smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

The Augusta (Me.) Journal says: The other day gentleman from Port land came to Augusta, accompanied by friend, and was stopping at the house of Mrs. Temple. One evening, after supper, he was sitting with his friend in the front yard engaged in smoking. He remarked that it was coming on, as he felt the unmistakable symptoms. He was soon rolling upon the ground, froth- ing at his mouth, and to all appearances i'll mortal agony. He made noise somewhat similar to the barking of 8 dog. He would also try to bite. Five persons attempted to hold him, but were unable to do so, during his most severe convulsions. The poor fellow re- mained in this condition some twenty four hours, and did not appear to be greatly exhausted when he came to him. self. He remarked that the reaction al- ways came two or three days afterward

 He relates that twelve years ago he was bitten by dog, and since that time an- nually, and only once year, he is afflicted by these manifestations that greatly resemble hydrophobia. He al- ways had sufficient warning of their coming. They occur later every year; last year he was attac edin June. When he is conscious of an approaching attack he takes the precaution to lie down, or otherwise he has desire to pursue and bite whoever may come in the way.
Year: 1876

The landlord of London tavern was summoned before an alderman for bending and defacipg two half sover- eigns of the queens gold current coin, under the impression that they were bad. The complainant had rendered them in payment for refreshment in order to obtain change to pay a cab fare, and the landlord had returned them as bad, having bent them with his teeth, in the belief that the possibility of bending was @ proof of bad coin. Defendants counsel persisting iu court that it was impossible to bend good half sovereign, an officer disproved the fact by bending the coin tendered in proof by the counsel double with his teeth. The discounted landlord had to make good the two defaced coins,
Year: 1876

The Little Russians inhabit an inland district in the southwest of Russia. They are 8 primitive people, and of their funeral rites striking account has recently been given by Q member of the St. Petersburg geographical society. When any one dies in Little Russia 8 jug of water is placed on the windowsill, that the soul may be able to perform it's ablutions before setting out on it's long journey. That it may have the sun to light it on its way the funeral takes place at sunset. Within the coffin are placed various articles of food and cloth ing along with some money, that the deceased may have prosperous start in his new life. The shavings of the wood of which the coffin has been made, and he tools used by the dead man, if he has been an artist, are also inclosed in it. With these are put the parings of his finger nails, which both men and women in Little Russia preserve all their lives, in consequence of 8 super stitious notion that they will enable them to climb the mountains that sepa- rate the earth from the mysterious region of the dead. Female mutes are invited to follow the coffin, and an old woman scatters handfuls of wheat over the mourners and along the road, a proceeding which is considered lucky for the living. The coffin is surrounded with cows-this being the continuance of an ancient custom prevalent among the Hindoos; it is thought to purify and disinfect the dwelling in which the death has taken place.

 The Little Russians believe that the soul remains for some time in the house, in the shape of butterfly; and the cats and fowls are driven away for fear they should eat it up. After the funeral tanquet is held, at which cover is laid for the deceased, who is supposed to preside during the festivitives. The dead are held to the hurtful rather than we'll disposed to their surviving friends. This, however, is not always the case mothers sometimes, for ex- ample, revisit their children and lavish great tenderness upon them. But it is essential that the children keep the visits secret, or they will call down the vengeance of the mother on their native Villapo
Year: 1876

Let notbin make thee sad and.fretful,. Or too regretful;

 Be still What God hath ordered must be right Then find it in thine own delight,

 My will. Why should'st thou fill to-day with sorrow About tomorrow,

 My heart? One watches all with care most true Doubt not that He will give thee, too,

 Thy part.
Year: 1876

The Paris newspapers chronicle an example of presence of mind which it may be we'll to quote for the benefit of belated travellers. The other night, says Figaro, one of our friends was passing by dark and lonely boulevard on his way home. He was walking on one side of the walk. his cane in his hand, and unconscious of any danger. Suddenly one of those rascals cut out for the house of correction came out from pile of building materials, armed with big stick, advanced upon the be- lated stroller, and at last planted himself before him. "I want your money" said the rough, addressing our friend. "How much do you want9" "I must have twenty francs" "The deuce you must" remarked the victim: eff I give you twenty francs that other fellow will ask for as much nore." "What other fellow2" asked the thief, turning his head to see whether there really was a rival behind him. Seizing the mo- ment when he turned, our friend in ficted a master stroke of his cane upon the side of the thief's head, which stunned him and laid him out then ran away without losing moments time.
Year: 1876

