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THE PLAJNDEALEP, McHGNRY, ILL. -rnmrn Elleiv E YkzGtaff L. TL _ 19 _l kt V- I . mJ K TKe Rvrof NawlorU&r*** YRTLK stopped playing on the organ, and whirled about, address­ ing the family gathered around the evening lamp I've got a conundrum for you,: mm :f^.- :'w: I didn't look like that when he shock him. me last. cifix. she announced. "One of those that has ho ahy, * > f •*+» swer, I'll bet," said Tim, who waf popping corn over a bed of glowing , coals. "I don't get caught twice the same way." "All right, smart)'! Count you out then. You'd mly give some foot answer anyway. You're never berious." fCome on with your conundrum," yawned Edith, *1' need something to wake me up. This old alge- makes me sleepy "Well, here it is: How are we going to give any Okiisf is presents, with no crops, no money^ no ftttaiing?" , . **Told you there wouldntbe any answer," «k«ckled Tim.' .. ; - _ - _ - "I'm afraid Tim Is right. Myrtle," and mother looked up from laying the child's coat pattern: Upon the rlpped-up overcoat on the table. "What do you waut to bother about Christmas presents for? Everybody knows we haven't got any money to buy presents," and father looked up from the market reports. "Every blamed thing Tfeised on a farm is high except hay, and that's the only thing I've got. If we get through the winter ourselves we'll do well, without trying to make Christmas presents." **I don't care! I'm going to do something for Uncle John, anyway," declared Myrtle. "He sent me'this organ, and I'm going to just remind him Chat I've not forgotten if nothing more." Myrtle had a firm chin. The dimple might dis­ tract the attention of the casual observer, but the fact remained. Myrtle had a firm chin. It had- first begun to make itself felt in the family about fifteen years before, when Myrtle was a year old. Being a reasonable and well-balanced creature, her rule was not only tolerated, but her plans, al- ways practicable and often brilliant, sooner or later received the co-operation of the family, no matter how much they may have been opposed at first. Her heart's desire was to have a fine music­ al education, but she knew that it was far too ex­ pensive to be thought of. She had sensibly con­ cluded to do as well as she could the duties near- Mil at hand. •Tm going to take command," she said now, *ind together we are going to do something." "You're welcome to, as far as I am concerned," grumbled Tim. "Excuse me from sending 25-cent presents to a rich uncle." "Never you mind." said Myrtle, mysteriously. Thereafter there were "doings" in the household. jBer enthusiasm was contagious, and soon even . Htm got Interested. I'm going to send Uncle John a home-cooked dinner," Myrtle declared. got a turkey," said ma. iffe ^ t*'I've got the duck pa promised me for taking f-iT" care of the rest of them, and it Is as fat as butter. fYou roast and stuff it and then we will all take * «, hand at the trimmings." «, ^Myrtle's mother was an excellent cook, and. her iiflear, firm Jellies and perfect canned fruit were jtfce envy of her less skillful neighbors." ' Myrtle ransacked the shelves and selected three j^asses of Jelly, one of an amber color, another of mby red, the third and most benutifnl. being one af a pale translucent green. She stood each In a square of crepe paper, brought up the sides and icorners, and tied them tightly, and then pulled e: the top all around until It looked like a flower, ch color corresponded to the color of the Jelly in the glass. Then she lined and covered a box ytth paper, and set in the ruby, the aipber, and ithe pale green flowers. She covered the box, and tied it with Christmas ribbon attached to which a card on which was written: 'J; « - "With that duck you're going to eat, t need something tart, but sweet, f i" f That's us." ** * *** t * •y;:<A glass can of watermelon pickles was wrapped ',,£b corrugated cardboard, and then wound about with crepe paper, twisted tightly, and the ends fringed. It then resembled the old-fashioned motto candies. That the motto or couplet might not be lacking, the following lines were written and I n s e r t e d - : r . V . " ; - |y , " "I'm going if, L \ Christmas din "We hain't * i,r: . lli* ,'<«r . HOW LIFEBOAT ORIGINATED "Those Jell girls may be tart and sweet. But I've heard that they lack spice. If of me you'll deign to eat I am sure you'll vote me nice." Grandma made a wonderful fruit cake--the kind that lasts a year, and improves with age. This was surrounded