"Nursing " Moth'ers and
Over-burdened Women
In all stations of Hfo , whoso vigor and
vitality may have been undermined and
"brokendown by overwork , exacting
[ social duties , the too frequenfc bearing of
Children , or other causes , will find in Dr.
jPIerce's Favorite Prescription tfaB most
potent , Invigorating restorative strength-
Culver ever devised for tfielr special bene-
( flt. Nursing nothers wlHJjnd ft especial
ly valuable ik sustaining iifaelr strength
-and promotirigXn alaundant nourishment
for the child. xpectanfc ofc& rs too
"will find it a pricelessMjoJNiWpP obre the
system for baby's coming and relx&dng
the ordeal comparatively painlessK
can do no hnrnq | n any state , or condition
oLthe female system.
Delicate , nervous , weak women , who
suffer from frequent headaches , back
ache , dragging-down distress low down
in the abdomen , or from painful or Irreg
ular monthly periods , gnawing or dis
tressed sensation In stomach , dizzy or
faint spells , see Imaginary specks or spots
floating before eyes , have disagreeable ,
pelvic catarrhal drain , prolapsus , ante-
version or retro- version or other displace
ments of womanly organs from wealtness
of parts will , whether they experience !
many or only a few of the above symp
toms , find relief and a permanent euro by
using faithfully and fairly persistently
Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription. <
This world-famed specific for woman's
-weaknesses and peculiar ailments is a
pure glyceric extract of the choicest na
tive. medicinal roots without a drop of
alcohol in its make-up. All its ingredi
ents printed in plain English on its bottle-
wrapper and attested under oath. Dr.
Pierce thus invites the fullest investiga
tion of his formula knowing that it will
be found to contain only the best agents
known to the most advanced medical
science of all the different schools of prac
tice for the cure of woman's peculiar
weaknesses and ailments.
If you want to know more about the
composition and professional endorse
ment of the "Favorite Prescription , ' ' send
Ejstal card request to Dr. R. V. Pierce ,
uffalo , N. Y. , for his free booklet treat-
ins of same. fr
You can't afford to accept as a substi
tute for this remedy oflmown composition
a secret nostrum of unknown composi
tion. Don't do it.
Protected.
Miss Wellon The impudent thing
jold me to my face that I was getting
* ld and wrinkled !
Miss Tartun I wouldn't mind it She
didn't say it to your real face , you
know. She couldn't see that.
DISFIGUEING SKIN HTTMOE.
Impossible to Get Employment , as
Face and Body Were Covered with.
Sores Cured by Cuticura.
"Since the year 1894 I have been
troubled with a very bad case of
eczema which I have spent kundreds
of dollars trying to cure , and I went
to the hospital , but they failed to cure
me , and it was getting worse all the
time. Five weeks ago iny wife bought
a box of Cuticura Ointment and one
cake of Cuticura Soap , and I am
pleased to say that I am now com
pletely cured and well. It was Impos
sible for me to get employment , as my
face , head and body were covered with
it The eczema first appeared on the
top of my head , and it had worked all
the way around down the back of my
neck and around to my throat , down
tny body and around the hips. It itched
so I would be obliged to scratch it ,
and the flesh was raw. I am now all
well , and I will be pleased to recom
mend the Cuticura Remedies to all per
sons who wish a speedy and perma
nent cure of skin diseases. Thomas
M. Rossiter , 290 Prospect Street , East
.Orange , N. J. Mar. 30 , 1905. "
t , "
a Gun.
' ' 1 want to set an alarm clock , " said
"the customer.
"Here's one of silver plate for $10 , "
said the clerk.
"Too high. "
"Well , here's one made of nickel for
? 5. "
"Too high yet"
"Here's one made of gun metal for
32. "
"Gun metal ? That sounds all right
I vant It for my 12-year-old boy , and
if it sounds anything like a gun when
it goes off in the morning I guess it'i
what I want" Yonkers Statesman.
' GAINED 34 POUNDS
Persistent Anssmia Cured by Or.
Williams' Pink Pills After Other
Remedies Had Failed.
" When I began taking Dr. Williams'
Pink Pills , " says Mrs. Nathaniel Field ,
of St. Albans , Somerset county , Maine ,
"I was the palest , most bloodless person
you could imagine. My tongue and
guins were colorless and my fingers and
ears were like wax. I had two doctors
and they pronounced my trouble anaemia.
