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The Exeter Advocate, 1895-1-10, Page 2- A Woman's Crime. Yes ea EX,PETECTIVE, latellaited by permission a the owners of tact Copyright. (001ers1'eren.) "Friday," she said; why to -day is Niday, and Mr. Charles Duraed is about to arrive, The gessius of my fate is cert tainly growieg fickle, Let we see. I am no longer prospeetive heiress; and Charles Durand supplants me. So be it ! But—the rase is only begun." And Miss Durami teamed away from the table and touched, the bell, Then, she gathered up her letters and put them earefully away; all but the ietter from Nina Amin. This she rolled ieto a ball and filmes it into the grate. It fell, not among the coals, however, but, just short of the flatus, findieg lodgment among the ashes. In a moment her maid re- sponded to her ring, aud then. Miss Dur- and said: "Laura, go and ask Mrs. Richards if she is at leisure to come up here just now. And as soon as she leaves me do you eame up and dress Ian for the morning." Laura vanished., aud in a few moments a soft rap sounded upon the door. "Come," said Miss Durand, in a sie vezy, childlike toue, and. promptly the door opened, and Mrs, Richards,the .new Iluenna and housekeeper, glided. in. Mrs. Richards was a handsome woman, despite her somewhat cerewornlook, and, strange as the fact may seem, notwithstanding her weeds and widow's cap, she looked wonderfully like the Ellen Rieherds who had been stabbed,.. in a certain disreput- able house, some tree months since. 'Be seatedfMrs Richards," said. Aura, looking up with a bright smile, as her visitor entered, Mrs. Richards sank down in a low .hair beside the grate, shivering as she did so. It is so chilly this morning; is not the wind dreary'? and yet," bending nearer the grate," it hardly allows the fire to burn.' ' "I am not at all sensitive to the cold," replied Aura, pleasantly. "I asked you to come up at this early hour, Mrs. Richards, to tell you that we are to have a visitor. Did papa write you?" "Only that his nephew was coming, Miss Durand; he referred me to you for orders." "An& you know I don't give orders," smiled Aura. "My cousin arrives to- day, and papa wishes him especially honored in this house; you and 1 mast entertain him royally, Mrs. Richards. By the way, did not papa send a letter for Cousin. Charles?" "Yes." leas. Richards drew still near- er the fire and held up her hands to catch the warmth. In so doing her handkee- ehief dropped. from her fingers and fell inside the grate. She snatched it up with a quick exalamation, and when she put it in her pocket the roll of crimpled paper was no longer among the ashes. "Papa said. that he sent such a letter, andi that I had better deliver it, So f you will send it up by Laura—" "I will bring it up," said Mrs. Rich- ards, rising. 'It is locked in my desk." "And you will see that his rooms are in perfect order?" "All the rooms here are that," replied Mrs. Richards, and then she took her de- parture. "Dress me in my most becoming nag - lige," said Aura, when her maid reap- peared. "Take especial pains, Laura, Did Mrs. Riehards send up a letter by you?" "No, miss," replied Laura, letting down the soft masses of blonde hair. "Mrs. Richards is in the guest cham- bers." "Well, she will bring it presently," said Aura. But Mrs. Richards entirely forgot to bring the letter, CHAPTER XL. -GREEK MEETS GREEK. In due time Mr. Charles Durand ar- rived at his uncle's mansion, and was re- ceived by Aura with the most charming cordiality. He was installed in the best and most commodious suite of rooms, aud. Mrs. Richards went about her duties with an air of dignity, and a new sense of importance, as if she were ministering to the wants of angels, and was not un. aware of the fact. As for Charles Durand, himself, he took things very earaly and quietly—in fact, calm and quiet, seemed the normal sondition of this fortunate young man. In appearance, he was not, as Aura re- marked confidentially to herself, "marsh to speak of." He was a yery pale young Mall, and a very languid young man, His' hair was very light, and. worn rather long; likewise it was parted in the mid- dle. He wore a pair of straggling, light aDA long Thandreary whiskers, but his upper lip was smooth -shaven. He had the air of a student; and, as he informed Aura, was just outof eollege. His father, ke said, had intended hini for a lawyer- -hut he didn't known what he would do; should. put the matter to a vote, when "Uncle James" came home. And then Aura had smiled strangely. The young man's admiration for Aura was unbound- ed. He seemed quite ready to fall down and become her slave. It was the afternoon following that on which he had arrived at his uncle's