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v THE CODE OF HONOR. ' IT IS PASSIM) AWAY IN ALL CIV- * ILIZED COUNTRIES. ] The Duello lu (irniuiny, Franco and t Russia?Tlio Lust Kutul Slrctlng I lu South Cu-oiliiit?John Lyle 1 Wilson's Code. 1 # Tho duels following tho celebrated Von Kotze scandals have attracted i wide interest in Germany and through- n out tho world. The German nobility as a S body, have discussed tho possibility of ? abolishing the Codo Duoilo, and Prof. H( Von Bulow, of Westphalia, bus recent- H, ly published "a strong pamplet show- c ing tho historical origin of tho duelling I' k.i.u ?ti - ?- - ' " 11 unuil, II11VI UUW IIIU CUUITJUIDU OI "UOU" or' underlying it is nud hns been nil j, along really foreign to tho Qermuu |j mind." lint tho bloody German duel 0 still continues iu spite of priests t] and pamphotoers. The public havo been well informed through tho press of tho four or live ^ duels growing out of tho Von Kotzo ? scandals, but tho Chicago Record i' mentions the following recent meetings, u which tho most ardent advocate of tho Code would find it dillicult to defend: C Ernest Zenker, a lawyer iu l'ots- d dam, was shot and killed in a duel by a naval ofliccr, Lieut. Von Kottolholdt, ? of the Emperor's yacht HohenzoUeri. ? The officer had wronged the lawyer's wife, and tho adjustment of his difli- ^ culty was affected by killing the husband. On the same day two lawyers, L llraudt and Seliwarez, fought a duel h near Berlin in the Gruuowuld, for a ft similar reason, tho lesult being exact- e ly tho same. Another encounter was 11 between Capt. Von Huuerbein, of the 11 Hist dragoons, nnd his father-in-law, a n wealthy land-owner iu Silesia, named a Von Springer. Both were wounded. H Tn !.? * t TK...I OT M.L.ft l*UU njllUII un.\llll IWMll \j A lJIIUI/.l'U b there were three duels in one day. One of them was fought by old Col. Van Schwanowedo against a physician, ? Dr. ltohr, because the latter hud dif- j( fered with him on the new electoral q law in Saxony. U IS FRANCE. d In France, w here the combat a deux n is rarely fatal, a committee has been h appointed to revise the lawsof duelling. c The committee recommends: That the duel with pistols be abolished; that the s' injured party may refuse to light with swords; that whero the duel is between tl a Frenchman and a foreigner onch may U3e the sword of his own country, e' provided that the weapous are of a o normal pattern and the blades of equal o length; that the use of the left hand ? should be forbidden even for parrying; ? that in a due! with pistols the signul to d fire must be given at a rate not faster than 110 words a minute or slower than 00, and that the distance between the j combatants must not be more than 25 j metres, or less than 1(1. p IN RUSSIA. Tlussia has two codes of duelling. By the civil law it is strictly forbidden, lt but since 1804 it is compulsory in the army. The Chicago Inter-Ocean says: 'Whenever an oilicer has been insulted the case is submitted to a Regimental Court of honor, wliieh decides what shall be done, regardless of the wishes " of the persons concerned. If an olli cor who has boon ordered to light does ! not obey or send in his resignation 01 within twowoeUsof tho Court's decision ho is dismissed from the service. An Cl ugitntion is now going on to put nu end to this priiotioo, and make the law 1' the same for military men and civil- M iaus. Cl IN SOfril CA KOL1NA. ' In the United States tho duel lins almost entirely disappeared, tho last fatal meeting in tho South Atlantic *' States having been the duel between Col. E. lh Cash and Col. Win, ^ Shannon, in South Carolina in 1KK0, ( in which Shanuon was killed. The ^ anti-duelling laws in South Carolina aud Virginia are now so drastic as W> j. prevent such encounters, even if there liad not been u radical change in public ? opinion regarding the Code, and in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Hl Louisiana "tho Hold of honor" is now very seldom resorted to by gentlemen to settle their differences. The ethics of duelling will not he discussed here, though it is unquestionable that many Southern gentlemen 11 still regret the abolition of the custom. J. A post-bellum apologist for the Code iu Charleston held that "there are " caeca of insults grievous nnd degrad- 0 ing for which there is no action at law. At common law a woman's chastity ^ and n man's truth and courage, which * are tho foundations of all character, J may be maliciously impenchcd, au<l " the aggressor be freo from legal chal- ^ lenge or issue. Tlio injurcr may enjoy t< impunity at law, while his victims are 8; drugged down to degradation and do- o spair. And in eases where suit would lie for damages, a legal investigation a maj involve for tho insulted persons, i( at best, shame, ignominy, perhaps ?