94 
CULTURE OF THE GENUS CARDAMINE. 
There are not many species of this genus worth cultivating ; upwards of forty 
species are known. The C. pratensis, or common cuckoo-flov/er, is known almost 
to every body. A pretty double species is 
deservedly cultivated in our gardens. The 
sorts most worthy of notice are the follow- 
ing : thalictroides, pra tensisp lena, latifo Ua, 
clielidonia^ macrophylla, amara, trifolia, 
uliginosa, hellidifoUa, hellidifoUa alpina, 
glauca, and asarifolia. 
The asarifolia, hellidifoUa, trifolia, ma- 
crophylla, glauca, chelidonia, and thalic- 
troides, are perennial herbaceous plants, 
and are remarkably easy of cultivation. 
They like damp situations, and indeed, this 
is the character of the whole genus, some of 
them being nearly, if not altogether, aqua- 
tics. Any common light soil will suit 
them, and they may be readily increased by 
dividing the roots. 
The pratensis plena, latifoUa, amara, 
and uliginosa, if grown in pots, should be 
set in pans of water ; but if grown in the open ground, select as wet situations for 
them as can be found. They may be propagated easily by division like the last. 
REVIEW. 
I 
The Hand-Book of Plain Botany ; or Linncean Lessons on Common Plants, for 
Field and Garden Practice. By J. Rennie, A.M., &c. ]8mo. 2^. 170 pp. 
All the " Alphabets" and " Hand-Books," on different branches of science, by 
Professor Rennie, which have fallen into our hands, are excellent. This Hand- 
Book of Plain Botany will, no doubt, be very extensively circulated, for with a 
little application a person may, without any other instructor, gain in a short time a 
good rudimental knowledge of the science, on the system adopted by Linnaeus. 
The work is illustrated by numerous wood-cuts, and is cheap at the price. 
The nature of it may be best understood by the following extract on 
" The readiest way of beginning the Study. — By learning about a dozen terms, 
and being able to number as far as thirty, which every child can do, any boy or girl 
