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Agricultural. A ton of London sewage contains only three pounds of solid matter. It appears from Pliny's description, that the rhododendron of the ar.cAMits, so poisonous to animal life, was what we call oleander. An Ohio farm t mum* the Ma mmoth Pearl as the potato to take the place of the Peach-blow, against which charges of deterioration are made. The drought has so seriously affected the wheat crop of Australia that farm ers of this country need not fear Aus tralian competition the coming year. Salt is used to destroy the onion tfiag- got with partial success. About the j 1st of July, sow two bushels to the acre ; the salt also hastens the maturity of the crop. Everything points to another period j in England of live stock contagion. Both foot and mouth disease and p’.euro- i pneumonia are appearing in unexpected | places. There are almost a score of incubators in operation at Ilammonton, X. J., and there will be more chickens hatched there this season than ever before, the climate and soil, as well as location, be ing specially adapted to the raising of poultry. A good guide for feeding grain to caLle is one pound to each hundred of their weight. Most animals eat in pro port ion to their weight, and an animal weighing 1000 pounds may receive ten pounds of grain per day. Martindale Catkins, a discouraged fruit-grower in Western New York, is digging out a fifty acre apple orchard, planted twenty years ago. It has never borne but one full crop, and then the price was too low to pay for picking. Arthur S. Core, of Mouut Vernon, N. Y., grew two crops of potatoes last year on the same land. The second crop was shortened by drought; but in a good season he thinks two crops may be made profitable where land is scarce. Bullock’s blood is used on a large scab- a- a manure, but chiefly for mix ing with other fertilizers. In its natu ral state blood contains about three per cent, of nitrogen : when dried it con tains twelve per cent. It takes an ex cellent manure for turnips when mixed with bone-dust or phosphatic guano. Mixed with peat or mold it may be ap plied as a top-dressing to wheat crops j and to grass land. Professor J. L. Budd says the scions of Russian apples sent to the Iowa Agri cultural College were judiciously select ed from varieties grown in the latitude of St. Petersburg and Moscow, and he prophesies their future success in this country. Soot contains a small percentage of nitrogen. Used alone it makes an ex cellent top-dressing for spring grain and grass, being quick in its action without being too stimulating. It has also the property of destroying slugs on winter grain. Many so-called cases of pear blight are due to other causes than blight. Quite often trees are said to be blighted from too much manure, when, in fact, the heavy doses of manure water would have killed an oak or butternut as quickly as it killed the pear. It is bad policy to wash harness with soap, as the potash injures leather. If the harness becomes rusty rub olf the dirt as well as possible with a soft brush and supply a dressing of grain black, followed with oil or tallow, which will fasten the color and make the leather pliable. In the Island of Jamaica splendid cattle are raised on Guinea grass, many weighing 2000 pounds or more after be ing dressed. Thousands of acres in Guinea graas can be seen in some parts of the island stretching for miles on the hillsides and plains, and stocked with the finest imported cattle from England. Care should be used in selecting the proper soil for each vegetable. The long varieties of beets, carrots and parsnips should never be grown in heavy soil that packs easily. There are kinds more suitable, such as those that grow partly out of the ground, but sandy or open light soils are best for the long varieties. According to French authority the production of beet-root sugar in Europe k this year amounts to 1,020,000 tons, an Increase of 137.500 tons over last year, miany is still the greatest producer, (he l^jt with 0Yj.000tons ; Aus- tsj^ with 450,000 |410,000 tons; JJHiU tons. A notable event in connection with the Chicago show was the sale of an ; Angus (polled) cow for $1,300. It is quite safe to predict, knowing of what stuff these black polled catt’e are made, that one day, when they are sufficiently numerous to afford it and their beef will be on exhibition, it will come into successful competition, too, with the Sliort-horn beef and run the white faced Merefords very closely.