The people. (Camden, S.C.) 1904-1911, April 21, 1904, Image 2
Mynheer Joe
BY ST. qZBRQE JVOHBORNE.
yon, old boy, It'o good for
m to eee you again, and look
natural u ever. Never have I
to remember tbo day* of *aald
when wo two did tbo Nil*
?"T- Talk about fata la our
jW ?iill|n^t doesn't bold a candlo
P y*1 8?? grasp, oamo old
ffwr aad bo worka tbo prodlg&a arm
?? ? pump-hsndle. wbllo rattling
y** b tbia strain. I
Ir'VliMtwd in Cairo. Sandy? writing
tfco beauties of lower Egypt n a
or have yon booa ap>
a Consul borer* asks tbo
- with a Jolly laugh that causes
Grimes to wonder what stuff this
jjy la made of to be so composed
aven merry after what be has
?MM through.
r*bafs not my luck. StlU pegglni
?way at the old business. Mskeo both
?aet and gives me a chance to
Ma tbo world. But see here! Confound
*y tupldHyl Here'a a friend of
ff*11 waiting to meet you, and I've
bsoa monopolising your time."
^Mynboer Joe raises himself to a sit*
mg posture and faces the silver king.
basltates for a few seconds and
ahaa comes forwsrd.
^Tardon me!" he aaya frankly. "You
n??de a mistake, 8andy. I did
y claim to be a friend of Mynheer
JJJ only * fellow-countryman, ?M
*** who heard much about him
g? ? tokea a deep Interest In bis wel
5E*'*#.0be?. GrUne*? at your service,
Mr. Miner."
explorer possibly catches some
Mgntflcance back of bis words. At
y nte>' he looks at the stont gen
?*nan with the florid countenance as
though intent upon studying out a
problem; but noticing the outstretched
?ju?d. accepts It In bis usual hearty
way. Now and then, during the sub>
Mont Interview, while the corre.
jpoudent plies him with questions,
*y*h*?r Joe can be seen to keep a
rsaurtlve eye upon Mr. Grimes. Per
he la endeavoring to place th?
Wealthy miner; and yet the latter baa
they have not met before.
? Wandy thinks only of one thtny
Jn*. be has been especially pleased
one he regards so highly;
IT g now Siren way
lathe Instinct of his craft. He has
?aoa educated up to being a newspaper
...aU e,M> and- all otbera
y has a keen nose for
23T* J i,.1* th* tnt at the wire
[*? startling Information is the
?jam of Ssndy Barlow's dally life.
fiT^wi "*** * *?Wen opportunity
ftor making a ten-strike. The whole
7?* hangs to ???pense
?waltlng deflmte news of the heroic
OWnese Gordon's fate. Rumora have
?eon rife almost dally, sometimes do
t,tllp* deaU* ?nd again giving ac
?rants of some wonderful victory over
*? the foll<>w
ErT dl "? ca,,ed? hI? own
numbering but two thousand.
* J^nt tie-cock, gashed bltber
I Httledoors, has tbia
25 ? if!?. !? ?n tb* *? tor week*.
tCk n,fbt ln February
ejr xe w,e,T?,l
!L dreadful Impatience
sLk^!!* < Wide-awake corre
JJWdent is aroused to the exigencies
?f the hour, and for the benefit of the
braltiug civilised world would aelse
tb? 51nJL,0nt "??"thtatle account of
IIlfated Khartoom.
Mjcbanlcally he draws out his note
book and, pencil in hand, prepares to
Jiko down in shorthand what may be
???<?? ??bwr Jo.^
^ "Pardon me, my friends, but I am
Br^ntisr hd* wb,en 1 wcnt to i,pcp
VI M,d he ^W havS
W^hn^ f*l me when 1 *woke. I
mke ?57. U' bUt 000,(1 keep
J i0ng *notIgh t0 tak* * cup
mm* 11 bJte' Ho*
iwaTw p Jom word?"
dusky Ben Hassan Effendl nods
^gn;,,,7Uh hN hand??.
UMied lately two fellahin appear. One
E?*i w,th ^ wb,*o
Krit^h*^er. fy> * >c,o,h
OMIItUe round table. Almost like
r 2SS IL ? *7, ?tnam!n* raeal Is thus
or Kf !?* bunfry My*?heer
wh,?h ^e mnglclan waves
w*S? Mk}?' v??"
