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EARMIXG NOTES. | --
EARMIXG NOTES. | THE OUTLOOK. | The present outlook (remarks Professor Wriglitson in the Agricultural Gazette) is chequered—black and ] white. Wheat has ceased to be important. The fact j that it is now being looked upon as feed ng material puts it precisely (barring the straw). in the position of grinding barley or feed cats. It is a very cheap food, costing £ 8 10s. to £ 7 per ton, as about half the old price of linseed oil cake. When our staple pro- duction for raising the needful disappears as such, and takes its place as an intermediary in the produc- tion of beef, it is clear that beef takes the place of what wheat formerly was to the farmer. The ques- tion is whether, since wheat is now a cattle food, it is the best cattle food ? No doubt its growth would be discontinued were it not for the straw, and the price of straw is controlled by its abundance. Viewed positively, wheat may be worth growing simply for its straw, but, viewed relatively, it may be wiser to produce a heavier and more suitable food for stock. The array of fodder and root crops from which such more suitable foods may be obtained indicates pretty clearly the direction in which we are moving. it is not exactly a question of straw, for we are proposing to sell as much as we can. It is a question of wheat as against clover, hay, mangel wurzel and cabbages, turnips and vetches, beans and peas, &c. Till the reaction comes, the days of corn-growing seem to be numbered. That it will come is certain, but it may be deferred indefinitely. Till then, we shall do well to .note that the price of meat is not very likely to diminish. The following prices quoted from the most recent returns in Canada are signi- ficant: Beef, 5d., 7d., and 9d. per lb.; mutton, 5d., 6d., 7d.,71d. per lb.; pork, 5d., 6d., 7d. per lb.; veal, 7d. to 10d. butter, lOd. to Is. per lb. Wheat is selling at from Is. 3d. to Is. 8d. per bushel. The in- ference is clear that while such prices are maintained there can be little inducement to export meat to this country where prices are scarcely any better, while the exportation of wheat will proceed until it is simply strangled by lowering prices. We have pro- bably felt already the weight of foreign competition in meat. Let us at least hope so. With mutton at 8d. per lb., and beef at 6§d. to 7d.; with miuze at 19s. per 4801b., and linseed cake at £ 8 10s. per ton with feeding barleys at almost ridiculously lowprices, we must face the- world as stock farmers rather than as wheat-growers, and of this we receive fresh proofs every day. GRASS LANDS. In all the hurry and bustle of spring seeding (counsels Mr. Gilbert Murray) the pasture lands demand our attention. It is painful to see in some distric s the quantities of farmyard manures that are being practically wasted through being spread on the grass lands at this advanced period of the season. Much of the manure is in a raw state, and cannot possibly be worked in on the mowing grounds. It will give much trouble at haytime, and injuriously affect the quality of the produce at the same time by mixing with the hay. The late application of crude manures to pasture lands is equally objection- able, particularly should a dry season set in. The use of artificial manures on grass land is rapidly extending, the benefit from which is not so quickly realised as it should be, from the fact that, instead of being applied during the months of November and December, it is deferred to March. The error of such a course was practically apparent during the summer of 1893. The late-sown manures produced a meagre effect, owing to the dry season. Fortunately there were no heavy rains to wash out the more soluble constituents, which are retained in the soil for the benefit of future crops. It is many years since the grass lands were in so favourable a condition for the production of good crops, provided the season is suitable. The recent heavy showers have brought all land into a suitable state for the chain harrow to produce a favourable effect. It is not an expensive operation, and should be repeated a second time, taking care to cross the first line of opera- tion in this way the cattle-droppings are broken up and more evenly distributed. See that the ditches and fences are in good order, the outlets of main drains and pounds and watering places are clean, and the approaches in a sound state. In many districts barbed wire is taking the place of live fences, to the disadvantage of the farmer, the danger to his stock, and the destruction of the beauty ot the landscape. IWith a higher range of temperature, undoubtedly, nitrification will become active, and vegetation will .np;.rll.'J1' T1:norn1:rapA -rIo.d_1-="ø.i- preparing the land to take advantage of every favourable condition which may present itself, WATER IN BUTTER. A Cork correspondent writes: The recent decisions in the butter prosecutions in Manchester were the subject of discussion at a recent meeting of the managing committee and subscribers of the Munster Dairy School in Cork, and it was stated by the chair- man (Sir George Colthurst) that a sub-committee, consisting of men skilled in butter-making and scien- tists, had been formed for the purpose of carrying out an exhaustive system of experiments to ascertain the normal quantity of water in butter, and the effect of using hot brine or pickle. Samples of butter for the purpose of the experiments will be procured from Denmark and Sweden, and from different parts of Ireland, and the result of the inquiries and examina- tion will be awaited with a keen interest by all per- sons interested in the butter question. There is a strong feeling that this matter should be threshed out, and the process of butter-making so improved as to reduce the quantity of water to a minimum. RATIONS FOR FATTENING SHEEP. The enormous consumption of mutton by the British publie (observes the Farmer and Stock- Breeder) renders not only the breeding but the fatten- .9 ing of sheep a question of supreme importance. As a rule the greater the demand for the finished article the more popular and the more profitable will be its manufacture and preparation. Hence the promi- nent positions the breeding and feeding of sheep occupy in British farming. In the breeding of sheep very decided progress has been recorded in recent years. Nearly all the old-established and well-de- fined breeds have been materially improved, while considerable advance has also been attained in cross- ing or inter-breeding the various pure strains or classes. Simultaneously with the improvement of the class of animals advancement in its preparation for the final end has necessarily been secured. But while the capability of the stock has been appreciably sharpened by careful and skilful breeding it is doubt- ful if the same rate of progress has been obtained in the art of feeding. Breeding we strongly maintain is unsurpassed in its influence upon the success or adaptability of the animal for whatever purpose it is intended; and on that account we observe with great satisfaction the good results that almost invariably attend the praiseworthy efforts of the owners and supporters of the different breeds. But potent as it no doubt is, good breeding is not all that is necessary either to produce the best or profitable results. It is by a happy combination of good blood and judicious feeding, and general management that the best returns are obtained. A farmer may procure the best and purest specimens a breed can produce and yet destroy his chances of profit by a short-sighted method of management. Sheep fattening is like everything else, it requires to be conducted on liberal and well-defined lines to prove successful. It will of necessity prove disastrous to the profits to allow the animals to suffer too fre- quently from hunger; and it is no less fatal to restrict them to a diet devoid of nutriment. A judicious and profitable ration will include an even balance of quantity and quality. The food require- ments demand bulk to appease the craving of the stomach and nutriment to supply the finer tastes of the vital organs and produce material for the forma- tion of flesh. SUCCESSION OF SOILS. Successions of soils are strikingly exemplified in the Atlantic border of the American Union. In one part of this we come upon a terrace, presenting the remarkable contrast to others in the border of an open prairie, devoid of trees, covered with a thin soil waving with grass, and resting, like our English downs, on chalk rocks beneath. This tract is dry and deficient in water, but the thin soil, when turned over, yields crops of corn and beans, among others, a variety of hard wheat, known in the market by the name of Georgia wheat. Still further on, this prairie is passed, and we ascend hilly slopes, upon which clays and loams of various qualities and capabilities occur at intervals intermingled, and then broad-leaved trees of various kinds adorn the landscape. It is a country fitted for general husbandry, propitious to skill and industry, and by its climate adapted to the constitution of settlers of European blood.