| ruin, and for the assailant, at most, in- k significant pecuniary loss. HIE FIUST AMERICAN COI>n. Up to 18118, when (lovernor John a Uydo Wilson, of Houth Carolina, pub- ^ lished "Tho Code of Houor, or tin * e rules for the government of principal! t and seconds in duelling," there was no a higher authority than the !> x non o ncripta, or possibly tho Irish Code n adopted by "the gentlemen delegates h of Tippcrary, Galway, Mayo, Sligo a and Roscommon, and prescribed for a general adoption throughout Ireland." h No copy of Governor Wilton's original publication of 18118 iH available, t but a new edition of his Code was pub- t lished in Charleston in 1858, after his v death, and in it appears the "rules for o urincinnls and seconds in duelling," 1. * Jk *>* ;iven below. JOVEKSOK WILSON DEFENDS THE Dl'ELLO, Governor Wilson, in a brief preatory address "to the public," in tht ditiou of I808, defends the "Code ol donor," and clainis that "it will be )ersi6ted in as loug us a muuly indetendence and a lofty personal pride ic til that (iiguitiics and eunoblcs tbo hu nan ckaracter shall continue to exist, do claimed that his purposo iu pub ishiug tbo Code watt to save ratbel ban to imperil human life, and con dudes bis prefatory note as follows: "Tbo severest penal enuctments can lot restrain tbo practice of duelling ud their e*t;utite severity in this tato tbo more effectually shields the Render. Tbo teaching and preaehiug f our eloquent clergy may do somo srvice, but is wholly iundequr.to to nppress it. Under these circumstaucs tbo following rules aro Riven to tbo nkli. > :f T *? ??- ? ?uu ii x chu nave me me 01 0110 siful member of society I will bo ompeneated. I have restored to the osoms of many their sons by my mely interference, who aro ignorant f the misery I havo averted from liom. I believe that nine duels out f ten, if not ninety-nino out of a bunred, originate in tho want of oxporiuce in the seconds. A book of autbor:y to which they can refer in matters here they are misinformed will therojro be a desideratum. IIow far this 'ode will bo that book tho public will eeide." As an appendix to his Codo Govcrnr Wilson republishes tho Irish Code f Houor of 1777, signed by Crow lyan, president, and James Keog and unby Bodkin, secretaries of the "geulemcu delegates of Tipperary," ete. lovernor Wilson's Codo remuined tho ighest authority in South Catolina ud probably in the South uutil tho ud of tho dueling era, but in 1878 a ew edition of tho Codo was published nouymously in Charleston, with an ble and interesting historical sketch ud defence of individual contests for jo settlement of difficulties umong entlemen. a post-neiitium code. It was a pamphlet of forty-four ages untitled "The Codo of Honor; :s Rationale and Uses, by tho Tests of Common Sense and Good Morals, with lie Effects of its Preventive Remeies," and its authoiship was generally ttrilmted to Col. R. Barnwell Rhett, irinerlv editor of tho Charleston Mer ury nud New Orleans Picayune. In Lis introductory essay the author tates the interesting fact that Col. ohu 8. Ashe, of Charleston, "ono of lose consulted in the preparation of Lie Code or Digest of Usages, employd in this country, fought as principal ne duel, terminating in a ilesh wound f his adversary, ami as second or refrce he settled, without duels, fiftyno ditliculties between gentlemen uner the laws of honor." TEXT OF GOVERNOR WILSON'S CODE. Following is tho Code compiled by ohu Lydo Wilson and published in 838 and 1858. The parenthetical exlanatory clauses are from tho pen of Lie anonymous editor of 1878: Chapter 1. t'LES FOR PRINCIPALS AND SECONDS IN nrr.LiiiNG. The person insulted, beforo clml?nge sent. 1. Whenever yon behove you are lsulted, if the insult be in public and y words or behavior, never resent it lere, if you have self-command nough to avoid noticing it. If resented jere, you oiler an indiguity to the am puny, which you should not. 'J. If th < insult be by blows or any orsoniil indignity, it tuny be resented t the moment, lor the insult to the ompany did not originate with you. hit, although resented at the moment, ou are bound still to have satisfaction ud must, therefore, make the demand. See note ou Chapter viii, little ;?.) 