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me for some hempseed, first prepared it by crushing it, and then fed the invalid with it, most affectionately. It has continued the same kind

offices ever since.-H. B.

Husky Sky-lark.-I have a very fine lark, in his fifth year. His notes this spring have become thick and husky. How can I cure him?-J. S., Cowes, I. W.

[Give him boiled milk for three days (fresh every morning), instead of water, and keep him from all draughts. Do not attempt to hang him up, out of doors, till the weather is settled. Wait a little for the receipt to make German paste. It is under consideration. If you want a practical work on "British Song Birds," take this JOURNAL by all means. In one single twelvemonth, it will be a complete Encyclopædia.]

FLOWERS AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS.

THERE are at the very least, two advantages in a taste for flowers. The first is produced by the culture of them, which, since it excludes all wilfulness, haste, and impatience, quiets the mind, cheers it by ever-cherished hope, and, since this seldom deceives, gladdens it with quiet joy. But the second and chief advantage consists in this-that every flower is in miniature the image of entire nature, and contains all its security, order, peace, and beauty. The flower unfolds itself silently according to necessary laws, and under necessary conditions; and, if those fail, it cannot flourish. Like a child upon the mother's bosom, so it hangs upon and sucks the sun and air, the earth and water; it is but a part of the great whole of nature, from which it cannot live separated. It is fairest in blossom, but in every stage of development it has peculiar charms.

Who can say what color of the rainbow is the fairest, since all are born from the same ray of light? As nature is without evil, so are flowers the image of innocence and harmlessness, and the sight of them soothes and calms, like the countenance of a conscientious man who is without reserve and guile. The abode of the first man, in his innocence, was a garden; in a garden, among the lovely children of spring, we again find paradise; here we dream of the bliss of innocence, here soothe tumultuous desires, and a gentle longing fills the heart. The lake-rose swims and bathes in the moist element, which, fertilising, pervades the earth, and lifts up its Who thus can swim in the fullness of unicrown to the sun, like a clear, calm eye. versal life, washed pure from all selfishness, and thus look up, unshrinking, with pure eye?

Lovely, bright, radiant flowers! are ye not like stars, which the Creator has scattered to illumine and adorn the dark earth? Are ye not as heavenly messengers, who have come down upon the sunbeams, to bring us tidings of a world in which all blooms in beauty, rapture, peace? Therefore is it that the children, who too have come from heaven, and still retain their innocence, play with you so like sisters; therefore is it that Woman loves you, who bears in her feeling heart intimations of heaven; therefore we deck with you the graves of the beloved, because you point upward when they have gone to rest.P. B. S.

THE GARDEN,-GREENHOUSE.

Succulent Plants.-No. III.

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IF two plants only are placed in a window, How fair the tender plant which creeps they ought to be a pair;" that is, of the forth to the light! how lovely the juicy same size and general outline. If three green! how mysterious and full of intima- plants, the tallest should be placed in the tions the swelling bud! Some flowers are centre, and the other two (which ought to fairer than others, and none without some form a pair" by themselves) one on each property. And how manifold their beauty! side. If five plants, the tallest in the Thereby they are the truest image of nature, centre; two of uniform size next; and the which spreads itself before our view in in- smallest size outside, and so on. If you finite variety, and thus unveils the unfathom- have them two or three deep, the tallest able riches of the Creator. Partial florists plants should be at the back, arranged as may prefer the fragrant hyacinth, or the above; the smaller in front, so placed that showy auricula, or the rich carnation, or any the pots in one row should alternate with others; but who can say which is fairer than those in the next. By this arrangement, the other? and what feeling friend of nature more light is secured, which is very im will not love even the less fair? All are the portant. The group should resemble in lovely children of nature; and,as a mother outline the quarter of a sphere; the circular fondly presses all her offspring to her heart, part being in the front, facing the glass. because she discovers in all the beloved fea-This being a matter of taste only, some may tures of the father-so the true lover of think otherwise; but however arranged they nature fondly embraces all she brings forth, may be, let them have as much light as because her life is exhibited in all, however possible.

diverse.

Epiphyllum Ackermanii Minor is an in

ferior variety to others of this class. The leaves are thinner and less succulent (the height of the plant averages about 12 inches); the flowers which are also smaller, are flimsy and ragged, and the petals are of one hue, scarlet. It has this redeeming quality, however it is a "free bloomer;" it is also very pretty, although not equal to some others. These plants are very commonly seen in baskets and hampers, in spring and summer, and may be had for about Is. or 1s. 6d. each.

