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Show 3ETSEY BLESSING. Th summer of the year 1776, when fhe American army was stationed in New York, the commander-ln-chier. Gen. Washington, was Indulging in a brief resting spell after dinner when be was approached by an orderly, who i saluted and said: joucg woman who rails herself Betsey Ann Blessing would have- speech wiin your excellency." "Betsey Ann Ble;;ing?" repeated Washington, with a momentary show of irritation; "who Is she. and why I may she not defer hrr business till the morrow? I warrant me that her lover is a prisoner or war. and she is ready to swear that he is a loyal whig: What think you. Holdfast?" "'If it please your excellency, she 13 well favored, as far as I could i:nov frem her crying, for the is in sore trouble." "Aye! I am a hp soothsayer! (drying, (dry-ing, is sn? Sin.- li'-r in. Holdfast, and see that thf gujid trouble her not. 1 misdoubt my own jid-cmcnt in giving giv-ing audien'p to uraugeis in thee troublous titii-. it mtyha; that .Miss-tress .Miss-tress Blessing prov- a traitor in disguise." dis-guise." Th order. soon returned. usher ing in a girl so y.;i;ng she appeared j like a child, .-t.nd in-if-d acted 'ike one, for no sooBi-r did she stand in the j presence of the gre.:f man than she j seized his h r.! - t L;.t hand at stalwart ' proportions ;r. droj-jin on hr knees ki. : u it v i i 1 1 he ar: u or dfvotce. Manwii! down hrT fa?,- in j hf r form clunk v. ; ; tears M r. ;i:ne 1 j -M, i tfi; n i;;.s. and : i sniiid t .-.! cino- ! titTis. Washington had a t.-ndt r -art, and be wns greatly ili.-'!s" ; hy this unusual un-usual scene. "Now. Mistress LS!e-sing." sa Id Washington, Wash-ington, in his kin-!-.--t manner. "tdi iae what brinfis you hither, and what vo ir errand may h-? ' "I came hither to save your excellency's excel-lency's life!" was the startling response. re-sponse. It is a matt-r cf history that Gen. Washington never disdained the simplest sim-plest detail of army news, also that ilispatch.es of the i-ifatrst hr. pirtunee were brought t i.im in the m;st trivial tri-vial way. Instead, 'h-u. of la ighing at the apparent p: sumption cf this weeping girl. Is- hade h-r tcil l.im everything, promising her Immunity from punishiiTnt in ase her news was not as weighty as shf anticipate!. Thus encouraged. s-:.e began her story. "On the morcw your excellency is to dine with several ,;ficers of your command, com-mand, under guard?' "How do yc-it know that, girl?" asked Washington, much surprised. "Your excellency will lav certain plans against the enemy before the company?" "Proceed!" commanded Washington, sternly. "Among the dishes set before your excellency will he a new vc-getabie, of whi h you are very fond." "Ah." laughed ih- general, "you have lost or forgotten an order from the kitchen. licit' indeed is a new version of the; mountain and the mouse! " "1 know not. gracious sir, what meaning that hath of the mountain an i the muurf," cried Betsey, "hut if 1 mess of green peas he served at table on the morrow, I beg and beseech you, sir, not to taste o" them!" "Wherefore, Mistress Blessing?" 1 asked Washington, in his sternest j manner. j "The peas will he poisoned i" i "How do you know this?" demanded the general, in the toae which made hi? soldiers quail when they heard it. "Speak, and see that you trifle not with me. Nay. child, do not fear! If what you say be true, not you. but the traitor who planned the dastardly-deed, dastardly-deed, shal! .staffer!" "No, no!" retorted the trembling girl, "no one must sufler! Is it not enough that I have dared to come into a lion's jaws to teli or" the deed to insure in-sure safety for the designer thereof? Now that I have warned your excellency, excel-lency, permit me to retire from your distinguished presence." j Gen Washington gave a signal, and ! Instantly an armed guard of soldiers responded. "Arrest this girl!" he said, sternly, and keep her under guard until such time as she sends for me to confess her ' fault!" j "That will I never, though I die In j prisou!" was the defiant reply, as the ! girl, who had entered bowed and weeping, weep-ing, raised her head proudly and walked out with the soldiers like a young queen. All was tumult in the kilehens at Richmond 11:1!, and cooks were running run-ning about getting into one another's way. when a fair-haired youth in the garb cf a serving-man l iitered in and made his way tinobserved to the great fireplace, where he uncovered the skillets skil-lets in which the vegetables were simmering