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Agricultural.
The Squash Borer.
Farm and Fireside : Of late years it
has become extremely difficult to ob
tain a stand of squash and melon
vines, owing to the depredations of
the striped squash beetle and the
squash-vine borer. The first of these
we should fight with London Purple
or Py rethrum; but for the borer, the
bisulphide of carbon will be found the
most satisfactory remedy. To apply
it, make a small hole near the root of
the plant with a walking stick or other
instrument; pour in about half a tea
spoonful of the liquid, and quickly
close the bole with the root. This liquid
is extremely volatile,and its protective
power is partly due to this property,
as it diffuses itself through the soil
around the roots of the plant, but does
not injure the plant itself. The vaj or
of bisulphide of carbon is very explo
sive, hence extreme care must be exer
cised in handling it.
Bunoh Grass Failing.
Willamette Farmer : It is said that
the bunch grass pastures have given
out, in a great degree, and that cattle
raising is not so profitable. A new
grass comes in its place that is excel
lent for sheep, and cattle men are sell
ing their bands off? to be driven to
Wyoming, and buying sheep. This
may not be the case every where,but it
is the case where close grazing occurs.
The greater profit of sheep and wool
over ott er stock will insure that sheep
will gradually replace cattle through
the whole Eastern country, and then
western Oregon and Washington will
have to grow beef for this market.
The time is not distant w hen the far
mer with good grade Short-horn steers
who will stad feed in winter will find
a profit in it. When it comes to a
close market there will be no profit
inbreeding the common stock of cat
tle. That is a branch of business where
“blood will tell.”
Working Unshod Horses.
Germantown Telegraph: Robert
Martin, of Greed Farms, Conn., says
that he works his three horses with
out shoes, saying : “I find that they
work better, are more sure-footed, and
far less liable to lameness than when
shod, and I am satisfied that horses’
feet as nature made them, are all suffi
cient for ordinary work. After my
long experience 1 should now as soon
think of going to a farrier myself to
be shod as to send my horses. Our
roads are rough, hilly and stony,much
more than the average roads. To pre
vent the hoofs from chipping, the toes
should be kept slightly rounded by a
coarse file, such as is used by shoers,
and the feet should always be looked
to when the horse is groomed.” What
surprises us so much in this matter of
horses going without shoes is, that if
this is really correct, why the thing
does not become universal.
Remedy for Hollow Horn.
P. 8., Shannon county, Mo.: The
treatment required for the disease
which produces the condition of the
horns, known popularly as “hollow
horn,” is as follows: The most con
spicuous symptom is a general low
fever, with heat or coldness, or both
alternating, of the extremities, chief-
Jy of the horns and ears. The mem-
fanes of the head are congested or
lamed, and there is often a dis-
large from the nose. The first treat-
lent consists of a brisk cooling purga
tive, such as one pound of epsom salts
if the horns and ears are hot and the
muzzle dry; if the horns are cold and
the nose is moist, a quart of linseed
oil should he given and turpentine
should be fi eely rubbed about the roots
k of the horns and ears. After the pur
gative, in either case, warm gruels of
^seed or bran should be given, with
spoonful of ginger, andtheani-
should be well nursed. A tarry
should be stirred in the drinking
or if it is not readily taken in
tay a little tar should be rubbed
[e tongue every day.
Farm Hints.
grown on clay land make the
leal, keep longest and bring the
[it price.
sr brood your chickens in and
makes them weak and more
|lt to raise.
said that if food is kept from
gep twenty-four honrs before
the mutton will have better
tees will endure a goodly
i of ashes and cinders at their
[he sweepings of the Slack-
jire excellent.
futh old
Ing ; few cattle, poor farming.” But
the cattle must all be thrifty.
Bee to it, and have the garden at
tended to. Give your wife and family
the luxury of plenty of fresh vegeta
bles. By having a good garden you
will save money. Give your boys and
girls healthful employment, and you
will feel better satisfied with yourself
and all around you.
