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Prevention and Cure.
It is astonishing, to say the Iest, that every,
where ''cure ' is recognized before prevention.
The old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure," seems to have been forgotten,
or at least disregarded by the mass of humanity.
Men will search throughout the range of the
whole pharmaoopcro, and cast about them all
their lifetimes for some ohemical or veaetahlA
compound which shall be an effectual cure for
some of the "ills which flesh is heir to," while
if they should spend halt the time in looking
ur mo rause ana prevention or tots disease,
the sufferings of humanity would be mitigated
to an incomparably greater degree. And when
such a medicine is found, it very seldom affects
a cure. Even when the cause and prevention
are known, men seem to overlook the fact that
the suffering consequent upon the exertion and
self-denial necessary for prevention of disease
is less then that which follows the neglect to
apply the preventive. This substitution of
cure for prevention seems to hold precedence
where civilization is highest to a greater degree
than among less enlightened nations. And
why is this? Among barbarous nations more
attention is paid to prevention, and the few
remedial agents used are simple, and seldom
effectual in themselves; whereas, in civilized
countries the greater knowledge of science in
duces men to search more extensively for new
and better curatives, and as more and more
icientiflo discoveries are made, the medical
field becomes wider and wider. And thus, in
this rush after new medical discoveries, the
laws of prevention of disease have been over
looked, and left far behind.
Now, viewirg this matter as one of the greatest
importance to the human family, the next
step is to consider how it may be brought to
the attention of the mass of the people. The
medical men, as a class, do not do it, although
it is tneir legitimate ousiness, because It would
not be for their pecuniary interest. But there
is one other resource, and one which is ade
quate to the task. Let the press take hold of
tne worE, ana aner clearing its pages of an
medical advertisements, in their place let it
elucidate the common rules and principles of
ueauu, huu pumb uut me causes 01 sicKuess ana
disease and the methods of prevention, and by
so doing it would lose nothing, pecuniarily or
otherwise. Let tlds be done, and the day is
not very distant when the swindling practice of
the multitude of quacks with which the country
is swarming will be at an end, and the people,
stronger, both physically and mentally, will
adopt for their motto, "moderation in all
things." Cor. Phrenological Journal.
Bobax in Colds. A writer in the Medical
Record cites a number of cases in which borax
has proved a moat effective remedy in certain
forms of coldc. He states for a sudden hoarse
ness or loss of voice in publio speakers or sing
ers, from colds, relief for an hour or so, as by
magio, may be often obtained by Blowly dis
solving and partially swallowing a lnmp of
borax, the size of a garden pea, or about three
or four grains held in the mouth for ten minutes
before speakiLg or singing. This produces a
profuse secretion of saliva, or "watering" of the
mouth and throat probably restoring the voice
or tone to the dried vocal cords, just the same
as "wetting" brings back the missing notes to
the flute, when it is too dry.
To Obscdbe Scabs. To obsonre, boil in
three quarts of water one pint horseradish,
four ounces pulverized alum, and four ounces
rook salt. When cold, wet pieces of thick lint
therewith, and apply frequently. This will
harden and thicken the skin. Persevere for
some time, and the effect is certain. On going
among fi lends, dull the shiny appearance by
bathing it with a little spirits of hartshorn in
water. The first named preparation is best
when made newly; it gradually loses pungency
and effectiveness, and so when weak must be
renewed. With time and care, as above, the
redness and peculiar appearance of scars will
largely diminish. The person should carefully
avoid all irritation of the parts.
BtnLDiNa Gbound. We want more of a dry
earth By stem. Ferfeot under-drainage is the
first great need of most cities and large towns.
Regulations of cellar?, and of all other holes
below the surface, is the next great study. The
proper airing of all sub-structure, because of
its proximity to the ground, comes in next for
consideration. What can we do to sweeten or
purify surface-roll already formed, is another
point". The great question of what to do with
all refuse so as to keep it out of city soil is the J
large ana xuoiueuiuuts Buujeut wuicu uiuai
ever present itself to our attention. PuWic
Health Association.
A Fatal Kiss The Albany Argus says that
Miss Kate Noyes, of Lansingburg, is in a criti
cal condition from poison, arising from kissing
her deceased niece, who died of diphtheria.
The young lady bad a slight sore on her lip at
the time. A swelling commenced in her lip,
which soon extended to the nose, and it is
feared the difficulty will reach the brain.
