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between the simple leaf of the plant and the after complex form of the fruit. Then we have what are often called pods, but are not true pods, the seedvessels of the cruciferæ, such as the wallflower, shepherd's purse, whitlow grass, &c. Call to mind that when you open a pea-pod, it splits both back and front, and discloses its one cavity of pea-seeds; when you attempt to open a ripe wallflower seedvessel, it opens by two valves from below upwards, -and you will find the little flat seeds are contained in two cavities, separated by a transparent central partition. The wallflower seed-vessel is a Siliqua. See December.

DECEMBER.

"What, cold December barrenness everywhere!"

"The dead leaves strew the forest walk,

And wither'd are the pale wild flowers;
The frost hangs blackening on the stalk,

The dew-drops fall in frozen showers."-BRAINARD.

AFTER the month of April, Flora's treasures came upon us so thick and fast, that we could no longer afford space for those directions in practical botanizing-drying, collecting, &c.—which commenced our papers of the earlier months. True, we had almost concluded our observations when the mode of mounting the dried plants was explained; but there yet remains something to be said respecting the final arrangement and disposal of the specimens. We mentioned that one species of plant only should be placed on the same half-sheet of paper; there is,

however, no objection, particularly in the case of small plants, to more than one specimen of the same species being shown, especially if the characters of the plant are better illustrated by this being done. One specimen may exhibit the leaves and flowers to advantage, while another more advanced presents us with the developed seed-vessels. In the case of

large plants, you must use your discretion in selecting flowers, leaves, portions of stems, roots, &c., endeavouring to include as many of the characteristic features of the species as possible in the compass of your half-sheet. If long and slender plants, like the grasses, &c., have been bent and rebent upon themselves, as directed in the paper for March, you may be able to introduce the entire specimen, though many times longer then your paper; in other cases you may effect the preservation of valuable characters by bending the parts, as in the case of the runners of such plants as the strawberry, or common bugle.

Having fixed your specimens, the next step is to attach to each its name, both specific and genericthat is to say, if your specimen be a ranunculus, you write that word on the upper right-hand corner of the half-sheet. That is the generic or genus. name of the plant; but as there are many other species of ranunculus, it is necessary to attach the specific or species name of the particular specimen, before our designation is complete. Thus, suppose our plant is the common water-crowfoot, we add to the first written name "ranunculus," the specific name "aquatilis," which to a botanist distinguishes that species from every other plant in the vegetable

kingdom. These are the botanical and scientific Latin designations; beneath them it is usual to write the English name, and the place where and date when, the particular specimen was gathered -adding, if you have received the dried specimen from a friend, the friend's name also. Thus, then, we have in our right-hand upper corner the following:

"Ranunculus aquatilis, Common water-crowfoot, River Trent-May 20th, 1853."

These names may be written either on the paper itself, or on a label which can be gummed on the paper. Having thus mounted your species, the next step must be to arrange them under the heads of their respective genera; in other words, to put the different species of the same genus together. This is best done by including the half-sheets to which the different species are attached within the cover of one whole sheet which contains the genus, writing the name of the genus, whether it be ranunculus, veronica, or any other, on the left-hand upper corner of the sheet, adding, if you think well, the name of the natural order to which the genus belongs, or, if you follow the Linnæan method, the class and order in that system.

-Ranunculus.

or, Ranunculus.

Thus, it would be

Nat. Ord. Ranunculacea.

Class Polyandria-Ord. Polygynia.

Having done this, your specimens may be put away in some dry place. It is better to have them

arranged on shelves-if you can afford a little cabinet for them, so much the better-at all events, have them arranged and in order, even if your arrangement be no more than alphabetical. It ought, however, to be something more scientific. than this. The Linnæan method of classification and arrangement you will find most easy for study and practice at first; but the natural classification of plants will give you the most clear and satisfactory view of the domains of the vegetable kingdom. These directions respecting the naming and arranging of plants are not unimportant. If the specimens are worth gathering and drying, they must be worth preserving; and if they are to afford any satisfactory use or amusement, they must be in order. Moreover, the position on the paper we have pointed out as proper for the names, will be found the most convenient for reference. Lastly, in looking over or showing your plants, be careful not, as many do, to turn over the sheets as you do the leaves of a book, otherwise you will certainly injure your specimens. Lift each specimen halfsheet carefully with both hands, and lay it smoothly down on the one which preceded it.

Twice blessed, surely, is our botanical pursuit ; for not only has it given us a new interest in the fields of summer, given us enlarged and deeper views of the wisdom, the power and the goodness of the Almighty, but it now offers pleasing and profitable occupation for our leisure time in winter, when

"There's not a flower upon the lea,
The frost is on the pane;"

and in looking over or arranging the dried but still beautiful forms of our herbarium, we live over again, in thought, the pleasant rambles and companionships of summer; it may be of summers long fled, of companions whose forms we shall no more see on earth. Well, arranging our herbarium is a most pleasant occupation for bad days, and for winter evenings; but we must not neglect out of doors for all that.

Last month we had our gay bright berries dropt as with diamond or crystal, when the November dew or rain which had gathered upon them sparkled in some chance ray of the watery sunshine. This month we have them set in the silver frost-work of the rime. How handsome look

"The clustered berries bright

Amid the holly's gay green leaves,"

when contrasted with the white crystalline hoar frost, on a clear winter morning. True berries are they withal, and contain four little seeds. Berries, too, are the dull black and brown fruits of the ivy, that seem to clothe so comfortably the leafless trees. Holly-Ivy-Mistletoe! The last gives us a change of colour, and its white semi-transparent berries supply us with the pearls we wanted for Flora's jewelled winter crown. Let us have a list of her casket's contents. Her rose garland of summer has now furnished the heps of all shades of colour, from pink to brilliant red, and even to the deep black-purple fruit of the thorny burnet-rose, or Rosa spinosissima. Next, how varied are the bramble berries, which we have shown are not berries at all; there is the deep black, telling of ripeness,

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