I had spells of vomiting , could not eat ,
in fact , did not dare to , I had such distress -
tress after eating. My stomach was filled
with gas which caused me awful agony.
"The backache I suffered was at times
almost unbearable and the least exertion
miade my heart beat so fast that I'could
.hardly breathe. But the worst of all was
the splitting neuralgia headache which
never left me for seveu weeks. About ; this
time I had had several iiumb spells. My
limbs would be cold and without auy
feeling aud the most deathly sensations
would come over me.
"Nothing had helped me until I began
taking Dr. Williams' Pink Pills , in.facfc ,
I had growu worse every day. After I
had taken the pills a shorfc time I could
see that they were benefiting me and
one morning I awoke entirely free from
pain. The distress after eating disap
peared and iu three weeks I could eat
auythiug I wanted and suffer no incon-
veuieuce. I nlso slept soundly. I have
taken several boxetf of the nills'aijd hUve
gained iu weight from 120 to'154 pounds
, aud nm perfectly well now. "
Dr. Williams' Pink Pills cure anaemia
because they actually make , new blood.
For rheumatism , indigestion , nervous
headaches and mairy'forms ot weakness
'they are recommended even if ordinary
medicines bav6 failed. They ard sold by
mil druggists , or will be sent postpaid , on
receipt of price , 50 cents per box , six
rboxes for $2.50 , by the Dr. Williams
; Medicine Company , Schenectady , N. Y.
By ANTHONY HOPE
* 'A wise man will make more opportunities
than he finds. " Francis Bacon.
CHAPTER IV. ( Continued. )
The old lady and the young one lived
together hi great apparent comfort ; for
they probably cot through more money
than any one iti the town , and there al
ways seemed to be plenty more where that
came from. The Signorina was now about
$3 years of age , and of remarkably pre
possessing appearance. She became al
most at once a leading "figure in society ;
Iwr parlor was the leading meeting place
'of all parties and most sets ; she received
many gracious attentions from the Golden
House. She was also frequently the
hostess of members of the opposition , and
of no one more often than their leader ,
Colonel George McGregor , a gentleman
of Scotch extraction , but not pronounced
ly national characteristics , who had at
tained a high position in the land of his
adoption ; for not only did he lead the
apposition in politics , but he was' also
second in command of the army. He en
tered the chamber as one of the Presi
dent's nominees1 ( for the latter had re-
eerred to himself power to nominate five
membersbut at the time of which I write
the Colonel had deserted his former chief ,
and , secure in his popularity with the
forces , defied the man by whose help he
had risen. Naturally the President dis
liked him , a feeling I cordially shared.
But his excellency's disapproval did not
prevent the Signorina receiving McGre
gor with great cordiality , though here
again with no more than his position
seemed to demand.
I have as much curiosity as my neigh
bors , and I was proportionately gratified
when the doors of "Mon Repos , " as the
Signosina called her residence , were open
ed to me. My curiosity , I must confess ,
was not unmixed with other feelings ; for
I was a young man of heart , though
events had thrown sobering responsibili
ties upon me , and the sight of the Sig
norina in her daily drives was enough-
inspire a thrill even in the soul of a
bank manager. She was certainly very
beautiful a tall , fair girl , with s'raight '
features and laughing eyes. I shall not
attempt more description , because all such
descriptions sound commonplace , and the
Signorma was , even by the admission of
her enemies , at least very far from com
monplace. It must suffice to say that
like Father O'Flynn , she "had such a
way with her" that all of us men in Au-
reataland , old and 3'oung , rich and poor ,
were at her feet , or ready to be there on
the least encouragement. She was , to
my thinking , the very genius of health ,
beauty and gaiety ; and she put the crown
ing touch to her charms by very openly
and frankly soliciting and valuing the
admiration she received. i
It may be supposed , then , that
thought my money very well invested
when it procured me an invitation to
"Mon Repos , " where the lady of the house
was in the habit of allowing a genteel
amount of card playing among her male
friends. She never played herself , but
stood and looked on with much interest.
