The people. (Camden, S.C.) 1904-1911, September 08, 1904, Image 2
Mynheer Joe.
BY ST. QEORQE JttTHBORNE.
CHAPTHB
? -?4* I Continued.]
/*EiAm fortunately had had his
open and been able to discover
iwhat Is golDf on. Only for that we
?Ifht hare been taken unawares, and
Various consequences hare resulted."
Sandy pricks up his ears, and hi*
Itching hand makes a movement In
the direction of the pocket where he
keep hla note-book, aa though this
nay be aome newa that concerns the
general public; but he remembers to
time, and forbears. With a smile at
Ma action, the traveler continues:
"He haa had men In sympathy with
Hm right here under the noaea of the
British officials in Bombay, strange
though It may appear to you. Perhaps
there la something rotten In the state
?f Denmark, and England may awak
?a some day to And a wonderful up
rialng In the he'art of her rich Indian
posaesalons, or I'm no prophet, unless
?
**WeIV remarks Sandy, solemnly,
.when his friend comes to this pause,
significant In Itself, "unless what,
friend Josephus?"*
"The conspiracy la nipped In the bud
This can be done by the overthrow of
Baron Popoff now."
**By Jove, what a pity you were not
a subject of the Queen, Joel" grunts
8andy.
"Why so, old man?"
"Under such circumstances yon
Would have seen yonr duty clearly;
tot the time you fought that duel with
the baron, your sword could and would
liave nipped this Busslan conspiracy in
the bud, by ending the baron on tho,
banks of the Nile. If bis body were
testing in one of those ancient tomt>?
among the Chills of Mokkatam, Popoff
Would not be able to arouse the people
?f this benighted country to rise
?gainst their British masters and
throw off the yoke of England in or
ifler to assume one much more galling
?that of the White Csar."
Mynheer Joe thoughtfully rubs the
and of his nose, as though by that op
eration he might arouse his thinking
faculties. Thou he turns with a smile
Upon his friend.
"I begin to see you were right, my
Hear boy. That mistake may causo
me no end of trouble, and yet some
thing held thy hand when I had the
Chance to finish the baron. It is be
frond me to explain the feeling that
teame over me. I only know it existed.
Xou've seen such periods in your own
fife, when a power controlled your ac
tions. Let that go. What I wunt to
tell yon now concerns us l>oth. since
you appear to l>e In the same ship as
myself. In ten hours the Busslan has
formed a plan of action to bring about
tmr destruction. We are In the web!"
He says this as coolly as though ask
tng for fire on account of a neglected
cigar; not the least trace of emotion
tan be detected in* bis voice. One
.would not imagine that hs refers to
their lives being in jeopardy through
this plot of the baron's.
As for Sandy, he shows that he can
take the matter just aa coolly. Even
If the enemy be near, advancing on
the double-quick, ao to speak, that it
no reason a man of nerve abould be
tattled and lose his presence of mind.
"Ah! Couple of foolish files, oh? The
bloated old spider has managed to
?pin a web around us while we've been
taking In the sights of Bombay. Is
that the trick, Joe?" be remarks.
"Something in that strain, you'll find,
friend Sandy. I haven't been quite
, Able to make It out myself yet; but,
?11 the same, it's as plain as the nose
*a your face that this shrewd old
chap has been working while we were
playing, and in that way has stolen s
march on us nicely. Listen now, and
pou shall have some particulars."
Mynheer Joe casts a glance around
?m though he would use at least all
ordinary caution. Then he glvea the
?aget- war correspondent the benefit of
bis late Interview with faithful Has
?ee.
Sandy's manner Is aomethlng of a
thermometer. Indicating bis feeling*.
When the atory grow* warm, he rest
lessly fingers his cigar, twirling it be
tween his thumb and finger. As d
. quiet portion of the recital is reached,
lie puffs unconcernedly at tbe weed or
?lae idly flips the ashes from the end
All the while be imbibes the facti
nrbich fall from tbe lips of Mynheei
doe. Sandy Is mucb of tbe nature of
? sponge. He greedily sucks in all bf
can reach, but means to give it out
?gain upon tbe least pressure. That
la his business in life?{0 take and
Sire, retaining nothing. If what Is
sues from bis pen Is garbed in a new
dees*. |Q that it can hardly be recoa
maea as tile same Impression that hi!
received, that Is In the nature of things
and only to be expected; for Baudy
himself Is the wonderful machine that
grasps the rough material, and with
Ita magic breath transforms it Into the
daintiest of fabrics.
