SING AND BE GLAD.
"8i-g ana be glad, O thou wheeling Earth 1
Creation is old and grav ;
But starbeams shine on a second birth,
And this is our Easter day 1
Lift up thy head and be glad, O Earth !
Thv tors and sorrowing cease;
-A fountiin bath sprung in the desert's dearth,
And passionate pain hath peace !
Ah! drear is the charnel-house of sin,
Dreary and cold alwav !
But a pierced band lets the anerels in.
And the stone hath been rolled away.
The song goes up and the song comes down,
The ear h and the sky are fafi).
And the blended note Is a cross and crown,
And Paradise won again.
Through the throbblne psalm, in undertone,
I hear one clear voice iing,
And of all I hear but His alone :
"Behold, I am crowned king 1
T have conquer ?d death and sting of death
Bv the cross in bltterwise;
And thou poor Earth that travailcth,
X say unto thee, arise."
Sing and be glad, O thou wheeling Earth 1
Creation Is old and gray ;
But starbeams shine on a second birth,
And this is our Easter day 1
Horatio Gilbert Parker, in The Current.
liADY COTTOM BLOOM.
CHAPTEB I.
"All right, Miss Hennilin. If you
ion't want to marry me you needn't,
that's all. I have been playing the
-slave long enough. I have been caper
ing to your whims until my judgment
tells me"
"Your judgment, Mr. Ham?"
"Yes, my judgment "
"1 did not think that you had any
judgment, Mr. Ham."
"Neither did the people who marked
any devotion to yon."
"Oh, you are very complimentary
-and so charming of manner. Why,
sir, your name alone is quite a
little social gathering, Bucksnort
flam."
"Quite as good a name, I thank you,
as Fuss Hennilin. I am not ashamed
of my ancestors."
"Oh, you had ancestors, had you?
You are surprising as well as enter
taining." "I do not doubt j surprised.
Ancestry unquest "48 a strange
. sound to yon."
"What are you quarreling about?"
asked an old lady entering the room
where the young woman and young
man sat glaring at each other.
"Why, you are enough to make a
person believe that you are already
-niarried."
Bucksnort Ham was an Arkansaw
planter. He was all, if not more, than
bis name implied. Once when he
was a member of the legislature, a
citizen told a newspaper correspondent
that one of the general assemblymen
was named Bucksnort Ham, and
.-straightway the correspondent went
'into the house and picked out the
identical man. He did not seem so
much to have fitted himself to the
same as the name seemed to have lit-
- ted itself to him. He had a way of
blowing his nose and it sounded like
i the snort of a buck and his back, at
- a little distance, looked exactly like a
- canvassed ham. He seemed to have
been designed to create a favorable
sensation in the legislature, for he
voted against eveiy appropriation and
' labored hard to reduce the salaries of
state officers. He was a shrewd dem
agogue, always keeping one eye on
ibis constituents and the other on his
per diem.
Miss Fuss Hennilin was dim eyed.
She was languid, like a caterpiller
that has staid out all night in the dew.
3(e .read American novelists whose
- plots ae pitched in foreign lands. She
was not handsome, but people said she
was good. The mourners' benoh at
.Mount Catnip church could have ill
spared her. In the autumn she shed
tears at the altar; in tho winter she
faced her "podner" and shuffled to the
aound of a greasy old fiddle. She
-wanted to marry a duke. She might
have compromised on a lord, but an
oruinary member of an ordinary legis
lature was below the "last chance"
mark.
Mrs. Hennifin was said to he a good
oM soul. She was a kind of eggs and
trattet miser. Her late husband often
said that she would get up at night
and after gloating over her eggs in
numerous recounts, affectionately pat
her butter. She was a kind old lady,
and every winter gave the circuit ri
.der a pair of home-knit socks.
"I say what are you two quarreling
.-about?"" continued the old lady.
"Madam," replied Mr. Bucksnort
Ham, "1 have asked your daughter to
be my wife and she has refused."
""W'y, Puss, how can you be so
judn?'