—Farmers' Magazine. The finest plantation in Alabama— the Oswichee Bend place—of 4000 acres, was sold the other day to Mr. Hatcher, or Columbus, for $30,200. This is less than $8 an acre, and Mr. Hatcher was offered $10,000 advance on his purchase the week after he made it. In North Georgia lands command readily from $15 to $30 an acre along the railroads. The average value of lands in Georgia, as returned for taxes, is $3.12 an acre. The demand for good horses increases despite the enlarged use of steam ma chinery in all kinds of business. There are probably more horses now used to cart produce to and from railroad sta tions than were ever required for the stage routes that the railroads super seded. Yet, when the steam engine came into general use for transporta tion, many believed that the days of horse-breeders were over. English experience shows that the quantity of farm-yard manure produced in feeding cattle may vary from one- half to three-fourths the amount of food consumed and the straw used as litter. A ton of dry food, such as grain, cake, hay or straw, yields when fed about two tons of dung. A ton of green food, however, such as clover, vetches, mangel, turnips or cabbage, does not afford, on an average, more than half a ton of dung. A plan in use in South Australia for leading cattle, said to be very effective, is as follows : Tie the end of the rope around the base of the near horn ; pass the line across the forehead, back be hind the horns and under the back of the near ear, thence up between the ropes and the animal’s forehead. When hauled taut a hitch is made which takes in the ear, the least pressure upon which by pulling the rope, it is said, prevents the most obstinate beast from hanging back. Take good care of the breeding sows, They are ah .out the most valuable of our farm stock just now. Let their feed be generous, and not exclusively of corn. Clover hay run through the cutting-box- and then scalded, with a liberal mixing of equal quantities, by measure, of corn- oats and wheat bran makes about as good a ration as can be giving them at this time of the year, and will keep them in the best of health, and bring good, strong, vigorous pigs.—Epitomist. An English writer suggests the pos sibility of compressing green fodder into small bales by means of a press some thing like a hay press, and piling these bales in any convenient building, filling up the crevices between the bales and the space between the bales and the walls with chaff. This he thinks would be as well as to pack the fodder in an underground silo, and press it all at pnee with heavy weights, and at the same time could be stored away or fed out much more easily. A writer makes the following ^ood suggestion to the Husbandman: Save the buckwheat chaff and use it as an absorbent in the cow stable. Being fine and mild it makes one of the best absorbents for this purpose. lie finds a corn basket full (one and a half bush els) will absorb all the urine from ten cows over night and keep them dry and clean. lie has made a practice of sav ing all of his own and buying of his neighbors for $1 per load of fifty baskets, and it pays well. The war between the Shorthorn and the Hereford breeders continues in the The claim of Shorthorn breed* s are better milkers is eii .inferiority as nt UU't calilies. Scrub cattle cannot be profita- j bly grown anywhere. Down to 1859, Mr. Mulhali says, the United States used at intervals to im port wheat from Europe, whereas it produces at present one-lialf of the world’s crop. Previously to 1805 A us- ; tralia was led with t hilian flour, but 7 j some of the Australian colonies now j annually export twenty bushels of grain j per inhabitant. Facilities for transpor- , tation have so far improved that wheat ! grown on the Mississippi or in New ! Zealand is sold as cheaply in Europe as i that raised on the Don or Danube. Selected Humor. All Alone. A Fortunate Adventurer. The recent dispatch announcing the discovery of gold on the Yukon river in Alaska recalls one of the romantic experiences of Western mining life. The Alaska discoverer, whose name should have been given as Sclieiffelin, instead of Schuffeli—as was telegraphed i —is the man who located the rich j mines at Tombstone, Arizona, and , “I am sorry to hear of your uncle having drowned himself at sea," said Gilhooly, to an influential citizen of Austin, who wore a sad look and crape on his hat. “Yes, it was very sad.” “Did he have any grounds for it V” “How the mischief could he have any grounds for it out at sea, where the water is a mile and a half deep.” When Brown failed to catch the young lady who slapped his hands at Copenhagen, Fogg remarked that it was quite a marine disaster. “A smack lost, you know,” lie exclaimed, in an swer to the interrogating glances lev elled at him from all sides. Jones, through the lather : “Strange, I never can grow a good beard, and yet my grandfather had one three feet long.” Hair-dresser: “ Can’t account for it, sir—unless you take after your grandmother.” founded and named the town. The | story of the “find" is a remarkable one. “Ed’* Sclieiffelin, with his brothers and one or two companions, was prospecting in Southern Arizona some four or five years ago. when the country contained comparatively few white men and was overrun by hostile Apaches. The party, in Western parlance, were “down on their luck.” They had made no strikes, and their supplies were running low. It was a condition of affairs which Sclieiffelin was inured to, for he had been so reduced as to live on meal and beans given him in camp as an act of charity. Finally