THE ILLII^q^OIS E^I^MiER. 



More Humbug— Corn Planters and Patents in 

 Gcnrral. 



We have frequently had occasion to say 

 that the farmers are the worst humbugged 

 people in the world, and we regret to say 

 it from the reasons that they pay so little 

 attention to the reading of agricultural 

 journals, which would keep them better post- 

 ed. Patent rights are one of the principle 

 things that is even ready to do duty in this 

 line. Some aspiring genius pattents an old 

 invention that the public have used for 

 years, and which the inventor never thought 

 of obtairi!ng a patent therefor. He or his 

 agents sneak around among the farmers 

 having the article in use, and exhibits his 

 patent deed procured by dint of hard swear- 

 ing, and threatens prosecution unless the 

 fee is paid. Of coutso, he is believed and 

 will let the innocent farmer oflf for ten dol- 

 lars. The farmer dare not want a law suit 

 in the United States court, and pays the 

 ten dollars, knowing that he is swindled, 

 but does not see how he can avoid it, ho 

 does not dream that this man does not prose- 

 cute the case, and the very fact that he 

 comes in this shape should belof itself a 

 sufficient warning. Let him go to the 

 manufactures and compel them to pay the 

 patent fee. An immense amount of swind- 

 ling- has been done within the past two or 

 three years, in the extension of patents 

 tind granting new ones through sheer per- 

 jury. And it ia time thut these things be 

 better understood, for under the present 

 state of things, no man is safe in purchasing 

 any patentable article whatever. We have 

 a sewing machine, said to be patented, for 

 which we paid the full price, near fifty dol- 

 lars, but now comes an extension of patents, 

 and our machine is out of the ring, and we 

 can set it aside for the next seven years, or 

 make ourself liable in damages for its use. 

 Perhaps the new corporation will be just in 

 this, to content themselves with the monopoly 

 hereafter, and not meddle with past sales, 

 they know that they hold this great labor- 

 saving interest in their hands and can wring 

 from it a princely fortune. We have wan- 

 dered from the subject which was to call at- 

 tention to the article from the Chicago Tri- 

 hune, in relation to the suit in regard to 

 Brown's corn planter. We have some new 

 facts in relation to this matter that may 

 save our farmers' from parting with their 

 money on too slight a pretence. As we 

 understand the case, neither of these parties 

 are entitled to a patent on the double-drop 

 in question. Case claiming under a re-issue 

 dated in 1858. Mr. Case's original patent 

 made no claim, as we understand, to the 

 double-drop, and of course, the re-issue can 

 be of no avail. Mr. Brown has a recent 



patent for an improvement on the double- 

 drop, performing the operation at one mo- 

 tion instead of two, as formerly. Charles 

 Finn, of Laporte, Ind., now of Patch Grove, 

 Wis., invented the double-drop in 1851, and 

 applied for a patent in 1852, and it was re- 

 jected as being old. We have seen this 

 double-drop used in a one horse planter, 

 long before Case obtained his first patent, 

 and now the farmers are modestly asked to 

 pay a fee for what had been rejected by 

 the patent office, but through some manage- 

 ment has been now obtained under a re-issue. 

 Fortunately for the farmers, Mr. Brown has 

 come to the rescue of all those who have 

 purchased his planter, not that he claims 

 this among his improvements, but has used 

 it in connection with them, as he would use 

 other well-known and long-used principles. 

 It ia a well established law that after two 

 years have elapsed, the inventor is estoped 

 from taking advantage of an invention. 

 Another fact in this 'connection, why did 

 not Mr. Case apply this double-drop princi- 

 ple in the machine made by him previous 

 to 1858 ? let him answer. We are unwill- 

 ing that either Mr. Case or Mr. Brown 

 shall hold the monopoly of a principle free 

 to all, or if due to any one, is to Mr. Finn, 

 whose application was rejected in 1852. 

 Under recent improvements in corn culture 

 which points to the drill system we look 

 upon this double-drop as of no further value, 

 and we have no doubt tihat within the next 

 two years every one of the Brown corn 

 planters will be changed to drill planters.. 

 Some may think that we are hasty in this 

 conclusion, but wo know whereof we speak. 

 It is one of those revolutions in the world's 

 progress that meet as at every turn. 

 We therefore, advise farmers not to pay out 

 money in any of these patent claims until 

 they are fully established or until they know 

 positively that they have no other recourse. 

 Hundreds of patents arc obtained through 

 sheer perjury, the parties swearing that they 

 are the inventors, we can point out numer- 

 ous instances of the kind. The owners of 

 these patents always make some blunder, 

 but they are seldom bo foolish as to go to 

 law. If we are rightly informed, there is a 

 large number of interested persons as partners 

 in prosecuting this douhlc-drop planter case, 

 not for the purpose of manufacturing the 

 machine, but of collecting from the pur- 

 chaser of these planters. And as Brown's 

 is not the only machine using this double- 

 drop, we can have some idea of their disin- 

 terested zeal in the case. 



Do not Mix your Potatoes. 



