THE ILLINOIS FA.RJMER. 



95 



in 



or wheat, than can be made, by high 

 cultivation, to produce the largest crops. 

 The remainder of the farm kept 

 grass, which will thus enable you to in 

 crease the amount of your live stock. — 

 Ohio Valleg Farmer. 



EDITOR'S TABLE. 



Here on the threshold of the month of roiei ve again gr«et 

 the readers of the Farmer. Another moon has waxed and 

 waned, and the summer sun now sends down its ardent heat, 

 tempered with the showers of June, the crop prospect wearg 

 the most auspicious promise, and we hail our readers with 

 bounteous and brightening hopes. With improved health, we 

 take up the pen amid the bustle of the spring season to jot 

 down the progress of improvement, and to make such sugges- 

 tions as may seem useful. 



^^"Green Peas, raised In the open garden, have been serv- 

 ed up at the Central! I House, for the past week. — Centralia 

 Rbpublic, of May 23d. 



Green peas from our garden were served up the 26th. — 

 Strawberries the same day. 



Fawkes' Steam Plow — Stands where left last autumn.. We 

 have nothing new in relation to its movement, or whether It 

 is to move at all. 



This silence may be ominous of future success. The fever 

 heat of steam plowing appears to have subsided, and the pub- 

 lic mind is no longer In a foment on the snbject, and the in- 

 ventors are left to the undisturbed field, but such men as 

 Fawkes, Waters and Greenwood are not to be lulled to sleep 

 over their great idol, and we may as well keep an eye open and 

 be prepared for some new move. The idea of a steam plow 

 is not abandoned by any means. 



lipe Mulberries were gathered in Johnson county two 

 weeks since. 



^^~ There will be an immense quantity of blackberries In 

 this vicinity this year. 



Baromiters. — The farmers have long been in need of a 

 good, cheap Barometer, one that could bo sent by e3cpress 

 without danger of breakage or displacement of the mercury. 

 Ten dollars is as much as our farmers can afford to pay for 

 such a one, and a good one at that price could be sold in large 

 quantities. We have one at our old farm in Cook coanty, but 

 the risk of getting air into the mercury in moving it is so 

 great that we have not dared to attempt it. Besides a slight 

 jar by some careless boy or biddy is liable to ruin it. On this 

 account we have liad to reboil and replace the mercury twice 

 in the last dozen years, and prefer one that is not liable to 

 these objections. 



If any of our philosophers have invented such an instru- 

 ment they will do well to post our farmers up in its behalf. 



We have seen such advertised, but thus far those that we 

 hare seen do not fill the bill. Who has it ? 



CniCAGO ScGAR Cured Hams. — Messrs. Leland & Srixer, 

 packers of Chicago, sent us a specimen of their art in the 

 above line, and we have to give up that they can beat us some 

 in that part of the mystery of housekeeping. We intend to 

 bribe one of the clerks so as to obtain the secret for the ben- 

 efit of our readers, for what business have they to the monop- 

 oly of the best hams in the State ? True, they have an im- 

 mense stock as though all the hogs had run to them with their 

 hams for curing. We have no objection to our county dealers 

 purchasing of them until we can get hold of the art preserva- 

 tive, then we will do up our own pigs and snap our fingers at 

 Messrs. Leland & Mixer, so we will. (Come Caleb give us the 

 receipt and you shall have one of our best bouquets, for 

 that gal of yours.) 



Brl^eikq Plows for two Horses. — We have one of Deere 

 & Co.'s sixteen inch breaking plows, which we lent to a green 

 Yankee who had purchased a farm near us, and he has aver- 

 aged over one and a half acre's per day of prairie breaking on 

 raw unpastured prairie, and that with a pair of horses not 

 above the average. He says that breaking prairie with the 

 big teams is all humbug besides being too expensive. We 

 wont lend him our plow any longer, and he has ordered one. 

 People will learn after a while that prairie breaking is no 

 great mystery — with one of the Moline cast steel breakers. 



Enlargejiest. — Our advertising friends are requiring so 

 much space that we shall have to add four pages to the paper 

 next month. We can still supply the back Nos. to January. 

 Now \i a good time to send in sabscriptions. Fifty cents will 

 pay to the end of the year. To persons having friends east, 

 the Farmer win be a very acceptable present. 



CcLTiVATons. — A deal of money is fooled away every year 

 on worthless cultivators sent out from Boston and other bar- 

 barian cities. They will neither scour nor kill weeds. Cul- 

 tivator teeth must be made flat like that of a shovel plow, and 

 not convex. We had one last year made at Urbana by Mr. 

