For sale by
THE PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING CO.,
150 Monroe St., Chicago, Ill.
* * * * *
THE SHEPHERD’S MANUAL
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON THE SHEEP.
Designed Especially for American Shepherds
BY HENRY STEWART.
Finely Illustrated
PRICE, $1.50, by mail, postpaid. Address
PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING CO., Chicago.
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first-class weekly agricultural paper in this country._
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SCIENTIFIC.
The Brilliant Sunsets.
Few of our readers, probably, have failed to note the fact that
brilliant sunsets have been unusually frequent since the latter part of
November. Now a highly colored sunset is not, in itself, a remarkable
phenomenon, and it may occur at any time of the year, and owe its origin
to any one of several causes, very simple in themselves, as refraction
by the atmosphere of the sun’s rays, which are thrown upon the sky after
the orb itself has passed from sight, or a peculiarly humid condition of
the upper air, or a remarkable electric condition, such as sometimes
precedes a thunder storm. But the late brilliant sunsets do not belong
to the category of ordinary phenomena. In the first place, they have not
shown gorgeously hued clouds, as in usual sunset displays, but skies of
dazzling tints and colors. In the second place, they have been prolonged
for weeks, and have been seen, at intervals, over nearly every part of
the globe. Evidently, some unusual circumstance must have given rise to
these unwonted phenomena, and scientists in both hemispheres have been
interested in seeking an answer to the problem. As it seemed very plain
that no condition of humidity could account for such remarkable
refraction, it was universally concluded that some substance, as dust,
must exist in the upper air regions. This being accepted as probable
another theory was needed to account for the presence of this dust. The
first theory put forward by scientists in this country suggested the
hypothesis of meteoric dust.
Meteors are gaseous bodies, which move through space in immense numbers,
and in definite orbits. Drawn astray from these orbits by the attraction
of the earth, they are set on fire on contact with the atmosphere, this
ignition producing the phenomena of shooting stars. The product of this
combustion is sometimes heavy enough as to fall rapidly, in the shape of
stones, to the earth. More often it is an impalpable substance, which
filters slowly down through the air, and is found in the shape of
metallic dust, on the summits of snow-covered mountains and in the
Arctic regions. About the middle of November the earth passes through a
meteor zone—that is, an immense swarm of meteors revolving around the
sun—and during this month there are always vastly more shooting stars
to be seen than in any other month of the year. The brilliant sunsets
being first seen in the latter part of November, their near coincidence
in time with an unusual display of brilliant meteors, seemed to
substantiate the theory that they were of similar origin. It is known
that the telescope reveals immense numbers of these meteors too small to
be seen by the naked eye, and it seems very probable that millions more
are too small to be seen even with the telescope, mere meteoric dust
that can only announce its presence to the eye by its refraction of the
sun’s rays as they pass through it. When this dust falls it becomes
visible otherwise, perhaps. We have spoken of its appearance on
snow-covered hills. Sometimes it appears as a haze or dry fog. At least
the appearance of any very remarkable haze, like that which obscured the
light of the sun for weeks over Europe, in 1783, is now ascribed by
science to the dust of enormous falls of meteors.
Had this theory of the cause of the bright sunsets been the true one,
however, there should have been unusual displays of shooting stars
visible as soon as darkness came on after the sunsets, for meteors are
always ignited by the friction of the earth’s atmosphere. As these were
not seen, the meteoric dust theory did not gain a very general support,
and the opinion of many scientific men was that we must wait for a more
probable theory. When it came to be known that these remarkable
appearances of color in the sky had been visible from different points
of the earth’s surface ever since last September, a theory was offered
by Prof. Lockyer, the well-known English astronomer, and the editor of
Nature, a leading scientific periodical, which is now generally accepted
as solving the problem.
Mr. Lockyer thinks that these remarkable sunset glows are the late, but
direct effects of the great volcanic eruptions which occurred in Java,
last August. He believes that the enormous volumes of fine volcanic dust
thrown out by these eruptions were carried into the upper air, and being
borne by prevailing winds around and above the earth, the reflection of
the sun’s rays upon them have produced the phenomena witnessed at so
many different points.
The adequacy of this supposed cause seems plain, when we remember what a
mighty convulsion of nature occurred at Java. Earthquake and eruptions
followed one another with such force that they were felt for hundreds of
miles distant. Large islands sunk from sight and new land appeared and
the entire conformation of the Archipelago in that locality was changed.
The great volumes of mud thrown out of the volcano Krakatoa fell in
showers for over three hours in localities more than thirty miles away.
With volcanic forces at work on this mighty scale, millions of tons of
earth must have been hurled into the upper air. Of this the coarse and
heavy material would naturally fall at once, but vast clouds of
impalpable dust would be borne upward by the heated air, until they
reached the region of the upper trade-winds, by which they would be
borne westward in the circuit of the globe. Each evening these immense
dust clouds would give a novel brilliancy to the skies, by reflecting
the light of the setting sun, and during the day an unusual hazy
appearance of the sky would probably be perceived.
