Willamette farmer., September 29, 1882, Image 1

JNU. 33.
VOL. XIV.
PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 39, 1882.
orrtfymifttntf.
FROM SPOaAN TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
THROUGH EASTERN WASHINGTON.
The Apiary.
Portland, Sept 14, 1882.
Editor Willamette Farmer:
Having lately journeyed from Cheney, in
Spokan county, W. T., for over a hundred
miles south to Da) ton, Columbia county, V.
T., I may be able to give some information
concerning the general outlook and the crops
for all the region extending from the Blue
Mountains to the Columbia river at its junc
tion with the Spokan. This comprises a coun
try extending over 120 miles north and south,
all of it nettled within a few years, except the
most southern porti 'n.
It is well known that the present year has
been one of exceptional dryness, and owing to
drouth crops ha e been much below the aver
age, but my experience justifies tho conclu
sions you have already arrived at as tho result
of your own observation in a late journey up
the Northern Pacific, that uuder disadvan
tages that no other country known could have
withstood, that Upper Country has made a
remarkable record. It is true that crops are
not what we could have wished, bit thoy
afford, in a year of comparative failure, a re
ward to agriculture equal to the best average
of any wheat-producing States of the North
west. North of Cheney they had not yet threshed
when I left that section, but there was likeli
hood of good crops in many localities. I saw
fields of oats near Medical Lake that mado a
promise that they would turn off 60 bushels
to the acre; that, too, when thero had not
been a good rain to wet tho ground since they
were put in. There is not much regular farm
ing done yet in that part of tho country.
Homes and improvements are mostly new, and
scarcely any wheat was fall sown. What was
put in last fall is turning off a good yield, aud
the spring wheat generally makes what would
be called a fair crop elsewhere.
A man named Stewart has rented for $250
a year a piece of land containing 100 acres,
tour miles from Cheney, owned by Mr.
Hazel, aud just before I left there, the middle
of August, he sold the product of a quarter of
an acre of onions for $225. These onions were
grown from the seed and yielded very abun
dantly. I made careful observation of the country
as I drove south from Cheney. 1 went a little
west of Spangle and enquired when I saw
threshing going on, and learned that wheat
was turning off 15 to 40 bushels to the acre;
the higher quantity for fall sown grain. Near
Rosalia I found fields of oats goine from 40 to
70 bushels to the acie. Their wheat was not
then threshed, but looked well. Mr. Calhoun,
who- lives between North and South Pine
creeks, has 100 acres of little club wheat on a
hill side, sown last fall, that Js believed will
average 50 bushels to tho acie.
North of Colfax threshing was in progress
as we passed through there, and wheat, mostly
spring sown, was turning oil 18 to 25 bushels
to the acre, and rated at about half a crop.
Between Colfax aud 3nako river the yield was
about 15 to 25 bushels, and some went as high
as 30 bushels. About Dayton, on the south
side of Snake river, wheat yielded from 14 tn
40 bushels, according to the manner and time
it was put in, but oats and barley were light
I have a brother farming near Dayton who
last fall put in 30 acres on sod broken the
tho spring before, and lie got 30 bushels to the
acre.' Ho sowed about the samo quantity ol
the same kind of land, that hid alio been
broken the previous spring, last spring, and it
yielded 19 bushels. Tnis shows the difference
between Bpring and fall planting of wheat,
I did not co close to the Ceeur d'Alene
mountains, but was told that crops promised
fairly on Hangman creek and near Farming-
ton and Moscow. My observation fully con
firms the opinion you express that whenever
the farmers of the Upper Country are pre.
pared to do good work and sow their grain in
the fall, on land thoroughly prepared, they
need have no fear that they will have poor
harvests. Thero could not be a better test
than the present year has afforded to show
that this is true. In some instances oats have
made a Urge yield without a shower from the
time they were put in. Wheat makes what would
yield be a large States in east of the Rocky
Mountains under similar circumstances. All
we need in that region is good farming, and
with thorough work we can be reasonably
certiinof good crops in the worst year known
The memory of the oldest inhabitant cannot
recall any previous year that was so discour
aging as 1S52, and in this year we certainly
have made remarKauie crops cu3iuemg wis
circumstances. J W lU.sc I.