door, and Mr. Durand and his fair "Cousin as he rendered the pretty name, were seated by the library fire, cosily ehatting. Rather'the lady sat and .hatted; Mr, Charles Durand, who seem- edi quite gnoraxit of some of the proprie- ties, lounged and listened, and occasion- ally, almost yawned in the face of his fair entertainer. It was the afternoon mentioned by Miss Annin, in her note, as favorable for shopping, and from time to time Aare glanced at her wateh, as if waiting the approzelt of some hour, or event. Presently the thing expected occurred; the footrests entered the room and announted, "Miss Annie." • "Show her in," said Miss Durand, promptly., And in another moment Nina, Annie, nehly dressed, and smiling bland,- ly entered the room. Aur. Durand arose to welcome her with well -feigned cordiality; and, after one sharp glanee of inquiry, not =mix- ed with derision, Miss Annin responded in kind. And then, "Miss Amine' was introduced to "my Clbusin Charles ;" and Cousin Charles arose to the occasion, and drawled out several original and tete:r- esting remarks about the weather, ete. After a little, Miss Austin turned to "knelt you going Shopping with me, Auras dear ?" she asked, reproaehsully ; am sure your calikie •will eifettse you," "Of course I will," responded Charles, good neturedly ; ' woolde't xeuela mind, going shopping myself, either." "Would. you, really like to go, (=site?" asked Alive with a little malieious twiukle of her eye, "Then, in that case, I will go, of course," "Then that is settled," said Nine An- nie, eomposedly. "Mr. Durand, we are going to talk about dresses now," The yoring men looked up in some alarm. "Are you!" he said, "Well then, will not be missed. Aura, I want to go and. answer Insole James' letter, You have made me forget all about it, and he seed, answer immediately." And Mr. Charles Durand erose slowly, stifled another yawn, and lounged out of the room. "Good heevene I what raannere '*" ejaeulated Nina Annin, looking after him. "Where did you pit* him up, Aura?" • 1`1 have not picked him up," retorted Miss Aura, with a :sleeked change of tone. "Re is papa's own nephew, and very wealthy." "Oh 1 he's wealthy, is he? Well, he certainly needs some such redeeming qualification. But you should not so suddenly ehange your manner, my dear; suppose some one were to hear, from the next room. for instance ?" "Nobody can hear frsm the next room; the next rosm is locked." Neverthless she went over and flung wide the silken lined glass door between the two rooms, else then crossed to the outer door ant tried it. "Nobody ever goes in there," she said, coming bask to the, library. "It's papa's especial sanctum, and. is always locked when he is away : Now,then," turning impatiently upon her visitor, "what do you want now. I am getting tired of this sort of thing." "That's a pity—undcr the circumstan- ces," retorted, Miss Annie, serenely. "Under the circumstances, it is," said Aura Durand, coning closer to Miss Annie. "The circumstances are a little in ray favor at present." "Are they?" with mocking incredu- lity. "They are indeed. I think I shall con- vince you. that you had. better not pre- sumetoo much upon our past relations." "Really. Perhaps you will favor me with your first argument ?" mocked Miss Annin, Aura Durand leaned toward her and whispered something in her ear, some- thing that made her start and turn pale. Only for a moment, however, then sh : rallied, and gazed at Aura with estrange fixed look. "You see, Miss Annie, that you are a little, a very little, in my power," said Aura Durand, triumphantly. • q see," retorted Nina Amain, slowly, "that you have put a holder abate, your own neck." Then she put her hand into her pocket, took from it a little purse, drew from thence a piece of dark cloth and held it before the eyes of Aura Durand. "Do you see that ?" she asked, sternly, "and do you know where I found it and. what it means?" Aura gazaa at the piece of cloth as if fascinated, and a hunted, baffled look came into her eyes. "Don't waste your breath in bravado," continued. Miss Annin, replacing the scrap in her little purse and. the purse in her pocket. "I can bring other proofs to bear out this one. Must let us have any more nonsense, and. don't waste any more time; we are going shopping." "I think you must be mad," said Aura Durand, turning away from her and speaking in a low but distinct tone. "You certainly don't know what you are doing." retorted NM& Annin, sinking down upon a divan. "Now then nbout tb.e masquerade be- fore that precious cousin of yours re- turns. By the way, how comes it that papa and. mamma are gone?" "They are gone on business ot papa's," replied Aura, coldly. "I thought you were talking