Urtrt 5PntIeinen- I hare
E? ?T daj8 now? ?nd the
fcTf!r i g/r?m, tb,# SPrtad ? tOO
b for me to wltbstsnd. Captain,
long have 1 slept?"
b,>?rs, gentlemen, n
fwivaly announces the old rels.
I ^Lmr]eL^XC\BlmH Mr' Gp,?c?.
71 Jovel Yoa may co
TV?,C" you *et >oS
working! | ve beard of such'
?i.n,ii>cop,0K #,ecp,ng for day?."
Sandy, with an air that plainly
?d the martyr, and says: "Don't
der me? I can wait."
tth Bmp,c i?*tloe
^ before h,m and. when
?am.in? p0Mcd? TerX little
. g?tas of wbnt waa brought in. At
|b itmo time ^meth.ngB of til
pebod look hns left his face, and
* Uke th* man U*6r
Tba correspondent has been survey.
5? ^?a Interior of the cabin cuvloualr
Maarnrfof to keep down tbo spirit
of taptdwct that makes a minute
mm u boor. Ha knows bis friend
baa gnat aacd of all tht latwinw be
caa sscata at pwaurt, aad bene* will
not allaw bla own selfish motives to
AM be finishes bla earrej of tba say
decoraUoaa npoo tbe walls of tba cab
la, wbere score* of noveltiee add to
tba gjihmeqiis appearance of tba
MM, Sandy beara a algh of deep sat
Isfactton, aad, wheeMag about, la Just
la ttee to aee tbe captain, at a signal
fm tba pilgrim, dap bla beads, wben
tba two attendants dart In, removing
tba debria.
"Gentlemen one favor. la tbe name
of merry, bare either of you? a ci
gar?" asks tbe recent.dlner, la a tragic
voice.
has a choice weed la a second,
aad ere three pass, lire bas been ap
plied to It.
"Richard la himself sgsln? first ci
gar In seren months? think of It," be
says melodramatically.
"Now, my dear felow, pardon mj
beastly haste, but after midnight I
lose tbe wire. Can you tell me wheth
er Gordon Is desd or sllve?"
Mynheer drops his bead suddenly,
snd something like a groan comes
from bla lips.
"Gordon is desd." be replies, slow
ly. "with these eyes I saw him fall,
and this right arm struck his murder
er, cleaving him to tbe chin."
CHAPTER III.
THX TBAOIDT OF THB HOI.
At these words, both Americans
look very grave, and even Ben Has
san, standing near by, seems as
though appalled. Faith In the aston
ishing powers of Chinese Gordon bas
always given thoee who know him an
Idea that nothing could ever overcome
him.
Ho was a man absolutely without
fear, with a fine Christian character,
respected everywhere by the natives,
for his personsllty was something far
beyond the ordinary. For six months
and more this valiant man has been
?hut up within the walls of Khar
toom, with a few thousand miserable
native troops facing fifty thousand
dervishes of El MahdL Without the
presence of Gordon, these troops
would not hold out a day against the
enemy.
There, with a few faithful officers
snd friends, he has held out from
week to month, hurling back the le
gions of the False Prophet and hold
ing the debatable ground against the
slave-traders, waiting for the rescue
that will come too late; for England,
the more shame to her, being engaged
In political discussions, delsys sending
a relief-column until It becomes a ne
cessity on account of the clamor of
the people, which column will find
Khartoom In the bands of the enemy,
and Gordon? lost.
"This Is sad news you bring, Joe,"
ssys tbe newspaper man, at length.
"Sad, yes; but true, too true. Eng
land has, by ber vacillating policy,
murdered tbe bravest of her sons.
How blind tbe powers that be! This
will topple over the ministry quicker
than anything else on earth. The peo
ple loved Gordon because his motives
were alwaya honorable."
The man from Khartoom speaks
quietly, as If be has long since learned
to look upon the disaster with compos
ure. He Is not given to emotion, at
any rate, as a glance - Into his face
would Inform an observer.
"Tell us about It, Joe," bursts out
the Impetuous Sandy, note-book and
pencil In band.
The other passes one hand wearily
across bis brow, as though he would
clear away th > cobwebs time bas spun
alprat his brain.
"It Is hardly a propitious time for
entering Into details, my friend. I am
willing to speak, but I know you will
pardon me If I simply sketch tbe mat
ter lightly."
"Yes, yes, tell what you please, Joe."