they resolved, in des peration, to start across into what is now known as the Tombstone district. Other prospectors had kept away from fear of the Indians. The country was dry and desolate, and contained but little game. The few intruders had never returned. When Sclieiffelin’s little party an nounced their determination it was generally predicted that they would meet death by Apache bullets or by starvation. “All you will find will be your tombstone,” was the sarcastic farewell of a miner as the adventurous band started into the barren hills. They journeyed through cacti and mesquite, crossed arroyas and climbed hills, ex amining ledges and croppings, and scru tinizing every rock for signs of pay ore that might lead to the discovery of a vein. All the time they kept a keen outlook for Apaches. They slept rifles in hand, while a faithful watch was kept throughout the night. But they found nothing. Footsore, weary and discouraged they camped on the site of the present tq|vn of Tombstone. Their provisions were nearly exhausted. It was imperative for them to find food at once or give up their attempt and turn backward. One of the party, taking his rifle, went out to hunt for a deer. In his absence the others almost hopelessly began examin ing tlie rocky ground near the camp, and at last Fortune proved kind. 'When the hunter returned he learned that he and his comrades were millionaires. They had found a rich out-cropping of ore that hinted at the wealth beneath their feet. They “loaded” their claims, and ofter a period of waiting partially developed them. In May, 1880, “Ed.” Soheiffelin and his brothers sold their share in these mines for a round million to a Philadelphia syndicate. Now a town of some 5000 inhabitants stands on the ground where the penniless adventurers camped. When the news of the strike went out and prospectors rushed in Sclieiffelin. as the “oldest inhabitant” and founder, was asked to name the town. He recalled the parting words of the miner when he started out, and said : “ Call it Tombstone.” The out crop first discovered was supposed to be from a vein, but, on exploration has proved to indicate a rich deposit, in place of which there is now an immense yawning gulf. Several claims were laid out which have since been developed into mines, and some probably worked out, but they still bear the tuneful names of “Owl’s Last Hoot,” “Lucky Cuss,” “Tough Nut” and “Good Enough,” while one is named the “Tri bune." But Sclieiffelin was too thor oughly infected with the mining fever to lie content with his suddenly ac quired riches. Within the last year he fitted out a small steamer at San FraH* cisco, gathered about him a party of utuiltfi and started to seek the unfrozen wilds of “No," exclaimed Mr. Peanecker. “No, madam. I object most decidedly. Once and for all I say it—the girls shall not be taught foreign languages.” “And why not, pray?” said Mrs. P., with withering sarcasm. “Because,” said Mr. P., with more withering sar casm, “because, Mrs. P., one tongue is enough for any woman !” “Annie, is it proper to say this ’ere, that ’ere ?” “Why, Kate, of course not.” “Well, I don’t know whether it is proper or not, but I feel cold in this ear from that air.” “What on earth makes you announce that you extract teeth without pain ? Didn’t I hear every patient you had up here yell ?” “ You did, sir,” replies the peripatetic dentist, “but those were shrieks of joy which they uttered, sir! They were so delighted, sir, at being painlessly relieved that they could not restrain their enthusiasm.” A lady taking tea at a small company, being very fond of hot rolls, was asked to have another “Really, I cannot,” she modestly replied; “I don’t know how many I have eaten already.” “I do,” unexpectedly cried a juvenile up start, whose mother had allowed him a seat at the table. “You’ve eaten eight I’ve been a counting!” Miss Matilda Snowball, who is blacker than the ace of spades, has been filling an appointment as “a cook lady” in the family of Colonel Yerger. A few even ings ago Matilda came into the parlor, where Mrs. Yerger was sitting, sewing, by the fire. Matilda had a very sly ex pression ou her face and something hid under her apron. “What have you got there?” asked Mrs. Yerger. “A young gemnmn belongin’ to one of de fust families ob Austin has been paying me ’tensions and T 'lowed ter s’prise him wid my picture tuken fur ter s’prise him wid.” Mrs. Yerger looked at the pic ture and nearv fell out of her chair with amazement. “Why, this can’t be you, Matilda. It is the picture of a white woman, with red hair and blue eyes.” “Dat's where de s’prise comes in. I paid de fotographic man two bits fur %it ar picture.” A gentleman having a little toddler with him the other day, stopped at a confectioner’s, and purchased two balls of pop-corn. He^gave one ball to the child, and the confectioner placed the other in a paper sack. Then the two wended their way homeward, meeting as they proceeded two ragged urchins, whom the man stopped and made a divy of the remaining popcorn ball. “Ain’t he a