Freeiand Tribune
Established 1888.
PUBLISHED EVERY
MONDAY AND THURSDAY,
BY THE
TRIEUNE PRINTING COMPANY. Limited
OFPICE: MAIN STHEET ABOVE CENTBE.
FItEELAND, i'A.
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A club is reported to have been
forme! in Vienna, Austria, the mem
bers of which are pledged to marry a
poor girl. If by chance or design a
member marries a rich girl, ho is fined
8-000, which sum is bestowed on some
respectablo but impecunious couple
engaged to be married.
Our steel manufactures are in high
repute with Russians, as our ship and
locomotive builders have discovered
to their advantage, and there is no
reason v. hy the makers of smaller iron
and steel goods should not develop a
profitable business with the planters
of Southern Russia.
Norway is buying cannon in this
country, and it is said that she is pre
paring for a fight, with her associate
in the kingdom, Sweden. This is a
trouble of old standing, Norway claim
ing that Sweden preponderates too
much in the partnership. A war be
tween the two countries would be one
of great fierceness, for the Swedes and
Norwegians represent the most vigor
ous stock in Europe. We are likely
to forget in these times that the fore
fathers of all tho nations of Northern
Europe, and our own too, came out ol
Scandinavia. It was many centuries
ago, but it gives us all an historical
interest in that peninsula,
__
A report to the State Department at
Washington hyConsul General Gowey
from Yokohama, Japan, shows the pro
gress made in railroad construction in
the Japanese Empire up to the middle
of the present year. The whole num
ber of lines authorized is sixty, with
an aggregate mileage of 3521 miles.
The lines vary in length from three to
851 miles—the longest being the Great
Japan Railway, of which all but thirty
two miles had been completed in July
last, Nothiug more forcibly mprks
the contrast between the progressive
Japanese nation and their stolid and
apathetic neighbors, tho Chinese, than
the enterprise shown by the former iu
works of internal improvement as
against the determined resistance on
the part of the latter to every species
of development.
Steadily the United States is taking
ground for her manufactured articles
throughout all foreign countries, and
esjrecially is this so in Germany with
respect to machinery. England has
heretofore led iu this line in that
country, but the record of the past
vear uncovers the fact that a material
decrease has takeu placo in the sales
cf the Britishers, while tho business
of the Americans has increased fully
seventy-five per cent, over that of last
year. In 1895 tho imports from tho
United States into Germany did not
amount to one-sixth of those of Great
Britain, now they are equal to sixty
per cent, of the same. It is gratify
ing to know, too, that this is not due
to price alone, as tho quality of the
American article is invariably consid
ered by the purchaser.
The history of the disease proves
that ''tlio grippe," or "la grippe," or
plain "grip" by any other name
would be as unwelcome. AVhether it
is contagious or infectious, rides on
the sightless couriers of the air or
passes from victim to victim by per
sonal contract, it deserves the male
dictions of all. Whether it comes as
an old-fashioned influenza, accom
panied by inflamed eyes and other
signs, or signifies its presenco by
shooting pains in the back and aching
limbs, it is not to bo sneezed off.
While doctors may differ as to
whether it is a germ disease or follows
from atmospheric conditions ail agree
that it is best avoided by general at
tention to hygienic rules. Eat ra
tionally, dress warmly, live cheerfully
and avoid the foul fiend, which we are
convinced was poor Tom's name for
worry. If grip, grippe or la grippe
catches you iu his clutches, yiold at
once, put yourself between warm
'-'iiukets and rest and sweat him out.
Avoid both depressing medicines nnd
stimulating drinks, Be as cheerful as
you can under circumstances that
would have made Mark Tapley mad.
MY BOY.
Thft oTis of many other mothers
Iluve pink and white cheeks just as fair,
And wealth of gold and brown locks wav
ing;
But none can with my boy compare;
Oft in tlio distance with his comrades
I see him coming, while afar,
Among the whole group shining radiant
As when from gray clouds gleams u star!
When merry songs in nelghb'ring wood
lands
King forth like sweet bells, pure and
clear,
I hear but one 'mid all the voices—
My son's alone doth reach my carl
And when a ball in happy plavtlme
Flies upward to the very roof.
