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VOL, III, MANNING, CLARENDON COUNTY, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1888. NO. 27 A Brother's_Keeper. IW S YOU OF LOYE AID DUTY. -T Kar HARTWRL RATERWOOD, Asnoa o "ORAQUX 0' DooM,' "Sarsax Gem," "TuT Loan MAN'S Canzr," AN On= STOnS. The man took several steps beside Phoebe before either of them spoke. She drew her wl close around her and shrunk off from him, but she did not look directly at him, but glanced sidewise, puckering her face in anguish. He was a grotesque creature, with the various pieces of his clothing shabby and unmatched; but the most skillful of tailors could scarcely have molded him in gar ments suitable to his face. It was emaciated and withered, though neither by disease nor age. One corner of his mouth twisted downward as if in a contiued jeer, and nervous spasms came and went over every atom of countenance which could be moved and distorted. Whenever he became ex cited in talk, this singular infirmity played faster and faster like evil lightning over his face. "WelP' said Phcebe, in a high, agitated tone. "All right," said her companion. "You saw me beckon to you through the window." "You know 1 saw you." "You were a long time getting out. If you hadn't come pretty soon I'd bolted in and asked for you." "Iknew you would. What do you want now" "What do I want now!" mimicked, the twisted mouth. "When you ain't seen me for twoyears. Where's Thorney?" "He's near me, of course," replied the shaking girl. "Why eaa't you let us alone?" "What should I want to let you alone for. Ain't I gotzmy rights?" "Your rights," said Phebe, fiercely. "O, you wioked millstone; you want to drag us under forever. You know when I was sorry for you and tried to help you. But you can't impose on me any more. And Pl defend Thorney against you." "Oh. you will!" Phoebe began to sob aloud, swallowing piteously, and using her -hands against her throat to press back the explosive sounds. "You look like defending any thing!" laughed the man. "Don't do that, now. You never made any thing bellowing at ma. Didn't you know Pd drop around some day!" "Oh,yes,Iknawit-youalwaysdo-there's no help-and no escape?" "Well, then,ahut up your doleful racket. Ialn'tgoing to hurt you." -"No; Pm past being struck with your 8st now-but never past being robbed and shamed." The manbrokeoff a bitof bark and chewed it, as he kept pace with her. "How much money have you?" he In "You'll dog Thorney and me just the ame if Igive I to you. Ive bought youo for the last tine." "You'll give me what money you have. Pm clear down. If you don't Pl make a stake the way you despise, and Ill take Thorney." Phobe faced about, and they stood still, with the path between them. "'Ters a hundred other things Ican do," added the man, grinning. "You know you dontant to own me around here." "Not adrop of my blood owns a drop of yours," burst out Phebe. "Ihave lived a blameless life. Youdo your worst. Iwon't iaycu my earnings, and you Vlileavemy brother Thorney alone, too." She walked rapidly ahead into the dusky woods. He was at no pains to overtake her but let the space widen between them, thrastinghis hands into his pockets and brething.a crook-mouthed whistle on his .bmbe, feelng frozen in her last mood, and carrying .her defiant head erect, en tred the familiar- sitting-room where Mrs. Holnes was rocking the baby to sleep. She esredas one who heard the cry of wolves bbinad her, and knew the wolves might yet burst in and claim her, notwithstanding an able-bodied man like Gurley was at hand to dfendher. "Mr. Gurley has called to seesyou," said Mrs. aimes. !heebe had stopped at the sight of Tod .ihsgoingto sleep. It hurt her to remein. ber how lately she had roeked him heref feelingealmost as safe and happy as if wel :tbrough with the world.. . She turned and met Mr. Gurley with a :dignity he could not add to bar sincere and 4redulous image, and while she spoke she wonaered how soon her pursuer would enter :that room. Mrs. Holmes silently thought her too scarlet in cheeks, too gazzling in her eyes altogether too powerful and pretty. "Iwas just about to trace you," said 'Burley. "Miss Fawcett has changed her ~programme. Insteadofhavinguaslaterinthe week she wants us this evening, and as the tlittleparty's soinformallhopeyou'libe will zng to substitute my escort for the other arrangement which was made for you." "I should like to go to Miss Faweett's,'' said Phcebe, choosing for herself like a pvincess. She thought she heard a new step in; the kitchen. "My horse and phaeton are ready," said Gurley. "I came early to make up for the lack of notice by giving you plenty of time to get ready in." "Oh, Ilam always ready for any thing. I might wash my hands and beg Mrs. Holmes for a bit of geranium. I have just one dress,"~'explained Phcebe. "And that makes it so easy to be ready." Gurley laughed out with approval, but Mrs. Holmes secretly shuddered at such Singig of one's poverty at a man's sympa thies. She had kindly planned decking Phaebe for this party in some of her own Snery, and felt indignant at being robbed o$ such feminine pleasure and the self-ap proval which would have been consequent on it. At