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FARMING NOTES.
FARMING NOTES. > (From the Sural WorldJ*) A NEW FOOD. We in th-sse islands (writes Prof. Long) are apt to iitider,,altic the maize plant as a food for stock, and jecttaire seems to be never-ending methods of utis- ifg it. as perhaps the most economical of all foods. J airing the past winter the grain has been so cheap ILalit farmers have been enabled to feed their cattle more cheaply than they could possibly do by the employment of food of any other kind. At a price of 13B. and even 12s.^per quarter of 4801b. it is evi- dent that maize has out-distanced cake* meal, and every other cereal, but it has been reserved for the Americans—to whom the maize plant is the national fodder to produce a new food from -it whi4 will still further diminish the cost of feeding, and may, for aught we know at the pre- sent moment, be introduced into this eniintrylas a competitor with hay, bran, and other coarser kinds cf food. It has been found that the pith of the maize stalk Las a special value of its own. Among the pur- poses for which it is to be employed is the packing of vessels cf war; its power of, absorbing water being very considerable. This pt is, therefore, being used by the American Government on a very large scale, and it iL- further being introduced into the manufacture of materials such as Iftiofenm, inasmuch as it is more economical than cork, which it is said to successfully replace. In the preparation of the pith there is a waste material which, being dried and ground, is found to be most suitable as a stock food. The maize etalk as a whole is known to be a rich food, and it is especially rich in sugar, containing 8! per cent. of digestible carbonaceous matter, but the food to which reference is here made contains 11 per cent, more digestible matter than the whole stalk of the maize and two per cent. more digestible nitrogenous matter it further contains more feeding material than hay of moderate quality, and compares very closely with such an admirable material as bran. There are three points to Consider in feeding and in the selection of food. Cattle require a bulky material, and it would not, therefore, answer to provide them with a small ration of concentrated character even though it con- tained more digestible carbo-hydrates and albumi- noids than an ordinary ration, but given a bulk or padding such as hay, straw, roots, or grass provide, it is essential to provide—assuming that it is not contained within the bulky food —a given quantity at least of digestible albuminoids and carbo-hydrates for the purpose of maintaining the heat of the body, of providing for the waste of tissue and of energy of force as well as for the manufacture of meat and milk. How to obtain this digestible material it is highly important to learn, inasmuch as it varies in price in accordance with the different foods employed, and it is the farmer's duty to himself to select that which is the most economical. In the past winter, for ex- ample, the carbo-hydrates of food have been cheapest in waize, excepting, of course, the coarser foods of the farm which the farmer produces for himself, whereas the albuminoids of food, which Jare neces- sarily chieQy purchased in the market, have been cheapest In bran, lentils, and, when bought, well, in beans, peas, and cotton cake. Now, supposing that the new maize product provides digestible carbo- hydrates at a cheaper rate than theygyain pf maize, it is certain to be very largely usea, and, perhaps, to the detriment of the British grower. It is quite conceivable that foods both of a carbonaceous and nitrogeneous character may be introduced in the future at a price out of all proportion to the present price of the usual foods on the market. We have at this moment an example of a cohcen- trated nitrogenous food which contains more than twice as much nitrogenous matter as the richest food in the market, and which can be sold at equally low prices. When we remember that the now maize pro- duct Contains nearly 2! per cent. of oil, nearly 4 per cent. of albuminoids, and nearly 50 per cent. of car- bonaceous matter, we shall Pee-if we take the trouble to compare it with the figures applicable to the foods I we are ordinarily using—that it has a very high cha- racter from a scientific point of view, whereas in practice in America it has been found to answer all that is said of it. OATTLH. The rains that have prevailed all over the country (a breeder remarks) have so freshened up the pas- tures that graziers' prospects have M.UClt I- ippro ed. Towards the latter end of May the swards in many districts were getting rather bare, and what with dry, cold days and frosty nights cattle could not make a start into that thriving state which is ex- pected at this season. -Fattening pastures must give a good, bite, or cattle are sure to disappoint the owner. And it is too common a practice to depas- ture too many sheep and horses among fattening bullocks and heifers, and the result is that they take the sweetest grasses, so that the latter make poor progress in what should be the flush of grass, therefore have to be finished off with expensive trough food at back-end. Again, it is desirable to get as much beef off in July and August as possible, not only to save a cake bill by-and-by, but to get the best price for it. It is always reckoned by old graziers that after the first unhappy partridge falls beef sinks halfpenny or penny per pound. But to get the animals ripe for the butcher before that time they must have a luxuriant pasture pretty well all to them-. selves, and they should be only ru'n thinly on-the ground. One sheep to two acres and one' horse to 10 acres will not materially rob the herd, but they ought not to run more thickly. SHEEP. The fat lamb season is just now (a flockmastei observes) approaching—that is the season when grass- fattened lambs are brought out in great numbers. Butchers begin to joint the carcase in June, so that the public are served with just such InØQ1 bits ae they require. Moreover, instead' of a shilling per lb., the retailer finds lOd. answers, and even 3d. later on, so that most housekeepers can afford it. Aad this is as it should be, because when hot weather sets in lamb is found the most inviting mo4t to put on the table. Graziers can well afford to sell at mode- rate pricey because the expense of fattening is not nearly so much as earlier in the year, when both Iambs and ewes have to subsist largely on trough food. For years this fattening lambs at grass has been a profitable occupation on land suited to the purpose. The ewes often pay the worth