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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1891-7-23, Page 7rtatin.......0mronisanaminonan, AGRICULTUAAL. Bees end Their Bobits. The hive or the noney bee, as it is gener. ally called, is the most useful to man of the membrane winged inse3ts. It hosfour naked wings, the upper pair being the larger. Its eyes are large, composed of a great number of six sided facets, thickly studded with hairs. Betweerthe antenm there are three small, bright,spots, which are supposed to be oyes. From the fact of bees recognizing their hives from long distances and flying toward them in a straight line with the greatest rapidity', it would seem that their sense of visionis very acute, at the sometime we see them running their heads against the hive and actually feeling their way into it. So probably their composite eyes are fitted oxily for distant vision. The muscular strength. of the tee is very great and capable of being long continued. A community of hive bees contains the workers and a queen, which have stings, and the drones, which have no stings. The sting is a, very strong weapon with beets on the end. The workers do not hesitate to use their sting, and will fight until they die, but the queen will seldom use her sting, except in killing young queens. The sting of a bee Is very poisonens, and cattle and even men have died from the effects of an enraged, colony. There are two kinds of bees in this country -the common honey bee and the Italian tee, the latter differing from the former in having white bands around the body and having a longer trunk. In winter the,queen lays few, if any, eggs, but as soon as the workers begin to bring . polIeu in the spring she begins, and, 111 a strong colony, lays 2,000 eggs a day. The eggs are of a bluish white color, and ea a proper temperature are hat:dial in three days. Workers may now be seen entering the cell every few minutes to feed the larva. The workers renaain five days in this con- dition,the drones six and a half days, The cell is then scaled over bythe workers. In three days the larva spins a cocoon and passes into the pupa, state andin twenty days the workers come out, end the drones in twenty-four; but when theyrpar a gueen, she is fed on the royal jelly while in the larva state, which so stimulates her that she comes out in sixteen days. Although the queen is developed the quickest she lives the longest, generally from three to five years; the drones live but a few months. The workers live about six weeks in the best of the season, but those which are belched later ia the season live throagh the winter. Bees will notswarm until the hive is full of honey; then the bees -will take a larva which was to be a worker, enlarge its cell, feed it on royal jelly and in twelvedays, if you put your ear near the hive, you can hear the young queen piping in her cell, and you will know that theywill soon swarm. The young queen is protected by the work- ers, for if the old queen could get at the cell she would destroy the young queen. Bees swarm only on pleasant. days. When all things are ready the workers givethe signal, and the old queen flies outof the hive, follow- ed by %bout twothirds of the workers. The queee still soon light on a tree, and the work. ere will duster around her. If anything happens to the queen the bees will return to the old stock. Of course, when the first swarm issues there are hundreds of workers hatching out daily, and if the 'workers wish to continue swarming 'when the young queen comes out of her cell, theworkers will pro- tect the other young queens, and in nine days another swarm will come out led by s. young queen, although the swarm is much smaller than the first. Another swarm will come out, in three days, and the workers will generally let the queen, sting the young queens into their cells ; but sometimes they have been known to swarm eight them in one season. Sometimes a young swarm if they have %large timber of 'bees sae small hive, bill swarm ; we had one last summer that swarmed, although they were but two months old. They filled the hive withltoney; also two fifteenspound box% and swanned in that. time. M two queens come out of their cells at the same time a fierce combat Wows, the workers form around them to witness a prize fight; but one always seems to get the better of the other, and soon des. treys her and seemstto worse for thestruggla The swarming season ontimetwes the last of hlitiand lasts until Anguet, but a swarm which comes out after the middle of July is tvorthiese. Insecticides. The Department of Agtieulture sends Ibis out as the (mat forret& for a kerosene omulsion to destroy sucking insects, such the tree "bugs, plant lice and Neale t tete. Diesolve a half -pound of common veep or whale &A soap in e. galloa of water, and heat it, to the boiling point. Then turn it into two gallons of kerosene, and churn by ttse of force pump and a spray noerle for five or ten minutes. To