The Newtown bee., 1881-01-05
FARM. GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
i,yyby Beea work m the Dark.


 Why Bees Work In the Dark.
 Every one knows what fresh honey is "a clear, yellow syrup, without any trace of solid sugar in it. After strain ing 1t gradually assumes a crys al ap- pearance--it candies, as the saying is,. and ultimately becomes solid mass of sugar. It has been suspected that this change has been due to photographic action; the same agent which alters the molecular arrangement of the iodine of silver on the excited collodian plate, and determines the formation of cam phor and iodine crystals in bot tie, causes honey to assume q crys- talline form. MT. Scheiber in- closed honey in well-corked hasks, some of which he kept in perfect dark ness, while the others were exposed to the light. The result has been that the portion exposed to the light oon crystal lizes, while that kept in the dark remains unchanged. Hence, we see why the bees are so careful to obscure the glass win dows which are sometimes placed in their hives. The existence ot the young depends on liquidity of the saccharine food presented to them, and if light were allowed access to this, in all prob- ability it would prove fatal to the in- mates of the hive.- V ester71 Farmer.
 Weight of Stock.
 The following rule for finding out the weight of an animal by measuring may prove convenient. Sec that the animal stands square. Then take his circum- ference behind the shoulder-blade. This is the girth. Then measure from the bone of the tail which plumbs the line with the hinder part of the buttock, ard direct the string along the back to the fore-part of the shoulder blade. This will be the length. Then work at the figures thus: Suppose the girth of the bullock six feet four inches, length five feet three inches, which, multiplied together, make thirty-three square super ficial feet ; and this, multiplied by twenty three, the number of pounds allowed for each superficial foot of cattle meas uring less than seven and more than five feet in girth-make es 759 pounds. When the animal measures less than nine and more than seven feet in girth, thirty-one is the number of pounds to be estimated for each superficial foot. And suppose 9 small animal to measure two feet ill girth and two feet in ngth, these null tiplied together make four feet, which, multiplied by eleven-the number of pounds allowed for each square foot when cattle measure less than three feet in girth- makes forty-four pounds. Again, suppose calf or sheep, etc., to measure four feet six inches in girth and three feet nine inches in length, that multiplied together makes sixteen square feet, and this multiplied by siXteen-the number of pounds allowed for cattle measuring less than five and more than three feet in girth-makes 256 pounds. The di- monsionS of cattle, sheep, calves and hogs, taken this way, will give the weight Of the four quarters of the ani- mal, sinking the Oflal. A deduction must be made for animals halt fat of one pound in twenty from those that are fat; and for 8 COW that has had calves one pound must be allowed in addition to the one fo1 not being fat upon every twenty.
 EruIching Roses.
 Peter Henderson says, in the GGrde1a- eT'S Monthly, that he has discovered that mulchine roses in pots to force flowers for the holidays, in January last, with common moss mixed with a good DOT. tion of bone dust, say one part bone dust to thirty of moss, had wonderful effect in bringing forth early roses. In two weeks after the mulch was first ap- piled 9 change was clearly to be seen, and by the end of May the plants had attained from four to six feet in height, and though they had bloomed pTofusely uurlng period Ot nearly SIX months, were in he most perfect heal'h and vigor. All other plants on which the mulch had been tried showed marked benefits.
 Household Hints
 Cracks in stoves may be etfectually stopped by paste made ot ashes and salt mixed with water.
 To remove grease from white goods, wash with soap or alkaline Ives. Col ored buttons, wash with lukewarm soap Ives. Colored woolens the same, or ammonia. Silks, absorb with French chalk or fuller's earth, and dissolve away with benzine or ether.
 To select nutmegs, pick them with pin. If they are good, the oil will in- stantly spread around the puncture.
 When you drive nail into wall, clothes press or closet, to hang things on, drive it through spool up to the head.
 A lady says that to kill insects she uses one teaspoonful of kerosene to a gallon of water, and sprinkles it on the plants with hand broom. It destroys green flies and other pests.
 To clean brass kettles: After washing clean, take teacnp of vinegar and a tablespoonful of fine salt; wash every spot on the inside of the kettle with it, then rinse of in pure water.