THE INTERVIEW, COMPANION VOLUME TO ENQUIRE WITHIN. IN THIS VOLUME MANY SUBJECTS BRIEFLY TREATED OF IN " ENQUIRE WITHIN " ARE FULLY ELA- BORATED. AND SUCH ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AS THE ENQUIRIES AND SUGGESTIONS OF NUMEROUS FRIENDS AND CORRESPONDENTS HAVE SHOWN TO BE NECESSARY. THERE is, MOREOVER, IN "THE INTERVIEW," MUCH PLEASING READING UPON MORAL AND SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS, SO FAMILIARLY WRITTEN THAT IT WILL PKOVE UNUSUALLY INTERESTING AND, AMONG THESE MATTERS, THE " JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY ALL ROUND OUR HOUSE " WILL BE FOUND ENTER- TAINING AND INSTRUCTIVE TO OLD AND YOUNG. LONDON : HOULSTON AND STONEMAN, 65, PATERNOSTER ROW; AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. LCKSOJJ: TAYLOR AND 6REBNIK6, GRET6TOKE-PLACK, FBTTBR-LANi- LOAN STACK PEE FACE TO THE INTERVIEW. THE most agreeable interviews have their termination ; and the time has come when the Editor of this work has to say a parting word to his numerous friends. " THE INTERVIEW " is designed to form a companion volume to "ENQUIRE WITHIN." That work has already been received with immense favour ; and it will be found that " THE INTERVIEW," though it differs essentially from " ENQUIRE WITHIN " in its contents, is equally interesting and useful. The series of papers entitled " A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY ALL ROUND OUR HOUSE " will be found to convey an amount of information scarcely to be looked for in a volume of such small pretensions as the present. Upon every page of the volume will be found excellent moral and scientific lessons, and hints for every-day comforts, that will, if studied and applied, prove that our Interviews have been productive of con- siderable good. Although " THE INTERVIEW " is complete, the Editor has no intention of parting with his many friends. Next month (December 1, 1856) he purposes publishing a magazine for every family, to be distinguished by the quaint title of " THE CORNER CUPBOARD, A FAMILY REPOSITORY." The Corner Cupboard is " an institution " sacred to English homes. It is the household treasury in which grandmothers and grandfathers store their invaluable " nick-nacks," and to which the 'younger members of the family look up with longing and wondering eyes. On the first of the coming month, then, the Editor will open the \ 118 I/ PREFACE. dooi of his Corner Cupboard ; and he invites old and young to see its contents. " THE INTERVIEW " now takes its place among the books of the people. How many winter evenings will it enlighten and improve ! How many a home will it enrich and comfort ! Far down the stream of time, when present readers and writers have passed away when the world moves in stranger fashion than even now when we, the living come to be spoken of as " ancestors," there may then be found upon many a family book-case this little volume, giving evidence that the days in which we lived were not entirely " darkened," and that some of our love and wisdom has passed down to posterity. London, Oct. 30, 1856. The Fujures refer to the Pa,j:S. Not only are the >l H<\iUmjs " of ArUci, coiitaine'l in the Articles, which ifte heading d> nrt suffiiietiily dmote. he '' t [INDEX.] INTERVIEWS UPON Page Abrasions of the Skin, Re- medy for 30 Page Art of Life 345 Fcye Bennett, Air., his Views upon the Employment of Females 117 Art of Thinking 123 Asparagus, Dietetic Use of 164 A Century of Sayings to Bidder, the Calculating Boy 92 Acorns as Chimney Orna- ments 319 Asparagus, Forcing 74 Aspirate, Pronunciation of the 33 Birds' Neat Pudding :.' <) Birth Extraordinary 1 ', 2 Births, Remarkable 11 Bishop and the Bird--, The 2'J'J Adulterated Cayenne Topper 99 Astronomy : a Chapter for Little People 307 Atmosphere ; its Chemis- try and Geclogv _' ~> Adulteration of Beer 32 Adulteration of Cigars... 31 Advertisements, Fraudu- lent Exposed 154 Blackberries, Usefulness of !;-' Augustine Dugarre, Lines bv 20 Advertisements Investi- gated ' 7 Blind Man's Buff Charade 2 5 Blood, its Circulation de- scribed . . 1"29 August, Moral for 5 Balfour, Dr., His Opinion? respecting the Influence of the Moon 1 9 \geofFowls 67 Age of a Horse 265 Blue Wash for Walls 2 9 Bankruptcy of Employer 4!) Barley, Dietetic Use of ... 164 Barlow's Cask Stand 22 Barlow's Potato Steamer 22 Bathing, Evils of, when Fatigued 100 Books, Entertaining is I Bourrelet's Compressibles 2;; Box Edgings, Planting for -J0!> Boyhood, Lines on 1-' 1 Agreements with Sen-ants should be in "Writing. . . 48 Air, Electricity of 158 Alcoholic Drinks 95 Bread, Dietetic Use of ... 52 Bread, Dr. Muspratt's Account of it 1!'-' Breeding Poultry ''*> Alcohol from Field Beet- root 34 Beards and Shaving 202 Beards in the Middle Ages 202 Aluminium, the New- Metal 97 Brevity. Advantages of ... 19-J Broad Beans, Dietetic Use of .... 10"i Ancestors, The Wisdom of our 329 Beautv 169 Boantv in Alen 198 Angel and the Child 343 Animal Diet 150 Beauty, Raleigh's Re- Bruises, Remedy for o() Burnt-in-China 18i> Apple Trees, To Kill Diseasesin 31C Bed Curtains Unwhole- some . 270 Butter, Some Account of it 1!)2 Butter, Cornish and De- vonshire Mode of making 3 1 ^ Apple Trees, Transplant- ing 259 Beds, To Render Feathers fit for 37 April, Moral for 5 Beech Tree, Uses of the 30 Beer, Adulteration of ... 32 Beet Root, Alcohol from 34 Belief.... 8 Cabbages, Dietetic Use of H5 Cabbages Sowing 4^ Ardent Spirits, Dietetic Use f .. l Chloroform, Safe Ad- minitration of 81 Court Scene in Arkansas 2-1'.) Cnx-nt Garden, Burning Chocolate Diitrtio L'seof 166 of . 288 Crackle China IS:; in Relation to 1 (i 1 How to obtain it Cider in Bottles to I're- all tin- vrar round ~>6 ',ird Tlie 1S(> . Cucmnlx-rs, Dieteti. V Ol Cigars Alleged Yilultera- of 165 ! i>in 1'rddhi" '" tion of :J1 Cucumber Forcing 320 .'-' -s lor riant - Cleft-grafting Roses 70 Cucumbers, Sowing 42 Curious K|>itu)'hs . 72 hould be fed regu- 1 u-lv SIS Clerks ami >i:iM.'nor Ser- vant* . . 48 Curious Extracts (.( Cuttings of Plants \-i Clothinc and Diet . '.'53 Tat, Sagacitv of a . ''> '"' Cloves: What are they? 1G2 Daguerreotype, The 278 Cayenne Pepper Adultc- Coal. Anthracite 6 Dahlias, Putting into hot- 1)9 Coal Bituminous 6 beds 44 C lerv Dietetic Use of 1G5 Coal, Cannel, or Gas , 6 Damp Walls 96 Chadwick Mr his Views Coal different kinds of 6 Deaf ami Dumb. . . . 158 upon the Improvement of Land 140 Coal, Dry or Cubical 6 Death I'hilosoplii.-ally re- garded ""I Charade " Blind Maii'< Smokeless Fires 120 Death Warrant* imt Buff" Jo Coals, Steam - Coal, or signed bv the Crown... -V.' " Feeling verv Smithy 6 December, Moral for -" illonedav" 40 Cobbett's Opinion of Wo- Degerando's Art of men 1 S Thinking ... .... 12 '. geon far beneath the ground" ... 90 Cocoa, Dietetic Use of ... 166 Cocoa Nut Cakes 255 Delays. Lines upon 27"> Dickens and Thackeray leu Charade " Ladies who Coffee, Dietetic Use of 1G<> Diet and Clothing 2 ."> -J wish the married state to gain " '* "j Coffee, How to know good 256 Coke as a Fuel IS) 5 Digestion Described IS'i Dining Tables Polish for 10d Charade "My first she was a serving-maid " 40 Cold, How People take ... 341 Colic of Horses 249 Diseases of Horses 249 Diseased Skin of Horses 24 ! Charade "Oh thou, mv College Expenses 33 Discoveries and Inven- College Expenses, Cam- tions ''71 bridge 159 Diseases of Poultry ";s Charade " When upon the gallows tree '' . 40 College Expenses, Edin- burgh ... . 160 Discovery, the Progress of ] 0'.' Disinfectants, an Inter- Charcoal as Manure 73 Charcoal, Animal, An Antidote to Monks- hood 113 College Expenses, Oxford 159 Colours in Ladies' Dress 195 Comedy, The Perpetual. . . 59 Compressibles,Bourrelet's 23 view with Dr. Mu-pratt :, l Domestic Education 17:; Domestic Scenes in Russia 11'' Don't Talk About Your- Cheese Dietetic Uses of 152 Conduct, Hints upon 17'' self l'.)4 Cheese-mite, History of the 119 Consumption, Prevention of *>54 Dove, Case of Mrs. poi- soned at Leeds the Child and the Angel :\4Z Physiological te^t 1 1 s Child, Lines On a De- parted 24 Content, How to Get it ... 247 Contentment better than Draughts through 1 and Windows, Remedies Cliildren, And How to Wealth 84 for 23 Manage Them 141 Contradictory Couple 84 n .. . ll',j Children Cutting Their Teeth, Method of Eas- Contrast, or Order and Disorder . 205 Dried Peas, Dietetic Use of 1 G5 Dried Beans, Dietetic Use of 165 Children's Food . 340 Cool Consolation 11 Dr. Busby 60 Child Learning to Walk... 126 Corals, Imitation 101 Dr. Hall upon Del. Children Left-handed 270 Cottage Walls Lime for 37 Poisons . 47 China, Old 183 Cotton, Impositions in the Dr. Headland on Poison- Chinese Etiquette 1G3 Reels :!') ing by Monkshood 112 Chloroform, Dr. Kidds Opinion of its Effects 97 Coughs or Colds in Horses 249 Court Plaster, toMake... 195 Dr. Kidd's Opinions of the Effects of Chloroform 97 INDEX. Dr. Lardner's Opinions on the Motions of the Moon 149 Fancy Biscuit Baking, Dr. Muspratfs Account of 192 Farming, Action and Re- action in 281 Galvanic 272 Garden Clocks, Vegetable 283 Garden Draining 317 Dr. Muspratt, an Inter- view with Him 54 1 Garden, Value of a l'7 Gas Lights, Smoke from 2GO Geysers, or Hot Foun- tains 30--, Gilding . Fat, Dietetic Use of 152 Father's Useful Inventions ',} 5 Feathers, To Render them Fit for Beds 37 ! >r. Muspratt, another In- terview with . . 189 Dr. Neilson's Opinion of Alcoholic Drinks 95 Dumb and Deaf 158 February, Moral for 5 Feet Small ''06 Gilpin, Johnny, some Ac- count of Him 10'' Dutch Loaf 256 Females, Employment of 117 Fermented Liquors, Die- tetic Use of ... 166 Giotto, the Shepherd Boy and Painter :;:;i Dwarf Plants "<;;) Dwina, A Russian Ballad 53 Early Rising 287 Glass and Crockery, C hoice and Use of 100 Glass Houses and Frames during Frost 41 Filters, Ransome's Stone 47 Fire Kindler 315 Earth, Rotundity of the 199 Education and Exercise 333 Egg- Beater, Patent 22 Eggs Consumed in the United Kingdom 131) Eggs, Dietetic Use of 152 Eggs, Useful Particulars about 279 Fires, Hint for Reducing theCostof (j Fires, Hints How to Make Them Burn Well 71 Fishing-rods, to Preserve 316 Fish to Sweeten ' 5 ! Glue,Liquid 39 Gold, Chemistry and Geo- logy of 349 Gosse, Mr., his Account of Experiments upon the Marine Aquarium 16 Grafting Proper Shoots... 260 Grass under Trees 253 Fishes, Respiration in 217 Flies, Statistics of .... 193 Eggs, Weight and Value of ' 5 9 Floral Specimens Preserv- ing 101 Electricity o f the Air 158 Embalming 54 Gravel Walks, to Destroy Moss and Worms 270 Great Men, Characteris- tics of 211 Flower Gardens, Insects in 61 Employers and Servants 48 Employer, Bankruptcy of 49 Employer Equally Bound with the Servant 19 Kmployment, No Capital Required, Fraudulent Advertisement 154 Employment of Females 147 Enamel China 183 Flowerslntroduced to Eng- land 208 Greenhouse and Stove ... 41 Green Peas, Dietetic Use of 165 Flowers Forcing 315 Flowers that Look Up- ward 299 Green Pea Soup, How to Get it in Winter 56 Greenhouse, Temperature of 7 Flower, Mysteries of a... 300 Food, Digestibility of 150 Food of London 138 Enamel of the Teeth 267 Endive, How to Make Use of it 57 Food, Times of Taking... 266 Foot Rot in Sheep 260 For Better and for Worse 5 Forfeits by Servants ... 49 For the Benefit of Suffer- ing Humanity Adver- tisement E xposed 155 Fortune, How to Make a 256 For What do we Live ? ... 306 Fowls, the Best Breed of 254 Fowls, Age of 267 Greens. Dietetic Use of... 165 Greenwood's Patent India Rubber Stops 3 Engagements of Servants 48 Enigma "In Number We are Fifty-two " 90 Gregory, Dr., Cases Ob- served Respecting the Influence of the Moon 19 Gripes of Horses 249 Enigma "I've Led the Powerful to Deeds of 111" 40 Guano, Mode of Prepar- ing it for Use 258 Enigma, Uncle John's ... 90 Enigma" Without Me the World Had Never Been" . 40 Guano, Preservation of... 100 Habits and Weeds 241 Frame Plants, Manage- ment of 318 Hair, Examination of Hu- man ... 62 Epitaphs, Curious 72 Fresh Water Shrimps ... 314 Frogs, Detecting Poisons by ... 47 Evening Parties, Hints on 5 Extravagance in Dress ... 113 Eyebrows, Remarks upon the.. G3 Hair Nature of 270 Happiness, Lines on 53 Hardv Plants 41 Fruit, Preserved 259 Fruit Rooms 5S TTntMiinw Xoct 9Sfi Eyes, Description of the 63 Eyes : How to Take Care of them 58 Fruit, the Use of 255 i WVP no Srorpts 2S7 Fuchsias, Cultivating ... 73 Fuel, How to Save Half of it 6 HealtH Hint on 5 Health, Preservation of ... 1 Q Hearing Described 65 Eyes, To Restore Weak ... 101 Facts About Milk 196 Full Diet . .151 Heat, Increase of in Sum- mer 167 Galileo .. .. 272 Heat, the Properties of... 40 INDEX. Hemans, Lines on Mrs., (hitherto unpublished) ' "When watching by the sleepk .. 131 Herbs, Always keep a Few 3 1 7 Hints on Dre* 1 * 197 How was Glass Discovered 3 2 \ How to Treat a Wife 275 How to Ruin a Son l j*i; How, When, and Whom to Marry '> 7 Keep the Heart Alive... 287 Kindness 20:.' Stew paper, extracts 1'nmi ... G Kill-hen G'irden How to be Miserable 93 How People Take Cold How do Insects Breathe ? 217 How does the. * > breathe ? . . . . "2 1 7 Knife Cleaner. Worth's Patent 21 Hint* to Mothers 193 IKntMipon Conduct 17'.' Hiring and Wa^v, T-rius of 49 Ladies Dresses, Colours in 105- Lagoons, or hot springs Some account of them i '.' 1 Land, and How to Make the Mo*t of it . 1 4;; History of Kevs How to Manure a Watch Oil How to tak- <'aie of the Eyes 54 Hogg, Jabez. Esq., Sur- marksupon ' ous K i nds of Food 1 5 Home and its Pleasures... 276 Homclv Worth 5 H, Pronounciation of the Letter . 33 Lazy Fellow, a story of Theophilus Briggs, who was aroused to energy by the teachings of a worthy Doctor 105- Hull's Patent Nut Crackrs 2 1 Humble Friends 342 Honey Bees How do they cull their Honey 268 Honey, Dietetic Use of ... 165 Hope Lines on 201 Hunt, Robert, Extracts from his Poetry of Science 1 4 Lead Cisterns, Evil effects of 31 Hyacinths, Cultivation of, in Beds 255 Learned Negro, the 121 Leaves, Impressions of... 95> Left Handed Children... 270 Leeks, Dietetic Use of ... 165 Lettuce, Dietetic Use of 165 Lightning and Thunder 244 Lightning Conductors, Things in the House that attract Lightning IKS Light, Refrangibility of 193 Light Velocity of. 34 Hops, their Properties ... 190 Horses, Diseases of 249 Horseradish for Cattle ... 256 Hor^c-shoeing 257 Hydrangias, Cultivating 73 Imitation Coral 101 Horse, to know his age ... 265 Ifot-bed e Cheap 30 Importance of Trifles ... 239 Imposition in Cotton Reels 35 House, Journey of Dis- covery all Round it.. 1 Housekeeping Economy. . . 2 C3 House Plants in Winter... 241 How do Birds Breathe ? . . 217 How does a mere Thought set the Body in motion ? 67 How do Fishes breathe ? 217 How to make 28 Ibs. of Bread out of 14 Ibs. of Flour 9 8 Impressions of Leaves 95 Impressions of Plants ... 95 Incubation of various Birds 294 Life's Progress . . '-' 1 In-door Plants 45 Life of Vegetables . -'SO Industry' and its Bless- in QS 1 2f> Life the \rtof 345 Lime and Soils... .. 25.". India Rubber Stops 23 ' Lime in Agriculture 313 Infants, Clothing of 317 Lime for Cottage Walls 37 Infection, what it arises Lindley's Mr., opinion of from 54 Warden Cases 8 How to obtain Cress all the year round 56 Inscription on a Clock ... 11 Insects in Flower Gardens 261 Insect Life, Paradox in ... 5 Insects on Trees 260 Lines by Augustine Du- izanne 2 How to get Green Pea Soup in Winter 56 Lines by Mrs. Hemans (hitherto unpublished) L'54 Liquid Glue ."!> How to make use of Endive 57 Insects. To Keep out of Bird Ca^es 316 How to obtain Seakale in the Winter 56 Liquid Glue, Preparation nf JR.'i Irish Cordial 316 How to obtain Mushrooms all the Year round 51 Onions, Dietetic Use of;.. 16? Onion Omelette 30 Mappin's Shilling Razor 26 March Moral for 5 Month. Description of the <;f) Mrs A Adams on Dress 1 !* 7 Orchard, Six Reasons for Planting an "S4 Mulled Wine 284 Order and Disorder Con- Marriage Offers of 265 Muscles of Men described ] 2G trasted 205 Mark your Linen The Pen Superseded 34 Muscular Exercise, Rules for Taking it 99 Origin of the Custom of Shaving 20:; Marwick'9 Patent Spongio Piline 26 Muscular Power, Statis- tics of 283 Origin of Valentines 116 Oyster Eaters, Important Mushroom* How to ob- to .. *>87 Mead Dr., his opinions of the Influence of the tain them all the year round 56 Painting Houses, the best Moon upon the Earth 19 Music, Antiquity of 115 Season for 316 Meat, to Sweeten 254 Melon Beds 43 Mysteries of a Flower ... 300 Paper Hangings, Rules for Choosing ' 6 1 Memory Modes of Studv 157 Names, a Chapter on 229 Paper for Rooms 317 Men Beauty in 198 Names, English 201 Parsnips, Dietetic Use of 165 M-'ntal Discipline .. ^4 Names French 204 Pastille** Fumigating 65 Mental Power of the Sexes 254 Names Greek . 204 Pastry Dietetic Use of 1C 4 Meerschaum Pipe, How to Names, Hebrew 204 Pea-Leaf Soup 102 Test . ... 29 Names, Sa\on ... . 204 Pea Meal, Dietetic Use of JG4 Migration of Plants 253 Names Welsh 204 Pearls of Thought 1 4 Military Execution 69 Milk Diet 151 Natural History Collec- tions Offer of 100 Pelargoniums, Mode of Grafting 76 Milk Facts about . 196 reward for the best Penny How it became a Milk, its Dietetic qualities 151 Mind Your Own Business 193 Miniature, the 20 means of preserving them from insects 132 Nettles an excellent Thousand Pounds 327 Physiological Test for Poi- sons 47 Minutes : Use them 287 Minuteness of Objects . 283 Spring Vegetable 57 New Musical Game 7 Pickles, Dietetic Use of . . . 166 Pic-Nic a Poem f )4 Mischief Making . 273 Pigs to Fatten *S5 Money : How to Make it 19 of 20 Pipes History of . . . 23 6 Money, Saving, Spending, Giving, Taking, and Bequeathing it 176 Nighti ngale, Habits of the 99 Nitrogen, to obtain it ... 98 Noble Bov 119 Pitcairne, Dr., his opinion respecting the Influence of the Moon 19 Money that we Spend, the . 327 No Cure, No Pay A Re- storative of Weak Sto- Plants, Cleanliness for ... 253 Plants in Balconies 3 Monkshood, how to know machs 39 Plants, Impressions of 8 5 it from Horseradish ... 97 Noble Reply to the Foun- Plants In-door 245 Monkshood, Poisoning by 112 Montgolfter 272 der of Dulwich College 119 Nose Description of the i>4 Plants, Migration of 25." Plants Storing in Winter *> 5 s Months, Emblematic Stones of the 196 November, Moral for ... 5 Nurserv, Hints for the 5 Playing Cards, Account of 24 5 Pleasure-; Lines on ... 201 Months, Morals for the... 5 Moon, Influence of upon Health 19 Nutcrackers, Hill's Patent 21 Oatmeal Dietetic Use of 164 Plum Pudding, Carrot ... 29 Poisons, Detecting 47 Moon's Influence upon October, Moral for ;> their Sale 148 Weather 261 Odour a very Rev! ving -'70 Poultices Superseded <; Morals for Married People 211 Odd Notion 13 Popular Error Corrected 14(; Morals for the Months ... 5 Moreen Curtains, to Clean .102 Oil Paintings, Cleaning... 266 Oil Pictures, Varnish for 95, Oil of Bitter Almonds Potatoes, Dietetic Use of lr. Potatoes, How to keep ... :;].". Potatoe Steamer Barlow's 9>? Morella Cherry Wine ... 315 Morning Pleasures 191 < ' a ution upon the Use of 15 Old Japan China 183 Potatoes, Treatment of ... 2 (i Potatoes, Useful Hints by Motions of the Moon 149 Old Lore, tlie . a Practical Grower .., 9G> INDEX. Poultry Rogers the Poet 9 1 IVuli Roses . 4 1 Poul trv- feeding . .. Rose Trees Grafting 4 4 Smoke from Gas Light* *^<.i " Prelate's Dinner 70 Roses Wintering : nit Rotundity f the Karlh J9! NVa-h Tub 17 .Piv^ervina: Wood an.l lr, :. _'!> ; Soft Soap . . .. "6" Progn . 10!> r Study !I3 Soils and Lime .' ; 3 Pronunciation of the Let- Russia, Domestic Scene*, in 1 1 '" Solitary Wasps 31 tor II 3(i Rye Dietetic Use of lc 1 Pronunciation Indis- doyi>-liko eves" . . . 132 tinctness I.} 7 Sailor's Farewell ' I -Mi'i How to Ruin i '>(! Profitable Employment i Manure . 31 Soul and Body 05 Fraudulent Adverti-e- Suit, Dietetic Use of ICO Sowing, Late 352 ment 155 Salutary Sentences ''0 Proverbs of the New Zea- landers 20 Scarlet Fever, Simple Re- medies for 316 Speaking, Errors in 2! Spectacles, on the Choice P.'s and Q.'s Grammati- Science, Subtleties of in of . > 8 1 cal Hints lor the Million 3 Pruning Vines . :;i'i Samples of Sand 125 Sea-kale Growing 74 Spectacles, when to Wear. Pudding, Bird's Nest 29 I'uddings, Dietetic Use of 153 Sea-kale, How to Obtain it in the Winter 5t! Spices, Dietetic Use of ... 166 Spider's Thread "O'l Punctuality, Value of 247 Purification of Water ... 45 Sealing-wax Varnish 38 Season, Influences of 338 Spinach, Dietetic Use of . 165 Squint Eyes 154 Quack Medicines 3 1 8 Sea-weed as Manure 74 Seeds, Hints upon 315 Staining, General Obser- Quakers, Longevity of ... 99 September, Moral for . . 5 Star-gazing 121 Queen Anne's Farthings 99 Servants and Employers 48 Servants, and their In- Stars, their History and Laws 307 Radishes, Dietetic Use of 165 fluence Over Children 142 Statistics of War '_' 1 < > Railways, Statistics of ... 57 Raisins, How are they Servants, Engagements of 48 Servants, Hints for the Steel Instruments, Sharp- ening .... . 34 Made? 260 Benefit of ... 317 Stereoscope the ''78 Rarities and Relishes for the Table 5G Sexes, Mental Power of ... 254 Shadow on the Roof 7 7 Stones Emblematic of the Months 196 Rats, Sagacity of 342 Sharpening Steel Instru- Stove and Greenhouse ... 41 Raw Milk 151 ments 34 Stone History of a . 311 Reading Aloud 122 Sheep Foot Rot in ''(JO S trains of Horses 249 Rebus" A part of your- self, and part of a cow" 90 Sheep, Sagacity of a 313 Shell-Fish 210 Study, Rules for 93 Sunny Side of the Street 194 Rebus " The name of a tree that in England Sheringham's Ventilator . 2 1 Shipwreck a Charade 40 Sugar, Dietetic Use of ... 165 Sugar of Milk 152 grows" 90 Shrimps, Fresh Water ... 314 Surnames, Additional Re- Red Wine, How is it Shrubs, Planting 319 marks upon . . . 295 Made? ... 50 Side-Grafting .. 1C, Refrangibility of Light... 193 Registrar-General, Inter- Sight, Preservation of ... 187 Sight, Signs of the De- Table- Talk with Rogers . 91 Tasting described 65 view with the 10 cline of 59 Taylor, Jeffervs (1 lance Registrar-General, An- Silk Uses of ... 9'J at the Globe . 13 other Interview with 133 Silvering Ivory 257 Tea Dietetic Use of 106 Resin, Hints Respecting 194 Respiration and the Lun^s 17 Singing Birds, Foodfor... 270 Sir Isaac Newton . . 271 Tea, How to Make Good . 32 Tea, the Varieties of ..267 Restriction of the Sale of Skimmed Milk . 152 Tea in Russia 140 Poisons 148 Sleep and Studv .. 161 Tea Which Kind is the Rhubarb, Forcing . 74 Sleep, Excess of 261 most Economical ? :; 1 <; Rhubarb Pic, Romance Sleep, State of the Body Teeth, Artificial .... 264 ofa 122 during 128 Teeth, Diseases of the . Id RiceCupCake 256 Small Things, the Teach- Teeth, Enamel of 267 Rice, Dietetic Use of 164 ings of 123 Teeth Preservation of .. 100 Romance of a Rhubarb Pie .. 122 Smiles (short paragraphs, humorous and various) 114 Temperature, Sudden Changes in 55 INDEX. Thackerav and Dickens 140 Vinegar What is it?... 50 What is Chicory' 324 The Beggar, Lines on ... 186 The Dead Child 94 Vines, Directions for Pruning 319 What is Chocolate ? 324 What is Cocoa ' 324 The Poet Lark 94 Violet Tree the 312 What is Coffee ' 324 There's Nothing Lost ... 298 Violins, Varnish for 261 What is Water? 290 The Young Poet's Assis- Vital Statistics 69 tant 2 7 Vocalists Hints to ... 314 Good Water ' 170 Thinking, the Art of ... 123 Von Platen's Rules of What is Tea? . 304 Thoughts upon the WalT 337 Living 21 What is Sugar 305 Thoughts (short para- Vowels, Mispronunciation What is Vinegar ? 50 graphs various) 114 of the 38 What is Salt 9 3->5 Thousand Pounds, How a What arc Cloves ' 16^ Penny became a 327 Wages and Hiring, Terms WhatisAir? 290 Thunder and Lightning 44 of 49 What is Fire ' J 291 Things to be Found Out 56 Walls Damp 96 What is the Use of Cook The Old Civic Toast 2 G Walls, Blue Wash for ... 204 ing? 1:30 Toast, Dietetic Use of ... 15 3 Tobacco, History of _' 6 Tobacco, Uses to which English may be applied 262 Walls, Reflections on 215 Wardian Cases: Mr. Lind- ley's Opinion of them 8 Wor, Statistics of 210 What is Baking Powder ? 192 What Facts of Interest are there respecting Bread? . 325 Tomato, the SO Wasps, Solitary .. . 34 What is Glass 3-1 1 Transplanting Apple Watch Lines on a 24 What is Tinfoil ' 321 Trees 259 Watch-making 147 What is the Bright Mat- Treacle, Dietetic Use of . . . 165 Trees Barkbound 352 Watch, How to Manage a 96 Water and its Purification 45 ter at the Back of Look- ing. Glasses? 30 1 Trees, Planting 319 Water Cisterns, Ball Taps What is Quicksilver' 321 Trees, Whitewashing the for 29 What is Steel' 300 Trunks of ... . 264 Water, Dietetic Use of 170 What is Brass ' 3^3 Triads, or Three Things 352 Watercress, Dietetic Use What is Copper ? 3-13 Trifles, Essay upon 160 of 165 What is Iron ' 3-79 Tulips, Treatment of ... 74 Water, Varieties of 163 What is Lead ? . 322 Turnips, Dietetic Use of 165 Wax, Different Kinds of 153 What is Gold? 305 Two Hundred and Fifty Weak Eyes 101 What is Zinc? 300 Pounds per Annum Fraudulent Advertise- Wealth, The Objects of... 248 Weather, Influence of the What is Rosewood ? 323 What is Wine?. 39 ment 154 Moon upon 260 What is Red Wine ' 50 Useful Things 2 1 Weeds and Habits 241 What is White Wine ? ... 49 What is Beer Produced Use the Minutes 287 rooted 261 from? 139 What is Cotton 9 3-^6 What is Gin Produced Valentines, their Origin 116 What is Silk? 326 from? 139 Valuable Matter from What is Wool ? . . 327 What is Rum Produced Worthless Materials... 195 What is the Use of Eye- from? 139 Value of Good Wives 2 C lids? 63 What is Brandy Produced Value of a Garden 197 What purposes do the from' 139 Varnish for Oil Pictures 95 Varnish, Sealing Wax ... 33 Eyebrows fulfil? 63 What is the Use of Eye- What is Whisky Produced from? 139 Vegetable Acids in rela- lashes? 63 What is Alchohol Pro- tion to Cholera 161 What Causes the Hand to Vegetable Diet 151 Open?. ... 66 What is Mahogany ' 3 - ~" Vegetable Garden Clocks 283 Vegetables introduced What Causes the Hand to Close? 66 When were Looking- glasses first introduced' 3^1 into England 208 What is the Office of the Vegetables, Life of 286 Heart? 127 Velocity of Light 34 What is the Cause of land^ . 3-^1 Ventilator, Sheringham's 21 Thunder? 244 When was Iron first Dis- Verbena, Pot Culture of What is the Cause of covered? 302 the 267 Lightning' 244 Vermicelli, Dietetic Use of 153 What's in a Name ? 59 Beast? .... 12 Vinegar, Dietetic Use of 165 What is Death? 225 Why U the Summer hot' Ifi7 xii Why i-s Man's B covered with Hair Whev \>'. of ir,2 Window Gardening :'7;J Windsor Hoans. Dietetic Use of 165 Words to Workmen 201 Worms, Respiration in .. '.'17 Worth'* Patent Knife White- washing the Trunk*- Wine I)' 1(>G er 21 of Trees 'Mil Wine Jellv Wood, Joining to Ivorv .".o NViiu- Ho\v it i.- \\iiu-, What i> it :5 Wood, Preserving ... 3(> MaJe 4'.' Wine What is it ? 49 Wood Plants 41 Mr Thoma> hN Winteriin? Ko^- Wounds of Horses ''49 opinion on Diseases of Wisdom of our Ances- Writing Material- 137 the Teeth I 7 tors ... .'70 Wills, Instructions how to Make "! ... :IM; Wizard, Account of the . 1 Woman as She should be 01 Yeast, Additional Instruc- tions for Making 3G "Winds, The Cause of. BOS Woman, Love for 9 Young Ladies, Winter Wine, Mulled (iveeipe in Women. Cobbett's Opin- Advice to ~t verse) S4 ion ol them . ... 108 Windows, to render them Opaque .., .30 Wonderful Publication The Restorer is Come . 39 Zouave Swallowing Cos- sack ... JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY ALL ROUND OUR HOUSE. CHAPTER I. THE FATHER OP THE FAMILY STATES HIS REASONS FOE UNDERTAKING THE JOURNEY. A FEW days ago my boy returned from school, not merely for the Christmas- holidays, but with the intention of going no more to the educational estab- lishment in which he had been for the last four years. When I tell you that, although I have four daughters, this is my only boy, you will be able to judge from what you have experienced yourself or witnessed in others, the pride I feel in this lad, the joy that it gives me to watch his progress from the simplicity of childhood to the in- telligence of youth ; and how anxious I am that he may reach the maturity of manhood, and be an honour to the name he bears, long after my own his- tory, with all its errors and sorrows, has terminated. The recent Christmas was to me and to my boy an era of great im- portance. I had arranged, in taking him from school, to place him under the tutorship of Dr. Renford, a gentle- man of great educational acquirements, who devotes himself to the tutorship of two or three pupils, but never undertakes a larger number at the same tune. I rejoiced to think that, in his fellow-pupils, my boy would find that companionship with youth which is so essential to the preservation of the genial qualities of the young heart, while he would receive from his tutor a more direct attention, a more individual watchfulness, than I could hope to obtain for him in a large establishment. I had, therefore, arranged that, during the holidays, Dr. Renford should be a visitor at our house, chiefly for the purpose of reconciling my boy to the change, and to the person who was to be his future teacher ; for, being a youth of warm attachment, he had become very fond of his old school- master ; and to part with some of his school -fellows had caused him indescri- bable pain. It is surprising how, in youth, the smallest incidents swell the tide of grief, and trifles, which a sterner acquaintance with the world enables us to completely forget, seem to plunge us into the depths of misery. I had considered and prepared for this, in the arrangements made at home, to cheer my pet boy during the holidays, and to wean him by degrees from old attachments. But, in thus providing for the happi- ness of my boy, I did not anticipate the delight which I myself should find in the society of the amiable and gifted Dr. Renford, who, during the short time that he stayed with us, had really put me through the very process which I had designed for my boy. By his conversations upon things that were new to me, and by pointing out sources of mental gratification which, though close at hand, were utterly unknown to me, he had completely weaned me from erroneous opinions to which I had long foolishly clung, and had tutored me to a new discipline of the heart and mind, in a way that cannot fail to influence the soul. I will tell you how this in- fluence came to be felt by me, although the incident which I shall relate is only one of many that occurred during the time that my friend, Dr. Renford, re- mained with me. My young people, with their mamma, made up a party to go and see the Wizard "the Great Wizard of the North" as he was called. And I think that the night upon which they went was to be the last of the Wizard's performances at the Lyceum Theatre A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. prior to his removal to Covent Garden. I did not go with the party, my health being so delicate that I am compelled to avoid the night air. So Dr. Renford kindly did the amiable to the ladies, and away they went in cheerful expectancy of the wonderful feats they were to see. The next day little was spoken of by my youugpeople, but related to the won- derful feats performed by the Wizard. My wife was amazed : she had witnessed such unaccountable marvels that she almost wished she had not gone. She had slept unsoundly during the night, and when she slept she had dreams of some great magician in flowing garments bespangled with mysterious characters, leading her through mazes of cloud, and into caverns of oppressive darkness, that gradually dissolved, and revealed countless forms of beauty, which melted away before the darkness that rolled back like a velvet curtain, amid dis- cordant yells and laughter, as if a thou- sand fiends had been set free to scramble through the blackness that prevailed. The girls were almost as much ex- cited and bewildered as their mamma. But my boy, my pet boy, seemed to have gone half deranged so great had been the fascination of the Wizard's art over him. He did little else but walk about trying to devise some simple ap- paratus by which he might imitate the lesser tricks performed by the Wizard. Find him where you might, he would be sure to be standing behind inverted cups, with oranges underneath, pocket- handkerchiefs, hats, glasses, and cards, being strewed all around him. He eagerly turned over the pages of the Wizard's "Shilling's worth of Magic" which he had purchased and brought home with him, and paced up and down the dining-room, looking up as if addressing an imaginary audience crowding around the walls. It appears that, on the night in ques- tion, the portico of the theatre was brilliantly illuminated, not only with the ornamental gas illuminations, but with the electric light, and various transparencies. As our carriage approached the thea- tre, its progress was arrested by the presence of a dense mass of people, whose up-turned faces receiving the livid brightness of the electric light, looked like a scene of real enchantment, and greatly added to the effect of what our party afterwards witnessed. Upon entering the theatre, they found every nook and cranuy filled. The Wizard appeared, and commenced his performances. Articles disappeared and appeared again in the most sur- prising manner, and in the most un- looked-for places; handkerchiefs were torn up, and mended again in the most miraculous fashion ; watches were fired from blunderbusses through men's heads, and neither head nor watch any the worse for the operation ; pigeons flew out from empty boxes ; and, from a portfolio of not immoderate dimen- sions, were produced several children, a live goose, a large trunk, not to men- tion an infinite variety of smaller arti- cles ; the bullet was caught in its flight from the gun ; tables were rapped upon ; and clairvoyance illustrated ; in fact there was no department of jug- glery whether jugglery proper, or that which disguises itself beneath a scien- tific cloak which was not thoroughly illustrated. When the time came to talk seriously to my boy about the future arrange- ments for his education, and to bring him and the Doctor into friendly com- munion, I found him so pre-engaged, so utterly absorbed in the fascina- tions of the Wizard's art, that it was difficult to obtain his serious attention even for a few momenta. And as, every now and then, he succeeded in the performance of some simple trick, he summoned his sisters to witness it, while they, by the natural expres- sion of their surprise, only encouraged the young conjurer in his devotion to the mysterious art. I became, there- fore, alarmed lest the opportunity I had so long planned, of bringing my boy and his tutor together under fa- vorable auspices, should pass away. I therefore called the Doctor aside, and advised with him upon the subject. " Oh, never fear," said he, " the enthu- A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. siasm which you witness on the boy's part in these trifling matters is the best evidence that can arise of his ear- nestness in higher matters, as soon as his intelligence his love of the mar- vellous shall be directed toward the highest objects in which they can find gratification." I was delighted to hear this ; though my worst fears were again aroused when, in compliance with my request, the Doctor proceeded to ask my boy what profession he thought he should prefer. I shall never forget my boy's reply : " I should like to be a wizard, sir !" My boy a wizard ! he who is to bear my name down to posterity a conjurer, a juggler, a dabbler in leger- demain, cheating the senses of the people by the most palpable and silly tricks ! My cheek, which has long been pale, suddenly became red. But I stifled my feelings, though I believe the Doctor read my emotion. I rose, and by the aid of my eldest daughter's arm, took a walk round the garden. The sun just at this moment burst forth, and glistened upon the fir and bay trees that waved their ever-green branches in the cool breeze; whilst the red berries shone, like coral beads, upon the dark stem of the holly. When I returned, I was somewhat disconcerted immediately I entered the room, to be invited to witness a new trick, which my boy had just dis- covered. I noticed that the Doctor was absent, and I wished that he had been there that he might support me in the trial I had to undergo. For I confess I had grown morbid under the circumstances, and wished the Wizard at Jericho. However, I determined to suppress my dislike of the entertainment, and to throw myself upon the consolation afforded by the Doctor when I had named my anxiety to him. So I suf- fered the conjuring to proceed. I was told to ask any question by writing it upon a slip of paper, and by holding it against the circular mirror which hung against the wall, an answer should be received by raps upon the table at the opposite side of the room. I therefore wrote upon the paper "What is my age?" My boy immediately said to the table, " I command you to answer !" And forthwith, to my great surprise, the table gave forty-nine distinct knocks. And what surprised me more was, that the table stood quite alone, and that my boy never went near it, but kept walking up and down waving his hands, as if working some magicspell. I then proceeded to ask numerous other questions, all of which, to my amazement, were answered quite cor- rectly by the mysterious table. I con- fess that I began to feel puzzled, I might almost say interested, and to forget for a moment my antipathy to jugglery ; when, all of a sudden, the heavy table-cover, which had been drawn somewhat over the front, slid off from the smooth mahogany surface, and there, to my utter surprise, I be- held the Doctor, my learned and esti- mable friend, on all fours under the table ! He had been acting as the confederate of my boy the latter was quick enough to read the questions reflected in the mirror, although their image was reversed, and while I was looking at the mirror, or at the top of the table whence the raps proceeded, he was signalling with his foot to the Doctor the number of raps to be given. To describe the ludicrous scene that ensued the screams of laughter from the girls, the confusion of the boy, the Doctor's embarrassment, mamma's dig- nity, and my own perplexity, is quite beyond my power. Some time after,however,I was pleased to observe that my boy was never easy, unless he was by the side of his future tutor ; that a companionship had sprung up between them which seemed inseparable and which was the very consummation I had wished, but knew not how to obtain. And I now dis- covered that the Doctor had, with a true knowledge o." >yv.i:m nature, con- descended to act the ptw^t of my boy's confederate in an innocent anJ silly trick, only the more securely to obtain, a hold of his affections, and to lead him on to things worthy of his attention, B2 A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. But what has this to do with the " Journey Round our House T Every- thing, as you shall presently see. By accident I overheard ;x conversation between my friend, the Doctor, and my boy. The Doctor was telling him of the means by which many of the Wizard's most celebrated tricks are per- formed, and showing that they were merely mechanical inventions with which the talent and the power of the Wi- zard had nothing at all to do that there were men who were acquainted with the laws of natural philosophy who in- vented these tricks for the Wizard, that the Wizard was merely the buyer of those inventions, and that any one who could afford to pay the same price for the apparatus could perform those tricks quite as easily as he. The Doc- tor then went on to speak of the Magic of Nature, which everywhere around us is hourly presenting phenomena far more wonderful and worthy of our at- tention than the Wizard's tricks, which were a mere burlesque of noble inven- tions and sublime operations. He pointed to the fire, saying that a piece of coal placed thereon a solid, black and heavy mass would soon disappear. It flew up the chimney. Was there anything that the Wizard had done more wonderful than that of causing a solid body to take wings and fly away ? People were content to call this com- bustion, or burning. But what did these terms mean ? Could people com- prehend them ? Why did the kitchen maid, when she made a fire, put paper beneath wood, and wood beneath the coal, and then set fire to the first ? What became of the several scuttles of coal that in the course of the day disappeared ? When the girl drew a. lucifer match across the sand- paper on the bottom of the box and produced fire by a single touch, she performed a feat in which there was as much matter for wonderment, as in the most mysterious trick performed by the Wizard. But people passed o^or these things with on i not!'