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Show FARM AND GARDEN. MATTERS OF INTEREST ICULTURISTS. loin. tutlou Thrtof lilnta U TO AGR- About fait I- Tiald. tbo tioll .oil If urtleulluro, Vllloulturu of ui t'loricullurob Nolo, on the IfM.lan FI 7. The greatest obstacle to the growing wheat In some states of the Union Is the Hessian fly. This insect not Infrequently Increases as the wheat acreage Increases, and nets as a decided g drag on the whole business. Various methods have been tried to escape the ravages of this Insect Late Bowing has been one of these. Sometimes this practice Is entirely successful In euabllug the wheat to escape the flies and also In securing a good yield of grain the following season. At other times the warm weather in the fall has enabled the flies to live long enough to produce grubs In the late sown wheat In case of a dry time late In the fall the n wheat has been known not to germinate, or, germinating. It has made too Blight a growth to be able to stand the varying hardships of winter. But taking all things Into consideration it Is probable that late sowing Is generally advisable. When the flies are present at all In the late sown wheat they are generally few in numbers compared to the numbers found In the early-sow- n wheat An Illustration of this is seen In some sowings made at the Kentucky Experiment station. One plot planted September 2G, yielded 83 per cent of infested plants. A plot sowed October 3 yielded 1 per cent of Infested plants. Three other plots sowed October 10, 17 and 21 yielded no Infested plants. In localities north of Kentucky the plantings should be earlier than the dates mentioned, while south of the northern part of that Btate they should be later. Hessian flies cannot Btand frost and disappear mostly after a few cold nights In the fall. They are supposed to be about as hardy as the mosquito. However, cases are known where they laid eggs on wheat plants after at least four heavy frosts The flies spend much of their life in the ground during the summer months. About the time the fall wheat should appear they some out of the ground and deposit their eggs on the young wheat blades If any exist. Then they promptly die. Three days from the time of coming out of the ground the Insects have finished laying their eggs and have perished. The eggs are always laid on the upper side of the blade and usually only a lew on each leaf. They are so small that they can be readily seen only with a mlciuscope. The flaxseeds" are often taken for eggs, but these are the coccoons of the grub, In which he la transforming Into a Hessian fly and getting ready to do mischief when he (or she) emerges in the spring. Strange as It may seem, the Hessian fly, except In its flax seed" state. Is not generally known. A small beetle (aphodius lnqulnatus) is frequently mistaken for It These Insects are numerous In some wheat fields. The Hessian fly resembles a mosquito, but lacks the beak. wheat-growin- late-sow- full-fledg- ed Kan Jona Praia from North China. Secretary of Agriculture Wilson In bis annual report, referring to the San Joso scale, says: The evidence accumulating during the past two or three years had seemed to show that very possibly this scale was originally Imported into this country from Japan, and In the spring of Hie present year the assistant entomologist. Mr. Marlatt, was sent to Japan for the purpose of studying the question on the ground. Unexpectedly to most entomologists, although not to the entomological force of the Department of Agriculture, it was quite definitely ascertained that the San Jose scale is not indigenous to Japan, but that, quite to the contrary. It was Introduced Into that country from the United States upon fruit stock at several different times and at several different points. The most careful search failed to reveal the scale In portions of Japan where American plants bail not been Introduced. Mr. Marlatts travels in the Japanese empire lasted about five months, and having satisfied himself. as Just stated, he proceeded to China, visiting Cheefoo, the port of the great foreign fruit district of North China, where the industry was started by a missionary (I)r. Kevins) some thirty years ago, since which time it has extended over the province. Foreign fruits were introduced and are now alongide the native fruits or grafted on native trunks. The San Jose scale was found there, but the admixture of foreign trees with the native trees prevented any conclusion as to whether the scale was indigenous or not. Proceeding to Pekin, he found the fruit markets enormously stocked and representing exclusively the products of the surrounding country and districts south of and adjacent to the Great Wall. AH the fruits were native. The apples were small, and the pears were hard and woody. Nearly all this fruit was infested by the San Jose scale. At Tientsin the same conditions were found In the fruit markets, and in the city gardens and private yards the San Jose scale was found on a flowering shrub coming from North China. In all the region between Tientsin and Tekin and the Chinese wall native fruits only are grown, and no forelgu stock of any kind has ever been Introduced. pears, Apples, peaches, apricots, and plums are extensively grown on the sunny slopes of all the hills south of the Great Wall The San Jose scale la this district could not have come from any foreign country, as there have been no Importations and the fruits are all of native sorts. The scale occurs very scatter-inglalthough generally, Just as It should