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Show THE INDEPENDENT. EcBtot S X. Joadan, IPndui XaBaga. lud Bvssry Thursday Mornlnar. TUUtt OF SCMCBOTIOX. 9e Ter mq il Mottba l.oo inn bmbi ao Att TOB AOTUTUINO K4TKS. Origin of the In win m. Th real origin of the Spanish Merita Meri-ta la lost in the dim past. For more than 2,000 years the Spanish shepherds have been raising this kind of sheep, and without doubt have, in the lapse of centuries, greatly modified them, as the Imaginary standard of each century cen-tury might seem to demand. Certain It is that the Spanish succeeded in producing pro-ducing a fine type of wool-producing sheep. So much was this the case that the fame of these sheep spread all oyer the world and led other nations to desire to introduce them into their own pastures. About 1765 about 300 of these sheep were introduced into Saxony. Sax-ony. There, under royal protection, they were cared for and developed along the lines of fine-wooled sheep. Since that time these Saxon Merinos have undergone considerable chasage, so much so that now they produce a fleece finer than did the original importations, im-portations, and the sheep themselves have been rendered too tender to do well in the colder portions of the United States. In 1786 about 300 Merinos Meri-nos were imported into France from Spain. There, too, they received royal protection and good care, and their original characteristics were soon changed. They are the originals of what are now called the French Merinos. Meri-nos. The importation of Spanish Merinos into the United States began in the early part of the present century. During the first twelve years more than 20.000 of them were brought Into this country and distributed mostly throughout the New England states, but also to some extent among the more southerly seaboard states. Concerning Con-cerning them F. D. Coburn says: "A large proportion of the Merino flocks of the United States, descendants descend-ants from the importations from Spain, were subsequently inbred with the Saxon and French varieties, until many of the characteristics of these were engrafted upon the American flocks. Through the exceptions to this rule, however, a sufficient number of flocks have been found tracing with reasonable proof of purity direct to their Spanish ancestry to warrant the claim that the present highest type of American Merino is the direct descendant, de-scendant, without admixture of otfier blood, of animals included In some of the several importations from Spain before the year 1812. The French Merinos have perhaps a larger carcass than the average American, and the French breeders were the first to produce pro-duce a Merino combing wool. The Saxon Merinos have been but sparingly Introduced into this country, the course of breeding in Saxony (fineness (fine-ness of fleece being the one object sought) having rendered them too ten-r ten-r for our methods of sheep husbandry." hus-bandry." Preserving KrKS- Prof. Ladd. of North Dakota College of Agriculture, in bulletin No. 35, gives the following directions for the use of water glass in keeping eggs. Water glass la silicate of soda or silicate of potash, the former being cheaper. It Is not expensive. If wooden kegs or barrels are to be used In which to pack the eggs, they should first be thoroughly scalded with boiling water to sweeten and purify them. To each ten quarts of water, which should first be boiled and then cooled, add one quart of water glass. Pack the eggs in the vessel and pour solution solu-tion over them, covering well. Keep the eggs in a cool, dark place. A dry, cool cellar is a good place. If the egs are kept in too warm a place the silicate is deposited and the eggs are not properly protected. Do not wash the eggs before packing, for by so doing you injure their keeping quality. For packing use only perfectly fresh eggs, for stale eggs will not be saved and may prove harmful to others. All packed eggs contain a little gas, and in boiling such eggs they will crack. This may be prevented by making a pin hole in the blunt end of the egg. To do this hold the egg in the hand, place the point of a pin against the shell of the egg at the blunt ena. ana give tbe pin a quick, sharp blow, just enough to drive the pin through the shell without further in-Jury in-Jury to the egg. Cows' Condition. As we have before be-fore averred, the weakest spot in our dairy practice is the wintering of the milkers, the condition of poverty they ire allowed to run down to when dry. A milking cow should be poor once a year, not poverty stricken, but robust without flesh, and that period should be at the drying-oEt point. As soon as a cow it put dry she should again begin to improve her condition and continue it surely to calving, otherwise other-wise she can never do her best A proper cow will always run herself down the first three or four months of her milking season, and this is a very good index to a cow's merit. Agricultural Agri-cultural Gazette (Tasmania). Dakota Chickens. More chickens than usual have been hatched out the present spring, and we are glad to note we tact, it means lots of tender roosters on the table this fall