THIS GARDEN.

(By HoftTUS.)

Calendar of Operations, July 21st.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"Hortus" is willing to answer any queries. Correspondents must give their full name and address, though not for publication.

Cambridge (F.G.)-Tho Gardeners' Horticul tural Society are nowisaoing members' tickets at five shillings each, which admit two to each ot tho exhibitions. If F.G., or any other cor respondent, will send tho requisite amount in stamps, Hortus will be glad, to forward a ticket. Shrubhiries (Argus).—The best time to prune back shrubs, which are grown for their foliage alone, iv immediately before the sap begins to ascend in tho spring. Blight on Apple ITrkes (R.G.).—i have used a good many compositions, and 1 have founi that any oily matter applied to the affected p*rts will kill the blight for the timo being. There is no perfect cure known. Apply the oily matter whenever it appears. Smot on Orange Treks (A.G.) is caused by tho excrement, of tha black scale. Wash and syrlngo with soft soap and water; two or three applications may bo necessary; about lib soap to a. gallon ot water. Tho soap and water Idlla the insect, and tho smut rise 3in crusts by tho action of tho sun. and soon falls off. Bums (Nemo).—AH bulos and tubers should bo placed in the ground before they begin to shoot; if suffered to form leaves and roots io the air. they waste strength. Roses (W.R.).—To procure a succes»ion of rose 3, prune down to three eyes on all tho branches of some bushes as soon as the buds begin to expand ; defer the same operation with others until the leaves are oxpanding. In the former case the three buds will bear early flowers: in the latter they will not begin to expand until the others are in full foliage, and will bloom proportionately later.

Kitchen Garden.—As the season is fast advancing when the regular cropping of kitchen garden must be attended to, I would strongly urge all when sowing seed always to siw or plant in drills—it possesses many advantages over the old system of sowing broadcast. When vegetables are sown or planted iv drills, a certain space is allowed to each individual plant, and the greatest facility is afforded for hoeing and keeping the crops clear. Space for plants to fully develope, iv, and constant stirring or hoeing of the surface soil, are two of the greatest principles for the culti vator to practise. Many persons plant or sow their gardens thickly, from economic ideas ; but this often defeats itself, and ends in the bitter disappointment to the owner by an inferior crop. There is a happy medium. With regard to the distances between drills for plants, no rule could be laid down; rich soils demand them further apart, poor soils a less distance. Practice will soon teach about the proper distance. To the man who strives to have his gar den full to overflowing without overcrowd ing, this is an important consideration, thus enabling him to secure a limited space for everything, and everything in its alloted space.

Flowbe Gabdent.—Finish planting out all shrubs and hard-wooded plants as soon as possible. The spring will soon be upon us, and all shrubs which are planted out and get well established will succeed better next season. This is the best time of the year for thinning out old shrubberies which have been too thickly planted, also for pruuing back the permanent plants. The spring will soon clothe them with a new foliage, soon hiding the hideous effect which a severely thinned shrubbery some times necessarily possesses. Where large blanks have been made, the places can easily be filled up with some of the tall growing. • Gkeenhouse.— Calceolarias and cinera rias still continue repotting into large flowering pot?, give them plenty of room, and keep them near the glass. Pot a few liliums and amaryllis for early flowering. Give plenty of air ou all bright sunny days. The Value of Natueal F£.owebs sold daily iv Paris is placed as high as 20,000 dollars. The camellia, at one time in great demand, is declared to be out of fashion, while the flowers which are most liked are the gardenia, selling at 1 dollar for each flower; the lily of the valley, about 2 dollars per pot; the Queen rose, the purple rose, the Spanish carnation, and the violet.

GiiEKN MANURING.— The flowering in or the feeding off of green crops, for the pur pose of enriching land, is especially adapted for light sandy siils,_which need humus to increase their retentive powers. SAVE the Bones.—The bones of fish, fowls, the larpe and small bones of beef and mutton, constitute the very best food for fruit trees. When over a few pounds of them accumulate, take them to a heap, cover them up with soil, and when planting fruit trees, always place a few of them with the soil near the roots.

Fruit Growing.

(Contained from last weclc), STOCKS.