the very least her lace bert'ha or a'sash might have relieved the girl's som berness, but now she felt too outraged to add even the-bit of geranium. "'You are, in fact, an Ascensionist," com mented Gurley, "and go about all the time becomingly robed for the day of judgment." "You have said it exactly," Phcebe told him, smiling,.holding her tears sternly in their cisterns "And you haven't any idea what a feeling of companionship you can have towards a gown that is like yourself alone in the world." "Your brother wants to see you, Miss W7hite," said Randy, speaking at the kitch en door, a shade of patronage coloring her tone to the sister of such a brother. Phbe espanded, standing quite erect sad high. "Oh, does he!t Bring him to me then. ~rnhlimdirectly in here." anywithdrew her one-eyed counte sauce, and Mrs. Holmes carried Toddles in to his nursery. Instedof the' agure which the girl had bra'oed hersegf to meet, however, Thorney Whitecame inj, sniffling and downcast, too timid to~gb bis yes as high assa stranger's face, yet too doggedly indignant at the wosenigi gener alsoyid all encounter with & Esmaae~igprtt a hold had his garments oi eadh other's support; and his hay-colored hair hung over a silly face which expressed nothing but an appeal to his sister. His sprawling boots were heavy with such moist earth as he had been able to collect upon them during his tramp across the Hollow; but barnyard odors rather than breath of the spring woods saturated his presence and spread around him. The black wool hat, which had gathered dust undisturbea since Phoebe brushed it last, was worried down to his ears and propped by them; and his hands appeared -ell along on their journey to ward his ees in yawning trowser pockets. Thorney's chin, evidently put on as an after thought and scarcely belonging to his face, hung in moments of vacancy toward his breast; but just now, feeling the presence of unexpected society, he made successive efforts to hold it up and swallowed auditly in the struggle. Gurley thought he had never seen-rmore repulsive creature. But if Thorney had been a shining and firm angel, Phobe could not have run to him with swifter change of countenance and manner. She turned him towards Gurley maternally, as both vouch ing for him and challenging his opponents. "This is my brother, Mr. Gurley," she i " THIS Is MY BROTHER." said. "My good little brother, though he is older than I am and looks so tall." Gurley advanced his hand and greeted this good little brother. "Shake hands, Thorney," prompted his sister, in a quick, low tone, "and say 'how do you do.'? " Thorney shuffled forward a step and thrust his moist and dirty hand into Gur ley's palm with a mumble, but without tak ing his eyes off the floor. "He's so bashful," explained Phmbe, in the tone a mother uses when she says "he's cutting his teeth." And she added a swift admonition to Thorney to keep his hands out of his pockets and stand straighter. "He's worse than McArdle," inwardly re marked the young gentleman. "Poor little mother hen! What unnatural chicks she has to scratch for!" " And what was it, Thorney?" inquired Phoebe, " Pm going out this evening to stay until after our bed-time. You won't mind coming to the school-house to-mor row atter school, will you? We can talk it over there." Thorney, perhaps, had his attention oc cupied by the disposal of his hands; or he was too dull to see how she hastened to bar his telling what it was. Thrusting one fist under his chin, to support it, and sliding the other behind him, whence it soon wan dered to the familiar pocket, he complained that Thane was around ag'in. "Never mind!" exclaimed Phcobe. Thorney muttered that he did care hogh. "Come after school," repeated his sister. "I have very much to say to you, Thorney. And you can tell me all about it then. But go home now, won't you? And don't stop to speak anybody in the woods; don't linger around where anybody can get hold of you -waylay you." "As if she were admonishing Red Riding hood," thought Gurley. "Whati prowler would want this beautiful object?" Thorney, however, absorbed all the solicd tude his sister could pour over him, and de parted then asif his injuries were but half salved. Phoebe leaned forward In the phae tonas it turnied from Holmes' gate to watch his slovenly figure plodding into the woods. "But Mr. McAredle," said Phoebe, retur ig to Gurley. "Her mind reverts to her other dependent chick," thought he. "Miss Fawcett said he was to bring me and take me back." "There's many a slip betwixt the cup and McArdle'slip." "I don't believe you like him," she ob served. "I have noticed you taking him up short." "Taking him up short only I Consider how virtuous that is of me when I suffer to beat and kick him." "And he so inoffeesive," laughed Phhs. %[e never injured pe any way, did he?" "No," replied Gurley, "I wish he would." McArdle, in dress-ot and pumps, was the second person Phcebe greeted on enter ing Miss Fawcett's parlors. He stood talk ing with a young girl,one hand rosting on a chair-back, the other hanging graccfully by his side, and aelf-consciousness radiating from him. No other member of the class was in evening attire. Gurley saw with satisfaction that Phcobe was instantly admired. She moved daunt lessly Into this little social sea, feeling that, like an iceberg, sho carried sevenfold of her bulk of cold misery below the surface. Not for her were the timid vanity and erratic carriage of young girlhood. "How alluring your Miss White is, Cu pid," said Psyche, hooking her finger on his arm in the library. "I wish I had black eyes and a racy color-that moist, peaci ike richness of the skin. They are so easily and simply dressed to. She looks as dis tinguished as a queen." "I accept your approvalas a personal comn plir. ent," said Gurley. "Now cast your eye on McArdle." "Why should I cast my eye on Mr. Mc Ardle? You know he sets my teeth on edge." 