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--..-- --tHE COLLAPSE OF GREECE.…
tHE COLLAPSE OF GREECE. 1 eLT'srress BEHIND THE ECENES. Greece haa a surprising number of candid friends t present. In the new number -of The Contemporary Review, Mr. E. J. Dillon begins an article on the fata of that country with much sarcasm at the expense of the Powers. The reader naturally expects a warm eulogy of Greece; but never in all the storm of tn" dignation that has recently broken over that ■ait- fortunate little nation has there been anything more cutting than Mr. Dillon's biting Must. Mr. Dillon ash whether the Greek Ministry's light-hearted abaclonment of the policy of non. interference in Crete was moonstruck mad- ness or a mere ssiscalculation ? There is% grave d is- cuasion of the question, but the reader is not left in any doubt as to Mr. Dillon's own opinion. Even the theory of secret foreign encouragement, which he says even the most credulous will reject as false unless the most irrefragable proofs are brought for- ward, go but a very little way in Mr. Dillon's opinion towards justifying the wild policy struck out by the Delyannis Ministry. With a practicable plan put into execution more skilfully and at an earlier and propitious moment Greece could have practically had possession of the whole island. The indecision of the Government put that out of the question, and says Mr. Dillon: "The next step was to alienate the sympathies of the Great Powers by a high-handed act, for which- speaking in the light of subsequent facts—there was not the ghost of a pretext. All the ciphered despatches sent by the foieign diplomatic representa- tives at Athens were, by order of the Government, kept back for a day, in order to hinder the Powers from forwarding instructions to the admirals in Cretan waters." Mr. Dillon goes on to comment on the folly of the Greek Government in providing for itself no bridge for retreat in case of failure. An attempt was made to build one for it. Oa March 22 it was suggested that the Minister for Foreign Affairs should send a despatch to the Hellenic Minister in Turkey pro- posing to the Forte thesimultaneoua withdrawal from Crete of the Ottoman and Hellenic forces, and also the demobilisation of the troops then massed upon the frontiers. The Porte was to be informed that this was, in the opinion of Greece, the only means of en- abling the Great Powers to compass the speedy paci- fication of Crete, while giving due weight to the wishes of the Cretan population, which could then be expressed without let or hindrance. The proposi- tion wan to be made under threat of withdrawal of the Greek representatives from Ottoman territory. In this way Greece was to clear herself of the charges of wantonly distui bing the peace of Europe, and of exerting undue influence over the Cietans, and to have scored a splendid diplomatic victory, whatever hap- pened. But, says Mr. Dillon The Government, as usual, hesitated. The matter was 'carefully considered,' discussed, now approved, now criticised, and finally adjourned until the oppor- tunity bad passed and events imposed a very different and utterly calamitious line of action. Thus was the last chance of •* peace with honour' thrown away, and the war, which the Government never intended formally to declare, was virtually provoked." This, Mr. Dillon says, was one of the most mis- chievious mistakes ever made by the Greek or any other Government. The Greek Government is accused of" drifting listlessly on towards the seething whirlpool, and the nearer they came, the more closely they hugged the fond delusion that all would end some strange right way at last.' In a word, Micaw- herism was raised to the dignity of a political system." The Greek Government knew that the Hellenio army was utterly untrained for active service. Many of the superior officers had been appointed and pro- moted for qualities usually more appreciated at courts and in salons or picnics than in camps and on battle- fields. The army and navy had always been regarded -as integral portions of the electoral machine by means of which Ministers kept their respective parties in power. Such are Mr. Dillon's plain asser- tions, and they go further still. For example: Thsre were not rifles enough for the would-be soldiers; tLo cartouches for the rifles which were available were to a considerable extent old and almost useless; the navy was unprepared to play the part for which it was destined, and was actually in want of vulgar coal." Colonel Limbritis, the intimate friend and sup- porter of M. Delyannis, told him in the presence of 10 other political friends that the occupation of Crete would blast the hopes of the Cretans, ruin Greece and consign Delyannis himself to private life for the remainder of his days. M. Delyannis is accused of having obstinately refused to call from Crete men like Colonel Limbritis and Major Constantinados, the former of whom was one of the most competent military men in the kingdom, and had made the defence of Thessaly his special study. Here is a story of Velestino: A curious detail, which, so far as I know, has not yet been revealed to the public, was discovered after the fight at Valestino. There, as is well known, the Greeks behaved like men. They advanced to within 300 metres of their enemies and de<ùt death and destruction around them. Yet so defective were tho old cartridges with which they were supplied that at that distance of 300 metres their bullets failed to pierce the bodies of the Turks On the authority of Col. Limbritis. Mr. Dillon says the Greek forces displayed utter ignorance of tactics. He says: In all Thessaly, therefore, not one real battle was fought. There were several chance rencontres of armed men and a goodly number of hasty retreats, but not a single battle. Such is the deliberate Opinion of one of the first military men of Greece and it is nob likely to be gainsaid by any of his foreign colleagues. Could anything be more cha- racteristic of the light-heartedness with which the war was carried on than the letter written to the War Minister by one of the chiefs of the army, to the effect that be needed no commissariat; he had signed a contract with a purveyor for the delivery of bread, and everything else could be obtained with- out difficulty therefore a commissariat was super- fluous. As for the navy, it was the sport of contradictory instructions which, Mr. Dillon says (and rightly, if his stories are correct) would delight the writer (,f opera bouffe. This telegram of the Marine Minister to Admiral Sakhtouris is quoted: Mark you this I allow nobody among you to put off the execution of my orders or to seek for approval of them from any quarter whatever, as you did, when you were told to bombard Kara Burnoo. Do not forget, sir, the circumstances attending your muni- cipal election at Poros, where you ran a great risk and were saved by me. You have now to obey me blindly." It is also stated that at the height of the war M. Ralli was casually informed that. warships had e- hausted their supplies of coal, and had to go about himself seeking to borrow coal wherever he could find people willing and able to lend it. The rotten po',i- tical state of Greece is treated in this remarkable Contemporary article in much the same vein; and I there is only one bright passage in the melancholy story. It is that in which the virtues of the present ¡' Prime Minister of Greece are set forth. He may fail, eays Mr. Dillon, in the task of what can still be I done to save Greece from irreparable ruin, but no or, o else is likely to succeed. I
SUFFOCATED IN A TRUNK.I
SUFFOCATED IN A TRUNK. I Two sisters, named Laura and Jennie Melton, fired I seven and five years respectively, while paying and seek with three other children at their f,,tL"s house, at Henderson (Kentucky), hid inside a trunk in the Cei^r, Two others hid under a be.i upstairs. fifth child found the latter two, bub could not find the others. The parents were a^itv visiting a neighbour, and did not come back for tb,(-j hours, but, on learning the two children were missiji^i at once began to search for them. After an investi- gation lasting ail hour the father remembered trunk, and on opening it discovered the two ¡r;" lying dead in each other's arms. The lid of the trunk fastened with a spring lock, and when the children were once in the box they were unable to open it mncj were slowly suffocated.
