THE ILLIiNTOIS FJLRMiER, 



ITT* 



Fall Plowing. — We hope to see more of this done in the 

 central and south part of the State. At the north, the teams 

 have been busy for the past month, but hereaway but little 

 plowing i3 yet done. For spring wheat, fall plowing Is abso- 

 lutely necessary, for this grain must be sown before the 

 ground will answer to plow in the spring. We must adapt a 

 system of rotation; all corn, or all wheat will not answer for 

 the j,reat niiii-s of the farmers; a lew may grow rich out of it, 

 but with the variety of soils and of labor, we must adapt our 

 farming more to circumstances that surround us. Hut few of 

 our farmers have sweet potatoes for tlieir own tables, and not 

 half of the great corn growers have a supply of Irish potatoes 

 for tlie winter, to say no'.hing of the vegetables. We there- 

 fore Bay, fall plow, and add to the variety of your crops. 



Bhoom Corn. — On page 120 we gave an account of a field 

 of ))room corn. Yesterday we again visited it, and find it 

 nearly harvested, and several tons of it on the way to the 

 English market. The broom corn business in this State is a 

 large one, requiring a large amount of capital. Let no farmer 

 suppose for a moment that because he can grow corn he can 

 also succeed with broom com; for to succeed, requires expe- 

 rienoe and care. We intend to devote a chapter to the sub- 

 ject soon, but at this time we have not tlie space. 



Potatoes. — In digging your potatoes, carefully sort them 

 out, putting each variety by itself; no two varieties of pota- 

 toes coolf alike; one will be over done while the other is hard. 

 So in the growing; when you plant two varieties in the same 

 hill, the stronger grower will monopolize the soil, and you 

 have a lot of small potatoes from tlie weaker of the two. — 

 Now is the time to sort them out; while fresh from the hill you 

 can easily diatinguish them; not sj in the spring; with all 

 your care, you can only do the work imperfectly. 



Beans. — The price of this staple has run down just below 

 nothing. Of course nobody will plant and nobody will have 

 them for sale. Nothing vibrates so widely in the market as 

 this crop; now down to twenty-five to fifty cents, and anon 

 up to two and a half dollars. We have thirty-five bushels of 

 the crop of '69, and almost the same of this year; they are in 

 a dry graincry, and will be ready when the price suits. We 



find them convenient to All out odd corners. We would not 

 plant them largely. Cheap j)otatoes make cheap beans, and 

 cheap beans i)lease the city mechanic. We wonder if they 

 eut beans at i'lke's Peak; at the start they took them at two 

 dollars and twen;j--live cents a bushel, but we suspect that 

 bean soup is not their liobby at present. 



OcTOBBR. — Brown October gives us a greeting, as we again 

 take our place at the fireside of the readers of the Farmer, to 

 hold social converse. Since our last meeting, his Ilyperbo- 

 rean majesty has spread his mantle of white nearly over the 

 whole State, and that a month earlier than his wont; but 

 thanks to the forwardness of the season; little damage has 

 been done. He has pointed out to you tlie places where he 

 first delights to thowhis power, and to bring the rank growth 

 of vegetation to a sudden pause, where he delights in destruc- 

 tion and revels in mischief. Mark those spots, for he will 

 again make them his camping grouiKl in his march southward; 

 avoid them whan you locate your houses, when you select 

 your garden, and when you plant your orchard. 



The State Fair has come and gone, with its magnificent 

 show of stock, of horses, of sheep, of swine, of i)omological 

 products, and of Natural History. It has left a deej) impres- 

 sion of our onward progress in the substantiais of wealtli; but 

 In the more refined departments of social life it has left a wide 

 blank yet to be tilled. 



The Coijnty Societies are becoming great institutions, scarce- 

 Iv second to the State Society, and in their aggregate of use- 

 fulness far surpassing it. We point to them with pride as 

 good educators of our population, and places where meet and 

 mingle all classes and all profe.^sions. imi)artingto each other 

 a portion of their self-acquired useful knowledge. 



And now while we are garnering the last products of the 

 bounteous year, while the many colored leaves of luxurious 

 autumn are falling and whirl in i)layful eddies at our feet, let 

 us think of winter, and make such preparations that its biting 

 cold and its sweeping winds shall i)ass by harmless and un- 

 heeded. 



"The Semlsart Bell." — This is the name of a new paper 

 that has found its way to our table. It is publislied at Mt. 

