smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

We have received, with the compli-
ments of the author, a pamphlet entitled
"The New Education" appended TO
which is the Memorial of the California
State Grange and Mechanics Delibera-
tive Assembly, which was addressed to
the Legislature Of California. We do not
recognize the author, who writes over the
signature Of Columella," but he is a
vigorous writer, and his pamphlet, com
ing just at this juncture, when public at
iention is directed to University matters
by the re cent action of the Regents with
reference to the Agricultural Professor
ship, will awaken inquiry whether the
institution, with its magnificent endow-
ments, is being conducted in the interests
of the few or Of the many.


We have no desire to disparage the ad-
vantagos ard value Of a classical educa-
ton. But, to quote from the Placer ar
gus, where there is one young man or
woman in the State who is able to afford
such an education, and expect to devote
their lives to the literary or professional
pursuits in which it will be of value, there
are hundreds, who above all things ought
to have the sound practical ira ming; that
will fit them for the every day pursuits Of
life" The education Of the hour must
be such MS is adapted to the requirements
Of the hour. Congress has recognized
this fact, and has, by liberal cndowments
in behalf Of schools and colleges for cdu-
cation in Agricultural pursuits, shown a
desire to meet one Of the growing wants
Of the country. Agriculture in this State
is now being conducted on ruinous prin-
ciples. The sole aim Of the majority of
those employed in agricultural pursuits
/ seems to be, TO extract the greatest pos
sible present yield from the soil, and give
nothing in exchange. Under this miser-
able system some OF the best lands of the
State are already exhausted while the
State is yet only in its infancy. With
the increasing experience of years we are
slowly learning the extent of our agricul-
tural capacities. We are learning that
in the diversified soil and climate which we
have within our borders, there are but
few of the agricultural industries of eth
er the Old or New World but can be
successfully followed here. With the in
creased development Of our agricultural
/ resources, new manufactures and increas-
ed commercial intercourse will naturally
follow. These are great results, and can
only be brought about by the aid Of intel
ligent minds, for mere physical strength
will count for but little unless directed by
scientific agricultural knowledge.


We trust the discussion of this subject
will continue, believing that good will re-
suit from it. At present the manage
ment Of the University is attracting pub
/ lie attention, and the course of the Re
gents in dcposing Professor Carr, is a
matter Of unfavorable comment. 1t is
said, (and there is n spice Of sarcastic JUS
tice in the remark), that some of the Re
gents owe their position to the possession
Of wealth rather than brains If such be
the case, the management of the insttu-
ton will require little legislative over
hauling, and until that can be had the
people must bide their time.
Year: 1874

Az INCIDENT. Some three or four
weeks since, Mrs. c. J. Prescott, of San
Francisco, who has been visiting Mr.. and
Mrs. Pratt, Of this city, received a small
package through the express from her
husband. On opening the package she
found it to contain piece Of wood about
three or four inches long and an inch and
a half in diameter, the corners roughly
worked of so as to make it octagon in
shape. Believing that she had been
made the victim of joke by her hus-
band, and that the block was neither
more nor less than a piece of wood, she
threw it into the yard, and thought no
further about it than to refer to it as q
nice little joke played upon her by her
husband. 1t was afterward picked up
by the children as a plaything, being Of
peculiar shape, and was by them final
ly abandoned, when the Chinaman, en-
ployed about the house, seeing the little
block laying on the porch by the front
door, took it up and placed it on a shelf
in the house among other articles perhaps
Of little value or little used. Well, Mrs.
Prescott left for her home in San Fran
cisco by the Pelican last Thursday. Up
on joining her husband it is reasonable
to suppose that something was said by
Mrs, Prescott about that mice little
joke" or by her husband who was anx-
ious to learn, no mention having been
made Of it in her correspondence, how
she had liked the offering he had sent
her by express. And now Mrs. Prescott
was made aware Of the fact that the little
block she had cast into the yard as worth
less, contained in it a beautiful diamond
ring for which her sband had paid two
hundred dollars. The telegraph office
was at mt once sought and a message
flashed to Mr.. Pratt conveying the above
information and a request for him to
search for the cast away block. Search
was made, which promised for while
to be fruitless one, but one Of the young
er children having seen the block placed
upon the shelf, remembered it, and the
object Of the search was found Hum
60tdt Times, August 18th.
Year: 1874

