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the fall Take of other farms in any part of 

 the State. 



Marion connty is beautifully divided into 

 prairie and timber land. Judging from a 

 map we have seen, we estimate that more 

 than half the land is prairie. And yet the 

 timber sends its arms into the prairies in 

 such a manner that hardly any portion of 

 them can be more than two and a half miles 

 from timber. The means for sending pro- 

 duce of all kinds to market, are entirely 

 ample and convenient. There are seventy- 

 four miles of railroad in Marion county. 

 The Central Road, the Ohio and Mississippi 

 Road, and the Chicago Branch Road, all 

 pass through Marion. We regard it as a 

 misfortune that so many towns are spring- 

 ing up in Marion county, all contending for 

 the mastery. If the energies and capital 

 employed in these towns, were centered in 

 one, there would soon be a very large city 

 in the interior of Southern Illinois. That 

 the best position ultimately will take the 

 lead, and become a large place, we regard 

 as certain. 



We should be most happy to accompany 

 our friend in a leisurely excursion through 

 the counties of Southern Illinois. But that 

 pleasure must be deferred for the present. 

 We doubt not other southern counties have 

 many of the natural advantages of Marion 

 — perhaps not equally so in regard to rail- 

 road improvements. We hope the time is 

 not distant when every county in Southern 

 Illinois will have the advantages of rail- 

 roads. Railroads make a country. What 

 have they not done and what are they not 

 doing for Illinois? The answer is seen over 

 our whole land, and Southern Illinois, 

 though later than some other portions of the 

 ^ ^ta^jB, in feeling the influence of railroad im- 

 px •ovements, is manifestly now brought into 

 no tice, her advantages appreciated, and she 

 is i vt this time undergoing a transformation 



moi H marked and gratifying, 



■ <•» 



g^ ^The Buckwheat is looking well — 

 "We s han't have to go to New York, Ohio, 

 or ev en Chicago, next winter for shorts 

 miiCed with buckwheat flour, for the raw 

 materiar whereof to make cakes. 



Aspect of the Crops. 



At the time of this writing, ire have dry 

 weather. The wheat crop is about cut, and the 

 grain saved in good order. The yield has been 

 very great. Corn looks well and is rapidly ad- 

 vancing in growth, thongh some three weeks 

 later, apparently, than usual. If the latter part 

 of the summer and fall are favorable, there will 

 be a heavy crop of corn. Potatoes have suffer- 

 ed from drouth, but still hope for a good crop. 

 Oats and barley have yielded well. Hay is 

 abundant and sold at reasonable prices. A 

 good deal of buckwheat has been sowed, and 

 more could be. The early sown looks well. On 

 the whole we are likely to have a great crop 

 season; and the prospect is that breadstafis and 

 vegetable food will be sold at lower prices than 

 at present. Meats will continue high. 



'reparations are now being made 

 for putting in Fall Wheat. A greater 

 breadth of ground will by sown by far than 

 last year. The drill will be used in sowing 

 to a greater extent than ever. It is quite 

 certain, that in ordinary seasons, the in- 

 crease of crop on twenty acres of ground, 

 sown with a drill over the broadcast plan, 

 will more than pay the cost of the drill; — 

 besides there is a great saving of seed. A 

 most excellent way of putting wheat into 

 corn land is by using the Cultivator, — 

 especially if the ground is tolerably clean. 

 The time has gone by for slovenly' and half 

 cultivating for crops. That system won't 



pay; — thorough cultivation will. ;. ,^ 



«•» 



Edwards Couhty Agricultural Society. 

 — John Brissenden, President; Samuel 

 Thompson, Secretary. . : : i : vjyn^ 



A letter from Edwards county, of the 

 12th July, thus speaks of the crops: "We 

 have little agricultural news. The wheat 

 crop and oats are very fine;— the wheat 

 some little rusted; in quantity largely more 

 than the usual crop. Hay — appearances 

 in favor of a large turnout. The army 

 worm did some injury to the meadows; but 

 the late rains revived a good deal of the 

 grass supposed to have been ruined. Corn, 

 except in low lands, not so good; — ^pros- 

 pects for corn, unless we have some good 

 rains, bad. Potatoes — prospects fine." "' " 



