THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, January 13, 1857. 249 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
D 
M 
D 
W 
JANUARY 13—19, 1857. 
Weather ni 
Barometer. 
sar Don 
Thermo. 
DON IN 
Wind. 
1856. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R.& S. 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
bf. Sun. 
Day of 
Year. 
13 
Tu 
Pansj' (Viola tricolor). 
30.627—30.544 
39—20 
N.E. 
— 
3 a. 8 
15 a. 4 
7 59 
17 
9 
5 
13 
14 
W 
Woodbine (Lonicera). 
30.304—30.029 
37—19 
N.E. 
— 
3 
16 
9 14 
18 
9 
27 
14 
15 
Th 
Hazel (Corylus avellana). 
29-954-29.922 
41—26 
W. 
— 
2 
18 
10 26 
19 
9 
48 
15 
16 
F 
Crowfoot (Ranunculus). 
29.916—29.839 
42—35 
S.W. 
01 
1 
20 
11 36 
20 
10 
8 
16 
1 / 
S 
Archangel (Damum). 
29.593—29.460 
50—44 
S. 
02 
0 
21 
morn. 
21 
10 
28 
17 
18 
Sun 
2 Sunday after Epiphany. 
29.461—29.417 
51—38 
S.W. 
08 
VII 
23 
0 48 
<g 
10 
47 
18 
19 
M 
Dandelion (Leontodon). 
29.250—29.192 
51—44 
S.W. 
10 
58 
24 
2 0 
23 
11 
6 
19 
Meteorology of tiie IVeek. —At Chiswick, from observations during the last twenty-eight years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 42.0°, and 30.9°, respectively. The greatest heat, 60°, occurred on the 19th, in 1828 ; and the lowest cold, 4^°, 
on the 15th, in 1838. During the period 103 days were fine, and on 93 rain fell. 
POLY'STICHUM ACULEA'TUM. 
This has been included by various botanists in the 
genera Aspidium and Polypodium , but all have retained 
the specific name aculeatum, prickly, on account of the 
sharp-pointed character of the teeth on the edge of the 
leafits. Some botanists consider it and P. angulare 
only different forms of the same species. In English it 
is known as the Common Prickly Shield Fern. 
Root large, woody, enlarging very slowly, tufted, pro¬ 
ducing many coarse, wiry side rootlets. Fronds numerous, 
spreading in a circle; their upper side shining, dark 
bluish green, but paler underneath ; in general outline 
spear-head shaped, sometimes broad, at others narrow> 
but always tapering to a point, and rather stiff when 
mature, though very limp when young ; in height from 
two to three feet. Stem leafleted to within three or four 
inches of its base, and covered throughout with reddish- 
brown scales. Leaflets alternate, close together, narrow 
spear-head shaped, tapering to a point. Leafits all 
rather convex, alternate, the upper one next the stem 
always larger than the others, and parallel with it, 
giving the stem somewhat the appearance of being 
bordered with alternate leafits. They are distinctly, 
though rather shortly stalked, irregular arrow-head 
shaped. Towards the upper end of the leaflet they are 
joined together at their base (decurrent); the upper side 
of each is largest, sharply toothed, the teeth being un¬ 
equal, and the points so sharp as to be really prickles ; 
the end tooth inclines to one side; the lowermost tooth 
on the upper edge forms somewhat of a lobe. The mid¬ 
vein of each leafit has alternate side-veins, and these 
side-veins are again branched; of the upper side-veins 
that next the mid-vein bears a mass of fructification. 
The fructification is produced almost exclusively on the 
leafits at the top of the frond, and the masses form a 
parallel line of circles, gradually diminishing in size from 
the base of the leafit to its point on each side of the mid¬ 
vein. They often press against each other, but rarely run 
together. Each mass has a flat, circular cover, unnotclied, 
and with an elevation in the centre when young. 
There are two varieties, which seem merely alterations 
of form, arising from accidental circumstances of soil 
and situation, and of which it is sufficient to say, that 
of obtusum the teeth are more scollop - shaped, yet 
prickly; and alatum has the leaflets connected by a 
wing proceeding from the sides of the stem. 
It is most common in the south of England in woods 
and on shady banks, especially if moist and stony. 
In England it has been found at Benroyd Clough, 
Norland, and Toadholes Wood, in Sowerby Dean, both 
near Halifax, and near Richmond, in Yorkshire; in 
Leigh, St. Anne’s, and Stapleton Woods, near Bristol; 
in Burton Wood, near Warrington, in Lancashire; in 
Shapscombe Wood, near Painswick, Gloucestershire; at 
Ulverscroft Priory, in Charnwood Forest; at the Valley, 
near Bromsgrove, in Worcestershire; in the Isle of 
Man; at Elmdon House, Warwickshire; on Little 
Warley Common, Essex; about Tunbridge Wells, 
Kent; near Bramshot, Hants; at Osterley Park, Lamp 
No. CCCCXXXIII. Vol. XVII. 
