Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 24, 1906)
fi-^ I The Return of Sherlock Holmes | BY ▲. CONAN DOYLE. Copyright. 1903, Copyright, 190S, i If A Conan Doyle tad Collier's Weekly. by NeClore. Pkillipa <& Co. 1 k..—■ — ^ .. VI. THE ADVENTURE OF BLACK PETER. I HAVE never known my friend to be in better form, both men tal and physi cal, than in the year '95. His in / creasing fame /1 had brought I/ with it an im /.niense practice, II and I should be V guilty of indis W cretlon if I were 7 even to hint at I the identity of some of the il lustrious clients who crossed our humble threshold in Baker street. Holme*, how ever, like all great artists, lived for his art's sake, and, save in the case of the Duke of Holdernesse, I h a v e seldom known him to claim any large reward for his inestimable ser vices. So unwonuiy was he—or so capricious—that he frequently refused hla help to the powerful and wealthy where the problem made no appeal to his sympathies, while he would devote Weeks of most Intense application to ■the affairs of some humble client whose case presented those strange and dra matic qualities which appealed to his Imagination und challenged his In genuity. In this memorable year ’Df>, a curious and Incongruous succession of cases bad engaged his attention, ranging from his famous Investigation of the •udden death of Cardinal Tosca—an In quiry which was carried out by him at the express desire of His Holiness the Pope—down to the arrest of Wilson, the notorious canary trainer, which re moved a plague plot from the East End Of London. Close on the heels of these two famous cases came the tragedy of "Woodman’s Lee, and the very obscure Circumstances which surrounded the death of Captain Peter Carey. No rec ord of the doings of - Mr. Sherlock Holmes would be complete which did not include some acount of this very anusual affair. During the first week of July, my t&rtend had been absent so often «od so long from our lodgings that X knew that he had something on hand. The fact that sev eral rough looking men called during that time and inquired for Captain Basil made me understand that Holmes was working somewhere under one the 'numerous disguises and names with ■With which he concealed his own for 'tnfdable Identity. He had at least five '•mail refuges In different parts of Lon don. In which he was able to change his personality. He said nothing of his ’business to me, and It was not my habit to force a confidence. The first posi tive sign which he gave me of the direc tion which his Investigation was tak ing was an extraordianry one. He had (one out before breakfast, and I had •at down to mine when he strode Into the room, his hat upon Ms head and n huge barb-headed spear lucked like an umbrella under his arm. “Good gracious, Holmes!” I cried. "You don’t mean to say that you have been walking about London with that othtng?" “I drove to the bueher’s and back." ■“The butcher’s?” ' “And I return with an excellent ap rwetlte. There can be no question, my oaar Watson, of the value of exercise before breakfast. But I am prepared to bet that you will not guess the form k«hat my exercise has taken." "I will not attempt It.” He chuckled as he poured out the • coffee. "If you could have looked Into Allar ■4jree"s back shop, you would have seen * dead pig swung from a hook In the ceiling, and n gentleman In his shirt • ■leeves furiously stabbing at It with this weapon. I was that energetic person, ■nd I have satisfied myself that by Wo exertion of rpy strength can X trans 'tt* the pig with a single blow. Perhaps •'em would care to try?” “Not for worlds. But why were you •4otng this?" “Because It seemed to me to have an •Indirect bearing upon the mystery of "Woodman’s Lee. Ah. Hopkins, I got ■your wire last night, and I have been wrpeetlrig you. Come and Join us.” Our visitor was an exceedingly alert man. thirty years of age. dressed In a quiet, tweed suit, but retaining the erect bearing of one who was accustomed official uniform. I recognized him ■t once as Stanley Hopkins, a young police inspector, for whose future Holmes had high hopes, while he In turn professed the admiration and re spect of a pupil for the scientific meth ods of the famous amateur. Hopkins’ brow was clouded, and he sat down with an air of deep dejection. “No, thank you. sir. I breakfasted before I came round. I spent the night In town, for I came up yesterday to ceport.” “And what had you to report?" ■“Failure, sir. absolute failure.” “You have made no progress?” —None." “Dear me! I must have a look at the matter." “I wish to heavens that you would, BKr. Holmes. IPs my first big chance, and I am at my wit’s end. For good ness’ sake, come down and lend me a hand." “Well, well. It Just happens that I bave already read all the available evl «*ence, Including the report of the In quest, with some care. By the way, what do you make of that tobacco pouch, found on the scene of the crime? Is there no clew there?” Hopkins looked surprised. “It was the man’s own pouch, sir. His Initials were Inside It. And It was of sealskin—and he was an old sealer.” “But he had no