On occasion she would tempt fortune by
the hand of a chosen deputy , and nothing
could be prettier or more artistic than
her behavior. She was just eager enough
for a girl unused to the excitement and
fond of triumph , just indifferent enough
to show that her play was merely a pas
time , and the gain of the money or its
loss a matter of no moment. Ah , Sig-
norina , you were a great artist !
At "Mon Repos" I soon became an ha
bitual , and , I was fain to think , a wel
come guest. Mrs. Carrington , who enter
tained n. deep distrust of the manners of
Aureataland , was good enough to consider
toe eminently respectable , while the Sig
norina was graciousness itself. It was
even adfeittcd to the select circle at the
dinner party , which , as a rule , preceded
her Wednesday evening reception. The
Colonel was , not to my pleasure , an
equally invariable guest , and the Presi
dent himself would often honor the party
with his presence , an honor we found rath
er expensive , for his luck at all games of
skill or chance was extraordinary.
"I have always trusted fortune , " he
wouH say , "and to me she is not fickle. "
"Who would be fickle if your excellen
cy were pleased to trust her ? " the Sig
norina would respond , with a glance of
almost fond admiration.
This sort of thing did not please Mc
Gregor. He made no concealment of the
fact that he claimed the foremost place
among the Siguorina's admirers , utterly
declining to make way even for the Presi
dent. The latter took his boorishness very
quietly and I could not avoid the conclu
sion that the President held , or thought
he held , the trumps. I was , naturally ,
intensely jealous of both these great men ,
and , although I had no cause to complain
of my treatment , I could not stifle some
resentment at the idea that I was , after
all , an outsider and not allowed a part
in the real drama that was going on. My
happiness was further damped by the fact
thai luck ran steadily against me , and I
saw my bonus dwindling very rapidly.
I suppose I may as well be frank , and
confess that my bonus , to speak strictly ,
vanished within six months after I first
set foot in "Mon Repos , " and I found it
necessary to make that temporary use of
the "interest fund" which the President
had indicated. My uneasiness was light
ened when the next installment of inter
est was punctually paid , and , with youth
ful confidence , I made little doubt that
lack would turn before long.
CHAPTER V.
Time passed on , all leading an appar
ently merry and untroubled life. In pub-
IJc affairs the temper was very different.
The scarcity of money was intense , and
serious murmuring had arisen when the
President "squandered" his ready money
in paying interest , leaving his civil ser
vants and soldiers unpaid. This was lie
topic of much discussion in tiie pjess at
the time when I went up one March
evening to the Signorina's. I had been
detained at the bank , and found the gaiety
in full swing when I came in. The Sig
norina sat by herself on a low lounge by
the veranda window. I went up to her
and made my bow.
"You spare us but little of your time ,
Mr. Martin , " she said.
"Ah , but you have all my thoughts , " I
replied , for she was looking charming.
"I don't care so much about your
thoughts , " she said. Then , after a pause ,
she went on , "It's very hot here , come
into the conservatory. "
It almost looked as though she had been
waiting for me , and I followed in high de
light into the long , narrow glass' house.
High greeu plants hid us from the view
of those inside , and we only heard dis
tinctly his excellency's voice , saying with
inuch genialty to the Colonel , "Well , you
must be lucky in love , Colonel , " from
which I concluded that the Colonel was
not in the vein at cards.
The Signorina smildd slightly as she
heard ; then she plucked a white rose ,
turned round , and stood facing me , slight
ly flushed as though with some inner ex
citement.
"I am afraid those wto gentlemen do
not love one another , " she said.
"Hardly , " I assented.
"And you , do you love them or either
of them ? "
"I love only one person in Aureata
land , ' ' I replied , as ardently as I dared.
The Signorina bit her rose , glancing
up at me with unfeigned amusement and
pleasure. I think I have mentioned that
she didn't object to honest admiration.
"Is it possible you mean me ? " she said ,
making me a little courtesy. "I only think
so because most of the Whittingham la
dies would not satisfy your fastidious
taste. "
"No lady in the world could satisfy me
except one , " I answered , thinking she
took it a little too lightly.
"Ah , so you say , " she said. "And yet
I don't suppose you would do anything
for me , Mr. Martin. "
"It would be my greatest happiness , " I
cried.
She said nothing , but stood there , biting
the rose.
"Give it to me , " I said ; "it shall be
my badge of service. "
"You will serve me , then ? " said she.