[No title]
lb. WILLIAM LANE BOOKER, British Consul- General at New York, has received from the Queen the dignity of knighthood, I
GARDENING GOSSIP. ' J ...
GARDENING GOSSIP. J (From" Cottage Gardening.") FLOWER GARDEN. Those who are tired of planting (heir beds with tender exotics may find plenty of hardy plants, both annual and perennial, much more useful for massing. First and foremost for small beds come the violas, or tufted pansies, which, if planted now in well-prepared land, will flower all summer. To mention only a few names of distinct colours: Yellow Gem, the best yellow for massing, Mrs. E. J. Mortloek (white), PiJrig Park (white with violet pencillings), Archibald Cameron (violet-purple), Blue Boll. Countess of Kintore (bluish-purple rayed with white), Duchess of Fife (sulphur, orange centre edged with violet), and Bronze Queen, will make a grand show of colour. Gaillardias make grand bedding-plants for large-sized beds. For continuous blooming, hybrids from grandiflora, of which seeds may be bought cheaply now, are always in flower from June to October. Japanese anemones are sine grouping plants, especially the white variety, which flowers so freely from the beginning of August till the end of October. Among other thing3 which are useful for massing are pentstemons, herbaceous phloxes, early chrysanthemums, antirrhinums, and carnations, especially those of perpetual habit, which are better adapted for bedding than the varieties which flower only a month or two in the summer. Then very many of the things which come and go during spring and .1 summer are very beautiful, and cannot be dispensed with. Among these may be mentioned the peonies, pinks, gladiolus, delphiniums, hollyhocks, dahlias, and pyrethrums. And, again, for cutting, scarcely anything can for grace and beauty surpass such plants as Coreopsis lanceolata, C. grandiflora having larger flowers. Yery useful for summer cutting is chrysanthemum maximum, and the double scarlet geum, or Avens, Helenium pumilum, fleabane (Inula glnndnlosa), perennial sunflower (Harpalium rigidum), Gypsophila paniculata, white everlasting peas, Clammy Lychnis (L. Viscaria splendens plena), and the double scarlet Lychnis chalcedonica. These should be in every garden where bright flowers that will do to cut for rooms are valued. It is not everybody who has a garden large enough to plant dozens of each kind of plant, but where this can be done the grouping system is the most effective. But it should be borne in mind that hardy plants will not do in hard unworked land. Last season was, in most places, much too dry for any plants to do well; and wretched indeed was the con- dition of those gardens where neither manure nor labour in adequate proportions had been given. In sheltered gardens hardy annuals may be sown now. Lists were given a week or two ago, and no one can do wrong in sowing the godetias, Clarkias, nemo- philas, scarlet flax, annual chrysanthemums, nas- turtiums, candytuft, Virginian stocks, mignonette, and sweet peas. Many of the seeds are small and should only be just covered. Sow when the soil is dry, and after covering press down with the back of the spade. Carnations wintered in frames may be planted now. Begin to prune roses. FRUIT GARDEN. There is always work to do among fruit trees, bushes, and strawberries. New plantations of the last may be made now. As regards varieties stick to the old well-tried kinds until something of more recent date has been proved to be superior. Take all catalogue descriptions as not proven until the result has been actually made manifest. Soils vary, and a plant which does well in one place fails in another. This is specially true of strawberries. Sir J. Paxton, President, and Sir C. Napier, are good all-round strawberries, British Queen for warm deep soils, V icomtesse H. de Thury for difficult soils, with Noble and John Ruskin for early work. Have everything ready for grafting as soon as the sap is moving briskly. There are many ways of grafting, but in all cases it is necessary to bring the bark of stock and scion into close contact on one side, and secure them so that there can be no shifting, and then exclude the air. Young grafters are some- times impatient to begin. Let the sap get well on the move. Look closely after the protection of blossoms of apricots and peaches. Where one has only a tree or two it will be a comparatively easy matter to un- cover the trees on fine mornings ar.d cover again at night, only do not forget the covering-up, as spring frosts ase very erratic in their comings and goings. Fig-trees on buildings which have been covered up, should have a part of the covering removed. An,v v. g"1:'<J v luv sum uxijjruned ssiiouid Liuvo ut (nation 11" once. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Now is the time for the gardener to wake up his dormant energies. March is the month to plant and sow. Main crops of most things may go in this month. Peas, potatoes, beans, onions, if not already sown carrots end of month, and the small things of the garden; the salads, such as lettuces, radishes, cress, parsley, and herbs. Should new beds be required they should receive attention now. Thyme, sage, lavender, rosemary, &c., may be raised from seeds sown now, or, if preferred, cuttings or slips may be taken six inches or so long, and be planted firmly in a shady spot. Mint is easily propagated by cutting off the young shoots when two or three inches long, thrusting the knife into the earth so as to get a few roots; such little plants set out six inches apart will make useful stuff to cut from during the summer. Sow asparagus seeds to raise plants to make new beds. There is no reason why rich people should have all the asparagus and other choice vegetables. The field is open to all; it is only a question of some planting and waiting. Everybody who wishes for land to cultivate for profit or pleasure will Sian be able to obtain it. Now is the time for the owner of a frame and light or lights to make up a hotbed to raise seeds or plant cucumbers. The bed need not be large to give warmth enough to start the seeds or plants, and the time is near when the sun will do a good deal of the work. Always cover up at night, and if cucumbers are grown, do not introduce other plants into the frame which are likely to intro- duce green-fly. Sow celery in the frame for main crop, and cauliflower and Brussels sprouts outside. GREENHOUSE. We have passed through the winter, and the plants are brightening up, even where the temperature has been low. Very often in the small greenhouse fuel is wasted by fires being lighted or kept burning when not required. Any potting required may be done now. A good general compost for soft-wooded plants may be made with loam two parts, and one part leaf- mould, and about one-tenth of sand. Very old de- composed manure may be used instead of leaf-mould. Hard-wood plants, such as heaths, azaleas, camellias, and New Holland plants, must have good peat. In all cases perfect drainage is important. And the soil should be rammed or pressed firmly in the pots, which should be clean both inside and outside. This is necessary not only with hard-wooded plants, but pelargoniums, fuchsias, and similar flowering plants bloom better and longer when the soil is firmly pressed in the pots. COLD FRAMES. Abundant ventilation must be given to plants in frames, and the supply of water should be more liberal. If not already done, auriculas and choice primulas should be top-dressed. Nothing in the nature of decay should be permitted to remain on or near them. When green-fly appears dip the plants in a decoction of quassia chips. WINDOW GARDEN. Give arum lilies weak stimulant. Genistas must be constantly moist or the blooms will fall. Deutzia gracillis is pretty in flower now, and if the plants are taken care of after flowering they will be equally good next year. Spiraeas should stand in pans of water, or they sooner or later suffer from dryness at the root. THE OLD GARLAND WINDFLOWER. The poppy anemone (anemone coronaria), which used to be known by the pretty old name of the Gar- land Windflower, is, perhaps, the most familiar of our hardy perennials, and was never banished entirely from our gardens, even when the tide of fashion set against the good .old border plants. The first point is to get a good strain of seed, the next to raise new plants every year to take the place of those which wear out or are not worth keeping. Too much pains can scarcely be taken with these lovely flowers, and a vigorous system of selection should be con- tinually carried on, so that all inferior plants may be discarded. Scarlet anemones of this species, single and double, of a good strain, are among the grandest flowers that can adorn a garden, but it is only by such careful selection and cultivation that a good stock can be kept up. Purple and intermediate shades are much more easily grown. They are not very particular as to soil, but a good surfaco dressing is never thrown away upon them. The seed, being very woolly, is difficult to sow unless it is well rubbed with some dry silver sand between the hands and so separated. It should be sown in boxes as thinly as possible as soon as it is ripe—a plan rather to be preferred with choice seed to sowing in the border. Seedlings, when large enough, pricked out into pre- pared beds and well cared for, will bloom within a year from the time of sowing and well repay the trouble. If only for their exceeding value as cut flowers, these anemones should be largely grown in every garden, and for this purpose should be out in the bud state just before they are ready to open.
AMERICAN HUMOUR. .
