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By JOHN R. MUSICK,
Wllm lot "Mjr»t«rioo* Mr. Howard," "Tbo
Dark Strang*!-," “Charlie Allendale'*
Double,” Etc.
Copyright, 1OT7, by Robbbt Boxksb'* Sob*.
All right* raaarred.
CHAPTER I.
Strange Information.
From the flowery fields of Califor
nia to the barren region of the Klon
dyke, from 1849 to 1897, is a wide
reach, but the gulf of time is bridged
over and the hones and fears of
thousands of hearts follow the ar
gonauts who go to search for the
goWen fleece in the confines of the
Arctic Circle, as they did forty-eight
years ago the California prospectors.
The real story of the discovery of
gold on the Klondyke is not generally
known, and to unravel that mystery
is the purpose of this story.
On a certain night, about three years
ago last May, five men were seated
about a camp fire, built under the
south side of a cliff, among some pine
trees, near the banks of the Yukon
river, fifteen miles above Dawson City.
As some of this party have become
well known by the development of
the Klondyke gold fields, it will be
as well to introduce them to the read
er before we proceed with our story.
That large man dressed in moose-skin
coat and trousers, with a bear skin
thrown over his shoulders, was once
well known in the great northwest as
the most daring hunter, miner and
adventurer in all Alaska. He was
as honorable as he was brave, and as
kind hearted as he was sullen. His
name was Jack Ralston, but along the
Yukon he was commonly known as
‘‘Glum Ralston.”
Ralston was once an American
He was getting along in years, for
his hair was growing frosty, yet his
frame was still strong and his heart
had not abandoned its hope.
George W. Cormack, or “Lucky
George,” as the miners nicknamed
him, sat on the log just opposite
Glum Ralston. George was an Eng
lishman, a brave, adventurous fellow,
who was also an expert miner. Per
haps it was his knowledge of geology
and mining that tended to his suc
cess. Nevertheless, the miners at
tributed it to luck.
Gid Myers was a man of thirty,
with pale blue eyes and sandy com
plexion. Gid had had considerable
experience as a hunter and prospect
or, but in the miner’s parlance had
never struck it rich.
Porter Allen, or “Big Port,” was a
giant in size, being over six feet in
height, with broad shoulders and sin
ews of steel. He was forty, his hair
and long beard quite grizzled with
time and exposure.
The fifth was a young man of
twenty-two or twenty-three years of
age, with the freshness of youth and
innocence still on his face. While his
older companions were smoking their
pipes, the younger man of the party
gazed abstractedly into the glowing
fire. His mind went back over the
mountains, rivers and seas to his
quiet little home in Fresno, where
he had left his widowed mother, dear
to his heart, and one still dearer.
Her name was Laura Kean. They
were lovers and betrothed.
While he sat, gazing into the fire
and seeing only the well-beloved face
of his betrothed, his companions toast
ed and ate their suppers and talked
of their present situation.
“Glum, how long ye been in Alas
ka?” asked Lucky George.
“It’s now twenty-one years.”
“An’ never been back to the
states/
“No.”
“Are you ever goin’?”
“Don't know,’ he answered, with a
sigh. “It’d be like goin’ back to a
graveyard now. Most everybody I
knew’s dead. If-” but he did not
finish the sentence. His weather-beat
en eye seemed to gleam with softer
light as he gazed into the fire, and
Gid Myers thought he saw a shade
of moisture gathering there.
“Glum, you often promised us you
would ■iell your own story sometime
—how you came here, and why you
have spent all these years in Alaska.
Why not tell now?” asked Lucky
George.
Glum moved uneasily on the log on
which he was sitting and, clearing
his throat, said:
“Boys, ’tain't much of a yarn when
it's spun. I came to Alaska in ’73 in
the sealin’ schooner ’Eleanor.’ We
had good officers and crew, an' the
sun never shone on a better man than
our captain. We all loved him and
would have died for him.
