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fastened horizontally; the two then had the appearance of the letter I. The steam then rushed out of the two ends of this horizontal pipe, and spread over the floor in the first instance, and afterwards rose up into the air of the house, softened so much as not to injure the tenderest leaf, or most delicate flower. This steam was kept up till the house was completely filled-so much so, that the plants were so enveloped in it as to be invisible at a few feet distance from them. The plants, when the steam was stopped and dissipated, were bathed in dew in every part, under the leaves as well as on the surface. The effect of this application was soon visible. plants grew with surprising rapidity, sending out roots in every direction. They also put on that dark green, healthy appearance, that showed they had got into an atmosphere they loved. The sickly ones recovered their health, and the healthy ones flourished with renewed vigour. The steam was applied morning and evening, during the spring and summer months, until the plants had finished their growth. After that it was only applied occasionally, according to the state of the weather. If sunshine prevailed during the day, drying the air of the houses, the steam was got up and let on the next morning, not for too long a time, but just sufficient only to damp the air. In dull weather, the steam was dispensed with altogether.

The only difficulty in the use of steam was, that in summer it made the houses very hot whilst it was applied. That objection, however, was of comparatively little value, as at that time the plants were growing freely, and required a larger amount of heat than at any other time of the year. In spring, when the mornings were cooler than ordinary, the steam was applied, and heated the house sufficiently, without the hot-water pipes being heated at all. This was a considerable saving of fuel, besides the advantage of so effectually moistening the air.

Now, the question naturally arises-"Is it worth while to adopt the steam method of giving atmospheric moisture ?” In places where large collections are grown, we are inclined to say, "Yes;" but in places where one house only, and that a small one, is devoted to the culture of orchids, we say, "No;" unless the two methods could be combined: that is the hot-water boiler could be so contrived as to be a generator of steam, to be got up to that point when required. We have no doubt some ingenious maker of boilers could accomplish this, if he was required to do so.

We have now, we judge, said all that need be said on the subject of moistening the internal air of the orchid-house. We request our readers to study the subject carefully, and to make use of such means as are in their power to accomplish this important point of culture. They will soon find the advantage of doing so.

FLORISTS' FLOWERS.

THERE is yet but little to do in actual operations amongst florists' flowers. The principal thing to attend to is, to preserve them from frost and damp; also, to keep a good look out for enemies, in the shape of slugs and green fly. Against the former, there is no remedy like picking them up and destroying them. The latter may easily be destroyed by tobacco smoke, applied moderately and often.

HOLLYHOCKS.-These splendid autumnal flowers may yet be planted, and will grow freely. We prefer planting now, to driving off that operation till spring. The planting can be done when the weather is mild.

During our visit to Scotland, we observed these fine flowers used to cover naked walls, and very beautiful they looked. We particularly noticed those in the grounds of Mr. R. Macintosh and Mr. R. Grieves, both in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. Several cottages also were agreeably ornamented with hollyhocks against the walls. Mr. Grieves of Libberton, near Edinburgh, kindly furnished us with the following descriptive list. When we saw them, they were just opening their first blooms; and certainly they appeared to be first-rate kinds :

Mrs. Dundas: creamy white; centre, full; guard petals, round and flat.

Mr. Dundas: lilac rose; centre, full; guard petal, round and flat. William: lilac crimson; centre, intensely full-unique.

Susanna: deep cream-a perfect model.

Gustavus: deep purple; centre, full; guard petal, round and flat.
Acme: purple; centre, firm and compact.

Model of Perfection: scarlet-a model every way.
Rosamond: rose; centre, large and full.
Duchess of Gordon: a large expansive flower.
Ne plus Uttra: French white; centre, good.
Climar: peach blossom; centre, well up.
Defiance: blackish crimson; centre, intensely full.
Paragon: peach blossom; ditto ditto.
Sabrina: French white; large and full.
Standard of Perfection: dark red.
Negro Boy: very deep red-very full.
Eliza: pure white; large and compact.
Delight light flesh colour.