"For what reward ? "
"Why , the rose ! "
"I should like the owner , too , " I ven
tured to remark.
"The rose is prettier than the owner , '
she said ; "and , at any rate , one thing at
a time , Mr. Martin ! Do you pay your
servants all their wages in advance ? "
My practice was so much to the con
trary that I really couldn't deny the
force of her reasoning. She held out the
rose. I seized it and held it dose to my
lips , thereby squashing it considerably.
Then she said abruptly :
"Are you a Constitutionalist or a Lib
eral , Mr. Martin ? "
I must explain that , in the usual race
for the former title , the President's par
ti had been first at the post , and the
Colonel's gang ( as I privately termed it )
had to put up with the alternative desig
nation. Neither name bore any relation
to facts.
"Are we going to talk politics ? " said I ,
reproachfully.
"Yes , a little. Tell me. "
"Which are you. Signorina ? " I asked.
I really wanted to know ; so did a great
many people. She thought for a moment ,
and then said : .
"I have a great regard for the Presi
dent. He lias been most kind to me. On
the other hand , I cannot disguise from
myself that some of his measures are not
wise. "
I said I had never been able to disguise
it from myself.
"The Colonel , of course , is of the same
opinion , " she continued. "About the debt ,
for instance. I believe your bank is in
terested in it ? "
"Oh , yes , to a considerable extent. "
"And you ? " she asked , Softly.
"Oh , I am not a capitalist ; no money
of mine has gone into the debt. "
"No money of yours , no. But aren't
you interested in it ? " she persisted.
This was rather odd. Could she know
anything ? She drew nearer to me , and ,
laying a hand lightly on my arm , said
reproachfully :
"Do you love people , and yet not trust
them , Mr. Martin ? "
This was exactly my state of feeling
toward the Signorina , bat I could not say
so. I was wondering how far I should
be wise to trust her , and that depended
largely on how far his excellency had
si'cn fit to trust her with my eecrets , I
said finally :
"Without disclosing other people's se
crets , Signoriaa , I may admit that if any
thing went wrong with the debt , my em
ployer's opinion of my discretion would
be severely sliakon. "
'Of your discretion , " she said laughing.
"Thank you , Mr. Martin. And you would
wish that not to happen ? "
"I would take a good deal of pains to
prevent its happening. "
"Not less willingly if your Interest and
mine coincided ? "
I was about to make a passionate re-
plj- when we heard the President's voice
saying :
"And where is our hostess ? I should
like to thank her before I go. "
"Hush , " whispered the Signorina. "We
must go back. You will be true to me ,
Mr. Martin ? "
"Call me Jack , " said I , idiotically.
"Then you will be true , O Jack ? " she
said , stifling a laugh.
"Till death , " said I , hoping it would
) iot be necessary.
She gave me her hand , which I kissed
with fervor , and we returned to the par
lor , to find all standing about In groups ,
waiting to make their bows till the Presi
dent had gonu through that ceremony. I
was curious to hear if anything passed
betwren him and the Signorinn , but I
was pounced upon by Donna Antonia , the
daughter ot the minister of finance , who ]
happened to be present ns a guest of the
Rignorin.i's for the night. She was' a
handsome young lady , a Spanish brunette
of the approved pattern , but with man
ners formed at a Now. York boarding
school , where she 'had undergone a train
ing that had tempered without destroy
ing her native gentility. She had dis
tinguished me very favorably , and I was
vain enough to suppose she honored me
by KHoa jealotuj of iny penchant for G
Signorina.
"I hope you have enjoyed yourself in
the conservatory , " she said , maliciously.
"We were talking business , Donna An-
tonla , " I replied.
"Ah , business ! I hear nothing but
business. There is papa gone down to
the country and burying himself alive
to work out some great scheme of business
*
ness ! "
' "Ah , what scheme is that ? " I asked.
