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THE ILLINOIS EA-RIMER. 



EDITOR'S TABLE. 



In the January number occurred several typographical 

 errors, which we hope our proof reader will avoid hereafter. 

 Tlie editor's sanctum is nearly ninety miles from the place of 

 publication, and hence little opportunity for him to look after 

 vagaries of the types. We fear few mistakes from our own 

 pen as those who have seen our chirography can attest. It is 

 at least ecjual to that of Greeley, Choate, and others of the 

 same style. One our friends undertook to imitate it one warm 

 day last summer, but he failed. He caught a dozen ants and 

 placing them la the ink took them out one at a time and let 

 them run dripping across the paper, and at the end of the line 

 hit them a lick, when of course they made a period, but the 

 I'aand t'swere not finished, and though a pretty fair imitation 

 were not quite up to the original. 



Our Paper.— The report of the State Horticultural Society 

 occupies considerable space, but we could not think of putting 

 over a part of it to the next number, and have added four 

 extra pages, which no doubt our subscribers will appreciate. 

 They will observe that nearly all the matter is either from the 

 pen of contributors or the editor. Our scissors are of little 

 use while we have so many home subjects to discourse about. 

 Our good friends will continue to send us facts for its pages, 

 and subscriptions to the publishers. This month the pub- 

 lishers will send out bills to those in arrears, which we hope 

 will meet with a ready response, accompanied with additions 

 to the clubs. If subscriptions continue to pour in the two 

 thousand will soon be reached. 



Go ahead, good friends, we can work all the better under 

 such a pressure, and with twenty thousand subscribers we 

 think it no hardship to work an extra hour each day. 



HORSB Tamiso. — Last week, at Springfield, we attended 

 the class of Prof. O. UelewofSt. Louis. Upwards of twenty 

 persons received instruction, including new and old pupils. 

 Prof. Belew gave, we think, the most entire satisfaction to all. 

 The subject was a three year old colt from the farm of .Mr 

 Crowder. He was simply a high spirited colt; a few minutOg 

 under the manipulation of the Professor of tlie art of liorse 

 taming, and the colt was completely subdued — could be rode 

 with or without a bridle — an umbrella had no effect upon him, 

 and to all appearances ho was as docile as the most staid 

 of work horses. This is certainly a great achievement in the 

 art of managing this noble animal. Five dollars worth of 

 labor could not have so completely subdued this colt by the 

 best horsemanship under the old method. 



No man who has the management of horses should neglect 

 an opportunity to obtain this management. 



Prof. B. claims that his system has advantage over that 

 of Prof. Ilarey, but not having attended this latter gentle- 

 man's class we cannot decide the matter. The lectures to the 

 class are private and under tlie injunction not to teach it. 



No drugs or mesmerism are used, nothing but straight-for- 

 ward common sense, and yet so simple that it is a matter of 

 surprise that the discovery had not been made a thousand 

 years ago. When farmers learn to break and use their horses 

 in a rational way we shall hear of less runaways, and the 

 pleasure of riding after spirited horses will be enervated just 

 In proportion as the danger is lessened. We wish Prof. B. 

 the moat unbounded success In making up clasbcs wherever he 

 goes. 



Silver Maple Seedli.vos. — We take especial pleasure In 

 calling attention of ornamental tree planters to the card of 

 Mr. Pullen. We have purchased largely of Mr. P., and have 

 always found him upright in all his dealings. Last spring we 

 set some of these trees in our orchard belts and intend to set 

 more the coming spring. The freight is but trifling when sent 

 by freight lines. We have had them three weeks on the way 

 and nearly every plant live. The average growth of our 

 plants last season was over three feet. We think this tree the 

 most valuable for timber belts and shade. It is a rapid 

 grower, of fine form, and little troubled with insects. Farmers 

 can club together and obtain a cheap and valuable addition to 

 the shrubbery. 



CuNTOs CocsTT AoBiccLTDRAL SociKTT. — Officers for 1S60 

 — President, James Jenkins: Vice Presidents, Reuben Ruther- 

 ford, O. A. Henry and Smyth Moore; Recording Secretary, 

 Zophor Case; Corresponding Secretary, 0. B. Nichols. Re- 

 ceipts for 1859, $231; expenses f2G9. The show of vegetables 

 very fine. We hope to hear good results from this part of 

 Egypt the coming season. 



Genesseb Farmer. — The January number of this well 

 known agricultural journal is received. It is a splendid num- 

 ber. There are forty-eight articles on various agricultural! 

 and twelve on horticultural, subjects, besides many short arti- 

 cles 1 It is illustrated with Ucelce beautiful engravings. It is 

 one of the very best agricultural and horticultural journals 

 published. Price only fifty cents a year ! Address Joseph 

 Harris, Rochester, N. Y. 



