The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-09-20

n
EY It is stated that there is plant
in New Granada, which, if our ink
makers could only grow in sufficient
quantity in this country would be a
fortune to them. The plant in ques-
ton (Coiaria thymifolio) is commonly
known as the ink plant, and it is SIM
ply The juice that is used without any
preparation. It's properties seem, ac-
cording to tradition in the country,
to have been discovered during tue
SPANISH administration. A number
of written documents, destined for the
mother country, were embarked in a
vessel and transmitted around the
Cape. Tie voyage was unusually
tempest,Uus, and the documents got
wet with salt water. Those written
with common ink became nearly lille
gible, whereas those written will
"chancli" (the name Of the Juice,
remained unaltered. a decree was
therefore issued that all government
communications should in future bt
written with the vegetable juice.
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Ey The superiority of beer as ;
wholesome and refreshing beverage i
claimed TO have been most satisfactory
~ demonstrated during the late wa
between Germany and France. In thei
official reports to the Medical Board
the German military surgeons beal
witness to the advantages of beer ovei
wine, especially the poor common
wines or the Champagne and Other
wine producing parts of the country
they took possession OF, and still to
certain extent occupy. They state j
to be the peculiarly refreshing proper
ty of the carbonic acid. gas contained
in beer that makes it such grateful
beverage, after a long and fatiguin:
march, or when fairly worn out by th
excitement of hard days fighting
But they lay much greater stress o
the use of beer in the hospitals ant
field ambuIances, where it was admin
istered, when it could be obtained
with great success, both to the wound
ed and diseased soldiers.
asa-Our worst predictions, about th
cotton aud corn crops of Rapides, hav
moro than been confirmed. Most o
the corn has been gathered and sucl
poor yield never was known before
And then such corn; the majority of
will not she'll n peck to the bushe1
We are of opinion that the presen
crop will not hold out till Christmas
with here and there an exception
Cotton is opening fast everywhere, AM
is being picked slowly. The plai
truth is that the Freedmen don't seer
to care and are now worse at their la
Dor than ever. Such laziness, sucl
idleness and dissipation among then
was never known before. We hav
had several heavy rains, that certainl
have done some picking and added t
the general disaster. Per contra Ties
rains have done good to the cane.
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fI The extreme low water and dan
gerous navigation in Red River, hav
some what interfered with the usus
and pnnctual trips of Captain job
Hienn's Packet, the Rapides. She or
ly came up on Saturday night, with
light trip for Alexandra, and left agai
with good lot of cattle. for the Ores
cent City. The friends and patrons
that regular line can depend that, in
few days, another and lighter boa
will be placed in the Grand Ecore an
Alexandria trade. Captain HEM re
manned in New Orleans ON that mis-
sion.
-~~~~>~o-~-----ser- ~--I-~-~~->~
Ey@ The grand muss, now in flu
blast, in the Radical ranks, has nee
come to pistols and coffee for tw,