The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-09-12 00:00:00

IMPORTANT TO CORN GROWERS.

Certain agronomists are of opinion that there is a great
advantage in reaping corn before its complete maturity,
when the grain is still in a milky state, because than
it is more yellow, larger, and heavier, and does not so
easily fall out of the ear during harvest operations :
moreover, the straw is then better for cattle. M.
Isidore Pierre, Professor of Chemistry at Caen, has
endeavoured to ascertain by direct experiment whether
there was any sufficient foundation for this belief. He
accordingly cut from the same field a certain quantity
of ears en the 6th. 11th, 15th, 200, and 25th of July,
each time operating on equal surfaces of ground. The
grain gathered on the fith was in a state of rapid
increase, while that of the 25th was perfectly ripe, and
in course of reaping that very day. The result was,
that in a state of perfect dryness the first lot was to
the second an 15 to 27, the other lots being of course
intermishate between the two. Taking the hectare as
the unit of surface, M. Isidore Pierre arrives at this
conclusion —That, during the three weeks preceding
the harvest, a crop of wheat will experience an average
daily increa.e of one hectolitre, the weight of the
latter being 81 kilog. Hence, for every day corn is
reaped earlier than the period of full maturity, there
is a loss represented by a 20 franc piece or thereabouts
per hectare. Ch) mically considered, the grain that
has not arrived at full maturity contains less nitrogen
and more phosphoric acid than when ripe ; that is, it
will be issuer in amylaceous matter and in gluten. It
may, therefore, be admitted that if, as indeed is the
vase, a certain loss in experienced by the falling out of
the grain from the ears in reaping corn arrived at
maturity, this is amply compensated by an increase of
weight and nutritious matter.

, ... „
. with ,: v nt,,i sood temper. Mere intellectual
tare, hos. ever valuable it may be inc itself, does
s reach to the asith of tidy knot flower;
tllO Lille &MUIR of 000155 is the hows, awl her way of
• S•ringlier domestic life the best test of her faculties, niece
sSleCtual culture slot, not help in this ; and, in fact, is
L. to a hindrance rather thaisa help. What good is there in
's wife hieing an asesinfolisheol inathoseatiehtio, a sound
'tar, a first-rate limas-tam a deeplyrea.l theologian, if she
: out keep the accounts squire, knows lostbieg of the
.•sogement of children, lets herself he eito.ate.l loy the
~.1-vants and the tradespeople, has mot her ej es opened too dirt
tin,! Ms, order, awl gives way to a lietful tempt roil the smallest
provocation ? The malty foul who spends half her time in
trying ooto new dresses and studyiug the elfeet of coheirs, and
who howas nothing beyond the last ilea. novel and the latest
Oats • fastoioes. is net a more disastrons wife than the
WOllOlll of profonad learning whose education. 101 S taught her
uothiug practical. 'they stand at the opposite mein of the
same stick, atoll neneer end gives a time position of
women. liodeol, if I cue must have a fool in one's house, the
pretty one aotild be she toot, as, at the least. 'leas-ant to look
which is solactlinos gained. The intellectual fool, with
her head always is boaki mid "questions," and her children
Mopping off like sheep fsr the wood of womanly care, is
samethiug, more than flesh and blood con tolerate. The
pretty fool cannot help herself. If nature was but a step-
mother to her, and left out the best part of her wits while
taking such especial care of her face, it is iso fault of hers ;
but the intellectnal fool is a case of maladministration of
powers, fur which she alone is responsible ; anol in this
particular alternative between beauty and brains we would
go in b or beauty witland a shadow of doubt.
Ball-rooms and dinner-tables are the two places where
certain women most shine. In the ball-room Helm is the
queen, and has it all her own way, without fear of rivals
save such as are of her class. A very few men who care
for dancing tor its own sake certainly will dance with II ecate
it she is light on hand, keeps accurate time, and manages her
feet with scientific precision; lout to the ruck of youths,
lithe, who jerks herself into step every second round, lout
who,. lovely fare and perfect figure inane up for everything,
is the partner they all besiege. Only to those exceptimmi
few who regard dancing ass so:Thous art would she be a bore
with her three jumps and a hop ; abbe Hecate, waltzing like
an :met, would he divine, in spite of her high cheek-bones,
and light green eye; Ii floor if, fele. But at a dinner table,
where a man likes to talk between the dishes, asympathetic
listener, if not absolutely frightful, and with pleasant
Icanners, too whom lie can air his stalest stories and recount
his personal experiences, is preferalole to the prettiest girl if
a simpleton, and able only to show her small white teeth in MARK LANE.—MONDAY
a silly smile, and say 'yes" and "indeed " inn the wrong The arrivals of English wheat fresh up to our market this
places. The ball-roono may be taken to represent youth, morning. coastwise and by railway, were only moderate, but
and the dinner-table maturity. The one is the apothcoosis of in excellent condition. The attendance of millers being
mere beauty, in clouds of white muslin and an heaven of limited the demand for both red and white qualities WWI in a
flirting ; the other is solid enjoyment, with braies to talk too sluggish state, at, compared with Monday last, a decline in
and beauty to hook at, in just the proportiou that makes life the quotations of fully Is. per qr. In foreign wheat —the
perfect. A well-ordereol olinner-table is a social microcosm ; show of which was good—very little was passing at is, per
and, being so, this is the blue riband of the arrangement, qr. leas money. Floating cargoes of wheat were a slow sale,
Every woman is 1,01/11ii Itt make the best oof herself. The t at late rates. but other produce afloat was very firm in price.
strongininded woinen who hold themselves super hoe to the ' Fine malting barley was scarce, and in good request, at very
obligations of dress and manner, Mid all the pleasant little full prices. Orinoling anol distilling sorts were a slow in-
artificial graces bet mons; to an artificial civilization, and quiry, at barely late rates Malt was in fair average supply.
who think :my sacrifice eiotole to appearance just so lunch and moderate request, at full prices. Russian oats advanced
waste of pow er, are :mild creatures, ignorant of the real got per quarter, with a good olemand Other qualities were
meaning of thdr sex—s. octal Grime wanting in every charm quite :es dear as last week, although the supply was very ex
of woulanhoool, and to loc diligently shunned loy the wary. tensive. Beans were firm in priee, although the busineks
This making the best of themselves is a vary differeet thing doing in then, was moly inoderate The sale for peas was
from making dress awl persomoil vanitV the flos.t nonsideia- steady, at extreme rates. The flour trade was heavy, at
lion; in life. Where a omen in general fail isis t lie exaggera- droosing prices. Maize and cotton seed were rather higher
tions into whieli they fall On 0101 and on almost every ititer to purchase.
question. They are apt to, be either demireps or devootees, MARK LA NE. —ViltiontstoaT.
frights or flirts, fashioeahle to as extent that lanols them in There was a rather short supply of new English wheat on
illimitable folly, anol drags their 1111611,11141'S 1111111os through. offer here to-olay, but the quality of the samples was good.
the mire ;or they are so dowdy that they disgrace at well- All kinds met a dull inquiry, at the decline established on
ordered drawing-room, and in an evening party, among Manolay last. There W. a small consumptive business
nicely-dre,sed women, stand out as living sermons on shovel, passing in foreign wheat at the late reduction, but the de-
Morse. If they are clever, they are too commonly bin mand W. principally for fine Russian qualities. Barley was
stockings, and let the whole hoousehold go by the board Or , steady i in value and demand fir both malting and grinding
the sake of their fruitless studies ; and if they are domestic'
sort s. The malt trade was extremely quiet, but prices were
noel gre,ti managers they sink into mere servants, never open without change Oats were in steady request, and the
n honk save their daily ledger, and never have a thought be-
I recent 'improvement a-an supporteol. Beans were scarce
yowl the cheesemonger's toill and the butcher's prices. They ,
and c.ommandeol extreme rates. Peas were a slow sale, on
waist that fine balance, that accurate self-meaaureinent and I former terms. Red awl white clovers were held for Into
knowledge of results, which goes by the name of common , rates. Trefoil and trifolinm were dull, but unaltered.
sense, and which is the best manifestation of brains they can ! Canary was scarce and quite as dear. Cakes were steady.
give, awl au cite which men most prize. It is the most 'rite Our trade a-as very quiet, and foreign and country
valuable working foorm of intellectual pewee, awl has most , marks were lower to sell. Town made qualities were
endurance :mot vitality ; and it is the forou wliich helps a ;
man 011 in life, when he hat town' it in his wife, quite as • "'" CATTLE
much as noomey or a good connexion. So that, on the whole„ ,
.lo:day ot :sarkget was fairly supplied with foreign beasts
d calves in good average condition. Sales progressed
mioroisZtsi:,r, eal;;:dfohr.ersl:eLliitiyo,hei tah,eoisyo,l,i,dahtliouesnoiocyll..t,thSeoraumtl;
heavily, at depressed quodathons. The rid abs of beasts
fresh up from our own . grazing districts were seasonably es-
teems e, hut in very middling COlFlition. All breeds met a
'nlfora"jusrl*iot 's
eb,uitt t‘i'T 't'ot parol 'vVir r Vt.e"
dull unitary, at a decline in prices compared with Monday
ay=
'lracs nigh which hamuyseienoshpaiteluerleorionoutgil:,t,„:l,ow, and the
last of Sol. per 81b. The best Scots and crosses were
disposed of at Si. 40. per 81b. From Lincolnshire,
THE MUSHROOM AS AN ARTICLE OF Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire, we received
alsout 2,550 shorthorns; from other parts of England,
F D I 400 various breeds ; from Scotland, 153 Scoota and crosses;
and from Ireland, 12.0 oxen, Sas We were somewhat heavily
If the man who could make two blades of gram supplied with sheep ; lett most breeds were greatly out of
gro ow where only one grew before, was pronounced a condition. The demand a-as in a sluggish state, and last
benefactor of his country, ASOI Merited a country'm week's currency was with difficulty supported. The best
thanks, then thanks are also dtte to the writ ,T of the Downs and half-hreds sold at ss. 4,1. per 81b. There were
following article, fr. an the Daily News; Mid, More the pens. Prime small sales! supported
e us rates. Inferior
especially, as the article of food to whiell he directs prices. Tic, supply was seasonably good. Pies were in
attentio is pesuliarly acccesaible to the labouting thaserate sapoy, and sluggish reopiest, at late rates.
IMPS.
The hop pickers have been lousily engaged, and large
quaetities of hoops have been gathered. Great disparity
exists in the yield in the varions plantations. In some the
hops have come down well, whilst in others the growth has
been trifling. The supplies at noarket have been good, and
the trade for them has ruled quiet, at our quotations. Last
week's import consist- ol of 40 bales from Antwerp, 157 from
Rotterdam, 11 from Ilamburgh, and at bales from Bremen.
Mid and Knit Keats, OS. to 51. 12s. ; Weald of Rents,
31. lon. to M. lea ; basso, 3/. Ms. tall, 45. per cwt.
WOOL

The editor of the Espiegle, who was charged with
insulting the Emperor of the French by reproducing the
manifesto of M. Felix Fyat, which the latter published in
London, was acquitted on Tuesday by the Assize Court at
Buelmal.

A telegram from Alexandria annownces that the
new line of railway between that city and Suer, via Axazieh,
was opened on Tuesday, and that passengers ny the next
Indian mail will proceed by this route, which occupies only
tea hours including stoppages.

_ .....
We lately had occa,ion to comment on the advi,e which Pro-
tensor Nlantegassagave to the italiane on the -übject of eating.
" Italians." he said, "in your eating and drinking, in the
,:lnike of your succulent meats, in tossing off bumpers of
your generous wine. in the quality of your tea, your coffee,
and your tobacco, follow as closely as you can the example
Of the En,li=.ll." There is, however. one matter in which we
Emslh.ln nc p learn aus ful lesson from the Italians. There
an artic:e oi not c hich they utih, and which we un-
fo,oltidahly cr use but as an article of luxury in
Italy, and In some • dher c.aditiental lands, entitlel ti.ushrounia
. . ,

are regularly cultivated. Each autumn there is a mu•hroom
harvest, so to speak ; and the peasantry eat the fresh fungi,
or dry and pickle them for consumption through the year.
In England, on the contr-ry, mushrooms are not eaten at alt
except by the upper and middle classes. Many varieties
which are wholesome and nutritious are wholly neglected ;
and thus every year an enormous quantity of cheap food is
suffered to rot in our woods and fields.
bine loss is all the more important that the kind of food
supplied by the edible fungi is precisely that which is most
required by working England, and that, also, which is
becoming daily clearer and dearer. Man is like a steam-
engine : he requires a continual supply cif heat and a
continual supply of torce-material ; one to preserve life, the
other to produce work Mere is no fear that men will
! neglect tlie heat-supplying portion of their diet ; but the
, great difficulty of the day is the clue supply of our work-
Mg people with flesh-forming food. The flbrine of our
muscles, the albumen of our nerves, daily waste away, as
our work—bodily or mental—continues; and they must
daily be renewed, or this work will sooner or later come to
an end. Man must not have only a sufficient supply of food,
but his food must contain the requisite elements of force—
material. Flesh-forming or nitrogenous food, to the extent

The public sales of colmh I wool have progressed heavily.
The few buyers in attendance have purchased cautiously at
the dee, ine already established. English wool has moved off
slowly, at about late rates. Tne import into London last
week .consisted of 349 bales from Melbourne, 3,490 Sydney,
and 1,224 }males from Odessa. Current prices of English
wooL—Fiteres.—Southdown hoggets, Is. 34. to Is. 44.; halt.
breds. Is. 41d. to Is. sd. ; Kent fleeces, Is. 344. to is. 44.;
Southdown ewes and wethers, ls. '244. to ls. 344. ; Leicester
ditto, la 3d. to 15. 344. per lb. Sorts.—Clothing, is. 2d. to
is. 74. ; combing, Is. Od. to Is. 644. per lb.
POTATOES.
Large supplies of potatoes have been on sale. On the whole
the t rade has ruled steady, at full prices. The imports into
London last week consisted of 113 bags 489 packages from
Antwerp, 02 lags 134 sacks from Boulogne, 10,440 sacks 1529
baskets from Dunkirk, 431000 from Gran Ville 287 bags from
Ostend, 4,3 bags from Harlingen, 898 bags 21 !casks from
Rotterdam, 107 tons from Hartleur, 195 bags from Dieppe,
108 sacks 56 tons from Caen, 64 sacks from Havre, and 34
sacks from Odessa. English Regents, 120 s. to 160 s. ; Scotc
Regents, loos to 11301. ; Jerseys, 1005. to 1106 French, 9
to 1005. per ton.