13 
a 
A Glimpse of the “Sweet, Sunny South.” 
flowers. This has not been clearly under¬ 
stood until recently, although it was fore¬ 
shadowed by the mind of Lord Bacon two 
hundred and fifty years ago, when he wrote 
the following significant words: “The com¬ 
pounding or mixture of plants is not found 
out, which if it were, is more at command 
than that of living creatures; wherefore it 
were one of the most notable discoveries to 
find it out, for so you may have great va¬ 
rieties of fruits and flowers yet unknown.” 
Why the Irish Tenant has no 
Fruit. 
When traveling in Ireland (I explored 
that country rather exhaustively when 
editing the fourth edition of “Murray’s 
Hand-book”), I was surprised at the absence 
of fruit-trees in the small farms where one 
might expect them to abound. On speak¬ 
ing of this, the reason given w T as that all 
trees are the landlord’s property; that if a 
tenant should plant them they would sug¬ 
gest luxury and prosperity, and therefore 
a rise of rent; or, otherwise stated, the ten¬ 
ant would be fined for thus improving the 
value of his holding. This was before the 
passing of the Land Act, which we may 
hope will put an end to such legalized brig¬ 
andage. With the abolition of rack-rent¬ 
ing, the Irish peasant may grow and eat 
fruit; may even taste jam without fear and 
trembling; may grow rhubarb and make 
pies and puddings in defiance of the agent. 
When this is the case, his craving for potato- 
potash will probably diminish, and his 
children may actually feed on bread -W. M. 
Williams, in Popular Science Monthly for 
June. 
If you are young, plant trees ; if you are 
about to exchange time for eternity, plant 
trees; they will Pea more enduring mon¬ 
ument to your memory than the costly 
marble. 