-. ..^d were content to havp ih'-'i. senses cheated by a juggler rather than be improved by the greatest teacher of all Nature. Why (he asked) does gas burn without a wick, while oil and candles require that aid to support their combustion ? Why, when you set a kettle upon the fire, does the water boil, and rush forth in the form of steam ? Where goes the steam ? What becomes of it at last ? What is heat ? Why, though you sit far away from the fire, does the heat reach you ? How does it come ? Upon what does it travel? When you say you feel the heat, how do you feel it ? In what way does it affect you ? What is light ? How comes it flying through the wonderful expanse of heaven, from the far-off sun, to cheer our humble dwellings ? What is glass through which the light passes ? Why does the light, as it travels through the lustres upon the chandelier, issue forth iii rays of various colours, giving rich tints to the objects upon which they fall? Why do3s the mirror upon the mantel-piece reflect with exactness the image of every object that appears before it ? What is the difference between wood and iron? Why does the one burn and the other not do so ? What supplied the damask curtains that hang by the window, and the car- pets that lie upon the floor ? Whence came their brilliant colours? How were those tasteful patterns woven into the texture ? The Doctor, to my great joy, had completely absorbed my boy's atten- tion by these questions upon the most simple problems ; and what i.s more, he had equally absorbed mine, and made me feel how little I understood of the objects and of the phenomena observable even within the walls of my own dwelling. It was for this reason that I resolved to make a Journey of Discovery all Round our House. We are determined to learn something respecting everything that the house contains, whether it be a simple grain of salt, or a thread of silk, or an elabo- rate piece of tapestry, or the burning of a candle, so that, " even the singing of a kettle shall be unto us a song of wis- dom." We should like the reader to go with us through our journey. LEISURE MOMENTS. MORAL FOR JANUARY. MORAL FOR APRIL. MORAL FOR JULY. Saxon or Welshman, Scot or The First's a day when folks Off to the Rhine, the Rhone, Celt, are sold the Po ; Name, by right name, this By gamesome youth released To Belgic flats or Switzer month so merry, from school ; hills, Pronounce it just as it is spelt, Neither at this time, reader Off, but take off, before you go, And never call it Janniwerry. bold, Something, with cash, from Nor any other, be a fool. tradesmen's bills. Hint on Evening Parties. A young lady, after dancing all Hints for the Nursery. The MORAL FOR AUGUST. night and several hours longer, treatment of a new-born child You may buy grice, and need will generally find, on consult- should be kind, but not cordial not say, ing the looking-glass, that the and especially not Godfrey's Whether with lead or coin evening's amusement will not cordial. you got 'em ; bear the morning's reflection. MORAL FOR MAY. But if you buy them, do Kot, Winter advice to Young Ladies. Welcome are all its flowers Pi-ay, Tell naughty fibs, and say Thin shoes lead to damp and bowers, you shot 'em. feet; damp feet bring on a As guests when one has cough ; a cough may terminate in a coffin. bidden 'em ; But you're not welcome to the Homely Worth. Many flowers are expressive of the MORAL FOR FEBRUARY. flowers, Mind this, when down at Sy- most delicate sentiment, but which of them has the heart Get born upon Feb. 2 9, denham. of a cabbage ? For Leap years come but one in four ; Economy in, Beating Carpets. When you purchase your MORAL FOR SEPTEMBER, A toast's a thing that spoils carpets, take care to buy one O Cockney, if with the Perdrix, one's wine, that is infinitely superior to all " A day " is offered, Cock- You save three-fourths of the rest ; for such a carpet ney O, birthday bore. will beat every other carpet With fire-arms don't be play- Hint on Health. For air and you have in the house. ing tricks, exercise too many young ladies resort almost exclusively to the Paradox of Insect Life. The habits of the spider are sta- Don't shoot and, better still, don't go. piano. tionary. He seldom travels MORAL FOR OCTOBER. Contagion. Several young far from the locality in which The party who but drinketh ea u, ladies who were accustomed he first saw the light It is And unto bed retireth to sit under a popular preach- er, became, consequently, much affected. curious that the spider should travel so little, and yet be con- tinually taking flies. sober, Shall fall (a punch - frauyht song doth show) Like leaves, and lenve us in MORAL FOR MARCH. MORAL FOR JUNE. October. A bushel of March-winnow'd dust A rhyme the word suggests will suit, MORAL FOR NOVEMBER. Is worth, they say, a mo- No special moral's taught Of things that Civic magnates narch's ransom ; by June : do, I,et Bomba save it mobs If you're an ass, and blow a As stuffing, spouting O don't trust ; flute, beware, For such a life such price Why, do not blow it out of j Or y u ""W **> degraded to were handsome. tune. An alderman ; nay, down to What is a Baby? Why a For Better and for Worse. Mayor. Baby is a living I. O. IT., a A Philosopher who had mar- MORAL FOR DECEMBER. " little Bill " drawn upon Man- ried a vulgar but amiable girl. With Christmas - tide thc- hood, that is only honoured used to call his wife "Brown twdvemonth ends, when it arrives at maturity. Sugar," because, he said, she Give all unkindly thoughts was sweet but unrefined. Ano- the sack, The Longest Day. The day ther, whose wife was affection- Embrace your foes, forgive before that of your wedding ate and stout, was accustomed your friends, will probably be the longest to denominate her "Lump And buy your PuncJi's day of your life. Sugar." Almanack. DIFFEKF.XT KINDS OF COAL. DIFFERENT KINDS OF COAL. 1. Dry or Cubical Coal. This spe- cies is very black and shining. It gene- rally cornea from the pit in large MM ; and it burns freely with much flame and heat. This is by far the best coal for blast-furnaces, but is not so desirable for domestic use. 2. St cam-Coaly sometimes called Inj-Coal" This species, which ignites readily, and produces compara- tively little smoke, is much valued for its excellence in the furnaces of steam- boilers. It contains more carbon than bituminous coal, and more hydrogen than anthracite. 3. Cannel or Gas-Coal. This species does not shine, but has, on the con- trary, rather a dull appearance before it is ignited. When burning it emits a most brilliant flame. As the roots of fir are used instead of candles in the winter nights by the peasantry in some parts of Scotland, so this coal is made to answer the same end in some dis- tricts of England, and also in the South of Scotland. Hence its name, Cannel, the Lancashire word for candle. Can- nel Coal is almost invariably used in the manufacture of gas. 4. Bituminous Coal. This species swells and cakes when heated. It is more abundant than any other kind and is well adapted for household use. There are 133,000 square miles of it in the United States, and 8,000 square miles of it in Britain. Bituminous coal, in a raw state, is not suitable for the blast-furnace. 5. Anthracite Coal. This species is very black, very brittle, and very shining. When sold, it is generally broken up into small pieces, but there is not much dust. It produces almost no smoke, and scarcely any ashes. Where it can be obtained at the same price as bituminous coal, it is more economical for domestic purposes. Even where it costs more, it is good management to mix the bituminous and anthracite together. The latter, by its great heat, consumes the smoke of the former, and thus saves fuel. Two scuttles ought to be used in such a case, one for each kind of coal : at all events tin- bituminous coal, in order to effect the saving, must be put below the anthracite, so that the smoke may have to pass through the glowing embers. Anthracite coal is abundant in Wales and Ireland. In Ireland it is called Kilkenny coal, and in Scotland, blind coal. It usually contains about 90 per cent, of pure carbon. This sort of coal is especially valuable to maltsters, brewers, and millers ; because it throws out intense heat, and may be said to be almost without smoke. But it is also decidedly economical (where the price is reasonable) in stoves and house-grates. There being 90 per cent, of carbon, only 10 per cent, is left for smoke and ashes ; whereas, in some sorts of coal, the residiuum of ashes amounts to 40 per cent. ! HINT FIRST. Put a piece of iron plate, which you may get at any foun- dry for fourpence or sixpence, across the bottom of your grate, reaching within an inch and a half of each side, and projecting about an inch and a half in front. There will thus be one narrow opening for air between the last two bars of the bottom grating at each end of the plate, while the remainder will be closed. The draught upon your fire will thus be almost entirely from the front, and you will soon discover, by experience, that the present method of constructing grates, by which the whole bottom admits air through the bars, is wrong in principle and extrava- gant in practice. HINT SECOND. When about to make a fire, let the grate be first half filled with common Newcastle coals. Above these place some shavings or waste paper, and then a few diy sticks or splinters, or bits of charcoal or broken peat. Lay on the top a few of yester- day's cinders, and. lastly, some lumps of coal. These must not be shovelled in at random, but laid on carefully by hand. Apply a match to the shavings or paper, and in fifteen minutes you will have a cheerful fire. At first, servants will object to thi.s plan, and even ridi- cule it. They have always been accus- tomed to light a fire at the bottom of DIFFERENT KINDS Oi? COAL. the grate, and it is difficult to persuade them to try the experiment of lighting it from above. They cannot believe that the fire will work its way down into the mass of dead coals. One fair trial, however, will satisfy a housemaid on this point ; and she will soon find that it not only saves her master an in- credible quantity of coals, but that it also saves her, what she may, perhaps, consider of more importance, a vast deal of trouble. The bell will be rung less frequently for the coal-scuttle ; the fire, if properly made and reasonably attended to, will never require to be re- lighted during the day ; there will be no soot flakes on the furniture, and so little even in the chimney, that the services of the sweep will be seldom required. But if you would have as little smoke as possible, take heed to what follows. HINT THIRD. After the fire has been made in the manner just described, let it be replenished during the day with anthracite, not bituminous, coal. An- thracite yields no smoke, and burns with such an intense heat that it con- sumes any smoke which rises from the pitchy Newcastle coals at the bottom of the grate. HINT FOURTH. Abolish poker and tongs. These time-honoured imple- ments are worse than useless when a fire has been made on the smoke con- suming principle. Allow no poking, unless you are willing to have your coals wasted and your fire spoiled. Instead of the burnished, clumsy, steel biped, which is always in the way, get a blacksmith to make for you a light instrument like the sugar-tongs, about a foot long, and without hinge or joint. If you are a bachelor or maiden lady, fond of sitting by the fire, and rarely pressed for time, you will find it amusing, as well as economical, to pick up a lump of bituminous coal eveiy now and then, when there is an open- ing in the lower part of your fire, and thrust it in among the red embers. Every time you do this, you will have a beautiful illustration of the smoke-con- suming principle, adopted in a more costly way by Franklin, Cutler, Arnott, and others. The black lump will im- mediately begin to puff out crude gases and smoke, which ignite and are consumed before they have time to reach the top of the fire. You will find the projecting inch and a-half of the iron plate in the bottom of your grate very convenient for the purpose of introducing bits of coal in this manner : Just lay the coal on the edge of the plate, and push it in with- out disturbing the fire. It is a good plan, however, to thrust in a lump wherever there happens to be a gap in the burning mass. HINT FIFTH, Whatever kind of coals you use, never put on much at a time when replenishing the fire. Even with Newcastle coals, you will have compa- ratively little smoke, if you put on only a thin layer about once in half an hour or so. Busy people would grudge this trouble ; but any one who has leisure, and enjoys a good fire, would do well to adopt this hint, especially if anthra- cite coal cannot conveniently be ob- tained. The fire will continue clear and hot, and the expenditure of fuel will be very much lessened. When a large shovel-full of bituminous coals has been thrown on the fire, there is always a dense smoke for some time ; but when only a thin sprinkling is put on, if the fire below is good, the gases emitted will produce flame and heat. HINT SIXTH. Mrs. Sarah Hale says and what she says may be depended on that " a saving of nearly one-third of the coal consumed may be made by the following easy means" : Preserve the coal-ashes which are usually thrown away as worthless. When you have a sufficient bulk, add to them an equal quantity of small coal or coal- dust from your cellar, and then pour a little water on the mixture. Use this compost at the back part of your fire. It will burn brightly and pleasantly; only a little dust will remain uncon- sumed ; and thus the trouble of sifting will be saved besides. HINT SEVENTH.' Another excellent suggestion by the same American authoress : Mix one bushel of small coal, or saw-dust, or both, with two bushels of sand, and one bushel and s DIFFERENT KINDS OJ? COAL. WARDIAN CASES. a half of clay. Take water, and make the mixture into balls, and pile them up in a dry place till they become hard. When your fire burns brightly, put some of them on the top, and they will give out a strong heat. HINT EIGHTH. If you live near a gas-work, you may buy the cinders, which are neither more nor less than coke, at the rate of fourpence or six- pence for a large sack. No cheaper fuel can be obtained in a town. By making your fire as directed in " Hint Second," and replenishing it with these gas-cinders, you will find that for warming or cooking, the expense of fuel is less tfian one half. The writer has tried the method, and been astonished at the saving which is so easily, plea- santly, and comfortably effected. The cinders answer every purpose of anthra- cite coal, and they are very much cheaper. Perhaps there is no means of consuming smoke so thoroughly in a common grate. Gas-cinders vary much in quality, according to the sort of coal from which they are made. When made from Scotcli coal they are very good. Choose those which are of light weight and dark colour. Heavy lumps of white or greyish cinder give less heat and scatter a good deal of dust. THE FOLLOWING HINT is OUR OWN. When going to bed at night, the kitchen fire being nearly out, take a quantity of small coal, and mixing it with the ashes under the grate, wet it moderately, and fill the grate with it. It will extinguish the fire, and contri- bute to safety in that respect, while the heat of the fireplace will be just suffi- cient to cake the whole into a coke-like mass. IB the morning take the poker and raise it all out, and you will have sufficient fuel to assist in lighting a clear fire in every room in the house. BELIEF. I would rather dwell in the dim fog of Superstition than in air rarified to nothing by the air-pump of Unbelief; in Avhich the panting breast expires, vainly and convulsively gasp- ing for breath. Jean Paul (Titan .) WARDIAN CASES. MR. LINDLEY'S OPINION OF THEM. As the Wardian case is largely employed in horticulture, especially in the de- coration of sitting-rooms, it seems de- sirable to point out in this place what are its real merits and defects. When Mr. Ward first remarked a grass and a moss growing inside a clamp bottle, he merely saw what gardeners had wit- nessed for a couple of centuries at least. He beheld the propagator's bell-glass with its edges dipping into wet sand, a close cavity with transparent sides, and an interior possessing an uniform and unchangeable degree of humidity. Thirty or forty years since, and pro- bably long before, the same principle was employed in the drawing-rooms of the wealthy for the preservation of the freshness of cut flowers: the flowers were placed in a vase, the vase stood in water, and a bell-glass, dipping its edges into the water, covered the whole. There is not the smallest difference in principle between these old contriv- ances and the modern Wardian case. But all such plans were merely pre- servative ; no one thought of cultivating plants in close cases, though they found the latter invaluable for keeping plants alive. A cutting under a bell-glass was surrounded with moist air until it had formed roots; but the moment the action of roots was secured it was trans- ferred to the open air. What Mr. Ward did, when he proposed the case that bears his name, was to contrive a portable bell-glass and its supporter, made of materials strong enough to bear the rough usage of a sea voyage. He demonstrated the defects of the old travelling greenhouses, and suggested a remedy, pointing out at the same time upon what principles the remedy de- pended. That principle was 1st, to expose plants to light, and 2nd, to in- sure their being constantly surrounded by a medium damp enough to keep their system in a state of activity. The old travelling greenhouses, or plant cases, were open at the joints, and the water originally contained in them quickly evaporated, leaving a mass of WARDIAN CASES. parched earth in which no vegetation could long survive ; they were also glazed with talc, or oyster-shells, or other half-opaque materials, through which no such amount of light could pass as plants require for the preserva- tion of their vitality. When properly constructed, the Wardian case answers perfectly as a means of transporting plants to great distances. It also has its value in places where the air is filled with floating soot or dust ; or where it is naturally too dry for vegetation, as in sitting-rooms. There the lives of certain kinds of plants may be maintained for a long period of time, with the appearance of health ; shade-loving races, such as ferns and mosses, will even thrive there ; and others, like dry crocuses and hyacinths, which have been previously made ready by the usual processes, out of doors, may be led to blossom in perfection for a season, or in some instances for more. It is asserted, indeed, that plants have been known to grow well and flou- rish in Wardian cases. To that state- ment I lend an incredulous ear. It will be always found, upon inquiry, that such cases are opened daily and venti- lated freely, and thus, or otherwise, re- lieved from, the moisture with which the air is saturated. But those are not Wardian cases at all ; they are merely greenhouses on a small scale, in which plants grow well or ill, according to the care with which they are managed. A Wardian case demands neither care nor skill ; its operation is essen- tially automatic ; it is its own gardener in every way. The moment its struc- ture enables the possessor to give it daily attention in short, to cultivate the plants within it, it ceases to be Wardian, and may as well be called by any other name, as has been already shown. Plants cannot be cultivated well in the absence of free access to air in motion. The more rapid the motion, within certain limits, the higher the health of plants, and vice versa. This is the foundation of good gardening ; and it is precisely this which is unat- tainable in a Wardian case. The latter is the opposite of a natural condition ; but plants demand all the resemblance to natural conditions which is to be secured by art. Direct, constant, and unrestrained communication with air, perpetually striking and then quitting them, is as necessary to a plant as to an animal ; and that the Wardian case is intended to render impossible. It is not, indeed, too much to add that so far as gardening, properly so called, is concerned, the Wardian case has done nothing more than was effected years before it was suggested. As a con- venient means of enabling plants to support existence under difficult cir- cumstances it has value ; and that is all. In short, it is to plants what tripe de roche, bark-bread and fern-root, are to man a means of prolonging life under difficult circumstances. Nature no more causes plants to grow in half air-tight rooms than amidst rays of coloured light. In the natural world vegetation subsists in its greatest activity in the presence of white light ; red light, and yellow light, and blue light are unknown ; and if green light occurs it is only in the recesses of deep forests, where little is to be found ex- cept fungi, or mosses and ferns. So it is with unventilated places; they are the exception to the natural law, which declares that living things shall have access to air. The lowest orders of ani- mals and the lowest of plants thrive, indeed, in such localities, for all places seem to have their allotted inhabitants ; but the great world of vegetation knows of no healthy existence, except where the air moves freely around it. In suf- focated places we find lean and sickly races, too weak to stand alone, and struggling to reach a better atmosphere ; these places are the Ward's cases of the wilderness ; natural accidents from which all things endeavour to escape. Lindley on Horticulture. WOMAN. Nothing sets so wide a mark "between the vulgar and noble seed" as the respect and reverential love of womanhood. A man who is always sneering at woman is generally a coarse profligate, or a coarse bigot, no matter which. 10 AN INTERVIEW WITH THE REGISTRAR- GENERAL. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. WHAT an oracle of knowledge and wisdom has this modern functionary, the Registrar-General, become ! How he sums us up by millions, sweeps us off in like manner, and taking the kingdom in his hand, indicates by daubs of various shades the diseases which deci- mate particular districts, just as a painter spreads patches of colour upon his palette ! Well, here we are in the presence of this oracle of statistical wisdom. He holds in his hands three weighty volumes, severally inscribed The Thir- teenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Annual Reports if the Book of Life of Death of Reproduction." Let us listen to one of his curious facts for they belong to us we help to make them and shall each of us soon contribute to swell the tables of registered mor- tality ! The Registrar-General tells us of no fewer than 19,599,428 human creatures, who have played a part in the move- ment of the population of England during the past three years. He in- forms us that of that number 465,732 individuals of the two sexes had, during that period, linked together their respec- tive fates in life, under various forms of religious or municipal prescription ; but that this disposition for union exhi- bited itself strongest in the quarter of merry Christmas, which showed an excess of 22,000 marriages over the other quarters. He tells us that, of the 19,599,428 human creatures, 1,833,299 were fresh beings, who, in the course of the same period, had come to share with us the pains and joys of this world ; those of the male sex maintaining, as is their wont, the upper hand by 40,405, or tlje rate of 1,040 boys for every 1000, girls, but succumbing almost as soon as born, or before attaining five years of age, in greater numbers than the females namely, at the rate of seven m. stead of six in every hundred living. Lastly, he informs us of the still more momentous fact that, whilst these myriads of new creatures entered the world, a number nearly equal to two- thirds of them went out of it the deaths of all ages having amounted in the three years to 1,171,525. Looking through the pages of these ponderous volumes we find that in 1850, for every 1,000 persons living, fifteen were married ; while in the two follow- ing years the proportion of married people was sixteen to 1,000 living. Every fifty-ninth person in 1850 and 1851, and every fifty -eighth person in 1852, was married. We detect another token of the increase of philogamy in the steady decrease of the unmarried recorded since the foundation of the registry ; for whereas the number of persons living to one marriage was in 1838 one hundred and thirty, it was in 1852 one hundred and fifteen. In that year it is stated that 158,782 marriages took place in England ; and during the two preceding years 306,950 mar- riages had been celebrated. It may prove a source of amusement, and per- haps of calculation also, to know how these 465,732 matches had been arranged Between bachelors and spinsters 330,721 Between bachelors and widows ... 19,896 Between widowers and spinsters ... 42,915 Between widowers and widows ... 22,200 465,732 From the report for 1851, it appears that of 1,000 bachelors in England, 58 married ; and the proportions varied from 32 in Cumberland and 36 in Herefordshire up to 82 in the Surrey portion of London. The desire to re-marry was shown more among widowers than widows during the three years ; the number of the former who married again having been 61,115 ; that of the widows 42,096 only. The proportion of the men who, in signing the marriage register, wrote their names in 1851, was 69 in 100, leaving 31 who signed with marks. Of the women, 55 in 100 wrote their names, and 45 signed with marks. The proportions during the last five years have varied little, and the instruction AN INTERVIEW WITH THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. 11 in the commonest elements of know- ledge is still deplorably inefficient in the country generally, and more particu- larly in the counties of Hertford, Bu-;ks, Huntingdon, Bedford, Cambridge, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Wilts, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Monmouth, and Wales, where no less than 40 in 100 men that married made their marks. There is a curious result deducible from the returns of 1851. It appears that in 36,186 marriages, both husband and wife signed with marks ; in 73,141 marriages both husband and wife wrote their names and in 44,879 cases either the husband or the wife signed with a mark, while the other party wrote his or her name. Does this imply that the ignorant have a tendency to marry the ignorant in a greater or less proportion than the learned (up to the writing point) marry the ignorant ; or than those so far learned marry the learned ? It is evi- dent from these numbers that in 24 of every 100 families neither the husband nor the wife can write, that in 47 both can write, and that in 29 one of the two can write. Now, as we know the number of the men who could write (106,767), and the number (47,439) who could not write ; as well as the number of women (84,394) who could write, and the number (69,812) who could not write ; it is a purely mathematical question in the doctrine of the proba- bilities, to determine how many of each of these four classes would come together in pairs, if their union were determined simply by lot, and there was no inter- ference of selection between the classes who can write and the classes who can- not write. In conformity with this doctrine, the number of marriages in which both parties were unable to write their names should have been 21,477 the actual number was 36,186. The num- ber of marriages in which both could write should have been 58,432, while it was 73,141; and, on the other hand, the number of marriages in which only one could write should have been, by the doctrine of chances, 74,298, and was 44,879. Thus the ignorant evidently intermarry by choice and the force of circumstances to a much greater extent than would be inferred from their num- bers, and this is important, as the re- sult is, that in 24 of every 100 of the families that are now constituted every year by marriage in England, the child- ren are without the advantage of hav- ing either the father or the mother able to write. The Registrar-General has collected many interesting particulars respecting births. He states that, in 1852, " 6,036 women bore two living children at a birth; in 37 cases three living children at a birth ; so that 12,072 of the children were twins, and 111 triplets. In 15 cases the triple births consisted of three boys, in 10 cases of three girls, in 7 cases of two boys and one girl, in 5 cases of two girls and one boy. It is evident that in these cases the boys preponderate, and that the cases in which the children are of the same sex occur in larger proportion. We confess that we are not fond of pondering over tables of mortality, so we will leave our friend the Registrar- General to pursue his stern duties, de- lighting ourselves by the thought that the Government watches over the pub- lic health with anxious attention. INSCRIBED ON A CLOCK. Improve time in time while time lasts, For all time's no time when time's past. COOL CONSOLATION. Mr.Lowth, the Arabian traveller, say thus : " When an Arab woman intends to marry again after the death of her husband, she comes, hi the night before her second marriage, to the grave of her dead hus- band. Here she kneels and prays to him, and entreats him 'not to be offended not to be jealous.' As, however, she fears he will be jealous and angry, the widow brings with her a donkey, laden with two goat-skins of water. Her prayers and entreaties done, she pro- ceeds to pour on the grave the water, to keep the first husband cool under the irritating circumstances about to take place ; and having well saturated him, she departs." WHO IS MASTER, .MAX Oil HEAST? WHO IS MASTER, MAN OR BEAST / Ki.i:i'HAN!