"Oh ! I don't know. Something about
that horrid debt. But I was told not to
say anything about it ! "
The debt was becoming a bore. The
whole air was full of it. I hastily paid
Donna Antonia a few incoherent compli
ments , and took my leave. As I was put
ting on my coat Colonel McGregor join *
ed me and , with more friendliness than
he usually showed me , . , accompanied me
down the avenue toward the Piazza. After
some indifferent remarks , h.9 began :
"Martin , you and I have separate in
terests in some matters , but I think we
have the same in others. "
I knew at once what he meant ; it was
that debt over again ! I remained silent ,
and he continued :
"About the debt , for instance. You are
interested in the debt ? "
"Somewhat , " said I. "A banker gen
erally is interested in a debt"
"I thought so , " said the Colonel. "A
time may conie when we can act togeth
er. Meanwhile , keep your eye on the
debt. Good night. "
We parted at the door of his chambers
in the Piazza , and I went on to my lodg-
iflgs. I got into bed , rather puzzled and
very uneasy.
CHAPTER VI.
The flight of time brought no allevia
tion to the troubles of Aureataland. If
an individual hard-up is a pathetic sight ,
a nation hard-up is an alarming specta
cle ; and Aureataland was very hard-up.
I suppose somebody had some money. But
the government had none ; in consequence
the government employes had none , the
officials had none , the President had none ,
and finally , I had none. The bank had
a little of other people's , of course but
I was quite prepared for a "run" on us
any day , and had cabled to the directors
to implore a remittance in cash , for our
notes were at a discount humiliating to
contemplate. Political strife ran high.
I dropped into the House of Assembly
one afternoon toward the end of May ,
and , looking down from the gallery , saw
the Colonel in the full tide of wrathful
declamation. He was demanding of the
miserable Don Antonio when the army
was to be paid. The latter sat cowering
under his scorn , and would , I verily be
lieve , have bolted out of the House had he
not been nailed to his seat by the cold
eye of the President , who was looking on
from his box. The minister on rising
had nothing to urge but vague promises
of speedy payment ; but he utterly lacked
the confident effrontery of his chief , and
nobody was deceived by his weak protes
tations.
I left the House in a considerable up
roar , and strolled on to the house of a
friend of mine , one Madame Devarges ,
the widow of a French gentleman , who
had found his way to Whittingham from
New Caledonia. Politeness demanded the
assumption that he had found his way
to New Caledonia owing to political trou
bles , but the usual cloud hung over the
precise date and circumstances of his pat
riotic sacrifice. Madame sometimes con
sidered it necessary to bore herself and
others with denunciations of the various
'
tyrants or would-be tyrants of France ;
but , apart from this pious offering on
the shrine of her husband's reputation ,
she was a bright and pleasant little wom
an. I found assembled round her tea
table a merry party , including Donna An
tonia , unmindful of her father's agonies ,
and one Johnny Carr , who deserves men
tion as being the only honest man in Au
reataland. I speak , of course , of the place i
as I found it. He was a young Englishman - '
man , what they call a "cadet , " of a good
family , shipped off with a couple of thou
sand pounds to make his fortune. Land
was cheap among us , and Johnny had
bought an estate and settled down as a
land owner. Recently he had blossomed
forth as a keen Constitutionalist and a
devoted admirer of the President's , and
held a seat in the Assembly in that interj j
est. Johnny was not a. clever man nor
a wise one , but hevas merry , and , as I
have thought it necessary to mention ,
honest.
( To be continued. )
In After Ycurs.
Her Husband I met a man to-day
who envies ine , and I envy hinj.
H's Wife Who is he ?
H r Husband-r Smawlert the chap
who used to be sweet on you before we
were married.
Hs Wife I suppose he envies you
because vou married me.
Her Husband Yes ; and I envy him
because he didn't marry you.
Those Girls.
"So you have really broker your en
gagement with Jack ? "
"I nave , indeed. "
"And do you hate him , dear ? "
"Every bone in his body. I shall
never speak to him again if I Hv to be
a thousand years old. "
"You mean that ? "
"I do , and I shall tell him so the next
I see him. "
His Cue.
Gamier They say tins book entitled
i A Step Backward" was inspired. I
wonder where the author ever got his
nspiration ?
Guyer Oh , I guess he watched a
woman stepping off a street car.
Characteristic.
Mifldns What did he say when yon
called him a hog for taking up two
seats in the car ?
Bifkins Oh , he grunted something
in reply , but I could see that he was
bristling with indignation.
Do You Blame Him ?
He They used to sing of a bicycle
built for two , but
She But what ?
He Give me a sofa built apparently
for one every time.
Do They ?
