216 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMEK. 



July 



as miscellaneous, and entered by the entry clerk 

 in the lot to which it seems most properly lo be- 

 long." 



For the life of us we can't see the point in the 

 above. We don't know why a person e^houldpay 

 a fine of twenty-five cents for adding to your 

 ehow DiOre than you call for in the premium list. 

 Will the Recording Secretary please enlighten us 

 on this point for the benefit of the country at 

 large, who may wish to keep out of the way of 

 your twenty- five cent rates. 



"All applications for entries must be made in 

 writing, stating breed, age and pedigiree of ani- 

 mals, and owners' name and post ofBce addre^s; 

 for which purpose blank applications will be fur- 

 nished, which exhibitors will procure, fill and de- 

 liver to the entry clerk, and pay ten per cent, 

 upon the amount of premiums contended lor ; 

 and can enter the same in as many lots as they 

 may choose, by paving the percentage." 



Well, we guess you will not draw a largecrowd 

 of exhibitors, under that rule. 



"Any person attempting to influence the 

 judges, shall be excluded from competition." 



That is, we suppose, offering to stand treat or 

 Tote for the judges when they next ruu for office. 



" In making awards to animals it is recom- 

 mended that the judges have no discussion, but 

 that alter a thorough exaniination, th^y proceed 

 to vote by ballot until a decision is made." 



Worse than a jury, for they have the privilege 

 of "discussing." 



" Premiums will be paid in money or plate, at 

 the option of the successful exhibitor." 



Good, you are right for once. 



The State Faik. — Our readers should not 

 forget that the State Fair will be held in Chi- 

 cago on the loth, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th of 

 September. We hope that railroad companies 

 will not only consult their own but the interest 

 of all interested by selling half fare tickets com- 

 mencing as early as the 3d and good to the 17th. 

 Men will put off their business to the city to ot)- 

 tain the half fare, and by giving more time they 

 can make their purchases and have time to at- 

 tend the Fair ; otherwise they will visit the c ty, 

 do their business in the pressure of business and 

 return without going to the grounds only to get 

 their tickets stamped. No return tickets should 

 be stamped be'bre the morning of the 11th ; this 

 will protect the railroads, for what matters it to 

 them if the person goes one or [six days before 

 the Fair to the city. We have watched the effect 

 of this, and know that it is to the interest of the ' 



roads to give more time. We speak only of our 

 Illinois roads, for of its effect on the Eastern 

 roads we suspect the reverse would be the case 

 except for perhaps a hundred miles or so. The 

 shortsighted policy pursued by the G. W. R. R. 

 last year in crowding the business into a single 

 week, will not soon be forgotten, and other roads 

 should now profit by the lesson. 



Agricultuhal Papers and the War. — The 

 war is having a serious effect on the whole class 

 of newspapers, and more especially those of a 

 literary and scientific character. The sensation 

 papers of the New York Ledger stamp are wiped 

 out, much to the benefit of tLe rising generation. 

 But the pressure begins to bear on the agricultu- 

 ral press also, and complaints, though not loud, 

 are significant. This week the Homestead, one of 

 the best of our exchanges, comes to us the last 

 time as a weekly, and henceforth it will be a 

 monthly at $1 a yeir. We regret this, not so 

 much for this change as the cause leading to it, 

 which will more or less depress every agricultu 

 ral journal in the United States. Those of the 

 South must suspend, while thosi of the North 

 must live the best they may during the war. — 

 Should the rebellion continue, their circulation, 

 after the first of January, when subscriptions are 

 to be renewed, will be seriously lessened. Some 

 of our cotemporaries are spicing up their sheets 

 with war items, but in this we think they will 

 make a grand mistake; people w int all the war 

 news, and the blanket weeklies from the cities 

 willsupply this at a cheaper rate. We shallmake 

 no change in the conduct of the Fabmeb, and while 

 our armies are crushing out treason it shall be 

 our aim to simplify culture and elevate the West- 

 ern farmer. We trust that none of our readers 

 will leave us. We want them to keep posted on 

 the progress of the war ; at the same time they 

 should not forget that they have a duty to per- 

 form In the careful culture of their farms, and as 

 we take a seat at their fireside but once a month 

 we hope that our meetings will not only continue 

 to prove profitable, but cordial. 



Pebsonal and Apologetic. — The delay of 

 this number is the fault of the editor, or rather 

 the fault of allowing his right thumb to come 

 between two ponderable bodies, the one at rest 

 end the other in motion — result : a badly mashed 

 up member, of no value for a time to guide the 

 pen, and even now with difficulty. 



