MISCELLANEOUS.

Southland Times, Issue 1610, 26 July 1872, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Renan, who haa been lecturing in Paris on the " Book of Job," is advised to come to Washington and lecture on the " book of jobs." Mr Cyrus W. Field seems to have had great influence in turning the tide of American opinion. It appears tbat he had interviews with a number of leading public men, telling them that, in his recent travels in Germany, France, and Italy, he did not hear of a single statesman, jurist, or authority upon international law, who did not speak of the claims for indirect damages as preposterous. Seed Wheat.— ln choosing wheat seed, it is a good plan to take a variety grown in another locality. Change of seed as a rule is beneficial. It is mistaken and altogether false economy to buy cheap seed. Let the seed be the best of its kind, true to its variety. In this as in stock keeping, the rule is invariable ; the best bred variety gives the best pay. To avoid smut in the succeeding crop it is advisable to steep or water the seed before sowing. Stale urine is generally adopted for this, but other more odorous and pleasant and as efficacious liquids are to be had at a cheap rate. Chloride of lime is strongly recommended in the proportion of one pound of lime to one gallon of water. The mixture is to be well stirred, and then allowed to settle. The clear portion is then to be drawn off into another vessel, and the seed to be steeped in this for a couple of hours, then taken out, allowed to drain until it is partially dry, and finely sprinkled over and mixed with a mixture of sand and ashes. Some say that all the benefits of steeping arise simply from the washing of the seed. As there is some doubt upon this point, the safest way will be to use a Bteep of some repute. One benefit to be I obtained by steeping is that it shows the i licrht seeds". Those floating should not be used as seed. — Mark Lane Express. Beligious Conflict in Gebmany. — The English Churchman says the Old Catholics have now authoritatively the support of the Imperial Government of Germany. There are being sown broadcast, within Germany, the seeds of a second reformation ; milder and less distinct in character than the last, but not on that account undeserving of observation and sympathy. The Old Catholics aim at a reconstitution of the Koman Catholic Church, consistently with national rights — a Church the government of which shall be shared by ; the laity, and allied to modern culture ; and progress. On education, which lies I at the root of the future of opinion, > government, and law in Germany, the ; Papacy and the Imperial Government are ' in opposition ; on the power of the t Papacy, by ecclesiastical censures, to j touch the social status ofthe citizen, there 3 is antagonism ; and why ? Because - Ultramontanism is incompatible with 3 social freedom and the purposes of civil 1 Government. It is idle for Ultramontanee to urge that we are mistaken. Thf

Prussian Government is in conflict with the Pope from no other cause, and it is no exaggeration to affirm that success in this warfare ts quite as essential for the future welfare of Germany as that in which she recently triumphed. Better the French on the left bank of the Rhine, than Papal Infallibility dominant in German schools and churches. A Yeabxing Unsatisfied. — We like a man that is not discouraged by trifles, but we are not quite sure that we are very fond of this fellow : — " A man arrested in Indiana for two attempts to throw trains from the track said he only wished to see bow far a locomotive would go when thrown off the line at full speed." We think that thia not altogether unnatural curiosity might have been completely satisfied, if our experimentalist had been told off" to some condemned t locomotive, and set off at full speed in an unused siding, from which a rail or two j had been removed. We don't like to think of the poor fellow going about still with that unsatisfied longing soul of his. What's more we don't meditate travelling by express in Indiana while he is about. — American paper. A witness in a late divorce suit kept saying that the wife had a very retaliating disposition for every little thing. *' Did you ever see her husband kiss her ?" asked the wife's counsel. " Yes, sir, often." " Well, what did she do on such occasions ?" " She always retaliated, sir."