MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
159 
WASHING SHEEP. 
This is a branch of sheep economy which is 
wholly indispensable. The careless and slovenly 
manner, with which it is performed by the great 
majority of American wool growers, calls for se¬ 
vere reprehension; the evil consequences result¬ 
ing from it, however, are inflicted mostly upon 
themselves. 
The most suitable time depends upon the lati¬ 
tude and season ; the latter causing sometimes, in 
the same locality, a considerable variation. At all 
events, the flock-master must be sure of one thing, 
namely, that the water and weather are compara¬ 
tively warm. The violation of this is very com¬ 
mon, which is exceedingly cruel and inhumane, 
and often exposes sheep to disease. 
The day selected should be one of sunshine, if 
possible ; and as this work in the Northern and 
Middle States is commonly attended to from the 
10th to the 25th of May, it will rarely be the case, 
at that season, that the water will be of the right 
temperature before nine or ten o’clock in the 
morning; and when only a few sheep are to be 
washed, it will be better generally to delay it un¬ 
til the afternoon. 
If the washing can be conducted immediately 
after a warm rain it will be easier, the effect of it 
being to soften and loosen the dirt; in this event, 
the yearlings should be selected first, as they are 
generally the filthiest. 
The flock-master should always be present; and 
if he does not possess the physical ability or in¬ 
clination to “bear a hand,” he should at least see 
that everything goes off properly, and is conducted 
on “ temperance principles,” for rum has done its 
full share of mischief on such occasions. Pie 
should be provided with a pair of shears, and if 
any dung locks are seen, they should be severed 
before the sheep are put into the water. 
Where there is a running stream of pure water, 
with a gravelly or stony bottom, no better mode 
can be adopted for wool cleansing, and none other 
is so economical. 
As to eradicating all the dirt from the external 
surface of wool when upon the sheep, it is not ex¬ 
pected, for it is impossible to accomplish it; and 
therefore it must necessarily be left to the cleans¬ 
ing process of the manufacturer. But that much 
more can be extracted than is usual, cannot admit 
of a doubt; and if a general trial will only be 
made, those who undertake it will be sure to suc¬ 
ceed, and rewarded not only with the grateful 
thanks of manufacturers, but a handsome advance 
upon the prices of their wool. * * * 
Bucks, especially of the Merino breed, require 
an extra time to wash them, and if a little soft 
soap should be used, their fleeces will not lose 
anything in value in the estimation of the manu¬ 
facturer. 
^ After the washing is completed, the sheep 
should be turned upon a thick-covered sward, 
that no dirt may collect on the fleeces, before they 
are shorn. Driving them along a dusty road must 
be avoided, if possible, when returning from the 
washing. 
The Spanish custom is to cleanse the fleece with 
soap, after it is shorn, the grease or yolk abound¬ 
ing to such a degree, with its concomitant dirt, as 
to preclude the possibility of cleansing it properly 
in the ordinary way. 
In England, the breeds having less of gum than 
others, washing is comparatively easy, and, where 
practicable, is done by swimming the sheep to 
and fro in a pond or stream, and gently squeezing 
the wool with the hands. 
The washing of Saxony sheep in Germany and 
other parts of the Continent, conforms to the bet¬ 
ter modes adopted in this country, but is performed 
with far greater nicety and care.— Morrell. 
Sour Food. 
Cattle fed on sour food, prepared by ferment¬ 
ing rye flour and water, into a kind of paste, and 
then diluted with water, afterwards thickened 
with hay chaff’ (that is, hay cut small,) are said to 
fatten quickly. This plan is adopted in France to 
a considerable extent, and has been introduced 
years ago in this country. Although not generally 
adopted, it is deserving of consideration by gra¬ 
ziers. With respect to the efficacy of acid food for 
fattening animals, there is, as on most other sub¬ 
jects, a variety of opinions. It is well known that 
swine derive more benefit from sour milk than 
they do from milk in a fresh state; and there is no 
doubt but there are particles which promote di¬ 
gestion and facilitate the consumption of a larger 
quantity of food, and consequently expedite the 
fattening of cattle.— Agriculior. 
