Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 3, January 19, 1884. A Weekly Journal for the Farm, Orchard and Fireside

Part 6

Chapter 63,337 wordsPublic domain

Some plant their beds fresh every year, others leave them longer. The root is perennial in character, and consists of fleshy tubers, not unlike asparagus, and may be divided for the new beds; but the general practice is to grow new plants. Always beware of buying old, dry roots, as they will sometimes refuse to grow, even if they look green and fresh. With many, in cutting, the practice is to cut clear through at the bottom, string and all, then by a deft movement of the hands the smilax is slipped from the string which, with the addition of a foot or two to tie again, is at once ready for the next, while others bring to market string and all, these being simply matters of practice or convenience.

EDGAR SANDERS.

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Was Noah's voyage an arktic expedition?

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OUR NEW CLUBBING LIST FOR 1884.

THE PRAIRIE FARMER IN CONNECTION WITH OTHER JOURNALS.

We offer more liberal terms than ever before to those who desire to take, in connection with THE PRAIRIE FARMER, either of the following weekly or monthly periodicals. In all cases the order for THE PRAIRIE FARMER and either of the following named journals must be sent together, accompanied by the money; but we do not require both papers to be sent to the same person or to the same post-office.

We send specimen copies only of THE PRAIRIE FARMER.

Our responsibility for other publications ceases on the receipt of the first number; when such journals are not received within a reasonable time, notify us, giving date of your order, also full name and address of subscriber.

WEEKLIES.

Price of The two the two. for

Harper's Weekly $6 00 $4 60 Harper's Bazar 6 00 4 60 Harper's Young People 3 50 2 55 New York Tribune 4 00 2 50 Toledo Blade 4 00 2 20 Chicago Times 3 25 2 50 Chicago Tribune 3 50 2 50 Chicago Inter-Ocean 3 15 2 50 Chicago Journal 3 25 2 50 Peck's Sun 3 75 3 00 Milwaukee Sentinel 3 00 2 50 Western Farmer (Madison, Wis.) 3 00 2 00 Burlington Hawkeye 4 00 3 00 The Continent (Weekly Magazine) 6 00 5 00 Detroit Free Press, with Supplement 4 00 2 50 Detroit Free Press, State edition 3 50 2 20 Louisville Courier-Journal 3 75 3 00 St. Louis Globe-Democrat 3 00 2 15 St. Louis Republican 3 00 2 15 Scientific American 5 20 4 15 Interior (Presbyterian) 4 50 3 60 Standard (Baptist) 4 70 3 60 Advance (Congregational) 5 00 3 35 Alliance 4 00 3 00 New York Independent 5 00 4 00 Christian Union 5 00 4 00 Boston Pilot (Catholic) 4 50 3 50 American Bee Journal 4 00 3 50 Florida Agriculturist 4 00 2 75 Breeder's Gazette 5 00 3 50 Witness (N. Y.) 3 50 3 00 Methodist (N. Y.) 4 00 3 50 Chicago News 3 00 2 50 Globe (Boston) 3 00 2 75 Youth's Companion 3 75 3 00 Weekly Novelist 5 00 4 25 Ledger (Chicago) 3 00 2 90 American Bee Journal 4 00 3 25

MONTHLIES.

Harper's Monthly $6 00 $4 50 Atlantic Monthly 6 00 4 50 Appleton's Journal 5 00 4 25 The Century 6 00 4 50 North American Review 7 00 5 50 Popular Science Monthly 7 00 5 50 Lippincott's Magazine 5 00 4 50 Godey's Lady's Book 4 00 3 00 St. Nicholas 5 00 3 50 Vick's Illustrated Magazine 3 25 2 25 Am. Poultry Journal (Chicago) 3 25 2 75 American Bee Journal 3 00 2 25 Gardener's Monthly 4 00 3 00 Wide Awake 4 50 3 00 Phrenological Journal 4 00 3 00 American Agriculturist 3 50 2 50 Poultry World 3 25 2 75 Arthur's Home Magazine 4 00 3 00 Andrews' Bazar 3 00 2 40 Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly 5 00 4 00 Frank Leslie's Sunday Magazine 5 00 4 00 Frank Leslie's Ladies' Magazine 4 50 4 00 Our Little Ones 3 50 3 00 Peterson's Magazine 4 00 3 30 Art Amateur 6 00 5 00 Demorest's Magazine 4 00 3 00 Dio Lewis' Monthly 4 50 3 50

For clubbing price with any publication in the United States not included in the above list send us inquiry on postal card.

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MISCELLANEOUS.

ONE CENT

invested in a postal card and addressed as below

WILL

give to the writer full information as to the best lands in the United States now for sale; how he can

BUY

them on the lowest and best terms, also the full text of the U. S. land laws and how to secure

320 ACRES

of Government Lands in Northwestern Minnesota and Northeastern Dakota.

ADDRESS:

JAMES B. POWER,

Land and Emigration Commissioner,

ST. PAUL, MINN.

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CONSUMPTION.

I have a positive remedy for the above disease; by its use thousands of cases of the worst kind and of long standing have been cured. Indeed, so strong is my faith in its efficacy, that I will send TWO BOTTLES FREE, together with a VALUABLE TREATISE on this disease, to any sufferer. Give Express & P. O. address, DR. T. A. SLOCUM, 181 Pearl St., N. Y.

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NOW is the time to Subscribe for THE PRAIRIE FARMER. Price only $2.00 per year is worth double in money.

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PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.

_THE PRAIRIE FARMER is printed and published by The Prairie Farmer Publishing Company, every Saturday, at No. 150 Monroe Street._

_Subscription, $2.00 per year, in advance, postage prepaid. Subscribers wishing their addresses changed should give their old as well as new addresses._

_Advertising, 25 cents per line on inside pages; 30 cents per line on last page--agate measure; 14 lines to the inch. No less charge than $2.00._

_All Communications, Remittances, etc., should be addressed to_ THE PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING COMPANY, _Chicago, Ill._

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The Prairie Farmer

ENTERED AT THE CHICAGO POST OFFICE AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER.

CHICAGO, JANUARY 19, 1884.

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WHEN SUBSCRIPTIONS EXPIRE.

WE HAVE SEVERAL CALLS FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES FOLLOWING THE 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.

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[Transcriber's Note: Original location of Table of Contents.]

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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.

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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.

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READ THIS.

ANOTHER SPECIAL OFFER.

"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.

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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.

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WE WANT AGENTS

in every locality. We offer very liberal terms and good pay. Send for sample copies and terms to agents.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.