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118 THE GENESKE FARMER. 



is paid to fruits, but they grow well enough with a little attention. Wild fruits are in profusion. 



Lands near piiblic works, are rising in value at least 10 per cent, per annum, yet many good loca- 

 tions can be bought on railroads, or near them, 10 to 50 miles from good markets, for $4 to $10 per 

 acre. The places advertised some months since in the Genesee Farmer are sold, with the exception, 

 of one of 390 acres. The present cash price is $2000, until the Ist March ; afterwards, not in the 

 market for anything like that sum. Taxes, State and County, 20 cts. on each $100 valuation. 



As to the health of the country, from tide water up there is no healthier region ; on the rivers 

 and at tide water, it is rather billious a few montlis in the year. 



Tlie prices of produce at present are, wheat, white, $1.15 ; red, 80 c. a $1.05; corn, 65 a 70 c; 

 oats, $1 a $1.50 per cwt. in sheaf; hay, $1 a $1.50 per cwt; butter, 20 a 31 c; cheese, 10 a 14 c.; 

 pork, $8 per 100 lbs.; eggs, chickens, turkeys, Ac, out of sight. S. Clarke, Je. — Proctor'. % Creek, Va. 





TuK VALTTE OF A Gardkn. — ^Though not a farmei- by profession, yet I have taken your pdper since 

 1845, and have read it with much interest, and, I trust, profit. I have but three-fourths of an acre. 

 My house, barn, fruit trees, and ornamental shrubbery, occupy one-fourth of an acre, leaving me 

 one-half of an acre for a garden. My fruit trees are just coming into bearing condition, and last 

 fall I gathered, as their first fruits, seven bushels of excellent winter apples, besides an encouraging 

 supply of other luxuries. My garden, previous to ray occupying it, four years since, was impover- 

 ished. But it has gi-adually become more fertile, and last season yielded me $100 worth of vegeta- 

 bles. From 20 rows I had 60 bu. of potatoes; from 8 rows I had 35 bu. of carrots; and cabbages, 

 beets, turnips, ruta bagas, onions, corn, beans, tomatoes, and all the variety of a kitchen garden> 

 about in proportion. But for whatever of taste displayed, or of comfort enjoyed in my little home, 

 I am indebted much to the Genesee Farmer. From this I have learned to manage ray hot-bed, and 

 cultivate my yard and garden, and, I think, with some degree of success. The exercise thus obtained 

 has given me health and cheerfulness, and I have been enabled to keep up with the spirit of the 

 times and set an example to the people with which I am surrounded and to whom I minister. E. 

 O. WAB.v.—J)undaff, Pa. 



Shanghae Fowls. — I bought last summer a pair of Shanghae cliickens for $5 ; my neighbors called 

 me a fool, but I bided my time. In October my pullet began to lay very large eggs, and laid all 

 winter. I kept no account of them until the 15th day of Januaiy; the egg laid on that day I 

 marked No. 1, and every egg laid afterwards I marked with its number, iintil September ; I then 

 let the hen set on some of her own eggs. Up to that time she had laid, from January 15th, 113 

 eggs. Had I kept the account from her first laying, in October, I have no doubt the round figure 

 would have been 150. I have realized $18 from her, and have stock that I would not take $25 for. 

 Of course I set her eggs under other hens. She weighed, when she first began to lay, 5f lbs., and 

 the stag (or rooster) "if lbs. Jno. Howe. — Darien, N. Y. 



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Illinois Farming. — The following extracts from a valuable communication on the 

 "future prospects of Illinois," will be read with interest: 



" AJl kinds of farm produce now sell well throughout the State. Wood for fuel is tolerably 

 plenty by hauling eight or ten miles. Horses, cattle, and mules arc liigh ; cveiything is in a pros- 

 perous condition. Good water is everywhere easily obtained ; wo seldom have to dig more than 

 sixteen feet. Cattle do well on the prairies frora the middle of April to the end of October. All 

 kinds of grass seeds do well on our prairie soil. Osage Orange is coming into general use ; it does 

 well and makes a good hedge in four or five years. Black locust grows very fost on our upland 

 prairies, but doe? not answer on tiie low land. Walnut grows thrifty and soon makes good timber. 

 Apple and other fruit trees grow with aetonisliiug rapidity, bearing at from four to seven years of 

 age. Our soil is very rich ; it is very muddy in wet weather, but drys rapidly with the sun and 

 wind. The past winter h:i8 been very disagreeable and wet Our oldest inhabitants never remem- 

 ber 60 rainy and muddy a winter. Our prospects for largo crops are good, though the wlieat has 

 been somewhat injured. Fruit is not hurt ; we shall have fine crops. We have very good orchai'ds 

 in this counti-y, as also some very fine hogs, horses, cattle, mules, and sheep. The land is good for 

 sheep ; wolves seldom trouble us, but dogs are a terrible scourge. D. J. Gonnklt. — Paris, Edgar 

 County, nt. 



