THE MALE SHIELD FERN.-(Aspidium Felix-mas.)

a. Root of a young plant, showing the convoluted form of a leaf-bud previously to expansion,

b. Portion of one of its bipinnate or doubly winged fronds, or leaves.

c. Portion of a leaflet, showing on its under side the clusters of sporules, or seeds.

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Among the flowers which at this season appear in their best attire are the virgin's bower, the trumpet flower, and the passion flower.

One of the prettiest flowers of the garden is the marvel of Peru. It is so called from the singular circumstance of its bearing, on the same root, flowers of very different colours. Some are wholly bright crimson, others yellowish buff, and others partly crimson and partly buff, in clouds, blotches, or streaks,

VARIATION OF FLOWERS.

varying endlessly from no assignable cause but the constitution of the plant. Other instances of the same kind may, however, be found. In the common tenweeks' stock, for example, it is not uncommon to see some flowers on the same plant scarlet, and others clouded and streaked with white, sometimes even nearly pure white, without streaks. In the garden heart'sease the variety is much greater.

The

Leaves as well as flowers have their daily periods of changing their expansion, as may be observed in those of the acacia and scarlet-runner, the leaves closing up and partially drooping, much in the same way as those of the sensitive plant do when it is touched. mechanism by which these changes are effected, has occasionally engaged the attention of the scientific ; but they have not been able to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion. So far do the contrivances of Divine wisdom exceed the utmost ingenuity of man!

The common turnsole is so called from the flowers having a tendency, more or less, to turn towards the sun-a circumstance which in the case of the common sunflower is greatly exaggerated, in popular belief, beyond the actual facts. The common turnsole has egg-oblong, wrinkled leaves; the flowers white, in spikes, which are single on the lower, and double on the upper

parts of the plant. It furnishes the litmus, so valuable to chemists as a test of acid.

The China aster, or Chinese starwort, is a great favourite in gardens at this season, on account of the diversity in the colours and markings of the flowers. The German florists have lately improved the old China asters so much, that they are in some danger of losing the name altogether. It has become usual to call them German asters; the seed being imported from Germany in considerable quantities. In the same way ten-week stocks have been improved in size and colour by the German florists; and seed has in consequence been imported from Hamburgh to this country. The Dutch were at one time the leading florists of the world, but the English are now in many things superior to them. The Germans, as has been seen, are making great advances. As yet the French surpass us in roses; but even in this fine flower we have florists little behind the best in Paris or Rouen.

The quantity of fruit is considerably multiplied, especially that of pears, peaches, apricots, and grapes. And surely there is much that demands attention in the formation and ripening of seeds and fruits. In reference to the former interesting discoveries have recently been made. When the pollen or dust escapes

SEEDS FORMED AND RIPENED.

from the anther of a flower, it consists of granules, or grains, in most plants of a yellow golden colour. One of these is composed of several other smaller ones; and when it falls on the summit of the pistil, which is usually moist, the moisture causes it to burst, and the component granules to separate. Every granule so moistened, sends out a long, pointed projection, which penetrates into the pores of the summit of the pistil, and when magnified appears in form like a small pin stuck in a cushion. At length it reaches the seeds, which from that time begin to increase in size, till, if the plant be healthy, they arrive at maturity. How curious is this process! what marvellous arrangements are there for the ripening of a single seed!

It is worthy of remark, that notwithstanding the very great variety of genera and species among plants, the size and shape of the granules are no less varied, while they are adapted, in their own kinds, to the pores of the summit, and the minute passages which run from thence to the seed vessel. This appears designed by an all-wise Providence to prevent the intermixture of species by intercrossing. It is only by the persevering efforts of art that so many crosses are effected in flowers, fruits, and vegetables, which have of late years become so extensive that not merely hundreds,