JUNE. 131 



with his adventures on shore. Mixed with their merriment came 

 the lowing of the cow, and the occasional crowing of the few cocks 

 left in the hen-coops ; for strange as it may appear, animals seem 

 perfectly aware of their vicinity to land, when after a long voyage 

 they approach it, although it is quite unseen by them. 



As the night grew, the breeze freshened, and long before my 

 watch was over, the ship was pushing the water out of her way at a 

 rapid rate, and leaving behind her a long broad white pathway or 

 wake, on which the moon shone with peculiar brilliancy. And on 

 she continued steadily to speed from that time until she finally closed 

 her wings off the East India Docks, just in time for me to go ashore, 

 start off for the Old Inn Yard, jump on the coach as it was coming 

 out of the gateway, and reach my home on the Saturday night. On 

 the morrow, as I had anticipated the week before, I sat with my arms 

 on the window-sill, a glowing sunshiny morning, with a sweet-brier 

 hedge under my nose, the air filled with the song of the lark and 

 other birds, and with the rich fragrance of the hay-fields and wild 

 flowers. Is it a wonder that I hummed to myself, 



" Ah, what is sweeter than to find 



Our hearts at ease, our perils past, 



When anxious long, the lightened mind 



Lays down its load of care at last ! 



When, tired with toil on land and deep. 



Again we tread the welcome floor 

 Of our own home, and sink to sleep 



On the long wished-for bed once more." 



No ; in such an hour all past perils and privations are forgotten, and 

 we can say in the language of the French air, 



" Where can we be happier than in the bosom of our families?" 



VINES IN POTS. 



The Huddersfield Horticultural Society, with a view to promote the 

 cultivation of Vines in pots, offer prizes for their production. Some 

 parties in this neighbourhood have placed pots to the base of fruiting 

 branches of last year's wood ; the shoot strikes root into the pot, 

 and derives its support not only from its own roots, but from the 

 old Vine, where they will remain until the day of exhibition ; they 

 will then be separated from the parent plant, and shewn as Vines 

 grown in pots. Perhaps some of your readers will say whether this 

 is the meaning of growing Vines in pots ; if so, I have no hesitation 

 in stating that I could shew a fruiting Vine at our next exhibition 



grown in a coffee-pot. 



^ ^ J. Riley. 