SMUGGLING is pursued resolutely on
the Belgian frontier, but Woystin Woy-
tard was caught at it the other day. He
attempted to run the line by driving at
full speed, but the Custom House SOL
dier brought down the horse with his ri
fe. There was $500 worth of tobacco in
the wagon, and the horse was in armor
and so armed with knives about the bri-
die that one could not have stopped him
by hand without being cut to pieces.
Year: 1874

A LOT Of missionaries left San Francis
co for China to convert the heather of
that country. Meanwhile the heathcn
who have reached California are left to
form their opinion Of the benign influence
Of Christianity, from the teachings given
by the hoodlums OF our chief city in their
daily practice.
Year: 1874

A CHICAGO gentleman recently sent
to Treasurer Spinner n small quantity of
paper pulp, with note stating that it
was the remains of ten-cent stamp
which his little boy chewed up, and
which he contributed "to help pay the
nnhlic debtu
Year: 1874

AN inhabitant of Waterbury Center,
Vermont, is trying to see how long he
can exist without drinking any liquid
He had reached his two hundred and
seventy fifth day at last accounts.
Year: 1874

IT is stated that the practice of putting
people out of the way by means of poi
soned needles is growing to be quite pre-
valent in India, this method being much
less liable to detection than the admins
traton of internal doses.
Year: 1874

THE Sacramento Bee says the price of
wheat is such that but few farmers care
to sell, and the result is that numerous
storehouses and granaries are being erect
ed throughout all the valleys.
Year: 1874

SAYS tic Vallejo Independent "The
Cinnamon at work in the dry dock at
Mare Island are not killing themselves
with hard labor. A good live white man
can do more work in 4 day than four of
these dusky Asiatics.~
Year: 1874

1t is but few years since exhibitions of
horse racing were introduced into this coun-
try, and not until recently has there been so
much interest manifested in the competition
for fast time. 1t would seem as though the
interest in racing was nearly at its height
now, and that the speed Of American horses
had been pressed to their utmost limit. But
what is the effect of their races upon the
question Of improving horses2 The horse is
domestic animal, the most valuable OF any


bred for general use, and most valuable
to the agriculturistI of our country. We
cannot see that the fast time a few Of them
are trained to make, is going to be of any
practical utility for their general use 1t
will be noticed that in all the prominent
races the list of entries embrace the
same horses which have been trained for
these exhibitions, and that their number is
quit small. The exhibition of skill in the
fast time they can make is wonderful, aud
affords fine entertainment for the admirers
Of such sports. But could not the same eff
frot in training teach these horses TO stand
on their heads, or dance as they do in the
circus, and would there not be really as
much Of practical advantage in the improve.
ment Of horses in general to have u few
horses do marvellous tricks by system Of
training in one direction as anotherf For
the farmer or general use, it would be far
more valuable to teach the horses to be fast
walkers. The animal would be much im-
proved in value for general use by the time
saved in plOwing, for teaming or even for
the sportsman if speed in walking be devel.
oped. Besides, the short life or damaged
condition the races bring upon horses taxed
Year: 1874

call them together. The culture and educa-
tion that for years have been going on
among farmers through the agency of schools
Of agriculture, and books and journals adapt
ed to their special needs, have better fitted
them for this work than any other class.
There are not few farmers who have made
the science Of agriculture a special study
who tell us how crops grow, and the ele-
ments necessary to the soil in order to Sc.
cure the best results. Besides, there are
numerous scientific men engaged in agrcul-
ture as business, who have devoted them.
selves TO particular departments, whose dis
course on these, their pet themes, would be
more than likely to be both suggestive and
helpful. Many of our farmers have made
speciality of geology, entomology or botany
while others have given their time and
thought to wheat raising, fruit growing, ho-
raj culture or bee keeping and some, in
these latter days especially, have given
themselves to the solution Of the great prob
lem Of marketing and the cheap transporta.
tion Of farm products. These are the men
who should be invited to speak, for it is they
that the people want TO hear, and to them
would the farmers listen with more interest
and profit than to any windy politician that
can be named.