with white parchment, paper, and covered with a white paper doily, and fancy edges. This was laid carefully over the waxed paper, which covered the frosting, studded thickly with whole hickory and butternut meats. The whole was packed into a round box, made by Myrtle's skillful fingers. To make It she cnt two disks of cardboard of the required size, and two long strips of the same cardboard, one the height of the cake, the other narrower, for the cover. She bound the edges together with gummed tape, and covered their junction with narrow strips of gold paper. Then she neatly covered top and sides with Christmas paper, all holly and mistletoe. Lastly, she tied two bright scarlet ribbons about the box, one each waj. She made plump bows, and, gathering the ends* of the ribbons, sewed tiny sleigh bells on them, so that the box, when moved, gave forth a sweet musical sound. Myrtle surveyed the box with satisfaction, her head on one side. "You ought to please," she said. "You appeal to the eye, the ear, and the palate." The box certainly did present an imposing ap­ pearance. On the Imide of the cover appeared the lines: "Of course this cake was made by mother; She says if it don't suit, she'll make you another." A great generous ball of cottage cheese was wrapped In paper and packed in a square box, with plenty of tissue paper in the corners. Ac­ companying it was the legend: "If Esau had. known of the cheese called •cottage,* He'd have traded for that, instead uf the pottage." -There were two generous loaves of bread, one of "saIt rising," the other yeast raised. On a card were the lines: "Grandma says, when you were a boy. And eating "salt rising,' you never could stop; But In case you, tire of the old-fashioned klih<£ Here's another loaf, raised with the hop." Packed about the loaves, and neatly wrapped, each by Itself, in parchment paper, were a dozen little individual butter pats, molded in the form of • rose. Myrtle wrote: "We wonder If, when you eat, you'll mutter: 'Aha 1 That tastes like Old Home butter!'" The mince pie was concocted with Immense care, from the careful choosing and mixing of the in­ gredients, to the construction of the faultless, flaky crust, just touched with the faintest hint of golden brown. This was carefully packed between two wooden plates, tied firmly together. On the top plate was written: "When is It true that a man's a mince pie? Cannot you take the hint? Why, a man's a iftnt Spy of course, you know. When he acts as a spy in the mint." The duck was, of course, the chef d'oeuvre of the whole undertaking. When it was ready, lying on its back, with Its fat legs composed at its plump sides, it surely did look appetizing. The "Poet Lariat," as Tim called her, wrote the following: The lifeboat Is a very modern contrivance. It is not much more than a half ccntury since It came t to be generally used. In the old days a sea captain v jgreatly resented even the suggestion that his ves­ sel should carry lifeboats. > j ' At the period when these boats still were an ex- \ ipiertment, a remarkable feat of life-saving was performed on the New Jersey coast at a point Bow within the precincts of Asbury Park, v Joseph Francis, an Inventor, had brought forth a . r Heviee made of iron ami shaped like a boat, with ^ m lid which could he shut, thus keeping out the ^ater. Francis contended that in case of a ship- ,, i "wreck near shore a line could be made fast he- ||ween the vessel and the coast, and his quaint lifeboat hauled back and forth, carrying several - - - . jpersons on each trip. [ Francis was the butt of much humor, and his Mfe-saving boat, ^ which was commonly called a kettle because of Its odd shape, became n subject jfor general derision. Then a vessel bearing the f mame of Ayrshire was wrecked In 1S47 off the i fiersey coast. It had a large passenger list, and (great loss of life seemed inevitable. Francis Pushed to the pcene got a line to the ship and Started his boat upon its first emergency test. He ^aved 201 lives by this method, many of which | \ inust have been lost otherwise, for the sea was sa S f-ough that no ordinary boat could have ever reached land from the wreck. f In recognition of his skill and bravery, congress presented Francis with the largest gold medal «ver given by that body. It was made of pure gold, two-thirds of an Inch thick, and was of • about the same size as a ten plate. The boat de- tolsed by Francis might still be in use were It not C? ' ' } fOT breeches buoy. Because of the boat's * j V