1863. 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMEE. 



3^ 



name which has set the fraternity by the ears. It 

 so closely resembles the Catawba that every one 

 at once pronounce it that grape, but Mr. P. claims 

 that it is not, that its history as a seedling can be 

 clearly traced, and that it has certain character- 

 istics that make it at once a marked and valuable 

 grape : 



1. It cannot be grown from cuttings in the open 

 ground. 



2. It is free from rot and mildew. 



3. Its bunches are larger on an average than 

 the Catawba. 



If it is not the Catawba, it presents what has 

 never before been brought before the public: two 

 fruits with growth of vine and leaf so identical 

 that good judges at once pronounce them identi- 

 cal. Mr. P. is a gentleman of high standing, of 

 close observation, and we think above any inten- 

 tion to deceive. He has not the exclusive stock 

 of this grape, and therefore has no monopoly of it, 

 Mr. J. Huggins of Woodburn, has had the grape 

 for several years, and confirms the statement of 

 Mr. P. Under these circumstances, we recom- 

 mend a trial of this grape, for should it prove free 

 from rot and mildew, though otherwise like the 

 Catawba, it will prove to be a valuable grape. In 

 fact if the Catuwba was free from rot and mildew, 

 grape growers would not trouble themselves much 

 after a better kind. It will require some years to 

 prove the facts in regard to this new grape, and 

 the worst can be that the cultivator will have the 

 Catawba. We do not recollect whether it is claim- 

 ed to be more hardy than the Catawba or not, 

 but this grape needs no protection at Bunker Hill. 

 We did not learn the price at which this grape is 

 to be sent out, but only that a large stock of the 

 plants grown from single eyes in pots are ready. 

 We suspend judgment for a personal trial. 



We have a reason for not giving the premium in 

 this connection, to which we will refer in our next 

 issue. 



Several other parties had grapes on exhibition, 

 but in small amounts ; among them Rebecca, Di- 

 na, etc. 



—»- 



Lands of the Illinois Central Railroad. 



These lands lie along this great throughfare for 

 seven hundred miles, commencing at Lake Mich- 

 igan and running soul^h to Cairo ; thence doubling 

 back on its track to Centralia, when it diverges 

 northerly, to tap the commerce of the farther 

 north. Passing through nearly fourTiiy;^dred miles 

 of latitude, embracing a great variety of «oi]3, of 

 elevations, of water sheds, of moderate yillages 

 and of far stretching prairie, rich in all the ele- 



ments that make the soil almost inexhaustible. 

 From the north, the region of pasturage and the 

 spring crops reach as far south as Mattoon and at 

 Pana, when we reach the bosom of Egypt, that will 

 one day be appreciated, when the nature of its cal- 

 careous deposits shall have been better understood. 

 As we go further south, and cross over the Big 

 Muddy river, we meet the timber belt and range of 

 hills that are becoming the seat of Pomona, with a 

 climate more bland than that of Richmond, and 

 with natural highways that furnish cheap transport 

 for the peculiar products of this region. 



It is now conceded that the prairies and wood- 

 lands distant from the rivers, are the most healthy 

 and valuable for farm purposes ; but until the con- 

 struction of this road, were inaccessible to market. 

 Under the present administration of the land de- 

 partment, these lands are being rapidly sold, and 

 the time cannot be distant when it will present the 

 most wealthy portion of the State. 



During the years of '55 and '56, the land depart- 

 ment caught the spirit of speculation, and so ad- 

 vanced the price of land, and sold such large tracts 

 to individuals, that the interest carried thousands 

 over, and the bubble bust. For several years, this 

 was followed with poor crops and low prices, t» 

 that extent that the country came to almost a 

 stand still. 



The liberal policy that has allowed these large 

 purchasers to give up part of the land and to apply 

 the payments on the remainder, has had a most 

 beneficial result, and is being felt through the 

 whole length of the line of road. It was but an 

 act of common justice, but the manner of doing it 

 has enhanced its value ; it has given confidence in 

 the good intent and fair dealing of the present 

 manager, that will go far to make future sales. '. ' 



From the large sales of the present year, we are ; 

 led to the belief that the prices have been satisfac- 

 tory. 



We think there has been an error from the be- 

 ginning, in regard to the credits in the sale of these 

 lands, and the past eight years have confirmed oar 

 former views. Had the sales been confined to 

 half cash down and the remainder on long term, 

 or all cash down and limited to actual settlement, 

 more land would have been sold, more farms would 

 have been opened, more money would have been 

 received for lands, the business of the road would . 

 have been augmented; for as a general thing, a 

 more wealthy class of farmers would have been 

 attracted hither. But perhaps it is as well for the 

 company, as all parties interested have been taught 

 by experience, and now more solid progress will be 

 made. 

 1 The new farm machinery has materially enhanced 



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