Mr. Grimes and tbe rels say nothing;
only moving a little closer to the mes
senger from Khartoom, In order to
hear how Gordon fell. Millions will,
later on, read the story of his deser
tion and death in that town on the
Nile, and from every country under
the sun will oreatbe curses against
Old England for the cowardly policy
that has ended in this way.
"You know what took Gordon to
Khartoom and the sacred work to
which be devoted bis life. He was the
deadly enemy of the slave-trader, and
long ago declared that bis life would
be spent in endeavoring to break up
that terrible trade on the upper Nile.
The rattle of . slave-chains was tbe
most balefT sound he knew, and It was
this that made him hold on even when
doom stared bim In the face.
"I* know his mind, for I have talked
with lilm day by day, and found Gor
don a rock. He could a dozen times
liavo saved himself by flight, but he
would not dosort his post. Iloaven
sent him there, nnd at Khartoom he
would remain, the rock of Egypt, un
til the longed-for line of British troops
appeared in view or doom came.
".What we went through with during
those months heaven alone knows.
Dny after day wc fought the black
dervishes of the desert, and thou
sands laid doTvn their lives In front of
Khartoom's walls. Now it was a
sally; anon, an attack. We might
have even won on a certain occasion
but for the treachery of certain lend
ers. Gordon tried them later, and aH
were shot. He would not stand insub
ordination. . .
"Thus months passed. ^Ve endured
all that can come during that pestilen
tial season from July, when the city
was invested. The weeks passed us
by fn a way that was maddening.
Our eyes were strained looking for tho
succor that never came. Through It
all Gordon was the same man I have
ever know bim, ehstrial, sober, and
aever faltering. If It was b?s fate te
if"
?jsts
*3
laths
to ptt ? iirlii. Tk
world wlU keep kla wmmmj pmb for
Itaa, u tke awtha p>ii away,
tv itofii |itw liv, tid a spirit of
Aacwtcat mom. Momj was scarce,
and tbo wMlw wen to a state of cob*
staat Irritation borftrkif at frenay.
Mutiny would takf since hm broken
out bat for tbo isMbMiIm power this
man ssfcuasd to bare om his subjects.
I marveled at It then. and It will nmr
cease to be a source of wonder to me.
"At last came tbo fatal boar wben
tbls magnetism coaMI no longer bold
tbe fragments of bla little army to
gether. I knew It waseomtng as well
?s I knew anything. Signs pointed to
It from all quarters, and each mocn>
iff aa tbe son rose In tbe east I won*
dered wbetber It wonM erer be mj
good fortoae to look on Its setting
"Gordon never despaired of a rescue.
"He bad no doubt prepared for tbo
worst, but bis faltb In tbe ultimate
coming of bis comrades' was sublime.
They will come to-morrow/ be would
aa y eacb nlgbt as tbe darkness settled
about us, and deep down In my beart
1 firmly believed that to-morrow
would never arrive.
"Thus tbe daya moved along, eacb
sun showing new difficulties that at
its setting Gordon bad managed to
smooth over In a way that waa simply
marvelous; bat each time I noticed
that things looked worse, and It was
only a question of how long It would
be ere certain matters came Into con
junction, and bore ua under. What I
moat dreaded waa a mutiny during
one of the enemy's fierce assaults.
Should a portion of our troops turn
upon us, even the fierce ardor of the
Baahi Bazouks who remained faithful
cotold not keep Gordon's life sacred.
"My fears proved to be well ground
ed. as you shall soon see. It hap
pened on the 20th day of January, and
that should be a day of morunlng for
all time to come in England.
"Gordon came from hia room that
morning aa cheerful as was his wont,
,and ready to meet the duties of the
day, whstever heaven might send him.
The storm was gathering, but bis
presence had chaaed away the clouds
so often that all of ua had come to be
lieve him Invincible.
"We knew the enemy was about to
make a desperate assault, but, we had
hurled them back from the walla of
Khartoom so often In bleeding masses
that we did not doubt our ability to do
the same thing again, although ammu
nition was beginning to grow scarce.
"I have alnce come to the conclusion
that during the night of the 25th
some arrangement must have been
made between our native troops and
!the sheiks who led the hordes of the
SProphet. Certainly, the events of tbe
day justified such a conclusion.