Miss Fuss flirted herself into a pas
sion. "Why should I marry him, mother?
What can he promise me?"
"He can promise to make you a
good livinsr, child. That's what he
'Can promise."
"A. gooa living," the young woman
contemptuously repeated. "What do
JL cane about good living? Think that
.all leare about is to sit down and eat?
A dog can make a good living."
"I can promise you more than that,"
said Mr. Ham. "I am going to be a
candidate for the senate. A recent
amendment to the constitution of the
United States though I don't suppose
yauiever read politics says that each
state senator shall be a lord with the
vprivilege of selecting any name he may
see tit. By marrying me you would
become lady so-and-so, according to
the name we might select. If I am
.elected, I shall name my farm Cotton
i bloom. Then I shall be known as
;Liord Cottonbloom an original and
, flowery name. Of course I' 11 not press
this matter. Most any young lady
.would like -to become Lady Cotton
wood -rso. if you persist in your refusal,
j I will lay my title at the feet of some
. other woman."
"Law, Puss, do you hear that?"
exclaimed the old lady.
"Of. course I hear it, maw," replied
the voting lady. "I have always re-
spected Mr. Ham, and have never
refused to listen to him. I knew that
: the law had passed, and I very well
i knew that should Mr. Ham desire
it, he could go up into the house of
lords instead of remaining in the
house of commons."
"Well, ladies," said Mr- Bucksnort
iiai, "i must go out and formally
announce myself as u candidate.
Practically, I shall have no opposition,
but it is better to show myself to the
people.''
"Don't be in a hurrv," tho old lady
remarked.
"Oh, no, there is no need of making
so short a visit," said the young lady.
"I'll see you again soon," replied
the future lord of Cottonbloom.
CHAPTER II.
The friends of Mr. Ham wondered
at his admiration of Miss Puss Henni
fin. The neighborhood, or as the say
ing goes, the woods, were full of bet
ter looking girls than she. Sometimes
Ham would stop and argue with him
self. "Hang it," he would say, "I
have loved that fool girl for years.and
it is about time I had sense enough tc
keep away from her. No, blamed if
I can keep away from her. I know
that she is weak and fond of feathers,
but I can't help loving her. That
house of lords twist will catch her.
Living down here in a quiet way, she
may never discover the fraud." "
The next time Mr. Buck-nort Ham
called, Miss Puss received him with
stately politeness. She smiled upon
him, and the music of her sweet gig
gle floated on the tranquil air. Never
before had Bucksnort so much enjoyed
parliamentary power.
"Puss?"
"Yes, Bucksnort."
"There is no doubt of my election.';
"Why should there be? You have
already distinguished yourself, and
your constituents, proud of their
honor, know that they could not do
better than by elevating you to a po
sition for which you are so eminently
qualified."
"Your sentiments charm mo, Puss.
You make me feel as though a great
career were about to stretch itself
along my future pathway. Puss, I
love you."
"Oh. how can you? I am a simple
country girl; you are coon to be ele
vated to the peerage.
"Yes, precious, but to me the grand
est peerage is the priceless peerage
of your love. Have I been thus ele
vated .J
"Oh, Bucksnort, you almost kill me
with happiness."
He buckled his arms around her
waspish waist. Her dim, buttermilk
eyes lighted up with a glow of pride.
He tenderly kissed her.
CHAPTER III.
ham was elected. Three days after
ward he and Puss were married. Cot
tonbloom was a quiet old place. The
house, not lordly, but comfortable,
was almost hidden in a grove of Cot
tonwood trees. Puss soon convinced
the neighbors that she did not care to
associate with them, unless they care
fully regarded the distinction which
her position imposed. Those who had
heard of the joke humored it; those
who had not, kept away from Lady
Cottonbloom.
The time for the meeting of the leg
islature drew near.
"My lady," said Lord Cottonbloom,
"I shall have to leave you for a time."
"Leave ma !" she exclaimed. "Why
can I not accompany you to court?"
