feeding only on the castor-oil plant. Mr. Piddington had, for some time previous to Sir William Reid's arrival in Malta, been striving to convey this silkworm to the Agricultural Society of Turin, as they wish to introduce it into Italy; it will be his first duty, if he succeeds, to send it there.-W. Man's Contempt for Nature.-I rejoice, my dear Sir, to see you so constantly inveighing against mankind for the apathy they show for all that is good, amiable, and natural. I have just been reading a book, called "Friends in Council,' and in it I find the following, which please register at once in the columns of OUR OWN :-At present many a man who is versed in Greek metre, and afterwards full of law reports, is childishly ignorant of nature. Let him walk with an intelligent child for a morning, and the child will ask him a hundred questions about sun, moon, stars, plants, birds, building, farming, and the like, to which he can give very sorry answers, if any; or, at the best, he has but a second hand acquaintance with nature. Man's conceits are his main knowledge. Whereas, if he had any pursuit connected with nature, all nature is in harmony with it, is brought into his presence by it; and it affords at once cultivation and recreation.-These remarks are very pithy, and the force of them appeals to us daily, even amongst our own acquaintance. The world owe you, Forestiera," "Honeysuckle," "Puss," "Bombyx Atlas,"-indeed all your interesting, kind-hearted correspondents, obligations they never can repay. They may not be aware of it. More's the pity! It is really distressing to note what ill-use people make of the time, the very short time allotted them in this world. In that which is most beautiful, they take no delight. Flowers, birds, trees, blossoms, fresh air, and country pleasures-these are ignoble in their sight-fit only for “vulgar people," who can find nothing better to amuse them. Oh, my dear Sir, how one does regret to see so much apathy and ignorance; especially at this season, when all nature is clothed in her loveliest of lovely robes! I enjoy so much all you say about this; and can enter with the sweetest feelings of sympathy into the many aspirations (in praise of all that is good and lovely) that are breathed in the genial pages of OUR JOURNAL, by all who know its value! I should send you many of my observations; but really you so abound in amiable correspondents, that I am reluctant to put myself forward. I read, listen, feel, admire, sympathise, and delight in all that is said-preferring this to being a constant speaker myself.-LILY OF THE VALLEY. [We rarely venture to differ in sentiment with any of our choice correspondents; but really, fair Maid of Kent, you must not talk in this strain. We cannot afford to let you off thus easily. Your heart and your pen must become public property; therefore, if you please, send us 'something "anything from you will be most truly welcome-every month. In a cause like ours, you are a host.] Cultivation of the Willow.-There are many species of willow. Linnæus enumerates thirty. Some of these attain the size of timber trees; but by far the greater portion of them are small shrubs, and only fit to cultivate in osier grounds. They are naturally found in damp situations, by the side of rivers, lakes, and brooks; and in such places are successfully and profitably cultivated-as no other tree, the alder excepted, would grow in such situations. One species of this tree (the Huntingdon willow) will, however, prosper in situations perfectly dry, and even elevated, and attains the size of a lofty tree. Though the wood of the willow is weak and light, yet it has the property of sharpening knives equal to a whetstone. The flowers of several sorts have agreeable scents, particularly the Persian willow, from which may be distilled a water delightfully fragrant. There is a species of willow in Germany, from which the natives extract a kind of cotton, which they make into waddings, and many other things. Willows have some claim as ornamental trees; and when grown old, there is something very striking in their hoary and reverend appearance. No tree in all the grove but hath its charms, Though each its hue peculiar; paler some, And of a wannish grey-the willow such. The most beautiful weeping willows ever known in England, were the two in Pope's gardens at Twickenham; they were remarkable for their bulk, and the extent of their branches, spreading so as to form two large groves. At Lichfield, in Staffordshire, where Dr. Johnson was born, near to the cathedral, may still be seen a very large weeping willow, planted by that celebrated writer in his youth. Willows of the osier kind (which are considered the most profitable for cultivation) are all propagated by cuttings, which root freely; and plantations