about the masquerade,' "So I will be presently. How is your friend, the detective?" Aura looked up in surprise. "It seems you keep thoroughly posted in regard to my movements," she said. "Certainly. Why not? Have you any designs upon Mr. Bathurst ?" "Designs?" "Yes, matrimonial of course, not dead- ly ones." "Mr. Bathurst is my very geed friend; don't trouble yourself about him." "I -won't. Do you intend to marry him—if you can ?" "If I can !" "Well, you know some men are obtuse —suppose he, too, should see some new face that was just as pretty as yours; men areficklee° "You ought to know," dryly. "Why must you go to this masquerade ?" "I might say that was my affair, but I know you will sympathise with me whed I bell you I want to follow George Ford- ham," replied Miss Amain, coolly. "I thought so," rising. "If we must go out together, I will ring for the car- nage and go and dress. We eat talk of eostumes after." "Quite a change in Miss Aura," mur- mured Miss Annin when she was left alone. "I don't think we shall have so many airs in future." At last Aura was equipped for her drive; Mr. Charles Durand came down announcing that hi tg letter was just fin ished, and the three drove away in the Durand carriage, looking as high bred and harmonious a party as one could wish to see. A little later Mrs. Richards tapped at the door of the room belonging to Miss Durand's maid, Laura. It was promptly opened and the housekeeper, with one hand wrapped in a handkerchief and odorous of arnica, smiled down upon the weak little maid. "Laura," she said, "I want von to do lee a favor ; I have got rheumatism in my hand. to-da,y, I am subject to it, and I want to send a letter away by the even- ing mail; won't you just come down to my room and write it for me? I know you mast be a neat little penman. Come down, and then we will have a nice cosy tea together." Laura, hesitated a. little, but she was not proof against the flattery of Mrs. Richards and the prospects of a cosy sup- per with her superior, and the result was a natural one—she went down to Mrs. Richards' pleasant private sigieg room and indited quite a long letter from that lady's dictation, addressed to a far dis- tant city, and left it in the hands of tbd friendly housekeeper. "You, must come down and sit with me oftener, Lattra," seed llers, Richards, When Wet they sat at tea together. "I didn't know you Were melt delightful to's:spatter ; yeti are really too tefined seed daiuty to be a mere lady's staid." • And Laura was immensely flattered, and =Wally pronounced Mrs. Richerds a very sensible woman. Meantime is Amain and Astra drove from shop to shop, aeoompanied by the admiring aud numh impressed cousiu Charles. As they were descending from the carriage in front of one of the State street dry goods pekoes, three gentlemen came clown the street together. Aura Durand nodded to one of these, but Nina Annie made a signal for him to approaeh. He dropped the arm of the teller of his two companions and steppea to the side of the lady, while Aura Durapd and her cousin stood a little apert, waiting, "See, Ferrars," said the taller of the two gentlemen who now waited for the third., "that girl who beckoned Fordham is the young lady of the 'Opole' Miss Anent, ad the other one must be Miss Durand—by Jove !" He broke off with this sudden exelama- tion, and stood. staring at Aura Durand and her oompaniou by turns, But Mr. Merrers scarcely heeded him' ; he was gaz- ing fixedly at Nina Amain. "Jocelyn," he said at last, "who is that girl, and where does she live 22' "Whieh?" withdrawin' his eyes from the unconscious face of Miss Durand. "The dark one, Fordham's friend." "Why, I told you it's the girl who owns those opals, and she is the one who lives at that house," • "Oh, is she ?” said Ferran, carelessly, and then he added, sotto voce, as Ford- ham turned toward them, "this grows complicated," At last the shopping expedition was over, and the carriage rolled toward Mrs, Rogers' boarding house where Miss An- nin with her purchases 'desired to be set down .SuddenlyNina, Anninuttered a sharp exclamation, and then, as suddenly, she subsided into silence, looking fixedly the while at Aura Durand, who, on her part, looked with profound surprise atthe lady op.posite her, and seemed, utterly uncon- smells of any cause for this unexpected ejaculation, or of its meaning. Miss Annie had put her hand to her pocket to find that her purse was gone. CHAPTER XLI.