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The Ward of
A Romance f the
f OTTHJE k. UUENCMNTZ.
Copyrichl. ion. by A.
CHAPTER XVII.
A Royal Reckoning.
Whether from poliry or necessity,
Hie guest-house of Gloucester Abbey
wan tnrrendered to the royal band
uith open-armed hospitality. Now a
tournament of gam-s in the riverside
iiea7ows took up the day. now a pa
geant up the river itself; again, a
rid with the hawks or a run after
!he hounds and the nights were one
long revel.
Voices and horns made a Joyoos up
roar -when the King led forth his lady
and her fair following; and he smiled
vith pleasure at the welcome and the
picturesque beauty of the gay throng
between the gray old walls.
"Now how could I come upon a bet
ter sight if I were the King of a hun
Ued islands?" he demanded of Elf
Siva. But he did not ait for her answer;
instead, he stepped forward as though
to avoid it and put a question to one
of-ais huntsmen. And 'bis wife turned
sad spnfee sharply to the blond maid
ca behind her. whose more than usual
fairness had given her the name of
Candida, or -the white one."
"Where is Itaudalin? I sent the
garments to her an hour ago. She
stands In need of a taste of Tebocn's
rd to teach her promptness."
Little Dearwyn. watching the door
way with fluttering color, cried out
eagerly. "Here sho is. lady!"
There she was. In truth, standing
on the threshold with crimson cheeks
r.nd flashing eyes. At the sight of her
.very huntsman uttered r. whistle of
amazement, then settled into an ad
miring stare; and Canute, glancing
t.wr his shoulder, laughed outright.
"What:" he said. "Have on tired
ot woman's clothes already?"
For. once more. Frode's daughter
was attired in a man's short tunic and
long xilken hose. H was a suit much
richer than the old one, since silver
But he continued to forge
embroidery banded the blue, and pre
vious furs lined the cloak; but that
:act was evidently of little comfort
to her. as her ej-es were' full of angry
tears, and she deigned the King no an
swer whatever.
"I am obliged to pay dearly for our
amusement, lady." she said bitterly.
Elfgiva chimed her bell-like laugh
ter. "I will not deny that j-ou pay
liberally for my trouble, sweet. Does
n not add spice to her stories, maid
ns. to see her habited thus? She
looks like one of the fair lords Te
lnen is wont to sing of."
"She holds her head like Emma of
Tormandy." the King said absently.
In wide-eyed surprise. Elfgiva
looked up at him. "Ethelred's widow?
Never did I hear that you had seen
her! When saw you her? And
There?
Canute stirred uneasily. "It is not
worth a hearing. I spoke but a few
words with her. about ransoms, the
time that I sat before Iondon. And I
remember only that her bearing was
noble and her countenance most hand
some, such as I had never seen before,
ror did I think that there could be
any woman so queenlike." Because
he did not choose to say more, or be
cause some wrinkle in Elfgiva's satin
brow warned him off. he turned hastily
to another topic "Foolishly do we
'lnger. when we have none too much
time to get to covert. Do you still
want your way about accompanying
as? I have warned you that a boar
hunt is little like hawking; nor do
Northmen stand In one spot and wait
for game to come to them. Call it a
ride, if you will, but leave the boar
oat for reason's sake, as he would
;ave us out ere we were s much as
en his track."
As one casta aside an ill-fitt"g
;Uove, she threw aside her pouts, look
ing at him with a flash of dainty mimicry-
"Hear the fiery Thor! Take
notice- that I shall bear all down be
fore me like a man mowing ripe corn.
You cannot guess how much warlike-:-cs
I have caught from my Valky
ria." She glanced back where the
girl in the short tunic stood drawing
on her gloves, a picture of stormy
iteauty.
Amused, the King's eyes folicwed
hers, then lighted with sudden pur
pose. "As you will." he laughed, "and
I will give your Valkyria a steed that
shall match her appearance." Ad
vaaeing again, he spoke to a groom:
and the signal set .the whole party ia
niotios.
Randalin heard his words, hot at
the moment she was too deep in aagry
emarrassment to heed them. It
seemed to her that every eye in the
throng was fastened upon her as she
walked forward, that every mouth
buzzed comment behind her. It was
not until she was in the saddle that
!tis intention reached her understand
ing. The powerful black charger, which
a groom led toward her. had been
pawing and arching his glossy neck
impatiently since the first horn set
iis blood-drops dancing; at the touch
of her foot upon the stirrup, he snort
ed with satisfaction through his wide
Caring nostrils and would have leaped
forward like a stone from a sling, if
the man had not hung himself upon
the bit. The girl awoke to surprise
xs she barely managed to reach her
feat by the most agile of springs.
"This is not the horse I ride. Dudda!
He must belong to one of the nobles."
- He is the horse that' Kiag Can
ate amM yom should take," the au
lautrt m -k atraggki to kees his
King Canute
Danish Conquest.
I Hw ThraM l Uef Laeky.
