56 



THE ILLINOIS FARMEK. 



Feb- 



E. S. Hull, Alton, 111.; C. W. Spauldii.g, St. 

 Louis, Mo.; N. J. Colman, St. Louis ; Jonathan 

 Huggins, Woodburn, 111.; James E. Starr, Elsali, 

 III.; L D. Votean, Eureka. Mo.; John A. Pettingill, 

 Bunker Hill, 111.; B. F. Edwards, St. Louis; Geo. 

 Husniann, Hermann, Mo.; John Hcnvvood, St. 

 Louis ; Carew Sanders, Caronddet, Mo.; W. 0. 

 Fliigg. Alton, 111.: H. Claggett, St. Louis ; J. H. 

 Tice, St. Louis; J. J. Kellev, Rock Hill, Mo.; H. 

 T. Mudd, St. Louis. 



Wilber's Map of Illinois. — We are just in re- 

 ceipt of this map, not the one at the State Fair 

 but an improved edition, containing many new 

 features. The map is 36 by 48 inches, and mount' 

 ed on rollers. 



It is the most valuable map of the State by far. 

 that has been presented to the public. We have 

 seen no State map that compares with it. Fiist, 

 we have all the counties, townships, cities, villa- 

 ges, railroads with their stations, streams, etc., 

 that belong to an ordinary map. Then comes the 

 coloring that shows the difFerent geological forma- 

 tions and coal fields, the rain districts, showing the 

 annual amount of rain in the several parts of the 

 State, with isothermal lines of temperature ; and 

 lastly, the sylvia of the State, divided into dis- 

 tricts. 



The above is the map proper, while the margin 

 is filled with useful tables, such as the elevation at 

 the principal points ; a colored diagram of the ge- 

 ological formations, population, time table, show 

 ing the diiference in time between important 

 points, etc. The map is designed particularly for 

 the use of schools, and should be in every distriet 

 in the State. Business men cannot well do with- 

 out it, and will see its advantage at a glance. Eve- 

 ry family, with any preti n.sions above the poor 

 white trash of the Slave States, should have one of 

 these maps. 



We are proud of this map, from the fact that it 

 is gotten up by one of our own State. Prof. Wil- 

 bur has shown that we are not fully dependent on 

 New Y«rk for our maps. The work places Chas. 

 Shober among the best artists of the day. 

 We learn that it is to be sold by canvassers. 

 We should have said that Dr. Vasey of Peoria, 

 is responsible for the b»tany, and that Loren 

 Blodgett, the well known author on climatology 

 assisted in tkat department. 



Grape Culture. — The grape fever is at a high 

 stage of excitement, too high we think to be good 

 for the patient We propose to throw a little cold 

 water on it to cool it oif. 



To grow grapes to advantage, requires no small 

 amount of practical sk'll ; and to obtain this, time 

 is required. Hundreds are rushing into vineyard 



planting, who have never grown a pound of grapes, 

 and this tor the simple reason that somebody has 

 made a fortune at it. We have a friend who had 

 the fever some years since, having taken the fever 

 from the Cincinnati growers. A thousand vines 

 were ordered, and the ground trenched two feet 

 deep. The vineyard is now nearly ten years old, 

 some years he has grapes for family use and again 

 he has none. Last year the crop was very good 

 and he sold two hundred pounds, at eight cents a 

 pound. The varieties are Isabella and Catawba. 



Our advice is to begin moderately, buy a few 

 vines at first, and if you can succeed, you can soon 

 get all the vines you want, from your own stock. 



First try the Hartford Prolific, Concord and Di- 

 ana, and if you want a white grape, take Taylor's 

 Bullit. To these can be added others as the vines 

 cheapen. Adorondick at $5.00 will hardly pay, 

 for you will soon be able to get them at better 

 rates, and will know more of its value. At pres- 

 ent it should be remembered that these new grapes 

 are highly praised to sell the plants. Some of them 

 will doubtless prove valuable, but let old h.mds 

 at the business decide this fact. 



Shade Trees in Highways. — The importance of 

 planting shade trees along our highways has been 

 almost entirely overlooked. A general adoption 

 of the system would be of great advantage to the 

 health and comfort of the people and add largely 

 to the beauty of the landscape. In winter these 

 rows of trees would break the wind and hold the 

 drifting snow, and in summer make long, pleasant, 

 shady lanes for the traveler. On our open prai- 

 ries they would also contribute their influence to- 

 wards the summer shower, thnt so often seek the 

 groves and wood begirt margins of the streams. — 

 We have an abundant supply of rain for the year, 

 but it is not evenly distributed. These avenues of 

 trees, if planted along all of our highways, would 

 without doubt do much to equalize the distribution. 

 " The beauty and comfort that would be afforded 

 by these trees after a few years, can hardly now 

 be conceived. They would also contribute much 

 to the public health. The beautiful law of com- 

 pensation established by the Creator, between the 

 animal and the vegetable kingdoms should not be 

 lost sight of. Trees as well as men and animals 

 breathe, but they do not appropriate from the at- 

 mosphere precisely the same elements, but rather 

 the opposite. In the process of respiration the an- 

 imal organism appropriates the oxygen of the at- 

 mosphere, and exhales carbonic acid gas, while the 

 trees through their leaves, give off the oxygen and 

 appropriate the carbonic acid ; the carbon thus 

 obtained goes to build up the tissues of the tree i 