15. When you believe yourself agrieved be sileut ou tin; subject; "peak > no one about the matter and see our friend who is to act for you as 3011 br possible. I. Never send a eltnllenge in the rst instance, for that precludes all ueotiation. Let your note be in the ltigttngo of a gentleman, and let the abject matter of eomplaiut be truly nd fairly set forth, cautiously avoidag attributing to the adverse party uy improper motive. fl. When your second is in full posession of the facts, leave the whole latter to his judgment, and avoid any oiisultntion with him unless ho seeks t. He has the custody of your honor, n*l l\v obeying him you cannot bo oinpromitted. (J. Let the timo of demand upon our adversary after the insult be as bort as possible, for be has the right i) double that time in replying to you, uless you give some good reason for our delay. Each purty is entitled l? reasonable time to make the neeosurv domestic arrangements, by will or tberwise. before fighting. 7. To a written communication you re entitled to a written reply, and it t the business of your friend to reuiro it. KCoNl/s Dl'TY IlKl'OIlE CII AI.I.KXC.K SF.NT. 1. Whenever you are applied to by friend to act as bis seoond, before on agree to do so, state distinctly to our principal that you will ho govern*1 'only by your own judgment, hat ho will not bo consulted fter you aro in full possession f the facts, unless it becomes iccessarv to make or accept the amende ouorable, or send a challenge. You re supposed to be cool and collected, ml your friend's feelings are inoro or L'ss irritated. 'J. 1'se every eflort to soothe and rampiilli/.e your principal, do not sec liings in the same aggravated light in rhieli he views them; extenuate the onduct of his adversary you sc< clcary uu opportunity to do so, without doing violence to your friend's irritated mind. Endeavor to persuade him that there must bo some misonder, standing in the mutter. Check him if I he uses opprobrious epithets towards ( his adversary, uud never permit improper or insulting words in the note ( you carry. 3. To the note you carry in writing to the party complained of, you are [ entitled to a written answer, which will , be directed to your principal and will , be delivered to you by his adversary's friend. If this note bo not written in , the style of a gentleman, refuse to re, ceive it, and assigu your reasou for such refusal. If thero be a question made as to the charucter of the note, require the second presenting it to you, who considers it respectful, to endorse upon it theso words: "I consider the note of mv friend resnectful and would uot have been thu bearer of it if I believed otherwise. 4. If the party called on refuso to receive the note you bear, you nro entitled to demund a reason for such refusal. If ho refuse to give you any renson, and persiots in such refusal, he treats not only your friend, but yourself with indignity, and you must then make yourself the actor by sending a respectful note requiring a proper explauutiou of the course he has pursued towards you uud your lriend, and if ho still adheres to his determination you nro to challenge or post him. (When practicable "a card" published in a newspaper is substituted for "postiug.") 5. If the person to whom you deliver the note of vonr friond declinos meeting Litn on grounds of inequality, you are bound to tender yourself in his stead, by a note directed to hiiu from yourself, and if he reluse to meet you, you are to post him. 0. Iu all eases of tbo substitution of the second for the principal the socI otids should intcrposo aud adjust tho matter if the party substituting avows lie docs not mako the quarrel of his principal his own. The true reason of substitution is the supposed insult of imputing to you the like inequality which is charged upon your friend, and when the coutrirry is declared, there should bo no tight, for individuals may well differ in their estimate of an indidual's character and standing in society. In case of substitution and a satisfactory arrangement, you are then to inform your friend of all the facts, whoso duty it will be to post in person. 7. If the party to whom you present 41 Tin^it n uon fa4l?n? /v ? 1 * I* ? ?* uwtv V- 1X1 IV/J < DVU) 1MIUU1 UlUlliCi as a second, you must decline acting with either on the ground of consanguinity. 8. If a minor wishes you take ft note to an ndult. decline doing so on the ground of his minority. Bt if the ndult complained of had made a companion of the ini^or in society you nifty bear the note. 9. When nn accommodation is tendered never require too mach, and ii the party offering the amende honorable wishes to givo a reason for his conduct in the matter do not, unless offensive to your friends, refuse to receive it. B\ so doing you heal the breach the most effectually. 10. If a stranger wish you to bear a note for him be well satisfied before you do so that he is on an equality with you and, in presenting, state to the party the relationship in which you htiud towards him and what you know and bolievo about him, for strangers are entitled to redress tor wrongs, as well as others, and the lilies of houor and kospitulity should protect them. Chapter II. Tin: r.vr.ty ukceivino a note ueeoiif CIIALLEXOE. 