if native, and la In a state oi balance with its native natural enemies. It has a natural enemy, everywhere present and efficient, In a ladybird beetle known as Chilocorus slml-liFrom this evidence Mr. Marlatt concludes without doubt that the San Jose scale is a native of North China. y, s. Humiii and Soil KllrmfunNo two factors are of greater Importance to the farmer than the two mentioned above. Without these two successful farming Is impossible. Every Investigation that adds new light In respect to these is a help to all farming operations. In some experiments carried on in North Dakota the number of colonies of ordinary bacteria In the first three Inches of soil was found to range from 10,000 to and of anaerobic bacteria from 400 to 8,0u0. Nitrifying bacteria were not found in bare summer fallow below two feet Some of the conclusions of the experimenters follow: The continuous growing of wheat or other grain, or cultivated crop, rapidly depletes the organic matter from the second six inches of soil. The growing of clover and peas in a crop rotation causes a marked Increase In the organic matter and humus in the soil in both the first and second six inches. Plowing under a green crop does not produce as beneficial results as come from plowing grass lands. Plowing under a green crop leaves the organic matter in a mass and not uniformly distributed throughout the soil After grass In a crop rotation the soil shows a large Increase In amount of organic matter, but less than as much as is found In adjoining fields of native prairie soiL Soils on which wheat has been grown continuously since 1883 were found to be In bad condition, chemically and physically. They do not retain water well In the cultivated portion, and failed to mature a crop of wheat in the dry season of 1900. The available plant food and the principal feeding ground of the wheat roots seems to be In the first eight Inches of soil. . . . Newly broken soils do not blow. . . . The great mass of fine roots Intertwined about the particles of soil iu the virgin prairie prevented the soil from blowing. The same results may be attained by adopting a system of rotation which includes grass. The system of agriculture most nearly ideal for maintaining soil fertility would be one with two years in grass, one year a cultivated crop, then two years In grain crops, making a - 52,-00- two-thir- five-yea- rs 0, ds rotation. "Utt'n Paachaf. The peach in this country hss generally been a very profitable crop, but for many years it has been subject to a number of serious diseases. Some of these can now be controlled, notably curl, two of "yellows and peach-lethe worst enemies of peach growers. A few years ago a new disease appeared In some of the finest peach orchards of New York, Michigan and other states, and this trouble has caused growers a great deal of uneasiness. The Department of Agriculture has had one of its most competent experts engaged on the disease and he believes that he has discovered the cause. The disease In question Is known as little peach, from the fact that the fruit ripens when very small, this becoming more pronounced each year until the tree dies, which It invariably does at the end of two or three years. The cause of "little peach is believed to be a fungus which attacks the very young roots, and already the matter of preventing it by securing resistant stocks has been af taken up. A good orchard of any kind cannot be established without good soil, both as to fertility and mechanical condi- tion. Virgin soil Is frequently not suitable for the growing of trees, shrubs and vines. We have seen virgin soil so hard and unresponsive that grape vinca dried when placed in it. Yet the same soil proved to be very good after it bad been turned up to the air and worked for a year or two. That old joke about "a fire In a tone yard must be callisl In. A recent cuiitliigiation In a Philadelphia marble and granite plant caused a loss of 50,000. The first years of the orchard should he a formative period, having Tor Its principal olijvct the making of the most perfect framework possible for each tree. THIS SNAKE lb A TREASURE. Rattler Play with tha Baby, Catabcs Rata, aad HrpaU Tramp Dick Branning's pet rattlesnake Is the chief curlosliy of Deep Hollow, Pa. Last spring, when Branning was blasting bluestone rocks on the mountains, a great mass of rattlesnakes was thrown up high into the air by the discharge of dynamite. Nearly all of the serpents were killed outright, bur one of the biggest of the lot escaped with serious wounas. Branning, out of curiosity picked lip this rattler, carried it to the house snd placed t in a box of cotton, and was delighted to see it recover. When the stage of convalescence had passed, the snata crawled about tbe yard, and In a few weeks ventured into the house, where it soon became a pet. It was named Pete. Tbe big snake seemed to be grateful for tbe care lavished upon it, and endeavored to show It in various ways. It will amuse the baby for hours by shaking its rattlers, and it will twist itself In many ways for the edification of the family. Pete has become a famous rattler, and not a rodent dare approach the house. When a tramp or pedaler approaches he will roil himself up on the doorstep and prepare to strike. The intruders invariably retreat. One night last week Mr. Branning and hia wife were suddenly awakened by Petes loud rattling. The snake had crawled upon the bed and gave unmistakable evidence that something was wrong. Mr. Branning Immediately hastened down stairs, where he found