sim-mering on the hearth. When he came tr that one containing the peas he dropped in a handful of some condiment condi-ment and instantly took his departure. His next appearance was under the window of that room in which Mistress Blessing was incarcerated. i'fA5 -'-is -A i V i -NOW. MISTRESS BLESSING. WHAT BRINGS YOU HITHER?" j "H-i-s-t! Sweetheart! The doss is ! ready. Keep heart until the morrow, when I will myself release thee to ride pick-a-back on my roaa horse. It is told In the town that Betsey Ann j Blessing is arrested for a spy! Keep yp your courage, sweetheart!" "If you would befriend me. betake ' yourself to" some safer place." whis- pered Betsey s voice through the barred window far above him. "A j baiter i'l be ready for your neck if j to you are tfcei or suspected, and, listen. ' if your dose takes effect, you are no ! longer lover of mine! j The youth went away, grumbling ; about all being fair In love and war. j sess If Washington was different from , and his omal self at that historic dinner. the fa was not even recorded. There waa much secret discussion of weighty 1 M r pC W Lt mmmi Jm Vss&'h 11 f V WWW t.'tJt f.'ie re ' 'iT--13 l-J .'-1 y ,J PKALES WASHINGTON. iff airs with his guests, and he gave close attention to the viands set before be-fore him. It was not. however, until the vegetables were served that he made any allusions to the food. When his favorite vegetable, a dish of green peas, was uncovered, he demanded attention, at-tention, an l when all was silent, remarked re-marked in a loud voice: "There is death in the pot!" A great excitement ensued; the guests, who were in full uniform, drew their swords, and murmurs of "Death (. v' . t .- s PARTOOK EAGERLY OF THE PEAS, to the traitor!" were heard on every side. Then Washington sent for Mistress Blessing, who came with a defiant light in her eye, and was given the seat of honor at her host's right hand. She took with a dignity that called forth approving and admiring comments. Soldiers are proverbially gallant, and those of " '76" were no exception to the rule. A servant was next sent out by the commander-in-chief on a peeuli-ir errand. er-rand. He returned, bringing w;ih him a live and particularly active chicken, which partook eagerly of the dish of peaa. And in five minutes by the watch it lay dead in their midst. Betsey Ann Blessing married her lover, after turning him into a patriot, and Washington himself gave away the bride. How much he knew remained re-mained his own secret, but green peas never afterward graced his table or were alluded to in his conversation. PEALE'S PORTRAIT. Interesting Kadi tiincoruiaj the ric- lure anil lt History. The recent placing on exhibition in the main hallway of independence hail. Philadelphia, opposite the old liberty bell, of the large full-length portrait of Washington, which is said to have been painted by the noted Philadelphia artist. Charles Wilson Peale. in 17X1. has naturally attracted considerable atttntion from art connoisseurs and visitors to the hall, particularly as the painting has been hung in its present position with the announced object in view of its purchase for jy.O'Jlt by the city from the American Art association associa-tion of New York, its present owner. Since the picture has been placed ! in the old state house Charles Henry ' Hart of that city, the noted expert on ; historical painting, has discovered some very curious and interesting ma-I ma-I terial regarding it. Among other j-things Mi. Hart has pointed out the j fact that the painting is not an tirigi- tial from life, but a replica, one of sev eral copies made by the artist and sold for thirty guineas each, or about $150. Mr. Hart has further stated that the original painting is still extant, and. moreover, in Philadelphia, banging in the hallway of the country place of the late Thomas McKean. Germantown. and is In excellent condition. This picture was purchased at auction by Henry Pratt McKean in 1S51 for 53B'J. Concerning the history of the copy of this picture now. offered for sale to Philadelphia, the following is an extract ex-tract from a communication received by Director Riter from Thomas E. Kirby of the American Art association: "Replying to your inquiries in reference refer-ence to the portrait of Gen. Washington Washing-ton by Charles Wilson Peale, now In our possession, we will state that the painting was purchased in Cadiz, Spain, in February, 1S96. by our Paris agent. M. Montaignac. This painting for many years was in the hands of bankers bank-ers in Cadiz, held as