“Well, we had no luck sealing, and
the captain and sailors went with a
party of Indians who said they knew
where gold could be found. I didn’t
believe them, and wouldn’t go. But
he asked me not to leave Alaska
till he came back, and I promised.
“At the end of six months an ex
* plorin' party came back with the cap
o’ one o' the sailors which they had
found on the snow several days’ jour
ney away.
“Winter wa3 on us, and we ran into
Sitka, where we anchored until spring.
It was a hard winter, and I have
often wondered why we didn’t all die,
but all but two pulled through, and
when spring came on, an’ the captain
hadn’t hove to in sight, the first mate
said he was going back with the ship.
They tried to make me go, but I’d
promised the captain I'd stay until
he came back.
“Our ship sailed away, an’ I stayed
around the town for a while, an’ then
went on a cruise with some hunters.
We branched off into the woods. I
didn’t tell the story of my captain
and the Injun chief with the gold
beads for a good many years. Then
I went into the interior to try to
find him. I got in with some moose
hunters and traveled one whole s«m
mer and part of a winter and nearly
starved an’ froze a hundred times,
but not a word could I hear of him,
so I suppose I am doomed to make
my last voyage from this port. When
I meet my captain on that unknown
sea to which we are all steerin’, I’ll
tell him I kept my promise.”
When the ex-sailor had finished his
story a silence fell on the group. No
one spoke for several minutes.
The youth, known only by the
sobriquet of “Crack Lash,” sat gazing
abstractedly into the fire. He had
heard no part of the story, for his
mind was still on his far-away home,
where dwelt mother and the fair
being who had promised to be his
wife, for whom he had braved the
dangers of the wilderness.
At early morn the little camp on
the Yukon was astir. Paul was the
last to awake. Youth is healthful
and innocent, so sleep lingers longer
about its eyelids than those whose
bodies are freighted with disease or
minds burdened with cares.
“Where’s George?” asked Gid, as he
toasted steaks.
“Been gone these two hours ” Big
Port answered.
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“That’s strange.”
Breakfast was disposed of, the dogs
fed and harnessed and the party pre
pared for their journey up the river
to Dawson City, then an insignificant
village, and yet lucky George had not
returned.
As the sun rose higher the mud and
snow made travel more uncomfortable,
yet Paul trudged on, uncomplainingly.
He could bear any burden or hard
ship without a murmur when he re
flected that it was for Laura. Her
presence gave strength to his arm
and keenness to his eye, spurring him
on to efforts more than superhuman.
When they halted at noon they were
compelled to get to leeward of the
smoke to protect themselves from the
mosquitoes. But little had been said
of their missing companion, Lucky
George. Gid followed his trail through
the snow without difficulty, and gave
it as his opinion that he was going
straight to Dawson City.
Glum Ralston, who had not ex
pressed an opinion on the subject for
some time, at last said:
“Boys, I heard him say somethin’
one day 'bout goin’ up the Klondyke.”
“What for?” asked Gid.
“Said a squaw man told him there
was heaps o’ gold along that air
stream.”
Glum informed him it was one of
the tributaries of the Youkon which
had been but very litt.e explored. Gid
remained with his head bowed for a
few monents, his mind lost in thought.
At last he said:
“Boys, he’s tryin’ to give us the
slip, I a’m afeard, or run a cold deck
on us,” said Gid.
“What if he does? ’ asked Port.
“We don’t lose much.”
“We might if he struck pay dirt ”
said Gid.
“Won’t we be just as likely to strike
pay dirt as George?”
"No."
“Why?”
dccciuoc is aliens in iuuv.
Every time he draws from the deck
it’s a trump. If a feller holds a
straight George has a flush. I’ll gam
ble my dogs an’ packs that he makes
a ten strick right now.”
There was a silence, and the men
sat and smoked and steamed, to drive
away the mosquitoes. At last Paul
broke the silence by saying:
“If there is gold on the Klondyke
let us go and find it ourselves.”