tile for tbe ordinate, facilities about tlae average farm it is quite a fine thing to always make the butter come hard and firm during hot weather. The observance of a small matter like the one mentioned will aid most mater- ially in maintaining a uniform gilt-edged butter polity. It should be seen that during this dry time the water facilities of the pastures are kept wholesome and adequate for the needs of the stock. Bunning the COWS from pasture is the incentive for another species of lacteal taint which develops principally after the milk has been withdrawn from the udder. Anything that is unnatural or inhuman about the. care and treatment of dairy cows is sure to directly or indirectly damage the milk yielded by them. Salt your cows regularly, or better yet, keep salt by them, and they will yield more and better milk and your creara will " come" into butter freely and quickly. It has been time and again demonstrated that washing the milk from butter when in a granular state does not injure its groan or detract from its flavour. There is yet to be shown one good meson for working the buttermilk from the butter with a ladle. It fs like throwing eggs into a basket, as you would potatoes, to send to market. In both cases an omelet is produced. • Now Mlle time to test the quality of milk of your individual cows, to establish the per cent of the butter -fat yielded. If you feel that you cannot afford to buy a tester for your own use wholly, interest your dairy neighbors and club together for the purchase. Your aim shoule be to work up the possessions of a dairy showing by a practical tester 5 per cent of butter fat yield- ed. That is, the use of the tester will open your eyes so that you can weed out from your dairy the 3 or 4 per cent cows that keep the general average so low. No matter where you milk your cows this hot weather'in the stable or barnyard ; but be sure thatthe surrounding atmosphere is not tainted by any offensive odor. The poison of bad air is indelibly photographed upon the quality of any milk within its reach. In washing milk utensils in t'he dairy the use of salsoda, should be considered almost indispensable. It will cleanse the spores and bacteria from seams and cracks. Its use should de followed by a thorough after scalding. -Prairie Farmer. For Balky Horse& Following are six rules for the treatment of balky horses which are recommended by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Persons who are unfortunate enough to own such animals are recommend- ed to give one or more of these rules a trial: I. Pat the horse upon the neck; examine the harness carefully first on one side ad then on the other, speakingencouragingly while doing so ; then jumi p nto the wagon and give the word go;. generally he will obey, 2. A teamster in Maine says he can stoat the worst balky horse by taking him out of the shafts, and making him go around in a circle until he is giddy. If the first dance of this sort doesn't cure him, the second will. 3. To eure a bulky horse simplyplone your band over the horse's nose, and shut off his windeentil he wants to go, and then kb him 4. The brain of the horse seems to enter. tain but one idea at a time; therefore, °ore timed whipping only confirms his stubborn resolve. Ifyou can by anymeans give him a new subject to think ofeyou will generally have no trouble in starting him. A eimple remedy is to take a couple of turns of stout twine around the f weleg, just below the knee, tight enough for the horse to feel, and tie a bow knot. At the first cluck he will generally go dancing off, and alter going a short distance you can get out and remove the string to prevent injury to the tendon in your further drive. 5. Take the tail of the horse between the bind loge, and, tie it by a cord to the Saadlo girth. O. Tie a string around the horse's ear) elose to the horse's head. MOM° Peale A white scale is a. commonpest on twat - toes, eve the Cornell experiment bulletin. The huperfeet 'meet is a small white scale. like body. preying upon the under surface of the leaves, and the mature form is it min- ute lly.like bleed, which 'lies about, the !mute. it can be kept, in cheek by fumi- gating with tobacco smoke. A mach more serious pest is a small spotted mite, seemly larger than the red spider. Barring the rose elide; it is the utostserious pest which I have ever encountered. The mites feed upon the under auks of the leaves, ceustteg the upper thirfaeee to appear speckled with white They attack many plank, but to. teatime end etteumbers are favorites. Wo have tried numbers of remedies with great thoroughness, leak 1889.00 the only way we could keep them in check WAS to syringe with water so forcibly once or twice a day scale, mix one gallon of this with nine of' as to knock them olf. By the time they water; for other insects one gallon of it to were fairly resettled on the plants we would fifteen gallons of water is enough, and one knock them oft' again. By this alternating galls% in