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FARMS AND FARMERS. Short Talks With the Men Who Guide the Plow. OF GENERAL INTEREST TO FARMERS. Winter Work—The Farm Workshoj,. Every farm should have a workshop. It need not be expensive either as regards the building or the equipment. A log cabin will answer—anything that will keep out rain and Wind. These last are important, for it is in bad weather when out door work is stopped, that the shop will bo most used. A dirt floor is preferable, as a stove should bo placed in the chop, that its occupant may be able to work in Coldest weather. A farmer is entitled to com fort as much as anybody else; in this case he can have it at little cost. The equipments may be greater or less, according to one’s means. A large oak block sawed off square, like an anvil block, is indispensable for chop ping purposes. A work bench with vise—the latter may have wooden clamps with their jaws lined with plates of iron, for holding small objects; or if one can afford it, he can have a wooden clamp ■yse, and an iron one be side. An old anvil will be very desirable, one partly broken and worn can usually be bought cheap. In its absence a piece of steel railroad iron fastened securely to the top of a heavy block and projecting be yond its side will be found convenient. Os tools, saw, hatchet draw-knife, hammer, chisels, brace and bits, jack-plane, wood-rasp, cold-chisel and punches will enable a farmer to do most of the jobs that his farm calls for. These tools need not cost much; $lO would get a very fair equipment for a farm shop. "With a shop thus equipped, the farmer is pre pared to utilize all rainy and very cold days most profitably. Much of the winter can bo spent in it. Let us see what he can profitably do. lie can overhaul his plow stocks; a beam or han dle may be broken ; he can put in new ones. Extra beams and handles may be made and laid aside to meet emergencies during the busy crop season. Crooked trees and largo limbs may often be found, which, sawed in two, make excellent plow handles. The plow is mentioned only as a sample. Harrows, rakes, planters, etc., can all be overhauled and re paired, and duplicates made of parts most likely to wear out or give way. Pieces of ash or other wood, with suitable curve for cradle fingers, may be found, and cradles repaired, and extra fingers made and laid aside for future use; wagon bodies can be made or repaired; false bodies for hauling bulky articles, fodder frames—all such things can bo attended to now, whilst little is being done on the farm, much -better-than they can in the crop season, when, if anything breaks, work must be ptopped, valuable time lost, and repairing done hurriedly and imperfectly. Young pines, with bark peeled off and laid aside to season, will make excellent hoe helves by spring. A good supply of ax and grubbing hoe handles should bo provided. These are liable to break at any time, and if no extra ones are at hand the farmer is very apt, in an emergency, to go to the store and buy one. It is against this incessant buying at the store or shop that we are trying to guard the farmer. Perpetual buying is the ruin of our farmers. Much of it may bo avoided by utilizing time, which they would otherwise spend in idleness, by working in a shop. Looking ahead and providing for emergencies is a most valuable habit in all business—in none more so than in farming. It saves time, it saves expense. More than this, it secures efficient work. An implement out of repair, or imperfectly repaired (as when hurriedly done) will not do good or satisfactory work. It is true economy for the farmer to have the best tools and implements and these in the best possible condition. A hand can do more and better work with a sharp ax or a sharp hoe than he can with a dull one; and this is true of every implement used on the farm. Put all therefore in good condition now and make preparation to keep them so during crop sea son, having everything ready to repair quickly and perfectly should an emergency arise. If you haven’t a roller now is a good time to snake one. Saw three blocks, a foot and a half long, from the largest oak you can ’'find, two to two and a half feet in diameter will an ewer. Saw true, so the ends will be parallel to each other. Take the center in each end and describe a circle on it as large as the block will allow, and trim or turn block down to these circles, in same manner as the cylinders in a wooden sorghum mill are made. Let the cir cles on all blocks be of same size. Boro through center of each block a hole an inch and a half in diameter, boring half way from one end and half way from the other, so as to get it true. Got a round iron or steel rod 5 feet, 7 inches long, and inches in diameter, and put through blocks; having a washer a half-inch thick be tween the blocks, so they can turn without rubbing on each other. Shrink a stout washer on each end of the rod, close to the outside blocks, to hold these in place. It.is better to put two iron boxes (like wheel boxes) in each block, for the rod to work in. As the rollers will turn on the rod, the wood is liable to wear. Make a four-sided frame to go round blocks with a tongue framed to it. Put end of rods through side of frame, and make a seat directly over top of blocks, with legs resting on frame, and the roller is finished. A scraper should bo placed on back of frame, W’ith its front edge nearly touching the rollers, to scrape off any dirt which may stick to tho rollers. A simpler roller may be made of a single