This, in my estimation, is the most im port ant question connected with the pro duction of fine crops of fruit; and it is from this point alone the question should be looked—not from the question of pro ducing a fine handsome tree quickly and cheaply grown, which seems to be the points mostly studied in the colonies. Certainly it is the public which is to blame ; they demand a cheap tree, and a question able cheap tree they receive in innumber able oases at the expense of the real object for which the tree was procured, which was to produce fruit, but instead of fruit, wood and leaves are produced year after year, and in time spurs and blossom buds are developed ; it flowers in abundance, every, thing which could bs desired in this way. In numberless cases it seems to end there; the tree seems to stop short at the produc tion of flowers, not having the power to develope fruit. In many cases remedies in the way of root-pruning, &c., are resorted to, all without avail; the tree is still powerless to produce fine crops of fruit. .In ninety-niue cases out of a hun dred when this is the state of affairs, the tree is worked upon an unsuitable cheap raised steck. Now, it is the root which feeds and conducts the different requisites from the soil to the tree, and it is on the different capabilities of these roots and their adaptability to the different varieties worked upon them that the question of successful orchardising will mainly depend. All stocks for grafting should, when pos sible, be raised from seed, as scions worked on seedling stock will always produce the best tree. But it is not always possible to raise the stock wanted from seed ; as, for instance, ihe blight-proof apple stock, and many others, which must be raised from root-cuttiug or root grafting. Therefore, when stock of special varieties are raised from root cutting or root grafting, the vari ous kinds should always be selected from those varieties which are known to possess the different qualifications which are essen tial for the production of fruit.

Now let us inquire what are the different qualifications which a good stock ought to possets. First —It ought to be one which naturally grows line fibrous roots. All who are much acquainted with growing fruit know that for tho production of fine crops fine fibrous roots are an essential. If the tree does not possess them, there is not much chance of fruit till the tree attains a

considerable age, or is specially treated by root pruuing, so as to encourage the growth of fiDre; then early cropping may ensue. The above out'ht to be suffi cient to show that a stock which naturally produces fine fibrous roots ought to be tbe best for working other varieties upon. Secondly—lt ought also to bo one which produces short-jointed, hardy wood. Hardy, short-jointed wood is the best of nil woou for the production of spur 3ndblossom buds; they always develope better on wood of the above description, wood which is long and strong in its growth seldom developes many spurs or fruit blossoms. The buds which wood of this class produce are nearly all leaf-producing, so that they may elaborate the large quantities of sap sent up by the roots. Of course, the quality of wood grown in most cases will depend on the state of %he cultivation.

Thirdly—it also ought to be one which naturally ripens its wood early in the autumn or winter. A stock which natu rally ripens early will cause that which is grafted upon it to ripen early also. A stock which is always growing and supplying nourishment to the tree keeps that tree in a perpetual state of activity. I need scarcely add that a tree under these con ditions cannot produce fine crops of fruit of first class quality. A tree needs to rest for a sufficient period, so as to properly ripen off its wood and blos=oins, before it can produce fine crops of fruit, and the longer the period of such rest, the better will be the conditions of both woid and buds for producing such crops. We have often seen varieties used for stock which Dever seem to rest at all. Some of these wii be dealt with as we get farther into the question of varieties. Applx Stock.—There are now in «ew Zealand two varieties almost exclusively used for grafting the different varieties upon. The reason of this is thit-those two are blight-proof. Their names are the Northern Spy and Majetin. There is a good deal of difference of opinion as to which is the best. I will here shortly describe the root action of both, and if the reader concurs in my rr°neral remarks on stocks he will have uo difficulty in choosing the best. The Majetiu is prooe to throw out long stringers, which feed at a long distance from the tree, and is not what would be called a fibrous-rooted variety—rather the reverse. The roots in my estimation would be good for producing timber if it was planted on generous ground. The Northern Spy, in our estimation, is by far the best. The reasons are : Tha Spy constitutionally throws out a greater number of fiorous rootlets near the base'of the tree, and when a stock naturally possesses thisqualificationitgreatly enhances its value for producing cro^s of fruit; there is not so much pruning re quired ; the fibres keep near the surface, whereas the Majetin is prone to send its roots deep. The manner in which both varietiesarepropagatedforstockis from root cuttings, which are cnt off in winter and planted out in spring in nursery rows, the top of the root cutting just peeping above the ground ; they will soon spring away into growth, and by the autumn some of them will be reody for budding, or, if not, for grafting the following spring. This is the quickest and cheapest method. But there ia a better, and that is by root grafting simply tbe roots about two-eighths ot an inch thick. Then have a bundle of scions of about the same thickness, of the same variety, and simply graft them, tying the graft on securely. They need no clay! The grafting can easily be performed at night ot in wet weather. After aompleting, cover them up with moist sand or earth, and, when the weather suits, plant out in nursery rows, covering up the grafts only, allowing the buds of the scion to appear above the surface. These, when they grow up, can be either budded or grafted when the proper season comes round. This is what is called double grafting, and is, I believe, the best method of all. When budding or grafting the other varieties thereon, place such about *one foot off the ground—it wiil keep such variety, perhaps very subject to the blight, at a good dis tance from the ground. The above remarks will apply to all other stocks which cannot be raised easily from seed or by better means.

