stands greatly in need of it. All fermenting materials should be repeatedly turned, and kept as snugly together as possible, ready for use when required. Hot-beds already made, and worked by fermenting materials, should now be sheltered with flat made faggots, tied in sufficient lengths to reach the top, and with two, three, or more, withes, if needed, to keep them snug. Refuse prunings, evergreens, and furze, are all excellent things for this purpose; and in localities where such things are not obtainable thatched hurdles may be used with advantage. Linings to hot-beds require good protection at this season, or the heat may be very soon lost by drenching rains, or by snow and cutting winds. The beds should, also, be well topped up with dry mulch, hay, or leaves. BROAD BEANS.-Those who have not already done so, may make a good planting of broad beans at the present time, according to directions already given. SEA-KALE should be covered up on nice fine days, either with leaves only, or any other steady fermenting materials, the great secret being, as before stated, not to force it too fast. Always make good use of the quick-lime bag before the pots are put over the crowns. We always keep a quantity of quick-lime by us in a box or tub, and a coarse linen bag ready for dusting, when needed, for the destruction of slugs. As soon as our stock of lime is nearly exhausted we have in another bushel or two. The tub stands in a dry open shed, where the lime slacks of its own accord, and is always ready for use. MUSHROOM BEDS, in the common sheds, should have their share of attention; if water is needed it should be tepid, and given from a very fine-rosed water-pot. The best covering is refuse or mouldy hay: the coverings should be regulated by the heat of the beds or the out-door temperature; of course, if the bed is cold, and the external atmosphere cold too, the beds will require extra coverings to make up for it. Look well over the garden on the first symptoms of a frosty night, to see that nothing wants attention; do not stop until the next day, and then say, "Iwish I had covered that quarter of celery,-taken in that lot of endive,-or attended to those turnips," &c. How often have we heard persons say, "I little thought that the frost would have been so sharp last night; it actually froze in my green-house, or potato-frame," as the case may be. But all would have been right bad a little more thought and industry been made use off. JAMES BARNES & W. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. OUR VILLAGE WALKS. (No. 11.) ONE of the most beautiful scenes in nature is presented by a hoar-frost. I am not sure that even summer itself has any thing more lovely, particularly when it is lighted up by a bright, frosty sun; and, in spite of the cold that nips our fingers and quickens our steps, we cannot help lingering and standing to admire. A few days ago, a very thick hoar-frost mantled the earth, and almost looked like snow. The whole country, as well as every tree and bush, and blade, were milk-white with the delicate incrustation: there was a frosty mist in the distance that made us shiver, yet a warm sun looked down from a cloudless sky, and caused every thing immediately around to sparkle like diamonds. The young wheat glittered beautifully, bending beneath bright drops; and the dead blossoms and stalks of the grass, left standing in pastures where sheep had fed, were so completely covered with rime, that the ground seemed as if yielding flowers of frosted silver. I never saw anything more beautiful, and where a sheltered sunny spot permitted one to pause, it was quite like enchantment to look around. The boughs of the fir-trees, and of the gracefully spreading cedar, look doubly beautiful when delicately and minutely defined by the touch of the hoar-frost's pencil; the evergreens, and the lingering leaves of the wild hedge-plants, look so silvery and bright, and the branches and twigs of all sorts and sizes are so distinctly marked and beautified, that the eye never wearies of passing from one object to another of equal though varied loveliness, and then viewing the whole as a mass of sparkling splendour. I have often heard my father describe a sight he once-and only once-was fortunate enough to see, and probably few persons have witnessed anything like it. During the winter, after a heavy rain, a sharp and sudden frost set in, while every thing was still soaked with wet. The water froze on the trees, and in the morning the country seemed like a world of glass. Although this phenomenon, as it really may be called, lasted but a very short time, the effect was dazzling and extraordinary; and during the silence of a still, wintry morning, my father heard crash after crash among the woods, as bough after bough snapped beneath the weight of its icy burden. The influence of the sun, however, soon changed the scene into one of dripping thaw, and the broken branches were all that remained to