Which are introduced for tho first time in the present edition have been added not for the sake of pictorial effect, but to give greater lucidity and force to the explanations in the text. They embrace all b. Ianches of science and natural histoly, and depict the most famc us and remarkable features of scenery. arcbitec- ture and art. as well as the Various process of mechanics and manufactures. Although in- tended for instruction rather than embellish- ment, no pains have been spared to insure
Year: 1876

Many writers are urging the enactment Of


laws to compel the determination Of the DO


tato beetle wherever il is to be found on


vines. There can be no question that united


effort for its destruction by all parties who


raise potatoes in New England would keep


it in such subsection that the labor of 6ght-


it would be greatly reduced. When it is


remembered that the average increase of one


pair in season is thousand millions, il


will be seen that thorough work is necessary


to keep it 10 control. The New York Times
says


In nothing can the carelessnoss of some


farmers be more conspicuously shown than
in the present appearance of so many potato
fields. Fields are to be completely denuded
Of green leaf, and forest of bare stalks only
left. OF course the crop is lost beyond rem
edy, and the owners stand idly and berate
the "potato bug" Yet adjoining their fields
arc others which, in spite of the dry weather,
will produce fair crop. 1n spite, too, Of
the beetles, although they have been rein
forced by the reserve drawn from the fields
which have been abandoned to them. That
any farmer should provids seed, plant and
care for his crop, the then abandon it without
effort to the beetles, is strange indeed And
stranger still. when he may see how easily
his neighbor vanquished the pest and how
he may have done the same Now that we
have the beetle with us as a permanent resi-.
dent, in all probability, it would be far bet
ter for those who do not intenl to fght il to
avoid encouraging and feeding it by planting
a crop of potatoes for it to devour and to
breed upon, spreading therefrom to neigh.
boring farms. 1t is now AN absolute neces-
sity that some law be enacted providing for
this emergency, and that will prohibit one
person from breeding upon his fields hun
cry progeny that will eventually issue, null
tplied thousand fold, to devour the crops
Of others who have worked hard to save
them from destruction, white their sothful
neighbor has idly folded his arms and done
nothing but increase the pest. By concert.
ed aud industrious effort the beetle can be
rendered harmless, if not totally destroyed;
but one farmer who is too lazy or careless 10
save his own potatoes will stock thousand
fields around him, and make work for
thousand other farmers We don't use this
word 6gurativoly but with design, for an in
sect that lays 1,2OO eggs and has three
broods in season can be parent to more
than thousand million in one season il no
accident happens to prevent it.
Year: 1876

Boys love to kill woodchucks and they
should be encouraged to do so; for of all
the vermin that do no good to compensate
for their mischief, the woodchuck takes a
prominent place. In field of turnips, or
any legumnous plants (such as peas. beans
or cover) they revel in profusiOn. The pile
Of dirt at the mouth of their burrow in
clover field knocks the edge off of mower
in short meter.


A good dog, that will watch at their holes
quietly and take them as they come out
will clean them off in a summer. But most
dogs (like most boysl can't wait for that.
They make great ado, crowd their heads
into the burrow or the stone wall, and bark
until the welkin rings, while every hair
stands on end and they prance about with
fury.


To trap them is vexatious, and the boys
commonly tire of it when they have run to
the hole a score Of times to find that chucky
has avoided putting his foot in it," or has
escaped.


We have had the best success in smoking
them out with sulphur. Take teaspoonful
of sulphur and fold it in a piece of news
paper, double, and do it up as a trader does
little parcel of groceries, taking care to
have the paper very dry, and that the sui
phur be rubbed over its surface and dis
tributed as much as possible With a lot of
these and basket of fine straw, hay or
weeds, matches and a shovel, you are ready.
Open the ends of paper, light one end and
thrust the lighted end far down in the hole,
taking care to leave it burning. Stop the
mouth Of the burrow with straw and cover
with earth. DO this at each entrance, and
they will never come out, unless they are a
different breed from ours.
Year: 1876

We write much Of the value and import
ance OF certain minerals as fertilizers, and
the necessity of supplying them if they are
lacking in the soil. Phosphoric acid, potash
and nitrogen, are the substances which we
most generally seek to add in the form of
manure; but 10 our cage rness to supply these
we should not overlook the Importance of
the presence Of carbon, not only as plant
food of itself, but as a solvent of other plant
food in the soil.


