davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
QycrlGdcn Fruit Trees.

It is a rule in fruit culture that a
tree should not carry any greater
weight of fruit than it's branches can
sustain. Still, with some rapidly
swelling fruits, peaches and plums
especially. however thoroughly thin
ming may have been done, it is often
found. as the fruit rjpens, that the
weight is too great and the branches,
unless they are supported, will break
down with the load of fruit. The
usual method of supporting overladen
fruit trees is to place long stakes, with
a fork at the top, beneath them. a
much better and more simple method
Of effecting the purpose is suggested
by DR.. J. B. Mease, of Lebanon, Pa.
Instead OF using several stakes, one to
each principal branch, he places sin
gle strong pole against the trunk Of
the tree. The low ar end Of the pole,
if desired, may be sunk few inches in
the soil for additional support, but
usually it will be sufficient to secure it
to the trun:: by means of straw banl
or other ties that will not bruise the
bark. The pole being secured, the
dropping branches are relieved Dy
means of ties made fast to it. DR..
Mease states that this method of tying
up the branches of overloaded trees is
especially useful in storms, the support
being central, and more natural than
where several props are used.-Ameri-
cC7a Ag7TcaLgtu1iSt.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
Stacking Grain.

The most important part Of harvest
ing, if the grain is to remain long Le-
fore threshing, is the stacking. If a
stack is properly constructed the grain
will keep for months without injury;
but the great trouble is to 30 construct
it. that it will shed rain. The main
point to be observed is to keep the
center full, so that the successive tiers
of bundles will all slope downward.
In commencing stack, an ordinary
shock should De built, then bundles set
up around the shock until a sufficiently
large base is made, then commence at
the center again and lay the bundles
in circle, heads in and close together,
until one tier or circle is made. This
gives the center sufficient elevation to
make the proper slope to the bundles
on the outside tier. Commence on the
outside now and lay tier Of bundle
completely around the stack, butts out
and depressed. After completing the
first tier, commence the second
tier by placing the butts just over
the band Of the first; the third
tier is commenced in the same way,
and so on until the center is reached.
Commence again at The outside tier,
placing the butts even with the first
tier; the second course should be
carried through the same as the first,
and so on until the center is reached.
When the stack is five feet high the
outside tier should lie laid out little,
and this should be continued through
five or six successive courses until a
sufficient bulge or swell is reached
when the finishing or topping-out
should be commenced. At this point
the greatest care should be exercised
to prevent the rain from soaking in.
The topping-out should be gradual
and the finish should be smooth ard
compact and a stake driven down in
the center to prevent the caps from
being blown off. Grain thus stacked
will keep for months in a rainy season
without injury save to the topmost
sheayes. Wheat is more difficult to
keep in place than oats, but oats are
more apt to let water in than wheat.
A good topping-out with slough grass
IS very etTectual method Of protec-
ton if the stack is to stand long.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
Poultry NO:s

Milk seed is excellent Tor chicks.
An early chicken, well fed, should
make a good broiler when three
months old.
Put a mixture of equal parts Of sui
phur and lard on the legs of fowls
that are scaly.
When the heads Of the young turk
eys show the red, give them plenty of
range. They will be able to do much
toward supporting themselves.
Keep Il good sized dust bath easy OF
access to confinel hens. Any shallow
box of sufficient size will do. Fill it
with fine road dust, or finely sifted coal
ashes.
Breeders should bear in mind that
capons grow nearly a third larger than
cockerels, hence are profitable, as they
command always a better price IN
market.
A little tincture of iron in drinking
water for fowls is used great deal by
poultry breeders. A few old nails or
pieces of iron thrown in the water
vessels is just as good and costs moth
ing.
Sitting hens have enough to dc
without Matching lice. Dust them
under the wings with sulphur once in
while, if it is suspected they are
troubled with vermin, and scatter
some in the nest as well.
T.. S. Gold, a poultry breeder OF
West Cornwall. Connecticut, says thai
the worm which produces gapes IN
chickens is propagated in the ground
He has grounds so infected that it is
impossible to raise one. out Of q dozen
chicks - 80.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
A MOuntain OF Copper.