tell of this short-lived scene of beauty. The hoar-frost seldom lasts long, but during its existence few natural appearances are more beautiful. It also has a word for the Christian, as he gazes with delight on the silvery scene. It reminds him of the desert food of God's people of old time-the manna —that “small round thing, as small as the hoar-frost on the ground." It reminds him of the power of God, who gave bread to His people in the wilderness -and of His unchanging love, who gives us now "that bread of life," ," "that man may eat thereof and not die." What exquisite beauty arises from the very circumstances least likely to produce it. The frost that binds all things with iron decorates the scene with light and beauty, just as the trials that seem to crush the heart gild it with greater blessings. At this season of the year a stillness seems to overspread the earth, while nature's sleep is heaviest. The bold, bright-eyed robin, indeed, utters his sweet notes among the leafless trees but seldom, and not with his wonted autumnal glee. He still hops briskly before us as we walk, and visits our windows for the well-known crumbs; sometimes making his home among the nooks of the peaceful church, and adding his joyous warble to the hymns of praise. There is a friendliness in our feelings towards these birds, awakened by the tale that every English infant knows, that make them more peculiarly our outdoor companions, and gives them confidence too. How seldom we amuse ourselves among our flowershow seldom does a gardener pursue his work-without an attendant robin! It may really be called the gardener's bird, and will fly to his very feet to snatch up the worm that the spade has turned up with the fresh moist earth. I will venture to say that almost every cottage gardener has a peculiar robin that flutters near him while he digs and rakes. My father, who spent much of his time in his kitchen garden, was always accompanied by one of these fearless little birds; and it became so tame that it used to hop about close to his spade, instead of keeping, as they usually do, at some prudent distance. A friend, whose pretty cottage is sheltered by a thickly-covered veranda, found a robin's nest close to her door, among the leaves and twigs, yet so ingeniously contrived that one large ivy leaf totally screened it, although every person brushed against it as they passed. Here the hen redbreast took her seat; and when the protecting leaf was gently raised, the dark bright eye was seen glancing upwards; but no sign of fear was given, and the little confiding creature sat undisturbed. Our friend, whose love for her garden made her rather a foe to little birds, could not resist this proof of confidence, and its life was spared. If man's hard heart is softened by such touching marks of trust, how fearlessly may we cast ourselves on the care of Him "who knoweth them that trust in him," and will in no wise cast us out! The bright berries of the beautiful holly are now glittering among the polished leaves, and make some of our woodland walks still gay. The bright green mosses under our feet, and the shining hollies beside us, almost cheat us into the idea that summer is returned, especially when a stream of sunshine crosses the glades, and tinges the boughs with golden light. How beautiful, how very beautiful, is an English country walk even in the deepest winter! The holly is such a capital fence,—it is so bright and beautiful at every season, and is such a chip of old England too, that I wish it more frequently adorned our gardens. Never mind the formality of a holly hedgeit reminds us of bygone days and persons, of our great-great-grandfathers, and of times we love to look back to in history's brightest page. A holly-bush should be in every garden, (twined with honeysuckle for summer beauty), because it reminds us, above all, of the season we are now just on the point of celebrating. We are again on the threshhold of Christmas: how many hearts have ceased to beat since we last heard its thrilling anthem! Let us enter upon this blessed season with deep but holy joy; not as a time of feasting and amusement, but as a time of spiritual and eternal interest. England has just witnessed a scene never to be forgotten. She has seen her children dying in her streets, not by tens but by thousands; and she has seen the national prostration of the heart replied to by instant deliverance. "While thou art yet speaking I will answer thee," has been fulfilled to our hearts, and openly performed before our eyes. Oh, let England remember that the Saviour whose birth we are now about to commemorate is "the way," the only way, by which our prayers have gone up to God. Had He not come in the flesh, our prayers could never have been heard,-our full and unanimous thanksgiving could never have been poured "into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth." Let each cottage gardener, as his children deck his peaceful home with holly, remember this, and strive to keep this day and season holy. There are plenty of days on which to eat, drink, and be merry-there is but one on which we specially remember the birth of Him "who came to save his people from their sins." The cottager has much in his power; he can set an example, and stand forth as a firm and faithful servant of the living God. 