C McCLURO & OO.
footing. "He said to fetcli Praise
Cdln!" For at that moment. Canute's
silver horn gave the signal, and he
was free to leap aside.
Elfgiva. looking back at this mo
ment, singled her out with a rippling
laugh.
"By the blessed Ethelberga. you
have a horse in all respects befitting
our spirit, my shield-maiden! -I hope
it is not the King's intention to pun
ish you by frightening you."
Could it lie possible that he should
rtoop to so unworthy an action,'' the
irirl asked herself? And yet It was
as understandable' as any of his be
havior during the last fortnight. Sud
denly it seemed that a hand had awak
ened the Viking blood which slum
ered in her veins; it fired her cheeks
and flashed from under her lashes.
She answered clearly. "I hope it is
not. lady for be would experience dis
appointment." From all sides laughter went up;
but there was no time for more, for
now a hunter one of the men who
bad brought news of the lair galloped
tip. dust-choked and breathless.
"He has broken cover, King!" he
gasped. "He is moving windward
iocse the hounds or you will miss
him"
Canute's horn was at his lips before
the last broken phrase was out. "For
crard!" he shouted with a blast. "The
i.ounds. and forward!" A whirlwind
seemed to strike the ambling train
and sweep them over the ground like
autumn leaves.
At the first call of the horn. Black
Vmer had taken the bronze bit be
tween his teeth and followed, and his
rider's one concern in life became
tot the guiding of him but the stay
ing on. Far ahead, where the little
valley ended and the wood began
r.gain. she caught a fleeting glimpse
of the boar as it burst covert with
the yelping pack at its heels and was
ahead like a race horse.
tor one instant revealed, snarling.
I are-tusked, and flecked with bloody
loam. Then it dived again under cov
vr and was gone in a new direction.
Canute's horn sounded a recall, and
one by one the hunters checked their
onward rush and wheeled.
Black Yraer's rider also tried to
obe. but all the strength of her body
was not enough to sway him by a
hair's breadth.
"Ht will have sense enough to stop
when he finds out that he is alone,"
was her despairing thought.
But he continued to forge ahead like
.. race horse in uneven leaps as
though some sound from behind were
t rging him on. Suddenly, through the
roaring of her ears, it broke upon
her that he was not alone, that at
least one horse was following. Its ap
proaching tread was like thunder in
the stillness. When the snorting nos
trils seemed at the Black One's very
flank, at the risk of her neck she
turned her head.
Looking, she understood why a
'teed had been given her which should
carry her out of Elfgiva's reach, for
the horseman who was even now
stretching his gauntleted hand toward
her rein was the King himself. No
one followed, and the forest around
them was silent as a vault. At last,
he was free to speak his mind.
Under the drag of his band, the
horse came slowly to a halt and stood
tanticg and trembling ia the middle
ol a little dell.
Still holding her rein, her roya!
J guardian sat regarding her critically.
"Now it seems to me that your boast
ing is less than before." he said.
"And you were mistaken in supposing
that I would have given this animal
to you if I had not known you could
ride him." When she made no reply.
te shook the rein impatiently. "Is it
still the horse that makes you heavy
in your breathing? Or perhaps you
scarcely dare to face my justice? I
warn you that I shall not take it well
if you begin to weep."
A spark was drawn out of her by
that. With an effort, she raised her
head and shot him a glance from
bright angry eyes. "No such inten
tion have I. Lord King. Certainly I
do not fear your justice. Why should
11
"Since I have little time to spend
upom your freaks, I will tell you why."
he said -sternly. "Because you hare
betrayed one of y 'people far the
scke of a agllshan."
With surprise, her glance wavered.
"I did not know you knew that." she
said slowly. But. as he expected her
to droop, she bristled instead. "If
Rothgar Lodbroksson thinks he should
have indemnity because he was too
stupid to sec through a trick, let him
have Avalcomb. when you get it back
fiom the English, and feel that he has
,iot n.ore than he deserve: brt ;&r
anger " she broke off abruptly ar.!
snt wHh her lips pressed tight as
thcugn keeping back a sob. "In the
beginning. I got great kindness at
your hands. Lord King." she said at
last, "and your anger hurts me!"
On the point of softening, the. King's
face hardened, and he averted his
head. "You value my favor rather
late in the day, Frode's daughter. It
would have been better if you had
shown honor to it when you came in
to me at Scocrstan. by giving me truth
in return for friendship."
"Lord King. I was hindered by ne
ccssitv. Your camp was it a place
for women? Aai did -sot yoar own
month tell me that Raadalla. Frode's
d&ugHer, should .wed the son of Lod-
lrek if she were: alive?" : .,
' Ho. struck .his kaee a .ringing slap.
I confess that it is not e&sy to be a
jnalcr for you! If you had kept yonr
confluence from all it might, have
parsed for discreetness,- bat .that yon
shoi'ld keep it from me to give it to
an ISnglishman '
"Dut I did net give it to the Eng
lishman," she interrupted.
