Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-03-07

In view of the slight injury done 10
orange and lemon trees by unusual cold
in California. the San Francisco BuL-
letin says; set appears from the testi-
mony gathered from the wi lely sepa-
rated geographical points that the
orange tree is now successfully Guilt
vated over an area in California not less
than 400 miles long by 120 miles broad
or that on 48 900 square miles of ter
ritory the orange can be cultivated
without encountering any serious CHI
matte obstacles"
The introduction of the rabbit has
been curse TO- the British colonies in
the South Pacific. In the plains it is
possible to keep them UNDER but in
rough country they drive out everything
else. Thousands of pounds have been
expended in Australia on their destruc-
tion, and even then the slightest relaxa-
ton of vigilance sees them make head
again at q terrible rate. New Zealand
seems to be suffering quite as much,
and more than one bill has been intro
dueed to deal with these pests. Nothing
short of o combined effort on the part
of the settlers will ever uproot them
where they have once fairly got hold.
Houses that have been empty may be-
come fever breeders when they come to
be reoccupied. An English sanitary
officer alleges that he has observed ty-
phOid, diphtheria or other 1ymotic af-
fections to arise under these circum-
stances. The cause is supposed to be
in the disuse of cisterns, pipes and
drains, the processes of putrefaction 60
ing on in the impure air in them, the
unobstructed access of this air to the
house, while the closure of windows and
doors effectually shuts out fresh air.
Persons moving from the city to their
country homes for the summer should
see that their drains and pipes are in
perfect order, that the cellar and closets
are cleared of rubbish, and the whole
house thoroughly aired before occupy
ing. Carbolic acid used in the cellar is
a good and cheap disinfectant.
In Russia the machinery of factories
and the engines of railroads and steam
ers are chiefly in charge of foreigners,
on account of the lack of experienced
native mechanics. It is now realized
that this state of things is neither eco.
nomical nor patriotic; and besides there
have been accidents because the foreign
mechanics and engineers did not under.
stand the Russian language In order
to bring about change, the government
in 1871 ordered the railroad companies
to pay fifteen roubles per verst (two
thirds of mile) for the establishment
and support of railroad schools. About
100000 roubles year are collected
under this order, and now there are abou
twenty such schools. Twenty more are
to be opened this year. These schools
are situated on the railroad lines, anC
each of them is provided with machine
shop, where every pupil is obliged tt
work not less three hours daily Tht
full course requires four years. Eacl
student chooses his speciality as me
chanic, engineer or telegraphist. Be
sides these there are five conductors
schoole. AS the railroad schools hav,
proved successful, other branches of in
dustry are to follow the example. Man,
steamship companies and factories pro
pose to establish schools to secure ex
perienced hands for their service.