Carbon FERNS large proportion of the
vegetable matter which by slow decomposi.
tion becomes the vegetable mold in the soil
generally considered so necessary to the
growth Of crops. 1t is found in its purest
form in the diamond, in graphite, plumbago
or black lead, as it is more commonly called,
and in charcoal. United with oxygen, it
forms carbonic acid which operates as u
powerful solvent, rendering available those
other mineral compounds 80 necessary to the
growth of plants. DR.. Gregory, Professor
Of Chemistry in the University OF Edinburgh,
gives the following:


ITO illustrate the power of water contain
ing carbonic acid to dissolve phosphate of
lllhei "hlch is lnsOluDle IN pure water, may
state" says he "that found the carcass Of
pig which had been buried for fourteen
years on the slope Of hill which was moist
and undrained, to have shrunk into a fat
cake of fatty acid the muscles, membranes,
nerves and vessels had putrefed aud disap-
peared, and not trace Of bone earth was to
be found The whole had been dissolved by
water percOlating through the body, and had
thus been carried down to the lower ground
found the water, like all water that passes
through soil, to contain carbonic acid, and
this had been the solvent.


sin dry situation bones remain unaltered
for centuries, as in the sandy soil of the
battle field OF Gamma fought more than two
thousand years ago), in which the bones Of
those killed in the battle are found to this
day entire, though having lost much of their
animal matter. The solvent power of car
bonic must act in every soil, aud hence the
value OF hnmus," (this is the material Of the
soil which is the result of vegetable decom-
position), sin the soil and of decaying organ.
ic matter in tho manure, ,"-American Ru.
raj Home.
Year: 1876

A slight protection to the grass sod after
removing the hay.crop, is in dry seasons Of
great benefit to the turf, aud increases the
probability Of large crops in the future. The
cutting off Of portion of the stalk or stem
and all of the foliage operates as a sudden
check to the circulation Of the sap, and is Of
itself severe shock to the plant. If the
weather is hot and dry many of the plants
die. Fields that are closely mown suffer
worse than others. 1t is good economy to
run the scythe of the mower little higher
than is the custom of most farmers. A
light mulch of fine, strawy manure, applied
Immediately after the removal of the hay
crop operates as protection from the sun
and drying winds.
Year: 1876

On the farm of President Clark at Am.
herst was poor, gravelly field Of six acres.
Last fall the field was pOwed, and one ton
OF rectifed Peruvian guano applied to the
whole and narrowed in. The piece was then
sowed to winter rye, resulting in crop this
year averaging nearly five feet in height
when plowed under, and which good judges
estimated would yield if harvested, thirty
bushels of grain per acre. But President
Clark is one who generally induces nature
to produce as he wills, by following out the
principles she has herself laid down. The
soil here was lacking in organic matters, as
well as in plant food, and this was the read
lest means of supplying the deficiency. The
rye was plowed under just before blossoming,
though on general principles, the better way
is to turn it under when nearly ripe, at the
time when the crop has taken into itself the
largest attainable amount of atmospheric
and soil matters. A large size Holbrook's
swivel plow was used, plowing to depth Of
seven inches, and was followed by n subsoil
plow stirring the soil seven inches deeper


Next autumn another ton of rectified guano
will be applied to the six acres and har-
rowed in, and the field seeded to grass and
winter rye. Thus the lot will be quickly
and effectually supplied with large amount
of organic and mineral elements of plant
food. If allowed TO mature, according TO
the estimate, the crop plowed in would add
to the soil Of available plaat food about 227
lbs. of nitrogen, 200 lbs. of potash, and 122
lbs of phosphoric acid, which would nearly
equal in value the two tons Of guano. Per.
haps the chief value to the land, however,
is in the organic matter derived from the
air added to the sofia value which can
hardly be estimated .-Scientifc Farmer.
Year: 1876

