The union Democrat., 1871-11-25

| During the recent meeting of the Ameri
can Pathological Society at Richmond. Va.
! Colonel l.. Hardee, of Florida. brought VI
his experience in destroying insects by con
cussiou. He had noticed that the cGrculii
had no love for peaches and plums which
were growing near railroad tracks and try
ing afterwards, by the explosion OF about twC
pounds of gun powder in his orchard. th,
idea more practically, he found that larva
of different kinds were killed by it. It wa:
clear that the gentlemen at Richmond Wit
had charge of Col. liardee's proposition would
not endorse it. They regarded the whole
thing as founded on some imperfect observa
tions. For our part, we should not, wholly
throw cold water on the notion. Most of us
have lived long enough to find how much We
were mistaken when we opposed things
which seemed improbable TO US. And even
here. in regard to the injurious effects of con-
cussion, the readers of the weekly Press will
remember that on former occasion we point
ed out how difficult it was to hatch chickens
along a railroad track. as the germ in the
egg was destroyed by the vibration from the
rail. Mere than this, oil engaged in the
transportation Of rare eggs, for setting, know
how careful we have TO be that they do not get
severely shaken on the way. We do not en-
dorse Col. Hardec's idea that much practical
use will result from his proposition in the de-
struction of insects but still from what we
know, there is good ground fer supposing
that some good may result. We therefore
give the account in Col. Hardee's own words.
claim to have utilized conclusion in the
perfect humiliation in the horticultural pest
known as eurculio. NV attention, early last
spring, was called to the fact that in the Vi
entity of the new railroad, which runs imme
diately through my orchard, the curculio was
being driven to the extreme end of my or
chard. 1t is well known to all pomologists
that this enemy does its work at night. The
train passing through my orchard blows its
whistle in passing just after nightfall, and
again in the morning just before daylight. |
was led to the belief that the noise of the
whistle, or iarring, was the cause of their
disappearance from the vicinity of the rail-
road. To satisfy myself, placed two pounds
of powder in the hollow of live oak stump
Immediately in the vicinity where they prom
Used the entire destruction of some plums,
peaches, &c. This powder was fred off one
calm night and it not only destroyed every
curculio, but every winged insect in my en-
tire orchard. My attention was called to the
marvellous growth of my peach trees and
vines on the line of the railroad. | could in
no way account for this until discovered the
wonderful effect that the two pounds of pow
der had on my other trees.
claim, gentlemen, that conclusion is the
greatest fertilizer known. How it affects the
air, soil or trees, know not that l leave
for more scientific minds l only know the
fact, | claim that conclusion will destroy all
animalcules and render sickly localities per-
fectly healthy. 1t is we'll known that during
the late war yellow fever or no other conta-
gions made their appearance in our southern
cities, and it is also known that Grants en-
ire army of fifty thousand men enjoyed per-
feet health on the Big Black during the sickly
season of 1916. This, heretofore, has not
been satisfactorily accounted for. l claim
that the Yanks are indebted to King Gun
powder for their healthfulness during the
late wicked war. Conclusion is the great
agent of nature in purifying the atmosphere.
1t is we'll known to physicians the effects pro-
duced by thunder during the sickly season
and it is we'll established fact that during
the fall of 1857, when the yellow fever was
raging in Jacksonville, there was very little
or no thunder. | could give you, gentlemen,
an account of several experiments | have
made besides those have alluded to, but |
will not occupy your time. | only request
that you will act so as to bring this discove-
ry before the public. Fomey's Press.
A BRITISH REpUBLIc.-A letter from Geo.
Potter has recently been published in the
London Times, in which the merits of mon
archy and a republic are compared. Such a
document, published in England, in the
early part of the present century, would have
caused the imprisonment and probable con-
viction of treason of the writer, and of the
proprietors of the Times. Mr.. Potter advo
Gates republic as theoretically the best gov
eminent for Great Britain, but admits that
the monarchy, as established under Queen
Victoria. is perfectly satisfactory 20 mostintel-
ligent Englishmen. He speaks kindly of the
Queen. for which act of courtesy be is severe
" censured by other members of the Repub-
lcan party of England. Mr.. Potter, howev-
er. is not sure thatthe successors of Queen Vic
toria viii be fit to reign. He thinks that the
monarchy might survive if the House of Lords
were made elective, many of the present her.
editary members being, in his opinion, entire
" disqualified as legislators from their evil
course of life. The Church, he also argues,
must be disestablished, the ballot adopted,
and electoral districts of equal population
created for the selection of members of the
House of Commons. These are Mr.. Potter's
views; but Great Britain. at the present time,
approaches nearly the condition of republic.
The Queen reigns, but does not govern, and
the Prime Minister, whether Liberal or Con-
sentative, rules, by virtue of his majority in
the House of Commons, and can pass meas
ures over a hostile vote in the House of Lords,
either by the exercise of executive power or
by the threat to create Peers. The disestab-
lishment Of the Irish Church, and the aboli-
ton of the purchase of commissions in the
British army by Mr.. Gladstone, are sufficient
proof that in England the real authority and
power are irtrusted to the Premier.
The editor of the Elmira Adcertiser has
poor luck buying medicine. He says Il
went to drugstore early one morning tor
dose of morphine for sick friend. The
night-clerk objected to giving it to me with
out a prescription, evidently fearing that
might destroy myself. 'Pshaw, seid |, do
| look like man who would kill himself 2
Gazing at me steadily for half moment, he
replied: Il don's know. Seems to me, if | |
looked like you, should be greatly tempted
To kill myself