“Now yer shoutin’,” cried the pros
pectors. “Why not go to the Klon
dyke ourselve’,?”
“Truth is, boys,” said Glum, “I’ve
never had any very exalted opinion o’
Lucky George’s honesty. If he makes
a big strike we can, o’ course, come
in for a claim, but he’ll strike out
the best an’ work on the others with
out us a-knowin' it.”
They decided to set out at once for
the Klondyke. It was a journey at
tended from beginning to end ‘ with
great danger and hardship. Glum
Ralston was the only member of their
party who had been on the stream,
and he acted as guide.
Again night came on, and they went
into camp and prepared their sup
pers. Paul was a little disheartened
on this night. Continual disappoint
ment had made him heart-sick. Ris
ing to relieve his cramped limbs, he
turned his back toward the Are and
gazed across the wood-covered hill
into the darkness beyond. To his sur
prise he discovered a glow on the
woods far in the distance. For a
moment he gazed upon it in doubt,
and then, touching Gid Myers, who
sat near, on the arm, he whispered:
“Look off there, Gid, in the direc
tion I am pointing. Don’t you see
anything suspicious?” Gid Myers did
as directed, and said: ^
“Yes, thar’s somethin’ onnatural,
Crack Lash.”
"What is it?”
“Well, I’d say it was th’ glow from
a camp fire like our own.”
“Gid, suppose we go and recon
noitre. We may make some discov
ery.”
“Keep your eyes peeled, boys” cau
tioned Big Port. “It may be a mighty
sight more risky’n ye think.”
“Oh, let us alone for that; we’ll let
no red nigger o’ the north woods get
the drop on us.”
Through the dense wood, across ra
vines, snowdrifts and muddy streams
the two pressed on over hill and dale,
until, after three hours’ painful toll,
they came upen a bend In the stream
called the Klondyke, where, on pass
ing around a spur of the cliff, all ef a
sudden the full glare of torches and
fire light fell upon them. It was a
strange and unexpected sight that met
their view. A great fire was blazing,
to which was added the light of pine
knot torches stuck in the ground.
Two men were at work with picks,
shovels and pans. Late as It was,
dark as it was and tired and hungry
as they were, they .toiled on and on.
“Crack Lash.” Gid gasped In a
hoarse whisper, “it’s Lucky George
and the squaw man, Lattlmer.”
"Yes.”
"What are they doin’?”
"Digging! Great heaven, look at
the shining ore! See! the buckets
and pans are full of nuggets and dust
Oh, Gid! Gid! It’s a bonanza!”
"Hush, they will hear you.”
“I am going to make myself known
“And be shot?”
“Why should they shoot me when
we are friends? If they are like sav
age dogs over a bone, then we can
shoot first.”
Gid consented to go to them, and,
advancing to within a hundred paces,
they called to the diggers. At first
they were a little confused, but
Lucky George, who was a shrewd fel
low, saw it was best to admit to the
discovery.
“Come down, boys; come down,” he
cried, cheerfully. “I tell you we have
made the greatest strike in the world.
Look at the work of a few hours.”
“George, are there more good
claims?”
“Plenty of them. Let us all set to
work, stake out the best and get the
very cream before the world finds it
out. Lattimer here put me onto this;
he got it from the Indians.”
This was the discovery of the great
gold fields in the Klondyke. Lucky
George got the tip from Lattimer, the
white man with an Indian wife, and
had determined to work it alone if he
could do so, but now that his friends
had found him, he decided to make
the most of it and divide.
The others were sent for, and
claims for all staked out.
Next morning with the dawn of
day Paul began to work his claim.
From the first shoverful of earth, he
began to take out gold. HiB pick
seemed attracted to the largest nug
gets, and his pan was always rich in
ore. He washed out a thousand dol
lars’ worth of dust and nuggets to
the pan. He forgot breakfast, lunch
or dinner, but toiled on. The small
moose-skin bags were quickly filled,
and then he poured the renewed accu
mulation into a water bucket. His
eyes gleamed with the fire of the in
sane, and in his mind he saw only
the faces of sweetheart and mother
and took no thought of rest, health
or the danger which his accumula
tion brought him.
