Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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BY E. B. MURRAY & CO. ANDERSON, S. C, THURSDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 6, 1879._VOL. XV---NO. IT. FE?IT CULTCEE. What Traits arc Best Adapted to oar Cll sn&te and What are the Best Methods of Production and Improvement. . By lion. TT. D. Johnson, 'of Marion, before the SUUe Agrictdhinl and Mechanical Society. < After God created man and gave him "dominion over the fish of the sea, the fowls of. the air, and everything that1 raoveth upon the earth,'* hetgave him, as Iiis first gift, "every herb-bearing seed, and ? every tree in the which was the fruit of the tree yielding seed," which includes fruit in its strict, technical sense of every description, thoreby showing the estimate ; which Ha placed upon it as a gift to- our .-? race?a source of continual enjoyment, health and profit, or as Webster defines it to be, "whatever is- produced for the enjoyment of man.or animals by the pro? cesses of vegetable- seisd"?one of the~ -leading articles of our existence, giving _ comfort, health and vigor to our consti? tutions,' it being a well established fact that that part of the population in any, . country which - habitually uses fruits of .. the best ouality are the most vigorous and live the longest, and are the -most active in whatever pursuits they are en? gaged, ar.d also that a liberal supply of I fruit is highly beneficial to stock of all .binds. BgLTbe love of fruits may be said to be -universal, and no home without a liberal supply of them is such a home as ev : cry owner of even a few acres of land should have for the enjoj'ment of himself and family, and without such supply he seed not be surprised- that his children . do not love their home-as they should, and that they find more pleasure at other places, or to find them committing petty thefts in the fruit gardens of his neigh? bors; and the Bnpply of good .fruits. . should not only he sufficient for the fam-> ily, but also for all tho operatives em? ployed upon the farm, net only because they contribute to their health, and keep them contentedly at home, but they attach - them to the place, and in that way the very best labor is secured and perma? nently retained. And an abundant sup? ply of fruit should be supplied for a large part of tho year to the hogs and other stock on the farm, not only because it contributes to their health and growth, - but because it is furnished at less expense - than any other kind of food. y\ The cultivation of fruits, especially the finer kinds, is extremely iisswuflting, as the study of Naturein any of itibranches always is, and is highly improving to the intellects of those engaged in it, in de? termining the aspect; and soITin which each fruit succeeds best; la (he various ways of abstracting from the soil all ex? cessive moisture; iu the various processes by which the soil is adapted to the, dif? ferent kinds of fruit to to gr?wri~upbn'it; in the different methods and times of plant? ing seeds and putting out tress and vines, reference always being had to the ease ' and success of the subsequent cultiva? tion ; in the improvement of old varieties by skillful culture or-in the" production ofnew and improved ones eitoer by the system of amelioration as practiced by Van Mona of Belgium, or that of cross? breeding or hybridizing as practiced by Knight of England, and Dr. Wiley of Chester, S. C.; in selecting the best kinds of frnit-j of different sorts ripening at the same time for each period of the entire fruit seasou; in selecting the kinds which are best suited to the soil and climate in which they are to be grown ; inthestudy of the peculiarities and habits of all the fruits whieh are regarded as worthy of general cultivation or peculiarly suited to any particular location; in the use of the knife in giving the best form and the most vigor to the trees grown, there? by producing early fruiting and longevity -to the trees, and in every respect produc? ing the best results attainable?furnish just such habits and methods of thought as every man who is engaged in agricul? ture, in any of its departments, should possess, because it enables him to bring up his soil to the highest state of cultiva? tion to study and ascertain the peculi artics and habits of the various crops - grown by him, producing the best results, tu produce and improve the various seeds sown by him, and in properly harvesting the crops produced, and I might add, in the selection and management of all the stock raided on the farm. And also I might add, without fear of contradiction, that the farmer who during the entire year supplies himself and those who are , dependent on him with a good supply of good fruits is a good agriculturist in all its departments. A successful fruit? grower cannot be a poor tanner. The cultivation of fruits always keep peace with a high state of cultivation of a peo? ple and improves the tastes nob only of those engaged in it tint of the entire peo file, as is everywhere apparent and is ful y illustrated by the results at Vitieland in the State of New Jersey where "the encouragement of fruit growing and gar? dening in connection with general farm? ing constitutes one of the conditions of the settlement," and has greatly contributed to the success of the enterprise. The first thing to be done by the fruit? grower is to select a suitable piece of land. For the cultivation of most fruits a deep clay loam is best, but the pear nod the grape require a deep, porous soil in which the roots can run deeply with? out coming in coutactwith water. They are more sensitive to atmosphericc bang? es than any of the fruits ordinarily grown by us, and hence the importance of their roots growing deeply. In grow iug fruits in this climate, especially the more tender ones, a northern aspect is important, as trees are injured not so much by the extreme cold as by the rapid thawing and expansion of the sap aud thereby rupturing the wood vessels, and the blooming is delayed by a northern aspect and thereby sometimes a crop of fruit is saved. To successful fruit-growiug the plat of land ought to be natural y well drained, and if not, the first thing to be done is to imtke it so by covered drains. It has been said that the pear tree cannot bear to have its feet in water, and it might be "added that none of our fruit-bearing trees, vines or plants can be healthy ana vigorous in land that is not properly drained, and by thorough drainage the growing and fruit maturing season is lengthened, thereby supplying the early fi-uiis earlier and ripening late fruits which would otherwise not maturo, besides im? proving the character of all the fruits grown. If the s'amps have not all beeu r?inoved, let it. at once be done, as eyery foot of the land h to be devoted to tho fruits and their proper culture. The entire plat of land should be deeply and thoroughly broken up, and then the hole digging for setting nut the trees would be h small matter. The land should be thoroughly manured with composts of lime,' wood mold and muck, or with sweepings from the yard, or with well rotted