[ADVERTISEMENT.] To Citizens of Wisconsin and the North west: INSURE WITH THE MUTUAL LIFE INS. Co. OF Wis. It is the best Company for Western men ! The reasons why it is the best Co. are: That it is a Western Company, made up of and managed by western men, doing all or nearly all its business in the Northwest, and concentrating in this one Company a superior class of risks, mostly of young men, or men in the prime of life, and they selected with as great care in regard to eligibility to Life Insurance, as are the risks of any other company. It is true that the Company have neither the age or accumulations of some of the Eastern companies, but is gaining both very fast; is vigorous for one of its age, is doing a large business, having issued 337 policies in the month of December just passed. It is doing its business as economical as the same can be done anywhere, having for its guide the experience of all older companies, and among its managers some of the best business men in the Northwest. NOTICES OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. J. RICHARDSON, of Janesville, advertises the "Badger State Drill." Notice of this drill was omitted last month by mistake of the printer. It is highly recommended, and, we presume, will gain new favor this season, in consequence of the improvements recently made. SEE J. Wesley Jones' advertisement of choice vegetable and flower seeds. Our own dealings with Mr. J. have been of the most satisfactory character, and we feel warranted in strongly endorsing his claims to a large patronage. BURSON'S American Grain Binder appears to be growing in favor. See advertisement. TABERS & Co., of Ohio, advertise the "Quaker Mower and Reaper." "THE AMERICAN CONFLICT." By Horace Greely. We have received specimen pages of this ably written and beautifully printed his torical work. See advertisement. catalogue, just received, convinces us that he has lost none of his characteristic enterprise. SEE Phoenix's advertisement of BloomingIt has thus far made none but safe invest-ton Nurseries. A new descriptive, priced ments, and has paid all losses promptly, and we cannot see why the probabilities of the future may not be identified with that of the Great Northwest. This is the first successful effort ever made to build up a similar institution in the West, and should be the pride, as it certainly is the interest of every business man in this section of the States to identify himself with its growth. This Company issues non forfeiting policies, upon which the whole life premiums are paid in five or in ten annual payments, also the endowment policies, which become due and payable to the party insured upon his attaining a given age, or to his heirs at his death, should he die before attaining the specified age. OFFICERS. 8. S. DAGGETT, Pres. JAS. BONNELL, V. Pres, J. G. McKINDLEY Ass't Gen'l Agent. aptf THE EAGLE Works Manufacturing Co. are ready to fill orders for steam engines, saw mills, sugar cane mills, &c. Address P. W. Gates, Chicago. VICK'S Illustrated Catalogue of seeds is advertised. We have received a copy, and can heartily commend it. SEE advertisement and publishers' notice of Yokohama squash. THOS. HISLOP, of Milwaukee, again offers a fine assortment of vegetable and flower seeds. A careful and reliable dealer. WESCOTT'S Churn and Butter Worker will be advertised in next No. We have just seen butter made by this churn in 3 minutes, and that too under circumstances which warrant the belief that butter may be made by it in 2 minutes. It is now on exhibition at the Capital House. Address Wm. Booth, Janesville. SEE advertisement of Sheldon Bros. under Table of Contents. PUBLISHERS' CORNER. Seeds!!