THE GARDENER. WINDOW GARDENING.-There are many who have not the convenience of a greenhouse, who are, nevertheless, equally fond of flowers, and spend considerable sums yearly in the purchase of plants, bestowing a great deal of pains in attending to them. It is not to be denied too, that, after all their endeavours, their plants look sickly, and finally die. The blame is too often laid at the door of the florist who supplied them, for not giving healthy plants, when in almost every instance the fault lies with the buyers. The plants, it is true, which come into the market have generally been under a high state of cultivation. They have been regularly watered, potted in soil according to their different habits, and grown in pots according to their size. The heat, air, and light have all been arranged and regulated as the utmost skill and experience could suggest. The transition from all this regularity to the tender mercies of the purchaser is soon felt. Drowning or starving, or neglecting altogether, is no uncommon fate. The pots are taken home, put into pans or saucers, deluged with water, and the water left in the saucers, or they are set in some conspicuous place, and left to their fate. In the first case, the leaves turn yellow and drop, the flowers fall, and in a very short time all that can be seen of them are their naked stems, with little tufts of green on the tops or points of their shoots, which a few days before were in perfection; in the latter case, the plants die with all the leaves and bloom upon them. Nearly all the evils attending plants grown in windows are to be traced to these two causes. I will therefore attempt to lay down a few general rules, which, if properly attended to, will do away with nearly all the complaints under this head. 1. Never water but when the plants actually want it. That is easily known by feeling the soil with the finger, or giving the pot a rap on the side with the knuckles. While it is moist no water is needed; when it feels dry, then water-which latter will not be oftener than three times a week in autumn and winter, and every day in spring and summer-giving it copiously every time, and allowing it to run away entirely from the plant, so that the pots may never stand in it. The water used should be either rain or river-water. If necessarily from the pump or spring, it ought to stand in the air a day or two before using. 2. Give as much air as possible, when the weather is mild, either by having the window up, or by removing the plants outside. If, in warm weather, this is done under a bright sun, the pots will have to be shaded, as the sun upon their sides would prove injurious to the young roots, and would greatly injure the plant; and if in bloom, and exposed to the sun, the flowers would soon fade and drop. 3. Keep the rooms where the plants are of as uniform a temperature as possible, and the plants themselves as near the window as is convenient, except in severe weather, when they are better near the middle of the room during the night. 4. Examine them occasionally, to see if the pots are full of roots. If this is the case, and the plants are worth it, get some good soil, and shift them into pots a size larger; or if not shifted, be more careful in supplying water, as they will require more when in this state. In summer, water them frequently over the foliage, but not except they also need it at the root as well. These may be adopted as very general rules, though more absolutely necessary to some plants than others, but very good to all. There is a good deal to be considered in buying plants, in making the proper choice; for however gratifying it may be to have those which look best in full bloom, it most satisfactory to have those which last longest in perfection, especially those which have a succession of bloom, and whose foliage is interesting when the flowers are gone. This rule may be deviated from in behalf of tulips, crocuses, hyacinths, and other bulbs, which are valuable when little else is in blossom. These will also bloom in the darkest streets of cities. They ought to be purchased either in the beginning of November, when the roots are dry, for planting yourselves, or in pots or glasses when they are beginning to grow. If in pots, all these require a plentiful supply of water when in a growing state; and if kept cool after showing flower, their season of blooming is prolonged.-Gardeners' Chronicle. ORIGINS AND INVENTIONS. INVENTION OF LETTERS.-Letters are supposed to have been invented by the Phenicians, a race of people who resided in the country bordering on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Cadmus the leader of a colony from this country, founded Thebes, in Greece, and introduced letters there about the year 1519, before Christ. At that time the alphabet consisted only of sixteen letters. Clay, Stone, Gold, &c. Some from social relations; as, Master, Prentice, Bachelor, Cousin, Child; and many from Christian names; from HENRY, Harris, Harrison, Henrison; from JOHN, Johnson, Jones, Jackson, Jennings, Jenkins; from ADAM, Addison, Adams; from DENNIS, Dennison, Jennison; from ALEXANDER, Sanders, Sanderson. In addition to these, names have been derived from a multitude of sources; as, Wing, Horn, Frost, Snow, Peck, Plum, Beard, Ball, Bond, Freeman. ORIGIN OF STERLING MONEY.