The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-06 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN FRUIT CROP.

The last issue of Scribner's Monthly contains an in-
teresting account of a new American industry. The
extraordinary fecundity of the 'United States in the
matter of fruit is proverbial; but it may not be gene-
rally known that three million peach trees bloom every
spring on the sunny plains between the Delaware and
Chesapeake Bays. The details of the American fruit
ciop almost savour of romance. The apple crop of
the country is past counting; the surplus fruit, if
properly saved, would keep all Europe in table
luxuries. The birds on New Hampshire hills are
feasted with raspberries, the mountains of North
Carolina and Tennessee are purple with blackberries
which go to waste, and the time has been when an
extra good crop of peaches in Delaware has meant. a
million baskets of fruit untouched upon the trees. For
many years there was a great waste of fruit in the
States, but by a process now adopted a large per-
centage of the growth is saved and rendered useful.
Several of the Srates now produce sliced dried apples
and peaches, delicately coloured from light straw
to pale flesh colour. In Tennessee, North Caro-
lina, and Georgia are to be seen at the
farmsteads roads of boards tilted up to the sun,
and covered with sliced fruits. The first improvement
in drying fruit consisted of covering it with glass. The
fruit was put beneath sashes, in which holes were cut
to produce a current of air; the fruit was spread on
trays in the full sunlight, and the glass kept out the
rain, birds, and insects. Stoves succeeded to sashes,
and then came drying closets. But, best of all, is a
portable iron stove or drying machine, costing about
seventy dollars, and serving to dry all kinds of fruit in
a better manner than the wooden stove,. " A tire is
kept up in the fire-box at the base, and above it are
moveable shelves for apples, peaches, berries, corn,
grapes, or other fruits or vegetables. A constant
stream of hot air passes through the apparatus, sweep-
ing across the trays of fruit, and quickly extracting all
their moisture." In the level peninsula between
Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware peach trees stand
in rows a mite long, luxuriating in a warm and mellow
soil and a genial climate. There are forests of twenty
thousand trees standing in firm and stately lines. A
little has been done in the way of exporting dried
fruits to England and Europe; but judging from her
unparalleled yearly riches, America might do ranch
more in,this direction.—Evening Standard.

A 'grim PROPER SORT or GIRL.—One who objects
to wear " fast " colonrs.—Fun.

THE TRANSIT or MERCURY. --This occurrence was
carefully observed on the 7th of May at Melbourne
Observatory. No distortion was perceived in the
form of the planet as it neared the edge of the sun.
A few seconds, however, before interned contact a
small dark lone was thrown off from the planet, and
appeared to oscillate between the nearest edges of the
two bodies. This rendered the noting of the time of
internal contact rather difficult. The external contact
was well observed. Mr. Turner succeeded in getting
three photographs of the sun, by means of the photo-
heliograph, while Mercury was on the sun's disc. One
of these was taken almost at the moment of internal
eentact.

Vistellantaus flteltigotte,

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTES.—Mamma. "Not kiss
Professor Jackson, Lucy? Why not ? "—Lucy. "He's
got such a stubbly beard, mamma, and it pricks so !
Now, I don't mind Captain Thompson's moustache!
Do you ?"—Punch.
HISTORICAL OLD CLOTHES, &c. —ln a leader
noticing the sale of remarkable collection of antique
decorative furniture and pictures styled the "Gregory
heirlooms," which were sold a few days since by
Messrs. Christie, under directions from the Court of
Chancery—the one hundred and seventy-two lots
realising the sum of £2o,ooo—the Daily Telegraph
remarks :—" There is a great deal in historical old
clothes, and especially in old furniture, nevertheless.
The Coronation robes of George IV., which cost twelve
thousand pounds, his fur-collared frock coats and
white kid pantaloons, were sold, comparatively speak-
ing, for a song. The sale took place too soon after
his death. The wardrobe or the personal trinkets of
an English Sovereign who has been dead a couple of
centuries or so would fetch a rare price now-a-days ;
and experts in bric-d, brae might be puzzled to ap-
prise the value of the shirt worn by Charles I. at his
execution, and now in the possession of a noble English
family; of the velvet and gold bound Bible Vl hi c h the
Martyr is said to have pre‘ented to Bishop Juxon on
the scaffold; and of the silver clock-watch which he
undoubtedly gave as a last memento to zsir Thomas
Heibert. Such relics have an .extrinsic worth far
surpassing that of mere ' curios ; ' while, on the other
hand, there are a number of other things periodically
turning up in auction rooms which will always com-
mand large prices. principally for the reason that they
are very, very old."
DISASTERS AT SEA.—Twelve British and foreign
wrecks were reported during the past week, making
the total for the present year 694, or a decrease of
277 as compared with the corresponding period of last
year. The approximate value of property lost was
£125,000, including British .a 05,000.

