1873.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
427 
To the Itoy* and Girls. 
Aunt Sue has labored so patiently over the almost in- 
terminable prize puzzle that we think it only right ihat 
she should have space to show the results of her labors. 
This, of course, prevents our giving the usual variety in 
the Boys and Girls' Columns, but we can manage for 
once without it. The Doctor begins one of his series of 
talks, and we think if the young folks follow him up they 
will learn something of use. Indeed, we think that his 
calk about Limestone will interest the fathers as well as 
the youngsters. 
The Doctor's Talks. 
ABOUT A PIECE OP LIMESTONE. 
Some of the young people write to say that they would 
like other articles similar tp those about a candle. That 
is right. I like to have tnVm tell me what they want, 
and I am glad that they show a desire to have some in- 
struction mingled with their amusement. I think that 
it is best to talk of very common things, for there is a 
great deal in matters that we see every day that is new 
lo some of us. This time it shall be a bit of limestone. 
There are but few places in which limestone in some 
form can not be had. In some parts of the country 
almost all the rocks are limestone. But how shall you 
be sure that a specimen that you have is of this ? Lime- 
stone is often white, but it is found of a gray or yellow- 
ish color, sometimes bluish, and through various shades 
and colors up to black. So it will be seen that the color 
is not a sure guide. Indeed, limestone presents such a 
variety of forms and colors that it isdifflcnlt to tell you how 
to know it at sight. All the forms are easily scratched 
fey a knife, although some are much harder than others. 
Whether hard or soft, white or colored, all kinds of lime- 
stone are pretty much the same thing, and are made up 
of lime and something else which we shall talk about by 
and by. These various kinds have different names. 
Chalk is a very soft kind of limestone, so soft that it 
makes a mark when rubbed upon a board or other hard 
surface. You will not be likely to find any chalk in 
your searches, as all that is used is imported from other 
countries. I shall try to show you at another time that 
chalk is a very peculiar and interesting kind of limestone. 
Many pieces when broken show a surface that appears 
to be made up of little grains, and looks very much like 
lump-sugar. This is called granular limestone. The 
mains may be coarse or very fine, and be held to ge ther 
firmly or so loosely that the stone is soft and crumbly. 
The finest kinds of granular limestone are called marble, 
which you know is pure white or of various colors. Then 
there are some marbles that do not show any grain, 
which are varieties of what is called compact limestone ; 
shell marble shows plainly the remains of shells. In 
some limestone regions crystals are found, some of which 
are as transparent as glass, and specimens that are nearly 
transparent with a luster like satin. These crystals are 
called Iceland Spar, Dog-tooth Spar, Satin Spar, and by 
other names. Well, you will think that there are so 
many kiuds of limestone that it will be very hard for you 
to decide whether a stone is limestone or not. Yet this 
is the very thing that I wish you to do, as I want each 
one of you who cares to learn anything about limestone 
— and every one ought to wish to know about such a 
common and useful thing — to get a specimen of some 
kind of it. No matter which of the varieties, but try and 
get some lumps ; pieces as big as a hen's egg will answer 
our purpose. It will be all the more interesting if you 
can find them among the rocks and stones of the neigh- 
borhood. Any intelligent person will tell you if it is any 
bsg to hunt for limestone in the vicinity, as there are 
some localities where it can not be found at all. Those 
who live where there is none can get a bit of marble 
from the village stone-cutter, or if nothing better can be 
had, a lump of chalk. I have said that all the different 
kinds are so soft that they can be scratched with the 
pocket-knife, and that they differ much in hardness- 
marble being much harder thau chalk. There are, how- 
ever, other soft stones that are not limestone, and this is 
not a sure test. Here is another test: Put a bit of the 
stone into a wine-glass or small vial — a bit as large as a 
small pea will do — and pour over it some very strong 
vinegar, say a table-spoonful or so. If the bit is limestone 
you will see it effervesce— that is, small bubbles will be 
given off from it and rise through the vinegar. Th^se 
babbles will be very small, smaller than pins' heads, and 
you will have to hold the glass up to the light in order to 
see them. After some hours the bit of limestone will 
have grown smaller, and in time it will nearly all dis- 
solve. I say nearly all, as there are usually some impuri- 
ties left. With some of the hard limestones this action 
takes place very slowly, and you will be obliged to pound 
your bit to powder before trying the vinegar— which 
you can easily do with a hammer and a hard fiat stone. 