--New and Choice Garden and Flower Seeds. See addition to our Premium List on last page of cover. This offer is intended for the benefit of New Subscribers and the working friends of the FARMER. ALSO, if any subscriber to whom we sent Strawberries last fall, and who failed to get them in good condition, will send us his address (enclosing stamp) we will put his name on the list for seeds. We have received, at considerable expense, some new varieties of garden and flower seeds, cuts of which will be published in the FARMER, from time to time, and shall distribute them to all who entitle themselves to such favors by inducing others to subscribe for the FARMER. Read the following communication: PUBS. FARMER:-Enclosed find $1 for the FARMER for 1864. Among the many seeds you sent me last spring, I consider the O'Rourke peas worth the whole price of the FARMER. I can't do without the FARMER. Why don't every farmer take it? D. WHITCOMB. Splendid Lithographic View Of the City of Madison, the Capital of Wisconsin. We have added to our list of inducements to Agents one of the above engravings for every five subscribers. The sketching and engraving were executed by Louis Kurz, a young artist of Milwaukee. It embraces a fine view of the new Capitol, the Park, University, Lunatic Asylum, Water Cure, Court House, Cathedral, Churches, Business blocks, and residences of the city. It is a work of much merit and will make a handsome picture for your parlor. See last page of cover. [Advertisement.] SPECIAL PREMIUM. Believing the Sorghum interest to be a great and important one to this State and the Northwest, and wishing to do what we can to develope it, we offer the following premium to all, who are disposed to compete for it, in the State. For the best twenty-five acres of cane grown in the same neighborhood, by one or more parties, A complete set of our most improved Two Horse Separate, Geared Sorghum Machinery, with Bagasse carrier, tures complete for setting up and operating, worth at the evaporator, heater, smoke pipe, skimmers, and all the fixshop $260, cash, and capable of making from 150 to 200 gallons of syrup per day. Parties proposing to compete for the foregoing premi. um will need to send to me for entry blanks and circular of instructions, &c. The earlier attended to the better. D. J. POWERS. Madison, Wis., Feb. 20, 1864. Traised from those sent to him from Japan, by his HE Subscriber offers for sale seeds of this new Equash It is of the Turban class measures from four to six inches thick, and from six to twelve inches across, and weighs from six to twelve pounds. The flesh is of a deep orange color, very finely flavored, sweet and dry, very fine grained and without any fibre. It is excellent stewed, and when baked it much resembles a sweet potato in flesh and flavor, and is superior to any pumpkin for pies. It is a robust and vigorous grower, running very freely, having the peculiarity of rooting at the joints like a Verbena, and is a very prolific bearer. It comes early into an ordinary bush squash, so that a continuous supply for bearing, and is excellent for cooking when no larger than a family during the whole season can be bad by growing this variety only. It keeps until February or March. The seeds are warranted pure, being grown by myself. They will be put up in packets containing ten seeds each, at the price of twenty-five cents per packet, sent to any JAMES HOGG. address, postage free. Yorkville, New York City. Packets of seeds can also be obtained of H. B. Lane, 151, Nassan st., J. M. Thorburn & Co., Fleming & Davidson, Alfred Bridgeman and John Vanderbilt. New York Marblehead, Mass.; B. K. Bliss. Springfield, Mass.; R. City: Washburn & Curtis, Boston; James J. II. Gregory, Buist & Son, II. A. Dreer and D. Landreth & Son, Philadelphia; John Saul, Washington, D. C; James Vick, Rochester, N. Y.; Wm. Thorburn, Albany, N. Y.; and at the Office of the Wisconsin Farmer. aptf SEEDS! YOKOHAMA SQUASH.-The attention of our readers is called to a new kind of squash, which is advertised in this number. To any one who is not already a subscriber who will send us $1.03, we will send the current volume of the FARMER and a package of the seeds. S cultural Society, Importer and dealer in all kinds of An old subscriber will receive a package, on sending us the name of a new subscriber and $1.03 Distribution of Premiums. THOMAS HISLOP, MILWAUKEE, WIS. Farm, Garden and Flower Seeds, Green honse and bedding generally, Garden Books and Implements. &c, &c.. begs We shall commence the distribution of pre- Seeds. of which catalogues may be had on application. miums about the 15th to 20th of April, weather permitting. Parties residing near will please call at this office, or send. HAND SEED-SOWER. Price, $7. Adapted to sowing all kinds of seeds in drills Milwaukee, March, 1864. ap2 OFFICERS. JOHN W. BOYD, President. B. F. HOPKINS, Vice President. G. B. MONTAGUE, State Agent for Minnesota. LOSSES PAID BY THE MADISON MUTUAL INSUR ANCE COMPANY IN THE YEAR 1863, Sam'l M Wells, Summit, Waukesha co............ $473,170 84 George Y Freeman, Galesville, Trempeleau co.. John Barnard Malone. St Croix co........ AC Wiggins, Centre, Rock co....... A Richmond, La Crosse.... 473,170 84 33.165 $24,021,935 94 11.107 $8,902,000 00 131,481 33 70 629 48 1,999 55 $34.551 43 32,668 06 525 00 none. 2,008 83 815 31 E Bement, Fitchburg, Dane co.... TD&DM Kanonse, Cottage Grove, Dane co... Geo B Waite, La Prairie, Rock co..... J Howlett, Black Wolf, Winnebago co........ 167 77 Jas Murphy, Hickory Grove, Grant co....... All other claims against the company.. Am't paid for furniture and fixtures... Am't of expired premiums.... 14,404 19 Am't paid for advertising and postage.. 1,011 38 Am't paid for printing....... 1,383 16 Am't paid taxes to Com'r Internal Revenue Am't paid for exchange...... Am't paid for policy stamps.... Am' paid for cancelled policies....... Expenses paid, including all compensation to Officers and Directors, stationery, clerk hire, rent, fuel, lights, and other incidental expenses........ STATE OF WISCONSIN, belief. Dane County, 83 2,305 35 416 68 113 64 526 36 PC Elliott, Freedom, Sauk co............. Jos Smith, Hampton, Minnesota..... 5,263 90 Sam R Lane, Lowville, Columbia co........... Sam King, Fountain Prairie John W. Boyd, President. and Denison Worthington, Secretary, of the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, do solemnly swear that the foregoing statement is true and correct according to the best of our knowledge and JOHN W. BOYD, D. WORTHINGTON, Sworn and subscribed before me, this 23d day of January, A. D. 1864. D. ATWOOD, Notary Public. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE MADISON MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. FOR THE YEAR 1864. J. W. BOYD, Walworth Co. LUTHER BASFORD, Grant Co. 8. D. HASTINGS, Trempeleau Co. II. PARKER PAINE, Minnesota. L Ketchum, Sparta, Monroe co........... J AJennings, Franklin, Milwaukee co.... T Dutcher, Sullivan, Jeff co......... H Hallickson, Pleasant Spring, Dane co.......... 270 00 430 00 35 00 266 00 40 00 14 75 36 85 650 00 12 50 700 00 R Williamson, Hebron, Jeff co...... 66 H H Hunger, Oak Creek, Milwaukee co...... W Watson, Courtland, Col co..... SW Smith, Lamartine, Fond du Lac co....... Wm B Taber, Dover, Racine co..... H Hewitt, Ripon, Fond du Lac co......... FN Jung, Wayne, Washington co.... Wm L Wilson, Harrison, Grant co.... S & J Simon, Springfield, Dane co...... J Henry, Lodi, Col. Co.. This is in every sense a 15.00 200 00 200 00 500 00 125 00 1.350 00 150 00 1,650 00 50 00 40 50 13 00 118 00 10 50 430 75 33 45 15 10 692 68 910 00 72 00 180 00 116 00 576 00 20.00 214 70 725 00 10 00 339 00 125 00 700 00 25 00 112 00 441 CO 4 38 75.00 Sugar Cane Seed. WE have several bushels of the celebrated QUAKER CHINESE CANE Seed for sale. Price 3711⁄2 cents per pound. This seed was selected by Messrs. Blymyer, Bates & Day, manufacturers of Cook's Evaporators, as the best for distribution and general cultivation that could be found in their large circle of acquaintance, extending all over the northern States. It was raised in Eastern Pennsylvania, was selected by B., B. & Day, while growing. The same variety raised at the same place, was distributed by them last year, and gave the best of satisfaction, and we feel no hesitancy in recommending it to our customers. Put up in pound papers Two pounds will plant an acre. We have facilities for distributing this seed largely to parties ordering. The Trade supplied. E. W. SKINNER & CO. Madison, Wis., Feb., 1864. RARE AND CHOICE mh3 Flower Seeds & Novelties 123 75 H 156 40 25.00 