, and
find there will not be enough grown for seed next year.

Dr. Kennicott — What of the rust — what causes it ?

Mr. McCord, of Marion county — I have paid a good deal of at-
tention to this subject, having had my attention called to it by a

Ill

naturalist when I was a boy; have examined it on both wheat and
oats in its different stages with a glass. On the first examination
it seems to be covered with living animalcule, but a subsequent
examination with a seventy-five multiplier glass, discloses a putrid
excrescence covered with minute insects. When it is moist, these
insects seem alive ; when it is dry, you cannot distinguish the in-
sects. If you wet the straw, no insects are discernable, but after
a dew or rain, they are visible, but only with this powerful glass.

Gen. Wilson, of Iowa — In Iowa oats are badly rusted ; never
saw men more paralyzed than were the Iowa farmers when they
learned that the rust had appeared ; only in the central counties
are wheat and oats even an average crop. The rust appeared first
about the last of June during the hot weather alter heavy rains,

Mr. McCord, of Marion county — [In answer to a question by F,
K. Elliott.] When these insects first appeared upon the wheat,
they seemed to be alive, and after a few days they appeared to be
dead, and cover the excrescence before named.

Gen. Wilson, of Iowa — Is the usual pains taken with other seed
used in the preparation and selection of seed oats ?

Dr. Kennicott — Yes, with mine this year. They were good
oats.

Mr. Muetfeldt, of Ogle county — I sowed oats to compete for
the premiums offered by the State Society ; got seed from a man
who got his seed in Canada, and had grown the oats here two
years. They were white oats, weighing forty-two pounds to the
bushel. The ground was well prepared, the oats well distributed
and covered, and prior to the advent of wet and warm weather
would not have thanked a man to warrant me eighty bushels per
acre. They rusted, crinkled down, and I did not cut a straw.
Oats sown with wheat, early, were bright and well filled ; wheat
did not fill. One of my neighbors grew a good crop of oats; pre-
pared the ground in the fall, sowed early in spring.

Mr. Jonathan Perkiam, of Cook county — Gave as his experi-
ence that land plowed in the fall, and seeded early in the spring
with oats, when the frost is still in the ground, will do well ; that
sown late is uncertain. Said we do not sow and plant enough of
the different kinds ,of grain and vegetables ; our's should be a
mixed husbandry, and my experience is, it is most profitable. He
planted chufas or earth almonds — planted in rows two feet apart,
and nine to twelve inches apart in the row. Just before leaving
for the Fair, dug a hill and got a pint of full-grown chufas ; were
planted on sandy soil. Everything eats them well, particularly
children. Potatoes planted early on his sandy soil were ripe the
last of July. Butabagas are profitable ; has a crop that will not
cost him five cents per bushel.

112

Mr. Line-let, of Chicago — Has experimented and observed
relative to this rust fifteen years ; thinks it is caused by too much
acidity in the soil. He commenced " book farming " fifteen years
ago. Prepared his land for potatoes by sowing on ashes, lime
and salt, before plowing — a light top dressing ; planted the pota-
toes and covered them with two furrows ; old farmers sneered at
him, but their potatoes rusted and his did not. Experimented
otherwise, and believes that the application of alkalies will pre-
vent rust. After dry and hot summers and cold winters, there is
no rust. Believes fall plowing best for oats ; spring plowing
leaves the ground too mellow. Pack the soil with a roller ; it is
better for all grains.

Mr. McCokd — A gentleman in "Washington county said to me,
" I expect I am the only man in the county who knows how to
raise oats. Bust is occasioned by too much acid in the soil. I
neutralize it — let my land lie still a year, cut the weeds and burn
them. I plow in the fall and sow upon the snow in March ; raised
forty-five bushels per acre this year."

Gen. Wilson — What of the Poland oats ?

Dr. Kenntcott — Knew good crops grown from them.

Mr. Likdlet — Had had experience, but they were no better
than other and common kinds.

Mr. Bragdon, of Chicago — Had grown them with good suc-
cess : large crops, but they were always very smutty. This was
his main objection to them.

Mr. F. R. Elliott, of St. Louis— The rust can be prevented by
soaking the seed in lime water previous to sowing. His experi-
ence had been favorable to this variety.

Mr. Wemple, of Winnebago county — Got the white Holland
oat ; sowed beside the common white oat ; the former yielded
one-third more than the latter, and weighed forty pounds per
bushel measure. Last year Holland oats were very heavy ; sowed
of the seed last season ; it did not come up well ; what did come
up will not yield ten bushels per acre. Got seed of the Poland
oats from New York ; yield good.

Mr. Gregory, of Vermont — We have a fine crop of oats
through New England. You have been furnishing us with our
breadstuff's, now we will furnish you with seed in return. The
last winter there was ordinary — summer moderate, with occasional
showers ; no excess of heat or cold.

Mr. Elliott— Had imported a winter oat, and had grown good
crops from it.

113

HUNGARIAN GRASS.

Gen. "Wilson, of Iowa, was called up to respond to the question,
" What of Hungarian grass ?"

He said, "if the oat crop is gone in Iowa the Hungarian grass
will save the cattle." He proceeded to give briefly its history and
the success that had attended it in Iowa. There was nothing
grown that animals preferred as a food. Speaking of its growth,
he said, " farmers reported they had to take their fences down to
cut it." Is it exhausting? "JSTot more so than any other crop."
He is not satisfied that it can or cannot be easily eradicated from
the soil. It is the crop to be sown in dry seasons. If sown early
it will make a good fall pasture.

Mr. Nichols, of Clinton county — One of his neighbors sowed
it and got six tons to the acre. [We so find this in our note book.]
Other neighbors got small crops. In answer to a question, said
he did believe this neighbor got one more shower than the others
whose success was not as good.

Mr. Cyrus P. Overman, of McLean county — Kegards this as
an important subject ; has had a slight experience in its cultiva-
tion ; regards it as a species of small millet, with finer straw than
the ordinary millet. His experience is, that fed with corn to his
team, they leave the corn and eat the grass.

Mr. Ladd, of Champaign county — Sowed one bushel of seed on
three acres ; it is a good crop, but would sow more seed on the
acre ; one-third of a bushel is not enough ; left it ready for cut-
ting ; thinks it one of the best qualities of grasses for feed.

Gen. "Wilson — Relative to its milk producing qualities it is im-
possible to get data ; had made extraordinary efforts to secure it ;
had insisted upon it when distributing the seed, but had not been
successful. Farmers ought to make experiments ; it is their duty
to do it.

A voice — How about its beef producing qualities ?

Mr. Elliott — Doubts if it will produce beef or butter in compar-
ison with other grasses.

Gen. Wilson — Stage drivers say it is heavier feed by twenty-
five per cent, than oats ; the standard weight per bushel is fixed at
fifty pounds.

Mr. "Whitman, of DeKalb county — Has fed it ; there is little
difference between it and timothy as to its fattening qualities j if
any difference it is in favor of the Hungarian grass.

-15

114:

CHTJFAS OR EARTH ALMOND.

Dr. Kennicott — Pulled up a bunch planted in May, and found
not a single tuber.

Mr. Bronson Murray, of LaSalle county — Succeeded in grow-
ing a good crop on bottom land.

Mr. Murtfeldt — Planted in sandy soil ; had not dug them, but
finds his children are fond of visiting the patch.

Mr. Overman- — Says should be planted in ridges.

Dr. Kennicott — They will kill out.

dioscorea batatas.

This subject was called up and instantly brought out a shower
of sallies. Arthur Bryant, of Bureau county, was called for. He
knew nothing of them. Dr. Kennicott thought Mr. Elliott could
give some experience. Mr. Elliott was called for. He said it was
a subject he did not like to talk about. He bought of the prince
of humbugs thirty dollars worth of the tubers — this "esculent."

Dr. Kennicott — I did not think you green enough to invest
thirty dollars in such a humbug."

Mr. Elliot — " Not mean enough ?"

Dr. Kennicott — No, no, I did not say mean, I said green — not
green enough."

Mr. Elliott — "Worse and worse ; I had rather be called mean
than green. But I did invest — planted two years ago, and about
three weeks ago dug down eighteen inches and found two small
ones — two very small ones, and this is all I have 'realized' from
my thirty dollars in the shape of Dioscoreas."

new rochelle or lawton blackberry.

Mr. Bronson Murray — Has seen them three years old; not
fruited yet.

Mr. Arthur Bryant — Has had some experience. The first
year they winter killed ; second year got a little fruit ; third year
were killed at the collar ; the current year they have fruited some.
Thinks they are better than the "highbush," so far as he can
judge.

Mr. Elliott — Eegards them with favor; he has them in fruit;
they bear longer than the "highbush" ; had seen stems grown this
year thirteen feet long ; would cut them back one half ; are not
tender ; no better flavor than the " highbush."

Gen. Wilson — Would have had a good crop but for the birds ;
is favorably impressed with them.

115

Mr. Bragdon — Saw them fruited at Eocliester, in August,
1857 ; then heavily loaded ; had ordinary nursery culture, but fla-
vor poor.

Mr. Overman — "With me those partially shaded were better
flavored than those grown in the snn.

Mr. J. T. Little, of Lee county — It winter killed with me while
the Antwerp raspberry did not.

THE COMMON BLACKBERRY.

In answer to the question, "Has any one had any experience in
the cultivation of our common wild blackberry?" Several re-
sponses were made to the effect that it improved with cultivation,
and in quality excelled some of the more noted sorts. The opin-
ion was expressed by Dr. K'ennicott and others that there might
be sorts obtained in the woods of South Illinois that if cultivated
and improved would far excel the New Rochelle. This opinion
was sustained by several gentlemen.

RASPBERRIES.

Dr. Kennicott — Has any one had a good and constant crop of
raspberries in Illinois ?

Mr. Overman — Has had no difficulty in cultivating the black
and a few other varieties, and improved them from the seedling.
Others had got good crops by cutting back properly.

Mr. F. K. Phcenix, of McLean county — Brinckle's orange bears
itself to death — an enormous bearer ; hardier than old Antwerp,
but not perfectly hardy ; should be protected.

Dr. Kennicott's experience relative to this variety was like
Phoenix's : it bore itself to death.

Mr. Woodsides, of Perry county — Said he had a raspberry
bearing monthly — called the monthly raspberry, purple, ten years
in his garden ; cut it back once each month, and it bears full crop
four to five months of the year ; habit same as the ordinary rasp-
berry ; got it of Dr. Brashaw, of Perry county ; thinks he got it in
Cincinnati, Ohio.

Here a motion to adjourn ended the talk. Pending the motion
to adjourn, Mr. Overman proposed "underdraining" as the leading
subject for discussion the next evening, eloquently enlarging upon
the importance of attention to this subject by every farmer and
gardener.

116

Thursday Evening, September 16.

The meeting was called to order by Dr. Kennicott, the Chair-
man, at seven o'clock.

The subject to be discussed was drainage, but as Mr. Overman,
who proposed the subject, was not present to open the discussion,
it was suggested that something more might be said of rust, as
the discussion of the previous evening had been much talked of
during the day.

Mr. Muktfeldt, of Ogle — Said, " a farmer from Belleville says
rust is nothing but mildew."

Mr. Lindley, of Chicago — Still believes the application of al-
kalies a remedy ; a farmer in Minnesota never failed of preventing
rust by the application of lime.

A Yoice — Do you apply when sown ?

Answer — At any time when it can be mixed with the soil.

Mr. Caetee, of Belleville — It is immaterial whether it is dew
or fog, we have the rust. If we have a dry May or June, we do
not have it.

Mr. Colman, of St. Louis — Has grain on soils containing lime
suffered or not this year from the rust? That is the question,,
They have suffered. The grain sown on new soils has not es-
caped. Do not believe it was from want of alkalies in the soil,
but believes it was nothing but a mildew, caused by rain, fog,
dew, &c.

Mr. Nichols, of Clinton county — Have sowed wheat twenty-
one years, and never failed with but one crop. Has sown lime ;
once sowed twenty-one bushels on an acre, and raised ten bushels
more to the acre, and one-third heavier per bushel. The lime
caused it to ripen ten days earlier. Leached ashes mixed with
the soil produced good crops. Portions on the limed land were
not rusted as badly as elsewhere. Deep sub- soil or trench plow-
ing, where the sub-soil is thrown upon the surface, prevents rust.

Mr. Beagdon, of Chicago — Is it not a fact established by the
experience given here, that late sown oats rust and the early seed-
ing does not 2 This is familiar to Eastern farmers.

Mr. Colman asked about dragging a rope over the field to pre-
vent the rust by shaking off.

Mr. Nichols said it was no preventive.

The Chaieman said the preventive appeared plain in the deep
plowing and early seeding.

117

UNDER-DRAINING.

Dr. Kennicott — Had under-drained land ; grows double crops.
In the north part of the State we can never raise fruit without
under-draining. Trees winter well and crops surer on drained
land.

Mr. Roots, of Perry — How can we get tile in Egypt ?

Dr. Kennicott— Make them. They can be made for $10 per
thousand pieces.

Mr. Colman — This is one of the most important subjects per-
taining to the business of the farmer. But you cannot approach
Illinois farmers on the subject. They say they cannot do as east-
ern people do. There is no country in the world that stands so
much in need of drainage as Illinois. Farmers can do all the
labor and prepare all the material necessary on their own land,
and in the winter. [Mr. Colman proceeded at some length to
enlarge upon the importance and benefits of draining, giving
some of the laws which govern the action of water in the soil, &c.
Our brother editor must allow us to suggest that long speeches
should be novel as well as good, in order to be excusable in such
a meeting. His spe'ech was good, but not new enough to be in
place.]

f Mr. Kugg, of Ottawa — Agrees as to the value of draining, but
much of our land is too light already ; plowing deep throws up a
heavy sub-soil, and must accompany drainage. Rolling is another
method of modifying the lightness of the soil.

Mr. Eoots — Says a farmer told him a heavy roller was worth as
much to him as his plow. When he rolled his wheat he had a
good crop ; when he neglected to roll his crop was light.

Mr. Britton, of McLean county — We have had drains in our
county several years. I have talked with several farmers this
year. It has been wet, but on the drained lands, the sloughs, &c,
the crops have been fine. Some of these drains are seven years
old, made by a prairie drain plow or mole. They are made two
and a half and three and a half feet deep. Time makes no im-
pression upon them. They are made at twenty -five cents per rod.

Mr. Elliott, of Edgar county — Mr. Colman is mistaken as
to the spirit of the farmers of Illinois as to draining. In the east-
ern part of the State we are using these mole ditches with good
success; find it pays to use them.

Mr. Charles Kennicott, of Marion county — We have evidence
enough in Egypt that draining is a benefit. Corn planted on
ridges is good ; that planted on the flat surface is poor. He advo-
cated deep plowing, under-draining, &c, and the cultivation of
fruits and vegetables, and their consumption. Especially in Egypt
ought there to be more attention paid to this diet. We would

118

have less of the fever and ague, scurvy and other diseases. Had
made brush drains ; dug narrow, and three and a half teet deep ;
took an Ames' spade, cut the corners off, and took out a spit at the
bottom of the drain. In this lay the brush, over the brush
straw, and clay top of that, and cover. In the northern part of
the State, where this experiment was tried, the drains should be
within thirty feet of each other, and quite as near in Egypt, de-
pending of course upon the locality.

Mr. Medill, of Cook county — Stewart, of Indiana, has a new
method : digs a drain, narrow, two and a half feet deep ; is care-
ful to preserve the sod ; in the center takes out a spitful, and
covers with inverted sods.

Dr. Kennicott— How silly, after having done most of the la-
bor, not to put in a substantial drain !

Mr. Beagdon — We know draining sloughs and wet places is
profitable — we have no need to discuss this subject ; but does it
pay to put in under-drains in uplands ?

Mr. Chase, of La Salle — Said old ways were going out of date.
The steam plow is new, but draining must bcperformed by steam
rather than horses.

Mr. Martin, of Decatur — Merely stated that a drain made by
the prairie drainer had lasted seven years, and successfully ; could
work the drainer on rolling as well as on level land.

Mr. John Davis, of Decatur — Has seen this underdraining, and
stated facts where the drain had failed, for which no cause has yet
been assigned ; considers draining valuable, and western farmers
are ready to go into it as soon as they can be sure of the best way.

Mr. Beitton warrants the work of one of Cole's mole ditchers.

Mr. Peeeiam stated that a wet pond had been drained by a friend
of his by making stone drains at a cost of fifty cents a rod, and now
all over the land all sorts of plants can be grown successfully.

Mr. Scott has found deep plowing and furrowing out for drain-
ing a great item in increasing crops ; has raised twenty-five to
thirty-five bushels and as high as forty-two bushels of wheat to
the acre.

Col. Capeon, of McHenry county — Has used hard burned brick;
some of his best drains have been made with them ; dug wide
enough to allow a brick to lay in the bottom lengthwise flat down;
in bottom put plank, on this set brick edgewise to form the sides,
and covered with a single brick laid flat.

Mr. Elliott, of St. Louis — Agreed with Col. Capron in using
hard brick for drains ; he had practiced it and been successful.

119

Mr. Mukeat said it had been stated to him that it was abso-
lutely necessary to have the beds of the courses straight, and that
three feet deep is quite shallow enough for any drain to preserve
from frost.

Mr. Davis — Draining is a profession. He gave his experience
with a professional.

Mr. Colman cited an instance where the farmer makes his own
tile with a machine which every farmer may obtain.

Mr. C. Kennicott does not believe these machines will prove
practicable, because it requires more skill to burn tile than to burn
brick. Would not advise farmers to buy machines until they knew
how to burn the tile.

Dr. Kennicott supported this advice by relating the experience
of an old tile maker, who regarded it as a peculiar and distinct
business to make good tile.

Much more was said pertinent to this subject, which we were un-
able to retain.

DEEP PLOWING.

Mr. Tan Doeen, of La Salle — We do not use less than three
oxen or three horses for plowing. We get laughed at, but our
crops yield as one-third more for putting in the deep plow. We
never plow less than ten inches.

Mr. Lindley knew of a field seven to eight inches deep plowed,
on which was this year a first rate corn crop.

Mr. Andeews, of McHenry — Plows deep; had not had a poor
crop in sixteen years ; crops are double those of his neighbors who
plow shallow, with no more labor expended except in plowing
deep.

Mr. Yajst Doeen commends the Michigan sod and subsoil plow.
After the first plowing it is little harder to use than the common
plow.

Mr. Peeeiam — Gets one-third more crop when he uses the
Michigan double plow.

Mr. Van Doeen — Gets more corn on one acre of sod planted in
deep plowing than on four acres as ordinarily plowed. He let an
Irishman sow some land in wheat. He apportioned to him a part
of a field of shallow plowing, alongside of which were some deep
plowed lands. The Irishman wanted to sow on a part of the lat-
ter, but was refused. After the wheat had begun to head, Tan
Doren was riding by and noticed a difference in the height and
habit of two portions of the field ; one part was much higher than
the other. He left his horse and examined the water furrows, and
found that the part on which the grain was so stout was a portion

120

of the deep plowing he had refused to let the Irishman occupy.
After harvest, when settling with Pat, he reminded him of the fact
that he had trespassed — had gone over the line on the deep plowed
land when he sowed his wheat.

Pat replied, "An' faith, if I had not had that acre, Mister Van
Doren, I could not 'a paid my rint, at all, at all."

Mr. White, of Champaign county — Has a neighbor who has a
field that has been cropped with grains seven or eight years. This
year he plowed it thirteen inches deep, and on four acres will har-
vest four hundred bushels of corn ; used Michigan double plow.

Mr. Bragdon — Wished to ask Mr. Van Doren if prairie sod
turned over deep with the Michigan plow rotted as well as that
turned over in the manner of ordinary prairie breaking. It has
been objected that deep breaking prevents the sward rotting
and renders it impossible to work the land subsequently because
of sods. Is this a fact %

Mr. Yan Doren — The sod does not rot well when turned under
with the Michigan plow. This was corroborated by Bronson
Murray, who believes the plow should not be used indiscriminately.
If the plow is used on sod in the spring, and oats or spring wheat
sown on it, they will not do as well as on ordinary plowing ; but if
it be broken deep in the fall, and subjected to the action of the
frosts, and seeded in the spring, it produces well. Corn does not
germinate so well in the subsoil turned up in the spring, but it is
our experience that we get as good crops. The corn is better
growth, and subsequent crops increase the reward of pains in
plowing.

Adjourned.

REPORTS OF COUNTY SOCIETIES FOR 1857*

ADAMS COUNTY.

The Fourth Annual Fair of the Adams County Agricultural
Society was held at Quincy, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,
October 7th, 8th and 9th, 1857.

Wednesday was a splendid day for the opening of the Fair, and
at any early hour in the morning people commenced flocking in
from the country. There was more general interest taken in the
Society and this Fair than any which has preceded it, and more
articles were entered than was anticipated. The attendance on
Thursday was large and estimated at from ten to twelve thousand
people. Visitors were pouring in all day, and it was almost a
matter of impossibility to work one's way through the mass of
people that tilled the buildings where the articles were placed on
exhibition.

The crowd on Friday was nearly as great as on the day before,
and thousands were drawn out to witness the great trotting match,
which was substituted in the place of an address, although it is
doubtful if it proved as beneficial to those on the ground as an
address might have been.

In every respect this was the most successful Fair ever held in
Adams county. More care and attention has been taken in get-
ting it up and more interest manifested by the people than ever
before.

The receipts of the Fair were $2,150, which, after paying the
expenses of the Fair, left sufficient balance on hand to pay the
debt of the Society.

The number of entries in the different departments was as fol-
lows:

—16

122

" B.
" C.
" D.
" E.

Horses

Jacks and mules

Cattle .

...78 "
....15 "

...2S "
....11 "

" N.
" 0.
" P.
" Q.
" B.
" S.

" G.

Swine

... 2 "

....10 "

" H.
" J.
" K.
" L.

Poultry

Products of orchard..

Vegetables

Grain

.... 8 "

....52 "
....32 "
....30 «

Tote

Flowers and shrubs 24 entri<

Dairy and farm products. .93 "

Agricultural implements. 34 "

Vehicles ...14 "

County manufactures 50 "

Domestic manufactures.. 46 "

Pine arts ......56 «*

Ladies' fancy work 65 "

Number of entries in all 660. The stalls were filled with fine
horses, jacks, mules and cattle, many of them noble animals.
Among them was the splendid and celebrated stallion, " Silver
Heels," who attracted special attention. As he flew round the
track, spurning the ground beneath his feet, with head proudly
erect, it seemed as though his arching neck was " clothed with
thunder.'1 He was the cynosure of all eyes, and well deserves the
enconiums he has received on all sides. There were many other
splendid animals, some no doubt more useful and valuable, in a
utilitarian point of view, than " Silver Heels." The show of
jacks and mules was not large, but embraced some animals of su-
perior merit, and can hardly be beat in the state. A fair show of
blooded cattle, and were equal, in point of excellence, to the display
of horses.

The sheep and swine, though in small numbers, were good in
point of quality. Some Cotswold sheep exhibited by Mr. E.
Combs, covered with a thick coat of wool, 13 inches in length, at-
tracted much attention.

A new department was this year added to the attractions of the
Fair, by a show of dogs, and the entries included fine animals of
all breeds — Newfoundland, Terriers, Bull, Greyhound, Setters,
Pointers, &c, which would have warmed the heart of a fancier of
this kind of stock. They were fine of their kind, and no "cur of
low degree" found a place among them.

The exhibition of fruit was extensive and of superior character.
Our county has long been celebrated for its many excellent
orchards, and our farmers are properly directing more of their
attention to this valuable department of farm production. It is
doubted if any other county in the state could produce so extensive
and valuable a display of choice apples. That it far exceeded any
exhibition of the kind ever shown at our State Fairs is the testi-
mony of many who have been present at all.

Grain aud vegetables were exhibted in profusion. Choice sam-
ples of wheat, corn, potatoes, &c, sustained the claim that our
state has no superior for capabilities of production in this depart-
ment.

Flowers and shrubs were also exhibited, sufficient to show an
increasing attention and taste in this direction.

The display of dairy and farm products was very fine, particu-
larly of butter, cheese, bread, preserved fruits, &c.

123

The collection of agricultural implements was good. Splendid
plows from the Quincy Agricultural Works. Reapers, drills, corn
planters, &c, and some new and novel machines from abroad.

The show of vehicles was particularly line. Carriages were a

treat addition to the interest of the Fair. Messrs. Hayes Woodruff
j Co., of Quincy, exhibited work which every one pronounced su-
perior to any other ever seen at such an exhibition. Our manu-
facturers also had some superior farm wagons. ISTo show of this
kind equal to it has ever been seen in this state.

In county manufactures the display made by our mechanics in
cabinet, coopers', foundry, harness, &c, work, reflected great
credit. The display of stoves, &c, was especially large and line,
from the celebrated works of Comstock & Co.

In domestic manfactures the show was good. Carpets, cover-
lets, blankets, flannel, stockings, and many other useful and com-
fortable things, covered the tables and walls, and fully sustained
the well earned reputation of the industrious housewives of our
county.

The exhibition of fine arts was one of the crowning glories of
the Fair. The numbers and excellence cannot be excelled in any
section of our state. Many beautiful works of art, the production
■of our own home artists, and many splendid and valuable paint-
ings, kindly sent by their owners only for exhibition, covered the
walls of this department, and the constant throng that crowded the
building manifested the attractions of the display.

In the class of ladies' fancy and ornamental work, the taste and
ingenuity of the ladies, occupied a large space, and constantly eli-
cited the admiration of all and perhaps the envy of some. The
•display was good and very full.

H. D. WOODRUFF, Sec'y.

BOND COUNTY.

We have no returns of the Bond county Fair of 1857. A fair
was held, and there were many entries. The ladies' department
seemed to be best supplied with articles. There was a fine exhi-
bition of fruit from the orchard of Wm. S. Wait, Esq. The means
of the society have been expended in purchasing and fixing their
fair grounds. It is said that no plate premiums have yet been
awarded by the society. Judging from some knowledge of the
leading farmers of Bond, we shall yet see a flourishing agricultural
society in that county.

121
BOONE COUNTY.

The annual Fair of the Boone county Agricultural Society for
1857, was held in Belvidere, on the 7th, 8th and 9th of October.
The society was organized in April, 1855. The late. fair was,
therefore, the third held by this society.

The county is one of the smallest in the State — so small that
many feared the society would be a failure; but the expectations
of the most sanguine have been more than realized. The receipts
of the fair of 1855, were $150. For 1856, the receipts were $000,
and for 1857, the receipts were $1,185 70 : — thus exhibiting a
steady increase of interest in the society's efforts. For this success
the society is in a great measure indebted to the indefatigable
efforts of its worthy president, Hon. A. C. Fuller, and the secre-
tary, Geo. J. Wood, Esq. The society has purchased and inclosed
eight acres of ground, in Belvidere, on which the fairs are to be
held hereafter.

At the time the society was organized the stock of all kinds con-
sisted almost entirely of the ordinary breeds. At the late fair
many animals were exhibited which would be a credit to any
county in this or any other State. Mr. Barnard exhibited fifteen
head of Devon cattle, which were perfectly beautiful. Most of
them were raised in Vermont. Mr. J. Q. A. Rollins exhibited a
lot of very fine Durhams, which attracted universal attention. His
fine bull, JYapoleon, carried away the first premium at the Wiscon-
sin State Fair. Many citizens of the county also exhibited fine
specimens of Durham cattle.

The exhibition of horses was also very fine. Most of the stal-
lions were of the Morgan and Black Hawk breeds. Of sheep
there was a good show, embracing specimens of the South Down
and French and Spanish Merino varieties. Suffice it to say, the
fair was a successful one, and the farmers and mechanics of the
county, with their wives, sons and daughters, had a glorious time.

L. W. LAWRENCE,

Com. of III. State Ag. Society.

CHRISTIAN COUNTY.

Officers for 1857 :

President — Jacob Maxwell.

Vice Presidents— A. D. Northcut, Y. S. Priest, J. H. Hill.
Treasurer — J. H. Clark.
Pecording Secretary — Wm. A. Goodrich.
Corresponding Secretary — A. Sattley.

The Agricultural Society of Christian county was organized on
the 2 1st of July, 1856. The first fair of the society was held on

125

21st, 22d and 23d of October, 1856. There were eighty-four en-
tries of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, etc., and forty-eight entries of
miscellaneous articles. Premiums were awarded to the amount of
about $200.

The second annual fair was held on the 21st, 22d and 23d clays
of October, 1857. There was one hundred and seventeen entries
of cattle, horses, mules, hogs, sheep, etc., and ninety entries of
miscellaneous articles. The premiums awarded amounted to $420.
The attendance was large and much interest was manifested. The
exhibition of equestrianship by the ladies was exceedingly inter-
esting. The first premium was awarded to Mrs. Y. T. Priest.
The second to Miss Martha Baker.

The society have purchased fifteen acres of land for a fair ground,
adjoining the town of Taylorville, which is well watered and
shaded and will soon have it inclosed with a board fence.

The society, although it has met with oposition, is in a flourish-
ing way. It is established on a basis that bids fair to be perma-
nent. Its exhibitions, as they have progressed, indicate a perma-
nent future.

W. A. GOODRICH, Secretary.

In the address of Major D. D. Shumway, before the Agricultu-
ral Society of Christian county, at the fair of 1857, he said —

The science of agriculture consists in the knowledge of the con-
stituent parts of the soil and of plants, and the adaptation of one to
the other. " Plants, like animals, are governed by laws that may
be modified, but never change. They breathe, eat and digest their
food, as animals do, with this difference in their kind of food, the
animal feeding upon organic matter and the plant upon inorganic
matter."

Would any intelligent farmer think of turning his stock into a
field where there was nothing but dried corn-stalks, briars and
stramonium and expect they would grow and fatten upon such ?
No ! And why ? Because he knows from observation that they
cannot extract from such things enough nutriment to supply their
wants. Would a scientific farmer sow his grain in a soil destitute
of the constituents necessary to the growth and perfection of plants
and expect an abundant yield ? No ! And why % Because he
knows the ingredients necessary for the sustenance and growth of
such plants are absent.

We all know that cold, wet and clayey soil is not so well adapted
to the growth of corn, wheat, etc., as a warm, rich, black, loamy
soil. We all know that successive crops of wheat, corn or other
grains grown upon the same soil, will exhaust it, and hence, we
resort in cultivation to a rotation of crops, by which the matter
which has been exhausted by the growth of that crop, may be re-
turned to the soil again.

We know that all vegetation requires warmth, light and air, to
insure its growth and perfection. We also know that animals

126

will grow and fatten upon some kinds of vegetation better than
upon others.

It is these laws which govern organic and inorganic matter, and
the various relations created by nature, that intimately exist be-
tween them, that constitutes the science of agriculture.

How necessary, then, in order to plant the proper seeds upon
the right soil, to produce the greatest crop, to feed to the right ad-
vantage, that we should learn and understand these laws and re-
lations in all their bearings.

Have we a full knowledge and understanding of them % ~No !
" The earth is a vast chemical laboratory, few of whose operations
we comprehend."

Within the last few centuries much has been learned and writ-
ten in regard to the science of agriculture, and yet we are but in
the infancy of that knowledge — that the " Newton of agriculture
has not yet appeared ;" and that, when the time arrives, the
teachers of the present and the past will be deemed as " tyros in
the grand science !" And it is our duty, farmers, to spare no effort,
by observation, by experiment, by study and reflection, to perfect
ourselves in this scientific knowledge, the acquirement of which
will add immensely to our pleasure and our interest.

The art of agriculture consists in the proper cultivation of the
soil, at the right time and in the best manner, in the selection of
seeds for sowing and planting, in having a variety of crops, in the
selection and using farming implements, in the selection and
breeding of stock, in the distribution of farm labor and the general
mangement, by which no valuable time or money shall be useless-
ly expended.

Some farmers will only plow shallow — -just skim the surface of
the ground — will plow when the ground is too wet or too dry, and
prepare it for days or weeks before they are ready to put in the
seed, are indifferent as to the kind of seed, or to the time they sow
or plant. This class are also careless as to the farming utensils
they use ; they will only work with a poor plow, chop with a dull
ax, mow with an edgeless scythe — do what they perform with the
hardest labor and the least profit. Just look at the custom of plow-
ing in olden times. It is stated that when " Elisha the Prophet
was taken from the plow and called to a higher trust he left twelve
yoke of oxen in the furrow." What a fact! How poor and weakly
must have been his team, how clumsey and unwieldy his plow,
when it took twelve yoke of cattle to make a single furrow ?

Well do I remember what a young farmer told me, years ago,
in relation to his first trials in plowing. He had been trained in
other pursuits, and resorted to farming to support a young family.
He was poor, and had but few farming implements, and borrowed
of a neighbor one of the old wooden mold-board plows, which were
then most generally in use in the western country, and went to
plowing a piece of sod ground broken the summer before. That day
was one of trial to a new beginner ; the plow would neither run

127

under the sod and turn it, without clogging, nor cut and clear its
way, but went bobbing along, fretting and tiring himself and his
team, and doing but little good.

That night he retired to rest, weary, dissatisfied, cross to himself
and to his family. The next morning another neighbor kindly of-
fered one of Jewett's improved plows, with steel mold-board — just
then coming into use. He used it, and it worked finely ; it clave
the sod and the rich mellow earth beneath it, and both flew from
its brightly polished surface, pulverizing and mixing in fine order ;
before 9 o'clock his team of horses were quieted, and took to the
furrow as if they were proud of their work, and he was whistling to
the tune of

" How sweet a farmer's life !"

That day's work done, the evening was a pleasant one to him
and his family ; smiles and kind words to his young wife and
children ; grateful for the present few enjoyments, and with
bright hopes for the future.

"What a volume of teaching in this simple illustration of a sin-
gle item in the great array of facts which bear upon the art of
agriculture !

There is another class of farmers who plow deep — who know
that one deep, well-plowed furrow will produce more grain than
half a dozen shallow ones — who exercise great care in the selec-
tion of their seed, selecting the hardiest and most productive
kinds — who place their seed in the mellow soil, at the earliest
moment after it has been turned by the plow, before it becomes
hardened and its richness evaporated — who will work only with
the best farming utensils, knowing full well that, although the
first cost of such is somewhat greater, yet, in the end, time, labor
and money are all saved to them — who know that small, unthrifty
stock consumes as much food as a larger and more thrifty kind —
and who practice, in the general management of their farming
affairs, upon the old adage, that " what is worth doing at all is
worth doing well," and upon the equally trite saying, that " a
stitch in time saves nine."

A knowledge and practice of the foregoing rules constitutes, in
part, the art of agriculture. * '* * * *

Mr. President, this is our second annual meeting; and although
we commenced our organization under discouraging circumstances,
with but little means to start upon, and the prejudices of many to
contend against, yet, I am happy to say, we have succeeded be-
yond our most sanguine expectations. The organization of this
society has created an agricultural and mechanical interest among
the people, that I sincerely hope will not be diminished by time
nor space, but shall continue to grow and expand until every man
and woman within the limits of its organization shall become ac-
tive members of its body.

The lengthiness of my remarks admonishes me that I ought to

128

close, and yet I cannot forbear to offer a few more words to our
agricultural and mechanical friends. While we are collecting to-
gether and storing our minds with the great practical facts of
experience, in the different departments of our callings — while
we are searching the vast laboratories of nature for those grand
scientific truths upon which agricultural and mechanical labor is
based — while we are organizing associations for our mutual bene-
fit, and building public improvements, for carrying off our pro-
ducts, and facilitating our intercourse — we should not forget that
the real elements of happiness are near at home, within ourselves;,
and in the circle of domestic life.

In the generous rivalry of competition in various departments
of labor, and in the struggle for an independent affluence, we
should not forget to cultivate our tastes and refine our manners —
learn to love the beautiful in art and nature. While the mechanic
is using the products of the forest, and by his art and his genius
bringing a rich reward for his labor, and the agriculturist making
his broad fields pay heavy tribute to his industry, they should not
forget the erection of the homestead, and surrounding it with
beautiful trees and flowers, whose daily growth and beauty will
not only have a tendency to cultivate his tastes and refine his
manners, but remind him of that great eternal source of divine
purity, from which emanates all earthly goodness and beauty. In
short, we should so conduct ourselves as workmen in the great
arena of life, that every effort we make, every step we take, shall
add dignity and influence to labor, hastening on its millennium
day, when it shall occupy its proud and lofty position, the first
among the vocations of life.

CLARK COUNTT.

Ofiicers for 1857 :

President — Timo. E. Young.
Vice-President — J as. Lockhard>
Treasurer — J. K. Greenough.
Secretary — Edward L. Hite.

The Clark County Agricultural Society is in a prosperous con-
dition. At our third. Annual Fair, in October, we had a fine dis-
play of stock and articles on exhibition. We have no fair grounds
belonging to the Society ; but it is hoped that the county authori-
ties, regarding the importance of the matter, will provide fair
grounds, which will be put in order. If this is done, our County
Society will increase three-fold in numbers and usefulness. The

129

farmers of Clark, with few exceptions, have right views of agri-
cultural progress, and are up and doing — exerting themselves in
the improvement of their farms, stock, fruit, grain, &c. A large
number of farmers will plant the seed of the Chinese Sugar Cane
next spring.

EDWARD L. HITE,
Secretary of Clark County Agricultural Society.

CLAY COUNTY.

The Clay County Agricultural Society was organized February
7th, 1857, by electing Major John Onstott President; Messrs.
Thompson Bothwell, Lafayette White and Jackson Barker, Vice-
Presidents ; J. W. Wescott, Corresponding Secretary ; B. B.
Thomas, Becording Secretary ; and Jos. Bates, Treasurer. The
first annual fair was held at Xenia, October 15th and 16th.

The total amount of funds of all kinds received by the

Society was $375

Amount paid on premiums $304

0 ther expenses 45

Cash on hand from last year $26

The Society met on the 28th December and elected the follow-
ing officers for the year following :

President — Major John Onstott.

Vice-Presidents — Thompson Bothwell, H. K. Farris, Jackson
Barker.

Corresponding Secretary — B. B. Thomas.

Becording Secretary — ¥m. Elston.

Treasurer — Isaac Hoskinson.

There was a large amount of stock offered for premiums, and,
it being their first fair, the Society were surprised at their unex-
pected success, and expect, at their second fair, to surpass many,
and not tail far behind any County Society in the State, consider-
ing our population.

B. B. THOMAS, Cor. Sec.

CLINTON COUNTY.

On the 21st April, 1856, there was a meeting held in Hickory

Grove, to take into consideration the propriety of organizing an

agricultural and mechanical association for Clinton county. 0. B.

Nicholls, J. J. Justice and D. C. Collins were appointed a coin-

—17

130

mittee to draft a constitution for the purpose, and submit the same
to an adjourned meeting, to be held at the court house, in Carlyle,
on the 20th of May, 1856. The meeting was held; it was a large
one ; and the draft of a constitution was submitted to the people
present, and adopted by them. The meeting adjourned to meet
again in the same place on the' 16th June, to elect officers, who
were to serve nntil the next annual meeting — which was fixed by
the constitution for the third Saturday in December of each year.
The meeting was held, and the following persons were elected
officers: O. B. Nicholls, President; J. W. Huey, J. J. Justice
and Reuben Rutherford, Vice-Presidents ; David Pardee, Treasu-
rer ; M. E. Richards, Recording Secretary ; and JB. Taylor, Cor-
responding Secretary. The Society fenced fair grounds, and held
its first fair on the 15th, 16th and 17th October, 1856. ' The fair
was better than was anticipated. More than $600 were collected,
and about $175 paid out in premiums.

On the 20th of December, 1856, the annual meeting was held.
The old officers were re-elected, except two Vice-Presidents,
whose places were filled by Messrs. Smyth and Moore. The
second annual fair was held October 7th, 8th and 9th, 1857. The
entries were double those of the preceding year ; expenses were
a little over $400, and $225 were paid in premiums. Some money
was expended in the improvement of the grounds. Wm. S. Wait
delivered an address at the fair. His whole soul was in the cause.
May he live to reap his reward in the improvement and prosperity
of the country.

Our prospects as a society are good, and we are determined to
press onward.

0. B. NICHOLLS,

President of Clinton County Agricultural Society.

CRAWFORD COUNTY.

There was an agricultural fair held in Crawford county, in the
fall of 1857 ; but we have no report of it. The following address
was delivered on the occasion :

ADDRESS, BY HON. JAS. C. ALLEN,

BEFORE THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY, AT THEIR FAIR OF 1857.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of Craivford county Agricultural Society :

I regret that some one more familiar with the subject of agricul-
ture and the mechanical arts that bear upon it, had not consented
to address you. To attempt to interest many of you, upon these
subjects, a sense of my inability would require more self sufficiency
than I feel that I possess.

I recognize among this audience, many who have spent a large
portion of the years allotted to man in this life, in agricultural pur-

131

suits, and who in that time must have laid up stores of experience
— valuable — practical experience — that I may never hope to at-
tain ; for it is known to you, that for several years, my mind has
been directed to other pursuits. * * *

It cannot have escaped the observation of any one at all observ-
ant, who has seen our county, that we have three varieties of soil,
each possessing distinct characteristics.

Our sand prairies, our clay prairies, and our oak lands, and to
this we might add a fourth. I refer to the south-eastern portion of
our county. Now the farmer that would undertake to cultivate a
farm on one of these precisely as he would upon another would
soon find out that he was farming to but very little purpose ; and
as these lands are cultivated from year to year the difference in the
mode of cultivation must still become greater ; hence the necessity
of studying closely the character of the soil, of analyzing it, to bet>
ter determine the time to plant, the manner of culture and its
adaptation to the growth of particular crops, as well as the best
method of restoring it when it becomes exhausted, as all must soon
or late do ; all these are important inquiries and their careful study
will well repay the husbandman.

In a region like ours, where the soil is comparatively fresh, and
before that vegetable mold which we find in all our soils, is ex-
hausted, it will produce in fair quantities, almost any of the grains,
grasses or fruits that are grown in this latitude ; but as farms and
gardens grow older some degree of attention must be paid to this
difference.

I shall not attempt to give you a particular analysis of our
different soils for I do not pretend to that intimate acquaint-
ance with their chemical properties that would be profitable to
you.

We all know that a difference exists and I know of no better
way to determine the effect of this difference upon different crops
than a careful experimental trial of different modes of cultivation,
by which you will more certainly determine the leading result you
seek to obtain.

There has been a great deal written of late years on this subject,
and in works upon agricultural chemistry, many valuable hints
may be obtained, but after all if* we undertake to farm by a book
we will often be misled, for an experiment that might be success-
ful in one location, owing to certain peculiar qualities in soil, might
be unsuccessful in another ; for instance a minute description of
preparing a field for wheat in Maryland or Connecticut might not
be very useful in the preparation of one in our county ; our virgin
soil has but little in common with the exhausted red clay fields of
Maryland, or the cold, clammy soil of the other. Hence the mode
of preparation, in every particular, might not add to your success.
In the old clay fields of Maryland where the phosphates of lime
and magnesia have been exhausted, to get a good yield, they must
resort to lime, plaster or guano, to restore them ; and in Connecti-

132

cut, where the lands lack ammonia, they would advise the use of
leached ashes or something of that description of manure, in their
restoration. Now, in following either of these modes of prepara-
tion, here, you might give to your land more than it needed of the
one, while you withheld from it what it needed of the other. Do
you ask how this difference is to be avoided ? I answer, by exper-
iment, for experience is the great teacher after all ; and seldom
misleads ; try your leached ashes, your lime and your compost and
when you have done so upon different lands and different crops
you will have learned more than you can learn from books.

"We have had no lands in this county in cultivation long enough
to exhaust the productive properties, though some may not pro-
duce well on account of the length of time they have been in cul-
tivation ; but I apprehend there are but few fields if any that may
not be reclaimed and made to produce well by a proper preparation
of the ground.

If you will put the plow in deeper you will reach a strata of soil
yet untouched, possessing all these properties in a high degree,
which was shown in its first culture. To those of you having old
fields that you may imagine are worn out, we would say examine
them thoroughly six or eight inches below the surface and you will
find a remedy for their unproductiveness. When you have turned
up the ground to this depth and exposed it to the frosts of winter
and the showers of spring, you will secure a yield that will amply
repay you for the labor in breaking. Most of these exhausted
fields have never been plowed more than three or four inches, and
for fifteen or twenty years perhaps a succession of crops have made
a constant draught on their coating until their productive qualities
have been absorbed ; the sub-soil has become hardened, so that
the roots of the crop cannot penetrate it, and the stalks having
nothing to feed upon must necessarily droop if not die, and thus
struggling for an existence during the growing season it cannot
yield fruit. Now it is true, that after a while a succession of crops
will exhaust any land to any depth that it may be cultivated ; the
crops by making a constant run upon the soil will finally compel it
(like the banks now-a-days) to suspend ; here again is a demand for
more learning, but it may be obtained cheaply, by a knowledge of a
proper rotation in crops ; the period of suspension may be deferred
for a long time. The system of rotation in crops is essential to the
health and vigor of a farm ; as is rotation in office, to the health of
the body politic. By this rotation and the judicious use of manures
that accumulate around your barns and stack grounds, the present
generation will see no land exhausted in our county. Probably
no labor pays the farmer better than that expended in preserving
and spreading upon his land the accumulations of his barn yard ;
and yet what a degree of carelessness is often seen in this region.
Men often permit it to lay until its strength is exhausted, when it
can do no good, before putting it on their fields, and in some cases
permit it to accumulate to such an extent that rather than remove

133

it tliey will remove their barns; now such economy as is exhibited
in either case is unpardonable in a farmer, and thrift will follow
none such. The careful farmer will either keep it under cover till
he can spread it over his land, or he will form from it compost
heaps, until it is ready for use on the field.

And while upon this subject permit me to suggest that we have
in several places in this country, large stores of what with a little
expenditure of labor and means may be made as available, in re-
newing worn-out lands as the guano of the Southern Islands. I
allude to the muck or deposites that are to be found in our swamps
and ponds near our water courses. It is formed almost wholly by
vegetable matter, and will, I have no doubt, be found upon experi-
ment to be of vast value as a manure. I am not inclined to think
that taken from the bed of the swamp and applied immediately to
the crop it would prove very beneficial, though upon a clay soil it
might prove so, for>its tendency would be to render it light and
more pliable, but I am satisfied as an ingredient in the compost
heap, it would make not only an addition to the quantity, but add
to the quality, and when used by itself, if put in heaps for a time
before spreading upon the ground with a little admixture of salt to
neutralize its acidity, it would prove equal to the sea shore muck
with which the fields of 'New Jersey have been so long kept up.
In the fall season, when the water leaves it, it becomes dry and
light and would be easily removed from its bed to the farm. I
know not that it has been tried in this country, but that it has not
is a matter of surprise to those who farm in regions where such
things have to be resorted to to keep up their lands. The quantity
to be put on land must as in other cases depend upon the quality
of the land, and the kind of crop to be grown upon it. This, at
first, must be a matter of experiment, and it is one that ought to
be tried, and tried effectually, for it is by thus experimenting that
such rapid advances and such grand results have been obtained in
agriculture, within the last few years, and by this same process,
more still are to be reached.

It cannot have escaped the observation of any, in that other de-
partment of agriculture — I allude to the raising of stock — that very
great improvements have been made ; compare the stock on exhi-
bition here with what it was in our county a few years sinCe, par-
ticularly that of cattle, and it will be very great. Although much
has been done in this region of our country it is not at that point
in improvement that it ought to have reached. I had the privilege
last fall of attending some of the stock exhibitions in other coun-
ties in our State ; and while ours shows a creditable improvement
it still suffers in comparison with them. We want more public
spirit and more attention to the subject among our farmers, to
bring us up with them.

There is no reason why our county should not have stock that
would compare with any of them. ¥e have the soil and the capi-
tal, but lack that other essential — a spirit of enterprise — to some

134

extent. We have been too careful of our money in procuring the
best bloods : and then we have been too careful of our labor in
taking care of what we have.

The work of improving the stock of a country must be a gradual
work, but we have been rather tardy in beginning.

It takes no more feed to raise a horse or cow or sheep of the
best blood than it does to raise a scrub, while the profit of raising
one will not compare with the other. If we have the means to
procure a stock of cattle that will weigh a thousand pounds at a
year old, that we would be contented to raise such as would hardly
reach this weight at three years old, would seem strange, but this
is our condition to a very great extent.

IsTor have Ave done what we ought in regard to what we have.
How few of our farmers have a shelter for even their milch cows ;
and yet how trifling is the expense of erecting one. I submit to
any one who has tried the experiment of a good shelter and a con-
venient place for feeding, if what is saved in one season in the way
of feeding will not well pay for erecting them, to say nothing of
the improved condition of the stock itself.

The dictates of humanity ought to induce us to provide them
with shelter when it is possible, and the same is true with regard
to all kinds of stock, and until our farmers go earnestly to work to
remedy these evils, wxe must necessarily ride poor horses, eat poor
beef and mutton and sell our stock for low prices. With the pre-
sent improvements in agricultural implements and labor-saving
machinery, there is no good reason why we should not take a high
rank as an agricultural community.

When men had to break their grounds with old fashioned plows
such as were used twenty-five years ago, there was some excuse for
shallow plowing, but with the improved plows of the present day
there is none. When men had no other way of cutting their
wheat but with the sickle, or of threshing it but with the flail,
there was some excuse for not sowing much. When men knew of
no other way of mowing their meadows but with the old scythe and
straight snathe, it is not strange that they should have raised but
little hay; but with the introduction of reapers and mowers a corre-
sponding advance is demanded in the mode of farming. I never
see one of these reapers or mowers sweeping over a field of grain
or grass but I feel that monuments as enduring as the eternal hills
ought to be erected to those who invented them.

We have not witnessed the end of these improvements yet, nor
will the end be seen until a bound can be set to human genius.
It was but the other day I saw a thresher at work moved by steam.
It was built on wheels ; two ponies could draw it from one barn to
another, and when set all it wanted was a load of dry wood, some
one to feed it, a few active hands to tend it, and it would thresh
with the power of six horses. The cost of it will not exceed six
hundred dollars. Not only this but other improvements will find
their way to us, if we are but true to our own interests.

135

Farmers of Crawford, you must awake, or this age of steam will
Teave you in the clouds of " old fogydom" for there are "fogies" in
farming as well as in politics.

When I first came to your county, I remember the general im-
pression was that our farmers would not succeed in raising wheat
to any great extent — that our soil was not well enough adapted to
its growth to justify a general attention to it ; but this was an error,
for the last few years have demonstrated the fact that ours is quite
equal to any other for the growth of wheat. What led to this
error ? It was the inattention of those who tried wheat in the se-
lection of seed and carelessness in putting it into the ground. It
was usually sown in such a way as to expose one-half of it to the
fowls of the air while the other half, owing to the condition of the
ground, was left in such a way as to invite the frosts of winter to
its destruction. No wonder that our farmers could scarcely raise
wheat enough to bread them. Men often attribute to the earth or
to the season a failure of crops, when the truth is, their own care-
less negligence is the cause of failure. It was thought this could
not be a wool growing country — that sheep could not thrive. Men
would start with a flock of sheep, and in a few years would have
none. Why ? Because what escaped the ravages of dogs and
wolves were often suffered to perish for food and from exposure to
the storms of winter. But now, shelter and care shows this to be
a good wool growing country ; and so of other things.

There is not, in this broad land, from the everglades of Florida
to the shore fishery of Maine, or from the shore of the Atlantic to
the foot of the Rocky Mountains, a country possessing more ad-
vantages for agriculture than the Wabash Yalley, and no county
in that Yalley better adapted to it than our own. What we lack is
not climate or soil, but enterprise and public spirit.

Now the object of agricultural societies is to encourage and ex-
cite a spirit of emulation among our farmers, our mechanics, our
stock raisers and stock dealers. They have already done much in
this regard, and are destined to do still more?

Then let every one go home from this Fair determined to come
to the next with the very best specimens that your skill and labor
can produce, and after awhile you can make it what it ought to
be: a credit to your country and to your state. You will all be
better pleased with yourselves, your neighbors, your county ; you
will be better and happier.

Ladies ! in all the great enterprises by which the condition of our
race has been ameliorated, the influence of your sex has been seen
and felt, and it is a wise arrangement in the economy of these so-
cieties that make you co-workers with the husbandman in going to
these Fairs.

What difficulties you have had to encounter in your department
of this society, I do not know. How well you have overcome
them I am illy fitted to judge. That they have been great I have
no doubt, but in the result of your efforts I see much to admire.

136

Though, it may not be all that your hopes have cherished or your
pride demanded, ^et it is to be remembered that this is but your
second attempt.

That intuitive perception with which your sex, for wise and be-
neficent purposes, has been endowed, will doubtless suggest many
improvements for the future, and with the exercise of a fair degree
of that perseverance for which you are distinguished, you will
always make your department the most attractive on these occa-
sions : for while other departments depend, for their support, upon
appeals to the purse, yours receives its strength from appeals to
domestic comfort and to the heart. I shall not detain you by ap-
peals to my brethren to second you in making your department
what it ought to be, and what I believe it will be : a complete suc-
cess ; for with them you are stronger advocates than I could
hope to be.

And now, with the hope that this festival has been the means of
awakening a better feeling — a more determined interest in the
several departments of agriculture in our county, I bid it God
speed.

DE KALB COUNTY.

The first annual fair of the De Kalb county Agricultural Society
was held in Sycamore, on Thursday and Friday, October 1st and
2d, 1857. The morning of the first day of the fair the weather
was discouraging, and the fact seemed to be that there was to be a
wet, disagreeable time. But it was soon apparent that the farmers
of De Kalb had no idea of permitting a failure of the fair on ac-
count of unfavorable weather. The streets of Sycamore became
crowded with teams and wagons, which were filled with farmers
their wives, their sons and daughters. The articles for exhibition
were collected upon the grounds, and placed in order for exhibi-
tion. These grounds were a portion of the premises of Carlos
Latten, Esq., and were supplied with stalls and other necessary
fixtures for the occasion.

On the second day the weather had not changed for the better ;
it being chilly and drizzly. Still, at an early hour, the farmers came
in from the country much more numerously than the day before.
The exhibition building was filled to its utmost capacity with
various articles, productions of the handiwork of the sons and
daughters of De Kalb, and with specimens of the prolific fertility
of the soil. The stock department was well filled with horses,
cattle, sheep and swine. Agricultural implements, etc., were nu-
merous and fine. On the whole, under the peculiar circumstances
of the weather, the fair was quite successful.

137

The following remarks are appended to an official account of the
proceedings of the lair :

"CULPABLE NEGLECT.

"Numbers of our citizens possessing articles of their own handi-
work, which they occasionally take some little pride in showing to
their visitors, neglected taking them to the fair. If these things
are^ worthy of being pointed out to people with a view of eliciting
their admiration, they are worthy of being taken to the fair, where
people go expressly te see and to admire. ' Why didn't you take
that to the fair V we asked of a man who was showing us a skill-
ful piece of work. ' Oh,' said he, < it will do to show to a few
privately, but I consider it nothing great, and don't want to make
a blow about it.' Good friend, there you were casting an imputa-
tion upon the County Agricultural Society. The society was not
formed as a ' blowing ' institution, nor are county fairs gotten up
for the purpose of selfish parade. The objects of the one are to
promote the interests of agriculture and exalt the dignity of in-
dustry : the uses of the other are to illustrate and develop the na-
tural resources of the county, exhibit the degree of cultivation
attained by her husbandmen in tilling the soil and rearing beasts
of burden and sustenance, and expose the productions of the skill,
taste and genius of her artisans. It was simply a legitimate duty
of yours, if you had an article on which you bestowed extra labor
or inthe construction of which you had exercised unwonted in-
genuity, to take it to the fair. Every mechanic in the county who
is not ashamed of his work ought to have some specimens of it at
the fair.

"A LESSON TAUGHT.

" We trust that the inconvenience, confusion and trouble caused

by the want of complete and effective organization on the fair

ground, will afford a lasting lesson. Everything on the ground

i should move like clock-work. The duties of the several judges

I should be clearly and distinctly defined, and no margin should,

, when it can possibly be avoided, be left for equivocation or dis-

j satisfaction. The judges should, by all means, guard most care-

i rally against mistakes. A premium wrongly awarded produces a

I double train of deleterious consequences. It causes ill-feelino- and

| discouragement in the meritorious competitor, while it encourages

the exhibition of mediocre stock of articles — to say nothing of the

injury it does to the reputation of the judges. If everything is

properly managed, if the judges have not too many duties' crowded

, upon them, and if the exhibitors are explicit in their entries, and

J the stock or articles entered kept in their places, there need be no

i occasion, and can be little apology, for any errors of importance in

1 awarding premiums.

—IS

138

THE RAIN.

"The rain was one of the most prominent articles on exhibition
at the fair. It was always on hand. It rained at morning, at
noon and at night. It sprinkled, drizzled and showered — show-
ered, drizzled and sprinkled. Everybody and his wife got wet —
which, however, did not seem to disconcert them, as they had
made up their minds to have a good time, and were bent on hav-
ing it. The rain came as Doesticks took his beer when ' on a
bender ' at Niagara. First came a little rain, then some more rain,
then it rained a little, then some rain came down, then we had a
little rain, then, to vary the scene, it rained, and after that we had
some more rain, and finally we had some rain. The weather dur-
ing the whole of the fair was most admirably calculated for the
blues. Taking this into consideration, as we said before, the suc-
cess of the lair was remarkable."

AAEON K. STILES, Secretary.

DUPAGE COUNTY.

• Our county, though small, is not backward in agricultural enter-
prise, as not only our own Agricultural Society, but the interest
manifested by our citizens in the success of the State Society will
prove. It is now four years since our County Agricultural Society
was first organized, during which time rapid strides in improve-
ment and interest have taken place.

Our Fairs, from the first, have each been attended with and been
participated in by all with deep and increasing interest. It is gen-
erally believed that much improvement has taken place since our
Society's organization, that had it not been for its formation, would
have still lain dormant. Even those who opposed, as well as others
who looked on with indifference or lent a passive assistance, are
now manifesting deep interest. Many of those who before de-
clared that all stock was alike, with the difference of care, are now
exhibitors of improved stock. In fact, though we are small, both
as to space as well as numbers, we may set an example to many
larger counties worthy of imitation. ¥e have amongst us some
very excellent stock. Horses, that might be exhibited with credit
in any part of the state ; Cattle, that have been deemed deserving
of attention and of the first premium of your Society ; Sheep, that
have been exhibited at most if not all the State Fairs, and have
taken their full share of awards, especially at the last. In plows
we have proved ourselves second to none, as the Farmer bears tes-
timony, (and who so competent to judge ?) but not more than the''
judges at your Fairs — as well as other agricultural implements.
In plants and flowers as well as in fruits I believe our county has
ever stood in the foremost ranks. In many other articles we have

. 139

been deemed deserving of some notice. From these facts we flat-
ter ourselves we are not deficient in that which elevates the agri-
culturist, nor are we among those that think there is no good to
be derived from Agricultural Societies, for, independent of the so-
ciability it engenders, we are of opinion that it creates a feeling of
friendly emulation, which works to the good of the whole com-
munity.

The officers of our society have been men of enterprise, who
have looked to the agricultural interests of our county. Three out
of four years of our existence Lewis Ellsworth, Esq., one of the
ex-Commissioners of the State Society, and one who has the agri-
cultural interest of the whole state much at heart — a man of energy,
enterprise and ability, has been our presiding officer, and doubt-
less this circumstance in a great measure accounts for our present
prosperity. The other year our Society was presided over by
James E. Hatch, Esq., a farmer of intelligence, skill and ability.
Our other officers have been such as the Society have placed un-
limited confidence in, so that we have always worked most harmo-
niously together.

Our Fair Grounds are now permanently located at the village
of Wheaton, on the Galena and Chicago U. R. P., as convenient
a site as could be secured in our county, being central and beauti-
fully situated. It contains twenty acres, fifteen of which were do-
nated to the Society by the liberality of the Messrs. "W". L. & J. C.
Wheaton, the other five were purchased and donated by a few en-
terprising citizens. The whole is inclosed by a good, substantial
fence, which, together with other improvements, is subscribed by
stock subscription all over the county. When all the buildings and
improvements are complete, the value of our grounds will not be
much less than $10,000, and will be a monument of enterprise to
our county and a credit to the agriculture of our state.

The crops in our county have been most abundant this past sea-
son. In wheat, barley and oats probably never better. Potatoes
fully as good as last year, when they were excellent and most
abundant. Corn will be an abundant crop, but fail, to some extent,
in quality, the spring being backward, the summer not very favor-
able and the frost rather too early in the autumn. There will,
consequently, be some portion of the crop unsound. There has been
some little of the Chinese sugar cane planted, all over the county;
almost every farmer having a small patch. Some few have had
enough to experiment with, and several have succeeded in making
an excellent article of syrup. Much interest is taken in this plant,
and many are the sincere and sanguine hopes that success will
attend the efforts of those who engage in its cultivation. Doubt-
less our County Society will offer all the inducements in its power
for the cultivation of this plant in this county. Other crops of
roots, &c, have been equally good. The farms of DuPage county
will compare, in the state of cultivation and improvement, favora-
bly with any other county in the state, as also will the farmers for

140

intelligence. We are well stocked with fruit, every farm having
an orchard, some of quite large dimensions. We are highly fa-
vored by having the superior nurseries of L. Ellsworth & Co. in
our midst. Our Farmers use a good deal of machinery of various
kinds on their farms. The premium plows of S. C. Yaughn & Co.
being manufactured at this place is a particular advantage to the
farmer.

The western farmer has truly been blessed this year, and has
more than usual good reason for thankfulness to a bountiful Prov-
idence ; for while every other profession is being harrassed with
the financial state of the country — while the artizans and laboring
men of the east are suffering, many with the prospect of starvation
staring them in the face during the cold, bleak, unhospitable win-
ter, the farmer of the west is blessed with abundance for all his
wants and to spare. Let us be truly thankful to the Giver of All
Good, always remembering the wants and necessities of others.

JAMES G. WRIGHT,
Commissioner for DuPage County.

FAYETTE COUNTY.

Officers for 1857 :

President — M. Fehren.

Vice-Presidents — J. T. Donaldson, Benj. Watson.

Secretary — Geo. L. Jackson.

Treasurer — F. Reman.

The Fayette County Agricultural Society was organized on the
14th of March, 1857. The first fair was held near Yandalia on
the 18th and 19th days of September, and notwithstanding the un-
favorableness of the weather, the exhibition was very creditable to
the people of the county. There were over four hundred entries.
One hundred premiums were awarded, varying from one to five
dollars, and amounting in the aggregate to near three hundred
dollars.

The Society has purchased twelve acres of ground near the
town, and will fit it up as rapidly as may be for the next fair, and
in the fall of 1858 it is expected that a large amount of stock, agri-
cultural implements, farm products and other articles will be offered
for exhibition.

GEO. L. JACKSON, Secretary.

HANCOCK COUNTY.

The Fair of the Hancock County Agricultural Society was held
at Warsaw, on the Mississippi river, October 1st and 2d, 1857, on

141

temporary grounds arranged for that purpose. The weather being
favorable, there was a good attendance — better than ever before.
The receipts and expenditures were about equal, and amounted to
one thousand dollars. The exhibition of stock surpassed former
Fairs, showing that Hancock county farmers are beginning to look
in the right direction. There was a good variety of farm imple-
ments exhibited. The exhibitions of fruit and vegetables were
small, but of good variety. All who attended the Fair were
pleased with the proceedings.

The Board of Managers met on the 17th December, and took
measures for procuring suitable grounds on which to hold subse-
quent Fairs. We hope to succeed. Our county has been kept
back through Mormon influences ; but these are passing away.
We have as good a county of land as any in the state, and all we
want to develop its advantages are enterprise and industry.

The past year has exhibited great improvement, and every thing
bids fair for healthy progress.

Annexed are some statistics of Hancock county :

Number of Horses 8,212 Assessed value $579,982

" Neat Cattle 28,021 " " 374,671

" Mules aud Asses 798 " " 69,127

" Sheep 9,207 " " ,... 10,672

" Hogs 41,787 " " 129,593

Total No. of animals 88,025 Total assessment $1,164,045

Area of real estate, 4S8,300 acres.

value of real estate, excluding town lots $4,907,841

" Town lots 1,317,850

" Personal property 2,000,425

Total assessed value $8,226,116

State and county tax $75,679 06

Road tax 3,772 75

School tax 28,513 69

Town tax - 3,820 90

Railroad tax , 12,335 88

Total $124,122 28

It will be observed that the school tax appears large in propor-
tion to the other taxes. It is occasioned bj building school houses,
of which we have been somewhat deficient heretofore.

GEO. W. BATCHELDER,
Sec. Hancock Co. Ag. So.

•

142
HENDERSON COUNTY.

Officers for 1857 :

President — Hiram Ross.
Vice-President — Lambert Hopper.
Treasurer — Charles C. Cowan.
Recording Secretary — J. M. Fuller.
Corresponding Secretary — Wnl. L. Stockten.
Executive Committee — John Curts, A. J. Waterkouse, R. "W.
Ritchie, Samuel Darnell, R. "W. Crane.

The Fair of 1857 was held on the 8th and 9th days of October-
There was a great number of people in attendance, and an interest-
ing exhibition. The whole affair exceeded the expectation of
every one.

The amount received for membership was $251 00

" " sale of tickets 190 67

Total amount received $441 67

J. M. FULLER,
Bee. Sec. Henderson Co. Ag. So.

HENRY COUNTY.

The fair of Henry county for 1857 was held two days — October
22d and 23d. The entries in the different departments embraced
horses, work horses, jacks, jennets and mules, Durham cattle,
Devons, grade stock, sheep, swine, poultry, products of the dairy,
fruits, needle-work, farming implements, grain and garden vege-
tables. The fair was closed by a trotting match against time —
3:12.

The first premium for best garden was awarded to E. F. Brown,
Esq., of Geneseo. The report of the committee states that he
had four acres of land in cultivation, that it was laid out tastefully
and conveniently, and was under superior cultivation. On either
side of the walk, from the gate to the house, flowers of many va-
rieties greeted the eye ; while, near the house, evergreens were
so arranged that in a few years they must greatly enliven the
dreariness of winter, and make his residence a " sweet home."
The garden was well supplied with fruit trees, and there was a
fine display of the choicest varieties of vegetables.

Benjamin Fry, of Kewanee, received the first premium for the
best cultivated farm. The Committee on Farms give th -se prac-
tical remarks in their report : " Farmers ! cultivate less land,
and do it better. "Why plow, why seed, why till one hundred

143

acres of land to get what can be grown on twenty-five? "Why
feed four steers to get the beef that could be made on two frames ?
"Why feed two steers on the ground and in the cold, when the
same feed will keep four well housed % It is the opinion of the
committee, that if our over-burdened farms could speak, they
would mildly ask to be relieved of the loads of weeds that are
dragging them down to poverty."

THOS. F. DAVENPORT,
Cor. Sec. Henry County Agricultural Society.

KANKAKEE COUNTY.

The fair of Kankakee County Agricultural Society for 1857 was
held on the first, second and third clays of October. The weather
was very unfavorable during the three days of the fair, being
rainy and cold. However, there was a good turn-out of the peo-
ple. Receipts of the first day, $126 ; second day, $231 25 ; third
day, $133 53 — total, $190 78. The premiums awarded were
mostly paid in cash, amounting to above $300.

"We have our grounds now inclosed with a seven foot fence.
They embrace twelve acres. There is a small creek of living wa-
ter running through one corner of the lot, and there is a small
grove of second growth timber within the inclosure. It is a most
delightful place for a fair ground ; and we fondly anticipate that
our society is based upon a firm foundation, and will flourish.

JAMES M. PERRY, Secretary.

LA SALLE COUNTY.

Officers for 1857 :

President — Vm. Cogswell.

Vice-Presidents — J. H. Armstrong, David Green, E. Baldwin.
Treasurer — F. R. Courtney.
Recording Secretary — J. O. Harris.
Corresponding Secretary — J. D. Pennell.

The members of the La Salle County Agricultural Society are
pleased with their prospects, and they are determined to spare no
effort to make it one of the most successful societies in the State.
The fair of 1857 was a very satisfactory one. The number of en-
tries follow :

Horses, all kinds, 135 ; Cattle, Durhams 31, Devons 21, natives
29 ; Sheep, Merinoes, 16 ; Swine, Berkshires, 12 ; dairy products,
40 ; products of the farm, 160 ; Poultry, 40; Flowers and plants,

144

10 ; mechanical articles, 38 ; Fruits, 158 ; Paintings and drawings,
13 ; and many other entries, which were referred to the Commit-
tee on Miscellaneous Articles, numbering 83.

The amount of money received was nearly $1,200, although the
rain prevented many from attending on the last days. The
amount of cash premiums offered was $585 ; number of diplomas,
sixty. Col. W. H. L. Wallace, of Ottawa, delivered the annual
address. The whole proceedings at the fair were highly pleasant.

The Society have ten acres of ground, well fenced, on which
there are a good number of sheds and buildings. The Society is
free from debt, and has money in the treasury. Our farmers take
great interest in the success of the Society.

J. D. PENNELL,
Secretary La Salle County Agricultural Society.

MADISON COUNTY.

HISTORY OF THE MADISON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

At a meeting of the farmers of Madison county, convened at
the court house in Edwardsville, on Saturday, February 9, 1822,
Micajah Cox, Esq., in the chair, and George Churchill Secretary,

On motion of Mr. Coles, it was unanimously

Resolved, That the members of this meeting do form themselves into an agricultural
society.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed by the Chairman, to draft rules and regula-
tions for the government of this Society.

Whereupon, Edward Coles and Paris Mason were accordingly
appointed, who reported " Pules and Regulations," which were
subscribed by Messrs. Micajah Cox, Edward Coles, Curtiss Blake-
man, George C. Allen, James C. Canfielcl, Jarrot Dugger, Isaac
Ferguson, John Murray, Paris Mason, Jordan Uzzell, Rowland
P. Allen, Henry Kelly, Abraham Prickett, Justus D'Seelhorst,
George Churchill, Robert Reynolds, Sen., Wm. Ottwell, Jacob
Judy, Daniel Meeker, Robert G. Anderson, Robert Pogue, Wm.
C. Wiggins, Robert Collett, John Todd, Charles W. Hunter and
David Swett.

The members present then proceeded to the election of officers,
whereupon the following gentlemen were declared duly elected :

Curtiss Blakeman, President ; Edward Coles, First Vice-Presi-
dent; Isaac Ferguson, Second Yice-President ; Abraham Prick-
ett, Treasurer ; George Churchill, Secretary ; John Murray and
Robert Reynolds, Sen., Corresponding Committee.

The Society having been thus organized, the following resolu-
tions were adopted :

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Resolved, That a piece of plate of the value of five dollars be presented for the most
approved essay on the best mode of pickling and preserving pork, and pointing out the
causes of the difference in value between the New England and Western pork.

Resolved, That a premium of similar value be given to the person who shall make the
best specimen of malt liquor, not less than thirty gallons.

Resolved, That a premium of similar value be, awarded to the person who shall produce
the greatest number of wolf scalps — not less than five — taken by himself within the limits
of Madison county.

Resolved, That a premium of similar value be awarded to the person who shall manu-
facture the best piece of linsey woolsey, not less than twenty yards.

Resolved, That a premium of similar value be awarded to the member who shall raise a
year old lamb which shall produce the greatest quantity of wool.

Resolved, That a piece of plate of the value of three dollars be awarded to the person
who shall make the greatest quantity of proof spirit — not less than thirty gallons — from a
given quantity of domestic grain.

After which, the Society slept, with most of its founders, until,
on Tuesday, October 31, 1851, a number of gentlemen assembled
at the court house in Eclwardsville, formed themselves into a soci-
ety of the same name and style, adopted rules and regulations for
its future government, and elected Thomas Judy, President ; Ja-
cob J. Barnsback and four others, Vice-Presidents ; W. T. Brown,
Treasurer ; John A. Prickett, Secretary.

The Society purchased ten acres of land near Edwardsville, had
the same suitably inclosed, erected two sheds, fifty feet in length
each, and a sufficient number of stalls and pens for the accommo-
dation of stock and articles to be exhibited, and held the first an-
nual cattle show and fair ou their grounds on Sept. 13th, 14th
and 15th, 1855. Number of entries for exhibition, 360. The
list of premiums offered amounted to $800. Very few premiums
were claimed by exhibitors, the majority of them donating their
premiums to the Society. From the Secretary's report, it appears
that the expenses at the close of the fair, including the price of
the land and improvements, wTere $1,172 82 ; receipts up to same
period, $1,211.

At a meeting, held September 3, 1855, the second election for
officers of the Society resulted in the choice of Josiah K. Gillham,
President ; John Weaver and fourteen others, Yice- Presidents j
Wm. J. Barnsback, Treasurer ; John A. Prickett, Secretary.

The second annual fair was held at the fair grounds, on the
16th, 17th and 18th September, 1856. List of premiums offered,
$1,000 ; number of entries for exhibition, 170 ; expenses for the
second year, as per Secretary's report, including the last year's
debt, $770 15 ; receipts for second year, $713 05.

At a meeting held Nov. 5, 1856, the following named officers
were declared duly elected :

Jacob J. Barnsback, President ; A. P. Mason and fourteen oth-
ers, Vice-Presidents; Wm. T. Brown, Corresponding Secretary;
John A. Prickett, Recording Secretary ; and William L. Boyd,
Treasurer.

At a meeting of the Society, held at Edwardsville, April 1st,
1857, it was

Resolved, That this Society do avail themselves of the provisions of the act of the Gen-
eral Assembly of the State of Illinois, approved February S, 1857, entitled "A general act

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for the incorporation of County Agricultural Societies •" and that our organization shall
be conducted, in all respects, in conformity with the provisions of said act.

On motion, Joseph Gillespie, William T. Brown and Henry K.
Eaton were appointed a committee to inquire into the expediency
of modifying the constitution of this Society, in conformity with
the provisions of said act.

On motion, the Society adjourned, to meet again on Monday,
May 4, 1857.

The Society met pursuant to adjournment, and, on motion,

Resolved, To purchase from J. and D. Gillespie five a»res of land, adjoining the fair
ounds, for the sum of $250.

On motion, the Society adjourned, to meet again July 7, 1857.

The Society met pursuant to adjournment.

Present — Jacob J. Barnsback, President ; the Secretary, and
twenty-five members.

Whereupon, Messrs. Gillespie, Brown and Eaton, the commit-
tee on constitution, made a re23ort, recommending, " for the pur-
pose of forming a joint stock Agricultural Society, in pursuance
of the provisions of a g-eneral act passed by the General Assem-
bly, and approved February 8, 1857," a constitution or organic
law, having for its object the improvement of the agricultural,
horticultural, mechanical and household arts, with a capital of not
more than $20,000. The Society may own not exceeding three
hundred acres of land, on which to maintain and carry on a model
farm ; the stock to consist of shares of five dollars each, and no
member to hold more than one hundred shares ; the business of
the Society to be transacted by a board of seven Directors, elected
annually by the Stockholders ; the Directors to elect their Presi-
dent, Secretary and Treasurer.

On motion, the same was adopted unanimously.

On motion, the Stockholders — 230 shares being represented —
proceeded to ballot for a Board of Directors, which resulted in the
choice of Jacob J. Barnsback, Aaron P. Mason, George S. Rice,
Thomas Judy, Jacob J. Kinder, William T. Brown and John A.
Prickett.

At a subsequent meeting, said Board elected Jacob J. Kinder
President, John Weaver Vice-President, Wm. L. Boyd Treasurer,
and John A. Prickett Secretary.

10th and 11th September, 1857. Number of entries for exhibi
tion, 650 ; list of premiums offered, $1,300 ; expenses for third
year, $3,500

14:7

From the foregoing, it appears that the Society is indebted in
the sum of $1,486 88, to meet which is stock subscribed for and
unpaid, amounting to $1,575; so that the Society, having fifteen
acres of land, and improvements upon the same which have cost
not less than five thousand dollars, may be considered in a reason-
ably safe condition.

Of the items named in the resolutions of the first society, not
one is considered of sufficient importance to merit the encourage •
ment or fostering care of our present Society. It is presumed
that the efforts of the first Society were successful in placing
Western pork on an equality with that of New England — the
Western pork raisers having ceased their complaints. Malt liquor
is ivorking its way to eminence without public encouragement.
Whisky is not considered weak. Wolf scalps have ceased to be
currency. Linsey woolsey is not an institution of the country,
and there are less than four thousand sheep in the county.

JOHN A. PRICKETT, Secretary.

MEBCER COUNTY.

The annual fair of Mercer county for the year 1857, was held
on the first day of October. It was a great success. Every part
of the county was represented by exhibitors and visitors, and every
thing went off to general satisfaction. The entries were more nu-
merous than last year. The people will sustain the Mercer county
Agricultural Society. Every year satisfies them more and more
of the great advantage derived from it, and the feeling of the So-
ciety is to press onward.

The address of Dudley Willits, Esq., at the fair, was well re-
ceived. It was peculiarly applicable to the condition of things in
the county. A copy is sent for publication in the Transactions of
the State Society.

D. WILLITS, Secretary.

Mr. Willits in his address said —

I would consider that I was paying a very poor compliment to
the intelligence of this assembly, if I were to detain you for an
hour with such a wishy-washy milk-and-water talk as would
neither pleese or displease any one. We are not met, my
brethren, in some secret garret with closed doors to plot together
for the success of some faction either of church or state. But we
are here in the beautiful grove, under the broad canopy of heaven,
to encourage agriculture, horticulture, the mechanics and house-
hold arts, and indeed to co-operate together to make every branch
of useful toil not only honorable but remunerative, and to unite in
carrying out such reforms as the spirit of the age has suggested

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for elevating and ennobling the toiling millions of mankind. If
there is a time and place under heaven, where our speakers may
be allowed to give manly utterance to the honest dictates of their
hearts our annual gatherings are the place. The time is not far
distant, when the masses will remain together for ten days, discus-
sing all questions of National and State policy and sending out an
influence that will control our government.

In looking over the thousands of well-dressed and intelligent
men and women, girls and boys, fine stock, neat farming imple-
ments, labor-saving machines, etc., etc., my mind has been carried
back to the early settling of our so called western country. I see
before me a goodly number of individuals that have been trying
this forty years to get out of the settlement. They have come at
various stages from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, etc.,
to Mercer county, Illinois, and they are here amid this two acres
of their fellow-beings, looking not only civilized, but christianized,
contented and happy. But we have been slipt up on, sure. Those
of us that came here twenty-five years ago, were quite sure we
had given the world the dodge. Our more prudent friends, find-
ing they could not deter us from so daring a feat, gave us the re-
luctant parting hand ; adding, through their sobs and tears, that
they never expected to see us again. Well, when ten or a dozen
of us got away out here to the Mississippi, we verily thought that
all this county was ours from henceforth. "We were going to be
as independent as kings; could hunt, fish, trap, etc. Once a year,
four or five of the cutest of us would get around fifteen or twenty
fat cattle and scare them down to St. Louis, where they would
bring from eight to twelve dollars per head. There we would
take us a good high, visit the church, the theatre, the groceries and
glut ourselves with the luxuries of city life, lay in our whisky, to-
bacco, powder, lead, flints, fish hooks, butcher knives, salt, etc.,
and row them home in a canoe. But alas, for human hopes. This
day bears us witness that after all our toiling and traveling to get
out of the world, we are at last right in the middle of it. Our
friends that cried over our departure, have followed suit ; some of
them too late to get a foot hold here, have gone on toward the set-
ting sun. The fact is, we may as well give up to stand our ground
and to live and do as white folks do. Our migrating habits of
living in the west, has led us into a most wretched, scattering
manner of farming. Our friends that have come amongst us from
the east, are not only astonished but ashamed of us in this respect.
We have been told that we should have some learned man to ad-
dress us on occasions like the present, who could show us the great
advantage it would be to us, if we but understood the science of
agriculture, so that we could analyze our soils, and tell what crops
they are best adapted to, and how to restore the necessary ingre-
dients for certain other crops, etc., etc. Now I doubt not but
there is a world-full of glorious truth in this direction, of which
we can say nothing as we only see through a glass darkly. But

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with ns, there is room for vast improvement before we enter the
A B C of scientific farming. If I lived fifty miles from here, I
should certainly give you a very plain talk on this subject. But
as it is, we will be modest. It is true, however, that us western
farmers have been skimming God's heritage, taking the cream off,
and leaving for parts unknown, until humanity has a heavy bill
against us for wasting the vital energies of mother earth, and it be-
comes us to set a better example before our children.

As a general rule in the western States our lands have deterio-
rated one half in the course of the first twenty years' tillage. We
have become so accustomed to this result, as to look for it as a na-
tural and necessary consequence. I have no doubt, however, but
with a proper knowledge of farming, our virgin soils could be im-
proved in as large a ratio as we have been impoverishing them.
When we contemplate, Mr. President, the vast amount of life-sus-
taining matter that is annually thrown away by us improvident
farmers, and the increasing high prices that every eatable claims
in all our markets, and the probable increase of human beings, the
subject of better farming presents itself as one of the questions of
the age. Many persons that have not tried it, supposing that a
few years' farming at present prices cannot fail to make a man so
rich that he would not know himself; but I have found otherwise.
Prices are as high as any one could desire, surely ; but everything
else is nearly as high, and our mode of farming is so wasteful
and reckless that you may see men in all parts of the country that
are working their lives out, and their families, and their horses,
and are getting their farms poor, and one of these days they will
die poor, before their time comes. Almost any man can learn to
practice law, peddle pills, or read sermons, but for a man to be
competent to take a farm and stock it up with the right quality
and quantity of all kinds of stock, and so manage it as to bring it
to its greatest perfection ; and rotate his crops, and manure and
resuscitate his lands so that their fertility shall keep pace with the
increasing demand, requires a better judgment, and will one day
get a better education than is necessary for any other calling.

As agriculture was the first employment of our first parents,
even so it is the last pursuit that can ever be abandoned, and were
I a young man to-day, with what little experience I have of the
world, my highest ambition would be to make myself a model far-
mer. I do not profess, fellow-citizens, to be as good a farmer as
many of you that I see before me. But with all due deference, I
beg leave to offer a few brief remarks respecting what I consider
the best policy for us farmers to pursue.

In the first place, we should bear in mind that mother earth
will not suffer herself to be robbed from year to year and get
nothing in return. And if we treat her with so much injustice,
we may rest assured she will do herself the justice to starve us
until her vital energies are restored by rest. To this end, let us
put down in grass a part of our land for hay and pasture ; get as

150

much of the very best stock we can obtain, as will consume on the
place all the grain and roughness we may raise. We have been
hauling mountains of gram to our river towns, to be shipped
abroad to make whisky, and buying droves of horses from Indiana,
Ohio and Kentucky, at an average of one hundred and twenty-five
dollars per head, and scores of mules from Missouri at three hun-
dred dollars a span. Is there any comment necessary ? Was
greater inconsistency ever practiced ? No, no ; let us quit loading
our boats with corn, and they will soon take the hint that we have
more sense than to wear ourselves and farms out and take it in
whisky. But we may be told that if farmers in general should
put all the grain into stock, that it would be greatly reduced in
price, to which we say amen. Let the price of horses, cattle, sheep
and hogs be reduced one half and still we will get a better price
for our grain than to sell it at what would be the average price.
But this thing of getting sixty or seventy cents a bushel lor a little
dab of corn, once in four or five years, is the ruin of some of our
farmers. It knocks all these sober practical calculations into a
cocked hat, and they wish for nothing but corn, corn.

Let us illustrate : three years ago, for a rarity, corn was high ;
some of the farmers in a certatn neighborhood, must and would
sell their hogs in order to get the big price for corn. Well, neigh-
bor M. had plenty of hogs and still plentier of corn ; he buys their
hogs at very low figures. A few months roll round and these men
have corn to sell to neighbor M. at about ten cents a bushel. They
had but just got a start in hogs again, and here comes such a big
bid for corn, that they cannot stand it to see an ear of it eaten.
Martin sold his pork at the time alluded to, at six dollars per hun-
dred, and he says he has never discovered but his stock liked corn
as well when it was worth fifty or sixty cents a bushel as when it
was worth but ten.

My advice, then, to be brief, would be to plow deep ; farm
thoroughly ; have enough of the best stock you can get, to con-
sume what you raise ; never waste your grain because the price is
low, or starve your stock because it is high. It won't pay, and
not only so, but every good man feels himself under a moral obli-
gation to provide for all of God's creatures that he takes into his
own charge. But our most common and culpable neglect, perhaps,
is respecting our stable manure, straw, corn stalks, etc. Every
farmer should have cattle enough to trim his stalks on the ground.
If the corn has been good, and is husked on the stalks, the pasture
is worth $1 50 per acre, and then if you will run your cutter over
the standing stalks, they can be plowed under without inconve-
nience or injury to the succeeding crop. I consider the gain is
equal to two dollars per acre, over the common practice of nearly
losing the benefit of the pasture, and then cutting and burning
the stalks, or foregoing the trouble and loss to the new crop by
leaving them on.

Our straw, if our grain is cut as green as it should be, and is

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carefully handled, is excellent feed, and should by all means be
consumed on the poorest portions of our farms. But many far-
mers treat the straw that comes from fifty or sixty acres of land,
as if it was a deadly nuisance. They will not even let it go back
to the ground it came from, but will tumble it into some slough or
set fire to it; and then, perhaps, go off three or four miles and
make and haul home coarse slough grass for their stock, that is
not half as good as the straw that they destroyed ; and as to
making all the stable manure we can by keeping our barns or
stables furnished with straw for bedding stock, and hauling it on
our thinest land, it is more common to let our horses lie clown in
their own filth, not to clean the stable until we are compelled to
and then pitch it down the hill to get it out of the way.

I was passing by one of our big farmers' place, last spring, and
saw that he had hauled several wagon loads of manure and dropt
them in the high way. I suppose he considered his farm rich
enough, and there was perhaps a few grains of corn in it that he
wished his pigs to get. Now such conduct is simply ridiculous,
and ought to be punished by fine and imprisonment.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Officers for 1857:

President — Henry Eichmond.

Vice Presidents — Albert Dryer, Elihu Bean.

Treasurer — W. C. Miller.

Secretary — J. W. Kitchell.

The Montgomery county Agricultural Society has existed as an
association for about four years, but was not incorporated until last
June. Hitherto exhibitions had been held in open ground. Last
summer, grounds adjoining Hillsboro were purchased and inclosed
with an excellent fence, and the inside filled up as well as could be
expected in so short a time. The fair which was held on the 21st,
22d and 23d days of September, 1857, greatly surpassed any pre-
ceding one. A special fair was subsequently held in October, for
the exhibition of horses, which was likewise quite successful. The
gross income of the society, during 1857, including subscriptions,
was $1,632, which, when expended, still leaves it in debt about
$200 ; but this small amount will be raised without difficulty ; the
society have the guaranty of good men for enough to place it in an
independent position.

J. W. KITCHELL, Secretary.

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OGLE COUNTY.

Officers for 1857:

President — Samuel Hill.

Vice President — A. E. Hurd.

Cor. Secretary — E. M. Light.

Secretary and Treasurer — John M. Hinkle.

The annual cattle show and fair of the Ogle county Agricultural
Society, for 1857, was held on the 30th September, and 1st and
2d of October. The exhibit of cattle, horses, hogs and poultry
was good ; but not so numerous as at previous shows. The show
of fruit and fancy articles was fine — farming implements, seeds
and grain, but meager. The wagons and carriages exhibited ex-
ceeded in numbers and excellence any previous exhibition.

The society has ten acres of ground on the west bank of Rock
River, beautifully situated, and inclosed by a tight board fence,
seven feet high. There is a general feeling of interest among the
citizens of this county for the prosperity of the agricultural society,
which warrants the belief in a successful future.

B. M. LIGHT, Secretary.

PIKE COUNTY.

The Agricultural Society of this county has been in existence
about five years. It was commenced under discouraging circum-
stances ; but its friends, by constant and untiring eifort, have
brought what was considered an experiment into the condition of
a fixed fact. The fair of 1857 was held at Pittsfield, on the 11th
and 15th of October. The weather was fine, and by noon of the
first day the stalls and pens were filled with stock, and the sheds
with the products of the dairy, the orchard, the loom and the
needle. Indeed, the exhibition greatly delighted the members of
the society, and the numerous throngs of people who attended. It
was decidedly an advance on all fairs that had ever been held in .
the county. From three to four thousand persons were at the fair
— and these from all parts of our county.

We are making arrangements for purchasing grounds, so as to
locate the fair permanently at this place — believing that when we
have our fairs upon inclosed grounds, we can double our receipts ;
and by these additional means, thus acquired, offer a larger amount
of premiums, put up better stalls and buildings for the fair, and
thus secure more competition, a greater number of visitors, and a
progressing improvement in all coming fairs.

MARCELLUS ROSS, Secretary.

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RANDOLPH COUNTY.

Although away clown in "Egypt," Randolph county — "Old
Randolph" — was one of the earliest in the state that organized and
put in operation a County Agricultural Society. In 1851, at a
social gathering, in the house of Mr. Bryce Crawford, Flat Prairie,
the matter was talked over, and on the 9th of January, 1852, a
constitution was prepared and adopted, the preamble to which
says : " The subscribers agree to form themselves into a society,
to be known as the Randolph County Agricultural Society, whose
object shall be the improvement of agriculture, horticulture and
the mechanical and household arts."

The Society originated in the northeastern corner of the county,
where a large proportion of the settlers were from Scotland, who,
in their adopted country, to some extent, have engrafted their na-
tional caution, perseverance and morality on the progressive, go-
aheaditiveness of the Yankee character. The third article of
the constitution says, that any man of good moral character may
become a member, by subscribing his name to the constitution and
paying the initiation fee.

The first officers of the Society were, Robert Brown, President ;
John Anderson, Vice-President ; Jacob B. Beathe, Treasurer; and
¥m. Addison, Secretary. The first annual fair of the Society
was held on the farm of Mr. James Craig, Flat Prairie, Oct. 20,
1852. The second was held in the same place the following year,
some account of which and of the Randolph County Agricultural
Society may be found in the first volume of Transactions of the
Illinois State Agricultural Society, pages 229 and 230.

The following year the annual fair was held on the ikrm of
Wm. Robertson, Flat Prairie, Oct. 25th, 1851:. Shortly afterwards
an offer was made to the Society of a piece of land for five years,
in Sparta, to be used as a fair ground, so that strangers and visi-
tors from a distance could be accommodated ; and the citizens of
Sparta and the Sparta Mill Company subscribed liberally in rais-
ing funds to put up a substantial board fence and to erect fixtures
for the accommodation of the fair. The exhibitions are every
year increasing in interest and attraction, and the crowds attend-
ing are much the largest that on any occasion assemble in this
county.

Since the fairs have been held in Sparta, they have continued
two days. The last, on the 7th and 8th of last October, was the
best and most numerously attended of any the Society has held.
The numbers attending were estimated at from four to six thousand,
and the conduct of the officers, the awards of the judges, and, in
short, the fair generally, gave general satisfaction.

The number of entries at the last fair were : of horses, 94 ; cat-
tle, 47 ; sheep, 4 ; hogs, 6 ; poultry, 2 ; mechanical, 23 ; fruit and
vegetables and miscellaneous, 116 ; ladies' work, 111. The pre-
miums were all paid in money, the amount being somewhat over
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$300. The meeting, after tlie list of premiums were read, was ad-
dressed by Mr. J. B. Anderson, Yice-President, and by Mr. H.
Crawford, also a member of the Society. The speeches were
loudly applauded. That of the latter gentleman was somewhat
humorous, highly poetical and partly in blank verse. The con-
cluding paragraph might very appropriately conclude this report :
" Let us, then, go on with our improvements, adding yearly to the
attractiveness of our Society, and especially to the attractiveness
of our exhibitions, and ere long, through the influence exerted by
this Society, Randolph county shall be known and acknowledged
as the Goshen of Egypt."

WM. ADDISON, Secretary.
ADDRESS, BY H. CRAWFORD,

AT THE FAIR OF THE RANDOLPH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, OCTOBER 8, 1857.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :

It is customary, even with men who are public speakers by pro-
fession, to make an apology before addressing an audience like the
present. But, sir, as apologies are at all times unpalatable to the
hearers, and very often uncalled for in the speaker, I will dispense
with such a form at present, and proceed to make a few general
observations, having a bearing on our present circumstances.

I congratulate you, Mr. President, and the people of Randolph
county, generally, on the success which has attended our Agricul-
tural Society, and especially our annual exhibitions. It is some-
times said, "little beginnings make great ends." This has surely
been the case with our Society. Not many years ago a few farm-
ers met together in a social capacity, first talked of the utility of
having an Agricultural Society in our vicinity, and ere they parted
laid their plans for its formation, and while they may feel thankful,
they may also be allowed to feel proud that their nursling has so
soon reached the years of maturity, and promises, at no distant
period, to take its stand in the foremost ranks of its sister organi-
zations.

Many societies are ephemeral in their existence. They are
called into being on some sudden impulse of the public mind, per-
haps as the result of some stern controversy, or it may be for the
purpose of establishing some favorite dogma, but with the disap-
pearance of these first attractions they soon cease to exist. "With
an Agricultural Society, however, it is vastly different. It is an
association got up for the benefit of the wealth-producing classes,
and consequently, for the benefit of every member of the commu-
nity. It aims at no class legislation, but lays down a principle,
broader than that of Bentham, namely : " The greatest possible
good to every member of the human family." It stirs up an honest
emulation in the breast — it holds out a bonus to the skillful crafts-
man and the enterprising farmer ; and while it wages an unrelent-
ing war against the barbarous usages and implements of a bygone
day, it welcomes with open arms the reaper, the thresher, the seed

155

drill, the liorse rake, and every other device which is calculated to
benefit society. It may also be called, emphatically, the working
man's association ; for, while many societies require the presence
of learned men in their execution, there is no office connected with
an agricultural society which may not be efficiently filled by a work-
ing man. It is also a progressive institution, and a society properly
formed to-day may be considered a " fixed fact" to-morrow. In-
deed, Mr. President, it is an institution, which may be safely classed
among those things "against which there is no law." Is it to be
wondered at, then, that our Society is attractive — that we are
greatly gaining in numbers, in means and in influence ? And is
it too much to expect that ere long the claims of our Society for
support shall be acknowledged by every member of the commu-
nity, and no one be found to stand aloof?

But, sir, perhaps the greatest attraction of an agricultural society
is a fair ground. This may be called the true try sting place of
friendship. Here, every eye beams with rapture, every heart is
filled with joy. Here, the most beautiful of the domestic animals
are exhibited.

The noble horse, "his neck with thunder cloth'd,"
Man's faithful friend, from early morn till eve ;
Without his aid, man's greatest effort to
Support himself were frail indeed.
The stately bull, with broad, expansive chest,
That would have stood conspicuous 'mong the folks
Of Og, and graced the landscape on the slopes
Of Bashan. The timid cow, housewife's
Trusty friend, wondering look, seems half
Alarm' d, so many stand to praise. The works
Of Art, here too, conspicuous shine.
The massy wagon, for the farm, with strength
And elegance combin'd. The carriages,
Of varied form, like chariots of the sun,
Which might have graced a Koman conqueror's
Triumph. The plows, well fitted for the soil,
With moldboard, share and bar of polish'd steel,
Show vast improvement on the days gone by.
And 'neath that canopy the household arts,
In order grand, are seen. There woman rules
Supreme. The most fastidious taste may
Find enjoyment here. From winter's cozy
Garb to summer's light attire, of many
A form, and many a varied hue,
The "odds and ends" of life attract the gaze.
Come hither, ye who boast of single bliss,
And learn to prize God's noblest temporal gift
To helpless man. The roots and fruits of earth,
In order rang'd, man's "daily bread," of size
Enormous, fitted for display, of-boasted
Flavor and of beauteous hue. The dairy's
Yellow store, in golden wreaths, to catch the eye,
But more the palate please, awaits the jndges'
Scrutinizing skill. Who would not linger here
And taste the sweets of Nature, and her handmaid
Art? - While woman's smile plays like a sunbeam,
And enlivens all.

But, Mr. President, as has been aptly observed by one of our
own number, the fair ground may be considered as the great adver-
tising sheet of the county. There, the very best articles which the

156

county can afford are exhibited, and inspection earnestly solicited,
and although quackery may be found in the advertising sheets of
the present day, here there is hardly a possibility of being deceived,
consulting only your own judgment. And I advise all those who
have anything of a superior quality to dispose of, to bring it to the
fair ground, and there, among the thousands who attend, they will
be likely to find a customer.

The fair ground, sir, might also be turned to good account as a
place for the diffusion of useful knowledge. There are no doubt
many here to-day who have been successful, as well as many who
have been unsuccessful, in the labors of the bypast year. Let,
then, the man who has been successful — who has found out one
plan better than another for the accomplishment of a particular
end, communicate his experience to him who has been less fortu-
nate, and let the unsuccessful man take instruction and direction
wherever he can find it, and with a new year try a new plan.
Great good may be derived from the perusal of books and other
documents on agricultural and mechanical subjects, but I doubt
not, sir, were the intelligence embodied in my present audience
properly brought out and disseminated from man to man, it would,
for ordinary purposes, have a better effect on the community than
the prerusal of a whole volume of the literature of the present day.
I am not opposed to reading, Mr. President. I practice it much,
and I wish that the preseut generation, especially the younger
members of it, would practice it more, but as far as agricultural
treatises are concerned, there is tar too much technicality used, and
that seemingly in a pedantic manner. There is the sulphate of
this and the sulphate of that, sal this and sal the other thing, with
the endless il's, ic's and urn's of a dead language, that while the
common farmer puzzles himself beyond measure to put a name on
these terms, he finds the treatise little better to him than a batch
of unintelligible jargon. Now, sir, this must be remedied.
Either the farmer must be educated so as to enable him not only
to read, but understand these terms, or else (and which I think
much better) things must just be called by their common names.
Professional men may consider these languages quite indisj^nsa-
ble, but on one point I know you will all agree with me, and that
is, that a man may be a successful farmer or mechanic and a good
citizen, though only in possession of his mother tongue, and a
woman may be a good housewife and an amiable member of socie-
ty,„though no adept in Italian, and unable to call the chickens in
French.

The difference, Mr. President, observable in the economy of
farming in the vicinity of an agricultural society, and that pursued
where no such institution exists, is very marked. In the one case
you may find the farmer busily engaged, gathering together every
particle of manure he can find, and having it carefully incorporated
with the soil, thus laying a foundation for his own welfare and the
welfare of coming generations, and in the other case you may find

157

the farmer puzzling his brain to find out a new site for his stable,
thinking it better to remove the logs rather than clean out the ma-
nure, continuing from year to year, in an exhausting system of
farming, taking all he can find from the soil and giving nothing in
return, thus depriving himself of a competency and his children
of their just rights. The difference is also observable in the do-
mestic animals. Time was when our horses were of an inferior
breed ; when our cows were well denominated " scrubs ;" when
our hogs were almost walking augers, and showed fight as fiercely
£s a band of Tartars. But, sir, these things are fast disappearing,
and wherever an agricultural society exists they must disappear.
The ingenuity of man, at the present time, seems to be taxed to its
utmost to find out something new for the accomplishment of man's
greatest temporal good, and when once our land has become stud-
ded over with such institutions as this, that end will have been
measurably attained.

Let us, then, go on with our improvements, adding yearly to the
attractiveness of our Society and especially to the attractiveness of
our exhibitions, and ere long, through the influence exerted by
this Society, Randolph county shall be known and acknowledged
as the Goshen of Egypt.

SANGAMON COUNTY.

The officers of the Sangamon County Agricultural and Mechan-
ical Association for 1857 were — C. W. Vanderen, President;
John C. Crowder and A. B. Cast, Yice-Presidents ; Simeon Fran-
cis, Secretary ; S. M. Parsons, Treasurer ; John C, Crowder, C.
W. Vanderen and John McConnel, Trustees of the Society's
grounds.

The third annual fair under the present organization of the So-
ciety took place on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th clays of Septem-
ber, 1857. The fair was a successful one. In some departments,
(fruit, vegetables, the dairy, and agricultural implements,) the
entries were not as many as was desired ; but in the various de-
partments of stock, there never was a better exhibition in Sanga-
mon. The stocks of cattle from the herds of Jas. N. Brown, JEL
Jacoby, Pollock & Bitter, S. Dunlap, and others, made a splendid
exhibition.

Of the premiums awarded for the best bulls, four years old and
over, Pollock & Ritter took the first premium for Mont Blanc,
and Curry & Forden the second premium for Filibuster; bulls
three years old and under four, Pollock & Bitter, first premium,
for Belmont, and S. Dunlap, second premium, for 8. A. Douglas /
bulls two years old and under three, Brown & Smith, first pre-
mium, for Yeouder, and Calef & Jacoby, second premium, for
Belleville Sutton/ bulls one year old and under two, J. N. Brown 7

158

first premium, for Young Whig, and Washington lies, second pre-
mium, for Doubloon; bull calf under one year, J. N . Brown, first
premium, for Young Buckeye, and J. M. Hill, second premium, for
General Cass.

For the best cows over four years old, J. 1ST. Brown received the
first premium for Stella, and the second for Tulip; for cows over
three and under four years old, Calef & Jacoby, first premium,
for Lady Harriet, and 0. Stephenson, second premium, for heifer
Snow-Drop; for heifers over two and under three years, Calef &
Jacoby, first premium, for Empress, and J. ]ST. Brown, second pre-
mium, for Orphan; best heifer over one and under two years, J.
C. Bone, first premium, for Emerald, and J. M. Hill, second pre-
mium, for Bracelet; heifer calves under one year, Jas. N. Brown,
first premium, for Lady Frances, and second premium for May
Dacre. In the sweepstakes, for bulls, Brown & Smith carried off
the first premium for Yeouder, and Bitter & Pollock the second
premium for Belmont; cows, E. B. Hitt, first premium, for Isabel,
and Calef & Jacoby, second premium, for Lady Harriet.

For thorough-bred horses over four years, Hoppin & McConnel,
first premium, for Dry or, and Jesse Henry, second premium, for
Africa; horses over three and under four, J. Stockdale, first pre*
mium, for Barnton, and J. L. Bridges, second premium, for Young
Nero; over two and under three, Francis Scott, for Nero; aged
mare, H. F. Fitch, first premium, for Mary Ellen, and Phill "War-
ren, second premium, for Nell; over one and under two years,
Thos. Scott, first premium, for Dolly.

Horses for all work, over four years old, L. P. & W. D. Sanger,

first premium, for , and J. Stockdale, second premium, for

Morgan Champion; over three and under four, Joel Ballard, first
premium, for Morgan Eclipse, and A. C. Stafford, second pre-
mium, for Tom Hall; over two and under three years, "Willis
Simms, first premium, for Kosciusko, and C. M. Bridges, second
premium, for Young Tom Hall; over one and under two years,
W. P. G-rimsley, first premium, for Tom Hyer, and Samuel Long,
second premium, for colt. Best mare, four years old and over, L.

P. & W. D. Sanger, first premium, for , and J. M. Hill,

second premium, for Till; over three and under four years, Wm.
Fitch, for Fanny Leslie; over two and under three years old, A.
Weir, first premium, for Lucy, and J. Jacob, second premium, for
Tilley; one year old and under two, J. B. Morrison, first pre-
mium, for Archie, and John M. Taylor, second premium, for Lily
Dale. In the sweej)stakes, Young Barnton took the first pre-
mium, and Africa the second ; in mares, Mary Ellen took the
first premium, and Nell the second.

There was a good exhibition of jacks and jennies, showing the
increasing interest felt by our farmers in the raising of mules.
There were many entries ol French merino sheep, and a few of
other choice breeds. The hogs entered were among the finest to
be found anywhere — evidencing the increased attention paid to

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this branch of stock. This stock was owned bv Messrs. J. C.
Crowder, J. B. Fletcher, J. B. Morrison, L. P. & W. D. Sanger,
S. N. Fullen wider, Dr. Wm. S. Wallace, J. Stockdale, Patrick
Giblin, and others.

Of other articles entered, it will only need be said that they
were numerous, and did great credit to their owners — eliciting the
admiration of the numerous persons in attendance from every
part of the county. The entries exceeded in number those of the
previous year. The marked improvements were in stock — horses,
cattle, jacks, mules, sheep and hogs.

The first three days o± the fair were pleasant. On Friday, near
noon, it commenced raining, and the proceedings were rapidly
drawn to a close. The receipts the previous year, from entries
and gate, were about $1,200. The receipts of the fair of 1857
were over. $2,100 — a most gratifying evidence of the success of
this fair. Nearly $1,500 were distributed in premiums. The
system of the previous year — requiring each exhibitor to purchase
an exhibitor's ticket, for which one dollar was paid, admitting
them to the fair grounds for the four days, and at the same time
requiring gentlemen to pay one-fifth of the premium for which
the animal or article was entered — was still adhered to. The fee
at the gate was twenty- five cents for each .perron. This system
has been found successful in preventing frauds, and at the same
time making the institution a self supporting one, which is all that
is expected or desired.

On the last day of the fair, Hon. M. L. Dunlap, of West Ur-
bana, Champaign county, delivered an address on the grounds,
which follows:

ADDRESS, BY M. L. DUNLAP,

BEFORE THE SANGAMON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETT, 1857.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Sangamon County Agricultural and Mechanical Association:

The wheels of ever busy time have again rolled this western
world up to the sober hues of the autumn sun, and the rustling
leaves that ardent summer has wove into the deepest shade of the
green wood's quiet retreat, have just been kissed by the rejoicing
breath, but not the frost of autumn.

The germ which the vernal showers opened to life and beauty
and which the summer's sun has fructified, are now fast ripening
for our use. The smaller grains have made obeisance to the sickle
and are now being passed on change, but the great family of agri-
cultural and horticultural products have not yet fell into the lap of
plenty, and are now receiving the last finishing touch from the
autumn sun, which has charge of the ripenings of the year. The
spring poured out its blossoms in lavish profusion, compensating
for the short comings of the previous year, while the summer's sun
shed down its heat, tempered with showers and nights laden with
dew. And now comes autumn with her tokens of plenty, cover-

160

Ing tlieni wath her rich pencelings of artistic beauty, blushing from
her pencil with melting lusciousness with which nature loves to
till up her gifts.

Soon the mellow tints of the Indian summer will enfold us in its
mystic embrace, and the rustling leaves of brown October be fall-
ing at our feet, bidding us prepare for the winter king's approach.
But for this we have an abundance, for the rich gifts so profusely
strewn by the lavish hand of Ceres, and nurtured in the rich soil
of the swelling prairie, now lay piled in vast pyramids, or glitter-
ing in the fields, shadowing forth their gold and crimson, to please
the eye and make glad the heart of the husbandman.

Yonder tables laden with Pomona's richest gifts, assure us that
the season has been fruitful in nature's choisest food; while the
evidence is presented on every hand that our soil and climate are
well adapted to the profitable growth of these valuable products,
which exert so beneficial an influence on the general health and
which so much delight the palate.

Would that I could persuade you to pay an increased attention
to this department of rural economy, so as to bring these luxuries
within the reach of all.

Flora ! thou queen of beauty, thou who revelest in scenes of
gorgeous splendor, thou hast found many admirers here, as yonder
hall, dedicated to thy worship, most fully attests. Unnumbered
offerings are laid upon thy shrine, reclolant with perfume beyond
the chemist's art, and rich pencilings that no brush can rival.
We have reveled in thy gifts of gorgeous beauty since spring
clothed the prairie in green and thy avant-courier of vernal flora
gave promise of the fruit, as the flower gave place to the germ
that the summer sun has grown, and which the autumn is now
ripening into food. Thou hast performed thy round of duties and
a few more rising suns will show thee cold and blackened in the
embrace of the frost king, who will draw his chilling mantle around
thy form of varied beauty. But some of thy choicest nurslings
will survive, through the aid of the watchful gardner, who will pro-
tect them from the withering breath of the insidious foeman. We
may also look for these emblems of love and affection in the hands
of our fair friends, who will protect them alike from harm, and in
whose fostering care they will shed many blessings on us during
the reign of the frost king, to please the eye of the careworn sons
of toil, and draw many a mirthful shout from happy childhood.

I hope that these, your annual holidays, dedicated to productive
industry, have proved a happy and useful application of your
time. You have, during the present year, been blessed with
health and your granaries will soon overflow with the rich pro-
ducts of mother earth, who has been lavish in almost every de-
partment of your noble calling. You have abundant reason
to be happy and to be filled with thankfulness to Him " who
doeth all things well," and who " orders the seasons in their annual
rounds."

161

Poets have sung with raptures and praise, writers have extolled
the day when the happy tillers of the soil should no longer be con-
sidered as belonging to a lower class, but should rank with the
other departments of useful labor. This day has now arrived, and
you may stand forth with the emblems of your calling among the
sons of men, without any taint of plebianism, and boldly assert
your right to an equal share in the social machinery of the moral
world.

In common with other departments of productive industry we
need a little more schooling, to meet the wily politician both at
the ballot box and in yonder Halls of Legislation ; but this need
not be extravagant — a general knowledge of the working of the
wheels of government and the wants of the age will prove suffi-
cient, and will enable you to see through his flimsy veil of impos-
ture, and to lay bare his patriotic motives, which are mainly to
plunder the public crib. Professed politicians should hold the
same place in your esteem as do noxious weeds, which you are com-
pelled to destroy, and they further hold a similarity to them, for
both have to be plowed under yearly to insure success. In our
noble State, at the ballot box, the voice of a tree people has ever
been in the ascendant, giving to labor its just reward and placing
it high on the pedestal of honor.

You form the great substratum of society, and it is from your
ranks, mainly, that the business men of the city are recruited. It
is your broad shoulders and toil-hardened bodies that are required
in the counting house, in the banking office, and when commerce
with its white wings or steeds of iron, call for active, ceaseless toil
you never reply in vain.

Wealth is at your command ; the time has passed when a nod
from Wall street has made you tremble, and the closing of the
purse strings of capital given you deep pain. Now, when the for-
mer duns, you laugh, as you shake the yellow coin, and shut the
latch of your granary on the exhibition of the latter. You are
now one of the parties on change and must be consulted by the
kings of trade, and a proper return made for the products of your
toil. But I would not have you grow proud as you grow rich, nor
ape the reckless extravagance of the cities. Your's is an indepen-
dent position, and you should dare to do and act an independent
part, to no more be the slaves to fashion than you are to commerce.

Wealth has now given you both the ability and time to culti-
vate a love for the beautiful, and some of your spare dollars should
be used to embellish your homes, so as to draw the family circle
into stronger bonds of affection, around which shall cluster your
dearest sympathies. The love of home has been sadly neglected
in our education ; for why should we cluster our thoughts and af-
fections around walls unshaded by a rich canopy of waving leaf-
lets, or gardens bare of floral beauty ? Why not one spot of un-
adorned earth as good as another ? Let our hearts answer why.
But when will our thoughts cease to dwell upon the plants that a
—21

162

mother's care has cultivated, without feelings of deeper love and
filial affection, and will we not attach more value to the trees our
fathers planted and under whose grateful shade we grew up to
manhood, than of those planied by stranger hands % We need no
answer, for it is enshrined in the heart's deepest recesses ; for on
our way her<
uments that surround your prairie homes.

You see that it is not my purpose to give you lessons of detail, in
farming or horticultural display, but to roam with you over the broad
field of fancy or of fact, with a farmer's license or a farmer's right.

Hand in hand we will pass through those beautiful grounds, ad-
miring with you the products of your teeming soil— the mechanism
of your handicraft, in labor-saving implements and conveniences
of domestic life — the useful and ornamental articles of skill and
labor from the hands of those who have a chosen place by your side
shall not be neglected ; to them we will pay the homage due.

Let us first pass through yonder park-like town, planted by na-
ture and carpeted with living green. The bellowing of the buf-
falo has never stirred its echoes, nor the shaft of the red man
broke the stillness of its branches. It is the nursling of your care,
in protecting it from the annual prairie fire, to be a living monu-
ment, under whose grateful shade your children will, in after
years, take pleasure in contending for the palm of victory, in the
skillful culture of the soil, or excellence in the mechanic art. "VVe
have reached the limit of our domain, and here in comfortable
stalls, arranged with the proper conveniences, stand as noble a
herd of right royal bovines as are often met in the show grounds
where civilization holds sway. Greater numbers may have been
drawn together, but I fearlessly assert that, for form and beauty,
they cannot be excelled. We would like to stop with you and ad-
mire the fine points of each, but our time will not permit. You
will note with what a noble bearing Mont Blanc wears the blue
ribbon as an evidence of his respectability and high standing. We
must stop to notice this foreign lady, who wears the blue with such
a modest, quiet air, she lately came from the Emerald Isle, where
she was christened Emerald, after her fader land', she is but a little
over a year old, but should she chance to stray out on the prairie
and mix with the common herd, she might be reckoned as of ma-
turer years. As she has a right royal line of ancestors she will
yet reign a queen in the line ot Durham succession.

See Stella, how quietly she is chewing the cud, unconscious of
her honors, as the reigning queen in her class of matronly cows;
she has great weight if not influence in her said circle, weighing
nine-tenths of a ton and giving bright visions of tender steaks.

We must tear ourselves away, to take a last look at Pryor be-
fore we part. Nineteen winters have passed over his head, yet he
carries himself with the sprightliness of youth. Combined with dig-
nity and noble bearing, he stands the acknowledged king in the
royal stud ; long may he reign — his achievements on the turf has

163

placed him in the history of his native State, and an appreciating
public will do him justice in his new home. We have a long walk
to pass around the stalls of the horse family, among whom we
note many, very many, superior animals, but we cannot stop to
notice their individual good graces, but we can see that they are
the pride of your farms and have had careful grooming in return
for their valuable services. Numerous sheep and lambs are care-
fully cared for on the brow of yonder hill. They are but another
evidence of the high value you place on line animals as affording
the best profit. The spinning wheel has lost its music in the house-
hold, giving new duties to our female friends, and they no longer
twine the snowy fleece or ply the shuttle. This we almost regret,
for our mothers never spun such silky wool as now grace the
backs of the tenants of yonder fold. The swine grunt forth their
approval of our commendations, as we pass, admiring their fine
points and coloring, some of them black as night, might be taken
for sable majesties of the herds of the sweltering sands of Africa,
while others acknowledge a more Caucasian origin.

In the departments of cattle, horses, swine and sheep, you may
safely challenge any county fair in this or any other State, and that
you have the ability to excel in other departments of rural econ-
omy, I have no doubt We will now enter Floral Hall and ex-
amine the works of art and use, and the products of the orchard
and garden. It requires but a glance to see that the busy needles
have done their work, furnishing articles of use and beauty. But
Flora, alas ! few offerings are laid on thy shrine and many of these
are from distant climes, requiring the watchful care of the gardener
to protect them from harm. We shall hope that another year will
add to these attractions and that our fair friends will have a care
for these symbols of love and beauty.

Pomona, thou who loves to shower down thy globe-like fruitj
laughing with lusciousness of smiling plenty, filling our cellars
with great orb-like apples, that fill up the measure of winter com-
forts, thou hast no grey headed worshippers at thy shrine, and but
few offerings have been laid at thy feet. But thou canst sympa-
thize with thy neighbors among the cereals and vegetables which,
like thou, hast been neglected. Not that the teeming soil of this
county does not revel in thy products, but it is thy present misfor-
tune that many of thy warm friends are busy at this season in
attending to thy home wants and making large preparations for the
coining year, when you may hope to receive that attention that
your valuable services demand. In a county so celebrated for its
noble herds we might well expect to see pyramids of cream like
cheese and golden butter, but probably the desire to furnish the
stalls of far off cities with beef so celebrated as that of yours must
be your excuse. Before we leave we must test the new sweet,
among the list of saccharine fluids, the product of the sugar millet,
which will hereafter take its place among your valuable products.
There are numerous articles which we have passed by, of much

164

importance, both of domestic use and of ornament, but time ad-
monishes us to admire and pass on to other themes appropriate to
this festive occasion.

We have completed our hasty examinations ; and to say that we
are pleased is but a tame expression — a faint echo of our admira-
tion of your progress, led on by the genius of the age.

But a few short years have been added to the calendar of time
since the plow-share first entered your virgin soil — the grass, still
crumpled with the moccasined foot of the red man, and the smoke
of his wigwam just fading in the distance. You then stood on
the far off frontier — the confines of the mighty west. Now the
echo of yonder ponderous engine grows fainter as it trundles the
human tide past your doors far toward the setting sun.

Nobly have you battled through all the difficulties and priva-
tions incident to the settlement of a new country ; but the goal is
won, and you now stand forth, not on the confines of civilization,
but in the midst of a populous and prosperous State, with all the
means and appliances of refined society. The star of empire is
traveling westward, and you now see it beaming, in bright efful-
gence^ in the zenith.

"We shall long cherish the recollection of this day, as showin
to us, in bright contrast, the value of free labor, directed by intel-
ligence, over that of the predatory Indian, whose marks are yet
fresh in yonder grove, and whose trail the bright plow-share is
fast obliterating.

Tou have made wondrous progress in carving out noble homes,
and in erecting new altars, redolent with mirth and domestic hap-
piness, around which cluster bright eyes and smiling faces, which
invite you to press forward in the onward progress of the age.

I have been with you to see the products of your soil, the spe-
cimens of your skill and labor ; and I now invite you to go with
me to examine the progress of the age — to look back into the
misty past, and lay plans for the giant future. We will not be
confined to any particular line of thought, or path of progress,
but roam at will through the boundless space of fact or fancy, and
cull such gems as may happen to please us, in our wayward wan-
derings.

Before we start on our proposed tour of observation, allow me
to have a short chat with those girls and boys, whose pattering
feet and happy smiles have added to the pleasure of this festive
occasion.

You appear before me, a happy group of smiling, cheerful faces,
rife with intelligence, alike indicative of deep thought and frolic-
some mirth. Allow me to inquire, for what purpose are you
gathered here in this sylvan retreat, so late the abode of the red
man ? Have you come to worship at the shrine of nature, or of
art — to send up your adorations to the great " Manitou " — to look
through Nature up to Nature's God ? Or have you come for the
purpose of wild and frolicsome mirth — to run riot with fun — to

165

wake the echoes of yonder deep-toned forest, or the gently rolling
prairie, with the clear notes of happy, thrice happy childhood ?
Will you have thought for the mighty past % Will you send
memory back to the deep recesses of by-gone years ? Will you
invoke the genii of this umbrageous oak to give up the history of
its years \ Or will your young minds question back of time,
when, in wild, playful mood, the children of the forest last awoke
the echoes where now you meet to show the products of the prai-
rie over whose rich soii they chased the spotted fawn, unconscious
of its hidden power to provide them food ?

Will you find time, amid the festivity of this occasion, to con-
trast your happy lot with the deep feeling of woe that must have
wrung the hearts of those simple children of the forest and prai-
rie, in bidding a last sad farewell to yonder groves, their ancient
home, and which was endeared to them by olden legend, and
whose scenic beauty and fertility of soil is almost unsurpassed ?

Will you give your sympathies to the memory of those unfor-
tunate children, who have given up their place to you, as they
took up their line of march, with the last dusky warrior who
wended his weary way from amid this beautiful retreat, now ded-
icated to the purpose of displaying to the world the products of
the skill and energy of the white man ? Yiew them in fancy, as
in silence their footsteps turned toward the setting sun, followed
by their faithful mothers and trustful dogs ; the pattering of little
feet, as they pressed the prairie flower and sped on in silence,
awaking only the deep tones of misery in their downcast hearts,
and bidding the scalding tears chase each other in quick succes-
sion down their sun- browned cheeks; for they must rear their
wigwam in a far-off land. Shall we pursue this subject ? Shall
we let fancy wanton over the history of the past ? No ! we will
draw the veil of midnight darkness between this and the olden
time ; nor will I permit the genii of the grove, or the spirit of
some old Indian brave, to lay in wait for you. You shall not fear
in your rambles to-day, to meet an uplifted tomahawk, or the un-
erring shaft from any unseen bow, wielded by the hand of the
spirit of the dead. You shall wanton amid these gems of art, of
use and beauty, in all the exuberance of happy childhood, that
the pleasures of this occasion may be remembered as a happy era
of your adolescence, when the mist of age shall have dimmed
your vision, and your speaker shall have passed through the
portals of the unseen world.

We will no more raise th.3 veil of the past ; we will shut our
eyes from the vision of the spirit world, and from its dim outlines
of shadowy truth, turn our attention to the active usefulness of
the future.

When we look around us, and view the rapid progress made by
the hand of man — his achievements on these broad prairies, which
lay smiling beneath the mellow hues of the autumn sun — we are
led to feel proud, and almost disposed to worship our frail human-

166

ity; but this waywardness is soon checked, and we raise our ado-
rations to Him whose hand has smoothed them out with its plastic
palm, and chiseled the water courses like vast dead furrows in
nature's fallow field.

To look upon the broad prairies, teeming with herds and ripened
harvests, is a sight not only rich to the eye, but has a rich pros-
pective to the cultivator, and gladdens the sun-browned brow of
labor. Poets have sung heroic strains in its favor, and prose wri-
ters have been . lavish in its praise, until fancy has given place to
fact, and realized the fabulous wonders of eastern fancy. The
story of Aladdin's lamp is no longer a fiction, but only changed
to the glittering mold-board of our steel clippers, which turn up
the hidden elements of nutrition, which create, as if by magic,
the golden grain that gives to the mighty West its elements of
power and of progress.

All this sounds harmonious, when set to music, and wakes the
dormant energies of our nature, when spoke in well-turned prose.
But before the golden harvest can glitter in the morning sun —
before it can wave in gentle undulations beneath the laughing
zephyrs that come to kiss its leaflets, which stir them into life and
beauty — labor must wipe the sweat from its sun-browned brow,
and the reeking team must have performed many a ten-hour bout.

Let us turn our attention for a moment to the progress of agri-
cultural improvement, which is but another index of the advance-
ment of the age, and the higher development of our humanity.
We will look down no long scroll of years, nor will we search the
history of Greece or Rome for a starting point, but will content
ourselves with drawing from memory — from our youthful recol-
lections of them, and the wonderful changes wrought to the pres-
ent time.

I am, as you may see, yet in the full vigor of manhood ; gray
hairs have scarce invaded my brow — but just commencing the last
half of the allotted seventy — no long period on the check-roll of
time — and yet I well remember, as doubtless many of you clo,
when the hand sickle was the principal instrument by which the
smaller grains were harvested. The cradle was then beginning to
claim attention, and was not long in superseding the toilsome and
tardy operation of the sickle, and which has now given place to
the reaper, drawn by the noble horse or laborious mule, cutting
from ten to twenty acres per day. II jpou do not call this pro-
gress, allow me to ask you to figure up by what other process you
could secure the vast harvests that wave their golden undulations
on your wide-spread prairies.

A hundred acres of wheat would require thirty men, sickle in
hand, ten days to cut it down. Now, one man and a span of
horses, with an implement that the genius of a Manny, an Atkins,
a Danford or a Rugg has furnished, will do the same work in less
time.

It was for our noble State, for the purpose of developing its

167

almost boundless resources of cereal products, that genius came to
our aid and devised the reaper, which has given a new era to the
great valley of the giant West, and by which another wrinkle was
taken from the brow of care, and the over-tasked laborer permit-
ted a repose.

The idea conceived on the hills of Scotia by the patriot Bell,
required the broad fields of the West to give it life and being.
And when monuments of richest marble, erected to commemorate
deeds of martial valor, shall have crumbled into dust, the names
of Hussy, McCormick, Manny, Danforcl, Atkins, Rugg, and a
host of others who have aided in this great improvement, shall
stand proudly forth on the historic page.

Of scarce less importance has been the progress of improve-
ment in machines for threshing and cleaning the whole family of
grains and seeds.

The hand flail, that instrument of torture so graphically de-
scribed by Burns as " the weary flinging tree," is no more. We
only hear its measured beat in memory, and stop to dream of
boyhood's days, when we helped to swing them, and to beat out
by single blows the rattling grain. The cumbrous hand fan, which
wells up from the memory of by-gone years, has slid from our
grasp ; but the vivid impressions of hardened and weary toil with
which it was identified still remain. It has Jeft no pleasurable
emotions, and I exchange it without a regret for such useful fan-
ning mills as you now exhibit.

The scythe, with its keen edge and elastic form, fashioned by
the ponderous hammer, was a vast stride in the field of progress,
when compared with the old broad, uncouth blade of unhardened
steel, whose edge was reduced to sharpness by repeated blows of
the tiny hammer — hundreds of which we have seen in use on our
prairies, as they slowly, and with almost superhuman effort, laid
low the luxuriant prairie grass. And yet, how far is this out-
stripped in the line of progress by yonder mowing machines !

Those huge iron prongs, denominated a pitch- fork, have either
been forged into harrow teeth, or placed in a museum by some as-
piring Barnum, as specimens of by-gone years ; and the bright,
elastic implement which you now exhibit, bears but little resem-
blance to its iron namesake.

The plow, within the last thirty years, has passed through many
and important changes, some of which are due to citizens of your
county, now within my hearing. My first acquaintance was with
the wooden mold-board, guided by a single handle, the work of
which bOre no small resemblance to that performed by one of
those bow-backed, long-nosed hogs, that you sometimes see prowl-
ing about your fields. The renowned Wood, whose name should
be ever held in grateful remembrance, gave us the first successful
cast-iron plow, with its more graceful form, and which, for gravelly
and silicious soils, is yet unsurpassed. But the rich, friable loam
of the swelling prairie required a richer gift from the hand of

168

genius, and she gave the steel clipper, with burnished mold-board,
now so well known wherever the teeming harvests rustle on the
wide savannahs of the West. Without the steel plow, the vast
fields of grain that now cover the prairies could not have been
sown, and the iron horse would have lighter tasks to perform.
Nor would the white- winged coursers that plow our lakes be either
so large or so numerous as we see them. The names of those who
have participated in these valuable achievements are so numerous
that we are compelled to pass them over.

Wagons, harrows, cultivators, and the whole catalogue of farm
implements, have alike been the subject of progress ; but to enu-
merate them would weary your patience, and I will therefore refer
you to the specimens themselves now on exhibition.

Such is the progress of improvement designed by the hand of
genius, and which has so closely cemented the interest and mutual
regard of the farmer and mechanic, as to have given birth to this
association, which has proved its beneficent effects upon its found-
ers, and all others who have come within the pale of its influence.

Horticulture has, also, within the past tew years, made rapid
strides in the field of progress, not only in quantity, but in the
improved quality of its productions. The seedling apple is giving
place to improved varieties by grafting ; and now, instead of or-
chards of chance seedlings, producing but a few tolerable fruits,
we have those of the best quality at all seasons of the year.

The seedling peach has also given place to the choice grafts,
which are so much improved as to extend the season of this deli-
cious fruit, one of the choicest of Pomona's gifts. The pear, from
an austere and almost worthless fruit, by improved culture, selec-
tion of varieties, and, what is of great value, the manner of ripen-
ing, has taken a high rank, possessing a melting richness almost
unsurpassed by the rich gifts of the sunny South.

The same progress has been made in the smaller fruits, as well
as in the vegetable garden, thereby adding to our list of creature
comforts, and consequently giving us higher enjoyment in this
evanescent life.

These are but a few items in the long catalogue of improve-
ments made in these departments of rural economy within the
past few years, the first inception of which many of you are fa-
miliar with. You will not have forgotten with what joy most of
these improvements were received at their first announcement and
successful trial, and the rich rewards that have been showered on
many of those who placed them before an appreciating people.

JSTot all the candidates for public favor have been successful ;
not all those who were ambitious to place their names high on the
banner of fame have achieved their desires; and many a half fin-
ished labor-saving machine has been abandoned, when, if the genius
that gave it birth had been allied to wealth, or endowed with an
untiring perseverance, they might have succeeded ; while now we
see many of these crude efforts thrown aside, in the yards and

169

highways, crumbling mementos of unfortunate genius. When we
examine the long array of noble names who have done so much
to foster and ennoble these pursuits, we find many of them of
the highest attainment among our fellow-citizens of this State ;
and it gives us pleasure to know that they are reaping a rich re-
ward for their invaluable researches in the arena of mechanism.

In the great industrial contests in London, New York and
Paris, where the congregated world of mechanism were their com-
petitors, they carried off a goodly number of prizes — compelling
the boasted artisans of Europe to acknowledge their superior in-
genuity and workmanship.

W e have thus taken a cursory glance over the general field of
advancement, but we have not as yet attempted to solve the hidden
mystery, or to dive into the solution of the problem, whereby we
may lay open to the public gaze the secret of success, and show
out, in mid-day splendor, the motive power that has, within so
short a time, accomplished such wonderful results.

To the district school we must pay our humble adorations. It
is to that utilitarian source we owe most of our success, and which
has given to toiling genius the power to unfold the hidden mys-
tery that lazy capital could not grasp. It is to these young semi-
naries where undeveloped thought first found vent in conning over
the mystic symbols of the alphabet, and which has given to ado-
lescent boyhood the first impressions that ere long he must rely
upon his own resources, both of mind and body ; that he will soon
enter the field of active manhood, to battle in the selfish ranks of
this jostling world for fame, for fortune or for bread ; that his own
right hand must carve out his fortune or write his name in the
history of his country. It is these schools of elementary thought
that have rubbed the rust from dormant genius and given to the
new world that element of power and of progress that crumbling
dynasties have sought for in vain. Here self-government in its
most practical bearing has been taught, and it is here that the fic-
tion has been exploded that "majorities shall rule," and here that
adamantine truth has been established that mind not matter shall
weigh in the scale of human power and development, and that
brute force is controlled by this magic power of knowledge. Our
noblest minds are graduates of these humble institutions, far out-
stripping most others in the race of usefulness, though they have
drawn their knowledge from higher though less utilitarian sources.
The district school is the richest gift of our republican govern-
ment, and the true philosopher's stone, by which the mind of the
masses are turned into gold and inlaid with the rich mosaic of fra-
ternal feeling and love of the beautiful that gives us those sur-
roundings of home and power to grasp the real pleasures of life by
which we attain the end of our being. We feel proud of our
adopted state in following in the footsteps of her illustrious elder
sisters in this respect, in giving to her district schools such a proud

—22

170

position as they have now attained. Our common school law,
though bungling and unweildly in many respects, is the brightest
gem in our chaplet of legislative enactments, for it contains that
star of hope, "free education to all." Let it ever shine as the bea-
con star, giving hope to the down-trodden and the means of im-
provement and Americanizing of the oppressed who maj seek an
asylum on our fertile plains.

Schools make readers, and readers must have food for thought.
They seek after the useful, and hoard together whatever may be
©f value in the every-day walks of life. Books are, therefore, their
monitors, and to their teachings they bow as to some unseen
power. It is, therefore, of much importance that those only are
selected whose pages are stored with truth. Let us go further and
ask, what are books % They contain the fancies, opinions, theories
and experiences of men, as well as a history of mind and matter.
They are our teachers, and assist us to read the great book of na-
ture, whose lids are the ambient ether. Man, himsell, is a partially
written book, whose pages are last filling up with good and evil,
and whose volume will be enrolled in the eventful future. Books,
therefore, contain with more accuracy the lore of past ages of
thought and of action, from which we may cull at leisure much
that is useful

As new conditions of things arise, and as new requirements are
before us, we must conform ourselves to their claims, and prepare
to meet them in all their varied expositions of usefulness.

It should not, therefore, be deemed singular that the history of
agricultural progress should be written, nor that the more recent
improvements in the mechanical department of this great industrial
necessity should long be kept from the world. If such is the fact,
it would not be derogatory to our intelligence to carefully peruse
them, and to follow their useful teachings, without fear of being
called book farmers, as a term of reproach. The divine has books,
so has the lawyer, the seaman, the merchant and all the other use-
ful callings ; then why not, with the same propriety, cannot the
farmer store his shelves with the useful experience of others %

It may be asked, of what use is all this array of vaunted im-
provement and progress ol the age % Labor is more and more in
demand, and all are as busy as in the days of our grandfathers,
and that too without any immediate prospect of a change. Pro-
gress is a talismanic word, whose course is ever onward, having ex-
celsior for its motto, with an eye for the beautiful and a desire for
rational enjoyment. It builds our railroads, our steamers and
other appliances of a high civilization, by the means of which we
realize more enjoyment in a year than we could a few years since
in a much longer space of time.

A wise Providence ordained that we should labor, and that we
should earn our bread by the sweat of our brow ; and when we
disregard this provision, there comes lassitude and apathy for the

171

enjoyment of the gifts of Providence, and we pay the penalty for
our presumption. If we only labored to sustain the animal man,
a small portion only of our time would be required for that pur-
pose, .but the Ruler of the Universe has endowed us with higher
aspirations, and implanted in our nature a love of the beautiful,
and to gratify this heaven-born impulse, we must labor after the
more simple wants of our corporeal system is satisfied. It is the
love of the beautiful that brings us nearer the Divine perfection,
and which enables us " to look through nature up to nature's God.''

The beauty of the floral kingdom was not simply made to propa-
gate the various species of plants, for this is done by the stigma
and pistol. The petals, with their elaborate colorings and graceful
forms, are there to please the eye and minister to our higher taste;
otherwise their perfect pencilings would be of no value, and their
perfumes "wasted on the desert air."

No painter has yet been able to produce such perfect work ; no
pencil so firm as to draw such millions of varied hues, as those we
find imprinted by nature on her floricultural developments. Deity
made the flowers as much for himself as for men, otherwise they
would only bud and blossom in our pathway and among our daily
walks ; but this is not so, for there is no retreat so secret, no valley so
deeply hidden, no sierra so inaccessible, no wide Sahara so desolate,
that these symbols of love and purity are not planted there.
Amid the leafy solitudes, when naught but the song of birds and
the deep pulsations of nature are heard, they bud and blossom and
flaunt their beauties as proudly and in as great perfection as if the
lordlings of this world, instead of the Lord of nature, was smiling
on their perfect symmetry and elegance of mien.

It was not for man alone that the prairies were made — our
wide parterre of floral beauty. If it had been so, why do they flee
from his approach and dwindle into insignificance as he spreads
his dominion over them 1 But rather is it not that He who holds
them in His hand designed them, also, for His own use, that He,
too, might feast His eyes on these emblems of His love and watch-
ful care? He made Nature his gardener and the world one wide,
extended garden of varied beauty; but when He works for men, it
is on condition that He is paid in sweat from the sun-browned
brow of labor. Man, therefore, if he wishes to enjoy these nurs-
lings of nature's bounty, must plant, protect and cultivate them with
assiduous care, or he is condemned to forego the pleasures they
bestow.

We are permitted, by such progress in the art of culture, to en-
joy the floral beauties of far oft' climes. We mingle them with
our own, thereby adding new attractions and stronger bonds of
union to our homes in our extended acquaintance with those silent
monitors, that teach us love and good will to all. In this respect
we are most fortunate, and have abundant reason to be thankful
for the varied bounties which we enjoy.

1-72

Let us, then, avail ourselves of this happy position, so as to reap
its fullest fruition. With a climate and soil unsurpassed; with
nature's choicest gifts around us in lavish profusion, we shall prove
recreant to the high trust reposed in us if we neglect to cultivate a
taste for the beautiful, and to surround our homes with these
varied gifts of love and affection.

Man's grosser appetite is his taste for food, but his higher per-
ception is the taste of the eye. If this was not so, why is the grain
clothed in such symmetrical foilage, and why make its obesiance
to the laughing zephyrs that kiss its leaflets?

First comes beauty, before the plant produced food, and it first
feasts the eye before the crude elements of nutrition are elaborated
by the summer's sun to minister to the wants of the corporeal
man.

The apple tree is sheeted with a canopy of g-orgeous hue before
the germ gives promise of fruit, and the fruit itself is covered with
pencilings outvieing the painter's brush, before its saccharine
fluids and rich aroma can please the taste.

Does it not follow that the food of the eye is as essential to our
full development as the food of the body, and should we not bestow
upon it the same attention in the supply of essential elements of
progress as we do to the outer man.

CONCLUSION.

No long drawn arguments are required to convince us that the
goal of perfection is yet reached, in any department of husbandry,
but on the contrary we have just commenced climbing the first
rounds of the ambitious ladder of improvement, and are here to-day
to examine how far up we have reached — to note and compare our
new acquisitions, and to rub the dust that has accumulated from
the old. "We are now to cast up the ledger to count the gains of
the past, and to prepare to make new entries of success that shall
give us another happy meeting when the russet hues of autumn
shall again mark another figure on the roll of time.

We have a task before us, but it is one of pleasure. The forms
of beauty and of use are around us, while sweet-tempered plenty
showers down her blessings to drive want from the door.

Deeper furrows give us larger gains, and the treasures that lie
hid in solid wealth, are not fully reached. Here and there the lid
has been knocked from the coffer, and a few scattering coins have
been gathered ; but its countless wealth lies in the marly clay that
forms its matrix. In the grain fields you may reach it with the
truck or subsoil plow, while in your yards and gardens this wealth
of ore is only reached by the spade, by which its subtle deposits
are soon prepared to shower forth an avalanche of beauty, which
you may fashion into use at your leisure.

The prairies are mapped out in magnificent beauty, and it is
now for you to fit them up for the abodes of your happy families.
If you do not make them bud and blossom amid sylvan retreats,

173

around which your household will love to cluster, you will be un-
worthy your Saxon origin, and should be compelled to do penance
'in the bound regions of the further north.

STEPHENSON COUNTY.

Officers for 1857:

President — Jas. S. Taggart.

Vice-Presidents — J. C. Allen, Samuel Turner, Joseph Pennel.

Secretary — ¥m. C. Gray.

Treasurer — E. Ordway.

Corresponding Secretary — Jas. Stansberry.

We have no report of the Fair of Stephenson county, for 1857.
The following is the statement of the Treasurer of the County Ag-
ricultural Society, for that year :

Balance in the treasury last year $139 22

Received of State Treasurer 100 00

Received of D. H. Sunderland, Secretary 1,151 54

$1,390 76

Paid out for premiums, 1856 $112 25

for rent of fair grounds, 1856 10 00

for lumber and posts 164 20

for painting 47 50

for premiums, 1857 565 25

all other expenses for the year 161 44

1,087 64

Leaving a balance in the treasury of $303 12

December 26, 1857. E. ORDWAY, Treasurer.

TAZEWELL COUNTY.

The Tazewell County Fair took place immediately preceding
the Peoria Fair. The attendance and entries were undoubtedly
affected by the anticipated State Fair. The County Fair, however,
went off very pleasantly, and we think ourselves in better condi-
tion than ever before for carrying out the designs of the Society.

LLOYD SHAW, Vice-President.

171
UNION COUNTY.

Officers for 1857 :

President — John C. Ilunsacker.
Vice-Presidents — Benj. Vancil, Moses Goodman.
Treasurer — C. II. Flaugh.
Recording Secretary — L. II. Ferguson.
Oorrespondmg Secretary — S. S. Condon.

The Union County Agricultural and Mechanical Society was
formed in the year 1856, and held its first annual fair at Jonesboro,
on the 2-ith and 25th days of September, of that year. The
grounds selected for the exhibition were most beautifully orna-
mented with forest trees and well supplied with an abundance of
pure water, from a spring immediately at the grounds. The
grounds were inclosed by a good board fence, well supplied with
sheds, tables, stalls, etc., &c, and tastefully arranged, throughout,
with reference both to comfort and display. The exhibition was
creditable to any section of country, but considering that it
was "way down in Egypt," and the first formed "hereabout," it
was decidedly a triumph for the friends of agriculture. It was at-
tended by at least four thousand persons, all of whom seemed
highly pleased. A full description of the last year's proceedings
has already been furnished for the " Transactions." I will just
remark, that the Society has gone on prosperously since its forma-
tion. Its second annual fair, held at the fair grounds, in Jonesboro,
was also well attended, not only by our^own tanners and citizens,
but numbers from the surrounding counties were in attendance,
and were active (and often successful) competitors for the premi-
ums offered.

The exhibition was meagre in the extreme, this year, as far as
relates to cattle, sheep and hogs — respectable, so far as horses were
concerned ; but never was a finer, a grander or more lavish display
of agricultural products offered to the inspection of the public than
were seen at our last annual exhibition. The attendance was large
and orderly, and from a convenient platform, erected under the
friendly shade of a large Uriod&ndron tul'/jtifera, in the centre of
the grounds, our townsman, Col. Dougherty, on the first day, dis-
coursed most eloquently on the advantages and value of skillful
and scientific husbandry; whilst on the second day the vast audi-
ence were entertained by the eloquent Mr. Crawford, of Benton,
and our young but learned friend, Wesley Davidson, of our own
county. During the intervals of the speaking, throughout both
days, the Jonesboro Saxe-horn Band, fourteen in number, and all
in uniform, enlivened the scene and vast crowd with their spirit-
stirring strains ; but perhaps the best feature of the fair was the
" temple of art," which was filled to overflowing with handsome
and well executed oil paintings, water-colored sketches, crayons,

175

monochronis, Grecian paintings and artificial and natural flowers,
1jie productions of our own gifted native artists.

After the premiums were awarded, on the second day, the citi-
zens and strangers left the grounds, highly pleased, many of them
determined, in their own minds, to lend their aid, at the next fair,
in good earnest.

S. S. CONDON, Rec. Sec'y.

YEKMILION COUNTY.

The Yermilion county Agricultural Society was organized May
11th, 1852. Its first annual fair was held at Danville, October
13th ; there was but little stock on exhibition, and but few people
in attendance. There were eighteen entries of horses, six of jacks
and mules, fifteen of cattle, and forty entries of miscellaneous arti-
cles. Total number of entries, seventy-nine. Total amount of
premiums paid $12 85.

The Society met May 26, 1853, and elected officers for the en-
suing year. The executive committee met June 25th, and ap-
pointed judges for the ensuing fair.

There being no record kept of the proceedings of the Society
from the 26th of May, 1853, until June 7th, 1856, it will be im-
possible for me to give an account of the receipts and expenditures
or number of entries.

The second annual fair was held at Danville, October, 1853.
There was, perhaps, double the amount of stock, etc., on exhibi-
tion that there was at the first fair and of a superior quality.

The third annual fair was held at Catlin, October, 1854. There
was quite an improvement in quantity and quality of stock, etc.

The fourth annual fair was held at Catlin, October 15th and
16th, 1855. The quantity of stock and miscellaneous articles on
exhibition was much larger than at any previous fair. Some very
superior thorough bred horses and cattle, and fine wooled sheep
were on exhibition at this fair.

According to a call of members of the Yermilion county Agri-
cultural Society, a meeting was holden in Danville, on Saturday,
September 13th, 1856, for the purpose of taking necessary steps to
become incorporated according to an act of the legislature.

A constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the following of-
ficers elected : John Garrard, President ; John Allen, Yice-Pre-
sident ; Jacob H. Oakwood, Secretary ; Josiah Sandusky, Treas-
urer ; John Busby, A. M. G. Hawes, Alex. Church, Martin Moudy,
Thos. McKibbon, Directors.

Eight acres of ground was subsequently leased at Catlin, for the
term of fifteen years; and inclosed with a substantial board fence,
at a cost of eight hundred dollars.

176

The fifth annual fair was held at Catlin, on the 15th, 16th and
17th days of October, 1856.

Number of horses on exhibition 125

" cattle " 100

" other articles " 125

Total number of entries 350

Amount of premiums paid $352 50

Number of diplomas awarded 22

The annual meeting of the Society was held at Catlin, June 6,
1857, and the following officers were elected, viz : John Garrard,
President ; Thos. McKibbon, Vice President ; Jacob H. Oakwood,
Secretary ; John A. Church, Treasurer ; Martin Moudy, Josiah
Smith, Francis Gains, H. H. Catlett, C. L. Pate, Directors ; D. B.
Stockton, Marshal.

The sixth annual fair was held on the fair grounds at Catlin,
October 7th, 8th and 9th, 1857. This fair was far superior to any
ever held in the county, and perhaps excelled but by few in the
State. The exhibition of thorough bred horses was very fine —
— there being ten stallions of this class entered ; and it was the
unanimous opinion of those who had visited the State Fair at
Peoria, that they were equal to those exhibited there. The
thorough bred cattle were also very fine and quite considerable in
numbers, much inferior, however, to those exhibited at the State
Fair. The show of hogs and sheep was very fine, also of wagons,
carriages, buggies, plows, harrows, corn crushers, corn shellers,
pumps, etc., etc.. In fact, every department seemed to be fully
represented.

Total receipts of this fair $920

Amount paid for premiums 810

Number of horses entered 185

" cattle " 90

" sheep " .,..- 17

" hogs " 13

" other articles entered 296

Total number of entries ,.. 601

The experience of the past has taught us that three days are
not sufficient time to transact all the business of our fairs as it
should be done, and we have determined to continue our fairs at
least four days. The Society intends erecting convenient build-
ings on the fair grounds, and stalls, etc., for the accommodation of
stock and other property. Our Society is now in a healthy and
prosperous condition, and its recent fair has won the applause of
all, even of those who sneered at its feeble efforts in the beginning.
All seem determined to excel and to make Yermilion county fair
one of the best in the State.

Sorghum — There has been many exi3eriments tried, the present
season, with the Chinese Sugar Cane, all of which have been emi-

177

nently successful, and prove beyond a doubt that this plant can be
grown as easily as Indian corn, and indeed it seems to be of more
luxuriant growth. The syrup made from the Sorghum is fully
equal, if not superior, to southern cane syrup, and yields about one
hundred and fifty gallons per acre — five gallons of juice being suf-
ficient to make one gallon of syrup,

JACMB H. 0AKW00D, Secretary.

WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

Officers for 1857:

President — Hampton P. Sloan.
Vice President — A. J. Enoch.
/Secretary — Newton Crawford.
Treasurer— Hiram K. Enoch.

Directors — Samuel Cunningham, ¥m. C. Grant, Richard Jack-
son, Ephraim Summer, Joel S. Sherman.

The Agricultural Society of this county held its fourth annual
fair on the 13th, 11th and 15th days of October, 1857, on grounds
recently bought by the Society, and within the limits of the city of
Rockford. The entries of horses were uncommonly large and
many very fine. Number of entries 178. Of jacks and mules we
have comparatively few in the county, but some very fine speci-
mens. Number of entries 7. The cattle department was not as
well filled as it ought to have been ; but the specimens shown
were of the finest kind. Entries — Durhams, 26 ; Devons, 10 ;
Hereford, 1 ; natives and crosses, 26 ; work oxen, 9 pairs ; fat
cattle, 3. In sheep, the representation was small, compared with
the numbers in the county — only 16 entries, composed of South-
down, French and Spanish. In swine, the county is decidedly
less hoggish than formerly — only 5 entries, mostly Suffolk. Of
poultry, the show was small, consisting of three varieties of Shang-
hais, Dorkings, etc., 8 entries.

In farm implements, the show was large for a county fair, com-
prising almost all the implements wanted by the farmer, from a
reaper to a hoe. There were 57 entries for premiums and nearly
as many more on exhibition.

The show in grain and vegetables was also good — 97 entries
made. Specimens of oats shown that on 15 acres 23 rods was
produced 1,505 22-32 bushels, and weighing 13£ lbs. to the bushel
by measure.

The dairy was very well represented by 22 entries of the very
best packages of butter and cheese.

Some very fine specimens of syrup from the Chinese Sugar Cane
were exhibited.

—23

178

The fruit department was well filled, showing that time is sup-
porting and maturing the efforts of orchardists in this very valua-
ble division of agriculture. The entries embraced a great variety
of apples, pears, grapes and plums, but the peaches were not present
— 21 entries.

The ladies' department, occupied by fancy needlework and em-
broidery, was well filled, and as ever showed their readiness to
make a county fair a pleasant, agreeable and desirable place.

The receipts of the fair, including membership fees, was over
$2,500. The cash premiums awarded, $376 75, besides books
and diplomas.

NEWTON CRAWFORD, Secretary.

REPORTS OF COUNTY SOCIETIES FOR 1858.

ADAMS COUNTY.

Officers for 1859:

President — Samuel Jameson.

Vice-Presidents — Joseph Turner, Elliot Combs, Edmund Hig*
bee.

Managing Committee — M. T. Greenleaf, H. S. Osborn, J. W.
Barnum, Edmund "Wheeler, J. C. Bernard.

Recording and Corresponding Secretary — H. D. Woodruff.

Treasurer — Charles A. Savage.

Town Committees — Beverly — Seth Grammar, ¥m. Cutter.

Burton — S. S. Macham, Vm. Richards.

Camp Point — P. P. Garrett, Thomas Bailey.

Clayton — S. J. Morer, ¥m. Montgomery.

Columbus — Asbnry Elliott, George Johnson.

Concord — Edward Sharpe, J. W. Anderson.

Ellington — K. K. Jones, Samuel Turner.

Fall Creek — Thomas Crocker, Eli Seehorn.

Gilmer — Paris F. Judy, William Geargan.

Honey Creek — Edward Simms, John Leggett.

Houston — David Strickler, Horace Reynolds.

Keene — Baptist Hardy, G. D. Riddle.

Liberty — P. B. Grover, Wm. Meacham.

Lima — John A. Gallamore, Thomas Killam.

McKee— Geo. Cutforth, R. P. Smith.

Melrose — J. Y. Hanks, Nathaniel Pease.

Mendon— John Chittenden, Eli Banks.

North-East — William Ketchum, William Burke.

Payson — I. H. Miller, L. Faxon.

Quincy — A. Buddee, R. Sartle.

Richfield — David Lock, Jesse Evans.

Ursa — William Leachman, James Nichols.

The fifth annual fair of the Adams County Agricultural and Me-
chanical Association took place on Wednesday, Thursday and

180

Friday, September 29th, 30th and October 1st, 1858, on their fair
grounds. The display of Horses was in number less than last
year, while a very decided improvement, particularly in young
stock, was manifest. Among the finest were the celebrated and
splendid stallions, Silver Heels and Black Hawk, both progeny of
the world-wide famed old Black Hawk, and both showing points
of great excellence. Probably no county in the State can produce
two finer stock horses than these, and their value and worth to the
farmers is already appreciated and acknowledged. It is sure that,
in a few years, no county in the State can turn out more fine horses
than old Adams.

In Cattle, the show was small, but all the animals were very
superior. Some superb Devon stock, owned by Mr. H. P. Coe,
as well as a number of splendid Durhams, made up, in a great
measure, by their superior merits, for a want of numbers. One
superb Durham cow, from Brown county, was on exhibition, and
elicited the admiration of all, and was, probably, the finest animal
of the kind ever shown in this section. The owner received from
the committee high commendation and a special premium of a sil-
ver medal.

In Sheep, the display was small but good. A special premium
was awarded to E. Combs for some splendid Cotswolds.

The show of Swine was small but good. Our farmers did not
do justice to themselves in this department, as our county has long
been noted for fine hogs.

There were fifteen coops of poultry on exhibition, including all
sorts of fancy fowls.

The display of Agricultural Implements was large and splendid.
A great improvement in this department was shown over any
other fair. The large building devoted to this class was crowded
with long rows of splendid plows, cultivators, and other useful
machines ; while outside a large space was taken up with wheat
drills, corn planters, reapers, cutting machines, etc., in profusion.
The Quincy Agricultural Works made a splendid display of their
celebrated plows of all kinds, Pennock's wheat drills, Brown's
corn planter, etc., of their own manufacture ; while from abroad
there were fine displays of plows and machines, including a lot of
plows from the Moline works, which were got up for the St. Louis
and our State Fair. This department was constantly thronged by
our farmers, examining and discussing the merits of the different
machines. Special premiums were awarded to the plows from
Moline, to Manny's self-raking reaper and to Cummings' stalk and
straw cutting machines.

The exhibition of Grain and Yegetables was not equal to last
year, nor as good as it should have been this year ; though the
season has been so unfavorable for the perfection desirable for a
fine display. The samples shown were good, and we urge our
farmers and gardeners to pay more attention to this useful and
attractive branch of our fairs.

181

In Dairy and Farm Products, the show of butter was not so
large as last year, but was all of superior quality. The show of
bread, honey, fruits, &c., was fair only.

The display of Orchard and Garden Products was good, in con-
sideration of the season. A light show of apples was anticipated,
as the crop is much injured, and is light in all parts of the county ;
but the display was better than could have been expected. Some
splendid fruit — apples, pears and peaches — were shown, and sus-
tained the reputation of our county in this most important and
valuable branch of the farming interest.

Flowers and Shrubs were in fair numbers, but not as good as we
hope to see next year.

In Household and Textile Fabrics the display was good, and
fully proved that the hands of our county ladies have not been
idle through the year.

The Fine Arts department was not as well represented in num-
bers as last year; but improvement in true art and taste was man-
ifest. All entries were of home production, and nearly every one
of superior merit.

The display of Ladies' Fancy and Ornamental "Work was large
and excellent. Great credit is due to the ladies for their fine ad-
ditions to the beauties and attractions of the fair ; and if all other
classes would show as much interest, and keep up their own de-
partments as well as the ladies do in theirs, our fairs would show
great advance and improvement.

The Mechanical Department was well filled, in consideration
that this is the first time they have been represented as part of the
association ; and the works of our mechanics stand on the same
footing as the productions of our farmers. Yet it could have been
made much finer if proper exertion had been made by the me-
chanics to show what they could do. That next year a great im-
provement in this way will be made, there can be no doubt. To
notice some of the prominent articles in this class, as classified in
the premium list, we mention :

In Engines and Machinery — Two beautifully finished steam
engines, complete ; ornamental fountain ; smut machines ; grain
separators ; Hayes' hub-boring and morticing machines ; planers ;
machine for working irregular forms of wood ; water rams, &c,
&c, all of beautiful finish, and all celebrated and valuable ma-
chines.

