Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1875 — Page 6

MECHANICAL AND SCIENTIFIC.

—Leaves of the pineapple, now being extensively cultivated in the East Indies, ■re tufted to account by being converged into a' kind of wadding, which is used for upholstering instead of hair. A .‘bort of flannel is also manufactured from them from which substantial waistcoats and •kirts can be made. ',. J —An interesting case of arsenical' poisoning was brought before the recent meeting ot the Medical Society at Bonn by Prof. Zunty. Three gentlemen who studied by the light of the same lamp mere troubled by a dull feeling in the head which finally ripened into long-con - tinned headache. The shade of their lamp was of a green Color, and on examination it was found to contain arsenic. The heat had liberated the poison, and a. change of lamp-shades liberated alsg» the headaches. •* —One would say at first flush that suicide was the infirmity of foolish Inen and maidens; but it appears that a kind of -fltar-fis). (luidia) must be added to the list. P.H Gosse describes it in his zoology, aed Prof. Forbes gives his experience before he knew its, romantic crotchets. He placed one on a rowing-bench and..to his surprise, the fish began to dismember itself. Ann after arm became unhooked, And the eyes, located one at the summit of each rayt opened and closed their spinous eyelids in deathly winks wltti a suggestion of triumph—as if to sav: “ Oh, Forbes, where is thy victory ?” lie made other careful attempts to capture this suicidal novelty, trying once to dip it up in a bucket of water, but when the luidia found that it was imprisoned in walls the anus began to drop and the heartbroken star-fish lay in sections.

—What science and the mechanic arts have done for the world’s advancement in comfort may be faintly guessed from the survey of a week’s work at the manufacturingcity of Birmingham alone. Its results are the making, among other tilings, of 14,000.000 pens, 6,000 bedsteads, 7.0(X) guns, 300,000,000 cut nails, 100,000,000 buttons, 1,000 saddles, 5.000,000 copper or bronze coins, 20,000 pairs of spectacles, six tons of papier-mache wares, more than £30,000 worth of jewelry, 4,000 miles of iron and steel wire, ten tons of pins, five tons of hair-pins and hooks and eyes, 130,000 gross of wood screws, 500 tons of nuts and screw bolts and spikes, 50 tons of wrought-iron hinges. 350 miles’ length of wax tor matches, 40 tons of refined metal. 46 tons of German silver, 100 dofeen of feeders, 3 500 bellows and bOO tons of brass and copper wares. —As illustrative of the remarkable rapidity witli which the sand blast accomplishes its work, the following facts, regarding the cutting of inscriptions on the head -stones designed to mark the graves of soldiers buried in the national cemei tones, may be cited. In addition to the one man emoloved to tend these machines he has a small force of boys whose duty it is to attach and remove the cast-iron letters which act as stencils. Thus equipped foe contractor is able to turn out 300 headstones a day, upon each of which is a handsomely-cut inscription averaging eighteen raised letters. It is estimated foal to accomplish a like result by the old proces-j a force of 300 men would be needed. Another instance of the rapidity with which these little sand-engines do their work is shown in the engraving of glass gfobj-s, tumblers, etc., which can be done al tifo astonishing rate of one a minute.— W. £>. Ward, m Popular Science Montidy,

VARIETY AND HUMOR.

—Elopement in California is called the “ Pacific slope.'” —Six hundred less marriages in Boston ■this year than last! —There is a large amount of counterfeit fitlv-cent currency in circulation at Cleveland. —Why is a young lady forsaken by her lover like .a deadly weapon * Because she is a cutlass. —Florida is progressing in population and wealth, it is said, more rapidly than any of the other Southern States. —A large.j»eal has made its home in New Haven (Conn.) harbor, and amuses the sailors on the various crafts by his I wanks. —Canes or umbrellas containing swords <cc other weapons cannot be sold hereafter in Paris without a permit Horn the Chief cf Police. —ls you haven’t sent a poor widow a barrel of flour this winter you haven’t made any tally-marks in heaven.— Detroit Free Press. -- —William Alston Hayne, a son of H*vne, Webster’s antagonist, sits in the California Legislature tor Banta Barbara and Ventura. —John Green, of Carbon County, Pa., the owner of thirty acres ot land, died of starvation recently. He was found dead in his shanty. —The prayers of nations are rhythmic —have iterations and alliterations like the marriage service and burial service in our liturgies.— Emerson. —Jacob Donahouer, who committed -xiudde in Reading, Pa., lately, is said to have passed $90,000 in counterfeit money, and yet he died poor. —Kerosene is superseding pine knots fer tire-kindling in North Carolina, and the old sexton singeth gayly: “1 gather them in, 1 gather them in.” —ls you want to know how giant-pow-der wvrks just kick in the head of a small keg. The display will be all that any reasonable man could ask for.