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. ERROR. At page 130, first column, line 19 from bottom, for rainy read sunny. SEEDS (G. A. Clark).-We cannot tell you where you can purchase Grimstone's Egyptian Pea, and we have no Himalayah Pumpkin seed at present. MUMMY WHEAT (W. B. H.)—The party you name has been supplied. Many thanks nevertheless. PROTECTING GOOSEBERRY BUSHES (J. C. K. N.).-You may throw some long straws over them, and then draw them together with withes, as you propose, to protect their buds from bullfinches and other birds. Try also white worsted laced among the branches. You may buy Pansy and Calceolaria seeds of any florist. They may be sown at the close of February. INDEX AND COVER (Rev. E. B. E.)-These can be had for binding THE COTTAGE GARDENER into one or two volumes. You may obtain them at No. 2, Amen Corner, through any bookseller. RHUBARB PLANTS (Ibid).· -The two which were subdued by mildew, or other source of failure, had better be examined. Remove the earth from over them, and if you find the roots alive and healthy, put on some rich manure, and leave them after again covering them. LATE-SOWN ITALIAN RAY GRASS (H. B.)-November is very late for the sowing of this grass; the consequence to be apprehended wherefrom is, that frost will come and expand the soil, and heave the young grass plants out of the ground, and then, collapsing, leave their tender roots on the surface, exposed to the withering effects of the March winds. The best preventive that occurs to us (and it depends on the earlier or later coming of frost whether this would be available or not), would be to give the grass a dressing of liquid manure immediately, with intent to accelerate and invigorate the vegetation, and enable the roots to anchor more deeply in the ground before the frost arrives to pull them out. Should three weeks or a month of mild weather follow, this process might considerably increase the length of the roots, and the number of fibres that would get involved in the earth before the attack of the enemy. A further precaution, if accessible, would be to spread immediately a coat of dung or litter over the piece; but it should be very finely divided and shaken about, not left in large lumps and clods, which would suffocate the tender plants which should be caught under them. This covering would not only impede the frost from penetrating so deeply as it otherwise would, but also would shelter such young plants as might be drawn out of ground while they were again taking root in the soil, finely pulverised, as it would then be, by the effect of the frost. The liquid manure, too, would, in some degree, prevent the frost from taking its full effect on the soil. The Italian ray grass seems to be a plant to which every quantity of liquid manure is welcome in all stages of its growth, and which, in truth, does not produce its marvellous returns without a quantity of food stimulents, and abundant moisture, which would be excessive for any other plant. A dressing of liquid manure, when the grass begins to shoot vigorously in spring, and another dressing immediately after every cutting, would be beneficial. The dose will not produce its due effect unless in the growing season, and it is only from the necessity of the case that we recommend it to be more applied in mid-winter. As to the application of the crop, it may be cut green, and used for soiling, or it may be cut and dried for hay, and that more than once in the year, if the manure be supplied in sufficient abundance. If cut for soiling, the manure should be applied to each patch that is cut so soon after it is cleared as convenience will permit, which will insure a regular succession of green fodder from spring till late in the autumn. By taking care to cut the grass before it forms seeds, its duration (for it is not a perennial), may be much extended.-W. P. T. BED OF MIXED FUCHSIAS (J. S. L.)—For your circular bed no varieties are known to us as being better than Globosa, Gracilis, and Ricartoni, of the older sorts, and Carolina among the newer ones. Perhaps some of our readers will be able to supply a more varied list. Mixed fuchsias in beds are far from fashionable. YELLOW BANKSIAN ROSE NOT FLOWERING (Verax.)-Shorten or prune the side shoots in June, after the plant's usual time of flowering, and all strong shoots that appear from that time until August stop when a few inches long; and if any are produced after the middle of August, cut them off altogether. In order to reduce the strength of your plant to a flowering state, root prune it soon; try the effect of cutting off one-third of the strongest roots. GRASS GARDEN (W. H. S.)