class, and from the uniform testimony of its readers, that it is
foremost among the farm and home papers of the country. It will not be
permitted to lose this proud position; we shall spare no efforts to
maintain its usefulness and make it indispensable to farmers,
stock-raisers, feeders, dairymen, horticulturists, gardeners, and all
others engaged in rural pursuits. It will enter upon its forty-fourth
year under auspices, in every point of view, more encouraging than ever
before in its history. Its mission has always been, and will continue to
be--
To discuss the most approved practices in all agricultural and
horticultural pursuits.
To set forth the merits of the best breeds of domestic animals, and to
elucidate the principles of correct breeding and management.
To further the work of agricultural and horticultural organization.
To advocate industrial education in the correct sense of the term.
To lead the van in the great contest of the people against monopolies
and the unjust encroachments of capital.
To discuss the events and questions of the day without fear or favor.
To provide information concerning the public domain, Western soil,
climate, water, railroads, schools, churches, and society.
To answer inquiries on all manner of subjects coming within its sphere.
To furnish the latest and most important industrial news at home and
abroad.
To give full and reliable crop, weather, and market reports.
To present the family with pure, choice, and interesting literature.
To amuse and instruct the young folks.
To gather and condense the general news of the day.
To be, in brief, an indispensable and unexceptionable farm and home
companion for the people of the whole country.
The style and form of the paper are now exactly what they should be. The
paper used is of superior quality. The type is bold and clear. The
illustrations are superb. The departments are varied and carefully
arranged. The editorial force is large and capable. The list of
contributors is greatly increased, and embraces a stronger array of
talent than is employed on any similar paper in this country. We
challenge comparison with any agricultural journal in the land.
THE PRAIRIE FARMER is designed for all sections of the country. In
entering upon the campaign of 1884, we urge all patrons and friends to
continue their good works in extending the circulation of our paper. On
our part we promise to leave nothing undone that it is possible for
faithful, earnest work--aided by money and every needed mechanical
facility--to do to make the paper in every respect still better than it
has ever been before.
* * * * *
SPECIAL NOTICE
To each Subscriber who will remit us $2 00 between now and February 1st,
1884, we will mail a copy of THE PRAIRIE FARMER FOR ONE YEAR, AND ONE
OF OUR NEW STANDARD TIME COMMERCIAL MAPS OF THE UNITED STATES AND
CANADA--showing all the Counties, Railroads, and Principal Towns up to
date. This comprehensive map embraces all the country from the Pacific
Coast to Eastern New Brunswick, and as far north as the parallel of 52
deg., crossing Hudson's Bay. British Columbia; Manitoba, with its many
new settlements; and the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, completed
and under construction, are accurately and distinctly delineated. It
extends so far south as to include Key West and more than half of the
Republic of Mexico. It is eminently adapted for home, school, and office
purposes. The retail price of the Map alone is $2.00. Size. 58x41
inches. Scale, about sixty miles to one inch.
* * * * *
READ THIS.
ANOTHER SPECIAL OFFER.
[Illustration]
"THE LITTLE DETECTIVE."
WEIGHS 1/4 OZ. TO 25 LBS.
Every housekeeper ought to have this very useful scale. The weight of
article bought or sold may readily be known. Required proportions in
culinary operations are accurately ascertained. We have furnished
hundreds of them to subscribers, and they give entire satisfaction.
During January, 1884, to any person sending us THREE SUBSCRIBERS, at
$2.00 each, we will give one of these scales, and to each of the three
subscribers Ropp's Calculator, No. 1.
* * * * *
The sorghum-growers of Kansas are invited to meet at Topeka, the second
Wednesday in February. The Kansas wool-growers meet on the 15th of this
month.
Do not forget the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society meeting at
Kansas City, January 22-25. This will prove one of the important
horticultural events of the year.
If any of our friends have Vols. I to XIV, and the years 1861, 1863 to
1873, and 1875 to 1883, of THE PRAIRIE FARMER, they would like to
dispose of, we should be glad to hear from them.
The fifteenth annual exhibition of the Montana Agricultural, Mineral and
Mechanical Association, will be held at Helena, September 8th-13th,
1884. President, S.H. Crounse; Francis Pope, Secretary.
The twenty-fifth annual fair of the Linn County (Iowa) Agricultural and
Mechanical Society will be held on the fair grounds at Cedar Rapids,
September 9, 10, 11, and 12, 1884. C.G. Greene, Secretary, Cedar Rapids.
If you are in need of a first-class wind mill, find out all about the
Nichols' Centennial as advertised in our columns by Nichols & Daggett,
and see if you do not think it just fills the bill. It is strong,
durable, steady, and it takes and uses all the wind there is going.
Hon. E.B. David, member of the Illinois State Board of Agriculture from
Mercer county, made a brief call at THE PRAIRIE FARMER office last week.