'EARD ON 'ANPSTEAD 'EATII.—" And talk of our
bein' be'ind the French in general edication, why all I
can say is as it's the commonest thing in Paree, for in-
stance (over fust-class reatorongs, too, nand yer), to
see `Dinner' spelt with only one ' N ' ! "—Punch.
HORSE-SHOES.—The question whether horses should
or should not be shod is again under discussion, says
the Lancet. The proposition will crop up at intervals
until a rational view of the subject comes to be taken.
As a matter of physiological fitness nothing more in-
defensible than the use of shoes can be imagined.
Not only is the mode of attaching them by nails
injurious to the hoof, it is the probable, if not the
evident, cause a many affections of the foot and leg
which impair the usefulness and must affect the com-
fort of the animal. Whether horses could work on
our roads without some protection is another question.
We think it would be found that the natural structure
would adapt itself to any ordinary requirement.
Thera is, however, a wide difference of opinion upon
this point among authorities on horse management,
and the problem is not likely to be finally solved until
the experiment has been tried. There can be no
doubt as to the additional power of grasping road sur-
faces which would be secured, to the advantage of the
rider or driver and the relief of the horse, if shoes
were not used. Meanwhile we should like to see the
trial made. It should, however, be understood that
the experiment must be tried with colts that have
never been shod. This is an essential condition of the
test.

QUITE SATISFIED !—Just before the thunderstorm
on Sunday evening last, a man stepped into a tele-
graphic office and requested the privilege of talking
through the telephone with his wife, who was visiting
the manager's wife at a distant telegraph station (says
the Court Journal). The assistant manager granted
the request, and the man began operations. He
couldn't be prevailed upon to believe that it was really
his wife who was talking to him and she so many miles
away. He finally asked her to say or do something
known to themselves only, that he might be convinced
that it was she. Just then a rambling streak of light-
ning came on the wires, hitting the husband violently,
on his head, when he jumped to his feet and ex-
claimed, " I am satisfied: all correct."

THE CANAL BOATS ACT.—This Act, which came
into operation on Monday, provides for the separation
of the sexes and brings the cabins under the sanitary
laws of the county y, so as to prevent overcrowding
and the spread of infectious diseases. Regulations
recently issued by the Local Government Board re-
quire that all boats and barges should be registered,
marked, and numbered, and that there should be not
less than 60 cubic feet of free air space for each person
above the age of 12, and not less than 40 feet of space
for each child under the age of 12. The children are
brought under the educational laws by being deemed
residents in the place which the boat is registered as
belonging to.

FIVE-O.CLOCK (?) TEA—Mrs. Smith (who has just
met Mrs. Robinson). "It is such a long time since I
saw you. Will you not come and have five o'clock tea
with me to morrow ?—Mrs. R. Oh, with pleasure;
what time shall Ibe at your house ?—Mrs. S. "Any
time between six and seven o'clock."—Judy.
THE INDIAN FAMINE. —The periodical statement of
the Madras Relief Committee, under date of June Ist,
reports that most lamentable accounts are recerved
from the local committees and officers of Government
of ravages committed by locusts and grasshoppers.
Many ot these are young and in their wingless state,
which shows that the swarms reported some months
ago have bred— a contingency which was feared. The
Salem and Coimbatore distrivts are those most affected.
The authorities are using means to check the ravages
of those insect pees, but meanwhile serious and wide.
extending damage is being done. The reports from
the famine districts were satisfactory. In March last
the deaths in North Arcot were 4,723; South Arcot,
3,577; Bellary, 6,154; Chingleput, 1,3 6 ; Cuddapah,
5 747: Madras, 1,630; Madura, 2,280; and Salem,
4,486.