During each day of fair or exhibition
that extends through several days there
might be a short address snch as indicated,
continuing not more than thirty minutes,
and embracing a new theme and speaker
each day. This would secure thorough treat
ment of variety Of topics, by men who are
in love with them and are willing to impart
of their knowledge and experience to their
fellow farmers without money aud without
price.-Cor. Country Gentleman.
Year: 1874

Perhaps it may never have occurred to
some OF our fair lady readers, that the ref
use SCOT of their chimneys is one of the
most valuable stmulants and fertilizers they
can have for their garden flowers. The fol-
lowing incident Of practical experience is
from lady contributor to the Rural Caro-
Hnian During two seasons we nurscd, fed
and petted Hartford prolific grape vine
as much for its shade over a window as for
its fruit-but it persisted in remaining
stunted cane, yellow, and refusing to climb
AT the window, on the other side of the
door, we had a stunted rosebush, also yelo
and refusing to climb. Dospairng of shade,
grapes, aud roses, We finally bethought our
selves of SCOT as manure, and forthwith
made "soot tea" by sleeping teacup OF
SCOT in quart Of water, This we admiais-
tered, two doses each, to both the tree and
the vine. The vine grew six feet in height
in the space of six weeks, the rosebush four
feet in the same length Of time-both there
after rejoicing in raiment Of living green.
Year: 1874

the plants stand too thick OH the ground the
spikelets seldom contain more than two
seeds, and at the lower part of tho ear often
six or eight notches are found to be barren
or void Of chaff. The effect of thin plant
is an increase of the seeds on the spikelets
and to render all the notchos fertile. As an
illustration Of the effects of thick and a
thin planted crop on the ears of wheat,
selected six average sized ears from n thickly
planted part of the field, and also six aver
age sized ears from more thinly planted
part of the same field. The following results
were obtained


Six average sized ears from thickly plant
ed wheat measured sixteen inches.


Fertile notches numbered, II
lnfertle notches, -
Total seeds, Ill


Six average sized ears from the thinly
planted wheat measured twenty five inches
Fertile notches numbered, III
Infertile notches,
Total seeds, 316


The quality of a wheat crop is often af-
fected by the way the plant stands upon the
surface. When the crop is too thick the
grain is small, plump, and fine when the
crop is too thin the seeds are large, rough,
and coarse. In my experimental plot have
found each of the outside rows, and two or
three plants at the end of each row through
out the plot, have tall straw and coarse
seeds, as we'll as being later in ripening.
Year: 1874

The recurrence Of the annual season of
fairs, suggests the question, who shall speak ?
1t has been the custom ON such occasions,
since the organization Of these societies, to
procure some person supposed to be compe-
tent to instruct to address the farmers. Not
few Of their productions have been enter
tanning and profitable, for the reason that
they contained practical hints and sugges-
tions by practical men, OH subjects Of vital
interest to those who heard. But far too
many of these addresses have been delivered
by mild, theoretical, professional men, too
often glib-tongued lawyers, or secondhand,
superannuated, broken down politicians, who
had an eye to lucrative o ffices in the gift of
the tillers of the soil, to whom they breathed
forth their hattering, unstimulating, unctuous
speeches These men of course are never at
loss for language to express their views on
agriculture, and make what is generally call.
ed "dne speech" They repeat for the ten
thousandth time the hackneyed aud trite stuff
of farmers being the "honest yeomanry Of
the land !" that "the cultivation of the soil
is the most ennObling and most independent
ol all employments = that "iarmers in their
capacity as producers are the chief corner
stone of our nations prosperity, and the
hope Of our future glory and greatness, and
plenty more Of similar buncombe.