twenty or two -eV -five will kilt warfare, aided be picking arid burning the plant lice. The same ettatISton, Otte gallon worst leaves, WC keptourplante in tolerable in fifteen gallon' ef water, is used for order. Lately, however, we have found grape phylloxera, and forgrubs in the lawn. that Hughes' fir tree oil is fetal to them, as It shonld be applied liberally, and then the also to all kinds of lice and ttaIctt. For the ground liberally supplied with water very mites, We WM a half toilet, of oil to two gal. frequently for several day& lens of %teeter, and the material may be ap. For phylloxera, they also recommend a plied with a syringe or knapsack pump. mixture made by dissolving over the fire five pounds caustic stela iti four gallons of water, thou add 40 pound ef retie and boil until resinn is all disitolved, then ',lowly add water For Mee, terpentinehtte proved my most enough to make fiftygallons. To toe it, pat efficient remedy, :Aye a writer in the Coen - the gallon of this to nine pilots of water, try Getitletretn. In feet, 1 believe it to be end dig a basin six inches deep and two feet an almost tete prevenhve, if the chicks ite across around the vine mid turn in five gal- taken in time and given a dose in their food Ions of the diluted mixture. It is best kid° once every day, beginning, sty, when the it tatty in spring before the spring rains, VI chicks are about ten dare of age. I put in that it may be well soaked down arouhd the sta much turpentine as they will stand, roots, giving it in their meriting meal when the Alas' nests, which are sometimes very chicks are very hongry, and allowing them troublesome, may be destroyed by turtneg no other food forseveral hours. They must bi-sulphide of carbon into the nest and also be kept out of the dew, fed upon cover them with a wet blanket for ten strengthenitig feed, and everything aroond minutes. Then remove the blanket, and them be kept clean and wholesome. But, with a torch (along -handled one, to keep the notwithstanding all precautions, sometimes flame from the face) explode the vaper atthe a bad case Of gapes will occur; then I gen- mouth ot the hole. If a satisfactory method orally persuade some one more skillful than of applying it could be arranged, so that it myself to extrhets, theegape worms with a would not be too expensive, this would be twisted horse hair wet in turpentine, or aseful in destreying onion, carrot, and radish failing in that, put a drop Or ttiVe of turpen- maggots, and perhaps other underground tine down their windpipes. After treat - insects. meat, the little patients should be liberally Paris green for apple trees should not be fed on bits of fat sprinkled with pepper, as stronger than one petted in 2.30 gallons of their constant gasping has prevented them Water. Mix the panel' with water enough from eating. I have also tried giving the to make as thick as cream, and then stir chicks pure carbolie acid in their food as a carefully into the water, as there is fear of preventive of gapes, but do not think it injerieg foliage, as on peach and plum answered the purpose quite so well as tut. trees. Add about five gallons of lime water pentina though it may be best used in cold be the 250 gallons and that will prevent the or rainy 'weather when it is not safe to use burning el the leaf. much turpentine. v Impossible. Turpentine for Gapes. A Travelling Dairy. To the Hon. John Dryden, Commissioner of Agriculture for Ontario, belongs the honer of conceiving the, idea of sending a travelling dairy through this Province to give farmers, their wives and familiesprac- tical instruction in buttewma,king. For this purpose Mr.. Dryden asked a small sum. of money from the Legislature during its last session in March, and since that time he has given the mater a good deal of thought and attention. The work of arrang- ing it progtainthe of meetings and carryingeut the many details necessary to insure success was entrusted to President Millet who six years ago organised the Farmers'. Institutes of this ,Province which he has ever since ar- ranged and carried on yearly with great suc- cess. President Mills undertook this work with his usual determination and made such satisfactory arrangements that the travelling dairy bids fair to be a grand success and prove of incalculable benefit to those farm- ers who attend the meetings held in their district.. The hon. Minister does not wish to do anything either inopposition to or in com- petition with the creameries or 'cheese fac- tories. His object in connection with the travelling dairy is to assist the farmers and their wives to make good. butter for their own use and for the local markets, to instruct them in the feeding of cows, the handling and testing of milk, the handling and churn- ing of cream, the working andpackingof butter, etc. -in a word, to assist them as far as possible by simple object lessons and lectures to make butter which will command the highest prices in the markets, thus