General Bem: dark rose; one of the first out.
Kossuth: light red;

ditto.

Sir William Rae: fine pink; centre, full and compact.
Snow Drop: pure white.
Diana: cream white.

Golden Prince: the best yellow out-large and full.
T. APPLEBY.

THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. CAULIFLOWER PLANTS.-Care must be taken with those in pots that they do not get pot-bound, or stunted for the want of water, or of being shifted. When it is necessary to supply water, give a good soaking, in a methodical manner, with tepid water, to which we add a small portion of liquid manure, and increase its strength as the plants become stronger. A good, healthy preparation should be provided for turning them out of the pots, if the weather is open and favourable, about the first week in February. Our system is to choose a good piece of ground in the valley, between two sloping banks, generally where ridge cucumbers, vegetable marrow, and the tetragonian spinach, &c., have been cultivated; because, a good provision, in the way of manure and pulverised soil, having been provided for such crops, and their season being over early in the autumn, it affords a good opportunity to provide, in due time, an excellent preparation for turning out the potted cauliflowers under hand-glasses.

OUR SLOPING BANKS for this purpose are cast up tolerably high, so as to afford sheltering-protection from the searching winds of the early spring; they are about 12 feet wide at the base, and about 4 feet higher at the centre than the valley between them, which is left about 5 or 6 feet wide, in order to have sufficient room for a row of handlights, a row of lettuce plants on each side, and an alley, about one foot wide, covered with cinder-ashes, or shingle, to walk on, far giving air, watering, &c. The banks which are cast, or trenched up into ridges, are often forked over, particularly on frosty mornings, and are planted in succession on both sides with cauliflowers; and when the cauliflower-crop is taken off, the same ground is planted with celery, besides which, a good preparation is to a considerable extent, ready provided for the celery in the valleys between, as well as the banks of earth on each side, for blanching it on the six feet bedding system, as previously directed. It is also laying an excellent foundation for the

onion crop the succeeding year; and for winter coleworts, or early spring cabbage, to succeed the onions.

The outsides of the celery banks should be slightly protected for the next five or six weeks, and a fine, open, drying day chosen for the last earth being applied to the latest crop. Keep a watchful eye over the early brocoli crops. If the weather continues severe, a handful of pea-haulm, fern, or dry mulch of some kind, placed over the heart of each plant, forms a very good protection.

SEA-KALE succession, of a small portion at a time, or only to the extent which is absolutely necessary to keep the requisite supply, should be covered with fermenting materials, and carefully attended to, in order to observe that a kindly and moderate warmth about it is maintained. The roots which have been taken up and forced, as previously recommended, may be beneficially assisted by the application of tepid liquid manure, and be made to produce several good cuttings. Forced rhubarb may be assisted in the same way, and succession of roots, placed in heat, will keep up any desired supply.

ROUTINE WORK.-Fermenting materials should now, by all possible speed, be collected together, and well wrought, so as to be in readiness for as many various purposes as at the coming season may be required for framing operations. Cucumber-beds, in frames or pits, not heated by tanks or pipes, will require strict attention, by the application of good, well-mixed hot materials, as additions to the linings; and one uniform heat must be well maintained. Slight hotbeds should be made, in succession, for asparagus, potatoes, radishes, &c.; and small salad should be sown in succession, in pans, and placed in a little warmth of some kind. Kidney beans may now be sown on well-prepared hot-beds; and famous early crops may thus be procured. Broad beans, likewise, may still be planted as extensively as required, according to the directions already given; and peas, also, of the early kinds, may be sown to any extent. Those that are already up, keep well mulched up with dry earth, &c.; and, if annoyed with mice, adopt some of the methods we have already described for destroying them. sparrow, too, is often found to be a very troublesome pest to the young peas; and, as soon as the pea is to be seen peeping through the earth, this little bird will make sad destruction among them. At the same time, no bird can be more easily frightened: the only thing is, to keep a watchful eye upon the peas, soon as they are breaking through the earth, strain a string of worsted, of any colour, from end to end of each row, keeping the thus strained worsted from four to six inches above the peas in the row, which will effectually prevent the sparrows touching them. Spinach and lettuces are often also attacked by the same bird in small gardens in early spring; but the above will always form an excellent protection.