Ham thought that her courting days
were over, but replied: "It is hot po
lite to go at once, my lady. After
parliament is organized, and after I
have received the distinction of the
Garter, you can come."
"But why can I not witness the im
posing ceremony?"
"Because, my lady, we must observe
the small rules to show that we are
capable of handling the large ones. I
wilf write to you and let you know
when to come up. There, now, be
patient."
CHAPTER IV.
Senator Ham wrote regularly to his
wife, but said nothing about her
presentation at court. She became in
dignant, and, acting upon the advice
of a farmer who had formerly prayed
for her heart but who had received the
back of her hand, she set out for the
capital. When she arrived, Senator
Ham was out of town, having, as a
member of a committee, gone to in
vestigate the condition of a distant ed
ucational institution. He returned the
next day. While on the train he was,
upon taking up a newspaper, shocked
to fiud the following among the hotel
arrivals:
"Lady Puss, wife of Bucksnort Ham,
lord of Cottonbloom "
His mortification was deep. There
was no chance of escape. His brother
committeemen began to guy him. He
thought he would slip down to the ho
tel, tell his wife that parliament had
suddenly adjourned, and take her
home. She was not at the hotel. The
clerk said that a "crank woman,"
calling herself a cotton bloom when in
deed she looked more like dog-fennel,
had just gone up to the state house.
Ham hurried to the capitol building.
Some one said that a woman wearing
yellow feathers on her head and carry
ing a shawl embroidered with red tape
had just gone up into the governor's
room. Ham almost flew up the stair
way. A voice caused him to stop at
the executive chamber door.
"So you are the governor?"
"Yes, madam." ,
"I am glad to meet your highness.
1 desire to be presented at court."
"Which one, chancery or circuit?"
"The court of the state, sir.''
"The supreme court is not in session.
"I am sorry. I am Lady Cotton
bloom. Pernaps you are acquainted
with his lordship, Bucksnort Ham,
lord of Cottonbloom."
Before the governor could reply,
Ham rushed into the room, seized her
by the hand and said:
"Come, quick and let me present
you to the prime minister. Stay here
a minute,"" lie said when he had led
her into the hall. Then, stepping back
to the governor, he said: "She is my
insane wife. Imagines that she belongs
to the uobilitv. Wish you would tell
her that as the supreme court is not
in session, ladies are not expected to
visit the capitol. Ah, my lady, come
hither a moment."
"What does his lcrdship desire?"
she replied, entering the room.
"The governor, chief of the armies
and navy of the realm, has just issued
a mandate, declaring that as the su
preme court is not in session, ladies
are not expec-id to visit the capita
city."
"The mandate has just gone forth,
my lady," said the governor.
"Your highness, I am very sorry.
Has his lordship received the Garter?"
"He is a knight of tho Garter, bnt
the ceremony, owing to the weathei
was conducted in executive session."
"When does your highness think the
supreme court will meet?"
""Well, my lady," said the husband,
"as an important secretary, I have
just received information "that the
court, on account of impendiug war,
cannot meet for some time. Well, let
us proceed."
After remonstrating, and declaring
that she should not be controlled by
the governor's mandate, she consent
ed to go home. The senator, having
procured a leave of absence, accompa
nied her. After all, she was pleased
with her visit to the capital city, for
the governor had treated her with
marked respect. The next day aftei
their return to Cottonbloom, Ham,
with a woeful expression of counten
ance, entered the parlor where his
wife sat.
"What's the matter, my lord?"
"We are ruined."
"How?"
"Why, envious members of congress,
assisted by a jealous president, have
repealed the nobility act."
"My gracious you don't tell me so!"
she exclaimed, dropping a handful ol
yellow feathers.
"Yes, dear, and we are reduced tc
Mr. and Mrs. Ham."
"Oh, ain't that shocking!"
"Dreadful, but it cannot be helped.
I am heart-broken, but I am compell
ed to return to Little Rock. We would
have had a glorious time, dear, for it
was my intention to visit foreign
courts."