Horn' Distemper. — Another Remedy. — In the 
April No. of the Stock Register, a remedy is given 
for this disease by cutting the tail, boring the 
horns, Ac. This I have tried; but a cure can be 
effected much sooner and with far less trouble, by 
putting one table-spoonful of whiskey in each ear 
of the animal. If whiskey is not at hand, alcohal, 
or brandy weakened one half with water, will an¬ 
swer nearly as well. I have tried this several 
times, and have known it tried by neighbors, al¬ 
ways with success.—J. G. Burritt, Moreland, JS r . Y. 
Kidney Complaint in Horses. —A correspond¬ 
ent of the Maine Farmer says: — “If any one 
inquires of you what will help or cure a horse 
that is troubled with the 'kindey complaint, or 
stoppage of the water, you can recommend fir 
bark, with the blisters or balsam attached to the 
same. Steep the same thoroughly, and give the 
horse one or two quarts of liquor, or mix it with 
oats and meal, and give. I have tried this remedy 
and never had it fail.” 
Lice on Cattle.— “ J. R.” summarily disposes 
of a question asked through the Valley Farmer— 
viz., “ What will kill lice on cattle ?” He says: 
“ There are two good remedies — one, grease ren¬ 
dered from old, rancid bacon, rubbed on well; 
the other, a plenty of corn and good timothy hay, 
and salted regularly.” 
©rcjffirfr att& darton. 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR OLD ORCHARDS. 
It will pay, if tlio thing is rightly done. 
I havo had somo experience in the business 
on my own premises, and feel well satisfied 
with the result. A good apple tree, or rath¬ 
er a tree that produces good fruit, takes up 
no more room than a tree that is worthless. 
There is an old applo tree standing in the 
corner of my door-yard, which, eight years 
ago, I considered the samo as worthless, 
(producing fruit that was scarcely worth the 
picking,) which now produces as fine Green¬ 
ings as any in market, and it has done so 
for four years past. The tree is large, the 
body being about threo feet in circumfer¬ 
ence. The first year that I commened op¬ 
erations upon it, I inserted nearly one hun¬ 
dred scions, the majority pf which lived ; 
the next year cut off the remaining branch¬ 
es, and put in about half as many more.— 
The grafts lived so well, I was obliged to cut 
off a considerable number ; and I now havo 
a wido spreading top, in a thrifty condition. 
The fact has been clearly proved to my 
mind, that it is as good economy to expend 
money in improving old orchards, as it is to 
grow young trees. To substantiate this 
statement, I will briefly mention what I am 
personally knowing to. Some ten years 
since, I was called upon by a neighbor of 
mine to go and sot a few scions in some old 
trees, that bore a poor quality of fruit. He 
said his object was to see if there was any¬ 
thing to bo dono to improve his old orchard. 
The first year I grafted somo two or three 
trees, around which the owner spadod up 
the soil to the distance of ten or twelve feet 
each way—applied a good dressing of ma¬ 
nure, and planted the samo to potatoes.— 
The next year ho called on me again to 
graft a few more trees; the first grafted 
looked so promising he would experiment a 
little more. This year somo ten or twelve 
trees wore grafted, and treated around the 
roots in tho samo way. Thus ho has con¬ 
tinued to do from year to year,—and now 
has tho gratification of witnessing his old 
trees transformed into a thrifty, growing 
orchard. Last fall handsome grafted fruit 
was gathered from this “ old orchard” suf¬ 
ficient to pay all expenses. 
What has been done may be done, and it 
would bo good economy for farmers to “ try 
tho experimentgive one or two trees a 
fair trial this year, and wait the result. As 
Poor Richard say says—“ A penny saved is 
worth two-pence earned.” A. Todd. 
Smithfield, R. I., 4th mo., 1853. 
“THE SPRING BEAUTY.” 
Tins is one of tho earliest of our native 
blossoms and for delicacy of tint is raroly 
surpassed. Most truthfully is it named 
“ Tho Spring Beauty.” There are two spe¬ 
cies, ono of which is more common than the 
other, and the flowers of which aro not quite 
as gay. Thoy belong to the genus Claytonia, 
named in honor of John Clayton, a botan¬ 
ist of Virginia. This genus is classed under 
tho natural order of Portulacacoa or the 
Purslanes, distinguished for their succulent 
fleshy leaves. 
