107 
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INSURANCE OF CROPS.—The insurance of farm-buildings is never 
omitted by prudent farmers. Protection against losses of farm-animals 
by disease or accident has long been practiced abroad and is a usage 
introduced into this country. The insurance of crops against losses 
by unfavorable meteorological conditions, floods, insects, &c., may be to 
some a new idea, but it is an old custom, having been practiced in 
China, as is stated, for ages; and it is even beginning to claim attention: 
in this country. Insurances are effected on the mutual plan of the fire 
fire-insurance companies, securing against heavy losses by the payment 
of annual premiums, not full crops, or even average crops, but a moder- 
ate return that would save the farmer from disaster. 
present interesting the rural mind. 
The idea is at 
ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION.—At the late annual 
meeting of the Illinois Dairymen’s Association, strong ground was taken 
against the manufacture of cheese from skimmed or partly-skimmed 
/ 
milk. Mr. Wanzer, of Elgin, a prominent manufacturer, who has here- 
tofore to a large extent made butter and cheese from the same milk, 
stated his convictions that such a course was not for the best interests 
of makers and patrons; the odors consequent on cheese-making affected 
the quality of the butter; and, in the end, other things being equal, the 
factory would reap the most profit by devoting itself either to butter or 
to cheese alone. The association adopted a resolution to the effect that 
the making skimmed or partly skimmed cheese is detrimental to the 
dairy business, giving facilities to dishonest sellers for imposing inferior 
goods on consumers in place of finer qualities, and leading to a general 
depreciation in reputation of cheese coming from regions where skim- 
ming is prevalent. It was also résolved to petition the legislature to 
enact a law requiring manufacturers to brand their cheese according to 
its character; that is to say, whether from skimmed, partly skimmed, 
or whole milk; the name of the maker to be stamped on the cheese. 
We find in the secretary’s report a tabular account of sales on the 
Elgin Dairy Board of Trade from March 2 to December 7, 1875, a con- 
densation of which we here present : 
Cheese. 
Dates. Prices. 
Pounds. 
Lowest. | Highest. 
March 2 to March 30 285, 582 $0 14 $0 15 
April 20 to April 27 .......---.--- 77, O74 103 13 
May 4 to May 25... asi 1 921,734 93 13 
June 1 to June 29.... Bes 485, 024 8 10 
MaleGito Jil Bit ctt <i 5345 .b saeedovednes 5389, 137 9 19 
August 3 to-Ancust 3h)... 56. 92-.c0.55-e | 458, 455 9 10} 
September 7 to September 28 ......-..--..-.. 695, 620 9 103 
October 6 to October 26.......--..------.--6- 566, 600 11 12 
November 2 to November 23...-.....-....--- 514, 950 114 123 
IDBCONNOR ioe. swe ke Cae ted. o eee cee 76, 610 11 113 
RT etek 22 aS eRe ae A pn DM Mikal deed 3, 970, 786 
Butter. 
Tr Prices. 
Pounds. 
Average. 
57, 330 $0 37 
6, 150 374 
9, 000 354 
13, 000 2 
* 12, 300 31 
13, 900 33 
23, 335 33 
35, 860 35 
40, 600 36 
13, 700 35 
220, 175 
REMEDY FOR SMUT IN WHEAT,—Onr correspondent in Mora, New 
Mexico, reports that all the wheat in that county is much affected with 
smut. In many instances growers state that their crop was half smut. 
For two years he has tried, with excellent results, a preventive recom- 
mended by Mr. Pendaries, a native of Montauban, France, now residing 
in that locality. It is as follows: 
3A 