I know that my owu boy's band flung it—
Of his youth's strength a joyous proof!
When fifteen more brief years have fleeted,
The vision ye will s-o with me,
As slender as a green young Mr-trunk!
He stands beneath tho apple-tree!
E'en now his bright, clear eyes uplifted
The radiant sunshine strive to bear;
Yes, there are "onsof other mothers,
But none can with my boy compare!
—Johanna Atnbrosius.
I THE NICKEL SKATES^
By A. F. Caldwell,
■sxmxnex t Xx-siaemjieiemeieml
\ ENNIE sat in his
seat, repeating
pk "• (A fA ever and over:
jVN* |'y\ 1750 pounds
I vfxlS '/ Aji °t hay can be
KqV'Vjl//jgy bought for sls,
jifij what is the cost
i of Uay . r er toa ''"
j It did seem as
j iI though the an-
I vlVrsW / swel * i Q illo book
I TtJvT/ must he wrong;
.< -T - I >. v for, try as he
r Yv might, Bennie's
result would not
agree with it. Strange!
"If 1750 pounds of hay can be
bought—can he bought—l wonder
who will get those dandy skates
either Dick Atkins or "
Once more the arithmetic was
ojiened.
"It 1750 pounds of hay cau be
bought for a—for a—pair of nickel
skates, how "
Again Bennie closed the book dis
mally.
"There! I cau't get it; there's no
nse trying! I get skates and hay all
mixed up!"
Just then the warning bell rang,
nnd tho grade prepared to march out
for intermission. Soon little groups
met here and there iu the yard, all
eagerly discussing that mysterious
pair of skates.
They had been offered by Dr. Co
naut that moruiug to the hoy who
should spell correctly, in a given
time, the largest number of practical
words used iu every-day life. The
test was to he given by the doctor
himself a week from tile following
Friday.
Great excitement prevailed; for
there was a strong spirit of rivalry
among tlio X-grade boys, who were
divided into two factions, led respec
tively by Bennie Norcross nnd Dick
Atkins. Besides, the skates were a
"Jim-dandy" pair, as Bennie declared
to his chum, Ted Stone—and justly,
too; for Dr. Conant, who never did
anything by halves, had purchased
the finest pair that could be found in
the large manufacturing city where
skates were made.
"Anyway, it lies between yon and
Dick Atkins, old man," declared Ted,
positively, that night, as they sat dis
cussing the matter iu the Norcross sit
ting-room. "You two are the best
spellers; the rest of us fellows don't
stand the ghost of a chance. And, he
sides, we want you to get them, any
how! See how Dick Atkins got the
prize in declamation from you last
spring, and just because Dr. Downing,
one of the judges, was a relative of
his. I'd like to see any one spell for
him now, though!"
The friends of both boys felt confi
dent of their own leader's success, and
hardly considered the thoughtjof try
ing for the prize themselves.
"Of course, we'll go through the
form; but, when it comes to our get
ting the skates, we won't be there—
not even if we tried," declared the
boys, laughingly.
The fathers and friends of the boys,
in all professions, were consulted for
their opinion as to the most practical
words in every-day use, and in this
way both Bennie and Dick received
much valuable "coaching" from their
eager followers.
"I hope I shall get them—they're
such beauties! But, then, I'd rather
beat Dick Atkins than have all the
skates iu the world," was Bennie's
frequent soliloquy during that anxious
week.
"Xwas Thursday afternoon.
"Well, to-morrow's almost here,"
thought Bennie to himself, as he en
tered the postoflice for the five o'clock
mail.
There, before the letter-box, stood
Dr. Conant. In taking a letter from
his pocket to post, a scrap of'paper
slipped out with it and fell to the floor
unnoticed.
As Bennie stepped to the delivery
Window, after the doctor had gone,
his foot chanced to tonch the paper.
He stooped and picked it up. Un
folding it, he found
"It's the list of test words for to- j
morrow!" he whispered, excitedly. ;
"It is? It is! Now, Mr. Dick, we'll 1
see!"
Bennie took his mail and hurriedly ;
left the office. As he turned into a
less busy street, he stopped and cau- I
tiously unfolded the bit of paper j
again. Surely, there could be no
mistake! It contained the words for
to-morrow's trial.