-The grasses form the most perfect natural order of plants, and you have been very fortunate in your choice to begin "dabbling in botany," with your daughters, among the grasses, for these will afford them the best illustration of the beauty and truth of the natural classification of plants; therefore, by all means arrange them according to their natural affinities, as affording the greatest assistance to the memory. The most complete grass garden that we heard of was at Woburn Abbey. It numbered 242 spaces or beds, of two square feet each, enclosed by cast-iron frames, and gravel paths, two feet nine inches wide, separating the beds on every side. You will find an essay and plan in the Gard. Mag., vol. i. 26-115. We would make choice of a narrow border along side of a walk; trench it this winter, and if the soil is stiff, add correctives; the majority of grasses prefer a deep, light, sandy loam; divide it in March into narrow beds, in which sow or plant the kinds according to the Jussieuean system. There is a collection of grasses at Kew, and at some other botanic gardens. It would be very desirable to grow the marsh und water grasses in pots; and, also, those that creep very much below the surface, as well as rare sorts. What Mr. Beaton alluded to for lawns has no connexion with your case, and the subject is not in our programme. The best book to consult is the Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis, by Sinclair. LEAKY GREENHOUSE (D. J., Birmingham).-Mr. Beaton says that he would prefer your new greenhouse, for growing plants, before the large iron conservatory in the botanical garden at Edgebaston. Your roof is rather flat, but if you had followed his directions at page 120 of vol. i., and puttied the laps, there could be no drip. The wind beats in the rain between the laps; and all that can be done this winter is to take advantage of a dry day, and run a little putty along the upper edge of the laps from the inside, pressing it so that nearly half the lap is filled; a good glazier would soon run over it, laying in the putty with his thumb and finger; and the work is not formidable for any one; but it will not answer to fill the laps from the outside, unless the whole space is filled, and yours are too wide for that, being one-quarter inch-one-eighth is the proper size. FERNERY (P. S.).-The trapezium-shaped, and overshadowed, piece of ground behind your house, and enclosed by high walls, is one of the best situations in Cornwall for a fernery; and we think Mr. Appleby's papers on the subject of ferns most fortunate for meeting such cases as this, where nothing else in the way of gardening could be effected. Make an oval figure along the centre, and form it into rockwork, by raising a mound of earth, to which you may give an outline to represent a hill, or ridge of mountains, covering it with stones of different sizes, and forming beds for ferns, saxifrages, mosses, and, indeed, any Alpine low plants you can get for trial; then form a walk all round it, leaving a border 18 inches wide next the walls, and about a yard wide at the corners; edge the walks with London pride, or any of the low dense-growing saxifrages. The angles would do for low rhododendrons, and the rest of the borders as an experimental garden, to see what things will thrive. All the walls may easily be covered with climbers; those strong, almost evergreen, roses we recommend so often would soon cover the whole, if the borders are made of good soil. Pray let us know how you succeed. BANKSIAN ROSES NOT BLOOMING (Rev. S. G. F.).-These, on an east aspect, and very much shaded, will hardly flower under such disadvantages. However, we have often seen them flower abundantly on an east aspect after they were five or six years old; but these were not shaded, and we are not aware that any roses will flower freely when much shaded. As yours are very vigorous, we would still give them two more years' trial, and root-prune them this winter, cutting through three or four of the largest roots a yard from the stem, giving a little pruning and training about next midsummer, and very likely that will cause them to flower the following year. Nothing that we can do this winter to any climber will much influence the bloom of next May and June. STRAWBERRIES UNFRUITFUL (T. C.).-Yours appears to us to be a case common to hundreds. You say you had coal-ashes forked in "to lighten the soil," which is a "stiff red clay," yet you have only leaves and blossoms. Is it not a fair inference that your soil is water-logged? If so, all the coal-ashes you can dig in will not effect a radical cure. First, carry away stagnant waters by thorough drainage, and then you will need little coal-ashes; not that we have any very particular objection to them. We may, however, be mistaken: if a case merely of inveterate grossness, why then plant on elevated beds, one foot above the ground level, and after a puuishing crop, such as cabbages, then plant strawberries. This will tame them. FRUIT-TREES FOR BACK-WALL OF VINERIES (Lucubratory).