"Well, I don't care," she said after
a few moments reflection, "we can live
in the remembrance of having once
been noble. I am no longer a lord's
wife and you are no longer a lord, but
I shall never forget that you were
once knighted in executive session."
"Precious, do vou want to go back
to Little Rock with mo?"
"What, after this humiliation! No,
sir. I shall remain at my home. Go
on, dear, and pass your plebian laws."
Opie P. Read, in Arkansaw Traveler.
FARM JtAAAGEMENT.
A Town With Novel Smells.
Hoihow is not an attractive town.
The streets of the suburb outside the
wall are even narrower than those of
ordinary small towns in China, much
dirtier, and the visitor, who has al
ready some knowledge of China, de
tects a few varieties of bad smell that
impress him with the idea of absolute
novelty. The inhabitants show the
mixed types of Fokien and Kwang
tung, with such indigenous elements
as have, during many thousands of
years, been finding their way here
from the mainland of the peninsula of
Father India, or the islands that lie to
the southward of it. They are well
disposed and far less curious than the
Chinese of mainland cities. The shops
contain such Chinese goods as are
suited to a population of this class,
with odds and ends of European and
American notions which have within
thirty years found their way to the
most retired villages in the interior of
Asia. The markets make a liberal dis
play of excellent fish and pork, which
is considered the diet in "China, and,
what can not be seen elsewhere, a
kind of water-snake (for sale at the
fish-stalls), which is esteemed a del
icacy by the Hainanese. The dress is
with some variations, that of the
Kwang-tung province. The language
heard in the street is so different from
that of the mainland as to be hardly
intelligible to a native of Canton. The
houses are of lava-stone, or brick, one
story in height, and though swarming
with pigs, dogs, and vermin, are per
manent and comfortable in a climate
that is always cool and sometimes
cold in winter. The residents of the
merchants and officials are spacious.
The guilds have large halls, or detach
ed buildings, conspicuous by their
Chinese ornaments in front, their two
lofty poles bearing huge baskets, and
a stage where theatrical representa
tions are occasionally given. The wall
of the old town is not crenelated. The
streets within it are broader and clean
er and the shops larger and better
stocked. The foreigners connected
with the customs and consulates are
comfortably domesticated in Chinese
houses, no "European residences hav
ing been built during the eight years
since Hoihow became an open port..
Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.
Murder of a Japanese Diplomatist,
A correspondent of The London
Standard gives the following particu
lars of the assassination at Rotterdam
of Sakurada, the Japanese charge
d'affaires for the Netherlands:
While residing in Brussels, Sakurada
had made the acquaintance of a young
Belgian woman, Jeanne Marie Loette,
living in the suburb of Molenbeek St.
Jean. On his removal to the Hague
last December she followed him hither,
apparently in the expentation of Marri
age. Her hopes in this direction
were, however, destined disappoint
ment, as she ultimately to succeeded in
ascertaining that Sakurada already
had a lawful wife in Japan. On Friday
last, after a violent quarrel between
Mile. Jeanne and Sakurada, the lat
ter left her and went to Gouda.
Thither the following day the lady fol
lowed him' and ultimately they pro
ceeded together to Rotterdam, alight
ing at the Hotel de Hollande. There
a fresh quarrel took place on Sunday
morning, in the course of which the
lady drew a revoller from her pocket
and fired at her paramouer. The ball
penetrated the right temple of Sakura
da, who was at once conveyed to the
Rotterdam hospital, where he expired
at half past 10 the same night. Mile.
Jeane, after shooting Sakurada, at
tempted to commit suicide by cutting
open the veins of her wrists but the
wounds she inflicted on herself were
not dangerous. The murderess, who
is only 21 years of age, has been
placed under arrest.
Father Peter Havermans, of Troy, N. Y.
who has just celebrated his eightieth birthday,
is believed to be the oldest priest in the United
States. He has been in Troy forty-three years
F.elishes that Can Be Cultivated in Gardens
Suggestions on Planting Potatoes,
Home-Grown Condiments.