About fifteen miles south Of Luning,
n the Silver Star district, is one of
vhe largest bodies of copper in the
world. Parties who have visited the
ledge say that it is simply indescrib-
able. There are two parallel veins
cunning easterly and westerly that
crop out in places over 100 feet deep.
Burrows have been cut down through
,he exposed ledge by the action of the
elements, and all through as far as ex'
,osed it is one mass of copper ore.
Several hundred tons of ore have been
taken out of prospects dug in various
parts of the lode that runs from ten
per cent. to sixty per cent. per ton.
Facilities for working are excellent;
good roads and water sufficient for all
parties are near the m;nes.-ESmeraldd
(Ne0.) Herald.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
FACTS FOR TIE CURI0z7S.

The remedy Of q hair of a dog that
bit you has been tried in its literal
sense for hydrophobia at London
hospital within ten years.
A poisonous gas hole among the sta
lactite caves N the Yosemite is called
Stygian cave. Birds drop dead flying
over it's mouth, and small animals en-
tering perish at once. It is filled with
crystalline pendants Of deep emerald
hue.
The natives of Lower Bengal wor-
ship the goddess Of cholera. Her shrine
is at Calcutta, and was built about
1850 by an English gentleman. The
idol has been neglecte of late years,
and the income of the temple is only
about$l40.
ltwould appear from numerous OBJ
seryations that soldiers are hit during
battle according to The color Of their
dress in the following order: Red is
the most fatal color, Austrian gray is
the least fatal. The proportions arc
red, twelve; rifle green, seven; brown,
six; Austrian bluish-gray, five.
1t costs about three ;farthings a day
to maintain cat in the English home
Office, and three pence in the local gov
ernment board, the other branches of
the civil service maintaining mouse
catchers at various intermediate rates.
France pays seven centimes a day for
the support of government cats, Berlin
five pfennige and Austria twelve.
Miss Sarah. Binns' allowance from the
Federal government is unknown.
The Bedui, people found in the
interior of Bantam, Java, have a super
stitious notion of the number one. 1t
is an established rule among them to
allot one day for each Of the different
successive operations of husbandry-
one day for cutting down the trees and
underwood; one day for clearing what
has been SO cut down; one day for
sowing the grain; one for wedding
the field one for reaping one for
binding up tue grain efor carrying
it home. If any part of what has been
reaped cannot be carried home in one
day, it is left to rot in the field.
The Swedes and Norwegians "swad-
die" their babies; that is, pin them up
in tight bandage, because. it keeps
them from kicking around and makes
them easier to handle. They always
take them to church, but instead of
taking them into the house Of wor-
ship, they make a hole in the snow
outside in the churchyard and bury
them in it. leaving small aperture
for breathing purposes. The babies
are kept splendidly warm, while their
friends within the sacred building
have their bearls frozen to their fur
coats by the freezing of their own
hraoth
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
succeus -,yIvirh Sllocp.

Cassius NJ. Clay, Of Kentucky, is well
known as a successful farmer and
writer. He says: "Sheep that Craze
will feed at regular hours night and
day, and only lie by when the weather
or the Ay binders them. They 60 over
the same grass nearly each time, take
salt and water, and then lie down on
the Same ground. Hence the neces-
sity of changing them to break up
their place of rest. A new flock
coming in will select a new place for
lying down. In grazing they form a
line most advanced in the centre, that
space being held by the leaders, who
direct the movements. This does very
well when the space is wide enough for
both fanks, but in defles or other OBJ
structions the weaker sheep follow be-
hind the leaders and get poor fare, and
consequently are puny and often dis
eased for want of sufficient variety and
choice of bite. Hence in close districts
sheep must be kept in limited numbers,
Or else the whole thing will fail; and I
have known many farmers who tried a
sheep farm to quit it in disgust for
ever, and yetit pays when iudiciously
managed better than any other"
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
HaIf Human, Half Alligator.