For an instant he stared at her; di-.
rectly nfiet he burst into a loud laugh.
"Now thsi. is the best thing that has
occurred yet! Where you cannot
crawl through, you break through!"
Dropping his derision he spoke blunt
ly: "WEat. reason in the world could
cause you to behave thus if it is not
that Le Is your lover?"
The color gathered and spread over
her face in maiden shame, until her
Mtnic became the crudest of mock
eries. "Slort is the reason to tell. Lord
King." she said, "it is because I love
him. As he sat regarding her. she
put out, her hand and played with a
tendril ,of wild grapevine that hung
from the tree beside her. her eyes
following her fingers. "I do not know
hv I should be ashamed of the state
ct my feelings. I should not be able
to stand alive before you if be had not
been a better lord to me than you are
m English captives; and he is more
i' tn tie and high-minded than any man
1 ever heard sung of. But he does
.-.ot love me. He knows me only as
the boy he was kind to. I 'have given'
him the high-seat in my heart, but I
sit only within the door of his."
(To be continued.)
HOLY" RAILROAD IN CANADA.
It Runs Twenty Miles From Ste. Anne
De Bcauprc to Quebec.
In these days, when railways are
run more for what there is in them
for a favored few than for the accom
modation of the general public, it
may be interesting to recall the fact
that there is right here in North Amer
ica a "holy railroad." This is a little
line twenty-one miles long, from Que
bec to Ste. Anne De Beaupre. It is
sacred because it claims to run "espe
cially for the accommodation of pil
grims" and. above all. because at its
opening a few years since it was for
mally blessed, with all its belongings,
by Cardinal Taschereau. Every Sun
day the trains are crowded by de
votees in search of the blessing of the
good Saint Anne, who is credited with
the miraculous power of healing, and
on July 2G. Saint Anne's day, the
road cannot accommodate the enor
mous crowds which flock to her
shrine.
Think of riding on a holy railroad!
But those who have traveled on it
know that they must not expect the
comforts o paradise. It may called
"holy." but it seems to be run. none
the less, with an eye to dividends
The charges are high and the service
poor. New York Times.
After a Bargain.
It was evident that she was trou
bled. "I think I preter this." she said, in
dicating a roll of cloth on the counter.
"You say it has been marked down
from 12 to 10 cents a yard?"
"Yes, ma'am." replied the clerk.
"It's really what I want," she con
tinued, "but this" and she indicated
another roll "has been marked down
from 12',i to 10 cents a yard, as I un
derstand you?"
Yes. ma'am."
-Then 1 should think .the other
ought to be down to 9 cents."
"That would be cheaper than we
can afford to sell it. ma'am.'.'
"But you have taken 2k cents off
the price of the other and only 2 cents
off this." she protested, taking up the
first roll again. "That makes the
other the better bargain."
"It's very cheap at 10 cents a yard,
ma'am."
"I suppose it is. but it isn't as good
a bargain as the other."
"I can't make it any less."
"Then I suppose I will have to take
the 12 cent goods, but it seems a
shame when I would rather have the
other. You may give me ten yards."
Between the Horna of a Dilemma.
He was walking to and fro on the
station platform, and his anxiety
was so marked that a friend inquired:
"What's the matter. Tibbs? You
look as if you had something serious
on your mind."
"I have," he replied. "I'm worried,
badly worried. I've just found a dol
lar in my trousers pocket."
"You're the first man I ever saw
that worried over finding money he
didn't know he had."
"But you don't understand. I cant
make up my mind whether I forgot
the dollar or whether my wife slipped
it in my pocket to try me. You see
she has been accusing me of keeping
things from her. Now. if I were to
blow this bill in without saying any
thing to her about it. and it should
turn out that she had played a trick
on me my finish would be worth writ
ing up. On the other hand, if I go
to her and confess that I found it.
she'll simply take the dollar. I havea't
been 5o worried in a month."
Corelli's Grudge Against Caine.
Hall Caine and Marie Corelli are
rt ten associated in the minds of read
ers', especially those who despise the
work of both authors; but it is not
generally known that the former once
t'kt his best to prevent the latter gain
ing her present popularity.
Marie Corelli's first story. "A Ro
mance of Two Worlds." which made
her name, was sent to the London
publishing house At Bentley. Hall
Caine was the principal reader of that
house, -and bis report condemned the
nook so strenuously that it was re
jected. Miss Corelli was deeply discouraged,
but after some time she was persuad
(d to send the manuscript to another
publisher. He 'accepted it eagerly,
and made a big fortune out of-it 'and
cut of her later novels.
Twins Have Odd Names.
Odd names have been given to
'.ouneing boy twins born to Mr. and
Airs. John D. Conley of York. Peer.
The first born was named Enough by
the apprehensive father. Enough's
brother wil have to answer the some
what humiliating appellation of Last.
. Russia's Export Profits.
More than half of Russia's profits
from exports come from the sale of
grain. The value of exported butter
is over $16,000,000 per year; ot eggs
over $2C,000;000.