There is no better and surer way of
killing young trees than to expose the
roots to the wind, which dries them
out very rapidly. Make a note of this
and if you have any trees to transport,
be sure to have the roots thoroughly
covered with blankets or something as
effectual. This precaution may save
you the life of scores of trees.
Oil the Bearings.
New England Farmer: Castor oil is
largely used for oiling axletrees, the
bearings of grindstones, mowers, etc.
A small proportion of kerosene added
to the castor oil and thoroughly
shaken up with it, renders it less lia
ble to gum.
Mulching.
A member of the Oneida Commu
•i
nity, writing on the importance oi
mulching fruit trees and plants of
every kind, says that he mulched a
row of the Franconia raspberry, and
also one of the Philadelphia, side by
side. The effect was very marked.
While the Franconias, which were
not mulched, were literally scorched
and the leaves crumbled in the sun,
the row which received the mulching
carried through nearly double the
crop of fruit. The material used for
mulching was old, half decayed buck
wheat straw, etc.
A Huge Sngar Mill.
Farmers’ Union: Mr. 8. Wallace,
of Minneapolis, is constructing a sugar
cane mill of about 40,000 gallons per
season capacity. It has various new
improvements, and when tested this
fall will be followed by larger ones,
which will be manufactured during
the winter, 'there is no reason why
those mills should not be made in
Minneapolis as well as in the East.
Mr. Wallace’s mill he has now under
construction, will be put in Pierce
county, Wis. One feature of this mill
is a pan which makes its own steam.
The size of the pan is six by twenty
feet.
Drainage in Old Times.
Irish Farmers’ Gazette: Under
drains were used by the Romans and
constructed of wood. Even brush
drains have been made in various
parts of England. Thorough drainage
came into practice about the middle of
the present century, through the exer
tions of Mr. Smith, of Deanston, and
for a long time stone was the principal
material used in their construction.
They are either thrown in promiscu
ously or laid out in throats or channels.
When tiles or pipes came into use
stones were laid around them, but it
is found that less soil percolates into
the tile when the earth is close around
it. ______
Clips.
The phrase, “matrimonially in
clined,’ implies that few lovers are
level-headed.
We’d like to be introduced to the
man who knew enough to keep happi
ness when he once got hold of it.
It is a sad astronomical fact that
during the terrible thunder storm the
other night the milky way became
sour.
Ryan, the pugilist, is fond of Pina
fore, it is said. We cannot believe this,
as he lias shown no desire recently to
face Sulivan’s music.
“Oh, for a hotter half!” said the
sorrowing widower when he found a
counterfeit fifty-cent piece among his
change.
A gentleman who was asked fti his
marriage certificate quickly took off
his hat and pointed to a bald spot.
The evidence was conclusive.
Customer—“Give me some fish !”
Waiter—“What will you take, sir,
blueflsh ?” Customer—“It makes no
difference; I am color blind.”
When a murderer is reprieved twen
ty minutes before the performance is
to take place, a playful way to put it
is, that he “skipped the rope.”
Why would coal dealers make good
lawyers? Because they know all about
coke and little ton.
Borne of the young ladles who go to
Florida bring home young alligators.
Others secure husbands.
GROWING OLD.
Softly, oh softly the years have swept by
thee,
Touching thee lightly with tenderest care;
Sorrow and death did they often bring nigh
thee,
Yet they have left thee bnt beauty to wear,
Growing old gracefully
Gracefully fair.
Far from the storms that are lashing the
ocean,
Nearer ea«h day to the pleasant home-light,
Farirom tne waves that are mg with com
motion,
Under full sail and the harbor In sight,
Growing old cheerfully,
Cheerful and bright.
Past all the winds that were adverse and
chilling,
Past all the Islands that lured thee to rest,
Past all the currents that wooed thee unwil
ling,
Far from the port and the land of the blest,
Growing old peacefully,
Peaceful and blest.