Epiphyllum Jenkensonii is a very good variety. The habit of the plant is showy; stems thick and angular, and the height of the plant from 18 inches to upwards of two feet. The color of the leaves a fine green. The flowers, which are of a fine scarlet, do not expand so much as the other Epiphyllums which I have noticed. The shape of the flower may be compared to a coffee-cup. The stamens in the interior are white, which, in contrast with the light scarlet color of the petals, gives a very delicate appearance to

it.

This is also a free bloomer. Epiphyllum Speciosum is a variety of which I am somewhat doubtful as to the name, but I shall describe the plant, so that there may be no mistake about it. Those which I have purchased for this plant, have pink flowerssome describe the flowers as red; it is this which makes me not quite certain whether I am right as to the name. The one I speak of has pink blossoms. The habit of the plant is very straggling; the leaves being round and about the thickness of a goose quill. Some of these grow flat at the top, which gives them a very untidy appearance. In some, the leaves are all flat; in others, all round; they bloom freely, and, mixed with others, look pretty. The flowers are small, but running, and care in tying up the plant, will do much to overcome its unsightly appearance.

Epihyllum Truncatum. This plant I have not had much experience with; yet I consider it ought to be classed among the others, from its beautiful appearance and distinct character. The leaves are pendulous, and in small joints, growing one out of the other in a very pretty manner. From these joints, the flowers are developed in large numbers; they are of a very beautiful rosy pink color. The time of its flowering is about Christmas, and therefore it requires different treatment to the others of this section. The foregoing plants will answer the purpose I have in view; but there are many others (which are being added to, every year) that are not generally very dissimilar from these.

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(which they ought to have been), they should now be re-potted; if they show signs of there being the least stagnation of water at the roots. If, on the contrary, they appear well drained, and there is no appearance of the earth having at any time become "soddened" (which soon shows by the earth looking green at the top), they may be grown still in the same earth, with the following treatment :-As soon as they begin to show signs of growth (which may be known by the leaves assuming a pinkish color at the tips, and small white, or pink swellings at the edges of the leaves), then the pot may be placed in a vessel of water (of the same temperature as the room they have been kept in) until it is evident that the whole ball of earth is thoroughly saturated with water. Then take it out, and let all the superfluous moisture drain from it. Should the leaves be dirty, they should be cleaned in the following manner. While in the vessel of water, let them be watered with a fine-rosed waterpot all over; then take a clean painter's brush, and while the leaves are wet, brush it all over very gently so as not to injure the buds. This loosens the dirt; and another shower overhead, from the waterpot, will make all quite clean; cleanliness is very important to the health of the plants, besides adding greatly to the beauty of their appearance. The plants must now have light and warmth, and they will soon make rapid growth. They may be watered whenever the pots appear to be getting dry.* Buds will soon form; these may be known from wood growth, by a vein-like swelling in the leaf of the plant, up to the bud itself, of a red tinge. After they have done flowering, they may be kept dry for a week or two, then re-pot them in the following manner. Invert the pot, allowing the ball of earth to rest on your hand by placing your finger on each side; then gently strike the pot on the rim, and it will very easily come off (the soil at this time ought to be dry). Then carefully shake the earth from the roots, taking care not to break or injure them. Have ready a clean pot (if new, it ought to be placed for a few minutes in water, and left to get dry again); at the bottom of this place a piece of broken pottery, so as to admit of the water running out easily at the hole in the bottom. Round this, place carefully some other pieces, so that drainage is secured. Then put more of

• Great care must herein be observed, as it is not at all

uncommon for the water to run down between the pot and the earth. In this case, the plant derives no benefit. To prevent this, place the pot in water, in the first instance, and continue it there. The better way, perhaps, of obviating the difficulty, would be to press the earth round the rim of the pot, up to the edge, leaving the top of the earth like a basin. The water must then pass through the ball of earth.