"I'll have them, every one, before I
go to sleep!" he exclaimed, half aloud.
He hastily glanced down the list of j
words "scoundrel," "dishonest," j
"thief," met his gaze. He stopped;!
he could read no more. That last!
word seemed to whisper, so all who |
passed might hear: "You're one! Y'es j
you are Beanie Norcross!"
He hurriedly turned into his own
street, and in a moment more threw j
down the mail or. the sitting-room!
table.
"I'm afraid your're worrying ton
much about the prize," remarked
Mrs. Norcross at tea-table that even
ing; for Bentiio had left the warm '
rolls and fresh honey almost untastedl
"Oil, I guess not," replied Bennie, j
lightly.
That night when he got to his room
he sat down on the bed and placed j
the spelliug-test paper before him.
"S-o-u-n-d-r-e-1; lean spell that, j
D-e-f-u-u-l-t-e-r. That's easy enough.
D-i-s-h-o-n-e-s-t "
"You are, you are!" seemingly in-!
terrupted the wind, us it went moan
ing down the chimney.
"Oh, bother!" exclaimed Bennie,
furtively looking around the room.
"T-h-i-e-f," he spelled, and on
through the entire list, and then
noiselessly crept into bed.
"Good luck to you, Bennie!" called ]
Mrs. Norcross, merrily, tho next !
morning, as Bennie, with a happy
heart, took up his hooks, tightly
strapped together, and prepared to
leave the house.
"Thank you, mother,"he answered,
quietly. The next moineut the dooi
closed and he was gone. Ted met
him a block away. "Why, what's the
matter, old man?" she exolaimed, giv
ing him a friendly slap ou the shoul
der. "Cheer up! You'll come in
ahead with ffyiug colors this time
There's uo Dr. Downing in this case!"
Bennie tried to smile, hut his at
tempt was a miserable failure.
"I've a good mind not to take it,'
he said to himself, as his churn left !
him to do an errand across tho street. 1
"But then I must beat Dick Atkins I
and I can do it this time!"
Just after the opening exercises Dr. |
Conant entered the schoolroom, car- [
ryiqg under his arm a neatly done up I
paper parcel.
All eyes turned to Bennie and Dick.
Beuuie's heart heat wildly, while to |
its throbbing u voice within seemed to
he keeping time with: "Can't—you
—spell—thief? 'Course youcau; for
that's you. I'ou caD spell yourself,
can't you?"
Slowly Dr. Conaut pronounced the
first word—how anxiously Bonnie was
listening for it!—"business."
"He's got another list," happily
thought Bennie to himself. "Oh
good!"
But no. The next word was "scoun
drel," and from that on the list was
exactly the same us the one Bennie
had found and studied.
After he had written the fifth word,
he looked up from his paper. Ted
met his gaze with an assuring smile.
Bonnie's fuce llushed. "What if he
knew!" he thought.
When the test was over, with a
sigh of relief, Bennie folded his paper
and hurried from the room.
"How'd you make it?" asked the
boys, quickly, as they gathered
around him. "Wasn't it a sticker,
though 1"
"Was it?" answered Bennie, eva
sively. "I thiuk, perhaps, I got most
of them right."
At the close of the afternoon session
Dr. Conaut was to award the prize.
How slowly the hours seemed to pass!
At length, however, the exercises for
the day were over, and Dr. Conant
entered. An air of expectancy tilled
the room. Beuuie's face paled
slightly.
"Spelling has become nearly a lost
art among the hoys and girls of the
present generation," began Dr. Con
ant, "and I assure you it gives me a
pleasurable surprise to find among the
X-grade boys of the Wallace High
School u marked exception to this
condition. Nearly every hoy in the
grade has done himself credit—some,
of course, more than others, and one j
especially more than all the rest. '
The hoy referred to, who has splendid
ly conquered iu the contest"-r-all eyes
were immediately turned to Bennie
and then to Dick—"is Bennie Nor
cross. Will the young man, who did
not fail in a single word, please come [
forward?"
Bennie arose, pale but resolute, and
walked out to the desk before which
Dr. Conant was standing.
•'Will you please tell me, sir, who
stands Becoud in the contest?" asked
Bennie, as the doctor took the parcel
from the desk.
