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NATURALISTS CALENDAR. 
II. NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR, 
OR OBSERVATIONS ON NATURE FOR MARCH. 
The copious rains of February, though well adapted for making the roots of 
perennial plants send forth shoots, would be unfavourable if continued, for the 
germination of seeds, which require to be moist, but not soaked to spring well. 
It is this which renders dry weather at this season so valuable; when wet weather 
continues during this month, seeds are apt to fail by becoming mouldy or by 
rotting, whereas when they are got in dry, they are more certain to germinate 
vigorously. Self-sown seeds for the same reason, seldom produce such fine plants 
as those reared from seeds which have been carefully dried, and kept out of the 
ground during the winter; self-sown flowers soon lose all the beauties acquired 
by cultivation, and return to the character originally belonging to them in their 
wild state.* Very many British plants are now in perfection, a few of which we 
will describe. The common Marsh Marygold (Caltha palustris) fig. 1, will about 
the third week be observed opening its yellow flowers on the margins of ponds 
and rivers, and in marshy meadows every where, particularly if the soil be adhe¬ 
sive. The flower buds, gathered before they expand are said to be a good sub¬ 
stitute for capers; and the juice of the petals boiled with alum dyes paper yellow. 
In thickets and waste ground, where the soil is chalky, the Bears foot (Helleborus 
foetidus) fig. 2, flourishes, it bears greenish flowers, and grows about If foot high, 
This plant has been long in use in popular medicine, as a vermifuge (worm de¬ 
stroyer) and cathartic (purge.) All the Hellebores are violent poisons, and re¬ 
quire great caution in their application to any use. The Pile wort (Ficaria ra- 
20 
nunculoides) fig. 3, begins to expand its yellow flowers about the second week, 
it is not very plentiful, but may occasionally be found on banks under the shel¬ 
ter of hedges and in moist grass land. The young leaves are sometimes used in 
Sweden as greens; and the roots were formerly used in our own country as 
poultices lor piles, it generally grows about six inches high. A little annual 
about 3 inches high with small white flowers, may be found on limestone rocks, 
and walls, particularly in the south, it is the Mountain Dittander, (Hutchinsia 
petraea) fig. 4; also the Whitlow grass (Draba aizoides) fig. 5, grows upon many 
rocks in the south, but is most abundant on the Welsh mountains, it is about 
three inches high, and bears small yellow flowers: 
* Notes of a Naturalist. 