Never a feeling of envy or sorrow
When the bright faces of children are seen,
Never a year from their youth would’st thou
borrow;
Thou do >t, ’•emenaber what lieth between ;
Growing old willingly,
Gladly, I ween.
Rich in experience that angels might covet,
Rich in a faith that has grown with thy
years,
Rich in a love that grew from and above It,
Soothing thy sorrow and hushing thy fears.
Growing old wealthily,
Loving and dear 1
Hearts at the sound of thy coming are light
ened;
Ready and willing thy hand to receive;
Many a face at thy kind word has bright
ened;
“It is more blessed to give than receive,”
Growing old happily,
Blest, we believe.
Eyes that grow dim to the earth and its
glory
See but the brighter the heavenly glow;
Ears that are dull to t he world and Its story
Drink in the songs that from Paradise flow,
All this sweet recompense
Youth cannot know.
Forward, yet softly the years have swept by
thee,
Touching thee lightly with tenderest care
Sorrow and death they did often bring nigh
thee,
et they have left thee but beauty to wear
Growing old graceful v,
Graceful and fair.
An English horticulturist, who is a
oarfeul observer of insect life, has no
ticed that honey bees rarely go near
lowfii^rittyiuuakle-beee
Good, Bad, and Indifferent.
Adaptability: A man never looks
so like a red-handed villain as when
he is told by the photographer to
“look pleasant.”
Vennor’s rival: A Lowell man, a
gentleman and a scholar, figures the
weather problem in this wise: There
iB a large amount of snow yet on the
hills and in the forests to the wind
ward of us, and we shall not have
warm weather until this melts, and it
cannot melt until we have some warm
weather. Consequently, when it
comes to prophesying, he gives it up.
Life in the cabin : “I say, mammy !
didn’t yo’ tell Peleg dat he mustn’t
go in bavin ?” 1 Yo’ right I ded chile!
Has yo’ been dis’beying my ’struc-
tions, Peleg?” “No, mammy, I
hasn’t! I clare to goodness I hasn’t
been in bavin. Yo’ see I put on Un
cle Josh’s britches by mistake der
smorning’, an’ dere were sich a heap
o’ looseness to ’em that when I un’er-
took ter jump ober de brook dey
dropped off an’ I hatter guin arter
’em. Oh, no, I hasn’t been bavin,
mammy !”
Economy : “It is no use,” exclaimed
Fenderson, at the family tea table:
“we must economize. Beef and mut
ton are way up, butter and eggs—
everything in fact. Meat once a day
!b all we can afford ; and, mother, you
must give the children some kind of
cheap sauce to save in butter. We
must cut down expenses some way.”
And Fenderson then lights his fif-
teen-cent cigar and sallies forth to
the billiard room, putting out a mat
ter of two or three dollars in the
course of the evening.
Poor thing : “How very chilly it is
this morning,” said Cictley to her
mother; “I hardly know what to
wear this weather. Sealskin cloaks
are not seen, and spring wraps are not
near warm enough.” “Land sakes,
don’t be so particular,” said her prac
tical mother. “Wear my red and
black blanket shawl. That’s com
fortable.” “What! and look like a
washerwoman?” and the dear girl
swooned. The feminine mind is ex
ceedingly sensitive when matters of
dress are under discussion.
Truth is mighty: “This is the third
time you have offered me a half dol
lar with a hole in it!” indignantly
exclaimed a Miohigan avenue salocff
keeper to a man who had called for
beer. “Wrong—entirely wrong 1”
sighed the stranger as he replaced the
money in his pocket. “On theiaoftit
ion I offere vou^t trade
hole in it. In this present instance
you have just refused a fifty-cent piece
which 1 spent over an hour in plug
ging up. I like to see a man tell the
tiuth once in a while, even if his beer
is bad.”
