Killing Eggs of the Gypsy Moth on a Large Elm Tree - 9 ' The attempt on the part of the State of Massachusetts to eradicate the gypsy iuoth has been generally considered as one of the most Important attempts o. modern economic entomology. The conditions Involve the ex termination of a highly prolific species, well established over an area of more than -00 square miles. The introduction of the gypsy moth was made by Professor L. Trouvelot, the French savant, who was Interested in the mat ter of raising silk from native silk worms. The mauner of their subsequent escape is not clearly known, but the result* was most unfortunate. Twelve years from the time of its Introduction, the moth became a serious nuis ance In the neighborhood where it had escaped. The State of Massachusetts has expended In the annual appropriations for the gyps'" moth work the sum of §1,153,000. 00000000000000009000000000 9 o g tack of fotasli May § | fause a World's famine | 3 Eilward Atkiimon'n Dire Prediction. O oooooooooooooooooooooocooS EVERY now anil again some selenitic Investigator, delving deep Into the secrets of natural forces, has unearthed a menace which has seemed to threaten world rROSPECTINO JFOB rOXASH IN ABIZOML wide disaster nud destruction to the human race, says the New York Her ald. It would be hard to tell how many scores of times the people of the eartli have been called upon to face the prospect, remote or Immediate, of their own annihilation. They have been asked to consider the results which, in some future cycle, will come from the steady cooling of the earth's surface, to prepare for mundane anni hilation through collision with some whirling comet and to give attention to dozens of other hypotheses equally unallurlng. In the multiplicity of these theories It would seem that the possibilities had been exhausted, but every now and then a new deduction Is brought for ward to startle the world. It has re mained for Mr. Edward Atkinson, the scientist, essayist and political agita tor, to develop the newest and most surprising theory as to the nature of the embarrassments which will force themselves upon the world's inhabit ants as the centuries roll around. Mr. Atkinson believes with Sir William AN AMERICAN FARM IF WHAT MR. ATKINSON SAYS COMES TRUE. Crookes and some other eminent sci entific speculators that the great diffi culty, when It arises, will come In the form of hunger—the exhaustion of the world's food supply. But he does not believe this will be reached through ■over-population or the taking up of | all the arable land. Mr. Atkinson's j suggestion, which Is ulque at least, is I that the world famine 1? likely to come jin the form of a potash famine through the using up of the potash in the soil, and the consequent failure of the land to produce food crops. It is safe to say that most persons never have taken potash into consid eration as one of the food essentials of the planet. It is a fact, hovever, that it possesses seal importance in the production of almost every food crop that grows. Potash is present in every, part of the earth's crust, at least in every part presenting au ara ble surface. Soluble potassium salts are found in quantities in all fertile soils. These salts are sucked up by the roots of plants and trees, which eagerly seek them out as necessities of life. It is a significant fact that even where soda predominates In the soil the plants take up the potash salts in preference. After taking part in the processes of nutrition and being transformed into organic salts the potash salts may re sume their original form through com bustion. There Is a loss in quantity, however, and In the case of plants which are used for food or In the vari ous human arts there Is, of course, a nearly complete loss. The cause for concern In regard to the question of the world's future food supply lies in the fact that potash is not renewed in the manner of some other elements of vegetable life. It is a mineral de posit arising through the natural de composition of certain rocks. On tilled land there is no opportunity for re- newal in the ordinary course of rota tion. It must be supplied, if at all, from large mineral deposits. This would be a simple matter If these deposits were large and numer ous. Inasmuch as potash is found in almost every part of the world it I would seem probable tlint such large deposits would be of frequent occur rence. But, as Mr. Atkinson points out, exactly the reverse Is the case. In discussing the matter before the Association for the Advancement of Science he called attention to the fact that the world's entire supply Is at present being drawn from the mines of Strassfurt, Germany, and that, wlilie other fields equally great may possibly exist, they have not been un covered up to the present time. Practically every bit of the potash used in the United States Is Imported, and the volume of these imports is increasing rapidly, as the constant working of the soil makes the use of fertilizers more and more necessary. At the present time these Imports amount to more than $2,000,000 year ly, although the proportion of our soil requiring artificial stimulus is rela tively very small. Potash is not now expensive, even with the necessity of bringing it across the Atlantic. The real danger, as Mr. Atkinson sees it. is In the exhaustion of the source of supply when the demand grows, as it is practically certain to do in ever increasing ratio. Not even Mr. Atkinson contends that a food famine from the exhaustion of the potash supply Is imminent, but the possibilities of such a famine are