The vinegar should be very strong. Vinegar, you 
know, is an acid; there are other acids that will dis- 
solve the limestone more quickly and show the bub- 
bles more plainly than vinegar, but I do not think 
your parents would like to have you use them ; besides, 
it is much better to make experiments as simple as pos- 
sible, and with common things that every one has. 
When you have found your specimen of limestone of 
some kind, be it marble, chalk, or common limestone, 
we will try to find out more about it. Let us see what 
we have learned thus far : Limestone varies a great deal 
as to color, texture, aud hardness, but all kinds are so soft 
that they can be scratched by a knife. It is acted upon 
by vinegar and other acids, and gives off bubbles. 
Vinegar dissolves it. This will do for our introduction 
to the limestone. The Doctor. 
Xlte Award oi" Prizes. 
BY AUNT SUE. 
I am very sorry I ever thought of offering prizes for 
" the greatest number of rivers found in the name of any 
one mountain. 1 ' I have not minded the trouble, as I 
have had much kind assistance in my geographical re- 
searches, but my feelings have been harrowed up fre- 
quently when receiving letters pertaining to the competi- 
tion. Some from little children in the country with their 
dozen or two of rivers culled from their school atlases. 
Some from invalids, and I dare say their backs ached 
while poring over the maps (I'm so sorry). Long lists 
from " Ranges," all valueless because the parties had not 
fully understood the proposition concerning the "one 
mountain." One of these lists was from a young man 
with weak eyes. Now, just fancy the task of looking 
through a map for names printed in the weentiest kind of 
type, with weak eyes ! The only consolation I have is 
that every seeker has been a gainer in geographical in- 
formation, and as for myself— just ask me where any 
place or river is ! I never was so posted on geography 
in my life. 
I have been requested to publish the lists of rivers 
winning the prizes, and I think it only fair to do so. I 
would here state that every name published has been 
found and seen by my assistants or myself in the author- 
ities given by the parties sending the lists. It would 
take too much space to give the countries, so you must 
be content with merely the names of the rivers and 
lakes ; the latter are in italics. 
The longest list (after pruning it of gulfs, bayous, 
brooks, creeks, wadies, and estuaries, and leaving only 
such as were called in atlases and gazetteers " rivers and 
lakes") embraces 53G names, made out of" the mountain 
" Skagstolstinderne." Thirty-one more names have 
been added by different students, so that the supply was 
not exhausted in the first list. 
The first three prizes are won on the above-named 
mountain ; the last three on " Grand Colorabh r." 
The names of the successful competitors are : 
1. AdoIphB. Clayton, Halifax, N. S. 
2. Jeaunie V. B. Greene, Long Branch, N. J. 
3. Sadie R. Weyman, Pittsburgh. Pa. 
4. Henry W. Simonson, Turin, Lewis Co., N. Y. 
3. Addie W. McCabe, Clinton, Conn. 
Minnie F. Beardsley, Addison, Lenawee Co., Mich. 
Mountain.— SKAGSTOLSTLXDERNE. 
Elvers and Lakes. 
Sangro 
Sark 
Seal 
Somen 
Sarine 
Sang Koi 
Setter 
Begars 
See ii a 
Seer 
Sir 
Sego 
Segre 
Seine 
Sena 
Senne 
Senio 
Selenga 
Selennak 
Senegal 
Sennoi 
Serain 
Serein 
Seniu 
Sered 
Serido 
Serio 
Sesia 
Sestre 
Rpstra 
Sio 
Sosna 
Setang 
Sienne 
Sinde 
Sinno 
Snake 
Soldier 
Sink 
Sleg 
Mm' 
Bind 
Sil 
Sinn 
Sit 
6. 