collateral, and although they knew the work to be the portrait of an American general not know it to be : mortal V.'ashii sending the picture was Don Juan a the Un uection eae in painted traits 3 t J 1 OtS ' date (17S1). Before sending the por trait to us our agent showed the picture pic-ture in Paris, and we quote from a letter written by a well-known connoisseur. con-noisseur. G. A. Lucas, an intimate frixnd of the late William H. Stewart of Philadelphia, the famous connoisseur: connois-seur: " "Dear M. Montaignac: So much interested in-terested waa 1 in the Pcale portrait of Washington now in your possession that, after seeing it, I visited Versailles in order to examine one by the same artist which has been in the gallery for a great many years, and was glad to find that your portrait, according to my judgment, is ruperior to it both in execution of the ligure and the accessories, acces-sories, the latter in the Versailles one having all the appearance of having been painted by another than that of Peale. The Versailles portrait is unsigned; un-signed; yours bears the artist's signature. signa-ture. I hope, as you tell me its destination destina-tion is America, that it will a permanent perma-nent resting place in a public gallery, and it now occurs to me that a most fitting one would be Mount Vernon. 1 am always happy v. hen I see "epavea" of our early history rescued from loss and destruction and li tiding a home in our country, where they may be always al-ways seen and fully appreciated and admired.' " The ISirtliflaj- T.esMon. Today's a holiday, you know, And so we children, just for fun, Said we would dress like old-time foiks, And I'd be Martha Washington. We searched through all the garret's chests And found, among forgotten hoards. The stiffest silks, and old brocades, And ruffled caps and tarnished swords. And when at last we all were dressed. We went to my great-grandma's room. She smiled and colored with delight, L'nti! her cheeks were all in bloom. But somehow, her blue eyes grew grave. As each girl told her chosen name, And finally she gently said, "It is a very pretty game. Yet take care children, that you wear. Not only clothes of ancient days. But manners of those gracious dames Who won all by their gentle ways. The orow beneath your powdered . hair Is very fair, my great-grandchild; So keep your thoughts; and let your eyes Reflect a heart both true and mild, "This hand which holds a painted fan Must work, that tired hands may rest; Since Martha Washington, we know, Could spin and weave at want's request. Ihe feet where buckled slippers shine May some day tread a thorny road. Hold fast the pictures of brave lives. And never falter with the load." Then dear great-grandma blessed us all, And down the hall our steps we turned. It is a holiday, it's true, But every girl her lesson learned. - Mary Livingston Burdick. The illustration shows the old Sul- grave manor house, in Northamptonshire, Northampton-shire, the English ancestral home or George Washington. The coat of arms used by Washington may be over the doorway been made to HOUSE OF ANCESTORS. . I sMsJi cgiffiiEN .i WHERE WASHINGTON LIVED. A wealth of historic recollection hovers hov-ers about the world-famous Mount Vernon, where Washington, the first president of the American republic, lived and died. The magnificent old estate on the banks of the Potomac river, but a short distance from the capital city, annually attracts thousands thou-sands of visitors from all over the earth visitors whose chief aim when coming to Washington for the first time is to look upon the spot where the "Father of His Country" spent his life. No one could conceive a more charming spot for the location of a mansion ot rnea en o-ranrl QTirl CO his- toric. High above the southern bank j of the river Potomac the estate is lo- ! cated. It rests on the highest part of the hilly territory which characterizes the vicinity, and the mansion with its barns and surrounding buildings is half hidden from the gaze of river pii- - tf'r- .. THE RESIDENCE OF WASHINGTON. WASHING-TON. grims by stately1.' trees which have etood there scores upon scores of years. Closely trimmed lawns and carefully pruned shrubbery give an added touch of beauty to th environ ments of the old-time mansion and the snug-clipped hedges which surround ; the COUt at the rear of Ihp h nil a a rri mind one strongly of the days gone by. juoun. vernon is an imposing relic of the century past; a reminder of the days when colonial architecture was at its height. Eight tall