> ud have un- common strength ; lions and tigers aiv Loth tierce and strong ; foxes are cun ning ; apes and monkeys try their hand at man's doings; but what does it signify '! Did you ever hear that the -. with all their powers, united tlu-ir endeavours so as to drive a num- ber of human beings into one of their dens, there to feed, poke, and show them off? or that they attempted to fatten them as meat, or train them as labouring slaves ? The fact, you know, is exactly the re verse of all this. Q. Not always the reverse, surely; animals do sometimes catch men, and eat them up alive. A. That does not alter the matter I am speaking of. The beast over- powers the man, as a falling tree, or a wave of the ocean, may do; but it cannot be said that these become the man's master, neither does the tiger Become his master even when he bites frim in two ; he has never ruled the .yuan, he has never compelled service from him ; neither can the tiger wait behind a bush, and kill his man with- out approaching him. See, now, what man has really done with animals. See, not only the flocks and herds, and horses all the cattle of the land as much under the dominion -of man as his own children are nay, a great deal more^; but behold the most enormous, the most fierce, those armed with deadly weapons, all caged like birds, fed, and trained, and made to fear the keeper, whose body would not be a mouthful amongst them, one whom the least of them could snap up as we would a kitten, but before whom they cower in awe, not daring to disobey him ! (I. Oh, but they do snap up their keepers sometimes ! A. Yes, but that is when the keeper 3 his proper manner towards them, .and trifles with the conditions : '!;]] alone he can manage them : iy beat them till they howl, if, needful, but he must not trick them, n. r tamper with their tempers. When we see creatures like those which are the terror of the tropics, crouched under the wand of a keeper when we find th.it a whale, which w bigger than a thousand men, is hooked, and landed, and skinned, and carved by a boat-full of people this looks very much like mastery, quite like the superiority of man. And did you ever see a little child leading a horse ? a little fellow sitting on the back of the huge creature, and guiding it away from the herbage it would like to crop away from the pond where it really wants to drink ? Yes. Of these powerful animals it is even now true, that " a little child can lead them !" All this, you know, was expressly promised to man by God himself : " And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea ; into your hand are they delivered." (Gen. ix. 2.) Well, now, let us see what man has to do before he can make use of the gifts of Nature that are placed before him. The materials, we have seen, are of three general sorts, and man's wants, we may say, are also of three general kinds : we have animals, vegetables, and minerals ; and we require food, clothing, and shelter. Suppose, now, all these things in a state of nature, and you a pool-, hungry, houseless, uncovered wretch, but very clever indeed, placed amongst them. There are wild bulls careering along the plain, wild goats scrambling up the rocks, and, so far from acknow- ledging your superiority at that mo- ment, that see ! they are looking down upon you ! Well, catch and eat them ; you have free leave. And there are the wild vegetables, too, which cannot run away; and fruits, and berries, and corn-seeds, here and there : taste, and eat them. Oh, they are growing amongst thistles and prickles, very inconveniently ! And, WHO IS MASTER, MAN Oil BEAST? ah, they are very sour, austere, bitter, and husky ! You eat a few, but you are not half- satisfied ; and, besides, you are shiver- ing with cold. Well, that sheep has a f/reat coat on, which he really does not want : try and ease him of it. Dear me, how tiresome ! he sets off scrambling through the thickets, frightened at the sight of you ! Ah, now it rains ! hail-stones come pelting down the wind rattles them in your face : get under a tree, that is a little better, but it is rather an inclement home ! Well, cut the tree down, split it into boards, build yourself a house. But you have no tools ! There is iron in the mine, but where is the mine ? in another part of the country ! You sit down dejected, helpless, and famished; you obtain a little uneasy sleep, till the wild animals disturb you ; the pigs and foxes put their noses to your face, and have a smell at yoxi ; they grunt or bark in your ear, and then they trot away. It is very unpleasant ; up you jump, and climb a tree a monkey is there before you he gibbers and pelts you down ! " This will never do ! " you say. So you set your brains to work, and now find a new use for your hands. Somehow, you build yourself a hut ; you procure a fire ; the smoke that issues has a savoury odour in it ; there is cooking going on, and you are a little better off. The fact is, that until man has made use of his special powers and faculties, which are the best gifts of God to him, he must be a wretch. He cannot live as the beasts do, nor share their com- petence ; for, though Nature waits upon them, and gives them all their meat in due season, she will not do so by man. She says to him " There are all sorts of things provided for your use, but they will not come to you ; you must up, and be doing, and procure and prepare them : YOU MUST WORK." Well, man has taken the hint, as I said before. See, now, the miners, the founders, the smiths, the artificers in all kinds of wood and metals. Man has obtained tools, and there he is, without ceasing, digging, and heaving, and blowing, and hammering, and driving, and all the rest of it. Men do not sleep under trees now at least, not sensible men, under whole ones : the sawer has worked his way through and through the mighty oak ; and the builder, with his beams and boards, has already caged himself in, and has room for a score of people under one roof. And the architect, not content with this, rears a mighty edifice to be seen from far, and for those afar off to com<^. and see, and to perpetuate his name to future ages. Where did he find those very convenient square blocks of stone ? Oh, peep down yonder at the foot of the craggy steep, where works the mason. With patient diligence he sits, pushing and pulling his long toothless saw through the shapeless masses. Did I say he ? Hundreds are at the work ; and the rock, which Nature had piled 'mid the darkness of chaos, is taken down by man that he may re- build it at his pleasure. Man can do all this, for now he is no longer a famishing wretch, contending with the beasts of prey for his meal : his food is secured ; the husbandman has learue J to plough, to sow, to reap, to gather into barns. And now the beasts, which once grinned at the roaming savage in con- tempt, come lowing and bleating to his gate, asking to partake of the benefits of this state of things ; they expect here their daily food and nightly shelter. For this they lend him their mighty strength, yield him their own bodily substance ; they give up their Pugged freedom, and in exchange they acknow- ledge MAN THEIR MASTER ! Taylor's Glance at the Globe. AN ODD NOTION. A sailor went to see a funeral : on his return from the churchyard, he said he had never seen a funeral ashore be'fore. '' Why, what d'ye thinks they does with their dead men ? " said he to a shipmate. "I '11 just tell ye: they puts 'em up in long; black boxes and directs 'em." 1-1 TEA11LS OF THOUGHT. PEARLS OF THOUGHT. THE true is the beautiful. Truth is the soul of the poet's thought. Truth' is the reward of the philoso- pher's ti'il. .-limpse of the real comes upon the human mind like the smile of day- light to the sorrowing captive of some dark prison. The labours to try man's soul and exalt it, are the search for truth be- neath the mysteries which surround creation, to gather ameranths, shining with the hues of heaven, from plains upon which hang, dark and heavy, the mists of earth. The poet may pay the debt of na- ture; the philosopher may return to the bosom of our common mother; even their names fade in the passage of time, like planets blotted out of heaven ; but the truths they have revealed to man, burn on for ever with unextin- guishable brightness. Truth cannot die; it passes from mind to mind, imparting light in its progress, and constantly renewing its own brightness during the diffusion. The true is the beautiful ; and the truths revealed to the mind render us capable of perceiving new beauties on the earth. The gladness of truth is like the singing voice of a joyous child, and the most remote recesses echo with the cheerful sound. To be for ever true, is the science of poetry, the revelation of truth is the poetry of science. Man, a creation endued with mighty faculties, but a mystery to himself, stands in the midst of a wonderful world, and an infinite variety of phe- nomena arise around him in strange forms and magical dispositions, like the phantasma of a restless night. Lifting our searching gaze into the measureless space beyond our earth, we find planet bound to planet, and system chained to system, all impelled by a universal force to roll in regularity and order around a common centre. The pendulations of the remotest star are communicated through the unseen bond ; and our rocking world obeys the mysterious impulse through- out all those forces which regulate the inorganic combinations of this earth, and into which its organic creation is irresistibly compelled to bow. The glorious sun by day, and the moon and stars in the silence and the mystery of night, are felt to influence all material nature, holding the great earth bound in a many-stranded cord which cannot be broken. The tidal flow of the vast ocean, with its variety of animal and vegetable life ; the atmo- sphere, bright and light, obscured by the stern cloud, spanned by the rain- bow, or rent with the explosions of electric fire, attest to the might of these elementary bonds. The mind of man, in its progress towards its higher destiny, is tasked with the physical earth as a problem, which, within the limits of a life, it must struggle to solve. The intel- lectual spirit is capable of embracing all finite things. Man is gifted with powers for studying the entire circle of visible creation ; and he is equal, under proper training, to the task of examin- ing much of the secret machinery that stirs the whole. In dim outshadowing, earth's first poets, from the loveliness of external nature, evoked beautiful spiritualisa- tions. To them the sturdy forests teemed with aerial beings, the gushing springs rejoiced in fantastic sprites, the leaping cataracts gleamed with translucent shades, the cavernous hills were the abodes of genii, and the earth-girdling ocean was guarded by mysterious forms. Such were the creations of the far- searching mind in its early conscious- ness of the existence of unseen powers. Robert Hunt's Poetry of Science. BEAUTY. Remember, says Raleigh, that if thou marry for beauty thou bindest thyself all thy life for that which perchance will neither last nor please theo one year ; and, when thou hast it, it will be to thee of no price at all. IS THE SUN INHABITED P BITTER ALMONDS. 15 dissement, for a machine serving the double purpose of winnowing corn and separating the best grains from the common sort. CAUTION UPON THE USE OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF BITTER ALMONDS. AT a recent meeting of the Medical Society of London, Dr. Quain exhibited a stomach after poisoning by bitter al- monds, removed from a man, thirty- seven years of age, who committed suicide by swallowing the essential oil of bitter almonds. He walked down stairs after taking the poison, and it was quite certain he lived for ten minutes. On opening the stomach, a most power- ful odour was perceived, and a quantity of deep brown fluid was removed, from which ten drachms of the oil were ob- tained. The oil had a strength per drachm of 3'42 of anhydrous Prussic acid ; besides much unavoidably lost in the process, no less than thirty-five grains of the latter were obtained in a pure form. The matter of interest was the length of time life continued after taking so large a dose, warranting a sup- position that the acid is not so active when dissolved in oil as in water. The stomach, from which there was still a strong exhalation, was of a chocolate colour in all its parts. The cesophagus was unaffected. Mr. Squire observed that essential oil of almonds is not so necessarily fatal as is generally supposed, or as Prussic acid. A woman who swallowed three drachms was taken into the St. Marylebone parochial infirmary, and recovered. Dr. Quain said the bottle in this case labelled " Oil of Bitter Almonds" con- tained really the essential oil. There is a liquid sold which is a spirituous solu- tion of the essential oil, containing only a small quantity of the essential oil, and answers all the purposes for confec- tionery. It is likely that was the pre- paration taken in the case just related. BEGIN life by promising yourself all you can perform, and show your sin- cerity by performing all that you have promised. IS THE SUN INHABITED? THE following are M. Arago's remarks upon this interesting problem : " If this question were simply proposed to me, ' Is the sun inhabited ?' I should reply, ' that I know nothing about the matter.' But let any one ask of me if the sun can be inhabited by beings or- ganised in a manner analogous to those which people our globe, and I hesitate not to reply in the affirmative. The ex- istence in the sun of a central obscure nucleus, enveloped in an opaque atmo- sphere far beyond which the luminous atmosphere exists, is by no means op- posed in effect to such a conception. J Herschel thought that the sun is in- habited. According to him, if the depth of the solar atmosphere in which the luminous chemical action operates should amount to a million of leagues, it is not necessary that the brightness at each point should surpass that of an ordinary aurora borealis. In any case the arguments upon which the great astronomer relies, in order to prove that the solar nucleus may not be very hot, notwithstanding the incandescence of the atmosphere, are neither the only nor the best that might be adduced. The direct observation, made by Father Secchi, of the depression of tempera- ture which the points of the solar disc experience wherein the spots appear, is in this respect more important than any reasoning whatever." A BLIND MASON, JOINER, AND ME- CHANICIAN. The Journal de Chartres gives an account of a water-mill near Chartres, built entirely by a blind man, without either assistance or advice from any one. The masonry, carpenter's work, roofing, stairs, paddle-wheels, cogs, in a word, all the machinery pertaining to the mill has been made, put up, and set in motion by him alone. He has also, the above journal asserts, made his own furniture. When the mill does not work, the blind miller becomes a joiner, and also a turner, on a lathe of his own invention. In 1852, this blind genius was awarded a medal by the agricultural society of the arron- 16 THE MAIIINE AQUARIUM. DISEASES OY THE TEETH. THE MARINE AQUARIUM. MR. GOSSE'S ACCOUNT OF HIS EXPERI- NTS. MANY persons who have seen the aquarium at the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, will be greatly interested in the following remarks. Moreover, thousands of persons are setting up, and will continue to set up, not only marine, but fresh water aquariums. And, therefore, everything which con- tributes to a proper knowledge of the management of them must be highly acceptable. Mr. Gosse says : If we attempt to collect and to keep marine animals alone in sea-water, how- ever pure it may have been at first, it speedily becomes offensively fetid, the creatures look sickly, and rapidly die off, and we are glad to throw away the whole mass of corruption. Why is this ? why should they die in our vessels when they live so healthily in the little pools and basins of the rock, that are no larger ? For the very same reason that we should quickly die in a room perfectly air-tight. The blood of all animals requires to be per- petually renewed by the addition to it of the element called oxygen; and when it cannot obtain this it becomes anfit for the support of life. Terres- trial animals obtain this gaseous ele- ment from the air; aquatic animals (that is, those which are strictly such) obtain it from the water. But in either case it is principally produced by living plants while under the action of light. If, then, we can furnish our captives with a perpetual manufactory of oxygen, the main cause of their sudden death is removed. Of course they have other requirements, but this is the most urgent, the indispensable. In a state of nature, the rocks, the crannies, the pools, the sea-bottom are studded with various living plants, which we call sea-weeds ; and these, under the daily stimulus of sunlight, direct or indirect, produce and throw off a vast quantity of oxygen, which, by the action of the waves and currents, is diffused through all parts of the habitable sea, and maintains the health of its countless swarnn of animals. In an aquarium we seek to imitate this chemistry of nature. We collect the plants as well as the animals ; and, a little observation teaching us how to proportion the one to the other, we succeed in maintaining, on a small scale, the balance of animal and vege- table life. Other less important bene- fits result from this arrangement ; the creatures love retirement and shelter, and this they find in the umbrageous fronds ; they delight to roam, and to play, and to rest in the feathery tufts, and not a few find their favourite food in the delicate leaves of the herbs. On the other hand, the plant is in- debted to the animal for some of its supplies. The carbon, with which its solid parts are built up, is derived from the carbonic acid which is thrown off by animals in the process of breathing ; a poisonous gas which would soon vitiate the water, were it not taken up and appropriated by the plants. Such, then, is the principle on which the aquarium is founded ; and any con- ditions under which it can be carried out will serve, provided of course they be suitable in other respects to the habits of the animals and our purpose in keeping them. I have at present at my residence at Islington one marine tank full of animals and plants in the highest condition, the water in which, though as clear as crystal and quite colourless, has never been even re- moved from the vessel since it was first put in, 19 months ago. I have, also, other tanks and vases, which are re- spectively 17, 14, 13, and 4 months old. The successful establishment of these has not been achieved without some failures and losses, which yet must not be considered as unmitigated misfortunes, since they have added to my experience, and better fitted me to understand and sympathise with the difficulties of other beginners. Hand- book to the Marine Aquarian. DISEASES OF THE TEKTH. AT a recent meeting of the Western Medical Society of London, Mr. Thomas C. White read a paper on the cause of DISEASES OF THE TEETH. SOAP. A GOSSIP OVER THE WASH-TUB, 17 dental caries (carious teeth). After entering upon various physiological and pathological considerations, the author expressed his belief in the hereditary influence, and cited some curious in- stances. Certain trades tend to produce caries, of which grocers and lucifer- match makers were examples. Certain localities, especially damp ones, and those where imperfect drainage existed, appear to be amongst the causes ; and, also, mechanical violence. Of the teeth most likely to be affected the first molars appeared to occupy the highest place, and those of the upper jaw usually were the first to decay. The "wisdom teeth" were often evolved in an unsound state. The popular idea of the contagion of caries was met by asserting, that the apparently successive decay of adjoining teeth was due to the pressure of the teeth against each other, caused by the upward and forward growth of them. For if such teeth were examined at an early period, long be- fore caries had manifested itself, a round chalky spot might be noticed, caused by the crumbling of the enamel fibres beneath the firm, but steady, pressure exerted upon them : this opens the dentine to attacks of acid, and other irritants ; and sphacelus is the result. Having thus discussed many and various causes of dental caries, and con- trasted the frequency of the disease in civilised society with the immunity enjoyed by man in his savage state, as well as that of the lower animals, the author was impelled to the conclusion, that " it may in great measure be attri- buted to the artificial mode of living in a civilised state, which brings on a morbid condition of the fluids, resulting in impaired nutrition. The treatment must, of course, vary with the states and circumstances of the disease. In an incipient state, from pressure, the removal of the affected enamel, and polishing the surface was recommended. Where, on the con- trary, the disease has proceeded so far as to excavate the substance, the sooner it is cleaned out and stopped with gold or amalgam, the better. (See Enquire Within, 112.) When the caries has progressed to such an extent that the dentine is soft and yielding, the slightest pressure causing intense pain, stopping is inapplicable, and recourse must be had to escharotics. Of these, perhaps, the most efficient was a combination of oxide of arsenic with acetate of morphia, mixed into a paste, with creosote. This gives slight pain for about two hours, after which it ceases, and the tooth can then be stopped and made serviceable for some time. The practice of indis- criminate extraction was declared to be unwarrantable. SOAP A GOSSIP OVER THE WASH-TUB. SOAP at the present day being very extensively adulterated, and the pub- lic generally being so little dis- posed to apply their reason to the subject, suggests to me, that in your first Interview with your readers you would allow me to communicate the following facts : Soap, as you are aware, is a detergent article, applied to all cleansing purposes, consequently that soap_ must be most economical which contains and retains the greatest proportion of the detergent property. Soap is manufactured from oil or fat. either vegetable or animal. That soap is most durable and detergent, which is manufactured from animal fat. Palm oil and cocoa-nut oil are largely used in producing a soap which the public are always seeking, viz., a low priced one. Cocoa-nut oil soap is useful for marine purposes, being used in cold water; but if used in warm or hot water it wastes quickly, and although containing an excess of the detergent material, the nature of the grease does not allow the necessary rubbing on the articles to be cleansed, consequently the soap becomes wasted in the water, making strong suds, and thereby mak- ing the suds exceedingly caustic and injurious to the hands of those who wash. Palm oil soap is also subject to like wasteful consumption (but not to the extent of the cocoa-nut oil soap.) If employed in hot water, it being a vegetable grease it will allow only a moderate rubbing on the article to be IS SOAP. A GOSSIP OVER TBE WASH-TUB. cleansed, giving a large quantity of lather. Persons generally suppose the lather gives the cleansing property. which is not the case. To c! thoroughly, the soap should be solid enough to resist the friction of rubbing, yielding the detergent property on the part to be cleansed. Soap manufac- tured from palm oil is very extensively adulterated. It will absorb when in a liquid state one-third of a chemical mixture commonly used in that class of soap, and yet have the appearance of ordinary soap. Aside from these soaps, I state, that taking the bulk of soap manufactured, two-thirds of which is adulterated, more or less, in neigh- bourhoods where the inhabitants are poor, which class of persons so com- monly seek out low priced articles take such districts as New Cut, Whitechapel, Whitecross-street, Bethnal-green, and neighbourhoods of the kind where the poor locate, the greatest quantities of the low-priced soap is sold, the shop- keeper, knowing how much this adulte- rated soap wastes even in keeping, buys .only a few days' supply, and retails it out as fresh as possible on receiving it from the soap makers. In some of the lower priced palm soap one half is adultera- tion. So inferior is this article that the soap maker, who prepares it, is obliged to adopt a drying room, similar to drying of bricks made from clay : this soap is piled in a room heated with hot air (to dry, or, more correctly, to bake the surface) of each cake ; this process of drying is intended to shut in the excess of moisture, and the portion of silica used in the adulteration gives a hard surface. Immediately when dried it is despatched to the shopkeeper, thence sold at the supposed cheap price, the poor being most generally the pur- chasers, being tempted by the colour and cheapness. The fanciful idea of having yellow soap a pale colour has given much opportunity to cany on this adulteration. Twenty-five years ago a sound genuine detergent soap was the article in common use : it was of a brown or yellow colour, properly called yellow soap. At the present day "Primrose," "Extra Pale," "XXX Pale," and terms of the like are given. The public study the pleasing of the oyo first, and will not buy a brown or yellow soap, be it ever so genuine, in consequence of its colour. This class of soap is almost certain to contain the durable and cleansing quality (if made by good makers). Common soap is so inferior in its cleansing property that a large quantity of the crystal of soda is used, as the soap is found not to per- form the detergent process. To go back to the year, say 1830, crystal soda was scarcely in use for laundry purposes, but it will be found that so large is the use of this article at the present time that something like 20,000 tons reach the metropolis yearly. But such is the practice of adulteration that this article, soda, is adulterated to the extent of one half in some localities ; the component ingredients are seriously injurious ; viz., sulphuric acid being one of the chief elements in the manufac- ture of this so-called soda : the conse- quence is, that whenever it is used, the fabric becomes injured and rotten from the effect of this acid, and the hands of washerwomen suffer. I omitted to notice that common hot air dried palm soap is very extensively manufactured in our large towns. The article called fancy soap must not be passed by, although generally bought by persons capable of judging in part; but when we find " honeysuckle soap," " turtle soap," with an endless variety of fine names, it is not out of place to ask what is it which gives these shades of colour. My answer is, the colourman furnishes the vermilion, the umber, the damp blue, and mineral colours of this poisonous nature. Fancy soap can be obtained of a much more pure and suitable character ; but if the public will not accept truths, and prefer following after fanciful articles, they must bear with the inconvenience re- sulting from such indifference. To conclude, avoid low priced soap: the bet- ter sorts will be found most economical; the linen washed thereby will last longer. And remember that coloured soaps, though attractive to the eye, are generally injurious to the skin. INFLUENCE OF THE MOON. 19 INFLUENCE OF THE MOON UPON HUMAN HEALTH. DR. MEAD details a number of facts that have come under his own, as well as the observation of his contemporaries, demonstrative of lunar influence. Dr. Mead was physician to St. Thomas's Hospital during the time of Queen Anne's wars with France ; and whilst oc- cupying this honourable position great numbers of wounded sailors were brought into the hospital. He observed that the moon's influence was visible on most of the cases then under his care. He cites a case, communicated to him by Dr. Pitcairne, of a patient, thirty years of age, who was subject to epis- taxis, whose affection returned every year in March and September that is, of the new moon near the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. Dr. Pitcaime's own case is referred to as a remarkable fact corroborative of lunar influence. In the month of February, 1687, whilst at a country seat near Edinburgh, he was seized, at nine in the morning, the very hour of the new moon, with a violent haemorrhage from the nose, ac- companied with severe syncope. On the following day, on his return to town, he found that the barometer was lower at that very hour than either he or his friend Dr. Gregory, who kept the jour- nal of the weather, had ever observed it ; and that another friend of his, Mr. Cockburn, professor of philosophy, had died suddenly, at the same hour, from haemorrhage from the lungs ; and also that six of his patients were seized, at the same time, with various kinds of hce- morrJiages, all arising, it was supposed, from the effect of lunar influence on the condition of the barometer. Dr. Mead's opinions are formed upon some ingenious and probable hypotheses re- specting the influence of the moon upon the atmosphere, and of the atmosphere upon human beings. Similar views were entertained by Dr. Francis Balfour, who had for many months the charge of a regiment of Sepoys, of Cooch Be- har, immediately under the vast range of mountains which separate the north- ern part of Bengal from Bootan. The prevalent diseases were fevers, or "fluxes" attended with fevers. During the month four hundred men were in- valided. The greater part, however, of these cases were convalescent in the course of eight days that intervened be- tween the full and change of the moon; but during the remaining months of his stay in that district, the diseases previously mentioned increased to al- most double their extent at every full and change of the moon, falling down again to their former standard during the eight days which intervened be- tween these two periods. With regard to small-pox occurring in India, Dr. Bal- four expresses himself as perfectly sa- tisfied that the full and change of the moon interferred with the eruption, and increased the accompanying fever to a dangerous degree. The opinion of both these physicians have been decreed wor- thy of quotation by Dr. Forbes Wins- low, in his papers upon medical juris- prudence. How TO MAKE MONET. Let the business of everybody else alone, and attend to your own : don't buy what you don't want, use every hour to advantage, and study to make even leisure hours useful : think twice before you throw away a shilling ; re- member you will have another to make for it : find recreation in looking after your business, and so your business will not be neglected in looking after recreation : buy IOAV ; sell fair, and take care of the profits : look over your books regulai-ly, and if you find an error, trace it out : should a stroke of misfortune come upon you in trade, retrench, work harder ; " but never fly the track :" confront difficulties with un- flinching perseverance, and they will disappear at last ; though you should even fail in the struggle you will be honoured ; but shrink from the task, and you will be despised. By follow- ing these rules, however, you never need say " fail ; " pay debts promptly, and so exact your dues : keep your word. SALUTARY SENTENCES.-POETRY. SALUTARY SENTKV To him nothing is possible who is always dreaming of his past possibilities. My thy ability to Ins.- must thy genius, by thy ability to gain must thy valour, be mea- sured. Francis Albert ini, an Italian Jesuit, who died in ltll!>, published a Latin work, in which lie maintains that the lower animals have, like men, their guardian angels. The tolerance of the English for blockheads and stupid corporations seems to confirm the opinion. In the morning the sun strikes us as the giver of light ; at noon, as the giver of heat ; and in the evening as the giver of colour. Thus, happy the man on whom God first be- stows wisdom, then moral strength, then an opulence of religious insight into the manifold beauties of the universe. The Emperor Siegmund said that he who cannot leap over a thing must crawl under it. How well is a wise boldness taught in these words, and how much our English statesmen need the lesson! Under how many things they have to crawl for want of courage to spring over them ! God has given thee an abiding place, thou sayest, in the midst of pestilential swamps. If thou hast courage to banish, by persevering toil, the putrid waters, the swamps will change into fertile and beautiful fields, the deadly fever will depart, and thou wilt rejoice as a strong man in thy health. But, moreover, the curtain of vapour which was ever around thee will be rent asunder, and night after night thy eye will be gladdened and taught by the glory of the stars. Fire is its own law as it is its own life. Send forth the fire in one swift devouring mass, and it will neither heed your counsel nor heed your guidance. But when the fire has burned itself out and has done its work, all the more quickly and effectually from being its own inspiring demon, its own resistless doom, how silly to sit down beside the black and blasted paths and say Behold how strong a thing is fire, let us trust in it evermore, dis- daining all slower agencies ! AURELICS ARPIMOXT, in the Critic. PROVERBS OF THE NEW ZEALAN 7 DERS. A man who is of no consequence at home, is one of importance abroad. It is not good to lean upon a man, for he is a moving bolster. If it was a SUM just appearing, well ; but it 8 a sun which is setting. THE MINIATURE. JOHN was holding in his hand The likeness of his wife; l-'nsh. as if touched by fairy wand, With beauty, grace, and life. He almost thought it spoke. He gazed' Upon the treasure still, Absorbed, delighted, and amazed, To view the artist's skill. " This picture is yourself, dear Jane, 'Tis drawn to nature true ; I've kissed it o'er and o'er again, It is so much like you ! " " And did it kiss you back, my dear?" " Why, no, my love," said he ; " Then, John, my dear, 'tis very clear, 'Tis not at all like me!" LINES BY AUGUSTINE DUNGANNE, AMERICAN POET I SIT beside my gentle one, Her hand is laid in mine, And thus we watch the parting sun In golden haze decline. Across the fields the shadows creep, And up the misty hill ; And we our twilight vigils keep At our own cottage sill. The distant brooklet's murmurs come Like bell-notee through the leaves; And many an insect's mazy hum Its dreamy music weaves. The dove's last notes, in rippling beats, Upon the air departs : The breath of all our garden sweets Is creeping to our hearts. The russet woodbine round our porch In clustering ringlets twines ; The honeysuckle's crimson torch Gleams through the dusty vines ; The sunset rays are trembling now Amid the trellis-bars They paint upon my darling's brow A glory like the stars. Her cheek is nestling on my breast, Her eyes are bright with tears ; A prayer, half-breathed and half-represt, My listening spirit h.-r.rs. Oh ! blessed be the changeless love That glorifies my life! All doubt, all fear, all guile above j\vn truc-hccj-tcd wife! USEFUL THINGS. 21 1. SHERINGHAM'S VENTILA- TOR. This is a very useful invention for the purpose of ventilating either public or private rooms. We have examined it s c o n - structiou, which is very sim- ple ; and ~- he princi- ple of the invention is perfectly sound. It is also exceedingly economical ; and may be put up at a trifling expense. The cost of a ventilator varies from 6s. 6d. to 18s. 6d. The cheaper kinds are t^uite as efficacious as the high-priced ones. The ventilator is to be fixed in the wall, for which nothing more is re- quired than the removal of a single brick. The valvular opening is placed upon the wall of the room (not the chimney), whilst, in the outer wall, an ornamental air plate is set to occupy the corresponding space caused by the removal of the brick. The effect of the ventilator will be found in the follow- ing illustration : A C A. Section of External Wall. B. Section of Ventilator C. Ceiling. D. Candles at 1 ft. from the Ventilator, and 8 inches from the Ceiling. E. Candle at 2 ft from the Venti- lator, and 2 inches from the Ceiling. It should be placed in the wall which i.s at right angles to that in which the fire-place stands, but not opposite a door, for this reason, that the air com- ing in at the ventilator, being met by >,he air coming in from the door, is precipitated to the ground, thus causing a draught but if the incoming current from the ventilator is allowed to pass freely, it glides along the ceiling. Unlike any other ventilator, its action is not impeded when the shutters are closed, at which time the rooms get the most heated from the fire of the day, and now the gas. The introduction of fresh air is more conducive to ventila- tion than providing means for the exit of the impure air inasmuch as if you admit the fresh air, the foul air must be driven away. The supply of air through the ventilator is modified to any degree by a simple pulley. These ventilators are manufactured by Messrs. Hay wood Brothers, 196, Black- friars-road, London. 2. HULL'S PATENT NUT- CRACKERS. This is an invention which strikes us at once by its useful- ness and simplicity. The old nut- cracker, (whose nose will certainly be put out of joint by the new favourite,) consisted of a pair of handles working upon a hinge, the nut being received between flat toothed plates, and crushed. In the new Nutcracker, instead of the flat plates, there are oval hollows, with toothed border. The nut drops into the oval, and the shell is cracked with- out injury to the kernel. Price 2s. 6d. To be had at C. Green and Sous, 44, Newgate-street, London. 3. THE PATENT EGG BEATER is a little invention of great utility, enabling its posses- sor to beat or whisk any number of eggs most effectively in a few seconds. It consists of an earthenware mug, from the inside of which a number of points completely intersect the vessel. The eggs are dropped into the mug, a tight fitting cover is placed upon it, and it is then shaken for a few seconds, by which means the eggs are most perfectly beaten, and rendered fit for the most delicate operations of cookeiy. The only precaution that we see necessary in the use of the egg-beater is to rinse it out with hot water immediately after use, to prevent the remains of the eggs hardening upon the intersecting points. The prices are Is., Is. 3d., and Is. 6d. Sold at Deane, Dray and Go's, 46, King Wiliam-street, London, Bridge. 4. WORTH'S PATENT KNIFE AND FORK CLEANERS are inven- tions of which we can speak highly. The knife cleaner consists of a board to which are fastened transverse cuttings of stout USEFUL THINGS. buff leather, so that the knife is brought iu contact with a series of h edgings, polishing without scratching them. The fork cleaner is s structed that it will clean the four prongs of a fork thoroughly, and at the same time. The prices of the knife cleaner vary from 6s. to 16s., of the fork cleaner, from Ss. 6d. to 10s. Gd. There are other articles of the same material. 