There was danger hovering over the
happy youth. His claim was some
distance up the stream from the
others, and one day, as he was toil
ing and heaping up the golden treas
ure, two pairs of fierce, avaricious
eyes glared at him from the dense
foliage of pines. They watched him
a long time as he toiled, and then
exchanged knowing looks, winks and
smiles, which said:
“Let the fool toil on. When he has
taken his thousands from the earth
we will have it.”
After the first few days he stopped
long enough to eat and sleep a few
hours at a time, dreaming of home
and of making loved ones there happy.
Little did he dream that a storm
cloud was gathering over the loved
ones at home and another over his
own head, threatening to ruin him
self and all most dear to his heart.
(To be continued.)
BRIGANDS QUEER IN GREECE.
Treat Prisoner Well, But Insist on
Ranson Money
M. Stravalopoulos, a young man,
who was captured recently by brig
ands, has returned to Athens. He
states that as he was about to go on
board his yacht at Eghion he was ac
costed by a fashionably dressed
young man, who kept him in conver
sation while four other men crept
up behind him and seized and gagged
him. They then carried him off to
the mountains to which they were
accompanied by the fashionable
young man, who turned out to be a
notorious brigand chief named Pano
poulos. M. Stravalopoulos was taken
to a large cavern or grotto, very com
fortably furnished, where the
brigands compelled him to write to
his father, a rich banker, for a ran
son of £4,000 in gold. His captors
gave him plenty of food and wines,
and even insisted on his saying his
prayers twice a day. They also made
him read various improving books, of
which there was a large supply in the
grotto. On the arrival of the money
it was conveyed to a monastery in
the mountains, where one of the
monks counted it and handed it over
to the robbers. A great feast was
held the same evening in the grotto,
and the brigands becoming intoxi
cated, the prisoner made his escape
and reached the railway after a jour
ney of five hours on foot. He re
turned to the grotto as soon as a
force of police could be got together,
but the brigands had all decamped.—
London Globe.
An Unlikely Event.
Despite the conclusion of the Boer
war, it is unlikely that King Edward
will be known to posterity as Edward
the Conqueror.
It sometimes happens that the man
who dubs his house a castle has the
tuoat in his eye.
CONGRESS WILL ACT
DISAPPOINTMENT IN STORE FOR
THE DEMOCRATS.
Their Claim That President Roose
velt's Monopoly Issue Is a Bluff Is
Absurd—Voice of the People Will
Be Heeded by Congress.
The Democrats who content them
selves with the stand regarding Pres
ident Roosevelt's monopoly Issue that
such legislation as he asks for will not
and cannot be enacted in the next
(short) session of Congress are stale
ing their all on one throw. They
scoff at the President’s call to the
country, deriding him for making a
“bluff” for tali campaign purposes.
They accuse him of presenting an is
sue which cannot, they declare, be
acted on by Congress in December,
but with, which he and his party hope
to carry the congressional elections of
next November. The elections carried,
they assert, the trust issue will be for
gotten or neglected.
Let them recall that this issue is
going before the voters of the United
States next November. It will be
passed on then by the popular elec
torate. And there never yet has been
an issue passed on by the American
people that an American Congress,
following that decision, ignored or
dared to ignore. The Democrats pooh
pooh the President’s issue and the Ad
ministration’s desire. How little Con
gress cares for the President’s plans
or the Administration’s programmes,
they declare, is shown by the way in
which Congress treated the Presi
dent’s Cuban “Reciprocity” measure.
They pretend to believe that Con
gress would treat the President’s mo
nopoly measure in the same fashion.
