But never did I see,

In mead or mountain, or domestic bower,
'Mong many a lovely and delicious flower,
One half so fair as thee!

Thy beauty makes rejoice

My inmost heart. I know not how 'tis so-
Quick coming fancies thou dost make me know,
For fragrance is thy voice.

Thy home is in the wild,

'Mong sylvan shades, near music-haunted springs, Where peace dwells all apart from earthly things, Like some secluded child.

The beauty of the sky,

The music of the woods, the love that stirs
Wherever Nature charms her worshippers,
Are all by thee brought nigh.

I shall not soon forget

What thou hast taught me in my solitude;
My feelings have acquired a taste of good,
Sweet flower! since first we met.

Thou bring'st into the soul

A blessing and a peace, inspiring thought!
And dost the goodness and the power denote
Of HIM who formed the whole.-Anderson.

THE SUGAR CANE.

SUGAR is one of the most valuable vegetable substances with which civilized beings have become acquainted-so varied and extensive are its uses, and so greatly does it minister to the social gratifications of mankind.

The Sugar Cane must be considered as a native of China, since its cultivation was prosecuted in that empire for two thousand years before sugar was even known in Europe, and for a very long period before other eastern nations became acquainted with its use. For some time

after this substance, in its crystalline form, had found its way to the westward, through India and Arabia, a singular degree of ignorance prevailed in regard to its nature and the mode of its production; and there is reason for

believing that the Chinese, who have always evinced an unconquerable repugnance to foreign intercourse, purposely threw a veil of mystery over the subject.

A knowledge of the origin of Cane Sugar was correctly revealed in the middle of the thirteenth century, by the celebrated traveller, Marco Polo; though it was partially known much earlier. The plant was soon conveyed to Arabia, Nubia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, where it became extensively cultivated. Early in the fifteenth century the Sugar Cane first appeared in Europe. Sicily took the lead in its cultivation; thence it passed to Spain, Madeira, and the Canary Islands; and shortly after the discovery of the new world, by Columbus, this plant was conveyed to Hayti and Brazil, from which latter country it gradually spread to the islands of the West Indies.

The canes have knotty stalks, and at each joint or knot a leaf is produced. The number of joints varies in different specimens, some having as many as eighty, and others not half that number. The Sugar Cane varies exceedingly in its growth, depending upon the nature of the soil. In new and moist land it sometimes attains the height of twenty feet. It is always propagated from cuttings. The planting of canes does not require to be renewed annually.

The hoeing of a cane-field is a most laborious operation when performed, as it must be, under the rays of a tropical sun. Formerly this task was always effected by hand labour, but of late years, where the nature of the ground will admit of the employment of a plough, that instrument has been substituted, to the mutual advantage of the planter and his labourers.

When the canes are fully ripe they are cut close to the ground, and being then divided into convenient lengths. are tied up in bundles and conveyed to the mill. The canes on being passed twice between the cylinders of this mill, have all their juice expressed. This is collected in a cistern, and must be immediately placed under process by heat to prevent its becoming acid. A certain quantity of lime in powder, is added at this time to promote the separation of the grosser matters contained in the juice;

and these being, as far as possible, removed at a heat just sufficient to cause the impurities to collect on the surface, the cane liquor is then subjected to a very rapid boiling, in order to evaporate the watery particles, and bring the syrup to such a consistency that it will granulate on cooling. Upon an average, every five gallons, imperial measure, of cane juice, will yield six pounds of crystallized sugar, and will be obtained from about one hundred and ten well grown canes.

When the sugar is sufficiently cooled in shallow trays, it is put into the hogsheads, wherein it is shipped to Europe. These casks have their bottoms pierced with holes, and are placed upright over a large cistern, into which the molasses which is the portion of saccharine matter that will not crystallize-drains away, leaving the raw sugar in the state we see it in our grocers' shops. The casks are then filled up, headed down and shipped.

The molasses which have drained from the sugar, together with all the scummings of the coppers, are collected, and, being first fermented, are distilled for the production of Rum.-Vegetable Substances.

THE HAREBELL AND THE FOX-GLOVE.