"Certainly, my boy. Let me see: |
It's Dick Atkins."
"Then," said Bennie, "to him be
longs the prize." And, turning, hoi
faced the school, and confessed the
whole story of tho lost paper.
As he ceased speaking, not a breath j
was heard in the large assembly room. I
Hastily wiping his eyes Dr. Conant
advanced nnd, gently placing his hand I
oil Bennie's shoulder, said tenderly: I
"My boy, the skates, of course, be- [
long to Dick Atkins; but, as I said
before, I repeat, and with the hearty
approval of every boy in the X-grade,
I'm certain you have splendidly con-:
quered 1" Northwestern Christian Ad- j
vocate.
iPeiialtled For Tattooing,
The Parisian newspapers announce
that the Governor of French Oceana
has issued a decree prohibiting tat
tooing throughout the archipelago, in
the interests of public health and!
morals, which, the decree states, j
seriously suffer from the praotice. j
Henceforth tattooers and tattooed will \
lie subject to a fine ranging from $5 to 1
8200, and a term of imprisonment not
zxceediug fourteeu days. I
sK*^:a\sie;h s ;e^?.c:ei©iaa'Oie;.: , a'sie^
f'NEWS AND NOTES|
| FOR WOMEN. |
Crystal Beads Too Tawdry.
| The long cliaplets of crystal beads
in vogue in Paris are too tawdry for
folks of good taste—too suggestive of
squaws. But long gold chains are
coveted, anil the pearl dog collar of
last winter is still with us.
Care ol the Skirt.
Muddy weather is always a sore
trial to a woman wearing a, nice skirt,
but she can do something to preserve
it trom permanent ruin. In the first
place, when returned from a muddy
street she should kapg the skirt be
fore a fire, but not too close, so that
the mud may dry quickly. When dxy,
the mud spots should be loosened by
ruobiug with the edge of a penny, anil
the dustshould then be gently brushed
off with a brush of moderate firmness.
Too rough a brush must not be used,
especially upon smooth-faced cloths,
for it is liable to roughen the sur
face. If after this brushing tho mud
marks are still visible, sponge the
spots with alcohol or methylated
spirits and the material will be left
clean and unmarked. In taking oil' a
lamp skirt be careful to hang it out
as flat as possible over a chair, as if
thrown down carelessly iu that oon-
I iition it will contract inelegant
j creases.—Philadelphia Press.
Wanted to See tho (Jneen.
About forty-three years ago Queen
Victoria, then on a visit to Napoleon
111., passed down the Champs Elysees
on kor way to the Champ de Mars,
where a review was to be held in her
honor. An English nobleman, run
ning to join the cab waiting for him,
ran against Beranger. The aged poet
seemed in a great hurry, and the Eng
lishman asked him the reason of his
haste. "I want to see your Queen,"
replied Beranger. Inasmuch as a
couple of years before Berangar had
declined an invitation of the Empress
Eugenie to go to the Tulleries, where
upon the Empress called upon the poet
instead, the English nobleman re
marked upon it. 'T was under the
impression that you did not trouble
yonrself much about royalty," he said:
"You refused to go to see the Empress,
aud you rush along to see the Queen.
How do you accouut for such incon
sistency." "No, I am uot goiug to see
the Queeu," was tho rejoinder, "I am
going to see tho woman. If there were
many women like Victoria I'd forgiye
them being Queens."
How to llavo a Beautiful Nock.
A beautiful neck beautifully dressed
makes a woman look fairer and younger
thau any toilet dressing, and tbe
majority of women know it, and their
worry is greater 011 this seore than
any other iu the beautifying line.
There is a way—iu fact, there is
always away when a woman wills—
and a little patience and perseverance
will make the ugliest neck not beauti
ful always but presentable.
"Gyiunastio movements tor de
veloping the muscles of the neck,"
says a well-known beauty expert,
"are: 1. Slowly but firmly bend the
neck forward until the chin nearly
touches the neck ; then gradually raise
the head. 2. Slowly but firmly bend
the head backward as far as you com
fortably cau. Itepeut this movement
twenty times. 3. Beud the head side
ways to right twenty times aud to the
loft the same number of times. 4.
Roll the head slowly to the right, then
to the left, twenty times."