cheap, ; healthy meat and if properly cared for. lots of fresh eggs there, too, and many more on the counter in the store. How It does save the pocket book to take In a good crate of eggs every tlai one runs In after groceries! If you never tried it, fix things so you can take one along and see. Dakota r armer. Plowing Under Legumes. It Is undoubtedly un-doubtedly a fact that more manurlal lag leguminous crops, such as clover and cow-peas, rather than nWin them under, but the cost of hauling mem Doin ways, to ana from the barn, must be considered. When plowed under green they are already evenly "spread" over the land. Thl3 does not take into consideration the dairy question ques-tion or stock feeding. That is another story. The Bite of Pigs. It Is a rather remarkable fact that the bite of the plS is more dangerous than that of any of our farm animals. Why this is so Is not easily accounted for; but the 'act remains that Injuries inflicted by pigs usually take a much longer tims to heal than those inflicted by, say, borses or dogs. However, wounds in flieted by swine are of rather rare occurrence oc-currence Ex. FARM AND GARDEN. MATTERS OP INTEREST AGRICULTURISTS. TO Some T7p-to-Eate Hlnta A boat Cultivation Cul-tivation of the Soil and Yield Thereof Horticulture, Viticulture ud Floriculture, Mulch Inc Trees. (Condensed from Farmers' Review Stenographic Report of Northern Illinoft Horticultural Convention.) Mr. Friend. I don't believe 6trong mulching is worth anything unless you have rain enough to keep it moist below. be-low. The air can escape through the mulching and the ground cracks open and gets Just as dry below the mulching as it could get where there Is no mulching. mulch-ing. I have a place on my farm that I call the "bad acre." When a nurseryman nursery-man sends me a tree that is not true to name I plant it on that bad acre. Among others I have a little apple tree near where I throw the barnyard manure. This little tree through the summer had from four to eight inches of dry manure all around it, close to It, so it would serve as mulching if mulch ing was any good. I have dug that away after the season was over and found the ground cracked open. Such the smaller rains from going down to the roots and in that case it doesn't help the tree a bit. I am confirmed in the notion that such mulching as would be applied by the farmer, is of little value. I believe that the only mulch that is worth anything is to harrow and dig up the ground. Mr. Hoxie. Mr. Dailey is credited with saying. "If you have a watering pot, throw it away." This gentleman believes in stirring the soil. Dr. Humphrey. There is a differ ence between mulching all over your farm and a little local mulch around trees. Nature makes a mulcn in me forest bv the leaves. Nature mulches your strawberry bed with leaves in the winter. I mulch my apple trees, but I Just mulch them with the potato vines grown in my orchard. I commence diKeing the last of June or the first oi July and I invariably put the tops or my potatoes around the trees. It is a little local affair and it isn t mulching the whole ground. I have never found that it did a particle of harm, but I believe it has always done good, and the trees have flourished under a little mnirhine- nf that kind. I am sure It holds moisture because I have exam ined many times. A little mulch around individual trees of nearly every sort I believe to be a good thing and so far as I know makes a thrifty and long-lived growth. 1 never had but one calamity. I undertook to feed the catalpa as I would feed the cherry and apple, and the trees nearly died. I dwarfed them so they never amounted to anything. Mr. Morgan. I do not believe In mulching trees. I do not care to use It on anything but asparagus beds and pie plant. While on the farm I always mulched my pie plant heavily with horse manure. Q. At what time? Mr. Morgan. In the fall. I always did, and I always had the largest, fin est kind of pie plant atid asparagus. Mr. Clybourn. On my place in southern Illinois I false peaches. One of my neighbors raises the same sort of peaches that I do, but mine were far superior to his this summer, and the reason was that I had the ground cul tivated between the trees and the fruit proved to be larger and far superior. Mr. Hartwell. I want to endorse Mr. Morgan. This mulching for sav ing labor is a delusion and a snare. You cannot save labor by mulching. Tour mulching don't hold the moisture moist-ure as the cultivating will. Seed Corn Selection. Many farmers owning both bottom and upland corn fields make the mis take of using the same seed on both kinds of soils. Corn which is adapted to the soil and moisture conditions of the valleys will not do so well on the upland as will some variety that has by several years of cultivation and se lection become adapted to the condi tions there. It is for the same reason that the large Colorado potatoes that have been grown for years under irrigation irri-gation will do so poorly when used for seed in Kansas without the accustomed supply of water. It is generally the case on the farm that the corn from all the fields, both upland and bottom. Is cribbed together. When