good man !” was the exclamation that greeted him as he walked away. The little toddler then broke forth: “Papa, don’t you know what they said that for ?” “No; why ?” “ ’Cause they don’t know you.” The silence was only broken by the munching of the corn. As 4111 Eastern train was nearing Cheyenne a drummer made an insulting remark to a lady whose acquaintance he had made. The lady rose to her feet and called out, “Has any man in this car a iu,»Ivor about him ? If there is I wish he would lend it to me and I'll put an end to this scoundrel’s insults!” The drummer rushed to the end of the car and jumped off, going into Cheyenne y th e back door. A shipment of 300 bushels of red-oak acorns has been made to Germany for planting on untitlable hillsides. This tree is found to do well in Europe and its wood is valuable. The acorns were gathered in Missouri at an average cost fit $1 per bushel. The same party has ip shipped 180 bushels of pignuts for m i How the House Behaves When Left by Itself. When the house is alone b\ itself in experienced persons may believe that it behaves exactly as it does when there are people in it; but this is a delusion as you will discover if you are ever left alone in it at midnight sitting up for the rest of the family: at this hour its true disposition will reveal itself. To catch it at its best pretend to re tire, put out the gas or lamp and go up stairs. Afterward come down softly, light no more than one lamp, go into the empty room and seat yourself at a table with something to read. No sooner that you have done so than you will hear a little chip, chip, chip, chip along the top of the room—a small sound, but persistent. It is evidently the wall paper coming off, and you de cide, after some tribulation, that if it does come off you can't help it, and go on with your book. As you sit with your book in your hand you begin to be quite sure that some one is coming down stairs. Squeak, squeak, squeak ! What folly ! There is nobody up there to come down : but there—no, it is on the kitchen stairs. Somebody is coming up. Squeak, snap ! Well, if it is a robber you might as well face Turn. You can get the poker and stand with your back against the wall. Nobody comes up. Finally you decide that you are a goose, pot the poker down, get a magazine and try to read. There, that’s the door. You heard the lock turn. They are coming home. You run to the back door, unlock and unbolt it, and peep out. Nobody is there, but as you linger the door gives a click that makes you jump. Bf daylight, neither lock nor stairs make any of these noises unless they are touched or trodden on. You go back to the parlor in a hurry, with a feeling that the next thing you know something may catch you by the back hair and try to remember where you left off. Now it is the table that snaps and cracks as if the spiritualist knocks were hidden in its mahogany. You do not lean on it heavily without this result, but it fidgets you, and you take an easy chair and put the book on your knee Your eyes wander up and down the page, and you grow dreamy, when, ap parently. the book-case fires off a pistol. At least a loud, fierce crack comes from the heart of that piece of furni ture, so loud, so fierce, that you jump to your feet trembling. You cannot stand the parlor any more. You go up stairs. No sooner do you get there than it seems to you that somebody is walking on the roof. If the house is a detached one, and the thing is impossible, that makes it all the more mysterious. Nothing ever moaned in thechimney before, but something moans now. There is a ghostly step in the bath room. You find out afterward that it is the tap dripping, but you do not dare to look at the time. And it is evident that there is some thing up the chimney—you would not like to ask what. If you have gas it l>obs up and down in a phantom dance. If you have a lamp it goes out in a blue explosion. If you have a candle a shroud plainly en wraps the wic^Pff falls toward you. The blinds shake as if a hand clutch ed them, and finally a doleful cat begins to moan in the cellar. You do not keep a cat, and this finishes you. You pretend to read no longer, and sitting with a towel over your head and face, and hearing something below go “Shew, shew, shew,” like a little saw, you believe in the old ghost stories. Ten minutes afterward the bell rings; the belated one comes home ; the lights are lit; perhaps something must be got out to eat. People talk and tell where they have been, and ask if you are lone some. And not a stair creaks. No step is heard on the roof; no click in the front door. Neither book-case nor table cracks. The house has on its company manners—only you have found out how it behaves when it is alone. One Good way to utilize bits of cold venison is to chop them fine, then heat with some of the gravy left from dinner, or, if vou lmve none, with a little water, in which you put a gener ous lump of butter,; season with pepper and salt; then fill some patty-pans with 1 the venison and cover the top with crust. Bake brown.” t I r ft X j r