Zhne vs. AsPtes. 267 



nothing more toucliing than the picture presented by this gentle being, buried in her 

 solitude among flowers at Malmaison. From that time her grief-stricken heart knew 

 but one efl'ort at culture, save that of her flowers — the memory of that man whom 

 she loved and worshipped to her latest breath. 



No other feet than hers were permitted to cross the threshold of her desolate room, 

 where she collected all these relics of her former happy days. Here might no furni- 

 ture be moved from its place ; no leaflet carried away. With her small, delicate 

 duster in her hand, she cleaned this, her sanctuary, day by day. For hours she sat 

 alone in this favorite ambush. Every morning she placed fresh bouquets upon her 

 work-table, and in the season of Camellia blossoms — and they bloomed nowhere so 

 beautiful and abundant as at Malmaison — she deposited each day a white Camellia 

 between the leaves, which was to live and die for him ; like that first white blossom 

 which she so joyfully brought and laid beneath his eyes. 



And she herself lived and died for him — with heart-yearnings for her sunny home 

 — a poor, lonely Jloiver . 



Lime vs. Ashes. 



PLACE a piece of iron or steel in damp ashes, and it will soon corrode with rust. 

 Place the iron or steel in lime mortar, and it will remain bright and the rust will 

 disappear. Sow small grain where a brush pile or log heap has been burned, or 

 where a liberal dressing of ashes has been applied, and there will be a rank growth 

 that will probably fall and never mature. Sow the grain where lime has been applied 

 to the soil, and the grain will grow with stout, stiff" straw, and plump, hardy heads 

 that mature well. 



Ashes cause a rank growth of the herbaceous part of plants, such as leaves, straw 

 and grass ; lime induces a growth of the woody part of plants, and the grain or fruit. 

 Ashes stimulate heavy muck, and rich or virgin soils. They appear to disintegrate 

 or make available what is already in the soil. They seem to act specially on vege- 

 table mould and manures from the barnyard. Apply them to the most offensive pile 

 of compost, and they will render it inodorous and worthless as a fertilizer, their effect 

 being that of releasing the ammonia from the compost. Ashes used with a compost 

 heap of decaying vegetable matter would be wasted — worse than wasted — as they 

 render the compost inert as a fertilizer. Applied to an off"ensive sink, sewer or cess- 

 pool, they serve an excellent purpose as a disinfectant. They promote the growth 

 of grass and forage especially, proving very valuable on low lands ; will stimulate 

 trees, etc., to a vigorous growth when the soil is strong. They exhaust strong soils 

 and injure poor ones. 



Lime improves poor soils, especially sandy ones, by rendering them more compact 

 and capable of retaining fertility when applied. As a promoter of health and vigor 

 in apple trees, it is one of the best applications that can be made to the soil. Under 

 its influence trees mature well, the fruit is finer, and trees are freer from disease. 

 Lime may be applied with benefit on most soils and many plants, but is of special 

 value to the apple tree and strawberry plant, while ashes are valuable on heavy or 

 rich soils for the grosser feeding of plants, such as our native plums and currant 

 bushes. A. L. Hatch. 



Itkaca, Wis. 



