1864. 



THE ILLINOIS FARMEE. 



^ 



From the Champaign County Unioa. 



King Cotton. 



BY J. S. WOLFE. 



That wonderful King, whose surname is Cotton, 

 (He began to feel weak, and withered and rotten 

 From the dawn of Rebellion), had a moment's reflec- 

 tion. 

 Inspired by the news of the Northern election ; 

 So betaking himself to a glen in the wild. 

 Where Treason had nursed her belligeient child. 

 Enthroned on a stone at the foot of an oak, 

 Forth in accents of wailing the banished King broke : 



"In the sunlight of Peace, when the spindle and loom 

 Were sounding instead of the cannon's loud boom — 

 When the shuttle was netting my delicate threads. 

 For human apparel and clothing for beds — 

 When I mingled in peace with the warp and the woof, 

 Ah, then I was KING, and the crowd stood aloof! 

 Then Ifroighted the vessel deep down in the water 

 With the weight of my body — for cash or for barter; 

 Then I sped on as rapid as engine could whirl 

 To pass throuo h the hands of the factory -girl. 



(Do plants ever love? Dr. Darwin, in rhymes, 

 Has told how the plants have their lovers at times . 

 And 1, though a King, have felt tender ''in spots" 

 AVhile these nymphs have caressed me and tied me in 



knots ; 

 And, like others in love, found it bliss to be seized 

 By these spotless young damsels, and sensibly 



squeezed.) 



Yes, then I was King, with the girls on my side, 

 My white locks were honored, and flattered my pride, 

 And daily, by thousands, the beautiful girls 

 Were anointing my locks and applauding my curls . 

 I was feasted, and feted, and petted and dandled, 

 And admired by the millions by whom I was handled; 

 I danced on the spools, on the spindles and reels, 

 And felt always at home — as an honest man feels. 

 The stories I told, and the ^aj-ns that I spun, 

 Were the wittiest known since the world was begun; 

 I was twisted and wove up in every variety. 

 And received with delight in the best of society : 

 I was warmth to the back, and ermined the breast 

 Of the dignified host, and the worshipful guest ; 

 To men I have proved the best friend ever given — 

 I've been "bosom companion" to most of the women. 

 Who assured me that I, for my delicate arts. 

 Should be cheered by their friendship and warmed by 



their h' arts. 

 I was King in the market where money is made — 

 I ruled in the meetings of each board of trade — 

 I traveled on ocean, on river and road, 

 .A.nd was always considered the "cream" of the load: 

 WheneTr a journey I chanced to commence. 

 The bullion was ready to pay the expense ; 

 I was lifted, and carried, and carted around — 

 My imperial feet never touching the ground — 

 And I always was sure of arousing ovation 

 In the councils and workshops of every nation. 

 The kings and the queens and the autocrats fine 

 Sent their merchantmen, coasters, and ships of-the- 



line, 

 To escort me from India, from China or Tesas, 

 With such pomp and parade as oft did perplex us. 

 I figured in fashion, and often in Paris 

 Have made up the ruffle and frill of an heiress : 

 All were proud to present me, and prompt at my beck 

 The banksr would honor my heaviest check. 



When I slumbered in bud — when in blossom I laiu^faed 

 'T was the same as receiving a million by draft" 

 When I emptied my "bole" of its floccnlent lock* 

 The '-bulls" and the "bears" left their gambling in 



stocks. 

 And hastened, all eager to furnish the "tin" 

 To pick me, and "tote" me, and help me to "gin." 

 Sure, wasn't I King! 'Tis no prevarication ^ 

 To say I was courted by all the creation ; 

 But alas, my ambition ! it shivered my throne. 

 Divided my kingdom, and left me alone — 

 Broke my sceptre to atoms, and dashed to the earth 

 All the hopes I have had from the day of my birth. 

 Here, throneless and houseless, in this gloomy dell, 

 A fugitive outlaw hereafter I dwell ; 

 By rude "speculators" I'm constantly hurt. 

 They "conscript" me, and burn me, and roll me in 



dirt; 

 They cobble up walls with my body and bones — 

 Hold me "cheap as the dirt," or a cartload of stones ; 

 They smoke mo with powder and stain me with blood, 

 And smear me all over with water and mud. 

 I am therefore determined to vacate the field ' <t 



To some other monarch my kingdom I yield. 

 And proclaim to the world, from this stone by the oak, 

 That Cotton is fallen and the S^ing is •'flat broke." 



For the Illinois Farmer. 

 Chatsworth, Ford Co., IlL, Jan. 15, '64. 

 Mr. Editor: 



The farmers in this neighborhood are turning 

 their attention to flax growing. We have had 

 but little experience in raising it, consequently 

 would like to ask a few questions of some one that 

 has tested it and had more experience in raising it. 

 It has been raised here entirely with reference to 

 the seed, but now good flax straw is quite an ob- 

 ject. We have sown about one-half bushel to the 

 acre, but that is not enough to get long straw. If 

 we were to sow one bushel or one bushel and a half 

 to the acre, would we get as much seed as though 

 we had sown less ? If it will not yield as much 

 seed how much difference would it prpbably make? 

 How much seed would you recommend to sow to 

 the acre with a view of raising both ? Hdw much 

 straw is an average yield when about one bushel is 

 sown to the acre ? How many tons of straw does 

 it take to make a ton of fibre ? What is t be best 

 kind of machine for breaking it, and how much 

 does it cost ? What is the fibre worth per ton 

 generally ? Where is the best market for shipping 

 the fibre ? Chicago, I think, intends to make a 

 monopoly of it, consequently if there is any other 

 place where there are several manufactures it 

 would be likely to bring more. 



Please answer in your next issue, and you wiH 

 oblige me. Wallace W. Wicks. 



The culture of flax is spreading very rapidly, and 

 can now be reckoned among the best paying crops . 



In sowing for both seed and lint a bushel of seed 