Two of the five children Of John
Mcdonald, of Florida, are described as
ahaif human and half alligator
These children, says a reporter who
has seen them, are now nine years of
aye. Their bodies, arms and heads
from the hips up are perfectly formed,
while from the hips down they present
the identical appearance of an alligator,
having a perfectly formed tail about
five feet in length, together with the
hind feet and legs of the gator. They
crawl around on their hand and feet,
converse intelligently, and seem to
enjoy life very much. They live part
of the time in the water, which they
enjoy very much, using their tails
while swimming, the same as the ALI.
gator, to propel their bodies. They are
healthy, good-looking and well-devel-
oped children, aud outside of their
love for the wate,. til irinode of living
is the sane as that of other human
beings.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11

"Well, that's a nicelooking man.
said Justice Patterson, sarcastically, in
the Jefferson Market police court, as
Joseph S!osser stood up at the rail.
The prisoner looked as if he had had
hard season. His clothes were in rags,
his hair was matted over his eyes, his
hands and face were black with dirt,
and he acknowledged that it was a
long time since he hal made a home
happy.
"The officer says you were drunk,
Joseph" continued the court. els
that SOP"
"Spee' 1 was"
"What is your business?
"Confectioner."
"What?" said the court, in aston
ishment.
"Candy maker, yer honor"
"Arn't you giving me taffy?'
"No; Pm a sweet one, 1 am
Eyes, you look like sugar plum:
you will be in season about Christmas
time. I guess you can 60 up where
you will keep. The rain might melt
you
You can serve me better than
TINT, Judge. To be candid ="
"Stop that! do that sort of thing
here myself. feel it my duty to pre-
rye you, as L did a similar punster
lat week. 1t will ba'a sweet meet
between you. They want a confe,-
toner on the island, too; so I guess
! III make it three months. You will
see mo- lasses-"
make it year, only send me out
at once" gasped the prisoner, and a
commitment for ninety days was
laughingly signed by the judge--Nea0
l'crk Herald.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
A Monotonous Occupati0n.

The business of herding sheep, says
Western correspondent, is the most
monotonous known. I can imagine no
more Misunderstanding occupation. 1t
is only fit for greasers, men who are
below their dogs in intelligence. 1t is
seldom an American engages in sheep
herding. When hard up and unable
TO obtain work they wisely prefer the
penitentiary and it's mild excitement to
prowling over desert after a flock OF
stupid sheep. and they are right. /
have seen sheep herders in Southern
Colorado sit for hours on a rock or
lndera sage brush looking at a flock
Of sheep, or slowly walking to and fro
in the dust rising behind the animals
IS they fed over the prairie. These
men led life of such irritating mo-
notony that a nervous American,
forced to do the work, would have
swallowed one Of the banana-like ca
fuses growing on the plains in his mad
lesire to break the direful monotony.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
Food tho Crane VIM.

The oldest grape growers we know
always manfred their vines plente-
ously, and never dreamed of giving
them too much. Of late years there
has risen class of grape growers who
contend that but little manure is
needed; that in fact the poorer the
land the better. We are not among
this class. We have found that the
richer the soil the better. We have
even known dead animals to be buried
at the roots; though we think this is
carrying the manure question a little
too far. Vines will sometimes fail in
rich land, we are aware, but it Is from
other causes than the soil being too
rich; there are other plaques in the
way. 1t may be mildew; it may be
the little dusty-looking worm which
sometimes strips the vine Of it's foli-
age; or it may be the phylloxera
which attacks the roots and plays
havoc with them; others think there
is something in the climate, and so on.
We do not pretend to decide the ques-
ton; we only know that if we do the
best we can in the cultivation of the
vines, success will reward us in a ma
iority of cases; but when failure is the
result we feel very sure that is not
high feeding. The grape vine, we are
confident, and all our experience goes
to show it, is a gool liver, and we run
less risk in overfeeding than starving
it.-Gernaanto1D7e Telegraph.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11