the time for seed selection comes the largest ears are picked out irrespective of the kind of soil that grew them. As the bottom land produces the larger ears it Is more than likely that the bulk of the seed will be from the lower and moist- er portions of the farm. This is the proper seed for the lowland, but it is not so well adapted to the dryer and poorer upland as is seed that has been raised there. It is advisable to select the seed either before or at husking time, when not only the quality of the ground but the character of the In dividual stalk and ear can be taken In to consideration. As has been suggested suggest-ed before, a small box attached to the sides of the wagon-bed into which the desirable ears can be thrown is the most practical device that can be recommended. rec-ommended. By a little judicious selection se-lection for a series of years, a strain can be established on the upland portion por-tion of any farm which will be well adapted to that and other soils similar to location and composition. An eight-inch eight-inch ear from the upland will ordinarily ordinar-ily prove better for planting on the upland than will a twelve-inch ear from a draw in the lower portions of the farm. J. M. Westgate. Pinching Melon Vines. Judge Miller asks a question In regard re-gard to pinching melon vines. He says: "I have questioned different melon growers on the point. Some say pinch them when the vines have run three feet; others say don't pinch them at all." Both parties are wrong, and on the extreme each way. I will give my way of doing, says a contributor to Colman's Rural World. When the melons have set on the vines, and get about the size of a goose's egg, pinch the tops off. and the tops of the side branches also, and you will have larg er melons than if not pinched, from the faC? that nstead of th nes growing fnd sPreading, the substance will grow into the melons. Is that not reasonable? reason-able? The vines may probably not have as many melons on, but they will be a great deal larger. Try a hill or two and be satisfied. It is somewhat on the same principle of trimming fruit, that left will.be larger than if all the fruit were left on the tree. I raised some of the finest pumpkins last J ear that I ever raised by pinching the tops off. I raised them between the apple tree rows, one way of my young orchard. I shall do so again this year. Cattle for Cnba. The report that there has been friction fric-tion between the officials of th r.r department aad the department of ay tlcultnre oyer the matter of admission of cattle to Cuba is unfounded. The action of the president provided for the admission to Cuba, duty free, of cattle with which to improve Cuban stock. These cattle must be half-blood or better. Under a circular issued by the department of, agriculture provision provi-sion was made for the shipment of such graded cows and bulls from Savannah, Sa-vannah, Mobile, New Orleans and Galveston, Gal-veston, where these animals were to be inspected by an inspector of the agricultural agri-cultural department and if found suit able for breeding purposes, free from disease and immune from the fever tick, they were to be passed with a certificate to be presented to the custom cus-tom officer at the port of landing. Immunity from Texas fever required that they should be shipped from points below the quarantine line. Thus far the two departments were working in co-operation. Now, however, It has been decided to do away with the Inspection In-spection in the United States by the department of agriculture and to require re-quire such inspection at the ports of entry in Cuba, which will come under the operations of the war department. There is, however, no conflict between the two branches of the government, as has been stated. The department of agriculture has been unable to provide pro-vide inspectors for all of the 101 smaller small-er ports of clearance in the United States, and thus exporters at the smaller ports have declared that they were being discriminated against, in that cattle should be shipped only from Savannah, Mobile, New Orleans and Galveston. As it is now, they can be shipped from any port without inspection, in-spection, but subject to inspection when they reach Cuba. It is stated at the department of agriculture that if cattle reaching Cuba for entry under this duty free clause fail to pass inspection, in-spection, it will not be necessary to return re-turn them to the United States, as they can still enter by paying the regular duty. The department of agriculture having no authority or funds for inspection in-spection of cattle in Cuba, this duty naturally falls upon the war department. depart-ment. The Lodging of Grain. From Farmers' Review: The lodging lodg-ing of grain is a source of considerable loss, not only in the failure of reaping machines to make a clean harvest, but because lodged grain is not fully matured ma-tured and forms on hardening a wrinkled wrin-kled and underweight grain. Lodging, Lodg-ing, however, implies a greater loss than the mere loss in harvesting or in underweight grain; it shows unmistakably unmis-takably that the crop has not been properly