MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5267, 9 February 1878, Page 6 (Supplement)

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

As the period is now at hand for sowing seed of this popular perennial flowering plant, wc offer a few remarks on the subject. As new seed is now to hand, the sooner it is sown after we get a change in the weather the better ; we always prefer to sow it in beds, and sheltered from wind, but otherwise fully exposed to the sun and air. Wc have always found that, if the seed is good, there is nut the slightest difficulty in raising any amount of plants, providing, of course, that the seed is but lightly covered over with some fine friable soil, "in moist weather the germination takes place very quickly, and when treated as above the young seedlings immediately present a very robust appearance, and seldom or ever damp damp oif. Seed being generally mixed, the varieties rest in a great measure on chance ; but the striped-flowing varieties may be detected from their leaves while in a very young state, being slightly striped. Plants showing this peculiarity may be picked, and grown either for pot purposes or planted for effect in the open borders. Again, all light-foliaged seedlings are wellnigh sure to produce yellow or white tubed flowers, and plants with dark foliage produce what are termed self-flowers, or the true Antirrhinum majus. It will thus be seen that, in transplanting seedlings into the borders, by a little attention in sorting out the various foliage colors and planting them in clumps, a pleasing diversity of flowers may easily be obtained. We may mention that we never care to obtain stock by cuttings, the seedling process being easy, and producing without doubt the better plants. The_ antirrhinum is well known for its hardiness, it being a native of Great Britain ; consequently its cultivation is applicable to all the colder parts of the colony ; the only matter we know of detrimental to its growth is the want of water. liveliness does not exist in cosmetics, dress, nor jewellery. It is pleasant to be handsome ; hut all beauty is aot in prettiness. There is a higher beauty that makes us love people tenderly. Eyes, nose, hair, or skin never did do that yet, though it is pleasing to see fine features. What you are will make your face ever for you iu the end, whether nature has made it plain or pretty. Good people aro never illlooking. Whatever their faces may be, an amiable expression atones for all. If they can be cheerful also no one will love them the less because their features are not regular, or because they aro too fat, or two thin, too pale, or too dark. Cultivation of the mind adds another charm to their faces, and, on the whole, if any cirl is desirous of being liked by the many, and loved by the one, it is more in her power than she may believe to accomplish that object. If she can manage to feel kindly to everybody, not to be jealous, not to be cross, to he happy, if possible, and to encourage contentment, then something will come into her face that will outlast youth’s roses, and gain her not only a husband, but a life-long lover. A French agricultural journal, the BasseCotir, describes the result of some experiments in potato-growing recently conducted by scientific men in Germany. The principal conclusions are two in number. The first is that the vigor of the potato plant is always in direct proportion to the weight of the tubercles used for sets. The second is that there is a great variety in the productive power, not only of different tubercles, but also in different eyes in the same potato. It is found that the eyes at the top of the potato produce a much more vigorous offspring than those iu the lower part, and the consequence is that those agriculturists who cut their potato* in half before planting them are not well advised iu cutting them vertically, but should always divide them horizontally, planting the upper half, and using the other as food for cattle. But the best plan of all is to plant the tubercle whole, cutting out, nevertheless, all the eyes except those in the top part. The experiments on which these principles are based wore conducted in a garden soil by Professor Gantz, the amount of crop produced by several different settings of potatoes being accurately estimated in «atistical tables. It appeared that from tubercles divided vertically only 5 tons were produced per acre, and from whole potatoes 7i tons. The third sort were potatoes horizontally divided, which were set down as having produced tons. In this particular, however, some of the other professors do not agree with Herr Gantz, but maintain that, other things being equal, the whole potatoes will always produce more than halves, however cut. On the fourth result, however, all agree, and that is, that the whole patotoea from which the lower eyes have been cut out produce 11J tons per acre, or more than double the result shown by the sets first mentioned. Do not express your opinion too freely and decidedly when it differs from those around you, merely for the sake of saying what “ I think,” when no good will be done. Try to give up your will and way to others iu trifles as well as in more important matter--, except where principle is involved. Do not complain of little discomforts, but bear them cheerfully. Try to avoid making disagreeable remarks of any description, and make no unpleasant comparisons. Do not perform disagreeable duties with a martyr-like air, but always cheerfully. The babies of Germany are not allowed as large a liberty as those of other countries. They are, for the better part of the first year of their earthly pilgrimage, tightly wound up in swaddling-clothes, with both arms and legs pinioned, and carried about on a pillow especially made for the purpose. After they escape from their wrappings, a bag of feathers is tied ou their backs, so that when they tumble over they have something to fall upon. Those of the poorer classes are laid in a basket, with a little bag of sugar in their mouths, and are expected to behave themselves without much further attention from mother or nurse. The nurses in the streets generally carry the babies in their arms on a pillow, and they are tied to it with pink ribbons, lying as still and motionless as if they were little mummies. They cannot kick or use their arms, and evidently they are not allowed to know, during their puling days, what their arms and logs are intended for.

