, 1859-09-30

- o~~N~1s
both in the exhibition md attendance, though |
the first two days we're vet and rainy. Had !
tue weather been fair throughout, it would hare |
far exceeded the most sanguine expectations OF |
its friends. The ground selected is prairie, |
about mile cast Of the depot, and contains I
eighty acres, which is enclosed with high
fence The stalls arc Of the first class, and what
buildings md fixtures are put up nrc well made,
Us the whole thing is intended TO be permanent
and will doubtless prove successful. The point
is a central one--a1most on the dividing line be-
tween Ceutral Illinois and Egypt-and will Of
course call together the products Of these two
sections, which in point Of soil presents such
marked difference in geological elements.
The slow of horses and cattle was good,
among which were many very fac animals
,slic!. had taken prizes at the State and Satioa-
al Fairs. Of farm and garden products, the
show WAS large and the prizes warmly contested.
The show of flowers was not larye, but good
hut ofapples only tUo lots we're presented. The
difficulty was that the farmers do not know the
uaa,es Of their fruits, and cannot of course
compete without this knowledge; yet we felt
much disappointment, rs the orchards in this
an.l adjoining counties hare good show Of
fruit. A farmers get more accustomed to
these exhibitions, they will make better shows
Of their products. In Irish potatoes, tue con-
test vas spirited, and the samples were more
| numerous and better than at the two grest
Fairs. For the best quarter Of MI acre, four
parties hare entered, cue from Mclean, one
frum Champaign aod two from Coles. The
farmers this way arc becoming well satisfied
that they can grow as good crops Of potatocs
as can be grown near Chicago, and We are well
satisfied that more potatoes will 60 north from
this poiut than will be shipped south. Sweet
potatoes are coming into general use, and the
show was good. The party taking the second
prize in Chicugo took the FIRST here. The great
attraction Of the day was
| WATERS STEAM rLow,
Which came on the ground on the SEC
oud day Of the Fair. 1t drew the two gangs
Of thirteen plows, cutting nineteen feet through
,hc prairie sod without any officially or failure,
to the entire satisfaction of the Committee and
Farmers present. The Society awarded him The
first premium If $780,. Mr.. Waters now pro
poses 10 put the plow to the test Of dollars aud
cents, aud offers to do old land plowing or the
breaking up Of prairie by coutract; aud any
person who wants job Of this kind done,
should address him at Mattoou, where he makes
| his present headquarters. Tic weak parts o1
his machine, which gaze way at Chicago, hare
been repaired, and he is confident that },e wi!
succeed. This is the true way to try tt,is ma
| NJ f,,3rs hr1
tho plowing Of two or three hundred acres vii
20 far to settle The point Of practicabi1ity. vi
hare settled The point that prairie can be as sue
c.ssfu!ly broken up in February md March n!
in June in fact, the easy breaking is now nsor'
thoroughly rotted than that brokeu 12th o
| June, just before long drouth. If anJ doub
this, let them come and see for themselves, ant
they will learn that prairie breaking is no longe
, mystery, confined to June nnd July. or course
the common mode Of breaking is not applicable
, IN late aud early prairie breaking, but is eyc'
much less expensive By at least dollar o'
| the acre at the same time the land is in a
good order for crops. We shall hope to see thi
new principle adopted By the steam p1ow whe
fall plowing the prairie sod will fit it for cro
next season, aud gire this new element Of rraI
, rie greater yalue. Weare satisfied that the sys
ten, Of plowiug md seeding rs at present prae
&ised must soon undergo vast changes. as It i
certain that the prospect OF an advance in farf
: products is not very fattering, and the on1
way ii which we can see any advantage is b
plowiug ut cheaper rate, in tho economy Of II
bor. we can grow wheat Tor twenty cent
lcss d tushel than by the old process, we 'sha