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1863 



THE ILLmOIS FAEMEE. 



Tree and Shrub Seeds.— We are in receipt of 

 Mecliam's list of tree seeds. . Nursurymen and 

 others wanting tree and shrub seed, sliould address 

 Thomas Mechara, Germantown, Pa. 



Farmers' Advocate. — This journal, witii the in- 

 coming year, resumed its place among the week- 

 lies of the day. We always hail returning pros- 

 perity with pleasure, especially among the craft 

 agricultural. Mr. Bonham has re entered the field 

 with new assistants and in one respect at least out 

 of the usual line — a lady editor — not that lady ed- 

 itors are a new commodity, but at least a new 

 feature in conducting an agricultural journal. — 

 Miss Murtfeldt, the lady in question, has for some 

 years contributed to our agrecultural journals, 

 among them The Illinois Farmer. She is a pleasing 

 and vigorous writer, and having been educated on 

 a farm, is well posted in the details of her duties. 

 That she v,'ill wield a more practical pen than 

 many of our would be agricultural writers there 

 can be no doubt. Inbucd with a deep love for 

 rural pursuits, and with a mind capable of taking 

 in its vast and responsible duties, we see no rea- 

 son why she should not be cordially welcomed to 

 the difficult and laborious position that she has 

 assumed. 



*^ 



Tobacco Seed.— J. M. Hunter, of Ashley, 111., 

 has sent us a pocket of "Trush Bud" tobacco seed, 

 ten acres of which he intends to plant the coming 

 season in addition to ten acres of cotton. 



To grow tobacco plants it is necessary to burn 

 a brush heap on the seed bed the last of this month 

 or early next, according to the season, so as to have 

 the plants earl}-. We are promised some practical 

 articles on the culture and curing of tobacco in this 

 State, from an old tobacco grower. 



We intend to try the plants by first sowing in 

 the green house and then pricking out into cold 

 frames. We can see no reason why this plan may 

 not prove as good if not better than the old mode. 

 Should it do so, there will be no risk of a stand 

 early in the season. 



-«»»- 



"Editor Illinois Farmer : — I wish to ask 

 your advice relative to planting a vineyard on 

 prairie soil. My site is high and dry with, a South- 

 ern aspect. Can I plant with a hope of success ? 

 If the soil is not suitable naturally, what manure 

 should be used, and would trench plowing be ad- 

 visable. 



Please answer by letter, or if you think the in- 

 quiry a practical one, you can publish it. If so, 

 you will do me the favor to mail me the No. of the 

 Farmer containing it. J C " 



The first questions are answered in the October 



and January numbers. Barnyard manure is the 

 best, but we do not apprehend it will be required. 

 Of the culture of grapes we shall have more to say. 

 We have no extra numbers of the Farmer here ; 

 all such applications must be made to tr.o publish- 

 ers, at Springfield. Our business is to write for 

 the benefit of subscribers, not for those who can- 

 not aiford to pay for even an extra number. The 

 man who would start a vineyard depending upon 

 the gratuitous instruction of agricultural editors, 

 will come to grief, and wc therefore advise our cor- 

 respondent to obtain a copy of Bright or Phinn on 

 the grape, and to sub.scribe for The Illinois Farm- 

 er. In so doing he will put money in his pocket 

 and sleep all the better o'nights. 



" to r 



The Wiscuksin Chief. — This valuable and 

 staunch temperance journal is agn.in on our table 

 fresh and spicy as of old. We notice that our 

 friend B., has not been idle in the meantime, but 

 has improved the iutcrum from editorial duties in 

 horticulture. The Chief \s again on our exchange 

 list. Address Fort Atkinson, Wis. $1,00. 



New Okfer. — The publishers desire us to saj' 

 that to tliose v/ho make up clubs of twenty they 

 will send an extra copy. They also want a gener- 

 al travelling agent to extend the circulation of the 

 Farmer. To such a person they will give great 

 inducements. They intend to have a club often or 

 twenty at every post office in the South half of the 

 State, and to this end they would call the atten- 

 tion of all postmasters to their terms. You need 

 not make up all of a club at once, but can send 

 on as you get the subscribers. A large share of the 

 postmasters have the franking privilege wlien they 

 undertake the business for themselves, and can . 

 thus increase the business at their office and bene- 

 fit the the cause of agriculture. Will not our 

 friends make a pull altogether and double the cir- 

 culation of the Farmer within the next thirty 

 days? 



The Weather. — The month of January, up to 

 this writing (21st) has been of the mild and muddy 

 kind. The roads are in the worst possible condi- 

 tion. Sixteen above zero is the lowest point thus 

 far at this place. 



Agents Wanted. — Agents are wanted in every 

 school district in the State to obtain subscribers 

 for the Illinois Farmer. 



We also want one or two traveling agents to 

 canvass the State, to whom first rate inducements 

 will be given. It is our intention to largely in- 

 crease the circulation of the paper, especially in 

 the Central and South part of the State. It is 

 edited by one of the best agricultural writers of 



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