From him we gathered the facts regarding the late meeting of the Board
mentioned elsewhere. Mr. David has long been a staunch friend of THE
PRAIRIE FARMER, and his call was a very welcome one.
Immigration at the port of New York fell off last year to the amount of
66,405 persons, or about 14-1/2 per cent from that of 1882. The total
number landed this last year was 388,342. The greatest decrease was from
Sweden and Russia. From England came 30,818; Ireland, 52,555; Germany,
164,036; Italy, 24,101; Norway, 11,536; Hungary, 11,448; Switzerland,
9,447; Denmark, 7,770; Bohemia, 4,652. Last year the arrivals were
182,893. It is not unlikely that there will be a greater falling off
this year for times are not sufficiently promising here to greatly
stimulate emigration from Europe.
The Crystal Palace Company, of London advertise the holding for six
months, from April 3 next, of an "exhibition of arts, manufactures, and
scientific, agricultural, and industrial products," and invite the
participation of American exhibitors. A court in a central position on
the main floor has been set aside for expected American contributions,
and the ordinary charge for space is two shillings per square foot. This
will probably seem a trifle steep to American exhibitors who are not
accustomed to pay for space in their own exposition buildings.
Last year was not a very surprising one in the matter of railway
extension within the limits of Illinois. The report of the Railway and
Warehouse Commissioners will show that but 135 miles of track were laid.
But there are 10,456 miles of track in use in the State. The companies
among these lines numbering sixty-four, operate 29,370 miles of road or
nearly 20,000 miles outside of Illinois. The total net income of these
companies was $81,720,256 and the dividends amounted to $36,374,474. In
1882 the dividends amounted to but $29,000,000. The average freight
charges in 1883 were 1.09 cents per mile, while the year before they
averaged 1.20 cents, hence it must follow that the amount of traffic
greatly increased over that of 1882.
A lecture course for farmers at the Nebraska Agricultural College, will
be given from February 4-15, by the regular instructors in the college.
One or more lectures will be given on the following topics: Breeds of
cattle and swine; breeding, improving, and care of stock; care of farm
machinery; health on the farm; adulteration of food; economical farming;
tame grapes; ensilage; what to feed; meteorology and plant growth;
sorghum-growth and manufacture; horticulture; principles of pruning; the
digestive organs of domestic animals; injurious insects. A number of
leading farmers of the State have been invited to lecture upon their
specialties. All the facilities of illustration and study owned by the
college will be at the disposal of the students attending the course.
These include several compound microscopes, a good agricultural
library, meteorological apparatus, six breeds of cattle and four of
swine, orchard, nursery, arboretum, vineyard, etc., etc. A limited
number will be boarded at the college farm for a price not to exceed
three dollars per week. Persons attending will be aided in securing
cheap board in the city. Persons expecting to attend or desiring further
information should write to S.R. Thompson, Dean Agricultural College,
Lincoln, Neb.
Some of our readers may wish to paste this item in their scrap books. It
cost to run the United States Government last year the sum of
$251,428,117, expended as follows: To supply deficiencies, $9,853,869;
legislative, executive, and judicial expenses, $20,332,908; sundry civil
expenses, $25,425,479; support of the army, $27,032,099; naval service,
$14,903,559; Indian service, $5,219,604; rivers and harbors,
$18,988,875; forts and fortifications, $375,000; military academy,
$335,557; post-office department, $1,902,178; pensions, $116,000,000;
consular and diplomatic service, $1,256,655; agricultural department,
$427,280; expenses District of Columbia, $3,496,060. The interest on the
public debt amounted to $59,160,131 and the amount of principal paid off
was $134,178,756. The receipts from internal revenue were $144,720,368,
and from custom duties $214,706,496.
The Minnesota State Horticultural Society will hold its seventeenth
annual meeting at the College of Agriculture, Minneapolis, four days,
beginning with January 15th, and with the Minnesota State Forestry
Association on the 18th. A cordial invitation is given to all persons
interested in horticulture and forestry to be present. A large number of
papers and reports are to be read, followed by discussions. These
reports are by persons who possess a thorough practical acquaintance
with the subjects presented, including such men as Peter M. Gideon, J.C.
Plumb, Dr. T.H. Hoskins, Prof. C.W. Hall, Prof. J.L. Budd, Dr. F.B.
Hough, H.J. Joly, J.F. Williams, and others. A number of premiums are
offered for apples, grapes, plants, and flowers, vegetables, seeds, and
miscellaneous objects. John S. Harris, of La Crescent, is President, and
Oliver Gibbs, Jr., of Lake City, is Secretary.
ILLINOIS STATE BOARD.