'Psyche," said Gurley, with gravity, "hadn't I better bring our old engagement ring back to you t There are some subjects on which our harmony is utter." "Right there our harmony would breakin to discords. I never felt as kindly toward you in my life as I do to-night, and it's nall because the annoying engaged feeling is off. I can't see why girls take pride in such dis comfort. And if an almost endurable creat ure like yourself bampered me, Oh, con sider what it might have been with that wraith of manhood yonder as the party of the second part!" "I shall always remember gratefully, Swansdown, that you rate mc a little above McArdle. McArdle denied before the fellows to-day that he had the slightest acquaint ance with this young girl-when I had seen him take money from her hand which she had earned by hard days' work. He didn't want to identify himself with her or bring her out at all; he only wanted to make use of her good-will." "Jack, why do you set me to despising people in my own house; It is so mnhospi table. I didn't pulyou in here to have my tanraatd but taak you how tobreak that stiffness. Oh, do all the girls ana young men in Greensburg stand up like that and freeze each other's marrow fur polite ness' saks when they maet at an easy social?" "I am afraid they do," responded Gurley. "They never used to do it," mourned Psyche. "We're trying to be polished," said Gur ley. "And when we don't dance we pose and drop an occasional word to each other." "Dance l If they only would. But you told me half the men are divinity students and not dancing men at all." "Besides," added Gurley, "we are in some awe of our present hostess. We be lieve she comes straight from courts, and occupies herself comparing us common clods to duchesses and counts and so on." "What shall I do? I would actually get upon a table and cut a caper if that would make them comfortable." "Try it." "Is this the way you help me!" exclaimed Psyche, flashing her rings as if through them she discharged her surplus electricity. "I would just love to bite you like I used to when we first fought each other." "Yes, I carry the engraving of your lovely fingernail under my right ear yet," observed Gurley, with enjoyment. "But I was going to say that when we Greensburgers want to relax and limber ourselves thoroughly we take to charades and tableaux." "Oh, how easy," said Psyche. "Why didn't you say so before?" " And then we end with college songs and go home blessing our entertainer." The company was accordingly soon divided in twain, one section chatting expectantly on rows of chairs, the other wrangling and eager in a green-room to which the house wardrobes were made tributary. Psyche's aunt, a quiet lady who scarcely impressed one's maemory, was made manager of stage properties. Miss Fawcett and Phoebe, who were to appear as the captive Queen of Scots and one of her Marys, remained together, while the rest of their company went forth to open the act. When they had completed their own fan tastic adornment they set down to wait, and Psyche smiled at Phobe. "These piles of old clothes look like the wreck of generations. And that's what they are. There's even my uncle's dress ing-gown-the one I told you about, who ran way. See," said Psyche, spreading outthe palm pattern, "he burnt these holes with some chemical stuff; they tell that he was wonderful at chemistry. Of course it was ill before my time, and it doesn't seem as if [ ever had such an uncle. But there's his picture hanging over your head." Phobe stood up to look at it. It was in ls and showed the profile of a young man PHCEBE STOOL UP TO LOOK AT IT. ith clustering hair and a resolute cast of eatures which yet expressed melancholy. "He was painted that way on account of is mouth," explained Psycl e. "There was omething dreadful the matter with it." "I have seen him," said Phoebe, with lowly-worded conviction. Miss Fawcett gazed at her. "Do you know that I have always lived in ear of that man's coming back? Not on ccount of the.money, but 'because I should' e scared to death by such a horrid, queer,, reepyr relation I If he ever does come I hail hi.le on a closet shelf in my room and :eep my hands tight over my eyes." She clasped her hands over her eyes, and: 'hmbe laughed aloud, butsuddenly changed *xpression. The curtains of a window be hind Psyche were so arranged that they left a triangle of glass in which the light did not fall. Through this she saw Painter stooping forward to look