THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— June 10, 1850. 181 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
D | 
M 
1 
-y JUNE 10 - 16 , 1856. 
! 
Weather near London in 1855. 
Barometer. Thermo. Wind. Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Riges. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R. Sc S, 
Mocn’a 
Age. 
Clock 
af. Sun. 
_ 
Day of 
Year. 
10 
Tu Cryptophagus pallens. 
30.227—30.189 
73-41 N.E. — 
45 a 3 
13 a 8 
0 
36 
3 
0 
50 
162 
11 
W St. Barnabas. 
30.195—30.188 
72—46 E. — 
45 
14 
0 
46 
9 
0 
38 
163 
12 
Th Nitidula Baleti. 
30.107—29.856 
70—54 N.E. — 
44 
15 
0 
56 
10 
0 
26 
164 
13 
F Nitidula fulva. 
29.616—29.435 
74—51 K. 27 
44 
15 
1 
6 
11 
0 
14 
165 
14 
S Nitidula obscura. 
29.517—29.485 
61 — 51 S.W. 17 
44 
16 
1 
17 
12 
0 
1 
166 
15 
Son 4 Sunday aeter Trinity. 
29.346— 29.280 
65-42 S.W. 11 
44 
17 
1 
31 
13 
bf. 
11 
167 
16 
M Nitidula deccm guttata. 
29.434—29-308 
65—46 IS.’ 46 
44 
17 
1 
49 
14 
0 
24 
168 
Meteorology or the Week.—A t Chiswick, from observations during the last twenty-nine years, the average highest and lowest tem¬ 
peratures of these days are 71.9°, and 49..I 0 , respectively. The greatest heat, 60°, occurred on the 12th, in 1842 j and the lowest cold, 30° 
on the 15th, in 1650. During the period 109 days were fine, and on 87 rain fell. 
GYMNOGRA'MMA LEPTOPHY'LLA. 
(Slender-leaved Gymnogram ) 
This is the Polypodium leptophyllum of Liniueus, but 
he doubted whether it belonged to that genus, and in- 
| clined to think it tho link uniting Polypodium with 
: Acrostichum and Osmunda. Deoandolie considered it 
really a species of Acrostichum, and other botanists 
included it in Anogramma, Orammitis, Asplenium, and 
Osmunda. It was uuited with other species taken from 
Acrostichum and Hemionilis, to form the genus Qymno. 
gramma, by Desvaux, in 1808. This name, derived 
from gymnos, naked, and gramma, writing, alludes to 
the naked fructification being arranged somewhat like 
writing in straight lines. 
It is an annual, or at most a biennial. Its root is a 
j.uft of short, slender, black fibres. Its fronds are 
usually about the height represented in our drawing; 
but in warm, favourable situations it will sometimes be 
twice as high. The barren fronds, as shown in our 
drawing, are only half as tall as the fertile fronds ; they 
have from one to three fan-shaped leaflets, variously 
lobed, and at first resting upon the ground. Tho fertile 
fronds have a stout, pale brown, glossy stem, the leaflets 
occupy half its length, they arc alternate, twice and 
sometimes thrice leafited, the leafits being also alternate, 
divided into three lobes, each lobe being two toothed, so 
as to he somewhat reversed heart-shaped. A vein 
passes into each lobe and forks so as to extend a brauch 
into each tooth of the lobe. On these forks, and along 
their whole length is the fructification. Finally, the 
spores run together, and usually cover the whole under 
surface of the leafit. 
This has long been known as a native of the southern 
continent of Europe, its adjacent islauds, and Madeira, 
but it was not until 1852 that it was found to be a 
native of the British Isles. In that year it was discovered 
by N. B. Ward, Esq., and others, in the Island of 
Jersey. It was growing on moist banks having a southern 
aspect, where Marchantia flourishes. Mr. Ward found 
it in various localities, besides neiy- St. Aubyn’s and St. 
Lawrence. It is not unlikely to be discovered at the 
back of the Isle of Wight. 
Mr. J. Reeve informs us that the Gymnogramma 
leptophylla is well worth cultivating; and although 
considered quite hardy, will thrive best either in the 
greenhouse (which seems to suit it as well as any place), 
stove, or Wardian case. If cultivated in the open air, 
a sheltered situation should be chosen—sheltered from 
cold, cutting winds, as well as from the burning rays of 
the sun, both of which will prove very injurious, if not 
fatal, to its slender fronds. A warm, shady nook, in a 
rockery, will, therefore, be the best situation for it. In 
this situation, a free, open compost, of equal parts leaf- 
mould and peat, witli an addition of sand, will grow it 
well. It must have a moderate supply of water over¬ 
head during the season of growth; but sucb watering 
must be withheld as the autumn approaches. During 
the winter months it will require no water, but must 
have a slight protection if it remains in the rockery out- 
No. COCCI I. Vol. XYI. 