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XHE numOer ot officers extra-regimentallv em- ployed is now assuming very large proportion. There are, in all, 108 British officers attached to the Egyptian Army, including three major-gener,,tl,. There are 28 Regular officers in colonial mi!itft;'v employment, including nine in the Royal Artille-y, and there are 46 Regular officers in civil employment abroad. There are 29 officers employed extra-re; i mentally under Acts 593 or 594 of the Ro\ ùi Warrant, and there are 73 militia officers in colonl-t], military, or civil employment, which brings up the grand total of officers tasonded in their regimes ts to 284. This, of course, it. exclusive of tbo26 em- -fjloyed 03 ths staff or qs professors or instructor?.
--""-CHANGES IN CROP AREAS.
CHANGES IN CROP AREAS. the agricultural retarno for Great Britain, juit issued, give some useful information on this subject. It-tftfttps that the total area under crops and grass in Great Britain in 1896 was 32,562,400 acres, compared with 32,577,500 acres in 1895. This difference-of 15,000 acres, on so large a surface, is not in itself of material significance, particularly if the customary causes which annually withdraw certain areas from culture, for building and other purposes, be allowed for, and the net reduction is less than that reported in 1895. But, as shown in previous reports, this net reduction in area represents the extent by which the diminution of hmd returned as arable- on this occasion 131,000 acres-fails to be balanced by an addition-arnountingto 116,000acres--to the category of permanent grass. The loss of arable land occurs this time mainly in what was before returned as clover or grass under rotation, and some of the collectors' reports suggest that larger areas than before of what j were deemed temporary grasses are being regarded j in name as well as in fact permanent. Under other heads the general changes for the country as a whole very nearly balance, there being a small recovery-in the area under corn and under green crops, and eowie extension of small fruit, to be set against reduction in bare fallow and loss in the surface under hops. It may be remarked that while the area of the corn crops of 1896 is, on the whole, slightly greater than in 1895, the net recovery is only one of 16,500 acres out of the 455,000 acres by which the corn land of Great Britain was reduced in 1895. The different character of the season is, however, reflected by the considerable changes shown in the relative totals of each cereal. With a favourable seed time, more wheat was grown by 276,000 acres, nearly every English county showing an increase; but, on the other hand, less barley and oats collectively were shown by 262,000 acres, while small additions to the areas under beans and rye more than counterbalanced a reduction of over 12,000 acres, or six per cent., in peas. The wheat recovery was thus about half of the acreage lost in 1895, and probably represents the share of the great reduction in that year, which was due to special and climatic rather than economic causes. In potatoes a larger area by 22,500 acres was re- ported in Great Britain. This increase took place in England the Scotch counties generally returning a small breadth. The English potato area has thus for the first time in these returns reached a total of 400,000 acres. The largest county increase m 1896 occurred in Lincolnshire, where an addition of 5754 acres was reported in the year, bringing the total for that county to upwards of 57,000 acres at the present time, compared with 38,000 acres in 187,6. Tbe drought of the early summer no doubt suffices to account for the generally diminished area of turnips and swedes, whereof the acreage was nearly 33,000 acres below the figures of 1895, and that year's total, as will be remembered, was below the areas shown in the immediately preceding years. The surface devoted to the growth of vetches, which was noted last year as declining, has recovered some part of the loss. An increase of 9000 acres in cabbages over 1895 is partly explained by their substitution for turnip crops. Lucerne also continues to be grown on somewhat larger areas, the recent favour accorded to this plant appearing from the extension of nearly 64 per cent. in its area since 1892, bringing the total to over 27,000 acree. A new and special inquiry was made in 1896 into the extent of the surface used for growing mustard. a crop which has not before been separately distin- guished in these statistics, and a return of nearly 29,000 acres under this crop was received. As to the localities in which this crop was grown, it appears that two-fifths of the whole was accounted for by the counties of Cambridge and Lincoln. As shown in former reports, the area left in bare fallow fluctu- ates much from year to year, and depends mainly on conditions of weather. The contraction of 43,000 acres shown in 1896 follows an increase of 100,000 acres in the year preceding. The decrease in hops of 4691 acres, or nearly eight per cent., seems to have been relatively most notable in Sussex, where a falling off of 20 per cent. in area is reported. The total surface now devoted to hops in England, after a temporary recovery, has receded again to the extent occupied in 1890, and does not greatly exceed 54,000 acres in 1896, compared with the 70,000 acres, at which it stood 10 years ago. Complaints of the unprofitable character of this crop at the prices pre- vailing appear prominently among the explanations offered for the reduction of area on the present oc- casion. Among the heads of increase in the present year, the area returned as under small fruit again shows an advance of about 2 per cent. in the aggre- gate. Out of the 76,245 acres accounted for, the single county of Kent returns 22,632 acres, while only two other counties, Middlesex and Worcester, show more than 3000 acres thus occupied. Compared with 1895, Essex has grown 200 acres more of small fruit, the West Riding of Yorkshire 203 acres more, and Norfolk 285 acres more—increases which are, having regard to the county totals, somewhat con- siderable.