After these exercises the neek
should be bathed in warm water and
olive oil soap and rubbed with a soft
towel. Follow this by anointing the
neck with retiring cream, and, if
persisted in, the fair patient will soon
be rewarded by being the proud pos
sessor of a beautiful neck.
Smelling Salts Cause Wiinklea.
The woman who wishes to retain
the beauty of her face—aud what
woman does not?—should forego the
use of the smelling bottle, for, accord
ing to a well-known New York physi
cian, who has lately bo."n making ex
periments in that line, the use of smell
ing salts encourages wrinkles.
"If you don't believe me," he said,
"stand in front of n mirror and inhale
the pungent odor from a smelling
bottle and notioe the number of lines
that form about the eyes, nose and
mouth. Each sniff taken from the
bottle causes the same screwing up of
the face, and each time the unbecom
ing lines deepen. Remember, also,
that it is ail unpleasant experience
which has called up these wrinkles.
Those caused by laughing and talking
are bad enough, but the wrinkles
formed by the use of smelling salts
give an absolutely undesirable expres
sion .
"But if you are already iu posses
sion of wrinkles which have been pro
duced iu other ways than by the use
of salts, then smelling salts are a
specific for removing them aud causing
them to stay away. Iu almost every
case the wrinkles formed by laughing
and crying are iu an exactly opposite
direction to those produced by in
haling salts, aud in this case smelliug
salts act like a charm iu causing the
unbecoming lines to disappear."—New
York Herald.
Modish Hosiery.
Perhaps ii\ no line of wearing ap
parel has there been BO marked a de
parture within two years as in hosiery.
The universally worn black stockings,
in spite of their many points of excel
lence, have no place in the modern
wardrobe. Plain colors are still worn,
but all are gaudy, except the somber
gray aud tan shades.
In the place of the sober black
articles there have come the tartan
silk ribbed hose aud fancy stripes in
lisle thread, with a woolly finish, aud
they might at first sight he mistaken
for a heavy-weight article. Thefts
come in such combinations as yellow,
blue ami black, anil green, coral and
black, the most brilliant color in each
being made of silk, which is inter
woven with the lisle thread.
The prettiest novelties in lisle
thread are the checks, composed of
two shades of one color and one of
white. The checks a**e perhaps one
third of an inch square, and are con
tinned quite to the tip of the toe. One
very beautiful check is shown of gray,
green and white, with toe and hem at
the top of black.
The French quadrille is another
very pretty couceit, and is formed by
a succession of narrow stripes of green
and white upon a black background.
In all combinations the checks and
stripes extend throughout the entire
length of the stocking.
There is a bewildering variety of
exquisite weaves for evening wear
which embrace every imaginable color
aud design. One of the novelties is
the boot-top design of embroidery,
reaching from the too to one-third the
length of the hose, where it is finished
in form of a boot-top. Lace vertical
stripes and embroidery infancy colors
are used for this.
The long vertical-striped hosiery is
to be had in such blendings as maize
and white, pale blue and white, and
two shades of the colored Hilk, but
with black tips at the toe, heel and
hem. Black silk speckled lightly
with blue aud of a very lace-like tex
ture affords a dainty example of such
black hose as is worn. There is also
a bolder combination of black and
white Milan silk, wherein the two
colors are in lace-like stripes alter
nately placed.—Harper's Bazar,
Gossip.
Japan is going to have a woman's
| university, the Nihon Yoshi Daigaku,
jin place of the former Academy of
! Nobles at Tokio.
Mrs. Antonio Terry, Silby Sanderson
that was, now that she has fully recov
ered her health, will probably return
to the operatic stage.
Miss Jennie Revert, who has a stock
farm on Long Island, lias invaded a
new field for women by graduating
from the Veterinary School in Alfort,
France.
Mine. Sarah Bernhardt is so de
lighted over her recent ascent of Mount
Vesuvius that she has declared her
intention of establishing a villa on the
slope of the mountain.
Mile. Lucie Faure, the only daugh
ter of President Faure, whose engage
ment to M. Georges Chiris is an
nounced, understands Latin, Greek
ami English, aud has written a book
of travels.
The late Empress of Austria was a
great admirer of beautiful women.