"Why do people bite lead pencils1
inquired the seeker after truth.
'To get a literary taste , of course , "
replied Mr. Conn.
Some men are both hoggish and mulIsh -
| Ish ; they squeal and kick at every
thing.
As the hog pastures began to fail , the
farmer is fortunate who has a patch
of sowed corn to cut up and feed to the
. hogs.
Smut on corn increases from spores
and the way to prevent spreading of
this trouble is to get the smut before
the spores ripen and blow away.
Skunks , minks and disreputable bi
peds are the chief enemies of the poul
try raiser , and experience is likely to
convince him that a well loaded shot
gun is the best weapon to use in all
three cases.
Mate up your fowls early , for occa
sionally one of the liens will want to
sit during the latter part of winter , and
it is a nice thing to have some eggs
ready in order to batch some chicks
early in the spring.
' The census report shows that there
are in the United States this year
3,404,061 mules , valued at $334GSOo20.
This is an increase during the past
three years in the number of mules
of 075,973 , with an increase in valua
tion of $36,827,193.
! Cutting up corn is hard \vork , but
when "the frost is on the punkin and
the fodder's in the shock" there is a
feeling that the country is safe. There
is so much good feed in fodder that
the stock breeder can scarcely afford
to let it go to waste.
l
It is a most difficult thing to Inter
est a man in the alfalfa business by
showing him illustrations of plans and
In writing articles about its produc
tiou. The best way is to show him the
plants growing. He should see the
whole process seeing is believing.
Dressed fowls and fresh eggs are
constantly in demand , at fair prices
and farmers who are naturally good
salesmen will find it advantageous to
run retail routes , weekly. People in
the cities are willing to pay good
prices for something they know
fresh.
A new disease among goats has been
discovered and described by the United
States Bureau of Animal Industry. It
Is contagious and is called "takosis.
Thus far it has been found only in the
northern and eastern states , where the
climate is quite humid. The natural
range for Angoras is a dry region.
Do not let the high price of pork in
duce you to sacrifice the tried and
trusty brood so\v. She will come hamly
when next year's crop of pigs is want
ed. On the other hand , this is a good
year to realize on those dames that fool
away their time and your .money In
raising a pair of ordinary twins.
Look at the peaches that ripen in the
bright sunshine and see the perfect
coloring and freedom from rot ; then
look at those hanging in dense shade
and notice that they ripen later , are
more subject to rot , aud are partially
covered with little black fungus spots.
Great Is sunshine as a fruit perfecter
and fungicide.
South of latitude 38 , turnips may be
left In the patch to make early
"greens" for the first spring weather.
Where pine grows , a common usage is
to cover the turnips before freezing
with a thick cover of pine branches.
These do not prevent freezing , but
seem to insure an earlier crop of
greens than can be had from those left
uncovered.
A farmer lad married a neighborhood
school teacher , who was a town girl.
She undertook to cook some rice after
marriage , and filled the pot with rice.
When It began to swell she had to place
It In two pots. Soon the swelling pro
ceeded until all the cooking vessels she
had were full of rice. She went out
and flagged her husband to come to the
house before the swelling rice would
push ou the kitchen windows.
Never In the history of improved ag
riculture did there exist such a neces
sity for choice clover seed as at this
very time. More farms are seeded to-
foul weeds by the Introduction of
really poor seed than in almost any
other way. It will pay every man to
buy a small magnifying glass and look
at the seed .he buys. He should buy the
bes't and Insist on getting it. Buy only
a seed test. Buy seed like buying gold
tiust
The Goose PJant.
The goose plant is a native of Gua
temala , and its name Is truly descrip
tive. Its bud has the perfect shape of
a goose , with head and neck proudly
arched as If floating in the water. The
average length of a bud Is 10 inches.
As It-bursts into bloom the breast opens ,
showing a delicate , cone-shaped orlflcer
purple , velvety surface
lined with a rich
and tracing.
face , exquisite In coloring
In bloom It resembles an enormous
leaf about 50 Inches In circumference.
2 feet 8
It has a long , string-like tail
In some respects It
inches In length.
resembles the night-blooming cereus.