stable manure, the quantity to be applied to be in proportiou to the depth to which the land has been broken, as deep breaking is often injurious without the manuring is heavy. Do cot be afraid of muking the land too rich, for it is just as important that the land be rich for successful fruit growing p.s it is for whent growing or corn growing, and the peach is no excep? tion to this rule,.though the pear may be from its supposed greater liability to blight when it is forced by high manur? ing and cultivation. I omitted to mention, in selecting a site for a fruit garden, one matter which I regard as be? ing very important, that is never select .one where the same kind of fruits were grown before, because it is difficult to get the trees to live, and if they do live they never do so well, whether it is because the rotten roots are poisonous to the trees or because some element or elements im? portant to their health and growth have been exhausted, I do not know. Before the first tree is planted out the plat of gronnd should be enclosed by a bigh and substantial fence, even in those countries which have no fence laws, so that the trees, and vines when planted may be absolutely safe from the depredations of stock, which often in a single night so mar the beauty and symmetry of the trees that the true lover of trees would sooner see tbem dug up in order that he might again plant over aud train them to suit his fancy of what trees ought to be. ? The fruit garden in our climate should contain at least the strawberry, the plum, the fig, the apple, the pear, the peach, ?thegrape, the mulberry and nut trees, the. two last in a separate inclosnre, and with a little care and attention many of the kinds less suited to the climate might be added. Each tree, vine and plant show? ing to the grower by its peculiarities that it is true to name, and that the growth and form is as near perfect as the most skilful management could make it, all covered over during the early spring with bloom of various colors, tints and hues, which are ornamental in the highest de? gree ; thpp come in succession the rich) luscious fruits, each kind in its season seeming to surpass in appearance and the exquisiteness of its flavor all that pre? ceded it, giving'pleasure; refinement and health to those who share its blessings, surpassing the fabled apples of Hc.-pcri des, guarded by the hundred headed dra? gon, and should lead us to adore the Clod who so richly supplies us with .good things of His bounty, and grateful to the men whom He has used as His agents is producing from the sour crab of the for? est the prince of apples, the Newton pip? pin, And from the choke pear of the woods the'magnificent' Bartlette and ex? quisitely flavored Sickle pear, which has been largely effected within the last cen? tury, and there is no telling or even, im? agining what may be achieved within the next century. God, indeed; loves to ausist man in all his efforts to improve his blessings. I have thrown out some' ideas about the selection of a site for an orchard, the general preparation of the soil, the dif? ferent kinds of fruits which should be cultivated, and the advantages and pleas-, ures connected with fruit raising, and I now come to the selectiotrof the varieties of the different kinds to be planted, refer? ence being had to the appearence and quality of the fruit, the object for which it is produced, whether for home consump? tion or for distant markets, or for the stock farm, and especially for having a liberal supply of different kinds of every period of the year, and of not leaving an over supply at any one period. I wiil at? tempt to suggest the varieties. My ad? vice is to furnish the Lindleys, of North .Carolina, the Berckmans, of Georgia, or the Summers, of South Carolina, with a full description of the plat of land, prepared as above directed, which you intend devoting exclusively to fruit rais? ing, and leave it to them to select and furnish the trees, vines and plants with the'iutention of carrying out the objects above suggested, and leave it to them to suggest where and how each should be planted. You will then have the fruits just as vou need tbem, and the orchard exhibiting skill, experience and design. Don't buy trees from those men who go about over the country with their highly colored plates and catalogues, who as a general thing, know nothing about fruits, but can in a few moments furnish you with the very beat trees you want all property labelled The holes in which trees are to be planted should be from three to four feet in diameter, and should be from twelve to eighteen inches deep and should be filled with rich wood mold or rich scrapings from the jams of the fences, and plant the trees in such way that when the dirt fully settles down they will stand no deeper than they stood in the nursery; for if they are tbey will not be? gin to grow till they throw out from their bodies a new set of growing, or as they are sometimes called, breathing roots, and in that way the growth of the year is en? tirely lost. At the time the trees are set out all the mutilated roots should be cut off with a sharp knife and the roots should be carefully spread out as tbey would naturally grow, and the tops of the trees should be carefully cut back so as to make them correspond with the reduced condition of the roots, and thereby the proper, equilibrium of the two may be preserved. The lower limbs in this climate should not be more than from two and one-half to three feet from the ground, and the tops of trees should be so trained that the sun should never stiiko the bodies of trees more I than three or four vears old except early I in the morning or iate in the afternoon, otherwise tho bodies of the cherry, the ? peach and some others will be killed I where the sun strikes them from 12 to I 2 o'clock, and in addition to that the flavor of the fruit is always affected by I the exposure. The best artificial pro? tection is made by fastening corn stalks i together aud fastening them around the bodies to be protected. No substance is a more complete non-conductor, and they permit the air to pass freely them? selves and also between them and the tree. The cultivation of a fruit garden should be clean andshallow, but it should not be continued late in the season, as much new wood should not be produced af? ter it is too late for it to fully mature. When the trees are small root crops aud vegetables may be grown between them, but no crop that will shade them; and no kind of small grain should ever be sown amongst them, as is very apparent from the appearance of the trees, not on? ly when the crop is gathered, but long afterwards, and if the graiu be sowed more tbau one year the trees commence dying out. After the trees commence bearing well the whole land, with a lib? eral supply of manure, should bo devo? ted entirely to the benefit of the trees. The tops of the trees should bo carefully thinned out so that the light and the air may pasH freely through them, and in order that the roots may bo kept vigo? rous and growing there should be no crossing or over-laping of limbs. All kinds of fruits should be ho planted