the country people, and this regulation increased the number of his pupils.

5. Linnæus loved his garden better than any other place; he was continually making some fresh discovery among his flowers. The seed of a kind of bird's foot trefoil had been sent to him from the south of France, and he had watched two flowers on a plant raised from this seed. Going one evening into the garden he looked for these flowers in vain. The next morning they were there as before, and the gardener thought they must be fresh flowers, as they had not been discovered in the evening. Linnæus went again in the dark hour, and

searching more diligently than before, he at last found these flowers closely folded up, and their leaves contracted over them. Linnæus might now be seen going about his gardens and hothouses with a lantern in his hand, and from finding so many flowers concealed amidst their leaves, he took the idea of the sleep of plants. He formed a kind of dial, on which the hours of the day were marked, by the different times at which certain flowers were found to open or close their blossoms; and he formed a rural calendar, marking the proper times for the different labours of husbandry by the appearance of the blossoms of plants. Mrs. Hemans has said in one of

her poems:

"Twas a lovely thought to mark the hours
As they floated in light away,

By the opening and the folding flowers
That laugh to the summer's day."

6. Linnæus held his professorship thirty-seven years, and about the close of this period he published his great book, containing a description of all known plants, arranged on the sexual system, for which he became so famous. The same year in which this work appeared, he was created a Knight of the Polar Star, an honour never before bestowed on a man of science or letters; and about seven years afterwards, he was elevated to the rank of nobility. He lived in easy affluence and in the enjoyment of his dignities, till January, 1778, when he was removed by an attack of apoplexy.

7. His remains were deposited in a vault near the west end of the Cathedral at Upsal, where a monument of Swedish porphyry was erected by his pupils. He was honoured with a public funeral, at which were present the members of the university, the pall being sup

ported by sixteen doctors of physic, all of whom had been his pupils. A general mourning took place on the occasion at Upsal, and King Gustavus III. not only caused a medal to be struck expressive of the public loss, but introduced the subject in a speech from the throne, regarding the death of Linnæus as a national calamity.

8. Linnæus had been hasty and impetuous in his youth, but in advanced life he became mild and temperate, and was always ready to do justice to the merits of others. He frequently declared that the works of nature best teach the existence of a God, and often spoke in glowing words of the greatness and omnipotence of the Almighty.

assaying, proving the purity of

metals.

mineralogy, the science which
treats of the properties of
mineral substances.
nurseries, gardens where plants
are grown for sale.

calendar, an almanac.

husbandry, farming operations. porphyry, a very hard stone partaking of the nature of granite and susceptible of a fine polish. impetuous, rash.

omnipotence, having all power.

How did Linnæus now attempt to earn a livelihood? Describe his travels on leaving Upsal. What situation did he obtain at Amsterdam? Mention some particulars of his journey to England. What was his chief work on settling again at Upsal? Describe one of his summer excursions. How did he discover that plants went to sleep? What honours were conferred upon him?

PERSIA.

1. Persia is a large country in Asia, lying between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf. In ancient times Persia formed one of the provinces of the Assyrian Empire, on the disruption of which, it fell under the power of the Medes. Cyrus, one of its rulers, in the year

560 B.C., succeeded in establishing its independence, and afterwards consolidated it into a powerful kingdom.

2. During the reigns of several succeeding kings the Persians gradually increased in wealth and power; and conquering most of the surrounding nations, established a vast empire extending from Greece to the river Indus. This empire was afterwards broken up by Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, who completely destroyed the Persian army under Darius the king in three great battles.

3. Since the break-up of the Persian Empire, Persia has fallen successively under the dominion of the Romans, Arabs, and Tartars, but it is at the present time an independent kingdom governed by a native ruler who is called the Shah.

4. Persia is more than twice as large as France, but a great part of it is incapable of cultivation, as it consists of high barren plateaus or table-lands. In addition to these, in the eastern parts of the country, there are great treeless sandy wastes or deserts, without a particle of vegetation, excepting in the narrow valleys which form the course of the few rivers that are found there.

5. In many districts of Persia the soil is largely impregnated with salt, indeed the numerous salt deserts and salt lakes form the chief peculiarities of the country.

6. Every variety of climate is found in Persia, from the intense cold of the snow-clad mountain districts, to the almost torrid heat of the plains. Agriculture is the chief occupation of the people and is well understood, especially the art of cultivation by artificial irrigation of the land.

7. There is a celebrated bridge at Ispahan, the former capital of Persia. This bridge has thirty-three arches, and on either side instead of a parapet a gallery extends from end to end composed of seventy smaller arches.

Aqueducts are numerous, and some of these are of very great length. By means of them large tracts of country, that would otherwise be barren, are irrigated, and so brought under cultivation. Rice, wheat, and barley are the usual crops; but millet, maize, beans, and peas

Cotton, indigo, sugar,

are grown in great quantities.

and tobacco are also cultivated, and near some of the towns large tracts of land are entirely set apart for the cultivation of roses and other perfume-yielding flowers.

8. Fruits are grown in abundance and are excellent in quality. The domestic animals of Persia are camels, horses, mules, buffaloes, sheep, and goats. The Persian horses are noted for their beauty, strength, and speed, especially those belonging to some of the nomadic tribes that live on the borders of the deserts. Mules are used more than any other animals for the transport of goods.