ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Russian Violet. — The Russian Violet, in 

 many parts of the country, is not known; and 

 perhaps never heard of. These violets are very 

 beautiful, and gifted with a very fragrant 

 perfume, which is not usual in the " common 

 spring violet," which can only be called " pretty 

 and sweet." Its color and size are superior, the 

 one being darker, and the other larger. These 

 violets thrive on a border having a western 

 aspect. I have one so situated, measuring 

 eighteen feet in length and two in breadth. It 

 is entirely covered with these violets. They are 

 planted at the distance of a foot apart. The soil 

 is a very light mould, in which they succeed 

 best. All who would have a bed of these violets 

 in October (which is rather rare), must procure 

 healthy single roots in May. Water them during 

 the hot months, and transplant them every other 

 season. They will realise their object. Now 

 that my summer pets are departing, in these 

 violets I find a treasure. — Myles Golding. 



Mode of Hunting the Wild Bee, in Canada 



Your readers will, doubtless, be pleased by a 

 perusal of the following curious particulars con- 

 nected with the wild bee, and its capture, in 

 America. It seems that the Canadians adopt an 

 ingenious plan for discovering the -trees that are 

 stored with honey. They collect a number of 

 bees off the flowers in the forest, and confine them 

 in a small box, at the bottom of which is a piece 

 of honeycomb; and in the lid, a square of glass 

 large enough to admit the light into every part. 

 When the bees seem satisfied with honey, two or 

 three are allowed to escape ; and the direction in 

 which they fly is attentively watched until they 

 become lost in the distance. The hunter then 

 proceeds towards the spot where they disappear, 

 and, liberating one or two more of the little cap- 

 tives, he also marks their course. This process is 

 repeated, until the other bees, instead of follow- 

 ing the same direction as their predecessors, take 

 the direct opposite course; by which the hunter 

 is convinced he has overshot the object of his 

 pursuit. It is a well-known fact, that if you take 

 a bee from a flower situated at any given dis- 

 tance south of the tree to which the bee belongs, 

 and carry it in the closest confinement to an equal 

 distance on the north side of the tree — he will, 

 when liberated, fly in a circle for a moment, and 

 then to his sweet home — without deviating in the 

 least to the right or the left! Thus, the hunter is 

 very soon able to detect the tree which contains 

 the honey. Then, by placing on a heated brick 

 a piece of honeycomb, the odor, when melting, 

 is so strong and alluring as to entice the bees to 

 come down from their citadel. When the tree is 

 cut down, the quantity of honey found in its 

 excavated trunk seldom fails to compensate the 

 hunter for his perseverance. This confirms to 

 the letter, Virgil's well-known lines — " Sic vos 

 non vobis" &c. We all seem to prey upon each 

 other ! — John P., Hiyhgate. 



Love — General and Particular. — Tell me, dear 

 Mr. Editor, for you appear to know everything — 

 whether love ought to be general or particular? 

 I confess when I read Our Journal, whose prin- 



ciples I " love," that I am puzzled to observe 

 how very singular you are in your sentiments. 

 You seem to " love" us all, dearly ; and grumble 

 that there should be any that will not allow them- 

 selves to be beloved! Where were you born? 

 where have you lived? how have you lived? and 

 whence your great love for the human race? 

 Upon my word you are " a character!" — Juliana. 

 [Yes, dear Julie, we are "a character;" and 

 we have a character that we are not ashamed of. 

 We quite differ from those, whose love is so selfish 

 that it centres only in " No. 1. ;" and who, if they 

 extend a little of their affection towards a certain 

 " No. 2," think they are mightily condescending, 

 and truly affectionate. Out upon all such ! say 

 we. Our heart is very large, — our affections un- 

 controllable. We love, most truly, — how many 

 think you ? We will not give the sum total. It 

 is not needful. All, whose sentiments are con- 

 genial with our own, find a warm place in our 

 heart; and once there, — get out if you can, say 

 we. What we are to-day, — that we are to-mor- 

 row. We have not two faces; and never mean 

 to have two. The Avorld has two, — but that is 

 nothing to us. Peruse our articles on " Cha- 

 racter-Reading, both by Correspondence and 

 Physiognomy.'' You will therein see, that we 

 " study " people — before we love them. None of 

 your icicles for us. We would rivet them with a 

 frown, — not encourage them by a smile. But 

 then, Julie, you must remember it is not every- 

 body that you can love. Deception, hypocrisy, 

 and finesse, are the " first principles" of modern 

 education; and if these inhabit the human breast, 

 farewell to love ! " Evil communications" fan 

 these unholy fires ; and it is only where natural 

 purity of mind exists, and an innate love for 

 truth, that one can fraternise and " love" truly. 

 It is possible to perceive the latent germs of 

 virtue and goodness even on the face of a letter; 

 and many of our fair correspondents already 

 share our love, "because" of what has fallen from 

 their pen. Does our continued love for them 

 diminish? So far from it, that our pen is never 

 quiet. It works for the improvement of their 

 minds, both by day and by night; and so long 

 as they will read, just so long will we continue 

 to write for their instruction. Whilst we live — life 

 at best is short — let us be useful. The reward is 

 a rich one. Now, Julie, — as you say you love 

 our principles, take your place at once at the 

 bottom of our heart. When you are tired of us, 

 say so. You ask us some close questions — such as 

 where and when we were born ? &c. We were 

 born in London, — never mind " Avhen." We have 

 lived long in the world; and studied its inha- 

 bitants. Your other questions are solved in our 

 general explanation.] 



Facts in Natural History. — I have long noted, 

 my dear Mr. Editor, the great care you exercise, 

 in keeping out of Our Journal matters which 

 are at all apocryphal. By so doing, you elevate 

 the science and study of Natural History, and 

 graft a " value " upon your periodical as a 

 " work of reference." Some time since, you 

 strongly recommended me to take in the "Na- 

 turalist," conducted by Dr. Morris, of York. 

 I have done so ; and observe with pleasure that the 

 Editor, like yourself, requires names and re- 



