acuminate; sepals oblong, downy; carpels with densely-feathery, recurved awns.-Hedges, chiefly in the southern districts.-June, July. II. ANEMONE. Linn. 1. A. nemorosa L. Flowers solitary of 6 flesh-coloured oval sepals; flower-stalk surrounded at its base by three ternate leaves, with variously lobed and cut leaflets; carpels slightly downy, beaked.-Woods and thickets.—March, April.-Wood Anemone. III. RANUNCULUS. Linn. + Flowers white: petal-pore uncovered. 1. R. aquatilis L. Stem submersed or floating; submersed leaves, divided into hair-like segments; floating leaves, when present, kidney-shaped and lobed.—A very variable plant, abundant in ditches and ponds.-April, May.-Water Ranunculus. ++ Leaves undivided; flowers yellow, petal-pore covered by a scale; carpels smooth. 2. R. flammula L. Root fibrous; stem generally prostrate and rooting at the base; leaves linear-lanceolate, stalked; carpels obovate, minutely dotted, with a very short point. In wet grassy spots.-June, July.— Lesser Spearwort. 3. R. ficaria L. Root composed of tubers; leaves angularly heart-shaped, entire or crenate; stem 1 flowered, leafy; sepals generally 3; petals 6 to 11, but generally 8; carpels smooth, pointless.-Damp hedgerows and groves.-March, April.-Lesser Celandine. +++ Leaves divided; flowers yellow; petal-pore covered; carpels smooth. 4. R. auricomus L. Root fibrous; radical leaves, kidney It has been thought better not to trouble the tyro with the subdivisions of this vegetable Proteus, R. circinatus, fluitans, heterophyllus, &c. shaped, 3 to 6 parted; stem-leaves divided into several linear, toothed segments; peduncles round; sepals yellow, downy; carpels downy, swollen with a slender hooked beak.-Woods and groves.-May.-Wood Goldilocks. 5. R. acris L. Root fibrous; radical leaves, spreading tripartite, the segments 3-cleft, and cut; stem-leaves cleft into three linear divisions; peduncles unfurrowed; sepals slightly downy, erect; carpels oval, edged, with a short marginal recurved beak.—Meadows and pastures.-May, June.-Buttercup. 6. R. repens L. Stem erect, furnished with creeping sideshoots; leaves consisting of three, stalked, 3-lobed, leaflets; peduncles furrowed; calyx erect, downy; carpels oval, slightly dotted; beak straight, or but slightly curved. Meadows and pastures.-May, June. -Creeping Buttercup. 7. R. bulbosus L. Root globose; radical leaves with three, tripartite, stalked leaflets, segments 3-cleft; stemleaves cleft into linear divisions; sepals hairy, bent back; carpels round, smooth.-Meadows and pastures, flowering earlier than either R. acris, or repens.-May. -Bulbous Buttercup. tttt Leaves divided, flowers yellow; carpels wrinkled, or spiny. 8. R. sceleratus L. Root fibrous; radical and lower stem leaves stalked, tripartite; upper leaves in three linear segments; calyx reflexed; petals small, pale; carpels small, wrinkled, collected into oval heads.-Sides of ditches and rivers.-June, July. 9. R. arvensis L. Root fibrous; radical leaves 3-cleft, stem-leaves ternate, segments, lanceolate; petals small, pale yellow; carpels large, edged, spinous, beaked.Corn-fields.-June. IV. CALTHA. Linn. 1 C. palustris. Root fibrous, leaves large, heart-shaped, rounded, somewhat crenate; sepals large, bright yellow, resembling petals.-Wet margins of ponds and rivers.March, April.-Marsh Marigold. These are the commonest plants of the order Ranunculacea; and, with the exception of the Clematis, may be gathered in every county in the kingdom. To illustrate the use of this catalogue, let us suppose that we have found by the river-side a pale-green, hollow-stemmed plant, with faint-yellow petals. It is a dicotyledon, for its leaf-veins are netted; and since its stamens rise from the receptacle above which the carpels are placed, it must belong to the sub-class Thalamiflora. Comparing it with the characters ascribed to Order I., it is found to agree perfectly. Of course we conclude that it is one of the Ranunculaceae, and proceed to examine the generic distinctions. Clematis and Anemone have no corolla; our plant, therefore, cannot belong to either; but it shows a fivesepalled calyx and five petals, with their curious pore, so characteristic of the genus Ranunculus. Turning to the description of the various species of Ranunculus, we find that they are divided into four groups. The yellow petals of our plant exclude it from the first, and its wrinkled carpels from the second and third: it must therefore be either R. sceleratus, or R. arvensis. There will