pipe.” “No, sir, we could find no pipe. In <teed. he smoked very little, and yet Ire might have kept some tobacco for ibla friends.” “No doubt. I only mention It because, *r I had been handling the case, I Hlrould have been Inclined to make that lisa starting point of my Investigation. However, my friend, Dr. Watson, knows nothing of this matter, and I nftould be none the worse for hearing the sequence of events once more. Just ■tve us some short sketches of the es sentials.” Stanley Hopkins drew a slip of paper Crom his pocket. “I have a few dates here which will *tve you the career of the dead man, Captain Peter Carey. He was born In '45—fifty years of age. He was a most flaring and successful seal and whale fisher. In 1883 he commanded the steam sealer Sea Unicorn, of Dundee. He had then had several successful voyages In succession, and In the fol lowing year, 1884, he retired. After that he traveled for some years, and finally he bought a small place called Woodman's Lee. near Forest Row. In Sussex. There he has lived for six years a.nd there he died just a week ago today. "There were some most singular points about the man. In ordinary life, he was a strict Puritan—a silent, gloomy ftllow. Ills household consisted of his wife, Ills daughter, aged twenty, and two female servants. These last were continually chang ing, for it was never a very cheery sit uation, and sometimes it became past all bearing. The man was an inter mittent drunkard, and when he had the lit on him ho was a perfect fiend. He lias been known to drive IHh wife and daughter out of doors in the middle of the night, and Hog them through the park until the whole village outside the gates was aroused by their screams. "He was summoned once for a sav age assault upon the old vicar, who had called upon him to remonstrate with him upon Ills conduct. In short, Mr. Holmes, you would go far before you found a more dangerous man than T’eter Carey, and I have heard that he bore the same character when he commanded Ids ship. He was known In the trade as Rlack Peter, and the name was given him, not only on ac count of'his swarttiy features and the color of bis huge beard, but for the humors which were the terror of all around him. I need not say that he was loathed and avoided by every one of his neighbors, and that I have not heard one single word of sorrow about his terrible end. "You must have read in the account of the Inquest about the man's cabin, Mr. Holmes, hut perhaps your friend here has not beard of It. He had built himself a wooden outhouse—he always called It the ‘cabin’—a few hundred yards from ills house, and it was here that he slept every night. It was a lit tle, single-roomed hut, sixteen feet by ten. He kept the key in his pocket, made his own bed, cleaned It himself, and allowed no other foot to cross the threshold. There are small windows on each side, which were covered by curtains and never opened. One of these windows was turned towards the high road, and when the light burned In it at night the folk used to point It out to each other and wonder what Black Peter was doing In there. That’s the window, Mr. Holmes, which gave us one of the few bits of positive evi dence that came out at the Inquest. "You remember that a stonemason, named Slater, walking from Forest Row about 1 o’clock 111 the morning two days before the murder—stopped as he passed the grounds and looked at the square of light still shining among the trees. He swears that the shadow of a man's head turned side ways was clearly visible on the blind', and that his shadow was certainly not that of Peter Carey, whom he knew well. It was that of a beamed man. but the beard was short and bristled forwards In a way very different from that of the captain. So he says, but he had been two hours In the public bouse, and It Is some distance from the road to the window. Besides, this re fers to the Monday, and the crime was done upon the Wednesday. "On the Tuesday, Peter Carey was in one of his blackest moods, flushed with drink and as savage ns a dangerous wild beast. He roamed about the house, and the women ran for It when they heard him coming. Late in the evening he went down to his own hut. About 2 o'clock the following morning, his daughter, who slept with her win dow open, heard a n.cst fearful yell from that direction, hut It was no un usual thing for him to bawl and shout when he was In drink, so no notice was taken. On rising at 7, one of the maids noticed that the door of the hut was open, but so great was the terror which the man caused that It was midday be fore anyone would venture down to see what had become of him. Peeping.Into the open door, they saw a sight which sent them flying, with white faces, Into the village. Within an hour, I was on the spot and had taken over the case. "Well, I have fairly steady nerves, as you know, Mr. Holmes, but I give you my word, that I got a shake when I put my head into that little house. It was droning like a harmonium with the files and bluebottles, and the floor and walls were like a slaughter house. He had called It a cabin, and a cabin It was, sure