badly suited to traveling and hauling a load over the soil, as another kind, after twenty years of experience and improvement, is well calculated for traveling over and hauling a load upon our common railways. It has been suggested that the Steam Plow of the future will travel and plow the land, as a screw steamer or propeller plows and makes its way over the water, the resistance of the medium plowed that is, the earth-furnishing the power that moves the machine ahead. The assistance of steam, as has been intimated before, is not so much needed to help us plow in the common manner, but for subsoiling and underdraining. Steam is also needed to help us use that capital invention, the mole plow. The cost of underdraining as undertaken in older and richer countries, must interfere with its extensive adoption here for some years, but since our soil and subsoil both, are comparatively free from earth-fast rocks, it is quite possible we shall, by the help of steam and the mole plow, be able to avail ourselves of a kind of underdraining, if not altogether reliable, yet one that is capable of affording great benefits at moderate cost.

THE SOCIETY'S PREMIUMS.

The committee was early made aware that an erroneous impression prevailed among competitors, as to what the Society had of fered premiums for. The general tenor of the committee's instructions are sufficiently plain. They are, that premiums are offered for improvements made by the hand of man; whereas a majority of the competitors seemed to entertain the idea that the awards were to be for the best site, soil and location. If the system of offering premiums for farms and nurseries is continued, and the not altogether satisfactory results that have followed, thus far, shuid not carry too much weight, no doubt, in time, the list of competitors will be much lengthened, and in a few years there will come into the ring, many more of the best farmers of Illinois.

THE FARMERS OF ILLINOIS MUST COME TOGETHER.

The present body of Illinois farmers have come together from nearly all States and all latitudes, and therefore there is a diversity of opinion and practice, which helps to keep them apart to a degree that operates to deprive them of their just influence in the State. This influence, if measured by their power and numbers, would make them a controlling party. But in legislation, while the interests and demands of cities and towns have been consulted and satisfied, while banks have been created and railroads chartered, public improvements begun and finished, and special grants, laws and charters made for almost every purpose, the interests of agriculture have been shamefully neglected. All great revolutions have small beginnings, move on slowly, and slowly accumulate strength as they move. If a radical change is to be produced in the agriculture of Illinois and her farmers elevated to their just

level, a great deal of work will have to be done, much time spent, and much patience and philosophy will be found necessary. To this great office are called the working men (you, gentlemen,) of the Illinois State Agricultural Society. Have you not reason to congratulate yourselves on the sum of the successes already visible, some of which are patent in every part of the State?

ONE SECRET OF SUCCESSFUL FARMING.

Nothing was more strikingly forced upon the committee's attention, in the course of their tour of observation, than the fact that where success in agricultural pursuits had been attained, it had been achieved by persistent attention and personal energy. Mr. Ellsworth's beautiful, highly cultivated and extensive nursery; Mr. James N. Brown's noble timber-shaded and sheltered fields, and still nobler short horn stock; the Messrs. Barnard's model farm; the wonderful results already attained in Mr. Overman's young prairie nursery; Prof. Turner's success with the Osage Orange and in fruit culture, and fifty other as bright examples of successful industry, all came from the steady, patient, and long continued labors of the men. And, if, as in all new countries, where the price of labor is high and the hired quite as independent as the hirer, if the closest personal attention is required for success in agricultural pursuits, the certainty of that success may be counted on as surely as the changes of the seasons. The committee were the interested listeners to numerous recitals of fortunes made and reputations gained within a time so limited as to be incredible out of Illinois.

JACKSONVILLE AN EXAMPLE.

The undersigned remembers with no greater satisfaction the time spent on any portion of the trip, than the hours at Jacksonville. Though scarcely thirty years since its settlement, it gives the greatest encouragement to the population of the grand prairie portion of Illinois, as an example of what time, taste and cultivation will do, and how these civilizers have succeeded in changing the bleak, open prairie into every advantage and beauty of a wooded country. What has been done there may be done in every prairie, town, village and farm in the State. The successes achieved at Jacksonville, in the growth of shade and forest trees, ought to be made public, for the benefit and information of the people of the State. The committee gave part of an afternoon to a gratuitous visit to Prof. Turner's place, and though the owner was absent, his grounds and garden were the best commentators on his success and system.

THE TWO LEADING TOPICS.

The undersigned is aware how few of the important matters that forced themselves upon his notice, he has touched upon in this report; he is aware, too, that gentlemen, each from his different stand-point, will perhaps feel that subjects have been handled that

might have been passed by, and ink and ingenuity wasted on matters that should have been let alone. But all will concede that the health and comfort of the prairie farmer depends, in a measure, upon his ability to command a supply of home grown fruits; and the reputation of our State abroad, for fertility and capacity for future prosperity, will, with difficulty, be maintained, if we are unable to show that the recent failures of the wheat crop are factitious, and, therefore, capable of remedy, and not due to defects in the soil and severity in the climate, and, therefore, inevitable. Wherefore, he hopes the leading topics will be approved of all good minds.

HORSES, CATTLE, HOGS, SORGHUM, ETC.