be no difficulty in deciding between these two: the absence of spines on the carpels and reflexed sepals sufficiently point it out as R. sceleratus; so that we may now dry a specimen, and place it in our herbarium, satisfied that we have discovered the correct designation of a plant with which, a few minutes before, we were utterly unacquainted. P. MACOWAN. St. Mary's, Colchester. LIVING DOWN CALUMNY. I ONCE knew (says a correspondent of the "American Messenger") a man who was for a time beset with all manner of evil-speaking. Former friends seemed turned against him. Anonymous letters reached him frequently. To those who asked an explanation, he gave it, and they were satisfied. But the storm still increased. At one time he was in danger of losing his temper. At another, he seemed despondent. At another, he thought of a public vindication. But he had no responsible accusers. Besides, the evil rumours were so many, that, like the vermin in the plague of Egypt, it would have required months to remove them. The temper of the community was all wrong. At last he resolved, in reliance on God, to keep silence and maintain quietness of soul, and let the storm blow over. No sooner had he formed the purpose, than he felt relieved. But friends, more officious than wise, talked of law-suits, pamphlets, a public meeting, &c. To such he gave the following twenty reasons for his conduct. "1. If these rumours be true, it would not be lawful to deny them. In such case, my mouth ought to be stopped. 2. If they are false, my noticing them will not make them more so. 3. I have determined to try to imitate one, of whom it was said, 'He never forgot anything except injuries.' 4. The early Christians, when reviled, did bless. (1 Cor. iv. 12.) So will I. 5. When Jesus was reviled, He reviled not again. (1 Peter ii. 23.) 6. Patient continuance in well-doing will, if anything will, put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. (1 Peter ii. 15.) 7. It is the glory of a man to pass over a transgression. (Prov. xix. 11.) 8. He who utters or believes a false rumour, is hurt far more than any one else. (Psalm xv. 3.) I should pity such with all my heart. 9. Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience. (2 Cor. i. 12.) 10. I have put all that concerns me into the hands of Christ, and He will keep what I have committed to Him. (2 Tim. i. 12.) 11. It shall ever be my rule to leave off contention before I begin it; and not often have I defiled my conscience with it. (Prov. xvii. 14.) 12. It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and requite me good for his cursing this day.' (2 Sam. xvi. 12.) 13. I need forgiveness for ten thousand sins. Shall I not forgive others? 14. I have lived to no purpose, if rumours, not founded in truth, can destroy my good name. 15. I hope some of my detractors will soon have a better spirit. They have not always shown such evil dispositions. 16. Experience proves that nothing is more tormenting than malignant feelings. 17. If I am called to these trials, so were Job, and Moses, and David, and Paul, and Christ. It is enough that I fare as well as they. 18. This is perhaps the best opportunity I shall have for a long time of showing the meekness and patience of Christ. 19. Time spent in prayer will do more good than if spent in fending and defending, in proofs and recriminations. 20. Eternity is just at hand. It will make these little annoyances soon to disappear. I shall not think of them once in a million of ages; or if I do, it will only be to thank God for sustaining me under them, and for bringing me out of them. Therefore I will possess my soul in patience and maintain silence. Nothing shall change my purpose." His friends could not change his mind, and left him—some with regret, but all with respect. Time rolled on. The tide of feeling rose to its height, and soon began to subside. His quietness itself had shown the falsity of much that had been said. Unexpected evidence rose in his behalf. His busiest enemies relaxed their efforts, and by degrees changed to be his defenders. The highest character ever given of him was by one who had circulated most of the slanders; and he has the satisfaction of seeing how safe is character in the hands of God. Did he not act wisely? Will you act as wisely when tried? POETRY. APATHY. TREES are there in the Spring that never bloom, Passionless beings! Not life's circling rage, A world of battling interests and schemes; It proves its silent but resistless streams; |