Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-03-31
Among the Farmers Of Illinois.

uessrs Editors My first look at Illinois
was from the ear window on the Toledo <
Wasbash railroad. The passengers had
taken AN early breakfast at La Fayette, In
diana, and soon after leaving, the broad
prairies, Illuminated by splendid winter
sun, exhibited their beautiful expanse, di-
versified with green fields Of winter wheat,
large herds of cattle and numerous horses
and mules; elegant edifices glistened in the
morning sun, distant church spires and
schoolhouses dotted the landscape-all form
ing beautiful panoramic view, rarely sur
passed. The train carried us swiftly past
beautiful homes, and homes less conspicuous,
log cabins frequently appearing Before
noon the blackening clouds indicated a gath
ering storm. In the after part of the day
cattle and horses were seen seeking the
friendly shelter Of large stacks of straw to
protect them from the driving prairie wind
and snow.
But some of your readers will ask why the
farmers do not shelter their stock in barns,
There are very few barns here and these are
generally quite small, only adequate to shell
ter working horses. have sometimes seen
sheds of straw to protect TO some extent,
the animals from the winter storms. The
fodder for the various kinds of stock is not
preserved in barns, but in stacks. Corn is
frequently cut up while il is yet green, and
shocked, and fed out without husking. II
requires several spans of horses TO do the
work on large farm. Most of the work is
done by horsepower such as sowing, plant
ing, hoeing reaping, and threshing. When
the harvest is ended, the horses not needed
for the farm are turned out To take care of
themselves. have seen large number of
horses and colts in the fields where the corn
had been gathered, feeding upon the stray
ears and husks, when the snow was six or
eight inches deep. When saw these horses
sometimes standing and shivering in the
winds, could but think of the comfortable
provision made for them in Vermont. Horses
are raised for market, but their price is so
small that little attention is generally given
TO it. The raising of cattle has been more
profitable. II costs but little to winter
them. The farmers simply mark them and
turn them out on the prairies, where they
run until fall. They then collect and fatten
them on the abundant crop of corn, and the
business proves very profitable
But most of the lands are now taken up,
and each one has to pasture his stock on his
own farm. But there is now, at least,
great drawback upon the business Disease
often destroys the farmers hopes. visited
one farm where the owner had borrowed
money to purchase stock TO fatten On his
corn, and here saw such number of car
casses scattered over the fields, that was
induced TO make the inquiry, why there had
been such a destruction Of his herd, and
learned that disease brought from Texas
was desolatng his stock.
Darying is of comparatively little conse-
quence. The butter is poor and the cows
give but little milk. And again, that dis
ease called milk-sickness, often comes ON in
warm weather. The first intimaton of the
presence Of this disease is, that the family
using the butter or milk will be taken with
distressing nausea aud vomiting. ! do not
know how extensive this sickness is, but
wherever ] went, heard of it.
Hog raising has yielded large profit
The past year it was not lucrative because
Of the hog cholera. Buyers were cautious
and sellers were anxious 10 get of their hands
uncertain property. | sometimes saw many
dead hogs IN a car, GA tho way 10 Chicago.
DO we buy such pork in New England when
we purchase the Western pork and hams
Even poultry u subject to SOME fatality.
When the good farmer thinks he has an
abundance Of this delicacy, suddenly he must
carry off daily numbers Of them which have
fallen from their roosts during the night.
But the lands are rich and produce album
dainty, and with diligence, frugality and in
dustry, il farmers have health, they will have
abundance. The winter has been hard. and
the snow deep, the cars often being OBJ
structed by drifta Yours, III. lIERRIcE.
Wapellg, Dewitt Co., Illinois.