This hypothesis of Mr. Lockyer was remarkably borne out by facts that
actually occurred. The Java eruptions occurred August 26 and 27. On
August 28, from the islands in the Indian Sea, near the African coast,
Mauritias, Rodriguez, and the Seychelles, very singular sunsets and
sunrises were observed, though not directly resembling those seen later,
and a strange haze appeared, through which the sun seemed to be white
and dim as the moon. On August 31, in the same latitude as these
islands, in North Brazil, remarkable sunlight effects were observed, the
sun appearing of a deep blue tint; the next evening similar appearances
were seen in Venezuela. On September 1, also, a remarkable sunset was
reported visible from the Gulf Coast, and one from Trinidad, Spain, at
the same date. September 5, another was seen near Honolulu, in the
Pacific ocean. This line of strange sunsets ran directly east and west.
Another line ran from southeast to northwest, beginning with Ceylon and
Madras and ending with England. Following this, the phenomena seemed to
spread themselves over the whole portion of the earth’s surface,
appearing at various points during four whole months. The points of
difference between the earlier and later appearances were closely
defined by Mr. Lockyer. At first the coarse particles suspended in the
air obscured the sun’s light entirely, as was the case in the
neighborhood of Java immediately following the earthquake. These
disappearing, the sun seemed white and dim; the dust being still more
thinned out, the blue and red molecules caused the appearance of a blue
sun, and at last there was just enough of the finest dust left suspended
to be carried by the various wind currents hither and thither and
produce at the time of the setting of the sun, those singular reflected
lights, which, at first almost unnoticed, became, when observed, the
wonder of the world.
It may be admitted that there are gaps in the evidence supporting this
last hypothesis, but it has the merit of probability, and must be
accepted as the best theory of the brilliant sunsets yet offered.
A. C. C.
* * * * *
CHOCOLATES.
GOLD MEDAL, PARIS, 1878.
[Illustration]
BAKER’S
BREAKFAST COCOA.
Warranted _absolutely pure Cocoa_, from which the excess of Oil has been
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SOLD BY GROCERS EVERYWHERE.
W. BAKER & CO., Dorchester, Mass.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
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[Illustration]
12 NEW “CONCEALED NAME” Cards (name concealed with hand holding flowers
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NORTHFORD CARD CO. Northford, Conn.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
To Our Readers.
THE PRAIRIE FARMER is the OLDEST, MOST RELIABLE, and the LEADING
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MEDICAL.
Weak Nervous Men
[Illustration]
Whose DEBILITY, EXHAUSTED POWERS, premature decay and failure to
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THE MARSTON BOLUS.
Neither stomach drugging nor instruments. This treatment of NERVOUS
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Full information and Treatise free.
Address Consulting Physician of
MARSTON REMEDY CO., 46W. 14th St., New York.
* * * * *
TWO LADIES MET ONE DAY.
[Illustration]
One said to the other “By the way how is that Catarrh of yours?” “Why
it’s simply horrid, getting worse every day.” “Well, why don’t you try
‘DR. SYKES’ SURE CURE,’ I know it will cure you!” “Well, then I will,
for I’ve tried everything else.”
Just six weeks afterward they met again, and No. 1 said, “Why, how much
better you look, what’s up? Going to get married, or what?” “Well, yes,
and it’s all owing to ‘DR. SYKES’ SURE CURE FOR CATARRH;’ oh, why
didn’t I know of it before? it’s simply wonderful.”
Send 10 cents to Dr. C.R. Sykes, 181 Monroe street, Chicago, for
valuable book of full information, and mention the “Two Ladies.”
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30 DAYS’ TRIAL
DR. DYE’S
[Illustration]
ELECTRO-VOLTAIC BELT, and other ELECTRIC APPLIANCES are sent on 30
Days’ Trial TO MEN ONLY, YOUNG OR OLD, who are suffering from NERVOUS
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at once for Illustrated Pamphlet free. Address
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I CURE FITS!
When I say cure I do not mean merely to stop them for a time and then
have them return again, I mean a radical cure. I have made the disease
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Pearl St., New York.
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THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR.
CONTAINING Practical Observations on the Causes Nature and Treatment of
Diseases and Lameness in Horses, by GEO. H. DADD, M.D. Will be
sent upon receipt of price, $1.50; or free to any sender of three
subscribers to this paper, at $2 each, by
PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING CO., Chicago.
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STANDARD BOOKS.
ROPP’S CALCULATOR AND DIARY.