block, say three feet long, with gudge ons in each end, and these let into the frame, as above; but it will drag in turning round, whilst that with sections turns like a two wheeled cart. Every farmer ought to have a roller. Land cannot well be brought into fine tilth without one. Plowing, rolling and harrowing are the three successive steps to getting land in first rate condition. The plow throws up clods and turfs, the roller breaks or mashes them down firmly in the soil so the teeth of the harrow can cut through them. The roller is also very useful in covering grain, whether plowed or harrowed in many grains are left on the sur face, Tho roller by breaking clods spreads dirt over tho seeds or else presses them down and firms the soil about them so that they come np and grow off promptly. It presses down the stumps of corn stalks or other like obstructions that would interfere with the cradling of low grain. It is indispensable in smoothing tho surface for mowers or grass blades. By all means make one, if you do not own one. Having a work shop will enable you to do it mainly at home, and during bad weather when you have little to do. Replac ing broken tongues, or hounds, or bolsters or single and doubletrees on wagons,willjall come in as handy jobs when you have a shop with proper tools and seasoned lumber. One who has never had a shop on his farm will bo sur prised at the number of things he can, and will do—saving money and affording him a pleas ant occupation, attended with a most gratify ing feehug of independence. W. L. J. H. K W. Areola, La.: 1. What will destroy lice Cn pigs: what causes them, etc. 2. What Is the best treatment for hogs to prevent them from getting lousy. 3. Wilt Holstein and shorthorn cattie thrive and do well in the n >rthern jert of Louisiana. 4. What do they sell for up north. I. Grease is the great destroyer of parasitic insects. It stops up their breathing apparatus if it gets well on them. Other substances like coal tar and kerosene kill them more directly. The usual practice through the country is to THE WEEKLY COJiSTITUTIOH, ATLANTA, GA.. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13. 1887.. tar the hack of hogs, especially along tbo neck. A mixture of grease and kerosene will answer. Lice lay eggs attached to the hairs, and these hatch from time to time. It is necessary there fore to make the application more than once to kill those that hatch out after the grown lice are killed. 2. Lice infest hogs that are in poor condition—fat, thriving hogs seldom suffer much from lice. Feed well —keep salt, ashes and charcoal within reach, and occasionally give a little copperas and turpentine in food, and you will not bo troubled with lice, 3. That depends almost entirely upon pasture and feeding. These large breeds have been perfected upon high feeding, and will die out on poor pastures. If well fed they will thrive south as well as north. 4. From fifty dollars upward. A noted short horn cow was sold some years ago for $40,000. A. A. N., Broad, Ga.: First—l notice a good many farmers have away of putting ectton-seed in their stables during the fall. Is there anything gained by it? If so, what ? Second—l have a large pile of sawdust near my house. I have been told that it is good to put in horse stable. What do you think about it ? Is it as good as straw or leaves ? 1. Putting cotton seed in stables is a con venient method of killing the seed, without danger of overheating and consequent loss. To secure this, however, care must be taken that tho seed do not get under the trough, or in the corner and along the edges of the stall, where they will remain dry and unchanged. From time to time those in these situations must bo thrown in middle of stall, where they will get mixed with wet manure. The seed make a very good absorbent for the urine, and used in place of straw or leaves, lender the stable manure much richer and more concen trated. Moreover, it is always good policy to mix together different kinds of manure: one corrects some defect in the other. If properly managed, therefore, the practice of putting seed in stalls is a good one. 2. Sawdust has little or no manurial value; is not worth the handling, except as litter to keep stalls dry. Straw and leaves have de decided manurial value, and are good absorb ents also. By all means use tho straw and leaves in preference to sawdust. Tho latter may sometimes be used to advantage in loosen ing up very stiff soils. Mixed with clay, it opens it and lets air and water penetrate more easily. When old and well rotted, it may be used as a mulch for strawberries, Irish pota toes, etc. J.B. C., Milledgeville, Ga.: I have apiece of land about eight ac: es, that lies in the form of a basin; about four acres of it does not produce well on account of excess of moisture or ponding, and it is Impracticable to drain by ditching. I have been advised to dig a well until sand is struck; that the sand would absorb the excess of water. What do you think of plan? Is there any fertilizer- that wilt be ci advantage? Crops planted on it are very back ward in spring and hard to get a stand of com or cotton; oats and peas do best on it. Sometimes basins are very thoroughly drain ed by sinking wells. This is more likely to be successful in limestone regions than in others, because, in such regions there are numerous underground streams which if tapped, or oven approached, carry water off quite rapidly. In all regions there are underground streams, more or less. This is shown by the water veins which supply wells. But