Newspaper Page Text
I
jjdis
Grasshoppers.
The report of the United States entomological
commission, created by an act of the forty
fourth congress, for the purpose of studying
the habits of the Rocky mountain locusts, and
devising, if possible, some means of preventing
the disastrousravagesof theseinsectsinthe Wes
tern States, is now going through the press at
the government printing office. This commis
sion consisted of Prof. Charles Y. Riley, of St.
Louis, chief Gyrus Thomas, of Carbondale.
111., and A. S. Packard, of Salem, Mass. The
forthcoming work treats exhaustively of the
subjects for the study of which the commission
was appointed. Several of its chapters are de
voted to a scientific presentation of the dis
coveries which the commission has made, and
will be of interest only to naturalists. The re
mainder is of popular interest.
One of the most interesting chapters is that
which treats of the permanent breeding
grounds of the locust. The area in which the
locust breeds each year, in greater or less num
ber?, the commission Bays, is approximately
three hundred thousandsquare miles in extent.
It is not to be inferred that the locust breeds
continuously over the whole of this area each
year, for it is to be understood that the locust
within its native permanent habitat is essenti
ally migratory in its habits. For a serious of
years it may deposit its eggs in a given river
valley, in sums park, or in some favorable area
in some of the plains lying about the moun
tains, yet it may desert its customary breeding
grounds for adjoining regions, or cross a low
range of mountains and breed in a more dis
tant valley. Even in this area the true hatch
ing grounds are for the most part confined to
the river bottoms or sunny slope of uplands,
or to the subalpme grassy areas among the
mountains, rather than continuously over the
more elevated, dry, bleak plains. The area in
which the locust breeds lies mainly between
longitude 102 degrees, and 114 degrees west of
Greenwich, and latitude 53 degrees and 40 de
grees north.
From this general breeding-ground the locust
is distributed in all directions. The eastern
limit of its range is marked by the commission
by the following line: ''From the southern
end of Lake Winnipeg, by way of Lake of the
Woods to Pierce county, Wisconsin thence
directly south to Poweshiek county, Iowa
then southwest to Worth county, Missouri
then south through Montgomery county, Ar
kansas, to Houston, Texas, carving westward
from this point to Live Oak county, Texas."
In Manitoba the eastern and also the northern
limit, corresponds very closely with the tim
ber line. Generally the northernmost limit of
distribution extends to Fort Pitt, in latitude
53 degrees 40 minutes, and the general north
ern limit of the range of G. Spretus, which is
the most troublesome species of the locust, ex
tends nearly to the southern limits of the
forests which lie partly upon the fifty-third
parallel, but in a greatar part between lon
gitude 104 degrees and 114 degrees and
above the projected route of the Canadian Pa
cific railroad. It is probable that other species
range north of these liirits, but it is not prob
able that the spretus ranges beyond the line of
coniferous trees lying along the north shore of
the northern branch of the Saskatchewan river.
The extreme western limit of the distribution
of these locusts is the eastern flank of the Cas
cade range in Oregon and Washington Terri
tories, and the Sierra Nevada mountains,
though in many parts of the country they do
not reach a point so far west.
As to the southern limit, the commission
lacked data for confirming the line satisfactori
ly. All that its members are able to say in ref
erence to it is that the locusts have been known
to cross the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass, and to
penetrate a mile and a half into Mexico that
they have been observed in western Texas as
far as the settlements have extended that they
have penetrated New Mexico on the northeast
as far as Las Vegas and Fort Union, and have
passed down in the mountain region from Col
orado to Texas, and possibly further south.
