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THE ILLINOIS EA.IIMER. 



Spring Businpsi 



We notice that some of the papers are 

 predicting a flourishing spring business? 

 What is to make a flourishing spring 

 business ? It is the selling of goods in 

 a country already drained of money, for 

 goods, and indebted for them to an 

 amount of thousands upon thousands 

 ■which cannot be paid ? That will not 

 make a flourishing business. 



A flourishing business which we desire 

 is, to see our farmers preparing their 

 grounds well, and putting in the seed of 

 oats and barrley and spring wheat — and 

 then again planting their corn and pota- 

 toes — increasing their stock — and work- 

 ing with a will to make fine crops, by 

 which to pay their debts, and which will 

 pay the debts of merchants to their cred- 

 ors. That is the business we wish to 

 see: and it behooves every farmer to do 

 his best to transact this "flourishing bus- 

 iness." 



Many of these debts might have been 

 avoided. They never need to have been 

 contracted. We have been too extrava- 

 gant. We have not practiced economy. 

 The great prices of produce led us into 

 this evil way. It is too late to retreat. 

 The only means we have now to remedy 

 the past is to earn money and pay our 

 debts, and have a care for the future. 



Yes — have a care for the future. Live 

 as far as possible on the produce of the 

 farm. Is any man, woman, or child, 

 healthier for swilling down a half dozen 

 cups of strong cofi'ee a day, or of tea — 

 or by depending on the groceries of the 

 towns for family food which should be 

 raised on the farm ? Too much of this 

 thing has been done — too much — too 

 much. 



Yes — we repeat, have a care for the 

 future ! Wear the old clothes a little 

 longer ! Trim up the last year's bon- 

 net ! Give a new touch to the old dress! 

 Use milk instead of cofi'ee ! In some 

 cases, pure cold water is better than 

 either ! Practice in this way and make 

 every turn you can — and in a short 

 time, shorter than you now think, you 

 will come out " right side up, ivith 

 care I 



This is plain talk, you say. Well it 

 is : It is better for that. And if it 

 touches the case of the reader, (we are 

 sorry if that should be so) it will not 

 hurt him. He has committed no crime 

 — only an imprudence — and if in the 



experience he now has he continues hon- 

 est, an honorable man, it will be the bet- 

 ter for him in coming time. He has 

 only to make every cfi'ort in his power 

 — earn all he can — save all he can — 

 pay all he can — and he will get along 

 well in the long run. 



We go in for a flourishing business — 

 not the selling of gew-gaws to farmers — 

 but the flourishing business, driving a 

 head the plow, the drill, economy in the 

 house — in the making of butter, cheese 

 — in the bringing of gold out of mother 

 earth, which generally yields to every 

 one who will properly cultivate her bo- 

 som. 



Here you have it, reader. We have 

 had our say. You understand what we 

 think of " flourishing business " — 

 such as you need, and the conntry 

 needs. 



Gooseberries. — For several years it 

 was supposed that gooseberries would 

 always mildew in our climate. In the 

 early settlement of Sangamon county, 

 an English Gooseberry was brought here 

 that did mildew. It gave a bad charac- 

 ter to the whole race. It was fortunate 

 that other trials were made with difi'er- 

 ent varieties and we now find that we 

 can raise gooseberries equal to any 

 country in th» world. The largest 

 gooseberries are not the best. Hough- 

 ton's Seedling, though smaller, is better 

 fruit, and the bushes produce enormous 

 quantities. The fruit is good enough. 



4«» 



Shade Trees. — We hope it is not too 

 late to caution persons who want to plant 

 out fine shade trees, not to expect to 

 obtain much from the woods. To secure 

 a quick and handsome growth, trees 

 must be taken from the Nursery or from 

 open grounds. Elm, silver leated ma- 

 ple, sugar maple and mulberry, make 

 handsome shade trees. 



Camels. — These arelikclv to become 



numerous in some parts of the country. 



J. II, Machado has imported a lot into 



Texas and finds them more useful and 



easier managed, than horses or mules. 



A full grown one will carry sixteen or 



eighteen hundred pounds. 



.•• 



In planting out shrubs or trees and 



shrubbery, be sure to trim them. Cut off 



injured roots and some of the tops. Eoses 



require severe pruning. 



Items. 



The Wilmington (N. C.) Journal 

 predicts that there will be no rain in 

 May. We can tell better after May 

 shall have passed. 



It is said that wool is falling in price 

 in the Chicago market. 



Many farmers would make money by 

 selling oflT a portion of their farms. If 

 that cannot bo done, would they not find 

 advantage in disposing of portions of 

 their farms for a term of years at a nom- 

 inal price ? 



Flour and Wheat are in as good de- 

 mand for consumption in the West as in 

 the Eastern Markets. The falling off" 

 of the Wheat crops last year in the 

 United States is estimated at eight mil- 

 lions of bushels. 



We continue to learn favorable ac- 

 counts of a portion of the new wheat 

 crops. In Southern Illinois it never 

 looked better. 



The valuable horse Bellfounder, lately 

 the property of J. Stockdale, deceased, 

 of this county, has been purchased by 

 L. M. Wilson, of Alabama. Unques- 

 tionably as a "Roadster for all work,'* 

 he is one of the best horses in the United 

 States. We regret that Illinois should 

 lose his services. 



The Sugar Convention of Iowa was 

 well attended. The Convention passed 

 resolutions, recommending the Imphee 

 as the best sugar producing cane; that 

 the seed should be planted on high and 

 dry ground and tested before being plan- 

 ted. (Good advice.) 



Sulphur mixed with salt, say one 

 ounce to the head, given two or three 

 times, will destroy lice on cattle. 



It is often the case that the very men 

 who know the least about practical farm- 

 ing, do the most writing on the sub- 

 ject. 



■—— 



Valuable Receipes. 



Warts. — Rub tliera with fresh beef every 

 day until they begin to disappear. 



For a Sting. — Bind on the place a thick 

 plaster of salt moistened. 



Ring Worms. — Take tobano and boil 

 well, add Vinegar and Ije and wash often. 



Burns. — Mix one part essence of Pepper- 

 mint and three of whiskey, and apply with 

 cloths. 



To Prevent Bruises from Turning 

 Black. — Make a plaster of salt and tallow 

 and cover the wound. , 



Boils. — If very painful, apply a poultice 

 of bread and milk. 