size, weight and general clumsiness It" was difficult fri, • ^ f-to handle. But it was none the less practical, and / paved the way for the breeches buoy, operated on pfw-v: i'V' picture went in, along with those which Tliri (a genius at the work) had taken of each member of the family while engaged in pre­ paring the box. Grandma was seen in spectacles and big apron, concocting the cake. Edith was taken dressing the duck, mother stuffing it. Myrtle packing it, and Tim screwing the lid of the box, which was oh hinges. At last the box was ready, and it made a brave appearance indeed, for it had been painted a rich cardinal color, and in the corners Myrtle had transferred pictures of holly and mistletoe bunches. * * • » • . • • It was Christmas eve. Uncle John sat in his bachelor home, his feet stretched out before a comfortable grate fire, his good old pipe in his mouth. When Uncle John was in a reminiscent mood he always smoked a pipe. The housekeeper knocked softly at the door. "The expressman is here. He has brought a most remarkable looking box, and he says to sign right here." The box was bfought ln. "Please bring a screw driver," he said. The screw driver in his hand, he waited • until the housekeeper had left the room. •: He had not kept much track of his home folks back on the farm. After Sister Myrtle died he ^hated to ever think of going back. Myrtle--the "good fellow, the charming companion--as good as any boy--never took a dare--even kept him on the qui vlve to keep up with her (she was two years older). "Ah," sighed he. "There never was another girl like Myrtle." As his niece was named for Myrtle, who had .always loved music, he had given her an organ, but that was years ago, and he had almost for­ gotten her existence. Here then was a box from the old home. His conscience gave a twinge. How lie had neglected them ! \ , » • » -;:vv ^ * • * The box was empty. The contents tud been carefully placed on the broad mahogany table. Pccle John sat before the fire; motionless. In one hand was the old picture. In the other he held the photograph, wavering handwriting of his motherland the sight of her wrinkled face and white hair in the photograph--such a contrast to that In the old picture--these touched him. " Then the sight of Myrtle, with her fresh young face, her head bound around with heavy braids, Just as his sister had worn hers--the coral beads, even, without which he never saw his sister--all these things had seized him and transported him back over the thirty years that had passed since he had seen his home. Seizing the receiver at his elbow he called up the telegraph office and dictated the following message: "Will be home New Years, celved. Greetings, Box re- UNCLE JOHN." Then he again took up the pictures and studied them. Grandma and--Myrtle. His beloved Myrtle--re­ stored to him from the dead! He no longer marveled at that wonderful box. "Such girls can accomplish anything If they get a chance!" he said. Suddenly he straightened up and pounded the arm of his chair with his fist. "And, by George! I'll see that she gets • chance!" FOR THE BOY IN CAMP WOMAN PLEADED FOR CANDOR Matron Announcing Nearness of Birth- Found Truth Not 8o Atttflftr -l _ *lve After 8he Got It. A woman with a birthday In sight spoke earnestly to three men who^were her friends, writes Ella Randall Pearce, in life. "Tomorrow will be another birth­ day for me," she said. l,I know the freshness of my youth has departed, but I should like to know just how old I appear in the eyes of the world. Tell me, my dear friends, If you were looking on me for the first time what would be your Impressions?" Said the first man glibly: "I have known you for several years, and you appear the same as when I first saw you. Your beauty is undimmed; your charm is undiminished. If I did not know otherwise, I should say tomor­ row would be your twentieth birth­ day." Said the second man more slowly: "I, too, have known you for several years, but it seems to me you have been favored by time. Your beauty has ripened and deepened until now you, who were once a lovely bud, are a lovelier rose in bloom. I should count tomorrow as the beginning of your twenty-fifth year." "And you," queried the woman of the third inan, who had been regard­ ing her with cjear-eyed frankness. "Between friends there should al­ ways be truth," he replied gravely. "I acknowledge your beauty and your charm and both have been wonder­ fully preserved in semblance of youth. But you ask for candor and you shall have