handled, that the soil is not favorable to grain. The falling off in yield began long before the straw became so weak that it could not support sup-port the grain heads. The popular idea is that silica has much to do with the stiffness of straw. This has been shown to be a mistake by the famous experiments at Rothemsted, England Straw badly lodged was found to con tain more silica than a sturdy, stocky straw which held its seed-head erect under severe tests. It was found by experiments that potash gave strength to 6talk and straw, and soils low in available potash invariably suffered from lodging. The cure or rather the preventive measure is very simple, for there is no cure. The point is that the manure or fertilizer applied should be well balanced. The chemical analysis shows that a full grain crop contains about the same amount of phosphoric acid and potash, hence the percentage of these two ingredients in the fertilizer fertil-izer should be about the same. A fair average fertilizer for grain would then be 6 to 8 per cent phosphoric acid and the same amount of potash together with about 2 to 3 per cent nitroeen. If any one ingredient is deficient the excess of the other two will not make up for it. All three ingredients of plant food must be present, and, as we said before, in proper proportions. This lodging of grain is quite an Important Im-portant matter to wheat growers, but with a little care and study it can be prevented. Rational manuring will solve the problem. L. J. FARMER. Cropping with Legumes. The effect of continual cropping in the exhaustion of soil nitrogen has been made the subject of study in planting peas, buckwheat, oats, etc. The results of the experiments show that only the leguminous plants were able to utilize the nitrogen of the air. An increase was noticeable in the yield of each succeeding crop of peas, while with the non-leguminous crops, each succeeding yield was poorer than the preceding one. The experiments simply snow, wnat every farmer knows or ought to know, that planting clovers, cow-peas, vetches, or any leeames tends to constantly improve the soil, while cropping with non-leguminous plants, such as corn and wheat, unless fertilizer of some kind is used, con stantly depletes the soil. Vast amounts of fertility can be saved to the soil by the liberal planting of leguminous crops. ' Mechanical Condition of the Soil. Reports of some careful experiments concerning the mechanical conditions of soils and the effect of cultivation show the result of frequent stirring of the surface soil, rolling, bed, and level culture. It was found that crops give better returns on soils kept In a crumbly condition than on those re duced to a powder-like fineness. It was found that stirring or hoeing the surface is beneficial when the soil has been packed by rains, but that the practice is detrimental during drought when the soil is already in a good mechanical condition. Rolling the land favored a uniform sprouting of seed, but in general the yield of the rolled ground was smaller than the unrolled. Packing the surface soil by means of rolling was detrimental to plant growth when the soil was not subsequently subse-quently stirred. Results were generally gener-ally in favor of level cultivation as against bedding. Crating Butter. In some of the Eastern cities, notably in Boston, a considerable amount of the butter entering en-tering into the trade is packed In five-pound five-pound boxes, and these, in turn, crated Dy dozens, so that each crate contains sixty pounds. They go to retailers who have a family trade where the customer cus-tomer buys a box at a time. Up to a certain point it is desirable to put up butter in this way, says Homestead. It costs, however, about 65 cents a hundred more to pack it; consequently when the small-package trade Is glutted and It has to sell on the basis of tub-butter prices, there is a loss In packing this way. This glut occurs occasionally oc-casionally because the trade to which it goes, although a very good class of trade, is limited. The Bite of Pigs. It is a rathar remarkable fact that the bite of the pig is more dangerous than that of any of our farm animals. Why this Is so is not easily accounted for; but the fast remains that injuries inflicted by pigs usually take a much longer tin. to heal thaa those inflicted by say horses or dogs. However, wounds inflicted in-flicted by swine are of rather rars oc-currenc. oc-currenc. Er, DAIRY AND POULTRY. INTERESTING CHAPTERS FOR OUR RURAL. READERS. How Successful Farmers Operate This Department of the Farm A Few Bints as to the Care of Lave Slock and Poultry. Milk Dilution Separators. Newspaper Bulletin No. 77, Iniiana Experiment Station: Within the past few months there has been introduced to the farmers of Indiana what is termed a dilution cream separator. This is not a separator as commonly understood by dairymen, where cream is separated from milk by centrifugal force, but is a specially constructed can, usually of large size, In which cream separates from milk by rising to the surface, by the common gravity process. The principle of creaming in this can, however, differs from that usually