servant in a rich fur cloak stood behind each sledge, and between each, three or four equerries attended, in the uniforms and liveries of the emperor, or of their respective masters. A band of military music preceded on a large sledge constructed for the purpose, and a similar band followed. A body of horse soldiers went before the whole, and another closed the procession. This brilliant pomp passed and repassed through all the principal streets of Vienna; then, leaving the town, proceeded to a palace of the emperor at some distance, where a magnificent dinner and a theatrical exhibition had been prepared; and, at ten o'clock, the procession returned by the light of torches. As it approached over the glacis, and open space between the walls of the city and its suburbs, the effect was very striking. The ground was covered with deep snow, and the winding course of the procession was marked like a river of fire, by the flames of the moving torches. When they entered the streets, the effect was in a great degree lost; and, after a short circuit, the ladies were conducted to their respective habitations.' The few fine days towards the latter end of February afford many opportunities of cultivating our knowledge of Nature, even in her minutest works. The results of a morning's walk at this season are given at length in T.T. for 1817, p. 53. In this month, early potatoes are set, hedges repaired, trees lopped, and wet lands drained. Poplars, willows, osiers, and other aquatics, are planted. Lines omitted in January : Downe with your timber wood, and let it not stand, DESCRIPTION OF FRUIT TREES. [Continued from p. 34.] CHERRY-TREB (prunus cerasus).-The different sorts of this well-known tree are very numerous. It has been observed to grow to the height of eighty-five feet; and when it is of a large size, its wood is esteemed for making chairs, stools, cabinets, tables, and musical instruments. It polishes well, and is very useful for turners, and is often stained to imitate mahogany. It grows generally in a sandy soil, and an elevated situation. The gum that exudes from it is equal to gum arabic; and it is recorded in history that more than one hundred men were kept alive during a siege, without any other food than a little of this gum taken sometimes into the mouth, and suffered gradually to dissolve. The garden cherry tree seldom exceeds twenty feet in height, but that sort called the black cherry often rises to fifty feet, with a more erect and stately head. It is much cultivated in the Chiltern part of Buckinghamshire, and makes a beautiful appearance in the spring, putting forth its blossoms at the same time that the beech is in leafing. The common Kentish cherry is thought to be the original of all the varieties now cultivated in the English gardens. It is sufficiently distinguished by its peculiarities, which is readily perceived. The early May cherry is the first that ripens, and valuable on that account. Another sort, called the May Duke, which is larger than the May cherry, ripens next after it, and is a more valuable fruit. It is succeeded by the Arch Duke, which is an excellent cherry when permitted to ripen. It should be planted against a north wall, and ought not to be gathered before Midsum mer. It would be better still if suffered to hang F till the middle of July, even in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, where it ripens a fortnight sooner than in places forty miles distant. Other favourite sorts of cherries are the Flemish, the Red Heart, the White Heart, the Black Heart, the Black Kent, the Amber Heart, the Oxheart, and the Morello. The last is generally planted against a north wall, and used for preserving; but if planted in a south west aspect, and suffered to hang till the middle of August, it will furnish the most delicious fruit for the table. The Wild Cherry Trees are very suitable for ornamenting parks, as they grow to a large size, and make a beautiful appearance. In spring, when they are in flower, they are extremely handsome. The fruit affords good food for the feathered race, and the wood is useful for turners. They will thrive better in poor land than most other sorts. The French often plant them for avenues to their houses, and cultivate them in their woods to cut, while young, for hoop-making, The Bird cherry tree rises to the height of ten or twelve feet, and will grow to nine or ten inches diameter in the trunk. The branches grow wide and scattering, and are covered with a purplish bark. The leaves are egg-shaped, but pointed at the end, and slightly jagged all round the edges, like the teeth of a small saw. The flowers, which are white and smaller than those of the common cherry tree, have a strong smell, which is offensive to most persons. It is a very ornamental shrub, for groves or fields; but the fruit is nauseous, although, when bruised and infused in wine or brandy, it gives an agreeable flavour to those liquors. The berries are greedily eaten by birds, and from this circumstance the common' name of the tree is derived. The wood being smooth and tough, is excellent for knife and whip handles. This species of fruit tree has been cultivat ed in England for nearly four hundred years; but it is not known from what country it was imported. CURRANT TREE (Ribes rubrum).-This tree has been long cultivated in our gardens, and greatly improved. At present we have the following varieties: The common sort with small red fruit; another with pale fruit, commonly called the champagne currant, differing only in being of a pale red or flesh colour; the taste is the same, but the colour makes an apparent variety for the table. The introduction of the white and red Dutch currants has almost banished the original old sorts out of the English gardens. The fruit is very generally accepted, either as nature presents it, or made into a jelly, with equal weights of picked currants and pure sugar. The black currant is distinguished from the other sorts by its humbler growth and strong smelling leaves. The flowers are turban-shaped, of a rich brown red colour. The berries have a very peculiar flavour, which many persons dislike, and to which perhaps an equal number are partial. They are commonly eaten in puddings in some parts of England, and make a tart little inferior to the cranberry. The juice is frequently boiled down to an extract, with the addition of a small proportion of sugar, and is then called Rob; which is much used to cleanse and lubricate inflamed sore throats. Their excellency in this complaint has caused them to be vulgarly called quinancy berries. The jelly in common use has, however, too much sugar mixed with it to answer any medicinal purpose. The berries are sometimes put into brandy in the same way as black cherries; and the Russians make a wine of black currants, either by themselves or fermented with honey; and either with or without spirits. The Siberians make a drink from the leaves, which, when young, will tinge common spirits so as to resemble brandy. An infusion of the leaves is also said to resemble that execrable poison green tea, and to some persons is peculiarly agreeable. The common opinion is, that the black currants are the most wholesome of all the sorts; and this seems to be confirmed by experience, although they are all very friendly to most constitutions, especially in feverish, bilious, and scorbutic habits. This very useful fruit appears not to have been at all known to the Greeks or Romans; even the southern nations of Europe have no appropriate name for them to the present day: our English name currant is evidently derived from the great similitude of this fruit to that of the small grape of Zante, or the common grocer's corinths, which has been corrupted into currants. See GOOSEBERRY. MARCH. AMONG the Romans, March, from Mars, was the first month, and marriages made in this month were accounted unhappy. The Saxons called March lent-monat, or length moneth, 'because the days did first begin, in length, to exceed the nights.' Remarkable Days SAINT David was the great ornament and pattern of his age. He spoke with much force and energy, but his example was more powerful than his eloquence; and he has in all succeeding ages been the glory of the British church. He continued in the see of St. David's many years; and |