— The warmer house may have the Eugenia jambos, Passiflora edulis, or Passiflora quadrangularis, and the Psidium cattleyanum. For the cooler house, the Loquat grafted on a quince stock; the citron, lemon, orange and pomegranate also may suit. Figs are rather doubtful mixed up with these things. Now, be it observed, this is not a mere question of wintering; the question of whether they will be profitable depends mostly on the amount of solar light the vines will permit them to receive. Pray confine your vines to the rafter. Your Commelina longicaulis may be allowed to go nearly dry in the winter, and then be stowed away with your cool and dry section of plants, or roots, taking care that the ice king does not reach them. NUT-TREE SUCKERS (F. C. F.).-Cut away all the young shoots from the old nuts. They are what are termed suckers, or tantamount to them. Let all the powers of your root be diverted to the original head. These suckers may be viewed in the light of colonists, who are becoming saucy and inimical to the welfare of the parent state. GRAPES FOR A VINERY (Vitis).-There is, besides those you have, the Charlesworth Tokay and the Cannon-hall Muscat. Have you these? Wests' St. Peter's, if true, is one of the finest late grapes in the kingdom. We have no late grape half so valuable, if done justice to. This, as well as the Muscats, succeeds best on the black Hambro' stock; and were we in your position, with too many Hamburghs, we would graft on these, provided we could rely on the border being all right. Royal Muscadine is about our best early grape. White Frontignan is a capital grape, and Black Prince a great bearer. HAUTBOIS STRAWBERRY (G. S.). We merely meant, at p. 92, that Hautbois strawberries very often produced a capital crop from unmolested runners. We may, however, remark, that the finest prolific Hautbois we ever saw were grown two feet apart in the row, by a yard between the rows. The most certain plan, perhaps, would be to gather the runners in the middle of August annually, and plant them six inches square in elevated beds. Obtained in July, and planted in rich soil, they would flower the same autumn. SPUR SYSTEM (Ibid).-Read our fruit articles; every principle which you advert to has been handled repeatedly. Our space will not allow us to go into detail. We do not know the Malta pepper tree by that name. Sulphate of ammonia would not cure the hardness of water proceeding from sulphate of lime dissolved in it, but it would if arising from carbonate of lime. PINE APPLES (Veraz).-You have quite misapprehended the purport of our remarks, which of themselves point to the necessity for a special structure. We said, "those who can indulge in the luxury of a greenhouse can add that of a pine pit without any fear of adding to the labour of the establishment in any sensible degree." Pines and geraniums must not be grown together, at least not in the same temperature through the season. Grapes may be grown with geraniums; the vines, of course, confined to the rafters. In our past columns you will find plenty of advice, and much more is in contemplation. TILLANDSIA STRICTA (W. Rayner).-You wish to know how to strike a sucker of it; that is, to cause it to put forth roots. The best way to accomplish this is, first, trim off the short, rough leaves, and cut off the bottom straight across; then well drain a five-inch pot with broken potsherds; place a little fibrous peat over the drainage, and fill the pot to within one inch of the top with very sandy, fine peat; the remaining inch fill with pure white silver sand; give a gentle watering with a fine-rosed watering pot, let it stand a few minutes, and then insert the sucker, giving more water to close the sand about it. It should now stand an hour or two in the stove to become dry; then cover it with a clear bell-glass, fitting it inside the pot, rather pressing it into the sand. Set it where it will have a little bottom heat, and with moderate care it will soon strike root. Remove the glass an hour or two every day for a week, after which it may be left off entirely. You may then take it up, and wrap some moss round the roots and part of the stem, and hang it up in the stove, where it will soon produce its beautiful blue and scarlet flowers. This is the gem of this genus of plants, and is very rare. YOUNG DENDROBIUMS (Ibid.-Young shoots of Dendrobiums, when first planted in a pot, should have a watering to settle the earth or peat, but none afterwards till they have put forth roots and shoots considerably. If put on blocks, they will require syringing once a week during winter, and almost every day in spring and summer. HARDY ORCHIDS (F. Lawson).-You ask for a list of 12 or 20 orchids, comparatively hardy, free flowerers, and moderately cheap. Mr. Appleby will comply with your request in his contribution next week, if possible. MR. GRIEVES' PANSIES (G. J. Bell).