1864. 



THE ILLINOIS FAKHER. 



113 



The Goodrich Testimonial 



From the proceedings at the Annual Meeting of 

 the State Agricultural Socifty, it will be noticed 

 that a movement was made for the purpose of pre- 

 senting a Testimonial Fund to Rev. C. E. Goodrich, 

 of TJtica, in view of the long and laborious exer- 

 tions he has made, with no pecuniary return, for 

 the improvemect in varieties and culture of that 

 most importa'it crop — the potato. Vfe give below 

 the subscriptions thus far received : 



Orange Judd, New York ; . $50 00 



Hon. E. Cornell, Ithaca 50 00 



Hon. Wm. Kelley, Rhinebeck 50 00 



Col. L. G. Morris, Fordham 50 00 



G. H. Brown, Esq., Dutchess 50 00 



Hon. A. B. Conger, Havurstraw 50 00 



E. G. Faile, Esq., West Farms 50 00 



S. Campbell, Esq., New York Mills 50 00 



T. H. Faile, Esq., New York 25 00 



J. 0. Sheldon, Esq., Geneva 25 00 



T. L. Hiirison, Esq. St. Lawrence 25 00 



S. Thore, Esq., Dutchess 25 00 



"W. Chamberlain, Esq., Dutchess 10 00 



L. W. Rathbun, Otsego 5 00 



Joseph Harris, Rochester 5 00 



Solon Robin<on, New York 5 00 



H. T. E. Foster, Geneva 10 00 



J. S. McDonald, Greenwich 2 00 



E. S. Hayward, Brighton 5 00 



Gash 10 00 



Cash 10 00 



J. McD. Mclntyre, Albany 5 00 



James C. Carter, New York 5 00 



Cash 5 00 



Oa-^h 5 00 



Luther H. Tucker, Albany 10 00 



Total to this date $592 00 



It is hoped that this amount may still be consid- 

 erably increased, and contributions from gentlemen 

 in this or other States who appreciate the labors 

 of Mr. Goodrich, may be addressed to Luther H. \ 

 Tucker, Albany, N. Y., Treasurer of the Fund, who 

 will duly acknowledge the same in the columns of 

 this p:iper. We submit the subject, with no ether 

 remark than the brief expression of our most cor- j 

 dial approbation ©f the movement, to the syrapa- | 

 thies of the agricultural community. Mr. Goodrich 

 is now in very feeble health, and it may cheer the 

 last hours of his sojourn among us, to know that 

 what he has done meets the approval of the farmers 

 of the country. — Country Oentleman. 



Vegetable culture. 



One of the geatest faults in the cultivation of 

 vegetables, arises from the mistaken opinion enter- 

 tained by many persons, that the quantity of a 

 crop is increased by closely sowing or planting. 

 Nothing can be more erroneous than such a sup- 

 position. On the contrary, both in weight and 

 quality, the crop of all vegetables to be as large 

 as the quantity and nature of the ground sown 

 permits, will be found to increase in proportion as 

 sufficient space is afforded for the proper tillage of 

 the ground during its growth, and for the admis- 

 sion of the requisite influence and circulation of 

 light and air. 



The greatest impediment to success in the produc- 

 tion of fine vegetables perhaps, is want of due at- 

 tention to the proper tillage of the ground ; noth- 

 ing can supersede the ndvantages accruing from 

 deep culture ; when the plow is used the subsoil 

 plow should follow it, and in all land, whether 

 heavy or light, (except a subsoil of pure gravel,) 

 will be bene ti ted by it. When the spadj is used, 

 the ground should be dug at least sixteen inches 

 deep. 



Good draining is of equal importance. 



It is best to sow and cultivate all crops in drills 

 and rows, in preferenc to broad cast. The crop is 

 tilled at less expense, both of time and trouble. 

 The hoe during the growing season, should be con- 

 tinually at work, and in direct proportion to the 

 complete eradication of the weeds and to the keep- 

 ing of the ground open and loose, will be the 

 weight and quality of the crop. 



The rotation of crops should be attended to. 

 Manure should be given to crops above ground, as 

 the cabbage, peas, the potato, (foi thai is not a 

 root^) and similar vegetables. These should be 

 followed by root crops, as carrots, parsnips, &c., 

 with less manure. * 



Those who are experienced cultivators, have 

 no need of these suggestions but few, who are not 

 so, will nut be easily convinced of their importance, 

 until by direct experiment they are satisfied of 

 their value and truth. 



We take this opportunity to call attention to the 

 advantage as regards the early maturity of many 

 vegetables to be derived from starting them in a 

 hot-bed iu Spring. The trouble is not great, and 

 the time saved ii valuable. — Farmer and Gardener 



Protection to Orchards. 



It is well known that peach and other fruit trees, 

 in many sections of the country do not flourish as 

 they did iu former times. Some of the older in- 

 habitants of the country can well remember the 

 peach trees that were thirty or more years old and 

 still vigorous, and continued to bear" annual crops 

 of good fruit. What is true of peaches is also true 

 in some degree, of apples, and other fruits. — These 

 trees do not survive as long, and continue fruitful 

 as they did in the times of the early settlement of 

 the country. But this is not satisfactory, because 

 the effect is the same when the trees are planted 

 upon the virgin soil. Others assert that the sea- 

 sons have changed, without giving any cause for 

 such a change. It may not, perhaps, be difficult 

 to account for this change in the durability of the 

 orchards of the present day, from natural and 

 known causes. During the last forty or fifty years 

 immense tracts of forests have been removed, giv- 

 ing place to open cultivated fields. This has caus- 

 ed the .<ummer showers to fall less frequent ; and 

 has resulted iu the drying up of many of the small 

 streams, and exposing the entire country, more or 

 less, to the tierce blasting winds of winter; and, so 

 far as these c.iuses operate, have changed the sea- 

 sons. It is no doubt the effect of these cold winds 

 of winter upon the open and exposed country that 

 has caused the destruction of thousands of our 

 peach trees, and wrought serious injury to other 

 fruits. The only partial remedy for this, is to se- 

 lect the most exposed side by planting belts of 

 evergreen and deciduous trees. The benefit of 



