This phoenix and the motto is then a suitable emblem of St. Paul's church being built again with increased splendour after its destruction by fire. And the word Resurgam is well suited to a sacred building, to remind us, when we read it, that we shall all rise again from our graves, and to teach us therefore to seek for a lively faith in our Saviour Christ, and a life of holy obedience to his commands, that our resurrection may be to the "resurrection of life." The following curious occurrence is said to have taken place at the time when Sir Christopher Wren was preparing to rebuild St. Paul's after the fire. Having set out the dimensions of the building, and fixed upon a place for the centre, he asked one of the workmen to bring him a flat stone, from amongst the rubbish, to mark the place with. The stone which the workman brought, happened to be a piece of a grave-stone, with nothing remaining of the inscription but this single word, in large letters, Resurgam; a circumstance which Sir Christopher Wren never forgot. We often see this word on monuments, and gravestones, and hatchments. Let us think well of its meaning. SCRIPTURE. "Be ye ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh," Mark xxiv. 44. "The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation," John v. 28, 29. V. On Grafting. ON GRAFTING. 211 To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR, You sometimes give us very interesting and useful directions for the management of our gardens, for which we are much obliged to you. My garden affords me the only recreation that I use or require, and I am often delighted to think that it is one of the most innocent, healthful, and profitable, that can be chosen. I find it a great pleasure, every year, to raise from cuttings, fifty or a hundred each, of currants, gooseberries, laurels, &c. which readily strike in a shady place, under my filbert trees, where little else would grow. Thus at no expence, and scarcely any ground, time, or labour, I am enabled not only to keep my own garden always well stocked with young trees, but also to furnish my neighbours and friends. I likewise, every year, amuse myself by grafting a few stocks, with the best sorts of apple, pear, and plum. It is particularly interesting and pleasant to one who loves a garden, to observe the process of nature, in uniting the scion with the stock, and sending forth vigorous shoots, and, in due time, blossoms and fruit. Let me communicate to your gardening readers an observation, which I have made, in my little experience, and which I have not found in any work on the subject that has fallen in my way; but which, if correct, is worthy of attention. It appears to me desirable, that, whatever scions are to be inserted, stocks should be chosen from sorts, the fruit of which would ripen later than those from which the scions are taken. Thus in raising stocks from seeds or suckers, I would prefer the seeds or suckers of the winter russet, winter pear that the fruit growing from scions grafted on such stocks, is much larger and finer, than if grafted on the stock of a codlin, redstreak, nonsuch, or other early ripening apple. I was led to make this observation, from having, nine or ten years ago, inserted twelve scions, cut from one tree, of which I have not been able to learn the name; it ripens early, is a fine flavoured apple for eating, boils or bakes very quickly, and requires no sugar. Of the twelve scions, two failed, and ten succeeded. Of these, four were inserted in codlin suckers; four in suckers from the nurse-garden, or creeper; and two in suckers from a large winter russet. Some on the third, and others on the fourth year after grafting, came into bearing. Those from the codlin and nurse-garden stocks, ripened at the same time, both with those trees, and with the parent tree, from which the scions were taken; and the fruit, on comparison, was found to be of the same size and flavour as that of the latter; but the fruit from the russet stocks, was from six to eight weeks later in ripening-became nearly as large again in size, much richer in flavour, and kept better. I have since repeatedly tried the experiment, both on suckers and seedlings, and, from the result, am persuaded that there is a great advantage in choosing the latest ripening sorts for stocks. I should observe, that the grafts on the russet stocks, blossom as early as the grafts on the codlin stocks, though in one instance, a branch remains on the same tree which bears russetins, and which is considerably later in putting forth its blossoms. Perhaps some of your professional correspondents will inform us, whether any advantage may be regularly expected from the longer time thus occupied on the process from the putting forth of the blossom to the maturity of the fruit. I am, Sir, your constant reader, H. The happy Man. 213 To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR, I HAVE taken the liberty to send the following lines, with some hopes you will be kind enough to give them a place in your pages. I am a constant reader, and S. W. EVENING. THE golden orb of day is gone, THE HAPPY MAN. Happy the man who has Gospel submission in his will, due order in his affections, sound peace in his conscience, sanctity in his soul, divinity in his breast, true humility in his heart, the Redeemer's yoke on his neck, a vain world under his foot, and a crown of glory over his head. Happy is the life of such a one; in order to obtain which, pray fervently, believe firmly, work abundantly, live holily, die daily, watch your heart, guide your actions, redeem your time, love Christ, and long for "Fear not thou, for I am with thee: be not dis mayed for I am thy God." Isaiah xli. 10. EVERY one may have remarked, how many people there are, who so much dread hearing of death, that they shrink from any mention of the subject, though the person, whose death, or illness, may be spoken of, is a stranger. Even where a friend, on whose life much of their comfort depends, for whom they would make any personal exertion, or submit to any privation, is evidently on a death bed, these inconsistent men will not hear of the danger, and are actually displeased with those who hint at its probability. This is true, not only of the outrageously wicked man, to whom the idea of death must always be overpowering; but it is true of a different description of persons. We meet with men who are constant in their attendance on the public service of the church, regular in their personal conduct, charitable to the poor, true and just in all their dealings with their neighbour, and who still may be observed to drive from them with the utmost care every thought of death. Yet they would be really surprised if any one should venture to say they are not religious men; and they would consider such an accusation as false and malicious. If this should meet the eye of any one whose conscience may whisper to him, "I am one of these," let me entreat him to reflect on the probable cause of his thus shrinking from a contemplation of that, which must sooner or later be the only object of his thoughts. May we not say of such a man that this dread of hearing the subject of death mentioned, generally arises from a neglect of all religious reflection.-"God is not in all his thoughts." |