a barrel of rubbish In flames, threatening the building with destruction. Pete had discovered tbe state of affairs and given the alarm. Mr. Branning has been offered a big price for ais queer pet, but it Is not for sale. WHY WE RESEMBLE Expert Not Agony of Bank Officials a Small Thing in His Eyes V V V Worried Over Mere Trifles If there Is any man in the world that could transform himself Into an efficient burglar It Is tbe expert on combinations up in the office of the safe trust. This man knows more about locks and vaults than all tbe bank robbers in tbe country. He can open a safe in Boston by telephone In live minutes, ordinarily. If a bank in Philadelphia loses itr combination there is a tumultuous ringing of 'phone bells in the trust's office, and the boy at the switchboard shouts wildly for the expert. "Well, what Is It? the opener of vaults shouts Into the mouthpiece, his Nut long after the wire had been vathere was another ring, and the opener found himself again In conversation with the same people. This time it was a request that he come to Boston at once, hiring a special train if necessary. I can't come, answered. he Theres too much to do here In office hours. 1 11 take the regular train oun-dacated y. Argument wes of no avail, and the Boston bankers had to wait. The combination was lost on Wednesday, and for the next four days they had to borrow all the cash they needed from other companies. The inconveniences they endured by reason of inaccessible papers may be Imagined. This did not worry the expert, however, for he knew that nobody else could fill his place as well as he, and so there was no danger of his being discharged, lie had betn with the safe concern for a great many years, and his imperturbability was not to be upset by a trust company's temporary troubles, lie left the office at the usual time every day, had his dinner at home, and slept just as easily during those four days as though there were In no such things as hank safes. occurrence he said: of the speaking Why didnt I go? The idea! Do you know there are six or eight banks that lose their figures every day? It was better to leave one of them in a lurch for four dayB than to have them all in trouble for one day. tone showing that he is accustomed to such calls. ."This Is the bank. The presi dent's gone home and the cashier's sick. Im Mr. Give me the fig ures, please." The opener satisfies himself that the right man Is on the other end. Then he looks up his records, If he does not happen to remember the figures wanted. It is only a matter of a few minutes before he Is back at the 'phone, and in as many more minutes the vault In Philadelphia is opened. It happened the other day that a Boston trust company was In trouble about its combination. The safe concern was called up, and the lock expert was summoned to the receiver. The usual request followed, but by some chance the opener's good memory had forsaken him, and he had no record of the particular lock In question. The Boston officials swort loudly over the wire. It was no use, though, Urgency alone makes eloquence In and finally they had to give It up. prayer. ROOKS. f Fjlnti of Similarity Hatwean Hamac and Vtatharrd Blpads. He was standing in the rear end of a car, where all are friends in the common misery of having their toes trod on or hats crushed In. I'm from England, he aald, addressing nobody In particular and apropos of nothing, and I want to tell you people that we are only a lot of rooks. Ray, did you ever watch a colony of rooks bulid their nests in the spring?" Everybody looked reflectively away. Well, I'll tell you. hirst a rook picks up a stick and puts It in his nest, then goes away after another one. ' When he's gone another rook files to his nest and steals the stick. When he gets, hack he puts down tbe second stick, for still another rook to steal, and starts after the first stick. He doesn't find It, and when he gets back to bis nest he finds the second stick gone, and he starts after that, scolding aind swearing In rook fash ion. By this time the other thieves have been robbed, too, and It only takes about three sticks to go around the community and get the whole biamed colony Say, aint that human nature? Everybody looked away reflectively. Db Grattfal Flrat Client. When Henry C. Smith of Michigan started to practice law he had aa his first client a negro, and he won the case. The hearing was before a local maglBtrate.aml the charge was stealing a ring. As his client had employment on a farm outside the town where Smith first hung up his shingle, the young lawyer is said to have taken the precaution of hiring a carriage and riulng out to us farmer, where he secured promise of the negro's wages for a few days aa his retainer. i made nn eloquent pica, said Mr. Smith yesterday in recounting the proceedings of that case. "I did not fall to ring the changes on the downtrodden race and all that aort of thing, wih the result that my client went free. Still. I had a sort of lingering suspicion that the verdict was certainly all my man deserved, and when the ease was over I wanted to be rid of him. lie continued to haunt my office. . Why, don't you go out i.nd chasa around with the boys?' I said finally, in some impatience. Deed, boss, 1 thought yo' fee war too small, an' I want yer to accept this 'ere ring.' And the mgro produced from his jeans the ring which he had been supposed to have stolen. But Mr. emith refused to accept the proffer of stolen goods. ww vt vwvi vv t New Yorker's Fine Opportunity to Form Estimate of Kaier Wilhelm. 