Mb. Geobqe R. Libau, 111 years old, as
distinctly shown by the records of his christen
ing, attended the State fair at Easton, Fa., last
week. Theoldmanis talkative and intelligent,
has a fine chest, shows little emaciation, and
can do considerable work without fatigue.
Domestic Eco-topy
The Art of Frying Fish.
Several kinds of fish are fried when small,
suoh as small trout or troutlets, carps, tench,
sun' fish, pike, pickerel, flounders, white-fish,
black and blue fisb, perch, porgy, weak-fish,
herring, bass, and the like, and smeltK, whiob
never grow above the frying size.
When fish or anything else is oooktd in a
frying-pan with just fat enough to prevent it
from burning, it is not filed bntsaufd, there be
ing two very distinct ways of frying. To fry
means lo cook fish or something else immersed in
boiling fat. To saute means to cook fish or
something else with just fat enough to merely
cover the bottom of the pan; for instance,
small fishes are fried, but omelets are sauted;
potatoes are fried, bnt parsnips are sauted.
Many inexperienced cooks make mistakes on
that account; they read in some cook-book
that such an article of food is good fried, and set
to frying it when it should be sauttd, and vice
9CTSQ
The fat skimmed from the surface of broth,
which Ik beef-suet, the trimmings of steaks or
routing picceB of beef melted aa directed be
low, are better for frying purposes than lard,
sot flying all over aa lard does.
The fat skimmed from trimmings or from
around the kidneys of beef U cut in small pieoes,
put in an iron pot, and set on a rather alow
fixe. As soon as it begins to melt, ladle off the
melted part and turn it into a stone or crockery
jar. which you cover when cold. Put it awav
In cool, dry, and dark place. A oarefnl cook
never needs laid for frying purposes, but has
awsvs more fat than is neoessary out of boil
ing or roasting pieces, and that skimmed on
the top of broth, sauce, and gravies. Some
cooks will not take the trouble to melt it when
the mistress allows as much lard and butter as is
asked for.
It is an error to believe that by using much
fat to fry, the articles fried will taste greasy; il
there is not fat enough in the pan to completely
immerse the objects filed, they will certainly
taste greasy. It will be the same if the fat is
not heated enough. It is heated enough when
jets of smoke ooze out of it, or when, on throw
ing drops of water on it, it makes a crackling
noise.
When the fat is hot enough, the artiole that
is to be fried is dropped into it, and stirred
gently now and then with a skimmer. When
done, it is taken off the pan with a skimmer
and turned into a colander, wmen snouia rest
on a dish or bowl to receive the fat that may
drop frcm it.
If the article to be fried is not completely
immersed in the fat, the part not immersed will
absoib fat, and, as stated above, will be greasy:
but if there is fat enough to cover it entirely,
the intensity of the heat closes the pores, car
bonizing the exterior of the article, as it were,
and preventing it from absorbing any fat.
If the articles to be frifd be tender and some
what brittle, they are put in a wire basket or
perforated double bottom made for that pur
pose, and the basket is plunged into the fat
The basket is raised when the articles are fried,
and held over the pan to let the fat drop; they
are then taken carefully out of it, placed on a
dish, sprinkled with salt, and served hot.
When the frying is done, the pan is put away
for a few minutes, to allow the particles of
solid matter that may be in to fall to tee Bot
tom of the frjing-pan; then it is turned into
the jar, gently and slowly, so as to retain those
particles in the bottom nod it is put away for
another time. Prof. Blot.
To Preserve Bbgad ran Long Pebiods.
Cut the bread into thin slices and bake it in an
oven, so as to render it perfectly dry. In this
condition it will keep cood for anv length of
time required, and without turning moldy or
sour, like ordinary bread. The bread thus pre
pared must, however, be carefully pre-ervrd
from pressure, otherwise, owing to its btittle
ness, it will soon fall to pieces. When required
for use it will only be nec.ssary to dip the bread
for an instant into warm water, and then hold
it before the fire till dry, after which bnlter it,
when it will taste like toast. This is a useful
way of preserving bread for sea voyages, and
also any bread that may be made too stale to
be eaten in the usual way.
Fbekcii Pakcakes. Half a pint of milk, two
ounces of butter, two ounces of loaf sugar, two
ounces of flour, two eggs. Put milk, butter and
sugar into a saucepan to dissolve (not boil),
beat eggs ard flour together till quite smooth,
then add the other! ingredients and mix well.