of them may be formed in the following manner:-They are generally planted by being pushed into the ground by the hand, which must be well defended by a piece of strong leather; but sometimes, in pushing in the cutting, the bark is pressed off. In order to prevent this, it is better to use a common dibble shod with iron, and have them planted by it like ordinary planting in the nursery. Where the ground is anywhere hard, or where there is danger in pushing off the bark, they should be planted so as to leave five or six inches above ground, that, when it may become necessary, the top of the stools may be cut off in order to renovate them. This may be in, ten or twelve years after planting; and the practice will be found of considerable advantage. It is a matter of indifference whether the cuttings be planted in a sloping or in a perpendicular position.-WILLIAM R. Damp fatal to Bees.-A few golden rules must be observed to secure success in bee keeping; one is, that damp is one of the greatest enemies of bees. A damp floor-board ought to be removed immediately, and replaced by a dry one, to which a light hive ought to be tied down. When bees lie on the floor-board 24 hours, they must be dead, and should be removed; and if the bottom of the combs is very moist and mouldy, I would advise turning up the hive in a warm, sheltered place, and with a very sharp knife cutting off the mouldy part; employing that right hand of the practical apiarian, a puff of tobacco-smoke, among the combs. Feed, if possible, at the top; it will raise the spirits of the workers, and stimulate the queen, if she is safe; if she is not, the life of the hive is gone, and its days are numbered. The numerous complaints of the loss of hives during the last unfavorable season, seem to indicate a misapprehension of the physiology and habits of the bee, leading to the idea that bees are torpid during winter; whereas, they consume food, and maintain a temperature of about 80°. To insure their safety, I weigh my lives in September; if they have more food than sufficient to carry them through the winter, they are welcome to it,-they have worked for it, and it is their share of the partnership; if they are too light, as I do not expect profit without outlay, I supply food as rapidly as possible. The quantity necessary for winter store, varies greatly in different localities, even of England. In Kent, 10lbs. are considered sufficient; in Northumberland, they are not safe with less than 20lbs. This is the plan I adopt, and I never lose a hive nor feed during winter; but should I find a hive light in February, I would pour a pound or two of syrup into the side combs.-C. H. The Climate of Russia.-In Russia, one is perpetually reminded of two things-the absence of the sun, and the presence of power. Both are equally important, alike in their social and external effects; perhaps the last is the necessary consequence of the first. A very simple reason makes, and ever must make, the Russians desirous above all things of escaping out of their own country: it is the severity of its climate. Those who live in a country where the snow covers the ground for eight months in the year, and the long nights of winter are illuminated by the cold light of the aurora borealis, long with inexpressible ardor for the genial warmth and 'sunny hills of the south, where the skies are ever blue, the sun ever shines, and nature teems with the luxuriance of tropical vegetation. The shores of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, the dome of St. Sophia, are not only the secret dream of ambition to every Russian, but the undoubted object of their expedition. "I do not wish for Constantinople," said Nicholas; my empire is already too large; but I know that I, or my successors, must have it: you might as well arrest a stream in its descent from a mountain, as the Russians in their advance to the Hellespont." The habits which necessity has given to them permanently fit, and ever must fit them for foreign conquest. Their life is a continual conflict with the severity of nature; actual warfare, as to the Roman soldiers, is felt chiefly as a relaxation from the rude but invigo rating discipline of peace. What are the hardships of a campaign to men who never knew the luxury of beds; whose food is black bread and water; who sleep ever on the hard bench or cold ground, and know no pleasure save the simple ones of nature, and the exciting ones of conquest? When the north ceases to communicate vigor to the frame, hardihood to the habits, and ambition to the soul, Russia will cease to be a conquering country; but not till then.