118 THE FLORIST. 



October, but will hang on the trees without injury till the end of 

 November. The White Muscadine can be eaten the third week in 

 September, and the berries are much larger than when grown on the 

 uncovered w^all. 



Although I grow several sorts of Vines, 1 must recommend amateurs 

 to cultivate the Black Hamburgh only ; because the size and flavour of 

 its berries, the fine appearance of its bunches, its hardiness in setting 

 its fruit, and its comparative exemption from the disease which cracks 

 to pieces the immature berries of other Vines, render its cultivation the 

 most profitable and satisfactory. I may as well mention, however, 

 that a Grape called the White Tokay, which is very late and not in 

 perfection till the middle of November, has with me been entirely free 

 from the Grape disease, as the newspapers say it has remained in 

 Hungary ; whilst that plague of the wine-growers has ravaged the 

 Vineyards of other countries. 



T. E. P. 



ROSES AND THORNS. 



Calm as the placid ocean, 



Ere billows learned to roll, — 

 Pure as the meek devotion 



Of an untainted soul ; — 

 So calm, so pure, the maiden's breast, 



In life's auspicious morn ; — 

 The rosebud's moss -enveloped crest 



Without a thorn. 



Those calm blue waves are driven 



In heaps by tempests dark : 

 Rent is the sail, and riven 



The tall and stately bark. 

 So love distracts the maiden's breast, 



As year succeeds to year ; — 

 The full-blown Rose is now confest, — 



Thorns, too, appear. 



Hushed is the loud commotion 



That late disturbed the wave ; 

 But, 'neath that slumbering ocean 



The seaman finds a grave. 

 Tomb of fond hopes — the maiden's breast 



Subsides to calm again: — 

 The bright Rose doffs his gaudy vest, 



The thorns remain. 



Well shows that mighty ocean — 



In calm, in joy, in strife, 

 In every changeful motion — 



The type of human life. 

 Betimes, fair maiden, school thy breast 



For mingled joys and woes ! — 

 Think ever that a thorn doth rest 



Beneath the Rose ! 



A. S. H. 