She had a special portrait gallery con
taining the pictures of good-looking
women sho had met, especially Au.s
triaus, French and Italians.
Miss Amy Castilla, M. D., the first
woman to become resident medical
ollicer of a general hospital in the
southern hemisphere, has just died in
Australia. She was also one of the
first lady graduates of the University
of Melbourne.
Mrs. Lily Dominis, formerly queen
of the Hawaiian Islands, has rested a
modest furnished house in Washing
ton and will hereafter hold court there,
assisted by Miss McGuire, her "lady
in waiting," aud Mr. Hellelulah, her
"lord high chamberlain."
The Queen of Roumania is perhaps
the only royal personage who acquits
herself as)a public lecturer. For some
time past her majesty has been accus
tomed to give lectures privately in her
palace to the youug leadies of the.
leading families in Roumania.
Fashion Notes.
Silk petticoats are now hung from
deep yokes aud fit the kips like a glove
without even one gather in the back.
The bows worn with stocks are big
and broad aud the ends long. The
sides and ends are hemmed with a
narrow stitched hem.
The old combination ot pale gruy
and orange, seen so muoh of late in
house and carriage gowns, i now used
for evening frocks with much success.
Fus capes, pelerines, fichus, sailor
shaped collars, boas and Vaudyked
collarettes kavo never been made in
such a variety of styles as they have
this season.
Many of the exceedingly smart lit
tle garments cost quite as much as a
fur jacket or other wrap, and in spite
of the rage for the new long, sweeping
capes, the small fur shoulder cover
ings are still a la mode.
Poplins of various qualities and in
many new effects will be one of the
fabrics next season. They have a
silky finish, and in dainty stripes,
plaids, ohecks, and dots of soft, deli
cate color the spring patterns are ex
ceedingly eil'eotive.
Simplicity marks the ornamentation.
Hand embroidery of silk, in colors, is
chosen for decorating the cull's and
the front of the bodice. Applique of
broadcloth, in contrasting and in har
monizing colors, is also fuvored by
many. The colors most used are auto
mobile, a reddish-brown, castors aud
gray.
Tho head of the nnimal in mull's has
taken its plaoe at one side, aud with
the long tail—or there may be two or
more tails, there being often an abnor
mal development in made-up auiinals
at thb other end, and with the mull'
itself serving for a body, there is a
strong suggestion of the animal as it
was in life.
Long coats are features of the sea
son. They appear in a variety of de
signs. An attractive model of brown
velvet is trimmed with sable. It is
tight-fitting both front aud back. A
high, rolling collar of velvet is faced
with Rable, the fur extending i*i long,
stablike ends. At the bust is a large
bow-knot of the velvet.
| FARM AND GARDEN. \
Changing a Heavy Clay Soil.
It requires at least 100 or more loads
of sand to cover even very slightly the
43,500 square feet in an acre of land.
This will make the cost more than the
change is worth, unless the sand and
clay are much closer together than is
usual. We have known it to be done
in gardens for the culture of melons
and cucumbers, both of which succeed
better where sand constitutes a part of
the soil. But usually the application
of manures, and the plowing under of
clover and the thorough underdraiu
ing of the clay will make all tho change
needed, and do it much more cheaply
than can bo done by drawing sand on
it. Ho soon as a clay soil is under
drained the frost mellows tho surface
soil so that clover seed will grow, and
when a clover growth is secured it will
so increaso the amount of vegetable
matter that there will be no difficulty
thereafter in keeping the soil friable
at least to tho depth it i 3 plowed.
Clay soils are always originally full
of vegetable matter, because they hold
the wuter and the leaves, and vegeta
tion grown on them decays slowly.
But continued cultivation so reduces
this vegetable matter that the clay
runs together in wet weathor, and
when plowed comes up in hard clods
that plant roots cannot penetrate. As
the clay contains much mineral fertil
ity, these clods need only to be broken
up by freezing to enable the plant
roots to use it. But we have always
found tliat a small dressing of avail
able potash and phosphate has even
better effectupn clay soils than it does
on sand or gravel. It is needed on tho
clay to start the plants to growing,
after which their roots will help them
selves to whatever is in reach. On
the saudy or gravelly soil there must
bo n larger dressing of fertilizer as
such soils can furnish less.