1. When the note is presented to y<m by an equal, receive and read it, although you may suppose it to be from one you do not intend to meet, because its requisites may bo of a character which luny readily bo complied with. Hut if the requirements of the note cannot bo acceded to, return it through the medium of your friend to the person who handed it to you, with your reason for returning it. '2. If the note received bo in abusive tcrma, object to its reception and re1 turn it for that reason; but if it be respectful return au answer of the same character, in which respond correctly and openly to nil interrogatories fairly propounded and hand it to your friend, who it i < presumed has been consulted, ami who has advised tho answer directed to tho opposite party, ami let it be delivered to his friend. 3. You may refuse to receive a note from a minor if you have not made an associate of him; one that has been posted; one that has been publicly disgraced without resenting it; one whose occupation is unlawful, a man in hie dotage ami a lunatic. There may be other cases, but the character of those . enumerated will lead to a correct decision upon those omitted. If you receive a note from a stranger you have a right to a reasonable time to asccr I tain his standing in socioty, unless bo bo fully vouched lor by his friend. 4. If a party delays calling on yon for n week or more after the supposed insult, and assigns no cause for the delay, if yon require it, you may double tho time before you respond to him, for the wrong cannot be considered aggravated if borne patieutly for some days, and the time may liavo been used in preparation and practice. second's dl'ty OX ICBCEIVlXa A notb heql'irino explanation. 1. When consulted by your friend who lias received ft note requiring explanation, inform him distinctly thut lie must bo governed wholly by you in the progress of the dispute. If he refuse, decline to net on that ground. 2. Use your utmost efforts to allay all excitement which your principal may labor under; search diligently into the origin of the misunderstanding.for gentlemen seldom insult each other, unless tL.v labor under some misnu lenuon oi the authorities to make the comiug fair the most wonderful iu the history of the society?a veritable gathering of all the people in the full. Col. Holloway is very hopeful of making the fair such u success. Ho suys the country is in good shape, and tho friends of progress, kuowing the advantages to accrue to tho people of the State by encouraging farm industry, as shown by their experience, will he confidently believes, uttend the fuir in larger numbers than ever before. Col. Holloway says the authorities of the two great State institutions, Clemson and tho Wiuthrop college, havo promised to have a day set apart for tho attenduuce of the pupils of these institutions. Tho society is also endeavoring to arrange for a couipetivo military contest, which will secure tho attendance of many military companies from all over the State. Efforts are being made also to arrange a competitive drill between tho cadet corps from Clemson and from the citadel. Clemson will havo one of the best exhibits ever seen on the grounds of the society. It will consist of products from the farm, the dairy, the muchino shop, the cannery, etc., designed to show to the people of the State the work that is being done at Clemson in instructing tho boys in the various industries. Tho management of tbo eocioty, Col. Hollowny naym, are anxious to have individuate throughout the State offer special premiums for Huch claps of exhibits as in their judgment should be specially encouraged. This should be done as early as possible in order that such premiums iuay be inserted in the premium list, which is now in the hands of the printer being made ready for publication. ' The executive committee, in revising the premium list of the coming fair, added class 5 of swine, offering the following premiums: For the heaviest hog of not less than 500 pounds, 830; for second heaviest, $20; third heaviest, 810." Jo these premiums Mnj. A. II. White, of Rock Hill, offers, $7, $5, and $3, for tho first, second and third heaviest hog respectively; provided that the hog is a registered Berkshire, a certificate of registration being required. In view of the fact that owing to the lack of resources tho executive committee has been compelled to lessen the amounts of the premiums offered at the coming fair, it is earnestly suggested that the hotels and business houses of Columbia each oiler a special premium of not less than $5 for such an exhibit as may be preferred. This should bo attended to at once, the amount of the premium and for what kind of exhibit intended, being sent to Secretary Holloway immediately, in