AMERICAN HUMOUR. "SUPPOSB you wanted to propose marriage to a girl, Jpvck, what would you ask her first ? "If wa were alo.ne." 4BANKS "Have you any trouble in getting servants ? Mrs. Rivers: No; I've had five in the I last two weeks." "Wan., good-bye, dear Mrs. Jones; I'm afraid I've put you out by calling at this unearthly hour." Oh, I hope I didn't show it!" LITTLE ELEANOR, three years old, has a new cloak with a breast-pocket in it. The other day, as she was going up to town with her mother, she ex- claimed Oh, mamma, I have a hole in my upstairs pocket!" A BOY in a country school was reading the follow- ing sentence The lighthouse is a landmark by day and a beacon by night,' and rendered it thus The lighthouse is a landlord by day and a deacon by night." THE subject for discussion at the next meeting of the village debating society is, What is truth ?"" "Indeed? Well, that is a question that should be easily answered." I am not of your opinion. What is truth?" Truth is what two persons speck when they fall out with each other." As an illustration of the humour which sometimea proceeds from the witness-stand, the following may be taken A man, some years ago, was arrested for stealing a horse. Yours is a very serious offence," said the judge to him, very sternly. Fifty years ago it was a hanging matter." Well," replied the prisoner, with a certain logical reasonableness," fifty years hence it mayn't be a crime at all." TJIET were celebrating their silver wedding, and, of j course, the couple were very happy and affectionate. Yes," said the husband, this is the only woman I ever loved, and I shall never forget the first time I proposed to her." How did you do it ?" burst out a young man who'had been squeezing a pretty girl's hand in a corner. They all laughed and he blushed, but the girl carried it off bravely. Well, I remember as well as if it were but yesterday. It was at Richmond. We had been out for a picnic, and she and I got wander- ing alone. Don't you remember, my dear, and what a lovely day it was ? » The wife smiled. We sat on the trunk of a tree. You haven't forgotten, love, have you?" The wife smiled again. "She began writing in the dust with the point of her parasol. You recall it, sweet P" The wife nodded. She wrote her name, 'Mary,' and I asked her to let me put the other name to it. And I took the parasol and wrote my name, 1 Smith,' below it. And she took back the parasol and wrote below it, No, I won't.' Then we went home. You remember it, darling ? Ah, I see you do." Then he kissed her, and the company murmured, Wasn't it pretty?" The guests had all departed, and the happy pair were left alone. Wasn't it nice, Mary, to see all our friends around us so happy ? Yes, it was. But, John, that reminiscence of yours!" Ah, it seems as if it had been only yesterday Mary." Yes, dear; there are only three things you're wrong about in that story." "Wrong? Oh, no." John, I'm sorry you told that story, because I never went to a picnic with you before we were married; I was never in Richmond in my life; and I never refused you." My darling, you must be wrong; I have a good memory." I am not wrong, Mr. Smith, and my memory is as good as yours and. although we have been married twenty-five years, I'd like to know who that minx was. You never told ma about her before." The husband answered nothing, and his silver-wedding day smile was a thing of tha past. MRS. HANSOM "I can't imagine how such a horridly homely man as Mr. Puggins ever got a wife." Mr. Hansom He used to work at Silk and Co.'s, and possibly he forgot himself, and sat down on the bargain counter." A STORY is told of a servant-girl brought to a cottage hospital suffering from the effects of an over- dose of poison. When questioned as to 1 ~f;ve for taking it, she replied- I wasn't fee and I went to my mistress's medicine-cl bobtiv mi? marJcea, iijrse drops tec u: for an adult, and a table-spoonful for an knew I wasn't an infant, I wasn't sure about" an adult, so I thought I must be the emetic, and I took the spoonful." BRUTE: There is a man whom I envy; and, curious as it may seem, he envies me." Friend: How can that be ? Brute: We were both after the same woman-and I married her." THE examination papers of the children in a certain public school contained the following original defini- tions Repugnant,' one who repugs." Obelisk,' one of the marks of punctuation." 'Ironical,' some- thing very hard." "'Monastery,' a place for saonsters." The ebullition' is when the tide goes out." Savage' means when a man rides wild horses." Frantic is something up in the garret." "A somnambulist is a man that talks when you don't know where he is." Pulley' is a kind of chicken." Yentilation is letting in contaminated air." HOUSEKEEPER You appear to understand the duties required, and, if you wish, you can begin work at once." New Girl: Very well, ma'am; but I'd like at once." New Girl: Very well, ma'am; but I'd like to make a bargain with yeh." Certainly. What sort ?" "If you won't do any peekin' through key- holes when I have company, I won't do any when you have." ATTENDING one Sunday a church maintained by a coloured congregation, a wealthy and generous gentle- man was so pleased with the minister's simple sermon and the attitude of the worshippers, that he dropped a five-dollar bill into the basket when it was passed for the usual collection. So large a contribution seemed to fill with amazement the deacons who had passed the baskets, and one of them in a whisper confided the fact of the unusual contribution to the pastor, who arose and said to the congregation Beloved fren's, de collection hab brought fo'th de munif'cent sum ob 16 dollars and 49 cents, perwided, bredren—per- wided de five-dollar bill gib by de white gemman am not counterfeit!" MAMMA What is the matter ?" Little Jack Me an' sister was playin' keep house, an' I" was the papa an'she was the governess; and she told me to kiss her; an'when I did she slapped me hard-boo hoo 1 I didn't know that was in the game." Mamma (thoughtfully) Neither—did—I." A BEGGAR accosted a gentleman and whined: I'm paralysed in both my 'ands an' can't work, for I can't grasp anythink with 'em. Could you spare me a trifle, maister ?" I'm deaf," replied the gentleman; you'd better write down what you have to say. Here's a pencil and a piece of paper." Deaf, is 'e ?" thought the beggar. "Then 'e didn't 'ear about the paralysis." So he wrote down I've got a wife an' six children starvin' at 'ome, mister. I ve been out o' work fer six munths, an' ham in a drefful state o' des- tertushun." He handed the paper to the gentleman, who read it, and said: I thought you said you were paralysed in both hands, and couldn't grasp any- thing and yet you can write!" Did—didn't yer say yer was deaf ?" stammered the beggar, who now really did feel paralysed. Yes-just to find out if you were an impostor, which you are, as I suspected," replied the gentleman. Well, of all the bloomin' frauds, you're the biggest!" exclaimed the beggar. The hidea of yer sayin' yer was deaf, an' tryin' to impose on a pore feller and he shuffled off towards the New York Central Station, sniffing the air with righteous indignation. YOUNG MILLION (sadly) My cousin George is a mighty lucky fellow--handsomest chap in town." Friend: Handsome, yes but he is as poor as a church mouse." Young Million (enviously) That's the beauty of it. He has a new girl every season, and not one of them makes a fuss when he casts her off." FooTiNrr I asked Miss Sugarman last night what she saw in me to love, and now I wish I hadn't." Gazzam Why ?" Why, it started her to thinking about it, and at last reports she was further away from finding any reason than at first. By the time she gets through there'll be another blighted being—me." DASHAWAY Old man, can't you dine with me to-morrow night ?" Stuffer Certainly, old fellow; but you will have to make it eight o'clock." Dash- away Why so late T Stuffer: I have another dinner at six." SHB: "Did your grandfather live to a green old age?" He: "Well, I should say so! He was buncoed three times after he was 70. My son, observe the postage stamp-its usefulness depends upon its ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.