-Mr. Appleby informs us that he took down the names and descriptions of Mr. Grieves' pansies from his own mouth. If there is any mistake, he does not consider he is to blame. Mr. A. was not informed what the price would be. Perhaps Mr. Grieves will think it worth his while to advertise, or send a corrected description of them, which we shall have great pleasure in inserting. SAVING SEED of CABBAGE AND KOHL RABBI (P.) You may plant these out in some open corner of your garden, without cutting them or stripping off their leaves; but if you grow them in the same garden, or within half a mile of each other, the bees will be liable to hybridize them, and spoil the stock of both." ASPARAGUS SOWING (Ibid).-You may make the bed according to former directions as if to plant its roots; and then early in March sow the seeds by means of the dibble, about an inch deep, two in each hole, and a foot between every two holes. Every second one may then be removed, and the seedlings left allowed to grow on where first raised. GRASS FOR OPEN LAWNS (Verax).-The best seeds for sowing these are the following. The quantities are for an acre, and to be all mixed together:-Crested Dogs-tail, 6 lbs.; Hard fescue, 20; Fine-leaved fescue, 2; Wood meadow grass, 2; Common meadow grass (Poa trivialis), 2; Creeping white clover, 8; Smaller yellow trefoil, 3. Your other question next week. RASPBERRIES (J. M. U.)-Your raspberries should have been planted in November, and not in March, to give you a chance for a crop this year. Shorten your canes, and give them a good manuring with well decomposed dung. You will probably have a crop from your autumn-bearing next year. If your soil is dry,put mulch upon the surface, over the roots, next Mareh, keeping it there, and giving water in dry weather during the summer. GRAPE VINE PLANTING (W. S. H.)-Now is a good time; you will have seen what Mr. Errington says upon the subject. We DECAYED TANNER'S BARK (Stanley).-We never heard of this causing canker if used as a manure, and do not believe it will. should use it without hesitation as a manure for a heavy soil. HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS (A Clerical Subscriber.) - We propose noticing those you allude to next year. To notice both is a needless occupying of space, the flowers at each are so nearly the same. Your suggestion about My Flowers has been long under consideration. TAYLOR'S IMPROVED AMATEUR'S HIVE (Clericus Devoniensis).— This can be had of Messrs. Neighbour, in Holborn. Do not wipe your apples before storing, or whilst in store. The glutinous exudation dries upon them, and helps to preserve them. SKELETON LEAVES (Spaldinensis).--This does not come within our purpose. A work will shortly appear in which we shall give such information. See the advertisement of THE DOMESTIC ECONOMIST in our paper to-day. SOUR KROUT (A Subscriber).-Never mind the mouldiness outside your lid; it will not injure the cabbage within, which you say is quite clean and free. Sprinkle salt thickly over the top of the cabbage, and put on the lid, and disturb it afterwards as little as possible. There is no reason why the mouldiness should not be scrubbed off at the same time. LIST OF PLANTS (Constant Reader).-Pray refer to our indexes, which may be had of both volumes, and you will find all that you require. To do all that you ask for would occupy half of an entire number. HEATING GREENHOUSE (Captain F.).-You may heat your greenhouse opening from your drawing-room, according to the plan described at pages 119 and 120 of our first volume. The flue need not go all round the house. You must ventilate by opening the top sashes, or by having a small window to open like a casement at each end, close to the roof. NAMES OF PLANTS (H. Smith).-Your No. 1 is probably Cereus albispinus, but from your drawing, or from the fragments of the other succulents, it is quite impossible to arrive at a certain opinion. 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.-December 20th, 1849. Fine. 8 IV. 18 Fine. 8 0 3 51 4 19 1 2 Velvet Duck comes. [to Tarn Id. 30 SUN 1 S. AFT. CHRISTM. Eider duck comes 31 M Silvester. Geometra incompletaria Moth TU CIRCUMCISION. Redbreast sings. 2W Lime Hawk Moth's Grubs found. ST. JOHN, the apostle and evangelist, "one of his disciples whom Jesus loved," was a son of Zebedee and Salome. John was constantly distinguished by his Divine master shewing him special marks of regard. Whenever a select number of disciples accompanied our Saviour John was always of the number; at the Last Supper he was leaning on the bosom of Jesus; he was at the foot of the cross, and received from his dying Lord the injunction to regard His mother as his own. "From that hour" John took Mary to his home, was specially noticed by Jesus after his resurrection, evangelized in Syria and Asia Minor, resided during the late years of his life at Ephesus, and died there, A.D. 100, aged 94 years. Deep affection for his master, and for his brethren in Christ, characterized his nature and his writings. In death as in life his great theme was, "My children, love one another." INNOCENTS' DAY, OR CHILDERMAS.