 Carroll Seminary, Mt. Carroll, 111., and is edited by a com- 

 mittee, male and female, of that Institution. As an educa- 

 cational paper it is ably edited, and caimot fail of proving 

 useful. It is a montlily sheet of eight pages, at one dollar. — 

 By it we learn that the Institution will receive students at any 

 time, and make the charge pro rata. The Academic year 

 commenced in Apgust. We look u])on this institution as one 

 of the best ip the State. Those having daugliters to educate 

 would do well to consult the terms. Address Mt. Carroll 

 Seminary for circular. 



J^~The State Fair was financially a success, and all bills 

 and premiums will be promptly paid. So says the Treasurer. 



Premium List. — The premium list occupies a large space in 

 this number of tlie Farmer, but its usefulness Is too apparent 

 to need an apology. We think it will be found unusually cor 

 rect in that important feature, names. 



Tree and Snarn Seeds. — We are in receipt of Meehan's 

 Catalogue of Tree and Slirub Seed. The list is extensive and 

 prices low. Persons desirous of growing their own plants, (or 

 nurserymen) will do well to consult this catalogue. Address 

 T. Meehan, Germantown, Pa. 



Mtehiin'H Hand Book of Ornamental Trees Is a valua- 

 ble work for the nurserymen and amateur. The j)rice is onl,\ 

 seventy-live cents, free by mail. Address as above. 



Cook's Ndrsery. — Through some inadvertancc the adver- 

 tisement of this Nursery did not appear in the September 

 number of the Farmer. We visited Mr. Cook in June last, 

 and had the pleasure of a look through his grounds, annd wc 

 bear cheerfnl testimony to his care in culture and the very 

 fine appearance of his trees, plants and shrubs. Tree plant- 

 ers and dealers will do well to send for a catalogue. 



Watermelons. — Our watermelons have degenerated so 

 much from planting in the vicinity ofpimipkinsand squashes 

 that much of their value is lost; in fact, in some cases it is 

 difBcult to say whether citron, melon or pumpkin predomi- 

 nate; it is therefore a pleasure to make the discovery of the 

 genuine unadulterated, though only now and then. We 

 had the pleasure last week of eating one of these, sent us from 

 Vermillion county, by our esteemed friend, Thomas Short. — 

 We have carefully preserved the seeds, and hope next year to 

 grow several specimens, more or less. Mr. Short is the pat- 

 entee of acorn planter, and while in the field with one of his 

 sons trying the new Implement, a thunder shower came up 



and struck down the son, to rise no more, and seriously injur- 

 ed the father. * 



Flower Pots. — We would call attention to the card of Mr. 

 Lobhart in regard to flowerpots. We have purchased our 

 pots of him for the past dozen years. lie sends out 3 good ar- 

 ticle, and at very reasonable. prices. His clay is taken from 

 the bed of Ciiicago river, and is well adapted to the purpose, 

 being both tough and porous, when not too hard burned. Hard 

 burned pots are rejected and sold at a reduced price. Mr. 

 L. Is now busy on an order of forty thousand pots for a 

 mammoth green-house, near Chicago. Persons wanting 

 small or large pots will do well to send their orders^ 



The Unitbd States Fair. — This great humbug has come 

 and gone, and we hope never to hear of it again in the west. 

 We did intend to have given it more space, but sic transit 

 gone dozen icesto. 



Setting Orchards. — This is the montli to set your orchard 

 trees. If you set them out, bank up a foot high; otherwise 

 heel them in by making a trench on high, dry land; set them 

 at angles of forty -five degrees, and cover well witii well pul- 

 verized Boii; do not crowd them together; if you have any 

 open spaces about the roots, you will lose the trees. We 

 think trees set in Autumn, in this latitude, do the best. 



$500 Reward. — The publishers of the American Agriciil. 



turixf olTer ilie above reward to any person "who will prove, 

 by clear, unmistakable experiment, to the satisfaction of in- 

 telligent and disinterested parties, that Chess can be produced 

 from Wheat." We hope our beUevers in transmutation wil' 

 make the endeavor for this liberal reward. Go in, gentle. 



men, and prove that Cliess can be grown from Wheat, or that 

 you have been very slovenly farmers. 



IIi3r>iO!a) Ditching Machines. — Among the attractions at 

 the State Fair, was Hammond's Ditching Machine or Mole 

 Plow for draining. It took the first premium in 1S59, and is 

 pronounced by its friends the best draining plow in use. 

 It is said that two men and two yoke of oxen with this plow 

 will make from 100 to 200 rods of ditch per day. For ma- 

 chines, or for Slateand County rights, app^y to A. Hammond, 

 Jacksonville, 111. 