a small size in the interstices; the whole of which should not be less than 1 inches in height. On this place a little of the coarser soil, and then more of the soil over it, with which it will have to be filled up. It should be made as follows:-One-half of light garden mould, as free from dung (however decomposed) as possible; the poorer the better. With this, thoroughly incorporate one quarter part of soft porous brick, broken up into the size of small peas, and one quarter part of very old lime rubbish, which has been exposed to the atmosphere for years. Let this be all well mixed together; then with one hand hold the plant upright, placing the roots in the pot in the best manner possible, so as to prevent them becoming entangled. With the other hand gently sprinkle the soil in among the roots, holding the plant up, and shaking the pot and plant so that the soil may fill up all the crevices among the roots. Now press the soil down firm, and place the pots out in the open air, so that they may have the full benefit of the sun. Rain must be kept off (this will be in the months of June and July); | and in about ten days water them, not sooner; for if any of the roots have been injured, water will do them harm at that time. When they have grown as much as you wish-which should be determined by September at latest-withhold water, and let them be fully exposed to the sun to ripen their growth. As soon as the temperature begins to grow cool, take them into their winter quarters, and give them no water at all, till about the following March. Treated in this way, they will live during the winter, if they have light (and which is very important, several degrees of frost); this, how ever, of course should never be the case where it can be avoided, as it does no good, and may do harm. If, on the contrary, they are kept in a room where there is always a fire burning, with a temperature of 55 or 60 deg. by day, and say 40 deg. by night, they should have a little water about once a month during their season of rest. This treatment is entirely intended for plants located in dwelling-houses. I have grown and flowered them as well in this way, as many gardeners with well-fitted-up greenhouses and regular attendance.

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES.

Concluded from page 224.

N. B.

After the usual congratulations, &c., had been given and received, and other subjects arising out of them discussed, Mrs. George Tobin inquired what I thought of her arrangements, or rather how I liked her drawing-room? The tone in which she asked

was so modest, so far from self-satisfied, that it would have been a thousand pities to have put her out of conceit with an article in it, (and the arrangement of them was faultless). I answered, with the only complaisant reply truth left me, that it was very gay and pretty. And this it certainly was; for the brightpatterned paper-the amber-colored curtains, chair-covers, &c.,-the polished surface of the centre table, strewed with annuals and other ephemera of the book tribe, in their vary coloured silk bindingsan ottoman or two, covered in needle-work and really beautiful specimens of my friend's imitative art and industry-with divers glittering ornaments, and a perfect chimney glass, gave a very pleasing tout ensemble to the room. It was only as you perceived the worthless quality of its fineness, that you became discontented with its pretensions. Our sitting-room, as you have seen,' said my friend, is very poorly furnished, but everything must have a beginning.' I could not help thinking how much better it would have been to have begun on the foundation floor, and Mrs. Tobin went on And George says, it does not signify so much for ourselves, but that it is abso lutely necessary to keep up appearances,' and have one smart room for visitors.' How many fall into my friend Mrs. George Tobin's error, and prefer keeping up exterior appearances to concentrating homecomforts, and making their common hearth the gathering place of all that can add to the charm of a husband's society, and tend to strengthen his affection. I have no great hopes of the future for them, for I find the greater part of my friend's fortune has gone to pay her husband's debts, and with the remainder a showy, second-hand phaeton has been purchased, by way of carrying out his principle and keeping up appear ances.'

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of life began to launch into supernumerary Formerly, when a person in the middle ranks expenses, and affect the airs and elegances of the higher order, men wrote as it was vulgarly but pithily expressed Snug' over his door; and young men, on the look-out for wives, knew exactly where it was safe to commence a suit. Wanting the income tax, one's expenditure was the index of his possessions and the outward and visible sign of a warm homestead and easy circumstances; whereas now, it is more frequently the beacon on a shifting sand or sunken rock, and equally to be avoided; for I have often observed, that in proportion to the want of means, becomes the desire to affect them. This keeping up of appearances' is the bane of all friendly feeling and hospitality. The pleasantest of all parties were those impromptu gatherings of the young people of

