Mynheer Toe, BY ST. QEORQC JUTHBORNE. .. 1CHAPTBB XL (Ooottauedj ^omthlnf hu evidently befallen lbs ' ructllj Brthala sine* night dosed la. What did joo conclude waa the matter?" ha asks. ?"Well, I thought the fellow had ert Bentiy haaa buklof up the wrong tm," aaya Sandy, solemnly. , Thla time Grimes laughs aloud. "Good guess. my hoy. Ho owea the goose egg on hla forehead, the halt In Ma gait and the bandaged arm to tome one we know.** ?Ten to one It waa that Mynheer 9oef' exclaimed the correspondent talokly. "Go up head, young man. Ton are fcn ornament to the guessing class. Bore enough. It was our Joaeph who handled the Thug without gloves. The beast waa on a mission for his master, and waa thrown through the window by the messenger from Khartoom." Of course Sandy prlcka his ears m> It this chance for a sensation, and pUes the other with question*, which ftfr. Grimes anawera to the best of fela ability. The story Is soon told, and followed by what he has. this morn ing, aeen the baron do?exercise hla ?kill with sword and revolver, aa though there la work ahead. "Aa sure aa you lire. It's going to be Sip and tuck between these two yet/ rm ready to bet on Joe. but I admit ?be caae la awfully doubtful, with that tinman devil against him still. Joe'a ?tar of lock has never yet deserted him. He's the only foreigner to come out of Khartoom alive. Let us hope and pray be will finally outwit that baron and carry off the prise." Sandy has never been more earnest In all hla life, and If something would only come op whereby he could ahow his friendship he standa ready to chip In, no matter what the cost. Thus Joe's friends talk over matters fend endeavor to discover some way whereby the explorer can be benefited. They feel sure the baron haa made up bis mind to push matters to the wall, and that he will not hesitate about the means he employs. If Joe Is challenged, of course he may have the choice of weapons, time and place. He can, therefore, make the best of the bargain. The one thing they fear la that the baron may arrange it so that the lneult cornea from him. Well, If so, Joe will proba bly avenge It on the spot, aad not dream of sending In a challenge. Thua they draw consolation from the situation and hope for the best. Where can Joe have taken himself to? They fall to find anything of him. nor do they aee Tanner and hla daugh ter. T. s delay la not to Sandy'a lik ing, aa he la anxious to send a tele gram to the city on the Mediterranean, engaging his paaaage for India, and frets under the lapae of time. The morning haa gone and the after noon with It. It la evening when the two frlenda run across Tanner In the hotel?Tan ner. who greets them In his usual bois terous manner, as he does all hia friends. Sandy sees his opportunity and makes the best possible use of It. He asks the orator his Intentions about travel, and blnta at how nice It would be If all of'them could go on the same steamer to India* which propoaltlon quite takea the other by storm. Making Inquiries as to data of sail ing and a few other things, Tanner figures on hla own plans,'and then an nounces that Sandy may Include him self and daughter In the party. "How about Mynheer Joe?" "You'll have to aee him personally," returns the orator, with a aly twinkle In hia eyes, as though he can make a pretty good gueas that the party men tioned will not be far away when they leave Alexandria. "Where may be be found?" aaks Bandy. "Think I- know. You see a party of Bnglish officers and leading men were bound to fete the brave boy who came from Khartoom with the last news of poor Gordon. They took him over to the barracks, where a spread had been ordered. I waa pressed to go, but Molly would be waiting tor me at the hotel here, and as I am a dutiful parent and never dlaappoint her, I gavs up the Idea." Sandy has a cloud on bis brow. "How long ago since the party went In7!' \ "More than half an hour, I reckon," repllea Tanner, consulting hla time piece. "They mast have reached the wine snd cigars." , "Very probably*" "Mr, Tanner, was the baron pres ?nt?" "Certainly. That man la every where!" it Is evident that he does not bear malice against the baron, or at least falls to show It. Sandy and Mr. Grimes exchange fiances. "It will be done there?" saya the latter. "No doubt of It, sir." replies the cor respondent. "What's all this about?" asks Tan oer, noticing their peculiar nods and fiances. "We're off to see if Joe goes with ss or stays In Cairo." , And with the words the two friends, ^leave Tanner, heading for tne r>nr racks. As they reached the door of tl:!s in Itltutlon, lood voices are henrd, excite ment seems to reign, and the colonel tan l>e heard exclaiming: "Gentlemen, remember you nre tin fler a military roof! Hcservo nil dem onstrations uutil we separate!" tbe look cxcbMgcd between the