174 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



other places beyond the seas ; but makes no men- 

 tion of its being known in England ; and Sir 

 Richard Weston, who, in 1645, published his 

 travels in Flanders, mentions that in the preceding 

 year he saw a crop of it cut three times in the 

 course of the summer, in the vicinity of Antwerp ; 

 and immediately thereafter, seeds of the Great 

 Clover of Flanders were advertised to be had at 

 the shop of James Long, at the Barge on Billings- 

 gate 1 In 1653, Walter Blyth, an agricultural 

 writer, was the first to publish particular direc- 

 tions as to its culture. Sainfoin, or as it was first 

 named, French finger-grass, seems to have been 

 introduced from France in 1651. According to 

 Miller, author of the " Gardener's Dictionary," 

 lucerne was also brought to England from the same 

 country in 1657. Hartlib, in his " Complete 

 Husbandman," published in 1659, recommends 

 the sowing of nonsuch or yellow-clover, under the 

 name of hop-trefoil, from having seen a chalky 

 down in Kent without any other than a scanty 

 vegetation of this plant, maintaining many great 

 sheep and very lusty, so that they were even fit 

 for the butcher. 



We have to regret that space will not 

 allow of a few more quotations from this 

 valuable little work ; but hope that its circu- 

 lation may become so wide that quotation 

 will be unnecessary. 



ONE TOAST MORE ! 



BY THE AUTHOR OF "DOMESTIC LAYS." 



One toast, my friend, before we move, 



And then to wine adieu ; 

 " A flowing glass to those we love, 



The treasured and the true ! " 

 And look ! more cheerly burns the flame, 



More sparkling beams the wine , 

 As though they hailed each gentle name, 



And smiled on mine and thine ! 



Tis long since we have met alone, 



To talk of days gone by ; 

 When, rainbow-like, hope's colors shone 



On blossoms ne'er to die. 

 We've seen those colors fade in air, 



We've seen those blossoms pine ; 

 But time has left what's far more dear — 



The love of mine and thine ! 



When we were boys, 'twas love, still love, 



That seemed life's dearest joy ; 

 Now, too, the creed we hold doth prove 



Those feelings of the boy. 

 A thousand thoughts have passed away, 



Or changed their first design ; 

 While from our hearts, love's changeless ray 



Still shines o'er mine and thine. 



And thus, my friend, while others seek 



Those joys which but beguile — 

 Be ours reflected from the cheek 



That wears affection's smile. 

 While others rove, our home shall prove 



Of social bliss the shrine ; 

 And there we'll pledge the wives we love, 



And DarNK to mine and thine ! 



HINTS TO AMATEUR GARDENERS. 



THE CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 



It often happens that, for want of an 

 opportunity, or from unfavorable weather, 

 many of the operations recommended last 

 month remain undone the beginning of this. 

 However, they must no longer be delayed. 

 This is a month of shower and sunshine ; 

 the one soon chasing the other away. All 

 vegetation is now making rapid progress ; 

 therefore every spare moment may and 

 should be profitably employed. Weeds, es- 

 pecially, if neglected, will speedily flower 

 and shed their seeds ; ensuring a numerous 

 offspring that it will take years to eradicate. 

 As a matter of first importance, then, never 

 allow weeds to flower. Neither let the hoe, 

 during showery weather, remain idle, as it will 

 not only destroy weeds, but encourage a rapid 

 growth of the crops ; and insects, like weeds, 

 may be rendered comparatively scarce by 

 diligence. Adopt prompt measures for their 

 destruction, the moment they are detected ; 

 for, like weeds, if neglected they multiply 

 beyond credibility. All planting in the 

 kitchen-garden in spring and summer should 

 be done in drills, because the plants are more 

 effectually watered ; and the first hoeing, by 

 filling in the drills, acts as an earthing-up 

 also. Some frosty nights usually occur ; the 

 effects of which on fruit-blossoms, young 

 seedlings, and early growths of even hardy 

 plants, must be carefully guarded against. 

 The fluids of plants being now active, a slight 

 frost is capable of doing more mischief than 

 a severe one in winter, when the plants are 

 dormant. 



FRUIT. 

 Remove foreright or ill-placed shoots from any 

 trained trees ; grafting may still be performed 

 early in the month. Clear fruit-trees and bushes 

 from suckers ; and keep the ground about them 

 frequently loosened by the hoe , destroy slugs and 

 snails, likewise caterpillars, as soon as they ap- 

 pear. This is a proper season to layer vines, 

 which is readily done by loosening a convenient 

 and healthy shoot, and making a slit half through 

 the shoot under the eye which it is intended 

 should be the bottom of the future plant, upwards 

 of two or three inches. Then bend it into a pot 

 or in the ground, securing it there with a hooked 

 peg, and tying it upright to a stake to prevent its 

 being broken ; it will be well rooted by Novem- 

 ber, when it may be permanently transplanted. 



FLOWERS. 



Annuals. — The main sowing of hardy kinds 

 Bhould be made this month, as directed in 

 March. The half-hardy kinds may be put in 

 at the end of the month in the same manner 

 as the hardy ones. 



Auriculas when in flower should be pro- 

 tected from the sun or rains, but allow them 

 all the air possible. They should receive regular 

 supplies of water. If manure-water is given 