?''Gordon, aa uaual, assembled his
leaders and harangued them. Up to
pow, he had never once failed to Im
part some of his own entbuslaam to
those In charge of his men, so that
they went to their aeveral stations In
spired to fight like heroes In the cause
of this magnetic man.
"With wonder and uneasiness I saw
that bis words on this morning ap
peared to fall upon deaf ears. The
dark faces grew moody. Aa it hap
pened, I was tbe only white man close
by, though I could hear some of his
officers giving orders near the govern
or's house.
"One man threw the spark that ex
ploded the magazine. He dared an
swer Gordon back t?id tell blm It
would be best to give up Khartoom
while El Mahdl was willing to let
them depart In peace, since the doom
of the city waa a settled thing, any
how.
"The general's face flamed up as be
heard tbls cowardly plea. I can see
him now, as In scathing terms he re
buked tbe officer. The man hung his
head. I expected to see him fall on
bis knees and beg for pardon.
"My attention was drawn from him
for just a few seconds, while I swept
my eyes around to see how the others
.were taking It. I found that tb?y, too,
Trewled and looked ugly.
[To be Continued.)
Soldiers on 8kl.
The Norwegian government ha*
lately been setting soldiers in march
ing order to travel for several con*
secutlve days on ski. The result has
been to show that the military ski
runner of ordinary proficiency cap
travel over snow In fair condition Jut#
about as far as soldiers in marching
order can move over ordinary roads
free from snow. For several days the
average distance was about seventeen
miles.
The Idea of ski-running, and of all
forms of movement over snow and
Ice, is so associated with speed In oui
minds that it is difficult not to foci a
sense of disappointment at this rela
tively poor rate of progress; but it It
to be remembered that it is made over
country where the soldier in his com
mon footgear would make practically
no way at all.? Country Lifi.
Six-Fingered Arabs.
The Arabs hold a slx-flngered person
in high esteem. They consider tbls a
distinct mark by which Allah shows
that that person Is privileged. With
them the hand Is the emblem of
strength. The Sultan wears a silver
hand as tho symbol of power. On tho
gates of Algerian towns, especially of
Tunis, is frequently to be aeen the Im
press of a bloody hand. It is a sort
of talisman, and great reverence was
manifested toward a six-fingered hand,
Abd-el-Kader. In 1839. Instituted among
his troops a decoration consisting of a
silver hand, which was attached to the
turban; and the number of tho fingers
which were on this band varied ac
cording to tho grades ? five for the
lowest grade, six for the second, and
seven for the highest grade.
Where Heather Grows.
It may surprise many readers to be
told that heather grows not only In
Scotland, but In Nova Scotia, New
foundland and the Yukon. It was dis
covered growing wild In Tewksbury,
Mass., about forty years ago, and still
grows Id the same spot.
In feeding tte rye mj
\9 fed etther iranA or ?til to
(rowing koga. U ti plt tetitblt to
M the vMt grain *7. The tetter
Mtbod of feeding to to grind the rye
and feed It ii to wkkb Is
tiM son economical method. will de
fend on the question..?* jitndtog. The
ana who doe* his own grindiw will
?nd It nwe prod table to grind his
rye and mix It with 0090 corn and oats
ground, feeding this combination as
slop feed. Whore It Is necessary to
pay (or the grinding, the soahed grain
will probably be mora economical, aa
poo king coots hot Utile; twelve boars'
soohlng Is safldent, Bye makes a
splendid feed for growing pigs. It
should bo free from the dlsaese known
aa "ergot.** aa rye which la thns af
fected Is poisonous to stock.? J. H.
8**%ner, In Indiana Former.
lamro reeaies d ?pram.
Much hae been written concerning
the short rations which many farmers
nse daring the winter for their horses,
becsase they do little work, bat there
is the other side of the question, the
overfeeding and the improper feeding,
which is quite a? bad in its effect aa
scanty rations. Horses should be fed
In sccordance with the work required
of them, although this does not algnify
that becsase s horse practically does
no work during the winter his rations
?hould consist of a pint of grain and
all the hay he will eat Improper
feeding of bay Is exceedingly injuri
ous. in the ground feed that *s given
horses not worked a groat deal there
should be but about one-third corn or
even one-quarter ? corn, one-quarter
bran and one-half oats. The roughage
of hay. at a feed should bo about the
quantity he will consume in three
quarters of an hour. Add a little oil
meal to the grain ration once or twice
a week, exercise the horse dally, and
when work is given him regularly,
which will increase as spring draws
near, gradually increase the ration.
