water all is possible. Even in the mountain plateau, overspread as it is with soda, it has been found, as by French farmers in Algeria, that, under irrigation, the more alkali the better corn-crop.

9. When fires are held in check by special enactments, such as those which have been passed in

Victoria and South Australia, and the waters of the winter streams retained for summer use by tanks and dams; when artesian wells are frequent, and irrigation general, belts of timber will become possible upon the plains. Once planted, these will in their turn mitigate the extremes of climate, and keep alike in check the forces of evaporation, sun, and wind. Cultivation itself brings rain, and steam will soon be

available for pumping water out of wells, for there is a great natural store of brown coal near Denver, so that the future would be bright were it not for the locusts—the scourge of the plains, the second curse. The coming of the chirping hordes is a real calamity in these far-western countries. Their departure, whenever it occurs, is officially announced by the Governor of the State.

10. I have seen a field of Indian corn stripped bare of every leaf and cob by these crickets'; but the owner told me that he found consolation in the fact that they ate up the weeds as well. For the locusts there is no cure. The plovers may eat a few billions, but, as a rule, Coloradans must learn to expect that the locusts will increase with the increase of the crops on which they feed. The more corn, the more locuststhe more plovers, perhaps; a clear gain to the locusts and plovers, but a dead loss to the farmers and ranch

men.

II. The Coloradan 'boys' are a handsome, intelligent race. The mixture of Celtic and Saxon blood has here produced a generous and noble manhood; and the absence of forest, and consequent exposure to wind and sun, has exterminated ague and driven away the hatchet face; but for all this, the Coloradans may have to succumb to the locusts. At present they affect to despise them.

MERCY.

Portia. The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes;
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest : it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

SHAKESPEARE's Merchant of Venice.

1 Attribute, essential, or real quality.

ACROSS THE ANDES.

PART I.

1. THE mountain chain of the Andes is a remarkable feature in the geography of South America. It forms, as it were, the backbone of that continent, traversing it from north to south in a line which lies in close proximity to the western coast, and at an almost uniform distance from it. Close to the equator are grouped together a number of its principal summits, including, among others, the lofty Chimborazo. South of this cluster the chain widens out into several parallel ranges, which in Bolivia again close in upon each other. The chain then runs southwards through Chili and Patagonia as one chief ridge, with parallel ranges of hills lying alongside it. Some idea of the nature and scenery of the southern Andes may be gathered from the following account of a journey from Chili into the Argentine Republic, the route of which lay across these mountains.

2. From Valparaiso to Santiago is a railway journey of about four hours and a half. The line first skirts the bay and then leads inland by a beautiful valley. This valley might almost be called a plain, for it is both broad and level. Its borders to the right and left are formed by sandy hills of a yellowish red colour. The Aconcagua river, fed from the snows of the Andes, meanders through it and gives fertility to the soil. The distant hills are bare of vegetation, but the valley between them is all green and smiling with

'Meanders, winds about.