in teresting to contemplate. It would come about gradually, of course, the dwindling of the supply being accom panied by a steady increase in price. The first result, therefore, would be to place this once humble product among the precious metals. As time went on it would rank, as Mr. At kinson suggests, even above silver and gold. Before this point was reached, how ever, the rise in the value of the min eral would cause it to be sought after eagerly in every part of the world, would lead to the conserving of the present sources of supply and to an attempt to tlnd new ones. Men would prospect for potash with greater zeal than they now put Into the search a*- ter gold. The terrors of the alkali deserts would be braved and men would bore for the precious deposits all over the burning plains of the Southwest. At the same time, efforts would be made to gather the product from the scatered sources of supply now in ex istence in some financially profitable manner. According to Professor Ditt rnar, the very greatest of all these sources is the ocean, and no doubt the brains of inventors «ml scientists would be racked to devise a means of separating this potash from the waves. In all primitive countries where the supply of wood is large pot ash is obtained by the lixlvlatlon of wood ashes. This source also would be brought into use, and gradually the forest trees and such plants as nettles, wormwood, tobacco and kelp, ail of which are capable of supplying potash in consid erable quantities, would be burned to rejuvenate the impoverished soil. Men would live more and more largely upon the food plants, requiring only a small amount of potash for their growth, and a complete change In the accepted sys tems of diet wr"lid result. To pursue the unpleasant transfor mation to its final result it is neces sary to picture a world growing grad ually more and more completely de void of life, farms barren of vegeta tion, houses and cities deserted and a race of beings growing steadily weaker and weaker, and, even in the intermediate stages of the change, entirely different from those who now inhabit the earth. It is reassuring to note that the con census of opinion among scientists is that this extreme condition never wlil be realized. There is one great prin ciple generally accepted as holding good for all the operations of nature, which scientists bring up in opposi tion to those who predict a final cat i aclysm of the world in any form whatever. That is the principle e l ' the indestructibility of matter. At n din ner of scientists held in Washington at which the predictions of Sir Will iam Crookes and Mr. Atkinson foiTnetf the leading topic of discussion, this principle was advanced as the chief argument against their conclusions. The scientists were confident in the belief that the potash taken In a thou sand forms from the earth would In some form return to the earth, and that in some way the conversion of potash from varied sources into shape by which It could feed the soil, would come about when necessity demanded It. There is no doubt, however, that tho discovery of an addition to the world's supply of potash is a matter of real Importance, and It is likely that the sensation caused by the statements of Mr. Atkinson will lead to a vigorous search for deposits in this country. If such deposits of any considerable extent are in existence in any part of the country they undoubtedly will be uncovered before the German field is worked out. CARINC FOR THE FLAC. Some Valuable SacilMtloni Prom a Lieu tenant In tlie Navy. Flags, in a certain way, are a coun try's clothes, which it puts on in the morning and lays aside at night. This we see in symbolic pictures, where Uncle Sam, representing United States, is dressed in the Stars and Stripes, and John Bull, representing Great Bri tain, wears the Union Jack for a waist coat. A flag should, therefore, be laid aside as neatly as a valued garment, and when used it should be handled so as not to be soiled or torn. A fiag, x>roperly made, has a light canvas binding along its hoisting edge, through which runs a piece of small rope. At the top of the binding the rope has a toggle, while about a fathom hangs out at the bottom and is called the "bending line." The name and size of the fiag are stencilled on one side of tlie binding near the toggle. To make up the flag, fold it length wise. with the name outside, two or more times, until It is in a strip about a foot wide. Lay the strip name-side downward; take up the end farthest from the binding and fold the strip down back and forth two or three times, each fold on top of the pre ceding, the last fold being thus toward the binding. Then rool the flag up to the binding; take one tight turn around the bundle with the bending line (or two turns if the flag is large and the line long enough) and push a bight of the line between the turn and the flag as shown in Fig. 1. In this condition the flag is said to t>e "made up," and is ready for laying away, or for bending onto the hal yards. If laid away when thus made up, its name and number will be in plain sight, so that it need not be un rolled to be identified, and when It Is unfurled it will be as if newly ironed. When made up it can be carried about without trailing in the dirt, and will re main in a compact bundle so long as no strain is brought upon the bending line. This being bent to the lower part of the halyards, however, a sharp pull 011 the latter will slip the bight and "break the flag." If tho flag is a large one, a turn around its middle Is not enough to keep It in a compact