enough, for you would have thought that you were In a ship. There was a bunk nt one end, a sea chest, maps and charts, a picture of the Sea Unicorn, a lino of logbooks on a shelf, all exactly as one would expect to find It in a captain’s room. And there. In the middle of It, was the man himself— his face twisted like a lost soul in tor ment, and Ills great brindled beard stuck upwards In his agony. Right through his broad breast a steel har poon had been driven, and it had sunk deep Into the wood of the wall behind him. He was pinned like a beetle on a: card. Of course, he was quite dead, and' had been so from the Instant that he had uttered that last yell of agony. "I know your methods, sir. and I ap plied them. Before I permitted any thing to be moved, I examined most carefully the ground outside, and also the floor of the room. There were no footmarks." "Meaning thnt you saw none?" "I assure you, sir, that there were none." He—Everybody Is going to the circus today—I’m sorry you are sick. She (expecting to go)—Oh! I am well and strong today. He—Then when I come from the show have those buttons sewed on my ! coat, have those stockings darned and I be sure and fill up the wood box. "My good Hopkins. I have Investi gated many crimes, but I have never yet seen one which was committed by a flying creature. As long as the crim inal remains upon two legs so long must there be some Indentation, some abrasion, some trifling displacement which can be detected by the scientific searcher. It is incredible that this blood-bespattered room contained no trace which could have aided us. I un derstand, however, from the inquest that there were some objects which you failed to overlook?” The young inspector winced at my companion's ironical comments. "I was a fool not to call you in at the time, Mr. Holmes. However, that's past praying for now. Yes, there were several objects in the room which called for special attention. One was the har poon with which the deed was com mitted. It had been snatched down from a rack on the wall. Two others remained there, and there was a va cant place for the third. On the stock was engraved ‘Ss. Sea Unicorn, Dun dee.’ This seemed to establish that the crime had been done in a moment of fury, and that the murderer had seized the first weapon which came in his way. The fact that the crime was committed at 2 o’clock in the morning, and yet Peter Carey was fully dressed, suggested that he had an appointment with the murderer, which is borne out by the fact that a bottle of rum and two dirty glasses stood upon the ta ble.” "Yes," said Holmes: "I think that both inferences are permissible. Was there any other spirit but rum in the room?” “Yes, there was a tantalus contain ing brandy and whisky on the sea chest. It is of no importance to us, however, since the decanters were full, and it had therefore not been used.” “For all that, its presence has some significance,” said Holmes. "However, let us hear some more about the ob jects which do seem to you to bear upon the case.” "There was this tobacco pouch upon the table.” "What part of the table?” "It lay in the middle. It was of coarse sealskin—the straight-haired skin, with a leather thong to bind it. Inside was 'P. CV on the flap. There was half an ounce of strong ship’s tobacco in it.” "Excellent! What more?" Stanley Hopkins drew from hi* pocket a drab-covered notebook. The outside was rough and worn, the leaves discolored. On the first page were written the ini tials "J. H. N.," and the date "1883.” Holmes laid it on the table and ex amined it in his minute way, while Hopkins and I gazed over each shoul der, On the second page were the printed letters “C. F. R.,” and then came several sheets of numbers. An other heading was "Argentine,” another "Costa Rica," and another "San Paulo,” each with pages of signs and figures after It. "What do you make of these?” asked Holmes. "They appear to be lists of stock ex change securities. I thought that ‘J. H. N.' were the initials of a broker, and that 'C. P. R.’ may have been his client." "Try Canadian Pacific Railway," said Holmes. Stanley Hopkins swore between his teeth, and struck his thigh with his clenched hand. "What a fool I have been!” he cried. "Of course, it is as you say. Then ‘J. H. N.’ are the only initial we have to solve. I have already examined the old stock exchange lists, and I can find no one in 1S83, either in the house or among the outside brokers, whose ini tials correspond with these. Yet I feel that the clue is the most important one that I hold. You will admit, Mr. Hclmes, that there is a possibility that these initials are those of the second person who was present—in other words, of the murderer. I would also urge that the introduction Into the case of a document relating to large masses of valuable securities gives us for the first time some indication of a motive for the crime.” Sherlock Holmes' face showed that he was thoroughly taken aback by this new development. "I must admit both your points," said he. "I confess that this note book, which did not appear at the inquest, modifies any views which I