The time has passed when woman must he pale and delicate to be interesting—when she must be totally ignorant of all practical knowledge to be called refined and high-bred—when she must know nothing of the current, political news of the day, or be called masculine and strong-minded. It is not a sign of high birth or refinement to be sickly and ignorant. Those who affect anything of the kind are behind the times and must shake up and air themselves mentally and physically, or drop under the firm strides of common sense ideas, and bo crushed into utter insignificance. In these days an active, rosy-faced girl, with brain quick and clear, warm, light heart, a temper quickly heated at intended insults or injury, and just as quick to forgive ; whose feet can run as fast as her tongue, and not put her out of breath ; who is not afraid of freckles, or to breathe the pure air of heaven, unrestrained by the drawn curtains of a close carriage ; and, above all, who can speak her mind, and give her opinion on important topics which interest intelligent people, is the true girl who will make a good woman. This is the girl who wins in these days. Even fops and dandies, who strongly oppose woman's rights, like a woman who can talk well, even if she is not handsome.

Mrs. Besant, the lady who has associated herself with Mr. Bradlangh in his crusade on the population question, is the wife of a clergyman of the Church of England. Some three years ago she separated from her husband solely on the ground of incompatibility of opinion. There were four children of the marriage, two boys and two girls, and it was arranged at the time that the boys should go with the father and the girls with the mother. It is reported, however, says a correspondent, that in consequence of recent events the father intends to apply to the Court of Chancery for the custody of tho whole of the children. Information received from Callao states that a frightful tragedy has been committed there, resulting in tho loss of several lives and the serious wounding o! many persons. The attention of the commissary of the Callao Prison was attracted by loud cries and groans proceeding from one of the cells in which a num- ; her of persons were imprisoned, and on 'obtaining assistance ho went to the cell. On 'opening ' the ' door a horrible sight presented ‘itself. One man was lying on tho floor quite dead,.and several others, were in a dying con'ditida?HvMlsf'others,'(jovered ’with blood, were ;bh» ton* yum.o-j ro.i at ujno;

endeavoring to escape from one of the prisoners who was pursuing them with a knife. The murderer was immediately secured and placed in safe keeping. It appeared that the perpetrator of this atrocious outrage was a man named Jose Andrade, a native of Pisco, and during the earlier part of the day he was charged with a dangerous assault on his wife, when in a state of drunkenness. When before the commissary he behaved insolently, and was placed in a cell along with thirteen other persons. Shortly afterwards another man, named Carpia, who was killed, spoke to Andrade, who turned upon him with a claspknife and plunged it into his breast. He then threw himself upon the rest of the prisoners, stabbing them indiscriminately. Three persons were fatally wounded, while the injuries inflicted on the others were very serious. Most of the victims were Peruvians. Ultra-Republican papers demand the impeachment of the late French Ministry for the alleged intended coup d’etat. President MacMahon warmly repudiates having ever contemplated such a movement.