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city of Panama when it was sacked, in 1670, by 
the Irish buccaneer, Morgan. In any case, it is 
averred that these are the first coins of the Roman 
Empire ever found in the soil of America.—R. O. 

The Evergreen Oak as & Sea-side Plant.— 
During a recent visit to Guernsey, I had an oppor- 
tunity of witnessing the valne of the evergreen 
Oak as a shelter plant for the sea-side. In the 
vicinity of-a deep bay, subject to the.most violent 
gales, and of course to the action of the salt spray, 
I saw hundreds of them in a most flourishing con- 
dition. I learnt, as was the case on the occasion 
of which I speak, that during the winter their 
foliage becomes in some degree browned by the 
combined action of the severe winds and drench- 
ings of salt spray to which they are subjected; 
but that this is every season repaired, and that in 
the summer they become as green and luxuriant 
as ever. That they grow luxuriantly I had abun- 
dant evidence. Their appearance was healthy to 
a degree, scarcely to be expected in evergreens in 
so bleak a situation. They exhibited none of the 
one-sidedness so peculiar to most trees—the Eng- 
lish Oak, for example, when grown in similar 
situations—on the contrary, they appear quite at 
home on the bleak hill side. As an evergreen 
tree in similar situations, nothing that I know of 
can surpass it for shelter or forornament. As this 
tree is proverbially a difficult one to transplant 
successfully, a hint or two gleaned on the spot may 
not be inappropriately recorded here ; if, indeed, 
what I have to convey may be considered as hints 
in addition to what is already known. I was in- 
formed by the proprietor of the property on which 
the trees in question were growing, that the loss 
ofa tree by transplanting was a contingency hardly 
ever experienced. ‘‘ We move them now,” he 
observed—this was in the early part of March— 
“andin July. If in the latter season, we shorten 
the branches very much ; were we to leave all the 
foliage on, success would be doubtful.’ The phi- 
losophy of the practice is evident enough. ‘¢ And,” 
continued he, ‘‘ we move them with perfect safety, 
however large. You observe the tree before us ”’ 
—this was in allusion to one with a trunk of 
some five or six inches in diameter—“ that 
fellow was moved in the summer three years ago. 
You can hardly believe it, can you? but it is 
nevertheless true. Believe me we move them as 
if they were willows.” And so it appeared. I 
examined the tree in question. It had been 
severely pruned back at no very remote period, 
which was of course, at the time of its removal ; 
and I do not think that I exaggerate when I say 
that in the three seasons’ growth a good six feet 
of wood had been made. Associated with these 
oaks were many stone pines, well sustaining their 
character. Like the evergreen oaks, their foliage 
was brown when fully exposed to the sea-breezes. 
One or two Scotch firs, that by some means or 
other had become mixed up with the assembly, 
looked as if they were astonished at finding them- 
selves in such situations. The shelter of their 
neighbors did them good service, or they had 
figured but indifferently. I may observe, by the 
way, that the practice of cutting back the branches 
of large trees, appears to me to offer the means of 
securing their safe removal, when otherwise failure 
must, as a general rule, result. There may appear 
KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 
EE ene Te OLE SAS FON UN Mote AEE he 





































something anomalous in the practice, on a casual 
investigation of the system, but we all know what 
vigorous shoots are pushed from a healthy stem 
denuded of its branches. Repton recommended the 
practice, and alludesto its being successfully carried 
out by afriend of his in Norfolk; I quote his 
words :—‘‘ He” (the friend alluded to) “ placed 
deciduous trees of every kind, but especially Birch 
intermixed with Thorns, Crabs, and old Hollies, 
cutting off their heads; these are planted ina 
puddle and the earth laid round their roots in 
small hillocks, which prevent the cattle from 
standing very near them; and thus I have seen 
groups of trees which looked like bare poles the 
first year, in a very short time become beautiful 
ornaments to a dreary waste.” And of course 
such might be made to ornament other situations 
than dreary wastes; and to my taste a bare pole 
for one year, with the certainty of its becoming a 
handsome tree afterwards, and year by year in- 
creasing in stature and beauty, is preferable to 
enduring a dead-alive tree for half-a-dozen years ; 
and which ultimately dies altogether.—Crayon. 
Deilephila Elpenor.—I have at the present 
time, feeding in my room, some remarkably fine 
caterpillars of this beautiful Sphinx. I believe 
it is much thought of in this country. Is it not? 
I remember, when on the Continent, I used to 
hold Sphinx Elpenor in high esteem.—Bomsyx 
Atias, Tottenham, August 22. 

Spiders casting their Skins.—J am (like your- 
self, my dear Mr. Editor), a great admirer of 
Nature’s handiwork. The following, copied from 
my book of observations, may prove interesting : 
‘““T watched this said spider when about to dis- 
engage itself from its skin. It first formed a kind 
of thick purse, in one corner of the web. It then 
went to the centre of the web; and distending its 
body with violence for some minutes, the skin was 
rent the whole length of the back. This over, it 
began to force its body slowly through the aper- 
ture; gradually drawing out its legs, one by one, 
till they were all released. The exuviee retained 
the form of the spider only,—being perfectly 
transparent. The insect, which was quite gela- 
tinous, and of a pale-green color, now retreated to 
the thick purse above alluded to. It did not re- 
appear until after three days.”—Rosa B. 

“BEGIN WELL,—END WELL.” 

NEVER WAS THERE A TIME when people went 
so “fast” as they donow. Our youth seem born 
with “great ideas;” and woe be to those who 
attempt to control them in their lofty projects ! 
Let such read what the good old Quaruzs has 
noted down for their instruction. He says— 
‘‘ At the first entrance into thine estate, keep a 
low sail. Thou must rise with honor. Thou 
canst not fall without shame. He that begins 
as his father ended, shall end as his father 
began.” Alas! how is this prediction verified 
from day to day. Foolish parents are they, who 
thus yield to the caprices of their wayward, wilful 
children. Full many a heart is broken by its 
own folly, that might have been happy by the 
exercise of a little firmness, and only a grain of 
good sense. 
