BOARD SCHOOL KITCHENS.
BOARD SCHOOL KITCHENS. In a Consular report just issued by the Foreign Office mention is made of the endeavours that are being made to add to the theoretical work of the board schools in Germany some practical instruc- tion, which is intended to teach the girls of the lower classes how to manage a household. Our Consul observes that if mothers are occupied in the factories they cannot themselves instruct their daughters. These latter, then, after leaving school go them- selves to factories, and when they marry, which occurs in these classes at a comparatively early age, it is impossible for them to become good managing wives. Various cities have, therefore, organised cooking and household classes at their expense and as an illustration he gives an account of the plan of the public cooking classes in the city of Cologne. The instruction (10-12) falls within the regular school time, but as this always takes up four hours, the girls cat in the kitchen, in order to be back at their classes again at two o'clock. In the cooking lessons 24 girls can each time take their stand at three double hearths, four always comprise a family that has one stove for itself. The tasks are distri- buted in the following manner-one attends to the stove, one cooks the soup, the third arranges the vegetables, and the fourth prepares the meat. Each family at the start receives a little purse with one mark. The girls with this make the prescribed pur- 1 chases end bring the material to the kitchen. In the meantime the fire has been lit, water put on, &c. The teacher combines her instruction with the menu, explaining the origin, the nourishing qualities and the use made of, and the mode of preparing, the dishes. She sees that the things are properly weighed, and that the prices are rightly calculated, &c. After dinner work has to be done in the kitchen, the hearth and the table is cleaned again and tbe floors scrubbed, so that when the scholars leave the house the kitchen and implements are left in the same state they found them in. The cost of the dinner amounted from 26.4 pf. to 49,75 pf. per child I daily. If one calculates the salary of the teacher and the small expenses for supplementary articles for in- struction, we may calculate that each child costs the city daily 50 pf. Inasmuch as the kitchen is not t used in the afternoons for the school girls, arrange- ments have been made for afternoon lessons for girls who have left school already. Each course of lessons ( las s a period of six weeks. For the instruction one mark is charged per week, and in addition 20pf. per day for the dinner, which conaists of somewhat be,, te r I dishes. But the afternoon lessons have not found sufficient scholars, and of the 24 places which are at their disposal not even ha,f have been filled it i3 true that little was done to advertise the arrange- ments. The fear that the cooking instructions might exercise an unfavourable influence on the school in- struction has not only not been realised, but on the con- trary, the girls became more eager, diligent, and orderly. The threat of being excluded from visiting the'kitchen exercised a very deterrent influence. Thus the cooking lessons even exercised a favourable pedagogic influence on this part of the public ill straction. ¡
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THE biggest, bee-hive in the world is a natural one II In Kentucky, known as the "Mammoth Beehi\» It is in reality a huge cave, the main compartment of W f1C f ,8rru^ ^eet the floor covering 10 acres m ex ent. -the beehive is of solid rock the roof having been enhrely honeycombed by bees. M. Bertrand, tho famous bee-keeper, has hives containing 26 frames. InE Prince of Bulgaria has presented a very hand- some ruby and diamond scarf pin, adorned with his j Royal Highness s monogram i„ brilliants aud enr- I rounded by a golden crown, to Mr. W. A. Hart, the London Divisional Superintendent of the Great i Western Railway, in recognition of the ktter's attention wbiJs travelling DBtwCtID London and Windsor. »
FARMING NOTES. r
FARMING NOTES. r (Fiom the Agricultural Gazette.") RAPS drilled on April 22 is now ready (relates Prof. Wrightson) for stocking with sheep. The question ia: Could anything be quicker? Give this rape another week, or 10 weeks in all, it will be amply fit, and will no doubt be carrying sheep. It will then grow a second crop, which will be ready by September, and probably Ileitherble nor turnips could beat this result. It ia much cheaper grown than cabbages, although it will not stand the same eating. The fact is, cabbages were a failure last winter, and the beat substitute appears to be early-sown rape, which will be ready for use before June is out. Rape and kale are two exoellentplant., and the latter is at present in the ascendant. It is not so fattening as the first-named crop, for sheep do wonderfully well on rape. It is an extraordinary grower when singled, and is liable to mildew if left too thick in the row. Wheat also does well after it, and there appears to be some doubt as to kale in this respect. Rape should be sown at two period?—early and late. Early rape drilled in April will be ready by June or early July. Late rape drilled in July will be ready in March or April, after standing the winter. It may be drilled solid, or mixed with turnips or swedes, according to the season. A mixture of 21b. of rape and lib. of turnip seed makes a capital summer fold. One or two rows of rape alternated with three or four rows of swedes makes a capital spring fold for ewea and lambs in April. So also does kohl rabi, if drilled early in July, for both plants stand the winter admirably. TURNIPS. Turnip-sowing is now in fult force, and maybe continued throughout July. They germinate more freely and grow more rapidly than swedes, and the later they are sown the better able are they to with- stand severe frosts. When double-cropping is car- ried on, turnips will follow vetches as fast as the land is cleared, a'nd the preparation of the ground is simple. All that is required on light soils is to plough up after the sheep, well barrow, and drill with 2cwt. of super-phosphate. The after cultivation of late-sown turnips consists in singling and two horse-hoeings and a second hand-boeing is not necessary. It is these later-sown turnip crops which give occasion to the adversary to impugn South-country farming. The best course is to drill narrow-that is, 15in. to 18in. apart-and this allows enough room for late turnips to expand. If they make small heads they will be hardy, and after standing the winter they grow a wonderfully thick plant of turnip greens for ewes and lambs, which are useful in April, and take the sheep well through the most trying period of the year —March. THE SEASON. We shall not see (observes Professor Wrightson) a heavy crop of corn, but it is not unlikely that we may see an average one. We shall see good bay and probably good root crops, and