they are not as large and do not flow as freely as those in limestone localities. It would not bo necessa ry to sink a well of any extra size to test the matter, and you are advised to try it. If you do not encounter rock, tho venture will not cost more than ten or fifteen dollars. Dig well in lowest spot. Veins of sand or gravel indicate underground streams. Water flows through them, and has carried off the finer earth originally mixed with the sand and gravel. Tho water that flows and seeps in your well will run off in these sandy chan nels and make its exit from tho earth some where as a spring. In this sense tho sand will absorb tho water of tho basin. As long as tho soil is undrained there is no fertilizer that will correct tho trouble or do much good. If drained, liming would probably be beneficial. Oats want a good deal of moisture in tho soil, and therefore do well —peas make their growth late in the season, after the soil naturally dries off a good deal. If you fail in your attempt to drain the land, you might utilize it with profit by sowing it down ih herds grass, which de lights in damp soils. W. 11. H., Yorkville, S. C: I wish to make a fer tilizer for cotton tor the next year, to consist of 180 pounds pure acid phosphate, 40 pounds kainit and 80 pounds cotton seed meal,the total,3oo pounds, to be applied to one acre. Would it be best to run a nine-inch straight shovel, and follow in same row with four-inch scooter, and open after scooter with same straight shovel and put 150 pounds to the acre down, and bed on it, and at planting time put in the other 150 pounds, or put all in at once as deep as practicable? 1 think my mixture well suited to the land. Put 150 pounds in furrow first made and listen it. Then put 75 pounds of fertilizer in each list furrow and complete bed. This is prefera ble to putting all in first furrow. If soil or cli mate is such that cotton grows off slowly at first, it is well to put a little fertilizer in drill with the seed—so pounds to the acre is enough in such case. 150 pounds might be put in drill, 50 pounds in each list furrow, and 50 pounds reseryed to be put in with the seed. J. 11. W. Americus, Ga.: What is the best way to break Jweedland in spring. It seems to me that to wait until; spring the weeds would not be decayed enough, but what they would lea great deal of trouble in rebedding. I want to put land in cotton and fertilize w ith guano. If tho weeds are very rank and much in the way, take a heavy brush and run over them until they are broken up. This is best done during a hard freeze, succeeding rain. Tho wet, frozen stalks are then more brittle than at any other time. Land covered with a heavy coat of crab grass can also be plowed more easily after the passage of a brush, as tho grass will bo quite decidedly cut up and commin uted. A. 11. W., Chestnut Grove: Please tell me the l>est time to open silo and how,much ought to bo exposed at one time. 1 built silo according to your direction, no doors in the side, ensilage to be taken from the top. Also in what quantity it should be fed. Ensilage may be used in a few weeks after it is made. The only object in delay is to let the mass settle fully and get compact, so that air will not penetrate when it is being taken out. About 40 pounds a day, in combination witli some dry forage, the usual quantity given a cow. This is about two-thirds of a cube foot when in its compressed state. If the silo is 8 feet square and ensilage to the depth of four inches bo taken from the whole top every day, it would at above rate feed thirty two cows. The silo ought to be divided with compartments, the size of each to lie regulated by number of cattle to be fed, as the ensilage should be taken from the whole top of a com partment. If taken from a part of the top, the side of tho part left is exposed to the air for a long time ami will spoil to a greater or less depth. It is more troublesome also to take out by successive sections than to take out clear across the top. Ensilage may bo taken out at one time for two days’ rations, but not longer. J. W. 8., Altoona, Fla.: You will do me a great favor by telling me whatls good or what will keep cut worms off cabbage and do the cabbage no hurt. Presume that by “cut-worm" you mean the worm which cuts off tUe stein of young cab bage plants. If so, begin some weeks before tiie plants are to be set out and scatter over the ground at distances of ten or fifteen feet apart cabbage or turnip leaves which have been sprinkled with Paris green or London purple. The worms will eat these and bo poisoned. Continue to do this at intervals as long as any worms make their appearance M rapping tiie stem of the cabbage plant with thick paper, some distance below and above the surface, when setting out, is effective but troublesome. It is possible also that smearing the steins with kerosene emulsion would keep tho worms off, but we have never seen it tried. X. Y. z., Milledgeville: Will clover eown after oats are planted and harrowed or brushed in do well? Land very rich and wish to sow down first of February; have never seen clover with oats, and would it not l.e well to mix a small quantity of blue grass with clover? Clover sown after oats and harrowed in does well if the oats are not too thick, and if tho ground is rich, as you say yours is. Tho greatest danger lies in crab grass coming up after the oats, and smothering the clover. On rich land and with plenteous rains, grass will grow faster than your clover. For this reason clover does best with grains