But the Reciprocity measure was
not passed on by the country at the
polls. If it had been there would have
been no shadow of doubt as to its en
actment; there would have been no
pause in the work of speeding it to
the estate of law. It was because it
had not been passed on, because there
were some Representatives and Sen
ators who did not know w'hat their
constituents wanted, that no power,
the Administration's, the Dowagers’
or that of any one else, could force it
through Congress.
But it will be known what the
voters want done with the question
of monopolistic combinations. They
will declare themselves in the cam
paign—the President, wise in his ex
perience, has made provision for that
—and confirm their declaration with
their official decision at the ballot
box. And whatever they decide, that
thing will Congress do just as sure
as there is such a thing as a Congress
of the United States. No sane man,
Republican or Democrat, and no
thoughtful citizen, interested in the
trusts or disinterested, who have stud
ied the course of events in the indus
trial world for the last two years can
have the faintest, most lingering doubt
what it is that tho voters of the Uni
ted States will decide that they wish
done—with the industrial combina
tions—that their power to suppress
competition, control markets and
raise prices at their own sweet will
shall be so governed by statutes and
regulated by the enforcement of those
statutes that the public shall be pro
tected in all its rights, along with the
legal and r.ghtful protection that shall
be extended ot every interest and with
held from none. And since that will
be the decision of the voters in the
November election, Congress will not
fail to write their verdict into the
laws of the United States!
Never Stronger Than Now.
The divergent views of Republican
statesmen, and the tenacity with
with which such views are severally
maintained, indicate the virility of the
Republican party. It has been a posi
tive, forceful party throughout its
strenuous existence. It is a thought
ful, considerate party, with convic
tions that are not cast in the weather
cock mold, making them amenable to
change with every political breeze.
The Democratic leaders are quite
welcome to all the hope they can
make out of the vision they affect to
see at Washington. They may at
least enjoy the comforting assurance
of Paul, “But if we hope for that we
see not, then do we with patience wait
for it.” It will be a long wait. The
cohesion of the Republican party was
never stronger than it is to-day.
There never was a time when its lead
ers were more loyal in its support or
more determined to stand shoulder to
shoulder in defense of its principles.
But there is no bell-wether in the Re
publican fold. The leaders of the
party, and the rank and file as well,
do their own thinking and express
I their own views. When it comes to a
, political battle, however, all minor
considerations are forgotten, with the
usual result of a total eclipse of Demo
cratic hope.—I.os Angeles Herald.
A Great Octopus Hunt.
The tariff and the trusts are said to
be on the list as the leading issues for
the congressional campaign on the
part of the Democrats. Bryan will be
eliminated, anti-imperialism and anti
expansion will be touched upon very
gingerly, if at all; the leading issues
will be tariff and the trusts, and the
campaign managers will bo instructed
to coach their spellbinders on these
topics. This selection of issues indi
cates talent on the part of the Demo
cratic board of strategy, for the sub
ject chosen will afford the widest pos
sible latitude for misrepresentation
and deception, for appeals to passion
and demagogic denunciations of those
in control. These subjects also will
afford opportunity for many and most
generous promises. But does any
body imagine that if the legislative
t
functions of the government In both
branches were turned over to the
Democracy to-day any great reforms
would be brought about or that
any more stringent laws would
be enacted? It is too Improba
ble even to imagine any such results.
In no two sections of the country does
the Democracy stand for the same
thing. The election of a Democratic
Congress would simply fill the seats
with a quarreling crowd of incom
petents, and instead of having better
laws we would have a government
crippled in Its most Important branch.
But we will have a great octopus hunt
this year.—Grand Rapids Herald.
MINERAL PRODUCTS.
Their Output Enormously Increased in
Five Years of Protection.