into the room. The shaggy beard reached his eyes. He moved his eyes from the portrait to look at Phobe. "Sometimes I dream about him," contin ued Miss Fawcett, "coming back of nights to stare in at the windows. He'd be just the man to ghost around and make one's air rise." "Look there!" whispered Phcebe, stretch ing Out her hand. "But he's gone." Psyche dropped her hands and flew with a faint scream to hold around her guest. "Oh, what did you see!I-one right behind my back !" "Don't mind," said Phoebe, forming her lps to laugh. "That's only the second vision I've seen through a window this evening." "But what was It?" Miss Fawcett palpi tated. "Just Painter: the man who lives alone up the hills." "Oh! I've heard of him. He is harmless, isn't he? Was he looking in?" "Yes. And how sorrowful his eyes were!" "I should love to have him made sorrow ful," said Miss Fawcett, relaxing her breath, "for prowling around here and ter rifying us. Now I shan't sleep for a week" "It might be I imagined it," said Phonbe. "This is an unlucky night for me to look out of a window." "We are both perfectly silly," pronounced Miss Fawvcett, "shut away here by our selves. 1 am afraid of the dark and of spooks; and so are you if you would unbend your martial bearing and own it." [TO BE CONTINIUED) Making Impreo.ements. Rev. W. R Atkinson is busily engaged making additions to the many comforts of the buildings of .the Institute. No man of less ingenuity could see how any thing could be added to the comforts of the building. But he is as successful in hunting up ways to increase comfort as he is in teaching and in so saying we feel we could pay him no higher compliment. The city has cause to be proud of this in stitution. [ts large ptonage frum so many States and its bight prospects for a large patronage than ever attest in a practical way its excellencies as a sch >ol for the education of girls. We know no better school-Charlott Daily Cronicle. The modern church does not fulfill the functions of the ancient ark. In the days of Noah a rain-storm was the excuse for getting into the ark; in these days, especial ly if the storm come on Sunday, it is an ex-~ FARMS AND FARMERS. SHORtT TALKS WITH MEN WHO GUIDE THE PLOW. Many Questions About the Farm, Au swured by Dr. W. L. Jones, Formerly of the Southern Cultivator. It is none too early to plan and begin preparation for fall crops. It will not do to defer breaking land for them till just before they are to be started, be cause rain is too uncertain. Only at intervals, and for very short periods of time at this eason of the year, is land condition to take the plow. Land .yinguncultivated throughthe summeris apt to get very hard and dry; the sub soil after even copious rains remaining uhfit to receive the plow. Much of the water which falls upon its hard surface runs off instead of being absorbed, and this contributes to its dryness. Break, therefore, what you can after each rain. That which is broken will absorb the rainfall better than the unbroken; the moisture will penetrate deeper, giving a deeper sed bed. One of the great trou bles in starting fall crops is that even after quite a good rain it is the rurface soil only of unbroken land that is wet, and when this dries of; as it will do rapidly, there is no moisture below to rise up and take its place, and theyoung plants frequently perish from lack of water. Not so with land that has been broken some time in advance, which has been catching and holding the rains as they fell. If, therefore, one wishes to be sure of starting a crop of clover or lucerne or grass or turnips, in Septem ber or October, let him begin to break his land at once, and continue to break, roll and harrow till seeding time. All experienced farmers know that this is the plan to get a stand and raisea crop of turnips. It is equally applicable to imcess with grass and other crops named. It is not alone for the sake of securing moisture that the above method of pro edure is recommended. It is equally important to provide a good supply of available plant food in the soil, in order that the young plants may make good growth and become firmly established before cold weather. Frequent stirring f the soil promotes disintegration, de composition, nitrification, and all the processes that generate plant food. It is well, also, to incorporate with the soil in advance of seeding any manure to be 1 given the crop. There is little danger Af loss from leaching at this season of 4 the year, and manures act better after t they have been distributed through the I loil by plow and rain-water. To render I this distribution probable, at a time when rainfall is scanty, application of f manure should be made a month or two 1 before seeding time. After the land is brought into fine 1 tilth it should be somewhat compacted, i oither by rain or by roller. Small seeds i o not germinate well and young plants < lo not grow thriftily on very loose soil. 1 The soil should be neither too compact i aor too loose. If too compact the roots c annot permeate through it; if too loose they cannot establish close connection with the soil, an essential condition to ' the absorption of moisture. We have I i good