A Terrible Situation.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 286, 1 August 1888, Page 3

A Terrible Situation.

Mr Ballou, in his recent wandcii' g^ under the Southern Cross, lm 4 found one tnor c unpleasant ifcetn foi leptile i terature. I Sydney he heard the following; snake story the facts of which occui red not long before, near the town ot' Pa rramatta. In the family of a settler, who lesided tome half a hague from the town, was an invalid daughter, of an extremely nervous temperament. She was sleeping one summer afteinoon, in a hammock hung; between two supporting' standaida in the shade of the piazza, w hen she was suddenly awakened by feeling something cold and moist clinging about her throat. She put her hand to the spot, and clapped the body of a snake, just at the back of it-? head, and, with a bonified cry, wrenched with all her stiength to pull it away. This w<js the hr~t instinctive action of the moment, bub »o great was her t'-rror that fehe speedily lost all consciousness of the situation. Her hand, however, still grasped the snake when she had first seized np!>n it, aiH with fuch a convulsive foi'ce that the creature was rendered powerless. The cry of the terrified girl brought the father from within the hotise, who instantly came to her relict ; but in the fit which her fright hnd induced, her hand slowly contracted fibout the creature's throat with a force which she could not possibly have everted when awake, and before her fingers we c uncla&ped, by the aid of a bit of hammock cord, the reptile was completely strangled. Fortunately, the reptile had not bitten the girl before she seized it, and after that it wax u able to do so. It is said to have been four feet long, and of a poisonous species.

Wateiung Hoisk Plants. — Plants in rapid growth, 1 ke carnations, callas and cinerarias should have lobs of water ; those like Lady Waphingbon geraniums that are starling bo grow, only a moderate supply, overgrecn plants, of any sort, except cactuses and other sucrulents for instance, camellias, acacias, jessamines, should never be allowed to £>'et dry. Neither should ferns or mosson ; bub to succulent plants and bulbs at lest no water should be given. In watering, use water about the same lemporature as that of the room in which the plants are growing, and soft water, if you have got it ; but if you have only hard water, use that. In giving water, pour in gently till the pot is filled to the brim ; don't slop over nor allow water to stand in the sauces th pots may be set in.