mond, and Savannah the shocks were very heavy. Spain has not quite escaped, several buildings in Malaga having been damaged by shocks on September 1st. As activity of this kind shows abundance of energy, the earthquakes have a comforting side to those who look on at them from a distance. They show that the earth is not yet very near its death. THE following paragraph announces a discovery which is full of interest, as adding to the rare remains of our very far-off ancestors. MM. Marcel de Puvdt and Maximilian Lohest were investigating a cave at Spy, a few miles from Namur, known as the Biche aux Roches, and "they found in the sandstone two human skulls of extraordinary thickness, resembling the celebrated skull found in the Neanderthal, near Elberfeld. They have the same very projecting eyebrows, and the same low sloping forehead of a decidedly simian character. The finders suggest that these are types of the skulls of the primitive race who dwelt on the Sambre. Other things were discovered in the cave by MM. de Puydt and Lohest, among them some thousands of flints very carefully dressed on one side; also some specimens of jasper and agate, minerals not found anywhere in the neighborhood, ivory breast-pins, several red ear-pendants, and some necklets of pearls of curious designs. It was noticed that there were no representations of animals. All were found in the sandstone, three layers of which were plainly discernible. It was visible that the remains of flints, etc., deposited in each layer indicated different stages of skill in workmanship. The lowest stratum was by far the poorest in the number of the objects found and in the quality of their workmanship. But it was here that the skulls were found, so that from a scientific point of view it is most important. A drawing has been carefully made of the geological section of the cave, so as to mark precisely the point where the skulls were found." ANNIE BESANT. DURING this month the amateur who desires to have a succession of flowers in his or her sitting-room or greenhouse during the dull months of winter and early spring must be up and doing. And as there is no class of plants more suitable or better calculated to meet the wants of amateurs, nor any more easy to manage, than the various sorts of Dutch bulbs, we consider that a few hints on the management of these is a suitable theme for this month's "Gardening Corner". Amongst Dutch roots we feel bound to give the premier place to the lovely Hyacinth, of which the poet thus sweetly sings: "Child of the spring, thou charming flower, No longer in confinement lie; Arise to light, thy form discover, Rival the azure of the sky." And, happily, the azure and innumerable other tints that varieties of this beautiful flower show forth, as well as the delicious fragrance which it "discovers", can be evoked by several easy modes of culture. It is of such an accommodating nature that it can be made to emerge from its "confinement "-" arise to light”—in the most lowly hut or the most lordly hall. One of the simplest methods of cultivating the Hyacinth is to grow it in glasses filled with water. These can be had of all seedsmen. To All these rain-water is the best. They should be filled just so high as merely to touch the base of the bulb. Having placed the bulbs on your glass, put them away into a perfectly dark closet or press, in a cool temperature, where you must let them remain till roots are emitted and are nearly touching the bottom of the glass. And when the roots have so far elongated, they may be removed to where they will have more light; but take care to inure them gradually to the full light and temperature of the sitting-room. After they have been a fortnight in the water in the dark, bring them out and examine each bulb, and should you observe any decayed or slimy matter adhering to them, carefully remove it by washing, and at the same time pour out the old water and put in fresh. After this the water should be changed at least once a fortnight or three weeks, adding as much hot water as will bring up the temperature as high as that of the air of the room in which they are blowing. If the plants get "drawn ", as they are apt to do, they will require support. Very suitable supports can be had cheap of any seedsman, made of brass or galvanised wire. On the cultivation of the Hyacinth in pots we have written in full in former papers; but we may reiterate here that the best soil for this purpose is a mixture of one-half decayed turfy loam-which, if cut from a very long laid down pasture, will be all the better-the other half leaf mould and a quantity of river sand and some well decayed manure, all thoroughly mixed together. We have found pots of from 5 to 6 inches diameter to be the most suitable and handy. Over the hole in the bottom we place a single crock, over which we put the roughest of the soil, filling up with the finer till we raise the soil a little above the rim of the pot. On the apex we place a handful of pure sand, on which we set the bulb, and then press it with the soil down into the pot to a half-inch below the rim, with the eye of the bulb just above the surface. When all are so planted, we give a good watering. We then place them where they will stand cool and out of the reach of rain, and where we can cover the pots to the depth of 6 inches or so with old tan or ashes. Here they remain till the pots are well filled with roots and the tops have pushed an inch or two, when they may be removed to the greenhouse or cold pit or frame, keeping them as close to the glass as possible; or they may be taken into warmer quarters and forced into flower to meet requirements. In our last we gave a hint as to the desirability of of cultivating a few of the early white Roman Hyacinths. The same soil will do for these, but earlier planting is desirable, and they have the best effect with a number of bulbs in a pot. Early in August is the best time to put in these, and with the use of a gentle hotbed they can be forced into flower as required. Tulips for indoor cultivation require much the same management as the Hyacinth. But to be effective a number of roots are required in the same pot. For competition purposes we have planted as many as twenty-five roots in an 11-inch pot, and when well handled and good sorts are used, fine specimens are secured in this way. Other useful sorts of bulbs suitable for potting now, with a view to forcing, are the garden Narcissus or Daffodils. Some of these are very fine. Herrick says of these : "Fair Daffodils, we weep to see Wordsworth has also painted a lovely landscape, into which he has introduced "A host of golden Daffodils Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze," the fair vision of which remained