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The Values of Vegetables.
All vegetables have an effect on the
chemistry of tire body, so that we can
not speak too 1 igl ly of tlieir impor
tance at table. We will mention a
few of these matters first, and dispose
ol this asptct of the subject, so as not
to seem to mix pbarmacoj co a with
the kitchen. Asparagus is a strong
diuretic, and foims part of the cure
for rhc umatic patients at such health
resorts as Aix let-Bairs. Forrel is
cooling, and forms the staple of that
eovpe avx herbcs which a French lady
will order for herself after a long and
tiring journey. Carrots, as containing
a quantity of sugar, are avoided by
some people, while others complain
of thtm as indigestible. With regard
to the latter accusation, it may be re
marked in passing, that it is the yel
low core of the carrot that is difficult
of digestion, the outer, a red layer, is
tender enough. In Savoy, the peas
ants have recourse to an infusion of
carrots as a specific for jaundice.
The large, sweet onion is very rich
ip those alaline elements which coun
teract the poison of rheumatic gout.
If slowly stewed in weak broth, and
eaten with a little Nepaul pepper, it
will be found to be an admirable arti
cle of diet for patients of studious and
sedentary habits. The stalks of cauli
flower have the same sort of value,
only too often the stalk of a cauliflower
is so ill-boiled and unpalatable that
few persons would thank you for pro
posing to make part of their meal con
sist of so uninviting an article. Tur
nips, in the same way, are often
thought to be indigestible, and better
suited for cows and sheep than for
delicate people; but here the fault
lies with the cock quite as much as
with the root. The ccok boils the
turnip badly, and then pours some
butter over it, and the eater of such a
dish is sure to be the worse for it. Try
a better way. Half boil your turnip,
and cut it in slices like half-crowns.
Butter a pie dish, put in the slices,
moisten with a little [milk and weik
broth, dust once w"h bread-crumbs
and pepper and salt, and bake in the
oven til 1 againsabrightgoldenbrown.
This uish, which is the Piedmontese
fashion of eating turnips, i3 quite un
suited to cow r s, and oughfto be popu
lar. .What shall be said about our
lettuces? The plant has a slight nar
cotic action, of which a French old
woman, like a French doctor, well
knows the value, and when properly
cooked it is really very easy of diges
tion. But in our country, though
lettuces are duly grown in every gar
den, you often hear the remark, “I
can’t eat a salad,” and as few cooks
know how to me the vegetable which
has been refused in its raw state, the
lettuces are ail wasted, and so is the
ground in which they were grown.
Corteous Manner.
Brusque people underrate the im
portance of a pleasant manner. Look
beneath the surface, then, to the roots
of character; pay no attention to out
ward appearance, to voice or gesture,
tone or manners ; they may be all de
ceptive, and they must be all super
ficial ; it is what is said or done, that
is alone deservirg of notice. On the
other hand, there are some to whom
manner is everything. Each new
acquaintance has to pass the ordeal
of their criticism. Is he polished,
courteous, graceful, dignified? Then
they are ready to receive him without
further question ; he bears the stamp
of their order. Is he rough, crude,
awkward or shy ? Then they care not
to examine the kernal that may be
hidden under so unattractive a shell.
Both these views are impeifect and
mistaken, though each contain
enough of truth to make it plausible.
To depreciate or ignore fine manners
is essentially absurd. Their charm is
irresistible, even to those who fancy
hemselves proof agianst them. Yet
it is not so much in themselves or for
their own sake that they delight us, as
in the promise of something better
and deeper. They are signs or sym
bols of character, feelings, affections,
thoughts; and it is to this that they
owe their value and charm.
The laying of the corner stone of the
new Produce Exchange building on
Broadway, near Beaver street, New
York, took place with Imposing cere
monies.
Jn Billings township,Saginaw coun
ty, Mich., Mrs. Anna Stevenson shot
'and killed her husband, William, for
trying to gain access to # their house
fter she had barred him out. The
pie, though married a long time,
en quarrelled.
Agricultural.
Asparagus Culturi-—The Soil and its
Preparation.
The best soil for asparagus is a light,
well-drained, sandy loam. It should
be deeply aud thoroughly pulverized
and well manured with old, rotted
barnyard manure, carefully worked
into the soil. This is better than
chemical fertilizers, where it can be
obtained, though they will be found
good for top-dressing. The old pro
cess of “trenching” with a spade is a
slow and laborious one, and our best
market gardeners are substituting
some such method as the following.
After laying out the bed, mark off a
piece along the side about three feet
wide, and from it remove the surface
soil to the depth of a foot or eo. Then
cover this open space with six inches
of good, rich manure or old leaf mold,
mixing it well with ihe subsoil by
using a spade. Spread from four to
six inches of manure over the undis
turbed portion of the bed, lay off
another piece three feet wide, aud
throw its top soil into the “trench”
previously made, and so proceed until
the bed is completed, wheD the last
openiDg may be filled with the sur
face soil taken from the first. It will
be seen that this process differs from
“trenching” proper in that the sur
face soil is not replaced by subsoil.