twe ienotee that they understand the tnp Inwardneee of this affair It hardly ?cede the glance they take Into the mess-room to corroborate their suspl clone. . It la a ecene they win nerer for get aa Ions aa they lire. ? doaen or more officers and gentlemen hare been at the table; the doth Is removed end dgare and wine served. At one tide of the Colonel stands Mynheer Joe, the hero of Kbertoom; be bolde en empty wine-glass In his hand,whUe upon his face can be eeen a contemp tnona look. B3a eyes are beat acroee the tfcble. Nearly opposite to him Is the baron. With a snowy handkerchief be wlpea the wine from his face; It has also discolored his shirt-front where biases a wonderful diamond, worth a small fortune. Bandy observes bis face- and discer ns hardly a trace of anger there; in fleed, from the sardonic smile one wonld Imagine that this Incident 1> Just what tbe Russian duelist hat played for. Returning tbe soiled kerchief to his pocket* he cooly tosses his cerd across the table In the direction of Mynheer Joe. "You will speedily hear from me, sir," he says, with cutting empbfcsls. "The sooner the better, baron! Re member, I leave on Saturday's steam er," returns the American, while tbe officers look astounded; for, brave men though they are. there Is not one among them who would care to be In Joe's shoes. The Russian bows and leaves tbe room; be can no longer remain at the table with the man who baa thus pub? lldy Insulted him, and ae Mynheec Joe Is the guest of the occasion. It be* comes his duty to depart from tbe mess-table. Bandy la Joined by one of the offi cers, a fine young fellow, who has aken quite a fancy to the war corre spondent. The latter declares It wlli >e his pleasant duty to see Hanv Fletcher become a general some day. He has the greatest faith In hla dash lag qualities. "Tell us, bow did this ugly affalt ?ome about?" he asks, eagerly, foi ihose at the mess-table sppear to have forgotten It In listening to Joe's glow tag story of Gordon's death. "Willingly?what little 1 know," re plies the British officer. "1 was at the other end of the table and failed b distinctly catch the full meaning >f the baron's Insult." "Then he brought It on purposely, as 1 supposed." "We suspect aa much, though his reason Is not plain. Perhaps you gen tlemen know It?" "The same old story?rivals In love." "Ah! That's the truth of It, eb?" , "Was the baron's remark about Bliss Tanner?" CHAPTER XII. "WITH SWORDS?AM HOtJll AfTCn 8TJN RISCI" The words nre deeply atjriilflrnnt nuri Bandy eluteUes bis conipaoion's srin; "I am glad to say It was not. From the little I beard. I believe It con cerned Mynheer Joe's country?some Insulting allusion to the flag that cov ers onr cousins across the water." "Good! And Joe resented It, as any true American would, no matter If bis death was a foregone conclusion," says Sandy, hotly. "But, you see, lt*s a serious thing to bring on a row at the Colonel's mess-table.** "And a still more serious thing to be publicly Insulted there. The Colonel should have seen to It that only gen tlemen were Invited and not the mis erable bound who thinks bis title of baron can cover up all his Iniquities.? The lieutenant glances rather ner vously around, hoping no friend of (he baron would overhear what Is be ng said by the fiery little correspond ent, or there may be a double duel on the tapis. "Honestly, now, lieutenant, if you bad been at the mess-table of a Ger man regiment, an Invited and honored guest, and this man should say ex actly the same against your flag what be did against our stars and stripes, what would have been your action V pursues Sandy. The offloer bites his military mous tache. "Really, my dear fellow, you have ule. There would be but one course for me to pursue, and that to cast his ?lur In his teeth, as a brave man like Mynheer Joe has done." "Exactly! I knew It! Tbon blnmo bin) no more, but rather honor bis daring. TVhen this cur had given the Insult?what then?" "Every eye was turned on Mynlieer Joe, for we all understood wbst was meant. - I saw him shut his teeth hard, but only a slight frown passed over his bronzed facc. Leaning over the table, he looked tbe baron full In tliu fcye and said calmly: 'I return tlio sompllment, bnron. Tlmt lit;? cotild oever wave over the land that harbors l Siberia!" And quick as s flush he emptied h!s wine-glass full Into the ?ther's face." Satfdy's fare glotvs with enthusiasm fie Is proud of his countryman, few more such men a* Mynheer Joe scattered about the world would cnuso * greater respect for the stars and ?trlpes among the nations of Europe. He l(4oks at the explorer, and does not see that Joe ts Impressed with the danger Into which he has been thus drawn by circumstances. "I have great confidence In h!s abil ity, and his lucky star seem* In the nsceiidant," he remark.