proving a source of profit to those , who handle it and a constant delight to the travelling public, who are now compelled to eat so much poor butter. Mr. Dean, protessor et dairying at the Ontario Agricultural College, who, by the way, is a graduate of that institution will take a leading part at all the meetings. Prof. Dean has a thorough knowledge of dairying in all its different phases, is a fluent and popular speaker and a man well fitted to stimulate the farmers to be more careful and systematic in their work. He will be accompanied by Mr. S. P. Brown and W. J. Palmer, B. S. A. Mr.. Brown is both a scientific and practical butter maker, finishing his course at the 0. A. C. three years ago. He then moved to the dairy State of 'Wisconsin where he assisted in the management of a dairy farm and latterly has had. charge of the experimental depart. ment of the 0. A. C. dairy where he has made an excellent quality of butter. Mr. Palmer, a graduate orate college this year and who has since been giving special at- tention to butter making and the manage- ment of milk and cream, will assist Prof. Dean, take note of the proceedings and re- port at the different meetings. The appliances for the travelling dairy consist of :-One No. 2 daisy churn, one 20 bottle Babcock milk tester for testing sainples of milk furnished by anyone who desires to know the quality of their cows' milk, one lever butter worker, cream can, milk cams, thermonteters and other utensils necessary for suceeseful buttermakieg. Four or hve gallons of cream aud some ace are required for each meeting. These are arranged formed are supplied by some farmer near athand, who, after the meeting is over, gets the butter in return for hie cream. The first meeting was held at Islington on Tuesday, June 30th, and proved a success in every way. Islington is a thriving vil. lege on the C. P. B., about ten miles westof Toronto, the centre of a rich agricultural country and surrounded by prosperous far- mers, some of whom have private dairies, but most of theta ship their milk directly to Toronto. The Town Hall being engaged for the °melon, proceedings opened o.t about 9.30 a.nt. There was a good attendance at this meeting, not a few ladiee being pre- sent. Prof. Dean briefly described the objects for which the travelling dairy were Intel. tuted, viz., to stimulate thefarmers to make a better quality of butter for the local mar- kets. One great, drawback, that farnters have to contend with is that, thepriee of the articles they sell is fixed and ale° the price of those they buy. ruder these conditions they must t--(1) lessen the cost of produe. tion ; (2) produce a better article. At the present rate of progress Canada maysupply the whole British market with butter and cheese, but to do this it tirstaelass article would have to be produced. Ile then thew. ad by means of ot chart the amount of fertil- ising tretteria token item the farm by tire mak of grain, compared with dairy produces, after wheal he dwelt at length on the care of milk and cream for butter -whin. NAV Tiinte for Hot Weather. Alter you have eream at a proper tem- perature for churning, it is expedient that you chin the interior of the churn b :y artise of core water. Do this immediately prior leerene the cream in the -harm With " Could you make a water -color sketeh of me?" asked Mr. Soaker. • "All but the tom," returned Palette. -"I couldn't get that color in wester any more than you could." supplied by different farmers were, then tested with the Babcock tester, which also proved satisfactory. The percentage of fat found in the different samples were as fol- lows 1- 1-8.5 per wont. 6-3.4 per cent. 11-3.1 per cent. 2-4.4 " 7-3.4 " 12-3.8 " 3-3.5 " 8-3.4 " 18-3.0 " 4-3.5 0-4.4 " 14-4.2 " 5-3.3 " 10-3.0 " 15-74.2 " All the different dairy utensils were then shown and their uses explained, after which the meeting broke up, all expressing them- selves.highly satisfied with what they had heard and seen. THE OIIY OF DEATH. Standing rpm a Swamp, the Mexican Cap- ital's Death Tinto is 37 in 1,000. The deathrate of She City of Mexico is very high. It is sa d that it averages about 37 m 1,000, and the only wonder is that it is not higher. Were it not for the perpetu- ally bright sun and the high altitude the city would be amorgue, a vast charnel -house, a Golgotha a plane of the skulls. Think of a city which has had a population of hun- dreds of thousands for manyg enerations built upon arid over a swamp, with no drainage whatever, and, let this city go on with its accumulated mass of filth increas- ing year by year and sinking down into the soil, and you have some idea of sanitary Mexico City. A constant miasma riseshere at night and the water is only thee feet under the city. Is it any wonder that there is no place in the world where typhus and typhoid fever are so prevalent as here, and is it not surprising that the Mexican capital is for many people a favorable befall resorb? The climate is so equable, the