Fawkes' Steam Plow. — We have a ruuiortliat several gen- 

 tlemen of wealth, both in New York and Chicago, are about 

 forming a company with a capital of $100,000, for the purpose 

 of perfecting this plow and for manufacturing them. The 

 head-quarters are to be in Chicago, and a well known wagon 

 manufacturer is to be President of the company. We hope 

 for once, that Madam Rumor will prove true. 



Engravings op Stock. — Several of our stock growers are 

 anxious to furnish us electrotypes of their stock, but the diffi- 

 culty is in finding a person who can make correct drawings. 

 So soon as this can be done we shall be able to present several 

 fine animals. Mr. Crowder has several splendid Berkshlres 

 and Durhams, and Dr. Johns has also some of the finest Dur- 

 hams In the State; all of which we hope soon to present. In 

 this number will be found an engraving of a fine cow from the 

 well known herd of Hon. J. Wentworth, Chicago. 



The Weather. — Of late the weather has been mild and the 

 roads somewhat muddy, but marketing of corn has been regu- 

 larly prosecuted, and the cribs at the various depots in Cen- 

 tral Illinois are fast filling up. Various reports are afloat in 

 regard to winter wheat, but it is too early to form any opinion 

 on this head. The breadth of winter wheat sown In Central 

 Illinois last fall was comparatively small, consequently there 

 will be little to lose in any event. 



f^~We were promised an article on the value of music In 

 the farmers' household, by a person well qualified for the task, 

 but it has not been received. We need more attention to this 

 v.aluable and dcsiral)le accomplisliment in the rural districts. 

 If the piano is the Instrument jjar excellence for the city, the 

 melodeon is the one for the country. The clear notes of 

 childhood accompanied with the swelling tones of the melo- 

 deon, is to our ear, richer than the music of the piano. 



Another important point that should not not be overlooked 

 is, the difference in cost. A fine octavo melodeon in plain 

 case, costs only seventy-five dollars, and in piano case a hun- 

 dred, and certainly this last is in our opinion equal to an ordi- 

 nary piano. Wc have had one of Prince &, Co.'s fine octavo 

 piano melodeons for our household for the past season. Six 

 members of the family use it, and several of them are taking 

 lessons. This, of course, must subject the instrument to a 

 deal of thumping, tending to put it out of tune, but as yet, 

 every note is as perfect as the first. No piano could have 

 stood this amount of practice witiiout re-tuning. Messrs. 

 Prince k Co. have built up a very enviable reputation for 

 their instruments; their durability is now unquestioned. It 

 makes little difference as to the room in which thoy are placed, 

 whether the kitchen of a prairie cabin, or the parlor of the 

 millionare. Its tones float out as sweet to the touch of the 

 hand of toil, as the dainty fingers of the pampered sons of 

 wealth. And when accompanied with the full, round voice of 

 roseate health is most pleasing to the ear. Many of our far- 

 mers suppose that the melodeon is only suited to the capacity 

 of the female, but we can assure them of their mistake. If 

 you want your boys attached to their home, give them home 

 arausementa, and they will have no desire to seek the village 

 haunts of immorality. We know nothing more valuable than 

 music to draw the bond of union and cement the household 

 than this. It softens down the rough corners of our nature, 

 and gives us a better opinion of our kind. We cannot too 

 strongly commend this subject to those of our farmers who 

 have a youqg family growing up. We know the times are 

 hard and but little money to spare for luxuries, but you will 

 find this one of those luxuries that have a largo per centage of 

 profit attached, and you cannot do without It, for it will pay 

 you in dollars and cents. You will find your children more 

 cheerful, always at home, always ready to share in the daily 

 toil. These instruments are sold as low as fifty dollars, and 

 some of them as high as three hundred and fifty; these last are 

 for churches. The card of Messrs. Prince k Co. will be found 

 on the outside of our paper. 



AGRicrLTCRAL IMPLEMENTS. — Last week we took a look 

 through the sales rooms of B. F. Fox, Springfield. The first 

 floor Is devoted to shelf goods, hardware, carpenters' and 

 builders' tools, blacksmiths' tools, cutlery, guns, pistols, saws 

 and carriage trimmings. Second floor — Store Room for extra 

 stock of shovels, chains and heavy hardware. Third and 

 fourth floors — Agricultural implements. Including Manny's 

 Reapers, (of Tallcott, Emerson k Co.'s make,) Wood Pumps, 

 Gang Plows, Straw Cutters, Messrs. Deere k Co.'s celebrated 

 Clijiper, Double Michigan and Subsoil Plows, Sub^l Plows of 

 Prof. Mapcs, three patterns ; Corn Crushers, etc. The main 

 building fronts on the north side of the Public Square, and Is 

 twenty by one hundred feet, to which Is attached a back build- 

 ing twenty by fifty-six feet, two stories high. This is filled 

 witli wood work for wagons and carriages, i)low handles, etc. 

 At the Depot he has a warehouse fur the storage of Reapers, 

 Thrashers, Plows, Corn Mills, Fanning Mills, and other heavy 

 goods. It will thus be seen that there is little need of looking 



beyond Springfield for such goods as Mr. Fox keeps on hand. 