A proud >outh : “I’m shaving my
self most of the time now,” said the
young man, proudly, as he adjusted
his head to the back of the chair. The
barber gazed thoughtfully at the gash
in the left cheek, noted the irregular
Maltese cross in the chin, observed
the finely-executed outline map of the
Hell Gate excavations on the left side,
hovered over the piece of ear that was
held in place with courtplaster and
pityingly scanned the prize collection
of pimples and blotches which orna
mented the neck.” “Yes, I notice
you are,” he said, musingly, as he
softly strapped his razjr.
Huge joke : They were talking of
the innumerable caravan of. colored
men, now passing to the tomb, who
had once been coachmen to the Father
of his Country. Brown said they were
one and all impostors. “You wrong
them,” said Fogg, “Wny, I can show
you a man, a friend of mine, who has
seen Washington.” “Nonsense I” ex
claimed Brown. “I’ll bet you some
thing on that.” “What shall it be?”
“A dinner for three.” “Done.” Fogg
retired, returning a moment later
with a youngish-looking fellow.”
“Here he is,” said Fogg. “What!”
cried BroWD ; “do you mean to say
you have seen Washington?” “Oh,
yes,” was the quiet reply; “lived
there two winters.” Brown paid for
the dinners without a whimper.
Courting episode : The Gothic sty’e
of hand-writing, now so popular
among young ladies, may have its
disadvantage^. It is said that a ycung
man who recently received a speci
men of it could not tell, for the life of
him, whether it was “Yes, with pleas
ure,” “No, thank you” or a sketch
of a picket fence.
Logic: “Pa, am la little sinner?”
“Yes, rny son, we are all sinners.”
“And, papa, the Bible says the devil
is the father of sinntr3,doesn’t it?”
“Yes, dear, I believe it does.” ‘Then,
papa, are you the devil?” His off
spring’s logic was too much for him
and he slipped out of the room with
out answering.
Meteorological: An Irish emigrant
who stood shivering in front of Castle
Garden one morning last week, thus
addressed his equally forlorn and
gruesome companion : “I don’tunder-
ehtand it all, Pat; whin we lift owld
Oireland it was in the month of May.
Tin days we tuk to cross the ragin
say, an’ beggorah it’s December.”
Squelched: A young medical stu
dent at Bowdoin College once asked
the late Profetssor Parker Cleveland
if there were not some more recent
works on anatomy than those in the
college library. “Young man,” said
the professor, measuring the entire
mental calibre of the youthful scholar
at one glance, “There have been very
few ntw bones added to the human
body during the last ten years.”
Oppression : ’Arry—“I see by this
’ere new Hart copyright act, that a
nob’s photograph mayn’t be ’x’ibited
in a shop window without ’is consent.
’Biowed if it ain’t enough to make a
man turn Conservative.”
“How do I manage to rid myself of
bores?” said a woman of the world.
“Nothing is easier. When I want to
send a man away, I talk to him about
myself. When I want him to stay
indefinitely, I talk about himself.”
“Father, did you ever have another
wife besides mother?” “No, my boy.
What possessed you to ask such a
question ?” “Because I saw in the old
family Bible where you married Auno
Domini, In 1835; and that isn’t
mother, for her name was Sally
Smith.”
Teacher: “John, what are your
boots made of?” Boy—“Of leather.”
Teacher—“Where does the leather
come from?” Boy—“From the hide
of an ox.” Teacher—“What animal,
therefore, supplies you with boots and
gives you meat to eat?” Boy—“My
father.
Mental and Moral Insanity.
In a trial where it was attemp^d to
get a murderer off on a plea of insan
ity, t.n old nhysloian, who was a wit
ness, was Wked—“Where shall the
line be dn^^ between mental and
moral insa|^^A “Well,” deliberately
answered ^^Bld doctor—I
think the should usm^^L.be
drawn aroun^Ae neck.
Brownlow and Maynard.
Tne death of Horace Maynard^
brings to mind an incident in hi
career.
