VOL. LV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., MARCH 24,1900
NO. 12
%xytKituct gjepartmetit
Describe   Your Math©*   of   Oiling   and
Repairing Harness.
1st Premium.—Whenever I intend oiling my harness I unbuckle all parts that can be taken apart,
put the pieces all in a tub of water, and using
plenty of soap, I scrub it all clean, scrape all the
parts that are gummy with an old case knife, then
hang It up and let it get nearly dry. Having my
oil prepared, I commence oiling the parts or pieces
one after the other, applying plenty of oil, then lay
them ou a clean board and put them in a place
where the sun will not shine on them for a day or
two—the longer the better, even a week if possible.
The cellar seems to be the best place, for I find that
leather will absorb the oil mnch better, aud my
harness is always as pliable as new. After that I
take a cloth and rnb every piece as dry as possible
and buckle it aU together again. In repairing'
wherever the stitches commence to rip, I cnt it
apart and pick out the old thread. Having my
waxes thread, which I make myself, and having a
small clamp for that purpose, f sew the parts together. This always gives my harness the appearance of being new. I use pnre neat's foot oil about
three-fourths, and one-fourth of fish oil, and enough
lamp black to make it black. I prefer all neat's
foot oil, but have fonnd that rats and mice will not
gnaw the leather as they will when using neat's
foot alone.
Laporee Co.   T. J. 8.
Snd Premium.—Harness is one of the things that
should have the best of care taken of it, but as a
general rule it does not receive enough attention.
As everyone kno^s the ammonia from tb* stable
'Will rot leather very quickly,   therefore it is a good
plan to have a closet put up in a handy place with
doors to it, so it can be shut up tight, ts hang the
harness in. If the harness is dusty after using, the
dust should be a'l rubbed off before hanging away.
There are some good harness oils npon the market,
but the best oil for harness is pnre neat's foot oil
Before oiling, the harness shonld be taken apart as
mnch as possible, then washed, using plenty of
Boap, but not very much water. I think Cattile
soap is the best. The oil should be applied while
the harness is yet damp, then hung in some warm
place so the oilcan soak into the leather. It will
need two coats of oil if in very bad condition
Twice a year is often enough to grease harness,
■pring and fall. Every farmer should have on
hand some good leather, snaps, buckles, thread,
needles, awl and wax ends. He thould also have a
riveter and a box of assorted rivets. With this
riveter he can mend harness easier and quicker
than in any other way The harness should be repaired as Boon as possible after being broken, not
tied up with binder twine and then let go. The
saying, "A stitch in time saves nine," can be applied to harness with good results. E. P. R.
Jefferson Co.
abont the same in all cases. Some of the prepara
tions for oiling recommended by contributors are
as follows:
One gallon neat's foot oil, one pound beeswax,
one ponnd tallow.
Liquid blacking and neat's foot oil, applied separately, the oil last.
Neat's foot oil 8 qts .castor oil 1 pt, mutton tallow 8 lbs., ivory black 10 oa., Prussian blue 2 oz.,
beeswax 8 oi , resin 4 oz., Burgundy pitch 9 oz.
Mix, boil and strain.
Hog's lard or beef tallow.
Coal oil and neat's foot oil. Apply coal oil first,
let dry and then use neat's foot oil.
Equal parts neat's foot and crude castor oil.
Neat's foot oil aud lampblack.
Harness should be oiled twice a year—in the fall
before cold weather, and in the spring before hot
weather. The leather should be washed just
enongh to clean it, but the water should not be ar
lowed to soak in, and gum should be scraped off.