order that tho name of tho donor, the amount of the premium and for what it is offered may appear iu the forthcoming premium list. riiK t'HAItUDY SCHOIjAKSIIIl'S I !u the Normal Collrffo at Nashville? Kxamlnattons in July. The general agent ol' the l'eabody fuuu h?H made a new apportionment of scholarships allowed tho several States in the Penbcdy Normal College at Nashville, Tenii., by which South Carolina i8 henceforth to be allowed 13 instead of 11 scholarships, as heretofore, A Peubody scholarship is worth S100 a year and tho student's railroad faro from his home to Nashville ami return by the most direct route, and is good for two years. Tho college year consists of eight months, beginning on tho first Wednesday in October, and closing on tho last Wednesday in May, and tho scholarship students receive from tho president of tho college ?25 on the last days of October, December, February and April. These scholarships are awarded when vacancies occur from any State, by competitive examinatiou. Tho examinatiou of npnhennts will take place this year eu July 21 and 22. INDKPKNI)KNCK OF TKXAS. Tho Original Declaration Found in i the Archives of tlio State Dcnurt incut. Tho curious fact lias boon brought to light that the State Department at Washington, has in its possession the original of the Declaration of Independence adopted by the Congress of Texas when that State was part ol Mexico. Beth F. Shepnrd. Associate Justice of the',Court of Appeals of the Distriot of Columbia, recently wrote to tho State Department on the subject, saying that the original paper was held by the Federal Government, and desiring to know whether it did not properly belong to the State. The State Department archives has been searched and the document found, hound in a volume of diplomatic correspondence relating to the recognition of Texan independence by the United Str.tes, It is undoubtedly the original signed by Sam Houston and bis colleagues. An endorsement on the paper by Secretary Forsyth says tho document was left at the department by "Mr. Wharton." Who Mr. Wharton was the State Department is anxious to ascertain. Secretary Oincy has wrote Judge Shepnrd that there seemed to be uo evidence that the Declaration properly belonged to tho United States Government. prehension or mistake, and when yon hare.discovered the original ground of error, follow each movement to the time of sending the noto and harmony will be restored. (Retrace step by step, removing obstacles, or simultaneously withdraw obstacles.) 3. When your principal refuses to do what you require of him, decline further acting on that ground, and iuform the opposing second of your withdrawal from the negotiation. j (continued in next issue.) THE STATE FAIR. Interesting Information front Col. Holloway?Special Premiums. Already preparations aro being made for the holding of tho State fair, and it won't bo the fuult of the otlicials if the fair is not ono of tho largest and beat exhibitions ever offered to eight- | seeing in South Carolina. It is thu in- | ENEMY OF WATERMELONS. A DEADLY KING US THAT ATTACKS AT THK ROOT. Mr. Lylios, of Rlrliliind, Has the DIseuso Explained l>y Pathologist Smith. Mr. Wm. Lykep, of Richland county, who grows lino watermelons, sent to tho agricultural department some vines that had died without apparent causo. A section of his melon Held was attached and its distruction threatened. Tho following reply from Pathologist Smith will bo of interest to nil melon-growers, ns well as other 'arnurs: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Division of Vegetable Physiology and Pathology, Washington, D. C., May 27, 1896. | Mr. W. Lykes, LvUeslaud, S. C.: | Dear Sir: Your letter of May 24, together with the package of diseased melon vines, reached the department today and have been referred to me for ntteutiou. Your trouble is not duo to any insect enemies nor to tho fertilizer which you applied, that is, not to them ns fertilizers, although inadvertently I think they are probably resj ousihlc for tho wide prevalence of the disease. l'he wilt of the vines is duo to the presence of a fungus which is only too well known to me. This fungus was very abundant in the plant you sent, but well hidden out of sight. Its method of attack is to enter the plant under ground through the root system, from which it often extends into all parts of the stem, occupying the long tubular cavities of the stem known botnnically as water ducts. The melou vines and similar plants, as you may know, are provided with an elaborate system of water pipes for conveying water and nutrient substances 4 1,) *.v -.11 _ r : 11 win iuc nun iu (ill punn U1 liiU VI11C8. these begin as tiny tubes iu the smallest roots und unite into bundles of larger tubes, traversing