XA TURE PLEASURES. 
71 
able, and always welcome : plants of jessamine {Jcisminum nudi- 
ficrum), that present flowers very early in spring, or even in 
winter : Kerria japoiiira, whicli bloom later ; perennial stocks, 
that make a bright and fragrant show: groups of large snow- 
drops, that spring up from the bulbs, every spring, in increasing 
numbers : and lilies of the valley, that spread every summer so 
widely as to push into the very paths. Above all, there are 
the ferns, which grow in suitable spots all over the garden, 
both in back and in front, and look especially pretty when 
their new fronds open in spring. Some of the old fronds 
of the ferns, cut off in winter, serve to protect from frost 
the tea-roses, verbenas, and other plants that need such pro- 
tection ; thus, in a way, we follow Nature's plan, and use the 
old plants to protect the new ones. The rose-bushes, now and 
then renewed, come on every year, and afford us delight in 
budding, on some strong-growing climber, roses of various kinds 
and colours, all growing on the same bush. In this way we 
cultivate a sort of friendship with our plants and, with enough 
of variety, can secure durability. In very severe weather, some 
of them are sorely tried ; but most of them go on perennially ; 
and the sorely-tried plants, such as the perennial peas, retain 
some of their vitality, and afterwards revive again. 
We are often reminded by poets and philosophers that it is a 
very wise thing to cultivate a relish for simple pleasures, such 
as are easy to be obtained, and are never liable to fail or w'eary 
us. Such pleasures may be readily found in the study of that 
Nature which, as Wordsworth assures us, “ never did betray the 
heart that loved her.” These pleasures are always at hand ; 
they cost little ; the taste for them becomes increased and 
strengthened by culture, and they are suitable for all conditions 
and all ages. Most of all, perhaps, are they suited to the exi- 
gencies of those whose days of travel may be restricted or past, 
and who become content, with an enjoyment that ever increases, 
to find their pleasures in the delightful vicinity of home. To 
stimulate a taste for such delights as these it may be well now 
and then to turn from the contemplation of loftier themes, and 
see how much of real enjoyment a lover of Nature may derive 
from so small a garden as that of which I now write. 
Richmond-on-Thames. W. J. C. IMiller. 
A Curious Nest.— A curious gift has been made to the Xatiiial History 
Museum of Soletta. This gift consists of a bird'snest, constructed entireU of steel. 
There are a great many watchmakers at Soletta, and in the vicinity of the work- 
shops there are always the remains of the old springs of watches, which have been 
cast aside. Last summer a watchmaker discovered this curious bird’s nest, 
which had been built in a tree in his courtyard by a pair of water-wagtails. It 
measures ten centimetres in circumference, and is made solely of watch-springs. 
When the birds had fledged their brood the watchmakers secured their unique 
nest as an interesting proof of the intelligence of birds in adapting anything which 
comes within their reach . — Daily News, December 4, 1895. 