that they be cultivated with the plough, as it is now cheaply and generally more thor? oughly done in that way than any other. Of all the small fruits the strawberry is the only ono we would recommend for general cultivation. Dowing pronounced it "the most delicious ana the most wholesome of ftll berries,'' and tho most universally cultivated in Northern cli? mates. The plants are early and cheaply pro? duced. They can be relied upon for a crop of fruit every year, and the smallest land holder on a small plat of ground may raise an abundant supply of fruit, for himself and family, and at a time when there are no other fresh green fruits. The plants should be set out annually, as is done by the truck farmers arouud Charleston, or the plants should be put out twelve inches apart in rows three or three and one half feet wide, and the runners should be encouraged to occupy the centre space betweeeu the rows until the crop is matured and gathered, and then the plants standing in the centre between the old rows should be barred with a plough on both sides, leaving the plants standing in the middle of the old rows to be cultivated for the next crop, and setting out each year is in that way avoided, and at the same time the plants each year are young and vigorous, and on land well broken up during the year, thereby securing large crops of the best quality. The fine plums are so subject to the attacks of the curculio that ordinarily they will not pay for the trouble of cultivation, except where grown on hard or paved yards, to which poultry and pigs have free access, but different kinds of the Cbickasaw plums should be produced in every orchard. Different kinds of figs should be grown imevery orchard or garden; the flavor of the fruit is exceedingly sweet and lus? cious, so much so that it is not often rel? ished atfireti but a love for it both iu its green and dried state is Boon acquired, j and one advantage is that it bears several j crops during, the year, and if the first! should be cut off by the spring frosts an- j other is soon taken ou which is almost always the best crop. r. The apple is not only the most exten- j "stvely grown and most highly apprecia- j ted fruit in this country, but also in all temperate climates, and its praises have been celebrated' first in fable, next in song, and now'for the numerous uses to which it is applied. ? - The varities now cultivated are entirely different and far superior to those which were grown bv onr ancestors a hundred years ago, and no doubt may yet be greatly improved; though no variety has of late years been produced which equals the Northern pippin in exquisite flavor. Many of the finest apples can only be successfully grown ia small sections or belts of country, completely failing in all others, whilst others seem to be equal? ly well adapted fo various countries, as the red Astracan,a native of Russia, one of our best summer apples. Lime is essential to the health and long life of apple trees. Where it is wanting it should be liberally supplied, as it greatly improves the character of the fruit. Little trimming is required beyond properly balancing the head of the tree, the cutting out of dead wood and the cutting out of limbs where they are to much crowded. Dowing expresses the opinion that the apple tree is more perfectly naturalized in America, and succeeds better in the Northum and Eastern portions of the United States than in any other part of world. We cultivate the summer and early fall apples of the Northern States as successfully as they are grown there, but their winter apples are all failures as such here, and are not even good full apples. We have many native sorts which keep well, and are of fair quality but we doubt if our long, dry, hot sum? mers will admit of winter apples of the highest excellence being produced in this State, except in the Piedmont region. And although the moun? tains of North and Sonth Carolina may produce no apple equal to the New? ton pippin or to the Northern spy, yet the general character of the winter ap? ples of the mountains is superior to that of any of those produced in any oue of the Northern States, not only in size, beauty and quality, but also in the pe? culiar texture and solidity of the fruit, caused by the genial and extended period of their growth. In the cultivation of the pear tree care should be taken to avoid too rapid or excessive growth, especially late in the season, when the wood does not have sufficient time to ripen. Apart from the blight, which is a disease of modern times, no doubt caused by the highly improved condition of the wood as well as of the fruit,.the pear is subject to very few diseases, and trees have been fre? quently known to live till they were 800 or 400 yeara old, and bear enormous crops. One tree in England, in 1805, covered more than one-half of an acre of ground, and produced in a single year 15 hogsheads or 945 gallons of per? ry. And there is a tree standing in Illi? nois, which was planted by a Mr. Oc kletree, which in 1834 produced 184 bushels of fruit There is no fruit tree the top of which yields so read? ily to the use of the knife, and which forms such beautiful pyramidal heads, and no fruit has been so much improved within the last century by skilful culti? vation. From the astringent pear of the hedge-row, it has become one of the most delicious au J highly prized of all our fruits, and is a favorite in all gar? dens where it is cultivated. The cultivation of the pear, owing to its healthfulnesH, its long life, its great fruitfulness and the exquisite flavor of its fruit, would be rapidly extended in all parts of the country were it not for the blight which some years makes sad havoc amongst the most beautiful trees, laden with crops of the most magnificent fruit. What is pear blight? Is it the work of insects? Is it a fungus growth in or upon the wood ? Or is it the rupture of the wood vessels caused by extremes of heat or cold, or by the too rapid growth of the wood? The latter now seems to be the more common opin? ion, as those kinds which grow slowly and mature their wood early are less lia? ble to its ravages, and the disease often makes its appearance, after sudden and extreme changes of temperature, and less frequently on northern than on southern exposures. The pomologist who will detect the true character of the disease and will prescribe an efficient remedy will indeed be a benefactor of his race, and will annually add millions of wealth to the nation. There is no fruit more highly apprecia? ted during the summer than the peach, or one that contributes so much to heahhfulness, or is more profitably grown. The proper culture requires that from one-half to two-thirds of the wood grown during the past year should be cut back, just before the buds com? mence swelling; in that way the vigor of every part of the tree may be preserved. There will be no dying out of the small limbs, or the bodies of the larger limbs of the trees; the blooms are reduced to the same extent that the wood is cut back, and in that way the fruit is thinned out, and grows larger and matures better. And when the trees are properly cut back