A good oil should consist largely of neat's foot oil
and should have some lampblack, but pure neat's
foot is a little too softening. Apply all the oil thc
leather will take np, and then throw the harness
on a clean floor or gnnny sack and cover with a
sack. In an honr or two turn it over to prevent
the settling of the oil to the lowest pointa. Keep in
a dark place and moderately warm. If allowed to
soak in gradually the oil will carry with it the
lampblack, tallow and other ingredients, but
if forced in quickly by heat the oil will leave a
large part of the other materials on the surface and
the resnlt will not be so satisfactory. All thread
used in repairing harness should be thoroughly
waxed, to reBist the action of the oil. because while
oil is a great preservative of leather, it is very destructive of vegetable fibre a-d witf therefore r^t
the threads.
time Bhe accurately foretold, by writing on a slate,
when they would be loosened. She is now so bad
that she can neither move hand nor foot.
The present High Echool seminary at Marion
stands on the site of an old cemetery and it is alleged that this fact is responsible for the occasional attacks of diphtheria which appear among the
pupils,
The home of Wesley Parker, a farmer in the
southeastern part of Noble county, is situated on
the tidge of a watershed. The rain from one side
of the house flows west into tbe Elkhart river and
finally into the Atlantic ocean. The rain from the
other aide of the house flows eastward into the Blue
river and at last into the Onlf of Mexico.
Jacob Speike, who has lived a hermit's life for
nearly to yea-a near Evansville, was found
dead last week. Several hundred dollars were
found in his cabin. A short time before his death
he confided to a farmer who befriended him that
he had a large sum of money buried about the
premises and search will be made for it.
Another of our oldest readers has passed away(
Mrs. Nancy A. Burnside. She was born in Canada
in 1891 and has resided on a farm in Fountain county since 1859. Her death occurred March 6th at the
age of almost 79 years.
Gibson county boastB that nat one of its officials
from the judge of the Circuit Court, down to the
man who Bweeps out the court house ever takes a
drink. One of the deputies does not know the difference between three fingers of whisky and a load
of hay.
THE AWFUL FAMINE IN INDIA.
A copy of the Bombay, India, Guardian hae
reached our table. We have room for only
theae items:
Forty million people ln the distressed famine area! Twenty-one millions more ln
areas where some relief has already begun or
must begin before the rains! Thete tremendous
numbers represent men and women and children whom God lores and for whom Ohrlst
died.
India has known great calamities and if the
present is to prove greater than the previous
greatest then a true description will be beyond
the power of human language. "Gloomy anticipations have been more than fulfilled;
that the area of visitation has expanded to a
degree that has even surpassed our worst
fears"—such, far from being the language of
nervousness or exaggeration, are the sober
and deliberate words of the Viceroy himself
addressing the Supreme Legislative Council
of India.
No. IIS, March Slut.—aive * liat of plants and
flowers thai you are preparing; to grow on the lawn
this Hummer.
No, Sll, April 7th —Care of bees in the spring.
No. 114, April II.—How and where can a jointer
be ueed iu breaking land? How do you manage
cornstalks and heavy, trashy stubble?
No. 115, April list.—How can one best destroy
biennial and perennial weeds, dock,'Eng, plantain
or buckthorn, white top, Canada thistle, wild garlic, red sorrel, etc
No. 116, April 86th —What household remedy do
you keep on hand? Give emergency treatment for
croup, indigestion, earache, toothache, sprains,
cut, etc. ?
Mxtt Hews.
Id Premium —When it gets too wet to do any out.
side work, we get the harness together and take lt
to pie.es. Each piece ls put in a tub of warm water and let soak for a time, then it is washed and
hung on laths, to dry in the shade When dry we
do what mending is needed. This is done with rivets and wax ends. When the lines or halter straps
need splicing it is done with wax ends. There is
too much danger of tearing one's hands on rivets
and a splice made by riveting is not so handy in
tying as one that is sewed. Rivets wiU do to put
snaps or buckles on old harness, but where the line
or strap works through a ring the sewing is much
to be preferre 1. Where rivets are used the copper
rivets are preferred as the iron will soon rust and
cause the leather to rot. We have used flsh oil for
oiling harness but owing to the difference in price
we now use the common black machine oil which
we get for 15 cents per gallon The flsh oil wilj
probably last the longest and keep the mice away
better, bnt as the mice do not bother our harness
we use the cheapest oil. The black machine oil
will make the harness soft and pliable and the dust
will not adhere to it so easily. We have an iron
kettle with three or four gallons of oil in it, the
straps are drawn through the oil and great care is
taken to soak it in about the buckles. If a bnckle
is rusted we take a pair of pliers and work the pin
back and forth till it works easily. As it is drawn
over the edge of the kettle the oil is rubbed oif just
enough to keep it from dripping, then it is hnng
over the lathB again to dry where it will be in the
shade. When dry they are pnt together and hnng
in their respective places till they.are wanted.