Probably the most important chapter in the
book is that on "remedies and devices for de
struction." The means to be employedfor the
destruction,of locusts, the commission says,
very naturally falls into five divisions, first,
encouragement of natural agencies secondly,
destruction of the eggs thirdly, destruction of
the young or unfledged insects fourthly, de
struction of the mature or winged insects
fifthly, preventive measures. The means sug
gested for the destruction of the eggs are, first,
harrowing in the autumn. This, during dry,
mild weather, has been found to be one of the
most effective means of destroying the eggs
and preventing further injury. The commis
sion suggests that it be enforced by law. A
revolvingharrow, or cultivator, is recommended
for this work. Thesecond method is by plowing,
thus burying the eggs so far below the sur
face as to prevent their hatching. The
tthird is irrigation. Where this is practiced and
the ground is light and porous, prolonged and
excessive moisture will cause most of the eggs
to perish, and irrigation in the autumn has
been found very benificial. The fourth plan is
tramping. Many of the eggs may be destroyed
in pastures or fields where hogs, cattle or
horses can be confined, when the ground is
not frozen. In cases where neither of the
means already suggested are available the com
mission recommendsthe collection and destruc
tion of the eggs, and suggests that the State
ahthorities should offer some inducement for
this work. Every bushel of eggs destroyed is
equivalent to a, hundred acres of corn saved.
The methods suggested for the destruction of
the young or unfledged locusts, are, first, by
burning, which may be done by scattering
over or around the fields old straw or hay, in
heaps or windrows, into which the locusts,
sometime after they hatch, may be driven and
burned. Crushing can be done by various
machines, but can only be advantageously ac
complished where the ground is smooth and
hard. The commission describes a great num
ber of crushing machines, and illustrates the
subject by numerous engravings. Trapping
an be done by the use of nets or seines of long
strips of muslin, calico or similar materials,
made after the manner of quail nets. It is
also accomplished by digging pits and holes,
and by the use of coal tar or coal oil in pans.
These pans are pushed over the fields, and as
they disturb the locusts they jump into
the tar or oil and are thusdestroyed. For catch
ingorbaggingtheseare innumerable mechanical
contrivances, several of which are described
and illustrated by the commission. The com
mission has little faith in the application to
the plant or insect of any chemical mixture,
fluid or powder, as a means of destroying the
insects first, because nothing will more quick
ly and thoroughly kill them than coal oil sec
ondly, because of the impracticability of using
any such application on the extensive scale
that would be necessary. The commission also
suggests the protection of fruit trees by white
washing their trunks or by surrounding them
with narrow strips of batting.
The destruction of winged insects, the com
mission says, is impossible, but several means
of disturbing them and driving them away are
suggested.
As a means of protection against the ravages
of the locusts the commission recommends di
versified agriculture, legislation, the protection
and encouragement of increase of native locust
feeding birds, the introduction of foreign
locust-feeding birds, inducements offered to
the Indiana to collect and destroy the eggs and
young the destroying of the eggs or young by
making the greatest possible use by artificial
means of the natural water supply: burning
the young in spring, and diverting the winged
swarms by smoke.
The commission says that nothing is to be
feared from these insects after the first year in
the temporary region. The insects which are
hatched in this region cause great destruction
before they take wing, but after that they in
variably take their flight toward their origina
*_
d.T'y
homo in the permanent breeding grounds.
They, however, do not usually reach the end of
their journey. They become infected with par
asites and diseased during their stay in the
temporary region, and perish on the way..
Strakosch In Trouble.
IN. Y. Special, June 13.]
Clementine Smedler, a public singer well
known in Chicago, has instituted a suit
against Max Strakosch, the operatic manager,
for $10,000 damages for breach of promise
for marriage. The affidavit sets forth that
the defendant intends to leave for Europe
shortly, and adds that on the 20th of Sep
tember, 1875, in this city, Mr. Strakosch
promised to marry Miss Smedley, and that
notwithstanding his promise to her, he mar
ried a Miss Neilison, in Oakland, Cal., on the
26th of October, 1877 that, seeking to take
a wicked advantage of plaintiff's ingenuous
ness, and to compass her ruin by trick and
subterfuge, and using such promise to marry
as a means, he sought to seduce her,
and sought to convince her that she never
could be a great and successful singer un
less she would throw away her modesty and
yield to his solicitations. Deponent indig
nantly refused to comply with his iniquitous
demands, and repelled all such wicked ad
vances, whereupon the defendant grew cold
and negligent, and subsequently, on the 20th
of August, 1876, refused to marry her, alleg
ing as a reason the fact that he is a Jew,
and that his religion would not permit him
to intermarry with a Christian. About the
28th of August, 1876, Mr. Strakosch told
her that he wished to talk to her concerning
her future prospects, and could not do so
uninterruptedly in the parlor of the Everett
house, where he lived, nor at her boarding
place, and requested her to accompany him to
a house of a family whom heknew intimately,
and where they might converse without in
terference. She, not expecting his wicked
designs, went with him into a house in
Thirteenth street, between University place
and Fifth avenue. He locked her in a
room and she screamed for help. She was
released, and, upon his request, forgave him
for his misconduct. It was at his desire she
says, that she left home and friends in
Chicago and came to this city, By reason
of his faithlessness, his licentious advances,
and his subsequent refusal to comply with his
promise to marry her, she has been injured
in health, has been under the care of a
physician, and has sustained great pecuniary
loss.
