164 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



leaves and rich festoons of flowers and 

 evergreens, make a most beautiful dis- 

 play. 



THE editor's hall 



Turns out to be one of the most primi- 

 tive structures possible, just one step 

 towards civilization. The earth beneath 

 — pine boards .above and around, with 

 wide open spaces for light — a rough 

 board desk and chairs for scats, thanks 

 to the turners' art. We have written 

 many an editorial in a more humble 

 place ; at the same time this rural struc- 

 ture reflects no great credit on those 

 having in charge the comforts of the 

 corps editorial. 



The Local Committee,'^we learn, are 

 not to blame in this matter, as a build- 

 ing intended for this purpose has been 

 otherwise appropriated. And it was 

 supposed that a room in the village 

 nearly two miles distant, would answer 

 every purpose ; but such is not the case; 

 the editor's room if anywhere, must be 

 ou the fair grounds, and when this fact 

 became apparent, it was too late to rem- 

 edy the defect. The room has been 

 erected adjoining our sanctum, making 

 a regular two-story structure — on the 

 ground. 



Other State Societies make liberal 

 provision for the editors, of not only 

 their own State, but those who visit 

 from a distance. It is time that some 

 little courtesy be extended the Press of 

 the State in return for all the gratuitous 

 advertising done in behalf of the Socie- 

 ty. We charge no one with any evil 

 intent; but a neglect of an important 

 interest. For ourself, we can write any- 

 where, whether on a log, a stump, or a 

 hatccrown. 

 AGKICULTUKAL IAPLEMENTS. — PLOWS. 



Pariin & Orindoff, of Canton, 111., 

 show four plows of fine form and high 

 finish, all cast steel molds with German 

 steel shares. They attract no small at- 

 tention. 



An iron plow made by C. II- Dawson, 

 would recommend it to amatur farmers 

 fresh from the city, it would give them 

 ample exercise of muscle to develop 

 motion. 



Battell ct Boyd, of Quincy, have 

 eight plows on the ground, they are 

 strong and well finished, and for the 

 soils along the Mississippi must answer 

 a good purpose. 



Two corn plows of their make are 

 valuable, made strong, also adjustable 

 by a new arrangement, the best we have 

 seen. 



Eldridge & Co., of Perry Co., have 

 five plows, two double shovel plows and 

 one single shovel. 



CORN HARVESTER 



exhibited by IL Miller & Co, It prom- 

 ises to cut and harvest ten to twelve 

 acres a day. It cuts sixteen hills and 



deposites them ready for shocking We 

 have no great faith in it, but on trial it 

 may answer better than hand cutting. 

 Farmers should look before they leap 

 too far, after all implements of doubt- 

 ful utility ; better wait until their value 

 has been demonstrated and then, if good, 

 purchase, if bad, avoid. These invent- 

 ors are the most sanguine set of men 

 possible, and they fancy their bantling 

 is to win in all cases, reasoning with 

 them is of little use ; they will persist 

 in going on to ruin and {not only use up 

 their own means but those of their con- 

 fiding friends. 



PATENT FENCE. 



A vast amount of ingenuity has been 

 expended in making a fence out of noth- 

 ing. Some years since we recommended 

 moral suasion to be applied to all vicious 

 animals. This would save a large amount 

 of labor and trouble, providing the ani- 

 mals accepted the proposition; but as 

 some of these new-fangled fences come 

 so near to nothing, it is hardly worth 

 while to spend so nmch time over them. 

 On all portable fences of any value, the 

 cost is equal to that of a permanent one, 

 and then it is more liable to get out of 

 order. On the grounds are several of 

 these patents with the usual amount of 

 cla]vtraps. The only "gudgeons" to be 

 caught are the deluded inventors. 



turner's ILLINOIS CULTIVATOR. 



At eleven o'clock, several gentlemen 

 accompanied Prof. Turner to a field 

 some half a mile distant, to make a trial 

 of the "Illinois Cultivator," in a field 

 of corn about two feet high. The culti- 

 vator teeth arc not of the right form and 

 would not scour; yet the work Avas well 

 done and gave the most unbounded sat- 

 isfaction. All that is necessary is to 

 change the teeth for those which will 

 scour. This working corn with two 

 horses, at the rate of ten acres a day is 

 a new feature, when Ave take into ac- 

 count that any person who can ride and 

 drive a team can do the work, let him 

 be boy, cripple or invalid. There are 

 seven similar cultivators on the ground, 

 but all of them with more or less de- 

 fects. 