Divide th's quantity and put it in four saucers
to bake for twenty minutes; liy two pancakes
on a dish, spread preserves over, and cover with
the other two pancakes. Serve hot.
Oxfobd Dumplings. Mix well together the
following ingredients: Two ounces of grated
bread, four ounces of currants, four ounces of
shred suet, a tablespoonfnl of sifted sugar, a
little allspice, and plenty of grated lemon peel.
Beat up well two eggs; add a little milk and
divide the mixture into five dumplings. Fry
them in butter a light brown color and serve
them with sauce.
Cbisp Mufitns, One pint of sifted Indian
meal, one pint of milk or cream, two eggs, a
teaspoonful of salt, a spoonful of butter or lard.
Drop the batter in a hot, greased pan or oven,
by spoonfuls, taking care that your mnffins do
not touch. Let them bake till crisp and brown.
Prizes in Industry and Agriculture.
The Societe d'Encouragement of Paris has
recently published its list of prizes offered
from 187C to 1881, both inclusive. It may be
mentioned tbat tms society Destows annually
a gold medal bearing the likeness of some man
who has achieved a high reputation in art or
science, or is the originator, whether French
or foreign, of works which have exercised the
greatest influence on French Industry during
the six preceding years; in 1873 this grand
medal was awarded to our own countryman,
Sir Charles Wheatstone.
Although all the subjects are open to for
eigners as well as natives of France, many
would of necessity be confined to the latter.
The following items from the long list are
likely to have an interest in this country:
A prize of 200 fracos is offered in 1880 to the
author of the most important improvements in
the material and processes employed in civil
engineering, architecture and publio works.
A prize of 2,000 francs is offered in 1879 to
the inventor of a machine for combing sboit
staple cotton which has been biought into prac
tical use.
A prize of the Fame amount is offered for
1880, for u machinerfor cutting files of all kinds
automatically, and which shall have worked
for at least three months.
A prize of the same amount is proposed to
be awarded in 1877 for the invention of any
efficient means of stopping the vibrations
caused by steam hammers, and other tools
acting by percussion, from being propagated
beyond the works in which they are em
ployed. Prizes of the same amount are offered in
1878 and 1879 for the industrial application of
oxygenated water, and for the economio prep
aration and application of ozone; and in 1870
for fixing the nitrogen of the atmosphere in
the form of nitric acid, ammonia, or cyanogen,
the object being to obtain practically some
compound of nitrogen cheap enough to use in
making manure from the nitrogen of the at
mosphere, to the exclusion of animal matter.
A prize of C.000 francs Is proposed for 1878.
for a theory respecting steel, founded on actual
experiments, and resulting in improved means
of directing the mannfacture of steel.
A prize of 3,000 francs, set down for 1880,
for the disinfection of the residue from gas
works.
One thousand francs are offered in 1880, for
an apparatus capable of producing high tem
perature in home workshops rapidly and eco
nomically. A prize of 2,000 francs is announced for a
method of preventing soot adhering to chim
neys so that they may be completely and easily
cleaned.
All memoir?, models, etc., must be lodged
with the secretary of the society before the 1st
of January of the year in which the prize is to
be awarded. Full particulars will be found in
the August number of the Bulletin of the soci
ety, which is in the reading room of the society
of arts. Journal Society of Arts.
Tbi long sought (or Planchas de la Plata
mine, worked a century or two sgo by the early
Spanish explorers, is said to have been found
about ninety miles southeast of Tucson, nesr
the Sonora line. This is the mine which
Spanish history says yielded pure silver in
sneb large pieoes tbat the government confis
cated it for the use of the crown.
A uabkid improvement has been made In
the ventilation of the Ohio coal mines during
the year. The number of serious and fatal
accidents have been reduced thirty-three per
cent, since last year.
Agriculture in the Public Schools.
We can best perform that which we test un
derstand. Knowledge and skill should be united
in the came person. It is as important that
the mind be familiar with mental processes as
that the hand be skilled in manual performances.
In every system of mental culture, the pupil
should not only be taught the truth ; he should
be able to repeat also the logical processes by
which the truth has been established. So in
the work of practical life; it is not enough that
we, know the fact, we should know also the
reason. It is not enough that we be familiar
with daily phenomena, we should know also
their causes and consequences. It is as im
portant to the agriculturist that he understand
the philosophy of the various operations on
the farm, and the causes of the natural phe
nomena there exhibited, ns it is to the mathe
matician that he be familiar with the principles
from which have been deduced his theorems and
formularies. In either cae, ignorance pro
duces only routine, not likely to be followed
with eminent results.