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one family at the house of another (of course, I speak of a middle class of society), when a game at forfeits, a carpet dance, and a light and cheerful supper, without fuss or parade, sent every one home happy, and in good humour with themselves and their acquaintance. Now, the mistress of a family closes her doors upon her neighbours (and her heart at the same time,) except at certain periods of the year, because, forsooth, she cannot do as other people do,' the other people in the case applying to a rich old admiral, or Eastern nabob, while the lady, perchance, is the wife of some poor lieutenant, or a government clerk with a limited income. Then the strivings and starvings, till her drawing-room is furnished as fine, if not as richly, as Mrs. Jonquill's; and the staying within doors, till her dress will bear inspection by the side of her rival; for this is the true name, in these days, of those who, from their position, were formerly looked upon as the next best friends to your own family. Alas! hospitality has merged in hollow ostentation; friendship refuses to see her own set, except in full dress, and by the blaze of ill-afforded wax-lights-and we have lost, with the solid furniture and oakwainscoted halls of our fathers, the warm welcome that met you smiling at the threshold, and (passported by friendship) led you with both hands, to the softest seat or coziest fireside corner, the cordiality of your host making you feel as if lapped in eider down, and shod with velvet. Nor is this love of keeping up appearances always confined to the style of one's furniture, entertainments, or dress. I remember hearing of a young lady who, on the occasion of her sister's marriage, talked very largely of her house in the Regent's Park, but as there are always enterprising friends, to find out the truth of good, as well as evil reports, it soon became known that the Park Mansion meant a Cottage at North-bank. Have you far to go?' said another friend to a young lady, who was about to walk home with her servant from an evening party. 6 Only as far as Cavendish-square,' was the rejoinder. Here the Square stood in the place of an adjacent Street, to which I hear it bears but a very slight analogy. As to male pretenders of this sort, there is no end of them-and I am told it is no unusual thing for many of them to keep up appearances' by forming a sub-rosâ acquaintance with tradesmen in a fashionable quartier,' to whose houses their letters, &c., are addressed while they locate themselves up three pair of stairs, in some cheap terra incognita. I was amused the other day, by the pertinent remarks of an octogenarian lady, relative to these finical pretensions of the present day. There are no women now-a-days,' she observed, they are all ladies; and the men have undergone

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a similar refinement. All the pies are pâtés, and, if in the early season summer cabbage appears on table, it is helped under the name of greens, while with the very bluest of London milk before them, people ask if you take cream to your tea.' But one is content to laugh at these nominal affectations of keeping up appearances-it is an imposition in sound only, and cheats no one. Not so that which fetters a man's income, beggars his children, and defrauds his creditors. Why then be shackled by so false a vanity? Independence and self-respect are so much better worth endeavoring after, and so essentially preclude the necessity for 'keeping up appearances,' that the experiment, like other patent nostrums of our day, needs but a trial to insure its success. I find, however, that the mania is so deep rooted and wide spread through the various ramifications of society, that the only way to escape its falsehoods, or the being hoaxed by its pretensions, till all shall be convinced of its folly, is to wear, by way of fetish, the opposite-and let me add, apposite — axiom, Appearances often deceive.'-C. W.

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RUSTIC

OUR NOTE BOOK.

-

BASKETS FOR FLOWER-BEDS. Amongst the many modes and appliances called into use for the embellishment and diversification of the flower-garden, perhaps there are none that deserve a greater amount of patronage than the rustic basket. Its construction is simple and cheap, and it furnishes us with the means of bringing into happy combination plants of various basket, which in different situations may be habits. Of course the size and shape of the various, must be kept in view. One I have lately used is of the simplest form, being a mere circle constructed with staves of birch or elm, with the bark on; it stands about 18 inches above, and is sunk as much below the surface of the lawn; its diameter is 10 feet, over which are two arches, formed with six iron rods, crossing at 5 feet above the top of the basket. The centre was planted with Ageratum odoratum; then two rows of scarlet geranium; the edge with the old trailing variety of ivy-leaved geranium, and Troaltogether it had a pleasing effect. The ivypæolum canariensis was trained over the handles leafed geranium harmonises well with the rough bark that forms the sides of the basket, to which it should be fastened with a few shreds, to prevent its being broken by the wind.-P. SCOLDING, in the Gardeners' Journal.

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of uneasiness and disgust; I came, I went, I returned without pleasure; yet if by any means I passed by the usual time of my going thither, I was remarkably uneasy, and was not quiet till I had got into my old track. They who use snuff, take it almost without being sensible that they take it, and the acute sense of smell is deadened, so as to feel hardly anything from so sharp a stimulus; yet deprive the snuff-taker of his box, and he is the most uneasy mortal in the world.-Burke.