5. BARLOW'S CASK STAND is a good invention for preventing the dis- turbance of fermented liquors by the tilt- ing of casks. When a cask upon the old cask stand requires tilting, a block of wood, &c., is jerked under it; the con- sequence is, that the sediment is dis- turbed, a second fermentation often en- sues, the fluid is never bright again, and eventually, two or three quarts at the least in every cask are wasted and thrown away. The frame of this new machine is on a sharp incline ; its ac- tion is remarkably simple. By turning the wheel from left to right, the cask is raised, without trouble, beyond its level ; so that any sediment or hops recede from the tap ; and when the cask requires tilting, by moving the wheel from right to left, it is lowered BO gradually, that sediment of the most limpid fluid by no possibility can get disturbed, and the last gill of ale, wine, &c., may be drawn off perfectly "bright. They are made to suit every size cask. The cask stand, price 14s., suits the 9, 18, or 36 gallon cask ; the -rrong stand, at 24s., is for butts, ids. iSTERED CINDER ,i valuable contribution to economy. The macliiue is shaped like a deep pail, with a rocking foot (like that of a cradle) at the bot- tom. The lid is taken off, the ciuders and dust taken up with a shovel from under the grate, and then filled into themoveable sifter, which, when in its place, occu- pies about one-third of MOVEABLE SIFTER. the height of the machine ; the cover is then replaced, and the machine standing on the floor is rocked backwards and forwards, the dust in a few seconds separates from the cinders which remain in the move- able sieve, and are then ready for use ; and the cover remaining closed for a few minutes, all dust is dissipated, and the dust in the lower part may be emptied into the dust-bin. Price 11s. 6d. 7. BARLOWS POTATO STEAMER. We very much approve of the prin- ciple of this invention for cooking potatoes by steam without soddening them with the moisture of condensed steam. In Fig. 1, the old-fashioned FIG. 1. FIG. "2. steamer, it will be seen, is a flat plate punched full of holes the cover is a common saucepan cover the potatoes are placed on the perforated plate ; the steam as it arises from the lower vessel is condensed into drops of water inside the cover, and drips down like a shower USEFUL THINGS 23 bath 011 the potatoes, completely sod- dening them with the condensed water, which then finds its way into the lower vessel, the water of which it contami- nates with its disagreeable flavour, ren- dering it completely useless for the purposes of cooking a fowl, pudding, vegetables, &c. In Fig. 2, showing a section of this invention, it will be seen that the po- tatoes are placed in the upper vessel, round the conical bottom; the steam enters from the top of the cone, and cooks the potatoes in perfection. The condensed water trickles down inside the flutes of the conical cover, and passes into the external receiver, thus avoiding its falling on the potatoes or into the lower vessel, by which means it is available for cooking anything else simultaneously, thus giving the space of an extra saucepan on the fire. Fig. 3 is an external view of Barlow's PotatoSteam- er covered for use. There is one great advantage connected wi th this Steamer, which is, that when the po- tatoes are cooked enough, the skins crack, and the potatoes almost peel themselves ; and thus by carefully taking off the skins, a perfect potato is sent up to table, which is so different to potatoes as they are generally served, they being not only indiSerently cooked, but often so cut and mangled by the cook in peel- ing, as to convey the impression that they were diseased. In connexion with the thirteen ways of cooking potatoes given in Enquire Within (122) these steamers will be found invaluable. The prices vary from 6s. to 11s. 8. GREENWOOD'S PATENT IN- DIA RUBBER STOPS. This inven- tion is an ingenious application of a thin band of Indian rubber to the exclusion of draughts and dirt from rooms, &c. The India rubber is fixed in a groove at a proper angle at the edge of the stop ; an elastic spring is thus formed, which, when the door or window is closed, makes them perfectly air-tight, and pre- vents noise as the door closes dead against the India rubber. The wood beading, to which the India rubber is attached, may be had of any colour to match the frame or doorway. The prices are from 4d. to 6d. per foot. Door Frame or Post. Manufactured by J. Greenwood, 10, Arthur Street-west, London-bridge. 9. BOURRELET'S COMPRES- SIBLES. This is another invention, for the exclusion of dust and draughts from rooms, &c. It consists of the ordinary wool-wadding, manufactured into rolls, or soft cords, and stained of various colours, to match the wood- work. It is not, we think, so perfect an invention as the India rubber stops, but it is less expensive, costing only from Id. to 4d. per yard. That it is very useful, and will .greatly increase the comfort and cleanliness of sitting- rooms, there can be no doubt ; and it has this advantage, that any one with a glue- pot can fix it. It is supplied by Mr. R Helbonner, the patentee, 265, Regent- street, London. POETRY. A YOUNG SAILOR'S FAREWELL. WAIT, ye winds, whilst I repeat A parting signal to the fleet, "Whose station is at home : Then waft a sea-boy's simple prayer, And let it oft be whispered there, Wherever he may roam. Farewell to Father, reverend hulk, In spite of metal, spite of bulk, Must soon his cables slip ; But ere he's broken up I'll try The flag of gratitude to fly, In duty to the ship. Farewell to Mother, first-rate she, Who launched me on life's stormy sea, And rigged me fore and aft ; May Providence her timbers spare, And keep her hulk in good repair, To tow the smaller craft. Farewell to Sister, lovely yacht, But whether she will sail or not I really can't foresee ; May some kind ship a tender prove, Well stored in wisdom and in love, And take her under lee. Farewell to George, the jolly boat, And all the littler raft afloat On life's tempestuous sea; When they arrive at sailing age May wisdom prove their weather-gauge. And guide them on their way. Farewell to all in life's rough main, Perhaps we ne'er may meet again, Through stress of stormy weather ; But may we all be found above, And anchored in the port of Love, And all be moored together. WM. HYK. ON A WATCH. COULD but our tempers move like this machine, Not urged by passion, nor delayed by spleen, But, true to Nature's regulating power, By virtuous acts distinguish every hour, Then health and joy would follow, as they ought, The law of motion and the law of thought ; Sweet health to pass thy present moments o'er, And everlasting joy when time shall be no more. A. HKUSTED. BOYHOOD. THK dreams of early youth, Mow beautiful are they how full of joy! When fancy looks the truth, And life shows not a taint of sin's alloy : When every heart appears The temple of high thought and noble deed ; When our most bitter tears Fall o'er some melancholy page we read. The summer morn's fresh hours Her thousand woodland songs her glo- rious h ui's O ! life's so full of flowers, The difficulty, ttien, is where to choose : The wonderful blue sky Its cloudy palaces its gorgeous fanes ; The rainbow's tints which lie Like distant golden seas near purple plains ; These never shine again, As once they shone upon our raptured gaze ; The clouds which may remain Paint other visions than in those sweet days ! In hours thus pure sublime Dreams we would make realities : life seems So changed in after-time, That we would wish realities were dreams ! ON A DEPARTED CHILD. THE Sun now gilds each verdant field, Sweet fragrance fills the vale, The butterfly is on the wing, And zephyrs soft prevail ; The flowers arrayed in varied hues Now blossom as before, But death hath torn thee from my side, To meet thee here no more. The winding rill flows gently on, And still adorns its side; Forget-me-not, its simple bloom Reflected in the tide. The bird upon the slender bougk Is singing as of yore; But thou art gone, thy happy face I gaze upon no more. When sadness makes the tear to flow, Upward I cast a glance, With thankful heart and moistened eye, Gazing on Heaven's expanse. Methinks again I see him smile In all his pristine joy, Assured that time will soon unite The Mother to her Boy. PLEASANT EVENINGS, & c . CHARADE. LADIES who wish the married state to gain, May learn a lesson from this brief charade ; And proud are we to think our humble muse May in such vital matters give them aid. The Lady B (we must omit the name) Was tall in stature, and advanced in years, And leading long a solitary life Oft grieved her, even to the fall of tears. At length a neighbour, bachelor, and old, But not too old to match the Lady B , Feeling his life monotonous and cold, Proposed to her that they should wedded be. Proposed, and was accepted need we say ? Even the wedding - day and dress were named; And gossips' tongues had conn'd the matter Some praised the union, others strongly blamed. The Lady B , whose features were my first, Was well endowed with beauties that are rare, Well read, well spoken, had indeed a mind With which few of the sex called tender can compare. But the old bachelor had all the ways Of one grown fidgetty in solitude ; And he at once in matters not his own Began unseemly and untimely to intrude. Disliked this dress, that look or song Thought the piano wholly out of tune Frowned at the cat, hated the pretty poll, And liked the windows closed in days of June. And when the Lady B would calmly state Wherein she deemed his views were in the wrong, He took my second, slamm'd the door, and left, And made his absence often very long. And longer still these fits of sulking grew, Till by the post one day a letter came, Stating that marriage suited not his view, And that he hoped the Lady B would feel the same ! Preposterous ! she who for fifty years Had sought a chance, and clutched at one at last, To give it up ! Oh, silly bachelor ! She has you now, and, faith, she'll hold you fart. The Lady B at once became my wtole, And put the bachelor to most enormous trouble ; Far better had he yielded up himself, For what he paid was worth more than hfs double. My whole achieved a victory most complete, And 'tis a motto with her to this day, " If men make love to ladies, then retreat, Let loose the lawyers, and enforce good pay. CHARADE. OH thou, my first, from whom much good pro- ceeds, Grand in thy beauty, bounteous in thy breast, Rich in thy treasures, rapid in thy speed, Knowing no time of idleness or rest Whence comes the terror that destroys thy And makes thee tremble as with inward dread ? Whom hast thou wronged ? What hast thou done, That o'er thy face this awful curse should spread ? Lo ! as I gaze, my second, like a spell, Sweeps through my frame, and racks my heart with fear. Where shall I fly for safety ? where find peace To offer up my voice in praise or prayer ? Oh ye who till the cultivated field, Or dig the darkest mines for hidden gold, Or cross the ocean heedless of tlie storm, Or tend the sheep within their peaceful fold- When that my tchok appears, my second shakes Your inmost souls courage and pride must fail; And ye, the proud men of the earth, must bend Like simple reeds before the boisterous gale. .- CHARADE BLIND MAN'S BUFF. TWAS Christmas time, and my nice first (Well suited to the season) Had been well served, and well enjoyed- Of course I mean in reason. And then a game of merry sort My second made full many do ; One player, nimbler than the rest, Caught sometimes onfe and sometimes two. She was a merry laughing wench, And to the sport gave life and soul ; Though maiden dames, and older folk, Declared her manners were my tcTiole. THE ADVERTISEMENT INVESTIGATOR. rpHE OLD CIVIC TOAST. " All Friends J_ round St Paul's, not forgetting Num- ber One." This is a puff (an ingenious one) of Dakin and Co.'s tea establishment, No. 1, St. Paul's-churchyard. P:iY. To those who wish to IM- PROVE their BREED by giving New Blood from the best strains, this being the time for so doing. Apply for particulars to A. G., Post Office, Watlington, Oxen. The advertiser states that he is the head-gardener and bailiff of a lady hav- ing a " very handsome poultry court," from which it is proposed to sell choice stock of Cochin Chinas, Spanish Han- bro', Polander, Bantams, and other poul- try, and gold and silver pheasants. Tne lady is stated to be at Brighton. We observe this the initials, " A. G.," are not those of the person who replied to our application. The prices quoted for the stock are moderate for choice breeds. MAPPINS- SHILLING RAZOR, sold everywhere, warranted good by the makers, JOSEPH MAPPIN and BRO- THERS, Queen's Cutlery Works, Sheffield, and 37, Moorgate-street, City. The prices paid for razors iu past times are likely, ere long, to be deemed fabulous, since a really good razor may now be had for a shilling. "We have shaved with Mappins' shilling razor, and are pleased to recommend it. A good blade, in a neat handle, enclosed in a plain case, all for the trifling sum stated. Hard Times, and the Way to Mend Them. Just published, price Is. HOW TO SAVE HALF YOUR COALS : a Practical Book, designed for all who keep a Fire for business or pleasure. Bath : Binns and Goodwin : London, Marlborough and Co., Ave Maria-lane. This little book, though having some- thing of a catch title, is honestly worth the shilling. It deals with the ques- tions : " Can we make our scientific knowledge contribute to economy in our expenditure of fuel ? Can we have as good fires as usual in the parlour, in the nursery, in the laundry, and in the kitchen, and yet save half our coals ' \Vr do not consider the affirmative idhed to the extent assumed by the author; but a very important saving may be effected by attending to the instructions given. We quote the ar- ticle upon coal (p. 6) from this work. There are many other hints given be- sides those we have quoted. FULTICES superseded by the use of MARKWICK'S PATENT SPONGIO PILINE. As a substitute for common poul- tices and fomentations, the superiority of this article is unquestionable. It is strongly re- commended by the most eminent of the Faculty for its cleanliness, economy, lightness, and general efficacy, and is now used in several of the hospitals. Sold, retail, by Chemists and Druggists, and wholesale by GEORGE TRIMBEY, 41, Queen - street, Cheapside. We have already called attention (Enquire Within, 2199) to the useful- ness of this invention for the purposes pointed out. The sample of " Mark- wick's Patent Spongio Piline," now be- fore us is very good, and may be con- fidently recommended. KING CHARLES'S NEWSPAPER. A Fac-simile of this highly interesting and remarkable curiosity, with valuable and amusing Gleanings from other very Ancient Newspapers, sent free by post on receipt of six postage stamps. J. H. FENNEL!, 1, War wick - court, Gray's-inn, London. This is a curiosity, and is well worth the price, if only to illustrate the rapid strides made since the year 1679 in literary productions. Among the cu- rious paragraphs are the following : " These are to give notice, that during Hi Majesty's being at Windsor, there will go a post thither every evening from the General Letter Office in Lomburd-street" " The masters of His Majesties cock-pit do desire all gentlemen that have their game, to send in their cocks to the pit at Newmarket in such seasonable time as that they may be made fit to fight ; they intending to begin the cock -match on the 15th of March. And there shall be feeders ready to take care of their cocks. February 1C79." AVe will give some further extracts in a future Interview. THE ADVERTISEMENT INVESTIGATOR. 27 Just out, price 1*., sold by all booksellers, HOW, WHEN, and WHOM TO MARRY ; with Observations on the Causes of "Marriages being so often Un- happy." By the Rev. A. BLACK. This is a book put forth to en- anare the unwary, and evidently issued in the interests of one of the " Matrimonial Institutions" that have been so frequently exposed and con- demned. Under the head of " When to Marry," the following paragraph im- parts the chief information : Marriages of Eminent Persons. People about to marry, who wish to know the proper age, are referred to the following precedents : Shakespere, 18 ; Ben Jonson, 21 ; Waller, 22 ; Franklin, 24 ; Mozart, 25 ; Dante, Kepler, Fuller, Johnson, Burke, and Scott, 26 ; Tycho Braye, Byron, Washington, Wellington, Buo- naparte, 27; Penn, Sterne, 28; Linnaeus, Nelson, 29 ; Burns, 30 ; Chaucer, Hogarth, and Peele, 32 ; Wordsworth, Davey, 33 ; Aristotle, 36 ; Sir William Jones, 37 ; Wilber- force, 38 ; Luther, 42; Addison, 44 ; Wesley, Young, 47 ; Swift, 49 ; Buffon, 55 ; Old Parr (last time) 120 ; (the Veteran Parr buckled t& with a Widow at 120). The inference is that, whatever your age may be, the Matrimonial Society deems you eligible. No doubt of it. It is a book badly written, for a pur- pose we feel bound to condemn. Price 2s., post free, THE YOUNG POET'S ASSISTANT: A Few Hints on the Composition of Poetry. By an OLD REVIEWER. "The Old Reviewer's experience will be invaluable to the young Poet : it kindles hope and breathes encouragement." London Journal. SAUXDEKS and OTLEY, Conduit-street. This is a book which we would re- commend every aspiring poet to read, and all youths are aspiring poets at some period of their history. As editor of various popular publications, we know how great the proportion of poetical effusions that find their way to the edi- tor's table. With the aid of such a book both writers and editors will be spared unnecessary trouble, and the pages of popular works will reflect purer thoughts, more eloquently ex- pressed. 'VTEW MUSICAL GAME. The THEORY J3| of CONCORDS, beautifully Illustrated. Price 2s. 6d., free for stamps. This amusing and instructive game is highly recommended by Sir George Smart, and all the leading members of the musical profession. JEWELL and LETCHFOBD, 17, Soho-square. We have been disappointed in our expectations from this promised aid to family amusement. It is simply a series of cards, printed in bold music type. The game commences by one of the players leading a card bearing any note ; the next player must play a card which will form a concord with the pre- ceding one ; if the first player can play another card forming a concord with both the others, he wins the trick. As a game, it is merely the game of do- minoes confused ; as an exercise for the musical student, we can recommend it ; but, to being an " amusing musical game," it offers but very slight preten- sions. MANURE (Permanent), 17s. per ton. Farmers, can you meet the check on the screw ? A national and inexhaustible manure, as valuable to the people as coal, will test any known manure on rank clay and sheer gravel for price, fertility, and durability. An enclosed stamped envelope to R. Romanis, chymical farmer, Northaw, Herts, will be returned with particulars. The advertiser professes to be the inventor of a manure, "composed of eight good manures, scientifically blended to engender the gasses essen- tial naturally to the growth of the vegetable tribe, as well as suit all soils, and leave, after the chemical agents are absorbed, a permanent improvement in the land." He has taken, for twenty- one years, between 200 and 300 acres of cold, wet, undrained land, exhausted by cropping, poisoned by seeds, over- run with fern, docks, and thistles. Like all inventors, we think Mr. Ro- manis promises too much. But, from the general intelligence of the papers sent in reply to our 'communication, and the fact that farmers are " invited to judge for themselves by the crops on the farm," we have no doubt of bona fides of the advertiser's intentions. 28 THE ADVERTISEMENT INVESTIGATOR. \ CENTURY OF SAYINGS to help our A Doings. By A MAN IN THE CROWD. Price Is. cloth. London : 5, Bishopsgate Without. This is a book with a " catch " title. We were led to expect a work in which would be found recorded opinions of sages whose lives extended over the past century. But we find that the "century of sayings" means no more than " one hundred " aphorisms by the author, some of them being old truths transformed and weakened by their new garb. We confess that we are unable to discover in what manner such "Sayings" as the following are calculated to help our " Doings " : " Men of toil and thrift succeed in their business, and at length make a holiday in their coffins," " Se scarce a commodity is good sense, that the world has made up its mind" to live without it." "Wisdom and genius are twin sisters, always quarrelling." "There are occasions when a brave man may, without shame, act the coward." The latter is a paradox ; for he who, from conviction, dares abstain from doing that which defective laws en- force, is not, therefore, " enacting the coward ; " he is, in fact, performing the braver part. The book contains some good sentiments, but it has, neverthe- less, disappointed us. Just out, Is. post free, TTOW TO MAKE 281b. of BREAD OUT of XI 1 41b. of FLOUR. By the Mother of a Family. Mary Wedlake, 118, Fenchurch-street. What with her books, her oat-crush- ing machines, her wheat mills, and her books upon popular subjects, Mary Wedlake promises to become the " Mother of a very large Family." The book before us is published chiefly to promote the sale of Mary Wedlake's Wheat Mills for domestic use. But it, nevertheless, conveys valuable informa- tion. We should have made some extracts, if we had not already given in " Enquire Within " (2183, 2323, 2956, 3015,) all the instructions upon the various processes of making bread and yeast that can be required, including all the excellent hints given in the letters of correspondents to the Times newspaper, during the discussion of the subject. Respecting the cost of the Domestic Wheat Mills, the following is stated : s. d. No. 1. Placed against a post, the cheapest made, will cost about 300 ., C. A larger one, ditto, on stand, without dressing apparatus, about 4 10 Ditto 5 10 (i ., 4. Ditto G 10 5. Ditto 7 10 C. One ditto, with flour-dress- ing apparatus under it, about 800 If your means will not allow you to go to the expense of No. 6, you may get a small sieve at the cost ofabout . . 7 fi With the above you may grind about one peck, more or less, per hour; with the larger one from half a bushel to three. On examin- ing the above you may see that the outgoings are not very expensive. With a small mill, such as Nos. 1 or 2, and 3 and 6, you may pass through it, from about ; a peek to a bushel per hour ; as the liour, or j more properly speaking, the meal, will fall under into a receiver, or either a common plate or wooden box made for that purpose, without any separation of the bran. You will have to use a small sieve to sift it, so as to eject the bran ; but with No. G mill, you will find in the receiver below, your flour readily separated into first, second, arid third sorts the bran coming out at the side. Some persons will prefer to mix the whole together, so as to make what is called household bread, far preferable, and much more nutri- tious, than if made entirely of first-rate flour. In support of our recommendation to families to bake their own bread, it may be stated that in the year 1804, the town of Manchester, with a population of 90,000 persons, did not contain a single baker ! ENQUIRIES ANSWERED. 1. BALL-TAPS FOR WATER CISTERNS. The copper and brass balls attached to the taps of water cis- terns being considered injurious in their effects upon the water, it is desirable to find a suitable substitute. Gutta | percha globes, which may easily be made, if they are not already obtain- able, will answer the purpose. And if earthenware cocks were used instead of the metal ones now employed, the im- provement would be still greater. 2. HOW TO TEST A MEER- I SCHAUM PIPE. Draw a silver coin across it ; if pure, there will be no line ; ' if spurious, the gypsum necessarily used will take a mark from the silver like a pencil on paper. Imitation pipes are Imported and sold as new Meerschaum. 3. CARROT PLUM PUDDING. The mother of a family having tried the following receipt, and finding it answer very well, thinks as eggs are at present so very dear, and plum pud- dings in great requisition, that the ' Editor of the Interview would honour ' her by inserting it in his valuable publication : CHRISTMAS PLUM PUDDING WITH CAR- ROTS INSTEAD OF EGGS. One very large carrot boiled soft, and beaten into a pulp, sis. ounces of suet chopped fine, five table-spoonsful of flour, two ditto of sugar, one quarter of a pound of currants, one quarter of a pound of raisins when stoned ; to be boiled four hours. 4 WILLS. We are favoured by an eminent legal functionary with the following : I hold that whenever two persons save money by their joint in- dustry, the survivor is equitably en- titled to the benefit of survivorship ; and that any man who does not take the proper step for securing this benefit to his wife, in the event of her being the longest liver, is guilty of a fraud upon his nearest relative and best friend. And the fact of there being children makes no difference the woman being as competent and as likely to provide properly for them in case she outlives her husband as the man, if the respon- sibility should fall upon him. Every married man ought therefore to make a will ; and I do not know a better form than the following, which is in effect the same as I adopted on the day after I was married above thirty years ago. It is not necessary to be prepared by an attorney, but may be copied by the party himself upon a sheet of foolscap or letter paper, care being taken to write the names and dates correctly, and to sign the name at the foot, in the presence of two witnesses, who in the testator's presence must sign at the places indicated. THE WILL of J. B. , of S , in the County of Y , [grocer]. I give all my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever and whersoever, to my dear wife M B , her heirs, executors, administrators, and assignees, absolutely. Dated this day of , 185. Signed and acknowledged by the ~\ testator, in the presence of us, who f in his presence,and the presence of f each other, subscribe as Witnesses, J C D 5. ERRORS IN SPEAKING. in- stead of " you shall give me a separate rnaintainanee," say " you shall give me a separate maintenance," Instead of "an effluvia," say " an effluvium." Instead of "an automata," say " an automaton." Instead of "'a phenomena," say "a phenomenon." Instead of " a memoranda," say "a memorandum." (See Enquire Within, 1346 to 1601.) 6. BIRD'S NEST PUDDING. Take four or five good sized apples pare and scoop out the cores of each, with- out making a hole through. Fill up the cavities with sugar. Place the apples in a small baking diah, into which there have been previously put two table spoonsful of sago mixed with a pint of water sweetened, and flavoured with a little nutmeg, or essence of lemon. Bake until the apples are done. For a large pudding the materials must be proportionably increased. This ex- cellent receipt is said to be by a Quaker lady of America, and is given in Mrs. Horsell's Penny Vegetarian Cookery Book, in which is much valuable infor- mation. The pudding is economical ;ui at least weekly, the year round. 7. OMBLKTTB WTFH ONI This omelette is a great favourite in France, where the prejudice against the most nutritious and wholesome of all vegetables the onion tribe a pre- judice so destructive to the sipidity of many English dishes is utterly un- known. Those who do like onions, and have the courage to confess it, will find the omelette anx ognons a valuable addition to their culinary repertory. Its preparation is very simple. To an omelette of three eggs add half a good sized onion mixed almost to a powder, and a table spoonful of chopped parsley. The shredding of the onion to a suffi- cient degree of fineness is the most im- portant thing, as from the short time required to cook an omelette it would otherwise remain untouched by the fire. And the lumps of the precious vegetable in its raw state are not re- commended even to its most enthusi- astic admirers. The onion may be boiled (or partially so) previously for fastidious tastes. But the omelette will thereby lose in flavour and crispness. B. 8. FOR A CUT, BRUISE, OR ABRASION" OF THE SKIN. Take tincture of arnica, or wolfs bane, dilute with 20 parts of water, or 30 parts where skin is broken ; apply the liquid with linen rag wrapped round cut, &c. If this should be too strong, dilute it with more water. 9. OPAQUE WINDOWS. Allow me to give you a very simple mode of obscuring the glass of windows, and accidentally found ont by me. In ope- rating in photography I was annoyed by opposite neighbours staring at me ; yet desirous of losing no light, I found the following mode effectual : Cover the glass very equally with one or two coats of paste ; when dry take a small rag of cotton cloth, dipped in a varnish made of Canada balsam and turpentine, and go over the paste ; it will become clear, and yet no person can see through ; be- T!IH method preserves the paste from -1 >n. H. H. 10. JOINING IVORY AND WOOD, &c. I send you the following, with which I became acquainted accidentally, and which is, I believe, a profound se- cret except to the trade. It is a well- known fact to persons having piano- fortes and articles inlaid with ivory, - private use. o 2 36 ENQUIRIES ANSWERED. 28. WOOD AND IRON, PRE- SKllVINd. - Key and Guibert's compo- sition, recently invented, for preserving ( wood and iron, either in water or air, consists of ten parts of sulphuret of copper, two of sulphuret of antimony, and from five to thirty parts of the ::yinu r varnish. These substances are ground together, forming a kind of mint, which is then applied to the wood or iron. 29. YEAST .A writer in the Times having complained that he had tried the receipt for Yeast previously published in that paper, and in Enquire Within (2160), and that the result had been a complete failure, the following letter appeared in The Times in reply : "Sir,- In reply to the letter of ' H.' in The Twits, dated January 17, 1 "beg to say that I copied the following receipt from your paper in September or October last. I have used it ever since with invariable and complete success. " If the receipt is the same as that alluded to by ' H.,' there must have been some fault in preparing it, as I have never found it fail. I make bread three times a-week with it for my family. " The bread takes aconsiderably longer time to rise in the sponge, and also after beingmade into dough, than that made with ordinary yeast, and is better for being baked in a tin. " M. H." The receipt as tried and again com- municated to The Times by this corre- spondent, is precisely that given in Enquire W thin (2160). Here is another receipt for an excellent yeast, much used in Cornwall : Put one handful of hops to three quarts of water, and let it boil two hours ; then strain the hops away, mixing a pint of flour with the liquor, and while hot a teacup-full of moist srugar ; let it stand and get lukewarm, theii work it with a teacup-full of yeast, stirring it often ; let it stand one day, and then put it into jars for use. Quan- tity one quart of the above to one bushel of flour. With the view of placing the mode of making good yeast beyond all doubt, the following further wtr actions are given : The vessel it is made in should be a wide earthenware milk bowl capable of holding alu.nt six quarts, and the mix- ture is to be kept about new milk warm during the entire time of making namely, from Monday morning till Thursday evening, and this is done by letting it stand at a proper distance from the kitchen fire. I will suppose that he has done what is required on the Monday morning that is, has boiled two ounces of the best hops in four quarts of water for half an hour and strained it, and, when new milk warm, has added a small handful of salt and half a pound of brown sugar, and that he has beat up a. pound of the best flour with some of the liquor, and mixed all well together, and set the bowl, as directed, by the fire, covered over with a flat dish, where it stands till Wednesday morning, being occasionally stirred. Now, on Wed- nesday morning he adds three pounds of mashed potatoes, cooled down to the same temperature as the contents of the bowl. It is shortly after this addi- tion that he may expect fermentation to commence, and as it proceeds the mixture must be frequently stirred. It very soon assumes the appearance of the finest brown-coloured brewer's yeast, rising to a crown. By the Thurs- day evening its powers will be com- pletely established, and then he may bottle it, stirring it to keep it homo- geneous. The first time it was made in my house the bottles were corked too soon and too tight, consequently it burst two of them. I use Seltzers water bottles. Of course, when bottled, it must be put in a cool place to keep it quiet. When newly made more is required to raise the bread than when it is six or eight weeks old. It always proved stronger for being kept. The value of this yeast is that it is equal to any of the other yeasts, and can be made without their aid. D. S. Y. We have now, we think, in Enquire Within, and the subsequent Interviews, given all the information that can be rendered on this subject. ENQUIRIES ANSWERED. 37 30. LIQUID GLUE (permanent). Two methods of making liquid glu< are given in Enquire Within (66, 230) and here is a third : " Melt three pounds of glue in a quart of water, anc then drop in gradually a small quantity of nitric acid. When this ingredien is added, the mixture is to be removec from the fire and allowed to cool. Glu so prepared has been kept in an open bottle for two years, still ready for use on the instant. A good fluid glue, ready at all times for use without any .preliminary preparation, is one of the most useful articles with which the housekeeper can be furnished." Break ages should be repaired immediately, or they get worse, and the pieces are lost. In making the above prepara- tion, what is termed " Salisbury Glue" should be employed. It is sold at the ironmongers', at Is. per pound. 81. TO RENDER FEATHERS FIT FOR USE FOR BEDS, PILLOWS, &c. The feathers from land birds, such as turkeys, fowls, &c., should be kept by themselves, and those from water birds, as geese, ducks, &c., may be put together also. These latter are much the best, having the most down, and being softer and more elastic, and it is consequently advisable to use these for pillows ; both kinds, from land and water birds, should go through the same process in preparation for use. As soon as convenient, after thev are plucked from the birds, they should be put in strong paper bags, and these placed in the oven as soon as the bread comes out, and remaining there till the next day, they will be sufficiently dry to prevent the animal juices decom- posing and causing a most disagreeable smell. After this they should be " picked," all passing through women's hands for this purpose, who should strip the feathery part from the quill of all those whose points are sufficiently strong for pressure to cause their piercing the bed-case, and this will be found to be troublesome, even though the closest material may be used, if the feathers are not well " picked." It is not recommended to use a large propor- tion of the \\ iug or tail feathers, as they are not so elastic, but some of the softest may be cut off the quills with a pair of scissors ; the smaller ones may be more quickly stripped with the fingers after "picking." They should be again put into the oven for twelve hours to render them quite sweet and safe from moth, whose eggs might pos- sibly have been deposited among them. They are then fit for filling beds, pillows, cushions, &c. The land and water-birds' feathers may be mixed, which makes rather better stuffing than the former alone, though this is very good for beds if properly prepared. The price as piece-work is from 4d. to 6d. per lb., the feathers being weighed after being brought home picked and ready for use. The above, from the Gar- dener's Clironicle, appears to be a simple and more expeditious method than that given in Enquire Within (2318). The method of cleaning ostrich feathers, Enquire Within (2043), is simple and efficacious, and the instructions for dyeing feathers black, blue, crimson, green, lilac, pink, rose colour, red, yellow, &c., are excellent. The instruc- tions for making feather flowers, En- quij-e Within (1908), are perfect. 32. LIME FOR COTTAGE WALLS. Take a stone or two of unslaked white lime, and dissolve it in a pail of cold water. This, of course, is whitewash. The more lime used, the thicker it will be; but the consistence of cream is generally advisable. In another vessel dissolve some green vitriol in hot water. Add it, when dissolved, to the white- wash, andabuffis produced. The more vitriol used, the darker it will be. Stir t well up, and use it in the same way as whitewash, having first carefully got off all the old dirt from the walls. Two or three coats are usually given. For a border at top and base, use more itilol, to make it darker than the walls. f you have stencil-plates, you can use t with them. This is, cheap, does not. rub off like ochre, and is pure and wholesome, besides being disinfecting. N prosperity be prepared for a hange : in adversity hope for one. THE AIWKK INVESTIGATOR. The Second Edition, fcp. Svo.. cloth, Is. P> .