Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, July 2, 1898, Page 6

CHAPTER II. (Continued) Within a week Derek had mig to London, nominally to read with a famous Bayswater saw about once in a fortnight); in real- to plunge, as deeply as his limited poc deadly vortex of West-end life, into which so many hurl themselves and from which so very few ever emerge. Unfortunately for him, too, he knew scarcely any young men of the good nd, as a consequence, drifted in- to very doubtful society from the very outset. Indeed, he was in a fair way to become indissolubly associated with billiard-sharpers, racing-touts, bar-loaf- ers and “botinders” generally, when fate threw his cousin, Stephen Deane, across his path. ‘They became acquainted by the mere accident of both being customers of the same hatter, in whose shop they hap- pened to be at the same time. Struck by the identity of the names, the ha ter informed Stephen Deane that his youthful patron was the son and heir of Sir Derek Deane, of Deanshurst. To a man of the world like Stephen {then in his thirtieth year, and a bar- rister of the Middle Temple) this hint quite sufficed to justify the few words of explanation and the exchange of cards which followed. Within five minutes he was conveying his youth- ful kinsman to luncheon at Cavoutr's, and, in the course of the repast, had pumped him pretty dry as to the state of affairs at Deanshurst and his own mode of life in London. Ait may be remarked that the sickly- fovking child of ten had grown into a singularly-handsome man—of the aqui- line nose, black moustache, pale-faced type—who was , moreover, one of the best-dressed elegants in the West-end. Country-bred Derek was, y enough, not a little impr new-found cousin’s faultless appear- ance and somewhat proud of being in his company. “Have club ye you found your way into aj inquired Stephen, towards the close of his ¢ ex: “Oh, ss!’ was the re a member of the Aspasia and of the Fanstinian; we have lots of fun there.” t you do,” assented his cou- “But I'm not speaking of “I ex sin, drily. “supper clubs.’ “Well, I'm not a member of the Carl- ton,” laughed Derek, “if that’s what you mean. The others are good enough fcr me.” ‘How old are you? “Not quite. Ne Twenty?” birthday. I say, «ome round to my rooms after lunch, will you. I’ve got some rattling good igars, and I expect a couple of real ps to drop in presently.” t, my dear boy,” replied Ste phen; “‘but if you'll meet me, sa the Burlington Arcade, at seven, w go and dine somewhere tozether.” “All right,” assented Derek, “I'll be there.” And with this understanding they parted. Stephen Deane had ample subject matter for reflection that afternoon. The ill-mannered, uncouth cub whom he had lunched was the heir of a very old man, to a baronetey, Deanshurst, and ,000 a year. Title and wealth! Failing this loutish b then Oscar ¢ame next in the succession; and, if Oscar died heirless, he, Stephen would succeed him. ‘Tyo lives (he scarce heeded the old man’s) between him and all that he, most craved for in this world. Yes, just two lives. One, that of a young fad. begotten out of spite; the other, that of his own brother. What were his chances against these two lives Small, he told himself, but b; means hopeless. A hoy who, at nine- teen, belonged to twé night clubs, and never counted his whiskies and sodas, was not likely to cumber the earth very long. Oscar, as the result of an unsuccess- ful ilove affair years before, had joined a West India regiment, and was ; then upon his way home, invalided and wofully broken down in health. Rumor had it, moreover, that he had ‘become hopelessly addicted to drink. He, therefore, did not appear to be a wery formidable obstacle in his broth- ers path. Stl, either or both of them migit itve ; for many years to come, or might die, leaving male issue. So that Stephen! Deane was not far from the treth when he told himself that his own hance was small, but not hopeless. And the question that henceforth en- ; grossed his thoughts was whether something might not be done to assist ‘that chance, small though it was. Me was, as has been stated, a barris- ‘ter by profession, but he had never put any heart into his work, and had not held half a dozen briefs in as many: years. He had dabbled in literature, -and his name was not unknown to ed- itors ef scciety journals and the light- er class of magazines; but his earn- | ings from this source had never suf- ficed to pay his cabs and cigars. Yet he occupied a luxuriously-furnished | set of chambers, always appeared to | be well supplied with h, and in- dulged in a distinctly-expensive style of living. His mother, with three unmarried, undowered daughters upon her hands, | had very properly refused to tax het