of their lambe, and that is very good considering that a portion bear twins. There is then left the fleece to make up for losses and what the ewe deteriorates in value. A difficulty to contend against is dry seasons. Seeing, however, that we have had several xjf late, there ought not to be another due just yet, and, as regards the present summer, it now bids fair to be more than averagelv fruitful. Prices of lambs have fallen a good deal within the last week, as is usually the case when grass-fattened ones begin to come to market. At present they make little more per lb. to the butcher than mutton, yet he charges from 10d,,to Is. per lb. -at least, has been doing fIG until the: beginning of June. Such high retail prices ought not to prevail, and are altogether out of harmony with what the grefzjer, gets. J. [ nO*E BUTTER-MAKING. •, f p •; • • When, as a stage in the making operations, the buttermilk is thoroughly drained off, water (Mr. C. C. Macdonald directs) at 54 degrees Fahr. should be added to the churn, equal in quantity to the buttermilk just run off, the churn lid fastened on, and the churn revolved rapidly for about a dozen revolutions. Then the water removed and the same quantity of cold water at about 45 degrees Fahr. should he placed into the churn and the rapid revolving repeated as before. Two washings are sufficient to remove all the butter- milk frorrrthe-buttei.7 After the water is thoroughly drained off, the butter should be removed to the baiter vrorkpr for salting. In Denmark, the butter is dfpped frbin the butter-milk, white it is in the churn, "by using a horsehair sieve, dipping the batter on to the butter worker, and pouring water on to,.the butter, and washing the buttermilk out of it. This is a Very good method, and may be adopted in cases 01 scarcity of pure cold water, as it only requires about one-third of the amount of water as by the former method. When the butter is removed from the churn, it should be accurately weighed before placing it on the butter-worker for salting, so that the proper amount of salt may be ascertained. The quantity of salt to be used depends altogether on the require- ments of the market on which the product is to be offered-for Bale. The consumers who buy butter on any market must have their taste in tfeiB satisfied as in all other respects; therefore, it is absolutely necessary for the farmers wlio^ make butter to become thoroughly acquainted with the needs of their customers, in order to please them, and thereby secure a ready and regular market at paying prices. The requirement oi many jnarkets is about iju-M- tfuartete to onnce of salt to aach pound ot butter '8ken from the churn. The butter is now in the granular stage, and the granules must be preserved. This is best done by little working. After weighing the butter, it is placed on the butter-worker, and the salt should be sprinkled on it in such manner as to distribute it evenly over the mass of butter, after which the preliminary working may be commenced. This working should be very slight, just enough to thoroughly distribute the salt through the butter. Turning the butter over on the butter-worker two or three times is sufficient to get the salt properly mixed through it. Then the butter should be put in a tub or tray and put into a cool place, having a tempera- ture of at least as low as 50deg. Fahr., and left for four or five hours. This is done to allow the salt to dissolve thoroughly in the butter. Pure salt will all dissolve, but it is impossible to force it into butter by working the butter.
GARDENING GOSSIP. •V
GARDENING GOSSIP. •V (From Gardening Illustrated.") TEA-SCENTED ROSE THE BRIDE. This Rose is most lovely as a pot plant. It is a white sport from that superbly-formed Rose, Catherine Mermet. Compared to Niphetos, for in- stance, which has for a number of years been a popular white flower, the Bride is so much better in shape as well as size and substance. It is also an easy grower. The foliage is handsome and plentiful. The delicate texture of the petals of Tea Roses is brought out more perfectly under glass. The least damp or rough wind damages them. As pot flowers they are indeed worth any amount of pains being bestowed upon their culture. 0 POT-ROSES AFTER FLOWERING. Boses that have flowered should receive at once a top-dressing of loam and some good artificial manure previous to plunging them outdoors for the summer. Those plants that have flowered twice should be re- potted at the end of June or July. If no room can be found for them indoors they may be plunged in a cold-pit, or outdoors in full sunlight, so that their wood may be well ripened. If we desire good Roses in winter and early spring the plants must be looked after in summer. A watering once a week with weak liquid-manure must be given. The food should be changed by giving liquid made from cow-manure one week, the second week some well-diluted liquid made from sheep-droppings, and the third week some liquid made from fowl-dung. By thus varying the food supply the best possible results are effected. SOOT AS MANURE. Without doubt soot is an excellent fertiliser, liUU one, moreover, that is often, even now, not fully appreciated. All lovers of a garden should secure a supply of soot whenever it is possible to do so. Also it must be borne in mind that it must be kept dry, therefore a bin or large cask or box, placed in a dry, cevered shed should be used for its storage until re- quired for use. It may with benefit be applied to all kinds of land, light as well as heavy, and lhere is hardly a crop cultivated in the garden to which it may not be applied occasionally with advantage. Amongst kitchen garden crops it is especially valuable in the case of the Onion. This crop is frequently attacked by the maggot, whicb, if not checked, soon commits sad ravages, and the beit remedy i is a good dressing of soot. As, however, prevention is better than cure, the land intended for this crop should in almost all cases have a good dressing cf this material shortly before the seed is sown, in addition to any other manure which may have been given during the preceding winter. Nearly all plants of the Brassica (Cabbage) tribe are liable to be attacked by what is known as the club," which frequently proves Vjy troublesome, and the best known preventive of Uis is called puddling the roots of the plants-an opera- tion easily performed by merely making a hole in the soil near to where the .plantation is intended to stand. In this hole place a portion of fresh soot, and to this add a little fine soil and water. and mix up until i it acquires the consistency of thick paint, and