The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-20

WEAK CErLINGs.-A correspondent writes
70 the St. Louis Republican: II have found
a good way to prevent ceilings from coming
down in cases OF leak admitting water to
the plastering, and under circumstances
which prevent immediate measures for re-
pairing the roof. l find where the water comes
through, by wiping the ceiling, If necessary
j then bore q hole up into the pool that is
standing and soaking on the upper side of
She plaster. BY putting a nail or match
up into the hole, SO as to serve as gutter or
1eader, and cause the water to run off in a
stream, the plastering is drained, and
does nSt soften enough to fall or even
to looser> / have given this method
pretty fair trial, for / have twice had, in
peculiar emergencies a number of such
spigots stuck up fnto the ceiling and run
ming streams hour after hour, all day or
all night, and without apparently weaken
ing the ceiling, so that il has required
nothing but pointing up the nail holes and
whitening"
KEEPING FLoUR--A leading miller was
asked for the best method OF keeping flour
sweet and he answered: Wheat in the bin
will keep a long time without heating
where a current of fresh air is admitted.
Flour should be kept in the best made oak
barrels OF seasoned material. cool, dry,
airy room is the best in
which to preserve -four sweet, both
w
serve that it is very important TO keep
the -four from exposure to the sun or TO
wet II shipped to distant ports. even in
the United States, great care should be Ob
served with regard TO the vessel and other
kinds of cargo; the hold should be dry and
well ventilated during the voyage. If slowed
with corn or oats that become heated the
-four will also heat and sour. Many other
articles have this effect on -four. We have
bad -four sour on a voyage to Boston by be-
ing slowed in contact with some deleterious
article"
The CHRISTOPHER PARIsrrE.-N are more
than pleased to be able toinform our read
ers that we have authority for saying that
the existence of parasite, destroying the
eggs of the grasshoppers, is no longer to be
doubted, and have seen several cells which
have been destroyed by this means. The
insect. which at first is quite small, feeds on
the eggs till they are consumed, and
Is then white worm, many times its orig
inal size. Upon searching Thoroughly where
the eggs have been deposited, nothing re-
mains but the wcrm, and in many places
where are holes made by the graSshopper.
not vestige of an egg is to be found In
informing our readers of these facts we
shall be glad to have any information on the
subject by parties throughout the
State, for it is most gratifying to
know that there is an agency at work by
which the prospective crop of grasShoppers
OF 1871 will be materially reduced, if not
totally annihilated. Ii is our intention to
Keep our readers posted, if any further de-
yelopHents on this subject are made, and
every means at our command will be made
available to give full publicity TO all reliable
facts bearing upon this engrossing subject
Colorado Farmer.
THE GREAT DRAFT HoRsE.-Iowa has made
rapid strides within the last five years in
breeding cattle. Short horns are the favo-
rites. and the state can now show as fine
herds as any state in the Union, and it is
little remarkable that the most prominent
and successful breeder is a woman, Mrs.
K. A. Kimberly, of West Liberty.
Her husband is a horse fancier At
tention is now being given TO draft
horses, and during the past two years large
numbers have been imported at enormous
prices. The Norman seems to have the
preference, though the Clydesdales are in
good favor. Some of the finest specimens OF
these breeds to be found in this country are
now owned in Iowa. Recently Donald
Dime" was added to the list of Clydesdales
He was imported by Simon, Beattie of To-
ronto, in 1873, and sold by him for s., 900
in gold to George Murray. of Ra-
cine, Wisconsin, who few DAYS ago. sold
him to parties in Keokuk county, Iowa. He
was exhibited at the Centennial, and there
universally pronounced the finest draught
horse in the world. He has never failed to
sweep the board wherever exhibited. His
present owner has been trying to get him
ever since he landed in this country 1t will
be only few years before Iowa will produce
abe finest draft horses in the Union.
BEET SUGAR IN FRANcE-Napoleon l. first
introduced the culture of the beet root for
sugar in France, and the industry was en-
eoursged in every method by his govern
ment. The fall OF Napoleon and the conse-
quent opening up of the whole continent to
British trade retarded the growth of
the new industry. Still Napoleon g
policy was pursued by the government
that succeeded him. Among. other modes
of protection. beet root sugar was exempted
from all taxation, while heavy duty was
imposed upon foreign sugar. By this
means the indigenous manufacture
vas fostered; and consequently we
find that in 1882 about nine thou
sand tons of sugar were manufactured in
France. which was about one-seventh OF the
total consumption of the country After
this period new cause came into play,
which gave an extraordinary impetus to
the beet root industry. The long agitation
against slavery in this country tri-
umphed, and negro emancipation was ac-
complished in the West Indies. The first
result as our readers are aware, was the dis
organization of the West Indian labor mar
keL anu france TOOK advantage so
promptly OF the opportunity that in
:. LSi2 her production of indigenous
sugar had risen to 5000 tons. 1t was
an almost fourfold increase in 10 years. and
was very nearly one-third of the whole con-
sumption. instead of ne-seventh, as il had
been in 1882. From this time the industry
prospered so rapidly that duty, less indeed
taan that on foreign sugar, nut still Of appre-
: ciable amount was imposed on the beet
root product; and IN 1S47 that duty was
made equal to the foreign duty Still the
industry attained greater proportions. In
1852 the home production somewhat ex.
ceeded the foreign imports. And in 1871 il