Mr. Strakosch said this evening: "This
is simply a blackmailing affair. I met Miss
Smedley some four years ago in Chicago.
She came to me to put her on the stage,
and to get her a musical education. I told
her if she would come to New York I would
do what I could for her. She came here and
I got her teachers, but I soon discovered she
had no ability or talent besides she was
in ill health, and I gave her money to go
back home. She has frequently annoyed
me since, and I have frequently given her
money from chanty. That is all. Her story
is simply absurd. I never promised to
marry her. Never spoke about it. She
thinks she has got from me all I will give
her by right means, so she fancies she can
get more by foul means, and there she will
find she is wrong."
Gould as a Bull.
[New York Sun.]
For several months past Lake Shore has
been selling at not far from 63. The bears
have attacked it, and the bulls have enlarged
upon its merits, but neither the one side nor
the other has obtained a decided advantage.
Lake Shore is the mystery of the street and
since Addison, Commack, George Osgood,
and Wm. H. Yanderbilt made fortunes on
its rise last summer from 45 to 73 stock
operators have been puzzled as to the future
of its movements. The Twenty-third street
operatorsfor several monthspast have worked
zealously to break*down the quotation and
have put large lines of short sloclcbelow the
present figure. The prominent bears were
strengthened in their position by various cir
cumstances. Wm. H. Yanderbilt, before his
departure for Europe six weeks ago, was dis
covered to have sold out a large speculative
line of Lake Shore. It was argued from this
that the earnings of the road had been de
creasing, and that the great railway king
did not care to hold too much of a property
not likely to pay a handsome dividend. The
capital of Lake Shore is so large, five hun
dred thousand shares, that there is less
danger in selling short than in the case of
smaller stock. The opening of navigation,
too, brought down the rates for freights, and
as Lake Shore is a direct competitor with
the lakes the receipts necessarily fell off
largely. So, while the Northwest
ern and the coal stocks have advanced
many per cent. Lake Shore has hung about
63, neither going up or down a great deal.
Mr. Vanderbilt's brokers have not appeared
as buyers since his departure for Europe. It
has been a puzzle who should be credited
with holding up the price of a stock where
such powerful elements are working for a de
cline. Lake Shore is the bete noir of the
Twenty-third street party. They care little
whether other stocks are cornered, so long
as Lake Shore is left alone for them to
manipulate. It has transpired lately that
Jay Gould,who is carrying on the bull move
ment in the restof the market,is the supporter
of Lake Shore. Whether he buys simply to
steady the market while he puts up other
stocks, is uncertain. He has never been a
great bull in the stock, but at times has
been in the habit of giving it a twist of 3 or
4 per cent, when a too large short interest
was developed. Any permanent advance in
the price is dependent upon the dividend
that will be determined very soon, as Mr.
Vanderbilt has arrived from Europe. Parties
who have facilities for obtaining information
say that it will not be over 2 per cent.
&
f$ Bijali and the Heathen.
[Detroit Free Press.]
The old man was oiling the hinges of the
stove door and carelessly singing one of
Beethoven's best, when a middle-aged
woman entered the station and began:
"Mr. Joy, are you a good man?" ff|
"Well, tolerabletolerable," he replied.
"I never dropped a bad nickel id the street
car box, and I don't go fishing on Sunday."
"Mr. Joy, I am canvassing for money to
buy bibles, and so forth, for the African
heathen," she continued, as she exhibited a
pass-book. fp
"Are. eh! Does lie seem to want a
bible?"
