SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

~ ■ yv inter.—Nominations, BWSKwMV' 17 ' general entries M - Entries, angan e"ghS April 21; acceptances April 16; pfe^lT acceptances and general Mooting. ---i H n April 29; acceptances and general fftlw Steep'echasc Meoting ifN&ilT general entries. Juno H. #fltf«T? y park°Winter.—Nominations, fefeSl; acceptances Juno 23. 9 „ an ii National Steeplechase. -|feso2J; weights. July-5; accept

TURF GOSSIP.

[Bt Hhtona.]

■■'[•gly'e Birthday always sees a meetings (great and small) Q jjroiighoufc New Zealand and Tr and Tuesday next will be rj ion to the rule. The gather f the Takapuna Jockey Club, H will engage the great atten v ihands of local turfites, but not r 'jj cast their thoughts towards 'L where Mitrailleuse will take vtte R°y ftl Stakes, and for the '$ Auckland, let us hope will carry to the front. The Wanganui !0 t a3 usual, hold their Steeple f\Meeting, and Dunedinites will be L' ff ith a day's sport at the hands f, jj/turf institution, while Christ ifjk Jiave the Lower Heathcote uClub Meeting to claim their atten-

Ledin friend writing to me "this alfjPS I think we have an excep imod lot of horses here this winter, Sof the yearlings are very promis- Jlr S. Turnbull (Hon. G. McLean's %)k$ a wonderfully good looking f4 broken, by Le Loup—Tangi, by He is very big, jUs lite a two-year-old that has be:n li I rely on him and Gipsy King to Cnamefor Le Lonp. I think we shall iffipsy King the best of the Southern Lear-oMs next season. That is my Sit, He is essentially the makings i'lDirbycolfc. Le Loup will depend upon for himself." flit acCßpfen ces and general entries for a Ijlapuna Jockey Club Winter Meet »Jte found in another portion of this gt H there is a fine day on Tuesday I jjtipectto see a - very large attendance, iiidy other amusement provided for jjjyisthe coursing at Plumpton Park.

JuEpfom Derby is set down for decision (Tedaeiday next. Cablegrams state that i& divided between The Baron frnsiiadefeated last season, and Enter aieTwo .Thousand Guineas winner. [saisrawiil also probably include Reve k'k heroine of the One Thousand fee, and Florentine, who proved jjni in the' Middle Park Plate.

v J W' horse-owners and tminera 5r < ' ; *'d that nominations for S-rw .".' '" Champagne Win Jockey Oiuu °.^ felSßß,(for now yearlings) clo3e «■. fey night next at nine o clock. Mr jlejiSme3, tie Secretary,has requested itoij that full particulars of name fanjj sad the sire and dam should be nine! with the nomination, so as to rat-mistakes and delay in publishing WmlMof entries.

liv following are the acceptances for the lispmSteeplechase :— -'- r . sfc lb stlb fel ... 11 0 Waitangi ... 9 8 far ... 10 iO ■ Reform ... 9 7 Wl U 10 0 Landseer ... 9 7 M 12 Pathfinder ... 9 7 Isrylegs...' 9 8

life form Orient displayed at the ma Meeting, whatever beats him Mditin this race.

fa Zealand, owners have very freely itemised the classic races of the Austra ffl Jockey Club, which closed the other f-t In the; list of entries for the Derby flSS.jHtoftke, 67 from which the field Ito come; Victoria claims 10, New Zea fflfyand Queensland three. Among tke Wanders entered is Trenton's full to,'.' Cuirassier, Exchange (half-brother JWe Guinea), Chain Shot (brother to ™«» and Thunderbolt), Brcemar »£rtollitrailleuse),Taitar(half-brother »Wy Norah), Garter King (brother to !» Bose). and, Rataplan (half-brother to M The entries for the First Foal «a fat up to upwards of 120. The New *a Stud Company have nominated 12, •iKMing byMusket and the remainder by par. The Christchurch Middle Park P Company also figure as nominators. K UC. Oaks, or "Ladies' Race," Bwß Hon. James White tops the list l«3qaartette.' They consist of Java, by *%< Paraphrase, sister to Philip W8.5 Volley, by Muskefc, out of the «y-bred Lady Vivian (imp.); and °i 'J Martini-Henry from Hawthorn. P. Lyons the well-known local metal- Sfeturned from his lengthened trip to week looking quite a new Iy ' fclS needless to say that he has been S welcomed by turfites in general, *ytfons is one of the oldest and '<«pected members of the Auckland