The plan on which a horse should be
wintered, if he Is not worked a great
deal, should be to give hUp food
enough to keep blm in good condition
and store away a little extra atrength
for the heavy farm work of spring, but
not enough to make him fat or give
him Indigestion.
Feadlng Sheep la Troughs.
The design of a sheep trough Illus
trated this week is one which has been
found entirely satisfactory, all things
considered; it is some little trouble to
make it, but its superiority over the
average trough Is so great that the la
bor spent In its construction will be
well spent. As shown, the trough Is
twelve feet long, sixteen inches wide,
twenty-two inches high, tapered as
ahown. With the exception of the
alats, which are one-half inch thick,
and two and one-half inches wide, the
trough is made of inch lumber. Tho
sides, which sre nailed on the edge of
the bottom, are six inches wide. The
end pieces, or legs, are three inches
wide and extend six Inches below the
TROUGH TOB 8HKEP,
bottom of the trough as shown. These
leg* are, of course, fastened securely
to the trough after the latter Is built
and are independent of the rack itself.
The rack is built by nailing the slats
one foot apart on pieces three Inches
-wide and twelve inches. long, and arc
then hinged to the sides of the trough
so that they rest on the edges of the
trough when closed. Two binges on
each side (strap hinges, of course,) win
be sufficient. At about tbe middle of
the racks a bent hasp is fastened so
that when the racka are in placc tbey
may be held so by turning the hasp to
the other side over a staple and bold*
ing It in place with a bit of wood. In
this arrangement either rack may be
let down and the trough thus filled
from either side.? Indianapolis News.
two Mistake*.
It is a mistake to allow co?ts and
calves to remain out in wood or field
through winter storm .and cold witb
no other shelter than a fence corner or
tree trunk. Hardening them, some
farmers call It It surely Is a case of
the survival of the fittest if tbey snr
vive it and do well. The bony, scrag*
fry colt and calf brought up in tbo
spring may live out its allotted time in
spite of such usage, but It is at a loss.
If you trust to tbe mercy of nature,
she asks pay for It In shortened days
or stunted growth. The other day,
passing a large field, I saw one lonely
calf, its back parts to the storm, cov
ered with snow, shivering in the fence
corner. Not a shed or straw stack in
sight. 1 thought of the proverb
concerning the merciful man. Stock
should never be turned Into corn stalk
or wood pasture in winter without hav
ing something provided in the way of
shelter, which they can reach In
stormy weather. Better not sell off all
the straw to the stnwboard, and use It
in covering rude sheds for cattle and
other stock. Our cattlc ore now fnr
removed froirt their wild ancestry and
do not bear cold and exposure well.
Again, It is a second mistake to confine
horses and cattle too closely. Tbey re
quire plenty of fresh air. The stables
and cow sheds should be as warm as
possible to make theni. but they
should bo provided with good ventil
ators. Cows standing In a close atmos
phere. laden with the poisonous ex
halations from their own bodies, pass
that poison back again to diseased
lungs and milk. Home exposure to the
cold and freah air Is necessary for the
well being of the cow. It is a teste
that shows up quickly In her appear
ance. You can kill or weaken your
stock by lack or care, and sometimes
you can weaken them by too much
care.-Ida Sbepler, la Tbe EpItomHt.
* Will w&mwmkm.
In a greet many firm i?n? QunI
lac nail is IM m tht oppcr W,
?ad all that M M eat la carried 4owd
taoaa way *t.anotfcer. Aa American
Agriculturist writer has a ban ar
ranged tbna and with bo suitable apace
In the basement for a (rain bin. A*
a way out j>f the difflcuitj ha pnt In
aome grain chutes to nan from tha bin*
above, aa ahowa la tha accompanying
cut. In aome eaaea tha cbnte could b?
allowed to drop directly from the bis
above without any Joints. Under few
ctrajSwtaneaa will a chute with less
than half pitch be satisfactory. Oats
will run through such a pitch with lit*
tie dllllculty. Wheat or rye will follow
even a less slant, hut with bulky stuff
like ground feed there Is considerable
danger of dogging.