The striking defects in the quality of our common breeds of horses, and the necessity for an infusion of "blood," to give action, power, speed and courage, and particularly "blood" of the thoroughbred of England, where skill, taste, money and experience have been employed, for three hundred years, in perfecting him; the good results that have followed the labors of the Illinois Stock Importing Association, and the demand for other and similar importations; the peculiar suitableness of sheep husbandry to the prairies, and the profitableness of intelligent investment in that line; the great advances made by our short-horn breeders and farmer graziers, the one in breeding and the other in fattening, advances that will give us the best bulls and biggest cows in the world, in a short time; the manifest merit of the Chinese Sugar Cane, and the probability that in a few years we shall grow and make our own sugar; the errors which prevail as to the increase of the hog crop, the probability of high prices for years to come, the consequent profit to follow, and the economy of good blood and high breeding; some considerations going to show that from the increased demand and diminishing supply, the growing of tobacco would be found advantageous in the Central and Southern parts of the State; the worthlessness of a great deal, and the shabby character of nearly all the farm implements and machinery made and sold, together with some calculations of what sum has been invested therein and the certain loss to the farmer of a great per centage thereon; and a thousand other matters of interest in rural economy, attracted his attention and might have engaged his pen, until this report would have put on the form of an Encyclopedia.

CONCLUSION.

But your reporter now begs, in a particular manner, to make his acknowledgements to many gentlemen, who contributed largely by their time, teams, and hospitality to help the committee forward in their work; and among many others, he would make special mention of Messrs. Rosenstiel, Beebe, Mutrfeldt, Whitney of Franklin Grove, Ellsworth, Galusha, Minkler, Overman, Barnard, and James N. Brown.

In conclusion, the undersigned offers his sincerest thanks to the several members of the Executive Board, for the marks of confidence kindly and generously reposed in him, and tenders this report.

All of which is respectfully submitted..

BENJAMIN F. JOHNSON, Chairman.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FARMS AND NURSERIES.

To the Executive Committee of the Illinois State Agricultural Society:

The Committee on Farms, Nurseries, etc., would respectfully report, that we endeavored to give the subject that careful attention to which its great importance must entitle it.

This being the seventh year since the State Society has been in successful operation, the great interest manifested in her exhibitions, the fine display of stock and farm products, excelling the exhibitions of any other State in the Union, had left a strong impression upon the minds of your committee that we were to see a large number of farms, groves, nurseries, etc., in a very high state of cultivation. We had, therefore, set a high standard, by which to be governed. In many instances we felt somewhat disappointed, and will here say, we think many persons lose sight of the objects of the Society.

We do not conceive it to be the object of the Society to give a premium for what nature has done, but art. It is not the object of the Society, as your committee understand it, to award premiums for the best natural advantages of a farm, but, in the exact language of the premium list, for the "Best improved and highly cultivated farm."

We found some very fine natural situations which lacked the improvement and high cultivation.

Under the head of Dairy Farms, the award was to be for the "Best arranged and economically conducted dairy farm."

There were no entries made under this head that would seem to combine the necessary qualifications for conducting dairy business; therefore, no award has been made.

Of groves of timber we saw some that were fine, far surpassing those that were entered. Those that were entered were so common and showed so little evidence of being cultivated, that they are marked as unworthy.

Nurseries, we found in general, to come up much nearer to the standard we had fixed.

For the best improved and highly cultivated farm, of not less. than 500 acres, we award the first premium-gold medal-to Jas. N. Brown, of Island Grove, Sangamon county. The farm embraces some 2000 acres, all kept neat and clean; fences in good order; weeds cut out of the fence corners; around the house, barn,

stables and yards, all snug and in order; fields nicely laid off, with a belt of timber around each, to afford shelter and protection for stock. Most of the timber was locust and black walnut.

Second premium, to W. L. Beebe, of Ogle county.

For the best improved and highly cultivated farm, not less than 160 acres, first premium, to Dr. A. McFarland, Insane Hospital farm, Jacksonville, provided, it is deemed proper that this farm shall come in competition; if not, then no first premium is awarded, as this was the only farm entered deemed worthy of a first premium. [Not allowed to compete.-Ed.]

Second premium, J. S. Shearman, Rockford, Winnebago county. For the best improved and highly cultivated farm, not less than 40 acres, the first premium was awarded to K. K. Jones, Quincy. This farm, we think, shows a higher state of cultivation, for the length of time he has been on it-which is only two years-than any farm we visited, and we think he is entitled to a great deal of credit. Here we found, as on the Hospital farm, large compost heaps of manure. Mr. Jones follows subsoiling and trench plowing, from 8 to 12 inches deep.

Second premium, to John Cook, Springfield.

Best improved farm, for all purposes: First premium, to Lewis Clapp, Lee Center, Lee county. He has a farm of 340 acres, well arranged, for all purposes-fine meadows, fine corn fields, pasturage, a good stone quarry, timber lands, every field cornering to water, a thrifty orchard; very neat house and barn; everything picked up about, nothing laying round under foot; land thoroughly tilled; a place for everything, and everything in its place.

Best arranged and economically conducted prairie farm, A. & O. Barnard, Bloomington, McLean county. Two brothers who live each on the end of a 50 acre lot; the farm is under a high state of cultivation, and the growing crops look well.

Best arranged and cultivated nursery of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubbery and plants: First premium, to Lewis Ellsworth & Co., Naperville. There we found a very large stock of fruit trees of all kinds, an extensive green-house, well filled with grapes, green-house plants, etc.; also, a very large lot of ornamental shrubbery, plants, evergreens, etc., all tastefully arranged and in fine order.

Second premium, M. L. Dunlap, West Urbana, Champaign county. This is comparatively a new establishment, and so far as nursery is concerned, is the most economically arranged of anything we saw. We found he had set out on three sides, viz: North, West and South, of his nursery grounds, a wide belt of silver-leaf maples, calculated as a screen, when grown up, from the severe prairie winds.

Best arranged and cultivated nursery, of grafted apple trees, from one to four years old: First premium, to O. B. Galusha, Lisbon, Kendall county. This is a fine healthy stock of young trees, fit for any man to plant.