it. Looking at you closely, I should not expect you to see thirty-- after tomorrow." The woman faced the three men who were her friends, and her eyes were gleaming while her cheeks' pink turned crimson. She pointed an ac­ cusing finger. "You have lied," She said tremulous­ ly, "and you also. But I will forgive you both because you lied to please me. But you"--she whirled toward the last speaker--"you are a barbarous egotist. You have wounded me In or­ der to maintain your own reputation for veracity. Truth, Indeed! Your honesty offends We are no longer friends. Go--and quickly!" "Whew!" exclaimed the third man as he strode through the outer dark­ ness. "I wonder what would have happened to me if I had really told her the truth?" Dispersing a Crowd. "I have just come back from forty- eight hours' duty in Paris," writes an officer in a Highland regiment. "My servant and I, both in the kilt, were buying some stuff outside a shop, as one does in Paris, when a crowd of aj>out twenty people gathered round, and simply stared--some amused, Some open-mouthed, and some doubtless in admiration. I was amused at first, but it got a bit too much of a good thing, and my servant, who is a wag, said: 'Shall I hand round the hat, sir?' So, not thinking he would, I said: 'Yes, do,' and--if he didn't whip off his Balmoral and take it round perfectly seriously, with a childlike expression on his face. They cleared off all right, some grinning, and others look­ ing very sheepish. But we got noth­ ing." the same principle. "Not a porcine suckling, but a nice fat duckling You draw for your Christmas dinner. You ne'er saw a duck That was nicer to pluck; We hope you will vote him a winner." Some beautiful red Brother Jonathan apples were tucked in the corners, and a glass of elder­ berry jelly. These were grandma's contribution, and she wrote, In a somewhat trembling hand, the following note: "Dear Johnny: "These apples came off from the tree where you fell and broke your leg that time. Do you re­ member? I wouldn't let them cut It down when they cut the others. The elderberry jelly was made from the elderberries that grow on the - bushes by the old swimming hole. -MOTHER." When everything was finished and the box about ready to go, there still remained two things to be done. One was to put in the old-fashioned daguerreotype of grandma, with Aunt Myrtle (taken at sixteen) standing on one side of her, and Uncle John on the other. This had been taken many years before, for a relative, and had been sent away, and its existence forgotten. Myr­ tle had been named for her aunt, and she looked very much as the latter had done at her age. Aunt Myrtle had died at eighteen, so Myrtle never saw her. The other thing to be inclosed was the ama­ teur photograph of grandma and the present Myrtle. She had posed in imitation of the pose in the early picture, with her arm around grand­ ma's neck. The resemblance between her picture and that of Aunt Myrtle was almost startling. When grandma looked at the two pictures to­ gether she shook her head: "Do 1 really look as old at that?" she sighed. "I hate to send that to Johnny. I'm afraid it will What shall I send that boy in military camp? Many mothers and others are asking that ques­ tion. In reply, Dr. James Naismith, professor of physical education In the University of Kansas, says: "Send him candy and lemons, a good book and. If his eotnpntiy has a talking machine, a record of light music or something funny. But don't send him sob letters or nightgowns." Doctor Naismith speaks from 30 years' experi­ ence in training university and college youths and from four months on the border as chaplain of the First Kansas infantry. He Is the Inventor of basket ball and has trained hundreds of athletes and kept thousands of students physically fit. "Sob letters and nightgowns were the most wor­ rying and useless things the boys on the border received from home," Said Doctor Naismith. "Write that boy once or twice a week. Send him the home paper. He may not seem prompt about writing home, but never forget he has an in­ satiable appetite for home letters and the home paper. His appetite for sweets, too, Is very keen. The army ration, wholesome and nourishing, hasn't many' trimmings, so candy always is warm­ ly welcomed by the boys. Homemade fudge or caramel cand *, something that doesn't mash or melt easily, s.iould be sent "There is no need to send clothing or medi­ cines. Uncle Sam will look out for that. But small musical instruments are valuable In