pillars guard the broad piazza at the front of the house, and a picturesque balustrade of lattice work ornaments the edge of the piazaa roof. From the front veranda one may : catch a glimpse of the silent river ae it Eweeps onward to the sea. The rear of the mansion is typical of old South- ern days. A broad courtyard, with grav- j v i ri uic nuu wcu-ivcjt lcxvvuo, snetcnes away from the white-painted mansion j to the woodland at the rear. Roomy j horse sheds extend back from the main building on either side, and lead the eye to where greenhouse and immaculate immacu-late dairy and carriage sheds stand. The hothouse is stocked with the rarest of plants, and is one of the points of interest which always attracts visitors. The stable wherein is kept the famous chariot In which Washington rode is another attraction for the excursionists, excursion-ists, and although the coach is fast dropping into a state of dilapidation, THE COURTYARD, find is so shaky that no oae is allowed to touch it, it remains a point of great interest r-"";-,-i P etea. - ed religious controversy. He was the most tolerant of men. Tom Paine, hounded to death by priests and people, peo-ple, never received anything but real kindness from him. and although in a fit of "righteous anger" he spurned the dedication of the deist's famous or infamous attack on Christianity, going even so far as to order the public j hangman to burn the book, it is doubt-I doubt-I ful if in his heart he cherished any real I disdain. He had been born and bred in the Established Church; it never occurred to him to inquire into the why and wherefore of any religious ! dogma. This easy-going tolerance per haps contributed as much as anything tois success; for even as he was not sufficiently orthodox an Episcopalian to antagonize the sects, so his broad, all-embracing Christianity could forgive for-give even the unbeliever. And it is not indubitable that he had not thought. Some men have there been whose greatness has lain in that they held their tongue. The Washing ton "Monument. Oh, pure, white shaft upspringlng to the light With one grand leap or heavenward-reaching heavenward-reaching might, Calmly against the blue forevermore Lift thou the changeles--. type of souls that soar Above the common dust of sordid strife Into the radiant ether of a life Shepherded by the vastness of eternity! eter-nity! A hero's quickenii g spirit lifteth thee Unto the sides thai claim thee for their own: In those vast fieh s of light, sublime, alone. High commune holdest thou with the young day, With sunset's glowing heart ere twilight twi-light gray Hath stilled its throbbing fires, and with dim night That folds thee softly in the silver light Of many a dreaming moon. In majesty. maj-esty. Serene, like the great name enshrined in thee, Thou dost defy the all-destroying years. Smite with thy still rebuke our craven fears! Point us forever to the highest height, And in our nation's peril-hours shine white With thy mute witness to the undying power Of the high soul that lives above the hour! Jul. a Larned, in the February Scrib-ner's. Scrib-ner's. Washington Am a Youth. The early age at which Washington developed the tender passion has been noticed. In fact, it was despair at the uncompromising attitude of a certain "Lowland Beauty" that he lied to the domain of Lord Fairfax, afterward his patron. The noble gentleman had left England and buried himself in the wilderness wil-derness on account of a disappointed passion; perhaps G?orge, who was then coming fifteen, felt there might be a bond between two such "wounded hearts," at any rate, before he had been many months under Fairfax's eye. just as he was completing his sixteenth six-teenth year, he set out on a surveying expedition. The Englishman's ground included thousands of acres of the most fertile country in the world, extending ex-tending in a wide strip from the sea to the Alleghanies. It was no small sign of confidence to allow a youth to lay out such a country. This position is merely a sample of the many important im-portant places he held. At 19 he was major of the Virginia militia; at 21 he commanded an important expedition expedi-tion to Du Quesne. Small wonder is it that his first love came so young. Washington Personal Enciwr vainly warned to leave, but returned mere taunts. One day, while riding about the estate, Washington heard a gunshot from near the river. He speeded his horse through the bushe3 and carne upon the thief just as he was setting out in his canoe. The man raised his gun with a