summer graziers will not have reason to complain. The season is likely, on the whole, to be a productive one. No one knows what is in store, but a real drought is scarcely pos- sible before harvest, as the atmospheric conditions are favourable for thunderstorms. The ground is moist and warm, and growth is rapid. It is pro- bable that correspondents from the counties will confirm this view, and, if this is so, pessimistic views will be out of place. The country looks lovely, and corn-fields made a surprising growth early in the month and overtopped the charlock. One field which was a cause of anxiety was so infested with this curse that it was actually ordered to be stocked with sheep, but the rapid growth .of the barley in a few days completely hid the yellow flowers and the crop was saved. Writing in the midst of farming, Prof. Wrightson watches progress from day to day, and is rejoiced to see the end of a very successful clover-hay harvest accomplished. WHEAT CROPS. As some extraordinary statements in relation to the indications" of the June Report of the American Department of Agriculture have appeared in print, the Agricvitural Gazette has made some calculations in order to show what the figures really indicate. In the first place it is found that the con- dition of the winter wheat cropon June 1 has been as low or lower only seven times since 1881 than it was put this season (78- 5), while 89-6 for spring wheat is lower than for all but three years since 1883. Taking the figures for the last 13 years together, we get at the following indications WINTER WHEAT. June condition, average of last 13 years 82*3 Ditto 1897 78-5 Average yield per acre, 13 Tears 12'27 bushels Yield indicated by June condi- tion, 1897 14,70 bushels Area, 1897 21,562,000 acres Indicated production, 1897 252,375,400bushels SPRING WHEAT. June condition, average of last 13 yeara 93"8 Ditto 1897 J 896 Average yield per acre, 13 years 12-93 bushels Yield indicated by June condi- tion, 1897 12'35 bushela Area, 1897 13,000,000 acres Indicated production, 1897 160,560,000 bushels TOTAL WHZAT. Indicated production of winter and spring wheat together, 1897 412,925,400 bushels We do not give this as our own estimate of the yield, but only as the true interpretation of the figures of the Americab Department of Agriculture, on the bases of 13 preceding June reports. Anyone is at liberty to set aside the official report as worthless, and to form his own estimate from such official information as he can obtain; but he should not give his reckonings as the indications" of the official figures. We see that some persons reckon, or pretend to reckon, on a crop of 600,000,000 bushels, while others put the probable production 150,000,000 bushels less, and the official figures, as shown above, point to about 187,000,000 bushels less! In reality, no one knows within many millions. of bushels what the crop will produce, as the spring wheat has yet many risks to run before it will he harvested. THE AGRICULTURAT, RETURNS. The complete Agricultural Returns for Great Britain relating to the year 1896 have been issued as a Parliamentary paper. The report, which is signed by Major P. G. Craigie, states that the returns now embrace in their final and complete form all the official information available respecting acreage and livestock, production and prices, formerly laid"before Parliament in three separate annual publications. Summaries of colonial and foreign agricultural statis- tics, up to such dates as could be obtained, are also again incorporated in the volume, together with inci- dental data respecting the imports, exports, and values of various forms of agricultural produce. VIIERE AMERICAN WHEAT GOES. It is stated that about 28,000,000 bushels, or about 20 per cent., of last year's crop of wheat in the Pacific States of America have been shipped to China and Japan, partly in the form of grain, and partly ia that of flour. This shows a remarkable increase on the shipments of wheat and flour to those countries in any preceding season, though the traffic has been grow- ing since it was first established, nearly ten vearsago. One authority believes that the comparatively new demand for Pacific Coast wheat is destined to absorb the whole surplus of that region, and to raise the price to the level of that which prevails in Chicago, greatly to the benefit of the growers. MAMMOTH HARROWS. A description of mammoth harrows used in sowing grain in the North Western States of America has been given in the Implements and Machinery Review, with a picture of five sets of harrows, each 52ft. wide, drawn by nine or 12 mules walking abreast, and driven by one man, as seen at work on Fairview Farm, Richland County, North Dakota. These five sets, it is said, will bur- row from 600 to 700 acres a day, and the men'* wages amount to only a halfpenny an acre. Of course, it is only on great prairie farms that such immense harrows are used. They are in sections, and each section can be readily raised, to clear it from rubbish, or taken apart when the harrows are loaded into a waggon or stored up in the winter
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THAT actress seems absorbed in her role of Lady Macbeth." Yes; her manager has to make her carry an alarm clock in the sleep-walking scene." ETHEL You say AIgy has been heartlessly de- ceived by a young woman. Did she lead him on to kbink that she loved him?" May: "Oh, no; -he led him on to believe that she didn't care a rap for him, and then when be carelessly proposed, ucopted aim on the spot.' <
GARDENING GOSSIP. .II.II
GARDENING GOSSIP. .II. II (From Cottage Gardening.") PLOWBR GARDBlf. It is rather early yet for budding Roses, but things move so rapidly now that preparations for tbe work will soon have to be made by those who have stocks to work. Standard Briers should be done first, as, if the season is missed with standards, they may have to go over till next year, and then, pro- bablv, the shoots may be too vigorouB to take well. If the Briers were planted in November, the most for- ward will work now, if there are buds ready. Bud- ding has been so often referred to that the way of doing it must be familiar to nearly all our readers. But success depends more upon selecting the right time when the stock and bud are both ready for union than upon tbe way in whieh tbe work ia done. If the bark works freely, the novice will meet with Buccess; if the bark is dry and difficult to move, the most experienced budder may fail. As a rule, an experienced budder would not attempt budding when the bark did not work freely; he would wait till there came rain, or else give the ptocks a, soaking of water. In budding stan- dard Briers, the buds must be placed at the bottom of the young shoots, as near the main atem as possible. A proper budding-knife in good condition is necessary. If the bark is torn and haggled about, the buds are not treated fairly. Every novice should make