THE WOMAN'S WORLD.
THE WOMAN'S WORLD. OF a truth, ball-dresses may come and reception- dressas may go, but the useful diess remains with us for ever. The world is full of women who never own what a City society woman would call a full-dress outfit, and yet this multitude—these women by hun- dreds and thousands—are among the best and most useful of any of the great sisterhood. It is the prac- ¡ tical, sensible, commonplace wear that consumes the J yards upon yards of cloth and keep? the mills running. THE style of making the plain dress varies but little, as far as the ground plan goes, from more dressy wear, but it is of a more durable material and loss elaborate as to fulness. It is often a matter of some moment whether one's useful dress weighs three pounds or five, and this fact should be taken into consideration in the preparation of costumes for such Eurposes. Many women buy a single good dress, ave it made simply, and wear it on almost all occasions; others have a variety of costumes, and think this the better economy. As a matter of fact, the former fashion has points of grace, in that one is certain always to keep the single dress in order- indeed must do so to be presentable. If there are many, they may all get a little the worse for wear, and some day my lady wakes up to the knowledge that she has positively not a single good dress to her name. Then there is a general overhauling and re- fitting, with no end of hard work and bother. All this is just as one fancies, and women will unques- tionably to the end of time conduct the affairs of their wardrobes in their own way. But the demands as to fabric must be met, and manufacturers and im- porters sometimes have hard work to got out satis- factory qualities and colours for this vast company of plain-dress wearers. THERB are many persons who greatly prefer camel's-hair goods with the slightly rough surface that characterises these fabrics. They certainly are durable and stylish, and those grades that do not catch lint and scraps are very pleasant to wear; but moat rough goods seem to attract every bit of floating dibris around the place, and these are unquestionably the greatest nuisance imaginable. One is never pre- sentable, and there is a continual picking and brush- ing which is to many persons unspeakably wearisome. IF one fancies a smooth fabric, a good quality of I silk-warp Henrietta cloth is by far the most durable, reliable and satisfactory of all materials. There is practically no wear-out to it, and it is always hand- some and stylish. With a little trimming of good mohair braid, this makes a dress that has more uses and gives better satisfaction than nnything in the market. There is another advantage in this fabric which is a great point in its favour. It can always be matched, and even though there are but two breadths left, these two can be put with new without quarrel- ling. WHETHER one must buy eight yards or twelve of a good material, sometimes decides the question of having it. It is always worth while to economise in this way, and one need never have any hesitation in saving the price of some yards of goods. It is quite a? useful somewhere else and may be turned toward getting a better quality of the same fabric. IN old times it was the custom for a woman to buy a good black silk at stated intervals. When the new one was made, the last one was taken for second best, and whatever remained of older ones made an afternoon dress or something that would combine with or trim goods of another sort, and the same may be done with a Henrietta, only on an even more extensive scale. There is nothing in the whole catalogue of fabrics that makes such an admirable stormy-day dress as a high-grade silk-warp Henrietta. The last stage of a good material may be used in this way, and lined with some fabric that will not shrink, faced with goods that has seen service and will not pucker in around the foot like a draw-string. Finished with a black-silk dust-ruffle, this makes a skirt that one may go out in in all weathers and come home with the assurance of not looking like a fright. Cheap goods are worthless for rough weather, and any woman who owns a good Henrietta and a fine, close-woven storm- serge is equipped for a battle with the elements, no matter what their fury may be. fay once' in a while—how often one might it be asEaniecl to a olinngo IJ* wLt led the style of shoes; but in reality it means altering the natural shape of the foot, for this is just what it amounts to. The glaring absurdity of com- pressing the human foot into such forms as we fre- quently see on the street or in public conveyances ought to be evident to every sensible person but, un- fortunately, there is a class of people who are willing to do anything for the sake of variety, and another class who do anything for -the sake of gain. Between these two the poor feet of the human being have a bad time of it. Cramped and pinched into shoes not only too small but of the most distressingly dis- torted shapes, there is little wonder that there is more or less trouble with them, and that the owners of them are frequently ill with nervous prostration and Various other diseases, many of which they cannot account for. It is unquestionably the fact that the feet and eyes are responsible for more suffering than any other portions of the human body. Possibly it is because they are the worse treated, and there may have been acquired or inherited tendencies toward weakness. One would hardly think of attempting to change the shape of the head, but it would be no more absurd than the practice of cramping the feet out of all symmetry and putting the nerves undor a strain that cannot fail to prove disastrous to the entire physical economy. A PRINCESSE-DRESS recently shown has trimming so arranged as to produce the effect of a very long- skirted basque. The trimming is set on in square tab-shape, and in front extends from the waist to the tops of the shoulders. The space between the rows of trimming is filled in with puffed chiffon from waist- line to collar. SEASONABLE millinery is just a trifle extreme in style, but some of the models are very pretty., A toque of velvet has a very full edge with a plain crown. The trimming is ostrich-tipa and aigrets in abundance. One hat has at least nine tips, and others have even more than this. LIGHT-SHADED glace velvets and moires will be used for trimmings on spring costumes. SILVER bead galloon is a popular trimming for ball dresses, and especially on gowns of pink or white. SOME of the handsomest fans for the winter social season are shown in black and gold. FLOWER brooches are losing nothing of their old- time prestige, but the preference is now given to those which can be utilised as hair ornaments. PARISIAN tea-gowns of flowered moire are trimmed with a deep Marie Antoinette cape ruffle of lace, ending in a zouave jacket effect of the same. You must now wear just one rose, with a stem so long that it reaches almost to your knee, while the flower nods at your breast. SKIRTS are still of generous breadth, but have per- ceptibly decreased in length, being now made to just escape the ground all around. BLACK and white striped satin tea-jackets, trimmed with black and white lace insertion, have fronts of white accordion-plaited chiffon, completed by a jetted girdle, and these are worn with skirts of black crepon trimmed with black satin folds. SINCE perfumed hair is a fad, a dainty gift for a society belle is a mob cap used for this purpose. It may be as simple or as elaborate as taste may dictate, the principal requirements being that the interlining of cotton wadding should be thickly sprinkled with sachet powder. When worn for a few hours during the day it imparts a delightful fragrance to the hair. ALL kinds of canvas cloth, hop sackings, and basket wools of rough texture will be used, and fre- quently will appear in two tints, mixed in the weave. They will be trimmed with Hercules, serpentine, and mohair braids, or simple stitchings. The skirts will be cut plainly, with little flare in front, and full godet plaits held in with straps at the back. The new cotton shirt waists that will be worn with those skirts as the season advances have smart little standing collars, and promise to be more neat and becoming than the soft and often untidy turn-down collars.
