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1864. 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER 



231 



could not have a kernel. And now the heavens 

 seemed brass ; the ground was dusty ; of course 

 the corn could not grow. Through Wisconsin the 

 drouth was so great as to affect the price of grain 

 in Chicago, and in somt' places there corn and oats 

 lay in the ground six weeks without coming up. 

 There were frosts, too. Had the Lord bidden his 

 countenance ? 



THE CORN CROP SAVED. 



On Sunday the 19;h as folks wn-e getting ready 

 to go to meeting, all through this whole region, 

 according to the tL'legr;iph, it commenced to rain, 

 and it came down heavy all the forenoon. It was 

 an answer to more prayers than had been made in 

 churches, and thousands without religion fit reli- 

 gious gratitude. The coin crop was saved — it was 

 as good as made. Even if there should be frost in 

 August, as there was lass year, there will be good 

 corn, for it is two weeks earlier ; and, now the 

 weather is hot and sultry, corn never grew faster. 



OATS, WHEAT AND HAT. 



Oats, for want of rain, will be very short, but per- 

 haps there will be an average crop. 



Wheat is fully an average. It is turning yellow 

 even in the center of the State, while here a good 

 part ot it is cut and in shock. I have been told 

 by some who have been through central and north- 

 ern Indiana that the wheat there is much better 

 than in Illinois, and that the area sown is very 

 large. Of course in making these statements, I 

 throw out of the account the fields of many farm- 

 ers who slobber in thtir grain. These are the fel- 

 lows who talk of the fly, of hard winters, and all 

 maimi r of bugs and things. 



Gras.s really is fine, and how hiuh it is I will tell 

 you. The skeletons of the animals which were 

 turned out early in the spiing, and which could 

 not g -t enough to e.tt, are hidden by the gmss. I 

 could just see the bars m ide bv their libs. Some- 

 time a ffood-sized yearling calf goes down out of 

 sight. All day long the cows' milk vessels are sha- 

 ded. This is remote from towns and where the wild 

 prairie has b'fen fene d in, and in many places 

 where it is common. It seems to me as though 

 there was grass en 'Ugh on these prairies to feed all 

 the cattle in our country. 



THE SORGO CROP AND THE CONTRABAND. 



The forwardness of the season is npparent in no 

 crop so much as in that of soigo, for it permitted 

 early planting, rapid germination, and immeiiiate 

 working of the young plants. These now are strong 

 and well advanced, and in the great race with the 

 weeds, which, since the rain all at once cover the 

 grou d. they are certain to keep the start. 



Mr. Nason, of the Cetttral Illinois Coal Co., has 

 at UuQuoin about 500 acres of the different varie- 

 ties of sorgo. The help I saw employed were 

 negroes. They were working faithfully* and, as 

 they hoed, left beautiful hills behind them. Last 

 year some of them did not work well. They were 

 discharged; they came back and wore hired over. 

 They didn't know what it meant to be free. Now 

 they understand it and work well. Others worked 

 faithfully. As I passed by and saw these blicks 

 working in the largi- field, I thought of the picture 

 j in Woodbridge's old Geography, where a long row 

 : of nej:roes are at work in the sugar cane. Their 

 ' garment is a cloth around the middle ; their heads 



are bowed ; the overseer stands by them ; he is 

 well dressed ; with one hand he holds an umbrella, 

 with the other a whip, the lash of which extends 

 over tiie negroes' heads. Here is the sugar cane, 

 here is the negro ; where is the overseer ? Illinois 

 has done something to change this. She changes 

 them by turning them off .and hiring them over, 

 instead of whipping them. She pays them $1 25 a 

 day. He, once a slave, wears clothes enough to 

 make fifty bands going around the middle. His 

 wife is at home, making more clothes and cooking 

 his dinner. His children, most wonderful change, 

 are at school. 



WHITE WILLOW FOR THE PRAIRIE. 



In the absence of timber on the prairies various 

 kinds have been recommended. The locust and 

 other? are kdled by bor* rs. The white willow is 

 known to do well, when cultivated they have made 

 good growth. There is no mistake but in six or 

 seven years they will make a fence, and a valuable 

 timber belt. But they have failed when neglected. 

 The sale of cuttings has been large. 



CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 



A more beautiful or fruitful region is not to be 

 found in the whole earth than the great Central 

 Prairies of Illinois?, and from no other region is so 

 much expected at this time. It is true, and I am 

 glad to say it, that in other Western States, the 

 lands are equally fertile, but here is a large solid 

 area completely organized and fully prepared for 

 the demand made upon it. While other regions 

 faithfully will do their part, this is looked upon as 

 capable of producing a clean, net profit which can 

 be wholly appropriated. Upon Central Illinois 

 rests the task of giving the Govcrnmeiit the great- 

 est aid, and the rebellion the strongest blows. — 

 Other regions, I say, will do their part, but when 

 you count tlie deniand of northern cities and towns, 

 the waste, the losses, the captures, there will be a 

 deficiency, and Central Illinois is required to make 

 it up, and to send not only increasing streams of 

 hay, grain and beef to our armies, but also to feed 

 millions in the Old World. It can do it. For sev- 

 eral years farming has so improved that with the 

 best farmers it has almost becume a science. Let 

 me point out some particulars, that those who do 

 not know may profit. 



THE WANT OF CAPITAL. 



Farmers have labored under two great evils — 

 one of having too rich land, and one of not having 

 capital. Thousands, however, at least, have be- 

 come forehanded, and all their attention is turned 

 to working their land in the best manner. It is 

 simply impossible to cultivate those laige farms 

 without machinery. For several years, a great 

 variety has been introduced ; one would be aston 

 ished to learn how much has proved useless. Ex- 

 perience is deciding which is best. With many 

 kinds further time is required. I am indebted to 

 Prof. Turner and M. L. Dunlap for much informa- 

 tion. 



TOOLS FOR AN EIGHTY ACRE FARM. 



Farmers with 80 acres require a cast-steel plow, 

 costing $20 ; a double A harrow, $15 ; a cast-iron 

 roller, in six sections, 20 to 24 inches in diameter, 

 (a wooden one may do), which with a planter at- 

 tached, will plant and roll 15 acres a day ; or good 

 work can be done without a roller ; cost $76. — 