It can be readily set down, therefore,
that the active little newspaper mau
ti A good listener. Ills memory Is as
tonishingly tenacious for one so accus
tomed to making notes, and he will not
Boon forget a word of what has been
MM.
It la a thrilling narrative Joe gives
fclm, and would even be so were It any
other than themselves thus placed In
danger, At the same time, Joe makes
HO rhetorical flourishes In his narra
tive, but gives It In a plain, every-dny
?tyle, such aa appears to be a part of
bi? nature.
?
rovhapa I heir nnlque surrounding*
have something to do with lending the
art,oty color and making It appear more
romantic. This Is clearly possible, be
?-!se the bright costumes, the strnnge
language, the binnrre contents of the
ahelMIke shops where the proprietors
ttft ccojus-leggetL smoking calmly and
?waHlBg the advent of rawnen. Iff
these things, seen and heard under
the name rout colored lights that make
Bhendy Basar Bond seem like a
gUmpee of fairyland, moat have their
effect upon the sensitive nerves, and
canae one to look upon the affair to
quite another humor than might he
the case were It all ? done under the'
garish light of day and amid other lest
powerful surroundings. v
What the full text of Mynheer Joe's
narrative may be does not concern ui
at present. In good time Its nature
must be laid bare, and all Its detail!
discussed, as the anticipated thunder
bolt falls upon our friends.
Bandy feels that the altuatlon It
grave and realises his position In the
matter. Before he can give an expres
sion to his feelings, however, the trav
eler stei>s on his foot. It Is no acci
dent but an Intentional dig that carries
a warning with it. and quick to heed
these things the little man bubbles out
with a laugh, that causes the last of
the serious look to fly from his face.
"Capital Joke, that of yours, Joe. Ah,
you aly dog. always working In your
little pun! It's a beastly shame to Im
pose on an unsophisticated Yankee like
myself. Never mind, 1*11 have my eye
teeth cut If 1 remain long lit such dis
reputable company, I'll warrant you.**
While thua delivering himself 8sndy
is casting his eyes around In the hope
of discovering the cause of Joe's sud
den new departure. What enetn? hai
approached near enough to give the
wary explorer alarm?
The first discovery that Candy
makes, is that Kassee, faithful Kassec,
no longer stands near the elbows of
hia master, but has vanished as com
pletely as though the earth has oiiened
and swallowed liim. Of course. It is
not a very difficult task for a native to
mingle in the crowd and lose him
self, but a white man would have
much trouble, as he must be one
among dozens, and his identity can bu
detected even some distance away.
Looking further Sandy believes he
can place tho threatening danger. As
if by mere accident, severol ugly-look
ing Hindoos ore near them. They do
not move on with the crowd but lin
ger In that one spot, which lu itself
seems to indicate an intention to do
mischief.
Sandy has not had any actual ex
perience with the dreaded society of
Thugs in India, but he knows tuueh
of their past history and has liniribed
numerous stories concerning their evil
deeds. He la also aware of the fact
that although Great Britain has dealt
very severely with all members of this
dreaded society, whenever their guilt
could be proven, her strict laws have
had little effect in Intimidating the
bravos of cord and creeso. As a gen
| era! rule, their work is carried ou
among the people of their own nation
ality, but there have been tlmees when
'foreigners have come under the ban,
'although the secret order Is chary of
Indulging In such pastime as It always
results In additional energy on the
I part of the Government to stamp out
the Curse of India.
It strikes Bandy very broadly, as he
notes the presence of these fellows,
that they are standing upon the brink
of a precipice, where It will not require
much of an effort to hurl them over.
At such a critical time. It Is wonderful
what confidence he has In the mag
netic man beside him. With Myn
heer Joe to hold up the other end of
the log. It does not seem as though
he need fear all the combination of
evil that can be brouslil to hear
against them. Joe m a natural-boiT
leader, and needs nothing beyond th<
occasion to develop his powers.
"Keep close at my side, Sandy; w?
have here an enemy somewhat differ
ent from any you may have met?cer
talnly as unlike the cowardly Arab!
who tackled you In the dark street!
of Cairo, as day Is from night. Of
course, you are armed?don't answer,
simply nod. That's good. I fearet!
you might have overlooked the llttlf
gun, If the worst comes, remember
we are marked men, and let every
bullet And Its billet. In plain words.
Bandy, shoot to kill. Savvy?"
The other grunts a response that
seems to satisfy Joe, who continues in
the same low voice:
"I am In hopes that I may be able
to ward off this threatened attack.