"He does. He sits on the sands of his
native shore and looks longingly this way."
"Does, eht Sitting right there this morn
ing, I 'spose?"
"He is. How much will you subscribe, Mr.
Joy?"
"Madam, I've got to lift a mortgage be
fore noon to-day, and
"You will certainly give something," she
interrupted.
"And I've got to meet fire and life in
surance, pew rent, taxes, gas and"''
"Put down what your noble heart
dictates," she said, as she handed him the
book.
He reflected for a moment and then asked:
"Will five dollars convert a heathena
great big two fisted heathen, with a stiff
knee?"
"I-I think so."
He figured with pencil on the bottom of a
chair, and said:
"Five dollars into two hundred pounds of
heathen is forty pounds for a dollar. That
is, less seetunten pounds for twenty-five
cents, and none to carry. Divide ths
dividend by the divisor, cut off the cube root,
carry nothing, and, madam, you take this
quarter and convert ten pounds of heathen
for me. That's all I can spareno use talk
ingten poundshere comes his honor."
She went away puzzled and amused at his
figures, and Bijah looked after her and
mused:
"I ought to have taken a mortgage on my
share of that heathen, but I'm just that care
less in business affairs."
Sot as Kew as Supposed,
I Kansas City Times.
The' question as to whether the Black
Hills were or were not occupied by white
men prior to the white settlement of 1875-6,
is being discussed by the Eastern and West
ern press. The Kansas City Times, during
the winter of 1876, announced the discovery,
near Calamity Peak, on French creek, of the
remains of a white man's camp or settle
ment, long since deserted and abandoned.
And it gave forth the opinion then that the
Black Hills had been inhabited by white
men many years before Tallant's colony
from Sioux City entered the Hills and made
the first white settlement at Custer.
The statement made by the Sioux City
Journal, and now going the rounds of the
press, announcing the discovery of white
men's presence in the Hills many years ago,
is confirmed by discoveries made by a gen
tleman in Kansas City, who spent several
years scouting in the Hills as early as 1863.
A party of scouts, including Henry Lewin,
Wilbur F. Harris, Thomas Ferrier, Charles
Engle, and the Kansas City man, found at
the mouth of Beaver creek, at its junction
with the Cheyenne river, the skulls of three
men, the remains of boats, the bonos of two
horses, a few rusty mining tools, and other
relics of a white man's camp. They were
found in the centre of a rocky backbone or
ledge. The large slabs of loose stone set up
edgeways as a wall of protection are still in
position as left by the unknown pioneers,
who were killed there, perhaps a generation
before. The boneswere bleached and de
cayed, and had certainly lain there for
years.
Another positive evidence of the early oc
cupation of the Black Hills was furnished by
the Times in 1876, when another and larger
deserted camp was discovered near Tallant's
stockade, on French creek. Here Col. Tal
lant, the leader of the white colonists ex
pelled from the Hills in the summer of 1875,
pointed out the remains of white men's set
tlements. In the bed of the creek was the
rotten remains of rudely constructed sluice
boxes, formed by chopping the heart out of
cottonwood log3. There were four
or five of these, two of them in
and advanced state of decay. The re
mains of two shovels, rusted, rotten and
decayed pieces of tin and fragments of iron,
evidently of frying-pans and kettles, were
found not far from the decayed sluice-boxes.
Near where these curious relics were found
was seen the former home of these myste
rious and unknown pioneers. A few pine
poles, rotted by age and falling down, were
found leaning against a sheltering rock, not
far from the creek. These had formed the
support to the rude miners' home many
years before.
The strangest and mostinterestingfeature,
about this camp was a rude wooden cross
formed by pine poles tied together with raw
hide, and which stood upright against a rock
not far from the ruins of the old cabin. On
one side of the cross, rudely cut into the
face of the moss-brown granite rock, were
two letters, "J. M.," and the date, "1846."
This had evidently been erected to mark the
grave of some unfortunate pioneer who had
died there thirty years before. The fate of
his companions can only be conjectured,
but from the appearance of the camp ground
and the broken tools and camp equippage it
is inferable that they fell victims to the
ferocity of the terrible Crows or Blackfeet,
or the jealous Minnecouyeus or bloodthirsty
Uncapapas, who now follow the uncompris
ing Sitting Bull.