It is very rare that, however long
cultivated, nil of tho vegetable matter
in clay soils will be exhausted. But
we have known instances where sev
eral feet depth of clay was removed
for making brick and tile. The clay
soil beneath was, after a few years,
well seeded with grass, and made a
good meadow thereafter. The first
thing done to this clay was to sink
underdrains into it so as to carry off
surplus water. Then it was fall
plowed, nud in tho spring was sown
with grain and clover seed, merely
harrowing down the rough surface
which the plowing had left. There
was only a' partial growth of clovor the
first year, but after growing a year the
clover was plowed under when in
bloom, and the clay was cultivated
until fall, ami wheat sown with Tim
othy seed. In the spring clover seed
was also sown, and made a much bet
ter catoh thau at first seeding. Tho
Timothy sod was a good one for two
or three years after tho clover hnd
died out. How much longer it would
have lasted we do not know, for about
that time there was an increased de
mand for brick, as a nearby city was
growing rapidly, and auotlior strata of
clay was taken from laud that had al
ready furnished two stratas before.
American Cultivator.
Rlllk Strain* Among Ilogs.
Too little attention has been paid by
breeders and farmers to the milking
qualities of their brood sows, and yet
of all things to be taken iuto consid
eration in seleoting brood sotvs this
characteristic is the most important.
Maternity is the fuuctidu of a brood
sow, aud failing in good milking ca
pacity, she fails to fulfill this function.
Did you ever note that the sow that is
the kindest, most careful mother, is
always tho one that gives the biggest
flow of milk, and the sow that gives
little or no milk is careless, forgetful
aud negligent of her litter? Well, it
is a fact, and has a very natural ex
planation. The sow with the large ex
tended udder full of milk fiuds it a re
lief to have it drawn off by tho pigs
frequently, aud she most gladly re
sponds to the call of Jthe little fellows
for a lunch ns often as thoy want it.
She is careful and grateful to them for
the relief they give her. The other
sow finds no such comfort from her
litter, since she has no need of that
kind of relief; on the contrary, the fre
quent demands of the half-starved
pigs is unpleasant to her. She be
comes irritable and cross at their per
sistent calls for more. She would
rather bo let alone, go off by herself,
eat her fill aud lie down undisturbed
while she converts it into pork on her
own back instead of her pigs. Conse
quently, at weaning time you will find
her in pretty good shape, while the
pigs are all runts. But the other sow
and her litter, how do they look? Just
the reverse.—American Swineherd.
Colds and Influenza In Poultry.
During the cold and wet weather of
the winter months poultry are linble
to various ailments, any of which may
prove fatal if not treated in time.
Colds and influenza aro the most com
mon aud this item should therefore be
kept handy for future references.
Colds aro frequent among poultry
in winter and need prompt attention
to prevent the more serious roup which
is likely to follow a neglected cold.
The symptoms of a cold including the
frothy nostrils, • running matter in
eyes and wheezy sound when breath
ing are familiar to all poultrymen.
Take ten drops each of tincture of
spongia and aconite and mix with suf
ficient alcohol to make an ounce. Put
a teaspoouful of this mixture in each
quart of drinking water. Keep the
fowls from dampness and cold winds
and bathe the eyes and nostrils of the
birds with equal parts of water and
hydrogen dioxide, forcing a little
down the throat and iuto the nostrils.
This treatment is also good for roup 1
in its incipient stages.
Lagrippe or iniluenia is prevalent
[ this winter. The symptoms are dis
| charges at eyes and nose, cough and
swollen faces. Take ten drops each
of aconite, spongia and bryonia and
mix with sufficient alcohol to make an
ounce. Use a tablespoonful of the
mixture to each quart of drinking
water, using also the mixture of hy
drogen dioxide and water iu the man
ner advised above for colds. Keep
fowls dry and well fod.
A Handy Farm Cart.
On nearly every farm there is one
or two pairs of unused cultivator
wheels. With these a cart can be
made which will save much lc bor, and
many steps. Especially is this so
where there are half grown children
about. They will eujoy working with
the cart and wjjl do much of the feed
ing, haul wood and cobs, aud do many
chores that would otherwise take up
the farmer's time and attention.