-.nil Q, S : Million, With a <'h:ipn>r on S] in Public. By th ^ H. SKKLEY, JACKSON, and HALLIDAT, 54, Flee 1 Tlii ul little work, in which some of the difficult branches of English Grammar are simply and clearly explaining The abuse of the letter* H is thus humorously adverted to: -Poor Letter H' has, I hope, said enough about himself and bis brethren of the vowel family to make their rights respected. R is not by any mt-ans so universally ill-treated ; bat this letter has been, and is, so marvel- lously perverted both by physical inability, rind ignorant or careless utterance, that from the mouths of many people w usurps the sound ot' r; and you hear Cockney Sprigs JJ'ichard Turpin was a wobber ;" and you may hear an ignorant or thoughtless speaker tell of the cannon's iroar at Sebas- topol." Of the mispronunciation of the vowels, the following examples are given : " It is easy enough to give the vowels their proper sounds when they stand alone, but when they are combined with other letters to form words the puzzle begins ; and they are so smothered, clipped, and transmogrified, that their best friends can hardly recognise them." For instance, a is made to take the sound oi e, and we hear : krtch gether thmk o.rceptable for catch, for gather. for thank, for acceptable. The sound of the vowel e is changed into , as : kittle forgit intirely inquire for kettle, for In. for entirely. for enquire. All the nthor vowel sounds are equally confounded, hence we hear : for si'; pOMMt stoopid twni'l. gal for girt. jest fur for far. cvwl for ivdi'lous for ridiculous. ixTtic'lar for particwlar. impudence for j'mpwdcnce. nrischieWous for misolu mountain* ous for mountainous, tremendwous for tremendous. " These are not so much the mistakes of ignorance as of carelessness, and mit,'!;' be avoided by remembering to give each vowel its/#, simple, and proper sound." This is a very useful little book. i Witliin (1323 to 1677), con- tains most useful points upon " Errors in Speaking and Writing." ZOUAVE SWALLOWING COSSACKS, and all the New Toys and Games of the Parisian Exhibition for the happiness of children of all ages. Show rooms for novelties and elegancies in fancy goods. At A. BOUCHETS, magasins de Paris, 74, Baker- street, Portman-square. We have a very great objection to toys of this nature. In our ailicle upon "Teaching by Toys," we shall enter more fully into the subject. For the present, we will merely say that the sooner M. Bouchet withdraws his ad- vertisement of the "Zouave Swallowing Cossacks," the sooner he will defer to good taste, and children will have no difficulty in finding better assurement. Or into a, as : arrand ,r errand Just published, SPECTACLES : when to Wear and how to Use them. Addressed to those who value their Sight, by CHAKLES A. LONG. Published by BLAND and LONG, Opticians, 153, Fleet-street, London. Sent free by post for six postage stamps. Although issued by Opticians, appa- rently for the promotion of their trade, this is a useful little pamphlet, written in a candid spirit, upon a subject of great importance. We make an extract (p. i>b) from its pages. THE ADVERTISEMENT INVESTIGATOR. 39 WONDERFUL PUBLIC ATION. The RESTORER is COME. The VOICE of the PROPHET ELIJAH. VOICE the FIRST. Second Edition, 6d. ; post, 7d. Any Bookseller. C. M. PEACOCK, Publisher, 19, Cursitor- street, Chancery-lane, London. This is an impious paraphrase of the words of holy writ, by a man calling himself " the Prophet Elijah." He is evidently unmistakeably mad. The work is printed, as well as written, in imitation of the Scriptures. In the italic head-lines we find the follow- ing: " The Prophet calmly admonishes George Rout- ledge Hall, Virtue, and Co., impede the work of the Prophet r We had already arrived at a convic- tion of the madness of the " Prophet," when our belief was confirmed by the Maniac's account of himself : CHAPTER XVIII. "18. On the 14th September, 1852, 1 was a second time brought forth into the world, at the hour of six in the morning. "19. Within a few hours from that time Wellington died ; " 20. And about the hour of eleven on the self-same day, I was taken from my home, put into a fly, and conveyed about forty miles to a madhouse ; for they so contrived it that I should get there about eleven o'clock at night. " 21. Away with him '. away with him ! was in their hearts ; shut him up, for he is not fit to live. "22. I charge openly and publicly Aaron Goold, coal-master, of the Forest of Dean, with being the author of this vile and diaboli- cal plot "23. I charge John Abel, his son-in-law, and Surgeon, with giving a false certificate, by the direction of his father-in-law, knowing it to be false. "24. I charge Maynard Colchester, a magistrate, with lending his authority unlaw- fully and illegally to this vilest act of wrong and oppression ever committed under the sun. "25. I am not going into a corner to declare these things ; I declare it, in the light of day, and in the face of the whole world." We purposely abstain from quoting the "Prophecies" of the unfortunate author. NO CURE NO PAY. A RESTORATIVE of WEAK STOMACHS, and by it of General Health and Nervous System, has been discovered. It is not to be found at any Chemist's. No remuneration expected till some benefit is produced. Apply, by pre-paid letter, to A. B., Messrs. JOY and Co.s, Post- office, Cornhill. We applied to A.B., enclosing a stamp for reply, but it never came. People who confide in anonymous advertisers, giving their addresses at Post-offices, must not only have " weak stomachs," but weak heads ! TTTHAT IS WINE ? An interesting VV dialogue on Wines, and a few facts already digested. Price 2d. London : FOSTER and INGLE, This is a pamphlet put forth by a firm of Wine dealers, but it is, nevertheless, intelligently and honestly written. The text is entirely free from " puffery," a simple advertisement on the wrapper being all that the ptiblishers devote to the promotion of their trade. The pamphlet gives a clear explanation of the process of fermentation, as far as that process is understood, and it also advocates the reduction of the import duties upon Wines. We have selected passages in answer to the question, " What is Wine ?" which, will be found at p. 49. MARK YOUR LINEN. THE PEN SUPERSEDED. The most easy, permanent, and best method of marking Linen, Silk, Cotton, or Books, is with the PATENT ELECTRO - SILVER PLATES. Any person can use them. Initial Plate, Is. ; Name, 2s. ; Set of Numbers, 2s ; Crest, 5s. With directions sent post-free (for stamps) by the Inventor and Sole Patentee, T. CULLETON, 2, Long-acre (one door from St. Martin's-lane). The method of marking linen with these perforated plates is so easy and expeditious, that ladies should not fail to adopt it. N"ay more, husbands should see to it, for by the proper marking of things, laundresses' bluuder.s,wilful and otherwise, are avoided, and thus do- mestic economy is promoted. The plan is an excellent one, and though not new in invention, is new in practice. 40 PLEASANT EVENINGS, &c. CHARADE THE SHIPWRECK. THE wind howled, and the heaving sea Touched the clouds, then backward rolled: And the ship she strove most wcndrouslv, "With ten feet water in her hold. The night it darkened, and my first No sailor's eye could see, And ere the day should dawn again, Where might the sailor be ? Before the rising of the sun The ship lay on the strand, And silent was the minute gun That signalled to the land. The crew my second had secured, And they all knelt down to pray, And on their upturned faces fell The early beam of day. The howling of the wind had ceased, And smooth the waters ran, And beautiful appeared my whole To cheer the heart of man. ENIGMA. WITHOUT me the world had never been Other than forest wild, or ocean green. I map the earth with lines all fair to see, Remove the mountain, and transplant the tree. Egypt's vast pyramids of me were born ; Without me Greece were of her temples shorn. By me the palace rear'd which shelters kings ; By me the cot wherein the loving maiden sings. By me the ship is steered across the sea, By me the battle fought triumphantly. By me the seed is sown, the harvest gleaivd, And stubborn soil from barrenness redeem'd. With hands, without, my functions are fulfilled, Wherever web is spun, or land is till'd. Bird and beast, fish, reptile, all devote Themselves to me, in town or clime remote. What am I, then ? Surely, I'm known to you ; Your friend oldest, and best, and ever true. CHARADE. ^il first she was a serving-maid She went to fetch some tea ; How much she brought my second tell . As plainly as can be. Now when you have the answer fcu-vl. Name it to others too ; My whole is just the very thing ID telling them, you'll do CHARADE. FEELING very ill one day (What it was I cannot say), But a pain like tic doloreux Ran the nerves of my head through Twinge and pang, pang and twinge. Soon the door was on the hinge, And the doctor coming in, Felt my pulse, and pulled my chin, That he might better see the tongue Which only sad complainings sung. Then he formed a sage conviction, And wrote at once a good prescription Calling then my servant maid, He in her hands the paper laid : "My first, my second, instantly, Or your master worse will be ! " But the minx she loitered long ; Pain increasing, spasms strong, Down I fell and took a roll : On what I fell reveals the whole. Pity that the servant maid On her errand thus delayed ! ENIGMA. I'VE led the powerful to deeds of ill, And to the good have given determined will. In battle-fields my flag has been outspread, Amid grave senators my followers tread A thousand obstacles impede my upward way, A thousand voices to my claims say, " Nay ;" For none by me have e'er been urged along, But envy followed them and breathed a tale of wrong. Yet struggling upward, striving still to be Worshipp'd by millions by the bound and free, I've fought my way, and on the hills of Fame, The trumpet's blast pronounced the loud acclaim ; When by the judgment of the world I've been Hurl'd from the height my eyes have scarcely seen, And I have found the garland o'er my head, Too frail to live my home was with the dead. CHARADE. WHEN upon the gallows-tree The culprit swings myfir.it : My second there will speedy be, To one of men the worst. Oh, that a man should risk his soul, And against God should dare my whole. ANSWERS TO CHARADES, page 23: 1. Plain-tiff. 2 Earth-quake. 3 Flip-pant. GARDENING FOR FEBRUARY. GARDENING FOR FEBRUARY. STOVE AND GREENHOUSE. Be atten- tive to remove dead leaves from the plants, to keep the earth in the pots in a loose state, and to admit fresh air when the weather permits. The potted plants that are still in a dormant state and have been kept dry during the winter, may towards the time of their removal be plunged to a considerable depth in water of about 60 degs., in order thoroughly to moisten the mould around them, as a preparation for regu- lar watering. Syringing the leaves of other plants and sprinkling water on the alleys are found useful in producing atmospheric humidity in climates where the external air is very cold and dry moisture with heat being, as already mentioned, the most favourable combi- nations for promoting vegetation. The woody plants in the greenhouse that are in a state of torpor, except when the mould is in a state of dust and the leaves are withering, should not be yet encouraged to grow, by heat or watering. Pelargoniums however will bs now exhibiting symptoms of life, and will require repotting with fresh mould, and in some cases to b trans- ferred to larger pots. In doing this, shake the earth almost entirely from the roots, and remove tho dead fibres from the roots with the finger, avoiding to use the knife unless it be to trim with a tender hand dead or decayed roots. Stake the stems and tie them to the sticks, which ought to be taller than the plants, with soit and flexible bands of rushes, strips of matting, or worsted, &c. There is no part of the gardener's employment more delightful than that of anticipating the season of vegetation at this time, and enlivening the gloom of a dreary period by calling forth the freshness and bloom of the many flow- ers which will now begin to expand their corollas. Varieties of the Double Almond, with the Rhodora, and some other plants, appear now before their leaves push forth, and artificial warmth will bring forward many beautiful plants. Roses and other hardy plants, brought into the stove-house for forwarding, are liable to the attacks of the green fly called the Aphis. If you are fond of a pipe or cigar, you may perhaps smoke this insect out ; in this way tobacco- smoking may bo turned to a useful purpose, which cannot be said of the practice in general. Scattering pun- gent snuff on the plants is another and perhaps more effectual remedy. A cor- respondent of the Gardeners' Chronicle mentions, that having casually put a titmouse into his greenhouse, he found that this little operative cleared all his plants of insects, which had crowded among his Cinerarias in particular, from which he had found it most difficult to dislodge them. In the stove-house, the bottom heat of the tan-pits must be sustained by forking up the bark (this at the begin- ning of the month, and occasionally afterwards if necessary), to give it time to ferment : the progress of choice flowers and fruits cannot be expected if the heat of the tan be not sustained. You will now be busy in forcing strawberries, French beans, peas, car- rots, potatoes, radishes, asparagus, sea- kale, &c. If the peas and beans sown last month under frames should now touch the glass, you can check their tendency to spindle, by turning their tops towards the back part (the north side) of the frame; if they be con- strained in that position for a few days, by means of a lath or any other con- trivance, they will afterwards, of them- selves, take that direction, and branch out as desired. Line such hotbeds as have cooled down, and make new ones for melon and cucumber plants, from the seed- bed. Cold beds will answer very well when re-dressed for the radishes, which do not grow well in the heat that is necessary for cucumbers, or for the reception of cauliflower-seedlings and salading, picked out from their native bed. Cover all your glass-houses, if pos- sible, and frames, completely with mat- ting and straw during severe frost, and if you have a quantity of dry leaves, you will find them most serviceable as an CAKI'KNiNG FOR exterior liniug to keep off frost : by placing short stakes round the 1 of dung or clay-mortar, as the may be. y u C ' :U1 1 "'event them I'roia being moved by wind : tilling the alleys between the beds of Anemones, &c., will be .serviceable, as security from frost, but will not supersede the neces- sity of laying mats over the beds, while the frost is prevailing. If you have not sown cucumbers in a bed made last month, do not delay to do so now, or else procure plants from gardeners who have sown at an earlier period. The plants will be fit for put- ting into their bearing beds when they have pushed two rough leaves, and began to exhibit the appearance of run- ners or shoots coming forth. Having made the new bed as before directed, cover it over to the depth of four inches with light rich mould, mixed with peat, raising a little mound under the centre of each light, and rather nearer the back than the front, and three or four bushels laid round the frame on the inside, all of which mould is to be stirred daily. Everything having been thus prepared, take four pots of the plants (those which appear to be the finest, of course), put the mould into a round heap under the middle of each light of the new bed ; make a hole in the centre of the heap, suitable for your purpose; take the pots or plants, one at a time, put the fingers of one of your hands on the top of the earth of the pot, then turn the pot upside down, give the rim of it a little tap upon the edge of the frame, pushing the oyster shell with the fore- finger of the right hand, and the plants and earth will come clean out of the pot in a connected ball, which with both hands you are to deposit in the hole which you have made in the heap, in the centre of the light. When you have thus deposited it, draw the earth of the heap well up about the ball, and press it a little with your fingers, tak- ing care of two things first, that the hole be sufficiently deep to admit the ball down into it, so low that the earth of the hill when drawn up about the plants may come up quite to the lower side of the stem of the seed-leaves ; and secondly, taking c;n-e that the points of the. leaves of the plants be not more than .six inches distant from the glass. One plant is enough to esta- blish under each light, for crowding always defeats the object by causing a growth of small plants which are rendered defective by the interference- of the roots, and their perpetual strug- gles for advancement. Water these plants once or twice gently with rain or pond water, warmed either by hav- ing been left for twenty-four hours in the frame, or by the adoption of a sufficient quantity of boiling water; and also those that are in pots sunk in any part of the bed as a reserve for supplying any failures in the others. Next prepare a lining (which you will have to apply in about a fortnight) to the back, to the height of the frame, laying a board on it close against the frame to prevent the steam which will soon arise from entering the bed, and another lining (if necessary) in a fort- night after to the front, and afterwards (allowing the same interval of time to intervene) to the sides. On the autho- rity of the Gardeners Chronicle, how- ever, there will be no danger from the rank steam, as long as the condensed water on the sashes is^of pure colour. Keep up the linings as they sink by adding fresh materials to the top^ litter, straw, or mats, will occasionally be required to guard against frost or east winds, especially at night, but fresh air must be admitted, more or- less according to the state of the wea- ther without, and the degree of heat within, by raising the frame either in front or behind (the direction of the wind being considered), for air as v.vll as strong heat are indispensable to the health and fruitfulness of the cucumber, and light must never be intercepted. The runners are to be encouraged to cover the entire surface 1 . (for the finger and thumb should always be used for this operation in preference to the knife, which causes a wound), when they have got three joints from their tops, which makes them throw out side-shoots from each of those GARDENING- FOR FEBRUARY. joints. When these new shoots or runners have four complete joints, pinch off the fifth as soon as it appears. By this treatment there will be a suffi- cient number of runners for each light. As the plants become vigorous they will require fresh mould, which is to be drawn from the sides of the frame to the mounds in the centre for the nou- rishment of the roots ; and as their fibres will continually stretch out in search of food, you are to increase the circumference of those mounds contin- ually, by removing the earth to them from the sides until the whole surface of the bed is on a level with the central parts. The blossoms must be impreg- nated, as will be noticed in the treat- ment of the melon. Towards the end of the month make the first melon bed, as for cucumbers, except that the mould should be more tenacious, and the lights larger. One plant only should be put under each light, if the frame be of moderate size ; but if two be planted, let them be fifteen inches apart lengthways with regard to the frame. If the Persian and Cabul kinds be chosen, the shoots will not require pinching like other varieties ; the leading one is to be trained under the centre of the light, and the lateral ones on each side at right angles. Generally, melons raised from seed should be stopped when they put off the rough leaves, and only one shoot should be allowed to run from the axil of each of the two rough leaves left on the plant ; those which proceed from the axils of the cotyledon leaves being suppressed at their first appear- ance; and again when these two main runners have attained about two feet in length, in order to produce fruitful laterals, for otherwise they become too much drawn and long jointed. Those that are from cuttings have far less vine, and do not require topping until they show fruit. When the melon is in flower, watering over bead must be dispensed with, and gentle vapour only occasionally raised to nourish the leaves, for it would be injurious to keep the flowers too moist at this time. Every female blossom must now be carefully impregnated, and as soon as the fruits are set and beginning to swell, plenty of moisture and a closer atmosphere will be of the greatest service till they are swelled full size, when moisture at the root and also vapour on the leaves must be finally dispensed with. These judicious observations from a corre- spondent of Mr. London prove that the melon requires much careful treatment. The raising of cucumbers is much easier, but the great superiority of the other gives it a just claim to extreme care. Those gardeners who provide luxuries for the table, pot single plants to produce a single fruit for the stove- house. The impregnation of the blossoms is effected by applying the pollen of one flower to the stigma of another, and this is done by pinching off one of the male flowers, and after carefully strip- ping it of its corolla, so as not to injure the stamen or anther, inserting it into the female flower, and leaving ifc there. The same plan must be adopted for cucumbers grown in frames, at an early period of the year, on account of the little chance there is of plants so situa- ted at such a season being casually impregnated by bees, &c. You may sow cabbage seed, and like- wise celery, in a mild heat. At the latter end of the month, supposing the weather favourable, you may pot the tender annuals that were sown a month or six weeks ago, putting three or four plants into each pot. Make cuttings of everything you want, and part roots, and make root cuttings of those plants which are so propagated. With respect to cuttings generally, I cannot forbear quoting the experience of that highly- gifted author and practitioner, Mr. Lou- don, respecting the advantage of multi- plying plants by their means, instead of by seedlings. "In an atmosphere as above described, let the cutting-pots, prepared in the following manner, be placed half a day previous to their being used, in order that the mould may be warm, to pre- vent a check by cold soil, to the bottom of an exotic cutting. If provided with a small crystal bell glass, or a small GARDENING FOR FEBRUARY. hand light, closely glazed, either of these may be used ; but if pi-ovided with neither (which is nothing uncom- mon), you can doubtless command as much glass in square or fragment, as will cover the mouth of a 48-sized pot. "The cuttings should be taken from the extremities of the healthiest vines, cut close below the third joint from the tip, and inserted in thumb-pots filled with leaf-soil and loam mixed, about half an inch below the surface of the soil ; and these placed in the bottom of a 48-sized pot, and the cavity between the two pots stuffed with moist moss, and the glass laid over the top of the outer pot, TV Inch ought to be plunged into a hot- bed to the brim. tf This is an improvement in striking cuttings which I have never made known before, nor have I ever seen it practised by any one else. It is a com- mon way to fill a pot three-fourths full of soil, and in that to insert the cut- tings under a pane of glass ; and I have no doubt, when those that have prac- tised that mode come to see this simple improvement, so much more workman- like and applicable, not only to melon cuttings, but to all sorts of cuttings exotic, greenhouse, and hardy, they will feel nowise reluctant to relinquish the old way. "The advantages of this mode are, when the cuttings get up to the glass, which they generally do before they have struck root, the outer pot can be changed for one a little deeper, and the moist moss serves the twofold purpose of conducting heat and moisture ; and as the heat of the tan or dung-pit will be 80 or 40 above that of the atmo- sphere of the house or pit (a good tan- bed will range about 110 at six inches deep), it will be communicated through the outer pot to the atmosphere around the cuttings, thereby accelerating their striking root. This high atmospheric heat is an advantage possessed in com- mon with the old system over the bell glass propagating pot." Dahlias may be 'put into hotbeds during any part of the month, to make them push. The seeds of Dahlia, Cal- ceolaria, Polyanthus, and of various annual flowers and kitchen vegetables, may now be sown in mild hotbeds under frames. Peat or heath mould is the best covering for Calceolarias, and when they have put out two leaves, they should be pricked out into two- inch pots, filled with good mould, and transferred to four-inch pots when then? tissue has overspi'ead the sides. Sow successions of celery and cauliflower in cool beds, and after three weeks the seedlings will be fit for pricking out into fresh ones. Pot all the autumn propagated plants in framed pits, so as to have them well rooted and turned out in April, in oi\ler that the pots may be disengaged for a new succession of plants, which ought at this time to be making pro- gress in a propagating frame. OPEN GROUND. Keep the Auriculas free from insects and diseased leaves, and replace the old mould at the surface with fresh ; and if you have any under common garden frames, be most par- ticular to give them air. When the trusses are rising to the heart, earth up the stems of Polyanthuses with fresh compost, and as Tulips appear above ground cover them up well with sand, which is some security against frost, and otherwise serviceable to them. Plant out Anemones and Kanunculuses in drills seven inches apart and four inches between the plants, which you should put in with a trowel ; and if frost have pulverised the earth, so much the better. The middle of this month is the best time for providing scions, for grafting rose-trees and fruit-trees next month: these should be selected with judgment as to the sorts, and pruned off, where they can best be afforded, in lengths of from two to three inches, separated and labelled. When you have arranged a sufficient number, and rubbed off the buds, stick the thickest ends into moist clay, closely pressed round them, and then put them thus clotted iuto a pot of earth, in which they may remain under some shed until wanted. At the close of this or the commencement of the next month, time, which will be more precious then than now, may bo GARDENING FOR FEBRUARY. saved by this timely preparation of scions, where much of this nursery work is to be performed, and you will thus have the scions in the best order for grafting, for this treatment will test their vigour : those that shrink and become feeble, you will reject out of the number prepared, which should considerably exceed the number actu- ally required. Provide stocks, if you have not already done so, for grafting and budding during the ensuing season. In the Kitchen Garden pursue the works of digging, trenching, turning composts, &c., in open weather ; and in allotting portions of ground for par- ticular seeds or plants, endeavour to change the crops as much as possible, because, by the frequent recurrence of the same in any given spot, they de- generate (generally speaking), and by depriving the soil of peculiar alimen- tary substances, or by making frequent deposits of the same kind of excretion, they render that soil indisposed to their individual support, though fertile for other families of plants. Another cause why the culture of a particular tribe without variation should be discon- tinued in the same ground is, the me- chanical effect which it may produce on its soil, by rendering it, for instance, excessively friable, or the contrary. No annual vegetables ought, prudently, to succeed each other; vary them therefore as much as you can. You will find that celery gives a good pre- paration for carrots, turnips, parsnips, onions, and early cauliflowers, or for peas with potatoes and winter greens or brocoli between the rows. Autumn- sown onions may be succeeded by spin- ach, lettuce, &c., and early cauliflowers by autumn onions. Spring-sown onions will be advantageously succeeded by cabbages in beds, with scarlet runners between ; and if the cabbages stand all summer and next winter the ground will come in in the spring, along with brocoli ground for celery, potatoes, and peas the peas sown on the ridges. During rain you can find employ- ment, besides what the stovehouses and conservatories afford, in making and repairing mats and straw covers, shades for Dahlias, preparing stakes, cutting shreds, making paper bags for the bulbs of next year, &c., &c. If the season be mild you may sow, towards the close of the mouth, a great variety of seeds in the open air, but do not be tempted to sow by a pet day, which may be succeeded by a deluge of rain and heavy frost. If however seeds and labour are of no great value to you, there can be no objection to your ad- venturing a little in warm borders, for the sake of obtaining early productions carrots for instance : but be prudent in this particular. Kidney-beans are so delicate, that there is no use in sowing them yet out of doors, at least without some artificial protection. Peas and beans should be sown for succession, and salading and early cabbages should be planted out, as well as rocambole (Spanish shallot) and Jerusalem arti- chokes. Seakale may now be abun- dantly forced in the open garden with litter and pots. Protect the wall fruit- trees that are in blossom from frost by light matting, thin canvas, or (as Aber- crombie recommends) by interweaving through the branches boughs of ever- greens from time to time. WATER, AND ITS PURIFICATION. IN Enquire Within (320) we have pointed out the various vise of charcoal as a purifier, and in the same work we have pointed out the effect of wood ashes (charcoal) in softening hard water. The Illustrated London News has pub- lished an excellent article, entering more fully into the subject, and from this source we derive many of the fol- lowing remarks and facts : The great importance of the use of pure water for domestic and dietetic pui'poses is now so generally recognised that it might seem almost superfluous* to insist upon the noxious influence exei'cised upon the human frame by the constant use of this fluid when teeming with vegetable and animal putridities at once offensive to the palate and sufficiently evident to the eye. It may not, however, be so gene- rally known that water which to the ordinary observer may seem clear and WATER, AND ITS PURIFICATION. limpid and pleasant to the taste, espe- cially when first drawn iV:u tlu tacle in which it has been piv- may contain within it th -t hurtful to the bu has been abundantly proved by the mk'ivscopical observation and analytical nation of the most eminent sci- entific inquirers of the present day. There are three principal means of purification of water. Purlji jsition is effected by collecting water in large basins or reservoirs, and allowing it to remain stagnant till the mechanical impurities are deposited at the bottom, after which the supernatant fluid is drawn off. By this means the impurities that are held in suspension are alone separated, while the large size of the reservoirs, and the long time required for subsidence, render the amount of water which can be obtained in this manner very small in proportion to the outlay required ; and the putre- fying gases Avlxch must result from the decomposition of the organic matter which subsides cause the water so obtained to be anything but agreeable. The second method is that of purifi- cation ly reagents as alum or lime which form a weighty precipitate when added to the water, and, while subsid- ing, take down with them certain or- ganic matters. These processes resem- ble somewhat in principle the common domestic operation of clarifying liquids, as coffee, by boiling it with the white of egg. This Although found to answer ni the laboratory, is difficult of applica- tion on an extended scale. The third method is that of purifica- tion ly filtration. To be perfect, a filter should be capable of separating both mechanical and chemical impurities. To effect this the water is passed through a porous substance, which will arrest the progress of mechanical impurities, and at the same time act chemically and withdraw such matters as are in solution. On a large scale the process of cleans- ing now adopted consists essentially in making the water pass through a con- siderable thickness of gravel, sand, or finely-divided stones, arranged in a sue- u of layers. In some cases the Is first purified by subsidence as above mentioned, and afterwards made to traverse these layers. The nature of the stone depends much upon the locality of the reservoir, and other cir- cumstances, sometimes the natural con- stituents in the soil supplying the most appropriate material. In addition to those substances which act by separat- ing mechanical impurities only, other materials, especially animal charcoal and certain species of clay, are used, and these substances possess the remarkable property of withdrawing all traces of ani- mal and vegetable matter, even when in a state of perfect solution. In some forms of filter the water is made to pass from above downwards through the various purifying media ; while in others the current is sent in an opposite direc- tion, passing from below upwards, so that the pure water passes to the top, and is drawn off froi* that surface. For domestic purposes numerous varieties of filters have been brought before the public. Wool and sponge, as media for filtration, have had their respective advocates : they act mechani- cally merely. The expense of the former would render it inapplicable on a large scale, and the latter would re- quire frequent renewal : the heavier earthy matters might be retained ; but the minute organic and auimalcula con- tents would not be arrested thereby. It is in the removal of these that animal charcoal is particularly useful its peculiar absorbent powers, both for gaseous and other organic matters being very remarkable. >So strong is the affinity which it possesses for vegetable and animal matters, that water con- taining the most poisonous substances, after being passed through a layer of animal charcoal, may be taken with im- punity. Vegetable charcoal possesses the same properties, though in a less degree. Laudanum, which is of a dark port-wine colour, if passed through it, comes out free from colour and odour. We Lave, then, in tlus material a most valuable disinfectant agent. When used alone as a medium for filtration, it soon becomes, however, more or less DETECTING POISONS. im>letely matted together, and the rate' of filtration becomes very slow. Hence it requires to be mingled with some other substance, as fine sand, stone, &c., which will hasten the pro- and prevent the clogging up of the filter ; but as the supply of this mate- rial is small, and can be obtained only from certain districts, at some expense, its general use has not been rendered practicable. The patent stone of Messrs. Ransome and Co., which can be manu- factured with any amount of porosity, according as it may be required; and its incapability of being affected by ordinary menstrua, afforded a means of artificial filtration which happily sug- gested itself to the inventor, and which has been employed for that purpose with the most satisfactory result. By the use of plates of this substance and layers of charcoal, and the adoption of the principle of ascension, the most complete separation of impurities, whether in suspension or in chemical solution, or of gaseous matters, the pro- ducts of putrefaction, can readily be effected. It will be obvious that the first stratum of materials through which water con- taining much mechanical impurities must be especially prone to become clogged up, so that a uniform supply of clear water must be difficult to obtain, while the occasional removal of such matters