Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1898 — IN A NUTSHELL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IN A NUTSHELL

A 10-year-old girl was found by the. police of New York stupefied with whisky. Col. Blanton Duncan at Los Angeles, Cal., withdrew his SIOO,OOO damage suit against the Associated Press for libel. Daniel R. Kennedy of Lynn, Mass., who was supposed to have been murdered in Portland, Me., has turned up alive. The Venezuelan arbitration court has received over 2,200 documents in English, Spanish and Dutch, covering four centuries. A conference of prominent New York Democrats has been called to take steps to perfect an organization in opposition to Tammany. English newspapers continue to discuss interestingly the result of the elections in the United States in its relation to territorial expansion. It is believed by many well-informed persons in Manila that a conflict between the Americans and the Filipinos is ultimatply unavoidable. The critical political and military situation in Europe has caused a sharp advance in prices of provisions in all the markets of the world. Two Havana editors have been sent to jail by Captain General Blanco for publishing a rabid anti-American article in defiance of the censor. The streets of Havana are being patrolled by Spanish regulars in anticipation of an outbreak by Cuban volunteers, who have not yet been paid. In the Roque district in Cuba heavy floods have ruined sugar cane and fruit crops which have just been planted for the first time in three years. At North Grafton, Mass., a posse of citizens surrounded three burglars who had broken into the postoffice and captured two and killed one of them. Scientific societies of St. Petersburg, Russia, are preparing to give Thomas A. Edison, the American inventor, a brilliant reception when he arrives. The steamer Arnold, recently arrived at Seattle, brought fifty-two sacks of mail, which had been accumulating at St. Michael’s, Alaska, for a year. J. W. Stewart of the Sixteenth infantry, who safely passed through the severe battles in Cuba, was fatally assaulted in a Louisville saloon by unknown thugs. Twenty business men and hankers of Wichita, Ivan., have perfected plans to incorporate a company for the purpose of building a telephone system in that city. Lord Salisbury, at an after dinner speech at Guild Hall, warned the English people to be ready for any emergency. Rendered in plain English that moans war. Lord Seymore and Col. Briscoe of the British army have inspected the forts and military works around Halifax, and extensive improvements ha Ye been ordered to he made at once. The big guns of our battleships are expensive. The 13-inch guns require 240 IKiunds of powder, and the cost of one discharge, using an armor-piercing shell, is estimated at SSOO. Thirty French reserve warships have been ordered into commission and all of the navy yards of France are rushing preparations for war. All of the coast defenses of the country are in u state of readiness. A negro lynched two years ago at Maysfield, 8. C., for murder is said to have left a written statement, which has just been found, confessing that he murdered the Woolfolk family, for which Thomas Woolfolk, the eldest sou, was hanged, protesting his innocence. At Philadelphia, Mrs. John MeGihan, after hours of anxious waiting for her husband to rettiCu home, dreamed that she saw him enter the house with his head badly cut and swathed in bandages. Twelve hours later her hushind entered the house just as she suw him' in her dream, suffering from terrible wounds. How he was injured or how he got to his home lie was unable to tell. John Ilnys, who discovered the rich copper deposits along the south shore of I>ake Superior, celebrated his ninetyfourth birthday in Cleveland, Ohio, the other day. In the early forties he landed at Copper Harbor, and with two Indians as guides went on foot to Milwaukee, prospecting os he went. It was in 1847 that he opened the first mines. Nikola Tesla has invented an apparatus by means of which electrical power at high pressure can he conveyed thousands of miles through the uir and utilized commercially. The system Is to convey the current to a great elevation, where the rarefied atmosphere is capable of conducting freely the particular current Then to maintain a second terminal,, also at a great elevation, where the current can lie collected and conveyed to the earth.

This excellent sheep has been too much neglected by breeders on this side of the ocean. While It is thought to be a mountain breed Its life Is spent only in part on verdant pastures of the Cheviot hills, for it is bred mostly for crossing by the Leicesters in middle and southern English pastures for the Loudon markets. The cross-bred produce are excellent feeders and very popular among the butchers, the mutton being of the first quality and having the flesh marbled with fat, rather than covered with ft, and is thus tender and juicy. This sheep, while not the largest, is a heavy animal, making 130 pounds at two years old when well fed on good pasture with a moderate allow-

ance of grain. The fleece is rather coarse, but long and glossy, and is in demand for the best kinds of clothing.— Montreal Star. ♦ American Apples in Europe. The United States Consul at Chemnitz, Germany, advises Americans to ship their apples this year to Germany. If good fruit Is chosen, such as will stand a long voyage—the Baldwin apple, for Instance—he is confident that the business will prove to be a paying one. Complaint has been made in Germany against American fruit because of the fear of the introduction of the San Jose scale, which is one of the most destructive diseases known to fruit. Investigation has shown that the fear of the Germans has been exaggerated. It is not denied that the San Jose scale Is found In some parts, of the United States, but diseased fruit is not shipped abroad. Such a course would soon result in destroying the export business. German experts are now' in the United States studying our fruit. So far as known they have not advised exclusion. Americans have much to learn about packing fruit, but they are gaining a strong hold in the foreign markets. For the five years preceding 189(5 the afinual average of shipments of fruit from this country to Germany amounted to over $4,000,000. —Baltimore American. A Double Born, The accompanying illustration shows, a plan for a barn with double driveways In which the distinguishing feature is the great amount of loft room. Four gables added to the main roof space give almost another story’s capacity to the barn, making it possible to use nearly the whole of the lower floor for stock. With a silo and the root cellar that will be found In the basement it will be possible to carry a