keep­ ing a" camp cheerful. Banjos, mandolins, even ukeleles, are good. Baseballs, bats, gloves and masks always are welcome. Anything that en­ courages healthful play is good to send. "I ain very much in earnest when I ask that no sob letters be sent the boys. Also, If you know of some boy who has no one to write him or to Send him candy, remember him. I saw boys who felt It quite a little that there was no one to remember them. They're all Just big kiddies, you know, and they need appreciation." y'\ % SHERMAN'S FAMOUS SAYING {General's Definition of War Was Given In an Address at. Columbus, O* In 1880 at Reunion of Veterans. J. H. 4 Galbralth of Columbus, Om writing to the New York World, gives &fjplace and date to a remark which has Vt^fbeen widely credited to General Wll- >itlam Tecumseh Sherman. He says: '* j "In answer tci Inquiries as to where pi-. jGen. William T. Sherman said war was ItcU. «|4 fsCMs Infimslionw that -lift never said it at all, the Columbus Dis­ patch asserts that General Sherman said it In Columbus on August 12, 1880, and in support of the assertion pro­ duces from its files a copy of a short address he made here at that time:In which the now famous definition of war was made. •The occasion was a reunion of the Civil war soldiers of Ohio. President Hayes was a guest of honor and most of the living generals of the Civil war were present. The addresses were made In the open in Franklin park. It was raining hard when General Sherman's turn came to speak, but he stood out uncovered and delivered his short speech. As published. It con­ tained just 308 words. Alluding to the fact that old soldiers did not mind rain, he continued: 'You all know that this Is not soldiering. There Is many a boy here today who thinks war is all glory, but, boys, it is all hell. You can hear that warning to generations yet to come. I look upon It with horror, but if it has to come, I •m her*' "This last clause brought great ap­ plause, and when it subsided the gen< eral proceeded op, another line ol thought" . Reel, Not Real, A merchant says that one reason why he would like to go into the movies is because the hero always gets his telephone connection so promptly. Few Perfect Pipes. Pipe manufacturing is said to be the most reckless o£ speculation. The manufacturer buys his blocks of briar root *'sight an' unseen," as the chil­ dren say. He runs the entire contents of the bag through the factory, giving each piece exactly the same treatment as all the rest, expending an equal amount of skill and care on each piece, then looks to see what he drew. Speak­ ing in averages, one expert finds that out of each gross of finished pipes there are two dozen that can be sold as "firsts," six dozen that will pass as "seconds," two dozen that must go for "thirds" that will retail at 9 cents to 19 cents, while the remaining two doz­ en must go down to the furnace to be used as fuel. If it is his lucky day the manufacturer may find a single perfect pipe In the gross. Interesting Experiment Experiments just completed by two French scientists have reopened the controversy whether rudimentary man­ ifestations of life can be produced in inorganic matter. These men took a glass tube containing a solution of col­ loidal silica, sealed it by melting, the glass and subjected tube and contents to a high temperature, long enough to sterilize them thoroughly, according to all current Ideas of sterilization. The tube was then kept moderately warm for two months, and when opened the contents were full of living bacteria. Objectors contend that the colloidal silica probably operates to protect bacteria originally In the so­ lution from the effects of the, beat sterilization. Ground Moles Are Big Eaters. A Scotchwoman has just announced the results of an Interesting series of observations on the common mole. The most striking point, to the layman is the Inordinate appetite of this tiny creature. A mole will eat its own weight in earthworms in 24 hours. An ordinary man eating in the same ra­ tio would require 150 pounds of food a day. If the human race were con­ stituted like the moles, comments an exchange, Mr. Hoover's task would be hopeless from the outset. One of the moles which was a subject for study weighed four ounces and-devoured. 