Velvet ribbons viii be the principal
trimming Of next seasons dresses.
Braiding will also retain it's hold as a
popular decoration 0f cloth dresses,
while velvet ribbon will be used on
cashmere.
The Dane or golden bonnet is formed
of gold braid half an inch wide, plated
with silken cords. 1t is trimmed with
velvet rcsettes the color of the cord,
and is decorated with pompons, an
aigrette, or flowers of plush and satin.
The position hat is u new cap Of
straw with a visor and round crown:
shaped very much Like that worn by
professional jockeys. A narrow band
Of silver links OF ofyelvet folds around
the crown and a cockade on the left
side are the ornaments.
The entire skirt of large plaids or
blocks, not gored, but gathered or
plated in at the waist, or to hip yoke,
with the bodice and sleeves of plain
stuff. the paniers and pouf epaulettes
and cuffs, and a small fichu or large
collar Of the plaid stuff, make up the
costume In some of the fall importa-
tions.
Sleeveless Newmarket coats are
worn by English women when driving
or travelling. a deep cape covers the
arms, and there are sleeves that can
be hooked on at the arm hole when
needed. The hat worn with this is
soft flat.crowned cap made Of cloth like
that OF the coat, with close rows of
stitching all over it. The cloth fol.
these garments comes in electric blues,
fawns and grays and browns of soft
and pleasing shades.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
Greek lIesting Greek.

The operations of notorious brig
and in Macedonia, by name Bilal Aga
have been brought to a close under
somewhat remarkable circumstances.
Bilal Aga was the leader Of band OF
twenty-four brigands, and for some
time past has been the terror Of the
caravans which 60 between Salonica
and the interior. It was his practice
to lie in ambush with his band in the
difficult de6les Of the mountains
through which several Of the main
routes led, and to pounce down upon
the caravans when there was the least
chance of resistance or escape. Healso
diversified his proceedings occasionally
by attacking and robbing travellers,
whom he murdered when he happened
to be in a bloodthirsty mood. He and
his band held the whole district in
terror; and although efforts were
made by the authorities to cap
ture them. they continued to exact
their contributions with the utmost au
dacity, until the other day. when
trouble befell them from an unexpected
quarter. There is another equally fa-
nous brigand in the district, by name
Naum, also the leader of a band.
Naum does not stick at triies, but his
disposition is rather more amiable than
that of Bilal, and with COOL nature
that does him credit he advised BIal
to spare the lives OF certain rich vii
layers whom he lately captured. Bilal
disregarded this advice and killed the
villagers. Nallm was displeased at
what be considered a personal insult to
himself; and consequently fight took
place near the river Katrantza between
the bands of the two brigands; the re-
suit being that the whole of Bilaps
band was killed, while Naum lost only
four men. Bilal himself escaped; but
Dy latest accounts Naum was close
upon his heels.-St. James Gazette.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
Fire Losses.


An interesting chart, issued by one
of the New York insurance journals,
shows the geographical distribution Of
fire losses in the United States for the
last. five years, Indicating by a variety
of red tints The relative hotness-from
fire underwriters standpoint-of
different sections of the country. The
chart is founded on ratios calculated
for each State and Territory between
the annual average fire loss during i've
years and the valuation of real and
personal property as given by the
United States census. BY this method
a close approximation is made to the
average annual fire tax upon each $lOO
Of real estate and personal property.
The result shows curious fluctuations
in the burning rates Of different States,
as follows:
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
POPULAR SCIENCE.

Professor Fritsch has found that the
electric organs of the torpedo fish are
developed from the outer gill muscles
Sof the fifth gill arch. These which in
rays and sharks form the powerful
b lower jaw muscles are absent in the
torpedo, the electric apparatus taking
their place.
DR.. 2. P. Dehrain maintains that
the electric light contains rays which
are hurtful to vegetation, but these, he
says, can be held back by transparent
glass. The light itself, he finds, con-
tains enough Of the rays useful to veg
citation to maintain the life of plants
for two months and a half; but the
quantity Of favorable rays is too small
to bring crops to q condition Of ma
turity.
DR.. Haensel, savant, Of Reich
enberg, Germany, has succeeded, after
many experiments, in photographing
several flashes of lightning. The
photographs took in part of the land
.scape, and madeit possible to estimate
with accuracy the locality where the
lighting struck. 1t also proved possible
to compute the length of the course
trayersed by the electric current.
These experiments are to be continued
with the aid of stereoscopy. They have
awakened much interest.
N. Cornevin places the time
of the first appearance Of the horse as
domestic animal in the bronze age
contemporaneous with the bronze
bit. M. Pietrement and M. Pic
tet proved that the horse had been
utilized in Asia while Europe was in
the stone age, and M. Faure OBJ
jects to M. Cornevin's conclusion
with the remark that, while the bronze
bit is good proof of the domestication
of the horse, the latter may have been
tanned long before bronze was known.
Whichever view may be correct one,
it is certain that man has enjoyed the
services of the horse for a pretty long
period.
It is well known that many fish soon
perish when transferred from their
native salt water to fresh, and that
fish which had lived in fresh water die
when placed in contact with the sea,
as, for instance, when the locks of a
fresh water canal are opened to an
estuary. The cause of death in both
cases has been sought, and, it is
thought, discovered, by NJ. Paul Bert.
Salt water fishes perish in fresh water
on account of the absence of chloride
of sodium, and fresh water fishes die
in salt water owing to the presence of
chloride Of sodium. Neither the salts
of soda nor Of magnesia added to fresh
water formed substitute for the
chloride of sodium. Glycerine, sugar,
and similar substances added to fresh
water to give it the consistency of the
water of the sea did not have the
desired effect j; the marine fauna died
In the mixture.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
EnSlliOn Notes,