Editor Willamette Farmer ;
While attending the State Fair, having the
Monarch beehive on exhibition, being the on
ly perfect abode for the honey bee, giving the
widest lango of advantage! to both tho honey
bee and the apiarist. In exhibiting this famous
hive, I devoted a considerable attention to
gathering all information possibly from most
reliable sources, as to the average yield of
hnnev obtained bv apiarists from the dif
ferent portions of tho Northwest, which 1
find, by comparing the different statements
given to exceed the average of California.
Althouch there are but few in Oregon as yet,
who are making the apiary a specialty, using
the movable frame hive and other"appliances
of modern improvements. But from state
ments given by such are of tho most flattering
chrracter. A report given by a gentleman, by
tho name of Olncy Fry, jr., of Albany, Linn
county, states he has obtained GO lbs. comb
honey earlier in the season by the uso of tho
Limrstroth hive, while a gentleman from
Alsea stated that he had obtained an average
of 100 pounds per colony in ono lb. frames of
the finest quality, a gentleman from Walla
Walla stated ho had obtained ai average of
SO nnunds. nut tin in 24 ITh. cak(s from tio
colonies. A similar report tomes fiom La
Grande, Union county. Mr. Morris, of Baker
county, states ho has taken IUU pouniis iron
one co ony.' In conversing with Mr. Riges, of
Portland, ho states his cxpenence is that this,
in his opinion, is as successful a honey-produc-!nc
rnuntrv as is to be found chew here; and.
as to quality ours is of tho fintst. The mark'.t
prices here are remunerative, lucssrs. jruy
and Linsmore, of Silvertoii, Marion comity,
aro perliapstnc most extensive apiariuuiiuriaeo
in Oregon. These pirties having a sample of
thei' honey on exhibition, and take the first
premium, tell me they have tken upwards of
40 pounds per colony, and have not yet done
for the Beasou. They are putting up in one lb.
frames from the market. They willrcpoit
again when they have all done. This is suffi
cient evidence to show that if proper attention
was given to the apiary that, as an industry,
special, or associate to farm iuterests, the api
ary could be profitably employed in all parts
of Oregon, as well as Washington and Idaho,
as I am informed by parties from Lewiston,
Idaho, that tho results obtained thero aro of as
favorable a character as in Oregon. Parties
aro engaged in bee-keeping for the purpose of
producing honev for the market, or for family
rwi , ;" iL. --. : -4. A.
ine nive is oi me greatest iiupuieauc-w w
Scarltv or Hogs.
Wo find from a rcpoit of the Lice Stork
Journal, of Chicago, from reports of the
different sections throughout the Western
States, that the pro lent stock of hogs is shown
to be far less than any previous year, and the
same can be (aid of all portions of the
Etstern and Southern Statts. In Illinois and
Iowa thero aro one-third less than a year
ago, while in this country, upon inquiry as to
stock on hand, seems to ba falling eff, perhara
one-fourth that of last season, and, in conse-
cm. nee, tho result will bo an advance in tho
prices of pork the coming fall. Those hav
ing hog to fatten for the coming Season could
not employ time to a better advantage than
in early feeding to produce the best lcsults
po sible of means in hand. By boiling vege
tables mixed with grain or chopped-fced is of
much importance to hasten the growth of
hogs prior to feeding grain to fatten.
W. V. E.
GENERAL NOTES.
use.
insure success. Without proper nives an ei-
fort in that direction will invariably prove a
failure There are many kinds of patented
hives in use. But the Monarch hive contains
more valuable advantages for convenience for
the bees in storing honey and in removing the
same than all other hives combined. An ex
amination of the hive is sufficient to satisfy
any one of these merits. M. V. Enslev.
A Correction In Hops.
Pleasant Hill, Sept. 10, 18S2.
Editor Willamette Farmer:
In the last number of the Farmer you havo
an estimate ot the acreage of hops, in which
this (Clackamas) county is entirely lift out.