-On this day is commemorated the murder of the infants at Bethlehem by the order of Herod. In our last year's notice of this festival we stated that the Papal Church perform masses upon this anniversary for the repose of the souls of those "Innocents," on which statement we have received a note pointing it out as a mistake. Our correspondent says-" Roman Catholics do not pray for the repose of the souls of martyrs, nor say masses for that purpose. It will, perhaps, also occur, on reflection, to the writer, that no class of Christians would deem it necessary to pray for the souls of children under two years of age, even if they were not martyrs. The Collect used by the Established church on this occasion will be found to be a paraphrase of the prayer before the Epistle and Gospel for that day in the Roman Missal, which latter are identical." In the "Calendar of Superstition" Brand tells us this day is of most unlucky omen. None ever married, put on a new suit, pared his nails, or began any undertaking, on Childermas Day. On account of this superstition, the coronation of King Edward IV. was postponed to the day following; and Addison, in the "Spectator," alludes to it when he makes a mother say that her child "shall not go into join-hand on Childermas Day." INSECTS.-Every gardener must have observed the edges of the young leaves of his peas, and sometimes of his beans, 8 8 9 25 19 METEOROLOGY OF THE WEEK.-The average highest temperature of these seven days during the last twenty-two years is 42.5°, and the average lowest temperature 27.1°. The greatest heat during the time was on the 1st of January, 1840, the thermometer then indicating 55°; and the greatest cold occurred on the 1st of January, 1837, when the mercury fell to 12°. The number of days on which there was rain is only 56, and of fine days 98. NATURAL PHENOMENA INDICATIVE OF WEATHER.-Flora's Clock, or the Dial of Flowers, is the name by which is included all the flowers either opening or closing at particular hours of the day. Some flowers open to meet the dawn; others, like the water-lily, do not expand until noon; a third group, like the Evening primrose, unfold their petals as the sun sets, and close them during the time of his greatest power; whilst the Night-blooming Cereus blooms only during the hours of darkness; but the greater number are like The marigold, that goes to bed with the sun, Some close in every kind of weather at mid-day, and on this account the Goat's Beard is often called "John-go-to-bed-at-noon;" and at the Cape of Good Hope the "four-o'clock flower" is the "Forked Marvel of Peru," which closes at that hour. The flower of the Garden lettuce opens about seven, and shuts about ten. We have no space for enlarging our catalogue, but we will say with Mrs. Hemans, "Twas a lovely thought to mark the hours, As they floated in light away, By the opening and the folding flowers That laugh at the summer's day. Oh! let us live, so that flower by flower, A lingerer still for the sunset hour, 30.225 30.204 30.103 30.036 0.03 0.17 0.30 28 R. 0.02 B. 30.054 29.929 30.144 30.498 29.944 29.805 30.499 30.195 30.166 eaten away in scollops, or semicircular pieces. This is often done by the Sitona tibialis, but still more frequently by another of the short-snouted beetles-the Lined Weevil, Sitona lineata of some naturalists, and Curculio lineatus of others. In Scotland it is commonly called "the Cuddy," or Donkey, from its grey colour. In our drawing it is magnified, but the line by its side shews the natural length. The whole body is grey, and marked with black lines; the antennæ reddish; the eyes black. Mr. Spence found five or six upon a pea seedling. They survive the winter sheltered beneath moss, &c., and in bad weather at all seasons retire under stones, only to reappear with the sunshine. 30.278 30.008 29.968 30.573 29.856 30.171 30.552 29.712 30.084 0.30 30.540 29.854 30.126 29.817 30.110 0.01 30.051 30.311 29.846 30.179 30.121 29.692 With about one per cent. of aqueous vapour in the driest weather, and about one part in every thousand of carbonic acid gas, the question then arose, Which of these gases is necessary for germination? and Scheele was the first to demonstrate that it is the oxygen. Achard afterwards proved that seeds will not germinate in nitrogen, carbonic acid, or hydrogen gases, unless mixed with oxygen; and though Carradori doubted the correctness of his experiments, his doubt was shown to be groundless by the more accurate researches of Gough, Cruickshank, Saussure, and others. Senebier carried his experiments still further, and has determined that although seeds will not germinate in an atmosphere not containing at least one-eighth of its bulk of oxygen, yet