thin, dry air and the hot sun suck up the juices of decomposition, and such people as are careful and, sleep above the ground floor are in little danger. Out- side ot the city there is no danger whatever, and if it had been built on high ground it would be the finest heath resort of the world. As it is, foreigners have to be very careful of their health here, and the foreign cemeteries contain many occupants. A lady occupied a whole year in searching for and fitting the following lines from English and American poets. The whole reads almost as if written at one time and by one author: Life. Why all this toil for triumplip of an hour t Life's -4a sYhOurntgsUmmer-man is but a flower ;- Der. Johnson. By turnswe catch the fatal breath and die - trope. The cradle and the tomb, alas!so nigh !-[Prior. To be is better far than not to beseleetvell. J'bough life may seem a tragedy;- Butfight cares speak when mighty griefs are dumb-[Daulel. The bottom is but shallow* whence they come. -Mir Walter Raleigh. Your fate is but the common fate of all ;- [Longfellow. Unmingled joys here to no man befall ;-South- Nature, to cacti allots his proper sphere. -[Con - grove. Fortune makes folly her peculiar care ;- [Churchill. Customdoesoften reason overrile.--lllochester And throw a cruel etneadite on a. fool.-IArm. Live laver -tow long or short periatto heaven, They who forgive most shall be most forgiven. Sin may be clasped so close we cannot see its face ;Wrench. Vile intercourse where virtue has no place.- Tuen,ICCOP enell pa.ssion down, however dear,- (Sontorville. - -pgruillube s" ' Thou twist a smile Ana tear ;- Her se-Insurt1BY"suna. meta faithless plea -.urea With crate and skill to rain and betrays-- Soar -notettroo"ljhth to fall, but. stoop to rIsta- inlotelars:ingotroefr. ot all that we despite.-- --SCrowley. Oh, tterlien, rettriett.nce thatimplous seltesteette- RIeltee have wings. and grandeur is a dream. - (Cowper. Think not ntnbition wise because lie brave - The net of glory late but to the gram -Wray. What is ambition? 'Tie glorlotte cheat.- Davenant. Only ddesketurt!ellve to the brave and great.-lAd- Where all the gaudy glitter of a crown 1 - [Dryden. The war to blies Iles noton bottle of down.. (5'. Quarlee. How long we live, not year' but aetiont tell. - Making. That taut nves team who lives the that lifti 'Make. then, while yet re may, your God r our friend -Mason. Whom Chrietteute worship, eet nob eetteete. haat- nun; The trust thurs gam guard. atid to youmlf be Seat -Marta. For two boa e'er we tray, yet die we muse.- lehakespearce Meet-sato% Questiont-When new milk Is worth 10e it piton, 'Flue is skint milk worth per 1001bs. for kedtng? Prof. Deati-20c to 250per 100 lbs. Question -Is ensilage injurious to cows when fed in large quatetities Pied. Dean -No. Not if the Ensilage is well made and not too seer. We fed &telt of our cows at the college dairy. last winter 50 lbs. ensliage, five lbs. bran, sox Ilse, clover hay. per day. Mr. Cologdort-I hetet fed as high see 90 lbe. per (ley per head witheut any injurious decent. Question -.What, is your ration, Mrs. Agar? Airs. Agar -Three gallone equal parte oat- meal and peatneal, 40 lbs. clover laiy, one. half bushel tnangolds per day. Mr. Nleood-I feed one Walla cut tett straw, clover hey aud one-half bueliel pulp. ed mangolds_ four traits equal quantitie8. pealtneal alta bran morning and evening, and with one buthel mixed cut hay and straw at item. A Voicw-I feett only twice a day. Question --Do you recommend brewers' grain for milch tows? Prof. Dean -No; unless- they are trade wad then only in email quantities. Question -What mutes ensilage to be- come sour in the silo? Prof. bean -Organisms floating aleent in the air attack Lite corn when put itt the silo changing the.platt sugar to weld. Question -Is undetrpe torn more ape to make sour ensilage than that more matured? Prof. Dean -Yea; matured corn is not so susceptible to these organisms as youeger corn. Question -If it takes e0 lbs. of milk on an average for 1 lb. of 'butter worth 25 tents, it there not more money either in cheese at 90 per lb. or in milk for consump- tion at 10e. per olive? Prof. Dean -Yes, more direct mob as 30 150. milk made into totter will bring 25e, while made into cheese at 9e per lb. it would be worth about 27c„ or if sola directly itt would bring 30t; but in butter - making the skirn milk is retained, which has a high feeding value and contains valuable plant food. While this discussion was going on Mr. Brown was 'churning, and soon bad the butter ready for inspection in the ante, which, on being inspected by all who de- sired, was washed thoroughly, then taken out, -worked, salted, and made into neat prints, which were greatly admitted by OW, *A`kttertt. Sixteen samples of milk Unhappy Haiti. Raid seems doomed to factional fury and terror. For a century it has been the scene of bloody re•volution, with a pertain ,,grotes- que paredy of civilized, goverairneht Tut its sole contributor