se 



THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. 



•'•TT-T- 



Mae. 



White Willow for Hedges, &c. 



Sb the Ed/itor of tJie lUinoia Farmer : 



Dear Sir : — Having frequently traveled through 

 the northern counties of this State, my attention 

 has several times been called to the remarkable 

 growth of the hedges of the Salvx, Alba, or White 

 Willow — which are now extensively cultivated in 

 Lee and Ogle counties. And I have often been 

 asked to state my views on the adaptation of this 

 species of willow for hedges, wind-breaks, timber, 

 &c. I cheerfully comply with this oft repeated re- 

 quest, by a statement of such facts as came under 

 my observation. The hedges of willow which I 

 noticed were in various stages of growth from ten 

 years to one ; and the results were indeed astonish- 

 ing, and have induced most of the farmers of the 

 adjoining counties to surround their farms with 

 willow. 



It is not over two years since public attention in 

 Illinois was called to this means of growing hedges 

 for the protection of orchards and harvests from 

 the strong winds which every year seriously injure 

 our crops. But so great has been the demand that 

 over twenty millions of cuttings or slips of white 

 wiliow, for these purpose will be sold in this State 

 during the present year. In a few years the farms 

 and gardens of thousands of farmers will be sur- 

 rounded by living walls. 



The origin of willow planting in this State is 

 as follows : About two years ago a single slip of 

 willow was sent from Ohio to a farmer in Lee 

 connty. This having been cut into four or five 

 sections, was set out, and the cuttings of the next 

 year's growth were treated in the same manner, 

 until now Lee and Ogle counties contain many 

 miles of beautiful hedge 



The original, or first planted row of willow, has 

 become a dense wall of wood. It is over forty 

 feet high, and will afford a cord of wood for every 

 rod in length — a fact which naturally suggests the 

 question : cannot farmers obtain their fuel in this 

 manner at a less cost than coal or wood from the 

 groves ? There are also many miles of hedge of 

 three, four and five year's growth, which are capa- 

 ble of turning cattle, horses, &c., besides affording 

 a complete barrier to the fierce prairie winds. 

 , The. willow seems to be adapted to both these 

 purposes ; and hence it is eagerly sought after by 

 farmers and fruit growers in the middle and north- 

 ern parte of the State. The time necessary to the 

 growth of willow hedges useful for all purposes 

 above mentioned is from four to six years. The 



cost is only a trifle ; scarcely twenty-five cents per 

 rod. 



With ordinary care every farmer can have in a 

 few years, the farm and home surrounded and pro- 

 tected with living fences — cheap, substantial and 

 beautiful. 



C. D. WiLBKR. 



-••»- 



Cotton Seed. 



Washington, D. C, Feb. 11, 1863. 

 To ths Editor of the Illinois Farmer : 



Dear Sir : — ^I duly received your note of the 

 29th ult. 



With reference to cotton seed for those who 

 wish to experiment, I have to say, that this depart- 

 ment will do all that can reasonably be expected 

 in the way of furnishing seed to your citizens. I 

 believe that private enterprise should be called 

 into action in the direction of cotton seed, as well 

 as with reference to tobacco seed or wheat, and I 

 would suggest that you appeal to the merchants 

 of Southern Illinois to procure cotton seed and 

 advertise it for sale, as they do other articles. 



If you will give me the name and post office ad- 

 dress of parties in Illinois, to whom you think it 

 advisable to send cotton seed to, I will send to 

 such persons, say from three to five bushels each, 

 provided they will pay the express charges ; or I 

 will send it by railroad transportation, if you so 

 direct. 



Give me eight or ten names ; however much I 

 would like to stock all of your people with seed, 

 yet I have not the seed to do it, and therefore 

 suggest a limit. 



Yery truly, 



Isaac Newton. 

 Commissioner. 



— Persons wishing the above will please write us 

 and if all the names are not sent in we will for- 

 ward them for the seed. We have requested the 

 commissioner to send us five bushels, the most of 

 which Ave will distribute to our subscribers. — Ed 



-<•>- 



Flax Culture in Illinois. — We learn from 

 the Decatur Gaselfe\thai Mr. R. Ellswood, of 

 Decatur, will soon s^urt on a tour through the 

 Eastern States, for the purpose of visiting the 

 flax manufacturing establishments which have 

 sprung up within a few years in that section of 

 country. The object is to inaugurate the culture 

 of flax in this State, on a large scale, and then 

 establish a manufactory, purchasing the raw 

 materials from the farmers. It is said that the 

 culture of flax is more profitable than the rais- 

 ing of wheat. 



j-^-*--— ^*- 