every year their heads will be low and spreading, and thereby completely shading the trunks of the trees. And during the fruit season there will be no breaking down of long and unsightly limbs, thereby leaving the trees the I merest caricatures of what they should be under a proper system of pruning. When the training is judiciously done the trees will come into bearing sooner, will produce more abundantly, and will continue in vigor much longer. The only enemies to which peach trees ! in tliis climato are liable are the borers, and their presence may be easily detect? ed by thick gum exuding from the color of the tree, at or near the surface of the ground, and they should al ways be promptly removed by the knife. There is no region of the world where the peach can be more easily and successful? ly grown than in South Carolina. Com? pare the growth of the tree, ihelongevity of it and the superior size and flavor of fruit to that grown in the best, portions of the Middle States, and all the advantages are in favor of those grown in this State, j No fruit is grown so extensively as the grape, which is a native of all temperate and tropical climates, and has been: highly appreciated ever since Noah J planted a vineyard. Wine was one of ; the promised blessings of Canaan, both : for its fruit and the wine made therefrom. One great mistake has been in attempt ing to cultivate European varieties or; seedlings from them, instead of iraprov ing our. native varieties both by planting ; seed and hybridizing; ium which such sorts as the Delaware, the Concord, the Hartford Prolific and the Palmetto : Chester have been produced, and should be in every garden. But the most valua? ble grape for us to grow is the Scupper- j hong, and its varieties, such as the Thorn as and the Flowers, which in any deep, J porous soil, even in our poorest sand i hills, produce enormous crops of good fruit. One vine of the Flowers grape, hot more than from 20 to 30 years old, in j Bladcn County, N. C, produced oue year over 300 gallons of wine. We believe that Nature has not been more lavi?h of her gifts to any other por? tion of the world than she has been to the Southern States. All the cereals and all the fruits grown in the Middle and Northern States are grown easily and suc? cessfully in the South, except the cherry and some of the small fruits, and even these do well in our mountains, and many of the most valuable tropical fruits are successfully grown in our seacoast re? gion. But we do not properly appreci? ate and improve our advantages. Fruits produced and shipped North are sold for large profits, long before the great mass of our farmers have them for their own consumption, aud those which they do have are ordinarily of the most inferior kinds, produced from seedlings scattered about in the cotton or corn fields, or in the fence jams. The very ease, cheap? ness and abundance with which the best fruits might be grown are leading causes why we do not do it. Of late years more attention is paid to planting grafted and budded tree3, but too many of them are purchased from traveling tree ped? dlers. But it is too often the case they are planted out in rudest manner, and then, just as soon as they will bear it, their limbs are cut off so high that the tallest horse or mule on the farm may pass under them without touching the lower branches. The next thing is to sec that there shall not be a stalk of corn or cotton less grown on the land because trees have been planted out on it. Then the crops are to be ploughed exclusively for their benefit, and regard less of the roots of the trees, and finally the stock of the farm are turned into the fields, so they may have the run of them and of the trees during the fall and winter; and then the poor farmer will tell you that our climate and soil do not suit fruit growing. Iu my section of the State there was more attention paid to raising apples and peaches rifty years a<jo than there is now. They then planted entirely seedling trees, and .he great mer? it of their fruit was that it pretty much all ripened at the same time, that is just after their crops were laid by, when they had a happy time generally. We still have too many of their seedlings, without the good times?all owing to the fact that the energies and intellects of our peo? ple are devoted to the production of too much cotton, coru ana small grain.? With the same energy and skill applied that was in former years devoted to the cultivation of indigo, rice and long cotton, I believe the South would surpass in fruit growing any other portion of the world. A Prairie Fire. Next to calamities like that the home? steader's wife told uf, the great besetting fear of the settler* on the border?in all the new and thinly peopled portions of Kansas, iu fact?is the coming of the au? tumn prairie fire, which so frequently menaces their stacks and cribs, their helpless stock, their stable and cabins, ana even their lives. Were it not for its known danger and power of havoc, this tempest and scourge of fire would be a spectacle of commanding force and beau? ty. First, you will catch glimpses of what you take to be gray wisps of haze away offon the horizon, aud watching, you will see these vagrant particles deepen gradually, nnd gather into a definite vol muc of smoke, olack, like a rain-cloud, and bronze about the edgps. Then the Strange, somber bulk starts forward across the prairie, and you hold your breath at sight of the rapid progress of it. (A mile in two'minutcs is not an excep? tional rate of speed for a lire once fairly under way.) It halls an instant, you note, over a broad swale where there is standing water; but it is for an instant only. The next moment it reaches the> upland again and dry grass; and directly it grasps a belt of the tall, thick blue stem, and the flame leaps suddenly and madly out above the smoke, then sub? sides again, and the black mass grows blacker than ever, and rolls higher and you can scent the burning grass, and hear the distant roar of the fire?an aw? ful roar, resembling the sound of artillery in heavy timber. And it is so calm im? mediately about you that you do not so much as miss the ticking of your watch in your pocket; there is no breath of air stirring, and the sun is shining, and the heavens above you are blue and pla? cid. But the Btillness will be broken soon. The oncoming cloud is only a few miles away now, and you easily trace the scarlet and terrific energy in its base; the smoke begins to hurt your eyes, too, and the heat, becomes heavily oppressive. And then, all at once, the wind smites and staggers you. that sppnlling roar deaf? ens you and the sun is blotted out, and you are in a darkness as of a midnight without moon or star. It is an experi enc- of but a do;:en seconds or so, this suddlu plunge into darkness, though it seems an hour, and when you look out again you find that the fire has passed you a mile or more to your right, and is stili rolliug desperately onward; and there in its track are charred and smoldering stneks of hay, and an occa? sional house aflame and tottering to its fall, and a group of men and boys beating back the outer line of the fire with brush and old clothes, arid sending forward lit? tle counter-fires to meet it and If pos<i sible keep it at a safe distance. The creek may stop it and ?'mother it when it gets there, though such a hope has mure chance for a warrant; sometimes these mighty conflagrations vault across streams twenty or thirty yurds in width, so swift and resistless is their momentum; and as a rule they are effectually stayed only when they reach a wide extent of plowed land, and have to yield, sullenly, for lack of anything more to feed their inexora? ble furry.?Scribncrfor November. A MODERS MIRACLE. A Young Lndy Cured bjr Fnllh After llcing an Invalid for >"enrly Two Years. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser. One of the most marvelous cases of re? storation to health ever made public is that of Miss Carrie F. Judd, daughter of Mr. 0. K. Judd, for the past twenty seven years in the American Express office, and who resides at No. 260 Con? necticut street. From an account of the case written by the young lady to a friend we take the following extracts: "On January 6, 1877, after a gradual decline of health, I was prostrated with an attack of nervous fever, proceeding from my epinc, the result probably of a severe fall on a stone sidewalk several months before. My disease grew ir.co settled spine difficulty, accompanied with hyperaisthesia of my spine, hips, knees and ankles. So great was the sensitive? ness of these portions of my body that it was impossible for myself even to touch them however lightly, and we often had to take means to prevent my clothes touching them. The nerves in my spine and large joints were so unnaturally alive that they felt as if they were bare, and the slightest noise or jar in the room would cause them to vibrate, giving me great agony. I suffered such intense pain in my head that I could scarcely live, and sometimes I could not even stir my eyelids. I could not endure a ray of light, and my sense of hearing was un? naturally acute. We were obliged to ex? clude everybody front the room except? ing those who had the enre of nie. I be? came more and more helpless, until I couid not tarn over alone or move myself a particle iu bed, though I helped myself as loug as it was in any way possible. Every move had to be made for me with the greatest care. For eleven months I could not sit up at all, but at the end of that time I began to improve slowly, and commenced sitting up a few moments each day. I continued to improve very slowly until the following summer, when I was able to sit up part of the day, though I could not by my greatest exer? tions get able to help myself any. The only way in which I could be lifted from the bed to the chair was by being lifted under my arms, as I could endure no pressure on my spine. Owing to the very warm weather at that time, and to the fact of my over exerting myself when so weak, I was taken very violently worse, and continued to fail in spite of everything that was done for me, until last February (though I rallied a little the previous fall.) Last February I was so weak that it was onlv by the greatest effort that I could speak even in a whis? per, and sometimes I could only move my lips. Often the exertion of speaking one word in a whisper would cause the perspiration to start out all over me. I would lie for hours needing something rather than ask for it. They brought me an alphabet torn from a primer, but I was too weak to move my finger from one letter to another; I could take no solid food whatever, and ray weakness was so extreme that I could scarcely swallow liquid food. Often my nurse, after giv? ing me a spoonful of nourishment, would have to wait several moments before giv? ing me another, as it exhausted me so to take it. For several months I had been obliged to take 'pepsin' to aid digestion. "My disease had grown into blood con? sumption, and my largest veins looked like mere threads. I was so cold that nothing could keep me warm, and I was emaciated to a perfect shadow. Most of the time I could only lie gasping for breath, and I suffered so excruciat'ngly, even in my sleep, that when I awoke I would be perfectly exhausted ; I was so weak that the weight of my arms and limbs seemed to be drugging me to pieces, and this terrible strain was always constant. My pulse could scarcely be found, and I was not expected to live from one day to the next. About this time we heard of a colored lady, Mrs. Edward Mix, of Wolcottvillc, Conn., who performed wonderful cures by the power of prayer. At my request, sister Eva wroter her a few lines, telling her that I believed her great faith might avail for me if she would pray for my recovery. On Tuesday, February 25, her answer Wolcottville, Conn"., Feb. 24,1879. ?Miss Carrie Judd: I received a line from your sister Eva, stating your case, your disease and your faith. I can en? courage you by the word of God, that according to your faith so be it unto you, and besides you have this promise: "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." Whether the person is present or absent, if it is a prayer of faith, it is all the same, and God has promised to raise up the sick ones, and if they have committed sins to forgive them. Now this promise is to you as if you were the only person living. Now, if you can claim that promise I have not the least doubt but what you will be healed. You will first have to lay aside all the medicine of every de? scription. Use no remedies of any kind for anything; lay aside trusting in the arm of flesh and lean wholly upon God and His promises. When you receive this letter I want you to begin to pray for faith, and Wednesday afternoon the female prayer-meeting is at our house. We will make you a subject of prayer, between the hours of three and four. I want you to pr.iy for yourself and pray believing, and then act faith. It makes no difference how you feel, but get right out of bed and begin to walk by faith. Strength will come, disease will depart and you will be marie whole. We read in the Gospel: "Thy faith hath made thee whole." Write soon. "Mrs. Mix, you will perceive, quotes several Bible promises, luld me to pray fur faith, and directed me to leave off all medicine, which I did. She said that on Wednesday, February 2G, the female prayer-meeting would bo held at her house, when they would make me a sub? ject of prayer between the hours of 3 and 4. At the time appointed, members of r.ur family also offered up prayer, though not in my room. I felt a sadden and re? markable increase of faith, different from anything which I had ever experienced. There was no excitement, but a freiing of faith and confidence. Without the least fear or hesitation I turned over and raised up alone for the ficst time >n over two years. My nurse, who had takeu care of me for nearly a year, was so af? fected that she burst forth into prayers and praises. Directly after, with a little support from Mrs. H., I walked to my chair. I had not borne any weight on my feet (except as I made unsuccessful attempts to do so when so much better the summer before) for two years and two months. During the same hour that prayer