The Interior of the chute ought not
to be less than six Inches square? els
by eight would be even better. The In
terior should be free from all obatrnc
tlona. The hopper ahaped device juat
A GRAIN CHUT*.
under the bin is quite necessary with
ontH and ground feed to give greater
headway. The cut-off (A) is an ordin
ary draw supported by two cleats on
either side. An extension is also made
to the rear board of the chute so that
it projects about half an inch outward,
thus giving chance for holding a bag
if necessary.? Connecticut Farmer.
? rractlcal Vkm Dmlrylnr.
Thinking, perhaps, the experience
of a "common" farmer with a common
herd would be interesting as well as
instructive, I submit this: During the
year ended April 1, 1003, our herd aver,
sged a trifle over 300 pounds of butter
each. We sold the same at twenty-two
cents net. During the last year we
sold part of the cows. At the present
time I am milking four October cows,
which make an average of forty-two
pounds a week. It would be somewhat
difficult to average them to April 1,
but I am confident the four will make
400 pounds each next year. The cows
are common Jerseys. Not one Is regis
tered. No two are alike, nor is there
one which could compete in the show
ring. In fact, they are what Mr. Pack
would call "scrubs."
They are stabled In a rather cold up
ground stable, confined In stanchions,
and let out twice a day for water and
put back Immediately, except on pleas*
ant days, when they are given an
hour'* run. Their feed consists of
plenty of good oat straw an& timothy
hay twice a day, and shredded corn
fodder or chaff at noon. The grain ra
tion is four quarts of whole oats and
bran mixed and four quarts of buck
wheat rinds once a day. They are
watered at a trough from which the
ice has been removed beforehand.
They have no ensilage or summer
grain; are well bedded, but never cur
ried. They are treated kindly, but in
no sense are they under different con
ditions than are, or should be, in reach
of every farmer. We try to have them
dry through September. While I ful
ly agree that cows will do better with
scientific surroundings and better
breeding, still there is better money
for the plain farmer with a common
herd of full blooded Ayrshires, but the
scrub cow Is where we got the start to
do so, and. In defense o? much
abused beast, will say that many a
obe with a reasonable chance would
surprise the fellows with the high
priced fancies.? Lee Hathaway, In Tri
bune-Farmer.
Poultry Notes.
See that there Is vigor and activity
In the male bird.
Changing hens to new quarters le
apt to check their laying.
It is best to cook cut clover hay and
then mix it hot with ground grain.
Even if the chickens do belong to
the wife, you should help her with the
heavy work.
Exposing fowls to heavy wind
storms is as dangerous to their health
as is rainy weather.
Crowded roosts at night will bring
colds to the flock about as quickly as
anything we know of.
Heavy forcing will no doubt Increase
the egg yield, but It will cripple the
stamlnti of future generations.
Sifted coal ashes should be spread,
several times a week, upon the drop
ping boards. Never use wood ashes.
Feed the morning mnsb before glv?
lng water to drink. It is a mistake to
allow n fowl to become chilled by
drinking cold water while the crop is
empty.
It is a very easy matter to improve
the farm flock, and now is the propot
time to look over the flock and select
a few of the very best pullets and mate
them up with the best cockwcl upon
the farm. They can be confined In a
wire netting yard adjacent to a por
tion of the poultry house.
The use of the lead pencil in putting
down in black and white the number
of eggs and fowls produced and the
price received for them is a good way
to change the mistaken belief that
liens do not pn.v for their feed. A rec
ord should be kept of the fowls and
eggs consumed for family use.
This is the season when many farm
ers are moving from one locality to an.
other. Changing hens from one place
to another Is a good way to cause them
to stop laying. They may be coaxed
to resume operations sooner than they
would otherwise by changing their
diet. Give something new and they
will come to their meals with an appe*
PEACH CULTURE.
The Mine pruning and culture de
tired for apple* or pear* would not be
suitable for peach tree*. The peacl?
orchard should be planted by Itself.
Peach trees should not be mingled
with apple trees or other fruit tree*
Do not plant the treea too closely to
gether, unless you expect to cut out
every other tree when they get larger.
Select an elevated site for the orchard;
the hilltops are far better than level
ground or the level; the soil may be
sandy, gravelly or a friable clay loam.
After planting keep the soil well culti
vated through all the growing season.
Half of each season's growth should
be removed by pruning each spring.
This rule of pruning does not apply tc
toy other tree but the peach, wbtcb
bss a tendency' to spread too far. By
rutting off half the wood you tblu out
? portion of the fruit buds and this li
leslrable. since peaches almost Invarl.
*bly overbear.? Green's Fruit Grower.