the larger roots and tho stem and main brauchra, and these bundles of tubes give oil'hero and there branches, which puss into the leaves llowers and fruit, i'ho minutest ramifications of these water ducts in the leaves are commonly known us veins. As I have already intimated, these tubes are for long distance open passageways from one part of tho viuo to the other. Now tho oause of the sudden wilt of the vinesin whole or iu part is due to the occupation and clogging of thoso water-conducting tubes by the little fuugns, which linds therein sullicient food for its growth. In the vines you sent tho water tubes of the root systems arc tho only ones which were seriously clogged, but in \iucB which are more severely wilted it is customary to find tho fungus also abundant in the water ducts of tho parts above ground. The reason for one branch of the vino often wilting before another is because the fungus has penetrated into tho root system of that side of the vine and clogged the pipes in connection with that part. Later on it grows through from one bundle of tubes to another, and in this way a second batch will become affected, and so on until the w hole vino is wilted. The reason one vine in a hill is sometimes taken and another left is T * * uuu 10 unmi! reason not yet Known to us, or because one p!aut is more susceptible to the disease than another, tliut is, the fungus gains entrance to the root system of one plant some days or weeks in advance of its entrance into the other, i have seen this disease in a number of locations in the South, notably at Monetta and Charleston, S. ('., and have received plenty of material from Georgia and Texas. It is a widespread disenso iu the melon-growing regions of the South. It is also a serious trouble and one with which it is exceedingly dillieult to deal. So far there is no known remedy, and owing to the fact that the disease attacks the vines, as fur as we know, always from under ground, you will see how difticult the problem of treatment becomes. I have this year under way in the South, expeiiments in the wuy of soil fungicides, but it is yet too early to kuow whether thero will bo any definite results therefrom. Tho main efforts plainly should be directed towards prevention. If I could known beforehand what you wera going to do I think I could have prevented your loss largely or entirely. This brings us bnck again to the question of sowing tares. I have beeu engaged iu studying this disease for two vears and have Icnn.nil nniln ? good deal about the life history of the fungus. It is very resi stent to drying and to various puisous. It lias, in my experience, retiincl its vitality for a year in a diy condition in the laboratory. It is also cnpaple of growing quite vigorously on or in a great variety of den 1 substances. It l.ves for a long time in the interior of the dead melon stems, probably for at least six months. It will also grow vigorously in dung hills. When a melon vine containing this fungus is thrown on the dung heap or in the refuse of tho stockyard, if tho conditions aro at all favorable tho fungus begins to grow and send out its tiny threads, which multiply in tho manure a million-fold. There can be little doubt, I think, that the diseaso is often spread unwittingly by tho growers in this manner. Hefuso from tho melon fields, which tho good sense of tho agriculturist tell him is the best of fertilizers for his crop, becomes a medium for the wido diffusion of the fungus, wheD / / ~ ' r : , ~ ; M'?' 1 such refuse, containing diseased plnutaV is made a part of 'the duhg pile. Ia Bomo instances which have como uudey . my observation and which I traced ont quite carefully, thoro could bo but little doubt that the inelon-grower waa responsible for almost complete destmiction of certain melon fields by ''-1 making use of . infected . tuuuure, . Really ho unwittingly made what bacteriologists . call an immense culture "bed iii his barnyatd. In 4hj> spring this' manure is hauled but* oni tho fields and put uQder thv.hilfs ' and tho -soil> thoroughly inoculated with tho fungus. The result waq ja. ft. ... number of cases tht> eutire destruction of.tho following crop ?f melons. This is what I suspect yc.n hnvp. done in using the "lot manure." Probably there wero a few diseased viuta in the refuse which you have added to the i m&uuro iiile?enoneh to stock or ilown tho wholo pilt?. When once thoroughly established, tho fiincjtis will live in tho soil for n long time,. probably for not loss than throe years, nnii homo growers buy from live to seven years. Tho melon-growers of southwest Georgia huvo been groatly bothered by this disuse in recent years. When o field is oneo infected with the disease, it is not save to plant melons on it again for