may have formed. I had come to a theory of the crime in which I can find no place for this. Have you endeavored to trace any of the securities here mentioned?” “Inquiries are now being made at the offices, but I fear that the complete register of the stockholders of these South American concerns Is in South America, and that some weeks must elapse before we can trace the shares,” Holmes had been examining the cov er of the note book with his magnifying lens, “Surely there is some discoloration here,” said he. "Yes, sir, it is a blood stain. I told you that I picked the book off the floor.” "Was the blood stain above or be low?” “On the side next the boards. "Which proves, of course, that the book was dropped after the crime was committed." "Exactly, Mr. Holmes. I appreciated that point, and I conjectured that it was dropped by the murderer in his hurried flight. It lay near the door.” "I suppose that none of these securi ties have been found among the prop erty of the dead man?” “No, sir.” "Have you any reason to suspect robbery?" "No, sir. Nothing seemed to have been touched.” "Dear me, it is certainly a very in teresting case. Then there was a knife, was there not?” "A sheath knife, still In its sheath. It lay at the feet of the dead man. Mrs. Casey has Identified as being her hus band's property.” Holmes was lost In thought for some ' time. "Well," said he. at last. "I suppose I shall have to come out and have a look at It.” Stanley Hopkins gave a cry of Joy. "Thank you, sir. That will, indeed, be a weight off my mind." Holmes shook his finger at the In spector. "It would have been an easier task a week ago," said he. "But even now my visit may not be entirely fruitless. Watson, if you can spare the time, I should be very glad of your company. If you will call a four-wheeler, Mr. Hopkins, we shall be ready to start for Forest Row in a quarter of an hour." (Continued Next Week) Cranky. < Catholic Standard: Crabbe—Cranky? Do you mean to say I’m cranky? Why, my worst enemy wouldn’t call me that. Wise—That’s true. He’d probably forget his manners and put a lot of profane adjectives before it. Rather Indefinite. Chicago Tribune: "Yes, the woman in the brocaded silk gown was saying, “my husband shaves every day." "Indeed?” said the woman with the fur-trimmed jacket. "Notes, ice or peo ple?” _ _ _ England is threatened with a water famine and is beginning to pray for rain. Last year was very dry, and now wells are falling and and the les ervolrs are low. Cracked Ice Goes to Waste* From the Boston Herald S'meon Ford has a story of a New York hotel man whoso cafe and rathskeller are the resorts of a bohemian set. This boni face was spending his vacation in Maine, when one evening he was kept in his hotel by a terrific storm. The windows of his room were broken by hailstones of a size generally compared to hen's eggs. It happened that the proprietor of the hotel was in the room engaged In conver sation with the New Yorker during most of the storm. The hotel man observed that his guest appeared to be laboring un der great emotion, so asked: “Does the storm scare you?” “Not exactly,” was the reply, “hut it does tear my heartstrings to see 30 much tracked ice wasted on a prohibition state.” Cock-a - Doodle - Doo! When Frank Stockton started out with his Rudder Grange experiences he undertook to keep chickens. One old motherly Plymouth Rock brought out a brood late in the fall, and Stockton gave her a good deal of his attention. He named each of the chiek3 after some literary friend, among the rest Mary Mapes Dodge. Mrs. Dodge was visiting the farm some time later, and, happening to think of her namesake, she said: "By the way, Frank, how does little Mary Mapes Dodge get along?” "The funny thing about little Mary Mapes Dodge,” said he, “is. she turns out to be Thomas Bailey Aldrich.” TWICE-TOLD TESTIMONY. A Woman Who Has Sniftered Telli llow to Find Relief. The thousands of women who suffer backache, languor, urinary disorders and other kidney ills, will find com fort in the words of Mrs. Jane Farrell, of 606 Ocean Ave., Jersey City, N. who says: “I reiter ate all I have said before in praise of Doan’s Kidney Pills. I had been having heavy backache and my general health was affected when I began using them. My feet were swollen, my eyes puffed, and dixzy spells were frequent. Kidney action was Irregular and the secretions high ly colored. To-day, however, I am a well woman, and I am confident tha* Doan’s Kidney Pills have made me so, and are keeping me well.” Sold by all dealers. 