AMPELIDE.E. OB GRAPE TRIBE. GERANIUM TRIBE. 407 



in the year 1839, was nearly ten millions of gallons ', from which 

 the revenue derived a duty of nearly two millions sterling. The 

 quantity of raisins imported was about ten thousand tons, the 

 duty upon which amounted to 135,000/. An article still more 

 largely imported, is known under the name of " Zante currants;" 

 of these, which are really small dried grapes grown in the Ionian 

 Islands, the importation was in 1839 to the amount of more than 

 ten thousand tons, the duty on which was nearly 190,000^. 

 These facts will serve to show the vast extent over which the 

 vine must be cultivated, in order to yield, to Britain alone, so 

 large an amount of valuable products. 



Order GERANIACEJB, or Geranium Tribe. 



572. This order is chiefly interesting on account of the large 

 number of species which are natives of Britain, and the amount 

 of other kinds which are now naturalized here, being cultivated 

 for their showy and elegant blossoms. What are commonly 

 termed Geraniums by the horticulturists are not really such, but 

 belong to the allied genus Pelargonium. Of the real Geraniums, 

 some species or other may be found growing wild almost every- 

 where, and are commonly known by the name of Cranesbill, 

 which they have received on account of a peculiarity that will 

 be presently noticed. If we examine almost any kind of Gera- 

 nium, we shall find that, as in the last order, the stems are 

 tumid at the points from which the leaves arise ; a character 

 which seems of slight importance, but which often runs through 

 a particular Natural group, and enables us to easily recognize the 

 plants belonging to it. Several flower-stalks very commonly 

 diverge from one centre (in the same manner as do the metal 

 stretchers, by which the whalebones in an umbrella are spread 

 asunder,) forming what is called an umbel; but in most of the 

 British Geraniaceae, each principal stalk bears but two flowers. 

 The calyx consists of five ribbed sepals, which spread asunder 

 when the flower is open ; but when the petals have fallen off, 

 they contract again around the young and tender ovaries, to 

 which they then form an efficient protection. The petals are 