NlCE.—Bertie, aged seven (to auntie who has been
staying on a visit). I'm glad you're going to-day,
Auntie—Auntie: Are you, my dear—and why ?
liertie : Because Claude says you're sure to give us
something.— Judy.
AVERAGE PRICES OF' BRITISH CORN.—The follow-
ing are the average prices of British corn for the
week ending June 29, as received from the inspectors
and officers of Excise :—Wheat, 465. id. ; barley,
355. 2d. ; oats, 265. 10d. ; per imperial qr. Correspond-
ing week last year : Wheat, 625. 6d.; barley,
33E+. lid. ; oats, 28s. 9J.

THE GROSSER KIIRFURST.—A clause in the pension
regulations of the German navy provides that the widows
and children of officers and men who lose their lives
through the shipwreck of a man-of-war shall be en-
titled to the same pension as the widows and children
of those who are killed in action. The loss of the
Grosser Kurfiirst leaves only one officer's widow to be
provided for, and she will receive, it is stated by a Ger-
man paper, 900 marks, or about £45 annually for her-
self. and 150 marks, or £7 10s. education-money for
each child. Between 40 and 50 of the crew of the ship
were, however, married, and their widows will receive
monthly sums of from 15 to 27 marks for themselves,
and ni marks for each child. Any other relative of
any of the drowned men who was entirely supported
by the latter will also receive a monthly allowande of
10i marks.
WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS—. (A. FACT)
Master Tom: " I say Johnson, do you know what?
When I grow up I'm going to have you for my groom,
and a horse; this horse it's to he I"—Johnson : I'm
afraid he'll be rather an old 'orse by then, sir !
Master P.: "Ah 1 But we shan't tell him when it's
his birthday, so he won't know how to get old I"
Fun.

RESULT OF THE TEA SHIP RACE.—The Gleneagles,
Captain M'Bain, belonging to Messrs. H'Gregor
ant Co., has carried off the blue riband of this
interesting race. She arrived at Gravesend at 650
p.m. on Monday, thus accomplishing the distance in
the incredibly short space of 37 days, 1 hour and 40
minutes. She was fully laden, every available part
having been engaged by shippers. She brought about
two 'billion pounds weight of teas.

THE TURKS AND THE CONGRESS.—It must be
owned the Turkish Government is in a very painful
position (remarks The Times in a leader), it sees the
Powers taking upon themselves to re-organize the
Turkish Empire in Europe at theit discretion, and it
cannot but be mortified that every re-arrangement
should be such as to diminish its control over all but
the central portion of its old dominions. It is not
surprising to hear that a very uneasy feeling prevail
at Constantinople, and that fears are even enter-
tained of some popular movement against the Sultan
or his Government. It may be necessary or prudent
to take account of this danger. At the same time,
the Turkish Plenipotentiaries appears to have heard
some plain truths at the Congress which they
will do well to impress upon their Government
at Constantinople. It is due in the main to the
persistent misgovernment of the Porte that there
is any Eastern Questi,tn at all, and that Europe
has for the last two years been on the brink of war.
The Turks refused the July means of preserving their
empire in its full extent by rejecting the recommenda-
tione of the Conference of Constantinople; they pre-
ferred the risks of a war with Rusia • and the
consequence, BO far as the Treaty of San Stefano went,
was nothi, g less than the annihilatien of their
dominion in Europe and their subjugation to Russia.
The other European Powers have stepped in, at great
cost to themselves, to avert this fate from Turkey, to
restore to her a considerable portion of territory of
which the Treaty of San Stefano deprived her, and to
place a bar against Russian domination. It is in every
respect her interest to place herself in their hands, and
to make the beet of the position they agree in assign-
ing to her. Another war would be ruin to her, and
there is no escape from it, except a frank submission
to the decisions of the Congress.
A TOOTHSOME DISH.—A blind man cannot by any
effort of the imaginition conceive colour; nor can any
man alive conceive a haggis without having it sub-
mitted to the senses. It takes possession of the palate
—you forget for the time being all other tastes, Your
tongue feels enlarged in your mouth. It is more
fibrous; also more porous. There is a harmonious
call among tongue, palate, and insides of the cheeks.
Your very eyes have a gust; and your ears are some-
what dull of hearing trying to taste. The stomach
receives without effort and enjoys such delight that
you scarcely know when or how, or why you have
ceased to eat. You continue to eye the haggis-bag
with grateful affection, command the waiter to behave
kindly to it, and when it 14 removed follow it out of
the room with silent benedietion.—.trom, Scribner'
Mont h 4.

