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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



food to silk-worms just before they began spinning 

 their cocoons. His first experiments were con- 

 ducted with indigo, which he mixed in certain 

 proportions with the mulberry-leaves, serving the 

 worms for food. The result of this treatment was 

 successful — he obtained blue cocoons. Prosecut- 

 ing still further his experiments, he sought a red- 

 coloring matter capable of being eaten by the 

 silk-worms, without injury resulting. He' had 

 some difficulty to find such a coloring matter at 

 first, but eventually alighted on the Bignonia 

 chica. Small portions of this plant having been 

 added to the mulberry leaves, the silkworms con- 

 sumed the mixture, and produced red-colored silk. 

 In this manner the experimenter, who is still pro- 

 secuting his researches, hopes to obtain silk, as 

 secreted by the worm, of many other colors. — 

 Lector. 



largest ox did not furnish more than twenty pints ; 

 it was thick and albuminous. The hands, when 

 immersed in this blood, were not spotted by it. 

 The poison appeared to spread in the blood, and 

 to change the rest of the organs through its in- 

 tervention. I believe that all domestic animals, 

 except the goat, die of the bite of this insect ; 

 calves, and other young animals, are secure from 

 it during the whole time that they are sucking ; 

 man and all wild animals are also proof against 

 its venom. — W. Oswell, in the ComjJtes Bendus, 

 October 16, 1852. 



" The Christmas Bose."—Do, Mr. Editor, let 

 me call your attention, and that of your readers, 

 to the value of this plant as an ornament to our 

 gardens during the winter months. There is 

 surely no reason why the flower-garden should 

 present the dull and repulsive aspect it usually 

 exhibits at this season of the year. At least, if 

 any reason there be, it is not found in the fact 

 that no means exist of obviating it. And I am 

 happy to find the subject is beginning to occupy 

 attention. In the meanwhile, I know of no plant 

 better deserving the notice of those who are anx- 

 ious to have a winter-garden, than that which I 

 have named. It commences its flowering in No- 

 vember, and lasts till March or April. Nothing is 

 easier than its culture. It will invariably thrive 

 in good vegetable mould; but it does not like too 

 frequent a removal. It is very useful, too, as a 

 green-house plant during the winter. When in- 

 tended for this use, the plants should be kept 

 plunged in ashes in a shady place during the 

 summer, and removed to the house when they 

 begin to bloom. — "W. T. 



The Venomous Fly of Southern Africa. — This 

 fly, called by the natives Tsetes, is the same that 

 was found to the east of the Limpopo, and which 

 infests the country of Sebitoani ; it is fortunately 

 confined to certain localities, from which it never 

 removes. The inhabitants lead their cattle within 

 a certain distance of the places where it is found; 

 and if they are compelled, in moving about, to 

 cross those portions of the country infested by the 

 insect, they choose for this purpose a moonlight 

 night in the winter, because the insect does not 

 bite during the nights of the cold season. From 

 what I have seen, I think that it only requires 

 three or four flies to kill a large ox. We examined 

 about a score of ours which had been bitten and 

 died ; they all presented the same appearances. 

 On removing the skin, the muscles had a slimy 

 aspect, and appeared much altered. The stomach 

 and intestines were healthy ; the heart, the lungs, 

 the liver, sometimes all at once, and always one 

 or other of these organs, were affected. The 

 heart especially attracted our attention ; it was no 

 longer a hard muscle, but a contracted and 

 emaciated organ, which might be crushed by the 

 least pressure ot its walls ; it resembled flesh 

 which had been soaked in water. The blood was 

 diminished in quantity and altered in quality. The 



Love one another! — Your delightful corres- 

 pondent, Naxxette, has sent you many nice little 

 pickings from her " Note-Book." Let me also 

 assist in the good cause advocated by our Jour- 

 nal. The subjoined, from the pen of Charles 

 Swain, is, I think, worthy general regard. There 

 is so very little loving and forgiving going on in 

 " the days we live in," that it may perchance 

 have some good effect. Let us hope so. — Rose. 



Oh, loving and forgiving — 



Ye angel-words of earth, 

 Years were not worth the living 



If ye too had not birth ! 

 Oh, loving and forbearing — 



How sweet your mission here ; 

 The grief that ye are sharing 



Hath blessings in its tear ! 



Oh, stern and unforgiving — 



Ye evil words of life, 

 That mock the means of living 



With never-ending strife ! 

 Oh, harsh and unrepenting — 



How would ye meet the grave, 

 If Heaven, as unrelenting, 



Forbore not, nor forgave ! 



Oh, loving and forgiving — 



Sweet sisters of the soul, 

 In whose celestial firing 



The passions find control ! 

 Still breathe your influence o'er us 



Whene'er by passion crost, 

 And, angel-like, restore us 



The paradise we lost. 



[Thank you, dear Rose. Any garland, so 

 twined, will be always acceptable.] 



Jlore of the Fidelity of the Dog. — The following, 

 Mr. Editor, is recorded in the " Dundee and 

 Perth Advertiser," as having just occurred in 

 Perth. — " Our respected Braemar carrier, Alex- 

 ander Grant, in his going north last week, was 

 overtaken with a violent snow-storm on the Cairn- 

 well ; and finding it impossible to proceed from 

 the drifting snow, he saw no alternative but to 

 lock up his van, take his horse from the carriage, 

 and retrace his steps to the Spital Inn. This he 

 did with much difficulty ; and calling on his dog 

 to follow, he did not miss him until arriving at 

 : the inn. After a diligent search, no dog was to 

 | be found. But when, on the following Monday, 

 Mr. Grant went with assistance, to get his cart 

 J dug out of the snow, to his astonishment there 

 j was his faithful dog ; alive, and in charge of the 

 van, having watched it two days and two nights ! 

 j Such an animal is truly valuable ; and such an 