illustration of this in turfy soils. It is urged upon all farmers who have aot already done so, to experiment in a l imall way with these fall crops. Espe wially-wouldweurge the planting of a I patch of lucerne. It will not cost much I to dothis, and then you can judge for< ourself whether it will pay or not. Pake all proper precautions and do it1 right, so that if failure resuilts itwlllnot ay at your door. You might try it on Lght and on heavy soils, and see which eceeds best. Such experiments cost Little, but are very hopeful. w. L. 3. Farm Quetion Box. . N. B., Fort Mill, York county, S. D.: I have a most excellent cow of the ardinary scrub stock, from which I get, yn an average, four gallons of milk 'and ae pound and a half of batter per day. Bhe hass formed the habit of "holding p" part of her milk for her calf. L ve tred often toget all the2mik wth ut letting the calf to her, but have iever suceeded. If I wean the calf,4 will ever succeed in getting all the iooner? It is hardly probable that a cow i "holds up"her milk by a distinct act of I er will The fiowof milk is the result I partly of emotion and partly of thei andling of the teat. When a cow has been separated from her calf, and the 1 Latter comes in sight and cries for its t nother, the secretion of milk is excited I md a tendency to flow from the ba leveloped. A woman will relate a smi tar experience, when, after being sepa rated from her infant for awhile, she. adenly hears it crying. When the alf is killed, or permanently taken from the cow, some milkmen have a stuffed ~ t md mounted calf to plaae before the ow when being milked, to excite her. naternal instincts and promote the flow f milk. In the second place, the manipulation of the teat has a marked1 affect on the flow of milk. The ducts ir tubes through which the milk passes mut of the teats are surrounded by a cir malar muscle, which is ordinarily con bracted enough to prevent the escape of ~ milk. But when the maternal emotions ~ towards the calf are aroused, these mus iles relax and the milk is easily drawn. rhe presence of the calf and its mamipu lation of the teat develop these emotions. Bimnilar manipulation with the hand has jiimilar, but not altogeth -r as is much effect. The more perfectly the manipulation by the milker approaches that of the calf, the more freely the milk 1i will flow. It is this manipulation which ionstitutes the difference between a good and a poor milker. A poor milker t seems to irritate the circular muscle of t the teat and makes it contract. One , who milks with a "stripping" movement e ,eems to do tlg very quickly, and then a the cow, as it said, "holds up" her i milk. A slow milker does the same thing by the prolonged manipulation. Therefore, a cow should be milked very, rapidly and not with a stripping motion.r Excitement, worry, anger, all militate a igainst the development of the emotions r which relax the muscle and promote flow kindly and gently, some choice food i given to keep in a good humor, and asI soon as the flow of milk .begins under gentle manipulation of her teats, she should be milked very rapidly.' Now to apply these considerations to your inquiry: It is probable that your cow being accustomed to have her calf suck, would miss it if kept from her and be worded about it, and the flow of milk be lessened. You might halter calf and place it within reach of head of cow so she could caress it. Also give her dur ing the latter half of the milking some food she is particularly fond of, and have her milked by a very rapid, good milker. By persevering in this c'urse you might possibly get all her milk and prevent decrease in yield. With a first rate milker you could wean calf and keep cow from going dry. F. W. S., Plains, Ga.: Would like to have some information regarding forage plants. 1. When should turnips be planted, and and what value for winter feed? 2. Have a piece of Golden Dent corn on fair average land that will be gathered about the 15th of July. What would you advise as a forage crop to plant after it? Will it be too late for amber cane or Kaffir core? 3. Have some amber cane that will be fit to cut in a few weeks. How shall Isave it, and does it does it make a good mule feed? 1. From the middle of July to the middle of September. The rutabaga, which is the best for stock feed, should be planted early, at any time when the ground is in favorable condition from middle of August. In our hot, uncertain climate it is well to make several succes sive sowings: if one fails another may succeed. From the 10th to the last of August sow Aberdeen, yellow globe and and other globes and seven-top. From the 20th of August to the middle of Sep bember sow cowhorn, redtop and flat lutch. The richer the soil the later may sowings be made. In our experi ane, it is better to have the land very rich and very thoroughly prepared and sow late. The turnip succeeds best in ool, moist climates, and does not thrive with us until the weather begins to get cool. For variety's sake, and for supply ing succulent food in winter, when stock are kept so much on dry food, turnips lave some value-not very great, how sver. Ensilage will accomplish both the purposes mentioned and much more cheaply. A combination of peavines and corn forage is greatly superior to ;rnips and can be raised much more )heaply. Beta of these crops are adapt sd to our climate; turnips are not. urnips require very rich soil and one lowed over and over again until >rought into the finest tilth. Corn end ,ea are not so particular. 