seeds two years since, I perceived three of the butts were very different from the other parts of the field, and much more productive. As I had not put any manure on the field myself, I inquired of my neighbours the cause of this difference, and was informed that thirty-two years ago the farm was owned by Mr. Boardman, who procured a hogshead of bone manure, and put it on that part of the field which is so different to the other. What is still more remarkable, the field has been in tillage twenty years in succession. These facts serve to prove, that, in Cheshire, bone manure is suitable to clay soil either in grass or tillage, and of this any one may have ocular demonstration."

COTTAGE GARDENS.-There are few things more likely to add to the comfort and pleasure of a cottager, than to acquire a fondness for a garden; and a very great improvement has been already made in many parts of England by encouraging this taste. In Ireland, the Horticultural Societies are aiming at the same object. A letter has been received from Sir John Conroy, Equerry to the Duchess of Kent, announcing that her Royal Highness has become patroness of the Cork Horticultural Society. The following is the concluding paragraph of the letter:-"I am desired to add, that her Royal Highness, feeling the deepest interest in all that relates to Ireland, is of opinion that if encouragement is afforded by such societies to the cottagers, with regard to their gardens, they may be the means of doing by degrees a great deal of good in the country; and her Royal Highness will be happy to give an annual prize of 5l. to that cottager whose garden may be considered most usefully stocked and kept, agreeably to such regulations as the society may establish."-Globe.

On the stony hill of St. Anne, near the village of Cunfin, in the Aube, there is still growing a venerable oak, which, according to ancient records, was planted in the year 1070, in the time of the first race of the Counts of Champagne, thirty years before the first Crusade, and four years after the battle of Hastings, when William the Norman conquered England; and consequently is now 763 years old. It is thirty-three feet high up to the branches, and measures in girth, above the roots, twenty-two feet-its top is thick, but does not extend very wide-the trunk is so completely hollow, that it appears to be supported only by the bark. At the beginning of the present century it appeared to be dying, but it afterwards revived, and last year it bore acorns.-Globe.

TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.-The total number of members of Temperance Societies in England and Wales last month was 67,661; of which there were in Lancashire 20,648, in Middlesex 5,678, and in Cornwall 4,760; the three counties having least are-Bedford 100, Lincoln 120, and Herts 185. The increase during the present month has been 4,515, and during the same period eight new auxiliary societies are reported.-Globe.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the communications of M. G. N.; Y. E.; F.G.O.; W. A.; J. E. H.; C. P. F.; A friend of the Poor; C. W.; H. S. T.; 4. Q. R.; H. F. J.; and several Anonymous.

We cannot find the paper alluded by C. W.

It was not for any of the reasons supposed by X. Q. Z. that his article has not been inserted. It was, in fact, put on our 66 approved" bundle with several other long articles; and we hope to be able to find room for it.

ON THE EPISTLE FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

1 JOHN iii. 13.

THE whole instruction of the Gospel may be comprehended in one word, LOVE. Love to God, and love to man, make up the sum of those precepts which were delivered by our Lord and His Apostles, both in their discourses and writings. Not only by His precepts, but by His example, did our Lord especially teach this one great duty. The one employment of Christ's life was love. Love moved Him to leave the brightness of His Father's glory, and to come upon this earth to save sinners. Love caused Him to go about doing good, healing all manner of sickness and disease, bearing our infirmities, and carrying our sorrows. Love finally led Him to endure the cross for us men and VOL. XIV. No. 15.

F

for our salvation; and love still prompts Him, now that He sitteth at the right hand of God, ever to make intercession for us.

O let us examine this heavenly feeling; let us see how admirably it is fitted to urge us to the performance of all that is good and acceptable to God. Love shrinks not from danger or difficulty in its attempts to serve the beloved object. It is ready to sacrifice life itself, if necessary. It feeleth no weariness, no privation, while cheerfully ministering to the necessities of those for whom it has been enkindled. Can a churlish or unkind disposition exist where love glows with Christian fervor? No."Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" Love is active, proving itself by all good offices. That is no true love which is shown "in word" only, but fails" in deed and in truth."

Let us ask our own hearts if we have indeed this love abiding in us. Our hearts will tell us the truth; for conscience is not to be silenced by empty appearances. "If our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence toward God."

O labour, then, and pray that this divine love may be shed abroad in your hearts! Think of the blessed privilege they have who love God. "Whatsoever they ask, they receive of Him;"-and wherefore? "Because they keep His commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in His sight." Are those commandments then grievous, hard to be performed, or hard to be understood? O, no: he that runs may read them. This is His sole command, "that we believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another." Yet more-the joy of him who keepeth these commands, is the "joy of the Lord;" for "he dwelleth in God, and God in him." O glorious abode! which all may share; all alike enjoy! The Spirit is promised and given to all who earnestly seek it, as a token and earnest that God dwelleth in them. We are the temple of the living God. O let us not defile it by disobedience, nor cause the blessed presence of our God to depart from us, as from a polluted habitation. So long

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ON PRAYER.

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as we walk in love, so long doth God dwell and abide in us by His Spirit, so long are we a holy temple unto the Lord. But he that loveth not, abideth in death. He hath defiled the temple of God, and him will God destroy. -Fly, then, from this dreadful doom! Shun the paths of hatred and malice, and live in love one toward another, as becometh brethren, for we all are brethren: we have all one Maker, one Redeemer, one Sanctifier, one faith, one hope, one baptism. Let our hearts be one. Let there be no divisions amongst us. Let each strive to testify his love to our common Father and Redeemer, by acts of love and kindness to His ransomed creatures, and by seeking for Divine help, to give us that holiness and pureness of heart, whereby alone it can be made manifest that the Spirit indeed dwelleth in him.

Finally, let us pray to Him that hath prepared for them that love Him, such good things as pass man's understanding, that He would pour into our hearts such love towards Him, that we, loving Him above all things, may obtain His promises, which exceed all that we can desire, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ON PRAYER,

L. S. R.

As especially taught us by our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. COME unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. St. Matt. xi. 28-30.

Our blessed Saviour has given us a form of prayer, both that we may know exactly such words as he would have us use, and also as a pattern by which our prayers may always be regulated. St. Matt. vi. 9—13.

He has taught us to pray in private.

When thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and, when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

For your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. St. Matt. vi. 6. 8.

And also in public.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. St. Matt. xviii. 20. He has taught us to pray with a stedfast faith in Him, and through His mediation.

Verily, verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. St. John xvi. 23, 24.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. St. Luke xi. 9, 10.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. St. Matt. xxi. 22.

Y. E.

PUBLIC WORSHIP.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. MR. EDITOR, ALTHOUGH your useful work abounds in excellent admonitions to persons who neglect public worship, I remember none exclusively directed against those who omit this duty in a morning, in the parishes where the two services are performed on alternate Sundays. As the difference in the congregation is so striking and so much to be lamented in villages, perhaps the following address may be worthy of Yours, &c. H. S. T.

a corner.

MY DEAR FRIENDS,

Bear with me while I offer a few plain observations for your consideration, upon a subject which deeply concerns the welfare of your souls. Mere professions, and occasional attendance on the public worship of God, signify little or nothing; there will be a uniform constant attendance on the worship of God, if you are sincere in your religious professions. It is utterly impossible that you can have a just sense of this duty to your Maker, if you neglect to worship Him in public, as many do, every other Sunday. No possible excuse can be made for this sinful negligence, this regular habitual neglect of duty.