5 vvvvwwvvvvvw v'vvvvvvvwv'wvvva One summer day in 1890 a New Yorker visiting Berlin strolled to the Lustgarten, and, sitting on one of the benches, contemplated the fine buildings around him. He did not know his bearings very well, and. In halting German, asked Borne questions of a young man who had sat down beside him. This young man was unmistakably a German, but he replied In perfect English, remarking that he presumed his Interlocutor was either an Englishman or an American. The couple chatted for half an hour, and the American became more and more astonished At the minuteness of the other's knowledge of the archaeology of Berlin. He knew the history of every building .n sight, told the American just those things that the guide bookB do not tell, and, withal, was so courteous and unaffectedly cordial that the heart of the tourist warmed to his unknown guide. At length the conversation drifted from the past to the present, and the New Yorker made a remark about the opinion held In America of the Kaiser. In those days the young War Lord was regarded as a dangerous firebrand as an irresponsible monarch who might any day plunge Europe Into conflict. It was even said that he had shown evidence of insanity. When this subject arose the young German suddenly changeu from a giver of Information to a seeker of it, pow-wowin- g. Arcutnl f Murdering liny Henry and Nancy Cross, a married couple, are In jail at Washington Court House, Ohio, charged with killing Ralrh Thompson, aged 10, a lad whom they took from the Fayetto County Children's Home five weeks ago. Tho examination recoroners vealed the awful cause of the child's death. Ills toes were frozen off so that the bones protruded, his back was roasted and parts of his body burned off. Scarcely a square Inch of the child's body wus free from scars and bruises, and a ring round bis neqk indicated he had been banged. Cross Is said to be a demon. It Is alleged that he hangs up Ills wife by the thumbs and beats her. and that he once picked out a horse's ryes with a stick. w vw w w a asking eagerly for details of the reports about the Kaiser current in America. These the New Ysrker furnished to the best of his ability, and ended by asking: What do you personally think of him? I am afraid," replied tne young man, that my opinion on that subject is not of much value. I am the Kalsef himself. The American sprang to his feet In amazement. The Emperor cut his apologies short. My friend, said he, you have done me a service. It is hard for me to learn the truth about what is said of me just as hard as it is for people far away to learn the truth about me. But, with God's help, I will show them what is said about me is wrong. And no one," says the American in telling the story nowadays, need ssy anything about the Kaiser to me. I know a man when 1 see one. It has taken the world many years to find out how wrong was its estimate of the ruler of the German nation, bui it has b"n found out by now, or, at any rate, those wnose opinion Is worth anything have done so. Twelve years ago people talked of the mad emperor.'1 Nowadays he is referred to as "the cleverest man In Europe. The latter view according to those who know him best is far from being an exaggeration. Now York Times. PALMISTRY AND SCIENCE Proof That Readings of the Human Hand Have a Logical Basis. It appears that palmistry, stripped of the nonsense and occultism in whL h It has been befogged by Itinerant gypsies and fortune-tellerhas a scientific basis. Dr. William G. Denham, who has made a life study of the human hand from a purely scientific point of view, gives the results of his Investigations in a volume just issued by O. P. Putnam's Suns, railed Thj Laws of Scientific Hand Heading. '' The volume is a sort of modern text book and guide to the real truths which the human hand contains. Dr. Denham declares that there is so much information in the hand it will be a surprise to many, and even when it Is seen how logical, rational g and even commonplace is, perhaps it will then lie taken out of the occult class, to whlrli ft distinctly docs not belong, and placed among the other rational means at the service of mankind whereby they may be enabled to gain a better knowledge of themselves. In the preparation of this book, be says, "my ambition has been so to present this mnttpr to the public that they would see It from a novel point of view, and by disclosing the logical basis on which It rests, presiuitel without a vestige of mysticism or oc- s, hand-readin- ! j cult halo, lift it from its position as an effete superstition and place it among the modern sciences. My ambition has been to make palmistry not an amusement i:or a c at r ro mil will h cr .nki might congregate, but a study worthy of the best efforts of tho best minds. When '.ve can tell our sons and daughters what sphere in life they are host fitted lo occupy ami what studies they can lf st imisier we shall have largely reduecd tin failures of young men and women. We can prevent Hie marriago v. hnwe of peep! leinju raaients mako it !y impossible that, they should live together harmmilousiy. then we shall have largely decreased tho mnulier of divorrrs and wrecked . uli.-'(d- lives. Hvlinol fur I.lnn Tinners. school for lion tamers is tne latest ediieutional novelty proposed in Paris. d It is to Lo a institution, w..h premises in the Jartlin dos Plantes. A state-aide- Illness prevented both Mrs. McKinHarrison from giving brilliancy to the White House social functions during the administrations of their husbands. ley and Mrs. |