Much depends upon tbe branch of the
fcecret order these Thugs belong to.
At any rate, be ready to do your duty.
I must fire the first shot, and, when
that sounds, let go all. When these
fellows get ready for business, yon
will henr a peculiar call, loud and
thrill. That cry Is known to every
'Hindoo, and means that If they know
what It good for themselves ami fami
lies. they will keep shy of the spot and
leave the worthy Thugs to carry out
their own sweet will. Hence you see,
Sandy," removing his cigar for a ito
ment In a nonchalant way. "we ne*?d
?xpect no aBftlstancc from this crowd.*'
"LuckIIv, I hadn't counted on It,
Joe." remarks the other, In something
jf the same humor.
"It will lie a sight worth looking at
tvhen the signal Is given. Keep your
?yes open, friend. Yon will receive a
tensstlon-that of lielnsc perhaps the
3rst man for whose benefit the signal
lias been ?ivcn and who lives to tell
:he tale."
Thin Is enough In Itself to arouse
Sandy's hopes. Wide-awake he gen
erally Is, but Just now his eyes seein
popping out of his head with eager
necs.
They saunter slowly on, while their
body-guard?for such the ugly-looking
pquad of Thugs appears to be?keeps
them company. At the same time,
their nrmber increases. Sandy can,
with only a casual glance, count a
doxen men wearing the some peculiar
fttyle of turban. There. 1* louetbln*
off! oa ?**? iwUifn about tt to
mm now tktt k? note* the fact tktt
?**1 im if tW Than
OtW tort? h> hu noticed.- bat
>**??? ???a to b* a pecalldr
f**?1? *b*at this one. which only
be explained by the fact that be knows
the nature of the society that appear*
to hare adopted It
Why doe* not the critical moment
come. Are the Thug* waiting for a
ceitata spot to be .Tcbed w?^
tbTiia? foreigner* shaU drench
.I!.b * ?euMtloo to remember tbls
walk along the bostllng Bb?ndy Baa
r* w,th lt# P?coliar sight* and
22J 5"d "i?** *11 the while at
tend?d by ? select body-guard from
the Picked member* of a secret society
?' ?M**?1n?. the ramifications of
which extend eren beyond the limit*
af India's wide borders.
The most interesting part of the
business comes In Just here; this body
guard has not their good at heart and
does not tbns convoy them in order to
ward off danger. On the contrary,
each and every Individual member of
I* hnn been bound by his oath to ef
fect the death of ?"-,**rnTmi?
Their orders come from headquarters,
ond they obey with the blindness that
generally marks the actiona of these
children of destiny. How are they to
know that It Is the Russian's gold
that bought their leaders? Little they
care. since their oath binda them to
biiudiy obey.
It la coming soon. Sandy note* that
numbers of the people hare already
edged away. When their eye* note
toe strange turban* worn by these
men and count the number, the fata!
thirteen, they exhibit an the signs of
sudden fear. and. turning, hasten from
tne spot In undisguised alarm
SOU Mynheer Joe shows no alarm
himself, strange man that he is. What
can he be made of to thus calmly face
a death that most men shudder to con
template? Really the fellow must have
been born without nerves, he has such
r< markable control over himself.
They have by slow stages reached a
point on the road where the bazars are
thickest, and ordinarily here can be
seen the most Interesting of all the
welter y offers to the curioslty
Usten," pays Joe, suddenly "It la
coming!"
lie tosses the remnant of his cljrar
away, as if tired of smoking. Sandy
ds vIS t0tfo!low 8u,t- for wants
r??H? 08 c,ear ns bI? other
faculties are at this moment.
Mynheer Joe has not made a blun
der in tho matter of time. At the verv
moment Sandy relieves himself of his
,ar there rises above the babel of
lolccs, a startling sound. Sandy has
never heard anything like It before
knd. please Heaven, he does not waut
Mfles ' 8lnCC hC know? what it sig
The effect is astounding. A dead
Mlence rejgns whore before allwas
?hHnlnp confusIon- I'eopre appear to
,n?y' ?? quIckly flo they get
their bodies out of sight. This la
part of the business that amazes San-,
, f* t. e 8^s tbe eager tradesman stop
u the midst of a sentence and no
longer attempt to sell his wares.* It
would be useless anyway,- alnc* his
ate customer has apparently merged
Into space, the spot that once knew
him knowing him no longer Thus
tie With molt ;
?e.8?".aU APr" ?*?
*??*??? Sandy can count thirty
while this change Is taking place
around them, or It might be as he w
be able to cover only half of that num
ber. so speedily is the metamorphosis
accomplished.
