naturalists’ calendar. 
91 
promote the vegetable growth ! if it be, then, the next inquiry should be direct¬ 
ed to determine accurately the nature and components of the soil, to which, 
when applied, it affords a peculiar fertilizing quality. Hard-water usually con¬ 
tains carbonate or sulphate of lime; in other words, they hold in electro-chemical 
solution, certain portions of chalk, or of plaster-paris.—(Gypsum.) Now, if a 
soil abounds naturally with chalky matters, a water containing chalk or gypsum, 
cannot be supposed to melioriate it. But in dry peaty soil, replete with sharp 
(silicious) sand, and inert, or half-decomposed vegetable matters, chalky, or 
hard-water may be found very useful. Gardeners, and others, who pay much 
attention to plants in pots, are generally averse from the use of hard-water: they 
say, that “it does little or no good,” and experientia docet. Still, however, the 
enquiry is worthy of notice, and of repeated trials. It should be borne in mind, 
that nature’s great fertilizing medium, the rain , is soft in its quality: this bland 
fluid is not chemically pure, but at all events, it cannot be deemed hard-water, 
for it ever leaves the hands in a healthy and souple condition, and soap is not 
coagulated by it. 
Nov. 12 th, 1832. G. I. T. 
II. NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR, 
OR 
OBSERVATIONS ON NATURE, FOR FEBRUARY. 
This month and the next are amongst the most interesting to Naturalists. The 
swelling and pregnant buds, the appearance of early flowers, and the general 
motion of the vegetable creation, unite to proclaim the coming season. Amongst 
many plants may be noticed the Erophila vulgaris, or Spring Whitlow Grass, (1) 
(Fig. 12.) 
it may be found on walls, where, about the end of the month, it comes into 
flower; its flowers are white. In gardens and cultivated fields, the Veronica 
agrestis (2) may be plentifully collected; it grows about three inches high, and 