In Stoves and Castings — -The display from Comstock & Co.
was large and of superior finish and merit.

The exhibition of Yehicles was, of itself, worth the admittance
to see. The display of fine carriages, buggies, sulkies and farm
wagons, from the celebrated establishment of Messrs. Hayes,
"Woodruff & Co., was the best ever seen at any fair, and our city
and county can safely challenge the State for a display equal to it.

The show of Cabinet Ware was small, but good. Some splen-
did pieces of work were exhibited, elaborately carved and ele-

182

gantly finished, which cannot be beat by mechanics in any other

Our coopers and carpenters made a display of their wares, all
of which was excellent, and some of superior and elegant work-

m Our harness-makers, shoe-makers and glovers made a fine dis-
play Some elegant harness and saddles were exhibited, and our
people have no need to go abroad, to own as good an article in
this line as can be procured anywhere in the country.

Book-binders', hatters' and upholsterers' work was shown, and
all fine. Splendid specimens of book-binding were exhibited by
Geio-er, Gardner & White, who have for years taken the premi-
ums at our State Fairs, and who stand at the head of their profes-

81°There was a fine display of marble work, and several barrels of
superior fiour. A splendid rifle, of Quincy manufacture, deserv-
edly received a silver medal.

In the Miscellaneous Department, there were a number of use-
ful and beautiful articles— some specimens of lard oil and stearin ;
splendid sign painting ; two dynamometers of new and beautiful
construction, made by W. Battell, to whom was awarded a sil-
ver medal ; piano-fortes ; water filters ; beautiful pictures m moss
and vegetable matter entirely— which attracted great attention and
called forth constant exclamations of surprise and admiration. A
special premium was offered for the best sewing machine, and,
after an examination, a silver medal was awarded to the Boudoir
machine. ,

Three premiums were offered by Loage & Barnum tor the best
work done on one of the Boudoir machines, and were awarded—
one of ten, one of five, and one of three dollars.

The Plowing Match was the first one ever held in the county,
and it attracted much attention and interest, not only from the
farmers, but from the city people ; and the ground was thronged.
The results of the match are good, and a greatly increased interest
will be felt in it next year. It has become an institution of our
fairs.

The following is the report of the committees at the plowing
match and trial of plows :

PLOWING MATCH.

The Awarding Committee in the Plowing Match for old ground plows would report ten
entries made for two-horse teams; all very fine plowing for superior tilth and depth Y\ e
award the first premium to K. K. Jones, plowed in thirty-five minutes— silver medal; tne
second to W. W. Beam, plowed in twenty-six minutes— $5.

The awards in the plowing match for boys sixteen years of age and under, first premium
to P. G. Beam — bronze medal; second premium to Eells — $2.

One eetry with one yoke of oxen, plowing done, in a workmanlike manner, by Francis
Hubbard, plowed in thirty-four minutes, first premium— silver medal.

TRIAL OF SOD PLOWS.

The Awarding Committee appointed to decide upon the merits of two-horse sod plows,
would report that only two were entered— one a 12-inch cut, by L. & C H. Bull, manutac-

183

tured by John Deere, of Moline; the other a 14- inch cut, manufactured by Battell, Wood-
ruff & Boyd, of Quincy. The committee found it a very difficult matter to determine, a3
both plows performed in a fine, workmanlike manner. Upon applying the dynamometer,
the plow made by Battell, Woodruff & Boyd proved to be the least draught, and we there-
fore award the premium to Battell, Woodruff & Boyd — silver medal. The draught of the
plows, as indicated by the dym mometer, was — for J. Deere's 12-inch plow, 400; Battell,
Woodruff & Boyd's 14-inch plow, 325.

On Friday, the last day of the fair, at ten o'clock, an address
was delivered before the Association by Rev. Mr. Billings, which
was listened to with unflagging interest by all who could get
within sound of his voice.

The fair was well attended, though not as many were on the
ground at any one time as last year. The receipts from the fair
were some four hundred dollars less than last year ; which, consid-
ering the hard times and scarcity of money, together with poor
crops, may readily be accounted for.

We consider the Annual Fair of our Association as an estab-
lished institution in our county ; and all that is necessary to make
them successful and attractive, as well as useful, is for all our farm-
ers and mechanics to take an active personal part, and have an
interest in them ; and we know that Adams county can, every
year, make an exhibition of our farm products and mechanical
labor that will be equal to, if not excel, any other county in the
State.

Our premium list offered for this year was fifteen hundred dol-
lars.

The receipts and expenditures were as follows :

RECEIPTS.

Received State Appropriation $ 100 00

Received for advertisements in premium list 358 00

Received at Fair 1,756 89

$2,214 89

EXPENDITURES.

Paid for Printing, Medals, Cash Premiums, Expenses of Fair, Lumber, Cistern,

Water Works, Salaries, &c $2,189 05

Balance on hand to new account $25 84

All of which is respectfully submitted.

H. D. WOODRUFF,
Secretary Adams Gvunty Agricultural and Mechanical Association.

184:

BROWN COUNTY

Officers for 1858 :

President— B. F. De "Witt.

Vice Presidents — 0. P. Gentry, Isham Scoggan and John
Maltby.

Recording Secretary — Geo. T. Purkett.
Corresponding Secretary — A. A. Glenn.
Treasurer — Wm. L. Taylor.

The third annual fair of the Brown County Agricultural Society
was held at Mt. Sterling, on Thursday and Friday, the 7th and 8th
days of October, and was well attended. The interest manifested
by the citizens of our county was very deep. The exhibition of
was articles fine, though in some things, particularly in fruits, grain
and vegetables, was not so good as in either of the preceding
years, owing to the partial failure of crops, affecting every thing
in that line. The exhibition of cattle was fine, and of horses and
mules, good. Our Society is in its infancy, not having been organ-
ized quite three years, and yet the effect of it upon the farming
community is already quite perceptible. Nearly all our citizens
feel a lively interest in encouraging the Society and of building up
the agricultural interest in our country as the great interest in
which all are directly concerned. The exhibition; of farming and
mechanical implements was good, though but a few of these manu-
factured in our own county were on exhibition.

Owing to the fact that the reports of the awarding committees
were not made in writing, the Corresponding Secretary can only
give the general features of our fair, without descending to partic-
ulars. We hope and expect, in 1859, to do better, and to have
such an exhibition as will get up a still greater interest in the cause,

A. A. GLENN, Cor. See.

BOONE COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — Allen C. Fuller.
Vice-President — John B. Tenber.
Secretary and Treasurer — Geo. T. Woods.

The fair of Boone county was held at Belvidere on the 6th, 7th
and 8th of October. On Wednesday, the opening day, the weather
was stormy, and little was done. Thursday opened clear and cold,
and that day may be considered the first one of the fair. The
grounds consist of eight acres of level land, inclosed by a light
board fence, eight feet high. Within the inclosure is a large
building, 50 by 80 feet, with a good painted roof, made of matched

185

boards, which, during the heavy rain and wind of Wednesday,
leaked but little. There is a good area, surrounded by a low, stout
railing, within which is the stand for music, judges, &c. The
pens for the stock are arranged on the east and north sides of the
grounds.

The amount of stock exhibited was greater than last year. A
large number of fine stallions were on the ground. There were
fine specimens of Durham and Devon stock ; sheep and hogs ;
barn yard fowls ; machinery ; agricultural implements ; wagons
and carriages. In "Floral Hall" there was a fine exhibition of
painting, domestic articles, vegetables, productions of the dairy,
butcher's meat, Hungarian grass seed, honey, Chinese cane and
syrup, sewing machines, &c, &c.

On Thursday afternoon, Judge Doolittle delivered the annual
address. It was plain and practical, and embodied a vast amount
of good sense. The " Chicago Guards" came on the grounds on
Thursday afternoon, where they met the " Boone Rifles" and Bel-
videre Band, furnishing a handsome military display. The " fire
department" of Boone ville, with their engine, added to the interest
of the occasion. On the same evening there was a fine exhibition
of fire works.

There was some fine and graceful riding, by young ladies, on
Friday afternoon.

ENTRIES.

The total number of entries for the late fair was 1,180. Of these
529 were in the stock department ; in the domestic department,
651. The total number of entries last year was 600, so it will be
seen that we have nearly doubled the efforts of last year. Since
the organization the rate of increase has been as follows :

In 1855 429

In 1856.. 500

In 1857 600

In 1858 1,180

This list of entries shows the progress of the Society. The last
fair they nearly double those of the fair preceding. Boone county
is rapidly advancing in her appreciation of fine stock, fine farming
and the advantages resulting from successful annual fairs.

GEO. T. WOODS, Secretary.

—24

180
BUREAU COUNTY.

Officers for 1859 :

President — Harry C. Field, Princeton.

Vice-Presidents — Winslow R. Bruce, Lamoille ; James ]\L Dex-
ter, Providence ; Ira P. Evans, Buda.

Recording Secretary — Stephen G. Paddock, Princeton,

Corresponding Secretary — E. S. Phelps, Jr., Wyanet.

Treasurer — R. T. Templeton, Princeton.

Directors — Win. Trimble, Jas, B. Crosby, Aqnilla Triplett, L.
D. Whiting, Thos. Tustin.

The Agricultural Society of Bureau county was organized July
7, 1855, at which time the following officers were elected:

R. J. Woodruff, President ; W. R. Bruce, Yice-President ; Ste-
phen G. Paddock, Secretary ; R. T. Templeton, Treasurer ; H. EL
Terry, Verry Aldrich, A. Cook, Thos. Grattridge, Fred. Moseley,
Directors.

October 2d and 3d, 1856, the fair was held at Princeton, and
the same officers were re-elected for the coming year.

The fair was not well attended, having been gotten up by a few
of the officers and others, many expecting an entire failure, some
of the officers and members being absent. There was received at

this fair $34« 50

Expended for premiums 310 36

Balance on hand $36 14

September 30th, October 1st and 2d, 1857, the Society had
leased five acres of land and held their fair. Much better exhibition
of stock, implements, &c, than last year. Weather fine, and the
people taking more interest than on the last.

Balance on hand, after paying for improvements of ground,
premiums, &c, $459 65.

At the time of the fair, the Society not having time for the elec-
tion of officers, the meeting adjourned to March 25, 1858 ; when,
J. Y. Thompson was elected President ; H. C. Fields, Vice-Presi-
dent ; S. G. Paddock, Secretary ; R. T. Templeton, Treasurer ;
W. R. Bruce, John Prouty, J. T. Thompson, S. M. Clark, E. S.
Phelps, Jr., Directors ; and a Committee to prepare a constitution
and present it at the next meeting.

Fair for 1858. — The fair was appointed for September 29, 30
and October 1. The first day of the fair being rainy, the Society
held over the fair on October 2. The entries, owing to the rain,
were much less than were expected. Not one-half the articles for
which premiums were offered were on exhibition.

Receipts _ $996 05

For premiums, fixing ground, &c .\ ... 1,137 16

187

As on last year, not having time at the fair, which was the an-
nual meeting adjourned to February 10, 1859.

A general committee of twenty- five were appointed, who are
charged with the interests of the Society in the towns in which
they shall respectively reside, and will constitute a medium of com-
munication between the Executive Committee and the remote
members of the Society.

We have recommended the organization of Farmer's Clubs in
each town, for the discussion of subjects, and the general know-
ledge and improvement of the science of agriculture.

We have also made out a list for premiums for the fair of 1859.
Our motto is " Onward," and I trust that ere long you will hear of
a society second to no one in this state.

Owing to many difficulties that have been in the way, I have
been enabled to make but a meagre report of this Society, but
hope that hereafter this Society, which has never been mentioned
in the report, will be one to which the farmers of Illinois, as well
as of this county, will look to as a model society.

I believe the science of agriculture is but in its infancy, and that
many things now scarcely noticed will become, by light and know-
ledge, the leading features at our fairs.

One alteration, I believe, will be made ; that is, large premiums
will be offered to those who shall produce the best fruits and vege-
tables, instead of horses, cattle, hogs, &c. The people will look
upon these, with the grains, as being the leading features of agri-
culture. We shall then see these articles brought nearer to per-
fection. Such vegetables as are now raised by the mass of the
people will be considered as worthless trash. What Society will
take the lead in these things ?

I will try, another year, if it falls to my lot, to make a more per-
fect report,

E. 8. PHELPS, Jr., Cor. Sec,

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — A. G. Carle.
Vice President — John B. Thomas.
Secretary — T. K. Webber.
Treasurer — J. W. Jaquittu

The fair of this county was held on the new fair grounds of the
Society, on the 21st, 22d and 23d days of September, 1858. The
fair was a fine one, and the disposition to sustain the county
Agricultural Society and extend its usefulness is manifest. ■ We
notice that some of the stock which carried off the first premiums
at the State Fair were here on exhibition, and again were decora-

188

ted with the "bine ribbons." Champaign comity contains a valu-
able class of farmers who are making that county one of the most
productive in crops and famed in the State for stock. Entries
were made and premiums awarded for horses (stallions, mares,
draft horses, carriage horses and others ;) cattle of Durham stock,
fat cattle and working cattle ; hogs, sheep, jacks and mules, poul-
try, agricultural implements, products of the dairy, the kitchen,
the garden and the farm ; products of the needle, household man-
ufactures, etc., etc. The destiny of the Champaign Agricultural
Society is now onward. The Society has the support of men who
realize the importance of improvement in every department of ag-
riculture.

T. It. WEBBER, Secretary.

CLINTON COUNTY.

Officers for 1858:

President — O. B. Nichols.

Vice Presidents — Smythe Moore, "William Blackman, J. J.
Justice.

Cor. Secretary — B. Taylor.
Pee. Secretary — M. E. Richards.
Treasurer — David Pardee.

A synopsis of the proceedings and business of the Clinton county
Agricultural and Mechanical Society is herewith submitted :

We commenced upon a small scale, and have continued small,
altho' we are on the increase in numbers as in business. We
have had to labor under many difficulties, and still yet have some
to surmount ; yet we feel encouraged to continue the work begun.
As yet we have not been able to procure a suitable site for a per-
manent fair ground, but are in hopes soon to accomplish that
object.

We organized our Society on the 16th day of June, 1856, by
electing O. B. Nichols, President ; Reuben Rutherford Wm. Black-
man and Joseph W. Huey, Yice Presidents; Benjamin Taylor,
Corresponding, and Moses E. Richards, Recording Secretary.

General Committee of supervision and solicitation — D. C. Collins,
Carlyle ; H. C. Gilmore, Centralia ; George W. Brook, East Fork;
A. J. Carlin, Keysport ; Benjamin Taylor, Jamestown ; T. L. P.
Neal, Shoal Creek ; T. S. Rumsey, Aveston ; A. K. Yandearen,
Dayton ; C. H. Guthries, Hanover, and James J. Justice, Pleas-
ant Ridge; and on the 15th, 16th and 17th days of October, 1856,
held our first fair, when there was the sum of $221 50 of pre-
miums offered.

Our first annual election of officers was held on the 3d Saturday
in December, 1856, when all the officers elected at our organiza-

189

tion were re-elected to serve for the year 1857. Under the super-
vision of the same officers our second annual fair was held on the
7th, 8th and 9th of October, 1857, when the sum of $451 50 was
offered in premiums, and the sum of $331 was awarded and paid.
Our second annual election of officers was held on the 3d Satur-
day in December, 1857, to serve for the year 1858 ; when the offi-
cers were elected,to-wit : Smythe Moore, President; D. C. Collins,
James J. Justice and David Pardee, Yice Presidents ; O. B.
Nichols, Corresponding Secretary, and James "Wightman, Record-
ing Secretary ; A. R. Yandearen, Dayton ; John Stephens, Tren-
ton ; T. L. P. Neal, Aviston ; Franz Albers, Hanover ; Posey
Maddux, Pleasant Ridge; W. H. Maddux, Carlyle; Covington
Allen, Collin's Station; W. P. Casey, Jamestown; G. W. En-
treken, Shoal Creek ; Alfred Tucker, East Fork ; Thomas Keyes,
Key sport, and Win. B. Johnson, Crooked Creek, General Com-
mittee ; and under the supervision of these officers the third an-
nual fair was held on the 13th, 14th and 15th of October, 1858,
when there was offered in premiums, $432 ; and the premiums
awarded and paid were, $352 50.

SYNOPSIS.

In 1856, Amount of receipts $472 87

" Expenses and premiums paid 472 S7

In 1857, Amount of receipts $285 00

" Expenses and premiums paid 285 00

In 1858, Amount of receipts $431 19

" Expenses and premiums paid 431 19

To which we might say that there are sundry amounts yet due the
Society from those who have subscribed for life membership, to-wit:
amounting to $50.

In the year 1856 there was 166 articles entered for exhibition.
a 1857 « 269 " " "

" « 1858 " 541 " « "

0. B. NICHOLS, Secretary.

CLAY COUNTY.

The Society for this county was organized February 7th, 1857,
at this place ; and the following persons were elected as officers
for the year 1857 : Major John Onstott, President ; Jackson Bar-
ker, Thompson Bothwell, Francis Apperson, Yice Presidents ; B.
B. Thomas, Recording Secretary; J. W. Wescott, Corresponding
Secretary ; Joseph Bates, Treasurer. A general committee of one
member for each precinct in the county was appointed ; which
committee was instructed to attend to the interests of the Society
throughout the county.

190

The first annual fair was held at Xenia, October 15th and 16th,
1857.

The Society paid 16 premiums on Horses, amounting to - $55 60

12 " Mules, " 43 00

16 Cattle, " 58 50

" 0 « Hogs, " 20 00

«* 4 « Poultry, * *. 3 00

" 24 " Grain and Fruit, M 32 50

" 5 '• Agricultural tools, " 17 00

" 81 *• Ladies' departni't, u ...... ........ 76 50

Total amount of premiums paid, 1857 ~ $305 00

The members of the Society met December 25th, 1857, at Xenia,
for the purpose of electing officers for the year 1858. Whereupon
Major John Onstott was re-elected President; K. K. Farris,
Thompson Bothwell and Jackson Barker, Yice Presidents ; Isaac
Hoskinson, Treasurer ; Wm. Elston, Recording Secretary ; B. B.
Thomas, Corresponding Secretary.

The Society met 8th March, 1858, to decide by ballot where the
fair grounds should be permanently located ; and Xenia receiving
the majority of votes, was declared to be that place. Since which
time the officers raised by subscription the amount necessary, and
fenced the fair ground in good style, and have a well and other con-
veniences inside the grounds.

The Society met at the fair grounds, October 12th, 13th and
14th, and held their second annual fair. 23 premiums were paid
on horses ; on cattle, 15 ; hogs, 7 ; sheep, 2 ; poultry, 4 ; grain,,
etc., 13 ; farming utensils, 6 ; ladies' department, 57. Total
amoimt paid in premiums this year $154.

Previous to their exhibition the members listened to an agricul-
tural address from the Hon, 8. L. Bryan, of Salem, Illinois, which
was both instructive and interesting. Were it possible, the Society
would be pleased to see it published in connection with this report;
but it was delivered extemporaneously by the honorable gentle-
man, during an hour stolen from his extensive professional busi-
ness. Consequently the Society is without a manuscript copy of
the speech. The Society is in a flourishing condition, and we flat-
ter ourselves with confidence, that the third annual fair of the
Clay County Agricultural Society will be worthy of our county.

B. B. THOMAS, Secretary.

CRAWFORD COUNTY.

The fair in this county took place in Robinson, in the last week
of October. The exhibition of articles was much superior to that
of the previous fair ; and the receipts were about double. These

191

facts are greatly encouraging to the Society, The people seem to
be coming up more generally than before to its assistance. The
exhibition of fine stock, fruits, the products of the farm, etc., are
stimulating our citizens to improve in all these branches of agricul-
ture. The soils and other advantages of Crawford, if improved by
our citizens, will make this one of the best agricultural counties in
southern Illinois.

At the close of the fair, John Scofield, Esq., delivered a very ac-
ceptable address. He impressed upon his hearers the necessity of
improvement in agriculture and in education — which would speedily
result in giving Crawford county a high stand as one of the leading
progressive counties of the State.

SAMUEL PAEK, President.
C. H. FITCH, Secretary.

CHRISTIAN COUNTY.

The Christian County Agricultural Society was organized on the
21st day of July, 1856, by adopting a constitution similar in form
to the one recommended by the State Society, and electing the
following officers, to-wit : President, George Housely ; Yice Presi-
dents, Griffith Evans, H. O. Farrel and A. D. Eorth'cutt j Record-
ing Secretary, D. D. Shumway ; Corresponding Secretary, John
D. Brown ; Treasurer, J. H. Clark. The first fair was held on
the fair grounds immediately south of town, on the 21st, 22d and
23d days of October, 1856. The fair was considered good for the
first one, and gave general satisfaction, I believe. The Society
own fifteen acres of ground adjoining the town of Taylorville ; we
have it partially fenced. It is a beautiful place to hold our county
fairs. There is shade and abundance of spring water on the premi-
ses. The Society purchased the ground of A. Sattley, Esq., at
fifty dollars per acre, making the sum of $750; but Mr. Sattley,
being a great friend to the agricultural interests of the county,
generously gave the Society $2l)0 out of the above amount.

The second meeting of the Society, for the election of officers,
was held at Taylorville, on the 3d day of December, 1856, which
resulted in the election of the following officers, to-wit : President,
Jacob Maxwell ; Yice Presidents, A. D. Northcutt, V. T. Priest
and James H. Hill ; Recording Secretary, W. A. Goodrich ; Cor-
responding Secretary, A. Sattley, and J. H. Clark re-elected Treas-
urer. The second 'fair was held on the fair grounds, on the 21st,
22d and 23d days of October, 1857. There was an increase of
stock and interest at this fair. On the last day of the fair, D. D.
Shumway, Esq., delivered an address, which was listened to with
interest by a large portion of the farmers of Christian. Amount of
premiums, $119.

The third meeting of the Society was held on the 2d day of
December, 1857, for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing
year, to-wit : President, A. Sattley ; Yice Presidents, F. Wall-
house, John B. Ricks and John S. Fraley; Recording Secretary,
W. A. Goodrich; Corresponding Secretary, D. D. Shumway;
Treasurer, Y. T. Priest.

The third fair was held on the 22d, 23d and 24th days of Sep-
tember, 1858, on the fair grounds. The fair was one of interest,
and there was a large increase in the number and quality of
Horses, Mules and Cattle. Doctor Hinckley delivered the annual
address, which was appropriate and correct. The amount of pre-
miums paid at this fair was about three hundred dollars. Several
persons gave their premiums to the Society, to aid them in fencing
the fair grounds. The ground is paid for and two sides of it
fenced with a board fence about eight feet high, sufficiently close
to prevent persons on the outside from seeing what is going on in-
side. The Society has received no aid only from the State — the
county has neglected to give anything to the Society, and I am
afraid the neglect will continue.

The fourth meeting, for the election of officers for the ensuing
year was held in the court house, Taylorville, December, 1858,
when the following officers were elected : John B. Ricks, Esq.,
President ; Joel Potts, Eli Porter and James H. Hill, Esqs., Yice
Presidents ; W. A. Goodrich, Esq., Recording Secretary ; S. S.
Cisna, Corresponding Secretary, and A. Simpson, Esq., Treas-
urer.

S. S. CISNA, Secretary.
ADDRESS, BY Dr. N . H. HINKLEY,

BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, ON THE 24TH SEPTEMBER, 1858.

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Society :

The short time you have given me to prepare an address to be
delivered before you, must be an apology for any deficiencies you
may perceive in what I am about to say.

Ladies and gentlemen: I am here to-day at the request of the
Christian County Agricultural Society, to deliver the address be-
fore this, its Third Annual Fair. I design making but a few prac-
tical remarks, and will leave for another occasion a more extended
and thorough address.

You have assembled here with your fine stock, farm produce,
and other articles, to compete for the premiums offered for the
best. Is this all the good you are to desire from the fair \ Is the
premium, when you have gained it, to be the end of your success ?
Let us hope not.

You have taken a little more trouble than usual to produce the
best and gain the prize. What does this tend to ? and why does
the Society thus stimulate you to produce the best ? Not merely
to say that a certain person received such and such a prize, and

193

that farmer A. had a very fine horse, or that his wife took the
prize for good butter or cheese ?

No, fellow farmers ; there is an object in these agricultural fairs
that I am afraid you do not all understand well enough — something
beyond the mere show itself. They are a branch of the farmer's
education, and should be well studied, and more generally at-
tended by farmers, their wives and children.

The societies which institute these fairs for your pleasure and
profit, offer you premiums for the best; but they do not expect
that the inducement to show one or two good animals, or some
superior articles of farm produce, or home industry, will be all the
good derived. They believe you will find the small extra atten-
tion and care you have taken to produce one fine animal, and the
increased value of that animal, when so attended to, will induce
you, without further reward, to give all your animals that extra
attention, to make them all worthy of a premium, and thus to in-
crease your own wealth, by their increased value. They wish to
stimulate you to raise none but good stock, to produce none but
good crops, and to show to your neighbors and the world, that it
costs but very little more to raise a number one article, while it
increases your own wealth more than fifty fold, in comparison with
the small extra labor and attention bestowed.

A farmer takes his best animal to an agricultural fair, and is
awarded a premium for it. "Why, bless me!" says his neighbor,
" if I hacl only paid a little extra attention to one of my animals,
I would have taken that premium." Exactly so, my friends ; that
is just what is wanted, and is one of the principal aims the agri-
cultural societies have in view. It is to induce every farmer to
raise stock and crops that will always take a premium — to have it
said that this county can produce more fine farms and stock than
any other, and that, as a consequence, the farmers are richer and
better off than their neighbors in another county. They want it
said, ladies, that Christian county makes the most and the best
butter, raises the most and the fattest poultry, and that her wives
and daughters make the best bread, keep the tidiest houses, and
are the most thrifty housewives. If it is a credit to a county to
have one man in it who raises prize stock, how much more credit
is there when that same county has one hundred such men.

The great aim and intention of agricultural fairs is, then, im-
provement. It may be a question, how can this improvement be
soonest accomplished, and in the most economical manner?
Again, your agricultural fairs assist you ; they are open books of
living letters. Here are shown all sorts of agricultural imple-
ments, tending to lessen labor, and do your work in a better man-
ner. Farmer Oldtimes comes to the fair with a statement of his
crops and a sample, and, having a good article and a fair yield,
expects to take the premium. But he is astonished when he finds
Parmer Go-ahead has a crop superior to his in quality and yield,
and produced by less labor and cost. He demands the reason ;
—25

194

" for," says he, " my land is as good as yours, and I think I work
as hard as you do." "Why, sir," says Go-ahead, uIuse some
agricultural machines to assist me in my work, that you have not
got. They do the work quicker and better, and enable me to do
it at the right season, with less labor."

"Well, sir," says Oldtimes, "I must have some of those ma-
chines, too ; where did you first see them V "Here at the agricul-
tural fair, and, liking their looks, bought them, and have more
than paid for them out of the first crop."

Thus you see, my friends, that agricultural fairs tend to im-
provement in more ways than one ; they not only stimulate you
to raise fine animals and crops, but they make you acquainted
with the means of doing so in an easier, quicker and more eco-
nomical manner. Let each one strive to raise the best, and he will
be surprised to find how much greater his income is, than it was
when he let animals and crops raise themselves. Always raise
the best ; keep the best animals to breed from, and the best seed
to sow. It is folly to expect poor seed to produce good crops. I
have been surprised to hear some farmers say that shrunken seed
is as good for seed as sound, plump grain. Such is not the case;
it cannot be. God says, " as ye sow so shall ye reap ;" and it is
an established law in nature, that "like begets like." I am aware
that it sometimes happens that a good crop will come from poor
seed, season and other things being propitious. But it rarely or
never happens when you sow good seed, other things being equal,
that you do not raise a good crop. Fellow-farmers, never raise
scrubs, when you can raise blooded stock.

It is unfortunately the case in this country, that all farm work
is done in too much of a hurry. Fields are skimmed over by the
plow, seeds sown helter-skelter, and more is wasted on a large
farm in Illinois than would maintain many men a season. The
great trouble is, in the United States — but more especially in this,
the Great "West — that farmers are anxious to own and cultivate
too much land. It is this that leads to such careless farming.
Having more land than can be well cultivated, they attempt to
farm it all, and do not half do it. The man who cultivates forty
acres of land in the manner it should be done, makes much more
than he who imperfectly farms one hundred. A serious evil aris-
ing from this attempt to cultivate too much land is, that it almost
invariably runs one in debt, inasmuch as the crops so produced
are but small, and the expenses great in proportion, while the
quality is generally poor, and commands but a small price.

This haste to get rich is but the road to poverty. Solomon says,
" The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness, but of
every one that is hasty, only to want."

Let your work be done well, and at the proper time, and you
will then cultivate no more than you are able to do. *

Farmers, take the papers. Take your county papers, that you
may know what is going on in your own county. Recollect, the

195

more subscribers a paper has the better it is, inasmuch as the pub-
lisher has some stimulus to make a good paper when he has plenty
of subscribers.

Take an agricultural paper. In this age of progress it is impos-
sible to cany on any branch of business without employing every
means of knowing what the rest of mankind are doing in the
same branch — what was the last discovery, and how the most can
be made from the labor and capital employed. Reading-and rea-
soning, thinking and acting, are rapidly changing the whole face
of the civilized world. Such as persist in refusing to read, study,
and improve the inner man, will travel in the footsteps of those
untutored savages who have become extinct on the very soil these
would-be farmers are attempting to cultivate, because they despised
the admonitions of cultivated reason.

The period has gone by when men can expect to succeed in do-
ing all by main strength. Labor directed in this way will not only
wear out in vain the hands that toil, but will wear out or impover-
ish the soil upon which they are employed. * * *

Do not place too much reliance upon any one crop. Wheat is
an insecure crop, especially in the manner it is cultivated here ;
corn fails sometimes too ; stock are liable to accident and disease.
Let your crops consist of a variety of things, and let come what
may, all will not be lost. *:.***

The past year has been one of unprecedented trials to the far-
mer, from the effects of which it will be some time yet ere relief
will be felt. First came the financial crisis, which shook the whole
civilized world with its ruinous consequences. Farmers were
about the last to suffer, but they have felt severely the sudden
check to credit. Many farmers had contracted debts in the flush
times, which they were sure they would be able to pay by their
crops. But how little can man foresee what is in the future !
The weather never was worse, nor insects to destroy the crops
more plenty. Short crops have been the result, and where was
expected the waving fields of ripened grain to gladden the hearts
and fill the pockets of the farmer, fields are presented of grain cut
to the ground by the hail, killed by the excessive wet weather, or
by the thousands of insects that are enemies to the farmer's wel-
fare. What follows? Men who had hundreds of acres of grain
with which they expected to pay their debts, are bankrupt. Many
are ruined forever, and have to begin the world anew. The ques-
tion is asked, can such a train of untoward events be prevented in
future? We answer, in a measure they may be. ^A.void running
in debt; purchase nothing but what necessity demands ; always,
if possible, pay as you go. By so doing you avoid accumulating
debts that are difficult to pay. Very good ; but you ask, can we
not remedy the bad crops? Hail storms you cannot prevent;
they are under the management of Him alone who rules the tem-
pest. Excessive rains you cannot prevent ; but you can in a great
measure, and in some places entirely, the injurious effects result-

196

ing from so much rain. Drain your land. Make good open
ditches for the mains, and use blind ditches to empty into them.
If your means do not allow you to go into the business as you
should do, do a little at a time. Make plenty of water furrows
and keep them open. Plow your ground in narrow lands until
you are able to ditch it. Make all the outlets possible for getting
rid of the surplus water. Let each man see that he drains his
own land, and persuade his neighbors to do likewise. It will pay
you well. Such land is much easier to cultivate, keep mellow in
dry seasons, and yield much better crops. Land well drained can
be plowed very soon after rains, when similar land not drained
cannot be worked for dajs after. The prairies in this latitude
cannot be depended on for wheat until they are drained. Hun-
dreds of thousands of dollars are annually spent in England for
ditching, and our own Eastern States have begun to use tile drain-
ing quite extensively, finding it pays well.

There are various modes of draining, any of which you can use
that is most convenient for you. Try draining ; commence with
ten or twenty acres to satisfy yourseif, and I guarantee you will
not stop short of your whole farm. * * * * *

And now a few words about home comforts and I am done.
Do not neglect your animals ; see that they have shelter in winter
and wet weather. A good barn (a scarce thing in Illinois) will
more than pay for itself in a few years, in the saving of food to
your animals, in the saving of waste by feeding out doors in mud
and dirt, and in protection to your wagons and farm implements.
A straw-covered shed is better than nothing, and will add much
to the comforts of your stock. See that you have your dwelling
house comfortable for your wife and family. Let nothing be
wanting that will lessen the labor of the women folks. Let your
wood and water be handy to the house, and do everything in your
power to make your home pleasant and comfortable.

Ladies ! do not neglect your share ol the domestic duties. A
farmer's wife in Illinois has much to do, and much to undergo ;
and I have no doubt that the saying, "Illinois is a very fine farm-
ing country, but the devil on women and oxen," is, in a great
measure, true. Ladies, you have many duties to fulfill. The
preparing of the necessary food for your husband is not your only
duty. Cultivate cheerfulness, and, when your husband comes in
tired and weary with toil, wear a smiling countenance and have a
pleasant word for him. When misfortune comes cheer him up ;
God has given you to him as a comforter, and as such you should
be. Teach your children how to behave ; teach them morality,
and let them know their duty to their parents and their God. Be
prudent and economical ; be in all your household neat and tidy ;
and always be ready with the best dairy products to take the prize
at the fair. Plant flowers and shrubs around your house, and
make it look cheerful outside as well as in. It is in your power
to make home the most pleasant place your husband can go to ;
let it always be so, and life will have its reward.

197
CASS COUNTY.

Our Society organized January 5th, 1855, Hon. Francis Arenz,
President. We held our first fair on the 11th and 12th of Septem-
ber following, when the friends of agriculture were agreeably sur-
prised by the lively interest manifested by our citizens, from every
part of our county, and many persons from adjoining counties,
Doth by bringing articles and stock for exhibition and encouraging
us by their presence and manifestations of satisfaction.

The proceedings gave general satisfaction, and established our
Society, in the minds and hearts of bur people, as a useful and ne-
cessary institution to bring out and fully develop the resources of
our county.

Stimulated by our success in this our first, we made additional
preparations for our next fair, and elected the Hon. David Epler,
President, who had served in that capacity for the previous year,
owing to the death of Francis Arenz, our first President.

In order the better to provide for the comfort of visitors and
exhibitors, it became necessary to incur an additional outlay of
about six hundred dollars in improving our grounds, but we were
amply compensated for our outlay, and we all congratulated our-
selves on the success that attended this our second lair. Our re-
ceipts exceeded one thousand six hundred dollars, and we paid
out in premiums, at eastern cost, one thousand dollars.

This year we paid a dividend to the stockholders in the fair
ground association of ten per cent., and had a balance in the treas-
ury, for improvement and contingent expenses, of three hundred
dollars. It is due to say that a part of this was left over from the
proceeds of the fair of 1856.

Our fair for 1858 was by many from adjoining counties consid-
ered a model fair. We were honored and encouraged by the pre-
sence of many visitors from adjoining counties, whose names have
become favorably identified with the agricultural interest ot the
state of Illinois, among whom we would mention Henry Jacoby,
of Sangamon county ; Stephen Dunlap and E. Pollock, President
and Ex-President of the Morgan County Agricultural Society;
and Jas. W. Sweeney, Secretary of the Schuyler County Agricul-
turnal Society, and formerly Secretary of this Society; and others
not now recollected.

Every department was well represented, and in many cases the
animals and articles were all so meritorious it was a difficult mat-
ter to determine where the ribbons belonged. Where all were so
deserving, the judges felt that it was an'unpleasant duty to dis-
criminate.

The ladies fully sustained our highest expectation, in their de-
partment, this year, in the very large quantity and variety of use-
ful and fancy articles on exhibition. They also were on hand with
a great variety of articles in the line of table comforts, which, in
our judgment, did great credit to their taste and useful habits ; for

198

in our judgment, a lady deserves much more credit, in an agricul-
tural point of view, for baking a good loaf of bread or making
good butter, than for making a fancy pin cushion or arranging
tastefully a bunch of natural or artificial flowers.

The Mechanical Department, we regret to say, was not as well
represented as we think that important interest deserves, although
in many articles the exhibition was all that its most sanguine
friends could have desired. Among items of interest in this de-
partment was a model of a self-raking and reaping machine, invent-
ed and patented by Joseph Black, of our county, which commended
itself to the judgment of all who examined it, and in our judgment
this reaper is destined to take a prominent position among the
very many useful machines of this kind in our country.

The number of entries of cattle was large, and of very fine qual-
ity. The ring of sweepstake cows had seven entries, and made
one of the finest shows of the kind we ever saw. They were all
thorough-bred and in fine condition, and were valued by their
owners at not less than $7,000. Suffice it to say, that we had five
of the recent importation from Europe on exhibition, which were
decidedly fine ; yet when brought in competition with some bred
here, good judges decided in favor of the latter.

In horses we had spirited competition, and a very fine exhibi-
tion of the various classes for which we had offered premiums.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

HENRY S. SAVAGE,
Secretary Cass County Agricultural Society.

COOK COUKTY.

The following is an abstract of the history and transactions of
the Cook County Agricultural and Horticultural Society for the
years 1857 and 1858 :

On the 7th day of August, 1857, a meeting of the citizens of the
county was held at the office of the " Prairie Farmer," in Chicago,
to take steps to organize a 'county society.

The following resolution was adopted at this meeting :

Resolved, That we deem it expedient and proper that Cook county shall sustain an Agri-
cultural and Horticultural Society, and that we, here present, take the necessary steps to
secure such an organization as soon as possible.

A committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws,
and report at the next meeting.

August 14:, 1857.
At an adjourned meeting, the Committee reported constitution
and by-laws ; which were adopted, and an election of officers took
place. The following are the names of the officers elected :

199

President, L. B. Taft, Chicago ; Vice-Presidents, (one from
each township represented,) John Gray, of Jefferson ; John Periam,
of Calumet; James L. Wilson, of New Trier; Dr. J. V. Z. Bla-
ney, of Evanston ; Edgar Sanders, of North Chicago ; Capt. J. D.
Webster, of South Chicago ; Dr. F. T. Miner, of Wheeling ; Dr.
J. A. Kennicott, of West JSTorthfield; Treasurer, F. H. Benson,
Chicago; Corresponding Secretary, Charles Kennicott, West
Northiield ; Recording Secretary and Librarian, Frank W. Eeilly,
Chicago ; Executive Committee, L. B. Taft, ex officio Chairman ;
Dr. J. A. Kennicott, John Periam, John Gray, Edgar Sanders,
Carew Sanders, Chas. Kennicott.

One thousand copies of the constitution and by-laws were ordered
printed, ard the Society adjourned to the 28th of August.

August 28.

Society met, pursuant to adjournment.
P Vice-Presidents from the towns not previously represented were
elected, viz : Simeon Lee, of Maine ; J. C. Haines, of West Chi-
cago ; Mark Crandall, Bremen ; Samel James, Thornton ; Jos. E.
Kennicott, Elk Grove ; A. Hemmingway, Leyden ; Homer Will-
marth, Barrington ; Edward Bartlett, Hanover ; Morgan Johnson,
Palatine ; Wm. AVhite, Niles ; Jacob Keihl, Bich ; B. Morris,
Bloom ; Granville Peck, Shaumberg ; D. C. Thatcher, Proviso ;
James Michie, Lyons ; H. Dennis, Lake View ; Wm. Jackson,
Orland.

The Executive Committee reported in favor of holding a fair in
October, and presented an estimate of the probable expenses and
income.

The report of the Committee was received and adopted ; where-
upon it was

Resolved, That the residents of Cook county and citizens of Chicago, in particular, be
asked to contribute live thousand dollars to enable the Society to hold a fair this fall, and
place the Society on a permanent basis.

A subscription list was opened and a Committee appointed to
solicit subscriptions.

Resolved, That each Vice-President be requested to associate with him two member^
from his respective township, to act as a Town Agricultural Committee, whose duty it shal

to stir up the farmers of their respective townships to the necessity of taking hold, hear*
and hand, of the getting up of a county fair this fall; and, also, to collate and report to the
Secretary, for use, such agricultural statistics, in relation to their several townships, as may
be of interest to the community generally, and the members of the Society in particular.

Charles D. Bragdon was elected a member of the Executive
Board, to fill vacancy.

Adjourned, to meet September 18.

200

September 18, 1857.

The Committee to obtain subscriptions reported. The lumber-
men in the city subscribed fifty thousand feet of lumber for the
necessary buildings, fences and fixtures.

Chas. D. Bragdon was elected Actuary of the Society, and
power delegated him to receive subscriptions, make collections,
erect buildings and make all necessary preparations for the fair.

President Taft tendered his resignation, in consequence of other
engagements ; which was accepted, and Jonathan Periam, Esq.,
elected in his place.

Adjourned to meet September 25.

It is unnecessary further to follow the steps taken by the Society
in order to make their first exhibition a successful one. It should
be remembered that the time intervening between the 18th day of
August, the day it was decided to hold a fair, and the 14th day of
October, the date fixed for the opening of the exhibition, was short
in which to prepare a premium list, raise the necessary subscrip-
tions, make the necessary preparations, do the necesary advertising,
and manufacture the necessary enthusiasm. Added to this short
time were greater obstacles. The money panic of 1857 was raging
terrifically. There was neither cash or credit to be obtained.
Although five thousand dollars, cash subscriptions, had been
pledged by a number, besides the lumber, only about three hun-
dred dollars could be secured! Men who, under ordinary circum-
stances, would have subscribed two hundred dollars, reluctantly
pledged themselves to pay two dollars. The city press looked up-
on the whole movement as presumptuous, and some of its mem-
bers advised the Actuary to "drop the thing," after the buildings
were nearly completed, so great was the pressure of panic and
' hard times.' I am thus explicit in this record because the officers
of the Society have been charged with inefficiency. Maliciously
and with no foundation have such charges been made. I may be
allowed to quote from an editorial in the "Prairie Parmer," dated
October 15. The editor says :

" To-day (Wednesday) is the first day of the Cook County Fair. Although only a few
weeks have elapsed since the announcement was made that a fair was to be held this fall,
yet in that brief time gigantic preparations have been made, and the show bids fair to equal
an ordinary state exhibition. From an examination of the premium list, we are struck with '
the liberality with which a Society so recently organized offers $3,000 in premiums; and
with corresponding liberality and enterprise, befitting the commercial metropolis of the
northwest, has thrown open competition, unrestrained by any petty confines of geographical
limit.

"A recent visit to the grounds, on North Clark street, shows, also, that the Society does
not mean this as idle bombast, thrown in for effect, for they have erected about two hundred
commodious and roomy stalls for the accommodation of cattle and horses ; have a fine,
large hall for the exhibition of miscellaneous articles, and one devoted exclusively to the
exhibition of fine arts and scientific productions."

The show of horses was large and excellent. The exhibition of
cattle was much larger than was expected, and numbered several fine

201

animals. It was the opinion of those who had attended fairs that
the show ot vegetables was the finest ever had in the state The
exhibition of fruits and flowers was creditable ; indeed it was
scarcely anticipated by those best acquainted with the resources of
the county that 6uch an impromptu exhibition could be made
. In the Departments ot Fine Arts, Domestic Manufactures,' Ma-
ehmery, &c, the exhibition was only limited by the space prepared
tor its occupation. r

On the third day of the fair, the number of visitors in attend-
ance was variously estimated at from 10,000 to 15,000.

The receipts from this exhibition exceeded $3,000. The fair
continued four days. The first two davs were cold and wet ; the
last two damp and unpleasant. Had it been otherwise the receipts
would have been increased one-third. It, however, proved a
successin every respect. Errors were made and lessons learned
by the Executive Board ; one essential lesson, viz : that exhibitions
that are not legitimately appropriate to a farmer's festival are great
nuisances, and should not be tolerated in connection with or as ad-
juncts to the same ; that the influence they exert is not productive
of any gpod to those these gatherings are inten led to benefit.

The first annual meeting was held the evening of the second
day of the fair for the election of oflicers, with the following result ■
President, Dr. John A. Kennicott ; one Yice-President from each
township ; Eecording Secretary, Frank W. Eeilly ; Correspond-
ing Secretary, Charles D. Bragdon; Treasurer, H. D. Emery
Executive Board, Chas. Kennicott, John Gray, H. D. Ernerv
James Michie, S. D. Childs, James L. Wilson.

TRANSACTIONS FOE 1858.

The executive board, at a meeting held at the Tremont House
March 31st, 1858, '

^Resolved, That this society hold an agricultural and fine art exhibition some time in Juno

Eesolutions were adopted, and committees appointed to further
the preparations for said fair.

At a subsequent meeting of the board, the time fixed for this
exhibition was the 22d, 23d, 24th and 25th days of June. Five
hundred dollars were offered in premiums. Competition was
thrown open to the world.

On the 20th of May, of 1858, at a meeting of the executive board,
held at the rooms of the Mechanics' Institute, an informal floral ex-
hibition was made by the members, and the public admitted free.
Ine following resolutions were adopted at this meeting :

bofrd°SPTihar the *ankst)0f the So™p be and a™ hereby tendered through its executive
inf«™.i a adl?S1a!'d Sentiemen who have so tastefully and generously contributed to the
nfo mal floral exhibition which graces this hall, furnishing in its perfume and brilliancy, in
SLl„ Proport.ons and individually fine specimens, an encouraging omen of a future
display, worthy, not alone what the Garden City is to the eye of the casual observer, but what its

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202

Dame indicates it should be ; an exhibition, by the way, the value of which is heightened
by its impromptu character, and speaking well for the floral resources of our city and
county.

On the 22d of June the horticultural exhibition opened at Me-
tropolitan Hall. The exhibition surpassed the expectations of the
most sanguine friends of the Society. It was a success in every
respect, except pecuniarily. Local causes contributed to prevent
this, but although the officers of the Society were obliged to con-
tribute to defray the expenses, the exhibition paid in its influence
upon the public — in the establishing a desire for and begetting a
love for these humanizing and elevating influences.

It is proper to state that the number of entries in each depart-
ment would not be taken as indices of the magnitude of the ex-
hibition, as most of the entries represented a large number of
plants, the list of premiums having been so arranged as to induce
a large exhibition, by offering premiums for the best and largest
display of different classes of plants.

The management of the Mechanics' Institute having given the
Society the field for its exhibition in the autumn of 1857, the ex-
ecutive board deemed it policy, so far as might be practicable, to
unite with said Institute in their exhibition in the autumn of 1858.
A creditable display of farm and horticultural products were thus
made.

The second annual meeting of the Society, for the election of offi-
cers, was held at the Mechanics' Institute Hall, Sept. 6,1858. The
following officers were elected : President, John A. Kennicott ; a
Yice-President in each township; Recordi ng Secretary and Treasurer,
H. D. Emery ; Corresponding Secretary, C. D. Bragdon ; Execu-
tive Committee, J. L. Wilson, S. D. Childs, Edgar Sanders, R. F.
Clough, M. S. Johnson, John Mclldowney, II. H. Yates, with
President Kennicott and ex-President Periam, ex-officio members.

I have thus hastily given you a sketch of the proceedings of the
Cook County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, up to the close
of its second annual meeting. Had I time and you the space, I should
like to add to this report some of the conclusions arrived at as the
result of some experience and much observation as to the manage-
ment, scope and influence of agricultural societies. I may be
allowed to say that the friends of these institutions will need a vast
deal of decision and executive skill if they keep outside all the
influences which tend to prostitute and demoralize the objects of
these gatherings. This will need vigilance. The foregoing is
respectfully submitted.

CHARLES D. BRAGDON,
Corresponding Secretary Cook County Agricultural Society.

203
DE KALB COUNTY. .

Officers for 1S5S :

President — John S. Brown.
Secretary — Aaron K. Stiles.
Treasurer — Alonzo Elwood.
Assistant Treasurer — David Garr.

The second annual fair of the De Kalb County Agricultural So-
ciety was held at Sycamore, on Wednesday and Thursday, Septem-
ber 29th and 30th, 185S. The sun rose bright and pleasant on the first
day of the fair. At at an early hour teams began to come in from
the country, and the influx continued to increase during the day.
The entries of stock were mostly made on the first day, though
this was not the case with the other articles. On the second day
the attendance was vastly larger than on the first. In fact the
town literally swarmed with people on Thursday. The crowd
present on the fair grounds was very satisfactory to the Society,
and exceeded the expectations of the officers. The premiums
awarded show that there were very full entries in the departments
of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, millinery and needle-work, agricul-
tural implements, farms, vegetables, &c, &c. The fair passed off,
affording general pleasure.

The treasurer of the society reports as follows for 1858 :

NUMBER OP TICKETS SOLD AND MONEY RECEIVED.

183 member tickets sold, $1 each .' $183 00

2,091 tickets, 10c each 209 10

11 " 15c " 1 65

5 " 35c " 1 75

22 " 50e " 1100

Cash from door-keeper 31 49

Ticket for lady riding 50

439 49

Received by Treasurer of Society from the State , 100 00

Received by subscription of citizens 105 00

644 00
Orerplusfunds of 1S57, in hand of Treasurer 12 00

$656 49

The foregoing is a sufficiently minute account of the transactions
of the De Kalb County Agricultural Fair, and although its receipts
were small, cannot fail to show an increasing interest among all
classes of laborers, producers and manufacturers in the county.
As permanent arrangements have been made for the fair grounds
at Sycamore, for at least ten years, the Agricultural Society of
De Kalb county must be regarded as one of our " useful insti-
tutions," and cannot fail to receive from an intelligent and in-
dustrious people a sympathy and support commensurate with its
beneficent designs.

There is scarcely a county in the State that has kept pace with
De Kalb, in increase of population and developed resources, for

204:

the last four or five years. Intersected as she is by. the Aurora
Extension and Dixon Air Line railroads, her inhabitants are favored
with excellent facilities for trade and travel, and a contemplated
road, (for which a liberal charter has been granted) extending
from La Salle to Belvidere — a connecting link between two suc-
cessful railways, penetrating the coal region on the south and the
lumber region on the north — gives cheering hope that the farmers
on the broad ocean prairies, almost out of sight of timber, will soon
have fuel and lumber brought to their very doors. In 1850 the
population of the county was 7,540, in 1855 it was 13,636, and now
it cannot fall much short of 21,000. Considering its territorial
extent, it has for the last five years, ranked among the largest and
best wheat growing counties in the State. Its staple productions
occupy the following order: Wheat, corn, oats, barley, buckwheat,
rye, and last but not least, sorghum, from which probably 500
gallons of syrup have been obtained this year.

There have been planted or set out not less than 100 miles of Osage
orange hedge in this county within the last four years, but un-
fortunately a large part of it has been killed by winter or other
causes, and is proving comparatively worthless. Yet some hedges
that have been carefully attended and protected, have flourished
and look finely. Still, as a general rule, farmers are abandoning
this method of inclosing their fields.

One more encouraging fact, and this lengthened communica-
tion must be closed, viz : The farmers of De Kalb county are
generally paying particular attention to the improvement, not only
of the condition but breed or blood of their stock of all kinds, and
have already some of the best specimens of horses, cattle, sheep
and hogs in this State. Long may De Kalb and its Agricultural
Society flourish.

D. M. KELSEY,

County Committee for State Agricultural Society.
Malta, Not. 1,1858.

DEWITT COUNTY.

Oflfes for 1858 i

President — John H. Lisk.
Vice-President — John D. Hutchins.
Secretary — Robert Lewis.
Treasurer — ¥m. Bolin.

The fair of De Witt county came off on the 5th, 6th and 7th,
October, 1858. The two first days were unpleasant, but a good
many persons were present, and seemed to take a deep interest in
the proceedings. The first day was devoted to the exhibition of

205

cattle, of which, there were excellent and numerous specimens.
The second day was devoted to the show of horses — a splendid
exhibition. Excellent hogs were exhibited, but no sheep were on
the ground. The last day of the fair was the great attraction. The
display of lancy articles, quilts, &c, was great. Mr. M. L. Dunlap, of
Champaign, delivered the address. It was a plain and practical
address, bringing into view and commenting upon the various
stock and other articles on exhibition. He insisted that as
agriculture was the basis of all prosperity in De Witt county, it
should receive the fostering care of the county authorities, at least
so much as to furnish means for putting in order the fair grounds,
which could be made beautiful and convenient by a small expen-
diture of money collected from the pockets of the farmers.
" When," said he, " you will have made the necessary buildings,
sheds and stalls for these beautiful grounds, then you will take
pride in filling them with the beautiful products of skill and labor,
when ripening autumn shall again have shed his glories over your
magnificent farms."

ROBERT LEWIS Secretary.

EDGAR COUNTY.

Officers for 1859 :

President — Samuel Graham, of Paris.

Vice-Presidents — J. J. Blackman, of Wayne ; Stephen Ogden,
of Simms ; N.. B. Stage, of Bloomfield ; Wm. Blackburn, of Grand-
view, and Jacob Rogers, of Paris.

Corresponding Secretary — S. P. Read.

Treasurer — Walter Booth.

Secretary — Dr. Ten Brook.

General Superintendent — S. H. Elliott.

The Wabash Valley fair was held on the fair grounds of the Edgar
County Agricultural Society, near Paris, on the 28th, 29th aDd 30th
of September, 1858. It was a fine exhibition, better than any which
had preceded it. The list of Horses embraced many of the finest.
Of Thorough-bred s, there were 9 entries ; of Roadsters, 79 en-
tries ; of Draft Horses, 29 entries, and of Matched and Single
Horses, 51 entries; in the Sweepstake Class, there were 41 entries.
Cattle — Thorough-bred, 27 entries; Grade Cattle, 24 entries;
Sweepstakes, 9 entries. Sheep, 5 entries. Hogs, 35 entries.
Poultry, 4 entries. Farming Implements, 24 entries. Mechani-
cal Department and Miscellaneous, 37 entries. Fruits, 9 entries.
Dairy and Kitchen Products, 57 entries. Domestic manufactures,
102 entries. Ladies' Needle-work, 70 entries. Flowers and spe-

206

cimens in Natural History, 20 entries. Farms, 7 entries. Eoads,
3 entries. Plowing match, 7 entries. In all, 586 entries.

The fair was a successtul one. The interest of the people seemed
to be kept up throughout the exhibition. The receipts were satis-
factory. There can be no question that this exhibition will have
an effect for good on the agricultural, mechanical, and social inter-
ests of the people in this section of our State.

S. P. READ, Secretary.

FAYETTE COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — Ezra Jenkins.

Secretary — Gr. L. Jackson.

Treasurer — E. B. Haller.

Corresponding /Secretaries — Tevis Greathouse, Jacob Fouke, Jr.

The Fayette county fair came off on the 23d and 24th of Sep-
tember. It was the second annual fair of this Society. The So-
ciety grounds, twelve acres, with a beautiful grove, are fine. The
weather was good, but there was some inconvenience from the dust.
There was a good display in the stock and most other depart-
ments. The ladies made a good display in their departments.
There was fine syrup of Chinese Sugar Cane on exhibition. Be-
tween $300 and $400 were paid out in premiums. At the close
of the fair, there was considerable excitement among the young
ladies, who would carry off the $10 silver cup for female equestri-
anism. The fair gave general satisfaction.

G. L. JACKSON, Secretary.

FULTON COUNTY.

Having observed, from the second volume of the "Transactions
of the Illinois State Agricultural Society," that no report was ever
made of the organization of an Agricultural Society in the county
of Fulton, I thought it proper, at this time, to give a brief state-
ment of the early days of our association.

On the 25th day of October, 1851, the first meeting was held at
this place, to take steps for the organization of a County Agricul-
tural Society. On the 6th of November, following, at a meeting
of the friends of the project, the Fulton County Agricultural So-
ciety was duly organized, a constitution adopted, and the following
officers elected, viz : Henry S. Hyatt, President ; J. Kawalt, 1st

207

Yice President ; James Dyckes, 2d Vice President ; T. N. Has-
son, 3d Yice President ; Hugh Lamaster, Treasurer ; L. F. Eoss,
Secretary.

The first animal fair of the Society was held at Canton, October
6th, 1852. Of this fair the records exhibit but a meager report.
The receipts for membership paid off the premiums and other ex-
penses and left $59 in the treasury. At this meeting of the Soci-
ety the following officers were elected, viz : H. S.Hyatt, President;
H. C. Nelson, Yice President ; ¥m. Babcock, Treasurer ; Jno. W.
Ingersoll, Secretary.

At this meeting a code of by-laws was adopted, defining the du-
ties of the various officers of the Society, and prescribing rules for
the government of fairs, etc.

Nothing was as yet done towards a location of the fair grounds
of the Society. On the contrary, it was deemed inexpedient to
make a permanent location at this early day.

Our county being one of the largest in the State, it was thought
advisable at first to hold the annual fairs " around " in different
localities, until the farmers and mechanics of every part of the
county could, with but little inconvenience, become acquainted
with the workings of the Society and the advantages to be derived
from it.

The second annual fair was held at Canton, in October, 1853.
A balance of $76 65 was left in the treasury after paying premiums
and other expenses — though a large portion of the funds expended
was raised by voluntary contributions to the Society.

In January, 1854, the old officers were mostly re-elected, and
the third annual fair was held at Bernadotte, in October. The
exhibition of stock at this fair is reported to have been very good.
The committee on cattle, in their report, say that they find their
" duties arduous and difficult in consequence of the large number
of extremely fine cattle on the ground, and that the show " has.
been all that its most ardent friends could wish."

The following persons were elected officers for the year 1855 :
Joseph Dyckes, President ; Daniel C. Knox, Yice President ; Jas.
Rawalt, Secretary ; C. C. Dewey, Treasurer.

A resolution was adopted at this meeting,

"That this Society form an agricultural library, and that the public documents now in
the hands of the secretary and treasurer, sent to the Society by the Hon. James Knox, and
such other public documents as our members of congress may furnish the Society with, bo
hereby directed to that purpose, to form a nucleus around which an agricultural and me-
chanical library may be formed, corresponding with the gyeat agricultural and mechanical
interests of Fulton county."

The fourth annual fair was held this year at Cuba, on the 3d
day of October.

The fifth annual fair was held at Canton on the 23d day of Sep-
tember, 1856, and the following officers were elected, viz : Joseph
Dyckes, President ; Jas. K. Herring, Yice President ; J. H. Stipp,
Secretary ; J. M. Bass, Treasurer.

208

From the' report of the secretary relative to this fair I make the
following extract : " It was decidedly the largest and best show
and fair ever held in old Fulton. The horses, cattle, sheep and
swine, also all manufactured articles were much superior to those
on exhibition at any previous show and fair ever held in the county,
which shows that the farmers and mechanics are alive to their in-
terest and the interest of the county. * * *

" The ladies were also on hand with hundreds of nice articles,
contending for premiums. What would a fair be worth without
the presence of the ladies and the nice things of their manufac-
ture ?" (The present secretary would reply ''nothing.") Again,
<{ From the thousands of people upon the grounds, it is evident
that a proper spirit is manifested on their part for the success and
usefulness of the Society, and that it will be sustained."

The 6th annual fair was held at Vermont, on the 10th day of
September, 1857. The exhibition of stock was not as good at this
fair as usual, from the fact that the fair was held in one corner of
the county. The distance was too great to drive stock from the
extreme parts of the county, and by previous action of the board
of directors, stock from other counties was not admitted to compete
for premiums. The following is contained in the secretary's report:
" The articles prepared and exhibited by the ladies, were greater
in number than at any former fair, and it is questionable whether
any other portion of the county can equal the ladies of Yermont
and vicinity in the manufacture of domestic fabrics."

At this meeting the old officers were mostly re-elected, and the
following resolutions were adopted :

Resolved, That it is the duty of the president and board of directors of the Fulton County
Agricultural Society to take such steps as they may think necessary for the permanent
location of the annual fair, and call meetings of the Society at such times as they may de-
sire an expression of the members.

Resolved, That the directors advertise for proposals to donate ground and money from
the different parts of the county, upon which to locate the fair and fit up the same in proper
condition ; and after receiving the propositions, that the board of directors select from tho
proposing points such place as they may think most advantageous to the Society.

Resolved, That at the next annual fair competition for premiums be invited from all the
citizens of the State of Illinois, under such restrictions as may be thought best by the direc-
tors of the Society.

And at the same meeting the following by-laws which had been
suspended were unanimously revived :

Section 10. This Society, confiding in the natural advantages of the soil of their county
and in the intelligence and industry of its whole community, and desiring (if they have not
the best themselves) to have the best before them from which they may learn and pattern,
in a spirit of friendly emulation, invite the farmers, mechanics, machinists, fruit growers
and producers of every kind, of the adjoining counties of the State or of the world at large,
to send or bring on their best products to our annual show and fair, as our premiums are
offered for the best, let it have its growth or origin where it may.

The members all appear to be well pleased with this policy of
allowing unlimited competition — and I haveno doubt it will be the
permanent policy of the Society.

On the 18th of June, 1858, a meeting of the directors of the So-

209

ciety was held at this place, for the purpose of examining the pro-
posals, and deciding on a permanent location of the fair grounds.
The citizens of this place having offered $1,000 in cash, and a lease
on twenty acres of land, near the town, " to be occupied by the
Society, free of charge, so long as it is used for holding the annual
fairs." The location was made on grounds about three-fourths of
a mile south of Lewistown, the county seat of Fulton county.

The seventh annual fair was held on the new grounds, October
6th and 7th, 185S. The grounds were in good order. Ten acres
of the land had been inclosed with a high board fence, and the ne-
cessary offices, sheds, stalls, etc., had been built for the accommo-
dation of the officers, members, exhibitors and visitors. The fair
was an improvement on its predecessors. The exhibition of stock
was decidedly good — showing that our farmers generally were
turning their attention to the improvement of their stock of every
kind. In horses alone there were 130 entries for premiums. The
receipts for membership and admission were sufficient to pay the
premiums, $600, and leave a balance in the treasury. The officers
for the present year are as follows : President, Joseph Dyckes, of
Bernadotte ; Yice President, Asaph Perry, Table Grove ; Secre-
tary, Leonard F. Koss, Lewistown ; Treasurer, H. B. Evans, Lew-
istown ; Directors, H. S. Hyatt, Independence ; Ira F. Elrod,
Bernadotte ; Evan Baily, Yermont ; J. M. Bass, Canton ; Jonas
Rawalt, Canton ; Wm. Craig, Otto ; H. L. Bryant, Lewistown ;
Executive Committee, Geo. Humphrey, Nathan Beadles and D. "W".
C. Bryant, all of Lewistown. There was also appointed in each
township one person to act as the agent of the Society, whose spe-
cial duty it is to obtain additional members to the Society, receive
their contributions, circulate agricultural documents, distribute
seeds, post notices of meetings and fairs, and generally to advance
the interests of the Society.

"W.e have now about five hundred contributing members which?
under our present organization, will, I think, increase to one thou-
sand by our next fair.

Our county is one of the largest in the State; has a fine soil;
is well watered ; has an abundance of timber and stonecoal ; inex-
haustible quarries of the best building stone, and has a population
of over 30,000, which is most purely agricultural. In 1850 we had
273,000 acres of land in farms, valued at $2,817,680, and have
$190,000 invested in farming implements. We had, in the same
year, 6,3S8 children attending school, and the number will now pro-
bably reach 10,000. The present year the lands alone in our
county are assessed at over $5,000,000.

¥e have one railroad completed, which passes through the north
west part of our county, and three others, now building, which will
probably be completed through the county in the course of twelve
months ; and when completed it is the intention of our Society to

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210

extend an invitation to the officers of the State Agricultural Society
to hold one State fair in " Old Fulton " — and we shall expect our
" claims " will receive proper consideration.

Respectfully your obed't servant,

LEONARD F. ROSS, 'Secretary.

HENEY COOTTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — Charles C. Blish, "Wetherfield.
Vice Presidents — Y. M. Ay res, Cambridge ; A. "W. Perry,
Geneseo ; Daniel Timberlake, Oxford.
Secretary — H. W. Wells, Cambridge.
Corresponding Secretary — Daniel Bonar, Cambridge.
Treasurer — F. P. Brown, Geneseo.

The sixth annual fair of the Henry County Agricultural Society
was held at Cambridge, on the 22d, 23d and 24th days of Septem-
ber, 1858, on the new grounds of the Society. The grounds em-
brace twenty acres, most beautifully located, with an abundance of
water within the inclosure. Some fifteen acres of the grounds are
perfectly level, on which is made an excellent half mile track, the
balance of the grounds are rolling, sufficient to drain them perfectly,
and to furnish an excellent building spot. The Society purpose
soon to erect a large building on these grounds. The lower story
will contain committee rooms and offices, with one large room for
the exhibition of fancy and domestic articles brought to the fair ;
the upper story to be one large room for lectures and public ad-
dresses or meetings of the Society. The grounds (generously do-
nated to the Society by the citizens of Cambridge) were complete-
ly inclosed by a tight board fence, eight feet high. During the
fair the most perfect order was preserved by an efficient police
force. Twenty policemen were employed, and twelve night watch-
men.

The exhibition of horses was certainly very superior. In point
of speed, strength, style and endurance, there were many horses
here that would rank among the first in the State. One large tent,
40 by 60 feet, was devoted to fancy and domestic articles and fruit,
and was completely filled with patch-work bedquilts, fancy blankets,.
fine embroidery, and many things of cunning work, such as land-
scape or portraits worked with the needle, a fine table-spread, (on
which was wrought beautiful figures,) crayon sketches or paintings
in oil or water colors. These, with great apples, jars of pickles
and preserves, (the only jars there) and ears of corn eighteen
inches long, &c, &c, completely filled the tent. There were
plows, harrows, horse shoes, reaping machines, ox yokes, newly
invented stoves, corn planters, seed drills, all of which had many

211

commendable features, were exhibited outside. There were some
of the finest cattle here exhibited that can be found in Illinois.
The Bishop Plill Colony exhibited about forty head of thorough
bred cattle, all in fine condition. Many others were on the ground
and attracted much attention.

A plowing match was had, and could the actual plowmen of old
wooden mold-board plows have seen the ground roll under before
these fine polished machines, they would have pronounced the art
perfect.

There were perhaps five thousand persons in attendance on this
fair ; all seemed to enjoy themselves, and to be well pleased with
themselves and with every thing else. On the second day a large
audience listened to the address of Charles D. Bragdon, after
which was awarding of premiums by the committees. On the
third day, in the afternoon, came the ladies' equestrian perform-
ance. This attracted a larger crowd than had previously been on
the ground. It is estimated that no less than three thousand per-
sons witnessed this exhibition, and a fine sight it was. There were
thirteen entries, all good riders — all well mounted. These exercises
continued for some two hours, to the infinite satisfaction of all.

To this hasty sketch I have only to add that I have seldom seen
so large a crowd remain so long a time, without seeming to lose
interest in the subject. Here the interest seemed rather increased
to the end. The excellent music from brass and string bands, per-
haps conspired to increase the attraction. Of the address of Chas.
D. Bragdon, (given elsewhere) too much cannot be said. The ver-
dict of the "fifteen hundred" approved it. Though unused to all
the appliances, the track, the grounds, the buildings, and the officers
all unused to each other or to such business, every thing moved
in harmony and in good order. Henry county may justly feel
proud of the past achievements of her Agricultural Society, and
generously emulate her sister counties for the future advancement
of societies for the good of the farmer.

H. W. WELLS, Secretary.
ADDRESS, BY C. D. BRAGDON,

BEFORE THE HENRY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, ON THE 23d DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1358.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Henry County Agricultural Society:

I congratulate you upon the measure of success attending this
your sixth annual exhibition — upon the evidences exhibited here
of care, enterprise and thrift, in agricultural pursuits, by your citi-
zens. But while I congratulate you upon this — upon the secure-
ment of convenient and ample grounds for this and future exhibi-
tions— upon the fidelity and industry your officers have exhibited
in serving you, evidence of which is apparent to all — may I be al-
lowed to ask a few questions ?

Are you satisfied with this exhibition ? Are you willing the
stranger should receive it as an index of the resources and enter-
prise of the farmers of Henry county. I cannot say it is not a

212

complete index of the resources of this beautiful county, but I can
say / do not believe it is, and I do not believe you regard it as
such. You are justly proud of Henry county — of its soil, resources
and physical features ; you are jealous of its fame abroad — of the
reputation of its people for intelligence and enterprise. What are
you doing to establish it ? Are you laboring affirmatively or neg-
atively ? Does this exhibition warrant all you claim for your
county % What proportion of those that hear me are exhibitors %
How great a proportion might have been had a tithe of the effort
been expended to prepare for it that has been made by each indi-
vidual officer (unpaid and too often unappreciated) to accomodate
exhibitors. I speak from experience when I say that the officers
of county agricultural societies have to labor harder and receive
less than men holding any other honorary position ; indeed, they
receive nothing, except, perhaps, the credit of being most intensely
selfish and exacting. I hope the farmers of this county appreciate
the efforts of their officers better than is the case in most counties.
I do not say they do not.

But what is the effect of this exhibition as a whole. What is
the impression it makes — the influence it exerts % Again I ask
each individual member of the Society and each individual resident
this county, who is not a member but ought to be, are you satisfied
that this sixth annual exhibition of your resources is all that it
ought to be — all that it might be ? I ask these questions with no
fault-finding spirit or desire to detract from the fame of your
county, but because they are important to totj — because I believe,
if rightly and honestly considered and answered, good to the Soci-
ety will be the result.

I believe the officers of this Society have a right to demand their
consideration. I hope they will be considered.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am not here to apostrophise Labor,
whose representatives I see before me. The day has passed that
requires the pen work or tongue talk of any one to proclaim its
nobility. It has its monuments reared in every hamlet, town and
city ; its pencilings are spread in profuse display in every cultiva-
ted field, and influence and mould our every movement, You ap-
preciate and glory in the results of labor.

-'Tis the primal curse

But softened into mercy; made the pledge
Of cheerful days and nights, without a groan."

It is hardly necessary for me to allude to the progress of our coun-
try in all that has elevated labor and the laborer. I might name
sundry achievements made which are regarded as distinct eras in
this age of successive wonders, but they are familiar to you. You
are proudly conscious of your position to-day. I hail you as rep-
resentatives of a generation whose achievements are those of
peace — made with the plowshare and the pruning hook — the result
of the encouragement given to the arts and manufactures — the tri-

213

umphs of intelligence and Christianity and the promise of still
greater triumphs, the prediction of more glorious victories.

I am glad that I am an American citizen. I thank God that I
live to-day, and can bear witness to the benefactions — civil, politi-
cal and religions — that we receive. I thank Him for the principle
of progress that is tanght in all the phenomena of nature and im-
pressed upon us by the history of past centuries — the essential to
an immortal mind. I thank God for these gifts to you and me
to-day.

I am not here to tell you how a plow should be held, what depth
the furrow should have, or of the constituents of the soil, its chem-
ical changes, or of the effect of atmospheric phenomena upon the
growth and maturity of plants. Study and observation will teach
you this — experiment and practice will impress it.

It is true we want improved cultivation. Farms must be culti-
vated and improved. But the mind and heart of the farmer must
bring forth fruit. If we desire better work, we must improve the
operator and the implement. The farmer must know what tool to
use — what is adapted to the work to be accomplished. He must
know what aids are necessary to the most successful employment
of body and mind. I said the heart must be cultivated. No man
can appreciate the works of an Infinite Being who does not recog-
nize His hand and His benevolence and wisdom in it all. Depen-
dence humiliates men, and if we feel our dependence as we ought,
we shall the better appreciate the glorious designs emboded in the
material objects which surround us.

But I am here to talk earnestly, and as simply as possible, of
what cannot, must not be overlooked by men who desire progress
and a high attainment in the arts of peaceful husbandry. I am
not here simply because I was invited, because I hoped to please;
but in the discharge of an earnest duty. I believe all men have
responsibilities. Before God, I believe they should discharge them.
Whatever we may have the opportunity to say that shall teach
the importance of increased effort to promote the intelligence, pros-
perity and happiness of our fellow man, it is our duty to say. I
am here to humbly discharge this duty.

No man can have watched the condition of the agricultural
classes — their acquisitions of wealth, their progress the past ten
years — without having remarked wants existing retarding their
elevation, except so far as wealth elevated them.

No one can have studied the causes which depress the farmer,
socially and politically, without having established some opinions
relative to these wants— relative to their complexion and character.
What are they ? What hinders this elevation ? If labor is noble
and dignified — if to labor is no disgrace, why do we not see more
of the practical results of this doctrine ? We are in the midst of a
most exciting political canvass; perhaps the most exciting that has
agitated this state for years. Do not be disturbed, friend, whether
Republican or Democrat, for I have no fellowship with modern

214

politics as practiced, and I shall be as likely to " pitch into" one

Earty as the other. I am not neutral, but independent, and can
nd rank corruption enough in either party to denounce. But I
wish simply to call your attention to the fact that we are being
taught the doctrines of " popular sovereignty," which, in plain
English, means the right of a people to govern themselves — to enact
laws that shall not conflict with common law or the inalienable
rights of any one. This is a pure and just doctrine, and I have not
a word to say against it, but I have against the practice of some of
those who preach it.

We are farmers — agriculturists and horticulturists. Manufac-
tures and commerce are dependent upon the prosperity of ourselves.
This rolling earth yields the material, by God's providence and
our efforts, that feeds the nonproducer as well as the producer.
Increased productiveness of the soil stimulates every other branch
of trade. Whatever encouragement, then, is given to agriculture,
to the production of material, is given directly or indirectly to
every department that is dependent upon it for life and progress.
Increased production, therefore, places in our hands increased
means of happiness for ourselves and for others. For independent
as the farmer may be, he is dependent, to a greater or less extent,
(in proportion to the real or imagined wants of his position), upon
the trades and the arts, and this dependence begets exchange. In-
creased exchange causes increased manufacture and affords em-
ployment for a larger class. To sum up this matter concisely, then,
increased productiveness of the soil begets increased productive-
ness in every other branch of labor. It is important then that
every legitimate encouragement should be given by government to
develop the great interests of agriculture. ~No one can deny that
they are great — that they are imposing when rightly considered.
What encouagement has been given ? Trade, commerce is pro-
tected by extensive navies, by appropriations for the preservation
of the lives and property of those engaged in it. Manufactures
are, (or have been), protected by tariffs. I shall not say these are
not necessary, and so far as manufactures are concerned with the
reciprocal regulations of other nations, I cannot say but protective
tariffs are a direct benefit to agriculturists, for the increased pro-
ductiveness of mechanical labor begets a corresponding activity and
product among farmers. But what has been the character of the
direct legislation for agriculture 1 A shrivelled sum to pay for
seeds that we had better pay for ourselves if we want them — for seeds
that are not only common among American farmers, but such as
have been repudiated. It is true, there have been some valuable
importations by the agricultural department of the patent office,
but it is a serious question, if we have not been as much injured by
the importation of foul seeds and worthless ones, together with
some of the most villainous of insect scourges belonging to Europe,
as we have been benefitted by the introduction of valuable ones.
And then the distribution of books and seeds has become a power

215

ful political influence, and is used as such. All attempts to reform
it on the part of those who have felt the effects of its ill-judged
efforts have been met with no responding action. Their repre-
sentations and prayers have been disregarded. How then are we
to help ourselves ? Why are we told of the glory and dignity of
labor, of the conquests we have made, of the nobility of the sons
of toil, when votes are wanted, and then when our wants are known
in the hall of the House of Representatives, why are they disre-
garded % Why are we not represented in the assembly and
senate ? Why have we no representative in congress to look after
our own interests. Our votes are essential, we are the people, the
constituents, and yet our servants have no regard for our demands.
Why 2 Why do we submit to this indifference ? Why have we
no men of our own class in high places, (save the mark) who will
pay attention to and make effort to supply our demands ? These
are important questions to you, fellow farmer, and you should di-
gest them well ere you give your vote in support of any representa-
tive, or supposed representative of your interests.

Place is sought for eagerly. Is it because men are interested to
serve their fellows — because they are so modest as to believe
there is not another man on the footstool that can do it quite as
well as themselves ? Gentlemen, I shall hail the day with joy
when the people shall choose their own representative, and not
succumb to the ruling of a clique of so-called politicians — " wire-
workers," demagogues — who dictate to us through caucusses the
choice we are to make, and decide for whom we shall " go in." I
protest against such "popular sovereignty." It is cursing us — de-
basing all who mingle in the fight. Each candidate is made the
target of envy and malice, of blackguardism and vulgarity. Each
petty mistake or indiscretion of his past life is arrayed and mag-
nified— others are invented and heralded. If he does not want to
be traduced he must not consent to become a candidate for office.
Every man expects it, and he who will descend lowest is the most
successful politician. This is the class that control our caucusses,
mete out and divide up the offices, and call upon the dear people
to sanction and indorse their wisdom, by putting them in office.
How many of these men have studied political economy ? have a
knowledge of the history and wants of the people they represent?
Are.your best men in office, either in town, county, state, or in
the national council ? JSTo ! Respectable men, such as regard
their own moral reputation, will not resort to the means which
must be used, with the present system of politics, to achieve suc-
cess. The question asked is not as so fitness, but will he "shell
out" the "available?"

The man who watches the working < f governmental machinery
— who does not mingle in the strife and < xcitement of political war-
fare— who listens to promises and watched for their fulfillment, (but
in vain) — who studies the causes which crush those who least de-
serve it — those whose industry underlies all enterprises — on whose

216

shoulders rests the porpoise that supports the elephant that sup-
ports the globe, cannot help feeling the cause oppressively.
What is it? What is it that causes a failure of a crop ? What
that refuses to adopt an improvement ? What that spurns a sug-
gestion, no matter how meekly given ? What that cowers before
broadcloth — that meekly shrinks away when there is nothing to
shrink from — that does homage to position, infinitely its inferior ?
Gentlemen, I know there is manhood among farmers ; I know-
there is independence ; I know there is truth and real nobility of
heart and mind. But added to this must be a love of the employ-
ment. There must be a faith established in its power to develop
and employ, honorably, all the faculties of the mind. It must be
dignified with knowledge and stimulated with the hope of dis-
covering new wonders, new problems to solve, new truths to de-
velop— other and new causes for revering and loving the Cre-
ator. This is the want that has crippled us — that has always
crippled and crushed nations — that has rendered the mass submis-
sive to the few — that has fostered crime and driven to desperation
those naturally qualified to become peers with the highest — this

WANT OF KNOWLEDGE.

Your sons will not leave you when they . are taught to respect
and love the profession of a farmer ; when they know how to es-
timate its importance, and realize the dignity and position it will
give them to excel in it. A gentleman in England was walking
over his farm with a friend, exhibiting his crops, herds of cattle
and flocks of sheep, with all of which his friend was highly pleased,
but with nothing so much as his splendid sheep. He had seen the
same breed frequently before, but never such noble specimens, and
with great earnestness he asked to know how he had succeeded in
producing such flocks. The answer was, " 1 take care of my lambs,
sir/" Bend the twig, and the tree will be bent. Educate your
children for the profession they are to follow, and if they are
naturally fitted for it, they will remain there. Teach your sons
that there are other than political fields in which they may become
distinguished and honored ; and your daughters, that grace, beauty
and poetry are found outside city drawing rooms, and they will
stay with you.

Of what avail are seeds, if we know nothing of their character,
or of the method of cultivation necessary to their reproduction.
Government has commenced wrong. It gives us the problem to
solve, but has given us no rule to regulate the solution — seeds to
plant, but no directions for their culture. We ask for it, and are
laughed at!

Schools are open alike to the merchant, mechanic and farmer.
IS"o one need be ignorant. True, and allow me to say, in justice
to the class to whom and in whose behalf I am speaking, that there
are few professions that embody more general intelligence than the
farmer's. But we find law schools, medical, theological and normal
schools, schools of design and experiment for the mechanic and artist,

217

but where are our agricultural schools ? Where are the farmers'
schools oi desigu ? The artist learns to mix colors, and searches
into their chemical relations. So the mechanic studies natural
laws which are to govern his every act and decide his success, but
what do your farmer boys of fifteen or twenty years of age know
of the properties of a plant, of the construction of soils, of the
chemical action of manures, of the economical management of
the soil, of drainage, or of the thousand facts necessary to be
known ere he can successfully and profitably manage the "eighty
acres" you have purchased for him to settle upon ? What have
you done to enlighten him ? What can you do ? Few men
among the mass of farmers of the present, have the requisite
knowledge, except such as may have been found in the agricultural
periodicals, hence the youth that are rising upon our prairies must
look otherwheres than to parental intelligence to enlighten them.
Again I ask, what have you done to enlighten your children in the
mysteries that belong to agricultural husbandry, or domestic house-
wifery ; for I believe there is as much room for improvement in
in-doors management, as — in the manufacture of butter, cheese and
bread — as in the more responsible, but not more important duties
that belong to the out-of-door life of the farmer. How many be-
fore me to-day can answer understanding^ simple questions in
agricultural or domestic economy, such as a thoughtful child would
ask, who might witness a common operation in either of these de-
partments, or talk intelligently of the laws involved in and which
govern those operations. Let parents examine themselves, and
arm themselves to give intelligent answers to the child. Encour-
age inquiry, and rest not until you have given a solution to these
infantile problems. The benefit will be two-fold and direct. It
will benefit yourself in the solving, and the child in the solution.
We hear men complain that the son does not seem to get along
much — has no gumption. How has he been educated ? Whose
fault is it that he is wanting in common sense, wanting in intelli-
gence? Commence with his earliest childhood. How were you
disturbed by his questions ? How did he persist in plying them,
notwithstanding all your repulses ! Why did you not listen and
answer? Ah! Why? What discipline did you adopt to give him
self-reliance ? Did you trust him with any commissions in which
his judgment would become involved and exercised ? Seldom.
You thought for him, chose for him, acted for him. And right
here, let me point out an error, which it seems to me, may be
sought to be corrected. The judgment of children needs to be
educated. I am not in favor of a more precocious development of
self-reliance — for God knows, there are too many young bloods now
in long clothes and with cigars — youths who ought not to have drop-
ped the round-about for a dozen years at least. But I am in favor
oi educating all the faculties, and of commencing with the child to
do it. Let the books and their words go, and teach ideas. True,
you gave your son opportunities to acquire an education, but how

—28

218

was that education suited to his wants — to the profession he was to
follow for a livelihood ? About as much as mathematics would fit
a man to become an analytic chemist. His earlyjyears, those most
impressible, when both body and mind are being developed, have
been spent in study without demonstration, in storing up words
with no knowledge of the ideas they represent. He remembers
but cannot apply. He can look, but cannot see. He has eyes,
but no vision. He has seen nature, but no God in it. Has wit-
nessed the effect, but knows nothing of the cause. He cannot tell
you why a rail fence is laid zig zag, or why roots do not grow
above ground and branches below. He is early taught the a-b-abs
of written language, but the book always open, God-given — to
stimulate the love, and the higher nature of man, though exciting
his wonder, though first to incite inquiry, he is kept carefully
ignorant of. How ludicrous ! How deplorable ! How lament-
able that we devote so much time in teaching children the signs of
ideas, carefully keeping the ideas out of sight. What an educa-
tion is this ! Then do we complain of their ignorance, do we com-
plain of their want of common sense ? With what pride does the
parent assure us the child knew the alphabet at an early age!
He has the capacity to learn. He sees the written character, and
constant repetition of its name has fixed it in his memory. He is
as likely to call an old fashioned triangular harrow A, if seen on
the green sod, with its green back ground, as the black outline in
Webster's spelling book. Yet it is easier to learn him to say
" harrow" when he sees it and feels it, and watches it work in the
field, than to learn him that simple sound, "a" from the written
character ? Why % Because he can see and feel it. He also sees
the lines it makes in the moist soil. It impresses him, and it re-
quires but one lesson to enable him to remember "harrow" wherever
he sees one. So the teacher of the present material age must teach
from and of matter, and of the laws which govern it. He will be most
successful who adopts this course to teach written language. But
you were not educated so. True, but the teachers of your children
should have this knowledge. What do your school commissioners,
or inspectors, or directors insist are the qualifications of the teacher ?
That he can read, write, cypher and parse, and has a good moral
character ! Perhaps that he shall have a knowledge of algebra,
geometry and French. Do they require him to have a knowledge
of chemistry, of physiology, of botany, or of natural philosophy ?
Do they require that he shall know how to teach, and what to teach ?
Have you ever seen an Agricultural Chemistry in use in a common
school as a text book ? We know about everything but ourselves,
and the life, both animal and vegetable that surrounds us, and
the laws which govern that life. Why is this ? Please ponder
upon that question. Is there no cause, then, why men who come
in contact with the palsied blind men of agriculture, palsied and
blinded by ignorance, should pray tor the moving of the waters,
and for the manufacture of clay ointment ? Is it at all amazing that

219

those who would advance labor to its true position, and elevate the
laborer to his proper altitude, should commence at the foundation,
should earnestly desire and labor for the founding of a school sys-
tem, or a system of study, which, while it does not neglect the moral
education of the pupil, opens to him paths connected with his em-
ployment in life, that he may tread intelligently, and love to travel
— at each step of which he may discover something new, some-
thing wonderfully beautiful to him, because he can see the design
of the Creator in it, and comprehend His benevolent purposes.
God speaks to him through matter. Life, eternal life, gilds the
horizon of his view, and he becomes better as he becomes more
enlightened. It is not true that we become more egotistic as our
knowledge increases. Egotism is not the result of a good educa-
tion, but humility is. Dignity, conscious power, is the result of
knowledge, but the result of that consciousness is not egotism.

My friends, I h^ve talked to you in this manner because I
believe you, in common with myself, should feel the importance of
a change of tactics on our part, if we would assume the position
as men that the character of our employment naturally gives us.
You cannot have failed to see the drift of my desires in this matter.
"We need a specific education. To obtain it we need to act our-
selves, introduce text books and teachers into our common schools,
that shall teach our children something beside the multiplication
table, and how to parse nouns and verbs, something that shall
qualify them to remain at home, and afford them contentment and
position there. We need also educated teachers. Government
should assist us to educate them. We must ask government to do
it. But we must not forget that a demand for text books and
teachers, adapted to the wants of the farmer, will create a supply.
The time is not far distant when this demand will be made, I trust.
We must demand the recognizance of our rights by our respresen-
tatives. Morrill's bill passed the House, at the last session of Con-
gress, but the perils of " popular sovereignty," and the struggles
of political partisans strangled it in the Senate. It has never since
been heard of, that I am aware. Some States are recognizing the
rights we claim, but Illinois thus far, though liberal in its support
of a school system, asks the General Government for a landed en-
dowment for an Agricultural School — or more properly, an Indus-
trial School. This is proper, inasmuch as she embraces in her
asking a like endowment for her sister States. I am proud
to know that such a project had its origin in Illinois. I should
be proud if an Illinois statesman should become her standard
bearer in this great project, and the instrument of promoting
her interests. I believe there have been and are men in our
own State, who would gladly represent us in this matter, were
our wishes made known. But we are silent, as a mass. We must
speak, and I repeat it, we shall be heard. We cannot depend upon
politicians to move for us, unless we first make a noise. As a
class, they but echo what they think will meet our favor and build

220

themselves up. Our policy is apparent. If we would hare any-
thing, we must ask for it, loudly and persistingly. If we are not
listened to and obeyed, we must send men to Congress that vnll do
our bidding.

I hold in my hand a small piece of the Atlantic cable. Ton know
its history, and the cause of its triumph — the perseverance of a man
who believed the thing practicable. Tou have also read of the
construction of an apparatus by Everett, for the paying out of this
cable. All parties give to him the credit of having contributed,
materially, to the success of the last trial. Indeed, Field has said,
" to him, more than any other one man, is the honor of success due."
Field spoke abstractly and modestly.

But what of Everett's history ? He was a farmer's boy. His
father died, and he was apprenticed to a blacksmith. Neither the
farmer's life or blacksmithing suited him. He ran away — first to
New York, and thence to Philadelphia. Still he was restive.
When Harrison was elected, (I believe), he left Philadelphia, and
was present at the inauguration. Subsequently a reception was
given by the president to some of the more prominent claimants
for office. Everett, without papers or recommendation, managed
to be present at this reception, although semi-private, and pushed
himself forward into the front of the notables present. He at-
tracted the attention of the president. "Well, young man, what
do you want V " I want a place in the navy, sir."

The manner and tone of this answer interested the president still
more, and after questioning him closely, he gave him a card, ad-
mitting him to the navy yard, saying, " Go and see what you can
do there." He found the place that suited him, went on important
expeditions as engineer, served during the Mexican war in the Gulf
squadron, and has now connected his name with one of the great-
est achievements of modern times. What are we to learn from
this ? Simply, that when we offer the same inducements to our
Everetts to rise as farmers, they will stay in the profession. I was
furnished with this history of this man by a friend of his who has
known him from boyhood. What is it that has given him fame ?
Not that his invention is so marvelous — not that he is possessed
of more ingenuity than thousands of men, but the circumstances that
caused the exercise of his talent. Years ago, Judge Douglas, by
his efforts, his persevering efforts in congress, done more than any
other one man to develop the resources of our own fair State. Not
because of his greatness or superior wisdom, but he foresaw fame,
wealth and position for himself in the success of his efforts. Who
is to be the man, then, who shall work out a system, a national, in-
dustrial system of education, and secure an endowment worthy our
age and its object. Circumstances make great men. Who will be
moulded by this want of the present, and by serving the people, to
a colossal stature ?

When I talk of a specific education, I do not wish to be under-
stood as advocating that kind described by Shakspeare, when he

521

says, "He doth nothing but talk of his horse ; and he makes it a
great appropriation to his own good parts that he can shoe him him-
self." We have brains enough now that "will endure but one
scumming !" The education I advocate, as necessary for the far-
mer, will not only prepare him for the physical duties incident to
farm life, but give a noble and comprehensive cast to his mind.
Colton says, " a great mind may change its objects, but cannot re-
linquish them ; it must have something to pursue," and if the
farmer receives the education appropriate to his sphere, he will be at
no loss for objects to occupy |his thoughts — to excite allBthe highest
and best impulses of his nature. I believe this education the founda-
tion necessary to be laid before we can rear a superstructure we can
point to with any degree of pride. Let us commence it — insist that
it shall be adapted to our wants, and remember what Horace says :
" Unless your cask is perfectly clean, whatever you pour into it
turns sour.''

GREENE COUNTY.

Herewith is presented a report of the proceedings of the Greene
County Agricultural and Mechanical Society, for the years 1857
and 1858, with a list of the officers elect for the year 1859 :

1857 — Geo. L. Burrup, President ; Benjamin Eoodhouse, David
A. Thompson, Merrill S. Ballinger, Elon Eldred, Wm. H. Ellis,
Yice-Presidents ; Lucius S. Norton, Secretary; Clinton Arm-
strong, Assistant Secretary ; Jordan Howard, Treasurer.

Eair held in Carrollton 10th and 11th September, 1857. One
hundred and fifty premiums were awarded.

Cash on hand $404 20

Cash from State Treasury 100 00

Receipts from Fair 833 85

1,338 05
Paid for improving Grounds and Premiums % 892 86

Balance 445 19

1858 — Joseph F. Ballinger, President ; Benjamin Eoodhouse,
Jacob Bowman, Samuel Armstrong, Elon Eldred, Thomas Black,
Yice-Presidents ; Clinton Armstrong, Secretary ; Lyman F.
"Wheeler, Assistant Secretary ; Jordon Howard, Treasurer.

Amount on hand $445 19

Received fromState Treasurer 100 00

Receipts of Pair 1858 1,070 15

1,615 34

Amount paid for Secretaries $75 00

', " Improvement of Grounds 341 25

'" " Incidentals and Building 20S 85

" " for Premium List 698 16

1,323 29

Balance in Treasury 292 05

222

1859. — Sixth annual meeting was held at Carrollton, Dec. 6th,
1858, when the following officers were elected for the year 1859,
viz : Jacob F. Ballinger, President ; Jacob Bowman, James II.
Yanarsdale, Samuel Armstrong, Hiram Ellis, Anthony Potts, Vice-
Presidents ; Lyman F. Wheeler, Secretary ; Richard B. Hill,
Assistant Secretary ; Jordan Howard, Treasurer.

"We own our Fair Grounds, worth $2,500

Upon which we have expended in Inclosure, Buildings,

Cattle Stalls, &c, about 1,500

Total 4,000

L. F. WHEELER, Secretary.

GRUNDY COUNTY.

Herewith is presented a history of the Grundy County Agricul-
tural Society, for 1858, and such other matter in the way of statis-
tics as I think will read well and be of interest to the readers of the
third volume of the Transactions.

Grundy county organized an Agricultural Society in 1853, but
from various causes — not the least of which was want of numbers
— our county being very sparsely inhabited at the time — it has
been a struggle between life and death ever since its organization.

On the 6th day of March, 1858, about thirty voters met at the
court house in Morris, and organized the " Grundy County Agri-
cultural and Horticultural Society " — adopted a constitution and
elected the following officers, who, by the provisions of the consti-
tution, are a " Board of Managers," with powers to transact all the
business of the Society : B. H. Streeter, Esq., was elected Presi-
dent ; Theron Collins and Wm. White, Yice Presidents ; N. B.
Dodson, Secretary, and L. P. Lott, Treasurer.

The first steps of the new board were to comply with the re-
quirements necessary to the incorporation of the Society. The
board then went to work with a will, first, to ascertain what amount
could be raised by subscription, and meeting with great encourage-
ment, considering the hard times, they proceeded to secure grounds
suitable for the uses of the Society ; and in the selection and terms
they have been very fortunate indeed : having secured, for the
term of twenty years, at an annual rental of ten dollars, a most
desirable piece of ground, containing thirty-two acres, situated
just without the corporate limits of the city of Morris, distant one
mile from the court house, and about half a mile from the depot of
the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad. The shape of the ground
is nearly an oblong square, situated from east to west. The west
half, a high table prairie, interspersed with groves and beautiful

223

young trees, and on which is the track, of half a mile in length,
well worked and graded. The east half is divided about the
middle by a small stream of living water, the banks of which are
thickly lined with fine, thrifty timber, of all ages, from the sturdy
oak and elm of a hundred years' growth, down to the lythe and
graceful ash and hickory, whose age dates not back of the present
decade. From the creek, eastward, the ground rises gradually
and gracefully, till within about twelve rods of the east line, leav-
ing a fine plateau sufficiently elevated to command a good view of
the whole grounds, and on which is erected Floral Hall, a good
building, 30 by 50 feet. The ticket and business office, 9 by 16
feet, and the main entrance gate are also on this elevation. There
is erected near the track seats sufficient for six hundred persons.
Stalls and pens for all kinds of stock in abundance. The under-
brush cut and burned and the trees, large and small, nicely trimed
up, and the whole surrounded by a tight board fence seven feet
high.

Those who are well posted say that it is the most beautiful
and the best arranged county fair ground in the State. The board
will not argue the point, but they do feel proud of their grounds,
and will feel prouder still if, at some future day, sufficient induce-
ments can be offered to warrant the Illinois State Agricultural
Society in holding one fair within said grounds.

The first annual fair of the Society was held on the 12th, 13th,
14th and 15th of October. The first day it rained hard all day,
besides being very cold for the season. The second day was a
little more propitious, and the third and fourth were glorious days,
and notwithstanding the lateness of the season, the unfavorable
year, and the bad beginning, the fair was a complete success in
every particular — the entries of animals and articles reaching the
large number of 580, and the receipts for the four days amounted
to $665, which pays the premiums and expenses of the fair, clears
the Society of debt, and leaves about $100 in the treasury. The
premiums awarded amounted to $393, about $50 of which was
paid in books, selected with great care and so classified as to be of
real value to those who would be likely to get them. The pre-
miums offered amounted to near $600, but from the lateness of the
season and perhaps a little want of faith in the success of the en-
terprise, in several classes on which premiums were offered, there
was little or no competition.

The total receipts of cash, since the 1st of June, amounts to the.
snug little sum of $1,854 22, and all the outside help we have had
is $100, received from the treasurer of State — in addition to this
there has been donated to the Society, in labor, about $200, mak-
ing a total outlay in five months of about $1,950.

If any county in this state has surpassed " Little Gkundy" in
agricultural interest during the hard year of 1858, please inform us
who and where it is, that we may extend the right hand of fellow-
ship for a better accpiaintance.

224:

STATISTICS.

Grundy county is bounded on the east by Will ; on the west by
La Salle ; on the north by Kendall, and on the south by Livings-
ton counties ; contains twelve congressional townships, being
twenty-four miles from north to south and eighteen miles from
east to west. The Illinois river passes through the county, run-
ning nearly west, leaving about two-thirds ot the county on the
south side. The Mazon river enters the county near the south-east
corner in two branches, which soon after unite and empty into the
Illinois immediately opposite Morris. Waupecan creek traverses
the western portion of the county, running nearly north, and
empties into the Illinois about four miles below Morris. The
Aux Sable, a beautiful stream, enters the county near the north-
east corner and joins the Illinois six miles above Morris. Nettle
creek, a fine stream, takes its rise near the north-west corner of
the county and meanders towards Morris, just before reaching-
which, it is joined by Nettle creek, junior, a beautiful little brook
of Grundy birth and which waters our fair grounds, when they
also pass into the Illinois. The banks of all of the above named
streams are well timbered, yielding abundantly all the valuable
varieties indigenous to the west, and it can be safely said in truth
of Grundy county that it is well watered and well timbered, pro-
bably unsurpassed in these respects by any county in the Prairie
State. Next comes our coal mines, of which I am unable to give
you a very definite description, but hope to be able to obtain some
statistics before forwarding. The quality is certainly unsurpassed
by any as yet discovered in the west. Of the quantity, suffice it
to say that it is inexhaustible — underlying as it does from one-half
to two-thirds of the county and in strata varying from eighteen
inches to eight feet. It is also remarkably easy of access, of
which you can judge somewhat by the fact of its being delivered
at our doors for three dollars per ton. This, with the facilities
possessed for shipping at all seasons, enables Morris coal to success-
fully compete with all other.

Morris is the county seat of Grundy county, and is the only
town or city of any importance in the county ; is situated on the
north bank of the Illinois river; distant from Chicago sixty miles
and from La Salle (the head of navigation on the Illinois river)
forty miles ; contains a population of about 3,500 as enterprising
inhabitants as can be found iu any town or city of its size in the
Union. In proof of which we point to our public improvements.
Instance our churches, four in number; our public school houses
and schools, public and private ; a bridge spanning the Illinois,
costing $47,000 ; our court house, the handsomest one in the State,
costing about $37,000 ; our fair grounds, our hotels, warehouses,
stores, etc,, etc. The Illinois and Michigan Canal (of which every
Illinoisan is or ought to be justly proud) passes in front of our
young city, and the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad at what

225

used to be " back of town " but is now quite central. "We have a
fine steam flouring mill, six large warehouses, three hotels, three
lumber yards, one steam foundry and machine shop, two plow and
carriage manufactories, one of which is quite an extensive estab-
lishment, driven by steam with a planing mill attached; and I do
not hesitate to assert that there is more grain bought and more

foods sold in the city of Morris than in any place of its size in the
tate.

The only other towns in the county are Gardner, Minooka,
Mazon, Goose Lake and Dresden. Gardner is situated on the
Chicago, Alton and St. Louis Eailroad, near the south-east corner
of the county, is quite a flourishing little town, containing about
200 inhabitants. Minooka, about ten miles east of Morris, on the
C. & R. I. R. R., population some 150. Mazon, twelve miles
south, on the Mazon river, a small place, in the best farming dis-
trict in the county, but has been surpassed and supplanted by its
railroad rival, Gardner. Goose Lake proper is a large inland lake
near the east line of the county and south some four miles from the
Illinois river, is famous as a place of resort for duck shooting, for
the quantity and quality of stonecoal around and beneath it, and,
above all, for potters' clay, which is found in abundance and of a
quality superior to any as yet discovered west of Massachusetts.
On the borders of this lake is the famous " Goose Lake Steam
Pottery " of Messrs. ¥m. White & Co., established about two
years ago, since which time they have invested about $30,000, and
are doing a'very large business, giving constant employment to
from forty to sixty men, manufacturing large quantities of the
usual kinds of stone ware, besides supplying Chicago with im-
mense quantities of water and sewerage pipe. Mr. White has suc-
cessfully introduced a new and economical feature in the manufac-
ture of pottery, viz : the use of coal for fuel. The success of his
experiments is of the highest importance not only to himself but
to all who are engaged in the business. Mr. White is a gentleman
of enlarged views and possessed of means sufficient to carry them
out, and his advent among us is of the highest importance, opening
up as he has a source of wealth of which we remained ignorant.
There has quite a village sprung up around the pottery, composed
mostly of the employees and their families, which is called Goose
Lake.

Grundy county, although surrounded by old and populous coun-
ties, is comparatively a "new country," containing, in 1850, only
3,023 inhabitants ; but since about that time the increase in popu-
lation and improvement, in every respect, has been very rapid.
When asked why it is that a district possessing so many advanta-
ges should remain so long comparatively uninhabited, we answer
that in some way the Illinois and Michigan Canal Company pos-
sessed themselves of a great portion of Grundy county, and the
trustees, having a just appreciation ol the value of those lands, they
affixed a price to them commensurate to their value, but which was

226

thought to be exorbitant, by those wishing to purchase, until their
resources began to be developed, when all at once there was not
land enough in Grundy to supply the demand. But this is all
past now, the canal company. not owning, probably, a section of
land in the county. Henceforth Grundy county will march on
with rapid strides, and ere long distance, in point of population,
many of its now exulting neighbors.

Amount of grain shipped from Morris during the year 1857 :

Corn 575,446 bushels.

Wheat 63,862 "

Rye 4,300 «

Oats 37,376 "

Barley 2,290 "

Timothy seed 17,160 "

Total 700,434 "

Amount of grain shipped from Morris, for eight months of the
year 1858, viz: from January 1st to November 1st:

Corn 502,689 bushels.

Wheat 36,172 "

Bye 7,464 "

Oats 19,042 "

Barley 1,951 «

Timothy seed 17,276 «

Total for eight months 584,594 "

MORRIS STEAM MILLS.

Business done for eight months of the year 1858: "

Amount of Wheat purchased 40,300 bushels.

" Corn " for grinding 3,000 "

" Buckwheat " " 4,000 "

" Rye " " 2,850 "

Total 50,150 "

Number bbls. Flour sold 8,532

Our mills do a large amount of custom work, in addition to the
above.

LUMBER.

Amount of lumber sold in Morris, for the year 1857 :

lumber 3,785,464 feet.

Shingles 1,647,250 M.

Lath 764,8S5 M.

Amount of lumber sold in Morris, for eight months of the year
1858: ' 8 J

Lumber 2,406,052 feet.

Shingles 1,139,500 M.

Lath 451,075 M.

In addition to the above figures on lumber, we have five saw
mills (three steam mills and two water power), within four miles
of Morris, doing a large business in hardwood, lumber, ties, posts,
(&C.j &c.

227

COAL.

I am unable to obtain the exact amount of coal raised at any one
mine ; but, from the best information I can get, I am of the opin-
ion that forty thousand tons of coal were raised in Grundy county
in each of the years 1856 and 1857. The business of 1858 will
show quite a falling off in this branch of trade, as well as in all
others :

Amount of Coal shipped by railroad in 1857.. 9,008 tons.

« " " » eight months of 1858 2,728 «

This is only one of the many outlets. In addition to the amount
shipped by canal and home consumption, the country blacksmiths,
almost universally within twenty miles, and in some cases forty
miles, of Morris, come here for their coal. There are some ten
mines in operation in the county, which, in prosperous times, gave
employment to a great many men, and yielded a large per centage
on the investments, and, with a return of " good times," we expect
very advantageous results from this source.

Fearing that my report has already exceeded the limits, I will
close.

Your obedient servant,

N. B. DODSON,
Sec. Grundy Co. Ag. and Hort. So.

HANCOCK COUNTY.

Officers for 1859 :

President — Melgar Couchman, Carthage.

Vice-Presidents — Eobert F. Smith, Monte Bello ; John R. Tull,
Pontoosuc ; O. K. Hawley, Augusta.

Treasurer — Benjamin Clark, Carthage.

Secretary — Geo. W. Batchelder, Carthage.

Managers — Koger Ireland, Augusta ; P. A. Barker, "Wilcox ; J.
H. Lawton, St. Mary's ; S. L. Weston, Rocky Run ; Thos. Geddes,
F. Green; Wm. Smith, LaHarpe; G. W. Yates, Durham; E.
Rand, Prairie; J. M'Auley, Appanooce; Wm. Tyner, Pilot
Grove ; Chas. Abbott, Rock Creek ; C. Winston, Carthage ; I. N.
Benner, Harmony ; Peter Pan, St. Albans ; H. P. Harper, Han
cock ; L. P. Prentiss, Nauvoo ; E. G. Luce, Sonora ; Cyrus Felt,
Monte Bello ; John Harris, Bear Creek ; Cyrus D. Smith, Walker;
W". S. Hathaway, Warsaw; John S. Johnson, Wythe; J. Lion-
berger, Pontoosuc.

The fourth annual fair of the Hancock County Agricultural So-
ciety was held at Carthage on the 22d, 23d and 24th Sept., 1858.
The entries and attendance were as large as could reasonably be
expected. The pressure of the times had its influence on both.
The fair was generally satisfactory.

228

This Society was organized. June 10, 1852, and has held four
annual fairs, with a continued increase of interest. We have
twenty acres of land, and expect to be able to erect substantial
buildings thereon next season.

The value of personal property in this county, for 1858, is .....$1,583,049

The value of real estate 7,856,164

There are 192 school districts in this county, and in these are
kept 206 schools. The whole number of scholars in attendance is
7,896. Whole amount of moneys expended for school purposes,
$36,728 11.

GEO. W. BATCHBLDER,

Sec. Hancock Ag. So.

JASPER COUNTY.

The Jasper County Agricultural Society was organized on the
3d of April, 1858. The Society elected the following officers, who
were to hold their offices, respectively, until the first annual meet-
ing, which was fixed by the constitution to be held on the first
Saturday in April of each year:

JPresidrnt—W. H. Webb.

/Secretary — W. P. Prather.

Treasurer — S. R. Hay.

Executive Committee — Hon. M. O'Kean, Wm. S. Lea, A. Ward,
Norman Comstock, John Hatterman, S. B. Todd, Joseph Picqet,
Samuel King, G. B. Cather, John W. Honey, James Z. Crews,
A. M. Eagleton, Wm. Shup, W. H. Webb, S. R. Hay and W. P.
Prather.

The first annual fair was held at Newton, October 6th, 7th and
8th, 1858. The weather on the first day was very unfavorable,
being rainy. The second and third days, the weather proving
fair, the attendance was large as could be expected for the first
fair in the county. The display of articles was pretty extensive.
There were many fine horses, cattle, swine and sheep exhibited,
with several coops of fowls of the best varieties.

The large number of ladies in attendance, with the various sam-
ples of domestic and fancy work, by them exhibited, proved in the
strongest terms the great interest felt in promoting and sustaining
the agricultural interests of our county. As a first effort it was
very good, and in some departments it would compare favorably
with older and better settled counties in the state.

The amount of money awarded in premiums this year was $100.
The other expenses were exactly $300, which has been paid ; and
it is gratifying to state that at the end of the first year the Society
will not owe a dollar.

229

We have our fair grounds inclosed by a plank fence, seven feet
high, and suitable sheds and stalls for the accommodation of future
exhibitions for several years. Although not one-fifth of our citi-
zens took that interest in the affairs of the Society that was desired,
yet I consider the Society established upon a permanent basis, and
that it has a bright future before it ; and we hope in a few years
that our Society will be behind none in exerting a useful influence.
That its prosperity may equal our hopes is the sincere wish of one
who has labored in its cause, believing that he was promoting the
best interests of his country.

W. H. WEBB, President.

KANE COUNTY.

Officers for 1858:

President — ¥m. P. West.
Secretary — Silas W. Curtis.
Treasurer — Geo. "W. Waite.

The annual fair for 1858 was held in September. The interest
of the people of the county in their fairs is increasing. Considering
the times, the entries were numerous and the receipts good.
County fairs are an institution of our state, and wherever they are best
sustained, there agriculture best flourishes, as well as every other
industrial pursuit. The entries of thorough-bred cattle, Durhams
and Devons, were numerous. There was a fine exhibition of
grade cattle. Thorough-bred horses, match carriage horses, single
carriage horses and work horses, in large numbers, were on exhi-
bition. The competition in sheep was great. Hogs and poultry
were fairly represented. Agricultural implements, products of the
garden, orchard and dairy, were numerous. D. W. Annes re-
ceived the first premium for the best cultivated farm. Of this
farm, the Committee say that " it contains 375 acres of land, de-
sirably located with reference to timber and prairie. Buildings
ample. A ridge or water shed runs through the farm from east to
west, sufficiently high to throw off the water and leave the land
in good order for cultivation. The whole farm is well fenced, and
the whole worked with great care and diligence. The farm is well
watered, and in a high state of cultivation."

E. S. Morrell was awarded the first premium for raising 122
bushels of corn on an acre of land ; and E. R. Humphrey the
second premium for raising 100 bushels on the acre. The number
and excellence of the articles in the ladies' department of needle
work, rendered the duties of the awarding committee, in that de-
partment, very difficult. There were many miscellaneous articles
of great merit. Premiums were awarded for the syrup of Chinese
sugar cane, which were considered very fine specimens.

230

There were eleven entries of matched horses and single trotting
and pacing horses. They were tried against time. The following
is the time made :

Buggy, Jones, trotting horse 2:53

Sulky, Updike, trotting 2:55

Top buggy, W. P. West, pair horses 3:12

Open buggy, Minard, pair horses 3:42

Sulky, R. G. Curtis, racking 2:58

Wagon, M. P. Houck, racking 3:30

Wagon, A. B. Johnson, racking , 3:35

Saddle, Hines & Tisdale, trotting 3:29£

Saddle, J. B. Johnson, trotting 3:31

S. W. CURTIS, Secretary.

KENDALL COUNTY.

Officers for 1858:

President — Daniel Haigh.
Vice Presidents — O. C. Johnson, S. A. Tenny.
Secretary — Elijah W. Barnes.
Corresponding Secretary — ¥m. Greenwood.
Treasurer — Wm, Thurber.

The fair of this county for 1858, took place on the 12th, 13th and
14th October. All the departments were well filled, which made
this exhibition by far the best the society has ever made. "We do not
hesitate to say that Kendall county can present a fair competition
to any county in the State in articles of agriculture and manufac-
tures.

The gathering of the people was large, and none went away dis-
appointed in the exhibition — unless it was that it far exceeded
what was anticipated.

Near the close of the fair Hon. M. L. Dunlap delivered an ad-
dress to the people, which riveted the attention of all who heard it.

ADDRESS, BY M. L. DUNLAP,

BEFORE THE KENDALL COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, OCTOBER 12, 13 AND 14, 1858.

Ladies and Gentlemen :

Winter has given place to spring ; the spring is past and gone ;
the summer has shed its heats and passed away, and now autumn,
with its many hues of ripened glory, is shedding its dream-like full-
ness of golden richness on swelling prairie, wood-crowned hill and
murmuring river. The frost has covered the footstalks of the leafy
covering of the forest, the orchard and the lawn, and their summer
hues of lovely green are now embrowned and made the sport and play
of the autumn wind. The morning sun is enshrouded in mists which
go up from yonder river, and reflected from the fields by an airy
covering — the gauze mantle which King Frost first spreads over his

231

domain before he wraps them in the embrace of winter. But there is
no season so full of jubilant thought and thankful feeling as autumn.
Its mellow hues, full of the bounties of the year, are presented on e very-
hand. The field, the barn and the cellar are teeming with the pro-
ducts for which winter crumbled down the soil and disintegrated
its elements of fertility. It was for this that the showers of spring
swelled the bud, and made the germs shoot forth, that bade the
flowers open out into beauty, to please the eye and give us promise
of plenty. It was for this the summer's sun glowed with a more
ardent heat, to fuse the silica and potash to liquid glass, where-
with to coat the slender stalks of Cerealia, that they might give
the autumn the golden grain. It was for this that the long sum-
mer days were devoted to the manufacture of starch, of gluten, of
sugar and of gum, that the autumn might gather up ample stores
for the year. It was for this that Pomona rounded up the orb-like
apple, simmered down the cruder juice of the fruits, to please
the taste. It was for this the sun penciled up their outer rind
with pictures outvieing the painter's brush — to please the eye of
the laborer, and give him rich return for his toil. It is the season
when the harvest home is sung with joyous thought ; when the
husbandman can return his thanks to the Most High, for the
care He has exercised over him through the varied changes of the
year. Autumn, so full of goodness, so full of gladness, so garnered
up with the products of sunbrowned toil — so rich in contentment,
so rich in the love of home, around which the leaves play their
whirls of eddying mirth, or gently fall from their loosened footstalks,
like ripened humanity, sinking to its bed of rest — to both the
spring shall again return, the one to refill the same round of duties,
while the other shall pass to a higher and more glorious sphere.
Thus to autumn have we many reasons to be grateful, and to bow
down with thankfulness for its many bounties, as the harbinger
and avant cornier of that great future.

Ceres, Pomona and Flora ! thou Mythological Goddesses ! how
oft have we endowed thee with seeming attributes of wondrous
power ! "W e have watched to see thee kiss the leaflets of the wa-
ving grain — to see thee round up the fruits and to paint the rain-
bow's hues on the petals of the flowers. We have examined the ar-
cana of nature — have solved the atoms that thou dost use in the struc-
ture of vegetation — the scintillations of light from which thou dost
abstract the colors of thy pallet, but thy corporal presence is hidden
in mystery, and we sometimes doubt thy existence.

For a moment let us turn our attention to the past. Let us look
back into the misty ages of by-gone years, when this great sweep
of prairie lay beneath the surging billows of the mighty ocean,
where drifted, lay on its wave-washed bed the products of antedilu-
vian forests, now changed to coal, and covered by the waves of di-
luvian drift, as the ocean left its bed, and where the vast stretches
of prairie first felt the genial influence and drank in the heats of
the summer sun. Ages upon ages have intervened — the rocky

232

crust has crumbled into soil — the granite rocks have yielded their
stores of potash and silica — the limestone has given up its elements
of fertility — the water courses have carved their way, like great
dead furrows to drain the land, leaving to us a soil unsurpassed in
all the essential elements of vegetable nutrition — a country adapted
to the wants of man, with a climate composed of the laughing
zephyrs of the south — the health-giving breezes of the north — the
moisture-laden winds of the east, and the ripening breath of the
west. With all this wealth of soil and climate, may we not carve
out homes of which we may well be proud — homes of beauty and
happy contentment, around which shall cluster the deep affections
of youth and the love of more mature age. But allow me ask you
if the love of show — the ambition to lord it over quarter sections
and sections innumerable — to be great farmers — to feast your eyes
with the golden glories of broad acres and great herds, has not
lessened your love of home ? — if it has not left your dwellings ex-
posed to the glare of the noonday sun ? — if it has not cheated your
children out of the leafy canopy that should shelter them from the
fierce heats when the dog star rages and the air is all aglow with
solar fire ?

It is natural for us who were born and bred on a more sterile
and unyielding soil, to be enraptured with the rich prairies that
lay in all their beauty before us, and we may well be excused from
a desire to own not only what we can cultivate, but a large share
of the adjoining land. But when this desire has the effect to make
us slaves to our ambition, to almost desolate our homes, or at least
make them cease to be attractive, it then becomes our duty to
part with our surplus acres to those who would make neighbors,
and thus increase the social bonds of life, and give us the means
and the time to plant trees, to make pleasant walks and arbors, to
surround our home with the useful and beautiful.

This broad sweep of land was but yesterday in the hands of the
" Illini" who roamed over it without noting its hidden wealth
and power to produce them food. They could not unlock its
cereal treasures, nor make themselves stately and happy homes, from
which gaunt famine could be driven at will. Exposed to the dews
and winds of heaven, decimated by haggard famine, they have
sunk one by one, until no remnant of their tribe is left to point out
the place of their last council fire.

They too, like us, were lovers of the beautiful prairie, with its
line of stately forest, skirting the streams and the sylvan groves
that lay in modest beauty upon its ample sweep, and like the great
farmer, would permit no neighbor to divide with them the broad
acres that they could not use. In this they have left us one lesson
that we may well heed, which is, simply, that t© the ownership of
soil should be added a desire and ability to cultivate it, so as not to
impair its riches, that it be made to yield its bounties and its bless-
ings, for there are none so poor as those who are land-poor — they
are like the man at sea alone in his stately ship, filled with bags of

233

gold, but without food, and who, amid the riches of his golden
treasures, must sink under the gnawing pangs of hunger.

We have now made each other's acquaintance, and a mutual
confidence, I trust, has been established between us. I will, there-
fore, offer you my hand, that we may make together the circuit of
your show-grounds, to examine the products of your teeming acres
— the mechanical ingenuity of your shops — the articles of domestic
use, of ornament and of beauty. You have been so accustomed to
the beautiful slopes of La Belle Fox, that I almost fear you cease
to" admire their varying outline, whether studded with graceful
gems of forest beauty, or revealing the open prairie, waving with
ripened grain. This spot, selected as the Mecca of your rural
worship, possesses for me superior attractions. Just down in yonder
valley is a thread of silver, like a bright gem in the grey setting
of the autumn landscape ; it goes purling and murmuring and
kissing the shores with a gentleness that almost lulls one to sleep ;
yet when its gentle march is impeded, it dashes madly forward ;
but its force is chastened and put to use by the hand of genius.

The Indian, when driving his light canoe over its glistening
surface, little thought its placid flow of water would be compelled
to crush the corn beneath ponderous pestles in the white man's
mortar, and his astonishment would be beyond bounds were he to
come within this inclosure and see the various products of your
toil ; he would think there was some enchantment — that he had
passed the river of time, and that he was inside the great hunting
ground which is to be the reward of all his toil.

But we cannot stop to moralize longer, for we are at the build-
ing that now groans beneath the loads of farm products and other
articles of useful labor. First we come in contact with the Squash
family, having within its social circle a great variety, well adapted
to our various tastes. Cousin Pumpkin has on his holiday coat,
ready to be offered up to appease the appetite of the votaries of
" Thanksgiving." Sweet Potatoes make a large display, giving
ample evidence of rich soil and sunny skies. Among those shown
the Early Nanesmond will prove the most valuable for this part of
the State, from its vigor and early maturity. You can plant them
any time during the months of May and June, with good assurance
of a fair crop. I am glad to see you have so high a regard for
them. You will find them a pleasant and healthful food, but allow
me to whisper in your ear that they should be planted in large
hills, and that the vines should be cut from the hills on the morn-
ing of the first frost, before the sun has blackened their leaves. Of
Irish Potatoes you also make a large display, and among the va-
rieties, new and old, are some of high merit. Here is a basket of
" Round Pink Eyes," planted upon clover soil, yielding four hun-
dred and fifty bushels per acre. A clover sod! what a patten of
fertility ! what a talismanic charm does it contain ! it is the hid-
den wand that will unlock the fertility of your matchless acres.
The Bound Pink Eye is a fine grower, but I will betray its secret
—30

234

— its flesh is yellow, and no yellow fleshed potato ever yet pleased
the careful housewife. Give us the white, starchy tuber with
which to flank the rich roast from yonder Durham, or the fish that
sport in your favorite river. Onions, beets, carrots, turnips, parsnips,
beans and celery till up the ample space allotted to this depart-
ment. It is not my purpose to laud your efforts, but I will simply
say that the farmers of famed Egypt failed to make more than a
tithe of the show in this department at the late State Fair. You
have done yourself no great credit in the display of grains and
seeds, at which allow me to express a surprise. Small lots 6f
spring wheat, oats, barley, Hungarian grass and timothy seed is all
that I can find. I shall believe the charge true, that your soil and
climate is not well adapted to the growth of winter wheat. We
next come to the department of Pomona and Flora. The vernal
frost entered the list against Pomona, and she yielded to the chill-
ing shock. A few specimens that our friend Pope wrung from the
hands of his frostship are here displayed in company with those
who had their home more under the direct influence of the south-
ern sun. But Flora is more fortunate, when aided by such warm
friends as Ellsworth & Co. and Galusha, who have presented such
fine specimens of dahlias, pansies, roses, etc. Here, half hid
among these gems of floral beauty, is a display of tiny bottles filled
with flower seeds, numbering twenty-four varieties, which will make
beautiful the home of our young friend Miss Susannah Minkler,
who will have a due regard for their respective wants. We must
now begin to elbow our way among the more valuable products of
the dairy, and offerings of our female friends. The display of
butter and cheese is what we might expect from the rich pastures
of the Fox River Yalley, and had it been sent to the State Fair
would have been pointed to as ample proof that there was not only
a Goshen but a Hamburg somewhere on the wide sweep of prairie
that forms the boast of our State. These tables are very properly
flanked with specimens of nursery trees from our friend Galusha.
Just look at the symmetry and thrift of those apple, evergreen and
other trees, and ask yourself if anj "tree peddler" will again
have your ear — if you will ever again be seduced by the show of
fancy pictures of some pomological myth, to purchase whips in-
stead of trees.

I would like to call your attention to the great value of those
silver leaf maples, to be grown for shade and timber ; nor will I
forget to urge the value of that European larch, whose rapid growth
and durable keeping qualities will yet make it rank high among
the forest trees that are yet to wave in triumph on our wide spread
prairies. Minkler also comes to the rescue, and presents evidence
beyond dispute that the prairie soil is the proper soil in which to
grow the trees for the prairie orchards.

Our next investigation is among the jellies, preserves and honey,
of which there is a large display. The honey-bee has been indus-
trious in gathering his winter stores from the ample fields of white

235

clover. He must have been thankful for the new house which his
careful friend " Phelps" has presented for his comfort, and will
doubtless well repay him for the outlay. Wine ! yes, here is na-
tive wine from the cherry, the currant and the native grape — wine
that would put to blush the semi-drug and semi-whisky products
of our shops. Next to the pyramids of golden butter stands the
ample loaf and snowy biscuit, proud monuments to the abilities and
care of the wives and daughters of the hardy tillers of the soil.
Now we come to wool carpets, rag carpets, rugs, lamp mats, and
everywhere hung up, ft lded up, are bed spreads, quilts and com-
forts enough to make the winter king pale his face and yield up a
part of his frosty breath before such genial influences.

But here is a group presenting rare artistic merit, from the hand
of Mrs. G. H. Steward. Seven pictures, painted on glass, inclosed
in frames of leather work, with boxes and baskets to match, and
beside them are specimens of equal merit from the hand of Mrs.
H. B. Henning, comprising four Grecian and two oriental land-
scapes, in leather work frames, to which is added a leather work
box. A box of wax fruit and one of wax flowers, by Mrs. Sher-
win, is so well done that I fear in the present scarcity of fruit it
may be stolen by some fruit-loving person, and the counterfeit be
not discovered until too late, when the doctor, with his stomach-
pump, will be called in to recover wax presentiment. Daguerreo-
types and photograj)hs of surpassing excellence are displayed in no
stinted numbers. Among these works of art are bird cages, but
the tiny warblers are silent, nor will they sing until again within
the sacred precincts of the family circle. We must move to the
next table, where stocking yarn, embroidery of all patterns, kinds
and qualities, lamp mats, shirts and dresses are abundantly dis-
played. A dash churn with a new attachment — not a new attach-
ment of sweet sixteen, with both hands hold of the dash, but a
cold iron attachment of wheel and crank, to be propelled by dog or
horse. A corn planter, more ingenious than useful ; several sets
of excellent harness, in front of which stands Adams' corn sheller,
which is receiving so many commendations from our corn growing
farmers. While on the subject of corn, I must not omit the piles
of golden ears that are filled in where space is found, both on and
under the tables. One specimen from Mr. William Thurber is
well worthy of note, for the large size and ripeness of the ears ;
nor is this all for which it should attract more of our attention.
Part of it was taken from a lot of 28 rods, which produced at the rate
of 137 bushels of 70 pounds per bushel to the acre ; and some of
it, from another part of a field of five acres, bearing the average of
the field, forty rods of which was husked, producing at the rate of
124 bushels to the acre. Now you will say this is pretty good
corn for this season, and possibly you may think there is some
error ; but I have no doubt of the truth of the statement, that his
field of five acres will produce 124 bushels to the acre.

236

You all know that Mr. Thurber is a modest man, and conld hardly
be pursuaded to come up here and unfold to you the process by
which he has beat the natives in corn growing ; but he has confi-
ded the secret to me, and I am going to ask you all to help me
keep it. In the spring of 1857 he took the liberty to plow this
land a foot deep, which he calls subsoiling ; but in this he miscalls
terms. His subsoiling was trench plowing ; that is, going twice
in the same furrow, and throwing the subsoil, which was a stiff
clay, to the surface. The land was cropped that year, and the last
spring he put fifteen loads of that substance per acre that accumu-
lates about stables, and sometimes in such quantities that the
buildings have to be moved. Perhaps you will call this manure,
which in all probability it is. This was plowed in, running the
plow ten inches deep. The land was marked off and planted with
the early Dent corn. Of course Mr. Thurber could not afford to
grow any weeds on this land, after he had been to so much pains-
taking with it. He kept it well cultivated, and you have the re-
sult. So much for deep plowing, manure and careful culture.
The cattle are now in the ring, and we will walk up and examine
their fine points and coloring. " Bill " has won the first prize and
walks off, flaunting the blue ribbon with considerable of the cod-
fish cut, and followed with his roan bullship " Belted "Will," proud
of the red ribbon, which is a certificate of his standing as second
in the herd of aged bulls. Of three years old bulls, " Don Juan,"
a beautiful roan animal, but with a naughty "Byronic" name, soon
appeared with the significant blue, followed by Hector, carrying
off the red.

Only one two years old bull came to claim the honors, and being
judged worthy, the first premium was awarded him. His name is
" Dark Roan," being all his owner could afford him these hard
times.

Of yearlings "Young Enterprise" — what an enterprising name
— was adjudged the post of honor, while " Jim" has the second
post of honor.

The bull calves came next in order, when " Gen. Havelock" had
the blue placed on his tiny horns, while the honors of the red were
awarded to "Fremont."

Among the aged cows, " Nelly" was awarded the post of ma-
tronly honor, and " Beauty" must be content with the second
place.

Among the three years old cows " Snowdrop" came in first and
"Bracelet" second.

Among the two years old heifers, Dutchess of Kent — a noble
name, by the way — was given the first award, and " Beauty"
second.

Of the yearling heifers, "Lilly Dale" is ]STo. 1, and "Pride of
the West" No. 2 — both owned by Mr. Sinclair.

Among the heifer calves " Susan" stands first and " Lizzie"
second.

237

I must not forget to mention that all these claim royal descent,
unmixed with vulgar blood.

" Fanny," a beautiful cream color, owned by George Chambers,
bore off the honors among the native cows for her milking quali-
ties, and well she deserves the high position awarded her.

We must give our attention to the horses, which are now crowd-
ing into the ring, and pass over the numerous fine animals, both
grade and native.

"Tippo Saib" is endowed with the post of honor as chief of the
harem, and well does he deserve this mark of favor ; but "Young
Onus" is dividing with him the honors, as he bears himself proudly
'around the ring.

Among the three years old, " Charley" has won the blue, while
" Frank" gracefully submits to the red. Here comes Mr. Beck,
driving "Kit" and "Puss," who deserve along streamer of blue
instead of that short bit presented them by the committee.

Goodrich is just in with his load of the famed fanning mills.
See how the farmers crowd around them, and well they may, for
those mills possess more powerful logic than my feeble efforts can
afford. They contain convincing arguments that wheat will not
turn to chess when once passed through their magic screens. Nor
will oats choke out the spring wheat or foul seed find place on the
farm among the field crops, when this mill is used. Goodrich has
taken away the last hope of the slovenly farmer by which he can
shift the fault of foul seed to others. He has reached their pock-
ets by giving them better prices for their well cleaned grain and
seeds.

The plowing match is one of deep interest, and you may well
feel proud of it ; but your plowmen have not done their duty —
their furrows are too shallow to reach the deposit of potash so es-
sential to good crops.

Of agricultural implements the show is almost a failure, there
being no large establishments for their manufacture in the county.
This is to be regretted, for the Fox has the power at command to
turn the wheel that shall wield the ponderous hammer or speed
the lathe to do the work for all your wants in this line.

Of swine the show is not large, but all of superior animals, and
what is peculiar, nearly all of* a pure white. I can only construe
this that a mixture of black is not to your taste, and you leave it to
politicians to speculate on the value of a mixed color.

The sheep family make a fair display of snowy wool, and will
well repay you for increased attention in this part of your rural
labors.

We must now return to the stand, but before we do, just cast a
look over these beautiful grounds, with its rich setting, the pro-
ducts of your toil, and contrast it with your former efforts. Do
you suppose that you will again be cramped within a church or a
court house yard ? Do you not rather think that these grounds
will soon be too small for your use — that you will soon want more

238

space ? It should be your pride to fit them up with sheds, with
stalls and with proper buildings, so that when autumn, with its
ripened glory, shall again visit you, that you may again meet for
your mutual advantage and count up your progress.

I should liked to have had the pleasure of learning the names of
the several owners, but with few exceptions this is a deep secret,
more difficult to unlock than the hidden mystery of the source of
the White Nile ; but in due time this will be unfolded to the world
by your officers, when those who choose to examine the record
will be enlightened. In the mean time I must return home, with
the reflection that the integrity of your committees are under sus-
picion, and that you dare not trust so great a secret to their keep-
ing. I had supposed that one important object in these exhibitions
is to advertise the owner and his goods. This is laudable and
should be encouraged ; but this suppression of the owners' names
has the effect, in our opinion, to lesson the value of the exhibition.
I would suggest, if it is necessary to continue this sort of hocus
pocus, that a committee be chosen, who are to be blindfolded, like
Dame Justice with the scales, furnished with a set of dice, and
play for the prizes. This would be disinterested, and save the
committee from the suspicion of dishonesty, and at the same time
permit the public to know who are the owners oi articles on exhi-
bition.

You have led me back to this stand for the avowed purpose of
giving you my opinion of your progress.

You have treated me with courtesy and great freedom in ex-
plaining the minute details and processes of your farming and
household operations, by which you have been enabled to make
this demonstration as a proof of your assertions. You have in-
formed me of the struggle and privations incident to your first set-
tlement— the want of mills, of markets and of schools — the thou-
sand inconveniences of your farming and household arrangements
— of your trips to the lake market, the embryo city of the then
far-off west — how you bartered your wheat, your corn, your beef
and your pork for your hardware, for clothing and for groceries,
and returned to your homes laden with the products of your ex-
change. You have given me graphic pictures of passing treach-
erous sloughs, and how heavy rains impeded your progress — of
your camping out, during your journeying to and from market —
of the straying off of your team or of being soaked through by the
passing shower ; all of these incidents are now to you matters of
pride, and you cast back your thoughts to them and bring them
in comparison with the present now. If I have sympathized with
you in your earlier privations, I have rejoiced with you when the
iron horse first thundered over your prairie — when the steam whis-
tle first sent its shrill notes over the prairie and through the deep
aisles of your sylvan groves, bringing the markets of the world to
your doors, and inaugurating a new era in your progress. Your
whole time could then be devoted to your farms, and you have

239

since made wonderous progress. You are no longer on the west-
ern frontier, but in the midst of a populous state, with a fair
amount of the social machinery of the moral world about you. To
say that you are all first rate farmers — that you have all the com-
forts and conveniences of life — that your orchards, your lawns,
your farm buildings, your fences, your mode of farming is all that
can be desired — that your soil is too fertile to need manure, or
will not repay the cost of new fertilizers, would be a slander upon
your intelligence, and unworthy of your fame.

That your farms are too large — that you own too much land —
are facts so patent that they require no denial. Large farms pre-
clude compact, social neighborhoods, preventing the introduction
of schools, of churches and that society without which rural life
is but a mockery. The time is not distant when, by thorough
draining, deep culture and protection, a farm of one hundred acres
will give a greater surplus return than a whole section cultivated
in the present mode. Tile draining has not as yet attracted your
attention, but you will soon learn its great value. It will defend
you against drouth by making the soil permeable, thereby allow-
ing the moisture to arise by capillary attraction. It will save your
crops against heavy rains, like those of the past season, by allow-
ing the surplus water to filter through to the drains, by which it is
discharged. It will thus carry to the roots of plants ammonia and
the phosphates that are wanting by the needy plant. It will not
only prevent the roots of j3lants from being destroyed by standing
in stagnant water, but will allow them to go deep after the proper
elements of their growth. It will give to your orchards a healthy
and vigorous growth, and insure you fair returns of their pomonal
products. It will make your yards, your gardens and your lawns
pleasant places, and give to your home surrounding new beauties,
that shall make you contented with less though better cultivated
acres. Allow me to say to you that thorough draining is one of
the first great essentials to success, and until you adopt it you will
fall behind in the average acred products of the sterile farms of the
rugged hills of New England. "With all the boasted richness of
your soil, now in its virgin fertility, why do you not produce more
per acre than you do % Do you desire to follow in the footsteps of
worn-out Yirginia or will you judiciously use the wealth at your
command? We proudly boast o± our cereal wealth, and point
to the millions of bushels of surplus which we send to distant
markets yearly. At the same time we are silent about the
great number of acres that we run over to make up the
amount. We have now more land under the plow than with
the natural increase of our labor we can judiciously cultivate
in the next ten years, without turning over another foot of the un-
broken prairie. In your premium list would it not be better to
offer a reward for the best acre of wheat, of corn, of oats or of po-
tatoes than simply to allow the cultivator to select a bushel of the
best specimens of his whole crop ? Of what use are overgrown

240

products ? They are pithy, watery specimens — mere lusus naturm,
and not fair specimens of careful culture. They are those acci-
dents at which we wonder, but which we throw aside for their
inferiority when we come to their use. It is well that they should
be exhibited, but they should not be set forth and paraded as pat-
terns for us to follow. It would be much better to make it a rule
that the bushel of wheat that should take the first prize should be
an average of the crop, rather than a bushel of the best grains
carefully winnowed from a thousand bushels. I think this part of
our fairs needs a thorough overhauling, so that the premiums
offered will bring together more of the useful and less of the won-
derful.

"Would it not be well to offer premiums for the best orchard, the
best garden, the best planned yard and house grounds, the most
convenient house, the most useful and convenient barn, and to the
farmer who takes the best care of his stock, reference being had to
the number — for the most profitable farm, reference also being had
to the number of acres and cost of improvement — for the best
flower garden, planted and tended by the youth of either sex.
Our females need more out-door -exercise, and this would tend to
establish it. It would produce a rivalry that would be productive
of high social worth ; it would tend to draw the youth around
their home, for they themselves would assist in furnishing its at-
tractions ; it would build up a joint interest, around which the
family would cluster their affections.

The subject of fencing is one of great importance, and I would
call your attention to the great value of having your stock kept upon
the farm, and within proper inclosures. There is no question in my
mind that the early settlers of the prairies would have found it
more to their interests to have made inclosures for their stock, and
to have let the grain take care of itself, for there is no danger of
the grain straying off, while the loss of time in looking up estrayed
teams, cows and other stock, has been the prolific source of loss and
annoyance. We know also that when the prairie has been pastured
a few seasons, that the grass becomes thin, the turf undergoes the
process of decay, which, with the droppings of stock, makes it one
of the most fertile fields for corn that we have. This sod is easily
broken up in early spring with a span of horses, costing no more
per acre to plow it than old land, and all that is necessary to insure
a bountiful crop is to chop in the seed, when, without further care,
if the seed be good, it will rival the old land with its yield of golden
ears. By this course, the grain land in its turn can be seeded down
and mowed or pastured, and in turn again come under the plow,
either for sod corn, winter or spring wheat. The farmer who per-
mits his stock to wander over the prairies, without furnishing them
with the cultivated grasses for spring and autumn feed, is blind to
his own interest, and should be taught that other food than the
corn field, and that other shelter than the corner of fences are need-
ed for his stock.

241

As it would be the heiglith of folly to grow grain alone on the
farm year after year, so it would be bad economy to send the stock
off to some distant prairie to pasture, when the time spent in look-
ing after them would cost nearly as much per annum as would a
fence to inclose them. In the northern and central portion of the
State, the soil and climate are so admirably adapted to a mixed
husbandry of grain and stock growing, that it is hardly possible
that a farmer can for a long time prove successful in disregarding
this natural, I might say almost imperative provision of nature.

It hence follows that no farmer can afford to dispense with stock
upon his farm, nor can he afford to feed them upon corn thrown to
them in the highway, whence they may freely ramble out upon the
prairie. You have, it is true, an abundance of pasturage during
half of May, all of June and July, and half of August, making three
months of abundance, and a scanty subsistence the remainder of the
spring and autumn ; and it is for this three months feed that the
grain is carefully fenced in. Even then this grain field is often so
arranged and occupied with corn and winter wheat, that the late
fall feed cannot be made available. I therefore ask, would it not
have been better that the stock were fenced in, the pasture sown
with clover and timothy grass, which requires no further culture
than sowing, so that six instead of three months good feed could be
obtained ? In this case there would be no need in looking up stray
teams when most wanted, lost cows whose milking qualities are
damaged for want of milking, or young cattle lost. Your land is
benefitted by pasturing, and by a judicious arrangement of the
fields most of the late fall feed can be made available. I do not
say that many of you do not pursue this course, for I know that
you do ; but there is such a large, I might say such a respectable
number, that I have considered it my duty to call your attention to
the fact.

I have no great veneration for what is termed scientific agricul-
ture ; that a chemist can take a handful of your farm soil and tell
what it requires to make it more fertile by a single analysis ; he
might give some crude hints, but his opinion would be of little
value. On the other hand, we knew that stable manure possesses
a wonderful charm applied to corn, to root crops and to the culti-
vated grasses, while to the cereals when applied directly its effect
is to increase the growth of straw to such an extent as to endanger
the crop. This we know without the aid of the chemist ; it matters
not what ologies, what orgies, what phates or ites it may contain ;
suffice it for us to know that it is of paramount importance in the
successful culture of the staples named. Our barn-yard manure
may bleach and rot and crumble into dust ; the chemist may tell
us that its value is lost, yet we know that when we apply this same
waste to our garden vegetables, that it gives them a vigor almost
magical, and hastens their maturity several days in advance of
those in the same soil that have not been thus treated. It should
therefore be our care to see that no manure is lost, and that it be
—31

242

mixed in the soil to improve our crops. It should be our ambition
to grow a given quantity of grain, instead of to farm a given num-
ber of acres. The former advances us in our calling, while the
latter becomes a reproach and a bye-word.

The various insects, so contemptible in themselves, yet when
arrayed as they sometimes are, in countless numbers, make no in-
significant enemy, and at which we are sometimes almost appalled,
they should receive more of our attention. The study of entymol-
ogy should be encouraged so as to enable us to know our enemies
from our friends, as it is well known that among insect life, there
are many that aid us in keeping down those which are bent on
mischief. We should thus be enabled to draw a line between
them so as to always distinguish the bad from the good.

The alkalies and acids are both injurious to insect life, and both
make valuable fertilizers. Is it not, therefore, possible that with
these aids, that we can make successful war on these destructive
hordes, and at the same time increase the growth of our plants ?

The chinch bug, the hessian fly, the bark louse, the woolly aphis,
the borer, and an almost endless variety of depredators prey upon our
trees and our field crops, while in early spring others as ruinous
commence to eat out the germ of the newly planted seeds, or des-
troy the first shoot of the plants. We must look these things in
the face, and learn to check their ravages ; it will not do to let them
come when they will, eat what they choose and leave at their good
pleasure. The curculio which has ravaged our plums, our nectar-
ines, and threatens with destruction our entire peach crop, has lately
been met upon the threshhold of his victories. A few coops of
chickens have been put in array against him, and he has been jarred
from his perch ; but he swarms in increased numbers, and bids the
laggards in practical entymology defiance. Was he followed up
with dose after dose of acids and alkalies, shook down into Dr.
Hull's inverted wheel-barrow umbrella, while the morning sun is
drinking up the dews, think you, would he not succumb to such
energetic practice ?

The vegetable garden ! How we rejoice when we enter its hal-
lowed bounds of health-giving food ! Huge beets, carrots, turn-
ips, onions, cabbages, etc., rich with the ripened hues of autumn,
ready to be garnered into the cellar, to minister to our wants while
the earth performs hibernation, and no longer yields her bounties.
But when overrun with weeds, or the autumn grasses, among
which we find a few starved plants, faint evidence that the spring
visited the spot, and that the guardian spirit which rules the far-
mer has been off duty — playing the laggard — and by sad, unwar-
ranted neglect, made the most valuable part of the farm a barren
waste.

Allow us for a moment to consider the flower garden, that bright
gem that, like a guardian angel, binds the household by its secret
bonds of beauty. Are we not all lovers of the beautiful % We
may worship at the shrine of wealth — we may pay tribute to fame,

243

but we bow down in humble adoration to beauty. What is a farm-
house without flowers ? Of what value is its surroundings, if flow-
ers— vernal flowers, summer flowers and autumn flowers form not
a part of the fitting? It is like the blasted pine on the mountain's
side, alone in its desolation, and without the hope of again having
its head clothed in verdure, an emblem of awe, of blasted hopes or
the want of energy. Plant flowers — they will repay your care in
love, in an enlarged idea of the Great Giver, and when you bend
from toil they will breathe sweet odors that shall repay you for all
their care.

Our good friends, the birds, should partake of our bounty, and
be protected in their rights. They destroy hundreds of insects, of
larva and of caterpillars daily, and were it not for them the insect
tribes would rob our orchards of their foliage, our shade trees of
their beauty, and our fields of a large part of their products. It
is true that they sometimes take a little toll, but it is when they
have exhausted our insect enemies, or that we fail to plow up the
grubs upon which they should make their daily meals. Did you
ever know the black bird to pull up your corn after the plow com-
menced turning up the fresh soil, whence its keen eye would seek
out the grubs, its more favorite food ? See with what confidence
they follow after you in early spring, as you turn up the soil for
your summer crops of corn and oats. Would it not be better to
feed them than to hunt them down — to plant groves for their pro-
tection than to drive them away ? I know your answer will be in
the affirmative. What music there is in the robin's early carol, as
the hues of the morning first paint their faint outlines on the gates
ot day, and before the sun has shed his glories over the earth, just
aroused from her winter sleep ! To you whose homes are em-
bowered in trees and climbing vines, and who are daily greeted
with bird music, richer than that which flows from reed or tortured
string, you can fully appreciate the value of their labors in your
behalf. But to those whose morning music is only the shrill clarion
notes of the rough throated Shanghai — to them we would appeal,
to them we would urge the rights and privilegs of our feathered
friends.

In conclusion, I would say that your success in this exhibition
should stimulate you to new exertion. It shows that you are
making good progress in your vocation, and that these days de-
voted to a review of your labors will have a beneficial effect on
your future efforts. It is a day that will be rich in the reminis-
cences of your children, and in after years, when your wide sweep
of prairie shall be under the dominion of the plow, and its surface
dotted with groves, in which shall nestle thousands of homes —
when the steam plow shall have turned up the now hidden wealth
of your subsoil, and your broad acres shall have doubled their
averaged acred products, then you may look back upon this effort
as the beginning of your rapid onward progress.

244
KNOX COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — S. I. Bergen.
Secretary — Thomas Muir.
Treasurer — H. K. Taylor.

The Knox Count)7 Agricultural Society was organized June 4th,
1853, or rather re-organized, ior it had a brief existence some ten
years before, but was suspended on account of the financial diffi-
culties of that time.

From the time of its revival its progress has been continual and
rapid. In 1855 the Society purchased ten acres of land for fair
grounds. These grounds have been inclosed with a close board
lence, six feet in hight. Two skeleton exhibition booths have
been erected, each one hundred feet long, and one booth eighty
feet long, furnished with seats for the accommodation of visitors at
the fair. These booths, when in use, are covered with canvas. A
secretary's office, sixteen by twenty feet, an octagonal centre
building, fifteen feet in diameter, and sixty-six permanent covered
stalls have also been erected. Two hundred and forty trees of
different kinds have been planted out on the grounds. The Soci-
ety contemplates the erection of substantial buildings and stalls for
the protection of all articles and animals on exhibition that may
require protection.

As a means of obviating an objection sometimes raised, that
awarding committees are influenced by a knowledge of the owner-
ship of the articles or animals which come under their considera-
tion, and of relieving such committees of any embarrassment on
that score, a plan of making entries and designating animals, etc.,
has been adopted, by which no one except the secretary has the
means of determining who is the owner of any article or animal
until after the awards have been made. This system gives gen-
eral satisfaction.

The exhibition of 1857 was far better and more extensive than
any before held by the Society. The number of superior Horses
and Cattle was large ; of Sheep there were several fine specimens.
The display of Swine was less extensive than usual, but there were
several fine Suffolks. In the Mechanical and Farm Implement
departments was exhibited a very general assortment of articles.
The display of Fruits and Vegetables was remarkably fine. The
booth, one hundred feet long, devoted to this department, was found
to be entirely inadequate. The other booth, devoted lo plain and
fancy Needlework, Domestic Manufactures, Flowers and Painting,
was well filled. The various kinds of Poultry were there in abun-
dance. K. H. Whiting erected one of windmills at the stock

well. This mill attracted much attention and was of material
service in raising water.

245

The beneficial influence of the Society was manifest at this fair,
in the increased number of thorough-bred cattle and horses and
Morgan horses — in the increased attention devoted to the products
of the dairy — to the manufacture of bread and cakes — the preser-
vation of fruits in various ways — the attention devoted to root
crops, and the eager inquiries in regard to the comparative pro-
ductiveness of the different varieties of grain on exhibition. For
the first time, sugar and syrup from the Chinese Cane was exhib-
ited. Seeds and grains were freely exchanged and distributed by
the exhibitors. Harmony and good will pervaded the multitude.
A community of feeling was evidently arising among people of
different professions and of different parts of the county. Every
farmer and mechanic returned to his home with a fuller confidence
in the respectability of his profession and a higher appreciation of
the intelligence and power ot the class to which he belongs. The
receipts of the Society at the fair of J 857 were $1,200.

The officers of the Society were, President, R. L. Hannaman ;
Yice Presidents, Wm. M. Clark, J. Blanchard, George Newman
and James JEL Sumner ; Secretary, P. H. Stafford ; Treasurer, H.
Knox Taylor; Executive Committee, Cephas Arms, H. S. Woods,
Wm. Leigh ton, Geo. I. Bergen, Luther Martin, Wm. McMurtry
and A. W. Martin.

On the 7th day of November, 1857, the Society elected the fol-
lowing named persons, officers for the ensuing year : President,
George I. Bergen ; Vice Presidents, Wm. Stewart, W. I). Coy, R.
W. Hunt, Thomas McKee, P. W. Epperson, John Terry, Asa
Haynes, William Goodell, Stephen Smith, Edward Crane. B. F.
Allen, Woodford Bearee, R. W. Miles, William Leighton, Amos
Ward, M. B. Mason, Jacob Heightlinger, Benj. Shafer, Thomas
Whiting, Jonathan Gibbs ; Executive Committee, J. M. Wetmore,
R. H. Whiting, S. S. Russell, Luther Martin, Henry Arms, Isaac
Hunter and A. W. Martin ; Secretary, Thos. Muir ; Treasurer, H.
Knox Taylor.

The large number of vice presidents were elected, one from
each township in the county, with a view of exciting a more gen-
eral interest in the Society.

The premium list for the fair of 1858 was very carefully made
up and greatly enlarged. A new and tasteful diploma was pro-
cured, and the accommodations for live stock much incrersed. But
as the season advanced, the officers of the Society could not avoid
feeling some misgivings. The whole country was laboring under
a scarcity of money — the spring and summer had been wet and
extremely unpropitious — hurricanes had swept over various parts
of the county, prostrating buildings, fences, orchards and growing
and ripening crops — hail storms had transformed fruitful farms
into temporary deserts. It almost seemed that everything within
and without conspired to blast the hopes of the farmers and conse-
quently of the mechanic. Yet, under all these discouraging cir-
cumstances, preparations were made for the fair, and the result

246

vindicated the wisdom of the course. The attendance on the
second day of the fair was estimated by competent judges at six
thousand.

As a means of showing, at one view, the extent and variety of
the exhibition of 1858, the interest taken in the Society by the
people of the county and the general dissemination of skill in. the
various departments, the following table is introduced:

Whole number of entries 1,025

" " persons making entries 362

" " premiums offered 490

" " " awarded 341

" amount offered in premiums $1,335

" " awarded " $928

" number of diplomas 59

" " books 26

" " persons and firms who received 196

" " members of society 535

" amount of reoeipts at fair $1,096

" " " of the year $1,225

It will be seen that the number of exhibitors was large as was
also the number who received premiums.

The display of Fruits and Vegetables was less this year than
it was at the fair of last year. In every other department the ex-
hibition was better. In Classes " Farm Implements" and " Me-
chanical" many of the articles were the invention of the exhibitors,
among these may be mentioned, Brown's Corn Planter, Colton's
"Wheel Plow, Lee's Gang Plow and Drill, Bassett's Horse Eake,
Thirlwell's Cultivator, Wallock's Straw Cutter, Mitchell's Corn
Planter and Corbin's Broadcast Seed Sower. Of the Horses, three
were thorough-bred and one was a son of the celebrated trotting
horse, St. Lawrence, and several were Morgans, from three-fourths
to pure blood.

The Society, considering that the fact that an animal had pas-
sed under the supervision of its committee as thorough-bred would
be taken as evidence that it was really so, have required that per-
fect pedigrees should be presented. The operation of this rule ex-
cluded some cattle which were entered in that class.

A variety of hogs have been bred in this county for many years
which deserves to be more widely known. They are here called
" Spotted China." They fatten easily at any age ; are of quiet
habits ; are prolific, and usually range from 250 to 400 lbs. net
weight at sixteen months old. It is confidently believed that these
hogs will compare favorably with any of the different breeds which
have engaged public attention within the last fifteen years.
Several fine specimens of Spanish and French Merino Sheep were
at this fair.

During the entire three days of the fair, September 22, 23 and
24, the utmost good feeling was manifested by exhibitors and
visitors, and multitudes who had been mere spectators left the
grounds fully determined to be exhibitors hereafter. A material
change has been developed in the purposes of the exhibitors since

247

the organization of the Society. At first the ambition of each was
to excel as an individual — the rivalry was with his neighbor — now
each one is anxious to co-operate with his neighbor that we may
excel as a county.

It is believed that the Society is more firmly entrenched in the
good will of the people of the county at the present moment than
at any former time.

On the 6th day of November, 1858, the Society adopted a re-
vised constitution and a set of general rules. These documents
are believed to possess many excellencies. Officers for the ensuing
year were elected at the same time, as follows : President, George
I. Bergen ; Yice President, William Leighton ; Secretary, A. W.
Martin ; Treasurer, H. Knox Taylor ; Executive Committee, M.
B. Mason, J. H. Sumner, Isaac Hunter, Cephas Arms, Luther
Martin, S. S. Eussell and B. S. West ; Auditors, A. J. Dunlap and
Thomas Muir.

A very large number of persons in this county planted Chinese
Cane the past season, varying in amount from a few square rods
to twenty acres. From this large quantities of syrup were made,
varying in quality according to the time of cutting and skill in
manufacture. It is fully demonstrated that farmers can make their
own syrup and sugar from this plant.

It has occurred to the undersigned that the reports from the
county societies might embrace a variety of statistics tending to
exhibit the moral, educational, physical and industrial condition
and resources of the counties, and thus the successive volumes of
Transactions of the State Agricultural Society would become a re-
cord of deep interest to the agriculturist, the artizan, the statesman,
the philantrhopist and the immigrant. Such statistics, if carefully
prepared, would indicate to every class of men in what part of the
State their labor is most needed and best rewarded — what parts
are adapted to the various products of the earth — where minerals
abound and would exhibit to legislators the magnitude of the ag-
ricultural and mechanical interests, and more than all, would place
before the laboring part of the community evidence of the stupen-
dous results of their efforts and thus beget in them increased self-
respect and thereby elevate them socially and morally.

Stone suitable for building is found in different parts of the
county. Limestone abounds in some townships. The lime made
therefrom is of good quality. Bituminous coal is found in almost
every township. Some veins are two and a half feet thick, others
three feet, five feet, etc. Hundreds of excavations are made for
the purpose of supplying the immediate neighborhood, from which
it would be impossible to obtain a correct account. .Nearly all the
shops, stores, offices, school houses, etc., are warmed hy coal exca-
vated in the county.

A. W. MARTIN, Secretary.

248
LA SALLE COUNTY.

Officers for 1858:

President — Bronson Murray.

Vice-Presidents — Samuel R. Lewis, John H. Hosford, William
Cogswell, et al.

^Secretary — S. O. Harris.
Treasurer — T. R. Courtney.

Our annual fair was held at Ottawa, on the 28th, 29th and 30th
of September ; but owing to the facts that a horse show was held
in the county on the same days, and that the season was a very
bad one, it was not near as good as for "some years before. The
receipts, however, for the first day, were larger than ever before,
but the last day was stormy and the fair for that day was almost a
failure. But we have paid our premiums, $100 on improvements,
and have a small surplus in the treasury. On the whole we were
well pleased, and shall go to work another year with a right good
will and the brightest anticipations.