The Illinois State Board of Agriculture held a business session in
Springfield last week. All the members were present at one time or
another during the meeting. The premium list was revised for the fair of
1884. The premiums for speed were somewhat increased over last year. In
cattle sweepstakes classes it was decided that no animals can be allowed
to compete except the winners of a first prize in other classes in which
they had been entered, except in the case of the grand sweepstakes, to
which will be permitted animals not previously entered for any prize.
The Board is to make a laudable attempt to stimulate corn culture and to
benefit the corn growers of the State. It offers $100 for the best
bushel (ears) of corn grown in each of the three grand divisions of the
State, and a second prize of $50 for the next best sample in the three
divisions. The premium samples are to become the property of the Board,
and the winners of prize premiums must deliver on cars directed to the
agricultural rooms, Springfield, twenty-five bushels (ears) of same
variety that shall equal in merit the premium bushel. The winners of the
second premiums must send the samples and fifteen bushels of same
variety and of equal quality. The premiums will not be paid until the
comparisons of the premium corn with the larger lots are made by a
committee of the Board at its winter meeting in January next. The corn
thus donated to the Board will be distributed to farmers throughout the
State for planting in 1885.
Premiums are to be offered for tools, implements and appurtenances used
in the coal mining and handling industry of the State.
Premiums for poultry have been increased, and an expert will be selected
to do all the judging in the poultry department.
The chicken exhibit at the Fat Stock Show will not be continued.
The committee of dairymen appointed at the late meeting of the Illinois
Dairymen's Association did not present themselves at the State Board
meeting to confer about holding a dairy exhibit either at the State Fair
or the Fat Stock Show, as instructed to do. No explanation of the
failure was made. The State Board, however, to leave nothing undone to
establish its desire to meet the dairymen half way or more, appointed a
committee consisting of Messrs. David, Chester, and Griffith, to confer
with the DeKalb committee, in Chicago, at some convenient time to be
agreed upon.
It was decided to hold the next Illinois State Fair at Chicago the week
beginning September 8th, and the Fat Stock Show at the Exposition
Building, Chicago, beginning November 11th.
SORGHUM AT WASHINGTON.
Prof. Wiley, of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, will soon
issue his report upon the sorghum business of 1883. Newspaper
correspondents have been permitted to make a digest of the report. He
pronounces erroneous the prevalent impression that every farmer may
become his own sugar-maker. Sorghum, unlike sugar beet, contains various
non-crystallizable sugars, the separation of which demands much skill
and scientific knowledge. Sorghum-sugar will have to be made in large
factories. The existing factories have shown that it can be made, but
how profitably or unprofitably can not be stated by Prof. Wiley, who
suggests that farmers near factories may, in effect, make their own
sugar by raising the cane and trading it at factories for sugar. Cane
giving sixty pounds of sugar per ton ought to bring the farmer
thirty-five pounds, the rest of the sugar and molasses going to the
manufacturer to pay expenses and yield profit. The profitableness of
making sugar from sorghum depends largely on utilizing all waste
products. The scums and sediments make manure hardly inferior to guano.
Bagasse, or crushed cane, can be turned into manure by being thrown into
hog-pens, as at Rio Grande, N.J., or it will make a fair quality of
printing paper. It is not economical to burn it. If the manufacture of
sorghum-sugar is proved to be profitable, it will result in supplying to
a large extent our demand for sugar, but as sorghum makes a great deal
more molasses in proportion to sugar than sugar-cane does, the Professor
concludes that when there is enough sugar there will be a great deal
more molasses than can be disposed of.
Prof. Wiley has made experimentally some fair samples of rum and alcohol
from sorghum molasses. Under favorable circumstances one gallon of
molasses weighing eleven pounds would give 2.75 pounds absolute alcohol,
3.03 pounds of 90 per cent, and 5.5 whisky or rum. Thus each gallon of
molasses would give nearly half a gallon of commercial alcohol and two
thirds of a gallon of whisky or rum. As it has been abundantly proved,
he says, that sugar can be made from sorghum, the Government should make
no further experiments in this direction. Prof. Wiley has tried the
diffusion process, and finds it yields 20 per cent more sugar, but at a
somewhat higher cost than grinding. The Government, he thinks, should
purchase machinery for large experiments in the diffusion process, and
should raise its cane somewhere else than near Washington, as land there
is expensive and not adapted to the purpose. The Government should also
make arrangements with agricultural colleges or other agencies in
various States for experimenting with sorghum-culture to determine what
parts of the country are most favorable to the culture of
sugar-producing plants. Prof. Wiley suggests in each State the trial of
two acres divided into ten plots--five for sorghum, four for beets, and
one for corn--to test for purposes of comparison the general fertility
of the soil and the character of the season. The Government ought to
carry on for a series of years the process of selection of sorghum seed
in order to secure an improvement in the quality of the cane.
THE COLD SPELL.