himself fairly expert with the knife by practising upon other things before be begins to work in earnest. The Willow is a good subject to practise on. The shield of the bud need not be more than fin. long, two-thirds being below the bud. Many budders now use smaller shields to the bud..By shield is meant the portion of bark taken off with the bud and which helps to fix it and hqld it in position. There is nothing better than soft raffia grass for tying in the buds. On the same principle of having a small shield to the bud, the opening in the bark of the stock may he reduced in size, and so, altogether, there will be less cutting and laceration to do. Sometimes the early buds, by stopping the budded shoots, will produce flowers the first season, but dormant buds make the strongest plants. GREENHOUSE. If flowers are to last a reasonable time, the plants must be shaded in hot weather. The shade need not be heavy, and, if possible, should be removed every afternoon. This cannot in all cases be done. In our own case, for instance, we generally use a little whitening and size, and dust it lightly over the glass outside, and it generally stops on till no longer re- quired, when a little soda in the water soon removes it; but I should rather have a movable shade if it was convenient, which it is not. Any hard-wood plants which require more pot room should have it now. Pot firmly, and use good peat and sand. Seedling Begonias may either be grown on in pots or be planted on a good bed. They make better and larger tubers in the bed than in pots. WINDOW GARDEN. Double Petunias make very pretty window and room plants at this season. A large proportion of the flowers from a good double strain will come double, and seedlings show more vigour than plants from cuttings. THE USES OF A GARDEN FRAME. A garden frame ia capable of a vast amount of useful work. The modern span, or three-quarter span, frames are decided improvements upon the old- fashioned lean-to frames for many purposes, but for hot-bed work for Cucumbers and Melons the old lean-to frame will still hold its own. Early in the year, when the sun lacks power and the nights are long, if forcing has to be done with a manure-heap, the old lean-to frame has its advantages. It may be so placed that the sun's rays fall directly upon the glass and not only the glasl. but the whole of the frame, may be easily enveloped in warm coverings, and this protection in w,inter is of great value, and, in fact, indispensable. Therefore, for forcing early in the season, I should adopt the lean-to frame but for striking cuttings in summer and autumn, for plant-growing in summer, and for sheltering half- hardy things in autumn and winter, I decidedly prefer the three-quarter span, because of the greater amount of light which is admitted. The question is often asked—What can be done with a three- light frame ? And we might reply to this by ask- ing another question-What cannot be done with a three-light frame, or one of those modem span- roof frames? As regards the latter, a nice little house may be made by elevating one of them on turf walls or banks, and making a sunk path down the ccntre to give more head-room, A convenient amateur's Cucumber-house or "Vinery is thus improvised in a short time. and at a compara- tively trifling expense, which will be a tenant's fixture, and with one of the small movable heating apparatuses the house would be complete. A three- quarter span frame, strongly but lightly made, 6ft. wide by 20ft. long, will, we believe, cost about £10, delivered anywhere in England, from any of the principal manufacturers. A bandy man, who could go to the saw-mills and buy sash- bars re&dy planed, and also get glass ready cut in squares of suitable size, could doubtless build one for less money, but the structure would hardly be so lasting. One of those span-roofed frames, elevated in the way suggested, would make a nice little vinery. A couple of Black Hamburgh Vines Elan ted at one end, the rods being trained along the ouse, would fill it in two or three years. Such a house would grow Cucumbers successfully in the summer, or in winter, too, if sufficiently heated. If planted with Tomatoes early in the year, so that the fruit might be gathered early, the builder would soon be reimbursed the cost of the structure, ör, at any rate, a good percentage of interest would be returned. If fitted up with stages, all kinds of greenhouse and bedding plants might be grown in the greatest perfec- tion. All this, and more, mightbe carried out easily by the preserving amateur who has the nêces- sary ambitiou and "go" in him. What a delightful little Rose-house such a frame, lifted up in the way suggested, would make, planted entirely with Tea Roses, with or without artificial heat. But a good deal may be done with a smaller article. A very nice little collection of Auriculas may be wiatered in a very small frame. I saw the other day a good collection of Carnations and Picotees, in excellent condition, stowed away in one of these little span-roofed frairies. In spring, when the Carnations are planted out,, the frame may be used for striking all kinds of cuttings and shelter- ing various plants. These frames are in summer the best places for growing Cinerarias, Primulas, and Calceolarias, for the greenhouse or the windows. I Half-hardy plants may be wintered in a frame, covered up in severe frost with dry litter. Holly- hocks, where one has a good collection of named sorts, cannot be kept without a frame, in which to strike tho cuttings and shelter the yov.ng plants in winter. In fact, it is quite impossible to mention, I off-hand, all, or even half, the uses to which such a frame can be put, simply as a cold frame, without artificial heat. If there is no other use for it, fill I it with Marie Louise Violets in September, and many a bunch of its sweet double flowers may be gathered during winter and early spring; or it may be useful to bring forward Strawberries: the pro- tection of glass alone, without any artificial heat, will make a fortnight's difference in the time of ripening. In forwarding early salads without heat, j considerable advantage is on the side of the culti- vator who has a little bit of glass, no matter how humble it may be. In the neighbourhood of large towns a good deal of money is made out of so simple a thing as Cress, grown in frames in spring, with 20 other help but the glass. The seeds are sown thickly, I and the young Cress is cut and packed in punnets, I and rapidly passes out of hand, and another crop is sown. For merely sheltering Cauliflowers and Lettuces in winter the frame is most useful. No one can successfully manage chrysanthemums in a flrst- class manner without a bit of glass. It is necessary I to strike the cuttings and fehelter the young plants till the weather is snitable for their full exposure in spring; and again in autumn, if elevated on stout ¡ posts, the frame will shelter the blossoms from frost.