with him ever after as a pleasant memory, for he says: "For oft when on my couch I lie, A great variety of these are in cultivation, both of the single and double flowering sorts, some of which only are suitable for pot culture and forcing. Of these Poeticus (the Pheasant-eye Daffodil), with a pure white cup and crimson eye, is good. Poeticus ornatus resembles the last, but being a month earlier in blooming, it is invaluable for cutting, and forces well. The Jonquil Narcissus is another class that ought to be prized as being alike excellent for early forcing or for indoor cultivation. In pot culture, five or six bulbs should be planted in a pot, and the same soil and treatment answer for these as we have recommended for Hyacinths. And who, in cultivating a few bulbs, will omit from their collection, however limited it may be, the "firstling of the year", the lowly, lovely Snowdrop. These are easily forced. About a dozen or eighteen bulbs should be placed in a 5 or 6 inch pot, in good soil, and treated as we have recommended for Hyacinths. Both the double and the single variety are worth growing, and are much the same in price. Crocus is another lovely class, alike suitable for forcing or outdoor culture. On the lawn, when planted in lines or patches, they are exceedingly attractive. In the front of shrubbery borders they are equally effective. These can now be had at very low prices by the dozen or hundred, and in every shade of color-yellow, blue, white, and in lovely stripes. For pot culture the soil noted above for Hyacinths and other bulbs will answer well. Shallow seed-pans do very well to grow them in. In 6-inch pots they come in very handy for greenhouse decoration, and for baskets in the drawing-room, mixed with Palms, Ferns, etc. To keep up a succession of these it is desirable to keep on potting from the 1st of October to the end of November. From six to twelve roots in a pot will make an effective show. After potting they require the same treatment as to watering, putting away under the cover of old, spent tan, bark, or ashes, as we have recommended for Hyacinths. And whenever you find the pots well filled with roots, they can be brought out and forced or otherwise as you require them in succession. W. ELDER. THE Commonweal' keeps up its high standard, and should be taken by every Socialist. The Christian Socialist appeals to a smaller circle in name, but non-Christians will find plenty of good stuff in it. The Church Reformer is as liberal as ever. To-Day gives the conclusion of Sydney Olivier's "Perverse Socialism"; the book notices at the end are a very marked feature of this journal and are admirably done. A special number has been issued Socialist League, 13, Farringdon Road, E.C. 2 W. Reeves, 185, Fleet Street, E.C. consisting of the conclusion of Chapter III. and part of Chapter IV. of Broadhouse's translation of "Das Kapital". La Société Nouvelle,' which reaches me with extreme irregularity, has an article on the agrarian question translated from Henry George. The Practical Socialist is a capital little paper to give to enquirers who might be frightened away by an organ with harsher tones. The Tribune des Peuples seems to come out somewhat irregularly, which is a pity, for it is a most interesting journal. An account of the Socialist movement in all lands is one of its chief features. A new journal is issued this month from the Anarchist camp, entitled Freedom.* Its leading articles are written with much vigor. THE Republicans now appears as the Radical, but has not changed its policy with its name. The Malthusian continues its useful work. The Anti-Sweater-wrongly described last month as the organ of the Tailors' Society is taking a vigorous effort to expose the iniquities of the sweating system, and ought to be supported: I hear that it has a hard struggle to live. The Labor Tribune is the organ of the miners and ironworkers of Great Britain; it is vigorously written, and will obtain, I hope, a wide circulation. The Democrat is another paper on which Reformers should look with friendly eyes; it is against the idle classes, and claims the land for the people. 12 AMONG the pamphlets reaching me is a reprint of the "Manifesto "'1o issued by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. It is a bitter impeachment of the present system. It may be worth while to place on record here the declaration of these two eminent Socialists: "Communism deprives no one of the power to appropriate social products for his own use; it only deprives him of the power to subject others' labor by such appropriation." Mr. Birkmeyer's pamphlet on "The Development of India" is interesting, but I fear that under present circumstances the increased sale of the produce of the Indian peasant would enrich traders and leave him poor. Mr. Brown issues a capital little impeachment of the House of Lords, which will be found useful by lecturers. The Fifteenth Annual Report of the Vigilance Association13 shows that the body has done much useful work. The author of "Evolution Refuted" is hardly strong enough to plunge into a controversy in which figures Professor Huxley. Mr. Foote is in his element in "Infidel Death-Beds", 15 and his carefully-stated facts about the last hours of well-known unbelievers ought to be in the hands of every Freethinker. Mr. Alfred Milnes, M.A., is well known as one of the ablest opponents of vaccination, and his clever "When Doctors Disagree "16 is one of the best pamphlets that can be given to a believer in the great medical superstition. A third edition has been issued of "Bible Extracts and Assertions", collection of the follies and unpleasantnesses of the Bible.1 A very prettily got-up little volume is "Marcia", by Pakenham Beatty;" the tragedy has some fine and strong verse in it; here and there we catch an echo of a Swinburnian cadence, but on the whole Mr. Beatty is an original and promising writer. His plot will have the sympathy of all lovers of Freedom, for it is the brief story of a supposed Polish Nihilist conspiracy. 1 Paris H. Le Soudier, 174, Boulevard St. Fleet Street, E.C. 3 Paris: 17, Rue de Loos. Street, E.C. Germain. 2 W. Reeves, 185, 6 & F. T. 5 G. Standring, 8 and 9 Finsbury Street, E.C. Freethought Publishing Company, 63, Fleet Street. E.C. 7 Modern Press, 13, Paternoster Row, E.C. Jefferson, High Street, West Bromwich. J. C. Durant, Clement's House, Clement's Inn Passage, W.C. 10 International Publishing Company, 35, Newington Green Road, N. "R. Anderson, 22, Ann Street, Glasgow. 12 F. Haines, 212, Mile End Road, E. 13 Offices: 2, Westminster Chambers, S.W. 14 Morrish, 18, Narrow Wine Street, Bristol. 15 Progressive Publishing Company, 28, Stonecutter Street, E.C. W. Allen, 4, Ave Maria Lane, E.C. 16 E. |