World's Largest Loom.
The largest loom in the world is one
recently built in Germany for weav
ing artists' painting cloth. It is capa
ble of weaving fellings forty-eight feet
wide.
Meaning) .of
Canada is an Indian word.
'M.11aMbM r l. "
wnmuvu n mi. .
ri
h -. and l
iNvevngji
Cleansing Public Reservoirs.
The department of agriculture is ex
perimenting with a process of treating
public water supply with a solution
3f copper sulphatesqae part in 1.
300,000 parts. The purpose ot this
's to destroy certain forms of agla
or plant growths, which so frequently
-ender water foul appearing and ill
smelling, although the sanitary quality
of the water is not affected. These
growths flourish best in the purest
waters, pressed through sand filters,
and for this reason large storage of
filtered water is not advisable unless
the reservoirs are covered. As to the
effect upon the consumers, a person
drinking three pints of water per day,
with 1 part to 1,000.000 parts,
would in a year consume but
seven to eight grains of sul
phate. As a mater of fact, how
ever, the treatment would not, be con-'
tinuous. Two or three applications a
year would probably suffice, and be
sides this the sulphate-would enter
nto combination with the organic life
ind would then be precipitated. Cer
tain of the algae are killed by solu
tions of only 1 part in 3,000.000, but
it is possible that others will require
much stronger solutions. In this case,
which remains. to be determiped by
test, the reservoir may be shut off
from us during treatment, or there
may be a supplementary process to
precipitate any copper sulphate re
maining in solution.
Improved Chiffonier.
There has just been patented a chif
fonier, or dresser, of decidedly useful
construction, and the honor belongs to
an Indiana citizen. The accompanying
cut shows the chiffonier, with its new
feature, which is nothing more nor
less than a washstand extension.
' It can be seen that the washstand
slides into the end of the chiffonier
and closes the end shelves or compart
ments when-the stand is. not in use.
The whole arrangement is particularly
The New Chiffonier,
ingenious and forms a compact and
useful article of furniture for milady's
room.
Porcelain Water Conduits.
Bizarre though it may seem, there
is agitation on the continent regarding
the replacing of the ordinary water
pipes by porcelain conduits. In fact,
the manufacture of the latter has al
ready begun in Saxony. The porce
ain tubes are to be extremely slender,
and placed in the interior of lead
conduits in which they form a lining.
Between the metal and the porce
lain will be a layer of cement. It is
well to remember that porcelain is,
so to speak eternal; further, that the
water in this way is not exposed to
contamination with iron, and that rust
cannot reach the metal walls and er
forate them with holes, as is often
the case in present day conduits. At
present rates the transportation of
water , through porcelain, in pipes of
the usual diameter costs 2.000 marks
the kilometer.
Electric Switching Engines.
The great weight of storage bat
teries, which is so serious an objec
tion to their use on passenger cars
and smaller carriages, is an advan
tage on switching locomotives, as it
gives necessary adhesion. Such a lo
comotive is being tested in the yards
of the Prussian state railways. Among
its special merits it claims that of
being always ready and that of cost
ing less than steam tor irregular ser
vice. The battery of 200 cells Is
charged once a day from a source of
constant current at 110 volts. The
total weight of the locomotive is S9.
000 pounds, of which 22.000 pounds is
the weight of the battery and 9,S0v
pounds that of the other electric ap
paratus. What Lightning Is.
It has generally been supposed that
the luminous material forming the
electric spark is made up of minute
particles torn from the poles of the
discharge and heated to a white heat
by it. But a Russian experimenter.
Semenoff, reports to the Paris Acad
emy of Sciences the results of experi
ments which, show that the poles suf
fer no such dismemberment, and that
the heated material comes solely from
the air or gas through which the
spark passes. In a lightning fla'sh the
air is simply heated momentarily to
incandescence along the path of the
discharge.
To Measure Fall of Dew.
Accurate measurement of dew has
always been Impossible. A new Ger
man drosometer, reported to give ex
cellent results, is a sheet of specially
prepared paper soaked In a.chemlcaL
solutlon'and the amount of dew fall
ing in a night can be closely estimated
from the degree of discoloration of
this paper. Experiment has given a
scale of discoloration. Paper of 3 de
grees of sensitiveness is provided, and
it is advised that two kinds be -
posed together, in order that when tbe
amount of dew Is too great for one it
may be indicated by the other.
Moths as Food.
In the mountains of Panay and
other islands of the Philippines moths
can be scraped up by the quart and a
barrel soon filled. The natives bake
them in the ground, causing heads,
wings and legs to drop off and leaving
a dainty morsel that is much prized
as an article of food.
Heavy Dust Storm.
'A discussion of the great dust storm
of February, 1903, estimates that It
covered 20,000 square miles of Eng
land, and Walea. with a deposit of at
least lO.OOO.OOO7 tons. The dust seems
to hare been brought from Africa.