There is a marked improvement from year to year, especially
in stock ; and some of the finest cattle and horses to be seen any-
where can be found in this county.

In the mechanical department, too, there was much that was
praiseworthy on exhibition — though not one-fourth of our mechan-
ics were represented.

Our speaker for the day, John Hise, Esq., an energetic, talented
farmer, was unfortunately taken ill during the progress of the fair,
and we were deprived of our usual address — an omission which
all regretted, as something substantially good was anticipated.

We now have ten acres of ground, near town, well inclosed,
with buildings, pens, etc., and do not owe a dime to any one ; and
our prospects for the future look fair and bright.

J. 0. HARRIS, Recording Secretary.

LEE COUNTY.

Pursuant to a call, the citizens of Lee county met at Exchange
Hall, at 3 o'clock, P. M., the 14th day of July, A. D. 1858, to take
into consideration the best method of organizing an Agricultural
Society, under the general act for the incorporation of county agri-
cultural societies, approved February 8, 1857, by Legislature of the
State of Illinois, its objects to be to promote and improve the con-
dition of agricultural, horticultural, and the mechanical, manu-
facturing and household arts in Lee county.

The meeting was organized by calling J. B. Nash to the chair,
and appointing B. F. Shaw, Secretary.

249

On motion of James A. Hawley, a committee of seven was ap-
pointed by the chair to draft a constitution for the organization of
an Agricultural Society in Lee county.

Whereupon, the chair appointed Messrs. John Dement, James
A. Hawley, Win. E. Sheffield, A. C. Stedman, 1ST. W. Abbott,
Enoch Wood and George L. Herrick.

After an adjournment from 3 o'clock P. M. until 7 o'clock P.
M., the committee reported a constitution ; which was adopted,
and the following named persons were elected as officers of the
Lee County Agricultural Society, for the ensuing year : Wm. H.
Van Epps, President ; James C. Mead, Recording Secretary ;
James A. Hawley, Corresponding Secretary; Wm.JButler, Trea-
surer ; A. P. Whitney, F. W. Coe, Wm. Uhl, Seth H. Whitmore,
J. T. Little, Abram Brown, Lorenzo Wood, Hiram Terry, John
Mooers, Executive Committee.

On motion, the following gentlemen were appointed to draft a
set of by-laws for this Society : Wm. E. Sheffield, James L
Camp and A. C. Stedman.

At a meeting of the Society, held July 31st, the by-laws, as pre-
pared by the committee, were presented and adopted.

On motion, the following named gentlemen were appointed a
committee to view grounds and select a site upon which to locate
the annual fairs of the Society, in accordance with section 12 of
the constitution, viz : W. H. Van Epps, John Mooers and J, T.
Little.

Sec. 12. This Society shall hold its annual exhibition at Dixon, at such times as the
executive committee shall designate, for the space of fiva years next ensuing.

At a meeting held August 7th, it was, upon motion, ordered
that the grounds lying east of the cemetery, about one hundred
rods east of the centre of the city, which have been under view of
the committee, be and are hereby selected as the grounds upon
which to hold the annual exhibitions.

At a meeting held at Dixon, August 21st, it was, on motion,
ordered that Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the 20th, 21st and
22d days of October be the days upon which the Society hold its
annual exhibition.

The following preamble and resolution were unanimously
adopted :

Whereas it is deemed expedient and for the interest of the Lee County Agricultural So-
ciety, not only to increase its members, but the means of offering larger and more premi.
urns, open up a more extended acquaintance among farmers, build up and create, as the
Society is desirous, determined, and, we trust, has the ability to do, a Farmers' Union So-
ciety in fact, upon a just, liberal and permanent basis, where all persons may freely enter
the arena of laudab'e competition ; therefore,

Resolved, In behalf of the Lee County Agricultural Society, through their Executire
Committee in session, that they do hereby extend a cordial invitation to the farmers, me-
chanics and citizens generally of the counties of Ogle and Whiteside to join with them in
their first annual fair, to be held at Dixon, October 20th, 21st and 22d, 1858, and compete
equally in all respects with members of this Society for premiums only.

The piece of ground selected is most admirably adapted for the
purpose ; the Society has the privilege of using eight}T acres if at
—32

250

any time needed ; they now have inclosed about twenty acres ;
upon one corner of the ground is a spring of pure cold water,
affording a sufficient supply for all the stock the grounds will ac-
commodate ; about half of this ground is covered with a nice grove
of forest trees, making an excellent shade ; through this portion of
the ground are a large number of stalls and pens. The other part
of the ground is almost a level prairie, upon which has been laid
out and graded a good course for the exhibition of stock. This-
being the first year the buildings are only temporary, although
passably good and of large size.

The first day of the fair was a very disagreeable, dreary, wet day,
and but small attendance ; in consequence thereof the President an-
nounced upon the ground that the fair would be continued three
days longer, and that the entry books would be kept open another
day. The attendance during the three days was very good, ranging
from 4,000 to 7,000 persons.

The object of inviting the citizens of Ogle and "Whiteside coun-
ties to join with us was conceived to be a good one — it called forth
a large concourse of farmers from those counties to participate with
us, and brought out the best stock in the three counties, giving a
good opportunity for all interested to compare notes.

The receipts from admission tickets and entries were $1,845 00

Amount paid for fencing, building, grading grounds, labor, &o $1,450 57

" " premiums to this date 396 50

1,847 07

Over paid „ 2 07

Our premium list amounted to $850, although there has been
only about $400 called for, the balance being donated to the So-
ciety. Our Society is but slightly in debt, and before the 1st of
January, 1859, a handsome amount will be found in our treasury
to fall back upon for the year 1859 — a good effort the first year.

There were five hundred and forty-one names recorded as mem-
bers for this year, and there were about eleven hundred entries upon
the books for exhibition.

JAMES C. MEAD, Secretary.

LOGAN COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — Colby Knapp.
Vice-President — Jas. Tuttle.
Secretary — ¥m. H. Young.
Treasurer — ¥m. M. Dustin.

The first effort towards establishing an agricultural society in
this county was made in 1856. Previous to that time, although
the benefits and importance of such an association was admitted by

251

all, there had been no combined efforts upon the part of our citi-
zens for the improvement of our farmers.

Upon the 28th ot June, 1856, a public meeting was held, which
was numerously attended, for the purpose of organizing an agri-
cultural society; at which meeting a constitution was adopted, and
the following officers appointed : Colby Knapp, President ; M. C.
Hildreth, Vice-President ; Wm. H. Young, Secretary ; and ¥m.
F. Ryan, Treasurer. An Executive Committee was also appoint-
ed, and the 9th and 10th of October following fixed for holding
the first annual fair. In the month of September, and but a month
previous to the time set for the fair, the officers and Executive
Committee met, when it was found that but a very small sum had
been subscribed towards purchasing a suitable site for the fair
grounds and defraying the expenses of the fair. It was then seen
that we would either have to abandon altogether holding a fair
that year or else adopt some sure and speedy method of procuring
the necessary funds. Accordingly the officers and members pre-
sent, to the number of ten, formed themselves into an association,
upon the joint stock principle, each of whom paid in one hundred
dollars, and received a certificate of stock therefor. "With the
funds thus obtained a handsome piece of ground of ten acres was
purchased, one mile from Lincoln, and the same was inclosed with
a high, tight fence, and the necessary stalls and fixtures erected in
time for the fair. The success of this our first fair was complete,
and, considering the short time for preparation, the members had
good cause to congratulate themselves upon the fruits of their labor.

About four hundred dollars were distributed in premiums, and
the receipts for entries and at the gate were amply sufficient to pay
the same, as also all the incidental expenses attending the exhibi-
tion.

The display of horses was very fine, ninety-two entries having
been made.

The display of cattle, hogs and sheep, though not large, was
better, both as to quality and quantity, than was expected by the
Society.

Household, garden and orchard products, and the ladies depart-
ment, were well represented.

The whole number of animals and articles entered was two
hundred and fifteen. Total number of premiums awarded, ninety-
six. The total receipts, five hundred and thirty-six dollars.

Animated by the success which attended the first exhibition,
the Society, determining to profit by the experience which had
been gained, resolved to prepare for the second annual fair in a
manner worthy of our county and of the important interests which
such exhibitions are intended to promote.

The second annual meeting was held upon the 18th of March,
185V. An election of officers was held at this meeting, which result-
ed in the election of Colby Knapp, President ; James Tuttle, Yice-
President; Wm. H. Young, Secretary; Wm. M. Dustin, Treasurer.

252'

The Society having obtained from the Legislature, during the
preceding session, a charter, the same was accepted, and it was
ordered that the Society should in future act under the provisions
of the same.

The Treasurer, at this meeting, reported that stock to the
amount of $1,300 had been taken, and it was ordered that the
Society keep open books for the subscription of stock until the full
amount ($2,000) should be taken.

The time for holding the second annual fair was fixed on the
9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of September.

A premium list much more extensive and varied than the first
was adopted, and nine hundred dollars appropriated for premiums,
to be paid in plate and agricultural books.

During the spring and summer the fair grounds were beautified
by planting therein a large number of trees, and by erecting per-
manent and tasty buildings in place of the temporary ones of the
preceding year.

The second fair was one of which the Society had just reason to
be proud. The weather was delightful, and during the whole four
days the interest of exhibitors and visitors remained unabated.
The display of animals and articles, in all the classes, with the ex-
ception of grain and vegetable products, which, owing to the gen-
eral backwardness of the season, were inferior, was large. In
every respect this exhibition was an improvement upon the first,
evidencing that our farmers and mechanics are, as a class, anxious
and ready to avail themselves of all the improvements and know-
ledge of the age, and that it only requires the competition and
generous rivalry of such exhibitions as these to draw them out.

The ladies' department was well represented. They appeared
to be animated by a zeal and interest in the success of this fair
which was contagious. Their department was the great centre of
attraction during the fair, and well deserved to be so.

About one thousand persons were in attendance during the fair,
mostly citizens of Logan county. The number of entries was five
hundred and twenty and the number of premiums one hundred
and fifty. The receipts were much larger than at the first exhibi-
tion, and the amount paid in premiums three-fold greater. The
receipts at the gate and for entry fees met the necessary expenses of
the fair, including premiums.

The third annual fair of the Society was held September 8th,
9th, 10th and 11th, 1858, and although it had more to contend
against than any of the preceding ones ; among the principal of
which were the pecuniary condition of the country, the extreme
backwardness of the season, delaying the maturity of all the prin-
cipal field crops and vegetables, and the unfavorable weather during
the greater part of the fair, yet its abundant success has satisfied
those who perfected its organization that it has now become a per-
manent and successful institution, with a prospect, for the future,
of increased and constantly increasing usefulness to the agricultural

253

interest of Logan county. The number of premiums awarded was
one hundred and thirty-four, and the number of entries about the
same as last year. There was a manifest improvement in the
stock upon exhibition over that of the two preceding years, and all
of the departments were well represented.

From the success which has attended our Society so far we feel
encouraged to carry on the work with renewed energy, and, profit-
ing by past experience, hope to make each succeeding exhibition
an improvement on the past.

In behalf of our Society, the undersigned cannot refrain from
expressing the hope that in future the State Society may be per-
manently fixed, and although this is a matter in which the whole
state is deeply interested, still, taking into consideration the loca-
tion, the facilities for reaching it from all points, and the fact of its
being the capital, where citizens from all portions of the state so
frequently resort, Springfield seems to be the proper place. The
advantages of having the State Society permanently located have
been so often and so ably exhibited by others, that I could add
nothing to what has already been said. Let the State Society be-
come located permanently, and the various County Societies be-
come auxiliary to it, looking to it as the supreme head of the agri-
cultural interests in this state, and there can be no doubt that it
will redound to the common interests of all. There is no reason
why the State and County Societies, which are working for a com-
mon object, should not act in unison.

In conclusion, the undersigned would express, in behalf of his.
Society, the pleasure and gratification with which they have wit-
nessed the onward march of the great agricultural interest of our
noble state — an interest upon which every other interest and busi-
ness depends. It well deserves the fostering care of our people.
The learning and genius of the world is untiring in its efforts to
improve every branch of human industry, and none have profited
to a greater extent by these improvements than the tiller of the
soil ; and it can safely be added, that the most ready means of ex-
tending the knowledge and increasing the skill of the agriculturist
is by means of properly conducted agricultural fairs. It is there
where the farmer receives food for reflection, which will be laid up
for future use. It is there where that laudable rivalry is created
as to who shall make the most out of the raw material, which is
Veady for all to take, use and improve ; and it is there where the
farmer can learn how susceptible of improvement is the noble oc-
cupation in which he is engaged.

Eespectfully submitted,

WM. H. YOUNG, Secretary.

254:

MACON COUNTY.

Our Society was organized on the 28th day of June, 1856, and
the following gentlemen elected its officers : President, E. A. Jones;
Vice President, Wm. Rea ; Treasurer, Wm. Martin ; Secretary,
James P. Boyd ; Directors, Samuel Powers, Jacob Hostetter, J. Gr.
Taylor, D. K. Wilson. The association then resolved to make
the shares $5 each, and purchased a tract of land one mile and a
half west of the city, which embraces twelve acres, at $50 per acre.
The ground is beautifully located, well fenced, with several springs
of never-failing water. It is well adapted in every sense of the
word for a fair ground.

The first fair of this county was ordered to be held on the 9th
and 10th days of October, 1856. The fair took place on the days
specified, and there was a respectable attendance. There was a
goodly number of stock, mechanical articles, domestic manufac-
tures, fruits, vegetables, etc., on exhibition, of which the following
is a list :

Cattle 37

Horses..... 47

Jacks and Mules 11

Sheep ,-. 9

Hogs 4

Poultry 10

Mechanical Department .. 20

Farm Products 11

Needlework 42

Discretionary ,-. 37

Total entries 228

On the 27th of June, 1858, a meeting was called for the purpose
of electing officers for the ensuing year, and resulted as follows :
President, E. A. Jones ; Vice President, J. W. Tyler ; Treasurer,
I. C. Pugh ; Secretary, James Shoaff ; Directors, John G-. Taylor,
Robert Timmons, J. H. Pickrell, S. Powers, J. H. Snyder.

At a meeting of the officers, held June 29th, 1857, it was re-
solved that we hold a fair on the 30th September, 1st and 2d days
of October, and that the fair ground be supplied with all the ne-
cessary improvements, etc. Mr. Jos. H. Snyder was appointed to
superintend the erection of buildings ; and through him several
good, large sheds, for the exhibition of mill fabrics, needlework,
etc., were erected. Also a secretary's office, twenty-five stalls and
several other improvements not necessary to enumerate. Our ring,
for the exhibition of stock, is 400 yards. The fair was held on the
days specified, and was well attended by a large concourse of
people.

2S5
The following is a list of entries :

Cattle 51

Horses 77

Jacks and Mules ~ 7

Sheep 3

Hogs 8

Poultry „ 8

Dairy . 3

Farm Products „ 21

Needlework 3-1

Mill Fabrics 12

Preserves 17

Mechanical 64

Total .328

Receipts at gates $582 00

" of entries 55 05

Total receipts $637 05

Paid out for premiums 600 00

$37 05

The above balance and other moneys, from subscriptions, have
been appropriated towards liquidating the debt of the Society.

In consequence of each shareholder having the privilege of
making as many entries, free of charge, as he pleased, accounts
for the apparent small amount of entry fees.

Dr. W. A. Barnes delivered the address before the Society.

At our annual meeting, the last Saturday in June, 1858, the
constitution was so amended as to make the stockholders' meet-
ings come upon the first Saturday in March, annually. This was
done in order that the executive committee (which is composed of
the president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and five directors,
a majority of whom constitutes a quorum for doing business)
might have more time in making arrangements for holding fairs,
etc. The following gentlemen were elected as officers for the
year : President, J. H. Pickrell ; Yice President, J. Y. Braden ;
Treasurer, Henry Prather; Secretary, James Shoaff; Directors,
John G. Taylor, Samuel Powers, E. A. Jones, John Hostetter and
G. A. Smith.

Our last fair, which was held on the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th of
September, was well attended, considering the hard times and
sickness.

The Society, by resolution, as it did last year, invited free corn-
competition ; also abolished the practice of paying premiums in
plate and substituted money and agricultural works. The number
this year are as follows :

256

Cattle 35

Horses 82

Jacks and Mules 15

Sheep 4

Hogs 6

Poultry 15

Dairy 10

Farm Products 22

Mill Fabrics 15

Needlework 43

Hams, Bread, Native Wine, etc 17

Agricultural Implements 13

Carriages, Buggies, etc 13

Harness, Boots, Shoes, etc 7

Total 297

The show of horses was very superior, said to be unsurpassed,
if equaled, by any collection in the State. There was a falling
off in some of the classes in numbers, but the quality was better
than at any of our former fairs. One of the most interesting
features of the fair was that of the riding on horseback of some
thirteen ladies — all of whom rode gracefully, with much ease, and
creditably to themselves. The address was delivered by Mr.
John Davis, one of our practical farmers. It was an able pro-
duction.

Our president, Mr. J. H. Pickrell, also delivered a few appro-
priate remarks, which were listened to with much attention. I
am sorry I am unable to give you the substance of his remarks.

Receipts, gate fees $502 20

" Refreshment stands, exhibitions, etc 71 60

" Entrance fees 100 10

Total receipts $673 90

Expenses of fair 228 52

Leaving a balance of $445 38

The above balance was appropriated for premiums.

Our Soeiety is in a healthy condition, and but little in debt.
Next year, if we have luck, we anticipate liquidating the entire
debt of the Society. Our president, as well as the directors and
others connected with the Society, are sparing no pains or exertion
in trying to make the Macon County Agricultural Society the So-
ciety of Central Illinois.

JAMES SHOAFF, Secretary.

MACOUPIN COUNTY.

The Macoupin County Agricultural and Mechanical Society has
been in operation about five years. It struggled with indifferent
success for the first three years, but the last two fairs show an in-

257

creased interest in the cause of agriculture in this county, and now,
I am happy to say,- that its future prosperity and success is beyond
a reasonable doubt. The fair grounds belonging to the Society are
situated three-fourths of a mile from the public square in Carlin-
ville, containing seven and a half acres, part of which is a beau-
tiful grove of native forest trees. The grounds are inclosed by a
fence eight feet high built in the most substantial manner of post
oak posts and pine plank. A beautiful and commodious building
for the display of articles in the ladies' department has been erected
the past season, and the Society, up to this date, has disbursed for
improvements on the fair grounds altogether about $2,500.

The Society held its first annual fair on the 5th, 6th and 7th of
last October. Open for competition to the State in the horse and
cattle departments. $600 were offered in premiums, varying from
$1 to $10. The total number of entries was about 500. The ex-
hibition in the ladies' department reflected great credit upon the
farmers' wives and daughters in this county, and was said by those
who visited both this fair and the State fair at Centralia, to com-
pare very favorably with the ladies' department in the State Fair.
Some excellent thorough bred Durham cattle were exhibited, and
from the interest now taken by the stock raisers in this county in
purchasing the improved varieties of cattle, we predict a large in-
crease in the number exhibited next year. The show of horses
was particularly fine. Some of the best roadsters west, were on
the track, among which we will mention " St. Lawrence " and
" Granite State." A steam threshing machine was exhibited,
which attracted the favorable attention of the farmers generally.
The exhibition in the mechanical department reflects great credit
upon the skill and ingenuity of our mechanics. Ex-Governor
Reynolds delivered an address on the third day, which was listened
to with marked attention. The number of people present on the
last two days was estimated at 5,000. Inclosed you will find the
address of Governor Reynolds. The Society elects its officers' on
the first Monday in March. The officers for the past year have
been, J. C. Davis, President ; T. D. Moore, Vice-President ; Capt.
T. C. Davis, Secretary ; "Wm. Waters, Corresponding Secretary ;
T. L. Loomis, Treasurer ; David Gore, R. L. Taylor, Samuel
"Welton, Peter Denby, H. J. Loomis, Directors.

There has been paid into the treasury during the past year $1,510 00

Disbursed during the same time 1,470 00

Balance on hand 40 00

From the wide spread and deep seated interest now taken by our
farmers in the development of the resources of Macoupin county,
we predict a brilliant future in store for us, and we intend to do
our share in making Illinois the " Empire State," and a State
where the farmers shall always enjoy that high social position to
which their intelligence and their virtues entitle them.

THOS. C. DAVIS, Secretary,

—33

258

ADDBESS, BY JOHN REYNOLDS,

BEFORE THE MACODPIN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PAIR, OCTOBER 7,1858.
Felloto citizens of Macoupin county :

This is a great and glorious day to advance the agricultural in-
terests of the county, and long may it be remembered in the agri-
cultural annals of Macoupin county ! The improvement of the
earth is the next great consideration, after the improvement of th,o
human intellect.

Agriculture is in all ages, ancient and modern, and in all countries,
the great foundation of all the wealth and prosperity of the people.
There is no profession or pursuit of business so certain for the
support of the human family as agriculture, and at the same time
so certain to preserve the health and morals of the people engaged
in the profession. Moreover, the great extent and fertility of the
soil of Illinois, together with the almost boundless prairies covering
the State in almost every direction, seems to advocate the interest of
agriculture, and almost compels the cultivation of the earth.

Most of the other pursuits of life depend more on man for sup-
port, which is often precarious and uncertain ; but the farmer de-
pends on God and the earth, and they will not desert him if he
performs his duty. Moreover, the cultivation of the earth is con-
ducive to the health of the husbandman, and gives bloom and vigor
to those, male and female, who are engaged in this ancient and
honorable profession. A great portion of the female beauty now
surrounding me on this occasion, arises from the agricultural pur-
suits of life ; when the exercises of labor and amusements are en-
joyed in the open air on the bare earth and in sunshine in good
weather, the result is as it is now presented before me, the high-
est order of female excellence. A whole sea of female beauty,
with vigorous health, sparkling eyes and intellectual charms are
present in this assembly, giving life and vigor to the agricultural
interest of the county. The same may be said of the male popu-
lation attending this fair. They are the lords of creation and the
bone and sinew of the country. They exhibit a display of manly
vigor and intellectual excellence rarely equaled, all joining in with
heart and hand to advance the best interests of agriculture. (Cheers
of approbation.)

Agriculture is also the means of preserving the moral habits of
the masses engaged in the profession, which is still more productive
of human happiness than health itself. The husbandman on his
farm is removed from temptation and from the means of immorality,
and is surrounded with all the beauties and excellencies of nature,
which will have a powerful influence to lead him in the ways of
virtue and religion, without which he cannot be happy.

Land, labor and learning, as it has often been stated, are the
great elements in agriculture, and Illinois presents the "land" un-
paralleled on earth for its great extent and unsurpassed fertility.
There is no tract of country on the earth of the same extent of 11-

259

linois with such fertile soil, as is contained in the Prairie State ;
and the county of Macoupin, for its agricultural resources, is per-
haps not much, if any, surpassed by any section of the State. I
am no stranger to " the land" of this county, and know well its
great resources. I have traversed this section of the country in every
direction before three-fourths of this vast crowd of people present
were born. In the fall of 1812, in the war of that year, I camped
with the army under Gov. Edwards, on the Macoupin creek, a few
miles above the present town of Carlinville, and saw the country
at that early day, and for many years thereafter, a savage wilder-
ness, inhabited by the Indians and wild beasts. And now what is
Macoupin county % One of the best improved and most populous
counties of the State. And almost all this wealth, and all this
prosperous and happy population have arisen from efficient agri-
culture. At the early day in Illinois, mentioned above, no settle-
ment of the white man existed from the sparsely settled colonies, near
the present towns of Alton and Edwardsville, to the north pole, but
the whole country was then a waste, in the hands of the savages. At
this day, the whole northwest is settled by an intelligent and enter-
prising population almost to the very sources of the Mississippi and
around Lake Superior. This unequaled progress of improvement and
civilization has filled the hearts of the pioneers with joy to witness ;
not only the State of Illinois, but the whole northwest rise out of
a savage wilderness to enjoy all the blessings of improvements and
civilized life. (Cheers.) Nevertheless, my friends, agriculture is
yet in its infancy in Illinois and Macoupin county. A small part
only of the widely extended prairies of the country is yet in culti-
vation, and that cultivation not improved as it should be. Labor
and learning must be exerted in connection to improve and pro-
duce the greatest results of agriculture. Man was created to labor.
The scriptures say, " man must make his living by the sweat of
his brow." All experience establishes this truth, and a violation
of it will do injury to the unwise perpetrator. Thus labor being
essential to the well being of the human society, this same labor
should be made honorable and respectable. You, farmers, have it
within jour powers to elevate and to make labor assume the high-
est standing and honor that man can bestow on human occupation.
There is in the country by law no castes, or grades, or nobility,
and a laboring man, with proper standing and merit in other re-
spects, should bo honored and respected in the highest ranks of
citizens. It should be considered an honor rather than dishonor to
cultivate the earth ; but, farmers, it depends on yourselves to
make labor honorable by improving and educating yourselves and
children, in order that you may occupy the front ranks in society.
The reason farmers, mechanics and laboring men do not often fill
the high offices is, that they do not improve their minds, and are
not as'competent for office as are sometimes found in other profes-
sions. There is no excuse for the majority of farmers in Illinois,
that they have not the time to improve themselves in all the neces-

260

sary education of their profession. The improvement of the mind
in agricultural science is the most profitable labor of the farmer,
and will generally, in the end, increase the products of the farm
more than any other efforts he can bestow on it. Mere physical
strength, powerful muscles, without the necessary agricultural
knowledge, will never effect any great good in the culture of the
earth. The ox is a strong and powerful animal, but his agricul-
tural labors must be conducted with judgment, or otherwise his
strength is wasted to effect no good purpose.

It is not generally known that by an improved cultivation of the
soil in Europe, the wheat crops are more than doubled in the old
country to those raised in America on the same quantity of ground.
It is estimated that the wheat crops on an average are fifteen
bushels per acre in the United States, and in Europe they average
nearly forty bushels to th% acre. This great difference arises from
better cultivation of the soil and the improvement of the land. If
these statistical facts were strongly impressed on the minds of the
Macoupin farmers, they would immediately turn their whole ener-
gies, mind and body, to the improvement of the cultivation of their
farms and the manuring of their fields. I do, as the friend of agri-
culture, sincerely urge on my farming friends to read these agricul-
tural statistics, comparing good and bad cultivation of the earth,
and other books, and in a few years of improved cultivation the
farms of Macoupin will produce double to what they do at this day.
I do not urge on the people the necessity of farmers improving
themselves in agricultural science without knowing myself that I
am judicious and right in my counsels. I was raised on a farm
from my earliest youth until the years of maturity, and I have to
some extent studied and acquired agricultural knowledge during
my whole life. Under these circumstances, / know I am doing
right to urge on the agricultural community the great necessity
and importance of the education of the farmers, and thereby the
improvement of the cultivation of their farms.

Macoupin county is doing exceedingly well in the progress of
agriculture. To-day, I am told, that by the report at the gate,
there are present five thousand and four hundred people at this
county fair, and the largest assembly ever I had the honor to ad-
dress. I see around me not only an intelligent and energetic
people, but I see also innumerable and various implements of hus-
bandry and machinery that would require volumes to describe, all
tending to the use and interest of agriculture.

But I must say, from observing the fact, that the good taste of
the Macoupin farmers is bearing toward the noble and excellent
animal, the horse. I am proud to say I see here on this occasion
more splendid and elegant horses on exhibition than at any other
county or State fair that I have seen this fall. And, my friends,
permit me to urge on you a sympathy and kindness for this useful
and noble animal, the horse, and in fact, also to the mules and
oxen, not to whip and abuse the animals that are under your charge

261

and control / they are made for our use, but the power we exercise
over them should be exerted in kindness and mercy to the animals.
At times we see the hair and skin cut oft' the backs of these dumb
animals in the traces by the whips of ignorant and merciless
drivers. I charge none who are present and giving to this subject
such attention — and some I see around me having tears of sympa-
thy in their eyes — with this heinous crime of abusing animais, but
I address you to raise public opinion, strong and firm against these
inhuman outrages, and they will soon disappear from a christian and
merciful community.

Much agricultural information is obtained at the fairs of the
counties and the State. Intelligent people assemble together, in-
terchange sentiments and thereby instruct each other. The spec-
tators also see and examine minutely the various new and impor-
tant articles of husbandly, and all go home an improved and hap-
py people by attending the fairs.

I must be indulged in recommending to you in the warmest
terms, the two last published volumes of the Transactions of the
State Agricultural Society, which were printed at the public ex-
pense. These books should be read and studied by all the farm-
ers in the State, and millions of dollars would be added to the pro-
ducts of the State by pursuing the practical information presented
in those volumes.

In concluding this address, I must sincerely recommend and
urge on the public to establish an Agricultural Bureau or Depart-
ment in the State Normal School at Bloomington. A part or half
of that institution should, be applied to the agricultural interests of
the State. It is almost as necessary to educate farmers at the
public expense as school masters, and both should be educated
together, or neither.

Farmers, you have the power in your own hands to do your-
selves great service, and much more benefit by improving your
farms than you enjoy at present, and I sincerely hope you will exert
your talents and energies to advance your own best interest and
that of our State. (Loud cheers of approbation.)

MENAKD COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — E. L. Sweeny.

Vice-President — James S. Moore.

Treasurer — A. K. Johnson.

Secretary — John Hill.

Directors — ¥m. C. Smoot, Geo. Hudspeth, J. H. Armstrong.

Menard county fair was opened on the 21st September, and con-
tinued four clays. This was a new feature in the fair, the last fair
having only lasted three days. The grounds are located about a

262

quarter of a mile south of Petersburg. On entering, you descend
over a gradual slope through gates, into the inclosure, and have at
once presented to your view a beautiful amphitheatre. On the
right hand a circle of undulating hill slopes stretch from the front
to the rear of the grounds, met by a corresponding picture from
the opposite side, only separated by a small spring through which
passes a small stream of pure spring water, amply sufficient for
stock. The slopes on either side are dotted with occasional
groups of shade trees, and add a further beauty and finish to the
panoramic view. On descending from the slope you enter the
fair grounds, which are about three-quarters of a mile in circumfer-
ence. In the centre of the ground is situated the officers' stand,
around which is a double ring for the exhibition of stock.
The small ring is about two hundred yards and the larger near
three-quarters of a mile in circumference. The stalls and show-
sheds are conveniently arranged. Nature has done much for the
grounds. They are indeed strikingly beautiful, and when art is
applied to their improvement, so far as the Menard fair grounds
are concerned, we shall have little more to desire.

On the first day there was a large gathering of people on the
grounds. The entries in the ladies' and miscellaneous depart-
ments having been promptly made, and the awards were made in
the after part of the day. In other departments, it was found ne-
cessary to extend the time for making entries. The crowd dis-
persed at night, well satisfied with the day's exhibition, and anxious
to see the shows of to-morrow.

By 10 o'clock of Wednesday the grounds were again crowded
with spectators. The halls were filled with various articles on ex-
hibition. At 1 o'clock the show of cattle commenced, and there
was such a show as would have done credit to any county in the
State. Some of the premiums were carried out of the county, but
most of them were taken by citizens of Menard, from which we
draw the conclusion that Menard county has not only some of the
best stock in the State, but that she has a large amount of fine
stock, which is leaving its mark upon the stock and herds of the
county. With this exhibition closed the proceedings of the day.

On the third day the horses were exhibited and other stock.
The interest of the fair was kept up to the close of the day.

On the fourth, there was a general exhibition of all stock — a
general examination of all the articles on exhibition. The pre-
miums were paid, and the fair closed to the general satisfaction of
all concerned. The fair was the most successful which has been
witnessed in Menard county.

JOHN HILL, Secretary.

263

MORGAN COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — Robert Pollock.

Vice Presidents — William Richardson, Peter Roberts, H. F.
Fitch.

Treasurer — Irvin Dunlap.
Secretary — Ed. Scott.

The eighth annual fair of the Morgan County Agricultural So-
ciety was held at Jacksonville, on the 28th, 29th and 30th Septem-
ber and 1st of October, 1858, on the grounds of the Farmers' and
Mechanical Association ; they having sold their old grounds, and
having purchased of Col. James Dunlap more eligible grounds,
consisting of thirty acres, beautifully located, with desirable shade
trees. The grounds are well adapted for the purpose.

The weather was cool and pleasant during the whole fair.

The first day of the fair, articles in the ladies' department, seeds,
fruits and vegetables were exhibited, and also a special premium
of fifty dollars in silver plate, to be awarded to the fastest pacing
horse, mare or gelding, and twenty-five dollars in silver plate for
the second.

By 9 o'clock in the morning, there were several hundred persons
on the grounds. The articles in the ladies' department were well
represented, there being a handsome display of silk, worsted and
other quilts, oil paintings, water colors, crayon, shell work and orna-
mental paintings, and also needle work, collars, toilet cushions, pin
cushions, silk and worsted embroideries, crochet work, fancy and
plain sewing by ladies and girls from seven years old and upwards,
and other articles too numerous to mention.

In our seed, fruit and vegetable department, there was but a
small number of entries. The display of fruit was small but very
good. There were some as fine peaches on exhibition as I ever
saw. There were also some gooseberries on exhibition, one of
which measured three inches in circumference There were fine
specimens of potatoes and tomatoes, which were well worthy of
premiums, and spoke well for the culture of those vegetables.

In the dairy department, the butter and cheese were well repre-
sented, all of which were of excellent quality. There was a fair
display of pickles, preserves, jellies, cakes, etc. Last and not
least in this department was the exhibition of native wines, of which
there were a variety of kinds, which, after due deliberation and
thorough tasting, to test its quality, at different times, by the
awarding committee, on a re-examination, made their awards.
The number of people in the atternoon having increased, to wit-
ness the fastest pacer, which was to come off at the close of the
first day of the fair, which appeared to animate the crowd to see
the fast horses. There was but two entries, the first premium

2G4

being awarded to Lulu, belonging to John Amos, Esq., of Greene
county ; the second to Jim, belonging to F. M. Springer, Esq.,
Jacksonville. This closed up the exercises for the first day, all
quietly, without accident of any kind to interrupt the pleasure of
the day.

SECOND DAT OF THE FAIR.

The second day of the fair, cattle were exhibited, at the close of
which the fastest trotting, by horse, mare or gelding, was to
come off.

The show in thorough-bred cattle was not any larger than for-
mer years, but it was thought by judges that, for number, they
were the finest lot that had ever been exhibited in Morgan county.
Those that appeared to attract the most attention were owned by
Stephen Dunlap, Pollock & Bitter, Elliott Stevenson and Becraft.

Class A, No. 2, Natives and Crosses, were not as well represent-
ed as the thorough-breds. In work cattle there were but few en-
tries. There were but two herds shown, one was owned by
Stephen Dunlap and the other by E,. Pollock and E. Stevenson.
This was, decidedly, the finest ring of cattle that was ever before
exhibited in old Morgan. After a close examination, by the
awarding committee, the first premium was awarded to the herd
belonging to S. Dunlap.

At the close of the second day, came off the fast trotters. The
crowds all anxious too witness the scene. There were five entries
made in this ring. The president called the directors tc gether,
and the following disinterested awarding committee was appointed:
H. Jacoby, Sangamon county ; John McLuskey, Scott county ;
Ellmore Crow, Cass county ; J. C. Bone, Sangamon county, and
W. C. Dawson, Menard county ; when the chief marshal instructed
the committee to make their award to the fastest" trotters.

The track round the grounds is half a mile. After the first
round, one of the horses was ruled out by the committee, on ac-
count of his gait. After the second round, the committee ruled
out another of the horses on account of foul driving, leaving but
three to contend for the premiums, of which Little Jim, owned by
A. G. Link, Jacksonville, was awarded the first premium of fifty
dollars, in silver plate, and Morgan Messenger, owned by L. R.
Sanders, was awarded the second premium of twenty-five dollars,
in silver plate, which closed the exercises of the second day of
the fair.

THIRD DAT OF THE FAIR.

Horses, jacks, jennets and mules were exhibited. Class B. No.
6, Thorough-bred Horses — there was a fine ring of aged stallions;
the imported Young Barnton taking the first premium. The en-
tries of one, two and three year olds was not large, the probable

265

reason being that those entered defied competition. There was a
splendid ring of thorough-bred aged mares, there being four entries.
Mary Ellen, owned by H. F. Fitch, was awarded the first premium,
and Rosebud, owned by Col. Jos. Morton, the second.

Class B, No. 7, Horses of all work. This class of horses was
well represented in every ring, it being the general opinion of
horsemen on the grounds, that this was the best ring shown in
this class that had ever been shown in the State.

Class B, No. 8, Draught Horses, were not so well represented as
the horses of all work, excepting in aged stallions and aged mares,
both of which were well represented.

Class B, No. 9. There were four entries in carriage horses, all
of which attracted attention. The buggy horses created quite an
excitement, there being nine entries, all showing off in fine style.
The saddle, trotting, pacing and racking horses made a fine display.

Class B, No. 10, Jacks and Jennets. There wen very few en-
tries. This class of stock did not appear to attract much attention.
There were not many mules shown ; those that were shown were
considered hard to beat.

Class B, No. 11, Sweepstakes Horses. There were two hand-
some rings: one, stallions of any age or breed, the other, mares of
any age or breed. These rings were decidedly the finest rings of
sweepstakes that have ever been shown in Morgan county. This
wound up the third day of the fair, there being more persons in
attendance than on the former days.

FOURTH DAT OF THE FAIR.

There were exhibited hogs, sheep, poultry, manufactures and
also a special premium of a twenty-five dollar silver pitcher, to be
awarded to the best lady rider, and a twelve and a half dollar
locket, for the second best. The hogs were well represented from
Morgan and surrounding counties, better than ever before at our
county fair ; many of which were sold to other counties during the
fair, as old Morgan has always been noted for good hogs. The
sheep were not so well represented, but those that were shown
were of a superior quality.

Manufactures were not as well represented as expected. Most
of what was shown in this line was of a very superior quality,
among which are the following : wagons, carriages, double and
single harness, gentlemen and ladies' saddles, boots and shoes.
There were also a number of agricultural implements, such as
reapers, mowers, corn planters, seed drills, gang plows, etc., all of
the latest improved machines. There were also two underground
ditchers ; the awarding committee, after testing them the following
day, awarded them both a diploma, reporting that they both done
their work well.

All the above awards having been made before dinner, the ex-
citement began to be manifested in the crowd to see the lady
riding. By 2 o'clock, I should think, including ladies, gentlemen
' —31

V

266

and children, there were ten thousand persons on the ground.
After dinner, Judge ¥m. Brown delivered the annual address,
which was but short, yet highly appropriate to the occasion, and
was delivered in an eloquent manner. The military and fire com-
panies, having been invited, were escorted within the arena, with
the brass band that had been playing for the fair and the martial
music, created quite an imposing feature. There having been five
entries for ladies to ride, the chief marshal, Col. Morton, escorted
them into the ring. The awarding committee were appointed from
a distance, only one of whom resided in Morgan county. As the
ladies rode several times round, the outsiders all began to have
their favorites ; some thought one ought to have the first premium,
and some, another. The committee took some time to make up
their award, but finally awarded the first premium to Miss Kate
Eobb, of Jacksonville, and the second to Mrs. F. M. Dunlap. The
awarding committee reported them all excellent riders, whereupon
the directors awarded the other three, Mrs. Hulett, Miss Laura
Trench and Miss Jane Stevenson, before leaving the ring, each a
ten dollar silver cup, which appeared to give general satisfaction to
the outside crowd.

The chief marshal, Col. Jos. Morton, returned the thanks of the
Society to the audience, and particularly to Captain Parsons' mili-
tary company and the Jacksonville fire companies, for their pre-
sence and aid during the afternoon entertainment ; whereupon the
fair closed, no accident having occurred during the whole fair. All
appeared to return home generally satisfied.

The amount of premiums paid out by the Society, this year is
abought eighteen hundred dollars.

Financial report of the secretary of the Morgan County Agricul-
tural Society :

1858. Ed. Scott, Secretary, in account with Morgan County Agricultural Society.

Dr.

To cash received for tickets sold before fair $191 00

" " entries 614 35

" " booth rent 25 00

" " ticket agent, at gate 1,212 00

Total amount of receipts $2,042 35

Cr.

To amount of cash paid for premiums $1,132 24

" " sweepstakes 72 50

" in hands of committee on premiums, to pay

balance on premium bill 169 66

" " paid gate keepers 24 00

" " " ticket agent 16 00

" " " police 54 25

" " printing circulars, special premium 2 00

" " " for rosettes for officers 5 30

" " express charges on premiums and dip-
lomas 1 90

" " for furnishing feed on ground, for stock 14 00

" " " James Green, treasurer of association... 550 00

Total amount paid out , $2,042 35

267

The above is the financial report of all moneys received and paid
out by the undersigned.

ED. SCOTT,
Secretary Morgan County Ag. Society.

MOULTRIE COUNTY.

The citizens of Moultrie county, having held a previous meeting
for the purpose of taking the necessary preliminary steps for the
organization of a county agricultural society, met at the court

house, in Sullivan, on the day of May, 1858, to complete the

organization of the "Moultrie County Agricultural Society," which
they did by adopting a constitution and by-laws, drafted and re-
ported by a committee appointed for that purpose, and electing the
following officers : President, J. W. R. Morgan ; Vice President,
D. Patterson ; Corresponding Secretary, E. E. Wagoner ; Record-
ing Secretary, D. D. Randolph; Treasurer, E. Bridwell; Direct-
ors, John Rhodes, M. Kliver, S. M. Smizer, A. H. Brown, John
Roney.

The Society held its first annual fair on the 21st and 22d days
of October, 1858, near Sullivan, in an open lot, (the Society being
not yet able to purchase and fit up fair grounds,) at which there
was a very respectable amount of stock, fruits, mechanical and do-
mestic manufactured articles. One hundred and thirty-seven dol-
lars were paid in premiums. Moultrie is a small county, and this
was its first fair.

E. E. WAGGONER, Cor. Sec.

McLEAN COUNTY.

Oflfcers for 1858 :

President — Jas. Kennedy.

Vice-Presidents— Edward Porter, ¥m. P. Withers.
Secretary — C. W. Holder.
"er — Win. Paiste.

The McLean County Agricultural Society held its sixth annual
fair on the 15th, 16th and 17th of September. The Society owns a
tract of ten acres of land, within a mile of Bloomington, suitably
inclosed, where its annual exhibitions are held. The amount of
of premiums offered, $800; most of which was paid in plate.

For want of suitable accommodations, the stock is not kept on
the ground the whole time of the fair— a custom which diminishes

268

very much the interest of the exhibition, and which the public
spirit of our farmers will soon remedy.

The number of entries in the Ladies' Department was S9

Thorough-bred Cattle 63

Mixed and Native 8S

Horses and Colts U54

Jacks and Mules 17

Swine 21

Sheep 25

Also, a very creditable show of agricultural implements, wagons,
harness, &c.

A silver goblet, worth $25, was awarded to Henry Lust, for
the best cultivated farm.

The premium for the best quarter of an acre of Irish Potatoes
was awarded to Thomas and Win. Karr ; product, 77i bushels.

The best five acres of wheat, premium to John Stagner ; 37f
bushels per acre.

Best five acres corn, premium to J. II. Fielder; 92 14-56 bushels
per acre.

Messrs. A. & O. Barnard raised 102 17-56 bushels per acre ; but
not reported in time to compete for the premium.

JAMES KENNEDY, President.
C. W. Holder, Secretary.

McHENRY COUNTY.

The seventh annual exhibition of this Society was held at Wood-
stock on the 13th, 14th and 15th October, 1858. The exhibition
was larger than at any previous fair, and the great increase in the
number of articles exhibited shows, conclusively, that the interests
of the Society require more enlarged accommodations the coining
year.

The attendance at the fair was much greater than at any previous
one, arid indicates that the Society has become firmly established
in the hearts and confidence of the community, and that it will
receive from the citizens of our county a support commensurate
with the interests it is designed to promote.

Premiums were awarded for draught horses ; matched and sad-
dle horses, stallions, Durham cattle, Devon cattle, grade cat-
tle, jacks, mules and jennies^ sheep, poultry, agricultural im-
plements, cabinet ware, farm products, butter and cheese, su-
gar and syrup from cane, domestic manufactures, needle and
shell work, &c, boots, shoes, harness, saddles, paintings and
drawings, worked metals of American manufacture, fruits, vege-
tables and currant wine and miscellaneous articles.

Col. Capron's incomparable herd of Devon cattle was present.

H. BATES, President.
Geo. T. Kasson, Secretary.

269
PEORIA COUNTY.

Ad agricultural society existed in Peoria county some five years
previous to 1857; and the farmers and mechanics, becoming con-
vinced of the importance of such an institution, and desiring to see
said institution established upon a firm and permanent basis, ob-
tained from the state legislature a charter regularly organizing the
Peoria County Agricultural Society.

In pursuance of that charter a call was made for the citizens to
meet at the court house, in the city of Peoria, on the 27th day of
April, 1858, for the purpose of reorganizing the Peoria County
Agricultural Society, in accordance with the act of the legislature
of this state, passed at its last session. The meeting was numer-
ously attended ; and, on motion, Mr, Alva Dunlap was called to
the chair and Geo. B. Parker appointed Secretary.

A large number of citizens came forward and became members
of said Society, by paying one dollar into the treasury, the amount
agreed upon by the meeting, in order to entitle them to take part
in forming a constitution and by-laws for the rules and regulations
of said Society.

After framing the constitution, and by a unanimous vote adopt-
ing the same, it was, on motion, moved and adopted that we now
go into the election of officers for the present year ; whereupon,
the following named persons were duly elected (by ballot) the
officers of the Peoria County Agricultural Society until the first
Wednesday in December, 1857 ; at which time our regular annual
election comes on for the election of officers, according to our
adopted constitution.

After several ballotings, the result was as follows : President,
Henry I. Chase ; Yice-Presidents, Chauncey C. "Wood, of Peoria ;
E. EL Clapp, of Rome ; L. L. Geigcr, of Brimfield ; Corresponding
Secretary, D. McCullough ; Recording Secretary, Geo. B. Parker ;
Treasurer, H. G. Anderson.

Previous to the reorganization of the Society the supervisors of
the county of Peoria, with their accustomed liberality, had pur-
chased twenty-three acres of ground adjoining the city limits, to be
used by the Society for the purpose of holding agricultural exhibi-
tions upon so long as they remained in existence as a Society, and
to be under the entire control of the Society, at a cost of $2,000.

The Executive Committee of the Peoria County Agricultural
Society, having extended an invitation to the Executive Commit-
tee of the Illinois State Agricultural Society to hold their annual
meeting of said State Society at the fair grounds, in Peoria, on the
21st, 22d, 23d and 24th of September, 1857 ; and they having
accepted the invitation upon certain conditions ; which conditions
were complied with at an expense of fifteen thousand dollars, in
building houses and stalls for their accommodation.

In consequence of the holding of the state fair in Peoria in the
fall of 1857, it was thought advisable and prudent, by the Execu-

270

tive Committee of the Peoria County' Agricultural Society, to post-
pone the regular yearly exhibition of the Peoria county fair until
1858.

As the transactions of the Illinois State Fair, for 1857, will be
published in this volume, I will refrain making any comments up-
on the exhibition of stock and manufacted articles on exhibition at
that time, knowing that the able and energetic Recording Scribe,
S. Francis, of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, will vividly
portray the interest manifested on that occasion, and do ample
justice to the citizens of the central city of Illinois in their untiring
efforts to accommodate the vast multitude that was in attendance
on that occasion. Suffice it to say that it was a grand and success^
ful effort, and one that the good citizens of Illinois will long re-
member and appreciate.

At the annual election of officers for the Peoria County Agri-
cultural Society, held at the court house, in the city of Peoria, on
the 2d day of December, 1857, the following persons were selected
as officers for the ensuing year, viz : President, Henry I. Chase ;
Vice-Presidents, E. H. Clapp, C. C. Wood, Alva Dunlap ; Corres-
ponding Secretary, John McDonald ; Recording Secretary, Geo.
B. Parker ; Treasurer, H. Gr. Anderson.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Peoria County
Agricultural Society, held at the office of the Recording Secretary,
in Peoria, it was ordered that the annual exhibition of the Peoria
County Agricultural Society, for 1858, be held at the fair grounds,
on the 21st, 22d, 23d and 24th days of September, 1858; and that
we invite a free competition, from any part of the state, in articles
for which premiums are offered.

The entry books were kept open until Wednesday the 22d of
September, 1858, 6 o'clock P. M., at which time there were eight
hundred and ninety-three entries made in the different classes.
On Friday, the 24th, at 12 M., the premiums were distributed
from the music stand, in the centre of the grounds, at which
time there were present some five thousand people, and among
that number about one thousand ladies, all anxiously awaiting to
hear their names called out in connection with a premium, be it
ever so small ; and I will here say that the ladies shared largely in
the plate distributed on that occasion, to the great satisfaction of all
present. The awarding committees, with some few exceptions,
gave general satisfaction ; and when they did err, it was an error
of the head and not of the heart, as all were willing to admit. Our
fair was one of interest, and was conducted in a manner satisfactory
to all. We have at last arrived at that point that the farmers, the
mechanics, merchants, and last, though not least, the ladies, take
a deep and abiding interest in the prosperity of the Peoria County
Agricultural Society ; and from this time forward we have nothing
to fear as to its ultimate success, and that it has become a living,
thriving and permanent institution.

271

I cannot conclude this report without tendering, in behalf of the
citizens of the county of Peoria, their sincere thanks to the mem-
bers of the Executive Committee of the Peoria County Agricul-
tural Society for their untiring exertions in establishing this insti-
tution on so firm a basis, which has now and will ever prove an
ornament and a blessing to the state and county in which it is lo-
cated.

GEO. B. PARKER, Recording Secretary.

PIKE COUNTY.

Deeming our County Agricultural Society an auxiliary of the
State Society, I send you a short account of our doings for the past
year, and I do this the more cheerfully because I think our ex-
perience can be of benefit to societies in other counties that are
languishing through ignorance of what is necessary for their per-
manent success. And I lay it down here as an axiom, well proven
and established, that no society can prosper that does not own, in
fee or by lease, a good fair ground. Last fall we held our seventh
annual fair, upon our own ground, and we witnessed then a confi-
dence in our success on the part of our friends that we had never
seen before. At the April meeting, 1858, of our county board of
supervisors, we solicited an appropriation from the county, to en-
able us to buy a fair ground ; which request was refused on the
ground of want of power on their part to appropriate the funds of
the county for such an object. Our Society then had about eighty
dollars in the treasury, and but numbered among its members most
of the leading farmers of the county ; still we had nothing certain
to rely upon to pay premiums and expenses ; we had year after
year put forth a premium list, trusting solely to the entries for
premiums to meet our outlays, and although we had always come
out right, yet the State appropriation was for one or two years all
that saved us from debt. The friends of the Society felt unwilling
to go on in this way any longer, and determined to buy a fair
ground and inclose it at once. Packed by a liberal subscription on
the part of the citizens of Pittsfield and vicinity, the directors pur-
chased twelve acres of ground, beautifully situated for a fair ground,
near town, at seventy-five dollars per acre, payable in four years,
with annual payments. They inclosed it with a tight board fence,
eight feet high, held their fair in October, and now find them-
selves only one hundred and thirty dollars short of paying all ex-
penses, including the first payment for the ground. The receipts
at the gate, for stands, membership tickets, &c, exceeded seven
hundred dollars, while in all former years we have not averaged
two hundred and fifty dollars. We feel now that we are all right,
and going ahead in a way that will enable us to have in a few
years one of the handsomest fair grounds in the State. We are

272

fully incorporated, have quite a large number of life members, at
twenty-five dollars a membership, and have with us the good
wishes and aid of all our best farmers. And this results from
the possession of a fair ground of our own, a nucleous around
which we can all gather and aid in increasing. Let me say to all
county societies, do not move a step further until you have a fair
ground of your own, and do not be afraid to run risks in getting it,
for it will draw to you friends enough to pay for it.

We held our annual election Wednesday, January 7th, and our
officers for ensuing year are as follows : J. M. Bush, President ;
Thomas Bradbury, T. Odiorne, Vice-Presidents ; D. D. Hicks, Ke-
cording Secretary ; R. C. Scanland, Corresponding Secretary ;
Thomas A. Hubbard, Treasurer ; B. F. Westerlake, A. Barber,
W. M. Goodin, John Helm, D. A. Fagan, Directors.

D. D. HICKS, Secretary.

RANDOLPH COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — John A. Wilson.

Vice-Presidents — Garvin Becket, A. Steele, James M. Brown,
Joseph Williamson, G. U. Stanley, Wm. Mudd, Wm. Rutherford.
Secretary and Treasurer — Wm. Addison.

Previous to 1858, though the people attended the fairs and ex-
hibited from all parts of the county and neighboring counties, those
who had not taken the deepest interest in its success and prosperity
had been mostly confined to one corner of the county. But now
that the institution has become a " fixed fact " and the committee
of the Society had purchased and paid for land for a permanent
fair ground and other purposes of the Society, at the annual meet-
ing in Sparta, 8th January, 1858, it was resolved to amend the
constitution, so that instead of one there should be eight vice-
presidents, or as near as might be one from each voting precinct of
the county, and that the officers for 1858 should be elected by bal-
lot. The officers for 1858 were then elected. The executive com-
mittee took active measures to have the new grounds of the So-
ciety cleared off and fenced and wells dug, and other permanent
improvements made. They borrowed money and raised subscrip-
tions. The land had been timbered, and there are still a few
monarch oaks scattered through the grounds, but there were
groups of young saplings, oak, hickory, and occasionally single
trees scattered about, many of which were left for ornament and
shade. The grounds are most beautiful and well adapted to the
purposes of fairs.

The fair of the Society was held upon these grounds on the 6th
and 7th October, 1858, and it wTas best — most brilliant that ever

273

came off in the county. It was calculated that there were between
six and eight thousand people present on the two days. The
amount taken for entries, member's fees and at the gate was over
one thousand dollars. The number of animals and articles entered
was between four and five hundred, of these over one hundred
were horses and mules. The amount of premiums, including field
crops, was nearly four hundred dollars. The outlay for grounds,
clearing, fencing, buildings and fair, has been about $2,200. Did
not the committee wish to make more improvements on the
grounds, they would now, by subscription, pay off all the Seciety's
indebtedness.

Altogether, Kandolph county has reason to be proud of her Ag-
ricultural Society. It was among the first in the State, and the
very first in Egypt, and by progressing and increasing as she has
done, she can make her fairs, and her fair grounds, and her Agri-
cultural Society an honor and pride to old Randolph county and
the glory of southern Illinois.

WM. ADDISON, Secretary.

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — John M. Gould.

Vice-Presidents — A. S. Coe, W. L. Brunot.

Corresponding and Recording Secretary — D. F. Kinney.

Treasurer — Jacob Sailor.

Executive Committee — Jacob Hope, Cordova ; Wm. C. Pearsoll,
Penn ; A. IS". Philleo, Port Byron ; Isaiah Marshal, Canoe Creek ;
A. H. Talcott, Zuma; S. L. Bretton, Hampton; H. F. Sickle,
Moline ; A. F. Cutter, Kock Island ; T. J. Medill, Black Hall ;
John M. Wilson, Coal Yalley; J. E. Kelly, Bowling ; D. C. Clel-
land, Edgington ; Daniel Degraff, Buffalo Prairie ; Isaac B. Es-
sex, Drury ; John "Wnitsitt, Mercer County ; James Glenn, Henry
County.

The annual fair of Rock Island County was held on the 23d and
24th days of September, 1858. There were 385 entries, and a
fair proportion of horses. Of cattle the entries were less than at
some former fairs, but were good, most of them being full blood
Durhams. There were very fine specimens of hogs and fowls on
exhibition. There were also fine wagons, splendid plows, and
many other agricultural implements. Excellent articles from the
dairy were present. The ladies' department, embracing needle
work, &c, was well supplied. The products of the farm were
very fair, and the exhibition of flowers good.

There is an increasing interest for the success of our County-
Agricultural Society, still our farmers, as a mass, do not give it
—35

274

that support which we have a right to expect from them. The
receipts at the fair amounted to $445, which was all paid out in
premiums and expenses. An excellent address was delivered by
E. H. Bowman, Esq. For two years we have paid our premiums
in books, periodicals and plate, but we are satisfied it does not
give so good satisfaction as to pay in money. We have also given
diplomas, but these do not secure entire satisfaction.

D. F. KINNEY, Cor. and Rec. Secretary.

SANGAMON COUNTY,

Officers for 1858:

President — James W. Brown.
Vice-Presidents — H. Jacoby, A. B. McConnell.
Treasurer — S. M. Parsons.
Secretary — S. Francis.

The fair of this county was held on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th
days of October. The first day was unpleasant, and there was but
a small attendance. A threatened storm on the morning of the
second day kept many of our country friends away. The third
and fourth days the grounds were thronged. The entries were
about the same as last year, in the aggregate, though there was a
very small show in the Fruit Department. The stock were very
choice. Some of the stock which took the highest premiums at
the State Fair were present.

J. H. Spears, of Menard county, took the first premium tor the
best aged Durham bull, Master Lowndes; T. L. S. McKinney, the
first premium tor bull of two years ; J. N. Brown, first premium
for bull calf. Lord Alexander; best aged cow, Lady Harriet, J. H.
Spears ; best cow of 3 years, Rachel 2d, J. N. Brown ; best cow of
2 years, Emerald, J. C. Bone ; best under 2 years, Lady Francis,
J. N. Brown ; best heifer calf, J. P. Henderson, of Morgan.

Best thorough-bred stallion, Young Barnton, Jacoby, Sanger &
Co.; second best, Olencoe, Peter Roberts, Morgan ; best thorough-
bred mare, Fashion, Phil. Warren ; best 2 years old, Delia, Phil.
Warren ; best under one year, Bed Bird, J. Morton, Jacksonville ;
best jack, Franklin Todd, J. A. Pickerell ; best jennet, Mohawk,
Alfred Allen ; best French buck, Anti-Lecompton, A. B. McCon-
nell ; best pen of five French ewes, A. B. McConnell ; best pen of
five ewe lambs, John McConnell; best Cotswold buck, C. W.
Price ; best pen of five Cotswold ewe lambs, E. F. lies.

Best boar, 18 months old, Siddington, J. C. Crowder ; best over
eight months old, J. B. Morrison ; best sow over 18 months, J. B.
Morrison; best sow 8 months, J. C. Crowder; best under 8
months, E. N. Tainter ; best litter of pigs, J. Stock dale ; best lot
of hogs, (sweepstakes,) J. C. Crowder.

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275

The exhibition in the ladies' department was unusually fine and
well displayed. The whole exhibition was very satisfactory. The
receipts at the gate were over $1,800 ; the premiums paid were
near $1,200; and expenses about $300. The reduction of entry
fees to one-tenth of the premiums offered, and the entry by ladies
of their articles free, reduced the amount of receipts. The policy,
however, has strong advocates ; and it is now proposed to abolish
all entry fees. It is supposed that this measure would greatly in-
crease the number of entries, as well as visitors, to the lair. The
plan adopted of selling badges to families, at $2, did not work well.
These badges were re-sold, as it was ascertained, in several cases.
AH the officers, clerks and stockholders performed duty at the fair
without charge to the Society, with the object of saving means to
apply to the Society's debt.

S. FRANCIS, Secretary. y

STEPHENSON COUNTY.

Officers for 1858:

President— C. H. Kosenstiel.

Vice-Presidents— John A. Davis, C. Yan Brockler, Charles F.
Taggart.

Recording Secretary — D. H. Sunderland.

Treasurer- — E. Ordway.

Corresponding Secretary — Wm. G. Gray.

The Stephenson County Fair was a distinguished success. The
fair days were the 6th, 7th and 8th of October. The first day,
Wednesday, was wet and cold, and the friends of the fair felt great
anxiety for the result. It rained in the night, but Thursday morn-
ing the sky was clear of clouds, but the wind was piercing. The
officers of the Society resolved to continue the fair another day,
closing it on Saturday. The people poured in on Thursday, in
crowds, and at night it was found that the entries were more
numerous than usual, and the receipts at the gate satisfactory. At
2 o'clock, P. M., Dr. Pennington delivered an excellent address.
On Friday the wind continued to blow ; ice formed the previous
night, and the exhibition of flowers was nearly destroyed. The
Department of Fine Arts contained many choice paintings, Ambro-
types and Ivorytypes. Of Flowers, there was a handsome display.
There was a good show of Apples. Mr. L. Montague, nursery-
man, exhibited seventy -five varieties. There were boxes of Honey,
Wines, Jellies, Preserves, &c, &c. There was a most beautiful
display of Evergreens, by J. C. Allen. The Department of Nee-
dlework was not well tilled. In the Stock Department there
was decided evidence of improvement. Of Durham, Devon,
Hereford and Grade Cattle, there was a good exhibition ; and the

276

same may be said of Sheep and Swine and Poultry. The Aricul-
tural Implements exhibited were numerous; Threshing Machines,
Horse Powers, Manny's Prize Reaper and Mower, Plows, Sugar
Mills, Broadcast Sowing Machines, Corn Shellers, Manny's Self-
Raking Mower and Reaper combined, Clover Huller, Rotating
Harrow, &c, &c. Premiums paid about $800.

KIDOTT TOWN FAIR.

This is a town fair of Stephenson county. It took place on the
1st day of October, at Ridott Centre. The morning was rather
cloudy, but it cleared off and was pleasant. The officers of the
Society were early at their posts, and were admirably seconded in
their efforts by the inhabitants of the town. The Town Hall was
well filled with a large variety of excellent vegetables for the sea-
son. There was a large display of Seed Corn and a great variety
of fancy articles. Some excellent syrup was shown, made from
the sorghum and a small sample of the sugar. The mill that
crushed the cane was also shown. It was made by a farmer of the
town, and is a cheap and effective mill, and one that every farmer
can afford to have, even if he only makes syrup enough for the
use of his family. The show of Apples was far beyond expecta-
tion, and effectually proves that the severe winters we have had
have not destroyed all the fine fruit. The show of Horses was
large, and included many valuable animals. The young Colts
were very fine, and some superior matched spans were shown.
There was a large show of Cattle, and the Grade Durhams and
Devons were an evident improvement. There were several yoke
of excellent working cattle shown. C. PI. Rosenstiel delivered an
excellent practical address, and especially wished farmers to unite
in clubs, and combine for various purposes. He showed how little
benefit the farmers derived from legislation, and how different it
might be if they took the right course. He urged farmers to raise
more of the small fruits, such as Strawberries, Raspberries, Black-
berries, &c, and said they would find themselves a thousand times
repaid for their trouble, as they were especially conducive to the
health and comfort of the family. The various committees were
promptly at work, and performed their duties satisfactorily.

HERBERT BLAKELY, Secretary.
ADDRESS, BY DR. PENNINGTON,

BEFORE THE STEPHENSON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, OCTOBER 7TH, 1858.
Farmers of the County of Stephenson :

I am proud to meet you here to-day, for with you I have a com-
mon interest and a common cause. My hopes and my prospects
with you are identified. I come not to you with flattering or un-
meaning words, but to speak of our advantages and disadvantages
— of our rights and of our wrongs.

27T

In attempting to address you, I am not so vain as to suppose
that one so little accustomed to public speaking as myself can inte-
rest you by any display of eloquence.

What I have to say is the plain language of a farmer. Unwor-
thy, however, of the name must be the man that, after living almost
a quarter of a century in a new and untried soil and climate, can-
not relate, with some degree of interest, the story of his experience.

On every side do I see the pioneers of agriculture. The battle
<3f many a year of toil have you manfully fought. The improve-
ments and comforts around your homes attest your industry. Your
children will enjoy these benefits conferred, but I fear cannot duly
appreciate this conversion of the wild and uncultivated prairie into
the comforts and blessings of happy homes.

We stand here, to-day, where but a few years since the wild
beast, or man still more wild, roamed at large. Now do we behold
this city of many thousands, enjoying all the appurtenances of a
high civilization.

What, I would ask, has accomplished this great change ? You
will readily answer, the cultivation and improvement of this sur-
rounding country. And you will as readily say that it is this
which must keep alive the many growing cities of this broad valley.

I do not mean the mere tilling the soil, but that judicious appli-
cation of science with skill which must, at no distant day, rank the
farmer's calling, not only as vital to the interests of the state, but
in rank honorable, so much so that it shall be the pride of every
American citizen to say, I am a cultivator of the soil — I am a
farmer.

This high distinction, however, cannot be gained until our posi-
tion for intelligence and worth shall entitle us to so honorable a
place.

This vast multitude of mixed races which now constitute our
people will, ere long, assimilate and become one. And this cli-
mate, although at times cold and uninviting, all tends to make
strong that arm for labor, and prepare the mind for those great
enterprises for which we, as a people, if not already, must sooner
or later become distinguished.

The evidences of the farmer's progress are before us to-day.
What heart does not dilate with pleasure at the contrast of this ex-
hibition, especially in implements of agriculture, with that which
it was the fortune of many of us to see fifteen years since ? And
yet our aims are higher.

To mitigate the asperities of toil and facilitate production now
claims the attention of our best minds and the highest aspirations
of our people.

The warrior's plume may grace many a brow, the highest dis-
tinction in political life may be gained, but there is a victory
achieved and a tribute won by such men as Manny, McCormick
and many others, which will be as enduring as the benefits which
their inventions have conferred.

278

"Who does not see in the future a consummation of these high
hopes? Every year is a year of progress. And when, since the
art of printing or the improvement in the uses and appliances of
steam, has there been one that will mark a brighter page in man's
history %

The year 1858 will record with us the introduction of the steam
plow — the ultimate results of which to agriculture what prophet
can foretell ?

Another is the successful laying of the Atlantic cable, connecting
thereby the destinies of the old and new worlds. It has failed and
may fail again — such was the early history of the steam engine ;
yet every failure, like the battle of the Eomans with Pyrrhus, was
a victory.

With this work (extension of electric telegraph) the ancient
world with her seven wonders had nothing to compare. The
Colossus of Khodes, the walls and hanging gardens of Babylon,
and the pyramids of Egypt, all these have or must, in a limited
time, crumble into dust ; but this work, (the extension of the elec-
tric telegraph) like that of the art of printing, which has for its ob-
ject the expansion of the human mind, must live. Barbarism may
spread over the world and crush out the present light of civiliza-
tion, but these lights, like the mind itself, shall continue to exist,
and only die with the hopes of our race.

Shall we not continue to expand this rising mind, and prepare
it for that great work which now lies before us ? The voice which
I expect to hear from this assembly and from the broad prairies of
this State is': Educate, Educate. We will educate.

Not only individuals but States are rising in this great work ;
and I doubt not but that every State in the Confederacy will have,
sooner or later, schools, experimental farms— -farmers' colleges,
perhaps, would be more significant — where the great questions
pertaining to agriculture may or will be solved — where men that
have delved deep into nature's laws, and of ripe experience, shall
shed forth their light on this, the business of our lives.

The first great work of education, however, lies in our common
schools ; in them rests the future hopes and prospects of our State ;
for them place your standard high — the age demands it.

There is a point, however, in the taxation for our public schools
beyond which we should not go. We must avoid a burdensome
taxation. No people can or will long endure a tax beyond their
ability to pay. Carry it not so far that the public mind becomes
aroused against it. Limit your taxation by constitutional law.
Continue to build and to endow your schools and your colleges, as
your wealth and means increase, until every individual of this
new State shall have the advantages of a good and sufficient edu-
cation.

Borne was not built in a day, neither can we consummate in one
year, or in ten, a work of so great a magnitude.

J3ut I must leave this part of the subject. We have just passed

279

one of those seasons which -will add another page to the farmer's
experience. Excessive moisture and heat have been its peculiar
characteristics. These in their turn have developed myriads of in-
sect life — and to such an extent that the farmer's prospects, if
not entirely, have been measurably destroyed, our corn only
excepted.

Another great drawback to the farmer's prospects has been the
fluctuation in the price of his products. Steady prices, be they
high or low, are far better for the great mass of our people, than
this uncertainty, which must either on the one hand bankrupt the
producer, or, on the other hand, deprive the laborer of his just
reward.

Another subject claims onr attention. In looking over these
grounds, it is encouraging to see so much fine stock exhibited in a
county so new as that of Stephenson.

No surer basis exists than a well selected herd of fine cattle, the
soil only excepted. I need not say, however, to the farmers of
this county, that in common with others, they have much to learn
with regard to the stock best adapted to the soil and climate of
northern Illinois.

In cattle, the Durham has many good points, so with the Devon ;
but does not every careful observer see in every class some fault,
as well as a corresponding advantage?

In a climate where there exists so wide a range, it is evident
that our cattle, sheep, and our horses, to thrive, must be of the
most hardy races.

There is no one that more fully appreciates the great improve-
ments that should be made in our stock than myself; but they
must be adapted to the locality, or they will, sooner or later, de-
generate. This crossing and adaptation of stock should be prose-
cuted with all our ability, and yet it will be found the work of more
than one generation.

To expect that the pure blooded Durham would remain the
same, unchanged, woukf be as reasonable as to suppose that a peo-
ple, foreign, could or would remain on these prairies, for many
generations the same.

All are alike governed by that same great law of assimilation
and adaptation. Man himself becomes modified, if not morally,
physically, in a new climate and soil. Your domestic animals
will and must partake of the same change. Tour plants and your
trees, not indigenous, follow the same great law. It may be the
work of a few years, or it may require many generations.

The increase of stock, especially of cattle, should be encouraged,
not only by individuals but by every agricultural society in the
State. Their number should increase until this rank luxuriance,
which every where surrounds us, is entirely consumed.

Its consumption, by stock, would add thousands to the wealth
of this State ; and not only this, the malaria or swamp miasma,
which must arise from its decomposition, cannot but lay the foun-

280

dation of many of our most fatal diseases. The valley of the Nile,
were the rank luxuriance of the soil suffered to grow, would soon
become the home of the plague, and other diseases of the most ma-
lignant character.

The climate of northern Illinois, were all our lands brought un-
der a proper state of cultivation, would soon become celebrated
for its salubrity, and those autumnal diseases, which at times pre-
vail, would almost cease to exist.

The Indians burned over, annually, these prairies, but true
civilization must convert these wild grasses and native products
of our soil, until the same becomes cultivated, to some useful
purpose.

To burn over these prairies annually, you must destroy the
germ of those forests which are rising so rapidly everywhere
around us, and which are not only so much needed to beautify,
but also to supply some ot our future wants.

Indian Cokn. — In the cultivation of these lands, now wild, no
product offers so great inducements as that of maize or Indian corn;
none has so wide a range ; and among the native plants of this con-
tinent, none can compare with it in value.

Of its origin we know but little, but it is probably a remnant of
the civilization of a people whose history and- name are lost. To
the nations of this country it was their only bread, and as far as
our knowledge enables us to judge, it contains all the elements of
nutrition, capable of supplying our physical wants. It bears with
impunity the heat of the tropics, and almost any degree of mois-
ture, actual inundation excepted. It will nourish almost anywhere
it but ninety days of summer sun can shine upon it.

Other plants may degenerate, as the potatoe, or die out — this
plant has probably remained with but little change tor many cen-
turies. What effect the cultivation of civilized nations will have
upon it, the future alone can determine. My opinion, however, is
that it will remain as permanent as the rice plant of India, or the
wheat plant of central and northern Asia.

It is to such a plant that we must look for the raising of our
stock, and at least in part, for our bread. A grain that can so
easily and abundantly be raised should be stored and put in re-
serve for seasons ot want. It is true that we have had but one
partial failure of this crop during the past half century, and that in
1854, which, however, scarcely affected us in this latitude. Its
worth is scarcely yet known, and the many uses to which it will be
applied, aside from that of bread, must greatly enhance its value.
The quantity that could be raised in this State alone would almost
appear fabulous: Yet, at no very distant day, every acre, not re-
quired for other uses, will be put in requisition for its cultivation.
My observations lead me to believe that in the cultivation of the
Indian corn, were but the stalk thrown back, or rather plowed be-
neath the surface, it might be continued on the same land for many
generations unimpared in its fertility.

281

There is no land, however rich, but that requires seasons of rest.
This might at times be done by " seeding down." Another great
injury to our soil, especially for corn raising, is suffering stock to
run over it during the seasons of winter and spring, by which its
friability is lessened and the productions of the soil greatly im-
paired.

Another grain, no less worthy of attention, is wheat. Impor-
tant as is this plant among the cereals, it must give place to Indian
corn. Cultivators will in future engage with it with more caution.
So far, as a leading crop, it has paid less than any other staple pro-
duction. It is to be hoped, however, that a riper experience in its
cultivation will make it (as a crop) more remunerative. It would
undoubtedly add much to its value could some varieties from the
far north be introduced that would ripen before the extreme heat
of our summers.

Horticulture. — Engaged as I have been for many years in hor-
ticulture, you will expect something from me on that subject.
Would that I could present you with a more flattering aspect of
this, the idol of my labor. Uninterrupted prosperity, however, is
not always good for man. A few years since, and the prediction was
made, that for fruit this would soon become the garden of the
world. But the changes in our seasons have rendered more tem-
perate our expectations, and we are led by the light of the past to
prepare for the future. For we have planted trees unsuited to this
soil and climate. We have cultivated them without regard to the
great changes of the seasons. Step by step will we learn in this,
as in every new and untried enterprise. Young America like, we
hastened in our trees a premature development — a premature de-
velopment, as well in plants as in animals, must hasten a prema-
ture decay.

Of the apple, I would say, that of all our fruits, it is the one
most to be desired, for it meets our every day wants. Its origin
and early cultivation has been lost in the past. Like man's best
friend, it has followed him in all his wanderings, wherever locality
would admit of its propagation. Being foreign to our soil, it par-
takes, to a greater or less degree, of the diseases which have grown
upon it by being propagated in an unhealthy manner or locality,
or in contact with other plants or trees, capable of transmitting
from one to the other their peculiar diseases. ISTew York has her
Newton Pippins, New England her Baldwins, but Illinois will yet
raise apples no less celebrated, adapted to her climate.

The cultivation of the pear, like that of the apple, is of an early
date. It probably had its origin in Northern Asia. In delicacy of
flavor, with its rich and saccharine juices, it has no superior. And
well might the ancients say it possessed a nectar worthy of the gods.
It would flourish, were it not for the blight, almost as one of our
indigenous trees. It is yet hoped that this enemy of the pear will
run its race, and that it will become, as formerly, almost as abun-
dant as the apple. An unhealthy manner of propagation has done
—36

282

much undoubtedly towards its premature decay, but as the laws,
or rather the nature of the disease which infests our plants and
trees becomes better understood, a greater degree of success will
attend its culture. It is to the native cultivated pear for the fu-
ture to which we must look for our hardy trees. Among the
many pear tree3 which I have planted — principally standards — ■
but few give promise of long life. This may, in fact, be owning to
the too rapid growth of the tree. The dwarfs have fruited well
for a few years, but from so imperfect a union as exists between the
stock and the graft, their time of usefulness must be short.

Among the autumnal fruits, the peach stands deservedly high,
and has, wherever it can be cultivated, high claims on our atten-
tion. Its more southern parentage than the apple and pear is every-
where manifest, and if it ever becomes acclimated to our climate
it will, I fear, be after many years of careful cultivation. I have
attempted to render it more hardy by working it on the wild plum
stock, but all the efforts made so far, either by others or myself, to
change its character have failed. Those, however, who would wish
any degress of success to raise a few for the dessert or the table,
can do so by training the tree low and covering the branches with
soil during our winters. I have tried it a number of years and
have failed, in but one, and that from late frosts.

The plum, although of less value than the apple or pear, de-
serves a place in every orchard. As a dessert-table fruit it meets
a want not easily supplied. The fruit for some years, owing to our
severe winters and the ravages of the curculio, has scarcely been
found in our market. Should the varieties now in cultivation con-
tinue to fail, our wild plum must receive more attention. Being
native to this soil the tree is hardy, and offers greater inducements
for improvement than any other native fruit bearing tree found in
our State. A sure and an abundant bearer, with little danger
from the diseases that are destroying the old cultivated varieties,
there is hope that when it shall receive proper attention that it may
fill a place in the temperate latitudes, now occupied by those
which we fear are fast passing away. Science and skill have al-
ready done much to overcome these diseases, but the work has only
commenced.

Notwithstanding all these adverse circumstances attending the
business of horticulture, we have no fears for the future, and trust
at no distant day to see every family enjoying this first great bless-
ing. To the young men, I would say plant fruit bearing trees,
and if on the prairie neglect not the forest trees ; to the middle aged,
I would say plant trees ; and to the aged I would say, plant trees ;
esteem it among your most sacred anoTbinding duties. It may not
bring with it high distinction, foi it is an humble act, but will carry
with it that pure satisfaction which position cannot always bring.

Friends of horticulture, we enjoy to-day the fruits perfected by
a civilization older than history. The men who perfected or modi-
fied these fruits so that they assumed the character of cultivated

283

trees, no doubt possessed with ourselves, the same high hopes and'
aspirations. If these great gifts were consummated by men destitute
of the present lights of science, what benefits should this age confer
that shall be as tasting to the world % A Yan Mons could spend a
life devoted to the cause ; a Downing commenced, but a heart so
generous must find a premature grave.

I cannot pass over the various topics of interest, without saying
one word in commendation of the honey-bee. For many years
have I raised it, yet my attachment to it becomes none the less.
An intruder on no man's domain, neat and cleanly in his habits,
an example of order and industry to those possessing a higher in-
telligence, it forms a rural establishment worthy of a place around
every home. The honey adds a happy variety to the substantials
of our table, and may truly be classed among the delicacies and
luxuries of our board. The purest sweet of nature, it comes to us
unalloyed. May every lover of nature's works neglect not this
most valuable gift to man of the insect world. On our large
prairies it only partially succeeds, but wherever timber abounds
their rearing will repay a hundred fold.

But among the topics which should interest our people, none are
more vital than the comfort and happiness which should cluster
around our homes. Farmer's leave not these homes of your early
toil. Suffer not the ignusfatuus dream of wealth to lure you from
their protection. Who would exchange the blessings of his home5
and the security, order and protection of a law abiding people for
the promised wealth of distant and untried lands ? Mexico, for ex-
ample, has unbounded stores of wealth, with mines of silver and
gold, a fertile soil and a genial climate, yet the condition of her
people is such that it should enlist the sympathies of the surround-
ing civilized nations. The cultivators of her soil own it not ;
the institutions of her church are superior to her laws ; indebted-
ness is there a sure and inevitable condition of bondage. Sooner
would I live and gain my daily bread on the most uninviting spot
in my country, than with such a people.

I would say to young men about to start in the world, secure
first the soil for a home. Be those acres few or many, it will be
something that you can call your own. Make it a home. For
what is man without a home? The adversities of life may assail,
sickness may prostrate, but if at home, how dear the spot ! Young
man, you must not, however, expect after making you can main-
tain these homes without labor. What I mean by labor is indus-
try and application to some useful business or pursuit. Man needs
it not only for his physical but for his moral and intellectual de-
velopment. The mind that is void of useful and noble thoughts,
must be occupied by low and base conceptions. Those of you
who wish to command the respect of all good men, and build up
for yourselves a character for self reliance, shun no labor, but
couple it with intelligence and success will attend your efforts. Of
all the men with whom you meet, shun those who look down on

284

honest toil. It is true that such men are fast sinking to their
proper level. As an excrescence on society, they begin to feel their
isolation among an industrious and self supporting people.

Farmers, make your homes the abode of comfort and refine-
ment. There is no surer index to a man's character, than the sur-
roundings of his home. A noble and a generous mind will stamp
itself on every surrounding object. Order and refinement are so
nearly allied to virtue, that the one appears almost inseparable
from that of the other. It matters not how small the beginning
or how humble the home, if but neatness and order reign.
Farmers, make your homes such, not only for your own sake, but
for the young and rising generation, that they may be induced to
follow your example. By so doing you will establish firmer and
firmer the basis of your country's prosperity, and perpetuate those
laws and institutions which now are the day star of hope to the sur-
rounding nations.

TAZEWELL COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — Josiah Sawyer.
Vice President — Lloyd Shaw1.
Secretary — Seth Talbott.
Treasurer — J. Haywood.

The annual fair of Tazewell county was held on the 6th and 7th
days of October, at Tremont. The weather was not favorable, but
the attendance was large. The entries exceeded in number those
of last year. Mr. Merwin's address was highly commended. The
collection of agricultural implements was not large. There were
two sugar mills entered — whether of metal or wocd is not stated.
Some specimens of sugar and molasses, made from the Chinese
Sugar Cane, were exhibited. The sugar was made by Josiah Saw-
yer. One parcel was fine. He exhibited two specimens of sugar
and also two of molasses. The manner of making it is thus
stated :

" The samples of Chinese Sugar Cane Syrup and Sugar, herewith
presented, were made as follows :

" Sample No. 1, of Syrup. Immediately after the juice was ex-
pressed, it was clarified with milk and eggs and boiled down to
syrup, without further preparation.

" Sample No. 2. Pursued the same course, with the addition
of two table spoonsful of lime water to every two and a half gallons
of juice.

" Sample of Sugar, No. 1. Pursued the same course as with
No. 2 Syrup, with the addition of two ounces of ivory black to the

285

gallon of syrup, and it commenced to granulate soon after it be-
came cool.

" Sample No. 2. Treated as No. 1, with, the addition of a small
solution of nut galls. It began to granulate in about three days,
and about half sugar and the other syrup.

"J. Sawyer."

The vegetables were unusually fine. A good show of apples.
There were good specimens of domestic wine, preserves, pickles,
pastry, bread, etc. A very good floral display. Needlework and
household fabrics, did credit to the fair. There was an unusual
exhibition of good horses, cattle and hogs. No sheep shown. The
gallinaceous tribes well represented. $350 were paid in premiums.
It was a very satisfactory fair.

SETS TALB0TT, Secretary.

YEEMILION COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — John Gerard.
Vice President — Thomas McKibben.
Secretary — Jacob H. Oakwood
Treasurer- — John A. Church.

FIRST DAT, OCTOBER 13, 1858.

The fair commenced October 13 — to continue four days. The
fair was held at Catlin. The grounds had been improved since
last year. The entries to-day consisted principally of stock. The
bad weather kept many persons from the fair — and many of the
awarding committee men on stock were not present.

SECOND DAT, 14TH.

The sun rose clear this morning, and every sign betokened a
pleasant day. By noon the grounds were covered with a crowd.
The halls were very rapidly filled up with articles on entry. There
were many additions to the stock department. Enormous vegeta-
bles intersperse the Floral Hall, with specimens of needlework,
fancy work, penmanship and various other articles. The entries,
up to the close of this evening, are : horses, 175 ; cattle, 80 ; hogs,
26; sheep, 21 ; miscellaneous, 166; and articles for which no pre-
miums were offered, 28.

THIRD DAT, 15TH.

The third day is the great day of the fair. The grounds are well
filled. The scene is animated, and the greater portion of the peo-
ple present seem to be well pleased. The attendance is considera-
bly better than last year.

286

The exhibition in the departments of manufactures of all kinds,
farm products, fancy work and poultry, is better than in the two
preceding days. The trotting match now comes off. The horses of
J. J. Alexander carry off the blue ribbons, for trotting and pacing.
Alexander's horse made the time in 2:44. The awards are all
made and to-morrow they will be paid out.

FOURTH DAT, 16TH.

To-day is devoted to paying premiums and selling and exchang-
ing stock. There were two or three auctioneers engaged in sell-
ing, and it is the noisest day of the fair. Considerable property
changed hands. The premiums awarded were paid out.

The fair was better attended this year than ever before. The
receipts at the gate were $1,000 50, against about $900 last year.
This, with $100 received from the State, makes the income of the
Society $1,100 50. The expenses were, for premiums, $600 ;
other expenses and improvements on the grounds, $400 ; leaving
about $100 in the treasury.

J. H. OAKWOOD, Secretary.

"WHITE COUKTY,

Officers for 1858 :

President — Thomas Keaney.
Vice President — R. Emmerson.
Pec. Secretary — R. S. Graham.
Cor. Secretary — George Darrah.

The first fair of the White County Agricultural Society was
held on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 12th and 13th of October,
1858. The weather of the first day was unfavorable, being cloudy
and cold for the season, and little else was done than entering and
arranging articles for exhibition. At 11 o'clock, the Rev. J. J.
Eerree delivered an address which was appropriate, eloquent and
impressive.

The second, and last day, the weather was delightful, and with
the bright morning sun came hundreds of cheerful visitors, some
from neighboring counties, but chiefly made up of citizens of our
own county. A fine band of music was in constant attendance,
which added much interest and pleasure to the occasion. The
show of cattle and swine was not as numerous as we had good
reason to anticipate. The show of horses was large and of fine
quality. Almost every department of agricultural and farm pro-
ducts was well represented, together with" many articles of mechan-

287

ical skill and ingenuity. The contributions of the ladies, which
were numerous and elegant, added greatly to the interest of the
fair.

The Society have bargained for ten acres of land, three quarters
of a mile from town, and have had a fraction less than five acres
inclosed with a close plank fence, and have had a well dug and
temporary buildings erected for the present emergency. It is in-
tended, next year, to erect offices, committee rooms, sheds, etc., of
a more durable and permanent character and on a more liberal
scale. The location is beautiful beyond description, being as level
as a floor and covered with a growth of young oak timber, which
is indispensable as a shade as well as ornamental.

We have every reason to believe the fair came up to the most
sanguine expectations of its friends, and gave satisfaction to all
concerned. The masses of the people have become interested and
seem willing and anxious to take hold and carry the matter for-
ward, so that we now look upon an annual agricultural fair as be-
ing a permanent and perpetual thing.

Our premium list was necessarily small this year, but next year
we expect to be able to offer inducements to competitors worth
striving for. The fair closed at about 5 o'clock, P. M. Our offi-
cers are : Reuben Emmerson, President ; Chas. B. Bailey, Ezekiel
Hunsinger, Jas. S. Coulter, Yice Presidents ; Dr. George Darrah,
Corresponding Secretary ; F. E. Hay, Recording Secretary, and
Cal. T. Ross, Treasurer.

As there will be a meeting of the Society, on the first Monday
in December next, to consider the financial condition of the Society
and other important matters of interest, it is thought proper to give
the following in this report.

The total expenses of the Society, from its organization to the
present date, are as follows :

Thomas Randolph, for work on fair ground $327 94

Patrick & Handley, for lumber " 265 00

Patrick, for nails, merchandise, etc 17 00

Young & Hadden, for boards on fair ground , „ 38 85

N. T. Shipley, ten acres ground 160 00

Printing, seal, store bills paid, etc 59 50

Carmi Band 35 00

Other store bills unpaid, estimated 36 71

$940 00

TOTAL RECEIPTS.

Received from State $200 00

" membership 150 00

" receipts of fair 250 00

$600 00

Present debt of Society $340 00

All of which is respectfully submitted.

GEORGE DARRAH,
Oor. Sec. White County Ay. Society.

WHITESIDE COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — R. L. Wilson.

Vice-Presidents — Dr. Hubbard, Dr. Pennington, A. R. Hamilton.

Secretary — J. E. Bennett.

Treasurer — Allen Groves.

The fair was held at Morrison, on the 13th and 14th. There
were upwards of 700 entries. Cattle, 25 entries; sweepstakes, 20
carriage horses, 65; horses of all work, 75; saddle horses, 15
lady equestrianism, 6; jacks and mules, 6; sheep, 10 ; swine, 10
butter and cheese, 15 ; leather work, 10 ; farming utensils, 15
iron work, 10 ; domestic manufactures, 60 ; ornamental needle
work, 50 ; fruit, 35 ; flowers, 8 ; garden vegetables, 60 ; poultry,
10 ; hedges and farms, 6 ; miscellaneous articles, 127. A very
fine display. The attendance was large, and every thing went off
to the general satisfaction.

WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

This Society was organized under the act of the Legislature of
Feb. 15, 1855, and has kept up the spirit of the said act to the pre-
sent time.

At the annual election of the Society, held February 6th, 1858,
the following were elected the officers for the ensuing year, viz :
President, Hampton P. Sloan ; Yice President, Abraham I.
Enoch ; Secretary, Newton Crawford ; Treasurer, Hiram R.
Enoch ; Directors, Richard Jackson, Samuel Cunningham, John
Andrew, Joel S. Sherman, C. M. Franklin.

The Society held its annual fair for 1858, at Rockford, on the
21st, 22d, 23d and 24th days of September, on ground purchased
by the Society for the permanent location of its fairs. The grounds
embrace twelve and five-eighths acres, within the limits of the city
of Rockford, and are acknowledged to be the finest and most beau-
tiful for purposes of agricultural fairs of any in the State, having
the advantage of a living stream of water running through one
corner. On one side of the ground is a level plat of sufficient size
for a circular trotting course, of a quarter of a mile in circumfer-
ence. Surrounding this, for more than half its circumference, the
ground rises rather abruptly some thirty feet above the level of
the trotting ring, forming a natural amphitheatre on a grand scale
and giving to visitors, at any stand point on the high ground, a
distinct view of all that may be doing on the grounds. Upon the
level ground, and outside the ring, are situated the stalls for cattle,

289

and'horses, which are made in a substantial manner, furnished with
permanent mangers and feed boxes ; pens for herds of cattle, hogs
and sheep, and ground for the exhibition of farm implements and
machinery. Upon the elevated ground overlooking the whole are
situated the show buildings for the domestic department, one hun-
dred and fifty feet long by fifty feet wide, to which is attached the
business office of the Society during the fairs, committee rooms,
<fec, and near by is the dining hall, one hundred feet long by twenty-
seven feet wide, capable of seating three hundred persons — attached
is a kitchen for cooking the food to supply the tables.

These grounds were purchased by the Society in August, 1857,
for the sum of $7,506, and for the payment of which they depend
mainly upon the receipts of the annual fairs, although quite a sum
lias been raised upon subscription of stock.

The last fair was a very successful one, there being received at
the gates for admissions and entries some $3,600. The number of
entries in stock, farm implements, products and manufactures
reached 787. There were 120 entries of stock, embracing many
very fine specimens of cattle, either of Short-horns, Devons or Here-
fords. There were several herds of cattle on exhibition which very
justly attracted much attention, not only for its being a new fea-
ture in the fairs but for their excellent qualities. In horses the
show was very superior, excelling any previous show. The en-
tries number 192, embracing all the various breeds, from a thorough-
bred to a mustang pony. The Morgans being the most numerous
and the general favorites were most successful in obtaining prizes.
The show in hogs was not numerous, but decidedly an improve-
ment in breeds over former fairs. The Suffolks bore off the prizes.
There were 25 entries in sheep, and finer or better specimens,
either in long or short wools, could hardly be shown in any coun-
ty. In the class for working oxen there were 2i yoke entered,
which were of a very superior quality, both as to their being well
trained to work, size or compactness of body, &c. In fat cattle
the entries were few and confined to grass fed animals, which were
good specimens of the kind. Of poultry the show was large, em-
bracing all the different varieties of the improved breeds, from the
stately shanghai to the proud little bantam. Ducks and pigeons
were well represented, there being samples of almost every kind
on exhibition. In the farm implement department there was a large
number of entries, including seven different kinds of reapers, three
mowers, three reapers and mowers combined, three reapers and self
rakers, different kinds of broad-cast sowers, seed-drills, planters —
both horse and hand, plows of various kinds, threshing machines
and separators, horse powers, sugar mills, fanning mills ; all largely
manufactured, in the county. In grain and vegetables the show
was quite large, the entries reaching 100, embracing the different
kinds of farm products and vegetables. Several superior samples
of winter and spring wheat for this season's product. Some four-
teen different kinds of corn — all good — the Yellow Dent taking the

290

premium. Fair samples of oats for the season, fine potatoes, and
the different kinds of grass seed. Sweet potatoes were shown in
great abundance, having been grown in great perfection this year.
Cabbage was shown in great quantities, but cauliflowers were
scarce, only six heads on exhibition. The corn starch on exhibition,
made by Messrs. Bagley, Gregory & Co., of Rockford, was second
to none, wherever made, attracting attention and complimentary re-
marks from visitors. In butter the show was exceedingly rich,
was in 50 and 25 pound packages, made in May and June, and
fine specimens of that which was fresh made, all or any doing
credit to the maker. A few goods pecimens of cheese, but the
entries in this department were very few.

The annual fair was too early for a full exhibition of sugar and
syrup, made from the sorghum — only two or three entries of syrup
and one of sugar, which were very creditable samples, and the
managers of the Society decided upon holding a meeting of the
growers of the sugar cane and others interested in growing and
manufacturing ; which meeting took place on "Wednesday, Decem-
ber 8th, at the court house. Much interest was manifested on the
occasion, and a good number of samples of syrup on exhibition,
notwithstanding the very cold and inclement weather during that
day. The discussions^and conversations at this meeting were inter-
esting, and the following conclusions were agreed upon : That the
seed should be planted early ; that dry, sandy soil is probably the best
to grow the cane upon, as the yield of juice is more from the same
weight of stalks, and will yield more syrup from the same quantity
of j nice ; that it should be cultivated the same as Indian corn ; that
it should be harvested when the seed is in the dough, the juice
expressed as soon as possible thereafter, and the boiling com-
menced and kept up so as to have the juice immediately go into
pans for evaporation ; that copper pans are much preferable to any
other metal for evaporating ; that it is not necessary to use alkali
to cleanse the syrup ; that it only requires constant attention and
skimming whilst boiling, and thorough straining through fine flan-
nel cloth, and keeping the bottom of the pan, after the scum has
arisen, perfectly clean, to produce a superior syrup ; that the juice
should be reduced from six to eight gallons to one of syrup, to be
good ; that it will make good sugar is beyond a doubt ; that a fair
yield of juice per acre is 1,600 gallons, although 2,000 gallons have
been produced ; that the suckers and blades with the seeds profit-
ably managed will pay the expense of cultivation ; that the quantity
of seed produced per acre is (average) 40 bushels ; that a good
stalk should weigh two pounds, and the product of an acre of
stalks would be about 15 tons ; that syrup at 25 cents per gallon will
yield as much profit to the farmer as corn at 40 cents per bushel,
and that the raising of the sugar cane for the purposes of making
syrup and sugar will form one of the staple productions of the
farmers of this county.

After the discussion closed the Board of Directors of the Society

291

made the following awards upon the' samples of syrup produced,
viz : The first best sample to Sylvester Scott ; second best, Joseph
Milnor ; third best, D. F. Talbott, Superintendent of County Poor
Farm. The President of the Society then produced samples of
pies and cakes, made with the syrup from the cane, by his good
lady ; upon testing which the company agreed that the quality
could not be improved by using Louisiana syrup in the cookery.

Of the products of the orchard very little was exhibited, owing
to the general failure of the orchards in this county ; yet there
were some very creditable samples, particularly those varieties of
table apples shown by the Rev. Wm. Gates.

The show of Grapes was very good. Samples shown by Dr. C.
]N\ Andrews show that great improvement can be made in the
native grape.

The Domestic Department of Manufactures, as is always the
case, was very interesting, the entries reaching as high as 115,
and embracing all the diiferent kinds of manufacture, from an
excellent quality of woolen yarn to the finest kind of fancy embroi-
dery that the ingenuity of the ladies could design or execute. The
contributions, by the way, of millinery goods were very interesting,
there being several cases of the finest and most valuable samples,
doing credit to the contributors.

In the Fine Arts Department the exhibition was most excellent.
Number of entries, 56.

The Oil Paintings would have been creditable to a larger and
older county, even where this profession is better patronized than
here. In crayon and pencil drawing the exhibition was excellent ;
and in writing the specimens could hardly be excelled at any fair.

There were designs and models for Steam Boilers, Self- Rakers
for Reapers, &c, on exhibition.

Some very fine specimens of workmanship in Harness and Sad-
dlery.

Flowers and House Plants to beautify the whole pavillion.

The show in Canary Birds was very good, having some very
fine specimens of imported birds.

In specimens of Stuffed Birds, perhaps there is no county that
can show a better collection of native birds than this in the west.
Mr. Wm. Blackburn had on exhibition thirty-seven cases, all pre-
pared by himself, and nearly all natives of this county, which
always attracts much attention from visitors.

A very interesting and unusual display was got up at our fair
by Lewis W. Owen, Esq., of the town of Owen, who brought upon
the grounds, mounted on wagons, his entire stock of farm utensils
and tools. One of these wagons was drawn by ten yoke of oxen.
Other wagons were drawn by horses. This exhibition was got up
in order to show what was necessary for an ordinary farmer to
have, in the way of tools, to carry on an ordinary farm.

At the time we held our fair was also had a military encamp-
ment, within the grounds, which may have been interesting to

292

some, but, after all, is considered as a doubtful kind of policy for a
county agricultural society to follow or adopt.

The annual address was delivered, on Thursday, by R. S. Black-
well, Esq., of Chicago.

The amount of premiums offered at this fair exceeded $600.

The past season was rather unfavorable, for most farm crops in
this section of the state, the wheat crop being almost a failure,
the average yield being not far from eight bushels to the acre, and
this of an inferior quality. The corn crop was also below an aver-
age, by reason of the fore part of the season being very wet and
cold and the seed planted not all coming up. The crop ripened
very well and the quality of the corn was good. The oat crop was
almost an entire failure, by reason of the rust. Some few fields
being sown early, the crop ripened before struck by the rust. The
average yield in this county is not more than ten to fifteen bushels
to the acre. Potatoes were an average crop this year, this county
shipping many thousand bushels to other parts, particularly to the
lower parts of Indiana. The rot was severe in some localities.
Grass was unusually good ; more than an average product, which
will all come to good account, by reason that there is but little oat
or wheat straw fit for feeding. Hungarian Grass is being cultiva]
ted by some farmers to considerable extent, they giving it as their
opinion that it is cheaper and better than Timothy or Clover for
feeding, as a winter feed, either for cattle or horses.

The Pork crop was rather light in this county this year, yet the
quality was good. Beef very good and abundant — in fact, it being
almost the only thing the farmers could dispose of to any advan-
tage for cash.

We have no means of knowing the amount of products, for the
past season, in this county.

NEWTON CEAWFORD, Secretary.

WILL COUNTY.

The "Will County Agricultural Society, since their last report to
the State Agricultural Society, has increased in usefulness and
is much more prosperous than then. The list of premiums for the
seventh annual fair, in September, 1857, at their fair grounds, in
the city of Joliet, was much larger than ever offered before. By the
munificence of the Honorable Ex-Governor Joel A. Matteson,
who donated to our Society, in April, 1857, five hundred dollars,
which allowed our Society to increase their premiums and to add
new premiums on articles which the Society had not felt able to
offer before, the amount offered as premiums, for the year 1857,
was about fourteen hundred dollars, which was paid in silver ware ;
and, by the generous donations of our county and city, which donated
two hundred and fifty dollars each, the Society was able to fit up

293

their grounds in good style. There was a large attendance at this
fair, and the competition for premiums was very spirited. The
show of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, farm crops, &c, &c, was
excellent, and was as tine as could be found in the state, and was
very creditable to Will county. The people seemed very enthusi-
astic and aroused to the necessity of supporting their County Agri-
cultural Society. The two first days were fair weather, but the third,
day was wet and rainy; but it did not dampen the ardor of the
people. There was as large an attendance as on either of the pre-
vious days. At 11 o'clock an address was delivered by the Presi-
dent, John Young, Esq. After the address the Society elected
their officers for the ensuing year ; which were as follows : Presi-
dent, John Young; Yice-President, Robert Stevens; Secretary,
R E. Barber ; Treasurer, Benj. Richardson ; an Executive Com-
mittee of three from each town in the county. R. E. Barber and
Benj. Richardson having refused to act, ¥m. Turner was elected
by the Executive Committee as Secretary and O. L. Hawley as
Treasurer.

The eighth annual fair was held on the 28th, 29th and 30th days
of September, A. D. 1858, at their fair grounds, about one mile
east of the city of JolL't.

The concourse of visitors was by far the largest that ever came
together on any occasion of the kind since the organization of the
Society. The display in every department, with a few exceptions,
was superior, and much larger than any of our former fairs ; but
still it was not what our county should do, and not what we are in
hopes of doing, in a few years, when the ample material of our
county as she is capable of for making a splendid exhibition when
it is brought forth.

The entries at this fair were as follows : Horses, 106 ; Cattle,
68 ; Sheep, M ; Ladies' Domestic Work, 101 ; Ladies' Fancy
Work, 50 ; and various other entries, 231 ; making the total
entries 610.

There were many animals and articles exhibited on the grounds
which were not registered ; and, consequently, did not compete for
premiums.

It is worthy of remark that three years ago all of the cattle of
the finest breeds were registered by a few farmers, while now they
are owned by nearly every farmer in the county. And the show
of Horses was very fine in numbers, and, being of the best breeds,
callel forth the admiration of both visitors and residents. The
Sheep exhibited were but samples of the many numerous fine
flocks of which our county can boast. In the Ladies' Department
the display of articles was excellent; and, from the number of arti-
cles entered, shows that we have the ladies at work with us for the
prosperity of our Society.

The two first days were very fine weather, but the third was
rainy, which made it very unpleasant. The amount of premiums
offered was about the same as last year — fourteen hundred dollars

294

— which was paid in silver ware ; and, by the generous donations
from the city of Joliet and our county, who donated two hundred
and fifty dollars each, our Society have about three hundred dol-
lars on hand, after paying off the premiums. The annual address
before the Society was delivered by the President, John Young,
Esq.

The officers elected at the last fair, in September last, were as fol-
lows : President, Ira Austin ; Vice-President, B. F. Allen ; Treas-
urer, John Young ; Secretary, "W". B. Hawley.

WOODFOBD COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — Win. II. Armstrong.

Vice-Presidents — ¥m. Dodds, Allen Hart, J. Means, G. "W".
Kobinson, J. R. Gaston, Gannon Gish.
Secretary — J. J. Marsh.
Treasurer — Allen Graves.

The following is a brief statement of the condition and prospects
of the Woodford County Agricultural Society. This Society was
permanently organized May 29, 1858, under the provisions of the
statute of Illinois, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars, divi-
ded into shares of one dollar each. Eleven hundred shares have
been subscribed for, and the money paid into the Treasury. The
Society has also received from the State the sum of one hundred
dollars, and from entrance and gate fees, at its late fair, three hun-
dred and thirty -five dollars.

The Society has rapidly increased in numbers and interest since
its permanent organization. Its last annual fair was held at Meta-
niora on the 13th, 11th and 15th days of October, 1858, upon the
beautiful grounds of the Society, purchased for that purpose, con-
sisting of ten acres, inclosed with a close board fence, seven feet
high. The Society has already expended more than twelve hun-
dred dollars in the purchase and improvement of the grounds for
its annual exhibitions, with the design of increasing the improve-
ments to the cost of about eighteen hundred dollars more; leaving
the sum of seven thousand dollars of its capital stock unexpended,
the interest of which will be appropriated in the manner best cal-
culated to develop the resources of the country.

H. L. HASKELL, Secretary.

HAMILTON COUNTY.

Officers for 1858 :

President — John A. Wilson.

Vice-Presidents — Z. B. Reed, J. M. Heard, Hosea Yise.
/Secretary— §>. E. Gates.
Treasurer — J. S. Kinner.
Corresponding Secretary — Ch. Carpenter.

The second annual fair of the Hamilton County Agricultura.
Society came off on the 20th and 21st, on their fair grounds, at
Nashville, and we are proud to know and happy to say that Ham-
ilton county is fully alive to her true interests. The farmers and
mechanics of this county have listened long enough to the fulsome
harangues of stump orators, who would ascribe to them the sover-
eignty of the country, but carefully withhold from them the sceptre
of control in the public councils. They have become tired of being
nominally the bone and sinew of the country, and have roused up
into a determination that their calling shall assume its legitimate posi-
tion as one of the professions. The business of farming is now indeli-
bly stamped with the seal of dignified intelligence, combined with
industry. The producing classes were fully and well represented,
and we were surprised at the actual superiority of the articles on
exhibition.

The ladies were on the ground with a lot of embroidery, needle-
work, &c, helping to set off the more substantial productions 'of
our farmers' wives and daughters. There were quilts rivalling
the "coat of many colors" that we read about; and coverlets
" checkered as life" — saying nothing about turnips, cabbages, car-
rots, beets, &c, for they were too large to describe.

The Cattle Show was very interesting ; but the greatest emula-
tion was displayed in Horses. In fact the whole fair went off in
perfect order ; while the soul-cheering notes of the Carmi Band
relieved the monotonous sound of the lowing herd and drowned
the murmur of the cheerful crowd.

After the show was over the crowd gathered around the band
wagon and received a short congratulatory and encouraging speech
from Hon. C. Crouch, President of the Society, with hearty cheers.
Judge Marshall was then called for, and said some sensible things
about the fair. He very truly remarked that " Old Hamilton" is
taking the lead of our neighboring counties in this all important
cause. In a very few years we shall see the good effect of this
infant Society.

The large crowd of gentlemen and ladies then dispersed, with a
fixed determination that the agricultural interests of the county
shall be truly developed. Farmers, stand by this thing for it is
peculiarly yours. We hope the ladies will do their share ; for
without them we'd have no fair.

296

OFFICERS OF COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES,
for 1857-'58,

FROM WHICH NO REGULAR REPORTS HATE BEEN RECEIVED.

CLARK COUNTY.

President— Tim. R. Young.
Vice-President — Jas. Lockhard.
Treasurer — J. R. Greenwood.
Secretary— Ed. L. Hote.

COLES COUNTY.

President — John Coper. ■
Vice-President — ¥m. Miller.
Secretary— J as. D. Ellington.
Treasurer — Tlios. G. Chambers.

CRAWFORD COUNTY.

President — Samuel Park.

Vice-Presidents — Findley Paul, Wm. Beers, W: S. Emmons.

Secretary — C. H. Fitch.

Treasurer — A. P. Woodworth.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

President — M. Ruffner.
Vice-Presidents — G. W
Treasurer— J as. M. Ward.
Recording Secretary — A. G. Caldwell.
Corresponding Secretary — Jas. Ladew.

DUPAGE COUNTY,

President — L. Ellsworth.

Vice-Presidents — Abraham Henshaw, L. Bartlett, J. C. Wheaton.

Secretary — H. C. Childs.

Treasurer — Amasa Moore.

297

EDWARDS COUNTY.

President — Jo~hn Bussenden.
Vice-President — J. S. Kearington.
Secretary — Samuel Thompson.
Treasurer — Gaspard Frossett.

EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

President — J. L. Leith.
Vice-President — D. Rhineheart.
Secretary — John S. Kelly.
Treasurer — P. Funkhouser.

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

President — B. "W. Martin.

Vice-President — ¥m. S. Crawford.
Secretary — E. L. Webb.
Treasurer — John McFall.
Corresponding Secretary — Levi Browning

IROQUOIS COUNTY.

President — Hiram Yarnum.
Vice-Presidents — Thos. Hagee, Jonas Strickler.
Secretary — E. K. Farmer.
Treasurer — Henry Troup.
Corresponding Secretary — W. E. Keedy.

JACKSON COUNTY.

Presidents— A. M. Jenkins.

Vice-Presidents— ¥m. Schwarts, Wm. Goodwin, Thos. M,
Logan.

Recording Secretary — D. Worthen.
Corresponding Secretary — Lindorff Ozburn.
Treasurer — John A. McClure.

—38

298

MARSHAL COUNTY.

President — Benj. S. Eldridge.

Vice-Presidents — K. Dikes, J. Wier, Jas. Hall, C. C. Hoagland,
M. Maxwell, G. Bidwell.

MASON COUNTY.

President — A. D. Hoppin.

Vice-Presidents — fm. Atwater, A. Biggs, S. Kule.

Corresponding Secretary — Selali Weaden.

Treasurer^-Wm. Higbee.

Secretary — J. H. Haivhorst.

MASSAC COUNTY.

President — D. D. Clemens.
Treasurer — Joseph F. Mears.
Recording Secretary — Win. BE. Green.
Corresponding Secretary — J. S. Armstrong

MERCER COUNTY.

President— Graham Lee.
Vice-President — ¥m. J. ISfevins.
Secretary — Jas. Edward Bay.
Treasurer — Amos Prouty.

PIATT COUNTY.

President — Chas. H. Harris.

Vice-Presidents — Ezra Marquess, John Gatewood, Peter B. Hall.

Secretary — L. J. Bond.

Treasurer — B. B. Winchester.

PERRY COUNTY.

President — J. J. Swanwick.
Vice-President — H. S. Osborn.
Secretary — E. B. Bushing.
Treasurer — John W. Kyan.

299

PUTNAM COUNTY — BUEL INSTITUTE.

President — fm. A. Perm el.
Vice-President — "Win. Patten.
Secretary — L. G. Edgerly.
Treasurer — H. N. Schooler.

ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

President — Ridson A. Moore.

Treasurer and Corresponding Secretary — S. B. Chandler,
Recording Secretary and Register — Anthony Scott.
General Superintendent— J ohn Murray.

SHELBY COUNTY.

Acting President — Chas. Hartly.
Secretary — Jasper L. Donthet.
Treasurer — Chas. E. Woodward.

STAKE COUNTY.

President — James Jamison.
Corresponding Secretary — S. S. Kaysbier.
Secretary — 0. Whittaker.
Treasurer — David Lowman.

WABASH CO.UNTY.

President — Geo. Glick.
Vice-President — David Adams.
Corresponding Secretary — A. C. Edgar.
Recording Secretary — T. J. Shannon.
Treasurer — Wm. Koser.

WARREN COUNTY.

President — Trnman Eldridge.
Vice-President — John B. McGinnis.
Secretary — Elisha Nye.
Treasurer — Chas. L. Armsby*

300

WAYNE COUNTY.

President — Sylvester Eider.

Vice-Presidents — C. L. Organ, J. S. Buckley, Matthew Crews.
Secretary — John Wilson.
Treasurer — Chas. Wood.

WHITESIDE COUNTY.

President — E. L. Wilson.

Vice-Presidents — Dr. Hubbard, Dr. Purington, A. K. Hamilton.

WOODFORD COUNTY,

President — J. Hammond.
Vice-President — Chas. Eich.
Treasurer — John W. Page.
Secretary — H. L. S. HaskelL

ILLINOIS STOCK IMPORTING ASSOCIATION,

Springfield, January 8, 1857,

At an adjourned meeting of citizens of Illinois, for the purpose
of organizing a Stock Importing Association, Hon. H. C. Johns in
the Chair, and Lewis Ellsworth, of Du Page, appointed Secretary,
pro tern. The Committee appointed at a previous meeting for the
purpose, reported the following rules and regulations for the Illi-
nois Stock Importing Association ; which, after being considered,
were adopted :

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE ILLINOIS STOCK
IMPORTING ASSOCIATION.

1st. This Association shall be called the "Illinois Stock Importing Association."

2d. The object of this Association shall be the selection, purchase and importation into
this state, from Europe, of such domestic animals as may seem to be required by the interests
of the stock growers of Illinois.

3d. The capital stock of this Association shall be twenty-five thousand dollars — a sub-
scription of one hundred dollars to constitute one share — and each stockholder to be entitled
to cast one vote, in all meetings of the stockholders, for each share he may hold.

4th. The officers of this Association shall be one President, one Secretary and one Treas-
urer, whose duties shall be those usually appertaining 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 subscription to the capital stock of this Associa-
tion, at his office, in the city of Springfield.

6th. Whenever the sum often thousand dollars 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 the stockholders to convene at the city of Springfield, at some specified day, for the pur-
pose of transacting such business, as may be presented for their consideration; at which
meeting the majority of those stockholders present shall elect permanent officers for this
Association, and choose a committee of three, whose duty it shall be, under the instructions
of this Association, to select, purchase and import such animals as the Association may
direct : Provided, That no person shall be entitled to vote at this or any subsequent meet-
ing who shall not have paid into the treasury at least five per cent, on 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 stockholders present in
the meeting referred to in the sixth rule may determine; and the proceeds of such sale bo
divided among the stockholders in proportion to their respective subscriptions, after deduct-
ing the entire expenses of the importation. .

8th. The stockholders present at the meeting, referred to in the sixth rule, shall designate
the times at which those who have subscribed to the capital stock of this Asssociation shall
be required to pay to the Treasurer the unpaid balances of their respective subscriptions.
Any stockholders failing to pay the remaining balances upon his subscription, as may be
directed by resolution of this Association, shall, if the Association shall so order, forfeit his
Si.ock to this Association upon such terms as the Association shall determine : Provided,

302

howeve>; that there shall he bo forfeiture of stock unless notice of at least twenty days shall
he given, by publication in some of the newspapers in Springfield, of the time and place at
■which the unpaid stock shall be required to be paid.

On motion of Mr. Ellsworth, the following gentlemen were
elected officers of the Association, by acclamation : James N.
Brown, President ; John "Williams, Treasurer ; and Geo. ¥. Chat-
terton, Secretary.

. On motion of Mr. Ellsworth, the Association adjourned to meet
in the Hall of Representatives on Saturday evening, January 10,
1857.

Springfield, January 10, 1857.

At an adjourned meeting of the Illinois Importing Association,
James N. Brown in the chair ;

On motion of D. Brown, Esq., the following resolution was
adopted :

Resolved, That each member of this Association be and is hereby appointed an agent to
procure subscriptions for the stock of this company, and report to the Secretary.

On motion of C. W. Webster, Esq.,

Resolved, That this Association cordially invite all persons throughout the state friendly
to the enterprise to co-operate with this Association, and the papers of the state be respect-
fully requested to publish its proceedings.

Resolved, That persons desiring to take stock in this Association can do so by sending
their names to the Secretary for enrollment, and also five per cent, on the amount of the
stock for which they subscribe.

On motion of Dwight Brown, Esq.,

Resolved, That this meeting adjourn to meet in this city, at Mr. Jacohy's office, on the
first Tuesday in February, at one o'clock, P. M., at which time the agents shall be chosen
to select and purchase stock for this Association.

Sprlngfleld, February 1, 1857.

At a called meeting of the stockholders of the Illinois Importing
Association, the following named gentlemen were appointed agents
to visit Europe and purchase stock for said Association, to-wit :
James N. Brown, H. C. Johns and Henry Jacoby.

Resolved, That the third article of the Rules and Regulations of this Association be so
amended as to read : " The capital stock of the Illinois Importing Association shall not be
less than twenty nor more than thirty thousand dollars."

Resolved, That the agents appointed to select and purchase stock for this Association
shall receive no compensation for their services ; but that their necessary and proper ex-
penses shall be paid out of the funds of the Association.

Resolved, That the stockholders pay to the Treasurer the balance due on the amount of
their subscription by the 20th of April next.

Resolved, That the Treasurer and Secretary be authorized to confer with the Sangamon
County Agricultural and Mechanical Association, and endeavor to procure their fairgrounds
for the accommodation of the stock on its arrival from Europe.

Resolved, That upon the return of the agents to Illinois, the Association he called together,
and that the agents report thereto the result of their agency.

303

The agents sailed from New York for England on the 19th of
March, completed their purchases in the months of April and
May and reached home early in June. Owing to adverse winds
and calms, the stock was sixty days on the passage, and did not
reach Illinois until about the 21st of July. Several of the cattle
and one horse died on the passage, and all the surviving animals
were received in bad condition.

At a meeting of the Association, the sale of the animals was
ordered to take place upon the fair grounds, on the 27th of Aug.
The sale was made on that day, upon the fair grounds of the San-
gamon Agricultural and Mechanical Association, John C. Maxcy,
of Springfield, auctioneer, there being a large number of stock
growers present from every section of the state. The list of the
stock sold, the names of the purchasers and the prices paid are
hereunto appended :

cows.

Animals. Purchaser. County. Price.

Bella, 5 years old J. Ogle , St. Clair $750

Caroline, 4 years old J. N. Hill Cass 500

Stella, 4 years old Mr. Bohnnian St. Clair 925

Lady Harriet, 3 years old. James Jacoby Sangamon 1300

Cassandra, 3 years old H. Ousley ...Sangamon 675

Western Lady, 2 years old J. N. Brown Sangamon..... 1325

Empress-Eugenie, 2 years old J. Ogle St. Clair 075

Pomegranate, 2 years old T. Simpkins Pike 975

Lilly, 2 years old G. Barnett Will 550

Constance, 3 years old G-. Barnett Will .• 700

Empress, 2 years old J. Jacoby Sangamon 1725

Rachel 2d, 2 years old J. N. Brown Sangamon 3025

Minx, 1 year old J. G. Loose Sangamon S00

Adelaide, 1 year old R. Morrison Morgan 825

Emerald, 1 year old J. C. Bone Sangamon 2125

Perfection, 1 year old E. B. Hitt Scott 900

Coquette, 1 year old G. Barnett Will 550

Fama, 1 year old Spears & Co Menard 1050.

Coronation, 1 year old J. A. Prickett Madison 500

Violet, 1 year old J. W. Judy Menard 700

HORSES.

Young Barnton J. C. Crowder it Co Sangamon 5050

Baylock R. S. Wilkins Bond 1600

BULLS.

Defender, 3 years old J. H. Thomas Champaign 2500

King Alfred, 2 years old J. Jacoby Sangamon 1300

Admiral, 2 years old S. Dunlap Morgan 2500

Master Lownds, 2 years old , J. H. Spears Menard 725

Argus, 2 years old B. Saunders Jersey 2058

Doubloon, 1 year old W. lies Sangamon 1075

Gold Finder, 1 year old J.W.Judy Menard 725

SHEEP — FULL-BRED COTSWOLD RAMS.

Gen. Lane, 1 year old H. Jacoby Sangamon 300

Emperor, 1 year old C. W. Price , Sangamon 160

Hewer, Sherling buck M. M. Yocum Sangamon 85

304

SHERLING EWES — LONG WOOLED.

Animals. ■ Purchaser. County. Price.

No. 1 H. Jacoby Sangamon $60

No. 2 C. W. Price Sangamon 50

No. 3 C. W. Price Sangamon 125

No. 4 H. Jacoby Sangamon 70

No. 5 « C. W. Price Sangamon 35

No. 6 .-M. S. Ballinger Greene 30

No. 7 H. Jacoby Sangamon 60

No. 8 C. W. Price , Sangamon 30

No. 9 C. W. Price Sangamon 50

SOUTH DOWN RAMS.

Cambridge Duke, yearling H. Jacoby Sangamon 205

Prime, yearling J. N. Brown Sangamon 195

Sir William, yearling Miles Hollid ay Morgan 110

Buckland, of spring '37 J. R. Meggeson Morgan 40

'SOUTHDOWN EWES.

No. 1 — yearling G. W. Becraft... Morgan 75

No. 2— yearling H. Jacoby Sangamon 80

No. 3— yearling G. W. Becraft Morgan 115

No. 4 — yearling D. A. Brown. Sangamon 80

No. 5 — yearling H. Jacoby Sangamon 55

No. 6 — yearling James Strawn Morgan 50

No. 7 — yearling J. N. Brown Sangamon 45

No. 8 — yearling D. A. Brown Sangamon 60

HOGS — BERKSHIRE BOARS.

Edward, 1 year old W. D. Sanger Sangamon 200

Siddington, 6 months old J. C. Crowder '. Sangamon 40

Tipton, 6 months old W. D. Sanger Sangamon 36

Gipsey Boy, 18th, 7 months old Jesse Cloyd Champaign 200

Gipsey Boy, 19th, 7 months old E. B. Hitt Scott 150

IRISH, CUMBERLAND AND YORKSHIRE BOARS.

Boyle, 11 months old F. Stevenson Morgan 180

Napier, 9 months old (crippled) James Hill Cass 55

John, 8 months old ..S. N. King Sangamon 105

Pert, 8 months old E. N. Tainter Sangamon 125

BERKSHIRE SOWS. .

No. 1 — 11 months old J. C. Crowder Sangamon 220

No. 2 — 10 months old Jos. Stockdale Sangamon 250

No. 3—1 year old Conrad Bohnman St. Clair 380

No. 4 — 11 months old John H. Thomas Champaign 195

IRISH, CUMBERLAND AND YORKSHIRE SOWS.

No. 1 — 11 months old... , J. Stockdale Sangamon 300

No. 2—11 months old ,'. E. B. Hitt Scott 200

No. 3—1 year old T. G, Taylor .Logan 205

No. 4 — lyear old, L. P. Sanger Sangamon 215

No. 5 — lyear old James Hill Ca*s 40

No. 6— 8 months old E. B. Hitt Scott 110

The amount of the stock of the Association was $25,000. The
aggregate of the sales was $43,300.

CONVENTION OF CHINESE SUGAR CANE GROWERS.

At a meeting of the Sugar Cane Growers, held at the Senate
Chamber, in Springfield, Thursday, January 7, 1858, on motion,
Judge J. D. Caton was called to the chair ; Ex-Governor John
Reynolds and Uriel Mills appointed Vice-Presidents, and Charles
Kennicott, F. W. Reilly and J. W. Kitckell, Secretaries.

On motion, carried that two committees of five each be appoint-
ed for the agricultural and mechanicakdepartinents.

The following named gentlemen were appointed as said com-
mittees :

Agricultural. — I. A. Hedges, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Chairman ;
Joseph Morton, of Jacksonville ; Isaac C. Pugh, of JDecatur ; Mr.
Allen, of Mt. Pulaski ; H. D. Emery, of Chicago.

Mechanical. — Ambrose Henderson, of Jacksonville ; B. R. Haw-
ley, of Christain county ; J. L. Gage, of St. Louis ; M. L. Shaw,
of Tazewell county ; H. D. Emery, of Chicago.

On motion of Charles Kennicott,

Resolved, That the members of the convention send to the secretaries their names and
post office address.

The following names were reported :

Judge Caton. Ottawa; S. Francis, Springfield; James L. Gage, St. Louis, Mo.; Lloyd Shaw, Tre-
mont, Tazewell county; Dr. John Todd, Springfield; Dr. B. Gillett, Jacksonville; Dr. G. W.
Evans, Springfield; Alex. Knox, Springfield; M. M. Mclntyre, Springfield; Chas. Sawyer,
Springfield ; James C. Medill, Chicago; 0. C Skinner, Adams county; H. I. Chase, Jubilee, Pe-
oria county; Austin Rockwell, Jacksonville; D. T. Nicholson, Pulaski, Logan county; Samuel
B. Chandler, Belleville, St< Clair county; Lucius C Francis, Springfield; A. Hammond,
Jacksonville ; Daniel Wadsworth, Auburn, Sangamon county ; Isaac A. Hedges, Cincin-
nati, Ohio; Wm. P. Allen, Mt. Pulaski, Logan county; C C Woods, Peoria; E. H. Clapp,
Rome Farms, Peoria county; J. B. Duncan, Jacksonville; H. D. Emery and Charles Ken-
nicott, (Journal of Agriculture) Chicago; Ambrose Henderson, Jacksonville; Isaac C
Pugh, Decatur; C C Kelly, McHenry county; J. B. Gookins, Terre Haute, Indiana; T.
H. Campbell, Springfield; Dr. H. C Johns, Decatur; Hon. J. N. Brown, Berlin, Sangamon
county; Frank W. Reilly, Chicago; J. W. Kitchell, Hillsboro; Mrs. S. Francis, Mrs. J. A.
Matteson, and several other prominent ladies; Judge McClun, of McLean, and some thirty
other gentlemen, whose names were not ascertained.

On motion, carried that a committee be appointed to report a
regular form of organization.

Messrs. J. C. Medill, S. Francis and A. Rockwell were appointed
said committee.

306

S. Francis read letters from Mr. Smith, of Louisville, and Mr.
Lovering, of Philadelphia, upon the method of the manufacture of
syrup and sugar cane; which were referred, with the specimens ac-
companying them, to the Committee of Agriculture.

The following are the letters :

Louisville, Ky., December 17, 1857.
Mr. Belcher — Dear Sir : I send through our mutual friend, Mr. Q. H. Newcomb, a
small specimen of sugar from the sorgho, to which I see you have been paying some atten-
tion. I have just completed a report on the subject for the United States patent office ;
when published I will send you a copy. There is about ten per cent, of crystalizable sugar
in the cane grown in this neighborhood ; it can be crystalized only in part. But I doubt
very much if the plant will be as good as the beet root for making sugar. My investiga-
tions were executed on a small scale, but sugar of all degrees of purity were obtained. I
send you some of the medium quality. I had sent, as I supposed, all that was made, when
seeing the inclosed sample on the labratory table, I was induced to forward them to you.
Yours respectfully,

J. LAWRENCE SMITH.

Oakhill, Philadelphia, December, 30, 1857.
S. FRANCIS, Esq., Cor. Sec. Illinois State Agricultural Society :

Dear Sir : The editor of the Germantown Telegraph having sent me this day's paper,
containing some extracts from your letter to him, in which you express a desire to have
some of the sugar and molasses made by me from the Chinese sugar cane, with instruction
in regard to its manufacture, and offering to forward them to you for me, I have taken ad-
vantage of his kindness, and placed in his hands a box containing samples of the different
qualities of sugar, and of the molasses I have made, and also the yield I have obtained per
acre. The quantity I have is not sufficient to supply one-fourth the applicants for it, even
in small samples, and thus far I have declined to send out any, as my report of the process
and experiments is not yet ready for distribution, it being in the hands of the printer, who
will not have it printed for about ten days; but as your convention will meet before that
time, I make an exception, and send the samples in advance, and will forward one or more
copies of the report when ready, to be disposed of as they or yourself may determine.

I will, however, briefly state, for their encouragement, that the actual yield I have pro-
duced per acre is, brown sugar, 1,221.85 lbs.; molasses, 74.39 gals. And I have no doubt
but that with proper apparatus and good cultivation, from 1,600 to 1,800 pounds of such
brown sut ar, and from 95 to 110 gallons of such molasses per aore, can be obtained with-
out difficulty.

I am pleased to hear of so much enthusiasm in your State in regard to this new and
valuable acquisition to our list of agricultural products, and hope next year to hear more
about sugar and less about syrup. I am, however, not surprised that our farmers have not
succeeded in making sugar at this early stage of the experiment, as they have not as yet
the requisite knowledge and experience, but I am somewhat disappointed to find that our
scientific experimentalists have entirely failed to produce any useful results, or indeed any
results at a.l.

I can, however, assure you that there is no difficulty whatever in producing such sugar as
the samples sent herewith, which I hope to demonstrate in my report. Meantime, I am,
very truly, Yours, &c,

JOSEPH S. LOVERING.

Resolved, That the thanks of every memberof this convention, and of all persons through-
out the Union, who take an interest in the successful production of sugar and molasses
from the Chinese sugar cane, are eminently due S. Francis, Esq., Corresponding Secretary
of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, for his enthusiastic efforts in collecting valuable
information, and in bringing together the members of this convention.

Unanimously adopted.

On motion, adjourned until two o'clock, P. M.

Afternoon Session.
At two o'clock P. M. the meeting called to order, Governor
[Reynolds in the chair.

307

A communication from Judge Caton was read, and ordered to be
made part of the record :

Supreme Court Room,
Springfield, January 7, 1S58.

S. Francis, Esq., Secretary, &c. — Bear Sir: I send you a small sample of granulated
sorghum, which is all I have left of the result of the single experiment which I made. Like
all other samples which I have seen, the grain is too fine for the glucose to separate readily
from it, which I have never attempted to wash out, though I have no doubt it may be
readily done, but probably at too great an expense to make the production of dry sugar
profitable. I regret that I have not yet had leisure to pursue a regular system of experi-
ments, which I had designed. Before our experiments may be considered a complete suc-
cess, we must obtain an evener grain. To this indispensable point our chief aim must now
be directed. If I can spare the time, I will step into your room this morning, but It is un-
certain. While I am of opinion that the experiment promises the brightest hopes, yet I
think there is danger of the public expectation becoming too highly stimulated, a partial dis-
appointment of which may produce a reaction more injurious to the cause, in the end, than
more moderate expectations and a slower progress.

Yours truly,

J. D. CAT ON.

On motion of S. Francis, Esq., the following resolution was
adopted :

Resolved, That this convention tender their thanks to Joseph S. Lovering, Esq., sugar
refiner, of Philadelphia, for the specimens of sugar and molasses manufactured by himself
and forwarded for the examination of this body.

Mr. Gage desired to add Mr. Belcher's name, some specimens
sent by him having been overlooked.

On motion of Mr. Hedges, Mr. Belcher's specimens were placed
before the Agricultural Committee, to be reported on in order.

On motion of Mr. Francis, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That this convention feels itself under obligation to all those gentlemen who
have furnished specimens of Chinese sugar cane sugar and molasses for examination, and
that each of them be furnished with a copy of its proceedings.

The committee on constitution and by-laws, through their chair-
man, J. C. Medill, made the following report :

The committee, after mature consideration, have arrived at the conclusion that it would
be inexpedient to form an association, separate and distinct from the general State Agricul-
tural Society. We would suggest that it is unsafe to distribute our power over too large a
surface ; and as sugar growing is as much a part of agriculture as is wheat growing or but-
ter making, and as the general Agricultural Society will, in any event, take cognizance of
the particular branch which we have met to investigate, therefore, we would offer the fol-
lowing, as embodying the opinion of this committee :

Resolved, That the presiding officers of this convention hold their present places during
the continuance of this meeting, and until others be appointed to succeed them; and that
they may be empowered to call the association together again, whenever, in their judgment,
a contingency may arise demanding such meeting.

The Mechanical Committee, through their chairman, A. Hen-
derson, Esq., of Morgan county, made a report, which, after con-
siderable discussion, Messrs. Gage, Hedges, Hawley and Shaw
participating, was amended and adopted, as follows :

The committee to whom was referred so much of the business of the convention, as per-
tains to the mechanical department, report: That they do not feel qualified to recommend
for adoption any particular mode of expressing the juice of the cane. They would, how-
ever, state it as their opinion, that an approved machine should be made of three smooth
cast iron rollers, which may be placed horizontally or vertically, and moved with a slow
motion, not exceeding sixteen feet a minute ; but whether it is preferable to use steam or
horse power, or what particular mill should be used, this committee does not feel prepared
to decide.

308

The Agricultural Committee, appointed to examine specimens,
made the following report:

Your committee would report as follows : Mr. D. T. Nicholas, of Logan county, shows sugar
from Chinese cane, mixed with molasses, having a very gummy appearance ; fine grained ;
syrup boiled 9th of October. Some portion boiled more thoroughly produced sugar as
above stated, after standing three or four days.

J. H. Smith, of Adams county, shows a specimen of syrup boiled thick and crystalized
almost iu mass ; crystals are destitute of rhombic form under the microscope. A descrip-
tion of the process was sent with the specimen, but having been mislaid has been rewritten,
and will be furnished hereafter.

Specimens exhibited by Mr. Pearson, of Springfield ; samples of syrup Very fair color and
flavor; ripe cane, mado in copper kettle; clarified with milk and eggs; no alkali u: ed ;
does not "believe it necessary. Second specimen, boiled thick; showed fair crystals after
standing six hours. Small specimen clarified with blood, considered rather preferable.

Specimens by A. Henderson, of Jacksonville, Illinois; the specimen beautifully clear,
syrup of fine color, but unpleasant under taste.

Specimen by Josiah Sawyer, Tremont, Tazewell county ; fine, clear sample of syrup,
rather too dark, and possessing some unpleasant flavor.

Specimen by Stephen Peterson, of Sangamon county ; dark color, tolerably clear, and
quite unpleasant flavor.

Specimen by Lucius C. Francis, of Sangamon county, is a specimen of rather dark syrup,
not unpleasant to taste, but dirty, from improper treatment of cane.

Three specimens of different consistency, from R. Kimball, of Tazewell county; dark
color, unpleasant flavor, but well cleansed.

Sample by D. G. Waller, of Franklin, Morgan county, is clear, but too dark, not unpleas-
ant ; fair specimen.

Specimen by B. R. Hawley, of Christian county, made in November, very dark, exceed-
ingly bitter and unpleasant.

Specimens of several gallons by C. G. Taylor, Rock Island county, color dark, shows
evidence of two much lime ; much unpleasant, bitter taste.

Specimen by J. F. St. James, St. Genevieve, Mo.; very fair specimen ; not unpleasant taste ;
clear color, light; possessed of free acid.

Specimen of bright syrup from Rush county, Indiana, presented by Mr. Hedges of Cin-
cinnati; taste almost equal to honey ; beautiful clear crystals of sugar at the bottom of jar
revealed by microscope, which shows perfect forms. Name of producer unknown.

Mr. Hedges presented four other specimens of crystalization, two brown, two clay color.
Specimens of syrup filtered through animal charcoal and reboilcd by Mr. Hedges. Taste
delicious, superior to anything exhibited — color bright brown, consistency of golden syrup
— bearing considerable resemblance to maple syrup.

Specimen of syrup by A. Rockwell, Jacksonville ; very well clarified, rather dark, fair
flavor.

Specimen of vinegar by same, of a whitish milky color ; needed age.

Specimen manufactured by Col. R. Peters, of Georgia, in 1846 ; greater portion of it crys-
talized ; the molasses mingled with it very bitter, dark and unfit for use.

Specimen of syrup made from pith of the cane by Mr. Dickinson, of Kentucky, clear as
amber ; but slightly fermented under the action of the free acid present.

Specimen of new rum made by Ingram & Son, of Cincinnati, Ohio, color entirely clear;
flavor good — lacks age ; yield one gallon from eight of cane juice ; of which a fair average
is 1,800 gallons per acre.

Specimen of vinegar made by Mr. Hedges, of Cincinnati ; from the simple juice by add-
ing about one pint of brewer's yeast to the barrel and keeping it in a warm place, it will be
good vinegar in about four weeks.

Committee submit the letter published above of Messrs. Lovering, of Philadelphia, sugar
refiners; which accompanied beautiful loaf crushed or clarified and two qualities of brown
sugar, with samples of sugar-house molasses ; all excellent.

Specimen of sugar made and presented by Mr. J. R. Pelham, Mt. Vernon, Ohio ; fine
grained, light brown, possessing considerable gum.

Specimen of meal from the sorgho seed presented by Mr. Hedges; when made into bread
had no unpleasant taste ; somewhat resembling buckwheat mixed with rye.

The imphee seed is on high, straight tufts, very abundant, having a general resemblance
to that of Chinese sugar cane, but much lighter in color.

A specimen of Chinese sugar cane seed, raised by Stephen Peterson, of Sangamon, well
ripened.

Samples of .sugar from Mr. Belcher, of St. Louis, and made by J. Lawrence Smith, of
Louisville, Ky., consisting of two specimens of brown, white and clarified, are all good and
crystals fine, and your committee would recommend the publication of tho accompanying letter
from Mr. Smith the producer. (See letter above.)

Specimen of brown sugar from Col. Ives, of Bayou Bccuf, La., considered fair.

309

Sample of syrup by George Lindly, made by Mrs. Clark Baker, of Joliet, from cane grown
by Mr. C. Baker. The canes from which it was made were cut early in October, laid on
the ground fou.' or five days, then carried to the farm for fodder, being there until the 30th
December the juice was expressed and boiled down, making about one gallon of syrup to six
of juice ; it was well clarified, of fine color, good flavor, but rather dark. The canes' were
exposed to the hard freezing of November. Mr. Mills stated that he made some seventy
gallons of fine syrup, which on first trial yielded one gallon to five of juice, on second trial,
one gallon to four of juice.

Messrs. Gage, Hawley, Hedges and others made remarks.

On motion, the report of the Agricultural Committee was
adopted, and the report of the committee on organization taken up
for action.

On motion of Mr. Medill, the office of Corresponding Secretary was
added to the list of officers. Charles Kennicott, of Chicago, was
then appointed to fill said office. The report was then adopted.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That the President and two Vice-Presidents appoint one person from each con-
gressional district to collect facts, and report to the convention at a future time.

Under this resolution the following appointments were made :

1st District, Charles Rosenstiel, Freeport.

2d " H. D. Emery, Chicago.

3d " A. Withers, Bloomington.

4th " Josiah Sawyer, Tremont.

5 th " J. II. Smith, Quincy.

6th " S. Francis, Springfield, Chairman.

7th " S. H. Elliott, Paris.

8th " Dr. Reuss, Shiloh.

9th " B. G. Roots, Tamaroa.

On motion, adjourned sine die.

J. D. CATOIST, President.
Charles Kenntcott, •
Frank W. Reilly,
J. W. Kjtchell,

Secretaries.

ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY*

PROCEEDINGS OF A MEETING HELD IN BLOOMING-
TON, DECEMBER 14, 15, 16 AND 17, 1858.

Pursuant to notice, extensively circulated through the press and by-
private correspondence, the gentlemen below mentioned assembled
in the city of Bloomington, to take part in the discussions which
form the subject matter of this report. In justice to the members
and to the Committee on Publication, it is necessary that the mem-
bers, having immediate charge in preparing the report, should, at
the outstart, state that no regular short hand reporter could be pro-
cured, and that the report is made up from notes taken by the
Secretaries of the Society. Of course the exact language of the
speakers has not always been given, although the editors have en-
deavored to adhere strictly to the spirit of the notes taken on the
spot.

Members. — M. L. Dunlap, Urbana, Champaign county; Samuel Edwards, La Moille,
Bureau county; J. H. Blodgett, Bloomington, McLean county; A. R. Whitney, Franklin
Grove, Lee county; Lewis Ellsworth, Naperville, Du Page county; Smith G. Minkler,
Specie Grove, Kendall county; George Barry, Godfrey, Madison county; J. F. Lobdell, Cen-
tralia, Marion county; Henry C. Freeman, La Salle, La Salle county; George H. Bulock,
Centralia, Marion county ; C. W. Holder, Bloomington, McLean county ; Wm. M. Howell,
Central City, Marion county; Martin Allen, Mendota, La Salle county; W. P. Willis,
Bloomington, McLean county; Jesse W. Fell, Bloomington, McLean county ; D. Withers,
Bloomington, McLean county ; Verry Aldrich, Tiskilwa, Bureau county ; 0. M. Coleman,
Bloomington, McLean county ; J. M. Hunter, Ashley, Washington county ; Wm. Yates,
Tamaroa, Perry county; S. Francis, Springfield, Sangamon county; Arthur Bryant, Prince-
ton, Bureau county; Nathan Shaw, Tremont, Tazewell county ; A. G. Handford, Wauke-
sha, Waukesha county, Wis.; (Representative of Wisconsin Fruit Growers' Association,) C.
T. Chase, Chicago, Cook county; Frank Starr, Alton, Madison county ; C. A. Simpson, Vin-
cennes, Knox county, Ind.; Charles Kennicott, Odin, Marion county, 111.: A. R. Cory, Cen-
tralia. Marion county; C. R. Overman, Bloomington, McLean county; N. Overman, Can-
ton, Fulton county; G. W. Bushnell, Canton, Fulton county; J. N. Ingram, Centralia, Ma-
rion county ; Rev. George W. Minier, Mackinaw, McLean county ; Jonathan Huggings,
Woodburn ; Prof. J. B. Turner, Morgan county; 0. B. Galusha, Lisbon, Kendall county;
Dr. R. B. Clark, Morris, Grundy county ; Isaac B. Drury, Rock Island county.

Honorary Members. — N. J. Coleman, Editor Valley Farmer, St. Louis ; F. R. Elliott,
Editor Farmer, Miner and Mechanic, St. Louis ; A. G. Hanford, Editor, Waukesha, Wis.

In addition to the above, many gentlemen were present as guests
of the Society. Among them, Professors Hovey, Eoe and Wil-
kins, of Bloomington, and Messrs. Lewis & McCracken, of the
Bloomington Pantagraph.

311

FIRST DAY — MORNING SESSION.

About 10 o'clock, such of the members as had arrived in the
city were escorted by C. "VV. Holder, Esq., of Bloomington, to
Central Hall. In the absence of Dr. Hull, the President, the So-
ciety was called to order by O. B. Galusha, Corresponding Secre-
tary. Lewis Ellsworth, of Du Page county, was elected President,
pro tern., and Charles Kennicott, of Marion county, Recording Sec-
retary and Treasurer, pro tern.

Mr. Galusha, in a few words, stated the objects of the meeting,
and expressed his satisfaction at seeing before him so many of the
leading fruit growers and nurserymen of the State. It was im-
portant that the convention should be properly organized, and he
would move that a committee of three be appointed to prepare
business for the Society. Carried. And O. B. Galusha, of Ken-
dall county ; J. K. Ingraham, of Marion, and C. R. Overman, of
McLean, appointed said committee. As comparatively few of the
members expected had arrived, it was thought inexpedient to go
into an election for regular permanent officers.

M. L. Dunlap, of Champaign county, stated that he hoped the
discussion of pomology would be made the prominent feature of
this winter meeting. His remarks were well received, and many
o± the gentlemen present said that they concurred with him in his
views.

The President expressed the obligation the Society was under to
those gentlemen who had been able to present the fine and unex-
pected display of fruits which they saw before them.

On motion of Mr. Dunlap, it was voted that an invitation be ex-
tended to the members of the press in the city to meet with us,
and give us their assistance.

Mr. Holder was appointed a committee to tender said invitation
to the gentlemen of the press, to whose assistance, and many cour-
teous attentions the convention was afterwards largely indebted.

On motion, it was voted to adjourn till 2 P. M.

FIRST DAT — AFTERNOON SESSION.

Convention met, pursuant to adjournment, the President, pro
tern., in the chair.

The report of committee to prepare business was submitted and
accepted.

The President stated that the subject for discussion for the af-
ternoon and evening would be the cultivation of the apple. * *

This session was mainly occupied in discussing the propagation
of apples from seed, the details of which being chiefly important to
nurseymen, are omitted here.

Members attach much importance to the selection of seed from
hardy trees. Considerable discussion was also held relative to the
grubs and other worms so destructive to the young seedlings and
root grafts.

312

C. Kennicott moved that a committee of three be appointed to
take the matter under their immediate charge and report at the
next annual meeting. Several gentlemen spoke in favor of the
resolution, and one of them suggested that the committee should be
appointed one from the north, one from the centre, and one from
the southern portion of the State. Some waggish member thought
it ought to be called the grub committee, and that the members
should be allowed no extra rations. The resolution was finally
unanimously carried, and the chair appointed the committee, viz :
Robert Kennicott, of West Northfield, Cook county, for the north;
M. S. Bebb, of Odin, Marion county, for the centre, and C. Thom-
as, ot Marion, Williamson county, for the south.

Prof. Roe, of McLean, said that he would like to impress upon
every gentlemen present the great importance of supplying the
Committee on Insects with information and with specimens. This
convention has done a good work in calling attention to this sub-
ject.

FIRST DAT EVENING SESSION.

Society met at half past six, the President in the chair.

Mr. Bryant, of Princeton, read an essay upon the culture of the
apple and its diseases. [Appended to this report. — Sec.~\

A letter from J. C. Starr, of Alton, was read, and ordered to be
placed on record.

M. L. Dunlap stated that he hoped to be able to make up from
his own notes a tolerably full and reliable report of the Alton con-
vention. The regular record was unfortunately lost, probably be-
yond recovery ; but, as gentlemen know, it was from no fault of
the officers of the Society at that time in charge.

On motion, it was voted that Mr. Dunlap be authorized and re-
quested to prepare such report at his earliest convenience.

F. K. Phoenix moved the appointment of an assistant Recording
Secretary, pro tern. Carried. And Samuel Edwards, of Bureau
county, appointed. Adjourned till 9 o'clock to-morrow.

SECOND DAY — MOKNING SESSION.

Met at Central Hall, pursuant to adjournment, Yice-President
Ellsworth in the chair.

DICUSSION ON THE ORNAMENTAL BRANCH OF HORTICULTURE, AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE
STUDY AND PRACTICE OF THIS SCIENCE UPON THE MORALS OF THE YOUNG.

The President called the attention of the gentlemen of the con-
vention to the fact that from his elevated seat he could see modest-
ly ensconced in a distant corner of the haH a gentleman they would
all be glad to welcome and hear from. lie would, therefore, in-
vite Mr. Coleman, of St. Louis, editor of the Valley Farmer, t#
address them.

Mr. Coleman expressed his thanks to the chair, and stated that
he came to listen — not to speak. Did not know that he had a

313

right to be considered as a legitimate member, as he was a citizen
of St. Louis.

M. L. Dtmlap — Mr. President: I protest against the views of
our friend Coleman. He is an agricultural editor, and therefore
■ belongs to the whole west. Moreover, we claim St. Louis as in
reality ah Illinois city ; the mere accident of its being within the
borders of another State, and on the farther side of the great
"Father of Waters," is no proof that it does not belong to us, Val-
ley Farmer, Coleman and all.

Mr. Ingraham, of Marion, moved that Mr. Coleman be declared
an honorary member. Carried unanimously.

Mr. Galusha, of Kendall, spoke for some minutes in regard to
the relations which the Society sustains towards the public. Great
things are expected of us. We are, to a certain extent, looked up-
on as the most competent advisers, the best guides in all that per-
tains to western pomology and horticulture at large. Let us en-
deavor not to disappoint these just expectations. The Society is
now popular ; let us keep it so. Our time is precious. Some of
us can ill afford the expense of coining here ; now we are here let
us work. Let us remember, too, that this is the Illinois State Flor-
ticultural Society, and though many of its members are nursery-
men, let it never be said that this is a nurseryman's society. Per-
haps we had best drop this discussion on stocks, though it is most
interesting and as important to fruit growers as it is to nurserymen —
the very foundation of success. At former meetings we have ac-
complished much good by establishing fruit lists ; but we have al-
ways too much neglected the ornamental branches of horticulture,
and there is even more need at present that we should enlighten
the people on that branch than on fruits and the culture of fruit
trees. The beautiful in horticulture is intimately connected with
our every day life ; the cultivation of trees, shrubs and flowers is
every year becoming more common. I know you all rejoice at the
sign. I feel that you will all willingly foster this evidence of good
taste and refinement in the people. We can assist them greatly
by guiding, fostering, and directing their efforts to make the homes
of our State pleasant and beautiful. It is for us to establish, teach
and recommend a system of practical horticulture that can be readily
understood and easily put in practice by all classes of our citizens.
The people will purchase and plant what nurserymen and florists
furnish. Let us then enlighten ourselves, and grow those trees,
shrubs and plants that are known to be desirable, that have proved
themselves suited to our soil and climate. In fact, let every
nurseryman grow those things that the peoi3le ought to have, not
the things that they can be made to buy. I hope the subject of
the cultivation of ornamental trees and plants, and the effect upon
the morals of the young, will now be taken up. The subject is a
most interesting one. It will be popular with the people as it de-
serves to be. If. we can beautify every home in the State with
trees and flowers, then shall we accomplish a great good. I have
—40-

314

always noticed that the inmates of such a home are always refined
and intelligent, and the sons and daughters of such families are
not so often noticed squandering the precious hours of youth in
idleness or frivolous pleasures. I am warmed into enthusiasm
when I think of the great change a real love of horticulture would
work in our rural homes. Let us endeavor to awaken a still greater
interest in ornamental gardening, and let us show the people how
they can derive the most good from our discussions. '

Mr. Bryant, of Bureau county — Nurserymen should give tone to
the taste of the people. We have hitherto paid too little attention
to the subject. The ornamental branch of the business has been
comparatively negkcted, though a decided change has taken place
within a few years, and nurserymen are beginning to discover that
in a mere pecuniary point of view it pays to raise evergreens,
flowering shrubs and plants. The people are eager tor them when
once convinced that they can be cheaply obtained and easily grown.
We ought to discuss the subject of culture as well as to recom-
mend the right varieties,. If a better stock and greater variety of
ornamental plants could be found in our home nurseries, men of
wealth, who pay attention to the adornment of their homes by lay-
ing out and beautifying the surrounding grounds, would not, as
now, send to eastern establishments to have their orders filled.
The trade in those articles is much more remunerative than that in
fruit trees, and but a small portion of it is given to home nurseries.
Nor does the evil stop here. Our people are not only in some
sense compelled to send their orders east and run all the risk of
distant transportation and heavy charge for freight, but they are
too often furnished with articles unsuited to our prairie soil. Many
thousand dollars are thus sent out of the country, and in return it
otten happens that nothing is received but blasted expectations.
This is not so much the fault of eastern dealers as it is the want of
practical information on the part of their western customers.

Mr. Phcenix considers this an important matter for many rea-
sons. We are to take the incipient steps for completing one ol the
most beautiful ground works for lovely homes in the world. We
have soil unrivaled for fertility, with no waste land — eventually
must be a very wealthy country, densely peopled, and should de-
velop a high state of refinement. True, we have every discourage-
ment to contend with — severe changes of climate — trom an almost
tropical summer to a frigid winter — liable to suffer from many
casualties, scarcely known elsewhere — very important that we
start right.

Though we have so many obstacles to contend with, they should
only stimulate us to greater vigilance and industry. " We ought
to know no such word as fail." The effect of gardening upon the
young would be salutary. Children at the west have a great deal
of peculiarly American independence, much of the free and easy,
not so much controlled by the conventionalities of society as at tne
east.

315

We see it on every hand. If there is to be a Mexican war, or a
raid on the borders, western young men till the ranks.

If we would tame down this spirit, we must make our homes
beautiful and attractive — attend more to discipline. As a people, we
are too much disposed to live by our wits. He contends that till-
ing the soil is really a luxury, though by many the farmer's life is
looked upon as too tame.

The idle luxury of many is a great cause of the present crisis.
"We need to make productive labor attractive — to create in the
young, by cultivating a sense of the beautiful, a love of home.
The tastes of the young are too much cultivated for a love of the
artificial to a neglect of the beauties of nature.

We must begin in the good work. Teaching by example is the
most effectual of all modes of instruction. The seed will fall in
good ground and bring forth an hundred fold. True, fruit trees
should precede or supercede the ornamental, if one must be dis-
pensed with.

Mr. Coleman, of St. Louis, stated that the subject possessed great
interest for him, still he felt but little like giving his views before
gentlemen so experienced in the practice and well versed in the
theory of horticulture. If he could see before him an audience of
farmers he should feel assured of the good results of an open dis-
cussion. But if we can interest farmers and show them that we do
not assemble here for selfish ends, we shall soon have them in at-
tendance at our conventions ajpd taking an active part in further-
ing a good cause, in bringing about reforms so greatly needed.

Mr. Ellsworth, of Dn Page — The cultiuation of flowers is the
poetry of our profession. Too much cannot be said upon the sub-
ject. I hope that this Society will always give it that prominence
which it so richly deserves.

■Mr. Galusha, of Kendall, related some pleasing incidents that
had come under his own observation, illustrating the natural love
which most children have for flowers. The very sight of a fine
boquet will at any time arrest the attention of children and cause
them to stop their play as long as the beautiful object remains in
sight.

In our new country many planters have only means to buy
a small lot of the more common fruits. In such cases he has
often given a specimen of the more common hardy ornamental
shrubs, with especial injunctions to cultivate well. As a com-
mencement is made, a desire for them rapidly increases ; in a year
or two they come again to. purchase a bill of shrubbery.

Mr. Kennicott said he had often carried flowers through the
streets to see what effect would be produced upon those who saw
them. It did not take many such experiments to convince him
that most persons have a love for flowers, and that with children
this natural taste amounts to a passion. Let any one carry a hand-
ful of flowers slowly by a group of school children and see how
quickly their eyes will sparkle, and their sweet voices be raised in

316

praise of, or to ask for the flowers. Who can doubt the importance
of fostering this natural love of the beautiful, so maked a feature
in the disposition of children.

S. Francis stated that he felt a deep interest in the subject, and
had labored for many years to increase the taste for ornamental
trees and flowers. He was proud of Springfield, and doubted if
any city in the west could show more and better gardens, in pro-
portion to its size and wealth. Their horticultural exhibitions
were popular and well supported ; he had known from six to eight
thousand visitors in the hall in a single day of their exhibitions ;
he was proud to be able to boast of the taste of his fellow towns-
men in this particular. Agricultural and horticultural papers paid
more or less attention to the cultivation of flowers, but they often
failed to accomplish any real practical good, and sometimes even
led their readers astray. Common things are too much neglected
and new and fashionable novelties eagerly sought after. In his
opinion we ought to appoint a committee to prepare a list of shrubs
for general cultivation.

Mr. Kennicott was pleased with the suggestion of Mr. Francis.
"Would have each member hand in a list of proved sorts, adapted to
his locality, with the cost, or stating how much in that line could
be had for a given amount of money.

Mr. 0. M. Coleman, Bloomington, was much pleased with the
remarks of those who had preceded him, especially in relation to
evergreens — thought them especially adapted to his section of
country. We ought to rightly educate our children, inculcating in
them a love for the beauties of nature.

Mr. Dunlap likes the plan of Mr. Francis very much, would not
have flowers overlooked in the rage for evergreens.

W e have a succession of flowers for the whole season, that afford,
with proper culture, the most exquisite gratification. We should
do all we can to disseminate information as to the most approved
modes of cultivating and wintering choice flowers. Should urge
upon people the fact that much gratification could be realized from
a single dollar's worth of flowers.

Mr. Ellsworth — People generally think evergreens difficult to
transplant — a very great mistake. When well provided with
fibrous roots they bear transplanting as well as an apple tree. The
roots must be kept from drying when out of the ground. They
grow well on the prairies. Planted 28,000 small ones imported
from France, had scarcely lost 50. Has had no trouble or loss in
removing large ones from nursery.

Mr. Kennicott — We must try to educate the people, especially
through the press. Every cultivator ought often to write short,
practical articles for our horticultural and agricultural papers, and
not leave it all for the editors. The influence of gardening upon,
health is generally overlooked. Our females need more fresh air
and exercise to check the physical degeneracy that is certainly fas-
tening upon the American people.

