"This delicate little shrub is the hypericum: the slender branches are covered with its minute blossoms, so that it looks as if it were powdered. That is a white-flowered broom; and these yellow ones are too well known to need any re

This large bed is entirely filled with American plants. We do not see them in much perfection in this country; for neither the soil nor the climate suits them, though the gardeners try every means in their power to cultivate them, both on account of their beauty and their variety. Those shrubs, with such rich clusters of purple flowers, are rhododendrons: there are varieties of many other colours. That low shrub near it is an Azalea, or American Honeysuckle: the flowers are truly elegant. This shrub, with the delicate little bell-shaped flowers, is the Arbutus, or Strawberry-tree, so called from the resemblance its fruit bears to the strawberry; but it is only eaten by birds. These low plants, which cover the ground, are chiefly Ericas or Heaths, and Daphnes. They are well worth a closer inspection;

and we will take a sprig of each sort into the house, to examine with the microscope. Now for a more common shrub, Agnes: you can tell us the name of this." "It is a sweet brier, mamma. I know it well; for I once pricked my fingers with its thorns, in trying to get a branch of it."" These buds," said Mrs. Vernon, "will soon become little single roses, very like the eglantine or wild brier rose in the hedges; and its fruit is like the hip, whose fine red colour decorates the tree in autumn. This tall, straggling shrub, with its red flowers, is the cinnamon rose. It is the earliest we have, if we except the Chinese monthly rose, which often produces flowers the whole winter. But it is time to return to the house; and as we pass by the orchard, we will take a peep at the fruit-trees, which are in blossom." Jiu al

"Why, mamma," said Frank, "the trees are covered with blossom: what a quantity of apples and pears we shall have!" "Not so fast, Frank," said Mrs. Vernon: "many accidents may happen to prevent your prophecy from being fulfilled: high winds and heavy rains may demolish the flowers; and even when the young fruit is set, there are often swarms of insects which destroy it: so that we must not depend upon present appearances. Observe this tree with smooth slender branches; it is a quince: the blossoms are larger than the flower of the apple or pear; and its golden-coloured fruit is chiefly used for preserving. Those tall trees with bright polished leaves, are walnut-trees; the fruit is not yet large enough to be seen: when it is taken from the trees green and young, it is nickled: but when it comes to matu