The Illinois Farmer. 



VOL. vr. 



SPRINGFIELD, JUNE 1861. 



XO. 6. 



June. 



June, bright rosy June, has been often 

 eulogized for its wealth of flowers, while to 

 the farmer it occupies an importannt place 

 in the rolling year. The corn crop now re- 

 quires the most thorough attention. It is 

 also the month to ensure a good crop of po- 

 tatoes and of vegetables. The small grains 

 with but few exceptions require little atten- 

 tion this month. June is the great weed 

 killing month, and to this end must our en- 

 ergies be mainly devoted ; weeds must be 

 exterminated in the field, in the garden and 

 I in the yard, for on the faithful performance 

 of this duty will to a great extent depend 

 the value of your crop. We usually make 

 some headway in May, but the lateness of 

 the season this year will throw most of this 

 work into June. Last year we commenced 

 to work our nursery rows the 25th of April, 

 and all through Maya vigorous onslaught was 

 made, and by the middle of May the corn 

 was ready for the plow, but this year we are 

 twenty days behind. It is now the seventh 

 day of the month, and we know of no ex- 

 tensive planting • in fact, but few of our 

 farmers have planted an acre. Some of them 

 are ready, but the ground is so cold and wet 

 that they are waiting for more favorable 

 weather. The breadth of spring wheat, oats 

 and barley has been much curtailed by the 

 untoward weather, and the corn crop will 

 share the same fate ; in fact, a large amount 

 of land must lie over for winter wheat ; thus 

 we are compelled, whether we will or not, to 

 have a rotation of crops. Perhaps this is all 

 well enough, for thousands of harvest hands 

 are drawn off to the war, some for regular 

 soldiers, some to assist in the minor parts of 



the great national drama now being enacted. 

 We can therefore but repeat the advice of 

 last month : to economize labor and to 

 thoroughly work the fields, for all that we 

 can grow will be needed. We cannot ex- 

 pect the large returns and the abundance of 

 fine weather of last season repeated this, but 

 we may reasonably expect better prices for 

 many of our products, especially all kinds of 

 meat must advance in price, and so of the 

 great staples, for large armies must have an 

 abundance of substantial food - Heavy taxes 

 will follow, and we must be prepared to meet 

 them. It is not our province to discuss the 

 merits of the war, but it is our duty to look 

 at the effect that it will have on the industry 

 of the farmer. We are in no danger of be- 

 ing overrun by the enemy, our fields will be 

 safe from hostile tread ; we can, therefore, 

 while giving our main energies to the use- 

 ful, still keep an eye out for the beautiful 

 — shade trees and flowers should not be for- 

 gotten, they do much to smooth down the 

 rough, uneven paths of life, and make our 

 ways more pleasant. Give them room and 

 culture. 



When you pass by the school house stand- 

 ing out on the sun-lit prairie, just consider 

 how much more pleasant it would be to have 

 a few shade trees ; set about it, inside of a 

 nice fence enclosing an acre for playground. 

 Now is a good time to place the ground in 

 readiness for the setting time ; keep them 

 cultivated two or three years and they will 

 then take care of themselves. A few May 

 cherries, a few summer apples, with a dou- 

 ble row of peaches next the fence to break 

 the wind will all be in good taste. Who 

 will set the example, and get up a patt«m 

 school house yard ? 



