5 l 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
October 23. 
Blind Asylum, and in tlie course of this last summer lie re¬ 
turned home to pay a short visit to his parents. His father 
is still able to walk about, although not to work; and it was 
a joyful day when he again led his son about to visit his 
friends. The boys’ manner and appearance were strildngly 
improved—his intelligence remarkable ; and all he said was 
good as well as sensible. The tears fell from his sightless 
eyes, as poor Dyer spoke of his own trials and difficulties; 
he seemed to be full of feeling for his family, his friends, 
and all those with whom he lives in London; and it was 
really quite wonderful to observe the shoot his mind had 
made under the course of education at the excellent Asylum. 
Tie was kindly treated there, and was as happy as possible; 
and he appeared to take great delight in learning all he 
could. He is being brought up as a shoemaker, and he 
brought down with him a little pair of shoes to show what he 
could do. They were well and neatly made; and he had, 
according to the rules of the establishment, earned some 
money, enough to pay for his own journey home. How sur¬ 
prising it is, that without the blessing, the special blessing of 
sight, man should be enabled to perform such beautiful and 
useful work as the blind can do ! How graciously does the 
Father who withholds one sense improve the others! and how 
keen and acute is that sense of touch which really becomes 
almost eye-sight to those who sit in bodily darkness. 
Little Henry is also learning music, and he spoke with 
great intelligence and simple fluency upon that subject, so 
delightful always to the blind. We could not help smiling 
at the look of admiration, almost reverence, with which Dyer 
gazed upon his child, conversing upon things of which he 
himself had never heard; so far superior to all he had been 
born to, and which seemed to promise future blessings for 
himself and his family. 
If children knew the happiness their parents feel when 
they do well and steadily, they would strive to become good 
and diligent in their different little ways. If any young 
readers glance over this page, let them think much of Henry 
Dyer, the little blind boy. Let them remember what he is 
doing, without eyes to see, or the glorious light of day to 
shine upon his daily labour. He is a little clever shoe¬ 
maker, earning a few shillings now, while he is still at 
school; and looking forward to support himself with credit 
and respectability in a few more years. Ah! how many little 
children, with sight to enjoy the beautiful world around them, 
are wasting their time in idleness, and sometimes vice; 
throwing away the blessings that God has given them, and 
neglecting to use the powers that are now strong and active 
within them. The conduct of the little blind boy is a beau¬ 
tiful example to all young people. He works diligently with 
his hands, he sings praises to God with understanding, and 
his present behaviour promises well for the time to come. 
We are all, by nature, blind; but He who enables the 
afflicted in body to overcome the trial, can open the spiritual 
eyes, and lead us into the yet more glorious light of Gospel 
Truth. The light of day is indeed a blessing, but the “ Light 
that shineth in darkness,” is more bright and precious still. 
NEAPOLITAN VIOLETS. 
Fine flowers, such as the beautiful Neapolitan Violets, 
throughout the winter and early spring months, are, to most 
lovers of floriculture, a valuable acquisition. Many people, 
there can be no doubt, cultivate this beautiful Violet luxu¬ 
riantly and with perfect satisfaction, whilst others seem to 
be less fortunate; and as the season is now arriving when 
the young plants should be put in order, it may not be amiss 
to state the manner in which we have, for a number of years, 
succeeded admirably. 