The cold weather of last week seems to have extended over nearly the
entire North American Continent. Nothing for severity has been known to
equal it during a long series of years. East, West, North, and South it
was all the same, differing in degree of course, but uniformly colder
than scarce ever known in the same latitude.
The greatest loss to stock so far as heard from was in that in transit
to market. On some of the roads the losses were heavy. A dispatch from
Independence, Mo., says a train of fifteen cars, loaded with mules from
Texas via the Iron Mountain and Southern road, arrived there on the 5th,
when it was discovered that at least 100 of the mules had frozen to
death, and the others were in a freezing condition. The mules were two
years old and direct from grass. They had been three days without food.
Many trains arriving at Chicago had scores of frozen animals.
No great disaster is yet reported from the far West or from Minnesota
and Dakota. Still there must have been great suffering not only among
the dumb brutes, but among human beings as well. It is fortunate that
polar waves do not visit us more frequently.
The effect upon fruit, buds, trees, and shrubs is not yet ascertained.
It will be a marvel if many localities are not barren of fruit of nearly
all kinds next year.
THE PRAIRIE FARMER will be very glad if its readers will favor it with
their ideas and the results of their observations in regard to the
damage of all sorts done by the intense cold of the first week of the
year.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
William Miller and F. Myrick, Peotone, Ill.--1. What are the laws in
regard to drainage passed by the last Legislature? 2. Who is the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court and who his associates?
Answer--1. This is a question probably neither lawyers nor judges in
Illinois are competent to answer. It you doubt it procure from the clerk
of your County Court a copy of the public laws of 1883 and read the
fifteen pages relating to drainage. 2. The Chief Justice of the United
States Supreme Court is M.R. Waite, and his associates are S.F. Miller,
S.J. Field, J.P. Bradley, J.M. Harlan. W.B. Woods, S. Mathews, H. Gray,
and S. Blatchford.
Samuel Snodgrass, Meade Co., Ky.--1. I have some large, old, and
apparently healthy, apple trees, but they are comparatively barren. What
can I do for them? 2. I have others which appear to be going to decay
and will soon die. Had I better anticipate their death by cutting them
down, or try to save them as I would like to do, for their associations
with the past.
Answer--1. We know no better course for you to take than to dig a deep
ditch all around the trees, say three feet wide and as many deep, and
just within the outer reach of the limbs, and fill this in with half the
earth removed and the other half made up of vegetable matter, ashes,
road dirt, and such manure from the barn and stable as you can spare.
Having done this make an arrangement about each tree that will retain
all the rainfall which comes down to the earth beneath and collect as
much more from the open spaces about as possible. 2. Your old and
decaying trees may be saved if decay has not gone too far. But the
remedy is an heroic one, and rather expensive as you will find. First
treat the decaying trees as described for the healthy ones, with the
exception you add a greater proportion of fertilizers and manure when
you fill in the ditch with half new material. Then (and all this work
should be done, as it can readily be done, in your latitude during the
cold months when vegetation is at a stand) give the old trees a thorough
pruning, even going as far as to remove 90 per cent of all the leaf and
fruit buds on the tree. Then wait for results, looking for nothing more
than a new growth of wood the first year, but fruitfulness thereafter
and a new lease of life. But remember as in the first place, care must
be taken to supply abundant water, indeed as much more as the average
rainfall, so much being absolutely necessary to afford the roots the
amount of manurial plant food, in solution, the new departure demands.
Every fruit-grower knows when a dwarf pear has borne a certain number of
crops, fruit buds cease to form and the tree becomes nearly barren. If
at this stage the dwarf is deprived of every bud, whether fruit or leaf,
and the limbs are left to resemble bare sticks, and at the same time the
earth about the roots is fortified with wood ashes and well rotted
manure, a handsome growth of branches will be made the first year and a
crop of fruit result the second. This, the writer has tried with
perfectly satisfactory results twice on the same dwarfs, and has others
which, having been submitted to this course of treatment, in the fall of
1882, made a handsome growth in 1883, and have set fruit buds for a good
crop in 1884. The life of an average apple tree in Illinois is scarcely
more than 35 or 40 years; but there is no doubt if, when they begin to
show signs of decrepitude or decay, they are treated as above, they may
be made to live and bear fruit for perhaps a hundred years.
AMERICAN ASH.
There are five well-known species of this genus (Fraxinus Americana),
and they occupy an important place as valuable timber trees. This is
especially true of the white ash, more commonly called the American ash.
Of this tree the late Arthur Bryant, Sr., said in his Book on Trees: "It
is one of the most valuable and worthy of culture for the quality of its
wood and the rapidity of its growth. When full grown it is one of the
largest of the trees of our forests. * * * * The prairie soils of Iowa
and Central and Northern Illinois are well adapted to the growth of the
white ash."
WAYSIDE NOTES.
BY A MAN OF THE PRAIRIE.