SSatter ELS io
TO MAKE OVER BARN.
Plan Will Ensure a Commodious and
Comfortable Structure.
A. C. Mel. I wish to remodel a
bam. 48 by 84 feet, the floor of which
runs through the center from end to
end. The barn stands, north and south
and the dwelling bouse stands about
ISO feet south of the south end. I
wish to run the floor across the barn
and to arrange a cow stable to hold
forty-five cows, convenient for feeding
and clearing out.
We do not know how far the bents
are apart in your barn, nor how many
there are. so that some of them may
come directly over the mangers . or
gutters behind the cattle. If yon adopt
tho plan shown and the bents come
over any of the gutters or mangers,
so that the posts would interfere with
your stable, two posts opposite each
I
I,"
-I
9 A
Ground Floor Plan of Remodeled
Stock Barn.
A. cow stalls: B. passages behind catt'.e:
C. feed rooms: D. box stall: E. gran
ary; v, drive floor: G. window.
other can be placeu'dn each side of
the sill, and a 10 by 10 or 12 by 12
inch timber placed on top of posts to
carry the sill.
The plan shown provides for bents
of the following lengths, commencing
at the south end: 14. 14. 20. 12 and
24 feet, making in all 84 feet.
There is an over-shoot of six feet
on the south side of tbe driveway to
feed the first row of cattle from. The
windows on the west side are close to
the doors and come directly over the
gutters in order to let in light. In
cleaning out the cow stable the doors
can be made wide enough to drive in
from the east side through the stable,
aadtput of the west side. The stalls
ire single stalls for .swinging. Jacks
tor mangers, but if swinging racks are
not used the stalls can be converted
into double ones if desired. There are
thirty-nine cows stalls and one box
stall; if the box stall is not required,
three single stalls can be made of it.
Growing Rhubarb.
J?. M. At what season of the year
is It best to plant rhubarb roots? Is it
advisable to protect the roots in win
ter. There are two ways to start a rhu
bard, bed: First, by using roots which
may be secured from an established
plantation. If these are used, they
may be planted in spring or any time
from the first of September until the
middle of October. I prefer the early
autumn. The second method is from
seeds. If rhubarb seed is sown in well
pulverized soil in early spring, the
seedlings will be large enough to trans
plant in the autumn. Or they may be
allowed to stand over until the follow
ing spring. When the roots or seed
lings have been set out in the autumn,
it is altogether advisable to mulch
them heavily the first winter. Rhubarb
does well on a variety of soils, but one
which is deep, fairly heavy and moist
is preferable. If you want early rhu
barb, select a warm site.
Cost of Four-Room Cottage.
J. E. I intend to build a four-room
cottage, with bath room and pantiy.
It would have an 8 foot basement and
colonial roof. It would be finished in
yellow pine. What would such a build
ing cost, with lumber worth $35 to
$40 per thousand feet? The house
would be 24 by 30 feet. It would have
three bay windows and front porch.
Your basement walls and floor wotiid
cost. If built of concrete, about $135
provided the walls are one foot thick
and the concrete is composed of one
part of Portland cement to seven of
clean gravel.
It is difficult to give a close estimate
of the cost, and amount of materials
in the frame work of your house un
less one has a detail of the class of
work required in finishing. Roughly
estimating, the plastering would
amount to sixty-six dollars; lumber
and other materials would amount to
about, five hundred dollars not includ
ing work.
Roomy and Up-to-Date Stable.
A. McT. Please publish a plan for
the basement of a barn 76 feet by 40
feet, to have 6 or 8 stalls for horses.
u
4
J.....iy...4C tXi -tt-VX fi.TK
L3I
Ground Floor Plan of Handy Stable
A. horse stable: I!, fwd room: C. cat
tie stables: D. passage behind cattle
E. box stalls; F. room for cattle to rur
loose.
4 or 5 box stalls, stalls for 18 or 2(
bead of cattle tied, and a place foi
5 or 10 head to ntn loose.
The above plan provides for sis
horse stalls, ten double cattle stalls,
four box stalls and a room for youn?
cattle to run loose in. The box stall?
have doors in from outside, so that
they may be cleaned from these. The
passage behind the cattle is nine feet
wide, allowing room for a wagon oi
cart to be backed in to draw out the
manure.
Bringing Water to a House.
J. E. What would be the best snd
cheapest way to bring water to a
house. The water is 2.500 teet away,
and would have 230 feet of a continu
ous fall. Where would I get the ma
terial? There is probably no more saris
factory method of conveying water
from one point to another, when a
good fall can be secured, than through,
a ul'anized iron pipe. Even thornrh
th. f.tll is considerable, a smail pipe
fhmitd lie guardtd against owing fo
the danger of chnkinjr up with vegeta
ble matter. A one-inch pipe should
answer weli. The pipe should be laid
below the frost line and the mouth
should be protected by a screen to
keep out frogs and pieces of solid ma
terial. Clovers for Silage.
