The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-23
i? The Question Box ?.


hausted are potassium, magnesium, nj
lrates phosphorous and calcium. Soils
should be analysed to determine which
OF these materials are needed and the
proper fertilizer or crop rotation used
Thus may the worst Of so-called worm
out soils be brought UP to standard.
O. Can the old principle of barter
De applied to the present trade situa-
tion?-H. T.
A. The exchange of commodities for
commodities without the use Of money
Is actually being practiced in interna-
tonal trade today Certain traders ase
loading ships with materials known to
be in demand in foreign countries are
taking them to those countries and are
exchanging them for goods that are
known to be salable over there. The
transaction Is pure barter and ciroum-
vents the dlfficultives presented by the
exchange situation.
Q. What were the dying words of
Patrick Henry, the American orator
| and patriot?-F. j.
he said: Here is a book (the Bible)
worth more than all others ever print
ed; yet it is my misfortune never to
have found time to read 1t, 1t Is now
too late. / trust In the mercy of Goo"
Q. Was there an inaugural ball in
washington when President Wilson
first took office?-A, G,
4. Mr.: Wilson omitted the inaugural
ball, and discontinued the custom OF
| dancing at White House receptions.
While the Tafts Were in the White
House dancing was in vogue at White
House receptions.
Q. Can an airplane fly upside down
for distance of five miles e NJ.
A. The air service of the army says
| that no plane has ever been known to
fly. upside down for a distance OF five
miles, or even for one mile. A plane
can fly in that position for a short dis
lance only
O. What has become of the great
| krupp munitlon plant in Germany
| {. +.
A This enormous manufacturing
| plant which turned out most of the
| guns used by Germany during the war
is now said to be utilized largely for
the manufacturing of agricultural and
railroad machinery.
G. Has one a right to reproduce a
government bulletin?--F A. V.
| A. Government bulletins are not
copyrighted and may therefore be re-
produced at will II is not safe to take
liberties with them, however, that
might lead to misrepresentation. II
a dealer reproduced a seed bulletin, for
| instance, and inserted his own adyer-
| tisement in such a way as to give the
| impression that the government in
dorsed him, he would be violating the
law.
9. How can l pasteurize milk at
home?--J, B. &,
A. The milk in bottles may be placed
In p boiler in which cold water comes
70 In AFNlyE g Isr,tN "a.
| boiler Is then placed on the stove and
heated until the water reaches tenn
perature Of l45 degrees Fahrenheit as
determined by the thermometer. where
It Is maintained for 80 minutes. The
| bottles are then removed, cooled in
running water, and kept sealed unit
the milk is ready to serve. Pasteurza
ton kills disease causing germs
Q. How was the weight of the
pound, avoirdupos. determined?-B, b
A. The original English pound was
derived from the weight Of 1850 grains
of wheat taken from the middle of the
ears and well dried. This remained the
standard from the time of William the
Conqueror to the time Of Henry VIII
in whose reign the avoirdupois pounC
OF 1000 grains came into use. This was
established as the standard pound dur
ing the reign Of Queen Elizabeth anC
Q. How much below normal was the
wheat crop in France last year?--V NJ
A The department Of agriculture,
says that the wheat crop OF France fol
1919 was 177,97S 900 bushels. In 1911
the production amounted to 225, 1876, 900
bushels, and the average crop is abou
272,00Q, 600 bushels. Based on the five
year average annual prewar consump
tion of 1854, 1890 bushels. the 1919 croI
was about half the amount needed Il
feed the peogle OF France.
Q. How is the membership OF thu
house OF representatives divided pc
litically?--W. A. u.
A. In the house there are 2S7 Re
publicans; 1871 Democrats, one indie
pendent; one Independent Republican
one Prohibitionist; one in controversy
and three vacancies.
- @, What is the price OF butter ii
England Il, A.
A. The price of butter In England 4
regulated by the British food controller
who recently allowed an increase o
three cents per pound, making tn
wholesale price AZ cents. and the retail
price Is cents per pound.
(Any reader can get the answer L
any question by writing The New
Scimitar Information bureau. Frederi
j. Haskin. director, Washington. D. c
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ton. The bureau cannot give advice a
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does not attempt to settle domesti
,, troubles. nor TO undertake exhaustlv
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