SOTHERN, EDWARD A. 



SOUTH CAROLINA. 



811 



silage when first taken from the pit, or before 

 it has time to ferment. The development of 

 alcohol always implies the destruction of food- 

 elements, and its presence in the ration is un- 

 favorable to the production of meat and milk, 

 and to health. It makes dark-colored and in- 

 sipid flesh, makes milk thin and poor, and im- 

 pairs both the quantity and flavor of butter. 

 Permitting the formation of alcohol, is the 

 principal cause of the adverse effects from 

 feeding ensilage, which has caused some feed- 

 ers to condemn it for the production of milk 

 and butter, and stock-growers to condemn it 

 for the use of breeding-animals. A second 

 cause for unfavorable results from the use of 

 ensilage lies in the imperfect balance of food- 

 elements in the material most commonly pre- 

 served fodder-corn. The stalks and leaves of 

 maize are not, in their best estate, a well-bal- 

 anced food for an exclusive diet for milch-cows 

 or growing animals. They carry an excess of 

 Starch, gum, and sugar, with a diminutive sup- 

 ply of flesh-forming matter. It ought not to 

 be expected that such food could be greatly 

 improved by passing it through a silo. Fod- 

 der-corn will be fodder-corn still, with all its 

 excellences and defects combined, whether. fed 

 from the silo, or in its green or desiccated state, 

 and must produce the legitimate effects due to 

 its composition. Fodder-corn, to give the most 

 satisfactory returns, requires to be comple- 

 mented with something like clover, or other 

 food richer than itself in flesh-forming matter, 

 and this is equally necessary whether it is fed 

 from the silo or the field. "When constructed, 

 filled, and covered as described, the silo will 

 do its perfect work in the preservation of its 

 contents; but it should not be expected to 

 work miracles in converting imperfect into 

 perfect food. The farmer must expect to take 

 out just what he puts in, the only difference 

 being that the silo starts the work of diges- 

 tion. If the food he puts in is faulty, it will 

 be faulty when he takes it out ; and, if it is 

 good, he may rest assured the silo will not 

 spoil it. He must use skill and judgment in 

 balancing the composition of his food, either 

 when he stores it or when he feeds it out; 

 whether he stores in the barn or in the silo. 

 If he wants to preserve milk-producing food 

 he must put it in, or he will not be able to 

 take it out. If he wants to preserve f;it-pro- 

 ducing food, he must take the same course. 

 When the farmer has learned to do his part 

 properly, the silo will be accepted as an in- 

 valuable aid in the economy of modern agri- 

 culture ; and preserving, as it does, its contents 

 sound for a time indefinite, it will be as ser- 

 viceable in carrying the dairyman's herd, with 

 full udders, through the summer's scorching 

 droughts, as in maintaining warmth and vigor 

 in winter's perishing reign. 



SILVER COINAGE. (See BI-METALLIO 

 STANDARD and FINANCES, UNITED STATES.) 



SOTHERN, EDWARD ASKEW, comedian, died 

 in London, January 20th. He was born in 



Liverpool, April 1, 1830. Intended by his par- 

 ents for a clergyman, he embraced the his- 

 trionic profession soon after reaching his ma- 

 jority, and going to America he made his first 

 appearance in the Boston National Theatre as 

 Dr. Pangloss in " The Heir at Law." Accord- 

 ing to his own account of his first years on the 

 stage, that part of his career was occupied with 

 his being constantly dismissed for incapacity. 

 In Laura Keene's Theatre, in New York, he 

 succeeded in gaining a footing, and after play- 

 ing a variety of parts for five years, he in 

 1858 took up the character of Lord Dundreary 

 in " The American Cousin." It was a subordi- 

 nate part in the play, but, perceiving its possi- 

 bilities, he gave it a new turning and added 

 gradually a great variety of details. In this 

 role he became the most popular actor of ec- 

 centric comedy of the day in New York, and 

 afterward in London. In 1864 he appeared 

 as David Garrick in T. W. Robertson's play of 

 that name, and proved that his strength was not 

 limited to farcical comedy alone. His reputation 

 was chiefly based on those two impersonations. 

 A long list of pieces were written for him by 

 the leading comic writers of England, such as 

 Tom Taylor, Byron, and Oxenford. Though 

 very popular in England, he was more attached 

 to the American stage, on which he first at- 

 tained success, and on which, before his vigor- 

 ous constitution broke down, he was regarded 

 as the most amusing and attractive actor. His 

 acting was marked by refinement and quiet 

 humor, and the refinement preserved in the 

 farcical touches which he gave to the character 

 of Dundreary was the key to his success. 



SOUTH CAROLINA. The debt of South 

 Carolina amounts to $6,642,321. It is all 

 funded or being funded at 6 per cent interest. 

 The deficiency bonds, amounting to $562,577, 

 mature in 1888, and the consols, amounting to 

 $5,887,944, in 1893. The Agricultural College 

 scrip, amounting to $191,800, is a permanent 

 investment. The sinking fund commissioners 

 are not able to apply the funds in their hands 

 to the retirement of bonds, as the market price 

 has gone above par, and they are restrained 

 from paying more by their regulations. The 

 green consol bonds, which have been decided 

 by the courts to be only valid for a part of 

 their face value, are being converted into the 

 new, brown consols, the coupons of which are 

 receivable for State taxes. 



The revenues of the State are derived from 

 a royalty on the phosphates dug in the naviga- 

 ble streams, and a general tax levy. The phos- 

 phate royalty was greater in 1880-'81 than in 

 any previous year, and is likely to increase 

 still more. It amounted to $121,541, and, with 

 a tax levy of 1-4 mill on the dollar, was suf- 

 ficient to defray the current expenditures. The 

 interest on the public debt was met by a fur- 

 ther levy of 2-5 mills, making the general tax 

 levy 8-9 mills. 



The session of the Legislature opened No- 

 vember 22d. The principal measure passed 



