112 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 15. 
the same course iu removing all runners and flowers, j 
both of which will, most likely, be more sparingly 
produced in pots than when planted out; however, the 
object is the same—an encouragement of the plant to 
grow aud accumulate strength sufficient to bear fruit the 
ensuing season. This is sometimes successfully accom¬ 
plished hy planting-out the old forced plants, and taking 
them up again in autumn ; but this is not so certain a 
method, for the irregular growth of such is against their 
being in forcing order at the proper time; in fact, it is 
not unusual to see plants that have been bearing fruit 
in March, blossom and produce fruit again in September; 
when this is the case, it is useless to expect blossom- 
buds set for the ensuing year, and many plant out their 
forced plants for the express purpose of producing such 
a late crop ; but they cannot always be depended on. 
Nevertheless, the amateur who is anxious to try experi¬ 
ments may try their mode of obtaining late fruit. 
It is almost needless to recommend particular varieties 
for forcing, for all have their merits and demerits. 
Keen's Seedling is the most used ; but Hooper s Seedling 
is an excellent Strawberry, aud, I believe, the Black 
Prince answers well also iu most places; but the 
British Queen is not so general a favourite; in fact, 
there are many gardens in which it will hardly live. I 
cannot make anything of it here ; the plant will hardly 
exist in soil where other kinds thrive tolerably well, 
and there aro many places where it is equally uncertain. 
Even in places where it will grow, it is a very uncertain 
one to force, and by no means an early one; but it is, 
unquestionably, better-flavoured than most others, aud 
where it really flourishes it is certainly deserving the 
name it carries; a name, by-the-by, which is, or has been, 
given to some variety or other of almost all the fruits, 
flowers, or vegetables we possess, but in none of them 
is pre-eminence so conspicuous as in this Strawberry, 
aud certainly in none is it more deserved. 
Lot it be remembered, that when Strawberry plants 
are not in a forward, well-prepared state in the preceding 
autumn, it is useless to expect fruit; and all who have 
not the means of taking off runners early in the season, 
and forwarding them on so as to fully occupy a thirty- 
two pot, and present a prominent, elevated crown of 
robust appearance, had better not attempt the forcing 
of this fruit, for it will not be successful. Thus it 
requires all the care of the cultivator the previous year 
to make them do well; but no amount of skill whatever 
will secure a crop from plants that have been either late 
runners the previous season, or neglected at the time 
they wanted assistance; for, be it remembered, the 
Strawberry does not grow late in summer. 
J. Robson. 
NATIONAL TULIP SHOW AT CAMBRIDGE, 
hr will be seen, by our advertising columns, that in 
consequence of the continuance of the very ungenial 
weather, the Committee for conducting the National 
Tulii 1 Show, at Cambridge, have arranged to postpone 
the same for a week, viz., until the 29th inst. 
“BE STILL.” 
By the Authoress of “ My Flowers." 
“ The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” 
Now, dear readers, though we may not actually say this, 
though we may, peradventure, intend to be considered 
believers, yet how many, how very many times in our lives 
do we stand, as it were, aghast at the wonderful workings of 
God, and feel as much surprized as if the book of His 
revealed will contained no promises, no threatenings, no 
declarations, no manifestations of His almighty power, or 
wealth, or love; or as if what it does plainly set forth be¬ 
longed to past ages, and not to present days. 
The following narrative, which 1 copy from an old volume 
of the “ Saturday Magazine,” is so full of interest, solemn 
teaching, and profit, that I am sure no parish in England 
can furnish anything more instructive and affecting; and I 
earnestly hope it may be a wholesome warning, as well as 
strong encouragement, to many who may read it. 
“ John Carter is the son of a labouring man, who is still 
living at Coggeshall, in Essex. After having been taught to 
read and write at the parish school, he was put to learn the 
trade of silk weaving, aud although not a steady lad, was 
esteemed, in due time, to be a good workman. At the age 
of twenty he married; but, unhappily, he did not give up 
his former bad habits, being frequently intoxicated, and 
very rarely seen in church. 
“ One Saturday night, in May, 1836, he had been drinking 
at the alehouse, with seven or eight other young men, as 
much inclined for mischief as himself, when one of them 
proposed that the whole party should go up to the planta¬ 
tions of G. Hanbury, Esq., of Holfield Grange, to rob the 
rooks’ nests. In this reprehensible employment they were 
engaged until near one o’clock on Sunday morning, when 
Carter, having climbed to the top of a fir-tree, attempted to 
reach another, which, in the darkness of the night, appeared 
to be within his reach ; he jumped, missed his hold, and fell 
to the ground. Happily for him, the branches broke his 
fall, or he would, in all probability, have been killed on the 
spot, the height of the tree being not less than forty feet. 
His companions carried him home in a state of insensibility, 
and apparently dying, to his wife, w r ho had' gone to bed ill, 
and, as usual, in no small anxiety about her unsteady 
husband. Hearing the noise below, and thinking he had 
come home in liquor, she came down, and, as may be easily 
imagined, was overcome by the spectacle which presented 
itself. He was lying on a hurdle, and one of his companions 
silting by his side, the others having left him. Everything 
was done for him that could be done ; but it was late on 
Sunday afternoon before he recovered his senses, and then 
his first thought was that he should certainly die, and have 
to render up his account to his offended Maker, with all his 
sins upon his head." 
Reader! observe how terrible is the thought of death! 
A man may be going on as merrily as a lark, thinking 
nothing of judgment and eternity; perhaps, making a joke 
of them both, and being so bold and fearless that nothing 
might seem likely to daunt him ; and yet, the thought of 
death when it does seem at hand, how it terrifies him! 
Surely, there must be something wrong within us, or we 
should not so soon forget, and act just contrary to what we 
have saiil before! Surely, we should not tremble at death, if we 
were sure of going to heaven, or if there was nothing in all 
that some people say about the Bible, and the Saviour, and 
the soul! Ah ! reader, reader, if you ever thought lightly 
or nothing about death and judgment, ponder a few minutes 
here. 
“A week of intense pain, without a moment’s sleep, served 
to increase his alarm ; but by degrees his bodily sufferings 
were mitigated, aud there appeared to be some reason to 
think that his life might be spared, at all events for a time. 
As the inflammation and swelling subsided, it became evident 
that he had sustained some injury in the spine, which had 
deprived him of the use of his limbs, and, indeed, of every 
muscle of his body, and of all sensation below the collar 
bone. For twelve months he lay motionless upon his bed; 
but the time was not lost; for by the blessing of God upon 
the endeavours of the worthy and benevolent clergyman of 
the parish, aided by some excellent neighbours, and a supply 
of good books, he was brought to a sense of the sinfulness 
of his former life, and to an earnest, and as is hoped, 
effectual inquiry after the means of pardon and salvation, 
through repentance and faith. He is now a devout at¬ 
tendant at church and at the holy communion, whenever 
the weather is such as to allow of his being drawn there on 
a sort of couch, upon which he is moved ” 
When the Lord has a purpose of mercy for the soul, His 
ways arc not always such as are pleasing to the flesh, but 
they are those which he chooses to work by and bless. To 
some stubborn hearts He says, “Be still, and know that 1 