which are taken off tho land early, and which are followed by weeds instead of grass. If the weeds threaten to smother the clover, a mowing will soon make all right. Not so with grass. Tho clover will not last more than three years, unless allowed to mature a crop of seed on the land, and the land is broken up again. Blue grass takes several years to make a good sod. If. therefore, you do not wish to perpetuate tho clover, but let tho land remain unplowed, sow blue grass with the clover. Seeing an Inquiry for a remedy for ringbone, I give mine: Cne oz. corrosive sublimate, 1 oz. gum camphor, 1 pint spirits turpentine; mix; clean the part affected with soap and water, and rub dry; ap ply tho liniment every other day for three applica tions; wash off and grease. If need be, after a few days repeat. This is the remedy for any enlarge ment of the bone. John Moore. WITH BIRD AND BEAST. Curious Stories About Animals ricked up Here and There. Mexican Ilogs. From the Denver News. Mexican hogs, which are a cross between the Spanish aud tho wild hog of the Mexican moun tains, are raised with profit in Mexico, Lut notin any considerable numbers. They average 175 pounds in weight, and are killed chiefly for their lard, which is worth twenty cents a pound. Fresh pork is worth twelve and one-half cents a pound, but is eaten very little, for most persons can’t afford it. It is said that Monterey, which has 50,000, eats only about five hogs a day. The Highest Cow on Earth. From El Dorado Independent. A Galloway cow next season is to make her homo on tho top of Pike’s peak. She will be tho highest cow on earth. A stable will bo built for her, and a borro will pack feed to her. She Is to be kept there for her milk. The reason a Galloway has been selected .is because it is thought she has flic best lung power of any of tho breeds, and the thickest jacket to protect her from the cold. A Bug Dug the Grave. From the Newburyport News. A party of young people witnessed a very interesting pcrlb.-mance in a yard on School street on Fiiday afternoon. A dead mouse was thrown out into the yard by a party residing in a house, the body falling near a large beetle bug which chanced to be strolling through the grass at the time. The bug seemed to be somewhat surprised at having something come so suddenly upon him, and stopped on his way to investigate. Finding there was no life in the body, the Insect at once commenced operations to bury it. It dug a hole near the under pinning of the house, and then walked around to the opposite side of the dead mouse, aud putting its head under the inanimate body it worked his body slowly in, and in this manner got the mouse over to the place dug. Alter getting the body to the hole it found that it was too big to go in, so it commenced to heap dirt on it until it was all covered up. When the work was done it crawled away, seeming per fectly satisfied with its job. Whether the burial was out of sympathy or for further use the party who witessed it could not tell, but Le that as it may it was an interesting event. Birds that Drink Beer. From the Globo Democrat. New York, December 3.—The little hotels beyond tiie end of the cable road, with big-win dowed pavilions overlooking the placid Harlem and pretty Fordham Heights, were quite de serted by visitors, even in the wqrm days of last month. A couple drinking beer in one of them one day, and reviving recollections of more lively times, were astonished at the ac tions of a couple of birds that fluttered about their heads, finally alighting on tho table and greedily drinking from the beer puddles there on. Again and again were tho wet spots on the table replenished from tho glasses. At last tho birds satisfied their thirst anil flew contentedly up to high perches among tbo timbers of the roof. The boy who serves tho beer said they were cedar birds, and that ho had trapped in the back yard. He kept them caged for three weeks, and after that gave them tho freedom of tho pavilion. He does not know how they came to find out that Leer was good, but they now seek it with avidity. It does not affect them at all in the direction of tipsiness. “They arc a nuisance,” said tho customer. “I suppose if it were not for them you would have some windows open.” The boy laughed and said: “No, they don’t go out if I wake tho win dows all open.” Then he throw’ open some of the windows, but the birds paid no attention to them. Dogs That Were Faithful to Death. From the De nver Republican. “I like dogs,” said a venerable physician the other night, “because of all creatures wearing hair on their hides they arc tho most honest—you uiay always trust them to do what is right in the canine economy.” The remark recalled the memory of two in cidents occurring recently. Itwillbo rcmcni bcred that about two months ago Mr. .John Dollof, of Boulder, was killed. Dr. Dolloff was the owner of a fine dog—his almost insep arable companion. From the time that the body of tiie unfortunate man was brought home the dog maintained his station near the corpse. After tho funeral the dog was missed, and, a search-being instituted, was discovered stretched at length on the grave of his master. All efforts to induce him to take food or leave the grave were unavailing, au< to day his desiccated body still keeps watch and ward over the spot where his beloved master lies. About two years ago Air. Devlin, of Boul der, lost a son—killed by being thrown from a buggy. A few days after tho funeral it was noticed that a favorite dog of the deceased had not been seen since