received for the big J]?; Say Steeplechase are very dis «w numbers, for I fully expected J» w* would have scored the best on fa™, :*Nwr Zealand " lepping" race. k Jp- ■ ■ ei?tries ' Vicfcor is the only S;°^ eda nimal,that , figures in the O™ appears rather strange when the HS*- , *considered; but Auckland is ' w : e having the following our behalf, viz.: Peter Km . w' ? untsm an> Omata, Torpedo, ~ Wat Tyler and Belle. The •sjlk^V" l6 other week 1,000 to 30 WCnr,^ 8 * Matador for the Mel «W ™ d ?00to 40 and 200 to 30 ac- Abercorn j Derby/ ■ glan<l thiß week we S 3 W2 at ? Peat sum of £20,000 X L5 ered for Behdigo. kyGiST,,. 8 , 0 Ben Battle and ! ! WX lon & :;been reckoned one of h«*XT En g la nd, and only W ontU Kempton Park gw *g≤ 3 °oo soys. with 1 the great iHtiA i Bendi go, who is owned only started once last >5 it W ? n fche Eclipse Stakee of r Sidiv % ma y be ' mentlonel Sfcak( *> Lincolnshire Stakes. In the SnSS^ 0 "^ , thafe Mr Mitchel- doing well at W,prif eafc deed s are expected

The sporting scribe of the «Sydney hST Wl S visit to th? lion J. Whites stables at Randwick, and ho thus describes the occupants: -The Jet met with, as the visitor walks through! is the two-year-old Pontifex, by the Pontiff out of the Lord of Linne mare Kathleen and although he has been a disappoint ment to his owner, it is by no means un likely that lie wdl yet pay his way. Next n? • i iV f berdeen > winner of the A.J.C. I rial b takes, occupies a box, while No. 3 on the list is that clinking good colt Abercorn, by Chester, out of cinnamon, who has already made a name as the best of his year with such victories to his credit as Richmond Stakes, VRC Sires Produce Stakes, H.R.C. Claret btak.es, A.J.C. Sires Produce , and First l< oal btakes. As he stands in his box his great strength and substance denote that no distance or weight ought to be too much tor him. He gallops undeniably like a stayer; and although it has come to be considered certain that Chester's descen dants are not favourable to a distance there is no reason why they should not be, as he could stay over any length himself.and the strains of Sir Hercules and Stockwell he gets through his sire and dam can hardly fail of being transmitted to his sons and daughters. Abercorn shows no sign of the season'swork,andalthoughitissaidbypeople outside the stable that lie is not the best that the blue and white banner can produce of his age, it will require a lot of proof. Carlyon, full brother to Uralla, is one who, although never having started in public,has caused attention to be turned to him for the next Melbourne Derby and Cup, and he is a nicely turned colt, as quiet as could be wished, without a white mark on him, and one that looks like racing, but lie lacks the power of Abercorn. Another two-year-old, and occupying the next box, is Cranbrook, by Chester, out of La Princesse (imp.), by Cathedral, from Princess of "Wales, by Stockwell, and he has, at least, breeding enough to recommend him. He is a chestnut, with two white hand feet, and is perhaps the biggest two-year-old ever seen here, it being due to this cause that he was not trained for his two-year-old engagements. Although he is such a big fellow, he is very symmetrical, and should he muster pace in proportion, a Melbourne Cup ought not to be beyond his view. The speedy Perfume and Volcano, the latter looking a trifle stale, follow in order, while next to them comes the galloping wonder Trident, who appears vei-y much smaller in his box than he does on the course, and as Mr Fennelly's head man, T. Payten, had his rug thrown off, he remarked that he was certain to be well taken care of in'-.future Melbourne Cups. If anything, he is quiter than the others, and a call from Payten caused him to leave his corner and wheel round to be petted. He is a great favourite with the stable boys, and Mr Fennelly never tires of telling his hearers that the champion walks on to a racecourse with as much confidence as he does to his feed. Not the slight est sign of wear and tear is noticeable about him, and ho is as sound as the day he first saw the light. Acme, who had only a few days previous returned from Kirkhara, where she had been spelling, has thickened a little but not grown to any ex tent, still she looks much benefited by the change, Plutorch and Morok are also there, ditto Lava, as well as Hexham, who is picking up, and negotiations are going on relative to his purchase for the Indian turf. Others in the stable are a jet black yearling filly, the property of Mr Fennelly, i>7 Robin* son Crusoe out of Regret, l™ out of She has only just been broken in, and although rather small is very compact and ought to come early. A two-year-old colt by The Pontiff out of Solon, and Enigma, by Chester out of Episode, with a white face and rather coarse head, complete the equines in this'truly re markable training establishment.