In one particular there Is no change.
i/" "1 thirteen Thugs still sur
round them. Not an avenue of es
cape has been left open. Plainly if
they live through this night It must be
because they are able to meet the as
saults of the enemy with not only a
bold front but weapons that lessen
the number of the odds against them
at every discharge.
Sandy half produced his revolver,
but he clearly remembers bis com
panion's explicit instructions, and will
Dot Are until Mynlieer Joe gives the
word, even though these fierce bravos
of Bombay advance to the attack anG
smite them hip and thigh.
[To be Continued.]
In German cities merchants are not
fallowed to pnt up "selling out" signs
junless they are honest. In Mains a
|Bne of COO marks Is Inflicted for ever?
transgression of this law.
Point of a Lightning Rod.
Everybody knows in a general way
that a lightning rod gives protection
to a house, but many persons do not
know why the rod has a sharp point,
and why It Ib usually made of metal
that does not easily corrode.
The object of the rod Is to empty a
cloud of Its electricity noiselessly and
harmlessly, and it must be pointed be
cause a One point offers no vesistance
to the discharge. The degree of resist*
nnce Is lu proporton to the surface of
the object, and a point has the leapt
possible surface. If the rod were top
ped by a ball or a knob the discharge
would be violent.
The difference between a point and
n ball Is shown In discharging a bat
tery; perhaps some of our boys and
girls have seen their teacher of phys
ics make the experiment. The full
charge from a large battery may be
received quietly on a mttal point, but
a moderate charge from a small bat
tery will explode with violence on a.
hall, it is paid that a full charge may
be passed harmlessly through a per
son's body if received on the point of
a sewing needle, whereas \ae same
charge, received on a ball tipped dis
charger, would causo Instant death.
Non-corrosive metal Is used for the
point of the rod because corrlslon
makes resistance and must therefore
be provided against. Many a lightning
rod has received an electrical dis
charge when the occupants of the
house knew nothing about It.
Qrape Vine Hsu Grown Largs.
There Is a grape vine on the Era*
tss Peck farm In New Haven. Vt.,
said to be 50 years old, that Is 15?
feet long and 22 Inches In clrcutufer
?nee at the base.
Man of t too
vrglBK fsnnK to nlM beef (or mar
tort; ttet the demand exceeds
ttoo rapptj- Ibis mjV w tot cer
tain extent, but there are several oth
er conditions to be met before this In
dustry can be made profitable to farm
ers generally. As a matter of fact, the
farm and Its adsptabUtty baa every
thlnf to do 'with success. There sire
msny farms, even Id dairying sections
not at all suited to dairying, but emi
nently fitted to raising cattle for beef,
and with such a farm and a proper
knowledge of the work the result*
would probsbly be successful. The
question Is but one of msny which
should be decided entirely on locsl con*
dltlons and by each man for himself.
It Is folly to generalise on some things,
and this is one of them. ?
Look Out rer This.
In several sections of the country
?gents ere offering whst they claim
to be trees budded on, four-year-old
seedlings. If they deliver what they
claim, the trees are likely to be nearly
worthless, declares the Indianapolis
News, for a seedling four years old Is
too old to bud and make a good tree.
It could be grafted, of course, but even
then would not be superior In any way
to the regulation root-grafted trees
generally sold by nurserymen. There
are so. many reliable nurserymen In
the country that It seems Incredible
auy one should be victimized by any
such absurd claims, much less a farm
er who is more or less familiar with
fruit' growing. Be on the safe side,
and if an agent comes to you with sn
offer of trees grown in some manner
out of the ordinary, refer the offer to
your State experiment ststlon before
closing it. Nine times out of ten you
will find you have saved money by do
ing ?his.
A I^rhorn MmMbc.'
The above illustration, taken from
the Feather, shows a proud and pre
cocious pullet of tlie true egg produc
lug type of conformation. ,
Poultry Not**.
An elevated site is desirable for a
poultry house.
See that the poultry bouse is well
ventilated.
Leg weakness comes from bigb feed
ing and forced growth.
Sprinkle the placts most frequented
by the fowhr with" slaked lluie.
A sole diet of oocfc produces-too much
fat. when given to laying hens.
Mix a little powdered charcoal with
the soft feed and it will assist diges
tion.
With poultry, as with other products,
it is a safe rule to market as soon as
ready.
The turkey is one of the best pay
ing fowls the farmer can keep, when
the surroundings are fnvorable.