imeome on his behalf since his call to the bat. How, then, had he contrived to present so. brave a front’to the | world? How do hundreds of other men, similarly cireumstanced, contrive to do the same thing? Simply by study- ing ‘mankind, and by carefully cultivat- ing such money-making talents as he possessed, without being over-s et-money would allow, into the | 25 any game of mere chance. He occa- rated | Sionally plunged on a hot favorite for a classic race, but he never backed an ach” (whom he | outsider. And he could get a friend (with good expectations) out of a finan- cial serape more quickly than any rent of them all. If to these varied gifts there should be added an irreproachable exterior, a well-bred manner and studied tact in the important detail of daily current expenditure, it will cease to be a mat- ter of any great surprise that Stephen | Deane should have kept so well to the front in the scramble called Life. At 7 o'clock he strolled into the Bur- lington Arcade, his mind fully made up as to the line he should follow with respect to his newly-found cousin. Presently he encountered him, looking somewhat flushed and excited, and talking volubly to an_ over-dressed young woman, who had taken his arm. “Halloa!” ‘claimed Derek. ‘There you are, eh? Let me introduce .... Why, hang it all, what's the matter with the fellow?” he concluded, staring blankly at Stephen, who, with the curtest possible nod of recognition, and without a moment’s hesitation, had passed them by. “If that chappie is a friend of yours,” remarked the damsel, irately, “you can tell him for me that he’s a stuck-up, bloomin’ fraud!” “I'll ask him what the deuce he means by it, anyhow!” vowed Derek, disengaging himself from her arm and hurrying off in pursuit. In a very few curt, plain words, Stephen enlightened him. ‘To be seen walking here with a girl dressed like that hooked on to your arm, is utte! bad form,” he explained. “Take ™ advice and keep that sort of thing for thé Aspasia.” J‘or a moment Derek seemed disposed to resent this criticism, and muttered something about doing as he pleased. Put the stronger will of the elder man prevailed, and he accompanied him, submissiv: enough, to the Monico, where they dined. om that hour the youthful heir ed wholly under the dominion of his cousin, whom he found to be by no mea a harsh Mentor. Subject to some sort of respect for outward ap- pearances, he rather encouraged than otherwise to “go the pace” as fast as he chose. When his funds ran short, Stephen obligingly sent him to a mon- ey-lender, who, despite the fact that he under age, was willing to discount post-obits—for a consideration. When he and certain other young blcods of his acquaintance, greatly-dar- ing in their cups, got into an alterca- tion with the police at 3 a. m., which landed them all in a police station, who but Stephen (promptly notified by a cabman) hastened to release his im- prudent kinsman from durance yile, and contrived to keep the affair out of court?) Derek, in short, came to regard him a veritable ark of refuge in all hi ‘s and difficulties, and re- yered him above all men. Such was the position of affairs late in July, 1891, when Oscar Deane ar- rived in London from Jamaica. Hith- er he had benefited wonderfully by the homeward voyage, or report had exaggerated the condition of his liver, for, albeit, obviously not in robust health, he was by no means the wreck his brother had expected to see. In appearance—that is, feature for feature—he was not unlike Steplen, though built upon a larger scale. But there all resemblance ended. A more thoroughly-honorable, straight-going, and high-principled man than Major Deane never held the queen’s commis- sion. He was merely passing through London upon his way to Cheltenham, and consequently saw but little of Der- ek; nor did that little impress him fa- yorably. “That boy is simply going to the dogs,” he told Stephen, in his blunt, soldierly w: “His father must be mad to allow him to run loose, at his age, in thé West-end.” “Mad?” echoed Stephen. “He’s as mad as a March hare, and has refused to get up for years past, because of h some idiotic prediction that no Deane of Deanshurst would ever die in his bed.” “Unless and until the estates are squandered away,” corrected Oscar, with a laugh. “Jsn’t that the legend? Well, I fancy this youngster will make. short work of them as soon as he gets the chance.” “You take it very coolly, considering you come next en the list,” remarked his brother, impatiently. “Oh! by tue way, Derek has screwed permission out of the old man to bring down a small party, half a dozen or so, for a few weeks’ shooting, next month. [ am rather curious to see the place, and intend to accompany him. There can be no possible