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1864. 



THE ILLmOIS FAKMEfl. 



249 



bringing their skill in grain growing, stock raising, 

 horticulture, floriculture, dairying, or mechanic, 

 or household arts in competition and close com- 

 parison with similar skill, on the part of other cit- 

 izens throughout the State. Such rivalry improves, 

 sharpens and benefits in every instance, and in 

 neighborhoods, communities, states, nations and 

 the world, has done more to stimulate enterprise, 

 diffuse intelligence and promote the general pro- 

 gress and welfare of mankind in social economy, 

 than almost any other one thing. 



Our County and State Fairs furnish the times 

 and places for the appropriate display of this land- 

 able emulation, and the best opportunities for 

 learning the valuable lessons it is calculated to 

 teach. To these things quite as much as to her 

 natural advantages and resources Illinois to-day 

 owes her jyrominenee as one of the very front 

 States in agricultural production. Her Annual 

 Fairs have called attention at home and abroad to 

 her capabilities as well as wants, and intelligent 

 farmers have not been slow to avail themselves of 

 the one and to supply the other. 



If in ordinary times, when the nation was pur- 

 suing the even tenor of its way, there was resting 

 upon any citizen any obligation requiring him to 

 use every means for the improvement of himself, 

 as well as his fellow citizens, how vastly that re- 

 sponsibility and obligation are increased and 

 strengthened in view of the present and prospect 

 ive condition of our beloved and bleeding country. 

 If ever any resident of this earth could be plainly 

 required to double his exertion, to seize every oc- 

 casion to increase his knowledge and educate him- 

 self in the art of producing human food, that time 

 is clearly now, and that resident the farmer of lUL 

 nois. 



Relieved, almost entirely, from even the appre- 

 hension of being disturbed in the quiet prosecution 

 of his labors, with a certain market and high pri- 

 ces, and above all, with the assurance that patriot" 

 ism, love of country, love of free institutions and 

 civil and religious liberty, all require it at his 

 hands ; the Agriculturist of the prairie must and 

 will not be found careless and indifferent. Prepare 

 then for the County and State Fairs. Let our fair 

 country women upon whom rests heavily the trou- 

 ble afSicting our nation, join their husbands, fa- 

 thers and brothers, and manifest the interest in 

 these things they cannot help but feel. 



One feature of the coming exhibition at Decatur 

 is worthy all the effort which can be made for its 

 success. "We mean 



THE SANITABT FAIR. ',; 



The Board have kindly consented that the State 

 Sanitary Commission shall erect a building on the 



grounds in which will be deposited the frek gitts 

 of a PATKiOTic PKOPLK in aid of the efforts made to 

 supply the sice and woitnded Fnion soldiers of 

 our brave armies in the field with comforts they 

 need and which cannot otherwise be supplied. Ar- 

 ticles designed to be donated to this cause may 

 nevertheless go to their appropriate departments 

 of the Fair, compete for premiums and be sold at 

 public or private sale. 



We understand that Gov. Yates is about to is- 

 sue a circular to all having trophies of this war, 

 requesting them to forward them for exhibition in 

 Trophy Hall. This idea, if properly carried out, 

 as it certainly will be, will furnish a collection of 

 more interest and value than any other which 

 could possibly be presented to the people ; and 

 which will of itself, amply repay the time and ex- 

 pense of a visit to the Fair. The war-worn and 

 blood-stained battle-flags that waved in the bloody 

 strife at the sacrifice of many a brave boy, and of- 

 ten being reduced to shreds and patches, forward- 

 ed to the State Capitol as monuments of patriot- 

 ism and valor, will be there, and, there too, will be 

 any number of the flaunting banners of the would- 

 be slave confederacy, captured by the Union arms 

 in many a historic struggle. 



An Executive committee for the State Cominis 

 sion will at an early day give the programme to 

 the public and, in the mean time, we can only say 

 to our readers, be prepared to add your welcome 

 contribution to the sacred fund. 



For the Illinois Farmer. 



Crops in Egypt— Caster Oil Beans. 



Clear Creek Landing, Union Co. III. J 

 July 19th, 1864. f 



M. L. Durdap, Esq. Dear Sir: 



Our crops are excellent ; I never saw corn bet- 

 ter in my life. Most of the fields are all silked out. 

 There is a great deal planted in this vicinity. I 

 have just finished cutting my oats ; they are like 

 most small grains in this neighborhood — about 

 three-fourths of a crop. 



Mr. McClure has fifty acres of Castor beans, 

 which promise a splendid crop. Wheat not very 

 good, although very little sown. People are 

 threshing. There is some cotton planted and looks 

 very fine. Farmers are only raising enough for 

 their own use. Sorghum looks finely, and, as the 

 saying is in Egppt, "There is right smart planted.'* 