into this mixture dip the roots of the plants before plant- ing them. Seed-beds of the various kinds of Cab- bages, Lettuces, Radishes, &c., when the seed is just about to germinate are very apt to be attacked by birds of various kinds, and this may some- times be prevented by giving the surface of the beds an occasional slight dressing of fresh soot, the odour of which the birds do not by any means reljeh. A slight dusting of thi8 material round newly-planted Ljsttpces and. other plants will also go far to keep slugs and snails from attacking them, which they are apt to do before the plants have recovered from the effects of transplantation. Grass lawns and belts in .the pleasure-grounds, &c., may also frequently be much improved by the application of soot oy a mix- ture of soot, wood-ashes, and fine soil. This appears to have the effect of encouraging the growth of the finer sorts of grasses, and, as it were, assists them to overcome and to finally extirpate the coarser kinds, together with weeds and Moss. Suot-wateir is found to be exceedingly t eneficial to many plants under glass, either when grown in pots or planted out. It drives worms from the-soil, and repeated applica- tionssoon show their effect in the increased vigour and healthy appearance of the plants. Its effect upon the Grape Vine, too, when applied in the form of a dressing to the surface of the border, whether inside or outside, is soon apparent. The soot is gradually conveyed to the feeding roots by the action ofrail1 or the repeated applications of water, and the texture and colour of the foliage soon show the good results derived therefrom. Strawberry-plants in pots may also be greatly benefited by repeated applica- tions of soot-water, which has the effect of driving earthworms, maggots, &c., from the soil as well as acting as a fertiliser. Indeed, there are few, if any, plants grown in pots which may not be more or less benefited by its occasional application. I TVEIGELA SINENSIS VARIEGATA. After the welcome rains the variegated foliage of this Weigela has a fresh and pretty appearance, and though the blossoms cannot compare with those of the oldor green-leaved form, they are freely pro- duced, as in that well-known and useful flowering shrub. The flowers are just opening, nearly every point being studded with them, the colour being a pale rosy-pink. It makes a capital subject for plant- ing on the lawn in an open position, the branches keeping well down on the Grass. No clipping or training is needed, the natural habit of the plant I being very graceful, but it must have plenty of rOOQJ for its full development. I PLANTING OUT ARUM LILIES. Arum Lilies will now soon have finished flowering and be ready for standing outdoors or I for planting out during the summer months. It is an easy matter to plant them out, as they require but little attention and make very fine specimens afterwards. If the plants have been grown in a warm temperature it is necessary to harden them. off gradually, and. stand under the Bhelier of a tree, or in a position where they nay be sheltered from late frosts till the time of planting out. The hack of a mixed flower-border, or planting out. The hack of a mixed flower-border, or between the rows of talt-growing Dahlias, is a suitable position for planting, but if a vacant piece of ground can be spared on a south border so much the better, as moje light will be affqrdedand thej; are pot likely t& get drawn. wjheh/ turning th$plan 6?, out of the pots shake away the drainage and a good pdr- tion of the soil from the roots, and plant in the ground in old spent manure. Tread in firmly around the plants to prevent the roots from going too far into the s<jil and also to obtain a better ball to the roots when lifting. They should be lifted in Sep- tember, using pots according to the size of the plants. They make very fine specimens, producing four and five spathes at once; or, if required, they can be split into single stems, and in this condition are well adapted for windows or for any kind of indoor de- jorations. Feed freely during growth with liquid- manure.
[No title]
THE Duke of Saxe-Coburg has retained a very sincere interest in the British Navy. Like his nephew, the Duke of York, he is a really good sea- man, and can claim his naval ranlr, not by virtue of his birth, but by sheer hard work. As is the case with many members of the Royal family, the Queen's eecond son is a groat collector. He has the finest 1 collection of silver ships and silver ornaments con- nected with shipping anchors, buoys, compasses, and so on. The Duke is also passionately fond of old glass, and doubtless this forgotten fad will soon come to the front again. One room in the Royal palace of Coburg is entirely put aside for the exhibition of rare glass. Old Bohemian and old Venetian crystals have the place of honour, but the Duke is very fond of the British cut-glass decanters and beakers, and he has some unique specimens. On the other hand, all the decanters, wine-glasses, and household glass generally used at the palace Edinburgh is most severely plain, being simply ornamented with a tiny ducal crown and the initials A. and M.. standing for Alfred an#1 Marie.
WILD BILL'S ESCAPE:
WILD BILL'S ESCAPE: AN INDIAN ADVENTURE SKETCH. Six feet and an inch in his bright, yellow Mocassins A deer-skin shirt, or frock it might be called, hung jauntily over his shoulders, and revealed a chest whose breadth and depth were remarkable. Those lungs bad had growth in some twenty yean of the free air of the Rocky Mountains. His small, round waist was girthed by a belt, which held two navy revolvers. His legs sloped gradually from the compact thigh to the feet, which were small, and turned inward as he walked. There was a singular grace and dignity of carriage about that figure which would have called your attention, meet it where you would. The eyes, now that you are in friendly intercourse, are as gentle as a woman's, and you would not have believed that you were looking into orbs tha' have pointed the way to death to hundreds of men. Such was Wild Bill, the Scout of the Plains, as true a picture of the remarkable man as could be drawn with the pen. At the time of his leaving the West there was, pro- bably, no name better known on the border, from Oregon to southern California; and long before I had ever seen the man, I had, to a certain extent, become familiar with the greater portion of his life since his advent as hunter and scout. By the camp fire at night, during the long gallop over the boundless prairies, or while toiling on some lengthy trail, the old trappers related to me many a