BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 1J>7 



from other authorities. It would have been more useful if a 

 larger number could have been introduced ; but costly em- 

 bellishments are not possible beyond a certain limit. Finally, 

 the artificial analysis of Orders given in former editions has 

 again been improved, and is now adapted to the volume in 

 its new dress. It is, however, no longer placed at the be- 

 ginning of the work, but will be found immediately before 

 the indices. It has been gratifying to the author to know 

 that this table is habitually consulted by some of the most 

 experienced Botanists." The author then points out the 

 attempts he has made to improve the nomenclature, but as 

 far as concerns the change in the English names of the Na- 

 tural Orders, we must confess that the sound is intolerable to 

 our ears. We cannot conceive that any well educated person 

 (and none else can be expected to study the Natural Affinities 

 of plants to advantage), will prefer the use of the Terms, Or- 

 chids, Hippurids, Amaryllids, Irids, Typhads, Arads, Cucur- 

 bits, as English equivalents for Orchidea, Hippuridea, Amy- 

 ryllidea, Iridete, Typhacece, Aroidece, Cucurbitacea. This is, 

 however, a mere matter of opinion, and as we before observed, 

 our object it is not to perform the part of a critic. 



Such is the general outline of the plan of the " Vegetable 

 Kingdom," a work, for the proper execution of which are re- 

 quired such an enlarged knowledge of the principles of Botany, 

 such experience in the examination of Genera and Species, 

 such extensive reading, such an access to the labour of others, 

 such taste in the selection and arrangement and execution of 

 the figures, and above all, such amazing industry, as fall to the 

 lot of few men of science, but which are assuredly combined 

 in the Author of the work now before us ; and the book will 

 be read and studied accordingly. 



The subjects of the plates are peculiarly well selected, and 

 the plates themselves skilfully executed, and never were figures 

 °f plants, and analyses of fructification turned to so good 

 a n account as on the present occasion. 



