AGRICULTURAL HINTS
INTERESTING FACTS.
Maintaining Uoocl JtoiuU Coat a Tchh Tlinn
Keening Up I'uiir One.
In one of liin fninoiiH speeches on
good rouilB and iho improvement of
city streets, Col. Albert A. rope, presi
dent of the Pope Manufacturing com
pnny, of llnrtforcl, Conn., staled th
following intcrcKtinj- foots:
"Ab n result of elaborate experiment,
marie to ascertain Hie relutlvo rcslst
uncc or friction of different pavements,
it has been established tlmt while 200
pounds' force is required to draw one
ton over on ordinary dirt road, 100
pounds will do the same work on mac
adam, 33 pounds on best granite blocks
nnd 15 pounds on asphalt. As a partic
ular instance of this, it is estimated
that in Iho city of New York then-
A ROAD LIKE THIS IS A COSTLY LUX
UUY. nro 12,000 irueks, carrying an average
load of Vu tons, for 12 miles on each of
800 duys in the year at an average doily
cost of $4 for each truck. The result
is about 05,000,000 tons transported one
mile in every year at a total cost of
$14,000,000, or at the rate of over 22
cents per ton-mile. The excessive na
ture of this charge is seen when It is
remembered that the same goods are
now ourried by rail at six-tenths of on
cent per mile. On asphalt road pave
ments the same horses could transport
a load three times as heavy as on the
present rough Btono pavements. If
a saving in transportation lit propor
tional to the load carried, it would
amount to nearly $10,000,000 per an
num. It is safe to say tlmt at least one
lialf this amount could be saved by
ubstituting smooth pavements for
those now in use in New York; and in
any city where the pavements are on
an average poorer nnd rougher than
those in New York, It. is clear that the
proportionate saving by the introduc
tion of the best street surfaces will be
even greater. Good roads are compara
tivcly cheaper to mulntain and to use
thnu poor ones."
WORK FOR CONVICTS.
Vtouil Uullrilng Would l'rnvont Competi
tion with lreo I.nbor.
In a good many of the states the in
mutes of penitentiaries are already em
ji'oyed, to a greater or less extent, in
improving the highways, and every
where the verdict is that good roans
Jinve been scoured where they would
not have been built for a century to
come if the taxpayers had been obliged
to initiate the work and bear the whole
cost of it. Curiously enough, this most
excellent scheme has mode most prog
'csb In the communities where Itiscon
ucctcd with a prison system that Is
'fctrongly and justly reprehended. In
those states of the south where they
liave what is known os the "chain gang
system," the idea of putting the prison
ers ut work on the highways suggested
itself naturally. The convicts were
Icept In open-air camps with guards fur
nished by the stuto, and nothing was
more natural than to engage them in
road repair in tho vicinity.
Where convicts are housed In great
"buildings of stone and iron, and where
they have been put to labor at mechnn
ieal employment, the transition is not
co simple and natural. Still It can be
made to a certain extent, and that with
out destroying or impeding the work of
prison reform. In South Carolina there
arc now said to be about 000 convicts nt
work on the highways, and the vnlue of
what they have done has produced such
on effect upon tho people of the rural
sections of that particularly pro
gressive state that county commisslon
crs everywhere are stirring up the sub
ject of systematic road construction.
Tennessee Iiar a law that permits it, and
New York has authorized a similar ex
. periment. It seems to us that the New
York law might very profitably be
adopted in Minnesota at the next ses
sion of the legislature. This contem
plates the employment of only n portion
of the state's convicts, to be selected by
the prison warden, probably with the
assistance and approval of tho state
board of charities and corrections, who
-should be put to work on rood improve
ment under the direction of experts in
rood construction engaged by the state.
It is unquestionably true that the
work of reforming the criminal, of
which we must never lose sight by ex
alting the commercial motive, is entire
ly consistent with utilizing convict
labor on the highwoys. There is a very
large percentage of prison population
for whom this would be the most de
sirable form of labor. By judicious
selection of men, and by engaging them
in hiuhH gangs upon the highways, it
is probable that more wholesome In
fluence might be brought to bear upon
tthem even than in u well-conducted
prison itself. At any rate, here is am
occupation which does not compete
with honest labor, which is available
for a great number of convicts to
whom mechanical pursuits are not
naturally adapted, and whoso results
would be In the highest degree bene
ficial to tho state. We believe that
further experiment along this line
phould bo made at once, and that our.
own community should attempt It. St,
Paul (Minn.) Globe.