2. The mid ile of July will not be too late to plant amber cane; can not speak so positively about Kaffir corn, but think it would get through if the weather is not too dry. Peas would have ample time to make 'orage, if sown then, and you can find iothing better. You might sow a nixture of peas and amber cane-a ushel of peas and a peck of amber cane o the acre. 3, Whenever practicable it s better to feed sorghum before it is >ured, cutting up. and feeding stalks, >lades and seeds altogether. Itis rather oo laxative for most horses, but mules to very well on it, and so do cows and togs. If set up under shelter t will remain green a long time. We should be glad to hear from others on his point. G. W. S., Vine Hill,'Ala.: Please tell ne what is the matter with my tomatoes. hey grow up and begin to fruit; then he begin to wilt, just as if hot water iad been poured on them. What can I Lo to prevent it? Cannot tell without personal examina ion. It may be due to some insect ttacking the stem underground, or it nay bedue to the manure used. It is st usual for tomatoes to fail thus. J. W. M., Arcadia, Ala.: I have a nule six years old. This spring she be ame alittle lame in the shoulder. I abbed it with 1;niment and the lame sess went away, but the shoulder began o shrink and then I began to doctor for weeny. I tried every remedy I could sear of, among them one from you in [he Constitution as follows: one ounce lamphor, three ounces alcohol, and three punces spirits turpentine, and all to no ffect. The shoulder is completely brunker away, but she does not limp at 11 and one cannot tell that there is any hing the matter from her movements: .nd now the other shoulder is beginning o shrink, but she does not limp at all in hat. She has ploughed forty acres of and this year and is in very good con ition and eats heartily, but she will eat llthe dry dung in the lot and has rum >ing in stomach. I have written thus hat you might know the condition of he mule. Please give me a remedy for houlder, also for that rumbling in >owels. If there is no lameness, and the animal capable of doing full work, we should at her alone. These shrinkages of the houlder are obscure things. When ere islameness from any cause, whether a foot, knee joint, or elsewhere, so the imal does not use freely the muscles if the shoulder, the latter will get smaller rem not being used, and this brings bout the appearance of shrinkage. hrinkage sometimes results from in Lammation of the tissues of the shoulder. Ve cannot say what is the cause of the< rouble in your mule. The unnatural .ppetite comes from some disorder of the tomach or bowels. Open the latter by ccasional half pint doses of linseed oil rith a teaspoonful of turpentine mixed rith each dose. After a week of this reatment give daily a drachm each of opperas, gentian and ginger. CONDITION OF THE CROPS. 'he Monthiy Report of the United Mtates Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture makes t Le July general averages of the condi ion of the crops as follows: Cotton 86.7, riter wheat 75.6, spring wheat 95.9, rn 93, oats 95.2, barley 91, winter ryer 5.1, spring rye 96.3, tobacco, manufac crig leaf, 89. COTTON. Cotton is later than usual in every state. There is a generally medium1 tand. Cultivation has been somewhat i etarded by local rains, and part of the] rea isin gras-notabig in the district t generally in vigorous condition and growing rapidly. The State averages are: Virginia 81, North Carolina 85, South Carolina 86, Georgia 90, Florida 90, Alabama 92, Mississippi 92, Louisi ana 91, Texas 76, Arkansas 90, Tennes see 90. WINTER WHEAT. Winter wheat has been been harvested in the South and yielded below expecta tion in the Carolinas, Georgia and Ala bama. It has improved slightly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illi nois. A marked improvement is noted in Michigan. Reports from the Pacific coast are also more favorable. The general condition has advanced from 73.3 to 75.6. The average of the prin cipal States: New York 80, Pennsylvania 93, Ohio 60, Michigan 75, Indiana 62, Illinois 68, MiSsouri 72, Kansas 93, California 83. SPRING WHEAT. Spring wheat has improved in a large portion of the breadth seeded, and promises a large yield, minus possible future drawbacks. The general average has advanced from 92.8 to 95.9. The State averages are: Wisconsin 91, Min nesota 94, Iowa 97, Nebraska 95, Da kota 98. CORN. The area of corn, as reported, has in creased over four per cent., making the breadth nearly 76,000,000 acres. There has been much replanting in wet dis tricts, from non-germination and from destruction by cut-worms. The land is now moderately good and the crop is growing finely. The condition by prin cipal State is: Ohio 96, Indiana 95, Illi nois 93, Iowa 89, Missouri 91, Kansas 99, Nebraska 91, Virginia 91, North Carolina 88, South