the. funeral services. He was found at the newly made grave, upon which his paws were resting, emaciated with fasting, with great difficulty, he was induced to return to his home, and with careful nursing was restored to his normal condition. Several times he was reclaimed from his station in tho cemetery, and finally became weaned from his post-mortem attachment, Every Sunday tho parents of the young man visited his grave, the dog always accompanying them, until last summer, when Mrs. Devlin, through a serious accident, became incapacitated for making her usual Sunday visit to tho'cemetery. Tlio dog on the first day of her omission became un easy, and after several efforts to attract the at tention of bis mistress, went to tiie cemetery alone, spent about two hours at the grave, and returned. From that time to the present, as regularly as Sunday comes around, he goes'to the cemetery, remains about two hours, and returns home. The question as to how ho de termines the return of Sunday is open for tho discussion of students <il natural history. TV lid Dogs of the Mountains. Wind River Mountaineer. The writer has had occasion one or two times prior to this to tell of the fierce nature and savage practices of the wild dogs which infest tho mountains of the Upper Wind River. These dogs are not the common wolf of the western prairies and mountains. They are something far more powerful and dangerous. Several years since a male Scotch stagliound and a female English bulldog ran away in company from Fort Washakie, made their home in the mountains, and these wild dogs of the Upper Wind River are tlrcir savage off spring. With such ance-storship how can this wild offspring help being a canine terror? To the speed and endurance of the Scotch staghound is mated the ferocity and tenacity of the English bulldog and these wild dogs are evidently worthy in every way of their origin. Speedy, savage and stubborn, these animals are deterred by no pursuit, are re strained by no fear and are daunted by no difficulties. They pursue, slay aud devour; such is tho simplicity and efficiency of this native code of canine ethics. Tho latest ex ploit of these canine marauders of which wo have any account is tho destruction of a small herd of bears. It appears that about two weeks ago a dozen bears of tho dreaded and largo silver-tip variety camo down from tho surrounding mountains to enjoy themselves on tho sunny slopes of tho Warm Spring Basin. In tho course of the day those bears all got to gether, and while thus massed were attacked by about 100 of tho wild dogs. The conflict was terrible. Tho bears fought with all the courage and ferocity for which the silver-tip is noted, but the mingled strain of staghound and bulldog supplied a courage and ferocity greater still, and at the end of half an hour every bear had died where ho was brought to bay. The dogs suffered severely, twenty-five of their number perishing in the fight. The sur vivors wasted little time, however, in mourn ing over their dead companions, but begun at once on the banquet their own powers had provided, and in an hour from the time the combat ceased only the clean-picked bouey of tho twelve bears remained to tell of the Htrng gle to the death which had taken place aud the savage feast which had followed it. Tire Pictured Kocks of Virginia. A Reader; A reader of tho Blade would like a descrip tion of tho pictured rocks of Virginia. These famous rocks are in Grant county, in what is now West Virginia, along the road known as tho Evansville pike. They have been a source of wonder ever since they wore first discovered by white men, over a century and a half ago. They are on tho face of a large cliff situated near the road. Tho rock is a white sandstone which wears very slightly from exposure to tho weather, and upon its smooth surface are delineated outlines of at least fifty species of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, embracing in tho number panthers, deer, buffalo, otters, beavers, wildcats, foxes, wolves, raccoons, opossums, bears, elk, crows, eagles, turkeys, eels, various sorts of fish, largo and small snakes, etc. In the midst of this silent menagerie of specimens of tho animal kingdom is the full length of a female form, beautiful and perfect in every respect. Inter spersed among the drawings of animals, etc., are imitations of tho footprints of each sort, the whole space occupied being 150 feet long by 50 wide. It is believed that these figures wrore engraved many ages ago, but it cannot be even conjectured to what tribe tho artist be longed , and how he made the remarkable draw ings is quite as much a mystery. As to Rabbits. Tho rabbit, is a common article of food, and about these days and later in tho early snow falls is most vigorously hunted with dog and gun. In Australia and New Zealand, where this animal was introduced for sporting pur poses, he quickly became acclimated and spread over the land until he is recognized as a first class pest. The rabbit threatened to obliterate those colonies, and measures were taken to effect his destruction. In ono year in New Zealand more than 500,01)0 acres of sheep pasturage wore surren dered to—tho rabbit j— the losses in exports are estimated at $2,500,000 a year; in three years 180,OIK),000 wore killed. It has cost $115,000 to clear a single estate tu Aut tnil:n,Tiid from SSO,IKK) to $75,000 is no unusual tribute for tho expulsion of these animals. Al ready we have a dozen native species which inflict great ravages on field and farm. In California they gnaw