There are in this vicinity, in this county, 31
acres of bearing hops, besides a considerably
new acreage. There aro hops upon the Mob
Ialla in this county, but I dent know bow
much. This vicinity is getting to be quite a
hop-raising district. It includes the corners
of Clackamas, Marion and Yamhill counties.
It represents an acreage of bearing hops of
about CO acres, and a new acreage set out tho
present year of about G5 acres. Tim com'ng
year there will be about 150 acres as near as 1
can estimate, and 1 think from what 1 hear
that it is n low estimate everybody but one
got Chinamen to pick; aud hogs and chickens
were in demand. Picking is now donn, and
tho yield is disappointing to all, the crop bo
ing lighter than was expected. All have jo'd
but two parties, I think, the prices ranging
from 30 to 35 cents er pound, liutteville, m
Marion county, is the head center for t .is dis
trict. Hor Raiser.
Orange NotlC3.
Buitk Creek Gilamie, No. 82.
Tho giange meeting, wliich should have
been held on tho 23d ir.st., was a complete
failure. Owing l tho State Fair, or some
ot'icr cause or causes, thero were not enough
members met to constitute a quorum, come-
nueutlv there was uo meetinc held. The next
meeting will bs held on the second Saturday
in October. All members are earnestly
solicited to attend so that we can arrange and
discuss matters relating to the grange fair.
Those who are iuteressed in the fair should
come forward like brothers and sisters to help
and do your utmost to the best of your ability,
if not the affair wifl go uo higher than a kite
which has broken from its lea ling strings.
By order,
P. J. Riui.sos, Master.
Wm. Rowell, Secretary.
Marlon County Pomona Orange.
SALEJiTor., Sept. 25, 1SS2.
Editor Willamette Farmer :
The last regular meeting of Marioi County
Pomona Gracge for tho year 1852 will be held
at the hall in this city on the 5tb day of Oc
tober. Officers for 18S3 tt bo elected and
other very important buainesi to be trans
acted. Meeting to commenes at 11 a m.
K. Stromo, Secretary,
Expedition from Fort Colville to Fuget Bound
Capt. U. H. Pierce, 21st Inf., command
ing, accompanied by 1st Lieut. Backus, 1st
Cavalry- Dr. G. F. Wilson, Medical Dcpt.;
A. Downing, Engineer Dept.; J. La Fleur,
guide and interpreter; Sergeants Alvord unci
Worrell, 2d Inf., and Prtvato Grey, returned
to headquarters last Wednesday from Pugct
Sound.
Tho party left Vancouver Birrracks on July
24th, and proceeded to i'ort Colwl'e, w here
Dack mules were procured and hcrses for
mounting the party (thirteen men and oflicerb)
were equipped. By August 2d tho whole
party was on the lift bank of tho Columbia
river; hero the Indian trail was struck, which
the party followed in a general westerly di
rection for 295 miles. This brought them to
Skagit river, which they descended by canoes
uuiu steamboat landings wire reached. In
their march they had to cross four mountain
ranges, the highest pass having an altitude of
6,800 feet above sea level. At one time a
horse and mule were placed torn tie combat by
falling down upon the rocks below. Two
others fell but ware rescued. The country in
the vicinity of Bonaparte river, tho Okiua-
kano valley and the Methow river was found
to be particularly adaptod for stock raising,
bunch grass being very abundant. Indians
of the Colville and Moses reservations raise
green corn, potatoes, watermelons, oats, etc.,
in the valleys. The obstacles encountered by
the party between the TwitBap river and the
mouth of the Cascado river wcie great and
innumerable. The windfall, logs and other
impediments to the trail necessitated a free
uso ot the axes, and travel duung those dajs
was sery slow. Miles upon miles of slip
pery locks, snow packs, lagoon, dense under-
brush, and through forests primoval, had they
to encounter; and often wailing rivers aud
mountain torrents at every inilo during the
day. Between the head of Lake Chelan aud
the summit of the Cascade range the horses
became foot-sore, and tho grass being intufli
cient they with tho pack mules were sent
back to Fort Colville, and the party completed
tho remainder of the march from tho summit
to the mouth of tie Cascade river 50 miles
on foot. Being short of rations for tome
days previous it is not to be wondered at that
when thn command struck a settlement on
the Skagit river tho proprietor of an eating
houso was much concerned at tho way the
viands left the dishes ' Ho set out upon the
tabic all he had, and thero was no stint, and
ho said afterwards that he intended to keep
the tablo supplied and keep up with the fun
eral if they sat all night there. Among the
mitior troubles was a two day's snow-storm
which struck tho party on tho summit of tho
Cascade range, and being there without tents
they had t'i huddle together under some trees
to keep warm, and in this cramped position
passed tt.o whole night and day. Tho last 100
miles of tho trail was found to be bad in tho
cxtrime, several degrees worse than tho lx-lo
trail of Idaho.