almond Stock.—This is usually worked upon the seedling plum and peach. Ex periments in this class have not been fully tested yet, but as far as they have gone, the plum seems to be the best for fruit bearing purposes ; on seedling stock of its own, it is inclined to grow too much tim ber.

Apeicot.—Experiments here have not been tested properly yet. When worked on the plum, they come into fruit bearing earlier, and where dwarfs are wanted this is the best stock to use. When worked on the peach, it requires some time to brin» them into a good fruit bearing state.

(To be Continued. J

A Type-Grubber.

The brother of Douglas Jerrold—Henry— although he did not possess the incisive wit of his brother, could bi elaborately sarcastic at times. Some twenty-five years ago he obtained casual employment at a printing-office in Melbonrne from the overseer, and, as Harry had just finished oae of his overland tramps, his appearance was neither sweet nor inviting. ±Ie was hirsute, grimy, ragged, and sun-em browned, and his eyes had the gleam of incipient insanity.

The boss of the shop, a dainty finical person, came in and stared at the new hand very fixedly, after which he indulged in several abrupt uneasy sniffs, contorting his visage into an expression of deep disgust. Finally he ordered his foreman to dismiss Jerrold ; but as they were short-handed aud pushed for assistance, the foreman de clined the task ; so the master printer him self, with a deal of sniffing and lordly affectation, interjected to Harry, "I say —ah, you are discharged—go !" Jerrold, who had been no unobservant spectator of the other's antics, glared con temptuously at the spsaker, and, waving hla haud. bawled, •' Away, you agglomera tion of deceased cat's-meat I In the lan guage of colonial magpies, I demand—who are you ?"

The printer replied irascibly, in a trans port of turkey-cock indignation, " Ha, dash it, this is too much 1 Fellow, I am the proprietor 1"

" The proprietor 1" echoed Harry, slam ming down his stick on the upper case, and striking a splendid theatrical attitude : ".the proper rioter ! Gracious Heavens l"— modulating his voice for a tragical display " wonderful and inscrutable are the ways of Providence I Verily this is an annus mirabilis—or, to bring down my intelligence to your paltry level—it is an ago of marvels, The world is turned upside down since here, at the antipodes, am I. the brother of the re nowned Douglas Jerrold, grubbing up type for a mountebank jigmaree, a semi-civilizad chimpanzee, I believe. Go—go yourself to Jericho 1" Then, bursting into an operatic bravura, "All is lostl" he sang so exceedingly well [.that his employer, who had a musical craze, was stricken with astonishment, asked Jerrold's pardon, and requested him to stop as long as he liked. Jerrold replied with a Shaksperian quota tion ; but, when he got an advance of ready money he disappeared, and his frame was "to let" again,

O UR LONDON FLANE UR.

Social, Theatrical, and Interary

Gossip,

Summer at Last—Colonials in- the RoW— The Queen's Health-Tub Royal Temper- Derby Day in London—Affairs Theatri cal-About Books—New 2s. Novels—The New Series of the " Cornhill Magazine • —Bret Harte's New Story-More Cheap ; Editions, &c, &c.