the grape vines aud de stroy pasturage and meadows. Tu Utah they devastate tho cereal crops and in, that territory a few years ago they wore found to wear in their backs, as cattle some times do, a death delivering grub, whose operation was fatal, and under whoso benignant auspices the land was saved from disaster. In fact, in all ■parts of the union, tho farmers report the ruin by the teeth of these innocents, of fruit trees, ma ples, garden vegetables, grain crops, clover pastures, and indeed, when driven by cold, of everything herbaceous. They gnaw and bark ami girdle, pursuing their destructive work under the convenient concealment of snow. They are slain by thousands, but they are a fecund race and increase by millions. The sufferers by their ravages invito govern ment aid, especially in the prohibition of tho importation of new and untried varieties. This is seconded by tho department of agri culture which suggests that if experiments are to bo made, even with beneficial birds and animals, that they bo assigned to an is land habitant, and there be quarantined until it can be certainly known whether they fill tho bill as harmless additions to the roll of Amer ican denizens. The bobolink wears sundry aliases, as reed bird, rico bird, butter bird, rice hunting and skunk blackbird. His range is from Labrador to Mexico and tho West Indies. His name changes with his locality. He opens his cam paign in South Carolina in April, and times his return to the 21st of August, so as to vex the rico planter when that crop is in the milk or in the first hardened grain. He devotes tbo interim to the production and care of a family of destructives, and visits New Jersey and Pennsylvania for a short time anterior to his raid on the rice fields. Ho is a lively and pleasing bird, rich in color and in voice, during tho season of domestic care and comfort. He is a dainty dish for a king, and in truth is more beneticlent in bis death than in his life. The gathered rice crop is worth six million dollars, and before the harvest this bird levies a toll of two millions. The planters try to circumvent this bird by planting so early as to forestall him, both in the milk and the ripened stage. In the two rice bird seasons, tho South Carolina plantation is a great battlefield. “Bird minders,” armed with the requisite munitions of war, encom pass and invade the area occupied and destroy the birds in great numbers, but tho feathered depredators tly from place to place, only to re new their ravages when out of range. The government has sent circulars to the rico planters, and a personal investigation was made in the disturbed districts. A fiat of de struction has gone forth and bobolinks are ex pected to “sing very .small.” In 1850, a year when the “measuring worm” was most wantonly active in New York and Brooklyn, crowding the trees of parks and streets, lifting his slow length 'dong in the promenades, some philanthropic citizens of Brooklyn imported eight pairs of English spar rows. They were carefully housed in winter and lot loose in tho spring. From these sprang unnumbered woes. A few square feet then bounded their ambitious flight. Now, after a lapse of thirty five years, they range over 1,000,000,000 square milesof the United States and Canada. They "spread themselves” slowly at first, bnt soon set* out to undertake the conquest of a conti nent. They now occupy all the states from Maine to Mississippi, and possesses Kansas and Missouri. They are found in detached setlements along the Gulf in Toxas, and will soon cover all the area in which are their out posts and colonies. At Halt Lake city they overrun an elliptical region as largo as Ver mont and form a cordon around the golden gate. For the last fifteen years they have spread at the rate of (>O,OOO square miles a year. They adopt all routes and means of travel. They entered the eastern provinces and Can ada by iitjt; rides on boats and cars, and made themselves at home at once. Tho statistician ot the ornithological divis ion furnished some appalling figures anent tho increment of these birds. A pair of sparrows produces five or six broodsja year with four to six young in a brood. Assume tiie product to bo twenty-four, half males and half fe males; with tiie old birds, thirteen pairs in all. These thirteen tho next produce 312 birds; add tho thirteen pairs and you have 338. Go on with this calculation for ten years, assuming all live out that period, and the result is thus given, sanctioned by tho executive, published by congress and distributed to a long suffering people. End of tenth year —Number of pairs of young, 127,253,992,470; I number of pairs breeding, 10,1XM ,499,373; total of pairs, 137,858,491,811; number of birds (total), 275,- 710,983,098. Fancy the gross weight of this product at two ounces lor each bird —17,000,000 tons of 2.000 pounds—twice tiie annual through freight tonnage ot tho New York Central. Compute their food at one ounce per day. By circulars sent to all parts of thocountry the government invited information as to tho habits of the sparrow. The statements re turned are made tho basis of an indictment, of which the following uro the loading points: The English sparrow Ims expelled native songsters, which are unable to maintain their ground against his determined belliggereuey. Among tiie familiar birds once visiting our garden and fields, but now less fre quently seen, are robins, bluebirds, song spar rows, wrens, yellow birds, OtMIM and others. These have been frightened away, often killed and their eggs