to history or to the general interest of mankind is the character aud career of Touissantl'Ouverture. He is commemorated as a strikingly heroic figure in Miss Martineates tale of The Hour and the Man," in Wendell Philip, glowing eulogy, and in Wordsworth's sonnet.' His death was one of the crimes of Napoleon. The latest incident in the annals of the unhappy island is but a repetition of its bloody story. It might have occurred in 1791, for the intervenieg century seems not to have wrought any essential change. A few months since President Legitime was defeittecrby Getman Hippolyte who made himself president, and dictator, and has, ruled ever since. On the last feast of Corpus, Christi he was attending the religious cere- mony at the cathedral, when he was told, of ad tnsuriection and an assault upon the jail to release political peisoners. The garrison at Port-a,u-P.rince, as near the cathedral, and was, despatched promptly by Hippolyte to quell the disturbance •A battle in the streets followed, and. the troops of Hippolyte carried the day. Then came the old story of the French terror -a proclamation of liberty, the most bloody butchery. If the reports are even partially true, nothing could. be more brutal and monstrous. A respecta- ble merchant was sitting on the balcony of his house, and, having denied the Mame of Hippolyte that he was concealing arms, the pictator said, curtly, to his soldiers, "Take Bien to the court -yard," and he was instant- ly shot. His nephew is alleged to have been overheard by a spy to call the crime an assassination, and refusing to deny that he said it, the Dictator said, simply, "Shoot him," and the youth was instantly dragged out and killed. It is curious that the States should main- tain grave diplomatic relations with such a barbarous parody ole republic, and it is not surprising that) Mr. Frederick Douglass, their minister, is said to intend to resign his post and return. His residence in such a country must be doubly painfuleto him as a hideous caricature of free governinent and as an apparent monument of the political incapacity of the colored race. Tropical republics are but names. There is no essen- tial difference between the personal tyranny' of a men who calls himself Emperor, like .Soulouque, and one who, like Hippolyte, calls himself President. Nothing could be more different than tha savage license of the tropics and the selIkeestrained liberty of the temperate zone. To the islands of the Gulf of Mexico and to its shores civiliz- ation and the higher interests of the human rare are little indebted. Hippolyte will hold on with bis bloody hand. until another hand, bloodier and stronger, overthrows him. Desperate Affray on Shipboaxd. Advices from Brisbane report that the British barque Riverstiale (Captain Farr) had put in with several of the crew serious- ly injured. When the ship was proceeding from New California to Sydney a Oreek sailor named Ohne ran amuck. Iro first struck d own asailornamed W Mien: Broucher, smashing Ins skull ; and, then drawing his knife, he atabbed the carpenter (James Carson) in the ribs and arm. Wm. Mahoney, miler, rushed to the spot, and a desperate struggle ensued ; brit the Greek, disabling Mahoney, ran alone tbe deck and stabbed the, ehiof mate, John Lowson, in the face and head. Having stabbed two seamen namea Williams and Jones, Ofano attacked Captain Farr. The latter had been ill for some deals, and attempted to de- fend himself with 4 Week. Matto, how- ever, 'dabbed hint in the wrist In the course of a fierce encounter both fell to the deck. Ofano overpowered Farr, and stabbed hint in the right Nide. Farr, who vats Wett- ing profile*, attempted to rise, and °fano backeol hint about the head four times. Part of Lae erew, armed with belaying pine, knives, and an axe, approached Ofauo, who immediately jumped overboard and disap- peared. The men's wounds were dressed by the carpenter, but kis feared some Call. not possibly recover. Carrots make a very palatable and 'valu- able fond, especially for colts, mod with greund adapted to them, it pays to grow a few boo:theta as an appetizer for the horses and colts, orass butter -color for the cowa. Sundry belated British Columbian vtasele heve just, started for Lehring Sea, and ate credited with the intention of getting as many sealskins at tamable there belbre being formally ntotified by the eruhers to kave the forbidden waters. It is doubtful whether they veal run any smelt risk. They go with knowledge of the +modes eicands agreement and the Imperial order in Council based upon it. in any ea.se they would find roiled States !Avenue euttera already on the spat and authoried to serve the notice. What they are most likely to do is to hamt for seals outside 13ehring Sea, wherein fact, a very large part of all the Victoria catch of last year tvas taken. With a guarantee from the Imperial Government to reimburse British Celumbian vessels for losses result - mg from the execution of the modits