To a large degree our mineral pro
duction Is Indicative of what protec
tion has done for our Industrial expan
sion under the operation of the Ding
ley law. The coal for our furnaces
and for engines in mills, on the rail
road and as the basis for all motive
power; the iron ore which Is the basis
of our great iron and steel output;
the stone for construction purposes;
the copper and silver and gold all
show a most wonderful Increase dur
ing the past flvo years. In value our
mineral production has increased
from $622,000,000 in 1896 to over $1,
200,000,000 In 1901, or 100 per cent,
and the output for 1902 will no doubt
show a most substantial Increase over
last year.
The following table shows the In
crease In value of a few of our min
eral products from 1896 to 1901:
1896. 1901.
Coal .$196,0o0,000 $326,000,000
Gold . 63,000,000 83,000,000
Iron ore. 23,000,000 75,000,000
Silver (common
value) _ 40,000,000 36,000,000
Copper . 50,000,000 105,000,000
Lead . 10,600,000 26,000,000
Zinc. 6,500,000 12,000,000
Nickel. 4,500,000 8,000,000
Stone . 30,000,000 65,000,000
Clay products 63,000,000 85,000,000
Petroleum... 68,500,000 84,000,000
Natural gas.. 13,000,000 26,000,000
In all the above the Increase was
enormous, except silver, which shows
a slight decrease in both quantity and
commercial value.
Some of the less Important products
increased in even greater proportions,
such as graphite, from $48,000 to $220,
000; feldspar, from $36,000 to $200,000;
precious stones, from $97,000 to $260,
000; flint, from $24,000 to $196,000;
mineral paints, from $530,000 to $950,
000; pyrite, from $320,000 to $890,000,
and so on through the list. Perhaps
the most noteworthy increase Is that
in the productic^ of iron ore. This Is
shown again in the pig Iron output,
which has increased from 6,657,388
tons in 1894 to 15,878,354 tons In 1901,
and an estimated output of nearly 18,
000,000 tons for the present year.
Our whole mineral production, like
that of agriculture manufacturing and
forest products, shows the effect of our
increased purchasing power. In ship
ping, railroading, building, and every
field of mechanism there is the same
increased demand for the products of
our mines, which at the present rate
of increase will In a year or two ex
ceed a billion and a half in value an/
nually.
Which Would Fare Best?
Bryanism in Colorado.
The Democratic press and poli
ticians of the state are deeply con
cerned as to what shall be said in the
keynote speech at the coming state
convention. As might be expected
there is a wide and active divergence
of opinion, although the majority of
those interested seem to be actuated
rather by a desire to And something
that will be popular than by the dec
laration of principles in which they
really and truly believe. Even these
cannot agree, while those who are
genuinely sincere are hopelessly at
loggerheads. A bunch of papers, in
which we And our dearly beloved
Rockville Tribune, savagely demands
the support of “the peerless Bryan"
and all his woolly vagaries, while a
large number are in favor of reorgani
zation, openly repudiating Bryanism
and all it stands for. Others, the real
ly wise ones, are saying nothing,
waiting for the cat to jump before ex
ploiting their “principles." There is
nothing in the situation to trouble or
harass the Republicans and the event
can be awaited with gladsome inter
est. It now looks as though the re
organizattonists would win, and the
Bryanites would do well to begin tak
ing in sail.—Terre Haute Tribune.
Both Bad Ones.
However, the Democratic party is
not obliged to follow either Cleveland
or Bryan. As leaders they are both
has-beens. Both brought disaster—
Cleveland, with his administration,
and Bryan with his platform. It
would do well to look up a new Moses,
not recommended by either.—Kansas
City Journal.
Fruit Note*.
From the most recent weekly re
sorts Issued by the Climate and Crop
Service of the Weather Bureau, we
gather tne following Information con
cerning fruit prospects:
Georgia. — Peaches, apples, pears
and plums continue to rot and these
fruits are below normal In quality and
quantity. The dry weather has given
a decided set back to the water melon
crop.
Illinois.—The apple crop ranges
'rom very poor to very fine. In some
localities the prospects have been Im
proved by the rain. Though in some
places the peach prospects are fair,
they are generally very poor.
Iowa.—The average condition of
apples is 66, plums 50, grapes 65.
