192 



SCHOOL INCIDENT— TREATMENT OP GREEN-HOUSE PLANTS. 



preciatioa of their own worth and their native good 

 sense will dictate to them how to appear at all times, 

 and in all places. I am waiting patiently to hear 

 about the woman who wore that bonnet. I have 

 the happiness to subscribe myself 



A Farmer's Daughter, 



Xe.nia. 



A SCHOOL INdDEKT.! 



Many years since, while teaching in the pleasant 



village of L , in the Western part of thi.s State, 



I chance J to have among my pupils an active, intel- 

 ligent, yet mischief-loving lad — a genuine son of Erin. 

 Early left by the death of his parents to dei)end on 

 himself alone, he enlisted my sympathy and interest 

 He went very well through the rules of addition and 

 subtraction, but multiplication was a puzzle. 4 times 

 4 would make 8, and .5 times 5 make ten; and it was 

 some time before he comprehended the difference be- 

 tween tlie sum of two numbers and their product. 

 The point was at last reached, and not till then was 

 his interest fairly aroused in his studies. One even- 

 ing I directed him to take his book home and learn 

 what he could of the multiplication table, and learn 

 it thoroughly. The next morning Mr. B., his em- 

 ployer accosted me with " What new study have you 

 introduced into school?" "None that I am aware 

 of," was my reply. " I think you have," said he. "How 

 so?" " Last evening Thomas came home and with 

 much earnestness asked my assistance in getting his 

 lesson. Cannot Alfred [his son] aid you? 'Oh! Al- 

 fred says his eyes are sore, and he is tired and sleepy.' 

 ' Well, what is it?' ' Mr. A. is very anxious that we 

 should all learn the mortificatian table by heart. 

 Will you help me learn it?' " 



We have often indulged in a hearty laugh at the 

 remembrance of this incident; yet are not some of 

 our youth who have advantages far superior to this 

 lad learning the same table? and will they not reap 

 its bitter fruit? We know of an instance in this city 

 of a young man who had every advantage that wealth 

 and friends could gi\-e. When ready to commence 

 business, capital was furnished, an intelligent and love- 

 ly girl became his wife, and all that to human ■view- 

 was necessary for happiness and prosperity was theirs. 

 But the habit of using the intoxicating bowl ere long 

 marred every fair prospect, and he sacrificed every- 

 thing dear in life — wife, children, friends, money and 

 reputation — and now, an inmate of the work-house, 

 his is another name in the list of intemperance. 



In conversation, confidence has a greater share 

 tbaa wit 



li 



SUMMER TREATMENT OF GEEEH-HOUSE PLAH' 



It is important for the future success of most 

 the winter flowering green-house plants, to get t\u 

 out in the open air as soon as possible, consiste m 

 with safety from all danger of cold winds and fros 

 This is important from two considerations; the fi 

 of which is, that the space is wanted, or should 1 

 under good management, for the various kinds 

 plants now growing, to keep it gay during the su 

 mer months. Another and very important reason 

 that if kept in the house with the pots e.xposed 

 the atmosphere, it is scarcely possible to keep t 

 plants from suti'eriug for the want of water ; besic 

 which, the longer they are kept in the house, the m( 

 etiolated and tender the growth, and hence, wb 

 turued out, they are illy prepared to withstand t 

 ell'ects of the hot sun. 



If due attention is paid to the plants now and c 

 ring summer, a good deal may be done in formi 

 nicely shaped plants, and preparing them for th 

 winter's work. It is unquestionably a fact, and 1 

 coming more and more practiced upon, that all t 

 plants usually cultivated (with biit few exceptioi 

 are quite capable, other things being attended to, 

 standing with impunity an American summer's si IJ' 

 A little reflection would seem to point this out * 

 self-evident. Ascertain their natural habitats, anc f^ 

 will be found that the sun shines there, and on t 

 foliage too. A little examination of the structi 

 of the plant will show it needs both gun and : 

 Practical experience teaches the same lesson also. 



Another very prevalent evil is the huddling 

 them together in such close quarters. There is so: 

 tangible reason for doing so during winter, when 

 small space has to contain the whole collection, 1: 

 none whatever in summer. They should stand 

 enough apart each way to afford ample room for t 

 plant to grow, and space to get among them besid • 

 Select a spot as open to the sun, especially the mo 

 ing sun, as possible; if sheltered from the drivi 

 winds, it will be an advantage. All the plants go 

 out of flower, should be cut back pretty close, a 

 cleaned of any scale, mealy bug, or other vermin tl: 

 may infest them; repot those in small pots to larg 

 ones, and plunge the pots to the rim; place a pie 

 of slate, tile, or some cinder ashes under the bottc 

 of the pot, to keep the earth worms out. Those i 

 tended not to be potted should have an inch or tv 

 of the top soil taken off and a little fresh added, 

 it is desirable to increase in size some of the plan 

 as cuttings struck this spring for mstance, plant the 

 out altogether in some nicely prepared soil, say tur 

 loam, and peat earth, equal parts, with one-quarter 

 its bulk white sand. Any of the New Holland plan 

 will increase to at least six times their present si 

 before summer is over. AU of the beautiful fami 

 of Heaths do finely this way, but require to be ke) 

 from the pelting rains, or the next day's hot sun wi 

 occasionally destroy some of them. They will nee 

 no shelter from the sun, except now and then for £ 

 hour or two when the thermometer gets over 90 '■ 

 but even this should be with caution, or they ma 

 receive more iujui-y than benefit. Camelias an 

 Daphnes are the only plants we shall keep from th 

 sun, and they will be taken out of the house whe 

 the flower buds are set, and placed under the shad 



