BILL JENKINS of the mines is chiefly under the direction of Englishmen from the mining districts of Cornwall, and negroes are found to be among the most efficient laborers. All the machinery of the different establishments is worked by steam power except the windlasses for raising the ore. where blind horses are used in preference. Having stuffed his knapsack with specimens of ore, and enriched his portfolio with several portraits of the miners, Porte Crayon with his companion took the stage and returned to Salisbury. I pray, come crush a cup of wine, rest you merry." What's this? An invitation to a May-day picnic. The earth has already put on her summer livery, wearing it daintily and fresh like a bran-new gown. The southern breeze blows balmily, all perfumed like a sweet damsel just come from her toilet. The birds ng like fifers and the meads, bepranked with flowers, vie in beauty with our fashionable hotel arpers Woods, breezes, birds, and flowersall marere joins in the invitation. in proper proportions, and a profusion of flowers, wit, and merriment. The disembarkation at Holtsburg developed still further the intentions and resources of the party. Numerous mysterious hampers were transferred from the baggage-car to the platform of the station-house, and a brace of Cuffees, bearing instruments of music, made themselves a part of the company. This couple reminded one of Don Quixote and his Squire done in ebony. Alfred, the fiddler, was a lathy, longarmed, knock-kneed black, with a countenance that vied in ruefulness with that of the Knight of La Mancha; while Simon, the tambour-major, was a short, wiry, jolly-faced fellow, who thumped his sheepskin with a will. Of these, however, more anon. The idea of "dancing on the green" is eminently poetical, but quite absurd in practice; the managers of the picnic had therefore wisely determined to take advantage of the springy floor of the Holtsburg station-honse. This was pleasantly situated near the silvery Yadkin, in the midst of a beautiful woodland, and a more fitting locality could not have been selected. They were at first somewhat disconcerted at finding the station-house entirely occupied with bales of hay; but this untoward circumstance was so turned to account by the ingenuity and energy of the gentlemen that it was afterward esteemed a lucky hit. The bales were rolled out on the platforms, arranged around the room, and piled up at one end, where they served admirably for tables, seats, coaches, galleries, and added greatly to comfort and the appearance of the scene. The early part of the day passed most agreeably in rural walks, music, dancing, cards, and conversation. Then the mid-day feast was spread and eaten, of course. Every body pronounced every thing delightful, every body was pleased, and every body was quite right. The bright Champagne foamed in o'erflowing bumpAt an early hour on the third of May a nu- ers The corks flew about like shot in a sharp morons and brilliant company took the cars at skirmish. Much store of wit and mirth, which, the Salisbury dept in answer to the foregoing like the music in the bagle of Munchausen's action. There was broadcloth and beauty postion had remained congealed by the frost of ceremony, now broke forth spontaneously, under the melting influences of wine. The fiddler struck up a merrier tune, and even Alfred's rueful visage seemed to catch a gleam of jollity. The tambourine boomed and jangled with redoubled power as the excited Simon rapped the sounding sheepskin consecutively with knuckles kneepan, pate, and elbow. Alfred's legs and arms worked like the cranks of a grasshopper engine, going at thirty miles an hour. The spirit of the dancers kept pace with the music until the approach of evening warned them to get ready for the train which would bear them back to Salisbury. Things were packed up, and the necks of several bottles of Champagne, discovered among the stuff, were broken off to pass away the time while they waited for the train." "What a delightful day we've had! How charmingly every thing has passed off! not an incident to mar the enjoyment!" That was a woman's voice. God bless the ladies! May their kind hearts never know sorrow! The hat circulated, and substantial sympathy showered in it so freely that there was presently enough to buy two fiddles. A glow of happiness overspread the minstrel's face, and as he acknowledged and pocketed the contents of the hat, he glanced again at his mutilated instrument. "I specks I kin mend her up yit." Just then Alfred appeared on the platform, his trembling knees knocked together, his bosom heaved like a blacksmith's bellows, his face was Now Simon was an interested spectator of ashy pale, and his eyes rolled upward with a these proceedings, and when he saw the turn mingled expression of terror and despair. For things had taken he grew thoughtful and began some moments he was dumb; but his attitude to scratch his head. Anon he disappeared, and and accessories told his story-a grief too big after a short time returned with tears in his for words. In one hand he held an empty bag, eyes, uttering groans and lamentations. and in the other his tuneful friend and companion, the fiddle. But in what a case! splintered, smashed, mammocked, bridge and sounding-post gone, the tail-piece swinging by the idle strings. "Well, Simon, what has befallen you?" "Oh, master," replied Simon, with a tragedy countenance, "I wouldn't a had dis to happen for five dollars; jis look at dis tambourinebusted clean through." "DAT FIDDLE DONE RUINGED." "How did this occur, Simon ?" said the gentleman, examining the broken instrument. "Why, master, I don't know exactly how it come; but I specks somebody put dere foot in it." "I would not be surprised," returned the examiner, "if some one had put his foot in it. Now, Simon, you perceive the frame of the tambourine is perfectly sound, and the cracked sheepskin can be easily replaced. Your estimate of five dollars damages is excessive. In my judgment, a judicious expenditure of ten cents will put every thing in statu quo ante bellum. Here is a dime, Simon." During this discourse the tambour-major looked very sheepish and restive, but habitual deference for the opinions of the dominant race induced him to accept the award without demurrer, only observing, as he joined in the general laugh, "I mought as