Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-10-22
Industrial Brevlties.

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In constructing fine houses in east
ern cities builders now pretty general
ly use mineral wool between the floors
and ceilings. This fibrous metallic
substance is produced by sending a
blast of air or steam through jet of
molten Stag when it flows from the fur
mace. Having sustained the heat of
fused iron, it is non-combustible and
free from organic matter, so that it
cannot rot or harbor any vermin. 1t
is completely sound-proof. and may be
proved an absolute non-conductor of
heat, for layer of one-inch thickness.
says our informant, may fuse on one
side while the other will remain COOL
These properties, combined with its
extreme lightness. have, since its in
PRODUCTION few years ago as good
building material, made it great
favorite with architects and builders.
and it is now largely used as a sound
and fire proof filing between floors
and partitions, and in attics to keep
out heat and cold.
An English agricultural paper, in
commenting on the pigs on exhibition
at the recent show at Preston, says:
"When public opinion has, as public
opinion will, played the fool, a sharp
reaction is sure to set in. We are
just escaping from the authority of the
ancients, who had been telling us that
the best pig is one which can not see,
can not feed itself, which alive looks
like slug, and when dead like blad-
der of lard" Such pigs, it goes on
to say, have had their day, and special
attention is called to pen OF red
Tam worth dorsey reds) as furnishing
the antthesis to the old style pig.
Mr.. Philip Privleau, Jr., of Melrose,
Fla, has invented muzzle for cattle
which will permit their grazing in
orchards and fruit groves and restrain
them from injuring the trees. The
muzzle is kind of basket in sections,
each pivoted in such a way that the
muzzle is kept close over the animal 8
mouth by weight hanging from each
part. When the animals head is
down in the act of grazing the weights
touch the ground and the muzzle is
thrown open by the action of springs.
1t can be thrown open by the animal
in no other way.
A crop bulletin, addressed to the
munster of agriculture, Manitoba,
states that the quantity of land left
unseeded, in order that it may be fall
lowed this season, is greater than in
any season in the history of the pro-
vince. Considering how much has
been written about Manitoba as a
great wheat-growing country, it is
surprising to learn that only psi, 500
acres of land were plowed for crop
ping in the province last spring, as
compared with 232, 1857 acres in 1884
and with 103. 667 acres in 1888.
In Spain. more than century ago,
a traveller speaks of an apiary he saw,
which contained five thousand colonies
of bees. AS there is an abundance of
pasturage in that "dowery kingdom"
the statement is quite probable. Some
three hundred years ago the Spanards
took bees to Mexico and tho West
India islands, and laid the founda-
ton for the immense trade which has
for about two hundred years been car
ried on in honey and wax In the West
Indies.
1t is perhaps too early, says The
BO.ton Journal, to give a reliable esti-
| h,
but from all that can be learned so far
the fruit is growing well, and a full
average yield is promised. The best
varieties in this market are selling at
1926 to 1915 per barrel. Common
and medium range much lower. In
Canada the crop promises well. The
first lots were received in Montreal
last week, and sold at $3.50 to So. 20
per barrel.
According to an old, practical fores-
ter, the essence of rational treatment
of plantations for profit may be sum-
moned up in few words. First,
choose such tfees as are likely to re-
main where they are planted, and at
each successive thinning clear off a
few of their lower branches, till q
clear stem is formed to the height of
five or six feet, or to greater height
in trees having pendant branches.
Second, cut down by degrees all the
trees which are not intended finally to
remain.
The latest statistics for cheese fac
tories for Ontario show the number to
be SOL, the value of the pro-
duct being $4,668,078. Over 1865
hands are employed, at an out
lay of S330,l39 According to the
census, there can be no doubt that
Ontario holds a place in the dairy
industry equal to that of all the other
provinces put together, and the quail
ity of the cheese takes the leading
place in the English market, and com.
mands the highest price.
The difficulty of Judging horse by
its looks was illustrated a few years
ago in Philadelphia. Goldsmith Maid,
at the height of her glory, for joke,
was taken from her quarters through
back street, led to public place,
and put up at auction, the spectators
bidding in good faith until the price
was run up to 1874, when someone con
nected with the stable bid $35, thu
hammer fell, and she was led away.
J An English gardener states tina
: eighteen years ago he sowed some to
bacco seeds for the purpose of raising
plaGts for fumigating his green
houses. He has raised some plants OF
the ground every season sinces though
, none of the plants has produced seed
J and none has been purchased anC
: sown. He believes that the seed o
, tobacco possesses most remarkable vi
tality.
: A machine has been invented in New
: Zealand for cutting bushes, scrul
trees. and hemp which is in very sue
cessful operation in Australia and In
. dia. The cutting apparatus revolves
and Is connected with one of TIT
wheels of a strong wagon. The cut