wonderful adventure, daring deeds of marvellous escape, in which Wild Bill had been the prominent actor, He are the wonderfulest man-boyee, I'd better say-fur he ain't no more, that ever I see or hear teU uv he are, by thunder 1" were the words I heard dropping from old Dan Barclay's lips, as I drew near the fire, after seeing that the camp was all right. He's been at them 'Loupes agin, an' ef he keeps on this way, thar won't be hothin' left but squaws and pappooses." Doosen't he pester the squaws, Dan ?" asked one of the rangers, a heavy-browed fellow, who had the reputation of making no distinction in sex as far as redskins were concerned. Not him. He's a man, Wild Bill is, every inch uv him, six feet and more," was the cutting reply. He don't, eh ? Well, then, he's a fool, thet's pll," said the ranger, savagely. Better hunt him and tell him so," replied old Dan, who clearly had no admiration for the fellow. He ain't hardly growed y it, an' you don't keer nuthir.' fur a boyee." I saw a disturbance was imminent, and at once asked Dan who was this wonderfulest" man. Wild Bill, capt'n, an' he are been etitin tip some more uv his tantrums 'mong the Pawnees. Yer know thet's ther tribe as done him so mean, an he Is gettin' squar. But I'll tell yer how it war and the old ranger settled himself comfortably, with his back against a tree: It are now five year ago, last season, thet me an' my pardner war up in Solomon's Fork, hevin' a powerful good run uv luck, An' not a 'Loupe a-kemin' nigh to bother. We hedn't even seen a redskin fur more'n a month, when one evenin' Blake kim t'arin' into camp-we war cachered in a goodfsh size cave, you know-an' sez thet the imps war over in ther north wally, a whole wheen uv 'em, and thet they bad jess roped a white feller. I see 'em when they done it,' sed Blake. I'll swar,' sez he, 'thet I ain't a-goin' ter hide hyar, an' let no sich man as that go under, ef I kin help it,' sez he. How war it, pardner?' sez I. Dan,' sez he, an' his face got all overseèous like, thet boyee over thar, fur he ain't nothie -else but a boyee, rubbed out four uv ther Pawnees afore they tuk him, an' I'll swar' he's bound to come outen that.' What are he like, Blakey?' sez I. Tallish, straighter ner a arrer, wi'shoulders like a bull-bufller, an' bar all hangin' down over his back,' sez he. < Toggery ?' sez I. Buckskin, an' looks as ef it hed seed sarvice,' sed Blake; an' wi' that we grabbed our rifles an' stole 'cross the wally. "From the top uv the range we sighted the Injun camp, but as night war most onto us, we kedn't see much. The redskins war busy gettin' up ther lodges, 's though they war goin' to stay awhile, an' by em by, when we see 'em set up a big lodge right in the middle uv ther willage, wi' a clear space all round, welnowed 'twar the council-house, an' ther band had squatted fur the balance uv the season. Jess at thet minit the sun war settin' behind the range off to ther west'ard, and throw'd a bit uv light on to a tree thet stood in the open round the council- house, an' it fell plum on the face uv ther prisoner as war roped up to ther trunk. It only stayed thar a second, but I hed time 'nuff to see es bandsum a phizogamy ea ever enny man see, an' then,ltwar gone. Es Blake bed sed, it war a boyee. Sartinly not more'n eighteen or nineteen, wi'out a bar uv beard onto his face, an' yet he'd jess drapped four uv ther imps afore they could take him. Well, we lay thar all night waitin' fur sun-up, es we both knowed that war the time the imps 'd take to commence ther fiend work. "Shure enuff, es the enn showed 'bove the tree- tops, ther warriors begin getherin' out in the open, an' in lsss'n a quarter uv an hour they'd formed the two lines rechin' from the base uv ther hill, whar me and Blake lay, clean to the council-house in the middle uv the willage. The boyee hed to run ther gauntlet, an' es he'd killed four uv thar warriors the day afore, it didn't take much thinkin' to see thet he wouldn't make the race. All the Injuns had clubs an' switches, but we ked see thet a good menny uv 'em hed ther tommyhacks stuck under ther belts Come, Dan," sed Blake, let's go back; the niggers hev got their weepins, an' 1 doosn't want to see the lad chopped to pieces.' Somehow or other I didn't think they would. I hed got a purty good look at the boyee's face, an' I seed mischief than An' I couldn't help thinkin' he'd got away, and mebby we mout help him. Purtysoon they led him out. "I swar, boyees, he looked fur all the world jess like a full-blooded race-hoss as they war bringin' out fur a dash head up, eye all clar an' bright as a hawk's, an' a step eekle to enny two-year-old buck., I They fetched him along till they got to whar the two lines uv warriors rested on ther base uv the hill, an'lettin' him hev a leetle start, so's to get under head- way, they give the word an' away he went. I dunno how it war, but I shet my eyes esthe lad started. I've seen many a one cut down, tommyhacked an' scalped, but somehow I kedn't bear to look at this boyee, an' see him go under wi'out bein' able t turn a finger to help. Lordy, Dan See ther lad 1' I heard Blakey kinder shout, an' openin' my eyes quicker'n a flash, I did see ther lad. I couldn't a-hed my eyes shet more'n a quarter uv a minit, but in that little time a powerful change had took place in ther open. The two lines war all broke clear up to the willago, sum uv 'em arter the boyee, who war makin' fur ther timmer away to the east'ard, while the balance had started fur the town to get ther mustangs from the corral. "Blake arterward told me thet at the word the boyee had lep' for'ard, clarin' the fust two or three warriors, who chopped at him wi' ther axes, an' aforQ a young Injun, who had a tommyhack in his hand, knowed what war up, he turned him a summerset wi' a blow uv his fist, snatched ther weepin, an war off torst ther head uv ther wally like enny wounded buck. The two swiftest runners uv the tribe closed wi' him in a run nv half a mile—you see, the boyee's sinyers war cramped wi' ther buffler-thongs-tut he downed 'em both right thar afore the whole tribe, an' war off agin before t'others ked kim up. But luck 'peared to be agin the lad. He war leavin' the redskins fast, when all uv a suddent, out uv ther timmer right ahead popped half a dozen > warriors on horseback, an' wi' yells an'screeches eekle to enny fiends, joined in ther chase. But he naver flickered, nor showed a sign uv givin' it up. The lower eend uv the wally war full of redskins, them as hed formed the lines, ther jtpper eend hed ther mounted warriors thet hed j*eFX kem outer ther brush, an' on both sides war steep hills thet a moun- tain