—Halts Journal of Health says that it is ven- healthy for young men to get out of bed at six in the morning and split wood for an hour. Look out for a rush. —Quicksilver is slow, and the California papers look for the closing of several of die less productive quicksilver mines unless there is. soon a considerable rise in price. —Since the dynamite explosion abroad it is fashionable with the average man to caK his house his “ Mosel.” There’s where he gets blown up.— St. Louis RepubiMM. —This may possibly be old, but it’s undeniably good: “ Every man fancies he cando three things—farm a small property, drive a gig and write an article for a Review.” —A man named Paul recently moved Issie house from Council Bluffs to Omaha try»taking it apart and loading it upon ■wagons. He will take several building Mots ever next time. —The Mellonville (Fla.) Advertiser states ihat the Norway rat, unknown in that five years ago, has multiplied prodigiously that it has been found i accessary to import ferrets for their extirpation. —An Alabama Grange has appointed a Committee of Review, the duty of which is to visit the farms of the members monthIj and make a report before the Grange as

to their condition, improvement and general management. —Two sisters imßrownsville, Ala. —one married and the othea single, but engaged—had a dispute, the other day, upon the personal beauty of husband and lover, when one gouged outHhe other's eye witli a pair of stove-tongs. —Ninety mechanics and artisatfs, with their families, have emigrated from Pennsylvania and settled on Hood River, Oregon, and over 300 will follow in the spring. They intend building a college, woolen-mill, grist-hiill, etc. —A juvenile criminal, sentenced a'few days ago to five years’ penal servitude at London, cried liecause the Judge would not send him to sea, and as be left the dock exclaimed: “I hope you will send me to sea next time, my Lord.” —A bill in the Legislature of West Virginia authorizing towns throughout the State to establish chain-gangs is pending, witli a prospect of its passage. The Wheeling Standard thinks the chain-gang is a degrading and barbarous institution. .(—The Woman'i Journal, in an article An “Masculine Physique,” warns every wqfftan in search of a husband not to bestow a glance on the “ leap” man, but to “shun him as she would a pestilence.” Comforting teaching this to lean men. —“ The excuse of the third man,” said Mr. Moody, illustrating the parable of the guests who were backward in coming forward, “ was more absurd than any: ‘ I have married a wife, and, therefore, 1 cannot come.’ Now, why didn't he take his wife along with him?” —One of tire fashion authorities has decreed that short men shall not wear l ister coats, and that tall men who wear Ulsters shall not wear high hats. Tall women in Derby hats look like dressed-up ten-pins, and little women in flare up bonnets look overwhelmingly top-heavy. —“Mr. Busbee says you needn’t send the paper to him any more,” said a little urchin who stuck his head into the sanctum. “All right.” “ An’he said to tell you he wouldn’t a stopped it only you didn’.t say nothin’ about the big hog he killed last week,” continued the youth; and then he sliddown the banister into the street.— Fulton (.V. Y.) Timet. —A wealthy family of New Haven, Conn., recently broke up housekeeping and disposed of the greater part of their personal property at auction. sAmong the articles so sold was a $1,500 India shawl, which had by mistake been included in the lot. This was bought by a washerwoman for a few dollars, its real value being unknown to her or the auctioneer. The present whereabouts of that washerwoman is being anxiously inquired after.

