The Strawberry. THIS delicious fruit is so easily cultivated, so healthful, and so universally popular, that it is worth while for every farmer to raise it in quantities sufficient, at least, to supply his own family. Indeed why should not all the small fruits receive greater attention in every farmer's garden? They ripen for the most part at a season of the year when other fruits are scarce, and their free use is unquestionably conducive to health. The old matted bed system, so common a few years ago, is now generally given up for better methods of cultivation. By that method, after the ground was thoroughly prepared, the plants were set out in rows about four feet apart and about fourteen inches in the row, as early in the spring as possible, or as soon as the soil was dry enough to handle. The weeds were carefully kept down till the runners began to spread, when the ground was levelled off, and the runners trained evenly over the bed, and they would entirely cover it by October. The next spring paths a foot wide were cut through the whole, leaving it in beds three feet wide, for convenience of access in picking. After the crop was taken off the second year, the plough was run through, breaking up the whole bed. That method gave but one crop in two years, but that was a full and very profitable one, and it was claimed that it was less work to plant a new bed than to weed an old one. But it was very expensive keeping the plants free from weeds the first year, since after the runners spread it was mostly hard work. It is admirably adapted to such varieties as throw up but one fruit stem to a plant, like Hovey's seedling, and others that must be thick to get any crop. That is called the annual system, and has been extensively adopted by the market gardeners of Belmont, Massachusetts. A modified form of this system is to plant in rows three feet apart only, and the plants allowed to cover a space only a foot wide. It is subject to the same trouble about weeding. Another plan is to set in hills in rows three feet apart, and a foot or a foot and a half in the rows, cutting off all runners, and throwing the whole force and vitality into the main stalks. With some varieties, like the Triomph de Gand, and similar growers, it does well, giving fruit of splendid quality. Still another method is to set in rows two feet apart, and a foot apart in the row, cutting off all runners, and doing the weeding by hand culture. With high manuring the plants will bear two or three years without renewal, but it is all hand labor, and too expensive for field crops on a large scale. A method which has been adopted, and practised with great success by Captain Moore, of Concord, is to plant in spring in rows four feet apart, and twelve to fourteen inches in the row. Weed with horse-hoe and cultivator till the runners start about the 1st of July. The spaces between the rows are then levelled with a rake, and two runners from each plant, one on each side, are laid in at right angles with the row, and one foot from the original plant, and all other runners are kept cut off, both from the old and the new plants. When the new plants are well rooted, the strings by which they are attached to the old plants are cut off. This leaves a bed with three rows in it one foot apart, with a space of two feet between the beds. The overhanging of the leaves will give a space but one foot for a path for the pickers. Perhaps the following diagram will give a clearer idea of it, where the large stars show the original rows of old plants, and the small ones the new plants taken from the runners and struck in a foot from the old rows: This plan gives ample room to cultivate with a horse, or to use an onion hoe between the plants. The weeds can be kept down ou four beds, arranged in this way, easier than on one in the annual or matted bed system. By proper care and manuring it will give three or four good crops without renewing. Whatever method is adopted clean cultivation is essential to success, and without it no plan will avail to secure good crops. They should be hoed as often as twice in three weeks from the middle of May till the first of October. It is evident that about nine tenths of all the work they require comes in the first year, and the crops to follow will depend almost wholly upon the fidelity with which that work is done. FROM THE PERSIAN. Lord who art merciful as well as just, Father, Almighty, who hast made me man, And bade me look to heaven, for thou art there, Accept my sacrifice and humble prayer. Four things which are not in thy treasury, Sheridan was once staying at the house of an elderly maiden lady in the country, who wanted more of his company than he was willing to give. Proposing, one day, to take a stroll with him, he ex cused himself on account of the badness SELECTIONS. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. O, what a tangled web we weave not breaths. Scott. Bailey, Are often those of whom the world Wordsworth. TABLE CONVERSATION. — A great deal of character is imparted and received at the table. Parents too often forget this; and, therefore, instead of swallowing your food in sullen silence, instead of We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, brooding over your business, instead of severely talking about others, let the conversation at the table be genial, kind, Social, and cheering. Don't bring disagreeable things to the table in your conversation any more than you would in your dishes. For this reason, too, the more good company you have at your table, the better for your children. Every conversation with company at your table is an educator of the family. Hence the intelligence, and the refinement, and the appropriate behavior of a family which is given to hospitality. How blessed is he who leads a country Unvexed with anxious care, and void of ⚫ strife! Where men of judgment creep and feel The positive pronounce without dismay. It is better to fight for the good than I dare do all that may become a man, Shakespeare. FALSE FRIENDS-LIKE. When I wer' still a bwoy, an' mother's pride, A bigger bwoy spoke up to me so kind-like. To what 'e had a-worken in his mind-like, Zoo, when a man do come to me so thicklike, An' tell me he would do me this or that, I can't help thinken o' the big bwoy's trick like, An' then, vor all I can but wag my hat, An' thank 'em, I do veel a little shy. WILLIAM BARNES. Somebody who understands children gives the following practical advice: An One corner of the sitting-room or kitchen should be given to the children, where they may have liberty to do everything not absolutely sinful. A peck of clean sand in a tight box, with a funnel and tin cups, is capable of giving some children a great deal of pleasure. ounce of party-colored beads, doled out a few at a time, with needle and thread to string them, will amuse most little girls or boys for many hours. Slate and pencil, or paper and pencil, with a set of cheap drawing cards for models, are very fascinating to children four or five years old. A set of building blocks, costing from one to three dollars, is an excellent investment for a bevy of juveniles. A little girl sent out to hunt for eggs, came back unsuccessful, complaining that "lots of hens were standing around doing nothing." Whenever you buy or sell, let or hire, make a clear bargain, and never trust to "We shan't disagree about trifles." A sour-faced wife is the liquor dealer's friend, Some boys and girls read a book entirely through in a single evening, and the next day are eagerly at work on another, to be as quickly devoured. No mind, however strong, can stand such a strain. You see at once that it would be absolutely impossible for them to remember what they read. And so they read for a momentary enjoyment, and gradually fall into the habit of reading to forget. I need not tell you that such a habit is fatal to any very high position in life.. Merry's Museum. AN EPITAPH.I was well-wished to be better- read medical books- took medicine THE EVIDENCE OF THE SENSES. Mamma. How dare you slap your little sister, George? George. She kicked me when my back was turned, and hurted me very much, I can tell you! Mamma. Where did she hurt you? George. Well, I can't azacly say where, because because my back was turned, and I was looking another way! WHY THE PRESIDENT IS INAUGURATED ON THE 4TH OF MARCH.-Congress appointed the first Wednesday in JanuaY, 179, for the people to choose electors, the first Wednesday in February for those electors to choose a president, and the first Wednesday in March for the government to go into operation. The last named day fell on the 4th. Hence the 4th of March following the election of a president, is the day appointed for his inauguration.-Campbell's Concise School History of the United States. "I expect," said a worthy Quaker, "to pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or anything I can do for my fellowmen, let me do it now. Let me not neglect or defer it, for I shall not pass this way again." A TEST FOR REPETITION AFTER ONCE READING. PANJANDRUM. So she went into the garden to cut a cabbage leaf, to make an apple-pie; and at the same time, a great she-bear, coming up the street, pops its head into the shop. "What! no soap?" So he died, and she very imprudently married the barber; and there were pres ent the Picninnies, and the Joblillies, and the Garyulies, and the grand Panjandrum himself, with the little round button at top; and they all fell to playing the game of catch as catch can, till the gunpowder ran out at the heels of their boots. SAMUEL FOOTE. WHAT KINDNESS WILL DO.