large stock on the fodder that can be stored beneath the roofs. There are many conveniences about a double barn, and when one Is to be built the form lwre given will prove an excellent one to- follow.-New England Homestead. Fnll-Holling Winter Grain. While the roller Is a good implement for fining and smoothing the surface 8011, It can very rarely be used effectively after winter grain Is sown. Almost all farmers agree that If soli Is heavy. It will produce better crops of winter grain If the soli Is left rough after it Is seeded. All the lumps are dissolved by winter freezing, and they furnish the line, rich dust that Is needed to fall ujkhi the roots as they have been lifted up by frost. The only conditions when rolling In helpful to winter grain nre when the soil is light, and liable to blow away In winter. In such case the rolling should be done as soon as the grain Is sown. It will pack the light soil around the roots, and thus Cause the wheat to make enough growth so ns to partially protect itself from winter killing, nnd will lessen the effects of winds In blowing away surface soil. Plowing Frozen Ground. If there is a thin crust of frozen soli, or even a light fall of snow on the ground when It Is fall plowed, It will be none the worse for the soil next spring. The frozen soil holds up

fnrrow even though when turned to the bottom it is soon thawed by the earth’s internal heat. The result will be that frost, will penetrate to the bottom of the furrow, giving the soil a much finer tilth than would be possible by repeatedly cultivating it

Choice Bacon, >'l The secret of producing choice bacon, says the American Swineherd, lies in the feed trough. If any one doubts this, let him put two Polaud-Chiua, Berkshire, Chester-White, Duroe, Jersey or any of our recognized breeds of hogs in two different pens, feed one all the corn he can eat until fat, and the other boiled potatoes, milk, barley or wheat ground fine and some pea meal until fat (the old country way). Kill both, put In dry Salt for six or seven weeks, then take out and wash, and hang It up In the kitchen or drying house until thoroughly dried; then cut off a good, big chunk and boil It, let it stand till cold; then cut off a few slices, and you will see the corn-fed meat is not So firm, is more oily, and not so many streaks of lean as meat fed on barley, potatoes, milk, etc., and this is all the difference you or any one else can detect. Cuts Around Barns. The habit which many people have of petting cats and keeping them close by the kitchen tire very soon destroys the hunting Instinct and makes the cat good for nothing as a mouser. On the farm especially, the proper place for a cat is at the barn, where it can make itself useful killing the mice or rats that destroy the grain. It is a mistake to suppose that a cat will suffer from cold while thus employed. Exercise will keep the blood circulating, and the cat will be quite ns warm if kept dry as it would be dozing by the lire, and breathing the vitiated air that Is always found near the floors of dwellings. The cat will usually, if there Is a ehftir or a bed in the room, make that her resting place.

Private Market for Butter. A farmer who has all the facilities and who knows how to make the best butter ought always to sell It to private customers, who will also take his fresh eggs and other farm products at prices somewhat higher than he can get in the open market. But If he does this he must obligate himself to supply what Is needed throughout the year, and that it shall never be below the standard. It Is this last condition that prevents farmers from making such bargains. To make the best butter in winter requires care in feeding, and also in handling milk and cream, which too many are unwilling to undertake. Hackney Filly Goidflash. The hackney filly 10000 Goldflnsh is the property of Mr. Alexander Morton, Gowaubauk, Darvel, Scotland, winner

of second prize for Challenge Cup for best filly, three years old aud under, London hackney show. 1898.

Home Made Smoiigei, There is uo kind of meat food so palatable ns a well-made sausage. But the fact that when made it Is almost impossible to tell what meat It Is composed of prevents many who only eat what they buy from using it. On tho farm the well-made, wholesome sausage should l>e a specialty. It Is a common mistake to put In too much fat. Not more than a quarter of the whole should be fat. If some lean and fat of beef, not to exceed one quarter of the whole, Is put In the sausage It will Improve it. Much of the excellence of the sausage depends on the flavoring. Too much pepper and spices are found In most sale sausages. Onion* an Food. Despite their disagreeable effects as breath perfumers, the common onion is much the most healthful vegetable grown, and all would be healthier If onions cooked in some way were a part of thi> daily diet. Drinking milk after the onion will to a great extent absorb the odor. Those farmers who grow and use mauy onions keep their health better than do those who are too dainty to (*at this vegetable. In southern Europe raw onions are eaten ns part of the dally meal, laying a slice of onion on the bread and then biting through both together. The Spaniards have a very mild onion that is quite commonly eaten thus. The Demand for Quinces. There Is a ixsir apple crop this year In inoat places, and as a result there is very little demand for quinces, whose use ait a fruit seems more to give flavor to tin* apple sauce than to be eaten by itself. The quince Is a very rich fruit, and is also hard, even when thoroughly cooked. It is therefore difficult of digestion. But a few piece* of quince cut thin and placed in apple pie wil) give It a delicious flavor, such as no apple sauce could have without It. Variety of Feed for Stock, In feeding stock of auy kind It is important that It Ik? furnished a variety of food. This is not merely a matter of flavor, for different kinds of food furnish usually different nutrition. A great deal of the success of anlmnls pastured lies in the fact that they are able to select their own rations, and the care they will take to do this Indicates that this l>i a matter of greater Importance than it la usually considered.

The Cheviot Sheep.

CHEVIOT RAM.

BARN WITH BIG LOFT.