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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



which is emitted from the bruised leaves. 

 He must have been a very hungry man who 

 discovered it ! Growing by the side of the 

 pool is the myosotis, or forget-me-not, the 

 emblem of friendship and something more, 

 throughout Europe. There are six other 

 species common to this country, which go by 

 the more homely sobriquet of " mouse-ear," 

 a contrast to the extra sentiment of "forget- 

 me-not." The plant, properly so called, is 

 always found near pools of this kind, although 

 every myosotis found by the roadside gets 

 the name. Its flowers are larger, the leaves 

 fresh-looking and shining ; not hairy, as in 

 most of the other species. We have only 

 alluded to it for the benefit of those inclined 

 to sentiment, that they may not make a 

 mistake in bestowing such a favor on their 

 friends ; as the " forget-me-not " is tod fa- 

 mous in verse for us to bestow upon it more 

 glory. 



Along this hedgerow we shall find some 

 of the trailing and climbing plants ; and let 

 us point out the difference between climbing 

 and trailing. This light green-looking plant 

 is the black briar ; the flowers are about the 

 same color as the leaves, and are succeeded 

 by a red berry. Near to each leaf, you will 

 see a thread-like appendage, called a tendril, 

 and it has taken hold of a branch of the 

 thorn-hedge ; thus supporting the plant, and 

 enabling it to push the branch still higher up 

 the hedge. Near to it is the nightshade, 

 with its dark purple flowers and yellow 

 streamers. This is a trailing plant, as it has 

 no tendrils, and no hold of the hedge, except 

 the support it derives from the closeness of 

 the latter. The nightshade belongs to the 

 same genus of plants as the potato, the 

 flowers of both being very much alike. The 

 berry of the nightshade is now green, but 

 will soon assume the more gay and attractive 

 color of red. It is a deadly poison, and 

 mothers cannot be too careful with whom 

 they trust their children in their walks 

 during the autumn. We have often warned 

 servants of the danger, on seeing their little 

 charges plucking the dangerous and beautiful 

 berry. Its effect is to cause most excru- 

 ciating pains, and ultimate death, if an anti- 

 dote is not speedily applied. 



This cup-shaped large white flower is called 

 the convolvulus, or bindweed, and sometimes 

 " heave-bine." Though not furnished with 

 tendrils, it twines itself round any stem that 

 it can reach, and is altogether a most elegant 

 plant. From the roots spreading very rapidly, 

 it is not much of a favorite with gardeners, 

 as it is apt to climb upon and choke, as the 

 phrase is, more precious plants. The honey- 

 suckle you will see also in this hedge. Its 

 fragrant blossoms are now in perfection, 

 although they have long flowered in gardens 

 and on walls : — 



" And honeysuckle loves to crawl 

 Up the lone way and ruined wall," 



says the poet ; and we may say it is always 

 a welcome sight in an English hedge-row. 



What a field for botanical research the 

 rows we have passed would afford ! Here are 

 nineteen distinct species, indigenous to Great 

 Britain, besides innumerable varieties. It 

 would require a whole number of our Jour- 

 nal to give even the leading characteristics 

 of each. Near the end of that long branch 

 of the common dog-rose is a curious mon- 

 strosity, in the shape of a tuft of moss — instead 

 of a new shoot. It is one of those freaks of 

 nature in which she delights occasionally to 

 indulge. The whole rose tribe of plants are 

 so liable to vary with soil and climate, that 

 their study is one of great difficulty. 



At this season of the year our fields, pas- 

 tures, and chalk-pits, are ornamented with a 

 most beautiful and interesting tribe of plants, 

 the orchidaceous. The variety of form and 

 color which they exhibit, are so singular as to 

 have rendered them general favorites ; the 

 tropical orchids being the mania of the day. 

 The orchis plants are common in Kent, Suf- 

 folk, Surrey, and Middlesex, and, indeed, 

 spread over the entire country. In most 

 instances, they take their specific names 

 from a resemblance, more or less close, to 

 animals. Thus we have the monkey-orchis, 

 the bee- orchis, the lizard-orchis, the butter- 

 fly-orchis, the man-orchis, and many others. 

 The forms in many are almost ludicrously 

 like, and they will amply repay the trouble 

 of finding and examining. 



To pursue our ramble further, would 

 occupy more space than we can afford ; nor 

 is it necessary. One peep at the flower 

 itself, is better than a whole written chapter 

 setting forth its excellences and beauties. 

 Let us add that we are indebted for several 

 " hints " in this article to an unknown pen. 

 The fair winter has inoculated us with her 

 summer feelings, and we have endeavored to 

 improve upon the text which she has brought 

 under our eye. 



Let us all drink deeply into the spirit of 

 this loving season ; and whilst we wander 

 abroad happily and lovingly, accompanied by 

 our friends, let us endeavor to make others 

 think as we think, feel as we feel, and see 

 the same indescribable beauties in all animate 

 nature. 



THE VITAL POINT. 



At a recent sitting of the French Academy of 

 Sciences it was demonstrated by a learned acade- 

 mician, from various careful experiments on the 

 brain of animals, that the motive power of the 

 respiratory mechanism, the vital point of the 

 nervous system, is not bigger in size than a pin's 

 head. Upon this tiny speck depends the life of the 

 nerves, which is the life of the animal. 



