; iPf^WiT 



1863. 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



359 



er call of men for the army will draw 

 from the laboring ranks the ability to 

 put in large crops next spring, and we 

 cannot look forward to any rapid re- 

 duction in the price of farm staples. 



The improvements in farm tools, is 

 equal to several thousand laborers, 

 while new modes of culture will make 

 a further reduction in that direction. 

 We can now do as much on the farm 

 with four hands as we could four years 

 since with six, and in some particular 

 departments the difference is much 

 greater, but this is a safe calculation for 

 the average of farm work. 



The Sewing Machine. 



No labor saving machine has been 

 sent into the household of the same 

 value with the sewing machine. It 

 not only does the work faster than can 

 be done by hand, but in a ve'ry supe- 

 rior manner. At first they could only 

 sew plain seams, but now, scarcely any 

 needlework is beyond their reach. Eor 

 a long time the "Wheeler & Wilson 

 sewing machine took the lead as a ma- 

 chine for all work, than supposed pos- 

 sible, and other makers of machines 

 were compelled to sell at a low rate, or 

 not to sell at all. Many of these cheap 

 machines are valuable and save an im- 

 mense amount of labor, and for small 

 families are yet desirable. But the 

 subject was not exhausted, further im- 

 provement was called for both use and 

 ornament — a machine was now wanted 

 that would do all the plain sewing from 

 a muslin dress to that of the heavy 

 wadded quilt, but it must not stop here, 

 it must turn the nicest hem, tuck the 

 seams where needed, embroider and 

 sew on braid, either in ornamental fes- 

 toons or to protect the edges of the 

 garment. Nothing short of these de- 



mands would suffice to render a ma- 

 chine of the first class. 



The Grover & Baker Sewing Ma- 

 chine Company, which had stood for 

 years next in public estimation to that 

 of the Wheeler & Wilson essayed the 

 task, demanded. We have but to re- 

 fer to the numerous premiums that 

 they took at the several State and coun- 

 ty fairs to show how they have suc- 

 ceeded, and instead of standing second 

 they now boldly claim the first posi- 

 tion. This created no little excitement 

 and the public could scarcely beheve 

 the fact that the Wheeler & Wilson 

 should come down from its towering 

 height and give place to any other. It 

 was so well made, so durable and so 

 useful, could genius go any further ? 

 The committee said yes, the Grover & 

 Baker was equal in all respects, and 

 superior in several important particu- , 

 lars. But powerful parties do not yield 

 the position which they hold without a 

 struggle, and the case of the sewing 

 machines has been no exception to this 

 rule. The cstechism put forth by the 

 Chicago agent of the W. & W. ma- 

 chine was a most extraordinary docu- 

 ment, and showed most clearly tliat the 

 sceptre had departed or was about to 

 depart from his hands, that the recent 

 improvements in the Grover & Baker 

 machine had added so much to its in- 

 trinsic merits that it had become no 

 mean competitor. The evident inten- 

 tion of this most singular document was 

 to exclude from the committee on 

 awards every person who was familiar 

 with the use of a sewing machine, thus 

 giving them the opportunity to work 

 on the ignorance of the committee, and 

 like the throw of the dice, give them 

 an equal chance for the award. The 

 public should thank the officers of the 



':;'.w;^;-«£teiiti<&- 