A In 
Gair 
Lone 
Aiden 
(lard 
Loan 
Agri 
Garden 
Lorto 
Ark let 
Gali en 
Larto 
At rek 
Garonne 
Line 
Anio 
Gironde 
Ladoga 
Ale 
Genii 
Lark 
Aline 
Gidea 
Legnet 
Lek 
Alness 
Gers 
Adige 
Gera 
Lang 
Agiio 
Gote 
Lined 
A in 
Gila 
Lease 
Aire 
Gir 
Lartine 
Aisne 
Glan 
Isongart 
Aide 
Glenade 
Nairn 
Alei 
Gota 
Nalon 
Alne 
Glatt 
Nar 
Alt 
Glen 
Nare 
Alster 
Goil 
Nari 
Alteu 
Gorln 
Naro 
AM:> 
Gran 
Naso 
Anton 
Grand 
Negro 
Ant 
Green 
Natron 
Argens 
Greta 
Neisse 
Allege 
Grone 
Nit*m 
Arm oa 
Gar 
Nelson 
Arno 
Gan 
Nene 
Anion 
Glina 
Nera 
Aso 
Groene 
Nerl 
Asone 
Gilo 
Nero 
Assinee 
Golden 
Ness 
Astor 
Godin's 
Nessa 
Alterno 
Grass 
Nes^e 
Atsion 
Gare 
Neste 
Attri 
Grant 
Nestes 
Aron 
Great 
Neto 
Aeron 
Glass 
Nieto 
Aile 
Idle 
Nida 
Ae 
Idro 
Nied 
Arik 
Iga 
Nasi 
Adonli 
Ik 
Nagor 
Ak Lon 
Ikorets 
Neale 
Adler 
Ilek 
Negrain 
Asnen 
Indal 
Niger 
Dal 
Ingoda 
Nen 
Danger 
Innerste 
Nai 
Soar 
Dan 
I nsie r 
Non 
Soda 
Darling 
lien 
Nil 
Sone 
Dart 
Inn 
Nile 
Soane 
Dee 
Isa 
Nisao 
Btor 
Deen 
use 
No gat 
Stone's 
Deer 
Isar 
Nilo 
Storau 
Dean 
Israel's 
No 
Stioug 
Dease 
[OTBll 
Nelo 
Salo 
Drag 
Indie 
Ng<> 
Bann 
Den in 
Uer 
Nore 
Strel 
Derkos 
I.seo 
Ore 
Strielna 
Desna 
Isere 
Oder 
Skagern 
Sisola 
Drina 
Iset 
Olat 
Detroit 
Ma 
Oelras 
Stennes 
Dies 
Isle 
Oikel 
Slate 
Diana 
Isker 
<>ise 
Sarso 
Dog 
Isetakoe 
Oka 
Sele 
Don 
Island 
Olenek 
Sok 
I) rage 
Inner 
Olsa 
Stoke 
Dranso 
Intei' 
Ona 
Storsa 
Drin 
Iteues 
Or 
Saone 
1) rou ne 
Iaset 
Orel 
Sona 
Dane 
Indale 
Orlik 
Skene 
Dale 
Iron 
Orsa 
Sealg 
Tie tar 
Dargle 
I sen 
Ossa 
Dennett 
Hen 
Oate 
Tagil 
Takinos 
Dragon 
{ton 
Orta 
Dastl 
Ise 
Orne 
Tal 
Derg 
King 
Orange 
Tardea 
Doree 
Kndo 
Onega 
Tarn 
Dniester 
Kei 
< neida 
Taro 
Dee! 
Ken 
Oinaiu 
Tees 
Desire 
Ket 
Ossln 
Teesta 
Eagle 
Keta 
Osen 
Teign 
Eaak 
Kent 
Oater 
Tensas 
Erisa 
Kennet 
Osakti 
Teoge 
Erisort 
/r< n t 
Osen 
Ter 
Enffer 
Kern 
Osage 
Terek 
Elko* 
Kali 
Ori 
Tesino 
Kske 
Katrine 
Onto 
Tessiu 
Krla 
Kola 
Odese 
Terse 
Esk 
Kmida 
Odiel 
Tet 
Elsa 
Kirenga 
Otter 
Tidan 
Elk 
Klendar 
Oreti 
Tietar 
Erie 
Kin el 
Orlna 
Tiete 
Elis 
Kistna 
Old 
Tiger' 
Ml 
Kosa 
Bassetn 
TigreJ 
Tiksa 
Eider 
Kings 
Boding 
Eger 
Klar 
Reisen 
Tioga 
Ens 
Koti 
Re id s 
Tara 
Eno 
Kale 
liinde 
Telos 
Eo 
Kalou 
I loder 
Tok 
Elde 
Lane 
Rihiet <i 
Tone 
Eel 
Lantlo 
Roden 
Tome a 
Eden 