I agree that much has already been done for
the education of the whole people. Popular
education is, indeed, the distinguishing achieve
ment of modern civilization , It is the patriot's
trust for the permanency of free institutions.
It is the philanthropist's hope for the future
well-being of the race. Of all the inventiors
of the ages that of univer-al education is the
grandest in its conception and promises the
most varied and beneficent results. It marks
at onoe the era of free gov rnment?, the moral
development and the physical well-being of
the race.
With nations, as with individuals, the! o is
always a better beyond a higher and still
higher for the achievements of tbe future. In
seeking this higher tbis better beyond for
the nation, many (four ideas of government,
and laws and popular institutions are doubtless
to undergo chang. s; and I am persuaded that
on no other subject are thee changes to be
more radical than on that of education.
Industiial Advancement.
The next great educational step is to be, in
my opinion, an industrial one. The publio
sobools, in addition to the general training
which they are to furnish, will be required to
give also special instrcdiou on such subjects as
may relate to and illustrate the prospective
vocation of the pupil. The time, in mv
opinion, has alreaiy come, when the initiatory
steps in this direeti n should betaken, when
the opportunity tor this practical education
should be given.
All capital is the product of labor; and so
ciety itself rests on the broad shoulders of
laboring man anil laboring woman. Any effort,
therefore, to inci- -e the educational or other
opportunities of the industrial classes, I shall
feel to be a movement in the right direction;
and tbat, in the advocacy of agriculture! as a
study in the publio schools, I am standing on
firm ground, sustained by sound reason, and,
as I believe also, so far as honestly tried by
practical experience. But the policy of the
movement is not generally accepted; and it
must succeed, if at all, against the active oppo
sition of some, and the silent protests of many
others.
The first thing with which a novel movement
has to contend, is always objection. Perhaps,
therefore, it will be proper, in the argument,
first to consider these: After having removed
the obstacles a forward movement may be less
difficult. It surged that asthe design of educa
tion is mental and moral development; and
that, as the mind is superior to the body and
knowledge better than riches, that system of
oulture should be adopted, and that course of
study pursued which will produoe the greatest
mental and moral growth. This objection
comes from the educators of youth themselves,
and is indeed the only one ot sufficient conse
quence to merit answer. But although it is
dressed in the guise of an objection, and is in
tended as a strong one, I acoept every word
of it as truth, regarding it, when properly in
terpreted, as the strongest possible admission of
the study of the industrial sciences, if I may
so style them, in the publio schools; ,1 do not
propose, therefore, to spike this cannon, but to
take possession of it, only reversing the direc
tion of its discharge. Doubtless, if we could
penetrate the designs of the Infinite, we should
find that life's labors and duties are intended as
disciplinarians to prepare us for the labors and
duties of tbat higher and better state tor which
tbis is only probationary ; md it Bhould reason
ably follow that' the acquisition and application
of the requisite knowledge and skill should
form the best possible mental and moral
gymnasia. He who supposes that the course
of study thus indicated is too limited, must
himself have exceedingly limited notions of
the length, breadth and depth of these obliga
tions. Culture Combined With Utility.
If it can be shown tbat the study of the
sciences with reference to, and illustrative of,
the industries, is equally as well adapted for I
mental culture and discipline as tbo study of
them in the abstract, or with no such reference,
then the value of suoh a courso as a disciplin
arian is equal to that of the course now adopted
in the schools. If it can be shown tbat such a
course is better adapted for mental training,
then the argument in its favor preponderates;
and in either case, the fact that the student is
thereby better fitted for life's duties, power
fully reinforces the argument.
"Use strengthens powers," says the good I
ttpurznelm. Tbe lacmties of tne mind, like
those of the body, become active, vigorous
and strong, each by its appropriate exercise.
Now, which is the most favorable to mental
activity, tbe study of science with, or without
an object, with or without reference to its
practical application. In both cases the same
theorems and formularies must be demon
strated, the same ecientifio principles exem
plified by experiment, and by facts in nature.