London, June Ist After, a lone, dreary winter, and cold, cheerless spring, summer has at length burst upon us in full glory, and London is now quite at its brightest aud best. . I don't think, however, there are nearly as many colonial and American folk in town this season as there were last. The Park in the evening seems, if anything, fuller than ever, and the crowd of resplendent equip ages—from majestic four-in-hands down to ueat little "victorias" grows, as u.iual, densely impassable about five. The car riages of wealthy Australians are, however, few and far between, though those of Sir Sarauol Wilson, Mr W. A, l-ong, Sir Chas. Clifford, and Sir Saul Samuel may occa sionally b» seen there. The Queen's health continues rather alarming. Her Majesty will not allow that she is ill, but those residing in the Ca>tlu have nevertheless the Dest po-slble reasons for holding to the idea. The royal temper Was never specially remarkable for its pla cidity, but of late it has become - well, what in other persons would be called abominable. I have not seen in print a true statement of the original cause of Her Majesty's seizure with nervous disorder, and the narrative about the fall in the cor ridor and the injury to the knee is best de scribed a» an innocent allegory, containing, but not revealing to careless observers, the real state of things, which Sir William Jenner and the other doctors are bound not to let the public know ; and their daily statements that the Queen is so much bet ter are only the records of hops and not of reality. Change of air, however, especi ally if judiciously taken, will, I have no doubt, work wonders. Darby Day was delightfully fine, and tbe afternoon tea parties in Grosvenor Place to watch the four-ln-hands coming back from Epsom more numerous than ever. Lady Alington made her appearance about five, wearing her husband's colours, and much delighted at St, Blaise's success. The Prince of Wales was the first to greet the winner returning to scale He had accom panisd the owners to Kingsclerc the pre vious week to see St. Blaise tried, and con sequently felt specially pleased at witness ing the colt's triumph. The " World " says Lord Alington won £6,600 over the race ; his confederate, Sir F. Johnstone, £7,000, and the Prince of Wales, £5,000. There was a great Fancy Ball at Ken sington Hall the other night, which at tracted " tout Londrcs." The dresses were exceptionally novel and effective—one of the very pettiest (which all the " sociely " papers notice) being Lady Constance How ard's " Qu&en of the Kentish Hop-Pickers." "Truth" describes it tbui : —"A lovely gown of red and grey, the dress hung on a pale tint of the latter colour and trimmed with trellis-work, fringe* of hops and several rtd butterflies, a silt basket, filled with hops and butterflies, hung by the side, and the bouquet consisted of exquisitely shaded clove carnation." The principal event of the latter end of the season promises to be the day and night fete of the Savage Club at the Koyal Albert Hall, on July 11th. This leviathan busi ness has been inaugurated at the request of the Prince of Wales in aid of the Royal College of Music. The afternoon enter tainments will consist of a fancy fair, to which actors, artists, musicians vocalists, and journalists will alike contribute special features, whilst in the evening there is to be a very select costume ball, patronised by tbe Prince and .Princess of W rales and all royalties then in town, The latest distraction cf our leunesee. doree is cab owning. The youthfnl Karl Marshal of England {Lord Shrewsbury), having exhausted the excitement to be derived from running away with an inti mate friend's wife, has commenced business as a handsom cab proprietor, and may be seen in Trafalear Square any morning about norn reviewing the line of vehicles of which he is lessee. Joking apart, the truth is, Lord Shrewsbury, Mr Lowther, and others were not satiifiod with the descrip tion of bands*.ms at preaont on the streets, and so, r-y way of impoving them, they havd had a numoer ot gorgeously " fixed up" cars specially manufactured, which they horse with really fine animals, and let out to responsible drivers. Lord Shrews bury's cabs are drawn by hog-maned chest nuts, and may ba recognised by his cypher and coronet on tbe aids. I hailed one tbe otheT day, and, with much inward satisfac tion, was driven to the city. My pleasure, however, received a rude check when the liyeried "jurvie" demanded double fare. To trundle about London in a cab owned by a real live lord is no doubt delightful, but I fear even 'Arry himself may not care about paying twice over for the privilege. Who do yon think is going to be married to a Manchester manufacturer? Why, the very lady whom I told you some months ago would shortlywed Colonel Wellesley and emigrate to New Zealand—Miss Kate Vaughan. It seems the Duke ot Welling ton s persuasions were not wholly without effect on the pretty danseuse. Who " paid tbe piper," and how much the said "piper" cost, nobody knows, but the lovelorn colonel has been jilted, and Kate's marri age has been publicly announced. She will not leave the stage, but secedes from tbe Gaiety Company for a time. The .Rational Dress Exhibition, initiated by that extraordinary person, Lady Harber ton, was a great joice. I went one after noon with two gentlemen friends, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. The so called " divided skirts " are merely trousers under another name, and the effect they produce is anything but becoming. Walk ing about the room (presumably as an awful example) was a stout, elderly te male, wearing one of these garments. "Doyou think she is quite dressed ? " I heard a lady whioper to ncr husband; and really the " get up " does give one very much that sort of impression. Men dresß infinitely better nowadays than they did a few years ago. Shirts of light or darK gey dittoes are principally worn in London, the coats and waistcoats being cat the same as if they were black V.E., like "Pagets," with four buttons and very little tie shown. When a black coat is worn, fancy waistcoats of very dark blue or brown, ornamented with white spots, are allowable, but the pattern ou the trousers should always be stripes. Sack coats, [i.e., loose jackets) have guile gone out, and so have turned-down collars and bright or light coloured silk ties. The best sort of stand-up collars are "Dent's Improved Military," or " Welch Margetson's WoLe ley." The latter have patent side clips, which hold the tie down, and make pins unnecessary. Londoners never wear either scaives or sailors' knots,lbut made-op ties J with a neat pearl or plain gold scarf pin. | The acme of snobbery is a sailors' knot with