- How the wheels of the old cart creaked! The Road was quite tired of hearing their complaints, when lo, suddenly they became quiet, and went smoothly on, making no doleful sound. "How now!" cried the Road, "what has happened that you take things so easy to-day? Has the master taken off half your load?" "No," said the Wheels, he hasn't done that; our burden is, if anything, heavier than before; but this he has done, he has oiled us, so that whatever we may have to bear, we have no longer the heart to say a word against it." A burnt child-should be treated with UNITED STATES STAMP DUTIES. AFFIDAVITS, exempt. (Corrected Sept. 1871.) AGREEMENT OR APPRAISEMENT. --Agreement or contract other than those mentioned in this schedule (or any appraisement), for every sheet or piece of paper on which it is written.... If more than one agreement or appraisement is written on one sheet of paper, on each..... Renewal of agreement, same stamp as original instrument. ASSIGNMENT of lease. (See LEASE.) ASSIGNMENT or transfer of mortgage, exempt. ASSIGNMENT or transfer of insurance policy, same stamp as original instrument. BANK CHECKS, DRAFTS, OR ORDERS, for any amount, on any bank, banker, or trust company, at sight or on demand. For amount exceeding $10, on any person other than a bank, banker, or trust company, at sight or on demand...... BILL OF EXCHANGE (foreign), or letter of credit, drawn in but payable out of the United States, if drawn singly or otherwise than in a set of three or more-same as inland bills of exchange or promissory notes; drawn in sets of three or more, for every bill of each set, where the sum made payable shail not exceed $100, or the equivalent thereof, in any foreign currency. For every additional $100, or fractional part thereof in excess of $100.... BILL OF EXCHANGE (inland), draft, or order for the payment of any sum of money, otherwise than at sight or on demand, or Promissory Notes (except bank notes and checks), or any memorandum, check, receipt, or other written or printed evidence of an amount of money to be paid on demand or at a time designated, for a sum less than $100, exempt; for every $100, or fractional part in excess of $100.... BILL OF LADING, or receipt other than charter party, for goods and merchandise exported to foreign port, each... (Domestic and to British No. Am., exempt.) BILL OF SALE. - Bills of sale of any ship or vessel, or any part thereof, for each $500 of value, or fractional part.. BONDS, of indemnity, for every $1000, or fraction, recoverable.. .05 .05 .02 .02 .02 .02 .05 CONTRACTS.- Broker's note or memorandum of sale of any goods or merchandise, exchange, real estate, or property of any kind or description issued by brokers, or persons acting as such, for each note or memorandum of sale.... (See AGREEMENT.) .01 .02 .01 ....10 Bill or memorandum of sale, or contract for sale of stocks, bonds, gold or silver bullion, coin, promissory notes or other securities, when made by brokers, banks, or bankers, requires stamps equal to one cent on every $100, or fraction of $100, of the amount of such sale or contract; when made by a person, firm, or corporation not a broker, bank, or banker, and when property is not his or .05 their own, for every $100 of value... A memorandum of sale or contract must be made by the seller to the buyer, and the stamps affixed thereto. ENTRY OF GOODS, at Custom House, not exceeding in value $100... 50 Not exceeding $500.. .50 Exceeding $500.. 1.00 .50 For the withdrawal of goods from bonded warehouse.... .50 For the due execution of the duties of any office, 1.00| Of any description other than such as may be required in legal proceedings, or used in connection with mortgage deeds, and not otherwise charged in this schedule.... Bond of administrator or guardian, where value of estate is $1000, or less, exempt; exceeding $1000..... Personal, for security for payment of money. (See MORTGAGE.) BROKER'S NOTES. (See CONTRACTS.) CERTIFICATES, of measurement or weight of animals, wood, coal, or hay, exempt; of measurement of other articles.. .25 1.00 05 10 Accident insurance policies are exempt. .25 .25 Of stock in any incorporated company........ 25 Of profits, or any certificate or memorandum showing an interest in the property or aocumulations of any incorporated company, for an amount not less than $10, nor exceeding $50.. From $50 to $1000.. Exceeding $1000, for every additional $1000, or fraction LEASE, where annual rent is $380 or less.... .50 Where the annual rent exceeds $300, for each additional $200, or fraction in excess of $300. .50) |