HE LIKES THE WORK.
A Michigan Man KxplnltiH Why Ho In n
llortlculturlnt.
As I have not land enough to depend
wholly upon the sale of farm products,
then some of my laud is adapted to
nothing better than the culture of cer
tain kinds of fruit; also, the prices of
farm products have been so exceeding
ly low and the yield accordingly, Unit
1 havo turned my attention to fruit
culture. In this vocntiou 1 have found
excellent opportunities for tho devel
opment of mind nnd body, as well as
purse. There is less labor, physically,
though success ut fruit culture requires
industry and punctuality. There is :i
greater diversity of labor than Is found
in most nny other occupation which
will tend to prevent excessive fatlgua
and build up a vigorous and healthy
body. Being a great lover of fruit,
which we should all know is healthy,
I find It a great enjoyment to work
among the trees nnd plants, training
their growth, watching the buds de
velop into blossoms, the blossoms into
fruit, and greater yet is the pleasure
of gathering it for market and home
use. I never enjoy better health than
through tho fruiting season, and I
try to plan it so as to have fruit the
whole year around, either fresh or pre
served. I think there are great op
portunities for the development of the
mind in this vocation; In fact, it. is an
utter impossibility to attain any
marked degree of success without the
knowledge of some of tho sciences,
such as chemistry, botany, geology and
entomology. From chemistry we learn
how tho simple elements of the sod
nro used in plant formation, and when
and what we must apply to the soil
to supply any deficiencies; also, to fight
tho destructive insects of fruit we must
seek Its aid. Botany tenches us the
parts and functions, together with the
generic and specific characters of each
plant nnd how best we can further
plant development. A knowledge of
geology will aid us in selecting the
proper soil for the different kinds of
fruit. But from entomology wo learn
the most, which is essential to horticul
ture and is increasing in importance
each year. To distinguish between a
friend and foe of the insect world, nnd
how best to successfully assist or de
stroy them, and to know their life
habits, require extended information
upon this subject. Fruit culture is u
vocation which requires constant
study, as there are new varieties, meth
ods and difficulties arising each year.
B. A. Wood, in Farmers' Bevicw.
ECONOMICAL HEATER.
A Copy of It Can lie Mario ut n Coot Not
Kxceorilnc Four DollnrH. '
The heater is made of galvanized
sheet Iron, is 5 feet long and 10 feet in
diameter. The pipe at the left for car
rying off the smoke is 5 inches in diam
eter ordinary stove pipe; Its height
will bo governed by the depth of the
tank. The pipe nt the right is slanting,
7 inches in diameter, and is provided
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CHEAP HEATER.
with a cap for covering the opening.
Through this the fuel is put. The cap
must contain two holes which will per
mit of a proper draft. At night, fill tho
water tank, and the last thing before
going to bed put the fire and the fuel in
the heater. In spring remove it from
the tank nnd store In some dry place.
If properly taken care of, so that it will
not rust, it will last for several years.
Any kind of fuel can be used, and it la
surprising how little it takes. For re
moving the ashes, an old dipper is just
thu thing. The original, from which a
drawing was made and is produced
ubove, cost $3.75. Farm and Heine.
How to Toll Oleomargarine.
A simple means of distinguishing
butter from oleomargarine is given in
tho Milch Zeitung. It depends upon
tho fact that the milk fat particles re
tain their property of forming an emul
sion with weakly alkaline fluids, while
the other animal fats either never had
this property or have lost it because
they have been melted. It is probable
that this is the reason why butter is
more readily digested than nny other
fat. If a sample of butter is shaken up
thoroughly with water made distinctly
alkaline by sal soda (washing soda),
tho fat will be a long time in separating
from the milky fluid, while artificial
butter will show an upper layer of fatty
particles very soon.
Potato blight seems to beon tho in
crease. Bordeaux mixture is te rom-edy.
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FARM AND GARDEN.
