July 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Knife for Cutting out Combs. —This knife, which 
is so simple in its construction, and so easily used, 
deserves to be made generally known. Gelieu, to 
whom apiarians are much indebted, tells us that in 
Switzerland it is commonly used, and that the combs, 
from hives of any shape or materials, are extracted 
without any difficulty. It is formed of a strip of 
steel, two feet long by one-eighth of an inch thick; 
the handle is twenty inches long by half an inch 
broad. The turn-down blade, of two inches in 
length, is spear pointed, sharp on the edges, and 
bent so as to form an angle of ninety degrees with 
the handle; the other blade is two inches long by 
one and a half broad, and sharpened all round. The 
broad blade cuts and separates the combs from the 
sides of the hives; and the spear point, which is also 
sharp on each side, admits, from its direction and 
narrowness, of being introduced between the combs 
to loosen them from the to]i of the hive. 
MY FLOWERS. 
(No. 36.) 
I have been particularly struck, when travelling, 
by the fondness for flowers observable at the railway 
stations, with very few exceptions. Wherever a por¬ 
tion of ground, however small, can be appropriated 
to a flower-bed, there I have almost always remarked 
one. I have seen a strip of border full of flowers 
immediately beneath the platform, close to the line of 
rails; I have seen a glowing border smiling among 
the unearthly-looking places that usually surround 
a station; and I have sometimes seen really beautiful 
plants decorating the office-window. Even the box 
of the policeman, in its loneliness, is surrounded by 
a border, in which, if nothing else can find space to 
grow, a stock, a polyanthus, and a wall-flower, are 
sure to be cherished; and, in every instance, that 
little petted border looks rich and gay. All these 
things mark the public taste—they evidently show 
that man has a genuine love for flowers—for a rail¬ 
way station is almost the only part of the habitable 
globe, except, indeed, it may be a lawyer’s office, 
where woman’s influence is neither seen nor felt. No 
taste of her’s is brought to bear upon any part of the 
system; the joys and sorrows of those regions belong 
exclusively to man, and I therefore notice, with inte¬ 
rest and pleasure, how universally the love of flowers 
prevails. This shows that every endeavour to im¬ 
prove this harmless enjoyment, which cheers and 
employs many solitary hours, must be useful and 
beneficial; and perhaps The Cottage Gardener 
may instruct and amuse the railway gardener in his 
lonely watchings, and assist to beautify and render 
more productive the portion of ground ho cultivates 
—for useful gardening should, if possible, accompany 
that which is only ornamental. A few vegetables 
would increase the interest of the little garden, and 
to the wife and family would bo a certain good. 
Almost every kind of. flower is now in full beauty. 
The borders are really teeming with sweetness; and 
the soft refreshing summer breezes waft it into our 
very rooms. The delicious scent of the lime blos¬ 
soms, though at some little distance, really perfume 
the house; and when we approach the tree it is 
almost oppressive. To stand beneath a lime-tree, in 
the flowering season, is quite like standing within a 
bee-hive. Every little flower attracts one of these 
busy insects, and the ‘ hum’ is like that of a hive 
217 
when a swarm is about taking wing. When we 
listen to these little lively creatures, and watch their 
diligent and untiring movements, how it condemns 
the sloth and inactivity of the “reasoning animal!” 
Ah ! how much more the spiritual! Did we but 
“ improve the shining hour,” did we but labour for 
our futurity as the bees labour for theirs, how well 
would it be with us ! Did we but cast our eyes from 
the lime-blossom to the earth, where the ant hurries 
on her thrifty errand, and “ consider her ways,” we 
might learn a deep lesson of wisdom too; she has “ no 
guide, overseer, or ruler,” yet “ she gathereth her food 
in the harvest.” We have a Father who guides, over 
sees, and rules, yet the meat we are so ready to gather 
perishes, and that which “ enduretli,” we trifle with 
or throw madly away. 
One of our sweetest summer plants, and a useful 
one too, is the lavender. Every garden should 
possess at least one bush of this highly-scented ever¬ 
green ; and as a light and poor soil suits it best, no 
one need be without it. It may be increased by 
cuttings or slips of a year’s growth as well as of 
the present season. May and June are the proper 
months in which to effect this; but I have little 
doubt of their doing well in J uly also, provided the 
slips are kept well watered and shaded from the 
light. Slips and cuttings must be from five to seven 
inches in length, and the lower leaves must be strip¬ 
ped off' to the middle of the stem. . They may be re¬ 
moved in September or October. July is the month 
for gathering the flowers, cither for drying or distil¬ 
lation. They aro very agreeable in drawers, work- 
boxes, &c.; and, in sick rooms, the stalks, when 
burnt, afford a very pleasant scent, by no means 
overpowering to the patient. In poor soil the la¬ 
vender is much more fragrant than in rich soil, 
which causes it to grow luxuriantly, but it is then 
frequently unable to endure the severity of winter. 
A poor soil strengthens it and prolongs its life. 
Hence we see it flourishing so contentedly in the 
poor man’s garden, and smelling so much more 
sweetly than in the borders of the rich. Do not our 
hearts somewhat resemble the lavender ? Are not 
days of adversity far more favourable to our spiritual 
growth than those of perilous prosperity? and do not 
Christian graces then give forth a sweeter fragrance ? 
Let those among us who feel the soil in which their 
Father’s hand has placed them to be cold and un- 
genial, gather a sprig of their spicy lavender, and 
learn a lesson from its sweetness. They will then, 
perhaps, bear more cheerily the adverse seasons 
through which they pass: knowing that He who 
forms the plant best knows its temper, and the treat¬ 
ment that is good for it. The lavender is in truth a 
desert plant; it scents the desert winds both in Africa 
and Asia, where it grows wildly. How grateful to 
the English traveller — to the devoted missionary, 
toiling along his holy but weary way—must be the 
sight and smell of this well-known plant, recalling 
to their minds their cool sea-girt home, its cottage 
gardens, and all its peaceful pleasures. Few flowers 
grace the desert, yet, even in those terrible regions, 
one fragrant plant is sent to cheer and refresh the 
heart, and to remind us that no situation of our lives 
can be so dreary but that our Father will plant a 
blessing there. 
One very beautiful flower is worthy a place in a 
lady’s garden, though little esteemed, and wild in its 
origin—I mean the snapdragon. The deep crimson 
variety is particularly rich and handsome, and in 
some cottage gardens I have seen them splendidly 
bright. The formation of the flower, too, is curious, 
