186 



THE ILLmOIS FAKMEE. 



JuilE 



the growth is to that extent arrested. Some 

 plants will grow with what they receive from the 

 sir alone, but they are much more vigorous when 

 having their roots in soil, permeable to its influ- 

 ence. The S. Telephicvm, common (Epine, or per- 

 haps befer known as Live-Forever is a notable 

 example. 



Lands underdrained seldom bake when plowed, 

 eVvU af(cr a heavy rain, nor are they damaged 

 by drouth. I have seen a crop of corn grown 

 without a drop of rain from the time of planting 

 nntil it was thoroughly made. 



Should this meet your approval I will write 

 again and show you the cheapness and value of 

 mole draining. 



Yours, 



PlONEEK. 



— Let us hear from you. We like tho way you 

 talk. Your statement about making a crop of 

 corn without rain will stagger outsiders, but we 

 will vouch for the fact, and say to tho-'e not fa- 

 miliar with tho west, that we have very heavy 

 dews which are like a small shower, and »f the 

 soil is fine and kept stirred the crop will not 

 fail ; but only those who thoroughly cultivate can 

 grow corn without rain, and then only on soil un- 

 derdrained or in a very favorable condition, when 

 by a combination of dew and capillary attraction 

 the requisite amount of moisture is supplied. — 

 Without rain the failure would be general, the 

 exception partial on lands naturally or artificially 

 underdra'ncd and with high culture. As our 

 friend " Pioneer" has been extensively engaged 

 in mole draining we may look for an able advo 

 cacy of its claims. One thing he has proved, 

 that it has maintained its integrity for eleven 

 years in the clay loam of Centrallllinois, making 

 it certainly as valuable as wood drains, while it 

 is not half as expensive. We want all the pos- 

 sible facts in practical draining, whether of 

 mole or tile. Ed. 



Crops In Illinois. 



Abstract of Reports from variants Counties in the State 

 an the condition of the leading growing Crops, and oth- 

 er subjects of general interest for April 186 i. 



Booms of Illinois State AGEicuLTunAL SooiETr, ) 

 tPRiNGFiELD, May 7, 1861. j 



CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 



J. P. Johnson, Champaign, Reporter. 



Fall Wheat — Not much sown, but looking remarkably well. 

 Spring Wheat — The earlier sown looking very well ; later 

 sown, indifferently. 

 Fruit— Heavy bloom of all kinds ; not injured. 

 Wheat in the hands of producers — no surplus. 

 Com in the hands of producers — 400,000 bushels. 



WOODFORD CODNTT. 

 I. J. Mabsh, Metamora, Reporter. 



Fall Wheat — 2,000 acres sown; generally in good condition. 



Spring Wheat — 17,000 acres sown; looking well. 



Corn In the hands of producers — l,500,0ii0 bushels. 



Farmers are still sowing wheat, bub too wet. 

 MACON COUNTY. 

 J. H. PicKRELL, Deo&tur, Reporter. 



There will not be so much wheat or corn sown or planted 

 as was estimated last month, the season being wet and unfa- 

 vorable. No corn or wheat being shipped, or passing out of 

 producer's hands. 



Fruit — The prospect for all varieties is good, even of peach- 

 es, which were thought to be killed . 



ADAMS COUNTY. 

 Frkdebice Botd, Qulncy, Reporter. 

 Pall Wheat — 20,000 acres sown ; very promising. 

 Spring Wheat — 10,000 acres sown ; very promising. 

 Corn — 100,000 acres, probably, being planted. 

 Frul' — The prospect could not be better. 

 W heat in the hands of producers — no surplus. 

 Com in the hands of th^ producers, l,500,00(it bushels. 

 Insects — The chinch bug is reported to have made its ap- 

 pearance :n the east part of the county. 



Total area of the county, 508,040 acres ; tillable area, 420, • 

 000 acres; area actually tilled, 200,000 acres. 

 KDGAR COUNTY. 



Dr. Wm. Kilb, Paris, Reporter. 



Up to April 17, scarcely any spring grain had been sovn, 

 owing to the wet season. 



Fall Wheat — Still looking well and un'njured. 



Fruit — A freeze on the ICth and 17th of April, has injured 

 the crop in all probability, otherwise very fine. 



But little grain has passed out of producers hands since last 

 month. 



Insects— Some pieces of early sown fall wheat have been 

 sli(:htly injured by the fly. 



The war fever is interru; ting somewhat all kinds of business. 



PUTNAM COUNTY. 



W. DuBLET, Hennepin, Reporter. 

 Fall Wheat — Little sown ; looks well. 

 Spring Wheat — The sowing is being much retarded by fre- 

 quent heavy rains. 

 Wheat in producers' hands — One half of last year's crop. 

 Corn " " — Three fourths of the surplus of 



last year's heavy crop ; every farmer almost has it to sell. 

 Fruit — Prospect for apples good ; no peaches. 

 Potatoes — 15,000 bushels in the hands of producers. 

 MORGAN COUNTY. 

 A. Rockwell, Jacksonville, Reporter. 



Fall Wheat — Rather less sown last year than usual, but in 

 excellent condition. 



Spring Wheat — Owing to the fine appearance of fall wheat 

 not so much as usual Is being sown. 



Fruit — Prospect very fine. 



Wheat in the hands of producers — no surplus. 



Corn •' ■ " —about 2,000,000 bushels. 



SANGAMON COUNTY. 

 A. B. McCoNNELL, Springfield, Reporter. 



Fall Wheat — 12,000 acres sown, looking very fine. 



Ppring Wheat — Being sown lar-ely. 



Fruit — Prospect for al kinds never better. 



Wheat in the hands of producers — But little surplus. 



Corn in the hands of producers — 2,000,000. 



Not much grain has been shipped of late out of the coanty, 

 though large quantities are being fed to stock. 



MARION COUNTY. 



0. W. Webstkb, Salem, Reporter. 



Fall Wheat — 6,000 acres sown; could scarcely louk better. 

 Spring Wheat— Is never sown here to any ex ent. 

 Fruit — Every fruit tree old enough to bear seems to have Its 

 load; though in some localities the bloom was Injured by 

 frost. 

 Wheat In the hands of producers — No surplus. 

 Corn — No surplus. 



PERRY COUNTY. 

 H. P. OzBURN, Plnckneyville, Reporter. 



Fall Wheat — Greater breath than usual sown last fall and 

 the condition was never better at this season. 



Spring Wheat — We do not raise any. 



Fruit — The tree j, vines, and everything that bears fTnit Is 

 full of young fruit — last frost was on the 16th, but it did no 

 damage. 



No surplus of wheat or corn is on hand. 



Insects — No injury from them thus far. 



Season rather backward, having been cold and wet. 



