Killing Eggs of the Gypsy
The attempt on the part of the S;ato of Massachusetts to eradicate the
gypsy moth has tepn generally considered as one of the most Important
attempts of modern ce tiomlc entomology. The conditions Involve the cx
termluntlon of a highly prolific species, well established over nn nroa of moro
;than 200qnnre- mile The Introduction of the gypsy moth was made by
Professor L. Tronvcto't, the French savant, who was Interested In the mat
tcr of raising silk from native silk worms. Tho innnner of their subsequent
escape Is not clearly known, but the result was moNt unfortunate. Twelve
1 years from tho time of Its Introduction, the moth became a serious nuts
;ancc In the neighborhood where It had escaped. The State of Massachusetts
'has expended In the annual appropriations for the gypsy moth work the
!sum of $1,155,000.
iOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQ
o
tack of PotasH flag
auss a World's famine 8
8
Edward Atkinson's Dire Prediction, Q
oooooooooooooooooooooo
VERY now and again some
sclentlQc Investigator, delving
deep into the secrets of nntural
forces, has unearthed a menac j
which has seemed to threaten world-
wide disaster and destruction to the
human race, says the New York Her
ald. It would be hard to tell how
iflany scores of times the people of the
earth have been called upon to face
lie prospect, remote or Immediate,
of their own annihilation. They have
been asked to couslder the results
which. In some future cycle, will come
from the steady cooling of tho earth's
.tu-face, to prepare for mundane nnnl
'atlon through collision with some
yllng comet and to give attention
Vzens of other hypotheses equnlly
Virlng.
lie multiplicity of these theories
Aid seem that the possibilities had
exhausted, but every now and
fa new deduction Is brought for
yfd to startle the world. It has re-
' I 1 M T"" 1 1 A 41.1.. il. ..
IttlUKU IUr iUl. JUWUIU ALKJfJKUU, U1U
dentist, essayist and political ngita-
r.lto dovelop the newest nnd most
rfi'lslng theory ns to the nature of
ttlnombaiTas8munts which will forco
selves upon tho worlds lnhahlt-
Bt as tho centuries roll around. Mr.
'Atfinson believes with Sir William
vJ AN AMERICAN FA-EM IF WHAT
Orookes and some other eminent sci
entific neculatora that the irreat dltfl-
cnlty, when it arises, will come in the
form of hunger the exhaustion of tho
(world's food supply, but be does not
fcelleve this will be reached through
vsr-uopulutlon or the taking up of
Q
oooc
1 7
' 'OSPECTINO FOB IOTA8H IN AIMF
Moth on a Large Elm Tree
all the arable land. Mr. Atkinson's
suggestion, which Is ulque at least. Is
that the world famine Is likely to come
In 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 ns ono of the food essentials
of the planet. It Is a fact, however,
that It possesses real Importance In
the production of almost every food
crop that prows. Potash Is present
In every part of the earth's crust, at
least In every part presenting an ara
ble surface. Soluble potassium salts
aro found In qnnntltles In all fertile
soils. These salts ore sucked up by
the roots of plants And trees, which
eagerly seek them out as necessities
of life. It Is a significant fact that
oven where soda predominates In the
soil the plants take up tho potash
salts In preference.
After taking pnrt In tile processes of
nutrition and being transformed into
organic salts tho potash salts may re
sume their original form through com
bustion. Thero is a loss in quantity,
however, and In the case of plants
which aro used for food or in the vari
ous human arts there is, of course, a
nearly complete loss. Tho cause for
concern In regard to the question of
the world's futuro food supply lies
in the fact thnt potash is not renewed
In the innuner of some other elements
of vegetnblo life. It Is a mineral de
posit nrlsiug through the natural de
composition of certain rocks. On tilled
land there Is no oppolunlty for re-
MB. ATKIKSON BAYS COMES TRUE,
nuwal 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 ns potash is found in
almost every part of the world It
would seem probable that such large
deposits would be of frequent occur
rence. Itnt. ns Mr. Atkinson points
out, exactly the reverse Is tho case.