Other positive evidence is being furnished
from various sources. The Omaha Bee gives
the statements of a Mr. Witcher, one of the
Black Hills pioneers, who has been talking
with the oldest settler of the upper Missouri
country, La Plant. La Plant asserts that he
visited the Black Hills twenty-two years ago,
and that white men had visited and explored
the hills before he went there. He says he
can lead the way to the cave where he and
his companions lived while exploring "the
sombre elevations," and point to the names
and dates inscribed upon the rocks. There
is no room left for doubt as to the discovery
of gold in the Black Hills as early as 1846.
Evidences are beingdiscovered in the various
parts of that mysterious region. The mys
tery about the matter ii what became of
these early explorers. A party of ten started
from Fort Laramie in 1864, and were never
heard of again. La Plant knows of a party
of Choteau's men who went to the Hills in
1852, but who never returned. Judging
from the many discoveries recently made in
the valleys of the Black Hills, all the early
pioneer gold seekers met the same fate
death at the hands of the savages.
liow for Cheap Jet Jewelry.
I Los Angeles Express.]
While Prof. Gunning stood chatting in our
sanctum the other day he drew from his pock
eta little piece of hard, black substance, 'which
he presented for inspection, and asked what we
would call it. We guessed coal. "No" he
said "that is what the man who discovered it
thought it was, but he was mistaken He
found it in a thinledge, cropping out in a can
on, and he took this specimen out and sent it
to me while I was lecturing up country, He
wanted to know whether it was really coal. It
is jetthe very' kind used for jewelryand
worth $100,000 a ton! I have returned from
locating the ledge with the discoverer and he is
now working it. Continuing the subject, he
expressed the opinion that the mineral resour
ces of California have hardly found a begining
in development thus far. Prospectors and
miners have hitherto confined their attention
almost exclusively to gold and silver, neglect
ing the other valuable minerals, of whichthere
is a vast store in our mountains. The profes
or made an examination of the oil regions of
Ventura county, after lecturing in Santa Bar
bara, and he expresses an unqualified belief in
their richness in petroleum.
fasnson Frea&s. "i
[From the New York Express.J
Few changes are noted in the English
style of dress now adopted by gentlemen.
Fashionable tailors make the coats of all
suits shorter than they have been worn for
several seasons trousers are not so loose in
the legs as those lately worn.
The full dress suit for evening and for
day receptions has a coat and vest of west of
England cloth, jet black, and of the "dead
finish" that is entirely without lustre. The
swallow-tail coat is slightly shortened and
rolls very low in front the front of the vest
also rolls low to match the coat, The panta
loons are of doeskin, of the same shade of
black as the coat and vest.
The semi-dress for church, visiting and
afternoon wear has a Prince Albert frock
coat of black diagonal or the fine corkscrew
weaving. The vest is of the same cloth as
the coat, and is cut single breasted. By way
of variety, and for dressy occasions in mid
summer a white double-breasted vest is used
instead this laps in front, and merely a
white edge like a fold shows when the coat
is buttoned above it. The pantaloons have
neat stripes of medium colors neither very
light nor very dark.
For business and traveling suits one pat
tern of plaided Scotch goods is used for the
entire suit. Sacks and fitted coats are both
stylish for these. Some of the sacks are
fastened by three buttons, while others but
ton only one button and fall open.
Summer overcoats are principally sack
shaped, and, like all other coats, they are a
trifle shorter. The materials are diagonals
and meltons of dark color. For travelling
are imported dusters of gray English mohair
or of Panama cloth, or else checked gray
with black these are long sacks, with the
ulster belt confined to the back instead of
passing around the waist.
Shirt fronts are very plain, consisting of
three thicknesses of linen without pleats,
though sometimes ornamented down the
edge with a cluster of very small tucks, or
else of fine cords stitched in. Colored shirts
are percales with white ground, on which is
stamped a very delicate and quaint figure in
blue, brown, black or scarlet, such as rows of
dots, coral branches, zigzag dashes, or else
large cross-bars of single threads of color.
Small spots and hair stripes are always in
good taste.
Straight standing collars, almost like the
old-fashioned garrote collar, are worn again.