The roots aro tuberous and are placed be¬ 
low the surface as far as tho plants rise 
abovo. It is a dolicato plant, found in woods, 
especialy in their margins, and among rocky 
hills, and whoro the ground is somewhat 
moist. The stem rises from two to throe 
inches high, with a pair of opposite loaves 
about midway, between which rises tho stem 
bearing a cluster of flowers which aro whit¬ 
ish, or tinged slightly with rod, and most 
beautifully penciled with delicate purple 
lines. Tho loaves aro ono and two inches 
in length and about one-fourth as wido.— 
This is tho Claytonia Caroliniana, which is 
tho most common, and is found from Canada 
to Carolina and west to tho Mississippi. 
Tho C. Virginica, is moro slonder and 
found in moister soil, tho leavos being long- 
or and much narrower. The flowors are 
more roso colorod,with deeper colored pen¬ 
ciled lines. It is more common in tho mid¬ 
dle and Southern States, though occasional¬ 
ly found elsewhere. Tho tuberous root is 
longer and is deopor in tho earth. They 
blossom in April and May and remain in 
bloom somo two or three woeks. 
Thoy aro, for their delicateness and’early 
blossoming, treasures for tho shubbery or 
garden. From their habits and nature, thoy 
may be quite readily transferred to tho gar¬ 
den, and made to flourish too—though the 
writer of this has made no experiment to 
that end. Thoy certainly would flourish, if 
their now situation was made to conform in 
a measure to their natural habits. Undor 
tho protection of tho shrubbery, thoy might 
add much to tho beauty and charm of tho 
yard. 1 t. e. w. 
Concealed buds may bo started by ma¬ 
king a nick immediately above them with 
a knifo. A good way to form new limbs. 
SPARE THE BIRDS. 
Yes, kind reader, “spare the birds!”— 
There is nothing you can do that will so 
well reward you, as to do all in your power 
to preserve the birds. I never allow any 
birds to be molested upon my farm, if I can 
prevent it. I love to see them in the trees 
about my house. It is very pleasant to 
watch them build their nests and rear their 
young. And sweet, indeed, is their music 
in the early morning. Their early songs 
ever remind mo of my own unthankfulness 
each morning to tho good Lord who has so 
long protected, preserved and blessed me. 
He careth for them, and when His blessed 
light first greets them, they pour out their 
sweetest and most joyous songs of gladness. 
I offer my humble prayer and thanks, but 
they seem to me very poor when I compare 
all that has been dono for me and mine, with 
tho little birds. 
Last summer, just as my cherries began 
to ripen, tho cherry birds came upon my 
trees in flocks, and vei'y suddenly. It was 
Sunday, and as I could not allow them to 
be killed on that day, I took all sorts of 
pains to keep thorn away. But my labor 
seemed to little purpose, and I was quite 
disposed to have war declared upon them 
the next day. When Monday came, back 
came tho birds. Still I did not liko to have 
them shot, and made up my mind that I 
would divide with them. While watching 
the little rascals plunder my fruit, right 
over my head, I noticed that they never 
took tho wholo of the cherry. This led to 
further investigation, and I soon discovered 
that they never disturbed a sound cherry— 
and nono but those that had worms in them. 
I gavo directions that thoy should not be 
disturbed, and walked away a wiser and I 
trust a better man, for the lesson was an in¬ 
structive one. I have never yet seen any 
bird take a sound cherry, and I am glad to 
see tho birds among tho fruit. Spare the 
birds and thoy will destroy millions of your 
worst enemies—the insects. 
I keep on good terms with tho crows, and 
never allow them to be disturbed. And I 
never put up scare croivs about my corn.— 
After planting I scattor a few quarts about 
the field, which satisfies them of my good 
intentions, and thoy never pull my corn up 
as they do that of some of my neighbors. 
There is a pair of robins that come every 
spring and nest in a fir tree, near the house. 
Last year thoy raised two broods, and when 
they came back again this year, (I am quite 
suro they aro the samo pair,) it really seem¬ 
ed like meeting old acquaintances. I would 
not have them harmed for any money. The 
blue-birds have como back to their box, but 
I fear those busy-bodies, tho wrens, when 
thoy como back will drive them out, as they 
did last year. But I shall put up another 
box, and thoy may not disturb them. 