James Wallace was brought up in the Sydney Central Court the other clay charged with' being the occupier of premises which were used for the purpose of receiving money on his £10,000 annual consultation on Queen's Birthday .Cup. This was graced by the misleading title of " Sydney Jockey Turf Club's Consultation." De tective Cocking had forwarded £1 and ob tained a ticket, and he appeared as prose cutor. Wallace pleaded guilty, and was fined £25, with 10s 10d costs, three months in default. The fine was paid. This par ticular consultation is one against which the public have been specially warned for the past two years.

Mr T. S. Clibborn,the Sydney auctioneer, has received a letter from Mr A. Anderson, of Waikoikoi, New Zealand, w.ith reference to the change of colts which was mentioned some time since as having occurred after the last Hobartville sale, when he and another buyer were equally certain they had pur chased different colts from those which were knocked down to them. Mr Anderson bid for and bought the colt out of Splen dora, but he afterwards expressed himself; certain that the colt by Bosworth from Mysie Happer was the one he bid for, and a mistake being made on the other side a mutual agreement decided the matter and Mysie Happer's son was taken to New Zea land.

The unbeaten champion Tasmanian colt Silverton, by the Assyrian—Silver Thread, has been purchased by Mr W.. Bailey (better known as the owner, of that goed horse Stockwell), and he goes into Scobie s stable. The price paid for him is said to be £800, with a contingency of £200 if he wins the V.R.C. Derby.

Anenti the Egmonfc meeting, I clap the following from 'flaneur's" notes;-Emmett ran away before the start for the Tlying, and spoiled his chance, which must have been a good one. This horse is said to be a Puriri, but most people incline to the beliel that he is a Kelpie, and came to Auckland from Sydney with two others that are run ning with varying success in the colony. The running of Orient in the Maiden Steeples caused some adverse remarks, which gained force later on when he come out and won the big event hands down.

In order to dissolve the partnership ex isting between Messrs Drake and Mason, Vinaigrette and a yearliftg filly by Cadogan —Dime were submitted to auction ,at Christchurch last week. Both were knocked down to Mr Drake at; the figure of 90gs for each. •' . ■ . . ' • -

Up to and including the Timaru meeting, (writes "Mazeppa") Huxtable has had 18 winning mounts this season, and &*£s value of the stakes he has landed in these events is L 3,192. ■ The erstwhile New Zealand crack come Jack was recently awarded tost honours for the best thoroughbred stallion at the Hunfer River (N.S.W ) Agricultural Show. Prince Imperial, the Hawkesbury Handicap winner, was placed second. . Uncas, sire of the New Zealand Company's stallion Ingomar, chimed two winners at the Derby; and. Grand National Hunt Meeting held m March, viz., Kea pTtli, who pilled off the Shipley Hall Steeplechase, and Ivanho.e, winner of the Devonshire Hurdle Handicap of 400 soys.

From Sydney comes the neWthat Ches ham has to the hurdle race business. The son of Chester, who JS being taught his new duties by J. Pl"pl». * rey ported to have taken somewhat kindly to jumping.

. At the last Caulfield Meeting backers ex perienced the most disastrous day's racing bhat has erer taken place on the course. A2O to .1 chance won the Trial Stakes; 10 to 1 could have been obtained in hun dreds against Whalebone, the Hurdle Race winner : while Atlas, the first favourite for the Steeplechase, fiuiahed nowhere. Menotti started at ten to one far the Glen Huntly Handicap, and just beat Meteor, and as a fitting finale., to a meeting which fairly broke the hearts of backers, Dick Swiveller, another ten to one chance, appropriated the Two-year-old Handicap.