F. W. What kinds cf crass or
legumes may be used for making en
silage? ,
Any of the common clovers, such as
alsike, red, or lucerne, may be used
for making ensilage. Hollow stemmed
plants, such as grasses, cannot be
used successfully for this purpose.
Rape has been tried, but without satis
factory results owing to the high par
"crtage of loss by decay.
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Mr. Wraca Invites contributions ot f
nr nw k)aa that filer of this de- I
partment may wish to present, and
would be pleased to. answer co: respond
ents deslrlnjc Information on subjects
discussed. Addreaa M. J. Wrug?. Wau
kee. Iowa.
FARMING
BY GUESS.
PAPER.
CR ON
Tbe man who has worked out farm
ing to a fine point on paper says
there is no such thing as terming by
juess with the man who is not trav
eling in a rut. They say the up-to-iate
farmer knows just 'what to do
and when to do it. In other words, he
is a perfect master ot any and all
things pertaining to farming.
We will admit that the more a man
knows about things in general the
more he knows about things ia partic
ular, but there are some things about
farming actual farming that a man
may know very well how to do, but
studying until he is gray-headed will
not tell him when to do it. This is
what we mean by farming by guess.
We all have to do it. For instance,
we know that freshly plowed ground
holds the moisture longer if harrowed
as soon as possible after it is turned
over, and if we knew it was not go
ing to rain for half a dozen moons we
would get to work and harrow, but'
this we do not know. If we did har
row and there should come a big rain
three days after, we would have all
the workto do over again, and that
would be doing the first harrowing
for nothing.
There are many other things about
our work that we know well enough
how to do. but we don't know when
to do them. This is what we call
farming by guess, and we have got to
do it, the office farmer or the "sure
shot" weather prophet to the con
trary notwithstanding.
Fanning like any other buhincss.
has its tips and downs, its sunshine
and shadow, but taken as a whole
there is no other business that car
ries with it more of the ciement or
certainty. It is true the farmer has
his seasons of flood and wind, of
drought and grasshoppers to contend
with, but these are the exce;itiu:is and
not the rule. Most seasons he may
expect a fair return for tlie money
invested, and the energy expended;
for, in spite of the cry of the calam
ity howler, and the wail of the un
scrupulous politician, who is scheming
for his vote and patronage, it yet re
mains true that the conditions which
surround the tiller of the soil are
steadily and surely growing better
every year. If one has made a fail
ure of farm work, it would he well
for him to inquire first how much
of that failure can be traced directly
to his own actions, or want of action,
before he Joins the ranks ot those
who take special delight in telling
what a hard time the farmers of the
land are having.
THE SMALL FLOCK.
Every resident of a town or village
where there are suitable lots of
ground can profitably keep, a few
fowls, both to secure egs: and for
pleasure. There is no better oppor
tunity for enjoyment by a family with
a small plot of ground than wilh a
small flock. They will cost sr little
for feed and labor as to email no
loss of time whatever in their manage
ment. The fresh eggs daily, and the
pleasure of a newly hatched lot of
chickens, more than compen.-aio for
the limited share of attention re
quired. The family flock always pays,
because there is more or k"s food
from the scraps that can he utilized
and the eggs used are known to be
fresh, which is not always the case
when one must buy them. The
younger members of the family en
joy assisting in the work, and the
workman who comes home from the
workshop in the evening will nearly
always find time to observe the flock
and enjoy having the hens in his yard.
It is asserted that more eggs are pro
duced in small flocks of towns and
villages than on farms.
Did you take observations of the
moon and other planets this year be
fore you sowed your garden stuff?
Do you suppose that is the reason the
weeds are so much higher than the
vegetables? When you think of it.
what nonsense the moon theory is!
Get out your hoe and put in your best
clips this morning. Leave the moon
to do its own business. You do yours.
SALTING OF ANIMALS.
A great many neglect to feed their
stock salt. Others feed it nice in a
while, whenever it happens to be con
venient for them to think of it: still
others make it a rule to salt their
stock on Sundays. As a matter of
fact, all these practices are bad and
the first, to not feed salt at all. is an
exceedingly poor practice. Stock
should have daily access to salt; their
system requires it. and when they
have free access to salt at a!i times
there is no danger of the'r eating so
much at any one time as to physic
them, which is often the case when
salt has been withheld for some time.
Co-operation among farmers in mar
keting products from the farm is ad
visable. In many states this plan
has worked well, especially among
fruit growers who do not raise large
quantities of fruit, and by combining
their output it reduces expenses.
reaches the consumer quicker, and in
the end obtains greater profits.
When the book agent calls treat
fcim kindly. He may be some ten
derfoot of a college student, and when
vou subscribe for his "Royal Road to
Wealth" at $3.50 you may take pleas
ure in knowing that you have helped
a deserving young man to the amount
ol $2 50 in his educational work.
There is no kind of stock that will
bring up worn-out land like sheep
and at th same time will bring in a
good return to the owner. Keep a
good flock of sheep and give your
worn-out land, yourself and your fam
ily a rest, and while you are resting
you will be making money.