Tho trip has been an arduous one, full of
risk aud obstacles, but they have been met by
Capt. Pierce and oercorne, ami the object of
tho expedition successfully obtained. A care
ful survey of the whole trail was made. This
duty was entrusted to Mr. A. Downin?, and
the officers m command have expressed them
selves as well pleased at the manner in wliich
he performed that duty. Captain Pierce's re
port will doubtless be of great interest if pub
lished. The labor and privations on the
march were met in a cheerful spirit by his
whole command at times, and he was well
pleated with their elTorts. The Indians met
with were found to be friendly. The whole
distance traveled over in tho circuit made is
nearly 1100 miles. This includes railway,
steamboat, stage, hereehack and canoe navi
gation; last, but not least, foot tratel, to
ju Igo by the look of the boots some of the
bys wore home.
According to tho Minneapolis Tribune, the
Northern Pacific land department, which sent
East last year an elegantly fitted up car, with
a fine exhibit of the products of tho country
along tho Northern Pacific lino, has this yea,
fitted up another new car for the same purpose ,
which is an improvement upon the other.
This car wilt be sent out upon the road this
week to be stocked for the south-western ex
position at Minneapolis and will afterward go
to Chicago and St. Louis.
Tho work of seeding the broad acres of
Eureka Flat, W. T., goes bravely on in
spite of tho lack of rain. Over a thousand
acres of land have Deen sown in that region al
ready and more is being sown daily.
An immigrant camo driving into Walla
Walla recently with a single mule, and a
small one at that, bitched to a light wagon.
Our iuformant says the man told him that he
drove that animal in tho way you see all the
way from Kansa.
Immigration is beginning to diift into Col.
ville valley this year. It seems to bo general
ly supposed that tho Northern Pacific branch
to Kettle Falls will bo among the fiist fecdeis
to he built, as the Canadian Pacific would un
doubtedly use it in the construction of its lino
east and west of the crossing of the Columbia.
This is tho more probable since tho selection
of a piss through tho Selkirk range only 140
miles north of tho boundary line. Tho Col
umbia is navigable about 250 miles north of
Kettle Falls, and tho road from Spokan Falls
to the latter point would bo only about 100
miles long. Rumor has it that Ilallctt s force
ha3 but two more mouths work ahead ana
wheru that force noxt goes is a question oi
vital imrortanco to this pirt of Washington
Territory. Spokan Chrniiele.
The first pocket of this season's growth ar
rived in the bovough this morning. It was
grown by Thnni-s Manwarnin", Eq , ;r 1 ? Id
to Messrs. G. R. Rawley & Co., at 50 per
cwt. It is ol very fair quality, considering
extraordinary blight in the plantations, and
the price is a very modcrato one for the first
pocket, considering the unprecedented short
ness of the crop.
To roughly reduce these rates to cur own
currency, 20 and 30 per cwt ate equivalent
to 31 and $1 50 per pound, while 5C per cwt
is equivalent to $2 50 per pound. These
prices aro extraoidinary, and give reason for
the wild, extravagant anticipations of growers
at home.