rirendi togreenoent, these vessels are very well cover - ell 'whether they are auceessful or not ; but it. would hardly appear wise for vessels leaving Victoria now to venture intotehring Sea and expeeb indemnity for toting ordered Ottt. A. Romance of the Prange -German War. A gallant ofacer lute been taken from us a, Coutinental contributor to " Hearth tutil Home") by the death of General Suntpt, the Governor of the Invalides. During the war of 187050 was terribly mutilated, losing both lois arms, and being otherwise very much disfigured. A romantic anecdote Ime transpired with regard to the desceased general. In Jelly, 1b70, he Isemine engaged to be married to Millie Velletau. lie mate then a tarikingly handsome titan, tall mod elegant, -with a smiling mid amiable, fem. Before the marriage could take place war broke out, mai Soompt was ordered to the front. When he returned, many long months afterwards, he was but s battereit torso of ° his former self. Ilis face scarred and disfigured, his two arms gone, be presented pitiable appearance. Ile at once proposea to his fiancee t• give her bath her liberty. Of coutse, you know tloe rest. It was the old, old story. No true -hearted woman ever had but one rattly for proposals of this description. alone. Velletan said her love for her betrothed was unchanged, and, af possible, she loved him the more for the bravery which had entailed so much sacrifice. The marriage took place, and proved exceed- ingly hsppy. Mdme. Sump, who survives her husband, is a grand -daughter of lar, Velletan, the physician of the great Napo- leon. At its Danghter's Great. One sad little duty was performed bySit George Grey an hour or two after his arrival in Adelaide recently.. Worn as he was with his journey hewent to the cemetery wherein lay the grave of his only. child, a child that died in early life, but so long agothatifit had lived until now it would have been past middle age. The old knights reflections, says a local journal, as he gazed upon the little mould ftesh-raised when the century was nearly fifty years younger, muse have been far too sacred and pathetic for descrip- tion. When an ambitious young fellow just off his exploring expedition in West Austra- lia he was merried in Albany to a handsome brilliant girl of sixteen, daughter of a highly - placed Government official,. and the child. whose grave Sir George revisited was their only offspring. The debate on the navy estimates sho ws that the Britigh fleet lack 20,000 men. The Bianiov Stoiu , The village of Blarney islet the north o Irelaud, about four tulles from Cork Blarney Cattle was built by Cormack Mae Cathy, "the *hong," fourth lord of Mus- kerry, about tloe middle of tbe fifteehth century. The ruins of the famous old fort - rets are visithd by thousands of tourists every year. This is largely on account ef a tradition which has been attached for Salle centuties to oue of the stones used in building the 'castle. This stone it bald to communicate to the tongue that tenches it, the gift of gentle, insirmating speech, and that has. given rise to the aceesation whert any one Is of particularly sweetaccent that he or she has 'kissed the Blarney stone." A song written by Richard Alfred Millikin itt 179S, refers to the local tradition in these sta,nzas "There is a stone there, That whosoever kisses, Oh, he never misses To grow gunner& =Tie he busy clamber To a lady' chanfeer, Or become a member Of Parliament A clever spottier Hell turn out -or An outeand-onter To be let alone! Den% hope to hinder hint Or to bewilder him, Sure he's a pilgrim From the Blarney done." DREAMED OF HIS MOTHER An Ind dent or the laeld VOW. It was in the early days of the gold ex. eitement in the Black HUN that a party ad us started ovbrland from Canada, beat upon making Our everlasting fortunes We never reached the ?Pal Sappo (as the Indians call- ed our intended destination) and, as the story is interesting,. I will tell you the rea. son • We came into camp one night at the bead. waters of the Cheyenne River ewe, as wag our custom, we had two or three nours of story telling before we weatiped up in out blankets and went to sleep. On this particular night we had taker; turns et yaan-spinning until old Tom Roberta came next in order. He stood up, his face lighted with a kind of halo by the flickering on inp_ fire. B • " oye," said Tom, "I'm net goin' to give • ye any wonderfuLstories of what I might or might not bOvedone. No; I'ih 'goin' to tell ye bout a dream I had last night. "You remember where our last camp wasl It was near a big marsh. The night was jest as calm an' beautiful as there inglit an' the crickets an' frogs sounded s 'Weepy. like, an' the air was so wet wib dew an smelled so fresb that, somehow, I vas 'mind. est of my boyhood home 'way b 'h in Neer England. ', 1 went to sleep thinkin"bout old friende an' the happy times when I didn't know se much of the world as I do now. I don't know how long I slept but, all of a sudden. I heard a