I. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 403 



and prevents the rain from sinking to the roots of the plants. 

 An equally marked example of this result is seen in the small 

 island of Curayoa, which in 1845 was almost a perfect desert, 

 while, according to history, it had once been a garden of fer- 

 tility; the cause being the cutting down of the trees for the 

 export of their valuable timber. Almost within sight of Cu- 

 racoa is the coast of the Spanish Main, covered with the rank- 

 est vegetation, over which the burdened clouds shower down 

 abundant rain, while at Curacoa fresh water is among the 

 luxuries. Rep. Agricultural Department. 



ECONOMICAL USE OF FEATHERS. 



M. De la Blanchere calls attention to the economical 

 value of feathers, which are so generally considered as the 

 refuse of the farm, especially those obtained in plucking ducks, 

 chickens, and turkeys, and those of wild fowl and other birds 

 killed as game. He remarks that by trimming these, partic- 

 ularly the larger ones, off the stump, which may be thrown 

 away, the plumes will serve an excellent purpose ; and they 

 are now being worked up in Paris on a large scale in the 

 manufacture of a feather cloth or blanket, which possesses 

 the essential quality of being exceedingly light, while at the 

 same time very warm. The plumes thus separated from the 

 stalk are to be placed in a bag, closed tightly, and then sub 

 jected to rubbing between the hands, as in washing clothes. 

 In a few minutes the fibres are separated from each other, and 

 form a perfectly homogeneous and very light down. This 

 can be sold, or worked up directly into coverlids, and other 

 household objects, by quilting. 



In Paris this down sells readily for $2 a pound, and the 

 price is continually increasing. According to De la Blan- 

 chere, the feathers of an ordinary chicken will produce down 

 worth at least 20 cents, a sum which it is of course very de- 

 sirable to utilize. Of course something must be allowed for 

 the time occupied in separating the plumes. 13 B, January 

 17,1874,88. 



NEW POTATO DISEASE. 



A form of the potato disease which has prevailed for sev- 

 eral seasons in certain departments of France exhibits itself 

 in a peculiar weakness of growth in the shoots, which attain 