My dear friend, be you old or young, do 
all in your (power to save the birds. You 
will never havo cause to repent your kind¬ 
ness. If flowers aro God’s smiles, surely 
the birds are His winged messengers of love 
and mercy to man. T. C. Peters. 
Darien, N. Y., May, 1853. 
STRIPED BUGS. 
To keep them from young vines, put a 
box around tho hill; three shingles, five or 
six inches wide, are enough; mako a letter 
A with them, and fasten them up with dirt 
or sticks. Notice, and you will see that tho 
bugs fly in straight lines and near the 
ground, and besides, they cannot stop in 
their flight and let themselves down on tho 
plant, as a chimney swallow lets himself 
down into a chimney, so that they will fly 
ovor the tops of tho boxes and light upon 
something on the other side. If they start 
up again, they will fly over tho tops of the 
boxes and light upon something on tho op¬ 
posite side. Occasionally, if the boxes are 
vory low, this lighting place will happen to 
bo just inside of the box, but not very often. 
I havo driven off a great number "from a 
hill and put a box around, and only ono or 
two bugs got back again. There is no need 
of killing the bugs; simply drive thorn off 
and put on the boxes, or put them on be¬ 
fore thoy como. You do not put covers 
over tho tops; put small open boxes round 
with tho sides high enough so that when 
you stand ten foot from the hill you cannot 
see the plants, and then tho bugs flying can¬ 
not see them, and consequently will not 
know whore tho plants are so as to light 
upon them. Do not make the boxes too high, 
for that will shado tho plants; nor too low 
for thon the bugs will see tho plants and 
light upon them—they will fly straight to 
thorn. 
I havo been twolvo years in making ob¬ 
servations upon this insect, and have used 
the box for that timo, but did not dicovei 
why tho bugs did not get in, till last year 
while in Waltham, Mass. In a garden there 
where I introduced the box I found that 
they did not get in because thoy could not. 
I know of several who have used the box 
for a long time with success. 
A good protection for radishes, onions, 
and such roots as suffer from a small white 
maggot, is to koep tho earth that comes im¬ 
mediately in contact with them drenched 
with tobacco steepings. If carefully and 
constantly attended to, it will invariably 
provo successful. Tho box is no protection 
unloss covered. Tho maggot is deposited 
by a small black fly, that disappears in sea¬ 
son for the roots to come to maturity if pro¬ 
tected till they are partially grown. One 
pound of tobacco, at 8 cents, will bo strong 
enough for five or six pails of water. Noth¬ 
ing but tobacco worms and men can endure 
tobacco .—Eastern Mail. 
HAVE WE A BLACK KNOT AMONG US I 
No doubt, a very prompt and feeling an¬ 
swer will be rendered to this inquiry, by 
many of the proprietors of the fine gardens 
in Cambridge, as they contemplate the sorry 
plight of their once valuable plum trees.— 
We have heretofore raised a warning voice 
on this subject, and have regretted that so 
little heed has been accorded to it. Here 
and there, however, we are happy to say, 
may bo found a proprietor whose trees are 
entirely freo from this disease, and such 
persons uniformly bear testimony to tho 
fact that, by constant attention to cutting 
off and burning the diseased parts, at any 
and all seasons of the year, a cure is effect¬ 
ed. To all whose trees are affected, we say, 
see to them at once, before the knots are 
concealed by new foliage, as they will then 
elude the strictest search, and whore they 
are too far gone to make trimming of any 
avail, cut them down at once, and relieve 
yourself of a disagreeable sight, and your 
nighbors’ trees from contagion .—Cambridge 
Chronicle. 
JPttjmmc %xts, h. 
LIST OF PATENT CLAIMS 
ISSUED FROM THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 
For the week ending May 2, 1853. 
Robert Adams, of London, England, for im¬ 
provements in revolving fire-arms. Patented in 
England, Feb. 24, 1851. 
Richard L. Hinsdale, of New-York, N. Y., for 
improvement in elastic exercising machines. 
Geo. Kendall, of Providence, R. I., for improve¬ 
ment in mould candle apparatus. Patented in 
England, Nov. 12, 1852. 
Daniel Reid, of Washington, N. C., for improve¬ 
ment in manure carts. 
Geo. W. Reid, of Evansville, Ind., for improve¬ 
ment in corn shellers. 