Practical Arithmetic made EASY, SIMPLE, and CONVENIENT for all, by this
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It is neatly printed, elegantly bound, accompanied by a RENEWABLE Diary,
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How to Paint
A new work by A PRACTICAL PAINTER, designed for the use of TRADESMEN,
MECHANICS, MERCHANTS, FARMERS, and as a guide to PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS.
Containing a Plain, Common-Sense Statement of the methods employed by
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“EVERY MAN HIS OWN PAINTER.”
Full directions for using WHITE LEAD LAMP BLACK—IVORY BLACK—
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Paint for Farming Tools
for MACHINERY, and for HOUSEHOLD FIXTURES
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any sender of two subscribers to this paper at $2 each. Address
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STANDARD WORKS.
By PETER HENDERSON
Gardening for Profit,
A WELL-KNOWN WORK ON
Market and Family Gardening
Gardening FOR Pleasure
A guide to the amateur in the Fruit, Vegetable, and Flower Garden, with
full directions for the Green-House, Conservatory, and Window Garden.
PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE,
A guide to successful Propagation and Cultivation of Florists’ Plants.
PRICE, $1.50 EACH, BY MAIL, POSTPAID.
Address
PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING CO., Chicago.
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TALKS ON MANURES
By JOSEPH HARRIS, M. S.
Author of “_Walks and Talks on the Farm_,” “_Farm Crops_,” “_Harris on
the Pig_,” _etc._
While we have no lack of treatises upon artificial fertilizers, there is
no work in which the main stay of the farm—the manure made upon the
farm is treated so satisfactorily or thoroughly as in this volume.
Starting with the question,
“WHAT IS MANURE?”
the author, well known on both sides of the water by his writings, runs
through in sufficient detail every source of manure on the farm,
discussing the methods of making rich manure; the proper keeping and
applying it, and especially the
USES OF MANURE,
and the effects of different artificial fertilizers, as compared with
farm-yard manure, upon different crops. In this he makes free use of the
striking series of experiments instituted years ago, and still
continued, by Lawes and Gilbert, of Rothamsted, England. The
REMARKABLE TABLES
in which the results of these experiments are given, are here for the
first time made accessible to the American farmer. In fact, there is
scarcely any point relating to fertilizing the soil, including suitable
manures for special crops, that is not treated, and while the teachings
are founded upon the most elaborate scientific researches, they are so
far divested of the technical language of science as to commend
themselves to farmers as eminently “practical.” It is not often that the
results of scientific investigations are presented in a manner so
thoroughly popular. 12mo. Price, postpaid, $1.50.
PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING CO. Chicago.
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HOUSE PLANS FOR EVERYBODY.
By S. B. REED, Architect.
One of the most popular Architectural books ever issued, giving a wide
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buildings presented. Profusely illustrated. Price, postpaid, $1.50.
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PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING CO., Chicago
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[Illustration]
HOUSEHOLD.
For nothing lovelier can be found
In woman than to study _household_ good.—_Milton._
AN HUMBLE CONFESSION.
Who is that little woman there,
With laughing eyes and dark-brown hair,
And physiognomy so fair?
My wife.
Who’s not as meek as she appears,
And doesn’t believe one-half she hears,
And toward me entertains no fears?
My consort.
Who wakes me up on every morning,
About the time the day’s dawning,
My protestations calmly scorning?
My spouse.
Who marks my clothes with India ink,
And darns my stockings quick as a wink,
While I sit by and smoke and think?
My frau.
Who asks me every day for money,
With countenance demure and funny,
And calls me “pretty boy” and “honey?”
My little woman.
Who runs this house both night and day,
And over all exerts her sway;
Who’s boss o’ this shanty, anyway?
My better half!
—_San Francisco Call._
PYRAMIDAL WOMEN.
It has long been a social mystery, over which conservatives and radicals
have puzzled alike, why the gifted men and women of our race should
spring almost exclusively from the intermediate ranks of life. The
solution is found in Piazzi Smyth’s metaphor of the Great Pyramid. A
circumscribed routine of pleasure on one hand, of toil on the other,
equally engrosses the time and thoughts of the dwellers at either end.
It is only in the middle of the pyramid that one is free to live up to
the standard of the hideless coffer, the sarcophagus measure, the
measure of a man!
Of the feminine attainers to this measure, says a writer in the American
Queen, the women who are taking up their lives and living them fully in
all their length and breadth and dignity, as lives must be lived to
reach the cosmic standard of the pyramidal man, there is found one
pre-eminent type in that woman of letters against whom a hard battle is
being waged to-day.
To woman emancipated, freed from veil and harem, elevated from her
primal position when she was but the toy and tool of man’s passion, this
age of civilization points with a pride whose justifiableness has yet to
be proved. Exterior liberty she has gained indeed; but in the face of
the fact that this universal crusade against women of letters is but the
determination to hold the old shackles on heart and brain, what is her
alleged emancipation but a lengthening of the chain which still binds
her in moral and mental bondage.