Such preparation of the ground is more
essential in the bed in which the
plants are to be set than in the seed
bed, though thorough “working” of
the soil there will be repaired.
Bowing and Transplanting.
The seed should be sown as early in
the spring as the soil can be worked,
say early in April in most localities in
this latitude. Sow in drills, about a
foot apart and two inches deep, and
drop the seeds about half an inch
apart in rows. After the young plants
come up, the hoe should be used fre
quently between the rows, to keep
down the weeds and pulverize the
soil, and hand-weeding of the plants
will, doubtless, be found necessary.
The point is to get a good growth the
first season, so that the plants may be
large enough to transplant the follow
ing spring. The general impression
that asparagus should not be set out
until the second or third year is erro
neous, providing they are carefully
tended and “forced” the first season.
Asparagus may be transplanted
either in the fall or in the soring, and
it is n good plan to prepare the beds in
the fall, even if (he planting is not
done till spring. There is a diversity
of opinion as to the distance apart at
which to plant: but, for garden cul
ture, the rows should be about two
feet apart, and the plants about a foot
and a half apart in the rows. For
large-growing kinds of asparagus these
distances should be increased six or
eight inches. In field culture, make
the rows at least three feet apart.
The method most commonly pur
sued in planting is to open a trench
six or eight inches deep and a foot
wide, and spread out the roots on the
bottom carefully. The crowns of the
p 1 gilts should be six inches btneath
the surface of the ground. Fill the
trench about halt w r ay up with soil at
first, and when the plants are well
above ground the filling may be com
pleted. It is not generally calculated
to cut much asparagus until the third
season after planting, and it is still
better to wait a year or two later than
that. As an asparagus bed, with
proper care and fertilization, may be
counted on to yield abundantly for
fifteen or twenty years, the plants
should not be “stunted” by too early
or too frequent cuttings.
Sheep.
American shepherds have yet much
to learn in regard to the manage
ment of their flocks. For example,
the sheep in Silesia are ne^r exposed
to much rain. Nor are they exposed
to dust, for that is known to be injuri
ous to the fleece. The greatest possible
care is taken in the breeding. Men of
experience are employed to go from
farm to farm to examine the sheep
and select the best rams that can be
found. The rams are closely exam
ined as to their fleece-bearing proper
ties, and all but the very best are sold
off. The whole economy of the sheep
farm is as perfect as intelligence and
industry can make it. A ton of wool
ia worth $750 at 85 cents a pound, or
$500 at 25 cents. A ton of wheat is
worth about $32, and of oorn about $16.
The freight is about the same for each,
and iathus twenty-five times more for
wheat, and nearly fifty times more for
corn than wool. Tills is worth con
sidering, and shows how much better
it is to turn corn into wool thau to
sell it.
Colio in Horses*
This disease always comes on sud
denly and is very daugerou*. ^.t is as
likely to attack the animal away from
home, on the road, and w here reme
dies cannot he had, as at home. Ani
mals wiiile in harness, say hauling
grain to market, if attacked get down
and not unfrequently die.
I have had some experience in such
cases, have never used any kind ot
medicine, and have never had a fatal
case, nor one that has lasted over hall
an hour. While the horse is down
(and if he does n t lie down get him
down) on his side, as soon as possible
get behind him and begin vigorously
to knead his stomach between the
short ribs and the hind leg with the
double fists, exactly as if Kneading
bread, and dig in pretty hard.
Almost instantly it will give him
relief, in most cases air will pass from
the cowels, and in five minutes or
less the horse will get up cured. I
have used thi3 plan with my own
stock, and have recommended it to
others, and once saved the life of an
animal entirely given up by the owner
and his neighbors. I happened to
drive to his house just as they were
about to leave the animal to die, aud
in twenty minutes he was on his feet
eating grass. The people thought I
was a wizard.
Statistical.
A Venetian glass manufacturer is
making a great success of ladies’ glass
bonnets.
There has been some talk of dredg
ing the Rhine so that Cologne may be
made a seaport.
The annual cost of school books to
users is estimated at $5,060,000.
The average pay of the Ht. Louie
school teacher is $615 51.
The New Oilcans schools have aD
average daily attendance of 15,357—
about forty pupils to each teacher.
Chicago employs 972 teachers.
There are 58,097 names on the school
list, the average daily attendance be
ing 38,58.9.
On the authority of M. Smirnoff, it
is stated that the vineyards of Turkes
tan are devastated by the parasitical
fungus called Erysiple.
During the year 1831 less foreign
wine was imported into Switzerland
than in 1889, but th* quantity of
spirits imported greatly increased.
