176 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



attached to them, and the theory of horti- 

 culture is taught in the schools, the prac- 

 tice being obtained in the gardens. This 

 plan is followed to some extent in Eng- 

 land, though not extensively. France, how- 

 ever is so well pleased with her schools 

 already established that the French minis- 

 ter of agriculture has decided to increase 

 the number of school gardens and make it 

 imperative that masters of elementary 

 schools in the rural districts must be com- 

 petent to give practical instruction in the 

 cultivation of the soil. 



The death of a boy from eating butter- 

 cups caused a medical journal to print the 

 following list of common flowers which are 

 poisonous; wood anemone, daffodils, celan- 

 dine, narcissus, lily, snowdrop, jonquil, 

 wild hyacinth, monk's hood, fox glove, 

 briony, mezerona, henbane and the night 

 shade. 



A beekeeper reported bees that made 

 125 pounds of honey a year, and when 

 asked how they did it replied, "Oh, 

 that was easy enough; we had the lazy 

 Italian bees and crossed them with light- 

 ning bugs, making two swarms; one swarm 

 worked days and the other worked nights." 



One of the late novelties, in advertising 

 is the "horse apron." This is worn by 

 the horse and has any printed matter on it 

 that may be desired. 



Of .course it was an Indiana man who 

 recently took thirteen liver pills just to 

 show he could. The man died. 



It is claimed that Mobile has the worst 

 roads of any in the country. However it 

 is said she intends improving them in the 

 near future. 



Fxperiments have been made in France 

 to determine what effect packing fruit and 

 vegetables ih lime would have. It is 

 claimed that by this method tomatoes were 

 preserved in good condition until January 

 and grapes until July. 



WHAT JAMES WAS READING. 



' 'James, dear, will you bring me up a 

 scuttle of coal from the cellar?" said a 

 busy wife. 



"That's just the way with you," said 

 James, with a frown, as he put down his 

 book, and rose from the arm chair. 



"Just the way with me?" 



"Yes," he snapped. "As soon as you 

 see me enjoying myself you have some- 

 thing for me to do. Didn't you see I was ' 

 absorbed in my reading?" 



"Well, dear, I will do it myself.' 



"Yes, and tell everybody your mother 

 especially that you have to carry your 

 own coal up from the cellar. No, I'll do 

 it. Let me mark my place." 



So he marked the place in the book at 

 which he had ceased reading, and when 

 he went down to the cellar, grumbling all 

 the way, she picked up the volume, and 

 found it was a love story, and that the 

 passage that he had been absorbed in was 

 as follows: 



"My darling, when you are my wife I 

 will shield and protect you from every care. 

 The winds of heaven shall not visit your 

 face too roughly; those hands shall never 

 be soiled by menial tasks; your wish shall 

 be my law; your happiness 



Just then he reappeared, and dropping 

 the scuttle upon the floor, said: 



"There's your coal! Give me my book." 

 Ex. 



Bulrn D' way- -Well, mum, ye see, it 

 was dis way: Nater made hayin' an' har- 

 vest come at a time when it's too hot ter 

 work; an' den she turns right around an' 

 made de time ter saw wood come in de 

 winter when it's too dern cold. Oh! she 

 had it in fer us, mum! 



Last year the United States imported 

 $2,200,000 worth of nuts, many of which 

 were of the kind that might be easily 

 grown in this country. Chestnuts were 

 among them. A chestnut orchard would 

 be a good venture, it seems, for the tree 

 will grow on rough, rocky soil, and the 

 trees are long lived. 



