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HORTICULTURAL . - HEALTH
Songs in Many Keys. By Oliver Wendell Holmes. 1 vol., 12 mo. Boston: Ticknor & Fields.-What a wonderful man is Holmes ! Poet, wit, essayist, novelist, lecturerwhere, in all the land, is his equal ? Lately he came before us in " Elsie Verner," still more lately in the guise of a writer on science, and now he makes his appearance in a collection of poems, which would create a reputation for any other man. We recognize a score of old favorites in this volume. The book is printed and bound with the taste that distinguishes the publications of Ticknor & Fields. Eugenie Grandet ; or, The Miser's Daughter. By Honore de Balzac. 1 vol., 12 mo. New York : Rudd & Carleton.To those who cannot read French this translation of one of Balzac's best tales will be quite an acquisition. In a certain line no novels excel Balzac's. The usual objections to French fictions do not apply to this work. The heroine is exquisitely delineated ; she moves before us, real flesh and blood; and we love and respect her the more, because there is no exaggeration in the picture. The whole story has not only the minute fidelity of a photograph, but also, what no photograph has, color. Poems. By John G. Saze. 1 vol., 18 mo. Boston : Ticknor & Fields.-An edition, in " blue and gold," ofthe writings in verse of that popular poet, John G. Saxe.
DEPARTMENT .
whole growth for the ensuing twelve months is completed in about three weeks ; and if you desire to have fine foliage and a fine setting of bloom-buds for the next winter, you must give your plant every advantage of light and food during these critical three weeks. The Chinese Azaleas are of very easy culture. Regular watering is almost the only care they need ; for, being quite hardy, they will bloom well even in a room where " Jack Frost" occasionally ventures to intrude. The main point in growing them is to watch them well when they are making the spring growth ; for, as in the case of camelias, the state of the next year's foliage and bloom is settled at that time; do not, therefore, neglect to water them regularly, and give a little liquid manure every other day. It may be as well to add that the best soil for the azalea is made by mixing equal quantities of decomposed manure, turf-loam, and garden soil. For the camelia, one-half turfloam, one-third manure from an old hot-bed, and the rest leafand mould from the woods. (Turf-loam is got by laying up sods, from a good piece of old meadow or pasture, in a heap to heat and decay.)
HEALTH DEPARTMENT . EARLY RISING AND EXERCISE.-Clear, healthful, and invigorating plays the breeze upon the cheek these fair HORTICULTURAL. mornings. Clearer, healthier, more invigorating by far OUR WINDOW GARDEN.- The two finest genera of plants, than that breathed and breathed again in chambers closed for parlor cultivation, are undoubtedly the Camelia and the long night through. Come, rouse yourself from your Azalea. They are both remarkable for the beauty of their lethargic slumbers. Open your eyes upon the new-born flowers; are easily cultivated; and, taken together, will day. Get up, I say. The first plunge out is half the furnish a bloom for the window during the whole winter battle. Come out through the open fields, and look the and spring. The camelias are in their perfection in the blessed world face to face while the day is young. But no. early part of the winter ; the azaleas in the last part- and You will not make the effort : resolutely you turn away the latter are as desirable for the profusion and elegance your drowsy head, and close your eyes against the clear, of their blossoms, as the former are for the size and richness brilliant light streaming in through the window-blinds. of their flowers. These two plants, in all their varieties, Not yet has the late sitting-up of the night previous been would fill a large conservatory ; but a few select varieties atoned for by the sleep into broad day. It is far too early will amply adorn the drawing-room, and fully repay the yet; the morning is so cold ; the parlor not yet worked up care bestowed upon them. to steaming heat. What though the morn be slightly The greatest evils the camelia has to contend with inclouded or not, yet do the sunbeams pierce through the parlor culture, are: first, from a dusty atmosphere ; second, lower branches? Come out with me. Wrapped in a warm from sudden changes from heat to cold. The breathing shawl, how much healthier and happier will you feel out pores in the leaf of the camelia are small, and are easily in the glad, fresh world, filling the lungs with the clear, choked up with the dust of a grate or stove. Therefore the buoyant air! Come and gaze upon the broad blue heavens. leaves should be well washed off with a syringe about once Oh! come and prove for yourself how much healthier, and a week. The best plan is to wrap the pot round with a happier, and more contented you will be, out among the piece of coarse cloth, to prevent the soil from being dis- glorious creations of a wonder-working God, than lolling placed, then set the plants down sideways in a large tub, away the hours before breakfast in listless, apathetic indolence, lounging down to the breakfast parlor late in the and give it a gentle shower-bath of lukewarm water. As regards the second point, the camelia will bear a forenoon dull and unrefreshed, to sit before the strong fire great deal of cold without injury; but it quickly suffers if in an easy-chair, nursing a sick headache, doors and winthere is a sudden change in the temperature of the apart- dows closed, blinds carefully drawn, lest the glad beams of ment. It should, therefore, have a position as much guarded the sunny light offend your weary eyes. See how your against these transitions as possible. When the blooming face glows at the mention of a ball. With what alacrity season approaches, the room should be kept of a nearly uni- you go to your dress-maker ! how fresh and strong you are form temperature, and never sink below fifty degrees Fah- for shopping ! But these things over, and the stupid loll, renheit. The plants should be regularly watered; but no the fretful sigh, and the eternal round of complaining commore water should be given than the roots are able to take mences again. up, which may be ascertained by the state of the top soil. Do you know how much self-enjoyment you are losing? If this looks wet, you may be satisfied that the roots are Hear Betty singing and laughing pleasantly in the kitchen. moisture therefore, watering not in need of
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omit the Coarse, ungraceful, and ignorant as she is, God looks upon for a day or two. When the plant begins to bloom freely, her with more favor than upon you. She is filling up the it is well to water it once a week (not oftener) with guano measure of her life usefully. You are wasting yours. She water, made by infusing one pound of guano in ten gallons is living for something-doing good to somebody. You are of water. This will give additional size and strength to ruining yourself, and living to the injury of those around the blossoms. After the flowers drop off, and the plant you. Yes, you render them uncomfortable by your ungracommences to grow, guano water may be used twice or cious words, your gloomy repinings, your moody silence ; even three times a week. Everything for the next year you damp the spirits of those around you ; you live not only depends on the growth of the camelia at this time; for its to do no good, but to do positive injury. What are the glad