—FOUND AT GENTLEMAN JEFF'S, Francis Ferrars and Rob jecelyn had met, for the first time since the confer ence of the three detectives, on the day of Lenore's second escape from. Nal Bathurst, not half an hour previous to the encounter with Miss Annie, Aura and "Cousin Charles" upon State street, Their meeting was in this wise: Bob Jocelyn had been roping George Fordham for the past week, almost to the exelusim of everwthing else, and the English de- tective had been, for reasons best known to himself, haunting the genteel gamba ing houses for the same length of time. So it chanced that, on this afternoon, the three had met at a popular billiard hall; and Bob Jocelyn who had entered th.e place in company with Fordharn, hastened to inform that &entlemen. that "yonder was a green English swell whom he," Rob, "bad dropped to sometime be- fore and won. money from"; and soon the three were on. the roost amicable terms. Fordham was beginning to believe in the gullibility and the tendency to ras- cality that Bob professed, and they de- cided to "take the Englishman in." The three had satuaterea •out upon State street, where they had encountered the shopping party, and after this meet- ing they sauntered on, discussing their plats for the evening. It was finally de- cided that they should pass it together in some one of the many agreeable ways of passing time that are known to gentle- men of the sporting fraternity, and then. Mr. Fordham said: "And now, gentlemen., I must leave you for a while; a reporter is not his own man. I must be at the office for the next three hours, after that I will join you at the suggested place • in the means time," with a wink at Bob: "I leave you to take care of each other." Rob returned the wink with interest, and shortly the two detectives found themselves alone "Well, this is rich," began Jocelyn, forth ith; "so you are sporting, Fer- rars ?" "Doing a little in that line," responded the Englishman. "I say, Jocelyn, you will have to make my excuse to that fel- low and arrange for another meeting; I can't be with you to night." "Can't you?" said Rob, somewhat rue- fully. "I say, you have not had the luck to and that Aladdin's lamp girl, have you?" "I will tell you that to -morrow at this time," said Ferran, "as you say, she is rather too much on the presto change order to allow a man to speak positively. I am going to try for her, as you Ameri- cans say, to -night." "No ! Well, you are on a slippery tack then. Yon must have a strong slue. How will you effect the capture ? "By stratagem," said Ferraro, with a queer smile. "nd now, like Mr. Ford- ham, I must leave you. I have hung on only waiting to get a word with you. At what hour ean you be at the rooms to- morrow?" "Any time before dark." 'Say three o'clock." i'Done." "Any news from Bathurst?" "Have not heard from him," said Bob, with a peculiar smile, "Ah 1" said Ferrars, smiling in turn. "Well, adieu, my friend." "Bye,ttlye." And so they separated. Francis Ferrars had conceived a sud- den liking for the promenade around the block, where was located the drug store from before which Lenore Armyn lied so mysteriously disappeared; at least he had been there every evening during the past week, arid now, some three hours after he had separated from Jocelyn, he was there sauntering leisurely along, now on one side the street, now on the other, and now and then hes eye was lifted, for a single instant, to a certain window. At about nine o'clock he entered the afore -mentioned drug, store, purchased some "brandy killers, and turnedshis face westward, crushing the seeds be- tween his teeth as he went. Westward only so far as the corner, then north un- til he had reached the middle of the block; then he ascended some steps, pul- led open a green leather -covered door, up half the length of a broad flight of Stairs, and then he paused before a second door; a strong door, battered and searred, and having a little sliding panel that could only be reeved from within, Here he rang a bell, and presently an eve peeped through the small aperture, after which the door swung open and the English de- tective, bestowing a half tipsy nod upon the colored gentleman who actuatea bus visaed on up the stairs. " the fatman here yet?" asked Ver. fat's, epectising with an evident effort to keep his tongue from tripping. "No, Sir; not yet," replied the cohered gentleman. "Strange," commented the vieiter. "Gobi' to come soon—goin.' to play "Ail right, sir," replied the servant, with a grie, and throwing elMs tho door, the deteetive was ushered into the gam- ing saloon of Gentlemae ;fee There were few players in- the saloon at that wady hour' and the proprietor him- self had not yetappeared. Nearly every night of the past week the detective had boon there, losing money, drinking free- ly, and playing the part of a "bloody Eeglisliman," to perfection ; he had made the acquaintance of all tho attaohes of the plaee, and. voted himself the fast friend of Gentleman Jeff. He