performed in the dairy, through the mixing of water with the milk to assist the cream .to rise. These specially made cans have certain peculiarities pe-culiarities of construction and are advertised ad-vertised by the makers as "cream separators." The cans of different manufacturers differ in form and style, but the principal feature with all is to fill the can partly full of new warm milk and then at once add a large quantity of cold water. This of course dilutes the milk, perhaps 100 per cent. In this diluted condition, the claim of the manufacturers is, that the cream wil rise more completely and rapidly than if not diluted; that in 20 to 30 minutes it will all rest on the surface of the skimmed milk, which may be drawn off from below. In 1S93 the Indiana Experiment Station Sta-tion for two weeks carried on an experiment ex-periment on the influence of dilution of milk on efficiency of creaming. The results of this work, as published in bulletin 41 of the station, were that a greater loss of fat occurs in skim milk when dilution is practiced than with undiluted milk, that the loss is greater with cold than with warm water, and that by diluting the milk a poorer quality of skim milk for feeding feed-ing is thereby produced. These results were in accordance with conclusions arrived at through similar experiments at the Vermont,, Cornell, Illinois and Ontario college stations. The process of dilution was not to be recommended as a general practice. These so-called separators are pat- GREY TOULOUSE GEESE. . ; Manly Miles: These are the two largest gaese known; they are very compact in body, dignified in carriage, quiet and gentle in disposition. When 3 years old and well fattened they will frequently weigh forty-five to fifty pounds per pair, sometimes reaching as high as sixty pounds per pair. They will lay from thirty to forty eggs in a season and seldom sit. Their feathers are valuable, of which they yield about half a pound at a picking. The goslings gos-lings are more hardy than the common variety and grow very rapidly, fre- ented, and the Cornell Experiment Station at Ithaca, N. Y., has recently published a bulletin describing and illustrating il-lustrating eight forms of them, as described de-scribed in the Patent Office Gazette. Persons interested may perhaps secure se-cure a copy of this bulletin on application. appli-cation. The farmers and dairymen of Indiana are advised not to purchase these cans. The price as a rule is exorbitant ex-orbitant and the practice of dilution is undesirable. But if the farmer wishes to secure the same results advertised ad-vertised by the makers of these cans, he may obtain them by diluting his milk in a comparatively inexpensive, round can, such as may be secured of any reputable dairy supply house, or can be made by any good tinsmith. Such a can, however, should have a faucet in the bottom, through which the skimmed milk may be drawn. In fact, if our farmers will set their milk undiluted in deep cans say eighteen to twenty inches deep and eight in diameter set in cold water or cold room, they will get more satisfactory satisfac-tory returns than when set in shallow shal-low pans oi crocks. C. S. Plumb, Director. Di-rector. About the Poultry Yard. The element of beauty should not be lost sight of in the breeding of poultry. Certainly the good-looking hen is not likely to lay any more eggs than the unsightly one. Nevertheless, there Is a real value in having a flock uniform in color and markings, and withal beautiful. The young especially are stimulated by the beauty of the fowls to take an interest in them. This interest may develop into something of value to the ones that are moved by it. Feed up the poultry for moulting time. A well-fed flock will sometimes molt so easily that the process will be hardly noticed, and will even continue to drop a few eggs every day. It is often easy to get meat from the slaughter houses. When pigs or hogs are killed there are waste portions that may be cooked and kept for a few days. This will greatly stimulate the production pro-duction of new feathers and will correspondingly cor-respondingly relieve the strain on the system. We notice in a poultry paper the expression ex-pression of the editor, "Never, never, never, feed soft messes of any kind. To us this appears a rather queer suggestion. sug-gestion. It is queer in the light of modern experience, which seema to have demonstrated that the soft mesa is a great boon to the poultry, especially espe-cially if they have been for months confined to a grain ration. Many of our most successful poultrymen feed soft food once a day the year round, and find it of great advantage. The writer of this always had trouble with Indigestion in his fowls before he adopted the plan of giving the fowls a breakfast of cooked or scalded ground food. Since that time, a period f Ove yesrs, bo indigestiea has ap- pesretl, and he attributes that fact en tirely to the fact that the whole-grain ration was In part supplanted by a food that required less work by the digestive organs of fowls. Milking Machine. Conversing recently with an expert on dairy machinery, I was confirmed m the view that the "Thistle" milking machine, despite its many excellences, has a deteriorating influence on the keeping qualities of the milk. Some experiments carried out by the Highland High-land Society of Scotland, pointed strongly in this direction, and practical prac-tical users are arriving at the same conclusion, says T. Bowick of London, Eng.. in Country Gentleman. One wonders whether butter particles are fractured, or how the trouble comes about. Certain it is that the "March-land" "March-land" machine, which has not apparent ap-parent pulsating action, did not similarly sim-ilarly affect the produce. I see that Rider Haggard, who is now a Norfolk country squire, in giving an address cn the difficulties that surround the farmer, mentions the great trouble he has in obtaining efficient milkers, and thinks of going in for a machine. But he takes a pessimistic view of things all round. Of course the attractions of the army and polite services, railways, rail-ways, mines and (in towns) the building build-ing trades cannot be gainsaid, when comparative wages are considered; but to assure us that none save the idle, the aged and the very young are left is an unwarranted and fabulous statement. state-ment. The Kin? liird and the I'oullryman. Don't allow the small boy with the squirrel rifle to go into your groves and practice his marksmanship on the King birds, says Wallace's Farmer. The question is often asked what is the best method of destroying the hawks which prove such a hindrance to the poultry raiser. The success which you meet with in destroying the hawks will be nothing to brag about, it matters not what plan you may adopt to that end. The hawk is an exceedingly wary bird, and you will spend many wuary hours trying to trap him, without success. But you can enter into an alliance with the King birds, and when the hawk comes strolling stroll-ing your way in search of a dinner they will furnish him so much entertainment enter-tainment that he will forget what he came for. He will soon learn where a pair of these audacious little fighters are on guard, and will avoid the local- , 3 J A J r if, i ' &fz? c-wr t- -zC . quently weighing, when 4 or 5 weeks old, from six to eight pounds each, and at 3 months from fifteen to eighteen eight-een pounds. They require no food but pasturage, except in winter. In color the gpese and gander are alike, but can be distinguished by the form and voice, the gander being taller and more upright than the goose, while they have larger necks and a higher-keyed voice than the goose. The quality of the iiesh is good. On this page we show a pair of gray geese of this variety. va-riety. ity in his flights. The King bird kills some bees, and for that reason everybody every-body so minded think they have a license to slay them' without mercy; but bees constitute but a small portion por-tion of their subsistence, and nobody ever had a colony of bees seriously weakened by the contributions which they have levied upon it. They beat everything against hawks, and if a few families of them can be induced to make their homes in the premises no other protection is needed. The poultry raiser who sanctions the killing kill-ing of the King birds on his place is depriving himself of the services of some mighty good friends. Slieep Killing I)o;a. C. P. Reynolds, writing in Michigan Michi-gan Farmer, says: I recently heard a well established and practical farmer farm-er in speaking of sheep prospects assert: as-sert: "I wish there was a tax of five dollars per head on every dog in the state today; perhaps then we could thin out a few sheep-killing curs." Judging from the reports 1 of sheep killing by dogs from various parts of the state there are a good many sheep raisers who wish the same thing, and most heartily. I bave it on the authority au-thority of one who is in a position to know, that there have been over one hundred and twenty-five dollars worth of sheep killed in this township already al-ready this season, and the first two mouths of pasturing are scarcely past. One farmer is reported to have lost sheep to the assessed value of forty-six forty-six dollars; another has just suffered losses that will sum up to fifty dollars dol-lars or more. These estimates are not exaggerated, and in all probability come close to, if not below, the actual value of the sheep killed and injured. Other small losses, compartively, are reported that will easily bring the damages up to the estimated value of sheep destroyed. And what is more to the point, the chances are very poor indeed that any of the losers will be able to realize more than fifty per cent of the value as estimated at the time of killing by the appraiser. Some states are enacting laws against mob violence by making the county responsible with a substantial cash consideration to the party or relatives rel-atives of the party suffering Injury. It is supposed that this i3 about the only thing that is going to have the desired effect. Would it not be a good idea if the sheep farmers of the state were protected In some similar manner? man-ner? At the most, it is scant protection pro-tection that they have at present when injuries are paid pro rata out