Q. But is it not considered, even in the case of inferior subsoils, an advantage to loosen the same with a mattock? A. Certainly, the deeper the surface is loosened, the better it is for every kind of plant. FACTS FOR SPIRIT DRINKERS. THE following facts are deserving of notice : It is a fact that excessive drinking is the principal cause of our parish expenses. Of 143 inmates of a London parish workhouse, 105 had been reduced to that state by intemperance. It is a fact, that more than one-half of the madness in some districts of this country is occasioned by drinking. Of 495 patients admitted in four years in a lunatic asylum, at Liverpool, 257 were known to have lost their reason by this vice. It is a fact, that of all who commit suicide in this country, one half are the immediate or remote victims of ardent spirits. Four-fifths of all the crime have been estimated to be committed under the excitement of liquor. During the past year, 32,636 persons were taken into custody, in the suburbs of London alone, charged with intoxication. It is a fact, that the most atrocious robberies, and the most revolting murders, are planned and perpetrated under the influence of ardent spirits. It is a fact, that every drunkard, who ruins himself, his wife, and his children, is supported by the temperate members of the community, either by voluntary charity, or in the workhouse, the hospital, or the jail. It is a fact, that the annual expenditure of the nation in spirits alone is nearly £17,000,000, the greater part of which is wrung from the scanty resources of the poor. It is a fact, that spirituous liquors neither promote strength of body, nor vigour of mind; that entire abstinence is the best preservative of health amidst hardships and exposure, the inclemencies of the weather, and the vicissitudes of season. It is a fact, that some moderate spirit-drinkers, who 1834.] TO PREVENT DROWNING. 393 never are intoxicated, become the victims of many fatal diseases, of madness in its most appalling form, of premature and excruciating death. It is a fact, that habits of what has been deemed temperance, in the use of spirits, lead naturally to habits of intemperance; and temperate spirit-drinkers are the chief promoters of drunkenness. THE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM. THE Rev. George Wasey proposed last year to devote such part of the glebe of the rectory of Ulcomb as might be deemed suitable for the purpose, to be let in allotments, free of rent. But the party whom Mr. Wasey requested to take this arrangement under his direction, being himself zealously interested in the success of the system, urged the adoption of the fundamental rule acted upon by all the most successful of the patrons of allotments—that no land be let rent free, but that it be subject to the same rent that a farmer would pay for it. The Rector of Ulcomb concurred in this principle, and between seven and eight acres are now let to about thirty labourers, at a rent of 7s. 6d. to 12s. 6d. for each quarter of an acre. TO PREVENT DROWNING. WHEN SO many accidents occur from persons bathing, we think the following remarks may prevent the loss of life: -Men are drowned by raising their arms above water, the unbuoyed weight of which depresses the head. Animals have neither motion nor ability to act in a similar manner, and therefore swim naturally. When a man falls into a deep water he will rise to the surface, and continue there if he does not elevate his hands. If he moves his hands under water in any manner he pleases, his head will rise so high as to allow him liberty to breathe; and if he moves his legs as in the act of walking up stairs, his shoulders will rise above the water, so that he may use less exertions with his hands, or apply them to other poses. Persons not having learned to swim in their youth will find the above plain directions highly advantageous. pur SELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT AUTHORS. If we are weak, why go into temptation, against which the strongest have not been able to stand?-Let us at least have the comfort of not having gone in search of our misery temptations enough will come to us.-If we go to them, it is mere mockery to say, "Lead us not into temptation."-Miss J. Graham. It is expedient that affliction have its turn frequently, in the lives of the people of God; it is the tempest that gives evidence of the pilot's skill. And as the Lord delighteth to look on his works, so he is delighted to look on this low sea of troubles, to see his champions meet with hard and pressing trials, such as make the conflict doubtful, and yet they acquit themselves and come off with honour. It is not the excellency of grace to be insensible in trouble, but to overcome and be victorious.— Abp. Leighton. We have a short day, and much to do; it were fit to be up early; to remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth. And ye that are come to riper years, be advised to lay hold on what remains; ye know not how little it is. The more you fill yourselves with the things of this life, the less desire you will have for the things that are at God's right hand. These shall never run dry, but the things of this life shall be dried up within a little space. On the other hand, the more we deny ourselves of sensual enjoyment, the more heavenly-minded we become, and the surer we are of coming to heaven at last. This is a gainful exchange-earthly things for the blessedness of angels. The sume. My little one, dost thou love a garden? dost thou sow thy seeds in spring? That which thou sowest thou expectest to see spring up. If thou sowest the fragrant mignionette, or the elegant balsam, in time thou shalt delight thyself with the sweet scent and beautiful blossom; but if thou sowest weeds, with weeds must thy garden be overspread. Thus, if thou sowest folly and sin, what canst thou expect but folly and sin to spring up?And their flower is short-lived as the poppy, and their fruit deadly, as the berries of the night-shade. But if thou, 1834.] SELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT AUTHORS. 