317

Mr. Coleman, of McLean — I agree to that, and hope the list will
commence with evergreens, for they are the cream of all the beau-
tiful things that ought to be familiar objects around every man's
home. I am afraid few of us have ever sufficiently considered
the influence which trees and flowers have upon the popular mind,
especially upon children. I like flowers, but evergreens I con-
sider indispensable; they are in every way beautiful — they belong
to Heaven and are universally recognized as a symbol oi the resur-
rection of life. They make summer of winter and cause us to for-
get that the flowers are sleeping and the birds away.

Mr. Dunlap — I am pleased to see the discussion taking this di-
rection. It shows that these old friends that I see around me care
for something more than dollars and cents — that the love of the
beautiful born with them has never been eradicated. Mr. Francis'
suggestion to prepare a list is an excellent one. We can so ar-
range it that for a few dollars any person may become the posses-
sor of a modest but really rich display of floral treasurers. I think
we ought to commence with common things — cheap but good, and
every way desirable, like roses, snowballs, &c. We must teach
the people not only what to buy but how to cultivate.

Mr. Kennicott — We have but just begun to look at *his subject.
There is a great amount of innate love of the beautiful in the
masses. We need to make good taste democratic. Teach the
masses to replace coarser flowers with perpetual roses, beautiful
tulips, pinks, and all the finer flowers. Our mechanics need fa-
cilities for indulging in their love of the beautiful. He would like
too see our country made so beautiful that when foreigners of
learning and refined taste came among us, they would be impelled
to write home such letters as Washington Irving wrote from
Europe about the cottage gardens of England. We must take
more pains to display our fine native flowers, than which no class
is more admired in Europe.

Mr. Bryant — To make our discussion of practical benefit, we must
go into particulars.

Mr. Coleman, of St. Louis — As has been before remarked, we
have one of the most beautiful countries in the world, but we need
shelter for man and beast from the blasts that sweep over our prairies.
We must make the farmer see that it will pay in dollars and cents —
is confident it can be done. Plant belts of evergreens for shelter.
Recommend to have a lawn of one or two acres or more adjoining
the house and there group trees after nature's model. We need a
Downing to infuse anew a spirit of love for the beautiful through
our land. The great object of farmers should be to make home at-
tractive ; the want of it is a great cause of the dislike of farmer's
sons for their homes. 'No pursuit so natural or truly desirable ; if
properly conducted the most attractive of all pursuits.

318

CULTURE OP EVERGREENS.

By request of several members, Mr. Edwards, of Bureau, gave
his experience : I do not think that I can give you any new in-
formation on this subject. The culture of evergreens has been for
thirteen years a favorite occupation with me. In that time I have
handled over 300,000. All things considered, I prefer to plant
early in spring, as soon as the ground is fairly settled. I do not
consider that there is any more danger of losing evergreens by
transplanting than there would be in removing fruit trees — in fact
I would rather insure them — if they have been properly grown.
Although early spring is the best time to plant they often do well
enough planted quite late. The new tree digger, invented by
Harkness, will, I think, be valuable for root pruning evergreens —
and they should always be root pruned or removed every two or
three years while they remain in the nursery. Extra large trees
should be removed in the fall or during winter with a ball of earth
attached.

Mr. Coleman, of St. Louis — Do they form new roots when plant-
ed in the fall ?

Mr. Edwards— Yes.

Mr. Coleman — "Which kinds succeed best with you ?

Mr. Edwards — The pine family. When I first went into the
business of growing evergreens, I was warned that they would not
sell, planters would lose them and farmers would never care much
for them ; but I never had reason to complain of a want of custom
for all the evergreens I could raise. The people are beginning to
discover that they are valuable and that they pay in dollars and
cents. The time is coming when every prairie home will be sur-
rounded with them. A home and farm buildings surrounded with
evergreen belts and screens occupy quite another climate during
winter than the one common to exposed situations. For ornamental
hedges and screens I prefer and recommend the Norway spruce
to all others. The red cedar is excellent for the same purpose,
being much better than the American arbor vitas on our dry
prairies.

Mr. Kennicott — Do you think the red cedar would make a
hedge capable of turning stock ?

Mr. Edwards — Yes. I have a piece of cedar hedge good enough
as a protection against cattle if closely trimmed.

Mr. Kennicott — Have you tried planting evergreens in August,
or at the period of natural rest ?

Mr. Edwards — Yes.. The Norway spruce with good success.
For manure I like that from the chip yard ; leached ashes is also
good, but must not be applied in too great quantities.

In planting young trees from the forest I consider mulching and
shading all important. Apply the mulching liberally in June. I plant
the trees in rows running east and west, then shade with factory
cloth or with brush that will maintain their foliage. In arranging
the shade I place a board on the south side and immediately over

319

the trees the shades, with the south side the lowest. I do not
think it necessary to shade trees grown in the nursery. Ever-
greens, more than any other trees used for protection, combine
the useful with the beautiful. I think that every prairie orchard
in the State should be protected with them. For this purpose the
Norway spruce is the best of all evergreens.

Mr. Ellsworth — I prefer to plant in May. The soil is then gen-
erally in the very best condition, and their growth is less checked
than at any other season.

Mr. Coleman, of St. Louis — I fully agree with Mr. Ellsworth.

Mr. Francis — Has any one had experience with the Deodar ce-
dar and the Himmelayian evergreens ? I fear they will not suit
our climate.

Mr. Bryant — Has tried them and cedar of Lebanon, protected,
as he thought, sufficiently, but lost them. Pinus excelsa he has
saved, but the terminal buds are somewhat injured by winter ; it
needs shading from the direct rays of the sun in winter, as also
does the hemlock.

Mr. Phoenix — "Will find the same effect to some extent in all va-
rieties of hardy evergreens.

Mr. Bryant — If they have been accustomed to shade they will
turn their color ; this can be prevented to a considerable extent by
shortening the ends of the limbs in the fall, particularly applicable
to red cedar.

Mr. Galusha — I have been experimenting pretty extensively
with trees from the forest the past spring and with good success.
The kinds were red cedar, white pine and arbor vitse. Those
moved- the earliest did the best. I selected cool, showery days in
which to remove them, and was very careful not to expose the roots
even for a few minutes. Trees planted in August should always
be mulched.

On motion of Mr. Francis, this was declared a regular meeting
of the Illinois State Horticultural Society.

On motion of Lloyd Shaw, the section in constitution making it
necessary to hold election for officers at Springfield, on Wednes-
day after first Monday in January, was stricken out.

On motion of Mr. Francis, the following clause was inserted
in the constitution, to-wit :

" The President, with the consent of a majority of the Vice-Presidents, may call the an-
nual meetings of the Society at any time and place, for the purpose of electing officers and
the transaction of other business."

Also

Resolved, That the by-laws be so amended as to conform to this provision.

Society proceeded to the election of officers.
C. R. Overman, of Bloomington, was unanimously elected Presi-
dent, by acclamation.

2d "

u

3d "

a

4th "

a

5th "

a

6th "

a

7th "

a

8th "

it

9th "

a

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1st Vice-President, Robert Douglas, of Waukegan.
A. R. Whitney, Franklin Grove.
M. L. Dunlap, West Urbana.
Lloyd Shaw, Tremont.
K. Iv. Jones, Quincy.
Jonathan Huggins, Woodburn.
TJri Manley, Marshall.
James Hunter, Ashley.
Wm. Yates, Tamaroa.

Corresponding Secretary, O. B. Gaiusha, Lisbon, Kendall county.

Recording Secretary, Samuel Edwards, La Moille, Bureau county.

Assistant Recording Secretary, F. Starr, Alton, Madison county.

Treasurer, Arthur Bryant, Princeton, Bureau county.

Arthur Bryant, of Bureau, was appointed a committee to wait
upon the President elect and conduct him to the chair, a duty that
he performed amid loud applause.

Mr. Overman, on taking the chair, addressed a few earnest words
to the Society, in which he said : Gentlemen, I hope to look back
upon this period some years hence, as the dark age of horticulture.
The time for earnest toil has come. There is need of a concentra-
tion of effort, which I trust your many hearts will accord to the
cause and to each other. We must all do our utmost to accomplish
these results and bring about those desirable changes which the
people of our proud State will expect and require of us. Hor-
ticulture is one of the great industrial pursuits, and there is need
that we all endeavor to use our best energies to increase the num-
ber of its votaries, to make it a pursuit popular and easy to be fol-
lowed. If you are all, as now, actuated by a friendly feeling and
a determination to bring about what you see ought to be brought
about, your efforts will soon be felt in the right direction, and this
Society become one of the most useful institutions, not only of our
State but of the whole west.

On motion of Mr. Gaiusha, a committee, consisting of Messrs.
Gaiusha, Francis,. Phoenix, Ellsworth, Dunlap, Edwards and
Minkler, was appointed to examine and report upon the fruits on
exhibition.

A communication from C. E. Hovey, Esq., President of the Nor-
mal University, was read. It contained an invitation for the So-
ciety to visit that institution.

On motion of Mr. Francis, it was voted to accept the invitation
and visit the school at 9 o'clock A. M. the next day.

Letters were then read from Rev. George W. Minier, of McLean
county, and from Henry Shaw, Esq., of Tazewell county.

Mr. Minkler exhibited seedling roots kept over two years in his
cellar. The President called attention to the fact, that they were
still plump and fresh.

Mr. Minkler also demonstrated his method of dibbling in grafts.
The mode of dibble which he prefers was two and one half inches
wide, six or eight inches long, broad at top and tapering with

321

curved sides to a point at the bottom ; resembles a bricklayer's
trowel. The blade should be made of thin steel, the handle of
wood, and in much the form of a chisel handle.

On motion of Mr. Ellsworth, the discussion upon the culture of
apple seedlings was resumed. Members recommended trench-
plowing, clean culture, and thinning out of plants. The subject
of propagation by grafting and budding was taken up and occu-
pied the forenoon and a large portion of the afternoon sessions.
Many modes were detailed ; but members were nearly all agreed
upon the following points, viz : That scions should be cut in au-
tumn after hard frost, and packed in a cool cellar in slightly damp
moss or saw dust ; roots packed in same manner or in mixture of
earth and saw-dust ; that the second cut of the root is as good as
the first for grafting ; corn-husk an excellent material for tying the
grafts ; wax not necessary ; after grafting, pack in same material,
taking care to have grafts well surrounded with it. Grafts should
be planted early in the spring before starting much.

Mr. Dunlap introduced his mode of stock grafting cherries ;
whip grafts with no tongue, wraps with linen thread, commence at
bottom, taking care to secure the end well by covering as you
wind; at top, slip the thread between the scion and stock, then
cover with wax ; as the tree grows cut the thread to prevent gird-
ling. Cut scions in the fall, as they are sometimes injured in win-
ter; can save ninety -five per cent, of cherries ; generally graft
them the last of anything, even after the leaves are nearly ex-
panded. The Early May, sometimes called Early Richmond, is
the cherry for this climate. Graft plums in the same way ; does
not bud at all. In grafting large stocks, slope at back and side of
stock to about size of scion, this makes the thread less likely to
displace the scion. Takes up peach seedlings, and cuts scions in
the fall ; cuts stocks off just above the collar, and packs away same
as apple seedlings. Grafts at the collar, splitting down only one
side of the crown, as in ordinary cleft grafting, scion cut in wedge
form to fit, wraps with waxed cloth. Scions keep perfectly packed
in common soil in cellar. Packs grafts in saw dust a little dryer
than it comes from the mill ; cover liberally on all sides and at top,
never wet them.

Mr. Galusha is of the opinion that trees in nursery at the east
and west are planted too closely in the rows ; in order to culti-
vate between we are compelled to trim too much, thus crippling
vitality of trees, He plants in rows three and one-half to four
feet apart, trees ten inches apart in the row, intending to remove
alternate ones at one year. Advised transplanting a portion at
two years, leaving them four feet apart in the row, form head two
feet from the ground, and sell at a price that would pay for the
trouble, as some men- want such trees for immediate bearing..

Mr. Kennicott — Glad to see this subject introduced ; hopes all
nurserymen will adopt this plan to some extent. The best trees^
—41

322

at remunerating prices, are far the cheapest for the planter. As
business is now conducted at the west, nurserymen are compelled
to neglect pruning, and do not devote enough of their time to su-
perintendence.

Mr. Ellsworth thinks ten to twelve inches a good distance in the
row ; three years the best age to set trees in orchards ; pay atten- •
tion to pruning. No apple tree should stand in nursery more than
four years.

Mr. Coleman — Would like to see a resolution go forth from this
meeting, recommending farmers to buy trees at two v ears rather
than to"use larger ; the nurserymen can afford them cheaper ; will
fruit as soon with equal care.

Mr. Phoenix — It is simply a matter of dollars and cents ; if
men want large trees let them pay a large price. The masses can
get as good trees for ordinary planting, from eight to ten inches
apart as at greater distances.

Mr. Kennicott — The plan recommended by Mr. Galusha is fol-
lowed largely in Europe and might be done here. Some of them
are wanted by all men making new homes ; doubtless, the princi-
pal part of trees planted should be of moderate size. .

Mr. Galusha — Did not give his plan as advice for nurserymen
to follow, but as his beau ideal of just the best tree that could be
grown ; he heartily indorses the proposed resolution of Mr. Cole-
man. As trees are now grown, would rather warrant evergreens
rejDeatedly transplanted than large apple trees.

On motion, adjourned, to meet at College Hall, at six and one-
half o'clock this evening, to hear address from Mr. Dunlap, and
for discussions.

SECOND DAY EVENING SESSION.

Society met, pursuant to notice, in College Hall, to hear the ad-
dress of M. L. Dunlap, of Champaign county. A resolution was
passed thanking Mr. Dunlap for his address and requesting a copy
for publication.

EVERGREENS AND DECIDUOUS TREES.

By request of members discussion was opened by
Mr. Edwards — Has several times tried starting them from seed,
generally with poor success ; does not despair however of accom-
plishing it; intends to "try again." Has had most satisfactory
success in importing two to four year old seedlings, (if over two
years must have been transplanted) of foreign varieties, from
England and France, native varieties from iorests of New York,
Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Always select plants
that have grown in open exposures, as they are much better sup-
plied with fibrous roots than when grown in the shade. The soil
from which they are taken should be light, that the fine roots may
not be broken in taking them up.

323

The roots should not be left exposed to dry -in the least. In
packing care should be taken to have the roots moist and the tops
dry. Do not press them down very close, as they are more liable
to heat. Bore holes in the boxes to ventilate the tops, put damp
moss on all sides of roots next to box to prevent their drying.
Prefers plants six to twelve inches in height; Of larger sizes lose
a greater proportion and it takes several years for them to become
well stocked with branches and the lower limbs are often lost.
When they arrive at their destination heel them in carefully and
shade the tops. Spade the ground deeply, mixing a liberal dress-
ing of sharp sand with the surface, as they root more readily in it
than in ordinary prairie soil. Plant in beds longest east and west,
four to five feet wide, in rows six inches apart and as closely as
convenient in the row.

Along the south side of the bed drive a row of posts, leaving
them eighteen inches above the surface, place wide boards against
post to keep out sun and wind. On the north side set a row of
posts two and a half feet high, place poles on top of posts to support
a shading of brush cut with foliage on. If a dry time, water well
at time of planting, keep down weeds and stir the soil occasionally
through summer, watering if necessary. In October the shading
may be removed and a mulching of leaf mold or leaves given to the
smaller sizes to prevent their heading out in winter. Following
spring transplant to land deeply plowed, in nursery, rows two feet
apart, careful to give trees plenty of space to develop their lower
branches. In selling, thin out the rows, and by the second or third
year dispose of each alternate row; keep them well thinned out;
the only way to grow fine specimens. Transplant or root prune as
often as every three years.

In planting screens has set four rows of Norway spruce ten feet
apart and a space of ten feet in a row, alternating so that trees in
one row were opposite the spaces in the next row. In another in-
stance one row Norway spruce ten feet apart, ten feet back a row of
whitepine alternating with the spruce, ten feet back of pines Ameri-
can arbor vitse set three feet apart. Also one of red cedar, single row,
three feet apart. Shorten in limbs of arbor vitse and red cedar
once a year — has not pruned Norway spruce.

Planted clumps ot evergreens to shelter buildings from all but
southerly winds; where they have attained a height of fifteen to
twenty feet, much benefit is already derived from them.

After a driving storm of rain, the ground on the lee side of a row
of Norway spruce is dry. Birds build their nests in them in sum-
mer and seek for shelter in them from the blasts of winter.

Prepare ground by trench-plowing two furrows deep, take pains
to get as many as possible of the fibrous roots in taking up trees.
When selling to customers always cover the roots after putting trees
in wagon with plenty of straw, and dash water over the straw to
keep the roots moist. Plant ground to vines a few years, taking
pains to not plant near enough to affect the trees.

324

very hot weather, mulches the trees with a liberal dressing of
prairie hay or straw. In spring gives a dressing of chip manure
and leached ashes.

For upland prairie the pine family, Norway spruce, red cedar
and other junipers, Siberian arbor yitse and balsam of fir are well
adapted. On moist soils the spruce and American arbor vitee suc-
ceed better than on upland.

Mr. Ellsworth — Does not the American arbor vitse grow dense
when clumped.

Mr. Edwards— Yes. But they brown badly with us. The
white pine succeeds admirably with me. I would recommend both
it and Scotch pine for protection.

Mr. Phoenix — [Last winter was unusually mild, and may not
prove a safe criterion. — Publishing Committee.'] Is confident that
in this locality the balsam fir, spruces, white and Scotch pines, do
well set in the fall ; planted last winter in tan, with good success.
Red cedar would probably not succeed as well. In Europe they
any handled at any time in winter.

Mr. Ellsworth — Would always plant just as they are beginning
to start in spring.

Mr. Phoenix — Thinks if Mr. Ellsworth had our hot suns to con-
tend with, he would change his opinion.

Mr. Dunlap — At Urbana, would rather plant in November than
May.

Mr. Kennicott — Formerly approved of May planting, now pre-
fers April. Prefers time of greatest rest, which for many varieties
is in August. Two years ago moved eight hundred Austrian and
Scotch pines two feet high, late in spring ; they lived, but their
growth was checked, as is always the case with late planting.

Mr. Bryant — Can be moved short distances after starting to
grow, but would not be advisable to transport them far.

Mr. Galusha— Last spring commenced getting evergreens from
the forest early in April, and' moved them at intervals for several
weeks ; earliest planted succeeded best. A neighbor planted in
August with success.

Mr. Kennicott — Some of our native oaks, such as retain their
leaves during winter, would be valuable additions to belts planted
for protection. I know they are difficult to transplant, still nursery-
men might learn how to grow them. I would never recommend
the Weymouth pine for planting on the prairies. It appears to do
well with Mr. Edwards, but in Cook county it was always difficult
to make live, and when once growing was often dismasted by high
winds. I believe the Austrian pine the tree for protection. It is
a more rapid grower (at least I have always found it so) than the
Norway spruce. The Scotch is the most rapid grower among the
foreign evergreens. The Austrian pine grows dense enough after
it gets age, and its color is rich almost beyond comparison.

Mr. Galusha — I can bear testimony of. the efficacy and beauty of
Mr. Edward's evergreen screen ; it is one of the most desirable

325

tilings in the west. I have never had any difficulty with the white
pine. I would recommend it and the red cedar for belts planted
for protection. The cedars I would place on the outside.

Mr. Overman, of Fulton county — We have no trouble with the
white pines ; they grow readily and finely, and will be very valu-
able for protection.

Mi\ Bryant, of Bureau county — Have never had much difficulty
in transplanting evergreens ; I believe them invaluable as a means
of protection on the prairies. The white pine with us in Bureau
county makes a handsome tree, and bears removal as well as any
other evergreen. I would rather undertake to remove them than
to remove the red cedar. Still, there are other evergreens that I
would recommend first for screens and belts. The Norway grows
fast enough with me.

Mr. Galusha — White pines are always in good demand in my
section of country. I have little difficulty in removing them from
the woods.

Prof. J. B. Turner, of Morgan county — It will not be long before
every man who owns a prairie farm will learn the value of trees as
a means of sheltering his house, his orchard, and his farm build-
ings from the cold winter winds, so disliked and dreaded. I hope
that we shall as a society and as individuals spare no pains to
impress upon the people the importance of this subject, the
almost absolute necessity of planting trees for protection. My
attention was attracted that way at an early day. My first experi-
ment with evergreens was by planting a hedge or belt consisting
of many sorts. I did not like it at all ; it was too much like Jo-
seph's coat. I would plant but one kind in the belt ; or certainly,
if I planted different kinds I would plant in separate rows. I like
the white pine ; have had them grow over four feet in a single
summer. The red cedar is hardy and good. About the only
objection which I have to white pine is the insect which destroys
their beauty. You can rid your trees of these pests by sprinkling
lime and dry ashes over them, but that could not well be ap-
plied to large trees. Tobacco juice will also destroy them ; no
insect can stand that, except one, the tobacco worm. I am a great
admirer of the hemlock ; it is, in my estimation, the most beautiful
tree on the face of the earth. I have hopes that it will become
common. The American black spruce is a beautiful tree and a
dense grower. But, perhaps, the red cedar is, all things consider-
ed, the cheapest and best evergreen to plant. Too much can never
be said upon the culture of evergreens ; we. must talk it — ever-
greens— to our farmers continually, never giving them a chance to
sleep soundly till the value of their evergreen hedges and belts in
Illinois alone will be estimated at millions of dollars ; nothing will
do so well as evergreens. The Osage orange is good, but they are
better. Belts of them round the barn and cattle yards will make
up at least partially for want of shelter now so often seen.

326

Mr. Bryant — I agree with Prof. Turner in regard to the black
spruce ; it is a beautiful tree, but grows too slowly ; the Norway is
better. .

Mr. Turner — The black spruce should not be neglected ; they
are too scarce in our nurseries.

Mr. Phoenix — Who has had experience in raising firs from the
seed ?

Mr. Edwards' — The black spruce is a fine tree, but not to be
compared with the Norway.

Mr. Ellsworth, of Du Page county — In my opinion the Norway
spruce is the variety above all others for general cultivation. It
grows more and more beautiful as it advances in years, and ac-
quires its drooping habit of growth. It is the most desirable of all
evergreens, and with me It is not excelled by any other for rapidity
of growth.

The President — In answer to Mr. Phoenix's question, I will say,
that I have tried raising red cedars from the seed with fair success.
I wash the seed, and in warm water, and keep a year in boxes ;
they do not vegetate freely the first year.

As it is time to adjourn, I would announce the fact, that we are
to have to-morrow night an address from Prof. Turner, upon the
Philosophy of Plowing and Drainage.

Mr. Edwards — Has been credibly informed, that by mixing ber-
ries (after briusing them) with wet ashes, for some weeks before
planting, the pulp would be cleaned from the seed and the shell
softened so that they will vegetate the first season.

On motion, adjourned till to morrow morning at 8 i o'clock, to
visit the State Normal University.

THIKD DAT-— MORNING SESSION.

The Society met, in pursuance to adjournment, in their own hall'
and then moved in a body,, headed by the President, to the build"
ing temporarily fitted up for the use of the Normal School. They
were met and welcomed at the door by C. E. Hovey, Esq., the
Principal, who, with that grave courtesy that marks the earnest
thinker and the thorough gentleman, conducted them to seats on
the spacious platform of the principal school room. The regular
morning exercises then proceeded, occupying, perhaps, a half hour.
The classes were then detailed to their various recitation rooms,
while such of the scholars as remained were addressed by the
President of the Horticultural Society, and various of its members.
It was a happy time generally, and the address of Prof. Turner, in
particular, was well received. No regular minutes were taken of
the speeches, and as both of the secretaries were absent from the
main room while they were being delivered, they cannot do justice
to the merits. Some of the gentlemen of the Society spent a few
minutes in each of the recitation rooms ; they report that they are
proud of the Normal University, and convinced that the method of

327

instruction pursued, and the instructors employed, are the best in
the west. In fact, it was the general opinion of the members of
the Society that in the Normal University is to be iound the
brightest hopes for the future education of our people in all that
can make men wise, liberal and practically useful and intelli-
gent citizens. We believe that on that clay the Normal School
gained many a warm friend and supporter, and that the gentlemen
who were its guests on that occasion felt that its teachers were the
right men and women for the responsible position which they occu-
py, that its pupils are earnest searchers after truth, industrious work-
ers, each one well fitted to become the leader of a forlorn hope
that will never look back till the schools of our State are all as
well conducted and as capable of making teachers as is now the
Normal School. At half past ten o'clock the Society left the Uni-
versity and paid a short visit to the model school which is under
its management. This was the most delightful part ot the visit,
and the members of the Horticultural Society returned to their
hall with smiling countenances, and the pleasant songs of the little
ones still echoing in their ears.

The following are the names of the teachers :

Charles E. Hovey, Principal ; Ira Moore, Samuel Willard, C.
C. Hewitt, C. M. Cady, Professor of Music, and Miss. M. Brooks.
Ninety-eight pupils are in attendance the present term. The
model department, under the charge of Miss. M. Brooks, which at
present is only a primary department, has fifty pupils. As soon as
circumstances will admit, it is expected that the model department
will consist of various grades. The new building is planned with
reference to such an arrangement.

President in the chair, 11 o'clock A. M. Invitations were sent
to C. E. Hovey, teachers and scholars of the State Normal Uni-
versity, and to the board of supervisors ot McLean county, in ses-
sion, to meet with us to hear the lecture of Prof. Turner this even-
ing. Invitation accepted.

On motion of Mr. Francis, a committee of three was appointed
to write a report on the best manner of cultivating evergreens and
to recommend varieties for general cultivation, Messrs. Francis,
Bryant and Edwards were appointed said committee.

On motion of Mr. Francis,

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to recommend a list of hardy shrubs
and evergreens, with which farmers and others can adorn their homes; stating the range of
prices of the same. Also, give the proper method of planting and cultivating them.

Messrs. Turner, Francis and P, B. Bryan, of Chicago, were ap-
pointed said committee.
On motion of Mr. Elliott,

Resolved, That each member of the Sooiety be requested to form a list of such varieties of
apples as he would personally, upon his own knowledge, recommend for general cultivation.

Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to collate from all the lists such varieties only
as are reccommended by every member, and add the same to the list already made.

328

Fameuse, Winesap, Fulton, and. Keswick Codlin, for cooking,
were unanimously approved.

Prof. Turner — Mentioned an apple grown in his vicinity, called
the orange apple, ripe in August, equal to Newton pippin, always
commands an extra price, tree a rapid grower, was found in an
orchard of grafted fruit, trees were bronght from the east. lie
sent specimens to Dr. Kennicott and Charles Downing, who
could not identify it. Can furnish a limited amount of scions gra-
tuitously.

Mr. Freeman — Has seen the same apple grown in New Jersey,
under name of orange apple.. Indorses Prof. Turner's account
of its excellent quality.

Mr. Minkler — Presented scions of Minkler's sweet for distribu-
tion.

Messrs. Ellsworth, Dunlap, Galusha and others, familiar with
the variety, spoke very highly of it.

Adjourned to two o'clock P. M.

THIRD DAT AFTERNOON SESSION.

Met pursuant to adjournment, Yice-President Dunlap in the
chair.

On motion of Mr. Francis, the following resolutions were adopted.

Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary of this Society be and he is hereby instructed
to take measures for ascertaining the number and value ot the nursery establishments in
this State, embracing the value under different heads, in his discretion, with the view of
publishing the same in connection with the proceedings of this Society, in next volume of
Transactions of State Agricultural Society.

Resolved, That the President and Corresponding Secretary be requested, on behalf of the
Society, to memorialize the legislature, at its coming session, to make provision by law for
the protection of our gardens, nurseries and orchards against injury and theft.

Resolved, That we acknowledge our obligations to Mr. Hovey, President of the State Normal
School, for the invitation to visit that institution; and we desire to express our high gratifi-
.cation with the progress and advancement of the students under his charge; our convictions
that the value of that institution to the people of Illinois cannot be too highly appreciated,
and the hope that it will continue to increase in usefulness, scattering its blessings and ad-
vantages into every nook and corner of our State, in all time to come.

GEAPB CULTURE.

Mr. N. J. Coleman — The Catawba is very liable to mildew ;
Concord is free from mildew, productive ; Norton's Virginia seed-
ling— best wine grape in Southern Illinois, hardy, very productive ;
from observations this season, believes it will supersede Catawba
for wine, on account of exemption from mildew. Diana, Rebecca
and Delaware bore this season; promise well. At Hermann, Mis-
souri, the Germans are now planting Norton's Virginia seedling
exclusively. Thinks it is not excelled for wine by any of the hardy
grapes. The wine made from it is ot superior quality.

Mr. Miller — The Herbemont, at Cincinnati, is hardy, productive,
not liable to mildew.

Mr. Elliott — The Herbemont generally drops its foliage prema-
turely ; from that cause the fruit is not well matured. German
vine dressers in Missouri are much in favor of Norton's Virginia

329

seedling ; Mr. Longworth is sending there for plants. Thinks the
wine will be unpopular — too dark and heavy, not of fine quality ;
most Germans are fond of it. Concord promises well, free from
disease, mildew and rot. Delaware is almost equal to our foreign
varieties of grapes grown in vineries ; thinks it will be a fine wine
grape at the west.

Mr. N": J. Coleman — The Rebecca is a dessert grape of superior
excellence.

Mr. Spencer — Has seen the Rebecca in bearing-^a very fine
table grape, an excellent keeper after ripe without extra care.
Quality fully equal to some of our foreign varieties grown under
glass ; hardy, ripens three weeks before Isabella.

Mr. Dunlap — The Clinton is very hardy and productive, only to
be tolerated where no better can be grown.

CURRANTS. I

Mr. Whitney — Is growing white and read Dutch for wine, which
sells readily for four dollars per gallon ; believes them more profit-
able than grapes in his locality.

Mr. Dunlap — The currant is better north of line of the lime drift
of " lower Egypt" for wine than the grape in most localities.

K. J. Coleman — Has again fruited the cherry currant — still
thinks highly of it. Its large size makes it very desirable. Proba-
bly not equal to red Dutch for productiveness. The bunches are
short, berries very large.

Mr. Ellsworth — The cherry is decidedly larger than any other
red variety he has seen.

Mr. Bryant — Finds' some of his cherry currants do not meet his
expectations as to size.

Mr. Kennicott — His experience has been similar to Mr. Bryant's.
The Victoria is late but very acrid. White grape much superior
to any other white variety. Finds no difference between red
Dutch and long bunched red.

Mr. Elliott — The cherry currant in ordinary soil sometimes pro-
duces small berries, but has removed bushes to rich soil and grown
much larger fruit.

Mr. Hunter — Short bunched red, red Dutch and white grape
are the best he has fruited.

Mr. Huggins — Has fruited the cherry, finds it no larger than
red Dutch"

Mr. Ingraham — Has seen the cherry currant grown with care,
equal in size to any specimen exhibited by eastern tree peddlers.

Mr. Ellsworth — For general cultivation, thinks there is no
variety superior to red Dutch. The currant needs bountiful ma-
nuring every year and clean deep culture. Black Naples is the
best black variety he has seen.

Mr. Kennicott — They are generally picked too soon — do not
bear as early as some varieties.

Mr. Bryant — The Victoria is valuable on account of its ripening
—42

330

late and productiveness; will bang a month later than red Dutch.
For most purposes considers red Dutch best for general cultiva-
tion.

Mr. Edwards— Brought his first stock of currants from Mr.
Longworth's garden at Cincinnati, before they came into bearing;
he ordered some of the genuine red Dutch from an eastern nur-
sery ; when they came into bearing, about one bush in twenty
from Mr. Longworth's bore the common small red currant — ■
balance, red Dutch ; of the genuine, about one in five proved to
be the common.

Mr. Ellsworth — Has had the same experience ; finds some com-
mon small white mixed with white Dutch.

Mr. Dunlap — Received from several sources red Dutch ; all ap-
pear to be the same variety.

Mr. Galusha— Considers red Dutch best ; mulches heavily early
in spring, with stable manure ; gets very fine fruit and abundant
crops. In poor soil, without culture, fruit is small ; believes red
Dutch is common red improved by long continued high culture.
Missouri black is a better bearer, and he prefers the flavor to black
English. Bushes grow five or six feet in a season.

Mr. N'. J. Coleman — Missouri black is a very rampant grower,
its greatest fault. Thinks it superior to black Naples.

Mr. Elliott — There is a marked difference between red Dutch
and common red. Knight's sweet red is less acid ; Knight's long-
bunched red larger than red Dutch ; Knight's large red about the
same as red Dutch. Missouri black is much liked by persons who
have acquired a taste for it ; ripens in succession. Recommends
to give free circulation of air under bushes. All currants ripen
much later if sheltered from the sun.

Mr. Dunlap — Thinks the fruit is finer when bushes are sheltered
on the west.

Mr. Kennicott — Currants bear better and berries are larger if
planted on the north side of the fence, but they are more acid —
bushes make larger growth ; considers cultivation of the currant
for wine an object, but it is not of fine quality and should not be
called one.

Mr. Galusha — Stated that Mr. Bush, of Ottawa, thinks from his
experience that the red Dutch currants make as good a quality of
wine as any of our hardy grapes.

Mr. Edwards — Can detect no difference between black English
and black Naples ; both bear good crops of very large berries, of
musky smell and taste, excellent for jam and jelly.

Mr. Elliott— Black English is loose
closer.

Mr. Bryant— Eruit of black Naples larger than black English.

Mr. Ellsworth — Black Naples, black English and Ogden's black
appear to him to be identical and valuable, especially for jelly and
jam.

331

RASPBERRIES.

Mr. H, J. Coleman — Raises for market to considerable extent ;
would recommend very highly the American black cap ; has
several acres of them very productive ; American yellow, similar,
except in color, to foregoing:, is of very fine flavor.

Mr. Myers, of Booneville, Missouri, cultivates it to a considera-
ble extent ; considers it superior to all others. Brinckle's orange
is one of the most productive varieties ; bears too profusely, so as
to kill bushes ; would advise to cut off bushes nearly to the ground
first season ; they then throw up vigorous shoots ; protects them
in winter. Allen raspberry fruited for the first time this season ;
thinks highly of it from limited experience ; canes upright, needs
no staking, berry large and firm. Kirtlands seedling (so called) is
very fine, large, more conical than Allen — thinks highly of it.
Cattawissa — believes this the greatest acquisition that has been
made to our list of raspberries : received one hundred last year
from Joshua Pierce, Washington, D. C. ; this fall bore an enor-
mous crop, ripening in succession fast enough for market purposes,
where a person had a quantity of bushes ; would not cultivate
Ohio everbearing at all if he could get Cattawissa. All the above
varieties have proved satisfactory.

Mr. Phoenix — If so much better than Ohio everbearing, would
be glad to form an acquaintance with Cattawissa. Ohio everbear-
ing is recommended at the east, his experience has coincided with
theirs.

Mr. 1ST. J. Coleman — Ohio everbearing is discarded at Cincin-
nati.

Mr. Galusha — Has tried Franconi, Fastolf, red Antwerp and
some others, all too tender ; farmers will not cover them.

Mr. Kennicott — Tried Mr. Galusha's list — let them all go ;
Brinckle's orange is satisfactory.

Mr. Starr — Best at Alton ; belle de Fontenay and Merveille of
four seasons prove fine ; all varieties are better when protected.

Mr. Huggins — Has tried many varieties, has the Allen this
year, fruit large, handsome and fine ; made very thrifty growth ;
best of any he has tried.

Mr. O. M. Colman — Are any varieties better than black cap ?

Mr. Starr — We are throwing away black cap.

Mr. Kennicott — Finds none superior in flavor to black cap ;
knows of many amateurs planting no other variety; thinks some
bushes bear much better than others ; should use discrimination
in selecting plants ; bears well in Marion county ; native red bears
well in some localities, in others, but little.

Mr. Bryant — Has never seen a bush of black cap bear a good
crop in Bureau county.

Mr. Shaw — Has thrown out Ohio everbearing ; prefers native
black or red ; berries grown in shade are unpalatable.

Mr. Elliott — Thinks we can .hardly dispense with black cap or

332

native red ; large quantities are made into jam on the shores of
our northern lakes and find a ready market at Boston and New
York ; believes the Allen identical with English red cane, which
was brought to Cleveland some twenty years since from England,
from there went to Buffalo, and is now disseminated from that
vicinity as Allen's. The fruit is of a bluish or purplish red, with
some bloom, roundish conical, of large size.

Mr. Bryant — Has seen a berry of this description growing wild
in Massachusetts.

Mr. Kennicott — Same wild in Cook county, of delicious flavor.

Mr. N. J. Coleman— The Allen is finest of any red he has seen,
bears carriage well ; black sometimes blasts in Missouri ; Ameri-
can yellow does not; procured it from Drury, Rock Island
county.

Mr. Freeman — Has seen it in New Jersey ; believes it is indi-
genous there ; not as good a bearer as the black.

Mr. Wilkins — Native of Michigan ; bears better there than the
black.

Mr. Phoenix — Has sometimes seen them bitter ; does not know
the cause.

Mr. Elliott — Thinks it is a native through all our northern
States.

Mr. Bryant — Believes it is a seedling from black cap ; same ex-
cept in color.

Mr. Kennicott — Does not consider it desirable ; is confident it
is the same as Haskell's yellow ; do not need protection in Cook
county ; never winter kills ; have generally left bushes trailing
on ground in winter without protection.

Mr. Ellsworth — Haskell's yellow is excellent; none more deli-
cious ; canes would not kill except in very severe winters, but
fruit is much finer if protected ; Hudson river red Antwerp canes
are too tender, and it suckers so much as to make it objection-
able.

Mr. N. J. Coleman — We can get finer fruit from all varieties
with protection.

Mr. Hunter — Black cap is fine in his vicinity ; sometimes blasts;
also have a native yellow variety, very fine ; bears two crops in a
season.

Mr. Galusha — In Kendall county, American black cap, white
cap, and native red succeed well ; generally a frame is made on
each side of a row of bushes to keep them in place ; produce good
crops of fine flavor.

GOOSEBERRIES.

Mr. Hunter — Houghton's seedling much better than any other
tried in this vicinity.

Mr. Edwards — Has a variety called the pale red, at Cincinnati ;
bush of much the same habit as Houghton, but more upright ; less

333

liable to layer itself; equally productive and exempt from mildew.
Also a large English variety of green color, imported by Mr.
Longworth ; has now had it thirteen years ; never has shown but
very little mildew.

Mr, Elliott — There are distinct varieties of the pale red at Cin-
cinnati, Cleveland and Rochester, all reputed hardy, productive
and of good quality ; is personally acquainted only with the
Cleveland variety, which is very valuable ; prefers it to Houghton
on account of more upright habits ; fruit and bush not as liable to
get in the ground ; believes they are all of English origin ; doubts
whether we have any American seedling worthy of cultivation, ex-
cejjt the one originated by Charles Downing.

Mr. Fell — Has tried many varieties ; none worthy of cultivation
except Houghton.

Mr. Huggins — Has a variety received as green prolific ; does
not mildew ; bears abundantly ; had thought it might be Heugh-
ton.

Mr. Galusha — Cultivated Houghton ; deems it very valuable ;
has showa a very little mildew this season ; he mulches heavily
with coarse manure and applies salt around the bush in the fall.

Mr. Shaw — Does not Mr. Galusha cultivate too highly ?

Mr. JS". J. Coleman — Has grown Houghton several years ;
always very productive and free from mildew ; many English
varieties all mildew.

BLACKBERRIES.

Mr. Starr, of Alton — About Alton, the New Rochelle has ful-
filled all our expectations ; they are very productive, and ripen in
succession for several weeks. The flavor is, perhaps, not quite
equal to a very ripe native.

Prof. Turner — There is much difference among our wild black-
berries ; some of them are of very large size and superior flavor ;
if we exercise care in selecting the finest I think it will be discov-
ered that Illinois can show as fine blackberries as any that have
been found at New Rochelle. "We have at Jacksonville two dis-
tinct kinds of value taken from the woods some years since ; one
of them, an upright grower, possesses a vigorous habit of growth,
is very productive and full}7 equal in size and flavor to the
Lawton.

Mr. Dunlap — In southern Illinois have seen the trailing black-
berry or dewberry, also the high bush, of enormous size and of
excellent flavor — think that some of them excel any we read of.
May do better there than when removed. One variety, being
nearly round, is earlier than others. Have marked some of them
for removing. I have seen some of them so large I do believe
that a child would have to use a jack-knife to eat them. I be-
lieve that the Lawton, in many sections, has proved to be tender.

Mr. Wills — At Shawneetown there are several varieties of the
wild blackberry. The soil and climate of southern Illinois is finely

334

adapted to produce them in perfection. Have seen the market
glutted with them at three cents per quart.

Mr. Ingraham — Have noted some very fine ones in my vicinity
and marked them for removing.

Mr. Howell — More different varieties of dewberry than of the
upright in his vicinity ; flavor generally superior to upright but
not as productive. The stalk of the dewberry is round. Has
marked about one hundred bushes of both varieties; will distribute
gratis to members who desire it.

Prof. Turner inquired what variety of soil.

Mr. Dunlap — Mud drift of Lower Egypt or debris of limestone.
Recommends shelter at the north.

Mr. Starr — Thinks dewberry not as productive as high bush.

Prof. Roe, of Bloomington — I believe these Egyptian blackber-
ries to be a little ahead of any others ; I was down that way the
past iummer, and the feast I had upon blackberries I shall long
remember, but perhaps the same plants would not do so well here.
They may need the warmer climate of those sections.

Mr. Huggins — Has fruited. Lawton two years. When fully
ripe, equal to the best in flavor and much larger than the com*
in on.

PAW PAWS ANB PERSIMMONS.

Mr. Wills — I have never known the paw paw succeed well
when transplanted. The persimmons of southern Illinois are the
finest I ever saw, twice as large as in Ohio, flavor nearly equal to
dates.

Mr. Fell — Abundant in Union and Pulaski counties — of su-
perior flavor and enormous size, bear transplanting well ; paw paw
does not.

Mr. Shaw — Indigenous in Tazewell county.

Mr. Kennicott — Mr. Reynolds, of Marion county, has an abun-
dant crop of them of superior quality. The smaller varieties are
of finest flavor. Mr. Bryant has the largest ones he has seen.

Mr. Miller — There is a variety in Madison county ripe early in
September.

Mr. Bryant — Has grown as large ones in Bureau county as any
represented here ; transplants with difficulty unless of small size.
Prepare and plant seed same as the apple. Large ones fully equal
in flavor to small. One tree, which has always produced stami-
nate blossoms and no fruit previously, this year bore three speci-
mens of fruit.

Mr. Howell — Some varieties in his vicinity ripen in August,
others follow in succession, some are at this time but just fully ma-
tured.

Prof. Roe — The persimmon is really a superior and valuable
fruit, well worthy of cultivation wherever it will succeed.

Mr. Kennicott — It should not be forgotten that it is a winter
fruit, and that fact adds greatly to its value. That they are deli-

335

cious and healthful I know from my own experience. They are
also highly ornamental.

Mr. Shaw— I have never found them difficult to transplant.

Mr. Miller, of Alton — With us they bear enormously.

STRAWBERRIES.

Mr. C. R. Overman — The strawberry is, perhaps, the most deli-
cious of all fruits common to our country. It is most important
that we should have all the information that can be obtained upon
the subject.

Mr. Dunlap — Has tried some forty varieties ; approves of early
scarlet ; McAvoy's superior and Hudson ; has Wilson's Albany on
trial. The cultivation is very simple at the west; many have
failed by doing too much; succeed best a little shaded ; winter
protection desirable ; considers smallest sized berries the finest
flavored. Many persons have been taught to believe, that none
but skillful gardners can raise fine strawberries ; this is a mistaken
idea; no fruit can be so easily raised, and none pays better for the
care bestowed.

Mr. Turner — Has a variety called Carolina, planted on southern
slope ; manured highly, watered, cut off runners, etc., for ten
years, never made a. good meal from them in the whole time.
Gov. Duncan's gardner had plants from him, planted on sod —
moister soil, they bore bountifully. He then removed to moist
land, where they bore well for three or four years, then failed.
Finds the strawberry very choice of location — bear well in some
places, in others only a short distance from first, yield nothing.

Mr. Galusha — Tried twelve to fifteen varieties. Taking all
things into consideration, preferred necked pine ; perfectly hardy,
bears good crops of medium sized berries of good flavor.

Mr. Edwards — Esteems necked pine highly for its hardiness
and productiveness. Has known crop to fail when planted on
highly manured land. Would not manure at first; after three
years would dress with well rotted barnyard manure and leached
ashes, harrow over the bed as frost was coming out in spring,
tearing up half the plants ; has had a bed thus treated ; bear well
six years. Tried in all about forty varieties ; McAvoy's superior,
Longworth's prolific, Peabody's seedling and Wilson's Albany are
all fine ; thinks the last named variety bids fair to supersede all
others in his locality.

Mr. Shaw — Prefers to make new plantations every three years.

Mr. Starr — Has fruited Longworth's prolific, Wilson's Albany,
Peabody's seedling, and some twenty other varieties. Longworth's
prolific far superior to all others.

Mr. Dunlap — The strawberry needs deep culture; I have fre-
quently had the fruit destroyed by drouth. Any number of suc-
cessive crops can be grown from the same bed by using manure
and thorough culture — spading under one half of the plants an-

334

nually. At the same time it is a matter of economy to make new
plantations every two or three years,

. Mr. G-alusha — Mr. II. L. Brush, of Ottawa, informs me that the
necked pine succeeds the best with him.

Mr. Kennicott— None of the varieties have done better in Cook
county than large early scarlet. Necked pine also succeeds well.
The Wilson's Albany seems to be popular with all who have
tried it. Some cultivators about Chicago speak highly of crimson
cone.

On motion of Mr. Galusha, it was voted that the Society remain
in session until 3 o'clock P. M. of the next day. A brief letter
was read from Adnah Williams, Esq., of Galesburg, expressing
his regret at hot- being present, and his hope that the Society
would prove invaluable in its results, and its members be always
actuated by the same friendly feeling and earnest enterprising
spirit which had ever characterized them.

WHORTLEBERRIES.

The President — A prominent nurseryman in Indiana planted on
prepared, thin, poor soil ; the variety grown on high land did not
succeed ; thinks the swamp variety would do better.

Mr. Huggins— Is confident that both varieties can be grown
here by selecting soil ; has ordered both varieties for trial.

Mr. Phoenix — Believes they can be grown. Doos not like to
favor the idea that there is any plant indigenous in our climate
which we cannot cultivate.

Mr. Howell — It is indigenous and very fine on hills of Monroe
county in this State.

The President — They are also to be found in Ogle county.

Mr. Kennicott — In my opinion, these same whortleberries are
truly toothsome, healthy and every way excellent. Hundreds of
bushels of them sold in Chicago the past year at high prices ; they
came mostly from Michigan, I think. One of the varieties is a
native of the Lake Shore, in Cook county, but it seldom bears
well. I do not think that many real systematic efforts have been
made to cultivate them in gardens.

Adjourned to meet at Phoenix Hall.

THIKD DAY — EVENING SESSION,

Society met, pursuant to adjournment, the large and fine hall
being crowded with the citizens of Bloomington, including many
ladies.

The President called the meeting to order, and introduced to the
audience Prof. J. B. Turner, of Jacksonville. His address was
listened to with great interest. After he was through with the
written address, he spoke a few eloquent and earnest words in
favor of industrial education. Afterwards Mr. C. T. Chase, of
Chicago, and Mr. M. L. Dunlap, of Champaign county, were sev-

337

erally called out, and addressed the audience on the improvement
and elevation of the masses. It was then voted to adjourn, to
meet at Centre Hall, 9 o'clock A. M. of the next day.

FOURTH DAY MORNING- SESSION.

The Society met pursuant to adjournment, the President in the
chair.

On motion, it was voted that A. G. Hanford, Esq., of Waukesha,
Wis., representative of the Wisconsin Fruit Grower's Association,
and F. R. Elliott, Editor of " Farmer, Miner and Mechanic," St.
Louis, Mo., be declared honorary members of the Society. A dis-
cussion then took place upon

PEAK CULTURE.

Mr. Bryant, of Bureau county — From my own experience I can-
not speak encouragingly. I have been planting standard pear
trees tor twenty years, and dwarfs for the last eight. The blight
has been the great cause of failure. It killed nearly all my trees,
and the rest were pretty much destroyed by the cold winters.
I know of no way to produce good pears in any quantity, but I
shall keep on trying. Mr. J. Stevens, a gentleman residing in
Princeton, and not over two miles from his own place, has a few
fine standard pear trees, planted some eight or ten years ago. The
soil is common prairie, the trees perfectly sheltered by buildings on
all sides, except the south. They are thrifty and handsome and
bear satisfactory crops. Among them are the Bloodgood and
Flemish Beauty.

My own trees have always been carefully planted — some in grass
land, others in highly cultivated soil. I have never been able to
discover any difference in their liability to blight. I know of no
remedy for the blight. I never have been able to save my trees
by cutting back. Sometimes I succeeded in checking it for a single
season, but it would return the next. I once had a tree of the
Madeline attacked eight feet from the ground ; I cut it down to
sound wood. The next season the blight appeared four feet lower
down. The next year it was free from blight, but the fourth year
it blighted down to where it had been budded. I had a fine tree
of Flemish Beauty, which began to blight. I did not cut off the
dead part. After a time the blight ceased and the tree grew well,
but the next year killed entirely. I think that dwarfs are quite
as liable to blight as standards. What fruit I have been able to
raise has always been fine, and I have no doubt the trees could be
successfully grown and fine crops produced, were it not for the
blight. I have never perceived that a difference in the stocks
made them more or less liable to blight. My seedlings blight as
badly as the worked trees.

Mr. Starr, of Alton — There are a large number of old pear trees
on my place, planted by Dr. Hull. Many of them were killed by
—43

338

the winters of 1855 and 1856. Standards and dwarfs are like sub-
ject to blight. I have never perceived any benefit from cutting
back, but I think that trees standing in grass land are less affected.
Some years since one of my Seckle trees began to blight badly in
the bark. I shaved off the outside bark and washed the tree with
strong lye, and it has never blighted since. I think that old trees
are less liable to blight than young ones. I am now setting out a
pear orchard, and shall seed it down to grass. Bartlett, Madeline,
Belle Lucrative, Burre, St. Nicholas, Vicar of Winkfield and White
Doyenne blight more than any other varieties.

Mr. Kennicott — In Cook county, Dr. Kennicott has planted out
half a dozen pear orchards, including very many varieties. Yery
few of the trees are now alive. The Buffum is the only one that
has entirely escaped the blight, both in the nursery and orchard.
It produces abundant crops of excellent fruit. Flemish Beauty
blights but little, and is every way satisfactory . Occasionally
raised fine crops of White Doyenne and Bartlett. Never knew
Seckel to blight. Osband's Summer stood the winters well. "We
have never found dwarfs as liable to blight as standards. They
are the first to fall though in cold winters. I am of the opinion
that there are very few localities in the northern part of this State
where dwarfs will be found profitable. Mr. John P. Reynolds,
of Marion county, has six seedling pear trees, supposed to have
been sprouts planted about forty years ago. They are handsome,
healthy trees, over a foot through. They bear well, and the fruit
has been sold in St. Louis market for $300, in a single season. I
have seen dozens of fine trees in other parts of the country, some,
of them nearly as large. I think that section will soon beat Bos-
ton on pears. Our planters are sanguine of success. One gentle-
man near Centralia is said to be planting out thousands of dwarfs.
There is not much use planting in common black prairie soil, un-
less it be thoroughly underdrained. It is the great secret of suc-
cess in pear culture. I have never seen finer pears east or west
than those grown in Marion county.

Mr. Fell — In my nursery at Quincy, my experience was very
discouraging. All the varieties, with the exception of the Seckel,
blighted. Here, in McLean, I have one hundred dwarf trees,
planted in clover. They have been out three years, and have
never shown symptoms of blight.

Prof. Turner — I have paid much attention to pear culture for
the last fifteen years. The result of my observations has led me
to believe that blight is caused either by fungus or fermentation of
the sap. The proximate cause may be an insect, described by me,
some years since, in the '' Horticulturist." It can be killed, as can
all insects injurious to trees, by spirits of turpentine. In my
opinion, want of air at the roots facilitates the operation of all
proximate causes of blight. In planting my first pear trees, I dug
holes six feet deep, filled them with bones and soil intermixed. I
lost the whole of them. I have since planted on thoroughly

339

trenched soil, and have been successful. I believe it entirely use-
less.to plant the pear on our ordinary soils, unless underdrained or
stirred three feet deep. On our rich soils, planters had better
throw their money in the fire than plant trees on undrained ground.
I have known pear trees escape winter-killing where they were
covered with grape vines. The roots of the vine absorbed the
excess of moisture and afforded protection from the sun in summer
and cold in winter. The trees will sometimes blight on sandy
ridges. If the spores of fungus are in the air from trees in the
vicinity, they take the blight as if by contagion. In those sections
of country where the soil is naturally underdrained, I think the
pear will succeed, but I do not believe there are ten acres of land
in Morgan county where the pear can be successfully grown, or the
dilapidated orchards renovated, without underdraining or inverting
the soil. I have one tree set on the surface ot the soil, to cover
which I carted in dirt. That tree is doing finely.

F. G. Gary, Editor of the " Cincinnatus," was at my house this
season. After traveling considerably through Central Illinois, he
had made up his mind that pear culture was impracticable, but,
after examining my trees on underdrained ground, he reversed his
opinion. The Professor said he would take the opportunity to
recommend the " Cincinnatus" as a periodical eminently worthy
the support of every gentleman present.

I am a believer in the glue remedy for the rot in grapes. It
consists simply in dipping the young cluster in a solution of glue.

Mr. Chase — Suggested that the blight on trees might have an
analogous origin with blight on grain, grass, &c, as it had been
observed most commonly to occur where a great amount of mois-
ture and a high degree of heat were both present during the period
of vegetation.

He did not claim that they were all the same thing, but sug-
gested that, as they had commonly been observed to occur when
these two phenomena came in conjunction, they might be referable
to the same prime cause.

Microscopic observations, made by several scientific gentlemen
in Tennessee, early in June, when the rust on oats made its ap-
pearance, detected animalculee in the juice of the green leaf of the
oat before rust appeared on it. By numerous examinations it was
evident that as they grew they either eat through the cuticle of
the oat or caused the cuticle to burst. In either case the juice exu-
ded and formed fungus. They had no doubt of the animalculse
being present in the juice of the plant before the fungus appeared,
and that they were identical with those which were present after-
wards, but they could not account for the presence of noxious ani-
malculse in an apparently healthy plant.

Mr. C. — That if such was the case their presence might be
accounted for in the same way as animalculse that became apparent
to the naked eye in standing water in hot weather. During peri-
ods of excessive wet weather, the underdrained soil has no means

340

of discharging its surplus water. The roots of plants are stimula-
ted to overaction and take an amour t of water beyond the necessi-
ties of the plant. The vesicles of the plant becoming surcharged
beyond their power to elaborate, the surplus is retained, and be-
comes comparatively stagnant during periods of excessive heat, at
which time the animalcules make their appearance. He saw no
reason why ammalculse might not thus be produced as well as in
a pitcher of water, where their presence was very commonly
noticed in hot weather. If the thing be true, different appearances
under which blight manifested itself might be accounted for to
some extent, at least, by the different kinds of sap or juice elabora-
ted by the plant, which took a variety of forms when it became
fungus. Underdraining and pulverizing the soil was evidently
the remedy indicated. He offered the suggestion as mere theory,
which might be sustained or otherwise by further observations.

Prof. Turner — Said the idea had never before occurred to him,
and thought it plausible. If it should prove on further investiga-
tion as stated by the scientific observations Mr. C alluded to, he
thought the solution correct.

The President — Has in former years made the pear his hobby,
and promised himself much pleasure in enjoying its luscious fruit ;
it was his favorite over all others ; planted an orchard of one hun-
dred and thirty trees some thirteen years ago ; remained tolerably-
healthy till they commenced bearing, when they blighted ; has re-
peatedly brought on poor stocks — several thousands — lost them all
by leaf blight ; no hope of succeeding unless by underdraing.

Mr. Galusha— Commenced planting eight years since ; believes
serious obstacles exist to pear culture, but that by underdraining
and screening a revolution may be effected ; had some standard
trees winter-kill ; dwarfs do not blight ; have borne two or three
years.

Mr. Dunlap — His experience with dwarf and standard has been
adverse ; thinks there are localities in Southern Illinois where the
pear will succeed admirably, but not in the north, without under-
draining. A German in his vicinity planted two thick belts of forest
trees, in the centre of each left a space ; in one he planted a white
Doyenne pear tree, in the other a black Tartarian cherry ; both are
hardy ; now large trees and bear good crops ; do not start as early
as if the roots were not shaded. He (3D.) has a Buffum pear plant-
ed in 1844 on land not trenched; has never borne ; is now com-
mencing to blight ; has younger trees of Buffum and Flemish beau-
ty on ground trenched three feet deep sheltered by timber ; these
have borne satisfactory crops.

Mr. Phoenix — Knows one tree in Delevan, "Wisconsin, common-
ly called sugar pear, ripens in September ; was budded on apple
stock ; in planting out the bud was set several inches below the
surface, and the pear has thrown out new roots ; last season it bore
seven bushels of fine pears ; it stands on the brink of a basin ; sur-
face soil about two feet deep ; the subsoil loose white gravel, per-

341

fectly sheltered by balm trees and shrubbery ; appears perfectly
healthy ; other pear trees in same vicinity have succeeded tolerably
well.

Mr. Dunlap — Of one hundred and fifty varieties of apples in
nursery, the severe winter of 1855 found them all hardy where
protected ; believes this idea of tenderness of varieties will become
obsolete when our orchards and nurseries are protected.

Mr. Coleman, of McLean — Is not underdraining necessary ?

Mr. Kennicott — Does not deem protection desirable in Southern
Illinois ; believes orchards succeed best there in open exposures.

Mr. Dunlap — Has traveled considerably in Egypt ; from his own
observation and experience of others, would prefer shelter there.

Mr. Phoenix — Orchards in this vicinity invariably succeed best
when sheltered ; have never failed of a crop entirely.

Mr. Coleman, of McLean — "Would advise to dig deep holes at
the time of planting, and underdrain afterwards if unable at time
of planting.

Mr. Dunlap — We have plenty of native rapid growing trees,
which would very soon make excellent protection ; the addition of
evergreens would be very desirable, and they can now be had at
reasonable rates when wanted in quantity.

Mr. Dunlap — Stated that so impressed was he with the impor-
tance of underdraining and shelter for the pear, that he had not
yet planted a tree at Urbana, and should not till he could do it to
his satisfaction. It was much the same with all fruit trees ; there
was no denying that half the orchardsin the State were comparative-
ly worthless, because on undrained soil and in exposed situations.
He for one thought it was time the truth was told, and he did not
believe it would discourage the planting out of orchards.

Mr. Galusha — Expressed the same opinion, but he did not wish a
false impression to be conveyed to the public ; fine fruit, especially
apples, could be raised all over the west, even on undrained soil,
still, nothing would pay so well as attention to draining and pro-
tection.

Prof. Turner — In Morgan county no orchards are sheltered, and
yet they are the most profitable part of the farm. ~No doubt they
would be still more profitable if underdrained and sheltered ; they
are both desirable, but not in my opinion indispensable.

Adjourned till 2 o'clock P. M.

FOURTH DAY AFTERNOON SESSION.

Afternoon session met, pursuant to adjournment, Yice-President
Dunlap in the chair.

Resolved, That we recommend to every person -who plants an orchard on the prairies,
that he take measures to protect it by a belt of evergreens or deciduous trees.

Resolved, That we also recommend thorough underdraining, or a least, deep trench-plow-
ing, to alL who would do full justice to their trees in planting.

34:2

Resolved, Thatas a meansforthe development of the agricultural andhorticultural societies
of our State, we hail with the highest emotions of pleasure the effort now making at Wash-
ington to secure the passage of the bill commonly known as Morrill's bill.

The subject of the next meeting being under discussion, Prof.
Wilkins proposed Blooinington ; Mr. "Whitney named Dixon ;

after some desultory remarks JBloomington was unanimously

upon lor the next annual meeting, to be called by the President at

about this time of the year.

On motion ot Mr. Galusha, the President was authorized to fill
out committees and appoint officers to fill the board as provided
for in by-laws, also authorized to pay from the funds of the Society
any bills incurred by this meeting.

On motion, Messrs. Galusha, Edwards and Kennicott were ap-
pointed a committee to prepare a report of the proceedings of this
meeting for publication.

The resolution, Mr. Edwards, the Recording Secretary, states,
was lost or mislaid, and never came into his possession.

On motion of Mr. "Whitney,

Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be tendered to the citizens of Bloomington, for
the very kind manner in which the several members have been welcomed to the hospitalities
of their firesides. It is but another proof of the well known characteristics of the people of
the west, that they are always to be found with " their latch strings out."

On motion of Mr. Galusha, a vote ot thanks was tendered to the
proprietor of Phoenix Hall, for the gratuitous use of the room for
the lecture of Prof. Turner, on Thursday evening.

On motion of Mr. Bryant,

Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be tendered to the press of Bloomington, for
giving notice and publishing the proceedings of this convention.

Adjourned sine die, at 4 o'clock P. M. — closing the most inter-
esting meeting of horticulturists for discussions ever held in the
west.

C. E. OVERMAN, President.
Chakles Kennicott,
Samuel Edwards,

Recording.

APPENDIX

Your committee appointed to examine fruit respectfully report :

That the display, though limited in quantity, contained a large number of known varieties,
many of which were as fine specimens as we have ever seen. The collection exhibited by M.
L. Dunlap, from the orchard of K.jjK. Jones, Esq., was very fine, containing some twenty
varieties, (three or four of which we are not able to name) among which were beautiful
specimens, Esopus Spitzenburg, yellow bellflower, Newton pippin, winesap and English
russett. Two varieties we were unable to name, viz : a sweet apple, large and of good qual-
ity, resembling Belmont in external appearance, and "No. 2," a good sub-acid winter fruit.

343

Authur Bryant, of Princeton, exhibited a few choice specimens from his extensive and
well known orchards. Among these we notice large, showy samples of northern spy, good
in quality, though not equal to Roman stem, Jonathan and some others. Also, ladies' sweeting,
good, but not equal to book recommendations. Fine specimens of Jonathan werefound in this
collection. This is a most beautiful, high fiaTored,J.ong keeping fruit,- Mr. B. says, "a good
bearer, and deserving more extensive cultivation in the west than it has yet received." In.
this opinion your committee fully concur. The collection exhibited by Mr. Ingraham,
raised by Mr. Gilbreth, of Jefferson county, and A. J. Pearcy, of Centralia — among these
were numtrous specimens of Newton pippin, superior in size and external appearance to the
best samples of this fruit grown in Northern Illinois. We found here several varieties
which we were not able to identify — fine appearing fruits, probably of Southern origin.

Samples were also exhibited by Verry Aldrich, Esq., and Wm. M. Howell. In this latter
collection were specimens of a seedling, raised by Mr. Barker, of Clinton, which were voted
" good" by the committee and others who tasted it, and worthy of a further trial. We sub-
join a description :

Large, roundish, oblong; ends nearly equal, regular, stem short, often in a shallow, ir-
regular cavity, calix open in a rather deep faintly russeted basin ; fruit heavy ; general ap-
pearance light, mostly yellowish and yellowish green, with most of the surface covered with
light red stripes ; deeper red on side exposed to the sun ; flesh yellowish or with green
tinge, fine grained, quite juicy, with brisk, pleasant flavor.

- Mr. Howell says, the tree is upright in growth, hardy, and a regular bearer, "equal in
habit of bearing to Carthouse."

Mr. Overman brought in a basket of fruit grown near Bloomington, containing fine spe-
cimens of apples and pears, but they unfortunately came too late for examination.

There may have been other parcel: of fruit which were overlooked. The design of ex-
hibitors being not for displaj', but to have fruits tested or named, less care was taken in
their arrangement upon the tables than would otherwise have been. We would recommend
persons exhibiting fruits for examination to have each specimen labeled or numbered, that
committees may have something to refer to as designating the specimens which they may
wish to describe.

0. B. GALUSHA,
F. K. PHCENIX,
S. G. MINKLER,

Committee.

LIST OF HARDY SHRUBS, EVERGREENS AND PLANTS, FOR A SMALL YARD, RECOMMENDED BY
M. L. DUNLAP, COSTING $5 00.

1 Norway Spruce, 2 feet high.
1 White Pine, " " ..,

1 Snow Ball

1 White Spruce

1 Mountain Ash

1 Barberry

1 Persian Lilac

1 Wieglia Rosea

1 Japan Quince

$0 50
50
25
25
25
25
25
25
25

1 Double Red Pasonia...
1 Chinese Honeysuckle.

1 Red Rosa

1 Variegated Rose

1 Climbing Rose

1 White Phlox

1 Red "

Box and packing

$0 25
25
25
25
25
25
25
50

$5 00

APPLE CULTUKE IN ILLINOIS.

ADDRESS, BY ARTHUR BRYANT,

BEFORE THE STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, BLOOMINGTON, DECEMBER li, 1858.

It is my present object to make some remarks upon the obsta-
cles to the successful cultivation of the apple in this state, and as
far as I am able to suggest the means of their removal. So
numerous are these obstacles, that it cannot be expected that I
should, in the limits ot a short essay, do more than briefly discuss
some of the principal. The idea may suggest itself, at the outset,
that the greatest obstacle to success in the cultivation of the apple

344

is the ignorance and negligence of most of those who engage in it.
This may be true ; but the fact being admitted and the remedy ob-
vicus, it is needless to enlarge upon it here. It is by attending to
and discussing the minor difficulties, that the greater is to be re-
moved.

Among the enemies of the apple, insects hold a prominent place ;
and among insects the most destructive to young orchards in this state
is the borer. My horticultural friends are doubtless well acquainted
with this insect; but it is not for those who already know as much
or more than myself that I write. Many of those who plant trees
are, at the outset, scarcely if at all aware of the existence of such
an insect, and most are ignorant of the best methods of preventing
its ravages. Entomologists recognize the existence of many spe-
cies of the borer, and three are commonly destructive to the apple
tree in this state, while two or three more occasionally attack it.
The most destructive of these, and the only one mentioned in fruit
books, is that known as the apple borer. This insect, in its winged
form, is about three-fourths of an inch long, of a dark brown or
lead color, with a longitudinal white stripe on each wing and two
long, white antennae curving from its proboscis to its opposite ex-
tremity. It deposits its eggs at the collar of the trees during the
months of June, July and August. I have never been able to dis-
cover that it punctures the bark to deposit its eggs — in fact, I have
reason to think that it does not. The worm, when hatched, bores
through the bark, and for the remainder of the season feeds on the
wood immediately beneath it, penetrating deeper as the winter
approaches, and descending towards the root. The next summer
it bores the wood in different directions, and passes the second
winter in or near the heart of the tree. The following spring, the
worm now full grown, and about an inch long, changes to the
winged form, and emerges from the tree sometime in the month of
June, through a hole bored horizontally from the heart, usually
higher up the tree than where it entered. The ravages of this
insect may be prevented by surrounding the collar of the trees,
early in June, with leached ashes ; also, by an occasional appli-
cation of soft soap, lye or a solution of potash to the steins ot the
trees. The trees should be examined several times during the
summer, and the worms removed if any are found. Their pre-
sence may readily be known by the dust they throw out, and
during the first season they may be destroyed with a flexible wire
or the point of a knife. If they are too deep in the wood to be
reached by these, they may be killed by thrusting into the hole
a small pledget of cotton dipped in spirits of turpentine or cam-
phorated spirits, and plugging it with a piece of wood. A pint of
sulphur, a gallon of soft soap and tobacco water enough to make
the mixture of the consistence of paint, is said, if applied to the
trees in June, to insure their safety from the borer for the rest of
the season. I hope I may be pardoned for digressing here so far
as to remind some of my brother horticulturists that they may in

345

some such way make a much better use of their tobacco than by-
passing it through their own mouths, to say nothing of its being
more agreeable to their families and others who are compelled to
receive its odors at second hand.

The next species of borer of which I shall speak is, I believe,
commonly confounded with that above mentioned, but is really
different. In size and color it resembles the first, except that its
back and wings, instead of being striped, are curiously mottled
with white. It is, I think, the same which is found in the hickory
and other forest trees. As far as I have observed, it is seldom if
ever found in orchards remote from forests, while those near woods
are certain to be infested with it. This specious attacks only the
branches and stem of the tree at some distance from the ground. It
makes a slit in the smooth bark resembling the scratch of a cat, in
which it deposits its eggs. The time of its continuance in the tree
is the same as that of the first mentioned species. The same
washes will prevent its attacks, and after it has entered the tree it
may be destroyed in the same manner.

Another species is that sometimes called the bark borer, from
its feeding exclusively upon the cambium immediately beneath the
bark, never penetrating deeper into the wood except to pass the
winter. This species, I think, remains in the tree but one year.
I do not know the insect in its perfect form. The worm is smaller
than the preceding species ; its body is flattened, with the joint
next the head twice as broad as any other part ot its body. It
rarely, if ever, attacks apple trees, except where the smooth bark
is exposed to the full power of the sun, or has been otherwise ren-
dered unhealthy by bruising, laceration or injudicious pruning.
There are no external indications of its presence until after its work
has been accomplished. Its attacks may be prevented by the
washes above mentioned, and by protecting the stems from the
Bun. Young trees which are made to lean toward the north-east
by the prevailing south-west winds, are frequently attacked by
this insect on the south-west side, particularly if the stems are long
and naked. To prevent this trees in exposed situations should be
set leaning towards the south-west and allowed to form low heads.
Any young tree grown in an open situation will, if permitted, pro-
tect its stem with branches and leaves, and cultivators will do well
to take a lesson from nature in this respect.

The apple worm has, of late, taken a prominent place among the
insect enemies of the cultivator. Time was, not many years since,
when this pest was hardly known in our orchards. The past sea-
son almost the entire product of many was destroyed or greatly
injured by it. The worms are produced from the eggs deposited
by a kind of moth in the blossom end of the fruit, in June. The
best mode of checking their ravages is probably the destruction of
the worm-eaten fruit immediately after it falls, either by gathering
it up and feeding it to animals or by keeping swine in the orchard.
A neighbor of mine, who has, for the last two summers, adopted

—44

346

the latter practice, liad this year by far the best crop of apples in
that vicinity.

The worm leaves the apple soon after it falls and seeks the tree,
where it spins a cocoon, and winters in some place of conceal-
ment. Probably many of them might be destroyed by scraping
the trees in spring and washing them with strong lye or a solution
of potash. Small fires kindled in the orchard after dusk, in June,
are said — I know not with what truth — to attract and destroy
the moth, as well as other mischievous insects.

The fire blight, although less commonly fatal to the apple than
the pear tree, has, nevertheless, done much injury to the orchards
of this state. It is not my purpose, at present, to enlarge upon
this subject, about which so much has been said and written, and
the discussion of which has been so unsatisfactory, as far as practi-
cal results are concerned. Yarious causes of this disease have
been assigned, but nothing certain is yet known respecting its ori-
gin. Some eminent cultivators have strongly insisted that hot,
moist weather — showers, alternating with sunshine — is essential to
produce the disease ; but those who, in this state, have carefully
observed it, in its frequent recurrence, during the last fifteen years,
know well that here, at least, no such concatenation of circum-
stances is necessary for its development, but that at any time,
while the tree is growing — in spring, summer or autumn — in dry
and cool as well as in hot and moist weather — it may appear in ail
its virulence. Trees growing in all the different soils and expo-
sures of Northern Illinois have been affected by it. Certain local-
ities, it is true, have hitherto escaped ; an exemption for which no
satisfactory reason can be assigned. It attacks all the species of
the Pyrus family, as well as some kinds of forest trees, with which
they have no affinity. In most cases only the terminal shoots and
small branches of apple trees are affected by it, and they may then
be expected eventually to recover ; but where, as not unfrequently
happens, it attacks the trunk or large branches, it destroys the tree.

The remedy commonly proposed for this disease is cutting away
the affected branches down to the sound wood, and burning them.
In large orchards, and trees of considerable size, the application of
this remedy is simply impracticable; where it is not so, my own
experience leads me to consider it about as efficacious as the whisk
of a conjuror's wand. Accident or investigation and experiment
may, perhaps, disclose some effectual remedy. In the meantime,
we must bear its visitations as we best may. For three years past
it has scarcely appeared at all. It may, like some epidemics
among the human race, gradually die out and disappear.

Another difficulty in the way of apple culture arises from the
sudden and great vicissitudes of our climate, combined with the
stimulating richness of our soil. This branch of my subject, em-
bracing in its bearing the consideration of the hardiness of varie-
ties, and of different modes of propagation and cultivation, with
other matters, takes altogether too wide a range for the limits of

347

the present essay. I shall, therefore, content myself with making
a few desultory remarks. And first, I object to the disposition so
generally manifested, to make the effects of the late severe winters
a test of the hardiness ot varieties. Those who do so appear to me
to make the mistake — a great though a common one — of thinking
that a particular instance establishes a general proposition. If the
fact be established that the same degree of cold experienced during
those winters will, under ordinary circumstances, destroy certain
varieties, then, indeed, it is all right. But it would seem that an
examination of the lists of hardy, half hardy and tender varieties
made out by different cultivators is sufficient to convince any one
of the futility of such attempts at classification. I have seen no
two that agree. Some cultivators rank the Early Harvest, Porter,
Red Canada, American Golden Russet and Fallenwater or Fallen-
walder, as perfectly hardy — the Red Astracan, Fameuse and White
Winter Pearmain, as tender. Others consider the former as ten-
der and the latter as hardy. Probably there are scarcely half a
dozen varieties in general cultivation that would be considered
hardy by all. Even the Yellow Belleflower and Small Romanite
did not in all instances escape. Many other considerations might
be urged to the same effect; but these must suffice for the present.
I will close by proposing two or three subjects for the consideration
of my horticultural brethren. First, whether healthier and longer
lived orchards cannot be grown in the soil usually called barren
than on rich prairie. Whether it is good policy to stimulate young
orchard trees with manure, and whether nursery trees so stimula-
ted are as hardy as those grown without manure. And finally,
are young trees which make a very rapid growth during the first
season from the bud or graft ever afterward as hardy as those
which have grown more slowly at the outset I

ADDRESS, BY HON. M. L. DUNLAP,

BEFORE THE ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, AT BLOOMINGTON, ILL., DEC. 15, 1858.

Ladies and Gentlemen :

It is now two years since a few zealous horticulturists met at
Decatur to organize the State Horticultural Society. They were
buoyant with hope as the wide field of operations which lay in its
almost natural condition before them, gave promise that they would
have ample verge for their zealous, benevolent efforts. The wide
sweep of prairie, so tempting to the agriculturist, from its rich and
diversified surface, was fast coming under the hand of culture, and
new homes and new altars were being erected over its broad sur-
face. The iron horse was moving in his ponderous majesty in
various directions, awaking the long dormant echoes of the prairie,
which had been silent since the red man met his brother red man

348

in battle array, and the war whoop was stilled in death. Around
these thousands of new homes, the waving grain and the lowing
herds formed the chief feature and became the almost objects of
the care ot their owners. The landscape was cut into cultivated
fields or left to the herdsman. The few homes stood out in bold
relief against the horizon, with no back ground of tree or shrub to
break the sameness of the view — everywhere waved the luxuriant
grass or golden grain ; the lowing of herds or the shrill notes of the
steam whistle was the music to which labor paid its court.

It was to fill up this picture — to add the beautiful to the useful
— to make these new homes redolent of comfort — to clothe them
with vines and embower them amid the leafy treasures of the sylvan
wood ; to fill the orchard with fruits and the garden with vege-
tables, that the rosy hues of health might glow on the cheek of
youth and radiate the brow of labor. This was their task, and this
the object of their convocation ; to these purposes would they bend
their energies, and to these give the work of their hands. They
have now met again in council to sum up their progress and to
lay out work for the future. Their numbers have been augment-
ed and their prospects of success loom up brightly before them.

They have not been idle, but have laid the foundations of thou-
sands of monuments — not of crumbling sandstone — not of marble,
upon which the graver's chisel cuts the faint resemblance of fruit
or flower, but the living, growing monuments, with their leafy
treasures waving in the sunlight, through which the gentle zephyrs
of summer will nestle and whisper of hope and pleasure ; or the
more boisterous winds of winter stop to hold converse. From
these monuments shall come the robin's early carol, as the sun
sends his first greeting to flush the dawn of day ; his morning song
shall wake the sleeper when the bud is first swelled by the vernal
shower, and when earth's hibernation has yielded to the warm
glow of the sun as he climbs the southern sky.

What noble incentives to urge on the horticulturist to fill up the
vascular system of agriculture, to make all its ways pleasant and to
smooth down its rough corners, exerting a powerful influence for
good and noble ends. It has been said that horticulture is the
hand-maid of agriculture, but it is, in fact, a sister art, standing
high in the useful world, and also giving us rich lessons in the
beautiful. Horticulture has high claims on every tiller of the soil,
on every owner of a homestead, whether in country, city or vil-
lage, whether of a thousand acres of swelling prairie, a thousand
feet of city lot, a paved court or sunlit window.

How dreary and desolate the farmer's home, without the flowers,
the fruits and the grateful shade, which can only fill up and beau-
tify its surroundings. How bare his table when beef, pork and
cereals make up its catalogue of edibles; and what a little assist-
ance from the garden or orchard gives it zest and promotes a
healthier action on the human system.

It is not my purpose to lecture you on the importance of this

349

part of your rural duties, and occupy your time in proving what
you already know, but the calling of your attention to so valuable
a fact, is but taking another look at a thing beautiful in itself, and
is all the justification I shall urge in my defence.

There are several questions of paramount importance that should
receive our attention at this time and among those pertaining to
Pomology, there is none more deserving our attention than that of
protecting prairie orchards.

It is contended by many that the prairie soil is not adapted to the
growth of the apple, that most valuable of all the northern fruits,
and that the timber land is the only proper place for the orchard.
I have not been able to see the force and utility of this reasoning,
no further than this, in the fact that the adjacent wood breaks off the
severe winds and tempers it to the tender buds and blossomsin early
spring ; and here I think lies the great secret of apple culture — it
is in this very protection, We cannot all have timber land and
natural timber protection, and hence the question, can we grow
apples on the prairie ? assumes no small importance. To this I
answer, that the prairie soil offers advantages, as a general thing,
superior to the wood land, and in every respect equal thereto.

In the first place, the timber land offers no natural difference of
soil from that of the prairie. Some of it is high and rolling like
the high ridge of prairie, and both present an excess of clay, other
portions present the deep, friable soil of the common prairie ; the
one is annually burned <_ ver, and the ashes are lixivated by the
rains, while the fallen leaves and other debris of the woodland
slowly decay on the ground. Both of these soils contain the ele-
ments of a rapid growth of timber, and generally at the expense of
fruit. It is well known that the trees on the out edges of the
groves make a slower growth than in the body of the timber ; the
harshness of the atmosphere appears to be modified, and we enter,
as it were, a milder climate. Standing behind a single row of
trees on the praire, one can easily appreciate the difference of tem-
perature ; the wind comes sifting through the branches and is. di-
vested of its rawness. What then would be the effect of a closely
planted belt of trees six rods in width ? Its effects must prove
magical, not only upon the growth of the orchard, but in protect-
ing the young germ from damage by storms of wind and rain when
in infloresence ; by protecting the young fruit from sudden changes
which so often prove fatal to the crop ; by preventing the half grown
and matured fruit from being blown from the trees — thus making
windfalls of what should mature for use. In fact, I look upon this
matter of timber protection as the keystone, in the success of fruit
culture in our prairie orchards.

What trees shall we plant? The cottonwood is the most rapid
of growth and the easiest of propagation, and when orchards have
been set some years will prove valuable for this purpose. As it
grows readily from cuttings, all that is required is clean culture
and the cuttings put out in April or May. The soft maple and

350

white ash of our groves and timber bottoms are valuable ; they
grow readily from seeds, are easily transplanted, and make valu-
able timber and firewood. The silver leaf maple and European
larch are both rapid growers and invaluable for this purpose,
Among evergreens the American arbor vitge is probably the best,
from its rapid and dense growth and cheapness of plants. These
I would intersperse among the deciduous trees to give them a more
cheerful winter look, but my main dependence would be on the
ash, maple and larch. The Norway spruce, with its perfect sym-
metry of form and graceful foliage, waving and bending to the
touch of the rude blast, presenting a protection as impenetrable as
the most closely boarded palisade, is of the greatest value, not only
to the eye that appreciates the beautiful, but holds no second place
either on the lawn or in the planted screen. The family of pines,
when in masses cannot fail to please the eye, but for screens and
orchard protection is second to the arbor vitce or Norway spruce.
Our native red cedar, that so delights to fill up the bleak places
along our river banks, is of great value for screens, as its hardiness
is a matter beyond dispute, and its closeness of foliage enables it to
shut out the winter blasts ; this should place it high in your es-
teem. The maple and ash are grown in seed beds one year and
then transplanted in rows like corn and cultivated until they shade
the ground. A belt of these four to six rods wide would com-
pletely protect the orchard, and would more than pay all the expenses
of culture for timber and fuel. In the New England states, the
cutting away of the forests has so changed the climate that the fruits
so abundant under their protection, have become more and more
uncertain as the woodland recedes from them; and it is now pro-
posed, and in fact, already found profitable to grow the larger
fruits in tubs under glass, upon the plan adopted in England. I
say profitable only in a limited sense, for the superiority of the
fruit, its freedom from insects, make it command a larger price to
be placed on the tables of the rich. But this glass house culture
will never do for the masses, and if depended upon would sadly
disappoint their expectations. Apples at six dollars a barrel and
pears at fifteen would be beyond their reach.

We are now in the condition of the New England states, our
timber protection is wanting, and until we make up the deficiency,
we must be content with the present uncertainty of the crops, or
build glass houses. I have always been an admirer of the beau-
tiful prairie, and delight to see the gentle zephyrs kiss the waving
blades that clothe its ample sweep. I almost worship the groves
assacred, that lielike islands uponitsbosom of sea-like verdure. But
when I see the hand of man planting the forest that will soon make
stately lines or clumps of sylvan growth, there arises a sort of de-
votion— a looking up through nature to a higher power, who has
given us such lessons and endowed man with the perceptions and
power to modify the climate, and by art to change the normal com
dition of the material world. Do we find the native fruit upon

351

high swells of prairie ; upon bleak, unprotected ridges of woodland ;
in the skirts of the groves beyond the protection of the under-
growth, or do we find the grape thrusting itself into open space
beyond the leafy canopy of its protecting tree ? Most assuredly
not. But we find them in the river bottoms, under the umbrage-
ous protection of giant oaks, elms, linn, maple and sycamore — in
cozy dells, where the wind sscarcely wave their leaflets — on the
edges of the groves, closely surrounded by a body guard of hazel,
matted with shrubs and vines, secure from the intrusion of the blast.

Shall we be wise ? Shall we look to the value of the artificial
forests ? Shall we choose the proper aspect and place for the or-
chard, and then follow the unerring rules adopted by the Great
Giver, to insure a rich return for our labor ? When we shall have
done this, we shall have accomplished more than a supply of fruit
with all its train of blessings ; for these belts of timber will rob the
atmosphere of its deadly malaria, and the roseate hues of health
will not blanch beneath the kiss of the summer zephyrs.

You do not place your hot- beds exposed to the bleak winds of
March, where its genial heat is robbed by the keen blast. You
seek some warm, cozy corner, with a generous, open front to the
sun, closely protected from all intruding wind. Why not give your
orchard the same protecting care, especially when that care is more
than repaid in other advantages. I need not repeat to you cases
where incidental protection kas shown the great value of the rule,
for you will readily call to mind such isolated cases as will set you
to consider the great value of protection.

Some one asks which side of the orchard most needs this pro-
posed belt of artificial forest ? I will reply that, in general terms,
all sides need it ; but, most of all, the south and west. An eastern
aspect is most desirable, from the fact that the morning sun is less
injurious to the tree, as it is soon bathed in a warm atmosphere,
provided that the wind is not allowed to carry off the diurnal heat.
Towards sunset the earth begins to cool, and it then becomes desi-
rable that in winter the heat be withdrawn from the naked branch-
es so that they may gradually cool off, and not receive that sudden
check which a southern or western aspect would give them. The
object of an eastern aspect, then, is to withdraw the sun from the
naked branches an hour or two before it sets, and this end can be
obtained by a belt of timber as well as by the interposition of an
intervening ridge of land. The east side of the orchard is the least
exposed to danger, from the fact that the temperature of the east
wind is more uniform, and being generally the precursor of rain,
is quite temperate, even in winter ; but no sooner does it change to
the west, than we experience a sudden change of temperature, and
hence the necessity of doubly guarding the west and southwest av-
enues of the orchard.

I hold that it is not the extreme low temperature that so seri-
ously affects our fruit, as in the sudden changes produced by our
variable continental climate. To guard against this change, nature

352

lias given us the means, and has set us examples in profusion how-
to use them.

We will now change the subject, and turn our attention to the
value of varieties. And here our first inquiry leads us back to the
last theme, and we are led to the inquiry, how many of the tender
sorts would prove tender and indifferent bearers if protected as I
have before intimated 1 I apprehend that many of our favorites
would be called back to our grounds and be firmly restored to fa-
vor. In the winter of '55-6, when one wide sweep of destruction
laid dead most of the orchard trees north of the Big Muddy, it so
depressed the hopes of the orchardists that they have not regained
sufficient confidence to replant, only on a limited scale. But over
this wide sweep of desolation there remains many evidences of the
passing by of the destroying angel. It is true that some varieties
escaped with less protection than others, but with few exceptions,
all suffered more or less. One of my neighbors had a fine orchard
of the Milam, which stood on an eastern slope, and sheltered by a
heavy forest on the east; nearly every tree was killed to the ground
and none of them have borne since. In fact, the destruction was
complete. In one of my orchards was three bearing trees of the
Milam ; two of these were protected on the west and south by a
thicket of peach, and beyond that a grove of Locust. These two
trees bore a fair crop of fruit the following season. The other tree
was protected on the west, but not on the south, and was seriously
injured. Out of over fifteen hundred orchard trees, containing
over one hundred and fifty varieties, the same result was most
marked and apparent. The Holland Pippin, Early Harvest, Red
June, Greening, Twenty-ounce Pippin, Red Gilliflower, Milam,
Sweet Bough, English Russett, and many others stood well under
the lea of a locust grove and bore fair crops the next season, but
where exposed, were more or less damaged, and failed to produce
fruit, while most of them have since died. Keswick Codlin, Rawles
Janet, Stannard Winter Russet, Ramsdell's Sweet, Tewksbury
Blush, New York Vandevere, Winesap, Fameuse, Summer Rose,
Cooper, and a few others stood well under the exposure, and pro-
duced a fair crop, but even these bore better when partially pro-
tected. Baldwin, Esopus Spitzenburg, Spicesweet, Fall Pippin,
Rambo, Fallowater, were killed under every aspect. A neighbor,
whose orchard was protected on all sides by natural and artificial
groves, sold over a thousand bushels of fruit the following season,
and the protection on the east side was by a single line of locusts
planted a rod apart ; the soil was prairie.

The Cherry has almost become a matter of history in prairie Po-
mology. It has not been able to stand the non-protection system,
and like the iron interest, needs home protection, that it may flour-
ish and take deep root in our — for it — almost too rich soil. The
Early May and Early Richmond, out of a large list, are nearly the

353

only varieties left. Let us try them within our magic circle of ar-
tificial forests, and see if they will not be called back to life.

The queen of fruits, the Peach, has receded south on its way
back to its own sunny home, and of late we have to look among
the mountains and hills of lower Egypt to find tl^is, one of the rich-
est gifts of Pomona. Shall we not bring it back and plant it on
our northern exposures and within the forest belt, that the sudden
changes of our winter and the driving rains of spring shall not chill
its buds or dash the ready pollen from the opening flowers.

THE PEAR.

The subject of Pears and Pear culture has occupied much time
of our Pomological Solons, and volume has been piled upon vol-
ume until we are nearly lost in a fog of Pear literature, more over-
powering than the smoke from a thousand gun battery, and still
we are but upon the threshhold of the inquiry, so far as its culture
on our prairies is concerned.

Thus far the subject has been divided and sub-divided ; high
heads, low heads, and in many cases, no heads at all, except a bare
show of fruit spurs. Again, Dwarf and Standard have each had
their advocates, and a warm debate has been, and is still carried on
between the friends and advocates of either system. In addition
to this, those parties have again been subdivided into advocates of
certain stocks. The Quince, the Mountain Ash, the Native Thorn,
the Apple, the Choke Pear, and our best Table Pear.

I shall not consider it my duty to take sides in this Pear war,
nor would I advise our orchardists to do so, as our Eastern friends
are entitled to this sort of exercise by pre-emptive right. They
have marched and countermarched, not only under the walls of
Bunker Hill, along the classic Connecticut, up the Hudson, over
the Shoales of Onondaga, through the great valley of the Genes-
see, around the head ot the lake where Buffalo holds the keys of
Commerce, along the line of lakes to Cleveland, and thence to the
Queen city of the West. The smoke of their guns has so befogged
these battalions that it is impossible to get at the results, and fur-
ther than this, that in the attempt of these valiant champions to
supply the million with cheap Pears — aye, with luscious Pears,
that should prove to them that the last best giit of Pomona was re-
served for these latter days. The price has been reduced to six
dollars a dozen, and in some cases, as low as fifteen dollars per
barrel, at wholesale.

Until they have achieved better results, I fear the honest poor
will never have the pleasure of tasting the melting richness of those
special gifts of our goddess. But, allow me to say in this connec-
tion, that the Pear, whether Dwarf or Standard, should be planted
within our belt of Sylvan beauty. Its early blossoms, so sensitive
to vernal frost, needs that this protecting mantle be spread over
them to guard them from the wayward atmosphere. Lovers of
fine, melting Pears, may I ask you to plant this fruit, both in the
orchard and on the deeply spaded lawn, both Standard and Dwarf?
—45

354

See that they are not exposed to the rude blast, for remember they
are not oaks nor willows that will bear harsh usage, but the deli-
cate organism of this tree, particularly, requires that it receive your
most constant care, and when thus treated, I have great confidence
that in very many^arts of our widely diversified State, this deli-
cious fruit will be found entitled to our high consideration.

SHOW OF FRUITS.

In looking upon your tables, my eyes rest on fine specimens of
your pomonal products — specimens of which you may well feel
proud, notonlyas a proof of our fertil esoil, of our sunny skies, which
must endow all with ample proof that we may proudly claim this
land — this broad sweep of prairie — as the favorite seat of horticul-
tural and pomonal progress.

But the growers of this fine fruit are here, or least we have evi-
dence of the aspect, the protection, location, amount of sun and
shade that had been used to produce such fine specimens of growth,
and upon inquiry nearly all* of it has been grown within and pro-
tected by belts or groves of forests. That fine lot from Adams
county was grown under the protection of the pines that beautify
and embellish the home of my friend Jones, while they were kissed
by the summer sun, and their crude juices elaborated to gratify the
palate, and their outer rinds pencilled up with colors beyond the
painter's art. Those fine, orb-like apples, from the swelling slopes
of pomonal Egypt, have been grown under the protecting eagis of
the forest verdure, that waves its wand like sympathies over their
pomonal wards.

UNDERDRAWING

Is undoubtedly a great aid in orchard culture, but the pomolo-
gist has but half performed his task when his grounds are under-
drained and his trees planted ; his next work is to plant that belt
of sylvan beauty that is to act like a girdle of warmth in protecting
his trees from sudden changes of temperature. The underdrains
will perform that service to the soil which the belt of wood does to
the atmosphere, correcting its excesses and promoting an equable
condition of heat and moisture.

THE GARDEN.

The same general rules apply with the same force to the garden,
and both orchard and garden should be deeply plowed, and well
rotted manure mixed with the soil, except in the few cases where
mulching is desirable, and even then I would prefer well rotted
manure for the purpose. Deep and thorough culture, both in gar-
den and orchard, is to my mind, what we want, while mulchingis
but a feeble substitute, and is only admissible with newly planted
trees. When the shade of trees is sufficient to prevent the growth
of weeds and grass, the falling leaves will supply the place of ma-
nure, and as the ground cannot be baked by the sun or beat down
with heavy rains the stirring of the soil is of less value.

355

THE SsrALL FRUITS.

The small fruits, such as strawberries, gooseberries, currants,
blackberries and raspberries, have not received the attention that
their great value should have commanded. They belong to our
more immediate home surroundings and should come under the
more direct superintendence of our female friends. Not that we
expect they would spade up or plow the ground, but that they shall
have the general supervision of them, to say where, when, and
how many shall be planted, and in the setting, pruning, tying up
and picking, they may, with great profit to their health and pleas-
ure to themselves, lend a helping hand. It is these small favors
that give value to the rural meal, partaken of under the influence
of healthy exercise, and it is these that give us a stronger love of
home, because they add to our happiness, not only in their culture
but in their use. They may well be called preserves, for they pre-
serve and protect our appetites from seeking less congenial food,
and they preserve our love of home — our love to those whose fair
hands prepare them for the table and present them to minister to
our health and gratification.

When Spring shall again swell the buds on yonder grove, let us
see the husbands, wives, sons and daughters, enter in sylvan re-
treats and return laden with rich spoils of blackberries, raspberries
and other native fruit, to be planted and cultivated beside others
that must come from the nurseries. To those whose home is far
out upon the prairie, a day spent in the quiet retreat of these wood-
ed aisles, listening to the sweet songs of the feathered warblers,
will implant a wish to entice them to your prairie home, where
they will give you music, free as the zephyrs that kiss the waiving
leaflets of your golden grain. Plant the leafy treasure about your
garden, your house and your orchards and you shall not only have
songs to cheer you at your toil, but you shall have busy helpers to
protect you from the thousand insects that prey upon your field
crops, your garden vegetables and your fruits. Would you be
grateful for labors performed, for unrequited favors, freely lavish-
ed, plant trees, in whose branches your feathered friends will rear
their young and from which they will send you delicious strains of
music.

If you do not wish your grown up sons and daughters to stray
off into far off lands, when the scramble for gold, for power or for
place, stirs up all the worst passions of our nature — if you wish
them to settle down in the midst of social privileges, surrounded
by warm friends, make your home attractive and set them the ex-
ample of rational and refined enjoyment, teach them the love of
flowers, the appreciation of the beautiful in nature and art, draw
them around the altar of home, surrounded by the living symbols
of native beauty.

We have a country rich in its boundless wealth of products,
smoothed out into vast fields by the plastic hand of the Great Giv-
er, drained by the winding furrows first planned by the Almighty,

356

into which he ordered the waters to take their courses, and upon
whose banks he planted the leafy treasures of his fostering care.
The genius of man has plowed the bosom of our rivers with his
fleets of commerce, it has laid the iron way over the teeming prai-
rie and put us in near communion with the great mart of the world.
Our State stands high among the corn exchanges where the toiling
millions seek their food. They cast their eyes westward and ex-
claim : "Illinois ! Illinois ! What happiness her citizens must en-
joy amid such lavish abundance of cereal wealth." But they do not
know we are the slaves to commerce ; that we worship sections
and quarter sections ; that we rear an idol of broad acres and grasp
after a phantom that brings us disappointment; that we have look-
ed beyond the sacred precincts of home for that enjoyment which
is alone found within its borders. Too many of our homes stand
out in bold relief, marking their outlines against the winter sky,
and receiving the shock of chilling frosts sent from the vast store-
house of his Hyperborean majesty. Of what value this cereal
wealth; this land-worship; this slavery to the potent dollar; this
blanching of the cheek by honest toil; this neglect of home and
its surroundings, that should bring us health and happiness ; have
we not changed that order which gives us eight hours for labor,
eight hours for recreation and eight hours for sleep ? Is it not rath-
er our first duty to provide for the comfort and pleasure of our fam-
ilies, that we may grow rich in the love of country, — in the love of
home, around which should cluster our dearest sympathies ?

The various insects, so contemptible in themselves, yet when
arrayed as they sometimes are, in countless numbers, make no in-
significant enemy, and at which we are sometimes almost appalled,
should receive more of our attention. The study of Entomology
should be encouraged so as to enable us to know our enemies from
our friends, as it is well known that among insect life, there are
many that aid us in keeping down those that are bent on mischief.
We should thus be enabled to draw a line between them so as al-
ways, to distinguish the bad from the good.

The alkalies and acids are both injurious to insect life, and both
make valuable fertilizers. Is it not, therefore, possible that with
these acids we can make successful war on these destructive hordes,
and at the same time increase the growth of our plants.

The Chinch Bug, the Hessian Fly, the Bark Louse, the Wolly
Aphis, the Borer, and an almost endless variety of depredators,
prey upon our trees and our field crops ; while in early spring oth-
ers as ruinous commence to eat out the germ of the newly planted
seeds, or destroy the first shoots of the plants. We must look
these things in the face and learn to check their ravages ; it will
not do to let them come when they will, eat what they choose and
leave at their good pleasure. The Curculio which has ravaged
our plums, our nectarines, and threatens with destruction our en-
tire peach crop, has scarcely been met upon the threshold of his
victories. A few coops of chickens have been put in array against

357

him and he has been jarred from his perch ; but he swarms in in-
creased numbers, and bids the laggards in practical Entomology
defiance. Was he followed up with dose after dose of acids and
alkalies, shook down into Dr. Hull's inverted wheel-barrow um-
brella, while the morning sun is drinking up the dews, think you,
would he not succumb to such energetic practice ?

The vegetable garden ! How we rejoice when we enter its hal-
lowed bounds of health-giving food ! Huge Beets, Carrots, Tur-
nips, Onions, Cabbages, etc., rich with the ripened hues of autumn,
ready to be garnered into the cellar to minister to our wants while
the earth performs her hibernation and no longer yields her boun-
ties. But when overrun with weeds, or the autumn grasses, among
which we find a few starved plants, faint evidence that the spring
visited the spot, and that the guardian spirit which rules the farmer
has been off duty — playing the laggard — and by sad, unwarranted
neglect, made the most valuable part of the farm a barren waste.

Allow us for a moment to consider the flower garden, that bright
gem that, like a guardian angel, binds the household by its secret
bonds of beauty. Are we not all lovers of the beautiful? We
may worship at the shrine of wealth, we may pay tribute to fame,
but we bow down in humble adoration to beauty. What is a farm
house without flowers ? Of what value is its surroundings, if flow-
ers— vernal flowers, summer flowers and autumn flowers form not
a part of the fitting % It is like the blasted pine on the mountain's
side, alone in its desolation, and without the hope of again having
its head clothed in verdure, an emblem of awe, of blasted hopes or
the want of energy. Plant flowers — they will repay your care in
love, in an enlarged idea of the Great Giver, and when you bend
from toil they will breathe sweet odors that shall repay you for all
their care.

Our good friends, the birds, should partake of our bounty, and
be protected in their rights. They destroy hundreds of insects, of
larva and of catterpillars daily, and were it not for them the insect
tribes would rob our orchards of their foliage, our shade trees of
their beauty, and our fields of a large part of their products. It is
true that they sometimes take a little toll, but it is when they have
exhausted our insect enemies, or that we fail to plow up the grubs
upon which they should make their daily meals. Did you ever
know the Black-bird to pull up your corn after the plow commenc-
ed turning up the fresh soil, whence its keen eye would seek out
the grubs, its more favorite food ? See with what confidence they
follow after you in early spring, as you turn up the soil for your
summer crops of corn and oats. Would it not be better to feed
them than to hunt them down — to plant groves for their protection
than to drive them away? I know your answer will be in the af-
firmative. What music there is in the Eo bin's early carol, as the
hues of morning first paint their faint outlines on the gates of day,
and before the sun has shed his glories over the earth just arousing
from her winter sleep ! To you whose homes are embowered in

358

trees and climbing vines, and who are daily greeted with, bird mu-
sic, richer than that which flows from reed or tortured string, you
can fully appreciate the value of their labors in your behalf. But
to those whose morning music is only the shrill clarion notes of the
rough throated Shanghai — to them we would appeal, to them we
would urge the rights and privileges of our feathered friends.

In conclusion, I would ask, do we need more unanswerable ar-
guments to convince us that though nature has been so lavish in
soil and climate throughout the length and breadth of our noble
State, that there is left for us a duty — call it an art, if you please —
to finish as may be required for our use and comfort, the great vas-
cular system of nature that is mapped out in such magnificent beau-
ty before us. It is most evidently our duty to complete the pic-
ture. The Great Giver has left this to the proud and far-seeing
genius of man, and why should he not bring his energies to the
task and thus show his appreciation and love of that power which
has placed him but a little lower than the angels.

PLOWING AND DKAINAGE.

ADDRESS, BY PROF. J. B. TURNER,

BEFORE THE STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, AT BLOOMINGTON, DECEMBER 16, 1358'.

In discussing the subject of plowing and draning there are of
course three items to be considered —

1. The power required and used.

2. The implements required and used.

3. The work done and its effects.

I. THE POWER.

Philosophy is more and more clearly revealing to us that there
really is, in nature, and can be, but one and the same original foun-
tain and source of all power, all motion, all force, and all growth:
mineral, vegetable and animal, in the material world, just as there
is but one great original source of power in the spiritual world,
namely, the spirit of God, and what the spirit of God is in the
world of mind, this same great all-pervading and all-controlling
force of nature which continually flows from the bosom of the suiT,
is to the world of matter.

This mysterious "vis natura" or " force of nature," as the Latins
called it, call it a force, a power, an ether, an aura, or what you will,
if it be, as many now suppose, an unity, or even if manifold in its
original form, is still the sole moving and producing power of the
natural world, though infinitely various in its phenomena and op-

359

orations, as it strikes our senses and reveals itself tons through the
infinite effects which it produces ; and to it we have given various
names conforming to those several effects on sense.

As it glances or undulates from the bosom of the sun through
the unimpeded and infinite void above and around us, wTe call it
light; as it strikes against the atmosphere and dashes and regurgi-
tates against and through the solid matter of our globe, we call it,
from its new effects, heat; as it leaps in streams and sheets of living
fire from cloud to cloud, as it runs along our metalic rods and con-
ductors, as it bears our messages and our thoughts over continental
wastes and through ocean depths, as it dances around and within
every flying cloud and every solid atom of our very bones, we call
it electricity / as it grasps suns, systems, worlds and atoms with
equal ease, and whirls them along in their endless dance around
their axes and their centres, binds them in solid ponderous worlds,
spheres and masses, or explodes them into invisible gases, we call
it attraction, gravitation, cohesion, repulsion, magnetism, polarity,
&c, &c. ; as it gathers inert matter and elaborates it into the my-
riad forms of vegetable and animal life, flying, swimming, glancing
and leaping with joy and gladness through ocean, air and earth,
we call it the phenomena of life and growth, animal life, vegeta-
ble life, &c, &c. But everywhere, at all times and in all places,
in all motions, arts, interests, and processes, artificial and natural,
it is the one and sole source of action, motion and power, at once
the ever-present right hand and the natural symbol and image of
the great and invisible God.

But what has all this to do with plowing and draining ? Much
every way. First, because it is really by the power alone that we
drive our plows whether we use men, animals, water, wind, or
steam, as the means or agents through which this force is appro-
priated. And second, because it is this same force alone, that
makes it of any use to plow, for on its laws all growth and all re-
production, as well as all motion depends.

The man who plows and plants, therefore, according to the laws
of this all- pervading, all-controlling force, plows and plants with
the laws of nature, (yea, the entire whole of nature, from the sun
downwards), and the laws of God favoring and co-operating with
him, and he must succeed. But the man who plows or plants con-
trary to the laws of this force, plows and plants against nature, and
against God too, and if nature still exists, and God still lives, he
must fail, and fail too in precise proportion to his error, be it more
or less. True, it would be bad enough to undertake to fight either
God or nature alone, with a plow-share, but to attack them both at
one and the same time is surely a most hopeless task. ~No steam
plow even can come off victorious in such a contest, and yet we
have had thousands of mules, two before the plow and one behind
it, toiling at such hopeless work for ages. But we have heard no
shouts of triumph going up as yet.

I make these brief prefatory remarks, with no design of scientific

360

disquisition, and no pretence to scientific accuracy, which would
require volumes rather than an essay. But mainly to impress more
fully upon the minds of all, the vast importance of the knowledge of
material and natural laws, in all human interests and enterprises ;
and the full application of the great law of forces to the simple art
of plowing will be found at last one of the most abstruse and diffi-
cult, as well as the most elevating and beneficent of all human sci-
ences and all arts. The proper construction and use of the plow
involves an infinitely wider range of knowledge and of cost, than
that of the steamship or the man of war, or ot the specific factory
or machine shop.

In regard to the power to be used or rather the agents to be
employed in connecting the plow with this great fountain of all
motion and all power, it would seem more naturally to be either
animal, steam or atmospheric, in the present state of our arts,
though the galvanic or electric forms or some other agency may
be tried in future, and found to supersede all others.

The only question here is which of these several agencies will
most economically attach the plow to this great " vis natura" of
all power, or in better words apply this all-moving force to the
plow.

In all cases the economy of the power or agent will of course
depend upon its relative cost and the cost of its hourly consump-
tion ; and its consumption may be measured with sufficient accuracy
by estimating the value or cost of the oxygen consumed in the
process, as in all these cases alike heat or consumed oxygen is the
real moving power. For example, we put coal and wood under
our steam boilers, and with this as a fuel a certain given amount
of oxygen is consumed and an equivalent amount of heat or of this
" universal moving power" is generated and brought into service.
Just so we put, instead of wood and coal, hay, oats, corn, &c,
into the toilers or stomachs of our horses and mules, and in there,
too, by a process of consumption precisely analagous, a certain
amount of oxygen is consumed and an equivalent amount of heat,
or of this same all-moving power, is generated, and the muscular
force of the animal, as well as the force of the engine, is in precise
proportion to the amount of this heat generated. True, we call it
in one case heat from fire, and in the other case animal heat, but
it is all the same thing in fact: simple heat — the probable moving
power in some of its forms and influences — not simply of boats,
machines andplows, but of clouds and storms, rivers and cataracts,
oceans and worlds, suns and atoms. So if there is a dignity in
world-making there, is a kindred dignity in world-plowing, too,
regarding merely its alliance with this great force of forces.

Now it has, to my mind, seemed for a long time self-evident that
on these smooth prairies, we should at last find means to evolve a
given amount of this heat or moving power out of the coal beds with
which a wise and benign Providence has everywhere underlaid
our farms, cheaper than we can possibly get it out of our crops of

361

hay, corn and grain. I have for years considered this only a ques-
tion of time; and to hasten and shorten the time, if possible, I
seconded Mr. Murray's proposition by subscribing $500 towards a
fund of $50,000 some years ago, though I could but ill afford the
outlay.

But at the trial of plows at Decatur, I was indeed rejoiced to
find that John Fawkes had alone practically solved this greatest
of all agricultural problems by constructing an engine, at a cost of
not more than $2,500, and with a consumption of one bushel of
coal and one and a half barrels of water per hour, which is capable
of doing the entire work on a field of wheat, (on tolerable ground)
plowing, sowing, rolling, cutting, stacking and threshing it at the
rate of one acre per hour for the entire process.

In addition to this, it will do all other kinds of plowing and
seeding, raking and loading, cutting and shocking corn, cutting
stalks, hay and straw for fodder, grinding grain and apples, &c>
sawing all kinds of wood and lumber, making ridges for fences and
roads, dragging the mole drainer all over our lands and running
our title deeds down from three inches to three feet depth per acre;
and when it has done its day's work, it will trot home or into town,
over any good, ordinary road, with ten tons of grain, goods or lum-
ber on its back.

Here is not only a new power for the plow, or more strictly,
a new application of the old and only power, the power of heat so
called, but it is a new cycle — a new era in the history of agricul-
ture— an improvement that will more than double the intrinsic
value of every acre of prairie land on which it can be successfully
run and worked. And I repeat what I have once before said, on
another occasion, that if the John Faust of olden time deserves
the thanks of the race for giving to the million printed books to
read, the John Fawkes of our time will in future be deemed scarcely
less deserving for thus speeding the plow and giving the same
million bread to eat,
put into their hands.

But some have feared that that new machine would prove only
another monopoly for the rich, and throw the poor or the moderate
farmer under still greater disadvantages than before. But this
cannot be ; for a machine that can be made for $2,500 can be
bought by any one or two young men of good character, without
capital, and run from farm to farm to do job work, at low prices,
as our threshing machines now do, and though thus cheapening
bread or, more properly, because thus cheapening bread, for that
very reason benefiting the whole class of the poor far more than it
will the rich. In short I have said that this invention marked a
cycle, a new age in the history of man, mainly because it brings
the full blessing of the power of steam down not only to every
field and farm, but down to every man's door, thus finishing,
completing and crowning this great boon of God to man with its
final use and its crowning glory.
—46

l

362

And. I believe that the men are now born, yea, and here pre-
sent, who will live to see not only all kinds of plowing, sowing,
planting, ditching, dyking, shoveling and carting; boring, fencing
and well digging; reaping, corn cutting and shocking; potato and
root digging ; stacking, loading or pitching and unloading; sawing,
threshing and cutting and grinding fodder, hedge trimming, &c,
&c, done by steam, and done in a hurry and to profit, but we shall
see all sorts of vehicles, from the single sedan of the physician or
the lone rider to the twenty and fifty horse power team, laden
with products and goods, running all over our level prairies on any
tolerable road, driven either by steam or atmospheric power. The
latter, probably, for all drafts under a five horse power, and the
former for the greater powers, at least for the present.

It may not be known to all that every needful item of machinery
for all these varied uses has been already invented and put into
actual operation, so that for each process the work is already done,
with the single exception of applying the power, which Fawkes'
new engine renders so simple and easy, that the final grand result,
the millenium of farmers, cannot long be delayed. And this will
tend more efficiently and mightily than millions of sermons re-
peated through millions of Sabbaths, without any such great provi-
dential aid, to usher in the still higher millenium of Christ and of
God. For it is God's own right hand of power, supplying his
children with natural bread, preparatory to the final gift of that
spiritual bread that comes down from heaven, the one proceeding
by natural the other hy spiritual law — the one indispensable to the
life that now is, the other to that which is to come, but both equally
from God — giver, benefactor and father of all.

From these general hints my ideas of the power of the plow and
and the drain can be gathered without more words. I pass, there-
fore, to the second point.

II.---THE IMPLEMENTS EEQTriKJID AND USED.

Time forbids me to speak of all the various modes of working
the soil which have been used in this and other countries, such as
spading, forking, harrowing, clod breaking, scarifying, &c, &c,
by hand or by machines ; but I must confine myself simply tothe
plow, and notice some of its defects as now used.

The great improvement in our plows over and above the com-
mon plows of the world, and especially the great advance made by
our ingenious mechanics upon the old Asiatic or Mexican plow or
" tree-fork," is a matter of gratitude and admiration to civilized
man. But it has been wholly in one direction, and to one single
end : namely, the amount of soil moved and ease of draft. The
whole problem has been, with the least amount of force to simply
invert the greatest possible amount of soil. But any one who has
even a slight acquaintance with this great law of force of which I
have spoken, as it exhibits itself in the phenomena of vegetable
growth, must at once see that this is only one part, and a small

363

part too, of the great whole of plowing, or of ameliorating a soil
and preparing it for a crop : for disintegration and draining, not
simply inversion, is what our soil really needs to make it in the
highest degree productive. But these keen, bright steel plows
simply invert the furrow, leaving great masses of the soil, especially
on the surface, in great clods or lumps, to lie and dry and harden
in the sun, as totally useless and unfit for any purpose of vegetable
nutrition as so many loads of stones or brickbats. Nay, they are
not as good as so many brickbats, for they have not the same power
to extract moisture and gasses from the air ; they are, in such a
state, simply the most useless of all trash that could be spread over
the surface of the earth, not excepting clubs and stones of the same
size. It is true, these clods will at last melt down in the rains and
become manageable and useful to the crop. But, meantime, all
the nutritious matter that was in them of a gaseous origin has es-
caped into the air, while many other ill effects have happened to
the soil, to be noted hereafter. It is true also, that by going over
again with a roller, these clods may be pulverized and reduced to
use ; but this requires so much extra labor and travel with team
and hands that it is certainly seldom done. This is certainly one
great defect in our present plow that needs a remedy, and must
"have one.

Clods, great and small, on the suface prevent the absorption of
heat, that great moving force of all growth in the early part of the
season, when it is so much needed ; and so do all open spaces if
confined, or free air under the surface.

When it rains these clods above and the open spaces below re*
tain a great quantity of surplus water within therri, and around
them, not needed by the soil, especially in the spring, which water
remains, to soak slowly away, or to be carried off by evaporation
from the heat of the sun, in both cases alike abstracting a vast
amount of heat from the soil, as well as stifling or drowning out the
growth of the young rootlets exposed to its presence, for most roots
of our cultivated plants will not grow at all when so surrounded by
water as to exclude the vital air. They are thus forced to stand
for days and weeks in some of their parts, without making any
progress or growth at all, from this excess of water held in these
open spaees, and from the want of the heat which the same water
carries away with it, and of the air which it excludes. In order to
realize the vast amount of heat carried off from one hundred acres
of land, by the evaporation of these thousands of hogsheads of sur-
plus water, held in all these little crevices, between the clods above
and below the ground, let us only consider the amount of fuel re-
quired to evaporate one single barrel of water on a stove, and also
remember that it takes precisely the same amount of heat to do it
in the field, for each barrel of the thousand barrels or hogsheads
there evaporated by the sun. On the other hand, we should con-
sider that all such open spaces in the soil, and rough surfaces, when
the ground is dry, diminish the amount of heat that is absorbed

364

from the sun into the earth, while they admit the air, and prevent
absorption of moisture from beneath, and utterly exclude the
growth of all roots in or near their spaces, for no roots whatever of
common plants, will grow in our soil in or near an open space, the
excess of water at one time, and the excess of air at others, inevi-
tably kills it out, or repels it from all attempts to cross or enter
near to such spaces. Hence, all the soil near such spaces lies idle
and useless so long as they exist, aside from these other injurious
effects. In further illustration c f our idea, it might be said that in
the best possible prepared soil, we want one atom of soil, and one
atom of water, and one atom of air, with the requisite heat, and no
proper growth can take place without either of these ; therefore,
masses or spaces of either one of these, that exclude the other,
are not productive, but only useless, for neither soil alone, or water
alone, or air alone, can do anything towards making a crop, or feed-
ing the rootlets of our plants, under the earth, but soil, air and
water, all combined and mixed, comminuted in due proportions,
and all hard lumps or empty spaces that exclude either one or the
other, of course are so far forth sterile and usless, and in other re-
spects, as shown above, highly injurious to all productions. Thus
much must suffice to indicate the relations of heat and moisture to
the art of plowing, and so far as various gases or electric influences
may affect growth, they follow the same natural law, and need no
further consideration.

Another defect is the enormous waste of power, whether of ani-
mal or steam power, required to drag a heavy plow through the
earth, with all its weight of soil upon it, and its friction unrelieved
on all sides by any revolving motion or power. That a man may
know how great this really is, he needs only to shovel into a box
as much weight of dirt as the plow actually carries and lean him-
self as much upon the plow handles as he usually does, and let a
horse drag it all day over soft ground without plowing at all, and
see how he feels when night comes. He will then realize how
much the plow needs relief in this line ; or if he does not his horse
will. Now, until of late, there never has been any attempt even
to relieve the plow in these regards; for our gang plows as now
constructed, instead of taking off the friction on the bottom and
land-side of the plow, though mounted on wheels, for most part
make it actually greater, as any one can see by a trial with a
team or dynamometer ; so that all we have as yet done with the
plow, after all, is to try to improve upon the simple idea of the old
tree-tork, without even looking for any new principle or new form,
either as regards the perfection or ease of the work, or a better
adaptation to our very unique soil and climate. To this great fact
there has been, to my knowledge, but one or two single exceptions
in the plow line, though some number of inventions in the shape
of rotary-diggers.

Mr. Jesse Frye, of Springfield, Illinois, has made great and
commendable efforts in the right direction, though, as he writes

365

me, from want of means, and failure in mechanical execution, he
has not as yet succeeded. Mr. Edward Dawson, an ingenious
plow maker and mechanic in our town, is also now endeavoring to
construct (under my own particular direction) a machine that will
wholly relieve the bottom and land-side friction of the plow, and
plow, sow and roll, in the best manner, four acres per day with
the same team that would ordinarily be required for simple plow-
ing, while this plow at all times and in all places keeps itself per-
fectly clear of weeds and trash, and when desired secures drainage
at the same time it plows. Whether he will succeed or not, I can-
not now certainly say, but I have a full belief that he will, and
whether he does or not, I am sure that the thing is scientifically
and truly practicable, and will soon be done by some one, even
though a score should fail at it. Some say that this, when done,
will help the small farmer more, that is, immediately, than the
steam plow. How this may be I cannot say. But I do say that
we have, with all our great advances, but just begun to improve
the plow, and have not yet hit upon the true philosophical, ulti-
mate principle of either plowing, or planting, or sowing, except in
some rare instances, and in this very State, more than twice the
time and labor is expended in plowing and sowing, to say the least,
that need be, while the work is not done near as well as if our
plows were of a proper construction, even if drawn by oxen and
horses.

But these hints must suffice for the form of the plow as required,
and as actually used, while we pass on to consider

m. — THE WORK DONE AND ITS EFFECTS.

It is a grand mistake to suppose that either the plow itself, or
the spade, or any other tool, does the soil any good. So far as
their own action alone is concerned, they only injure it. The only
thing that really benefits, and fertilizes the soil, in any case, is the
heat, air, gases, and moisture of the summer, and the frosts and
snows of winter. All the plow, or any other tool can do, is to put
the soil into the most favorable condition to receive this benefit.

What is this best condition of the soil % In general it is that
condition which allows it to absorb the greatest possible amount of
heat and moisture, with the least possible amount of surplus water,
and loose free air, and, in general, it may also be said that most of
our Western soils are in their best condition for this purpose, when
they are most nearly like a smooth, level, deep bed, of very fine
sand, smooth and compact as possible on its outer surface, and per-
fectly and uniformly pulverized, and disintegrated in all its parts
below the surface, having no rough surfaces, and no hard lumps, or
interstices, or open spaces, filled with water or empty air. The
true idea is that while the soil should have access to moisture by
its natural attraction of water, and also access to the air, free wa-
ter and free air, that is, water and air lying in holes or in loose and
free quantities, unmixed and unrestrained by the continuous and

366

uniform presence of the soil, is only a great damage to it in seve-
ral ways.

The effect of winter frosts and snows I apprehend to be mainly
this: they accomplish in fact what the plow alone, without the rol-
ler or clod breaker, fails to achieve : namely, they break down and
disintegrate the clods above and below ground, and till up all open
spaces more thoroughly, so that when spring comes the ground is
really well and thoroughly pulverized and also properly compact-
ed and prepared to throw off all surplus water and retain all pos-
sible heat, which simply inverting the soil with the plow, in long
strips or furrows twelve or sixteen inches wide without any roller
or other instrument following it, most obviously could not do for
a soil like ours.

This brief glance at obvious principles shows us in general what
we should aim to secure by all modes of stirring the soil, and what
to avoid, and wherein our present modes are and must be defect-
ive. It also intimates to us most clearly, what improvements we
need in our plows in order to secure a proper perfection of the
work. It will also serve to explain many well known facts : for
example, why deep plowed land is better than shallow plowed ;
why in so many soils fall plowing is better than spring plowing ;
why both weeds and crops will spring up and grow in a cold spring
so much better after a light roller than without one ; (there is
more heat and less surplus water there ;) why a bull-tongue or
shovel plow put to the same depth, will raise better corn than a
mouldboard plow : for though harder to draw, or rather, because
harder to draw, it more thoroughly beats in pieces and pulverizes
the soil, and leaves fewer clods and less open spaces behind it,
&c, &c.

But some say they do not like a roller because it makes the weeds
grow, not thinking that the same causes that make weeds grow
best, when undisturbed, inevitably makes the crops also grow best.
And if it be desirable to avoid the growing both crops and weeds
without labor, the best way would be to plant the seeds on the top
of the barn or in the street, and secure the desired result at onee
without further trouble. But there are some at least, who will
think it best to put their ground in the best possible condition for
the growth of both crops and weeds, and take care in due time to
kill out the weeds by the same process that cultivates the crop ;
and I hope these are a majority.

These principles also show us why the ground that is under-
drained, even if very dry and rolling land, like the hill on which I
live, to the depth of two or three feet, will be some two weeks ear-
lier in its crop in the spring ; will stand both wet and drouth bet-
ter, and will produce from one-quarter to one half more of almost
any crop, and more than twice as much of some things, as the same
land wrould if not underdrained. For in a soil like ours, underdrain-
ing is, in all its ultimate practical effects, only a short-hand mode
of plowing three feet instead of three inches deep. All the surplus

367

water that falls upon the drained land percolates through the soil
and finds its way to these covered drains, and thence runs freely
off, and thus saves to the soil the vast amount of heat that would
be required for its slow evaporation from the surface, and the dam-
age it does by standing in open spaces around the roots of the
crops. In a short time also, this percolation, or leaching of the
water at all points through the subsoil, wears innumerable little
channels, through all of which the water and air pass readily, but
without being at any point confined in stagnant masses among
open spaces between heavy lumps or clods ; and the whole subsoil
in time becomes loose and porous like a coral reef, admitting at all
times enough of water and air from above, and never retaining too
much of either, while in a dry time, the same condition is the most
favorable possible for the absorption of moisture by attraction from
below. In a word, we dig the drains at proper distances, say from
twenty to thirty feet, and then the water itself plows and disinte-
grates the ground for us, say some three feet deep, more perfectly
than we could do it with simple steel plows as now constructed
and used, even if we could run them to that depth. Hence I said
that underdraining is only a short hand method of deep plowing,
and depends throughout on precisely the same ultimate philosoph-
ical principles as any other kind of plowing, especially fall-plowing.
For in fall-plowing we run the share and mould of the plow under
the soil and invert it, and thus make a shallow trench, and also
partially disintegrate the soil by the act. The rains and frosts of
winter complete this disintegration, and compact for us the rough
surfaces and open spaces ; and when the soil by nature is not in-
clined to run together and compact too speedily, it is found in
spring in the best condition for a crop ; or if too hard it will crum-
ble finely and properly before the plow in the spring without the
use of the roller, which it would not have done if not plowed in
the fall, if at all inclined to be adhesive. So in underdraining we
make wider and deeper trenches, and the water and the frosts do
the rest of the work for us — all on the same identical principle.
And if to plow six inches deep is better than one inch, to practic-
ally plow three feet deep is better of course than six inches ; and
there is no more mystery in the one than in the other. While in
underdrained ground all the soil is properly compacted as well as
properly drained and ventilated, in the very nature of the case,
which, as has been shown, by ordinary plowing as it is now done,
is not accomplished even for a few inches. But as people gener-
ally imagine that whopping ground over, bottom up, with great
clods and small ones all over the surface and through the mass,
left to dry and harden in the sun and catch all the loose water that
falls, and then absorb and carry off the heat of the field through
the first two months of the year, without any use of the roller or
harrow : I say, as they imagine this very perfect plowing, if it is
only deep and performed at great expense of power, so also they
imagine that there cannot be the least use in draining land with

368

these underground drains, if it is high and rolling and throws its
surface water readily off. It is true, on such land draining is not
indispensable, as it is in a marsh or swamp ; but I think any one
can see that any land whatever having a compact subsoil in this
state, which would be benefited by thorough plowing two feet
deep, would be equally benefited by draining three feet deep, and
for precisely the same cause.

It remains only to say a word about the mode of this under-
draining or short-hand plowing, and on this point I have no doubt
that the mole plow drawn by oxen is the best thing now on all ad-
hesive soils, where the grade is not too steep, but the great "ne
plus ultra)'1 here also will be this same mole-plow, trooping after a
steam engine of some fifty horse power, and ditching from ten to
twenty miles of our prairie soil in a single day, or a whole large
farm in a single week, thus nearly doubling all our products at a
comparatively small expense. Don't smile, now, gentlemen, at
this suggestion, for if the talking wire that now sleeps in the depth
of the ocean does not rebuke your incredulity, Fawkes' new steam
engine soon will. Or even if his should fail, some other man's
will come up, for coal and wood are and must be cheaper genera-
tors of force or heat, than hay and oats. But remember, we may
resort to the spade, and give our multitude of Irish friends needful
and profitable work, and fill in narrow ditches with rails, brush or
slabs, or sawed hoards, or brick bats, or stones, or tiles, or water
cement, so laid in all cases as to furnish a free passage for the wa-
ter to some near outlet. But in no case must there ever he any de-
pressions in the drain, for they will surely fill with mud and stop
the drain and make it perfectly useless. Minute instruction for
laying drains of all sorts may be found in our various agricultural
works, except the cement drain, which, so far as I know, is an in-
vention of my own and answers well, and is the cheapest of all
drains for tolerably dry land. I use good water cement, one pint
well mixed with coarse sharp sand and gravel seven parts. I lay
the cement over a rod from four to eight feet long, and from one
inch to one and a half inches in diameter, turned of hard wood,
perfectly smooth and round; perhaps, turned steel would be bet-
ter. This rod should be washed clean each time it is inserted,
and should have a spur at right angles with it on the nearest end
to the workman, with which to give it a roll before it is withdrawn
from the cement. Lay the rod in the bottom of the ditch on the
ground, lay over it, with plasterers' trowels, prepared cement, from
one-half to one inch thick ; throw some fine dry dirt on the ce-
ment, then throw on dirt to one foot depth and tread it down hard;
give then the rod a roll back and forth till loose, then carefully
withdraw it from the cement, lay it down again and proceed as be-
fore, taking care of course not to tread the dirt beyond the reach
of the rod and over the soft unformed and unfilled drain made by
the former insertion of the rod, and thus crush it in. The smaller
the rod, of course the more easily the soft cement arch will support

369

itself. I have never need one more than an inch and half in diame-
ter. But an inch orifice even will pour a vast amount of water out
of a field in twenty-four hours, which would otherwise be left to
evaporate or slowly leak away and carry off' the heat of the sun
for days as it went, and do no extra work for you at this short-hand
plowing, as it is sure to do where drains are made.

I have thus, gentlemen, complied with the request of the officers
of your Society, in giving you a bare outline of my views of plow-
ing and draining. Of course, a complete discussion of so great a
subject, involving so many of the most abstruse laws of science
and mechanics, holding near relations, as you see, not only to all
that grows and all that lives, but also in the propelling power to
all that moves in our world and in all worlds, could not be expect-
ed in a single lecture. I trust I may have said enough to indicate
to intelligent minds the true philosophy of the whole subject as far
as I understand it, and also to show what improvements we still
need and may be permitted now speedily to hope for, both in the
process and the implements, in the power and in the workshop of
this great primeval art of all arts.

If I have made myself understood, the utility of deep plowing
equally accompanied with proper rolling and compacting, smooth-
ing and pulverizing the soil, and of underdraining, will be apparent
to all ; and the necessity of some instrument on our smooth prai-
ries that will effect these needful ends, at far less expense of horse
power, than the ordinary process with a plow dragged on the
ground and a roller after it, or more usually not at all, is, I think,
equally apparent, and soon from some quarter to be realized, how-
ever many may fail in the attempt.

Tendering you, gentlemen, my thanks for your patient attention,
I now submit the subject to the remarks of other gentlemen from
whom I should be most happy to hear.

NURSERIES OP ILLINOIS.

Lisbon, Kendall County, III.,

February Z2d, 1859.

Cor. Sec. Illinois State Agricultural Society.

Dear Sir : Agreeable to a resolution adopted at a recent meet-
ing of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, I have collected and
herewith transmit to you, a list of the nurseries of this State, with
their productions, as far as I have been able within the short space
of time allowed me. I am aware that this list is incomplete.
Many to whom I addressed circulars have not yet returned state-
ments tome; and there are doubtless many nurseries in the State
of which I have not been able to gain a knowledge. But you will
see that this list as given is large and apparently nearly adequate
to supply the immediate wants of the State. Estimating that only
three-fourths of the nursery trees have been reported, and we then
have two million four hundred and twelve thousand apple trees
ready for orchard planting, and six million six hundred and
eighteen thousand of smaller sizes. Allowing one-fourth of these
to fail, and we still have sufficient trees to plant, at thirty feet
apart, one hundred and eighty-eight thousand one hundred and
twenty-five acres of orchards. Our nurserymen are devoting in-
creasing attention to the cultivation of evergreens. Probably five
jtimes as many seeds, and small evergreen plants (from the forests
and imported from Europe) will be planted the coming spring as
in any former season, so that in a few years, these beautiful trees,
so desirable for adorning our homes and protecting our orchards
and stock, will be sold much below the present rates. There can
be but little doubt that when evergreen belts surround our orchards
they will exert $ mollifying influence upon the atmosphere and

371

thus secure an abundance of fruit. There are,, -within my knowl-
edge, already in our nurseries a sufficient number of evergreen
plants to form six hundred miles of belt sufficiently dense to resist
perfectly the sweeping prairie winds. But this is not a tithe of
what is needed, and, I trust, will soon be demanded : for if our
farmers turn their attention to this matter as its importance de-
mands, Illinois will yet become, in respect to its beauty, as it now
is in the productiveness of its soil, the Garden of the West.
I am, with much respect,
Truly yours,

O. B. GALUSHA,

Cor. Sec. III. State Horticultural Society*

372

NURSERIES OP THIS STATE,

P. 0. Address op Proprietors op Nurseries.

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Allen, J. C, Lena, Stephenson county

Aldrich, Verry, Arispe, Bureau

1854
1853
1847

1855
1853
1850

30
17
30

10
5

25
11
24

15
30
12

25,00C
30.00C
30,00(

40,00C
40,00(
50,00(

3,00C

20,00C
14,00(
20,00c

50,000
80,000
100,000

45,000
40,000
25,000

4,000
1,000
1,000

200

50

300

Capps, Jabez, Mount Pulaski, Logan

Culver, Alva, Plainfield, Will

1852

1

7
10
30

30,000

Clark, Dr. R. B., Morris, Grundy

1857

200,000

1,000

Douglas, Robert, Waukegan...

Doyle, Michael, Springfield

1854
1849

1846

1847
1854

1852

10
25

8
40

48

15

110

32

8
16

28

12,00C
3O,00C

35,000

50,000
25,000

28,000

10,000
500,000

45,000

20,000
50,000

205,000

1

100

6,000

200
1,000

Essex, Isaac B., Drury, Rock Island

Garner, A. I., West Point, Stephenson ,

4,000

and I
Galusha, Matteson & Son, Sandwich, De Kalb.. J

300

373

WITH THEIR PRODUCTIONS, Etc.

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Remarks.

20,000
3,000
1,200

600
1,000
1,200

200
"5,000

500
2,500
3,000

2,000

1,000

50

1,500
100

""500

3,00c
3,00c

10,000

1,50C
5,00C
1,00C

7,000
4,500
16,000

53,000
1,200

50

1,00(

30(

10,001

4

6

5

9

5C

90

300

150

5
3

1,000

1,000

300

....

ment of nursery stock
especially of ever-
greens and apples.

1,000

500

3,00(
25(

60

3

2

Designs to cultivate
grapes and ornamen-
tals chiefly in future.
Soil clay loam, high
rolling.

A small general assort-
ment— designs to en-
large.

300
10,000
6,000

100

2

15,000

11,000

13,000

6

"Believing that the pro-
tection of our prairie
orchards is absolutely
necessary to success,
I shall make the
growth of such trees
as are suitable for
that purpose a feature
in my nursery."

3,000
2,000

500
2,000

600

500
1,000

4,000
13,000

500

5,000
210,000

15,000

50
3,000

6,300

3,000
50,000

145,000

5,000
21,000

35,000

5

6

6

50
320

75

300
366

25

25

8

Has 2 greenhouses and
a propagating house.

An extensive and well
known wholesale and
retail nursery, with
greenhouse and pro-
pagating house.

Designs to make ever-
greens and small
fruits leading articles;
cultivates largely rhu-
barb, currants, goose-
berries and strawber-
ries for market.

300

2,0C 0
1,000

200
15,000

1,500
5,000

5
5

43

6

100

These nurseries are 16
miles apart, and we
design by transfers to
keep a full assortment
in each — shall make
hardy varieties of
apple trees. Small
fruits and evergreens
for protection the
leading articles.

374

NURSERIES OF THIS STATE, WITS

P. 0. Address op Proprietors of Nurseries

Hotchkiss, N. & C. G., Belvidere, Boone...
Huggins, Jonathan, Woodburn, Macoupin.

Huntington, C. A., (Agt.) Rookford

Hamilton, Charles, & Son, Ridgefield, MeHenry..

Hewit, F., Upper Alton

Havens & Austin, Cass, Du Page

Herring, J. R., Durand, Winnebago

Hibbard, Charles H., Marengo, MeHenry..
Hunt, R. W., & Co., Galesburg

Hopper, J. V., Bunker Hill, Macoupin.
Johnson & Clark, Brighton, "

Kennicott, Dr. J. A., West Nortkfield, Cook.

Kinney, D. F., Rock Island.
Little, J. T., Dixon

Montague, L., Louisa,

McWhorter, Tyler, Millersburg, Mercer.,

Minkler, S. G., Specie Grove, Kendall.

Manly, Uri, Marshal, Clark

Overman & Mann, Bloomington.

Overman & Bushnell, Canton.

Ordway, E., Freeport

Pennington, Dr. L. S., Sterling.

ISIS
1842

120,000
25,000

20,000
1,000

4,000
5,000
20,000
25,000
30,000

10,000
10,000

35,000
100,000

10,000
5,000

5,000
50,000

50,000
35,000

200,000
230,000

4,000
25,000
30,000
15,000
200,000

40,000
40,000

40,000
110,000

150,000
250,000

20,000

375

THEIR PRODUCTIONS, Etc.— Continued.

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Remarks.

400
10,000

2,000

500

500

1,000
200

300

100

50

50

1,000

1,200
1,000

500

500

500
3,000

100
200

4,000

5,000

5,000
50,000

200
5,000

l,5oO

4,000

2,500
2,500

500

2,000

2,000

200
200

150
500

7
5

100
50

50
10

Cultivates fruit trees
with low heads.

Trees grown in open
prairie.

30

2

3,000

selling small stock to
nurseries.

30

2

Designs to enlarge.

500
6,000

16,000
10,000

4,000
4,000

1,000
2,000

500

500

6,000

1,000
5,000

52

82

5

"Roses, 295 varie-
ties ; dahlias, 256
named varieties ;
verbenas, 150 named

sorts."

3,000

1,000

3,000

100

200

6

Design enlarging in
ornamental depart-
ment.

1,000

500
1,200

1,000

300
1,200

5,000

1,200
10,000

5,000

600
4,000

1,500
5,000

4

200
200

To

5
5

the oldest and most
reliable nurseries. —
Well known. — Sec.
Soil, rich barrens.

200

Devotes special at-
tention to ornamen-
tals.

About removing to

Aledo.
A good stock of apple

trees — in o d e r a t e

stock ornamentals.

— Sec.
Great stock of grapes

2,000
20,000

2,000
6,000

25,000
3,000

8,000
20,000

15,000
25,000

1,000
1,000

8

150

40

8

plants.
A large nursery —
nearly destroyed by
hail, summer of
1858 — design con-
tinuing with general
assortment. 500,000
Osage orange plants.
—Sec.

1,000

100

2,000

1.000

500

10

1 300

and berberry for
hedges.
80 acres orchard.

376

NURSERIES OF THIS STATE, WITH

P. 0. Address of Proprietors op Nurseries.

Phenix, F. K., Eloomington.

Pettengill, J. A., Bunker Hill, Macoupin....
Payne, Thomas II., Freemont Centre, Lake.

Peterson, Robert, McHenry

Rogers, James H., Nora, Jo Daviess

Kennioott, Charles H., Sandoval, Marion....

Scofield, D. C. & L. K., Elgin, Kane...,

Starr, A. & F., Alton

Strickland, Hugh, Roscoe, Winnebago.

Sanders Edgar, Chicago 1857

1854
1845
1857
1855

Stewart, J. & J. H., Quincy

Snow, E. Payson, Marion, Ogle.

Shaw, Henry, Tremont, Tazewell.

Sherman J. S., Rockford

Tull, J. R., & Son, Pontoosuc, Hancock.

Tenbrook & Clem, Paris, Edgar

Whitney, A. R., Franklin Grove, Lee

Wakeman, James, Cottage Hill, Du Page..

Wamsley, C. C, Polo, Ogle

Williams, Adnah, Galesburg

Young, D. C, Joliet

Knowlton, Israel, Byron, Ogle

Barry, George, Godfrey, near Alton...

1842

185:;

1854
184S
1858
1843

1853
1852
1852
1S43
1846

2- a ! 3' E5

O ^p

10,000
60,000

25,000

,000

30,000

20,00li

60,000

12,000
40,000

300,000

30,000

60,000

10,000

7,000

100,000

200,000

30,000

80,000

150,000

75,000

500

10,000

25

75,000
30,000
150,000

300, ooi)
40,000

100,000

375,000
10,000
10,000

200,000

60,000
40,000
50,000
40,000
150,000

300

2,000

2,000

3,000

1,000

500

1,500

6,000

317

THEIR PRODUCTIONS, Etc.— Continued.

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: b

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: °

Remarks.

50,000

300
10,000
1,000

300
25

An extensive nursery
containing full as-
sortment.— Sec.

2,000

500

500

50

200

500

5,000

500

75

3,000

10,000

500

2,000

200

1,000

400

100

"25

100
150

800

100

1

200
4,000

100
3,000

2,000
2,000
2,000

50,000
1,800

18„000
500

15

extensive and relia-
ble nursery. — Sec.

90
206

50
400

2
12

Designed for orna-
mentals, chiefly,
greenhouse and bed-
ding plants.

25,000

2,000

1,000

40,000

20,000

ib,o"oo

100

A general assortment
though small stock.

Uses horse-power for
digging, considers it
superior to spade.

1,000

500

3,500
500
600

3,000

10,000

1,000

2,000
500
500

2,000

4,000

1,000
100,000

12,000

10,000
1,200
1,000
2,000

300

5,000

125,000

2,000

500

500
500

1

25

40

4

1,000

1,000

1,000
20,000

10,000
4,000

10,000
2,000

20,000

500
10,000

1,000

3,000

10,000

500

500

....„

3
15

4

50
200

100
100
200
200
46

150

20

Two millions Osage
orange hedge plants.

500

200

500

300
200
2000

100

20
2

1,000

Designs to enlarge
annually.

nursery containing a
fine assortment.-SEC,

■48

POMOLOGICAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH-
ERN ILLINOIS.

Centealia, Feb. 1, 1859.

Pursuant to notice, a meeting of Fruit Growers and others inter-
ested was held, for the purpose of organizing a Pomological and
Horticultural Society for Southern Illinois.

B. G. Koots, of Perry county, was called to the chair, and L. M.
McCord appointed Secretary. J. M. Hunter, W. M. Howell and
J. Warner were appointed a committee to draft a preamble and
constitution for the action of the meeting, and the meeting took a
recess until 3 o'clock.

At 3 o'clock the committee reported a preamble and constitution ;
which, after slight amendments, were adopted, as follows :

PREAMBLE:

The undersigned, fruit growers and citizens of Southern Illinois, believing that great
benefit will arise from the formation of a Society for the discussion and consideration oi
Pomological and Horticultural affairs, do hereby ordain and adopt the following

CONSTITUTION:

Article I. This Society shall be known by the name and style of the " Pomological and
Horticultural Society of Southern Illinois."

Art. II. The boundaries of jurisdiction of said Society shall include all that part of Illi-
nois south of the north line of township 12.

Art. III. Any person may become a member of this Society, by signing this constitu-
tion and the payment of the sum of one dollar.

Art. IV. The officers of this Society shall consist of a President, five Vice-Presidents,
one Recording Secretary, one Corresponding Secretary, and one Treasurer.

Art. V. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Society,
preserve order, and perform such other duties as the by-laws may require.

Art. VI. In the absence of the President, at any meeting of the Society, the Vice-
Presidents present shall choose from among themselves a President pro tern.

Art. VII. It fthall be the duty of the Recording Secretary to keep a record of all
business transacted at each meeting of the Society, and to- collect all moneys due the So-
0iety and pay over the same to the Treasurer.

Art. VIII. Ifcshajl.be the duty of the Corresponding Secretary to conduct all corres-
pondence of the Society, ,&nd perform such other duties, connected with his office, as the So-
ciety may require.

Art. IX. It shall be (the .duty of the Treasurer to receive all moneys of the Society, and
pay ont the same at the t(wd.e,r at the Executive Board, countersigned by the President and
Secretary.

379

Art. X. The regular meetings of this Society shall he on the last Tuesday of February,
May, August and November; and the meeting in November be known as the regular an-
nual meeting, at which meeting the officers shall be elected.

Art. XI. All the officers of this Society shall be elected by ballot, and no member shall
be allowed to vote unless he has paid the fee of one dollar for the succeeding year.

Art. XII. The President and Vice-Presidents shall constitute the Executive Commit-
tee, for the transaction of business between the meetings of the Society, and shall have
power to call special meetings of the Society when they deem it necessary.

Art. XIII. This constitution may be altered or amended at any regular annual meet-
ing of the Society.

The Society then proceeded to the election of officers for the
year ensuing, with the following results :

President — B. G. Koots, of Perry county.

Vice-Presidents — W. S. Wait, of Bond county \ Uriel Mills, of
Marion county ; fm. S. Bainbridge, of Union county ; Wright
Casey, of Jefferson county ; Wm. Yates, of Perry county.

Recording Secretary — J. M. Hunter, Ashley.

Treasurer — J. P. Keynolds, Odin.

Corresponding Secretary — ~fi. D. Ingraham.

General Superintendent First Exhibition — B. P. Wiley.

Honorary Mkmbers of the Society. — F. Gr. Carey, editor of the Cincinnatus, Hamilton
county, Ohio ; W. R. Arthur, Superintendent Illinois Central Railroad: D. T. Moore, editor
Rural New Yorker, Rochester, N. Y. ; Thomas Meehan, editor Gardeners' Monthly, Phila-
delphia; N. J. Colman, editor Valley Farmer, St. Louis, Mo.; and all editors of agricultural
papers in Illinois, and, also, the President of the Hlinois State Agricultural Society were
■chosen as honorary members of the Society.

On motion of Mr. Hunter,

Resolved, That the President be instructed to correspond with the Vice-Presidents, to
enable the Executive Committee to decide on the place for the May meeting and exhibition
of the Society.

On motion of Mr. Lobdell,

Resolved, That the President prepare and cause to be published a list of premiums for the
May exhibition of the Society.

On motion of Mr. Ingraham,

Resolved, That at regular exhibitions of the Society, the members shall be entitled to ex-
hibitor's tickets for themselves and families, and that exhibitors who are not members shall
pay one dollar for each exhibitor's ticket; and, also, that twenty-five cents, each, shall be
charged for admission tickets.

On motion of Mr. Howell,

Resolved, That all persons, whether living within the prescribed boundaries of the Society
or not, be invited to compete for the premiums.

On motion of Mr. G. H. Blelock,

Resolved, That a committee, consisting of Messrs. M. L. Wilcox, Ni D. Ingraham, and
C W. Phillips, be appointed to draft by-laws for the Society, to report at the May meeting.

Adjourned.

M. L. McCOKD, Secretary.

380

MEETING AND EXHIBITION OF THE SOCIETY.

Jonesboro, May, 31, 1859.

The Society met and was called to order by B. Gr. Koots, Presi-
dent. The only business presented was the Society's exhibition
and fair, which was to open at 2 o'clock P. M.

Adjourned till 7 o'clock in the evening, to meet at the court
house.

FIKST EXHIBITION AND FAIR.

The following is a list of the awards made at the first exhibition
of the Society, held on the 31st May and 1st June, 1859, at Jones-
boro.

CLASS A. — No. l.

Best pair large Boquets for Vases:

First Premium — Mrs. J. M. Hunter, Ashley, Washington county. Premium donated to
Society.
Best Round Boquet:

First Premium — James Price, Sandoval, Marion county. Premium donated.

Second Premium — Mrs. Martin Ury, Jonesboro, Union county.
Best Flat Boquet :

First Premium— J. M. Hunter> Ashley, Washington county. Premium donated.
Best display of Hardy Flowers by Amateur :

First Premium — Mrs. Nathan Dresser, Anna, Union county. Premium donated.

Second Premium — Mrs. C. G. Simonds, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.

Complimented — Martin Ury, Jonesboro, Union county.
Best display of Hardy Flowers by Nurseryman :

First Premium — Charles Kennicott, Sandoval, Marion county. Premium donated.

CLASS A. — No. 2.
Best display of June Roses :

First Premium — J. M. Hunter, Ashley, Washington county. Premium donated.

Second Premium — Benjamin Vancil, South Pass, Union county. Premium donated.
Best display Perpetual Roses :

First Premium — J. M. Hunter, Ashley, Washington county. Premium donated.
Best display Green House Plants :

First Premium — J. M. Hunter, Ashley, Washington county. Premium donated.
Best display of Wild Flowers :

First Premium — BeDJamin Vancil, South Pass, Union county.
Best display of Delphinums :

First Premium — Charles Kennicott, Sandoval, Marion county. Premium donated.
Best display of Pinks :

First Premium — E. M. Sumner and J. Frick, Jonesboro, Union county.
Best display of Phloxes :

First Premium — Charles Kennicott, Sandoval, Marion county. Premium donated.
Best display of Spajirs :

First Premium — Charles Kennicott, Sandoval, Marion county. Premium donated.

WILSON'S SEEDLING STRAWBERRY.

[ Face page 3S1.

381

Best display Cut Flowers :

First Premium— Charles Kennicott, Sandoval, Marion county. Premium donated.

CLASS A. — No. 3.
Best Zoological collection :

First Premium — Dr. S. S. Condon, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.
Best Geological collection :

First Premium — Dr. Condon, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.
Largest collection of Insects :

First Premium — Dr. Condon, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.

CLASS A. — No. 5.

Best and greatest variety of Green Fruits :

Complimentary Notice — B. Vancil, South Pass, Union county.
Best and greatest variety Strawberries :

First Premium — Newhall & Clark, South Pass,Union county. Premium donated*

Second Premium — Dr. Condon, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.
Best single variety Strawberries :

First Premium — William Yates, Tamaroa, Union county. ('Wilson's Albany.) Premium
donated.

Complimentary Notiee — H. W. Willard, Jonesboro, Union county. (Necked Pine.)

Dr. Warder, of Cincinnati, Ohio, exhibited 33 varieties of Strawberries ; not entered for
competition.
Best Gooseberries :

First Premium — H. W. Willard, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.

Second Premium — F. M. Sumner, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.

Complimentary Notice — M. Ury, Jonesboro, Union county.
Best Raspberries:

Fir »t Premium— Charley and Willie Willard, Jonesboro, Union county.

CLASS B.— No. 6.
Beit Canned Peaches :

First Premium — Mrs. Mary Sowers, Jonesboro, Union county.
Best Preserved Blackberries :

First Premium — Mrs. Mary Sowers, Jonesboro, Union county.
Best Canned Blackberries :

First Premium — Mrs. J. M. Hunter, Ashley, Washington county. Premium donated.
Best Canned Cherries :

First Premium — Mrs. J. M. Hunter, Ashley, Washington county. Premium donated.
Best Preserved Fruits for display :

Complimentary Notice — Davis & Lobdell, Centralia, Marion county.

CLASS C. No. — 7.
Best Tomatoes :

First Premium — Robert Gow, Anna, Union county.
Best Beets :

First Premium — F. M. Sumner, Jonesboro, Union county.

Second Premium — B. Vancil, South Pass, Union county. Premium donated.
Best Radishes :

First Premium — B. Vancil, South Pass, Union county. Premium donated.
Best Early Lettuce :

First Premium — Martin Ury, Jonesboro, Union county.
' Second Premium — Mrs. A. H. Marschalk, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.
Best Cucumbers :

First Premium — Newhall & Clark, South Pass, Union county. Premium donated.
Best Asparagus :

First Premium — H. W. Willard, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated,
Best Early Cabbage:

First Premium — Robert Gow, Anna, Union county.
Best variety Pie Plant:

First Premium — H. W. Willard, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.

382

Best three varieties Pie Plant :

First Premium — Hawley & Lobdell, Centralia, Marion county. Premium donated.

Second Premium — H. W. Willard, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.
Best Early Peas:

First Premium — H. TV. Willard, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.

Second Premium — Mrs. A. H. Marschalk, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.
Best Green Corn :

First Premium — B. Vancil, South Pass, Union county. Premium donated.

CLASS D.— No. 8.

Best display "Wax Fruit :

First Premium— Mrs. J. F. Lobdell, Centralia, Marion county. Premium donated.
Best display Was Flowers :

First Premium — Miss Clara Tyrell, Tamaroa,Perry county. Premium donated.

CLASS D.— No. 9.
Best display of Ambrotypes :

First Premium — T. S. Underbill, Jonesboro, Union county.

CLASS E— No. 10.
Best collection of Native Mosses :

First Premium — B. Vancil, South Pass, Union county. Premium donated.
Best display Horticultural Tools :

First Premium — B. Vancil, South Pass, Union county.
Best display Horticultural Books and Papers :

First Premium — J. A. Carpenter, South Pass, Union county.

NATIVE WINES.

First Premium — Davis & Lobdell, Centralia. (White Grape Currant.1) Premium donated.
Second Premium — Mrs. C. G. Simonds, Jonesboro. (Blackberry.) Premium donated.
Complimentary Notice — Mrs. C. G. Simonds, Jonesboro. (Red Currant.) Premium do-
nated.

DISCRETIONARY.
Gooseberries in Jelly :

First Premium — Mrs. Wm. M. Howell, Central City, Marion county.
Best Pumpkin:

First Premium — Martin Ury, Jonesboro, Union county.
Best Funkias:

Complimentary Notice — Mrs. E. M. Sumner, Jonesboro, Union county.
Best Onions:

First Premium — Martin Ury, Jonesboro, Union county.
Best Balsam Fir :

First Premium — J. A. Carpenter, South Pass, Union county.
Best New Wheat:

Complimentary Notice — James H. Crain, Burkeville, Pulaski county.
Best Osier Willow:

First Premium — James H. Crain, Burkeville, Pulaski county. Premium donated.
Best Squashes:

First Premium— Elijah Vancil, South Pass, Union county.
Best collection of Shells (Marine) :

™ First Premium — Mrs. C. G. Simonds, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.
Best Roses in Pots:

First Premium — Mrs. Nathan Dresser, Jonesboro, Union county. Premium donated.

N. D. INGRAHAM, Cor. Secretary*

383

ADJOURNED MEETING.

The Society met in the Court House, and President Koots took
the chair, at 7 o'clock. Having introduced Dr. John A. Warder,
of Ohio, Dr. A. delivered an address on the cultivation of the
Strawberry, a sketch of which follows :

[Notes of Dr. Warder's address taken liy C. D. Bragdon, Esq.]

Dr. "Warder said he should confine himself to plain matters of
fact, taking very good care not to tell all he knew, which is a very
dangerous thing for a stranger to do. He doubted if he said any-
thing not known before. It was proper he should talk about

STRAWBERRIES.

Talk upon the strawberry question — not the strawberry theory.
The strawberry question has been called a theory outside of Cin-
cinnati ; but it is a theory that causes us poor fellows to send into
the Cincinnati market eight hundred lushels of strawberries per
day, to be toted off to the northern cities, for he would not have
us think that the poor Cincinnatians are obliged to eat eight hun-
dred bushels of this fruit per day.

The natural history of the strawberry is simple and easily told.
The habitat of the strawberry is extended. In Europe the Wood
strawberry grows in Alpine regions. In this country the straw-
berry is found on the level grounds, on the mountain ranges and
on the prairies. Botanically, it belongs to the family Kosacese —
the family of roses. Its specific name is Fragaria, because of its
fragrance. Botanists have overlooked peculiarities in the straw-
berry well known to horticulturists. A perfect flower is one that
has all the producing organs perfect. The essential organs of re-
production are the stamens and pistils. The latter are found in
the centre of the flower ; outside and around them are the stamens.
These are the essential organs of the flower. They are found in
every perfect flower. What botanists call perfect flowers ladies
would call weeds — they judge by the beauty of the petals. Botan-
ists have described the family of Bosacese as having perfect flow-
ers. Horticulturists find this to be different. Hence we divide
the strawberry into two classes — staminate and pistillate, about
which so much wrangling has been had. Some have cited the
authority of authors to prove that plants belonging to this family
are perfect. Even Gray says not a word about this peculiarity of
the strawberry. No matter, however, what authors may say, the
Father of Nature says differently. We found, by this^classifica-
tion, that this broad distinction was a useful one. Hermaphrodites
were called perfect, but they are not perfect. Many that appeared
perfect of this class of plants would only produce one berry in ten
flowers. It is from this discovery that the so called Cincinnati
theory dates. Nicholas Longworth, who spent large sums of mo-
ney, previous to this, procuring the best varieties, was obliged to
buy berries for his own table.

384

European gardeners do not appear to know the existence of pis-
tillate strawberries. The French Bicton Pine, the Belgian Tri-
omphe de Gand, the English Victoria and other premium straw-
berries coming to us with high foreign reputation, are altogether de-
cidedly staminate, having many unfertile flowers. His own crop,
after two years culture of these highly lauded and esteemed sorts,
was only two or three berries. He brought his entire crop to ex-
hibit to the people of Southern Illinois. They will not pay for
extended culture. They are exquisitely flavored, but will not do
for the people.

