ditional layer deposited upon the interior 

 walls of the cavity. Agates, therefore, 

 grow from the outside inward. The proc- 

 ess may go on until the cavity is entirely 

 filled or may cease at any time. If water 

 remains in the cavity for some time crys- 

 tals, such as are sometimes seen, will be 

 formed. The nodule of silica or agate 

 formed by the percolating waters is hard- 

 er and more resistant than the surround- 

 ing rock. Hence it remains after the 

 surrounding rock has been worn away. 

 We can thus understand why agates 

 should be found, as they usually are, on 

 sea or lake beaches, or in the beds of 

 streams. 



The different colors seen in the natural 

 agates are produced by traces of organic 

 matter or' of oxides of iron, manganese 

 or titanium contained in the waters 

 which formed them. 



The beautiful moss-like inclusions seen 

 in the moss agates are due to a partial 



crystallization of oxide of manganese or 

 iron contained in the waters. The par- 

 ticles of oxide in these cases arrange 

 themselves in arborescent forms, just as 

 do the particles of frost crystallizing on a 

 window pane. 



Agates are not used as extensively as 

 they once were for ornamental purposes. 

 In the years of 1848-50 agate jewelry was 

 very fashionable and was extensively 

 worn. At the present time, however, the 

 principal use of agate in jewelry is for 

 breastpins and watch charms. For or- 

 namental purposes it is used in pen-hold- 

 ers, knife handles, and vases. Its use 

 for large marbles was once quite com- 

 mon, but glass marbles of the same size 

 and still called "agates" are now gener- 

 ally substituted. In fine mechanical 

 work, such as bearings for delicate in- 

 struments and in tools for polishing and 

 grinding, agate is still extensively used. 

 Oliver Cummings Farrington. 



MARTYRS OF THE WOODS. 



Would we miss them, you and I, 

 Would we care if soon should die 

 Every single singing bird 

 You and I have ever heard? 

 Would we miss them from the grass, 

 Through the tangled, deep morass; 

 From the bushes and the trees — 

 Robin, wren and chickadees — 

 Birds of blue and crimson wing; 

 Would we rnits the notes they sing; 

 Would we miss the call and cry; 

 Chattel ing talk as we go by; 

 Nests amid the reeds and grass, 

 Nests swung high above the pass? 

 Do we care that birds must die, 

 Slaughtered daily as they fly? 

 Men will kill while people choose 

 Wings of birds to buy and use; 

 Soon the woods must quiet be; 

 Scarce a bird for minstrelsy. 



— George Klingle. 



36 



