158 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
many will be found perfectly well suited to the climate of this and 
other northern countries ; that most of them are large shrubs or trees 
of surprising floral beauty, and that nearly all exist already in England 
in great vigour and profusion, having been raised, with many other 
things, from seeds sent home to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew 
by their discoverer; assuredly we may claim for Dr. Hooker a high 
rank among benefactors to the cause of gardening; no one having 
ever made anything like his important additions to our shrubberies and 
arboretums. ‘The present monographic work takes up only one item 
among the multifarious objects which have engaged Dr. Hooker’s at- 
tention, during the extensive Indian travels, from which he has only 
now returned, after an absence of three years and a half; but it may 
be considered as an exponent of his harvest of observations and collec- 
tions, by which we may fairly regulate our expectations. The writer of 
this article is not permitted to indulge, as he otherwise should have 
done, by referring in detail to his distinguished friend’s previous works, 
or the enormous treasures accumulated during his last travels ; but this 
much he may say : they are entirely worthy of the name he bears, and 
of that high respect, as well as personal friendship, which have been 
accorded to him by a Humboldt and a Brown. 
Very little remains to be added concerning the Sikkim Rhodo- 
dendrons, except that both text and plates are excellent. The two 
parts hitherto published contain twenty highly finished representa- 
tions of new species, made on the spot by the author himself, and not 
surpassed by any ever given to the botanical world, either as regards 
their truthfulness and elegance, their details, or the beauty of their 
colouring ; in which respect, as well as in the lithography, they are 
worthy of that well-known and deserving artist, Mr. Fitch. A third 
part is announced as ready for immediate publication; it is to contain - 
ten more plates, and will conclude this important work, not a slight 
recommendation of which is its moderate price. Prefixed to the first 
part is an historical account of the genus as respects India, by the 
author’s father, and possessing the sterling value of everything emanat- 
ing from that untiring pen. This is followed up by the author’s own 
remarks on the physical and geographical distribution of the genus 
over the Sikkim mountains. In the second part we have a conspectus, 
or synopsis, of forty-three Indian Rhododendrons, of which thirty-six 
are natives of that range; thirty-three being, as has been mentioned 