THE STRAWBERRIES.
Mulching tbe beds will very likely
have to be done some time during the
moutb. Most of the material for this
we already have on band, having been
saved from the odds and ends of near
'y everything, as lawn motvings, grass
clippings, green weeds and rubbish
gathered from every qusrter. It pays
in many ways to mulch the beds; if
?eft uncovered, a few warm days In
spring may give them a start, only to
?>e pinched by a sudden cold spell. Sc
it Is far safer to cover them and not
}e In too much haste to take the cover
:ng off until reasonable danger Is past
It is better to hold them back a little
than to get set back by some freak of
lack Frost.
While out of season now for plant
"jig, very likely many of our reader*
will be casting about on the lookout
for plants for spring setting. In thlt
?onnection it is well to know tliaf
strawberries are of two kinds', stamiiv
ate and fistillate. Some of the verj
Inest sorts of themselves are flstiilatf
jr imperfect In flower, and when plant
?d alone will produce but few berries
and those of poor quality. *
That our readers may better under
stand the difference, we give the stain
Inate or perfect flower and the flstillati
or imperfect flower. By these any om
may readily tell the perfect from tin
Imperfect by the stameus extending
PERFECT,
IMPERFECT.
out from the centre In the perfect, and
their entire absence In the Imperfect.
If carefully preserved, the lllustra<
tions will be very helpful for futur<
reference. Bubach's No. 5 is no doubt
the most popular for market varletj
and culture at the present time, ani
ought not to be omitted, either fot
borne or market purposes. It is of iui*
perfect flower, however, and must In
fertilized by some stamlnate variety,
and none is better, probably tliar
Jessie.
The Glen Mary in season is medluir
to late, and is one of the best in cultl*
vation for home and near market, buf
hardly firm enough for long distances.
It Is very large In size and holds well
up to tbe latest pickings.
Among the early sorts the Marshall
has no equal; very large, high colored
*ml excellent flavor. It Is perfect flow
ering, but must have high culture foi
best results. It sells at sight, is an
immense cropper, and should find a
place in every gnrden.
The Warfield is one of the best late
or perhaps medium berries, and if
coming rapidly into favor with market
men. Its size and color make It eager
ly sought after, and as a cropper and
ready seller It has no superior. It lr
Imperfect, however, and must be
planted with some of the stamlnate
sorts.
From time to time during the wintei
we hope to talk of fruit varieties anil
endeavor to offer suggestions that will
be helpful in selecting sorts for plant
ing.? Connecticut Farmer.
HORTICULTURAL NOTES.
The new berry patch should be spf
out early in April.
The Prize Taker and similar varie
ties of onions will do their best onlj
when started in beds and transplanted
later on.
If the lettuce in your beds or hot
house is showing signs of rust, spraj
with a solution of sulphate of copper:
one ounce to twenty gallons of water
Since there Is a scarcity of cucumbci
and melon seeds it should be knowr
that these seeds have great vitality,
mid will grow even if several years old
There is a shortage of nil varletlei
of wrinkled peas. Two-year-old stock
will grow, and if sound and well pre
served a fair percentage will grow t lie
third > ear.
Just the minute the earth soften*
enough to permit you to dig a bit of
horseradish with the Iron bar. get soiih
for the table. It will be the tlrst elixir
*>r life to you for the new year.
The tomato blight is spreading ovci
Ihe country. Old hotbeds Infested will
the spores are its breeding places. 1'
possible make new beds with new luni
her and new earth.' The next bes*
tiling to do Is to saturate the oh',
frame with a strong solution of sal
phatc of copper, one ounce to the gal
Ion of water, and use new earth.
Mi? One t'Mllnrr.
These schools for journalism are
great thing*. Filial examinations were
recently held for the students at Kan- I
sns University who nre taking the
course In Journalism, and only one stu
dent failed to pass. He was an expe
rienced newspaper man. ? Springfield
Republican.
A #rirt is always proud of her new
hat until she meets another girl with
one that's more freakish.
T
3E movement In favor of ?
