314 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMEH. 



Oct* 



The Illinois Farmer. 



BAILHACHE & BAKER PUBLISHEES. 



31. L. DUNLAP, EDITOR. 



SPllINGFIELD, OCTOBER, 1861. 



Editor's Table. 



The space occupied with the uncflScial look 

 with the Fabm Committee, in this and the two 

 preceding numbers, we hope will well repay pe- 

 rusal. They contain many valuable facts, hints 

 and suggestions, that will prove important for a 

 long time. t is a pretty f-iir reflex of the con- 

 dition of agriculture and fruit-growing through- 

 out the State. The awards will be given at an 

 early day — possibly in this number. The most 

 of the copy for this number was prepared in Au- 

 gust, so as to peimit the editor to attend the 

 State Fair, notes of which will be sent direct from 

 the grounds, to fill up the number. 



TuP r)RE.ss YOUR Meadows. — If you want a 

 good heavy crop of hay next season, go at it at 

 once, and top dress your meadows. Use well 

 rotted manure, if you have it, if not, take the 

 best you have, if it is nothing but straw. Mr. 

 Minkler has found muck from the pond equally 

 valuable with the best of manure for top dress- 

 ing of his clover meadows, and no doubt it will 

 prove valuable on the timothy as well. Mr. Peck, 

 of AVinetka, composts his muck with manure for 

 his lawn, with good results. We would like to 

 see it tried directly, on account of the great 

 saving of labor. We have faith in it. 



Peach Trees. — In a private letter, Mr. Pullen 

 •writes u? that he is oifering his peach trees at 

 ten cents each, $3 per hundred, and §50 per 

 thousand. Mr. P. is one of our most reliable 

 nurserymen, and those ordering from him may 

 feel assured that he will deal justly with them. 



The Long Wools, vs. the Short Fine 

 Wools. — We would call especial attention to 

 the article on this subject, on page 245, as con- 

 taicing much of value to the Western wool-grow- 

 er. We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Caird, 

 when on his visit to the West, a few years siace, 

 and found him a straight forward, practical man. 

 The Country Gentleman, from which we copied 

 the report, as will be seen, freely endorses the 

 same view. 



A Mule with a Colt. — The San Jose Mercury 

 says : A mule passed through this city on Sun- 

 day morning last, with a foal by Ler bide, which 

 from unquestionable evidence, is the actual, legit- 

 imate, Lona fide progeny of said mule. She was 

 in company with a drove of catt'e from the lower 

 country, belonging to Major Hentley. One or 

 two instances of the kind are on record, but they 

 are very rare. Henry Clay, we believe, owned a 

 mule that brought forth a colt. Another case oc- 

 curred in Texas, some years ago. 



Simeon Fi ancis, the father of the State Journal, 

 of this city, has been appointed Paymaster in 

 the United States Army, vice Smith, dismisbed, 

 Pacific Coast. The President has not forgotten 

 the editorial corps, and may they never be for- 

 gotten. — Ex. 



Our readers will be pleased to hear of the good 

 fortune of the Ex-Editor of the Illinois Farmer. 

 For the past year he has been engaged in editing 

 the Oregon Farmer. We hope he will have a 

 good time, as all agricu'tural editors ought to be 

 blessed with. 



Silver Leap Maple Seedling. — The entire 

 crop of the seed of this tree was destroyed by 

 frost, in May last. So says a letter from an es- 

 teemed correspondent. Mr. Pullen, of New Jer- 

 sey, will have a few thousand small sized, two- 

 year old trees for sale this fall. Those intending 

 to plant, will secure them without delay. 



New Rochelle Blackberry — To have this 

 berry in perfection, it must be left on the bush 

 until it is fully rounded, intensely black, and 

 drops from the stalk by a touch ; it will then be 

 sweet and juicy. If taken earlier, even when 

 black, the berries will be hard and sour. The 

 Homestead says, that unlike common blackber- 

 ries, which are red when they are green, these 

 continue green after they become black. 



Berry Trade. — Roberts & Leland shipped, 

 last week, eighty bushels of berries, principally 

 whortleberries. — Green Lake ( Wis.) Spectator. 