Ercaz-E FOR G/N6ER BEER.—In anticipation of the
warm weather, which I suppose we may now expect,
I send a most valuable recipe for ginger beer (says a
correspondent of the Liverpool Albion). It ha,s only to
be tried to be appreciated. It is most refreshing in
hot weather :—Boil 24 plots of.water ; when at boil.
jug point pour over the following ingredients : 2163.
loaf sogar, soz, cream of tartar, loz. bruised ginger,
two large lemons sliced very thin; add 2oz. of good
yeast; then strain and bottle, wire down the corks.
It will be ready for use next day. This quantity
costs only is. 5d., viz.: Sugar, best,9d. ; lemons, 2d. ;
ginger, id,; cream of tartar, 2id, ; yeut,id.—totaf,
la. bd.

THE MOSCOW CRUISER FUND.—The Emperor of
Russia has writt-n an autograph letter to Count
Sherernetieff thanking him for his recent donation of
100,000 roubles towards the Moscow Cruiser Fund.
The sum collected by the various committees in Bassi*
on behalf of the Cruiser Fund now amounts to
quarter of a million sterling.—All the officers of the
Russian Guards have given in their adhesion to *
auggestion for devoting 10 per cent. of their monthll
official salaries until further notice towards the objects
of the Moscow Cruiser Committee.—Whitehall Review.
Mr. ROZBUCE, M.P., AND THE WINE AND BEEO
TRADE.—Writing to the secretary of the Sheffield
Wine and Beer Trade Association, Mr. Roebuck,
M.P., says that it is unnecessary at this time of day for
him to express his views as regards the law relating to
the wine and beer trade. What they have been theY
still are, and he shall never add any further restric-
tions. The hon. member concludes, "I am no friend
of monopolies, and shall not pr 'mote a monopoly of
your trade or any other. Anything unfair to you I
shall oppose, but I think you unwise if you set your-
selves against what may prove a general benefit. I
feel sure you will not be injured by any new laws, and
let rue advise you as a friend to keep your mind earl',
and by all means avoid appearing in the character of
persons seeking for peculiar privileges. I want much
to see the report of the Lords, and I am not by anY
means sure that it will not he wise to put all person*
selling intoxicating liquors under the control of the
magistrates. This requires careful consideration."
WAYS OF WASHING THE FACE.—There are several
wrong ways of washing the face, and but one right.
Towel, flannel, sponge are all out of place where the
face is concerned. The hands only should be used.
Doctor Wilson's directions are :—" Fill your basin
about two-thirds full with fresh water; dip your face
in the water, then your hands. Soap the hands well,
and pass the soaped hands with gentle friction over the
whole face. Having performed this part of the opt ra-
don thoroughly, Gip the face in the wat.r a second
time, and rinse it completely, you may add very much
to the luxury of the latter part of the operation by
having a second basin ready with fresh water to pr.'
form a final rinse." But the care of the complexion
requires that not only the face, but the whole body
shall be daily subjected to the bath. The sponge bath
is, perhaps, the best, and the temperature of the water
must be regulated by the sensations of the bather, and
by the season of the year. No one deny the charm cd
clear, soft colour in the cheeks and lips—and it must
be an incorrigible complexion indeed that will not
yield to the measures that I have recommended.--•
Cassell's Magazine.

A STRANGE FEAT. —Guns are usually called fire
arms, but a gun which " kicks " should surely be
calk d a "fire-leg."—Fun.