The table tare of farmers might be
greatly improved with verv small ex-
i Dense and little trouble by raising van-
ous condiments in tne garden, says
The Chicago limes. These vegetable
relishes sharpen the appetite and di
irestion, and impart a desirable flavor
to many articles of food of the taste of
which we are likely to tire after con
tinued use. Of the value of celery
reference has often been made. Its
consumption has rapidly increased in
cities during the past few years, but it
is not generally raised by farmers on
account of the labor required in culti
vating and blanching it. There are
many plants very desirable as relishes
that farmers neglect to cultivate,
though they are very easily raised.
Among these, the common radish. No
garden product is more easily raised,
or is served with less trouble, while
none is so generally relished. The best
radishes are produced by planting the
seed in soil that contains considerable
sand, and which has been made rich
by the application of well-rotted ma
nure. The quicker they are grown the
more crisp and tender they will be.
Very good radishes may be raised by
dropping the seed a few inches apart
in the rows where the seed of other
vegetables or flowers are sown. Rad
ish seed germinates in a very few days,
and the young plants mark the rows of
plants that are slow in making their
appearance. They thus enable the
gardener to work the soil between the
rows and to keep it free from grass
and weeds. Radishes will be of a5 size
to pull before the other plants will be
of any considerable size. Their pro
duction will be without cost of land
or labor. A few radish seed should be
planted every week from the time the
first leaves the ground till the middle
of summer. By adopting this course
a constant supply can be secured.
Any that are not wanted for the table
should be pulled up before they come
of very large size, as their presence in
the garden is not desirable. It is or
dinarily cheaper to bay radish seed
than to raise it.
The earliest home-grown relish that
can-be obtained is horseradish. In
eating, on saltpork, ham, bacon, or
any kind of cold meat, it is the best
relish that can be obtained. The
horseradish that is generally found in
farm-houses is of very poor qualitv..
It is raised in soil in one corner of the
garden or field, where it is allowed to
5 row for years without cultivation,
he roots become old, tough and yel
low. They have not the pungency of
some roots that have been quickly
grown in good soil. To have a good
article some roots should be planted
in good soil and cultivated during the
summer to produce roots for use'next
season. In digging up roots for use
this spring the- small roots that are
commonly cut off from the main one
should be" saved for planting. Those
of the size of pipe-stems answer very
well for the purpose. These small
cuts or rootlets can be cut in pieces
from four to six inches in length and
get out in rows that will admit "of stir
ring the soil between them. The sets
should stand at least six inches apart
in the rows. A long, pointed stick is
convenient for making the holes for
holding the sets, which should be in
serted so that the tops are two or three
inches below the surface of the ground.
They will throw up branches and
leaves in a short time, when the plants
should be tended like other vegetables.
The plant makes its main growth in
the fall, but tho size of the roots will
depend on the care given to them dur
ing the summer. Just before the
ground freezes in the fall a sufficient
number of the roots can be dug and
stored for use before the frost leaves
the soil in the spring. They can be
kept covered with earth in the cellar
or in the pits that are used for other
vegetables. Roots served in this man
ner will be quite tender, white, and
very pnDgent. They are vastly supe
rior to old roots which grow in sod.
The common garden-cress, or pep-por-grass,
makes" an excellent sallad
for use during the early part of the
summer. The seed germinates in a
few days, and the leaves are sufficint
ly large to use before there are any
other garden vegetables. As the plants
soon produce sced-sta?ks, some should
be sown every week till about the
1st of June.. A few plants can be al
lowed to produce seed for sowing next
season. Water cress is far' superior
to garden-cress, and its cultivation is
recommended to all persons who have
springs or running streams on their
farms. Seed can be obtained of all
extensive dealers, and abed of it once
established will remain productive an
indefinite time. The seed should be
sown on the margin of the stream,
from which the grass has been remov
ed The plants require constant
moisture, and the water shold be very
cold. The plants are very productive
of leaves, which can be plucked every
week during the growing, season..