VALUABLE TESTIMONY.
Long Inland Farmer Don't Kejjrct Money
.Spent for Good Honda.
Tho total issue of bonds in Queens
county within the past three yearn,
nnd before tho present improvements
were provided for, for ronds and
bridges on account of tho county nnd
towns, amounted to over $1,500,000. Of
this sum, about one-half are county
bonds and the balance uro bonds issued
by tho various towns.
The interest on these bonds is in the
neighborhood of $10,000,000 a year. The
question is, has it been a good invest
ment for tho taxpayers? A large real
estate owner ut Lynbrook soys: "1
voted for the macadamized roads in our
town and they have proved a fine in
vestment. It was done most oppor
tunely, just as the bicycle came into
general use, and the Merrick road has
become a famous route in consequence.
In the first place, it lias led to the in
vestment, of perhaps $100,000 in the
county for road houses, improvements
to old hotels, etc., and the best of it
is all these investments have proven
profitable, and there is every prospect
of the investment of as much more next
year, in club and road houses to ac
commodate wheelmen. Then wheel
ivcn spend an immense amount cf
money in tho town some say as much
as $10,000 in one day, during the height
of the season. The macadamized roads
have also encouraged carriage riding,
and made the town and country vastly
more attractive in all respects."
Capt. Abrams, an oyster dealer at
East lloekaway, says "that one of the
results of tho macadamized roads is
tho carting of lnrgo quantities of oys
ters direct to the city. When we have
packed our oysters In sack's or barrels,
taken them to the depot and paid the
freight or expressage upon them, there
iu very little profit; but when we put
them into our wagons and cart them
direct to our customers we can make :i
little money at the business."
Tho farmers nt Valley Stream and
Springfield say the macadamized road3
huvc extended the market garden re
gion several miles further from the
city, nnd have vastly helped the busi
ness. "We can," said one, "increase
the size of our load nearly one-third,
nnd at the same time snvo considerable
time in the round trip to and from the
city." It is officially reported that
neurly 00,000 market-wagon loads of
vegetables were brought to Wallabout
market alone lost year. This will giw
some idea of the saving in time and
horseflesh to tho farmers of Queens
county.
Along the north side of tho island
one of the indirect results of the good
roads has been the abandonment of the
market-wagon train, which formerly
ran between Oyster Bay and way sta
tions to the city. The wagons and
horses were taken on the train, the
charge for the round trip being four
dollars. An uveruge train carried from
25 to 30 wagons, holding about three
tonB each. Now tho teams are driven
direct to the city, returning with a
load of manure. At u recent meeting of
the Farmers' club, the matter was in
formally discussed m connection with
the freight rates of the Long Island
railroad. It was the opinion of the
farmers present that, until market
lroduce could be carried by trolley ears
and manure returned In the same way.
tho best way to market produce and
get fertilizers was by hauling with
horses, and this necessitates good mac
adamized or loamed roads. Brooklyn
Eagle.
ARTISTIC ENTRANCE.
A Suggestion for u Driveway Which Is
l'lcniring to tho Kyc.
Tho nccompanying illustration
shows nn unusual, but artistic, form of
entrance driveway. The highway is
separated from tho adjoining grounds
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AUTISTIC FARM ENTRANCE.
by a hedge, tho opening through which
is Hanked at one side by a tree, and
on the other by a huge bowlder, both
objects which are entirely harmonious
with tho landscape and with nature
generally something thut cannot be
baid of all the bounds to driveway en
trances thut one sees. If one has a
name for his place, it can very appro
priately be cut upon the outer face of
the bowlder. Tho same arrangement
could be used very effectively for a
footpath entrance. In this case, the
bowlder may not occupy so much
ground space, but have an equal height
with the bowlder suited for a carriage
entrance. American Agriculturist.
The laws enacted during the past two
years with reference to oleomargarine,
seem to be slowly but surely reducing
the output of the stuff, and they are
certainly of great benefit to the legiti
mate dairy interests.
ENLARGING A BARN.