In Ante Helium days, at a certaii
period, Maynard and Biownlow were
“ cheek by jowl ” on general princi
ples, but as rival candidates, had
many passages of wit. It was carte
and tierce from the opening to thej
close of the campaign. One incident
illustrates the happy faculty Brown-
low possessed, in fact, to an eminent
degree, for amusing an audience.
“Gentlemen and ladies, my distin
guished competitor is a princely fel
low, generous to the backbone. Let
me tell you how he “ cornered ” pork
and provided for his home interests,
nothing tests the man quicker, than
the manner in which he makes provi
sion for his household gods. The test
w»s put to Horace, and he triumphed.
Pork was high in Knoxville. It was
early spring when Mr. Maynard
called at the office of the most impos
ing establishment in its line in the
^ity. ‘Gentlemen, I wdsh to lay in
my winter supply of pork about Sep
tember, will you please furnish me a
daily bulletin of fluctuations in the
article, and when the bottom is'J
reached, “ rockbottom” understand
me, I will call and give your firm my
order.’
“ Daily bulletins were forwarded to
the distinguished gentleman’s resi
dence, 6$, 5£, 5£, at last, 4£ on the first
of September was the “ rockbottom ”
reached, and so was Mr. Maynard ad
vised, who responded promptly in per
son. ‘ Mr. Maynard, we’ve struck the
bottom of ihe well.’ ‘ All right, gen
tlemen, glad to know it. Many thanks
for your attention to my interests.
How much will that keg hold ?’ asked
the “ Narragansett Chief,” as with
his fall figure raised to Its utmost ten
sion, his long black hair brushed be
hind his ears, his keen eyes glittering
with the excitement of one who is
embarking upon the dangerous water*!
of investment, he pointed to a small!
keg beneath the counter. ‘ That keg,
Mr. Maynard. What do you mean ?
Do you jest? Why, that’s a nail keg,
and will hold about ten pounds,’ said^
the astonished grocer, whose ment
forces had been busy estimating tl!
possible profits some dozen tierces!
4 No, sir, I never jest on so serious a
matter as household economy. Fill
that ^eg, sir; have it carted to my
residence, aud I’ll pay the bill.’ “And,
my feiiow citizens,” said the infinite-,
ble speaker with inexpressible drol-
lery, “I’ll be dogoned, if Maynard 1
didn’t have pork for sale in the spring.”
—Phila. National Union.
Is It Worth Domesticating ?
M. Roland h as been calling atten-i
tion to an animal which is met with/
on the banks of South Anrerics
rivers, and which he considers wg
suited for domestication. It is at
the size of a pig, and is called
cubiai, or the water hog. It is not
aquatic animal, but defends itself fro|
its enemies by plunging into wate^
and remaining there a few secondq
It lives among the reeds, and come
out morning and evening in search
its food, which consists of herbs anc
roots of all sorts. Its large incisors
enable it to cut the hardest of woodj
with ease, ^ken young it is easj
tamed. It knows its master, and li|
to be caressed, and it is very deal
in its habits. Its skin forms suppl
and permeable leather, and the flesh
is good eating. Without requiring
more care than rabbits, it will furnish
as much flesh as a sheep, though the
flesh is less delicate. The apathetic
character of the animal enables it to
utilize all it absorbs, so that there]
no need to fatten it, and a large nui
her may be kept in a small space. It^
is not afraid of cold ; in very hot
weather it lies in water among tlie
reeds. The scientific name is not
given, but the animal is probably a
member of the family potamochoerus
which frequent swampy ground*.
of 11
It is better that joy should be spread
over all the day in the form of
strength, than that it should he oon
oentrated into ectasles, fulroftlanger, I
and followed by reactions.—Emerson.
“Well,” said a child, “if the haired
of our head are numbered, the num
bers must get awfully mixed up, fori
lots of women wear hair that grew oiJ
some one else’s head.”
“Don’t you believeln a future li
which we shall ties thj
together »»