Brtant a Stratton's Ciiais of Natioxal Commercial Col- 

 leges. — In calling attention to this excellent educational en- 

 terj'rise, we are reminded that Dr. Franklin has wisely said, 

 that "A young man can nowhere find so good a saving,<bank 

 as by emptying; his purse into his head." Every one knows 

 that their success depends upon the direction our minds give 

 to our action, and the skill and perfection w-ith wl4ch we 

 execute whatever we undertake. 



Those young men who expend time, money, and persever- 

 ing effort in acquiring intelligence and skill of a practical 

 character, make an investment of capital which no reverse in 

 fortune can deprive tlieiu of — whicli will render them indepen- 

 dent — and enable them to attain ultimately the highest meas- 

 ure of success, in whatever vocation they niay hibor. 



As the season is now at hand wlien young liieii are, or should 

 be laj-ing ))lans for improvement during the coming fall and 

 winter, we cannot do better than to remind them of the supe- 

 rior and practical character of the advantages afforded by 

 Bryant & Stratton's Chain of Commercial Colleges. The 

 ciiain is composed of eight colleges located in eiglit of tho 

 largestcitiesof the Union. 



This is tho only chain of colleges in the world, and is so ar- 

 ranged and perfected that each one of the colleges commends 

 itself with peculiar force to the public. The last college of the 

 cliain is located in St. Louis, and is equal, if not superior, to 

 the otliers. We shall be happy to give our friends iuformaficu 

 about these colleges. 



COMMERCIALi. 



SPRINGFIELD MARKET— Oct. 5. 



WHEAT— Winter 90c@f 1 I 



spring 70@55c; . 

 FL0UR--*5 ti(i®0 00^ bbl; 

 CORN— 2oc ^ bu; 

 CORN MEAL— 50c ^ bu; 

 OATS— 15c \9 bu; 

 BEANS— *1@1 25^bu; 

 BRAN— 10c \i bu; 

 SHORTS— l.-ic^bu; • 

 POTATOES— New, '25@.30c; 

 HAY— 17@,9 ^ ton; 

 TALLOW— 8>;c %i lb; 

 SOAP— Bar, .3@»0c |? »; 

 CANDLES— lac ^3 l>ox; 

 BACON— Hams 12^^14^ lb 

 CHICKENS— 111 50^doz; 

 BROOM CORN— none. 

 BACON— Sides, 10c ^ tb; 

 SGGS— Sc^doe; 



LARD— 10c ^ lb; 

 SUGAR— S?i@10X@n^B); 

 COFFEE— lecfnlSc \>! lb; 

 MOLASSES— l5@G0c ^ gal; 

 SALT— $1 75^ sack; 

 SALT— f!2 10 % bbl; 

 MACKEREL— 12@a3 No 1; 

 CODFISH— ?C \i 100; 

 APPLES— Dried, |1 ."iO^bu; 

 WOOD— f 2 50(g,8^cord; 

 COAL— 9c fJ bu; 

 WHISKY— '21 @25c ^ gal; 

 VINEGAR— 10c ^ gal; 

 BROOMS— fl 75@2 bO^Aot; 

 BUTTER— 12@.1()C ^ lb; 

 HIDES— Dry, best, 10@,12X; 

 HIDES— Green, bC^dhc; 

 APPLES— Green, 4(t(§>50c; 

 FEATHEPvS— 35Q>40c ^ B); 



[Special Dispatch to the Illinois State Journal.] 

 ST. LOUIS MARKET— Oct. 6. p.m. 

 Flour — Mt. Venionf2 75; country spring extra $5 10; coun- 

 try double extra $6 25. 



Wheat — Common and fair spring 90®95; club |1; fall Jl 

 ®1 05; wliite $1 20®1 22. 

 Corn — Mixed 4S>^; mixed and mixed white 50. 

 Oats— 33(S33^. 



[By Telegraph ] 

 KEW YORK MARKET— Oct. 



6. 