Water-cress is a relish whioh is de
sirable during the entire year.. It forms
a beautiful table ornament-,, and is as
useful for this purpose as- parsley
The leaves are more tender, and less
pungent than those of garden-cress.
Water-cress is now in good demand
in all cities, and many who. have goad
beds of it derive considerable income
from them. When, gathered for mar
ket it is tied up in bunches of a size
that can be clasped' in the hand,, and
put in cheap baskets or crates. Water
cress is not only a' desirable relisbi to
use with meat, but with plain bread
and butter. It requires no sdidition
but salt. Considering the ease with
which it can be gjown, the perma
nency of the plantation, its continued
productiveness throughout the year,
and its man v points of exeellency, it
seems stounge that it does not receive
more attention.
Every kitche-a gardes, should con
tain a variety of sweet herbs. The
list should comprise sago, sweet mas-
jo ram, summer savoy, and thyme.
They are all desirable for seasoning
pork, whioh is the meat chiefly asert
by farmers. All these plants are
raised from seed which can be obtained
from any dealer. The seed should be
sown in rows from twelve to fifteen
finches apart. As these hei bs are
uuieny useu uunng tne wintfli,
leaves with a portion of the stacks,
should be gathered before the appex r
ance of frost, dried in the shade, ana'
carefully pacKed in paper bags.
The Eye of the Potato.
During recent years, writes a Penn
sylvania correspondent of Tlte Country
Gentleman, much has been written
about the culture of the potato. AD
the various phases of the subject have
been treated, from the breaking of the
ground to the disposal of the crop in
the market. We "have learned much
as to the mechanical preparation of
the soil, of manures and fertilizers, as
well as the general treatment of the
crop during growth. Single eye, two
eyes, half and whole potato planting,
was discussed and advocated by differ
ent writers. The argument for single
eye cultivation are: "More large tub
ers, closer planting, and consequently
a more profitable crop. My invests
gations into the structure of the so
called "eye" of the potato convince me
that single eye planting is in' most
plants in accordance with natural laws
of growth. We all have seen how a
vigorous shoot on some tree or shrub
has absorbed the sap so that smaller
shoots below very slowly developed or
eventually died off. The so-called1
law of "survival of the fittest" would
seem to be well illustrated in the
growth of our high forest trees by the
vigorous growth of the topmost
branches and death of the lower ones.
Since the potato tuber is nothing
else than an underground branch,
what we call an eye is analogous to a
leaf or flower-bud on branches above
ground, many of these buds produc
ing a number of leaflets or flowers, as
in case of the cherry or apple. The
same number of shoots are produced
by the eye of the potato; thus, in ex
amining them under a microscope,
we find from one to six germs in an
eye. In the early rose I seldom met
with more than three, while burbaak,
beauty of Hebron, and snowflake have
as high as six germs or buds. Now, in
all 1 have examined, I invariably
found the central germ to be from two
to four times the size ot any of the
other; some which had sprouted to
the length of nearly an inch were ex
amined, and, in a few instances only,
showed anv of the minor germs which
had doubtless been absorbed by tho
central one. Again the few that were
left did not increase in size, showing
that the more vigorous growth of the
central germ prevents the develop
ment of the minor ones.
The presence of the minor germs
(or buds ) is a wise provision of na
ture. In case of an accident to the
main germ, the minor ones will devel
op, and in this way they serve to pre
serve, the species. Letting potatoes
sprout before planting, and then rub
bing them on, must necessarily De in
jurious to tne eyes, as it requires tne
deTelopment of the minor germs, which
will be weaker, unless an abundant
supply of plant food is at hand and
the weather is favorable at the time of
planting. it' this central or main
germ is allowed to develop, we get
one vigorous plant, and may expect
large tubers; while, on the other hand,
if the eye is forced to develop its mi
nor germs, they will all have an equal
chance, and the result will be proba
bly from two to five stalks none of
which will be strong enough to pro
duce large tubers.