lounged about now) making re- marks that were not particularly kind, and finally he threw himself down upon a divan at the lower end of the room, muttering something, about "waiting fer th' fat man.," and her for some time he remained quiet, and to all appearances half asleep. After a time Gentlemen Jeff made his appearance, and some others dropped in. Whenever a new arrival entered the Eng- lishman would rouse up, lift his head "to see if it 'were the fat man," and then sub- side again. Near him was a door which opened into a sort of cloak or dressine roora, and. from this a door led into the -long hall, The door of entrance to the saloon was situat- ed at the head of the stairs, and the asc- end flight been almost where the first left off; that is to say, opposite the ens trance door, The servant who admitted visitors, also officiated during the early hours of the evening, when the visitors came at rare intervals, as a drawer of corks. 'Nethen not thus ()coupled, his station was in the hall withoat not fax from the cloak room. Later, the servants, whose duty it was to serve wine and wait at supper, appeared; ana then the usher confined his atten- tions to the constantly clanging bell. Presently a party of gentlemen came in. Theywere evidently persons of some importance in the gambling world, for the master of the establishment summon- ed the dark servant and orderee him to open wine for them. This was the opportunity for which the detective had waited. He arose and, unperceived, slipped into the dressing room. Then with perfect silence zed burglarious rapidity he opened the door leading into the hall, stepped out, closed it behind him, stole like a cat along the hallway, swiftly and silently ascended the stairs, and then paused to look about him. A moment's survey seemed to suf- fice; then he moved up the hall, and paused before the door opening into Jeff's private apartments. There he paused, lis- ten ecl intently for a moment, andthen pro- ducing from his poeket a pair of nippers, and inserting them in the lock he turned She key. In another moment he stood in the splendid private den of the refined gentleman. Seated rear a blazingfire, that shone out through the great isinglass windows of a polished stove, that looked like a minieture cathedral, were two women ; one, an elderly woman, was busy -with some needlework; the other, who was young and very beautiful, was reading. Upon hearing the entrance of the in- truder both women looked up inquiring- ly, and for the first time Francis Ferran saw thebeautiful face of the girl who had so bewildered and baffled three keen detectives. It was Lsnore Armyn, CHAPTER XL11.—POUND ONCE MORE. Quickly,but with a cool composure quite irresistible, the English detective closed the door and advanced toward the two. "Good evening, ladies," he said, with the air of one addressing some acquaint- ance in the drawing room of a mutual friend. "May I have the pleasure of a few words with you, Miss Arleyn. 2" Lenore had risen to her feet, but the respectful attitude and address of the in- truder disarmed her in a measure. His face, too, was so frank and seearnest, the eyes gazing at her with the sad, wistful expressioethat was sometimes seen on the face of Francis Ferrars. She never once thought of denying her identity, and after a prolonged look, straight into the eyes of her visitor, she bowed a silent assent, and then waited for him to ex- plain himself. "Miss Anssyn," he began, still in the same earliest, almost pleading tone, "I have entered your presence by stratagem, because I knew I could gain a hearing in no other way; but I have come as your friend, as a friend who c,an and will serve you if you will let him. If you'will let me speak, and will listen to what I shall say, I pledge you my word —the word of a man of honor—that I will let your wishes guide me when I am done. If you bid me go away and leave you. I will obey, .and. no word of mine will ever betray you. May I go on?" With her eyes still fixed upon his face, Lenore resumed her seat, and, turning to the startled old lady, who was evident- ly gathering herself up for some desper- ate effort, she said: "This—gentleman is here now, we may as welllisten to him. It can make matters no worse; pray do not call your son until we hear what he has to say." Then turning to the detective, she said, with a touch of scorn in her voice, "May I ask who does me this honor?" He smiled that rare, half sad smile of his, and then his eyes looked more grave and more wistful than before. "You will know that when you have heard my story," he said, "May I sit, Miss Armyn?' She bowed, and he drew forward chair, and seated himself opposite her. Then he drew from Isis pocket a packet