goat kedn't a-climb. "By ther willage war the on'y chance. Thar warnt nothin' thar but a passel uv old men an' squaws, 'sides which the coital was jess along side uv it. "I war hopin' the lad would see his chance, when I see him break awav an* head straight fur, tbe: town. 4 Hooray,' Mid Blakey, an' so did I, for arter startin' in this direckshun the boyee fairly flew. The huntin-party, them as hed jess kem in, warn't nowhar. I reckin ther mustangs war pooty well beat out, an' though I see the redskins use ther rawhide powerful, he went two foot to the hosses' one. I saw thet the on'y danger the lad hed war in a big warrior that war travelin' pooty nigh as fast es le war, tryin' to head him off from the corral, fur they all see by this time what he war makin' fur. He can't do it, Dan,' sed Blake, in a whisper a'most; but I wur so took up in watchin' the boyee, thet I didn't once answer him. It warn't a straight race, yer see, cap'n. The Injun war cumin' up from below, an' the two war runnin' so's to meet at a pint nigh the corral. The question war who'd git thar fust, an' when I kem to think thet the lad would her to ketch his mustang afore he ked mount him, I eenamost agreed wi' Blake thet it kedn't be done. But I was mistook. Wi'in a hundred yards uv whar the hosses wur in the pen-thar war a low brush fence round it-the lad stopped all uv a sadden, an' puttin' his hand to his mouth, fetched a loud, cl'ar whoop, an' then dashed ahead agin. I wur watchin' the boyee, when I hear my pardner say See the hose, Dan I See the hose Thar war a powerful to-do in the corral fur a Acond all the mustangs a-rushin' hyar an' thar, an' around the inclosure, when all at onct a black hoss made a rush at the fence, cl'ared it like an antelope, an' kem t'arin 'cross the open to meet the boyee. It war the beautifulest sight to see the way that critter acted. She 'peared to know jess what to do, an' 'stead uv runnin' right straight to meet her marster, she bore off to the left, like so's to give him a leetle longer run, an' tharby time to mount. The redskin warn't ten feet off when the lad lep' up, him Bxtn' to throw his tommyhack. But he never throwed it, far at one jump a'most, the black wur onto him, an' he war struck doun wi' her fo' feet. h It war soon over arter thet. The boyee made straight for the willage, rode right through it, an' out onto the perrairy through the gap in the range. I've seen many a purty piece uv work, but this byar escape uv Wild Bill from the Pawnees beat 'em all."
BRITISH MARKETS AND AMERICAN…
BRITISH MARKETS AND AMERICAN COMPETITION. There is an interesting article in the current number of the Board of Trade Journal having refe- rence to the successful competition of America in the markets of the United Kingdom. The facts quoted are taken from the latest reports made by United States Cocsul8 in this country. It is asserted by the consular agents of the United States that l sue es3 in the sale of articles of American manu- facture has been won so far in the face of many disadvantages, and notwithstanding close and eager industrial competition. Recently some United States houses have sent over their own agents and their own travellers and called upon large retailers, directly sohciting import orders. If the result has been as successful for Americans in other parts of England as it has been in some instances quoted, such firms have reaped a rich harvest, and have inaugurated a business that will continually grow." The article mentions cutlery, soaps, wood, printing presses and materials, watches, clocks, jewellery as amongst the American lines which have proved most successful in British markets, but complaint is made of the imitation of the small American alarm-clocks by Germans. It is significantly added that the German imitation is an inferior article sold at a cheaper rate." American food products, such as cheese, bacon, lard, hams, flour, wheat, prepared oats, barley, corn, mutton, beef, and an enormous variety of tinned or canned goods are on sate at all grocers and provision dealers in England. These and many other statements of a like kind made by the American consuls are capped by a quotation from a document issued by the Bureau of Statistics, Washington, to which the attention of British manu- facturers may suitably be directed: The reports of our consular officers herewith presented disclose the gratifying fact that our manufacturers, in many lines, are successfully meeting the competition of the older industrial countries of Europe, not only on neutral markets, but on their own home -markets. \ipart from the question as to the causes oflhis increase, the fact that our manufacturers, in various Ifnes, have competed successfully with foreign pro- ducts in, the home markets of the latter would seem to indicate nracticability of greatly extending the sale of American gooarB««^_j.»
TRACKING CRIMINALS.
TRACKING CRIMINALS. fI It is very difficult, indeed," said a Scotland-yard officer, to recognise a man from a mere description of him. The few particulars given as to height, build, complexion, and colour of hair one finds apply to very many people, and to identify one's man by them is no easy matter. Of course, every effort is made to secure a photograph of the party' wanted,' but, if such cannot be obtained, one has to proceed very cautiously before laying a hand on any one as wanted. I was engaged some time back to arrest a fellow wanted for the theft of a considerable sum of money from a bank in the provinces. It was thought that the thief would make for London. No photograph could be obtained, and, a somewhat rough description of the young fellow having been sent to me, I had to proceed upon it as well as I could. After a long look-out I one day met a party who agreed with the particulars given. I followed him to see if I could obtain any confirmation of my suspicion that he was the man I wanted, but all in vain, and I waB particularly puzzled by his looking half-starved, ana being dressed in very dirty old clothes, whereas he must only a few days before have had a lot of money in his pocket. I determined to play a trick upon him to see if he was the right man. Going behind him as he was walking down the street I suddenly called out in a most friendly, surprised tone, Hallo, West (the name of ;he party I was after). Hearing the name he imme- diately turned round. He had identified himself, and was in my hands in, an instant. The trick is a common one-I don't wish to pretend that I invented it-and-it-rnost often succeeds. There are very few wanted' folk who retain their presence of mind sufficiently not to fall into the trap."