The more the farmer can get bis
hogs to eat the larger gain he will
et.
POULTRY NOTES.
Cntde carbolic acid spread on the in
side of the nest is said to keep away
aites.
Taking everything into considera
tion the Plymouth Rock is the best
fowl for all-round use.
Mix equal parts of lard and coal
oil and rub on the beads of little
chickens to kill lice on them.
Charcoal is highly recommended for
fowls. Put it where they can get it.
and they will do the rest.
Cholera can be prevented by putting
ten drops of sulphuric acid into a gal
lon of water twice a week.
An abnormally dark comb indicates
that the food is disagreeing with the
fowl, and that there is indigestion.
at corn. oats, buckwheat, or any
other grain is fed. there should be a
mixture of wheat, bran, as the grain
alone is too heavy.
A writer says that fowls kept in
yards of moderate size suffer less
from disease, and lay more eggs than
those on free range.
Anything that brings in cash re
turns before and after the regular
crop is a wonderful help to the farm
er. This is just what the hen does.
No place can be found more con
genial to poultry than the plum or
chard. They enrich the soil, and the
plums feed them and give them
shade.
Whenever a dozen eggs, says the
Farm Journal, sells for the price of a
pound of butter, the man with the
hens is ahead of the man with the
cow.
Unless fowls have plenty of ventila
tion when they roost, especially in
the summer time, the houses will soon
smell terrific and the fowls become
diseased.
There is a constantly increasing de
mand for good poultry in the cities.
There would be a little trouble for a
farmer to fell chickens by the hun
dred instead of by the dozen.
During this month and next watch
the white mustard. It is one of the
most pernicious weeds we have, al
lowing the definition that "a weed is
a plant out of its place." Wo have
noticed lately crop of grain almost
choked out by mustard and at some
points in this country it has about
taken the road. It certainly reflects
anything but credit on the owners or
farms adjoining such roads.
We know of no secret method to
apply toward the destruction of this
weed, but it is an annual and can
be easily destroyed and kept in check
by mowing the roads just before the
plant seeds. To those who have had
but little experience with the mustard
plant would advise to watch and keep
every plant out of their place and
along roads, as they are not in posi
tion to fully realize the seriousness
of the mustard pest when it once is
established.
In handling fruit and vegetables one
of the common tricks is in facing the
packages, but the deception is soon
discovered, and the buyer, nine times
out of ten, is pretty sure to llnd out
tbe trick, and the seller's reputation,
if he has any, is badly damaged. If.
on the other hand, care is taken to
grade and uniformity is adhered to.
an enviable reputation can be built
up which is lasting. Buyers, whether
in the local or distant market, soon
learn the brand of the honest shipper.
HOW TO SORT AND PACK APPLES.
Now. just a few words about pick
ing and handling the apples. The
summer and fall apples may be picked,
as they ripen and as they are wanted
for use. Especial care must be taken
to prevent the winter aples from get
ting bruised. They should be picked
into half-bushel, bail baskets, hand
ling each as carefully as though it
were an egg. Make a sorting table
by stretching two thicknesses of bur
lap, or a piece of heavy duck, over a
frame, about three feet wide and six
or eight feet long and supported on
four legs. On this tabic carefully
pour the fruit as it comes from the
;ree in little baskets. Sort the fruit
into three or more grades and the best
grade to contain only the sound fair
sized fruit, the second grade, of fruit
for immediate use and for cooking,
and a third grade to go to the cider
mill. The first grade is the only
one that should be kept for winter
us. Apples keep best when kept from
the air. and in a cool, even tempera
ture. The most satisfactory way for
the fanner is to pack them in clean
cracker or shoe boxes, lined with pa
per, nailing the boxes up tight. Then
as the apples ar- wanted, a box can
be opened and they will be used up
before they can deteriorate much. Do
not pile the apples on the ground in
the orchard and let them remain a few
days, but get them from the tree into
the cool-permanent keeping place
:oon as possible.
The smaller the butter globules can
be mai:e in bringing the butter the
freer they will be of buttermilk.
When the grains of butter come as
large as bullets, no washing or wnrt.
mg can free them from buttermilk
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granulation.
THE USEFUL BANANA.
Immense fortunes have been made
out of the banana business. Revenues
do not accrue along from the sale of
the fruit, for the leaves are used for
packing, the wax found on the under
side of the leaves is a valuable article
of commerce. Manila hemp is made
from the stems, and of this hemp are
made mats, plaited work and lace
handkerchiefs of the finest texture.
Moreover, the banana Is ground into
banana flour. The island of Jamaica
and the West Indies generally yield
crops of this useful iruii.
Give ;ts the man who can see the
cr.mical side of everything on the
farm. Not the chronic giggler, Lut
the man who can laugh when an ap
ple falla on his head, or at the awk
ward tumble he got; one can laugh
away his own troubles and see some
thing good left yet. but who does not
laugh at others' woes.