Eachi variety o? potatoes should be planted 

 separate. The habit of gjowth is so dis- 

 similar that the strong rob the weak, and 



the result is a large percentage of small 

 potatoes. Now is a good time to select the 

 soil and sort out the varieties. 



In cooking, the same rule holds good, 

 some varieties cook much sooner than others, 

 hence, it follows that even in cooking the 

 sorts should be kept separate. 



i:iJiTOK'S TABLK. 



I Just aa Uie dreamy dayi of the Indian Summer are pasalng 

 way; just when the first eyemng fires send their cbeerfni 

 bla^eup the chimney, and the chilly night air ii that out 

 fromtHeHreBide, we take our seat with our readen to greet 

 the incoming Norember, and to talk of the past. The gifts of 

 summer are now.all garnered that are endangered by frott, for 

 the wlitter. The plow is yet afield, and the rustling of the 

 corn leaves is the only music that comes up from the russet 

 fi^ds, yet rich in their golden garniture of the teeming year. 

 Another number of the Farhek, and our task for the year Is 

 done, — not all done, for the January number must be in read- 

 iness for the incoming year. 1 he circle of readers who start- 

 ed with us at the beginning of the year, hare been largely 

 augmented, and we now have a small army, much larger, we 

 think, than several of the candidates for the high ofiice of 

 President of the United States will have voters in the State 

 at the November election. Well, this is all right; It has nerv- 

 ed our arm for labor, and we have felt that our labor Is not 

 in vain. Should we continue to have cliarge of the FikKMSB, 

 we shall hope to begin the year with double the number of 

 readers that we now have. This can i» easily done; for. In 

 sending in the new subecriptioB have one of your neighbors 

 join you, and so get the two copies for the one dollar and fifty 

 cents, a pretty good premium for a trifling exertion; add two 

 more, and the three dollars can be easily remitted. The 

 Farmer should begin the year with twenty thousand subscri- 

 bers, but we will be content with a less number, to commence 

 with, hoping to make this figure l)efore the year is out. 



Waukeeoan Ncbsebt. — This old Nursery has been long 

 known in the Lake counties, and now Mr. Douglas baa the 

 ambition to make the acquaintance of our readers, which we 

 trust will be of long continuance. Mr. D.'s trees are well 

 grown, as he is a careful cultivator. We think persons or- 

 dering trees and plants of this establishment, will be well 

 pleased with their purchases. 



Sbed Cob5.— Too Wilk attention is paid to the saving of 

 seed corn, consequently, every spring are complaints of poor 

 seed corn. Com put up in large crilw is not to be depended 

 upon for seed. Unless you have a narrow, well ventilated 



crib, it is better to Kang it up in some dry place, out of the 

 reach of mice and rats. Now is the time to look after this lit- 

 tle matter, before the cold rains set in to damage the com. 



Iron Amalqam Bells. — Our two hundred pound Iron 

 bell continues to give entire satisfaction, and we can safely 

 recommend them to our farmers as valuable labor-saving in. 

 stitutions, as by them you 'can send amessage to the most 

 distant part of thejarm^with telegraphic speed. 



ACTUMN Plowiko. — Are you doing all yon can In the way 

 of Fall plowing ? If not, will you not consider its advantages, 

 and act at once. Jack Frost may step in some night and cut 

 short your chance in this direction. 



Sewing ALiCHiKES. — This great invention contlnuetto at- 

 tract almost as much attention as at first, and the sales contin- 

 ue to be large as ever. No family can afford to do without 

 one of them. Both the W'heeler k Wilson, and the Qrovcr k 

 Baker are excellent machines, and cannot faU to please. -~ 

 The toiling house-wife should no longer toil on In the still 

 watches of the night, to keep the garments of the household In 

 order, but should have one of these great labor -saving ma- 

 ch^es, by which labor is saved and the work done better than 



by hand. Why not the wife aa much entitled to tliis, aa the 



husband to the labor— saving reaper ? The price is now much 



reduced, and there is now no excuse not to make a birth day 

 or Thanksgiving present of one of these. You will feel all the 

 better when the deed is done. ... 



Pbimcb k Co.'B luPROVKD Mblodko«b.— Now Is the time to 

 consider the propriety of making your son a present of one of 

 these superior instrnments. The long evenings are at hand, 

 when a little music in the household will not come amiss. I^ 



you do not want your boys to go to the village store, or may 

 be worse, the village grocery, see to it that you provide some 

 amusement for tftem at home. The hundred dollars Invested 

 in one of these superb Melodeons, will be more profitable than 

 ten dollars spent at the village grog-shon, or a hundred eve- 

 nings at the county store. Consider this, ye careful fathers, 

 before it is too late. 



WooDBUBK NaasBRT. — Tree planters In the weatera part 

 of the State will do well to send their orders to this Nursery, 

 where they will find a well grown and well selected stock of 

 fruit trees. 



Cook's Evaporator. — We have seen numerous specimens r' 

 syrup made in these very excellent Evaporators, which have 

 acquired so much popularity the past season. 