LIME AS FERTILIZER is a direct
fertilizer and indispensable to the growth of
nearly all crops. 1t is especially valuable
for grass and clover. Although existing to
some extent in nearly all sorts, yet it is as
carbonate Of lime and in an inert state, and
is not soluble in water. 1t is only when in
a caustic condition and freed FROM carbonic
acid by burning that it is useful as a fertilizer
In New e-rsey, Pennsylvania, and some other
locations in the east, lime is very extensively
used by farmers, being applied at the rate Of
forty or fifty bushels per acre, Just previous
to the sewing Of the fall grain The ground
is plowed the manure spread, and the ground
then crOss-plowed, the lime is now evenly
spread over the surface, after having been
dry Stacked into fine powder, and is narrowed
into the soil. The seed is then drilled or
if it is broadcast, it is sown after the lime
and both narrowed in together. The good
effect of the lime is clearly visible when the
clover sOwn in the following spring begins to
show. The usual price Of lime fresh from
the kiln in the locations mentioned is from
ten to fifteen cents per bushel. 1t loses value
by exposure to the air and rain. In the
case in question we would certainly recon.
mend trial in the way above pointed out.
-Nelo York Times.
Year: 1876

EXPERIMENTS IN FEEDING GRAIN.-A cor
respondent Of the N. Il. Homestead says !;
We have the past winter been experimenting
in feeding grain to cattle with results that
have somewhat surprised me. | had always
supposed grain (wheat bran and mea) would
produce more milk if fed dry in the manger.
During the past winter we have fed a herd
OF twenty COWS about six quarts per day Of
mixture Of Indian meal and wheat shorts
in the proportion OF one bag Of meal to two
bags OF shorts. One week we would feed
the grain scalded as above, and the next
week we fed it dry, then we fed scalded
gram for two weeks and dry grain another
two weeks. The milk was carefully meas
ured all the time the first trial showed an
increase Of four quarts of milk in the total
production Of twenty COWS, while the second
trial showed no increase over the dry feed
Now have always been an advocate in the.
ory, Of feeding cooked meal, but the past
winters experience is poser viii some
one Of more experience offer an explanation
If explanation there be.
Year: 1876

To BREAK UP A SETTING HEN.-The Fan
clcr's Journal gives this remedy for chronic
difficulty. Cochins and Brahmas at this sea-
son of the year give fanclers deal of trouble
oitentimos, through their persistent desire to
set. In almost any mans yards, this month,
where the Brahma or Cochin fowls are kept,
the bulk Of these mature birds will show
broodiness, and adhere to the nests with q
portinacity quite discouraging, frequently
We are entirely opposed to the numerous
cruel devices that are resorted to by impa-
tient or inconsiderate breeders to /" break up"
the fowls at sIch time, who arc thus mere
ly following the natural maternal instinct
and ducking in cold water, driving them
about, thrusting them to fast in dark empty
barrel, and other foolish modes adopted too
often, are simply of no use, and are inhuman
as well. Let them rest. Put few glass or
wooden eggs under them and let them sit two
weeks, quietly. Then break up the nest, and
remove them to new quarters. They will
thus quickly get over the inclination to brood
longer-as a rule-and if placed with n
young grower, for few days, they will give
you no further trouble. This is the best
mode We have found to break up these late
summer -inelined settlers.
Year: 1876

HEAvEs'-In heaves the great point is to
correct any faults in feeding, watering and
working. Keep the patient in a cool, clean
wel-aired stable; feed sound oats or ground
feed morning and noon, without any hay or
straw, but at night few pounds of well.cured
timothy, or better, straw may be given after
the grain do not put to work for at least an
hour after. any meal, and let exercise be
gentle for the first half hour, never over.drive
If there is any tendency to costiveness give
daily two or three ounces of Glauber salts,
more or less, as may be necessary to keep
them easy. Without such careful manage,
mcnt all other measures will prove unavail-
ing, and this care alone may be sufficient to
check the disease in its early stages. A run
at grass on natural pasture, destitute Of
clover, will often have similar effect. Final
ly, the following powder may be given daily
for month or even more. Powdered digit
alis, three drachms, powdered gentian, four
ounces, powdered coriander seeds, four ounces
arsenate Of soda, two drachms, mix, divide
into thirty powders, give one daily in the
food Neio York Tribune.
Year: 1876

