state. It is then carried up to the leaves, where it is spread out to the action of the light and air, to be elaborated and fitted to support and nourish the plant; it is returned from the leaves through the cellular tissue, and furnishes the woody structure, buds, leaves and flowers. Two essentials must be remembered in this connexion-the proper food for the plant must be presented to the root, and the leaves must be exposed to the action of the light and air, for thus only are the juices prepared to feed the plant. The necessary preliminaries to growth are then, a proper soil, a good system of leaves light and air. The leaves also absorb a quantity of carbonic gas from the atmosphere, which makes wood; it is thus that cuttings are supported until they become rooted. Leaves are the lungs of plants, which exhale the superabundant moisture which the roots take up; they do this more rapidly when exposed to a current of air than in a close atmosphere, and hence to give them air promotes the formation of firm wood.

The presence of life in the plant controls the action of soil, and the salts it contains, &c., upon the plant and of the plant upon them, and when this principle is weak, the spongioles use their discri minating power, and take in with equal facility that which is useful and that which is pernicious. The importance of this fact will be perceived, since only a healthy plant can bear the stimulant soil needful to a perfect and abundant bloom.

All plants must have a season of rest. This, in a state of nature, they receive through the influence of cold weather, or a dry season. We must imitate this process if we wish to have strong plants, by withholding supplies of water and heat; when we shall find the plant, after suffi cient rest, pushing strong buds again. This is the signal for renewed cultivation. At this time cut out most of the old wood, give the plant a gentle watering, and bring it into the warm room: it will not disappoint you of a free bloom. If you do not approve this course, or it is not convenient, take cuttings from the old plant, when the bloom is over, and throw the plant away. The plants from cuttings may be kept in a state of constant growth till they have bloomed, when you proceed as before. This is, however, ncompatible with a desire for large plants.

SOIL. It is difficult within the limits of a paper like this, to give minute descriptions of the proper soils for various plants; we may say, however, that wooded plants, roses for instance, require a rather strong loam mixed with rotten chip dirt, or vegetable mould, to make it permeable to water and a small portion of old manure. Geraniums require a vegetable mould, mixed with manure and a little sand. Verbenas require more sand, and cactuses require lime-rubbish mingled with the soil. Heaths require peaty

soil mixed with fine sand.

Watering the plants, though it seem a very simple thing, is a matter of some consequence, and either excess or deficiency is injurious. Our fair friends, however do not often let their plants suffer for the want of it, but rather seek in profuse waterings a panacea for all defects. Excessive waterings, however, sodden the earth and cause the roots to rot. To avoid this, give the pot a good drainage, and let the surface of the earth be dry before you water. This does not apply of course, to aquatic plants, which must have copious supplies of water at all times when in a state of growth. If the plant be feeble, all excess of exterior agency must be avoided. It must be watered sparingly and kept in an even temperature, which should not exceed 70 deg. Fahrenheit, and need not exceed 55 or 60 deg. If the pots are kept in saucers, be careful to pour the water out of them soon after watering the plants; and let the water be of the same temperature as the room in which they are kept.

The leaves of plants should be kept clean, in order that their functions may not be interrupted by the dust which gathers upon them; and the plant should be exposed as much as possible to sunshine, and in mild weather, to the air that it may get a firm habit. When the plants are in bloom, let them have pretty copious supplies of moisture at the root, as it would injure the bloom to stint them at that time.-SEL.

When a woman seeks to guide her husband, it should not be like one who breaks a horse to his own purpose-using bit and spur, now checking and now goading his career; but, like the mariner who steers the ship, directs it by a sin gle touch, while none can see the power that rules its motion.-SEL.

ENIGMA-No. 45

I am composed of 19 letters.

My 1, 4, 9, 19, 12, is a cape on the coast of Newfoundland.

My 6, 7, 14, is a mountain in the United States.

My 3, 12, 17, is a sea in Asia.

My 4, 1, 5, 10, is a grand division of the globe.

My 5, 3, 18, 19, 16, 17, is a division of Europe.

My 6, 3, 5, 12, 12, 18, is a town in Austria. My 7, 3, 13, 12, 4, 6, 1, is a town in France.

My 8, 3, 5, 7, is a cape on the coast of S. America.

My 9, 12, 16, 5, 16, is a province in Asia. My 14, 16, 6, 3, 4, 14, is a town in New Hampshire.

My 9, 7, 16, 7, 16, is a capital in the United States.

My 12, 17, 12, 16, 6, 17, 16, is a town in North Carolina.

My 19, 7, 16, 17, 7, 16, is a city in Europe. My 14, 4, 13, 2, 4, is an island in the Mediterranean.

My 4, 2, 13, 4, 1, is a range of Mountains in Africa.

