1862. 



THE ILLmOIS FARMER 



205 



Ebapeb Trial. — As the time approaches for 

 the trial of Machines before the ExecutiTe Com- 

 mittee of the (State Agricultural Society at this 

 place, the indications for a full attendance and 

 an interesting exhibition increases. A large 

 number of entries have already been made, and 

 a considerable amount of money in the form of 

 entrance fees has been paid in. President Van 

 Epps is about to go to Springfield to make the 

 necesbary arrangements and fix upon a time for 

 the trial. It will take place in the early part of 

 harvest, and will be announced in hand-bill form 

 and through the press in due time. It is expect- 

 ed that many different varieties of machines, in. 

 eluding Sorghum crushers and evaporators, al- 

 though not in the proper season for testing, will 

 be on hand. The business of raising Sorghum 

 is one among the most* valuable branches in the 

 West. It is second only to the vast improve- 

 ments in the mode of saving the grain crop. 

 Men who are for encouraging home manufac- 

 tures, home industry and home productions, will 

 do all in their power to encourage the producaon 

 of the best reapers, mowers, graio-binde-s, corn- 

 shellers, threshing, sewing andwashingmachines, 

 sorghum crushers, &c. We look for a large at- 

 tendance of those concerned in modern improve- 

 ments as well of those who are so deeply inter- 

 ested in their use and successful operation. — 

 Dixon Telegraph. 



— We understand that the Illinois Central and 

 Dixon Air Line Railroads will carry passengers 

 at half fare, during the trial. The time of trial 

 has not yet been decided upon, but due notice 

 will be given in time. 



Curl in the Pbach Leaf, — Our attention has 

 been called to the tact that statements have been 

 published this spring, in many journals, charg- 

 ing the aphis wit^ being the cause of the eurl of 

 the peach leaf, and a correspondent, unable to 

 find evidence of an insect, although watching al- 

 most constantly during the progress of the curl 

 Is in some doubt on the subject, and thinks the 

 insect must be ^o small as to be invisible to the 

 naked eye. We have not the least idea that the 

 curl of the peach leaf is caused by any insect, 

 although Prof. Harris thought it was occasioned 

 by an aphis, and Mr. Downing agreed with this 

 opinion. 



If we have a mild spring, and the temperature 

 is tolerably even, there is but little curl, but 

 one day of cold rain or cutting wind will produce 

 cuil in every orchard. The orchards that are 

 sheltered by hills or woods, are found to be less 

 exposed to curl, and the trees on the exposed 

 side of an orchard will be more injured than 

 others. As a gitieral thing trees that are in 

 sheltered gardeussutfer very little. These points 

 seem to point to t.e e luse of the curl most em- 

 phatically. — Rural New Yorker. 



-«•»- 



A Sack of Wool is 22 stone; that is, 14 pounds 

 to the stone, 308 pounds. 



Buckwheat AS an Exterminatoe. — Buckwheat 

 when on rich ground, will kill grass effectually. 

 It must be sown as soon as the ground is plowed. 

 In such case, a few crops will even exterminate 

 quack. Buckwheat seems to be poison to other 

 plants ; and it is even known to destroy insects. 

 It does this probably by destroying the roots of 

 the grasses and herbs on which the insects feed. 

 No insect touches buckwheat on the ground. 



Prepare your soil thoroughly ; pulverize, and 

 give it the best tillage ; manure added will ben- 

 efit it, if not already fertile. Then, sown rath- 

 er plentifully, a clean soil will appear, and a 

 clean crop. If plowed under, and the second 

 crop raised, there willbeagarden without weeds, 

 the ensuing year; and the tender grains may be 

 sown with impunity so far as the insects are con- 

 cerned, especially when lime and ashes have been 

 added the year before. A little salt also (one 

 bushel to six or eight) will aid. In this way, I 

 have known the most obdurate quack soil to be 

 reclaimed, and made fertile and mellow. F. G. 

 — Valley Farmer. 



Teial of Oorn Plows. — We are informed that 

 there is to be a trial of Corn Plows on the farm 

 of the Rev. J. S. Poage, three fourths of a mile 

 southeast of town, on Tuesday of this week. 

 Mr. Phillip Coonrod, of Keiihsburg, is to be there 

 with his machine, and challenges the proprietors 

 and friends of all other plows, Drvden's, Carr's, 

 or any others, to meet him in the trial. As it is 

 a ipatter of importance to settle the question as 

 to the relative merits of the various plows being 

 offered to farmers, we doubt not the opportunity 

 will be improved. — Aledo Record. 



— A firit rate idea, and would be of much ben- 

 efit if just such a trial could be had in each 

 county in the State. The great trials of reapers 

 mowers, threshers, &c., are not witnessed by the 

 masses, because they can ill afford to pay rail- 

 road fares and hotel bills. Each county society 

 should offer a premium for reapers, mowers, cul- 

 tivators, Jt;c., and have a practical trial during 

 harvest — then the farmers could decide for them- 

 selves. The mere award of a committee will not 

 induce people to buy machines of which they 

 know nothing. Ed. 



•«>- 



Dbibd Feuts. — The prospect of an abundant 

 crop of apples and peaches, as well as the small- 

 er fruits, has rendered the market excessively 

 dull for dried fruits and berries of all kinds. The 

 probability is that from this time foiward the 

 mai^et will be overstocked, and prices drooping 

 for all deseriptions. — Chicago Com. Express. 



— The small fruits are playing the dickens 

 with dried app'es and peache . a t the present 

 rate of progress and the certainty of the small 

 fruit crops, we shall need very Utile of the dried 

 article. 



