1861. 



THE ILLmOIS FAEMER. 



303 



exempt, and wby it should escape this season is 

 a mystery that we cannot solve. The bunches of 

 this grape are long and moderately 'well should- 

 ered with round and very large berries. The 

 leaf resembles the Isabel. The Doctor says it is 

 a seedling of the wild grapes from the bluflF, and 

 was produced before there was any cultivated 

 grapes brought to the neighborhood, and has 

 scouted the idea that it is any other than a seed- 

 ling of the Mississippi wild grape. It is now 

 eight years old. The wood is short joiuted, and 

 of a peculiar color, differing widely from the 

 Isabella, though, as we said before, the leaf is 

 almost identical with it. Whether it will prove 

 as valuable when sent out to other soils, i^ yet to 

 be proved. A long row of standard pears nine 

 years set, are loaded with frnit, in fact, this soil 

 and climate appear suited to the pear, and with 

 the exception of the fire blight, they appear to 

 be as productive as the apple. 



In this row are Buerre Bose, Winter Nelis, 

 Bartlett, White Doyenne, Seckel, Andrews, Ou- 

 andagua, Flemish Beauty, all free from blight, 

 and loaded with fruit. Of the Dwarf, Beurre 

 Dix, and Beurre d'Amalis, were loaded also. 

 Several varieties were badly blighted, and one 

 large tree, six inches in diameter, had been cut 

 down that day with the axe, killed to the grcund 

 ■with the blight. 



On the trellis was vines of the Delaware of 

 this season's growth, fifteen feet long, and was in 

 all respects a match for the Catawbas that are 

 growing beside them. The plants are three years 

 old layers. The climate here is not supposed to 

 be well adapted to 



THE ottkrent: 



But the Doctor's bushes are partially shaded and 

 thoroughly mulched with corn stalks each Au- 

 tumn, and have produced crops equal to any at 

 the North. The bushes are very vigorous. There 

 can be no question as ^o the valae of this kind 

 of mu'ching. By putting it on thick, the weeds 

 are kept down and the ground enriched. With 

 shade and mulching, we know the currant will 

 produce large crops in all parts of the State. 



HOMEWAED. 



At seven o'clock the whistle gava the welcome 

 sound for " Off home ! " It was the close of 

 the three weeks of active, arduous duty, during 

 the most heated term of the season : passing over 

 nearly two thousand miles of rail, devoting but 

 little time to sleep— and most of that on the cars 

 at nig fit. — we might well be excused for wishing 

 for a few days of quiet rest. 



THE TOLEDO AND QUINCT 



Railroad, commencing at Quincy, forms a part of 

 the great Through Route via Springfield, Logans- 

 port and Toledo to the East. It traverses the 

 great Corn Zone of the State, and — since the 

 completion of the bridge across the Illinois river 

 at'Meredosia — is doing an immense business. 



From the Illinois riVer to the State line it 

 passes under the name of 



THE GB.EAT WESTERN BAILROAD, 



and forms the outlet to the Stock regions of the 

 West. There is no road of its length that gathers 

 up so much stock for the Eastern market as these 

 two railroads now in connection by the 

 bridge that spans the river. When the Pacific 

 railroad shall reach the western shores of the 

 continent, this line of road will be among the 

 first to feel its stimulating effects. 



On Guard. 



At midnight, on lonely beat. 



When shadow wraps the wood and lea, 

 A vision seems my view to greet 



Of one at home that prays lor me. 



No roses bloom upon her cheek — 

 Her form Is not a lover's dream — 



But on her face, so fair and meek, 

 A host of holier beauties gleam. 



For softly shines her silverly'hair, 

 A patient smile is on her face. 



And the mild lustrous light of prayer 

 Around her shed a moon-light grace. 



She pray's for one that's far away — 

 The soldier in his holy fight — 



And begs that Heaven in hia mercy may 

 Protect her boy and bless the Kght ! 



Till, though the leagues lie far between, 

 This silent incene>e of her heart 



Steals o'er my soul with breath serene. 

 And we no longer are apart. 



So guarding thus my lonely beat, 

 By shadowy wood and haunted lea, 



That vision seems my view to greet 

 Of her at home who prays for me. 



— The flatterer must act the very reverse of 

 the physician, administering the strongest dose 

 only to the weakest patients. 



— As the moon, whether visible or invisible, 

 has power over the tides of the ocean, so the 

 face of the loved one, whether present or absent, 

 controls the tide of the soul. 



— A fop, just returned from a continental 

 tour, was asked how he liked the ruins of Pom- 

 peii. " Not very well," was the reply ? " they 

 are so dreadfully out of repair." 