was being offered in my behalf, a great change was perceptible in my color, circulation and pulse. Referring to my diary, which Mrs. H. wrote, I find under Feb. 27: 'This afternoon after sitting up she walked from her chair to tbo bed, a distance of about eight fect, by taking hold of my arms. The Lord strengthens her every hour.' Then under Feb. 28, 'I gave her a sponge-bath, and could uot help but notice the change in the color of her flesh; instead of the yellow, dead Yours in faith, Mrs. Edward Mix. look, it is pink and full of life.' Under March 1, This morning she drew on her stockings.' March 2, 'Her chest and lunss have be-on .strong. ?ho has talked aloud a great 'leal, appetite good, color fresh and clear.' In about three weeks from the time I first commenced getting better I could walk all around the room without oven having any one near me; in four weeks I walked down stairs with a little assistance. I walked very steadi? ly from the first. We could almost see my muscles fill out; still I suffered noth? ing from aching or lameness as would be naturally the case. The fir<t pleasant day in April, I went out of doors and into a neighbor's. One can fully appreciate the fact of my walking, v/ben I tell them that my spine and large joints had be? come so weakened by the hypera;sthesis that they were like cartilage, and if by any human power I could have been placed upon my feet I should have im? mediately been all out of shape. They, however, became strong and firm at once. I have continued to improve in strength and flesh. I can walk several blocks without resting, and for tnore than two months have taught my class at Sunday school. I have not taken a drop of med? icine since February 25. My friends say that I look much better than I did before I was prostrated." The above story is substantiated by her lather, her nurse and her friends, and Mr. J?dd relates several other cases where persons have been cured appa? rently by prayer and faith. At the pres? ent time Miss Judd is enjoying excellent health, and is growing stronger daily. A POM I'd AN' BIRD STORY. Relics df tlw CMtiirias of Kl^hic-un Hun? dred Your* Ago. No sooner was the excavations of this chamber commenced tlta.ii, as I have al? ready told you, a number or' bronze and terra-cotta vessels, bronze fibula:, brace? lets and rings, iron keys, kitchen uten? sils, and other articles of household use were found almost in a heap together near the door, and among them a consid? erable number of small earthenware pots, which I somewhat incredulously heard described jus drinking cups lor birds; but there soon followed abundant proof that this had been the shop of a seed mer? chant and seller of singing birds, and very little i magi nation was required to see the \A:nr as it was the day before the fatal eruption of 70. At first the room seemed to have been a mere receptacle for a miscellaneous collection of bronze and earthenware objects. There was no special character about it. The walls bore no traces of painting, but, as the clearing was continued, to the left of the door on entering a heap of millet-seed was found, so carbonized that on taking up a handful it flowed between one's fin? gers, for every grain was separate and distinct. Tt was taken away in basket fills.- Close to this a quantity of hemp seed, and of what appeared to be small beans in the same well-preserved condi? tion, were found, and among them con? siderable fragments of the sacks in which theylhad been kept,, the fibre and texture clearly distinguishable. Behind these heaps, and against the wall, more seed was dug out, mixed with pieces of car? bonized wood, iron hinges and nails, and some iron hoops, evidently the remains of small barrels and bins which had beeu ranged on this side, while along the op? posite wall a double row of terra cotta ollnj fer holding grain was gradually re? vealed. Suddenly there anise a cry, "?tu o?.-a," "un tche/elro," and the excitement became intense; but the bones were small?at first they seemed mere frag? ments, and then the Director exclaimed, amid quickly following laughter, "A chicken." Here the filling jn had be? come somewhat solidified, and as it broke apart a complete skeleton was revealed. It was that of a little singing bird, en? tirely imbedded in the mass, and near it were fragments of other tiny bones. There could no longer be any doubt that the use of the little terra-cotta pots had been correctly described. It became clear why so many of them were found there, and that the number of plain bronze rings oi about an inch and a half in diameter, and pieces of fine chain work discovered, had been used for hang? ing bird cages. But what connection had all those bronze vessels and orna? ments near the door with a seed and bird seller's shop? This also soon became evident. As the excavators continued farther into the room, great masses of carbonized beams of wood were found, each somewhat inclined downward, and among them a quantity of fragments of intonaco and stucco wall-facing, colored porphyry with a border of green and white. Those were at once seen to be the remanis of the floor of the room above with some of the plastering of its walls, and from the direction in which the beams were lying, it was evident that the floor had given way in the middle and toward the door of the shop below, pre? cipitating the greater part of the contents of the upper room in that direction, the remainder falling toward the middle, and it was here the#elegnnt long-stemmed candelabrum was found among the masses and fragmenls of carbonized wood. Did tho worthy bird-seller live above his shop? Did this candelabrum and the various bronze rases and other utensils form part of his domestic furni? ture? Who can tell? They wrrc ele? gant in form, but for the most part unor uaniented, and not nit of character with the requirements of a person ofthat con? dition. There wen; some finger-rings of bronze, but none of richer material; there was a strigil with a plain handle; there were women's bracelets and fibula; of delicate, workmanship, but only of bronze, some glass beads, aud a delicate blue glass cup broken in pieces. The smaller terra-cotta vessels were all of the plainest workmanship. Among them were three small arnphone with flat bot? toms for standing on the table, and the bronzes were of the variety of size and form adapted to household purposes. Some, were like jugs with one handle, others were in the form of flat oval tazzc with two handles, and one of these had two others of smaller size lying within it. There was one the exact counterpart of a pint-pot, several of il..t shape like cas? seroles with a straight handle on one Mile, and some without handles, like deep bronze soup plates.?Pompeii correspon? dence of live London Times. ? Lamjiasas (Texas) DbpatcK: J. A. Adams, of East Lampasas, has invented a steam engine which may soon revolu? tionize the world. It is called the "ro? tary steam engine," and is a wheel with a semi-circular steam chc*t attached to the rim, and the steam is let on to the wheel by a pipe connecting the boiler and engine. No piston or piston-rod, no cranks, no cogs, cr other contrivances