A sale of thoroughbred stock was hold at Melbourne recently, when 2S lots of all ages were disposed of, the progeny of such sires as Wollomai, His Lordship, Prince William, Lucifer, Silence, Pirate and Don Giovanni. Prices were very small in the majority of instances, the highest being 100 guineas, which Mr E. Jellet gave for Minculus, 4yrs, by Wollomai-Cassy. Cock Robin, 4yrs, by Wollomai - Bonny Carlisle mare, Mr Doherty, 31 guineas ; and Venefcia, 4yrs, by Prince William, Mr Hill, 30 guineas, were the next best figures realised.

The long-expected attempt of the Ameri can trotting stallion Huon to break the 2 minutes seconds record on the Sydney Driving Park Club's track, Moore Park, was essayed one day last week, and after two failures lie succeeded in lowering the mile performance by one second, though the successful trial was marred by a break, which detracted somewhat from the merits of his achievement.

" Augur" says ho has heard a rumour to the effect that Lord Carrington accepted from an English nobleman a bet of 10,000 to 100 that the Hon. James White would win the English Derby within the next ten years.

First Chester, who it will be remembered, ran Nordenfeldt such desperate races as a three-year-old, is in work again at Rand wick.

Speaking of Mi- M. Fennelly. the well known trainer, a writer in the " Sydney Telegraph " of the 7th inst. says :—Since his association with the Hon. James White he has prepared horses which have won nearly £70,000 in stakes for ttie Kirkham squire, and although his success was at first attributed a good deal to " luck," it was in creased so much year by year as to quite ex plode the opinion that it is due in any senee to that always desirable element. Mr Fen nelly's success also upsets the argument that to achieve distinction as a trainer of horses one must graduate in a training stable and work through the various degrees till the highest position is attained, the Hon. James White's trusty henchman having served no such apprenticeship, but ho has ever been connected in some way or other with horseflesh and has long since be come noted as one of the best judges to bo found. Further proof of his ability in this respect is not needed than the pround posi tion he occupies to-day ac a trainer, and his judgment has many times been shown in the sale ring, his purchases, more especially of yearlinys, being attended with the most flattering , results as witne-s Brown and Rose and Bargo, both of which fell to his nod at very low prices.

The last ITorthamptonsJure (England) Stakes gaye rise to a serious complication, starter having sent the 10 runners on their journey 250 yds. over the proper course, which was set down as " about a mile and three-quarters." A protest was lodged, find, til? RtewftVtf r u l?d. that the race should be run again, rmcl so it was, but this failod to alter the result, the favourite, Mictdle thorpe, winning on both occasions. The committee of Tattersall's decided with respect to bets that those made on the first race held good, while " starting price" wagers could only be connected with the final event. This appears rather harsh, as Middlethorpe went out in the first race at 4 i%o 1, while for the second odds of 7 to 4 were laid "on " him.

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By Action.)

FIXTURES.

FOOTBALL. Senior Cup. May 28.—Waitemata v. North Shore; Auck land v. Albert; Gordon v Ponsonby. Junior Cup. May 28.—Waitemata 2nd v. North.Shore 2nd; Auckland 2nd v. United; Gordon 2nd v. Ponsonby 2nd. tT June 21.—Auckland Representatives v. Ha wera. AQUATICS, May 24.—New South Wales v. Victoria. Eight oar race on the Parramafcta. May 24.—Yacht Raec of the Auckland Yacht May 30, 1887. — Hanlan v. Qaudaur. United July, 1887. -Hanlan v. Teemer. United Skates. Nov. 26.— Beach v. Hanlan fpr the Champion ship Of the world on the Nepean.

ATHLETICS.

May 28.—Two Hours Walking—Goodman v. June 21—Five-mile Amateur Race from One hunga.

To Correspondents.

PARNEix.-The statement is altogether false so far as it refers to Percy M'Donnell. Barnes and Hid aieston had a scrimmage, and Barnes r in hitting at Hiddleston injured his linger. "MTS"—I. It is said :that an Australian Eleven will viait England next season, and in all probability both Turner and Feme wiH be incfudod. v. I cannot say who.are likely to form the team, but, Australia will not be well represented unless bateraen of the M Donnell, Moses, and Bruce stamp are included. Constant Reader.-W. G. Grace visited Australia only once.

FOOTBALL.