In discussing the matter lefore the
Association for the Advancement c
Science he called attention to the fact
that the world's entire supply Is at
present being drawn from tho mines
of Btrnssfurt. Germany, and that,
while other fields equnlly groat may
possibly exist, they have not been un
covered up to the present time.
I'ractlcnlly every bit of the potash
used In the United Btntes Is Imported,
and tho volume of these Imports Is
Increasing rapidly, ns the constant
working of the soil makes tho use of
fertilisers 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
f POTASH
requiring artificial stimulus Is rela
tively very small. Totash Is not now
expensive, even with the necessity of
bringing It ncross the Atlantic. The
real danger, as Mr. Atkinson sees It,
is In the exhaustion of the sourco of
supply when the demand grows, as
It is practically certain to do In ever
Increasing rntlo.
Not even Mr. Atkinson contends thnt
a food famine from the exhaustion of
the potash supply is Imminent, but the
possibilities of such a fnmlne 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 tlrst result, therefore, would be
to place this once humble product
among the precious metals. As time
went on It would rnuk, ns Sir. At
kinson suggests, even above silver and
gold.
Before this point was reached, how.
ever, the rise in the value of tho mlu
oral would causeyit to be sought of ter
eagerly in every part of tho world,
would lead to tho conserving of the
present sources of supply nnd to nn
attempt to find new ones. Men would
prospect for potash with greater zeal
than they now put Into tho search af
ter gold. The terrors of tho alkali
deserts would bo braved and men
would bore for tho precious deposits
all over the burning plains of the
Southwest
At tho same time, efforts would be
made to gather the product from the
scntered sources of supply now in ex
Utence In some financially profitable
manner. According to Professor Dltt
mar, tho very greatest of all these
sources Is the ocean, and no doubt the
brains of inventors nnd scientists
would bo racked to devise a means
of separating this potash from the
waves. In all primitive countries
whero the supply of wood is large pot
nsh Is obtained by the Uxlvlatlou of
wood ashes.
This source also would bo brought
Into use, and gradually the forest trees
and such plants as uettlts, wormwood,
tobacco and kelp, all 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 planrs, requiring only a small
amount of potash for their growth, nnd
a complcto chnugo In the accepted sys
tems of diet wr-ild result
To pursue tho unplensant 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
tlon, bouses and cities deserted and
a rnce of beings growing steadily
weaker and weaker, and, even in the
intermediate stages of the change,
entirely different from those who now
Inhabit tho earth.
It Is reassuring to note that the con
census of opinion among scientists Is
that this extreme condition never will
be realized. Thore Is one great prlu
clple generally accepted as holding
good for all the operations of nature,
which scientists bring up In opposl
tlon to those who predict a final cat'
aclysin of tho world in any form
whatever. That Is the principle of ths
Indestructibility of matter. At n din
ner of scientists held In Washington
at which the predictions of Sir Wilt
Inm t'rookes nnd Mr. Atkinson forThed
tho leading topic of discussion, this
principle was advanced as the chief
argument against their conclusions.
Tho scientists were confident In ths
belief thnt the potash taken In a thou
sand forms from the earth would In
some form return to tho earth, nnd
that In some way the conversion of
potash from varied sources Into shape
by which It could food the soil, would
come nlKmt" when necessity demnnded
It.
There Is no doubt, however, that tin
discovery of nn addition to the world'!
supply of potash Is a matter of real
Importance, and It Is likely that th
sensation caused by the statements of
Sir. Atkinson will, lead to a vigorous
search for deposits In this country.
If such dciwislts of any constdernnls
extent are In existence In any part of
the country they undoubtedly will In
uncovered before the (iernuin field li
worked out.
CARINC FOR THE FLAG.
Some Valuable Snsgeatlon From Lien
tennnt In the Navy,
Flags, In a certain wny, oro a coun
try's clothes, which It puts on In the
morning nnd lays aside at nlgbt. This
we sec In symbolic pictures, where
Uncle Snm, representing Vnlted States,
Is dressed In tho Stars and Stripes,
and John Bull, representing Great Bri
tain, wears the Union Jnck for a waist
coat A flag should, therefore, be laid
aside as nently ns a valued garment,
and when used It should bo handled so
as not to be soiled or torn.