The

and as

Plant spearmint either on smali hotbeds made for the purpose, or in pots, or large pans, according to the supply required. If a large supply of green mint is required, then make a slight hotbed for the purpose; but, if a small supply only be needed, a few plants may be potted, and placed either in the cucumber-bed or other heated structures. JAMES BARNES & W.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.

OUR VILLAGE WALKS.

At this season we turn, with pleasure, to every evergreen tree; and among those that we possess, the spruce fir has striking beauty. We are apt to disre

It

gard it during the period when other trees are in leaf -it is generally smothered up with the foliage of those that are grouped round it, and most frequently its lower boughs are destroyed, from various causes; so that it is overlooked, or passed by with little notice. But, in its unmutilated richness, it is a very beautiful and graceful tree, and invaluable during winter. is a livelier and more sprightly looking variety of the fir tribe than the Scotch fir, and is very ornamental in places where it either stands alone, or at such a distance from others as to preserve its lower branches in full vigour. It then spreads gracefully, and is green and healthy, and full of beauty. The cones are very ornamental in shape, and, in some of the varieties, they stand upright on the boughs, which has a very peculiar effect when the tree bears them thickly. These cones make excellent fuel; and I have been told, that when they are only used to feed the fire for smoking bacon, it receives improved flavour. I have never tasted any that has been smoked in this manner; but I remember a gentleman who always used them, as he considered them far superior to wood for that purpose. It may be interesting to those who can procure a sufficient quantity of fir cones, to try this experiment; and it would be a means of employing little children safely, and usefully, to pick them up.

The spruce fir, in its rich greenness and quiet dignity, forcibly reminds me always of the beautiful figure, used by the prophet Hosea, to describe the perfections of the glorious Head of the church—“ I am like a green fir tree; from me is thy fruit found." So many species of fir were known in the Holy Land, that writers have ever differed as to which was referred to in this striking passage; but I am contented with gazing on the tall, sweeping elegance of the spruce, and fancying it the dim, imperfect picture of Him who is "altogether lovely." Even in some of our secluded country walks, we meet with a group of these beautiful trees-and though they are then generally stripped of their lower boughs, and are, consequently, less beautiful, yet they still stand clothed in rich foliage, amid the dry and leafless trees of winter, reminding us of one who is "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever," and who will shine with perfect splendour when the destruction of all things comes. It tells us, too, that when all earthly pleasures fail-when the things that may have made us happy, fade and die around us-we have still "a Saviour, and a great one," whose glory and whose perfections fade not, and in whom alone we can find a fulness of joy, that no man can intermeddle with. From Him, also, is our "fruit found;" so that our weakness and unworthiness need not be mentioned, when we cast ourselves upon Him who is our righteousness." Let us always consider this when we see the green waving boughs of the beautiful spruce, and its tapering stem, pointing to heaven. Let us not be content to gaze on the objects round us simply as objects, but as subjects for thought and profit. The lingering leaves that still cling to the desolate boughs, flitter round us as the sudden gust shakes them from their slender hold, and remind us that "we all do fade as a leaf." They warn us, too, that all the bright things that decorate our earthly existence, are as fleeting and perishing, as dry and worthless as the leaves, when their vitality is withdrawn from them. It is not the bright sun, nor the sweet fresh air, nor the soft summer showers that give them life; neither can these preserve them from decay. The living principle is deeply seated, beyond human ken; the obedient sap obeys the impulse of