The Gordons travelled to the Shore last Saturday to meet the boys in blue, and were put through. Looking at ifcevery way, I do not think this beating is any criterion by which to guage Gordon's real strength. Crowe was the only man who had trained, and as a natural consequence lasted the longest, and towards the finish shone out conspicuously. Burton did not fill Binney's place on the wing as well as could be desired, and Lindsay would never get into a representative team on last week's play ; in fact,he is a lump off. Moginie shone at times, and no doubt a couple of matches will make him nt. Gordon will put a far stronger team in the field in future—Binney, J. Clayton, and H. Poland displacing #Y\ ynyawl, O'&eilly arid Ansenne. Jordon is evidently conaing out this season ; his collaring in very weak, but he gets underway so quickly and runs so strongly that he is really dangerous. W Wynyard's pot at goal was a great streak of'luek for him. but Tabby did not get many shows during the game, so he de served it. Mays, as full back, deserves a word of praise for his excellent collaring. The forwards all worked well ; Patterson shoiie particularly, while Marshall and Murphy were always there. The new man, Snow, proves to be a very good man indeed. His collaring was greatly admired, and he is by no means slow. Gordon fell to pieces toward* the close of the game. They ought to keep their "pecker" up better than they did. ■

Gordon 11. played [second fiddle to the junior North Shoremen.

Auckland 11. and tlrafton 11. played a draw. The maroons did nob play their strongest team.

Auckland II had a severe disappointment —C4rafton II drew with them. Auckland say they will win the Cup yet.

Waifcemata II beat United by a try. The umpiring in this match was not all that could be desired.

• The conduct of several players in the Waifcemata-Albert match last Saturday is deserving of severe censure. I hope that it will not occur again.

A Hawera football team is expected to visit us during June. They will in all pro bability play here on Jubilee Day, June 21st. There aro some very good players at Hawera and Manaia.

Young Cleaver played a splendid game for Ponsonby 111 at Onehunga last Satur day, securing no less than four tries. He has been shifted to the first for to-day in the place of Harry Davy, who is away.

As was expected, the Graf tons had a picnic with the Auckland and put them through with ridiculous ease. I consider it a great pity that the rules of the Union cannot compel the mem bers of a club to play as the Committee of their club want them to.

Considering what an enormous benefit accrues to them owing to the number of Auckland spectators who visit the North Shore overy Saturday to see the football match there, I think it would be a hand some thing if the Perry Company could see its way to increase the funds of the Union.

After a hard struggle Waitemata scored their lirst win against Alberts by two tries to one. The game was characterised by one or two unseemly brawls. These aro quite unnecessary adjuncts to the game, and I leave it to the good sense and man liness of players not to disgrace the sport by any more of them.

It is very true that we have to go away from homo to learn news of ourselves. The following is from the Wellington "Tost :" —" Wellington footballers will be interested to learn that Whitesidc, the well-known Auckland back, is about to take up his residence in this city again, and will probably play for the Union Club."

A , clergyman and a footballer arc not frequently discovered to bo ono and the same and it was with some measure of surprise and also of pleasure, I must admit, that on Saturday afternoon last I came across a representative of the pulpit actively engaged in a football niuteh. Probably there is only one parson in Auckland who would have placed himself in such a position — and mores the pity — and the "reverend" gentleman in question is the Rev. J. S. Hill. Ho lias done a " heap of eood " for the young men of Auckland by associating with them in whatever they may desire to engage in, so long as it is morally right and physically useful, and his entrance into the iootball field has already had excellent results. He has inaugurated the '' associa tion" game to take the place of the rough and tumble " Rugby" and the effect is much appreciated by all who have witnessed the nOW club matches. The "association game, &H played by the Eev. Mr Hill's club and the warehousemen, was most orderly throughout, anc? I did not hear a cross word or an improper expression used from first to last. And there was the Rev. Mr Hill right in the thick of ifc, actually as enthu siastic as the most youthful of those en gaged in the match, dressed in his white cricketing shirt, white knickers, and black stockings and shoes, watching every move ment, kicking, dodging, and running, and evidently making thorough enjoyment for himself as well as for others; and he had to preach on the following day— for it was the Sabbath—and he did, and he preached well, too, and he had none the fewer listeners because he had played a good game of football on the Saturday afternoon! Now, I want to sug gest that the Rev. Mr Hill should extend his praiseworthy operations, and got some of his long-faced brethren of the pulpit out in the field occasionally, for it would do them a world of good, 'and probably give their sermons a mere effective force than ever was known before. So be it!

ATHLETICS, ETC.