Hints for runners Who Wish to Oo In tho
Dairy HunlncsM. ,
A common barn enn bo easily and1
cheaply changed into a dairy barn of
large capacity, by employing such u
plan as that shown in tho perspective-'
view Fig. 1. Two wings, with "shed"
PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF ENLARGED
BARN.
roofs, arc extended out at right angles
from each side of the old barn at one
end. Tho interior arrangement is
shown in the floor plan Fig. 2. A feed
car, with a track, Is arranged for tho
feed floor nnd the feeding alley in front
of the cows.
A double silo, groin room and calf
pens, with lofts over them, occupy ono
side of the burn proper, while calf pens
and a hoy bay occupy the other side.
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Tf f i'Ji ITfiii "mi i ifiTiVii iii Hi I iTui 1 1 -cfirric
iwut
GROUND PLAN OF BARN.
Thus' the main barn Is used main
ly for tho storing of feed, while
the addition is given up to the
stalls. The expense of such a plan
will be very much less than would ba
entailed by the building of a new barn,
or even a lengthening of the old one,
while the plan shown herewith gives a
much more convenient arrangement
than could otherwise bo had. Orange
Judd Farmer.
WATERING THE COWS.
An Important Task Tlmt Is Too Often
Neglected by Dairymen.
I do not mean to ndvoeate the practice
of bringing the milk can into contact
with the pump &pout, but I do wish to
present for terious consideration a
point too often ignored in caring for
the cows. Ordinary milk has about 87
per cent, water in its makeup, and in
spite of ull that niay be said as to the
value of proper feeding it is a self evi
dent fact that without u proper supply
of water it is impossible for the cow to
give the usual amount of milk. Never
theless it is not sufficiently understootl
that the cow should have water of the
right kind, nnd at the right times.
We havo often seen cows come up
from the pasture where there was a
running stream that they had to pas?
on their way up und the first thing they
did after getting into the yard was to
make.straight for the pump trough. The
reason of this wus because the wuter in
tho trough was more palntnble to the
cows than the branch water. Whether
we want to or not, if we are successful
in the dairy business, we must consult
so small a thing as the taste of the cows,
and if they prefer pump water to
branch water must give it to them.
It is absolutely essential to the highest
production of milk that the cow have
nil the water she wants, and this she
will not have if the water does not suit
her tuste.
It is also important that the cow have
access to water frequently. A camel
may drink once in a week and thrive,
but a cow is not a camel by any means.
Sho is using water ull the time in
making milk, and her reservoir is not
constructed to hold enough wuter for
any length of time.
If a cow is turned out of a winter's
morning to drink water from which the
ice has been broken first she will not
drink all she wants unless she has been
parched by thirst, and then sho will
stand drawn up with the cold chills run
ning up and down her spine and at tho
same time taking the feed she would
otherwise huvc turned into butter, and
using It to warm the water she has just
idled herself with. National Stock
miui, DAIRY SUGGESTIONS.
It is well to remember that culls will
come with the best of breeding.
If a cow has a sore teat, milk very
carefully nnd apply extract of witch
hazel.
If a cow's teats are muddy or covered
with other filth, they should be washed
with water und then wiped dry before
beginning to milk.
With temperature under control and
churning direct at the right time, the
butter will come solid so os to bo easily
handled and free from buttermilk.
When the butter is marbled it is
cither caused by leaving too much but
termilk in the butter ut the last work
ing or the salt has not been distributed
evenly.
Bitter butter may be caused by the
cows drinking of pond water, eating
weeds that give a bitter taste to the
milk, and sometimes by allowing the
cows to be too long in milk or it may bo
caused by want of clennliness with the
milk vessels. Bural World.
HUMOROUS.
Teacher "Who is tlmt whistling in
school?" New Boy "Me. Didn't you
know I could whistle ?" London Figaro.
Dukane "Spiffins has refused to
honor thnt sight draft." (Juswell
"Perhaps he regarded it as on oversight
draft." Pittsburgh Cronicle.
Hicks "By the way, they havo trip
lets up at Quiver's." Wicks "Isn't
that rather poor management for a
family living in a flat?" Boston Tran
script. Broker (to his valet) "John, I havo
lost a lot of money, and have had to get
nn inferior brand of cigars. Bo you in
tend to remain with me?" Flicgcndo
Blaetter.
Bingo "How is the new cook doing?"