395 by grace, dost sow the seeds of repentance and faith, thou mayest wait awhile ere they burst into flower; but that flower shall be bright and lasting, and the fruit shall be glory.-Rev. C. Neale. As the lamp, which in the dark night, and over the rough and winding road of the traveller, when far from home, throws its light around the feet, and shows him where he may safely tread; even thus, in a benighted world, where are so many paths that lead astray, and the end of those paths is death, where is but one straight and narrow way that leadeth unto eternal life, even thus doth the Bible afford its heavenly light to the traveller towards Zion; and "thy word is a lamp unto my feet.”—Yet the nightly traveller must look carefully to his steps, or in vain will the lamp lend its light unto him, and carefully must Zion's pilgrim look to the word of God, and order his goings thereby, or he will stumble in the light.-The same. As the pure and sweet milk giveth nourishment to the infant, even thus doth the Bible give its wholesome nutriment to the children of God, and they grow firm in faith, and fervent in love, being fed with the sincere milk of the word. Yet the babe must come to its food with the appetite of health, and digest the milk aright, or it pineth away in the very midst of nourishment. And eagerly must the word of God be desired, and inwardly must it be digested; or how shall not the child of God also languish and consume away?-The same. Sent by C. W. Time waits upon the soul early every morning, and says, What wilt thou have me to do to-day? It is a shame to say what the answer is;-but it will one day be known. We do not set the mark of holiness high enough; we do not raise our desires up to the Scripture standard of it; we do not trust and pray enough. It is wonderful to consider how naturally we all lean to the law for salvation, without observing that we are as naturally averse to the practice of it, as inclined to lean to it, and that it is impossible to answer its demands. "The law is the Christian's rule, but his dependence must be on the Gospel,-on what Christ has done for him."-Sent by F. C. EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS, &c. The third exhibition of the Bath Horticultural Society took place on Wednesday se'nnight, when the beauty and variety of the Plants and Flowers, of exotic and native growth, called forth universal admiration. The Fruits likewise were very fine. The exhibition for the Cottagers' prizes was extremely good. The Cabbages, Potatoes, Beans, &c. were far superior to any other productions of the kind in the show.-Salisbury Herald. CAMOMILE FLOWERS." In the Irish Gardener's Magazine it is not only said that decoctions, or the leaves dried and powdered, of the common camomile, will destroy insects, but that "nothing contributes so much to the health of a garden as a number of camomile plants dispersed through it. No green-house or hot-house should be without camomile in a green or in a dried state; either the stalks or flowers will answer. It is a singular fact, that if a plant is drooping and apparently dying, in nine cases out of ten it will recover if you place a plant of camomile near it." We give the above as we received it, having never had an opportunity of judging as to its truth. FORTUNE TELLING.-A servant maid at Matlock, Bath, was, a few days since, robbed by the following stratagem. An old woman, apparently of the gipsey tribe, having prevailed on the unsuspecting girl to have her fortune told, informed her that she must produce the same clothes she wore the last time she saw her sweetheart. The old wretch, no doubt, shrewdly guessed that these garments would be the best she had; and such proved to be the case. Having obtained possession of a gown, a cap, and an apron, she told her dupe that before she could fully uncoil the secrets of futurity, it was necessary for her to take the articles to four lane ends, from whence she would return with them in four days. The clothes were nearly new, and of the value of about 25s. It is needless to add, the fortuneteller never returned.-Derbyshire Courier. TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET.-The circumstances in which wet and cold feet are most apt to cause disease, are where the person remains inactive, and where, consequently, there is nothing to balance the unequal flow of blood which then takes place towards the internal parts; for it is well known that a person in ordinary health may walk about or work in the open air with wet feet for hours together without injury, provided he put on dry stockings and shoes immediately on coming home. It is, therefore, not the mere state of wetness that causes the evil, but the check to perspiration, and the unequal distribution of blood to which the accompanying coldness gives rise.-Combe's Physiology applied to Health. QUACKS.-Saturday, in the Police Court, Glasgow, a person was fined in the sum of five shillings, for distributing an indelicate quack handbill.— Scotch Paper. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. We have received the communications of C. W.; R. D. A. R.; O.; D. I. E.; Z. Z. Z.; P.; A Layman; L. S. R. Some of the above communications, by a mistake, did not reach the Editor in their proper time. F. C.'s extract from Cecil has already appeared in the "Visitor." Agricultural Employment," in our last number, p. 358, laying was printed for lying, twice. |