Dr. Warder related the oft told story of Nicholas Longworth and
the boy. The boy was sauntering through Mr. Longworth's
strawberry patch. The latter was whittling. Said the boy, " Mr.
Longworth, I reckon you won't have many berries,"

Mr. L. asks, " Won't I have a few ? "

" Yes, I reckon so. You will have a few there, and there, and
there," pointing to different spots in the bed.

Mr. L. had his wits about him, and stuck stakes where the boy
said there would be fruit, and there the fruit grew. This was the
clue, the suggestion, that gave Mr. Longworth what he gave the
Cincinnatians and is giving to the world with regard to the secret
of success in strawberry culture.

Dr. W. exhibited drawings illustrating these different classes of
flowers, staminate, pistallate and hermaphrodite. To find a really
staminate flower is a rare thing. These differences exist in nature
— not in weather causes or in the mode of culture. There are
those that look perfect that are not perfect. It is unfortunate that
the term hermaphrodite has been introduced. It has come to be a
third description of strawberry. The term is now applied to such
as have a perfect flower or the staminate and pistillate organs
equally developed. Of this class he names Wilson's Albany, a
vigorous, healthy grower, bearing well developed fruit, and Long-
worth's Prolific, another excellent kind. Their peculiarities belong
to their normal condition, not to culture, frost, &c. They origi-
nate from the seedling, and are always found peculiar to their
variety, no matter what the culture. These expensive and premi-
um plants from the east and Europe being unproductive, we looked
and found a native, a poor little native Necked Pine, whose very
origin is involved in doubt, purely pistillate, so christened it. We
took the hint from an old Dutch woman and put the staminates
near them, thus rendering them productive. These pistillates
must have the staminates near them. Those, therefore, who do
not like strawberry theories, and will not take the trouble to plant
staminates and pistillates, should get the hermaphrodites, such as
Wilson's Albany, Hooker, &c. There is no mystery in raising
strawberries.

He was surprised to find, in Downing's new edition, advice to
be careful not to take strawberry runners from a bed of strawber-
ries that has degenerated. Cannot understand that. The runners

385

of the plant are identical with and as good as the original plant.
Downing excepts some, which explains it. He excepts the Haut-
bois, which affords a clue to the cause of this advice. The pistil-
lates are crowded out by the rank growing staminates. His ap-
pendix or exception, explains the advice. Dr. W. does not believe
one word on degeneration, for degeneration means mixed, which
cannot be.

Under peculiar circumstances some of these staminates seem to
vary a little. Iowa is a staminate, and is sometimes productive,
especially where the plants are not crowded. They have a better
chance when thin, planted in hills or bunches.

HOW STRAWBERRIES ARE GROWN AT THE RATE OF EIGHT HUNDRED BUSHELS PER DAY.

In any good, clean, western soil, you can depend upon growing
strawberries profitably. In the woody country about Cincinnati
and other parts of Ohio, the timber is cleared off or the trees gir-
dled, ground stirred up and corn planted. Any wet time during
the summer the strawberries are planted between the rows of corn.
The corn is harvected and the stalks left on the ground. After
the corn is off the plants continue to grow, making a vigorous
growth in the fall. The corn stalks, if left on the ground, are a
protection ; leaves drift in, and are also a benefit. In spring we
cut off the stalks ; the 1st of May put in the shovel plow, throw-
ing dirt right and left. If the dirt is thrown upon them, never
fear. But, be it remembered, that dirt is only to cover the roots
when planting is done. No portion of the leaf-stalk should be put
under ground at planting. Cultivate this year; the first year after
planting there will be little fruit. The second season we get the
market crop — the heavy crop. The third and fourth years the
crop is not so large; the plants are too crowded. Something must
be done. Then put in the plow and plow the field in every direc-
tion ; cut and cover ; tear it all to pieces ; then put on the harrow
and harrow it thoroughly. There will be plants enough left after
this treatment. They will grow vigorously and bear abundantly
the next season. The finest fruit in the Cincinnati market this
season was from vines treated in this manner last August. There
were Iowas measuring an inch and one-fourth in diameter. If
kept clean, strawberry plantations will do well year after year.
Edwards, of your state, will tell you the same story, and his treat-
ment of his beds is very similar to that described.

Mr. Galusha asked what three varieties lie would recommend
as best for general cultivation for general purposes.

Dr. W. prelers pistillates for profit and his own taste. First
and foremost he mentions the Necked Pine— old fashioned, a little
too soft for carrying, productive, well flavored and sweet enough
when ripe. Second, Extra Bed or No. 3, ( Cincinnati seedling.)
The berries will average an inch in diameter. Had counted fifteen
ripe berries on a single truss. These are the two pistillates he
would select. Third, Wilson's Albany — deservedly a favorite be-
—49

eause of its productiveness, appearance and carrying qualities ; but
he must say he had never tasted a good strawberry of it. He
would plant equal proportions of each of the kinds named.

Some of those flowers which appear pertect do not grow perfect
berries ;, so of pistillates. The berries are irregular, ugly shaped,
from error of impregnation ; named McAvoy's Superior as such a
variety. He has picked perfect Extra Keds fully a hundred feet
from any staminate flower. He believes insects have much to do
with impregnation. In selecting varieties of staminate and pistil-
late strawberries, it is important to select such as have strong
character in their foliage. We cannot tell the sexes apart by their
foliage. It is desirable to select such as are distinct. Recom-
mends the Hudson as a pistillate variety, a favorite about Cincin-
nati, in place oi the Necked Pine, if the cultivator wants a darker
and firmer fruit. For a late strawberry recommends Willis' Seed-
ling, though small.

Dr. "Warder was followed by C. R. Overman, President of the-
State Horticultural Society, in regard to the future use and im-
portance of this Society, and he expressed the earnest hope that the
people of the north and south would be united in advancing the
horticultural interests of the State, which he was sure they would
be, and that this State would ultimately become as famous for its
fruits, as it was for its cereals,
here to feed the millions of other States.

On motion of Mr. Phillips,

Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be tendered to Dr. Warder for his address and-
for the rich display of strawberries, twenty-two varieties, which he presented for exhibition,,.

On motion,

Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be tendered to all editors in this State who
have taken an interest in the present exhibition and fair.

Resolved, That the committee on by-laws be allowed to defer making their report until
the next meeting.

After some minor business was transacted, the Society adjourned
to meet next evening at the same time and place.

On Wednesday, June 1st, the Society again met at the court
house and listened to an able lecture by C. Thomas, Esq., of Mur-
physboro, on Entomology.

After which the Society adjourned to meet on the fourth Tues-
day of August, at such place as shall be fixed upon by the commit-
tee for the next exhibition and fair.

JOHN M. HUNTER,
Bee. Sec. Southern Illinois Ppm. and Ilort Society ;

NORTHWESTERN FECIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION

This Association, made up of members from Missouri, Iowa,
Wisconsin and Illinois, and which had occupied a distinguished
position among the Pomological institutions of the country, held
its last meeting in Alton, on the the 2d and 3d days ot October,
1857. This action on the part of the members from Illinois was
the result of a conviction that their energies and efforts were re-
quired to sustain their own State institution, the Illinois State
Horticultural Society ; and for these reasons only can we be satis-
fied with the dissolution of an association which had done much
for Pomological Science in the west, and the recollections of which
will long be dear to its original members and friends scattered over
the northwestern States.

One of the closing acts of this Association was the receiving and
adopting a report, from a committee to whom the subject hadbeen
referred, recommending a list of apples for cultivation in Northern
Illinois and Wisconsin, Central Illinois and Southern Illinois.
That list is given below :

1 Early Harvest

..N

..N

™N

"n

c
c

c

c
c

c
c
c
c

C
C

c

c
c

c

c
c

0

s

s
s

s
s
s
s

s
s

s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s

s

N

C
0

c
c
c
c
c
c

c
c
c
c

28 Early Winter Sweet

29 Yellow Bellflower

... N

30 Swaar

. N

31 Fulton

32 Sweet Nonesuch

33 White Winter Pearmain...

34 Early Pennock

35 Lowell

N

N

.....N
N

. N

7 American Summer Pearmain.

8 Ramsdell's Sweet

11 Keswick Codlin

36 Ladies' Sweet

37 Domine

3S Herefordshire Pearmain....

39 White Pippin

40 Whitney's Russet

41 Bailey's Sweet

42 Minkler's Sweet

43 Red Canada

44 Willow Twig

45 Winesap

46 Raule's Janet

47 Newton Pippin

48 Gilpin

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

I.7.H

N

..N

..N

..N

14 Fall Pine

15 Maiden's Blush ,

17 White Bellflower

ri

19 Hubardson's Nonesuch

s

21 Peck's Pleasant

p

22 Pryor's Red

"n

s
s

24 Autumn Swaar (sweet)

25 Downing's Paragon

49 Tallman Sweet

N

[The letters on the right hand of the list are intended to designate, N, Northern Illinois
and Wisconsin ; C, Central Illinois ; and S, Southern Illinois.]

This last meeting of the Association, having been held in October,
after the hard winter, every thing was rejected that yielded to the

388

severe frosts of that long to be remembered winter. The Bambo
was retained by a close vote. Those trees that were protected
stood well, and their owners insisted on retaining this popular old
sort. It may be well to remark here, as was observed at the meet-
ing, that when orchardists protect their orchards by belts of decidu-
ous or evergreen trees, and underdrain them, lees complaint will
be likely to be heard of tender varieties of apple trees.

ADDRESS OF DR. JOHN A. WARDER, OF CINCINNATI,

BEFORE THE NORTH-WESTERN FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, AT ALTON, OCTOBER 2d, 1S5T.

Gentlemen of the Association: — Allow me to congratulate
you upon the return of this annual convocation of the Fruit Grow-
ers of the great ]STorth-west. It is an occasion of deep interest to
those of us who are engaged in this important branch of agricultu-
ral pursuits. The production of delicious fruits and the various
trees from which these fruits may be gathered, has, indeed, in these
latter days, assumed an importance among the interests of our
country that cannot be questioned. In former times there was a
small nursery here and there, from which the neighboring farmers
supplied themselves with the few trees they desired to plant ; in-
deed many orchards were grown upon a corner of the farm upon
which they were to be planted. In those days the best varieties
were limited to a few, or in most cases, the orchards were planted
with seedlings, or "sprouts," as they were called. Thus the re-
sponsibility of the nurseryman of those times was small, and thus
toOj a modicum of knowledge in fruits, made such a man quite an
oracle among his neighbors. Now, this is all changed — intelligent
men devote their whole energies, talents and capital to this de-
partment of industry, their trees are counted by millions. Their
responsibilities to community are thus vastly increased, and hence
the absolute necessity of these periodical convocations of nursery-
men and orchardists, in which the different members come forward,
each with his quota of information, gathered within the range of
his own observation, and eager to inform himself of what others
have done in the march of progress, so that all may increase their
stock of knowledge. This system of mutual aid marks the spirit
of the age in which we live ; it is applied in many departments of
human knowledge — the highest savans find advantage in thus con-
ferring together, in their association meetings, and the common ar-
tizan is benefited by exhibiting his fabrics, and interchanging
views with his fellow laborers, at the crystal palaces and other
industrial, exhibitions which have been held in our country, and
have characterized the age in which we live.

In our own favorite department of Horticulture, in the pursuit
of Pomology, each student must be self-dependent ; he must ob-
serve peculiarities of wood, leaf, habits, and mode of growth of the
tree ; he must closely study the peculiarities of shape, color, struc-
ture, seed and flavor of the fruit, as well as the physiology or nat-

389

ural history, of the whole plant, its favorite soils, manures and gen-
eral treatment ; all these matters he may, indeed he must study
out for himself, and yet, by means of books, imperfect as they unfor-
tunately are, and by the aid of remarks made by such other observ-
ers in the same held, as he will meet at these Pomonal festivals, he
will often have his attention directed to the scrutiny of many points
in the character and history of fruits, that would otherwise have
escaped his observation. The fewest of us have ever been taught
to observe properly. Having eyes we see not as we should — hence
the great importance of these meetings. Then again, the number
of fruits in cultivation, and the years necessary for them to come
into a state of productiveness, require a lifetime for any one person
to study them all upon his own grounds — whereas, we may here
see the fruits produced by others, and may, from their own lips
learn the various peculiarities, so far as they can be expressed in
vocal language.

Within a limited range, it has been found that certain varieties
are more or less successful, according to the adaptation of soil and
climate, and too, according to the wants and tastes of the market
for which the fruits are produced. Thus in some cities, a red ap-
ple is preferred to a white one, while perhaps the same purchasers
may prefer a pale strawberry to a dark colored fruit — some per-
sons will pay a better price for free stone peaches — some will es-
chew all but the pavies or clings — some will demand the largest
varieties of all fruits, taking size as a qualification, even at the ex-
pense of flavor, while other customers, with better judgment and
greater economy, will select the medium sized and smaller fruits,
particularly in apples, pears and peaches, because they find them
also more frequently remarkable fur their high flavor and excel-
lence. These circumstances have been noticed and the organiza-
tion of local Horticultural societies and clubs, have furnished
schools of great value to the neighboring cultivators. For more
extended areas, and for the benefit of those persons who live iso-
lated from others engaged in similar pursuits, State Pomological
societies and conventions have been found of great advantage, al-
though, with the extension of area we always find greater diversi-
ty in the opinions expressed by the different members, and conse-
quently less definiteness in the data, to be derived from the delib-
erations of the body — particularly in the attempted decisions upon
fruits, and their estimated value as expressed in the formula adopt-
ed. Our association, being open to the immense territory that may
urge a geographical claim to the " jNoeth-~West," although it em-
braces some of the most acute observers, and most intelligent and
best informed pomologists on the continent, and although it has
already held some of the most interesting meetings, and made the
finest exhibitions of fruits, and has, in its deliberations, arrived at
very satisfactory conclusions upon some quite important practical
points, still, we may expect to find less and less unanimity in vo-
ting upon the merits of certain fruits, in the ratio of our numbers

390

and the greater extent of territory represented at our meetings.
In this respect our organization similates that of the American Con-
gress of Fruit-Growers, now known as the United States Pomo-
logical Society, which, at its biennial sessions, attempts to collect
and collate the fruits and opinions of the orchardists of the whole
continent.

The importance of these grand re-unions of Pomologists begins to
be appreciated in Europe, particularly on account of their labors in
reducing the labyrinths of synonomy, which were formerly so very
bewildering to nurserymen and orchardists, but which have been
greatly reduced at every meeting. Great Britain may be said to
have followed us in the organization of Pomological societies, and
about the present time the second Pomological congress is being
held for France. Would it not be well for some of our American
societies to be there represented by an intelligent delegate, with
samples of our glorious fruits ? The French have extended to us
the invitation, but I have not heard of the appointment of any rep-
resentative from any of the numerous societies of this continent to
meet with the French Pomological Congress.

1st. With regard to the production and management of trees in
the nursery, it will not be expected upon such an occasion as this,
that you nurserymen should be lectured upon the details of your
art, nor that the arena of the planting, culture, budding and graft-
ing trees should be treated in their minutiae ; of all these topics
you are supposed to be already the masters — their thorough dis-
cussion would require a long course of preelections, more appro-
priate for a systematic round of lectures upon the subject, such as
may yet be demanded by the people in the agricultural schools to
be established, and let us hope, such as will, one day, be furnished,
when a complete establishment for an industrial education shall be
perfected. The importance of having healthy and vigorous stocks
upon which to work our choice varieties is very well established ;
these should generally be seedlings, and, in those kinds of trees that
are readily reproduced from the seed, such as the apple, pear,
cherry and peach, among our fruits, seedlings are almost univer-
sally used. Here, however, we may exercise a selection of the
seed to be planted; certain families, in each species, being found
much more vigorous and hardy, they should always be selected as
the source from whence to propagate our supply of stocks — for it
is not true that seedling stocks are always more vigorous and har-
dy than those produced by layering, or from cuttings — quite the
opposite state of things has frequently been observed in the nur-
series of the north west, and many of you have seen the seedlings
suffer more from the severity of the weather than grafted or bud-
ded trees of the same species, even when standing in the seed bed,
in their native integrity, tap root and all undisturbed. I do not,
however, agree with some leading writers who have advanced the
theory that every tree should, of necessity, have a separate in-
dividuality in its collar and descending axis or root system — in or-

391

der to make it a perfect specimen. In some cases, it is trne, the
chances of producing a perfect development, are found almost ex-
clusively among the seedlings of a species, since those specimens
that are produced by extension, whether as layers or cuttings, and
in some instances, even by grafts, which are simply cuttings, in-
serted into a bed of forming wood, connecting them with the soil,
instead of into the earth itself; such specimens, I say, do not fur-
nish us with the full development of tree. This is particularly the
case with certain evergreens, with a strong leader. These, howev-
er, are the exceptions to the rule, and, in the majority of cases,
we may safely propagate any variety to an almost indefinite
period, so far as we know, by means of cuttings, whether of twig
or root, by layers, as also by grafting and budding. I shall not
here attempt to discuss the Knightian theory, nor express further
opinion respecting the duration of varieties, than merely to suggest,
that other causes, such as the exhaustion of the soil, and other want
of favorable condition, may have had something to do with the
failure of some varieties of fruits — and, as a per contra, I will di-
rect your attention to specimens upon your tables of some fruits
that have been cultivated for centuries. At the recent national ex-
hibition of Louisville, Ky., several of the European varieties of ap-
ples were exhibited, that even exceeded in beauty, soundness and
excellence, the pictures and descriptions of the same fruits, taken
from their original sites and stocks.

I have said, that the stocks upon- which the nurseryman should
work his trees, should generally be seedlings — there are, however,
exceptions to this — there are species and varieties that are much
more expeditiously and more successfully propagated by cuttings,
by division and by layers, and, so far as we can judge, at present,
laying theoretical views aside, these plans are perfectly safe, and
the specimens thus produced are perfectly healthy.

Too much stress has been laid upon seedlings and their hardi-
ness— valuable for the production of new varieties and then should
be conducted with skill, by hybridizing, to produce effects.

To proceed from this digression, to the consideration of nursery
treatment of trees, it must be premised that the ground should
have been well selected and thoroughly prepared by draining and
deep culture. High, stimulating manures are not advised, but all
such means should be applied, as will produce a vigorous growthin
the early part of the season — among these the warmth effected
by deep drainage, thorough tilth and moderate manuring, will exer-
cise a powerful influence, and may be much aided by constant cul-
tivation. This is the natural period of growth by longitudinal ex-
tension, the remainder of the season being appropriated to the per-
fection of the wood cells and to the storing up of the proper juices
in those centres of life, the buds, in which the vitality of the tree is
collected, and upon which, indeed, the continued existence of per-
ennial plants depends, just as in those of annual growth, the whole
vitality of each individual is concentrated in its seeds. The buds

392

may be looked upon as the seeds, from which the next crop of
leaves and wood is to proceed — hence the absolute necessity of
having these perfectly matured before the approach of winter.
Nurserymen desire to produce as much growth by extension as pos-
sible, and by high manuring and constant culture, the young trees
may be stimulated, in most seasons, to continue their growth un-
til the end of summer, and even into the autumn, and, owing to
our glorious climate, they may still be able to make all their ar-
rangements for hibernation m a satisfactory manner — such, howev-
er, will not always be the case, and too often the hibernal blasts will
come upon such trees, when they are illy prepared to withstand
their blighting influences, in consequence of the sappy condition of
their shoots, and the soft and imperfect state ot their buds. Eve-
ry observant nurseryman is aware of the importance of having the
terminal buds of his young trees completely perfected before the
dose of autumn, and not again excited into activity before the cold
winter. Another point in regard to the treatment of nursery trees
should be immediately mentioned in this place — that is their pru-
ning. The natural direction of growth is upward — every young
tree will incline to have a leader or main shoot, tending upward —
the nurseryman, emulous of producing as great an amount of
growth as possible, will be inclined to encourage this shoot by re-
moving all lateral branches — the crowded condition of the young
plants in the nursery also favors this result. Sometimes the effect
of all these forces is to produce a set of tall, smooth and beautiful
canes, straight as an arrow. Some varieties, however, especially
of the pear, will incline to one side and then the determined culti-
vator of tall trees, will force them into uprightness, and tie them up
to stakes to effect his object. All this is wrong — the tree, like the
child, needs an equable development of all its parts, in every di-
rection. To produce this effect in the nursery, sufficient space
must be allowed ; the lateral branches must be encouraged, though
subordinated, and the leader must simply be maintained in its su-
premacy by having all competitors kept down, by twisting, pinch-
ing off or otherwise shortening in. To prevent a late growth of
the young trees, it has been suggested to discontinue all cultivation
or stirring of the soil after midsummer, even allowing the weeds
to take possession of the spaces between the rows, wdiich gives the
nursery a very slovenly appearance. A better plan has been prac-
tised by our friends, Overman, of Canton, 111., who sow about three
bushels of oats per acre, at the last dressing of the trees, say in Ju-
ly. A thick grassy carpet is thus spread upon the ground, which
covers the surface and takes up the redundant moisture, checking
the growth of the young trees and affording a shelter also from
the wintry cold.

If cultivation be considered necessary to destroy weeds after
midsummer, this operation should be performed by means of a
sharp scarifier horse hoe, which would only cut off the wetds at or
near the surface of the ground. A very important part of the nur-

393

sery management of young trees consists in the manner of taking
them up from the rows. Those which have been perfectly man-
aged up to this time, which are thoroughly, well and evenly devel-
oped, stocky and firm, may now be utterly ruined by carelessness
on the part of the diggers. The spades should be inserted into
the ground in such a manner as to spare the roots as much as pos-
sible, the earth carefully removed from each side and a large pro-
portion of the fibres preserved. Instead of this, we often see beau-
tiful trees, with scarcely any roots left upon them, or perchance,
the mattock having mangled them terribly.

One of the best methods of securing good roots, particularly an
abundance of small and fibrous roots near the collar of the tree, so
as to be removed, at the time of taking up for sale, is to have the
nursery trees transplanted once or twice during their nursery ex-
istence. This plan, however, requires more labor than most of
our large nurserymen could bestow upon their trees. Lifting from
their beds, without removal, may be practised at less cost, and with
similar good results.

Packing trees suitably is a matter of no less importance than
digging them well, and the consideration of this topic very natu-
rally ensues. It has been observed by nurserymen that purchas-
ers objected to the charge made for packing the trees properly, and
this has been urged in excuse for the very slovenly plan often pur-
sued. Good nurserymen will not only dig up their fine trees with
care, but they will be unwilling to have them leave their premises
without being carefully secured, and they should be paid tor their
trouble. Some one has proposed to change the items in the bills,
and to write,

For 1000 trees, $000 00

For packing the same, 150 00

Total, n _ $150 00

A very important query has arisen in regard to the preparation
of trees for transportation, before packing them. One of your own
number has again suggested the matter to me within a few days.
In order to receive our trees from the nursery in as short a time as
may be, all judicious persons now emplo}^ the express lines, wher-
ever they can be found running in the direction of transportation
needed. The increased expense of the freight becomes a serious
matter, but the advantage of rapid transit is supposed to counter-
balance this. The suggestion I have to make to the nurserymen
may be conveyed by this query — How much freight may be judi-
ciously saved by a proper pruning of the trees before they are
packed ? Many of our best nurserymen and tree planters recom-
mend the severe heading in of all trees, except evergreens, when
they are set out. Now if this trimming is to be performed at all,
why not have it done at the nursery and thus avoid paying freight
upon this useless brush ? The packing can be more snugly per-
formed also. For my own part, however, I should rather save
freight by selecting younger trees.
—50

394

SITE FOR AN ORCHARD.

To a man who is about to plant fruit trees one of the most impor-
tant points to have settled correctly will be the selection of the site
for his orchard. In a large proportion of our country late spring
frosts frequently occur, and often destroy the blossoms and even
the young fruit of our favorite trees, on account of their early
blooming, or from some individual peculiarities, certain varieties
are more obnoxious to this calamity, so also, other sorts are less
liable to suffer. These differences should be carefully considered
when making a selection of kinds. We now have to consider the
choice of a site and should first look for a position least liable to
this difficulty, and at the same time endeavor to find one that shall
not be liable also to a too early excitation of vitality about the close
of winter. For the peach orchard this is particularly important,
for we have learned that the blossom buds of this delicious fruit
are not necessarily destroyed by a mere depression of temperature
below a certain point, as was once supposed, but that a slight de-
gree of excitation of the sap having been induced by a spell of mild
weather a comparatively moderate amount ot cold is often the
cause of their death and the destruction of the crop. On these ac-
counts, as well as because ot a dryer soil, elevated positions, even
where the difference in altitude is but moderate, will always be
found the best for orchards. On the ridges, too, we generally find
a thinner soil than upon a lower depression ot the earth's surface,
and though the choice fruits we desire to cultivate must receive
generous treatment at our hands, we shall find the best specimens
and the soundest as well as the fairest, upon elevated land of mod-
erate fertility. There must be enough of the elements of the tree
and its fruit to insure a tull development of each, if we would ex-
pect success in the orchard — but, while our receipts will be small
from the scraggy, stunted trees of a sterile soil, on the other hand,
the fruit grown upon the wide spreading trees of our most fertile
bottom lands will be found, with all its size, less sound, less com-
pact, less completely perfected, with a minimum of flavor, and of-
ten covered with lichens that sadly disfigure its beauty.

The site of an orchard is a matter ot the highest importance.
Differences of level in any given region, #s has already been noted,
have very different temperature, and as slight depression, at cer-
tain periods, when the thermometer stands near 40 deg., will pro-
duce frost, it is exceedingly desirable to avoid a situation liable to
this calamity which is destructive to tender vegetation. Late or
spring frosts are otten the cause of our losing a crop when the trees
have withstood the rigors ot a severe winter. For this reason ele-
vated ridges, particularly when so situated, as that the cold air can
easily flow off into valleys and gorges among the hills, have been
well selected for orchards, and the planters of such grounds have
been rewarded for their judgment ; it is not enough that the land
should be elevated, .the elevation must also have its adjoining valleys
to receive the cold air. ,01' all situations the basins on elevated ta-

395

ble lands shoiiid be avoided, as such depressions are peculiarly ob-
noxious to frosts. Proximity to a large body of water has also
been found to be of great value as a protection from late frosts.
This may at first appear paradoxical, but it is a well established
fact, and the circumstance is easily explained upon scientific prin-
ciples: A constant evaporation is occurring from the surface of
water, in which process a large amount of heat is consumed, and
becomes hidden in the vapoi4. As much heat is locked up in the
slow evaporation of a gallon of water, as in the rapid ebullition of
a similar quantity in a tea kettle. This heat is not lost, but is
hidden for wise purposes. The vapor, at whatever temperature,
whenever it becomes chilled, resumes its original form of a liquid,
and in this change it again gives off its hidden heat, in a sensible
form, to exercise its genial influence upon surrounding matter, the
earth, the air and plants. Evaporation is a cooling process and
Candensation of vapor is a warming operation. This influence of
Water in tempering the atmosphere is, no doubt, felt near our
great rivers, especially where the prevailing winds direct the cur-
rents of the air, thus laden with moisture, towards the orchard*
The lakes of our country are known to exeraise a most happy influ-
ence upon the retarding of vegetation in the early spring, and
then they protect from late frosts in the spring, and also ward off
the early chills of autumn; thus, at Kelly's Island, near Sandusky,
in Lake Erie, we find a paradise for fruit culture, notwithstanding
the high latitude. The Lake shore, near Cleveland, Ohio, has be-
come famous for the success of its fruit growers.

Aspect is of equal importance, and this is a matter that will be
much more within the control of the majority of us, for few can
have the opportunity, in large tracts of our country, of choosing
high ridges, nor can many enjoy the privilege of lacustrine or flu-
vial influences upon the climate. The favored few should improve
their advantages, but for the rest of us we must take the land as
we find it. Still, it may well be questioned whether orchards, be-
yond a very limited extent, should be planted in those places which
are obnoxious to late frosts. In any situation we may exercise our
judgment in regard to the aspect of our orchards. A southern
slope would seem to attract our attention on account of the genial
influences of a vernal sunshine ; but in those latitudes where a
mid-day sun affects the thawing of the surface during the winter,
great injury will often ensue with the sharp frosts of the following
night. This thawing and freezing will be attended with disastrous
effects, and the worst aspect for an orchard will be the southern
and southwestern, whereas the northern and the northeastly slopes
will be the most happily situated, to avoid, as much as possible,
the bad effects of a winter^ sunshine. This is illustrated by the
observations of every one q£ you, and you are also well aware of
the immense value of even a partial shading of plants by a slight
screen.

396

You need not be informed farther as to the soil and the prepa-
ration for the orchard than, merely in general terms, to be advised
to till the ground well before planting. In a small way and for a
few pets the land may be trenched, but for general tree-planting,
upon a large scale, the plow alone will be sufficient. Drainage of
the soil is highly advantageous, and will be absolutely necessary
to success in many portions of the country. Where this improve-
ment is not attainable, surface drainage may be effected by plow-
ing the soil in the narrow lands or beds, and planting the trees
upon the ridges thus thrown up. In some places, where moisture
abounds and where a desire exists to cultivate fruits, raised stations
have been made for the trees.

A very simple method for planting trees has been adopted in
some parts of the country, which may be named in this place ;
After the land has been well prepared, the last plowing is done so
as to throw the soil into lands of the same breadth or the distance
between the rows, say 32 or 40 feet, according to the character of
the trees to be planted. A large plow is then drawn through the
dead furrows, opening them still more widely, and this is followed
by the sub-soil plow, as deeply as possible. The field will then
present the appearance of having been ditched transversely every
two or three rods. At appropriate distances a light plow is then
drawn across the field, at right angles, to the first deep furrows,
and these intersections mark the stations for the trees, which may
now be set with great rapidity and entire satisfaction. The great
labor of digging holes is thus dispensed with and the process of
planting is greatly accelerated.

The selection of varieties of fruits, to be planted in an orchard,
affords a fine field for the exercise of the judgment, skill and
knowledge of the orchardist. I had intended enlarging upon this
topic, but find here, as in so many other points, that my hearers
are my teachers, and it is unmeet that I should attempt even to
suggest anything to them, and, therefore, refer you to your own
lists of fruits. Before leaving this subject, however, the broad
principle may be laid down that this selection must depend upon
local causes connected with the locality, and upon the object of the
orchard, and the character of the market to be supplied with the
fruits.

In discussing the treatment of the orchard, we may assume that
what is worth doing at all is worth doing well. Thorough cultiva-
tion will accelerate the growth and development of the young
trees, and thus contribute to ultimate success. This kind of treat-
ment, especially if accompanied by manuring, is, however, accom-
panied with danger. The too rapid growth of the tree, when
prolonged into the autumn, will endanger the destruction of the
sappy wood by frost, and in such situations and soils, some varie-
ties will continue to grow enormously, but will not make a speedy
return in fruit.

397

The opposite plan of no culture has been recommended by some
orchardists. These contend that the occupation of the surface of
the soil by grass not only checks the too great luxuriance of the
trees, in certain soils, and thus conduces to their earlier productive-
ness, but that the matted coat of grass affords a most valuable
mulching of the soil, protects from the effects of frost upon the
roots, and, also, by encouraging the moles, furnishes, through the
agency of these earth workers, a sufficient amount of culture to
sustain the trees in good condition. Generally speaking, the in-
telligent fruit growers ol the northwest can indicate the products
of such orchards which they facetiously designate as grass fed.
The finest specimens, here, as elsewhere, are produced in the best
cultivated orchards.

A medium course is sometimes pursued in situations where the
plow cannot be conveniently used. The ground immediately
about the trees is turned over with the spade, and sometimes mulch-
ing is also used, but these processes can only be applied upon lim-
ited orchards. In general culture the application of lime and the
occasional turning under of a crop of clover will contribute largely
to the success of the growing and bearing trees.

I had intended to have offered some views upon trimming the
orchard, and also upon the injurious effects of insects ; but in con-
sequence of my having found you so much better posted upon
these topics than myself, I will beg to decline entering upon that
branch of the subject, at the present time.

In conclusion, Mr. President and gentlemen, allow me most
sincerely to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me
of renewing your acquaintance, and of again studying with you
the beautiful fruits of your skill and labor in this our glorious land.
While tracing the shades of variety in the productions of different
localities, studying with you the varieties peculiarly adapted to the
wide spread portions of the great northwestern region, new friend-
ships of the most agreeable character have been formed, and old
attachments to the men of my heart have been renewed and more
firmly cemented. These circumstances are sufficient to repay one
amply for the toilsome journey and the absence from the delights
of the domestic hearth-stone, to which I shall return from this de-
lightful meeting with increased admiration for the country, its pro-
ducts and its noble possessors.

Finally, through you my heartfelt thanks are tendered to this
enlightened audience for the patience with which they have lis-
tened to a plain, practical man enouncing, in his homely way,
some of the simple truths of nature, as they have unfolded them-
selves to his observation.

STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY

Bloomington, III., May, 1859*
S. Fkanois, Esq.) Cor. Sec. State Agricultural Society :

Deak Sib — Your note, asking a brief statement of the objects^
advantages, mode of admission to and means of support of the
State Normal University, is before me.

Section fourth of the act establishing the University, declares,
" That the object of said Normal University shall be to qualify
teachers for the common schools of this State, by imparting instruc-
tion in the art of teaching in all branches of study which per-
tain to a common school education ; in the elements of the natural
sciences, including agricultural chemistry, animal and vegetable
physiology ; in the fundamental laws of the United States and of
the State of Illinois, in regard to the rights and duties of citizens,
and such other studies as the Board of Education may from time
to time prescribe.

You will notice that full permission is granted to add to the list
of studies. In view of this fact, one hundred acres of rolling
prairie land, adjoining the immediate site of the University, have
been secured, with the view of ultimately connecting with the in-
stitution a Model Farm, and giving special prominence to the
sciences which underlie the chief pursuit of the people of Illinois.
But for the present, the general object set forth in the act, namely,
to qualify teachers for the common schools of Illinois, seems to de-
mand the whole force of the institution. While there are many ac-
complished teachers in the State whose learning and genius enable
them to command respect, and whose devotion to the noblest of all
callings, no sneer can weaken, or divert, there are more whose ig-
norance and stupidity have enabled them to reduce the word
"teacher" to a synonym for " pedagogue" and to persuade the
people to think disparagingly of the calling and those who engage
in it. I myself witnessed a verification of this fact not many
months since in the State Senate. The honorable Senator from
Macon objected to the passage of a certain act because it would an-
nul or delay the fulfillment of many hundreds of contracts with
teachers. As the point was stated, a slight flush passed the faces

,: illlll

ii^;^

399

of the twenty-five. True, the smile was scarcely perceptible and
instantly snrpressed, but not till it had told its story. People greet
teachers patronizingly — not as equals — not with that candid recog-
nition which is vouchsafed to ministers, or doctors, or even law-
yers. And yet teachers are just as much respected as they de-
serve to be. The aggregate judgments of a people in regard to
any man or set of men are correct. To avert, so far as may be,
the evil consequences of this state of things, while itmustlast, and
above all, to put an end to it, the Normal University was created.
It is a public State recognition of the dignity of the common
school teacher, and its object is to elevate the standard of acquire-
ment and ability of those who shall be suffered to mould the char-
acters of the future citizens of this great State.

As Illinois is pre-eminently agricultural, the course of study is
so arranged as to give those sciences which underlie agriculture
special prominence, after the common branches. The Board of
Education aim to make the instruction of the institution so thorough
and excellent that young men and women, with high aspirations
and a laudable ambition to serve the State honorably as instructors,
will eagerly seek to obtain a " State Scholarship" and come here
to be educated.

The course of study, requiring three years for completion, con-
sists —

Of the thorough mastery of the elementary or common school
branches, including teaching and drill exercises.

Of lectures on education and educational systems, of the theory
and practice of teaching, school discipline, the school laws of Illi-
nois, and physical education.

Of a course in the higher English and mathematical studies and
the natural sciences, with lectures.

Of so much of the Latin and German languages as shall be
deemed necessary to the full understanding of our own.

Each county is entitled to gratuitous instruction for one student,
and each representative district may also send, free, a number of
students equal to the number of representatives in said district,
making a total, at the time of the passage of the act, of one hundred
and seventy five. This gratuity extends to tuition and text books,
but does not include board or traveling expenses. Board costs
$2 50 per week, exclusive of wood and washing.

The following is the mode prescribed by law for obtaining ad-
mission to the school :

"The school commissioner in each county shall receive and register the names of all appli-
cants for admission to said Normal University, and shall present the same to the county
court; or, in counties acting under township organization, to the board of supervisors;
which said county court or board of supervisors, as the case may be, shall, together with
the school commissioner, examine all applicants so presented in such manner as the Board
of Education may direct, and from the number of such as shall be found to possess the
requisite qualifications, such pupils shall be selected by lot ; aud in representative districts
composed of more than one county the school commissioner and county judge, or the school
commissioner and chairman of the board of supervisors in counties acting under township
organization, as the case may be, of the several counties composing such representative dis-

400]

tricts, shall meet at the clerk's office of the county court of the oldest county, and from the
applicants so presented to the county court or board of supervisors of the several counties
represented, and found to possess the requisite qualifications, shall select by lot the number
of pupils to which said district is entitled. The Board of Education shall have discretion-
ary power, if any candidate does not sign and file with the Secretary of the Board a declar-
ation that he or she will teach in the public schools within the State in case that engagements
can be secured by reasonable eiforts, to require such candidate to provide for the payment
of such fees for tuition as the Board may prescribe."

It will be seen that the county school commissioner and county
judge or board of supervisors, as the case may be, have the ap-
pointing power, and that applications for "State Scholarships"
must be made to the school commissioner of the county where the
applicant resides.

The requirements for obtaining a " State Scholarship" are four.

First — The applicant must be, if a male, not less than 17, and if
a female, not less than 16 years of age.

Second — He (( r she) must produce a certificate of good moral
character, signed by some responsible person.

Third — He (or she) must sign a declaration of his (or her) inten-
tion to devote himself (or herself) to school teaching in this State.

Fourth — He (or she) must pass a satisfactory examination, be-
fore the proper officers, in reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic,
geography, and the elements of English grammar.

The form of the " declaration" of intention to teach may be of
interest and I will insert it :

"I hereby declare my intention to become a teacher in the schools of this State; and
agree, that for three years after leaving the University, I will report in writing to the
Principal thereof, where I have been, and in what employed."

Students may be admitted at the beginning of any term, but not
for a less time than one year or forty weeks. The first term be-

fins Monday, September 12 ; the second term begins Monday,
anuary 2d ; and the third term begins Monday, April 9th.
I can best give you an idea of the students now in attendance
here by an extract from my report to the Board, at the close of
last fall term :

" Forty-nine of the students in attendance the present term are teachers of more or less
experience, some having taught fifty-seven months, and no one less than two.

"Forty-two rely wholly on themselves for support; nine in part; and the remaining
forty-seveu have their bills paid by parents or friends.

"Of the parents and guardians, fifty-five are farmers; seven merchants; seven physi-
cians ; five mechanics ; three agents ; two clergymen ; two lawyers ; one civil engineer ;
one artist; one teacher.

" You will not fail to notice three significant facts in the foregoing statement : First, one-
half of the students have already had experience in teaching. Second, nearly as many aro
compelled to look to themselves for the means to obtain an education. Third, the farmers
are nearly double all other classes of parents and guardians."

The interest on the College and Seminary funds, amounting to
nearly ten thousand dollars annually, ($9,754 74-100) is appro-
priated for the support of the institution. The Board of Education,
who have the supervision of the University, consists of fifteen
men, appointed by the Governor, by the advice and consent of the
Senate. They hold their office six years, but are so arranged that
five go out of office every two years :

401

Members whose Term ends February 18th, 1861.

GEORGE BUNSEN Belleville.

JOHN" J. GILLESPIE S'te Marie.

C. E. HOVEY Bloomington.

GEO. P. REX Perry.

DANIEL WILKINS Bloomington.

NEWTON BATEMAN, ex officio a member and secretary.

Members whose Term ends February 18th, 1863.

C. B. DENIO Galena,

S. W. MOULTON Shelbyville,

A. R. SHANNON Carmi.

WESLEY SLOAN Golconda.

W. H. WELLS Chicago.

Members whose Term ends February 18th, 1865.

JOEL S. POST Decatur.

W. H. POWELL Springfield.

PERKINS BOSS Chioago.

SIMEON WRIGHT Illinois,

The Board of Instruction consists at present of

C E. HOVEY, Instructor in the Theory and Art of Teaching.

IRA MOORE, Instructor in Mathematics.

SAMUEL WILLARD, Instructor in Languages.

E. C HEWETT, Instructor in Geography, Ac.

C. M. CADY. Instructor in Vocal Music.

E. R. ROE, Lecturer on Chemistry and Physiology.

L. P. CLOVER, Instructor in Drawing.

Miss F. A. PETERSON, Assistant Pupil Teacher.

Miss MARY M. BROOKS, Principal and Instructor in the Model School.

A large edifice is now being erected, for the use of the school,
in the town ot Normal, two miles north of the city of Blooming-
ton, at an expense of eighty-five thousand dollars.

In devising inside plans for the University edifice, it was neces-
sary to determine, in advance, the principle on which the school
should be organized.

Three systems were considered, which may be distinguished by
the terms College, Graded and Lancasterian. Should the College
plan be adopted, then a chapel and class-rooms, no matter
whether adjacent or not, would alone be required. If the Graded
system prevailed, separate rooms for each teacher, with study-
desks and all the appurtenances of an independent school, would
be necessary. The Laucasterian plan would require a large assem-
bly or study with adjacent class-rooms.

It was evident, on reflection, that the College plan would not do,
and just as evident t'hat the Graded plan was best adapted to the Model
School, while the Lancasterian possessed some advantages for the
Normal. It was, therefore, determined to combine the two, and
to construct a more complete edifice than any now existing on this
continent for a similar purpose. It was necessary to provide for
the Normal School, the Model School, the Janitor, a Library, a
Gallery of Fine Arts, a Museum of Natural History, and for such
other adjuncts as might aid the general purpose of the University.

Basement Story. — This story is mainly above ground. Here
is the janitor's house, consisting of a parlor, kitchen, cellar, three
bed rooms, etc., a storage room, a laboratory, a chemical lecture
—51

402

room, boiler or furnace rooms, boys' and girls' play rooms for the
Model School, to be used in stormy weather, (32 ft. 6 in. by 48 ft.
4 in.) corridors and stairways.

First Story. — This story is 15 feet high in the clear, and con-
tains the reception room, Principal's room, teachers' rooms, text
book and apparatus room, wardrobes and four Model School rooms,
two of which are 32 feet square and two 25 ft. 6 in. by 37 ft. 6 in.
These rooms are intended for a Primary, an Intermediate, a Gram-
mar and a High School, and will accommodate fifty pupils each.
Students enter the building at the east and west ends, and visitors
at the south front. The first floor is reached by four flights of
stone steps.

Second Story. — Here is the Normal School. In the centre is
placed the assembly room, sufficiently ample to seat 300 students.
On either side of it are four large recitation rooms, and at one end
are two of smaller dimensions, making ten in all. These rooms
have been so arranged that 300 students can pass from the assem-
bly room to the class rooms, or vice versa, in two minutes' time,
and without at all interfering with each other. This story is 16
feet high in the clear.

Third Story. — In this story, 20 feet high in the clear, is located
Normal Hall, large enough to hold a thousand people. On one
side of it is the Museum of Natural History and the Library ; on
the other, the Gallery of Fine Arts, the drawing room and the
ante-room for the Hall. This story is reached by four broad stair-
ways, as is also the second story, affording the amplest means of
ingress and egress. I regret that I have not obtained from the
architect, G. P. Kandall, of Chicago, some account of the style of
architecture for the edifice, but it did not occur to me till it was
too late.

The building is so planned that it may be heated by stoves, fur-
paces or steam. Truly yours,

CHARLES E. HOVEY,
Principal State Normal University,

SOILS OF KENTUCKY AND ILLINOIS.

REPORT OF D. D. OWEN, GEOLOGIST OF KENTUCKY.

In the winter of 1856-7, Dr. D. D. Owen, Geologist of the State
of Kentucky, made a report to the legislature of that state, which
contains some matters in which the people of Illinois are deeply
interested.

The following passages are extracted from that report :

[EXTRACT.]

" The Illinois soil analyzed by Dr. Owen was taken from the prairie on the Mississippi,
in Illinois, a few miles east of Keokuk." The following is the result of the analysis of this
soil :

" Organic and volatile matter, 9.050

Alumina 2.400

Oxide of iron, 2.350

Carbonate of iron 890

Magnesia, 526

Phosphoric acid,.... 175

Sulphuric acid, not estimated :

Potash, 19?

Soda, 100

Sand and insoluble silicates, 84.470

100.163"

Dr. Peter, Assistant Geologist, in remarking upon this analysis,
and which remarks are embraced in the report, says :

" Notwithstanding the luxuriance of the growth of the first crops on the prairie soil, occa-
sioned 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 consideration durabili-
ty 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 Kentucky, that of the prairies contain a much
smaller proportion of alumina and oxide of iron, as well as lime, magnesia, phosphoric acid
and alkalies. It contains a much larger proportion of fine sand, and doubtless a much lar-
ger proportion of 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 immediately available in the production of luxuriant crops; these
very circumstances will cause its more speedy exhaustion; and when the accumulated store
of organic matter has been consumed by thriftless husbandry, this soil cannot rank beyond
a second rate position.

" By a comparison of the constituents of this Illinois prairie soil with the average soils of
Kentucky, — for example with [a] of the following table, which is an upland soil of Franklin
county, waters of Benson, near llardinsville, and [b] a sub-carboniferous soil of the Barren

404

limestone formation, Barren county, we perceive that these Kentucky soils, are as a -
no ways inferior :

n . , , M [b]

" Organic and volatile matter, 9.133 5.200

Alumina only in [b], alumina, including oxide of iron and manganese, [b]... 3.100 8.460

Oxide of iron, 2.206

Carbonate of lime, 316 366

Carbonate of magnesia in [a], magnesia alone in [b], 517 205

Brown oxide of manganese, 234

Phosphoric acid, 243 159

Sulphuric acid, 068

Potash, 173 197

Soda, 049 090

Sand and insoluble silicates, 80.754 87.686

Loss in [a], loss and sulphuric acid in [b], 647 197

100.000 100.000
" The Franklin county soil is even rather richer in organic and volatile matter ; both are
richer in argillaceous matter; the Franklin 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 make it equal in the amount of fer-
tilizers for only six inches in depth :

107,236 pounds of ferruginous clay.
20,569 " of limestone.
1,881 " of phosphoric acid, or
3,802 " of leached ashes.
392 " of soda, or
836 " of common salt.
" It is true that the Illinois soil contains 1.28 per cent, organic matter, which would con-
tribute to produce heavy crops for the first few years, but the above inorganic constituents
are the true elements of permanent productiveness, and the Illinois soil, with 84.47 per cent,
of sand insoluble silicates, must of necessity be far sooner exhausted than the more retentive
argillo-calcareous soil of the blue grass regions of Central Kentucky.

" The rich black silicious soils of the West, are, indeed, wonderfully productive at first,
for the reason above stated, but they never can have that permanent productiveness of the
best argillo-calcareous soils of Kentucky, cultivated with any degree of judgment.

" Let not, then, the Kentucky farmer, without due consideration, 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 his new land, and renovating the consumed ingredients of
his old. DAVID DALE OWEN,

State Geologist."

The report above noticed having been placed in the hands of
the Corresponding Secretary, and believing the analysis of the soil
of Illinois and the comments of Dr. Peter on the same, indorsed
as they were by the distinguished Geologist of Kentucky, calcula-
ted to do a serious injury to our State, in the opinions of those who
might desire to migrate hither, — and desiring, if right and just, to
correct the impressions thus sought to be imposed on the emigra-
ting portion of the people of Kentucky and other states, the fol-
lowing communication was presented to Dr. J. G. Norwood, Ge-
ologist of this State :

ILLINOIS STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

Office Corresponding Secretary,

Springfield, March 17th, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood, State Geologist :

Dear Sir — The "Commonwealth," a paper published at Frankfort, Kentucky, and da-
ted the 11th of February last, contains a "Geological Report in relation to the soils of Ken-
tucky," by D. D. Owen, State Geologist. A considerable part of that report is devoted to
a comparison of soils of Kentucky with a specimen of soil, said to have been taken from
"an Illinois prairie, collected by Dr. Peter, in 1855, opposite Keokuk, a few miles back from
the Mississippi river, from the newly up-turned prairie sod."

405

It is unnecessary to copy that portion of the report to which reference is now made, bo-
cause the whole document is herewith transmitted to you. The effect of the report, in re-
gard to the soils of Illinois, is, manifestly, to depreciate them, by the analysis of a single
specimen, and the purpose of this depreciation is to prevent emigration from Kentucky to
the prairies of Illinois, as will be more fully understood from the two following paragraphs,
which conclude the report in question :

" The rich, fat, black siUcious prairie soils of the west, are, indeed, wonderfully produc-
tive at first, for the reasons above stated ; but they never can have that permanent produc-
tiveness of the best argillo-calcareous soils of Kentucky, cultivated with any degree of
judgment.

" Let not then the Kentucky farmer, without due consideration, leave the home of his na-
tivity in the hope of finding, in the far West, land more productive than his own. Let him
seek rather to gain an insight into the qualities of his soil, and adopt a frugal method of
husbanding the strength of his new land, and renovating the consumed ingredients of his
old."

Your attention to the subject of this communication is desired, from the fact, that, in the
course of your geological surveys, you have examined the soils of a large portion of this
state, and your official statements whether the opinions expressed by Drs. Owen and Peter
in regard to our soils, based upon the analysis of a single specimen, are to be regarded as
authority. Respectfully, your ob't servant,

S. FRANCIS, Corresponding Secretary

Illinois State Agricultural Society.

Dr. Norwood, deeming that the experience of farmers, long resi-
dents of Illinois, would best answer the scientific and elaborated
opinions of the Kentucky Geologists in regard to the permanent
fertility of our soils, addressed the following circular to different
well known individuals in various parts of the state:

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

Office State Geologist,
Springfield, Illinois, March 18th, 1857.

Sir : The following communication has been received from the
Corresponding Secretary of the Illinois State Agricultural Society:

gSfc. ILLINOIS STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

Office of the Corresponding Secretart,

Springfield, Illinois, March 11th, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood, State Geologist of Illinois :

Dear Sir — The " Commonwealth," a paper published at Frankfort, Ky., and dated the
11th of February last, contains a " Geological Report in relation to the Soils of Kentucky,"
by D. D. Owen, State Geologist. A very considerable part of that report is devoted to a
comparison of soi s of Kentucky with a specimen of soil said to have been taken from " an
Illinois prairie, collected by Dr. Peter, in 1855, opposite Keokuk, a few miles back from the
Mississippi river, from the newly up-turned prairie sod."

It is unnecessary to Copy here that portion of the report to which reference is now made,
because the whole document is herewith transmitted to you. The object of the report, in
regard to the soils of Illinois, is, manifestly, to depreciate them by the analysis of a single
specimen, and the purpose of this depreciation is to prevent emigration from Kentucky to
the prairies of Illinois, as will be more fully understood from the two following paragraphs,
which conclude the report in question :

"The rich, fat, black, silicious prairie soils of the west are indeed wonderfully productive at first,
for the reason above stated ; but l hey never can have that permanent productiveness of the best argillo-
calcareous soils ot Kentucky, cultivated with auy degree of judgment.

" Let not, then, the Keniucky farmer, without due consideration, leave the home of his nativity in
the hopo of finding, in tbe far west, land more productive than bis 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 hia
new land, and renovating the consumed ingredients of his old."

Your attention to the subject of this communication is desired, from the fact that, in the
course of your geological surveys, you have examined the soils of a large portion of this
state, and your official statements will show whether the opinions expressed by Drs. Owen
and Peter, in regard to our soils, based upon the analysis of a single specimen, are to be
regarded as authority. Respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. FRANCIS, Corresponding Secretary

Illinois State Agricultural Society.

406

Your attention is respectfully requested to this matter. The
question is not, whether it is better for the farmer to manure his
fields, and thus keep them always productive, but, are our natural
soils of the prairie equal to the soils of our neighboring state, in
their natural condition ?

The following inquiries are deemed to be important; and, in
order to enable me to answer them properly, it has been thought
expedient to address as many of the old farmers as I know of, in
relation to their farming experience.

Many other matters, of interest to the farmer, will, no doubt,
occur to you, and any suggestions you can make will be thankfulhT
received.

It is desirable that we should know these matters at the earliest
moment your convenience will admit of.

Please reply to the questions, so far as your knowledge and
experience will enable you to do so.

1. In what county do you reside ?

2. How long has the land you occupy been under cultivation ?

3. How many crops have you taken from it, without manure ?

4. Can a good crop be grown upon it now, without manure %

5. What have you to say in regard to the lasting quality of the
fertility of your soil ?

6. Do you believe, from your own experience, that the prairie
soils of Illinois are equal or inferior to those of other states, so far
as productiveness is concerned, for a series of years, without
manure ?

7. Do you believe our prairie soil will grow corn, for a series of
years, without manure ?

As I said before, anything that occurs to you, you will please
add to the list of questions.

J. G. NORWOOD, State Geologist.

The replies to this circular were numerous. Many of them fol-
low. More would have been published, if deemed at all necessary.
The people of Illinois, after examining the statements made by
many of their best farmers, residing in every part of the state,
will be willing to "rest their case."

We are gratified, also, in thus being enabled to present to citi-
zens of other states undeniable testimony in relation to the value
and permanent fertility of Illinois soils.

407

ILLINOIS SOILS— STATEMENTS OF FAEMEKS.

Rock SrEiNG, O'Fallon Depot P. 0.,
April 14, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood, State Geologist :

Deak Sir: Your circular of the 18th of March, making inqui-
ries about the capability of our prairie soils to produce a succession
of crops, and especially maize or corn, came into my possession on
the 26th of March. Being then extremely feeble from repeated
attacks of illness, I was compelled to postpone an answer. Even
now I am unable to look over the memoranda and documents pre-
served that would furnish collateral evidence of the correctness of
the statement I send you.

At the very first of the discussion, I object against the mere
chemical analysis of soils in settling the question of their certain
and permanent productiveness on the same principle that I 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 ex-
plains 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 important uses, and also its limits, when applied
to agriculture. But to rely on the science of chemistry as the sole
and sure guide of the agriculturist, is preposterous, of which the
comparison of Dr. Peter of the " argillo-calcareous soil" of Ken-
tucky with the prairie soil 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 expermental facts
of 150 years to offset the chemical analysis and speculations of Drs.
Owen and Peter.

Either the soil of Dr. Peter was from the sand ridge, brought
down by some of the great floods from the abraded sand stone of
the Upper Mississippi (for he denominates 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 tarm that was settled
and improved about 1810. The season proved very unpropitious.
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 succession. I am not old enough yet to find out any
material difference between our timbered and prairie soils, on the

408

uplands of this county, in the production of crops, after many years
of successful 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 cultivated in corn
in 1822. I settled on a tract of "barrens," so called from the tim-
ber being stunted, shrubby and scattering, with patches of prairie
intermingled with patches of underbrush, of oak and hickory,
growing 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 made and the
prairie grass killed out.

Being, like all my neighbors, unable to fence, break up and cul-
tivate new ground to the extent desirable with every farmer, I
had to plant corn, for many years in succession, in the same field.
The supposition that by such 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 corn field, as some did. Con-
gress land, in great profusion, at $1 25 per acre, adjoined nearly
every farm, and from 1820 to 1835 we had no fear of speculators
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 lying near the timber were
first cultivated. Very seldom would a settler make his pitch into
the interior of a prairie. The same policy of successive crops of
corn was pursued on these prairie farms. JSTo difference in the
character and quality of the soil was discovered 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 (poa
pratensis) by the feeding of stock in the summer, by the growth
of hazel patches, shrubs, brushwood and finally timber; and, by
the introduction of the Kentucky blue grass, has destroyed the
tough, adhesive sward of our prairies that j et remain such, and
modified, but not essentially changed, the character of our prairie
soils.

My farm at Rock Spring was badly managed for several years.
Absence from home a large proportion of my time in my profes-
sional duties, for more than twenty years, compelled me to depend
on hired men, who had no skill or training as agriculturists, or on
annual "croppers," who were accustomed to skim over the ground
with the " bar-share" plow, or on my sons in boyhood. The sur-
face in barrens is more undulating than in 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 unfavorable to the successive
growth of several crops, and especially corn. Then these barrens
had a thinner and lighter soil, at first, than the soil of the prairies

409

in this part of the State. I have used very little manure, except on
meadow land ; and, in favorable seasons, I have mowed and cured
from two to three and a half tons of hay (timothy and red top) to
the acre, by measurement and weight. I have repeatedly exter-
minated the sour dock, when it has made inroads into my meadow.
An industrious laborer, with a sharp grubbing hoe, by cutting off
each plant an inch or two below the surface and letting the hot
June suu pour its scorching rays on the bleeding stump, need not
give himself further trouble with this noxious weed. This opera-
tion should be performed while the weed was in blossom.

My farm was brought under cultivation at successive periods
from 1S22 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 resusci-
tated, and the crop of 1845 exceeded twenty bushels to the acre —
an average harvest that season. Another portion of a field of mine,
measuring nine acres, was cultivated in ] 825, and every year after
run to corn, wheat or oats ; the corn repeatedly three years in suc-
cession, with crops ranging from 35 to 50 bushels to the acre.
This field had been skimmed over with the bar-share plow, of
" croppers," till, in 1845, it did not produce ten bushels of wheat
to the acre. In the spring of 1846, on my return from Philadel-
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 wheat.
To a large diamond plow (an iDvention of this neighborhood) they
attached the fore wheels of a farm wagon, with a short axle and
old cart tongue, drawn by two stout yoke of oxen. The plow was
put in six inches deeper than ever a plow ran in that field before,
and turned up the " argillo-calcareous" 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 1847, not less
than twenty-five bushels to the acre.

My 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 cultivated, by a
rotation of crops, deep plowing, sub-soiling 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 atmosphere 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 windrows and

burnt all their corn stalks before spring plowing. Wheat and oat

—52

410

stubble were also btirnt over, and the prolific crop of weeds was
frequently cut, dried and burned. The soils in this portion of Illi-
nois not only need " humics," for the successful growth of cereals,
but the earth should be kept loose with these articles 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 owuer cultivated his separate plateau, but all
under a common fence. They raised, for successive generations, 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 year on the land he was then
working, but he could give me nothing definite. He remembered
that his grandfather raised corn on that plateau when he was a
small boy.

American immigrants came into the present counties of Ean-
dolph and Monroe nearly every year from 1781 to 1800. They
commenced making farms on 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 locality have been in culti-
vation ever since, and we hear of no failure of crops. The first
American settlers came to the uplands of St. Clair county about
the commencement of the present century. Capt. Joseph Ogle
brought his family from Western Virginia to the Illinois country,
in 1785. 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 manufactured some flour for the 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 autumn to the inroads of all the horses, cattle
and swine in the neighborhood to destroy the grass and weeds.
After corn planting was over, the field was broken up and left till
about the last of September, when it was plowed again and the
seed wheat put in, either with light plowing or with the harrow.
"When cultivated in this mode, the yield was from 25 to 35 bushels.
Our wheat in this county is regarded as defective if it does not
weigh from 62 to 66 lbs. to the bushel. A common method of
raising wheat, in early times, was to sow among the corn rows the
latter part of August, and to cover it with a light plowing between
the rows. By this mode the farmers get from ten to fifteen bush-
els per acre. ISText crop would be corn again, with a successive
wheat crop intermixed,

411

James Lemen, si\, brought his wife and two boys to the Illinois
country in 1786. Pie 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 Janies, about fifty years since, 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 average
of three feet deep that once existed between the American Bottom
and the Kaskaskia river.

The Lemens' were among our most industrious and thrifty farm-
ers. They made large farms and prepared their wheat ground
after the method of the Ogles, and raised large crops of corn every
year. No manure was ever hauled on their plow land. I think
their corn crop for half a century would average, on the lowest
estimate that 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 county, where he
resided in 1851. "He boarded with a Mr. Landen, 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 informant 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 questions, the very unfavorable
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 my 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 seasons. Each harvest has been a gain on the 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 sufficient extent.

If other old pioneer farmers will furnish you the results of their
observations and experiments and those of their neighbors, you will
be able to convince Kentucky emigrants to this state of the fallacy
of the speculations of the distinguished Geologist of that state, pre-
dicated on the analysis of his "assistant," who obtained "silicious

412

soil" (from some sand ridge) in 1855, "opposite Keokuk" and "a
few miles back from the Mississippi river" — "from the newly up-
turned prairie."

Respectfully yours, JOHN M. PECK.

Quingy, Adams County, III., April 2d, 185?.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Yours of the 18th ult. was duly received, and I pro-
ceed to answer, as best I can, such of your questions as relate to
subjects within the scope of my experience.

I reside in Adams county, about two miles from the city of
Quincy.

The land I occupy, or at least a part of it, has been under culti-
vation for twenty-live years. That portion of the land that has
been under constant cultivation has never been manured at all ;
and a part of this has yielded for the two past years from twenty
five to thirty bushels of wheat per acre ; and I have no doubt that
land lying in such a position as to protect it from wash, and treat-
ed to a rotation of crops may be kept in constant cultivation with-
out ever becoming impoverished or exhausted.

I do not think the soils of Illinois equal only but superior to those
of any other state, with the soils of which I am acquainted, both
for abundance of yield, and continued productiveness, without ma-
nure.

As to your seventh question, my experience justifies me in an-
swering it most decidedly in the affirmative I know of land be-
ing planted with corn for seven years in succession, and harvested
without any apparent diminution oi crop.

I am respectfully and truly yours,

J. P. BOBBINS.

Sodorus, Champaign Co., April Vith, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — I have had no experience in actually cultivating the
soil in Illinois, though I was raised a farmer in Ohio and fol-
lowed the business of agriculture there, till I came to this State,
four years ago.

I now reside in Champaign county, on a new farm.

Since 1 came to this state I have noticed many farms and farm-
ers, in this, and also in Coles county.

In 1855 I bought part of a field of corn raised on the farm of
Henry Sodorus, and averaged it at sixty bushels to the acre. I
think, if any thing, that this was below the real quantity. Mr. So-
dorus says that it is twenty six years since that field was put in
cultivation, and has raised at least twenty four crops of corn. I do

413

not see but it raises about as good corn now as that which has been
cultivated but three or four years.

He also has another field that was put in cultivation before,
which has been in grass for some years. In 1S55 it produced a
heavy crop of hay. Last year it was light, owing to the extreme
drought. I know of a number of farms in Coles county that
have been cultivated in corn from fifteen to thirty years, and in or-
dinary seasons yield from fifty to seventy bushels per acre without
any manure.

I believe, from my observation, I have never known any soil (ex-
cept perhaps river bottom.) that will bear more cultivation and
produce good crops, than the Prairie soil of Illinois.

Yours respectfully,

J. MERRITT.

Charleston, Coles Co., April 1st, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood:

Dear Sir — I herewith hand you my answers to your inquiries
of the 18th ultimo, viz :

My present place of residence is Coles county, where I have re-
sided for fourteen years, and cultivated my land for that time.

I have taken fourteen crops from it during that time, and a good
crop can now be raised without manure.

The fertility of the soil here diminishes very slowly, and my
opinion is, that for a series of years, without manure, it is far supe-
rior to the soil in Harrison county, Kentucky, (where I was raised. )

I raised, and had raised, eleven crops of corn in succession, on a
piece of high rolling prairie land, on my farm. The last one with
ordinary cultivation yielded me sixty bushels per acre.

The land was put in cultivation in 1812, and the crop mentioned
was raised in 1853. Since then, the land has been rested with
snurll grain. ~No manure used.

1 am of the opinion that our prairie soils will grow corn for a
series of years without manure.

Very respectfully,

THOMAS G. CHAMBERS.

Letden, Cook Co., III., April Sth 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood:

Dear Sir — In reply to your inquiry in relation to the soil of Il-
linois vs. Kentucky, as appended to your circular, I would respect-
fully submit to you a few remarks.

That the soil of Kentucky is rich in the elements that constitute
a valuable and fertile country, there can be no doubt ; and her far-
mers may well feel proud of its intrinsic worth, when taken in
connection with her fine climate and commanding geographical po-

414

sition. It appears to us there must be some hidden mystery in
this matter that has prompted her State officers to travel out of
the record to make a gratuitous attack upon the fertility of a sister
State, and that too in a work that should not admit within its lids
sentiments of the kind. If the social system of Kentucky is such
that her citizens prefer a change — risking the rigors of a more nor-
thern clime, and the building up of new homes away from all
they hold most dear — it would certainly be more proper to the oc-
casion to make the correction at home, and leave no inducements
whereby they would have any desire to wander oif into strange
lands. Knowing the line climate and rich soil of that State, it was
for a long time a matter of surprise to us that so many of the best
farmers of Kentucky were selling out old homes, long endeared to
them, and settling in our Prairie State. The reason is now patent
to the world, and .requires no repetition here.

The specimen of soil referred to as having been analyzed, was
not taken from this state, but from the state of Iowa ; an.d any one
conversant with the soil of the section alluded to, and of the char-
acter of the specimen itself, need not be told that it was not a fair
specimen of the prairie soil either of Iowa or of this State. It is
well known that the "up-turned prairie sod" is wanting in alumina
(the base of clay,) and is too open in its texture by reason of vegeta-
ble fibres and excess ot humus. Its analysis would show, as stated,
a fat but not enduring soil. In the annual burning over of the
prairie grass, the ashes become lixiviated by the first rains, and the
free alkalies and phosphates sink into the soil below the "upturned
prairie sod," and are found by the plow in the "argillo-calcareous"
loam of the swelling prairie. It is well known that the fertility of
a soil does not depend wholly upon its organic properties, but is
influenced by its physical condition ; its porosity, color, attraction
for moisture, drainage and state of disintegration exert an influence
on its value.

We have not been among the number that place full reliance
upon either chemical or organic analyses of soils. "We know too
well the nice precision required to detect the various elements of
a soil, and the patient manipulation requisite to arrive at even an
approximate estimate of its value. Soils from some of the most
barren heaths show the same elements of fertility as those of fertile
fields, when analyzed by the same formula. Lime is used exten-
sively in many places as the most valuable dressing for wheat, yet
some of the most productive wheat lands contain but a trace of this
substance, nor does any addition improve its fertility.

We have before us tables of analyses, both chemical and organic,
of six specimens of prairie soil, made by Dr. Charles T. Jackson,
of Massachusetts. These specimens all vary from each other, hav-
ing been taken from different localities. In silica they range from
66 to 86 per cent. :

415

Lime — Carb. from 0.98 to 2.6 per cent.

Alumina 3 to 6 "

Peroxide of Iron, from 2.5 to 8.64 "

Humus, from 3.36 to 5.34 "

This would show that such soils contain the elements for long
continued cropping without manure, and to our personal knowl-
edge the experiment has been pretty well tried for the past twenty-
years, without any apparent diminution of product, but where ma-
nure has been added the product has been increased by its use.

We have before us tables of analysis of soils by Sprengel, Davy,
Berzelius, and others, which are interesting to the student but at
the same time of little value to the practical farmer.

For a long time it was supposed that the soils of Yirginia were
inexhaustible ; but a hundred years steady cropping dispelled this
fallacy. It is a wise provision of nature that potash becomes fixed
in the soil after getting out of the reach of the atmosphere. In
that condition it is insoluble in water, and is only slowly disinte-
grated when exposed by the plow to air and frost. Had it been
otherwise our soil might soon be wanting in the alkalies, without
which to unite with silica a crop of wheat would not mature. Judg-
ing from the uniform large per centage of alumina, (the base of
clay) lime and potash, with a fair average of silica and gravel, we
must conclude that for a long series of cropping the prairie soil
stands unrivaled : it is certain that no timbered lands, except allu-
vial river bottoms, can in any respect compare with them. It was
necessary to disguise the facts and present them in such a way that
the mass of readers would not see through the imposition ; an "up-
turned prairie sod" taken from the west bank of the Mississippi in
Iowa, was to serve the purpose of those political economists where-
by they could disparage the rich prairies of this State, in which so
many noble-hearted Kentuckians are now rearing their homes.

We have no doubt but that from the older portions of the State
responses will come, which will show the ability that the prairie
possesses in withstanding an exhausting course of culture, in many
respects rivaling the famed soil of now worn-out Yirginia.

The alluvial soil of Honigpolder in Holland, has been cropped
with the small grains for seventy years, without any manure, yet
this rich soil requires not only to be fallowed occasionally, but that
successive layers of the soil be turned up for use. It is, therefore,
useless to attempt to show that any soil is inexhaustible, by taking
off the crops and making no return. From what we know of the
elements of the soil in both States, it is certain that the prairies are
the most enduring, and that the timber lands will first yield to ex-
haustion.

If we are to believe the agricultural writers of that State, we must
come to the conclusion that the exhausting process is making rapid
headway in deteriorating the value of estates ; and especially is
this true of the crops of tobacco and hemp, which crops have been
steadily on the decrease per annum for the past decade. Farmers
have been urged to improve their lands by judicious rotation and

416

the application of manure, and in many counties this is being ef-
fected. Admitting that the soil of this State is no more valuable
than that of Kentucky, still the enterprising Kentuckian will pre-
fer our State, from the fact of a more ready market, greater range
of products, and cheaper labor. The last item we think will decide
many to make this State their home, to say nothing of the dignity
that here attaches to him who "earns his bread by the sweat of
his brow."

Since we commenced farming in this State, we have been in the
habit of applying manure, and with the most decided advantage.
]STor do we think there is a single acre in the state but would well
repay a liberal dressing for most crops, perhaps all except the small
grains ; and even these are more often benefited than many are
willing to admit. To grow good crops of timothy and clover, ma-
nure is very essential. These, in time, when turned under, furnish
an excellent top dressing.

]STo Kentuckian need fear exhausting the prairie soil if he will
pursue a reasonable system of rotation of crops, and use his manure
in a farmer-like way, that here he can stave off the evil day lon-
ger than there, but it will surely come sooner or later.

In the timber land of " Egypt" the soil is not as rich as the prai-
rie, but the upland, forming as it does the water-shed of the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers, the large quantity of ammonia that is con-
stantly emanating from the bottom lands of these streams is car-
ried by ascending moisture and deposited on this water-shed by
the summer showers. This fact is of great value to that part of
the State in aiding, by the laws of nature, to keep up its fertility.

The supply of potash comes from the large amount of disintegra-
ted sandstone mixed in the soil. Lime is also found in this soil in
abundance, as is also alumina.

Thus much have we said on the defensive ; nor do we feel any
disposition to carry the war across the river. Trusting in the un-
rivaled fertility of pur soil, our ready access to the market of the
world, our vast net-work of railroads, our free schools, free labor,
and the untiring energy of our people, we can have no cause to
fear the rivalry of our sister State, and all feelings of reproach are
lost.

Many of our ablest statesmen, and very many of our best farm-
ers, are from that State, while every day brings us an addition from
the most enterprising class of farmers and capitalists; and though
some of her narrow-minded politicians may set up a howl, yet the
citizens of both States are so bound together by ties of consanguin-
ity and fraternal feeling that they will not be alarmed by the ana-
lysis of an "upturned prairie sod," taken from the state of Iowa, as
an illustration of the soil of the rich rolling prairies of our noble
state.

M. L. DUNLAP.

417

Clark County, April 2, 1857.

The following statements were communicated by Mr. "W. G.
Stephen of Marshall, Clark county :

Mr. J. Lockwood owns a tract of land that was bought by his
father in 1816, plowed the year following, and which has been in
cultivation ever since, with the exception of one season. During
all this time not more than four or five crops of oats or wheat were
put in ; the remainder being invariably corn. This land has been
rented most of the time, and badly farmed, but has averaged over
forty-five bushels of corn to the acre, though never manured ; and
though last season was an unfavorable one for corn, the yield was
forty bushels to the acre.

Mr. Gil Bert Shaw owns a tract of land which was cultivated ex-
clusively iu corn from the year 1824 to 1842, making seventeen
successive avps of com • and which will average now, forty bushels
per acre in a fair season.

Many of the farms on this prairie were entered about the same
time, have been cultivated very much in the same manner, and
with the same result.

Mr. J. C. Hillebert of Union Prairie, has a tract of land which
was bought at the land sale in 1816, which has been owned by him
since 1820, and been ploughed every year since 181 T, and cultiva-
ted generally in corn, with one or two crops of oats, and four or
five of wheat only, during that time. Last season the land pro-
duced over forty five bushels of corn per acre.

Many other farms on this prairie have been in cultivation since
1817, and generally in corn. They have never been manured, nor
well farmed, nor ploughed more than lour inches deep. A few
begin to show signs of bad usage.

Mr. Thomas Haze, on Parker Prairie, owns atract of land which
was entered in 1830, cleared and put in cultivation in 1832, and
raised nineteen crops of corn in succession, with an average of fifty
bushels per acre. It produced last year over 40 bushels per acre,
and has now (June 1857) a very heavy crop of wheat.

The farm of Charles Briggs, also in timber near the prairie, and
a fair sample of other timber farms in the neighborhood, has been
in cultivation twenty five years, with some rotation of crops, and
has shown very decided improvement in fertility.

The farm of J. C. Robinson on Parker Prairie, with timber ad-
joining, has been cultivated for twenty Jive years, generally rented,
badly farmed, no rotation of crops, never manured, and now aver-
ages fifty bushels of corn to the acre, without any visible falling off
in the crops.

Hutsonville, Crawford Co., April 13</i, 1857.
Dr. J. G-. Norwood:

Deak Sir — Tours of the 18th ultimo, is just received, and while
I answer, I am apprehensive that my reply will not afford you as

418

much satisfaction as it might if I had had more experience in prai-
rie farming. I have been cultivating the soil on this prairie but
seven years.

I reside in Crawford county, and my farming land is all open prai-
rie. Part of it is meadow, and has been improved for about fifteen
years. During the first eight years it was said to have been cul-
tivated in corn and oats. The last seven years it has been in tame
grass, and grows better every year. Most of my present plough
land has been under cultivation for seven years.

I have taken a crop from it each year and used no manure, ex-
cept on my garden and a portion of my meadow. The seventh and
last crop of corn on one lot of twenty acres, I think would have
been equal to any that preceded it, had it not been for the extreme
drought of last year.

I think I have found in no state, high, rolling land laid more fair
tor durability, and which would bear a succession of cultivated
crops better than the prairies of this county. I believe the prairie
soil of this county is equal to any land I have seen in any state,
except for grass. There is not quite clay enough for good grazing
land.

I know that our prairies will grow good crops of corn for seven
years in succession without manure, and from the representations
of some of my neighbors who are old settlers, much longer. On
the farm of the late Mr. James JSTewlin, about one mile east of mine,
on the same prairie, is a field which is said to have been brought
under cultivation in 1815 or 1816, and has been tilled constantly
ever since, and most of the time in corn. Some say that there
have been over thirty crops of corn on it, and the balance of the
time in wheat and oats. Mr. "Win. S. Newlin, told me to-day, that
it yielded him fifty bushels of corn per acre last year, and that
there never had been a cart load of manure or a handful of grass
seed put on it since it was broken up, and that he had never
thought of its being worn out or likely to become so. Indeed it is
a common thing here for the old farmers to feed their stock in a
grove, and build their stables on the bank of a stream or ravine,
where the manure will wash off out of the way. I decidedly con-
demn such a practice, but when we say anything about it, the usu-
al reply is, "we raise more now than we know what to do with,
and what need of more."

In short, Dr., Mr. Owen's theory of the short lived character of
Illinois prairie soil would be laughed at in this country. I might
give you numerous instances where good crops of corn have been
produced for twenty or thirty years in succession without manure,
but this fact is so universally conceded by those acquainted with
farming on the prairies of Illinois, that I think it needless. I hope
that you will be able to place us in a proper light before the world,
and we shall have no fears as to the result.

Very respectfully, yours,

SAMUEL PARK.

419

Clinton, DeWitt County, March 2bth, 1857.
Dn. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Yours of the 18th ipst. is received, and I will say in
reply to your questions, that I have lived in the territory which is
now DeWitt county, twenty six years, and on one farm.

Part of my farm has been in cultivation twenty five years, and
has produced a good crop every year without manure — say forty
five or fifTy bushels per acre.

I have never cultivated any land that has the durability that the
prairie land in Central Illinois has. The soil is from 12 to 20 in-
ches deep and it is impossible to plough deep enough to reach the
bottom. In fact, the prairie soil is well adapted to raise hemp,
flax, and all kinds of vegetables that will grow in this latitude, and
corn, wheat, oats and barley, with the best of the bottom land of
Cumberland river, Kentucky.

I am, very respectfully, yours,

BENJAMIN LISENBY.

DeWitt County, III., March 2Sth, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — According to your request I will endeavor to answer
your questions so far as I am able.

I live in DeWitt county, and the land I occupy has been in cul-
tivation twenty one years.

I have taken twenty one crops from the above land without ma-
nure.

I can grow from sixty to seventy five bushels of corn per acre
on the same ground yet, and wheat and oats in proportion, as well
as all other grains common with farmers.

I have lived in Illinois thirty years — I have been raised on a
farm, and have no knowledge of any. prairie lands that will not
grow grain equal to the above named crops ; and I believe, by
properly changing the crops, that the soil of Illinois will equal if
not surpass any on the face of the globe, without manure.

I do believe that our prairie soil will grow as much corn per acre,
and for as long a period, as any other in the United States, with-
out manure.

I will add to the above statements, that our prairie soil well cul-
tivated, will grow one hundred bushels of corn per acre, and forty
bushels of wheat, and other grains accord ingly.

Yours truly,

TILLMAN LANE.

Wapella, DeWitt County, March 2%th, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Tours of the 18th inst. came to hand on the 26th,
and I embrace this opportunity to answer your questions, as far as
I am able, in regard to the soil of Illinois.

420

I live in DeWitt county, and have resided here for nineteen
years.

My father died when I was fifteen years old, and as my older
brothers had married and gone from home, I was left to carry on
the farm for mother. As I had not the advice of a father, my plan
has been to watch the best farmers of the county, and by experi-
ence and observation I have some knowledge of the business.

The first land of my improvement has been in cultivation nine-
teen years and never been manured. One piece has had fourteen
crops of corn taken from it during that time, which yielded fifty
bushels per acre last season, as bad as it was.

As to the lasting quality of the soil, I think it is far superior to
any that I ever saw. It is deep, with a clay bottom, therefore will
hold manure and wear well.

I was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, eighteen miles below
Cincinnati, near the mouth of the Big Miami river, which is said
to be "the garden of the United States," and am some acquainted
with the products of Kentucky, along the Ohio bottom ; also with
the soil of Indiana and Illinois, and I believe the soil of the latter
State is superior to that of either of the others, and am satisfied
that a man can raise more grain on the soil of Illinois than he can
in either of those States, with the same labor.

I will give you the products of twenty acres, seventeen rods, of
land which was sown in wheat in 1855, and '56.

In 1855 the yield was six hundred and eighty nine bushels, which
sold for $1.15 per bushel; making the whole amount realized
$792.35.

In 1856, the yield was six hundred and forty eight bushels,
which sold for 95c. per bushel ; making the whole amount realized
$615.60. Amount for two years, 11407.95.

To insure a good crop, old ground should be farmed well. If
in corn plant early and till well ; and the same may be said of
small grain.

Yours with respect,

WALTER EARR.

DeWitt County, III., March Slst, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — I received by the last mail your circular, containing
questions to which you wish me to reply so far as my knowledge
and experience will enable me to do. To which I cheerfully re-
spond.

I reside in the county of DeWitt, and my land has been in culti-
vation from five to twenty three years.

On some parts of my farm I have taken twenty three crops
without any manure, other than the stubble and refuse parts of the
crops which have been left to rot on the ground.

I can see but little if any diminution in the amount produced on

421

the acre now, and that produced twenty years ago. And I think that
with proper care in planting and cultivation, I can raise as good
crops on the oldest part of my farm as on that more recently put
in cultivation.

By moving fences and changing the arrangement of my farm I
have thrown together in the same field, land which has been in
cultivation for twenty years and upwards, with that which has not
been cultivated half that length of time. The crops on this field
always present a uniform appearance whether of corn or wheat.
There is no line of demarkation between the old and new ground.

In tracing the rows of corn through the field, you perceive no
indications of barrenness, or that one part has been worn more
than another ; and yet no part of this field has had the benefit of
manure.

In regard to the lasting qualities of the fertility of our soil, I do
hot pretend to say that it is inexhaustible. The continued drip-
ping of water from the ocean, without any influx, would in time
drain it to the bottom. So of our soil. The continual abstraction
of its fertilizing qualities without any renovation, must in time ex-
haust the great fountain. But this generation will pass off the
stage of action before the fertility of our prairies will be materially
diminished, except on the most rolling situations, where it will be
effected more by washing than by cultivation.

I have had no agricultural experience in any other State except
that of my nativity, which is New York. As far as my experience
goes, the prairies of Illinois are far superior to that State in pro-
ductiveness without the aid of manure.

I cannot state exactly how many successive crops of corn I have
raised from the same ground without manure, but quite a number
I assure you. For until quite recently we raised nothing else ; and
as for manure, we never thought of using that. In conversation
with one of my neighbors on this subject, he informed me that he
had raised sixteen crops of corn on the same ground, in that num-
ber of years, and that the last crop yielded seventy five bushels per
acre, and that he had never used a load of manure upon it. His
uniform practice has been either to cut his corn, and haul it off,
stalks and all, or else rake and burn the stalks in the spring, so
that very little was returned to the soil to renew its fertility.

I would add that several consecutive crops of wheat may be
grown from the same ground. Yet I believe the properties ot soil
necessary to the production of wheat, are less abundant than those
required i*>r the growth of corn.

Yours truly,

ORIN WAKEFIELD.

422

Clinton, DeWitt County, April 3d, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sie — I will endeavor to give you some account of our soil,
its durability, &c.

I reside in DeWitt county, eight miles west of Clinton. Some
of the land I own has been in cultivation eighteen or twenty years.

I have taken thirteen crops of Indian corn in the same number
of years. The first was in 1842 and the last in 1855, wThich were
large, and yielded sixty-five bushels per acre, receiving only two
plowings of two furrows to the acre.

I harvested a field of wheat, which was owned by one of my
neighbors, that made an average of thirty-five bushels per acre.
It was sown among corn, the stalks standing on it until spring,
there being no extra pains taken in seeding it. It was merely
plowed in with a small corn plow. The land had been in cultiva-
tion twenty years. I do believe that our land will produce good
crops of wheat or corn for twenty years without the aid of manure.

My opinion is that the soil of this state is superior to the lands
of Ohio and Indiana, both in regard to durability or productive-
ness. Where I am acquainted with the qualities of the soil in
Ohio, it is nearly impossible to raise thirteen crops of corn in suc-
cession upon the same piece of land without manuring every three
or four years or seeding it down with clover.

I can't say what effect manure would have on our land, never
having seen the experiment tried, but think that it would not be
out ot place.

Our land is qhite productive in grass. I have a meadow of
twenty acres which has been mowed twelve years in succession.
In the summer of '55 it yielded over two tons per acre. Last
summer being so exceedingly dry, it was quite light, but bids fair
to make a good yield the coming season.

I do believe that we have equally as good a grazing country as
Kentucky. Blue grass grows here almost spontaneously as soon
as the prairie grass is tramped out.

I know of wTheat crops that have yielded, on an average, forty-
two bushels to the acre, which were sown on the prairie sod.

Yours, Ac,

JOHN D. HUTCHIN.

Clinton, DeWitt County, III., April 5th, 1857.
Br. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Tour note of the 18th ult. has been received, in
which you inquire, "Are oar natural prairie soils equal to the
soils of our neighboring States in their natural condition ?"

I live in DeWitt county, and the land I occupy has been in cul-
tivation twenty years.

I have taken eighteen crops from it without manure.

A good crop can now be grown on it without manure.

423

I believe my land will continue its fertility for an indefinite pe-
riod, without manure, by changing seeds or grasses.

I am clearly convinced from personal knowledge of the richest
lands in Kentucky, Ohio, (and Indiana on the White river,) that
the prairie soils of Illinois, are fully equal to any lands in either of
those States, for productiveness for a series of years without ma-
nure.

My experience is, that prairie soil has grown com for a series of
years without manure, and I believe it will continue to do so.

Your obedient servant,

JOSEPH HOWARD.

DeWitt County, III., April Uth, 1857.
Dr. J. G-. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Tour communicatk n has been received, and I will
reply to your interrogatories to the best of my ability.

I reside in DeWitt County. My farnrhas been in cultivation
twenty one years, and the same number of crops have been taken
from the ground without manure.

I am of the opinion that it would produce from sixty to eighty
bushels of corn, and from twenty to thirty of wheat at this time,
without any compost; and as to the durability of the soil, I pre-
sume that it will equal any on the face of the globe.

I do not know of a farmer in this county that manures his lands,
and all admit the durability and lasting fertility of the soil. An
examination of statistics will prove its productiveness.

From my own knowledge of the prairie lands of Illinois, I would
say that they are superior for a series of years, in productiveness
without manure, to those of the other States.

Yours truly,

BENJAMIN HULL.

Wapella, DeWitt County, III.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — It is with pleasure that I write in answer to your
questions.

I live in DeWitt county, and the land I occupy has been in cul-
tivation twenty five years, and I have taken twenty crops off of
the same land without manure. The last was as good as the first,
indeed I do not think I could tell any difference.

I have not lived long enough in Illinois to say how long the soil
will last. Some of my neighbors say that their land is getting
better.

I believe from my own experience that the prairie soil of this
State will produce corn for twenty years without manure, and
more than land in any other State of the Union.

424

I have known in this State eight hundred and forty bushels of
corn, raised on nine acres of ground after being in corn for twenty
years, and this with ordinary tending, and without manure. This
I hiow to be a fact, as I cultivated the land, and gathered and
measured the grain.

Yours truly,

PETER CRUM.

"Wapella, De Witt County, April Ath, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — I received your communication in due time, and
now take the opportunity of answering.

I reside in De Witt county, and my land has been in cultivation
twenty-five years.

I have taken twenty-five crops off of the land without manure,
and a good crop can now be grown on it.

The last crop, which was the twenty- fifth, yielded fifty bushels
of shelled corn to the acre. And last season was a poor one for
corn.

I believe that my land will grow as much corn as it does now for
twenty-five years more without manure.

I was born and raised in Kentucky, and. lived there until I re-
moved to this State. I believe, from my own experience, that the
prairie soils of Illinois are far superior to the soils of Kentucky.

I am of the opinion that our prairie soils will grow corn for fifty
years in succession, without manure, as I can see no difference, as
far as productiveness is concerned, in my land for the last fifteen
years. My neighbor, Abram Onstat, says that last year he raised,
from land which he has had twenty -three crops of com taken from
it, seventy bushels of corn per acre.

I know that of oats I raised sixty bushels from land that has had
twenty-four crops taken from it, and all without manure.

Yours respectfully,

SAMUEL SPENCER.

Elfffdale, Greene Co., III., April 10th, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — I received your circular and letter, two days since,
and cordially thank the Rev. Dr. Feck, for inducing you to write.

It has long been known among men of science that the reputa-
tion of Daniel Dale Owen, as a reliable Geologist, has been some-
what overrated, yet I think that his decision, as quoted by Mr.
Francis, assigning to the soil of Kentucky a superiority over that
of Illinois, must Have astonished every Kentuckian who has ever
visited this State. I am glad that you and Mr. Francis do not per-
mit so reckless an assault upon the character of our soil, and con-
sequently upon the prosperity of our State, to go unrebuked.

425

In my reply to your printed questions, I will refer to them in
their order in a general way.

I at present reside in Greene county, and have done so ever
since 1820, and have annually taken a crop from the land since
that date. JSTo manure has ever been applied, and good crops are
raised upon it yet. With a rotation ol crops, we think the same
ground can be cultivated every year for an indefinite period, with-
out a sensible deterioration, either in the quantity or quality of
the crop.

I believe from personal observation, that our prairie soils are not
inferior in production, or durability of production, without manure,
to the best soils of the "West.

Corn, to my knowledge, has been raised successfully upon the
same ground for a long series of years, without manure, and with-
out any rotation of crops.

Respectfully,

JOHN RUSSELL.

Carrollton, Greene County, April 24th, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Your circular of the 18th inst. was duly received.
I have submitted the questions therein propounded to some of our
best farmers and those most experienced in the cultivation of the
prairie soil of this county.

The following statement of two farmers may be taken as speci-
mens of the answers that would be and are given by our farmers
to the questions proposed —

1st. Mr. Wright occupies and cultivates a prairie farm of over
two hundred acres. It has been in cultivation over thirty years.
He has owned and cultivated it twenty-seven years. Twenty suc-
cessive crops of corn have been raised upon the same ground with-
out manure, and the yield has been from forty to one hundred
bushels per acre, according to the season. He never expects to
find upland soil of more lasting fertility.

2d. Mr. Rhodes has occupied and cultivated a prairie farm of
over three hundred acres in this county for the last nineteen years.
Part of it has been in cultivation, that is under the plow, for thirty-
three years, from which successive crops have been taken for nine-
teen years, to his own knowledge, without any manure. Indeed,
both of the above named farmers say that they have paid no at-
tention to manuring their lands. They have only hauled out and
carelessly scattered as it could most conveniently be done, manure
that had accumulated about the barn and stables so as to be in the
way. Statements similar to the foregoing are made by all the far-
mers, of the first quality of prairie lands in this county, with whom
I have conversed.

—53

« 426

One sentence in the report of "Mr. Owen, Geologist of Ken-
tucky," is to me a surprising one : that in which the prairie soils
of the west (referring, I suppose to the prairies of Illinois) are de-
nominated " siliciotjs." I do not doubt, indeed, I know, that there
are some prairies of " silicious" soil. But I have not found such
" rich," fat and " black." As a general thing, our " rich, fat,
Mack prairie soils''' would be improved by the addition of a little
more silex. Such is my humble opinion, founded on observation
of the soil of the prairies in more than twenty counties in this
State. Our farmers say of the soil of the prairies here, " rich
enough, deep enough, strong enough," — " a little more sand would
make it lighter and less liable to run together and bake."

In haste, yours truly,

L. S. NORTON.

Blupfdale, Greene County, III., April 25^,1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Sir — I received your letter of inquiry by the last mail, and
hasten to reply. I will answer your questions according to the
best of my recollection.

I now live in Greene county, where I have lived for the last
thirty-five years.

I have never manured my land except when I cleared out my
stables, and the quantity of compost thus obtained is small to put
on a farm of one hundred and fifty acres. I have raised thirty five
crops without manure.

I think that I have never yet raised less than fifty bushels of
corn to the acre, sometimes more. I can raise good" crops every
year. I change from corn to wheat, or seed my fields with grass,
but never think of top dressing with manure.

Six years ago I plowed twenty acres that was seeded with grass
the preceding October and put in wheat. The land had been in
cultivation twenty-nine years. When harvest came I cut all but
about three-fourths of an acre which was lodged clown. We will
say that the whole number of acres harvested was nineteen and
one-fourth. From this I threshed six hundred and twenty-one
bushels of clean wheat. I still improve the same field, with al-
ternate crops of wheat and corn, without manure. I believe lands
here will produce good crops for fifty years by changing.

So far as my knowledge extends, I have never seeiT any land
that will compare with the prairie soils of Illinois for fertility and
productiveness. I will here say, that I have three times crossed
the country to New England, in my own conveyance, and at a
time when crops were standing on the ground, and nowhere did I
see corn that would compare in quantity with corn in Illinois, in
any of the States which I passed through.

For many years, since the first settlement of this country, I have
raised corn, as it was the most profitable crop, for the only market

427

we had for wheat was St. Louis. In consequence of this our prin-
cipal crop was corn. I tried for several years to raise oats, but
when within a few days of harvesting they would almost always
fall down, the weight of straw being so great. And it is only till
recently that my crops of oats have stood to be harvested.

I showed your letter to Mr. Thaddeus Brace, in this county, near
Carrollton, and asked him how long he thoughthe could raise corn
on his farm without manure. His reply was, "fifty yearsP He
is a very good farmer. There is a farm on the south side of mine
which for the last six years has produced as many crops of wheat
in succession, and the last was a fair yield. This may be regarded
as a good test of the strength and productiveness of the soil.

RICHARD R0BLEY.

Pioneer, Greene County, April 2d, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — I will now endeavor to answer some of your in quiries.

I reside in Greene county, on the Illinois bottoms ; have lived
here thirty-one years last March.

The most of my land has been in cultivation from twenty-five
to thirty years. For eight or ten of the first years it produced
from seventy to ninety bushels of corn to the acre, without manure
or rest. Since, my practice has been to change the crops from
corn to small grain and plow in stubble, putting what manure I
have on the same. My land has had no rest and now produces
from sixty to seventy bushels to the acre. As to the lasting quali-
ties of the soil, so far as I am acquainted, I do not believe there is
its equal for productiveness and extent in the whole Mississippi
Yalley. I know of farms that have been cultivated for twenty-five
or thirty years that now produce well without manure, and the
stubble and stalks are always burned.

Tours with respect, truly,

DAVID WO OLE V.

Blttffdale, Greene County, III., May 14<7t, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Tours of March is at hand, and to your questions I
submit the following reply :

I reside in the county of Greene, on the western border of the
prairie land lying along the Illinois river.

I have resided on my farm about twenty-eight years ; was for-
merly a farmer in Addison county, Yermont.

The farm on which I reside has been under cultivation about
thirty-seven years.

I have taken from one field of forty acres twenty-one crops of
wheat and corn.

428

During the time I have owned my land I have never manured
it, but seven years of the twenty-eight it was seeded to grass.

My crop of corn last year averaged about thirty-five or forty
bushels per acre, and I am again planting it with corn. I have
as good crops now as I had fifteen years ago. In fact, I do not see
any difference in the productiveness of the soil on account of age.
My only manure has been to plow a little deeper.

I have farmed in no other States but Vermont and Illinois, yet
I have traveled over Ohio, Indiana and Iowa, with my attention
especially directed to the soil and farming facilities, and I know
that the prairies of Illinois are equal at least to any soil this side of
the mountains, for their productiveness, either with or without
manure. I have never seen their durability or productiveness sur-
passed, nor do I believe they can be in any part of the world.

I have taken seventeen successive crops of corn from one field7
and the last was just as good as any that preceded it.

I know that the soil of this prairie will produce corn without ma-
nure for twenty years, and the last crop will be as good as the first,
and the Good Master knows how many more. I know of no reason
why it will not produce forty successive crops of good corn, and
it is my candid opinion that it ivill do it. All that is needed here
is to plow deep. If my land gets to looking sickly I get my big
plow and hitch on the stags and put it in deep to the beam, and
the rich, fat, black soil will roll up, and there is all the manure
you will ever need.

Respectfully and truly, yours,

STEPHEN SPENCER.

Oqt/awka, Henderson County, III., April 1st, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Yours of March 18th, 1857, is before me, and in re-
ply I will state, as follows :

For the last few years I have not been engaged in farming, and
what I may say is not so much, from actual experience, as general
observation.

I was for eight years engaged as a dealer in produce in this
(Henderson) county. I came to the county in 1835. The first
lands cultivated in this county were broken up in 1829, and have
been tilled ever since. Some of them, to my certain knowledge,
have never been manured, and produced the last year, notwith-
standing the severe drought, from fifty to sixty bushels of corn per
acre.

I have lived in three different States, South Carolina, Ohio and
Illinois, and have no hesitation in saying that the prairies of this
region of the State will last twice as long and continue productive,
as in either of the other States named.

I have traveled in every portion of the State of Kentucky, at all
seasons of the year, and with the exception of the region around

429

Lexington, I have never seen any portion of the State that, in my
opinion, would compare with the prairies of Illinois, either in fer-
tility or durability, without manuring.

Yours truly,

W. D. HENDEKSOK

MtritPHYSBORO, Jackson County, 111., April 3d, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood:

.Dear Sir — I received your note this day, making certain in-
quiries and requesting answers.

I take pleasure in hunting up such information as I can gather.

I have had the good luck this day to meet with some of our old-
est farmers, or rather their sons, who gave me the following an-
swers. Daniel Worthen says :

" His land lias been in cultivation forty-five years, and has had
no manure on it, except clover, on a portion, one season, and on
rest two seasons, in that period.

" A good average crop of corn of forty-five bushels to the acre
can be raised, and even as much as fifty in a good year. The soil
is supposed to have decreased in fertility about twenty-five per cent.
in forty-five years.

" I know of fields which have been planted in corn constantly,
for upwards of forty years, with the exception of two wheat crops,
which last year yielded fifty bushels to the acre and no manure."

Peter Gill, who has been for a number of years associate county
judge, is an old farmer, living on the Elk prairie, in the northeast
corner of the county, says :

" His land has been under cultivation over twenty-five years —
never has been manured — been nearly all the time in corn. It
grows a very good crop without manure. After the first four or
five years the prairie land does not deteriorate in quality. For a
few years, while the roots and vegetation are decaying, it looses a
little of its fertility, caused by the destruction of those fertilizing
agents. But after that there does not appear to be any decrease
so far as twenty-five years experience goes to show."

The foregoing answers are a good index to the opinions of our
oldest farmers, for in the short time taken to make inquiries, I find
that all I have had an opportunity to question agree.

I am having some soil selected from the oldest fields in different
parts of the county, which I will forward you by express to Spring-
field.

Mr. Brown, who is an old resident, lives on the edge of the Big
Hill, has made the following statement, which may be relied on
with certainty, viz :

" Land cultivated since about 1815. Has been planted in corn
every year since. A good average crop of corn can yet be raised
on it, and an average crop, when any care is taken, is from sixty
to seventy-five bushels per acre. More than one hundred bushels

430

per acre, measured, have been raised on it in a very good season.
Has never received any manure, even by change of crops. The
quality of the soil does not appear to decrease."

Messrs. "Worthen, Gill and Brown are good citizens, responsible
men, whose word can be relied on implicitly — all practical farmers
and intelligent men.

Yours truly,

C. THOMAS.

Lawrence County, III., April &th, 2S57.
Dr. J. &. Norwood:

Dear Sir — In answer to your questions I can only say :

I reside in Lawrence county. The land I occupy has been in
cultivation thirty-eight years, and as many crops have been taken
from it without manure.

I think that the land I occupy will produce fifty bushels of corn
or twenty -five bushels of wheat to the acre, and if the crops were
changed alternately, would last for all time to come.

I do believe, from my own experience, that the prairie soils of
Illinois are equal to those of other States so far as productiveness is
concerned, for a series of years, without manure.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. McLEAN.

Sumner, Lawrence County, III., April 2Zd, 1857.
Dr. J. Gt. Norwood r

Dear Sir — Your letter of inquiry, bearing date March 18th, is
received, and without any apology I proceed at once to answer
your questions according to the best of my limited abilities.

I have lived in Lawrence county, my present home, for twenty-
five years. The land I occupy has been cultivated for that period,,
and during that time twenty-five crops have been taken from the
soil, and a good crop can now be raised without manure. My ex-
perience is, that level land retains its fertility much longer than
that which is broken and hilly, and that proper cultivation, with
rotation of crops, will enable skillful farmers in Illinois not only to
preserve their lands in all their original fertility, but in many cases
to make them more productive. For instance, a farm owned by
Mr. James Besley, of Wabash county, who happened to be at my
house when your communication came to hand, and whose lands
are known to me to have been under constant cultivation for the
last forty-one years, produced as good corn last season as at any
time previous. So says Mr. Besley. Deep plowing is the only
change made in his mode of cultivation.

I am of the opinion that our prairie soils are equal if not superior
to those of other States, taking into account every kind of crop
which a farmer may wish to grow. And for wheat, rye? oats, bar-

431

ley, buckwheat, Indian corn, and the different varieties of grasses,
I am not aware that Illinois stands second to any State in the
Union. I believe, that should she fail to maintain her standing at
the head of the farming States, she will, nevertheless, compare fa-
vorably with any.

I do not think it is policy to over-tax our soils with corn alone
from year to year, without a change of crops or rest; but if you
consider live, ten or forty years, "a series of years," our soil will
produce corn for that period without manure.

Respectfully yours,

JAMES FRENCH.

Ottawa, La Salle County, III., March ZOth, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — In answer to the questions proposed in your circular
in regard to the lasting fertility of the soil of the prairies of Illinois,
I have to say :

I am at present a resident of La Salle county, and have taken
fine crops from a portion of my land without manure. I believe
better crops cannot be produced than I can at present raise without
compost.

I am of the opinion that by a proper rotation o± crops, with
grain and grasses, the only limit to the fertility of our soil will be
the end of time.

I cannot say from my own experience whether the "23rairie so^s
of Illinois are equal or inferior to other States, as far as productive-
ness is concerned, for a series of years, without manure," as I "was
raised" in the "Sucker State."

I believe our prairie soil will grow corn for a series of years
without manure.

I have held the plow, boy and man, in Illinois, for twenty-five
years, and had some experience and observation in regard to the
lasting qualities of the soil.

I know a field in Morgan county that was planted w7ith corn for
sixteen consecutive years without manure, and without any ap-
parent diminution of the fertility of the soil. Since then, for a
period of twelve years, the crops have alternated between corn
and small grain, wdthout yet showing signs of deterioration. There
are, doubtless, in the older settled parts of the State and in Mor-
gan and Sangamon counties many fields that have been in culti-
vation much longer than the one I have mentioned, without ma-
nure, and still yielding good crops. To talk of manuring all our
farms while they are so large is simply ridiculous. With the
present scarcity and high price of labor, how is the fanner to find
time and money or labor to manure his farm of from one hundred
and sixty to fifteen thousand acres ? When the population be-
comes so dense in Illinois that no farm shall consist of more than

432

eighty acres, it will be necessary to manure the land to increase
not continue its fertility.

Bronson Murray, Esq., of this county, told me three years since
that he had manured a certain portion of his land and kept an ac-
count of the labor and increase of crops, and found the one to
balance the other so. nearly that the only advantage gained was in
getting the manure out of the way.

I knew one field of one hundred acres in Morgan county, that
yielded seven thousand measured statute bushels of corn without
manure. This land had been cultivated for eighteen years, and
no compost had been used in that time.

The past year the Hon. David Stearns, of this county, leased
three hundred and fifty acres to ten different men. The yield was
a trifle over sixty bushels to the acre. Some of this land had been
in cultivation for fifteen years, and the rest for a less period, with-
out manure.

Since your questions were with regard to the lasting fertility of
the soil, without manure, and not with regard to its beneficial
effect upon the land, I have, as I suppose, fully answered them,
with my reasons therewith.

I am, yours truly,

WILLIAM STRAWS.

Farm Ridge, La Salle County, III., April 4:th, 1857.
Dr. J. G-. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Tour circular, asking information in relation to the
durability of the soil of Illinois, dated the 18th ult, is received,
and I will give a reply to each question without designating them
by number.

I reside in La Salle county. A part of my farm has been under
cultivation twenty years, and some of it for a less time.

From some portions of it I have taken twenty crops in as many
years, without manure, and can now raise a good crop without any.

I believe that twenty years constant cultivation have not ma-
terially diminished the productiveness of the soil.

It is generally admitted with us that the first two or three years
of cultivation are the best for the production of wheat/ which, I be-
lieve, is generally the case with new land, and it is not more mark-
ed on the prairie soil than any other. Recent experience with us
shows that seeding with grass for two or three years, without ma-
nure, renders it nearly as productive in wheat as when new. The
greatest fault of our prairie soil for the production of small grain is
that it is too fertile, producing too rank a growth, but this not a
serious fault, except in wet seasons.

I am fully of the opinion, judging from my own experience,
that the prairie soil of Illinois is more productive and lasting than
any other kind except the rich alluvial of our western streams.

433

I have raised corn on a part of my farm for six years in suces-
sion, without manure, and there was an increase in the yield each
year — the sixth being much the best. And I am confident that it
would bear good crops of corn for fifty years in succession, without
manure, if well tilled.

There is no perceptible difference in the productiveness of my
prairie land, which has been in constant cultivation five, ten, fifteen
or twenty years, in each case without manure. Such has been my
experience, and our system of farming is well calculated to exhaust
the soil — taking everything off and returning nothing— even burn-
ing the stubble before plowing.

Yours truly,

ELMER BALDWIN.

Bloojiington, March 3Qt7i, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — I received your communication, containing inquiries?
which I will answer according to the best of my ability.

I reside in McLean county, and some of the land I occupy has
been in cultivation thirty years.

When I came to the State I purchased some land that had been
in cultivation about ten years. When I had tilled it a few years
I seeded it down to grass, and let it lay about twelve years, when
I plowed it up and found it better than the virgin soil.

I have not been in the habit of manuring my land, except that
which lies -convenient to my barn. I have changed occasionally to
wheat and oats, and do not think my land the worse for wear.
A good crop can now be grown upon it without manure.

By what is called "rotation" farming, say one-third in grass,
one-third in corn, and one-third small grain, I am of opinion that
you cannot exhaust it. And by returning all the manure it will
improve.

I was raised in Clark county, Kentucky, on the best land in that
county, and have lived in Christian county, Kentucky, a number
of years. From observation I am of the opinion that the prairies
of Illinois are the best natural soils that I have ever seen, and will
endure more cultivation without manure than any land I have seen
from South Carolina to Canada.

Some of the oldest lands in this county have been in cultivation
thirty years or more, nearly all the time in corn, and fail some,
but when put in grass are soon renovated. And I am of opinion
that if it was subsoiled it would bring as good corn as ever. The
best lands in Kentucky, when kept under the plow for a series of
years, become stiff, and hence break cloddy, and if exteme drought
comes the crops are a failure. I have not seen any land in this
county so worn that it will not pulverize easily.

I am of the opinion that in dry summers, by plowing say twelve
to fifteen inches deep, com can be grown without rain, if ground is
well saturated in May.

434

The reason why old land becomes disreputable is the slovenly
manner of cultivating it.

A neighbor of mine had a field which was old and infested with
weeds. He let it lay one summer, plowed in August, sowed with
wheat and harvested thirty-four bushels to the acre.

Respectfully,

SAMUEL LANDER.

Lexington, McLean County, April 4th, 1857.
Dr. J. 6. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Yours of the 18th ult. was received duly, but mis-
laid till just now, when it came to hand, and I hasten to reply
briefly.

I live in McLean county.

The land I have recently sold has been under cultivation about
twenty-three years, and a crop has been taken every year from a
part of it.

The crops, for the two last years, were somewhat injured by
drought, but yielded eighty bushels of corn to the acre.

If twenty-three crops of corn Can be taken from the same land
without rest or change of crop, and the last be as good as the first,
it is evident that double that number might be taken, without ma-
nure, if the crops are changed as they should be.

I believe "that the prairie soils of Illinois are equal to those of
other States, as far as productiveness is concerned for a series of
years, without manure."

I know of a piece of land in this county that, till recently, never
had . any thing else than a crop of corn raised on it for twenty
years, which was never manured, and the crop raised last was as
good as most in the neighborhood.

Yours truly,

THOMAS FELL.

Near Bloomington, April 7th, 1S57.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Before I proceed to answer your interrogations, I
will give the following narrative :

I was born and raised in Franklin county, Ky. In 1812, I
moved to Bourbon county, and remained till 1817, when I moved
to Christian county, where I lived till 1835, when I came to Mc-
Lean county, in this State. I have pursued the business of farm-
ing from boyhood till the present time.

The greater portion of my farm has been in cultivation from fif-
teen to twenty-one years. I have raised a good crop every year,
when well cultivated, but have never manured more than one acre
in twenty, and practiced the rotation system somewhat.

435

When my oldest ground becomes stiff, and inclined to bake, I
seed it with timothy and clover, and, when I have mowed some
ten crops of hay, prepare it for corn, and it is as productive as ever.

I have seen no part of Kentucky, my native State, produce
greater yields of wheat, corn, oats, potatoes and hay than do the
lands of McLean county, Illinois.

Yours truly,

W. F. MAJOR.

Bloomington, McLean County, April 7th, 3857.
Dr. J. G. Xorwood:

Dear Sir — I live in McLean county. The land I occupy has
been in cultivation twenty-nine years. I think twenty -three crops
have been taken from part of it without manure and a part has
never been manured, from which twenty-seven crops have been
taken.

It is now capable of producing any kind of crop, equal to any
former one, without manure, only requiring deep plowing and good
cultivation.

My opinion is, that the soil of my farm is inexhaustible, under
proper cultivation and a rotation of crops, including grass every
five years. The land of this part of Illinois will produce corn, for
a great number of years in succession, without seeming to decline
in strength, though it must at length decline, of course, under such
treatment.

I have never, in any State of the Union, seen land superior to
that of Illlinois, and in but few places equal to it.

Respectfully, your servant,

J. E. McCLUN.

Le Roy, McLean Cotjnty, III., April 11th, 1S57.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Sir — In answer to your inquiries of March 18th, I will say :
I reside in McLean county ; have been on the same farm twenty-
two years. My oldest ground has been in cultivation twenty-four
years, and I have taken a crop off of it every year. My manner of
farming is this : I plant two crops of corn and one crop of wheat
or oats in rotation, without manure. Four years ago I plowed
my oldest field about two inches deeper than usual, and raised
about sixty bushels of corn to the acre. In the fall I sowed with
wheat, and had at the next harvest about twenty-eight bushels to
the acre. The next spring I sowed with wheat, and seeded with
timothy and clover. I mowed three good crops of hay from the
same ground. After mowing last fall I broke up the land and
sowed with wheat, but it was winter killed. I believe that I can
now raise seventy-five bushels of corn to the acre. I am of the
opinion that our prairie soil is equal if not superior to any I ever

436

saw, for durability, except the Miami or Scioto bottoms of Ohio.
I will say also that I know from experience that manuring will
pay as well on our soil as on any red clay soil I ever cultivated.
One corner of the field described above is adjoining my stable, and
I have manured several acres, which has paid well and kept the
soil light and mellow. I know of fields in my neighborhood, that
have been in corn every year for twenty years, that had fifty
bushels to the acre last year.

Yours, &c,

MAHLON BISHOP.

Bloomington, McLean County, April 18th, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Deae Sir — Absence from home is my apology for not answer-
ing your inquiries earlier.

I reside in McLean county. The land I occupy has been in cul-
tivation sixteen years, and sixteen crops have been taken from it
without manure.

Last season the crop was hardly an average one, on account of
the drought, yet our corn crop the season before, (being the
fifteenth,) averaged seventy-five bushels to the acre.

I confidently expect a good crop for many years to come, with
proper cultivation, even without the application of manure. I
will here say, however, that our prairie soils are as much improved
by the application of manure, as any with which I am familiar.

As to the lasting quality of the soil, I have only to say that
having lived in this county for over twenty-four years, and being
well acquainted with many farms that have been in cultivation
constantly for thirty or thirty-five years, all that time in grain, and
most of the time in corn, and which still produce good crops with-
out manure, I certainly believe that by pursuing a wise system of
rotation, and the use of clover and such manures as may be saved
on every farm, we may not only keep up but increase the natural
fertility of our prairie soils.

I am fully satisfied, from my own experience, that the prairie
soils of Illinois are equal to those of Kentucky or any other State.

I know, from my own experience, that our prairie soils will grow
corn, for a series of years, without manure.

Yours, &c,

W. P. WITHERS.

Virden, Macoupin County, III., April 2d, 1857.
Dr J. G. Norwood :

Sir — I have the present opportunity of answering you, as far as
I am able.

I reside in Montgomery county, but cannot tell you as much
about the soil here as I could that of Greene county, where I was
raised.

437

I have lived here but two years, and, from my short experience,
believe that the soil is as good as any in old Greene, and will wear
as long. I have gathered here of corn, the second year, sixty and
a half bushels per acre, and think, from appearance, that the soil
will last a great many years, with proper management and deep
plowing, and be as good as ever, without any manure ; for I know
that on the old farm, where I was raised, my father, who was one
of the first settlers, having moved there in the spring of 1818, has
ground that has been in corn year after year, successively, and as
good corn grows on it now as ever, without manure. His ground
seems to get better all the time, by means of good, deep cultivation.

We bought land adjoining the old place that had been grown in
corn, and nothing else, for twenty years, and it would then raise
as good corn as ever grew on it. I believe that my soil will last
as long as that, and I like it better.

Yours,

L. H. THOMAS.

Marine Settlement, Madison County, III., MarcJi 28th, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Sir — I reside in Madison county, and have done so ever since
March, 1820.

1 have been tilling the farm on which I now reside for thirty-four
years, and a part of it has had a crop on it during ail that time.
When I became heir to this " Old Homestead," it was very much
impoverished, as my father knew nothing about farming. In 1839
and 1840, I sowed it with timothy seed, and, much to my surprise,
it produced a ton of hay to the acre, without manure. In 1849, 1
plowed it under when the timothy and clover were in blossom,
though there was no clover sowed on it. It will get into my old
meadows, and I am glad of it, for I have convincing proof that,
when plowed under at the proper time, the soil becomes equal to
new prairie.

I have raised five crops of corn off of the said land, in succession,
which has averaged sixty bushels to the acre. In 1853, it pro-
duced eighty bushels to the acre, with no extra work only deep
plowing, and no manure.

I consider my farm about an average of the soil of the State. I
know of some that are better and others that are inferior.

I am not surprised that so many persons emigrate from Ohio and
Kentucky to this State, where they can put the plow to work on
our rich and fertile prairies, which will produce forty bushels of
corn to the acre the first season, and have no doubt that the soil of
Illinois is superior to the States which they left behind them.

With respect,

DANIEL GROUND.

438

Troy, Madison County, III., March 23i/i, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood

Sm — Your circular of the 18 th inst. has been received, and before
proceeding to answer your questions, permit me to say, that I am
not one of the anti-manure farmers. I think that all the manures
accumulating annually on a farm should be spread upon the least
fertile plow-lands and meadows. Especially is the corn crop
greatly increased by the judicious application of manure. I am
altogether opposed to the practice, adopted by too many, of suffer-
ing the dung heaps to increase till it is necessary to remove the
stable or of throwing the manure into the public roads.

I reside in Madison county, and a small portion of my farm, say
ten acres, was first plowed in the spring of 1820. Additional por-
tions were broken in 1824 and in 1832. Some parts have been
cultivated every year since first broken, while other parts have not.

I have never kept any record, and am unable to say how many
crops have been taken from any given tract, without manure.

A good crop can be grown upon it now without manure, and
probably a better one with.

The principal portion of my farm is so nearly level that it has
suffered no perceptible deterioration from washing. The soil is
"rich, fat, black," but not "silicious" and, I believe, will retain its
fertility for a great number of years, even without manure ; and,
with a judicious system of manuring and rotation of crops, that it
will be as durable as any soil similarly managed in the world.

So far as productiveness without manure is concerned, 1 believe
that the prairie soils of Illinois are equal to similar soils, or soils
similarly cultivated, in other states, and that their productiveness
will continue as long.

I believe that our prairie soils, which are "rich, fat and black,"
will grow corn for a series of years without manure, but that by
the use of it crops may be greatly increased.

Very respectfully, I am yours,

GEORGE CHURCHILL.

Lacon, Marshall County, III., March 31st, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Your favor of the 18th inst. is received. As I have
tilled my farm only eight years, I am unable to form a correct
judgment, from experience, how long the soil will last without
manure.

I will state that I have resided in Marshall county for the last
twenty years, and have been intimately acquainted with most of
the old farmers who have cultivated their lands from 1836 to this^late.

Those farms immediately on the river, with a soil of sandy loam
that has been cropped in the usual Sucker style, viz : Corn and
wheat — corn and wheat — for twenty years, without fallowing, show
that they need rest and manure ; while those farms that are upon

439

the prairies, above the river bluffs, with clayey soil, grow, without
manure, as heavy corn and better wheat than formerly ; and, from
present appearances, we must leave the_question as to whether
they have the " permanent productiveness of the best argillo-calca-
reous soils of Kentucky," to the next generation to decide.

We have a large representation from the State of Kentucky in
this county, and their uniform testimony is, that their native State
will not compare, in soil and crops, to this portion of Illinois.

Respectfully yours,

THEODORE PERRY.

Sugar Grove, Menard County, April loth, 185S.

Dear Sir — In answer to your inquiries in regard to my experi-

ence in farming in Illinois, I have to

say:

I moved to Sugar Grove, in Menard county, in the spring of
1820, and settled on a farm. In 1825, I moved to another, which
I cultivated till 1850, nearly all the time in corn; and the crops
were always cut off for feeding cattle.

There can be a good average crop of corn, of fifty bushels to the
acre, grown now, and no manure has ever been put upon the land
to this day, to my own knowledge.

There are several farms in the ' Grove ' that have been used in
the same manner, without manure, that will produce from forty to
fifty bushels per acre. These farms have no rest, and are seldom
in small grain.

Farmers here are putting their old land into grass for a few
years, which they say rests it, and I know of land being three
years in grass and then put in corn, that raised from sixty to eighty
bushels per acre. I believe that our land may be cultivated any
number of years, without manure, by putting in small grain or
grass alternately.

Yours in haste,

C. L. MONTGOMERY.

Sweetwater, Menard County, III., April 2lst, 1857.
Db. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — In answer to questions propounded in your circular
of March 18th 1857, I have the honor to submit the following:

I reside in Menard, once a part of Sangamon county, and have
done so for the past thirty-seven years.

I have taken from my land thirty-three crops, have never ma-
nured, and have always had paying crops in ordinary seasons.

I have grown corn for twenty-one years in succession, without
manure or change of crop.

This settlement was formed in 1819, now thirty-eight years, and
I know of nc one here that manures his land yet, and little Me-
nard turns off more surplus breadstuff than the same sized territory
in the United States.

440

I believe that our prairie soils will grow corn profitably from
fifteen to twenty-five years, without manure, and after that, sub-
soiling is all that is necessary to make it as good as ever.

I have some twenty-five gates on my farm, and in setting the
posts I have never got through the soil, though I dug the holes
two and a half feet deep.

I assure you that I have raised as many as eight hundred bushels
of onions to the acre, and fifty of wheat. This is a fact, though
people from other States who have never been here, will hardly
credit it.

Very respectfully, your friend and servant,

G. BLANE.

New Design, Monroe County, April 9th, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Deau Sib — Your letter came duly to hand, and with pleasure I
reply to your questions, as follows :

I reside in Monroe county, and the land I occupy has been un-
der cultivation sixty-five years. As a general thing, a good aver-
age crop has been taken from it every season without manure. A
good crop can be grown upon it now without manure.

With regard to the fertility of the soil, it is of a lasting quality.

I believe from my own experience, that the prairie soils of Illi-
nois are equal to those of other States, so far as productiveness is
concerned, for a series of years, without manure.

This settlement was one of the first in Illinois.

Yours, &c,

JOSIAH LEMAN.

Pittsfield, Pike County, III., March 30*7i, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Deab Sir — Your communication of the 18th inst. was duly re-
ceived, in which you call my attention to the subject of the dura-
bility of the soil of our prairies, as compared with our neighboring
States.

I emigrated to this county in the fall of 1820, where I have re-
mained till the present day. I commenced improving my land in
the spring of 1821.

The land I occupy has been under cultivation thirty six years,
and I have taken the same number of crops off of it without ma-
nure, and a good crop can now be grown upon it without the appli-
cation of manure.

With regard to the lasting quality of the fertility of the soil, I
have given my experience for the last thirty-six years. How much
longer it will last I cannot say. A portion of the "American bot-
tom," it is said, has been cultivated over one hundred years, and it
appears there is no alteration oi the soil.

441

I believe that the prairie soils of Illinois are superior to those of
other States, for a series of years without manure, hut am of the
opinion that there is no land so rich but that manure will warm,
quicken and improve its productiveness.

I know that our prairie soils will grow corn for a series of years
without manure ; but after a few years it will be found to improve
the crop, by deep ploughing. I think deep ploughing is too much
neglected by our farmers.

A portion of the land I improved thirty-six years ago, has been
planted with corn every year since, and last year produced as good
a crop as I ever saw on it, and it was never manured. The up-
lands are more variable, and where the land is broken and exposed
to washing would not be considered so desirable. I formerly en-
tertained the opinion that upland was inferior to the valley lands.
I have lived on, and cultivated both, and my experience is, that
where our upland prairie is not exposed to excessive washing, it is
equal to "bottom lands."

The broken lands of our county, bordering on our river bottoms
and ravines, is found to produce wheat equal if not superior, to
our richest prairie lands.

Truly yours,

W. ROSS.

Griggsville, III., April 21st, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — In reply to yours of the 17th inst. I would say, that
I am a resident of Griggsville, Pike county, and have lived here
twelve years.

The land I improve has been under cultivation twenty-six years.
Within the last twelve years there have been fourteen crops taken
off to my knowledge — twelve of corn and oats and wheat, and two
of buckwheat.

During a period of fourteen years before I came in possession of
it, as near as I can ascertain, it was in corn nearly every year. It
has never been manured, as I know of.

I raised a crop of corn last year on a part of the land, and had
nearly fifty bushels to the acre, where there had been a succession
of crops without manure, or clover, or rest.

I have lived in Ohio for thirty years, been in Kentucky a great
deal, and, from my knowledge and experience, I believe that as a
general thing the land of Illinois is better for a series of years for
corn than either of those States.

Yours truly,

THOMAS BRADBURY.

—54

442

Perry County, March *d§tli, 1S57.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Your communication of March 18th, on the fertility
and comparison of prairie soils of Illinois with neighboring States,
came safe to hand.

I have lived in the county of Perry for twenty-eight years, du-
ring which time I have cultivated from three to four hundred acres
of land annually, and I consider "experience better than theory."
I know of no county in the State which has more fully tested the
durability of the soil than this. Being an interior county, without
a market near tor the sale of grain, or any mode of transportation,
except by wagons, (until recently the Central Railroad,) the resi-
dents of this county, including myself, were forced to feed all the
grain we raised to stock, consequently we raised only such grain
as was suitable for feeding horses, cattle, hogs, &c. I confined
myself almost exclusively to corn, oats, and meadow grass, with a
very small crop of wheat, merely enough for bread.

On my farm I have several fields from which I have taken twen-
ty-five crops without manuring — three-fourths of them corn, the
remainder oats. And I think those (that is the oats) as wearisome
to the land as any that grows. The heaviest crops I ever raised
were in 1855, and were the twenty-fourth. That year was remark-
able for heavy crops, but I perceive no material change in the pro
duction for the last fifteen years. Sometimes it has been good,
and at other times better, owing to the season.

There are in my neighborhood several old farms, which were
made in the early settlement of this country. One lies about a
mile distant from my house, and was settled more than sixty years
ago. I have known it for thirty-five years, and during that time
corn has been cultivated upon it almost exclusively. It still pro-
duces well, say from thirty-five to forty bushels per acre, without
manure. 1 know of another field of twenty acres, on which twen-
ty-seven crops of corn have been raised successively without rest or
& particle of manure. Generally the stalks were raked and burned
before ploughing each year. This field is still producing a fair
yield, from thirty-five to forty bushels per acre, and in 1855 it
went far above that.

As regards the lasting quality of the soil, from my own experi-
ence and observation, I consider it tar superior to many ot the
States, and certainly equal to any I have seen. As to wearing it
out entirely I think that impossible. I meairthe prairie country.
There are no old fields turned out, in consequence of their having
been worn out as I have seen in Kentucky, Tennessee, and other
older States, in which I have traveled. At the same time, some of
the land in Southern Illinois has been worn as long as a great por-
tion of Kentucky.

As to its susceptibility of improvement by manuring, I will give
you a few experi ments of my own. I have eighty acres in meadow,
a portion in timothy, and red clover and timothy mixed ; also

443

some in red top. Of the timothy and clover after the fourth crop
it began to decline, and by the sixth was very sorry. I then spread
a light coat of manure on it in February from the barn lots and
stable, and harrowed it well. By this means it was completely re-
suscitated, and the yield afterward was better than it had ever
been. A gentleman from Virginia was looking at it and pronounced
it as good as he ever saw in that State.

The red top I have never manured, and perceive no decline in
it as yet. I have some meadow fifteen years old.

I am respectfully yours,
I H. S. 0ZBURN.

Robin's Nest, Peoria County, III., April bth, 1857. }
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Tour circular is at hand, and it gives me great plea-
sure to answer your questions as far as my experience will permit.

My present place of residence is in Peoria county, where I have
lived for twenty years, during which time I have taken twenty
crops from the land without manure. Good crops can now be ta-
ken from the soil without the application of manure.

I believe that the soil of our prairies will last hundreds of years,
and will maintain its fertility if it is deeply cultivated.

It is my opinion that the prairie soils are immeasurably superior
to any others that I am acquainted with.

I know that our prairie soil will grow corn for a series of years
without manure. There is a field on the farm adjoining mine that
has grown corn for twenty consecutive years without manure, and
is now capable of producing at least one hundred bushels per acre
with good culture.

With great respect,

HENRY J. CHASE.

Putnam County, III., April ISth, 1857.
Dr. J. Q. Norwood :

Dear Sir — I received your circular and letter, making inquiries
in regard to the soils in the county in which I live, &c.

I reside in Putnam county, and this has been my home for the
last twenty-seven years. Part of the land I occupy has been in
cultivation for twenty-one years, and during that time I have taken
twenty crops from a part of it without manure, changing from corn
to wheat and Irish potatoes.

In 1855 I averaged sixty-five bushels of corn to the acre, which
was as good a crop as was raised on land which had not been in cul-
tivation over five years. But I think it would produce better if
manured.

That portion of my land which I have seeded down to timothy

444

and clover for four or five years, and then ploughed, has been very
much improved.

I think if land is seeded down with timothy and clover, say two
out of six years, it will be equally as fertile after cultivating for
twenty years, as when new, provided the land is ploughed deep,
or rather subsoiled as deep as twelve inches once in four or five
years, which is better than a dressing of manure.

I cannot tell by experience whether the prairie soils of Illinois
are equal or inferior to those of other States, as I have been most-
ly raised in this State.

I know thousands of acres in Putnam county that have been cul-
tivated for over twenty years without manure, and yet produce
good crops, but as I have said before, the land is improved by ro-
tation.

Yours truly,

WM DTJRLEY.

Randolph County, III., March ZOth, 1857.
Dr. J. 6. Norwood :

Sir — I have resided in this county thirty-six years, but was born
and raised in the northern part of Kentucky.

I believe that the soil in Illinois will produce longer without ma-
nure than the soil in Kentucky, but I think our land bakes more
with heavy rains, or when trod upon, than the land in Kentucky ;
also requires deeper ploughing.

I have cultivated the farm on which I reside twenty-five years.
The farm which my father settled on, has been cultivated some of
it for thirty-five years, and neither have scarcely had any manure,
but frequent rotation ot crops.

On my own land, two years ago, I raised sixty bushels of corn
per acre, on my oldest land ; and the oldest land on my father's
farm produced forty bushels per acre.

I have no hesitation in saying that I believe our prairie lands
will produce as long without manure as the soil of Kentucky.

Many farmers plough too shallow, and when the land is too wet,
both of which are injurious to the lasting quality of the soil.

B,espectfully,

JOHN PARKS.

Randolph County, III., Flat Prairie, April 1st, 1857.
Dr. J. Gr. Norwood:

Hon. Sir — Your circular of the 18th of March, 1857, was duly
received, and I will endeavor to answer the questions.

I reside in Bandolph county, and my land was entered in 1822.

Since a year from that date o part of it has constantly been in a
grain crop. It came into my possession in '48.

445

Parts of it have occasionally been seeded down in timothy or
clover, and then parts ot it manured, and parts of it have been al-
most constantly in grain withUtile or no manure.

I have taken from six to ten crops from the ground since I owned
it, and can take an average crop still, of either corn, wheat or oats.

With judicious management, and a proper rotation of crops, the
fertility of our prairies may be continued almost ad infinitum, and
doubtless might be greatly increased by the use of manures.

I have never farmed it anywhere but on this flat prairie, and can-
not speak from experience of other States ; but from inquiries of
others, .and observation, having been in almost every northern
State of the Union, and south as far as Maryland, Yirginia and
Kentucky, I am of the opinion that there is no State of the Union
so well adapted for farming, and where farming can be carried on
so profitably, as in Illinois, even without manure.

/know that corn can be grown for ten years, and from informa-
tion from reliable parties, believe that it may for twenty or more.
In the course of inquiries made since receiving your circular, men
on whom I can rely have told me that they have land within three
miles of me that has been in crops of oats, wheat and corn for thir-
ty-six years, without manuring, except on spots where the land
is thin.

I may add, that I have never considered the prairie on which
I reside more than second rate at best, as regards its fertility, when
compared with others that I have been on, but skillful farming
and judicious management, makes it yield crops equal to the best.
And even second rate, as Flat Prairie is, from what I have seen
in Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, were we to lay down our
exhausted cornfields in blue grass, clover, &c. as much as they do
in those States, we might pretty much dispense with manure, and
take the trouble to move the stable rather than haul it out. There
is no doubt, however fertile any of our prairies may be, that fertil-
ity can be increased by the judicious application of manures. At
least such is the opinion of

Yours, most respectfully,

WILLIAM ADDISON.

Flat Prairie, Randolph County, April itTi, 1857.
Dr. J. G-. Norwood:

Dear Sir — Your circular of the 18th of March, I duly received,
and answer it with pleasure, considering the subject one of great
importance.

1 reside in Randolph county, and my land has been in cultiva-
tion twenty-one years.

I have taken fifteen crops from it without manure, though my
system of farming is somewhat different from that practiced a few
years since. I follow the rotation system in cropping, and of
eourse manure for my wheat crop. But I know of fields in this

446

neighborhood older than my own, which have never received any
manure, and yet yield, yearly, remunerative crops.

I will say that I have always considered the soil of Illinois as
unsurpassed in fertility, and it is my belief that it is superior to
that of any other State in the Union which I have visited,

I believe that it will grow corn for a series of years without ma-
nure.

I may say in conclusion that with a judicious system of farming,
the soil of Illinois will last for a lifetime. I should say that the
following mode would be proper, viz. :

Break up meadow land as early in the spring as possible. Let
the cattle graze on it during the summer, and plough again in the
fall, and sow with wheat. Next year, plant corn, then sow oats,
or flax, and seed down in the fall with timothy. Then mow or
pasture for four or five years, and proceed as before.

Yours truly,

JAMES CRAIG.

Sparta, Randolph County, III.
Dr. J. GL Norwood :

Dear Sir — In answer to your questions permit me to say, the
land that I improve has been in cultivation for sixteen years, and
those portions of my farm that were good at the first, are still good
without any manure. However, as I came here at a late day I
had to take what no one else would, consequently have had to ma-
nure all I could. The effect has been, that my farm is much better
than when I bought it. The soil on our prairie is not an average
of the Illinois prairies, still, those who came first and had choice of
land, can, and have raised remunerative crops for the last twenty-
five or thirty years. But the world is moving, and barn-yard and
stable fertilizers are becoming indispensable even in Egypt.

I have no experience to give of any of our sister States, having
come from Scotland to Illinois. My opinion is, that the talk of
land getting "old" "worn out" &c, &c, is all nonsense. A care-
ful system of farming will improve the soil.

Yours,

BRYCE CRAWFORD.

Pleasant Ridge, Rock Island Co., April 7th, 135F.
Dr. J. G-. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Your favor of March 17th, containing several inqui-
ries in regard to the natural qualities of the soils of the State of Il-
linois, is received, and I cheerfully comply with your request,

I am a resident of Rock Island county — have been engaged in
farming for the last thirteen years in this State, and was raised a
farmer in New York.

447

The farm upon which I live was put under cultivation five years
ago. I use no manure for any grain crop. The manure which ac-
cumulates about my bai^i and stables I spread over my tame mea-
dows. The increased yield will not pay the expense of hauling.
The manure is removed from the yards more for the purpose of get-
ting about conveniently, than the good I get in an increased crop.

I am fully of the opinion that our prairie soils will yield better
tame grasses alter the top, loose, black loam is comparatively used
up by cropping for ten or twenty years, than it will in an earlier
culture. " Our soil is formed by the continual decay of vegetable
matter mixed with the ashes accumulated from the annual burnings
of our prairies for an indefinite period of time ; thus making a rich,
deep, loose earth, capable of producing a good crop for many years
to come. This soil is from two to six feet deep, and underlaid with
clay, and is as well calculated to stand much wet, or a severe
drought, as any soil under the sun. A soil of the above descrip-
tion certainly cannot easily wear out. All cereal grains, and most
of our vegetables will ripen before any drought can seriously affect
Jhem. Corn is seldom affected with dry weather, particularly if
the ground is ploughed deep.

By ploughing four o?five inches in depth we raise all our crops.
Wheat from twenty-five to thirty bushels per acre; oats, from forty
to seventy-jive ; and corn from fifty to eighty.

I conclude that there is no soil like ours in any other country,
or if like it, no letter. I am acquainted with the soils of New
York, New England, Ohio and Indiana. In most parts, we find
the subsoils to be a stiff, heavy clays gravel or lime roek, all of
which is too near the surface to make a lasting soil. While these
and other States use manure at a great cost, Illinois can raise crop
after crop for many years without any manure oj any hind.

I have often heard of crops of corn being raised in this part of
the State, upon the same piece of ground from ten to fifteen years
in succession without manure. One of the best farmers in Mercer
county, a few miles from here, informed me last fall that he had
planted a field of thirty acres, every year for sixteen years, and
though last season was bad for corn, yet he would have from sixty
to seventy five bushels per acre. No manure used.

I would as soon take a field which has been cultivated ten or fif-
teen years, to raise a crop of premium corn upon, as that which had
been tilled for five or ten years.

There is no doubt but that manure will be wanted in years to
come ; but with the soil we have got it will be in good plight when
it has been cultivated as long as other soil, in other States has
been, that is worn out.

I believe that our soil is too loose to grow as good crop of hay
now, as it will after the subsoil is brought up, and a more compact
working soil is formed. Then the grass roots will be more likely
to retain their place in the winter, and not stand so much in stools
as at present

Very respectfully yours, C. G. TAYLOR.

448

Sangamon, III., March Zlst, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood:

Dear Sir — Your communication, addressed to the farmers of
Illinois, was received, as directed to myself? a day or two ago.

I have been a resident of Sangamon county nearly twenty years,
and have been engaged in farming the principal part of that time.
During the first ten years I occupied land that had been cultivated
in corn for perhaps fifteen years in succession, and was considered
worn out, not having been ploughed more than two or three inches
deep. By deep ploughing, this land was made to yield an increas-
ed crop of at least fifty per cent. A part of the farm was sown in
grass, and produced excellent crops for four or five years, when it
was again farmed in corn and wheat, and yielded equal to new
land. By this process of rotation in crops without manure, it con-
tinues to produce a full average crop of corn. Part of this land
has been in cultivation for forty-jive years without manure, and now
rates as first quality.

The land upon which I now reside has been in cultivation six
years, and yields fifty to seventy-five bushels of corn, and twenty
to thirty-five bushels of wheat per acre. Forty-one and two-thirds *
bushels to the bushel sown, was raised on an adjoining field, being
the third crop (of wheat) in succession without manure, and the
only crop raised on the ground.

My opinion, based upon experience, is, that the prairie soil of Il-
linois will improve upon its natural wild state, by systematic farm-
ing, without manure. I consider the properly farmed prairie land
of Sangamon county equal to the manured and highly cultivated
lands of Lancaster and Chester counties, Pennsylvania.

It is a well established fact, that average crops of fifty bushels of
corn per acre, have been raised on the prairie soil for several years
in succession, by the corn raisers of Illinois, without manure.

Yours respectfully,

J. J. MEGREDY.

Sangamon County, April 6th, 1857.
Dr. J. Gr. Norwood :

Dear Sir — I will try to answer your questions in as short a way
as possible.

In 1824, I emigrated from Kentucky to Sangamon county, where
I now reside. In 1828, I broke land, which I plowed last week,
that is capable of producing seventy-five bushels of corn to the
acre, without manure.

I know other land that has been in cultivation since 1818, in
corn at least three out of every four years, that aj>pears to be almost
as good as ever.

I have been acquainted with some of the best soil of Kentucky,
and it is very inferior to our prairie soils as to productiveness or
endurance.

449

If I was now a young man, with my present experience, I should
have no fears of ever wearing out the prairie soil of Illinois, with
proper cultivation, and without manure. Owing to shallow plow-
ing it will sometimes "tire," as we say, but plow deep and it is
rested again.

Tours truly,

JOHN C. CfiOWDER.

Williams ville, Sangamon County, III., April lOtli, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Deak Sik — On receipt of your letter, I proceed to reply at once.

I lived in Fleming county, Ky., until I was 21 years old, and
followed farming there ; have lived in this State 27 years, and fol-
lowed farming here.

I have resided, most of the time, in Menard county, but now
live in Sangamon, near Williamsville. I cultivated land in Menard
for twenty years, and had it in corn, wheat and oats every year — a
part of without any manure ; and, where it is not too rolling, the
soil is still good, and I believe I can raise sixty bushels of corn to
the acre.

My opinion is, that the ground is better now for wheat than
when it was new, except the first year. I manured some on the
rolling ground, and it is too rich for oats. I have sown oats on it
for several years, and it has invariably fallen clown. This soil is
capable of standing it longer than any.

I have seen land in Kentucky which, if cultivated half as long as
I have cultivated this, would not produce half as much grain.

Where I now live the country has not been settled long, in con-
sequence of its being far from timber, but if the land is well tilled,
without manure, it will produce, in a good season, eighty bushels
of corn and sometimes as many as forty or fifty bushels of wheat
to the acre. But the season and everything else must be right.

I heard a man say that year before last he raised one hundred
bushels of corn to the acre. His land has been in cultivation for
several years, and he is a man of truth and a Methodist preacher.

I am now making a farm near Williamsville, and made one last
year. I am making plank fence, and have dug a great many holes
for posts, and the soil is about two feet deep on an average, black
and rich.

I will speak of well-digging in Menard county. In a great
many places when you dig a well you go through the soil, then
clay, then white dirt, then black dirt, which is composed of leaves
and branches of trees, that are mostly decayed. But we frequently
get bits of wood and bark, and sometimes logs.

Yours with esteem,

D. K. CALLARMAN.

450

Richland, Sangamon County, May 1th, 1857.
Dp.. J. G. Norwood :

Sie — Your letter of March IStli has just come to hand — a long
delay; and, with pleasure, I will make to you a few statements:

I have been living in Sangamon county, on a part of the farm
which I now occupy, for thirty-two years — ever since I was a small
boy.

Some portions of this farm, within this period, have produced
twenty-seven full crops of grain. Twenty -three of these crops were
corn, three of them were wheat and one was oats. Previous to the
year 1825, it was in other hands, and produced a/number of corn
crops in succession. During the last five years, these oldest pieces
have been in clover, producing very heavy crops. l\row, to my
certain knowledge there never was a shovel-full of manure or a
handful of sulphate of lime, guano, salt or any fertilizer intention-
ally put on the land ; nor was there ever any of the sub-soil brought
up into use, which ought to have been done.

"We have, on some of the oldest portions of this farm, plowed
under luxuriant crops of clover, after remaining five or six
six years set, and can assure you that, during some years after this
treatment, they produced just like new prairie land. The best
prairie soil does not seem to run down or become poor —that is,
the level prairie — but merely to become hard and a little disposed
to bake, after many years of corn cropping; and the clovering., or
treating with other grass a few years, effectually remedies thfc, and
the soil becomes as lively and productive as ever, and does not
need a similar treatment for many years.

Yours truly,

GEORGE M. HARRISON.

Sangamon County, May Toil, 1S57.
Dr. J. G. Norwood:

Dear Sie — I hasten to reply to yours of the 1 8th of March.

I now reside and have been a farmer in Sangamon county for
thirty-five years.

The land I occupy has been in cultivation nine years, and I have
taken the same number ot crops from it without manure.

I am acquainted with land which has been under cultivation
thirty years, and produces very fine crops without manure.

Good crops — say from from forty to fifty bushels of corn per acre
— can now be grown upon the land I occupy without manure.

In regard to the lasting quality of our soii, I know of no land that
is equal to it.

I believe, from my own experience, that the prairie soil? of Illi-
nois are equal or superior to those of other States, so far as produc-
tiveness is concerned for a series of years, without manure.

I may now state, that I was born and raised in Madison county,
Kentucky; left there when I was twenty years old and went to

451

"West Tennessee ; lived there about three years, and in the South-
ern part of Kentucky two years; from thence I moved to Sanga-
mon county, and am satisfied that the soil of Sangamon is superior
to the soil of the States I have mentioned.

Yours truly,

J. A. EALL.

Shelbyyille, Shelby County, III., April lltli, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood:

Sir — I received your document, dated March 11th, 1857, wish-
ing my experience relative to the natural soils of our prairies. I
am happy to give you the little experience that I have had in cul-
tivating the same, for the last twenty years, in Shelby county.

The land I now occupy has been in cultivation twenty-five years.
I have cultivated it myself for eighteen years, and it has never had
any manure to my knowledge.

I have taken ten successive crops of corn from the same field,
and could not see but that the last was a good average crop, and
am confident that I could have raised ten bushels more to the acre
with the same success without manuring.

I consider our black praiiie soils the most fertile and susceptible
of a larger cultivation, and rotation of crops, than any other, with
the exception of the " American bottom lands," and don't think
these superior to our prairies.

I am of the opinion that our lands could be improved by manu-
ring.

I know of no country which will stand a drought equal to our
prairies, and a wet season does not affect the soil injuriously either.

I will here give you a history of my wheat raising, which' may
be somewhat interesting.

In may 1851 I broke prairie for wheat, which I sowed in Sep-
tember following, and would have had a crop of thirty-five or for-
ty bushels per acre, but a frost came' after the heads had made their
appearance, and blasted what was out of the stalk. As it was, I
raised twenty bushels per acre on about twenty acres of ground.

In the fall of 1855 I plowed and sowed about eight acres. I also
plowed about four acres, but could not get such seed wheat as I
wanted, so I let the rest go unsown with the intention of putting it
in corn in the spring, but when spring came I found the portion I
had not plowed so well set in wheat, that I concluded to let it
stand and see what it would come to. "When the harvest season
came, I could hardly tell the difference between the wheat I plow-
ed and sowed, and that which came up spontaneously. The aver-
age crop was fifteen bushels per acre. This is the third season, and
now it looks as fair for a crop as any I have on my ground. I
shall leave it to see what it will be at harvest, and if I get the third
crop without plowing or sowing, I shall set down Illinois a step
beyond JSTo. 1, as a wheat growing State.

452

I do not wish you to understand that the above is my method of
raising wheat, but that this has been an experiment; at the same
time it has clearly proved to me that we are about one month too
late in sowing our wheat. I think it should be sown ,by the mid-
dle of August to insure a crop.

I know of some fields that have raised eighteen crops of corn in
succession, and the owner says that there have been twenty-five
crops of corn raised on the same piece without any rest or manure,
and they are now equally as good as at the first.

Yours truly,

M. D. GREGORY.

Ridge Prairie, St. Clair County, March 21th, 1757.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — I have this evening received your letter of the 18th
inst., and my answer is as follows :

I live in St. Clair county, one of the Egyptian counties of Illi-
nois. I have lived here thirty-eight years, and am a tolerably
large farmer for this region, having between fourteen and fifteen
hundred acres under cultivation.

In 1828 I commenced one of the first farms on Ridge Prairie,
which has been cultivated ever since in corn, wheat, oats and bar-
ley, without manure, and without any perceptible diminution of
crops ; it only requiring a little more labor to keep down the weeds
than at first.

I might perhaps as well answer all your inquiries under one head,
by the statement of a few facts within my own knowledge and ex-
perience.

In 1840 I became possessed of the tract of land containing what
was called the "old field," the first improvement of my father-in-
law, made in 1802. I ploughed it up some two or three inches
deeper than it had been cultivated before, and raised full eighty
bushels of corn to the acre. Since then it has been rented to a
tolerably good farmer, who raises from fifty to sixty bushels of corn
per acre, or from twenty to thirty-five bushels of wheat. This
land has been in cultivation some fifty-four years, without any ap-
pearance of exhaustion, and without ever having a particle of ma-
nure.

I have had some lands in wheat for eight successive years, and
they appear to get better every year.

As to how long our lands will last without manure, I am of the
opinion that where our black soil is several feet in depth, and not
rolling enough to wash to any considerable extent, that a thousand
years are almost as one day in comparison to its durability. It
appears only necessary to plough three or four inches deeper than
usual, once in every eight or ten years.

I do not wish to be understood as expressing an opinion that

453;

manure would not quicken and increase the fertility of our soil,
I only speak of what has been done, and what I believe can be
done without it.

Yours respectfully,

JOHN THOMAS.

Shiloah Valley, St. Clair County, March 28, 1857.
Dr. J. Gr. Norwood:

Dear Sir — In reply to your communication my answer is as
follows :

I am now and for fifty years have been a resident of St. Clair
county. I was born and raised on the farm I now occupy, which
is situated in what is now called Shiloah Yalley, formerly a part
of Ridge Prairie, and about five and a half miles east of Belleville.

A considerable part of the land I occupy (prairie land) has been
under cultivation for fifty-two years.

]STo part of the land I occupy has ever been manured.

That part which has been in cultivation fifty-two years, and a
small portion of my other land, were in clover one season about
seven years ago.

During the fifty-two years, about forty-five crops (principally
corn, but some wheat and oats) have been raised upon the land in
question.

To the question, " Can a good crop be grown upon the land now
without manure ?" my answer is emphatically, yes. The land I al-
lude to as having been fifty-two years in cultivation, I put in wheat
four years successively, preceding last year, and the growth was so
rank that the wheat lodged each of those years, for which reason I
planted it last season in corn. I consider this prairie soil, (which
has been in almost constant cultivation for more than half a cen-
tury without manure,) too rich for the prosperous growth of wheat.

As to the lasting quality of the soil you will gather my convic-
tion from what I have already said. If properly cultivated I be-
lieve it will never wear out.

I reply to your question in relation to the quality of our prairie
soils in comparison with those of other States, I answer candidly
and decisively : I have some experience in the matter ; I have
traveled over twenty-four of the best States of the Union, (and
among others, I have been in about half the counties of Kentucky,)
paying particular attention to the nature and productiveness of the
various soils, and I do not hesitate to affirm that our prairie soils,
for lasting fertility, without the aid of manure, are unequalled by
any I have seen.

As to your final question, relating to the capacity of our prairie
soils " to produce corn for a series of years without manure," my
answer is, that from my own experience, Ihiow they will do so. I
have knowledge of good corn crops grown from twenty to thirty
years, successively, on the same land, without manure.

Tours very respectfully,

FELIX SCOTT.

454:

Grossland, St. Clair County, April Ath, 185T.
Dr. J. G. Norwood:

Dear Sir — My knowledge of the comparative productiveness of
our prairie soils with the lands of Kentucky, is quite limited. Yet,
from personal observation in passing over some parts of that
State, my conclusion is, that the soil of Illinois generally, is much
superior to that of Kentucky.

I will give you some of my experience in farming on the land
which I have been fortunate enough to own and occupy since
1829 ; and in the first place will speak of the productiveness of
certain portions of my farm, which have been in cultivation for a
series of years without ever having received any manure or being
seeded down with clover or other grass to renovate the soil.

I have one piece of twenty acres on which my first crop was
corn, grown in 1831. The whole twenty acres was cultivated in
corn for four years. After that a part in corn and another part in
barley, for two years. The seventh year my crop was oats, which
I harvested and then seeded with timothy and red top, for the
purpose of making hay. Since 1838 it has been mown every year,
yielding on an average about one and a half tons to the acre. It
also affords me some pasturage in the fall.

In the years 1837, '38 and '39 I improved, about one half mile
from my residence, a farm of two hundred and forty acres. About
forty acres of this was kept in meadow, the remainder has been
plowed every year since it was improved, and still produces re-
munerative crops of wheat, barley, oats and corn. This land has
been plowed every year for eighteen years, and the most of it has
been in corn every year.

There was a wide space of this field sown with wheat last fall,
some of which was much injured by the army worm. That which
was not injured looks as promising for making a good crop as any
I ever saw at this season of the year.

The above named land has never had anything applied to it in
the shape of manure or lime, or any of the fertilizers used for the
renovation of worn out lands.

It is observable that our lands, after being cultivated for several
years, become more compact, and require more labor to cultivate
them properly than does the virgin soil. We are now oftentimes
compelled to pass a heavy roller over it in order to pulverize and
make fine the hard lumps which are not common in new land.
Experience has taught me that barn yard manure when applied to
old cultivated land will keep it light and loose. The addition of
manure to our land will frequently cause our wheat to fall while
green, and thereby ruin the crop. Manure is indispensable on
land which has been long cultivated in order to insure a good crop
of potatoes. Land is seldom too rich for corn or grass, and for the
former manure is beneficial.

My experience is, that by constant cultivation our soils do be-
come less prolific, and it requires more labor to raise grain of any
kind.

455

The best fertilizer is clover. In two years it will make the land
loose and productive as the virgin soil.

With a high seuse of regard, I am, sir, truly yours,

JOSEPH GRIFFIN.

St. Clair County-, April 8th, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — In reply to your queries, I would say :

St. Clair county is my residence, and has been for the last
seventy years and nine months, and as farming has occupied most
of my time, I am laboring under the impression that no one can bet-
ter judge of the fertility and productiveness of the soil of our prairies
than myself. Three score and ten years has afforded ample time.
The farm I occupy has been in cultivation fifty-two® years, and
no attention has been paid to manuring as yet.

If the present season should be favorable my calculation is to ob-
tain from forty-five to sixty bushels of corn per acre, and with
necessary cultivation even more.

As to the lasting qualities of the soil, I am of the opinion if far-
mers would abandon the wretched practice of burning corn stalks
and wheat stubble, the rich prairies of Illinois, without any more
manuring, would last -as long as there would be human beings to
cultivate them.

From the knowledge I have of other States, I consider the
prairie soils of Illinois are equal to those of any and inferior to
none, as far as productiveness is concerned, for a series of years
without manure. I know from experience that our prairies will
bear a succession of corn crops without manure. My farm has
been in cultivation upwards of half a century without manuring,
and I discover no failure for the last thirty years.

Yours truly,

ROBERT LEMEN.

Tremont, Tazewell Co., III., April 6th, 1857.
Dr. J. G. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Tour circular of the 18th of March came to hand a
few days since, and my answer is as follows, viz :

The land I occupy has been in cultivation only about six years,
hence am frets in regard to it, in so short a time, would not be cor-
rect data from which to judge of the durability of the soil.

The out-skirts of the prairie on which I reside have been under
cultivation about twenty-eight years. Other portions, of a more re-
cent date, varying from three to twenty -eight years. The first
settlers grew little but corn, and that on the same piece of ground
for at least twenty out of the twenty-eight years, and without any
material difference in the yield per acre, and without manure, ex-
cept small pieces to which they were necessitated to remove it to
prevent its inconvenient accumulation at the stable.

456

It is the opinion of our oldest and most experienced farmers,
with whom I have had frequent opportunities to converse upon,
the subject, that by plowing deep, thus bringing up the under soil
to the fertilizing effects of the atmosphere and other agents, and by
a proper rotation of crops, the natural strength of the soil may not
only be retained but even greatly increased, without the aid of
manure.

I consulted one of the oldest farmers in this vicinity, whose farm
had been under cultivation twenty-four years, and he said he re-
alized, with ordinary cultivation, an average of fifty bushels of
corn per acre the last year, without manure.

As far as my observation goes, in traveling through the eastern,
middle and northern States, our soils are not only equal but far su-
perior, both in productiveness and durability, to those of neighbor-
ing States, adopt whatever mode of cultivation you will.

Very respectfully yours,

JOSIAH SAWYER.

Flower Dale Farm, Tazewell Co., April lith, 1857.
Dr. J. Gr. Norwood :

Dear Sir — Your communication of the 18th ult, did not reach
me till the 12th inst., and I hasten to reply to your questions.

I reside in Tazewell county. The land I now occupy has been
cultivated five years. I am in the habit of manuring my fields, and
seldom take more than two or three crops without manure or
grass. My .land will grow a good crop of anything adapted to our
climate. I have no doubt but that my farm would last a score of
years without any fertilizers and still produce good crops. I am
acquainted with the soils of Pennsylvania, :New York and Illinois,
and I do know that the natural productiveness of the two former
bears no comparison to the latter. I believe "our prairie soils will
grow corn for a series of years without manure," and from the
best of evidence.

The day after receiving your letter, I conversed with Mr. Jerome
Valentine, a gentleman of unimpeachable veracity, and who is
said to live upon the first farm ever cultivated in Tazewell county,
and in reference to this subject, he said that on a farm which join-
ed his was a field that had been tilled in corn for twenty successive
years, and that the crops were still good. I will merely add that
we need not be so alive to either mistakes or misrepresentations.
They are as cobwebs around the limbs of an infant giant. Every
day we live is a volume oi refutation.

Most respectfully,

G. W. MINER.

PREMIUM ESSAYS.

OX THE VARIOUS BREEDS OF SHEEP, AND THEIR ADAPTATION TO THE
PRAIRIES.

By A. B. McConxell, of Sangamon County, III.