a scarf-pin in it. As to colours, black and tbe dark slate blue or birda'-eye are most fashionable. Trousers seem to be tighter than ever, and the brims of top-hats curlier. Amongst the "mashing" frater nity, silk underclothing ia de rigueur. There can be no doubt it is far the mo»t comfortable, especially in summer, but one has. to be a millionaire to afford such luxuries.

Affairs theatrical continue dull. Next week the snai oa of French plays commences at_ the Gaiety, and those who feel inclined will be able to compare tho performance of Sarah Bernhardt and Mrs Bernard Beere in " Fedora." Sardon's play, I may men tion, ia quite the hit of the summer. The Haymarket stalls s-ll at all sorts of price*, and if yon want redly good seats voa must book them weeks beforehand. The unfor tunate Novelty Theatre (now called the Folics Dramaiiques) re-opened the .other day With an opera-bouffe said to be by .»"hann Stranss, and called " Prince Methu-alem." Notwithstanding latest mounting and sumptuous drosses, it proved a dead failure, principally because tho vocalists were hopelessly incompetent. A London first-night audience is very parti cular nowadays. Mere diaplay does not go down as it used. The people require good acting and capable singing, or else they hiss. I couldn't help feeling a little »orry for the miserable manager of the Novelty. He had ob»icn»ly spent a mint of money ci fine scenery, gorgeous cos tumes, and pretty ball«ts, and not long ago " frinco Methusaiem" would have bien pronounced "a very go-.d sort of show, don't yer know." Now, however, we are undergoing a temporary spasm of morale. Splendour falls upon us, and fine legs have no longer the a'tractions they once had. Consequently, the manager of the >ovelty suffers. The career of '• Cymbia" came to an end at the Strand a fortnight ago, and Mr John G. Clarke is now playing a >hort engagement in the laughter • moving " widow Hunt." He leaves town next week, and the Strand will then revert to burlesque with the dramatic version of tho celebrated " Vice-Versa" as a first piece. "Impulse," "Kip Van Winkle," and "lolanthe" continue to draw immense houses, though they have been played now for nearly two hundred nights. It is an open secret that the lone-promised " Princess" is the opera which Gilbert and Sullivan are now engaged upon. The present Savoy Company are not to play in it, but will be sent on a tour through America, and possibly Australia.

Mr Toole has taken advantage of the furore about "Fedora "to get Mr Burnand, of " Punch," to do him a burlesque upon Sardon's play. It Is called " Stage-Dora, or Who Killed Coek-Kobia!" and wag pro duced at Toole's Theatre last Saturday with apparent success. I doubt, however, whether the little piece will ever reach Australia 01 New Zealand. It is a mere ephemeral extravagance, and of no real value.

Tuesday next will be a.big night at the Royal Italian Opera. Covent Garden. For some weeks past Ponchielli's "La Gio conda" has been on rehearsal, and on r»esday this mnch-dincnssed work is to be produced, a new prima donna, Madame Maria Durana, playing the title i6le. If the musical papers are to be relied on, the opera season ao far has not been wholly successful artistically. Ths standard at Covent Garden is, of c*ur*e, a very high one, but well it may, considering tne prices asked for seats. A great crowd of connoisseurs assembled the other night to hear Madame Albani in Borto's " Mefia tofele." This mork draws well now, but I fanoy its success is due rather to the splendid mise en scene than the music. The management have also mounted "Carmen" grandly. Next time I want to show a colonial friend Covent Garden, I shall take him to see either Bizet's masterpiece or "Aida." The processions in the last named are gorgeous, and when Patti is the heroine a Campanini Iladames, the per formance is one to be remembered for a lifetime.