IN a valley obscure, on a bank of green shade,
A sweet little Harebell her dwelling had made;
Her roof was a woodbine, that tastefully spread
Its close-woven tendrils, o'erarching her head;
Her bed was of moss, that each morning made new;
She dined on a sunbeam, and supp'd on the dew;
Her neighbour, the nightingale, sung her to rest;
And care had ne'er planted a thorn in her breast.
One morning she saw, on the opposite side,
A Fox-glove displaying his colours of pride;
She gazed on his form that in stateliness grew,
And envied his height and his brilliant hue:
She mark'd how the flow'rets all gave way before him,
While they press'd round her dwelling with far less
decorum ;

Dissatisfied, jealous, and peevish she grows,

nd the sight of the Fox-glove destroys her repose.

She tires of her vesture, and swelling with spleen,
Cries, "Ne'er such a dowdy blue mantle was seen!"
Nor keeps to herself any longer her pain,

But thus to a Primrose begins to complain :-
"I envy your mood, that can patient abide

The respect paid that Fox-glove, his airs and his pride;
There you sit, still the same, with your colourless cheek,
But you have no spirit, would I were as meek."
The Primrose, good humour'd, replied, "If you knew
More about him-(remember I'm older than you,
And better instructed, can tell you his tale)—
You'd envy him least of all flowers in the vale;
With all his fine airs, and his dazzling show,
No blossom more baneful and odious can low;
And the reason that flow'rets before him give way
Is because they all hate him and shrink from his ray.
"To stay near him long would be fading or death,
For he scatters a pest with his venomous breath;
While the flowers that you fancy are crowding you there
Spring round you, delighted your converse to share:
His flame-coloured robe, is imposing, 'tis true;
Yet, who likes it so well as your mantle of blue?
For we know that of innocence one is the vest,
The other, the cloak of a treacherous breast.
"I see your surprise-but I know him full well,
And have number'd his victims as fading they fell;
He blighted twin-violets, that under him lay,
And poison'd a sister of mine the same day."
The Primrose was silent-the Harebell, 'tis said,
Inclin'd for a moment, her beautiful head;
But quickly recover'd her spirits, and then
Declar'd that she ne'er should feel envy again.-Anon.

ON FEMALE ACQUIREMENTS.

TIME is not unfrequently misspent in mere reading. The getting through a certain number of volumes is thought to be a meritorious exertion, and is looked back upon with complacency; though, perhaps, all this painstaking labour has been without benefit, and has done nothing towards enriching or strengthening the mind. Some read

without recollecting; many more without thinking, and many again without applying what they read to any moral or practical purpose. For, after all, literature is a mere step to knowledge; and the error often lies in our identifying one with the other. Literature may, perhaps, make us vain;-true knowledge must render us humble. We are all apt to imagine that what costs us trouble must be of value: yet there is much need of discretion, both in the choice and manner of our acquirements. In both, utility should always be in question,-utility as it affects the mind. History, for instance, with all its accompanying branches, is in this view a suitable and most improving study.

Not unfrequently, too, are we wrong in our estimate of acquirements. We value them by their rarity; and are apt to neglect what is essential, because it is easy, for the sake of what is difficult because it is uncommon.

It is very important, not only that the mind should be well informed, but that there should be a taste for knowledge; which should be appreciated for its own sake, not merely as a distinction.

Slovenly attire, an ill-conducted household, and an illarranged table, are in the minds of many, identified with female acquirement. If the woman of mind bears with equanimity petty vexations,-if she lends a reluctant ear to family tales,—if she is not always expatiating on her economy, nor entertaining by a discussion of domestic annoyances; she is not the less capable of controlling her household, or of maintaining order in its several departments. Rather will she occupy her station with more dignity, and fulfil its duties with greater ease.

At the same time she should ever bear in mind, that knowledge is not to elevate her above her station, or to excuse her from the discharge of its most trifling duties. It is to correct vanity, and repress pretension. It is to teach her to know her place and her functions; to make her content with the one, and willing to fulfil the other. It is to render her more useful, more humble, and more happy. Such a woman will be, of all others, the best satisfied with her lot. She will not seek distinction, and, therefore, will not meet with disappointment. She will not be