now in use are needed, but the steam is applied direct from the boiler to the wheel, and the wheel is the engine. The escape and out off are perfect and the "rotary engine" is suspended on a main shaft, to which any desired number of band-wheels may be added. The inven? tor claims that tliw engine can be re? versed instantaneously, and that any and all kinds of machinery may be run by it with less steam and less fuel than any engine row in use. THE N?ETO PAJ.IUO DEL OCEA>0. A Grnphlc Description of the Advonhirrs and Horrilile Sufferings <>f those of tho - Crew and I'ussengiT? who Kscuped from I the Burning litertnship. All that Byron paints of what Was borne by the shipwrecked Spaniards in "Don Juan" was suffered by their un happy countrymen who survived from ' the destruction of the Nucvo Pajaro dd | Occano. The latter, iudced, did not ; reach the horror of cannibalism, but they I were subjected to what in tnid-oce:in is: scarcely less dreadful in the scourge of fire. The Nuevo Pojaro was an old-fashion? ed side-wheel steamer and hod l?een used as a transport for troops. She was for? merly the N'nnira, and plied between j Havana and New York. 8he left Ha vana on the liith of October. On the 18th, b?ing only two days on hrr passage to Nuevitas, an alarm of lire was gi7en. There were either fifty-seven or sixty-two persons, for the accounts differ, all told, in the ship's company. Of them seven? teen or twenty were passensrers, the othera constitute the crew. The alarm took place at 4 o'clock in the moruing, and all save the watch on deck were in their berths below. Now, the cargo of the steamship consisted largely of petroleum and gunpowder, !>e.-ide other iuflnmma bie stores, destined for the Spanish army, j and many person-! on board knew the fact. It will easily be imagined, then, thai the fright and confusion that ensued ?vfre ortn'SHC. The sur.ivors say that in.>st -S th?isi> on board jumped directly into llie -;???. Some had clothes ami others m?iu*; hilt equipped is they were nearly ?I.' made the .'t ap. ft was bettor, they doubtless thoii'.'ht, to trust even the treacherous waves liian the more cruel flames behind them. Some perished misearably by drowning at once. Others managed, as we infer from the reports, to drag together mate? rials for a rough raft and to scramble upon it; and still others clung to ben coops and fragments of spars. While there they saw the steamship burn to the water's edge, while those who remained on board were consumed with her. But the condition of their shipmates on the raft was not much better. The raft was very low in the water, and now and again the sea mad? a clean breach over it. When this happened the puor wretches had to cling to the frai! structure with all their strength ; and as this strength with many was slender?what with .'right, ex? posure and the unwonted situation?they would be swept at times off into the sea, whence some emerged and fought their way back to the raft, and some did not. Their frail refuge was almost constantly surrounded by sharks, and no doubt many unhappy persons were pulled by these savage creatures below the surface and devoured. There was one woman? the stewardess?ami she held on with the help of her companions for some time. But she became completely exhausted, and tho others could no longer aid her, and so at last she pitched headlong into the sc-a. To judge from the state of ihoso who contrived to live through the i-n-'oing days and nights of agony it w- i!d be scarcely possible to exaggerate t :e tor? tures they suffered. Dragged up aud down the raft by the pittiiuss waves their flesh is described as having Ifen in some cases "entirely lorn from their bodies." They were nearly destitute too ; the little food and water secured at the outset hav? ing been chielly washed away. To hold on where they were was to undergo the martyrdom of hunger and thirst as well as the desperate bullets of the sea; to let go was to be drowned?as the easiest fate ?f>r to be immolated by the shark*. The boats had been dropped by tin* i nn from the davits. But all save one of th'.se had been dashed to pieces. Five men es? caped in this exception, the captain's gig; but they have not been heard of since. Seventeen only of the ship's company were saved, and they were saved, as often appears to happen, as if by a miracle. The English steamship Louise II. was on her way from A!?i',r; to New Orleans. At 9 o'clock last Saturday evening she was passing through what is known as the Old Bahama Channel, when the look? out on the forecastle heard a bail. The engine was stopped, and the watch on deck tried to find out whencw the voice came. It was very dt.rk, and the matter was in a great degree one of chance. Captain Voss was called, and he de? termined to go back on the track his ship had-just described. Iu doing this the Loui.tr II. providentially went a* trifle to leeward of the place where the ship? wrecked mariners were. Had the steamship gone as n:uch to windward, Captain Voss says that their cries would not have been heard and they could not have been seen. By :hia happy circum? stance the seventeen survivors were picked up and their doleful history was made known. The njscue occurred off Puento de Catheran, which is about 120 miles east of Cardenas, on the coast of Cuba; and the fire must hsive burst forth in the Bahama Straits, between the Pase don and Lobus Lights. The manly action of Capt. Voss de? serves especial recognition and praise. He was not content with picking up the five persons whom he first found. He cruised about until the afternoon of the 19'.h, and was rewarded by discovering twelve more. There is some slight di? versity in the accounts?bul in substance the story as we have told it is probably accurate. Many shipmasters?proverbi? ally impatient as is their case at- being delayed on their way?would not have gone back when their answer to the first hail elicited no audible response: most cap'ains who did so go back would have taken the five mariners on board, and have forthwith resumed their course and steamed away for New Orleans ; but very few would have kept persistently on in the work of mercy as this worthy gentle? man did, especially when the chance was so slight that, his time and 'labor would lind a recompense of any kind soever. Capt. Voss consequently merits a hand? some testimonial from the Spanish gov? ernment, which will doubtless be award? ed him after the customary form in such cases, and he also merits what, a niati of his stamp will not value U>3, the thanks and admiration of all generous and feel? ing hearts. ? Hutchins, of the Washington Pott, says the Democratic candidates were de? feated in Ohio by a systematically-organ? ized and methodically-worked system of fradulent voting. At the lowest calcula? tion thirty thousand illegal votes were cast, and as far as a hasty examination has been had, nine out of every ten of them were cast for the Republican can? didates. ? A Leadville jury, last week, becom? ing disgusted with the "siss" adminis? tered to themselves, as wall as to the lawyers and witnesses, by Hie Judge, or? dered the sheriff to lock the lai ter up for a