The egg shell Is porous and any tilth
on it soon affects the meat. Eggs
should be cleaned as soon as gathered.
The breed of fowls to select from is
the one you like the best This has a
great deal to do with which is the best
fowl.
Fresh eggs are more transparent at
the centre, old ones at the top. Very
old ones are not transparent in either
place.
The H?? Colony.
It should be as far away from public
highways as possible, und. If conven
ient, in a quiet place, sheltered from
high winds, where the bees are not
likely to be Interfered with by men
or animals. The hives must be secure
ly fenced off. If situated on land where
cattle ore accustomed to feed. They
should also be not so far away as to
prevent those engaged about the
dwelling honse from seeing ' when
swarms are in the air. If the
hives can be so placed as to afford a
free bee flight toward the open coun
try, while the beekeeper has room to
work at the side or in rear of thein
without Interfering with the flight of
the bees, it Is mutually advantageous
to them and to the beekeeper.
One of the most relhible arguments
in favor of combining agriculture with
small farming lies In the fact that the
beekeeper can time his work so as not
to Interfere unduly with the attention
needed for harvesting his ordinary ag
ricultural produce. Moreover, much
valuable help can be rendered by a
fanner's wife who'ls so disposed, and
many instances are recorded in which
women make most successful bee
keepers.?Massachusetts Ploughman.
On# Fnrui?r'i Method.
One of the best formers*we ever
knew kept n slate hanging up in the
Imrn and on this slate made entries
something like these:
Weak place In the west field fence;
Joe repair It at once.
Take cultivator shovels to shop next
time buggy goes.
Repair Jack's harness and Bob's bri
dle first wet day.
Frank, see Hmlth and tell him to
bring log chain home.
Two sows due to farrow May 16;
keep sharp lookout.
Bunch of red sorrel in south "field
near shade; for self.
Wood pile must be watched; haul
tome first chance.
When any Job like the one- noted
was done, the rule was to erase the
memorandum about it. and the man
who kept the slate told us that there
was always a friendly rivalry between
himself, his ?on and the hired man In
the way of keeping the slate clean.
The rule was to scan the slate when
ever any one came to the barn, and
If be wu ctlMt twaj and there was
some work of his own to be done. In
stead of telling his wife "to tell the
boy." a simple entry was made cover
lug the work to be done and nil went
well.
VWrti* Fowls to Monl'.
Many poultry men have tried the so
called Van Dresser plan of forcing
fowls to moult early and have met
with varying degrees of success. The
plan consists of placing the fowls fn
a run of rather limited dimensions and
giving them as little food as possible,
and yet sustaining life for two weeks.
The writer tried the plan for the sec
ond season last year and with satis
factory results In the case of Leghorns,
but only fair results with Plymouth
Rocks. The plan of feeding was to
scatter in the runs some small grain
like, wheat, mixing It with a small
quantity of oil meal. The qtiautlty
was sufficient to give each fowl about
the equivalent of a teaspoonful *of
grain, provided she got her share.
At the end of two weeks the hens
were again fed liberally and on the
usual vai^ety of rations. The experi
ment was made in August and In four
weeks most of the Leghorns had their
new stock of feathers and wore be
ginning to lay. The Plymouth Rocks
dragged along for from six to ten
weeks before all of them were laying
again. There is enough in the plan to
warrant trying it. and if the results
obtained with the Leghorns could l>e
generally brought about it would give
pouitrymen eggs much earlier in the
fall than now.
Good Mllkta*.
Tests at the Storr*s Experiment Sta
tion show conclusively that the amount
of milk given by the cow* and the
purity of the product both depend
greatly upon the method adopted by
the milker. One young man. who said
he could milk, was given charge of the
milking of six cows. At the end of
a week the quantity given showed a
shrinkage of twelve per cent. In an
other experiment, in which live boys,
previously taught as to proper meth
ods. were tested as milkers, four in
creased the flow seven, ten n*;l five
per cent., respectively. The following
Instructions in regard to milking are
in use at the station.
The milker should milk regularly,
thoroughly and quietly. lie should
wear clean clothes, wash liis hands
before beginning to inilk, and never
wet tlieni while milking. The cow
should he brushed before being milked,
and her tlank and udder wiped with a
damp cloth in order to minimize, as
far as possible, the number of bacteria
floating about In the vicinity of the
pail, and likely to get into the milk.
To the same end the foremilk should
be rejected, and the milking done into
covered pails, with strainers arranged
fod the milk to puss through. Reject
ing the first few spurts of milk from
the teat removes the milk containing
objectionable germs. The cleaner the
milking is done, the fewer the germs.?