Paris J. Steere, of Cheshire, Mass., for improve¬ 
ment in machines for sawing barrel-heads. 
James S. Taylor, of Danbury, Conn., for im¬ 
provement in machines for shrinking hat bodies. 
Chas. N. Tyler, of Worcester, Mass., for im¬ 
provement in repeating fire-arms. 
Samuel R. Wilmot, of New Haven, Conn., as¬ 
signor to Joseph Kent, of Baltimore County, Md., 
for improvement in apparatus for drawing water 
from wells. 
Patrick O’Reilly, of Reading, Pa., for improve¬ 
ments in rails for railroads. Ante-dated Nov. 3, 
1852. 
J. Dutton Steele, of Pottstown, Pa., assignor to 
Chas. E. Smith, of Philadelphia, Pa., for improve¬ 
ment in rails for railroads. Ante-dated Nov. 3, ’52. 
DESIGNS. 
Jas. L. Jackson, of New-York, N. Y., for three 
different designs for grate frames. 
Jas. L. Jackson, of New York, N. Y., for design 
for a grate frame and summer piece. 
CHEAP AND GOOD OUTSIDE PAINT. 
Friend Moore :—I have noticed from 
time to time, in the New-Yorker, remarks 
relating to various kinds of “ Mineral 
Faints,” “ Hard Finish,” “ Mastic Cement,” 
etc., and tho modes of preparing them, to 
be applied to various structures, both inter¬ 
nally and externally. 
Will you permit me, to call tho attention 
of your numerous readers, to an entirely 
now compound, very superior, as well as 
cheap, for painting tho outside of any build¬ 
ing. Superior, becauso of its durability,— 
possessing the power to resist the action ot 
the elements for a number of years. Cheap, 
because tho expense, when compared with 
lead, is but a trifle. 
Take two parts (in bulk) of water lime 
ground fine, and one part (in bulk) of white 
lead ground in oil. Mix thorn thoroughly, 
by adding first quality of boiled linseed oil, 
sufficient to bring the mass into a state 
suitable to be passed through a paint mill. 
After passing tho compound through the 
mill, temper it with oil, bringing it to a pro¬ 
per state to be applied with a painter’s 
brush. 
This, when applied, will form a coat 
which will be found in its place, and pro¬ 
tecting your building, when the white lead 
which your neighbor applied to his, will be 
seen to havo descended, to whiten the earth, 
stone and grass, and, if he choosos to con¬ 
tinue the use of lead only, he will have tho 
pleasure of repeating its application many 
times, while yours retains its place and 
beauty. 
This cement may be tinged to suit the 
tasto, with any of the coloring matter in 
use by painters, or the proportions may be 
varied by using less lime, the two pnrts be¬ 
ing tho extent of lime in forming the com¬ 
position. 
In painting the cornice of a building, I 
reversed tho proportions, using two parts 
load, and one part lime, thus forming a rich 
tingo resembling light cream color. Five 
or six shillings worth of lime, will go as far 
as twenty or twenty-five dollars worth of 
load, and when prepared as above will last 
three times as long. Henrietta. 
A MACHINE FOR REPORTERS. 
We find the following article in The Ran¬ 
dolph Whig : 
In September, 1850, John B. Fairbanks, 
Esq., then a resident of this county, now of 
New York City, took out a patent for an 
invention calculated to enable a man who 
can move his hands rapidly in a vertical di¬ 
rection, to report a speaker in full, with 
case and certainty. It is operated by keys, 
which by their movement, connected with 
stenographic type, imprint a new alphabet 
ot short-hand characters upon the paper.— 
Ihe alphabet contains only five elementarv 
characters, and by combinations of these, 
all the other lotters, together with numer¬ 
ous word-signs, are made. The fingers and 
thumb ot ono hand are sufficient to operate 
five keys, which constitute tho alphabet, and 
to mako innumerable changes upon tho 
samo, so that ono hand can write ono row 
of signs upon the paper, while another set 
of five keys undor the hand can, at tho samo 
timo, be made to writo another one. It is 
really gaining tho use of both hands at once 
in writing stenography, and tho hand will 
certainly not so soon grow weary of simply 
striking thoso keys, as of constantly push¬ 
ing a quill, which to thoso who have tried it 
well know is worth all it comes to. We 
havo been shown ono of these machines, 
which is now in the office of Mr. Thomas 
F. How, who is associated with Mr. Fair¬ 
banks, and i3 at present in our village—be¬ 
ing the first one completed, as Mr. F. in¬ 
formed us. It is a difficult matter to judge 
as to the practicability of the invention.— 
It is a curious and ingenious contrivance, 
and it is certain that it will writo vorv rap¬ 
idly in the hands of one who knows the al¬ 
phabet perfectly and can operate the keys 
with facility. Here we apprehend will be 
the difficulty—to enable a person to gain so 
complete a mastery over both the new ap 
phabet of characters and the handling of 
tho keys, as to work tho machine without 
any hesitation. But probably perseverance 
would overcome these obstacles. Messrs. 