-During INVENTION OF PAPER.-While some the reign of Richard I., King of England, doubts have been entertained as to whom or about 1190, money, which was coined Europe is directly indebted for the introin the eastern part of Germany, became duction of so important a manufacture, of great demand, on account of its purity. it is quite certain that at a period anterior The inhabitants of that portion of country to the thirteenth century it was known where this pure coin was made, were and practised in Asia. We have numecalled Easterlings; hence the name Easrous and incontestible proofs that the terling money was applied to the coin Chinese possessed the art of paper-making brought from that region. Soon afterat a very early period; from them their ward some of the Easterlings, who were neighbours, the Tartars, received it, subskilled in coining, were sent for to come stituting cotton, which abounded in their to London, and bring the process of coin-country, for the bamboo, which was cering to a state of perfection there. This was accomplished, and the English coin took the name of Sterling Money, which it retains to the present time. ORIGIN OF SURNAMES.-In the early ages of the world, a simple name was sufficient for each individual; as, Adam, Moses, Job, Luke, Peter, John. In the process of time these single names became so numerous, that it was necessary to use surnames for the sake of distinction. The first approach to this was the addition of the name of the sire; as, Caleb, the son of Nun. Then followed the use of significant words, expressive of personal feats, looks, or actions, originating, probably, in a manner similar to many of the nicknames of the present day. To this class belong such names as, Black, White, Gray, Long, Swift, Whitehead, Lightfoot. Another class of names were derived from occupations: as, Carpenter, Baker, Mason, Miller, Bishop, Marshal, Porter, Parsons, Page, Smith. The root of the word Smith, which is smitan, was originally applied to artificers in wood and stone, as well as those in metal; hence the frequency of the name is easily accounted for. Other names were derived from natural objects; as, Flower, Rose, Sage, Finch, Jay, Bird, tainly the substance more generally used in China. At the commencement of the eighth century, when the conquests of the Arabs carried them to Samarkand, deep in the Scythian plains, they found the manufacture of cotton - paper established there. The Arabs learned the art from the Tartars, as the Tartars had learned it from the Chinese, and in their turn substituted linen for cotton. To the Arabs, therefore, it appears pretty certain that we are indebted for the inestimable article, or paper made from linen; but whether the art of making it was. introduced by the Italians of Venice, Gaeta, and Amalfi, who, during the eighth, ninth, and tenth centuries kept up a constant commercial intercourse with Syria and Egypt, or whether the Saracens (Arabs under another name), who conquered Spain in the early part of the eighth century, made known the manufacture in that country, has not as yet been clearly ascertained. Mr. Mills reasonably supposes that the flourishing linen manufactories at Valentia suggested the idea of the substitution of linen for cotton in that part of Europe, as the cotton manufactories at Samarkand induced the Tartars to employ cotton instead of bamboo, &c. THE WORK-TABLE FRIEND. To Correspondents of the Work-table Department. IN page 197, Vol. 6, Family Friend, Old Series, we gave a full and accurate description of all the terms, marks, &c., used in our crochet designs; in that Number therefore, our friends will find all the information they can require for working any crochet receipt which has appeared since the date of that article. In page 167, Vol. 1, New Series of the Family Friend, are two new stitches, recently invented by us. As it is obviously impossible to occupy the space of the journal, by reiterating the elementary instructions with every article, we beg ladies to refer back to those Numbers. We are always happy to comply with the request of our friends, to introduce any particular subject, provided our space permits, and that it is likely to be of general utility; but crests, coats of arms, and other similar articles, which are of mere personal interest, are inadmissible in our pages. They can at any time be obtained by applying to MRS. PULLAN, 126, Albanystreet, Regent's-park. SOVEREIGN PURSE IN CROCHET. Materials.-1 skein of dark blue purse-silk, 1 skein of apricot or salmon ditto, I gilt clasp, and 3 rows of gold beads, MAKE a chain of 80 stitches with the blue silk, and close it into a round. Do one round of Sc. 1st Pattern Round. Both colours, +2 blue, 2 apricot, 1 blue, repeat all round. 2nd Round.+ 1 blue, 4 apricot, + all round. 3rd Round.-Like 2nd. 4th Round.-Like 1st. 5th Round.-All blue. 6th Round.+ 9 blue, 3 apricot, 8 blue, +4 times. 7th Round.-+ 10 blue, 3 apricot, (so that the first comes over the second apricot of last round), 7 blue, +4 times. Sth Round.+ 11 blue, 1 apricot, 8 blue,+4 times. 9th Round.+ 7 blue, 3 apricot, 1 blue, 1 apricot, (which should come over SOVEREIGN PURSE, IN CROCHET, BY MRS. PULLAN. the 1 apricot of last round), 1 blue, 3 apricot, 4 blue, + 4 times. 