and young destroy- ed and even eaten by these feathery cannibals. Gardens, fields and fruit trees suffer in tlio absence of insect-rating birds, and the sparrow cats birds, fruit, berries, grapes, peas, beans, grains, etc., and allows insects to prey at will upon them. If ho over had a relish for insects ho has lost it and feeds instead upon the products ho was expected to protect. Mr. Gurney, an English etomologist, says sparrows in their best estate, do one-fifth of good to four-fifth of harm, and in many in stances “they do nothing but harm.” In Eng land tde damage caused by sparrows dirrectly is put at several million dollars annually.) The department of agriculture suggests various ex pedients for disposing of this bird, his nests, eggs and young. They are to bo attacked by day and by night. Their colonies may bo easily destroyed by the free use of water, or by tear ing them down with rakes. They may be fed in some convenient spot for a few days, at a regular hour, and then, when they are gniassed together, they can be killed with small shot. Nets may be spread for thorn, or grain may bo watered tn a solution of mix vomica or arsenic ami disposed in their feeding places. A CRUSOE IN PETTICOATS. The Thrilling Experience of a South Sea Missionary's Daughter. Talking to a reporter of tho San Francisco Call, Miss Hannah Durston, tiie daughter of a Fiji missionary, said: “It was on a Christmas day that I remember so well my father telling mother that he had decided to change his residence to the Island of Kandavu, and their work in harmony with tho Wesleyan ministers, who are numerous on that island. We made tho change ere another month had gone by. I did not like Kandavu, although there is a pretty bay and some fine island scenery. Wo lived in a hut made of cniie, several miles away from where the colony was located. “It was very lonesome, and many of the na tives had ugly dispositions. They professed disgust and contempt openly for missionaries. Mother’s soft and kind words seemed'to have no effect upon them, and quite frequently they stole, things from us. Theft, I would say though, is not a common practice among tho Fijians. One day father reprimanded a sub chief called Ko-Ko for stealing a jack-knife, aud in reply tho chief threatened to wreak vengeance on us. Father had but little fear of him doing anything, but two days afterward a friendly native camo and -told us that Ko Ko and some of his friends would pay us a visit that night and probably murder father and mother and carry me into captivity, for Ko-Ko had an evil and licentious disposition, □“Father became alarmed at this. As the beach was near by wo resolved to take a few things and seek safety on tho ocean in our largo bark canoe until the next day, when wo could reach tho colony overland, as Ko-Ko and liis men would surely bo on the lookout. From tiie door of our hut to the sandy beach was only a few stops. Hero was our canoe which father used in visiting adjacent islands. In the bow was a capacious locker, where food and a few other necessaries could bo kept. To wards, sunset, wo hastened to the beach, placed our tilings in locker and father pushed the canoe Title the" water. It would seem that we were none too soon in getting away, for tho canoe was hardly 100 feet from tlio beach when tlio treacherous Ko-Ko and six other natives camo bounding to the water’s edge, brandishing their spears at us in a threatening fashion. Ko-Ko, with an imprecation, hurled a spear at us, but it fell short and dropped into tlio water. Father breathed .i fervent prayer over our narrow escape, and hoisted a sail upon tlio slender mast. Under tho impetus of a gentle breeze the canoe soon left tho shore far behind. “Mother mid I wrapped ourselves up in blankets, at father’s request, and lay down in tlio bottom of tho canoe to rest while he watched. It was some time before tho lapping of the water against tho sides of tlio canoo lulled me to sleep. Ido not know how long I slumbered, but I was aroused by a sharp cry from father, and a fearful tossing of tlio canoe. My mother was already sitting up. The stars which had studded tho sky when I dozed off was obscured by b!ack|inas“es < I clouds, gusts of wind woro shrieking in a dismal way about us, and tlio waves woro largo and high, at times rolling into the canoe. Wo knew that one of tho o terrible storms which spring up so suddenly in the islands was about to break upon us. “ 'God help us,’ murmured my father rever ently, and ho offered up a prayer for our de liverance. I shall never forget what followed. The black clouds seemed to open and belch out lire and loose batteries of thunder. Tlio shrieking wind had tho velocity of a gale, mid the canoe was tossed like a chip upon the tops of angry white waves that gleamed like tho white fangs of a devouring monster. Tiie sail was rent asunder and tho rain began to pour down in torrents. “Suddenly, above tho roar of tho thunder, wo could distinguish a continuous rumbling sound. “ 'Those are the breakers, and wo will soon bo among them,’ whispered, my father, adding words of comfort at tire same time. “Tho next thing I remember was a deafent ing crash and a sharp cry from mother. I wa struek by something and consciousness lei's mo. I can recollect opening my eyes as if from a profound sleep. The sun was smiling down from a blue and cloudless sky. 1 raised myself mid found tlio ocean at my foot. It was as placid as a lake. I was lying on the wet beach not three feet from where the wnv< s OUR PREMIUMS! > Read the Entire List. Each One of them is Guaranteed. Thit GUN and THE WEEK- I.Y CONSTITUTION one year lor «18.00 Send for Illustrated Catalogue of all our Premiums. We club only the best articles with THE' WEEKLY CONSTITUTION. By sub scribing now you can get these Premiums at actual cost, and thus save middle men’s profits. Look at our entire list. THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION ONE YEAR WITH: <* The Premium High-Arm Sewing Machine - - - - $22.00 The Premium Low-Arm Sewing Machine - 18.00 The Constitution Organ No. 1.