objection to your going, too, if you care about.” “Oh! I'd enjoy the shooting vastly,” rejoined Oscar, “and, like yourself, I shovld like to see Deanshurst, but 1 don’t quite like the idea of going there without an ‘invitation .from Sir Derek hiniself.”” . j “Nonsense!” retorted Stephen. “The old crank never invites anybody; he leaves that to the boy. -And surely we, as his nephews, have a better right to be there than young Derek’s not-com- panions.” ; “Well,” laughed the soldier, “do you go down with Derek first, to ‘spy out the land,’ and, if you write me that all's well. I'll follow, later on, I must pay my first visit to Cheltenham, you know ” : “All right,” assented his brother. “I’ve got the eub fairly well in hand crupu- | how, and I think I'll be able te manage dJous in putting them to profitable ac- | the old wolf, too, when I see him.” «ount. He could more than hold his own “You always @vere the ‘clever’ boy, Steph,” said Oscar, good-humoredly. against rine billiard-markers out of eyery ten He was an expert in whist | “I shall count upon your tact to secure 4 ATTAIN EO roof. bs CHAPTER Hr, In Bramham Woods. Thanks to Stephen Dean's restraining Hirst by the unexceptionable charac- ‘ter of its members. “Gentlemen, ev- ery one of ’em,” was his prompt ver- dict, when questioned by his cantank- erous old master. ‘Not an outsider in the lot. There’s two _honorables, captain in the Guards—” “Never mind them!” broke in Sir Deek, testily. “What is that nephew | of mine like?” “A quiet, nice-spoken gentleman enough,” said the butler, mindful of a five-pound note which Stephen had al- ready seen fit to slip into his hand. “Master Derek swears by him, and, in- deed, he seems to take the lead amoung the lot of ’em.” “Umph!” growled the baronet. “I erpect he takes after his vixen of a mother. He has a brother, hasn’t he? Why isn’t he here, too?” | “I understand from Master Derek | that Major Deane is coming next week, sir,” was the reply. “It seems he has ; recently returned on sick leave from the West Indies, and is staying with his mother at Cheltenham.” “Send Master Dereck here” com- manded the old man, “at onec, do you hear?” In obedience to this mandate, Derek lost no time in presenting himself by his father’s bedside. “How d’ye do, sir,” was his greeting. “Hirst tells me you wish to see me.” “Just to tell you this,” said Sir Der- ek, without even a gesture by way of welcome. “I don’t mind your haying your two cousins here amongst your friends. But I won't have their moth- er or sisters here at any price. Un- derstand that, clearly.” “Who on earth ever dreamt of invit- ing them?’ queried the heir, with fine scorn. “Not I. You .may wager all your loose money about that. And I’m jolly sure Steph don’t want them mooching about the place. By the way, sir, Steph asked me to tell vou he’s most anxious to pay his respects to you at your earliest convenience. Those were his very words.” “I'm quite sure they’re not yours,” growled Sir Derek. “Umph! Tell him I'll see him one of these days, and.... see here....you may add that he is welcome to Deanshurst.” “I suppose I'd better tell the other fellows that, also, hadn’t 1?” suggested the lad, with a grin. ‘Not that it mat- ters much you know; but it seems the | ht thing to do, don’t it? And, by the} way, sir, I wish you would speak to Hirst about the wine. He fobbed us off with a Medoc at lunch, utterly un- fit for men with palates.” “Did he?” sneered the old :an. “Then, if I were you, I’d stick to beer, unless you can persuade him to give you Chateau Margaux at 1 o’clock in the day. It wasn’t done in my time, boy.” “Stingy old fossil!” muttered Derek to himself, as he retreated from the pa- ternal bedroom. “It’s that confounded butler puts him up to this, just to force a fellow to tip him into serving decent liquor.” Hirst had spoken truly in describing Stephen Deane as having taken the lead amongst all the other guests; in- deed, he had practicalls relieved his cousin of all trouble and responsibility as host, with the latter’s full cozcur- rence and approval. Nay, when the hour arrived for the first interview with his unele, he even succeeded in extending his influence within the pre- cincts of the bed chamber. He was far too astute a man to toady the morose old baronet. Omthe contrary, he adopt- ed a blunt, almost brusque manner, to which Sir Derek had long been @ stranger, and whick had in it a very plausible ring, indeed, of honesty and , independence. As yet he had no very definite object im view with respect to the old man; but whatever >lans. might subsequently suggest them+ selves, it was clearly good policy tw produce as fayorable an impression as possible. September was a week old, and partridge-shooting was in full swing, when