The runs of "Youth" at Drury Lane, " Storm-Bsaten " at the Adelpi, " Rachel" at the Olympic, and " The Rivals " at the Vaudeville, are drawing to au end. . Most of these houses will close for the hot weeks of July and August; in fact, " The Queeu'e Favourite," an historical piece, to follow " Rachel" at the Olympic, is the ooly novelty announced.

I scarcely know what to say to you about books this mail. A new novel, entitled "Dr. Claudius," by the author of the curioßß "Mr Isaacs," lies before me on the table, fresh from Mudie's, but I have not had time to look through it yet, and the same remark applie* to Mrs Campbell Praed's new story of life in Queensland, "Moloch." Both, however, seem to be favourably reviewed. A couple of capital additions to the two shilling series are "Matrimony," by W. E. Norris, whose "No Mew Thing " I had recently occasion to praise, and "An Innocent Sinner," by Mabel Collins. The latter I have not read, but if the story at all resembles tbe author's other works, it should be good.

The prospectus of the " Cornhill Maga zine's" new departure hus been ieeued, and sounds promising. Its publication under fresh conditions will commence on June 26th, its price will be sixpence, and it will be freely illustrated. The new series, whilst maintaining the high stand ard of literature of its predecessor, will be on more popular lines, Mr Anstey, of "Vice Versa"j fame, contributes a serial story, which is to be entitled the *' Giant's Kobe," and there will also be at least three complete tales in every number. "Long man's Magazine" commenced this time last year with a very similar flourish of trumpets, but the standard of the first few issues was not kept up, and tho circulation has now dwindled to nothing. As a matter of fact, it will take a very good venture indeed to depose "Cassell's Magazine" from its position at the head of the six penny monthlies. Once upon a time "Chambers's" was the favourite of the middle classes, but the character of the serial stories published is very different to What it was under James Payn's regime. The latter edits the " Cornhill" now, and will doubtless contribute a novel thereto so soon as "Thicker than Water" has been brought to a successful termination in "Longman's." This magazine, I see, announces a new story by Bret Harte, en titled "In the Carquinez Woods." By the way, last mail 1 reviewed Mrs Oli phant's ''Ladies' Lindores" rather un favourably. It is only fair to say the principal critics do not hold similar opinions. The " Saturday Review " con siders the book one of the best of the author's more recent tales, and both the "Athenrjoum" and "Academy" were most complimentary. Miss Praed, of "Rose Garden" fame, has ochieved an. other striking success with "Contradic tions." This lady is one of our most promising novelists, and it Is a feature of her stories that they can be read with pleasure alike by young girls and blase men of the world. When mentioning the cheap edition of, " Matrimony," I should bave advised the purchase of Mr Norrls's " Mdlie, de Mersac," which, with "Phyllis" and "Molly Bawn," may also be got now in 2s form. The last two are written in the flippant style adopted by Rhoda Broughton. i

CHOICE EXTRACTS.

Truth is the highest thing that man may keep.

He who lives to no purpose lives to a bad

purpose,

Small cheer and great wolcome make a merry feast. •"»«.« a

The world is a comedy to these that think, a tragedy to those who feel?

• Nothing is more simple than greatness • indeed, to bu eimple is to be great. '

. Vl^v w°r'hily should be measured by a nobler line-by deeds, not years.

Dost thou love life, then no not squander time, for that is the stuff lif ß is made of.

abatam from all things that tend to our destruction ; intemperance the contrary

If you have built castles in the air, yonr work need not be 10-t. That is where they them PUt fouadati°l"' under

. False friends are like our shadow, Seen, ing close to us while we walk in the sun &he b 8 L 1r iußUßtheinß,aatwecr-

Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten Purchase. **' makeß™e««° happy

Character is not cut in marble-it is not something solid and unalterable. It is something living and changing, and may become diseassd as our bodies do

alt ia stated that an enthusiast in botany or ornithology who is not scared by solitude would finds residence upon Luudy Island to furnuh him with opportunities of amdy for years. *

♦r, t c .uoi a ,foreat i 9 moro moist than that of the fields, ihe difference being greatest in summer. Evergreen trees have more action in tbis respect than such as are deciduous.

Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottct furnace, and ihe brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm.

it. w• . hab'tual thought that frames lbelf into our life. It aflects us even more th.n our intimate social relations do. Our confidential friends have not so much to do m shaping our lives as the thoughts have which we harbour.

THE OWL.

There passed a man by the old oak tree ' Tuwhoo,"said the owl, "tuwhoo." His hair was wild and hia gait was free. He must be a lover," eaid the owl in tho tree. "Tuwhoo, tuwbit, tuwhoo." " I go," quoth he, "a maid to woo, A maiden young and fair and true." ' To woo J" said the owl, •■ to woo? '.'. „ }£ anybody young and true T Ha Ul a ', lauahed the lover as ho onward snod. That's so like an owl, So Hire an owl.

So very like an owl f* ho said.

There passed a man by tho old oak tree. " Tuwhoo," aald the owl. " tuwhoo " His face was long as long conld bo He must bo a lovor." sold tho owl in the tree " Tuwhoo. tuwbit. tuwhoo." ' "So. so," eaid the owl, "it's you. it's you 1 And haven't you been the maid to woo!" ' To woor said the man. '• to woof Therp's nobody young and true." «Ul° I. 'auahod tho owl as ho turned to bod. ™ That s so like a man. So like a man. So very like a man !" he said.

Religion in Common [Life.—Carry reli gious principles into common life, and com mon life will lose its transitoriness. The world pa»seth,away. Ihe things seen are temporal. Soon busioess, with all its cares and anxieties, the whole "unprofitable stir and fev«r o! the world.," will be to us a thing of the past. Hut relinion does some thing better than si«h and moan over the perishablene«B of earthly things. It finds in them the seeds |of immorality,— John Caird,

Judgments. — While we admit the inherent necessity of forming judgments, and tbe occasional duty of voicing them we cannot too strongly represent the difficulty of forming tbem correctly, and the danger of uttaring them hastily. To apprehend this difficulty, we have only to compare the different judgments we form ot ourselves, cf our friends, of strangers, and of foes. There ih a regular gradation in our leniency exactly proportioned to the feelings which are called forth, from the gentle touch which scarcely rutlles a feather ot our own »elf-esteem to the violent grasp with which we drag to the light every sup posed failing of an enemy.

Something Moee than Wealth.—An inheritance used to be thought to consist exclusively of material possessions. Bouses, lands, titles, stocks, falling by the course of nature from parent to child, were said to constitute his inheritance; and much of the consideration and esteem in which the youth was held depended upon tbe amount and value of the property thus lett to him. Of late, however, partly through the in. creasing intelligence of the community, and Btill more through the discoveries of science, another and deeper meaning has come to be attached to the word. It is now fully recognised that more subtle and enduring things than wealth are handed down from one generation to another. Qualities of mind and heart, capacities of various kinds, feelings, desires, habits of thought, tenden cies to action, are more truly a man's in. heritance than silver or gold. The elements that combine to form character are trans mitted in their germs to each individual ; and it ia in these that his chief inheritance consists.

THE SEVEN AGES OF WOMAN.

HY A CANTANKEBOUS OLD CITRMtTDGEOIf. All the world's a Wardrobe, All the girls and women merely wearers; They have their fashions and their fantasies. Ana one she in her time wears many garments Throughout hor Seven Stages. First, tho baby, Bofrilled and broldored, in her nurse's arms. And then tho trim-hoecd school girl, with her flounces. And Bmali-boy-scornlng face, tripping, skirt wagling. COquettlshly to school. And then tho flirt, Ogling like Circe with a business teillad* Kept on her low-cut corset. Then a brido, Full of strango finery, vestured liko an angel, Veiled vaporonsly yet vigilant of glance, Seeking the Women's Heaven, Admiration, Kven at tho altar's stops. Ana then the matron, In fair rich velvet with suave Hatin lined, With Ryes severe, and skirts of youthful cut. Full of dross-saws and modish instances. To teach hor girls their part. The sixth age shifts Into the yay yet gorgeous gTandmama, With gold vincc-nca on noee mid fan at sido, Hor, youthful tastes still strong and worldly wise In sumptuary law, her quavering voice Prosing of Fashion and Le Follct, pipes Of robes and bargains rare. Last soeno of all. That ends tho Sex's 31 orle-swayed history. In second childishness and sheer oblivion Ot youth, taste, passion, all—save love of dross. i —Ptmcft,

STAB SATUBDAY StTPPIiEMKNT, JUIiY 21, 1883.

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