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JUST 400 years ago Newfoiindland was discovered by Cabot. And Newfoundland boasts of being the oldest British colony. So the fourth centenary is to be celebrated at St. John's, the colonial capital, in a few day- At the same time a kind of Newfoundland celebration is to be held at Bristol, the port from which the Matthew, Cabot's ship, set sail. Bristol at that time was the leading port in England. IT is calculated that a week's work in Birmingham comprises, among its various results, the fabrication of 14,000,000 pens, 6000. bedsteads, 7000 uns, 300,000,000 cut nails, 1,000,000 buttons, 1000 saddles, 5,000,000 copper or bronze coins, 20,000 spectacles, six tons of paper mache wares, over £ 30,000 worth of jewellery, 4000 miles of iron and steel wire, 10 tons of pins, 350 miles' length of wax for vestas, and 8000 tons of brass and copper wares. NEARLY four-fifths of the submarine cables of the world are in the hands of British companies, who own a length of more than 150,000 miles of cable, laid at a cost of over £ 30,000,000. Of 14 cables across the Atlantic to America, France has one and Great Britain 10; while so popular are the British cables, that nine out of every 10 telegrams are despatched over British lines. EVERYBODY has read stories of mysterious islands exercising an irresistible attraction on ships passing near them. These, of course, are pure inventions; but there is an island named Bornholm in the Baltic Sea near the coast of Denmark whose rocks (accord- ing to a Vienna journal, Der stein der Wiesen) are so strongly magnetic that they affect the compasses of passing ships even as far as nine miles away. In this manner Bornholm may be said 10 turn vessels out of their course, since an error of the compass- needle may cause a corresponding error in the steer- ing of a ship. Tin Industrial Society of Roufia, France, offers gold medals for a portable pyrometer indicating with accuracy temperatures above 300dcg., Cent., for a new method of utilising the solid prodacts of the distilla- tion of petroleum, for the best lamp for burning [^acetylene, for the application of au industrial process for the extraction of sulphur from iron and copper pyrites, and for a rapid and accurate method of determining cobalt and nickel in the new Caledonia ores. The essays must be forwarded to the president of the society before September 30, and must be written in French. The competition is open to mem bwsaad ntiB nwlimoMha ssaisfri,
EPITOME OF NEWS.
EPITOME OF NEWS. TITE Royal Lifeboat Institution, which control* the bulk of British lifeboats, has been instrumental in saving nearly 30,000 lives with its 300 boats. EACH year about £ 10,000 is expended in sprinkling the streets of London with sand, to prevent tin- horses from slipping. THE secret marks on Bank of England notes, by which forgeries are so rapidly detected, are con- stantly being changed. The microscope will reveal many such peculiarities to an observant eye. A LIVERPOOL grocer has outside his shop a newly- patented armchair, which has transparent hollow arms, in which is a mechanism operated by rocking the chair to display advertisements. THE bead of Liberty, which adorns the silver dollar issued by the United States Mint, is a repro- duct ion of the features of a beautiful young school- teacher of Philadelphia. Ix a home for sandwichmen in London there are said to be several University graduates and medical men, and a Scotsman who ran through 950,000 in three years. AT the present rate of growth of population, France will only have 40,000,000 at a time when Germany will have reached 100,000,000 and Russia 200,000,000. Sm ALFRED MIUJER is a bachelor. It is a curious fact that most of the men who have been closely associated with South African politics of late yeare are unmarried. THE horses of German cavalry regiments are to be entirely shod with paper shoes, recent experiments as to their durability and lightness having proved very satisfactory. THE number of public-houqrs in London is 5104, in addition to 2243 beerhouses, 218 hotels, 120 clube, and 219 restaurants, making a total of 7904 licensed houses. THE railway companies of Grtht Britain pay an average every day of 91700 in compensation, about 60 per cent. being for injuries to passengers, and tha remainder for lost or damaged freight. THE captain of a big Atlantic liner, after many calculations, has come to the conclusion that the general size of a fog in the Atlantic is about 30 miles in diameter. A BOAT leaving Regent's Canal, in London, can travel by canal to Kendal, in Westmoreland. This town is 251 miles distant from London by rail, but by canal it is over 300 miles. SWITZERLAND is the cheapest country for cycle touring. A meal of bread, butter, honey, cheese, and coffee costs 9d.; while a five or six-course dinner can be had for 2s. SOVEREIGNS were first issued about 1489, when they were worth the 24th part of lib. of gold. In 1512 they were worth 30s. a piece. In 1550 they were worth 24s., in 1817 they came down to 20s., the value at which they have since remained. THE stock of Bank of England notes which are paid in five years fills 13,400 boxes, which, if -placed side by side, would reach over two miles. If the notes themselves were placed in a pile they would reach to a height of five miles. They weigh 90 tons and represent 1750 millions sterling. MRS. NANSEN, the wife of the great explorer, was, before her marriage, a singer. Like most Swedish women she speaks English well, and is very fond of British illustrated papers. Indeed, most of our lead- ing periodicals find their way to her picturesque home at Lysaker, a village near Christiania. THE Grand Duke Paul of Russia is tbe tallest. Royalty in the world. He never travels without a bed made in sections, which is built up for him at each place at which he may stop by a man-servant whose only work is that of being bed-maker to his Imperial Highness. THE deepest bore-hole in the world is 6571ft., and occurs at Parnschowitz, near Rybrick, in Upper Silesia. The previous record was 5733ft. at Schlade- bach, Leipzig. The hole took more than a year to bore, and cost about 10s. a lineal foot. WHEN the Siberian railway is completed, the journey round the world will not occupy moie than 40 days. Some idea of the magnitude of the railway may ba gained from the fact that a small change in the direction of the route saved 1000 miles. MR. LOWELL'S astronomers have made a large number of observations on the stars at Mexico. They have measured 300,000 double and triple stars, more than half of which are new to