My 16, 5, 13, 12, is a river in Africa.
My 17, 4, 3, 5, 12, 16, is a town in Geor-

gia.

My 18, 4, 1, 6, 7, 16, is a town in Maryland.

My 19, 5, 11, 18, 3, 5, 10, is a colony in Africa.

My whole is the name of a strait in Africa. Translation of French lines on Health, page

528.

DWIGHT'S AMERICAN MAGAZINE. AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER; With numerous Engravings, Edited by Theodore Dwight, Is published weekly, at the office of the New York Express, No. 112 Broadway, at 4 cents a number, or, to subscribers paying in advance, $2 a year. sets for $10. Monthly, in covered pamphlets, at same price. Postmasters are authorized to remit money, and are requested to act as agents. 6 copies for $10.

Enclose a Two Dollar Bill, without payment of postage, and the work will be sent for the year. Vols. I. and II., half-bound, or in muslin, $2.50 each.

Although the greater part of the course of the Mississippi lies between low and uniform banks, bordered by extensive lands, with little elevation and an unvarying surface, there are some places where the margin is varied by hills of different siz s, and several where rocks rise precipitously almost from the water's edge. Our print represents a spot of the latter description, which also strongly contrasts with that shown in the frontispiece of our last number, where the banks of the Mississippi appear scarcely high enough to prevent the overflowing of the water, even at its common level.

Some of the most conspicuous and best known of these rocky places are at the falls, and the celebrated "Pictured Rocks," so often noticed by writers, whose faces have been marked, from time immemorial, with rude figures drawn by the Indians, with ochre and some adhesive and protecting substance. At the

several falls, which occur at différent points along the upper parts of the river's course, rocks are exposed to view, some of considerable elevation, but most of them not rising much above the surface.

At the point represented in our print, however, three tall, perpendicular rocky bluffs rise abruptly from the low and level bank, and, standing at nearly equal distances, and much resembling each other in form and size, they form striking objects to travellers. Their sides present uncommon regularity of surface, and seem too smooth and regular for works of nature; while the long and narrow cavities observable here and there, are different heights, also have some resemblance to the loop-holes and embrasures of a fortress, and increase the illusion, which might lead us to imagine that they were constructions raised by the hand of man. The level at which all

their summits terminate, being the same, is another remarkable feature; and this seems to intimate their origin, affording evidence that they all once formed parts of one large eminence, the more yielding portions of which have been worn away, leaving these only reliques, to excite the attention of later ages.

This scene is copied from Mr. Banvard's panoramic paintings of the Mississippi, which were exhibited in New Orleans, a few months since, with much approbation. A tradition is told by the Indians, of a mournful event said to have occurred at this spot. The Kanzas Indians, having been reduced to a very small and feeble band, being pursued by their powerful enemies, took final refuge on the summit of the largest of these rocks. Finding it impossible to elude or to resist, they formed the desperate resolution of starving rather than surrender. Their foes surrounded and besieged the rock, but did not venture to scale the almost inaccessible precipices, and patiently awaited the effects of famine. These became daily more and more deadly, until the last of the Kanzas lay down to rise no more. The tribe became extinct, and those rocks are pointed at by the red men, as their tomb and monument. They add, in their superstitious belief, which connects every nation, family and individual, with some animal of the forest, that a white doe is sometimes to be seen at night, standing on the rocky eminence, for a white doe was supposed to be the guardian of the Kanzas.

The extraordinary length of the Mississippi has led to false impressions respecting the extent of its valley. Darby remarks, that, on this point, a general misapprehension has prevailed: for the tract of country drained by it, and its branches is so narrow in comparison with its length, that its area is far inferior to that of the Amazon and even the Plata. The latter, with a course of only 1,600 miles, has a basin 800 miles in average breadth, and the Amazon, 300 miles long, drains a surface 980 miles wide. The breadth of the Mississippi valley, however, including the Ohio and its other principal branches, is estimated at a medium breadth of only 550 miles. The areas of these three basins, therefore, are as follows: the Plata, 1,280,000 square miles; the Amazon, 2,940,000; and the Mississippi, 1,100,000.

Even the Oby, which has 2,150 miles, drains a surface of 1,290,000 square miles.

Yet, on the other hand, the valley of the Mississippi greatly exceeds in extent some of the other principal ones of the Old World. Thus, the basin of the Ganges and Burrumpoota united, 1,500 miles long, is only 380 miles wide, and has a surface of 589,000 square miles; the Indus, 1,200 by 180, has 216,000 sq. miles; the Euphrates and Tigris together, 1,150 by 140, has 161,000; the Nile, 1,680 by 250, has 420,000 sq. miles; and the Niger, 2,000 by 200, has 400,000 sq. miles.