*, at which I ho officer sayit In a low tone: "Privately, between us. Sandy, 1 earnestly hope lie will do the baron. Hesldes the regard we feel for him a cousin from across the water and die man who avenged tJordon, you understand that we have no love fot the Iiusslan, whose mission to India we ean suspect." "Yes. and It's my private opinion that when he runs up against Joe he'll wish he had taken soim- other course." It In a eood thine to have a son B* knows what tbt 4? the* as well M Mr. the t twoft Ud shot with htetta ?rt. Je?j They ud do at it. Aay man who may ho called f the officers. The same professor rlth whom the baron clayed Is nres* mt. snd with pleasure he agrees xo fence with the American, no doubt delievlng be will have a chance to recover his prestige, lost in the bout irltb the baron thst dsy. When Mynheer Joe takes off his ;oat and vest and puts a belt around its waist he U ready for the affair. (Jpon hia feet he baa drawn a pair of rubber foot-holds thst will keep him trom slipping. He bares his right arm. and Sandy ?ees the profeesor glance at hla su perb bleep* u though pleased. Then the man of foils takes his wrist and feels it. MA wonderful arm. monsieur.** he lays, with kindling eyes. "With prac tice you should be a magnificent twordsman." M8o old Duval used to tell me." re plies Joe. "Ah. sacre! Ton take lessons from dim. so greatest master in Paris. Per tisps I shsll not be able to have se revenge after alL" Meanwhile Joe rolls up his left shirt ileeve in the aame way, an action the professor regards with concern, but which Mr. Grlmea takee to mean hat he has fondly hoped. "Ready, professor?" The foils click and begin to writhe tike snakes, passing In and out with the rapidity of thought. Sandy and llr. Grimes stand near by. They have i deeper interest In this engagement than appears on the surface. Alter looking on for a minute, Mr. 3rimes heaves a sigh of relief. "He'll do. Sandy. I'll stake my life ?n him, even against the Russian. iVatch that magnificent play of the xrrlst. Heavens! I've seen a man sield a sword before, but never like ?hat. Hark! What does he say?that ko fluxla himself rusty and sluggish. Deuce take It, what can he do when n trim, theu? Note the poor protes tor. He actually looks scared. His ?evenge doesn't pan out very well, loes It? I think I'll have to give lim a turn myself to make him feel tood." Thus the usually taciturn Mr. 3rimes rattles on, while Sandy can 'jurdly keep quiet. "Jove! He tosses hie weapon Into lis left hand. Again he is at the pro fessor like a tiger. The poor devil las bad the button against his heart I dozen times. What d'ye think of that left-handed play, old fellow?" laughs Sandy. His companion squeezes his hand, (or once, showing excitement. "I feel as jolly as If sn old ancle had died and left me bis fortune. The baron will meet his match. It will be a royal battle. No danger of our Joe getting hurt Yes. no matter bow well he uses the firearms. I shsll rec ommend swords. The other way both may l>e killed; here, wounds are more possible. Swords are gentlemen's weapons, truly. Look! He bunts the professor?he has bim utterly demor alized?be throws down his foil and bolds up his hand! Enough, gentle men!" It Is as Mr. Grimes has said. The frenchman has been rattled until he can no longer use bis weapon. He laughs good-naturedly. "Monsieur must have his little Joke. He Is rusty this night. What of me?" Ue exclaims, shaking Joe's hand. [To bo Continued.] Ilie gross postal receipts at fifty of tlio largest postofflces for the month of July aggregated *3.838,683, a net Inertnac of $253,802 over July. 1889. FURTHER U8E FOR X-RAYS. Enable Observers to Detect Presence of Pearls in Oysters. At a time when considerable atten tion In being paid to the pearl indu? try of Ceylon, and the government ia taking extensive measures to protect the oyster fisheries there, ft is of In terest to record a discovery recently communicated to the Paris Academy of 8clences by M. Dubois relative to using the Roentgen rays to examine the oysters. It has been found that these rays enable an observer to de ternrine at once whether a living oys ter contains a pearl or not without In* jury to the animal, and in case the pearl Is small the oyster may be re placed In the bed until further growth takes placc and the desired size it reached. In the scientific examination of the pearl oysters in Ceylon It haf been ascertained that the popular be lief that the nuclei of pearls are formed by minute grains of sand 01 other particles holds good in but few Instances, and that In most cases the pearls or pearly exerescences are pro duced' by the Itrltation of boring sponges and burrowing worms. The best germs result from the stlmula tlon of a parasitic worm which be comes Incused and dies.?Harpers Weekly Woman's Vail