A warm, sheltered corner is chosen, trenches are cast out 
a foot deep and five feet wide into the alleys, and a turf-wall 
built all round to the desired height, for holding about 
fifteen or eighteen inches of leaves, rubbish-heap refuse, or 
any kind of procurable fermenting materials that are likely 
to afford a little bottom-heat, upon which are placed about 
eight or nine inches of rich, open, healthy soil. The width 
is regulated by any lights that may be likely to be spared 
for a time, or thatched hurdles, or other protectors. The 
plants are taken up from the store plantation carefully, with 
balls of earth to their roots, and planted from ten to twelve 
inches apart each way; first clearing them of any side-shoots 
or suckers, if any there be about them; they are afterwards 
kept clear of'dead leaves, &e., well surface-stirred, and never 
allowed to get dry. No lights or protection are placed over 
them until frosty nights set in, or very heavy rains ; they are 
then, at all times, tilted on both sides, with abundance of 
air given, if the weather is not too severe. By such treatment 
thefoliage is always large, thick, and of a beautiful dark-green, 
the flowers abundant, and large. No side-runners are allowed 
to run until April, at which time they are encouraged to grow; 
and open, sandy, rich soil is sifted amongst them, and kept 
well-watered to encourage them to root freely. A partially- 
shaded piece of good healthy ground is then chosen in the 
month of May, and the Violets are then forked up, old and 
young altogether, and the best of the young plants selected 
and planted out, a foot apart each way, singly. They are 
kept well suaface-stirred all the summer, and by October 
they are line plants to take up as above-described. 
Russian Violets—Single White, Rouble While , Double Blue, 
and other hardy varieties—we grow in a similar way, with 
regard to planting out the young runners and summer treat¬ 
ment, and they are also carefully taken up in October; some 
are placed in turf-pits, with gentle bottom-heat, and some 
without bottom-lieat, and a quantity are planted on sloping 
banks. By this simple contrivance abundance of luxuriant 
flowers are kept in succession from September till May. 
Every variety is kept clear from side-shoots or runners all 
the summer. All the varieties are particularly fond of 
charred articles mixed with the soil. James Barnes. 
FLOWERS FOR THE GRAVES. 
“ . . . .in our last decay. 
Memorials prompt and true.” 
Among all the purposes of pleasure and ornament to 
which the culture of flowers may be applied, few persons seem 
to have considered them in reference to the memory of 
those friends who have left us to join the Church Triumph¬ 
ant. In some wild and, therefore, poetical regions of our 
island, the custom of dressing graves with flowers has 
always been preserved, in others it is reviving, and it is very 
attractive to those in humble life, who certainly feel less 
dread of death than those who are called their superiors. 
In a neighbouring churchyard, the green mounds are adorned 
at Easter by cut flowers inserted in the turf, in the form of 
a cross, and when well watered, they retain their beauty for 
many days. A narrow border on each side, well filled, and 
neatly kept, may be a source of much pleasure, and may- 
preserve in the minds of the young a pleasing remembrance 
of those who loved them once. Never fear that the village 
children will rob or injure these little gardens ; the experi¬ 
ment has been tried; they will soon be busy in imitation 
round the graves of their own friends. But, then, never 
introduce any plant of value, which may excite a covetous 
thought. Avoid, also, those which require frequent tying- 
up, or other attention, unless you can promise yourself to 
continue a frequent attendant on the weekly services. Not 
by even the semblance of voluntary toil let the Lord’s Day 
be profaned ; but other seasons will afford opportunities for 
a few minutes of gardening, and for plucking a blossom 
to bear away in thankful remembrance of those who are 
in peace. 
Various plants may suit various feelings and circum¬ 
stances. One flower may have been the favourite of the 
departed; another, jby its delicacy, its brilliance, or its 
fragrance, may present some fancied resemblance to his 
character. Some are by tradition annexed to different 
qualities, as— the Lily to innocence; the Violet to modesty ; 
the little Wood Sorrel is said to signify parental love; the 
Clematis that of a child to a parent; and the Woodbine that 
of a brother or of a sister. Round the grave of an infant 
we might place single Snowdrops, so much more graceful 
than the double; or the bright Aconite, the first to bloom, 
and the first to fade. When these have passed away let 
us sprinkle a morsel of Mignonette seed, which will afford 
us many a sweet blossom to take into Church. Mignonette 
and Sweet Verbena are unlike most earthly pleasures, which 
require economy and self-denial to lengthen out their exist¬ 
ence, for the oftener we indulge ourselves with cropping 
the tops of these, the more freely the plant sends forth 
new and delicious shoots. For the resting place of a 