will be difficult without disturb- ing the water which has been already filtered through it. In the method of filtration which is now most common, that namely by ascension, this difficulty is overcome. Amongst the prominent filters of the present day, as combining the above requisitions, &c., we would notice those of Messrs. Ransome and Co., hi which these gentlemen have happily contrived the most perfect medium for filtration that has come under our notice, and adapted in various forms, for all the re- quirements of personal, domestic, or manufacturing purposes. By the em- ployment of discs or boxes of a pecu- liarly fine yet porous stone, enveloping a bed of animal charcoal, they secure the most effective apparatus in an in- credibly small .space, thus rendering their filters exceedingly portable and light, whilst at the same time, owing to the perfect simplicity of construction, the filtering medium can easily be re- moved and renovated at pleasure. These gentlemen have recognised the importance of the principle of filtration by ascension, and their filters and water- purifiers are constructed so as to secure this end, by means of which the mechanical impurities separated from the water subside at the bottom of a chamber prepared for that purpose, in- stead of being deposited in the heart of the filter, as has hitherto been the case in filters of the ordinary construction. Our space will not allow of our de- scribing more in detail the various forms of filters manufactured by this firm ; they are as numerous as the require- ments of the public in this respect and doubtless full information will be readily furnished to any inquirer, either at their manufactory, Ipswich, or at their de*pot, Whitehall-wharf, Cannon- row, Westminster. DETECTING POISONS. IN consequence of the numerous cases of poisoning by vegetable poisons, which are difficult or impossible of detection by chemical means, Dr. Marshall Hall proposes to apply a physiological test, which consists of subjecting small animals to the effects of a fluid in which (probably) the poisoned organs, or those suspected of being poisoned, have been macerated. Dr. Hall says : " I have just performed two experi- ments, and only two, for want of mate- rials for more. " I requested Mr. Lloyd Bullock, of Hanover-street, to dissolve one part of the acetate of strychnia in one thousand parts of distilled water, adding a drop or two of acetic acid. " I then took a frog, and having added to one ounce of water 1-1 00th part of a grain of the acetate of strychnia, placed the frog in this dilute solution. No effect having been produced, 1-1 00th of a grain of the acetate was carefully added. This having produced no effect, in another hour l-100th of a grain of EMPLOYERS AND SERVANTS. the acetate was again added, making the 3-100ths, or about the thirty-third part of a grain. In a few minutes, the frog became violently tetanic, and though taken out and washed, died in the course of the night. " I thus detected, in the most indubit- able manner, one thirty-third part of a grain of the acetate of strychnia. It appeared to me that, had more time been given to the experiment, a much minuter quantity would be detectible. " I placed the second frog in one ounce of distilled water, to which I had added the l-200th part of a grain of the acetate of strychnia. At the end of the first, the second, and the third hours, other similar additions were made, no symp- toms of strychnism having appeared. At the end of the fifth hour, the frog having been exposed to the action of l-50th part of a grain of the acetate of strychnia, tetanus came on, and under the same circumstances of removal and washing, as in the former experiment, proved fatal in its turn. "I thus detected l-50th part of a grain of the poisonous salt by phenomena too vivid to admit of a moment's doubt, the animal, on the slightest touch, became seized with the most rigid general spasmodic, or, rather, tetanoid rigidity. And this phenomenon, alter- nating with perfect relaxation, was repeated again and again." The subject is one of great interest and importance, though we are inclined to doubt the infallibility, and, therefore, the, applicability of the test. EMPLOYERS AND SERVANTS. EVERY person is either an employer or a servant, and many persons stand in both these relations at the same time. They hold offices, and employ persons under them. It is therefore of the utmost im- portance that the laws relating to the employment of labour should be dis- tinctly made popular. And to this end the following facts will materially con- tribute : Engagements of Servants. In the en- gagements of domestic and menial servants, it is generally understood that the engagement may be determined by either party giviug a month's warning, or by the employer paying a month's wages, he can enforce an immediate dismissal. Board Wages. -It is generally sup- posed that servants thus dismissed can claim for their board during the month. But such is not the case. The services dispensed with being considered an equivalent for the board. Agreements should be in Writing. In engaging any description of servant, wherein other terms than those which are usual with persons of such avoca- tion, are more convenient, the terms which are desired to subsist between the parties should be specified in writing, or be capable of proofs by witnesses. Clerks and Superior Servants. The rule of giving a month's warning, or a month's wages, does not apply to persons of these classes. Generally speaking an engagement is understood to be for a year, and to expire at the eud of a current year. It Is probable that three months' notice would be sufficient. But the law is so undefined upon the sub- ject that it is best to have all the con- ditions specified in writing, and signed by each party. Where an engagement is for any period more than a twelve- month, it becomes a contract, and must be attested in writing, otherwise such an agreement may, at any time, be de- clared void. Stamped Agreements. A stamp is not required in agreements with menial servants. But it would probably give security and legal force to all agree- ments if properly stamped. Agreements should be explicit. An agreement should clearly express all the conditions entered into, speci- fying the money, food, clothing, lodg- ing, and other consideration. Some such consideration, however small, is requisite to bind the employed to the employer ; an agreement to serve fot A term of years, without consideration, in order to learn a given art or business, having been declared void The smallest paymeot, or consideration, WHAT IS WINE ? will, however, render such an agreement binding. The Employer should be equally bound with the Servant. A servant may agree to serve, and be held to his agreement for any term ; but if the employer has not agreed to employ for the same term, his compliance is not to be in- ferred from the agreement for servitude on the part of the employed. The em- ployer may, therefore, release himself by notice, as if no such agreement for a j term existed. It is, therefore, important for the interests of the employed, that the em- ployer should distinctly engage to j employ for the period that the servant i engages to serve. Forfeits by Servants. A proper pro- vision in an agreement is, that the em- ployer shall be at liberty to stop out of wages the value of things broken, or destroyed, or lost, by the negligence of the servant. Such deductions from wages cannot be made without express stipulation. An employer may increase his power over a servant by binding him to make a forfeit, if he leaves his work or his situation, without proper notice. And the clause in such agreement must authorise the employer to make deduc- tion of such forfeit out of the wages, otherwise he can only sue the servant as for a debt in the County Court. Liveries of Servants. A livery ser- vant quitting a situation cannot claim the livery, which ia the property of the master, unless it has been agreed that he may do so. Agreements void by Consent. Agree- ments may be put an end to with the consent of both the parties at any time, or a new agreement maybe entered into and the subsisting one super- seded. Bankruptcy of Employer. -The bank- ruptcy of an employer does not cancel the engagement with a servant. Terms, and Wages of Hiring. Ser- vants are, in some instances, engaged by the day or week, though, according to the usage with such servants in par- ticular districts, the " hiring" is under- stood to be for a year, and the wages are understood to be but the propor- tions of a yearly salary. Apprentices. There are special laws for the regulation of agreements be- tween masters and apprentices. They are bound by their friends or guardians with their own consent. A master must fulfil the conditions of the inden- tures. He must not fail to teach the apprentice the trade which he under- takes to instruct him in in the inden- tures. He must not alter his trade, nor put the apprentice to an occupation which is not provided for in the inden- tures. If he does, the apprentice may refuse to serve. The magistrates have power of jurisdiction in such cases. In a future Interview we shall explain other points of law affecting the em- ployment of labour. WHAT IS WINE ? WINE, in our acceptation of the term, is the fermented juice of fruit, or of the grape in particular. Has the word, then, any other mean- ing? Yes; in many countries the same word is equally applied to the product of distillation even to that obtained from grain. In Russia, for instance, corn-spirit is called cereal wine. Is the same or an analogous word used to designate wine in many different languages ? Yes ; in all the European languages, or in all those which owe their original construction to Europe, since the Eoman empire. What is the process by which grape wine is obtained ? That depends upon the kind of wine sought ; upon the colour, and upon a variety of incidental circumstances. How do you make white wine ? White wine is made by gathering the fruit, whether white or black, tramp- ling it out, or bruising it down to pulp in some way or other,,and then imme- diately subjecting this pulp to the action of a press, or to be trodden down and strained off in coarse bags. The liquor so obtained is collected in vats, in which it ferments actively for WHAT IS WINK? several weeks (from ten days to three months), after which it fines itself down, and becomes drinkable wine. It is sometimes drawn off its lees into other vats, sometimes not, according to the local practice of the growers. In districts in which the growers are very particular as to the colour, flavour, &c., of the liquor, the fruit is carefully sorted ; all unripe or rotten berries being removed, and the wliit- black grapes separated. But th< exceptional precautions. How do you maJcc red wine ? The process of making red wine differs, in general, from that employed for white, only as regards the macera- tion of the pulp (husks) of the fruit in the liquor during fermentation, whereby the colouring matter is dissolved into the liquor, and conveys a hue, more or less dark, according to the nature or particular variety of the fruit. There are a few varieties of black grapes, such as the Teinturier, of which the in- terior of the berry, or juice, holds a certain portion of the colouring matter naturally in solution at maturity : but these are exceptions to the general rule. The great majority of grapes, whether white or black, have a pale greenish juice, when ripe ; and this juice assumes a more decidedly yellow hue, as it undergoes fermentation. The husks alone, of the generality of black grapes, contain the beautiful purple or crimson colour which is conveyed to the liquor by the process just de- scribed. The result of fermentation is to change a portion of the grape-juice into alcohol; but what is the proportion of this alcohol to the entire volume of the fluid ? This varies greatly, according to the more or less saccharine nature of the fruit (because, obviously, the more sugar, the more spirit), the manipula- tion, the temperature, and so on. It is greater in white than in red wines, generally, for two reasons -.first, that the white grape is commonly more sacchai-ine than the black ; and, secondly, that the maceration of the husks during fermentation take^ up a considerable portion of the sugar, which would otherwise enrich the The greatest proportion of alcohol with which I an nit, and I believe the greatest that can be obtained without artificial or excep- tional interference, is sixteen per cent. ; the average of white wines in Southern Europe is not above thirteen per cent. The least proportion that I have detected has been five per cent. : this was, no doubt, a somewhat diluted liquor. You say the greatest proportion is sixteen per cent. ; do you speak of new or of old wine? I speak of new wine, of course that is, of the result of primary fermenta- tion; because there is a slow and secondary fermentation, which gradually eliminates more spirit in variable pro- portions. What is vinegar, and how is it formed ? Vinegar is simply a soured fermented liquor. The presence of other com- ponents besides those of alcohol and water is indispensable to its formation. Hence it arises in wine during secon- dary fermentation, from the excessive activity of the ferment upon the resi- duary sugar, which deranges the balances in the existing combination. How is the elimination of this pro- duct to be avoided ? In strong spirituous wines no precau- tion is necessary, because the abun- dance of alcohol resists the agency of the ferment. It may therefore be averted by the artificial addition of spirit to the liquor, immediately after the subsidence of the primary fermen- tation. But this is a spurious method. It can also be averted by preserving the liquor in perfect quiescence (inasmuch as motion disturbs the precipitated fer- ment), at an uniform temperature of between 60 and 70. Are not the red wines in our market the most spirituous of all ? Yes, certainly ; but I speak of natural wines only. The red wines to which you allude are wholly artificial. Port wine is rarely found to contain less than twenty-two per cent, of alcohol, as we WHAT IS \VrNE? 51 import it ; but before it is made up with brandy, it does not contain more than nine or ten per cent. In the strict interpretation of the Treasury Letter of June 28, 1853, which limits the strength of wine (as such) to thirty- three per cent, of proof spirit, hardly any port wine could be cleared except as sweetened spirit (at 20s., instead of 5s. 9d. per gallon) ; because wines which contain from twenty-four to twenty -six percent, of alcohol are clearly above the prescribed strength of thirty- three percent, of proof spirit. Do you draw any particular inference from this comparison between white and red wines ? Yes, indeed. I infer that for curative or dietetic purposes, the red wines I mean, of course, good sound red wines, like Roussillon are to be preferred to white. The stimulating virtues of the red wine are more genial and gentle, those of the white, generally speaking, more irritating. There are, doubtless, particular idiosyncrasies which serve as exceptions, and the white wines might accordingly be found to agree better with particular individuals than the red (supposing both to be equally pure). But there are quaint idiosyncrasies of this kind respecting the effect of all articles of food and all drugs; and these, of course, it is the medical man's province to detect. I only speak of generalities. Referring again to the condition tff wine, which do you consider to be the more wholesome, new or old wine ? To a person in sound health un- doubtedly old wine, because the new wine contains the materials for gene- rating acidity, and the old wine would not be too stimulating. To an invalid, neither very new nor very old wine ; because the former would be apt to operate as just described, and the latter would have become by so much more irritating as it had become less nourishing. For convalescents' drinking that is, as a roborant I should prefer to recommend a sound wine about four years old. What do you consider the highest attribute of a pure wine ? Its natural fragrance and after-taste. I say natural, emphatically, because artificial means are employed to convey the peculiar aroma which characterises first-class wines (especially in the northern and central regions) to liquors of coarse and inferior quality. What am I to understand by your remark, as regards the "northern and central regions in particular ?" Is it that you adopt a definite and quasi geographical rule in your classi- fication ? Approximately so. I consider the European wine belt, including the Mediterranean Islands, to extend from the 35th to the 50th or 51st parallel of north latitude ; and that the most per- fect wine, in all respects, is to be found, as a general rule, between the 41st and the 47th parallels. The most northerly region, such as that of the Rheingau, produces the climax of fragrance, and the most southerly the climax of sac- charine. Can you describe such a wine to me? It is fragrant, dry, clean, bright, fruity, and generous; and it leaves a pleasant after-taste, which no imper- fectly fermented or loaded wine ever does. The flavour is smart and racy ; but never at all sweet. Sweetness can only be detected in imperfect or loaded wines ; and these all require manipula- tion with spirit to restrain a destruc- tive secondary fermentation. A perfect wine will preserve itself ; it is constitutionally enduring, and con- tinues for many years to acquire deli- cacy, as it slowly elaborates its insensible fermentation. None of the luscious or fiery liquors are properly called wines, in our sense of the term : they are compounds. However great might have been the natural capacity of the must to be con- verted into fine wine, all its excellence is submerged by the preponderance of undecomposed saccharine which it has been forced to retain in solution, and by the spirit with which it has been drenched to narcotise the rebellious ferment. It can never afterwards be- come either fragrant or clean, like a THE HISTORY OF KEYS. pure wine; and even its colour will \mdergo changes which do not occur in liquors that have been carefully carried through the natural processes of fer- mentation. Thus the more tan i see a wine become with age tho more I suspect it. Foster and Ingle, London. HISTORY OF KEYS. AT a recent meeting of the British Archaeological Association, Mr. H. Syer Cuming read a paper on the History of Keys. He pointed to a strip of bark and a thong of leather, as the first means by which property was secured, prior to the advanced stage of social refine- ment when permanent houses were constructed, and the door and the coffee fastened with bolts, latches, and bars. Homer was cited as the earliest writer who mentions anything like a key, and special reference was made to the primi- tive locks and keys of wood of the ancient and modern Egyptians. The iron keys of Egypt were described, and illustrated by examples from Thebes, and the curious fact pointed out that nearly similar specimens are met with in Western Africa. After a brief notice of Greek keys, attention was directed to the Komaii era, and a minute descrip- tion given of the fixed and moveable locks, the dentated, piped, and broached keys, and of the variously-formed bows surmounting the stems. Mention was made of the small keys attached to finger-rings, and of the clavis adultera, the false or skeleton key of the Roman housebreaker. The Anglo-Saxon and Norman keys were then dwelt upon, and the various forms and fashions of the key-bows from the thirteenth century down to a later period were described. The superstitious belief in the magical powers of the key, of its employment as a heraldic bearing, and its frequent adoption as a sign in former times, were next alluded to ; and Mr. Cuming concluded his paper (which was profusely illustrated with examples of keys of all ages, from the days of the Egyptians to those of George IV. as shown in the key of the late Charlton House) by enumerating the different modes by which keys have been held together, showing that a rini; w is among the earliest as well as latest contrivances for the purpose. It was remarked, that two objects were frequently found ap- pended to the keys of the doors of stables and cow-houses, namely, a per- forated flint and a horn ; the former of which was declared to be an amulet to guard the creatures from the attacks of nightmare, and the latter, an emblem of the good Pan, the protector of cattle, and hence regarded as a charm, and both of which have been used from the most remote antiquity. DEATH WARRANTS. It having been incidentally announced in the Hants Independent with reference to the con- vict Abraham Baker, that " the usual death-warrant signed by the Crown had not yet been issued," allow me to pre- vent, as far as possible, error in the minds of such of your readers as are not acquainted with legal formalities, by mentioning that (except in the case of a peer of the realm) there is no such thing as a death-warrant ever signed by the Crown or by any one or more of the officers of the Crown, the only au- thority for the execution of a criminal convicted of a capital crime being the verbal sentence pronounced upon him in open court, which sentence the Sheriff is bound to take cognisance of and execute without any further au- thority. It is true that a written calendar of the offences and punish- ments of the prisoners is made out and signed by the Judge, of which a copy is delivered to the Sheriff; but this is only a memorandum and not an official document, and it is optional with the Judge to sign it or not. I should not venture to occupy any por- tion of your valuable space upon this matter, but I am well aware that it is a subject upon which very great and general misapprehension exists. I re- main, sir, your obedient servant, LEX. J )r. SCORESBY is going to Australia in the Royal Charter, with an express view to make experiments relative to tho variation of the compass in iron ships in the southern hemisphere. POETRY. 53 THE DWINA.* A RUSSIAN BALLAD. STONY-browed Dwina, thy face is as flint, Horsemen and waggons cross, scoring no dint, Cossacks patrol thee and leave thee as hard, Camp-fires but blacken and spot thee like pard, For the dead silent river lies rigid and still. Down on thy sedgy banks picquet the troops, Scaring the night-wolves with carols and whoops, Crackle their faggots of drift-wood and hay, And the steam of their pots fills the nostril of day, But the dead silent river lies rigid and still. Sledges pass sliding from hamlet to town, Lovers and comrades, and none doth he drown, Harness-bells tinkling in musical glee, For to none comes the sorrow that came unto me, And the dead silent river lies rigid and still. I go to the Dwina, I stand on his wave, Where Ivan, my dead, has no grass on his grave, Stronger than granite that coffins a Czar, Solid as pavement, and polished as spar, Where the dead silent river lies rigid and still Stronger than granite ? nay, falser than sand! Fatal the clasp of thy slippery hand, Cruel as vulture's the clutch of thy claws, Who shall redeem from the merciless jaws Of the dead silent river so rigid and still ? Crisp lay the new-fallen snow on thy breast, Trembled the white moon through haze in the west, Far in the thicket the wolf-cub was howling, Down by the sheep-cotes the wolf-dam was prowling, And the dead silent river lay rigid and still, When Ivan my lover, my husband, my lord, Lightly and cheerily stepped on the sward, Light with his hopes of the morrow and me, That the reeds on the margin leaned after to see, But the dead silent river lay rigid and still. O'er the fi-esh snow-fall, the winter- long frost, O'er the broad Dwina the fin-ester crost, Snares at his girdle, and gun at his side, Gamebag weighed heavy with gifts for his bride, And the dead silent river lay rigid and still. * From Poems of Ten Years, by Mrs. D. Ogilvy. Rigid and silent, and crouching for prey, Crouching for him who went singing his way, Oxen were stabled, and sheep were in fold, But Ivan was struggling in torrents ice-cold, 'Neath the dead silent river so rigid and still. Home he came never, we searched by the ford, Small was the fissure that swallowed my lord, Glassy ice-sheeting had frozen above A crystalline cover to seal up my love In the dead silent river so rigid and still. Still by the Dwina my home-torches burn, Faithful I watch for my bridegroom's return, When the moon sparkles on hoarfrost and tree I see my love crossing the Dwina to me O'er the dead silent river so rigid and still. Always approaching, he never arrives, Howls the north-east wind, the dusty-snow drives, Snapping like touchwood I hear the ice crack, And my lover is drowned in the water-hole black, 'Neath the dead silent river so rigid and still. THE OLD LOVE.* THE roving seasons come and go, In each, like flowers, fresh passions blow, They bud, they blossom, they decay, And from my heart's soil pass away, But still the old love dieth not. Soft, pensive, tender, warm and gay, But transient as an April day, Each in its short but potent reign, Sweeps like a flood through heart and brain, But that old love it quencheth not. Listen, ye breezes, ye who dance O'er the blue waves to sunny France, I have a message ye must bear To a sweet maid who dwelleth there, Tell her the old love dieth not. HAPPINESS. IF solid happiness we prize, Within our breast this jewel lies, And they are fools who roam. The world hath nothing to bestow From our own selves our bliss must flow, And that dear hut our home. * From The Maid of Messene and other Poems, by E. H. Pember. DISINFECTANTS. DISINFECTA:. AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. MUSPRATT. DR. MUSPRATT, with whom we have the honour of a personal acquaintance, Is editing a most elaborate work upon .iiistrtj, as applied to Art a <(inl Mann/act ID-fa." In the second volume of this work he gives an instructive chapter upon Disinfectants, which he says are, " Properly speaking, such as remove the causes of infection ; but, as the French signification has been adopt- ed in England, the removal of any in- jurious taint is also understood." This subject being of extreme importance to the welfare of families, we will accept with gratitude from Dr. Muspratt those facts which have a practical application. Washing with pure water, to remove ull putrescent or putrescible matters, has always been, and must continue to be, the most important disinfectant whenever it can be applied. It has generally been found that the soil is a very valuable disinfectant, decomposing animal matter with great rapidity, and sending out gases which are, on the whole, innocuous, unless sufficient space has not been allowed for the remains. Efficacious as the soil is for the disinfec- tion of bodies buried in it, it has been found in large towns that the amount of soil covering the dead has been in- sufficient : most nations, therefore, have interred their dead in the suburbs and less populous localities. A process of purification after the burial of a person was, among the an- cients, nearly universal : sometimes it resolved itself into a mere religious custom, but this had evidently arisen out of a distinct act of cleansing. Among the Romans, certain days were set apart for the ceremonial cleansing of the fa- mily, and the house was swept out by an officer appointed for the purpose. Embalming has sometimes been re- sorted to in Europe from the very ear- liest times, and with great success. The remains of the French kings disinterred at St. Denis by the revolutionists, pre- served their countenances, it i perfectly when first uncovered ; but immediately yielded when exposed to the air. Sometimes the preservation is effected by the mere action of cur- rents of air. This may be readily be- lieved of a warm climate, but the same result occurs at Bonn, in the vault of a chapel, where the bodies of the buried monks are dried up or shrivelled, but not decomposed. No means, whatever, it is said are used to obtain this result, further than placing an open coffin con- taining the body in a dry repository where the wind is continually blowing. Infection arises from decomposing matter, which, coming in contact with that which is healthy or sound, induces a continuation of the decay. It is in this wide sense that the word is used when disinfection is spoken of. Matter may be thrown into this state in various ways and situations. Vegetable and animal substances decay spontaneously, even if left to themselves, without the interference of any body in a state of decay. No infection is known without the presence of such putrefying agent. The origin and history of all plagues and infectious diseases point to this sa- tisfactorily. N"o cheincial re-agents, properly so called, have been known to give rise to contagion. Gases are known which destroy health, and by producing decomposition may cause such decay to proceed in the system that the exhalations may engender infection ; but even in this case it is produced by the organic substances, though the distinct and direct injury is effected by the chemical agency. What, then, are the sources from which disease may arise ? Here Dr. Muspratt enumerates cer- tain causes which do not relate to those matters to which, alone, we think it needful to direct the attention of our readers. We therefore pa.ss ou I remark that When a country is badly dr. Lined, and there is no outlet for the products of the decomposition of plants but the air, it often happens that disea.se spreads rapid- ly. If the land be properly drained, these emanations, passing through the soil, be- come disinfected, and a comparatively healthy atmosphere results. Marshes in allageshavebeen unwholesome; but they DISINFECTANTS. 55 are so in proportion to the temperature and the state of vegetation. A damp climate and a moist soil, such as those of Holland, do not produce disease in an equal degree, with a similar condi- tion in the tropics, where the decay is more accelerated. Still, even in Holland, those who live in the immediate neigh- bourhood of that part of the country, which is adjacent on one side to the sea, and on the other to fields below its level, are far inferior in appearance to those who live where the land is ele- vated only a foot above the ocean's surface. Diseases sometimes seem to arise from a greater expanse of sea than above alluded to, at least when connected with one or more great rivers. A reddish vapour was seen by the inhabitants of the surrounding country, to their great alarm, to arise out of the Yellow Sea : after floating about, it dispersed itself over the land, and produced, or at least, it was followed by that most dreadful outbreak of cholera, which afterwards passed over all Asia, ultimately coming to Europe. Means of cure are not readily found for such cases, but re- course must be had to energetic disin- fectants. Ponds, and such collections of water as are too shallow to prevent rapid de- composition, and which allow the sun's rays to enter so as to encourage the growth of plants at the bottom, become fertile sources of disease. They can only be disinfected entirely by the de- struction of the vegetation, generally accomplished by complete drainage. Masses of matter in a state of decom- position around a dwelling may easily become centres of contagion ; and the best method of dealing with these is to remove them immediately ; but if in a dangerous condition, to disinfect them previously, as the removal abundantly spreads the noxious vapours and gases. A still atmosphere favours the spread of infection, as a whole district or coun- try may become like a closed vessel, rapidly filling up with impure matters, and pestilence being generated. Hurri- canes, it is well known, have a powerful tendency to stop the progress of disease. Before the plague of London an unusual calm occurred. Sudden changes in temperature are likewise injurious, affecting the healthy condition of animals and vegetable g causing decomposition, and occasionally infection. The peculiar condition Of the air, called blight, is a state of thi s kind, but is imperfectly understood Great natural phenomena in any way interfering with organic life, may acce- lerate various maladies. Rain has some- times been so continuous as to cause a whole district to become corrupted, destroying vegetation, and not only- starving, but infecting man with offen- sive emanations. So also great swarms of insects, locusts, and caterpillars, for example ; better known in history than by the experience of the present days droughts and pestilential heats, are simi- larly destructive of animal and vegetable life. These causes of infection have been recounted, that a distinct view of the opposite, or disinfection, may be taken. Vapours arise in all these cases men- tioned, and pervade the atmosphere- That organic matter has been found in the air has been sufficiently proved by Ehrenberg, who ascertained the pre- sence of animalcules ; by Vogel and Dr. Southwood Smith, and more re- cently by Dr. Angus Smith, who ob- tained it in the moisture condensed from the breath in crowded rooms. A state of the atmosphere in which organic matter does not exist, can scarcely be imagined ; even when it comes from healthy bodies it is found to be injurious if allowed to collect; but when ema- nating from unhealthy constitutions, ifc must communicate disease more readily. Its first action is in the nasal organ, when nature generally gives notice of contiguous evil ; but when persons are accustomed to living in impure air, habit causes them to be insensible to its effects. It must next enter the lungs, where the blood absorbs it ; distemper is thereby communicated to the most vital parts in a direct manner. The subject is of so vast importance, and Dr. Muspratt's communications upon it are so lucid and useful, that we will seek another Intewiew with him. RARETIES AND RELISHES FOR THE TABLE. UAKETIES AND RELISHES FOR THE TABLE. DOMESTIC discoveries are constantly being made ; and though, too frequently, useful hints die away after serving the purpose of a Newspaper paragraph, we think that among the readers of the Interview there are many persona who will not let practical suggestions slip. We therefore bring together, as peculiarly adapted to the present season, the fol- lowing useful suggestions for easily supplying the table with rareties. We commence with a paragraph, extracted from the Gardener's Chronicle, giving instructions How TO GET GREEN PEA SOUP IN WINTER. "We shall have visitors early in February, and must have green pea soup once or twice at least. Tell the gardener to provide a supply of young peas." Such was the order given one Christmas-day to the cook in a great household, and duly communicated by the culinary to the horticultural de- partment. "Fresh green peas in a month, in the middle of winter ! the thing's impossible," cried the astonished gardener. " My lord can't have given such an order ; we haven't a house or a light to grow them in and if \ve had ." ".We must have them for all that," was the curt rejoinder; and the gardener was left to discover the quo modo. In his despair the worthy man bethought himself that young peas and young pea leaves tasted much alike, and that, perhaps, the one might be as good for soup as the other. So he took some shallow pans, planted them pretty thickly with dwarf Spanish peas, put them in his early vinery on a shelf where he sometimes grew straw- berries, and where a good heat was kept up. The peas soon began to grow ; they had air as much as it was possible to give it them, and by the beginning of February were six inches high, well furnished with healthy tender green leaves and stems. The supply thus obtained was cut like mustard and cress, and handed over to the cook, who declared that it made better puree than if he had had green peas themselves. And from that time forward peas were forced at as regularly as French beans ; and all lovers of good living wondered how Lord continued to have such capital puree of green peas whenever they visited him in the winter. To this we will add the following from our own note-book : HOW TO OBTAIN CRESS ALL THE YEAR HOUND. This may be done in a manner to supply both a salad and an ornament for the table. Take bottles, baskets, plates, dishes, or any other articles, and cover them with flannel, old pieces of baize, cloth, or other absorbent material. The cloth should be cut out, and sewn so as to form a perfect shape for the article to be covered. Saturate the cloth with water after the covering is complete, and then sprinkle thereon mustard seed, or pepper seed, so as equally to pervade the surface, not too thick, n or too scanty. In a little while the gluten of the seed will become softened, and fix the seed firmly to the cloth. Place it in a dark and moderately warm place, and moisten it occasionally. When the seeds begin to germinate, bring them to the light, and as their strength increases, expose them as opportunity may occur, to the sun. You will soon have cress from an inch to two inches long, growing in an ornamental shape, which may be set upon the table, and the cress cut from it as wanted. This may be done at any season of the year. To OBTAIN MUSHROOMS ALL THE YEAR ROUND. Instructions for the formation of artificial mushroom beds, by which button mushrooms may be obtained all through the year, are given in Enquire Within (2151). To OBTAIN SEA KALE IN THE WIN- TER. Early in November cover the surface of the bed, including the drills and the intervening spaces with stable litter, to the depth of two and a half feet. The plants will be matured by Christmas, and will yield abundantly in January. This vegetable is easily and cheaply forced, and blanched in STATISTICS OF RAILWAYS. 