Stops Power. In investigating the cause of th? sudden cutting off of the power on a street car at New Ixmdon, Conn., It was found that a woman's veil had become so entangled about the trolley wheel as to completely insulate it from the wlr*. Agricultural. In?eta u? quite atattar la habits and Ufa history. The larvae dtTdop ta beans a?dbmi The ma ture beetle* of the tea weevil maj come forth the auM mion. hot the greater number rriti tSB the follow lag spring. If tha aeM is galheasd as oooa aa ripe and subjected to a heat of 145 de grees the weeril wtn he killed. Peas that are planted lata are free from the insect. Orchsids should be cultivated. When the soil la an orchard becomes hard and packed, soil will loae at least 0000 more pounds of water per day per acre, under the law of capillary attrac tions, than where the surface is stirred at least every four weeks. 8ow s peck of peas to each acre of the orchard, and they will shade the land, loosen the soil and fct the same time fertilise the subsoil. The bogs will eat the pea vines and wormy fruit and the land Will be getting In better condition. Just when the crowns are bursting Into leaf Is a good time to divide and replant rhubarb. It is the younger clumps that usually produce the fin est and most succulent stalks, and some replanting should be done every aeeaon. Divisions with one to three crowns attached may be detached from old clumps with the aid of a spade. Replant theee in deeply dug. heavily manured ground three feet apart each way, and do not pull from them this season. Bare the surface roots of old clumps, manure heavily, aad return the soil to the top. ?watt Cora aad Bay*. In many sections sweet corn is grown in large quantities for csnnlng purposes, as well as for marketing in the usual way. As a rule, rape la field corn Is so shaded that it does not get a good start, but the more open plan of rais ing sweet corn gives the rape a chance. When properly sown, at the rate of seven to ten pounds per acre broadcast at the last plowing of the corn it will give one a fine crop for pasturing later in the season and not in the least in jure the corn crop. It is worth trying on this plan, especially as the seed Is not expensive, from twelve to fifteen cents per pound in ten-pound lots of the Dwarf Essex, the only variety wor thy raising. Bedding Material. As It is an object to make all of the manure possible, the bedding of all an imals will be found to aid very mater ially in the matter. If there is no straw that can be used for bedding, any waste material available can be substituted. 8ome farmers use large quantities of sawdust, and shavings from the mills are found available. Anything that will absorb the liquid and keep the animals comfortable and clean will answer a good purpose. The hogs will use up and turn into a good fertilizer a large amount of coarse ma terial. and here may be used what would hardly be suitable for cattle or horses, unless run through a cutting machine. Keep tbese animals well supplied with material and note if they do not give full value for every thing furnished in this Hoe. Balk) HoriM. A writer gives tbe following cure for balky horses: Take a small rope and firmly attach It to the horse*s tall. Take a turn on the doubletree or cross bar, giving alack enough to tighten the traces. If the horses refuse to pull tighten this rope until tbe draft comes on tho tall. No horse ever refuses to pull by his tail. When the horse starts the tail-hold may be relaxed until the draft comes on the traces again. Many balking horses will refuss to start, and others will start ofT all right, but if stopped will refuse to pull. The way to treat this form of vice Is to pull on the tall rope until the draft comes par tially on the tall. Then he will go. The tail draft mny then be gradually relaxed until all the draft rests on the traces. Persist In this treatment and a permanent reformation Is a sure re sult I.atft Plowing* With proper management plowing can be followed until the ground freeses. There are some kinds of soils, particularly of a heavy or cloggy texture, that It is considered better to plow late, thus exposing td the action of the winter frosts. Some farmers like to plant corn on grass land man ured in the fall and then plowed as late as possible before planting, in this way turning under a considerable amount of vegetable material along with the manure, thus getting excel lent results in the crops grown. Tbls plan makes more spring work, but to a certain extent It may be, and doubt less Is, a profitable course to pursue. Farmers should be fully persuaded in their own minds as to these things, and follow the methods that exper ience proves to be the most satisfac tory and profitable for them. Supplying Wnter to Plants. It is not easily understood l>y some that plants can