Bkeep in Australia.
Official returns show how vast are
the flocks ot sheep owned in the Aus
tralasian colonies: The New Zealand
anti Australia^ Land Company owns
300.000 sheep; Mr. Robert Campbell,
356.000 sheep;Mr. Georgellenry Mooie.
90.000 sheep ; Messrs. Clifford & Weld
80.000 sheep; Sir Dillon Bell, 82.000
sheep; the Hon. William Robinson,
08 000 sheep; Messrs. Dalgetty & Co.,
208 000 sheep; Sir Cracroft Wilson.
48.000 sheep; Mr. Kitchen, 80,000
sheep; and Mr. Allan McLean, 500,-
000 sheep.
Cows, Sutter and Cheese.
It may interest some persons to
learn that the entire butter production
of this country for 1880 was one thou
sand million pounds, and the cheese
three hundred million of pounds. Ube
quantity of butter exported during the
same year was forty million of
pounds, valued at $20,900,000, and
cheese one hundred and thirty mil
lion of pounds. One cheese made in
Iow T a, and which was shipped to Eng
land, weighing more than three-
fourths of a ton, and took the prize, a
silver medal, at the great cattle and
dairy show at Birmingham. Great
Britain and Ireland have three mil
lions, seven hundred thousand milch
cows; France, four millions and a
half; Germany, nearly nine millions,
and the United States thirteen mil
lions, or forty-five per cent, more than
any one of the dairy countries.
Politeness Prevents Rabies,
Defense Against Vicious Dogs.—
A gentleman gives the following ad
vice in relation to dogs: “If,” says
he, “you enter a lot where there is a
vicious dog, be careful to remove your
hat or cap as the animal approaches
you; hold the same down by your
side, between yourself and the dog.
When you have done this you bave
secured perfect immunity from attack.
The dog will not bite you if this ad
vice Is followed. Such is my faith In
this policy that I will pay all doctor’s
bills from dog bites and funeral ex
penses for deaths from hydrophobia.”
A statistician computes tlftit one
hundred and fifty tons of human hair
annually change owners in France.
Tills does not include the looks that
1 change owners in conjugal unpleas-
• antness.
Tonsorial Agony.
You can always tell a boy whose
mother cuts his hair. Not because the
edges of it look as if it. had been chaw
ed off by an absi-nt-minded horse or
by mice; but you tell it by the way
he stops on lire street and wiggles his
shoulders. When a fond mother has
to cut her boy’s hair, she is careful to
guard against auy annoyance and
muss by laying a sheet od the carpet.
It has never occurred to her to sit
him over a bare floor and put the sheet
arouDd his neck. Then she draws
the front hair over his eyes and leaves
it there while she cuts that which is
at the back ; the hair which lies over
bis #»yes appears to be surcharged with
electric net dies, and that which is
silently dropping down under his
shirt band appears to be on fire. When
the boy is undergoing this ordeal she
unconsciously continues to push his
head until his nose presses his oreast;
and is too busy to notice the snuffling
sound that is becoming alarmingly
frequent. In the meantime he is
seized with an irresistible desire to
blow his nose, but recollects that his
handkerchief is in the other room.
Then a fly lights on his n ise, and does
so unexpectedly that he involuntarily
dodges and catches the point of the
shears on his left ear. At this time
he commences to cry and wish he was
a man. She merely hits him on the
other ear to inspire him with coi fi-
dence, and goes to work. Then she
holds his jacket collar back from his
neck and with her mouth blows the
short bits of hair from the top of his
head down his back, and tells him
he’s all right. He calls her attention
to this fact, but slie looks and asks
him why he didn’t use his handker
chief. Then he takes h's awfully dis
figured head to the mirror and looks
at it, and young as he is, shudders as
he thinks of what the boys on the
street will say when they see him.
For the Fair Sex.
Fashion Briefs.
India lawns come in great variety ;
the chief pattern shows checks in all
sizes and colors. The garniture
should he self goods aud lace of a
quality that can be handsomely laun-
dried.
Silks designed for summer wear are
manufactured especially for the season.
They are light in weight, showing a
splendid array of colors and shades—a
class of goods not so much w 7 oru at
watering places as formerly.
Lawns give promise of holding a
prominent place in dress outfits fir
summer rusticating. This texture is
bright aud air> in appearance, so ap
propriate for the summer. No outfit is
complete without one or more lawn
suits.
The most startling parasols exhib
ited thus far are those of vermilion
satin, lined with old gold silk and
trimmed with double ruffles of wide
gold lace. The ferrules are surroun
ded by a wreath of brilliant scarlet
roses, mixed with small yellow sun
flowers.
In millinery the manila shades are
very prominent. This hue is a pale
yellow, very noticeable when associ
ated with crimson, Brilliant olive,
overspread with a golden shimmer, is
styled an antique color, very striking
in tone, and possessing the quality of
combining nicely with almost every
dye.
