28 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. 



August 



f rejected and worn out machines and 

 mplements, the works of misguided 

 enius ; or rather the steps by which he 

 as attained to the present position. — 

 renius, like any other man, must be 

 rogressive, whether he graduates from 

 le common school or the college. — 

 rang plows stand in stately rows, witli 

 le rust of two years on them ; single 

 nd doTible cultivators have become ig- 

 ored ; a whole school of planters, from 

 le one hand, one horse, through the 

 italogue, to Brown's, and that must 

 ow be changed or it will next year go 

 > the same ignominious heap of old 

 nplements ; Ketchum's mowers of fif- 

 jen years, half bedded in the debris 

 lat has gathered over them, while Ai- 

 m's, Danforth's and Atkins' keep 

 lem company ; plows of all shapes 

 ave passed the threshold of decay and 

 ecrepitude, but among tlieir number 

 •e do not see any from Moline, for the 

 mple reason that they are wanted in 

 le field. Threshing machines, hay 

 resses and headers are abundant, tho' 

 16 latter are used for grain and timo- 

 ly, and one of each of the former 

 '6 held in some repute. Combined 

 capers and mowers have been given 

 p ; the header for grain, and the Kir- , 

 Y for grass is the rule. Clod crushers i 

 nd rollers of horse killing proclivities 

 •e giving place to more recent im- 

 rovements. 



"We could enlarge on this point but 

 ave made this article longer than was 

 itended. "We will close by writing 

 [r. Sullivant down in our list of prac- 

 cal farmers. 



Notes on the Strawberry. 



Our first picking of the Early Scarlet 

 'eirge Virginia Scarlet) was on May 

 )th. although ripe berries had been 



picked on them three to four days pre- 

 viously, but at that date the supply was 

 sufficient for market. Dr. N. C. Meek- 

 er informs us that the first shipment 

 of Wilson's Albany was made by him 

 May 22d ; and Capt. Evans, of Cobden, 

 says the first shipment made at that 

 point was May 23, only a week earlier 

 than our Early Scarlet. At this date 



we have this variety on the table. — 

 (June 21.) 



"With us the Wilson was but half 

 grown and not ready for market under 

 a week. In strawberry culture a week 

 is of some importance, especially when 

 we are to compete with points further 

 south. It is true that the Wilson is the 

 berry for long distances, but there can 

 be no objection to the soft berries from 

 this point. Mr. Booth, of Alton, finds 

 that McAvoy's Superior, a very soft 

 berry, reaches the Chicago market in 

 fine condition, and he prefers it to the 

 Wilson. 



When the Early Scarlet |is properly 

 cultivated, it is of a good size, while 

 the flavor is always No. 1. For mar- 

 ket purposes we intend to give it a 

 more prominent pisition hereafter. 



The next berry to ripen is the Mc- 

 Avoy, and one that should not be over- 

 looked by those cultivating in beds ; it 

 is of good size, hardy, and a profuse 

 bearer. Longworth's Prolific is large, 

 and to our. taste one of the very best 

 and should have a high position. Iowa 

 proves a profuse bearer with us ; the 

 fruit is large and showy. Neck Pine is 

 a profitable fruit. Triumph de Gand 

 is very large, and when grown in hills 

 must be productive, but if allowed in 

 beds with runners, is of no value. Gen- 

 esee is very large but acid. Several 

 other kinds have more or less good 

 qualities, bnt not sufficient to be re- 

 tained. 