be overwatered. But the fact Is, they may be literally drowned, and this often happens. The position of water in the life workings oj a plant Is chiefly that of carrier; it is taken up by the root*, carries food to all parts of the plant, and mostly , passes off lu the atmos phere through the leaves. This rou tine is necessary; without it growth cannot be made, while a surfeit of water brings decay of the parts in touch with the excess. The times when overwatering Is most possibls ars when a plant is without leaves, dormant or nearly so. and water cannot be used speedily; when the soil is heavy and does nTt clve up the moisture quickly; when a plant has been recently transplanted and new feeding fibers have not been formed to take ug tbe moisture, and when ever ta question, the Ieaves H do not pus the water n readily. Hnn plants may ?after far lack at tagalar watering If tba atmosphere M want; thorough Booking. bat that oatt to an that la needed, aad that thS plant can wall stand. Altbongh the principal object of growing cloTer la to Increaeo the nltro gen of the soil, land should be eeedec' to clover for this purpose long before It approaches a condition of actual pov erty. Although the pooreet Held maj be the one moat In need of additional nitrogen. It la not tho one that will re celve moat benefit from the cloves crop, as It doea not contain hnmni enough so that a good catch of ctorei can bo expected. The pooreet field* ahould hare a good large share of the barnyard manure plowed under, so that they may be ready for clover seed, Ing another year. The clover eeedlnf should bo confined to lands with a suf. flcient supply of humus so that a good catch may be obtained. There are sev. eral definite reasons why soils rich In humus give the best clover catch. These soils retain more moisture and in a capillary wsy. They are In a bet ter physical condition, and plant food la not only plentiful but available. Suitable preparation of the seed bed ia of almo** equal importance with hu mus. The most common practice is to seed clover after grain in ordinary cui. tivated fields, but the plan only suc ceeds well on comparatively new land, rich, mellow and crumbly. Ordinary grain fields are rather unfit for the tiny clover seeds. Unless these are scat tered on a smooth, well pulverised sur face, many will fail to lodge at a depth permitting germination, and many will be covered too deeply. Also a poorly pulverized soli does not permit the rise of the needed capillary moisture. The field should be planked and dragged to a good seed-bed and uniform covering. Rye makes the best nurse crop, as the clover gets the sun the quickest, and the stock should always be kept off the first year.?Prairie Farmer. ChlrkM Coop. Here la a sketch and description of a coop and run for setting hen and chicks. They can roost in it till tho hen leaves them. Ends one inch thick or more; make ends first 2 ft., 2^4 in. long, hack edges 2 ft., 3 in., front edge 1 ft., 11 In. Front and back should be M In. thick. Nail box together and nail two pieces on inside of back and front of coop 3x1, on which put a loose floor. Now take two pieces 2V&xl in? 7 ft. long. Nail one on each side of coop at top edge of front, keep tho back one same distance from bottom. Let them overhang 0 In. at each end, to form handles. Put two on bottom 0 ft long; nail cross pieces same size, between the ends to form the run. Now, cut plasterer's lath In half for end of run and leave a space of & In. to slide a thin board in, another space 2% in. to slide a piece in. Space the remainder and nail on. Cover front, back and top with lath or wire netting. Make an openiug in end of coop for hen, and cover with a sliding board, from back to front to keep hen in and skunks out. Now make your roof. Let it project 3 in. l*>tb ends and front; put leather hinges all the way along the buck and shingle the joints to keep rain out. To make the above give the best results it needs two pieccs in between the rails, thus, X. Then nail the laths on lty In. apart. When you want to confine the chicks in the run put loose laths in between tliem. When they are big enough to run around take the loose laths out. so they can go in and out at will. Now I put a piece 2x1 on euch end 12 in. from the floor to put perches on, and put dirt, water, feed und grit in the coop when you set the hen.?J. liagley, I in The Kpitomlst. Ventilating Stable*. The trouble in ventilating most sta bles is that the windows are situated directly back of the animals and to open them in the winter means draughts whleli are likely to be dan gerous. The illustration shows a plan for providing ventilation without In terfering with the window proper. About two Inches over the top of the window three holes are made, each two or more Inches in diameter. A frame Is built over