 AVc learn that it is also his intention to add a large stock of 

 garden and field seeds next month. 



Rooms of the Illisois State AcRiccLTraAL Societt. — 

 These are now on the south side of the square, opposite to the 

 entrance of the Capitol. The new Secretary, Mr. Reynold.<«,» 

 is hardTit work, and everything about him wears a cheerful 

 and progressive look. Our farmers, on visiting Springfield, 

 should make him a call. They will find a plain, good, com- 

 mon sense farmer — one who takes a deep Interest In the culti- 

 vation of the soil — one who has not only the will but the ability 

 to make himself useful in the great field of progress before him. 

 This is the eighth year of the Society, and yet the library Is of 

 no account ; — but few even of the Transactions of kindred 

 Societies tire on the shelves. He Is making efforts to remedy 

 this defect. Eight Hundred copies of the Transactions have 

 been sent out to those entitled to them, and others will be sent 

 as fast as the proper address of County Agricultural Societies 

 can be had. Tliere are ninety-six County Societies organized 

 out of one hundred and two counties in the State. The Cor- 

 responding Secretary lias sent circulars to all the Societies 

 directing them to send delegates to the next Fair for the elec- 

 tion of officers, and acting upon the proposed change of the Con- 

 stitution. Specifications are also out for the holding of the 

 next Fair. Chicago, Bloomington and Jacksonville are the 

 competitors thus far. The next premium list is also under the 

 Secretary's charge, and will be ready for the next meeting of 

 the Board. 



TuE Gardener's Monthly. — This valuable work comes to 

 us in octavo form, changed from the quarto. We like the 

 cliange, as when bound it will make a sizeable book, convenient 

 for future reference. The work, as its name implies, is devo- 

 ted to kitchen and ornamental gardening, and is the best work 

 of the kind now published. Mr. Mechan is one of the best and 

 most practical writers, in his various departments, that we 

 have, and the " Incog." publishers are deser\-ing of great 

 praise for the manner in which the work Is presented to the 

 public. The papers on new grapes, in the January number, 

 are worth twice the subscription price : $1. Address the Pub- 

 lishers of the Gardener's Monthly, box 406, Philadelphia. We 

 club it with the Farmer at f 1 75. 



{^"A large portion of this number of the Farmer Is taken 

 up with horticultural matters, but we trust our readers will 

 find It profitable. We need more and better fruits, and to 

 obtain them must learn the conditions necessary to their suc- 

 cessful growth and preservation. The March number will be 

 more particularly devoted to the preparation of the ground 

 and culture of spring crops, orchard and garden planting. 

 Our motto is : less land better culture ; less acres and more 

 bushels ; less land to pay taxes on and more to pay with ; less 

 grabbing after shadow and more of real, rational enjoyment. 



Fleishman's New Mode of Plowing. — We are in receipt 

 of a pamphlet copy of twenty-one pages, describing this new 

 mode of plowing, supposed to be particularly adapted to corn 

 culture. We shall discuss its merits in our next number. 



Bloomington Nchsert. — When at Bloomington a few days 

 since, we had a look Into this nursery, and were pleased to 

 find a large and well grown stock of trees, plants and shrubs. 

 From his eighty acre patch, he can supply orders, both at 

 wholesale and retail. Mr. Phoenix is a progressive man ; 

 his motto is cheap and reliable trees, adapted to the soil and 

 climate of the West. His catalogue will speak for itself; send 

 for one If you want good trees. 



Good Butter. — In a recent visit to Egypt we saw several 

 specimens of very fine winter made butter. Even in summer, 

 the butter is light colored, wliich we have attributed to the 

 excess of brine in the soil, and to find golden butter in winter 

 was rather a surprise to us, but clover hay and corn explained 

 the secret. Mrs. B. G. Roots of Tamaroa, had on her table a 

 good sample of Hamburg cheese made with her own hands. 

 This was the first specimen of Egyptian cheese that has fallen 

 under our notice. Clover, timothy, blue grass and good hus- 

 bandry will do wonders for Egypt yet. 



Ohio Farmer. — This old and popular journal Is out with a 

 new head and new type. We could not well do without this 

 paper, as we made the experiment for some three months, and 

 failed. It is in every sense a farmer's home journal. The 

 articles on draining for the past year is worth to every farmer 

 a half dozen subscriptions. Cleveland, Ohio, $2 weekly. 



Western Trees. — Mr. Jonathan Uuggins offers a large stock 

 of trees adapted to the prairies of the West. Among them is 

 a large stock of extra sized silver maple, the very best of all 

 shade trees for rapid growth and beauty. The price is by far 

 the lowest that we have seen, even less than the wholesale 

 price of the same trees at the east. Farmers, you should have 

 these trees, including the maple, of Mr. Huggins, to fill up 

 your^fruit gardens, orchards and bouse grounds. You will 