LIQUID MANUREs.-Iti is generally believed
that no system Of enrichiug land for small
gardens, with view to perfection of crops,
is so truly economical and so easily available
as that of liquid manure. We occasionally
hear Of gardener, or an amateur fruit
grower, who has practced enriching the crop
by use Of liquid manure, but it is not a
common practice so to enrich our gardens
and lawns, however ofttimes the advocacy Of
the practice has been written. The writer
practiced the sprinking Of lawn in dry
season, with weak liquid manure water, and
in the greatest Of heat and drouth has kept
it fresh and green. In the management of
pot plants, no course Of supplying food equals
that OF judicous use of liquid manure.
There are iu almost every family waste
liquids, which usually go into a sewer or
drains or possibly upon the road, where they
are of no avail, but if saved by being con-
Quoted to tank, along with wash waters Of
the house, would enrich an entire garden for
vegetables aud fruits, er-borders, &c,
and the whole, if the wash be applied reg
ularly, and at night, after sunset, in moderate
quantities, the driest weather of midsummer
would not check vegetation If an unpleas-
ant odor comes from the tank, little plaster
(gypsum) sprinkled in aud around tho tank
would keep it sweet and clean. Again, the
the use of liquid manure need never delay
planting because of manure not being on
hand but planting could proceed, and the
application of manure be made at leisure
+. II. ELLIOT IN american Rural Home.
Year: 1876

The London Agricultural Gazette makes
the following severe but just criticism on the
habit OF placing great stress on color Of cat
| tie.


II the value Of Jersey stock is to rest on
color, deterioration will surely follow of those
useful qualities that are far more noticeable
in the good old.fashoned parti.coored COW
than those which will be found among the
generality of fine, highbred, whole.colored
fawns, grsys, of or foxy, so-caled Jerseys.
l have owned hundreds Of acclimated Jersey
stock, and have never, as rule, found the
whole-colored such large producers as many
part'colored ones in fact, by far the most
butter-producing COW l ever possessed was
not only parti-colored, but the most ugly and
ungainly beast Of the lot yet her stock have
never failed to show their large butter.mak.
ing qualities. The true type of a Jersey
Gov IS, in fact, an animal that will not make
meat. | do not say that this is not im.
proved upon by acclimitization and slight
introduction of q harder breed of which
are termed Chichester Jersey are the best
description, neither do | say that Jersey
breeders on the island itself have not in some
instances breed that shows dis.
pensation to make some flesh, and
very probably may then be fol-
lowing up the requirements of fashion, yet
maintain that pure Jersey should throw
the bulk of her feeding properties into but
ter, and with little to flesh. The parti-
colored good COW may have but white spot,
especially under the belly, but throughout
the body the, rich yellow skin, under any
colored hair, will be found-back, white, or
fawn. have seen the commencement of a
wholc.colored herd, the propriety of noble
duke, to obtain which | have seen wealthy
and large producing COWS sold off to prevent
an animal remaining with the slightest stain
of other than one color.
Year: 1876

uUNGARIAE Hay FOR Cows.-Dr. Loring
regards Hungarian grass as Of great value
to raise for hay. lie says, believe l can
make more milk with this grass, cut and
mixed in the same manner. And when you
remember that you can raise on ordinary
land, by sowing the seed of Hungarian grass
late in June, from two and a.half to three
and a.hall tons of fodder to the acre, and
this crop can be sown after We have ascer-
tanned whether we are to have good crop
Of hay or not, you will see the value of this
grass. have such high opinion Of it that
in my farm this year and last, raised from
seventy.fve to one hundred tons Of it for tho
purpose of feeding to my milch COWS during
the winter.
Year: 1876

Those farmers who sowed fodder corn to
piece out the failing pastures at this season,
have now an opportunity to test the value
of that much abused forage. Mich COWS
that have nothing but what they pick in the
pastures through the dry term so likely to
come in late summer and fall, will surely
fail to make a profitable report of them.
selves.
Year: 1876

L. b, Arnold states that he has satisfac.
torily traced the cause Of poison cheese to
be derived from the use Of bad food and
water taken by the COW. A little leaveus
all it is mixed with. The milk of one COW
poisons the largest vat full. The remedy is
to keep bad food and water out of the way.
In default Of this heating milk to 1876
kills the poisonous ferment aud renders it
harmless.