STUDY IN CEYLON.—The Pali College, established
in Kandy by Sumangala Unnanse, the learned chief
priest of Adam's Peak, in Ceylon, has proved a greater
sincess than was at first expected. The numner of
students has now grown to eighty, who go through a
five years' course of Sanskrit, Pali, and Elu studies ;
and at the anniversary celebration on May 20 the
Governor of Ceylon personally distributed the prire
for the year. It is worthy of notice that the distin-
guished principal of the college, who is probably the
most influential member of the Buddhist Church in
Ceylon, distinctly prides himself on the college being
entirely unsectarian ; and two of the prizes were won
by Christian students. The aim of the supporters of
the college is to revive and perpetuate among the
native Singhalese a knowledge of the ancient litera-
ture of their island, which is now beginning to attract
so much attention in the West. We are glad to ens
that such an aim meets with the enlightened sup Port
of the Governor, and that the college funds are stip-
plemented by a Government grant.—Academy.
DEATHS FROM SUNSTROKE.—The excessive heat on
Friday (June 28th), on which day the thermometer
indicated 825 in the shade and 120 in the sun, caused
two deaths from sunstroke in Liverpool. A Shir
joiner, named Salisbury, after working at a ship In
dock, was returning home about half-past five, when
be fell down, and died soon afterwards in the Northern
Hospital. A child of two years and a half, named
Wm. Ballard, the son of a labourer, died suddenly on
Friday in convulsions, after being out in the sun with.
out any head covering.—An inquest has been held in
Walworth on Saturday, concerning the death of a
platelayer named Hays trope, employcd on the London.
Chatham, and Dover Railway. The witnesses stated
that when eni: aged at his work on Tuesday, he sud•
denly became ill, and while the other workmen Were
endeavouring to persuade him to go home he fell
down insensible. A doctor was sent for, but the man
soon afterwards ditd. The medical evidence showed
that the cause of tis death was sunstroke.—Several
other cases have been recorded.

HARI{ TO THE MERMAID'S SONG.—What is most
like a Manatee ?—Why, another man at dinner.-lU5h
AN IMPROVED TORPEDO.—CoIoneI Kovako, an en-
gineer in the Russian service, has taken out a patent
at zit. Petersburg for an improved torpedo susceptible
of the strictest accuracy in movement, and capable of
destroying an ironclad after traversing a distance of
four miles (sAys the Whitehall Review). A peculiaritl.
of the invention is that the torpedo has to be fired
either from a rifled gun or rocket tube, and thus ben
received the name of " Kovako'storpedo shell." Last
week experiments with the weapon took place on the
Neva in the presence of the Japanese Ambassador,
Admiral Enornoto ; and the technical journals of the
Russian capital, while refraining from giving anY
particulars of the trial, describe it as being eminentlY
successful; they also state that the Imperial Goverfl.
merit is going to appoint a naval commission to inquire
into the merits of the invention.

"IRON RATION S. "—The authorities have, with great
advantage, taken a leaf out of the book of the Germane
(says Vanity Fair). By a recent order it is directed
that there are to be held in readiness for issue to 1,1
regiment embarking for active service "iron rations
for two days' and "field rations" for one day's con-
sumption. These are to be kept stored at the cora'
mis,ariat depot at each station where a regiment be-
longing to the Ist Army Corps may be quartered.
The iron rations" are to consist of 21bs. of biscuits
and 21bs. of preserved meat. We imagine these are to
be issued to the troops in the event of a forced march
or a special detached duty, when the conimissariat
stores are not likely to be available. The " held
ratious" consist of 11b. of biscuit, 11b. of preserved
meat, 1-3 oz. of tea, 2 ozs. of sugar, 1-36 oz. of pep Pert
1-64 gallon of rum, ioz. of salt, and one day's oats for
the horses. This supply, as well as the " iron
rations," are to be carried by the regimental trans-
port, so that, should the commissariat fail on any 00'
casion to issue rations, the regiment will not starve.
INCONTROVERTIBLE. —When a proposal is set on foot,
what is the next thing ?—Taking steps to carry it out,
of course.—Judy.
AN AD VALOREM DUTY ON BEARS. —There are.‘_
taxes that cost more collect than they are worth'
We should think an ad valorem duty on bears must be
one of them. Two of these gentry, "big, educated'
but dissolute," have, it appears, been a source et
trouble to the New York Custom House since Satur-
day, when .they arrived in the City of Richmond,
under charge of two Frenchmen, who proposed to
make money by exhibiting their tricks in the'streete
of New York. Unfortunately for the peace of mind
of the rest of the Custom House, a too energetic
deputy collector spied the animals and their owners ae
they arrived at Castle Garden, and demanded that
the Frenchmen should pay a duty of 20 per cent.
upon the value of the bedsts. The Frenchmen had
no money, and when asked what their pets were worth
in open market, refused to appraise them, urging ths!
as they were not speculators in bear meat they collie'
not be expected to have such knowledge. So the
energetic collector seized the bears, which, after the/
had torn up a large space of the pavement in Castle
Garden, and consumed all the bread the Custoroe
officer thought was good for them to eat or him to buY,
he took them to a hostelry in Greenwich-street, con'
tracting for their board until he could procure an order
from his superiors as to their disposition. But the
Frenchmen had watched over their fourfooted friends,
and having procured some assistance entered the
boarding-house and took the animals away by force*
With the aid, however, of a Frenchman and a big dog,
the Customs officers in their turn traced the bears tCLA
wine shop in West Third-street, near South FUT.,'"
avenue, where it seems, they seized them again. The
brutes were at first loath to go with the inspectors,
but "having been bribed with ten loaves of bread d
two gallons of beer, they trotted in a besotted CO
tion after them." At the date of the latest advice; r
they were in custody at Castle Garden, where ther
will remain until the great question of the duty on
bears—and white elephants—shall have been authori-
tatively settled."—Evening Standard.
SEASONABLE REQUEST.—" Drink to me only N4rith
thine ice ! "—Punch. - -

