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150 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



maintained — at least for several years — and 

 those who go into the business with a wriil 

 and a reason, can scarcely fail to be well 

 rewarded for their pains. Will they not 

 look to it, think of it, act on it? Some who 

 have worn themselves out in the toil and 

 exposure of wheat, corn, and hog raising, 

 and others younger and more active, who 

 see a like fate before them, may take the 

 hint, and profit by it. The same routine of 

 life and labor best and most profitable for 

 our fathers, may not be equally so for their 

 sons, in the changed condition of surround- 

 ing circumstances. — Ohio Farmer. 



*•— 



Wbeat and its Enemies. 



When the enemies of the wheat crop are 

 80 prevalent, with a prospect of increase, 

 let our friends take a few timely hints. 

 There is no known remedy for the depreda- 

 tions of fly, chioch-bug, joint-worm, &c.; 

 but we think experience will bear witness 

 that there is a grand preventive in good 

 cultivation. A vigorous and thrifty growth 

 successfully reeists, when the most promis- 

 ing appliances are powerless before, their 

 ravages. And not only so, but throughout 

 nature it will be found that where there is 

 least power of resistance, the subtle enemy 

 is most likely to make his attacks. It is 

 not the sound and healthy, those who have 

 enjoyed wholesome atmosphere and good 

 fooa, who are swept off by epidemics, but 

 those whose constitutions, enfeebled by any 

 cause, predispose them, as we aptly say, to 

 disease. The sleek and well-kept animal is 

 not troubled with lice, when they swarm 

 upon the ill-fed, "ill-conditioned" beast. 

 And the enemies of plants seek their food 

 upon the poor and sickly, where they find 

 as it were the least resistance against their 

 encroachments. The principle is universal, 

 that "from him that.hath not shall be taken 

 away that which he hath " 



But however this reasoning may be ques- 

 tioned, the philosophy of a sound, vigorous, 

 healthy constitution for man, beast, or 

 plant, as a safeguard against all natural en- 

 emies, no one will question. For the wheat 

 plant, then, -begin in time, and make the 

 most thorough preparation for its reception. 

 So get ready the ground, that it may do the 

 very best of which it is capable. To those 

 who plough deep, and aim to d^eepen their 

 surface soil at every ploughing, we suggest 

 that some judicious farmers, who would 

 plough deep generally, think it not advisable 

 for the wheat crop. We adopt the opinion 

 to this extent, that we do not think a por- 

 tion of fresh subsoil should be now brought 



to the surface. The natural range of the 

 roots of wheat is within about three inches 

 of the surface, and for that reason it is desir- 

 able to have there the richest portion of the 

 soil. 



As to manures, he who properly uses all 

 other means of success, should put on 

 enough to secure him thirty bushels to the 

 acre. The nearer he approximates that 

 point, the less liable is his crop to suffer from 

 its natural foes. 



Early seeding is a point of great import- 

 ance. A good growth of root in the fall 

 preserves from winter killing. The plant 

 having well withstood the winter, is pre- 

 pared for an early, vigorous start in the 

 spring. This enables it to resist and oat- 

 grow the attack of fly and other insects. 

 And the early ripening is almost an insur- 

 ance against rust. Where it is practicable, 

 we should sow by the last of September. 

 The only objection to early sowing is, that 

 the crop is more liable to the fall attack of 

 the fly. This objection seems in practice, 

 to be far outweighed by the advantages on 

 the other side. 



Another important point is that of good, 

 plump, well-ripened seed, of a hardy and 

 early ripening variety. — [Am. Farmer. 



-«•»- 



Prize Essay on Hens and fien Hoasei. 



For the Premium offered by the Union Society of 

 Va. and North Carolina 



BY MRS. CATHARINZ GREEK, OF DINWIDDIB. 



In view of successful fowl raising, first — 

 due regard should be observed as to the 

 hen house, roosts, nest and hovels. My 

 hen house is 10 by 12 feet, built of pine 

 poles; my roosts are supported by four forks, 

 driven in the ground, and pine poles extend- 

 ed from one to the other. My boxes or 

 nests are made of plank, 12 inches wide, 

 with partitions 12 inches apart, giving each 

 nest one foot each way. They are also sup- 

 ported by forks, say about three feet long, 

 driven into the ground, taking particalar 

 care that neither roosts nor nest should 

 have any connection with the honse. This 

 prevents the lice, should there be any, from 

 sheltering in the logs or roof, the honse 

 answering only for protection to the fowls. 

 In the spring, the house, roosts and nests 

 should receive a coat of white-wash, and at 

 intervals, say about once a mouth, the roosts 

 and nests should be taken out and scalded, 

 new nests made, and thus cleansed, return- 

 ed to their places. The floor should be 

 kept well supplied with fresh earth to re- 



