KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



183 



asked what he is to do with what he cannot 

 sow, we answer, he would rather burn it than 

 let it out to beat himself. On this ground, 

 therefore, we say there is no hope of ob- 

 taining from any source Auricula, Dahlia, 

 Pansy, Ranunculus, Anemone, Geranium, 

 Fuchsia, Polyanthus, or any other seed of 

 perennials grown by name, and in collection, 

 likely to produce a good variety ; therefore 

 the wisest plan is to buy or select at once a 

 few of the very best only, and excluding all 

 others from these, save } r our own. 



The great raisers of everything did so ; 

 but even these retrograded when they got 

 more extensive in their collections, and less 

 select in the plants they saved from. A man 

 may immortalise himself by mixing a first- 

 class flower ; that is, a flower that beats all we 

 have, and maintains itself in good collections 

 for a series of years ; and yet we see hundreds 

 every year called first-class for the year they 

 are sold out, but never called so again. Let 

 us look at some of the real raisers, who, 

 though dead, are still living in their flowers. 

 Auriculas, the most difficult of all flowers to 

 improve, some of the old standards still head 

 the fancy : Grimes's Privateer, Page's Cham- 

 pion, Lee's Col. Taylor, Taylor's Glory, 

 Booth's Freedom. These stood their ground 

 before the moderns began ; yet scores of 

 seedling Auriculas have been shown and had 

 prizes, that were never again heard of. 



The principal characteristic of modern 

 flowers is their likeness to something we 

 have had ; their only difference being for 

 the worse. This applies to all the original 

 florists' flowers ; but in the Carnation, 

 Picotee, the Pink, Pansy, and some others, 

 much good has been done ; and steps in ad- 

 vance have been taken and" maintained, 

 although there have been hundreds pro- 

 nounced good that have scarcely survived a 

 season. 



There is a vast deal of trickery and fraud 

 practised by the dealers in seeds ; and we 

 caution our readers against being duped by 

 their specious advertisements. 



WHAT I LOVE. 



ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



Give me the twilight hour, 



When Nature spell-bound seems; 



And 'mid the tuneful vale, 

 Th' enraptur'd spirit dreams 

 Of some bright fay -like tale ! — 

 Give me that shadowy hour ! 



Give me the twilight hour, 

 When Philomel enchains 



The sad and riven heart 

 With sweet melodious strains, 

 That welcome balm impart ! — 

 Give me that pensive hour ! 



R. M. 



[This department of Our Jolrxal is one of its most 

 interesting, as well as valuable features. Amusement, 

 Instruction, Mental Improvement, and all the Social 

 Virtues, are here concentred. Whether the Subjects 

 introduced be on Natural History, Popular Science, 

 Domestic Economy, the Fine Arts, or Matters of General 

 Interest,— all are carefully digested, and placed before 

 our readers in the winning garb of cheerfulness, good- 

 temper, and a determination to please. Our amiable 

 correspondents enter readily into our naturally-playful 

 disposition, — hence are their contributions divested of 

 that dry formality which cannot be other than repulsive 

 to a true lover of Nature. Our columns, be it observed, 

 are not exclusive ; but open to all amiable writers.] 



Notes on the Progress of Spring ; with Remarks 

 upon Birds, Flowers, and the Modesty of Nature. 

 — The ready insertion you gave my last lengthy 

 communication, induces me again, my dear sir, to 

 send you a few of my Spring thoughts. As we 

 both take delight in the same harmless pursuits, 

 and the readers of Our Own have but one heart 

 and one mind, — apology from me there will be 

 none. What a lovely month has March been ! 

 All that you have said and sung about it has 

 already been nearly realised. The sun has shown 

 his dear loving head every day ; and his sweet 

 face has shone gloriously as the face of an angel. 

 Magical has been the consequence. From the 

 tiniest flower to the largest tree, the influence has 

 been felt and acknowledged. 0, thou Great 

 Creator, — the earth is full of Thy Works ! End- 

 less is Thy goodness towards us children of men! 

 I have almost lived in the garden during the past 

 month. I have had so much to do, — sowing, plant- 

 ing, tieing up, cutting, trimming, beautifying, and 

 arranging ! Have I told you that I wear a garden 

 tunic? [No.] I do though. [That's right.] 

 Well ; my labors give good promise of being 

 amply rewarded ; and when my eye falls upon my 

 pets, all looking so lovely in their innocence, I am 

 more than recompensed. As for the fruit trees, — 

 currant, gooseberry, peach, nectarine, pear, &c, 

 they positively tremble beneath the weight of their 

 sweet drapery and blossoms. How green and gay 

 they look in their Spring dresses ; and yet how 

 modest ! [This remark of yours, Honeysuckle, 

 charms us. Yes ; it is the " modesty " of Nature 

 that is so attractive. Let her ornaments be never 

 so beautiful, — never so varied, yet are they all 

 " set " in such pure, perfect taste, that the heart 

 is fairly fascinated with their attractions. It is an 

 observation of this, that makes our pen so bitter 

 against the prevailing usages of society. To look 

 at the dresses of our men and women, — especially 

 at this season of approaching gaiety, one would 

 imagine their wearers to be insane. And a very 

 charitable excuse would this be for their folly. 

 The word " modesty " is all but unknown amongst 

 us, in its true meaning. We talk about it, — insist 

 loudly upon its excellences, and rail extravagantly 

 when any glaring case of immodesty is dragged 

 into the light, — but alas ! this proceeds not 1'rom 

 any hatred of vice. iSo. People find it convenient 

 and profitable to 



" Assume a virtue, if they have it not ; " 



and they pass themselves off for paragons of pro- 

 priety, whilst a single glance at their apparel and 

 general conduct proves them to be counterfeit. 

 With all due regard for the fair sex, — our own sex 