Fairbanks and How have now in process of 
construction an improvement upon this in¬ 
vention. calculated to write out a speech in 
Roman characters, instead of short hand.— 
For a sketch reporting this would bo admir¬ 
able, as the “copy” would be more com¬ 
plete and easier for tho compositor. They 
have taken measures to secure a patent, and 
have drawings of the improvement, which 
look as if it would be successful. We hope 
it may. 
COPYING AND PROPORTIONING MACHINE. 
Mr. James Miller of this city, an ingen¬ 
ious and active mrchanic, has invented a 
machine which copies with tho most perfect 
accuracy all linear designs and exactly pro¬ 
portions tho copies which it makes, either to 
a large or smaller scale. The machine is of 
simple and beautiful construction, and is in¬ 
tended to reduce or increase tho size of pat¬ 
terns for calico printing, and carpet weav¬ 
ing. Copying machines havo already been 
invented, but the want of ono that "would 
both copy and proportion has always been 
felt, which Mr. Miller assures us his does so 
with the most perfect mathematical accura¬ 
cy. We saw the machine in operation. It 
copied and reduced a map of Great Britain 
which seemed to us to be beautifully execut¬ 
ed. The machine, it seems to us, will be 
highly valued by manufacturers of carpets, 
paper hangings, and printers of calico, &c. 
We hope tho ingenious inventor will be du¬ 
ly rewardod for tho thought and labor he 
has expended upon this machine.— Worces¬ 
ter Spy. 
IMPROVED FLUID BURNER. 
Measures to secure a patent for improve¬ 
ments in the above have been taken by 
Samuel F. Allen, of New York City. The 
improvement consists in employing, "in place 
of the ordinary lamp, a large fluid vessel or 
reservoir, which is to be filled with sufficient 
fluid to last a long time, and set at some 
suitable and safe distance from the place 
where tho combustion of the fluid takes 
place and in such a position that the fluid, 
in finding its level in the wick tube will not 
rise higher than the top of the horizontal 
flame tube. Tho communication between 
tho two is maintained by a flexible tube 
which thus supplies tho latter with fluid for 
combustion, and a screw nut is fitted at the 
bottom of the wick tube which serves as a 
stand for the latter, and can be taken off 
when a fresh wick is required. To prevent 
the wick from burning away too quickly it 
is encased in a wire gauze which also serves 
to render the light more brilliant by sup¬ 
plying the fluid in a broader jet or stream. 
FRIED POTATOES. 
Boil some potatoes in their skins; when 
cold, peel them and cut them in slices, quar- 
ter of an inch thick; put a large tablespoon¬ 
ful of lard or beef dripping into a frying pan, 
and set it over the fire; add pepper and salt 
according to tho quantity of potatoes, (a 
teaspoonful of salt and a saltspoonful of 
pepper to a dozen small sized potatoes;) 
when it is boiling hot, put in enough sliced 
potatoes to cover the bottom of the pan : as 
soon as one side is a delicate browm, turn tho 
other; when both are done, take them into 
a hot dish; then fry more: when all are 
done, put to them a little of the fat in which 
thoy were fried, and serve. 
Caro is necessary in frying potatoes that 
they are nicely and delicately browned, 
without being burned or cooked to a crisp * 
for breakfast or supper, fried potatoes are 
much liked. 
Potatoes may be fried with less time or 
trouble thus :—Peel them and chop them 
small; make some lard hot in the pan; add 
salt and popper as before directed, then put 
the potatoes in; turn them that they may 
bo nicely browned. Servo in a covered (.fish. 
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