60 



THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK. 



Feb 



one year, when he must draw on his banker or 

 himself for their coutinued culture, resting his 

 hopes on the uncertainties of the next year ; but 

 when we add to the loss of a year's crop the loss of 

 trees, obliging one to ref)lant and again wait trem- 

 blingly in view of the liability to future disasters, 

 the case becomes absolutely distressing:. 



But how are we to help ourselves, is the ques 

 tion. We must either trust in Providence or cover 

 our trees. We all know tliat the laws which govern 

 climate are wise, notwithstanding it is sometimes 

 too wet and sometimes too dry, sometimes too hot 

 and sometimes too cold, to answer our particular 

 and immediate wants. A kind Providence has 

 given us intellectual faculties by which we can ob- 

 viate many of the casualties which result from such 

 emergencies. 



TJnderd raining and irrigation are our remedies 

 for too much or too little rain, but they involve 

 much labor or capital ; nevertheless they are be- 

 coming every day more important, and will soon be 

 generally regarded as absolutely essential to good 

 culture. 



Will it pay to cover trees with such an inclosure 

 as will protect them agamst the terrible cold which 

 at intervals sweeps over the length and breadth of 

 this fair land ? I think so. As in underdraining, 

 it will require capital, but it is believed the crop 

 will pay interest on the investment, even in seasons 

 when it is in competition with local crops in the 

 open air, as a general crop seldom occurs through- 

 out the entire country in one and the same season, 

 and in seasons of scarcity the profits would be 

 large. It is probable that, the capacity of the 

 trees for productiveness will be much increased by 

 an eflScient winter protection, and the crop can be 

 easily advanced one week by openmg the shutters 

 to the sun in warm days early in spring and closing 

 at night, as we are in no fear of late frosts. 



Large peach trees are apparently killed in this 

 region, and some varieties of apples and pears are 

 slightly damaged in the fruit spurs, which may pro- 

 bably shorten the crop of fruit this season ; but 

 the plums and Richmond and Morello cherries look 

 perfectly sound in wood and bud. 



Yours respectfully, 



James Weed. 



— Dr. Weed has promised drawings of his plan 

 for protecting fruit trees for the purpose of insur- 

 ing a crop every season. That he will succeed we 

 have no doubt, but the profit is the next question. 

 With the peach and apricot noi th of 40 ® , it is the 

 only way by whijh a crop caa be secured, and if it 

 will not pav for market purposes, yet might do for 

 family use in a small way. — Ed 



CONTENTS 



Editorial: page. 



February 33 



Fencing 34 



White Willow Impostors 36 



Income Tax 37 



Ohio Wool Growers' Convention 38 



Poetry : 

 Kins 



49 



-Cot- 



Co(ton 



Correspondence : 



Flax Growing 40 



Wintering Grapes — Effects of Frost 41 



Patent Bee Hives -.. 41 



Useful Machines, etc 41 



Horticulture : 



The Extent of Damage to Fruit Trees- 

 ton Culture in the South of the State 42 



Great Destruction of the Peaeh Crop 43 



Further about the Fruit Crop, etc 44 



Tree Protectors 45 



Protection to Orchards 46 



A Word to managers of Fairs 46 



Miscellaneous : 



Management of Sheep in Winter 47 



Setting Fence Posts 47 



Squeakinff Boots — A Crying Nuisancce 47 



The Peat Beds of Holland 48 



On the Immutability of Species 59 



The Wine Plant once more 49 



The New Staple— Coal Oil 50 



Tobacco of California 60 



Corn Planter and Roller 51 



Coal Ashes and Cherry Trees 51 



TheWenther 51 



Sorgo Sugar 51 



Cotton in Illinois 52 



Number of Sheep in Illinois 62 



Currants 62 



A Flax Crop 62 



New Wav to Fatten Hogs 52 



The Weather 52 



A Few Statistics of the Reaper Trade 52 



Home Brewed Ale 53 



Vick's Illustrated Catalogue of Seeds 53 



A New Grafting Wax 53 



Ohio Pomological Society 63 



Making Cider 53 



Editor's Table : 



January 54 



State Horticultural Society 54 



The White Bark Louse 54 



Smith's Cider and Willow Twig 54 



Trees an H Tree Planting 54 



Doolittle Bt ck Cap Raspberry 54 



Improved Blackberry 65 



Garden Seeds 55 



Sorgho Culture 55 



Wroughtlron Wagon ., 55 



The Dana Apple 65 



Orcharding in Missouri 55 



Hutchison Cider Mill 55 



Missouri and Illinois Importing Horticultur- 

 al Associalion 55 



Wilbur's Map of Illinois 56 



Grape Culture 56 



Shade Trees in Highways 56 



Blackberry Wine , 57 



Comstock's Rotary Spader 67 



Onions 57 



Cheese Manufactories 58 



The Temperature 59 



Letter of James Weed, Esq 59 