of letters, aud, opening it, selected two or three, which, he extended to Lenore. "Do you know who penned these?" he asked, almost reverently. Lenore took the letters, and, glancing at the first one, uttered a low cry. They were the letters found in the wallet of 'Jason Bradwardiue, "Where did you get these ?" she ask - "They were taken from that prince of villains, Jason Bradwardine," he replied. "Do you know him?" "And you speak as if trot were no friend to hiree' "You are right; I am his bitter enemy." Then he put in her hand two photographs. "My mother's pieture," said Lenore, gazing sorrowfully at the one. "Were these with her letteFS?" "They were with the 'egos's. Miss Armyn, do you know the other face ?" [TO Me eolITISTOsite An Alvinston woman Wrote her address fot a inueic peddler, end found she had signed 5 note for $18 and ordered a lot ef rtiesie. ME FARM AND GARDEN, AM ATE URS IN TR 13 Cc' kiti) Notes, or Interest to the Plower, Fruit and Vegetable Glower, and Talks on Trooto giant Sbrubs, Lest fall there was considerable loss of fruit, and time in packing the ,fruit, caused by the sbelting. or fallin.g of the grapes from the stems, the Chautauqua grape region. In some vineyards quite a large Proportion of tbe viues wero t11124 affected while in others, adjoining and cultivated in the same manner, nob a grape fell from the bunch, A single vine, or these on a smell area, showed the trouble sometimes, when the vines all around were net affected. The matter was considered of so great importance that the Cornell Experiment Station sent its skilled horticulturist and mycologist to investigate the 31 -letter. The mycolo- gist—Prof. E. G. Loderee,n—has just pub- lished his report in Bulletin 76, which can be obtained by any grape -grower who will write to the station at Ithaca, Tompkins 00,, for it. •There are over thirty pages of the bulletin devoted to this trouble, copiously .illustrated, and there are reports from a great many growers, given in answer to the request of the director of the station. The suramaa7 of Prof. Lodeman seems to indicate that the dieease is a result of an attack of some unrecogaized species of fungus or mildew, Analysis of fruit and stems from diseased vines are still to be made, and, as the 'bulletin says, the cone elusions are derived frOM only a single year's observations, which are not all completed. Nitrogenous manures seemed to aggravate the trouble,while manures containing large proportions of potash rendered vineyards less liable to the disease. Esceptions to both conclusions were very frequent. There was loss trouble in vineyards when the vines were kept in a healthygrowing condition, by the use of mineral manures and judieious cultivation than where rank growth caus- ed by nitrogenous manures and too fre- quent cultivation. In nearly eli eases there was a premature shriveling of the stems of the berries, and a "blight" on the foliage, showing that the cause of the disease attacked both leaves and fruit. Weather and soil were not prominent factors in the problem. BEST MASS OP SHEEP. The Cultivator says that a few y ears ago sheep for wool WOITI of the greatest Neale, and breeders endeavored to produce animals that would have the smallest size bodies and the greatest quantity of good, wool. It was supposed that the smaller the body the less food the animal would require to support life. Mutton was counted as nothing then, only a mere in- cident in the life of the sheep. But it was soon found that there was a limit to this work, and that tbe heavy -wooled sheep ate nearly as inech food as the thin -wooled kinds of larger growth. In other words, it took nearly as much food. to produce wool as it did. to produce mut- ton. Then came the sudden demand for eood mutton and first-class Iambs. Mut- tonts properly raised was found to have a value that seemed to increase as the price for wool decreased. Many breeders came to the conclusion that a ton of food would give more profit when converted into mutton than if fed for wool. The result of this was that large -size sheep were called for, end just the opposite condi. goes existed. Instead of smalesize sheep with plenty of wool on their backs breed- ers now are eudeavoring to turn out sheep of the largest possible size, making the wool product a mere incident. Now this other extreme has its dangers just as much as the first. As it was found that beyond a certain point small sheep did not pay, soon it will soon be realized that large sheep have their limit beyond which it will. hardly pay any breeder to go. That is, the extra quantity of food required to support the larger bones, muscles and frames will not be paid for in good, solid meat. It costs less to make the fust 