310 80 Insuring nothing but farm and homestead propertygiving more protection to the farmer than any other company, because insuring his grain in stacks, and his live stock in fields on farmi, against damage by lightning as well as burning: aud at a cheaper rate because it is care. ful in choosing its members and the kind of property it insues. Twenty-five thousand farmers of this State are members of this company, and their families embrace over 100,000 persons whose interests are protected by its mantle! Office in the Company's New Building adjoining Porter's Block, Madison, FOR 1864. HOVEY & CO., BOSTON AVE now ready their unrivalled collection of German, Belgian, French, English and American Seeds, comprising all the novelties of any note. Their assortment includes the choicest varieties of Balsams, Stocks, Portulaccas, Larkspurs We offer an unequalled collection of Asters, in all the variety of Pivone, Pompone, Pyramidal, &c. of our own raising, which have been made a specialty for more than 20 years, and have been awarded prizes by the Mass. Hort. Society, as follows: First Prize in 1841, '42. '43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 56, 57, 60. '61, '62 and '63. Second Prize in 1846, '56, and $59. 16 varieties in separate packets, $1 50; 12 do. $1 25; 8 do. $1. Catalogues of seeds, fruit trees, Greenhouse plants &c. forwarded to all applicants. mh3 MIVERAL PT. RAILROAD ROM Mineral Point to Warren, Ill., connecting with ill. Central, Galena and Chicago Union, for all points east, west and south. G. W. COBB. Supt. THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE FOR 1864. EDITED BY C. M. HOVEY, PRES. OF THE MASS, HORT. Soc. NEW volume (vol. 30) commenced on the 1st of January, 1864. It is published monthly, and makes an annual volume of 500 octavo pages, with numerous illustrations of fruits, flowers, &c. Terms $2 a year, club rates, 4 copies $6. The volumes for 1860, 61, 62, 63, handsomely bound, and subscription for 1864, $10. These volumes form a complete library, containing 2.500 pages of valuable information upon every branch of Gardening and Rural Art. HOVEY & CO. mh3 Boston, Mass. CHOICE VEGETABLE AND FLOWER SEEDS FOR SALE BY J. WESLEY JONES, CHATHAM A CORNERS, COLUMBIA CO., N. Y. New and Choice Varieties of Vegetable Seeds. I INCLUDE in this list only such as are new and valuable and not readily obtained. The most of them I have received from the celebrated English firm of Carter & Co., London, and they can be confidently recommended including a few American novelties of great merit. Moore's Vegetable Cream Squash. An improved, small cream-colored, oval shaped variety of vegetable marrow, of an extremely delicate flavor. The seed was presented by Thos. Moore, Esq., to the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society of London, and in a communication he speaks of it as follows: "I have grown it for 8 or 10 years and have always thought it to be the best flavored of all sorts I have tested." Price per pkg. 250. Advance Pea-A dwarf green wrinkled marrow of fine flavor, long pods, well filled up, and podding well up to the haulms, very prolific, and nearly as early as Daniel O'Rourke. "The best wrinkled marrow in cultivation." -Gardeners' Chronicle. Per pkg. 25c. Carter's Early Champion Forcing Potato-The earliest frame potato in cultivation, described by the Gardener's Chronicle as "a kidney potato, the earliest yet introduced." 8 distinct var Portulaccas...... 8 finest Sweet Peas 6 splendid var Scabiosa, large fl'd. 6 extra fine var Snapdragon... 12 selected var Salpiglossis..... 12 superb var Waliflower, double...... 8 superb new var Cockscombs.. 9 finest var Calliopsis.......... 6 selected var Climbing plants..... including newest.. 20 Orders for this potato will be filled in April, as soon as all fear of frost is passed, by mail, post paid, and as my stock is small, orders should be sent early. Per tuber 25c Sutton's Student Parsnip.-This was originated by Prof Buckman, of the Royal Agricultural College, Circenster, from wild parsnip, and will be found a great acquisition. Per pkg. 15c. Hood's Imperial Dwarf Red Celery-A stout growing, very compact, solid and hardy variety, of superior flavor. 