—Journalistic enterprise is not appreciated in Germany. An accomplished writer, after .fitting himself for the work by considerable sojourn in the United States, established a correspondence bureau to furnish the leading German journals with information concerning American subjects wherein their readers would be interested. Just three papers, one at Berlin, one at Breslau, and one at Strasbourg, accepted the correspondence, for which the charge was about one dollar a week. —Chauncey Filley, of St. Louis, several years ago found himself seriously involved by indorsements for a mining enterprise, and owing in the aggregate $990,000. At first he thought he would go through the bankrupt court, but finally thought better of it aud concluded to pay up. He called his creditors together, paid them $500,000, secured a liberal extension for the remainder and went to work. Quite recently, the Troy Timet says, he has wiped out the entire debt, and stands a free man once more. The result shows what indomitable energy, pluck and perseverance can accomplish when employed in the right direction. —We have often read of terrible encounters, but never witnessed as terrible a scene as that which occurred at the head of Main street last night. A father and son, farmers, living some five miles west of the city, were on their way home in their wagon. The son was drunk and the father was not as sober as he might have been. The father wanted the son to get out of the wagon, which the son refused to do. He grabbed him byjheear and jerked him over the wagon-box. The young man fell to the ground, but ’ the father held his son’s ear in his hand. The night was bitter cold; the blood froze on the son’s fade. Enraged and crazy with liquor, the son clinched the father and in the conflict just literally •.chawed’ his nose off. Covered with blood, father against son were fighting a deadly struggle, when strangers interfered and parted them. Both of them refused to be taken care of, and got into their wagon and drove away.—A Tebraska Press.

No Fun in It.

.* neighbor, Mr. Pomeroy, is exceedingly fond of practical joking, and the other night, just before his wife retired, he hid himself in the closet in her room. When she came to bed he uttered several deep groans in order to scare her, whereupon she began to scream, and fled srom the room to call for help. Then Pomeroy thought he would come out and undeceive her, but to his dismay he found that the spring catch upon the outside had caught and fastened him in. Then he began to call for assistance, but the noise he made only convinced Mrs. Pomeroy more strongly that there was a burglar in the closet. ■ 1 When Pomeroy’s brother-in-law heard of the matter he loaded his revolver and called his dog, and went into the room. Then he began to fire into the closet, while Pomeroy, in an agony of terror, shrank back * into one corner and endeavored to make himself understood. When five shots had been fired Pomeroy’s brother-in-law concluded to let the dog finish the burglar, so he opened the door gently, and the animal went in as if he were hungry. When they thought the, dog certainly had him they opened the door wide, and Pomeroy’s brother-in-law was just about to knock the burglar on the head with the butt end of the pistol when he saw who the victim was. They hauled off the dog, and as they lifted Pomeroy out his brother-in-law began to say to him: “Why, Aleck, is it you? I thought “ Oh, never mind what you thought." replied Aleck, indignantly. “Never mind what you thought. You’ve put two bullets through my calf, and your dog has bitten three or four mouthfuls out of my other leg, so’S I’ll be lame for life. If I had the strength I’d kill you on the spot; but as soon as I get about again to jail you go for assault and battery, or my name’s not Alexander Pomeroy, now you mind iwe/ ” Then they put him to bed and bandaged him, and he is hot about yet. It is thought by his family that flis sense of humor is a great deal duller than it was. —Max Adder, in, TC Y. Weekly.

An Old-Time Tragedy.