these holes in which to run a slide, or clips of sheet Iron may be placed* in position as shown at the lower part of the pic ture, between which the sliding liourd may be run. This slide should be wide enough so as to cover the holes thor oughly, and fit snugly, so that when in place no air can come through the holes. A handle of Iron is placed on one end for handling the slide easily. By this method as little air can come in as one ?SNTII?ATIOtf FOR STAM.E8, wishes, or one may obtain all that can | come In through the throe hole* by pulling the board out entirely. This ventilating Idea Is very easy to ar range and the expense Is merely nom inal. Further, by its nse the window may be fastened to remain closed all winter, and any cracks around the ens ing filled in with paper, for the three holes will provide all the ventilation needed in cool weather. This plan is so simple and works so well that there Is no excuse for not putting it in oyer atlon in evorj barn. X most I>artb of the West where the public land* were surveyed and laid off into sections, halves and quarters, the public I rvaus nave l?wn established ou the section line*. These roads consequent ly run either north and south or east and west. crossing at right angles. Tlii* method of locstlug roads is sometime* called "the checker board system." and the term Is quite appropriate. In some States the road laws contemplate th? establishing of a road ou every sec tion line, so they will be only oue tnil? apart, but not nearly all those roads have been actually opened. In comparison with the system, 01 lack of sj'stem, which prevails iu the older settled States of the Kast and South, this cheeker board system ha* some advantages. The roads are not left to be located at liap-hazard. or 011 erooked farm boundaries, or accord lug to the whims or seltlsh interests of the locators. The order ami mathe matical regularity of the system na turally appeals to the minds of those who read about those roads or stutlj them on maps, but to those who actu ally travel them, their location appear* to be wry far short of ideal perfec tion. In fact the system involves two very grave defects. If a man wisher to travel directly north, south, eaRt or west, these roads take hlui by the shortest route. But a large majority of the people wish to travel In othei directions. Let us suppose a man lives exactly ten miles northwest from his country seat. In order to reach it he must travel seven miles east and seveD miles south, or fourteen miles in all. Thus a majority of travelers suffer a hardship In the matter of distance. But the second defect in the system Is far graver. The mathematical pre cision with which these roads are located carries them across hills and hollows without any regard to econ omy in the matter of grades. Where the country is perfectly level there ie no difficulty; where it is rolling the roads can only be improved at a heavy cost in making cuts and fills; where there are steep hills and deep ravines to cross the system is wholly imprac ticable. Doubtless one of the first beneflte that will follow the adoption of the national plan will be the modification of this system so as to remedy these defects in a large measure. Naturally the first roads to be improved in a county will be those leading directly north, south, east and west from the county seat. Then main roads or av* enues leading northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest from the county seat should he opened and im proved. Thus the first defect shall be largely eliminated. The second defect pointed out can only De cured by departing from tlie section lines where the lay of the road makes It economical to do so Under national ard State aid compe tent engineers will be employed to correct errors of location, so as to in crease the usefulness of the roads, and at the same time reduce their cost. The sentiment for national aid k making great headway 'in this part of the country. In Nebraska the Legis lature has declared in favor of It Several members of Congress from Missouri are outspoken advocates of the plan. In Illinois a State Commis sion has been appointed to investigate and report on national aid. In a num ber of other States definite action will probubly be taken In the near future. No "Ortfll" I Congress bas no more widely useful 1 measure of domestic legislation in liand that is contemplated in the bill put forward by Representative Brown low and Senator 00. (WEST PEA BEDS. fh? bed for sweet peas should b* prepared as soou as possible, and the peas planted as soon as tbe ground ea? )e worked in tbe spring. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE. 8trawberrles, black raspberries an# vegetables msjr be grown in tbe appU orchard. Care should be tskeu not U. plant such crops too close to the trees The distance between the outside rowf And the trees thould be increased at the latter Increase In size. Tbe ground should be well fertilised, thoroughly cultivated and every foot utilized, but tmple space should be left a ro an :be trees for root pasturage. TEMPERATURE OF HOTBEDS. The temperature of the hotbeds should be below eighty degrees when :he seeds are plnnted. Wheu the seed* ings are of n size to set out. which will t>e in about six weeks, the ground ihouhl l>e thoroughly cultivated, so is to kill sll tbe weeds thut way be starting. Tbe ground should then ba ?aid off iu rows eighteen to twenty iiches apart. Onions will stand a great lenl of crowding, and some growers 3Ut the rows as close as twelve inches uid the plants three laches apart in Jie rows. A VALUABLE ORCHARD. In Mnrlou County, Pa., is a 140-acre >rcliard. It contains ti'JOO apple trees, ind uiuny thousand plums ami peara. The peaches are set with the apples, mil have done their heat work by ths time the apples need all the room. Mr. I*edy fertilizes well, cultivates pet* *istently, and prunes peaches closely, tie says that profit routes from quality, not quantity. An unpruued tree will set from 12(H) to 'JOUO fruits. He does not wish over 2U0. and fewer ire better. Of large varieties. 130 to ItiO make a bushel, and a bu>hel to a tree 1s enough. This meaus a small ?harge for picking, packing and freight, and a big price for fancy, quality. Mr. Lcdy shipped two and Dne-half bushels to Philadelphia and received *4.95 gross. A neighbor ihipped twenty bushels the same day to same tirm and received grosa Charges for picking, handling, etc., per bushel were the same. The twenty bushel lot gave net returns of thirty cents, or one and one-lialf cents a bushel. The two and one half cent bushel lot netted $1.5(9 a bushel. Mr, Ledy fertilizes with acid phosphate and muriate of potash, 4(M pounds rock to ltM) pounds muriate. For nitorgen he uses cow peas, crimson clover, etc.?Country Gentleman. RAKJ WILL NOT CLOG. Anions the minor conveniences fox the garden worker is the anti-clog rake shown in the accompanying cut. In implements of this character of the ordinary type the grass and othefl matter scraped up from the lawn in? variably clog up the teeth of the rake* so that the operator must stop at fre? qucnt intervals for the purpose of KEEP6T THE RAKE TEETH CLEAR. cleaning the rake 60 that it may b?f enabled to do the work required of it This difficulty is overcome l>y the ur? of the attachment shown in the ac company in,; cut. This makes quit* a valuable addition to the rake when 1t is used for raking the grass and at such times os it is wanted for other purposes, >lke turning up the soil at It Is frequently in sniail gardens, bar may be easily removed. MICE IX.TUUE FRUIT TREES. The horticultural section of tlie Iowa Experiment Station is in receipt of numerous reports from various sec tion* of the State conveying the lnfor? inntion tiiat during tlie recent period in which the ground was covered with snow, many fruit trees were badly girdled by field mice. Such trees. If left unattended, are very likely to die. The majority of them, however, may be saved by covering the injured tion with earth. The growing iHyer which lies just beneath the bark will form a new layer of bnrk If it Is kept moist by banking up with earth for two or three inches above tlie girdled I portion. Tlie earth should be firmly tamped about the stem and pains tak en to see that It Is not separated by. the tree swaying in the wind. Another effective method of treat ment which is more trouble, but surer, perhaps, is to wrap the wound with broad strips of cloth coated with graft ing wax. The wax is made by boiling together four parts rosin, two parts beeswax, one part tallow. To make this work effective the wound should not be allowed to become dried out, nml no time should be lost In covering the girdled portion. In cases wl^ere the injury has not been too severe this treatment may also prove effective iu saving trees Injured by rabbits. In this connection attention is called t* the fact that trees may be protected from Injury by mice by mounding up with earth for a distance of four or five Inches on tlie stem each fail. A large number of young fruit tree* :ir?? destroyed annually by mice which might be protected from Injury iu this way, Womrn of Slum. There are no old maids in Slam, for there all the girls marry, and woman Is not considered to have attain.m1 Ik r highest estate till she has heroine a mother. Then she has readied tlio pinnacle of honor. The cliiel wife is the first wife, and she may not ho sold, Vut if her husband desire to be rid of her he must dhoree her ac cording to the Irw. Japanese workmen are obliged tft wear on tnelr caps and backs an in scription statin# their business v.nd their employer's name.