66

the Hand Divine, and decks the tree with all its glory. When circulation ceases, when the sap no longer stimulates and feeds the leaf, it droops and dies, in spite of all the rains and sunbeams that can cheer and nourish it. Does not the thoughtful Christian understand this? Has it not a word of instruction for him, as he lingers amid the still beautiful woods, and tracks the winding path through beds of fallen leaves? Do our blessings spring from the things of this world? Does our happiness depend on outward sources? Is there not a hidden life that gives our pleasures all their sweetness, and, when they are snatched from us, gives us a sure hope of richer and more glorious ones, in a world that knows no decay? Unless our peace springs from a deeper source than worldly blessings, it will surely wither and die.

Even now there is a relic of the past summer on some of the hedges. The downy clusters of the wild clematis still clothe the leafless sprays in some places, and remind us of the beautiful flowers that wreathed and waved around them in wild luxuriance, a few months since. It is pleasing to see even the remnants of the warmth and sweetness of summer; particularly when the depth of the winter is over, and we feel that we are again hastening towards the resplendent sun, and shall soon be looking for springing plants, and budding flowers, among the fields and hedges. The bramble, in some places, is never wholly out of leaf. Its strong leaves remain throughout the winter, although less green and bright; and, see it where we may, there is a grace in the form and drooping attitude of this beautiful wild plant, that never fails to please the eye. There is a species of bramble, said to be found only in the Holy Land, and therefore distinguished by the name of "holy bramble;" but our own wild plant grows there too, in some places, though not so generally as it does here. It is scarcely possible to look at the bramble, without thinking of those troubled times, when Jotham stood forth on "the top of Mount Gerizim," and uttered a parable against the sin and folly of the men of Shechem. Let us, as we stand admiring its rich waving masses beneath the trees, or in the deep silence of the beautiful glades and openings, hear a voice as from the top of Gerizim. Let us remember the end of Abimelech; the end of all who do evil. God will as surely "render the wickedness" of all who sin against his laws, as he did that of the slayers of his brethren. Let us remember, too, the deep lesson taught in the parable, for we are proud in our own weakness, and ever but too ready to exalt ourselves. A simple hedge-plant may do us good, if we will but listen to its voice, and hear all it can say. We need not go far for instruction; lessons of wisdom are sown for us by the way-side-they are scattered thickly around us, but we do not attend to them. We admire the beauty of the object, but its words are not heard. Do we not reject the word of God Himself? Do we not suffer "the wicked one to catch away "that which is sown in our hearts ?" Are we not ever, in spiritual things, hearers "by the way-side ?"

LIST OF PANSIES.

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WE have received the following correct list of pansies from Mr. Grieves, an eminent grower, near Edinburgh (see Advertisement). We insert them for the benefit of our readers who may wish to add to their stock this spring :

France Cycole (Grieves).-Flower, large; form, first-rate; petals, dark puce, of velvety texture; lower petals, broadly belted with

exactly the same tint; centre, pale primrose; blotch, dark puce; eye, gold colour, forming altogether a superb variety.

Alexander (Grieves).-Centre, pure white; upper and lower petals, broadly belted with blue, form and substance, extra good. Augustus (D. & Co.).-Ultra-marine; belt and upper petals, rich puce, and dark blotch in the centre.

Beauty of Arnotdale (Russell).-Yellow and blue, fine blotch, but thin.

Byron (D. & Co.).-Gold and purple; fine form and substance; blotch, dense.

Caroline (Turner).—White and blueish purple; good shape; an excellent flower.

Cossack (Thomson).-Dark marroon self; an extra good flower. Criterion (D. & Co.).-Bright chrome, with rich bronze-crimson belt and upper petals; smooth edge; extra form and substance; colours, fast.

Duke of Norfolk (Bell).-Yellow and dark marroon, purple ; beautiful blotch.

Jessie Wilson (Downie).-Rich, dark purple; edge, smooth ; fine form and texture.

