18 REVIEWS. 



eye, the humble Moss was scai'cely worth your atteution. Because tilings arc small or hnnible, 

 however, they should not be treated with contempt or carelessness. God made the little Moss 

 as well as the glowing flower and lofty tree, and He has made nothing in vain. We may not 

 know all the uses for which such tiny things were created, but wo know some of them. We 

 love what is beautiful, for Gotl has implanted in our minds that love; and in the stnicture of 

 the Mosses, as well as in that of many others of His smallest works, there is a very great deal 

 of beauty. We love them, therefore, because it is natural for us to love what is beautiful. This 

 love yields us true pleasure, which constitutes our earthly happiness, and ought to awaken our 

 gratitude to the benevolent Ckeator, who has so kindly provided for our pui'cr gratifications. 



Mosses are found in all parts of the world; and in Britain, alone, there are about four hundr(>d 

 dLtt'event kinds. Their places of growth arc as varied as their forms. Some are found in the 

 deepest valleys, by the sides of lonely streams, or withm the spray-clouds of roaring wateifalls ; 

 othei's brave the tempests of lofty mountain-summits, or seek shelter among their shelving 

 rocks; many com-t the shade of the forest, or nestle about the roots of the hedgerows; whilst 

 various species seek the open fields or the siumy wall tops, or have thek homes in the deep 

 morass, or dwell on the sandy shores of the mighty ocean." 



We reluctantly take leave of* Mr. Gardiner, and his pleasant little volumes, 

 by quoting a passage from his account of the Tree Feather-Moss, (^HypniDii 

 dendroides,) in the Second Series of Lessons: — 



"Even in the depth of winter, confined to our chamber by the war of the elements, when 

 we look upon a specimen of tliis humble plant, we feel in a moment transported back to 

 summer, with all its glories, and trees rise aroimd us in their wonted magnificence — their lich 

 verdm-e glistening in the Avai-m sunlight, redolent of gi-ateful odoure and manifold hannonies. 

 The avenue of lindens, with its sweet murmur of bees — the daisied lawn, and its fine old 

 sycamores, horse-chesnuts, and wabiuts — the orchard, 



One boundless blush, one white empurpled shower 

 Of mingled blossoms, where the raptured eye 

 Hurries from joy to joy— 



The fragrant birch-woods of secluded highland glens— and the lofty pine-forests that clothe the 

 mountain sides; 



Where. the deer rustle through the twining brake, ».„. 



And the birds sing concealed— 



The gentle labtimum, shaking the dews of May from its golden tresses, over the blossoming 

 thorns; and the miglity oak — the proud monarch of the woodlands, whose giant form has 

 battled triumphantly with the stomis of ages, successively lise to our view, and crowd our 

 minds with the pleasant memories of the past, and glowing anticipations of the futui-e." 



The Royal Water-lily of South America, and the Water-lilies of our land — 

 TJieir History and Cultivation. By Geokoe Lawson, F. B. S. Edhiburgh: 

 James Hogg. London : R. Groombridge and Sons. 1850. p. p. 108. 



Mr. Lawson has given us not only a beautiful book for the drawing-room 

 table, but he has also introduced to our notice, perhaps, the most elegant 

 tribe of plants, which can be presented to the scientific eye of the Botanist, 

 or to the more general observation of the traveller after the picturesque. A 

 considerable portion of the Avork is occupied, most usefully and agreeably, by 

 the Victoria Regina, that Botanical wonder of the age; not only is the plant 

 itself described, but a full and most interesting account is given of the mode 

 of its first successful cultivation in this country, at Kcav; and afterwards of 

 the first flowers which rewarded the care and skill of Mr. Paxton, at Chatsworth. 



