The Best Shakespeare

Half Price if you order NOW

A knowledge of Shakespeare's plays is essential to the well informed man or women, but the ordinary edition is so defective in notes and glossaries that reading the plays becomes a difficult task instead of an enjoyable entertainment.

The New International Edition makes Shakespeare's plays pleasant reading. It has been edited and produced with that end in view. It contains copious Notes, Comments and Glossaries explaining every difficult passage and obsolete word. For the purpose of acquiring a real and practical knowledge of Shakespeare's works this edition is far superior to any other edition in existence.

The New International Edition is based on three centuries of searching criticism. It indicates the high-water mark of Shakespearean scholarship. All recognized authorities are represented in the notes and explanatory matter, among them being Dyce, Coleridge, Dowden, Johnson, Malone, White and Hudson. The sets are in thirteen handsome volumes—size 7½ x 5½ inches—containing 7,000 pages; attractively bound in cloth and half-leather; 400 illustrations—reproductions of quaint wood-cuts of Shakespeare's time, and beautiful color plates.

No Other Edition Contains:

Topical Index:

By means of which the reader can find any desired passage in the plays and poems.

Critical Comments on the plays and characters selected from the writings of eminent Shakespearian scholars.

Glossaries following each Play, so that you do not have to turn to a separate volume to find the meaning of every obscure word.

Two Sets of Notes: Explanatory notes for the general reader and critical notes for the student or scholar.

Arguments: Preceding each play is an analysis of the play called the "argument," written in an interesting story-telling way.

Study Methods: A complete method of study on each play, consisting of study questions and suggestions,—the idea being to furnish a complete college course of Shakespearian study.

Life of Shakespeare by Dr. Israel Gollancz, with critical essays by Bagehot, Stephen and other distinguished Shakespearian scholars and critics. This life relates all that the world really knows about Shakespeare.

How to Save Half the Price

We have just completed a new and limited edition which will be distributed exclusively through our Shakespeare Club. The advantages of ordering through the Club are that you have the entire set shipped to you for leisurely examination without costing you a cent; you can retain it, if it proves to be what you want, at the low Club price, which is about half the regular price, and you may pay in easy monthly payments. The prices through the Club are $24.00 for the half-leather binding and $20.00 for the cloth binding—payable at the rate of $1.00 or $2.00 a month. The regular prices of this edition are $44.00 and $36.00. You are going to buy a good set of Shakespeare some day. Why not buy the best edition NOW, when you can get it at half price and on easy payments.

FREE:

Those who apply promptly will receive absolutely free of charge three valuable premiums. One is an attractive portfolio of pictures ready for framing, entitled "Literature in Art." It is a series of reproductions by the duogravure color process of great paintings of scenes from celebrated books. There are sixteen pictures, each 11x15 inches in size. Among the subjects are scenes from Shakespeare, Dickens' Novels, Dumas' Novels, Tennyson's Poems, etc. Every picture is a splendid work of art, full of grace and beauty. This portfolio alone sells for $8.00. In addition to the Portfolio we send the Topical Index and Plan of Study described above. The last two Premiums cannot be purchased separate from the set for less than $6.00.

THE UNIVERSITY SOCIETY 78 Fifth Avenue New York

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Editor Mayflower:

Let me give you a peep at my flowers this cold day in January, with the mercury so far below zero as not to be neighborly and the wind blowing and snow flying as only new hampshire snows do fly, making necessary constant intercourse with the stove, to replenish fuel, as on farms wood is used for that purpose and farmers have no dread of a "coal famine." A very large De Lesseps Begonia is loaded with immense clusters of white waxy flowers; a Woodstock Begonia is brilliant with large panicles of red blossoms, also Otto Hacker and Wetsteinii well filled with buds. I also have in blossom an Abutilon and three Obconica Primulas. I have six varieties of Rex Begonias, a magnificent boston fern, and an immense acacia which, although two years old, has never blossomed, though the foliage is lovely; can any one tell me why? through the columns of The Mayflower, where we find so much help in plant culture.—Sunie Mar.