of the dog fund. Dyspeptic Fowls. Fowls troubled with dyspepsia can be cured generally. Provide ample room for each bird, with pure water, feeding regularly a well-balanced ration, with generous exercise in obtaining food, and this will restore these cases to health as a rule. Ex. Ii FRAYING FOR RAM POPULACE PROSTRATES ITSELf UPON THE PLAINS. Queer Custom In Southern Persia Th High Priest Bosses the Job, Bad If Usually a Weather Prophet of No Mean Ability. (Special Letter.) A rainless season in Southern Persia causes great privation and loss to th natives more especially the poorei class, as they depend on the rain to eoften the baked-up soil, so that they can plow it with their rude implements and sow their corn, etc. And not only Is the drought a terror to the natives, it is also a cause for anxiety to the Europeans, Eu-ropeans, who are scattered about in the different provinces in twos and threes. For, in rainless times, pillaging pillag-ing becomes rife in the towns, and highway robbery an every-day occurrence. occur-rence. The drought 13 invariably put down to the least likely circumstance, and at such times a more evil eye than ever is cast upon the unfortunate stranger. The populace must have some outlet or other for their feelings, feel-ings, and consequently something is singled out as being the cause of the drought more especially so If that something has any connection with a European. In such cases a howling mob speedily congregates, and the of- PRAYING FOR RAIN, fending person is given an exceedingly uncomfortable quarter of an hour, if indeed his house be not forthwith demolished. de-molished. In times of drought the clerics hold constant prayer meetings at the mosques, and the various signals sig-nals are generally given by the high priest, who, watching a favorable opportunity op-portunity (probably when a few black clouds are about), orders an en masse prayer meeting, sending criers around the town for the purpose. The whole populace promptly troops out onto the plains beyond the town and then, facing fac-ing the southwest in the direction of Mecca, and led by the clerics, they engage en-gage in prayer now standing, now squatting, or else bending their bodies till their foreheads touch the ground, as seen in the remarkable photograph reproduced. Or they touch with their foreheads the little piece of stone (from Mecca) that most of them carry with them. All the earnest devotees keep time more or less with the high priest. The prayers sometimes last a whole day, great reverence being constantly con-stantly shown to the high priest. Hundreds Hun-dreds of the faithful kiss his hands oi garments, whenever an opportunity offers. of-fers. And should rain happen to fall within a week, his fame spreads far and wide. Needless to say the high priest is a weather prophet, and he is careful to select a time when he has good reason to suppose that a heavy shower is not far off. BLAND'S OLD KENTUCKY HOME (Bardstown, Ky., Letter.) It was not generally known until recently re-cently that Hon. Richard Bland, the free silver champion, who died a short time ago In Lebanon, Mo., resided in Nelson county for several years prior to the removal of the family to Missouri, Mis-souri, but such, nevertheless, is the case. This was between the years 1840 and 1850. The house occupied by the Blands is still standing near the railroad rail-road station of Greenbrier, about six miles east of this place. The building is a two-story stone structure, with a brick addition of a single story, built in recent years. The original house has the distinction of being the oldest stone residence In the state. It was erected in 1783, as an inscription on large stone in the chimney, Just above the old-fashioned spacious fireplace fire-place in the front room records. The house was built by Joseph Fenwick, a Philadelphia speculator, who bought ! the tract of land upon which the building build-ing is located from Benjamin Cox, a saddler of Lexington. The original tract contained 1,000 acres, and lay along the waters of Millcreek. Fenwick Fen-wick erected mills along the stream. and made a fortune from the sale of , lumber. Up and down Millcreek he ' erected many mills, the ruins of several ! of them being visible to this day. j In Bardstown there are a number of old citizens who have a very clear recollection of the elder Bland, who, it is said, would make weekly visits here for the purpose of purchasing household house-hold supplies. The location of the old stone house is exceedingly picturesque. It occupies occu-pies a high elevation, and is surrounded surround-ed by some of the most beautiful scenery scen-ery to be found in the state. The old building is a very handsome one, and contains several commodious apartments, apart-ments, all finished in hardwood. It gives ample evidence of the skill of tha mechanics of the ecrl7 days of the century cen-tury in the substantial character of th walls. In the firmness of the joists. In the door frames and the Interior work. The land surrounding the residence is very rich. One of the largest distilleries distiller-ies in this section of the state is located lo-cated on Millcreek, a short