The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-01
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS AND
THINGS.

The Japanese game of checkers is
so intricate that a month is often
spent in deciding one game.
Cashmere shawls are embroidered
almost entirely by men. and some
times a single garment represents the
work of three generations.
The last time that Katharine PARIS
grave was opened it was found that a
wreath of ivy was twined about her
temples, and it is supposed that it had
sprung from an ivy berry that fell
there at some previous eXhumation.
The Moorish Jews evade the law
which forbids them to kindle fire on
the Sabbath by putting their dinner
in jar and setting it in hot oven
Friday night. The dinner consists of
sailed locusts very often, but it is hot.
1t is estimated that it would cost
about f250 daily to maintain an oiled
passage across the British channel.
The sum looks formidable, but is less
than is now paid for remedies" for
seasickness which are not remedies.
If turnips are fed to cows immedi-
ately after milking they will give no
unpleasant flavor to the milk. The
food is eaten, digested and passed off
before the bulk of the milk is secreted
in the Gag. Even onions may be fed
to cows without flavering the milk if
given long enough before milking.
A great many horses can work as
well if not better without shoes than
they can with them. Before shoeing
a young horse he should be tested
awhile to see if shoelng is necessary.
1t is never certain that an untried
horse will not kick, and, if unshod,
his kicking will be much less danger
GUS to his attendant.
Smiths cider apple originated in
Bucks county, Pa. 1t is so prolific
| that it often bears in the nursery
rows. Though called a cider apple it
is good enough for home use in years
when other varieties are scarce. As
other apples are very uncertain, it is
well to have few trees of this vari-
ETY. TO make sure of home supply.
1t is not so generally known as it
should be that unfermented manure
is not food for plants. A very little
fermentation will make its fertility
available and this usually occurs
when it is applied to the soil in
warm weather. But for winter ap-
plication load of finely rotted ma
nure is worth for the first crop more
than three in its unfermented state.
Too many farmers make more and
smaller fields than is for their advant.
age. When two adjoining fields are
in hoed crops the loss is very apparent
The horse and cultivator will. with
the greatest care, injure some hills OF
the first and second rows on either
side. This, with the practical loss Of
the use of the land on which thu
fence stands, makes it one of the
most expensive taxes that the farmer
bears.
The plow should be run more deep
ly Tor wheat than for any other grain
In all strong soils the subSoil is apt Il
be richer in mineral elements of fer
tility than that near the surface. On
or two inches deeper blowing vii
sometimes give the wheat plant a
much available phosphate as can b
purchased for several dollars per acre
Besides, deep blowing or subsoiling i
especially favorable to the clover tina
is usually sown with wheat.
To detect authorizations in seeds W
L lAQou 100 OAO oAONC, NoGC1 anu Au4OAS
/ scope, says Prof. A. E. Blount, of Co
J. orado. Hot water dissolves powde
= and dirt, and washes off the colorin
!. matter. The sieve makes the separs
ton of the true seed from the impur
ties, and the microscope discovers tn
shape, natural indentations, protubel
ances and discolorations. To dete
mine the vitality of the seed put tie
or 100 inside of three or four sheets {
plotting paper, which wet and kee
where it will be warm all the tim
and in the dark. In ten hours ii
v radish will terminate; cabbages,
q eighteen; wheat, in twenty-six; an
& corn in thirty-two hours. These rul,
e are simple, and will cost nothin
' They may save you much
# To drill holes in glass, eommo
t lsteel drill, well made and well ter
i" pered, is the best tool. The ste
a should be forged at a low temperatuI
U so as to be sure not to burn it, al
It then tempered as hard as possible
bath of salt water that has been We