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ESCAPE OF A FEMALE FROM DROWNING.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

SIR,

I TAKE in your "Cottager's Monthly Visitor," for the use of the poor families in my neighbourhood; and happening to cast my eye over the Number for November, I was very forcibly struck with the argument used in the Paper, entitled, The Art of Swimming. I am a practical instance of the truth of what you advance; for, happening to be in a boat that was overset on the Thames last summer, I was plunged into thirty feet of water. I soon rose to the surface, when I perceived a pole driving past me; I grasped it, but as the stream was extremely strong, I was whirled down it at a rapid rate; happily, however, it carried me to still water, where I laid on my back more than twenty minutes before assistance reached me. With extreme difficulty I managed to keep my face out of water, as my bonnet had filled, and slipping off my head, was a terrible weight round my neck. My presence of mind however never failed me; I knew that exertions would be made to send a boat after me, and I likewise knew, that my only chance was keeping myself composed and quiet; and the goodness of the Almighty enabled me to do this, and restored me to my friends and relations, when those who witnessed the accident had despaired of my life.

In hopes that my example may shew to your readers the importance of presence of mind, should it be the fate of any of them to be in similar danger, I send this for insertion in your valuable Publication. It may also serve to illustrate the truth of what your Correspondent advances, and possibly be the means of saving the life of some valuable individual. I am aware, that the pole

Selections from different Authors.

43

was an advantage to my support; but my wet clothes, and especially my bonnet, hanging from my neck full of water, were as much against me.

I am, Sir, your Constant Reader,

M. B.

SELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT AUTHORS.

GOD deprives us of nothing, which does not also tend to deprive us of himself.

Dr. Ireland. Faith is apt to sleep, and then sin awakes.

Bishop Horne. Isaac Walton said of George Herbert-" He made every day's sanctity a step towards that kingdom where impurity cannot enter."

A fantastic garb in apparel is the very bush or sign hanging out, which tells that a vain mind lodges within. Leighton. Affectation in any part of our carriage, is lighting up a candle to our defects; and never fails to make us be taken notice of, either as wanting sense, or wanting sincerity. Locke

Record every mercy you receive. Philip Henry. Time and opportunity are afforded to all, in different proportions; and it is only by labouring in time, and profiting by opportunity, that we can look forward with satisfaction to the unchangeableness of eternity.

Benson.

Those who have the management of children should take care not to make themselves feared by too much severity: for it is as impossible to draw fair and regular characters on a trembling mind, as on a shaking table. Locke.

Satan always rocks the cradle, when we sleep at our devotions. Bishop Hall.

we may indulge without fear, and never indulge too much; and that is the joy and desire of those heavenly things which we shall never be called upon to sacrifice, and the supply and the love of which will grow and increase in us for everBenson.

more.

Pray'r is the vital breath of faith,

Which makes the soul to heav'n arise;
Neglecting this, the man may live,

But ah! how soon the Christian dies!

If pray'r then be the life of faith,

And faith our guide to heav'n shall be ;
Oh! let us live a life of pray'r,

And thus entirely live to Thee.

Anon.

There is no earthly pleasure whereof we may not surfeit; of the spiritual we can never have enough. Bishop Hall. No cloud can overshadow a true Christian, but his faith can discern a rainbow in it.

Bishop Horne.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

SIR,

IN the course of the last year, I communicated a few simple directions for the management of cottage gardens, during every month. It is now my intention, should the design meet your approbation, to give more particular instructions for the cultivation of the most important trees and vegetables.

RHUBARB.

Rhubarb is cultivated for the sake of its roots, which are used in medicine; and the stalks, which are used in the kitchen. Rhubarb is ready for use

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at an earlier season than any fruit, and its produce is greater, in proportion to the extent of ground which it covers, than that of any tree.

Three species of Rhubarb are at present cultivated in this country: the common species, (Rheum rhaponticum); a new and very superior kind (R. hybridum) ;—and the Turkey Rhubarb (R. palmatum): these are all natives of China. The leafstalks of any of these sorts, may be used for making pies. The Hybrid sort is, however, to be preferred for this purpose, as it yields a more abundant crop of leaves, than either of the other species.

Rhubarb is propagated by dividing the roots, or by sowing the seeds. The seed may be obtained by permitting a plant to send up a flower stalk, which will produce seed in July or in August. Unless re tained for this purpose, the flower stalks ought to be destroyed; for their growth exhausts the roots.

When the roots are divided, care should be taken to preserve a bud on the top of each piece. It is the best method, to raise young plants by sowing the seed, on light earth, in Spring.

The following Autumn, the plants may be removed into beds, a yard, or four feet, apart. The ground should previously be trenched deep, and well manured. On each succeeding Spring, the ground must be manured again, and stirred as deeply as can be done without injuring the roots.

Rhubarb, when forced and blanched, is much better, and is less acid, and, therefore, when made into tarts or puddings, requires less sugar. Those who have not frames and hot dung, may obtain Rhubarb early and abundantly, by placing in a large flower-pot as many roots as possible, and then, after having filled up the vacancies with dry earth, removing them into a warm room or a cellar: this should not be done before the middle of January. After the leaves have been cut over two or three times, the plants should be turned out of the pot, into

the open ground, and permitted to rest a year, before they are again submitted to the same treatment.

Rhubarb may be blanched, and procured early, by covering the beds, to the thickness of a few inches, with light litter, just before the plants begin to vegetate.

On referring to the Edinburgh Dispensatory, I find, that, for medicinal purposes," British Rhubarb, as it is called, is cultivated in considerable quantities in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, and sold at nearly the price of foreign Rhubarb. It is easily reduced to a very fine powder, although the roots are merely washed and peeled before they are cut in pieces, and dried upon the top of a baker's oven."-" Its cultivation is easy for seed. The third year some plants begin to flower, but the roots are not lifted till the Autumn of the sixth year."

EDWARD W. BENSON, a Nurseryman.

Birmingham, Dec. 8, 1824.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS, &c.

Return of migratory Birds to the same Spot.-The late Dr. Jenner, in a curious paper on the migration of birds, published since his death, mentions the following fact.-"At a farm-house in this neighbourhood, I procured several swifts, and I marked a dozen of them by taking off two of their claws. The year following, their nesting places were examined in an evening, when they had gone to roost, and there I found several of the marked birds. The second and third year, a similar search was made, and again some of the marked birds were found. I now ceased to make an annual search; but, at the expiration of seven years, a cat brought a bird into the farmer's kitchen, and this proved to be one of those marked for the experiment."-Bath Paper. A gentleman, whose lands were more extensive than fer

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