Were it seems to me an advantage is
to be gained by using a stimulating
fertilizer in the hill or drill, since that
will aid the vigorous growth of the
main germ in such a way as that the
minor germs will, perhaps, not de
velop, and one strong plant will be the
result. Many writers have found dif
ferences in the yield of "stem end"
and "seed end" eyes as well as "mid
dle""eyes! I notice that both stem and
seed end eyes have smaller buds than
middle eyes. The seed end eyes are
more crowded, and since they are sit
uated at the growing end of the tub
ers the eyes are not so fully developed.
The stem and eyes, however, have
plenty of room, and yet the buds are
smaller than the middle ones. The
claim that they produce later tubers
is no doubt true, since they lack the
start that the middle eyes have.
Owing to the presence of considera
ble protoplasm, which was not con
sumed in the previous scaaon's growth,
the seed end eyes may mature "some
what earlier than the central ones. A
suggestion to cultivators may not be
out of place here namely, that they
make observation as to the number of
stalks produced in single eye planting,
to see how many of the minor germs
will develop. The yield of the potato
varies so much in quantity that we
ought to be interested in the causes of
these differences, and ask ourselves
how much of this can be ascribed to
the mechanical preparation of the soil,
how much to manures and fertilizers, .
how much to the conditions of the sea
sons, and last, but not least, how much
to our mode of planting the tuber.
Industrial Brevities.
The substitution of glass flooring f
boards continues to increase in Fans,
this being especially the case in these
business structures in, which the cel
lars are used as office. At the head
quarters of the Credit Lyonnais, on
the Boulevard des Italians, the whole
of the ground is paved with Jarge
squares of roughened glass imbedded
in a strong iron fraae, and in t! cel
lar beneath there is sufficient, lights
even on dull davs to enable clerks to
work without gas The large central
hall at the officas of the Comptoire.
d'Encompte has. also been jrovided
with this kind of flooring, and it h
said although its- prime cost is greater,
than- that of boards, glass is !n the long
run, far cheaper,, owing to.its almost
unlimited durability.
One of tho- most noteworthy o4 all
tie French breeds of poultry is. La
Bresse, as ife is regarded as the most
delicate oa the table. Of these there
are two varirties. One is from the de
partmenl de Bourg. principally white,
with here and there a few black pen
ciling. The other is from the arron
dissement de Touleans, and this is
entirely blaek. Both are rather long
in body, with shortish, slender leg3,
and there is a small crest, or tuft of
feathers, ou the head. They are
tardy and the hens lay from 150 to
160 eggs per year, but these are rather
small, averaging about 9 to the pound.
In the Rocky mountain region, where
corn does not' grow well on account of
cold nights, peas have been discovered
to do a valuable feed for horses, cattle,
at'd hogs, and to possess a larger
amount of nutrition than corn. Horses
kee-p .'n better condition while working
hard, a. id gain in flesh readily, as do
oxen, while hogs fatten very rapidly,
and make excellent pork when fed on
peas. All require less in quantity
than when foyl on corn. Not having
mills to grind them, they are soaked
in water twelve .hours for horses and
cattle.
President Lyon, of South Haven,
Mich, gives the following rules for
planting pear trees: First, choose
suitable varieties; seco.id, select site
sloping to the north ai'd east, with
well-tmderdrained, rather strong, and
moderately rich soil; third, plant trees
of only one year's growth from the
bud, and, when planted, cut back to
only a foot and a half high -upright
growers-cut lower; fourth, give light
manuring, late in autumn, and the
next summer cease cultivating by
August;: fifth,, prune moderately and
annually when required.
In relation1 to purifying beeswax a
bee-keeper writes : "The- best plan
that I know of is to melt ten pounds of
wax in a. vessel,, after' having first put
in the same one pint of strong vine
gar, together with one quart of water.
