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The Iimois 



VOL. VIII. 



SPRINGFIELD, ILL., MARCH, 1863. 



NO. 8. 



DEVOTED TO THE - " ' 



FARM, THE ORCHARD A!<T THE GARDEX, 



PUBLISHED BY ' 



B AILH ACHE & BAKER, 



SPRINGPIELD, - - - - , - ILLINOIS. 

 ]yE. L. TyjINTLiAJP, Editor. 



Ail business letters slioulJ be addressed to the 

 publishers. 



^^©^ExCHAX€fES and all matters pertaining to the 

 editorial department, must be directed to Illinois 

 Farmer, Champaign, 111., as the editor resides at 

 that point;, ^nd is seldom at the office of publication, 

 from which he is distant over eighty miles. 



%* For terms see prospectus and special notices in 

 advertising department. 



March. 



The fermer is fairly afield tliis month ; 

 fences are being looked after, old ones 

 repaired and new ones built. The 

 spring wheat must be sown this month. 

 The best rule is to sow as soon after 

 the fii'st of the month as the ground 

 will permit. Do not be afraid of the 

 mud, as the subsequent frosts will make 

 the soil friable. Clover and other srass 

 seed should be sown now. 



As the sugar and sj-rup crop is to be 

 one of large importance, select dry 

 ground for it, and be ready to plant 

 early. Imphee is the best for sugar 

 and the molasses from it can be sent to 

 the city and refined, but for syrup alone, 

 the sorghum is the best. This is ac- 



cording to our present experience. 



We think there is no risk in making 

 sugar from the Imphee. We look upon 

 the Atahelt^ and Com-see-a-na, as iden- 

 tical. J. H. Smith of Quiney has the 

 latter, and several parties at Eushville, 

 111., the former. We have before given 

 the mode of planting, and shall give 

 instruction in regard to sugar making 

 from the most skillful in that line. 



Should the soil be in condition, ma- 

 nures should be hauled out this month. 



The last of this month the cuttings 

 of white willow should be put out, £S 

 the willow is among the first trees to 

 put out leaves. ^ ' " '■ •^'''•T'v*!2f ">' 



Gardeners will now prick out toma- 

 to, cabbage and other plants into cold 

 frames, and if the weather is favorable 

 early cabbage can be set in the open 

 ground if well protected from higli 

 winds. Tobacco seed should be sown 

 at once. Burn a brash heap on the 

 the bed, rake it fine three or four inches 

 deep the same day, and while the 

 ground is wann fi-om the burning 

 brash, and sow at once — ^rake in light- 

 ly, and tramp or roll hard, as the sur- 

 face must be well packed. Put a good;;;;r: 

 pile of brush on the bed, say two to 

 four feet deep to protect the plants- ;, 

 from frost. . . ■ . f » v - 



The best place for th.e bed is in tli©^'^ I 

 timber land, but good plants can h&iM 

 grown in the prairie. Corn stalks caiKi ; 

 be used with which to bm-n over the 



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