25c. Carter's St. Osyth Beet-Medium size, good shape, short top, rich deep blood red color, fine flavor, decidedly the best beet in cultivation. I grew this the past year and found it fully equal to the recommendation. Per pk. 25c Henderson's Fine Apple Beet-Compact, short top, roots medium sized and of a deep crimson, good flavor. 10c. Little Pixie Cabbage-Very early, small, delicate flavor. White Japanese Melon-This is the finest flavored thin skinned muskmelon yer introduced. The seed is from Japan. No lover of this fine fruit should fail to try this variety. 25c. 15c. Flower Seeds by Mail. Flower seeds, from their compactness and light weight, can be safely and speedily transported by mail to any part of the country, thereby giving those who live remote from the larger towns and cities, where they can be procured, nearly an equal chance with those living in them, for procuring at a moderate rate all the choice and rare varieties. For the accomplishment of this purpose, we offer the following collections, comprising the most beautiful and showy annuals, biennials and perennials, which will be sent by mail, free of postage, to any part of the United States, at the following prices; 46 66 8 distinct var Delph ninm... 18 finest var Delphinium Chinensis... EXTRA INDUCEMENTS. $1.00 1 00 75 150 75 40 25 1.00 1 00 75 82938823 In almost every neighberhood there are a few persons of taste who cultivate flowers to the best of their ability and to the extent of their means. These may easily club together and send their orders in one letter, and thus avail themselves of the deduction I make on large orders. There are few persons who with little effort could not ob tain the orders of half a dozen neighbors by simply exhibiting the Catalogue, which will be sent free to all who desire it for this purpose, and thus confer a great benefit on their friends and aid in the more general dissemination of choice seeds throughout the country. For the purpose of eucouraging the formation of such clubs, and as a slight compensation for the effort, I make the following liberal offer: Persons sending $1 may select seeds at Catalogue prices amounting to $1 10. Persons sending $2 may select seeds at Catalogue prices amounting to $2 25. Persons sending $3 may select seeds at Catalogue prices amounting to $3 50. Persons sending $4 may select seeds at Catalogus prices amounting to $4 75. Persons sending $5 may select seeds at Catalogue prices amounting to $6, Persons sending $10 may select seeds at Catalogue prices amounting to $13. These will be put up together and sent to one address, or in separate packages and mailed to the address of each individual forming the club, as may be desired. In all cases the postage will be prepaid. The same deduction will, of course be made to any one person ordering for himself alone. I would again call attention to my selection of Asters, In collections which I think is the finest ever offered. I sell the collection at $1, yet if selected separately from the Catalogue it amounts to $1 45. Also my German Stocks, Balsams, Pansies, Carnations, Picotee Pinks, Cinerarias, Calceolaria &c., ail of which have been received from the most celebrated growers in England, Scotland and Germany, and are of first quality. If it should be inconvenient for you to make your own selection, by enclosing the amount you are desirous of expending and stating for what purpose the seeds are required, you may res assured that I will make the selections in the most judicious and liberal manner. Persons wanting a larger quantity or wanting to act as In addition to these, I put up a collection of Asters which I consider the finest ever sent out; it contains 10 packages of mixed colors of the following kinds, viz:-agents, will please address me. Truffaut's New Peony, Peony Perfection, Giant Emperor, During the past two years, our collections of Flower Imbrique Pompone, German Quilled, Ranunculus, Hedge- seeds by mail have been sent to almost every State in the |