-ALISON. An Insect Thief-On my return home, after an absence of six weeks, I attempted in vain to introduce a key into the lock of the table-drawer in my study, in order to open it. Finding there was an obstruction, I introduced a sharp pick, and, to my astonishment, drew out a number of small gravel stones, and lumps of dirt, more than sufficient to fill a tea-spoon. At first it was supposed that these had been intentionally pushed in by some one mischievously disposed; and it was not till a carpenter had come and forced the drawer open, and taken the lock off (which was necessary, in order thoroughly to clean it), that the real cause of the annoyance became apparent. It was then discovered that some insect had entered by the keyhole, on different occasions, during the time, as was supposed, of the window of the room being open, and constructed its nest within the wards of the lock; a considerable portion of the to all appearance nearly full grown. Not more nest being still entire, and in it a solitary larva, than one larva was observable; if there was a second, it must have been so small as to escape notice; neither was there any store of food found with it; but probably this, whatever it may have been originally, had already been devoured. Since writing the above, Professor Henslow has sent me the particulars of a very similar case, that occurred not long since in his parish of Hitcham, in Suffolk. He says: "The padlock upon the door of our village coal-house was brought to me, in consequence of the key having been broken in an effort to overcome the resistance opposed by some sand, which it was believed at the time had been inserted by a mischievous boy. Upon opening the padlock, it was found the obstruction had been occasioned by a hymenopterous insect, apparently some species of a bee, having selected this retreat for the construction of its nest. The sand was intermixed with a large quantity of pollen, which the bee had laid up in store."-L. JENYNS. The Artificial Propagation of Salmon.—As several reports have been circulated in the newspapers, says the "Manchester Guardian," to the effect that the attempt to propagate salmon by artificial means in Ireland and elsewhere had extensively failed, we think it right to state that we have obtained some information from the very best sources, which convinces us that these reports are wholly unfounded. On the contrary, we are glad to say the success attending the first attempt at propagation on an extensive scale, in this country, has surpassed our most sanguine expectations. It is reported from Perth, where about 350,000 ova are nearly hatched, that everything has progressed most satisfactorily: the whole of the ova, with a trifling exception, seem to be in a lively state. The only difficulty appears to be, that of providing sufficient ponds for such a multitude of fishes when they are able to swim, as the feeding ponds already provided will not contain a tenth of them; and such is the number, there appears no other way, after having hatched and protected them for 20 weeks, but that of committing them to the river to take their chance. At Galway, about 260,000 ova are in a similarly prosperous condition. Propagation on a smaller scale has also been carried in effect on the Rivers Tweed, Loughard, the Foyle, the Bush, the Blackwater, the Moy, the Dee, near Chester, and other places. By the use of spring water, which is several degrees warmer in the winter season than river water, the spawn has been entirely protected from injury by frost during the past severe winter; and of 2,500 eggs which were sent from Galway to Basle, a distance of nearly 1,000 miles, M. Lex states that a considerable portion are good, and in a state likely to live.-R. T. Early Rising-Anything, my dear Sir, that can assist in rousing people from their beds, whilst "the dew is on the grass," will I know find favor with you. Let us then listen to the voice of the thrush, now so sweetly eloquent:- A throstle sung to his lady love,— The rosy blush of summer's morn Get up! get up! the flowers so fair Oh! come, my love, make haste, I pray, Then, dearest, give this hour to love : grove, My heart beats high in rhapsody- Thy voice is making melody, And mine is lost in sighing."-J. E. T. Magnitude of the Planet" Saturn."