threatening air but the surveyor, riding out to the boat, wrested the weapon from hi? grasp and broke it" over his shoulders. shoul-ders. He then proceeded to yank the poacher out of his canoe and duck him until he gasped. He never trespassed on that estate again. FIRST MONUMENT INGTON. TO WASH- For the second time since its erection erec-tion in 1827 the first monument ever raised to the memory of George Washington Wash-ington is in ruins. It was originally built by the united efforts of the peo- FIRST MONUMENT TO WASHING- . TON AS BUILT, pie of Boonsboro, Md., on the top of South Mountain, a lofty cliff commanding command-ing a wide view of the surrounding country. On July 4. 1827, almost all the adult population of the village, headed by a band, mrrched up the steep path to the top of the mountain and there went to work. There were stonemasons and builders among them, and every man did his best to help. The foundation had been laid previously, but on that one day the entire suoerstructure of the monument monu-ment was built. it is fifty-four feet in circumference at the base and fifteen fif-teen feet high, composed of a wall made up of large stones, the interior being filled with the same material. In the center a stairway led up to the top of the pile. Twelve feet from the base, on the side fronting Boonsboro, a white marble tablet was inserted bearing a fitting inscription. Many soldiers who fought in the revolutionary revolution-ary war took part in the erection of the monument, and the oration was delivered by a clergyman ivho had served as chaplain in the continental armies. In 1872 nothing was left of the original orig-inal monument but the foundation and a few crumbling fragments. At that time a movement was started to restore re-store the monument and in 1883 it was rededicated, having been raised to a height of fifty feet and surround- Of 4 WM FIRST MONUIj-'"' DAIRY AND POTJLTEY. INTERESTING CHAPTERS FOR OUR RURAL READERS. flow Succegful Farmers Operate This Department of the Farm A Few Bints as to tbe Care of JLive Stock and Poultry. Eg or Market Ponltry? from the Farmers' Review: Very often one is asked which is more profitable, profit-able, eggs or market poultry? It would be impossible to answer such a question with any degree of accuracy unless one knew the con ditions under which the eggs or poul try would be produced. If one is situate! sit-uate! where they can receive a good price for young chicks, say from S to 12i,2 cents per pound, and they can buy feed at the rate of 30 cents per bushel for corn and GO cents per hundred for bran, they can certain y make a nice thing of it in raising market chicks from such breeds as 1'. It.. Dottes or Light Brahmas. Unless one has very inconvenient poultry arrangements or an unhealthy location 1 wou.d unhesi tatingly advise oue so placed to raise as great a number of chicks for market as psible, setting ever heu and every setable egg. one would need to get not less than 8 1-3 cents per dozen tor eggs all summer to come any where near making the same profit. You mow you must remember to take into account the feeu it takes to raise those chicks, and the extra bother above what it would eake to procure and market the eggs. If one is where they receive a week ly average of 15 cents per dozen the year through for eggs and feed is not too high, it would oe better to devote the poultry business to tgg production unless the price for market chicks is as high correspondingly. It is, perhaps, per-haps, always best to raise enough young stock eaeh year to replace the old, but some times one can procure of some one cheaper than they can grow themselves; every one must decide de-cide such things tor themselves. One who farms principally for eggs will (or should have) a steady weekly or semi-weekly income, while one who depends mostly upon the sales of chicks will receive his money but a few times per year, but then the sums will be larger. It is necessary to have many more hens if eggs are the aim, than if one raises chicks, and of course more houses and yards. Sudden showers will have no terrors and the fight against lice will not hive to be waged so steady, but against thij one will have broody hens to "break up" and some of them are very contrary con-trary minded, and should the hen3 go on a strike from no accountable and no findable cause your profit for one year would be slim, if there was any, and partly from having all your eggs in one basket. If eggs are the aim, a decided egg-laying breed should be chosen, probably no