Tbe difference will be tbat in the study of
science with reference to its uses, a greater
number of experiments will be made, and a
greater number of familiar phenomena ex
plained. Another difference will be in the
course of study pursued. Tbe industrial
student, for example, who may not have time
or means to complete the usual course of study,
will elect from it such branches as will best
assist him in bis vocation. He will leave out
perhaps from the currionlum all languages but
his own, and if his prospected vocation be
agriculture, will give the more time to chemistry,
geology, botany, zoology, etc. It is hardly
neoessary to say tbat these scienoes, in tbe
amount of mental discipline which tbeir ac
quisition will produce, in the habit and taste
tor study which they inspire, and in the sub
jects for future thought and investigation which
tney supply, are greatiy superior to any course
of merely linguistic study.
It must not be supposed that tbe study of
science with reference to its practical applica
tion is not a thorough study of it, or that tbe
agricultural student must necessarily be super
flcial. To explain a fact by referenoe to its
cause, implies a knowledge of the cause itself,
acd the illustration ot a principle by its legiti
mate phenomena Impresses it the more deeply
on the mind, it is by the frequent applications
of seienoe, that the Bind learns to use prin
ciples, formularies and theorems as the skillful
mechanic does his tools, and ttis frequent ap
plication the agricultural stuient must neces
sarily have.
That education is best which, in addition to
the knowledge it Imparts, lays the best founda
tion for future growth, enabling the student at
the end of life's pilgrimage to graduate bighi st
in the scale of human development. What
studies, I ask, more enlarge one s conceptions
of nature, or more extend the oircuit of
thought, or lay a broader and deeper founda
tion for reflection, than those whioh illnstiate
the peratiocs on the farm hemistry, geology,
zoology and botany sciences whose terms are
to become as tne vernacular oi tne iuire agri
cultural student. They lay a broad and solid
foundation on which the student is to build his
future intellectual edifice. The farm is to be.
come to him a field for scientific experiment,
a laboratorv whoe rosults will constantly sor.
Best further investigation. The student of
these sciences soon learns, by h's love for them,
to investigate on his own account, and the
mind, growing by what it feeds upon, becomes
better acd greater bv its achievements.
Agricultural studies, therefore, as a means of
development, are vatnauie in me laot mat tney
appeal to and teach the reasoning faculties not
alone during the school days, but during the
whole life. The farmer employs practically
nearly all the physical sciences, and very wide
therefore, is his the field if research. Accord
ingly we find that agricultural science has com
manded the attention of the most scientific
minds. The cultivators of the soil will long
hold in grattfnl remernb-ance the nanus of
Davy, Liebig, Johnston, Mapes, Draper, Buell
and other colaborers in the field of researoh.
The results of the labors ot these scientists
show that they wrought in fertile fields,
their discoveiii s having added great and valu
ab'e accessions to human knowledge. He who
denounces such studies as supeificial is in
danger of proclaiming his shallowness.
Objections Answered.
It is true that the elementary works whiob
must be employed for a time, at least, may not
contain a great amount of theoretical science.
They will nevertheless contain much of practi
cal and usefnl knowledge. Bat it is true also
that tbeir manifest usefulness will be n great
incentive to study; end many a student who
would otherwise have been satisfied with only
moderate attainments will be tempted into
wider fields of research.
Teachers of youth will universally bear wit
ness that one of tho obstacles in the way of in
troducing the more advanced sciences in their
schools, is the belief too prevalent with both
parents and pupils, that there is no nraotioil
use in them. But the utility of agriculture, as
a study, is so apparent that this objection will
not be nrged; or, if made at all, will be easily
overcome.
The objeolion that there are no suitab'e text
books is without reasonable snpport, and can
be urged only by those who are not familiar
with agricultural literature or the progress of
agricultural soience. Several very valuable
works have been written, some of whioh are
designed as text bosks in schools and colleges.
In this connection, the works of Johnston are
especially to be commended. Besides, in this,
as in other things, the demand will bring the
supply. Only let the want of such text books
become a foot and a hundred pens will contest
the honor of meeting the demand, and every
oonsiderable publishing house will have a new
book on agriculture designed for the use of
schools. Tbeir agents will visit the scbool
teachers' conventions, the agricultural and hor
ticultural meetings, and your association will be
waited upon with distinguished consideration.
Competition will elevate the standard of these
works, and the agricultural text book will soon
equal in learning, thoroughness, adaptation
for tho sohool room and in every other excel
lence, the best works in other departments of
science.
