The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-07-06

areas Of grazing land. II 10 larger and
stronger than the native Scotch thistle,
and, therefore, all the harder to radi.
cate, and small attempts in this direction
cost the Australians tens Of Thousands OF
dollars each year. In New Zealand a
colonist who desired to satisfy his old
liking for water crosses brought from
England few Of these plants, and in
this case there extension was 20 rapid
that the colonial government has now to
spend each year sums Of money to clear
some of the navigable rivers from the OBJ
struction caused by their growth. In
Tasmania the imported briar rose has
converted large extents of prairie land
into impossible jungle. A somewhat
similar, though thus far less annoying,
result has attended the introduction into
this country OF English sparrows.
Salt AZ Insecticide and Fertilizer
Colonel Piollot, at the Elmyra, N. y.
Farmers Club, said he had used salt on
alluvial and diluvial soils with good ef-
feet. Last year he had fifteen acres of
corn treated to eight bushels of salt to
the acre, after planting the corn. There
brother had 60 faith in salt as cutworm
antidpte, and used no salt, but had to
plant his corn over, after the cuitworms
had fattened on his first planting. He
claims to have destroyed the black flv
completely by the use ofsalt in the cuf-
tivation of turnips. On strips of wheat
land where salt was sOwn no Hessian: fly
appeared. but on strips where no salt
was sown Hessian fly cut down the yield
from five to eight bushels per acre. He
also claims to have derived essential bene-
fit last yeur from sowing salt on his po-
tato crop. He advises farmers to COM
bine and buy salt in bulk by the carload.
Military Episode.
This story is found in the memoirs of a
Prussian officer of distinction. He was
at the time on the staff of Gen. Winter
field, one of the most skillful and compe-
tent captains of his day, and Winterfield
was the general in command at the time
spoken of.
Two soldiers had been condemned to
death. In a drunken condition they had
assaulted an officer of the line, and one
of them had drawn a knife upon him,
but he could not positively say which of
the twain held it. And the men them
selves did not know. Neither of them
remembered anything about it. So both
Of them were condemned to be hung.
They were both excellent soldiers,
and only one of them had been guilty of
using a weapon.
The officers of the division, including
him who had been assaulted, asked that
The men might be pardoned. At lenght
Winterfield said he would pardon one Of
them. Only one had held q knife, and
only that one ought to die. He would
pardon one, and the men must them
selves decide which of them should be
shot.
How should the decision be made?
the condemned.
And the other agreed to it. And anon
it vas agreed to by all interested. The
two men took their places by the side of
a big drum and were to throw Tie dice
upon its head. Two dice were given
them Snd a proser box for shaking.
The first man threw two skies. He
groaned in agony. He felt that he had
consigned his comrade to death.
But when the second came to throw
he also threw two skies. "Wonderful!'
cried the lookers-on. They were order
ed to shake and throw again.
This time the second man threw first
two aces. ''Ho! Good? You will live,
Peter" But when Peter throw, the dice
presented those same two aces. And
now the beholders were wonder-strick-
en-, indeed.
Another throw was ordered, and Pc
ter threw five and deuce. The other
threW-fye-deuce. After the evcite-
'Iient "a - +, suEsit the .nen shook
once more. The first threw two fours.
ION! now throw fves and save yourself,
Peter" Peter tire two tours.
At this point the colonel ordered them
to stop. tie wentand reported the mar
yelous result to Winterfield. Said he:
Clearly, general, Providence will have
those two men to be saved"
And saved they were. The general
cared not to oppose the wonderful fate OF
the dice. 1t did seem providential and
so he accepted It.
And the redeemed soldiers lived tc
prove that the saving fate had given back
to Prussia two of the very best and BRAY