10th Round.-+6 blue, 1 apricot, 1 blue, 3 apricot, 1 blue, (over 1 apricot of last round), 3 apricot, 1 blue, 1 apricot, 3 blue,+4 times. 11th Round.-+ 6 blue, 5 apricot, 1 blue, 5 apricot, 3 blue,+ 4 times. 12th Round.-+ 6 blue, 11 apricot, 3 blue,+4 times. 13th Round. +7 blue, 4 apricot, 1 blue, 4 apricot, 4 blue,+ 4 times. 14th Round.-+ 5 blue, 2 apricot, 2 blue, 1 apricot, 3 blue, 1 apricot, 2 blue, 2 apricot, 2 blue,+ 4 times. 15th Round.+4 blue, 1 apricot, 2 blue, 4 apricot, 1 blue, (on the centre of 25th Round.+ 9 blue, 1 apricot, 10blue,+4 times. 26th Round.- +8 blue, 3 apricot, 9 blue,+4 times. 27th Round.+ 8 blue, 4 apricot, 8 blue,+4 times. 28th Round. +8 blue, 4 apricot, 3 blue, 1 apricot, 4 blue, + 4 times. 29th Round.+ 9 blue, 7 apricot, 4 blue, +4 times. 30th Round.+ 11 blue, 3 apricot, (onthe centre three of 7 apricot), 6 blue. 31st Round.-All blue. Now repeat the 1st to 4th pattern rounds, when fasten off the apricot, and do two rounds of Sc with the blue. 1st open Round.—(All blue to the end), +1 Dc, 1 Ch, miss 1, + all round. 2nd 3rd and 4th Rounds.-De under chain, 1 ch, miss De stitch of last round. Work one side of the purse, backward and forwards in the same way, gradually decreasing at each edge, to fit the clasp. Do the same at the other side. For closing the end, do one round of apricot silk; then holding the two sides together, Sc a stitch of each with blue. Add the fringe and clasp. MOUSQUETAIRE COLLAR. Materials.-3 yards of Italian braid, and the Point Lace Cottons of Messrs. W. Evans and Co., Boar's Head Cotton Manufacturers, Derby, The Mousquetaire is the name given to the very becoming style of collar, recently introduced from France. It is of rather a large size, and in deep points, as seen in the engraving. About seven are the usual number in a collar, but nine may be made if it is intended for a stout person. The depth, also, must be regulated by the taste of the wearer. We have seen them almost five inches deep; but at present, this size looks peculiar; four inches, reckoning to the point of every Vandyke, may be considered as a medium size, and we would recommend that the pattern should be increased to that scale. The pines are outlined in Italian braid, which is represented in the engraving by the clear broad white lines. Evans's Mecklenburgh thread, No. 1, forms the outline of the leaves, and other parts. The leaves are made as heavy as possible, being filled with foundation-stitch, with a line of open-work in the veinings only. For this stitch, Evans's Boar's-head cotton, No. 120, must be used. Within the Italian braid is a similar width, worked in open diamond-stitch, with No. 150 Boar's-head; and the centre of each pine is in spotted lace, done with 140 Mecklenburgh. The bars which make the groundwork of the collar, forming a beautiful guipure, are done in 120 Mecklenburgh; as in all the most valuable old point, they are very variously worked-some are quite plain, some merely spotted with Raleigh dots, and others have small semicircular loops on them. The outline of the collar within the lace edging, which completes it, is a simple line of No. 1 Mecklenburgh thread, closely covered with button-hole stitch. The edging itself must be worked first. This is done by tacking down a thread to correspond with the first row of loops. Cover two of these, and half a third with buttonhole stitch; then take back the needle to the middle of the second loop, and after leaving a thread to form a loop there, take a tight button-hole stitch to secure it. Repeat this to the centre of the first loop, and the two being made, cover one, and half the other with button-hole stitch. Take the needle to the centre of the first of these, to form the loop at the point of the scallop, work it in the same way, and then cover the half loops left. Thus each scallop is done in succession; the line adjoining the Vandyke, only being outlined. Care must be taken so to arrange that every Vandyke has a scallop at the point of it. For point-lace stitches &c. see No. 68, Old Series, and No. 13, New Series of the Family Friend. A drawn and mounted pattern of this collar sent post free for 2s; a complete set of point - lace cottons, including fourteen kinds, are 3s 6d by post. FEMALE OCCUPATION.-Women in the middle rank are brought up with the idea that if they engage in some occupations, they shall lose "their position in society." Suppose it to be so; surely it is wiser to quit a position we cannot honestly maintain, than to live dependent upon the bounty and caprice of others: better to labour with our hands than eat the bread of idleness: or submit to feel that we must not give utterance to our real opinions, or express our honest indignation at being required to act a base or unworthy part. And in all cases, however situated, every female ought to learn how all household affairs are managed, were it only for the purpose of being able to direct others.. There cannot be any disgrace in learning how to make the bread we eat, to cook our dinners, to mend our clothes, or even to clean the house. Better to be found busily engaged in removing the dust from the furniture, than to let it accumulate there until a visitor leaves palpable traces where his hat or his arm have been laid upon a table. |