A flag, properly made, has a light
canvas binding along Its hoisting edge,
through which runs a piece of small
rope. At the top of tho binding the
rope has a toggle, while about a fathom
hangs out at the bottom and Is called
tho "bending line." Tho name nnd
size of the flag nre stencilled on one
side of the binding near the toggle.
To make up tho flag, fold It length
wise, with the name outside, two ot
more times, until It la 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, tho last fold being thus toward
the binding.
Then rool the flag up to the binding;
take one tight turn around tho buudlo
with the bending lino (or two turns If
the flag Is large and the line long
enough) and push a bight of the lino
letwecn the turn and the ling as shown
In Fig. 1.
In this condition the flag Is said to
1k "made up," nnd Is ready for laying
away, or for bending on to the hal
yards. If laid away when thus madii
up, Its name nnd number will bo In
plain sight, so that It ueed not be un
rolled to bo Identified, and when It Is
unfurled It will be ns If newly Ironed.
When mode 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
on tho latter will slip the bight and
"break the flag."
If the flag is a largo one, a turn
around Its middle Is not enough to keep
It In a compact bundle, so It should then
be secured by tying around It near
each end a piece of cotton string. In
this case tho bending line Is first laid
along the sldo of the bundle In three
bights, so thnt the upper string passes
through all three, and the lower one
through tho first two, ns shown In
Fig. 2. A sharp pull on the lower
pnrt of the halyards will break tho
strings and unfurl tho flag as before.
It Is not customary t hoist the flag
all tho way to the masthead made up,
but only high enough to get It clear
of dirty ground, or of obstructions
such ns rigging, trees or tho eaves of
houses; then It Is "broken," nnd hoisted
unfruled.
Flugs aro only mastheaded made up
when It Is necessary that they should
unfurl Instantly, as at the firing of a
snlute, or at some climax In a public
ceremony.
Above all things, flags should be kept
dry; and If they are wet when hauled
down, they should bo sproad out under
cover until there Is an 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.
Easily AeeouplUhetl.
When reproved on one occasion for
not attending a commltttee culled to
consider the paving of St Paul's
Churchyard with wood, Charles Mack
lin, the noted Irish actor, said: "Oh,
lay your beads together, and it will
soon to done." The Argonaut
fangs'
THE REALM
New York City. Oray nnd white
foulard Is ntractlvely comlilned with
white Liberty snttn nnd a girdle of
violet panne, In the accompanying cut,
reproduced from Modes.
The waist Is mounted on a glove
OAnDEN TARTY C0STFMR.
fitted lining which closes In tho cen
ter front -the seams nnd darts being
ftBtherlonod.
The front yoko Is Included on the
right shoulder seam nnd fastens In
visibly on the left side. The deep glr
dlo closes at the left side nnd com
bines the full front which Is arranged
in n moderate blouse.
Tho correct two-piece sleeves have
Just enough fulness nt the shoulders
to give a stylishly rounded effect nnd
are shaped In a bell Hurts over the
hand.
The smart Empire Jacket Is nrmnged
fn single box pleats back nnd front,
and applied to outline the lower edge
of the yoke. It reaches Just lelow
the girdle, nnd gives a stylish fulness
over tho bust. The pleats nre pressed
llntly nnd stitched about one-third of
the distance from the yoke.
The skirt Is mndo with a nnrrow
OinL'i CRESS WITn SCALLOrED TORS.
front gore nnd wldo clrculnr sides. It
closes in the center bnck, having a
single box pleat on either 'side. The
lower edge is trimmed with three nnr
row ruflles which give a stylish flare
at the floor.
To nmko the wclst In tho medium
size will require three and one-half
yards of tweuty-rwo-luch material for
Jacket, three-quarters yard of velvet
for girdle, and ono-hnlf yard of twenty-two-inch
material for yoko nnd col
lar. To ninko tho skirt In tho medium
size will require five yards of fifty
Inch material.