FLORAL HALL 



Is in fine regalia and mostly filled with 

 fruits, preserves and wines. 



Wincii are in moderate quantity, while 

 the preserves and jellies are in the great- 

 est abundance,'tnd of the most supe- 

 rior quality. Among the competitors 

 is Mrs. Luyd ShaAV, who has fifteen 

 packages. 



Fruit and ornamental trees and evergreens by S. Edwards, 

 of Ijcinioille, two entries. 



liest culk'ction of apples, seven entries. 



Best fifteen vurietiea of appleg for Southern Illinois, five 

 entries. 



t^anje for Northern lUino s, four entries. 



Best lot of Siberian crah apples, by S. Or. Mlnlclcr, one 

 entry. 



Be^t collection of fall and winter apples, exhibited by 

 fariuera and amateurs, one entry. 



Best collection of peur.f and poaches, three entries. 



The samples are very tine. Those of Itobcrt Mowson, are 

 par tic ularly nice and large. 



Pears, the product of this State, two entries. 



Autumn pears, four entries. 



Winter pears, two entries. 



Seedling pears, one entry. 



Best and greatest variety of peaches, two entries. 



Best six varieties of peaches, one entry. 



Best twelve peaches, one variety, four entries. 



Best seedling pesj-s, five entries. 



Best collection of plums, one entry. These are from the 



grounds of Ellwanger & Barry, N. Y. 



Best three varieties of plums from the same, one entry. 



Best twelve plums, three entries. 



No quinces on exhibition. 



Native grapes, four entries. 



Foreign grapes, under glass, by C. H. Rosenstcil, of Free- 

 port, one entry. 



Small fruit, nine entries. 



THE AMPHITHEATRE. 



The vast amphitheatre was filled at an 

 early hour. During the forenoon the 

 seats became crowded almost inconven- 

 iently, and presented a very animated 

 appearance. 



CATTLE. 



At nine o'clock this morning the most 

 of the fine cattle present, Avere introduced 

 into the ring, *' just to let people see 

 them." There Avas a very fine collec- 

 tion. Among the most prominent lots 

 we noticed the following : 



James M. Hill, Cass county, six head— the bull "Cham- 

 pion," and five cows. 



Thomas Simpkio, Pike county, the bull, " Marshal Pelis- 

 sier," and Ave cows. 



Robert Pollock, Morgan county, "Admiral," and five 

 cows. 



II. Spears, Menard county, "Master Lowndes," and_^flve 

 cows. 



K. B. Uitt, Scott county, cow "Isabel," and thirteen 

 others. 



James N. Brown, Sangamon county, "Alfred," " Bachel" 

 and "Tulip." 



Those are all Durhams. Only those 

 lots Avhich contain the most noted ani- 

 mals, so far as learned, have been enu- 

 merated. The show of stock present 

 is very fine, particularly that from San- 

 gamon and Morgan counties. Brown's 

 "Alfred" and Pollock's "Admiral" 

 Avould be hard to beat, if the attempt 

 should be made. On Wednesday, pre- 

 miums on cattle will be be aAvarded. 

 Our agricultural Solons Avill probably 

 find it difiicult to decide, among so many 

 superior specimens of the bovine race. 



HORSES. 



After the cattle had retired to the pri- 

 vacy of their stalls (vide rural poems) 

 the ring Avas thrown open to horses. 



Fir.^t, there were three entries for a 

 race between pacers. The first premi- 

 um ($15)for the best span of pacers, 

 was awarded to Thomas Smith, of San- 

 gamon county ; second best, (10) Geo. 

 Day, Sangamon county. 



The first premium for single pacers 

 was borne off by John Cook's gallant 

 little "Smoker Boy," of Springfield ; 

 the second, by James Young, Spring- 

 field. 



In the afternoon, the blooded horses 

 on the ground were brought into the 

 ring, and walked around to shoAV their 

 muscle. The show Avas an imposing one, 

 though some of the famous animals in 

 our State had been kept aAvay. The 

 cavalcade comprised 110 horses, mules 

 and colts ; some of the latter give prom- 

 ise of becoming splendid animals. 



After these came a contest between 

 trotters. The first premium ($15) for 