NEW YORK

Editor Mayflower:

Last spring I planted two bunches of the roots of Rudbeckia or Golden Glow. Although it is what some might call a coarse flower yet its color is fine and very showy, and i know of no plant that blossoms so continuously as the Golden Glow, and it is a plant that never tires of growing and sending out new blossoms from early summer until autumn. They grow to be six feet high and must be staked otherwise the plant will topple over. but the glory of my small flower garden was a bed of Zinnias as they represented every known color, and was one blaze of color from midsummer until autumn, when Jack Frost closed the scene.—Mrs. A. C. Buck.

OREGON

Editor Mayflower:

The best time for pruning Hybrid Perpetual Roses is in January or early February. Select the strong, well-matured, young shoots at sufficient distance apart to allow a free circulation of air and cut back to one and one-half to two feet, leaving from four to five canes. If, however, the Rose is an unusually strong grower it can be left from three to three and one-half feet. Even when left this way it will sometimes be found necessary to thin out the young shoots, for if they grow too close to each other they are liable to mildew. Tea Roses can he pruned during the same season with good results, though they do not require so severe a trimming down as the Hybrid Perpetuals. With the teas the important part is the cutting back and removing of all old and weak wood, dead twigs and unhealthy limbs. Spraying should be done just after the winter pruning, just before growth begins in the early spring. A careful spray at these times will remove all danger from insects and disease, mildew and black spot. The best spray can be made by taking four ounces of copper sulphate, four ounces of unslaked lime, and three gallons of water. For the green aphis, which attacks the young and tender shoots, spraying with quassia is the most beneficial as well as least harmful to the plant, using four ounces to one gallon of water, either soaking it over night or boiling for about 10 minutes.—Dennis H. Stovall.

Fifty Dollars in Gold

for Three Cents.

Send us on a postal card the address of ten farmers. We will send each a copy of the "Agricultural Epitomist" and solicit their subscription. We will send you the paper three months free for your trouble.

To the person sending the best list of names we will present $25.00 in gold; 2nd best $15.00; 3rd best $10.00.

We will keep an accurate record of the number of subscribers we secure out of each list and the persons from whose list we secure the greatest number of subscribers by March 15, 1905, will receive the above Prizes. In case three or more lists produce equal results we reserve the right to divide the fifty dollars equally between them.

Remember—Send just ten names from one P. O. do not send names of children or people not interested in farming. We give away the $50.00 in order to get select lists and you cannot get your share of it unless you choose the names carefully.

The "Agricultural Epitomist" is the only agricultural paper edited and printed on a farm. Our six hundred and fifty acres are devoted to practical agriculture and fine stock and we are offering hundreds of thoroughbred pigs and fancy poultry as premiums for subscription work. A pig or a trio of poultry easy to get under our plan. Write for particulars.

AGRICULTURAL EPITOMIST,

Spencer, Ind.

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U. S. OPTICAL CO., Dept. 20, Chicago.

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OHIO

Editor Mayflower:

We are trying to grow the giant white Narcissus in the house this winter, and they are doing nicely so far, having buds ready to bloom now. Are these bulbs like the Chinese Sacred Lilies, worthless after being once forced? We also have the Sacred Lilies in bloom with two pots coming on for a succession of blossoming. The latter are so easy to grow and are so beautiful with their sweet fragrance, that more people should grow them. We have also two pots of Hyacinths with 3 bulbs in each pot, which have just been brought up from the cellar, and are now beginning to show growth.—Miss M. A. Graber.

PENNSYLVANIA

Editor Mayflower:

I usually keep but one plant of a kind, and in order to keep that one blooming at its best I have been in the habit of keeping the withered flowers cut off, and not allowing them to ripen seed, but there are many possibilities in this way of increasing plants. By exchanges with friends last fall I received several varieties of Geraniums, that were new to me. Among them was one named Albert Delarix; the flower is bright pink, shaded deeper in the centre, and plentifully dotted over with darker spots; it is very delicate and very beautiful. Another was Souvenir de Mirande, that reminds one of a cluster of Apple blossoms. Now one word about two flowers I received from Floral Park in May. Amaryllis Formosissima was in bloom in one week after I planted the bulb. It was just like the picture in the catalogue. Ismene Calathena bloomed in one month after planting. I have never seen any description of this plant that does it justice. I bought one on the recommendation that "it was sure to give satisfaction," and I can cheerfully recommend it where a white Amaryllis is desired. It is a flower not easy to describe.—Mrs. M. C. Marshall.