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I A RAISE You told me last week that you would try to raise my salary," said Briggs. Ob, yes," j replied his employer. Well, I did. I raised it after some trouble. Believe me, I had & very hard i time raising it this week." J THE views of the Colonial Premiers on some of the things which we at home consider important are rather crushing. Thus Sir George Turner, of j Victoria, is of the opinion that our provincial cities ) do not compare favourably, in point of general architecture and broad effect, with a place like, say, ) Melbourne; he does not even make an exception in favour of the Colonial Secretary's own particular city of Birmingham.
..BEHIND THE COUNTER:
BEHIND THE COUNTER: AN AMERICAN SKETCH. M It must be a music-box that plays at least seven tunes," said Mrs. Wrangley, and one of, then) must be 'Annie Laurie and I can't possibly afford to give more than seventy dollars." I'll speak to Mr. Malcolm, the proprietor," said Miss Elson, tbe girl behind the counter, a little bewildered by the loud voice and overwhelming pre- sence of the stout lady in the sealskin coat and flash- ing diamond eardrops, who stood opposite her. But I'm in a hurry," said Mrs. Wrangley, im- periously. Ca t you show me some music-boxes ? It seems to me that you must all be very stupid here." I'll speak to Mr. Malcolm, ma'am," naid Ella Elson who was as accustomed, mutely, to receive and endure insolence as is the 14 Aunt Sally of lawn games to be buffeted and maltreated. And Mr. Malcolm came, all smilej, to nainisfer-to the whims of the rich customer, whose carriage flashed back the sunshine at the door. Ma, ain't she pretty," whispered Miss Amandina Wrangley, an overgrown girl of fourteen, leaning her elbows on the show case. I say, ma, won't you buy me something new ? Won't you, IDa f What's this? A canary! I didn't know they kept birds here." It is an automaton," smiled Mr. Malcolm, who had just reached an ebony music-box, inlaid with' glistening mother-of-pearl ornament. "Misa Elson, wind up that bird. Let Miss Wrangley hear. Yes, ma'am," to the elderly lady, "this instrument has Annie Laurie' in its repertoire, also." Miss Ella Elsoa wound up the artificial songster, set it where Miss Amandina could feast her ears and eyes on its beauty, and then turned to show back- gammon boards to a new customer. In a second—or, at least, so it would seem-there' was a crash! The bird cage was overturned, the brilliant plumed songster crnabed, and the solid sheet ot glass that formed the top of the show case splin- tered into a score of broken fragments. Mr. Malcolm's hair bristled with surprise and indignation, as he turned to view the general ruin. Miss Elson I" he exclaimed, wrathfully, how did this happen ?" I am sure, sir, I do not know," said poor Ella, who was as much frightened as if the ceiling had fallen. "I was showing this gentleman a back- gammon bOàrd-" Do not attempt to cover your faults by false- hood," sternly spoke the proprietor. It could only have been your carelessness 1" While Miss Amandina Wrangley, the actual cul- prit, stood staring at the overthrow, and lacked the moral courage to confess her own guilt. Ma would be so cross if she had to pay for the artificial bird," said Miss Amandina to herself. And maybe she won't buy me the music-box, and, anyhow, I dare say, the shop-girl won't mind a little scolding." If you did not do it, Miss Elson," said Mr. Mal- colm, majestically, who did ?" I don't know, sir," Ella answered, with varying colour, but it was not I." Don't contradict me," said the proprietor. I must speak the truth," said Ella, pleadingly. You ask me, and- That will do," said Mr. Malcolm, waving his hand. I am not accustomed to bandy words with my employes. Go to Miss Mason. She will settle with j ou to date. I shall not require your services any longer." 1 Miss Elsoii turned and obeyed, although a blur seemed to come before her eyes and a deadly weight oppressed the beating of her heart. .1 Very proper," said Mrs. Wrangley, approvingly. The young woman needs discipline. She seema both obstinate and stupid." While Amandina, clinging close to her mother's side, still maintained a resolute silence. The late afternoon sunshine was just fading out of the little room under the roof of a ruinous old build- ing near the docks, where Mrs. Elton sat at work, for a dealer in artificial flowers, and was making jacque- minot roeea for a large order from a Bowery milliner. She was a pale little woman, who spent her life in r. rolling-chair-she bad long ago lost the use of her limbs-and on the floor beside her sat a child of eight years, playing with the damaged bits of red silk dis- carded by her mother's quick fingere. She looked up with an exclamation as the door opened. "Mamma," she cried, it's Ella!" Ella!" exclaimed Mrs. Elson. 