APKIL. 



117 



with a long ramble over hill and dale have we paused 

 in such a locality to refresh our tongue with the 

 agreeable acid derived from the leaves of this beautiful 

 but retiring plant. 



The humbler throng of Flora's train, as the green 

 Mercury, the Dead-nettles, and other plebii we must 

 now, at least, leave undescribed for every day pre- 

 sents some addition to them. Several Ranunculi also 

 appear, but in a general glance at vegetable nature, 

 they only claim attention in their perfect culmination, 

 when their golden tints in broad masses or waving 

 lines, give a feature to the landscape with the contrasted 

 hues of other objects. On the banks of coppices, 

 however, the goldilock Crowfoot (Ranunculus auri- 

 comus), when its flowers are in full perfection, often 

 offers a bright point of attraction to the cursory gaze. 

 But it is remarkable that the petals are mostly abor- 

 tive, and the little hairy -leaved Ranunculus par mflorus 

 seldom exhibits more than three petals. 



Lady botanists and florists should be now on the 

 alert looking over their pots, mourning over the 

 destruction of winter, replacing the ravages of its 

 icy hand, and giving their poor stunted Geraniums, 

 &c. the benefit of light and air, as well as of a warm 

 shower, should it present itself opportunely. They 

 must also, bonnet on head, " look out " in the garden, 

 remembering that if seeds are to come up they must 

 be first sown, and now is the time to begin, if not 

 begun before. The Chinese Primrose (Primula 

 sinensis) looks well at this time, exhibited in full 

 flower in the windows of those who happen to possess 

 it. If fine days (which however in this fickle climate 

 it is impossible to guarantee,) should continue in any 