Oscar Deane arrived to do his. share in the work of destruction. He Was a very general favorite wherever he went, and was speedily upon ex- cellent terms with the rest of the par+ ty, excepting only his youthful host. ‘The lad took it into his head that his soldier cousin regarded him as a mere boy, and he resented it, as only a shal} low, vindictive nature can resent am imaginary slight. He was quite satisfied to defer to Stephen in almost everything, because the latter had a happy knack of hu moring his inclinations while he guid- ed his course of action. But if good- natured Oscar ventured to suggest that midnight whiskies-and-sodas were ; searcely the best tonics in the world | for the nerves of so youthful a sports- , man, Derek would glare at him, as! though thirsting for his blood. And once, when he quietly reproyed the lad for handling his gun with dangerous j carelessness, an altercation ensued | which, but for the Major's forbearance, might have ended in blows. | “If Iwere you, Deane, I’d leave the ! young eub severely alone,” remarked the Hon. Dick Faucett. “Advice is simply thnown away on him, and he’s as vicious as a dog-rat.” “I shall certainly give him a wide: | berth in future when-he is scrambling through a hedge with his gun at full- cock,” replied the Major. “And he seems to have taken such a violent dis- like to me, I shall cut short my stay down here.” “Oh! hang it all, don’t do that!” pro- tested the Hon. Dick. “The idea of; giving up the best shooting in Hamp- shire, just because you don’t hit off with that cheeky young whelp. is too absurd. ’Pon my word, I believe a good, sound thrashing would be the best thing for him.” “Perhaps so,” assented Oscar, smil- ing; “but then, you see, he’s the Son of the House after all, and I am prac- tically more IM6 guest than that of his bedridden father.” Stephen was plainly annoyed when Oscar informed him of his intended de- parture, though he admitted that, in the ' me my share of the Deanshurst part- and piquet, but he rarely engaged in , "dges.” ‘ face of Derek’s avowed hostility, no begged him, however, somewhat ear- Fate worked to bring all | nestly, to postpone his going for a cou h es beneath the ancestral | ple of days. “Why?” demanded Oscar. “Surely I had better avoid all possibility of any further unpleasantness by clearing out at once? My temper is not quite an- gelic, you know.” “Well, stay on, say, two days longer, just to save appearances,” explained influence over Derek, the latter's] Stephen. “I'l ‘ | shooting party considerably surprised fie iat pee es Pere enayes “I don’t quite see your point,” said Oscar; “but have it your own way.” Stephen accordingly circulated a 1u- mor that his brother was unexpectedly ordered to report himself at headquar- 4) ters for medical examination; and al- though no one (except possibly the old baronet, who cared nothing whether his elder nephew stayed or went) be- lieved the tale, it answered the pur- pose.for which it was invented. Now, the house-party numbered eight guns, and the nature of the ground to be shot over favored the arrang nt generally known as shooting in pairs. This, naturally enough, engendered a certain amount of rivalry as to which couple should secure the heaviest bag, and, in order to equalize chances, part- nerships for each day were decided by lot. There being no open, avowed rupture between the cousins, no sne- cial precaution was taken to keep Os- car and Derek apart, and Fate profited by the opportunity to throw them to- gether upon the eve of Oscar's pro- posed departure. A slight feeling of awkwardness was evident when the result of the craw- ings was made known, but it was too delicate a matter for open comment. Faucett, indeed, hinted pretty, strongly to Stephen (who superintended the drawings) that he ought to have pre- vented the contretemps by substitut- ing his own name for Oscar's. “How could I, without cheating?” protested Stephen, virtuously. ‘“Be- sides, Derek knows that Oscar is leay- ing to-morrow, and has promised me to keep quiet.” The weather, which had been warm and bright in the forenoon, turned out wet and bleak towards evening; and. as not unfrequently happens under such circumstances, the sportsmen be- came scattered, seeking shelter or b ing the elements, according to in ual taste. Stephen, who was keexly sensitive to personal discomfort, soon deserted his partner, Faucett, in favor of a farmhouse, where he remained un- til a cessation of the rainfall afforded him a chance of returning to Deans- hurst with a dry skin. And, by way of extra precaution against a wetting, he elected to return by a somewhat circuitous route, through what were known as Bram- ham Woods. He had given up all thought of partridges for that