These do not have the fronts turned over in
points, but are square-cornered'and are worn
to meet, sometimes to lap, and sometimes
the edges are quite far apart, exposing the
throat the first is considered the most
stylish. The English collar, with the fronts
bent back as if broken, is still in vogue.
Linen cuffs are made to meet, instead of
lapping, and are fastened by linked sleeve
buttons. The comers are round, or else
square, like the new collars.
The scarfs most worn at present are in the
Stanley shape, flatly folded and wide enough
to conceal the shirt front above the vest.
Accordmg to the English taste, colord scarfs
are more worn than formerly, and figured
silk and satins of quaint patterns in the col
ors fashionable for ladies' dresses are used.
An excellent novelty for summer is the
linen duck scarf, in Stanley shape, or else of
white repped pique, or perhaps of white
Marseilles, dotted with the blue or black.
These cost from fifty cents to one dollar,
and are offered in lieu of the narrow white
lawn ties so commonly used in summer.
There are also cream color and gray linen
scarfs with squares or basket-woven designs.
The Balbriggan half-hose, most popular
this season, have very fine stripes of color
around the white instep, with solid-colored
soles. Instead of the cardinal and dark blue
socks of last summer, there is a preference
for drab, brown or black, or else the merest
thread stripe of red or blue.
For nice underwear, Balbriggan vests are
shown, with drawers to match, in cream
color and brown shades. These oost $9 a
suit. Balbriggan socks to match these are
imported for $18 a dozen.
Narrow hems, on which are colored fig
ures, are en the large linen handkerchiefs
used by gentlemen. Something unique in
color and design, like the peculiar patterns
for scarfs, is selected for these borders.
The hems are hemmed-stitched, and there
is a wider border of color inside the hem.
Kid gloves are of beige or mastic gray
shades, with three wide rows of stitching of
the shade of the kid on the back. They are
long enough to require two buttons on the
wrists. The grey lisle-thread gloves are
shorter and fastened by one button.
The low Oxford ties of calf-skin are the
shoes for street wear in summer. They are
made with rather narrower toes than those
lately worn, and broad low heels. There
are also buttoned gaiters with kid top for
ordinary wear, For dress occasions are pat
ent leather gaiters with black tops. An at
tempt has been made to introduce sharp
pointed toes, but these crowd the foot pain
fully, and have not met with favor.
Lap-robes for gentlemen's wagons are
squares of gray or brown linen woven in
basket designs, bordered with blue or red
damask figures, and fringed on the edges.
These cost from $7.50 to $9. Flannel or
cloth-robes of gray or brown have a neat
border of brown, black or blue cloth stitched
all around the ed^es price $12.
The He-Christening.
[New York Star.]
The newly-baptized Park Avenue Hotel,
late the Women's Hotel, was formally opened
to the public in general, and the masculine
sex in particular, yesterday afternoon. The
alterations required to adapt its new purpose
were not quite completed, nevertheless, the
mere sight of trowsers and coat-tails, other
than those of liveried menials, was sufficient
to throw an air of worldliness over this once
exclusive feminine paradise. True, the bar
was not yet ready for business, the billiard
room still wore an expression of vacancy,
the cuspidors had not yet intruded, and the
barber's call of "next" was as yet unheard
but then to compensate in a measure for
these "necessary cdmforta" smoking was al
lowed, and no one seemed to be afraid of the
petticoat angels, who, to thenumber of some
fifty, are said to still float about the cor
ridors. W ^^^^%^W1
The necessary appurtenances to a hotel
intruded for males will, however, be supplied
in a few days, and then, all things consid
ered, the Park Avenue will be one of the
most popular in the city. The bar, billiard,
andsmoking-rooms are on the left or Thirty
second street half of the ground floor. The
gentlemen's reception and reading-rooms
and the barber-shop are to be on the op
posite side of the main entrance.