American Cultivator.
Car* of thf? Home.
Our farm horses should have the
very bent of care that the farmer can
give theui. They are faithful animals
anil deserve to be kept right. They
should have plenty of good hay, corn,
oats. bran, etc., the year around. We
should strive to Rive them a variety of
food, as they like it better and will
thrive better upon It. In beginning
the spring work do not work the teaiu
too much at the start. Their muscles
are soft and will blister easily, for
they have been idle much or the time
during the winter. Go a trifle slow at
the start, and then, after getting used
to It gradually, the farmer will have
a team with tough, bard shoulders,
capable of standing the heavy work of
the entire season. The team should be
thoroughly brushed and cleaned every
day. This will help in keeping them
in the proper conditiou. Give tliem a
good dry stable in the winter and do
not be afraid of turning them out at
night during the summer when the
pasture Is good.
Our driving horses should be treated
with the same consideration as the
work team. Give him good care and
do not overwork him by driving him
too fast. Be kind to all the animals,
and quiet when working with them.
Make their duties as light as possible,
never requiring them to do more than
their strength will admit. Horses well
cared for and treated in a humane
manner will prove themselves the best
servants a man can have about
farm.?Cor. Farmers' Guide.
Carry Life to the Holt.
A recent observation of importance
to the agriculturist would seem to in
dicate that the enrichment of soil
which is observed In forest-covered
lands is not altogether due to a con
servation of the moisture and the ad
dition to the soil of needed elements
by the decomposition of the fallen
leaves. Of probable greater Import
ance is the fixation of atmospheric ni
trogen by dead forest leaves when
these rest on a moist substratum of
soil. In effect this phenomenon Is sim
ilar to that which is produced by the
tubercle growths on the roots of the
legumes and allied plant families.
A similar observation has been made
In regard to the mountain pine, which,
If verified, will account for the hardi
ness of this tree and the ease with
which It maintains Itself in soils that
contain comparatively few nutrients.
It has been found by the Danish
Heather Improvement .Society, which
is Interested In planting trees on bar
ren sandy stretchos on the western
coast of Jutland, that spruce and
mountain pine, when planted togeth
er In pairs, mutually help each other
to thrive, the valuable nitrogen-fixing
functions of the pine serving to pro
vide nourishment for both trees. It
has been repeatedly observed that
where such trees are planted In prox
imity on barren lands. If the pine Is
cut down while the spruce Is still
young, the latter will die, or else make
a sickly growth. On the contrary, cu
riously enough, if the pine is not cat
down until after the spruce gets a
good start, the latter will make better
progress than if the pine had been al
lowed to live.?Indianapolis News.
MARKETING SMALL FRUITS.
These fruits are seldom teen In our
markets, excvpt in the quart straw
berry basket, shipped In the thirty-two
quart crate. The red raspberry Is in
some cases sold In the large pint
basket, in which It keeps iu a good
condition longer than in the quart
basket, yet the latter Is almost uni
versally used in New England. Tha
currant in some markets is sold In the
ten or twelve-pound "diamond" market
basket and is then sold by the pound,
but the quart basket In thlrty-two
quart crates is much the more satis
factory.
ABOUT FRUIT" TREES.
The presence of borers In fruit trees
is always a source of great annoyance.
An old farmer rubs hard soap iuto
every place in the tree that see mm
wounded by them. His grandfather
always did it before him and he claims
that it is an effectual remedy. Strong
lye made of potash and swabbed on.
In the proportion of one i>ouud to a
gallon of water. Is also very beueticinl.
This same old farmer prunes the de
cayed limbs of his apple trees, and
rubs the trunks with a hard brush,
then paints them with a mixture of
soft soap and stdpliur, five gallons of
soap to one of sulphur, lie also strews
lime under the trees and around the
trunks. This destroys the worms and
improves the quality of the fruit aud
grass, and will prevent the trees from
decaying. He has always been suc
cessful In the cultivation of the pear
trees. To prevent the disease cnlled
fire-blight, which In summer causes
the leaves on the extremities of the
branches for two or more feet to ap
pear as if scorched, he cuts off a foot
or more from the diseased part and
immediately burns It. If this is faith
fully practiced the evil Is arrested.
When plum trees become affected by
the disease called the "black gum."
which Is caused by an insect, if the
diseased part be immediately cut off
and burned, the tree may be preserved.
?Helen M. Richardson, in The Epito
mist.
PACKAGE FOR APPLES.