HariisonCo. B~~
am* itm.
lodging from the number of competitors for
prises this week, our subscribers are pretty well
versed in the art of preserving harness. The general rules for  oiling  and repairing harness are
A merchant at Mitchell publishes a card, denying that he mixes store sugar with maple molasses.
William Howard, of Westland, annoyed by rats
sent for ferrets, and 186 rodents paid the penalty
The Wabash river is on a rampage and farmers
along the southern part are moving their cattle to
the hills.
It is said that tbe back country roads of the State
are being named by the farmers. Every time the
wheels of a two horse wagon sink into the mnd on
the roads the driver of the wagon has a name he
applies to the highway.
Mrs. Ellen Cnrran, who recently died at Misha-
waka, migrated to America 71 years ago. Bhe
claimed to be 100 years old at time of death.
Warren Sebring, of Silver Lake, upon reaching
his one hundreth birthday, was photographed for
the flrst time in his life. He was born in New Jersey ln ISO] and in 1815 came to Wabash «ounty.
William Thomas, aged 96, in southern part of
Bush county, formerly associate judge, died last
week. Eight rears ago at an old settlers' meeting
in Bush county, all over 80 years of age had their
photographs taken and Mr. Thomas was the survivor of the lot.
An anti-cigarette league is organizing at Hammond. It has several six-year-old smokers, on
whom it will do some of its missionary work.
Oeorge Crago and family,of Loganspcrt, were
prostrated by eating aome canned tomatoes into
which some imparity had made its way.
An Indianapolis packing company is arranging
with Tipton couajr farmers to plant 500 acres of
tomatoes and 100 a—es of beets this spring.
Frank Springer, of Valparaiso, employed by the
Michigan Central railway company, ls dead of injuries receive'' **J months ago, and the administrator will sue the company for $10,000 damages.
Minnie Downing, a young woman living near
Bryant, for a year has had nervous trouble, and for
the past three weeks she haa been bedfast, her paroxysms at times being so serious that a number of
persons are required to hold her. On two occasions her jaws have been firmly locked, bnt at each
London spends 11.0 on the education of each child
in the public schools.
India rubber nails for use in places where ordinary nails are liable to corroBiou are a German
novelty.
Breslau has a paper chimney fifty lest high and
perfectly fire proof.
Though Spain is an agricultural country, it had
to import last year more than $15,0)0,000 worth of
grain.
In some parts of Colorado, bears are so destrnct.
ive of cattle that the farmers have offered rewards
of 160 to INO for particularly dangerous beasts.
There are over 20) distinct muscles in the human
body, of which the best of ns keep about 100 in prime
condition by proper nse.
Twelve pounds only is the weight of the new automatic machine gun under experiment in the
United States army. It fires 4S0 shots a minute and
can be carried by one man.
The Ontario government has completed arrangements for the formation of a forest of almost three
thousand square miles in extent, embracing the
district in which Lakes Tamagami and Lady Evelyn are situated. The bu'k of the reserve is virgin
forest, with the finest white pine in Canada upon it.
A traveler tells the New York Tribune of the
actual case of a man whose father was English, his
mother Irish, who was born nnder the French flag,
in Turkish waters, christened b» a Bussian, bap-
t /.ei by a Greek sky pilot, married an American
aud lives in Cuba.
Several kinds of fishes have skins that make ex
cellent leather for some purposes For example,
salmon hide serves so well in this way that the
Eskimo, of Alaska, makes waterproof shirts and
boots out of it—in fact, even whole suits of clothes.