At this late day, I presume, it will no longer be disputed that
our climate is well adapted to wool growing, and also for the fat-
tening of mutton. I have been growing wool in this State for the
last fourteen years, and several years previous in the State of New
York. When I first saw Illinois and its prairies I arrived at the
same conclusion with many others at that time — having been raised
amongst the hills and rocks of the east — that the prairies were too
low and level for the health of sheep and their development.

It is a very common idea that sheep will only do well in a hilly
country, from the fact that much of the low, level lands of those
countries are inclined to be springy and mossy, and that sheep
confined to such pastures soon get diseased, and the owners are
compelled to turn them upon the hills or lose their flocks. I have
no hesitation in saying that sheep are not lia,ble to contract dis-
eases upon oar prairie soils. The foot rot,, that made such havoc
among their flocks east, will not continue the second summer upon
our prairies. I speak from experience, and have also known other
cases where large flocks have been driven here with the disease
upon them. It has never shown itself the second summer, and
but very slightly the first.

We have no contagious diseases here that I know of, except the
scab, and that is said to be easily subdued and kept down by a
decoction of tobacco and soft soap. To cure the disease it is ne-
cessary, directly after shearing, to dip the whole flock, once a week,

—55

458

for three or four weeks. I know of one flock of about fifteen hun-
dred that had the scab that has sheared live lbs. of wr shed wool
per head for the last two years ; but if any flock master should
be so unfortunate as to get it into his flock, my advice would be to
keep them from breeding. Let them get fat upon the summer
range and sell them to the butchers As the disease does not
trouble or affect them in suummer it does not injure them for
mutton.

Then I arrive at the conclusion that our climate and prairies are
well adapted to sheep husbandry. For I believe it to be a fact,
which is generally acknowledged, that no country can surpass us
in growing the necessary food, both to make wool and mutton.
The question then arises, which is the most profitable breed. The
answer depends entirely upon circumstances and locality. If near
some large towns, and mutton is the object of the breeder, then I
would say some of the long wooled breeds or the Southdowns.
There is a great diversity of opinion as to which of the above
breeds will prove to be the most profitable for our soil and climate.
Having never bred or handled either of them, I do not feel compe-
tent to decide between them. The Longwools attain to greater
size and shear a larger fleece, but they will not bear to be herded
in as large flocks as the Southdowns, and being greater feeders, in
case of long droughts, will not stand as much short keeping.

There is probably no country that consumes more mutton than
England, and there the Southdown mutton, for its tine flavor and
superior quality, stands pre-eminently the highest. But probably
for their great size, where but a small flock is desired, the Long-
wools may yield the greatest profit.

Having decided which is the best breed for mutton, the question
comes up — which is the best breed for wool growing? I answer
the Merino. In all fine wooled flocks wool is the first object and
mutton the second. So in pursuing our inquiries, we must take
into consideration which is the most profitable breed for both wool
and mutton combined. There are three classes of Merino, the
French, Spanish, and what is termed of late years, the American.
The latter is a stock of sheep which have been bred from our earliest
importations by Messrs. LIumphrey and Jarvis, as far back as 1802.
Probably but few of those importations have been kept pure. They
have been crossed with others, and a few years ago, when the Sax-
ony fever ran high, most of the fine flocks were crossed with them,
to the great detriment of the country and also to the pecuniary in-
terest of their owners.

There is also a diversity of opinion as to which is the best, the
French or Spanish. Both have their admirers, and I suppose that
circumstances and locality will govern, to a great extent, without
deciding between them. In Central Illinois and south, where they
can be herded upon grass the most of the year, and corn be grown
cheap and in great abundance, at a low price, I think the French
will always prove to be the most profitable. They are of large

459

size, of strong, vigorous constitution, good feeders, and come "to
maturity at an early age, and shear very heavy fleeces of a fine
quality. The ewes, being strong, make excellent breeders ; the
lambs come strong and healthy, and are but little trouble to raise.
The wethers make good mutton, will fatten readily in large flocks,
and will fall but little behind the mutton sheep in weight ; and
when the wool and mutton are taken into account, they will prove
to be a profitable breed for the farmer.

The Spanish being of a smaller breed, and being kept more ex-
pressly fur wool growing, are probably the best sheep for northern
latitudes. In such localities grain is usually at a high price and
but little is fed to stock sheep — hay is the principal food — and what
mutton is sold is generally taken from the pastures after getting
fat upon grass. They are also of strong constitutions, shear heavy
fleeces of a splendid quality ot wool, which is usually very gummy,
more so than any other breed, and consequently their woo will
lose more in cleansing than that ot any other breed of sheep. But
as long as manufacturers will send out agents who will pay as
much for gum as wool it will be well enough to let them have as
much of it as possible ! The Spanish, being of less size, will also
bear short keeping better than the French. But no person should
calculate to keep more than he can feed and do it well.

Every farmer commencing the business should be careful in the
selection of a flock. Either of the above breeds will pay a good
profit if well taken care of. And I will remark here, that every
farmer who intends to try the raising of sheep must give them the
care and attention that they require or he had better let the busi-
ness alone.

It is the custom of every flock master, or should be, to sell the
poorest of his flock, which will consist of different ages, form and
size. But for beginners it will be much better policy to buy young
sheep, all of the same age, and of good form and size, and of an
even fleece, even if a much higher price is paid, than to take a
flock of old and young and of uneven quality of wool, at a much
lower figure.

"WINTER MANAGEMENT OP SHEEP.

Whenever grass begins to fail, the sheep should receive a little
grain once a day. It is bad economy to let them begin to run
down at the beginning of winter. They should always be kept in
good condition, for it is an impossibility to get a heavy fleece of
wool from a poor sheep. And it should be borne in mind that
wool is only growing while the sheep are in a thriving condition.
They require one quart of corn per head a day, with the fodder,
or ted on hay or kept upon good grass pastures, they will not re-
quire so much. It is always necessary to keep the lambs by them-
selves. When they are weaned they should be turned into mead-
ows and have plenty of running water. They should be taken from
their mothers at about five months old. It is a difficult matter to
learn them to eat corn.

460

Tlie best mode I have found for wintering lambs, is this : I
plant a portion of my corn adjoining my grass land, and when it
becomes necessary to feed I turn them into both grass and corn
for a week or two. They should only be allowed to run in the
corn about one hour each day, until they all get used to the food.
After that they can be allowed perfect liberty to run upon either
field. They do much better in this way than when fed, and will
not waste any more corn. Sheep eat corn in a different manner
from other stock. As fast as they shell it from the cob they pick
up the loose kernels before shelling any more. They will eat a
little more by this mode of feeding, but the extra amount of wool
they will shear, and the extra growth they will acquire, will richly
pay the difference. Yearlings should be kept and fed by them-
selves. Their teeth are weak and they will not get their share if
feci with older stock.

The buck should not be allowed to run with the breeding ewes
through the winter. They often strike them with their horns and
cause them to lose their lambs. They can be kept by themselves,
or turned with the wrethers. In Central Illinois sheep are fre-
quently fed in flocks as high as 1,000 or 1,500, but I do not think
that over 500 or 800 should be kept together. They should be fed
at regular hours, and should always be fed an hour before sun-
down, so that they can eat before dark. They do not like to feed
after night. They should never receive more than they will eat
tolerably clean.

The shepherd should always watch his flock closely, and when
he sees that any one is not doing well from any cause, should re-
move it to the hospital. It is alwa}7s necessary to have some place
where such sheep can be properly taken care of. Ewes should be
bred in November; the time of gestation is five months; and the
common practice of turning the rams into the flock and letting
them run promiscuously through it is wrong. Several rams run-
ning in the same flock excite each other to unnecessary activity,
besides injuring each other by constant blows It is every point
of very bad husbandry, and it is destructive to everything like
careful and judicious breeding.

Every wool grower should have convenient yards and pens for
handling his sheep. The breeding ewes should be brought into
the yard once a day, and one or two strong rams, well aproned,
turned into the flock, and such ewes as are ready to breed can be
taken out and bred to such rams as are best calculated to impart
to their progeny the improvements that are desired to be obtained.
A different mark should be put upon the ewes tor the se\eral rams
that are used. By this mode every ram can be thoroughly tested
as a breeder; and in no other way, where there is more than one
ram used, can any man have that knowledge and pedigree of his
flock that every breeder should have.

Ewes should have their lambs about fKe commencement of grass,
and then as the grass and milk increases the lamb will also have

461

age and strength to receive it. Particular attention should be
given to the ewes at this time. It frequently happens that they
have more milk than the lamb can take for a few days, while
young, and unless the ewe is milked, her udder will swell and in-
flame and she will refuse to let her lamb suck. The consequence
will be the lamb will die, the mother, perhaps, will lose her wool,
if not her life, and be destroyed as a breeder. Whenever a strong,
healthy ewe loses her lamb, she should receive another, either a
twin or one taken from a weakly sheep. It is generally necessary
in such cases to shut them up in a small pen for a few days by
themselves. Another mode is to skin the dead one and tie the
skin on the lamb you wish the ewe to take. I never knew this to
fail when done in time. Lambs should be castrated and marked
at about ten days old. They do much better at that age than older,
and should not be driven far or fast enough to heat them before
the operation.

Ewes and lambs should be herded by themselves, and should
always be driven carefully through gates or bars, and not allowed
to crowd — for lambs are often injured in this way.

The best mode of washing sheep is in vats. The wool can be
got in better order, because there is no danger of getting sand or
muddy water into the wool in getting them out of the vat. Another
advantage is, that nearly every wool grower can wash on his own
farm. The common practice of driving to some stream, perhaps
four or five miles away, is very troublesome besides expensive, and
generally at that season of the year it is very dusty, and when the
sheep are got back to their pasture again, with the exception of
the oil which is taken from their wool, they are nearly as dirty as
when they left it. Dams can be made across almost any small stream
and sufficient water obtained to wash 1,000 or 1,500 a day. The
wTater should be carried through the dam in two troughs, of about
ten inches wide, and should have about one foot fall. The sheep
should be put into the vat at the lower end, and then soaked and
washed through different hands to the upper end, and there rinsed
off under the troughs, by experienced washers, and put out upon a
plank platform to drain, and, until shorn, should be kept upon clean
grass pastures.

It is supposed by some that sheep are ready to shear as soon
as they are dry. But this is a great mistake. Shearing should
not commence until the oil begins to strike into the wool again.
For until that time the wool is dry and harsh, and will cut
hard, has not that soft and lively appearance, which will add
so much to its beauty, and also make it more salable. If the
weather is suitable, they will be ready to shear in six or eight days
after washing.

Sheep are generally shorn upon barn floors, which should be
kept well swept and clean as possible, so that the wool may be
kept clean. After the fleece is off it is taken to a bench, where it
it is spread out with the outside up, and worked together as firm-

462

ly as possible. If there are any burs or tags upon it they should
be taken off, then the ends and sides thrown in so as to leave it
about two feet square, then all the loose' locks are put into the
centre, folded together over each way and the fleece tied up. Wool
should be packed firmly in some clean, suitable place, where no
dust or straw can get into it, until it is put into sacks ready for
market.

ON RAISING HORSES AND MULES IN ILLINOIS.

Bv Phil Warren, of Sangamon County.

Tlie raising of horses and mules is a very important and lucra-
tive business. The horse is the most intelligent, as well as the
most useful and valuable animal on the farm, and if his merits and
value were fully appreciated by the farmers of Illinois, they would
engage more extensively in raising horses.

Very few farmers in this State make a regular business of rais-
ing horses aud mules. It is done mostly in a small way by those
who keep just mares enough to cultivate their land. This is well
enough, but the raising of horses and mules is a business that pays
well of itself, and it is somewhat surprising that farmers do not
turn their attention to this branch of stock raising, especially when
they have the advantage of our rich prairies lor grazing purposes.

We have three classes of horses in this State — the thoroughbred,
draft, and roadster. The thoroughbred is undoubtedly the most
perfect of his species, possessing more beauty and symmetry of
form, more style and spirit, than any other kind, and is invaluable
to the farmer to cross with our native and grade mares.

The draft horse I consider of very little use to the farmer, being
too heavy and sluggish for the road or even ordinary farm purpo-
ses ; yet some deem the draft horse the best lor farm purposes.

The roadsters I consider the most useful to the farmer. They
are capable of doing all kinds of work, and can do more plowing
or hauling on our level ground than the draft horse, and are always
ready for the road. Our best roadsters are produced from a cross
of the thoroughbred or Morgan stallions with grade mares. If the
dam is possessed of sufficient size, bone and muscle, I prefer a
cross with the thoroughbred stallion to any other. The offspring
will generally partake of the size and form of the dam, with the
spirit and action of the sire.

For breeding purposes, then, I would select mares fifteen and a
half to sixteen hands high, possessing plenty of bone and muscle,
well turned, but not compactly built, full chest, round body, high
withers, sloping shoulders and small bony head — to which I would
breed a thoroughbred race horse, not too fine, but possessing all

464

the points of a highly bred horse. The result of the above cross
will be a class of superior roadsters, (in England called fox hunt-
ers,) which are capable of doing all kinds of work, and can endure
more hardship than any draft horse eighteen hands high. From
this class of horses we select those possessed of the finest form and
action for the carriage and saddle.

Mares in foal should be well cared for during winter. Thej
should be kept in a dry lot, furnished with good warm sheds, and
should be fed and watered regularly every day. Shock corn well
cured is very good feed during winter, but in March and April I
prefer cut oats with a little corn. The best time for mares to foal
is during the months of May and June, when they can be turned
on good pasture if not wanted for use. The first of October, colts
should be separated from their dams and turned in good blue grass
pastures. Where several colts are turned together they soon for-
get their dams. It is more important to feed your colts well the
first winter, than at any future period, for if badly wintered they
will not recover from it for years. Colts should be well fed and
sheltered during winter. Sheaf oats cut up and fed twice a day is
very good feed.

Colts should be handled at two years old, and worked a little at
three years in breaking up ground, and at four years old they may
be considered ready for work or for sale. At four years old if well
broke to harness and good movers, they are worth from one hund-
red and fifty to two hundred dollars, and frequently sell as high as
five hundred dollars. If of the finest form and action and well
matched, they will sell from $800 to $1000 a pair.

Mules. — Mule raising is much more profitable than horses.
They are considered more saleable for the farm, fur the reason
they can endure more fatigue and hardship with less food than the
horse, and may be considered ready for use at two and a half years
old.

Mule raising is carried on very extensively in Kentucky, where
land is worth one hundred dollars per acre, and the best thorough-
bred mares are frequently used for raising premium mules. For
raising mules, mares should be selected with regard to size more
than beauty. They should be sixteen or seventeen hands high,
rather long and roomy in the body, broad across the hips and heavy
bone and muscle. Such a mare bred to a ISTo. 1 Maltese jack,
produce our largest and best mules, for which we find a ready sale
to the southern planter at two and a half years old.

The mule should be kept up foom the time it is six months old
until ready for market. Great care should be taken with the mares
before foaling. They should be allowed to run out, but furnished
with plenty of warm shedding and fed and watered twice a day.
Cut oats and a few ears of corn is the best feed for mares from Feb-
ruary to grass. The colts at six months old should be put up in a
dry lot, with plenty of shedding, and fed on cut oats and crushed
corn, regularly, twice a day. Shock corn well cured is also very

465

good. Furnish plenty of pure water and your colts will come out
in fine order in the spring. The most profitable way of keeping
mules during the summer is to keep them in a close lot and feed on
green clover cut and hauled from the field twice a day. Mules
kept in this way will grow faster, keep fat and consume less feed
than when permitted to run at large in pastures. The following
fall they should be fed on crushed corn and cut oats regularly
twice a day. Shock corn is very good and perhaps the cheapest
feed, though I prefer good sheaf oats, mixed with crushed corn, to
any other feed. Mules should be treated in the above way until
they are thirty months old, when they are ready for market and
sell readily at $150 to $200.

I will now give the actual cost of raising a mule :

A good mare is worth $150 — interest on that, $15 00

Cost of keeping a mare one year, 15 00

Services of a good jack owned by the farmer 5 00

Cost of keeping mule first winter, 6 00

" " " during summer, 6 q0

" " " second winter, 9 00

" " " " summer , 8 00

" " " three months, up to January, 6 00

Actual costof mule at 30 months, $70 00

Real value " " " 150 00

Net profit, $80 00

The above estimate will pay the farmer fair prices for the grain
consumed, and shows a protit of $80 per head, which pays as well
if not better than any other stock raising.

ON THE EMBELLISHMENT OF A COUNTRY HOME.

By Miss Frances E. Willard, of Janesyille, Wisconsin.

[FIRST PREMIUM.]

"Were this age less utilitarian, this article need never have been
written, and its subject would have been already brought from the
ideal world, with which every man has communings, to the real
world, in which every man labors or ought to labor. Had our
subject received far more attention at a far earlier day, not so
many of the youth of our land had left their homes for adventure,
and, we must add, in too many cases, for failure. Not so many
hearthstones had been left desolate — not so many Rachels had been
mourning for their children ; for, on looking back from effect to
cause, we see, in many instances, unattractive homes and rayless
firesides as the perhaps unsuspected but no less real cause of this
unfortunate desertion on the one hand and this lonely regret on
the other.

Make home a pleasant place, and your children will not leave it.
You yourself will live longer, faster, better. Your old age will be
brighter, and you will ever feel the impetus for good thus given.
This needs no proving. Your heart said " yes " as you made these
thoughts your own.

Now, if this is a matter of such importance, it behooves every
one to think and act upon the subject. To some suggestions on
this point, and upon the ways and means by which so desirable an
end is attainable, this article shall be devoted.

The senses of sight, hearing and smelling, to reduce our ideas to
first principles, are addressed, and are to be pleased or otherwise,
in the surroundings of a home. To make the effect pleasurable,
the eye must be furnished with a view of grounds, tastefully laid
out; buildings of harmonious proportions and colors; various shades
of foliage, furnished by different kinds of trees ; flowers, with such
hues and tints as blend softly with surrounding objects, and, all

467

combining, to give a tranquilizing effect to the beholder. This,
surely, in part, constitutes embellishment.

With respect to the sense of hearing — whether the ear is pleased
or otherwise — depends upon the character of the establishment one
is approaching.

If hogs grunt from beneath the windows, cows make music from
the garden, sheep bleat from the roadside or cocks crow from the
ridge-pole, manifestly these sounds would not be sonorous, under
the circumstances, however interesting they might be in their
proper places. So of the third sense. If the air is redolent of
" reminders " of one's proximity to the stable or pig sty, in that
department, evidently, the hand of embellishment has never worked
its magic wonders.

Our aim is to show how those effects which are undesirable may
be avoided, and those which are pleasing may be secured.

First, the embellishments of a country home, as regards sight.
These occupy the widest range. Of these are the pleasures afforded
by a garden, tastefully laid oat, a fine lawn and a well planned suite
of buildings.

If you would have a beautiful home, surround it by trees.
Sprinkle, not sparingly either, evergreens around your buildings ;
so shall your surroundings be always life-looking, nor shall winter
destroy the charm of your grounds, nor shall your eye rest only
upon leafless branches, continually saying, as the cold north wind
sways them to and fro, that the "time of the sear and yellow leaf
has come ;" but an evergreen shall speak of life, of hope, of spring
time and give a thrill of joy even in winter. Then plant trees, and
do not forget to plant, here and there, an embk-in of" perpetual life.
Of this variety of trees, we have found the balsam, pine and arbor
vitse to flourish best in our climate. Of other trees, oaks, maples,
poplars, locusts, chestnuts and the mountain ash are sufficient,
though the more additions time and money will enable one to make
to our list the better.

Tines we consider indispensable. There is no danger of injuring
the walls of a house by covering' them thus. It is a mistaken
idea. With our sunny climate, they are rather a protection than
otherwise. We have succeeded best with honeysuckles, grape-
vines and Virginia creepers. They are hardier and more readily
obtained than the tender and more " fancy" varieties.

Of shrubs — snowballs, syringas, lilacs, upright honeysuckles and
roses.

Of bulbs — tulips, peonies and lillies are easily tended, and are
real ornaments. We presuppose that farmers cannot devote a
great share of time to the culture of these "extras." Have annu-
als, if you can afford sufficient time for their cultivation, and what
farmer's wife will not endeavor to ?

This department of adorning should not be undervalued.
Many farmers, we are aware, regard trees and flowers as of very
little value ; but, in reality, they are of so much importance, that

468

their absence cannot be compensated for by any amount of addi-
tional effort which may be bestowed upon any other branch of
embellishment.

Of the fence surrounding one's grounds, we believe, as a general
rule, a paling fence, painted white — the chosen color of New Eng-
land— is preferable. Plant trees promiscuously outside your fence,
and white seen through green and shining upon green, forms a
most agreeable contrast.

Have either gates or stiles for entrance ways. For fastenings
to gates, we have never seen a more simple contrivance than that
made by driving a post' firmly into the ground, attaching to it a
chain, with a weight of some sort in the middle, and fastening the
other end of the chain to the gate. The annoyance so often met
with of gates left open, and animals disturbing the grounds, is thus
avoided.

Gravel walks seem to give more general satisfaction than any
other. As it is an axiom that a curved line is more beautiful and
harmonious than any other, curved walks are preferable to straight
ones. Thus the approach to the house becomes a continual unfold-
ing of new sights and pleasant surprises. One does not take in
the whole plan at a glance. As he advances up the path, (endea-
vor to have your grounds slope road-ward) unexpected pleasures
meet him at every step. Here is a rustic seat, there a little arbor,
beyond a tiny grove — the home of robins and orioles ; then a tree
taller than its fellows claims attention, till finally the house is
reached — the heart of the home is seen— the nest so charmingly
surrounded.

We think there are few farmers on our broad prairies who can-
not afford at least four acres for a lawn, garden, &c.

Have, then, a fine, closely shaven lawn. In it arrange your
trees, shrubs, &c. Make one rule : in this timberless country
never cut down a tree unnecessarily. If its shape is ugly, it may,
by judicious "trimming," be remedied to a great degree, and, aside
from utilitarian views, it is treason to banish those hardy aborigines,
the oak, poplar and their fellows, from their lawful, long-possessed
domains- There is no danger of having too many trees ; this is
almost an impossibility. Do not trim trees far above the ground,
if at all. A tree trimmed to the shape of a lady's opened parasol,
is a most pitiable and distorted object.

Carriage drives are a great convenience, both on account of their
beauty and utility. A well located drive is given in the accom-
panying plan of grounds.

An arbor or two in one's garden is a great addition. They are
easily made — the more rustic the better. Branches of trees with
the bark on, a table made of rough branches covered with a rough
board, seats around the sides, vines growing over the exterior —
that is all, cheaply made, but a life luxury. A rustic seat, made
of moss — sofa-like, but better than a sofa — at the foot of a tree,
and a few rude chairs, made from those same rough branches,

4:69

would be an addition — at least the th*ed farmer would think so,
we surmise, when resting thus under the shadow of his own vine
and fir tree, after a day of toil.

We have now reached the house. Ours "faces" eastward, and
we often congratulate ourself that it does. It makes the sitting
room cool and pleasant in the afternoon, and the kitchen cool and
pleasant in the morning, when the work is going on and sunshine
would annoy us.

We always liked verandas, with vines over them, grape vines
too, if we were permitted the suggestion.

Fire phtces we always cling to. They make home homelier in
one sense— less so in another.

A large, dry cellar and well ventilated apartments are indispen-
sible to both health and happiness.

We believe story and a half houses are preferable for the coun-
try. A high, mansion-looking house suggests to the mind a town
or city, a thought, which in such a connection, is extremely out of
■place. We consider stone to be the best material for a house, that
is if you intend to build one which shall stand as an example for
posterity — that you are willing to have stand. If your house is ot
stone it will need no painting, if of wood some neutral color is de-
sirable when the house is large, but if it is small and embowered
among trees, white gives a charming effect.

Further than we have we will not penetrate into the interior ar-
rangements, more than to say, have your furniture, cozy, comfort-
able, common. Adopt the last half of the motto of a certain gentle-
man of the world, who said, "When I build a house lor show, I build
it for show; when I build ore for comfort, I build it for comfort"

Passing to the barn, we shall hope to find things arranged for
convenience. Add to this "a place for every thing, and every
thing in its place," and an observatory, from which to take a view
of your farm at a glance, and see if "the boys" are doing as they
should, or if any marauding cattle are encroaching upon your pre-
mises, and we have done with this department, except to add that
the additional expense of such a fixture as we have mentioned up-
on a barn, will pay for itself in one year by the mileage it will save.

We will now introduce our plan, to show what has been con-

[See Engraving.]

By the arrangement here represented, a large amount of con-
venience is secured, at a comparatively cheap rate.

The yard in front of the barn should be seeded down and used
only as a rendezvous for the teams, &c, preparatory to going to
the fields.

The cattle yards should be dry and large. If the animals are
sheltered instead of stabled, the shelter should face the south. The
fence surrounding this yard should be high and tight.

470

Swine ought not to be allowed to run at large, except perhaps in
acorn time. They should be made comfortable and happy .it
home, which can be done by furnishing them with plenty of food
and drink and straw to sleep on.

The poultry yard should be picketed, and the fowls should not
be allowed to visit the lawn or the garden, though they may be
permitted to run at large back oi their own yard. There can be
no greater nuisance than to have fowls ranging where they will,
and few greater additions to a farm establishment than a well
selected, well governed yard of poultry.

The location of the well is a good one, being equally accessible
to the barn, poultry yard and house.

The kitchen garden must be ample and of great variety. There
are few things more inconsistent than for people who voluntarily
renounce the conveniences and pleasures of a town for a country
life to deprive themselves, through sheer neglect, of benefits so ac-
cessible and so desirable.

The planting of an orchard should not be deferred. (We are
aware that we are now encroaching upon the domains of the sense
of taste, in the opinion of some of onr readers !) The trees will
grow while their owner is sleeping. His time and attention will
be only occasionally required to insure their growth and prosperity,
as far as he can aid them. The labor is small, the luxury, the
profit very great. Do not neglect this important branch of agri-
cultural economy.

■ It is manifestly a convenience to have the pasture back of the
barn. But if one has no pasture ? Locate your gate where we
have ours, and "hope for better things " erelong.

Swine should be kept as much in the "background" as possible.
Indeed, all animals should have their "sphere of action" in the
territory back of the barn. It is just as economical and far more
pleasant. And there is no necessity for having the stacks of grain
placed on a range with the house, injuring irreparably the effect,
and adding nothing to the convenience, that is providing the grain
is drawn to the house, which should always be the case. The
danger of its being destroyed by fire is far less, especially as long
as the custom of annually firing our prairies continues. No time
is lost in the process of drawing grain "to the house," which the
time gained by being so much nearer home during threshing and
storing time will not balance. Besides, the labor of di awing straw
for the use of stock is saved, and the manure made by the decay of
it is in an available position.

Having mentioned the principal ways in which and by which
the king of senses is to be supplied with evidences of embellish-
ment, we come to the next sense, which is to test the taste exercised
in the arrangement of a country home, viz : — hearing. This field
of inquiry is not so extensive as the one just surveyed. Sounds
about a farm may be agreeable, which in a town would be of quite
a contrary nature.

471

The bleating of sheep, more from the associations it brings of
shade and pastures, than from any real melody in it, is a pleasant
sound. The lowing of herds, the neighing of horses, the barking
of clogs are pleasant sounds in their sphere, but out of it are no
more suitable than "Yankee Doodle with variations" would be,
pealing from a piano-forte in the heart of a dreamy forest,

But the prime object in this particular is the singing of birds.
This, at least, is cheap enough. It costs only a little corn, the
absence of gun firing from the vicinity of the house, and groves
in which the birds may nest. Then you have your orchestra
"without money and without price ;" your concerts of a choicer
music than a Lind or a Parodi could discourse, and the inspiration
of nature too. Provide your own musical entertainments then,
and they will soon become indispensable to you.

With respect to the third sense mentioned. Placing the out-
buildings in the positions designated will banish all disagree-
able odors, while the perfumes of flowers, the freshness of grass
and. the aroma of a pure air, will take their place. We do not
consider it as our province to speak of the many ways in which a
well regulated system of occupation, as studies, gardening, &c,
will contribute to the happiness and contentment of the inmates of
all " country homes." Of the importance of these, and many other
things more strictly pertaining to the internal affairs of a home,
our readers are aware. We aim not now at giving hints beyond
the "outward seeming" of embellishment. Of that higher, holier
beauty — the beauty of a pure life and honest purpose- — it is not
ours to speak. Yet this is as needful, and even more needful to
the attainment of perfection in a home than anything we have
mentioned. Anything, be it moral, educational or ornamental,
which is said, or sung, or written, the object of which is the ad-
vancement of the home interests of our nation, is a noble endeavor
for a noble cause. Man is tossed here and there upon the rough
billows of life like a ship at sea, but he is never at rest, never at
his destination — still like the ships, till anchored trustingly in the
quiet of home. Men prepare costly havens for ocean's leviathan
wanderers — no expense is spared, no labor denied, to make them
safe, secure and tranquil. Coast cities vie with each other in im-
proving their natural harbors, and the city whose harbor is best
receives the largest share of commerce. The situation of man and
home is parallel to that of ship and harbor. From the one let us
derive lessons for the benefit of the other. As " Heaven" is the
watchword for Eternity, so is "Home" the watchword for Time.

ON THE EMBELLISHMENT OF A COUNTRY HOME.

By Mrs. R. B. Hatch, of Griggsville, Pike County, Illinois.

[ SECOND PREMIUM. ]

"With the word home, is associated the earliest of life's recollec-
tions, and almost every man, every youth, who does not now pos-
sess a home in reality, possesses one in imagination — he will yet
have a home, one that will come up to his ideas of what a home
should be, and when he promises himself a country home, how
beautiful it is to be, always summer, always cool and shady, always
happy, where wife and little ones may live in the highest state of
enjoyment ; and to make a tew suggestions as to how far this castle
building may be carried into reality, is the purpose of the present
article.

And first, every man may have a home. Above all lands on
the face of the earth is America favored in this particular respect,
that every man by the labor of his own hands may own some part
of the soil, and build himself some kind of a house; and this it is
which induces the emigrant to sever the nearest ties, and break up
all the associations of childhood, and come to our land, that he, and
his children after him, may own a home.

To have our homes what they should be to meet the eye of taste,
we all need a better idea of the fitness of things. There is no rea-
son why the house which costs from $300 to $500, sitting upon
land bought at Congress price, should not display as much true
taste, neatness and order in its surroundings, as the $5000 house,
placed upon land valued at $50 or $100 per acre. In fact, the
cheap house might stand a chance to look the best, as many a "wo-
man in calico looks better than another in satin." — (Col. Benton.)
Because a man is a farmer, or a countryman, is no reason why his
house should be low, unpainted, uncomfortable and inconvenient,
his front yard a cow yard, and the back yard or grounds around
the back door filled with rags, bones, chip piles, broken hoe han-
dles, old plows, bits of harness, refuse shingles, old mortar beds, ash

473

barrels, worn out pots and kettles, old boots, etc. Neither would a
house in imitation of the castellated villas built upon the Hudson,
with their fancifully laid out pleasure grounds built for the country
homes of millionaires, be fit tor our farmers and country friends to
imitate. We desire to be neither coarse or finicky. We own our
own land and pay for our improvements. " We have a right to
build just as we please" — and for that very reason let us please
to build properly.

In all parts of our State, the very garden of the world, there is
enough variety in the scenery to select beautiful building sites.
Where taste and convenience may combine, the house sits high and
airy, with fine views ; the barn lower than the house, and placed
with care, that the breeze which we gratefully welcome in summer
may not bring its odors also to us.

Asa general rule, a house should always set back from the street,
in order to have a lawn in front. This is more pleasing to the eye
with a gentle slope, than if level. With regard to the house : It is
now the fashion to beautify, and the danger is that we shall embel-
lish at the expense of taste, and that from plain, out of proportion,
straight, perpendicular houses, full of glass, straight, stiff walks,
rows of poplar trees and red barns, we shall go to the other ex-
treme of fanciful inconvenient homes, with gingerbread work in
every conceivable place, serpentine walks leading nowhere, sickly
evergreens and dwarfed trees, and octagon barns, fit for any pur-
pose but to stable horses and shelter cattle.

Now let us suppose that you intend building. Remember that
heauty does not depend upon expense. Look your land over well,
select the most eligible building spot, think ot all you wish for in
building before you decide where you will have your barn and oth-
er out houses, then have your plan well thought of and put down
clearly and distinctly upon paper. Consult your wife about it,
your children if they are large enough ; all have an equal interest;
and the house we help to plan, and the tree we help to plant, we
always take a different interest in Irom any other. Make as cor-
rect an estimate as possible of the expense; be sure and put every-
thing down at a high enough rate ; don't attempt too much at first,
but build in such a way that you may make such additions as you
wish afterwards ; think what kind ot a character you wish your
house to put on. Shall it be a plain, practical, well made house ?
Shall it be a large mansion, with outside and inside artistical dec-
orations, "as good as anybody's I" Shall it be a snug, modest cot-
tage? Endeavor to carry out in detail your idea, whatever it is.
If you must wait for shade trees to grow, let the house be built so
that it will look well without the aid of trees.

And now we come to the grounds. In the first place take ad-
vantage of all the natural advantages you have. Change is not al-
ways improvement. If you have a grove do not cut it all away and
leave your house unshaded for years. Where are there more beau-
tiful trees than our native forest trees ? Do not fill all the hollows
—56

474

and bring the ground to a dead level. Endeavor to keep every-
thing in perfect order about your grounds, especially those parts
which first catch the eye. Too much shade does not look well and
is not healthy. I think no house can be healthy which the sun does
not strike fairly some part of the day ; besides the grass does not
do well beneath too much shade; and deep thick grass looks better
than anything else the eye can rest upon, if neatly kept. "Where
the house is, as the first mentioned, roomy and substantial, the
yard should be spacious to correspond, having a neat and durable
fence, fine large trees, not in rows, but as nature sets them, not too
much trimmed up, still enough not to intercept the view. Say
elms, oaks, the different kinds of walnut trees, the buckeye, and
the beautiful maples, the sugar and the silver leafed ; the catalpa,
the linden, the weeping willow, and so on. The above which I
have enumerated are large trees, of rapid growth. Perhaps for
quick growth of shade some would prefer the locust, but others
have a great dislike to this tree because it is almost impossible to
get rid of it after having once introduced it into a place.

Do not plant fruit trees for shade trees ; they are not suitable,
(unless one's place is so small that he has no other resource,) still
be sure to have fruit, but have it in the right place. This kind of
house now under consideration might have wide and roomy but
plain porches, verandas, or piazzas, as you choose to call them;
and here can be trained a variety of climbing plants and running
roses, or the rich grape vine, which can never come under the ban
that excludes fruit trees from the ornamental part of the grounds.
When the Isabella or Catawba grapes are grown over porches,
summer houses, or covered walks, what can exceed their beauty,
with their deep green leaves, graceful tendrils, fragrant blossoms,
and heavy clusters of luscious fruit. Over the out buildings might
be trained the wild trumpet vine and other showy climbers. —
Among our native climbing plants the Virginia creeper is one of
the most beautiful, hardy, easily transplanted from the woods, and
universally known ; it clings firmly against a wall, is not injurious
to a roof, and is a close and effectual screen.

Flower beds, annuals I mean, are hardly in keeping about the
front of a house, as there is so small part of the season when they
really cover the ground ; but the modern fashion of placing here
and there amid the grass small beds of one kind of flowers, in mas-
ses, is very pretty. A bed of portulaccas, another of verbenas,
another of petunias, &c, and also clumps of monthly roses. —
They contrast handsomely with the grass, bloom all summer long
and cover the ground closely. I have dwelt longer on this kind of
a house and lawn than perhaps I ought, and will be brief with the
others. Happily, tastes differ, or we should be condemned to a
monotonous uniformity in dwellings and grounds which would be
tiresome to look upon, and for very sameness impossible to enjoy.
Tet to my mind this class of house seems to blend happily the so-
cial characteristics that are to be experienced in a true country

475

home — domestic happiness, true comfort, convenience and socia-
bility without formality.

The more pretentious mansion, built in any of the various styles
of modern architecture, will admit of much greater variety in lay-
ing out the grounds and following the leadings of a fanciful taste,
therefore but little can really be said with regard to its embellish-
ments, except perhaps to remark that over this kind of a house
should not be trained climbers to any extent, however beautiful
and rare, because the work of the architect is not to be covered,
and the place for such things will be appropriately found on trel-
lised walks and arbors. Here we may have, too, all varieties of
trees and shrubs, large and small, in groups and clumps, and bor-
dering meandering walks — alder, accacia, aspen, willow, moun-
tain ash, and so on.

With this kind or style of place there is no limit as to decora-
tions and surroundings, save a man's purse and inclination. If
symmetry and good taste are observed, a house cannot be made too
beautiful, too much of a palace of beauty, though it may be too
much so for the means of the owner, and it is a question whether
in a country where fortunes are so fluctuating, where homesteads
seldom if ever descend to the third generation, whether it is wise
or expedient in a citizen of our republic to expend $60,000 or
$100,000 in a house.

And now for the cottage. Every one's imagination at once
paints the cottage home a low, pleasant looking house, half hidden
by honey suckles and sweet briar, a small yard with lilacs, clumps
of altheas, a fringe tree or Yenitian sumac, waxberries, sweet
scented shrubs and roses everywhere. About the back doors, side
porches or out houses of the cottage and the "practical house," a
well trained hop vine suggests ideas of beauty and usefulness, and
most persons like its peculiar fragrance.

GENERAL REMARKS.

About any style of house, roses look beautifully. Some of them
need to be well cared for in winter. A clump of tiger lilies are
showy and pretty, near a walk. The wild incligo, which grows so
plentifully in our prairies, with its pea-like blossoms and singular
shade of green, is a pretty shrub, but a poisonous plant, and should
not be tolerated where there are little children. The phlox, tend-
ed with care, grows quite large and handsome. Syringas, snow
balls, burning bush, mezereon, Missouri currants, and waxberry,
are all ornamental shrubs.

As a general thing evergreens do not succeed well in this part
of the country ; but when they can be made to thrive they are
beautiful and pleasant to look at in winter.

Among large trees, chestnuts do not grow well here ; the soil is
too rich.

Hedges do not come within the scope of this article, except to
say that it is exceedingly bad taste to set them in front of a house.

4Y6

Shall I be stepping out of the path to say that the house will
have one great deficiency in its arrangements, it no provision has
been made for a play ground for the children. To have it a coun-
try home in the true sense of the word, let them have their share
of the grounds, though in a more retired part. Let them have an
interest in the flower garden, seeds, tools, and a place where they
may transplant from the woods and the prairies. It need not, in
fact should not be in a prominent place ; and then the natural want
of regularity in the young beginners will not disturb any one, and
they in after life will look back with warm hearts and gratefully
bless the forethought that provided them such pure pleasures, and
kept them out of bad company.

Every man should feel that the street in front of his premises is
his particular charge. He should plant trees, (and box them, that
his labor may not be lost,) leaving a spacious walk between them
and his own boundaries, being careful not to crowd them, that they
may 'grow up in their natural beauty ; and beware of too much
hacking with axe and saw, sometimes called trimming. He should
feel it his place to remove all obstructions, and render his home
attractive to passers by without his grounds as well as to those
who enter.

Finally, the man who improves his place aright, who encoura-
ges public spirit, by improving the street, and the like, is of great
value in the community where he lives. His example teaches far
more than anything he could say. He enhances the value of prop-
erty all around him. He raises the reputation of the town where
he lives ; and if he, or rather if we thus beautify our homes, and
make pleasant spots for others to gaze upon and for our friends to
enjoy, we elevate the standard of taste, refine the views and per-
ceptions, and soften the heart more highly to appreciate the beau-
ties of that heavenly home, of which it hath been said, eye hath
not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart
of man to conceive the things or beauties which God hath there
prepared, in that last, great, Eternal Home.

Note. — It may be objected that I have said nothing of the embellishments of a country
home for the winter. In winter the inside of a house is the chief spot of enjoyment, and the
best embellishments consist of a pleasant fireside, willing and loving hearts and cheerful
spirits prompt to take hold of the duties of every day life, without esteeming these duties
drudgery — an obliging, unselfish spirit in the home circle, and a taste for improving the
mind, by finding means and leisure to read, and otherwise improve a little every day.

ON THE CULTURE OF FOREST AND ORNAMENTAL TREES ON THE
PRAIRIES.

Bt 0. Ordwat, of Lawn Ridge, Marshall County, Illinois.

[ FIRST PREMIUM. 1

In no part of the world has nature provided more abundant re-
sources for the support of an enlightened, free and prosperous na-
tion than in our own country. Here the facilities for human en-
terprise are exhibited on a scale of surpassing grandeur. Not only
is our country pre-eminent for the magnitude of her lakes, rivers,
fertile prairies, and mineral wealth, but for the variety and magnifi
cence of her forest trees. These have been in especial request, to
enrich the collections of trees from all parts of the world, in the
far-famed gardens of Europe. About one hundred and fifty species
of native forest trees have been enumerated in North America,
while but little above one-fourth this number are indigenous in
Europe. Upwards of seventy species, belonging to Illinois, are
mentioned in the second volume of Transactions of the State Ag-
ricultural Society.

The importance of our forest trees, so essential to the development
of our other physical resources, can scarcely be over estimated,
and the extreme rapidity of their disappearance, with the dispro-
portionately limited efforts made for replacing them, are matters
for serious apprehension. It has been estimated that, at the pre-
sent rate of decrease, all our available timber trees east of the Mis-
sissippi will disappear in less than fifty years. Startling as is this
assumption, we need only to have witnessed the havoc the last
few years have made among the trees of our own State to perceive
that it is not without foundation. Such is the magnitude of Ihis
threatened evil that too much cannot be done towards calling at-
tention to the importance of providing, as far as may be, for future
exigencies. Our country, dismantled of its forest trees, would be
like Sampson shorn of his locks. A sound policy requires not only

478

that preservative measures should be enforced, as far as practicable,
to avert the exterminating process so extensively pursued, but also
that the cultivation of forest trees become a prominent branch ot
industry.

The practice of arboriculture upon the prairies, on a scale com-
mensurate with its importance, for purposes of embellishment
and rural economy, is destined, we believe, not only to produce a
transforming effect upon their general appearance, but also to in-
crease the variety and productiveness of other branches of agricul-
ture. The exposure of this western valley throughout its vast ex-
tent to winds from every quarter renders it subject to sudden and
extreme variations of temperature. The necessity of planting
trees upon the prairies as barriers of protection is therefore suf-
ficiently obvious. The agency of trees in ameliorating the rigors
of climate is much greater than is commonly supposed. In the
yearly range of temperature a difference of nineteen degrees has
been found between the open ground and forest. The continuance'
of snow upon the prairies during the winter season would be favored
by a judicious distribution of trees, thus preventing a vast amount
of winter killing in our wheat fields, meadows and orchards. The
amount saved in our crops from the ravages of the wind and other
blighting causes, at other seasons of the year, would alone more
than compensate the labor of cultivating belts of trees for protec-
tion. We need trees also to equalize the moisture of the climate,
thus materially obviating the inconveniences now suffered from
the seasons of excessive drought and humidity, to which such a
vast amount of unprotected surface renders these prairies so sub-
ject,

Shade trees are among the first requisites of our pastures, and
the absence of them, so commonly witnessed, betrays culpable
negligence no less than a thriftless economy. That poverty of
spirit which grudges any outlay of time or labor of which one can-
not personally reap the immediate benefit, is more to be dreaded
than actual want.

Before the prairies shall assume an appearance worthy of their
capabilities, it is requisite that more comprehensive views of the
privileges and responsibilities involved in ownership of the soil, be
generally adopted. "Man," says Hugh Miller, " is a mighty im-
prover of creation. He is the only creature of whom we know
anything, who has set himself to carry on and improve the woik of
the world's original framer — who is a planter of woods, a tiller of
fields and a keeper of gardens — and who carries on his work of me-
chanical contrivance on obviously the same principles as those on
which the Divine Designer wrought of old." These prairies seem
as if purposely left by the Creator for man to impress upon them his
own ideas of convenience and beauty. Here human taste and
enterprise must in a great measure supply that variety of outward
scenery, which constitutes a principal source of our enjoyment ;
and no where else has nature more fully prepared the way for im-

4Y9

mediate success in agricultural pursuits, and especially in the
growth of trees and shrubbery, which admit an unlimited diversity
of forms and combinations.

In selecting the kinds of forest and ornamental trees for plant-
ing, it is preferable, ordinarily, not to attempt too great a variety.
There are enough, easily accessible, comprising all desirable quali-
ties, such as hardiness, value for timber and fuel, rapidity of
growth and adaptation to purposes of shelter and embellishment.

In preparing the ground tor the cultivation of trees, the soil
should be trenched or thoroughly plowed — the deeper the better —
and well pulverized. Draining is always beneficial, and in many
instances indispensable. The advantages of draining are thus sum-
med up by Johnson, (Agricultural Chemistry :) " 1st. It is equiva-
lent not only to a change of soil, but also to a change of climate, both
in reference to the growth of plants and to the health of the popu-
lation. 2d. It is equivalent to the deepening of the soil, both by
removing the water and by allowing those noxious ingredients to be
washed out of the subsoil, which had previously prevented the
roots from descending. 3d. It is a necessary preparation to the
many other means of improvement which may be applied to the
land." A free access of air to the roots of plants, it is well known,
is requisite to their healthy growth.

In raising trees from the seed care must be taken that it be not
planted too deep — a free admission of the oxygen of the atmosphere
being essential to germination. From a quarter of an inch to three
inches should be sufficient to secure the requisite amount of mois-
ture. Acorns, chestnuts, beechnuts, buckeye and hickorynuts
should be planted as soon as ripe, in the fall, or, if not convenient
to do so immediately, they may be preserved from drying by a
covering of moist sand. Shallow planting is preferable, with a
litter of decayed leaves or straw strewed over the ground to keep
in the moisture. They may be planted where they are to remain,
or — as unforseen causes sometimes operate to hinder germination
— they may be first sprouted in seminary beds, and those seeds
employed only in which the vital principle becomes fully develop-
ed. The black walnut and white walnut or butternut flourish fine-
ly upon our prairies, and the value of their timber renders them
very desirable in cultivation. The fruit of the latter is usually ripe
about the middle of September — a fortnight earlier than the other
species. They may be planted from two to three inches in depth,
soon after ripening. As a general rule, the depth for planting
seeds should be governed somewhat by their size. The usual
time for collecting the seeds of forest trees for planting is in au-
tumn. Some trees, however, such as the red elm, and white and
red maples ripen their fruit in May and June. In favorable sea-
sons these may be planted as soon as rijDe, or they can be kept in
some cool place and planted during the latter part of the fall — the
proper time for planting the seeds of nearly all kinds of deciduous,
forest and ornamental trees and shrubs. Fresh seeds should be

480

procured for planting, as some kinds, such as those of the elm and
poplar, will not vegetate freely when over a year old. Seeds re-
quiring the action of frost to facilitate germination, are some-
times mixed with soil and kept in pans or boxes during winter.
If thus treated they should be exposed to the weather, kept moist,
and planted early in the spring. The seeds of coniferous trees,
such as pines, cedars, firs and larches, may be gathered during the
latter part of autumn and kept in some dry, cool place, till the
season for planting. They may be sown in beds of finely prepared
prairie soil, mixed with sand if too stiff or clayey. The proper
season for planting in the open ground in this climate is during
the month of April. The seed should be sown in dry weather and
slightly covered — half an inch in depth being sufficient for the lar-
gest seeds. The young plants recjuire to be somewhat shaded
from the direct rays of the sun in dry, warm weather. Evergreens,
and most trees for ornamental planting, may generally be procured
to most advantage from experienced nurserymen. There are nur-
series in different parts of our State, of established reputation,
easily accessible to all.

_ Trees naturally frequenting low, moist ground, become soonest
naturalized to our high prairies, if grown directly from the seed or
taken from a nursery. Trees transplanted from the woods should
be selected from the most exposed situations.

Deciduous trees may be transplanted to good advantage upon
our prairies in autumn, if secured in their places by stakes. The
right time for fall planting is after the decay of the leaves. Early
spring, however, is the preferable time for transplanting such trees as
are not perfectly hardy. The soil should be thoroughly prepared,
and the trees planted at the same depth at which they originally
stood. When a part of the roots are broken off a corresponding
portion of the top should be removed. Too much care cannot be
taken to preserve the fibrous roots — to keep them moist — and to
arrange them as they stood naturally. Mulching with decayed
leaves, straw, &c, should by no means be neglected. Manures
should never be relied on to compensate for the lack of proper
cultivation. Those formed by the decomposition of organic sub-
stances, such as naturally occur among forests, and even barn yard
manures may often be beneficially applied to the rich soil of our
prairies for the growth of timber and shade trees. This soil is said
to be somewhat deficient in phosphates, and phosphate of lime is
well known to be a principal ingredient in timber trees. It is said
by high authority that, "contrary to old opinions, it is found that
the wood of quickly growing trees is more durable and more tough
than the trees of the same species which have vegetated more tar-
dily." This, of course, applies only to the healthy growth of trees,
where all the functions are fully developed. The highest degree
of vigor in the growth of particular species of trees, where climate
and situation are not unfavorable, depends upon a due proportion
of the constituent?>elernents of soil entering into their composition,

481

A forest of certain kinds of trees, after having exhausted particular
ingredients of the soil, or having altered the proportions essential
to their full vigor, is often supplanted by trees of a wholly dissim-
ilar species. Thus a forest of oaks or maples will sometimes give
way to a spontaneous growth of pines or beech, and so on.

Trees transplanted from a rich soil and sheltered situation are
less likely to thrive well where the soil is poorer and the situation
more exposed. The natural habits of trees should be understood
and attended to in cultivation.

To facilitate cultivation, large belts and plantations of trees may
be planted in rows. It is of the first importance to keep clown all
weeds, and to have the soil sufficiently loose to allow air to pene-
trate to the roots. It is advisable to plant somewhat thickly at
first and thin out as occasion may require.

Evergreens are the best trees for shelter. The white and laurel
oak are also excellent for this purpose, as they retain their dried
foliage through the winter.

The oaks are easily propagated from seed, and grow well upon
prairie soil. The kinds most valuable tor cultivation are the white
oak, overcup white oak or bur oak, swamp white oak, iron oak,
mountain oak, and black or yellow bark oak. Other species are
often desirable as shade or ornamental trees. The English royal
oak is similar to the white oak. It is held in the highest esteem
in that country, as an ornamental tree and for the value of its tim-
ber, to which England has largely been indebted for her prosperity
and defence from hostile invasion.

The ash is a highly ornamental tree, and not less distinguished
for the excellence of its timber. It is called the "husbandman's
tree," and thrives well in a deep, rich, calcareous soil. The ash has
been styled the Yenus and the oak the Hercules of the forest.
The most valuable species, the white and blue ash, are natives of
this State. The black ash is much used for making baskets and
hoops. It is a very hardy species, preferring a moist situation.
They may all be transplanted without difficulty or raised from the
seed.

The beech, Virgil's favorite shade tree, is well worthy of culti-
vation, and the soil of the high prairies is favorable to its growth.
There are several varieties highly valued in ornamental planting.

The birches grow well in dry calcareous soils, and should not be
overlooked in cultivation.

The white elm is a favorite among shade trees — stately and ele-
gant in appearance — and a fast grower, under favorable circum-
stances.

The red or slippery elm and Scotch elm, which are somewhat
alike in form, differ much in size, the latter being magnificent in
its proportions. It is also much prized for the excellence of its
timber. They are all adapted to succeed well on the prairies.

The linden or basswood delights in a rich upland soil. The
species most desirable for cultivation are the Tilia Americana and

482

T. JEuropea, which sometimes tower to a great height. The timber
is fine grained and much used in cabinet work. They are among
our finest ornamental trees. The American deciduous cypress is a
rapidly growing tree, remarkable for the durability of its timber.
It has few superiors in size, and is highly picturesque in appear-
ance. It frequents low, moist ground, and can be cultivated to
best advantage in the southern part of the State.

The cucumber tree and tulip tree, belonging to the queenly race
of the magnolias, are of rapid growth, attain an immense size
and are hardly excelled in stateliness of appearance. These, as
well as the sweet gum and Kentucky coffee tree, flourish best in
the southern part of the State.

The American and European larches should be extensively cul-
tivated as timber trees. They are both hardy, easily propagated
and thrive well on the prairies. The latter species should be
planted in the driest localities. The larches are very graceful as
ornamental trees.

The black locust has been more widely cultivated as a timber
tree than any other upon our prairies, and. has often been found
extremely troublesome on account of the innumerable suckers it
sends up in every direction. The yellow locust, a variety of the
same species, is said to be free from this objection, and, also, much
the most valuable for timber. The seed of the locust is prepared
for planting by pouring boiling water over it. It may be planted
at the same time with corn, in alternate rows. The seeds of the
honey locust and Judas tree should be planted early in the spring.
The latter grows well upon low ground, and blossoms while quite
young. Though not a large tree, it is a gem in appearance, and
the wood is of fine texture, handsomely veined.

The red mulberry is a beautiful tree, easily removed and culti-
vated upon the prairies. Its wood is durable and of fine quality.
Its fruit alone would render it worthy of culture.

The flowering dogwood (cornus Florida) flourishes finely in
the shade of other trees, and enlivens the early landscape by the
exuberance of its flowers.

The poplars are rapidly growing trees, easily propagated by
cuttings. The tremuloides or aspen and heterophylla make durable
poles for fencing, if cut in June. As ornamental trees, they add
a pleasing variety to the foliage. The abele or silverleaf presents
a splendid appearance, and grows well in any situation, but is very
encroaching in its character by way of sending up off-shoots.

The balm of Gilead is frequently planted "as a shade tree, but
the cotton wood is the most important of the species, being consid-
ered by some hardly second to any tree for common cultivation
upon our prairies, its hardiness, easy propagation and rapidity of
growth counterbalancing the defects in the quality of its timber.
This, however, is doubtless an exaggerated estimate of its value.

The common chestnut is rapid in its growth, and its timber is
straight, but coarse-grained, strong and very durable for railroad

483

ties, posts, &c. The trees are difficult to transplant, but easily
propagated from the seed. They are hardy and adapted to an ele-
vated soil.

The maples are among our most desirable trees for cultivation
upon the prairies. The white or silver maple, the red flowering
maple and sugar maple are all natives of this state and easily pro-
pagated. The two former species soon attain a good size, with
proper culture. The striped maple and ash leaved maple or box
elder, are much prized in ornamental gardening.

The willows, of which there are many hardy and beautiful spe-
cies, are raised, with little trouble, from cuttings, and in low, wet
ground are most available of anything for fencing. Their pliant
twigs are useful for many purposes besides basket making. Their
lithe and graceful branches also afford fine contrasts of coloring in
the winter season-^from green and golden to red and purple. As
screens for shelter, some of the willows are very desirable, speedily
attaining a sufficient size. The profuse early blossoms of some
species furnish food for bees when little else is to be obtained.

Cuttings of all kinds should be taken off before the leaves appear
and planted early in spring, as soon as the ground is in a suitable
condition. A low temperature and good supply of moisture are
requisite. Late planting in open situations frequently results in
failure, even with the most freely rooting plants, such as the poplar
and willow. Cuttings planted out in the fall should be carefully
watched, as they are apt, in wet ground, to heave out by the action
of frost. Short cuttings thrive best, and they should be cut
smoothly across, slanting at the top, to allow the rain to run off freely.

The American and European mountain ash are very hardy orna-
mental trees, flourishing well in almost any soil and the most ex-
posed situations. The latter species attains the largest size, and is
most profusely decked with brilliant clusters of scarlet berries.

The American evergreen holly {ilex qpaca) is too much neglect-
ed in cultivation. It is a hardy tree, of medium size, and splendid
perrennial foliage. It is sometimes used for hedges.

The common horse chestnut is a noble shade tree, adapted to a
deep and rich but light soil. It needs the protection of other trees
or buildings upon the prairies, as it does not well sustain exposure
to strong winds.

The catalpa is a beautiful and rapidly growing tree, but too ten-
der for the northern part of the State.

The buttonwood is easily propagated, and thrives vigorously in
moist situations.

Although the coniferous evergreens have but two representatives
among the indigenous trees of Illinois, the soil and climate are
found well adapted to the production of many of the most beautiful
and valuable species. Among these are the pines — white, Scotch
and Austrain ; the firs — Norway, black hemlock and white spruce
and balsam fir. The red cedar and American arbor vitae are native
evergreens, and, like the others mentioned, grow well upon the

484

prairies. The white cedar (cupressus thyoides) is a very hardy
evergreen, easily transplanted, and would probably thrive as well
as any of the above npon our prairies, especially in moist situations.
It grows rapidly, and the value of its timber is well known.
Spring is the best season for transplanting evergreens in this cli-
mate. The roots must be kept moist, (if a portion of the soil is
left adhering to them, they are less apt to suffer from removal,)
and, in warm, dry weather, it will be requisite to shade them till
well rooted. They should be well mulched after transplanting.
^Nothing tends to relieve the dreariness of a winter landscape more
than evergreens, and no where do they show to better advantage
than upon our prairies.

Plantations and belts of trees for timber, fuel and shelter will
usually be laid out with a greater degree of regularity than would
be the case were picturesque effect a main object; but too great
monotony and stiffness of outline may be avoided, without much
sacrifice of convenience in cultivation. The outside trees may
consist of species smaller in stature, and placed at irregular dis-
tances, to break the appearance of uniformity. On most farms
spots of ground occasionally occur which seem intended by nature
for groves and clumps of trees or single trees, and which may be
thus occupied to better advantage than by anything else.

In gjpuping trees for picturesque effect, nature is the best teach-
er. By studying her combinations of forms, species and coloring,
we may obtain more just perceptions of fitness and beauty of ar-
rangement than from any arbitrary rules. Conformity to nature
will necessarily be somewhat modified by the limited sphere of
human operations, but her general principles can never be safely
laid aside. Trees so disposed as to exhibit the most pleasing vari-
ety of foliage in spring and summer, will also be found to assume
the most exquisite combination of tints in autumnal scenery. It is
from nature we learn that

" A grateful mixture of well matched

And sorted hues, each giving each relief,
And by contrasted beauty shining more,
Is needful."

Avenues of trees by the road sides are a great desideratum upon
the prairies, and every encouragement and facility should be given
for planting them. The same principles of diversity in forms and
distances must here be applied to produce a pleasing effect, A
due admixture of the hardiest evergreens should not be overlooked.
Clumps of small trees may occasionally intervene between the
larger kinds, and the intervals of space should be sufficient to pre-
vent the roads becoming too much shaded. Along railroads shade
trees might be more thickly planted without inconvenience. All
the timber requisite for repairs could easily be raised along the
track, and no small portion of the fuel should also be thus fur-
nished.

485

Unsightly objects about one's premises or witbin range of view,
should be concealed by trees and shrubbery. The indigenous
trees and shrubs of this State are alone sufficient to furnish our
dwellings upon the prairies with surroundings of more than Arca-
dian beauty. Among the smaller trees and shrubs are the bladder-
nut, hop trees, burning bush, (enonymus atropurpureus,) the straw-
berry tree, (E. Americanos,) the high cranberry, snowberry,
buckthorns, hawthorns, &c. The climbing shrubs include the
American deciduous ivy, (ampelopsis,) the yellow honeysuckle, the
staff tree, (celastnis scandens,) with its coral-like berries, remaining
on through the winter, the prairie rose, also retaining its scarlet
clusters till spring, and the magnificent bignonia radicans, found
in the southern part of the State. Trees are the natural supports
of these climbers, on which they exhibit, to best advantage, their
graceful foliage and festoons of flowers and fruit. Exotic plants,
from the nurseries, are too often exclusively sought for purposes
of embellishment. These cannot be too highly prized, nor can the
enterprising proprietors of such establishments receive too much
encouragement in their efforts to extend the demand for the
choicest varieties of trees and shrubs ; but we should not overlook,
in cultivation, the many line specimens the nearest wToods will
afford. Commonness detracts nothing from beauty; and there is

" No tree of all the grove but has its charms."

The proprietors of a piece of ground, set apart, in one of our
eastern cities, for the cultivation of trees and shrubs, were at con-
siderable pains and expense to procure from a distance a specimen
of the Sambucus Canadensis, which had been highly recommended.
They were surprised to find it nothing but the common elder — a
fine shrub, indeed, but abounding, in its wild state, near at hand.
The noble efforts made in some parts of Europe to perpetuate the
most important existing trees and shrubs, are worthy of emulation
in our own country. With the disappearance of our forests many
species are liable to extinction, unless exertions are made for their
preservation.

Among the important objects claiming attention is the establish-
ment of arboreta, in different parts of our state and country, for the
growth of all the trees and shrubs adapted to the climate of their
several localities. The public gardens and parks of Europe are
not less attractive than its magnificent piles of architecture, and
other costly works of art, and contribute greatly to the health and
happiness of the people of all classes. Cimon was one of the no-
blest benefactors of Athens when he bestowed on that city the
groves of Academus, which he had planted; and Ceasarknew how
to endear himself to the citizens of Borne when he bequeathed to
them

" All his walks,

His private arbors and new planted orchards,
And to their heirs forever ; common pleasures,
To walk abroad and recreate themselves."-

486

A large, symmetrical tree is one of the most ornate and imposing
of visible objects. The colossal shafts of the pines and cedars of
California fill the beholder with most profound feelings of awe and
admiration. These, and many other venerable trees still existing,
are fitting monuments of ages long buried. Trees often attain a
historic celebrity, long remaining as representatives of important
incidents in the drama of human existence. Among such have been
the royal oak which sheltered Charles, the Second, the charter oak
of Connecticut, the Wallace oak, Queen Catherine's oak, Shaks-
peare's mulberry tree, the elm of Boston Common, Dr. Johnson's
elm and Napoleon's willow.

To those upon our prairies whose labors have almost exclusive
reference to pecuniary interest, we would say: plant forest trees,
if you would lay broad and permanent foundations for future wealth.
But we trust that the spirit is becoming more prevalent which ani-
mated the venerable Laertes, who, at one hundred years of age,
found satisfaction in planting trees for posterity. The trees, placed
as sentinels around the sacred precincts of home, will be regarded
as friends by our descendents, and become associated with many
of their purest enjoyments. Trees have ever been appropriately
regarded as symbols of knowledge-, patriotism, victory, peace,
fidelity, friendship, life, and immortality. Let us cultivate them
for our own pleasure and profit, and as monuments of our regard
for future generations.

ON THE CULTIVATION OF FRCIT TREES ON THE PRAIRIES-

By C. R. Overman, Bloomington, Illinois.

Of all the manifold luxuries by bountiful nature lavished on our
highly favored land, that of fruit stands pre-eminent. Of all the
forms in which she rewards the toil and care of the husbandman,
none are so acceptable, so delicious to the palate, so healthful, and
at the same time so tempting.

We read that in Eden our first parents were surrounded by eve-
ry delicacy the vegetable kingdom afforded, in all its profusion;
and the apple was selected by Divine wisdom as the one most ap-
propriate on which to place the interdiction ; and the same was
also chosen by the tempter, as the most seductive offering to allure
the sinless to disobedience. Coeval with our race, is the fame of
the apple; and whether exalted in the sublime metaphor of sacred
writ as "apples of gold set in pictures of silver," or shadowed forth
in the dark myths of romance as the "golden apples of Hesperides,"
its laudation has met with a ready response, in all ages and condi-
tions of the human race.

In the wide range and vast variety of the fruits of the earth, the
agple, "the world renowned fruit of temperate climes," justly bears
sway. Though the pear, and the peach, the nectarine, and the
mellow grape, may be more melting and aromatic, more refreshing
to the system and exquisite to the palate in their particular seasons,
yet their transient periods forbid a constant supply. On the apple,
then, we must always rely, as the great staple of our luxuries.
Available at all seasons, and in nearly all parts of the habitable
globe, dispensing its grateful aroma in summer's heat and in win-
ter's cold, adapting itself in its vast variety of flavor and texture to
the tastes of all, the apple throughout all time must continue to
form the most important item of our indigenous fruits. And no
region of earth produces it in greater perfection than our fertile
prairies. With the rich soil to give it size, and the bright sunshine,
the pure stirring air, and the requisite degree of heat, to heighten
its color, refine its juices, and perfect its exquisite spices, it is not
surprising that our Illinois apples have elicited the admiration of
all who have beheld them, and borne away the palm wherever they

488

have been exhibited. How important then that every owner of
the fertile acres of Illinois should understand his interest, and ac-
quire a thorough knowledge of the cultivation and management of
fruit trees, and also an acquaintance with the best and most desira-
ble, varieties, and the most profitable proportion in which to culti-
vate them ? That there is a great lack of general knowledge on
this subject is apparent, from the meagre supply of our markets,
of good varieties of even the apple. But since the era of wild
speculation has passed, and that of common sense begins to dawn,
it is to be hoped the proprietors of the soil will no longer neglect
the comforts of life, and that not many years will elapse, ere an
ample supply ot the best fruit will be in the reach of all, and be
regarded as indispensable as the stock of corn and pork. It will
still continue to be the business of the nurseryman to select the
fruits and cultivate the fruit trees of the country; yet this little es-
say is offered, (as the result of twenty years experience,) in the hope
of contributing a mite to the general stock of information. Though
the experienced cultivator may find in it nothing new, if the no-
vice may be in some degree benefited by it, the writer's hopes will
be realized, and his pains rewarded.

The first thing to be considered in the establishing of a nursery
is the aspect ot the location, the quality of the soil, &c. The
ground for a nursery should be high, dry and rich, and if gently
rolling or declining to the north or west it is better. It should be
underdrained, and trench plowed or subsoiled as deep as practica-
ble. If this can be done in the fall or winter previous to planting,
the frost will ameliorate and pulverize it, and greatly facilitate the
proper handling of it.

The seeds will next claim attention. Those of the apple are usu-
ally washed out of the pomace at the cider mill, before it ferments.
The seed should be soaked twelve hours to free it from the acid,
then spread out and dried thoroughly in the shade. Seeds of the
pear and quince are usually picked out of the cores by hand.
These three kinds of seeds are prepared for vegetating by the same
process.

About the middle of winter the seeds are to be soaked forty-
eight hours in warm water, then placed in a box and exposed to
freezing and thawing till spring. If the seed is more than five or
six inches deep, there will be danger of their heating. The seed
must be kept from drying, and the frost should be kept in as late
as possible, otherwise it is apt to sprout before the ground is in
condition to plant, and if not planted as^oon as it begins to sprout
it will soon spoil.

Seeds of the stoned fruits should be gathered as freed from the
pulp, and buried shallow, to prevent drying, and allow them to
freeze and thaw in winter.

PLANTING SEEDS, AND CULTIVATING THE PLANTS.

The ground for the seed bed must be dry and rich, and for easy
cultivation, should be new. It must be deeply plowed and thor-

489

oughly pulverized. If the seed are to be put in with a drill, first
run a light roller over the ground; if planted by hand, this is not
necessary. The seed may be sown in double drills, twelve inches
apart, with three feet space between to admit the cultivator. Sow
the seed rather thin and cover them from one to two inches deep
with fine moist mold. Keep the ground free from weeds, and if
the plants grow well a part of them may be large enough to bud
by mid summer, or in time to be brought out, and make some
growth the same season.

We bud only such varieties of the apple as are too tender, or do
not otherwise succeed well, root-grafted. On small stocks the buds
should be set as high up as the size will permit. After the frost
has completely checked the growth in the fall, the plants are to be
taken up, by first running the plant cutter underneath and cutting
them off at about eight inches deep. This is a great labor saving
implement. It is made by stocking a plow share similar to a com-
mon plow, except that the right handle is fastened by a rod to the
left above ground.

The seedling stocks are to be taken up, tied in bundles and stored
in the cellar, to be ready for grafting. They should have a slight
covering of saw dust to prevent drying. Those that are budded
may have the tap root shortened to five or six inches, then they
should beburied in dry ground, below the reach of frost, till spring.
Scions for root grafting should be cut late in the fall, or early in
the winter. Greatcare should be taken in procuring scions. First,
to get them from undoubted sources ; second, to procure only the
best varieties of fruits, and such as are hardy and succeed well on
the root ; third, to select the stock so as to make the proportion
right; say about one-sixth early, one-third fall, and one-half winter
fruit ; fourth, to label carefully and correctly. The scions should
be well ripened shoots, of the current year's growth, and with full
and well developed buds.

Root grafting is a very simple operation, and various methods
are practised, amounting in the result to nearly the same thing.
Its advantages are — first, greater rapidity, and cheapness in prop-
agating stock for the country. Second, it is to be done in winter,
which would otherwise be an idle season with the nurseryman.
We usually commence grafting about the first of January. The
roots are to be trimmed and washed, and the scions rubbed with a
moist rag. Use a keen, sharp knife, with a thin blade. The most
expeditions and safe mode is that of whip, or tongue grafting.
We usually practice it, and operate as follows: — We first mitre (or
slope) tongue and cut a hundred scions, from four to five inches in
length, being careful to have one or more good sound buds near
the top. In making the slope or cut from the inside of the curve
(if crooked) of both scion and root to straighten it somewhat. The
face of the mitre is to be cut true, and three-fourths to an inch long,
according to size. The tongue is made by placing the knife square
across its face about one-third of its length from the end, cutting
-57

490

with the grain of the wood about a half an inch. We next cut
and tongue a hundred roots in the same manner from two and a
half to three inches in length ; we then proceed to fit them togeth-
er, nicely matching them in regard to size. The inner bark of each
must come in contact with .the other, on one side at least, after
which they are to be tied with twine, or strips of corn husk, or
wrapped with strips of waxed paper, when they are ready to be
packed in boxes, for which either moist sawdust, or sand, or fine
mold is used. The grafts may be packed upright, with the tops
in the air, or horizontally and covered up entirely. In either case,
they must be kept moist in the cellar till time for planting. In
this condition they will knit together and strike out numerous small
roots and burst their buds, by the middle or last of April, when
they are ready to be set out ; but it would fee well to expose them
for a few days to the light before planting.

TRANSPLANTING IN NURSERY.

The ground should be fresh plowed, harrowed and rolled, or
brushed, as the planting proceeds. Lay off the ground in square
blocks, of convenient size, with avenues, from eight to twelve feet
on each side. It is better to plant the rows north and south. The
sprouts on the roots of the grafts must be rubbed off, but with as
little exposure to the air as possible. Stretch a line tight and
straight, and commence planting with the earliest fruits, and pro-
ceed in the regular order of their time of ripening. The fruits of
each season should occupy separate blocks. Make the rows four
feet apart, and set the plants eight inched apart in the row. The
setting may be done with a transplanting trowel, a dibble, or an
implement made with three iron or steel teeth, or spears, seven or
eight inches long, flat-oval in form, an inch wide, sharpened at the
ends, and well polished, with a handle four feet long.

With the ground in proper condition, an expert hand will make
the holes, with this instrument, as fast as two boys will stick in the
plants ; whilst another following after, will fasten them by run-
ning another implement of the same size down an inch from them
and pressing the dirt to them. The planting is finished by tread-
ing each side of the row. Permanent stakes are to be set at the end
of each row, and at the beginning and end of each kind, where
there are more than one kind in a row. The upper end of the
stakes should be painted white, and the name of the fruit lettered
with oil paint. The budded stocks are to be set out, staked and
cultivated in the same manner as that of the grafts.

CULTIVATION, TRAINING, &C.

Soon as the weeds appear, a horse hoe, cultivator, or light plow,
should be run through the nursery, throwing a light skim of dirt
to the rows, just sufficient to cover the entire surface and smother
the young weeds. The next working, throw the dirt from the
row, and use a small hoe to clean out between the plants. Thus
the cultivation may be continued till mid summer, turning the dirt

491

to the row at the last working. A little training is necessary the
first season. Some kinds will grow obliquely from the start ; these
may be straightened by placing a clod underneath, or by tying up
to a small stake or weed stuck down by the side.

The disastrous effect of the past two winters has taught us a se-
vere lesson, on the necessity of checking the growth of trees in
time to mature or harden their wood for winter, and we would
here recommend a plan we have in past years adopted with com-
plete success. It is simply to sow oats, three bushels to the acre,
about the first of September. By this means the growth ot the
trees is suddenly stopped, and the wood is ripened and hardened.
It is necessary, however, to throw a heavy furrow up to the row
on each side, just before winter sets in — thus covering up the oats
to prevent the mice from harboring in it. As soon as vegetation
commences the following spring, the ridge should be removed from
the rows, and the same course of cultivation pursued as the first
year, till mid summer.

Head down all stocks intended for budding, just above the strong-
est bud, to give a strong new shoot in which to set the bud. A
little more training will be necessary the second year. All the
ground suckers and the "sharp forks" should be taken off, and all
such main stems as grow top heavy and bend over, should be lopped
off; but otherwise trim very sparingly, as more injury results from
excessive and injudicious trimming than from any other cause.

The small growth of the body of the tree must be left on till the
tree has acquired abundant roots, and a sturdy, tapering trunk —
the true shape of the tree, which it will be likely to retain. This
side growth will somewhat retard the growth of the top, but when
it is proper to remove it, the top will develop most rapidly. Keep
a vigilant watch for destructive insects, and look sharp for any
"wildings" that may have come up from the root, or any grafted
tree out of place, and bud them or destroy them at once.

The second autumn the oat sowing may be repeated, with the
same precaution against mice. The rabbits will also need atten-
tion. Where numerous they sometimes ruin a nursery in a short
time. They should be fenced out, or hunted and destroyed out
of the neighborhood. If scions are cut from the young trees, leave
the spines about two inches long.

The cultivation should be commenced the following spring as
early as practicable. The true theory for raising hardy trees on
the prairies, consists in forcing the early growth to the utmost ex-
tent, and holding back, retarding, and checking up the late growth
by every possible means. In other words to counteract the ten-
dency of our rich, fat prairie soils to produce a late, gross, and im-
mature growth, which our severe winters are so apt to destroy.

The third summer is the time to form the top, or head of the
tree. By the exercise of a little care and judgment in due season,
the tree may be made to assume any desired form, and this should
always be given it before leaving the nursery. This may be easily

492

done, and without detriment to the growth of the tree, by simply
pinching off the termiral buds of the gross, irregular leaders, and
straggling branches, whilst they are young and tender. Indeed,
if all the superfluous branches were removed when they should be,
no larger tool than a pen foufe would be needed to do all the pru-
ning a tree will ever need.

The tendency of some varieties is to grow with single stems,
without branches The top buds of such may be nipped when
about four feet high, and made to force out the lower buds to sup-
ply the needed branches. We would here suggest that the proper
form of a nursery tree is a straight centre stem, with three or more
strong, well balanced branches, diverging at three to four feet from
the ground, and ascending — though in removing the tree from the
nursery, all the main shoots should be shortened in.

Budding, though a simple art and easily acquired, is a nice and
delicate operation, and great care is indispensable in the practice
of it. So soon as the new buds are well formed and matured, and
the new shoots of the stock are large enough, the budding should
be commenced, in ordinary seasons about the middle of June. In
early budding we use only the best grown shoots, and but a few of
the middle buds on the stick, rejecting all that have small, weak,
or imperfect eyes. In budding the apple, the pear, and the peach,
we take out the wood, but usually leave it in in the cherry and
plum. If in taking out the wood, the eye or germ of the bud pulls
out with it, the bud is to be discarded. Insert the bud on the up-
per side of the bend, or crook, near the base of the new shoot —
wrap well, below and above the bud, with soft bass bark, or wool-
en yarn, and loop, or hitch it securelj. In from ten to fourteen
days, if the bud takes, the stock should be headed down, an inch
above the bud, to hurry it out in time to make a good growth, and
mature well, to withstand the winter. Buds should always be set
in while the stock is small, (not larger than a goose quill,) and
from one to three feet from the ground. The practice of budding,
•and heading down stock an inch or more in diameter, is much to
be deprecated, as the wound is so large that it cannot heal over be-
fore decay at the heart ensues, and hence, the life of the tree will
be shortened. "When the bud starts crooked, it must be tied up
to ths spur. Numerous buds will put out around and below the
bed of the stock, which, if permitted to remain, will rob the bud.
Those nearest the bud must be rubbed off, but those an inch or
more below, should only be shortened, as their leaves serve an im-
portant purpose in keeping up the size of the "neck," below the
bud.

THE CULTIVATION OF THE PEAR,

On its own root, is similar, in all respects, to that of the apple ;
except that it does not succeed well root-grafted. There is, how-
ever, a most serious drawback on the propagation of standard pears
in our country.

493

blight, attacks the young plants in the seed bed, as well as the old-
er stocks in the nursery. It usually makes its appearanee before
mid summer in shape of small iron rust spots on the leaf. Spread-
ing rapidly it soon overruns the nursery and the leaves become
dry and crisp, and shed off. Though the trees often make a feeble
effort to grow after a severe attack, they never fully recover, but
die by slow degrees.

As neither the cause, nor any certain remedy has yet been dis-
covered for either the leaf blight, or fire blight, and as these dis-
eases are generally prevalent throughout our prairie country, we
have little to hope from the pear on its own bottom. The method
of dwarfing the pear on the quince stock, is extensively practised
in nurseries at the east and elsewhere. This mode of propagating
hastens the bearing maturity of the pear tree, and it is thought to
exempt it in some degree from the blight.

DWARF PEARS ON THE PRAIRIES

Are not, however, of sufficiently long standing to warrant their
recommendation for general, or extensive culture, and it is, there-
fore, deemed unnecessary here to enter into the details of their cul-
tivation, further than briefly to remark, that they are budded on
the Anger's quince stock at the ground, and by a system of heading
down they are made to branch very low. They sometimes bear a
little fine fruit, at two and three years old from the bud.

THE CHERRY

Is usually budded upon the mazzard, or mahaleb stock. The
stocks are to be set in the nursery at one year old, if well grown,
and budded in August of the same year, and brought out the en-
suing spring. They grow rapidly, and most kinds are easily cul-
tivated.

THE PEACH

Is the most easily raised of all fruit trees. The seed may be plan-
ted in the nursery, and the trees will frequently be large enough
to bud in June of the same year, and it requires very little train-
ing. It has been remarked that one moderate crop of this delicious
fruit, will amply repay all the cost of the trees.

THE NECTARINE

Is only a smooth peach, and must be treated in all respects like
the latter.

THE PLUM AND THE APRICOT

May be budded on stocks of the horse plum, or grafted on roots
of the common wild plum, or it may be stock grafted.

Long experience and close observation have convinced us that
the proper age at which to transfer trees from the nursery to the
orchard and garden is three years, provided they are well grown.

494

They can be taken up with sufficient root, packed and removed a
distance without injury, and when properly set out, they grow
much more certainly and thriftily than large trees that have been
mangled in the removing.

The best season for taking up trees is the fall, and the best plan
is to bury them, root and branch, below frost, till spring, when if
they are taken up, and the tops aired a few days, and properly set
out, and managed well, are sure to grcno.

Something might be added on the transplanting, management
and orchard culture of trees, but as this paper is already too long,
that subject must be reserved for a future occasion.

ON THE CULTIVATION OF ORCHARDS.

By C. R. Overman.

'o

Among all the objects that constitute the charm of rural life,
the orchard stands pre-eminent. It is the most cherished spot on
the farm — the treasure house in which is garnered nature's choicest
offering to her dependent children. To the young and guileless
it is a hallowed retreat, where, perhaps, for the first time, the spon-
taneous gush of gratitude to the Bountiful Giver may have thrilled
the soul. The generous impulses there formed in the heart of a
child will go ,/ith him through life. Should his lot in after life
be cast among strangers, in a far off land, how often will memory
revert to the cherished scenes of his " life's morninj
fancy repaint vivid pictures of

" The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wild wood,
And every loved spot which his infancy knew."

But around the orchard will his memory most love to linger, for
it was there he reveled in all the fullness of joy. There the quint-
essence of beauty gladdened his eye, and the perfection of aroma
delighted his palate. What wonder, then, he paid such sincere yet
unconscious devotion at Pomona's shrine.

Parents, plant orchards, if only to instill into the hearts of your
offspring a deeper love of home, to centralize their affections, to
counteract the nomadic spirit of &> i^e. Convince them by ar-
gument, at once potential and pleasing, ' ' ere is no place
like home." In a word, do all you can to make * !* home at-
tractive, and be assured that they will be less inclined to wander
from the paternal roof in quest of forbidden joys.

Without extending the preface, we now proceed to offer a few
practical thoughts on the location, planting and culture of orchards,
presuming that additional information on such subjects may be ac-
ceptable to the public mind.

In treating of the orchard in general, we would be understood
as referring to the apple as the essential element of the orchard,
proper. Though other fruits are sometimes reckoned " in," the
apple is acknowledged monarch, and of him we treat.

496

In locating an orchard, the first object, and a most important one,
is to select an eligible situation. An elevated or rolling situation
is greatly to be preferred, and if the aspect is northern, all the bet-
ter ; but as such a site is not always to be obtained, yet a level or less
propitious one may be rendered nearly equivalent by thorough
underdraining and subsoiling. Indeed, this system of preparing
orchard ground, whether high or low, cannot be too strongly re-
commended, for, though its need upon high ground is not so abso-
lute as upon low, yet all situations, high and low, will be greatly
benefited by it. ft is worthy of remark that the best natural situ-
ations for orchards to be found in our country are in the " barrens"
and the timber, on the clayey ridges and gravelly slopes. On such
localities we have generally found the hardiest and most productive
orchard trees. The proprietor should select the most eligible spot
on his premises for the orchard, and what it lacks by nature he
must endeavor to make up by art. Whether the ground be under-
drained or not, the deep plowing or subsoiling should in no csjse
be dispensed with. Perhaps the most effectual way to do this is
as follows: Use two strong teams; with the first a ~No. 6, old
ground plow, set to run as deep as it can be drawn ; with the sec-
ond team use a 'No. 5, corn plow, set also to run deep ; follow with
it in the furrow made by the first team at a brisk walk, and you
will throw up the subsoil and deposit it upon the surface. In this
way we have sometimes trench plowed near twenty inches deep;
but it requires stout teams, and bright, scouring plows. The tall
previous to planting is the time to do this, but if it has been ne-
glected, it is better to do it in the spring than omit it altogeth-
er, for no opportunity for thoroughly subsoiling the orchard
ground is ever afterwards expected to occur. Another method of
subsoiling is to break up the subsoil as deeply as possible, and let
it lie without turning it up. For this purpose the Michigan double
or subsoil plow is used. The ground being thus thoroughly pre-
pared let it lie so till time to set the trees. Since the severe win-
ters we deem it unsafe to recommend planting in the fall. Though,
the fall season is the better time to procure your trees, they should
be buried till spring ; but in case they have been procured in spring,
(and it should be early, ) the first thing to be done after unpacking
is to examine the roots, and if in good order, cut off smoothly with
a sharp knife, from the under side all the roots that have been
bruised or mangled, ia taking up, also, shorten, in the same man-
ner, all the long and straggling roots to eight or ten inches. Next,
have a hole in the ground a foot deep, filled with mortar or grout,
made of equal parts cowdung and clay, into which plunge the roots,
so as to give each, one a coating of the mortar. Dig a trench ; in
which place the trees, in a sloping position, with the tops to the
north; cover the roots securely ; and let them so remain till the buds
begin to burst into leaf. In this position the sap will flow more
readily and the leaves put forth earlier than if they had been plant-
ed at once in the upright position ; and there is a material advan-

497

tage in having; the trees started before setting, provided they are
carefully handled in the removal.

Trees not exceeding three years old are considered safer to re-
move than those that are older. They should be thrifty, well
grown, stocky, with low heads and sufficient roots. The proper
time for planting will be indicated by the buds bursting and show-
ing the points of the leaf half an inch long or so. The ground
may then be harrowed smooth. In the next place it must be
squared exactly, if you would have the rows range in every direc-
tion. Procure as many stakes as you have trees to set — straight
corn stalks or hazel rods three feet long. If your ground is square,
by carefully measuring, you can set the stakes so they will range
perfectly. The proper distance apart is about thirty feet, or about
fifty trees on an acre. The planting is very much facilitated by the
use of a very simple contrivance, called an index board, or " re-
place." Take a strip of board, say six feet long, five inches wide
and one inch thick, saw a notch in each end and one about the
middle, on one edge, and it is made. By its use one can plant
alone, without an assistant to hold up the tree or sight. Procure
two or three dozen pegs, six or eight inches long, lay the board
down by the side of the stake so it will fit into the middle notch,
then stick a peg down in each notch at the ends, raise the board
and proceed as before, till you have pegged a row or two of stakes.
With the spade mark out the size of the hole around the stake as
its centre. The hole may be three feet wide and some eighteen
inches deep. In digging the hole the subsoil or under clay should
be thrown aside. Fill the hole, partially, with rich top soil and
tread it firmly, to keep the tree from afterwards settling down.
Put down the board again and fit it on the pegs, set the tree in the
middle notch, let the top incline a little to the southwest. Spread
out the roots in their natural position, let them be but an inch or
two deeper than they stood in the nursery, with the fingers compress
the rich, moist soil around and amongst all the roots, fill up with
rich mold to the top and tread it firm around the tree. Finish the
planting by using the under soil or clay to make a mound around
the tree, three or four inches high, and grade it down to the edge
of the border. By following out these simple rules your planting
will be done on " scientific principles." If the weather should be
dry after planting water thoroughly once, and cover the border
around the tree with old straw or litter two or three inches deep.
This will keep in the moisture and keep down the weeds at the
same time.

So soon as the sap begins to flow freely shorten all the leading
branches and shoots, by cutting back at least half the previous sea-
son's growth. With careful cultivation there is not, perhaps, a more
favorable crop amongst small trees the first year than corn, as it
affords them about the requisite shelter from the fierce sun and
strong winds. The corn should not be planted nearer to the trees
than four feet, and it is better to cut it up in the fall for feed in

498

oider to get the stalks off the ground. The insects that require
watching, even the first year, are the leaf roller, the aphis, the
slug worm, the various tribes of caterpillars, and occasionally the
tobacco worm. As most persons are familiar with all these and
their various capacities for mischief, it is deemed unnecesaary to
describe them here, but we would exhort the tree planter to keep
a sharp look out for them and promptly destroy or remove them
from the tree. The trees, if not mulched, must have clean culture,
but will not need a touch ot the knife the first season. Before
winter sets in a small, sharp mound of leached ashes or soil should
be raised around each tree, saj six or eight inches high. This will
brace the tree somewhat and prevent the mice from harboring at the
root. A few strong weeds or split corn stalks, two and a half feet
long, stuck into the ground around the tree and tied at the top
will keep both mice and rabbits from gnawing the bark. A coat-
ing of long manure, three or four inches deep, will protect the
roots from the severity of the winter aud enrich the ground. This
should be removed in the spring, also the protection from the
trunk and the mound from the root. So soon as the buds begin
to burst wash the trunk and main branches with strong lye, ap-
plied with a mop or broom brush. The trees should also be wash-
ed with soap suds every two weeks till midsummer. This prac-
tice continued through subsequent years will more effectually ward
off the apple borer than any other method we have yet tried. A
very good plan is to give the trees an annual coating, of soft soap,
diluted with water. It should be put on before the leaves appear
in the spring. For the second, third and fourth years it is better
to plant the ground with potatoes, vines, or some other low run-
ning crop. Cultivate thoroughly till midsummer, but do not stir
the ground later.

The great secret of success in raising hardy trees is to push
them forward as early and as fast as possible for the first half sea ■
son and to check them up in the latter part, to permit the trees to
harden up their wood and buds and prepare for winter. This is
more effectually done by sowing oats thickly around the tree
about the middle of August, but if not carefully removed before
winter it will harbor the mice. The second summer a little at-
tention should be paid to the training and forming of the head,
but the knife should be used with discretion. Often more injury
results from injudicious pruning than from any other barbarity,
except the sowing of small grain or timothy seed among the trees.
The adoption of the latter course will insure success, if you wish to
murder your orchard by inches, especially if applied before the
trees are ten years old. Cut while the branches are small and the
vigor of the tree will not be sensibly checked. Take out the limbs
that are likely to cross and thin out the clusters, train the top into
a low, spreading, well balanced head, with an open centre. A
very little trimming each year will be required to form the head
into the required shape, without the necessity of cutting out a

499

branch of over half an inch in'diameter ; but if a larger one should
be taken off the wound should be covered with a coat of grafting
wax or white lead paint. The "ground suckers" should be taken
close, as often as they appear. The side shoots may be shortened,
but should not be cut off close till the tree has acquired a study,
tapering trunk. In close trimming make a smooth cut, outside of
the ring or swell, at the base of the shoot or branch and parallel
with it. In a prairie orchard especially, the lower limbs should
not exceed three feet from the ground, on an average, some should
be lower and some may be higher, according to the character of
their growth. With low, spreading heads the trees are much less
affected by the winds and by the severity of the winter, besides,
they bear better crops and finer fruit, and the fruit is much more
accessible. ~No need of running the plow under the tree or close
to it. If low trained its shade as a fertilizer, with the requisite
mulching, is better than frequent stirring of the soil. Very thrifty
young orchards are generally tardy in commencing to bear. In
such cases we have successfully brought the trees into a bearing con-
dition by seeding the orchard down to clover, but care is necesary
to keep the ground free from the sods for four or live feet around
the trees, either by mulching or stirring the surface. As the trees
grow older the tendency to rough, scaly bark and moss increases.
These should both be scraped off whenever they appear. Even
old orchards require a deep stirring up at least once in two or three
years. It is a good plan to sow buckwheat in the orchard, and in
the fall turn in the hogs to devour the grain and fallen fruit.
Enough grain will be left on the ground to seed it another year,
and the straw will keep the ground loose and moist. If the ground
becomes exhausted it must be well manured all over. Eeed your
trees, and they will feed you. The most dreaded enemy of the apple
orchard is the borer. In his case, as in most others, an ounce of
prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. Look sharp for
him in May and June, wash frequently with soap suds, &c, put
leached ashes and old lime around the tree, and you need not be
much troubled with him ; but if he once gets in he must be cut
out or he will cut himself out, and perhaps carry the life of the
tree with hi m.

ON PRACTICAL GARDENING IN ILLINOIS.

By S. Francis, of Springfield, Illinois.

The subject embraced in the title to this essay is an important
one. The Transactions of the State Agricultural Society have
hitherto been silent upon it. A very large proportion of the most
desirable and healthful food used in families can be gathered from
the garden. The first illustrations of agriculture on our earth were
presented in the garden — planted by Deity.

The products of the garden are suited to the wants of Man. A
little cherished spot is more productive of food than broad acres.
No farmer who understands the value of a good garden, knows how
to cultivate it and has a taste for the work, will be content without
he has one. To furnish such knowledge, and to impress upon our
farming community the necessity of improving and cultivating
such taste, are the objects of this essay.

"We proceed to present some suggestions in regard to the selec-
tion of grounds for the farmer's kitchen garden, the different vege-
tables required, and their mode of cultivation.

The best situation for a garden is where it can be protected from
severe winds, and especially those from the north and west. A
thick, high, osage orange hedge will best protect gardens from the
winds that sweep over our prairies, coming from all points of the
compass. The best soil is a deep, rich, sandy loam, dry and friable
enough to admit of culture soon after a rain, and adhesive enough
to stand a drought.

If the garden ground is plowed, (which it is likely to be on a farm,)
this should be done as deeply as possible, where the soil will admit
of it. One foot in depth is not too much. In our Illinois gardens
well rotted manure, worked into the soil, will make it quick, warm
and improve the crops.

In laying out and planting the garden, reference should be had
to the mode in which it is to be cultivated. To save time and
labor, and where ground is not a great object, many of the articles
grown in a farm garden can be cultivated mainly with the plow
and cultivator. In such case they must be planted in long rows.

501

Beets, carrots, parsnips, peas, beans, and many other plants and
vegetables, do well under this mode of culture.

There are certain implements which will be found very necessary
in the garden. Some of them can hardly be dispensed with. The
wheelbarrow, spade, rake, hoe, reel and line, seed drill and mark-
ing rake are the principal. A hot bed for those who desire to
start plants early, can be made at little expense.

For a hot bed, choose a warm, dry spot, the south side of a tight
fence, and commence making the bed about a fortnight before the
opening of spring. Take manure from the horse stable, mixed
with straw litter, which has been thrown into a heap and begun to
heat; arrange it in the form of the frame or box, six inches wider
every way and eighteen inches deep; level it off, place the frame
upon it and press it down close all around. Fill in from four to
six inches of rich loam, which was placed under cover in the fall
and kept dry for that purpose ; put on the lights, and in three or
four days it will be warm enough to sow. A frame, five feet wide
and six feet long, covered with two sashes, will be sufficient for a
common garden. The south side should be one foot and the north
or back side should be one foot and a half high. It will be neces-
sary to raise the top of the sashes occasionally, in good weather,
to give air and to harden the plants, and, in a very hot sun, to
shade or take oif the lights altogether, to prevent burning up.

It is important to have sound seed and of good varieties. With
ordinary management vegetables rapidly degenerate in our State.
The beet, in a few years, becomes coarse, stringy and worthless for
the table. Care in the selection of vegetables for seed will be
found very often to improve their quality. Seed growers are very
careful in their selections of roots for seed. When seeds are found
not to produce a good vegetable of their kind, it is certain that the
seed came from a defective plant. A distinguished seed grower
says of the mode he follows to produce good seed: "In the blood
beet, we always look for deep color, smooth, handsome form, small
top and sweet, tender flesh. In the orange carrot, small top,
smooth root and deep orange color. In the cabbage, short stump,
large, compact head, with but few loose leaves. In the cucumber,
straight, handsome form and dark green color. In the lettuce,
large, close head, pleasant flavor, with the quality of standing the
heat without running up to seed. In sweet corn, long ears, shriv-
eled kernels, tilled over the end of the cob. In the cantaloup mel-
on, rough skin, thick, firm flesh and high flavor. In the water
melon, thin rind and bright red core. In the onion, thick, round
shape, deep color, mild flavor and good keeping quality. In the
parsnip, small top, long, smooth root, sweet flavor. In the pea,
low growth, full pods, large, tender peas and with rich flavor. In
the scarlet radish, deep color, small top, clear root and quick, free
growth. In the squash, medium size, dry, fine grained, deep col-
ored flesh. In the turnip, handsome form, small top and tap root,
sweet, crisp flesh."

502

This extract is given so that when professional gardeners and
seedsmen speak of pure seeds and improved vegetables, they can
be understood. The process here presented of thus improving
them is every year progressing, in the United States and elsewhere,
and that farmer who continues the cultivation of vegetables, from
year to year, without care in improving and keeping up the value
of his seed, can have but a faint perception of the excellence of the
improved vegetables of the present day. We say, then, that a
small amount of money can be profitably expended in purchasing
improved seeds of vegetables from responsible sources.

In these few pages it is not designed to notice those vegetables
not in general use, or the cultivation of which would not compen-
sate for the labor expended. We shall only describe the mode of
cultivating those generally esteemed of the first necessity, and the
use of which in families would be healthful and economical.

The State of Illinois, it must be borne in mind, stretches north
and south through six degrees of latitude. The spring season,
or the growth of vegetation, is from four to six weeks ear-
lier in the Southern than in the Northern part of the State.
Hence the time of performing the spring gardening work is very
different in the different localities, and must be regulated in them
by the state of the season.

Asparagus. — The opinion is offered that this delicate, early and
healthful spring vegetable cannot be found on one of fifty farms in
this State. It requires three years to perfect the growth of a good
bed of asparagus. In this rapidly moving age, this is too long a
period to wait for the reward of labor in planting asparagus; or,
perhaps, when the work is to be done, it "is put off till a more
convenient season," and that seldom arrives.

There are but two varieties of asparagus. The growth and size
of the plants depends on the mode of their cultivation. Either
will grow large in good soil, with proper management. Soak the
seed twenty-four hours in warm water. Plant them as you do
beets and carrots. Thin them out in the rows. At one year old
transplant them into permanent beds. The ground should be
trenched or dug over two feet deep, burying plenty of manure and
mixing it thoroughly with the soil. Lay out beds four and a half
feet wide, and draw three drills, six inches deep and fourteen
inches apart, lengthwise of the bed ; place the roots in them, one
foot apart, in their natural position, and cover four inches deep. A
rich, sandy loam is most suitable. Every autumn, after clearing off
the stalks, spread on a covering of manure, to be forked in, with a
good dressing of fine salt, very early in the spring. The operator
should be very careful not to injure the crowns of the roots. Some
asparagus may be cut the next year, but it would be well to defer
the cutting till the third year.

Beans. — Dwarf, bunch, snap or string beans (for there is a class
having all these names) should not be planted in spring until dan-

503

ger from frost has passed, and the ground has become warm and
light. They can be planted in drills and thinned out to four
inches apart — the drills being two and a half feet distant from each
other. There are many varieties. The early China red-eye i3
very early and prolific. Early yellow six- weeks and early "Valen-
tine (long red mottled,) are excellent for snaps. The refugee bean
(long, dark clouded,) has the same characteristics. The white
succotash (a large, round bean,) is most excellent, green or dry,
and the white royal dwarf (a large, long, white bean,) is excellent
for garden and field culture.

There are many varieties of pole beans. The early Dutch case-
knife is excellent, both as a snap and shell bean. The horticultural
cranberry (round and red-speckled) is far the best of all the cran-
berry varieties. The pod has a very marrowy richness, excelling
all others of its class. The small Lima or butter is a very fine bean,
but the large Lima is better. Pole beans should be planted in
warm and rich soil, in hills three feet apart, five or six beans must
be planted in a hill, and a strong pole should be placed in the cen-
tre of the hills, eight feet high. When the Lima beans reach the
top of the pole the tops should be pinched off. This will make the
plants produce sooner and better. Beans should not be hoed or
plowed when they are wet with dew or rain.

Beet. — The fine varieties of beet are excellent and desirable
food. Before planting the seed should be soaked twenty-four
hours and planted as soon as the ground is in order and the sea-
son will permit. They prefer a light, loamy soil. The early bas-
sano comes the earliest. It is turnip shaped, light red, tender and
sweet. The early blood turnip is a standard sort, turnip shaped,
blood red, very tender and good for early use and late keeping.
The early yellow turnip is of a very beautiful yellow, very tender
and juicy, comes early and will serve for both summer aud winter.
The long blood red, when the seed is pure, is a fine winter beet.
Thtre are other varieties, and some wholly for field culture. To
keep beets they may be buried in the fall in the earth beyond the
reach of the frost, or they may be put in boxes in the cellar and
covered with earth or sand.

Cabbage. — This is one of the most important vegetables. There
are many varieties named in the catalogues of seedsmen, but a few
leading sorts are all the farmer requires. The seed for early sum-
mer cabbages can be planted in a cold frame early in September,
and the plants must be protected from the cold and occasionally
air given them during winter. These make earlier heads when
transplanted in spring than those started in hot beds. For late
cabbages the seed can be planted in a box (to secure them against
the fly) in June, which box should be elevated three feet from the
ground.

The early York and the early "Winningstadt are two of the best
early cabbages. The late York follows these. The premium flat

504

Dutch, by planting the seed early, will furnish fine cabbages for
fall, and if the seed is late planted, for winter. Add to these the
late drumhead, the drumhead Savoy and the large Bergen, and no
farmer need desire more. The red Dutch, for pickling, should be
planted out early. It requires all the season to make a good head.
Kohl rabi is a turnip rooted cabbage. There are two kinds, green
and purple. They have the flavor of cabbage and turnip, and
should be cultivated like ruta baga.

The soil for cabbage, should be heavy, moist and rich. The
plants should be placed eighteen inches apart for the large, and
fifteen for the small. They can scarcely be hoed too often.

There are several ways of preserving them for winter. A few
can be kept well by planting them out in a cool cellar. Market
gardeners dig a trench on the north side of a fence; place the cab-
bages, head downwards, in the trench, and cover them with earth;
then dig another, and so proceed until all the cabbages are dis-
posed of. Rails or stakes are then placed over the cabbages, so as
not to injure them by pressure, and these are covered with straw
and litter. Put away in this manner the cabbages keep well, and
can be obtained at any time, as wanted for use.

Cauliflower. — These can only be successfully grown in the
northern section of the State. Occasionally they may be made to
succeed in the southern section. There is an early and late va-
riety.

For the summer crop, the plants should be started in a cold
frame in September, to be protected as in the case of cabbages
planted at that season. For the fall crop plant early in spring, and
treat like late cabbages, giving them plenty of water should the
season be dry.

Brocoli, which is a species of cauliflower, can be grown as re-
commended for the cauliflower.

Carrot. — Tho carrot is esteemed as an ingredient of soups, and
is a favorite with some persons for the table. The seed should be
soaked and rolled in plaster or leached ashes. This will encourage
them to start before the weeds. The carrot is cultivated as the
beet. They can be kept in winter by being packed in sand.

There are only three varieties we would recommend for the ta-
ble —the early horn, the long orange, and the blood red or purple.
There are several other varieties grown as field crops.

Celery — This is one of the luxuries of the garden. There are
many varieties in cultivation. Rose colored, solid, and silver giant,
are recommended as best. When well cultivated, they grow to
large size, are solid and rich.

The plants for early celery must be started in a hot bed. For
the late cr<. p, a bed may be made in a place in the garden, not too
much exposed to the sun, the seed sown shallow, and the ground
beaten lightly with the back of the spade, to settle the earth about
the seeds. When the plants are three inches high, thin them out

505

to four inches apart, and when six inches high transplant them six
inches apart in trenches prepared to receive them. These trenches
should be four feet apart, one foot wide and ten inches deep. About
three inches of rotten manure should be put into the trenches and
this worked -with the spade into the bottom soil. The tops and
roots of the plants should be shortened before they are set out.
• Earth up the plants, to blanch them, two or three times during their
growth, holding the leaves with the hand while the earth is drawn
up, taking care that none falls into the centre of the plant. Celery-
pays well for superior culture.

Celery is often grown by transplanting on the surface of the
ground, and bleaching it by covering it up in the earth in winter ;
but such cultivation only secures a common article.

Celery can be preserved in winter by digging a trench on dry
ground, of sufficient depth to receive it — lay it in something in the
form as recommended for preserving cabbages in winter — the roots
at the bottom, laying it on one side of the trench, say at an angle
of 45 deg. Cover it with earth, and then with straw. In this
manner celery can be saved so that it can easily be had any time in
the winter, and will be found perfectly crisp and fine.

Cress, Pepper Grass, Tongue Grass. — The seed of this plant
is sown for an early salad. There are two varieties— the curled
and broad leaf. The seed should be sown early and thickly, in
broad shallow drills.

Cucumbers. — These are found in every vegetable garden in their
season. They are highly esteemed in warm weather for their
cooling and refreshing qualities, and make the best pickles. The
early Russian is the earliest, and grows about three inches long.
The short green is very prolific, handsome and early. The Lon-
don long green, is long and of good flavor. The gherkin is a small
prickly cucumber. All these make excellent pickles.

Cucumbers for early use may be planted in the open ground in
spring as soon as the weather becomes settled and warm, in hills
four feet apart, the ground being rich and light. Put about a doz-
en seeds in a hill, cover an inch deep with fine earth, and spat it
down with a hoe. Hog dung and ashes are said to be the best
manure for cucumbers. If the plants come up well and the bug
spares them, thin them to four in a hill and hoe them often. If
the bug attacks and is likely to destroy them, plant more seed.
For pickles the planting may be done early in July.

Egg Plant. — The plants should be started in a hot bed, or in a
bed of earth placed in a sunny window. They may be set out
three feet apart. The ground should be rich and warm. The ear-
ly long pnrple is the earliest. The large oval purple grows the
largest, and is most generally cultivated.

Indian Corn. — "Roasting ears" are a favorite food, and so much
desired that pains should be taken to have it in perfection from the
—58

506

coming in of the earliest varieties until vegetation is arrested by
frost. This can be done with a little attention. Smith's early
white, is, probably, the earliest variety. The sweet corn, known as
the red cob, having a short, twelve rowed ear, comes next. This
can be followed by the mammoth sweet corn, which can be made
to fill up the season by planting early and late. This variety pro-
duces an ear a foot long, eight rowed, large kernels, and the cob
is completely filled over at the end. It is very productive — re-
quires rich ground — should be planted in hills three and a half
feet apart, and no better variety can be had. There are other
kinds of corn used for the table, but if a farmer has those we have
named, he has enough.

Lettuce. — Of lettuce there are many varieties. The early curled
Silesia is a superior early variety. Give it room and it will make
a large loose head, and is of excellent flavor. Green head lettuce
is a hardy dark green, grows low, with round leaves, and round
hard head, and is tender and excellent. Other varieties are — im-
perial cabbage, ice coss, brown head, brown Dutch, and many oth-
ers, all fine. To obtain early lettuce for cutting, the seed may be
sown thick ; but for heading, the plants must be at least one foot
apart, be planted on rich ground, and be kept free from weeds.

Melon. — -This is a popular fruit, and in later years we have very
improved varieties. Of the canteloupe, there are many sorts. We
name Christiana, green citron, pine apple, beechwood, Skillman's
fine netted and large cantaloupe. Most of them have green flesh,
are sweet and of high flavor. They are all more or less netted.
The large musk melon is an old variety, long, ribbed, and has a
musk flavor.

The ground for melons should be dry, warm and rich. The
hills should be six feet apart. A dozen seeds may be planted in a
hill, to be thinned out to four when danger from the bug has passed.
"When the plants have four or five rough leaves, the leading shoot
is to be pinched off. This will cause the plant to throw out lateral
shoots and hasten the appearance and maturity of the fruit.

Water Melon. — The water melon is also a general favorite.
The soil selected for it should be rich, warm and light. The hills
should be eight feet apart. The seeds should be planted as soon
as there is no danger from frost.

There are many fine varieties. The following have red flesh,
are sweet and fine : Mountain sweet, mountain sprout, Spanish
and Long Island. The last is the earliest variety. The orange
water melon has peculiar characteristics. By a little care in ta-
king off the rind, the whole pulp will come out in solid mass, beau-
tiful beyond description. The flesh is red, sweet and rich, and
seeds white. The citron melon is alone valuable for preserving.
Its flesh is white, solid, and seeds red.

Nasturtium. — This plant is sometimes cultivated for its green

507

§eed pods, which make a fine pickle, preserved in vinegar. The
leaves being pungent, are by some used in sauces. The seed can
be sown in drills in the spring, and the tall kind should be provi-
ded with bushes or trellis to run upon.

Okea. — This plant is sometimes called " gumbo." The seeds,
well soaked, are planted in May in drills six or eight inches apart.
Its green pods are used in soups. Its seeds, of which it produces
many, have been used as coffee, for which they are said to be a tol-
erable substitute.'

Onion. — There are many distinct varieties of the onion — the top
or tree, potatoe, Weathersfield red, and other varieties raised from
seeds. The tree onion is grown from seed bulbs, which form on
the top of the stalk. The potatoe onion is planted as the potatoe,
and grows in clusters under ground. Wethersfield, in Connecti-
cut, is celebrated for its excellent onions. The manner of growing
them there is thus described by Comstock, Ferre & Co., the dis-
tinguished seed growers of that place :

"Onion seed is sown from the first to the middle of May— the
earlier the better, provided the ground will work light and fine.
After preparing the ground by manuring heavily and thoroughly
plowing and harrowing and raking fine, draw drills fourteen inch-
es apart, with a marking rake, and sow at the rate of eight pounds
of seed to the acre, if wanted for bunching. For large bushel on-
ions six pounds will be sufficient. The sowing is mostly done by
machines, which can be graduated to sow any desired quantity to
the acre. If convenient, it is better to go over the ground with a
light roller, immediately after sowing. It is customary to weed
them three times. At the two first the earth is drawn up a little
to the plants, and at the third or last weeding it should be brushed
clean away with the fingers, to give them an opportunity to bot-
tom entirely above ground. Onions are an exception to the theo-
ry of a rotation of crops. They succeed equally well any number
of years on the same ground, if kept highly enriched with manure.
A top dressing of wood ashes applied atter the second weeding is
very beneficial to this crop, as wTill soon be observed by the dark
and healthy color given to the plants. This mode of culture, we
believe, will produce fair crops of onions, with seed procured from
"Weathersfield, or which shall be good."

The same gentlemen add : "To keep onions in quantity through
the winter, deposit them, when perfectly dry,eighteen inches thick,
evenly on a light floor in an outbuilding, leaving a space of two feet
next the walls of the room on all sides ; spread a sheet over them
close round the edges of the heap; fill the space with fine hay, and
tread it hard; then cover the whole two feet thick with the same and
the onions will keep in perfect order. They should never be dis-
turbed while frozen, but as soon as the frost is completely out in the
spring, remove the covering and spread them all over the room, and
open the doors and windows to give them air in pleasant weather."

508

Parsnip. — There is supposed to be but one variety of the pars-
nip. This is greatly improved by selecting the finest roots for
seed and carefully taking the seed from the leading umbel for
planting.

The ground for the parsnip should be light and rich, and be
deeply trenched or plowed. The seed should be sown in drills
fifteen inches apart as early as the season will permit. "When the
plants are three inches high, they should be thinned to eight inch-
es distance. Parsnips continue to grow until late in the fall, and
keep best in the ground during the winter.

Peas. — These are among the best and most desirable vegetables
of the season. Many persons take much pains to obtain the ear-
liest varieties. These can be planted as soon as the ground can be
made ready to receive them. By a little care in the selection of
kinds, peas can be had through the season as long as desirable.
In early spring, when the ground is wet, they should be planted
two inches apart to the depth of three inches. This depth, in plant-
ing, should be increased as the warm weather advances. For the
latest crops the seed should be put into the ground to the depth of
five,, six, and even seven inches. Peas will not produce well unless
their roots can find moisture to sustain their succulent vines.
Peas are usually planted in double rows, eight inches apart.

The English gardeners are constantly originating new varieties
of peas ; but few of them, however, are improvements on some
of the old. Three or four varieties will be sufficient for a family.
The following selection is good, though undoubtedly there may be
others equally valuable. The extra early May grows two feet
high; very productive and fine. Comstock's earliest dwarf is
another of the earliest. It does not require sticking, is an excellent
pea and very prolific. This variety will give good satisfaction.
Dwarf blue Prussian grows three feet high, a great bearer and an
excellent summer pea. Bishop's dwarf long pod, two and a halt
feet high, excellent and wonderfully productive. Champion of
England, three to four feet high, peas whitish, shrivelled, regarded
as the best in the list. The large white marrowfat is an American
and late variety, grows, sometimes, eight feet high ; a most excel-
lent and prolific pea.

Peppers. — These are tender plants and the seeds should be sown
in a hot bed to forward their growth. When the weather becomes
warm and the ground is in good order, they can be transplanted
in rows about a foot and a half apart. If properly attended,
kept free from weeds and occasionally hoed, bringing earth up
around the stalk, they will fill up the space between the plants.
There are several good varieties and many crosses which are
of much less value. The small, long cayenne and cherry are for
making pepper sauce. The squash, the bull nose, the sweet moun-
tain and sweet Spanish are for pickling, and they are all good for

509

this purpose, though the last is entirely destitute of the pepper
pungency.

Potatoes. — There are several early varieties which are conve-
nient for garden culture — the kidney, mountain June and Neshan-
oc. They may be planted as soon as the ground can be got in
order, and for an early crop it should be warm and light and not
too rich.

Radish. — The radish came from China. It is a very desirable
early vegetable. The earliest are raised in hot beds. In the gar-
den the seed is sown as early as the ground can be prepared. The
soil should be very warm and light, and, it is said, if enriched by
strong manure, the radish will not be injured by insects. Sow in
ten inch drills and thin them to two inches apart. Radishes must
grow quick or they are of no value.

Standard varieties are: Early short top long scarlet, scarlet tur-
nip and long salmon. These will mature as they are here arranged.
The yellow turnip radish is the best variety to bear the heats of
summer. The black Spanish and winter China are for winter use.
The seed of these should be sown in the last of July, and the roots
should be taken up before heavy freezing and put away in the cel-
lar, covered with sand.

Spinach. — Two varieties are sufficient. For the spring crop)
sow the seed in the last of September or later, in drills, and cover
with straw or light litter. For the summer crop, sow early in
spring. The ground should be very rich. The round leaf is the
variety for summer and the prickly tor fall sowing.

Squash. — These are natives of the south, and are properly divi-
ded into summer and winter squashes. Two good varieties are
sufficient. The early bush summer crookneck is the richest sort,
very productive, covered with warts, the shell very hard when
ripe. These are eaten when they are green. The autumnal mar-
row squash, for fall and winter, was deemed the best. The Lima
cocoanut, long and blue, is excellent. Latterly superior excellence
is claimed for the Hubbard squash, dark green color, larger than
the autumnal yellow, and having hard shell.

This may be a proper place to recommend farmers to cultivate
but a few chosen sorts of melons — water melons, squashes and cu-
cumbers. Obtain good varieties, plant them at a distance from
each other and keep up their excellence by selecting the choicest
specimens for seed. All these named will mix with each other,
and also with gourds. It is imperatively necessary that this cau-
tion should be attended to.

Salsify. — This plant is sometimes known by the name of vege-
table oyster. It should be planted and cultivated as the parsnip.
It grows to the size of small parsnips. Its roots can be taken up
in the fall and preserved in sand, or they may be left in the ground

510

for the winter. They are delicious when cooked and dressed as
asparagus.

Tomato. — -Tomatoes, to have them early, should be started in
hot beds, or, for want of such, in pots, set in a warm window.
The plants delight in warm, dry ground, and if it is light and poor
the fruit will sooner mature. Plants put out in heavy, rich ground
will not be very much benefited by being started early. Hoe
often. The tomato produces most satisfactorily by being trained
up on bushes or frames.

There are two standard varieties — the large smooth red and yel-
low. Most persons prefer the red. There are also small yellow
and red varieties, for pickling.

Turnip. — The English cultivate numerous varieties. Many of
them do not succeed well here. We require a good early and late
kind. The white top and red top strap leaved turnips, varieties
which originated in this country, have taken the lead of all others.
As an early turnip, sown in spring, they are fine, and they are ex-
cellent for fall and winter.

For the spring crop, sow as early as the seed can be got into the

f round, in fourteen inch drills, and thin to five or six inches,
[eep them clear from weeds, and when the bottoms begin to en-
large, brush away the earth about the roots to the depth of half
an inch, and give them a dressing of wood ashes. This will pre-
vent injury from worms in old gardens.

The winter flat Dutch, ruta baga and many other varieties are
only suitable tor field culture.

GARDEN HEKBS.

No garden should be without a bed of these herbs :

Sage. — There are four varieties of sage. The red is best for com-
mon purposes. The seed should be planted early in a well pre-
pared bed — the plants thinned to six inches and kept free from
weeds. It is a perennial. The leaves can be taken from the
plants the first year in the latter part of the season.

Summer savory is an annual, raised from seed. The plants can
be gathered when in flower and dried for use.

Sweet ma? jorum is a biennial, raised from seed. The leaves
should be gathered while the plant is in flower.

Tkyme is raised from seed. "Its leaves are used for soups and
sauces, green and dried."

Parsley is a biennial. Its leaves are used green for soups and
garnishing dishes. To have it green in winter roots should be
taken from the garden and transplanted into the cellar.

Lavender is a perennial, raised from seed. It has a powerful
aromatic flavor.

Coriander is an annual. Its seeds are often used in seasoning
meats ; also, in medicine.

511

Lemon halm is raised from seed or roots. It lias medicinal qual-
ities.

Fennel is a perennial, raised from seed. The second year it
should be transplanted where it can occupy four feet of ground.
Its seeds are warm and aromatic. The plant is not of great value.

Caraway is raised from seed. The seeds are sometimes used in
cake, but oftener in medicine.

In concluding this treatise, the writer would say, that he sup-
posed a manual or treatise prepared in the form of this would be of
value to many farmers of Illinois. Some of the descriptions of veg-
etables and their proper mode of cultivation are the results of his
own experience. He has also freely examined the works of sev-
eral practical writers on kitchen gardening, and availed himself of
information gathered from those sources in all cases where he
thought it would be useful. In the words of another, he will
add, that "It is one of the best natured delights of all others for a
man to look about and see nothing but the effects and improve-
ments of his own art and diligence ; to be always gathering some
fruits of it, and at the same time to behold others ripeiin^ and
others budding ; to see the soil covered with the beautiful creations
of his own industry ; and to see, like God, that all his works are
good."

THE PRAIRIE FRUIT GARDEN.

B\* Samuel Jacob Wallace, of Hancock County.

This is a subject of very great interest to every dweller upon our
prairies, and to those who would make permanent homes upon
them; a few suggestions on the subject indicated by the caption of
this essay, based on the results of some experience, may be useful.

It is not necessary for an elaborate argument in regard to the
value of fruit as a portion of human food, for health and pleasure,
or the beauty of a good fruit garden to every man and woman of
taste ; the love of home which it creates and fosters, and the great
addition which it adds to the worth of the farm as a pecuniary in-
vestment. These facts cannot be controverted.

THE GROUNDS FOE GARDEN.

The grounds selected for the garden, should be rolling swells
upon the prairie ; and if not sufficiently drained naturally, this
should be done either by surface or "blind" underdrains. The
grounds should be protected by good and sufficient fence. A
hedge would be the best protection, and this should be suffered to
grow high, in order to break the winds which sweep over the
prairies. In addition to this protection against winds, two rows of
evergreens planted out within and near the hedge, so that the in-
ner row would cover the open spaces in the first row, would add
very much to the security of the garden against prairie winds,
which in February and March, cause destruction to fruit trees.

The ground should be plowed in the fall. It should be thorough-
ly and deeply plowed. The double Michigan plow would do this
work well. In the spring, when the ground is in suitable order,
again plow. Make it mellow, soft and loose. Horse cultivation is
what we must depend on.

In planting, the most satisfactory plan will be in hills. The
most of the smaller fruit trees, vines and shrubbery, eight feet each
way would be about the right distance for the hills. Nearly all
the smaller fruits can fill up that space. At that distance, "lands"
can be plowed each way between the rows of hills with two horses,

513

and cultivation with the cultivator and harrow can he adopted, ren-
dering this work easy and doing it well.

A good sized garden for a family would be two or three acres.
If there is a market, it would be profitably increased to five.

FRUITS, VEGETABLES, &C, AS THEY RIPEN — "WITH REMARKS.

Mat. — Pie plant supplies the place of fruits very well. Linnaeus
is the best kind, early, tender and pleasant. The Victoria is next
in popularity and season. The giant is large, and there are other
good kinds. This plant delights in plenty of room, rich soil and
good cultivation. In the fall or spring the roots can be divided
and new beds made. Plants from seed are very uncertain and in-
ferior.

Patience dock comes early, and makes good greens.

Asparagus should be planted in beds or rows, and patience dock
and horse radish may be planted in the same way.

June. — Service terries, when fruits are rare, are good and pleas-
ant to eat ; plants hardy and well worthy of cultivation.

Cherries. — Of this fruit the dukes and morellos are our main
dependence. Early Richmond or early May is the earliest, most
hardy and profitable. May dukes do well for a few years. Heart
cherries do not succeed as standards. As dwarfs, grafted on the
mahaleb and planted at eight feet distance, they may do better.

Strawberries are our most delicious fruit in June. The fruit is
easily grown and is indispensable. The plants maybe put out in
beds or in rows. Some of the best kinds are necked pine, early
scarlet, crimson cone, Hovey's seedling, Wilson's Albany Hook-
er's seedling, Burr's new pine, McAvoy's superior.

Gooseberries are a valuable plant in June. In some parts of Il-
linois English gooseberries mildew. The Houghton's seedling
never mildews, and though it is not as large as some English va-
rieties, it is remarkably prolific, and good — even better than that of
many large English varieties. It is not unusual to gather a peck
of this fruit on a well grown plant.

Currants. — Of this fruit there are many kinds, some of which
we have recommended in a list at the close of this essay. The red
and white Dutch or white grape, are excellent and productive.
The black Naples is a good variety of the black currant. In order
to fully develop this fruit, the plants require high cultivation, to be
well manured and properly pruned. With this cultivation the
fruit will be large, excellent and abundant.

July. — We have a continuation of late cherries, strawberries,
gooseberries and Victoria currants.

Raspberries. — This fruit is now in season. All the varieties are
subject to be winter killed, if left unprotected, except Allen's har-
dy and the native black cup. The names of several varieties will
be found in our list. The tender varieties must be laid down in

514:

winter and covered with straw. Allen's hardy does not need this
protection, and it promises well.

Blackberries. — This fruit is becoming popular for garden cultiva-
tion. It is popular with all people. Plants produce prodigious
quantities of fruit. ISTew varieties of this fruit, of approved excel-
lence, bring high prices in market. Of the improved sorts culti-
vated, we may name the L'awton, Dorchester and Newman's
thornless. All these are large and fine fruits. The woods of
Southern Illinois produce varieties said to be fully their equal.
"We shall be disappointed if selections are not obtained from that
source even superior to those named. The blackberry is destined
to be a cultivated fruit, and when improved will be among the most
popular. Dewberries, or trailing blackberries, are common in old
fields in Southern Illinois. The fruit is excellent, but the plants
are not productive.

Early apples. — Early harvest, sweet June, red June, &c, are
often ripe at the close of this month — sufficiently so for cooking
purposes.

August. — Blackberries, late strawberries and mulberries are
still in season. Early apples ripen through the month of August.

Native plums are now ripening. Selections have been made
by cultivators, which lose little by comparison with those of foreign
origin. The " Masterion " is a large, round, early variety, the
skin very thin, the flesh sweet and delicious, a distinct kind, dis-
covered by the writer about three years ago .

Early peaches are now ripening. We have named varieties of
approved excellence. The new system of preserving this fruit by
canning, will largely increase the demand for it.

Plums. — Yellow Gage and other varieties are now in season. It
is hoped that means will yet be discovered for preventing the loss
of this fruit by the curculio insect.

Pears. — Early varieties are now ripening. "We have confidence
that both dwarf and standards will succeed when our grounds are
thoroughly drained and we have protective skirts of evergreens
around our orchards.

Melons. — The choicest of the tropical fruits come to entire per-
fection in our climate. They ripen in a season when they are pe-
culiarly desired. Of the watermelons the ice cream, orange,
mountain sweet and mountain sprout are among the best kinds.
There are others of equal value. Of the muskmelon or cantaloupe
variety the nutmeg, beech wood, Christiana, pine apple, are very
desirable and delicious.

September and October. — Early fall apples are now in season.
Native and foreign plums are in their glory. Peaches, worthy to
stand in the temple of Pomona. Pears rejoice yon with their de-
liciousness. Melons, squashes, tomatoes greet you at your meals.
Grapes — emblems of peace, plenty, joy and prosperity — gladden
your sight as they hang in abundance upon the vines. This fruit,

515

for various purposes, ranks in importance next to the apple. In a
garden, where the grounds have been properly selected and suit-
able cultivation given, the grape produces fruit early and abun-
dantly. We have given a list of varieties, early and late. By se-
lecting some of each, the season of ripe grapes can be made to last
two months, and some varieties, well packed, can be kept till mid
winter. Plants well cultivated will bear the third year. In the
northern part of this State the Catawba and Isabella will produce
best by being laid down and covered with straw during winter.

November and December. — The late fall apples are now in sea-
son.

There are many vegetables which should now be in season and
abundance — sweet and other potatoes, squashes, turnips, beets, car-
rots, celery, &c.

January and February. — "Winter apples should be in perfec-
tion. Most of the vegetables named for November and December
should be had. The celebrated Hubbard squash, equal in sweet-
ness and richness to the best sweet potatoes, and superior to all
squashes, will be acceptable now, if it has been kept in a .dry place
away from frost, and will be good in March.

March and April. — Late keeping apples, of which there are
many varieties, are in season in these months. The janet, wine-
sap, willow-twig, white winter pearmain, Talman's sweet, and
other varieties, when other vegetable food is usually scarce.
Canned peaches, always fine, come with a double relish now.
Canned strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are equally de-
sirable.

We have thus hurried through the year. We have endeavored
to show that, by selecting suitable grounds, by protecting these
grounds from the heavy winds which pass over our prairies, and
from the scorching winds and frosts that come prematurely in
February and March, and by proper cultivation and care, the far-
mers of our prairies can secure the richest fruits given to man by
Deity, and can carry their enjoyment into every month of the
year.

MISCELLANEOUS FEIITS.

In our plate ot the "Prairie Fruit Garden," mention is made
of whortleberries, cranberries, wild plums, mulberries, and other
native wild fruits. These are valuable fruits, some of them already
domesticated in our gardens, and others will be. Doubtless their
qualities, now excellent, will be improved by cultivation.

STOCK FOE THE PLANTING OP THE MOST IMPORTANT FRUITS.

Get apple trees two years old, selected. Grapes one year old,
strong and healthy plants, or cuttings if plants cannot be had.
Currant bushes one year old, or cuttings. Gooseberries, one year

516

old, or cuttings. Raspberries and blackberries, with roots. Pie
plants, stout roots. Good trees, plants and seeds of other fruits.
Plant in hills each way, except apples, (which should be distant
from each other 24 to 32 feet) ; and strawberries, which may be
planted in rows four feet apart.

Time of Bearing. — First year — Melons, squashes, &c. Second
year — Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, pie.
plant, asparagus. Third year — same, with grapes and currants.
Fourtliyear — Peaches, plums, dwarf pears. Fifth year — Apples,
mulberries, quinces, cherries, &c.

PLAT OF THE PRAIRIE ERTJIT GARDEN,
[ See- Engraving. ]

EXPLANATION OF ENGRAVING.

The outside row all around set with osage

orange hedge, 120 rods, 3000 plants, 8 in.

2d — two rows evergreens.

8 rows — 104 apple trees, 33x33 feet, set alter-
nate.

4 rows — 52 cherry trees, set behind the apple
trees to protect them from the sun in win-
ter.

1 row — 13 foreign plums, on wild plum roots.

3 rows — 39 dwarf peaches, [on plum.]

1 row— 51 " " " 8 ft.

1 row — 51 native plums. '

1 row — 50 pears and quinces.

1 row — 50 blackberries.

1 row — 50 black cap berries.

1 row — 50 raspberries.

1 row — 50 currants.

1 row — 50 Houghton gooseberries.

1 row — 50 pie plant, patience dock, Ac.

1 row— 50 service berries, huckleberries,

barberries, &c.
1 row — 50 grapes, early.
1 row — 50 grapes, later, for putting away.
1 row— 26 mulberries (black.)

1 row — 50 willows (basket) stools.

3 beds — strawberries, 1200 ft. length.

2 rows— 102 hills melons, 8 ft.

2 rows — 102 rows hubbard squashes, &c.

(winter.)
Rows vegetables, &c.
10 grapes on the south end of rows.

410 fruit trees.
112 grape vines.
275 hills of berries.

50 hills of pieplants.
204 hills vines.

3 rows strawberries and cranberries.

[ On one side of the fruit garden a lawn of one or two acres, with shrubbery, &c, and the
home may be placed.] This can be cultivated with horses, and can be well done in half the
time of a good cultivator.

Note. — In engraving the plate, in order to make it come within the page, it became nec-
essary to contract it, so that the rows do not contain the same number of plants and trees
which were in the original design.

vVtvtVtttV.\VtVt t v,

m m

& 9

$ «

>l

d %

m #

►. *

& &

& $ & A

^ HEDGE
Wind Cuttei
Wind Breaker

Cherries

Native Plums

Native A budded Plums

Same, budded to Peaches
Hardy Pear", Ac.

Late Spring Apples
Spring Apples
Spring; Apples
Spring Apples
Spring Apples
Late Winter
Mid-Winter
Mid-Winter
Early.Winter
Early Winter and Fall
Fall Apples
Summer Applea
Earliest Apples

Mulberries
1 Service Berries

Goose Berries
Currants
Blackberries
Raspberries

Fall Raspberries
Pie Plant
| Tenderer Grapes

-Hardy Grapes on trellis

>"A

. Rows Strawberries

Wind Breaker
Wind Cutter
HEDGE

[ Face page 516.

517

LIST OF GOOD VARIETIES OP FRUIT TREES, SHRUBS AND PLANTS,
FOR THE FRUIT GARDEN.

13 summer apples — 3 early harvest, 4 red June, 3 benoni, 3 sweet June.

13 fall apples — 3 golden sweet, 3 rambo, 3 golden russett, 4 maiden's blush.

13 early winter apples — 3 porter, 3 fameuse, 3 yellow and 4 white belleflowers.

13 mid winter apples — 3 winter sweet, 3 sweet paradise, 7 orange apple.

26 late winter apples — 13 Rawle's janet, 13 green Newtown pippin.

26 spring apples — 7 wine sap, 6 Jonathan, 8 willow twig, 5 Roxbury Russett.

52 cherry trees — 13 early Richmond, 13 morello. (This number can be increased from
the dukes, but they are of doubtful success.)

13 plum trees — best varieties.

90 peach trees — 13 early York, 18 Haines' early, 13 early Crawford, 13 Coolidge's favor-
ite, 13 late Crawford, 13 old mixon cling, 13 old mixon free.

50 plums, native — good varieties. These can now be had at many nurseries.

50 pears and quinces — 13 standard pears, 13 dwarf psars on quince, 13 dwarfs on thorn,
11 quinces.

50 blackberies — 12 Lawton, 12 Dorchester, 26 of selected native varieties.

50 raspberries — 13 Allen's hardy, 13 orange, 12 franconia, 12 monthly.

50 black cup raspberries — natives or Doolittle's improved.

50 currants — 10 cherry, 10 Victoria, 10 red Dutch, 10 white grape, 10 black Naples.

50 Gooseberries — 40 Houghton's seedlings, and 10 of English fine varieties.

50 plants — 20 Linnreus rhubarb. 10 Victoria, 10 giant, 10 patience dock.

50 shrubs — 25 service berries or June berries, 25 whortleberries.

50 early grapes — Delaware, Concord, Clinton, Isabella, Diana, &c.

50 late grapes — Isabella, Catawba, &c.

25 black and red mulberries.

600 strawberries, 2 feet apart — 200 necked pines one row; 200 early scarlet one row;
Hooker's and Wilson's seedlings one row; 200 assorted one row; a few cranberries, if de-
sired.

Note. — In the selection of fruits, absolute perfection is not attempted— but some of the
best varieties are named.

SORGHO AND IMPJ1EE SUGAR CANES.

By Isaac A. Hedges, of Ohio.

In a treatise professing to discuss the characteristics as well as
cultivation and manufacture of an agricultural production adapted,
as are these varieties of sugar millet or cane, to latitudes and soils
so various, it must be apparent to all that difficulties lie in the way
of embodying, in general directions, such formula as shall meet
the exigencies of every occasion and circumstance. The following
are based upon experiments and observations made throughout
the northern and middle States, and ought rather to be received
as general than special in their deductions.

The Chinese cane has, thus far, given encouraging evidences of
improvement, in becoming Americanized, on several farms to which
my attention has been directed. I have observed a more vigorous
development of the plant in '58 than '57, and an increase of the
saccharine richness of the juice, varying, in different localities,
from one and a half to four degrees of Beaum's saccharometer. It
should be borne in mind, however, that a more propitious season
may have tended largely towards producing, if it has not wholly
effected this result.

Whether the Chinese will hybridize with the Imphee or African
variety, and, if so, what the hybrid product may be like, I have no
means of judging, and would suggest that experiments in that di-
rection, another season, must lead to highly interesting and perhaps
to important results. Mr. Wray, who introduced the latter into this
country, thinks the two varieties will not cross. As other varieties
of the holcus family appear to readily hybridize with both the Chi-
nese and African, I deem it proper to guard the public against
planting either in situations contiguous to fields of broom or dhoura
corn, and would advise planting apart from each other, until ex-
periment may have determined whether any deterioration takes
place from such conjunction, as is known to be the case when plant-
ed near broom corn.

As regards the comparative value of the two plants, it is a diffi-
cult matter to form a correct estimate. The Imphees are subdi-

519

vided into several distinct varieties, but few of which are believed
to be adapted to this latitude, and of these few, not all have pro-
ven chrystalizable into sugar. The balance, except in cases where
there have been good reasons to believe the seed was either hybrid
or not genuine, have generally yielded syrup in quantities and of
a quality which compares favorably with the Chinese or sorgho.
It has been observed to manifest a tendency to become sickly and
to be infested with a sort of honey dew insect, at about the period
of its growth when the tuft appears, but though these vermin
swarm in numbers sufficient, seemingly, to devour the plant, they
soon disappear, leaving no visible mark of injury. Many who
have grown both Chinese and African cane accord their preference
to the latter. Among the most distinguished of these, are ex-
Governor Hammond (now Senator,) from South Carolina, and
Brutus J. Clay, Esq., the president of the Kentucky State Agri-
cultural Society. S. Francis, Esq., the editor of the Illinois Far-
mer, has shown me an interesting letter from a farmer in Taze-
well county, in that State, who has successfully granulated sugar
from eight varieties of the Imphees out of nine, which he had
planted, and who expressed himself in a very sanguine manner as
to the probability that the Imphee will supercede the Sorgho in
Illinois. From the drawings which I append, the photographical
difference in the distinctive features of the plant will be readily
observed — the Imphee being thicker than the Sorgho at the base,
and hence more capable of withstanding the effects of winds and
beating storms prevalent in prairie States.

The Chinese or Sor-
ghum is too well known
to require here a detail-
ed description. It ap-
pears to be one of the
most hardy plants
known to our agricul-
turists, and I am of the
opinion that facts justi-
fy, at least, the hope of
its successful reproduc-
tion from the planting
of the joint, when due
care has been exer-
cised in its preservation
through the winter.
Yery good crops have,
in many instances,
been raised from seed
which had been acci-r~ ~
:„r- dentally dropped upon;

s o e a h o .

IMPHE E .

520

the ground in the fall, and lay exposed the winter following, ger-
minating and growing vigorously in the spring. I have reason to
believe that the seed may be sown with oats in the spring, and
after the cutting of that crop yield a most excellent green-soil or
fall feed.

In the cultivation of both these canes, dry warm land, with
southern exposure seems best adapted to rapid and thorough de-
velopment. It is unquestionable that a calcareous soil is the best
which can be selected, the alkaline properties of the ground having
chemically a direct action favorable to the production of sugar, and
tending to prevent or destroy the acidity which is so antagonistic
to chrystalization. Drilling in the seed is very highly recommend-
ed by a large portion of my correspondents, and many favor ridg-
ing the rows, which I heartily commend, as it serves to prevent
wet feet which the cane suffers from and has to pay for in juice of
feebler saccharine development. It may be well to bear in
mind that the production of huge canes is not by any means a de-
sideratum, as their green stalks are frequently much less sweet than
smaller ones. Heavy wet soils favor the growth of wood, fibre
and a large amount of aqueous juice, lacking in saccharine, while
good, warm dry soils afford less of the former as well as a decreas-
ing quantity of the latter, far richer, however, in quality.

Those who will take the trouble, may plant early in hot beds,
and transplant about the middle of June into rich mellow ground,
thereby securing a corresponding acceleration of maturity in the
fall, and an avoidance of weeding the tender plant when it first
makes its appearance in ordinary field planting.

Missing hills may be supplied from adjacent ones, by transplant-
ing better than by re-seeding. The testing of the germinating pro-
perties of a small portion of your seed, in damp cotton, some time
prior to the general sowing season, may help to discover, in time,
whether they have that which is good or not. Like all other
crops, the sugar cane repays judicious and liberal cultivation, but
I do not advise the stirring of the ground late in the season, as
such action appears to stimulate the growing energies of the plant,
when there seems rather a natural necessity for discontinuance of
action in that direction, in order that the forces of the plant may
be directed to the maturity of the seed and the development of
saccharine in its juice. The bulk of testimony favors, in my
opinion, the non-removal of the tiller or suckers from the growing
plants. My observation leads me to advise the removal or strip-
ping of the leaves a week or more prior to the time of cutting or
working the cane, as soon as the seed is fairly in the milk. If the
leaves are to be saved for forage, the hand is about as convenient
as anything to effect this, otherwise, a stick, like a small walking
stick ; care, however, is requisite not to break or bruise the stalk,
as souring will result therefrom. The upper end being bare, being
less early of maturity than that below, it will not be found ad-
visable to use beyond three-fourths of the lower portion of the

521

cane, where the design is to produce syrup, and even less for su-
gar. The Louisiana or India cane requires great discretion on this
head to avoid injury to the granulation of the crops. An oblique,
downward stroke, in cutting, favors the feeding of the stalk to the
small horse power mills, most generally in use. Several intelli-
gent parties, with whom I have communicated, state that slight
frosts are no injury to the cane ; but others, whose opinions ac-
cord with my own, believe otherwise, and advise that, when prac-
ticable, the cane be cut before frosts, and either shocked or shel-
tered, where it may stand some weeks uninjured, or never be ex-
posed to considerable cold, without material injury, and, if I am
correctly informed, growing constantly sweeter.

Few, probably, will need reminding that the ends should be
kept out of the dirt, in handling, after cutting.

It is a conceded point, we believe, that rapid boiling is absolute-
ly essential to success, either in making sugar or good syrup.
Boilers best suited to evaporation are those which have a consider-
able extent of lire surface and which do not admit the fire too high
around the sides or edges. These should, if shallow, have either
curbs or flaring rims, where the expansion into foam and bubble,
which accompanies rapid ebullition, may exhaust itself. A few
inches of syrup are sufficient to have in the kettle at any time.
This allows the steam generated in the bottom of the mass of
liquid to freely escape without being smothered or recondensed in
passing through the latter, to float away as vapor in the atmos-
phere. When this rapid conversion of the aqueous portions of the
juice into vapor takes place, without interruption, called by sugar
makers throwing up, I believe, it is said that the grassy taste and
unpleasant odor, olten complained of, are either removed or great-
ly lessened.

The use of evaporators, made of sheet metal bottoms and ends,
with wooden sides, has been much discussed and commended by
many; experiment, however, proves that, except in cheapness,
they cannot in any wise compete with cast iron. I have before
me an interesting report of a comparison of these pans with those
of cast iron, from Mr. Jacob Clark, of Locust Corner, Clermont
county, in this State (Ohio,) which states that evaporation pro-
ceeds more uniformly and continuously in the cast boiler and
yields a fairer result in quality. The reasons adduced by Mr.
C. are, that sheet metal, from being thinner and consequent in-
bility to retain heat, allows the boiling to cease every time the
fire subsides in the furnace, or whenever the fire doors are open-
ed, added to which is incurred liability to scorch in striking the
batch of syrup or sugar.

A series of experiments, made by me, with covered kettles, did
not convince me of its advantage over open ones, in any respect,
and the disadvantages, in the way of skimming, are considerable.

A new boiler, constructed with flues, by which the amount of fire
surface is very greatly increased, has been lately made and tested by
—59

522 .

me, and the result was so interesting that I cannot forbear giving
here a report of it. I placed 45 gallons of juice, marking 10 degrees
B., in my boiler, which, in 30 minutes, was brought to a boil, after
which, in one hour, I inspissated it to Hi gallons, making 34 deg.
B., hot, and consuming 310 lbs. of wood. My furnace was new
and wet, which, doubtless, extended the time necessary to boil the
juice, as was proven by my record trial. On the latter occasion I
placed 72s gallons of juice, marking 5 deg. B., in the kettle, which
boiled in 20 minutes, and was reduced to 15 gallons,- at 34 deg. B., in
one hour and fifty minutes after commencing to boil, and con-
sumed 315 lbs. of wood. The latter batch had the advantage of a
hot furnace to commence with.

On another occasion I made a trial, less satisfactory, perhaps,
in rapidity of inspissating the juice, but interesting, nevertheless,
in furnishing some data of a practical nature, which is given below.

I divided 74 gallons, at 10 deg. B., placing a portion in the ket-
tle and the balance in the tank, convenient to draw from into the
kettle, and, as soon as boiling commenced in the latter, I per-
mitted a stream to flow in from the tank. In 34 hours I had re-
duced this to 12 gallons of very pleasant syrup, marking 40 deg.
B., cold. I believe that syrup of this consistency will keep through
hot weather, without fomenting.

I was aided on the above occasion by one man, who, with one
horse, and a one horse mill, expressed 50 gallons of juice per hour,
averaging 10 stalks or canes in the mill, which were pressed quite
dry. A boiler of double the capacity of that used by me would
have enabled me to have kept pace with the mill and have allowed
ample time to keep up my own fire, thus yielding, as the product
of the labor of two men and one horse, eight gallons of syrup per
hour, with the average consumption of fuel of three-fourths of a
cord of wood in 12 hours. By the preceding it appears, allowing
one dollar each for men, fifty cents for horse, two dollars for wood,
and fifty cents for use of mill and boiler, you will have five dollars
as the cost of manufacturing in ten hours 80 gallons of syrup, or
six and one fourth cents per gallon. This calculation admits that
day wages be paid to the producer himself; omitting which, we
reduce the estimate to 4|- cents per gallon, exclusive of producing
the cane, for which $15 per acre is a liberal allowance, or say 5
cents per gallon, with juice marking 10 deg. B. I believe these
figures can and will be realized, especially when the fact is consid-
ered that my boiling was rot conducted under as favorable auspi-
ces, nor with as happy results, as in the experiment previously al-
luded to with the flue boiler. I omitted, in the proper place, to
state the advantages gained by having the boiler arranged with a
draw-off valve, by which the "strike" can be accomplished in less
than a minute's time. This lessens labor vastly and decreases the
danger of scorching while that operation is proceeding. A wide
fire place, with corresponding doors, are desirable, as they permit
the temporary smothering of the fire with green begasse at that

523

juncture when the "striking" is commenced. Juice measuring 10
deg. B., has not been generally obtained, though where the cane
was produced in favorable localities and matured perfectly, has, 1
believe, usually attained these figures, and has, in some instances,
considerably exceeded them. I do not deem 10 as an extravagant
calculation, therefore, for a general standard.

The clarification or cleaning of the juice at an early stage of the
boiling, or as a preliminary to that process, has not, I think, been
too strongly insisted on, though some of the modes for its accom-
plishment appear more ingenious than necessary. The use of any
considerable quantity of lime is certainly not requisite, and tends
to blacken the syrup, as do all alkalies. They are believed, how-
ever, to be preservative, removing liability to fermentation and
neutralizing the acids which, when largely prevalent, impedes
crystalization. As in treating the juice of the Southern or India
cane, liberal skimming is not only a virtue but a necessity, and
should not be discontinued until the batch approaches completion,
or, in fact, until the feculent matter has been removed entirely.

Much speculation has been indulged in as to the cause and pre-
vention of a peculiar scorched or slightly bitter taste, often preva-
lent in the syrup, when there was good reason to suppose that it
could not have been burned in cooking or concentrating. The
opinion has obtained entertainment recently that this is the result
of a gluey or gummy feculency peculiar to the juice, which, as the
heat is raised and the lighter portions are floated to the top, is
precipitated upon the sides and bottom of the evaporator and there
actually scorched, and, at a subsequent period of the boiling pro-
cess, incorporated in the general mass, either in a state of solution
or otherwise. My own investigations do not dispel my uncertain-
ty on this point ; but a correspondent, in whose opinion I have
much confidence, asserts that stirring the juice constantly until the
heat is raised to or beyond 160 deg. Fah. will prevent this precip-
itation. 1 beg to call the attention of practical operators to the
matter, as worthy their most earnest consideration, another season.

Notwithstanding the unexpected length of this report, I cannot
forbear to consider the application of steam to the expressing and
evaporation of cane juice. This agent has only been tested with
the Sorghum, to a limited extent, during the year just closed, but
enough to prove that it serves as well with this as with the South-
ern cane. I think that the expense of an outfit for working off a
crop by steam will hardly be justified, except in cases where it is
contemplated to refine, or use the machinery for running a saw or
grist mill, or for other work, during the vacations of the cane sea-
son. Steam boilers, with coil pipe covering the bottom and with
wide flaring rims, like the hatter's kettle, and with a draw off valve
at the bottom, to facilitate the "strike," seem to combine more ad-
vantage for evaporating than any other arrangement I have ex-
amined.

The vacuum pan is most esteemed in sugar making, but is only

524

need when tlie juice has been concentrated to or beyond 25 deg,
B., and when the clarification is complete.

The process of refining is by no means an elaborate or at least
intricate one. In the first place a supply of granulated animal
(bone) charcoal is requisite. In the preparation of this large solid
bones are preferred, which are placed in closed retorts and burned
or heated by fire admitted from a suitable furnace around the re-
torts, until nothing but the pure coal or carbon remains. This is
then removed and the coal broken or ground coarsely in a corn
crusher or other mill of some sort. That which passes a No. 4
sieve is esteemed by refiners as sufficiently coarse. That which is
not fine enough for passage through such a sieve is to be again
ground and all of the remainder which passes a No. 10 sieve is
considered too fine and is to be rejected for this use. This granu-
lated or coarse coal is placed in wooden tubs, frequently six or
eight feet deep, with faucets at their lower ends, which may be
opened or closed at pleasure. A thick blanket or piece of carpet-
ing covers the bottom of the tub underneath the coal, to act as a
strainer. The syrup is now emptied into a tub or tank, called a
" blow up," in the bottom of which is a wrought metal pipe, per-
forated at intervals with small holes, admitting the steam directly
into the syrup when let on from the boiler. This raises the tem-
perature to the boiling point, in due time, but as considerable of it
condenses meanwhile, the syrup is reduced to 25 or 28 deg. B., by
this condensation, and a thick scum is generally thrown up, which
is to be carefully removed. If now drawn off" and allowed to stand
two or three hours, a considerable amount of sediment will be pre-
cipitated. It is then ready for the coal, upon which a stream about
the size of a pipe stem is allowed to run, the faucet at the bottom
of the coal filter being closed, until the filter tub is full. This
should stand about ten hours thus, when the faucet below may be
opened, and a small stream allowed to run out, and again the sup-
ply of syrup above be permitted to run in once more, in the same
slow manner as before. This liquid is next to be reboiled to about
32 deg. B., while hot, if for syrup, and then drawn into a cooler,
and stirred with a sort of plunger until cooled down to about 150
deg. Fah.; otherwise there is danger of scorching itself in the cooler ',
from its own heat confined within the mass by the cooling at the
top crust or scum. This should not be lost sight of by any person
who attempts syrup or sugar making. Before taking leave of the
subject, it may be well to add that the syrup is followed through
the filter with hot water, admitted in some careful manner, and
when the stream issuing from below has too little saccharine for
profitable concentrating, the balance, so long as any sweet at all
remains in it, is used in the " blow up." The coal is now removed
from the filter tubs and returned, a few inches from the top, being
previously washed in hot water thoroughly. The coal retorts are
usually tapering iron pipes, set in a brick chamber, into which
the fire is admitted. The setting of these pipes is best accom-

525

plished in such a manner that their tops and bottom may be ap-
proached while the fire is going on inside the furnace and around
their sides. When the coal is sufficiently burned remove the bot-
tom of the retorts, and let the contents fall out. After closing the
bottom again, fill up anew from the top and close and burn again
without disturbing the fire. About ten per cent loss is experi-
enced in the reburning, if I have been correctly informed.

It should be borne in mind that good plantation molasses is re-
quisite tor making good golden or refined syrup. I have the hon-
or to submit herewith three samples of syrup made by E. S. Ricker
Esq., of Clermont county, Ohio. First, made last year (1857,)
and refined. Second, made in 1858, and also refined. Third,
made in 1858, and not refined. It will be perceived, by the first,
that no deterioration takes place from age ; it yet retaining its
mellow and agreeable taste. The two latter show the very marked
improvement in manufacture of '58 over '57, as well as the im-
provement by refining. I also accompany these with a sample
boiled to a crystalizable consistency, which I have taken from the
refinery, without affording time for thorough crystalization. Mr.
R. has enough of this, as he assures me, for 1000 pounds of sugar.
I beg to point your particular attention to the specimens of the
manufacture of '58 refined, as it is a fair sample of a crop, consist-
ing of 22 barrels made by Mr. E. S. Ricker and boiled in open
cast iron pans, which entire lot was lately sold in this city by Mr.
R. at sixty cents per gallon the round lot. The sample and sale at
those figures demonstrate, it seems to me, very clearly, that good
syrup may he made from Northern grown cane, and when well
made it can compete on equal terms with Southern or Cuban syrup
in our markets.

I also lay before you three samples of spirits. No. 1, is pure
Sorgho brandy, 14 months old, distilled by Messrs. Ingraham &
Son of this city. The process consisted in first fermenting the
juice and then running twice in copper stills. No. 2, is the same
mixed with an equal quantity of Catawba brandy. No. 3, is pure,
Catawba brandy. It will be observed that the mixture is no less
delicate and pleasing, so far as aroma and delicacy of flavor are
concerned, than the pure Catawba. It is the opinion of wine mer-
chants here that the Sorgho rum or brandy will prove of much
value for admixture with other liquors. I was induced to make
this comparison by observing a paragraph in Mons. Hue's very
excellent work, " travels in Tartary, Thibet and China;" on page
97. In speaking of the productions of Eastern Tartary or Man-
chooria, (a province extending from about 41 deg. to 52 or 53 deg.
N. lat,,) he observes, "they have also abundant harvests of Mil-
let of Rao-Leang or Indian corn, (Holcus Sorghum,) from which
they distill excellent brandy."

Some rather imperfect experiments I have made satisfy me that
a palatable beverage may be made in the following manner : Ex-
press the cane juice prior to frosts, and reduce with water to about

526

5 cleg. B. To 5 gallons of this add one pint of the juice of either
currants, goose or cranberries, or even of the common rhubarb
plant, and half pint of yeast. Set this in a room warmed to sum-
mer heat, uncovered, until well fermented, then pour it off careful-
ly from the lees or sediment. Suspend in the centre of the vessel
containing this, a bunch of isinglass, until the remaining sediment
is fully precipitated, then again decant the bottle. Lay away in a
cool cellar six or eight months and you have passable wine.

In conclusion, I deduce the following summary :

1st. A crop of cane, the juice of which shall mark 10 deg. B.,
may be relied on generally from good dry soils, either upland or
bottom ; but heavy rank and wet grounds are not favorable to sac-
charine development.

2nd. Both quantity and quality justify the continued culture of
the cane in latitude even as high as 45 deg., if not 50 deg.

3d. There should be system in the management throughout,,
and the greatest possible simplicity of machinery consistent with,
efficiency.

4th, Get everything ready as early in the season as possible,
then prosecute your work vigorously to completion, whenever you
have made a commencement.

5th. Sugar boiling is a trade and experience your best teacher ;
study carefully the experiments of others, and exercise your judg-
ment.

6th. Thin syrup is liable to ferment, which is not the case with
thick.

7th. Alkalies are preservative, but do not possess great advan-
tage in clarifying.

8th. Frosts, succeeded by warm weather, prove injurious to
the cane. Precaution would therefore suggest that it be previous-
ly cut.

9th. Rapid boiling and thorough clarification are cardinal ir-
tues.

10th. The immature upper portion of the stem are best reject-
ed, and only the lower part should be made use of.

11th. Stir the syrup in the cooler after having made your
"strike."

12th. Acquire sufficient skill to produce superior syrup and su-
gar will make itself*

ON THE CULTURE OF RICE IN ILLINOIS.

By John Russell, of Bluffdale, Greene County, Illinois.

There is no single product of the soil that sustains so much of
human life as rice. It forms wholly or in part the food of more than
two-thirds of the human race, for it is made the staple article of
sustenance in the densely populated regions of the eastern hemi-
sphere, included within the tropics, and the southern portion of
the temperate zone. In China, with its three hundred millions of
inhabitants, if in any j}rovince ot the empire the rice crop is mate-
rially injured by inundation or by long continued drought, a famine
in that district ensues, and thousands perish.

Eice is somewhat extensively cultivated in Europe, especially on
the islands of the Mediterranean and in the countries that border
upon its shores. It was early introduced from Madagascar into
the West Indies, and from thence into the United States, where it
has long formed a respectable item in the exports of our country.

It will readily be conceded that a cereal so widely cultivated,
and which performs so important a part in giving food to man,
must, undeniably, possess properties that eminently recommend it
to so general use.

In the first place, rice forms one of the most healthful diets
known. It contains a much larger amount of nutriment in a given
quantity than any other cereal. A handful of rice, which needs
no preparation but simply that of boiling, affords the Hindoo
and the Chinese a sufficiency of wholesome food for twenty-four
hours. Another property, hardly less important, is that the plant
is so easily raised, adapting itself to a great diversity of soil, and,
like Indian corn, to a wide range of climate.

In the Carolinas, and other southern States, where rice is grown
for exportation, it is usually cultivated in low swamps, bordering
upon a river or a lagoon, where a dike is constructed, at a heavy
expense, with sluice-ways, to enable the planter, at certain seasons,
to lay the surface of his rice fields under water. Hence, many
who have little or no acquaintance with the culture, beyond that
single fact, have drawn the conclusion that it can be raised only in

528

swamps which admit of irrigation. This is an error. There are
numerous varieties of rice, many of which yield a bountiful crop on
the uplands. The Chinese, to whom every foot of land is valuable,
raise it on the terraces built along the sides of the mountains.
Father Martin, a Jesuit missionary, who labored for a long series of
years in one of the most southern provinces of Hindostan, informs
us* that in his district more than thirty different varieties are cul-
tivated by the natives. He speaks of one kind that requires nine
months from the time of planting to mature for harvesting;
another seven months; another five, and one that requires but
three. This was in a region far inland, lying nearly central be-
tween the Ghauts and the coast of Coromandel — a thirsty country,
where the inhabitants, during the greater portion of the year, have
no water, for agricultural or any other purposes, except that which
is collected during the short "season ol rains," in artificial reser-
voirs. And yet, the country was densely populated. Among all
classes rice was the most prominent, and, with the poor, almost the
sole article of food, for no other production is capable of sustaining
so many inhabitants to the square mile.