120 oances of food In a single month. Truly Good. $t Jjs better to be good ia reality thai to seem so* Yvyno's First Blunder. Louis Yvyno was born in sunny Italy. When entering a Winnipeg school at the age of fifteen he was re­ quired to fill out an Information slip giving name and other personal facts. He was a bright boy and made no mistakes until he came to the line marked "born," followed by a blank space. In this Louis wrote down very neatly the one word, "yes." Back-Handed Comfort ^ •They say men of brains live longer than others." "Don't worry about that, dear boy; ^ou may be oae of the exceptions u ajh* TREATING VARIOUS DISEASES OF SWINE .1 ~ 1 ' h -1" INOCULATING A HOG WITH ANJI- HOG-CHOLERA SERUfMl (Prepared by the United States Depart­ ment of Agriculture.) As soon as sickness appears In the herd the unaffected hogs should at once be removed to clean, disinfected -quarters, preferably without much range, for by running over pastures they come in contact with contagion. Their feed should be carefully regulat­ ed and. If they have previously been on pasture, should include some green feed, roots, or an abundance of skim milk. ' The quarters In which the sickness first appeared should be thoroughly cleaned, all bedding and rubbish burn­ ed, and loose boards and old partitions torn out and burned. If the pen Is old, knock it to pieces and burn it. Disin­ fect pens ahd sleeping places, using air-slaked lime on the floors and the carbollc-acld solution on the walls and ceilings. Whitewash everything. If a hog dies from any cause the carcass should never be exposed where it may be devoured by the other hogs or by passing birds or beasts, but should be burned at once or burled deeply and the pens thoroughly disinfected, imme­ diately. If possible, do not move the carcass from the place where It falls; but If necessary to do so the ground over which it is dragged should be dis­ infected. It Is not known positively how long the virus of hog cholera may survive In the soil, but under favorable conditions it is not unlikely that It may live In the ground for several months. Care should be taken to maintain a strict quarantine between the sick and healthy hogs. The same attendant should not care for both lots unlesd he disinfects himself thoroughly after each visit to the Infected hogs. Dogs should be confined until the disease Is stamped out The treatment of hogs suffering from cholera is not satisfactory after the disease has become well established In a herd. The prevention of an out­ break by the use of anti-hog-cholera vaccination should be relied upon rath­ er than the cure of sick animals. The destruction of vermin is of Im­ portance in the production of swine. Lice are common pests among swine, and vigorous and persistent treatment is required to eradicate them. The farmer should frequently examine his hogs about the ears, flanks, and lnsldes of the legs to see If they are lousy. The lice may be readily seen traveling - among the bristles, particularly in the parts just mentioned. The eggs, or "nits," are small white oval bodies at-t tached to the bristles. Dipping does not as a rule destroy the vitality of the eggs. Swine should be dipped re­ peatedly in order to kill the lice that batch out of the eggs after the pre­ vious dipping. These lice are blood­ sucking parasites, and by biting the hog and sucking blood they cause a great deal of skin irritation. Furth­ ermore, they act as a drain on the vi­ tality of the hog, through the loss of blood which they abstract. When lousy the hog is usually restless and rubs on posts and other convenient objects. The coat looks rough and harsh. This pest is transmitted from one animal to another by direct contact, or by con­ tact with infected bedding or quarters. Mange. Mange, one of the most common of skin diseases, is caused by a mite which feeds on the skin. It Is much more common and severe on young stock than on the older animals, al­ though the mature animals as well as the young are likely to become affect­ ed If the disease is introduced Into the herd. Mange Is characterized by the formation of crusty scabs on the face and neck and along th,e back, and in severe cases the mite may be found on any part of the body. The hair is stiff and erect, giving the pig a Jery unthrifty appearance. All newly purchased stick should be examined for Uce and other skin dis­ eases, and if any are found the hog should be treated before he is turned with the rest of the herd. Dipping to Destroy Vermin. To free hogs from vermin they should be dipped two or more times at intervals of about two weeks, prefer­ ably 15 to 16 days for lice. Several dippings may be required before com­ plete eradication is accomplished. Do not fail at the same time to clean