100 pounds in any animal than the second, and the third 100 is produced so slowly and at such an expense that it en- tails loss. Those who keep sheep are doing it for rauttenmore than for wool. With a continuance of this process of raising large mutton sheep at the expense of the wool product we will soon be unable to boast of any first-class wool in this coun- try. It is the inferior grades of wool that are at all times dragging in the market at low prices. The fine quality of wool is in demand. The time may soon come when the reaction will come, and those who follow the craze in producing large sheep only so far as is consistent with a good yield of fine wool will be the better off. FEEDING FOwL.S. A writer in Farm News say that it may be thought to he a matter of very little importance whether the flock is fed at a certain hour or not, but it is really nee- eessary for the good health of the flock. that they be fed at regular hours as near- ly as possible. If they are fed at stated periods each day they will soon learn to look for their feed at that time, and the remainder of the time they will 'forage. If fed just when it happens to be most convenient, the most indolent of the flock will linger around waiting to be fed while the active ones will wander away, very often so far that by the time they get back those who have staid at home will have eaten all the feed that was in- tended for the whole flock. Fowls should not be fed more at one time than they will eat up clean and look for more. One who pays any attention to the matter will soon learn about how much the flock will eat and not be hungry. This may be told by paying some attention to the condi- tion of the fowls as to flesh. They should not feel fat when picked up but should. be just nicely plump and round, and if they begin to gain in flesh or fall off, as the ease may be, the amount of feed given them should be regulated accordingly. Feeding' on the free and easy plan is poor economy, and will m the end ruin the laying qualities of any flock, for it will induce disease, and the very first symp- tom of disease in any flock is the de- crease in egg production, that always comes with the lowering of the health of laying lions. Feed plenty, but not too much, This is a matter that is largely neglected by farmers and all who do not pay particular attend& to their poultry. • eanslisto THE BEST TEADE. We quote Dr. Hoskins axJ We know of no better judge of the hon st olefins of the farm and none more like y to express his genuine opinion of them.\ no says in the Vermont Advocate "Ono good thing, at least, s coming out of the present prostration of irads in this eauttry ; and, itt feet all o er the world. it is thab a good many boys who have likoar farms for the cities are com- ing honie'again., beeause °Emil of them le; - 'oat of ajob,' Fermers, , thank Cod, aro never ont of a job. Good mother eerth gives, us ell the work we eau do ; and will, at. least, 'give us boerd and elothing in return while we do it. And X10174' is a good time for those returning truants to read the, following rellee,tioes of an 'able aaicl ex-. peliencecl writer : 'The boys, in the store work from six o'eloelc in the morning. until eight at slight and in a groeery one Saturday night till nine o'clock. or later, The farmer boy can always have two. hours it day to read if ILO wishes ib; the, boy in the store does not get twe hours a. week fax reading unless he tales it front the time 'when he might to sleep, " 'Again, the boy on the farm is quite certain to form habits of economy whicli will be it help to him through We, while. the boy in the city has great temptations, to spextdancl often, yields to them. Theboy who settles down on the farm is alwayct, sure of work at good wages. The supply' of good farm hancle does not equal the de- mand, while the reverse is true of nearly - all classes of workmen in the cities.. There is no tyrannical labor union to in- terfere with the farmer's right to work, and no matter now hard the thnes may be he has an abundance to eat and a home. to live in, HORTICULTURAL ,NOTES. The eheapest and best prOteetion is to, cover with fresh earth. Leave high-priced novelties to the pro- fessionel teower. They aro generally disappointing. Never bny poor plants. The best are cheapest. The Rea Astrachan cannot be called a, very good sort of an apple, bet, it is one of the earliest and most prolific bearers, ' we have, and. is valuable frOM this, aa the trait is always saleable at a good price. . In ordering plants always avoid the, professional tree peddler. Deal clireetly with the grower himself. and your plants. will cost much 'less, and be delivered in better con,dition.' Send order at once to a. responsible -grower, with hill description. and number of plants wanted, but do not. have them shipped until you aro ready - for setting. It has been known that in many early blooming trees the stamens can be excit- ed to growth by a much lower tempera- ture than will excite the pistil to growth.. A few wilhter days 'will often advance the stamens in plum flowers so that the pol- len disappears before the pistil is recep- tive. Plum crops often partially fail for lack of the necessary fertilization. 