ALL farmers have noticed that in some seasons the apples nearly all fall from the trees when quite small, say half an inch to an inch in diameter. A careful investigation was instituted to find out the cause of this great loss, and over eight hundred specimens were picked up and carefully examined. Of these little green apples all but three were found to have been punctured by the curculio or plum weevil, and in every crescent-shaped mark was found a small worm or an egg. Most farmers have supposed this premature dropping off due to the larva of the codling moth, but only four or five of these worms were found in the eight hundred specimens. THE most effective and practical remedy against the attacks of the curculio is to let either pigs or hens run in the orchard. With a few plum trees near the house, or in the garden, it is an easy matter to arrange this. With a large orchard at a distance from the farm buildings it is somewhat more difficult, but there is no more healthful way of raising pigs than to give them the range of an orchard and let them help themselves. The cost of keeping, over and above the grass they will eat, will be much less than if they are kept in close confinement, while the improvement of the fruit crop will give a good interest on the land. Try it two or three years and see. WHEN apples are plenty they can be fed to cows, to pigs, and to horses, not only with safety but with positive advantage. Sweet apples that are approaching maturity are always good, and sour apples that are ripe contain a great deal of nutriment; but sour apples, so green that they rot before mellowing, are not fit to feed out to cows. There is little nutriment in a small green apple compared with what it will contain when ripe. Give only a few at first, and increase gradually to half a bushel a day. Winter apples ought not to be fed out till cold weather. GROW peach trees on poor land, and do not give them too much manure. The great mistake, too often made, is overfeeding. It creates a rapid and luxuriant growth, but it is tender and cannot endure our winters. Many of the diseases of the peach tree are due to this cause. Some old and well fined stable manure may be used without running much risk, but special mineral fertilizers, in which a little sulphate of ammonia will supply sufficient nitrogen, and high grade muriate of potash, with some standard superphosphate, will give far better results. Five pounds of muriate of potash to each tree, worked in late in the fall, will be enough. WHEN peach trees are young, some other crop may be grown among them in alternate rows. Pear trees, blackberry and raspberry bushes, or some annual crop, are often grown without material injury. But after the trees have come into full bearing other cultivation ought to be given up. It is not a good plan to cultivate a peach orchard after midsummer. Such an operation as digging potatoes is too much of a cultivation of the land late in the season. It is apt to induce a late fall growth, which is to be avoided. Peach trees may be shortened back late in November, after the fall of the leaf, or early in the spring. THERE is an article called Buhach, got up in California, and put up in boxes like baking-powder cans, that is sure death to most insects. We cannot say how it compares with pyrethrum or Persian insect powder for use on currant bushes, cabbages, potatoes, and other plants to keep off insects; but it appears to be pure and fresh and effective in most cases, and it is certainly worth a careful trial. Pyrethrum ought to be kept in tight packages. The oil, which constitutes its active principle, is volatile and escapes on long exposure to the air. THE PUBLIC DEBT, Sept. 1, 1884. (Not including bonds issued to Pacific Railroad Companies.) Total debt, less am't of cash in the Treasury, Sept. 1, '84, Decrease the past year TIDE TABLE. $1,852,056,047 68 414,541,952 97 $1,437,514,094 71 1,536,518,765 09 $99,004,670 38 The tides in the Calendar page are given for the port of Boston, in standard time. The following table contains the approximate difference between the time of High Water at Boston and several other places. The reader is warned that this table will not always give the exact time of the tide, as the difference varies from day to day. It is hoped, however, it will be near enough to be useful. The difference, if preceded by +, is to be added to, or if preceded by—, subtracted from, the time as given in the Calendar pages. CARRIAGE FARES IN BOSTON. For one adult, from one place to another within the city proper (except as hereinafter provided), or from one place to another in East Boston, or from one place to another in South Boston, or from one place to another in Roxbury, 50 cents. Each additional adult, 50 cents. For one adult, from any place in the city proper, south of Dover Street and west of Berkeley Street, to any place north of State, Court, and Cambridge Streets, or from any place north of State, Court, and Cambridge Streets, to any place south of Dover Street and west of Berkeley Street, One Dollar. For two or more passengers, 50 cents each. Children under four years with an adult, no charge. Children between four and twelve years old, with an adult, half-price. From twelve at night to six in the morning, the fare is 50 cents above the preceding rates for each passenger. No charge for one trunk; each additional trunk, 25 cents. By the Carriages of the Herdic Phaeton Co., and by any of the one-horse cabs, POETRY, ANECDOTES, ETC. ours, And catch the light of their glorious eyes, There are our heroes' voices heard. And the light above them the smile of So, in his isle of calm delight, Jason may dream the years away; But the heroes live, and the skies are bright, And the world is a braver world to day. EDNA DEAN PROCTOR. LINES. Let other bards of angels sing,- But thou art no such perfect thing; Rejoice that thou art not! FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S ADDRESS AT GETTYSBURG. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here; but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to far so nobly carried on. the unfinished work that they have thus It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain-that the nation shall, under God, have a new birth of freedom, and that the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth. MAXIMS ON MONEY. The art of living easily as to money is to pitch your scale of living one degree below your means. Comfort and enjoyment are more dependent upon easiness in the detail of expenditure than upon one degree's difference in the scale. Guard against false associations of pleasure with expenditure- the notion that because pleasure can be purchased with money, therefore money cannot be spent without enjoyment. What a thing costs a man is no true measure of what it is worth to him; and yet how often is his appreciation governed by no other standard, as if there were a pleasure in expenditure per se. Let yourself feel a want before you provide against it. You are more assured that it is a real want; and it is worth while to feel it a little in order to feel the relief from it. When you are undecided as to which of two courses you would like best, choose the cheapest. This rule will not only save money, but save also a good deal of trifling indecision. HENRY TAYLOR. SHE DWELT AMONG THE She dwelt among the untrodden ways, A maid whom there were none to praise, Heed not though none should call thee fair; A violet by a mossy stone, So, Mary, let it be, If nought in loveliness compare With what thou art to me. True beauty dwells in deep retreats, Till heart with heart in concord beats, WORDSWORTH. Half hidden from the eye! Fair as a star, when only one Is shining in the sky. She lived alone, and few could know But she is in her grave, and oh, WORDSWORTH. FRETTING. Fretting is both useless and unnecessary. It does no good, and a great deaof harm; yet it is almost a universal sinMore or less, we are all given to it. We fret over almost everything. In summer because it is too hot, and in winter because it is too cold. We fret when it rains because it is wet, and when it doesn't rain because it is dry; when we are sick, or when anybody else is sick. In short, if anything or everything does n't go just to suit our particular whims and fancies, we have one grand general refuge - to fret over it. She's clear in her jaws, and full in her chine, She's heavy in flank, and wide in her loin, She's broad in her ribs, and long in her rump, A straight and flat back, with never a hump; She's wide in her hips, and calm in her eyes, She's fine in her shoulders, and thin in her thighs, She's light in her neck, and small in her tail, She's wide in her breast, and good at the pail; She's fine in her bone, and silky of skin, She's a Grazier's without, and a Butcher's within. TEACH SELF-CONTROL. Give self-control, and you give the essence of all well-doing in mind, body, and estate. Morality, learning, thought, business success - the master of himself can master these. Everyone allows this. Everyone sees that it is self-control that bestows the blessings of perseverance, punctuality, due observance of all duties, kindness, courtesy. Why, then, is it not one of the first aims of those who bring up youth to teach self-control? How can it be taught? Never, at any rate, unless with government there is freedom. If a boy's life be always squared for him, if his dread of punishment alone be appealed to, if his own judgment and conscience be never left free to choose between the evil and the good, how shall he learn self-government? Depend upon it, neither boys nor nations can grow into the fulness of manhood, of self-reliance, and self-mastery, unless they drink deep of freedom. He whose eye is always on that of a director can never learn to direct himself. A few mischiefs for the time would be well made up in after life if, in school as well as out, discipline were combined with THE FARMER'S LIFE. A mind so active, brisk, and gay, VARIETY NECESSARY. Home is the natural centre of the world; but too much staying there un fits one to make home what it should be. It is necessary for the father and mother to break up the routine of their days, to go out into a fresh world, to change air and sky and scenery, to see new faces, and be surrounded by new interests. It is even better that they should be tired, confused, perplexed by unwonted cares, than that they should forever tread the old, dull round of things. A woman goes back to her home with a better appreciation of its value for having spent some time away from it. Many an excellent woman is disagreeable simply because she is wearied, worried, and worn with too long spinning in one groove. GAIL HAMILTON. SONG. Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal In love, if love be love, if love be ours, powers; Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all. It is the little rift within the lute That by and by will make the music mute, And, ever widening, slowly silence all. The little rift within the lover's lute, Or little pitted speck in garnered fruit, That, rotting inward, slowly moulders all. It is not worth the keeping: let it go; But shall it? answer darling; answer, no. And trust me not at all, or all in all. TENNYSON. I DUTY THE BEST GUIDE. Thus man is made equal to every event. He can face danger for the right. A poor, tender, painful body, he can run into flame or bullets, or pestilence, with duty for his guide. He feels the insurance of a just employment. am not afraid of accidents, as long as I am in my place. . . . Life is hardly respectable, is it? if it has no generous guaranteeing task, no duties or affections, that constitute a necessity of existing. Every man's task is his lifepreserver. The conviction that his work is dear to God and cannot be spared, defends him. WIT AND HUMOR. A WIDE VIEW. -"You have a wide view from these mountains," said an Englishman to a shepherd in some remote district in the heights of Aberdeen. "That's true," said the shepherd. "You can see," said the travellers (there were two), "America from here." "Muckle farrer than that," he replied. "An' how can that be?" "When the mist drives off, ye can see the mune." "BAGGAGE not allowed in the seat, "I have no sir," said the conductor. baggage in the seat," said the passenger. "Aren't these two valises yours?" Two valises! Why, I have n't any," "Oh, excuse me, arising from his seat. said the conductor, and he left, remarking: "The biggest feet I ever saw." ANSWERS TO CHARADES, ENIG- ANSWERS TO CHARADES. 2. Muff, Fin-Muffin. 3. Season. ANSWER TO ENIGMA. Faint heart never won fair lady. ANSWERS TO CONUNDrums. 1. Not any. They are all carried. 2. Because it makes ice nice. 3. Because he sells what he needs (kneads) himself. 4. The letter m. THE HAT STORY. To determine the hatter's loss, ask WHAT A CROW IS WORTH.- A gentleman giving evidence before a Parliamentary committee, said that in some districts the number of crows upon a farm would average at least fifty; that the birds were of great service in destroying wire-worms, and where they did not exist the farmer was obliged to hire boys to do the work of the crow, paying them at the rate of three-halfpence per hundred worms. Mr. Bright inquired how much a boy could earn worm-killing, and was told ninepence, but when asked if a boy made ninepence a day at the rate of three-halfpence a hundred wire-worms, how many of those noxious creatures he destroyed in a day, the witness, turning restive, replied that he did not come there to answer arithmetical questions. Bright, however, was not to be put off in that way. He asked if a boy did the which the cheat had carried off. As to work as well as a crow. "A crow is worth fifty boys," was the rash reply. had to redeem from his neighbor the the money part of the transaction, he Then quoth Mr. Bright: "If a boy is fifty dollar counterfeit bill. But, havworth ninepence a day, a crow worth fifty boys, how much is the crow worthing done this, he was not fifty dollars poorer than when his customer came to the farmer in money?" Not unnat-in, for that customer left seven dollars urally, the gentleman lost his temper, and a half of good money. The hatter, but in vain. Paper, pen, and ink were therefore, lost forty-two dollars and a handed to him, and, after battling with half and the hat. the figures awhile, he announced that a crow was worth just 37s. 6d. a day to the farmer. He was then asked to inform the committee what, at that rate, was the yearly value of the bird; and, of course, could not make it less than £681 7s. 6d (about $3400!!). Mr. This is our THE TRAVELLER'S PUZZLE. an old story, and it may amuse readers to exercise their wits over it. A man was once travelling with a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage. He was obliged to cross a river in a boat so small that he could only take one thing at a time, either the cabbage, the goat, or the wolf, but not two of them together. He was somewhat puzzled as to how to manage. If he took the wolf, the goat would eat the cabbage while he was gone; if he should take the cabbage, the wolf would kill the goat; if, finally, he should take the goat first, the wolf left behind would not eat the cabbage, it is true, but what could he take over on the second passage? Not the wolf, because he could not leave him with the goat while he went back for the cabbage; not the cabbage, for he could not leave that with the goat while he was gone to get the wolf. Finally he hit upon a way to do it, and did it successfully. How did he do it? yourself what he had after the transaction less than he had before in money or hats. It is plain he had one hat less, CHARADES. 1. All grades of men must do my first, Great numbers of my next in town, To keep my whole in good repair. ENIGMA. The lover feels me in his breast,- I add a charm to winter nights, CONUNDRUMS. 1. Why are nose and chin often at variance? 2. How can a leopard change his spots ? 3. Why are hot rolls for breakfast like caterpillars? 4. Why do pioneers march at the head of the regiment? |