Mick Monnock won his heat in the third Grand Carrington Handicap with the greatest of ease. He caught his men after 60 \ yards. Hudson, of Wanganui, was beaten in a match for the Wrestling Championship of ; New Zealand by Pearce, of Egmont. Each won two falls, and Pearce succeeded in placing the fifth bout to life credit, and be came the winner of the championship, £50, and a silver medal. Pettengell was laid out for fully five minutes in his fight with Laing. The half caste struck him in the seventh round, when Pettengell had turned his back to go to his corner, thinking time was called. The blow was fair, but did not seem quite so. Pettengell, however, was beaten before the fifth round. The two hours' walking match between Walsh and Goodman has been arranged to come off on the 28th inst., in the City Hall. Both men feel confident. Goodman is well-known as a pedestrian possessed of speed and endurance, and he has repeatedly appeared before the public. Walsh is not sg well-known, but I hear that he can cover fifteen and a half miles in the two hour. If that is so he is a regular hummer, or else the judge will have to keep his peeperß on him.

; I have received a prospectus of the Five Mile Amateur Eace from Onehunga from the promoter, Mr H. C. Poulscn. The entries close on the 2nd of June at Mr Tilly's, tobacconist, Queen-street, the en trance fee being 3s and the aeceptanee Is. The race is to come off on Jubilee Day, or if the Hawera team play that day, on a Saturday as close to the date as can be arranged. It is to be hoped that local runners will take the matter up, and that the first amateur long-distance race in Auckland will receive good entries.

On February 26, at the annual sports of Wadham College, Oxford (England) Uni versity, the Half-mile Strangers' Race was won fey F.. S. Cross in limn 5/sec. The weather was flue, and the path in excellent condition. London newspaper comments suggest doubts as to track measurement and time-keeping. If correct Cross's time becomes the fastest record ever made by an English; amateur, although it was beaten in England by L. E. Myeis. On March 2, at the annual sports ot the Sydney College, Cambridge University the was won from scratch by H. W. lUetcnei in 20 3-sths sec.

A voune minister who had broken down pitiably in his first public attempt at ex tempore prayer was succeeded by an aged brother, who began his exhortation to God by advising Him "to make yon man s heart as soft as his head." Freezing Company's " Shell Brand Butter, in half-pound pats, may be ob tained from all grocers, dealers, and dairy men.

THE GARDEN.

Calendar of Operations, May sist

[By Hortus.]

TO CORRKSPONOESTTS. Seed Potatoes ("W.S.C.")-I received the potato you sent me, but the grubs had. all loft it. I placed the potato under a strong magni fying glass, but did not see one. The ravages committed by it wcro plainly apparent, nearly all tho eyes having been eaten. 1 have never seen the action before, so could not Inform you how to get rid of it. The best insective which I have ever tried is that which I gave & few weeks ago from Mv W. Mclndoe. Try it, and see if it is of any use for your purpose. Likely enough, the grub is the progeny of the moths which you have seen hovering over the potatoes Sowing Hardy' Annuals (''Amateur").. — Yes, you can still sow those you ine-.t on out in the open border. As your soil is of a stiff retentive nature, you hail bettor get some light, rich soil and some sand ; mix tho two together in about equal parts. When you want to sow a patch of seed take o\it a little of tho clay and replace with the composition. Sow the seed in this, and cover \ip with more composition. The abovo will give a much better chance to the seed to germinate in and form their ilrst roots, also keeping them going till they attain strength to penetrate the stift'er soils. Sow your seeds thinly. (2) The gar denias in some situations will live and grow hero. I have soen it in several places, but have never seen it in flower yet. I don't think it will ever be a general garden favourite ; our climate is not warm enough.

Camklha (A. G. S.l—Your plants seem to me ta have too many buds set already. Keep re ducing them. Evon though your plants are in robust health they will not be able to bring all the flowers to perfection, and not unf requently allowing too many buds to remain on the p'ante leads ultimately to weakly growth aud small flowers. If you disbud about one-third it will be all tho bettor for those left, as the strength that would have been expended in opening them will bo distributed among tho two-thirds left, making them much finer flowers. Give a little liquid manure oc casionally ; it will help them. Ska Sand ("PotPlant").—Sea-sand is just as good for mixing with potting soils as any other sand ; but care should be taken that the salt is thoroughly washed out of it before it is used. Place tho sand in a heap, and run clear fresh water through it several times ; then place it undercover, and let it dry before using it. The washing und drying will take all the salt out.