-Of all the planets, either of this or the terrestrial group, that which presents to the astronomical observer the most astonishing spectacle is Saturn-a stupendous globe-nearly 900 times greater in volume than the earth, surrounded by two, at least, and probably by several, thin flat rings of solid matter, outside which revolve a group of eight moons; this entire system moving with a common motion, so exactly maintained that no one part falls upon, overtakes, or is overtaken by another in their course. around the sun. Such is the Saturnian system, the centre body of which was known as a planet to the ancients, the annular appendages and satellites being the discovery of modern times. The distance of Saturn from the sun is so enormous, Dr. Lardner tells us, that if the whole earth's orbit, measuring nearly 200,000,000 of miles in diameter, were filled with a sun, that sun, seen from Saturn, would be only about 24 times greater in its apparent diameter than is the actual sun seen from the earth. A cannon ball, moving at 500 miles an hour, would take 91,000 years; and a railway train, moving 50 miles an hour, would take 910,000 years to move from Saturn to the sun. Light, which moves at the rate of nearly 200,000 miles per second, takes five days eighteen hours and two minutes to move over the same distance. Yet to this distance, solar gravitation transmits its mandates; and is obeyed with the utmost promptitude and the most unerring precision. Taking the diameter of Saturn's orbit at 1,800,000,000 of miles, its circumference is 5,650,000,000 of miles, over which it moves in 10,759 days. Its daily motion is therefore 525,140 miles, and its hourly motion is 21,880 miles. All this seems beyond human comprehension !—Puss. Climbing Plants of South America.-The climbers of the South American forests are particularly remarkable; as much for the beauty of their foliage as for their flowers. Often two or three climb over one tree or shrub, mingling in the most perplexing though elegant confusion, so that it is a matter of much difficulty to decide to which plant the different blossoms belong; and should they be high up, it is impossible. A delicate white and a fine yellow convolvulus were now plentiful. The purple and yellow trumpet flowers were still amongst the most showy; and some noble thick-leaved climbers mounted to the tops of trees, and sent aloft bright spikes of scarlet flowers. Among the plants not in flower, the twin-leaved bauhinias of various forms were most frequently noticed. The species are very numerous. Some are shrubs, others delicate climbers; and one is the most extraordinary among the extraordinary climbers of the forest, its broad flattened woody stems being twisted in and out in a most singular manner, mounting to the summits of the very loftiest trees, and hanging from their branches in gigantic festoons, many hundred feet in length. A handsome pink and white clusia was now abundant, with large shining leaves, and flowers having a powerful and very fragrant odor. It grows not only as a good-sized tree out of the ground, but is also parasitical on almost every other forest-tree. Its large, round, whitish fruits are called cebola braha (wild onion), by the natives, and are much eaten by birds, which thus probably convey the seed into the forks of lofty trees, where it seems most readily to take root in any little decaying vegetable matter, refuse of birds, &c., that may be there; and when it arrives at such a size as to require more nourishment than it can there obtain, it sends down long shoots to the ground, which take fresh root, and grow into a new stem. At Nazaré there is a tree by the road-side, out of the fork of which grows a large mucuja palm, and on the palm are three or four young clusia trees, which no doubt have or will have orchidea and ferns again growing upon them. A few forest-trees were also in blossom; and it was truly a magnificent sight to behold a great tree covered with one mass of flowers, and to hear the deep distant hum of millions of insects gathered together to enjoy the honeyed feast. But all is out of reach of the curious and admiring naturalist. It is only over the outside of the great dome of verdure, exposed to the vertical rays of the sun, that flowers are produced; and on many of these trees there is not a single blossom to be found at a less height than a hundred feet. The whole glory of these forests could only be seen by sailing gently in a balloon over the undulating flowery surface above; such a treat is perhaps reserved for the traveller of a future age.-R. WALLACE. thousands as well as myself have made a pilgrimage to see, as is well-known, is not the veritable one (it is a pity to know it); but the one that was unrooted in George III.'s time in all probability was that tree of some ghostly legend in the time of our Shakspeare, and which, owing to the merry wives' conceit, had preserved its identity almost to our own times. Nor can we forget the Mulberry planted by the bard's own hands; and it takes a vast effort to forgive its ruthless destroyer. How much pure gratification has he deprived not Englishmen alone of, but the cultivated and refined of all nations! The circumstances alluded to are of national interest; but how many thousand commemorative trees exist that are of family notoriety only? and to A Woman well-dressed. A woman well such most deeply interesting. A knoll upon an and tastefully dressed, is a picture of loveliness