Lucy Neal (Scotcher).-Dark purple self; good shape, and flat, but thin.

Magnificent (Nelson).-Fine shaded ruby puce; the three under petals delicately laced with white; of great substance; an extra fine flower. Marchioness of Ailsa (—).—Straw and fine purple; fine blotch; form, size, and substance, extra; a fine flower.

Marchioness().-Orange self; fine blotch; size, large; of

good substance.

Marquis of Tweedale (Downie).-Yellow centre; belt and upper petals, dark marroon; large, and of fine substance.

Miss Wedderburn (Currie).-White with dark blue belt and upper petals; fine shape and substance.

Orion (D. & Co.).-Yellow, and rich bronze crimson belt and upper petals; very flat, smooth, and round.

Orestes (Gosset).-Gold, and rich bronze crimson; a good flower.

MY GARDEN NOTES.

As Mr. Beaton did me the honour, some time since, to intimate that my communications to THE COTTAGE GARDENER would be acceptable, I take the opportunity afforded by these long winter evenings to hand you an epitome of many little discoveries I have made during my initiatory experiments and inquiries into the secrets of horticulture.

of my

GREEN-FLY.—First, I will just talk a little of that pest of pests-the "Fly." Everybody knows-both amateur and professional-what difficulty is experienced in keeping this intolerable invader under; especially with regard to those delightful tribes of plants, the Calceolaria and Cineraria, which greet us with their early blossoms, when all else is dreary and desolate; and, on that account alone, are doubly prized. I last year did my utmost, and put my whole scanty stock of knowledge to the test, in my endeavours to repel the enemy; but all in vain. I could not afford time to syringe the plants with tobacco-water, and again with clear water; and smoking seemed useless-the "fly" prevailed-and a woeful spectacle were my plants. I thought this was a disgrace, but on entering the "houses' friends, I found they were as bad off as myself. There was something satisfactory in not being alone; but I determined to have no more to do with them, unless I could grow something respectable without much trouble (or, I should say time, as trouble to an enthusiast is a relish). However, when autumn arrived, I thought I would make another trial; so at the proper season took up some nice little suckers, and housed them. In process of time, there was their old foe! I thought it a hopeless case, but all at once an idea struck me, which I immediately put in practice. I could not but conceive, if the essence of tobacco would extirpate them, surely the odour from the "weed" itself would prove efficacious; I consequently chopped some very fine, and spread over the surface of the mould in the pots, and I have the satisfaction of observing, that the effluvium arising from it, while in the damp state (which, of course, is always the case), has fully realised my expectation: the plants are holding up their heads,

showing trusses of bloom, and not an insect to be seen on them.

I should tell you, that I have very few plants of the kind mentioned, owing to my failure last year; but if the plan answers with half-a-dozen, it will with a hundred. It has the advantage of saving much trouble, and is by no means unsightly.

SOOT.-The next piece of advice I have to offer to your cottage readers and amateurs, is "save your soot;" do not allow a particle of it to be taken from your premises. If it is so valuable to the farmer, that he will give 6d. or 8d. for what is called a bushel, it is surely valuable to every cultivator of even a rod of ground. In proof of the high estimation in which it is held in this district, I have a case in point. I have never allowed the sweepers to take it from my premises, but pay them extra for cleansing the chimnies. This week, a fresh hand came to perform the operation of sweeping my parlour chimney, which, when done, I tendered the sum I had always paid-one shilling; our black prince shook his head, saying, "that wouldn't do; if he left the sut, he must have 1s. 6d." I asked the reason he demanded more, to which he replied, "the sut's worth 2s. to me." The chimney being very foul there was what I would call a bushel. This will prove very acceptable; and I will now explain my mode of using it. We all know what a terror the sparrows, the slugs, the snails, and the mice are in early spring, just as our peas, &c., are peering above ground, when the earth offers scarcely a blade or berry for the sustenance of any animal that either crawls or flies. manner of contrivances are adopted to save the rising crops from their ravages, which, in nine cases out of ten, may be avoided by the simple application of

soot.

