204 



that's it ; 



Leaves are of very various 

 shapes, and have received names 

 accordingly. There are the ob- 

 oval, 2 ; the acute, 3 ; the has- 

 tate (spear-like), 4 ; the sagittal 

 (arrow-like), 5 ; the pinnatifid 

 (feather-like), 6 ; the lancinate 

 (lance-shaped), 7 ; the retuse 

 (blunt), 8 ; the emarginate 

 (notched at the point), 9 ; the 

 cordate (heart shaped), 10 ; the 

 tripolate (divided into three), 1 1 ; 

 the lanceolate (tapering towards 

 each end), 12 ; the linear (like a 

 line), 13 ; the orbicular (of cir- 

 cular form), 14 ; the trilobate 

 (consisting of three lobes), 15 ; 

 the reniform (kidney-shaped) ; 

 the doubly pinnatifid, 16 ; the 

 doubly serrate (saw-like), 17 ; the 

 singly serrate, 18 ; the crenated 

 (notched, having deeper inden- 

 tations than the serrate), 19 ; 

 the decompound (doubly com- 

 pound) when the leaf-stalk is 

 again divided into lesser stalks, 

 each having a set of leaves, 20 ; 



and supra-decompound when the 

 petioles are divided into tertiary 

 (formed of three) petioles, bearing 

 leaflets, 20*. 



There are some other forms 

 and modifications of leaves, which 

 possess considerable interest, and 

 these can be explained while we 

 examine the plants in which they 

 occur. With the foregoing ex- 

 planation of the principles of 

 vegetation, and the distinctions 

 of vegetable forms, we may now 

 enter the woods, fields, or gar- 

 dens, and examine the various 

 objects with eyes prepared to 

 recognise their distinguishing pe- 

 culiarities, and minds better fitted 

 for the exercise of that contem- 

 plation which adds beauty to, and 

 draws instruction from, every 

 object we behold. 



Various other fnc»s connected with the principles 

 of vegetation will be mentioned in the description of 

 particular species. But for those who desire a more 

 advanced treatise than is adapted to a work of first 

 elements, we recommend the volume of 14 Orr's Circle 

 of the Sciences" whieli treats of botany, and vege- 

 tuble physiology. Another excellent work is " Lind- 

 ley's Introduc ion to Botany." 



OUR RAMBLE IN THE WOODS. 



A celebrated author * com- 

 mences his elaborate work upon 

 "Forest Scenery" with these 

 words : — 



" It is no exaggerated praise 

 to call a tree the grandest and 

 most beautiful of all the pro- 

 ductions of the earth. And 

 though among inferior plants, 

 shrubs, and flowers, there is great 

 beauty, yet when we consider 



* Gilpin. 



that these minute productions 

 are chiefly beautiful as indivi- 

 duals, and are not adapted to 

 improve the composition of a 

 landscape, nor to receive the 

 effects of light and shade, they 

 must give place, in point of 

 beauty, to the form and foliage, 

 and ramification of a tree." 



Yes ! whether we contemplate 

 the yuung sapling, fresh with the 

 greenness and vigour of youth ; 



