120 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



APEIL 



try, when peaches were much more apt to "grow 

 every year" than they now are. Thousands of these 

 trees were then grafted and sold at two or three 

 times the price of '■'■common peaches,''^ and yet, if 

 they bore any more frequent than the common 

 trees, the writer heroof never knew it, and plum 

 rooted peach trees passed out of mind, until the dis- 

 covery again comes up as somethiiVg new and won- 

 derful. 



The wild plum stock has a flight tendency to 

 dwarf the peach tree when budded on it. The 

 natural vigor of the peach being somewhat checked, 

 less sap is carried into circnhuion, and the wood 

 may be a little more thoiouuhly ripened. So far 

 as this effect is produce^, the wood may be less lia- 

 ble to be killed by severe cold. But the buds of 

 the peach will be influenced as early as by the 

 warm days of winter and spring, and will swell as 

 readily, and will be as sur'ceptible of injury by frost, 

 as if the tree stood on ^its own root. The peach, 

 when grafted upon the wild stock, of most kinds, 

 like the plum, when grafted on it, will be poorly 

 sustained, and will be short lived. Neither is it a 

 sure protection against the grub, though less liable 

 to be injured by this insect than liie more tender, 

 fleshy peach root. 



Where ordinary industry is exercised, which 

 alone is entitled to reward, the peach worm oifers 

 no serious obstacle to the production of peaches. 

 Five minutes time to a tree, removing the t^urface 

 of the earth about the stem, in the month of Sep- 

 tember, when the worms are young and still upon 

 the outside of the bark, they are readily killed by a 

 slight rubbing with a piece of leather or old hat. 

 Repeat the operation in early spring, using a knife 

 in tracing out the worms, for at that lime they will 

 have eat their way under the bark. 



In searching for the peach worm, just after a 

 rain is the best time to accomplish the work, be- 

 cause the gum being swelled by the moisture, read- 

 ily points out the location of the enemy. — h. p. b, in 

 Country Oent. 



The above humbug had a very good run in this 

 State last season, trees selling at seventy-five cents 

 each, on examination a large part of them were 

 found to have been budded on the peach ; of course, 

 they were just as good if not better for it. Yet some 

 of the victims feel a little sore over this part of it. 

 Can any one tell us what will be the phases of tree 

 peddling swindling for the cominj^ season ; It 

 would seem that nearly everything had been ex- 

 hausted, yet from the utility of these gentlmen we 

 will have some new rich lode struck. Dont be dis- 

 couraged gentle readers,you will have another deal 

 yet. In this one county twenty two hundred dol- 

 lars was paid for peaches, on plum stalks, Siberian 

 crab and dwarf apple of the riding whip size, all 

 at seventy-five cents each. 



Adirondac grapes ! at $3,00 and others equally 

 true to name at two or three dollars. Is not the 

 Editor surrounded by an enterprising community 

 of pomologists, and may he not feel fortunate iu 

 having his lot cast among such an enterprising 

 people? Surely he feels as though his services 



might at some time be appreciated, and in proof of 

 this has the satisfaction of seeing the Farmer rap- 

 idly extending among them. 



.«, 



Agricultural Implements. — The Commisioner 

 of agriculture sajsthe total value of agricultural 

 implements manufactured in the United States for 

 1860 was $17,802,514— being an advance of 160 

 per cent, on the amount manufactured in 1850. 

 Among these implements are some of the highest 

 importance to the firms. 



This shows a progress during the decade, but it 

 is probable that this development of labor saving 

 implements in our rural economy will be eclipsed 

 within the next ten years. 



Within the current year we are to have the 

 pleasure of witnessing some very important improv- 

 ments in old machines and several new ones now 

 in the course of development. 



Illinois State Agricultural Society. 



ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS 



The Executive Committee assembled at the 

 Rooms of the Society, in Springfield, on the 1st of 

 March, 1864, pursuant to adjournment. 



Pbese.nt. — President V^n Epps, Vice-Presidents 

 Rosenstiel, McConnell, Kile, Wait, Oaburn. Min- 

 utes of the last meeting were read and approved, 

 and, on motion, the action of those present at the 

 last January meeting (there having been less than 

 a quoium), was in every particular ratified and 

 confirmed. The report of J. H. Pickrell, Esq., Su- 

 perintendent of Grounds at the last Fair, contain- 

 ing many valuable suggestions in regard to the 

 economical management of his Department, was 

 read and referred to a committee who subsequently 

 reported favorably upon every recommendation. 



A communication from the Macon Co. Agricul- 

 tural Society, calling the attention of the Board to 

 the supposed necessity for enlarging the premises 

 and re-arranging the list in regard to the Sweep- 

 stakes and Herd rings with the Stock Department 

 and also asking to have refunded to them the sum 

 of $175, claimed to have been erroneously paid out 

 on Citizens' Prizes, was read and referred, th® 

 Board subsequently ordering the money to be re' 

 funded. 



Coi. Sec. read a very able paper from President 

 Edwards, of the Normal University, on "Agricul- 

 tural Education." It is full of good thoughts and 

 practical suggestions, worthy the distinguished au- 

 thor. Ordered, a vote of thanks. 



Cor. Sec. also read a paper from the pen of Prof. 

 Sewall, of the Normal University, on "Some of the 

 chemical changes which take place in the germina- 

 tion, growth and decay of plants"— exceedingly in- 