Carolina 87, Georgia 94, Alabama 96, Mississippi 98, Louisi ana 95, Texas 95, Arkansas 97, Tennes see 98. TOBACCO, POTATOES, ETO. A preliminary investigation of the area of manufacturing leaf tobacco makes an increase of 18 per cent, over the greatly reduced crop of last year. There is an increase of 4 per cent. in the area of potatoes. The condition averages 95.7. The European report for July makes the wheat crop late and unpromising throughout Europe, Russia excepted. The rye crop will be short in central Europe. Condition of the State Crops. The State Department of Agriculture furnishes the following information re garding the condition, etc., of the crops, July 1, based upon 248 special reports, covering every county in the State: The seasons during the last two weeks in June were favorable for cotton, and a decided improvement in the condition of the crop during that time resulted, but it has not recovered from the inju rious effect of the unfavorable seasons in May and the early part of June. The rop is "spotted." In some sections itis in ne condition and all the rain needed has fallen, while in places the rains have been excessive, and in other localities the crop has needed rain badly. Gener ally, it is two weeks later than usual, the plant is small but healthy, clean and well worked. Favorable seasons during July will possibly bring the condition up to an average. Nine of the counties, producing 14 per cent. of the crop, re port the condition higher than on June 1st, three report it the same, and the remainder, 22 counties, report it lower. The condition on July 1st is: In upper Oarolina, 81; middle Carolina, 82; lower Oarolina, 89; average for the States, 84; against 101 at the same date in 1887 and 6 on the first of last month. In some sections corn on bottoms has been destroyed by flocds, and in other ocalities it has suffered for lack of rain. With these exceptions, the reporta show that the prospects for an average rop are good. The condition in upper Carolina is reported st 85, middle Caro [ina 82, and lower Carolina 85; average for the State 84, against 97at the same time last year and 86 on the first of June. In portions of the lower conties con tinued freshets damaged rice that had been planted and prevented proper pre paration ol land for late planting. There is some complaint of poor stands, but the crop has steadily improved during the month. In the ten lower counties, where 95 per cent. of the crop is pro inced, the condition is reported at 89; in the upper counties st 92. The small grain crop was harvested in Ene condition. Wheat was badly in jured by rust, some of the correspond nts reporting that the loss on the crop from this cause ivas greater than has: been known for many years, the damage: being estimated at twenty per cent. 'he yield is estimated at six bushels, or bout two-thirds of an average yield. The total product is reported at seventy seven per cent of the product of 1887. lhe quality is reported better than last year by eighty-four correspondents and ifer or by 104. The yield of oats is estimated at fifteen bushels per acre. Fall sown yielded ighteen and spring sown twelve bushels per acre. The total production is esti nated at six per cent, greater than last year's crop, while the quality of the rain is better. The smaller crops are reported in good ondition-sorghum at 90, sugar cane )0, sweet potatoes 94 and Irish potatoes )5. Ten Millions Saved to New York City. Judge Wheele. of the United States Cir uit Court yesterday rendered a decision >y which the city will save nearly $10, )00,000. It was in the suit of Christopher 1 Campbell against the city to recover yaymnent for the use of a relief valve used r fire engines to prevent the bursting of iose and the loss of water. This valve yes invented by James Knibbs. The de ense of the city was that the valve had een in use before it was paitented, and that he patent was invalid. After a long trial, Judge Wheeler de ided in favor of the plaintiff, and referred he case to Commissioner Duell to deter nine the amount due Campbell. The lat er presented a claim for $2,500,000, and roved it. In the spring of 1886 the Su reme Court of the United States rendered Sdecision in a similar case which was di ectly opposite to Judge Wheeler's opinion. ['he Judge then retried the case and de :ided that the patent was invalid. Corporation Counsel Beekman yesterday, 1 speaking of the large amount of money aved by this decision, said that the valve ad been in use on all the steam engines luring the past seventeen years Messrs. ~ockwood & Post appeared fo- the plain iff and the Corporation Counsel for the di-. Y. Star, .Tuly 11. THE FARMERS' COMMITTEE. A MEETING IN COLUMBIA TO PRE PARE FOR THE STATE CANVASS. Captain Tillman Appointed to Attend ske Different Meeting--Other Matters Coss sidered. COLUMBIA, July 10.