After all is melted, set the- vessel from
the fire and wrap it in several thick
nesses of blanket or old carpet, so it
will cool! slowlv. Bv this olan the
wax is in agitation while- liquid), and
all impurities worked, to- the top or
bottom. If strained before putting
through' this process there will be
nothing but fine dross at the bottom,
with nothing on top"
The lime process -of keeping eggs is
to take one pint of salt and one quart
of fresh lime, and slake with hot wat
er. When slaked, add sufficient?water
to make four gallons. When well set
tled pour off. the liquid gently into-a
stone jar. Then with a dish p.lace the
eggs in, tipping the dish after it fills
with the liquid, so they will roll out
without crackling the shell, for if. the
shell is cracked the egg will spoil.
Put the eggs in whenever you have
them fresh. Keep them covered in a
cool place, and they will keep fresh
for one year.
J. Sagar, of Naples, N. Y., write
in allusion to the well-known fact that
the Rebecca grape does not succeed'
welLon its own .roots, that grafted into
an Isabella or Catawba, . it becomes a.
prolific bearer, and that a cultivator at
that place has several hundred vines
grafted with it, and they prove the
most profitable of anything In his vine
yard. He set a yean ago 2,500 Con
cord:roots to graft with Rebecca.
A German paper states that vaseline
is a good preservative for eggs. The -eggs
should be - thoroughly washed,
and rubbed in with vaseline previously
melted with three-tenths per cent of
salicylic acid. The operation should
be performed twice, the latter one
month after the former. On boiling,
the skin of vaseline easily separates
from the eggs. Eggs thus treated are
said to keep perfectly fresh for a year.
California is the great bee state. Im
four counties there are five hundried
bee-farms, and the annual product of
these farms is between four and five
million pounds of. honey. From New
York state to Colorado, also, there
are thousands of bee farms where the
owners give their whole time to the
care of the honey gaSherers. The pro
duction of honey is enormous, but the
demand has not been, supplied.
Large variation in color is to be
noted among the prize-winners at the
recent great show of shire horses at
London. Of ten prize-winning stal
lions, four were black, three chestnut,
and one each bay, gray, and chestnut
roan. It is-incidentally mentioned
thati all the prize-taking 3-year-old
fillies were bays. .
According, to V'dpiculteur the sale
of honey in Franoe was not satisfac
tory last season. Much of it remains
unsold. Marseilles reports 50,000
kilograms of beeswax on hand,, and
the receipts exceeds the sales. A. kil
ogram is about two pounds.
A stock company for the manufac
ture of liquid cheese is preparing to
seek incorporation in New York,
backed by .(iarnian capital. The pro
duct will look ; like maple syrup, and
have all the pungency and others good
qualities of. Amcaican cheese.
A local paper insists that there have
been great exoneration of losses in
Western DakttB among the herds from
the severe win-tw. lhey are much less
than expected, i& says, and that cattle
are now in splendid condition.
Statistical calculations show the
wheat crop prospects of Virginia to
be about 80 per cent. less. Ohan the
product of lasa. year. This s'suartage is.
due to -the damage done t ... the crop,
by the extreme cold weatheas
From preseat indicationstlsere will?
be am average crop of peaches in Delaware-
Very high prices aw anticipai
ted, as pea sh buds are kilind over a
large jar of the country
Of the, awarded-in, premiums
to sheep at the New Orleans exposi
tion $47& went to Vermont and &75
to one breeder, H. C;. Burwell,. of
Sfcridgegort.
Wars and Rumors of Wars.
There is nothing in the current news
of the day to indicate that the millen
nium) is any neaaen than a thowsaua
years ago. France is in wan- with
China, England with the Arabs, of the
Soudan, and likely soon to besn con
flict with Russia over the Afghan
dispute. There- is war in Central
America whichtis likely to involve all
She little republics, with Mexico assist-,
ing them tot maintain independence
against the ambitious designs of Pres
ident Barrios,, of Guatemala. There is
rebellion i Manitoba, wifch a prospact
of the liveliest kind ot campaigning.
The only great nation profoundly at
peace are the United States andi Ger
many, and the latter may, through the
complication of continental politics,
and the incidents of colonial expan
sion, become Involved in serious
trouble at any time.. Q&t&hR'&L Cornr
mercjal Gazette