science. Some of these are very brilliant. Full reports of the wajt> will shortly be sent to the Royal AstronOtffical Soovry of London. ? Jr »■ mpnrtad t.hat her TV^Government given instructions for the removal of various filtering materials from 19 water filter tanks at barracks and On Government property, and have ordered polarite to be laid down in the filters at once. THE oldest letter-carrier in England, Richard Pearson, of Richard Castle, better known in the dis- trict as Dick the Postman," retired from the postal service some weeks ago on a well-earned pension. Born in 1831, Dick began letter-carrying at tne age of 11, and altogether has carried her Maiestv's mails for some 80,000 miles. IN Germany, when the vote of the jury stands six against six, the prisoner is acquitted. A vote of seven against five leaves the decision to the Court, and in a vote of eight against four the prisoner is con- ( victed. j IT is possible to go round th9 world and touch on British territory aU the way—viz., from England to j Halifax (Nova Scotia), across Canada to Vancouver, ) across the Pacific to Hong Kong, thence to Singapore, Penang, Cape Town, St. Helena, and England. ) A TRIVATE belonging to a regiment of Highlanders rode through the streets of Glasgow on a donkey. He was arrested and flried JE3 3s., or one month's im- prisonment, for attaching ridicule to the Qu ten's uniform. ACCORDING to Lord Tweedmouth, the area of 1he herring-nets used in Scotland one year was no less than 164,000,000 square yards, and the total amount of the lines in daily use was 82,000,000 yards, or about 42,000 miles, or enough to go once and three- quarters round the globe. SPAIN has ordered of a Newcastle firm the largest floating-dock yet made. It is to be stationed at Olongapo, in the Philippine Islands. The length is 450ft.. the width 117ft., and the depth 38!ft. It must lift 12,000 tons. PERHAPS the most splendidly decorated church in England is that of Whitney Court, Worcestershire. It is entirely constructed of white marble the pews j are chastely carved, and the pulpit is of genuine Carrara marble, richly panelled with precious stones. A. CURIOUS barometer is said to be used by the remnant of the Arauoarian race which inhabits the southernmost province of Chili. It consists of the I caEt-off shell of a crab. The dead shell is white in fair, dry weather; but, indicating the approach of a moist atmosphere by the appearance of small red spots, as the moisture in the air increases it becomes entirely red, and remains so throughout the rainy season. THE Duke of Norfolk greatly enjoys his duties as Postmaster-General, for it had long been his ambition to occupy some such position in her MajestyV Government. Few people are aware that the premier duke was educated by the late Cardinal Newman. His school-fellows at the Oratory thought him a very quiet and rather dull boy, but he has proved that he is gifted with plenty of sound common-sense. THE extent of the degree of the oscillation of tall chimneys may be exactly taken by a close observa- tion of the shadows they cast upon the ground. A case in point is that of a chimney 115ft. high and 4ft. in diameter externally at the top, near Marseilles, the oscillation of which was observed by the shadow during a high wind to attain a maximum of over 20in. A CLEVER workman in a cutlery factory in Sheffield has made a dozen pairs of shears, each so minute that they altogether weigh less than half a grain. Each pair is perfect, and would cut if sufficiently delicate material could be found. Lying on a piece of white paper, they seem no larger than pinheads. PROFESSOR LUIGI, who has gone to Alaska with a large party of explorers, intends to climb Mount St. Elias, which is one of the highest peaks in North America. Its height is estimated at 18,000ft., but, the summit has not been attained hitherto, in spite of the attempts made by Professor J. C. Russell, who explored the mountain up to an altitude of 12,000ft. SOME of the fog sirens of Trinity House, Lord Rayleigh says, produce sounds which ought theoreti- cally, to be audible at a distance of 1500 miles, but in fact the authorities would be satisfied if they were heard only two miles away. The reason for the dis- crepancy between calculation and experiment was probably atmospheric deflection of the sound. A GERMAN scientific weekly has recently published estimates of the total number of species of animals now known to exist on the globe. Amongst them are: Mammals, 2500; birds, 12,500; reptiles and amphibia, 4400; fishes, 12,000; molluscs, 50,000j spiders, 10,000; insect#,230^00^worms, 6150: and sponguLldQEb- AiUt0tb*i 98*600 wecw* THE Japs are exporting to India hard felt hats of the regulation British pattern in vast quantities. TIlE silks from which British naval flags are made are all woven in Switzerland. TnE Duchess of Sutherland is the only lady wearer of the ftrawberry leaves who has been right round the world. Tiiia manufacture of glass bonnets is being carried out on an extensive scale on the Continent. oxim one-fifth of the boys of India go to school, and only one-fiftieth of the girls. PRESIDENT FAURE is said to be the greatest dandy in France. He is anxious to institute a special presi- dential costume, but his colleagues do not look on the scheme with favour. MISS HELEN GOULD is the richest unmarried woman in America. She is the proud owner of the largest and most valuable collection of orchids in the world. TnE medical examination of the lads who wish to join the Royal Navy is so strict that only about 40 per cent. of the applicants successfully pass. IT may not be generally known that the esteemed eau cror of the French is simply a water distilled from the lily-of-the-valley. THIRTY-ONE thousand persons have been saved during the last 60 years by means of the National Lifeboat Institution. THE identical bicycle on which M. Blondin crossed the Niagara Falls was the other day sold by auction for two francs, or Is. 8d. How has the mighty fallen STATISTICS prove that nearly two-thirds of the letters carried by the world's postal services are written, sent to, and read by English-speaking people. WHILE the population of France remains nearly stationary, the consumption of tobacco increases by leaps and bounds. During 1896 the French consumed over 20,000 tons of tobacco. GRAVEN upon the tombstone of a jockey who has just been buried in a New Zealand cemetery, are the simple words, He has passed the post." WOMEN coal-carriers at the Lisbon docks receive one-and-threepence a day male coal-carriers three- and-fourpence. IT has just been discovered that