Hops aro now selling 1 eie at about 45 cents
a pound, but they cannot long remain at that
if tho pricoin England is to bo SI and up
wards. The profits of bop production iu a time like
this lival thu most fabulous narratations of
trade. In Washington, for instance, 2,000
pounds aro grown tjacre, easily emugli, while
tho averago is almost 1.800 lbs. The real cost
is about 8 cents a pound. Taking tho higher
production, for convenience, wo find S1C0
ta be the cost of 2,000 pounds of hops. Sold
at 43 cents a pound ?900aroobtained; tho act
profit being $740 for tho season's work. At$l
a pound the product will realize the grower
S1.8o0 over all expenses, wlulo at & ou
pound ho will haul in tho very comfortable
sum of 85,000. At such rates tho groweis
hereabout, who have thirty or forty acris each
and ono has over ninety neconio venc.iuiu
princes as far as income is concerned, l'ot
luttlligtuctr,
Tho St. Helen's Columbian tells of toven
families who hxu just come from Illinois,
who will locate on the Clatakanio ritcr. Two
ladies of tho parly havo secured land m their
own names glad to see women taking adwin
tige of government's generosity.
Tho Wasco Sun says; As wo sit writing
there is going by our cilice a twelve-ox team,
loaded with thirty two bales of wool on two
trdl wagons, belonging to . I. Howard, of Can.
you City, It will bo seen that a thirty to
forty days transportation of wool from Can
yon City, 200 milts, to this city, eats into the
profits of wool raising; but to pay C) cents
per pound from this city to Atlantic manufac
tories after it has got bete is uu absuidity
which men won't bear long.
The high water mark at The Dalles has at
last compelled tho citizens on the river front
to raise all business streets to tho road grade,
which is already up aliove danger of being
submerged. The Umatilla flouso is ioiug up
steadily and slowly with the aid of 100 jack
screws. The Cosmopolitan, owned by the
genial Thomas Smith, will next bo raised to
the same grade. Anybody that thinks The
Dalles is not on the rise is mistaken.
We had laid upon our table by Mr. J, II.
Covington, who kfjs a fruit stand opposite
the Baptist Church on Third trc ct, lays the
Wasco Sun, a magnificent bunch of Hamburg
grapes, weighing one pound and ten ounces,
and a beautiful cample of peaches grown upon
his place between Three and Fivo Mile Creeks,
on the bank of tho Columbia. We have
never seen more beautiful and dtliclou sam
ples of fruit thin thoso presented by Mr. C.
We hope ho will havo tots of them eveiy
year.
The Priuovillc Tribune has this to say ; Wo
were much interested in conversing with Mr.
Bor.ham. Mr. Bonham confirms what we
have remarked from other sources, the grad
ual chango lhat is taking place in tho cattle
trade, its being snpplanted by bands of sheep
ami other industries. This is the history of
every country; the decline of one branch of
business is followed immediately by another
of an advanced character which can sustain a
much larger population, and a fixing of the
homes of tho settler, and surrounding them
with comforts of a new and vaiied character.
We were much pleased at a remark of Mr.
Bonham's concv rning the extra character of
Grant county wool as an accepted fact; and
Mr. B., iji the course of his remarks said that
tho high mountain valleys of Grant, allowed
flocks to subsist upon green feed and grasses
until tho frosts, so that sheep there enter upon
the winter m thorough condition. Here,
shepherds, is tho secret why Grant county
wool goes onto tho market ordinary years
with a longer staplo and boars a bettor char
acter than wools which aro grown intlio short
green feed season of our Wasco feeding
grounds. There is no ecomy in growing wool,
or in obtaiuiugany increase in the animal or
vegetable kingdom, short ot a continued sup.
ply of tho constituents of ench growth.
Tho Antorian is jubilant that tho citj is to
have water works in tho near future, the
source oi supply prouamy coming iroin
Young's river, 6omo twelve miles away. Mr.