- HOME HINTS.
HOME HINTS. DARNING STOCKINGs.-There is no little skill ¡ requisite it darning stockings neatly. The mere darn- ing up oftle holes always seems a waste of time, as they pull apart as soon as worn. It is best to turn the stockings inside out, and run neatly for a little dis- tance over the thin or worn parts around the holes, j taking up on the needles as little of the surface as possible, so that the right side will scarcely show that the back has been run. After darning over all thin places, turn the stockings to the right side and cross the darning. Weave-it in over the holes, confining the edges neatly and smoothly. If one will take time to run the heels before they are in holes it is still better, and they will last much longer. To PREVENT RusT.-Iron or steel immersed for a few minutes in a solution of carbonate of potash or soda will not rust for years, even when exposed to a damp atmosphere. To preserve polished ironwork { from rust, mix some copal varnish with as much olive oil as will make it greasy, to which add nearly as much spirits of turpentine, and apply. To clean rust off iron or brass (when the latter is not gilt or lacquered), mix tripoli with half its quantity of sulphur, and lay it on with a piece of leather, or emery and oil will answer the same purpose. If steel be rusty, oil it and let it remain two or three days, then wipe it dry with clean rags and polish with flour-emery, pumice stone, powdered or un- slaked lime. How TO CLEAN A MUSTY CASK.—Those who make cider, intended to be used as a beverage, should select sound fruit for that purpose. Use good clean casks, and if they have stood empty long, put a large cupful of baking powder, or some borax, and a few quarts of boiling water into each cask, and thoroughly rinse the inside; this will remove any musty flavour which may be there. When it is necessary to refill a cask which has been used once for cider, take a rag or stick which j has been dipped in melted brimstone and allow it to burn inside the barrel, so that the fumes of the bum- j ing brimstone may penetrate to all parts of the interior. This may-be best accomplished by placing the barrel upon one end and putting the burning match into the bung, and in a minute or two reversing the barrel. Next put ina gallon or so of cider, bung up tightly, and shake the barrel well. This purifies the cask. CURRIED MUTTON.—Take the scrag-end of a neck of mutton, cut it. into six or eight pieces, take off as much fat as possible, which you can render down in the oven for dripping. Fry all these pieces a nice brown in a frying pan, with a very little dripping, just sufficient to keep the meat from burning; put them into a saucepan, cover with boiling water, let this simmer for an hour and a half peel two large onions, peel and core two apples, cut these up rather small and fry them in a little dripping in a frying pan, cover the pan with a plate, and let the apples and onions cook together until soft; then mix in a tablespoonful of curry powder, a heaped tablespoon- ful of flour, pepper, and salt. Moisten this with some of the mutton liquor, stir it over the fire until it thickens, then pour it over the stewed mutton; let all stew together for a quarter of an hour. Serve with a dish of plain boiled rice. STEWED SHEEP'S FEET.—Thoroughly clean two pairs of sheep's feet by scalding and scraping away all the wool and hair, put these in a saucepan of boil- ing water, with two onions, two carrots, and two heads of celery, let them stew four hours, take the lid from the saucepan and let the liquor boil quickly, to reduce it to half the quantity. Mix a heaped tablespoonful of flour with a little cold water; when quite smooth, pour into the saucepan over the feet, let this boil sharply five minutes. Serve at once with a teaspoonful of chopped parsley, and pepper and salt to taste. COWSLIP WINE.-Gather the cowslips on a fine day, carefully pick the flowers from the stalks, ancl pnt into a cask if you have one if not, you must put them into a tub, allowing a full quart of flowers to every gallon of water; put two ounces of hops into two gallons of water and six pounds of moist sugar; boil these together, and pour boiling water over the thinly-paired rind of six lemons and the strained juice. When cool ferment with two ounces of German yeast on a thick round of toast. Let this stand closely covered until the next day; pour it into the cask and stir the cowslips until they sink to the bottom. Dissolve two ounces of isinglass in a little of the wine, retain it to the cask, in throe days bung it up in four months it is ready for bottling, but it is all the better if drawn from the cask, which saves both time and trouble of bottling.- Cottage Gardening. A FRENCH Rica PcDDiNG.—Boil 3oz. of rice in 1 pint of milk until quite soft and dry; then turn it out into a basin, and add a pleasant seasoning of salt, sugar to taste, 2oz.of butter, a breakfastcupful of chopped fruit—young rhubarb, apples, gooseberries, stoned plums, strawberries, tinned pineapple, apricots, &c. all being suitable-and three large fresh eggs beaten up with six tablespoonfuls of milk and one tablespoonful of lemon-juice, and mix thoroughly; after which turn the preparation into a buttered pie- dish of the requisite size, and bake in a very moderate oven. When done enough, turn the pudding out carefully on to a hot dish, sprinkle the su/face lightly with fine white sugar, pour a little good fruit sauce or syrup round about, and serve with more sauce or syrup separate. FRIED RICE A L'!TALIENNE.- Fry 2oz. of finely- chopped onion in loz. of good butter until the former becomes a pale golden colour, then add 2oz. of lean cooked ham cut up into tiny dice or Julienne shreds, the pulp of two or three large ripe tomatoes which has been passed through a fine wire sieve, a liberal seasoning of salt, pepper, and lemcn juice, and about 4oz. of fine Carolina rice, which has been boiled as for curry-see below-and stir with a fork over a gentle fire until the whole is well mixed and thoroughly hot; then pile it up high in a neat pyramid shape on a nice hot dish, garnish round the edge of the dish with daintily-shaped sippets of fried bread, and serve as hot as possible. To boil the rice, first wash it well, and blanch it in the usual way, then drain, and boil it in a very generous supply of slightly-salted water, so that the grains may have room to float about with- out pressing one on the other. When done enough, that is, when swollen out to the full, and quite soft, without being at all crushed or broken, drain on a wire sieve, and use when quite dry. SAVOURY RICE CUTLETS.