Two Attractive Toilets,
Light green figured percale was
chosen for tho attractive frock, with
trimmings of plain green pique, which
Is shown to tho left of tho large illus
tration, from Modes.
The waist Is mounted on a fitted lin
ing which cIoscb lu the center bnck.
Tho full front and backs aro applied
on the lining body, nt a yoko depth,
the fulness being gathered at the
lower edge nnd drawn down close lu
tho back, forming a slight blouse lu
front over tho narrow plquo belt Tho
neck Is completed by a comparatively
high straight collar.
Over tho shoulders Is a pretty drop
yoko of plquo, which Is adjusted with
shoulder seams and closes In tho cen
ter back. Tho lower edge Is shaped
In scalloped outline, extending over
the sleeves to form a cap.
The little four-piece skirt Is shaped
with narrow front gore and wide sides,
which extend almost to the center
back, whero they meet tho double bos
pleat.
A band of plquo Is applied around
the skirt In scalloped outline to match
the yoke. It Is finished with a nar
row cotton brai '.
To make the dress for a girl eight
years will require three and one-quur-ter
yards of thlrty-slx-luch material.
Tbo attractive toilette, on the right
ot the largo drawing, is fashioned
OF FASHION.
In pnlo bluo nnd white crepe meteor
elaborately trimmed with white crepe
do cblii'?.
Tho bodice Is mounted on a glove
fitted lining, which closes In the cen
ter back. It Is faced to a round yoke
depth with whlto thread lnce and the
crepe npplled nt the lower edge of tho
yoke. A soft Mnrlo Antoinette fichu
of crepe do chlno Is drnped to outline
tho yoke nnd fastens In front under
a rosette. It Is edged with a ruflle
of the same fabric which extends out
over the close fitting two-piece elbow
sleeve;
The skirt Is shaped with four pieces,
n front gore which Is comparatively
narrow, and wjdo side gores which
fit smooth over the hips, nlmost to
tlie center back, where they meet the
wntenn.'
To make the waist for n miss four
teen years will require one yard of
figured material thirty-six Inches wide,
with five-eighths yards of nllover em
broidery twenty Inches wide, for yoko
nnd collar, nnd one and one-quarter
yards of whlto null thirty-six Inches
wide for flehu, IxM'tha, ruffles for
sleeves, rosettes nnd girdle. To mnke
the skirt for a miss of fourteen years
will require two and one-quarter yards
of forty-four-luch material.
Fscfnl Toilet AccrMory,
A little book Hilled with leaves of
tissue paper covered with face pow
der Is one of the useful toilet accesso
ries Imported for summer use. The
powder remains fast until the paper
Is npplled to the skin, and the fra
grance nnd tcnlc effects nre highly rec
ommended. Pretty noun For Rrldratnnlil.
Handsomely embroidered ecru bat
Iste made up over pink silk consti
tutes one of the prettiest bridesmaid's
gowns necn this season. Insettlngs of
lnce mny be added for greater ele
gance. A Fancy Waist,
China blue nnd whlto foulard Is
here comblued with cream Liberty
satin .and a bertha of heavy whlto
laeo over satin.
The waist Is mounted on a glove
fitted lining, whleh closes In the ecu-
waist with ricne roci-riECE inta
ter front, tho scams and darts being
feathorboned.
The sntln Is gathered nt the neck
get her with a Jeweled clasp, the ful
ness being adjusted In a slight blouse.
Tho bertha outlines tho yoko back
and frout, extending out over the
sleeves In a becoming manner. The
bertha and fronts nre finished with
a narrow pleating of satin.
Tho correct two-piece sleeves have
slight fulness at tho shoulders, nnd
llaro In bell shnpe over tho hand.
To mnke tho waist lu tho medium
lu front nud extends In plastron effect
to the belt closing Invisibly In the
center. Tho loose frontB are held to
LADIES' 7AXCY WAIST.
size will require ono aud one-half
yards of forty-four-inch material, with
ouo yard of mouusulluo for full yoko
and one-bslf yard of twenty-Inch ma
terial for bertha.