8S 
J^aturalisVs Calendar, 
IL—NATURALIST’S CALENDAR. 
Under tliis title we intend from month to month, to point out to the young 
Naturalist, the best time for securing specimens and observing the habits of 
the objects of his study, and also to give such directions for preserving and ar¬ 
ranging them, as will best facilitate his pursuits. Another month we hope to 
be able to be more copious—at present our limits compel us to be brief. 
AUGUST. 
BOTANY. 
Botany —to adopt the words of Professor Bindley, in his preface to the In¬ 
troduction to the Natural System"'* “is a most extensive science, involving one 
hundred thousand gradations of structure, with myriads of minor modifica¬ 
tions, and extending over half the organic world.” In a science of such vast 
extent, it is not expected that the young gardener should be able to make 
great proficiency ; but utter ignorance on the subject, which is but too com¬ 
mon even amongst gardeners, who. in other respects, possess a perfect know¬ 
ledge of their business, is quite inexcusable. He should, at least obtain an 
intimate acquaintance with the principles of the Linnaean Classification, and 
should endeavour to entertain accurate notions of the Natural System also. 
Above all things, he should make himself familiar with the plants generally 
cultivated in the gardens of the wealthy, and as far as possible, with the in¬ 
digenous plants. With this view, he should sieze every leisure moment for 
augmenting his Hortus Siccus, in the formation of which the following few 
simple rules may be useful. The specimens collected should be in full flower, 
and.if possible, should include both buds and seeds, the roots also in some 
cases are necessary. These are then to be carefully spread out on blotting paper 
taking care not to alter the natural appearance of the plants: one or two of 
the flowers or leaves, on which depend the generic or specific distinctions 
should be more particularly expanded. Over this, lay five or six sheets more 
of blotting-paper, and then another plant, till they are all spread; on this lay 
a smooth board, and place on it a weight—perhaps a stone or a stone and a 
half, which may be increased as the plants dry. This must be varied accord¬ 
ing to the nature of the plant under pressure, the more succulent requiring 
much less weight at first, than those with hard stems. The plants should be 
taken out once a day and the papers dried and made hot before the fire, after 
which they are to be placed as before, and this treatment continued until they 
are perfectly dry. Each specimen should then be fastened down on the inside 
of a sheet of demy or post paper, and the Systematic and English name, the 
place where found, and the date, written on the outside of the sheet. The 
Systematic name should also be written at the foot of the specimen. I’hesc 
may afterwards be tied up in bundles, each containing one of the Linnman 
Classes, or an Order of the Natural System.* 
In this month the earliest of the autumnal flowers begin to make their ap¬ 
pearance. Many of the natural order Umbelliferae or Umbelliferous plants are 
now in flow’er, as Daucus Maritima,, Sea Carrot; Anethum Foeniculum^ Fennel; 
Pimpmella SaxifragayBrnnet Saxifrage; Slum Nodijioricm, Water Parsnip, a 
♦The most suitable books for a student in Native Botany, are Macgillivray’s Condensed Edition 
of Withering’s Botanical Arrangement, (12mo. 10s.) on the Linnsfan System, (which should be 
studied first) and Professor Lindley's Synopsis of the British Flora, (l2mo, I0.?.6rf) on the 
Natural System:—both are excellent little works, though neither embrace the Cry ptogamous 
plants, or Cellulares. 