-Boil 4oz. of carefully washed and blanched rice in one pint of milk, or good white stock, until thoroughly cooked, dry, and pulpy; then add to it, in the pan, 2oz. of butter, a table- spoonful of mixed parsley, a pleasant seasoning of pepper, lemon juice, and mace, a very tiny pinch of salt, the flesh of a dried haddock torn into very small shreds with two forks, and two well-beaten eggs, and mix thoroughly; after which turn out the mixture on to a flat dish, spread it out in a cake of even thick- ness, and leave it to cool. When required, make up the preparation into small, neat-shaped cutlets, and cover these with a firm eoating of beaten egg and fine breadcrumbs, well pressed in then fry them in hot clarified fat until coloured a rich golden-brown; drain carefully, and serve crisp and dry, piled up tastefully on a hot dish-paper, garnished with sprigs of nice fresh parsley, and ac- companied by some well-made shrimp, anchovy, or parsley sauce. If a dried haddock cannot con- veniently be obtained, the flesh of really prime bloaters, kippers, sardines, or anchovies may be sub- stituted or, if preferred, the fish may be omitted altogether, and a small quantity of almost any kind of cooked meat that happens to be at hand may be used instead—when, of course, the sauce or gravy which is to accompany the dish must be of a kind to harmonise pleasantly. Thus it will be seen that from this one recipe alone quite a number of most delightful changes can be effected if only a little skill and ingenuity is brought to bear on the subject. CASSEROLES OF RICE.-Take the requisite quantity of rice, which has been well scalded first, then b oil very slowly in milk until fully swollen out, soft and dry, and put it into a basin with a seasoning of salt, fine white sugar, and grated lemon-rind, a pat of butter, and one or two well-beaten eggs, and beat the whole together until the ingredients are thoroughly blended; then use the preparations to line out some well-buttered cups or dariol moulds, which have been placed in readiness fill in the centres with some carefully-preserved or stewed fruit, cover the tops jWith more of the rice, and sttam gently for about three-quarters of an hour. When I done enough, turn out carefully on to a hot dish, and arrange in neat order; then stick the tops of the casseroes all over with pink almonds, pour good white sauce round about, and serve very hot with more sauce in a sauce-boat. To colour the almonds, blanch them first in the usual way and remove the skins; then slice them very thinly, put them in a saucer with a little liquid cochineal slightly diluted with water, and when sufficiently coloured, drain well, dry on a sieve, and use.—Agri- cultural Gazette,
47""'= ART AND LITERATURE.
47" "'= ART AND LITERATURE. BOTH Sir John Millais and Mr. Horsley liave been ill, with serious results as to their forthcoming contri- butions to the Royal Academy. Indeed, it is quite possible that neither will be represented in this year's exhibition at all. A VOLUME of selections from Dean Stanley's writings, edited by Arohdeacon Aglen, of St. Andrews, will shortly be published. The book will contain a new portrait of Deau Stanley. A new edition of Dri Jowett's work on "The Epistles to the Thessalonians, Galat.ians, and Romans," which has been out of print since 1859, is also promised. The edition will be in > two volumes, the first comprising the text, with introductions, commentaries, &c., and the other con- tain ing various essays arising mainly from passages ifl tho epistles, and including the famous article on The Interpretation of Scripture," contributed to the "Essays and Reviews." The reprint will be edited by Professor Lewis Campbell. ONE of the Southey letters sold by auction in London the other day contains some interesting references to Scott. In one Southey writes My profits from this poem ( Madoc ') in the course of 12 months amount precisely to £ 3 17s. Id. In the same time Walter Scott has sold 4500 copies of his 'Lay,' and Hotted over £ 1000. But my acorn will continue to grow when his Turkey bean shall have withered." And again: Scott bears a great part in the Edinburgh Beview, but does not review well. He is editing Dryden very carelessly." Southey, referring to his acceptance of the Laureateship, is good enough to say that Scott had acted very generously towards him. He speaks of a new Review he is shortly to produce. He is very scornful about the "Minstrel's Last Lay" (as he calls it). It is a very amusing poem, but you discover nothing on an after-perusal." Other interesting books which have recently passed under the hammer are—Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, second impression, "Tho. Cotes, 1632, for Robert Allot," which fetched.. £ 60 (Quaritch); the autograph of No Name, 12pL (Rokeby) Anthony Trollope's The ^j £ ay Now," the original manuscript complete, £ 11 (ditto) f English Bards and Scotch Reviewers," first and fburtb editions, with 95 portraits and 28 autograph letters and 11 views, C27 (ditto) Great Expectations," S vols., first, edition, £ 7 15s. (Robson); Cruiksjwih'& Comic Almanack, 1835 to 1853, £ 16 10s. (Mason); the Confessio Aiyiantis," in black letter, zC5 158. (Ridler) and Michael Drayton's Polyolbion," two vols, in one, original edition, £ 3 (ditto): THE new number of the Figaro Ulustre inghideS some strange contrasts of the grave and the gay. The pathetic lines by M. Armand Silvestre on a picture by Millet (" L'Attente," in which the mother is vainly watching for the return of her son, whilst the blind father feels his way after her with his stick and his hand) are at