SEEDS $1.50 worth to Test Free to Everybody.

I want every reader of this paper who plants a garden to send for my Free Trial Complete Garden Collection, consisting of the following 15 Grand New Varieties of Seed.

Beet, Perfected Red Turnip, earliest, sweetest, best. Carrot, Yellow Giant, monstrous size, great cropper. Cabbage, July Wonder, wonderful early, solid heads. Cabbage, Winter Header, large, fine, sure to head. Celery, Winter Giant, large, crisp, finest winter sort. Cucumber, Family Favorite, best for eating or pickling. Lettuce, Crisp as Ice, early, tender, heads finely. Musk Melon, Luscious Gem, fine flavor, best known. Onion, Prizetaker, wt. 3 lbs., 1,000 bush, per acre. Parsnip, White Sugar, sweet, long, smooth roots. Radish, Striped Triumph, handsome, early, crisp. Tomato, Early Tree, early, large, red, tree shaped. Turnip, Sweetest German, large, sweet, keeps well. Sweet Peas, 1-2 oz. California Giants Mixed, grand colors. Flower Seeds, large packet, 500 sorts mixed together.

I WISH to give you the above 15 packets as a Free Trial of my superior Seeds, believing that after one trial you will always buy of me. To prevent people sending who have no use for seeds, I ask you to enclose 10cts. as a guarantee that you will plant seeds and when received show collection to your friends. I will promptly mail the 15 packets (well worth $1.50) and enclose a due bill for the 10c., which you can return to me at any time with an order for 25c. or over of seeds, and get your selection of 10c. worth free. Thus this trial is absolutely free. Catalogue free. All warranted, tested seeds supplied at about wholesale prices.

J. J. BELL, Deposit, N.Y.

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TEXAS

Editor Mayflower:

During the hot months here in Central Texas we pass a great deal of our time on the gallery, which is a very necessary part of a Southern home. If it faces a public road it has its drawbacks, and sometimes, by reason of arid soil or large trees near the house, vines will not flourish. To such a gallery one or two movable screens will be of great use. Mine, last year, was made of a rather deep, narrow, long box, about 18 inches deep, 12 inches wide and 36 inches long. Can be mounted on casters or not. If hard winds prevail, two short cross strips on the ends of the box will prevent tipping over. My screen was four feet square, made of a light frame work of narrow laths and wire netting, fastened securely to the box. The box was planted with Madeira Vine tubers, and was ready for use in six weeks. I kept it clipped all summer to induce new growth. It was very pretty, and behind the green bank I sewed or read, secure from the public gaze. Behind this screen I placed my afternoon tea table, and sometimes in the cool of the afternoon enjoyed a social chat. This year I shall make one of blooming vines, to stay out of doors till buds set. I have a two year old Empress of China Rose I expect to use the same way.—Mrs. W. J. Standlee.

VIRGINIA

Editor Mayflower:

What Emma Odell says in the October issue of the Mississippi negro is equally true of his brother, or rather sister, in Virginia. Poor as this shiftless class usually is, many a cabin of rude logs nestles amid dainty trailing vines and bright hued blossoms, well worthy to adorn a far more pretentious mansion. I never knew any member of the colored race here to boast a pit or greenhouse.—doubtless because they can usually beg enough cuttings of tender plants from white neighbors in the spring to fill their tin cans. Little care they for flower pots; any old broken pitcher, rusty bucket, water pail or teapot, it matters not, so it will hold dirt. It is the plant they are after, not a pretty pot to hold it. Their "luck" with Chrysanthemums amounts almost to magic sometimes. They can make almost any plant thrive and blossom, though seemingly in their daily round of toil they have but scant time to work over their flowers.—Roe Ann Oke.