Another objection sometimes urged, is the
want of qualified teachers. But this, not many
years ago, would have been equally applicable
to the study of grammar, geography and in
deed all branches now taught in the schools
other than reading, writing and the rudiments
of arithmet'o. Teachers, as a rule, are an intel
ligent and enterprif ing class of oltizens. Let
it bo a fact that agriculture is to bo taught and
they will not be slow in adding this to their
certified qualifications to teach.
Education with a Purpose.
Again, it is objected that tho pupil does not
know what his future vocation is to be, and
that he should educate himself therefore with
out special reference to any. This objection
is not true in fact. Praotically, the future
calling of the child is very early determined
and whatever eduoational theories there may be,
whatever educators or others may advocate
to the contrary, the prospective professional
man is 'always educated with referenoe to bis
future calling. In regard to the professions,
the sturdiest opponents to practical educa
tion are false to their own theories. If the boy
is to be a civil engineer, whatever else be may
be taught, be is certainly trained in mathemat
ical science, as well in theory as in its practical
application. If he is to be u doctor of divinity
he is certainly to be taught Latin, Greek and
iieorew, and caremny instructed in tne opin
ions of authoiitative theological writers. The
States themselves, recognizing this general
principle long ago, added departments of law
and medicine to the State universities; and
we have normal sobools for the education of
teachers. This then being the rule, with not
an admitted exception, that tho child should
be educated with special reference to bis pros
pective life occupation, provided that occupa
tion be one of tbe learnel professions, is it
just that it should stop here Is it right and
proper tbat the rule should be exolusive in its
application, and that laboring people alone
should be deprived of its benefits? They who
bear tbe brunt and burden of the day, and
without whom society could not have advanced
a single step from the barbarous state.
The Extent of the Field.
It is again urged that agriculture is bo exten
sive a subject that it is diffioult to know what
amount of knowledge is necessary to fit one to
teach. Properly considered, this objection
puts away some others that have been per
tinaciously nrged. If the subject is thus ex
tensive tbe pupil who masters it will have the
general education so often set up in opposition
to special education; and the argument so
plausibly urged that it is better to make a man
of the pupil tban a farmer, or mechanic, a
lawyer, doctor or preacher, finds itself com
pletely refuted in this objection itself. And it
might not be astonishing if even those who use
tbis plausible sophism with so much fluency
and confidence should be compelled to recog
nize in the student who has mastered the agri
cultural sciences a man, or maybap a woman,
in the highest sense of the word.
But is the extent of a science an objection to
its study in tbe schools? People do not reason
thus foolishly on other subjects. Who has
been able to tell where the seienoe of chemistry,
astronomy or mathematics ends? The scienoes
in general, like their author, are infinite; tbe
profoundest philosopher has not the wisdom,
norths shallowest pedsnt the asturanoe, to
prescribe bound to them. But srs they on
this account excluded from the schools? The
role on this subjeot will adjust itself, just as
with tbe other scienoes. It is not required
tbat one should be a Billimtn or a Draper in
order to teach chemhtry, or a Lyell or a Dans
in order to teach geology; neither is it abso
lutely necessary that one should be a Liebig in
order to give instruction in agricnltural science,
though in this, as in other subjects, the more
knowledge one pos-esses, other things being
equal, the better teaoher he will be.
Tho Way and tho Result.
In tbo several sciences as taught in tho
schools, certain unliable text books have been
prepared. Precisely so will it be with agricul
ture, and the teaoher wilt be required to pass a
reasonably good examination on the matters
therein tieated. As on other subjects, so in
this, whatever experience, observation or read
ing may add will only increase tne qualification
to teach. Observation, invesiigation and dis
cussion would, from year to year, add to the
teacher's knowledge, and correspondingly ele
vate the standard of qualification. The knowl
edge which would have procured a certificate
to teach English grammar ten years ago, might
not enable an applicant to pass mus'er to-day.
Here, too, would be progression. The stand
ard of qualification would be fixed to such an
adjustable scale as always to meet the publio
demands.
One other objection, acd I shill have done
with this side of the argument, whioh I fear I
have already pnri-ued to tedlousness. This is
the vague, ill defined, seeming-wise, and often
foolish objection that always opposes itself to
innovation. It is said to be impracticable.
But why impracticable? If the introduction
of agriculture as a study in the publio sohools
will rf suit in nntold good to the State, for sur
passing all additional costs and inconveniences,
this progressive, utilitarian, go-ahead age will
demand other evidences of impracticability
tban that of merely looking wise and ominously
shaking the head.