tinklin' of bells an' I seen some sparklin' little stars floating' towards me through the slough grass. As they come nearer, I could make 'em oue to be little bye like my Aunt 'Mandy used to tell about. "They flew all 'round • -me, Ate one of 'we says, steppin' out in, front of all the rest, says she • • Be you Tom Roberts?' "'Yes, ma'am,' says I. " Well, Tom, I've been watchin' you foe gome time,' she says, can' I think you're q good. deservin' feller.' "'1 try to do what's right,' says 1, 'buti miss it sometimes.' "'No human is perfect,' says she, but rm goin' to reward ye. I'll grant you the dearest wish of your We, whatever theft may be. Do you want a magnificent for. tuner says she. " No, thankeeee says I, 'I want to eare all the money I gihe "Then how about- power? Would you like to be a ruler ? A king or something like that?' s ya I ; what would a feller like me with no eddieation, do with a kingdom I I'd be like a fish out of water,' says 1 -which I would, motes. "Then she says, 1 Supposin) I make you as wise as Solomon?" " "Twout do,' says 1, 'my head ain't big enough to hold al that.' "'Would you like to be the happiest man alive?' says she. " I can't be no happier theta am this min%) says 1. " 'Well, what can I give ye?" says she, discouraged like. "'Dl tell ye,' says 1; If yeivant to de me a real favor-somethin' I'd like above everythin' else -why, jest Opium a glimpse of my old mother as Itts been demi these forty years.' England has annexed &buten Island, Which is claimed by the Spaniard. ,41.,,A-A1M11.00•16 irom Roberts paused n. moment and there was a silence -a kind of speaking silence - came over the boys. At last Bob Smith paid: 4, Did ye see yer mother, Tont l" " No," said Torn, itt a sad voice. " 15 was like all dreams, mates. They never hold out. That fairy says, "All right, Tom jest wine a Mae, au tlted he an' the rest o' the fays disappeared rig. t. in the dark, quick as a wink. I'd have given my life, boys, to Intve her want that favor." That was all of Tom's story and we weal to bea directly afterwards, wrought up and a little sad. A tad I dreamed, too the night, of old titnes. But I was wakened, suddenly, by a ter - rifle yell. I jumped to my feet and tebeld an awful sight. Our eanop bad limo sur- prised byIndiens, Mal Tom Roberta was the hitt man to fall by a, tomahawk in the hand of it painted brave. Taking ut my peril at a glance. I rolled off into the long grass by the river. Then, dropping noiselessly into the water, I swam os under shadotv of the banka. I was the only m.ua that eseaped and Ire. member how, as I swam oirilown the river, 'looked up and tow the brightstars_ tad& as a Huh, I thologht of Tone's Octant mil I muttered, "Iti the Laud of Goa ; Tom hal met hie mother." Strange things have happosted outa are happening in this world, ad the time, but tins story of thelost camp and Toon Roberts' dreain is the atrangeet I oPertatile mattes in all my sixty years. - Tallest and Shortest Reigning littorals If the little King of Spain ba excepted, the Emperor of China is the shortestof mate monarchs, standing as he does only 5 ft. in height. He must, however, 10 point of Mature, tette second plea. eo our own Queens whose stature is the insignilicatit but ituport. ant height of 4 ft. 10 Ili. The house o 1-lolienzollern boasts the greatest number ot men of big stature. Ti10 late Etuperos William I. was 0 ft., and Prinae Charlet Itis Inother, 5 ft, II in., but the giant of the tonne is undoubtedly Prince Albert, who looks Awn upon hie fellow men frem the imposing height of 6 ft. 0 ht. the reign- ing male noomarelve, the Emperor of Rossi' rauks as the tallest, beim; 0 ft. Queel Vietores, when seen standing, in a town, lookereryinsignificant-onemightalmeetsay , stumpy. When being photographeol, she stands on * small dais or footastool, carefully e neetled by her skirs and tram. There is, , however, at 'clef., one photo extant, in whicb elt a careful steatite, reveals the tatificial eleva. tem. . Tee rhght stir. It seems wet eordieery to observe a. num ber of bats in the evening flying tack and forth through the trees with remarkable rapidity, bet without erte Corning in eoutact with the branches or heeling themselves. Spallatzatti, the itelean naturalist, plataka 'bat itt a dirk trielesure, across which trete stretthed a number of th mete awaits and recrossing each other. The bat flew rapidly hack and forth &yin to effeet lies estape, bite avoided the threads with as much ease as if hart not been in its way in the huts Whether tins curious power vvas the retain" of a sixth and tonkhownr smite was it pur.zle," to naturalists. To deciele tr% knotty paint - Spaltazsani reeorted te the eruel exptdiene of blinding a bat, ar.1 1eanathat it atilt feee among the threads without, being to all ate. peerances, any more ineonveaanuael then if it still had its eyesight. 1.016461.• • George Parr, or solVoos MCai &MC:Alt sl England's erickekee died lest, wear liter A retirement of twenty :entre. e te: