NAME OF SUBSCRIBERS AS PRINTED UPON THIS PAPER EACH WEEK. THE FIRST TWO
FIGURES INDICATE THE VOLUME, AND THE LAST FIGURE OR FIGURES THE NUMBER
OF THE LAST PAPER OF THAT VOLUME FOR WHICH THE SUBSCRIBER HAS PAID:
EXAMPLE: JOHN SMITH, 56--26. JOHN HAS PAID FOR THE PRAIRIE FARMER TO THE
FIRST OF JULY OF THE PRESENT YEAR, VOLUME 56. ANY SUBSCRIBER CAN AT ONCE
TELL WHEN HIS SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRES BY REFERRING TO VOLUME AND NUMBER AS
GIVEN ON FIRST PAGE OF THE PAPER.
* * * * *
[Transcriber's Note: Original location of Table of Contents.]
* * * * *
1841. 1884.
THE PRAIRIE FARMER
PROSPECTUS FOR 1884.
SEE INDUCEMENTS OFFERED
SUBSCRIBE NOW.
For forty-three years THE PRAIRIE FARMER has stood at the front in
agricultural journalism. It has kept pace with the progress and
development of the country, holding its steady course through all these
forty-three years, encouraging, counseling, and educating its thousands
of readers. It has labored earnestly in the interest of all who are
engaged in the rural industries of the country, and that it has labored
successfully is abundantly shown by the prominence and prestige it has
achieved, and the hold it has upon the agricultural classes.
Its managers are conscious from comparison with other journals of its
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, horticulturalists, 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, 58 × 41
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.
* * * * *
RENEW! RENEW!!
Remember that every yearly subscriber, either new or renewing, sending
us $2, receives a splendid new map of the United States and
Canada--58 × 41 inches--FREE. Or, if preferred, one of the books offered
in another column. It is not necessary to wait until a subscription
expires before renewing.
* * * * *
WE WANT AGENTS
in every locality. We offer very liberal terms and good pay. Send for
sample copies and terms to agents.
* * * * *
WILL YOU
Read about Patrick Barry,
about the corn-root worm,
about mistakes in drainage,
about the change in prize rings at the Fat Stock Show,
about improvement in horses,
about the value of 1883 corn for pork making,
about Fanny Field's Plymouth Rocks,
about the way to make the best bee hive,
about that eccentric old fellow Cavendish,
about the every day life of the great Darwin,
about making home ornaments and nice things for the little folks?
Will you
Read the poems, the jokes, the news, the markets, the editorials,
the answers to correspondents? In short, will you
Read the entire paper and then sit down and think it all over and
see if you do not conclude that this single number is worth what
the paper has cost you for the whole year? Then tell your neighbors
about it, show it to them and ask them to subscribe for it. Tell
them that they will also get for the $2 a copy of our superb map.
By doing this you can double our subscription list in a single
week.
WILL YOU?
* * * * *
The Illinois State Board of Agriculture will hold a meeting at the
Sherman House in Chicago, on the 4th of March next. The principal
business of the meeting will be to complete arrangements for the next
State Fair and the Fat Stock Show.
* * * * *
The annual meeting of the Northern Illinois Horticultural Society will
be held at Elgin Tuesday, January 22d and continuing three days. Kindred
societies are invited to send delegates, and a large general attendance
is solicited. Further particulars will be gladly received by S. M.
Slade, President, Elgin, or D. Wilmot Scott, Secretary, Galena.
* * * * *
The Brooklyn Board of Health petitions Congress to appropriate a
sufficient amount of money to stamp out contagious pleuro-pneumonia and
provide for the appointment of a number of veterinarians to inspect all
herds in infected districts, to indemnify owners for cattle slaughtered
by the Government, and to forbid the movement of all cattle out of any
infected State which will not take measures to stamp out the disease.
* * * * *
Secretary L. A. Goodman, of the Missouri State Horticultural Society
writes THE PRAIRIE FARMER that on the 5th of January the mercury at
Westport, Wis., indicated 26 degrees below zero, the lowest point ever
recorded there. He adds: "The peaches are killed, as are the
blackberries. Cherries are injured very much and the raspberries also.
The dry September checked the growth of the berries and sun-burned them
some, and now the cold hurts them badly. Apples are all right yet and
prospects for good crop are excellent."
* * * * *
It may be of interest to many readers to know that the I. & St. L. R. R.
will sell tickets from Indianapolis and intermediate points to St.
Louis, to persons attending the meeting of the Mississippi Valley
Horticultural Society, at one and one-third rates. Mr. Ragan informs us
that this is the only railroad line from central Indiana that offers a
reduction of fare. The Missouri Pacific system of roads, including the
Wabash, and embracing about ten thousand miles of road, extending as far
north and east as Chicago, Detroit and Toledo, and as far south and west
as New Orleans, Galveston and El Paso, will return members in
attendance, who have paid full fare over these lines, at one cent a
mile, upon the certificate of the Secretary of the Society. The Chicago
& Alton, C., B. & Q., Keokuk, St. L. & N. W., Chicago, B. & K. C.,
Illinois Central, Cairo Short Line, and Hannibal & St. Joe roads will
return members on the same terms. The Ohio & Mississippi will sell
tickets to St. Louis and return at one and one-third fare, to members
indorsed by the Secretary. The Louisville and Nashville will give
reduced rates to members applying to its General Passenger Agent, C. P.
Atmore, of Louisville, Ky.
THE WEALTH OF THE NATION.
The Census Bureau and Bradstreet's agency have made from the most
accurate examination possible an estimate of the wealth and business of
the nation: Aggregate wealth of the United States in 1880 was
$43,642,000,000 (forty thousand and a half billions); the total amount
of capital invested in business was $8,177,000,000 (over eight
billions); and the number of persons engaged in commercial business was
703,828. Twenty-two per cent of all the business capital of the country
is credited to the State of New York. Massachusetts ranks second,
Pennsylvania third, Ohio fourth, Illinois fifth, and Michigan sixth. The
aggregate business capital of these six States was $5,113,087,000,
leaving to all the other States $3,063,923,000. The total recorded
number of traders in the United States in June, 1880--those having
distinctive position in the commercial or industrial community--was
703,328; a trifle over 40 per cent were in the Western States. For the
United States as a whole the average amount of capital employed to each
venture--as indicated by the aggregate of capital in the country
invested in trade (as explained in the table compiled from the
forthcoming census work) and the total number of individuals, firms, and
corporations engaged in business--is, in round numbers, $11,600.
The wealth of the country is, or was June 1, 1880, distributed as
follows:
Millions.
Farms $10,197
Residence and business real estate, capital employed
in business, including water-power 9,881
Railroads and equipment 5,536
Telegraphs, shipping, and canals 410
Live stock, whether on or off farms, farming tools
and machinery 2,406
Household furniture, paintings, books, clothing,
jewelry, household supplies of food, fuel,
etc. 5,000
Mines (including petroleum wells) and quarries,
together with one-half of the annual product
reckoned as the average supply on hand 780
Three-quarters of the annual product of agriculture
and manufactures, and of the annual importation
of foreign goods, assumed to be the
average supply on hand 6,160
Churches, schools, asylums, public buildings of
all kinds, and other real estate exempt from
taxation 2,000
Specie 612
Miscellaneous items, including tools of mechanics 650
-------
Total $43,642
It will thus be seen that the farms of the United States comprise nearly
one-fourth of its entire wealth. They are worth nearly double the
combined capital and equipments of all the railroads, telegraphs,
shipping, and canals; more than double all the household furniture,
paintings, books, clothing, jewelry, and supplies of food, fuel, etc.
The live stock is more valuable than all the church property, school
houses, asylums, and public buildings of all kinds; more than all the
mines, telegraph companies, shipping, and canals combined. It would take
more than three times as much "hard" money as the nation possesses to
purchase all these domestic animals. The farms and live stock together
exceed the value of any two other interests in the country.
CONTAGIOUS ANIMAL DISEASES.
Congress seems bound to act at once upon the question of protection to
domestic animals from contagious diseases. The pressure brought to bear
upon members is enormous, and cannot be ignored. The action of European
States on swine importation from America, the restrictions on the
landing of American cattle in England, and the strong effort being made
there to prohibit their introduction altogether, the known existence of
pleuro-pneumonia in several of the Atlantic States, the unceasing clamor
of our shippers and growers of live stock, all conspire to open the eyes
of the average Congressman to the fact that something must be done. Mr.
Singleton, of Illinois, must be something above or below the average
Congressman, if the report is correct that he does not believe
pleuro-pneumonia exists anywhere within the borders of the United
States, and that he is willing to back his non-belief by a thousand
dollars forfeit, if an animal suffering from the disease can be shown
him. The former owner of Silver Heels, and breeder of fine horses and
cattle at his Quincy farm, must have his eyes shaded and his ears
obstructed by that broad brimmed hat, that has so long covered his
silvered head and marble brow. "The world do move," nevertheless, and
pleuro-pneumonia does prevail in this country to such an extent as to
furnish a reasonable excuse for unfriendly legislation abroad, and we
gain nothing by denying the fact, the Allerton and Singleton assertions
to the contrary, notwithstanding.
IOWA STATE FAIR.
At the late meeting of the Iowa State Agricultural Society, President
Smith strongly advocated the permanent location of the State Fair. He
thought it had been hawked about long enough for the purpose of giving
different cities a chance to skin the people. The Legislature should aid
the society in purchasing grounds. Ample ground should be purchased, as
the fair is growing, and they should not be governed solely by our
present demands. Secretary Shaffer touched briefly on the weather of
last summer, the acreage and yield of crops, the demonstration of the
futility of trying to acclimatize Southern seed-corn in the North, and
the appointment of a State entomologist. He thought the State should
assist the society in distributing its publications. The improvement of
the Mississippi river was briefly handled. The state of the corn during
the past year, the seeding, the yield, etc., were summarized by months.
The corn crop was a failure. The sorghum industry in its various
bearings was discussed. Iowa will yet, he said, produce its own sugar.
The question was raised whether the State should not encourage the
growth of Northern cane. The sheep industry and its peril from worthless
dogs was duly treated. This society was the first to insist on the
necessity of Legislation on this subject looking to the extermination of
worthless dogs. The society proceeded to locate the fair for the next
year. Des Moines offered the present grounds for 10 per cent of the gate
money. Dubuque offered free grounds and $2,500 in money. The first
ballot resulted in seventy-one votes for Des Moines and twenty-three for
Dubuque. Officers were elected as follows: President, William L. Smith,
of Oskalossa; Vice-President, H. C. Wheeler, of Sac; Secretary, John
Shaffer, of Fairfield; Treasurer, George H. Marsh, of Des Moines.
STILL ANOTHER FAT STOCK SHOW.
At the meeting of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture last week, it
was decided to hold a Fat Stock Show at Indianapolis some time in
December of the present year. Liberal premiums will be offered. The
matter elicited a discussion of considerable length, and it was
generally believed that the show, if properly managed, could be made a
success. Even if it failed to realize expenses the first year, the
exhibition would be incalculably beneficial to the State. The election
of new members to the Board resulted as follows: First district, Robert
Mitchell, of Gibson county; Second, Samuel Hargrave, of Pike; Third, J.
Q. A. Seig, of Harrison; Fourth, W. B. Seward, of Monroe; Eighth, W. S.
Dungan, of Johnson; Fourteenth, L. B. Custer, of Cass; Fifteenth, W. A.
Banks, of La Porte; Sixteenth, R. M. Lockhart, of DeKalb.
Three Fat Stock Shows in the West! True, the success of the Chicago
exhibit is having a wide influence. The live stock interests of the
country are fully awakened to the important results from these shows.
They are, indeed, educators of the highest character, and they stimulate
to excellence unthought of by most farmers, ten years ago. Chicago,
Kansas City, Toronto, and now Indianapolis! Is there not room for a
similar exhibition in the great stock State of Iowa? Why do we not hear
from West Liberty or Cedar Rapids?
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
F. J. ST. CLAIR, URSA, ILL.--Who was the first President to issue a
Thanksgiving Proclamation?
ANSWER.--Washington, in 1798, on the adoption by the States of the
Constitution of the United States.
SUBSCRIBER, PEOTONE, ILL.--How many kinds of soils are there, and what
crops are best suited to bottom and what to upland soils?
ANSWER.--There are really but two soils, agriculturally considered,
fertile soils and barren soils. Generally speaking, fertile soils are
the result of the disintegration of mechanical forces and chemical
agencies of limestone rocks; and barren soils--sandy soils--are produced
by similar means, from rocks largely or wholly composed of silex or
quartz. The mixture of these two give rise to soils of an infinite
variety, almost, having many differing degrees of fertility, down to
barrenness. But you have practically but one soil to deal with, a true
limestone soil of high fertility, which has received considerable
accessions from silicious rocks. Your bottom lands do not differ
materially from the upland, except that the former have received
considerable vegetable matter, which the latter have lost. For the
lowlands, corn, grass, and potatoes are the best crops; for the
highlands, the small grains, sorghum, beans, etc. But provide as much
vegetable matter for the highlands as your lowlands possess, and make
the sum of mixture in both alike, and your highlands will grow corn,
grass, and potatoes as well as the low.
CHARLES VAN METER, SPRINGFIELD, MO.--What is the best work on Grape
Culture? My means are small, and I can not, of course, buy a work
costing ten or twelve dollars, however good it may be. Recommend, for
this latitude, something good and cheap.
ANSWER.--For your needs you will find nothing better than Hussman's
Grapes and Wine, a single volume, which will be sent you from THE
PRAIRIE FARMER office, on remittance of $1.50. But there is something
cheaper still, and very good, indeed, but covering different grounds
from Hussman. The Grape Catalogue of Bush & Son & Meissner. You may
obtain it by sending twenty-five cents to Bush & Son & Meissner,
Bushberg, Missouri.
CONSTANT READER, CHICAGO, ILL.--I am thinking of going down, one of
these days, to Florida, with a view to go into oranges and make more
money than I have, or lose it all. I have read a good deal about the
seductive business, in Florida, though but little of the details of
cultivation in other countries. Tell me where I can find something about
how they manage in Spain and the south of Europe.
ANSWER.--Most of the really valuable works on this subject are in
foreign languages--French, Spanish, or Italian. However, for a wonder, a
late publication of the Department of State, at Washington--Reports from
the consuls of the United States, No. 33--contains a valuable and
lengthy paper on Orange Growing at Valencia, Spain, contributed by the
consul there, which you may perhaps obtain through your member of
Congress.
J. D. SLADE, COLUMBUS, GA.--I am interested in a large plantation near
this city with a friend who is a practical farmer. We have decided to
abandon the planting of cotton to a great extent and adopt some other
crops. Having concluded to try the castor bean, I wish to ask some
information. 1. Will you give me the names of parties engaged in the
cultivation of the crop in Illinois and Wisconsin? 2. Where can I get
the beans for planting? 3. Describe the soil, mode of preparation,
planting, and cultivation, and give me such other information as we may
need.
ANSWER.--1. Winter wheat and corn have, to a very large extent, taken
the place of castor beans and tobacco in the agriculture of Southern
Illinois. As for Wisconsin, we question whether a bushel of castor beans
was grown there last year. The two sections where they are now mostly
cultivated are in Southwestern Missouri, by the old settlers, and in
Middle and Southern Kansas, by the first comers. For information on the
whole subject, write the Secretary of the Kansas State Board of
Agriculture for the quarterly report issued two or three years ago,
which was mostly devoted to castor-bean culture. The Secretary's address
is Topeka, Kansas. 2. Of the Plant Seed Company, St. Louis, and also
valuable information--that city being the chief market for the castor
beans. 3. The soil best suited to the crop is a light, rich, sandy loam,
though any dry and fertile soil will yield good crops. For some reason
not clearly understood, the castor bean has been found a powerful and
energetic agent in improving some, if not all soils, the experience in
Kansas being, that land which previously refused to yield good crops of
wheat or corn either, after being cultivated two or three years in
castor beans has borne great crops. This has been attributed to the
completeness and the long time the crop shades the ground, and also to
the long tap root of the plant, which makes it a crop of all others,
suited to dry soils, and hot climate. After preparing the land as for
corn, it should be laid off so the plants will stand, for your latitude,
five feet each way. Three or four seeds are usually planted, but when
the beans are five to six inches high, and out of the way of cut-worms,
they are thinned to one. The cultivation is after the manner of Indian
corn, and the planting should be at the same time. The beans for your
latitude will begin to ripen late in July, and continue to the end of
the season, when the plants are killed by severe frosts, light frosts
doing scarcely any damage. In harvesting, a spot of hard ground is
prepared and the pods as gathered are thrown on the ground and dried out
in the sun. And here is where the trouble with making a successful and
profitable crop comes in. The beans must be kept in the dry from the
time of gathering the pods--one soaking rain always seriously damaging,
and frequently destroying the merchantable value of so much of the
harvest as happens to be on the ground. As in the case of broom corn,
the hot, dry, and protracted late summer and fall months of that State,
afford the Kansas farmer something like a monopoly of the castor bean
crop. It is nevertheless giving place to corn and wheat.
LETTER FROM CHAMPAIGN.
The snow continues to accumulate, the last having fallen before midnight
the 11th. There were only about two inches, but it is drifting this
morning, for all it is worth, before a gale from the West. The first and
second snows stay where they were put at first, but the subsequent ones
are in drifts or scattered all abroad, in the many snows and the
excellence of the sleighing, this winter resembles '78-'79, but there is
more snow and the temperature is very much more severe. I suppose there
is well-nigh eighteen inches now on the ground, something quite unusual
in this latitude. Let us hope it will stay sometime longer yet, and save
the fall wheat.