Before the single word utility, theee flimsy
objections will be swept away; and we shall
live to see, not only agriculture, but the
scienoes illustrative of tho industries generally,
taught in tho publio sohools. In that "good
time coming" labor will be honored, and labor-
Ifg men and laboring women will take their
places in publio opinion, as they are now in
rut, as the real aristocracy of the State. Prof
Isaac Kinley in Rural Press.
Carp Culture,
A little more than throe years ago J, A.
Poppo arrived in this State from Rbinefeldt,
Holstein. A part of his baggage waa a lot of
small carp, five in number and six inches long.
He began at once a system of carp culture, fol
lowing the expei ience of the German carp
farmer?. Ho put his fivo small carp in the
water at Sonoma, in August, 1872; one dying
and four surviving in the new halitat. In the
following May tho fish had grown to sixteen
inches in length and had given life to three
thousand young fish. Since tbat time these
fish have grown rapidly, and Mr. Poppe as
sures us that he finds sale for all his market
ab'e fish at one dollar a pound. Mr. Poppe is
at present desirous of extending the business
ot carp culturo among those who have facili
ties for it, and is prepared to furnish the stock
for beginning. He sends us the following
items concerning the praotice:
In Oermany thousands of pounds of this
favorite fish are raised and sold every year.
The farmers there who are engaged in piscicul
ture have from five to seven ponds. The
smallest is the breeding pond, from which the
others are stocked. The contents of one pond
are sold every year. Numbers of fish are
floated down the rivers and canals in large
boxes pierced with holes, through which the
water passes in and out, thus delivering tho
carp to tho consumer alive and fresh. They
are a fish that need but little attention, aro
hardy, proliflo, and do excellently on this con
tinen'. Their food may consist of wheat, bar
ley, corn, peas, bran, blood, sour milk, or in
fact almost anything. When well fed they
will grow one inch per week for the first two
or three months, after which they will grow
slower in length but increase rapidly in weight.
It will not do to breed them in ponds where any
game fish are kept, as they will eat the young
carp.
Farmers who have natural facilities on their
plaoes for making ponds, and who have access
to canals or rivers communicating with large
cities, can greatly increase their Income with
but small trouble and expense. There ought
to be one person in every county who would
raise choice carp as stock fish to sell to others
to fatten for their own tables. It wculd be a
dfieap but sumptuous food, and at the same
time very convenient, as they are ready to bo
eatenat all times of the year, Rural Press.
New Mininq Bill. Page's mining land bill
introduced in Congress provides that no placer
mineral land shall bo excludod from homestead
and pre emption unless bona fide mining claims
exist thereon, or it bo shown to bo necessary
for outlet or other mining easemont, and that
tho price of both agricultural and plaoer lands
out of railway grants shall be $1.25 per acre.
The bill alo provides for joint ontrles, tho
right to obtain a pa'ent for the smallest legal
subdivision containing mining claims, and
authority to tako proofs before officers author
ized to administer oaths, other than land of
ficers. Tub assay office and bullion department of
the Consolidated Virginia mine will have a
capacity for assay aud melting bullion to tbe
amount of 1.000,000 per month. Like every
other part of the works, they aro to be greatly
improved. A condensing flue of brickwork
2x5 ft will be inn the entire length of tho
building, 100 feet and return, which will give a
flue 200 ft in length before cemmencing to as
cend the chimney, which will be 88 ft in hight.
Tbe bottom of this flue will be sheathed with
iron to assist in saving tbe gold and silver
drawn off in tbe futne trom the furnace.
Save Heat. Our economical readers should
remember that the surplus heat wasted from a
common stove will, If conducted through a
drum into another room, warm the room as
much as a small stove would, and will compel
the fuel to do double the duty and give doublo
results,
Tub Secretary of War officially announces
that 871-1000 of the weather predictions of
tho Signal Service Bureau of last year have
been fully and accurately verified. The accu
racy of the predictions is increasing fiom year
to year.
Tub Russians are beginning to turn their at
tention to the advantage of connecting Bt.
Petersburg with China by means of a telegraph
across Siberia.
A Tbbbitosxai. wagon road is about to be
built from Cheyenne to tbe Black hills. The
Legislature of Wyoming recently passed an act
for its location.
A yen of galena twenty-seven feet thiok has
recently been struck in the Yosemlte mine,
Bingham canon, Utah.
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