Maryland and Delaware.—A further,
thought slight, decrease in fruit pros
pects Is noted throughout the section,
due to continued falling and to a
measureable loss of good fruit by
wind gusts. Some spraying is being
done In the orchards of Washington
county. Early apples are now ripe,
with poor to medium yields, affording
an ample supply for home use in most
localities, but not many for market.
Peaches continue to drop freely, ex
cept in the southeast where they are
holding fairly well and still promise
moderately good yields. Some apri
cots are now ripe in Prince George’s
county. Japan plums are ripening In
Cecil, and are falling oft freely In
Anne Arundel.
Michigan.—Cherries are yielding
only moderately and in some cases
poorly. Plums indicate a light crop,
but apples, pears and peaches com
tinue promising.
Missouri.—The apple crop continues
to decline and little more than one
third of a crop for the state is now
indicated.
Pennsylvania.—Apples and peaches
are dropping In nearly all sections;
cherries are good in some districts
and in others a failure; and the con
ditions are not such as to warrant
expectations of the usual berry crop.
Higher temperatures are needed to
promote growth and maturity.
Wisconsin.—Strawberries, cherries,
currants and other small fruits have
ripened very rapidly and Improved
somewhat in quality during the past
few days. The prospects for apples
Is generally discouraging although In
some localities the crop will be fair.
Cranberries are in good condition.
Bitter Rot of the Applet.
A word now should be said upon
the common name. Very commonly
the infected flesh of an apple Is dis
tinctly bitter to the taste, but there is
much variation in tills. Sometimes
the bitterness is very slight, in other
cases almost equal to quinine. But
3uch bitterness sometimes results
also from other causes. Other fungi
produce a similar taste in the affected
fruit, though those usually attacking
stored apples have no such effect. The
musty flavor due to common molds is
altogether different. If the word bit
ter is not always characteristic, the
word rot is not especially appropriate.
The affected tissues are never slushy
soft. There is Indeed no extra ac
cumulation or incorporation of water.
The spot is hard and firm and at
length becomes sunken somewhat
from the shrinkage of the drying pulp
of the fruit. There is no Odor. The
apple seems to be converted into a
semi-woody substance which is re
sistent of decay. It is in this condi
tion that the shriveled fruit remains
for a year or more attached by its
dead stem to the twig, or endures for
a similar length of time upon the
ground. If, however, the affected
fruit is neither constantly bitter nor
really rotten, still the name is as ap
propriate as any that can probably be
found and is certainly better than
that of “ripe rot” which has been pro
posed.—Prof. T. J. Burrill.
Bitter rot of the apple is directly
due to a vegetable parasite which,
starting from a spore lodged upon the
surface of the apple or in a puncture
made by other instrumentalities,
grows in the pulpy tissues of the
fruit and In a few days bears another
crop of spores, by means of which
the process may be indefinitely re
peated.
Big Berries.
We heard recently of a shipment of
strawberries where each berry was
:he size of an egg. This starts a chain
of thoughts reaching from the little
wild strawberry of our fields to the
siammoth afTair of a century hence.
We do not know the limits of the pos
sibilities as to the development of
size. During a few centuries we have
seen both plants and animals enor
mously increased In size through
oreeding and selecting. Compare the
little wild crab apple with the mam
moth Wolf River. And what is be
yond the Wolf River apple? Perhaps
in apple twice Its size. The differ
ence between the full grown wild
strawberry and the one the size of an
?gg is not so great as the difference
between the wild crab apple and the
Wolf River. We may expect from
iecade to decade to see an increase
n the size of strawberries. This
,’ruit is very susceptible to develop
ment on account of the universality
jf its cultivation and its character as
in annual. Tens of thousands of
growers are to-day developing new
varieties of this fruit, and it will bo
rery queer if some of them do not
Ind a prize now and then. The ob
ject of all the experimenters is to
grow big berries and lots of them.