All

When I sow my first crops of peas, I cover the

rows, about three inches in width, and half an inch deep, with soot, and they are safe; for under that, beast, bird, insect, or worm durst not enter.

My friend who saw the application, observed, "That will not do-it will burn the young plant immediately it rises above the soil." But I urged, that the frequent rains in spring would destroy its caustic property before the young shoot reached it; meantime, its dark colour would, by its attraction of the heat of the sun, promote the growth of the plant, its essence would be washed down gradually to the young roots, and when the plant is at maturity, nothing would be so beneficial as to go along each side of the rows, turning in that which has not been hoed up as deep as the spade will reach.

I felt the advantage of this treatment in the splendid crops of peas I gathered last year, which were most abundant, and of very superior quality. I have known its application to prove exceedingly advantageous at the time of sowing any kind of seed in early spring, but it must, on no account, be used when the tender plant is just above ground, or the whole may be destroyed; nor can I advise its employment in summer, as I have not yet tried it.

This paper having extended beyond what I intended, I must postpone further remarks for the pre

sent.

W. SAVAGE, Friary Cottage, Winchester.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of THE COTTAGE GARDENER. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and expense; and we also request our coadjutors under no circumstances to reply to such private communications.

REGISTER OF RAIN (R. Denison).-Thanks for this. It will be of use both to ourselves and a friend who is preparing a work on meteorological statistics. It was quite impossible to answer your

question earlier. We are obliged to be nearly a week in advance ín printing.

COLOURS HARMONISING (P. L. S.).-Red, yellow, and blue are contrasts. The unpleasantness of their association may be softened by putting other colours between them. The three can never be said to be harmonious colours, however mixed together. In all specimens of good colouring, the key colour should predominate. COCHIN CHINA FOWLS (D. T-k, and A Poultry Fancier).-Our correspondents wish to know whether these are purchaseable any where.

THOMSON'S ELEMENTS OF METEOROLOGY (H. N.).-Blackwood & Sons, Paternoster Row. 18s.

VERBENA AND HELIOTROPE CUTTINGS (A. M.)-We presume your plants are thin, long-legged, and straggling, from want of plenty of air, and neglect of judicious stopping-that is, nipping out the points of the shoots, just to make them bushy. You might do so now; or, if you want greatly to increase your stock, you might get a mild hot-bed in the course of a month, and take off all the points of the shoots as cuttings, when they would strike root readily, and, in all probability, make better plants than their parents.

HEATING A SMALL GREENHOUSE (J. E. B.).-The leaves of your Cinerarias, &c., are injured, owing to the gases which escaped from the stoves you used in the interior of the house, which is apt to be the case with all of them, whatever the construction-vegetation, in this respect, being even more sensitive than men. The evil would be greatly increased by the stoves getting heated red, as yours did. There is a want of a remedy for such cases as yours, merely because great tradesmen hardly think it worth their while to trouble themselves about devising the cheapest and best mode of heating a greenhouse, ten feet by ten, with a span-roof. Hot water would give you most satisfaction, and entail upon you least trouble. One of Eley and Foulchers 14-inch saddle boilers would cost two pounds. If you are near a foundry, you might get one cast with two flanges to fix a flow and return-pipe upon, for less than the half of the money, and, although you had to cover the top with a lid, it would answer well enough. Then 20 feet of 4-inch pipe would cost a pound more. If the boiler was so elevated that the pipes came straight from it, then you would incur no additional price for elbows there, and would merely require once to connect the flow and return-pipe together. The bricks required would depend upon circumstances. Such a house could be effectually, and more economically, heated by a small flue running round the house, or even beneath the floor of the house; but in the latter case the fire-place must be sunk deep, to give a good draught. A very clever gardener has heated several small houses by this latter means. His flues are extremely small-merely the depth of a brick set upon its edge, and only a little wider; å thinnish tile covers it; and then over that, overlapping the joints, is placed another tile, which forms part of the flooring, so that you see no means of heating whatever. An open space is left on each side of the flue, below the flooring-tiles, to allow the heat to spread. We saw them on a very cold day, and the houses were quite comfortable. The secret of success, in such narrow flues, is giving a good rise from the fire-place. Such a house might also be heated from a fire-place in the dwelling-house if contiguous; but the botheration counterbalances the saving. Any one may fix the water-pipes, and any bricklayer can make the flue.

