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THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
How to make Waterproof Walks. — The ground must be 
previously levelled, then put on it a coat of tar, and sift some road 
sand or coal-ashes all over it very thickly ; after this is dry repeat 
the operation until you have got four coats of tar, and as many of 
coal-ashes or road sand. You will then have an excellent clean, dry, 
hard path. It will make excellent walks , or floors for sheds, out- 
buildings, &e., and will wear for many years. 
CANARY BIRDS. 
B plumage, pretty form, and docility; the charming 
familiarity which disposes it to nestle without fear or 
reserve beside us ; and, above all, its melodious song, 
have long introduced the canary to all classes of 
society. Buffon, speaking of this beautiful and uni- 
versal favourite, says : “ If the nightingale is the chantress of the 
woods, the canary is the musician of the chamber ; the first owes 
all to nature, the second something to art. With less strength of 
organ, less compass of voice, and less variety of note, the canary has 
a better ear, greater facility of imitation, and a more retentive 
memory; and, as the difference of genius, especially among the 
lower animals, depends in a great measure on the perfection of their 
senses, the canary, whose organ of hearing is more susceptible of 
receiving and retaining foreign impressions, becomes more social, 
tame, and familiar; is capable of gratitude and even of attachment; 
its caresses are endearing, its little humours innocent, and its anger 
neither hurts nor offends. Its education is easy ; we rear it with 
pleasure, because we are able to instruct it. It leaves the melody 
of its own natural note, to listen to the melody of our voices and 
instruments. It applauds, it accompanies us, and repays the plea- 
sure it receives with interest ; while the nightingale, more proud of 
its talent, seems desirous of preserving it in all its purity, at least it 
appears to attach very little to ours, and it is with great difficulty it 
can be taught any of our airs. The canary can speak and whistle ; 
the nightingale despises words, as well as our airs, and never fails to 
return to its own wild wood notes. Its pipe is a masterpiece of 
nature, which human art can neither alter nor improve ; while that 
of the canary is a model of more pliant materials, winch we can 
mould at pleasure ; and therefore it contributes in a much greater 
degree to the comforts of society. It sings at all seasons, cheers us 
in the dullest weather, and adds to our happiness by amusing the 
young and delightiug the recluse, charming the tediousness of the 
cloister, and gladdening the soul of the innocent and captive.” 
We think we shall be rendering an acceptable service to many of 
our readers by giving a few plain directions for the treatment of 
these pretty warblers ; for which we are chiefly indebted to a 
useful, though little-appreciated work, entitled, “Cage Birds,” 
by Dr. Bechstein, and which our own experience has shown to be 
judicious. 
