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218 



THE ILLmOIS FAEMER. 



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all needed in the several locations, and at this time 

 all of them appear to be prosperous. 



The card of the Prairie Farmer will be found in 

 our advertising columns. It can be clubbed with 

 the Illinois Farmer at $2,50. In the April No- 

 the types made us say $2,00, which is just fifty 

 cents in error. 



Rain at LAST.-After three weeks' praying, watch- 

 ing and waiting for rain ; the ground parched ; the 

 grass withering ; the foliage on the lower limbs of 

 the trees dying ; the crops, except perhaps wheat, 

 suffering, rain came, though not heavy, yet hope- 

 ful. Who can account for the seeming lack of 

 electricity in the atmosphere the present season ? 

 Some account for the absence of rain here by the 

 heavy cannonading where the sieges and battles 

 have lately occurred. This % an opportunity for 

 philosophical speculateon. Who of our readers 

 will embark ? — Iforthern Ill'moian. 



— Just no want of electricity at aJl, but on the 

 contrary a superabundance. When the boiler is 

 full of water there is no danger of an explosion 

 and when the whole superincumbent air is charged 

 with electricity, the equilibrium is established, and 

 we hear no discharges, no rushing of the subtle 

 fluid from cloud to cloud ; the demon of the storm 

 is at rest, and the storm cloud sails athwart the 

 heavens in lazy mood. The power is on every side 

 but there is no vacuum into which to send its 

 lightning, to stir up mischief. The harvester can 

 go on with his work nor fear aught from the thun- 

 der gusts. Now and then a stray cloud from afar 

 may sail into this vast sea of electricity, to be 

 greeted with a low sullen growl, and in return shed 

 a few drops of rain, but otherwise the great sea of 

 this mysterious element will remain at rest. Had 

 we a season as devoid of rain as the present, and 

 the clouds flashing fire as they came into contact, 

 vegetation would be withered, for the want of the 

 evident fluid which now gives a healthy growth to 

 almost all kinds of vegetation, notwithstanding the 

 soil is so very dry. 



■ The Marietta Rose. — For the last three years 

 we have discarded this stock for the rose, and now 

 grow them entirely on their own roots. The Ma- 

 rietta stock has always failed us. After the first 

 year, if the roses do not die they certainly are less 

 vigorous, and live at a half dying rate. We have 

 but three or four left, and these require a deal of 

 care in the way of looking after suckers, and keep- 

 ing them cut back. Another winter will probably 

 finish them up, and we shall be glad to see the last 

 budded rose go out of our grounds. 



A few roses will make better flowers on this 

 stock the first year, but only for the first year- 

 We advise our readers who wish good roses to be 



careful to order all on their own roots, and pay for 

 no others. It makes no difference how cheap they 

 may be had, don't touch them at any price. 



—•f- 



The Cotv Milker. — This appears to be what we 

 predicted it would prove, a failure. It has had a 

 great run in England and Scotland, but is rapidly 

 falling into disfavor. It will not milk the cows 

 clean, the finger pieces are not so readily fitted to 

 the teats as Vas supposed, and unless they are 

 made air tight will not work. All agree that when 

 a cow is milked with them for any length of time, 

 the yield of milk is decreased very materially. It 

 is found diflScult to milk kicking or restive cows. 



■ft- 



Pruning the Grape. — Many people suppose that 

 it is necessary to cut out the leaves of the grape 

 that shade the fruit, this is a serious error, as the 

 leaves are required to perfect the fruit, and so long 

 as the leaves can have the sun the fruit does not 

 need it. The grapes under the most dense shade 

 of grape leaves are as sweet if not sweeter than 

 those more exposed. The ends of the shoots can 

 Jae cut back, but let the leaves alone. 



BcTDDiNG. — The budding season is .now at hand. 

 Any person can bud if he has a good sharp knife, 

 some bass matting (inner bark of Una wood,) and 

 an illustrated description in any of our fruit books. 

 Branches one-foarth to half an inch are the proper 

 size to bud. To insure growth. The buds must 

 be mature, that is fully formed, and the bark must 

 peel freely. Without these conditions it is use- 

 less to make the attempt. Peaches can be budded 

 until late in September. • 



Live and Dead Weight of Sheep. — A rule for 

 mutton sheep is to weigh the live sheep and divide 

 the amount by seven. Thus, a sheep weighing 140 

 pounds, divided by seven, would give 20 pounds 

 dead weight, equal to the weight of a quarter, or 

 80 pounds for the mutton. The pelt and rough 

 tallow would make about 20 pounds more, thus 

 making what is called in the Boston market four 

 quarters to the animal. Of course, sheep poorly 

 or extra fattened will go above or below this aver- 

 age, but on the whole the rule is not far from cor- 

 rect. 



••• 



Flax Machine. — A new machine is now in use 

 for breaking hemp and flax, by which the whole of 

 the woody part of the stem is taken out without 

 making any tow. It is worked with two horses 

 attached to any ordinary horse power. Its cost 

 we have not learned as yet. 



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