into a Pinetum, or plantation of such pines as can flourish in our climate in the open air. Many of the tender pines, which require shelter, are placed during the winter in the building called the Orangery. In the summer months they adorn the open garden. The Orangery is an ornamental house, built in 1761, for the princess of Wales, to contain her choice collection of orange trees: it is 142 feet long and 25 high. Flues, or pipes, connected with two furnaces, run under the flooring, to maintain a heat suited to the nature of the plants. In fine weather this house is emptied of its leafy tenants.

Among the pines at Kew is the Norfolk Island pine, one of the loftiest trees in the world. It is indeed a noble tree, reaching in its own country to the height of 250 feet, and sometimes it grows even beyond this lofty size. The branches spread regularly out of each side, and gracefully droop like a cluster of ostrich feathers. This tree is too tender to stand in England all the year through out of doors; it needs shelter in the winter. It is only found in the warmest parts of New Holland. A smaller tree of this kind at Kew, called the Moreton Bay pine, is a native of the same country.

The Chili pine has long, slender, snake-like branches, closely covered with thick leaves, which range one above another like the scales of an artichoke. The specimen of this tree now at Kew was brought to England in 1792, in Captain Vancouver's ship, on its return from a voyage round the world. The fruit, or cones, are placed at the end of the boughs, and are as large as a man's head. One cone contains from

200 to 300 kernels, about the size of an almond. These kernels are the chief food of the Indians on the Andes mountains in Chili. There are vast forests of these trees, so that the Indians are said never to be in want of a supply. The kernels are also used for a dessert at the tables of gentlemen in South America.

Besides these specimens of this tribe, there are at Kew the Corsican pine, with its bold, upright trunk; the scrubby pine from Carniola, the weeping pine from North America, the graceful-looking pine from California, the broad-leaved pine from China, the long-leaved pine from the East Indies, and many others. It should be noticed, that in this tribe, besides the pine, are classed the fir, the yew, the larch, the cedar, the cypress, and the spruce.

The timber commonly called deal is the wood of the pine and the fir. Deal is much in demand, from its soft yet firm texture, also from its great size and the ease with which it can be worked. It is much used in building houses, and for a variety of other purposes. In the United States of America are very large forests of pines and firs, on dry and sandy soils, where other trees will not grow; these forests are called pine-barrens. There are also large districts in Russia, Norway, and other northern parts of Europe, covered with these trees. It is said these countries send every year to England one million of cart-loads.

Besides the wood, the pine is valuable for other products. On cutting its trunk a fluid is obtained, called turpentine, a portion of which when boiled is known as rosin. Tar is made

from charring or burning the roots and parts of the trunk; and lampblack is the soot which rises from the wood while burning. Pitch is likewise procured by boiling the tar for a long time.

It is supposed there are more pine trees in the world than any other sort. They will grow in very cold climates, upon high mountains, among rocky cliffs, and on sandy deserts, where there is very little earth to nourish them.

Where summer ever smiles, with verdure crown'd,
Where winter flings his storms, the pine is found;
With lofty head erect, it stately grows

'Mid burning sands or everlasting snows.

It is, therefore, a fit emblem of the spread of the gospel in every land: see Isa. xli. 19; lx. 13.

WORDS OF KINDNESS.

WITTY sayings are as easily lost as the pearls slipping off a broken string; but a word of kindness is seldom spoken in vain. It is a seed, which, even when dropped by chance, springs up a flower.

GOOD ADVICE.

IF Wisdom's ways you wisely seek,
Five things observe with care;

Of whom you speak, to whom you speak,
And how-and when-and where.

LET us now proceed with the history of Christian, whom Pliable left to struggle alone through the Slough of Despond, while he hastened back to his own home. Christian was resolved to

continue on his way, but he had missed the steps by which he might have gone safely through; and when at last, after much difficulty and danger, he had reached the side that was next to the Wicket Gate, he could not get out because of the burden that was upon his back. In this moment of peril a man came to him, whose name was Help; and, after asking Christian a few questions, he took him by the hand and drew him out, and set him upon sound ground, and bid him go on his way.

The Slough of Despond represents the state of a sinner who feels his guilt, and knows that he deserves the just anger of God, without having yet learned the way of salvation through his pardoning mercy, and the atoning blood of Christ. The steps which Christian missed are the promises of Scripture, such as that gracious invitation of the Saviour, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." A deep sense of guilt keeps back the pilgrim from hope and comfort; but God does not leave him in this sorrowful state. The Holy Spirit is ever near to help the repentant sinner, and to lead him to Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life.

Reader, do you sometimes feel the burden of sin upon your conscience; and are you afraid to think of the just and holy God, unto whom your very heart is open, and from whom no secrets are hid ? In the still night, perhaps, or the lonely walk, do you shrink with dread from the thought of death, and of that judgment after death for which you are unprepared? You have heard the voice of the Lord in your inmost soul; you know that you have broken