A few days ago I happened to pick up a scrap of a New York paper which contained a paragraph to the effect , that one Julian Cook, formerly au actor, died in an insane hospital, after a restraint of two and twenty years. I remember iiuii well as second juvenile man in old Eagle Street Theater in Buffalo, then under the management of Messrs. Carr A Warren, of whose company I was at the time a member. And the unfortunate circumstances which deprived the poor fellow of his reason are as fresh in my memory, after the lapse of so many years, as if they transpired but yesterday. ' It was the last night of the engagement' of that erratic and talented woman who like a meteor flew witli such dazzling brilliancy around the world, delighting countless thousands both in Europe iyid America; ruling at one time with more than queenly sway the King, court and people of Bavaria, and anon flying for her life before an infuriated populace; feted and flattered by the nobility of Paris, creating a. wonderful sensation in Australia, and finally sinking into obscurity, degradation and the grave in a small mining town in California. This was Lola Montez, Countess of Lansfeldt. It was the last night of Lola’s engagement, as well as the last night of the old Eagle. The morning disclosed a transformation. The stately old building bad become a chaotic mass of black and smoking ruins. It was the general belief that Lola Montez caused the destruction of the theater, which deprived one person of lite, another of reason, and every member of the company of more or less personal effects. But it was a mere supposition, taking color from the fact that she had quarreled with the managers, and had spitefully remarked: “ I wish your old theater would burn down before morning.” It did burn down before morning, but let us impute its burning to an accident rather than to an v act of that peculiar woman, who, withall her faults, had so many, many virtues, whose hand never refused relief to the suffering and needy, and who contributed so munificently to the various charitable institutions throughout the world. Our company was composed of ladies and gentlemen of. sterling abilities, some of whom are still before the public. Julian was our second juvenile, a young man of fine scholarly attainments, apd an actor of great promise; but he was always a jolly' dog, fond of a lark, always in debt, bills and duns forever staring him in the face, liquidating demands on his empty purse with a few funny stories, and dismissing his creditors with such a peculiar grace that they felt perfectly content to wait any indefinite time, suiting the convenience of the pleasing young actor. But a change came over him, and for several months he had conducted himself in the most exemplary manner. He had confided his heart to another’s keeping, and was beloved tenderly and truly in return. The cause of his salutary change was a beautiful and accomplished girl occupying the position of danteuse in the company. Poor Mabel Kindall! hers was a sad fate.

It was Saturday night; a large and enthusiastic audience had retired, after witnessing the novel terpsichorean extravaganza by Lola and her coryphees. The performers had all left for their respective lodgings, with the exception qf Mabel (who was delayed longer than usual, arranging and packing her costume), Julian, and the night-watchman. The lights were all extinguished but the large lamp over the stage-door and the one in Mabel’s dressing-room, which was situated on the O. P. side, in the proscenium, and over the tier ot private boxes. It was an out-of-the way room, and none but Mabel (who preferred being alone) was willing to dress in it. A lumber-room for the stowage of dilapidated “ props” and “ sets” was on the “fly” gallery, and inclose proximity to the young lady’s dressing-room. this lumber-room was full of light and inflammable material, kept under lock and key and very rarely entered. Julian was sitting on the step of the stage-door, waiting to escort Mabel home. The night-watch was impatiently pacing up and down the stage, and all was as dreary as a theater invariably is when its seats are vacant and its many lights are extinguished. Julian had just risen to his feet, calling to Mabel to make haste, when a wild shriek aud a sudden illumination of the theater nearly paralyzed him with an overwhelming sense of danger. Rushing wildly on the stage, where he could command a view' of the situation, he beheld a most appalling sight. The lumber-room was on tire ami there,. in the door of her dressing-room, like a tableau of despair, white and motionless as a statue, stood Mabel.

Seeing at once that the only sure means of escape was by her jumping from the gallery, Julian placed himself, in conjunction with the watchman, in a position after the manner of acrobats, ready to receive her, and cried to her to ‘‘jump,” but she was like one in a trance—the horror of the situation had deprived her of the power of motion. The fire by this time was devouring the flies, which extended above and across the stage, and the rigging loft, still higher up, was one hissing, crackling canopy of flame. Fierce red tongues were licking the rail along the fly-gallery to the proscenium, closing the Only opening of escape to the unfortunate girl. Julian, finding that she was deaf to his cries, determined to save her or perish with her, and dashed madly up the stairs leading to the fly-gallery. The fire alarm had been sounded throughout the city. The firemen- were already at work and the Babel and confusion attending all such scenes were enacted over again. The watchman stood at his now dangerous post where Julian had left him, in hopes that Mabel would make an effort for her life and jump from the gallery. He hurriedly explained to the firemen, who had bv this time reached the stage, the great peril of the poor girl, and there was no lack of brave men ready and willing to risk even life to save her. She was no longer visible from the, stage, for a great wall of fire had risen up, completely obscuring her with a light. Then above the din and fearful confusion ot sounds was heard a shriek so piercing, so pregnant of agony, that strong men trembled and hearts stood still. AB eyes were riveted on the spot where Mabel w r as last seen. A moment more, and Julian emerged from the dressing-room with Mabel in his arms. Dashins; through the flames he gained the edge of the fly gallery, was seen to stagger for a moment, but finally, mustering his remaining strength, fie leaped with his precious burden (which he had hastily muffledin various articles of costume) to the stage below, a depth of twenty-four feet. A mattress, the stage carpet and other articles of soft goods were previously arranged to receive them. Better far had the unfortunate couple perished at once in the flames. It would

