1864. 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. 



*1 



experiment, but for the purpose of allowing the 

 beekeepers of the State a chance to test the value 

 of the awarding committee in this particular case, 

 an award that we think was made without due 

 consideration. Our readers will know where to ap- 

 ply for the right and a drawing of the hive. 



We think the hive too expensive and complica- 

 ted to be of practical use, but as the committee 

 have decided it to be the best, we can do no more 

 than to recommend that they verify their opinion 

 by testing the hive, and to this end Mr. Warren 

 may send them all the deeds due us for this notice. 



For the Illinois Farmer. 



Hand Sowing Machines— Stafford's 

 Cultivator as a Harrow— Combined 

 Planter and Roller— Washing Ma- 

 chines and Clothes Wringer— Ridges 

 for Sweet Potatoes— Wild Morning 

 Glory. 



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



May I trouble you to answer a few inquiries ? — 

 I want a hand sowing machine and a cast iron 

 roller, such as you have. Will you tell me what is 

 the diameter of yours, about the price, and where 

 I can obtain them ? I am writing to-day to Messrs. 

 Barber & Hawley, of Decatur, for Stafford's patent 

 two-horse cultivator. You speak of harrowing 

 with it — how is that done ? I have Brown's corn- 

 planter ; — you speak of attaching the planter to 

 the roller, and then the planting and rolling is done 

 at the same time. How would you be able to turn 

 with this attachmant ? Can two horses haul the 

 whole without difficulty ? In a former essay on 

 corn planting, you speak of placing on the roller a 

 X, to mark rows for the planter. 



I want, also, a good washing machine and wring- 

 er. These machines are numerous, but a good one 

 is desired. Putnam's wringer is much praised. 



How do you ridge with the cultivator for sweet 

 potatoes and Irish? Do you plant the seed of 

 Bweet potateg, or always sprout them ? 



I am much pleased with many of your sugges- 

 tions about corn, and farming generally. Will you 

 oblige me by a reply to my enquiries and much 

 oblige one of your constant readers and your friend. 

 Yours, &c., very respectfully, 

 S. W. Bobbins. 



N. B. As a corn cultivator it has four shovels 

 and for other purposes two more are added — can 

 you harrow with shovel plows ? There is a vine in 

 Sangamon river bottom called a potato vine, 

 which is very troublesome, and when once fully 

 growing no ordinary shovel plow will kill it or ex- 

 tirpate it. Do you think the two-horse cultivator 

 will fight it successfully ? Have you any knowl- 



edge of this vine ? — it is abundant on this farm. 



■/ ':- '■ ■ ---r-'-- : S. W. R. -. 



— ^We will attempt to answer our correspondent 



in regular order. 



The hand machine spoken of is CopeLmd's and 



made at Loda (Okalla P. 0. ) Station, on the Chi 



cago branch of the I. C. R. R. Whether they are 



now made at that point, we cannot say. Cahoon's 



hand sower can be had of A. H. Hovey, Chicago, 



The iron section roller was had at Morris from 

 the shop of Isaac Atwater. The last we heard 

 from them J. C. Carr had succeeded to the busi- 

 ness, though much to his regret the demand was 

 more limited than was profitable. The farmers 

 must and will give up the use of wood land 

 rollers, so soon as good cast section rollers are put 

 on sale. The cast rollers sent out from Boston 

 and Chicago, were perfect horse killers and die" 

 gusted the farmers. If our implement makers will 

 but get up good ones, they will soon find custom- 

 ers ; but they must not be in too big a hurry, old 

 prejudices must have time to wear oflf. 



The cultivator is furnished, when ordered, with 

 two extra shovels, which make it a six -shovel cul- 

 tivator. Run these two or three inches deep, and 

 you have a cultivator harrow af more value than 

 the old harrow. There is no reason why other two- 

 horse cultivators may not add the like improve- 

 ment ; perhaps some of them do. 



Brown's corn planter cannot be attached to the 



roller in its present condition. The planter must 

 be geared to one of the sections of the roller, so as 

 to operate it ; add to this an apparatus for cover- 

 ing the corn an inch deep, and the thing is done. 

 A patent was granted last December for such a 

 combination, but we have not heard whether or 

 not it will be sent out for the spring planting. In 

 this connection the planter will not cost over fif- 

 teen dollars in addition to the roller. The follow- 

 ing saving will be effected. Marking off one way, 

 one harrowing and one hand to work the machine 

 to plant. To harrew fifteen acres will require : 



Two days, $2 50 | 5 00 



One " marking 2 50 



" " planting 2 50 



" " one hand extra, ..-. 100 



Total Ill 00 



WITH KOLLER AND PLANTEB. 



One day planting and rolling, $2 50, making a sav. 

 ing of $8 50, or over half a dollar an acre. We 

 Jinow from several years' experience that the latter 

 mode will insure a better stand of com, and bring 

 the crop forward much faster than by the old pro- 

 cess. The after culture is much better done be- 

 cause the clods are crushed and the plants have a 

 finely comminuted soil instead of a cloddy one, in 

 which to send out their roots in search of food. - 



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