This may all be very well for those who
like it, and have no very distinct ideas on
topics such as should be discussed on such
occasions. But for live progressive
farmers, who owe money and want to pay it,
it is pretty poor stuff. What do these
grandiloquent speakers really know about
farming? What do they care 1t is pos
sible that many of them were born, and
spent a few years of their lives on farms
but long ago they have been weaned from
everything pertaining to the soil, and now
affect to be in hearty sympathy with farmers
and their pursuits, only to secure some ulti.
mate personal gain-some lucrative office,
or simply to secure the fee for delivering the
address.


1t is high timo that our agricultural So
cieties should inaugurate new departure n
this matter. There ought to be, aud there
are, plenty of educated, practical farmers
capable in every respect to make intelligent
aud instructive discourses to their brother
farmers on any aud all Of the occasions that
Year: 1874

1t is singular that along dusty roadsides
there is generally an abundance Of fruit, and
this abundance is usually in proportion to
the quantity of dust. Not only is tho fruit
abundant, but the leaves are generally re-
markably healthy; and we do not remember
of an instance of a blghted or seriously dis
eased tree, when they have been covered with
roadside dust.


This has been frequently noticed in re.
gard to old pear trees in gardens along road
sides; but this year especially as to the
cherry was very striking especially low
headed pie cherries which are more easily
covered with dust than trees of larger size
In this vicinity this year we have had a
particularly dusty time. There was no rain
Of any consequence for five weeks, and the
roads, many Of them at least, are not famous
for freedom from dust. The consequence was
that many Of the trees were for weeks Of a
dusty brown, instead of their usually living
green. The trees did not seem to mind 1t in
the least, and the prodigiOus crop of cherries
that they bore was something wonderful.
One friend gathered four hundred pounds
from one tree, which he sold for ten cents
per pound, yielding the handsome sum of
forty dollars from one tree. This tree
stands on his little grass. patch in front Of the
house, and thus served the double purpose Of
putting money into its owners pocket, and
of screening the house from much of the
dust.


We do not pretend to account for this
curious fact, but rest with simply stating it.
it is supposed that the plant breathes
through its eaves-how it does this when
covered with dust is not for us to say. 1t
may be that the minute insects which crowd
on fruit trees generally don't like dust; in-
deed people do say that it is to destroy in-
sects that chickens so love to cover them
selves with dust. Again, some people have
n notion that many fruit diseases come from
minute fungi which develop on the leaves
and branches, and soon cover the whole sur.
face, destroying tissue as they CO. 1t may
be that absolutely dry dust falling on these
minute juicy little plants, may suck the
moisture out Of them and leave them high
and dry. We do not pretend to discuss any
of these propositions; at the same time it is
curious TO note that these dust.covered fel.
lows should always do SO well.-German-
torn Telegraph.
Year: 1874

have read all the various opinions in
regard to the duties of farmers wives.
am personally acquainted with several wo-
men who, when occasion requires, will rake
hay, weed the garden, dig potatoes (for din
ner), milk, ride the moving machine, and
feed the horses, hogs, cattle, and sheep, and
in no case is the husband poor, lazy, brutal,
or incapable of carrying on his business, but
on the contrary they are wide awake, intell-
gent, kind.hearted men.


L know one man who agrees that 4" the
place for Il woman is in the house." He
married mild'tempered girl whose parents
had allowed her to romp and otherwise do as
she pleased. 1t only took four years of
indoor drudgery to change her from strong,
healthy girl to a hopeless invalid.


l have seen girls go berrymg and some
would come back so completely tired out
they would not get over it for week 9TH
ers would feel the better for it. l have gen.
orally noticed that the former would do more
housework than the others without getting
sick. Now | would not keep the one indoors
nor drive the others out, but let each one do
as she pleases.


Our dispositions arc not all alike, neither
are our constitutions. Bnt l do believe that
more exercise in the open air and less con.
fnemcnt would benefit most of our set. L
expect to see something in the next FARMER
about poor mans daughter marrying to get
hired man for her father for nothing Fill
ial love that would sacrifice SO much would
be quite sublime.