50 cents a box, Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y. A Vine Shelters 800 People. From the Los Angeles Times. In the Carpenteria valley, half encircle* by a picturesque range of the Santa Yuei mountains, stands th-e world’s greatest grapevine. Sixty-four years ago a Spanish woman named Joaquin Lugodi Ayala planted a j small twig of the Mission grape. She ! watched and tended it with jealous care I ' through its early growth and in later | years kept it neatly trellised and trimmed. ! Some twenty years ago the vine was pur- f chased with a plot of ground by Jacob Wilson, who has since denied It further compass by keeping It constantly pruned. Its present measurements, however, are by no means uninteresting. At the ground the giant trunk measures nine feet nine inches in circumference. Five feet above ground it has a girth of seven feet eleven inches. At a height of six feet the trunk branches into five divisions which radiate in different directions. These five branches have a combined circumference of four teen feet eleven inches, the smallest meas uring two feet and .the largest four feet three inches. Within a radius of eighteen feet from the- trunk there are twenty-nine subdivisions or runners, each measuring from ten to twenty-two inches in circum ference, together with countless smaller branches. The longest runner at -present readies the enormous distance of seventy six feet. The trellis, which Is entirely overspread. Is 100. by 110 feet in dimensions, embracing an area of approximately one-fourth of an acre. A company of S00 people are said to have at one time found shade beneath the umbrageous branches. The vine is still in a healthy state of growth, and, if permitted to do so, bids fair to further enlarge Itself by many square rods. The largest crop ever yet actually weighed out was ten tons, in 1S95. | This did^ not include miscellaneous dis tributions to visitors and friends of the | proprietor. A common estimate of the en t tire yield was 24,000 pounds. The larger | clusters are reported to have weighed nine | o ten pounds each. BREAD DYSPEPSIA. The Dtffeatlnir Element I.eft Oat. Bread dyspepsia is common. It ai feets the bowels because white bread is nearly all starch, and starch is digest ed in the intestines, not in the stomach j proper. Up under the shell of the wheat ber- j ry Nature has provided a curious de- | posit which is turned into diastase i when it is subjected to the saliva and to the pancreatic juices in the human intestines. This diastase is absolutely necessary to digest starch and turn it into grape sugar, which Is the next form; but that part of the wheat berry makes dark flour, and the modern miller cannot readily sell, dark flour, so Nature’s val uable digester Is thrown out and the human system must handle the starch I as best it can, without the help that Nature intended. Small wonder that appendicitis, peri ' tonitis, constipation, and all sorts of trouble exist when we go so contrary to Nature’s law. The food experts that ! perfected Grape-Nuts Food, knowing | these facts, made use in their expert j ments of the entire wheat and barley, ! I Including all the parts, and subjected | I them to moisture and long continued | warmth, which allows time and the j ■ proper conditions for developing the j diastase, outside of the human body. I In tills way the starchy part is trans- | formed into grape-sugar in a perfectly i 1 natural manner, without the use of ! chemicals or any outside ingredients. ‘ The little sparkling crystals of grape sugar can be seen on the pieces of Grape-Nuts. This food therefore is nat- j urnlly pre-digested and its use in place ' of bread will quickly correct the trou- ! j hies that have been brought about by I the too free use of starch in the food, and that is very common in the human , race to-day. j The effect of eating Grape-Nuts ten days or two weeks and the discontin uance of ordinary white bread, is very marked. The user will gain rapidly in | strength and physical aud mental j health. “There’s a reasou." A PROTECTED MILK PAIL. That many of the odors and much of the dirt which gets into milk is during the process of milking most of us know, hence every precaution to overcome this should be taken. One of the best methods of protecting the milk in the pail is to ar range a cover of tin and cheese cloth. Have a tin cover made to go over the pail loosely so as to allow for the space taken yy the cloth strainer. The tin cover should be higher in the center than at the sides (see small cut below) and a hole about four inches in diameter made in the front center through which the milk is directed. Then have plenty of cheese cloth lovers large enough to reach five or six I Inches over the side of the pail where it may be secured by a tape or by slipping a hoop of sheet iron of proper size over it and pushing it down hard. Put on one of these covers then the tin cover and you are ready for milking. The cheese cloth will prevent any filth getting to the milk and if these covers are washed in boiling water and sun dried they may be used a number of times. The illustration shows the ieda plainly, the cut to the lower left showing the pail complete with the strain er and the larger cut shows how the cloth Is slashed at Intervals so it will fit around the pail without trouble. WHERE THE MANURE SPREADER PAYS. Almost numberless experiments have proved that the manure spreader is one ef the most valuable of farm implements. We are not booming manure spreaders but decidedly are booking anything which will reduce the labor of the farm and es pecially when it also increases the yield. That a good manure spreader, of any make, will do this there