HOW VERY ASTONISHING.-" By simply striking at one end of the telegraph, a set of keys, each of which answers to a letter or mark of punctuation, a communication will be printed at the other end of the wires!" This is a sentence from the notice published in the Trenton State Gazette, of the State Prisoner's invention of House's telegraph, and copied into a large number of wonder-catching papers. How wonderful it is--that touching a key at one end of a wire, should print a letter, or make a character at the other end! The idea apears altogether new to many sagacious editors, notwithstanding the various, frequent and repeated publication of descriptions of this principle during the last three years. We have on hand at least five different plans for telegraphic printing, invented and furnished by as many different persons, residing in different parts of the country. Most of them are very ingenious, and calculated to answer the purpose: but which will finally excel and take the preference, remains to be decided. One of these inventions (by Mr. Ellis of Springfield,) is arranged to print in regular lines across a sheet of letter paper; and if the invention succeeds in its operation, whether the operator is five feet or five hundred miles from the paper, he can print fair lines of Roman characters twice as fast as a good penman can write them. Good mechanics are employed on the subject, and important results will soon be ascertained. Scientific American.

The bee and the butterfly are both busy-bodies, but are differently employed.

True courage is that which is not afraid of being thought afraid; the rest is counterfeit.-SEL.

547

Ferret.

A striking proof of the sagacity, courage, and I may say reasoning powers of these animals, has been recently given me by a medical friend living at Kingston. Being greatly surprised that the ferret, an animal of slow locomotive powers, should be so destructive to the rat tribe, he determined to bring both these animals fairly into the arena, in order to judge of their respective powers; and having selected a fine, large and fullgrown male rat, and also an equally strong buck ferret, which had been accustomed to the haunts of rats, my friend, accompanied by his son, turned these two animals loose in a room without furniture, in which there was but one window, and the two philosophers determined to watch patiently the whole process of the

encounter.

Immediately upon being liberated the rat ran round the room, as if searching for an exit. Not finding any means of of escape, he uttered a piercing shriek, and with the most prompt decision took up his station directly under the light, thus gaining over his adversary (to nse the language of other duelists) "the advantage of the sun.' The ferret now erected his head, sniffed about, and seemed fearlessly to push his way toward the spot where the scent of his game was strongest, facing the light in full front, and preparing himself with avidity to seize upon his prey. No sooner, however, had he approached within two feet of his watchful foe, than the rat, again uttering a loud cry, rushed at him with violence and inflicting a severe wound on the head or neck, which was soon shown by the blood which flowed from it; the ferret seemed astonished at the attack, and retreated with evident discomfiture; while the rat, instead of following up the advantage he had gained, instantly withdrew to his former station under the window. The ferret recovered from the shock he had sustained, and erecting his head, once more took the field. This second recontre was in all its progress and results an exact repetition of the former, with this exception, that on the rush of the rat to the conflict, the ferret appeared more collected, and evidently showed an inclination to get a firm hold of his enemy; the strength of the rat, however, was very great, and he again succeeded

of the ferret, but also in inflicting another severe wound on his neck and head.

The rat, a second time, returned to his retreat under the window, and the ferret seemed less anxious to renew the conflict. These attacks were resumed at intervals for nearly two hours, all ending in the failure of the ferret, who was evidently fighting to a disadvantage from the light falling full on his eye whenever he approached the rat, who wisely kept his ground, and never for a moment lost sight of the advantage he had obtained. In order to prove whether the choice of this position depended upon accident, my friend managed to dislodge the rat, and took his own station under the window; but the moment the ferret attempted to make his approach, the rat, evidently aware of the advantage he had lost, endeavoured to creep between my friend's legs, thus losing his natural fear of man under the danger which awaited him from a more deadly foe.

The ferret by this time had learned a profitable lesson, and prepared to approach the rat in a more wily manner, by creeping insidiously along the skirting, and thus avoiding the glare of light that hitherto had baffled his attempt. The rat still pursued with unabated energy his original mode of attack, namely, inflicting a wound and avoiding at the same time a close combat; while it was equally certain that his foe was intent upon laying hold of, and griping his intended victim in his murderous embrace. The character of the fight, which had lasted more than three hours, was now evidently changed, and the rat appeared conscious that he had lost the advantage he originally possessed, and, like the Swedish hero, had taught his frequently beaten foe to conquer in his turn. At last, in a lengthened struggle, the ferret succeeded in accomplishing his originally-intended grapple; the rat, as if conscious of his certain ruin, made a little farther effort of resistance, but, sending forth a plaintive shriek, surrendered his life to his persevering foe.--SEL

Broken fortunes are like broken columns, the lower they sink, the greater the weight they have to sustain.-Ovid.

Men often bring hunger and thirst upon themselves by custom.-Locke.