have spared one of them days of the most dreadful suffering, and the other long years of imbecility worse than death. They were taken to their lodgings,, followed by a melancholy train of actors and firemen, rendering all the assistance within their scope. Although there was no outward sign of fire on the poor girl’s person, except the loss of her bdautiful’ dark brown hair, still she had inhaled its fiery breath, and no power on earth could save her. Julian was also in a critical condition. His..hands and face wire l fearfully blistered, and hetoohad lost'his curling locks; a painful disguise the poor fellow wore, and it was hard indeed to" recognize in ,his mutilated and suffering person the gay and light-hearted youth of a few hours previous. The terrible ordeal which he passed through had deprived him of all consciousness, while Mabel had passed away into that long and quiet sleep which knows no sorrow, knows no pain. Julian awoke to leirn that she whom he so tenderly loved was dead. He received the sad intelligence without a murmur, but the agony* expressed upon his features called forth the tenderest sympathies of all present. For hours he lay with closed eyes, silent and motionless, as it he too had gone out into the night, a cold and weary pilgrim, in search of[!her; At length the paroxysm passed away, the lethargy was broken, he was aroused to life, but his reason was dead and buried. And so he lived for two and twenty years, a helpless maniac, capable of neither joy nor sorrow .—Portland Oregonian.

Gentlemen’s Clothing.

The business-suits worn for morning and general use by- gentlemen are of English and Scotch cloths in dark somber brown and gray shades. Many' plaids, vague and indistinct, but of larger size than those of the summer, are chosen for such suits and for traveling. The prevailing style for these plain suits is a doublebreasted reefing sack for the coat, with a single-breasted vest buttoned veyy high and close and pantaloons of the same material cut larger in the leg than formerly. Indeed, with each season we have to record that coats are made longer and trousers are larger. Instead ot sack-coats the Newmarket walking coat is sometimes used. Lines of red for of orange are occasionally introduced in the somber plaid cloths worn by gentlemen. The semi-dress sqit worn at day receptions, visiting, driving, at church, concerts and theater has a coat and vest of dark blue, brown or black cloth, with pantaloons of the same or else of light gray cloth or stripes of black and white. The double-breasted frock-coat is made very long and may be bound with silk galloon or merely’ corded in neat and tasteful fashion. The single-breasted vest has a notched collar and buttons medium low; there if a special shape for the vest of frock-coats different from all others. The suit is considered most dressy when the pantalbons are of the cloth used for the coat and vest, but there is so little variety in gentlemen’s attire that many prefer the gray or striped pantaloons. Very fine diagonals are preferred to all other figured cloths for semidress suits. Full-dress evening suits of lustrous black broadcloth retain the shape they have had for years, viz.: the swallowtailed coat and low, single-breasted vest; the coat, however, is longer than formerly. The trousers are of the same cloth or of doeskin. Winter overcoats are made of the warm, heavy Elysian and fur beavers, diagonals, and figured cloths. Black, blue, brown and gray Oxford mixtures are the colors. In shape they' are very long doublebreasted surtouts with silk lining and velvet collars. Those who prefer sack overcoats have them, extremely long with single-breasted fly fronts. U Isters of dark gray Irish frieze are w’orn for traveling, sleighing and whenever extra covering is required, as also over evening full-dress suits. Opera overcoats are of light drab cloth cut in sack shape.— Harper's Bazar.

A Yeddo Theater.