that the proportion most favourable to the process is about one-fourth. Germination will proceed in an atmosphere of pure oxygen, but not so readily as when it is mixed with other gases. The same phenomena attend the incubation of eggs-they will not hatch in the vacuum of an air pump, nor will the process proceed satisfactorily in any other mixture of gases than atmospheric air. It is necessary that the oxygen should penetrate to the cotyledonous, or inner, parts of the seed, as is evident by the changes which take place during germination; and it is further proved by experiment. When healthy seed is moistened and exposed in a suitable temperature to atmospheric air, it absorbs the oxygen only. This power of separating one gas from the others, appears to reside in the skin of the seed, for old seeds lose the power of absorbing the oxygen, and consequently of germinating; yet they will frequently germinate if soaked in a solution of chlorine in water-a gas which has the power of attracting hydrogen from water, and others of its compounds, and releasing the oxygen, doing so in the case of seeds within their skin, as well as withoutside. Humboldt and Saussure have also shown that the application of chlorine to seed accelerates its germination, and cress seed, which, under ordinary circumstances, requires some days to complete the process, they found effected it in no more than three hours. The late Mr. George Sinclair, author of the excellent Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis, informed us that he employed chlorine with singular success. He obtained it by mixing a tablespoonful * Although seeds will not germinate in an atmosphere of nitrogen, yet they all absorb a small quantity of this gas when germinating. It is a constituent of most young roots, especially of their spongioles, or extreme points. There is reason to believe that animonia is formed during germination, and that it acts as a stimulant and food to the young plant. Seeds containing nitrogen germinate more rapidly than seeds of the same genus which do not contain this gas. of muriatic acid (spirit of salt) with a similar quantity of black oxide of manganese, and half a pint of water. After allowing the mixture to remain two or three hours, the seed is to be immersed in the liquid for a similar period, and then sown. Another, and, we consider, the most eligible mode of applying the chlorine, was also suggested to us by the same distinguished horticulturist. In this way he said he made tropical seeds vegetate, which refused to germinate by other modes of treatment. He placed the mixed ingredients mentioned above in a glass retort, inserting its bulb in the hot-bed, and bringing its beak under the pot in which the seeds were sown connecting it with the draining aperture of the pot. The chlorine gas is gradually evolved, passing through the earth of the pot to the seeds, accordingly as the heat required for the different species induces. This absolute necessity for the presence of oxygen is a reason why seeds will not germinate if buried beyond a certain distance from the earth's surface; and why clayey soils often fail of having a good plant, an impervious coat of the clay enveloping the seed, and preventing the air's access. M. Rurger found that seeds of rye buried one inch below the surface had their leaves above it in eight days and a half, whereas those at a depth of six inches, had only just sprouted at the end of twenty-two days. But too deep sowing inflicts another injury; though it be not at such a depth as to entirely prevent germination, it so consumes the matter of the seed in forming the useless elongation of stalk necessary to bring the leaves above the surface, that all further progress in vegetation has been prevented. M. Burger found that rye seeds, sown five inches and a half deep, forced their blades to the surface in seventeen days and a-half, but these remained green only for six days, and then withered; and that, in every instance, the most shallow-sown seeds produced the most stalks. I have observed the same in the case of kidney beans, Windsor beans, and peas of various varieties; those seeds buried one and a half inch below the surface, invariably grew higher, and were more prolific, than those buried at double or even greater depths. From Saussure's experiments, we learn that weight for weight, wheat and barley during germination absorb less oxygen than peas, whilst these consume less than beans and kidney beans. This explains why, in proportion to their size, the two first may be sown at a greater depth below the soil's surface than the three last named, without vegetation being prevented. It is chiefly the want of a due supply of oxygen that forbids seeds germinating which are buried at great depths; seeds thus deposited, or similarly excluded from the air in the Egyptian mummy cerements, will often retain their vegetative power for an apparently unlimited time. Hence, earth taken |