57 any dark, warm cupboard or cellar. Supplies of shoots may be obtained for three months successively in this way. They may be planted in old boxes, baskets, mawns, &c., and will yield abundantly. HOW TO MAKE USE OF ENDIVE. It is strange that Endive with us is only known as a salad, dressed green with oil and vinegar, and yet how excellent a vegetable it forms those who have visited the Paris restaurants must well know. It is cooked on the Continent, the bitterness removed, and an ex- cellent dish produced in the following manner : Chop up Endive or Spinach very fine (cooks say for ten minutes) ; toil it first, then put it into cold water ; then drain the water off, and squeeze it out till quite dry. Take a good tablespoonful of flour, and a piece of butter about the size of a walnut ; mix them well near the fire, and boil them in a pipkin. Put this mixture with the vegetable, and about a teacupful of water, for fear of burning ; add a little salt and pepper, and boil till done. Endive is the most universally popular dish in the country, and a most savoury morsel. The best method of preparing it is as follows : Take two good En- dives, not blanched, separate the leaves, and boil them in two waters (to extract the bitter). If still bitter use a third water, but ten minutes before they are ready throw in a handful of sorrel leaves. When ready take them out and strain them, and put them back in the saucepan with a piece of butter the size of a walnut, pepper and salt, and a table-spoonful of any rich gravy. Shake them well over the fire till all is incorporated, and send them iu hot. On no account chop the leaves. AN EXCELLENT SPRING VEGETABLE TO BE HAD FOR THE GATHERING. Young nettles supply an excellent vegetable for the table, boiled and eaten as greens. They grow abun- dantly, and are pronounced as not only highly relishable, but very healthful. Having given these hints, we shall be happy to receive suggestions of a similar nature. STATISTICS OF RAILWAYS. BY R. STEPHENSON, ESQ., M.P. MORE rails are laid down than are enough to form a belt of single iron rail round the globe ! The extent of railways now (1856) completed in Great Britain and Ireland is 8,054 miles. These lines have cost 286,000,000. Thare are more than fifty miles of tunnel. There are eleven miles of viaduct in the neighbourhood of London. The earth- works of the railways mea- sure 550,000,000 cubic yards. The earth thereof would form a pyra- mid a mile and a half in height, with a base larger than St. James' Park. Eighty millions of miles are run in the course of a year by the trains. There are 5,000 railway engines, and 150,000 working vehicles. The engines in a line would extend from London to Chatham. The vehicles from London to Aberdeen. The various companies employ 90,000 officers and servants. The engines consume annually 2,000,000 tons of coal. In every minute of time, four tons of coal convert into steam 20 tons of water. In 1854, 111,000,000 of passengers were conveyed upon railways ; each of whom travelled an average of eleven miles. The receipts of the railways in 1854 amounted to 20,215,000. The receipts of every railway have- continued to increase. 20,000 tons of iron require to be re- placed annually, on account of " wear and tear." 26,000,000 of wooden sleepers re- quire to be replaced yearly. 300,000 trees are annually felled to make good the decay of the sleepers. 300,000 trees require for their gr 5,000 acres of forest land. Trains carry upon an average 200 passengers. The cost of running a train is under Is. 3d. per mile. 58 THE EYES, AND HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. 500 passengers at of a penny per mile, produces 5a. 2sd. per i But for the facilities afforded by r;)il- \vays, the penny postage scheme could not have been carried out. 70,000,000 of money have been paid to landowners and others, as compen- sation for property interfered with by the lines. The Electric Telegraph extends over ,200 miles, requiring 36,000 miles of wires. 3,000 persons are employed by the electric telegraph. 90,000 men are employed directly upon the railways. 40,000 men are employed indirectly. 1 in 50 of the entire population of the kingdom are dependent upon rail- ways. The annual receipts of railways have reached 20,000,000, which is nearly half the amount of the ordinary re- venue of the State. The saving of a farthing a mile in the expense of running the trains, would make a difference of 80,000 a-year to the railway companies. THE EYES, AND HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. WHEN the eye is in a perfectly healthy condition, we ought to be extremely careful not to tamper with it so as to derange any of its functions; for in- stance, it is highly injurious for us to pass suddenly from the dark to the full blaze of a lighted room, or still worse into that of open daylight. In some extreme cases blindness has been the result of such an act. In viewing an object we should take care that as much of it as possible is in focus at once, but we must not fall into the error of straining the eye to give us the perfect picture, otherwise injury will result. Very great benefit will arise from the use of the power of concentration of sight : thus we ought to endeavour to see only one part of an object at a time, and to gradually complete the survey of its different parts, in order to get the correct idea of it; for if we look too Uy at objects, we shall find that re none of thorn properly in focus, and a confusion of ideas is the con- sequence. It is injurious to the sight to be con- tinually using the eye for one distance of objects only, as from want of use the eye loses that ready adjustment so es- sential to the perfect appreciation of objects seen at different /.part : thus we should never look too steadfastly nor for too long a period at the charac- ters of a book, but from time totime look off at objects at a greater distance ; this plan not only secures the use of the ad- justing powers of the eye, but relieves the retina from the great strain it has undergone by the too violent contrast in the image formed on it, namely, black and white. A^ r e should avoid as much possible viewing objects with one eye only, but on the contrary endeavour to direct both eyes on them, in order that we may form more correct idea of their size and distance ; for by the use of one eye we can appreciate neither size, solidity, nor distance, in a complete and satisfactory manner. In reading of an evening by an arti- ficial light, we should be very particular in the position of the candle with re- spect to the book, so as to prevent as much as possible the direct light from entering the pupil. The best means of accomplishing this end is, to have the lamp or source of light so placed that it may shine over the shoulder on to the paper or book we are perusing, for it will readily be seen that by this ar- rangement the eye receives no more light than that proceeding immediately from the page before it. These matters may appear very trivial to those whose sight is not yet impaired, but constant attention to them will ensure the enjoyment of that great blessing, perfect sight, for many years beyond the usual limit. Imperfect sight may be defined as that state of vision in which objects are not easily discerned with distinctness in ordinary light and at the usual distances; thus both long and short sight may be considered as diseases of the eye, for THE EYES, AND HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. those who are short-sighted see things ' distinctly which are close to them, j while objects that .are more distant are I confused and appear indistinct : on the contraiy, the long-sighted see distant object with perfect clearness, and close ones with difficulty and confusion of outline. The first symptom of the change in the eye inducing long sight is, that we are obliged to remove every object to a greater distance from the eye before we can see it distinctly. Thus in perusing a newspaper, or any small print, we are sometimes obliged to hold it nearly at arms' length before distinct vision is produced ; whereas in healthy vision we should have been able to bring about the same result at a distance of twelve inches from the eye. Although we may see the type quite clearly under these cir- i cumstances, it is a system that is highly ' detrimental to the eyesight, and should on no account be persevered in, as it will ultimately increase the failure of the eye, and oblige the optician to use much stronger glasses before a remedy can be applied than if assistance had been sought at an earlier stage of the dis- order; whereas it not unfrequently happens, that those who take to spectacles in time are after a while enabled to lay them aside and to see objects with the unassisted eye as clearly as before their use. Another sign of the decline of sight is when we are obliged to hold the candle between the book or paper and the eye before perfect distinctness can be attained ; this causes a contraction, of the pupil necessary to our perfect ap- preciation of objects. Now nothing can be more injurious to the sight than this habit, for the strain thrown on the eye by so much light in such close proximity : will eventually dull the perception of the visual organs. Immediately an individual discovers that the above applies to his own sight, he should without delay seek the assist- ance of glasses, and if care be taken in the selection, he will be entirely relieved from the inconvenience. Many persons find from the above defect that it is more difficult to read at night than in the daytime ; such persons ought to be provided with two pairs of spectacles, the one to be used by candle light, being rather stronger in power than that in use in the daytime. One unmistakeable indication that we require spectacles is, that on reading a book or newspaper the letters appear after a short time confused, and run into the other, appearing double and treble, and convey the idea of the eye having a veil or mist before it. The eyes from this cause become so fatigued, that it is found necessary to be continually closing the lids, and to relieve them by looking frequently at different objects, or by stimulating them by friction. If we neglect the means we have at our disposal to correct this distressing state of vision, we shall assuredly suffer for it at no very distant period, and eventually be obliged to use glasses of a much greaterpower than if we had taken to them in time, to the permanent injury of the sight, and in some in- stances to its partial loss. WHAT'S IN A NAME? Hotels and public houses have a phraseology of their own. On an inquest some years since on the body of a gentleman who died suddenly at a London hotel, one of the witnesses, Mr. Booth, deposed that the chambermaid desired him to run for a doctor, as, Number Four was in a Fit! At one of the suburban Tea Gardens, a waiter laden with a tray containing tea and muffins for twelve, who observed a bolt before the bill was paid, roared out to his brother atten- dant : " Run, run, Bob ! there's two teas and a glass of brandy and water escaping over the palings catch 'em !" THE PERPETUAL COMEDY. The world is the stage, men are the per- formers. Chance composes the piece; Fortune distributes the parts. The Fool shifts the scenery ; the Philoso- phers are the spectators. The Rich occupy the boxes, the* powerful have a seat in the pit, and the poor sit in the gallery. The fair present the refresh- ments, the tyrants occupy the treasury bench, and those who are forsaken by lady Fortune snuff the candles. 60 LEISURE MOMENTS. CURIOUS EXTRACTS YESTERDAY. December 13, THE Proprietors of the a woman stood on the pillory Royal Bagno, at the earliest (From "King Charles's Nncs- at the end of Catherine-street, request of several persons of paper," noticed at j>. 26.) for keeping a disorderly house quality, have thought fit to To ALL MOUNTEBANKS, TRA- VELLING COMPANIES, INN- in that neighbourhood. 1759. THERE is a report that three appoint that Saturday in every week be set apart for the ac- KEEPERS, &c. Whereas on Sunday, July 4, 1790, Samuel Kcll, my apprentice, did ab- sent himself from my business without my leave or know- Suns were lately seen about Richmond in Surrey, by divers credible persons, of which different observations are made according to the fancy commodation of Women only; whereof all gentlemen and others are desired to take notice; forasmuch as no en- tertainment will In- allowed ledge, and has not since been heard of, this is to caution all pereons not to keep or har- bour him after this publick notice, as I shall in such case of the people. IT is reported that a Quaker fell in love with a lady of very great quality, and hath extra- ordinarily petitioned to obtain her for his wife. them on that day. Nov. 1680. WHEREAS some time since, at the desire of several ladies and persons of quality, Satur- day was allotted them to sweat prosecute any person or per- STOLEN, the 29th of Sep- and wash in ths Royal Bagno sons with whom he may be tember, out of Mr. Fletcher's (all gentlemen exclusive). found. Samuel Bell is about five feet five inches, dark com- backhouse in the Strand, five small Pictures of about a foot Now, at their further desires, it is thought convenient by the plexion, black hair, which he wears tied ; had on, when he went away, a blue coat, black breeches, and half boots ; is about nineteen years of age, a and a-half square, viz., one by Mr. Philip Thoverman, being a robbery, with a pybal-horse, and a man dragging along murdered, with others. An- Proprietors thereof, to add (for their Services) another day, which is Wednesday, commencing the 23 of this instant March. All persons very good tumbler, and can throw a great number of flip- flaps, &c. ; plays the clarinet and takes snuff. N.B. Who- ever will give notice of him to me, Mr. P Astley, at the Royal Grove, Westminster Bridge, HO as he may be secured, shall be rewarded for their trouble. other of Mr. Eyckhout, with four figures, whereof two are playing at cards. One of Mr. Vanderneers, being a Moon- shine. And two of Mr. John Wyckes, being two seasons of the year, autumn and mid- summer ; all in carved gilded frames. Whoever shall bring being desirous to take notice thereof, and order their affairs accordingly. 1681. ALL gentlemen and others whose Sirnamesare Abraham, are desired to meet at the Pump in Wallbrook on Wed- nesday, the 14th day of No- vember, the hours of meeting A FEW days since, the Rev. news of them to the said Mr. are from three till seven of John Wesley was married to William Fletcher, shall be re- the clock, where you will Mrs. Vazel, of Threadneedle- warded for their pains. 1679. meet some of the same name, street, an agreeable widow WHEREAS the Proprietors of who are desirous to constitute lady with a large fortune. the Royal Bagno, are sensible a friendly meeting there. And Feb., 1751. that their servants who attend so to continue on every 2d SATURDAY died Mrs. Wilks, widow, mistress of the Cock Inn in Aldersgate - street, judged to be one of the biggest women in England. January, 1762. gentlemen, both Rubbers and Barbers, have been very troublesome, by demanding of gentlemen a reward for their attendance ; this is to give notice, that the servants are under a certain salary to their Wednesday in each month between the hours appointed. 1705. SEVERAL journeymen bakers of this city having refused to bake on Sundays, licences have been granted to forty A FAT young black, about eighteen years of age, with a own demands, and that 5s. 6d. is the whole charge ; and that non-freemen, and many more will soon be allow'd the same scar in his cheek, a little bow legg'd, be wants a toe in his if any servant shall ask, or make any complaints that they privileges. Feb., 1 7 left foot, with a grey livery, are not sufficiently paid for THE gentleman who was so lined with green searge, a their pains; upon any gentle- ridiculed for had green pair of stockings, and a man's notice thereof to the horsemanship, under the title grey hat. Whoever gives Clerk of the said Bagno, such of Johnny Gilpin, died a few notice of him, at the Grey- servant shall forthwith be :it Bath, and has left hound, in Gracechurch-street, discharged. Servants shall at- an unmarried daughter, with shall be rewarded for their tend from six in the morning a fortune of 20,000. Nov., pains. August, 1680. until ten at night. Oct 1680. 1790. A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. Cl A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY ALL ROUND OUR HOUSE. CHAPTER II. THE TRAVELLERS FIND THAT THE IX- TEREST OF THE JOURNEY COMMENCES AT A POINT WHICH WAS NOT AT FIRST ANTICIPATED. WHENEVER travellers are about to set out upon a journey, there are a number of unforeseen delays and impediments ; and wants arise which have been com- pletely overlooked. But when we resolved upon performing " A Journey Round Our House," we certainly did not expect to meet with the difficulties that presented themselves. Let not the reader, who is supposed to accompany us through our journey, be disheartened by this admission. Our perplexity at the starting arose, not out of the limits of our journey, but out of its vast ex- tent ; not because of the few roads open for us to travel, but on account of the diversity of the prospect, and the multi- plicity of paths that lay before us, all inviting us to pursue them, and enticing us by the beautiful truths which clustered around them, like flowers em- bellishing the path- way of the pioneer. We knew not where to begin. The prospect, which at first seemed simple and circumscribed, widened before us at every fresh glance. Our House at once became a Paradise an Eden bright with flowers. The fruit of science and of knowledge clustered around every object upon which we cast our eyes. So that our imagination was for some time bewildered, and we knew not which way to turn. Let us illustrate our difficulty. Sup- pose we commenced with the fire that blazed cheerfully before us. We should at once have had to explore the deep mines of the earth, from which the iden- tical pieces of coal then burning had not long been disembowelled. Our imagination would have been earned back to some thousands of centuries ago, when those very pieces, now throw- ing out their cheerful light and heat, were branches of stately vegetables, waving their luxuriant leaves in the wind ; we should have to dwell for some time in solemn contemplation of those mighty, those wonderful, those terrible revolutions in nature, which folded the vast primeval forests in the bosom of the earth, until by the industry and skill of man they were disentombed, and applied to the promotion of his com- fort. Wonderful to think that thousands of years before we breathed the breath of life, those leaves were grown, to die and be stored up through successive centuries, that they might warm and cheer us now ! Yet, that they did so exist that they have lain thus buried through thousands of years are truths as palpable as that they are here now comforting us by the warmth they yield. Still further: we should have to examine the changes now being under- gone by the pieces of coal as they diminished perceptibly before our eyes. We should have to consider that the air, passing in rapid undulations towards the fire, yielded up one of its gases to unite with the substance of the coal, and that the two rejoicing in their new love, flew off like spirits released from the dead, to brighter worlds. We should have to follow these aerial crea- tures in their flight, and we should find them again among their old friends, giving beauty to the flower, verdure to the leaf, and strength and grandeur to the tree. Perhaps we might even trace those pieces of coal, until we found that some parts of them, in their new and gaseous form, uniting themselves to the substances of the vegetables that were growing in our garden, came back as grateful food upon our table ! You see, therefore, Reader and fellow Traveller, the " Journey Round our House " is a far more extensive journey than at first it seemed to be, and that the discoveries which we may make on our way, have never been exceeded in importance, even by those of Cook, Columbus, Linnaeus, Cuvier, or Hum- boldt. Well, we knew not from which point to start. Whether we looked upon the ceiling, the floor, or the walls of the room ; whether we went outside, or re- mained inside of the building ; whether A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. we started from its roof, or whether we con.: ;ch the furniture of the ho", house itself, the same i. u>jects, and of truth l us. Whanerer discovered land, he puts down in his note-book the most minute particulars of the geographical features of the country ; he describes its auiiu vegetable?, its atmosphere, its waters, :md above all its inhabitants. We must do the same in our "Journey Uound our House : " the spider and the lly will supply an interesting chapter in the natural history of our Journey. It was reflecting and reasoning thus, that ultimately determined the point from which we should start. A point " nearer home " than any of us at first anticipated. It was to commence with OURSELVES, the inhabitants of the country we had set out to explore ! I had no sooner proposed this start- ing point to my fellow-travellers (iny daughters and my wife) than they all seemed filled with delight at so good and appropriate a thought. I therefore brought down from my library all the physiological and anatomical works I pos- sessed, and taking them as the charts by which we wore to be guided, we fairly started upon our " Voyage of Discovery." It was agreed that the several travellers should explore for themselves such parts of the subject as they might feel most interest in, and that we would occasion- ally meet, like a band of pioneers be- neath the shade of the cypress, to hold our councils, and communicate our dis- coveries. I will endeavour to collect those discoveries into something like order and connexion, and they may be regarded as the narrative of the first portion of our " Journey of Discovery." i Man's body is to his soul, in many re- j spects, what a house is to its occupant. But how superior is the dwelling which , God erected to that which man has built. : Reader, come out of yourself for one mo- , ment, and in imagination realise the ' abstraction of the soul from the body. Make an effort of thought, and do not re- lin'junh that effort until you fancy that you see your image seated on a chair by u. Andnowpro- mr mental self certain ques- tions respecting your bodily tenement :iL-h, peivhaiK-e, h;ivo never "d to you before; but which will nselves the more forcibly upon you in proportion as yoxi realise to yourself, for a moment, the idea of >ul examining tho body which it inhal re sits before you a form of ex- proportions, with reference to the mode of life it has to pursue the wants of the soul for which it has to cm which it has to guard, under tho di- rection of that soul, its owner aud master. Its head is covered with hair, of which there are many thousands, perhaps some millions. Well, what do you think of a hair 1 Have you ever examined one 1 Each of those hairs is curiously constructed, and organised. If you take a branch of a tree, and cut it across, you will find curious mark rags called the grain of the wood, indicating its wonderful formation : for this grain j is caused by vessels of various structure, all necessary to the existence of the plant. In the centre will be found either a hollow tube, or a space occu- pied by a soft substance called pith. Each hair of your head is as curiously formed as the branch of a tree, and in a manner not dissimilar, though its parts are so minute that the unaided eye cannot discern them. Each hair has a root, just as a tree has, and through this root it receives its nourishment. As the vessels which feed a plant are always proportionate to the size of the plant itself, how wonderfully fine must be those vessels which form the roots of the hair, being in proportion to the size of the hair, which is in itself so small that the eye cannot see its structure ! The hair is, in fact, an animal plant, growing upon the body in much the same manner as plants grow upon the surface of the earth. But how does this hair grow ? Not by the simple ad- dition of matter at its roots, pushing up and elongating its stem : the nourish- ment of tho hair passes up through its whole length and io depoaited upon its end, just as the nourishment of a tree A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. is deposited upon its extreme branches. If you, after having your hair cut, were to examine its ends by the microscope, ! you would discover the abrupt termina- j tion left by the scissors. But allow the j hair to grow, and then examine it, and you would discover that it had grown from its point, which, in comparison with its former state, is perfect and fine. The reason why the beard is so hard is, that the erds of the hair are continually being shaved off. The hair of the beard, if allowed to groAv, would become almost as soft as the hair of the head. But why is man's head thus covered with hair? For precisely the same reason that a house is thatched- to keep the inmates warm. We might add, also, to give beauty to the edifice. But as beauty is a conventional quality, and if men were without it they would consider themselves quite as handsome as they clo now, we will not enlarge upon the argument. Our bald-headed friends, too, might have reason to com- plain of such an unfavourable hypo- thesis. Let us take care that our discoveries are sound, and do not tend to error. The chief huir upon the human body is placed upon the head, which is the seat of the brain, and, next to the heart, the most vital part of the system. There are in the human body numerous organs, denominated glands. The brain is the chief of them ; and it is found that in all parts where glands are laid, they are kept warm by one or two pro- visions either a covering of hair, or a coating of fat. These glands and especially the brain are of deep impor- tance in the human economy. It is true that hair is to be found in parts where there are no glands that can be supposed to receive warmth from it. But in these cases the hair fulfils other purposes which will be presently explained. It may, however, be regarded as a fact, that in all parts where there is a thick covering of hair, there are glands which derive warmth and protection from it. Besides tho warmth afforded to the brain by the hair, it is perfectly encased in a tenement of bone. The brain in the great organ upon which the health, the welfare, the happiness of the system depends. The skull, therefore, may be regarded as analogous to the " strong box," the iron chest, in which the merchant keeps his treasure. There is no point at which the brain can be touched to its injury, without first doing violence to the skull. Even the spinal cord, which may be regarded as a prolongation of the brain, runs down the back through a tunnel or tube formed in a number of strong bones, so closely and firmly .joined together, that they are commonly termed "the back bone." Look at the eyebrows. What purpose do they fulfil ? Precisely that of a shed, or arch placed over a window, to shelter it from rain. But for the eye- brows, the perspiration would fre- quently run from the brow into the eyes, and obscure the sight ; a man walking in a shower of rain would scarcely be able to see ; and a mariner in a storm would find a double difficulty in braving the tempest, but for this simple provision. Now we come to the eye, which is the window of the soul's abode. And what a window ! how curiously con- structed, how wisely guarded ! We do not intend in the course of these dis- coveries to encumber our subject by the use of the technical phraseology of scientific men. We contemplate the objects themselves, and describe them by the inspiration which they afford us. In the eyelashes, as well as the eye- brows, we see the hair fulfilling a use- ful purpose differing from those already described. The eyelashes serve to keep cold winds, dust, and too bright sun, from injuring or entering the windows of the bo dy. When we walk against the east wind, we bring the tips of our eye- lashes together, and in that way exclude the cold air from the surface of the eye ; and in the same manner we exclude the dust and modify the light. The eye- lashes, therefore, are like so many sen- tries, constantly moving to and fro, protecting a most important organ, and one that affords us great delight, from A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. injury. The eyelids are the shutters by which the windows are opened and closed. But they also cleanse the eye, keeping it bright and moist. There are, moreover, at the. sides of each eye or window, little glands, or springs, by which a clear fluid is formed and sup- plied for cleansing the eye. The eye is place d in a socket of the skull, in which it has free motion, turning right or left, up or down, to serve the purpose of the inhabitant of the dwelling. Of the structure of the eye itself we will not say much, for that alone would form a subject for a volume. But we would have you examine the beautiful forma- tion of the iris of the eye, the ring which surrounds the pupil. Hold a light to it, and you will find that the iris will contract and diminish the pupil ; withdraw the light and the iris will relax, and the pupil will expand, thus regulating the amount of light. The images of external objects are formed upon the retina of the eye, a thin membrane, spread out upon the extremity of a large nerve, which pro- ceeds immediately to the brain, and forms the telegraphic cord by which informa- tion is immediately given to the mind, of everything visible going on within the range of sight. A landscape of many miles is portrayed upon a space .smaller than a sixpence. Now think, for a few moments, \ipon the wonderful structure of these win- dows of the body. Can you fancy, in the walls of your house, a window which protects itself, cleanses itself, and turns in any direction at the mere will of the tenant; and when that tenant is oppressed by excess of light, draws its own curtain, and gives him ease; and when he falls asleep, closes its own shutters and protects it- self from the cold and dust of night, and the instant he awakes in the morn- ing, opens, cleanses itself with a fluid which it has prepared during the night and kept in readiness ; and repeats this routine of duty day after day for half a century, without requiring repair ? Such, nevertheless, is the wonderful structure of the window of the body the Eye. The next part of the system which presents itself for examination is the This organ is given us for two purposes: to enable us to respire and to smell. As odours generally arise from the surface of the earth, the cup or funnel of the no-,- i.s turned down to meet them. In the nostrils hair again serves a useful purpose. It not only warms the air which enters the nos- trils, but it springs out from all sides, and forms an intersecting net. closing the nostrils against dust, and the intru- sion of small insects. If by any means, as when taking a sharp sniff, foreign matters enter the nostrils, the nose is armed with a set of nerves which communicate the fact to certain muscles, and the organs of respiration unite with those muscles to expel the in- truding substances. In this action, the diaphragm, or the muscle which di- vides the abdomen from the chest, is pressed down, the lungs are filled with air, the passage by which that air would otherwise escape through the mouth is closed up, and then, all at once, with considerable force, the air is pressed through the nostrils, to free them from the annoying substance. So great is the force with which this action takes place, that the passage into the mouth is generally pushed open, occasioning the person in whom the action takes place, to cry "'tshaP and thus is formed what is termed a sneeze ! As with the Eye, so with the Nose, innu- merable nerves are distributed over the lining membrane, and these nerves are connected with larger nerves passing to the brain, through which everything relating to the sense of smell is commu- nicated. The next part of the system is the mouth, which answers the fourfold pur- pose of the organ of taste, of sound, of mastication, and of breathing. For all of these operations, except in breath- ing, these various parts of the mouth are engaged. In eating we ase the lips, the tongue, and the teeth. The teeth serve the purpose of grinding the food, the tongue turns it during the process of grinding, and delivers it up to the throat, for the purposes of the A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. stomach, when sufficiently masticated. The lips serve to confine the food in the mouth, and assist in swallowing it, and there are glands underneath the tongue, and in the sides of the mouth, which pour in a fluid to moisten the food. And so watchful are these glands of their duty, that the mere imagination fre- quently causes them to act. Their fluid is required to modify the intensity of different flavours and condiments which man, in his love of eating, will indulge in. Thus, when we eat anything very- acid, as a lemon, or anything very irri- tating, as Cayenne pepper, the effect thereof upon the sensitive nerves of the tongue is greatly modified by a freeflow of saliva inte the mouth. And if we merely fancy the taste of any such things, these glands are so watchful, that they will immediately pour out their fluid to mitigate the supposed effect. In speaking, we use the lips, the teeth, the tongue ; and the chest supplies air, which being controlled in its emis- sion, causes the various sounds which we have arranged into speech, and by which, \inder certain laws, we are enabled to understand each other's wants, participate in each other's emo- tions, express our loves, our hopes, our fears, and glean those facts, the accumu- lation of which constitutes knowledge, enhances the happiness of man, and elevates him, in its ultimate results, above the lower creatures to which the blessing of speech is denied. In tasting, the action is precisely similar to that of smelling. A certain effect is produced upon the nerves of taste, distributed over the tongue, and they communicate immediately with larger nerves proceeding to the brain, constituting the telegraphic cord by which all matters relating to taste are conveyed to the mind. In hearing, the nerves are affected by the vibrations of the air, which are communicated to the tympanum of the ears, over which minute nerve- branches are thickly distributed. These are the filaments of the extremi- ties of the auditory nerves, by which sounds, and the direction and sources from which they proceed, are commu- nicated to the mind. The organs, whose functions we have been describing, are called the organs of the senses. Through their agency, we are enabled to hear, see, feel, smell, and taste, and thus we preserve and enjoy our relations with the external world. Now, in order to avoid falling into a merely anatomical or physiological de- scription of the human body, let us bear in mind that we have set out upon ;i "journey of discovery," and that, there- fore, instead of following in the beaten track of our predecessors, we are to explore for ourselves. Away, then, from the arbitrary paths of science into fresh fields of thought, and let us imagine that the soul that inhabits the tenement we have partly described, is