in many parts of the north of England, and very generally in Scotland, the natives live on oatmeal, made into cakes; and barley, you know, is made into malt, and is the principal ingredient in ale and -beer. Rye, in this country, is mostly used for feeding pigs; though in some countries the poorer inhabitants mix it with their wheat-flour, because it is cheaper. You have so often seen your poney enjoy his hay and beans, that I need not say why we cultivate such useful plants; but horses also eat a great quantity of oats. One hay-field produces an infinite variety of grasses, and many beautiful wild flowers, which, on examination, afford much pleasure to the botanist. The sweet-scented vernal grass is the only one which gives out a perfume; and we are indebted to it for the grateful ed

inhale, when the grass is cut down, and which continues to flavour it when dry. I believe, Frank, you and your sister call these golden flowers, which grow amongst grass, buttercups; but you will not guess what a variety of them may be found in the same meadow. They are called ranunculi or crowfoot: the first appears in March, and is succeeded, during the summer, by seven or eight other kinds, all very common in this country. There are several sorts of potentilla also, whose flower has some resemblance to your buttercup; but unless you know a little of botany, I cannot point out to you the difference; but I hope one day, you will take pleasure in learning that agreeable science, which will make your country walks interesting, and open your eyes to the minutest objects, formed by Divine

We may well exclaim: Behold the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these!' Amongst the grass, we have also a great variety of the pretty blue-flowered veronica. We have several wild geraniums, many kinds of daisies, rockets, and blue-bells, many of which have been transplanted into our gardens, and, from a change of soil, or some accidental circumstances, have become the rich double flowers, which the florist so much admires. When you begin to learn botany, you shall make a hortus siccus, or collection of dried plants, which will be a great amusement to you; and you cannot have a better assistant to apply to, than Mr. Curtis's London Flora, which is one of the best