When the first dinner under the new
regime took place during the afternoon, all
the invited male guests were seated at the
main table, while the feminine boarders
took their by this time customary seats at
the cheerful side-tables. Many of these
latter evidently expected that they would
be treated to poetic toasts and witty speeches
apropos of the occasion. They had, no
doubt, read or heard somewhere that these
"aids to good digestion" come with the
champagne, but as they found that the
beverage only introduced a flow of reason
and no wit of soul, they one by one slowlv
departed, except a few who had evidently
made up their minds to remain to the last
probably as an heroic protest against the
change of Judge Hilton's plan. When a
plentiful supply of cigars was served to the
enemy, however, and lighted with gusto,
they made one grand rush for the door, and
man was in sole possession of the spacious
and handsome apartment.
Camel.
All my readers know that the great
value of the camel lies in its ability to
pass a long interval of time without re
quiring to drink. The camel does not,
indeed, need a less amount a liquid than
other animals, for in this point it is out
done by many South African antelopes,
which are never known to drink at all
but it has a curious power of taking in at
one time an amount of liquid whicn will
serve it for several days.
The internal machenism by which this
power is attained is very remarkable, but
is much too complicated to be described
without the use of diagrams. Suffice it
to say that the water is stowed away in a
series of cells, which appear to have the
property of preserving it in a fresh and
clear state even after the death of the
animal. A slight greenish hue is com
municated to the water, but with that ex
ception it is clear. In one remarkable
instance, after a camel had been dead ten
days, the water in his stomach was drink
able and tasteless. When first taken from
the dead animal a rather unpleasant flavor
isjperccptible, but this vanishes, together
with the green color, after the water ha3
stood undisturbed for three days?
The quantity of water taken at one
time is almost incredible, more than
twenty gallons being sometimes consumed
at a single draught. The animal drinks
with great rapidity, and the water disap
pears so fast that it seems to vanish by
magic. Its desire for water is so great
that it can perceive the welcome fluid at
a great distance, possibly by scent, and
possibly by some instinct which is no!
shared by man. When the camels per
ceive water, nothing can hold them back
from it, and a wuole caravan will break
away from their drivers, rushing tumul
tously to the water. This wonderful
power is of the greatest value to the in
habitants, of the desert, who would have
known nothing of many a spring had not
their camels directed them towards the
water.
Another reason for its value is its abil
ity to eat and digest substances that no
other animal would touch. It does not
stop to eat on its journey, but lowers its
long neck and crops the scanty herbage
with which it may chance to meet.
The withered and dried leaves and
twigs which snap at a touch, and seem to
be utterly devoid of nutriment, are all de
voured by the camel, as also are the
branches of the thoin, bushes which
baffle any being but a camel. This ani
mal, however, has the roof of its mouth
defended by a hard cartilage, and can
eat the prickly banquet without the least
difficulty. It would thrive on the chips
and shavings of a carpenter's shop, and
has actually been fed on charcoal. So
abstemious, indeed is the .animal, that
camels have been known to traverse near
ly a thousand miles within twenty days,
having no food but that which they
gathered for themselves on tne journey.
It has yet another advantage namely,
the wonderful adaptation of its limbs to
the desert country in which it lives. Its
height enables it to carry its own head
and that of its rider at a considerable
distance lrom the ground, so that both
are sheltered from the heat that radiates
from the burning soil. Moreover, each
little breeze takes full effect at such a
height, and in that climate the least
breath of air becomes a luxury.
Farm Products.
Farmers, of all meD, have the least rea
son to throw themselves back on their
traces and say, we will do nothing, or as
little as we can and live. True, farm pro
ducts do not command war prices, and
no one expects to become suddenly rich
in these times from raising wool, or mak
ing butter, or fattening beef and pork,
but there is a steady demand for all kinds
of produce, and genera ly at remunerative
prices. Bread and butter are the essen
tials of life. The king himself is served
by the field. The profit of the earth is
for all." Farmers have a great advan
dage in this respect over merchants and
manufacturers. Fancy goods may be a
drug in the market, but who can live
without the p.oducts of the soil? All the
goldin California and all the silver in
Nevada will not suffice to Keep the souls
and body together unless exchanged for
bread and butter. There is no occupa
tion which is so sure of a return for labor
as agriculture. The risk of manufactur
ers and middlemen is threefold that of
farmers, but their enterprise is so great
that they seldom succomb to pressure till
it becomes crushing.Mass. Ploughmari
~"s irt "N* $