I. P. Thompson and Mr. Delcum, of Poit
land, are tho projectors. Tho reservoir will
havo a capacity of 1,012,000 gallons, 181 feet
abovo the level of tho sea,
The Spokan Chronicle says : It is rumorod
Uiut tho management ot the Northern Paeiho
Railroad has been obtaining a great deal of in
formation in regard to tho country along the
proposed line of rbad from Spokan Falls via
tho Big Bend country to Puget Sound. It
has long been known that the lands
in that country aro the most exten
sive and are more valuable than any others
the railroad would obtain in Washington Ter
ritory. It would include not only tho Big
Bend land but lands in the Moses reservation
on tho Okinakane river. This reservation
was created after tho charter of tho company
gavo the railroad a claim on the lands, and it
would undoubtedly lead to tho setting aside
of tho reservation if tho company should
build the road and lay claim to lands
included in the reservation. Already tho
Big RencMs settling up very fast and will de
mand a railroad before another year. The
immigration pouring into that locality ntid
on tho way is simply enormous. A road from
Spokan Falls through tho new town of
Davenport out through this country would bo
completely drain tho wholo that branches
would not be required. It would lo tho most
direct lino from tho Eist to the Pacific, a fuet
that will cut a figuie in determiuingthu loca
tion of a branch line to tho Sound.
Pendleton Tribune: A pumpkin weighing
50 pounds was raised on Mr. Tibbctt'a bunch
grass farm, in Black Horse, fivo miles north
of Heppncr.
Dayton (W. T ) Journal: Wo wcro shown
last Satnnla) spceimciis of wheat from tho
farm of 1!. II. Hatch, living near Whetstone
Hollow, of tho SnowlUlio vaiitty. It is spring
sown, anil uniihu most oi biicii wnuii is iig' ,
full-headed, and will avcrago about 30 bush
els to tho acre. Kxponunce proves that fall
sown wheat is tho best, and brings tho laigett
returns, but thero aio few rubs without an
exception.
Dayton (W. T.) Journal: .1. T. Wilton,
Esq., has in his orchard a trce.-which is the
subject of a strange, freak of nature, Ii
spring it blossomed as mini, and liltlo tigus
of lifo apptaiingafteiward was given up as a
lying mid worthless tree; but it again shows
signs of I if') by bless rning tho second time. It
now pitseuts tho strango anomaly of an in
most full-grown apple and blusroms just enj
tering tho bud. What link's it stranger still
tho ground immediately around the tree is ex
tremely dry, and tho only moisture it has re.-
ceived is an occasional sprinkle of water.
Wasco Sun ; Let anyone who believes The
Dalles is not destined to rise, go to the
junction of First and Union streets and take-
a look. Tho unmenso structure of tho Uma
tilla House, 100x130, threo stories high, is
going steadily up, influenced by ono hundred
and ninety jack.scrcws placed under the foun
dation timbers. It looks like business when
from the word e.f the master workman, Mr,
Allen, of Portland, all thoio lifting engines
aro set at work at ono time, and the iinmen-o
house goes steadily up.
Veterinary Question Answered.
Greenville, Sept. 5, 1892.
Editor Willamette Farmer i
W. B. Wilson, my neighbor, lost a valuiblo
maro recently, and wu aro anxious to know
what was the cmso of her death. She was
tiken sick ot 3 o'clock P. M and elied during
the night. Sho sullered grcit pain. Some
times she w ould get on her knees, and then on
her lack. Shortly before death sho perspired
very freely, in fact, sho w as quite wot with
sweat. Dr. Crow held a po-t mortem exami
nation, and found her stoma'! had bnrsV
Tho food it contained was Haitt red through
out thi) body, as far back as fie hips. The
Doctor was anxious to iinel wire in the
stomach, ns ho is a cord man, but failed to
find anything of tho kind, nlthough tho ani
mal had eaten oats bound with wire tho past
thrno years. The maro swelled badly after
death. If Dr. Withycombo will explain the
abovo ho will obligo a number of farmers.
A farmer.
Answer. This liscao was ably handled in
a lata number of tho Farmer by Dr. Withy
combe. Seo our Issuo of Sept. 8, 1882.
