, 1872-12-16
THE FARM AND GARDEN.

spot 67sc. Lard dull and rather unsettled.
THE FARM AND GARDEN.
The Tiznbcr-H.and5 of Indiana, and
Taeif Relation to Agriculture md
Other Industries OF the Prairie
Co1antry-To What Extent Farmers
May Combine In Order to Protect
Their Own knserests-The Rights OF
monoPoIists.
From, Our 1gr1cH1tura{ Correspondent.
CHAMPAIGN, ILL.,, Dec. II, 1872.
The relation that mutually exists between the
farmers OF Illinois aud Indiana has not been
fully appreciated. The latter Staso supplies
hardwood timber for implements wagons, and
stavcs and poplar and black-walnut lumber for
furniture. Tho direct lines of railroad from
these great forests arc enabling manufacturers
to locate III ali Of our prairie towns. Two years
n3o, whom the Indianapolis, Bloomington d
Western Railway WAS completed, the route
through Indiana was among the forest-farms,
small clearipgs with Lighthouses, with tho e1cep
ton Of Coyington and Charlottesville. The
clearings had been made by cutting down and
burning tho timber, thus adding large expense
to tho cost Of tho land before crops
could bo made. When the road came, the farm
thu. had the least cleared land was found to be
tho most valuable On account Of tho enhanced
value Of tho timber. Last weok passed over
this route. and from the Wabash to Indianapo-
Lis, found tho country alive with industry, cut
ting and preparing this timber for market. Large
quantities Of staves, heading, wagon-stuff,
ploW-beams, and other material were being
loaded for market, while vast amounts, covering
acres of land, were piled up for seasoning. The
staves for tight work are first split, and then
run through n1achine to shape them rcady for
the cooper; and a part have the edges prepared
ready for setting up into casks. This oak tim
ber is superior for cooperage on account OF the
absence of Worn-holes, which arc drawback on
most OF the Michigan and Northern Indiana
timber.
The common barrel Of 80 gallons is nearly out
of date, as the Michigan and Ohio cider-bar1els
hold only 27 gallons and the whishey-or el-
cohol-cask Of 42 to 45 gallons is the one IN COM
mon use, and is Of the size Of the lard-ierce.
or what is called butted stages, 325 per m, to
which is added So for dressing the edges and
shaping them for the cask. Eighteen sta7es and
four pieces Of heading are the number used for
staves. These staves now go to Pekin, Peoria,
Lacon, and other points in our State, by tho
hundred Thousand, ono firm taking 200 m.. or
25 carloads, this fall. Tho Illinois groves fur
nish an abundance Of hickory~poles; but the use
of hoop-i1on is becoming 30 popular that, except
for lard and pork-ba1rels, iron hoops viii be e1-
clusively used.
Thus are the great prairies supplied with the
material that makes them more valuable and at
tractive year after year. The great forests OF
Indiana supply the material for packages for the
shipment Of the products Of these rich treeless
plains that man found ready for the plow. But
this is not ell, for this same timber is giving
employment to thousands OF workmen in our
I'LL +Iaoo ~ INV IA 'rFr
farmers the products Of field, orchard, md gar
deu-thus making horno-demand for many pro-
ducts at q largely enhanced value.
It is a well-settled principle Of political econ
its raw products to dintaut customers; and this
las been pretty fully verified by the Hi
nois farmer, who has depended on q
foreign demand for his crops. This cheap timber
now enables the manufacturer to ship flour IN
barrels, his pork in tiercos, and to compute with
Michigan in apples, cider, and cider-Vinegar
and thus gives an enhanced value to the product
in manufactured condition. It does more than
this, for it makes honc-demnnd for the needs
Of hundreds of thousands, who are directly in
terested in giving to these products their new
value.
Nearly all tho grain from Central Illinois goes
directly East by rail, and the returning cars may
in part be filed With the products of the Hoosier
forests. The whole Rocky Mountain region is
destitute of hard wood, and this road aud others
will find q largo profit in the transportation Of
this timber. The rich farming lands Of Illinois,
and her vast beds Of coal, invite not only the
husbandman, but the mechanic, to show her
abundance. This vast piece Of woodland that
comes up to the Wabash. which was only gloomy
forest to us twenty years ago, has now new
value to tho prairie country for it is the fo1nda-
featuring Enterprises. Hereafter, instead of
paying tribute to other States for these things,
we ehall send ont to the world millions Of dollars
in value Of manufactured goods annually.
Forests of hard wood disapEoa. more slowly
than thosa OF PING, and ere less liable to damage
from foreat-flreB. Tho largo troes are cut away,
and give room to the second growth, which will
have an increased value. We may, therefore,
look forward to long years Of mutual interest
between the farmers and manufacturers Of these
two great States.
THE PRICE or FARM CROPS.
WHITTIER, Lake Co., Ill, Dec. 2, 1872.
a. and read with pleasure your article on the price
products etc In this corner Of the slate the
apd fr at e ny
ception. Tney produce variety, md have usually
something to sell at au seasons. Beef, PORK, wool,
q F s aEt h ts
expenses Of living and hired help keep hc baance but
and while aud cities thrive and are splen.
d'dly hs1ilt up the country shows no advance worth
rpeak5ng 9f dnleed tie farmer TOO gtneray lives
lis aim. The hurlesque idea which proposes the
stopping Of trade, &C., s Of course not pfacttcabe
ing? While the railroad, warehouseman and 1ner-
Chant grows rich out Of the farmer produce the
or grows poor The question is, Can share Of these
products be retained By the producer?
Willie all trades. and guilds combine for
mutual protection, and even carry out unlawful and
unjust rules,.. the great farming elsss
have the opposite quality, and repel each other.
Our agricultural fairs merely strife to see which
shall produce the biggest pumpkin turnp, aud not
t. sec What can be done for general and mutual sayan
tage. Now, what prevents. combination or cheese
producers controlling their product and s2les
Ct Chicago having samples : & o. ~ the
daries Of the Northwest would he the depot that buy
would visit there would be profit saved to the
farmer and with this might be connected wholeale
department to supply the farmer with sugar. cohee,
tea salt, etc., by a quantty-saving another prods
81 of corn, l'oEk, ctc Il this proved success rail-
dealers avail themselves But tho principal advantage
i'll nE estimation, would bo in destroying the reptlhng
Eystetn, and causing feeling Of mutual interest anu
Il tendency to combination.
A. an instance Of combination for mutual beneht,
will notice insurance company in this county. Al
ter paying out TO Potsdana. etc, large eulaa, some
"canny Scots and others combined to mutually in