Potatoes. It is juefc as well to run over once or twice the potatoes which are stored past for winter use. By doing so you can easily re move any that are getting bad. One or two bad ones will soon affect all they cojiio in contact with. The turning over can take place during a wot day. Even if there is a total absence of discaso, they are very much improved by turning over in this way if at all damp. To have potatoes in the best condition, they should be quite dry for a considerable time before using. Planting Fruit 7t6os. As the planting season is just coming on', a few lines may be of use to some amateurs. Some think that if they simply dig a hole in any soil and insert the roots in such, then cover up with suiGcient soil, they have done all that is required to be done. Now, Iα only a few instances, where soil, etc., are suitable, can such be clone with a fair chance of success. But in most instances, especially where the ground lias not been previously laboured or drained, more pre paration is necessary before, planting is undertaken. In fact, I have always afc tachod the greatest importance to the mode of planting, by which not only the actual putting the young tree in the ground, bufi tho proper preparation of the ground also is well attended to ; and in doing so i have always pointed out that the first essen tial is proper drainage, especially in stiff, web or retentive soil. No kind of culti vated, hardy fruit, from a peach to a straw berry, will or can be expected to succeed where the soil is in a stagnant, wet btato from the end of May till perhaps the beginning of November. The roots in such cases are liable to contract die eases which will destroy all chance of good crops of fruit. Good drainage in such soils is imperative so as to obtain healthy trees. The drains draw off all superfluous water, thus allowing a freer ac cess of tho sun's rays and air, and increas ing by several degrees its temperature, thereby promoting a more healthy growth on the trees. The kind of soil thaj suits. fruit trees generally is a calcareous loam of moderate texture, that is neither light nor heavy ; but of necessity the quality of the soil must be subject to local considerations, as often the best soil suited for fruit Cjjecs is not to be obtained in all gardens. Fruit trees, as a rule, are not fastidious, but will give good average crops on a variety of soils,' and all soils worthy of the name can, by a little outlay of time and money, be made to grow fruit well. Light soils should bo trenched very deeply, and if procurable: at) moderate expense, heavy loam or clay should be incorporated with it as it is laboured. Very heavy loam or clay, be sides being well drained, should also be trenched, taking care to keep the top soft still on the surface. At the same time light porous soil, sand, coal, or wood ashes, or any other materials that would render it more porous should be added, and it should bo allowed to subside natur ally, without artificial compression. Un less soil be very poor indeed, no litter manure of any kind should be placed near where the roots are planted, foe the simple reason that the disposition of-all fruit trees,. when planted in rich soil? in clines towards the production of wood rather than fruit. If manure of any sort is wanted when planting give rough bones, as they are not apt to cause rank gross wood. It must not be inferred from this that manure is not essential to the produc tion of goed fruit, for it .most certainly is, but never till the trees have fairly begun fruiting, and then annual spring dressings will have the desired effect. Thus applied, it is nob only valuable from a fertilising point of view, but helps materially ia keeping the roots of the trees moist and cool during our usually dry summer, and at the same time vb tends to bring the little feeding fibres enarer the surface a position in which they.are most benefited by the action of the sun's rays and atmospheric action. Those. who have plenty of ground for growing vegetables, independently of the part set apart for fruit trees, should never think, of encroaching on tho fruit trees' after they have been planted a few years, as great j injury is sometimes done to the sur- face roots by injudicious cropping. Those who i from force of circumstances must crop between the trees, should at least leave each tree a fair modicum of space when planting. Never under any circam stance plant the young trees deeper in the soil than what they were while growing £ri the nursery.. Deep planting has ruined the chances of many a tree giving crops olfruib. When planting, see that alii tilie? reots are: properly spread out from the base; work the soil carefully in amongst the roots, treading; it gently bub firmly down upon them* After the tree has been planted it should be properly staked. and tied so as to prevent wind-waving. If bhis ■is not properly done' all young fibres stand a chasce of being destroyed through the swiljdng to and fro of the tree. Another sfeau. matter to.be observed*, while plan ting Irees- , is to always choose a time when ehe sow is in a comparatively dry state—never when it is wet lor claggy, as when, in this stefc" placed-about-the roots it is very it keeps wet and spongy hot weather sets m and the.n becomes hard like bricks.' When possible, plant early,in the season, as trees planted early will succeed mu#h better than late ones.

THE AUCKLAND" EVENING STAB, SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1887

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