THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— October 7, 1856. 1 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
O *5 
>. C 
rt O 
Day of 
! Week. 
' 
OCTOBER 7—13, 11856. 
Weather near Lon 
Barometer. Thermo. 
)ON IN 
Wind. 
1855. 
Ram in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rise!). 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
It. tk S. 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
af. Sun. 
Day of 
Year. 
7 
To 
Bembidintn Spencii. 
29 . 370 —29.250 
64—39 
s. 
.03 
13 a 6 
23 a 5 
9 56 
a 
12 
15 
281 
8 
W 
Sphodrus collaris. 
29 . 546 — 29.467 
67—36 
s.w. 
.09 
15 
21 
11 2o 
12 
3 1 
282 
9 
Th 
Scaphisoma Agaricinum. 
29.512—29.488 
62—41 
w. 
.09 
Jli 
18 
morn. 
10 
12 
48 
283 
10 
F 
St aphylious olens. 
29 . 786 — 29.678 
58—39 
N.W. 
.02 
18 
16 
0 50 
] l 
13 
3 
284 
11 
S 
Aleochara impressa. 
29.697—29.573 
61—52 
S.W. 
.25 
20 
14 
2 19 
L2 
13 
19 
285 
12 
Sun 
•21 Sunday after Trinity. 
29 . 644 — 29.590 
62—37 
S.W. 
.33 
21 
12 
3 52 
13 
13 
33 
286 
13 
M 
Afycetophagus undulatus. 
29.64 9—29.585 
60—39 
w. 
.01 
23 
10 
rises. 
© 
13 
48 
287 
Meteorology of the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the last twenty-eight years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are Oo.tP, and 42.5°, respectively. The greatest heat, 76°, occurred on the 13th, in 1845 ; and the lowest cold, 27 °, on 
the 12th, in 1850. During the period 99 days were fine, and on 97 rain fell. 
When we commence a volume we always consider what, 
new features we can introduce, what improvements we can 
make, and who, distinguished for ability, we can add to 
our staff. On the present occasion we have succeeded in 
doing much in all these modes, and the following is only 
one example of our intentions in the present volume. 
NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RANUNCULACElE. 
This great family is composed of herbaceous or suf- 
fruticose plants, with alternate, much-divided leaves, 
which are dilated at the base, and form a sheath half 
round the stem ; in the Clematis alone are they opposite. 
The flowers vary very much in their disposition ; some¬ 
times they are accompanied with an involucre formed of 
three leaves, either remote from the flowers, or close to 
them, and cup-shaped. The calyx is polysepalous, 3-6, 
often coloured and petaloid, rarely persistent, imbricate, 
occasionally valvate or duplicate. The corolla is poly- 
petalous, sometimes wanting, and then the calyx is 
highly coloured and large, having the appearance of a 
corolla. Petals distinct, inserted under the ovary; in 
number equal, double, or triple that of the sepals ; 
sometimes wanting; in some cases they are flat, with a 
small indentation or glandular scale at their internal 
base, but often deformed, or irregularly hollowed into 
the form of a horn or spur, and suddenly clawed at the 
base. The stamens are generally numerous, indefinite 
in number, distinct, and situated under the ovary. 
Anthers continuous with the filaments. The seed-vessels 
or carpels are indefinite in number, sometimes one- 
seeded, aud collected into a sort of capitule; or many- 
seeded, and gathered together circularly ; and sometimes 
more or less closely united, so as to form a many-celled 
pistil, each terminated by a short and simple style, 
which is usually lateral. The fruits are either ono- 
seeded, uuopening, in capitules, or in spikes; or they 
are aggregated capsules, distinct or united, sometimes 
solitary, oue-celled, many-seeded, opening by their in¬ 
ternal suture, which bears the seeds; very rarely is it a 
many-seeded berry. The seeds are indefinite in number, 
without arillus; erect, pendent, or horizontal. The 
embryo, which is very small, has the same direction as 
the seed, and is contained in the base of a horny 
albumen. 
The numerous genera of this family may be divided 
into two great sections, according as the carpels are one- 
seeded or mauy-seeded. 
Drv. 1 .—Carpels one-seeded. 
Tribe 1.— Clematide/e. —Fig. 1. Calyx in aestivation 
valvular, or iuduplicate. Some with no petals, others 
with the petals flat and shorter than the calyx. Carpels 
not opening, one-seeded, and terminated With a long, 
bearded style. Seed pendulous. Perennial plants, or 
climbing shrubs, with opposite leaves. 
Fig. 1. Clematis angustifolia. a. Flower with part of the sepals re- j 
moved to show the pistil arid the insertion of the stamens. B. A j 
pericarp, c. A seed. D. Achenia and seed cut vertically. a. 
The perisperm. b. The embryo, e. Back view of a stamen. 
Genera. —Clematis, Atragene, Naravelia. 
Almost all of these are hardy, and may be cultivated 
in any good, common garden-soil. They are propagated 
by seeds, cuttings, layers, and grafting; and the her¬ 
baceous species by partition of the roots. 
Tribe 2.— Anemonecc. 
Calyx usually coloured ; in aestivation imbricate. 
Some with no petals, others with petals which are flat. 
Carpels not opening, one seeded, sometimes terminated 
with a long, bearded style. Seed pendulous. Herba 
ceous plants, with alternate or all radical leaves. 
Genera. — Cyrtoryncha, Thalictrum, Anemone, Ile- 
patica, Hydrastis, Knowltonia, Adonis, Hamadryas, 
Callianthemum, Aphanostemma. 
The most of these are hardy plants, but some are 
greenhouse perennials; they are propagated by seed 
and by division of the roots. In some genera, as 
Anemone, the roots may be preserved dry during winter, 
and planted again in the spring. 
Tribe 3.— Ranunculece .—Fig 2. 
Calyx in .estivation imbricite. Petals with the claw 
tubular, bilabiate, furnished with a scale at the base 
of the interior side. Carpels ohe-seede 1, not opening. 
Seed erect. Plants with a herbaceous stein and alternate 
or radi al leaves. 
Genera. — Mjosurus, Cm.ilea, GeratocepbaluS, Ra¬ 
nunculus, Ficaria, Oxygrapbm 
No, COCCXIX, Voe. XV11 