 E. Eoydon thatsuits us. We gave it a thorough trial, and it 

 DOW displaces all of the old style, several of which will have 

 to go to the jimk. dealer. 



Silver ware for Prbhiums. — Mr. Chatterton calls atten- 

 tion of officers of Agricultural Societies to his stock of silver 

 ware for premiums. His offer is exceedingly liberal as will 

 be seen by reference to his card. All those intending to give 

 premiums of this class, will do well to make arrangements 

 with Mr. 0., as from his high standing as a gentleman and ex- 

 perience in this department he will doubtless give good satis- 

 faction. We ask of you pood friends to patronize our home 

 Institutions where it can be done. 



Missouri Fruit Growers AasociATioH for 1859.— Through 

 the kind attention of the President, Norman J. Coleman, we 

 arc In receipt of a pamphlet copy of the above, containing 

 sixty-four pages of well arranged and valuable matter. The 

 late hour of receiving it prevents a more extended notice, but 

 we shall recur to it in our next. 



O. W. E. K. AND THE State Fair.— There seems to be an 

 Impression with some, that this road cannot carry all the 

 freight and passengers to the State fair. Well suppose it 

 cannot, what is to hinder the Superintendents of the I.C.U.R. 

 and St. L., A. k C. R. R. running their trains over this road ? 

 We learn from good authority that this will be the case, and 

 that goods shipped on these roads will not break track until 

 they arrive in Jacksonville. 



Premium List op Illinois State Agricultural Society. 

 — This list is just out of press, and foots up $15,000. It is 

 well got up and reflects much credit on the officers for the 

 care in which it has been arranged. It is ready for all appli- 

 cants. Apply to J. P. Reynolds, Corresponding Secretary, 

 Springfield, Illinois. 



State Fair. — Before our next issue we intend to visit Jack- 

 sonville, and post up our readers in regard to the progress 

 making in the Fair grounds. We Icam that most of the lum- 

 ber is on the ground, and that good progress is being made. 



Thr '^i^i.v-E, OF Shelter. — At Bement, some sixty miles 

 east of SpriugSeld, is a small garden inclosed with a high 

 board fence, within which is planted about one eighth of an 

 acre of potatoes, and which are now in bloom (2Sth.) The 

 train stop])ing in front of them gave ua an opportunity to 

 study the effect of shelter in forwarding this desirable vege- 

 table, no doubt giving them ten days the advantage of 

 those in the open ground. Shelter should be written in 

 italics, in small caps, in large caps and in posters, and placed 

 on every gat« post, on every farm comer, on the farm, the 

 garden and the orchard, so that its great value shall never, 

 for a moment be lost sight of by the farmer. Shelter, farm- 

 ers repeat the word until you have it indelibly impressed upon 

 your minds as the means by which you will grow not only 

 early but good crops. 



Wilbur, Emery & Co., Chicago — Successors to H. D. 

 Emery & Co. are doing a good business in the way of seeds 

 and implements. We have purchased most of our seeds of 

 this house for eight years, and have found them generally of 

 an excellent quality. It cannot be expected that a seedsman 



can always have the best, as they are occasionally imposed 

 upon, but we have had so little to complain of, and so much 

 to commend, that we are very well content to give them our 

 orders. May they live and flourish. 



New Potatoes and ripe Cherries are said to be plenty In 

 Randolph county in this State. 



Field's Rotary Cultivator. — Mr. Field is creating no 

 small excitement in certain circles in Chicago with his new 

 invention, which is intended for both horse and steam power. 

 We have not seen it, but from what we hear, it promises to 

 be useful. We do not like to say much in relation to those 

 new things until they have been tested, and shall hold our 

 opinion subject to future trial. 



Corn Culture Is being better and better understood, and 

 with the new >mplements is receiving a goodly share of atten- 

 tion. Farmers are beginning to learn that weeds left in the 

 corn fi^ld to pump up the moisture, shade the ground and ab- 

 sorbs the elements of plant growth as fast as it is formed is 

 not profitable, and a new and vigorous warfare Is carried on 

 on against them. Stirring the ground it also found useful, 

 aside from wted killing, by irrigating the soil Keep 'em 

 Btirre J up good farmers, and you will play the duce with that 

 arrant scamp the chinch bug, who has a horror of drj dirt 

 and cold water. Give himplentyof one or the other. 



