188 Bibliographical Notices. 



amination of the flowers of the field," by pointing out the beauties 

 they are likely everywhere to meet with, that thus an additional 

 charm may be added to their rambles over the meads and commons; 

 and secondly, to induce a love for the science itself, by showing that 

 it is easy of acquirement, and that it yields instruction and delight, 

 not merely in our after progress, but even from our first commence- 

 ment of its study. This object we think the author has fully at- 

 tained. The descriptions are entirely popular, accompanied by re- 

 marks and by poetical extracts, which will be read with pleasure by 

 the young student. The plates are numerous and executed by Mr. 

 Francis on the same size and plan with those of his ferns. We 

 could have wished that, if not the plants themselves, yet that the de- 

 tails were represented upon a larger scale, so as to exhibit more 

 clearly the generic and specific distinctions. 



We should hardly do justice to our feelings, did we not introduce 

 in our list of botanical publications, and did we not refer to a recent 

 work of Mr. Loudon's as one of the highest importance and of the 

 greatest utility to the arboriculturist ; to every nobleman and gentle- 

 man of landed estate, who is desirous of improving his property and 

 enlarging the resources of his country ; and to every botanist and cul- 

 tivator who wishes to become acquainted with the trees and shrubs, 

 whether indigenous or exotic, which will bear the climate of Great 

 Britain : we allude to the " Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum, or 

 the Trees and Shrubs of Britain, native and foreign, hardy and half- 

 hardy, pictorially and botanically delineated, and scientifically and 

 popularly described ; with their propagation, culture, and manage- 

 ment, and uses in the arts, in useful and ornamental plantations, and 

 in landscape gardening ; preceded by a historical and geographical 

 outline of the trees and shrubs throughout the world," by J. C. Lou- 

 don, F.L. and H.S., &c., author of the ' Encyclopaedia of Gardening 

 and of Agriculture,' and conductor of the ' Gardener's Magazine' : in 

 eight volumes ; four of letter-press, illustrated by above 2500 engra- 

 vings, and four of 8vo and 4to plates. And in this ample and cha- 

 racteristic title there is nothing promised that is not fully and skil- 

 fully performed — so skilfully, that we will venture to say, there is 

 not a naturalist in Europe who could have executed the task with 

 anything like the talent and judgement and accuracy that is here 

 displayed by Mr. Loudon. The first volume contains the history, 

 geography, science, and descriptions (arranged according to the 

 system of DeCandoUe,) from Ranuncidacece to Staphyhaccte inclusive; 