the very opposite pole to the burlesque of an illuminated devotional MS., the wit of which burlesque is of the poorest, whether in quality or in taste. An article by Mary Sumner on the Salons of the eighteenth century, well illustrated from contemporary prints, and an ac- count of the Queen and Court of Madagascar, by M. A. Fitzmaurice, are interesting features of the number, which has an artistic full-page plate, after M. Delort, representing alady entering her sedan chair at the door of a Gothic church, and is adorned on the cover with a figure that is typical of Mi-Careihe, as regarded by those to whom pleasure without noise and excitement is hardly conceivable. This wild creature, whirling paper streamers round her head, i, a veritable Bacchante of the 19th century. A CORRESPONDENT writes to inquire (remarks Afr- Spielman, in his Westminster Gazette "Art Gossip") if I will give him a list of the illustrations he would require for Grangerising a copy of Pickwick which ho has purchased in the original parts. He might a beginning thus (remembering that, while binding in the original green paper cover of the first part at the beginning of tho volume, all the re* maining covers should be bound up at the end): There should be a portrait of Dickens, of Seymour eMr. Pailthorpe is now making a facsimile of the rare lithograph, which, hitherto unknown, has just beèØ unearthed by Mr. Albert Jackson, and repub* lisbed by him), of "Phiz" and of Talfourd (to whom the book is dedicated). There should, of course, be the whole set of Phiz's etch- ings—in the two states, or I should rather say 10 the sets, as they were re-etched at least twice. There should be the S^juOUl" plulca Euas'a two which were published, and his Mr. Pickwick at the Review," which was not. Then there should be in* eluded the facsimiles of the Buss plates made by Mr- Pailthorpe for the edition de lnxe. And, further, the reproductions, or rather copies, of the plates in the American and German editions wculd add interest to the volume. Then comes Onwhyn's two sets^ ot plates—those of 1837 and of 1848—both possible to procure both plain and coloured. TheO Crowquill's set, plain and coloured then Mr. Pailthorpe's, plain, coloured, and Indis paper proofs," together with the covers; then Mr. F. Barnard's and Mr. Frost's set of woodcut taken from their respective books, split" and laid down; and, if he can get them, the three extra titles executed by Mr. Pailthorpe for Mr. Albert Jackson a few years ago, plain and coloured, but not used the designs of Leech and of Mr. Charles Green; and as many of the original drawings for the afore- mentioned as lie may have the luck and money tO buy. When this collection has been made, other plates may be indicated suitable for acquisition and embellishment of his extra tall copy "-such as the original sketches submitted to Dickens by botb Thackeray and Leech, and other little trifles of that sort. THE following anecdote, which appears i!1 Reminiscences of a Literary and Clerical Life," iN worthy of preservation. It was told at a dinner-party bv the great man himself. Mr. Gladstone said that all through his life he had been an excellent sleeper and it was only on one occasion that he had ever a night's rest. All drew up their chairs more closely to hear the extraordinary matter that the Premier to lie sleepless. They expected it might be some story of the greatest importance. I had been trying," he saidf "to cut down an oak at Hagley, and was getting on with it very well. Then I heard the dinner bel» ring, and I was obliged to leave the work unfinished. although not much remained to be done. As I took my candle and went upstairs, the wind had riseO high and was making a great noise. I went to bed, and then the thought occurred to me that the wind would topple down my oak. The thought occurred to me again and again, and I really lost a good deal of a night's rest through that oak." ALTHOUGH the preliminaries have been. arranged fot the production of a new opera at the Savoy Theatre by Mr. W. S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan, the work-so far as Sir Arthur is concerned—is not yet advanced beyond that stage, though Mr. Gilbert hag, we believe, already prepared the scenario of the new work. When an immediate successor to "UWplØ Limited" is wanted, of which there is nO pressing necessity, Mr. D'Oyly Carte will revifd one of the earlier successes by the same author an composer. Sir Arthur Sullivan's opera, Ivanboe, is in rehearsal at the Royal Opera House in BerltØ, and is now officially announced for production before the end of the season. It is probable that Sir Arthur may be present at the performance, and that he may pass a brief holiday in Germany as the guest of Duke of Coburg, who was in his younger days a puPv of the composer. It is to be remarked that the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan is practically un" known in France, in Germany not only his more ambitious works—notably his Golden Legend"- but his frivolous operas also, enjoy very general popU. laritv. GOULD'S BIRDS is perhaps the finest illustrated work on ornithology ever published, but it is seldoi» that such a collection of volumes as came the other day at a London auction-room has been uf, for sale at the same time. The Birds of Austral19, in seven vols., with all the coloured plates and supp ments in parts, published during 1840-59, was 80 for £ 94. Gould's Birds of Europe," with the coloured plates, in five vols., bound in ^°og morocco, published in 1837, was bought for £ 58 The buyers of the last week secured the ^C-° A vium; Figures and descriptions of new and » resting birds," with 18 coloured plates, at the „ g figure of £ 11. Gould's "Humming Birds/ vols., published in 1861, and bound in brown moral} •was sold for £ 23 2s. AN internatinnal exhibition of book and Pafgg industries, which will comprise the various bran<j of the manufacture of books and paper, as we the machinery, implements, and materials us the printing and illustration of books, will be op in Paris in July next. Lord Dufferin has the presidency of the British Committee.