National appropriation to
ahl In the building of road*
appeara to be tnaklug great
headway. Thla la proven
by the number and enthusiasm of It*
supporters, and even more strikingly
by the consternation of those who are
openly or secretly opposed to the
scheme. When the agricultural hill
came up In the National House of Rep
resentatives recently remsrks were
dropped by a number of speakers
which Indicated that letters, petitions
and resolutions demsndlng the passage
of the Brownlow road bill are coming
In from all sections. The same thing
happened again when the bill came up
in the Senate. Senator Bailey, of
Texas, who Is opposed to National aid.
said it was easy to see what Is com
ing, and addressed this significant re
mark: **I will live, if 1 lire as long as
my father lias done, to see a Federal
officer probably supervising all the
1 county roads in this country."
While none of the so-called good
roads bills have come up for action in
either end of the Capitol, the friends
of the road office in the Department of
Agriculture have scored an Important
victory in securing in the Senate an in
crease of $45,000 in the appropriation*
for road investigations and experi
ments. including the building of object
lesson rouds.
This is National aid on a small scale.
But it is of great importance from an
educational point of view. Heretofore
this object-lesson work has been con
ducted iu the following manner: An ap
plication Is sent in by some experiment
station or agricultural college, or by
road officials or public spirited citizens
of some progressive community asking
the Government to co-operate in t ho
building of a short stretch of road.
The Government usually furnish
nothing more than an engineer or an
expert to make plans and supervise t '?.*?
work. Uoad-making machinery is ?<>u.
ally furnished free of charge by the
manufacturers for the sake of the ad
vertisement It gives them. The rail
roads also take a hand ami transport
the machinery free. The institution or
community making the application lis*
to foot the bills for labor and materials.
Among the henelits flowing from
such work are (1) that it gives an ex
cellent opportunity to investigate and
test the various local materials; t2)
that it gives the people of that locality
a lesson in the methods of road build
ing and in the use of road materials
and machinery, and CI) that the build
ing of a short piece of good road usu
ally leads to the building of a largo
mileage of improved road in the vicin
ity. To have Uncle Sam come into a
community and help build a good
road, be it ever so short, seems to
arouse great popular iutcrest and
stimulate local effort. It is claimed by
those who know most about the results
of the work alreudy done, that in no
other direction does the Government
accomplish so much with so little out
lay.
But the opponents of National aid
nre afraid that object-lesson roads are
only a stepping stone to National aid
of vastly greater dimensions, and in
this they are probably right. However
that may he it appears certain that ob
ject-lesson road building will be car
ried on next year to a larger extent
than ever before. Many applications
are now on tile in the Department of
Agriculture and many more are ex
pected.
HurcfMaful Macadam.
The main points in successful mac
adam road building are (1) that the
foundation be properly constructed
and drained; (2) that the surface of tho
road be slightly curved so as to shed
water, and (3) that the surface of tho
finished road be made herd and smooth
and as nearly waterproof' as possible.
The fast of these qualities Is secured
by spreading on the stone in layers, be
ginning with a layer of the largest
fragments and finishing with a layer
of very tine crushed stone with which
some sand is often incorporated. Each
layer is well compacted with a heavy
roller.
Although tlie expense of building
macadam roads is trifling compared
with that of constructing a stone paved
road like that of the Roman Emperor,
Appius Claudius, it Is still so great as
to form the principal obstacle to mac*
ndnmizing modern highways. Tho
cost, of course, depends largely on tho
eiwe with which suitable stone may be
secured. Where tho material him to
be transported by rail for a consider
ble distance the cost is greatly In
creased. Some of the Massachusetts
highways have cost $8000 to $10,000 a
mile, while in some other States good
macadam roads have been built for
$1500 to $!1000 a tulle.
Not Like Ilia Molli*r,
Life tells a good story of the small
son of a certain university professor,
whose parents are deservedly popular
for their tact and courteous speech.
The youngster appeared at the homo
of a fellow-rrofcssor and hesitatingly
asked Mrs. if he might look at
the parlor rug. Permission was, of
course, granted, and Mrs. felt
tome surprise to see the little follow
itoop over the rug and stare silently
for some half-uiliiutc. He straight
ftied himself up, and, meeting her
Ivoi* fir ring expression, said triumph
intly, "It dousn't make ine slckl"
Annual Coffee Consumption.
I It Is estimated that tho peoplo of
i the United States drink 1,500,000.000
gallons of coffee In the course of a
year, at a cost of about ten cents a
gallon. Tho importing cost of the
requisite fjuantlty of coffee berries for
this supply, at seven cents a pound, Is
about $75,000,000. Preparation, pack'
ago. distribution and dealers' profits
make the price to the oonsumer about
double the Importing eost.