With this Lance disappeared.
In a few minutes George was in bed, and for the first time a sudden shock of homesickness came to him. His mother would not come to him that night and kiss his forehead, as she always did. It almost drove away the story of the siege of Bouchain; but in a little while he had lapsed into a sleep, in which dreams came of Bouchain, and the Earl dressed up as Madame Geoffroy, and his mother sitting by the fire smiling, and Betty playing on the harpsichord, and then deep oblivion and the soundest of sleep.
[to be continued.]
[HOW TO START IN LIFE.]
FRUIT-GROWING—BY KIRK MUNROE.
In no other civilized country of the world is there so much fruit eaten as in the United States, consequently in no other is fruit-growing such an important and profitable industry. In proof of this, the great State of California is virtually given up to fruit-growing, and receives a greater annual revenue from its fruit trees and vines than from its gold-mines.
PACKING ORANGES IN CALIFORNIA.
Any reader of this article who wishes to become a fruit-grower, and who can have the use of a few square feet of ground, or even a box filled with earth, may begin at once by planting seeds, and so starting a nursery. Of course the first thing to be considered is the locality in which the orchard or grove is to stand. If the young grower lives in one of the Northern States, he will plant apple, pear, or cherry seeds. If in one of the Middle States or on the Pacific coast, he will add to these peaches, prunes—which are only a fine variety of plum—and grapes. In the Gulf States he will substitute fig-cuttings for apples; and in Florida, southern California, southern Texas, or southern Arizona he will plant all the orange and lemon seeds he can obtain. Even if his grove never gets beyond the nursery stage he may still reap a return from his venture, besides the pleasure that it has afforded him, for in every locality there is a steady demand for young fruit trees, which thus have a cash value from the moment they are sprouted.