roses (particularly the delicate green house rose, (rosa sempervirens,) have been successfully struck by putting into the striking pots, first a layer of road sweepings, chiefly silaceous sand; and secondly, a thin layer of fresh horse-dung, free from straw, in which latter the cuttings are planted: then, by covering in the usual way, with hand-glasses, forty-nine in fifty cuttings have succeeded. A chip of brick, or a bit of cinder, placed so as to keep the end of the cutting firm and give it stimulus, would be an improvement.

This is a busy month in the operations of insects, and the entomologist will find an ample fund of amusement in watching the operations of wasps, and the mechanical arts of bees: the industry of these little creatures is an example worthy human imitation.

THE BEES' INVOCATION.

BY J. R. PRIOR.

Up! the rosy light appears
Beautiful in orient spheres ;
Through the windows of the leaves,
Through the grasses' liquid sheaves,
Far and wide the air is winging,
Sweet and true the birds are singing,
Sloth will canker, toil will bless,-
Forth and meet the flowers' caress.

Dainty blossoms, rich and rare,
Open, void of sin or care;
Virtue's honey they contain

Sweeter for the day-break rain :

Up and climb the hill of joy,

Forth and hymns with toil employ ;

Broader, brighter, daylight beams

On woodlands, valleys, glens and streams.

By the tide of time 'tis fair;

Up, and swim the sea of air;

By the dial's dew-like tears,

The bough of feeling draws and bears,

Forth, and Nature's mercy praise,
Seek her gifts and rest on rays;
Think that storms may fall and close
Both our labors and the rose.

By our free examples wrought,
Hope is fed and peace is taught,
Moments in our circles run,

Faith we succour, sloth we shun,
Truth's the essence of our breath
First drawn to the last-and death:
Wax and honey in our store,
Happy!-forth, we toil for more!
Up! and catch the lock of time-
Forth!-enjoy the passing prime.

As swallows, and most migratory birds, are now busy in the work of incubation; and nearly all song birds become silent soon after midsummer, we shall close this month with an extract from Mr. Jenning's Ornithologia, a volume containing much information as well as amusement to the lovers of that delightful study :—

THE BANQUET.

Behold now the banquet! And, first, we remark,
That the banqueting-hall was a large shady park;

The table a glade-cloth a carpet of green,

Where sweet-smelling shrubs strew'd about might be seen. The lilac put forth her delights in the vale;

Other spring-flowers' odours were mix'd with the gale.

With encouraging smile nature sat at the feast;

Her converse a charm that enraptured each guest.
The viands were various to suit every taste,
Got together by magic, assisted by haste:
The dishes, all simple, no surfeit produce:
Nor did wine's effervescence excite to abuse.

There was corn-wheat, oats, barley, for many a Fowl;
There was grass for the Goose, and a mouse for the Owl,
There were pease for the Rook, as an elegant treat;
For the Crow there was carrion, he glories to eat.
The Bullfinch's feast was some buds from the plum,
That, torn fresh from the tree, made the gardener look glum.
For Pheasants and Nightingales, ants' eggs were found;
And flies for the Swallows in numbers abound.

For the Sea-gull was many a cockchafter-grub;

Many Warblers pick'd worms from the tree or the shrub ;
The Sea-birds directed attention to fish ;

The Duck partook almost of every dish.

For the Swan were some water-plants pluck'd from the pond;
Of fish the King-fishers evinced they were fond.
The Divers, Grebes, Guillemots, Water-Rails, too,
On the dishes of fish all instinctively flew.
For the Goldfinch was groundsel, a delicate bit;
There was sunflower-seed for the saucy Tomtit.

For the Crane was an eel; for the Thrush was a snail;
And barley for Partridge, for Pigeon, and Quail.
For the Cuckoo, an earthworm-his greatest delight;
Some Hawks, of fowl, flesh, or fish, seiz'd what they might;
But the Kestril, a mouse to all dainties preferr'd;

While the Shrike pounc'd, at once, on some poor helpless bird.

For the House-Sparrow, wheat-he's reputed a thief;
The Eagle himself got a slice of raw-beef.

The Turkey of apples partook as a treat,

And the Cock and Hen caught up a bone of cold meat.
The Dessert!-It consisted of only one thing;

A clear stream of water just fresh from the spring.

JULY.

The Romans called this month Julius, in honor of Julius Cæsar, who was born on the twelfth day of it. It was previously called Quintilis, on account of its being the fifth month of the Romulean year. The Saxons called it Hew-monath, from the hayharvest.

Remarkable Days.

2.-VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.

A festival to commemorate the journey of the Virgin Mary to visit the mother of St. John the Baptist, in the mountain of Judea. The celebration of this day was instituted by Pope Urban VI. and afterwards confirmed by the council of Basil in 1441.

3.-DOG-DAYS BEGIN.

On this day commence, according to the Almanack, the Canicular, or Dog-days, which are a certain number of days preceeding and following the heliacal rising of Canicula, or the Dog-star, in the morning. Their beginning is usually fixed in the calendars, on the 3rd of July, and their termination on the 11th of August; but this is a palpable mistake, since the heliacal rising of this star does nor now take place, at least in our latitude, till near the latter end of August; and in five or six thousand years more, Canicula may chance to be charged with bringing frost and snow, as it will then, owing to the precession of the equinoxes, rise in November and December.-Butler's Chronological Exercises.

Some authors say, from Hippocrates to Pliny,

that the day this star first rises in the morning, the sea boils, wine turns sour, dogs begin to grow mad, the bile increases and irritates, and all animals grow languid; also, that the diseases it usually occasions in men, are burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies. The Romans sacrificed a brown dog every year to Canicula, at his first rising, to appease his rage.-Hutton.

4.TRANSLATION OF ST. MARTIN.

This day was appointed to commemorate the translation or removal of St. Martin's body to a more magnificent tomb. This honor was conferred on the Saint by Perpetuus, one of his successors in the see of Tours. For the festival of St. Martin, see the 11th of November.

THOMAS A BECKET.

This festival is appointed for the anniversary of the translation of the relics of St. Thomas a Becket from the undercroft of Canterbury cathedral, in the year 1220, to a sumptuous shrine at the east end of the church, whither they attracted crowds of pilgrims, and, according to tradition, worked many miracles.

Becket was the son of a merchant, and born in London, in 1119. He was employed by Henry the Second on many important missions, and was rewarded with the chancellorship and the archbishopric of Canterbury. He now assumed the arrogance of a monarch, and quarrelled with the king, who seized upon his goods and the revenues of his see. Becket accordingly left the country, and at Sens resigned his archbishopric into the hands of the pope, who returned it to him, with promises of support. After a lapse of seven years he returned, through the intercession of the French king and the pope; but refusing to absolve some bishops and others, whom he had excommunicated, the king