This account, given by Father Martin, is cited to prove that even
in India there is raised a variety of rice that would find abundant
time to reach maturity in the most northern county of Illinois.
The impression that our climate is too cold for the culture of rice,
is disproved by the fact that it has been raised by many farmers,
in the southern counties of this State, in quantities sufficient for the
use of their families, almost from the first settlement of that section.
In the census of 1840, rice was included among the agricultural
productions of Illinois. "We find, by the census of 1850, that a
considerable quantity was raised in Buchanan county, Missouri,
which is in the same latitude as Sangamon county, Illinois.

A small patch was successfully cultivated, the present year, by
a friend of mine, in Bluffdale. The seed was obtained from D. B.
Tuthill, Esq., of Walridge, Pulaski county, a gentleman whose en-
terprise and moral worth do honor to our State. No more seed
was procured than was contained in a letter of an ounce weight ;
for it was the object of my friend merely to test its successful growth
in this county, the present year, and raise seed for the next. The
letter containing the rice failed to reach him till about two weeks
later than it should have been planted, yet it ripened in good sea-
son, and yielded abundantly. I saw it frequently, in every stage
of its growth, and can attest that the experiment was decidedly
successfully.

With proper attention, any farmer in Illinois can raise enough
for the use of his own family, and that, too, with a trifling amount
of labor. Like every other plant of the Natural Order of Graminse,
rice has a strong propensity to adapt itself to the climate where it
is attempted to be raised. It is probable that in the most northern

*" Lettres Edifiautus et Curieases." Tome VII.

529

counties of this State but a small proportion of the first year's
planting would fully ripen, if the seed came from a latitute far
south. But by planting that which matured, it would adapt itself
to the season. Every farmer is familiar with the fact that Indian
corn, of whatever variety, soon becomes acclimated. The small
dwarf corn, raised in the most northerly regions of the Canadas,
in three years attains, at the south, the height of the ordinary corn
of that region, and requires as long a season to arrive at maturity.
As much corn to the acre, on an average, is raised in North Amer-
ica, in the latitude of Quebec, as at the equator. At the north,
nature economizes the short season allowed her, by expending as
little as possible of her energies upon a useless redundancy of stalk,
but devotes them to perfecting the grain. The same law is mani-
fest in the production of rice. As we advance toward a higher
latitude, the height of the culm diminishes without sensibly de-
creasing the yield of grain. There is a limit beyond which rice,
like all other vegetable productions, cannot be successfully grown;
yet, it is believed that if due attention is paid, that limit will not
be found in Illinois. A little more than a century ago, when a
Frenchman brought to Louisiana, from St. Domingo, a few cuttings
of the sugar cane, and planted them in his garden, over which the
commercial street of Tchapitoulas, New Orleans, now runs, it was
regarded as a vegetable curiosity, without the slightest anticipation
that a day would or ever could arrive when the cane of the tropics
would be naturalized in Louisiana, and sugar become the great
staple production of that region. This plant, for many years, has
gradually, by the law of acclimation, been extending its culture
farther and farther north, and it is difficult to say at what point
nature would have pronounced her fiat: " Thus far shalt thou go,
and no farther," had not the sorgho mere stepped into the arena
and presented our farmers with a valuable substitute.

It is not pretended that even upland rice does not require a good
share of moisture. This is also true of all plants of the same na-
tural order. Hardly a summer passes in Illinois in which there
are not times when, from the long absence of rain, the corn crop
would be sensibly benefited by artificial irrigation. The saying
that "rice is fond of wet feet" is applicable, in a greater or less
degree, to every variety of the plant. But, no farm in this State
can be so destitute of water that a few square rods of rice cannot,
with a trifling amount of labor, be irrigated, when irrigation is
needful.

The quantity of seed required is comparatively small, for numer-
ous stalks spread out from a single grain, and it should be planted
in drills, at a sufficient distance from each other, to permit the use
of a hoe.

The average yield to the acre, in the United States, ascertained
by actual inquiry, in taking the last census, is much greater than
the average yield of wheat. From the sixteenth of an acre, if cul-
tivated with the care that may easily be bestowed upon so small a

[ 1014 ] 530

piece of ground, it is believed that from fifty to eighty pounds of
rough rice can safely be expected. This computation is a very
moderate one, and below the average yield. It should be planted
as early in the spring as the season will admit of sowing tobacco
seed, which, in this State, is usually in March, or early in April.

It may be offered, as an objection to its cultivation, that rice, like
barley, is covered with a hard glume or hull, of which it must be
divested before it can be used for human food, and that the ma-
chine by which the large rice planters perform the operation of
hulling is costly. The rice mill has, indeed, done for that crop
what Whitney's invention has done for that of cotton.- In 1840,
there were eighty million pounds of rice raised in the United
States. In 1850, only ten years later, that crop had risen to two
hundred and fifteen millions of pounds. At the latter date, there
were no less than one hundred and seventy-five thousand acres
cultivated, and five hundred and fifty-one planters, who raised each
twenty thousand pounds or upwards. But, long before the rice
mill was invented, rice was raised in the United States for expor-
tation. It was cleaned of the glume by pounding it, by hand, in
large, wooden mortars, similar to those which our early settlers
employed to beat their corn into hominy. No one can have trav-
eled extensively in our southern and southwestern States without
having frequently noticed particles of rice cultivated solely for the
use of the family. It is raised for the same purpose in not a few
of the counties of Kentucky. It is believed that among these small
cultivators less than one in a hundred have their rice hulled other-
wise than by the wooden mortar. That primitive mode has been,
from time immemorial, and still is, used in all the rice growing
regions of the east. For a small crop the mortar is amply suffi-
cient. We should vote the owner of one of our immense wheat
fields decidedly behind the age who should attempt to harvest his
crop with a sickle instead of a reaper. But if his field consisted
only of half an acre, we should think the sickle or the cradle by
far the most convenient instrument.

Probably, the method by which, according to Father Bourzes,
rice in India is divested of its hull, might be adopted here with
great advantage. The rough rice, before pounding, is thrown into
water moderately hot, and suffered to remain there for a few min-
utes, when it is taken out and dried in the sun. It is then freed
from the glume with a very little pounding, and leaves the grains
of rice, he says, far less broken than in Europe, where this process
of macerating it, previous to pounding, is not practiced.

Some will ask — cut bono — what is the use of "being at the trou-
ble" of raising rice, when we have in Illinois, wheat, corn and
other products in abundance for food? If, to avoid effort, mental
and physical, is the great desideratum of life, the questioner stops
far too short. He should extend his inquiry and ask, why it would
not be better for us, like the roving Tartar, to live upon horse flesh
and mare's milk % Horses can be raised with as little labor on the

531

vast plains of the far west as on the steppes of Tartary. Why
not, like him, when we need a new suit of clothes, call in the aid
of a tailor that works in horse hide, who, in a few minutes, would
fit to the whole person a single garment, freshly taken from the
back of a three year old colt? Such a suit could be obtained with
very little "trouble," would last for years, do away with the labor
now required of us to earn broadcloth and linen and save our fam.
ilies the trouble of making soap.

The subject of food is intimately connected with that of civiliza-
tion and the onward progress of the human race. The famine in
Ireland, caused by the continued disease of the potato, has proved
a rich blessing to that country. Since the Irish peasant could no
longer be fed upon a single and coarse article of food, both he and
Ireland herself have made greater progress than they did in the
whole century preceding.

In the annual address, delivered at the fair of the State Agricul-
tural Society, in 1855, the orator of the day, with the hand of a
master, drew a picture of early times in the west, when many a
farmer was content to cultivate but ten acres, raising upon that
single field, year after year, an ill-tended crop of corn. The food
of his family consisted of two articles only — "hacon and corn-
dodgers."

That race, at least in Illinois, has long since passed away. But
should a specimen of that breathing fossil yet linger upon this side
of the Styx, you will find him opposed to any improvement in the
fodder of his household. He firmly believes that Railroads, Agri-
cultural Societies and Free Schools are ruining our Sucker State,
every acre of which has already been trebled in value by those
institutions.

DOMESTIC FOWLS— THEIR REARING AND MANAGEMENT.

By C. N. Bement, of Poughkeepsie, New York.

It is an old and trite axiom that, " the thing worth doing at all,
is worth doing well" and this may well be applied to the keeping
of fowls and other small stock, which too often, if kept at all, are a
pest, nuisance and positive loss to the farmer, when they could, by
a little attention, be made a source of much pleasure, comfort and
profit. It is our object, in this little essay, to attempt to show how
this desirable object may be attained. The writer has had many
years personal experience in these matters, and has always con-
sidered that the comfort, both real and apparent, of a country resi-
dence, depends much upon the order, variety and taste displayed
around the dwelling, exhibiting an index to discover the character
of its inmates.

Most farmers think turkeys, ducks, geese and chickens are
things entirely beneath their notice ; but we are satisfied, from
long practice, it may, under proper management, be made as profit-
able, according to the amount of capital invested, as any other
branch of farming business. We have known the occupants of
beautiful farms obliged to send to a neighbor for a poultry dinner,
and to the store for all the eggs necessary in the culinary depart-
ment. Of this fact we have had sufficient proof in our visits,
where we have found a sufficiency of poultry could not be raised
for the use of the family, notwithstanding large numbers were
kept; but no attention was paid to their convenience or accommo-
dation. It is true, the poultry come more particularly to the care
of the good house wife; but the farmer should furnish means to
obtain the best sort, convenient sheds, or other places to keep them
in, and not too rigidly guard the corn crib. A few additional ears
of corn will pay compound interest, and the leisure hour in pro-
viding them comfort will be far from misspent.

But, though most farmers keep fowls and raise their own eggs,
there are many who have not learned the difference there is in
the richness and flavor of eggs produced by fat and well fed hens
and from those birds that have been half starved through our winters.

There will be some difference in size, but far more in the quality.
The yelk of one would be large, fine colored and of good consis-
tence, and the albumen or white clear and pure; while the con-
tents of the other will be watery and meagre, as though there were
not vitality or substance enough in the parent fowl to properly
carry out and complete the work which nature had sketched. In
order, therefore, to have good eggs, the fowls should be well ted,
and also provided, during the months they are unable to come to
the ground, with an abundance of lime, oyster shells and fine
gravel, that they may be able to grind and prepare their food for
digestion.

The way in which farmers in general, in this country, manage
their poultry, is not the best for them or the fowls. They are al-
lowed to go where they please, to lay and sit at any time they may
deem expedient; when the hen comes off with her chickens, she is
suffered to ramble about, exposing the young brood to cold and wet,
which thins them off rapidly ; no suitable accommodations are
provided for their roosting places, and they are allowed to find a
place to roost where they can, probably in some exposed situation
in a tree or out-house ; no attention is given to feeding them ; and,
under such circumstances, it is not to be wondered at that few or
no eggs are produced, that few or no chickens are raised, or that
fowls are sickly or unprofitable.

When, with so little expense to himself, a farmer may have an
abundant supply of eggs, and raise one or two hundred chickens,
it would seem strange that the poultry business should be so little
attended to by the owners of the soil. Where crops are sown im-
mediately around barns, it may be inconvenient to have fowls run
at large, but in many cases fifty to one hundred of these birds may
be kept, not only without injury, but with benefit. There are
generally large quantities of grain scattered in the barn yards and
lost unless eaten by fowls ; there are myriads of insects, such as
flies, bugs, worms, grasshoppers, &c, which require to have their
numbers diminished by the cock and his followers.

If the fowls be suffered to roost out in the tree tops, winter and
summer, and made to scratch for a living the best way they can,
it could scarcely be expected they should prove thrifty and profit-
able. Vermin and inclement weather would blight expectations ;
neither are all locations favorable to raising poultry ; there are
many situations where turkeys cannot be raised at all, and other
lands of a heavy, wet nature where chickens will not thrive.

When fowls are confined to a narrow space it requires much
pains to supply them with all kinds of food which they collect
when running at large, and without care to supply their wants
they will not be profitable. When running as they please, they
devour many grubs, eat gravel and various kinds of insects, and
many other things which we cannot discriminate, though we look
on while they select their food.

To render poultry profitable it is essential that great care and

534

circumspection be exercised, not only in the selection of valuable
breeds, but in feeding and rearing the young. If remiss in these
points, no profit will result from the enterprise — as a general thing
he will, to adopt an old adage, " Have his labor for his pains."

There is a vast difference in fowls, and while some are hardy
and profitable, others are weakly, and scarcely pay their way un-
der the most favorable circumstances, and the best management
possible to bestow. It is always a judicious plan for the farmer to
keep a number of fowls of some kind on his premises, as there is
always enough waste or refuse grain to feed them ; and beside,
they are serviceable in protecting the crops, by destroying the nu-
merous insect depredators, which in the spring and summer months
prey so voraciously on the youthful and more tender plants.

When one is suitably located, the keeping all kinds of fowls —
hens, turkeys, geese and ducks — will be found profitable. It will
bring many dollars in the course of the year, and insure a con-
stant and liberal supply of eggs and poultry for domestic use.

In some countries poultry forms a very important branch of ru-
ral economy. In warm climates generally it is used abundantly
for food, being so readily prepared for the table, while large ani-
mals, unless immediately used, would become putrid and spoiled.
Roast and boiled chickens, eggs, pancakes, fritters, custards and
puddings are no despisable luxuries in a thriving family. Scarcely
a meal can be comfortably prepared without the use of eggs; even
bread is much improved by beating up a raw egg with the water
or milk with which it is mixed, and certainly it adds much to its
nutriment, as one egg is said to contain as much as one pound of
meat.

POULTRY HOUSE AND YARD.

Many persons commence house keeping, by getting a wife, and
then a house. But our advice is, " first procure the cage, then the
bird." Previous, therefore, to getting a stock of poultry, provide
for them a house. This will be found a most necessary arrange-
ment, as on many occasions it is highly necessary they should be
confined, as at planting time, or at some other periods when they are
particularly destructive ; close confinement in a room or shed
would soon make them sick and interrupt their laying, but a house
and yard, on the plan we are about to describe, would answer every
convenience and be found often very advantageous in securing the
eggs of such fowls as had contracted a habit of laying away from
the house and boxes and endanger the loss of eggs.

If it is desired to confine fowls to a yard for all or a portion of
the- time, it will be indispensable to their health and productive-
ness to provide for them suitable accommodations. These need
not be expensive, but the fixtures should be efficient and complete,
so as to secure the safety of the fowls. The houses and yards,
therefore, must be constructed according to the purposes of the
proprietor.

535

■ As. to fowl houses and other circumstances, minute directions
are almost impertinent. The three grand requisites are cleanli-
ness, dryness and warmth. Those who wish for anything on a
large scale will find plenty of plans and descriptions in the "Ameri-
can Poulterer's Companion," so that if they choose they may
lay out as much money in a hen house as would build a comfort-
able cottage. But some people have little choice in the matter —
they must take or adapt such conveniences as they find around
them. The fowls themselves are not very fastidious ; but one may
be sure that the more we attend to the comforts of our domestic
animals the more they will reward our trouble.

Whatever number of fowls may have been selected for keeping,
provision must be made for their comfort and safety. Those kept
on farms, lead, in many respects, a happy life. They have good
and plenty of room, and generally with no lack of food. They
wander about the farm yard, the orchard and the lawn, visit the
adjoining fields, travel over the pasture, through: the lanes, troop
about the barn, and enjoy total freedom. To the advantage of
pure air they usually have that of pure water, and the opportunity
of varying their diet, by picking up insects and their larvse ; and
a store of pebbles, gravel, old morter, and other other calcareous
matter, which they require, is always at their command. So far
they lead a comfortable, apparently happy and natural life ; but
how are they housed at night? In many instances, in a proper
and well built poultry house, with perches judiciously arranged,
and with boxes lined with straw, for the laying and sitting hens ;
but often in places utterly unfitted for them. For instance, nu-
merous flocks of flo wis will be lodged under the roof of some large,
open shed, above the cattle, wagons or carts, which receive abun-
dance of their droppings ; others take shelter in the barns, stables,
cider mills, pig pens, out-houses, on the waggon, cart, or any other
implements which may be stored there, while not a few may be
found roosting on the branches of some favorite tree. This want
of order cannot be too strongly condemned, as hens having no
proper laying places, select such situations as chance may offer them,
not unfrequently in obscure places of concealment, so that their
eggs are devoured by vermin or are lost. .This, to say the least,
is a slovenly mode of keeping fowls. It offers a temptation to
thieves, and the health of fowls cannot be improved by their be-
ing soaked all night long in a drenching rain, or having their feet
frozen to the branches. There is no difficulty in accustoming any
fowls to regular housing at night.

Those who wish to be successful with fowls, should have a distinct
building and yard, with a warm aspect, facing the south or east,
as the morning sun is congenial to them in cold weather. The
dryest and warmest soils are best adapted to the successful rearing
and breeding domestic fowls, especially chickens ; and to be at-
tended with the greatest success and least trouble, some expense

J 536

and great precaution will be required. Fowls endure severe cold
much better than moisture. To unite all the advantages desirable
in a poultry yard, it should be neither wet nor exposed to cold
winds. There should, if possible, be running water in the yard,
and under cover should be placed ashes and dry sand, where they
may indulge in their natural propensity of rolling and basking or
bathing themselves. Gravel, broken shells, crushed bone and old
lime morter should always be placed within their reach.

Having settled all preliminaries, we propose now to give the eleva-
tion and ground plan of a very cheap and pretty model of a poultry
house, which can be made to accommodate from twenty-live to one
hundred fowls :

POULTRY HOUSE.

The posts in front should be twelve feet high ; the back posts
four feet shorter. This will give a good pitch to the roof, and shed
rain readily. It may be of shingles, of boards, battened, or what is
still better, both for warmth and coolness, thatched with straw.
The sides and ends covered with boards running up and down,
and the joints covered with battens ; but the better plan is to use
inch and a quarter plank, tongued and grooved, which will secure
more warmth. It will be observed that the top of the front wall
inclines backward. This is for the purpose of imparting greater
heat, by obtaining more power from the rays of the sun in winter.
Deciduous trees should be placed in front, to protect it from the
scorching rays of the summer's sun. In the end is a door for en-
trance, and a small one for the egress and ingress of the fowls.
This door should be three feet from the ground, with steps outside
and inside for the fowls to pass up and down. If there is danger
of the fox, skunk, weasle or rats, remove the outside ladder, and
make a platform for the fowls to alight on, by hanging the door
with hinges at the bottom, and when let down for a platform, let
it rest on a bracket. There should be a small window with slat
blinds at each end, for ventilation. The internal arrangement is
S3 clearly exhibited in the annexed plans, that a description or ex-
planation is deemed unnecessary.

537

ROOSTING

ROOMS

FEEDING

ROOMS

k]e| s

t]s 1 n 1 e

s

T|.

16Fi

ISTests. — It is not essential to success that the nests should be on
the ground, though we always so construct them for the use of
some of our hens, in conformity with the general observation, that
hens when left to their own choice usually do so. But whether on
the ground or raised somewhat above it, they should be warm and
partially secluded.

The hen likes privacy, and if left to follow her own natural in-
stincts, will seek some shrubby thicket, tuft of grass or rank weeds,
if out of doors, or in the manger of a shed — in short, almost any-
where, if she can escape the gaze of man or animals. To humor
this propensity, we propose to lattice the front of the nest boxes,
with small strips of lath, which not only give them apparent se-
crecy, but admit air, so desirable in hot weather. Why we give
preference to latticed fronts to close boxes, is by reason of the con-
stant circulation of air going on through the interstices. This has
much more to do with the comfort of the hens, and the perspec-
tive of "counting the chickens before they are hatched," than
many people are aware of. In nine cases out of ten laying and
sitting boxes are too hot, close and dry. Draw a comparison, if you.
please, between them and a stolen, or if you will, more natural.
nest, in the open air. Which of the two are notorious for produr
cing a numerous family of healthy chickens ?

The style and form of the nest boxes must be determined by the
size and kind of fowls for which they are designed. If for large
Asiatic fowls, the boxes must be made low and easy of access, so ■
that the hens will not be obliged to fly up to get into them. The
boxes also should be shallow, so that the hens need not hop down
from the rim, as in that case they are liable to break the eggs. Some-
times nests are fixtures built against the wall, not unlike pigeon holes
on a large scale. The first or lower tier may be on the ground, and
each appartment should be eighteen inches square and two feet high, .
suitable for the larger sized variety of fowls. The next or second
tier may be twelve by thirteen inches, and eighteen inches high.
This tier, being six inches narrower, maybe set back six inches on
the lower one, by which a ledge is formed for the hens to alight
when seeking their nests. If more tiers are added, narrow shelves
may be placed in front of each box, with a ladder for ascending to ■
each tier. The opening should be zigzag, not over one another.
This form of nests will admit of being extended to any length or
nnmber of tiers required ; the top sloping at an angle of forty-five
—60

538

degrees to prevent the fowls roosting on it. There is, however,
one objection to these tier nests, which we have noticed in our ex-
perience. It is this : when a sitting hen has left her nest to pro-
cure her food, drink, etc., one of the laying hens would espy the
eggs, pop in and deposit her egg. In the meantime the hatching-
hen would return and discover her nest occupied, and finding it no
easy matter to eject the intruder — for possession, with hens, like
men, is considered nine points of law — would seek the first nest
she could find vacant and settle herself on them very contentedly.
The consequence was the other hen, after depositing her egg,
would leave the nest, and the eggs would cool and spoil. There
is another difficulty. If vermin should make their appearance, as
they often do while the hen is sitting, there is no sure way of
getting at them or cleaning the nests. To remedy this in regard
to the vermin, we would reccommend the nests to be made in the
form of shallow drawers in place of the boxes. These may be in-
serted into the spaces. By this arrangement, if the nests become
foul, and require cleansing, they are easily removed and freed from
those most annoying pests, hen-lice, when occasion requires.

Having disposed ot the house, both external and internal, we
will now proceed with the yard. The size of the yard may be
made to suit the fancy or convenience of the owner ; but, from our
experience, the larger the better, not less than one acre, well
covered with grass, to everj^ hundred fowls. Here is one great
cause of failure in rearing poultry in iuclosures. We have often
noticed on large farms small, seven by nine pens, without grass or
any green thing. Under such circumstances, it is no wonder their
fowls would sicken and die.

The yard should, if possible, be of a gravelly or sandy character,
and a little sloping, that it may be dry, as moisture is a most des-
tructive enemy of poultry. The yard should be well fenced ; close
on the north side ; also, for three feet all around, and four feet of
pickets, which will make it seven feet high. Sheds, to protect the
fowls from storms, should be erected against the north or west
fence, sloping back or outwardly. If there is a bank or side hill
on the north side of the lot, place the house there. To make it
warm in winter and cool in summer, excavate the bank sufficient
to cover the back wall, which should be of stone eighteen inches
thick and laid in mortar. If the bank be not very steep, the bot-
tom may be sunk three or four feet in front. The back wall may
be from nine to ten feet high, and the roof may pitch both ways,
or shed at the ends, presenting a gable end in front, which may be
of glass or not, to suit the notions of the proprietor. If the roof is
of shingles, let the spaces between the rafters be lined and filled in
with tan, saw dust, or fine charcoal; but a good thatched roof would
be preferable. The internal arrangement may be similar to the
one heretofore described.

.As we have a house, yard and accommodations prepared, we
will now attend to our breeding stock. Without allusion to any

539

particular variety, we will enter upon some general remarks in this
department. In choosing stock select young fowls, and, if possible,
from such as have been remarkable for good laying and thrift.
After one season you will be able to select eggs from your own
stock of such desirable qualities ; they may be attained by care and
time,, as well as any peculiarity of plumage you may fancy. Good
fowls may be of any color, but to have none but good and hand-
some ones will require time and attention in selecting ; and as
they are no more trouble or expense than inferior ones, they are
worth picking for. There are some fowls much more destructive
than others, always scratching and restless — we have often seen
and heard it remarked; those who understand these matters will
confirm it. ' Selecting is a matter of some importance, since the
quality of your poultry may be much improved by attention to this
subject

First will come their disposition for laying. Some may be found
to produce many more eggs in a given time than others. The best
step to attain this object is to raise pullets from hens conspicuous
for this quality, preferring those of the same shape and color as
the hens. For laying properties, the following are noted : Black
Spanish, Hamburg, black Poland, and all the family of Bantams.
But for all purposes, laying, quality of flesh, hardihood, and good
breeders, give me the common Dominique fowl, which may be
found in most all yards through the country. The figure below is
& fair representation of the cock:

Shape and Size. — There is much more in this than at first ap-
pears ; for good dressed fowls, killed and prepared for market,
will look like most other perfect things — better for seeing more of
them. And here the Dorking fowl stands pre-eminent. A long
necked, long legged, thin made fowl can scarcely be made fat, and
then will not look as wTell as the plump, square and full breasted

540

ones with short legs ; neither are they so"quiet and thrifty. They
do not sit so steady, but their long legs are active in the operation
of searching out potatos, fresh planted corn, and other seed — hab-
its seldom required or desirable.

Fattening. — Of all modes the best for obtaining flavor and nu-
triment is a run at large, with abundance oi food. On a large
farm there will be sufficient food to fatten a great number from
the waste and droppings of other stock of food that would other-
wise be lost; and hereby a little care may produce a handsome sum
in cash, and bountifully supply the house with eggs and chickens 5
and who does not like to see a variety of pretty fowls about a place,
enlivening the retirement, and, by their early summons, awaken-
ing the drowsy husbandman from his quiet rest to brush with dewy
steps the waving field? Who can stand unmoved and see these
active, lively creatures, as at the early dawn their doors unclose,
rushing headlong forth and gladly clapping their wings and her-
alding the approaching day to heaven's great concave ; then sip-
ping the pearly drops of early dew, look up to heaven, and seem
to say : " O man, remember thy Creator !"

Earn- door fowls are generally considered the best, and they usu-
ally are so ; for they not only live on the best food, but they have
the advantage of free fresh air and exercise ; and in harvest and
threshing time the great abundance makes them extremely fat.
The nearest approach to this manner of fattening will be the best.
The plan of cooping them up for a week or two for the purpose of
giving them extra food, does not improve them. Five or six weeks
is necessary to make them fat. The first week or two they pine
and lose flesh from the confinement.

Varieties. — The common barn-yard fowl is a native of the east
and warm climates. They are domesticated everywhere, and may
be found in great variety of color, shape, and size ; being a mix-
ture of many varieties, and generally raised without care or selec-
tion, there will consequently be many without value, either for
eggs or flesh, and no dependence can be placed on their produce,
even if good individuals are selected, as it will require a num-
ber of generations to insure full blood as to quality, size, color, etc.
To obviate many of these disadvantages, the economist will select
and carefully continue one or more of the following breeds ; still
continuing to select even from these the best individuals for breed-
ing stock.

Poland Fowl. — These, like the brave people from which they
derive their name, are every way commendable ; and we recom-
mend them and place them first in the "chicken fancy." Good
layers, very elegant in form, beautiful in plumage, poor and rare
sitters, chickens rather delicate — require warm housing — good for
the table. They are admirable layers. By many they are mostly
called "everlasting layers." Many will lay every day for eight
months, and sometimes every other day during the year, except in

541

moulting time; seldom showing any inclination to sit. Their eggs
are large, of a rich flavor, and with thin shells. They are a very
domestic, quiet fowl, neither quarrelsome or mischievous, and will
fat well, coming to a good size and weight. Their flesh is high
colored, but peculiarly rich flavored and juicy. They are hardy,
enduring well the extremes of cold and heat, although they are
not so thickly covered with feathers and down as some other kinds
are.

Spanish Fowls. — The true Spanish fowls are a valuable variety.
Their plumage is black, with bluish tints ; very large combs, with
white flesh or skin round the eyes ; dark legs, rather long, and long
bodies. They lay the largest of hen's eggs, and are very prolific ;
no sitters; chickens tolerably hardy, slow at feathering; good for
the table, as their flesh is white and delicate. Should be well kept.

Dorking Fowls. — This is a valuable and favorite variety, but the
true breed is rather scarce. It takes its name from a town in Sur-
ry, (England,) where the bird is supposed to have originated, and
where they still are reared in great perfection and plenty. This is
the sort usually made into capons. They are of good, rather large
size, long bodied, full breasted ; the flesh is good flavored, juicy,
and of a yellow or ivory shade ; somewhat delicate in constitution,
and seems to thrive best on warm soils ; eggs large and well fla-
vored, but not abundant ; fair mothers ; chickens not so easy to
rear, as some other breed ; splendid table fowl, large and plump in
body ; wants liberal keep and warm housing. They fat well ; are
handsome alive, and show delicate, white and advantageous when
plucked and dressed for market.

Game Fowl. — The game breed is rather small, of delicate and
genteel shape, elegant and compact in appearance, hardy in con-
stitution, excellent caterers for themselves, good layers of delicious
eggs ; excellent mothers and rearers of chickens. The flesh white,
and superior in richness and flavor to all others. Their eggs are
small, fine shaped, and delicate, with dark or yellowish shells.
But these are not fowls for the farm. They are extremely quar-
relsome— even the chickens will fight till they are stone blind, be-
fore they are fairly feathered. They lay very early in the season
and thus become useful as a cross with other varieties.

Bolton Grey or Silver Penciled Hamburg Fowl, is a nice,
plump, hardy bird, rather small in size, excellent layers, and of
fine plumage. They are generally esteemed first rate egg produ-
cers, poor sitters, of course poor mothers, but can hardly fail to be
a satisfactory and desirable every day fowl.

Cochin China Fowl. — Hardy, abundant and early layers of ex-
cellent eggs, of a dark cinnamon or a dark buff color, rather small
in proportion to the size of the fowl, large and plump in body, re-
quire liberal keep and warm housing. This will apply to the Chit-
lagongs, Brahmas, etc. Valuable to cross on the common fowls

542

of the country, giving them more size, and improving their laying
qualities.

Shanghae Fowl. — There is a great deal of difference in the
stock of this breed. Some are coarse, loose jointed, crane-like con-
cerns, with legs long enough to step over a pretty high fence.
These are a disgrace to the race. Some persons who have had
fowls of this description, have, after a short trial, discarded them,
and think justly there is a great deal of "humbug" in the "hue and
cry" about fancy poultry. Those who are procuring Shanghae
fowls to breed upon, should be sure to choose those that are short-
legged, free from feathers, if possible, and plump inform, from
stock that breeds uniform in size, shape and plumage.

The Asiatic fowls, in character, are quiet, peaceable, good lay-
ers, careful steady sitters,1 good mothers, and what is very impor-
tant, the chicks are hardy, easy to raise, and less liable to be af-
fected by disease than those of many other breeds, particularly the
Spanish, Polands, and Hamburgs.

Bantam Fowl. — The bantam is a splendidly beautiful variety.
They are of every color, some mottled with many colors, but the
most common are white. They are elegantly formed; flesh deli-
cate and a good substitute for young chickens when the latter can-
not be obtained. The common are feather-legged ; but the best
and most approved sort are clean-legged, very small, weighing
from twelve to sixteen ounces, yet producing an egg very near the
size of a common hen, very rich and fine flavored. They are
good sitters, good nurses, very tame and domestic, and will out-
lay all other varieties, the Hamburg perhaps alone excepted.
They eat but little, and will lay and thrive cooped up in any small
yard where there is a little sun and dry ashes. These are the
fowls for city and village yards and gardens.

Their appearance is very grotesque, the cock strutting with a
very upright and proud gait, and will attack not only the largest
of his species, but even a turkey cock. We have known these lit-
tle things prosper and lay all through the winter in a village cel-
lar; light of course being indispensable. They are least of all
destructive to a garden, and as we have before observed, will pro-
duce, for a given quantity of food, by far the greatest number of
eggs.

Hatching. — When the determination of the hen to sit becomes
fixed, there is no need to indulge the first faint indications imme-
diately. Let her have the nest she has selected well cleaned and
filled with fresh straw. The number of eggs to be given to her will
depend upon the season, and upon their and her own size. The
best plan is not to be too greedy. The number of chickens hatched
is often in an inverse proportion to the number of eggs set. We
have known only five chicks to be obtained from fifteen eggs.
Hens will in general cover from eleven to thirteen eggs of their own
production.

543

Three weeks is the period of incubation of the common hen.
Sometimes when she does not sit close for the first day or two, or
in early spring, it will be some hours longer ; more rarely in this
climate, where the hen is assiduous and the weather is hot, the
time will be a trifle shorter. But what are we to do with the
hatched chicks, is a natural question. Let them remain quiet with
their mother from twelve to twenty-four hours, to gain strength
from the warmth of the body of their mother. Then place them
with their mother in a roomy, boarded coop in a sheltered position
on a dry sunny spot, is the best position for them during the first
month. Keep them from cold and storms, which are death to
them. As to food, let them have dry crumbs of bread and a hard
boiled egg, chopped fine, for the first few days ; then coarse ground
corn, which we have found to agree well with them. Fine Indian
meal made into a paste and fed raw is not good for them. Many
chicks and young turkeys have suffered from the effects of that
kind of food ; but when boiled will not injure them. Sloppy mat-
ters are better avoided till the little things are old enough to eat a
few grains of barley or wheat, which they are enabled to do be-
fore it is usually suspected ; afterward they do no harm. Meat
and insect dirt are almost necessary. Eaw vegetables chopped
fine are grateful to them. But whatever be the bill of fare, the
meals must be given at short intervals — as much as they can swal-
low, and as often as they will eat.

The period at which they are left to shift for themselves de-
pends upon the disposition of the hen. Some will continue their
attention to their chicks till they are nearly full grown ; others
will cast them off much earlier. In the latter case, it may be as
well to keep an eye upon them for a few days, till they have es-
tablished themselves as independent members of the fowl commu-
nity ; for chickens in this half grown state are at the most critical
period of their lives. They are now much more liable to disease
than when they were apparently tender little weaklings crowded
under their mothers' wings. It is just before arriving at this point
of growth, that artificially hatched chickens are so sure to fail,
whatever be the substitute for the mother's care. Mere incuba-
tion has long ago been performed artificially with success in various
ways. The mere hatching deserves little credit, however inge-
niously it is done. Any one at any time of the year can effectual-
ly complete that process by means of a spirit lamp and a sand bath
in a warm room. But to rear them is the difficulty that has not
yet been surmounted in this country.

AGRICULTURE.— THE ANGLO-SAXON,

By Johh Davis, of Macon County, Illinois.

"When I pronounce the word Anglo-Saxon, I do not merely
mean the Yankee of New England or the Tuckahoe of Virginia —
not merely the dweller in the mighty west, either north or south
of the compromise line — but I go far away back, in imagination, and
include all those millions and many more, in various portions of
the earth, who have their origin in that hardy knot of sea-roving
Saxons that landed on the island of Britain, when that mother
country was a turbulent uncultivated waste, like our Utah. "When
I use the word Anglo-Saxon, I mean to include all the descendants,
wherever found, in all parts of the globe, of that hardy race of
men who aided the ancient Britons in driving from their borders
the Picts and Scotts, and then in turn put down the Britons them-
selves and established the Heptarchy. I mean the descendants of
those Saxons who, under their great Alfred, expelled the Danes,
and who rose triumphant from that abject feudal slavery imposed
by "William the Conqueror and his Norman barons, after the un-
fortunate battle of Hastings. I mean that same unconquerable
race of iron hearts and iron muscles which settled, in the seven-
teenth century, the eastern coast of our own country, from Ply-
mouth Rock to Jamestown ; and which, in the nineteenth century,
conquered the dominion of the seas at the memorable battle of
Trafalgar. I mean that same race who finally broke the spirit of
the last great Latin lion on the bloody field of "Waterloo. I mean
that race of hardy pioneers who have carried the Anglo-Saxon re-
ligion, language and civilization into the jungles of India, the de-
serts of Australia, the wilds of Asia and Africa, and into the frigid
regions of Hudson's Bay.

But more especially do I mean our branch of that great, over-
shadowing family which has not only succeeded in conquering the
usual enemies of Anglo-Saxon advancement, such as wild forests
and deserts, filled with savage beasts and more savage men, bat
which, even while an infant, repelled the attacks of its elder
brother. The sacred names of Bunker Hill, King's Mountain,

545

Tarktown and New Orleans will suffice to suggest my meaning.
Were I a politician, wishing to inspire your patriotism, I might
here enumerate scores of places, both on land and on sea, as well as on
the great lakes, where the American eagle has snatched unfading
laurels from the brow of the old gruff lion of England. The fact
is, that majestic bull dog, Britain, hardly believed in the purity of
our blood over here in America; and it has taken some ten or
twelve years of hard blows to establish the fact of our legitimacy
in his old thick skull.

But the thing is done. We glory in our great and good ancestors
who did it, and will build monuments on our renowned battle fields.
We may have slight brushes and seafights hereafter, but no deso-
lating wars among the grand branches of this mighty race. Our
destiny will not permit it.

I have now come to that part of my subject where my hearers
may. justly inquire: " What is the destiny of the Anglo-Saxon, as
distinct from the destiny of the Assyrian, the Egyptian, the Jew,
the Greek or the Roman? I reply, it is not merely to people the
earth, as in the primeval times, or to build hanging gardens or
construct huge pyramids, for the gratification of proud queens and
haughty Pharoahs, as in the clays of Babylon and Egypt, It is
not merely the perfection and embellishment ol the art oi war, as
seen in the Macedonian phalanx, and painted and sculptured and
sung in the fine arts and poetry of ancient Greece.

Nor is our mission in the great drama of history the mere experi-
menting in civil government and the establishment of a correct sys-
tem of jurisprudence. This was sufficiently done under the Kings,
Consuls and Emperors of Borne, and in the pandects, codes and
institutes of Justinian.

Nor yet is it our destiny, as a race, to seek out a system of pure
and undefiled religion, as this is complete, also, in the literature
of the Hebrews, and has been embodied and set forth in the life
and teachings of the Incarnate Son of God.

There is, then, but one object left for a race of people who would
be original, and not mere copyists of others to accomplish. The
Anglo-Saxon is not and never can be a race of mere imitators. No
other people on earth are more bolt-upright and unyielding in their
originality than this. It is and must ever be the chief aim and
true '" destiny of the Anglo-Saxon" to cultivate the arts pertaining
to peace, and to develop his peculiar civilization.

The Anglo-Saxon cannot now conquer the world as his grand de-
sign and final end, because he has already conquered it, as far as
his interests at present demand, as a mere incident to a much
greater purpose. Point out to me, if you can, a sea, gulf, bay, or
strait, in any remote corner of the earth,' where Anglo Saxon com-
merce does not ride in safety, where Anglo-Saxon navies are not
supreme, and where the English language is not spoken with im-
punity, and heard with respect. Go search China and Japan, the
coasts of Africa and Madagascar, visit the South Sea Islands, the

■ 546

East and West Indies, the frozen regions of both the poles, and
every where the Anglo-Saxon has his rights of discovery or of
commerce, if not those of occupation or protection. The real
Anglo-Saxon mode of conquering the world is not to establish a
mighty monarch at London or Washington, who shall, at will, send
his Satraps, Governors and Viceroys to plunder the subdued and
enslaved provinces ot one vast world-wide empire, as in the days
of Cyrus or the Caesars. Conquest, by force of arms, as practiced
by Xerxes, Alexander, Charlemagne and Napoleon, is not the way
for modern civilization to spread its supremacy.

The Anglo-Saxon extends his dominions by treaties of trade, and
binds his provinces down with chains of commerce. If his mer-
chantmen can exact the tribute, without the expense of government,
he is willing, in most cases, to leave the "regulation of their do-
mestic institutions" to each respective nation. If at any time his
ships can enjoy the rights of resort, in case of distress, and his
fisherman can cast the net and spear the whale unmolested, he is
willing to "neither vote slavery in or out of the territory," leaving
the natives thereof "perfectly free," subject only to maritime and
international law, as dictated and expounded by Britain and Amer-
ica. To send the Christian missionary, to exchange the products
of agriculture and the commodities of commerce, with satisfaction
to his theology and his pocket, is all the Anglo-Saxon need ask of
outside barbarians. The rest may be left to time.

Next to the religion and life of Jesus Christ, there is in this
world no greater peace maker and tie of brotherhood than mutual
interest, as developed in the arts and agriculture, and extended and
strengthened by commerce. And it is to the influence of this inte-
rest, continually enhanced by modern civilization, in its workings
among the nations, that we are to look, in a great degree, for that
"good time coming" — that great millennial era — so often pre-
dicted and sung, by seers and sages, and prophets and poets, in all
ages and among all nations.

Kings and Emperors, Sultans, Czars and Presidents wTill be un-
able to wage extensive and expensive wars, when their subjects
and citizens refuse to risk the destruction of their trade, their ships,
their mechanical and agricultural interests and the derangement
of their means of instantaneous international communication, in
the shape of continental and submarine telegraphs.

All wars, in that good time coming, will be defensive. And if
all wars become merely defensive, there can be none at all, for
want of invaders. Even the discoveries and inventions of the
military art alone, tend more to peace than to war, as they gener-
ally enhance the means of defense more than they do those of at-
tack. But international peace, which is one of the first great bless-
ings brought about by " Anglo-Saxon destiny," and winch is now
consid<
ments.

547

That grand chain of discoveries, by which man has been induced
to dam the rippling stream, and cause its pent up waters to saw
and grind, and spin and weave at his bidding-; which induced him
to cage the winds of heaven in sheets of canvass, and make
them drive his ships of trade and war across the mighty deep;
and, further, when tired of this uncertain motion, enabled him to
use in its stead a team of fire and water, with which he plows
the bosoms of rivers and lakes, and finally, that of old ocean him-
self, in spite of tides and currents, and winds and waves, and at a
speed and with a load unequaled before in the history of the
world ; which has caused him to harness on land the locomotive,
that draws a whole train of cars, each of which is more ponderous
than the triumphal cars of ancient Rome, and at a rate of motion
utterly astonishing in the world of facts, and scarce surpassed by
the fairy adventures of the " Arabian Nights." That same unbro-
ken chain of discovery and scientific progress which has accom-
plished all this, and has enabled man to grasp the red lightnings of
heaven and use them at will as errand boys, traversing alike the
ocean bed and mountain top, at a speed absolutely instantaneous,
and which has accomplished equal wonders in almost every other
department of human industry, to the very great advancement of
man's prosperity and happiness, cannot and will not stop here.

Already we see, dimly glimmering in the hazy dawn of progress,
a new prodigy of steam! Half our horses and oxen, now used
for teams, are to give place to a farmer's locomotive, whose
wheels are tall enough and feet broad enough to walk on common
roads, like other people. With this new farm team, we are to
commence a new era of agriculture. It is to immediately double
or treble the amount of plowed land and crops of Illinois, because it is
to turn up the soil to two or thiee times the present depth of plow-
ing. It is to haul our logs, saw our wood, thresh our grain, and to
do a world of other chores which we now look on as great labors ;
and all this at a trifling expense while at work. It eats nothing
when idle ! It is as easily and cheaply wintered as hogs are when
packed away in the pork barrel.

But, hark ! I see still beyond, almost in the murky clouds of the
unknown; yet distinctly I see its bulk. It gradually, with uncer-
tain and diffident steps, seems to advance to a brighter spot. Yes,
it is more distinct. Steam, or some more powerful agent, is its motive
power. Its parts are of iron and the best of steel. Even more
powerful materials may be necessary. It is designed to sit on the
plains of Illinois, and to perform the labors of tall mountains, or to
do that which is now done in many parts of the world by dense

forests, or by the ascending spray of the ocean, when strong waves

It is to tap
to shed their rains on the parched earth in dry seasons, and, by the

beat on steep, rocky coasts. It is to tap the clouds, and cause them

gradual "bleeding of the skies," prevent the accumulation of mois-
ture in the upper atmosphere, which, when it does escape, pro-
duces our wet seasons.

548

The philosophy of the thing is this : It is a well established fact
in science, that clouds are formed by the evaporation of moisture
from the surface of the earth, by the heat of the sun and the absorb-
ent powers of a dry atmosphere. Chemistry shows us, that in the
process of evaporation, electricity is developed, which is supposed
to accompany this latent moisture into the higher regions of the
air, where, by reason of a lower temperature, it is partially con-
densed and forms visible clouds. This said electricity, being all
of one kind in a single cloud, (either positive or negative,) causes
the particles of mist to repel each other to such an extent, that they
cannot unite and form drops, and hence must float indefinitely
above the stratum of non-conducting dry air below, until the said
cloud comes in contact with some tall earthly object, capable of
conveying a portion of its electricity to the earth. The bystander
will then see the flash, hear the "thunder" and receive a shower
of newly formed rain drops. Tall mountains, the moisture
arising from very dense and tall forests, and the spray and fogs
arising from the steep abrupt coasts of turbulent seas and oceans,
are sufficiently good conductors to cause frequent showers in their
localities, when visited by floating clouds. JSTow, as there are no
tall conductors like these on very large, very level and very naked
continents, like that of Central Africa, for example, we should ex-
pect no rain at all. And the boundless, ever parched sands of the
great Sahara sustains our premises. In very large, quite level and
rather thinly timbered districts, like the vast Mississippi Valley,
we should expect rain indeed, but in a very different manner from
that in localities bordering on mountain ranges. As a matter of
course, our low conductors could draw off very little electricity, and
cause very little rain, until the accumulating moisture in the higher
atmosphere became very great, and should by this means float
very low. During this time we must have a drought. But the
contact once effected, the discharges of rain induced, if it be in the
season of our hot suns, the resultant evaporation along our rivers
and connected cliffs and bodies of timber, at once gives us tall con-
ductors, and we may expect a wet season until the heavens are dis-
charged.

This is the theory; you all know the facts. The machine I
speak of is to sit in appropriate localities, and to induce showers of
rain by casting continuous jets of water into the passing clouds.

It is the destiny of man not only to predict, but even to control
the fall of rain from the clouds, before we reach the culmination
of scientific progress. It appears, that even now we have but to
build the machinery. Nature has performed the preliminary ex-
periments, on every craggy coast and along evevj mountain range.
She has made known her laws at the clearing and cultivation of
every heavily timbered country, from the cutting of the Black
Forest in Germany, and the stripping the banks of the Tiber, to
the burning, and cutting, and sawing of our own western woods,
along the valleys and tributaries of the Ohio and the Wabash.

549

-Where tall conductors are numerous, the annual moisture is more
equal, and withering droughts are unknown.

In the great millennial era of labor it will be no more wonderful
or uncommon to cultivate and drain our lands by steam, or to irri-
gate them, at will, from the floating reservoirs of the skies, than it
now is to plow the bosom of the Atlantic with Leviathan steam-
ships, or to use its bed for an international highway for the trans-
mission of intelligence.

In this great whirl of " Anglo-Saxon destiny," however, there
are other achievements more necessary, at the present moment,
than the discovery and invention of new machinery. Engineers
say that farmers already have more machinery than, as a body,
they are capable of using. They tell us that the reaper and the
mower would have been produced several years sooner than it was,
if the common class of farmers had possessed the requisite intelli-
gence to operate them to advantage. I can only reply, by saying
I fear there is much truth in the statement. I know very well
that the first Atkins' reaper which appeared in the Long Creek
neighborhood, was very nearly discarded and sent back to town,
until set agoing by a practical carpenter.

The great want, then, of the present day, is the diffusion of prac-
tical intelligence among the masses of the industrial classes ; not
only that they may be able to properly use their present advanta-
ges, but that they may go on, in an accelerated degree, to possess
themselves of farther advantages now un possessed and unthought
of. Farmers and farmers' wives, need the ability, also, to uncover
much useful knowledge and practical skill already possessed by in-
dividuals, by communications to the'public press.

Furthermore, we are surrounded by predacious animals, which
continually diminish, damage or destroy the products of our labor.

In most places we have defeated the bear, the raccoon, the op-
posum, the mink, and the wolf, but as to the rat and the mouse,
nothing is yet decided, except that these pests still levy and collect
from the boasted "Free and Independent United States of Amer-
ica," a very heavy annual tribute.

Farmers, merchants and manufacturers should have more knowl-
edge in the conduct of this war. Our industrial generals should
be better educated, and our soldiers better drilled, if our armies
would be more successful. Our motto should be as of old, "mil-
lions for defence, not a cent for tribute." But we have other
enemies, which we have often met, but seldom been able to en-
counter— enemies which have, time and again, driven us from the
field with chagrin and heavy loss ; which have reduced many fam-
ilies and sections of our country to distress and want. Enemies
which have visited our dear State of Illinois, and our own county
of Macon the present season, committing much havoc, and laying
waste many fields.

I refer to the chinch bug, the army worm, the hessian fly, the
bark lice and borers that destroy our orchards and groves, the po-

550

ta'to rot, and the treeblight, together with those fungus excrescen-
ces, that create the rust, and smut, and ergot of all, or nearly all
the crops we cultivate. There are in the insect and microscopic
world greater enemies to the destiny of our race than have ever
yet been defeated by the arms ot any people. They are so minute,
that we seldom perceive their existence till their deeds are done.
Surely this is the "pestilence that walketh in darkness," more to
be dreaded than the cholera or the yellow fever, because we have
no skill to encounter such subtile foes. Let but the wheat crop fail,
and our merchants become brankrupt, and the people laek bread.
Let but the multitudes of Paris set up the cry for bread, as throng-
ing thousands of infuriated men and savage women, surge and re-
surge from Paris to Versailles, and from Versailles to the Tnille-
ries, and who shall guide the new "French Eevolution," or check
its mad career, until all Europe is again deluged in blood, and the
trade and commerce of all the world is deranged by "orders in
council," "Milan and Berlin decrees," and "embargo acts ?" The
peace, the plenty,'and the prosperity of our country, and of the civ-
ilized world, has more to tear from the chinch bug, the hessian fly,
and the rust and smut in our crops, than from all the swords and
guns, and diplomacy of the Czar and the infidel.

Fellow citizens, we should not patiently submit to all this ! We
must build industrial universities, hold industrial fairs, write and
read industrial papers and books, discuss industrial topics, and
practice industrial skill, till our generals of peace, and yeomen of
labor, shall be equal in arms to these pigmy foes of ours. Until
our armies shall conquer in the orchard and the grainfields, as they
have heretofore on many a hard fought battle held.

Already some progress has been made. Farmers' College in
Ohio, defeats the smut in wheat by the application of brine and
lime to the seed. Some of our neighbors have conquered the ar-
my worm, and themselves, both at once, by turning the hogs into
the crops. But who shall contend against the chinch bug and the
rust ? Against the potato rot, and the blight and yellows in fruit
trees ?

The time has come for men to travel "to and fro" for the in-
crease of knowledge, that we may have an increased power over
these potent enemies of our race. Knowledge is the only reliable
source of power, and those who will not exert themselves to gain
the one, must be content to live, or to die, without the other. In
many states they have even now, Farmers' Colleges, and Indus-
trial Universities, where students are taught useful knowledge and
skill, instead of being kept cracking problems without kernels,
and climbing peeled classic poles for mere mental discipline.

We have a Normal University in our own State, but it is young
and needs perfecting. It must be greatly endowed, and its build-
ings, fixtures and list of studies much extended.

Let me here give you my idea of an Industrial University. A
proper Industrial University possesses facilities for instructing pu.

551

-pils in all useful knowledge, comprehending the sciences and litera-
ture necessarily useful in agriculture, horticulture, the mechanics
and tine arts, trade and commerce, in all their legitimate branches,
together with those underlying and forming the rudiments of Medi-
cine, Law and Theology.

I know, in this statement, I am counted a little hetrodox Ly our
ultra industrial men. Nevertheless, I cannot refrain from count-
ing the "three professions" as legitimate branches of human in-
dustry, and deem their members justly entitled to a place in our
ranks, as opposed to the army of idleness. It is no less work to
compound and administer drugs, to fill deeds and conduct courts,
to write sermons and teach morals, to weigh sugar and measure
calico, to change money and to arrange accounts, to prepare reso-
lutions and attend the interests of the State, to compose editorials
and arrange matter, to govern bad boys, and "teach the young
idea how to shoot," than it is to plow corn, hammer iron, shove the
plain, work the press, furl a sail, or dig coal. All are useful, all
honorable, all are industry, and all and each should have their pro-
per place in the great Industrial University. The good "Old Doc-
tor" up north, replied to my arguments in the Chicago convention,
1852, by stating that physicians are "necessary evils," whose calling
will be useless in that "good "time coming," and hence should not
be considered as belonging to the legitimate branches of industry.
I cannot see the truth of this statement. So long as we have bodies
they must be cared for and kept in health. This cannot be done
without the requisite knowledge and industry. If in that pristine
state, when man and the world were just from the hands of God,
and pronounced good, it was possible for Adam, by eating, per-
haps an apple, to effect a fall that ruined his race for many cen-
turies, it is surely not impossible that his descendants will occasion-
ally derange a stomach, or mar a limb, by similar means, even in
that delightful era we so hopefully anticipate. So long, then, as
wTe are physical beings, we will need medical and surgical know-
ledge in the hands of skillful men. So long as we have lands and
property, we must have deeds and titles, and society must have
laws and rules of decorum and conduct, sustained by learned and
good jurists and statesmen. And the moral nature of man must
ever be developed by faithful teachers.

That "good time coming-" can only be ushered in by useful la-
bor, and retained, when once we enjoy it, by constant vigilance and
a laudable industry. We cannot afford then to divide our ranks,
or to lop off branches at any time, much less now, when we are
beset on every side by an antagonistic party of idleness and crime.

The great party of idleness is found in high spirits, in the sa-
loons and at the gaming table, at the race course and the shoot-
ing match. Its ranks are swelled by the fox hunters and mere
pleasure seekers, the hunters of sinecures, and the lookers on every-
where ; and by the false, the lazy, and the mere hangers on of
every trade and profession of life.

552

This opposing party, though, a large one, can well be dispensed
with in that "good time coming," and should have no advantages
offered to its callings in our industrial universities. The pamper-
ed son of wealth and the dandy spendthrift should enjoy no ad-
vantages over the industrious student, of moderate means and
steady habits. Honors should always accompany merit, and
should generally be awarded and bestowed at the great gala
days — the examinations and fairs of the institution — in the pres-
ence of applauding thousands.

Another great want of our country is abetter understanding be-
tween merchants and farmers. It seems that we are on the eve of
^ peaceable war, if not a*"civil" one. "Farmers' Clubs," are being
oganized for the protection of their interests against the invasion
of village merchants. It is designed to send agents to the cities,
such as St. Louis and Chicago, who are to receive and sell the far-
mer's produce, as fast as shipped to them, and in turn buy for the
farmer his "necessaries" and make returns. Should this practice
become general, what will sustain our inland towns and smaller
cities ? Where shall we find a ready sale for five pounds of butter
and ten dozen eggs ? For our blackberries, green cucumbers,
melons, roasting ears, and other articles, which are too small in
quantity or perishable in quality, to bear far transportation and
slow sales ? For I suppose that even in the large cities the mar-
ket does sometimes get dull.

Why should not these "Farmers' Clubs" send their agents to the
eastern cities at once, where produce is higher and goods cheaper?
If it is of no consequence to destroy our rising home markets.

The evil these farmers wish to obviate is this, when a certain
crop comes into market, there is, often, no standard, by which
to fix prices, except one erected by a set of sharpers, whose busi-
ness is to speculate. Too often it is found that, after the farmer
has parted with his produce, the price rapidly rises, and the specu-
lator becomes suddenly rich.

I cannot see that country merchants are to blame for this, as
most of them seldom buy produce, except as merely incidental, in
collecting debts, etc. Nor can I see any good reason for levying
war upon them, by concentrating our trade in the distant cities. I
fear, also that farmers will endure many losses by awkward ship-
ments, for want of practice. Their agents, too, might wink at
matters unprofitable to their employers, after long residence among
the buyers and far away from the farmers.

A better plan for obviating the difficulty in question, in my
opinion, would be the employment of a sufficient number of men,
whose business should be to travel constantly in the growing
seasons, to ascertain, as exactly as possible, the amount of farm
products in the country, both on the farms and in the markets.
Let them be required to make monthly reports, respecting all farm
products, including the growing as well as the grown crops, ac-
companied with remarks concerning foreign markets, as occasion

553

may require. Let these reports be promptly published, and sent
to all farmers and merchants, who may choose to pay their cost
and receive their benefits.

In this way farmers and merchants would have a correct standard
of prices, and outside traders, who merely speculate during a por-
tion of the year, aud live on the spoils the remainder, would be
driven from the field. This plan will increase the business of vil-
lage merchants and tend to the permanent growth of inland towns
and cities. The risks of the merchant and miller, with so reliable
a standard of prices, would be diminished, and they would be content
with smaller margins in their transactions. This is but a crude out-
line of my plan, hastily sketched, yet, perhaps, it will be understood.

Of one thing, at all events, I am sure, that it is much more pro-
motive of the industrial interests of the country, to encourage har-
mony among the classes whose interests are mutual, than to stir
up strife and contention among the members of the same great
army of labor and progress.

It might, perhaps, be well also for merchants to discard the use
of private marks on articles of merchandize, as a means of indus-
trial conciliation. I speak of this because the advocates of "far-
mer's clubs" say that secrecy is evidence of fraud, and allege
that private marks on goods are designed as a means of overreach-
ing customers. I do not thus view the matter, yet, I consider
an open and frank method of conducting business much prefer-
able, when individual justice will admit of it.

A further great necessity of the industrial classes is a popular
miscellaneous literature, adapted to the development and growth of
proper industrial tastes, and habits of thought on useful subjects.

Industrial men, and especially farmers, are much averse to read-
ing books devoted to their pursuits. The reason is obvious. Near-
ly all books extant in America, on the subjects of agriculture, hor-
ticulture and their connected arts and sciences, have been, until re-
cently, written in other countries, and for a very different set of
men from the farmers of America. The spade cultivation of a
few acres in England or France, where labor is cheap and produce
high, or the tending of horses and cattle in the stables and yards
of aristocratic noblemen, with a superfluity of grooms, servants and
lackeys, #re very different affairs from the operations required on
the grain and stock farms of Illinois. It is not at all wonderful
that books on old country farming should prove uninteresting or
disgusting to the cultivators of America. Nor are the works writ-
ten on the agriculture of the older states very well calculated to
wipe out the chronic repugnance to book farming in the new ones.

We need a western industrial literature! Suppose we had a
book entitled, "The Life and Labors of Jacob Strawn, the great
Illinois Farmer, and Napoleonic Cattle Man." Suppose in that
work there is narrated how, in Pennsylvania, he chopped and
cleared his land, almost day and night, by the sunlight and by the
burning brush piled up by his industrious wife ; how, in Ohio, he.
—61

554

repeated the process on rather a larger scale, until, besides teams
and movables, he had cash to purchase three hundred acres of Illi-
nois prairie ; how, in Illinois, he had become the neatest, as well as
the richest and most extensive farmer and cattle man in all the west.
Suppose you that such a book as this, tilled with useful history, in-
terspersed with personal adventures and anecdotes, and containing
a goodly store of practical farm knowledge, fitted for home use,
would go unread among industrial men ? Here is a field for gift-
ed writers that will pay in many ways and on all hands.

Biography is the cream of history, and industrial rivalry is the
spirit and destiny of the age, and that author who can properly
ride and guide the current of the rising literature of labor, will do
a good work for his race, and land himself in a famous haven.

All have heard of James ~K. Brown, the successful tarmer of
Island Grove, and a biographical sketch, telling us how he suc-
ceeded, under what difficulties or advantages he labored, how he
overcame them and how he used them, would be of more immedi-
ate practical value to the masses of western farmers than all the
"Agricultural Chemistries," "Practical Agricultures" and "Stable
Books," of England, Scotland and France, put together.

While thus justifying western farmers and cultivators in neglect-
ing book knowledge, however, I must say to them that we have
many useful books published in our own country, and, that the
agricultural papers of the west are fast becoming almost exactly
what we want, * * * * * * * *

I shall call your attention to but one more subject before I close.
The Hon. Mr. Morrill, ot Maine, introduced into the House of
Eepresentatives, at Washington, last winter, a "land bill," for the
endowment of Industrial Universities in each of the several States
and Territories of the Union. The bill passed the House, but was
delayed in the Senate. Perhaps a more just or a more important
measure was never pending the decision of the representatives of
a free people. None that contemplated weightier interests or
more salutary and wide spread benefits. It is both the index and
harbinger of superior civilization and industrial progress. It is to
open wide the gates of knowledge to the farmer and mechanic.
Colleges are to be established for the investigation and promulga-
tion ot useful scientific truths, which shall be available to the hum-
blest operative on the farm, in the shop, or aboard the vessel.
Such a bill should enlist the sympathies, good wishes, and votes of
every lover of his race. No man should go to Congress, hereafter,
who is not in favor of "Morrill's Land Bill," as being the greatest
desideratum of his country at the present time ! Who is not a
promoter of "Anglo-Saxon destiny," by favoring the endowment
of Industrial Universities in all the States?

Fellow citizens, we live in a fortunate era. The destiny of our
race is fast being accomplished. "The enmity of national warfare
has passed away, and the rivalry of universal labor and skill mounts
the throne, seizes, the crown of honor and the sceptre of power,

555

and from its resplendent palaces of art, gleaming like the visions
of the apocalypse, in the new risen light of that good day coming,
gives the law to the most civilized realms and tribes on earth.

"There is a good time coming. Simultaneous voices from the
field, the shop, the anvil, the loom — from the heights above and the
depths beneath — all herald its approach, and betoken its character,
its destiny and its triumphs.

"I see it in the congregated free and independent citizens and
yeomen around me, assembled here, under nature's great crystal
palace, which, a few years since, overarched only the wigwam and
the war dance, to take each other by the hand, to exhibit the pro-
ducts of their toil and their skill, to plight their mutual faith and
fire their hearts anew, by a reiteration, even from this new land,
of the peals of that anthem that already swells and resounds over
earth and sea ; — dandyism, sham, and humbug crucified ; — labor,
merit, worth, exalted, crowned ; — peace on earth, good will to man,
and glory to God in the highest."

AGRICULTURE, AS CONNECTED WITH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS.

Br Alex. M. Gow, President of the Dixon Institute.

It has been well remarked, that the chief object of our schools
should be, not so much to acquire a definite amount of positive
knowledge as to learn the art of learning, and acquire the disposi-
tion and the taste to do so. Failing to perceive this truth in edu-
cation, many are prone to press upon the pupils of our schools a
long and varied programme of positive studies, to be mastered abso-
lutely within the few years of school life. The effort seems to be,
to crowd facts — stubborn facts — into the mind, until the ''passive re-
cipient" may be called a " walking encyclopedia of useless know-
ledge," knowing a "little of everything and but little of anything."
The study of books too often excludes the cultivation of those fac-
ulties which make us acquainted with things about us, so that
many of the so-called educated pass from the schools seeing, hear-
ing and knowing nothing, by observation, of the grand, glorious
world around. A Ben. Franklin and a Hugh Miller read their
earliest and best lessons from the leaves of nature, unfolded from
the trees or bound in solid folios among the rocky shelves. They
gathered many facts, as the result of their thinking, while scores
gather facts without thinking at all. They are the best educated
who study men and things, as well as books, and thus gain, by
their own observation and reflection, what otherwise they would
never acquire. The observing, reflecting mind, engaged in any
occupation, is more successful than that which unhesitatingly fol-
lows a dull routine and a venerable precedent. In no profession is
there so wide a field for observation, experiment and discovery as
the field of the farmer. Great as our discoveries have been in ag-
ricultural science — admirable as are our improvements in the ma-
chinery of husbandry — enthusiastic as many are who devote them-
selves to the plow and the pruning knife, it must not be supposed
that we witness even "the beginning of the end." Greater
achievements are to be accomplished — greater wonders wrought;
and the mass of agriculturists are yet to learn that they are mem-

557

bers of a scientific profession. If so, how are these things to be
accomplished ? Our children will have to answer this question.

The American mind and energy are admirably delineated in the
description of that character of characters, the "Yankee boy:"

"Thus, by his genius and his jack-knife driven,
Ere long he'll solve you any problem given ;
Make any gim-crack — musical or mute —
A plow, a coach, an organ or a flute ;
Make anything, in short, for sea or shore,
From a child's rattle to a seventy-four.
Make it, said I? Aye; when he undertakes it,
He'll make the thing, and the machine that makes it!"

Our prairie corn will, probably, be surer than our crop of geni-
uses, but we may have strong, vigorous, intelligent men and women,
if we cultivate them. What share, thej, shall our schools have in
this development of our youth, in order to develop the great agri-
cultural interests of our State ?

The successful agriculturist is he who possesses, among other
things, an ardent love for the beautiful in nature. He must be a
man of close, accurate observation ; must be a man of practical neat-
ness and order, in all his operations ; 'punctual and regular in all
his duties and gentle and humane in his feelings and actions. Can
these qualities, so desirable in the education of every man, and so
essential to the agriculturist, be imparted in our schools ?

Every child may be taught, or, rather, be directed and encour-
aged to teach itself, to see, hear, feel, and thus know the world
around it, and to love it for the curious, the beautiful and the true
which it contains. To this end, the school house and its surround-
ings should be arranged with special refere i'ce to neatness and
taste. The esthetic element of our nature is capable of the highest
development, affording the purest pleasure and the cheapest gratifi-
cation. The perfection of artis but the imitation of nature's works,
and he is the true artist who seeks beauty, harmony and grace at
the original sources. The poetry of the soul should receive its
earliest impulses trom the primary school.

"Every one should plant a tree," said one who knew, not only
for the material gain produced by its growth, but, also, the moral
effects of such a labor. Who has planted and nurtured a tree that
has not himself improved by the association % It is a new object
of love, and our sympathies in being grow with its growth and
strengthen with its increasing vigor. When can we form such
friendships with the world of beauty as when the faculties are ex-
panding and our love seeking new objects for its earnest embrace ?
Where shall that expansion take place — that real education — better
than at school ? Let the teacher plant a tree and kind memories
will cling to him in many young hearts through the influence of its
association. Let the pupil plant a tree. It is an epoch in his life
— a starting point of his usefulness, to which he will revert with
pleasure long after he has ceased to enjoy its shade. Trees, flow-
ers and shrubs should be an inseparable incident of school yard

558

beauty. The contemplation of these in the impressible honrs of
childhood must be beneficial; for

"Some souls lose all things but the love of beauty,
And by that love they are redeemable."

Habits of close observation are essential to the agriculturist.
Earth, air and sky present curious and wonderful phenomena to
the accurate observer. The fall of an apple, the swinging of a chan-
delier, the sore hands of a milk-maid, gave celebrity to the names
of Newton, Gallileo and Jenner, and contributed to the world's
science invaluable truths. Little things, to observing and reflect-
ing minds, often lead the way to grand discoveries.

To the naturalist, the familiar forms of vegetation, of animal life
and of inorganized matter are known, and his quick eye detects
new forms and features whenever they are met. He traces the
relations of things and his conclusions are the results of mature de-
liberation and sober judgment. Such a man is always willing to
be a learner, and does not hesitate to contribute his share of know-
ledge to the common stock. Such, to a great extent, should every
agriculturist be. But how direct such observations at school ?

Every school can have a magnifying glass and a microscope.
Every boy and girl can learn to use them in discovering the myriad
forms of beauty and fitness, found, where, to ignorant uncultivated
minds, they would never be supposed to exist. A bee's sting, a
snake's fang, a spider's web, an insect's eye, a sprig of moss, a hu-
man hair are a few of the ten thousand objects that fill us with
wonder and admiration. If such means are afforded for acquiring
knowledge, children will need no stimulus to avail themselves of
it. The food, habits and modes of reproduction of the various in-
sect pests may thus be brought under inspection, and experiments
be made for their destruction or prevention. In this direction there
is great opportunity for investigation. Who shall tell us the cause
and cure of the potato rot % Many experiments have been made
are now making for this end. Some have arrived at conclu-
sions, but the diversity of opinion yet, on these subjects, and
shows that the investigations and experiments must not be relin-
quished, as the object is not generally supposed to be attained.
The chinch bug, the weevil, the fly, the tree borers, grasshoppers
and locusts should be familiar acquaintances in the school room.
The interest attaching to these forms of insect life, at times so de-
structive to the labors and hopes of the husbandman, would make
them subjects of observation, and thus demonstrate the advantage
of "agriculture as connected with schools."

Another means of inciting the powers of observation in children
is the formation of a school cabinet of curious and interesting things,
by the contributions of the pupils themselves. Such a collection
might not be of very great value intrinsically, but its chief excel-
lence would be in the inducement it would offer for increased zeal
in the observation of things which otherwise might escape their

559

notice. Collections of minerals, fossils and shells might be made.
Bees, bugs, butterflies, and other varieties of insects, with reptiles
of different kinds, could easily be secured and arranged. A simple
collection of flowers or the arrangement of leaves according to size,
shape and formation, would add much to the benefit of the whole.
A little vial of chloroform would be sufficient to capture and kill a
multitude of insects and reptiles scientifically, which doubtless
would be much more agreeable to them than if taken and preserved
the old way.

Neatness and order constitute two of the prominent peculiarities
of the model farm, and the farm itself, in these particulars, is bu'u
the embodiment of the model farmer's cultivated mind. The
teacher can impart these qualities by the systematic arrangement
of everything in his domain. He should "have a place for every-
thing," and be very careful to "have everything in its place."
Cleanliness and tidiness should be exhibited in every apartment
and department in and about. In this way, also, can agriculture
find a valuable auxiliary in its connection with the schools.

Habits of punctuality and regularity should distinguish the agri-
culturist in an especial manner. "Time and tide wait for no man,"
and, failing to learn the value of this sentiment, many a man has
lost his crop and his credit by his neglect to "make hay during
sunshine." The duties of the farm, the garden and the orchard
are chiefly of the kind that demand constant and regular attention.
Plowing, sowing and reaping, planting, pruning and budding must
be done, each in its season. To take advantage of the seasons in
order to facilitate agricultural operations, requires some meteoro-
logical knowledge. To acquire this, time, systematic observation
and reflection are necessary. As punctuality and regularity are
essential in the proper management of a school, perhaps agricul-
ture may derive something valuable from the connection in this
respect.

If each school could be furnished with a thermometer, barometer
and a vane, to say nothing of a more extended assortment of instru-
ments, the habit of punctual and regular observation and registra-
tion might be acquired which, aside from the knowledge obtained
by forming a meteorological table, would be invaluable. Habits
thus acquired would never be lost, for the tastes thus formed would
be a constant stimulus for the acquisition of new food for mental
digestion.

Habits of observation cultivate gentle and humane dispositions.
We are told that a "merciful man is merciful to his beast," and in
no class do we see a greater physical, to say nothing of the moral
advantage of cultivating a loving disposition towards all living
things than among those who till the ground. The agriculturist,
especially, should cherish the humane sentiment, for no one has
his patience more severely tried than he, and to no one does kind-
ness and forbearance bring so rich a reward; for those who treat
their hirelings and their cattle with consideration are more than re-

560

paid by the additional labor performed, and also in the improved
character and appearance of the animals themselves. Domestic
animals frequently reflect the character of their masters, and, other
things being equal, he is the most successful farmer whose stock is
gentle and land, and is thus easily managed. These, it is true,
are not the far-famed "humanities" of the schools; nevertheless the
schools may contribute much to inculcate them.

]No child will injure that in which he takes pleasure. Do the
birds build in the trees in the school house yard? If they do not,
they ought to, and a group of curious children should be instructed
to observe their instincts, to notice their habits and to love their
songs. Love begets confidence — even birds know this; and the
sweet influence of such society is worth volumes on benevolence.
By cultivating a taste lor such companions the perceptive faculties
are awakened, and much knowledge is gained. Many of the birds
may be studied in this way — their seasons of migration, their
haunts, their notes, their food, their nests, their seasons of incuba-
tion and the number and character of their young. The American
propensity to destroy the feathered tribes for the mere love of kill-
ing, must be curbed, or agriculture must pay an exorbitant price
for the sport. Nor is this destruction confined to those who furnish
our tables. Anything having life is a suitable and desirable
"mark" for the murderous aim. Already, in some sections, the cruel,
useless and wholesale destruction of insectivorous birds is begin-
ning to be severely .felt by the agriculturist, and unless the evil is
restrained by the cultivation of better feelings, the equilibrium es-
tablished by the Creator will be disturbed, and the increase of pes-
tiferous insects and noxious vegetation, indefinitely multiplied, may
teach a severe but salutary lesson. Besides the birds there are
many animals which, without reason or reflection, are unhesitatingly
destroyed. Though occasionally laying a tribute upon the field or
the stack yard, they are man's best friends, and should be treated
with the consideration their merits demand.

But can children acquire this taste and affection for trees and
flowers, beasts and birds at school? Surely they can. "We have
seen five hundred children and youth pass, several times a day,
within reach of a number of bird's nests, built in the shrubbery of
the school house yard. Though the subjects of every day's admira-
tion, the birds built, brooded and went their way, "with no one tc
molest them or make them afraid." "Would such have been the
case unless each of the five hundred had been imbued with the sen-
timent of affection towards the confiding little songsters? Again,
we have seen a half domesticated gray squirrel live, during a whole
winter, in the same school building as above, and the frequent
visits paid to the various recitation rooms was evidence of the mu-
tual esteem and confidence established between him and those who
generally might be reckoned his most unrelenting foes. Was not
that school rendered better by such associations? and would not

561

the formation of such habits of thought and action be invaluable to
any one, and particularly the agriculturist ?

If, then, the cultivation of the taste for the beautiful, the devel-
opment of a love of nature's works and the formation of habits of
close, accurate observation, of practical neatness and order, of
punctuality and regularity, of gentleness and humanity are essen-
tial to the agriculturist, and can be acquired as we have suggested,
then we may claim that there may be a connection between agri-
culture and the schools.

But, can agricultural knowledge be acquired in the schools with-
out the formalities of the text book and the recitation? Can we
crowd on another branch of book knowledge to the already over-
burdened, teeming catalogues of our schools? We think not. If
fine tastes and correct useful habits of thought and action can be
acquired in the schools, with the knowledge incidentally obtained
by the observations derived from such acquisition, the schools will
have laid a permanent foundation for future studies, and this is all
the most sanguine should expect. Our schools are not specifically
agricultural, and, therefore, not calculated for the prosecution of
agricultural science, further than we have designated.

One or two agricultural papers, introduced into a school, under
the circumstances of training we have indicated, would do more
towards improving the taste and stimulating the desire for practical
knowledge than the most ingenious or elaborate text book. The
papers would be read for the love of the subjects they treat of, and
children thus taught to prize such current information would not
likely be without such companionship when grown to manhood.

Cannot the academies and colleges do something more definite
and direct than simply giving their students a love for natural
beauty, and stimulating them to gratify the passion thus bestowed?
If they do this they do much, and we fear they can do no more.
Already the "curriculum" of many of our higher schools contains
more subjects of study than can be accomplished properly by even
the best of the intellectual racers in their training. Rivalry and
false ideas of advancement have led many to suppose that in these
latter days of lightning speed and railroad locomotion, there must
be a corresponding rapidity in the acquisition of sciences and their
applications. No wonder that such ideas should be the subject of
satire :

" See Progress fly o'er Education's course !
Not far-famed Derby owns a fleeter horse;
On rare Improvement's " short and easy" road,
How swift her flight to Learning's blest abode!
In other times — 'twas many years ago —
The scholar's course was toilsome, rough and slow —
The fair humanities were sought in tears,
And came, the trophy of laborious years.
Now, Learning's shrine each idle youth may seek,
And. spending there a shilling and a week,
(At lightest cost of study, cash and lungs,)
Come back, like Humor, with a hundred tongues!"

562

'Tis true, in the application of some of the principles of chemis-
try, something may be done, in the higher schools, to entertain and
instruct students concerning the vegetative forces in nature, the
constituents of growth, both animal and vegetable, the qualities of
soils and perhaps their analysis, the rotation of crops and kindred
topics. This may be done, to some extent, and, as far as it goes,
may be for the advantage of agricultural interests; but, where
there is little or no love for nature and no taste for such pursuits,
the abstract facts will be of little value. So, also, with botany. If
it be studied to gratify a taste for flowers and to acquire a practical
knowledge of the varieties and values of vegetable life, it will be of
essential service ; if, however, it be conned over as part of the col-
legiate course, to secure the diploma, but little save a smattering of
terms will be the result.

It must not be expected that good taste, quick perception, accu-
rate observation, neatness, punctuality, regularity, gentleness and
humanity are indigenous qualities, found in every school room.
They are exotics, and it is not every school master that possesses
that tact and skill, as a nursery man, to transplant and develop them
in situations where they were never grown before. 'Tis trite as it
is true, that

" Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined."

Who, then, shall bend the "twigs" that will indicate the connec-
tion of agriculture with the schools.

The teacher, for such a work, must not be a mere school keeper:
he must possess these qualities if he would impart them, and, in
addition, be intelligent, energetic, enthusiastic and persevering. In
short, he must be a professional teacher — one who labors to make
his work live in the minds and hearts of his pupils long after he
has left the stage of action. Nor is it essential that he should pos-
sess a high degree of agricultural education, although the more
varied his attainments the more useful he would be. Sympathizing
with his pupils and directing their investigations, he would be a
learner as well as a teacher. Versatility and tact would accomplish
much without text books. A mere school keeper could do nothing
with them.

The State Normal University can do much for agriculture,
through the instrumentality of her graduating teachers. If they
have their attention turned to this mode of governing and disciplin-
ing their schools, as we have no doubt they will, they will And it
not only immeasurably to their own advantage, but also directly
profitable to their schools and the communities in which they are
engaged. The recent establishment of the society for advancing
the study of natural history and the cabinet, commenced in this insti-
tution, are an earnest of the value of the subject in the minds of
those who direct its operations, and lead us to hope that much will
be done for "agriculture, as connected with schools and colleges.

563

But the great want, for the dissemination of the principles of
agricultural science in all its branches and in all its details, is an
Agricultural University. Comparatively few of the thousands
engaged in the various departments of terra-culture could reap,
directly, the advantage of such a school, but every one who did
would go forth as an enthusiastic teacher, who would every where
find apt and willing pupils, ready to seize on every new idea which
would enhance the value of their land, the productiveness of their
soil and the excellence of their stock. Other pens can treat of this
subject better than ours.

May we soon witness its consummation !

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES IN ILLINOIS.

Miss L. A. Pratte, Momence, Kankakee county, Illinois..

Every representative district should have its agricultural col-
lege. The principal objects of such an institution should be, first-
ly, to teach the pupils "those things that they will practice when
they become men ;" secondly, to procure such a division of time
between labor and study, that the student's labor will pay the in-
stitution for their board ; thirdly, to educate, strengthen, and im-
prove the student's physical, as well as his mental powers.

The merits of the first named object are so universally known
and acknowledged, that expositions are not required to substantiate
its claims or expediency.

The second, may appear to some novel, and almost chimerical.
But "the greater good to the greater number," should be the ru-
ling sentiment.

There are, at j>resent, numerous institutions giving the students
their tuitions gratis; but it is not the price of the tuitions alone ;
it is the enormous price for board that deters our best country stu-
dents from pursuing a course of studies. In this country, those
who are really anxious and desirous of obtaining a thorough edu-
cation, are not generally able to pay their own board, but can pay
their tuition, and would gladly welcome an institution, where just
the labor necessary to health, would pay their board.

Some snobbish parents will, of course, ridicule the idea cf an in-
stitution giving the student his board for his labor / but farmers,
and sensible parents cannot afford, either financially or morally, to
send their boys to our fashionable colleges and boarding schools,
where indolent and prodigal habits are formed, saying nothing of
the contempt imbibed for labor, farming, and usefulness generally.
At an agricultural school, (which is supposed to be free from debt,)
the teachers and students should each enjoy the profits of their own
labor. The tuitions are the result of the teachers' labor ; the pro-
duce of the farm is the result of the students' labor.

But has not custom adopted a course directly opposite ; paying
the teachers and supervision from the profits of the farm, and giv-

565

ing the students the tuitions, as a generous and ample remunera-
tion for their labor ?

The third, and by no means unimportant object, has too long
been neglected. Labor, or muscular exercise, is as necessary to
health and physical vigor as sunlight to vegetation. Yet those
"who best know the truthfulness of this statement, often regard ic
least; for how frequently intelligent parents send their sons, who
are used to out-door labor, away, to institutions where they remain
in-doors most of the day, leaning over their books, and when they
do go out, they go as idle loungers. And what is the result of
three or five years such blind defiance to nature's law? The once
rosy, robust boys are transformed into narrow-chested, stoop-shoul-
dered, enervated beings, called "finished scholars," (and are they
not ?) having great minds in pigmy bodies.

But the questions arise, How are these objects to be secured ?
How can an agricultural college be founded ? What supervision
is necessary ? How can the funds be raised? What amount ot
land is necessary ? What will be the cost of the required build-
ings ? How many pupils can be accommodated ? What number
of teachers will be required ? What studies should be pursued ?
How should the farm be managed ? How many hours, and in
what order, shoul.l the pupils work?

A few hints will be suggested, which, if strenuously followed,
will result in the desired objects.

The grand secret of success, in such an undertaking, is to get
the farming public aroused and interested. When once they be-
come conscious of their need, and the utility of such institutions,
the necessary funds will be easily and readily obtained.

The opinion that the time and money expended in educating a
boy designed for a farmer, were nearly thrown away, has been
demonstrated fallacious, both in theory and practice. Doctors,
lawyers, ministers, and even merchants, have all schools peculiar
to their own business, and has not the farmer something peculiar
to his avocation, that can be taught at school ? How many farmers
are there that know anything, virtually, of the nature of soils and
plants? Or, how many have at present a good business education?
It is not surprising, that the more genius a farmer's son has the
more he looks upon farming as physical drudgery, devoid of men-
tal researches or knowledge.

And, are farmers willing that the professions should gather all
the best talents in the country, and leave only the mediocrity on
the farms? Or will they wisely establish schools, offering induce-
ments sufficient for the best intellects, thus elevating the standard
of agriculture, at least to a level with the professions.

If the Morrill bill, endowing industrial colleges in each state,
passes the Senate next session, the farming public will gain a vic-
tory worth a thousand conquests.

Illinois has liberally provided for her common schools, nor will
she prove less mindful of her agricultural schools ; and if asked by

566

the majority, will give all the aid that can be reasonably expected.
But, unless farmers are willing to help themselves, they cannot
expect much help from others. Firstly, some enterprising citizen
should appoint a meeting at the most accessible place in the dis-
trict, inviting each town to send three of her best men, as delegates,
to this meeting, their business being to devise means for founding
the proposed college ; and also, to appoint a president, secretary,
treasurer, and twenty-four directors. The business of the presi-
dent and directors should be, firstly, to procure the funds for pur-
chasing the farm, stock, and for buildings and improvements.
Secondly, to act as the supervision when the school is established —
two directors visiting the school each month, and if they are num-
bered from one to twenty-four, each knowing his month ; one and
two visiting the first month, three and four the second, five and six
the third, &c, there would be no waiting for one and another, (as
at present.)

The funds can be obtained by subscription and donation, or if a
tax could be legalized to be levied on the landed property in the
district, it would be the most equitable way.

The farm should contain no less than 640 acres. The buildings
necessary will cost from $5,000 to $25,000, but those most likely at
present to receive the public approval will cost f :om §5,000 to $6,-
000, being built in the style of railroad buildings, only two stories
high, which, for light material, is high enough in this windy coun-
try. The drawing of the ground plan will be given :

= 10x16

16x16

14 x 16

-

20x40

-

-

1

,[,

I

I
34x40

UlllliUIIII

1

-

1

1

J,

1

THE FRONT.

The main building is 40 by 70, with a right and left wing each 30
■by 50. The first floor of the main building contains a chapel 34 by
40, with stairway out, a dining room 20 by 40, a kitchen 16 by 16, a
meal room 14 by 16, a pantry 10 by 16, with cellarway out, (the
cellar being under the main building.) The second floor has a la-
boratory 30 by 40, a recitation room 30 by 40, and five sleeping

567

rooms for the faculty, each 8 by 10. The wings being finished into
rooms for the students, on each floor is a hall 6 feet by 50 ; also 16
rooms, 6 by 12, each being furnished with three berths, (similar
to those on some steamboats,) three feet wide, six long, and three
between floor and ceiling. One fire can be made to warm four
rooms, by placing the stove in the wall between two lower rooms,
the pipe passing up into a drum placed between two upper rooms.
The students furnish their own lights, bedding, and pay for the
coal used in their rooms.

The faculty necessary are a principal, naturalist, teacher of
French and German, agriculturist, and also an overseer of the do-
mestic work, (the students helping do the work.)

The studies most necessary for a thorough business and agri-
cultural education, are, a most thorough course of mathematics, sur-
veying, leveling, mensuration, perspective drawing, penmanship,
book keeping, map drawing, philosophy, chemistry, botany, horti-
culture, floriculture, animal and vegetable anatomy, geology, min-
eralogy, meteorology, entomology, zoology, the veterinary art,
French, German, and composition.

Students wishing for a scholarship, board free, should be fifteen
years old, tnree months a resident in the district, of good moral
character, required to pass a satisfactory examination in reading,
spelling, arithmetic and geography ; and to agree to remain at least
one year, working three hours each week day, and the same num-
ber of hours every fourth Sunday. Those who remain less than
one year, should be required to pay $1.00 a week for their board,
the whole time they do remain, and work three hours a day, also,
excepting in case of sickness, or other reason which the principal
shall deem sufficient for their leaving. Students expelled, should
pay one dollar a week for their board, for the whole time they have
been at the institution.

The year should be divided into only two terms, the first com-
mencing in April and ending in September, with two weeks vaca-
tion ; the second beginning in September and ending the next
April.

The price of tuition for one single term should be $12; for two
or more successive terms, $10 each. The reason for asking more
from those who remain less than one year, is obvious. There are
numerous students who would rush into such an institution to
spend the winter, eating up what the others had raised during the
summer, then leaving as soon as spring work commenced. Any
student who can afford to remain six months at such an institution,
can afford to stay one year or more ; and any student that stays a
year, the institution can afford to give him his board for his work.

The farm should be under the direct supervision of the agricul-
turist, being at first divided into lots, cornering as many at the
buildings as possible, (the buildings being in the centre of the sec-
tion,) when all improved. The first quarter section should have
100 acres in pasture, 60 in grass ; enough to keep 35 cows, 12 hor-

568

ses or mules, and 30 or 40 head of young cattle. That number of
cows will supply the butter and milk ; that number of horses do
the work, and the cattle supply the beef; 50 or 100 hogs, a poultry
yard, and an apiary, should also be kept. The second quarter
should be sown to winter and small grain; the third quarter plant-
ed, 120 acres to corn, 30 to potatoes, and ten to sugar cane. The
fourth quarter has the buildings, with 5 acres around them planted
to locust, black walnut, and ornamental trees ; two acres for flower
garden, 5 for culinary garden, 28 acres in nursery, 20 in orchard,
and the remaining 100 acres can be sown to grain or planted to
broom-corn. If planted to broom-corn, which will be the most
profitable, the students can make the brooms in the winter, the
supervision selling them on a contract, the money serving to pay
incidental expenses. The usual rotation of crops will not interfere
with quantity. Everything necessary to be consumed in the in-
stitution, should be raised on the farm.

At the commencement of the first term, the students should be
numbered, commencing with one, two, three, up to the greatest
number, say 200, each student knowing his own number. The
whole number is divided into divisions, designated by A, B, C,
and D. These divisions are subdivided into divisions, correspond-
ing with the days of the week, Monday, Tuesday, &c. The object
of this subdivision is to equalize the domestic and field work.

Division A, contains all the members from 1 to 50 ; B, all from
50 to 100 ; C, all from 100 to 150 ; D, all from 150 to 200.

The Monday division of A, contains all the members from 1 to
8 ; the Tuesday division, all from 8 to 16 ; the Wednesday division,
all from 16 to 24 ; the Thursday, all from 24 to 32, &c"; the Sat-
urday all from 40 to 50. B, C, and D, are similarly subdivided,
the Monday division of B commencing at 50, &c.

The first Sunday, division A does the domestic work, B the
second, C the third, and D the fourth. If the farm is near a vil-
lage, the students are required to attend some church; if not, the
students meet in the chapel, the principal reading a sermon or lec-
ture, and in the afternoon meet again in a Bible class, which with
a little care, can be made both pleasing and profitable.

Monday morning the first large bell rings at five, (as it does ev-
ery week day.) All meet in the chapel at half past five for prayers;
breakfast at six. At half past six the second large bell rings for
division A to go to the fields, the Monday division of A helping
do the morning work. At twenty minutes past nine the third bell
rings for B to go to the fields in time for A to leave work at half
past nine, the Monday subdivision of B going to the kitchen. At
twenty minutes past twelve the third bell rings for division C to go
to the fields, (C having taken dinner,) in time for B. to leave the
fields at half past twelve, the Monday subdivison of C remaining
in the house. At twenty minutes past three the fourth bell rings
for D to go to the fields in time for C to leave, the Monday division

569

of D not going to the kitchen till quarter past five; then they as-
sist in doing the evening work.

Tuesday, the same order is observed, excepting the Tuesday
subdivisions do the domestic work, and the same all ""the remaining
days, excepting Saturday, when no recitations are heard, all work-
ing on the farm in the forenoon, excepting the Saturday subdi-
visions, which work only the usual three hours each ; but all that
work on the farm in the forenoon, have the afternoon to themselves,
to study or play.

No student should leave his work till another comes to take his
place; and any willful delinquency on the part of those coming to
the field, should be considered the highest offence.

At first thought, it will appear almost impossible to organize
the classes so there will be no clashing ; but with calculation on
the part of the teachers, they can be readily classified, even if there
are but three fourths in the school at one time.

Some of our cynical friends will say, " O dear ! it is easy enough
to spend money, but the thing is to get it first. Any writer can
tell how things should be managed for profit and convenience,
skipping all the tough, dark, matter-of-fact points. They write as
if they were in possession of 'Aladdin's lamp,' and it was only ne-
cessary just to rub it, to convert a section of wild prairie into the
most lovely garden, its magnificent buildings surrounded with the
rarest trees, fruits and flowers. But just let them take their pen
and paper, and go out on the open prairie, without fence, or a sod
turned ; six or eight miles from anywhere; then see if the 'bleak
winds' don't chill their enthusiastic generosity! See if they don't
write a different story I See how they will go to work then to
make it the embodiment of their fancied ideal."

Go to work? Why % Just as any sensible person would,to be sure.
Firstly, getting all the foreign aid possible from the State, counties,
&c; then, giving each of the directors a subscription paper, they,
visiting every farmer, ask for money and labor. Those not wishing
to give money, (putting down the amount of labor that they will
give,) should be importuned to put down their names as giving a
horse, a cow, a yearling, a pig, a swarm of bees, a hen, or a peck
of beans — something — anything ; all are acceptable, the more the
better.'

Then, as soon as the buildings are covered, making a general
camp meeting bee, inviting all the farmers to come and bring their
lunch, teams, axes, plows, and hammers, to fence and break the
section. And if enough came, it could all be fenced and broken
in less time than a week.

And every farmer that is a man, will either work himself, or hire
some one to work in his place. Of course, those miserable, short-
sighted beings, best known as "hogs," will neither give money nor
work. O no ! " Charity begins at home !" What a perversion !
But there are enough whole souled public spirits to accomplish the
work, without any of their swineships' assistance.
—62

ON SELF EDUCATION.

ADDRESSED TO THE FARMERS AND .MECHANICS OF ILLINOIS.

By J. C. Power, of Peoria, Hlinois.

In entering upon any undertaking, it becomes necessary to
adopt some kind of system by which to proceed. I shall endeavor
to show why we should increase our efforts in the acquisition of
knowledge, and also to point out some of the modes to be adopted
to secure that end — all of which I will aim to illustrate by well
known facts and incidents.

Permit me by way of preface to say, that in assuming that there
is a lack of knowledge among the laboring men of our State, I
must not be understood to advance the idea that this condition of
things is peculiar to Illinois ; but, on the contrary, it may be
truthfully said, that there is not to be found in this or any other
country an equal number of inhabitants, occupying the same ex-
tent of territory, that could excel them in intellectual acquirements.

With these remarks, I shall proceed. It was long since decreed
in the councils of Him whose wisdom and goodness precludes the
idea of error or injustice, that man should "eat his bread in the
sweat of his face, until his return to the ground." An intimate
knowledge of the history of our race discloses the fact, that where
men have most cheerfully submitted to the requirements of this
law, and by industry and economy provided for their own wants,
they have invariably been the most contented and happy. Few,
if any of us, doubt that it was promulgated in infinite wisdom ; in-
deed, with our present inclination to run into intemperance and
excess, much as we love ease and self gratification, we cannot con-
ceive of a more deplorable state of society than one in which all
our wants, real or imaginary, should be supplied without any care
or exertion on our part.

But, notwithstanding all this, men do not love to labor. It is
true we often find ourselves engaging in it with elastic step and
buoyaut spirits ; and the man who can with the most cheerful feel-

571

ings endure the toil that is necessary to accomplish anything real-
ly beneficial to himself, or those dependent on him for support, is
much more happy, and has greater claims to the respect of his fel-
low men than he who keeps it ever before his mind that it is a neces-
sity, from which he cannot honorably escape. Remove from the
most industrious those incentives that usually prompt us to act ;
remove from him the hope of reward; let him feel that it is his pro-
vince to sow, but that another shall reap without his consent, then
to toil would beexceedingly irksome — it would cause him to realize
the truth of what I have just stated, to-wit : that men do not ove
labor. Thus we find the hope of reward to be the object of all our
exertions, and it becomes necessary that we should know how to
direct them most profitably.

The time was when it required but little knowledge to hold a
place in the front rank among agriculturists, mechanics, or even
what are termed the learned professions. Take for example the
science of medicine, the amount of knowledge that would secure
its possessor a respectable position in his profession, before the
discovery of the circulation of the blood in the human system,
would now be held in derision by quacks.

What would the manufacturers of our country think of the man
who would commence the business of making steel among them,
on so small a scale that his entire works could be completed by
two men in a single clay, his only means of urging the fire to re-
duce the ore to metal, being a goat skin, taken from the animal as
near whole as possible, by tying up the legs and inserting a nozzle
in the orifice at one end, and vavles, so as to be used for a handle,
at the other ; in this manner forming his bellows ; and in place of
hammers using wooden mauls, which is the mode now practiced
in India and has been for ages ?

What would the farmers think of the man who used a piece of
wood for a plow share, and would contend that deep plowing was
injurious to the soil, with all his other implements and ideas to cor-
respond % Of course, they would now regard him as exceedingly
ignorant. But, we must remember, that such men were once up
with the times ; that knowledge is acquired by learning one thing
at a time, and that the men of the present day, most celebrated for
their attainments in science or any of the arts of civilized life, are
indebted to past ages for the development of ninety-nine truths for
every one of their own.

The child begins to study its native language. He learns the
name and form of a single letter at a time. He then learns to
unite them into words ; and, after this, he forms the words into
sentences. This he does by the aid of the living; teacher — one who
has gone over the same road before him. With mankind in gen-
eral it has been somewhat different. In studying the arts of civil-
ized life they have been forced to be their own teachers. As neces-
sity compelled them to leave the beaten track — new modes were
sought out j or, in other words, invention and discovery commenced.

572

Sometimes that which we call accident, or the tmlooked for
development of facts, has added to the amount of knowledge.
This, however, does not argue that we should wait for truths to be
forced upon us in this manner. Indeed, it is safe to assert that im-
portant truths have never been developed by accident, except
through the agency of men of cultivated intellect.

The man* whose claims to the invention of the art of printing
rest upon very resj)ectable authority, (although contested by others)
is said to have been walking in the woods, and, for amusement,
cut some letters upon the rind of a beech tree, which, for fancy's
sake he impressed upon paper. He then prepared one or two lines
for his grandchildren, to follow this. Having happily succeededy
he meditated greater things, and finally succeeded in printing
whole pages and even books. There is one very important thing
to be remembered in connection with this transaction. The same
author says that "he was a man of ingenuity and judgment." So
we are torced to conclude that had it not been for the former culti-
vation ot his intellect, he would have returned from his walk no
wiser than he started. Newton, by his high position as a mathe-
matician, was only prepared, by being driven from the university
by the plague, to investigate the cause of an apple falling to the
ground, which led to his great discovery of the law of gravitation.
If Jennier's mind had not been well cultivated, the remark of the
illiterate servant girl might have passed unheeded, and in place of
the discovery of a means of modifying the small-pox — thus pre-
venting an immense amount of suffering, and doubtless saving the
lives of thousands, vaccination would have been unknown, and that
loathsome disease continued to scourge the human family.

I suppose it is unnecessary to multiply instances to prove the
necessity of cultivating the mind to fit us for the invention of a
new implement, or the discovery of a new principle. The mind
should be well stored to enable us properly to use the inventions
and discoveries already known. Some may even ask, if we would
have every man in the State set out with the determination of pro-
ducing something new, merely for the sake of attracting attention.
I answer, by no means ; but that I would have every man in the State
in possession of all existing knowledge, pertaining to his own business.

The farmer should know what are the constituents in a soil ne-
cessary to produce a given crop. He should know how to deter-
mine whether his soil contained them or not, and if any were want-
ing, how to supply them. We do not mean, by this, that every
man should be a thorough practical chemist ; for it would take
years of experience, with the most extensive apparatus and appli-
ances, to enable a chemist to obtain a correct analysis of an ordi-
nary soil, or almost any of nature's vegetable compounds. It is
not for the purpose of making a complete analysis that a farmer

*Laureutius Costar, of the city of Haerlem, Holland.

5V3

requires chemical knowledge, but that he may know how to apply
the knowledge already obtained by professional chemists. There
are agricultural dictionaries published, and many works upon ag-
ricultural chemistry, that every farmer ought to purchase and use,
thereby creating a demand for that kind of literature as the most
sure way of getting it simplified, so as to be easily grasped by the
common mind. In these works a full analysis is given of nearly
all farm products and manures. Now, suppose a farmer wishes to
i renovate an exhausted soil, which, ls a basis for his operations, he
knows to have been exhausted by continued crops of corn- He,
of course, would refer to the analysis of that plant, and notice the
substances that it has for years been abstracting from the soil, and
then, by referring to the analysis of the various fertilizing substan-
ces, he can easily determine which will most readily and cheaply
restore the soil to its former condition.

It may be said that the rich soils of our prairies do not require
renovation. This may be true, but the old proverb, "An ounce of
preventative is better than apound of cure,3' is very applicable here.
The farmer should know the diseases of the various animals he
uses, and how to treat them. Is there a man in the State that
cannot call to mind the loss of a valuable horse through sheer ig-
norance of his disease ; or if his disease was known, ignorance of
a proper remedy ? And this often occurs where half or even a
fourth of the value of the horse invested in books, and those well
studied during leisure hours, would have saved the life of the horse
and invested his owner with knowledge to be applied in all future
emergencies.

In these days, when so much machinery is used in farming, the
farmer should know how to make judicious selections, and how to
use them properly. He should, especially, be able to suggest im-
provements to the mechanic. It was an English farmer that in-
vented, during his leisure hours, the cylindrical carding machine,
to take the place oi the old hand cards. He was also the inventor
of printing or stamping cotton goods, a thing that very greatly in-
creased the value of that article for wearing apparel. The farmer
and mechanic both should know something of thenature and com-
position of the materials they use. A knowledge of chemistry is
the only way to acquire this. The old philosophers, or those who
first began to investigate the cause of the various changes in the
material world, and the composition of the substances, found in
nature, believed and taught that there were but four simple ele-
ments, and that these were earth, air, fire and water. As know-
ledge increased, it was ascertained that neither of these were sim-
ple elements (an element in this sense is a substance that cannot
be chemically divided.) Take one of the ores — of lead, for example
— the antimonial sulphuret of lead. It is composed of lead, anti-
mony, sulphur, copper and iron — those five substances can easily
be separated ; but when separated neither of them can be divided
again. Therefore they are all simple elements. It matters not

574

Low often you melt the lead. It is only lead, and so with each of
the others. The earth contains all the elements, each of which is
an element of itself. The air is composed of two gases or elements,
viz : oxygen and nitrogen, in the proportion of eight of the former
to twenty-eight of the later. Fire is not an element; it cannot ex-
ist alone, but only in consuming some combustible substance. I
presume it was never better defined than by Professor Silliman.
He says, "Fire is heat and light emanating visibly, perceptibly,
and simultaneously from any body ; caloric ; the unknown cause of
the sensation of heat, and of the retrocession of the homogeneous
particles of bodies from each other, producing expansion, and thus
enlarging all their dimensions ; one of the causes of magnetism."
Water is not an element, but is composed, when pure, of two ele-
ments or gases, viz : oxygen and hydrogen, in the proportion of
eighty-eight and nine-tenths of the former to eleven and one-tenth
of the latter.

As the science of chemistry advanced, one truth after another
was arrived at, developing new substances, so that works upon the
subject, published twenty-five or thirty years ago, enumerated
about fifty simple elements. The science, howrever, is still grow-
ing. There may be some others yet developed ; but so far as is
known at present, the whole number of simple elements which com-
pose all that varietyof rocks, stones, metals and earths, found under
the suface of the globe, as well as all the trees and other vegetable
substances which grow on it, and contain properties either for the
support or destruction of animal life, and all the men and animals
which inhabit, including all kinds offish and shells that live in the
sea, and all the fowls of the air, everything, animate or inanimate,
organic or inorganic, amount to about sixty or sixty- one.

This, at first view, to one who has not investigated the subject,
may seem to be impossible. That it may be true, however, I think
any one will admit, if he will allow me to illustrate it by the various
combinations and transpositions of which the letters or simple ele-
ments of our language are susceptible. The English language is
composed of twenty-six letters. These are various^ transposed so
as to form about forty thousand primitive words ; and with their
derivatives added the number is augmented to between seventy
and eighty thousand. These words may be and are used, either
singl#y or combined, to give names to everything in nature or that
may be found by art. They may be used to express every thought
or emotion of the human mind. At a low estimate the language
is now spoken by fifty millions of people (about one twentieth of
the population of the globe,) and if they all understood it thorough-
ly it would supply them all with words to express every thought
of each one. And what are the means by which this is done?
Nothing but these twenty-six letters, characters or simple elements
representing sounds ? The transposition of the ten figures or char-
acters representing numbers might be used as another illustration.
These examples, although they may seem striking, are, no doubt?

575

as far' numerically below the real combinations in nature, as the
mind of weak and sinful man is below the infinite Jehovah.

As everything in nature is composed of two or more of these ele-
ments, the more we can know of them the greater are our chances
for success. We must first learn what these substances are — the
name, nature and appearance of each one. This we may call the
alphabet of nature. We next may learn how two or more of them
may combine to form another substance. I have shown in a for-
mer part of this article that a single ore of lead contained five of
these elements. Of course they are combined naturally to form
this one. The same may be done by artificial means, as iron and
carbon united, in the proportion of from one hundred and fifty to
two hundred of the former to one of the latter, forms steel. This
we may call spelling nature. The combination of these and other
substances may be traced to the formation of everything we use or
of which we have any knowledge. An understanding of this fact
we may call reading nature. Then let our aim be to learn the alpha-
bet of nature — to spell it and read it. Men will not have accom-
plished the work the Supreme Being designed they should until
this work is accomplished.

But to prepare us for this part of self education we should be-
gin further back. Self education, however, implies that the person
practicing it must have some knowledge to begin with — but how
little one might know and be capable of commencing, it is no easy
matter to determine.

It is said of Hugh Miller, the celebrated geologist, that, having
no books, he commenced his studies by examining the stones in the
quarries where he labored. George Stephenson, the father of rail-
roads, commenced his studies by taking the engine in the coal mine,
of which he had charge, to pieces, and putting it together again
during his leisure hours. It was not until after he had taken upon
himself the care of a family that he attended a night school and
learned to read. From these humble efforts he continued to ac-
quire knowledge, until he was enabled, as chief engineer, success-
fully to conduct the building and opening of the Liverpool and
Manchester railway — the first that attracted the attention of the
world. The following anecdote, related of him, is so good a speci-
men of answering a fool according to his folly, that I think it would
not be out of place here. It should serve as a model for answer-
ing all old fogies : When himself, and a few others with whom he
was associated, were endeavoring to get permission to construct
the above named road, he was called before a committee of par-
liament to answer questions. Among others, he was asked, in a
very pompous style, " Sir, if an engine going at the rate of ten or
twelve miles an hour should encounter a strong cow, wouldn't it be
awkward ?" " It would be very awkward for the coo" was his reply.

It has not been the privilege of more than a small fraction of
the men of any country to receive a thorough education, and those
few have seldom performed much manual labor. The great mass of

576

those who produce the wealth of the world are usually limited to
the common branches ; but assuming that each of those I am ad-
dressing have received those branches, I will endeavor to point out
some of our errors, and the way in which we can improve our-
selves. One of the difficulties laboring men encounter almost
every time they take up a book or paper to read is with regard to
the meaning of words. Our reading is done too much like our
work on the farm and in the shop. ¥e undertake to do too much
for the time engaged. We pay too little regard to rules. I pre-
sume there is not one family in a hundred throughout the State
provided with a complete dictionary of the English language.
The question arises with regard to the meaning of a word ; the
only resource is a dictionary so much abridged to make it cheap
that it contains but few words, except such as are so much in use
that every one may learn their meaning if they will pay the least
attention to the language of those who are well educated. Again,
if these small dictionaries do contain the word sought for the defi-
nition is so much abridged that it often leaves the mind in doubt
as to the proper place to use them. This evil is the foundation
upon which many others are based. A failure to find a full and
correct definition of words leads to a slovenly manner of reading.
How often do we find men, who have the native talent and shrewd-
ness for almost any business, upon being called on to read an article
from a newspaper or book, do it so bunglingly that it makes a
good reader feel unpleasant to hear it? Such pronunciation,
words that they have learned by observation to speak properly
when conversing, you would think altogether different when they
come to speak them in reading. As to punctuation, it is of no use
to them. They go over it all like a blind horse over a corduroy
road — step so high as to be sure and clear it all. And this evil
seems likely to continue, in some places at least, where schools are
very well supported. I was in the company of a teacher not long
since. In our conversation the importance of punctuation was
spoken of. I pointed to a quotation mark and observed that many
persons lost the sense of what they read by a failure to understand
the use of that. He looked at it with a puzzled expression of
countenance, and, to my surprise, said he, " Why, I never noticed
that before." Of course we may expect such evils to continue
with the young as long as such teachers are employed. These and
similar errors go through our whole studies, and with those whose
time for attending school is limited to two or three months in the
year, for a few years, and then enter upon the active scenes of
business and partake of the busy scramble for wealth, it is fixed
for life.

Now, what we want is, to begin right. I believe that it every
family in the State of Illinois was in possession of a complete dic-
tionary of the Enligh language, (and there is but one) the effect of
the common schools would be almost doubled, even if the habits
of the parents were fixed so that they cared nothing about it. Let

577

the children have free access to it; let them know that if a ques-
tion arises about the meaning of a word, and the proper place to
use it, that it can be settled and settled right. It will awaken in-
quiry and stimulate the mind to the investigation of subjects that
could elicit no interest before. For example, a work on chemis-
try, with no other help than a small dictionary, is almost impene-
trable. So with mineralogy. Although these sciences have bor-
rowed so much from other languages, with the aid of Webster's
Unabridged Dictionary the student will seldom be at a loss to as-
certain their meaning.

Again, if we undertake the study of grammar or arithmetic, we
think we must have a teacher to explain and assist at every step,
when the fact is, if we would provide ourselves with the means
of knowing what words mean, and then never go beyond the rules
laid dozen in the books without getting a thorough understanding of
them, we can go forward and acquire avast amount without the aid
of any teacher; and this course ought to be pursued by men who
have passed the age of life to receive instruction in schools, if for no
other reason that they might convince themselves of the impor-
tance of liberal education to fit men for good farmers and mechan-
ics. This would be the most sure way of securing the establish-
ment of schools by the State, where both the theory and practice
of agriculture and mechanics might be taught upon the most en-
lightened principles.

This article has already grown to a much greater length than I
anticipated in the outset, and I shall be compelled to omit many
things that I should like to mention, such as the importance of the
study of geography and mineralogy — the former that we may bet-
ter appreciate the value of the land in which the Supreme Being
has seen fit to place us ; the climate we enjoy, equidistant from the
extremes of heat and cold. Its great importance is that we may
the better understand what we read of in other countries by know-
ing their location. This study a man may pursue almost as well
without a teacher as with one, just by observing rules and the
meaning of words. In mineralogy, how small a number of mechan-
ics can approximate to the number of metals % Ask that man you
first meet, who has worked a score of years in metals, and perhaps
acquired a competence for life, how many of them weld, and he
may tell you three, or it may be ten; but in either case it is only a
guess. This ignorance among laboring men is inexcusable. It
would not be tolerated with professional men about their business.
This we can study alone to a great extent. Let us do it.

I cannot close without an appeal to the farmers and mechanics
of the State in their own behalf.

The Agricultural Society of Illinois has become a fixed fact, and
wields a powerful influence. All who have attended the State fairs
know that a large majority of the premiums have been paid in sil-
ver plate. I should not like to speak of this kind of premiums in
such a manner, as to cause any one to say, "sour grapes," to me ;

578

but*! do think the same money might be invested in such articles
as would be of much greater intrinsic value to the recipients of
them, without diminishing their importance as a keepsake. For
example, a forty dollar pitcher is awarded for the best horse or
some mechanical product. It is gratifying to receive it. It is ta-
ken home. The facts are engraven upon it. It is laid away care-
fully. It is taken out occasionally to show to a friend ; and so
it will pass from one generation to another; but it is dead capital
all the time ; it produces nothing — it teaches nothing.

ISTow the officers of the Society are not to blame for this. They
are only acting in compliance with universal custom. But what I
want to propose is this : that we unite in calling on them to change
this custom, and in place of 3, forty dollar pitcher, let it be a forty
dollar library, (or if it is a hundred dollars, so much the better)
and be sure that it contains "Webster's Unabridged Dictionary;"
" "Ore's Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mining ;" the best
dictionary on agriculture; the. best dictionary of chemistry; the
best work on chemistry in general; the best on agricultural chem-
istry; the best on natural philosophy and mineralogy; on the dis
eases of domestic animals, &c. Let the smaller premiums be
similar — always beginning with Webster, unless the premium is
of less value than the book. If we call upon them to do this, I
doubt not they will comply. By taking this course we can hasten
the time that all good men hope to see — when mere show will not
satisfy, but when intellectual and moral worth will be universally
respected and admired.

THE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOUSE.

By Alex. M. Gow, of Dixon, Illinois.

The adaptation of the school house to the purpose of its erection
is a more important consideration than many are, at first, apt to
imagine, and it is with a view to create a better and more general
appreciation of the subject of "school architecture" that the follow-
ing suggestions are presented.

The excellence of the school building may be ascertained by ref-
erence to the modes of lighting, heating, ventilation, economy of
space, facilities for instruction, and internal and external appear-
ance. An edifice cannot be said to be suitable for educational pur-
poses that does not combine these adaptations. Health, comfort
and convenience may be attained and preserved by teachers and
pupils, if proper care be taken in the construction of the building in
which they are to spend so large a portion of their time. If these
are not the subjects of proper solicitude to those who erect school
buildings, the education will be as limited in quantity as its quality
is defective. If the Legislature of our State, in view of the great
number of school houses to be erected in the sparsely settled dis-
tricts, would cause the publication and distribution of a work on
the subject of " school architecture," embracing plans and specifica-
tions suited to the wants of every grade of school, in town and
country, it would be an economical arrangement to the State, con-
sidered in a pecuniary view, as well as a most important improve-
ment, physically, morally and intellectually, to the great mass of
her children. But as the State has not made provision for the dis-
tribution of information concerning this most important subject,
it will not be considered inappropriate to direct attention to a few
of the most important principles in connection with the simplest
and cheapest kind of school house which should be erected, and
thus do something, if possible, to prevent those serious blunders
which are so prevalent, and which do so much to retard the improve-
ment of the "people's schools."

580

The accompanying plans will indicate some of the principles
which should regulate every well arranged school house. The

dimensions are 20x 30 feet,

UOGDGGDO

[

■DO

®DDD
DDDDD

»1

!_

_J

date 40 pupils

m the inside, and is the
smallest house that should
be built for district school
purposes. The school room
is 20x25, and 12 feet high
to ceiling. The additional
room for clothes-racks, li-
brary, &c, is 5 feet wide.
"With these dimensions and
with the double seats, as
indicated, it will accommo-
More pupils would require a larger house.

Light. — One prominen
fault of our school houses gen
erally, is that they have too
many windows, and admit too
much light, often producing
head ache, and causing serious
injury to the eyes. To obvi-
ate this, light should only be
admitted from two sides of the
room — in our plan from the
west and south sides. Three

\_/-fl windows in the south and two

in the west will give sufficient light in the darkest days, and too
much when the sun shines brightly. To modify the light, green
Venitian shutters, with movable slats, should be hung on the in-
side of the windows. The rays may be regulated by these at
pleasure, and no school room is complete without them. The
north side, for the sake of external symmetry, may have three
false windows on the outside, and on the inside be plain, as indica-
ted in cut No. 2.

Heating. — For such school buildings as the one indicated, there
is no safer or more economical method of heating than by the coal
or wood stove — sufficiently large to make the room comfortable
without being heated to redness. In order to facilitate the heating
of the school room, and from false ideas of economy, the ceiling is
often no higher than 8 or 9 feet, and the stove pipe is conducted the
whole length of the room over the heads of teacher and pupils.
This should never be. How much temporary suffering and per-
manent ill health arise from such mistaken notions of economy can-
not be estimated.

Yentilation. — A current of pure air should pass through every
part of the school room, to remove the not only offensive but inju-
rious excretions of the lungs, skin, clothes and stove combined.
This cannot be effected properly or safely by doors and windows,

2.6,|
a. ini

581

but it may be accomplished by making an aperture, 12 inches
square, in the centre of the room, under the stove, which should
be covered by a movable slide or damper. Connecting with this
should be an air tight box or duct, communicating with the outside
under the floor, through an opening in the foundation wall. The
exposed end of this air duct should be covered by a painted wire
screen, to keep out leaves and vermin. A cylinder of tin, with a
door in front to put in coal and remove ashes, should be placed
around the stove. It should be two or three inches greater in di-
ameter than the stove, that all the fresh air admitted through the
duct beneath may pass in contact with the heated stove before it is
diffused through the room. At each end of the room there should
be an air duct, similar to the one under the floor, 12 or 14 inches
square — 18 inches would not be too much — which should pass
through the ceiling and open into the chimney by sheet iron flues,
to prevent danger of tire. Two openings should be made in each
duct from 12 to 18 inches square, one at the ceiling, the other at
the floor, in which should be placed a door or register, to be open
or shut at pleasure. By means of the vacuum produced in the
heated chimney, the air will rush in from the room below, and thus
establish a current of pure, warm air, rendering the room comfor-
table and healthful. For summer ventilation, the upper and lower
window sash should be hung to open above and below, and the
doors should have transom sash hung over them. The windows
should be narrow and high, to give symmetry to the building, and
also to afford greater room for black boards inside, and for better
ventilation.

Facilities foe Instruction. — As the north side of the room is a
plain wall, it presents an admit able convenience for hanging maps,
charts, &c, together with an extended blackboard. Black boards
should also be put in the spaces between the windows on the south
and weet sides of the room. We have never heard a complaint
that there was too much black board surface in a school room. It
should be built in the wall, made firm and smooth, and should not
be less than 4 feet and had better be six feet wide. In order to
place the classes as far as possible from the teacher — an advantage
which every teacher who values well developed voices and good
elocution will appreciate — a platform, 18 inches wide and 8 inches
high, should extend along the walls all around the room, thus ena-
bling them to be better seen, and to work more conveniently at the
black boards. The teacher's platform is placed at the west end of
the room, between the windows, and should be 8 inches high and
5 or 6 feet wide. Above the platform a wainscot of 20 inches high
should be made, to protect the wall, all around the room. On the
top of the wainscot should be a trough or groove, 4 inches wide
and 2 deep, to hold chalk and wipers. On this the black board
should be placed, and above it some slats 4 inches wide should be
inserted to hang maps on, and thus save defacing the walls.

582

Furniture should be of the improved patterns, as they are more
convenient, elegant and durable than the old board contrivances.
The first cost is greater, but in the end, it properly used, they are
the most economical.

To preserve the building and give it the appearance of neatness
and comfort, all the inside wood work should be " oak grained" or
painted oak brown, without the graining.

As the construction of such a house is not difficult or expensive,
it is not necessary to occupy our space by giving a cut for the ex-
ternal elevation. Any good carpenter can furnish all that is neces-
sary for this purpose. The only suggestion is, that the building
have wide eaves, to throw the water well from the house. If a
portico 6 feet wide were built across the east end, the roof support-
ed by neat pillars, it would add to its appearance and serve as a
protection to the house.

ADDITIONS AND ANNOTATIONS TO MB. LAPHAM'S CATALOGUE OF ILLINOIS
PLANTS.

By Frederick Erendel, of Peoria, Illinois.

In ray account of the geographical distribution of trees and
shrubs of Illinois, the reader will find some species which are not
named in Mr. Lapham's Catalogue. Here I will add the omitted
herbaceous plants. But for the first a few remarks about the north-
ern or southern limits within the state. I do not know the line
between North and South Illinois Mr. Lapham had in mind when
he distinguished the southern and northern species by the letters
S. and N. Anyhow, the following of both grow around Peoria:

Anemone Caroliniana, "Walt. Common.

Sida spinosa, L. Introduced. Common.

Abutilon Avicennse, Csertn. Introduced. Common.

Polygala Senega, L. Not rare.

Crotalaria sagittalis, L. Rare.

Psoralea floribunda, Nutt. Southward to St. Clair Co.

Desmodium paniculatum, D. C.

Spiroea Aruncus, L.

Gaura biennis, L. Common.

Heracleum lanatum, Michx.

Aralia nudicaulis, L.

Buchnera Americana, L. Pare.

Cynoglossum Morisoni, D. C. Common.

Solanum Carolinense, L. Common.

Gentiana alba, Muhl.

Aristolochia serpentaria, L.

Euphorbia cyathophora, Jacq.

Euphorbia dentata, Michx.

Cyperus ovularis, Torr.

Thaspium barbinode, Nutt. I have seen in Clayton county,
Iowa, beyond the north line of Illinois.

Verbena hastata, L., and urticifolia, L., are indigenous North
American plants, not introduced, as indicated in Lapham's Cata-
logue and in Gray's Manual, certainly not from Europe. There
are only two European verbena, Verbena supina, L., and Verbena
officinalis, L.,- which is a cosmopolite.

587

SPECIES, WHICH ARE OMITTED:

Delphinium exaltatum, Ait. Washington co., fide Dr. Welsch.
Nasturtium sinuatum, Nutt. Peoria.
Nasturtium sessiliflorum, Nutt. Peoria.
Hypericum adpressum, Bart. St. Clair co.
Hypericum ellipticum, Hook. St. Slair co.
Hypericum dolabriforme, Tent. St. Clair co.
Hypericum nudiflornm, Michx _ St. Clair co. ) fi D w hch
Elodea petiolata, Nutt. St. Clair co. j J

Sagina nodosa, Tenzl. St. Clair co., received from Dr. Welsch.
(But the petals shorter than the calyx; perhaps'Sagina saxatilis,
Wimmer; but the stem not creeping.)
Malva silvestris, L. Introduced.
Floerkea proserpinacoides, Willd. Tazewell co.
Trilolium arvense. Tazewell co. Introduced.
Melilotus alba, Lam. Introduced.
Desmodium ciliare, D. C. St. Clair co.
Desmodiutn marilandicum, Boot. St. Clair co.
Yivia Americana, Muhl. Peoria.
Lathyrus palustris, L. Peoria.

Bapt'isia tiuctoria, K. Br. St. Clair c^, fide Dr. Welsch.
Geum album, 6m. St. Clair co.
Gaura filipes, Spach. St. Clair co., fide Dr. Welsch.
Mitella diphylla, L. Common.

Archangelicia atropurpurea, Iloffm. Peoria and St. Clair co.
Aethusa cynepium, L. Introduced.

Galium concinnum, Torr. & Gr. Peoria and St. Clair co.
Teclia radiata, Michx. St. Clair co.
Elephantopus Caroliniana, Willd. St. Clair co.
Aster macrophyllus, L. Peoria.
Lobelia Kalmii, L. Tazewell co.
Lysimachia longifolia, Pursh. Woodford co.
Utricularia subulata, L. St. Clair confide Dr. Welsch.
Linaria vulgaris, Mill. Introduced.
Scutillaria parvula, Michx. Peoria. Common.
Phlox maculata, L. Woodford co. and St. Clair co.
Phlox reptans, Michx. Yery common.

Phacelia bipmnatiflda, Michx. St. Clair co., fide Dr. Welsch.
Obolaria Yirginica, L. St. Clair co.
Asclepias phytolaccoides, Pursh. Peoria.

Callitriche verna, L. St. Clair co. 1 y? 7 r> "W

Callitriche autumnalis, L. var linearis. St. Clair co. ) ^ '

Calla palustris, L. St. Clair co.
Symplocarpus fcetidus, Salisb. Peoria,
Cypripedium arietinum, P. Br.
Platanthera flava, Gray.
Platanthera lacera, Gra y
Platanthera hyperborea, Linde.
Smilax hispida, Muhl. Peoria.

St. Clair co., fide Dr. Welsch.

585

Trillium nivale, Eiddell. Peoria.

Lilium superbum, L. Tazewell co.

Eleocharis intermedia, Schult. ) a. &■,. ^

Eleocharis olivacea, lorr. J

Agrostis perennans Tuckerm. Peoria.

Paspalum Erankii, Stend. St. Clair co.

Panicum anceps, Michx. Peoria.

Equisetum limosum, L. Peoria.

Equisetum variegatum, Schleicli. Peoria.

Strnthiopteris germanica, Willd. Peoria.

Asplenium ebeneum, Ait. St Clair co. ,Jide Dr. Welsch.

MOSSES OCCURRING AROUND PEORIA.

Physcomitrium turbinatum, Brid.

Ceratodon purpureus, Brid.

"Weissia viridula, Brid.

Drummondia clavellata, Hook.

Leptotrichum pallidum, Hmp.

Barbula unguiculata, Etdwg.

Catharinea angustata, Hook.

Bartramia pomiformis, Hdwg. B crispa.

Milium cuspidatum, Hdwig.

Bryum cespiticium, L.

Funaria hygrometrica, Hedw.

Timmia megapolitano, Hdwg.

Angstroemia varia, C. Mull.

Pylaisaea intricata, Br. Eur.

Neckera pseudalopecura, C. Mull.

i^eckera cladorrbizans, Hedw.

Xeckera sedutrix, Hedw.

Climacium Americanum, Brid.

Hypnum rostratum, P. B.

H. orthocladon, P. B.

II. gracile, Br. & Sclimp.

H. bispidulum, Brid.

H. serrulatum, Hedw.

H. acuminatum, P. B.

H. adnatum, Hedw.

H. cbrysophyllum, Brid.

H. tamariscinum, Hedw.

—03

LIST OF PLANTS OCCURRING IN THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF THE STATE

IN ADDITION TO THE CATALOGUE GIVEN BY DR J. A. LAPHAM.

By M. S. Bebb, of Odin, Marion County, Illinois.

Thalectrum divicum, L.

Ranunculus rhomboideus, Goldic.

Actsea spicata — rubra, Gr.

Camelina sativa, Crantz.

Alsine Michauxii, Frenzl. (Arenaria stricta, Michx.)

Ceonothus ovalis, Bigl.

Lupinus perennis, L.

Lathyrus palustris, L.

Geum strictum, Ait.

" triflorum, Pursh.
Ribes Cynosbati, L.
Saxifraga Pennsylvania, L.
Mitella diphylla, L
Hamamelis Virginica, L.
Sanicula Canadensis, L.
Corn us alternifolia, L.
Viburnum lentago, L.

" pubescens, Pursh.

Galium boreale, L.
Valeriana edulis, Nutt.
Aster ptarmicoides, Torr & Gr.
Solidago stricta, Ait.
Castilleia sessiliflora, Pursh.
Scutellaria parvula, Michx.
Asclepias phytolaccoides, Pursh.
Fraxinus sambucifolia, Lam.
Dirca palustris, L.
Callitriche verna, L.
Betula alba — populifolia, Spach.

587

Salix discolor, Muhl.

" " sensativa, (S. sensativa Barratt.)

" eriocephala, prinoides, Pursh.

« cordata, Muhl.

" rigida, Muhl.

" rostrata, Richardson.

" nigra, Marshall.

" lucida, Muhl.
Populus grandidentata, Michx,
Pinus Banksiana, Lam.

" Strobus, L.
Taxus baccata, L. var Canadensis.
Symplocarpus foetidus, Salisb .
Smilacina bifolia, Ker.
Polypodium vulgare, L.

Note. — Gaura bienuis, Gymnocladus Canadensis, Morus rubra and Onybaphus nyctagi-
asus marked " S" by Dr. Lapham, occur throughout the estate.

THE TREES AND SHRUBS IN ILLINOIS.

By Frederick Brendel, of Peoria.

"Welcome, ye shades ! ye bowery thickets hail !
Ye lofty pines ! ye venerable oaks !
Ye ashes wild, resounding o'er the steep !
Delicious is your shelter to the soul."

Thomson.

It is a singular charm, to roam in a mighty forest, now below
the green dome of transparent foliage, the lofty home of a melodi-
ous chorus, diffusing a magic light over the flower-covered ground;
now below the darker shelter of a thick, leafy roof, where the mos-
sy stone checks the murmuring rivulet, or the woodpecker's mo-
notonous thump only interrupts the solemn silence.

Upward winds our path ; we proceed to the platform of a steep
rock. How delightful a scene opens to our view below ! The rocky
walls rise above an ocean of manifold shaped foliage, resplendent
in fall-time with a variety of brilliant different colors and shades ;
a broad stream winds through the valley, reflecting on its silvery
sheet the forms of the bordering willows or the houses of a peace-
ful village, or the smoking factories of a noisy city, on the back-
ground of which stretches the wide prairie, crossed by roads and
checkered with farms and small groves. The horizon bounds a
line of wooded bluffs. Everywhere a variety of points for the eye
to rest on. A treeless plain fatigues the eye; a wilderness of na-
ked rocks arouses gloomy sentiments ; but the woods embellish
the landscape as the curling hair does the child's blooming face.

To rob a country of this ornament, manifests a want of good
taste. To destroy entire forests of useful trees proves an abun-
dance of damnable heedlessness, which does not care about the fu-
ture, and has been repented in many cases, when it was too late.

Every farmer should not only reserve a portion of good timber
on his lands, but improve it by introduction of useful trees. Im-
proved woodland will bring yearly a good rent to a wise econo-
mist. This has often been taught, but cannot be repeated often
enough.

It is not my intention to give a systematical description of all our
trees and shrubs. That can be found in any manual of botany, (par-
ticularly in Asa Gray's Botany of the Northern States.) Here it will

589

be sufficient to present a review of those species of woody rjlants,
which constitute our woods, which with certainty can and which
possibly might be found in each part of our state. Perhaps there
is in every county one man, who takes so much interest in the
physical exploration of the country he lives in, to make himself the
trouble to compile a catalogue of the surrounding vegetation, with
additional notes about the soil, the time of leafing, flowering, fruit-
ing, shedding of leaves. Specimens about which anybody is in
doubt, to examine I am ready any time. So we could in a couple
of years easily finish the work, of which the foundation Mr. Lap-
ham has laid in the second volume of these Transactions.

In a state like that of Illinois, the principal resources of which
agriculture furnishes, a botanical survey is of no less importance
than a geological survey. The riches which the fertile soil offers
are worth to be known as much as those which the underlaying
strata cover. The spontaneous vegetation of a soil indicates ex-
actly its quality. Some specimens of plants possess qualities which
are little known, but of a high value. How many do not know
that the white willow, (salix alba, L.) furnishes the best and most
durable fence posts. It has a rapid growth, obtains a considerable
size and can be cultivated throughout the state. Many species
growing spontaneously in any locality indicate that other species of
any value, which like the same soil and climate, could be intro-
duced and cultivated. Quite a number of advantages could be
counted, which, though not so obvious to the first sight, would arise
from a botanical exploration of the whole state.

Geographical Distribution of Woody Plats in Illinois. —
The bulk of the woodland in Illinois occupies the southern portion
of the state. In middle Illinois woodland and prairie are equally
distributed. In the northern part (except Jo Daviess county,) the
prairie prevails, the river bottoms only being wooded. Entirely
destitute of woods are large tracts of land around the sources of
Kaskaskia river, and the other left tributaries of the Illinois river,
and the right tributaries of the Wabash river, in Livingston, Iro-
quois and Vermilion counties. Then between the Illinois river
and Kock river. What is the reason of this want of trees over such
large tracts of land ? It is not sterility of the soil. The soil of our
prairies possesses all those materials the growth of trees needs.
Nor is it want of humidity, nor the violence of storms which sweep
the plains. Though hurricanes occasionally prostrate trees of the
largest size, they would not hurt the bending young tree, once
having occupied the ground. The prairie fires we could accuse of
destruction, provided there were no previous cause to acquit the
fire from that crime.

In middle Illinois we generally find the bottom lands and bluffs
covered with wood, because the action of running water makes the
soil more loose and prevents the herbaceous perennials covering
it with a thick tuft, so the seeds of trees can easily germinate and
grow. On the table land the grasses have preoccupied the soil.

590

and their fibrous and manifold intricated roots, their tufted growth,,
prevent the seeds of trees, when transplanted by the wind, to ger-
minate and take root. It is the victorious struggle of the pigmean
army of united grasses against the mighty giants of the forest,
who, like Antaeus, get their strength only by footing on the
ground, and "who need the assistance of men to take possession o£
that ground.

How useful and how much needed the cultivation of forest trees
in the prairie districts is, and how trees can be transplanted and
cultivated, has been taught more than once in the two first vol-
umes of these Transactions, by many an expert farmer, and it will
be sufficient here to refer the reader to the same.

The American forest surpasses the European in a far greater
variety of species growing in company, and this variety of differ-
ent forms and colors, especially in fall, gives to the wooded dis-
tricts a surprising appearance. Though the different species pre-
fer different soil, exposition, humidity, etc., and many species are
wanting in localities where others abound, we can easily find twen-
ty to thirty different trees or shrubs upon a few acres of land.
Along river banks we find, besides various willows, the cotton-
wood, the white elm, the sycamore, the silver-leafed maple ; on
rich bottom land the burr oak, the swamp white oak, the pecan
nut, the black walnut, the butter nut, the hackberry, the ashes,
the red maple, the box elder, the buckeye, the honey locust, the
Kentucky coffee tree, the papaw, the red mulberry ; higher up
the bluffs the shell-bark hickory, the bitternut hickory, the mock-
ernut, the white oak, the chestnut oak, the red oak, the black
oak, the laurel oak, the water beech, the iron wood, the sassafras,
the red bud, the basswood and the red cedar. Exclusively in
swamps we find the American arbor vitas. The two latter trees
belong to the family of

The Conifers. — This family includes all those trees and shrubs
which present the appearance of the pine. It differs from other
woody plants chiefly by their naked seeds at the base of either
tree or berry-like coalescent scales — their mostly persistent needle-
shaped stiff' leaves, and their resinous wood having no ducts, but
consisting of a homogeneous fibre with circular disks on two oppo-
site sides. One thing more distinguishes this family from many
other trees — that the individual cannot be reproduced by layers,
nor by shoots from the root.

A. Braun published six years ago some interesting observations
on the development of the embryo and young plants of the Scotch
pine, the Norway spruce, the European silver fir and the larch.

The albumen, containing oil and amylum, envelops the embryo,
which consists of a long straight cylindrical axis and at least four
cotyledons (five to nine in the spruce and fir, generally six in the
pine.) The seeds of these coniferous trees germinate, when the
weather is warm and moist, in ten to fourteen days — the fir in the
beginning of May — the spruce, pine and larch in the last part of

591

May and the first part of June. The radicle pierees the integu-
ment the first, and when the albumen is consumed, the integument
is thrown off and the cotyledons get their green color. The young-
est plants are distinguished by the direction of the green cotyle-
dons. The cotyledons of the fir, which has the largest embryo,
are arranged in a horizontal verticil around the axis. The fir pro-
duces the first year rarely more than one verticil of leaves, which
alternate with the cotyledons. The spruce turns the cylindrical
cotyledons all to one side — the pine and larch keep the same straight
upward. The root of all ramifies very early. The pine, which
has the leaves in two, produces the first year only single leaves,
with only two resinous channels, from the axils of which, in the
second year, sprout the twin leaves, with many (to 24) resinous
channels, of which the leaves of the other species have always on-
ly two. The larch has the two first years single leaves, and not
before the third year appear the fascicles. The cotyledons of the
coniferous trees serve at first as nourishment for the young plants;
afterwards they have the function of leaves ; those of the fir
last several years ; those of the other three species wither the first
year. I had not yet the chance to make similar observations on
our American species. Perhaps one or the other of our readers
will communicate his experience in this line.

In Illinois we find only six species of this family, never forming
large forests, but single or in small groups. Two belong to the
proper pine family (genus pinus, sub-genus pinaster and strobus.)
One of both is only a shrub, or a small tree. The gray or north-
ern scrub pine (Pinus Banksiana, Lamb;) rarely found in only one
locality in Ogle county, as I am assured by Mr. Bebb. The same
gentleman informs me, that the other of the above species, the
white pine, (P. strobus, L.,) is very frequent in the northern part
of Illinois.

Three species belong to the cypress family — the American ar-
bor vitse, (Thuga occidentals, L.,) the red cedar, (Juniperus Yir-
giniana, L.,) and the bald cypress, (Taxodium distichum, Bich.) —
the latter, in the southern states, a very large sized tree, and, by
its durability, most valuable as timber ; grows in the southern part
of Illinois, but not to so large a size. This tree has a wide geo-
graphical extension. It grows in Mexico, on the table land, in a
height of between 5400 and 7200 feet above the level of the sea,
as well as in the swamps of the Mississippi, and all over the south-
ern states, and attains a height of 120 feet, and near the base a di-
ameter of 30 to 37 feet.— (Emerson Kep. on the Forests.) The
roots of this tree present a very remarkable appearance of woody
excrescences, of a rounded or conic or a table form, 3 to Ah. feet,
prominent from the ground, which is probably the reason for the
Mexican name — Ahuahuete, — which means water drum. These
excrescences of the bald cypress can be regarded as exostoses, and,
as they live in the open air, no doubt there would be an issue of
shoots, if not the nature of the tissue of the coniferous trees were

592

opposed to the development of germs, which generally produce
such shoots. (St. Hilaire Morph Yeget.) Brongniart has de-
scribed two more species of this genus : Taxodium microphjllum
and Taxodium ascendens. The latter is Cupressus disticha, B.
imbricaria, JNutt. ; both in the southern states, but perhaps both
only varieties.

The red cedar, (Juniperus Virginiana, L.,) extends from the
Gulf of Mexico to 50 deg. N". L. — the variety humilis, even to 6S
deg. N. L., where Kichardson found it, — and from the Atlantic,
beyond the Rocky mountains. This tree becomes 20 to 30 feet
high and likes rocky and dry hills, where its sombre appearance
between the young green of other trees in spring presents a de-
lightful contrast.

The American arbor vitas, on the contrary, prefers the swamps.
It is easily recognized by the compressed branchlets and recurved
branches ; it is said to attain sometimes a height of 50 feet, but I
never have seen it so large, and always only single specimens ; but
northward, extending to 50 deg. 1ST. L., it forms the so called Cedar
Swamps.

The Yew Family, (Taxinese) is represented in Illinois only by one
species —the American yew or ground hemlock, (Taxus canadensis,
"Willd.) It is a shrub not over eight feet high, occurring on moist
rocks and river banks. Mr. Bebb has found it, but not frequent,
in Winnebago county, and I have seen it in St. Clair county, (if I
recollect right,) on the steep, springy bluffs, opposite St. Louis,
at a place called Falling Spring. This is a northern species, and
extends to 54 deg. N. L., and westward to Oregon The Europe-
an species, (Taxus baccata, L.,) of which this seems to be a variety,
becomes a tree, but occurs wild only in mountainous districts of-
Europe.

Endlicher's Synopsis Coniferarum, 1847, contains 312 actual
and 178 extinct species — the latter, except three species, all de-
tected in Europe, only one, (Peuce Americana, Unger,) in North
America, (Illinois and Ohio ;) it is not said in which formation,
but probably in the carboniferous — the lowest that contains this '
family, and to which 17 of the above species belong. This num-
ber could probably be much increased by an attentive examina-
tion of our coal fields.

A remarkable fact is known of some coniferous trees, which has
not yet been observed on other trees: that is the ability of the
stumps to make new annual circles. On an old silver fir stump
have been observed 30 such circles ; so the stump increased in
thickness 30 years — a phenomenon which is not yet satisfactorily
explained.

The Willow Family, (Salicacese,) — is to botanists one of the
most difficult, because the species can be defined only by the flow-
ers and fruits, because the sterile flowers and the fertile are to be
found only on different individuals, and the latter stand often very

593

distant from each other, and because, as Wimmer, a German bot-
anist, has shown, so many proposed species prove to be only hy-
brids of two other species. Wimmer enumerates not less than 56
hybrids. Persoon (1805) names 115 species, of which to-day
scarcely 70 are considered as true species ; and although new ones
have been discovered since, the total number ot known willows
will hardly be a larger one than 50 years ago.

Michaux (Flora Americana, 1803,) enumerates only five North
American species ; JSTuttall (^Genera of N. Am. Plants, 1818,) ad-
mits 20 indigenous; Pursh., (Flora Amer., Sept. 1811,) 37 species,
of which 6 are northern, not belonging to the flora of U. S., and 6
introduced from Europe. One (Salix Houstoniana,) occurs only
in the southern states ; the rest, 21 species, within the limits of
Gray's Botany of the Northern XL S. But Gray enumerates only
18 indigenous willows. Of these are 4 Alpine and only 14 are
spread over the whole country, and occur probably all in Illinois.
Lapham's Catalogue (Transactions, Yol. II.) contains only 5, ex-
cept which I have found around Peoria : Salix Candida, Willd.,
Salix petiolaris, Sm., S. cordata, Muhl., var. myricoicles, S. an-
gustata, Pursh., S. nigra, Marsh, S. pedicellaris, Pursh., and in a
catalogue, kindly communicated to me by Mr. Bebb, I find S.
discolor, Muhl., S. rostrata, Bichardson, and S. lucida, Muhl., oc-
curring in Winnebago county.

These 11 genuine American willows are generally found in bot-
tom land and on river banks, where the whitish green gracile fo-
liage gives to the landscape a peculiar, but when it predominates,
a melancholy character. Like most of the European species,
which extend over the whole Siberian territory to the Pacific -
(willows have been observed on the banks of Amur river, with
many other European trees) — the American willows have a large
geographical distribution ; at least some of them extend far west.
Fremont has found Salix longifolia, Willd., and S. hnmilis, Marsh,
on the Platte river; Abert the former and S. angustata on the Ar-
kansas, and Emory on the Gila, several narrow leafed species.

Considering the inclination of the willows to produce hybrid
forms, we must suspect some very approximate species. For in-
stance, S. Candida, S. tristis, S. humilis, S. discolor and S. erioce-
phala, to be not all true species. By experiments on producing ar-
tificial hybrids, as did Wimmer, some light could be thrown on
this matter.

The other genus of this family, Populus (Poplar and Aspen) has
a much smaller number of species. A. Gray names six, growing
within the limits of his Botany of N. H. considering Populus
candicans, Ait. as a variety of Populus balsamifera, L. Four of
these are contained in Lapham's catalogue, to which I add P.
grandidentata, Michx, in Peoria county and Winnebago county.
The sixth, P. monilifera, Ait., is often confounded with P. argulata,
our cottonwood, and both, perhaps, one and the same species.
The latter is most common in the west. James, in Long's Ex-

594

peclition to the Eocky Mountains, says : "As far as our obser-
vation has extended, the poplar, most common in the country of
the Mississippi, and, indeed, almost the only one which occurs, is
the angulata. This tree is perhaps as widely distributed as any
indigenous to North America, extending at least from Canada to
Louisiana, and from the Atlantic to the lower part of Colum-
bia river." Nuttall (Travels to Arkansas Territory) distinguishes
two kinds of cottonwood, Popuuls angulata, which he calls some-
times P. angulisans, the yellow poplar, with the wood yellowish,
and populus monilifera, the white poplar "never so large as the
preceding, commonly growing in groves like the willows and pre-
senting a bark, which is white and even." Lieut. G. W. Abert,
in his report, names Populus inonilifera and Populus canadensis,
which are synonyms in Gray's Botany. Fremont mentions P.
monilifera, Geyer (London Journal of Botany) P. canadensis. All
use the vernacular name of "cottonwood." The catalogues of
trees from different localities in Illinois enumerate either P. monili-
fera, or P. angulata — never both oi them. The description of both
presents so little difference that I think the same could result
from local causes and different age of 0the collected specimens. It
will be remarked that I am rather suspicious in many cases ; but
to believe will not do in scientific matters ; doubt is the father,
scrutiny the mother of truth. If I had the means to travel, I
would follow the tracks of all the above reporters and judge by au-
topsy. So I can only see what occasion throws in my way, and
I must doubt what I know only by imperfect descriptions. To
show how patient printing paper is, I will give an example of print-
ed absurdity. A gentleman, describing the landscape in Missouri,
mentions the cottonwood, and thinks it necessary to give in paren-
thesis the botanical'name — BombaxH This belongs to a quite differ-
ent family, occurring only in the hottest regions of South America,
but as the vernacular name of this tree is "silk cottonwood" the
writer did not hesitate to transplant it to a country which he is about
to describe and perhaps never has seen.

The cottonwood likes bottom lands exposed to annual inunda-
tions, and, on higher situations, such places where rain water stag-
nates.

P. balsamifera and tremuloides extend far north on the Macken-
zie river, to 69 deg. N. L. Fremont has found the latter in the
Wind-river mountains and the P. angustifola Torr., on the Sweet-
water river.

The Birch Family (Betulacere.) — The birch and alder consti-
tute this small family of trees, which habitate chiefly the northern
and highest mountain regions. The dwarf or Alpine birch (Betu-
la nana L.,) extends to 70 deg. 1ST. L. The canoe birch (B. papy-
racea, Ait.,) to 69 deg. JST. L.; the low birch (B. pumila, L.,) and two
species of alder (Alnus incana, Willd.,) and Alnus viridis, De C, to
68 deg. N. L., on the Mackenzie river. In Illinois I have seen the
red birch (Betula nigra, L.,) in St. Clair county, on the banks of

595

the Kaskaskia river, but never around Peoria. The white birch
(Betula alba, var. populifolia, Spach.,) as I learn from Mr. Bebb,
grows in Jo Daviess county ; the canoe birch, which has the bark
externally white, like the last, growing in "Wisconsin abundantly
everywhere, might be sought for in our northern counties as well
as one species of Alder (Alnus serrulata, Ait.,) which^occurs in
Wisconsin and Kentucky, and probably in some places in Illinois.
Of all the trees the birch stands the cold climates the best. The
white birch extends in Europe to the 71 deg. N". L., and nearly so
arouud the north pole, on both continents. In the warmer zones
the birch and alder occur only on the highest mountains ; one birch
has been detected on the Himmalya, and three species of alder
Humboldt met with on the Andes of South America, but not be-
low an elevation of 8,500 feet, and in Mexico in a height of 3,800
feet. The number of known species of both genera is about 36,
of which in North America occur 8 birch (with Betula occiclentalis,
Hook, found by Fremont in a great elevation of the Windriver
mountains) and three alder.

The Oak Family (Cupuliferse.) — This contains of the most im-
portant of our forest trees, the different species of oak, the beech,
the ironwood, the hornbeam, the hazelnut. An American genus,
not represented in Illinois, is the Chestnut, and two genera, Litho-
carpus andDistegocarpus; belong to Eastern Asia (Java and Japan.)
In Laphani's catalogue of Illinois plants 13 species are enumerated,
of which a catalogue of Wisconsin plants contains six, and one
more (Quercus prinos, L.,) which we do not find in the former.
The most common species are the white oak (Quercus alba, L.,)
the bur oak (Q. macrocarpa, Michx.,) the red oak (Q. rubra, L.,) and
the black oak (Q. tinctoria, L.) These grow everywhere in the
woods of Illinois. The post oak (Q. obtusiloba, Michx.,) I met
everywhere in St. Clair county, but never around Peoria. It oc-
curs in Marion country, not in Winnebago county, but Dr. Hough-
ton has found it on the Upper Mississippi, in Wisconsin. Michaux
joined the chestnut oaks as five varieties in one species, Q. prinus,
and I think he was right. A. Gray does the same, at least with
three of the proposed species. Different soil and exposure affects
the different appearance. The variety palustris, (Q. prinus, L.,)
and discolor (Q. bicolor, Willd.,) the swamp chestnut oak and the
swamp white oak, grow in low alluvial bottoms and swamps — the
former more southward, the rock chestnut oak (Q. prinus montico-
la, Michx., Q. montana, Willd.,) in rocky places, chiefly in the
Alleghanies ; the wood is heavier and more valuable than that of
both the former. The yellow oak (Q. prinus acuminata, Michx.,
Q. castanea, Willd.,) grows on hills, has the leaves narrower and
the acorns small. The chinquapin oak (Q. prinus chinquapin,
Michx., Q. prinoides, Willd.,) grows in sandy soil, (not in Illinois,)
and is a mere shrub, not over six feet high. The yellow oak is
common in Peoria and Tazewell county ; it occurs in Cook county

596

and "Winnebago county, but I do not recollect to have seen it in
St. Clair county, nor does Mr. Bebb mention it in his catalogue of
trees in Marion county. Perhaps it is confined to the northern
portion of this State. The swamp white oak is not rare in the bot-
toms of Peoria lake, in Cook county and St. Clair county, but not
reported ^either from Marion or Winnebago counties. The rock
chestnut grows in Marion county. The swamp chestnut oak Mr.
Lapham found near Janesville, Wis., which is not far from our
northern state line. The laurel oak (Q. imbricaria) is common
around Peoria, in St. Clair county, Marion county and Menard
county, but as it seems not in Cook nor Winnebago counties. So I
missed it in Lapham's Wisconsin catalogue, although A. Gray
says, "from New Jersey to Wisconsin." The black oak or barren
oak (Q. nigra, L.,) growing in St. Clair, Marion and Menard
counties, seems to have its northern limits in Middle Illinois. The
pin oak (Q. palustris, Du Koi.,) I have never seen around Peoria,
nor did, as I learn by letter, Mr. Hall in Menard county ; it oc-
curs in St. Clair and Marion counties, in Wisconsin and Cook
county, [fide Mr. Jackson.) The scarlet oak, I must confess, I do
not know whether I have seen it or not and whether it exists as a
true species at all. Indeed the differences between this and Q.
tinctoria, Berth, as far as described, are so unimportant, that I must
suspect Q. tinctoria var. angulosa and var. sinuosa, and Q. coc-
cinea are varieties of one species. The leaves turning bright scar-
let in autumn, which have furnished the specific name, are of no
importance in systematical botany. I have seen scarlet and yel-
lowish brown leaves, with deep and with shallow sinuses, on one
and the same tree, every fall. Q. Leana, Nutt., being a hybrid,
I do not think, that except the above, another species of oak oc-
curs in Illinois. The genus Quercus is a large one, and continues
to increase in number of species by new discoveries, chiefly in the
Indian Archipelagus; but at the same time many proposed species
have been degraded to the rank of mere varieties of others.

The beech of this continent (Fagus ferruginea, Ait.,) was former-
ly supposed to be a mere variety of the European Fagus silvestris,
L., but it seems to be a proper American species, which forms
large forests between the St. Lawrence and the Atlantic, extending
southward along the Alleghanies to Georgia, westward to Wiscon-
sin and northwest to Lake Huron and Lake Winnepeg, 50 deg.
N". L. Mr. Lapham names it in his catalogue of Illinois plants,
but I have never seen it in this State, nor did I find it in any of
the catalogues which have been communicated to me from differ-
ent localities. Dr. Roe, of Bloomington, told me he had seen the
beech among the wood piled up at the railroad station, and he had
no doubt it could be found within twenty miles of Bloomington.
It would be very interesting to know how far west this tree took
possession of the soil.* Dr. Engleman, of St. Louis, informs me

$ Mr. Ulfers has seen the Beech in the northern part of Union county.— (Editor.

597

that the beech crosses the Mississippi along the highlands, near
Cape Girardeau. The beech, as I have shown in a paper written
for the convention of naturalists at Bloomington, and published in
Emery's Journal of Agriculture, is much inclined to migrations,
and takes possession of entire countries where it did not exist be-
fore— for instance, Denmark. "Well, we will not live to see the ac-
tual progress of this migration, but the botanists of future times will
be grateful for notices collected now on such facts in botanical ge-
ography.

The hornbeam, or the blue beech or water beech (Carpinus
Americana, Michx.,) is indiscriminately with the hop-hornl3eam
(Ostrya Yirginica, Willd.,) called ironwood. Both occur in the
woods throughout the State ; the latter northward to 50 deg. N. L.
Very common too is the wild hazelnut (Corylus Americana, Walt.)
In Wisconsin grows another species, the beaked hazelnut (Corylus
rostrata, Ait.,) which, perhaps, could be found in our northern
counties. Both extend north to 54 deg. N. L.

The Walnut Family, (Juglandacese.) — It contains two American
genera, Juglans (the walnuts,) and Carya (the hickories;) the for-
mer, with two North American species; the black walnut (Juglans
nigra, L.,) and the butternut (J. cinerea, L.,) both growing every-
where in Illinois and in the United States, east of the Mississippi.
The latter has nine North American species, of which two, the
water bitternut hickory (Carya aquatica, Nutt.,) and the nutmeg
hickory (Carya myristicseformis, Nutt.,) occur only in the northern
states. Northward extend the walnuts and hickories — not beyond
Lake Superior. In Illinois we find the shell-bark hickory (Carya
alba, Nutt.,) and the butternut (Carya amara, Nutt.,) throughout
the State. The pignut, or brown hickory (Carya glabra, Torr.,) I
have not seen around Peoria, but it is named amongst the trees
of Menard county and Winnebago county. The mockernut
(Carya tomentosa, Nutt.,) in Peoria county, Menard county and
Marion county. The pecan nut (Carya olivseformis, Nutt.,) an ex-
clusively western species, in Tazewell county, Menard county and
St. Clair county. The thick shell-bark hickory extends according
to A. Gray, from Pennsylvania to Illinois, but I did not observe it
myself,nor do I find it in any catalogue. Only two, the Carya alba
and C. glabra, pass our northern State line into Wisconsin. Of both
genera, Leibman has, several years ago, published one species,
which he discovered in Mexico, Carya tetraptera, Liebm., and
Juglans pyriformis, Liebm. A new genus, from China, named
Lindley Fortunsea chinensis.

The Plane-Tree Family, (Platanaceae.)— This is one of the small-
est in number of species, not in size of the trees. It consists only
of the genus Platanus, with a few species, of which only PI. occi-
dentalis, L., grows in North America, from 47 deg. N. L. to the
Gulf, and from the Atlantic to the Plains; a second American spe-
cies (PI. Mexicanus, Moric.,) in Mexico and California. Our tree

598

has different vernacular names : Buttonwood, water beech, plane-
tree; in Canada cotton-tree, in the western states generally syca-
more. It is found on the river banks everywhere.

The Nettle Family; (Urticacese.) — This family comprises
several sub-families, of which two contain trees growing in Illi-
nois. The bread-fruit family ( Artocarpese,) with one species of
the Morus, the red mulberry, (Morus rubra, L.,) growing wild in
Illinois everywhere. Two European species, the white and black
mulberry, are sometimes cultivated. Mr. Lapham does not name
the red mulberry in his "Wisconsin catalogue, and marks it in his Illi-
nois catalogue with S,, but it grows in Menard county, and abun-
dantly around Peoria ; it occurs in Grundy county and sparingly in
Winnebago county. Just as well it might be found in the south-
ern part of Wisconsin.

Of the Elm Family, (Ulmacese,) — we have certainly three spe-
cies: the white elm (Ulmus Americana, L.,) the slippery elm (Ulmus
fulva, Michx.,) and the hackberry or nettle tree (Celtis occidentalis,
L.,) Celtis crassifolia, Lam., is only a variety of the latter. All
throughout the State, the hackberry extending to Lake Superior,
the white elm to 54 deg. 1ST. L. The corky white elm (Ulmus ra-
cemosa, Thorn.,) growing from the eastern States to Michigan,
may, perhaps, extend to Northern Illinois, and so possibly to South-
ern Illinois, two southern species growing in Kentucky, the winged
elm or wha-hoo (Ulmus alata, Michx.,) and the planer-tree (Pla-
nera aquatica, Gm.)

Thymeleacej3. — The leatherwood, or moosewood, in New Eng-
land called Wicopy (Dirca palustris, L.,) a low shrub, omitted in
Lapham's catalogue, has been found by Mr. Bebb, in Winnebago
ccunty.

