-f- 



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1863. 



THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. 



329 



must challenge attention. In the first place, set a 

 time and place to plant a field of corn, say three 

 acres for each corn planter, not later than 5th to 

 10th May. Let the two-horse cultivator men fur- 

 nish a machine to cultivate three acres each 

 throughout the season, and have a committee to 

 examine it, from time to time, to note the amount 

 of time required and appearance of the work, and 

 at maturity of the crop have the field carefully 

 measured. In no other way can a thorough test 

 be made. The Reapers and Mowers have had a 

 trial, and satisfied every one that there are several 

 superior machines, so nearly balanced in value that 

 good juJges cannot agree which is really the best ; 

 but genius is at work remodeling these, valuable 

 as they are, and another season these new feautures 

 will need a public test of their value. It is cer- 

 tainly no object to have a crowd of people at these 

 trials, though all who take a sufficient interest 

 should be allowed as thorough an examination as 

 the nature of the trial will admit. The gang and 

 sulky plows are not as yet perfect, and these will 

 also need further attention. So of seeding ma- 

 chines, plows, harrows and rollers. Many of these 

 could have a trial the week previous to the Fair, 

 and in its vicinity. Decatur presents ample facili- 

 ties for all these trials for the coming year, is easy 

 of access, with a variety of soil and large, well cul- 

 tivated farms in the neighborhood. 



We do not think that it is asking too much of 

 the Society to extend their usefulness in this direc- 

 tion, so as to give encouragement to this depart- 

 ment without imposing too great a burden on new 

 implements just beginning the struggle in the field 

 of usefulness. It should be borne in mind that the 

 value of all these new improvements are in pros- 

 pect, and that the owners have not the means, if 

 they have the disposition, to engage in these, as at 

 present conducted, expensive trials. We have had 

 nearly half a dozen trials by' the State Society, and 

 with the exception of the last one, have not been of 

 as much real value as the less expensive ones at 

 Champaign and at DeKalb. Experience has dem- 

 onstrated the necessity of a change in the pro- 

 gramme. 



Grab Apple Jelly. — Jelly from any other tart 

 apples can be made in the same way as the follow- 

 ing — apples, however, should first be sliced. The 

 crab apples have a very delicate flavor — better for 

 jelly than that of other apples. Put them in a ket- 

 tle with just enough water to cover them, and let 

 them boil four hours ; than take them off the fire 

 and rub them through a colander ; this will sepa- 

 rate the seeds and skin from the pulp ; then strain 

 them through a flannel bag. Then to each pint of 



the juice thus strained add a pound of white sugar 

 and boil for twenty minutes — skimming meanwhile 

 if necessary. Then fill your glasses or moulds, and 

 let them stand for two or three days in the sun, till 

 sufficiently hardened. 



Death of a Celebrated Horse. 



The celebrated horse "Ike Cook," who was 

 matched for the $1,000 race against Mr. Hastings' 

 horse " Cooley," was taken suddenly sick Sunday 

 evening, at the stable of his owner, Mr. Jessel, with 

 flatulent colic. Dr. Geo. H. Dadd was called and 

 found the horse in a dying condition. On exami- 

 nation he decided the horse a subject of fracture 

 of the pelvis, and at his suggestion the horse was 

 shot. The horse " Ike Cook " was one of the most 

 notable horses in the country, being some twenty- 

 four years of age, and uyon the verge of trotting a 

 race where it was expected he would show some 

 quick time, it being but a year or two ago that he 

 distinguished himself by trotting a mile heat in 

 2:23. Dr. Dadd held a post mortem examination, 

 which revealed a compound fracture of the pelvis, 

 the right side being fractured in some twenty 

 places. This will be quite a disappointment to 

 lovers of the turf who have been anxiously looking 

 forward to this expected trot. The horse was 

 lately purchased by Mr. Jessel, and his loss is 

 heavy under the circumstances. — Chicago Tribune. 



New York State Pair. 



The New York State Fair, which was held at 

 Utica, last week, is reported to have been, like the 

 Ohio Fair, a decided success. The attendance was 

 very large — on Thursday nearly thirty thousand ; 

 but on Friday the storm, which visited us on 



Thursday, burst upon the New Yorkers in a style 

 which completely cast our gentle rain into the 

 shade. It is reported as the severest storm that 

 ever visited Eastern New York — flooding the 

 streets and roads, and defying all attempts at shel- 

 ter. The correspondent of the Tribune writes on 

 Friday: "It is a matter of history that 'it always 

 rains at the time of the State Fair,' so say those 

 who have kept a record of the weather. History 

 will not be falsified this year, for the rain began 

 about daylight to pour down, and did not stop for 

 breakfast, but poured right on till after ten o'clock. 

 If dampens the prospects of the tre:isurer, which 

 were very good, if this day had continued pleasant, 

 to equal the receipts of any one of the last seven 

 or eight years, except at Albany. They were 

 larger yesterday than any one anticipated ; the sale 

 of single tickets numbering 26,000, part of them 

 for children at 15 cents, but making up over 

 $6,000, and making the total receipts about $11,- 

 000, besides this day, which makes the Society 

 quite independent, and the Fair, in all but some 

 few minor things, one of the most satisfactory of 

 the series." — Ohio Farmer. 



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