THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



Feb. 



ia t^ usual amount sown to the acre. There is no 

 crop more benefitted by manure than flax, and 

 where it is possible to use it even in small quanti- 

 ties, it should not be neglected. When highly 

 manured and sown thin the straw will be coarse 

 with lint of poor quality ; to make the best lint 

 thick seeding is necessary. We have not been able 

 to see that a better yield of seed is obtained in 

 sowing half a bushel of seed, and have always pre- 

 fered a bushel of seed for this purpose. In very 

 rich land a bushel and a half of seed would make 

 an excellent quality of lint. In Belgium and Rus- 

 sia, where the finest linens are produced, from two 

 to four bushels are sown. The richer the soil the 

 less seed is required. ^ 



In sowing the land must be made fine by repeat- 

 ed borrowing and rolling, if at all cloddy. When 

 the seed is sown, lightly harrow in and then roll. 

 It is very important to roll the ground when the 

 crop is to be cut with a reaper. 



The Belgians sometimes sow a crop of carrots 

 with the fiax, which produce a good crop. Mr. 

 Phinney, one of oar neighbors, made trial of this 

 last season, but in consequence of the long and se- 

 vere drouth, it was a failure. 



An ordinary yield when half a bushel has been 

 sown is about ten bushels, but with a bushel to a 

 bushel and a half of seed on land well manured, 

 fifteen may be called a gaod crop. 



A ton of straw will make 500 to 600 pounds of 

 fibre, which is a fair average per acre, though 

 twice that is grown in good seasons. 



The Mallory machine has a high reputation but 

 there is one in Chicago probably better. Of the 

 prices we know nothing at present. One machine 

 will do the work for a neighborhood. 



As to the prices, we have seen no list of late. 

 By the time your crop is ready you can post your- 

 self on the best market. The Chicago firm that 

 you allude to have a superior machine and can af- 

 ford to pay the highest price for the straw ; at the 

 same time we presume they will sell your fibre on 

 commission. 



You can sow flax as late as the middle of May, 

 but the best crops are sown the last of March and 

 early in April. Use a roller in seeding an J see that 

 the soil is well comminuted ; to do this sow and 

 roll the day you plow. You may in this case har- 

 row and sow afterwards and roll the ground, as 

 this will in soft ground cover the seed. — Ed. 



For the Illinois Farmer. 



Wintering Grapes— EflFects of Frost. 



Bloominqton, 111., Jan. 1864. 

 Jf. L. Durdap, Esq., Dear Sir : 

 The severe cold of the first of January has left its 



traces. The peach trees are all gone, tender pears, 

 apricots, a part of the cherries, and to some extent 

 the apples. Grape vines not covered have suffered 

 severely, and some varieties are entirely killed. 

 The most hardy of all is the Concord ; next comes 

 Taylor's BuUit, a white grape. Cuyahoga or Cole- 

 man has stood well. There are some new varieties 

 more hardy than aa oak tree — more so than the 

 Concord, but they are as yet little known on ac- 

 count of their high price. North Carolina Seed- 

 ling , Mary, Arkansas, Winslow, Raisen, Mary Ann 

 and a dozen other new sorts, are oak tree grape 

 vines. 



The covering of my ten thousand vines could not 

 have cost me more than twenty dollars, but the 

 devil persuaded me to become a careless American, 

 but it is the last time, as I shall protect all my 

 grapes hereafter. Hartford Prolific is a very har< 

 dy grape. 



I have been experimenting to see what kind of 

 wine would first freeze. This is a new subjecj 

 and one that I have not seen noticed before. 



I must say of the Delaware that it has sufiFered 

 very severely this winter. Yours truly, 



H. Sheoder. 



— The Dr. is one of our live men, one who will 

 never rust out. 



At the winter meeting of the State Agricultural 



Society he took the first premium for essay on 



market gardening $ 10 00 



1st premium best 3 bottles Catawba 10 00 



1st " " 3 " Isabella 10 00 



1st " " 3 " Delaware... 10 00 



Total $40 00 



Pretty well for the little Dutchman, when we 

 have so many great grape growers and old wine 



makers in the State. — Ed. 



<•> . 



For the Illinois Farmer. 



Patent Bee Hives. 

 Three Oaks, Mich., Jan 30, '64. 



Mr. Editor : — By inserting the following card in 

 your paper as long you can afford, you shall be en- 

 titled to an individual deed of my Round Glass 

 Hive and Box in your name, or in the name of 

 some friend you may designate. 



W. Warren. 



Use the Round Glass Hive and Honey Box, with 

 barrel cover, a double ventilating hive, excelling in 

 honey and wintering bees ; easily made, costing 

 but little more than the common box hive. Hive 

 and honey took the first premium at the Illinois 

 State Fair in 1863. Save agent's fee. Two indi- 

 vidual rights by mail for $5. Send stamps for il- 

 lustrated circular, or see the one put up at your 

 post office. W. Waeesn. 



Three Oaks, Berrien Co., Mich. 



We have inserted the above, not for the de«d to 

 use the hive, for we shall be at no cost to try the 