better could be found than Leghorns or Minocas, and if you raise a garden a very tall feuce would be necessary to fence again them, for they are high flyers. Keeping one wing cropped will lessen les-sen the danger of them flying over the fence. Where they are ket. yarded the yard could be covered with netting and this is the least vexat'ous way to confine them. They will not bear confinement con-finement as well as the heavier breeds, and are easier put out of laying for a time. Like the Jerseys in the dairy, they are a very nervous and active ac-tive breed so of course are more easily eas-ily disturbed. Where market poultry-is poultry-is the aim, choose a heavy breed; perhaps per-haps Light Brahmas or Cochins are preferable; Langshans are also a heavy weight, but they do not get weighty as young as the other two. These breeds are satisfied most any where, so they are fed, lay well in spring ' are most excellent sitters and mothers. But care must be taken in preparing their sitting places where they will be undisturbed and will not need to hop down upon their nest else they will break many eggs. If healthy stock is used the eggs hatch well and the chicks are healthy, quick growers. If fatted they present an attractive appearance when dressed. No breeds are better for villagers. With a few exceptions both eggs and chicks for market are the most satisfactory satis-factory for the farmer; all the chicks possible from the 1st of April until the last of June, and all the eggs possible pos-sible the remainder of the year. For this business there is perhaps no breeds so satisfactory as P. Rocks or Wyandottes, any variety of either of these breeds you most fancy. They have most of the good points, with but few bad ones, and are certainly very attractive to the eye. EMMA CLEAR WATERS. Look Oat for the Hull. A breeder of Jersey cattle told us this week that, notwithstanding the bad reputation which Jersey bulls have, they will never become ugly unless un-less they are unkindly treated, says an exchange. WTe are inclined to take issue with this statement. While it is no doubt true that irascibility and ugliness ug-liness of temper are often provoked by improper usage and treatment, we still believe that these periodical and unlooked for outbreaks of temper on the part of the bull, whether Jersey or any other breed, are a natural outgrowth out-growth of the peculiar instincts of the animal and not to be absolutely prevented pre-vented by kind treatment. The bull in Nhis native wilds is a fighter from his . A u jr. I Tr v , at the head of his herd by virtus youth up and only holds his position superior fighting awmy. When dis- placed by a younger and stronger rival ri-val or when whipped out in a contest for leadership, such bulls will always wander -'off by themselves and when met are always ugly and ready to fight. In the old buffalo days we have frequently seen these outcasts of the herd by themselves, and it was always best to let them alone unless one wanted a scrap. Our own experience with these animals justifies us in the statement that plenty of good hard work for the bull is the best possible preventive for this disposition on his and forty-on animals, none of the ani mals reacted, and in oa containing eighty-tares the reactions reached only 3.6 per cent; but in the other herds the percentages of reactions were respectively re-spectively 20, 30.3, 43.4, 71.4. 76.9 and 90.4. The herds which gave no reactions reac-tions were bied on their farms, and jthe animals lead an outdoor life all .he year round, being in the pastures or yards by night as well as by day. The other herds are kept to a great extent in sheds, and Professor Axe lays stress upon the influence of shed life i,pon the propagation of tuberculosis. Of the 461 cows comprised in the inquiry, in-quiry, 51, or 11 per cent, were found to have some disease of the udder of one kind or another, and, of the animals ani-mals so affected, 27, or 55 per cent, reacted re-acted to the test. Still, in an appendix by Mr. F. J. Lloyd, who analyzed thirty-three samples of milk from the tested herds, he states that he could not discover the tubercle bacillus in a single instance. After this failure ho took measures for cultivating the bacillus, ba-cillus, if present, in glycerine beef broth, and tried about thirty samples of milk in that way, but without developing de-veloping the tubercle bacillus in one of them. Oitts for Feed lug;. Oats for feeding should have an agreeable smell, clean, smooth and bright appearance, and pleasant taste; should feel dry, hard and elastic to the touch when broken between the teeth, and should be fairly well supplied sup-plied with flour, says National Stockman. Stock-man. The fact that they fulfill these conditions will show that they have been wcOl saved are sufficiently old, possess a due amount of nutriment, and have not suffered from injurious influences, such as damp and mould, as would be evident if they were musty in smell and dull in color. The presence pres-ence of dust in oats proves that they have been badly saved, and that their quality has undergone more or less deterioration. de-terioration. A shriveled-up condition is also a sign of inferiority. With a plump variety of oats, if the grains feel heavy in the hand, rattle more or less like shot when poured out, rebound re-bound when they fall on wood or other hard objects, and show no tendency to stick together, our good opinion of their nutritive value and sound condition condi-tion will be still further confirmed. The plumper, more rounded, and heavier heav-ier oats are, the higher will be their market value. Thinness of husk will also enhance the price as a rule. The cost of white oats, probably on account of their cleaner and more pleasing appearance, ap-pearance, is higher than that of either black or tawny oats. Old oats are sold at about 15 per cent more than new oats. The term "old" is applied :o oats as soon as the next crop begins to be threshed. The Fault of Overfeeding. One of the causes assigned by those who feed several times a day is that the birds are always hungry, and Immediately Im-mediately run to the attendant for more as soon as he puts in an appearance, appear-ance, says Poultry Keeper. This is a habit on the part of the fowls. They are not at all hungry on such occasions, occa-sions, but have learned to look to their owner for everything they receive, re-ceive, consequently they will always run to him when he appears. Such hens seldom lay as many eggs as they should, are usually very fat, and cost more for feed than they deserve. The way to treat them is to scatter a table-spoonful table-spoonful of millet seed for them to scratch. The seeds being small, and being delicacies to all fowls, will be highly relished, and the hens will work industriously for them, thus tak ing exercise as well as keeping themselves them-selves in better laying condition. The greatest inducement to overfeeding Is to find the hens hungry, but it is best not to be deceived by appearance. , Sorghum as Feed. This is my first year of feeding eor- ghum, and 1 find it splendid feed for all kinds of stock, and with forty years' experience in raising different kinds of feed, I have found nothing that will give so large an amount of feed to the acre, says a contributor to Home and Farm. .Pastures were short. and I began feeding it to my cows. in August, cut and fed on the grass in the pasture. I never had my cows do better. I grew two acres and cut and cured what was left, and am now feeding it to my cows and horses. I sold a litter of Durockpigs the first of November that were 192 days old and weighed 196 pounds average, a little over a pound a day from birth. "These pigs were weaned July 1, and fed nothing but skimmed milk from the creamery and sorghum for two months, and then were put on full corn feetf with what sorghum they would est till November 10, when they were sold. In the Butter I xltibltion Kooui. At one of the recent western dairy conventions the air of the room in which the exhibit butter was scored smelled so strongly of pine that it was difficult to eaten the gk licate flavor of the butter, says a wter in New York Prccuce Review. It had been raining for two or three days, and in order to prevent the tracking of mud into the butter room the officers in charge of the exhibit had scattered coarse pine sawdust and chips on the floor. 'Thepungeiodrfte pi ne iuc-tou. ii was ueii thoij fhtles3 mistake, but under no c! Jr5stance should anything be allowed the buUer roQm "owed flavor. The flonr avnnl4l .:r ly cleaned, the ventilation should be good before the butter Is exhibited, and the judge should be supplied with plenty of paper with which to clean his trier rather than to use sawdust for that purpose. Home-Made Starters. Much has been said and written about starters. I have experimented with sour cream from previous ripening, buttermilk and. lactic ferments supplied by the trade, but consider the best starter to be one made daily, by the dairyman. I use KX, .'?PSV.'". JZTZ t . I' i f - 1 4 ' "" 1 ' ' I 1, 'OS |