The relative advantages of barrels
and boxes as packages for fruit were
given a thorough discussion at the re
cent mooting of the Western Horticul
tural Society. The advantages of the
boxes are chiefly, that they can be
made and obtained more easily and
cheaply, and that fancy fruit generally
sells for a higher price in them, as
It can be packed solid, in nice even
rows, like oranges: also the export
trade is accustomed to this kind of
package and it sells more readily and
for a higher price abroad.
The principal disadvantage is that it
requires an expert packer to put in
fruit in this way. It is also true that
there Is practically no opportunity to
work iu uneven or poor fruit in a box.
It depends 011 the point of view
Whether this is to be classed as an ad
vantage or a disadvantage.
As to barrels, they are Increasingly
expensive and difficult to get, and it
requires skilled labor to make them.
Tlielr principal advantage seeins to be
that it does not require skilled labor
to till them, and that they ore easier
to move because they can be rolled.
There seems to be a good ileal of
conservative clinging to an old fash
ioned custom in this respect, despite
the fact that barrels tend to bruise
and injure fruit. West of the Rocky
Mountains, however, barrels are no
longer used, partly because they can
not be easily obtained and purtly be
cause only the choicest fruit is shipped,
and boxes are preferable for this grade.
?Prairie Farmer.
BORDEAUX MIXTURE.
Where a largo orchard is to be
sprayed the mixture should he made
up In large quantities, so that there
will be no delay at spraying time. It
Is somewhat difficult to estimate the
amount of material' needed 011 a cer
tain number of trees, but n safe basis
of calculation for trees of moderate
size is fifty gnllons of mixture to fifty
trees, or one gallon to each tree, writes
Professor E. E. Little, in Wallace's
Farmer. After an approximate amount
required has been determined upon,
the mixture should be prepared. A
quantity of fifty gallons is most easily
made up, an a common barrel will bold
this amount.
Prepare a stock solution of Bordeaux,
the common mixture, by placing fifty
pounds of copper sulphate In a gunny
sack and suspending it in a barrel hold
ing fifty gallons of water. Cold water j
will dissolve it providing the lumps
have been crushed; if not, It will be
necessary to use hot water. The fifty
pounds of lime should be carefully
slacked In a large box, and when It has
assumed a creamy condition place It In
a barrel holding fifty gallons, and stir
thoroughly. Now you have a stock so
Intion of Bordeaux mixture. When
ready to use, stir the contents of both
barrels. Take five gallons of lime
water and place It in the spray barrel;
add twenty-five gallons of water, then
?dd five gallon* of copper sulphate so
lution, filling the barrel With wnter.
Stir thoroughly and apply. For spray
ing plums and cherries this should
lie diluted more, using only four gal
lons of each mixture. Never mix the
copper sulphate mid lline mixture to
gether. but put each In the spray bar
rel separately nhd dilute with water.
Factor? WorKfw* Children Id Franco.
The Trench Academic de Medicine
discussed recently the rights of chil
dren and their working mothers
against those of the employers. Near
ly one-half of the children who die un
der the age of one year are victims of
diseases of the digestive tract, tho
great cause of which Is artificial feed
log. It should be made possible, there
fore, for working mothers to nurse
their children.
In Italy, a speaker declared, a law
required a nursery in every factory
employing as many as fifty workers;
and he urged that a similar law be en
acted in France. The Academic de
Medicine approved his suggestions and
sent them to the Minister of the In
terior.
I windmill hat been put to work
in Germany driving dynamos.
Argon, the receutly discovered ele
tneut of air. U, a? was expected from
It? existence iu the chromosphere, very
light aud apparently monatlmic.
__
A Swiss scientist has made a discov
ery of prehistoric remains iu the Jura
Mountains which Is so Important that
extensive excavations are being made.
?
For several years a record has been
kept of the wear of locomotive wheels
on the Danish State railways. The sin
gle drivers are found to wear better
thau four coupled, the latter better
than six coupled and In all cases wear
Is increased l)j- tlimsiness of road.
A remarkable luminous meteor trail
seen at Madrid has been reported by
J. A. Peres. It continued visible from
about 10 p. m. until midnight, and the
shape gradually changing from an al
most closed curve with a loop iu It to
an enlarged loop with a very faint de
tached portiou of the primary curve.
A local study of rural depopulation
near l?arls lias been made by Dr. A.
F. lMleque. 1I?- finds that the causes
Include sanitary Ignoraucc leading to
high Infant mortality, migration of
young people to towns. effects of con
scription, aud alcoholism. IIis sug
gested remedy?one that promises suc
cess In Belgium?is improved primary
and technical education, with special
efforts to cultivate a love for farm life.
