KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



317 



would just now beg to call attention. Most per- 

 sons during the summer season place a large num- 

 ber of their greenhouse plants in the open air, so 

 as to give them the benefit of exposure. But I 

 may be allowed to say, the benefit is very question- 

 able, if it can be secured only in such conditions 

 as have recently come under my notice. Fancy a 

 number of Heaths, Pelargonium.-*, Fuchsias, and 

 such like, placed on a lawn for the benefit of sum- 

 mer exposure; one-half nearly with their pots in 

 an inclined position, others standing so closely to- 

 gether that no air can penetrate between them : 

 and not only so, but embracing each other so af- 

 fectionately that whenever they come to be sepa- 

 rated, a fearful mutilation of branches must ensue. 

 Add to this, a good number of pots with so much 

 stagnant water on the surface of the soil, that one 

 might well imagine they were intended for the 

 growth of aquatics ; and you have a good idea of 

 what others besides myself perhaps have seen in 

 connection with the greenhouse plants. Now these 

 are " little things," obvious enough to everybody ; 

 and yet how often do we see inattention to them ! 

 Even such a simple matter as setting a flowerpot 

 level, though it is one of the first lessons the ap- 

 prentice learns when he enters the garden, is 

 second to none in importance ; for if the pot is 

 half-way lying down, as we often see it, it is clear 

 that when watered, half the roots will be drowned; 

 and the remaining half getting no water at all, 

 will be dried up. And then in a wet season, how 

 frequently may we notice water standing on the 

 surface of the soil in the pots ! What is the 

 cause ? Why, simply that the worms coming up 

 out of the ground have stopped the drainage. The 

 only way to avert the evil, is, to look over the 

 plants frequently, and see that this is all right. 

 If such " little things " as these were carefully at- 

 tended to, we should not only see plants present a 

 much better appearance during the time of their 

 exposure, but hear fewer complaints of their being 

 injured or killed on removal to their winter quar- 

 ters. — R. A. 



Extraordinary and Disgraceful Superstition. 

 — A few days since, a gentleman of this neighbor- 

 hood (by profession a surgeon, and with whom 

 I am well acquainted,) related the following dis- 

 graceful and superstitious conduct of a person 

 residing near ; which, did I not know both parties 

 well, I should have been unable to credit. " He 

 had- been for some time attending a patient 

 (a boy) who was suffering from scrofula in his 

 arm, during which time the patient was progress- 

 ing favorably. One day, on visiting his house, 

 he found only the father at home ; and asking how 

 the boy was, received for answer ' that he was 

 getting better.' As the boy ought to have been 

 at home, he was induced to ask where he was. 

 He was told that he had gone to a person, a re- 

 spectable farmer residing in this neighborhood, 

 who was going to cure him in a few days, and 

 had given him a small package to be worn as a 

 charm round his neck !' " My friend asked to 

 see it. Accordingly, the small parcel (which this 

 sapient individual had given the boy to wear) was 

 brought. The father was unacquainted with its 

 contents ; so the surgeon, with the father's per- 

 mission, proceeded to open it. It then appeared, 

 that it contained, in the outer parcel, several small 



triangular-shaped pieces of leather. These, 

 when opened, were found to be filled with the 

 claws of birds and other rubbish! This same 

 worthy, not long since, gave a poor woman who 

 was suffering from a similar complaint part of a 

 toad I This was carefully wrapped up ; and 

 instructions were given to wear it round the neck 

 until it dropped off. Surely the inhabitants of the 

 19th century are very "enlightened!" — C. F. T. 

 Y. — Stockleigh Pomeroy, Devon. 



True Xobility : — 



What is noble ? — 'tis the finer 



Portion of our mind and heart, 

 Link'd to something still diviner 



Than mere language can impart : 

 Ever prompting — ever seeing 



Some improvement yet to plan ; 

 To uplift his fellow-being, 



And, like man, to feel for man ! 



What is noble ? — is the sabre 



Nobler than the humble spade ? 

 There's a dignity in labor, 



Truer than e'er pomp arrayed ! 

 He who seeks the mind's improvement 



Aids the world, in aiding mind ! 

 Every great commanding movement 



Serves not one, but all mankind. 



O'er the forge's heat and ashes — 



O'er the engine's iron head — 

 Where the rapid shuttle flashes, 



And the spindle whirls its thread — 

 There is labor, lowly tending 



Each requirement of the hour — 

 There is genius, still extending 



Science and its world of power. 



'Mid the dust, and speed, and clamor, 



Of the loom-shed and the mill ; 

 'Midst the clink of wheel and hammer, 



Great results are growing still ! 

 Though too oft, by fashion's creatures, 



Work and workers may be blamed, 

 Commerce need not hide its features — 



Industry is not ashamed. 



Eliza C005. 



" Number Seven." — An extraordinary number 

 is No. 7. Witness the following : — On the 7th of 

 the 7th month a holy observance was ordained to 

 the children of Israel, who fasted 7 days, and 

 remained 7 days in tents. The 7th day was 

 directed to be a Sabbath of rest for all things ; and 

 at the end of 7 times 7 years commenced the grand 

 jubilee. Every 7th year the land lay fallow ; 

 every 7th year there was a grand release from all 

 debts, and bondsmen were set free. From this 

 law may have originated the custom of binding 

 young men to 7 years' apprenticeship, and of 

 punishing incorrigible offenders by transportation 

 for 7, twice 7, or three times 7 years. Every 7th 

 year the law was directed to be read to the people. 

 Jacob served 7 years for the possession of Rachel, 

 and also another 7 years. Noah had 7 days' 

 warning of the flood, and was commanded to take 

 fowls of the air into the ark by sevens, and the 

 clean beasts by sevens. The ark touched the 

 ground on the 7th month ; and in 7 days a dove 