Lightkikg Rods, Pumps, Safes, etc. — Beard k Bro.,are 

 dealers in and manufacturers of lightning rods and pumps of 

 all descrl ptions, which they will be pleased to furnish all who 

 may need, on the most reasonable terms. Purchasing direct 

 from the manufacturer, will be to the Interest of all who desire 

 to avail tliemselves of the lowest prices, and the long exper- 

 iences of the manufacturers. All orders by mail will be 

 promptly attended to and any information pertaining thereto 

 given by them with pleasare. Address Beard &. Bro. , No. 29 

 North Main street, St. Louis, Missouri. 



P.S. — Also manufacturers of the Rxcelrior Fire and Burglar 

 Proof Safes; and Scales, all descriptions, which are famished 

 on the most reasonable terms, and guaranteed equal to any in 

 the United States. Address as above. 



Wire Fence.— The agent, James W. Reed, of Lockport, 

 New York, has left with us a pamphlet descriptive of the 

 patent wire fencing. The price is much reduced, and we see 

 no reason why it should not come into general use. It must 

 prove effective and durable, and with the Improved machinery 

 for making, with the present cheap rates of wire, it should be 

 sold at such prices as would warrant its general use. Mr. 

 Reed is now looking through the State with the view of intro- 

 ducing it on the prairie. Descriptive pamphlets can be had 

 of Z. Hosmer k Co., Boston. We hope to hear more of thii 

 fencing. 



Double Shovel Plows. — We have tried several of them 

 and given them up in disgust, until within a few days ranee, 

 Messrs. A.Adams k Co., of Sandwich, DeEalb county, sent 

 us a sample of their art. It not only covered and ran clear 

 at the beginning, but it continues to do so and is giving the 

 most unbounded satisfaction. We will not attempt to 

 describe It, for any farmer curious In these matters will 

 order one or more and then he will know all their good qual- 

 ites. 



No Cattle Shows in MASSAcnusETTS — In consequence 

 of the cattle disease now prevailing there, we understand 

 that no shows will be held the current year. What will be 

 done ? The Grand Muster will have to be revived or adolea- 

 ant Yankeedom will burst for want of vent. ..;■: 



Hand Corn Sheller. — A. Adams & Co., of Sandwich, 

 have sent us a hand com sheller, which Is just the thing for 

 small farmers like ourself. It has a cleaning and separating 



apparatus and does the work to a charm, runs easy, is dura- 

 ble, ha\-ing chilled iurfaces, and for the quarter section farmer 

 is just the thing. Every farmer can well afford to own one of 

 them, the saving of cobs for fuel and extra hauling to the 

 station will soon repay the cost, They are made in a Buper- 

 ioi; manner and of excellent material. 



Steam Plowino. — We hear that Waters Is bt^ at Mhi- 

 acka, but get no particalars, further than be plows some 

 twelve acres of prairie a day. Greenwood & Fawkes were to 

 have put their new plow to work at Cincinnati on the 28d 

 ult. , but we learn nothing as to the trial. Is the practical 

 demonstration of steam plowing as a paying matter yet in the 

 far off distance ? We pause for a reply. 



Wheeler k Wilson Sewing MAcmsE Roomb at St. 

 Louis.— Ever sir ce Mother Eve made her primitive apron of 

 fig leaves, there has been a demand for tewing machines, and 

 good Dame Nature has done her best to forniih a supply ad- 

 equate to the necessities of mankind in general — including the 

 ladies ! The machine thrown into market by the kind old 

 dama Is beautiful to behold, well modeled, graceful in move- 

 ment and perfect in action ; but hard usage soon wears it out 

 — and Its career closes by a strong stitch in the side or a back 

 Stitch snapping the thread of its existence. 



To compete successfully with Nature, has been a dlfiScnlt 

 task; but the very stupendousness of the work proved the 

 most powerful stimulus to ingenious and energetic men. 



Within the last tf n years the sewing machine (new style — 

 made by art,) has become almost universally diffused through- 

 out the " wide wide world" — competition with Nature has 

 ceased — she having withdrawn from the field — and Individual 

 competition taken its place. 



Huge piles of money have been made by manufacturing 

 and selling sewing machines — In fact, fortunes amassed by 

 some companies have been terrifically tremendous. Perhaps 

 the wealthiest company of the kind In the world, is the 

 Wheeler k Wilson, whose head-quarters are in the great city 

 of "New York." The supposition that they are the richest. 

 Is founded upon the fact that they sell double the number of 

 machines sold by any other company — which truth is establiah- 

 ed by the sworn statements of their competitors. 



Branch offices conducted by gentlemen of ability, amiabil- 

 ity, affiiliility, respectability and responsibility, are establish- 

 ed throughout the coimtry. Some of these offices at e furnish- 

 ed in the most magnificent style of decorative art. An old 

 and honored friend of ours, Mrs. Grfundy, has juA retume 



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