One thing more and l have done. Why
don't farmers girls learn to harness and
drive horses? they can help the "men
folks" more in this way than any other, and
it would be great benefit to themselves in
giving them healthful recreation. But it
is Just as ridiculous TO send one.half the wo-
men off with a horse as it would be to set a
child of two years to running sewing ma
chine. NELL MErTLE.
Year: 1874

Not sigh was heard, nor n funeral tone,


As the man to his bridal we hurried
Nor a woman discharged her farewell groan.
On the spot where the fellow was married.
We married him just about eight ut night,


Our faces paler turning,
BY the struggling moonbeam's misty light,
And the gas lamps steady burning.
No useless watchchan covered his vest,


Nor over dressed we found him;
But he looked like GENTLEMAN wearing his best
With few ofhis friends around.
Few and short were the things he said,


And We spoke not n wsrd of sorrow,
But we silently gazed on the man that was wed,
And we bitterly thought Of the morrow.
We thought as we silently stood about,


With spite and anger dying,
How the merest stranger had cut US out


With only half our trying.
Lightly wen talk of the fellow that's gone,
And OF of the past upbraid him;
But little he'll reek il we let him live on.


In the house where his wife conveyed him.
But our heavy task at length was done,


Whom the clock struck the hour for retiring;
And we heard the spiteful squib and pun


The girls were sullenly firing.
Slowly and sadly we turned TO go


We had struggled, and we were human;
We shed not tear, and We spoke not our woe,
But we LEFT him alone with his woman.
Year: 1874

There are certain perishabe products that
must find an immediate market or there is
loss to the producer but the great staple
crops may safely be held when there is good
reason for holding aud no pressing reason
for selling. 1t is suggested, we notice, that
half Of the early crops Of grain-say winter
wheat-be stored. The wisdom of this ad-
vice, of course, depends upon prospective
demand upon the old stock on hand at
home and abroad, when the new crop goes
on the market, and upon the amount Of the
new crop as compared with that Of previous
years. The means for determining the
policy pursued are more complete than ever
before. The crop reports to the Depart
ment of Agriculture, commercial reports to
the papers, and the facilities afforded by u
more complete organization Of farmers than
has before been known in this country, iacil-
itate the obtaining this information.


But the most vicious suggestion we have
seen is that "lt might be a good plan for
the wheat grower to borrow the money re.
quired for immediate use and warehouse as
much as possible Of his crop" This is max
ing the producer speculator on his own
products with vengeance. Or course it
might happen that the farmer who did this
would ma Ike money betting on the price of
his grain two to six months hence, and
paying 10 to 20 per cent, for money to bet
with but again, he might not make and
might lose the money margin he had put up.
We regard all advice that encourages any
one to run in debt, especially when there is
no absolute need of it, vicious. This advice,
when given to farmers for speculative Pur-
poses, involving as a basis Of action a
thorough knowledge ofcommercial wants and
values, is doubly bad If farmer Is able
to hold his grain for better prices without
running in debt, it is a different matter.
even then he must take risk but he does
not 90 in debt to take it, and that is the
main thing we denounce-running in debt.
--Rurak Nel0 Yorker,
Year: 1874

Pansies and a great many other flowers
retain their color after they are dried, and
they can be kept in shape by packing them
in sand while drying. Buttercups are very
pretty, and dry splendidly. had small
petunia plant last spring. 1t grew very
slowly until l commenced watering it with
hot water, frequently used hot tea, then it
began to thrive wonderfully, and continued
Towering far into the winter Hot water
had the same effect on iuchsas, but it is not
good for all plants. l do not mean boiling
water, but hotter than | can bear my hand
in. NELLIE.
Year: 1874

Indian Puddiag,-Mix seven tablespoons
luls of meal with half cup of moasses, and
pour over 1t one quart Of boiling milk. Add
half cup brown sugar, little salt aud
small piece Of butter. When ready for the
oven add a cup of cold water. Bake two
hours. Excellent


Breast of Veal,-Coyer thickly' with
crumbs of bread put small Jumps Of butter
about on it, and sprinkle with pepper and
salt when baked, making gravy of butter.
This is a very nice dish