estate, where I have recently been employed, is that we delight to gaze on. We are not often called "Bunker's Hill;" and upon comparing the gratified in this way; for our women so ape the age of the Elm trees, with the date of the engage manners of the sterner sex, that very little good ment, I find a very near approach to years and taste exists among them collectively. A few annual layers of woody accumulation. I will give days since, chance found us walking with a one more instance of a family nature that I was sensible woman, well-dressed,-a fact worthy of connected with. A friend of mine had been record. A beautiful silk mantilla was thrown married to his wife fifty years; there was a gatherlightly over her fair shoulders; and it pleased using of sons and daughters and grandchildren, and so very much, that we took the liberty (sanctioned only by our being a public man) of inquiring the name of it,-if indeed it had a name assigned it, as most of these articles of vertu have. A little harmless flattery on our part drew forth a confession. Our companion was wearing an "Imperial Flora Mantilla," the last new fashion at the Palace, and manufactured by Messrs. Nicholson and Co., of Regent Street. There was a very beautiful group of flowers on it, in velvet; and the effect was purely chaste. Messrs. Nicholson being near neighbors of ours, we have since had a private peep at these mantillas, made of every variety of color and pattern. The latter are woven on the silk,- -a very great advantage in every point of view; and the cost compared with their beauty is very inexpensive.-W. K. Commemorative Trees.-In England there yet exist trees that point back to the manners of our ancestors such as the Gospel Oaks, under whose shade our forefathers were accustomed to assemble to hear sermons; in the same manner as at a later date our markets and other crosses were the sites selected for religious instruction to the assembled crowd. It was at Paul's Cross that one of the brightest ornaments of our church had nearly lost his life by the exposure to rain and wind, and having recovered from his illness, in the gratitude of his heart offered to do anything which his careful nurse and landlady demanded of him, in return for her unwearied attention. She said "marry my daughter," and the divine obeyed the mandate. This anecdote is merely introduced to show, at how recent a date preaching in the open air was common in England; and as we may suppose that in country places the practice of preaching under trees might have continued long after it had been discontinued in towns, there seems every probability that those venerable remains, joying in the distinction of Gospel Oaks, and in the lusty vigor of their manhood so to speak, were the identical trees selected; thus traditionally confirming a curious phase of our history. Herne's Oak, that each one assisted to plant an Oak in such a manner that the whole should ultimately form a striking group in after years. Each of these trees were known to persons on the estate by the names of the persons who assisted to plant them. It has occurred to me, that persons having gardens might make them of deeper interest by the power of association. By way of illustration, I will relate what has occurred to myself. Some years ago, I was conversing with the late Sir William Garrow upon the delight I felt in possessing any plant that was mentioned by Virgil; he said he could add to my collection by giving me a plant of Bay that was taken from his tomb. I possess the plant yet, and it slightly differs from that in common cultivation. Napoleon Willows will become a fashion again, if the President maintains his friendly position with England; for everything relating to his uncle is with a large party in France at present in high estimation. The late poet laureate Wordsworth, the author of that noble poem, "The Excursion," and the "Prelude," not enough known-the author of the lyrical ballads-sent me a Laurel from Rydal Mount, which I need not say I cherish. More recently, Sir Robert Inglis, with great kindness, gave me plants brought from the Holy Land-indeed from the garden at Nazareth. I mention these as proofs of the additional interest a garden may be made to afford, and how it may be made conducive to all that is ennobling and good. — WILLIAM MASTERS, Canterbury. Nature of the Atmosphere.-Air is the medium of sound. This arises from its elasticity; for, if the air were not elastic, there would be no sound. If there were no air, the earth would be as dark as night, cold as winter, and silent as the grave. By means of a musical snuff-box, this latter proposition may be readily shown; for, upon putting it under the receiver of an air-pump, the sound will gradually die away as we exhaust the vessel, and return as we readmit the air.