Writing of theaters at Yeddo, a contributor to the Galaxy says: When a favorite actor makes his appearance tire whole.audience becomes electrified, and testify their delight by a series pf shouts, yells and cries which no known combination of vowels and consonants can adequately render. They do not all shout together, but the yells run rapidly from group to group, reminding one of the falling of a stone as it bounds down the side of a mountain. Their enthusiasm is kept within bounds by a sort of inspector, or policeman, seated on a small raised platform in the center of the theater, who preserves order and summarily ejects all disturbers of the public peace. During the whole time a constant feasting seems to be going on; plates of rice and fish are succeeded by candies, sweetmeats and other delicacies, sold by licensed venders, who perambulate the passages between acts, offering their wares in sing-song, sleepy, nasal tones; nothing escapes them, however; the slightest sign from a wouldbe buyer brings them in a flash to his side. When the chop-sticks are for a moment laid aside, little bottles of sakki and cups of tea make their appearance. Empty dishes are carried off and almost instantly replaced by full ones. Notwithstanding these interesting occupations, great attention is given to the piece. The orchestra, placed in a stage-box to the left, is composed of drums, flutes and three-stringed guitars. The musicians are clothed in priestly robes in memory of the honor of the gods. They have' no mercy on the audience, but play almost incessantly—during the piece to accompany the recitative and between the acts to enliven the public. One of the strongest proofs of the gentleness and strength of mind of the Japanese is the admirable fortitude with which 1,500 people listen to this unearthly and diabolical music for twelve consecutive hours without exhibiting the slightest signs of mental alienation. Two aisles or gangways lead from either end of the stage to tlie front entrance of the theater, going directly throfighllhe little checkerboard squares. The actors generally make their entrance on the stage by these gangways, passing through the audience and under their very noses. Though the actors belong to the lowest classes, they often endear themselves to the public kt large, w’ho become much infatuated with certain favorites. It has not unfrequently happened that a celebrated actor has been magnificently buried by popular subscription and mourped by the whole population. The best of them receive about 1,000 rios ($1,100) per year. They are often interested in'the profits of the enterprise. Some play gratuitously with a view to making themselves known to tlie public. Women never appear on the stage. Their parts are taken by men, and so cleverly do they do it in dress, manner and gesture that the illusion would be complete were they not betrayed by the voice.

AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC.

—To mike an excellent gravy for roast meat, put a common dish with a small quantity of salt in it under the meat, about a quarter of an hour befofe it is removed from the fire. When the dish is full, take--it away, baste the meat, and pour the gravy' into the dislj on which the joint is to be served. —For oyster patties in butter, make a batter with the yelk of one egg, or more, according to the quantity of oysters you intend to prepare, a little nutmeg, some beaten mace, a little flour and a little.salt; dip in the oysters and fry them in lard to a nice brown. If preferred, a little parsley may be shred very tine and mixed with batter. The batter may also be made thicker and formed into the shape of a patty, or put into a small tin mold, the oyster being dropped in and povered over, and the whole baked as a pudding would be. * —Many people do not understand - how to have nice baked beans. Bake the beans all day, and if convenient let them stay'in over night, baking full twenty-four hours, and our word for it, they will conic*out in the morning with a flavor that will make your mouth water to taste of them. We sometimes see persons who only have moderate liking for baked beans, who invariably bake them three or four hours, and that is why they do not like them any better. A day and night is none too much time to bake them, having parboiled them only until the skins will crack when the air comes to them.— Household. —A tablespoonful of ammonia in one gallon of warm water will often restore’ the color of carpets, even if dissolved by acid or alkali. If a ceiling hag been whitewashed with the carpet (town, and a few drops should fall, this will remove it. Or, after the carpet is well beaten and brushed, scour it with ox-gall, which will not only extract grease but freshen the colors. One pint of gall in three gallons of warm water will do a large carpet. Table and floor cloths may be thus washed. The suds left from a wash when ammonia is used, even if almost cold, cleanses these new floor-cloths well.—jE’a:change. —A writer in the London Field states that poultry properly fed will acquire all the fatness needed for marketing purposes in a fortnight or three weeks at, most. Their diet should be Indian, oat or barley meal, scalded in milk or water —the former is the best as it -will expedite the fattening process. They should be fed early in the morning, at noon and also in the evening just, before going to roost and given a plentiful supply of pure fresh water, plenty of gravel, sliced cabbage or turnip-tops. If the fowls are required to be very fat some trimmings of fresh mutton suet may be chopped up and scalded with their other feed or they maybe boiled in milk alone and poured over the meal. This renders the flesh firmer than it otherwise would be. When fit to kill, feeding should be stopped for twelve hours or more so that the intestines may become comparatively empty.

Starting Apple Orchards.