each of the two Testaments in use in the City of London Court it kissed 30,000 times a year. Both boohs are very ancient. They are falling to pieces, being literally kissed away. "RUNNING the gauntlet," a punishment supposed to be peculiar to the American Indians, was originated in the British Navy. Every sailor in the crew was provided with a switch, which he was required to lay briskly on the bare shoulders of the offender as be ran down the lines. THIC,Countess of Warwick is remarkably proficient in one branch of feminine learning, namely, plain needle-work. She has established sewing schools on her personal property of Easton, Essex. No sewing- machine is allowed within sound of the schools. Everything is hand made, and Lady Warwick and her pupils have bad the pleasure of supplying many beautiful trousseaux. YVETTE GILBERT, the famous French singer, began life behind the counter. For four years she was in the millinery department of one of the great Paris emporiums. Now she saves over 4:12,000 a year, and bids fair to become in time one of the richest women in France. MR. FREDERICK YILLIERS, the war correspondent, 'I' is said to be the quickest sketcher in the world. He is master of the art of actually taking pencil notes in the midst of battle, and, what is really more trying, on the battle-field amid the dead and dying when all is over. Two scientific men of Berlin have found a certain cure for trismus tetanus, or lock-jaw, the result of wounds. This is in one of the by-products of the manufacture of aniline dyes. Jt seems as if there is really no end to the uses to which the products of coal tar, and the derivatives from it, may not be put. THERE are said to be over twenty million widows in India, a fourth of whom are under twelve years of age. They number about one in every five females in India, while only about one male in twenty is a widower. THE new trans-Atlantic cable, which is to be laid between Brest and New York during the present summer, will, it is said, be the longest in existence. The length will be 3250 nautical miles, and the total weight of the cable with its envelope is estimated at 11000 tons. Four large ships are to be employed in stretching it across the ocean's bottom. reipninw sovereigns at the Dresent time who have never taken the trouble to be crowutu. Among them may be mentioned the German Emperor, Among them may be mentioned the German Emperor, the King of Italy, the King of Spain, the Queen of Holland, the King of Bavaria, the King of Saxony. THEY are now probably more lawyers than ever in Parliament. Barristers in the House, in or out of practice, number 130, and solicitors, in or out of practice, 20, making a total of 150, or nearly one in four of the whole membership. I MB. LAURANCE IRVING, Sir Henry Irving s second son, who has not acted very much in London in recent years, is believed by not a few people to be destined to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious father. He is a very tall, well-set-up young man, whose identity could not be questioned for a moment, although his nose is not shaped on the classic outlines of his father's. He is gifted to a large extent with the artistic temperament, and has already achieved the distinction of having had two plays accepted by his father. MR. SYDNEY COOPER, R.A., is a good example of patience—a quality essential to animal painters-and a characteristic story is told of his efforts, at the beginning of his career, to put a cow on canvas. ¡ Having selected a restless cow out of a herd, he watched every movement and followed her for several davs before he was able to finish his sketches, when he computed that he had walked fully 100 milee I during the process. MR. ARTHUR BALFOUR is an ardent advocate of women's rights. This is said to be owing to the influ- ence of his clever sister, Miss Agnes Balfour. She has kept house for him ever since their mother, Lady Blanche, sister to Lord Salisbury, died, and the First Lord of the Treasury often say- that he would rather trust Miss Balfour's judgment than that of any mm I he knows. OwiNG to the powerful electric lighting used on board French men-of-war, sailors have become fre- I quently affected with eye diseases, which have, in some cases led to total blindness. The eye troubles I are attributed to the intensity of the light and to the action of the ultra-violet rays. The French Naval authorities supply dark blue glasses to those men engaged with search-lights, and men who neglected to use these spectacles were injuriously affected. Grey and blue eyes are more easily affected than I brown—that is, eyes in which the iris is not heavily charged with pigments. A NOVEL use of the "X" rays has transpired in Sunderland. A lady last week, whilst baking some cakes, lost her ring in the paste, but did not discover the loss until the cakes were out of the oven. Afraid of choking some member of her family, she was struok with tbe happy expedient of taking the cakea to a photographer, who placed them under the X rays, with the result that the ring was immediately discovered. IF Li Chang has not a host of young nephews, he ought to have, for he is a handsome giver of tips- Even when the recipient is hiB own royal mistress t e present is magnificent in amount. The douceur wnic he recently handed to the Empress Dowager was a little cheque for 800,000 taels—in other w0^j £ 130,000. This royal tipping is quite a regui habit of Li's. t IT is a strict rule with the big Transatlantic steam. ship companies, that the wife of the captain shall not travel in his ship. The company strong TP hibits its captains from taking their wives a with them. The supposition is that J 8 should happen to the ship, the captslin, instead of attending to his public duty, would devote hi. attention mainly to the safety of his wire. T*. (wourit. be,.™. F -c j <■„_ instance, has decreased in 4,700,000; while tea shows an Increase of 6,000,000 pounds during the same period, and light wines nearly 2,000,000 gallons. A NOVEL craft has just been built, which is termed a hydrocycle. This strange water-cycle is made of two boats, each 18ft. long, placed side by side, and connected. In the centre is the frame or a bicycle, on which the rider sits and pedals, steering by his handle-bar the same as on any bike." A GREAT doctor has studied the fingers and toes of 4500 criminals, and finds a deficiency in the size or number of toes quite frequent among them, although very rare among ordinary men. He has also observed that prehensile toes, marked by de "pace between the great toe and the feoono to a condition quite eommtm BUMM uiim'11