MOUNTAIN ASH AND FIR.

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Coopers employ this wood in making their largest vessels, and for well-buckets and water-pails.

"The MOUNTAIN ASH is, as you know, a very beautiful tree, not only in its foliage, but in its blossoming, and its bright scarlet berries. This tree will thrive in any good soil, but it likes best a hilly situation. The wood is very tough, and was formerly reckoned next to the yew for making bows. Now the wheelwright and tool-maker use it. The berries are sometimes

added to malt in brewing: and when dry and powdered, make wholesome bread. The thrushes are so fond of them, that in the hard winters they are scarcely to be driven away from the trees.

The

"The SCOTCH FIR does not grow in Scotland alone. In Norway, Sweden, and Russia, it reaches an enormous size, covering, in large and dark woods, the highest hills, almost out of the reach of man. poorest sandy soil suits it best. Its wood we call deal, and it is used, as you must know, for many purposes; as the floors of our rooms, the beams and rafters of the houses, masts of ships, and many others, that I do not immediately recollect. I dare say you have seen the gum on the outside of the bark of the tree: well, that is turpentine; and when the oil of turpentine is taken from it by distilling, the remainder is what we call rosin. Tar is also turpentine, forced from the tree by means of fire; and this, when boiled, becomes pitch. So, you see how useful the fir-tree is. In Sweden and Norway, when there is a scarcity of provision, the poor people grind the inner bark of the fir, and mix it with their rye bread. The wind passing through a grove of firs, is exactly like the great roar of the sea at a distance.

"The CHESTNUT is a very beautiful tree, and will

78

MAPLE AND LINDEN.

live to as great an age as the oak. One tree in particular that I have heard of, can be proved to have stood in the year 1150; that is, nearly seven hundred years ago; and it was then considered an old tree. The chestnut thrives best in a rich soil. It is used for the same purposes that oak is; but it is not so valuable, because it is apt to split to pieces in working it. The HORSE-CHESTNUT is as handsome to look at as a fine nosegay, but its wood is not of much use.

"The MAPLE is much used by the turners; and among the Romans it was greatly prized in making cups; and on account of the beautiful variety of its knots, they used it for their tables. Some musical instruments are made of maple. It is not a favorite tree with me: I mean, I do not think it handsome, except in the autumn, when it makes amends for its want of beauty during the suminer, by putting forth such clumps of golden beauty, as (among greener and lighter foliage) give to a woodland scene a rich, and even a gorgeous effect.*

"The LIME, or LINDEN, is a very lovely object; and in a rich soil, and if it be not cut or disfigured in any way, it will become a magnificent tree. It is one of the first to welcome the coming of spring, and its blossoms, as you know, have a most fragrant scent, and are the delight of the bees. It is very pleasant to stand under a fine lime-tree, to have the sweet sm of its flowers, and to hear the murmur of those indus trious, and, no doubt, very happy little creatures. The wood of the lime is soft, and is used by the leathercutters to cut leather upon, because it does not blunt

The sugar-maple is a general favorite in this country, not less for the beauty of its foliage and the elegance of its form, than for the deli cious sweetness of its sap, from which the finest sugar is made.-EDS.

the edge of their tools. Carvers also use it for the fine ornaments in churches and old halls, in palaces, and such places. The wood makes good charcoal for drawing-pencils.

"The WALNUT I am sure you know pretty well; I need not tell you what sort of a tree it is, nor what fruit it bears; but I dare say you are ignorant of what the wood is used for. If you ever thought of it, I make no doubt you supposed it was of no farther use than to bear nuts for you to eat. However, the cabinet-makers and gun-makers would tell you a different tale. Bedsteads, chairs, tables, bureaus, wainscots, and the stocks of muskets, are frequently made of walnut. Near the root, the wood is beautifully veined, and is employed in inlaying, and other ornamental cabinet works. By pressing the nut in a mill, a quantity of oil may be drawn from it, which is used by painters and varnishers; and in some countries also for food, instead of butter. You know what an excellent pickle the young walnuts make; and what a 'pretty pick e' the gathering and shelling of them make of your hands. Those curious people that you were formerly so dreadfully alarmed at-the Gipseys-are said to stain their skins with the juice of walnut; but I do not believe so, for they are foreigners, and their complexions are dark by nature. Some people put the husks and leaves of walnuts into water to soak, and pour the liquor upon their gravel-walks to kill the earth-worms and grubs.

"Well, Adam," said his father, "if you are tired of my talking, tell me so, and I will leave off." "Oh no!" said he, "I like you to talk to me; but I like best to hear about birds and beasts." "I do not wonder at that," said his father; "all young people are

fond of natural history. If you continue to be a diligent and good boy, I will make you a present of a large natural history. However, as I should like you to observe and remember what trees and flowers bloom in the different months, let us now try and make out together the list of them. We have gone through the trees and shrubs; now, you begin with the flowers and let me see how many you can remember; for I wish to know what notice you take of these things." Adam said that there were peonies, and sweet-peas, and narcissuses, and poppies, and stocks, and tulips, and pinks, and Canterbury bells, and ranunculuses, and anemones, and hyacinths: then he stopped. "Well,” said his father, "you have not got a quarter through the list yet, I think; try again." Adam added, that there were jonquils, and columbines, and bachelors' buttons; and then he could go on no farther. "That is pretty well, however," said Mr. Stock; "now let me try what I can add to your list. Only think of your forgetting the charming and elegant lily!

'The lovely lady lily looking gently down.'

Story of Rimini. "Then there is the delicate candy-tuft; the solemn and well-named monkshood; curious catchfly; elegantly-colored American cowslip; feverfew; foxglove; polyanthus-narcissus; gentianella; honesty; saxifrage; 'iris of all hues ;' scabious, with its fine scent; the modest-looking lily of the valley; scarlet lychnis; Solomon's seal; London pride, and spiderwort. In the fields you would find the crosswort; water-violet; lamb's lettuce; hound's-tongue; cowslips, which make nice puddings and pleasant wine; the great wild valerian; yellow rattle; tormentil; white saxifrage; ram

sons; white nettle; wood-ruff; celandine; small wild bugloss; crowfoot; the children's old friend, the burnished buttercup; milk-wort; crane's-bill; hedge-mustard; black-bryony; moneywort; wild tansy; henbane; white-campion; clover; wild chervil; brooklime; cuckoo-flower, and spurrey. There is a list for you! I do not say that all these are worth the trouble of looking for and gathering; some are ordinary, and would very readily escape your notice; but, again, others are exceedingly pretty and delicate, particularly the lovely little blue veronica, or speedwell, with its pretty flowers growing by twos; like kind and gentle eyes, watching our steps and welcoming us abroad. That is, you know, your mother's favorite wild flower; and here comes Bella out of the lane, with her hands full of them." "Look, papa and Adam! what bunches of mamma's eye-bright I have found for her! Good bye; I must run in with them, for they droop so soon after they are gathered. Poor little things! they look as if they were all tired and going to sleep." And away she ran. "I do not wonder," said Mr. Stock, at your mother's admiration of that beautiful weed, or at her calling it 'eye-bright,' for it looks much more like bright eyes than any thing else: the real eye-right is, as you know, a very little, pale, lilac-colored, insignificant-looking weed, and takes its name from an old and foolish supposition that it was useful for weak eyes. So, that what with our show in the gardens, in the fields, and in the woods, this lovely month may well be called 'the flowery MAY.'"