day, re- lieving the monotony of his solitary walk by an occasional crack at a rab- bit. He was still a couple of miles dis- tant from home when the sound of voices, proceeding from some spot to the left of the narrow pathway he was following, struck his ear. He stoppea and listened attentively. An angry discussion was clearly in progress, and in the sharp, querulous tones of one of the voices he at once recognized that of Dereck. Nor was he long im convincing himself that the other disputant was his brother Oscar. Stephen Iistened for some time witn- out stirring, and, from the =ervous twitching of his lips, seemed undecid- ed how to act. That a quarrel, per- haps a serious quarrel, bad arisem be- tween these two armed men. already on bad terms with each other, was ob- vious; and, given the hasty, vicious temper of the younger of the twain, it was quite on the cards that this quar- rel might end badly. Stephen realized this thoroughly, and that his plain duty was to step im be- tween them without an instant’s de- lay. But duty was rot usually the guiding principle of liis comduct, where it clashed with self-interest. He could not make up his mind whether interfer- ence or abstention woeyld the better suit his own book; and,. therefore, he hesitated. Louder and angrier rose the voices, until at length either lis: better nature or curiosity to hear the words syeken gained the day, and lie cautiously ad- vanced toward the spot whence they proceeded. Favored by the thick un- fergrowth, he was enabled, unseen, un- heard, to creep within a few feet of the small, open space where his broth- er and Derek stood’ confronting: each other, “It's worse than: useless. to prolong this discussion,” Oscar was saying, with obviously forced calmness. “The simple fact is. that you have been priin- ing yourself from your whisky-flask all day, and are new bent upor trying my patience to the utmost limit. Well, you have reached it; I warn you of that!” “I don’t cane two straws for you, or your warning, either!” retorted Derek, defiantly. “And if you want my straight opinion about you—” “{ don’t!” interrupted the Major, sternly. “And if you are wise, you will leave it wasaid, lest I forget that you are merely an insolent boy and thrash you within an inch of your life!” As he spoke, he turned, half-con- temptueusly, on his. heel; and Derek, apparently goaded to madness by these words, instantly dealt him a murderous blow upon the head with the stoek of his gun, which stretched him senseless on the sward. Was it impulse alone, or an instant- aneously-conceived, diabolical design which, a moment Tater, sent Stephen's weapon to his shoulder, and the con- tents of the right barrel. at the dis- tance of a few paces, into the treacher- ous lad’s heart? He, to whom all things are known, alone knows; and we are bidden not to judge. But, what- ever Stephen’s initial motive, he very quickly realized the possible cozse- quences of his action as concerned him- self. A very brief examination satisfied him that both were dead. He coul de- tect no signs of life in Oscar, whose skull appeared to have been shattered by the force of the blow. Derek’s breast, in the region of the heart, was mangled as though by grape-shot, at such close range. And the facts were that Derek had killed Oscar, and that he, Stephen, had shot Dereck. (To be Continued.) * It is said that excessive tea-drinking among FARM ANR GARDEN. MATTERS OF INTEREST TO AGRICULTURISTS, Some Up-to-Date Hints About Cul- tivation of the toll and Yields ‘Thereof—Horticulture, Viticulture and Floriculture, Traizing Grapes Horizontally. E. G. Lodeman, in Department of Ag- riculture Report: Medoc espalier, or the low horizontal system of Bordeaux, France, is one which gives excellent results upon cer- tain light soils of that famous region. The stem of the vine is not more than ten or twelve inches in height (see il- lustration), and at its summit are two short arms with spurs. The canes are cut back each year to one or two buds, and the shoots which grow from these are trained horizontally, one or two on each side of the stem, to a strip of Wood or to a wire which extends along the rows at a distance of only 15 or 18 inches from the ground. A post is or- dinarfly placed midway between the adjoining vines of the same row, and the horizontal supports are fastened to them. When the shoots have grown so long that they reach these posts, the growing tips are pinched off; this forces many of the axillary buds of ‘he shoots into growth, and when these laterals have grown about a foot they are in turn pinched back, so that the fruit may receive as large a supply of sap as possible. The instruments used for this summer pruning may be an ordinary knife, pruning shears, or some