THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



American Pork Proved Wholesome. 



-The effort made in Germany to pro 

 hibit the importation of American pork 

 and its products has resulted in proving 

 that the charges that it was unfit for 

 fo<od are untrue. The Prussian Minister 

 of the interior issued instructions to the 

 heads of government districts in Prus- 

 sia to report to him the cases in which 

 trichinae had been discovered in pork 

 imported from the United States and to 

 furnish him with such data as would en- 

 able the government officers here to 

 find the persons who had exported the 

 diseased meat. Out of. thirty-three dis- 

 tricts in Prussia called upon for such 

 reports and data only five reported any 

 cases where trichinous American pork 

 had been found and none of these five 

 sent any data or furished any proof of 

 the truth of the statements they made. 

 The Prussian minister did not think a 

 strong enough case had been made out 

 to take any official notice of it or to 

 make it worth while to bring the case to 

 the notice of the American ambassador 

 at Berlin. 



Sahara a Forest. French scientists 

 and explorers have been discussing the 

 question of reforestation of the Sahara 

 and some of them entertain very hope- 

 ful views. M. Largeau thinks that the 

 whole atmospheric conditions of the 

 desert can be changed and universal 

 cultivation made possible. Others, not 

 so sanguine, despair of the more arid 

 plateaus but state confidently that in 

 the depressed portions trees, such as the 

 tamarisk, acacia, eucalyptus and poplar 

 can be grown with success. The poplar 

 proves to be the tree of all others most 

 capable of resisting the influence of the 

 desert. Under the shelter of the trees 

 all kinds of vegetables and fruits can be 

 grown. 



Extra Care for Improved Stock. 



It should always be understood by those 

 who purchase improved stock of any 

 kind that it will need a continuation of 

 extra care and feeding which has brought 

 it to its present condition. Blood tells, 

 but it is only when given good feed and 

 care that it will fulfill expectations. 

 Even the half-bred stock will not shift 

 for themselves as the hardy native stock 

 has learned to do. There should always 



be sufficient food to keep the animal 

 thrifty. It need not, and, with stock 

 designed for breeding, should not, be 

 fattening. But a thrifty-growing ani- 

 mal will always be in condition for kill- 

 ing if an accident such as breaking a 

 leg, makes killing a necessity. 



Trust Capitalization. The following 

 is the capitalization of a few of the 

 leading trusts and combinations. 



Sugar trust $ 7.5,000,000 



Coal trust 85,000,01 >( > 



Cottonseed-oil trust 20,000,000 



Wall-paper trust 20,000,000 



Lead trust 30,000,000 



Rubber trust 50,000,000 



Linseed-oil trust 18,000,000 



Match trust 8,000,000 



School-furniture trust 15,000,000 



Type trust 6,000,000 



Dressed Beef and Provision 



trust 100,000,000 



Condensed Milk trust 15,000,000 



Straw-board trust 6,000,000 



Leather trust , 125,000.000 



The Size of a Poultry House. The 



size of a poultry house will, of course, 

 depend on the number of fowls it is 

 designed to keep. Practical experience 

 has shown that flocks of forty are large 

 enough for best results. If a large 

 number of fowls are to be kept it will be 

 better to build two or more houses, and 

 nave them located at quite different 

 points, so that each flock's ranging 

 grounds will be as distinct as possible. 

 The beginner should however, invariably 

 commence with one flock, and branch 

 out as he gets experience that will jus- 

 tify him in so doing. 



The Russian Thistle which first made 

 its appearance in this country about 

 1873 in Bonhomme County, South Da- 

 kota, has at last found its way east. Its 

 presence was discovered by Wm. H. Van 

 Sickel, supervising principal of the 

 schools of western New York. He is of 

 the opinion that the seeds had been 

 carried east in a cattle car. 



Sun, rain, rust and exposure wear out 

 tools faster than the use of them 



Well said; Drainage from a manure 

 pile indicates a lack of drainage. 