The value of a generous supply of good apples in the family is beginning to be understood by almost every one; yet there are many farmers and rural residents still .without an orchard. The securing of other necessities has caused a delay in planting fruit trees. With thousands every year the period arrives to make the beginning; and until then but little thought is given to the location of an orchard or to the varieties best adapted to the climate. Generally the first question to be considered is the selection of the location. With many there is but little choice in tte situation. If the chief object is the supply of fruit for the family the convenience of access will constitute an important element in the solution of the question. All such persons will de sire to have the planting done near the dwelling-house. But even here the most elevated site should be preferred, as elevation is often a condition that secures a crop against the effects of late spring frosts, and besides the treeswill aid in protecting the building from rude blasts, and the foliage will also afford a pleasing background to the rural landscape. Where more extensive orcharding is contemplated, with a view to send the fruit to market, if a more elevated and favorable location can be made, more remote from the dwelling, convenience must sometimes yield to considerations of profit. For it is well known that valleys are l colder than hills, and a few feet elevation will sometimes securea crop when in the valleys it would be entirely cut off. As you approach the more southern latitudes this danger from frost increases. Another important consideration in favor of a more elevated situation for an orchard is, particularly where a rich soil prevails, that on the elevated grounds, beside having the advantage of throwing off the excess of water from the surface, the soil is generally more porous and dry and favors a more healthy growth than the valleys or flat lands. If the soil is not naturally porous and dry underdraining is indispensably necessary to insure profitable crops. After the most favorable location has been chosen the next most important step to be taken is in tlie preparation of the soil for apple trees. If the ground' is sufficiently dry without underdraining it should be deeply trenchplowed and the soil thoroughly pulverized. If the land is not rich it should be manured and the manure thoroughly incorporated with the soil; as fresh manure should never come in contact, in any considerable quantity, with the roots of new-ly-planted trees. Rich earth from the woods or from tlie fence corners, where the ground requires enriching, is best to be placed around the roots of trees. Large holes should be dug and filled in with the rich earth some time before planting, so that the rains may settle it, and that the trees when established shall stand no deeper in the ground than they did in the nursery. Great injuiy is often done by planting trees too deep. The roots require a certain degree of heat and air to thrive well, and too deep planting deprives them of these essentials. If an orchard is to be planted in the spring it is best to put tlie ground in order in the fall, because the soil will be improved by the action of the frost, and is no time to be lost when the planting is deferred till spring. But the work should be done the first favorable weather and before .the circulation of the sap begins. There are several considerations in favor of spring planting, and generally it may be regarded as the best season. If the soil selected for the orchard is of a dry, porous character and the has been favorable for the ripening of the wood of the young trees in the nursery trees may be planted in the fall. At that season there is genetally more leisure to do the work well, and if properly done and the trees securely supported with stakes or if a cone of earth is thrown up around the base of the trees to give them sunport no injury would be sustained. When the planting is put off

till spring.it .is too frequently done in a hurry or deferred until too latefofter the circulation of the sap has commenced and th& young rootlets have put out. Then the trees,often sustain a serious check in their growth from the loss of these young roots and from the dry weather that fre- • quently ensues before the rains have thoroughly settled the earth about the roots. Where the subsoil is so compact that it is difficult for the roots of trees to stick downward our practice has been to mark out a land, say twelve feet wide, where a row of trees is to be planted and pjow this land three or four times, throwing the furrow slices outward. In this way a broad middle furrow may be worked open two feet in depth. Then,reverse the plowing so as to level off' thq ground and plant the trees on the surface of a fleeply-pul verized sCed-bed.— N.Y. Herald.

Keeping Sweet-Potatoes.