'Prac- tical men have long since discovered that a south aspect is not as 000d for fruit - trees as any of the others, without know- ing the real reason. • Cherry tree roots naturally go very deeply, and the trees need it soil that is, thoroughly inederdrained to et least three feet in depth. If planted where they come in contact with stagnant water the, fruit will mildew or rot. Many cberryr orchards planted on low ground suffer fTOM too ratieh wet. The high and dry ground where the trees thrive the best is - apt to be deficient in mineral fertility. There is no kind of fruit more benefitted by a plentiful supply of potash than is. the cherry. It should. be given every winter'and will then be ready for the cherry tree roots to take up the following season. • In. Bulletin 80, of the Cornell, N.Y., Station. it is recommended to spray the fruit trees during the warm spell in IVIarch or April with the kerosene emul- sion or the copper -sulphate solution. This. is one of the surest ways to protect the trees from fungi blight and scab. The fungicide needs to be sprayed on the treess once before they blossom and at least twice after that period. blossom, varieties. of trees that are very susceptible to the fungus diseases will do better if sprayecb more than this, while many hardy, re- sistant varieties will do fairly well with only one or two sprayings during the, i whole seasen. Of apples, t is not neces- sary to gi-ve more than one or two spray- ings to the Baldwins and the Fallawater apples. Fall Pippins, Maiden Blush and Ring apples will demand from four to six. applications. The Red Astrachan needss at least three. Nearly all of these apples. will be larger and better for the spray- ing. In mulching for winter protection it is. quite essential to understand the nature of the work. The idea of the mulch ate this season is to keep the soil in an equal temperature throughout the winter. It, is the soil that injures most plant roots,. They need protection from the severest cold spell less than they do from this. changeable condition of the soil. The, mulch acts in this way, holding the sent about the same as when the mulch, is put,. around it. As the natural condition of the soil in winter is to be frozen, the. mulch should not be applied to most. winter trees and vines until the soil is, frozen. 'When it is frozen apply the, mulch and the roots will be kept dormant, and irozen until the muleh is removed in. the spring. The mulch should. not be re-. moved until the danger from heavy freeza ing has all passed. Then the sooner it. can be removed the better. This is gen- erally quite early in spring. The roots, will come out of their winter bed in ex- cellent growing condition. CANADIAN CHEESE. The official organ of the Wisconsia, Dairymen's Association admite in the fel-, lowing the superior quality of Canadian cheese: "Mr. N. Simon, of Neenah, Wis., who won such a fine reputation for the making of full cream cheese at the Co- lumbian World's Fair, went to England, the past summer to see what he could do. in making a market for the fine goods he. is making, Let it be remembered that, he was in the market largely possessed by -Wisconsin cheese only a few years since. The spirit and response he met, witli was very disheartening, and maybe. statee in the words used by a Liverpool: dealer: We want no iriore to do with your Wisconsin cheesemakers. We hceve, tried you and have been swindled. You will send us a few fine cheese, and then the first we know you dump a lot of filled cheese on ns. We shall trade no more, with men who eheat and defraud 'When, we want good eheese we send to Canada,' What is true of the English market 'wile soon become true of the best home mar- kot. 'A bad name is soon known to all She earth,' says the old proverb." Yam NOTES. The margin of profit in farming is too small to admit of any unnecessary waste., Unslaeked lime is excellent fax clean- ing small erticles in steel, such as jewel. lery, buckles and the like, We wonder how many men there are in this country who spend enough time emend the eorrtor grocery to lia,ve rebuilt all the fences, on their farms. Wo never' knew it man who could 'whittle or whistle; a mortgage off his farm, :4: