1861. 



THE ILLmOIS FAEMER. 



25 



Railroads have created a new condition of things, 

 and we must conform to them ; they are valua- 

 ble institutions, not only to the country, but to 

 the farmer. Let one of them stop running for 

 three months and it would create a state of things 

 along the route truly deplorable. Some might 

 say we can do without railroads as well as we 

 did before their advent, but they will soon learn 

 that such is not the case ; we have become ac- 

 customed to their use and great value, and it 

 would take some time to unlearn these things. 



While the railroads have so largely benefitted 

 the country, the stockholders, as a general thing, 

 have sunk immense sums of money, partly, it is 

 true, from bad management, but no small amount 

 fr(im the opposition and ungenerous treatment 

 from the hands of those the most directly bene- 

 fitted. The past summer we had a valuable ani- 

 mal killed, but instead of claiming pay of the 

 company, we laid the blame to our own careless- 

 ness in not supplying a broken bar through 

 which the animal was enabled to let down the 

 others and pass on to the track; had the train 

 been thrown off the track and any one injured, 

 we should have expected to have at least borne 

 the blame for our carelessless. Thankfnl that 

 no further accident occurred, we dressed our pet 

 heifer, and determined on a raore^strict guard 

 for the future. Notwithstanding these draw- 

 backs, we would not wish the track off our farm, 

 to lose the pleasure of seeing the world's progress, 

 the passing to and fro of the herculean power 

 that is carrying the arts and civilization to the 

 furthermost parts of the world. 



AVe cannot close without urging farmers who 

 are blessed with a railroad through their farms, 

 to look well to their stock, that it does not stray 

 upon the track. 



Seeds aND Flowers. — We are in receipt of the 

 catalogue of B. K. Bliss, Springfield, Mass. 

 Mr. B. has built up a valunble reputation for his 

 seeds. The great care with which he has made 

 his selections has been the means of guarding 

 his customers from loss. Those of our lady readers 

 in want of choice flower seeds will do well to 

 send for a catalogue. His collection of bedding 

 out plants is not only large, but select. Our 

 florists will do well to consult his catalogue of 

 new and choice plants. 



The Magazine of Horticulbe. — The January 

 number of the volume twenty seven is on our 

 table, and, as usual, filled with valuable an J in- 

 terestirg matter to the fruit grower and the 

 florist. Address Hovey & Co., Boston, Mass. 



Whitewashing the Stems of Fkuit Trees — 

 Mr. Editor, can ycu not find a crrcer for a word 

 or two condemnaloT-y of the barbarous prr.ctice 

 of whitewafshiug the fiurks r:f fruit tre< s, not 

 only rendering them unsightly, but causing much 

 injury by'tTlosing the pores of the bark. It pre- 

 vails extensively in this section. — C. Delawos, 

 Pknn. 



[It is not irjurious, rather beneficial, kill- 

 ing mo s and insects, and prev,n?,s rud- 

 scorchin r in severe winters The outer b;irk 

 has lost its vitality, .■i.'id has no pores to get in- 

 jured. When the tree grows, the trunk ^we^s, 

 and the bark cracks, ttrough whitewash and 

 all, and no irju^y resu ts. As to the unsight- 

 liness of U, we have not a word to say in its fa- 

 vor.] — Gardner's Monthly. 



White WHshicg tree« in the fall or early winter 

 we look upDn as valuable in this State. The 

 spring rains work off the liae, and the bark 

 comes out clean and healthy. It reflects the 

 winter sun from the trunks and protects them 

 fro u winter killing, or scald rg of the btrk on 

 the southwest side. We would not whitewash 

 in the spring. We use a small amouht of sal 

 soda in the wash. 



Jg®"" Another month and the note of preparation 

 for the spring campaign will have ceased, and its 

 active duties will have commenced. What the 

 year will bring forth is beyond our ken, but the 

 faint prophetic tread of armed thousands is 

 wafted from the South, and thrills the Northern 

 farmer with no pleasing emotions. May our 

 good genius drive back the phanton, that it be- 

 come not a reality, armed to strike the hand of 

 labor; to take from the fireside those we love to 

 be offered up on the altar of ambition. We hope 

 that none will be called off by the trumpet's 

 blast to leave their own fields for the field of 

 strife. We are r.gaic on the high road of pros- 

 perity, and of progress, and to stop now, just 

 when we had hoped to see our homes become 

 pleasant — but it cannot be that the dark cloud 

 will break forth — we shall deem it but a lurid 

 shadow without the power to do us harm. 



Sweet Potato. — Our old friend Tenbrook, of 

 whom we have purchased our sweet potatoes for 

 seed for the last six or eight years, presents his 

 card to the readers of the Faemer, and promises 

 to sell at greatly reduced prices, by his private 

 letter, offering to contract now at five dollars the 

 barrel of three bushels. We doubt if his bins 

 will bear the demand long at these low prices, if 

 they do they must have been greatly increased. 

 His Sweet Potato Culturist is an invaluable little 

 hand book to all new beginners, and no damage 

 to the old used hands. 