They also cut jackets out of codfish ikins, which
are very serviceable garments
A Western photographer advertises that he is
adept in "taking exterior or interior views of
houses, dogs and horses."
That China is progressing is shown by the development of the native newspapers. Of these there
were only eleven in 1895. Five were published in
the English colony of Hong-Kong and only six in
China proper. There are now published in Shanghai alone fifteen newspapers, of which twelve are
dailies, and in all China there are thirty-five native
papers.
THE ADVANCE IN FABM MACHINERY.
The Secretary of the Association of Manufacturers of agricultural implements states the
following as the reason for advancing pricea
on their goods:
"The ccfit of raw material during the year
1899 made advances unprecedented ln the Industrial history of the I'njtad States. For example, bolts and nuts have advanced 135 per
cent; harrow discs, 115 per cent; corn planters
and other wire, 80 per cent; rake teeth, 110 per
cent; -bar Iron and steel, 125 per cent; cast
Iron, 110 per cent; plow steel, 75 per cent; pips,
round and tquare, 250 per cent; steel wheels,
65 per cen*; harrow teeth, 125 per cent; steel
springs, 250 per cant; lumber, 35 per cent;
malleable iron, 85 per cent; plow and cultivator b.ame, 125 per cent; labor, 10 per cent."
But the farmer will ask why the advance on
material? Where was the necessity forgo great
and sudden rise ln prlcee of these things?
A LITILE TOO TOUGH A 8TORT.
The following absurd Item appears ln one
of our dally papers, dating from English,
Crawford county, March 13th:
"Owing to the condition of the roads 32
broken-legged horses were reported laet week,
with others badly crippled, still the county
commissioners are afraid to epeak of grarel
roads to this tax ridden people."
No doubt but the roads are horribly bad,
but no one will believe that more than 30
horses have broken their legs, in a week, on
account of them. It could only happen by
their falling into sink holes,
POSTAL CARD  CORRESPONDENCE.
LaPobt* Co , March 16.—Plenty of anow and
still snowing, acd regular winter weather. Wheat
mostly covered; roads bad, rough acd lots of drifts.
Wheels going, no sleds. Mas. B. A. Davis.
Wayn__ Co., March 16—Wheat is most all killed
this wioter. Hogs scarce, cattle in good ahape;
corn brings 40c per bushel. H. B. it.
DeKai b Co., March 17.—Weather very cold, 10
degrees below zero thia morning at 7:80. Frnit
buds not killed yet. Too much snow on ground to
tell about wheat. a. M. a.
It does not cost any more to raise full blooded etock than half breeds and inferior scrubs.
The only difference ln the cost is the Initial
purchase. Tbe full flooded naturally costs
sereral times as much ae the inferior animal,
but ln the end one such animal may prove
cheaper than three or four of the ecrube. The
farmer who starts in with the Idea and buys
only a few blooded etock ae he can afford lt,
increasing his herd gradually, may find in the
end that he Is ln a much better position than
his neighbor who buys any eort of cattle elm-
ply because they are cheap. The reaeon why
more do not start in with this idea ie because
they have the erroneous belief that It costs
more to maintain the blooded etock. Thle ls
not true at all, for the tine cattb do not require more food nor better surroundings than
should be glren to every farm animal that la
worth anything, If the farmer'a style of keeping cattle le to neglect them and let them
practically shift for themselves, the scrub
stock may be better eulted to hie purpose, for
the half wild animate are undoubtedly hardier
than tbe well bred onee, and they will be able
to pick up a living much better on a cold,
cheerlees, and almost foodlese range, But
where the animals are kept carefully according to modern ideas of cattle raising, with
sufficient food to nourish them, and proper
shelter and protection, the blooded animals
are juat ae cheap to support ae the poorest
■c™*»- A. P. Babrkt.
Minn.
A Venezuelan orchid now oo exhibition is rained
att5,ooo.