-This evening w the occasion of the meeting of the ex ecutive committe of the State Farmers' Association. There were twelve or fifteen prominent members present. Among them were Capt. Tilman, H. B. Thomas, D. K. Norris, E. T. Stack honse, J. W. Beasley. Several person', not members of the committee, but in sympathy with them, were present. O0 of these was Capt. Sligh, of Newberry, who was invited to attend the seerst meeting and took advantage of the in vitation. The committee met at 9.15 in the Grand Central Hotel. President Norris occupied the chair. It was understood early in the evening that the object of this meeting was to formulate some plait of aggressive campaign. The first question taken up wis whether the Association should make an aggressive fight and put canvassers in the field, who would attend all the Con gressional district meetings and make opposition speeches to the Governor and Lieutenant Governors. Capt. Till man did not advocate this. He said that while they had good sound . men on their side, they had not the "gift of the blab," and the politicians would "et away with them.=' Mr. Tillman further believed that a "combine existed lie tween all the present officers to pool their strength and stand or fall to gether." President Norris called upon a num ber of those present to make reports upon the following questions: "How is the farmers' movement in your county? "Do you think that you can control the delegates to the State Conven tion," &c. These questions were answered by about halt a dozen of those t. Mr. Tillman reported udgefield as uncertain, but he though that he could vote the delegation from that county for any one the Association should designate. About this time Capt. Tillman took occasion to state that he had no selfish motives in this fight; that all he wanted was to "whip out this gang," alluding to the present State officers. Before one question had been settled the Agricultural College was introduced. Mr. 'llman wanted men sent to the. next Legislature who were heart and soul with them and who would pull the annex to pieces. If such men were not there, the consideration of the Clemson bequest would be postponed until the annex had grown and taken root, and then the farmers would be given a high - school in place of a college. A resolution was offered making it the sense of the committee that a fight be made for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor. It was unani mously adopted. All local farm ' lub will be requested to elect delegates to the county conventions, who will send farmers' movement men to the State Nominating Convention. Mr. Tillman consideredit moreimpor tant to elect legislators in sympathy with them than to elect a Governor of their choice. The Legislature could carry on their work, while the only advantages in electing a Governor would be the pres tige of the thing. President Norrns was opposed togon into action and fighting the battle all on a political ground, and he thought i unwise to have candidates openly in-the field. After the impression was made and their delegates elected, then they could decide upon a candidate. Mr. Tmlman said that if they were going to talk about not going into poli tis, they had better bundle up and go home. Mr. Norris thought thatif Mr. Tillman was going to canvass the State, it would ook better if he was not a candiate. Mr. Tiliman then branched off upon the Legislature. The farmers must sup port no candidate for the Legislature un ess he be in favor of giving the Agricul ural College the Hatch fund, land scrip ad phosphate tax. He thought in time that this college would absorb the agri mtural department. If the people were ot shown that they could get the far mers' college without additional tax they would never get it. In speaking of the present system of government Mr. Tillman said thathe had teard that negro lunatics sent to the Asylum were worked like slaves and were ever turned out when they got well but were kept there to work. One of the committeemen protested against this, and hoped Mr. Tilman would be careful in hiE public utterance. Mr. Tillman replied that he had not been caught in alie yet, that-Mr. Haalrell spoke without striking to the records, and it was a bad rule that did not work both ways. If he canvassed the State he would confine himself to the increase in xpenses of $240,000 since '79 and to the Farmers' College, and he was not afraid to meet any man in the United States on these subjects. He did not propose to give any of the reasons for tis addition al expense, but would leave the burden >f proof to the other side. He was con dent of being able to carry several. sountes on the question of the reduction >f salaries. Mr. Tillman was exhorted to stick to he facts and not make statements he sould not prove. It was resolved that Capt. Tillman ~hould attend all the regular meetings in he State canvass and other outside meet ngs he might desire. Mr. Tillman wished to have another nanto help him. He did not like to moocnter the silver-tongued orator ~ingle-handed. It was decided that he ~ould draw upon the counties in which he meetings were held for assistance. Mr. Tillman said that he is afraid that he goes to Charleston he will be cruci ed. There was an element in the coin nittee which was plainly opposed to apt. Tillman's style of operations. 'hey were much more conservative, and lid not like so much blood and thunder. There is a scarcity of young men at some f the summer resorts, and the girls are nfearing from "poor male facilities."