Mrs. Bingo "Splendidly. Why, she has
only been here three dnys, and sho can
already ride my wheel quite nicely."
N. Y. Herald.
Smith "I wish I hod studied boxing
when 1 was a boy. You see, I need it so
much in my profession." Jones (sur
prised) "What! as a lawyer?" Smith
"No. As a father." Harper's Bazar.
"So you feel ill, my little lad?" asked
the kind minister. "You should go and
tell your mother. She will give you
sage advice." "That's jest it," said tho
boy. "I'm doggone sick o' sage." N.
Y. Tress.
"The age of chivalry is entirely past,"
sho said. "I don't know about that,"
the young man answered. "Men can't
engage In duels to settle affairs of tho
heart." "No. But they can join rival
football teams." Washington Star.
VOICES TO SUIT.
A French Scientist Claims Thoy May Bo
Kaslly Acquired.
Are you a soprano, and have you a
difficulty in reaching and emitting tho
high "c?" Are you a tenor, and, if not,
do you want to be? Are you a dissatis
fied barrytonc, and wish to become a
bosso profundo?
If so there, is no reason why you
should not. These questions and the
answer ono Dr. Sandras, a medical lu
minary of Paris, makes the burden of
a song thnt is just now interesting
Parisians, and especially embryo Pat
tis, Do Beszkes and Plancons.
These latter naturally reply that they
do, and the disciple of Esculopius forth
with buttonholes them and proceeds to
explain the means by which they are
to accomplish the feat. lie is quite sure
about his discovery being one of the
wonders of the age. He claims that in
order to modify the sounds of tho hu
man voice one has only to inhale tho
vapors of certain liquids and essences.
Thus, inhalations of curocoa, according
to Dr. Sandras, will raise the voice two
notes, the aspiration of absinthe will
add one high nnd two low notes, and cs
sqnee extracted from pines will give
two low notes. A dissolution of coffee
beans in rum, he claims, will strength
en the medium notes.
There are other odors that are said
to be even more efficacious, though
they have the disadvantage of not tick
ling the olfactory nerves so agreeably.
But no singer would stick at such a
trifle as this, if he or she desired to
reach a much coveted and hitherto un
attainable note.
For instance, there are kerosene and
turpentine, and yes even strychnine.
The effect of the latter, according to
the doctor, is positively marvelous. He
claims that it. raises the voice no fewer
than five notes, and will cnnble almost
anybody to deliver with ease Tamber
lick's famous chest C, that never failed
to bring down the house. ,
But, declare jealous rivals of Dr. San
dras, there are other vapors that hove
a contrary effect that of aniseed, for
instance, which occasions hoarseness,'
and herein lies a danger to singers. Tm
ngine tho consequences to the grent
Signora Uppersee if, when about to "go
en" for the mad scene in "Lucia di Lam
mermoor," she inhaled aniseed, surrep
titiously substituted for strychnine by
her jealous rival, Mme. Semibrevo di
Minim.
But just as there is no rose without a
thorn, so there is no great discovery
that has not its drawbacks, and as tho
contretemps referred to enn be general
ly guarded against, Dr. Sandras' theory
may soon be put into widespread prac
tice. Then, when the lovesick Juliette
is seen ecstatically burying her nose in
a bouquet thoughtfully flung to her
bnleony by Borneo, tho unpoetlcnl Phil
istine in the audience will surmise that
she is only inhaling kerosene fumes
from n bottle nrtfully concealed among
the flowers. Chicago Tribune.
" 1.1. .... ,m
Store Cash Than Culture.
Mr. Gotrieh (nt his own dinner
table) I am passionately fond of mu
sic. Mr. Simfony (one of his musical
guests) Of course, then, you like Bos
sini? "Yes, indeed he is great!"
"Do you admire his Barber?"
"Don't know, sir never tried him;
I have shaved myself for the last 30
years." Twinkles.
I.llte Othur Ilonoillcta.
He After we arc married life will
be one grand, sweet song.
She And the first time you are out
you will forget the key. Chicago Trib
une. Maybe,
Jle O, I am the flower of the family
beyond doubt.
She 1 wonder if that was what papa
meant when he spoke of you as that
blooming idiot. Indianapolis Journal,
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