other convenient tool; a sickle- shaped blade is very often used in France, -especial!y for cutting the up- eT right standing laterals. In the Medoc espalier the grapes are borne near the ground, and this is supposed to have a beneficial effect upon the quality of the fruit; the temperature surrounding the berries is said to be higher, both in the daytime and at night, than is the case with grapes borne upon high- er trellises. Some of the finest and most expensive wines of Europe are produced from grapes grown in this careful and painstaking manner, for the ylelds per acre from such vines are not very large. This system is also employed upon soils which require larger trellises, but the general plan remains the same. ee © The Annis System.—Probably the system which is adopted in Annis, Lower Charente, France, brings the shoots nearer to the ground than re- sults from any other horizontal train- ing. The canes are each year cut back severely, and as they are borne upon branches that rest almost upon the sur- face of the suil the 1ew growths start from a very low elevation. These shoots are not tied upright, but they spread out horizontally, occupying a circular @rea which may be frum 3 to 5 teet in diameter. As a rule they are not supported. so. as to: keep the foliage and fruit above the surface of the sail; and they have, therefore, sprawléd in all directions. In certain seasons such treatment is followed. by serious injury to the fruit, and. many losses have re- sulted. ‘the system has little ta rec- ommend it, except the almost total ab- sence of labor as regards training, Concerning. Millet. The value of millet lies mainly in the fact that it can be sown late in. the season and. will mature quickly and furnish a large quantity of fod- der, says Country Gentleman. Lf some- what late in the season it is found that the corn crop is a failure or that the meadows are not going to give enaugh returns to pay for cutting them, the land may: be plowed and sown to mil- let. It must not be sown until danger from frost is passed. Where corn can be grown it will produce a larger quantity of valuable material per acre than will millet, but where for any reason it becomes necessary to make use of some catch crop to increase the fodder preduction then millet may be used to advantage. If properly grown and properly fed, it will. produce no injurides results. It has been strongly condemned by some, who say it will kill animals. and is not fit for food. There is no doubt that many animals have been killed by feeding millet. The fault, however, was not so much with the millet as with the feeder. The first care must be taken in growing the millet. Seleet a warm, porous, fertile soil. Sandy or sandy loam soils where sufficiently fertile give the best results, Prepare the land well, and if the soil is a clay see that it is thoroughly pul- verized. Sow the seed after frosts are over, harrow in lightly and roll. The common millet and Hungarian grass require about one-half bushel of seed per acre, German millet three pecks per acre. lt should be sown alone and will thoroughly occupy the soil if it succeeds. Millet is a very exhaustive erop to the soil. It is a gross feeder and draws heavily on the available plant food of the soil. It is: frequently used, especially German. millet, where it is desired te smother out some foul weed which has fixed itself in the land. As a soiling erop to cut and feed green. millet possesses considerable value, For hay it should be cut when the seed is yet soft, for if permitted to ripen seed the quantity of wood fiber is in- creased, and the danger to animals feeding on it is also greater. Millet hay is best used as a part feed in com- bination with other fodders, Spraying should be undertaken wherever possible. A healthy tree may onty remain healthy if it be sprayed. Wire fences are the most. service- , other course seemed open to him. He | {he,humbler classes rE pple ale prone bine | It has been shown by 1 midway between the milk and the dough—that means, that milk which is found on squeezing young kernel must be considerably thickened, and at the same time not thick enough’ so that the substance which issues by the same pressure is like dough, says: Pacific Rural Press, There is naturally some difference of opinion ,among growers on this subject, it is @ matter which may not be definitely settled by description, but must be de- termined by judgment and experience. Probably the people you have consult- ed differ rather in their description than in their conception of the state cr condition which they wish to de- scribe. If the grain is cut too early— that is, when the kernel contains-noth- ing but milk—part of the nutritive sub- stance is lost, because the straw has not