attended by numerous servants, the duties of some of whom we have al- ready explained. That wonderful essence, the aoul of man, rises above all finite knowledge. Its wonders and powers will never, probably, be understood until when, in a future state of existence, the grandest of all mysteries shall be explained. When we talk of the brain, we speak of that which it is easy to comprehend as the organ, or the seat of the mind; when we speak of the mind, we have greater difficulty in comprehending the meaning of the term we employ ; but when we speak of the soul, we have reached a point which defies our under- standing, because our knowledge is limited. The brain may be injured by a blow ; the mind may be pained by a disagreeable sight, or offended by a harsh word ; but the soul can only be influenced secondarily through the mind, which is primarily affected by the organ of the material senses. Thus the happiness or the misery of the soul de- pends upon the proper fulfilment of the duties of the senses, which are the servants of the soul, over which the mind presides, as the steward who me- diates between the employer and the employed. Such reflections as these, based as they evidently are upon truth, though somewhat new to mankind, lead ua in 80 A JOURNEY OF DISCO V F.I *. eyitably to exercise a due watchfulness over every action of our lives. The ear, J which is taught to delight in sweet ] sounds, and in pure language, is a better j servant of the Master Soul, than one j which delights not in music, and which listens, with approbation or indifference, to the oaths of the profane. The eye which rejoices in the beauties of nature, ?jid in scenes of domestic happiness and love, is a more faithful servant than one that delights in witnessing scenes of revelry, dissipation, and strife. The nose which esteems the sweet odour of a flower, or the life-giving freshness of the pure air, is more dutiful to his master than one that rejects not the polluted atmosphere of neglected dwellings. The mouth which thirsts for morbid grati- fication of taste, is more worthless than one which is contented with wholesome viands, and ruled by the proper instincts of its duty. The hourly, the momentary actions of these senses must necessarily affect the mind, which is the head steward of the soul ; and the soul becomes rich in goodness, or poor in sin, in proportion as the stewardship, held by his many servants,is rightly or wrongfully fulfilled. This, if we mistake not, is a clear and a truthful exposition of the relation be- tween the material and the immaterial world the body and the spirit and is free from objections which have been offered to other theories. We shall therefore speak of the Soul as the inhabitant of the tenement we have further to describe ; and shall, in all respects, regard this high and im- mortal spirit as the Master of the Mind. Admitting, however, this exception that, as in an establishment where the servants are not properly directed and ruled, they often gain the ascendancy, and the master has no power over them : this is precisely the case with man, when he gives himself up to sensual indulgences. The soul becomes the slave of the senses the master is con- trolled by the servants. Let us recall to the mind of our fel- low-traveller, that he is supposed, by an effort of imagination, to have come out from within bib bodily tenement ; and that he is now engaged in a minute ex- amination of his bodily structure. There remain many and most curious parts and works yet to be examined. But before we proceed to the inspection and description of the internal chambers, we will call attention to the fact that this tenement is so constructed that it- can be moved at will. How wonderful is the mechanism by which the motions of the body are accomplished ! In the steam-engine, the force of steam, burst- ing its way through valves, and rushing into chambers and throwing up the pis- ton, motion is procured. The steam enters with a force varying in proportion to the construction of the engine, and the uses to which it is applied. But, never- theless, a force so great, that it will fre- quently rend wrought- iron as if it were as frail as a sheet of paper ; in clocks the motive power is supplied by pulleys and weights ; and in watches aud minor mechanical contrivances, by spring?, which, being wound closely together, have a tendency to expand themselves, and by this tendency, set the wheels and levers in motion. But the body is put in metion by a thought ; by a simple emotion or desire ! For a few moments devote yourself, fellow-travel- ler, to a few discoveries which, though apparently simple, are among the most astounding and delightful facts that you can glean from any source. Nineveh's wonders are stale and flat compared to these. The Pyramids of Egypt may be forgotten. The alchemist's search after the philosopher's stone becomes com- paratively a mere pastime. Lay your arm and hand down upon the table, let the palm of the hand be upwards. Open your hand, then close it quickly what caused it to close The thought to close your hand had scarcely passed your mind, when, lo ? the act was accomplished. Open your hand again place the thumb upon the palm. Return the thumb to it- place, then elevate the first finger, then the second, then the third. Your will is tly answered in each instance. \Vhy is it so ? How is it that when you wished to raise one finger only, the A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. C7 whole hand did not close ? Or that when you desired the thumb to lie upon the palm of the hand, a finger did not drop in the place instead ? How was it that when you wished to raise the second finger, the mandate went from the mind unto that finger, and not to any other ? How is it that the mere thought the mere effort of the will caused the machinery of the arm and hand to act and to act with BO much exactness ? Here, fellow-traveller, are materials for thought and discovery, which may well employ your leisure hours. Depend upon it that until you have examined such wonderful though familiar things as have here been presented to your ob- servation examined them minutely and earnestly you have left the best philosophy xmtouched, and have failed to explore the most beautiful region which God has granted unto us for the furtherance of knowledge and the pro- motion of our soul's welfare. Try another experiment. Place be- fore you a book say the Interview} . Place it among other books, and desire to select it from among the rest, for the purpose of perusal. The moment you desire to read it, your arm is out- stretched and the hand takes hold of the right work. The arm stretches neither too far nor not far enough, but it reaches exactly to the spot where the book lies. It takes up the book the one you desire and leaves the many others behind. You turn over the leaves you reach the page whereon is written, " A Journey of Discovery all Round Our House ;" and now the very thoughts which are passing through my mind begin to flow through yours. That little book has lain for days and nights unopened, unobserved. I am a stranger to you. We reside apart. We may never know each other. Yet my thoughts enter your mind, and are pre- sented to your soul, and your soul is elevated or depressed in tone, becomes better or worse for having had the thoughts of my own soul laid before it. How wonderful is this^ and how important that we should endeavour to drink from the fountains of truth only ! Since the time when I penned these thoughts, others may have engaged mv attention ; and the moment that may find your mind busily collecting the principles and facts here set down, may find me deeply absorbed in some other theme, wrapped in the sleep of nature, or sunk into the abyss of death ! How can we explain the action that takes place in the hand and arm as be- fore described ? All we know about it may be thus communicated. The arm is made up of a series of bones, muscles, and nerves. There are also blood-vessels, and cartilages, and tendons. But they do not call for specific notice in describing the actions which take place. The term muscles may be held to include the car- tilages and tendons which are attached to them ; and the blood-vessels will re- ceive specific mention when we speak of the circulation of the blood. Now the office of the bones and the muscles is simply mechanical. By their structure and relative dispositions, the motions we desire are effected. But what is it that sets these bones and muscles in motion ? The mind, whose seat of government is the brain, com- municates your desire to numerous nerves which pass along the arm and reach the extremities of the fingers. These nerves are as fine as hairs, and are abundantly distributed. Now, in effect, these nerves say to the parts with which they communicate, that your desire is to open or to close your hand, to raise your first, second, or third finger. But to what or to which organs do the nerves communicate your desire, and how does the response take place ? Do these nerves communicate with the muscles, or the bones, or irritate and ex- cite them to action ? No. There are two sets of nerves ; and this is a most interesting, and also a well-ascertained fact. The nerves of volition are not those of motion. There is one set of nerves which convey the desire of the will, and another 'set which, receiving the instructions, cau.se them to be ex- ecuted. The muscles aod the bones are under the command of the nerves of motion. The one nervous system com- municates with the other nervous A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. system, and then the action or desire is I fulfilled. This is wonderful most i wonderful ! But it is God's work ;ind, therefore, possible. In this way all our voluntary motions are performed. But let us look further into this inter- esting subject. We shall find that many of the servants of the soul have been en- gaged iu the fulfilment of the simple ! duty we have been pointing out. You de- sired to close your hand. The mind sent forth that desire through the nerves, which are the messengers over that part of the system. The nerves, which are the messengers, communicated the de- sjire to those nerves which are the officers of motion; these latter caused the muscles to act iipon the bones in such a manner as to close the hand, which was the act you desired. But that is not all. There was a watchful servant, the eye, which, im- mediately it saw the act fulfilled, re- ported to the mind that it had been dene. And even the nerves of volition, which had conveyed your desire out- ward from the mind, returned through another department, the nerves of touch, the intelligence that the desire had been fulfilled. A moment's reflection will serve to show that all these actions must have taken place. If you had been blind, and could not see, and if your hand had, from some accident, lost the sense of feeling, you could not have known when to have ceased the effort to close the hand. But you saw and felt that the hand was closed, and you instantly opened it again. Now as this action took place in one of the ex- tremeties of the body, the intelligence by feeling and by sight must have passed inward from the hand and eye to the brain, just as in the first instance the desire was passed outward from the brain to the hand. Let us take the case of a man who is walking a crowded thoroughfare, and we shall see how wonderfully active are all the servants of the soul, the direction of the mind. He walks along in a given direction. But for the act of volition in the niind not a muscle would stir. The eye is watching his footsteps. There is a stone in his path, the eye informs the mind, the mind communicates with the brain and the nerves, the nerves lift the foot a little higher, or turn it on one side, and the stone is avoided. The eye alights upon a familiar face, and the mind reminds him that he has seen that face before. He goes on thinking of the circumstance under which he saw that person, and partially forgets his walk, and the direc- tion of his steps. But the nerves of volition and motion unite to keep the muscles up to their work, and the man walks on without having occasion to think continually, " I must keep walk- ing." He has not to make an effort to lift his legs along, between each inter- val of meditation. He walks and medi- tates the while. Presently a danger approaches him from behind. The eye sees it not knows no more, in fact, than if it were dead. But the ear sounds the alarm, tells the man, by the rumbling of a wb eel, and the tramp of horses' feet, that he is in danger ; and then the nerves, putting forward their utmost strength, whip the muscles up to the quick performance of their duty ; the man steps out of the way of danger ; and he is saved. He draws near to a sewer, which is vomiting forth its poi- sonous exhalations. The eye is again unconscious it cannot see the poison lurking in the air. The ear, too, is helpless ; it cannot bear witness to the presence of an enemy to life. But the nose detects the noxious agent, and then the eye points out the direction of the sewer, and guides his footsteps to a path wherein he may escape the injuri- ous consequences. The clock strikes, and the ear informs him that it is the hour of an appointment. The nerves stimulate the muscles again, and he is hastened onward. He does not know the residence of his friend, bir tongue asks for him, and his ear makes known the reply. He reaches the spot sits rests. The action of the mus- cles is stayed ; the nerves are for a time at rest. The blood which had flowed freely to feed the muscles while they were working, goes more steadily through the veins and arteries, and the lungs, which, had been purity ing THE MILITARY EXECUTION. fi9 the blood in its course, partake of the partial rest Such is the action of ]jfe S uch the care which God has taken of us such the beauty of his works. Another Interview will enable us to look into other wonders con- nected with ourselves. VITAL STATISTICS. IT has been computed, that in France, out of a number of individuals born the same year, one-sixth die the first year, one-fifth the second, one-third the four- teenth year, one-half at the end of 42 years, three-quarters at the end of 69 years, four-fifths after 72 years, and five-sixths after 75 years. In the last century, French statisticians found that 44 individuals per cent, reach the age of 30 ; 23 per cent, reach 60 ; 15 per cent. 70; 472 percent. 80; and 4 73 per cent, reach 90. At the present time, it seems that the mean duration of human life is 39 years and 8 months ; 26 years ago it was only 36 years, according to some, and so little as 33, according to others. In 1817, the mean duration of life was only 31 years and 3 months ; at the end of the 18th century it was 28 years and J) months ; in the 17th century 26 years ; and only 17 years in the 14th century. In Geneva, the mean duration of human life was 18 years and 5 months in the 16th century ; 23 years and 4 months in the 17th century; 33 years in the 18th; and has risen to 38 years and 10 months between 1815 and 1826. In 1840, the mean duration of life was, in England, above 38 years ; in France, 36$ ; in Hanover, 35 years and 4 months; in Holstein, 34 years and 7 months ; in Holland, 34 years; in the Duchy of Baden, 32 years and 9 months ; at Naples, 31 years and 7 months; in Prussia, 30 years and 3 mouths; in Wirtembeig, 40 years ; and in Saxony, 29 years. It will be perceived that the mean duration of life is gradually in- creasing in Europe, and especially in France. THE MILITARY EXECUTION.* His doom has been decreed, He has owned the fatal deed, And its sentence is here to abide No mercy now can save ; They have dug the yawning grave, And the hapless and the bravp Kneels beside. No bandage wraps his eye, He is kneeling there to die Unbllnded, undaunted, alone. His latest prayer has ceased, And the comrade and the priest From their last sad task released, Both are gone. His kindred are not near The fatal knell to hear, They can but weep the deed when 'tis done ; They would shriek, and wail, and pray: It is well for him to-day That his friends are far away All but one. Yes, in his mute despair, The faithful hound is there, He has reached his master's side with si spring. To the hand which reared and fed, Till its ebbing pulse has fled, Till that hand is cold and dead, He will cling. What art, or lure, or wile That one can now beguile From the side of his master and friend ? He has gnawed his cord in twain : To the arm which strives in vain To repel him, he will strain, To the end. The tear-drop who can blame ? Though it dim the veteran's aim And each breast along the line heave the sigh. But 'twere cruel now to save ; And together in that grave, The faithful and the brave, Let them lie. Worldly joy is a sunflower, which shuts when the gleam of prosperity is over : spiritual joy is an evergreen an unfading plant. DR. BUSBY, whose figure was much tinder the common size, was one day accosted in a coffee-room by an Irish baronet of colossal height, " May I pass to my seat, giant ?" when the Doctor, politely making way, replied, " Yes, pigmy." "Oh, sir," said the baronet, " my expression* referred to the size of your intellect." " And mine to the size of yours," replied the Doctor. * From The Pilgrimage and other Poems, by the Earl of Ellesmere. 70 A rHKl.ATK'S DINNER. A PRELATE'S DINNER THE following extract i- taken from a Black-letter work. entitle! "C Secrete Wonders of Nature confin- ing adeseriptio of sundry strange tiling, semiug monstrous in o\ir eyes and Judg- ment, because we are not priuie to the reasons of them. Gathered out of diners learned authors, as well Grcekc as La- tint, sacred as prophane. By E. Feu- ton. Apres fortune espoir. Imprinted at London by Henry Biuneuieu, dwell- ing in Kuightrider-streat, at the signe of the Mermaid. Anno 1569." After giving an account of Cleopatra dissolving a large pearl, at the banquet she gave to Antony, the chapter thus proceeds : " And yet was this prodigalitie little or nothing in respect of the magnificall pompe which the Emperor Gaeta vsed in his publike banquettes : for he caused himself to be served at the borde with diversite of meate>, as fish and fleshe, in the order of the Alphabet, for all foule and fishe that he could recouer that began with A, he caused to be set on his table as a firste seruice, as Aus- iriges and suche others, practising the like in the seconde course with B, as Bustarde, Bitter, and suche lyke, the same not fayling to come immediately after ye first seruice was taken awaye ; and so .consequently eury letter was honored with a seruice till the whole Alphabet was performed, hauing in deede Cookes and Gators appointed for that purpose only. "But what stande we so longe in the searche of foraine prodigalities in ban- quettes, seeing (amongst a number of others) our time hath stirred up a mon- strous example that waye, in Aiiignon, at such time as mine author studied the laws under Einilius Farreus. Emilius Farrctus, in whose time there was a Prelate straunger, whose name I will concele, as well for the honour of his profession as to muche superstition in himselfe, who one day inuited to a banquette the nobilitie of Auiguon, as well men as women, where, for firste be- ginninge of his pompe, at the very en- trie into the halle where the banquette , pointed, Live spread vpon a curi- ous borde a greate beefe with his heade :i, The churchyard now has mea- sured me, And nails my coffin bind. An Irish journal says the following bill was presented by a farrier : " To curing your la !" said she, " I do it to pre- vent fretting myself to death on account of dear Tom." FROM CUNWALLOW CHURCHYARD pony that died yesterday, l Is." CORNWALL. As proof of the fact that (It may be read either back- girls are useful articles, and ward or forwards.) A GENTLEMAN dining with a that the world could not very Shall we all die? parsimonious man, was request- well get along without them, We shall die all. All die shall we Cape wine at dinner. " No, that if all the girls were driven Die all we shall. thank you," said he, "I never out of the world in one gene- double the Cape." ration, the boys would all go FROM THETFORD CHURCHYARD. out after them. My grandfather was buried here, My cousin Jane, and two uncles dear ; A HUMOURIST remarking upon the dispute pending be- tween the teetotallers and A MAN very much intoxi- cated was sent to prison. " Why don't you bail him My father perished with an in- flammation in the thighs, And my sister dropped down the " jolly full " bottlers of a borough, termed it the " War of the Red and White Noses.'' out?" inquired a bystander. ' Bail him out ! " exclaimed the other, " you couldn't dead in the Minories ! pump him out! " Jjut the reason why I'm here AT a ford in North Notts, interred, according to my near Ollerton, is a board with MILTON, when blind, mar- thinking, the following inscription : ried a shrew. The Duke of i"s owing to my good living and " Take notice, when this board Buckingham called her a rose. hard drinking. is under water, the river is "I am no judge of colours," If, therefore, good Christians, impassable." replied Milton, "but I dare you wish to live long, say you are right, for I feel Don't drink too much wine, the thorns daily." brandy, gin, or anything A WESTERN orator, in a late strong. swang wang address to the DIBDIN had a horse which FROM BRECON* CHURCHYARD. unterrified voters of Cornopo- lis, said that to save his coun- he called Graphit. " Very odd name!" said Oxenbury. "Not God be praised ! try, a patriot should be willing at all," responded Tom ; " when Here is Mr. Dudley, senior, to die, even if it cost him his I bought him, it was Buy-a- And Jane, his wife, also, life. It is unnecessary to say Graptiy; when I mount him, Who, whilst living, was his that " them " sentiments met it's Top-o-Graphy, and when I superior ; with a " triumphant echo " want him to go, it's Gee-ho- But see what death can do. from the assembled multitude. Graphy." GARDENING FOR MARCH. 73 GARDENING FOR MARCH.* STOVE AND GREENHOUSE. Put cuttings and seedlings of the tender and choice annuals sown last month into thumb- pots, from which they are to be shifted at a more advanced stage, and shift all plants that require repotting (leaving the most forward to the end of this or until the succeeding month), and make cuttings of Hydrangias and Fuchsias, and keep up a moist temperature of about 70 degrees for a few days, until the repotted plants acquire new roots in the fresh mould, and the cuttings strike theirs in a mild bottom heat. For almost all the plants the mould may be composed of rich maiden earth (rotten turf preferable to any other), leaf mould and sand in about equal proportions; and for the lower stratum in the pots charcoal is excellent, for it acts as a drain below, and if a charred stick be placed vertically in a pot, it becomes a conductor of moisture to the roots of the plant, which, without some such management, are so frequently in dry earth. Ground bones mixed with the charcoal have a permanently good effect. The depth of these porous substances should be a third of the whole filling for very delicate plants, such as heaths, and indeed for cuttings of almost all house plants. The temperature of the greenhouse should be much lower, though not below 40 degrees during any part of the month, and fires will be unnecessary as the mouth advances. The flowering plants should not be crowded or left unventilated, but the more or less fre- quent admission of fresh air will depend very much on the size of the house and the number of plants ; in a small and full house the necessity for admitting fresh air will be more urgent than under opposite circumstances. Plants * These excellent and familiar instructions in gardening are chiefly derived from Houl- ston and Stoneman's " Gardener," published at Is. Gd., a work which, in addition to the monthly directions, contains instructions in the general principles of gardening that will prove invaluable. that have ceased flowering should be removed from the greenhouse to the conservatory or garden frames, to make way for others about to blow. Mr. Barnes, gardener to Lady Rolle, in Devonshire, has been in the habit of using fragments of charcoal of different sizes with unsifted fibry soil and peb- bles, in pot culture of every description for upwards of twenty years, and with the most beneficial effects. He was led to use it from seeing the luxuriance of grass and weeds in a wood where the charcoal dust had got among them. He tried it first with cucumbers, and then with other* soft growing plants, and most kitchen garden plants in drills. Whether the mould should be unsifted and therefore rough, or fine, should depend, however, on the nature of the plants for which it is intended. The editor of the Gardener s Chronicle lays, down as a rule, that soft-wooded plants, such as Fuchsias and some of the Clerodendrons, should be quite fine (he assumes that they are to be first put into small pots and to be shifted into larger), in oi'der to let the roots occupy every particle of it in a few months. The compost for permanent woody plants, on the contrary, should be very rough. Observe the directions for the pre- ceding month respecting Auriculas. If they be under frames, open the sashes every fine day, keep them warm at night, water very moderately until they have opened their flowers, when even, a soft shower would be injurious to them, and shade them from much lighfc to prevent their trusses from being drawn : those (of a choice kind) which produce two hearts should be deprived of the weaker, and no buds except those in the centre should be loft : a very brilliant sun injures Polyanthuses in blow by blanching the edges of the flower protect them also. Fine Carnations that have been under frames should be put into nine or ten- inch pots, or, if their roots be not much matted, into smaller ones, from which they should be afterwards shifted; when potting them, take care that no wire worm slips through your fingers in the GARDEM!\ 7 G FOR MARCH. compost, every particle of which ought to be narrowly examined ; press the balls round their roots gen- fix them firmly in the pots. Continue to force fruits, choice vege- tables and roses, &c. FRAME*. In the early melon pit, the flowers may now require to be impreg- nated : the plants put out last month ought to be well rooted the middle of ...i mL : draw earth to the roots if chey require it. Give the same care to cucumbers as to ventilation, watering, and lining, and make fresh beds for later crops. Pro- tect all your potted plants and cuttings in frames, and give air to them when you can. Sow seeds of Dahlias; prick out two inches apart those that were sown last month, pot rooted cuttings of them under frames, and lay the tubers that are to be planted out next month into hotbeds to make them push. FLOWER GARDEN. Guard Tulips and Ranunculuses from heavy rains and frost ; the latter swell after much rain, and frost succeeding injures them ex- tremely. A top dressing of rotten compost at the commencement of the month will be serviceable to Pansies. Fork and dress all flower-beds and bor- ders, taking care not to loosen the roots of the plants, and scatter lime, salt, or soot, to destroy snails and grubs, which will however be more effectively de- stroyed by the activity of a sea gull with clipped wings, which may be en- couraged to roam about the garden at Transplant annuals and biennials sown last autumn. KITCHEN GARDEN. Seakale is now abundant for the table, by merely taking the trouble of blanching the shoots, and covering the crowns vith sifted coal ashes, sand, peat, mould, or tan ; fresh sowings or plantations of it will, however, be always necessary at this season, to keep up successions of plants, if they be wanted for forcing in the early part of the winter ; if yearling plants are used instead of seed (which is, however, more certain of success, the best plants being those which grow without removal from the places where the seed was dropped), a year is gained : for the same purpose, roots of rhubarb may no\v bo parted, and put into fresh plantations. . us and Elford's scarlet stalked rhubarb (the former much more so), if wanted for the table early, must be forced by a In ing of fermenting litter over the or by digging trendies '> :n as wide as the breadth of the alleys will allow, two and a half or three feet and filling them up with litter, of which some should also be laid on hoops over the beds. When you have obtained and cut the crop, remove the litter from the trenches, and fill them with rich mould, into which the fibres of the asparagus may strike freely. The dis- advantage of forcing asparagus severely is, that it will not bear a repetition of the same treatment for three years a serious matter with a vegetable which cannot bear forcing at all until it is four years' old, double the age sufficient for seakale and rhubarb raised from seed. A rich, deep, and sandy loam is the most suitable for those three valuable plants, and if the sc-il be naturally dif- ferent, it must be rendered appropriate, as nearly as possible, for asparagus, by combination with sea sand, loam, de- composed turf, and a large quantity of the richest manure, such as that from a slaughter-house. Seakale does not demand so much depth of rank soil as asparagus, or rhubard, which is tap- rooted. Sea- weed is an admirabl- dime nt in their food ; the method of propagating them all is almost the same. After deep trenching and blending of the manuring substances with the bot- tom layer of mould, and throughout the whole of it, form the ground (for '-> asparagus) into beds four feet wide, with alleys of two feet intervening, and to prevent any future irregularities in dressing the beds and digging the alleys, fix short stout stakes permanently at every corner of each bed, so that by- stretching the line from end to end during those operations, the beds may be kept at their original breadth : mark two drills nine inches from the edges GARDENING FOll MARCH. of the beds, and one in the centre fifteen inches from those outer ones ; drop the seed in patches (to be thinned after- wards), and cover it with an inch of earth. You may take a crop of onions and radishes (very thinly sown broad- cast) the first year. The distances for seakale and rhubarb between the drills should be two feet, and if the seed have been dropped irregularly in the drill, the plants must be thinned out to two or two feet and a half apart. Economy of seed,however, demands that it should be dropped only where actually required. " The third spring, several stalks may be gathered from each plant, and the fourth spring the plantation will be in full bearing. Excepting in the first spring after sowing, no spring dressing is required till May, after the crop has been gathered. The London market gardeners plant the seakale in rows from four to six feet apart, and every autumn, after the leaves have died down to the surface, they dig a trench between the rows, and cover the plants with soil to the depth of a foot. As the crop is gathered, tbe ridges so formed are levelled down, and a crop planted between. By this mode, the whole produce of the plant is gathered at once, every part of it being completely blanched and tender." Make plantations of artichokes, which will grow very well in a stiff soil pro- perly managed, though a rich friable loam will be far better for them, as for all productions generally. Trench, or at least dig the ground deeply ; then stretch your line, open holes fifteen inches in diameter, and twelve inches deep, three feet apart ; put two well- rooted offsets into each hole, with the tops above ground, and manure round the roots ; then draw the line for the next row four feet distant from the first, and proceed as before, digging good manure into the intervals. Plants put down early this month will produce some heads at the end of autumn. Dress the established plantations, level- ling the trenches, removing superfluous stools and blending the Utter, which had been protecting the plants, with the BoiL Jerusalem artichokes, once planted, will take care of themselves ; like po- tatoes, they have a disposition to renew their growth from the tubers left in the ground during the winter ; the best way of propagating them, however, is by planting sets of the tuber in well- manured drills, exactly as potatoes are cultivated ; any soil is good enough for them, though that which is light and sandy is the best. Once established, it is not easy to get rid of them, as any fractional part of a tuber that has an eye will grow. Do not lose a season for any of your kitchen garden seeds, most of the com- mon sorts of which may, however, be now sown in sheltered borders, if the ground _be in a good state. Turnips and radishes will require a warm bed, and though French beans may be sown against a south wall, their success is doubtful if they be put down before the end of the month at soonest. Do not omit sowing the seeds of Brussels sprouts, as well as that of the savoy, borecole, and successions of peas and beans. When you have levelled the ribbed and winter-manured ground for carrots and parsnips, sow both crops in sufficiently wide drills, leaving a greater breadth, however, before those of the latter than of the former .say sixteen inches and thin the plants to eight inches asunder : stake peas, plant and earth up cabbages, transplant cauli- flowers and lettuces, and put down cut- tings of pot herbs, and offsets of chives ; pick up and re-make gravel, and mow turf walks ; dig and rake borders. The planting of fruit-trees may be proceeded with, but the details are not given until the operations of October or November are considered, which are better months for the purpose. ]\Iulch the valuable kinds, especially if newly planted, to * keep out drought. The planting of evergreens had better be postponed till : next month : if you do plant or trans- plant, stake them well, or the wind will shake them severely. Peg down roses, and finish the pruning of them ; lay some, and take off suckers ; slip and part roots of various plants. Dig the ground in the nursery between the rows : r.AUDENING FOR MARCH. prick out seedlings, and plant cuttings and slips, and put down acorns, korm-ls, and berries of various kinds, in 1 well-prepared earth. FRUIT GARDEN. Protect the blos- soms of Peaches, &e., in the open garden from frost and sharp winds, and lay manure over their root ^ if you have not done so before. The pruning of fruit-trees ought to have been finished at or before the commencement of this month. The important operations of grafting are to be proceeded with ; its modes are very numerous, but whatever be the method, it is essential that the scion and stock be at least of the same genus, if not varieties of the same pecies. There are exceptions to this as to most general rules. The medlar and the pear will unite with the hawthorn, though the genera be different, because they happen ,to have some peculiar assimilations of organisation and tem- perament, the want of which prevents the union of other trees, as of the peach with the cherry, and of the apple with the pear ; the latter indeed may be grafted, but they do not thrive well. For small grafts of fruit-trees. Rose- trees, Pelargoniums, Camellias, &c., a cement of these ingredients is excellent: Rosin, one part ; pitch, ditto ; bees'- wax, half-part ; to be melted together, and applied with a small painting brush or a few feathers together over the thread. A man accustomed to this me- thod of grafting (no favourite with our gardeners, however) can graft one hun- dred or more stocks in a day. It is by cleft-grafting, however, that the French propagate their numerous varieties of Roses in spring : they con- sider it the most simple and certain method, if care is taken during the ummer to pinch the shoots of the Rose grafts to from four to six inches to make them branch, and to rub off most of the buds at the lower end. The French gardeners obtain Roses in two months from the time of grafting, and for stocks they use Dog-briers at least two years old, which are removed fronx the hedges and forests. Thote taken from a light soil are best, because their capillary roots are more abundant than f Dog-rose Briers raised in a stiff one, to the nursi-ry in the previous autumn, and planted closely in rows eighteen inches asunder, each stock being tied at two points to t\vo trans- verse stakes fastened to upright ones. Side-grafting may be usefully resorted to for supplying a branch in a vacancy, or, "for the sake of having diffei-eut kinds of flowers and fruits upon the same tree;" but it is better to graft on the M