well not a-broke it." Meanwhile one of the company had got hold of the broken tambourine-head, declaring that the events of the day deserved to be written on parchment. A call was made upon the company for poetical contributions, which was answered by a shower of couplets. A committee appointed to collect and arrange the proceeds reported the following: VERSES WRITTEN BY A PICNIC PARTY ON THE HEAD OF "Of all the year, the time most dear There shall be no more cakes and ale?" To those we prize on earth most dear, But, hark! the warning whistle near. To Holtsburg's halls a farewell-hic; WHEAT AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS. considerable vigor on the verge of the tropics. The highest condition of man-the perfection, OF all the plants cultivated, wheat is the most indeed, of the race has always been associated with wheat-producing and wheat-consuming countries; and this is true from the days of the Pharaohs downward to the enlightenment of the present times. The rice-eating nations are inferior to the consumers of wheat. In the Arctics, where fish is the chief food, and in the Tropics, where acid fruits predominate, man approximates the inferior animals, and his civilization is of a physical character. As we descend in the scale of human degradation, we find the root-eating Indians of America at the lowest extremity of the scale. We are, therefore, justified in looking upon a grain of wheat with an interest bordering on veneration, and every thing connected with its history assumes positive importance. No record remains of its first cultivation, and the best-informed differ as to its origin. It is maintained by some that wheat, as at present known, is an artificial product. In confirmation of this hypothesis is adduced the fact, that wherever the early history of the cultivation of any species is known, it is found that the husbandman first applied to his use the imperfect plant growing wild about him. He finds some berry, the taste of which is agreeable, and in order to have it more plentiful he begins its improvement; the desired object is accomplished, and, finally, a fruit is produced so superior to the one found growing wild that it is impossible to trace any necessary resemblance. Analogous to this example, it is thought, is the origin of wheat; and botanists distinguished for their acquirements profess to have found the important progenitor in a grass growing wild on the shores of the Mediterranean, known to scientific men by the name of agilops. Strabo mentions the spontaneous growth of GROWING WHEAT AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. whatever on the subsequent harvest; and that wheat, notwithstanding all pains that may be taken to force its culture, has a natural tendency to the normal weight peculiar to the species. The wonderful vitality of all seeds is pro THE WHEATEN LOAF AND THE FAMILY CIRCLE. wheat in the Persian province of Mazenderan, and in the country of the Musicans, to the north of India. More modern travelers profess to have found wheat and barley growing wild in some parts of Mesopotamia, and upon the undulating prairies of Texas. According to the soundest judgments, however, wheat, as we know it, is really one of those products in the development of which by special culture man has done the least, for through all time it has not changed its character. The various kinds of wheat, when grown together, never cross; and hybrids, when they do occur, are not maintained beyond the second generation, without an infusion of new vigor from the parent stock. Hence, if the ægilops and wheat mingled, the hybrid would either have perished after a year or two, or would have returned to its original type. It must also be remembered that it is the very nature of the plant for the flower not to open itself until after the process of fecundation is accomplished. verbial. That of wheat is more remarkable than any other kind, for its grains are susceptible of being preserved to an indefinite period of time, for it seems that age neither injures their vitality nor their value for bread. Wheat has been known to be covered with water of floods so long that every other kind of vegetation was utterly de stroyed, and yet, on the subsidence of the waters, it has sprung up from the root, and come to perfection. Quite recently a scientific gentleman, making archæological researches in the south of France, in some of the ancient tombs, fourteen centuries old, found imbedded with some preserved bodies a species of wheat, it being the habit, in the days of the first Gallic kings, to place in the coffins of embalmed persons a few of these almost indestructible seeds. Some of this wheat was sown, and the gentleman was surprised to see it sprout forth from sixteen to twenty stalks from each grain. As they grew they became angular, and much stronger and more vigorous than the common wheat. The family of Sir William Symonds, of Hampshire, England, brought into that country some wheat from Thebes. The mummy from which it was taken must have been embalmed more than three thousand five hundred years ago. This wheat was planted and thrived, and produced over one thousand six hundred grains from fifteen stems which sprung from a single seed. One of the most interesting circumstances connected with this reproduction of ancient wheat was this, that the specimen produced was such as Pharaoh saw in his dream: It is remarkable how slight are the differences among the known varieties of wheat, particularly when compared with the changes wrought by culture in the apple, the peach, and, above all, the dahlia, which, in the course of half a century, has given more than four hun-"Behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full dred varieties, many of which are at an im- and good." From this great increase it is natmense distance from the original type found in urally suggested that wheat now grown is a deMexico. The unvarying nature of wheat is generate class of the same species formerly strikingly demonstrated in the fact that, how-common in Egypt; else, it is argued, how could ever degenerated it may become, it is instantly restored by attentive cultivation; that the selection of the finest grains for seed has no influence the Egyptians have supplied the Assyrian, Grecian, and Roman empires from their superabundance above their own wants? |