The Laurel Family, (Lauracese.) — Sassafras officinalis, Nees.,
as far as I can find it in the local catalogues, grows northward to
Grundy county; the spice bush (Benzoin odoriferum, JSTees.,) to
Meuard county; but as both occur in Canada, although not in
Wisconsin, it is not improbable that both can be found more north-
ward. The sassafras around Peoria attain a considerable size

The Olive Family, (Olivacese). — The ash, belonging to this
family, is represented in Illinois by 5 species: the white ash
(Fraxinus Americana, C.,) everywhere in the wooded bottoms and
extending north 54 deg. N . L., the red ash (Fraxinus pubescens),
around Peoria, in the Illinois river bottom, in St. Clair county, and
Menard county northward, extending to the Rainy river, 49 deg.
N. L. The green ash (F. viridis, Michx.,) occurs, according to
A. Gray, in Illinois, but I have not yet seen it, nor is it indicated
in any catalogue. The black or water ash, (F. sambucifolia,
Lam.,) grows in Grundy county, Cook county and Winnebago
county, but probably throughout the State, as it is in Kentucky.

599

The blue ash (F. quadrangulata, Michx.,) around Peoria, in Me-
nard county and Grundy county. On the banks of the Ohio, in
South Illinois, there is a shrub which seems not to find a resting
place in any family. Torestiera ligustriiia, Poir., in Gray's bota-
ny is placed in the olive family, the same place it occupies in
Lapham's catalogue, in which, at the same time, we find it, under
another name, (Borya ligustrina, Willd.,) amongst the Artocarpeae.
Jussieu put it to the Euphorbiacese, and, except the above names,
it had a third one. In Michaux's Flora, the genus is called Ade-
lia. Entail (in Gen. of K. Am. PI.) enumerates 4 species, all
growing in the southern States. Perhaps we have two species in
South Illinois, or Nuttall, in his Trav. into the Ark. Terr., has
mistaken F. ligustrina for F. acuminata, Poir. He says : "Where
(at Shawneetown) we remained for the night, having our boat tied
to a stout branch or stem of the Borya acuminata, which grows
here in abundance, and is nearly as thorny as a sloe bush, sending
many straight stems from the same root." The differences
between both species are not great ; the leaves of the former are
entire and nearly sessile; those of the latter minutely serrulate
and petioled. Botanists do not agree in another point: the time
of flowering. In Gray's Manual April is indicated ; in Pursh's
Flora Americ, July and August. Torestiera ligustrina is common
on the Cahokia creek, St. Clair county.

The Bignonia Family (Bignoniacese). — This is a tropical,
chiefly South American family, which has only a few representa-
tives in the northern temperate zone. Bignonia capreolata, L.,
according to A. Gray, grows in Illinois, probably the most south-
ern part. Tecoma radicans, Juss., the beautiful Trompet-creeper,
is common around Peoria, and occurs, probably, farther north, but
not, as it seems, in "Wisconsin. A third species is eatalpa bigno-
nioides, Walt., a beautiful ornamental tree, which is often cultiva-
ted, but of a doubtful native home. Nutall says, in his Genera:
"Earely to be met with, decidedly indigenous to the U. S., and
appears to have been introduced by the aborigines; hence the name
' Catawba,' derived from a tribe of Indians residing on the Catawba
river. In most of the habitats of this tree, given by Michaux,
which I have visited, if existing at all, it had evidently been intro-
duced. I am informed, however, by Governor Harrison, of the
indubitable existence of this tree, in very considerable quantities, in
the forests of the Wabash, Illinois Territory, where its wood is even
split for rails. Still, even here it is extremely local, and I have
never once met with it, either on the banks of the Ohio, the Mis-
sissippi or the Missouri rivers, which I have ascended and descen-
ded thousands of miles."

A couple of years afterwards Nuttall saw it below New Madrid,
Mo., " in the forests, apparently indigenous, for the first time in
my life, though still contiguous to habitations." (Trav. into ArK
Terr., page 4?.) Edwin James, (in Long's Exped., I., 33,) nearly
the same time Nutall descended the Ohio for Arkansas, found,

600

between the mouth of the Cumberland and Tennessee river, the
catalpa, here called petalfra, but near a deserted settlement.

Can anybody, living in Southeast Illinois, render account con-
cerning the above considerable quantity "of catalpas split for
rails ?"

The Sapodilla Family, (Sapotaceee.) — One species grows in
South Illinois, Bumelia lanuginosa, Persh., in St. Clair county.

The Ebony Family, (Ebenaceae.) — The Persimmon, (Diospyros
Virginiana, L.,) certainly as far north as Cass county.

The Hokax Family, (Hyracaeese.) — It is not sure that this fam-
ily is represented in Illinois, but the snowdrop or silverbell tree
(Halesia tetraptera, L.,) has been found near Evansville, on the
Ohio, and might be sought for in the south part of this State.

The Holly Family, (Aquifoliacese.) — Two species belonging to
one genus of this family are certainly in Illinois. The black alder
(Ilex verticillata, A. Gr.,) I have seen in St. Clair county, and Ilex
decidua, Walt., I received from Dr. Welsch, of the same county.
The mountain holly, (Nemopanthes canadensis, Eaf.,) perhaps,
can be found in the northern counties.

The Heath Family, (Ericaceae.) — The cranberries being woody
plants, although only very low shrubs, we cannot omit. Two contains
Lapham's Catalogue, the black huckleberry (Gaylussacia resinosa,
Torr. and Gr.,) and the blue huckleberry (Vaccinium Pennsylva-
nicum, Lam.,) probably only in the northern counties, where oc-
curs, perhaps, a third species, being a Wisconsin plant, the common
American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon, Ait.)

The Madder Family, (Pubiaceas.) — Amongst 14 species grow-
ing in Illinois, only one is a woody plant, the everywhere common
button-bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis, L.)

The Honeysuckle Family, (Caprifoliaceee.) — There are seven
North American genera, of which each, except Linnsea, has repre-
sentatives in Illinois. The sheepberry (Viburnum Lentago, L.)
and the common elder, (Sambucus canadensis, L.,) throughout the
State; the Cranberry tree, (Viburnum opulus, L.,) in the northern ;
Viburnum obovatum, Walt., in the southern counties; the black
haw, (Viburnum prunifolium, L.,) at least as far north as Peoria;
the Indian Currant or Coral-berry (Symphoricarpus vulgaris,
Michx.,) and the Snow-berry (Symph. racemosus, Michx.,) I have
seen, in St. Clair county — not around Peoria, the small honey-
suckle (Lonicera parviflora, Lam.,) at least as far north as Peoria;
the yellow honeysuckle, (Lonicera flava, Tims.,) in Winnebago
county. The bush honeysuckle (Diervilla triflda, Moench,) I
have not seen, but is enumerated in Lapham's Catalogue, and oc-
curs probably in the northern counties, as may do seven other Wis-
consin plants of this family: (Symphoricarpus occidentalis, R. Br.;
Lonicera ciliata, Muhl.; Lonicera coerulea, L.; Lonicera oblongifo-

601

lia, Mulil.; Sambucus pubens, Michx.; Yiburnum dentatum, L., and
Viburnum acerifolium, Lam.

The Dogwood Family, (Cornacese.) — Tlie Flowering Dogwood
(Cornus florida, L.,) occurs in St. Clair county and Marion county.
I have never seen it around Peoria, nor is it amongst Lapbam's Wis-
consin plants, but, as the general northern limit of this tree, as well
as of Cornus sericea, L., and Ccrnus circinata, L'Her., is 47 deg. N.
L.; it may be found on single localities throughout the State.
Cornus sericea, L., I find in a catalogue of plants, in St. Clair
county, I received from Dr. Welsch, in Mascoutah. The panicled
cornel (Cornus paniculata, L'Her.,) and the Red Osier Dogwood,
(Cornus stolonifera, Michx.,) throughout the State, the latter ex-
tending to 69 deg. N". L. Cornus asperifolia, Michx., Gray indi-
cates in Illinois, perhaps in the southern part; and so may be found
in the northern part, the Wisconsin species, Cornus alternifolia, L.,
and Cornus circinata, L'Her. The Tupelo or Sour Gum tree (Nyssa
muitiflora, Wang.,) grows in St. Clair county, but how far north I
could not ascertain.

The Witchhazel Family, (Hamamelacese.) — The Sweet Gum
tree (Liquidambar styraciflua, L.,) I find in Lapham's Catalogue,
but in none of those I have from different parts of Illinois.
Another species, ot the same family, the Witchhazel (Hamamelis
Yirginica, L.,) Mr. Bebb has seen in Ogle county.

The Saxifrage Family, (Saxifragacese.) — There is one shrubby
plant in this family, Hydrangea arborescens, L., not rare around
Peoria and in St. Clair county, and probably everywhere in
Illinois.

The Currant Family, (Grossulacese.) — The smooth White
Gooseberry (Ribes rotundifolium, Michx.,) and the wild Black Cur-
rant, (Ribes floridum, L.,) are both common shrubs everywhere.
That the Swamp Gooseberry, (Libes lacustre, Poir.,) occurs in
Grundy county I learn from Mr. R. K. Slosson. Ribes cynosbati,
L., Ribes hirtellum, Michx., and the Red Currant (Ribes rubrum,
L.,) are to be sought for.

The Rose Family, (Rosacese.) — There is a large number of spe-
cies we have to put in consideration. Roses we have four in St.
Clair county: Rosa setigera, Michx., Rosa blanda, Ait., Rosa Car-
olina, L., and Rosa lucida, Ehrh. The two first around Peoria not
rare, and the second in Winnebago county. The Black Raspberry
(Rubus occidentalis, L.,) and the common Blackberry (Rubus villo-
sus, Ait.,) we find everywhere, and so, perhaps, Rubus strigosus,
Michx., Rubus Canadensis, L. and Rubus hispidus, L. Rubus
trivialis, Michx., I have seen in St. Clair county, and Rubus triflo-
rus, Rich., occurs perhaps in the northern counties. The common
Mea.low Sweet (Spiraea salicifolia, L.,) I found in St. Clair county,
and Mr. Bebb, in Winnebago county, where also occurs Spiraea
opulifolia, L. Hawthorns we have three: Crataegus crus galli, L.
—64

602

Crataegus coccinea, L., and Crataegus tomeutosa, L., with its varie-
ties everywhere. The Juneberry, (Amelanchier Canadensis. Tore.
and Gr.,) the Crab Apple, (Pyrus coronaria, L.,) the wild Plum,
(Primus Americana, L.,) the wild Black Cherry, (Cerasus serotina,
DeC.,) the Choke Cherry (Cerasus Yirginiana, De C.) are common.
The wild Red Cherry (Cerasus Pennsylvania, L.) and the Chick-
asaw Plum (Primus Chicasa, Michx.) I have not seen, but the lat-
ter is reported from Grundy county — whether indigenous or na-
uralized, that is the question — and the former from Cook county
and Winnebago county. The Chokeberry (Pyrus arbutifolia, L.,)
grows in Wisconsin and probably in our northern counties. The
American Mountain Ash (Pyrus Americana, DeC.,) I got from the
Mackinaw bottom, 10 miles south of Pekin, Tazewell county,
where it, I was assured, grows wild.

The northern extension of the several species is as follows : Cra-
taegus coccinea, L., Rubus Canadensis, hispidus and villosns, Rosa
setigera, to 47 deg. N. L.; Spiraea opulifolia and tomentosa to 50
deg. N. L.; Prunus Americana, Cerasus Pennsylvania, Rubrus
strigosus, occidentalis and Pyrus arbutifolia to 54 deg. 1ST. L.; Pyrus
Americana to 60 deg. N. L.; Cerasus serotina, Spiraea salicifolia, to
62 deg. N. L.; ( )erasus Yirginiana and Amelanchier Canadensis, to
67 deg. N. L.; Rosa blanda, to 69 deg. N. L.

We perceive the trees and shrubs of the Rose family have mostly
a far northern extension. Not so those of another.

The Pulse Family, (Leguminosae.) — The trees of this family hab-
itate generally the tropic zone, and only a few occur in our climate.
Only two we find in the Wisconsin Catah gue : the Honey Locust
(Gleditschia triacanthos, L.,) and the false Indigo, (Amorpha fru-
ticosa, L.,) northward to Lake Winnipeg. Two extend to 46 deg.
]S". L., in Canada: the Red Bud (Cercis Canadensis, L.,) and the
Coffee-bean tree, (Gymnocladus Canadensis, L.,) these four proba-
bly everywhere in Illinois. The Water Locust (Gleditschia mo-
nosperma, Walt.,) has Nuttall seen near Fort Massac, on the Ohio.
Wistaria frutescens, DeC, in South Illinois, (fide, Michaux.) It
is rather difficult to determine the original geographical distribution
of the Locust tree, (Robinia pseudacacia, L.,) because this tree is cul-
tivated and naturalized on so many places; but the centre of its
original home is probably Kentucky, and we can presume that it
is a native of South Illinois too ; northward, it extends in cultivation,
to 47 deg. N. L. Robinia pseudacacia is certainly in a wild state as
far north as Randolph county, 111.; fide Engelman.

The Maple Family, (Aceraceae.) — Consisting of two genera,
(Acer with 52 species and Kegundo with 3 species,) is confined
within the northern temperate zone. The former numbers 25
Asiatic, 13 European, 10 North American species and 4 species
the native home of whic'i is not ascertained. Two species of Ne-
gundo are American — one grows in Japan. In Illinois are found
the Sugar Maple, (Acer saccharinum, Wang.,) the White Maple;

603

(Acer dasycarpum, Ehrh.,) the Bed or Swamp Maple, (Acer ru-
brum, L.,) and the Box Elder (Negun do aceroides, Moench.) The
latter extends to 54 deg. N. L.; Acer rubrum to 53 deg. N., L. in
the Rocky Mountains; eastward only to 50 deg. N. L., on Lake
Winnipeg, which is the northern boundary of Acer saccharinum,
Acer spicatum, Lam., and Acer Pennsylvanicnm, L. The two lat-
ter are said to grow in Wisconsin, and so, perhaps, in North Illi-
nois. The White Maple extends only to 46 deg. N. L., and is rare
north of 43 deg. Six species are natives of the Rocky Mountains,
Oregon and California ; four other proposed species I did not in-
clude in the above number, because they are doubtful.

Sapindace^e. — To this family belong the Buckeyes, of which
Lapham's Catalogue contains two; but I have never seen, in Illi-
nois, another species than ^Esculus glabra, Willd., which is com-
mon eveiy where in the southern and middle portions of Illinois.

The Blatternut Family, (Staphyleaceae.) — TheBlatternut (Sta-
phylea trifolia, L.) is not rare throughout the State, and extends
northward to the south shore ot Lake Superior.

The Stafftkee Family (Celastracese.) -The Bittersweet or Wax-
work (Celastrus scandens, L.,) and the Spindle tree (Euonymus
atropurpureus, Lacq.,) are common, and extend to Lake Superior.
Another species of the latter genus (Euonymus Americanus, L.,) I
did not yet meet with.

The Buckthorn Family, (Rhamnacese.) — There are two indige-
nous Buckthorn in Gray's Manual, of which one (Rhamnus lance-
olatus, Pursh.,) is not rare around Peoria, in Menard county and St.
Clair county, the other (Rhamnus alnifolius, L'ller.,) is said to
occur in Wisconsin, and so, perhaps, in North Illinois, but it ex-
tends chiefly northward to 58 deg. N. L. The New Jersey Tea
(Ceanothus Americanus, L.,) grows from Lake Superior southward,
and is, in Illinois, very common; but another species (Ceanothus
ovalis, Big.,) I find only in the catalogue of Winnebago county,
with the mark "rare."

The Yine Family, (Yitacese.) — There are two genera in North
America: Ampelopsis, with one species, (A. quinquefolia, Michx.,)
which is common in Illinois, and extends to 50 deg. N. L., and
Yitis, with eight species. Yitis bipinnata, Torr. and Gr., Yitis
incisa, Nutt, Yitis vulpina, L., and Yitis rupestris, Scheele, in the
southern States, the latter in Texas. Yitis indivisa, Willd., a
southern species, too, I have collected in St. Clair county. Yitis
riparia, Michx., is oilly a variety of Yitis corditblia, Michx., which,
with Yitis aestivalis, Michx., occurs in Illinois, probably, every-
where. Yitis Labrusca, L., I have not seen in a wild state.

The Cashew' Family, (Anacardiacese.) — I find 5 species of Su-
mach enumerated in Lapham's Catalogue, of which I have met
with only three. Rhus glabra, L., Rhus toxicodendron, L., both

604

common, and Rhus aromatica, Ait., which I have seen in St. Clair
county and around Peoria. These three extend northward to 54
deg. N. L. Rhus copallina, L., grows in Ogle county, and is,
according to Dr. Engleman, very common in Southern Illinois, and
Rhus typhina, L., is said to grow in St. Clair county, where to have
seen it I do not recollect. Rhus venenata, De C, is distributed
from Canada to Louisiana, so it may be found within the limits
of our Flora.

The Rue Family, (Rutaceaa.) — The Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum
Americanum, Mill.,) and the Shrubby trifoil or Hop tree (Ptelea
trifoliata, L.,) are not rare in thickets, and occur northward to 46
deg. K L.

The Linden Family, (Tiliacese.) The Basswood, (Tilia Ameri-
cana, L.,) is common, and occurs to the Lake Winnipeg, 50 cleg. N.
L. Three other species, Tilia heterophylla, Vent., "on the banks
of Ohio and Mississippi," (Pursh.,) Tilia alba, Michx., "in the west-
ern States," (Michx. fil.,) and Tilia pubescens, Ait., " in Kentucky,"
(Short.,) are to be sought for. Perhaps one or the other can be
found in Illinois.

The Custard- Apple Family, (Anonacese.) — Of this family is
generally tropical and only one occurs in Illinois: the Papaw,
(Asimina triloba, Dun.,) very common around Peoria, but rarely
fruit-bearing. The most northern locality I could ascertain is
Grundy county.

The Magnolia Family, (Magnoliaceae.) — The North American
Magnolias habitat, generally, the Alleghanies, but one occurs in
the most southern portion of Illinois : the Umbrella tree, (Magno-
lia Umbrella, Lam.,) and one species of another genus, the Tulip
tree, (Liriodendron tulipifera, L.,) wrongly called Poplar. It
would be interesting to find out their northern and western limits.

In the above account I have named nearly two hundred woody
plants, which, for the larger part, certainly grow in Illinois, and of
which the rest is expected to be found yet. Of these woody plants
are large trees about 40, middle sized trees about 25, small trees
30, shrubs 80 to 85 and twining or creeping woody plants 10. I
mentioned often the trees and shrubs which occur in the bordering
States to indicate the probability the same could be found in this
State. The northern extension of many species taken from the
report of Richardson, and the southern extension of others will
show that some species which do not grow spontaneously in Illi-
nois, could grow there if transplanted. Sometimes I have given
the total number of species and genera of a family to show the
proportion of the American and Illinoisan species. Other episodes
I made occasionally to interrupt the monotonous enumeration and
to give the reader a chance to make interesting observations.

[ Face page

[ Faco page 005.

THF OAKS OF ILLINOIS,

By Frederick Brendel, of Peoria, Illinois.

It was my intention to present in this essay a complete descrip-
tion of all our forest trees, with illustrations, so that every body
could identify each species at once. But as I had not the necessa-
ry leisure to do so, I will, for the time, begin with the oaks, one
of the most important genera that compose our forests.

The oaks in Illinois are mostly large trees, partly of a very ir-
regular growth. This irregularity is not founded in nature, but
the effect of different external causes. Any tree, if not disturbed
by external influences, would grow up as regular as a crystal is.
A certain mode of growth is innate to each species, but as the con-
ditions, under which the individual plant grows up, are different,
a variety of irregular shapes are produced. For instance, the seed
of a tree is planted and germinates. For the first time the young
plant will produce regularly distributed leaves, buds and twigs.
Making a horizontal cut through the young stem we remark in
different species different forms of the pith and the surrounding
woody layer. In the oaks it forms a five rayed star. One of
these rays is prolongated at a certain place and produces a leaf
and in the axil of the same a bud, to be developed the next year.
One ray, considered the first one, upward, to a certain interval,
the third ray produces its leaf and bud, then the fifth, then the
second, then the fourth — all in a spiral line, to a certain point —
where the sixth corresponds to the first one. This spiral line runs
either from the right to the left, or from the left to the right. Of-
ten are both directions found in the same tree. In the oaks the
spiral line of leaves makes two turns, before one is to come imme-
diately above another, and this is the sixth one counted from the
first one. - This arrangement is called phyllotaxis, and is indicated
for the oaks by 2-5, 2 indicating the number of turns and 5 the
number of the leaves which make both turns. Suppose now that
each bud would develop undisturbed and receive the same quan-
tity of nourishment, and each branch arising from the bud protect-
ed against external influences would k<

606

would see in winter, when the leaves are fallen, the single trees of
one species one just alike the other — mathematical regular figures.
But the trees, exposed to various influences, present quite another
aspect. Storms break and bend the branches; animals destroy
single buds. Often we see the branches on one side of a tree
stronger than on the other, and when we examine the root, we find
the branches of the root stouter on the same side; and by further
examination certainly we can find out the reason of it; either the
soil on that side contains more alimentary matter or more humid-
ity, or the branches of the root are destroyed more or less on one
side, and so on. Single standing young laurel oaks show ofien a
great regularity of growth, the leafy crown forming a short cone.
The most irregular forms have exposed old white oaks, post oaks
and the black jack oak.

The flowers of all our species appearing in May are monoecious,
i. e., sterile and fertile ones separated, but on the same tree — the
former below, the latter above, on the young twig. The sterile
flowers are clustered loosely at the base, densely towards the point
of a slender drooping catkin, which has a very small rudiment of a
bract at its base, and is covered in the bud by two large lateral
stipules which by botanists have been mistaken for scales. The
flower consists of a membranaceous, often hairy, perianth ; which
is more or less parted in several lobes and bears inside at the base
a variable number of stamens. I have observed 4 in the black
oak, 4 to 5 in the laurel or single oak, 5 in red oak, 5 to 6 in white
oak, 6 to 7 in the overcup white oak, 7 to 8 in chestnut oak. The
stamens are longer than the anthers in the black and the red oak.
The perianth is mostly sessile or very short pediceled, but has a
very conspicuous pedicel in red oak; it is cup-shaped and short-
lobed in red oak and shingle oak ; cup-shaped and deeper cut in
black oak; more flat and short-lobed in chestnut oak; deeply lace-
rated in white oak and over- cup oak. The lobes of the perianth
correspond generally with the number of stamens. The fertile
aments are solitary in the axils of the leaves, few flowered, the
terminal flower mostly abortive. The involucre consists of minute
scales, afterwards forming a cup around the base of the one-seed-
ed nut. The ovary has three united styles, with three distinct
stigmas, and is three-celled, each cell with two ovules, but all, ex-
cept one, abortive.

The fruits, in general, consist of foliaceous expansions of the
fibro-vascular bundles in the stem, from which they originate, like
the true leaves, the sepals, the petals, the stamens. Dissecting the
acorn of the oak we observe on the tomentose endocarp three dis-
tinct (often projecting) lines, formed by the connection of three
leaves. The summits of the same penetrate the apex of the fruit
as three styles. Only one of the six ovules ripens and takes after-
wards possession of the whole cavity. The seed is enveloped in a
proper membranaceous tender leaf, the margins ot which are inflex-
ed in a longitudinal rim between the cotyledons. This envelop-

607

merit of the seed in leafy expansions reminds ns of the involute
truitiferous fronds of some ferns, and is indeed analogous.

The acorns of the oaks ripen either the same season, (and we
find them in the axils of the leaves — so in Qu. alba, macrocarpa,
obtusiloba, Prinos, castanea,) or not before fall of the next year;
and then we find them below the leafy shoot of the season, in Qu.
imbricaria, nigra, tinctoria, rubra and palustris.

It is not difficult to recognize the different species of Quercus
by the fruit. The cup covers only one fouth or third part of the
acorn in Qu. alba, rubra and palustris; nearly one half is covered
by the cup in Qu. obtusiloba, castanea, Prinos, imbricaria, nigra
tinctoria, and nearly inclosed is the acorn in Qu. macrocarpa.
The upper scales of the cup in the last species, and often in Prinus
var. discolor are subulate and give to the margin a fringed appear-
ance. The scales, which generally are arranged in 10 to 12 rows,
are tuberculatu in Qu. alba; very smooth and appressed in Qu.
rubra, palustris and imbricaria; very small and tuberculate in Qu.
castanea ; large and tomentose in Qu. tinctoria. The acorn is
large in Qu. macrocarpa, Prinus var. discolor, alba, and rubra,
sometimes more than an inch long, and the cup in the two former
one inch in diameter; it is middle sized in Qu. tinctoria; obtusi-
loba, nigra, small in Qu. imbricaria, castanea and palustris ; it is
oblong in Qu. alba, Prinus discolor; rubra, ovoid or globose in
Qu. imbricaria, castanea, palustris, tinctoria, nigra, macrocarpa and
obtusiloba ; very smooth in Qu. alba and imbricaria — in the latter
often with dark longitudinal stripes; partly covered with a farina-
ceous pubescence in Qu. macrocarpa, Pinos discolor, and tinctoria.
The fruit is long peduncled in Qu. alba, Qu. macrocarpa and Qu.
prinus discolor ; shorter in Qu. obtusiloba and castanea ; very short
peduncled or sessile in Qu. imbricaria, nigra, tinctoria, rubra and
palustris.

The leaves are very variable, often on the same tree ; and if we
wOuld distinguish oaks merely by the leaves, we could create innu-
merable new species. The margin of the leaf is entire and in verna-
tion revolute in Qu. imbricaria, coarsely serrate with callous points
and in vernation plicate in Qu. Prinos discolor and Qu. castanea; it
has a few blunt lobes in Qu. nigra, more or less deeply lobed is it
in Qu. macrocarpa, alba, obtusiloba, tinctoria, rul»ra and palustris
The three latter and Qu. nigra have the lobes setaceously mucron-
ate. All are tomentose, when young, and some, at least, below,
even when old ; for instance, Qu. macrocarpa, obtusiloba, imbrica
ria, Prinus discolor, and castanea; the latter has the older leaves,
while below, with smooth yellowish brown ribs ; some are shining
above when old, fide Qu. obtusiloba, imbricaria, castanea ; some
on both sides, jide Qu. palustris and rubra. Three species have
long petioled leaves : Qu. tinctoria, Qu. rubra and Qu. palustris,
but sometimes short petioled on young shoots. The stipules, which
are membranaceous, linear or spathulate and ciliate, are falling
away very early.

608

In winter some species can easily be recognized by the buds.
Qu. tinctoria has the buds tomentose,' elongated, regularly imbri-
cated, live ridged; Qu. rubra nearly globose, smooth and shining;
Qu macrocarpa oblong, tomentose and often irregularly imbricated;
Qu. obtusiloba globose and tomentose; Qu. alba oblong, regularly
imbricated and smooth; Qu. castanea oblong, acute, smooth and
whitish ; Qu. imbricaria oblong, acute and rather hairy.

The buds do not open before middle of May. The most tardy
are those of Qu. imbricaria; but this decolorates its leaves the
last, and keeps them, though dry, like the white oak, all the winter.
All the rest generally shed the dry leaves in October and No-
vember.

The bark of the young white oak is very smooth and whitish ;
on the older parts it separates, like Qu. castanea, in plates. The
bark of the branches of the overcup is rather corky, thick and lace-
rated ; that of the red oak smooth and reddish brown ; that of the
pin oak very smooth, even on older trees ; that of Qu. Prinus dis-
color separates in fiat recurving plates, even on the smaller branch-
es ; that of black oak is on old trees very rough, rimmy and black-
ish— the inner bark, which is used for dying, is thick and yellow.
The bark of all the oaks, but especially of the latter, is used for
tanning.

The wood of nearly all these species is valuable as timber and as
fuel. It is generally very tough and more coarse-grained than
many other kinds of timber, and therefore used more by wagon-
makers and coopers than by cabinet-makers. The black oak is
much used for staves ; the young white oak for hoops ; the laurel
oak, which splits very easy, for shingles ; the post oak, the most
durable of all, and the white oak, for ship building. Valuable for
fuel are the black jack, the black, the laurel, the white, and the
post oak ; not so the red and the pin oak. The heaviest is the post
oak, which, when dried, has a specific weight of 100 (100=water.)
By drying the oaks lose generally 30 per cent, of their absolute
weight. The specific weight varies in different parts of the same
tree and in different trees of the same species ; as the weight of
the timber will depend upon the quality of the soil and the rapidi-
ty or slowness of growth. I have made only a few calculations on
each species, and it will be necessary to repeat the same, to obtain
a reliable average. I have found for Qu. macrocarpa and Q. tinc-
toria 92 — Qu. imbricaria 86 — Qu. castanea and Prinos discolor 84
— Qu. alba 80 — Qu. rubra 76.

For comparison, I will enumerate some other wood I have ex-
amined : Persimon 93, honey locust 91, flowering dogwood 82,
mockernut 80, box elder 80, bitternut and hazelnut 79, crab ap-
ple and shellbark hickory 78, hornbeam 77, sugar maple 76, hop
hornbeam, scarlet fruted thorn and panicled cornel 75, white
ash, plumtree and sycamore 71, hackberry 73, slippery elm 72,
Kentucky coffee tree 71, red cedar and blue ash 65, white elm,
buckthorn and large-toothed aspen 61, red bud and sassafras 62,

609

mulberry and shrubby trefoil 60, red maple 59, pecan nut 58,
prickly ash 56, burning bush 53, blatter nut 52, arbor vitse 50,
black willow 48, bass wood 47, cotton wood 46, papaw 46, buckeye
42, smooth sumac 40.

In concluding: this essay, I have only to say that it is very in-
complete yet. The determination of the per cent, of charcoal and
the examination of the Ashes is yet to be made, and will be pre-
sented to the public, perhaps, in the next volume.

-65

ILLUSTRATIONS

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.

PLATE I.

1 — Querelas alba, L. White Oak.

2-3 — different shaped leaves.

4 — stipula, falling very early.

5— bud.

6 — sterile catkin.

7 — perianth of the sterile flower.

613

Plate I.— QUERCUS ALBA, L.

PLATE II.

l_Quercus obtusiloba, Michx. Post Oak.
2— bud.

615

Plate II.-QUERCUS OBTUSILOBA, Michx.

PLATE III.

1 — Quercus Prinos, var. discolor, Michx. (Quercus bicolor, Willd.) Swamp White Oak.
2-3 — different shaped leaves.
4— hurl.

Plate III.— QUEECUS PRINOS, Var. Discolor, Mich*.

—m

PLATE IY

1 — Qucrcus castanea, Willd. (Quercus prinos, var. acuminata, Michx.) Yellow Chest-
nut Oak.
2 — different shaped leaf.
3 — leaf in vernation.
4 — stipule.
5— hud.

6 — scale of the bud.
7 — sterile catkin.
8 — perianth of a sterile flower.
9' — stamen.

619

Plate IV.— QUERCUS CASTANEA, Willd.

PLATE Y

1 — Quercus tnacrocarpa, Michx. ]Bur Oak or Over-cup- White Oak.

2-3 — different shaped leaves.

4 — stipule.

5 — leafless twig, with buds.

6 — sterile catkin.

7 — perianth of a sterile flower.

8 — stamen.

621

W2*

Plate V— QUERCUS MACROCARPA, Michx.

PLATE YL

1 — Quercus itnbricaria, Mic-hx. Laurel or Shingle Oak — showing the fruits of two sea-
sons.

2 — leaf in vernation, with revolute margins.

3 — flowering twig, with the sterile catkins at the base of the new shoot and the fruits of
the precedent year on the older shoot.

4— buds.

5 — perianth of a sterile flower.

6 — stamen.

7 — fertile flower, vertically cut.

623

Cv. W&VSR& S&. S\- VCViVS W> .

Plate VI.— QUERCUS IMBRICARIA, MieJw

PLATE TIL

1 — Quercus nigra, L. Black Oak or Barren Oak.
2 — different shaped leaf.

625

Plate VIL— QITERCUS NIGRA, L.

—67

PLATE VIII.

1 — Quercus tinctoria, Bartram. Black Oak or Quercitron.

2-3 — different shaped leaves.

4 — stipule.

5— bud.

6— sterile flower.

V — stamen.

8 — horizontal cut of the twig of the season.

9 — the same, at the point where a leaf and bud is produced.

627

Plate VI1L— QRERCUS TINCTORIA, Bartram,

*r'^

PLATE IX

1 — Quercus rubra, L. Red Oak.
2-3 — different shaped leaves.
4 — stipule.
5— bud.

6 — sterile catkin.
7 — perianth of sterile flower.
8 — stamen.

9— acorn and cup, vertically cut.
10 — seed, vertically cut. Ou one s.id,e is to be seen the indexed margin of the envelopii
membranaceous leaf.

629

Plate IX— QUERCUS RUBRA, L.

PL A TE X.

Quercus palustris, Du Roi. Swamp Spanish or Pin Oak.

631

Plate X.— QUERCUS PALUSTRIS, Du Roi.

633

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■ -5

ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

NATURAL HISTORY CONVENTION.

The convention met at Bloomington, at the rooms of the Normal
University, Wednesday, June 30th, 1858, at 10 o'clock A. M.
John B. Turner, of Jacksonville, was elected President of the
convention, and Geo. P. Rex, of Pike county, elected Secretary.
C. E. Hovey, president of the State Normal University, briefly
stated the object had in view in calling the convention, which was
to organize a State Natural History Society, for the purpose of cre-
ating an interest in the study of natural science. '

[It is right honor should be given where it is due; hence we
wish to record here, and with the approval of every member of the
convention, too, the origin of this movement and the name of the
originator. Last December, at the meeting of the State Teacher's
Association, held in Decatur, a communication was received and
read troin . Cyrus Thomas, of Carbondale, Jackson county, from
which we make a few extracts, as we find it in the January num-
ber of the Illinois Teacher:

I will at once state the n.atter I fee' deeply interested in, and which I desire your body
to take into consideration ; lor I think it pioperly within your province t) take cognizance
of the subject of natui al history, and also that a more opportune moment could not be found
than the present meeting. By wayol suggestion, I herewith present an outline of the plan
I would propose and the field it is intended to embrace.

And first, the objects to which it should be limited: I propose that it should not pass the
bounds of natural history ; and by this i mean Zoology, Botany and Geology, using these
terms,in their broadest sense ; for, if too much is embraced, it generally is the case that
nothing is done.

Second, as to the plan: That a society be formed, to be called the "Illinois Natural His-
tory Society," whose object shall be the investigation and study of the Flora, Fauna, Geol-
ogy and Mineralogy of Illinois, and the illustration of the same by gathering specimens, ex-
changing the same, and by publishing such meritorious works thereon as the authors may
present, after the manner of the Kay Society, in England.

That the State Normal School shall be the head-quarters of the Society. That it shall
first receive all the collections, and, after selecting a single suite of specimens collected,
shall forward to each of the Colleges and Universities in the State (co-operating in the
matter) a single suite of the same ; that the'remainder shall be used by the Normal School
for the purpose of exchanges; that the colleges to which specimens shall be sent pay the
expenses of shipping them.

63S

That our Legislature be requested to hand over to the Normal School the geological speci-
mens collected by Dr. Norwood; also, that they be requested to furnish to Dr. Norwood
sufficient means to publish a report that will equal those of New York, and be a credit to
the State and an addition to science.

That the members shall meet annually or semi-annually at the Normal School, discuss
such matters connected with natural history as are most likely to advance it (avoiding
metaphyseal and ethnological questions) and illustrate the natural history of the State ;
and that they shall furnish written memoranda ot their observations, since the last meeting,
of species, genera, etc., determined.

That it shall be the duty of each member to make such collection of specimens as he can
conveniently, and forward them to the Secretary, who shall reside at the place where the
Normal School is situated.

That such works as can be collected by gift, which will be be useful in the investigation of
natural history and Mate thereto, be gathered by the members to form a library.

Now, this is going on the presumption that the Normal School will furnish the necessary
room for the specimens of natural history, and will take charge of them ; yet leaving them
subject to the Society's control, with the understanding that the Society shall not perma-
nently remove them

From what I have said the idea can be gathered ; and some member of your body, far
more capable than myself, can set .forth the plan more fully

I hope the meeting will take hold ot this matter and put it on foot.

This was the starting point. Here originated the call for the
convention, and here the idea was started.]

The following resolution was offered and adopted by the con-
vention :

Resolved, That we organize the Illinois Natural History Society, embracing the subjects
of Botany, Conctiology, Ornithology, Mineralogy, Anatomy, Physiology, &c, &c.

On motion of G. E. Hovey, C. D. Wilber, of Bloomington; Dr.

Fred. Brendel, of Peoria; I). "Wilkins, Bloomington; Chas. D.
Bragdon, Chicago; and Geo. P. Eex, of Pike county, were ap-
pointed a committee to draft a constitution for the organization and
government of the Natural History Society, and report at 1-J
o'clock, P. M.

The convention then listened to a very interesting paper on
Porest Trees, by Dr. Brendel, of Peoria. After the reading of the
paper, the thanks of the convention were voted its author.

On motion, Eev. Mr. Eddy, of Bloomington, was appointed a
committee to notify the inhabitants of Bloomington, by the publi-
cation of handbills, of the public meeting of the convention, to
be held at University Hall, at | before 9 o^'clock, P. M.

Convention adjourned Lo 1£ o'clock, P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The report of the committee to draft a constitution was read)
accepted and the committee discharged.

The following is a copy of the constitution, as adopted by the
convention :

CONSTITUTION.

Article i. This Society shall be called the Natural History Society of Illinois.

Art. ii. Its field of observation and research shall comprise Geology and Mineralogy,
Meteorology, Botany, Anatomv, I'hysiology and Zoology.

Art hi. The officers of this Society shall consist of a President, nine Vice-Presidents,
Treasurer, Secretary and a General Agent, to be elected annually.

639

Art. iv. Tt shall be the duty of the President to preside at all regular meetings of the
Society. The \ ice Presidents shall preside in his absence.

Art. v. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys of the Society, such as fees of member-
ship, donations, &c, and shall receive and take charge of all collections ot specimens be-
longing to the Society.

Art. vi. The Secretary shall keep a record of all p oceedinsjs of the Societv; shall
file all papers read before tuc Sjciety ; shall act as, librarian, and conduct, the correspon-
dence.

Art. vii. The General Agent shall visit different portions of this and other Stales;
make collections of specimens, attend to exchanges with various societies, establish a Ms-
tern of co-operation and labor tu incite a general interest in the study of Natural History.
He shall also receive such funds as the friends of the .Society may contribute to promote its
interests.

Art. viii. All specimens shall be labeled, registered and deposited in the Museum of
the State Normal University.

Art ix. Any resident of the State may become a member of the Society on the payment
of one dollar, if elected by a majority of members present at any regular meeting: Provided,
his name shall have been proposed by a member of the Society. So much of this article as
requires a vote for membership shall be inoperative for one year, and after that time in
full force and effect.

Art x Honorary members may be chosen by a majority vote of the members present
at any regular meeting of the Society, and shall be entitled to all the privileges of the So-
ciety save the right to vote.

Art. xi. All regular meetings of this Society shall be held in the city of Bloomington,
on the day preceding the annual examination at- the Normal University.

Art xn. This constitution may be amended or changed by a two-thirds vote of the
members present at any annual meeting of the Society.

A committee to make nominations for officers was appointed,
consisting ot S. Wright, Geo. P. Rex and Chas. D. Bragdon.
Adjourned to meet at 5 o'clock.

EVENING SESSION.

Society met, pursuant to adjournment.

The committee reported the full owing names as nominations for
officers of the Illinois Natural History Society:

J.B.Turner, Morgan county, President; John A. Kennicott,
Cook county; A. R, Whitney, Lee county; Dr. S. S. Condon,
Union county; Dr. Fred. Brendel, Peoria county; J. H. McChes-
ney, Sangamon county; L. M. Cutcheon, Champaign county; C.
Thomas, Jackson county; Dr. Bird, Kendall county; Dr. Adams,
Morgan county, Vice-Presidents ; Dr. E. R. Roe, McLean county,
Treasurer; C. E. Hovey, Secretary; C. D. Wilber, General Agent.

The report was accepted, and the officers elected by acclamation.

A bill for printing was presented and ordered to be paid.

On motion, Rev. L. Taylor, D. Wilkins and C. D. Wilber were
appointed a committee to report by-laws at the annual meeting.

President John B. Turner, Secretary C. E. Hovey, Treasurer
E. R. Roe and D. Wilkins were appointed executive committee.

Letters were read from Geo. Yasey, Dr. John A. Kennicott, P.
Atkinson and Cyrus Thomas; for which a vote of thanks was ten-
dered by the Society. We make the following extracts from the
letters read as being of general interest :

GIO

FE0M GEO. YASEY, OF RINGWOOD, m'.HENEY COUNTY,

I am glad to learn that arrangements are making to organize a
Society of Natural History. I do not know that I can suggest any
thoughts respecting the organization of such Society except such
as will occur to your mind. The object will be to acquire and
diffuse information on the different departments of natural science.
I can, perhaps, offer a few suggestions touching the department of
Botany, and others particularly interested in other branches could
do the same respecting those other branches. Let such person as
may have charge of this department issue and have diffused over
the State (through the medium of the Teacher, if you please,)
printed instructions as to the method of collecting and preserving-
plants, the time when to collect, &c. Let the persons receiving
the instructions, and choosing to act in connection with the Society,
keep a register of »uch plants as come under their observation, with
the time of flowering and the period of ripening their fruit. Let
the native trees of our State receive particular attention, and any
other important or useful plants be particularly noticed. Then, at
the close of the season, let the different collectors send on their du-
plicates, numbered, to the office having charge of the collections at
the place of deposit, who shall supervise them, return to the collec-
tor their names and a number of other plants in exchange for his
duplicates, corresponding to the quantity he has furnished. Then,
by means of the information furnished by the collectors in different
parts of the State, a general report could be prepared, and in course
of time a full knowledge of the productions of the whole State
could be acquired.

It would also be very desirable if the Society could engage the
services of a competent person to visit various parts of the State to
collect information and specimens with reference to a thorough
exploration of the State. This is, however, a work which will re-
quire the labor of years, and would be well deserving the attention
and encouragement of the State government, 1 would like to see
such a complete survey7 of this State as was made of the State of
New York some years since, embracing all the departments of
natural science. * * * *...,*'■.*••.*,#*
I hope to seethe teachers of our schools interested in the subject
of natural history. It may be to them a relief during the cares of
teaching — a source of useful information and rational enjoyment.

I would like, also, to hear the testimony of teachers as to the
value of the text books in use, particularly in the department of
Botanical science. It has long appeared to me that we have no
text books of Botany adapted to our section of country. Wood's
Class Book and Gray's Manual are both excellent works, especially
the latter, which I prefer for accuracy and precision of description,
but they embrace too wide a range of elementary works. I think
an elementary Botany for this section of country should describe
all the plants, say of this State or of the Northwestern States, not

611

regarding those which are peculiar to the sea coast or to the moun-
tainous regions of the New England States. By this means the
work would be brought into much smaller compass, and be reduced
in cost so as to be within the reach of all. Then, when students
have made themselves acquainted with the productions of our own
soil, and wish to extend their knowledge, let them obtain more
extensive works. It appears to me that we need two books on this
subject ; first, a Primary Botany, which should contain plain and
full descriptions of a limited number of our commonest and most
widely known plants, in which technical words should be gradually
and sparingly introduced and explained. And these descriptions
should be accompanied with wood cuts of all or part of the plants
described. This would render Botany a pleasing study rather
than the object of dread, which it generally is, on account of its
technical terms. The next book should be adapted to more ad-
vanced scholars, structure, Physiology, Technology, classification
and description of all the plants of a particular region.

FROM JOHN A. KENNICOTT, WEST NOETHFIELD.

We omit the introduction of this letter. He writes of the work
of Eobert Kennicott, in connection with the North Western Uni-
versity, and assures the convention ot the co-operation of this young
naturalist, and says, he begs you to bear in mind, however, the
fact that this Illinois Institution (the N. W. University) has even
now the third best cabinet of animals in America, and that every-
thing is labeled, even down to the least known tribes of insects, as
during six months spent at the Smithsonian Institution, and special
visits for that purpose, he secured the assistance of the highest
authority in ea^h speciality. And from these specimens any
amount of school collections can be arranged and named without
expense to the owner.

Indeed, this idea has been brought forward by the collector, with
the sanction of the officers of the University, from the commence-
ment of the enterprise; and I think the teachers of the State, by
encouraging their pupils to make collections and devoting a little
time to the preservation of the specimens, may, in the course of a
few years, establish reliable cabinets in every township, if not in
every school district of the State, and perhaps make new additions
to science, thus extending to the many the knowledge now confined
to the few. Go on, gentlemen ; you have started a great idea — one
of boundless interest to the human race. The study of nature, of
natural science, in some shape, is the beginning and end of all ration-
al practical education, and intimately connected with every useful
art and profession followed by man. Natural history is an easy
and delightful study, and comes as natural to the young as seeing,
and a very little seasonable explanation and direction in the school
house and the field will make more good naturalists in the next
quarter of a century than we have of good school teachers now.
Although, for one, I have faith in your Association and the State

642

Normal University, and look to the fulfillment of your great mis-
sion all in good time. And in that and this I am with you.

FROM P. ATKINSON, CHICAGO, ILL.

* * * I have, for many years, been an ardent lover of natural
science, in all its various departments, and rejoice in the formation
of a society in our State for the promotion of its interests. The study
of nature is of all studies the most deeply interesting. Whether
we turn our attention to the animal, vegetable or mineral kingdom,
we find, everywhere, ample scope for the exercise of our highest
admiration and ample material for our closest investigation and
deepest thought.

The development of the natural history of our own State is, to us
especially, an object worthy of our most serious attention. Living,
as we do, in one of the richest and most beautiful portions of the
far-famed west, it is fitting that we should direct our efforts to the
investigation of its natural resources. It devolves on us to become
familiar with its Geology and Mineralogy, its Botany and Zoology
These beautiful rolling prairies should be regarded as vast fields
for scientific research, rather than mere agricultural machines, for
the production of wealth.

FKOM C THOMAS, CARBONDALE, ILL.

* * * We are making a thorough examination of the Flora
of this region this season. 1 think we will be able to add many
species to Mr. Lapham's list. * * * I hope you will make an
arrangement, through the Normal University, to exchange with the
members in the different parts of the State. I wish, this season, to
exchange shells of this section for those of the northern parts of the
State, especially those from the Illinois river. If any of the mem-
bers desire to make such exchange, ask them to drop me a line.

•* * * -* # * ■ * * * * #

By way of contribution, I send you a list of plants analyzed by
Mr. Bartley and myself, during last summer and this spring, all of
this (Jackson) county and chiefly around this town, which you
will do me the kindness to hand to the meeting. This list consists
of 196 plants and 19 varieties of forest trees.

NAMES OF MEMBERS ENROLLED.

Simeon Wright, H. J. Eddy, D. Wilkins, L. Taylor, Benjamin
Thomas, C. B. Wilber and C. E. Hovey, Bloomington ; Horace
Spaulding, J. B. Turner and N. Bateman, Jacksonville; C. M.
Cady and C. D. Bragdon, Chicago; Geo. Bunsen, Belleville; A.
E. Shannon, Carmi ; O. F. Barbour, Plainfield ; Geo. P. Bex,
Perry; Cyrus Thomas, Carbon dale.

Adjourned to meet at 8 P. M.

643

Society met, pursuant to adjournment, in University Hall, where
an interesting paper was read by Prof. Turner, upon Microscopic
Insects, and remarks were made by Dr. Eoe, of Bloomington.

At a late hour the convention adjourned to meet at 8 o'clock,
A. M. to listen to a paper by C. l). Wilber, upon the Corals of
Iowa.

July 1st.

Convention met at 8 o'clock, A. M., in University Hall, and lis-
tened to an interesting paper upon the Corals of Iowa, by C. D.
"VVilber.

The convention adjourned.

By provision of the constitution, the annual meeting will be
held at the time of the next annual examination of the students at
the Normal University.

MICROSCOPIC INSECTS.

Read at the inauguration of the Illinois State Natural History Society, at Blooniington,
Illinois, June, 1858.

By Professor J. B. Turner, of Jacksonville.

As man advances in knowledge and civilization, he constantly
approaches nearer and nearer to a more distinct apprehension of
the spiritual, imponderable and impalpable. All races and ages
have known of the elephant, the lion and the eagle, while only a
few of the most acute and philosophic minds, even of our own age,
have any conception of the innumerable host of microscopic and
impalpable beings by which we are daily surrounded. Philosophy
is not now mainly concerned with cataracts, earthquakes, volca-
noes, tornadoes and ocean tides, but with the subtle and imponder-
able element or elements or forces which wake these into being
and power.

Keligion itself speaks not so much of the ghostly outward forms
of spiritual life, rational or absurd, as of the hidden laws — the inner
life of all souls and all being. Thus, man comes at last to realize
that he is not only in the hands of an unseen God, who does with
him whatever he pleases, but he finds himself, also, in the hands
of an unseen and invisible universe of beings, powers and influen-
ces, of stupendous and infinite grandeur, omnipresence and force,
but in its elements, organisms and atoms, so hidden, impalpable
and invisible to vulgar sense, that the uncivilized millions even
to-day, after living in the midst of and in fact by leave of these
microscopic atoms and forces for 5000 years, do not even dream of
their existence. But it is by searching minutely into these ultimate
forms and forces of motion and of life — of good and of evil, that
man has achieved his greatest glory and good in the past, and is
destined to achieve still greater in the iuture.

In looking forward to the development of the natural history of
our own State, therefore, the more gross and vulgar minds will be
turned mainly to those forms of matter and of being which are
most open and apparent to the gaze of all. But he who searches
for the causes of things, and the true fountains of either weal or woe
to man, with the soul and spirit of a true philosopher, will ever
keep the eye of his mind turned in exactly the opposite direction.

645

I can pretend to little knowledge, and in fact can give even the
tolerably intelligent no instruction as regards either the elements
or the objects of natural history in our State. But I have some
general idea of the course through which it must run, and the ends
at which it must aim, if it would be in the highest degree useful to
our people and to civilized man.

Over the coarser forms of matter, over the trees of the forest, the
beasts of the held and the fowls of the air, man's conquest for both
defense and for use may be said to be nearly complete. But, be-
neath all these, in form and size, and around them and above them,
in number and power, lie an innumerable host, a countless million
of millions of organic and living forms of vegetable and animal
life, with which the wisest of men have as yet but just begun to
scrape a mere transient acquaintance.

Geology and Mineralogy, it is true, are inviting fields in the
great unexplored west, in which much may yet be developed for
the advance of art and of wealth. Curious plants of varied use
may here and there be found, in the realms of Botany, and proba-
bly some few animals or birds do still exist whose powers of good
or evil are not duly appreciated or are wholly unknown; but it
is not till we come among the insect, the microscopic and the fungi
tribes and races, that we reach the fountain heads of weal or woe,
of life and death to the millions of men who are to draw their daily
food from these fertile plains. It is these, alone, that are in future
to tax to the utmost the highest powers of the philosopher and en-
gage the most serious attention of the patriot and the philanthro-
pist ; for, if one of the greatest benefactors of man is he who ap-
plies a bubble of steam to all its uses, the other is he who prevents
a tiny insect, a sjDreading miasm or corroding fungi from all its mis-
chiefs.

Who, for instance, is insensible of the vast and destructive im-
portance of the huddling millions of the chinch bug, the immense
phalanxes of the army worm, whose ravaging battalions eat down
and consume the labors of man like an all devouring fire ?

Then there are the sixty varieties of plant lice already known —
so prolific that some single pairs will produce five millions in a
single year. This is settling the prairie a little too rapidly for our
agricultural uses. We prefer vacant lots to such a rapid proximity
of uncongenial neighbors, for their ideas of "squatter sovereignty"
conform to no true democratic or republican platform.

Lions and tigers and grizzly bears and wolves, ranging through
our fields by the thousand, in the present state of war arts, would
be an enemy as nothing compared to these. And yet there is good
reason to think that those comparatively coarse and overgrown
monsters of the insect world are infinitely less mischievous and
dangerous to the well being of man than that untold and unknown
host of microscopic beings that he in size so far down the scale of
life that even these could not see them without a magnifier, and
much less could the human eye. Our soil and climate seem to be

646

peculiarly prolific in these minute forms of both vegetable and ani-
mal life.

The most careless find traces of fungi of various descriptions on
almost all our fruits and grains ; several that infest our wheat and
corn fields, and annually diminish and sometimes almost annihi-
late thousands of acres of those great staples, are well known to all.
The various forms of fungi that produce the rot in the grape, and
some forms of blight in the pear, render those most delicious fruits
almost unknown to thousands of families in the land, who, were it
not for these pests, might enjoy their grateful and healthful use in
all its varied forms, prepared and unprepared, as freely as they do
the potato or the apple, and with far less manual labor and cost of
production than the former regions. The fungi in the grape can
be easily traced by the aid of a powerful microscope, and it is to be
hoped that our naturalists will soon now be able to locate or de-
scribe it, and define its distinctive origin and processes of reproduc-
tion and growth.

The tiny microscopic insect, also, that exists on the bark of the
pear, oftentimes by millions on a single branch, (of which I wrote
some general description for the Horticulturist, some years since,)
Dr. Fitch, of New York, has now got a safe and sure hold of, and
will, as he writes me, describe it so far as now known in his next
volume of reports on insets to the New York Legislature. (This
pest, I perceive by the papers, has recently appeared in South Car-
olina, where it was never known till this year. — Prairie Farmer,
June 2-ith. ) But there are only one or two obvious examples of
the mischief which we receive from these living atoms.

One can hardly resist the conclusion, as he looks upon the varied
forms of disease and discomfort in plants, in animals and in men,
that there is an innumerable host of them still unknown, and a vast
number of which so very little is known, that our knowledge prac-
tically amounts to little more than a mere technical verbiage.

The earth, the water and the air seem full of these teeming my-
riads, both of animal and vegetable life — too minute, oftentimes, ,
for our keenest senses, too multitudinous and rapacious for all our
known arts of either defense or destruction. That they ravage and
destroy more of the works of man now than all other causes is quite
probable, and that they are destined in future to do much toward
inciting him to perfect his means and powers of observation, his
arts and his skill ; much toward the highest and fullest and keenest
development of all his faculties of research and analysis, is still
more certain.

If time would allow us to pass into the field of zoophite and mi-
croscopic forms of life in the ocean depths, we should then find
that these minute beings not only populate and in some sense rule
and devastate the continents, but that they also absolutely create
them — re-building and upheaving our lands upon their coral reefs
from the bottom of the sea, and fabricating the very iron with
which we plow our fields and prosecute our varied industrial arts ;

647

so that, in all fairness, they seem to hare about as good a right to
live in the world as the rest of ns, if we could only bring them into
our Normal schools, and teach them to live in peace. Thus, these
living atoms really make for man his continents and his arts, before
he is born, and in turn control his destiny, ravage and defeat his
labor while he lives, and eat up his body when he is laid in the
grave. But we are more nearly and immediately concerned with
those races and species that people and ravage our already extant
continents and lands.

From whence spring these minute beings ? Where do they go
during the apparent long years of their absence, and how do they
get back to their old haunts? How do they live during those
years when unfavorable heats or colds, rains or drouths seem utter-
ly to destroy them ? How do they severally propagate their spe-
cies? On what do they feed? What several species prey upon
one another % What other forms of matter are hostile or offensive
or destructive to them ? These are questions of far greater and
more curious interest to science — of far greater use and hope to man
— more intensely disciplinary to his mental as well as physical fac ■
ulties and senses than similar questions about the grosser and more
palpable forms of matter.

In respect, also, to those grosser forms of vegetable and animal
life, it seems to me that our research should in future aim more
directly at practical utility than in the past.

We are quite too content with mere description of forms and
names, sometimes, without pushing our inquiries into the causes,
relations and uses, and evils of things. A true philosophy, as it
seems to me, would never let us rest content till we had truly and
fully learned not the bare name and form, but the final cause and
use, the good and evil, the full relation of each thing, object and
being, to all other beings, and especially to man — to all his inter -
ests/enterprises, arts, uses and developments, physical, mental and
moral.

We need not simply to christen all these things — not simply to
name the beasts, but also to rule over them, as did our great father
Adam ; and, also, all other forms of matter. And we cannot do
this till we know minutely their history, habits and relations to
other things and beings.

The grand end to be aimed at, in reference to most forms of fungi
and parasites of all sorts, is their prevention or destruction. But a
vast amount of minute antecedent knowledge is needed before we
can hope to say, u thus far and no farther," even to one single race
or tribe, much more to the vast myriad of races and tribes.

For example, after some years of incessant trial of a great variety
of things, I found that spirits of turpentine applied moderately to
the trunk of the pear tree would exterminate this minute pear in-
sect; and, when Dr. Fitch gives him his proper name, he will be
christened and doomed at one and the same time. But this was
all charlatanry, proceeding without any principle or knowledge as

6IS

a safe and sure guide. "What we need is such knowledge widely
diffused among our people. What vast good Dr. Fitch has done
in New York, and Mr. Harris in Massachusetts, by their researches
in this line. Their efforts have excited a deep interest in the minds
of the learned and philosophic, not only in this country, but in
England and in France. The English journals have commented
with great interest on their theme and their success, and the Impe-
rial Society of France have honored Dr. Fitch with their medal,
while the celebrated Yattemare manifests his usual interest in the
circulation of his works in France.

What a glorious field is open here to some of our western young
men. Who will enter it ? We need here a score of the best minds
in the country, under some central head, like this society, or the
Normal University, provided with the best microscopes and other
needed apparatus for collecting and examining a cabinet and spe-
cimens ; and the whole country marshaled under them, much as
Lieut. Maury proposes to organize on the science of meteorology.

Who will lead and marshal us in this great and good enterprise?
We need a man who has the eyes of an Argus, the brain of a New-
ton, and the patience of a Franklin, the patriotism of Washing-
ton, and the energy of a Napoleon. And if we could take all these
men and melt them into one great man, supremely great, supremely
good, he would here find a field for work in the single State of Illi-
nois, taxing all his mind and manhood, and, in the end, if he com-
pleted his work, he would enroll himself above all these, in mind
and fame, and stand at least upon their level, in beneficence and
good done to man. For here, pre-eminently, it is little causes that
work mighty results, and these tiny creatures have undoubtedly
not-only sent insatiate hunger and gaunt famine through the densely
populated lands, but have also bred civil wars and discords, thrown
whole nations into anarchy or conflict, and deluged the earth in
blood. And the Hessian fly is at this moment as likely to over-
turn the throne of Napoleon, perhaps more likely than any other
known or anticipated cause, and involve all Europe in a correlative
and consequent war of ranks and races. Only once let France cry
for bread, and no human foresight can tell what is to come to the
rest of the world. These pursuits, therefore, while of confessed
utility to agriculture, are by no means so utterly deficient in dig-
nity and importance even to the statesman and philanthropist, as
many of the unthinking may perhaps suppose.

But I intended also to say a word in the same line in regard to
meteorology, by way of approving and seconding Lieut. Maury's
magnificent plans in that department of research. And though
perhaps not embraced, except incidentally, in the objects of our re-
search, I trust I shall be pardoned for the allusion.

What a glorious thing is the sky! How like the very face of
God himself ! The wind, the calm, the fog, the heat, the cold, sun-
shine, rain and snow, storm clouds, tornadoes, and thunder show-
ers, rainbows and Auroras, their periodic seasons, spring, summer,

041)

autumn, winter, their eccentric and devastating sweep and whirl
over all the lands and realms, bringing joy or woe to all the million
of men ! Who can, nay rather who among us will grapple with these
mighty forces and laws of nature and of God? How deeply tins
science, too, that lies at quite the other extreme of the scale, (the
point of highest apparent grandeur,) affects all our interests as men!

To our young men of America, what a world of enterprise, of
thought, of research, of true progress and sublime grandeur, on all
hands, is open ! When I think of these things I cannot but regret
that I am so soon to become a poor sightless old man, unable essen-
tially to aid, however good the will. I regret still more that I have
not done more in the past. Will they not one and all arise and
gird themselves to the mighty task, the glorious work before them?
And shall not we of this infant association, we who love this noble
State Institution, do all in our power to aid and encourage all, of
whatever age or class, to enlist heart and soul in these great works
of good to our country and good to man, to which it has been the
object of this paper simply to direct our attention for a brief passing
moment.

We, the people of the State, look to this institution, this Normal
University, and this scientific association, to arouse as well as in-
struct the masses of the Great Wrest, and turn their millions of eyes
toward the solution of these mighty mysteries of matter and of na-
ture, toward the ultimate conquest of mind over these elemental
atoms, these moving forces of earthly destiny.

And if there be one great unit element or force which (as phe-
nomenal light, heat, electricity, galvanism, polarity, or other out-
ward name or form) imparts all motion and all life, grasping with
equal ease and control worlds, suns, systems, atoms and elements,
and rolling them through their career of seasons and years, genera-
ting as they go all forms of life, beauty and being, ever producing
in its sublime circuits all products, all changes and all destinies in
all worlds, and ever evolving both the fabled harmony and the real
glory of the spheres, let us aid also in this final demonstration the
achievement of this ultimate generalization of all science in all
worlds.

This Normal University we regard as the only daughter of our
Prairie State, fresh blooming and bridal, having received the dowry
of her mother, and awaiting only the patrimony from her great
father, the Union, to give her an outfit and-an estate worthy of her
rank and her aim. As members of the Illinois Association of Sci-
ence, we have here this clay assembled to inaugurate the nuptials
of this young, blooming, and dowered bride. We wed her not to
names and forms and shams, but we wed her to Nature, nature's
science and nature's truth, to God's light, God's laws and God's
love, predicting for ourselves, and imploring for her, through long
ages to come, a most glorious progeny of all sciences, all arts, and
all industries, all moralities and humanities to ennoble and bless
and adorn our native prairie home. We this day pronounce them
— TO

650

to be man and wife, and what God hath joined together let no man
put asunder.

Citizens of Bloomington, we commend again this young bride
to your special interest and care. Since tiie speaker and one of
your citizens (Mr. Fell) in 1S51 first stood on an adjacent tower,
and elected in hope, and in prospect as it has proved, the site of
your present university, great changes have come over the public
mind, as well as over your town. You have done noble things, and
we still expect things cf you yet more noble. Remember that "a
city set upon a hill cannot be hid," and let your motto ever be
" excelsior, excelsior! " both for yourselves and the institution in
your midst.

FORESTS AND FOREST TREES,

Read before the Natural History Society, at Bloomington, June 30, 1858,
By Dr. Frederick Brendel, of Pecria.

The woods are among the most prominent essentials which con-
stitute the character of a country, besides the distribution of land
and water and the unevenness of the surface of the earth. But
not alone the physiognomy of a country depends a good deal upon
the presence or the lack of forest trees, and the quality and quan-
tity of them. The same have the greatest influence upon the
character of the inhabitants, upon their way of life, their civiliza-
tion, their industry, their customs, their (contemplations?) habits
of thought, their poetry.

Our ancestors carried the hunting spear in the woodlands of
Northern Europe, whilst the nomadic tribes in Middle Asia tended
their herds, wandering through vast prairies restle? s and homeless.
The springy groves of ancient Greece created many an immortal
song, and the Phoenicians Would never have sailed to the far west,
had not the mountains of Lebanon supplied them with gallant
masts. The Cedars of Lebanon are gone, the shore is barren, the
population reduced in quantity and quality. The groves of
Greece are gone, and the descendants of a glorious nation have
become halt barbarous upon a dry, barren soil. The Tartars are
homeless as before. Teutonic tribes all over North-western Eu-
rope, once barbarous, have become civilized in the shade of their
oaks, and have grown up to wealthy and mighty nations. I would
not say that the change of vegetation and climate alone produces
such effects, but surely it is one of the co-operating causes.

The woodlands are distributed all over the surface of the earth,
through the tropics as well as the temperate zones; but extensive
tracts of land are quite destitute of trees. The great desert Sa-
hara, in Africa, the country north of the Black Sea, in Europe,
the Arabian, the Persian, the Indian, and other Tartarian deserts,
the desert of Gobi, all in Asia, the great plains on the Missouri,
the plateaux of North Mexico, the llannos of the Orinoco and the
pampas ot the Plata, in South America, are among the largest.

652

Toward the poles, the growth of timber is checked by the low
temperature of the summer. The northern boundaries of the
woodlands do not follow the isothermal lines. Where the latter
bear southward in the middle part of the North American conti-
nent, the former reaches farther north. From Labrador, where
the trees do not grow farther north than 58 cleg., the line ascends
north-westward to 69 deg. on the Coppermine river, where .Frank-
lin found the white spruce. This shows that it is not the mean
temperature of the year which determines the growth of plants,
but the mean of the summer temperature, which is higher in the
interior of the continents than on the coasts. It is a fact, that
each plant begins to grow at a certain degree of temperature. It
wants a summer of warmth for its development, and perishes at a
certain degree of low temperature. These principles regulate the
distribution of plants from the equatorial to the polar regions, as
well as in a vertical direction in the high mountains.

Last year (1857) I observed on the currant, which had displayed
its leaves after the warm days of the latter part of March and of
the fore part of April, that, afterward, when the temperature be-
came very low in the middle part of April, reaching only once 58
deg., and descending to 16 cleg., the further development stopped
for a while, but was not destroyed. To ascertain the necessary
sum of temperatures for the different species, is one of the princi-
pal problems to be solved by the botanical geography, in connec-
tion with meteorology, and of equal importance to agriculture, as
the knowledge of the chemical references (?) of the different culti-
vated plants to the soil. But it may be mentioned that the now
adopted system of meteorological observations must be altered en-
tirely, to be useful in (solving ?) botanical and agricultural ques-
tions. However, it would carry us too far from our subject to de-
tail this matter. Perhaps I may have an appropriate opportunity
to express my opinion about it.

I confine myself to acknowledge the fact, that, like the rest of
the vegetative world, forest trees are distributed all over the
earth's surface, according to the quality of the soil and the climate.
J. F. Sehoun, a Danish botanist, establishes four principal zones
of forest vegetation : 1st, the region of conifers ; 2d, the region
of the amentacFe ; 3d, the region of manifold mixed forests; and
4th, the region of rigid leaved trees.

Meyeas — classification is more detailed and corresponding to the
elevation above the level of the sea and the temperature.

1st. In the equatorial zone, the region of palms and bananas,
0-1900 feet high, with a temperature of 81-86 deg. F.

2d. In the tropic zone, the region of fern trees and ficus, 1900-
3800 feet high, by 74 deg. F.

3d. In the sub-tropical zone, in the region of myrtles and lau-
rels, 3800-5700 feet high, 68 deg., 70 cleg. F.

4th. In the warmer temperate zone, the region of evergreen
dicotyledonous trees, 5700-7600 feet high, 62, 5 deg. F.

653

5th. In the colder temperate zone, the region of deciduous
dicotyledonous trees, 7600-9500 feet high, by 58 deg. F.

6th. In the sub-arctic zone, the region of Abietinere, 9500-
116U0 feet high, by 52 deg. F.

7th. In the Arctic zone, the region of Alpine shrubs, 11400-
13300 feet high, by 44 deg. 5 min. F.

8th. In the Polar zone, the region of Alpine plants, 13300-
15200 feet high, by 37 deg. 5 min. to 39 cleg. 5 min. F.

It will be evident that these lines are not so exclusive that one
or the other species of one region should not pass over and min-
gle with the trees of the neighboring region. For instance, the
pine often grows together with the beech ; the oaks with decidu-
ous leaves with the evergreen ones. Moreover, one species pushes
away the other: as observed in many cases in the forests in Eu-
rope. A large forest near Munich, in Bavaria, which consisted
once of oak, beech, birch and hazel-nut, to-day are to be found
only coniferous trees. The greater part of the Hartz mountains
consisted two centuries ago of trees with caducous leaves, particu-
larly the oak and beech, remains of which are yet to be found in
the peat marshes. Now, the pine and spruce prevail, and spread
about more and more. In the meantime, we observe the contrary
in Denmark, where now the beech occupies the whole country,
and the pine does not exist, except in the form of the trunks
buried in the peat marshes, mixed with oak, birch, willow and as-
pen, but no beech. It is a well-known fact, that for the last five
centuries no comferae have grown wild in that country.

C. Yaupell has published a very interesting paper on this mat-
ter, in Am. L. So. Nat., 1857. After a minute examination of
the trunks, leaves and fruits to be found in the peat marshes of
Denmark, he makes the following remarks:

" In the ancient forests of Denmark have been mixed conifer-
ous, and trees with deciduous leaves. The most common trees
have been the birch ; next came the oak and the Scotch fir ; the
aspen, willow, hazel-nut, elm and maple occurred, but not so fre-
quently; the alder, the birch, and a species of fir, grow in the
swamps.

"When we compare these ancient forests with those of our
days, we find that they have been generally destitute of beech
trees, which now have become the predominant trees of the Dan-
ish forests.

" To explain this fact, different opinions have been advanced.
It scarcely deserves notice that in the last century it was believed
the fir never grew in that country, and that the trunks, together
with those of other species, had been transported thither by a
deluge."

In our times, the disappearance of the fir, and the substitution
of the beech, has been attributed to a change of the climate. It
was supposed that the climate of Denmark became milder, and
that the forest trees of ancient times agreed to the rudeness of the

054

former climates; but the beech, stands the cold climate better than
the oak which occurs in the peat marshes together with the fir.
The beech reaches the same altitude in Norway as the oak, and
ascends in the Alps about six hundred feet higher.

Dureau de la Malle, a French writer, supposes that the system
of alternate crops is founded in nature, and supported by the du-
rability of the germinative faculties of the seeds. "The forest of
Perche," (a province in France,) says he, " consists of oak and
beech, with a few chestnut, elm and ash. As soon as one part of
the forest is cut, the ground becomes covered by herbaceous plants
and shrubs ; then appear trees with white soft wood — the birch
and the aspen, but no oak or beech. When these trees are thirty
years old they are felled, but succeeded by the same species twice
yet ; and not until the lapse of at least ninety years do the beech
and oak regain their old domain.

" The growth of one species during a long time takes from the
soil certain nutritive substances, and leaves untouched others which
suit a second species; so the latter gains the ground. In France,
the oak gives place to the beech, which also gains more and more
ground in England."

Yaupell does not agree with this explanation. He tries to find
another one by the influence of the light and humidity, and the
quantity of the same, which is necessary to each species. The
forests in the interior of Futland, which are composed of different
species, present to him the arguments. " The birch is displaced
by the beech, wherever the soil is favorable to the latter. The
birch, with its gracile quivering foliage, is fond of light ; the
beech, vaulting a massy dome of leaves, throws a thick shade
around. The birch which grows in its neighborhood rises higher
and higher to escape the inconvenient neighbor, but in vain. The
beech, much mightier, stifles his victim, the seeds of which at last
are not able to germinate for want of sunlight. The same takes
places with the fir. Although the oak, with wide-spreading
branches and thick foliage, is likewise an antagonist of the birch
and fir, it has to give place to the beech when both grow together,
only the strife is more protracted. So the forests of fir and birch
become bye and bye forests of oak, and finally of beech ; and it is
not that the soil is exhausted, but on the contrary improved."

This explanation is indeed very ingenious, and shows a sharp
observation ; but how does it agree with the gradual dislodgment
of the beech by the fir in the German forests ? Considering these
facts, we learn that things must never be viewed from one side
alone. Apparently there are various causes which co-operate and
produce different effects, according to the various combinations of
causes.

The woodlands of the United States belong to three of the
above mentioned regions — the evergreens in the Southern States,
the woods with deciduous leaves in the Middle and Western

655

States, the pine forests in the north and along the Allegheny
mountains.

The woodland of Illinois, before the country was settled, cov-
ered one-third of the whole area, prevailing in the south, and fol-
lowing the river bottoms in the middle and northern part, and
contained nearly exclusively trees with deciduous leaves. The
whole pine family, which comprises 33 genera, with 342 species,
is represented in Illinois by only three species, viz : the white ce-
dar, the red cedar and the bald cypress.

Endlicher, in his Synopsis Coniferarum, 1847, enumerates
twelve American genera, which comprise, together with the six
ISTew Mexican species described by Engelmann, and a few more
by the other botanists, 123 (?) species. Of these, there grow in
America, (excluding Mexico, with 31 proper species,) 6Q. Twen-
ty-nine belong to the north-west coast and the Rocky mountains ;
six to ISTew Mexico ; three to the Southern States ; twenty others
in the limits of Gray's Flora of the Northern States, partly ex-
ceeding them, particularly in British America, which has three
proper species and three that are doubtful. Of these species,
which are sparingly found in Illinois, the red cedar extends north-
ward to the 50th deg., southward to the Gulf of Mexico and the
"West Indian Islands, westward beyond the Rocky mountains.
Fremont found it on the Platte river, and Emery found two spe-
cies of juniperus west of the Rio Grande, which are probably va-
rieties of our species.

The white cedar (thuya occidentals) reaches southward to the
32d deg. The bald cypress, (taxodium distychum, Pursh.,) one of
the largest trees of this continent, whose principal habitation is
Mexico and Louisiana, ascends on the Mississippi to the 43d deg.
north latitude. From the north perhaps a fourth species comes
within our limits — the American yew or ground hemlock, (taxus
canadensis, Willd.) The bulk of our woods is composed of more
than sixty species of trees with deciduous leaves, among which we
count about forty of large size. The constituents of the copses
are about forty different shrubs. Compared with the European
woodlands, this is a large proportion. In all Europe, north of the
Alps, we count scarcely more than thirty different species of large
forest trees.

The giants of the Illinois forests are the sycamore, the cotton-
wood, the white elm, all most common in the river bottoms. The
oak, especially the white and burr oak, the sugar maple, the black
walnut, the pecan nut, the shell-bark hickory, the honey locust —
these and many smaller trees belong to 25 families and 43 genera.

The old family of catkin trees, which is now divided into seve-
ral new families, is represented by nine genera, excluding here
the hazel-nut, which is a mere shrub, of which the richest is the
genus quercus. It is very difficult to give the exact number of
the now known species of this widely distributed genus, because
many species established by botanists, who are fond of making

656

new species, Lave been rejected by others who prefer to reduce to
subordinate divisions resembling species as varieties of one.

Many species from less known countries are, for want of suffi-
cient observation, imperfectly described. In the beginning of this
century, the most complete universal Flora was that of Persoon,
who enumerates about 20,000 Phanargames, which number grew
up in the meantime to more than 100,000. The number of his
oaks is eighty-two, of which twenty-eight belong to Europe and
the Mediterranean region, two to Australasia, six to Japan, fifteen
to Mexico and thirty-one to the United States. In the meantime,
Humboldt and Bonpland found, during five years' travel in South
America and Mexico, twenty-four species — all new ones except
one, and all Mexican except three species of New Grenada.
Bentham described four new species from Central America, one
Mexican and one Californian. Curtis, a new species in the south-
ern United States, (Q. G-eorgiana.) Torrey, a new western spe-
cies, (Q. Emoryi.) Other botanists, 48 species growing in Spain,
Northern Africa, Asia Minor, China, Java, Japan. Endlicher enu-
merates (1847) 197 species. The latest essay on the genus Quercus
has been published by F. Gay. He proposes large reductions in
the number of species, and at the same time a new distribution of
sub-genera and sections. He divides the genus into two sub-gen-
era— Esculus with membranous deciduous leaves, and Ilex with
coriaceous leaves which persist the second or third year. The sub-
genus Esculus he divides in five sections — three, Robur, Elteobila-
nus, Gallifera, with annual maturation; two, Erythrobalanus and
Cersis, with biennial maturation. The section Robur contains only
eight species — two European: Q. toza and Q. robur, in which he
unites as varieties more than a dozen described species — two Ori-
entals and four North American; Q. alba, the White Oak; Q. ob-
tusiloba, Willd., the Post Oak; Q. cyrata, Walt,, the Swamp Post
Oak of the Southern states; and Q. prinoides, the Chestnut Oak,
comprising Q. prinus, Q. bicolor, Q. montana, Q. castanea, and Q.
prinoides of Willdenow, which Michaux had already cautiously
subjoined as varieties to Q. prinus. Only in the second edition of
the Botany of the Northern States. A. Gray reduced this species
to three— joining Q. montana and Q. discolor with Q. prinus as
varieties, and I believe so will be done with the two others. The
form of the leaves is very variable in most of the oaks, and should
not be used as a diagnostic. That childish way in which zoolo-
gists formerly fabricated species out of mere skins is abandoned,
since anatomy and embryology regained their legitimate ground
in that branch of science. Since zoologists began to study the
animals in their successive stages of life, from the embryonic to
the adult state — to compare statements, and take notice of biologi-
cal and climatical moments — a crowd of weak species have been
stricken from the docket entirely, or degraded to the rank of vari-
eties. The same way has to be followed in establishing botanical
species. What benefit is it to science, when a closet reasoner in

657

the old country works up fascicles of plants collected in our woods
and prairies by a friend, who neglected to notice the nature of the
soil and the season the individual plant was collected. When that
closet-reason er, taking in consideration the hairiness or smoothness
of the surface of two individual plants, proposes two species, not
knowing that one grew up in the shade and the other exposed to
sunlight, acts he more reasonable than a zoologist, who, going to
the fur market, selects a dozen different colored racoon skins, with
ears and tails differing in length a few inches, and then is quite
happy to enrich science with a dozen more of names ? In that
way an Augean stable has been established, which to cleanse we
need many a Hercules.

Eight in the next section we meet a suspected species — Q. Oli-
vseformis, Michx. — which is only a variety of Q. Macrocarpa,
(Burr Oak,) a single representative of the section Eleeobalanus.
The section Gallifera contains no American species, but few Span-
ish and Oriental ones. The section Erythrobalanus is entirely
North American. Gay enumerates fourteen species: the Willow
Oak, Q. phellos ; the Swamp Willow Oak, (by Nuttall noticed as
a doubtful species ;) the Shingle Oak, Q. imbricaria, Michx.; the
Bartram Oak, Q. heterophylla, Michx. rl., founded upon a single
individual near Philadelphia, which does not exist any more, and
apparently a hybrid between Q. phellos (the Willow Oak) and Q.
tinctoria, (the Black or Yellow bark Oak ;) the Black Jack, (Q. ni-
gra;) the Water Oak, (Q. aquatica;) the Black Scrub Oak, (Q. il-
icfolia, Wang.;) the Red Oak, (Q. rubra ;) the Scarlet Oak, (Q.
coccinea, Wang.) The Q. borealis, Mich, ft., neither Nuttall,
Pursh nor A. Gray do mention it. Probably a species of British
North America, or a variety of another one. The Spanish Oak,
(Q. falcata, Michx.;) the Quercitron, (Q. tinctoria, Bartram ;) the
Pin Oak, (Q. palustris, Michx.,) and the Q. catebaci, Michx., a
southern tree.

The section Cerris contains nine species, partly European and
Oriental, partly Chinese. The subgenus ilex is divided in four
sections1— Suber Cypriotes, Heterophellos and Conifera, of which
only the first is represented in North America by the Live Oak,
Q. virens and seventy-seven others enumerated, by Endlicher, but
mostly very doubtful, and rejected by Gay altogether. To those
probably the Duke Paul, of Wurtemburg, the well known traveler,
refers, when he says to Wagner, another well known traveler, that
he could name more than one hundred and twenty different species
of Oak, which grow in North America, including the North Mexi-
can mountains. I hope he will not do it.

I have never seen the Beech growing in this State ; however, I
find it in Lapham's catalogue. May be it surpasses our northern
boundaries from Wisconsin, or the Wabash, from Indiana. [Here
Dr. B. was interrupted by Dr. Roe, of Bloomington, who said he
had seen the Beech among the wood piled up at the railroad sta-
tion, and he had no doubt it could be found within twenty miles of
—71

658

Bloomington.] May be it is wandering farther westward, usurp-
ing the ground which is now in possession of other genera. Its
present boundaries are noteworthy for future obsesvations.

The genas Fagus is a small one — only ten species are known :
one in Europe, one in North America and one in Japan. The
rest are in the Southern Hemisphere — four in New Zealand and
three from Chili to Terra del Fuego.

The genus Carpinus is represented in our woods and in America
at large by one species: C. Americana. Two exist in Europe and
three have newly been described in Japan, a country which seems
to be very rich in valuable forest trees.

Of the genus Ostrya are known only two species, one in Europe
and one in North America: our Hop Hornbeam

Twenty-eight different Birch are known, of which ten occur in
the northern part of our continent, but only one in Illinois: the
Ped Birch' (Betula nigra.) No Alder is mentioned in Lapham's
catalogue of Illinois plants, but as I find it in his catalogue of
Wisconsin plants, Alnus serulata, A. A., and the same occurs in
Kentucky, it might be sought for within the limits of Illinois.

Among the Willows which occur in this part of the Western
States, several attain the size of trees — how many species has not
yet been ascertained. The most common in the vicinity of Peoria
is the Black Willow, (S. nigra, Marsh.) The most common Poplar
is the Cottonwood. I suppose there was, and is yet, perhaps,
somewhat of confusion in regard to this tree. In Asa Gray's Botany
we find two species commonly called Cottonwood, P. gtnonlifera,
Ait,, the same as P. crevigata, Willd., P. canadensis, Michx., and
P. angulata, Ait., the same as P. angulosa, Michx., and P. anguli-
sans, of which Nuttall speaks in his Travels in Arkansas Territory,
not in his Genera, where he says (page TO): "Populus angulisans,
the Cottonwood of greater magnitude than any other tree in this
country, with the wood yellowish like that of the Tulip tree. The
smaller White Poplar (P. monilifera) is never so large as the pre-
ceding, commonly growing in groves like the Willows and pre-
senting a bark, which is white and even." Edwin James, in Long's
Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, remarks, that the Populus
Angulata, of Pursh, is the most common in the country of the
Mississippi, and, indeed, almost the only one which occurs, and
that it is as widely distributed as any indigenous to North Ameri-
ca, extending at least from Canada to Louisiana, and from the At-
lantic to the lower part of the Columbia river. The differences
between the two species, as described in Gray's Manual and in
other botanical works, are so slight, that I think one can be taken
for the other. So thought Lapham, it seems to me, when he enu-
merated, in his catalogue, only one: the Populus angulata, Ait,
although Gray locates P. monilifera, "New England to Illinois —
specially westward." Probably Lapham is right

The Sycamore (Platannus occidentalis) is decidedly the largest
forest tree east of the Eocky Mountains. Michaux measured one

659

near Marietta, Ohio, and found it fifteen feet and seven inches in
diameter, at twenty feet from the ground. They often rise to an
elevation of one hundred and fifty feet, (see Long's Expedition, by
Fames.) It is exceeded only by the giants of the Pine family, in
Oregon and California, Sequoia Gigantea End, three hundred feet
high, and another one which was measured by Lewis and Clark,
six feet from the base, forty-two feet in circumference. This latter
Fir and five other Firs, which are popularly described in Lewis
and Clark's Travels, to the source of the Missouri river, and across
the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean, provide Rafinesque
with Botanical names. The name Rafinesque renders any plant
suspicious that is attached to it, because this Botanist created so
many species which can never be found by any Botanist in any
other part of the world. The Walnut family is represented in our
woods by two genera. The Walnut with two species and the
Hickory with six species. The Pecan-nut, (Gary a olirsefbrnus,
JSTutt.,) which Lapham locates in the southern part of the State,
occurs at least as far north as Peoria.

The family of the Urlicacese is composed of five tribes: the Elm,
the Breadfruit, the Mulberry, the Nettle and the Hemp tribe. The
four first tribes contain trees, but only the Elm and Mulberry
tribes contain trees which belong to our Flora. The Elm tribe is
represented by the White Elm, (Ulmus Americana,) the Slippery
Elm, (Ulmus fulva,) the Cork Elm (U. racemosa, Thomas,) and the
Winged Elm, (Ulmus alata, Michx.,) a Southern species. The
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is the only representative of this
genus in this country. The Celtis crassifol'ia, Lam.,) certainly, and
the C. integrifolia, Nuttall, probably being varieties. The Mul-
berry (Morus rubra) occurs as far north as Peoria, but does not sur-
pass our Northern boundary.

The Spice bush (Benzoni odoriferum, Pees,) being a shrub, we
find only one tree of the Laurel family in our forests — the Sassa-
fras.

The Ash forms a genus with very variable species, out of which,
in Europe, near twenty North American species have been created
and enumerated which cannot be found in America; and even of
those which are considered as true species, some are suspicious to
me; for instance, <-he Red Ash (F. pubescens, Walt.,) and the Green
Ash, (F. viridis, Michx.) Perhaps there might be varieties of the
White Ash, (F. Americana.) Besides them, occur, in Illinois, the
Blue Ash, (F. quadrangulata, Michx.) I must mention here a
southern shrub, Forestiera ligustrina, Poir., in Lapham's cata-
logue, and Borya ligustrina, Willd., is one and the same plant,
and that another Forestiera acuminata, Poir., has been noticed
on the Ohio banks, near Shawneetown, by Nuttall, Travels into
the Arkansas Territory. Brumella lanuginosa, Pers., in the
southern part of our State, is a small tree, of the Sappodilla
family. The Persimmon, (Diospryros Virginiana,) not rare in
the South, I never saw in a wild state as far north as Peoria.

660

Of the Holly family, we find two species in Illinois : Ilex de-
cidua and verticillata, the Black Alder or Waterberry; but only
the latter attains the size of a small tree. I have never seen
it around Peoria, nor the Flowering Dogwood, (Cornus Florida, or
the Liquidamber styracifl.ua or the sour gum, N. multiflora, none
of which are rare in the South.

The largest tree of the Kose family is the wild Black Cherry,
Cerasus serotina ; the others, the wild Plum, the Crab Apple, the
Mountain Ash, the Juneberry, the Hawthorn, of which occur three
species, are only small trees. Leguminosese forms one of the
largest families, embracing more than four thousand species.
There are many trees amongst them, the elegant, pinnated foliage
of which gives to a country a singular charm, missed in the Euro-
pean forests. The trees of this family are peculiar to the Torrid
zone, but on our continent sending a few representatives north-
ward.

The Honey Locust (Gleditcha tricanthus) is the largest of those
which are to be found in Illinois. It is common yet as far north
as Peoria, and has been found in southern Wisconsin. A smaller
species, G. monosperma, Waltr., occurs in the South. Lapham
remarks, in his catalogue, that no other Botanist except Michaux
has found it in Illinois, but JSTutall did, (Travels into the Arkansas
Territory, page 40.) Gymnoclaudus canadensis, the beautiful
Kentucky Coffee tree, of nearly the same size as the Honey Locust,
has a large geographical extension, as well as the Red Bud, (Cercis
canadensis.) Both of them being indicated to grow in Canada, I
wonder to miss them in Lapham's catalogue of Wisconsin plants.
The common Locust tree (Robinia pseudacacia) is cultivated in the
north, but probably wild in the southern portion of this State.
The Maples are amongst our finest forest trees. Out of fifty-eight
known species of the two genera, sixteen are American, four of
which we have in Illinois : The Sugar Maple, Acer sacchari-
num, the Silver Maple, A. dasycarpum, Ehrh.; the Red Maple,
A. rubrum, and the Box Elder, (l^egundo accroides, Magnch.)
Two Horse] Chestnuts are to be found: Esculus glabra, WillcL,
and Flava, Ait. The Basswood, Tilia Americana, is common,
but mostly single, not as I have seen it in the northern part of
Iowa, forming continuous parts of the forest. A small but very
pleasing tree is the Papaw, (Asimina triloba, Dunal;) it is very
common but not always fruiting around Peoria. It does not ex-
tend so far north as Wisconsin.

The Umbrella tree, Magnolia and Tulip tree, (Liriodendron tu-
lipifera,) are included in Lapham's catalogue, as growing in South
Illinois, probably in the most southern part, as neither of them came
under my observation in St. Clair county, where I herborized one
year.

Besides the above mentioned large and small trees, many others
occur, together with numerous shrubs. Many have yet to be stu-
died in regard to their systematical arrangement as well as their

661

geographical distribution. Many species are confined to the south-
ern "part only of Illinois. Many do not reach Wisconsin. It would
be very interesting to ascertain the northern or southi rn line of
each, but it would be a difficult task for a single man. As the
popular names of most of the forest trees are known, I believe, to
everybody, he need not be a Botanist to contribute in this line val-
uable materials, and assist in preparing a paper on our forest trees
for the next volume of the Transactions of the State Agricultural
Society. I invite the gentlemen present to favor me with any in-
teresting notice which may come within their reach. I intend to
elaborate this matter in detail, regarding the systematical arrange-*
ment, the geographical distribution, the physiological, chemical
and mechanical properties of the subjects. I will ascertain as much
as possible the specific weight of the diffeient timber and the per
cent, of charcoal and ashes, and the constituent parts of the latter;
but to make this sketch a well finished treatise, I want, and once
more ask-, for your kind assistance.

ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Bloomington, Illinois, June 20, 1859.

The Illinois Natural History Society met in the rooms of the
Normal School, according to adjournment.

President Turner . being absent, Prof. J. H. McChesney, Yice-
President, was called to the chair.

On motion, the President appointed the following committees :

Dr. E. E. Koe, E. II. Haider and C. Thomas, Committee on
the Constitution.

C. D. Wilber, B. G. Eoots, Geo. Eex, C. Thomas, Chas. D.
Bragdon, Dr. G. Yasey and S. Wright, Committee on Officers.

Meeting adjourned until 5 p. m.

Five o'clock, p. m.
Society met, pursuant to adjournment.
Minutes of last meeting read and approved.
The Committees reported as follows :

The Committee on the Constitution reported the following
amendments ; which were adopted by a vote of two-thirds :

CONSTITUTION.

Article i. This Society shall be called the Natural History Society of Illinois.

Art. ii. Its field of observation and research shall comprise Geology, Mineralogy,
Meteorology, Botany, Zoology, Comparative Anatomy and Animal and Vegetable 1'hysi-
ology.

Art. hi. The officers of this Society shall consist of a President, nine Vice-Presidents,
Treasurer, Secretary, Superintendent, Curator and Executive Committee, to be elected
annually.

Art. iv. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all regular meetings of the
Society. In his absence one of the Vice-Presidents shall preside.

Art. v. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys of the Society, such as fees of member-
ship, donations, &c, and disburs#the same as directed upon the written order of the Exe-
cutive Committee.

Art. vi. The Secretary shall keep a record of all pioceedings of the Society; shall
file all papers read before the Society ; shall act as a librarian, and conduct the correspon-
dence.

Art. vii. The Superintendent, shall visit different portions of this and other States ;
make collections of specimens, attend to exchanges with various societies, establish a sys-
tem of co-operation and labor to incite a general interest in the study of Natural History.

Art. viii. All specimens shall be labeled, registered and deposited in the Museum of
the State Normal University.

Art. ix. Any resident of the State of Illinois may become a member of this Society on
the payment of five dollars, if elected by a majority of the members present at any regular
meeting : Provided, the names of candidates i'or membership shall in all cases be presented
on the recommendation of two members of the Society.

GG3

Art. x. Each regular member shall pay an aunual assessment of two dollars after the
first year of his membership.

Art. xi. The Executive Committee shall consist of five members, to be selected by the
Society. This Committee shall take charge of and act upon all matters referred to them
by the Society.

Art. xii. The Curator shall receive and take charge of all collections and contributions
of specimens belonging to the Society, and arrange them in such place as shall be provided
for them by the Society

Art xiii. All regular meetings of this Society shall be held in the city of Bloomington
on the day preceding the Annual Examination of the Normal University.

Art. xiv. This Constitution may be amended or changed by a two-thirds vote of the
members present at any annual meeting of the Society.

The Committee on Officers reported the following names, and
recommended they be elected to the offices named :

President, Prof. John B. Turner, Morgan county; Vice-Presi-
dents, Dr. Edmund Andrews, of Cook county; A. M. Gow, of Lee
county; F. Brendel, Peoria county; J. TI. McChesney, Sangamon
county; M. L. Dunlap, Champaign county; B. G. Roots, Perry
county; Ben. Wiley, Union county; Wm. Le Baron. Kane county;
S. B. Mead, Hancock county; Secretary, Kichard H. Holder;
Treasurer, Dr. E. R. Roe; Curator, Cyrus Thomas; Superinten-
dent, Gen. C. D. Wilber; Executive Committee, Ira Moore, CD.
Wi'lber, Chas. D. Bragdon, Dr. Geo. Yasey, Cyrus Thomas.

They were elected.

Adjourned.

EVENING SESSION.

Wednesday, % P. M.

Society met in the Hall of the Normal University.

An address made by Cyrus Thomas, of Jackson county, on the
study of Natural History.

A paper on Meteorology, in connection with Botany, from Dr.
F. Brendel, of Peoria, read by C. D. Wilber.

A paper was read by Dr. Geo. Yasey, of McIIenry, on the
Mosses of Illinois.

A paper was also' read by Dr. E. P. Roe, of Bloomington, on
the extinction of certain species of Fluvistile Molusks, by the
drouth of 1854:.

After this, Prof. McChesney addressed the meeting on the Geol-
ogy of Illinois.

Adjourned until 1|- p. m. to-morrow.

Thursday, 1* P. M.

Society met, pursuant to adjournment.

Dr. Geo. Yasey presented a description of Ascerates found in
Southern Illinois.

Cyrus Thomas presented a paper on the Orthoptera of Illinois.
The following resolutions were then presented and adopted :

664:

Resolved, That we tender our grateful acknowledgments to the following Railroad Com-
panies : Illinois Central, Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, Chicago, Alton and St. Louis,
Chicago and liock Island, Galena and Chicago Union, Terre Haute, Alton and St. Louis,
Great Western of Illinois, Quincy and Toledo, Peoria and Oquavvka.

Resolved, That the Executive Committee do hereby appoint Cyrus Thomas and Dr Ya-
sey assistants in the Scientific Survey of Illinois.

Resolved, Whereas the Natural History of Illinois is intimately connected with that of
the surrounding States, viz: Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio; and whereas
we believe that if a suitable plan "f co-operation and exchanges between the naturalists of
the said States was established, that it would greatly aid iu the investigations of the Natural
History of those States; therefore, we do hereby recommend and propose that a Conven-
tion of Naturalists from those various States be held in the city of Chicago, beginning the
12th day of September, 1859. And, to this end, we hereby appoint all the members of the
Society delegates to attend sa d Convention on behalf of this Society.

Resolved, That the Executive Committee be required to procure the publication of the
papers and proceedings of the Society in some paper generally circulated through the State.

Resolved, That the Superintendent of the Society be and hereby is authorized to exhibit,
at the next State Pair at Preeport, such of the specimens belonging to the Society as he may
deem most suitable. And, that he may be enabled to do this to the best advantage, the
Executive Committee shall aid him in carrying out this object.

Resolved, That a catalogue of the plants and animals of Illinois be published, as far as
ascertained, by this Society, to aid in exchanges and assist in advancing the study of Botany
and Zoology.

RESOLUTIONS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Resolved, That the Superintendent be authorized to enter into contracts with colleges
and other institutions of learning to furnish them with suits of Illinois specimens of Natural
History, on the terms and according to the catalogue in the circular of the Superintendent.

Resolved, That, in accordance with the resolution of the Society, we select The Prairie
Farmer as its medium for publishing the papers and proceedings of the Society.

Meeting adjourned until the next regular meeting.

THE STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY.

Read before the State Natural History Society, at its annual meeting, at Bloomington,
June, 1859.

By Cyrus Thomas, of Jackson county.

Ladles and Gentlemen :

Fully aware of the difficulty of making a subject so little studied
and so completely confined to technical language as Entomology
interesting to an audience, I have, therefore, determined to speak
not only of the advantages derived from the study Entomology
alone, but of the entire field of natural history, the reasons applica-
ble to the latter being, in the highest degree, applicable to the
former.

And, that I may be better understood, I will define Natural
History, as I understand it.

Natural History has for its objects the classification of natural
terrestrial bodies, the investigation of their relations and qualities
and the relations and functions of their component parts. Yet this
is not intended to include chemical relations, though, in reality, a
branch of Natural History.

Any acquisition of knowledge that tends to elevate our concep-
tions of the Creator, to expand our minds, enlarge our views and
elevate the standard of human pleasures and enjoyment, is cer-
tainly advantageous in the highest degree, and worthy to be studied.

Every fact learned in Natural History is that much actual know-
ledge acquired — shows us that much more of the power and wisdom
of the Creator, and prepares the mind to receive the next fact
linked with the one learned. For Natural History is made up of
facts, of phenomena, not isolated and disconnected, but most ad-
mirably linked together and interwoven around the great central
stem — Design — from which every root sends forth its culms. Con-
sequently the more and more of this knowledge we acquire, the
more we know of God's infinite power and wisdom ; and the nearer
are we approaching his eternal throne. And were it not that this
wisdom is as limitless as space itself, we might hope to reach its
very pinnacle. But it is pleasure to know that the great I AM
has prepared inexhaustible fields of knowledge for ns to explore
that even eternity shall leave untouched.
—72

Q66

I believe the mind of man is capable of continued expansion,
and that the day will come on this earth in which a single mind
will be capable of grasping the entire " Cosmos," of which the
lamented Humboldt could discern the shadowy outlines, but which
he in vain attempted to point out to others.

The vast lens of his mighty mind gave it a telescopic vision that
reached bevond the ken of others. And for this reason his great
work, though, the parts are masterly compositions, yet, as a whole,
is a failure. Yet he has marked the way up the hill, and the next
explorer will the more easily find it; -and, ere long, Humboldt's
highest ascent will be left behind, as was his mark on Sorata's
snowy peaks.

In proportion as our knowledge increases, and new objects of
study become known, so our pleasures must increase, if this know-
ledge be rightly directed and used.

There is another reason why nature should be selected as a gen-
eral study, and this is that it is to all an open field. Its doors are
closed to none who have a mind to think and eyes to see or ears
to hear, however indigent they may be. Nature throws wide her
portals to all. Yet how few enter upon this rich field, how few
are acquainted with the natural history of their own yards, be they
ever so small.

It is well known to all present that the higher mathematics are
studied by many who never expect to become astronomers or engi-
neers, or to occupy any position that will recpiire those abstruse
calculations. Yet they are studied solely to strengthen and disci-
pline the mind, and form the habit of close investigation, attention,
comparison, tfec. And this is done under the advice of most expe-
rienced instructors and philosophic reason ers.

The study of natural history is adapted to the same end in the
highest degree, and, at the same time, has three advantages added,
to-wit: the necessity for and inducement to physical exercise, an
unending variety of new forms, and the art of classification.

While, on the one hand, mathematics are dry, and to some de-
gree unattractive, especially to the tender sex, having a tendency
to produce harsh, blunt manners or a desire to hang on hair-split-
ting differences, which results from their being entirely mental,
having nothing pleasing for the eye to rest upon, on the other
hand natural history presents, at every step, the most pleasing ob-
jects to the eye, with food sufficient for the most philosophic mind.
. There is nothing better adapted to discipline the mind and give
method than the classification and analysis of natural history.
Suited to every capacity, from the weakest intellect up to the most
profound, beginning with a few grand and comprehensive divisions
and principles, it spreads to an almost endless minutiae.

And, although the feats of the great chess player, Morphy, have
been sounding in our ears^as the most wonderful accomplishments
of the human mind, still, the general naturalist, when penetrating
into the dej)ths ol his science, has exactly the same feats to perform.

667

His boards are as numerous as those of Morphy, his pieces far
more numerous and his spots less definitely marked.

For instance, when Owen, from a single mutilated New Zealand
bone, formed a gigantic bird, that once stalked over the marshes of
the pre-Adamite earth, it required powers of memory equal to any-
thing performed by the noted chess player.

His boards were three mammalia, Aves and Reptilia, each divi-
ded into hundreds of compound and complicated sections, and from
the deep storehouses of his memory he had to gather up the thou-
sand forms that moved on' each. Nor was this all; each one of
this vast number of pieces was composed of parts, and this was but
a part, that must be compared with all. He decided that nought
in this wide range coincided with this ; nor was this all — he deci-
ded, what the other parts were. Back went the explorer, and ere
long bone after bone was joined together, and the great Dinornis
is before us.

And the study of natural history is a useful stady, having many
direct practical advantages. Agriculture is the pedestal on which
the stately fortunes of bankers and merchant kings are reared, and
as the pedestal contracts or expands, so rises or falls the lofty column.
It is on the broad bosom of mother earth this pedestal is laid, so
seeming secure. But earth teems with life from the most minute
to the gigantic, and often the insects, despised and disregarded be-
cause of their minuteness, by their silent mining cause the broad
pedestal to totter.

The luscious fruit is withered by cu rculio, rabbits, locusts, &c.
The golden wheat is cut down in its prime by the chinch bug,
weevil, rust, tfcc. The young maize is swept away by the army
worm. The litttle Bruchus renders worthless the ripening peas.
The cucumber dwindles away before the Galeruca vittata. The
cabbage plants and turnips are riddled by the Hattica. The potato
bug deprives us of that welcome dish, and so on through an almost
endless list.

Wherever we turn our animal enemies are present ready to meet
us, while at the same time our friends are by our side, but we are
unable to recognize them, and thus often wage war with those who
are busy destroying our worst enemies. But did we know them
by sight, there are thousands for which we know no names, unless
we go to the naturalist, and thus, without the specimen, cannot by
words point out a single one so that it may with certainty be dis-
tinguished from the mass.

Once an alarm spread in England lest the Hessian fly should be
imported. The- privy council sat day after day debating how to
prohibit its advent, but alas the general name did not suffice, not one
of them would know it when they saw it. Fortunately a naturalist
was at hand, Sir Joseph Banks ; he lent his aid and thus helped
them out of their difficulty.

By means of scientific names given by the naturalist, physicians
are enabled to determine the plants they desire to use as medicine.

668

It is the Geologist that points out the rich mines of coal that lie
hidden in the bowels of the earth.

It is the Herpetologist who points out to us those deadly reptiles,
without waiting for sad experience to teach the same, and he dis-
pels our fears of those which are harmless.

Therefore, we say, that natural history should be studied for the
practical use made of the knowledge obtained. And, if it be a
study so desirable and so useful, the question arises, Should not the
study he generally introduced into our schools and colleges?

I answer, most emphatically, yes ! There is no other branch of
physics, nor any branch of metaphysics so important and so neces-
sary to be studied in the school room as natural history. And I
am glad to see that quite a number of institutions have ventured
to cross the Eubicon ; yet others are halting at the brink, fearful
of the result.

Some parts of natural history have been taught in schools for a
long time, yet in a disconnected manner that gave no idea what-
ever of the cosmology or, more strictly, the cosmogeny of nature.
With the exception of Botany, they were almost useless, save their
effect in disciplining the mind. The next question then is, How
natural history should be taught in schools?

We may answer the question generally by saying:

1st. So as to best discipline the mind and most enlarge it.

2d. So as to prepare the student for the future prosecution of the
study.

3d. So that the most practical use can be made of the knowledge
gained.

4th. So as to beget in the student a love for the science.

But to be a little more definite and particularize somewhat, we
state that the first object is chiefly gained by the classification and
analysis of natural history. Therefore, it is necessary it should be
taught, as a whole, systematically — as a matter of course — after
defining and explaining the grand divisions, taking one branch at
a time. But the relations of the various classes, divisions, orders,
&c, should be pointed out as the student advances.

To illustrate: The class just beginning is taught first, the scope
and extent of natural history in general terms ; then the division
into inorganic and organic is explained and illustrated, and their
relations to each other shown. Then say the organic is taken, and
the division into vegetable and animal is likewise explained and
relations shown.

Then one of these kingdoms, as the animal, is selected as the
branch to be pursued. Following the Cuvierian system, this is
divided into vertebrata, mollusca, articulata and radiata. Or, if
we follow Burmeister, divide into three groups, beginning at the
lower animals, thus: gastrozoa, arthrozoa and osteozoa ; giving the
characteristic distinctions, the relations, &c, and at the same time
illustrating, thus descending, step by step, to the smaller divisions,

at the same time analyzing, by actual inspection, specimens of
each division and sub-division, as the students advance.

And, I may as well remark here, that it is next to an impossi-
bility to give a correct idea of the boundaries of the various sub-
divisions of natural history, without the aid of a museum or cabinet
of specimens. Yet this need not be very extensive or costly, as a
collection of the following kind would be sufficient for all ordinary
purposes, viz: In Mineralogy and Geology it is necessary to have
specimens of each kind of mineral in the bounds desired to be ex-
amined,, as it its utterly impossible to learn them from description
alone. In Botany, the typical species of each genus desired to be
known ; in Zoology the same.

Yet, the classification and analysis of natural history is not all of
it, by any means, nor will these entirely (although they do to a
great degree) meet the other requirements. For the student has
yet to learn the Physiology of vegetables and animals ; Compara-
tive Anatomy of Zoology; Geographical Distribution; the practi-
cal uses and purposes ot the various objects of natural history; the
nomenclature; and, lastly, the method of collecting, preserving
and arranging specimens of natural history.

As the class advances, the instructor will find the different indi-
viduals of the class selecting some particular branch or subject, ac-
cording to their different tastes. This is as it should be. The field
is too wide for extensive research in each department by one mind,
yet the general outlines and general principles should first be
learned, as natural history has its parts too intimately connected
to entirely isolate and dissever any one.

I think that natural history can be taught best by familiar lec-
tures, selecting some good, general works as text books, to be used
by the students, and at the close of each lecture, give the subjects
of the next, so that the students might be prepared to answer
questions thereon.

We have no very appropriate works that I can recommend as
suitable to beginners, embracing general natural history. In
Zoology, probably "Vauder Hoeven's Hand-book of Zoology," two
vols., is best. In Botany, Gray's works stand first. In Geology,
Lyell's Principles and Manual. Outlines of Comparative Physi-
ology, Agassiz & Gould. Mineralogy, Dana's.

Permit me to add, in the close, that a more general acquaintance
with natural history would have a strong tendency towards eleva-
ting the pleasures and pastimes of all persons, and especially the
younger portion. It would draw them away from those frivolous
and worse than useless enjoyments, that many of our young gen-
tlemen and ladies indulge in, simply because their minds have not
been filled with anything better. It would have a tendency to
draw the minds of our females from display. Pardon me, ladies,
when I say that it does seem to me that a large portion of your sex
live as though they were but toys, to be displayed to the admiring
public — for too many think of nothing else but display. But the

670

sterner sex are to blame for much of this. They cannot be content in
the house a moment longer than to eat and sleep ; they must haunt
the bar-rooms, saloons, lodges, offices, &c, &c, leaving the females
to enjoy themselves as best they can. Let each have something
new to tell, and they will be together long enough to communicate
that. Then, natural history is constantly unfolding something
new, and that is as important to be known as what the colors of
Mrs. Smith's bonnet are, or the pattern of Miss Allen's new dress.

" Consider the lilies how they grow ; they toil not, they spin
not, and yet I say unto you, that Solomon, in all his glory, was not
arrayed like one of thege." — Luke xii, 27.

Notwithstanding this is the language of our Saviour, very few
believe it to be literally trae. Ask them if it is so, and of course
they answer, yes. But let them see Solomon, or even a modern
nabob, arrayed in all their splendor, with the talisman of power and
tvealth attached — place beside them a lily and it is utterly forgot-
ten and overlooked, and not one out of a thousand spectators would
know the plant was there.

" Consider how they grow," not only their beauty, shape, size,
&c, but the method of their growth, their perfection, the wonder-
ful adaptation of every part and the provision of nature, that season
after season marks the petals with exactly the same brilliant marks
and stripes. In other words, study Botany, for it can mean noth-
ing less. You are fond of finding out secrets and explaining mys-
teries ; there hangs a veil over this, that Linnseus, De Candalle,
Lindley, and hosts of others, have been unable to remove ; make
the attempt — it may have been left for you to do. You love .some-
thing new. I speak to all. Natural history offers unexplored re-
gions— ground that the boldest explorer never yet has trod ; you
may be the first to plant the standard on some terra-incognita.

And while Illinois has given one of her sons to a higher sphere
— who now is extending his explorations far into the cold regions
of the north — let us give him words of encouragement — thank him
for what he has done for the honor of his State. And, while he
sustains our name abroad, let us be at work at home ; for, be as-
sured, there is enough here to do. "We all desire to see Illinois
take the stand, in regard to natural history, by the side of Massa-
chusetts and New York.

ON METEOROLOGY IN CONNECTION WITH BOTANICAL INVESTIGATIONS.

paper read before the Illinois Natural History Society, June, 1859,
By Dr. Frederick Brendel.

In a paper written last year for the first convention of this
Natural History Society, 1 alluded to the insufficiency of the
adopted system of meteorological observation, as to be used in
botanical and agricultural questions. In this paper I will try to
put that assertion past doubt.

Light, humidity and heat are the principal agents in vegetable
life. We know that in different climates, different genera and
species of plants ' are produced ; that the latter, except a few cos-
mopolites, have their northern and southern limits, and that plants
which grow and produce fruits in a warmer climate perish in a
cold climate; and that trees planted in a temperate climate, even
when they can stand it, do not produce fruits, for want of the
necessary heat. Evidently the full development of any species
wants a certain sum of heat in a certain space of time.

When Humboldt introduced into science the system of isother-
mal lines, it was supposed that the northern limits of certain
plants would coincide with certain isothermal, or at least with the
isotheral lines. Very exact investigations on many European
species, by Alfons De Candalle, have proved, that in no case the
limits of a plant exactly coincide with any line of a certain tem-
perature, in any season, and that the limits of the plants cross each
other, or, if they do not, at least never run parallel.

De Candalle bases his further investigations upon two chief
principles: 1. The active heat is the product of its degree and
its duration. A more intense heat in a short time produces the
same effect on plants as a less intense heat in a longer time. This
is true, provided the range of temperature and the space of time
is limited. 2. Every plant wants a certain minimum of heat for
each of its physiological functions, as germinating, leafing, flower-
ing, etc. The temperatures below freezing point have no effect
on plants, or at a certain low degree a destroying one ; but there
are many species on which the lower degrees above freezing point
have no effect. There is a starting point of vegetation for every

672

species at a certain degree of temperature ; every species wants a
certain sum of heat above a certain degree of temperature, dis-
tributed in a space of time between a minimum and a maximum
of duration.

To find out this necessary sum of beat, it is necessary to calcu-
late the mean temperature of every day above freezing point, as
well as one deg., two deg., three deg., etc., above freezing point,
counting all the observed degrees below the starting point, 0 ; to
add together these daily means from the day when germinating or
sap-moving is supposed to commence, to the day when the fruit is
ripe, and to compare those calculations of many years. The most
approximate sums will probably be the necessary ones ; the series
in which the same are found will indicate the starting point of
growth, and the number of clays which furnish the necessary sums
of heat above the starting point will give the mean time, in which
the above sums can be distributed.

I made some observations in that line, of which I shall give an
account; but previously I must remark, that I preferred to use the
Centigrade thermometer, the Fahrenheit scale being the most arbi-
trary and unscientific, presenting indeed to meteorology in general
the advantage to avoid to a certain degree negative values, but
exhibiting on the other side a great inconvenience in investiga-
tions of the above kind, as it commences in our calculations with
the number 32, which we have to subtract ; and as it produces
very large sums.

Walferdin intended, by a new scale of 400 degrees, to unite the
advantages of the Centigrade and the Fahrenheit scales, zero be-
ing the melting point of frozen mercury, and 400 the boiling point
of mercury. Here zero coincides with — 40 deg. F. 40 cleg. C,
and 140 deg. with 212 cleg. F. and 100 cleg. C. It is used by
some French meteorologist, f. i. Babinet, and. being based upon a
natural principle, and avoiding, as far as the mercury thermometer
can be used, all the negative values, it is indeed preferable to the
Fahrenheit scale, but presents in connection with our investiga-
tions the same inconvenience.

A majority of scientific men in Europe have adopted the Centi-
grade scale, and it would be a great improvement, should it be
adopted in England and North America. Frequent reductions
causing a great waste of time, it is in general desirable that the
scientific men of all countries should use one and the same meas-
ure and weight, and that this should be the French system, the
only one thai is not chosen arbitrarily, but based upon nature.

OBSERVATION.

In 1857, May 16, two days after a heavy rain, I planted some
Indian corn in the yard of my residence ; it sprouted May 25, and
ripened September 30. In these 138 clays the sum of the daily
mean temperatures, 5 feet above ground in the shade, was 3,064 ;
the sum of mean temperature of the soil 4 inches below the sur-

673

face at 3 P.M. was 3,443 ; the quantity of rain 13.2 inches ; the
mean quantity of cloudiness .4 ; the mean humidity of the atmos-
phere .68. The result of this observation is about the same as
that which Boussingault reports of an observation in Alais,
(France, 44 deg. 1ST. L.,) at which place Indian corn ripened in 135
days, with the sum of daily mean temperature of 3,064. But the
above observation is by no means as complete as it should be, and
when I show the deficiencies of it, it may be seen that the adopted
system of meteorological observations is unfit to be used in botani-
cal physiology. In this observation, during the period in which
the minimum of temperature was not falling below freezing point,
I could use my meteorological observations made for the Patent
Office, and so I calculate the monthly mean from the three daily
observations at 7 A.M., 2 P.M. and 9 P.M., although this calcula-
tion excludes for the whole summer the minimum (before sunrise)
and the maximum, (about 3 P.M.,) and I received the above sum,
which would be necessary to ripen Indian corn, provided that the
temperature of every degree above freezing point has any effect
upon its growth.

In my meteorological observation in 1857, an abstract of which
is published in Patent Office Reports for 1857, page 518, the ther-
mometer extremes from April to October do not agree with those
I observed for my own use before sunrise and between 3 and 4
P.M., the minima being lower and the maxima higher in the for-
mer. Both extremes are necessary to calculate the daily mean
temperature above a certain degree.

For want of a practicable instrument, which indicates the grad-
ual rise and fall of temperature in any time, f. i., the pendulum
thermometer by Becquerel, which I do not know sufficiently to
describe it, I prefer the four times observations of the army mete-
orological register, (maximum, minimum, 9 A.M. and 9 P.M.,) in
connection with a reduction table, as the best for botanical pur-
poses. When a maximum and minimum thermometer is used,
these observations will not be more troublesome than those of the
adopted system, and will evidently be the best to calculate the
mean temperature above a certain degree, about which the heat
has any effect on vegetation, and the space of time in which the
same works.

Beside the temperature of the soil, the intensity of direct inso-
lation should be measured by a thermometer fully exposed to the
rays of the sun.

Beside the amount of clouds, the duration of sunshine should
be noted, because the latter cannot be deduced from the former.
It may happen that the sky is half covered with clouds, and still
the sun shines the whole day. Both intensity and duration of
sunshine have the most important influence on vegetation.

To show how little value in botanical questions the adopted sys-
tem is, I will give an account of some other observations made in

73—

m

a season in which the temperature partly falls below the freezing-
point.

Since live years, I note occasionally the periods of leafing, flow-
ering and fructification of plants. In 1857, the spring was rather
retardative; in 1859 very early. Comparing the periods of flow-
ering with the accumulation of heat in both years, from January
to that period, I found in some species a striking coincidence of
the sums of the mean temperature, and of the number of days on
which the temperature rose above freezing point. In other spe-
cies, perhaps by some errors, f. i., in noting some other than the
first day of flowering, the calculation was not as I expected; but
further observations I hope will have the same convincing result.
In the mean time, the following table will show the difference be-
tween the calculations according to the adopted system and that
of De Candalle:

SUM OF THE DAILY MEAN TEMPEKATTJKES.

First day of flowering
from Jan. to the first
day of flowering ac-
cording to the adop-
ted system.

Counting the temperatures above a certain
degree.

Above freez-
ing point.

1° above freez-
ing point.

2° abov^e free-
zing point.

Aoer Saccharinurn......

1857 May 10
1859 Apr. 20

39.4
327.4.

026 in 87 d's
522 " 88 "

443 in 86 d's
447 " 87 "

392 in 85 d's

377 " 87 "

Crataegus Co&cineus...

1857 May 20
1859 Apr. 30

155.6

452.4

642 " 97 "
646 " 98 "

549 " 96 "

562 " 97 "

489 " 95 "

483 " 97 "

1857 May 20 "
1859 Apr. 30

155.6
452.4

642 " 97 "
646 " 98 "

549 " 96 "
562 " 97 "

4S9 " 95 «

483 " 97 "

Ceraaus Virginiana.....

1857 May 25
1859 May 5

263.0
555.0

750 " 102 "
750 " 103 "

652 " 101 "
661 " 102 "

587 " 100 «
576 " 102 "

1857 May 31
1859 May 10

361.2
657.5

S48 " 10S «
852 " 108 "

744 " 107 "
758 « 107 "

672 " 106 "

668 " 107 "

B,obinia Pseudacacia..-.

1857 Jan. 7
1859 May 16

471.0

767.0

978 " 115 "
962 " 114 "

867 " 114 "
862 " 113 "

78S " 113 "
766 " 113 «

I have calculated in this way eleven series, as far as to ten de-
grees above freezing point; but as it seems, most of our plants
flowering in spring commence with the moving of sap when
the temperature rises above freezing point, and so it is not
necessary to take notice of the rest, as the numbers diverge more
and more. Robinia pseudacacia makes the only exception, the
starting point of which is probably one deg. above freezing point,
and remarkably this is a more southern species. The calculation
for this species is the most reliable, because the individual trees on
which the observation was made stood in the immediate vicinity
of the place of the meteorological observations.

That of the above species scarcely one would have been in
flower before June- in 1857, if the low temperature in winter had

675

displayed a reactive power instead of being inactive, will be under-
stood in the following table :

COMPARATIVE TABLE OF MEANT TEMPERATURE AND THE ACCUMULA-
TION OF HEAT DURING THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS IN '57 AND '59.

Sum of the daily mean temperature

Sum of the daily mean temperature above freezing

point

Number of days the mercury did rise above freezing

point

Sum of the daily mean temperature ,

Sum of the daily mean temperature above- freezing

point

Number of days the mercury rose above freezing

point .-.

Jan. Feb

320 47

6 106

4| 24
73

57

19

Mar.

27
10S

361

848

108
1068

1261

129

May

681

842

104
1141

1204

110

The difference is not so great in the last column, wherein we ex-
cluded January from the calculation. We could do so, if our ob-
servations had been made on early annual plants, which we had
planted in February. But all the above species are woody plants.
The buds formed during the summer of the preceding year can be
taken for ripe seeds, when the process of the yearly vegetation is
finished; whenever the weather is favorable it manifests its influ-
ence in the vegetation of the next fear. So we had rather to in-
clude the months of jNovember and December in our calculation
than to exclude January. An addition of both months in 1856 and
1858 would diminish the sum of mean temperature for 1857 to 340,
and increase the same for 1859 to 1116. The sum of active heat
would be increased for 1857 to 993, for 1859 to 1136; the number
of days for 1857 to 149, for 1859 to 176. That makes no alteration
in the main question.

I do not claim that my mode of calculation could not be im-
proved, but my assertion is : The winter temperature below freezing
point, if not destructive, is not reactive, but inactive, and conse-
quently to be excluded from the calculations of the active heat in
botanical investigations ; and wherever the meteorological observa-
tions under the direction of the Patent Office are intended to be
applied to botany and agriculture, it is necessary to make the fol-
lowing additions: The maximum and minimum of the daily tem-
perature, the time when the mercury rises above or falls below
freezing point, the temperature of the soil, the duration of sun-
shine and the intensity of the direct insolation.

MOSSES OP ILLINOIS.

Read before the State Natural History Society, at Blooraington, Illinois, June, 1859,
By De. George Vasey, of McHenry county.

The mosses of our State have not, so far as I am aware, been
noticed in any catalogue of the plants of this region. During the
past winter and spring I have given them considerable attention,
as they occur in McHenry county, and have, during the same time,
had the benefit of various observations on the same order of plants,
made by my friend, Mr. M. S. Bebb, in the counties of Marion and.
"Winnebago. My observations have been very limited, in extent,
and made under considerable disadvantages ; yet, such as they are,
I propose to submit them at this time to your attention.

Mosses belong to the second great division of the vegetable king-
dom, called Cryptogamia, in which the plants are destitute of proper
fiov/ers, and produce, in place of seeds, minute bodies, called
spores, in which there is no embryo, but a homogeneous structure
and an adaptation to germinate from any part of their surface.

Cryptogamous plants are subdivided into two classes, called
Acrogeus and Anophytes, the first embracing those which grow
only from the apex, and contain woody fibre and vessels. This
class comprises several orders : the Equisetacese or Rushes, Filices
or Ferns, Lycopodiacese or the club mosses, &c.

The second class Anophytes comprises those plants growing
from a single point by an axis or stem, and composed of cellular tis-
sue alone. This class is divided into two orders : Musci or Mosses
and Hepaticse or Liverworts.

The order Musci, to which our attention is at present directed,
is defined by Mr. Sullivant as embracing "low, tufted plants,
always with a stem and distinct leaves, producing spore cases
which open, usually, by a terminal lid, and contain simple spores
alone. The reproductive organs are of two kinds : the sterile, con-
sisting of numerous cylindrical sacs, which discharge from their
apex a mucous fluid, filled with oval particles, and then perish ;
the fertile organs are composed of numerous flask-like bodies,
called Archegonia, each having a membranous covering or calyp-

677

tra. The ripened archegonium becomes the capsule, which usually
opens by a lid or operculum ; beneath the operculum, and arising
from the mouth of the capsule, are commonly one or two rows of
rigid processes called peristome, which are always some multiple
of four ; those of the outer row are called teeth — those of the inner
row, cilia. The powdery particles filling the capsule are spores or
sporules. The calyptra or hood, separating early at its base, is
carried up on the apex of the capsule ; if it splits on one side, it is
hood shaped or cuculliform ; if not, it is mitre-shaped or mitri-
form."

Of Illinois Mosses, which have been collected by me and are
represented in the collection now presented the Society, I shall at-
tempt no full scientific descriptions, but simply such general notice
as may lead to a general understanding of their habits and situa-
tion.

1 . Weisia viridida, Bridel., a very small species, not more than
one-half an inch high, growing in loose patches on the ground. It
has a very diminutive capsule, of a reddish color, raised on a short
pedicel.

2. Of the genus Dicranum, I have, collected two species: Dicra-
num varium, Hed., a small species, on clay banks.

3. And D. scoparium, L., a pretty large and strong moss, with
long, recurved leaves, growing in dense cushions on the ground in
shaded ravines.

4. Ceratodon purpureus, Bird., a moss growing in small, dense
masses on the ground, of a very glossy, dark-red color, the pedicels
an inch or more in length.

5. Leucobryum glaucum, Hanip. This moss grows in dense
and extensive patches, on the ground in open woods, and is of a
singular greenish-white color.

6. Fissideus bryoides, Hedw., is an extremely minute moss, only
a few lines in height, growing in loose patches on the ground in
shaded woods.

7. Fissideus subbasilaris, Hedw., is somewhat larger, the two-
ranked leaves resembling a miniature fern. It grows, at the base
of trees near the ground.

8. Barbula unguiculata, Hed., a slender, upright moss, one or
two inches high, growing in loose patches on clay banks.

9. DrummoDdia clavatella, Hook., a very low moss, with stems
running and intertwining, in close, thin mats, on the trunks of
trees, chiefly observed in Southern Illinois.

10. Orthotrichium strangulatum, Beam*., a singular moss, grow-
ing in small circular tufts, from half an inch to an inch in diameter,
on the bark of trees, particularly of the Burr Oak.

11. Schistidium apocarpum, Br., a small moss with blackish-
green leaves, growing in close tufts or patches on bare rocks.

12. Hedwigia ciliata, Ehrh., a moss of similar habit with the
preceding, but larger, and forming extensive loose patches on
rocks and boulders.

678'

13. Atrichium augustatum, Beaur., a large, handsome moss,
growing in dense cushions under trees. The capsules are large
and conspicuous, and elevated on long pedicels.

14. Polytrichium commune, L., a larger and coarser moss than
the preceding, attaining 6 to 12 inches in height, growing in com-
pact tufts on moist, shady ground.

15. Timmia megapolitina, Hed., a pretty, large, upright moss,
with rather rigid spreading leaves, growing in cushions on the
ground, in shady ravines and banks. It is easily recognized by a
small, leaf-like structure, frequently found at the base of the cap-
sule, which is an imperfect calyptra, through which the capsule
has protruded itself by a lateral fissure.

16. Aulacomnion heterostichum, Br., a moss of peculiar appear-
ance, of a light color, with large, soft and abundant leaves, growing
in similar situations with the last — often in company with it.

IT. Bryum roseum, Schreb., a large and handsome moss, with
large, broad leaves, in rosettes,. at the apex of the stems, growing
in moist, shady woods, frequently in company with Atrichium
augustatum.

18. Bryum argenteum, L., a small, low species, growing in sil-
very-white patches on the ground ; frequent in gardens and culti-
vated soil, and fruiting abundantly.

19. Mnium cuspidatum, Hed., a very common moss, forming
large patches on the ground, and at the base of trees in the woods.
Its capsules are pendulous, and are dropped very soon after they
mature.

20. Bartramia pomiformis, Hed., a larger moss, remarkable for
its globose capsules, growing in large mats on shady banks.

21. Funaria hygrometrica, Hed., one of the commonest of
mosses, growing in patches on exposed ground, particularly where
lately burnt over. It has a few leaves at the base, crowded into a
bud-like cluster, and a pedicel two or three inches long, terminated
by a pyriform, inflated, nodding capsule. Damp weather has the
elfect of spirally twisting the pedicel's.

22. Physcomitrom pyriforme, Br., a small moss with a small ro-
sette of leaves at the base, and a pedicel half an inch to an inch in
height, with an erect, pear-shaped capsule. It grows in loose
patches, on moist ground, not in woods.

23. Leucodon julaceus, Sail., a moss with creeping stems and
short, roundish branches, growing on trees, principally in Southern
Illinois.

24. Anomodon attennatus, Hub., a moss of very fine appearance
and glossy leaves, growing in dense beds on damp, gravelly banks,
and at the base of trees in ravines and along streams.

25. Anomodon obtusifolius, Br., a species with larger branches
than the preceding, growing on the trunks of trees in moist ground.

26. Leskea rostrata, Hed., a moss of light or yellowish-green
color, growing in dense beds on the ground and at the base of trees
in woods.

679

27. Tlielia liertella, Hed., a moss growing in thin, compact
patches, at the base of trees, of a glossy, yellowish-green color,
with erect cylindrical capsules, on short pedicels.

28. Pylaissea intricata, Bry., grows in thin, closely entangled
patches, on the trunks of trees.

29. Homulothicium subcapillatum, Bry., very similar to the pre-
ceding, and growing with it on trees, but with softer and lighter
colored foliage.

30. Platygyrium repens, Bry., a delicate species, growing in
brownish-yellow patches, on old logs and decaying wood. The
stems are prostrate and entangled, and closely attached to the sur-
face on which they grow. They send up numerous slender pedi-
cels, with erect, oval, oblong capsules.

31. Cylindrothecium cladorrhizaus, Bry., a very showy moss,
with broad, flat branches and greenish-yellow foliage, spreading on
old logs and stones in moist woods.

32. Cylindesthecium seductrix, Bry., a closely allied species, but
smaller in all its parts, and occurring frequently in the woods at the
base of trees.

33. Climacsum Americanum, Brid., or American tree moss, is
perhaps the most splendid in appearance of any moss in our coun-
try. Its large size, tree-like aspect and conspicuous pedicels make
it conspicuous among plants of this order.

34 to 40. Quite the most extensive of the family of mosses is the
genus Hypnum. Nearly ninety species are recorded as growing
in the Northern States. For want of proper instruments for ana-
lysis, I have, thus far, identified only six or eight species, but many
others are yet to be determined which are found within our limits.

recapitulation of illinois mosses, observed by dr. geo. vasey,

to june 29, 1859.

1. Polytrichium commune. 2. Anlacomnion heterosti chirm. 3.
Atrichium augustatum. 4. Bartramia pomiformis. 5. Timmia
megapolitina. 6. Dicranum scoparium. 7. Dicranum varium.
8. Thelia hirtella. 9. Pylaisea intricata. 10. Hedwigia ciliata.
11. Mnium cuspidatum. 12. Mnium afiine, (? ) 13. Funariahy-

fromet. 14. Anomodon obtusif. 15. Anomodon attenuatus. 16.
.eucodon julaceus. 17. Leucobryum glaucum. 18. Bryum rose-
um. 19. Bryum argenteum. 20. Leskea rostrata. 21. Fissidens
subbasilaris. 22. Fissidens bryoides. 23. Ceratodon purpureas.
24. Climacium American. 25. Hyprum hispidulum. 26. Hy-
prum orthocladon. 27. Hyprum radicale. 28. Hyprum schre-
beri. 29. Hyprum serrulatum. 30. Hyprum lactum. 31. Hy-
prum salebrosum. 32, Hyprum imponeus. 33. Hyprum tamar

iscinum. 34. Hyprum (uncertain.) 35. Schistidium . 36.

Platygyrium repens. 37. Homaeothecon sub. 38. Cylindrothe-
cium clad. 39. Cylindrothecium seductrix. 40. Barbula unguicu.
41. Weisia unguiculata. 42. Orthotrichium str. 43. Physcomi-
trium py. 45. Madotheca plat.

NOTES ON THE GREAT DROUTH IN '58 and '54.

Read at the annual meeting of the Illinois State Natural History Society, June 29, 1859,
By Dr. E. R. Roe, of Bloomington.

yond all known precedent, during the .years 1853 and 1854. In the
county of McLean, not only did the most permanent springs and
wells go dry, but a large number of those lakelets or ponds which
make so prominent a feature in our prairie, which were never dry
before, dried up to their very centers. The proof that these ponds
were never dry before is what I wish to call attention to.

In 1852, I gathered living specimens in these ponds, of Cyclas
Limnea, Physa and Planorbis. They were found, in numerous
places and great numbers, alive. During the dry weather of 1853,
these animals perished in great numbers ; but still enough survived
to perpetuate the respective species, and it was not difficult to find
living ones in the spring of 1S54. But in the autumn of that year
not one was left alive of any genus but Cyclas ; and of these only a
few escaped, and these in only an occasional pond. Physa, which
usually burrows in the mud, and thus frequently survives until the
rains begin to fill up the ponds, burrowed in this instance in its own
grave. And the dead shells may now be disinterred in great num-
bers. For five years I have watched for the return of living speci-
mens; but in every pond where they perished they are utterly ex-
tinct.

Before giving what seems to be the natural explanation of the
facts in this case, it will be proper to examine the situation and to
inquire into the origin of the ponds.

In the first place, the ponds generally appear to be related to
each other, even by the present drainage surface, or evidently so
by that of a more ancient surface, the history of which is indicated by
certain series of stratified banks of gravel and sand. These masses
of gravel are more recent than the drift formation. They lie above
the drift, and the evidence of river agency in transporting, rolling,
rearranging and stratifying the sand and gravel, is complete.

The inference from the foregoing facts is this : that at a period
subsequent to the drift, streams of running water traversed the prai-

681

ries ; that in changes which caused the rivers themselves to disap-
pear, the deeper portions of their beds became ponds, and that the
animals which originally inhabited the streams were thus left dis-
tributed in the ponds.

This theory does not require separate origins of species for every
pond, and accounts for the fact that, having become once extermi-
nated, they remain extinct.

As an indication of the length of time during which the Molusca
inhabited the ponds, I have found their shells in abundance in exca-
vations live feet beneath the present bottoms of the ponds.

In conclusion, it is clear that the story told by the dead shells now
in the ponds is this: that the drouth of 1853-54 was greater than
had ever occurred since the disappearance of the rivers which peo-
pled the ponds.

-74

ORTIIOPTERA OF ILLINOIS.

Bead before the State Natural History Society, at Bloomington, June, 1859,
By Cyrus Thomas, of Jackson county.

The name Orthoptera is composed of two Greek words, signi-
fying "straight wing," in allusion to the longitudinal folding of the
under wings, which fold much like a lady's fan.

This order contains the following families, viz:

1 — Blattidae. 2— Mantidse. 3— Phasmidse. 4 — Achetidse. 5
— Gryllidae. 6 — Locustidas.

I. — Blaitid,e.

This family is composed of the various species of Cockroaches.
All the Illinois species maybe placed in the genus Blatta, although
the greater portion belong to the restricted genus Juikerlac, of the
French Entomologists.

1 — Blatta Americana, (?) A large, winged species, found about
houses.

2 — B. Pennsylvania.

3 — B. (?) An undetermined species, with beautiful, ample
elytra and wings ; possibly a variety of the first named species,
though smaller and paler.

4 — B. (?) An undetermined species, with abortive elytra and
wings. I am unable to say whether we have the B. orientalis here
or not.

II. MANTIDiE.

This family is composed of insects entirely predaceous, having
their fore-legs peculiarly adapted to their mode of living. We
have, so far as I know, only one species of this family in this State,
viz : Mantis Carolina.

III. — Phasmidse.

This family is composed of those singular insects to which the
names "Devil's coach horses," " Spectres," " Walking-sticks,"
&suy have been given. Of these Dr. Fitch informs me he has re-

683

ceived three species from Illinois, but, as he has not given the
names, I must confine myself to my own observations. I have
seen two species.

1 — Diapheramera Sayi, Gray. (Spectrum femoratum, Say.)
Of the other species I have been unable to procure a specimen,

IV. — Achetid.e.

Contains those insects commonly called Crickets. Of these we
have in Illinois the following species:

1 — GrylhtaJma brevipennis. The short winged Mole-cricket.

2 — Acheta abbreviata. Short winged, black, field Cricket.

3 — A. Carbonarius. Long winged, black, ground Cricket.

4 — A. Nigra. Little black Cricket,

5 — A. (?) This species I cannot name. It corresponds very
nearly with ServiUe's description of A. domestica, even to the band's
across the forehead. They live much of their time in the houses,
about the hearths, though are also found about the fields. As Dr.
Harris says we have no house Crickets in this country, I fear to give
this as A. domestica, yet it surely is a very closely allied species,
similar in size, color and habits. See specimen No. 35, box 1, Or-
thoptera, Museum of ''Illinois Natural History Society," Bloom-
ington, Illinois.

6 — (Ecanthus nivens. White climbing Cricket.

7 —Phalavgopais maculaia. The spotted wingless Cricket.

Dr. Harris says: "With us [in America] the creaking of Crick-
ets does not begin till summer is gone," tfec. This will not hold
good in Illinois, for this is only the last of June, and yet I have
heard their noise for the last month from sunrise until late in the
night.

Y. — Gkyllid^e.

This family comprises the true Grasshoppers, and is distinguished
from the following family by the long, slender antennae and the
inserted ovipositor of the female. Of this family I have been able
to find the following species in this State, though doubtless others
are to be found in the State:

1 — Phyllnptera laurifolio, Linn. (Curvicanda, Dr. Geer.)

2 — Phaneroptera augicstifolio, (Harris.)

3 — Platyphillum concavum. The Katy-did.

4 — Conosephalus ensiger.

5 — OrcheUmum vulgare. The common green Grasshopper.

6 — 0. Gracile.

7 — 0. (?) I presume this is an undescribed species; but, as
the only specimen (box 1, Orth. No. 24, Mus. 111. Nat. II. So.,) is
in the lame state, it is impossible to tell with any degree of cer-
tainty. It is of a light brown color, the thorax marked along the
sides with broad bands of shining black. Length, 1 to 1£ inches.

684

Yl. LoCUSTLD^.

This family contains our Grasshoppers with short antennas, that
reside mostly on the ground.

1 — Opsomala punciipennis. (?) Serv. Female much larger
than the male ; former 1£ to If inches long, latter 1 to 1^- inches.

2 — Acrydium Americanum, Drury. (Flavo-fasciata, l3eC.)

(a) Var., the yellow.

(b) Yar., the red.

The former variety appears in the early part of the summer,
while the latter does not make its appearance until alter the mid-
dle oi the summer.

3 — A. Femur-rubrum.

4 — A. Flavo-vittatum, Harris. (Milberti, Serv.)

(a) Yar., the yellow.

(b) Yar., the purple.

5 — A. ( ? ) Undetermined ; probably new species. Length
of female, if to 2 inches ; of male, 1£ to If inches. Head and
body of a dark greenish-brown color, tinged with yellow. The
abdomen of the female an olive-green, spotted with black ; of -the
male, a bright yellow. The inside of the posterior femora and
tibiae, of both sexes, a bright yellow ; exterior face of the thighs,
marked with regular, converging lines, alternately of black and
yellow. Elytra, of a uniform olive-brown, opaque at the base,
transparent at the tips ; longitudinal nerves distinct, of a darker
brown ; the transverse nerves short and lighter. Wings transpa-
rent, very slightly tinged with yellow next the base ; nerves dusky.
The female of this species, I think, is decidedly the most robust
locust or grasshopper we have, the thorax and abdomen being very
bulky and the posterior thighs remarkably enlarged. The abdo-
men of the male turns up at the extremity and is enlarged at the
tip. The antennas long, and articulations can be counted by the
natural eye, 22 or 23 jointed. Can this A. clavuliger, Serv. (Spe.
No. 73 and 74, box 1, Orth. Mus. 111. Nat-. H. So.)

6 — -A. ( ? ) This species is very similar, in coloring and general
appearance, to A. femur-rubrum. Length of female about one inch.
Elytra dusky-brown, almost transparent ; equal in length to the ab-
domen; have very few spots on them ; wings transparent, length of
elytra. The antennas have only 22 or 23 joints, while those of femur-
rubrum have 27. If I am correct in this, then this is certainly a dis-
tinct species. This is much like a specimen (No. 2,236) I received
from Dr. Fitch, to which he has given the name gregarium, from
Texas. (Spe. No. 59, box 1, Orth. Mus. 111. Nat. H. So.)

7 — A. (?) Undetermined. Length of female, 1^. General
color a dark, brownish-purple, with coppery spots. Antennas yel-
lowish ; thorax, a velvety purple ; the postscutellum strongly punc-
tured. Elytra, extending over only one-half the abdomen, marked
along their internal margins with a light reddish-brown ray ;
external margin dusky; a few dusky spots along the inner mar-

685

gin. Wings transparent, pale yellowish on the disc, tinged with
red at the base ; posterior thighs on the external surface black,
with three reddish-yellow spots on the under half; posterior tibise
reddish with a black ring around the top. (Spe. No. 71 and 48,
box 1, &c.

8 — A. (?) Undetermined; probably new species. I have
been unable to find this species with any better developed elytra
and wings, though I have found them in abundance. Yet this
does not appear to have passed through all its moultings. Length
of female 1% to If inches; general color pea-green ; thorax arched
or keeled, with no lateral angles; postscutellum large, acute-angled ;
entire thorax punctured. Wing covers and wings covering nearly
half the abdomen, greenish, marked with fine red and dark punc-
tures or spots. Posterior thighs long and slender, somewhat
winged, as in Locusta, green, marked along each angle or keel
with a row of regularly placed dark points or punctures. Anten-
nae large, short. (Spe. No. 45, box 1, &c.) This, although hav-
ing the prosternal point and some other characters of the Acrydia,
I think should belong to a distinct genus.
9 — Locusta Carolina.

10 — L. sulphur ea.

11 — L. nebulosa.

12 — L. corallina. (?) The specimens to which I have given
this name may belong to a different species, as the wings instead
of being coral red, are almost an ochre, tinged but slightly with
reddish. They do not agree with the latipennis in the markings of
the elytra. ( See box 2, Orth. &c.)

13— Locusta (Tragocephala) viridifasciata.

14 — L. {Tragocephala) wftiscata.

15 — L. {Chlcealtis) curtipennis. Two varieties.

16 — Tetrix dorsalis.

17 — T. bilineata.

18 — T. quadnmaculata.

19 — T. lateralis.

(a) Var., the white.

[b) Yar., the black.
20 — 2. parvipennis.

I have given no name to those species marked "undetermined,"
because they may have been named by some author whose writings
I have been unable to procure. I have no copy of Say's Ento-
mology.

Hoping the Society will accept this hasty and imperfect list of
the Orthoptera of Illinois, as an earnest of the future, I submit it,
with all its imperfections.

APPENDIX.

LAW FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS.

Section 1. Re it enacted by thePeople of the State of Illinois, represented in the General
Assembly, That it shall not be lawful, in this State, for any person to shoot, or in any other
manner to kill or destroy, or entrap, ensnare or otherwise capture any of the following des-
cription of birds, to-wit : The blue bird, swallow, martin, musquito hawk, -whip-poor-will,
cuckoo, woodpecker, catbird, brown thrasher, red bird, sparrow, wren, humming bird, dove,
goldfinch and mocking bird.

§ 2. Every person who wilfully violates the provisions of the preceding section, or who
shall wilfully destroy the nests or eggs of any of the birds hereinbefore described, shall be
punished by a fine of not more than five dollars for each offence.

§ 3. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved February 24, 1859.

STATISTICS OF TAXABLE PROPERTY IN ILLINOIS.

The following table was arranged for the body of this work, and may not be out of place
here. It was prepared by 0. H. Miner, Esq., first clerk of the auditor's office. It shows
the steady increase in value of the taxable property in Illinois, with the exception of the
two years of pecuniary pressure, 1840, and 1858 :

Statement of amount of taxable property in the State of Illinois for the years 1839 to 1858,
inclusive, as shown by returns to the Auditor.

1839,
1840.
1841 ,
1842,
1843,
1844,
1845
1846
1847
1848

$ 58,889,525
58.752,168
70.166,053
72,605,424
72,416,800
75,747,765
82,327,105
88,815,403
92,206,493
102,132,194

YEARS. AMOUNT.

1849 $105,432,752

1850 i 119,868,336

1851 137,818,079

1852 149,294,805

1853 225,159,633

1854 252,756,568

1855 334,398,425

1856 349,951,272

1857 407,477,367

1858 402,505,430

INDEX

PAGE.

Awards: Fifth Annual State Fair,

Peoria 26,44

" Sixth Annual State Fair, at

Centralia, 73,94

Address: at Christian Co. Fair, 1857, 125
'< at Crawford Co. Fair, 1857,... 130

" at Mercer Co. Fair, 1857. 147

" at Randolph Co. Fair, 1857, 154
" at Sangamon Co. Fair, by M.

L. Dunlap, 1857, 159

" at Christian Co. Fair, by H.

H. Hinkley, 1858. 191

" at Henry Co. Fair, by C. D.

Bragd'on, 1858 211

" at Kendall Co. Fair, by M. L.

Dunlap, 1858, 230

" at Macoupin Co. Fair, by

Gov. Reynolds, 1858, 259

" at Stephenson Co. Fair, by

Dr. Pennington, 1S58, 276

K at Bloomington, by A. Bry-
ant, 1858, 243

" at Bloomington, by M. L.

Dunlap, 1858, 347

" at Jonesboro, by Dr. Warder,

1859, 383

" at Alton, by Dr. Warder, 1857, 3S8

Committees' Reports, 1857:

Cattle, 44,45

Sheep, , 45

Horses, 46

Fruit — apples, 46,47

Wines. 47,48

Natural History — geology, 48,50

Farms and Nurseries, 50,57

Committees' Reports for 1858 :

Natives and crosses, cattle 95

Fat bullocks, 95

Work oxen, 96

Rwine, 96

Farms and nurseries, 100

Notes on fruit culture in Northern Illi-
nois, 57,61

County Agricultural Societies, 1857 :

Adams county, 121

Bond county 123

Boone county, _ 124

7£—

PAGE.

County Agricultural Societies, 1857:

Christian county,.., 125

Clark county. 128

Clay county, 129

Clinton county, 129

Crawford county, 130

DeKalb county, 136

DuPage county, 138

Fayette county, 140

Hancock county, 140

Henderson county, 141

Henry county, 141

Kankakee county, 143

La Salle county, 143

Madison county, 144

Mercer county, 147

Randolph county, 153

Sangamon county, 157

Stephenson county, 173

Tazewell county, 173

Union county, 174

Vermilion county 175

Winnebago eounty, 177

County Agricultural Societies, 1858:

Adams county, ..„ 180

Brown county, , 184

Boone county, , 184

Bureau county,.,,...,..., 186

Champaign county, 187

Cliuton county, , 1S8

Clay county 189

Crawford county, , 190

Christian county, 191

Cass county, 197

Cook county, 198

DeKalb county, 203

DeWitt county, 204

Edgar county 205

Fayette county, 206

Fulton county, 206

Henry county 210

Hamilton county, 293

Greene county, 221

Grundy county, 222

Hancock county, 227

Jasper county, 228

Kane county, 229

Kendall county, „ „ — 230

[H]

INDEX

PAGE.

County Agricultural Societies, 1858 :

Kuox county, 244

LaSalle county, 248

Lee county, 248

Logan county, 250

Macon county, 254

Macoupin county, 256

Menard county, 261

Morgan county, 263

Moultrie county, 267

McLean county, 267

McHenry county, 268

Pike county 271

Randolph county, 272

Rock Island county, 273

Sangamon county, 274

Stephenson county, 275

Tazewell county, 284

Vermilion county, 285

White county, 286

Whiteside county, 288

Will county 292

Woodfor^ county, 294

County Agricultural Societies :
Officers of societies which have made no

report, 296

Clark county, 296

Coles county, 296

Crawford county, 296

Cumberland county, 296

Du Page county, 296

Edwards county, 297

Effingham county, 297

Franklin county, 297

Iroquois county, 297

Jackson county 297

Marshal county, 298

Mason county, 298

Massac county, 298

Mercer county, 298

Piatt county, 298

Perry county, 298

Putnam county — Buel Institute,... 299

St. Clair county 299

Shelby county, 299

Stark county, 299

Wabash county, 299

Warren county, 299

Wayne county, 300

Whiteside county, 300

Woodford county, 300

Essays: Premiums awarded 1857, 44,73

" « " 1858, 102

Field crops, 1857 — statements :

Spring wheat, 61,62

Fall wheat, 61

Corn, 62

Oats, 63

White beans, 63,64

Potatoes, 64

Timothy seed, 64

Blue grass seed, 65

Onions, 65

Syrup of Chinese sugar cane, 65

PAGE.

Field crops, 1858 — statements:

Wheat, 103,104

Rye, 104

Corn, 104

Beans, 104,105

Potatoes, 105

Sweet potatoes, 105

Clover seed, 106

Castor beans, 106

Sugar from imphee, 106

Sugar from sorgho, 107

Syrup from sorgho, 107,109

Farmers' meeting at Centralia:

Discussions — rust on grain, 110

Oats, 112

Hungarian grass, 113

Chufas or earth almond, 114

Dioscorea battatas 114

New Rochelle blackberry, 114

Common blackberry, 115

Raspberries, 115

Rust o.n grain, 116

Underdraining, 117

Deep plowing, 119

Forests and forest trees, 651

General committee, 22,23

Illinois stock importing association, 301

Rules and regulations for same,.... 301

Meeting of association, 303

Sale of stock, 303

Meeting of State Society, 1857, 17,18

Meeting of State Society at Peoiia, 67

Meteorological observations, 633

Meteorology in connection with botani-
cal observations, 671

Microscopic insects, 644

Mosses of Illinois, 676

Natural History Society :

Proceeding in 1858 637

in 1859, 662

Natural History— On the study of, 665

Notes on the great drouth of '53-'54,... 681
Normal School :

Statement by the principal, Charles

E. Hovey 398

Nurseries of Illinois :

Report from 0. B. Galusha, Cor.

Sec. 111. State Hort. Society, 370

List of i urseries reported, 372

North Western Fruit G-rowers' As-
sociation, 387

Listof apples recommended by fruit

association, 387

Address on fruit cultivation, by Dr.
Warder, 388

Proceedings of executive committee at
Springfield, 1857 19,26

Proceedings of executive comm'ttee at
Peoria, 1857, 68,70

Proceedings of executive committee at
Springfield, 1858, 71

INDEX- [ III ]

PAGE.

PAGE.

Proceedings of executive committee at

Plants occurring in the northern coun-

Centralia, 1858, 77,91

ties of Illinois, in addition to Mr
Lapham's list, by M. S. Bebb,

Proceedings of executive committee at

586

Decatur, 1858, 99

Proceedings of executive committee at

State Agricultural Society :

Springfield, 1859,, 100,103

Biennial report to Gov. and Gen

Premiuniawardedonfieldcrops, 1857, 43, 72

Assembly,

9

" " " 1858, 101

Papers accompanying report,

15

Pomological and Horticultural Society

Steam plows, exhibition at Decatur, 99

Sugar cane growers' convention,...

305

Proceedings and awards at the first

State Horticultural Society:

310

Address of Dr. Warder on cultivation

Discussions on various subjects, ..

312

Election of officers,

319

Essays.

Discussions on various subjects:

On the various breeds of sheep and

Grafts— dibbling in,

321

their adaptation to the prairies,
by A. B. McConnell, of Sanga-

343

Address of M. L. Dunlap,

347

mon county, (premium) 456

Evergreens and deciduous trees,..

322

On raising horses and mules in Il-

Apples for cultivation — unanimous

linois, by P. Warren, of Sanga-

ly approved,

328

mon, (premium) 462

Grape culture,

328

On the embellishment of a country

Currants and culture

329

home, by Miss Prances E. Wil-

Raspberries and culture,

331

lard, Wisconsin, (premium) 466

Gooseberries and culture,

332

On the embellishment of a country

Blackberries and culture,

333

home, by Mrs. R. B. Hatch, of

Papaws and persimmons,

334

Pike county, (premium) 472

Strawberries and culture,

335

On the cultivation of forest and or-

Whortleberries and culture,

334

namental trees on the prairies,
by 0. Ordway, of Marshal coun-

33ft

Evergreens for protection of or-

ty, (premium) ..... 477

chards, &c,

341

On the cultivation of fruit trees on

Report on apples,

342

Apple culture in Illinois,

343

of McLean county, (premium)... 487

Fruit culture in Illinois,

347

On the cultivation of orchards, by

Plowing and draining,

358

C. R. Overman, of McLean coun-

Soils of Kentucky and Illinois :

ty, (premium) 495

Statements of D. D. Owen, geolo-

On practical gardening in Illinois,

gist of state of Kentucky,

403

by S. Francis, of Sangamon coun-

Letter of Cor. Sec. of 111. State Ag

ty, (premium) 500

Society to Dr. J. G. Norwood

The prairie fruit garden, by Samuel

State Geologist,

404

Jacob Wallace, of Hancock coun-

Circular of Dr. Norwood to farmers

ty, (premium) 512

in Illinois,

405

On sorgho and imphee canes, by I.

Replies from farmers of Illinois...

407

A. Hedges, of Ohio, 518

From Rev. Dr. J. M. Peck,

407

On the culture of rice in Illinois,

" J. P. Robbins,

412

by John Russell, 527

On domestic fowls — their rearing

" J. Merritt,

413

" Thomas G. Chambers,

413

and management, 532

Agriculture— the Anglo Saxon, by

" M. L. Dunlap,

413

" J. Lockwood, Gilbert Shaw,

J. Davis, of Macon county, 544

J. C. Hillebert, Thomas

Agriculture, as connected with

Haze, Charles Briggs and

schools, colleges and other public

J. C. Robinson,

417

institutions, by A. M. Gow, of

" Samuel Parks,

417

Lee county, 556

" Benj. Lisenby,

419

Agricultural colleges in Illinois, by

" Tillman Lane,

419

Miss L. A. Pratte, of Kankakee

" Walter Karr,

419

county, 564

" Orin Wakefield,

420

Self-education, by J. C. Power, of

" John D. Hutchin,

422

Peoria county, 571

" Joseph Howard,

422

The district school house, by A. M.

" Benj. Hull,

423

" Peter Krum,

" Samuel Spencer,

424

424

Oaks of Hlinois, by Dr. Brendel, 605

424

" L. S. Norton,

4? 5

Plants : Additions to Mr. Lapham's list,

" Richard Robley

426

byF. Brendel,; 583

" David Wooley,

427

[IV]

INDEX.

PAGE.

Soils of Kentucky and Illinois:

From Stephen Spencer, 427

" W. D. Henderson 428

" C. Thomas, 429

" J. McLean, 430

" James French, 430

" Wm. Strawn, 431

" Elmer Baldwin, 432

" Samuel Lander, 433

" Thomas Fell, 434

" W. F. Major, 434

" J. E. McClun, 435

" Mahlon Bishop, 435

" W. P. Withers, 436

" L. H. Thomas, 436

" Daniel Ground, 437

" Geo. Churchillj 438

" Theodore Perry,... 438

" C. L. Montgomery 439

" G. Blane, , .439

" Josiah Leman,; 440

" W.Ross,. , 441

" Thomas Bradbury,.; 441

" H. S. Ozburn, 442

PAGE.

Soils of Kentucky and Illinois :

From Win. Durley 443

" Henry I. Chase, 443

" John Parks, 444

" Wm. Addison, 444

" James Craig, 445

" Bryce Crawford, 446

" C. G. Taylor, 446

" J. J. McGredy, 448

" J. C. Crowder, 448

" D. K. Collerman, 449

" George M. Harrison, 450

" J. A. Ball, 450

" M. D. Gregory, 451

" John Thomas, 452

" Felix Scott 453

" Joseph Griffin,....,.. 454

" Robert Lemon, 455

" Josiah Sawyer, 455

" G.W.Miner, 456

Treasurer's report for 1857 and 1858,... 14
Trees and Shrubs of Illinois, by Dr.
Brendel, 588

Errata. — Page 15 — Last line but one, should read, Lapham's list of Illinois grasses.
" 44 — Committees' Reports for 1856, should be 1857.
" 244— S. I. Bergen, should be G. I. Bergen.
" 340 — For "poor" stocks, read pear stocks.
" 440 — Josiah Leman should be Josiah Lemon.
" 464: — Under head of "mules," for "saleable," read serviceable.

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