CATS (Ibid).-We quite feel for you, and the more so that we can offer you no effectual assistance. We know they are sad gardeners, but they are not an unmixed evil. Where they congregate, mice and rats, &c., will keep at a respectful distance. A well-trained dog would keep them away; but then he would disturb you and your neighbours, and might prove a bad gardener too at times. Cats are most easily trapped, and easily poisoned; but then these are no humane methods for preventing their intrusion; and, if at all indulged in, would bring a host of old women about your ears.

ASPECT FOR AN APRICOT (G. B. R., S. bank).-It is hard to choose. We fear that in the first case you propose, there would be a serious compromise, provided plants, and perhaps vines, were in the house. The chances in the second and third cases given, are nearly balanced. We should prefer the last, provided the wall, generally, is warmed by the fire behind. Apricots delight in a warm wall. MOVING A VINE (Ibid).-There is no use in shortening the long roots of your Vines; we would rather lengthen them. The bruised ends should be pruned.

PROTECTION FOR WALL-TREES (S. 0. L.).-We have covered with canvas for twenty years, and find it everything we desire; for we rarely miss a crop of fruit. Staples are driven in beneath the coping, 8 feet apart. At every staple, in the beginning of March, we affix a pole half a yard from the wall, at bottom, and fastened beneath the coping at top. The canvas has a rope let in for selvage, and ropes from that are passed through the staples at top, and hence it is readily pulled up and down, within a foot of the ground. Augurholes are bored through the poles, and a large peg, projecting nearly a foot, stuck in each hole. The canvas, when off, is lowered on to these pegs, to prevent it touching the ground, and thence rotting; and the rope readily reinstates the canvas. Many other plans there are, but we have seen no better. Of course, pullies would be more complete than staples. Our canvas costs about fivepence a square yard; and has hitherto been purchased of "Hulme, Paradise-green, Knutsford." The Fring Park scheme we are ignorant of.

CHICORY (J. N. Bott).-Can any one inform our correspondent whether chicory roots are sold in the London market in a green or dry state, and who are the purchasers.

LONDON: Printed by HARRY WOOLDRIDGE, 147, Strand, in the Parish of Saint Mary-le-Strand; and Winchester, High-street, in the Parish of St. Mary Kalendar; and Published by WILLIAM SOMERVILLE ORR, at the Office, 147, Strand, in the Parish of Saint Mary-le-Strand, London.-January 17th, 1850.

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CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL-This commemoration of the conversion of the greatest enemy of our faith, to be one who "laboured more abundantly" than any of the other apostles to promote its diffusion "among all nations," was first instituted A.D. 813, but not adopted into the ritual of our church until 1662. For many centuries we find it recorded in all writers upon the weather, that from the meteorological phenomena of this day might be deduced the fortunes of the entire year. Lloyd, in his "Diall of Daies," says " From this day the husbandmen prognosticate the whole year: if it be windy, there will be wars; and if it be cloudy, it doth foreshow the plague that year." In "The Shepherd's Almanack" for 1676, we find-"If the sun shines on St. Paul's day, it betokens a good year; if it rain or snow, indifferent; if misty, great dearth; and if it thunder, great winds, and death of peeple, that year." It is not needful now to add Gay's warning

"Let no such vulgar tales debase thy mind-
Nor Paul nor Swithin rules the clouds and wind."