is no question. The difficulty in obtaining farm labor is growing greater yearly, hence anything which will accomplish the purpose, in the form of machinery, should be welcomed. It is practically impossible to spread the manure by hand as evenly as a good epreader will place it; the labor necessary to break the large pieces into proper sizes is considerable and this work the manure spreader does without trouble. That the crops are increased is due very largely to the evenness with which the manure is piaced by the spreader, making the stand more even with a corresponding growth all over the field. With us the manure spreader seems particularly val uable because our manure is spread as soon as made and as the bulk of it is ac cumulated during i**e winter it is much pleasanter to load it onto the spreader, and have the machine spread it on the fields quickly and evenly, than it is to unload a wagon on a cold day. Look into the merits of the manure spreader before the work has to be done again. TOO MANY HENS IN A HOUSE. The main idea in keeping a largo number of fowls in one house is to care for them more easily, but there are always risks to run which cannot be avoided even by the most experienced and careful worker. All things considered, the plan of having one roof cover the poultry house, no mat ter how large, is advisable, but the mat ter of division is a thing to be seriously considered. In our our experience, we like the scratching shed divisions better than anything else. This is worked out by building a roosting room, then a scratch ing shed, then another roosting room, an other scratching sued and so on to the end of the house. The idea is that each house has its scratching shed, which is located between two roosting rooms ex cept at one end. As these sheds are open more or less during the winter and all of the hours of daylight except the laying period are spent in the shed, there is less chance for disease. Except for the con necting alley way at the rear each roost ing room with its sc ratching shed is in dependent of each other combination hence there is little chance of one lot of birds catching any disease which may break out in one of the other pens. At the same time, being under one roof, things are easily cared for. SELECTION OF SEED CORN. The experiment station of Ohio fur nishes valuable information in a bulletin on the selection of corn for seed the selec tion being made during the growing of the plant in the field, which ought to have the careful attention of growers of corn everywhere. Taking dent corn for the purpose it is scored as follows: Vigor of plant, 20 points; position of ear, 5 points; weight of ear, 50 points; length of ear, 5 points; uniformity of plant and ear, 10 points, and shape of kernel and size of germ, 10 points. Very important is the note which gives the disqualifications as plants growing under less than normal stand; plants lying upon the ground or badly broken; plants diseased; plants maturing too late or too early. To select the seed corn from such plants Is fatal to the following crop. The vigor of the plant is indicated by the circumference of the stalk below the ear; by its upright growth and by its leaf development and freedom from disease. The ideal position of the ear Is such that it does not null too heavily upon the plant. The weight of the ear is to be determined by scales when the ear is thoroughly air-dry. The plan of uni formity of plant and ear is based on the habit of growth and vigor of plant as well as size, shape, color and indentation of ear. Corn growers everywhere should profit by these points which will mean de cidedly improved crops. SPRAYING FOR POTATOES. The recognized formula for bordeaux mixture for use on potatoes is six pounds of copper sulphate, blue vitrol, lour pounds unslaked quicklime and 50 gallons of water. The copper sulphate is dissolved in one barrel and the lime in another. Add to each 25 gallons of water and then mix thoroughly. When to be used strain through a wire strainer, preferably one of brass. Spraying should be started when the potato plants are six inches high and be repeated every ten days or two weeks, according to the weather, throughout the growing season. If bugs are to be de stroyed add one pound of Paris green to each ah gallons of the bordeaux mixture, but the bordeaux mixture should be used alone until the bugs are noticed. When it ia figured that the cost of spraying does not exceed seven dollars an acre, and it is often less, while experiments have proved that the value of the crop was increased three or four times the cost for spraying, it certainly pays well. DON’T OVERDO THE SEPARATING. It is unfortunate that no great good can come without its bringing at least the temptation to do more or less harm. A case in point is with the separator, or rather with the man who runs the ma chine. The value of the separator cannot be denied and it is a machine which should be on every dairy farm whether the milk is sold or butter Is made. A word of warn ing, however, to the man who sells milk, to the consumer. Don't separate too close ly or you