Flour market a shade better ; sjiles of 16,000 bbls. at 

 5 2j@5 30 super stale ; 5 42X@>5 60 extra do ; o 25(^5 SO su- 

 per western ; 6 45(y,5 05 com. to medium extra do ; 5 70@ 

 5 75 inferior to good sliipping brands, extra R U O. Canada 

 more active; sales 1,400 bbls 5 COg," 50. Extra rye 

 steady at J:i 50@,4 49. Wheat -market a)>out 1(5; 2 cents 

 belter, with fair export demand ; sjiles 12<.t,000 bus 1 IS good 

 Chicago spring; 1 24(g>l 25 for Mil blub; 1 SlM&'i- 32 for 

 winter red west; nearly all at latter prices, and 1 8S®.1 40 

 for white Ohio, Indiana, <Sci. Rye steady 79@.S0. Barley 

 firm; sales of 13,000 bus of Canada at &2fg;S7c, Corn 

 market without any material change; sales of 65,000 bus at 

 7uc for mixed western afloat and sO>s ^71c in store. Oats dull 

 at 86@36c for western, Canadian and State. Pork dull and 

 heavy ; sales 575 bbls at $1S 87 for old mess; $19 20 for new 

 mess; $13 25 old prime; $14 5ti(g,14 75 new prime. Beef 

 dull ; sales 200 bbls. Cut meats duU. 



[By Telegraph.] ". ' " 



CHICAGO MARKET— Oct. 5. 



Flour quiet. The wheal market firmer to-day and J^®lc 

 hlglier on No, 2 spring; sales 2,S00 bu new club at 90c; 4,500 

 bu at 90>;c; 14,000 bu No. 1 spring at Sic; 8,1 00 bu do at SSJ^c; 

 2,000 bu (lo at sSc: 1,000 hu No. 2 do at ti7c; 8,000 bu do at 

 SGJi'c; 8,000 bu do at SGJuc; 15,000 bu do at bOc; 6,500 bu re- 

 jected at 79c. 



Corn advanced Ic. 7,000 bu No. 1 in stcre on private 

 terms; S.OOO bu No. 2 at 41c; 4,SO0 bu do fresh receipts at 42c; 

 7 cars r^ected at 35^0 in store. 



NEW YORK CATTLE MARKET— Sept. 26. 



A. M. Allerton& Co., proprietors of the Washington Drove 

 Yards, Forty -fourth street, report tlie cattle in market from 

 the following States : 



New York, 620; Pennsjlvania, 30; Ohio, 902; Indiana, 223; 

 Ulinois, 1,904; Kentucky, 144; Connecticut, 15; Missouri, 84; 

 Michigan, 163; Canada, -40. 



The supply of bullocks suitable for first class retail butchers 

 was light this week, and consequently were sold at as good 

 rates as last week, according to quality, and some of them at 

 10c net a pound, but the numlier at that was quite small. 

 There was a good many sold at 9jitc, but no drove averaged 

 that, though some are reported over 9c. If that quality had 

 been plenty, there would have been no difficulty in finding 

 buyers at 9J<jr@10c. The me,diura class was quite jdenty at 

 8@8><rc, but the value of this class was mucii effected by the 

 superabundance of scallawags. Tlie market is glutted with 

 little, tliin steers, iieilers, dry cows, and poor oxen, and al- 

 though we must leduce quotations below 6c, we have no doubt 

 that many were sold at prices that would not net 5 cents. If 

 this continues to be forced upon the market, as w^e fear it will 

 be, we shall see sales made at lower rates than have beea 

 heai d of in some years. 



BEEF cattle. 



Number reported for tlii s market at 44th street 4,1S5 



The prices to-day are quoted as follows : 



Rrst quality 3>.; feO I Ordinary 5 <36 



Medium 7 ^S [ Some extra good 9>i^l0 



The general average of tho market at '!}cc. 



The most of the sales range from Oc to 8^c. 



Prices \> head and %> lb. of different weights, will be found 

 in accouiils of sales of sundry droves. 



Total number of beeves received in this city this week..5,476 



Tliis is 45 head more tliau last week, and 1,528 head more 

 than the average of last ye<r. The average number at each 

 Wednesday market last year was 2,979 head, while the num- 

 ber to-day being4,lS5, shows 1,2(J6 head more than the aver- 

 age, and 165 head less than this day week. 



The following droves are in market this week from Illinois : 

 R. Allison 35, Alexander &. Fitch 97, J. T. Alexander 20, 

 Stiles & Dawson 116, Wallace & Co. 21, Jerry Church 91: 

 Alexander Mann 65, John Smith 84,. llariug & Miller 69; 

 Beach & Brav 40, G. W. Malian 75, L. Shawl 60, W. Kings- 

 c<^t -21, P. XlcCarty 00, Z. C. 00, J. H. Williams 98, Ed. Wil- 

 liams 67, Geo. W. Maitin 127, C. W. Conger 70, Joel Dalby 

 123_, II. AVestheittier 35, M. Kirchway 91, Ben. Wesiheimer 72, 

 Beach & lirny 54, J. 11. A\ iiliams 36. 