bundle, so it should then lie secured by tying around it near each end a piece of cotton string. ' In tills case the bending line is first laid along the side of the bundle in three bights, so that the upper string passes through all three, and the lower one through the first two, as shown in Fig. 2. A sharp pull on the lower part of the halyards will break the strings and unfurl the flag as before. It Is not customary to hoist the flag all the way to the masthead made up, but only high enough to get it clear of dirty ground, or of obstructions such as rigging, trees, or the eaves of houses; then It is "br< .n," and hoisted unfruled. Flags are only mastheaded made up when It is necessary that they should unfurl instantly, as at the firing of a salute, or at some climax in a public ceremony. Above all things, flags should lie kept dry; anil if they are wet when hauled down, they should be spread out under cover until there Is au opportunity to dry them in the sun, so that the white portions will keep bleached.—John M. Elllcott. lieutenant United States Navy, in Youth's companion. Kanlly Acooiupllnlieil. When reproved ou one occasion for not attending a commltttee called to consider the paving of St. Paul's Churchyard with wood, Charles Mnck lili, the noted Irish actor, said: "Oh, lay your heads together, and It will soon be done."—The Argonaut. Soßl AjCombination H»z Food. The yield obtained at the Kansas station from Kafir-corn, soy beans, and alfalfa liny, the sowing of only one crop failure in 11 years, and the good results obtained from fattening hogs with combination of these feeds show nr'greater certainty of crop and more pounds of pork per acre than is usually secured by ordinary feeds. line PoUon and Sting. The workers and queen are supplied with a weapon which they use infre quently, for without this it would be Impossible to protect their hard-earned stores from their many euemi s. When a honey bee Inserts her sting, she deposits a tiny prop of formic acid. It is this which causes the In tense pain and swelling. Bee poison has considerable antiseptic properties and is known as a cure for rheuma tism and gout. It is th'.s ingredient which preserves honey indefinitely. How to Feed Clover Hay. When clover hay is fed to stock the animals may receive more proportion than they require, and a portion will pass off in the manure. It Is econ omical. therefore, to feed straw and corn fodde'r with the clover hay, for the reason that the animals will bi fully as well maintained and at le s expense. The experiment of mixing clover and the cheaper foods has b-en made, and it was demonstrated that cows gave fully as much mlik and kept in as good condition as wli.n clover hay only was used. Concerning Fences. The fences b 'tween pastures and cultivated fields should be made strong in the spring before the cattle are turned out, but it is well to k.ep watch 011 them at lat k r t.lll s, es pecially if the pasture grows scanty. Then a look over the fence at a fleld of corn or waving grain is a tempta tion that should be guarded against, as it may not be easily resisted. Then iu some localities there are a e'lass of trespassers who think little t>f throw ing a stone off the wall or letting down a rail in the fence to make an easier passage for themselves when they go that way gunning, fishing or I jerry picking. Such parties should be punished, but It is not alwnys ea.-y to detect them. We have seen a half rod of stone wall that had bee'n thrown down, apparently to get out some woodchuek or rabbit, and left, as if the one who had done the mischief thought there was 110 need of any wall there.—The Cultivator. Left-Ove- Kniiltt-f. No harm if you have at the begin ning of summer some left-over ensil age. It used to lie thought that cattle would not eat ensilage in warm weath er. This is found to lie a mistake. If it is only kept sweet and good the cows will like it and thrive 011 it ju.st as well In summer as winter. It is mote like ly to spoil in warm weather than in cold and extra precaution will lie re quired. The silo had Lett, r be of smaller size. There is often a dry spell In July or August when green fodder is liaril to get and then this left-over ensilage will meet the want. It is practicable to refill 11 small silo from early planted corn. Corn for such purpose should be already In the ground. Some persons find it profitable te> have a separate silo for winter and summer use. Prob ably persons in the dairy business ap preciate the silo better than tlios • who merely have the orelinary farm as sortment of live stock and do not make a specialty of the dairy. Good green fodder or ensilage is milk-producing. Grit EUtentlal for Chlrken*. Grit for hens Is as essential as teeth for horses. When a horse begins to lose his grinders all the oats or corn in the world will not keep him fat. The only thing to do is to feed him with ground feed or mash. Probably every person who has ha.l to do with chickens knows that gravel or grit of some sort is the kind of grinders that the fowl must have to thrive, not to say to live. Perhaps all do not know what w.ll lie the result of lack of grit: ctheis may not Lave known that even young chickens must have access to grit. A writer in the PoulVy Monthly, V, M. Couch, makes these points very clear: "The chickens an.l fowls should be provided with grit or gravel at all times, for if not. dys n tery will lie liable to develop at nn.' time. It seems that a thicken that has little or no grit, can digest whol? kernels of grain better than it can when the grain is ground; this,l sup pose, la because the kcrnt Is grind against each other in the bird's <r p, while the soft feeel clogs and packs together. The necessity for some kind of hard, sharp grit for chickens in small runs, is imperative. They should have It as soon as they begin to cat. Plenty of grit keeps the digestive or gans In good shape and in action, and a bird In this condition Is able to stand a little sour feed without becoming sick, while if the chicks elo not lave grit, and some get one single nic-s of ■oft feed that Is sour, indigestion or crop-bound is sure to follow, and tiie'n comes dysentery. At the same tl:iio, all feeders should use every cart; a d see that the chicks havo no sour feed, whether the*y are provided with gr.t or not It It a good plan to scatter pin heiid oat menl, broken rlco or ccae?