11 Home, at this time of day ? My dearest, what has happened?" "I am discharged, mamma!" said Ella, en- deavouring to speak firmly. I have lost my situa- tion And then, flinging herself on the floqr at her mother's side, she buried her face in the poor cripple's lap, and burst out crying. Wblle" all this was transpiring, something more similar still had taken place at the store where the utomaton hird had sung. its last cantata, and the music-box that played "Annie Laurie" was being carefully packed up. Mrs. Wrangley was just turn- ing to the door, when a stout gentleman, who had been sitting on a red velvet stool near the entrance, rose up—a ponderous individual, with fur linings to his coat collar, and a red silk pocket-handkerchief tied around his neck. Aba!" said the stout man, with a nod. "Why, it's Uncle Bob !"said Amandina. Ob, my brother!" said Mrs. Wrangley. "Why, Robert, when did you come in?" I've been here ,some time," said Mr. Robert Rud- ford; "I've been waiting for you to get through and recognise me. Upon my word, Sister Serena, you're a capital hand at driving a bargain. I couldn't have bought that music-box to better advantage myself. Why, the shopman didn't have the shadow of a chance." Mrs. Wrangley bit. her lip, but she smiled. Uncle Rudford was a person of too much importance not to be allowed to have his own way, even in the matter of making disagreeable remarks. "But it wasn't quite the fair thing of you, niece Amandina, went on this terrible old gentleman, to let that poor shop-girl lose her place for your clumsi- ness in tipping that automaton 'bird over, and break- ing the cover of the showcase, was it, now? Answer me, honestly ?" Amandina Wrangley hung down her head. "'What!" cried Mrs. Wrangley. "I saw it all," said the old gentleman; "I know Malcolm. I've lent him money to carry on this very business, and I shall speak to him. Don't look so frightened, niece Amandina. You'ro not going to be arrested. Only let it be a lesson to you through life, that you can't do a mean action without it's being found out. Is this your carriage, Serena ? Let me help you in." And the next half-hour tdte-a-tete with her mother was not a particularly pleasant one for Miss Amandina Wrangley. Just as your uncle was beginning to be a little fond of yon, too said the indignant matron and now he's thoroughly disenchanted; Amandina, I couldn't believe this of you." "But, ma," whispered Amandinrf, "you didn't tell the storekeeper that day when ybu knocked the cut- glass cologne bottle off the counter, and broke it. You said it was his business to look after his own goods. You told me-" "Will you hold your tongue, miss?" said Mrs. Wrangley, with acerbity: it's strange how little judgment girls have! I After due reflection she went to Malcolm's the next day to inquire h(w much damage she was liable for in the matter of her daughter's carelessness, but I was told that Mr. Rudford had settled all that. Dear, dear," said Mrs. Wrangley, things are getting worse and worse. Your Uncle Robert is just enough of a modern Don Quixote to go chasing around town and hunt up the pert shop-miss and restore her to her place. Men are such fools where a pretty girl is concerned." I don't think she's pretty a bit," said Amandina, sullenly. Be quiet, Amandina," said her mother, sharply. You've done quite enough mischief already." Mrs. Wrangley proved a true prophet. Uncle Bob, who had no particular business of his own to mind, had an especial penchant for the minding of other people's affairs. He obtained Mrs. Elson's address from Mr. Malcolm, and went straight to the old house on the docks, where a dealer in marine stores occupied the ground floor, a family of Polish refugees worked in ivory on the second, and the top sheltered Mrs. Elson and her two daughters. My girl," he said to Ella, who sat disconsolately by the window, trying to mend little Mary's frock, it's all right. You're to go back to Malcolm's to- morrow, just as if nothing at all had happened. It was my niece, Amandina, who broke the bird and smashed the showcase. Good gracious me looking I i. around him—"you don't eay that you live in this little hole under the roof ?" And Mr. Rudford stared around him, and drew a. prodigiously long breath. We are very glad, air, to have so good a home as this," aaid Mrs. Elson, meekly. Rente are high. and- U Yes yes," said Mr. Rudford, If I know. Dear,, dear me; how unequally things are divided in thifc world! Now, I've got a nice little place in Harlem, on the line of the elevated road-a cottage with a. bit of garden, and an apple tree. I'd be glad to get some responsible party to occupy it, just foi tha winter, to see that it don't go to wreck and rum. I; shan't expect any rent-only a little reasonable over- sight. Come, what do you say ?" We shall be so grateful," was all that Mrs. Eicon could answer. But her. eyes were most eloquent. Ella went back to the store next day. Mr. Mal- colm. who knew what Mr. Robert Rudford's favour was wortli, made a meek apology to Miss Jiison, ana hoped that ahe would overlook any trifling asperity with which he might have spoken in the vexation of the moment. And all was serene once more. "Wbat I" Mrs. Wrangley cried. My brother but established those upstarts, rent free, in his Harlem cottage! Now I can read it all, from beginning to end. He'll marry that shop-girl as sure as fate." But he did not. Mrs. Wrangley was mistaken fat- once. What do I want of a chit of a girl young enough to be my daughter ?" said Mr. Rudford. And he married the pretty, dove-eyed little cripple instead. And if ever you saw a tender-hearted child play-- Ing with a Dresden ohina doll, you can form some idea of the loving care wherewith he protected his fragile little wife from life's cares and ilia. Siater Serena don't like it," said he. Very well. 1 don't marry to please sister Serena, but to please myself." Which was sound philosophy, after all.