AFFECTIONS.-It appears unaccountable that our teachers generally have directed their instructions to the head, with very little attention to the heart. From Aristotle down to Locke, books without number have been composed for cultivating and improving the understanding; but few, in proportion, for cultivating and improving the affections.

THE BUSY WORLD.-People who live amid the hurry and the bustle of large cities, are seldom able to study the various shades of human character, like those who, having fewer objects to divert their attention, have also more time to observe. In great cities people come and go. You do not meet the same face perhaps more than once a-year, and then, except that time may have underlined the stronger features, the face is dressed exactly in the same manner. The same smiles, the same expression, whether it be born of pain or pleasure, and, it may be, the same phrase is repeated, either in the way of question or reply; for those greetings are all generally alike. In the busy world your sympathies have no time to take root-the wheel revolves, the kaleidoscope is shaken, you forget and are forgotten; the more wide your field of observation, the less leisure you have for thought; you know of a moral certainty that every creature you meet has a distinct and positive character of his or her own; you know, too, they dwell in your memory only as black, brown, or fair.

COLORS IN LADIES' DRESS. · Incongruity may be frequently observed in the adoption of colors without reference to their accordance with the complexion or stature of the wearer. We continually see a light blue bonnet and flowers surrounding a sallow countenance, or a pink opposed to one of a glowing red; a pale complexion associated with canary or lemon yellow, or one of delicate red and white rendered almost colorless by the vicinity of deep red. Now, if the lady with the sallow complexion had worn a transparent white bonnet, or if the lady with the glowing red complexion had lowered it by means of a bonnet of a deeper red color; if the pale lady had improved the cadaverous hue of her countenance by surrounding it with pale green, which, by contrast, would have suffused it with a delicate pink hue, or had the face

"Whose red and white

Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on,"

been arrayed in a light blue, or light green, or in a transparent white bonnet, with blue or pink flowers on the inside, how different, and how much more agreeable would have been the impression on the spectator! How frequently again do we see the dimensions of a tall and embonpoint figure magnified to almost Brobdignagian proportions by a white dress, or a small woman re

duced to Lilliputian size by a black dress! Now, as the optical effect of white is to enlarge objects, and that of black to diminish them, if the large woman had been dressed in black, and the small woman in white, the apparent size of each would have approached the ordinary stature, and the former would not have appeared a giantess, or the latter a dwarf.-Mrs. Merrifield.

GOOD TEMPER.

BY CHARLES SWAIN.

There's not a cheaper thing on earth,
Nor yet one half so dear;
'Tis worth more than distinguish'd birth,
Or thousands gain'd a year.
It lends the day a new delight;
'Tis virtue's firmest shield;
And adds new beauty to the night
Than all the stars may yield.

It maketh poverty content;

To sorrow whispers peace; It is a gift from Heaven sent

Far mortals to increase.

It meets you with a smile at morn;
It lulls you to repose;

A flower for peer and peasant born,
An everlasting rose.

A charm to banish grief away,

To snatch the brow from care;
Turns tears to smiles, makes dulness gay-
Spreads gladness everywhere;
And yet 'tis cheap as summer-dew,
That gems the lily's breast;
A talisman for love, as true
As ever man possess'd.

As smiles the rainbow through the cloud
When threat'ning storm begins-
As music 'mid the tempest loud,

That still its sweet way wins-
As springs an arch across the tide,
Where waves conflicting foam,
So comes this seraph to our side,

This angel of our home.

What may this wond'rous spirit be,
With power unheard before-
This charm, this bright divinity?
Good temper-nothing more!
Good temper;-'tis the choicest gift
That woman homeward brings;
It can the poorest peasant lift
To bliss unknown to kings.

Flowers and the Fair Sex.

FLOWERS are prettily said to be "terrestrial stars, that bring down Heaven to earth and carry up our thoughts from earth to Heaven.". WOMAN, lovely woman, has been still more prettily defined as "something between a flower and an angel." Having both these "gifts" to gladden us,-what happy, merry fellows we MEN ought to be!

LONDON: Published for WILLIAM KIDD, by WILLIAM SPOONER, 379, Strand, (to whom ALL Letters, Parcels, and Communications, Addressed to "the Editor,' and BOOKS FOR REVIEW, are to be forwarded); and Procurable, by order, of every Bookseller and Newsvendor in the Kingdom.

LONDON: M, S. MYERS, Printer, 22, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden.

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