Velvet hats are the English rage.
4 broad brim needs a good sized
chin.
High collars are still worn fastened
with stud.
Bangles and snake bracelets are still
much WON.
The pheasant's wing trims many of
the new round hats.
Dark rich velvets will be worn on
the street this winter.
Ribbon velvet is fashionable trim
ming for street dresses.
The hair arranged a la Pompadour
is again in high vogue.
Some Of the new imported bonnets
are very small and plain.
Lace is more fashionable for trim
ming petticoats than embroidery.
All cloaks, jackets and coats will be
worn cut very tight this winter.
Brown, in a variety of shades, VIII
be the fashionable co.or of the winter.
;, Oriental lace is more fashionable for
the sleeves anil neck of dresses than
crepe lisse.
Gray is the prevailing color for
dresses in Paris. and is mot used here
for autumn garments.
New chatelaine watches are of globe
shape and are worn hang ing Ikea seal,
with The face downward.
Tanstry embroideries done in old
fashioned cross.st!tch form borders for
trimming the new wool dresses for fall
and winter.
a feature of the winter bonnets will
be the strings of ribbon Of three con-
: trasting shaGes which will ce tied
under the chin.
Ecru netwith largered or blue spots
embroidered. in crewels is used for
trimming ccru linen dresses; and the
nockes handkerchiefis of ecru eambr.c
With embroidery to match on the mar
ROW hem.
The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-10-11
HOW the hnnnmiteS Dress.

A stranger is puzzled to discover
among the AnnamiteS which are the
men AMI which the women. Their cos
tune defes all attempts to discover the
sex of the welrers. And when one
feels most certain he has made cor
rect guess, most certain lie is to find
himself wrong-a condition Of things
at on % embarrassing and ridiculous.
The dress consists Of loose pair Of
white trousers and a short white
jacket. Over all is worn a long, neat
coat, close-htting at the throat and
reaching to within a few in"hes of the
ground. The coat is open cn either
side from the waist downward. The
garment has no variation in pattern or
difference in length for either sex. 1t
is nearly always made Of cloth Of the
same description, quality and color
(bluish black. A turban, made of
the same material, as long as the coat
and worn much in the same way as
the Hindoos of Bombay wear theirs,
completes a costume which must COM
mend itself to any one for neatness,
modesty and GOODNESS.
The Annamite women, though not
of a highly moral type, are averse to
more personal display than is neces-
sary, The Annamites are surprisingly
fair for Asiati"s. But il there is a
charm in the Annamite ia Q, the charm
vanishes when the owner OF the face
opens his lips. In the first pla~e, the
teeth are disgusting in their discolora-
tion, the result of too free indulgen e
in betel chewing; but the di:en hant-
ment is complete when the person
talks. Ea h word CRATES on ones ear
from utter harshness. 1t is not, how
ever, till couple of women begin to
wrangle within twenty yards of one
that the jarring effe of harsh, un-
musical tongue is felt. We can liken
the noise to nothing except tile short,
snappish yell of puppy when dis
turbed in his enjoyment of bone.
Imagine the effect produced when two
ouarrelsome women gather round them
crowd Of interested spectators, who
shortly take sides and help in the dis
cuSsion.