There are a number of novel effects
in greens, especially those shades that
partake of other colors. The lichen
green in dress materials has a golden
lustre; elder green has a silvery veil
ing ; sycamore green has a changeable
appearance—it is very soft and deli
cate, showing off splendidly in super
fine goods.
Summer silks having the new Jap
anese patterns are much sought after
in the making up of combination
suits. India foulard silks are desira
ble. especially those with porcelain
patterns of hawthorne branches.
Raw silks are deemed quite unique;
the designs are copied from stained
glass, and so closely scattered over the
goods that the original texture is en
tirely concealed.
It appears that the choice of colors
in personal adornment is governed
this season, to a great extent, by obi-
theticism. “Tawny shades ascend
and desoend the scale in as many de
grees as one or moreoot%ves on a musi
cal instrument. Fading away, they
sink into rale ytllowlsh blendings, or,
growing deeper, they attain gradually
lonine’ hues of the now promi-
flower.
Those reds that are tinged with pur
ple are considered novel, the orchis
red ranking first in this list. Turc
red ha the pure gurnet hue and looks
well with “telegraph” blue, which
shade blends beautifuly with several of
the sealhetic colors. Creamy white is
highly favored, and particularly in
the choice of fine all-wool goods and
satius intended for full dress. The
grayish Russian blues are popu'ar.
Blue deepening to purple lia9 a very
pleasing tfleet. Green lightening
iuto yellow is charming.
Greek adornment in dress has al
ways held in a more or less degree a
very important place in refined modes.
Just at present this clasical style of
dress is seen in touches. Here and
there the eye will rest on a dainty
curve or a delicate outline that re
minds one at once of the picturesque
effects so prolificaliy expressed in
Grecian drapery. These artistic ex
pressions in personal adornment are
not easily secured; only the skilled
workman can produce the desire! re
sult in the construction of such fash-
ion able toilets.
Dress hats for gentlemen rre of
pearl-gray cassimere, with a b* 1
crown five and a half inches high,
and round curved English brim that i
nearly two inches wide. The felt h
for business and general wear is a
English Derby, larger than thos
lately worn ; the crown is five and
fourth inches high, and the rolled
brim is two inches and an eighth in
width. Cocoa brown is the stylish
color, and there are navy blue and
English green Deibys imported to
match suits. American Derby hats
have more tapering crowns, and are
not so high as the Euglish shapes:
they come in pearl-color, black and
brown.
Theories of The Earth’s
Surface. *
4
Professor Charle3 S. Hastings, in
recent lecture at the John Ho
University, gave an outline
leading theories in regard to the
cal character of the earth. Alt
there are a great many theories,
may be reduced to two distiuctiv
According to the first, the inter!.
the earth is a fluid covered wit
thin crust, about thirty miles or there
abouts in thickness. The advocates of
the secoud theory hold that the earth
is practically a solid sphere. Among
the reasons given for sustaining the
first theory, the following are, per
haps, the prin :ipal, namely : As we eo
down in mines, wells and othtr under
ground caverns, it has been ascer
tained that the heat increases in a
ratio of one degree fo>* every 100 feet of
decent below the sun’s influence. This
theory is also suported by the occur
rence of volcanic eruptions and earth
quakes, and the existence of hot
springs. Those who put forth the sec
ond theory also support it by two ar
guments. They hold that if the r
centre of the earlh were a liquid and
the outer surface a solid,%he heavier
portion would go to the centre. Again,
the weight of the crust of the earth is
about two and onelialf times that of
water; the weight of the whole earlh
is known. From this, it may be de
duced that, in order to make up the
entire weight, it must be seven times
as heavy as water at the centre. The
lecturer briefly discussed the two
theories, and said that, if the two
theories were modified, they could be
reconciled, and that this mean would
probab^r be the true theory. The
intf rior of the earth is most probably
a fluid of the consistency of tar.
Unique Dinner Cards.
At a recent dinner-party in New
York, some odd dinner cards were
used. They were exact imitations of
square soda crackers made of pale
silk, filled with down and sachet pow
der. The edges were slightly coloreds
as a cracker is browned in thebaking^
and the print of the cutting-stamp
was copied by the silk being stitched
together in places. In the centre,
where the name of the manufacturer
U9ually is, was the name of the guest.
As they lay upon the pure white linen
by the plates they looked like such
fresh, good soda crackers that it was a
disappointment to find that they
would not break and crumble into
brittle mouthfuls.
The speaker had failed to awaken
very deep interest in his hearers,
when the small boy had stolen quietl
out after leaving red pepper on
stove there wasn’t a dry eye in t
house,
A new church edifice for theU
versalists is in process of erection
Eist Providence, R. I., and is e
peoted to be ready for dedication
Ootober next.