* meal in boxes with sand and gravel for the chickens, and in this way, th;;y will take up a good part of tilt) latter while eating the cracked grain." The editor in publishing this adds: "Still many claim that young chick.') should not have a free supply of grit, and that they are liable to eat so much as to Injure themselves if they do hav» it. What does the Doctor say if" Growing Uarley, It seems that growing barley Is again in a sense becoming popular in sections where at one time it was qu.te an important industry. A writer in the National Stockman and Farmer, in answer to an Inquiry about glowing barley, writes as follows: \Ve have grown considerable barley in past years and we think it p;iys to grow it for feeding stock, especially hogs. Barley almost always yields falriy well and Is not as hard on ou/ laud as oats. The time for sowing barley is Just as early in the spring as thd soli can be properly fitted (and it pays to tit th.i soil well). I have seen qu.ta good yields of b.irley which was sown very late, but as a rule the earlier it con ba sown the better. Again, the time to sow depends ou the weather cond.tlons and location. Here in Central Michi gan we can usuully sow our barley troiu tirst to middle of April. We plow our ground in the spr.ng, aad think, one year with another, this is the best time to plow, as the ground can be worked to a nice seed beo easier and quicker. The time of ripening is Just about the same as wheat, sometimes a little later, and the yield, of course, depends on condition of weather, richness of soil. etc. I do not think that the old l'ashioncd bearded barley yields quits as much as the beardless barley, lu IS'.)7 a measured acre yielded lor m 37 1 /.. bushels by machine measure; by weight it went considerably over these figures. and in lS'.tS about Su bushels by machine or from a thrashing ma chine. The amount of seed used bctli years was as near 100 pounds an acre as the drill would sow. The lfeardless barley grows somewhat larger than the old variety and stands up better, and, in regard to handling, we wou.d rather handle it than bearded wheat, to say nothing of bearded barley. Of cour. e the ground for barley should be r.cli. as poor ground will not give good yield of barley or anything else. If farmers would grow more barley I think they would be well paid, for barley makes tine hog feed. Another .iter In the same paper says: Sow as early as the ground will work well. Sow two bushels an aero on good, strong land. It will yield from 40 to (50 bushels an acre. We had 08 bushels an acre one year on eight acres. It g; ts ripe about the same ttmt that the wheat does. We sometimes cut our barley before we cut wheat. Barley makes good feed for all k'litls of stock. Stock will leave good hay and eat barley straw. Barhy, o.iis and Canada peas sown together make good feed for feeding green or cured for hay. Farm ami Warden Hints. Thin the fruit early. Sheep appreciate salt. Study the wants of your poultry. Carrots make the horse's coat shine. Harvest the entire crop of po.ato bugs. "lilood will tell" in seeds as well as stock. You can save money by Investing ia a milk tester. All varieties of blackberries are sub ject to the rust. If you are missing little chicks keep your eye on the cat. The farmer should be at war with the insects continually. The Whippoorw.il cowpea has beta found the best for s.lage. Don't make slaves of your horses. Make them your paitners. Farmers pay dear for the privilege of having weeds on the roadside. One thing to be said in favor of ducki is that they do not require much attention. Take pains to assort and pack as it should bi the produce that is intended for the market. Currants are easily grown; a clay soil that is rich and moist, but not wet, is to be prefciTid. Cows weighing between 1000 and pounus are g.ncraliy considered the iiie»t ps t 1,-. It is only within recent years that farmers have appreciated the value of the different grassis. Never hoe or cultivate beans when they are wi (. as this is one of the ways of causing bean rust. It is a mistake lo expect the best or even good results by planrirg a single variety of grass in a pasture. Have the barrels of apples, potato's, etc., the same quality all the way through as they are at the top. Farmers tiy to do too little with the manure Instead of striving to Fee how much they can do to improve it. What a difference between the Im proved sheep of modern times ond thj animals that our great-grandfathers kept. No farmer was ever so smart but that at times the advice of an enter prising farmer would be a source of protlt to lilin. It Is said that throughout the coun try an average r,f fonr per.ts mere p?r dozen Is paid for clean rggs than (or dirty ones.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers