Strawberries grafted on a Rose. A SHORT time ago there were exhibited at Paris, in a florist's shop on the Boulevard des Italiens, several rose-trees upon which were grafted a few strawberry-plants. This curiosity attracted much attention by the passers-by. The process by which it was effected was as follows: -In Autumn a few dog-roses, or good sorts on their own roots, are selected and planted in pots; at the same time a well rooted strawberry is placed with each rose, planted just beneath the stem of the rose. In Spring, when the runners push out, two or three of them are tied up to the stem of the rose. It is well known that the runners of the strawberries soon make their own roots, and in due time these roots are cut away, making the cuts as for a scion, and then they are grafted on the rose-stem, "without cutting or rearing the runners from the parent plant in the ground." They should be preserved very carefully, to lead the sap upwards to the scions; and treated in this way the strawberries will vegetate upon the rose tree for some time. - Revue Horticole. Rapidity of Thought in Dreaming. A VERY remarkable circumstance, and an important point of analogy, is to be found in the extreme rapidity with which the mental operations are performed, or rather with which the material changes on which the ideas depend are excited in the hemispherical ganglia. It would appear as if a whole series of acts, that would really occupy a long lapse of time, pass ideally through the mind in one instant. We have in dreams no true perception of the lapse of time-a strange property of mind! for if such be also its property when entered into the eternal disembodied state, time will appear to us eternity. The relations of space as well as of time are also annihilated; so that while almost an eternity is compressed into a moment, infinite space is traversed more swiftly than by real thought. There are numerous illustrations of this on record. A gentlenian dreamed that he had enlisted as a soldier, joined his regiment, deserted, was apprehended, carried back, tried, condemned to be shot, and at last led out for execution. After all the usual preparations, a gun was fired; he awoke with the report, and found that a noise in an adjoining room had, at the same moment, produced the dream and awakened him. A friend of Dr. Abercrombie's dreamed that he crossed the Atlantic and spent a fortnight in America. In embarking on his return, he fell into the sea, and awakening in the fright, found that he had not been asleep ten minutes.-Dr. Winslow. Insanity. cover. Very strong brains do recover, however, if warning is taken in time, and rest submitted to; but if the warning is neglected, the strongest will fail. In many of such cases, moral commotions have been a part of the cause, but mere intellectual labor will alone produce the malady, and the prognosis in such cases is not favorable. The history of some of the most distinguished English writers of our time, illustrates this subject strongly and painfully. In some, the mind has been destroyed piecemeal, by paralysis; and in others, it has sunk at once into oppression and stupor, never to be removed. THE MINIATURE. A "DOUBTFUL" LIKENESS. The likeness of his wife: He gaz'd upon his treasure still; "This picture is yourself, dear JANE! 'Tis drawn by nature true; I've kiss'd it o'er and o'er again,It is so much like you!" "And did it kiss you back my dear ?" "Why no, my love," said he; "Then, WILLIAM, it is very clear 'Tis not at all like ME!" "No Place like Home." WE do love our home, and we do love a good English song; we also love to cluster round the instrument with an unaffected girl before us, who will play an accompaniment without "fuss," and will lead in a merry glee. This we call social, enjoyable, friendly music. And then, when our day's toil is over, we love to lounge in our easy chair, while one, whom we need not name, gently plays in the darkling light some dreamy, floating air. Then she dashes into a gayer strain; now her soft voice breathes out a simple song, music and words alike full of poetry; and we are drawn from our shell, close, closer to her side; and our arms fall from the back of the chair to her "clipsome waist," and the music is all our own. this we love; there is no showing off, no affectation-there is home and happiness alone. Progress of Knowledge. Yes THERE are two things at which the philosophers of some future age will stand equally astonished; one, that a man should ever have been called upon to believe any mystery, philosophical or religious, without a preponderance of evidence of a nature which he can grasp, or on the mere ipse dixit of a fallible creature like himself; the other, that when there is such evidence, man should reject the mystery, merely because it is one. And the latter will be regarded, perhaps the more astonishing of the two.-Edin CASES of insanity from over-exertion of the faculties of the intellect, occasionally present themselves. They are produced by exertion too long continued, even in powerful minds; but by new and anxious studies in minds of less power, for which such studies are too much. The fear always is, that a kind of paralysis of the mental faculties is established, and that the mind may never re-burgh Review. SPRING IS COMING. Spring is coming-Spring is coming! Of the birds in brake and bower; Spring is coming-Spring is coming! Sky of blue and clouds of white. Of the young moon gleams on high— Still at morn, at noon, and even, Spring is full of joy for me, For I ponder, as I wander, And my musings are of thee. Still on thee my thoughts are dwelling, Feel I near thee, lovely one! I can hear thy joyous tone. LOVE CREATIVE, thee I sing; Now I meet thee,-and I greet thee [From the Dublin University Magazine.] THE VEGETARIANS.-Mrs. Swisshelm concludes an article in her Pittsburgh Advertiser, directed against the vegetarians, with the following poser:-"As for not making walking sepulchres of themselves,'-this not one of them can avoid. Every one of them has swallowed a hecatomb of living creatures, and the difference between them and beefeaters is, that they prefer to gulp their prey alive whole, while the others have theirs killed and dressed. Fruit, vegetables, and water, teem with animal life; and the more of these one eats and drinks, the more happy families he consigns to a living tomb. Thus he swallows whole nations, without deriving the benefit he might from eating a thousandth part of a single animal of another class." Letters. STRANGE and mysterious mixture of old rags and size, what a world of emotions have you conveyed about this earth! Not the most terrible stage that has ever represented to the eyes of admiring thousands the works of the poet, or displayed the skill of the actor, has produced such deep tragedy as you. How often has the sight of the thin folded sheet, with its strange, crooked hieroglyphics, overwhelmed the lightest and the gayest heart with heaviness and mourning! how often changed the smile into the tear! how often swept away the gay pageants of imagination, and memory, and hope, and left the past all darkness, and the future all despair! But on the contrary, how often have ye been the unexpected mes. sengers of happiness and joy! how often have ye brought sunshine and light into a benighted breast! how often have ye dispelled in a moment the dark thunder-clouds of the world's blackest storms,-ay, and sometimes, too, have closed as with a lightning-flash, the black tempestuous day of a long sorrowful life, with a gleam of ecstacy, too intense and potent to survive! K' NOTICE. IDD'S OWN JOURNAL- The FIRST VOLUME of this Popular Miscellany, with TITLE PAGE, PREFACE, INDEX, &c., is Now READY. Price 2s. 6d., handsomely bound in cloth. Abridged from the LITERARY TIMES of April. "The time is quite gone by for matters of general interest to be exclusive. The march of mind is rapidly progressing, and everybody thirsts to be as well informed as his neighbor. Mr. Kidd is evidently aware of this, and all his writings wholesomely tend to the benefit and instruction of society at large; and this at the cheapest possible rate. "Mr. Kidd has acted very judiciously in dividing this work into Quarterly volumes. The First Volume, for 'Spring.' has just been issued; and by the aid of a most lucid Index, and very instructive Preface, it is made a really valuable Book of Reference. It is handsomely bound in embossed cloth, and stamped on the side in rich gold letters. As a literary or Birth-day Present, or as an ornament for the Drawing-room table, no book could be more suitable. It will be heartily welcomed by all who love Nature and the works of God. "Summer, Autumn, and Winter, will form the three volumes following next in order; and as the seasons advance, it is only fair to anticipate even an increased pleasure in a perusal of the articles from the Editor's observant pen. Nothing appears to escape his eye whilst rambling through the fields, and he seems equally 'at home' everywhere. "A publication thus conducted, may be honestly commended to the Million, for it puts infidelity to the blush: atheism is indeed left no corner in which to hide its guilty head." London: Published by WILLIAM SPOONER, AGENTS: EDINBURGH, J. MEN379, Strand. ZIES; DUBLIN, EDWARD MILLIKEN; GLASGOW, MURRAY and SON. LONDON: Published for WILLIAM KIDD, by WILLIAM SPOONER, 379, Strand, (to whom ALL Letters, Parcels, and Communications, Addressed to "the Editor," and BOOKS FOR REVIEW, are to be forwarded); and Procurable, by order, of every Bookseller and Newsvendor in the Kingdom. Agents. Dublin, Edward Milliken; Edinburgh, John Menzies; Glasgow, Murray and Son. M. S. Myers, Printer, 22, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden. A LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, AND INSTRUCTIVE FAMILY PAPER. ""BRITISH SONG Conducted by WILLIAM KIDD, of Hammersmith,— AUTHOR OF THE Familiar and POPULAR ESSAYS ON "NATURAL HISTORY; BIRDS; "BIRDS OF PASSAGE;" "INSTINCT AND REASON;" "THE AVIARY AND ITS OCCUPANTS," &c. " "THE OBJECT OF OUR WORK IS TO MAKE MEN WISER, WITHOUT OBLIGING THEM TO TURN OVER FOLIOS AND QUARTOS.—TO FURNISH MATTER FOR THINKING AS WELL AS READING."—EVELYN. No. 18.-1852. SATURDAY, MAY 1. COUNTRY RAMBLES.* PRICE 1d. Or, in Monthly Parts, Price 7d. felt sure that we should be blessed with a fine day. Our faith was honored in its fullest No. I.-HANGER HILL, TWYFORD ABBEY, extent, and our glorious companion, the Sun, WILLESDEN, &c. How sweet it is to rise before the sun; SUCH WERE OUR SLEEPING,-such were our waking thoughts on Saturday, the 10th ultimo. We breathed them, confidentially, in our Publisher's ear, which caused him to start from his seat. "Are you in earnest?" said he; "and do I rightly understand the look of your speaking eye? Are you going for a country ramble soon; and am I to accompany you? Then will my pleasing dream, too, come true!" Here was 66 sympathetic affection" for a ramble! kept us company from "morn till noon, from noon till dewy eve." We may just mention, that the good lady of his house had very kindly provided our companion, for our joint benefit, with some most savory and admirably-concocted pâtés; leaving nothing for us to do in this way, came no way behind; for when we are abroad, save to eat and to praise. In this matter we we are very children, both in appetite and in feeling. gress,was a family of goslings, newly entered The first thing that greeted us on our prointo life. These were followed by another! and another!! What a sweetly pretty sight it was, to observe how, at this tender age, some of them would lie stretched out at full nature quite as much as ourselves! Their length, basking in the sun's rays-enjoying parents, too! how fondly they eyed their infant progeny, and stood by to shelter them from the attack of a passing dog, or other We have before remarked, that we and our Publisher are kindred, genial spirits; it will be readily surmised therefore, that we were not long in fixing a day for our ramble -that day was Tuesday, April 13. We shall long remember it; and we wish the Pub-enemy! Whilst "chewing the cud" of these lic to remember it too, and to ramble where WE rambled. May they be as happy as we were! Having no great liking for the haunts frequented by Easter holiday folk, we shaped our course where we were well assured we should be unmolested; and at an early hour we found ourselves en route, and wending our way across Turnham Green Common. The sun rose kindly on us; and though certain mists obscured the horizon, yet we There are many of our readers who reside in very picturesque localities, and who must, during the coming seasons of spring, summer, and autumn, have many pleasing rambles. Let us invoke from them a short contribution now and then, with a description of the flowers and birds peculiar to their respective localities, and which they may have observed during their walks. We to-day set the example.-ED. K. J. VOL. I. NEW SERIES. pleasing thoughts, and commenting thereon, of the late Sir John Sebright, on Acton Green we found ourselves passing the rural cottage Common. We could not help observing the present miserable aspect of this place, by comparison with what it was when Sir John lived! fowls, his elegant bantams, and choice farm His beautiful pigeons and fancy stock, had altogether vanished. Cleanliness and comfort had given way to filthiness and misery. We thought of the kind welcome and hospitality which we had in times gone by experienced here, and passed on. doors further than the spot we have just Proceeding up the lane, and a very few been speaking of (on the right), we stopped to admire a very prettily-arranged garden. Neatness was marked upon the garden and its owner. The latter modestly peeped out; and hearing us speak in praise of a most beautiful wall-flower in full blossom, with the utmost good nature presented us with some of its finest flowers. She also kindly insisted on our seeing a pretty little puppy recently born, which, with its anxious and half-suspi. cious mamma, were handed over the rustic fence for us to cosset. The appeal was irresistible. We both did the amiable, hugged the dogs, and made the good dame "happy." Here let us record an act of unkindness that we were about to do. Our hand instinctively found its way into the pocket of our "continuations," and grasped a sixpence. This small coin we intended to place in the hand of the gudewife who had presented us with the flowers! Some demon suggested the idea; but our good angel prevailed. The coin dropped from our hand. We smiled as we said adieu! and we looked-aye, both of us, delighted that our conscience was as clear as our entertainer's sincerity was genuine. Bless that said old dame! readers' imagination; for when treating on Country Rambles, our pen gets sadly discursive, loving to minimise and particularise every little pleasing incident. Crossing through Acton, and entering the Ealing road, we found ourselves in the lane immediately contiguous to the twin-ponds. We gained this by taking the first turning on the right, in the main road. This lane, from its extreme loveliness and perfect rurality, is called the "Lovers' Lane." And in sooth, if ever two individuals should be "troubled in their minds" (and some of us no doubt have been ere now, and may be again!) and find themselves walking here-the trouble cannot be of any long duration. It must find immediate vent. Both we and our companion could come to no other conclusion. It is a fairy garden, peopled with flowers, birds, trees, shrubs, and all that Nature calls beauWe now quickly found ourselves trudg-tiful. How pleased shall we be to hear ing through fields of young, growing corn, richly green, and delicious to the eye; and with lofty trees before us, sheltering a whole choir of the feathered tribe. Arrived here, we halted to listen to the music. No pennot ours at least-can describe the united harmony of thrush, blackbird, titlark, woodlark, and black cap, and many others that poured from within these trees! We half envied Captain Heald the possession of his dwelling, so consecrated by the feathered muses. Never, we will avow, did his Lola Montes sing so sweet! for here "innocence" reigned supreme. It were impossible for us to attempt to dwell on the voices of the birds, separately, now. Many opportunities will offer for this. But we must speak of one skylark in particular, who, as he rose high on the wing, distilled on us such a succession of sweet sounds that they live with us yet. He claimed the skies as his own; and surely The broad unbounded sky is all his own; No land-mark there; no hand to bring him down. A rustic, or rather we imagine, a gardener, who passed us while we were thus " rapt, exclaimed," Aye, masters, that is a bird! We know him; he goes up every morning at three o'clock!" Then, when he had proceeded some considerable distance, he turned round and shouted out-"A'IN'T it a shame to clap such birds in cages?" We groaned inwardly, remembering certain offences of ours this way in early days; but we contrived to ejaculate "It is," and in a firm manly voice. We must now leave very much to our that we have been instrumental in giving ease to only one breaking-perhaps brokenheart! We repeat, therefore, for the benefit of all "persons about to marry"-enter here. Vows made in such a spot, never could be broken. At the extreme end of this lane-sacred to Cupid-turn to the left, and you will be vis à vis to Hanger Hill, one of the loveliest spots in her Majesty's dominions. On the broad walk, of which we are speaking, overarched as it is with lofty trees, and walled with graceful shrubberies, you may stay some hours, if time permits; particularly if anything remains unsaid in the lane (last mentioned), that ought to have been said. We rested here some considerable time; for the nightingales and black caps, which had only recently arrived, and which were lavish of their songs, held us spell-bound. again our pen must be stopped, or our offence of enlarging on what we saw, felt, and heard, would be great indeed! Here We may, however, direct attention to Hanger Vale Villa, the seat of Nicholls, Esq., at the remote end of the broad walk we have been speaking of, and forming an angle at Hanger Hill. The ornamental water on the lawn, the neat disposition of the trees, shrubs, and evergreens, and the repose visible in the whole arrangement of the grounds, deserve especial notice. The laurustinus most tastefully interwoven with its blushing and more pretending brethren; and the harmony of the whole was to the eye most pleasing. The daffodils looked gay and cheerful, while the primroses more modestly asserted their claims to attention. was We must now conduct our readers in imagination along this beautiful Hill, until they find us halting at a small hostelry, of some note in its way, called the Fox and went on. Upon the hill we turn'd, To take a last fond look from our minds, when we saw him place the fore finger of his right hand longitudinally across his nose, while the residue of his digits (thumb included) quickly vibrated, as if struck with "the dance of St. Vitus." The agitation over; he summed up, by saying, that "when the wife was drunk, the husband was sober, and wicey wharsey; in addition to which, all the members of both families were quartered on the house, which couldn't stand it no longer; for they eat and drunk up all that was in the place; so that travellers couldn't get nawthin!" We now questioned him as to himself, and more particularly as to his name,-Hercules Allen. We told him, he once had a namesake great among the Clubs, a man of illustrious descent; and that for labor, none could compare with him, nor could they for renown. 66 Aye, aye, Sir," said he, "but I come of a higher family than that. One of my ancestors succeeded Herod, and I can prove it from the Bible. I am proud and then, guided like a camel, by a peculiar of my origin." "Indeed!" quoth we; and instinct, we smelt ale in the near distance. is your name mentioned in the Bible?" We descended, and found it at Apperton," Aye, that it is," responded Boniface, "and a village (with one house in it) hard by. Of the Fox, and Goose, and "little room," Here we were instantly "at home;" and seated on a bench under the clear blue sky, we enjoyed a meal of rare excellence. We were much amused, whilst making inquiry of our fair hostess (a plumper!) which was the best liquor she had,-beer or ale? All we could get from her was,-" Which you please." But which do you like best?" asked we, in our blandest and most insinuating tone (the country air renders such an experiment naturally easy!) A shake of the head was our only response. "Do you never take any, then?" remarked we, significantly. Here, we triumphed. "N-o, I do-a-n-t!" smirked the old lady; adding emphatically" Thank God!" This was a poser; nevertheless, the ale and beer (barring the fact of the latter being only just in," and muddy) were passable. We will now record something that shall immortalise this little road-side inn; for the landlord is of high lineal descent. Perching himself upon a bench facing us, Boniface, a blue-stockinged veteran, who we should (ignorantly) have guessed to have been one of the "ornaments "in Noah's Ark, opened a running fire on us in the way of conversation, his highlows beating time to his words. We first questioned him as to the cause of the Fox and the Goose being " done up ;" | telling him that that circumstance alone caused us to have the pleasure of his company. We gathered one-half the "particulars" from the extraordinary movement of his head, eyes, knees, and hands, which appeared to be in search of the "perpetual motion;" and we felt much mist dispelled I will lay you a pint of beer that I can show it you.' "Done!" said we; and away went Sir John Barleycorn for the book, whilst we emptied our glasses. The book was produced, and the second chapter of St. Matthew, and the 22nd verse was triumphantly pointed out for us to read. We read aloud as follows: "But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judæa, in the room of his father Herod, &c." "I told you so," chuckled the old man (he could not of course read); "my name-sake, HERCULES, did succeed Herod, for the Bible says so, and I have won the wager." Gently," said we, "the words are spelt differently, quite differently." "That may be," said the old man; "but mine is spelt right, and the other sounds very like it; so it's all the same thing,-at all events, very near it." This "floored" us; and we left the old man rejoicing in the pride of ancestry. "Where ignorance is bliss, 'twere folly to be wise!" But we must bring our rambles to a close; first noticing that the river Brent flows past Apperton, and that many young anglers stop here in the season to catch tittlebats, in which feats, according to the Apperton records, "they sometimes succeed, but oftener not." Retracing our steps, and again passing the inhospitable Fox and Goose (who had drunk themselves out, and eaten themselves up), we soon found ourselves passing through the lodge into the picturesque avenue leading to Twyford Abbey. Our companion, we could see, had, with the greatest good taste, oftentimes made this place and its vicinity his favorite walk-sly fellow!—for he pointed |