LESSON XLIX.-THE OCEAN. The principal part of the water on the globe occupies large depressions on the solid surface, known under the name of oceans. These are connected together by comparatively narrow passages, and are therefore really united, forming one wide and continuous expanse of sea. The different parts are, notwithstanding, known by distinct names; the most important being the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. There are also some internal seas, or lakes, of considerable extent, as the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and others, which are almost entirely enclosed by land, and are filled with salt water, besides the great gulfs and bays of North America, and others better known, but far less extensive, in Europe. The depth of the ocean varies exceedingly, and its bed is broken, like the surface of the land, into plateaux, forming shoals, and ranges of mountains as well as isolated mountains, appearing above the surface in islands and groups of islands. Many parts of the ocean have been fathomed; but in some places a line, whose length nearly equals the elevation of the loftiest peaks of the Himalayan chain, has failed to reach the bottom. Around our own coast the depth is very variable, not amounting to one hundred feet over a great part of the German Ocean, while towards Norway, where the shore is bold, the depth is more than five thousand feet at a very short distance from the coast. The deep water commences also at a short distance from the shores of Ireland. The ocean over all parts of the earth contains a certain proportion of salt, which is not quite the same, how ever, for different seas, and even varies in different seasons and at various depths. The proportion is between three and four per cent., or half an ounce to the pound, but is larger in the southern than in the northern hemisphere, and in the Atlantic than the Pacific. The surface is often less salt than the deeper parts of the sea, owing to the flowing into the ocean of large quantities of fresh water from rivers. In this case the fresh water, being lighter, floats on the surface for a long distance before becoming thoroughly mixed. Deep seas are generally more saline than those that are shallow, and inland seas than the open ocean; but this is not invariably the case, as it depends on the proportion that the river water flowing into the sea bears to the evaporation from its surface, and also partly to the influx of salt water. Thus the Mediterranean, especially in the deeper parts, is much more salt than the open sea, but the Baltic is much less so. The temperature of the water is generally different from that of the atmosphere above it, and is greatly affected by depth and local circumstances. The temperature of deep water is constant (40 Fahr.), and in most parts of the ocean within the temperate and torrid zones is much lower than that of the surface. The temperature diminishes in descending, at different rates, however, in different seas, being so unequal that a decrease of one degree of the thermometer (Fahrenheit) answers sometimes to forty and at others to eighty feet of depth, and even more. Still it has been considered, that in general the temperature decreases six times as rapidly downwards in the sea as it diminishes upwards in the atmosphere, and that we much sooner arrive at the stratum of invariable temperature.-Ansted. LESSON L.-DUTIES TO PLAYMATES. One of the most important duties which boys and girls ought to perform, in respect to their playmates, is to avoid the company of the vicious. Use your influence always to encourage doing right, and to discourage doing wrong, among your playmates, by every means in your power. Boys are very often led to do what is wrong, by the influence of other boys looking on and approving what they do. Endeavour to protect the weak and defenceless, and to help all who are in any difficulty or trouble. We might suppose that no one would degrade himself so much as to be guilty of cruelty and oppression to those who are younger and smaller than he is, and thus unable to defend their rights. Still, there are boys who will do this. Their consciences, however, condemn them while they do it; and the influence of the opinion of others, coming in to the aid of conscience, will sometimes deter them. They know that it is wrong; and if they see that other boys think it is wrong, they sometimes will not do it. By kindly taking part with the oppressed, it is often possible very much to diminish the oppression : and there are many other ways by which a just and conscientious boy or girl may help to protect their playmates from injury. Promote peace and good-will among your playmates. A boy may do a great deal to promote harmony among his companions, by explaining misunderstandings, representing things that occur in a favourable light, and, in all his conversation and conduct, setting an example of kindness and good-nature. On the other hand, he may do a great deal to foment discord and ill-will, by endeavouring to set one boy against another, repeating harsh things which have been said, exaggerating difficulties and misunderstandings, and by exhibiting himself, and encouraging others to exhibit, a revengeful and passionate spirit. Children should be courteous in their manners to one another. Boys ought to be gentlemanly, girls lady-like, in all their conversation and demeanour. There is every reason for this. It is proper in itself. Politeness is only gentleness and kindness expressed in our manners and conversation. Now, gentleness and kindness are agreeable—they promote happiness; while a rude, rough, and ill-natured manner makes everybody uncomfortable. Politeness and kind consideration for others smooths the roughness of play, and overcomes difficulties, and heightens enjoyment. It binds playmates together in strong bonds of affection; and forms in boys and girls such manners and habits, as make them objects of regard and affection while they are young, and give them vast advantages, when they grow up, in their intercourse with the world at large.-J. Abbott. LESSON LI.-ORANGE HARVEST IN THE AZORES. Many of the trees are a hundred years old. The thinness of the rind of a St. Michael's orange, and its freedom from pips, depend on the age of the tree. As the vigour of the plant declines, the peel becomes thinner, and the seeds gradually diminish till they disappear altogether. Thus, the oranges most in esteem are the produce of barren trees, and those deemed least palatable come from trees in full vigour. The number of the trees is increased by layers, which, at the end of two years, are cut away from the parent stem; the process of raising from seed being seldom if ever adopted, on account of the very slow growth of the plants so raised. In Fayal, the branches, by means of strings, are strained away from the centre into the shape of a cup, or of an open umbrella turned upside down—a plan which conduces much to early ripening, as the sun is thus allowed to penetrate, and the branches to receive a free circulation of air. To shield them from the winds, the gardens are protected by high walls, whilst the trees themselves are planted among rows of fayas, firs, and camphor-trees. Without these precautions, the windfalls would do away with the profits, none of the "groundfruit," as it is called, being exported to England. Filled with these magnificent shrubs, mixed with the lofty arbutus, many of the gardens present an imposing scene "Groves whose rich fruit, burnished with golden rind, One was especially charming, which covered the sides of a glen or ravine. On a near approach, scores of boys were seen scattered among the branches, gathering fruit into small baskets, hallooing and laughing, and finally emptying their gatherings into larger baskets underneath. Many large trees, on the steep slopes of the glen, lay uprooted, either from their load of fruit, the high winds, or the weight of the boys. Besides, the fall of a tree might not be unamusing; and in so light a soil, where the roots are superficial, a light strain would give it bias enough. The trees lie where they fall; and some that had evidently come down many years before, were still alive, and bearing good crops. The fruit is |