Lene 
Rossn 
Tosa 
East 
Lngno 
Hi nn 
Tosna 
Earn 
Laino 
Rede 
Tiasen 
Ega 
Lao 
Regie 
Trent 
Este 
Lea 
Ros 
Trient 
Esker 
Leda 
Eoag 
Trigno 
Esln 
Lee 
Rion 
Teton 
Endless 
L:irke 
Red 
Tin to 
En ns 
Landre 
Ree 
Ter a 
Ergent 
Lelne 
Reno 
Tengri 
El Ain 
Lekta 
liott 
Ta-tsing 
El on 
Lena 
Re a 
Telek 
Esteras 
Lenne 
Real 
Traisiu 
J C-ten a 
Leon 
Rega 
Tor to 
Ettas 
Lesina 
Regen 
Terne 
Esera 
Liane 
Rjkle An 
Test 
Enges 
Lika 
Ross 
Ti'rso 
Eardle 
Loa 
K;it 
Tal 
Erklna 
Loir 
Roe 
Tea 
Er/eri 
Loire 
Roes 
Talt 
Ei8ak 
Loiug 
Box 
Tretff 
Kdisto 
Loiret 
Sit!.- 
lusse 
Eiler 
Lo KJang 
Bado 
Ten a 
Elk OS 
/.. am 
Sal 
Tso 
Elster 
Ltards 
Sang 
Tar 
En are 
Loke 
Sr Ulg 
Tail 
Erkeue 
Leader 
lis 
Tarkeo 
Erne 
i argo 
Saline 
Tito 
Estno 
Long 
Salino 
Tolka 
Ennel 
Lor a 
Salor 
To! ten 
Essonne 
lAifJ 
Salso 
Torissa 
Eloru 
Lossie 
Salt 
Tsarto 
Gade 
Lost 
San 
Tons 
Gail 
Lot 
San go 
Trade— S3 
Mountain.— GRAND COLOMBIER. 
Rivera 
and Lakes. 
Arno 
Clare 
Gila 
Mologa 
Alei 
Clarion 
Glmi 
Mareb 
A i re 
Clear 
Golden 
Mnndeo 
Aro 
Con 
Good 
Manor 
Ag 
Co hilar 
Go r *on 
Minab 
A line 
Corn 
Gade 
Min 
Adige 
Col an 
Galien 
Mino 
Aglio 
Af 
Coal 
Geba 
Mira 
Colaire 
Gera 
Moar 
Adi 
Colne 
Ginione 
Mobile 
Ain 
Congo 
Gomera 
Moder 
Aide 
Coon 
Gander 
Mora 
Almond 
Crane 
Gero 
Niger 
Nile 
Alne 
( or rib 
Gorin 
A moo 
Clooit 
Grand 
Nogal 
Ancober 
Cairn 
Grone 
Nf/anu 
Arc 
Crerun 
Iao 
Nagor 
Arco 
Caroni 
Ibar 
Nilo 
Arno 
Como 
lea 
Nar 
Aron 
Cerna 
Hen 
Nora 
Amer 
Carrion 
Indie 
Naco 
Anio 
Cea 
Ingodo 
Nai 
Ard 
Ciron 
Iron 
Karoo 
Anilore 
Cornifl 
Ingool 
Nari 
Arno on 
t'elano 
I n go or 
Negro 
Adler 
Comer 
Iinla 
$!.° 
Aeron 
Cclatr 
Urn en 
Agri 
Avien 
Dcbo 
Ilm 
N-.r-i 
I) rage 
Idle 
\ ore 
Aile 
Dibong 
Ingoda 
Nogoa 
Ain 
i irac 
Loan 
Nare 
Ae 
Drome 
Lecb 
Naro 
Ale 
Doee 
Leha 
Nera 
Anioor 
Drin 
1-hig 
Neil 
Brad 
Drina 
Lora 
Nida 
Ho 
Dane 
I. oh- 
Nied 
Ben! 
Don 
Loire 
Nil 
Bio 
Dobcor 
Loa 
Nero 
Blanco 
Dal 
, Lao 
Nantoi 
I'.ianco 
Dale 
Laoorec 
Ore 
Boron 
Derg 
Lea 
Oregon 
Bega 
Doonheg 
Largo 
Obion 
Baro 
Da n 
Lima 
on 
Borora 
Dargle 
La Mine 
Obi 
Jiielo 
Doo 
Lena 
Obra 
Bar do 
Dromore 
Lob Nor: 
Ocalc 
Batmen 
Doon 
Linn o 
Ocola 
barren 
Dearborn 
Long 
Odemira 
Horo 
Dema 
Lan 
Oder 
Bride 
Dog 
Lone 
Odiel 
/teg 
Dorou 
Lesro 
Oelio 
Borgie 
Bran 
Doom 
Bran 
Lphnn 
Lonumd 
old 
onibrone 
