HINTS FOR SPRING.
{"character_count": 3585, "word_count": 661, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9621999859809875], "ccnet_perplexity": [1910.5], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
Friut 1rees.-Young apple, peach, ap- ricot, plum, pear, cherry, and indeed all kinds of trees and shrubs, whether fruit or ornamental, may be set out as soon as the frost is out of the ground.

 .Grapes.-The earlier after the frost is out of the ground that you transplant your vines, or put out your cuttings, the better, for it is important that each start in their growth with the earliest vegetable power of the earth in spring.

 Rose, snow-ball, lilac, and all other bush. es of the Towering tribes, should be set out as early as possible.

 As soon as the plants in your strawberry beds push through tho earth, the beds should receive dressing. Clear out all the weeds, decayed leaves and old runners: loosen the earth around the plants, and apply some rich mould about them, digging it in so as to prevent loss from evapora- ton or washing.

 THE AFRICAN JUDGMENT.-Alexande once left Macedonia, and penetrated into one of the remote and golden provinces of Africa the inhabitants went forth to meet him, bearing with them as presents, basins of golden apples and fruit. Retain your fruits for your own use,' said Alexander, it is not to see your riches but to observe your manners that l have como among you.' Thereupon they led him to the mar ket place where the king administered ius- iice.

 Then citizen stepped before the king and said, bought, o king of this man, bag of chaff, and in it have found cost ly treasure. The chalf is mine, but so is not the treasure, yet he of whom had it, refuses to receive it back. Enjoin it upon him, O king for t, is his own.' Then the other citizen arose and said: 'Dost thou fear to retain what is not thine own, and should also fear to accept of thee what is not mine ownl I sold thee bag with all its contents. Keep then what is thine own. Enjoin it upon him, O king ? Then the king asked the first one wheth- or he had son and he answered yes.' And the second whether he had daugh- ter; and the reply again was, 'yes.' 'Ye are both honest men, said the King, let then your children be bound in marriage, and give them as their marriage portion the discovered treasure. Thus do I decrce.' | AlCSHUOcT WdS UIIS Have I then decreed unjus,ly,' said the King, ',hat thou art thus amazedl' Ear from it, was the reply. Yet in our land they would have done somewhat other wise.' And in what respect2' 'The dis- putants,' said Alexander, would have gone hcadess from the court, and the treasure have been left in the hands of the King.- The African struck his palms together and said, And shines the sun on such land, or the rain does it fall thereon? Then must it be for the unoflending animals that inhabit in your borders, for on such men, [ no sun should shine, no rain should ever fall.'-[ From the German.

 l Toads.-It is a common notion that these beautiful little animals suck poison from the earth. Now although this opinion is falla- cy. the toad is, nevertheless, one of the most useful animal in the world to the gardener. The toad lives entirely on animal food, eats It alive-and cares not fig for Dr. Graham. The Grubs and insects which he devours are very injurious to the young plants wnicn are cultivated for the table. He comes out at night when the dampness of the air IS agree ohle .o him. and when his prey are likewise wnndering abroad, committing their depre- dot;ons-and watches them as eagerly as cot ,votcbes for mice. It is said that q few dozen of toads will destroy all the cabbage worms in a whole acre of land thptis planted with cabbages, and be the means of saving l tL- ,o,,,,., ,SSla ntS from das4pncfion