and disinfect thoroughly the sleeping quar­ ters. Cresol compound (U. S. P.) may be used for dipping and disinfecting. For dipping, mix in the proportion of one gallon to 100 gallons of water; for disinfecting, in the proportion of three gallons to 100 gallons of water. Coal- tar stock dips and nicotine stock dips may also be used to treat hogs foi* Uce. For use they are diluted with water in accordance with directions supplied- <#w aaaaufaeturers. V" "rk* sol compound, coal-tar dips, and nic­ otine dips may be purchased at the drug store. For mange crude petroleum is more •effective than the ordinary stock dips. It is also destructive to lice. The vat may be filled with the oil or half filled with, water before the oil is added., If one dipping does not effect a cure the treatment should be repeated in one or two weeks. Owing to the great variation in the composition of crude petroleum from different localities and the greater in­ jurious effects of some crude oils than of others, crude petroleum, if of a kind not used before, should be tested on a few animals before extensive treat­ ment is undertaken. Animals treated with crude petroleum should be provid­ ed with plenty of shade and water. They should not be dipped in oil In very cold or very warm weather, One of the best varieties of oil for use on live stock Is Beaumont crude petrol­ eum, and oils of similar composition are more likely to be satisfactory than those which vary widely from It The specifications are as follows: Specific gravity ranging from 22^4 degrees to 24Vi degrees Baume; 40 per cent of the bulk boiling between 200 degrees and 800 degrees C.; 1% to 1% per cent of sulphur. Lime-Sulphur Solution. Another remedy for mange is lime- sulphur solution. This remedy is not highly effective In destroying lice. It must be Used warm. (100 degrees F.), and the hogs should be dipped twice with an interval between dippings of seven to ten days. Lime-sulphur dip may be purchased In concentrated form, or It may be prepared at home as follows: Slake ten pounds of quick­ lime with sufficient water to make a thin paste, and stir in 24 pounds of fine sulphur (flowers or flour). Boll this mixture for two hours In 25 or 30 gallons of water. Allow the sediment- to settle In a tub or barrel. Draw off the liquid into the vat (carefully avoid' disturbing the sediment), and add suf­ ficient warm water to make 100 gal­ lons. The dipping solution In the vat may be maintained at the proper tem­ perature by steam brought by pipe or hose from a boiler. pipping Vat Material. Dipping vats are pade of various materials, but the most durable Is ce­ ment. The vat should be set in the ground at a convenient place where / there is good surface drainage away from the vat. A suitable size for a vat In which to dip hogs is 10 feet long at the top, 8 feet long at the bottom, 1 foot wide at the bottom, and 2 feet wide at the top. It should be deep enough so that the hogs will be com­ pletely Immersed in the dip and will not strike the bottom of the vat when they plunge. If possible, the vat should be located so that a 2-lnch drain pipe may lead from the bottom of the vat to facilitate emptying and cleaning, otherwise it is necessary to pump or dip out the contents of the vat in order- to clean it. Do not use old, filthy dip, but clean and recharge the vat before dipping again if the dip has become very dirty or if It has stood a long time In the vat. The end where the hogs enter should be perpendicular and the entrance should be on a slide. The other end should slope gradually, with cleats to provide footholds for the hogs for emerging after dipping. A dipping vat is very useful wherever a large number of hogs are kept PREVENT GNAWING OF TREES Wash Recommended Is Composed of Carbolic Acid, Sulphur, Soft ' Soap and Slaked Lime. The following wash is recommend­ ed to prevent rabbits gnawing apple or other orchard trees. Take one-half gallon carbolic acid,, four pounds of sulphur, ,two gallons soft soap, and 32 pounds of lime. Mix the soap with- enough water to slack, the lime, then while hot, mix In the sulphur and acid. When applied by about the first of April, it will also act as a preventive of borers. Catalogues Are Interesting. The nursery catalogues are Interest­ ing to people who like orchard work. The varieties and suggestions tor planting and caring for trees will ft* found handy. Dirt in Milk. T jMJew* 'nine-tenths of the dhrt la has been found to be cow manure. Keep the cow and the dairy bam it*-;'- ... - • a