What Causes Smut in CornT
about 5 percent
corn was
Last year my
cent smut , says J. N. Brands , of 'Ne
one-half of 1 percent
braska. This year
cent will cover the loss from that
different I have been
source. Why It is
unable to figure out. Last year I wrote
station for
experiment
to the Nebraska
information on the subject Professor
no investigation on
Lyon replied that
the subject had been made. He believed
smut remained in the ground , from
could be prevented
year to year , and
by rotation of crops. I have never fol
lowed corn with corn , so that could not
make the difference in my case.
I examined two of my neighbors'
that was in
cornfields , both on ground
corn last year. They have no more
smut than I have. Last spring I .treat
ed part of my seed corn with a solution - ,
tion of one pound of formaldehyde to
forty gallons of water , the formula for
wheat smut. I see no difference be
tween the corn from the treated and
that from the untreated seed. k
Some time ago I read an article writ
ten by a farmer who says he cleaned'
his corn of smut by being careful to
pick no seed corn from near where a
smutted ear had grown. He believed
smut to be carried from year to year
on the grain. Perhaps the weather has
something to do with it. Last year
was a wet corn season ; this year the
season has been a dry one. Smut haa
been increasing in my corn for several
years until this year , which is the first
year I have noticed a decrease. .
Cruelty in Shipping Fowls , j
It is almost revolting to those who
dislike cruelty to dumb animals to wit-
ucss the' conditions existing at a place
where fowls are sold in coops on com
mission. Load after load of coops ar
rive on the hottest clays , with the poor
birds packed in them almost as closely
as sardines In a box. There may be a
iup of water at some point in the coop ,
but the majority of the birds don't
know of its existence and couldn't
reach it if they endeavored to do so on
account of the congested condition of
the coop. Not one in a dozen coops
arriving In market indicates for the
; hlpper one spark of mercy or sympa-
hy for the birds. Many of them , will
Lie dead on arrival and what with the
ixcessive heat of the atmosphere , the
iinimal heat of their own bodies and
the fatigue and fright attending the
journey , there is quite naturally a loss
of weight in those that are so fortu
nate as to survive. These same farm
ers hurl maledictions upon the head of
the commission merchant because he
'
deducts for "shrinkage" in weight in
his remittance. They apparently Ignore
the fact that they alone are responsible
for the deduction , because they have
allowed to exist , the conditions which
led up to the shrinkage. By crowding
the fowls , the shipper really is extrava
gant , even though he does lessen his
shipping expenses somewhat ; for , nine
times out of ten , it will not only result
in the loss of some of his birds , but also
causes the dealer to sacrifice the re
mainder at a low price in order to
avoid further loss. Agricultural Eplto-
mist.
Alfalfa.
Experts have said that alfalfa would
only grow in certain soils and in cer
tain climates , but it has proven adapt
ability to nearly all climates and al
most all soils. There are but two soil
conditions that seem reliably against
the growth of alfalfa. The one is a soil
constantly wet ; the other Is where
there is too much acidity. The latter
may be remedied by an application of
lime and the other will require drain
age. There are thousands of farms ,
however , where there is no acidity and
the drainage Is perfect that will'not
produce alfalfa without first having
supplied to their soil the alfalfa bac
teria , without which the crop will fail.
This Is so well proven that It Is re
garded as an established fact , and
farmers are admonished to look well
to it before undertaking to produce al
falfa. Where the land Is barren of
these bacteria , alfalfa seed will indeed
germinate and grow rapidly for awhile ,
but the plants will soon become weak
and turn yellow and eventually die ,
liaving perished for the want of the life-
giving element supplied by the bacteria.
This element is the nitrogen always *
universally present In the atmosphere ,
but not always present In the soil.
Indeed , nitrogen may be present In the
soil and if the alfalfa bacteria be lackIng -
Ing the alfalfa plants will not thrive.
The reason for this is that the roots
of alfalfa are themselves without pow
er to gather and store nitrogen from
the air , but the bacteria , working In
connection with the roots , will gather ,
secrete and store up nitrogen from the
air In quantities so great as to pro
vide not only for the alfalfa growing ,
but abundant supplies for succeeding
: rops. This Interesting truth about
ilfalfa bacteria'is " *
known and apprecl-
itetl by scientists , but no man can tell
with certainty without scientific pro-
: -ess where such bacteria exist or where
they are absent. Agricultural Eplto-
tulst.