five to seven years, mother , is it safe to lift cattle feed upon it anil then wander to other parts. c? tho plantation, for it is possible that tho disease may bo spread in this manner * also. ? Last year one of my South Carolina friends planted seven acres which hail been lying out for three years, which time ho thought was long enough to get rid of tho fungus, which had shown itself to somo extent in the previous melon crop on that. land. His experience proved .that time enough had not elapsed, as nearly tho wholo crop wue uttuekod by tho disease I hope after a time to perhaps bo able to Huggost something in the way or luugicnlal treatment, but cunuot dot. so at the present time. Iu conclusion I would suggest two or three pre\entive measures: (!) Avoidance of all lot manure or manure from huv procured from the melon ' fields; (2) rotation of eropB, the melon's fields for next ycar'H crop and successive cropB being selected .. from parts of the farm which have not been in melons for quite u good many years; (3) keeping cattle, mules'* and other animals otT the fields yon intend to plant in melons, provided they have been fed on melon hay or allowed to wander through the fields whero the disease prevails; (1) exclusive ubo of commercial fertilizers, except for nitrogen, which may bo hud by sowing cowpeas, scarlet clover, etc, ; I shall be very glad to hear from . you again and to know what per cent.,, of tho crop has been destroyed by the disease, and to what extent the mulady prevailB in your locality. > Regretting that I cannot offer yon ' I niuie buiiBiaeiory am, i romaiu, , Very truly, Erwim F. Smith, Assistant Pathologist. CROPS IN THK COTTON RKLT. Weekly Report of the I*nl????f States Agricultural Oepnrt inejit. T1 e f< 11 >wing nro extracts frcnn tin* Agricultural 1)? partment's v ekly weather unit yrop bulletin: Virginia?Richmond: Abundanoo of rain has prevented farm work generally, but on tile whole has boon beneficial to Crop growth an?l given a good season to plant the hiM of tobueeo: grass and pasturage have improved.; ? arly truek rapidly maturing: wheat heads tilling well and corn growing tasf. North Carolina-Itulcigh: Showers over sections where drought prevailed last week' benelleial, hut insufficient amount; temperature above normal and er. ps made rapid growth. Cotton, corn and tobacco excellent and 'Mm 'beginning .trr-to IsriUl by ill the. . South: cutting wheat eommeueed. South Carolina ? t'uluuhla: Showers poorly distributed, consequently ahseium of uhiforaiity in crop eonditioii; cotton and corn range from fair to excellent, with greater diversity in eane, melons, rice'and tobacco; penehes ripening, inferior ipinlity; crops generally well cultivated and two weeks earlier than usual; wheal and oat harvest (leorgln?Atlanta: Drought broken by good rains in North ami central sections ami showers in Southern secthm; all crops revived aa<l greatly I?*.*in?llt?^l; corn ami cotton well cultivated, free of grass ami growing nicely; oats ntci fridt irreparably damaged. To inessec -Nashville: Fino rains improved crop conditions, l>ut generally retarded cultivation, and crops arc getting (oul? corn line, some laid l>y in We.-t section; cotton, where well worked, looks thrifty; wheat harvest begun; some complaint of rust; tobncco nearly set and thrifty; cover cutting progressing. ST. LOL'IS FlilUHTKNED. A Threatened Repetition of the Recent Hurricane Knded in it Rainstorm. Shortly before 2 o'clock Sumlaj morning the two stricken cities, St. Louis nud I'ast St. Louis, received a thorough scare. A storm came up from the southwest, accompanied by low, rumbling thunder and almost continuous flashes of lightning. Then, a few minutes inter, big, black clouds appeared on the northern horizon and rolled up until they covered the city. There was considerable wind, though nothing at all approaching a hurricane or tornado. The elemental disturbance lasted for nearly an hour ami then became % a slow, drizzling rain, wnieb increased to a do'i'noour. The work of ii:g HWfiy the ruins' is being carried on lit a more systematic manner. , In Memory ol" Johnstown Flood Victims. The people of Johnstown, Fa., observed a memorial day Sunday iu honor of tho departed ones who b'id their lives in the great flood which occurred just seven venrs ago, on Friday. Mny31,18S'j. Over 3.S00 souls perished tli.it day. Thousands of pec pie. Accompanied by hands, visited tho cemeteries. The scene at the plot of the unknown dead in Oratidview cemetery, where over f.(K) lie buried, was singularly pathetic. According to the mutual custom, services were held and eneh of the graves were docked with, flowers. In all the churches surmnns appropriate were preached, ami the anniversary of that fatal day was generally observed,