1863. 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



369 



BAILHACHE & BAEEB 



- PUBLISHEES. 



M. L. DUNLAP, Editor. 



SPRIXGFIELD, ILLINOIS, DECEMBER, 1863. 



We are now about to close the VIII Volume of 

 the Illinois Farmer, the last four of which have 

 been under our charge. Taking upon ourself its 

 conduct for only a short time, until some other 

 person could be induced to take it in hand, we 

 have from month to month and from year to year 

 continued its sole editor. Our readers know that 

 the time that we can spare to render its pages in- 

 structive and valuable, must be wrung from other 

 duties, and form but the snatches of tiuie. With- 

 out an office editor, the proof reading has been 

 left to the tender mercies of a job office, and in- 

 numerable errors have been the result. 



The agriculture of Central Illinois demands a 

 journal that shall be more worthy of the tillers of 

 its rich soil and genial climate, but until the war 

 is brought to a close, we cannot expect any mate- 

 rial improvement. Notwithstanding all these im- 

 perfections its pages have on all occasions been 

 outspoken, with a thorough canvassing of all sub- 

 jects within its scope. In this respect we trust 

 that it will compare well with any of our cotem- 

 poraries either east or west. 



We owe no allegiance to advertisers beyond the 

 space they occupy, nor are we bound up in any of 

 the old isms or theories of the day. With our 

 own hands we have earned our way at the toil of 

 the plow, cutting furrows more or less even. In 

 our home practice excelsior has been our aim, but 

 having no outside means, we have been under the 

 necessity to study economy and practical utility in 

 all our efforts, and to this end have been compell- 

 ed to keep a slate and pencil to figure up the pros- 

 pective results of every enterprise. 



How long we shall continue to wield the pen 

 we know not, but we are always ready to lay it 

 down for the plow, the spade, the hoe, the pruning 

 shears or the fruit basket. We can never be coax- 

 ed to live in the city, or to write up farming in the 

 garret, in such a condition we would be like a wilt- 

 ed beet on the huckster's table. Wedded to the 

 farm, the orchard and the garden it has been a 

 pleasure to teach others its practical lessons, oth- 

 erwise we should have remained silent, for we have 

 no other ambition to gratify than to be useful. 



As in the past we can make no other promise 

 to our readers than that while under our charge, 

 the Farueb shall coutiuue t» give practical lessons 

 in rural pursuits. 



Taxes on Railroad Lands — Dairy and 

 Orchard Iiands. 



Editor Farmer : — I see it stated that there is no 

 tax on the lands sold by the Illinois Central Rail- 

 road, until after the same is deeded to the purcha- 

 ser. Can you tell me why they are exempt, and 

 how long ? I intend to visit your State the com- 

 ing winter, with the view of locating on a farm for 

 fruitand dairying. What part of the State should 

 I visit for these purposes ? 



Yours Truly, 0. T. M. 



Osceola, N. H. Oct. 15, '63. 



— By contract with the State of Illinois the 

 Central Railroad Company pay a tax of seven per 

 cent, on the gross earnings in lieu of all taxes, and 

 which amounted last year to some $200,000. Thig 

 goes direct to the State treasury, and thus de- 

 frauds the counties through which the road runs 

 of their proportion of the tax for local and county 

 purposes, and throws the burden of taxation on 

 the alternate sections, for county, town, school 

 and road purposes. As the Company must sell 

 their lands within twenty years from 1857, thii 

 state of things will be at an end, but in the mean 

 time relieves the purchaser of these lands of tax- 

 es, which are sometimes heavy for new school hous- 

 es and new roads. By the above arrangement the 

 railroad pays a very large tax which must in time 

 go far towards paying the ordinary expense of the 

 State. Except for schools the taxes are light 



As a general thing, fruit growing and dairying 

 do not run well together. Fruit lands must be 

 high and rolling, while the best dairy lands are 

 rather low and moist. In some cases in this part 

 of the State farms can be found containing both 

 grades of land, but not as a general rule. Good 

 orchard land is also good grain land. 



An Editorial Call. — A few days since we were 

 taken by surprise by Col. Mason C. Weld, Associ- 

 ate Editor of the American Agriculturist, and W. 

 N. Corbitt, of the Prairie Farmer, who spent part 

 of a day with us. Col. Weld was looking into 

 white willow, sugar beets, sorghum, and other 

 Western staples. With all of which the Col. ex- 

 presses himself well pleased. 



The Horticulturist. — For the past year the 

 leading feature in this journal has been grape cvl- 

 lure, in which a vast amount of information has 

 been presented, and yet the subject has not been 

 exhausted. It will give a new impetus to grape 

 culture both in doors and out as the lessons have 

 been so plainly illustrated. At the same time the 

 main features of the work have not been neglect- 

 ed. Terms |2. Address, Mead & Woodwabiv*' 

 Y.City,;.„.. .;,-,.,:.., ^.,,... ..:,.: :-:,-.^-.. -^. 



