1861. 



THE ILLmOIS FAEMEK. 



181 



along of the driver, to the shoulder arms of the 

 infantry, or the graceful riding of the armed cav- 

 alry — a peaceful home embowered amid waving 

 leaves and flowering vines to a camp full of the 

 pomp and circumstance of glorious war. 



Scotch Htbrid Rhubarb. — As this variety has 

 been largely disseminated we again take occasion 

 to say that we consider it of little value compared 

 to Myott's Victoria or Linnasus. We have used 

 none of the Scotch as yet, as it is too small, 

 while stalks of the Victoria are two feet long in 

 rows along side. We would like to sell our stock 

 of this variety, at the cost of digging and ship- 

 ping to some one who appreciates it. Its friends 

 say it will not run to seed ; in this they commit 

 a small error, as we have demonstrated. 



-•••- 



For the War. — In our last we intimated that 

 there was a prospect of having to attend to our 

 work nearly alone ; but the " Rifles, " to which 

 the members of our family are attached, have not 

 yet been accepted, but are still held subject to 

 any call. 



Frost of Mat 1st. — The frost was severe, 

 freezing ice nearly or quite half an inch thick ; 

 the wind was from the northwest, with a dry at- 

 mosphere, consequently the damage was much 

 less than it would otherwise be. Apricots were 

 then set, and are badly thinned out. All other 

 fruits appear to have escaped with impunity. 



Peoria Plows. — We have one of Toby & And- 

 erson's Premium No. 6 plows, for old land. It 

 is a most excellent plow, runs light, pulverizes 

 the soil and covers the stubble to perfection. The 

 land side arrangement is decidedly valuable, the 

 handle in which the beam is framed being cut 

 out just below, and a bent iron substituted, ren- 

 dering clogging out of the question. To say that 

 we have no better stubble plow on the farm is 

 saying a great deal, when we inform the reader 

 that we have both the " Moline " and " Grand 

 Detour.,' We have seen a large number of these 

 plows on sale, and must say that the quality and 

 workmanship of the wooding is very superior. 

 The Peoria plows have long been an institution 

 on the Military Reserve, and of late have spread 

 over a wide district, just about the size of the 

 Northwest and adjacent country, California in- 

 cluded. The only suggestion that we have to 

 make is that they should entirely ignore the use 

 of any but cast steel in their mold boards, com- 



mon Pittsburg steel was well enough in its day, 

 but that day is post, and it is now the day of cast 

 steel. 



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Land Draining : By J. H. Klippart. This is 

 a work of near five hundred j ages, containing 

 one hundred illustrations, and published by Rob- 

 ert Clark & Co,, No. 55 West Fourth street, Cin- 

 cinnati, Ohio. We have given this work a pretty 

 thorough perusal, and must say that we are high- 

 ly pleased with it. We can confidently recom- 

 mend it to our farmers, garden and nurserymen, 

 to whom it cannot fail of proving valuable. The 

 work is eminently practical, and we"l adapted to 

 the soils of the West. Tile makers will find full 

 directions in regard to tile making, which will 

 be of use to them under almost any circumstances. 

 No nurseryman, gardener or farmer can afford to 

 do without the work ; certainly no man having 

 unimproved land worth twenty dollars an acre 

 should attempt its improvement without its aid. 

 The price is $1 25 by mail. Messrs. Clark & Co. 

 have all the valuable agricultural and horticultu- 

 ral works for sale at rersonable rates. A price 

 list will be sent on application. 



A New Motive Power. — A subscriber writes 

 us that he is engaged in getting up a perpetual 

 motion, that will not only run itself, but propel 

 a lathe, fanning mill, paint mill, pump or similar 

 work, and wishes to know if it will prove a pay- 

 ing institution. Most certainly it will, so soon 

 as you get the running gear all right. It will be 

 a nice thing to rock the baby, more especially 

 twins, on account of the balance. Go ahead, Mr. 

 Subscriber, you are on the road to wealth and 

 fame. The thing will be in demand by the mil- 

 lion. Our coal mines are nearly exhausted, and 

 steam is growing old ; in fact, some of the engine 

 that pass our door draw awful consumptive 

 breaths, and others puff and pant with old age. 

 Your invention is just in time to save the world's 

 progress, and give it another impulse from the 

 fire of genius. 



Last Wednesdat night, May 1st, our vicinity 

 was visited with one of the most severe frosts of 

 the season. Ice was formed in many places half 

 an inch in thickness. At the time, all the fruit 

 trees were in full bloom, yet strange to say, not 

 injured a particle. It is attributable to the fact 

 that the dry and windy weather had exhausted 

 all the damp and moisture, and consequently 

 were not injured. We hope this is the case all 

 around. — Gazette, Champaign. 