Old age is an infectious disease,
[ which we may expect soon to be treat
ed by a preventive serum, prolonging
life. Such was- the view expressed in
the late Paris lecture of Dr. .Menel.nl
koff. Senility, he explained, is pro*
duccd by certain physiological states,
I which cause the "macrophages." which
are a beneficed? species of microbes,
j to increase too rapidly, when they be
j come injurious. These parasites Hour
? isli In the large intestine, which Is pos
| sesscd by mammals, hut is almost lack
i lug iu birds. The result was illus
| trated by the doctor's own dog and
I parrot, the former being decrepit at
j eighteen, while the latter was hale
i and lively at seventy. While the so
I ruiu is being awaited, we are advised
j to eat curdled milk.
"SENSATION" IN VILLA ART.
I Wonderful KflVct <i?ln?.?l by u <?Sad
Mountain Torrent.
Jn>t across the lake, in the deep
shade of the wooded cliffs beneath the
Plzxo dl Torno. lies another villa still
more steeped iu Ihe Italian garden
magic. litis is Ihe Villa Pliniaua,
built in ir.7o by the Count Augtiissola.
of Piaceir/a. and now the property of
the Trotti family, of Milan. I he place
takes Its name from an intermittent
spring in the court, which is supposed
to be the one described by Pliny iu 0:10
of his letters, aud it is further cele
brated as being the coolest villa on
Conio. It lies on a small bay on the
east side of the lake, and faces duo
north, so that, while the villas of Cer
nobbio are bathed in sunlight a deep
green shade envelops it. The house
stands on a narrow ledge, its founda
tions projecting into the lake, and its
back built against the almost vertical
wooded cliff which protects it from the
southern sun. Down this cliff pours
? foaming mountain torrent from the
Val dl Calore, just beneath the peak of
J Torno. and this torrent the architect of
: the Villa Pliniaua has captured In its
descent to the lake nnd earrie>1 through
the central apartment of the villa.
| The effect produced is unlike any
thing else, even in the wonderland of
j Italian gardens. The two wings of tlia
house, a plain and somewhat melan
choly looking structure, are Joined l>j
nn open a ran led room, against the
back wall of which the torrent pours
down, over stone work tremulous with
moss and ferns, gushing oiii again be
neath the balustrade of the loggia,
, where It makes a great semicircle of
I glittering whiteness iu the dark green
i waters of the lake. The old house la
I saturated with the freshness aud
drenched with the flying spray of the
! caged torrent. The bare vaulted rooms
! reverberate with it. the ston* floors
} are green with Its dampness, the air
j quivers with its cool incessant rn.-h.
j The contrast of this dusky dripping
loggia, on its perpetually shaded bay,
with the blazing, blue waters of tlie
lake au<S their sun-steeped westera
s!iores, is cue of the most wonderful
effects la scusatloti that the Italian
villa art lias ever devised.
The architect, not satisfied villi di
verting o part of fhe torrent to cool
bis hou*e, has IcJ the rest in a fall
down the cliff immediately adjoining
tlie villa, and has designed winding
patl:s through the woods from which
one may look down 0:1 the bright rt:sh
of the waters. On the other side of the
house lies a long balustraded terrace,
between the lake and the hanging
woodR. and lure. 0:1 the only bit of
open aud level ground near the house,
are the old formal gardens, now much
neglected, but still fill of a melan
choly charn.?From Edith Wharton's
"Lombard Villas." in the Century.
POPULAR
SCIENCE
All hrat! New?|**t>er?.
"The newspaper which circulates
among tlio people, nil the people, lu the
medium In which 1 advertise my most
expensive carpets and runs," mmi?i a
high class denier. "IUcli people d<> not
linvc papers of their own, hut read tho
ttost enterprising. Home of the people
who buy costly koo<1k make you won
*3er where they get the inonew to do
It. Anyhow, they do not read the mag
t/.lnes, but do read the newspapers.
In short, everybody reads the newspa
pers."?Philadelphia Record.
A Koyal Athlete.
King Carlos of Portugal has the rcp
ntatlon of helng a great athlete. Ills
rtklll at tennis was recently demon*
strated when he defeated lieutenant
fc. W. Mclntyre, of the battleship Io
wa. during the visit of the United
States North Atlantic fleet. The King
also gave an exhibition of his ability,
as a pistol shot for the entertainment
of Ids American visitors, who were as
tonished wit* bis accuracy of lira.