1862. 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. 



thitiTi3 13 c'lttiag ofiF our supply of cotton, it 

 is of the first importance that we take into con- 

 sideration the propriety of again placing it 

 among the staple products of the great prairie 

 slopes. During the present season we have lost 

 no opportunity to become conversant with the 

 history of cotton growing in our State, and of 

 the propriety of recommending its planting on a 

 larg£ scj'le. We have coree to the deliberate 

 conclusion that in all parts cf the State south of 

 40° of latitude, ihe cotton plant will flourish, 

 and is as certain of a good crop as corn and 

 wheat. Last week we made a visit to Christian 

 county to examine a cotton field of ten acres, 

 three miles from the village of Assumption, on 

 the main line of the Illinois Central Railroad. 

 This field was planted early in May, but from 

 the unskillfulness of the planting, the seed failed 

 to germinate, and it was not until the 17th day 

 of June, that the seed could be obtained to re- 

 plant it. Notwithstanding this late planting the 

 crop is a fair one, estimated at three hundred 

 pounds to the acre. The growth of the plant 

 was vigorous, and had it not been for the late 

 planting, which has allowed only one picking, 

 the crop would have come ful y up to the best 

 yield of Tennesse upland. So confident is the 

 planter of its success and resulting profit that 

 he is making arrangements to plant two thous- 

 and acres next spring, while other parties in the 

 neighborhood have engaged to plant one thous- 

 sand acres in addition, making thrpe thousand 

 acres near this section. If seed can be had in 

 time, the planting will ex' end through the neigh- 

 boring counties as far north as this county, where 

 several pBrties are. making arrangements for 

 seed to plant five to ten acres each. 



Seed trom the uplands of Tennessee will be 

 used as the best adapted to this climate, produc- 

 ing what is called a short staple upland. We 

 have samples of the cotton grown on the planta- 

 tion mentioned, which is of excellent quality. 



Arrangements are also making at Assumption 

 for the necessary buildings and machinery for 

 ginning and baling three thousand bales the 

 coming autumn. [A bale is four hundred pounds.] 

 This settlement is largely composed of Canadian 

 French, and some eighty farmers among them 

 will at once enter upon its culture, putting in an 

 an average of twelve acres each. This will not 

 interfere with their other farm crops, and at 

 the same time will give them an opportunity to 

 become familiar with the routine of its culture 

 and preparation for market. 

 An old Tennessee cotton planter has resided 



within thirty miles of Assumption during the 

 past twenty- seven years, and has grown more or 

 less cotton each year, fince he came into the 

 country ; he says that during that time he has 

 not bailed in a single crop of cotton, though he 

 has failed in both corn and wheat. He further 

 says that on the prairie the plant grows larger 

 and will i.roduce full as large a crop as Tennesec 

 upland, ihe superiority of the soil fully making 

 up for the difi'erence in climate. For (he first 

 few years he cultivated it largely, but the castor 

 bean soon superseded it, and since that lime ho 

 has only grown it for family use, and continues 

 to dres.s in home made linsey. 



The culture of cotton is almost as simple as 

 that of corn, and with our improved implements, 

 will cost little more per acre than that crop. The 

 additional labor will be thinning the plants in 

 the row, which must be done with the hand-hoe, 

 but on the prairie the necessity of repeated hoe- 

 ings, to keep down the weeds that is given to the 

 crops at the South, can be mainly dispensed with, 

 on the same ground that we dispense with it in 

 corn culture over that of the New England far- 

 mer. 



When sorghum was first Introduced it was 

 supposed that it was only adapted to the sugar 

 States, but it has proved to be best adapted to 

 the States north of the Ohio, and after seven 

 years of doubt and experiment, has taken its 

 place among the important staples of the State. 

 Thirty years of experience have proved that the 

 upland cotton of Tennesse and Arkansas is both 

 hardy and productive with us, and the only ques- 

 to consider is whether it will pay as well as other 

 farm crops. When the price of good upland 

 cotton went down to five or six cents a pound, 

 and that of castor beans was a dollar a bushel, 

 Ihc beans took tLe lead and cotton was thrown 

 out. But now, with our clipper plows, two horse 

 cultivators and iron rollers, there is no reason 

 why we cannot compete with the bar shire plow, 

 theniggerhc.es, and the unskillful labor of the 

 Southern cotten States. We believe that at eight 

 cents a pound that it will prove to be one of our 

 best paying crops. 



Efforts are being made to procure an abund- 

 ant supply of seed for the next planting, which- 

 will be advertised in due time. It will be sold at 

 cost, whatever that may be, as the gentlemen en- 

 gaged in procuring it are actuated more by pat- 

 riotic than money-making motives. Those desir- 

 ing small lots of seed can obtain them throngh 

 the station agent at Assumption. 



No person not accustomed to the growing of 