-- - 55.00, The Constitution Organ No. 2. ------ 50.00 The Double Barrelled Breech Leading Gun - - - 12.00 the Watei bury Watch - - - - - - - - 3.25 Our Family Physician - -- -- -- -- 2.00 The Southern Farm - -- -- - -- - 1.G5 Send in your order at once and get one of our Premiums. You will be satisfied with, them. THE CONSTITUTION, ATLANTA, GA. ' were rippling on the sand. My clothes wero dripping wet. Tho occurrence of the storm came to mo like an electric shock. 'My first;’ thoughts were regarding father and mother./ Mere they safe or—but I reached the horribla! alternative. About thirty feet away I saw tho canoe cast high and dry upon tiie beach. ItJ s do was stove in where it had struck the rock.’ Running up to it, I saw it was empty. Along' tho stretch of beaeli no other object was dis* cemible. | “I eyed the expanse of water and perceived! a dark object bobbing up and down in tho 1 surf. A closer view revealed what caused myi blood to almost freeze in my veins. That which was tlio sport of the waves wero the* bodies of my parents They wero clasped to gether. Overcoming the feeling of horror and' sickness that came over mo I dashed into tho! water up to my waist, and with almost supcr-j human strength brought the bodies out of the! water. Dragging them to a dry spot I fell over tlio cold forms in a deathly faint. I re- ■ covered my senses only to faint again. I will i not dwell upon what followed. I “Four days passed, and I learned that I was on a small island, which appeared to be unin-: habited except by a nasty looking species o£ bat and small pigs and rats. Tho pigs wero » wild and savage, and I had to evade them to' avoid being attacked. , “My only sustenance was coacoanuts and » , species of wild berries. Tho nuts I had found, on tho ground, where they had fallen durin.!' . storms. According to my reckoning about; three months of this monotonous expericnco passed away. My clothes were worn into tat ters. Every morning I bathed in the sea ami made a frugal meal on fruit. Tlio rest of tho . day I spent in exercise and reading a stained copy of tho Bible, which I found in tiie locked of the canoo. Tlio. canoo, when turned over, made a comfortable abiding place at night, t crawling into it through tho holo in tho side. J here were three storms during mv stay there. Os course, I was drenched. 1 think that if my existence as a Crusoe had lasted much longer 1 would have cither gone crazy or died. As it) , was, the consolation afforded one by reading tho Bible gave mo strength. “Ono day I saw a party of natives land from a canoo. I hid and watched them, and soon recognized among them several friendly faces I had seen at the Wesleyan school at Kandava. I called to them, and on coming up they knew me. I cannot tell how glad I was to bo taken in their canoo to tho colony at Kandavu, where* , 1 was heartily welcomed. Tho doopest regret was expressed over tho death of my poor pa rents. This is all I have to say in relation to , the subject. I determined to follow up tho good work of my father, and I have been suc- , cessfiil. The treacherous Ko-Ko was banished from the island, and died in a leprosy colony a year or so afterward. Iliad my parents’ re mains removed from the lonely island and de cently interred at Kandavu.” MARRIED IN GEORGIA. Tn Sandersville—Mr. Charlie Hood to Miss Mnltlo' Mills; Mr. Charles M. Fulghum to Miss Tillie Slade. In Griffin—M. T. J. Hightower to Mias Georgia A.‘ Nicholls. Beavers. In Columbus—Mr. .George Brown to Miss Lucy Watt. T In Atlanta—Mr. Robert I). Roberts to Miss Sallio) E. Miller. In Toccia—Mr. James O. Faulkner to Miss Vlckory. In Atlanta—Mr. Hucslon Boyd to Miss Halt'd Hardin; Mr. Hunter I’. Cooper to MLss Henrietta' Tucker. In Atlanta—Major Toni Williams to Miss Mary! Chit Hurdle. In Dawson—Mr. T. F. J. McGill to Miss Edna) Enrl Brown. In Atlanta—Mr. J. B. Wright to Miss Lueh Livings’ ton Coiissen. In Fort Gaines—Mr. W. R. Graham to Miss NelUo 1 Speight. I 1,1 Atlanta Rev. B. E. 1,. Timmons to Mrs. Wil liam T. Woffor d. i In Atlanta-Mr. Robert H. Roberts to Miss Salllc’ , E. Miller; Dr. J. 11. Reeve to Miss Jennfo Ellis. ' In Atlanta—Mr. Harry Wilson to Miss Louise Weaver. DIED IN GEORGIA. In Sandersville—Mr. James Deegan; Little Mary Lula Daniel. In Atlanta—Miss Rosa Kelly. In Augusta—Mrs. J. W. Roberts. In Atlanta—Little Blanche Logan; Miss CoraW’ellf house. In Emory College— Mrs. J. W. Roberts. In Macon—Mr. Hur ly Craig. In Atlanta—Colonel W. M. Lowry; Mr. William G< King. > In Covington—Dr. T. N. Pitts. In Atlanta—Major J. N. Bruiley. Mr. J. T. Trowbridge Has been called the Thackeray ot writers for, boys. Ho will not only contribute a serial story to tlio Youth’s Companion for 1888, bufli also a4rue narative of bis own boyhood and' bit early struggles for literary distinction.’ 1 Tho latter will'be supplemented by a similar' p iper written by M iss Aleott, in which she will give the autobiography of her girlhood, fiomdif of her “Little Women” will appear here with? : out any of the disguises of fiction. I* 7