The cultivators of sweet-potatoes in the South do not find'it very difficult to keep the tubers through winter in very much the same manner as our Northern farmers do their Irish potatoes. But the climate ot the two regions of country is so widely different that a method ot preservation which answers admirably for one may be totally unsuited to the other. In addition to this, the maturity of the tubers has much to do with their keeping qualities, and this is just where the Northern-grown fall short of the proper conditions for making a good and safe beginning. The tubers are very likely to be half-ripe when frosts and cool weather hasten the digging, consequently they are more or less bruised and broken in handling, decay commencing soon after being taken front the field. But if the tubers are really sound and mature they may lie kept through winter with proper care. In the first place, they must be thoroughly dried before storing. This drying is of the utmost importance, for if packed away wet, or even with the skins moist, decay is certain, and in a very short time. If a dry, warm room is available,- then very little packing will be required. A layer of dry leaves in the bottom of the barrel and then a layer of potatoes, and so on until the barrel is full, will be sufficient. But if the potatoes are to be stored in a cellar, however dry and warm, it is seldom safe to risk the tubers in anything but kiln-dried sand. The potatoes should be carefully packed in barrels, then the dry sand poured on until all the interstices between are filled up. The barrels should also be elevated a few inches from the bottom of the cellar, in order to prevent any dampness from entering from that direction. Chaff or cut straw will, of course, answer as well as leaves for packing, but, aside from keeping dry and warm, the! main thing is to secure good, well-ripened and sound tubers to begin with. The largest and best-matured specimens should be. selected before packing, for feed, and it is always well to keep them separate from the main crop.— Rural New Yorker.

Fatal Diseases Among Horsesand Cattle at the East.

For several days past another epidemic has prevailed among horses in this city. The new disease is pronounced by skilled veterinary surgeons to be “ ApthaZartica,” or eruptive. The disease is stated to be even more contagious than the epizootic, and unless it is arrested at once will prove fatal. In several instances in large stables where one horse is attacked the disease spreads rapidly through the stables, and very few animals coming in contact with those affected escape. The first symptoms of the disease are noticed by a peculiar expression of the countenance, saliva flowing from the mouth and moisture exuding from the eyes., In some cases it is accompanied with troubled breathing and considerable fever. Upon opening the mouth of an animal stricken with this malady will be found small vesicles on the edge and upper portions of the-tongue and gums. On the third or fourth day’s illness large patches of the covering of the tongue drop off’, and the animal refuses food. Tlie disease, as other eruptive fevers, whether in man or beast, runs a fixed course and the eruption cannotsufely be arrested unless proper remedies are immediately applied, together with good nursing, which adds materially to the speedy recovery of the animal, which riiay be effected in from six to ten days. At a recent meeting of Pennsylvania College of Veterinary Surgeons the nature and treatment of the new disease were discussed by a number of the new members, all of whom pronounced the disease to tee contagious, and advised that the sick horses should be kept apart from those which had not taken the disease. An epidemic has also broken out within the last few days on the outskirts of the city and in Camden among the hogs and cattle, which is somewhat similar to “Texas fever.” Among hogs the disease has proved fatal, as in some cases the farmers have lost, in a few hours, from 60 to 70 per cent, of their stock. In Camden and its immediate vicinity the stock has more or less been attacked, and many hundreds of hogs and cattle have died. At the present writing the disease has not been arrested, although every known remedy has been applied. For the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the new malady a committee of five veterinary experts are holding counsel, and will in a short time suggest a remedy to abate this new and fatal disease. — Philadelphia Press.

(From the Missouri Republican (St. Louis). J A Remarkable Profeialoual Success. Among the notable professional men of thi/s country who have achieved extraordinary success is Dr. R. V. pierce, of Buffalo, N. ri. The prominence which he has attained has been reached through strictly legitimate means, and, so far, therefore, he deserves the enviable reputation which he enjpys. This large measure of success is the result of a thorough and careful preparation for his calling, and extensive reading during a long and unusually large practice, which have enabled him to gain high commendation, even from his professional brethren. Devoting his attention to certain specialties of the science he has so carefully investigated, he has been rewarded in a remarkable degree. In these specialties lie has become a recognized leader. Not a few of the remedies prescribed by him have, it is said, been adopted and prescribed by physicians in their private practice. His pamphlets and larger works have been received as useful contributions to medical knowledge. ,He has recently added another, and perhaps more important, work, because of more general application, to the list of his published writings. Tillis book, entitled “The People’s Common Spnse Medical Adviser," is designed to enter into general circulation. Dr. Pieroe has received'acknowledgments and honors from many sources, and especially scientific degrees from two of the first medical institutions in the land. Oscar Cohen, a talented inmate of the State Prison at Carson, Nev., is accumulating capital at a fair rate by manufacturing gambling implements combining various cheating devices for the benefit of blacklegs. Z