Where has that profitable Belgian
hare gone? What has become of the
millions that hare been made fa grow
ing ginseng? ,
DEN
FEEDING THE GRASS CROP.
One of the most successful growers
of hay in the country ascribes his sc '
cess to the proper preparation eC his
fields in the beginning and the proper
manuring at tbe time of seeding. Dur
ing the two months preceding seed
ing the soil is plowed and harrowed!
so frequently that he claims it ia ac
least gone over fifty time. Tata
process makes fin all the vrgrtattaai
that Is available as' plant food amd
lets in sunshine to the soiL
seeding, stable manure m
large quantities as he can
after seeding only bone, mmiale
potash and nitrate of sod are
and this is used on every crop:
is. he is not satisfied to let the fer
tilizer used in preparing the need bed.
answer for all time, but prepares aatdt
applies the commercial fertmsem
named each season, or twico
season if. as in his case, two crops i
taken from the meadow each
This sort or treatment Is expensive.
to an extent, but it pays to apply it
in any section where the hay crop ia
a paying one.
If you are not receiving regular
the bulletins from our AgricnMurat
College or the Department at Wash
ington it is your own fault. Each of
these institutions would be only to
glad to scad them to yon If they had)
your name, and at the present: time
these bulletins contain the beat
thoughts and the most practical sug
gestions pertaining to the different de
partments of farm work.
FEEDING VALUE OF FODDER.
"Much of the feeding value In the
corn fodder is lost by allowing it tc
become too ripe before cutting. Ordi
narily when the grain begins to hard
en well the corn Is ready to cut up
Put up in rather small shocks, espe
cially If it can be shucked out early
Our plan is to put up in shocks
twelve hills square, shuck out. haul ie
tho toddor and store under shelter.
Managed in this way the corn foddet
is equal to good hay. Ot" course, with
a large acreage this could not be
done, but on many farms it could be
stored instead or. leaving it out ex
posed to wind, rain and snow a good
part of the winter. If necessary tc
leave out. put up in large shocks, but
cut sufficiently early to secure the
most nutriment in thv stalk aai
leaves."
An Indiana 'armor in his despera
tion in trying to get a band seat thii
advertisement to his local paper:
"Farm help wanted. Wages. $6 pea
day. Breakfast served in bed. Werk
ing hours from 10 in the morning to
2 in the afternoon. All heavy work
will be done by the boss. Cigars fur
nished free. Any hand worklag the
entire season can have the farm. Ap
ply at once."
THE FARMER'S WORKDAY.
There is being a great deal said
these days about eight hours beinp
long enough ror any day's work, and
while the claim made may properl
apply to mininrr and manufacturing
the system cannot be made a success
on either the railroad or the farm.
The growing season or all the cereal
producing sections of the United
States is at best very short, nati
working twenty-four hours a day.
this compels more than eight hoars
work in tnenty-four of any man en
gaged in agriculture. The well-denned
hours or labor possible in all manu
facturing enterprises are simply ha
possible on the farm, for it not infre
quently happens that a man mast da
two days' work in one or else he
simply bnricd up by his work. In as
ordinary way, when things are not
crowding on the farm, a day's
of ten hours will do. but nothing
When a man will refuse to wate
or skim his milk, keep the little gnar
ly apples out of the middle or thenar
rel. put a cord of wood for a cord em
his wagon and ta'i to the assessor ao
be would to the parsoa. it is small
matter whether an evangelist gets
into his neighborhood or not.
WHEN TO WATER THE HORSE.
The opinion has- long bees current.
especially in the United States, that
there is considerable . advantage ia
watering horses before, rather thaa
after, they have been fed. The argu
ment heretofore brought up arrainst
watering after eating claimed that tho
large quantities of water taken into
the stomach at such a time washed
zome of the undigested foods iBto the?
intestines and that in consequence di
gestion was -not so complete as It
would otherwise be. Experiments
have been conducted in certain parts
of Europe recently with a view to get
light upon this question. The coneMt
sion reached by the cxiierimentcra was
rhat it fs not a matter of much hnv
porrance whether horses are watered
before or after eating. They foesMf.
however, that better results were oh-
tained when the horses
..
were watered.
with regularity.
On the small farm, as elsewl
profit only comes of the things tl
are well done. The farmer who na
dertakes too much becomes discour
aged when his work gets ahead of
him. Too many things to do mesa
that the work on some of them wilt
sooner or later be slighted; then tho
profits are gone.
There is always a little difference of
9'1 or more which it will pay any
stock raiser to ponder over, and that
is the $2 or more difference
between the value cf well
bred and scrub steers on the
Chicago market. Here is one of tho
biggest agricultural leaks in the coun
try. The production of olive oil in Italy
L In 1902-o:i has been officially esti
mated at -IS.840.(J0 gallons.
When only a maintenance ration is
;;ivcn the maintenance ration is
thrown away.
The market is getting more partlca
lar. every .day about loo!:s and style af
a horse.
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