376 



Gardening. — Germination of Plants on Rocks. Vol. VI. 



cation with the lower pot. Now, I calculate 

 this plan of a hive will prove belter adapted 

 for the health of the bees than many highly- 

 finished domes of expensive workmanship, 

 which, I have reason to know, the bees do 

 not valne a cent ; for, after being at the ex- 

 pense of erectinfj one which I thoiiglit would 

 win the heart of the most fastidious bee that 

 was ever created, and placino- in it a swarm 

 of the present season, lliey all immediately 

 left it ; but being determined that they should 

 stay, nolens volens, they were returned, 

 merely to give them another opportunity to 

 show that they were determined to have their 

 own way : after this they were placed in a 

 common home-made box, where tiiey are in- 

 dustrious and happy. A person who has fif- 

 teen hives told me this day, that his strongest 

 swarm inhabits the half of a salt-meat barrel, 

 the only substitute for a hive which he pos- 

 sessed at the swarming of the bees, but 

 which they have since filled with the choicest 

 honey. Now, as I have taken no patent for 

 t\\e flower -jmt hive, it is at the acceptance of 

 any of your numerous readers, only request- 

 ing those who make trial of it, to afford the 

 Editor the means of judging of the flavour of 

 the honey made in an earthen pot instead of 

 a box, which I have a notion will be found 

 very superior. John Starkey. 



June 19, 1842. 



Gardening. 



There is not in life a more delightful oc- 

 cupation than gardening. To breathe the 

 pure mild air of spring, to prepare the beds 

 and borders for vegetables, plants and flow- 

 ers; to sow the seed, and set out the various 

 slips and cuttings, arranging every thing 

 with order and taste; to look earnestly for 

 the first leaf and bud and flower ; to watch 

 their growth, to enjoy their beauty and fra- 

 grance, to show them to one's friends, to 

 talk about them, to have them admired, and 

 to know that all is the work of your hands 

 or directions — this is an enjoyment, scarcely 

 to be equalled, and accessible, in this coun- 

 try, to all. Let none then fail to secure it. 

 We always thought it evidence of a good 

 wife, to see her often in the garden, and 

 fond of inspecting and attending to its pro- 

 per cultivation and management. Depend 

 upon it she is a blessing to her husband and 

 family. We would advise our young friends, 

 who want to marry, and they are, in truth, 

 a goodly number, to avoid those young la- 

 dies who seem to have an aversion to the 

 primitive, useful, and beautiful art of gar- 

 dening. We never knew a lady or gentle- 

 man, who was extremely fond of flowers 

 and shrubbery, who had not a warm heart 

 and generous disposition. — Miss. Guard. 



Germination of Plants on Rocks. 



VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. 



The family of lichens seem, as it were, 

 chained to the rocks on which they grow, 

 and which they labour to improve for the 

 benefit of others. The mode in which they 

 prepare Lfae sterile rock for the reception of 

 plants which require a higher kind of nou- 

 rishment is most remarkable ; they may be 

 said to dig themselves graves for the recep- 

 tion of their remains, when death and decay 

 would otherwise dissipate tliem to the winds: 

 for, whilst living, these lichens form a con- 

 siderable quantity of oxalic acid — which is a 

 peculiar compound of carbon and oxygen — 

 and this acts chemically upon the rock, es- 

 pecially if limestone, forming a hollow which 

 retains the particles of the abraded structure, 

 when their term of existence is expired. 

 Then the moisture, which is caught in these 

 hollows, finds its way into the cracks and 

 crevices of the rocks, and when frozen, rends 

 them by its expansion into minute fragments, 

 and thus adds more and more to the formation 

 of soil — successive generations of these con- 

 tinuously and indefaligably perform their du- 

 ties, until at length, as the result of their 

 accumulated toil, the barren and insulated 

 rock, or the pumiced lava of the volcano be- 

 come converted into fruitful fields ; for where 

 Flora's standard has once been planted on 

 tracts thus claimed, they are soon colonized 

 by plants of other tribes; the mosses, ferns, 

 and other cryptogamia follow, and at last, by 

 the growth and decay of successive genera- 

 tions of plants, a sufficient thickness of soil 

 is produced for the nourishment of luxuriant 

 herbage, and the support of the lofty forest- 

 tree. And thus, by the labours of these ap- 

 parently very insignificant plants, men are 

 enabled to reap a harvest, and to supply 

 themselves with timber from the forests ; and 

 cattle increase and multiply on what was 

 originally a naked and desolate rock! One 

 of nature's truest delineators thus described 

 such a process, as it occurs on ruined build- 

 ings : — 



" Seeds, to our eyes invisible, will find 

 On the rude rock I he bed that fits their kind ; 

 Then, in the nifr^c^d soil they safely dwell. 

 Till .-ihowcrs and snows the subtle atoms swell. 

 And spri'ud ih' endiiriii}.' foliayp. Then we trace 

 The freckled fiower upon the fiinty vase; 

 These all increase, till, in unnoted years, 

 The stony tower as grey with age appears, 

 With coats of vegetation thinly spread 

 Coat above coat, the living on the dead. 

 These then dissolve to dust, and make a way 

 For bolder foliaiie, nursed by their decay. 

 The lonp indiiring fi^rns in time will ail 

 Die, and (l( pose ibeir dust upon the wall. 

 Where the win:,''d seed may rest — till many a flower 

 Shows Flora's triumph o'er the falling tower." 



Crabbe. 



To stop the effusion of blood, apply cob- 

 webs, and bind them on the wound. 