-Joux B. TRANGE AND UNACCOUNTABLE ticularly INNOCENCE. Our correspondents are quite just in their remarks. The world's extreme opinions upon the depravity of the human heart are repulsive. That there is much truth-alas! too much truth-in the fact of mankind being no better than they should be, we readily grant; but to banish the very head and chief of the blessed Virtues from amongst us, and to deny its existence, is monstrous. We have, in our public vocation, had repeated opportunities for forming a correct opinion on this matter. Our natural dispo HABITS OF LIFE WHICH RULE THIS LOWER WORLD! In having so often called its in-sition can be no secret now. For more than habitants "mad," we feel we thirty years has our pen been vigorously at have committed no offence- work for the benefit of our race. We have unless indeed we admit that ever advocated kindness and benevolence, "the greater the truth, the greater the and sought unweariedly to bring about a libel." Then must we plead guilty. more chaste feeling of brotherly and sisterly love amongst us. At first we were ridiculed We are not going to-day to be tedious. The lovely season and our fresh feelings of happiness, induced by its genial influences, alike forbid it. The longest sermons are not always the best, nor is the largest nut usually the sweetest. The English language too is expressive, and much may be saidwell said-in few words. scorned-derided. We were deemed egotistical, and fond of pushing ourself forward in society. We bore all this manfully; bowed our shoulder to the burden, and persevered. By-and-by-continuing the same old story, singing the same old song-we began to make some little impression upon the world. It was decided that we were enthusiastic, but not egotistical-desirous of mixing in the best society, but not fond of pushing ourself forward. This ended as we wished it to end The correspondence wo receive in connection with OUR JOURNAL is now daily becoming intensely interesting. Our ideas suggest others; and questions are being continually put to us touching certain things in which the public may be said to be deeply in our motives being more universally apconcerned. It gives us the most unfeigned preciated. We are now a welcome guestpleasure to agitate these matters, and to proud, harmlessly proud are we to confess it discuss them temperately, kindly, and (we-in all parts of the country. We move hope) profitably. We have but one object freely, converse freely, become to gain, and that is (as will be seen by an amongst the many families we visit, and prove article in another part of our JOURNAL) the that innocence does exist - both amongst establishing of a love for TRUTH. Disre- them, and in our own heart. garding this, as we all do, and setting up false principles of action, we come very wide of the mark at which we profess to aim. We are entreated to offer a few remarks on the subjects indicated at the head of this paper, and to put in a plea for INNOCENCE, which, both in the pulpit and by society generally, is denied to have any existence amongst us. Bad as mankind is, surely it has not reached this climax. The heart has some soft place in it! We confess our undisguised horror at the dogmas and superstition which obtain in society touching the Virtues, and more par It is really sad to observe the inroads made on the peace and well-being of society by what are called "religious opinions." Those who should be the best of friends are, by mere quibbling on words, converted into the bitterest of enemies. Sectarianism and bigotry are sad foes to pietyfoul blots on the fair face of virtue. We grasp at shadows, and miss the substance; incontinently cheating ourselves of the unalloyed happiness so completely within our reach. VOL V.-17. one Serious indeed is the responsibility attaching to those who preach up the innate depravity of the human heart, without qualifying their observations, and defining the true meaning of their remarks. The innocence of childhood is a favorite theme with us. For hours, days, weeks, months, could we associate with children, whose company we dearly love. Infinitely great, too, would be our pleasure to superintend their early education, and guard their expanding minds from the early contamination so little heeded by parents generally. The subject is one upon which we could discourse for ever, and find arguments irresistible for all we could say in condemnation of our modern system of education.* We quite agree in sentiment with the good old Isaac Barrow, in whose printed sermons we thus read:-" We may accuse our nature, but it is our pleasure; we may pretend weakness, but it is wilfulness which is the guilty cause of our many misdemeanors; for, by God's help, we may be as good as we please-if we will only please to S |