couple of weeks, "just to take some of the style out of him," as the foreman ex? pressed it. And, to his Honor's great exasperation, he was incontinently lugged off to jail, and is now in durance vile, while the case is going quietly on with the most popular barkeeper in town oc? cupying the judicial chair, GENERAL NEWS SUMMARY. ? Charleston'* business la-t year amounted to ?j3,00n.000. ? They arc praying for mill in Nort! - ern and Northwest Texas. ? Emigrants will absorb 10,000,000 acres ot Western land thi* year. ? Potatoes weighing f<"ir and a quar? ter pound* are common in Georgia; ? The drummer's tax yielded I lie St;-tc of Texas a revenue of ?65,000. ? A perfectly black old Seid bare has been caught in Davio 0 ?uniy. N. C. ? Two inches of ?now fell at Mt. Louis, Quebec, on the 25ch of Septem bor. ? Not a newspaper man in Houston, Tex., drinks anything stronger than wa? ter. ? A slight shock of earthquake was felt in Memphis on the 25th of Septem? ber. ? Georgia is raid not to have a snigle millionaire, and yet is the most prosper? ous Southern State. ? Wild tea grows in abundance in Arkansas county, Ark., and lite people will discard the Chinese article. ? The rice crop of South Carolina for the year is estimated at 44,000 tierce^ and that of Georgia at 26,000 tierces. ? The Charleston Cotton Exchange estimate that the crop in this State will be about twenty per cent, below the avenge. ? Senator Lnmar favors Bivml for President. He told u? li?*t year, with enthusiasm, that Bayard wa? t!:e nob est ideal nfslatiKitiaiwIiip n:iw living, ? The Kaufman (Tex i T-.iics rtiya that! fifty-fix {Hlblb; tree tfhooi* hs?d been ?irg.intxed in Ihn' county Kir tho pr. ? ?it'jr.vr, edi:-":tin^ \:.)\'\ children. ? I'he Wilmington (N. IT.] >itnr calls upon the :i?xt legislature of rise Slate to pass' an act for the encouragement of shpeji raising, which can be made mint prnfj itble there. ? The Treasurer of the United Statu reports that the total amount of standard silver dollars coined is $52,757,700; amount on band, $31.703.630 ; amount in eiruiilation, $11,054,070. ? On Friday morning, 17th ult.,-on Dr. George Wise's plantation, in tho Horn's Creek section, EJgrfiehl Co., a negro man named Carevr Ashley, was shot: and killed by a white mini named Benjamin L. Jones, who lives on the same p?i'V'. ? Wile.: Kearney sent up his card toGen. Grant the third time the "quiet man" re? marked: "I would see any workih'gntan or any man in California, but I would not see a ruffian." Kearney ought to study up (he famous dialogue between Alexari- ( der the Great and lite Robber. ? The largest bridce in Europe is now building across the Volga in Russia, is to cost $3,500,000, a id will be finished next year. The bri.Ire is to res' on twelve pcirs, eighty three feet high and 264 feet apart, the -: being four miles wido during the f^-rin? :'?>ods, but only 4,732 feet in the dry - msoh. ? Scventy f'Htr pupils are educated at the Sam. Houston Normal School at Huntsvil'e, Tox i-, fies of charge, to he come teacher- in the publicsehoo's. The Legislature lias appropriated $14010 of thesch 'o! fund for this purpose, and the Peabody fiinj gives 5'6,000 more, mak? ing $20,000 a year for this great and be? neficent work. ? A lover's alarm clock has been in? troduced in Now Orle.ms. At 10 o'clock it strikes loudly, two little doors open, and a man with a dressing-gown and cap on glides out, holding in his hand a can! inscribed "'Good night." As he bows and Miiilingly retires back into the elook, the Jfonng man takes the hint, ?ya" "good n:ght" to the fair daughter and departs. ? The Georgia Legislature was in s?s sion 150 days, and the expenditure amounted to nv.r $150,000. In the House, 1,029 bi?- were introduced, and in the Senate, 2!!). Over 300 resolutions werelikewi.se inrrndueed. Of the 1,248 bills, not over 143 were passed, leaving 900 consigned to the waste-basket. Of the 900, fully 609 were killed on the sec? ond reading. ? The lawlessness in Baldwin and Hancock counties, Ga., is receiving the proper attention of the authorities. A Sparta telegram to the Augusta Chroni? cle says: The people of Hancock arc determined to prntoct white and black from outrage, and our able and fearless Judge, E. H. Pottle, is determined to as? sert the majesty of the law throughout hin circuit. Rest assured, the people of Hancock are fully aroused in the cause of law and right. To go into further particulttrs might defeat the end which every good citizen wishes to see attained. There are not more than a dozen men in the band, and the trouble is personal, uot political. ? Charlotte (N. C.) Demscraf.: The colored people, at some of their protract? ed meetings in the eastern counties, have a new or novel mode of worship or of raising money. They call it "Storm? ing Jericho." " They form a ring and walk around a table at which the Bishop . aits. As they march, singing und shout? ing, they have to put money in his hat. When they go around for the seventh time a horn is blown, and at this signal they all fall down and lie as if dead, when at another given signal they all rise and go through the same ceremony. The latter part is called the blowing of "Gabriel's horn," or the Judgment day. In this part of the State they have "holy walks" and "cake walks," and enjoy themselves generally in a "highfalutin' " 1 manner, sometimes to the great annoy? ance of persons who want to sleep. ? It was late yesterday morning when Mr. Willaby got up, and he was vaguely conscious of a confused recollection of things, but he didn't say much and tried to appear as cheerful as he knew how. Presently breakfast was announced, and the family took their places at the table, but Mr. Willaby was amazed, as he sat sturing at six little round wooden boxes of axle grease ranged solemnly in front of his plate. "Where under the sun," he said, with a puzzled intonation, "what in thunder?where did all this axle zreasa come from, and what is it for?" "Oh, is it axle grease?" asked his wife, with charming simplicity and innocence, just a trifle overdone. "You said last night when you brought those cans home that they were oysteis and would be nice for breakfast. I thought you had better eat them right away, as they didn't smell as though they would keep very much longer." And then Mrs. Willaby re? moved the cans, and her husband sat and looked at the teapot and thought sn long j that his coffee was cold ?j a rich relation j when he thought to drink it. ? Rov. Mr. De la Matyr is getting very bumptious about his important position In the House of Representatives, in case i die Presidential election shall bo thrown i there, lie has recently announced him i self as a Radical on all except currency ! issues. If tho Democracy can lawfully ] contrive to disabuse Rcv.'Do la Matyr of : tho idea that ho can make Ben Butler ! President of the United States, they will ; meet with tho gratitude of a majority of : all tho people irrespective of party. i " j " "Look here, my fine fellow," said the lecturer to the boy who was disturbing the orator by constantly coughing, "here is a quarter to get a bottle of Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup."