Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-08
NO. l59.
QUEEN MERCEDES As A GIRL.

Miss Henrietta Dana's pretty account
of the queen of Spain as a schoolgirl.
which was in the April Scribner's, ac-
quires a new interest since her early
death. We extract this bit of description:
The princess arrived this morning.
Soon the superioress brought her in to
show her her seat. She had taken her
hat off. and looked very shy and pretty as
she came in. She seemed TO be a good
deal embarrassed at facing 80 many girls,
and hung her head little, and answered
in a very low voice when she was spoken
to. but her eyes looked bright and full of
intelligence. There is something very
attractive about her; she is perfectly sim
pie and unassumng. She took her seat
at her desk. and Anne de c. showed
her about her lessons and the books she
would need. had good chance to ex-
anime the princess as she sat directly in
front of me. She is large and we'll
formed for her age, and sits up very
straight. though she droops her head
little. Her complexion is very fine and
clear, with a healthy tinge. and her
features are pleasing, especially the eyes,
which are OF soft gray or hazel, with
dark lashes, deep set. and very bright and
full of expression Her hair is jet black.
and splendidly thick and glossy. She
wears it brushed tight to her head and
braided in two braids, which are fast
ened low across the back of her head.
Then she has a very white throat and
pretty shaped ears. and altogether prom
ises to develope into quite handsome
woman. We had been told beforehand
bv the nuns that we must call her
M.l. Ia
call such little girl madame, especially
here. where we all call each other by
our first names. whatever the difference
in age or rank, but the nuns didn't think
it right we should be quite so familiar
with future queen. l noticed however.
that they themselves called her BY her
name Mercedes.
The famous English Experimental Farm
of Rothamstead. 1000 fertile acres in Hert-
fordshire. 25 miles from London on the
Midland railway, is described in an inter-
esting manner by Prof Silliman. who had
recently visited it. John Benuet Lawes
inherited the property in 1884, fine old
English estate, with its park OF oaks and
ancient mansion. and tor nearly half
century, in company with DR.. j. H. Gil
UcTl anu large corps Oi dSSik t2ADLD, MT.
Lawes has devoted himself to agricultur-
al chemistry on large scale: he has also
set apart fund of flO0,000 and q Sec
ton of land for the continuance of these
investigations after he has gone. The
purpose is to discover what crops are best
for different soils, what fertilizers will best
assist their growth, and to experiments on
| such a scale, both as to area and time,
that the fundamental principles of farming
may be made as plain and sure rs those
| OF any other business. In 1855 Mr.. Lawes
was presented with laboratory by public
subscription, and there DIR. Gilbert and .
| considerable staff OF assistants have been
at work since, experimenting expert
ments. making and applying manures
and analyzing soils and crops. Thirteen
acres have been under experiment. In plats
for 80 years, and grass, oats, potatoes and
other crops nearly as long. The results
of this long and careful investigation have
established that barn yard manure can on
ly carry the production OF hay to limit
about half the muximum that can be
reached with mineral manures alone.
which have produced five and a half tons
to the acre. On unmanured land the farm
yields ii bushels of wheat to the acre,
but with barn-yard manure the yield has
risen to 35 bushels. which is as well rs the
mineral manures can do.