may run against the law of the state which requires that the milk be u{> to a certain standard under test. Near the writer are located two farms whose' owners have had splendid trade in a near by town in milk and cream. They each bought separators and, as cream sold at 40 cents a quart and the demand w'as great, they proceded to use the separator to the point that they were selling what was littlo beter than skimmed milk to their customers and at 8 cents a quart, with the result that one of them has lost' nearly 80 per cent, of his trade and the other more than half, and all within nine months. Other milkmen who do not own separators are getting the trade. Buy a separator by all means, but do not use it consciously or unconsciously to cheat the. public. FARM FOR YOUR CROP. A writer familiar with the cotton situ ation in the south says that the cottoa growers insist in planting cotton instead' of farming for cotton, meaning that they” grow cotton after cotton using cemmercial fertilizers to force the crops rather than do diversified farming which includes thei raising of stock food and the feeding of stock in order to turn the manure back to the farm. Other sections of the coun try make' the same mistake in different way's. In the corn belt tho grower plants seed from his crib and his yield gets smal ler year after year and he frantically re sorts to the commercial fertilizers which force growth. If he would plan diversified; farming and, more than all, start in on a plan of Improving his seed corn by first getting the best seed the money would buy and selecting certain plants as they grew from w'hlch to take the corn for seed' t;he next year, keeping up this selection, of the best from the best for several years, he would have larger crops of better com and make a corresponding profit. Look, into this plan, friend. BETTER PRICES FOR TOMATOES. The demand for canned tomatoes, the scarcity of labor and, more than all In. some sections the demand for the fresh vegetable has forced canners to raise the price for tomatoes grown for them on con tract and also to remove some of tn« *e strlctions which have made it imDoesiblo to grow the crop profitably with any cer tainty. Certain forms and shades of color are no longer condemned nor are grower® compelled to buy the plants from th» owner of the cannery as was the case in many sections. There promises to be an. extended area devoted to tomatoes this* year, but it is hoped that where a grower Is located near a good market he will not tie himself up by' agreeing not to market the fresh vegetable. Remember that one of the chief reasons for the increase in the price from the canneries is the increased demand for the fresh fruit. The producer is entitled to share the profits of this de mand with the canner and he can do it if he does not obligate himself to grow solely for the canneries. SUMMER GRAIN FOR POULTRY. It Is not to be expected that the fowl® can be taken care of wholly on the range during the summer no matter how ex tensive it may be, grain must be fed in a greater or less amount. During th® summer we do without the mashes and th® corn, feeding wheat and buckwheat, and, beginning in June, more or less cotton seed meal, adding It in vary' small quanti ties and Increasing It gradually until about one-tenth of the daily ration con sists of the oil meal. We do this mainly because it has been proven that the moult ing is made much easier if the hen get® a lot of this oily meal in her system; of course there is more or less virtue in the meal any'way as a food, but we have the moulting period mainly in mind. Once a week wre mix up a lot of buckwheat, wheat, a little oil meal and just a very lit tle cracked corn with some wheat bran and let the birds have it dry; this we usu ally' feed on a strip of meadow which ha® been run over with a lawn mower set very low. The grass is thin and when cut very short the birds spend several hours scratching and eating. This feed they seem to enjoy immensely and we know they get much good from It for enough la given to pretty well satisfy their appe tites. ECONOMIZING GREEN FOOD. When green food is scare or difficult to obtain It pays to plan some way so it will not be wasted. The following description Is of a feeding box that works well. Cut two pieces for the ends each 24 inches long, getting proper curve by using a com. pass. Make the back of the holder of thin boards four feet long and twenty-fouf inches wide and nail one end (figure 5) in place, hinging the other end, using small straps of leather to hold it shut. Covei the holder with coarse mesh wire netting _4 Fti t _ / and hang it in a convenient place high enough so the fowls cannot roost on it yet so they can feed from it readily. Us« hangers of wood, tin or leather as indi cated in the cut at figure 6. This little feeding box will enable the fowls to pick at the green stuff whether it is clover, grass or chopped cabbage without any danger of soiling or wasting it. Such con. vemcncm are inexpensive but save an Immense amount ol itrae as well as food so poultry keepers should use them whoa over possible.