reached sufficient maturity; on the) other hand, if it is left until the kernel; becomes like dough, too much of the nutriment has gone to the grain. The secret of success lies in taking it just. midway between these two extremes— that is, when the plant has taken all) that it can from the soil and at the same time has not transferred the nu- triment to the kernel and hardened the tissue of the straw. It is unquestion- ably true that most hay is cut a little too late; and that greater weight and greater amount of nutriment can be obtained by cutting a little earlier than is usually done. In the case of barley! it is also desirable to cut a little ear- lier than wheat, because as the plant matures the beards become stiffer and more likely to injure stock in feeding. Early Marketed Sheep. As it is no objection against lambs sent to market under a year that they have not been castrated, there is no reason why this operation should be performed on them, says an exchange. It is even a question whether it would not be best to market all the male sheep, while lambs, and under a year old, and so get rid of this extra work and risk. A two-year-old wether is not so profitable as a ten-month-old lamb. Under present conditions of the live stock business, the earlier any animal goes to market the more money it brings to the seller for the expense of rearing it. The wether is now a thing of the past, if we are to consider the profit of it after having been fed two winters. The most profi able sheep now is that which has never known what a winter’s snow or cold ia, and goes to market the same year it is. born. If horned cattle are the most salable at two or three years old, sheep should be the same under one year of age. Then we may no longer run the risks, or go to the labor of cas- trating the male lambs. Poisoning Grasshoppers and: Lo- custs.—The United States consul in Erzerum calls the attention of farmers in the United States to some experi- Natal in poisoning the locusts which so often devastate those regions. The preparation is made by mixing one pound of caustic potash with boiling water, and as soon as the soda is dis- solved adding one pound of arsenic. | Care must be taken that the fumes be not inhaled. Half a gallon of this is. then mixed with four gallons: of. water and ten pounds of sugar. The stuff is then splashed by use of a white-wash brush on any herbage visited by the locusts. The insects eat the poisonous. compound and die. American Corn in English Bread— During the last three years the use of maize in the English wheat loaf is. said to have been commenced on an extensive scale, and there are alarm- ists who assert that fully 5 per cent of our loaves is now maize. It is a fact that the maize meal, though for the most part not quoted. either by milling or baking journals, has a very large and steady szle, a fact, too, that. many mills have been adapting their machinery to grinding it. The first point that would seem to call for at- tention is the large increase in the maize imports, combined with a main- tenance of former totals for imports of barley, oats and oilseeds.—Farmer and Stockbreeder. Salting Cows Regularly.—Now that cows are turned out to pasture, eare should be taken to give them regular supplies of salt. The best way is to place some rock salt im a_ sheltered place where they can lick it at will. Some salt is found by analysis in milk. It is a curious faet that so long as the calf’s food is chiefly milk it has no craving for salt. This craving: begins when the calf begins to eat grass and other vegetables, all of which require some salt ta aid im their digestion. Cows that are salted only irregularly give less milk than they should, and what they do give furnishes cream that is difficult to churn.—American Cultivator. Possible Strawberries.—A certain grower of strawberry plants says that he expects within ten years to grow strawberries as large as Pineapples, ‘We do not know how small he has seen pineapples, but we have seen water- melons that were not as large as some strawberries. But, seriously, we think the size of the berries we seeq yw is sufficient, and hope some one Will try to improve the quality instead of try- ing to increase the size. If we hava got to slice our strawberries to eat them it will seem to be a nuisance. And most of the very large varieties we have seen were not the equal in flavor of the smaller sorts.—Ex. Pigs killed by Salt——One of the neighbors recently lost two fine brood sows from giving them too much salt. The new man was told to salt the sows, and put two or three handfuls of salt in each trough, The next morning both sows were head. Too much salt lg death.to plgs.—Ex, 4 the time to cut cereals for hay feeder { La ai ia gs eer