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Y**:^ ■!!"«yw'JLi.''y<..4.-iiiJ55i^.'t*'jr- 



1863. 



THE ILLESrdlS FABMER 



^m 



tend to repeat, as we fear our morals would not 

 Btand the storm of sucli another effort. 



In sowing winter wheat or other grain or. grass 

 seed, a hand sower like Cahoon's is a great saver 

 of labor, and by wkich you can do better work — 

 at least two-thirds of the labor is saved — we had 

 rather sow thirty acres in a day with one of these 

 sowers than ten in the old way by hand. 



We have heard a great deal about the value of 

 drilling in grain, but have not been able to see it. 

 We certainly would not drill in any spring sown 

 grain whatever, and doubt its value on winter 

 wheat — in some cases it may prove advisable, but 

 give us a g»od smooth rolled surface and ample 

 drainage, and can well take the broad cast sower. 



The rags, weeds, and other trash that have 

 grown up along the fences, had ought to be cut 

 down at once, though it is a month later than the 

 work ought to have been done. 



We was at a neighbor's a few evenings since and 

 found his front yard full of weeds that had been 

 coaxed into a very good growth by some faint at- 

 tempts at ornamental gardening. Several dollars 

 had been expended for trees and shrubs, but aside 

 from setting them out no attention had been paid 

 them, and they were struggling against fate and 

 weeds in the vain attempt to hold a few sickly 

 leaves, should they succeed in this they will have 

 little fieart to grow next spring, and will probably 

 give up the attempt in disgust. Near by was a 

 new set orchard of fifty trees in the same condi- 

 tion. We fear it will be long years before its 

 owner will have an ablundance of fruit for his fam- 



This farmer cannot plead poverty as an excuse 

 jor this state of things, but a want of taste, and 

 when we looked around on several young ladies — 

 grown up daughters — we thought if the father had 

 expended a few dollars for agricultural works that 

 they would see through them at least that these 

 things were not in good taste, but they cannot be 

 rea«hed in this way for they have not the works 

 at hand from which to draw their lessons. 



Wool Growers' Convention at the Fair. 



Few men, even wool-growers themselves, are fully 

 aware of the progress of sheep husbandry in this 

 State within the past three years. 



Intelligent estimates place the number of sheep 

 (including spring lambs), in the county of Sangamon 

 alone, at about 200,000, and wool buyers, familiar 

 with the trade, say there are 1,000,000 lbs. of wool 

 for sale in this (Springfield) market. The assessment 

 of 1861, shows only 60,000 sheep in Sangamon coun- 

 ty. This is but a fair illustration of what has been 

 going on all over the State, and indeed all over the 

 prairie country of the Northwest. 



In view then, of the magnitude, and rapidly increas- 

 ing importance of this interest, it is not surprising^ 

 that those engaged in wool-growing should desire to 

 meet together in council. This they have determin- 

 ed to do in Decatur during the week of the Fair. And 

 all who feel interested, from wherever they may 

 come,"are cordially invited to be present and partici- 

 pate in the discussions and transaction of business. 



Communications addressed to A. B. McConnell, 

 Esq., Springfield, III., will be promptly attended to. 



**• 



Citizens' Ppizes for the Fair. — ^The citizens o 

 Decatur offer the following splendid premiums to : 

 be competed for during the Fair. Lovers of fine 

 stock will take notice accordingly : 



TtJBSDAT, SEPT. 29. 



Prkk. 



1. Fastest pacing horse, mare or gelding, in 

 harness $100 



2. Fastest trotting double team without regard 



to matching — best two in three 106 



[WBDNBSDAT SEPT. SO. 



It is expected Society's regular ring of carriage, 

 single harness and saddle horses will be exhibited.] 



THURSDAY, OCT. 1. 



1. Fastest trotting mare or gelding of any age — 

 best two in three — to go as they please 200 



FRIDAY, OCT. 2. 



1. Fastest trotting horse, mare or gelding under 



4 years old — ^best two in three 100 



2. Fastesttrotting stallion of any age — best two 



in three — to go as they please 500 



Entries for each ring will close at 9 o'clock, p. 

 M., of the day preceding the day fixed for the com- 

 petition. V 



An entry fee often percent on the amount of 

 each premium will be charged. Three or more 

 competitors to make a ring. * ' 



The Implement Triai at Decatur. — On the 2Ist 

 September, inst., will commence what promises to 

 be one of the most interesting exhibitions ever 

 held under the auspices of our State Society. 



"A fair field and no favor," offered t«*ll manu- 

 facturers of Implements for the preparation of the 

 soil and the planting and culture of crops. 



It can hardly be necessary for us to say a word 

 in regard to the duty of becoming an exhibitor rest- 

 ing upon every man who claims to represent a good 

 machine of this class. All our intelligent farmers 

 are wide awake and on the look-out for labor- 

 saving machinery. They are willing and anxious 

 to purchase ; and hundreds, perhaps thousands of 

 them will attend this Trial, that they may see the 

 actual operation and competition which can only 

 beseenthere. :■■]■.:■■-.-. 



Already the note of preparation is sounded— 

 and even the whistle, not of the "steam plow,' 

 but of the " steam spading machine" is heard as it 