Milk for Young Colts
It is recommended by those who have tried
the experiment, to give cowj' milk to young
colts to diiiik instead of water, as )t is notori
ous that mares rarely have sullicicnt milk for
the proper nourishment of tho colts. All who
havo bied colt, whether cart or thoroughbred,
cannot fail to notico how soon tho youngster
begins to eat w ith its dam any food that is in
tho manger or crib. If a Inrgcr supply of milk
could be introduced to the young sapling, no
doubt tho desire for other food would ho less
ened, and it would avoid eating too much
corn, or grass, or hay food that is adapted to
an oiler stomach, and which rceiuires more
digchtiva operations than tho delicate tt'Miaoh
of a two-month-old colt is possessed of Good
cows' milk could b sweetened to m.l.o it
more closely rastmblo tho mares' in tae, for
no doubt tho quality of inarca' milk, like
asses', is far richer than cows'. Milk is the
natural food for infant ma nmals, and it is
cheaper and b;tterto btiupup tho young colt,
or calf, or Iamb, on milk, than on any other
Bubstinco, Qruzier.
A Small Breed ot Figs.
An English contemporary 'speaking of &
breed of pigmy porkers, three sows and a
boar from Nrpatlt, on exhibition lit tho
Zoological Galileus, Loudon, Bays:
This species is so rare, that since Hodson
dcsciihed thero animal;, lifiy ycarB ago, there
naa nut. .,.;!, it 0111,- Dici;iini:il utt&inai)IO in
Earcpe, and even the museums havo bcon un
able to get more than a eiugle skin. They
are very small iu size, ncarccly bigger than a
largo wild rabbit; or, probably a better ielea
of their size may bo formed by giving their
weight at seven or eight pounds each. They
are very active on their lega, running very
swiftly and they aro very shy. Their skins
aro well covered with short reddish brown
hair, er rather bristles; they aro vciy clean
feeders, an also cry cleanly in their habits.
Their llesh is esteemed very good for eating;
and thus these interesting little porcincs aio
naturally tho subjects of other contemplations
man uieir rooiogicai rarity. II they .can Da
bred in the gardens, tho society w'lll find
profitable results repay tho price given for
them, by disposing of tho first ollspring to
other lucnaeiies; and the nccimilstiun of tho
subsequent progeny would seem to bu well
worthy ot attempt, as they might bo kept
seemingly without oHensn eness in tho yards
and gaidensof domestic houses, and bo fed
upon potato paring, vegetable and iltrbia of
food. They 111 0 very fond of rice, and will
eat email portions of meat; but they will not
touch tho wash or greasy matters commonly
given to oidiuuiy pigs,
A Etep Forward.
Tho Prairie 1'armrr comes to us umlir tho
nniiio of tho I'tvjile'H Illuttratttl WttUy and
I'rairie J'armrr, and changed iu form
to sixteen pages. Thn illiistratiems aro profuse
and elegant, tho rcnilinc; muttur most varied
and interesting, confuting of stories, sketches,
humor, news and uilit'jn'als on agriculture,
horticulture and cuiieiit topics. It will un
doubtedly ooirmend itself moio than ever to
tho intelligent public. While iu si.i-, illustra
tions mid reading, it !b abreast with period
icals selli gat SI pnrjear. th unto remains
at $2 per year, or hvu cents per copy. Address
1'rairin larmer I'liblishiiigCompmy,
Illinois.
, Chicago,
Tho Northern Pacific is experimenting with
an artificial fuel undo of pulvcrzcd lignite
mixed solublo glass. Thu matujal is com
pressed under a pressure of ono ton per square
inch, Thu samo process has been used in
Wales for some time, ami pronounced by ex
perts as highly successful. It is claimed thu
fuel has a greater evaporate power than any
equal weight of coal, Tho inventor has been
invited to St. Paul to test the matter thorough
I'.
Ikilding's HusaiaSjlve meets with wonder
f ol success iu all cases of skiu difoset. Try It.
The Fairs are Schools
The information which a farmer can gun at
a 1 Agricultural Fair is ef great value to him.
Hit can there study aud compare thoilillir nt
breeds of livu dock, an I note tho Improve
meats that havit Wen made In farm miple
incuts, giains, fruits, etc. It also dots farmers
ninth good toineut each otlur, au I talk jver
ilriir tuccfss an I failures.