SALMON CULTURE IN JAPAN.—Salmon culture ha!,
been introduced into Japan by the Government, so"
there is now a hatching and breeding establishment
on the banks of the Sagami River. The building,
the Japan Times tells us, are of the simplest charr
ter, consisting of a shed to cover the hatching trounigt
and a house, or rather hut, for the keepers:
water is supplied through bamboo ducts from
side rill, and after serving the troughs is discharge
into the rearing tank adjoining the hatching hoils._e•
The ova are procured from the Kanagawa River,
Mita, and although this is only the first year of tb
experiment, some 50,000 fry have been already Ph!eened
in the pools of the River Sagauui, and a correspell"'V
number were, in April last, in the rearing-tant;
shortly to be turned out as soon as they were b*,
enough to take care of themselves. Every care 1°
bestowed on the fry, even to the doctoring of the
sick and ailing, and nearly all of them were then
1:111
thriving condition. Moreover the Government b_n,
not
,been unmindful of - the protection of the Yeti"
even after they had lsft the tanks and had bee°
turned out into the pools, as all fishing had bee°
stopped for two Months.
THE FUTURE OF THE TELEPHONE.—Mr. Ed„,tgiti:
the inventor of the phonograph writes, in the
American Review, in a tone of proper enthusiasm
the future of his instrument, which is to absorb all thl
functions of the photograph and the telegraph,
transform them into -something transcending
wiliest dreams. We are to have "books of 40,17,
words upon a single metal plate ten inches squoe
songs "reproduced with marvellous accuracy ell
power ;" "a doll which may speak, sing, laugh, orc rl,.
may be safely promised our children for the Christer;
holidays ensuing ;" and " it will henceforth be pess„juso
to preserve for future generations the voices as wefi.„,.
the words of our Washingtons_, our ipLincolna,
' th vi
Gladstones, &c., and to have them give us
greatest effort' in every town and hamlet Ml e
country, upon our holidays."
•
A TREE IN A TRANCE.—The trunk of a tree, with:
out roots or branches, has been known to strike root
and grow luxuriantly after being in a dried state r
several years; at least, so says the Dutch horticultilT,t
Journal Siebe/dia / The tree had been sent from
Cape of Good Hope to Amsterdam, and thrown "T.
an outhoue; thence to Leyden, where it was ee
afl
consigned to limbo; and after that it was plaiTted,.
is now said to be one .of the finest specimens 01,ra
kind. The Journal of Forestry speaks of this as,
tree in a trance," which is a very suggestive headlD,g_
If there is any truth in the story, however, those o!
want to adorn .their grounds with ready-roade tvi r
re
had better take the hint. If the trunk of a tree
ben _cell!
grow fresh roots and a fresh top the!' let no mall
forward !bother kicaaelf with seedliage.—AW4