distance from the historic old stone mansion. There are many interesting spot3 on the place, chief among which is the old BLAND'S BOYHOOD HOME, stone spring house, from which "Silver "Sil-ver Dick," in his youthful days, carried car-ried many a bucketful of ice-cold water. A moss-covered stone at the entrance of the spring house bears the initial letters, "R. P. B." These letters are large, crudely formed, and are said to have been carved by the champion of free silver when he was a barefooted boy. The old "Bland place" is widely known, and since the death of Mr. Bland many visitors have been attracted at-tracted to It. He Are you fond of dancing? She Look here, you can't talk, but you can dance, so suppose we have another turn. Moonshine. SUBSCRIBE . FOR . . s I TH E a . . ONLY . . 2.00 PER YEAR. ...All the Hews Each Week... SALT LAKE HOT SPRINGS SANITARIUM, (America's Carlsbad) Turkish, Massage and Electric Manicure and Hair Dressing J. SGHENCK Business Manager. 52 W. 3rd South St. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. G.E. ANDERSON PORTRAIT AND LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER. Dealer in FRAMES, PICTURE FITTINGS and GLASS in all sizes, Pictures copied and enlarged by home artists, Pictures of family groups, residences, stock or any sub- Jeots taken en the spot. Keep yoop JWoney at Home. 8PB.INGVILLE, UTAH. The. Colorado Midland Railway Has the best throngh car seryice in the west. If you are going to Colorado Springs, Denver, Cripple Creek or any other point in the East, it will pay you to use the Pike's Peak Route. ::::::::: W. F. Bailkt, Gen. Pass. Agt. Denver, Colo. PENDENT H.G.Wood Tonsoriai Artist. All Work Lone in the Highest Style of the Art. One Door North of Dr. Peterson's Drug Store. Agent for Provo Steam Laundry. A. A. BROWN, TONSORIAL ARTIST. FOK an easy share and an artistic haircut, call on him. Xja.c3.iosi and - Cliildron's HAIR cuts a specialty. AGENCY for the TROY STEAM laundry. Salt Lake. Parlor next to Postoffloe, Spring!! MANAGER OF TDK Bpringville Roller Mills- MAiCCFACTTJKER OF AND DEALER Ilff FLOUR and FEED Custom grinding a specialty. Cash paid for wheat. Mill north of Springville. BO YEARS' EXPERIENCE ARKS rP.&2in Desks i 'rttVT Copyright NS GHTS &C qutcklT aacertatn our opinion fvoe whether as InTentlon Is probsWr pmeniHhle. Conimuntc-Uous Conimuntc-Uous itrtctly ronfXIenttal. Handbook on Patents sent free. Oldest auenrT for securing patents. Patents taken through Munn A Co. Mcelre rptriat notice, wit nout ciiarge. iu the Scientific American. A handsomely Illustrated weekly. Lars-ee elr-Mlatlon elr-Mlatlon of any scientiflo Journal. Terms. M a year: four months, tL Sold by all newsdealers. MUNN &Co.36lB"ad- New York Braocb Office. t3S F St, Washington, D. C 32-ellhre eartridees for a Marltn. Model T I 492. cost only J ..( a thou. and. 33-callkre cartridges for nay other rrpeater made, cost ((12 UO a thousand. Yon can save the entire cost of your Martin on the nrst two thou&antl cartridges. Why this Is so Is fully explained In the Marlln Hand liook for shooters. It also tells how to caro for hrearms and how to use thein. How to load cartridges with the different kinds of black and smokeless powders. It (jIvps trajectories, Te-locltles, Te-locltles, penetrations and HK) oth'-r points of interest to sportsmen. 198 paijes. iree, 1 you THE EARL IN FIRE-ARMS CO., 2Tew HaTtn.Ct Send 15. fornample tube of Martin Rut-Rcrller. Dr. Humphreys' Specifics set directly upon the disease, without exciting disorder in other parts of the system. Thej Cure the Sick, so. ccrcs. micrs. 1 Fevers, Congestions, Inflammations, .'ii ft Worms, Worm Fever, Worm Colic. . .25 3 Teet bine. Colic, Cry lng.Wakef ulness .23 4 Diarrhea, of Children or Adults 23 T Couchs. Colds, Bronchitis 23 8 Neuralgia. Toothache, Faceacbe. 23 5 Headache. Sick Headache, Vertigo. . .23 10 Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Weak Stomach. 23 1 1 Suppressed or Pninful Periods 25 12 Whites. Too Prof use Periods 25 13 Croup, Laryngitis. Hoarseness 25 14 Salt Rheum, Erysipelas. Eruptions.. .23 15 Rheumatism. Rbeuni3tlc Pains 23 16 Malaria, Chills, Fever and Ague 25 19 C atarrh. Influenza. Cold In the Head .25 20 Vhooplnc- ouch 25 2T Kidney Diseases 25 28 erous Debility 1.00 30 I'rlnary Weakness, Wetting Bed... .25 77 G rip. Hay Ferer 25 Dr. Humphreys' Manual of all Diseases at yonr Drugelstsor Mailed Fre. Sol4 ov druggists, or sent on receipt of price. Humphreys' ileil. Co Cor. William i John St, Mew ork. OREGON SHORT LINE RAILWAY. Operating 1421 miles of Railroad Rail-road through the thriving States of UTAH, IDAHO, WYOMINS, OREGON AND MONTANA. The Only Ro;id to Butte, Helena, Portland, And the North Pacific Coast. 4 DAILY TRAINS BETWEEN OGDEN AN D SALT LAKE. The Popular Line to all Utah Mining Districts. The only Road to Mercur. The Fastest Service in Connection witn the Lnion Pacific System to All Points East. Buy our tickets via the "SHORT LINE," Utah's Fastest and Best Railroad. General Offices, 0. S. L BuMbi, Salt Ms City, otaL I. W. ECCLK. D. E. BCTRLEY, Oenl Traffic Mgr. Oen. Pass. & T'kt. Agt W. H, BANCROFT. Y Ice-President nd General Manager. JOHN I HOOVER JB |