INSECTS.-The Carpenter, or Leaf-cutter bees are among the insects marked by habits which approach closely to those of superior intellect. Kirby and Spence describe them as "hangers of tapestry," and the species we have selected-Megachile centunculariswell illus

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METEOROLOGY OF THE WEEK.-The highest average temperature during the last 23 years, of the above seven days, is 44.2°; and the average lowest 32.7°. Of the 161 days, 96 were fine, and on 65 rain occurred. The highest point reached by the thermometer was 56° on the 28th in 1848; and the lowest, on the 27th in 1827, was 17.

NATURAL PHENOMENA INDICATIVE OF WEATHER.-Pigs running about, or hastening home squeaking, and throwing up their heads with a particular jerk, indicate the approach of windy weather. Hence the common saying, that "pigs can see the wind." Nightmare, though usually caused by an overloaded stomach, yet often occurs when the weather changes during the night. The same observation applies to the distressing dreams which some persons have in particular kinds of weather. An east wind beginning to blow during the night will often cause them, and sometimes the same are produced by the atmospheric changes preceding a heavy fall of snow.

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trates their mode of furnishing their solitary cell, entitling them to be so described. The insect is of the size shown by the cross lines by the side of It is of a our drawing. pitchy hue, its legs yellowish, the abdomen ringed with white lines, and the whole covered with yellowish, woolly hairs. To line its dwelling, it cuts out circular pieces from the leaves of roses, the petals of pelargoniums, &c., and the whole has been thus described :"August 2.-Cut out this morning, from an old oaken rail, the nest of the Carpenter bee-a curious receptacle, well known to many persons; but yet it merits attention, because it seems to be a construction upon which more than usual foresight has been manifested-it not being merely an asylum in which the young may be matured in quiet, but secured against external annoyance from its most destructive enemy by a contrivance so unusual and effective, that it appears formed from the result of a reasoning upon probabilities. This creature-a short, stout, plain bee-mines a tubular channel into some decayed woody substance-a post, pale, or some such thing-boring in the direction of the fibre, making her repository at the bottom, being sufficiently deep for her purpose. She cuts from the leaf of a rose several large pieces, often an half, conveying them to the bottom of her cave, and rolling them up so as to form a case; in this she deposits an egg. The mouth of the cave is then covered with five or six circular patches of leaves; fragments of wood, like saw-dust, are then lodged over them, and the remainder of this channel filled up with other patches of the leaf, requiring, perhaps, twenty or more to accomplish it. This requires no great effort or time to effect, the active workman labouring with great assiduity; but the conveyance of the fragments which form the nest seems to be attended with much fatigue, for I have often seen this bee, with its burden drawn between its legs, retire to rest against the bole of a tree, or upon a wall, the abdomen contracting and dilating with rapidity, like the sides of a creature after exertion. Having acquired strength, her labours are resumed. All these layers and sawdust are designed to secure the larva from punctures by the Ichneumon fly, which is constantly seeking for caterpillars of various insects, in which to deposit her egg: this hatches and grows with their growth, feeding on their vitals, consuming them, and perfecting itself. But all these guards effectually prevent the purport of the fly-the larva remaining safe in its asylum until sufficiently matured; it then penetrates through all these layers, assuming the form of the parent bee. I believe the rose, and the cytisus laburnum only, are made use of for these circular layers. In this specimen the larva was perfected; but, at an earlier period, an egg would have been found, with a reservoir of glutinous matter near it, to constitute the food of the hatched creature."

As the young root, described at p. 206, always advances in the direction most suited to its nourishment, and into the medium where it can best exercise its functions, so does the young plantlet as invariably direct itself towards the surface of the soil, where its leaves, stem, and other superior parts can

No. LXIX., VOL. III.

develope themselves, and perform the functions designed for them at their creation.

The requisites, in search of which their upward course is directed, are air and light, but especially the first, for the plantlet rises above the surface, though the seed is germinated in a totally dark room;

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