CURIOUS REGIMENTAL CUSTOM&¡
CURIOUS REGIMENTAL CUSTOM& There are curious old customs- prevalent in some of our regiments to-day, many of which originated! in strange manners, and others of which the origin cannot be traced. One of the most curious (pays tú Regiment) is that of the Royal Welsh FtisilierN, which regiment always marches with a goat in the van. The goats are generally white, and since 1842 have been presents of her Majesty the Queen. The custom is said to be 100 years old. Not long ago one of the goats assumed a rather- pugnacious de- meanour, and during a march through Walei amused itself by butting the Drum-Major. Anothem- custom which is rather curious, and is accreditecl to the same regiment, takes place every yeatf on St. David's Day, when every officer and man is expected to wear a leek in his head-dress, and- the goat is adorned with blue and red ribbons. After mess the drum-major walks round the table carry- ing a plate of leeks, and accompanied by the goat; He offers the leeks to each officer. The memory of. hero, one Toby Purcell, who was killed at the Battle of the Boyne, and who had seen the regiment raised, is drunk in silence. There are two regiments who- have customs relative to the rore. The first is the 5th Fusiliers. In this regimert a rose is worn by each man on St. George's Day, but nobody known the origin of it, nor can it be traced. The Lanca- shire Fusiliers also wears the floral emblem on the 1st of August, in memory of the Battle of Mi n den, where they passed through rose gardens on going into action, and each man pluckod A rose to wear. At the Battle of Dettingen the Cheshire Regiment rescued King George II. from a dangerous position, nd now the men of theregiment wear a twig of oak in their caps on the Queen's birthday. The Worces- tershire Regiment (the old 29tb) wears a motir stripe in their lace in memory of the dead who fell it Culloden nor is this the only regiment, for the 34th Foot also wears a black stripe in their lace on account of the great slaughter at Nive in 1813, and it used to be the custom for the officers to wear black gloves for the same reason. The Buffs have the pri- vilege of marching through London with their drumv beating and colours flying, owing to their being con- nected with the train bands of the time of Elizabeth, who had that right. It is not commonly known how the 29th Regiment came by the name of Ever-sworded Twenty-ninth." It is derived from an old custom which is still pre- served in the regiment to a certain extent, namely,, that of the officers dining with their swords on. The origin of the custom is rather curious. A detach- ment of the regiment at one of the Leeward Island* was taken by surprise by the natives about tbe-miden. of the last century. The French inhabitants, it if alleged, prompted the Indians to-mnrder the men, and the whole detachmont was cut up. Between 1842 and 1859 the regiment had a long period of ser- vice in the East Indies, when the custom somewhat died out- and then the captain and the subaltern alone sat down to dine with their swords on. This practice still exists. In the diary of an officer, ag early as 1792, the following is entered with regard to, the "ever-swording practice The 29th was alwavc- one of the most exact corps in the Service, even to- < trifles, and to this day every officer sits down to dinner with his sword on but one of onr very best men, we ghirig 20 stone, found it so inconvenient, that be was allowed to dine without his sword, pro- vided that it was hung up immediately behind him." The 29th, now the Worcestershire Regiment, has, again, the carious practice of differing from all other regiments by the officers and sergeants both wearing11 their sashes over the left shoulder. The origin of this is thöt at Culloden all the officers were killed, so, the sergeants took their places. There is also one regiment which still keeps sacred the memory of the old pigtail days by wearing a bow of ribbon at the back of their collars, and this is the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. It is also a well-known fact that the 12th Lancers play the Spanish Chant," Vesper Hymn,1* and the Russian National Anthem after the last post" every night, whether marching or in whatso- ever place the regiment happens to be. The origin of the first is said to be that during the Peninsular War the regiment-sacked a convent, and the punish- ment imposed was that the band should play the Spanish Chant" every night for 100 years. The playing of the "Vesper Hymn" is put down to the widow of an officer in the regiment who, more than 100 years ago, presented the band with a new set of instruments on condition that the hymn should be played eaoh evening. No record is known which give8. evidence of the playing of the Russian National Anthem, but it is supposed it was added about the time of the Crimean War.
ABOUT MANNERS.
ABOUT MANNERS. Some poople think themselves so well-born, so clever, or so rich, says a writer on manners, as to be above caringwliat others say and think of them. It is said that ancient kings of Egypt used to commence speeches to their subjects with the formula, By the head of Pharaoh, ye are all swine." We need not wonder that those who take this swine theory view of the men and women they meetshould be careless about setting their tastes and feelings at defiance. And these are- just the people who complain most loudly when they fancy—and on this matter they are very fanciful that any slight has been offered to themselves. Our own experience it that in every country end amongst all sorts and conditions of men, if, like the boy with the echo, we speak civilly to others, tliey, like the echo, will speak civilly, to us. In one of Leach's sketches one omnibus man says to another, You call yourself a man ? I've eeen a better man than you made out of tea-leaves!" If manners makyth man (and woman), it is to be feared that many of us are of a tea-leaf composition, If this be the case it is a great fault, for manners are nothing less than little morals. They are the shadows of virtues, if not virtues themselves.
THE QUEEN'S DOCTOR.
THE QUEEN'S DOCTOR. Sir James Reid, K.C.B., M.D., on whom theQauen has conferred a baronetcy, is much esteemed by the Royal family and by the members of the Court with whom he is brought into contact. He has been in close personal attendance upon her Majesty for 16 years at least. Sir James is the son of an Aberdeenshire country doctor, and it was when at Balmoral that the Queen first saw him. He was educated at Aber- deen University, taking his M.D. degree more than 25 years ago, after a distinguished collegiate course. Then he studied for some time in Vienna. When he was made a K.C.B. her Majesty invested him privately.
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THE West Australian Government is doing all in its power to push the export timber trade. A sub- stantial sum has been placed on the Estimates foi the purpose of advertising the colony's bard wood in America. )