A box about 2}x3j feet and six or
eight inches in depth is set on an axle
long enough to give the whoels plenty
of play, in such a manner as to nearly
balance, the heavier end being toward
the handle, so the one pushing or
pullinp; it will have little weight to
carry. To the sides of the box fasten
with nails or bolts, three-inch boards
extending three feet from the box and
about five from the axle. Bore an
inch hole through the ends and put a
round piece of wood, such as an old
pitchfork handle or other strong wood,
into these'holes, fastening theendsby
wedging firmly. This will serve as a
means of propelling the cart. Under
neath the rear end of the cart, stan
dards can be spiked or bolted on, so
that the cart box will always remain
in nearly a horizontal position when
the propeller re'eases the handles.—•
American Agriculturist.
Floors For Henhouses.
A henhouse floor should never be
made of boards. There will be sure
to be some cracks betweeuithem, and
when the droppings fall upon them
and keep these cracks moist they
make tho best possible breeding place
for lice. Bather than have board
floors we would-have one with earth,
underlaid with stone to secure drain
age, and covered with sifted coal
ashes to receive the droppings from
tho roosts. The most satisfactory of
all floors is one of cement. This will
not rot out like a board or plank plow,
and it will not have cracks to encour
age the breeding of vermin. On a
cement floor under the roosts no litter
should be allowed. Thus the exore
tions may be kept free from matter
that canuot be rotted down, aud if put
into a large box with sifted coal ashe3
spriukled over them they will be rotted
down by spring, so as to be in good
condition for drilling With grain or
for sprinkling in the rows where peas
are planted. There is nothing better
to give peas a vigorous start early. It
will also make them several days
earlier, and thus secure for a them
better price.
Value or mixed Rations.
In feeding all kindsof farm animals,
including poultry, the object should
be not to use the food that is the
chenpest, but that which is best. The
main tronblo with farmers iu this di
rection is that they confine their feed
ing operations to but one grain, de
pending on roughage for variety. It
is understood just how convenient it
is to feed the grain one happens to
have on hand and not buy other kinds,
but this is poor policy. Iu a farming
neighborhood it is quite often iiossi
ble to trade grains value forvnlue, not
measure for measure, and thus obtain
a variety of foods without the neces
sity of purchasing them. It is a well
known fact that two mixed grains oan
bo fed more cheaply than eithor fed
separately. That is, less food will be
required, to say nothing of tho added
benefit to the animals. Variety is the
spice of animal foods as it is of life,
and the stockman, dairyman or poul
trvman who feeds on this principle
will realize tho best results.
Feed Figi Gencreuzty.
It certainly is unprofitable for any
swine raiser to stint his animals, as
• they should be made to grow every
day. After ten days or two weeks
they should be fed generously through
their dams, and at three or four weeks
provided with a place where they can
obtain, unmolested, a little feed ol
slop and soaked shelled corn. Keep
them growing every day, and at an
early age thoy will be ready for-the
market at a profit to the raiser. II
the pigs are allowed to stop growing
and become stunted it is very hard
to start them anew, not to mention
the loss of feed, time and labor. Pigs
inclosed iu a dry lot or yard, and
given only dry, hard corn and hard
water, seldom yield a handsome
profit. They need a variety of food,
such as will expand the stomach and
at the same t time be Cooling to the
system. Corn, alone, is too heating.
Itougli Hark on Old Trees.
The gradual thickening of bark on
trees is often objected to as an evi
dence of unthriftiness. But it al
most always comes on trees when they
get to be of bearing age, aud except
for harboring the cocoons of the cod
ling moth it does no harm. Scraping
this bark off through the winter re
moves the protection, and the cocoon
exposed to snow aud rain perishes.
These cocoons will be usually found
on the side opposite where the pre
vailing wind blows, as this is partly
protected against beating rains, es
pecially if the tree trunk leaus that
way. Only tho bark that readily
comes off should be removed. Scrap
ing the trunk down to the green bark
will cause some kinds of trees to sun
scald and is injurious. Make the
tree grow vigorously and the rough
bark will roll off of itself or with very
little effort.
1 The older one grows the less risk
there, is of dying; only two or three
centenarians die each year.—Life.