212 REVIEWS. 



have issued from the press ; but this one, in the carefulness of its defi- 

 nitions, in the beauty of its illustrations, and the superior manner in which 

 it has been published, far surpasses them all. Even those who are some- 

 what advanced in the knowledge of botany will find many things in these 

 volumes of great interest ; combining, as it does, the result of every writer 

 of any eminence in this school. They will find the second volume 

 especially so, as it carries our knowledge on physiological points to a very 

 recent date. We should not neglect saying a word or two about the ap- 

 pendix, which contains directions about the microscope, and hints for the 

 manipulations attendant upon it. We hope, in our next number, in an 

 article on modern microscopy, to present to our readers' notice some of 

 the latest improvements in this instrument, which has, of late, become as 

 necessary an auxiliary to the herbarium of the botanist as to the dissect- 

 ing table of the surgeon. The appendix also contains ample instructions 

 for the collecting, preserving, and arranging specimens. With respect to 

 paper for drying plants, we can, with every confidence, recommend 

 Bentalls' drying paper ;* we have found it keep the colour of the plants 

 much better than any other ; while its not requiring to be so often changed 

 is a great saving of time and trouble. A glossary, or an explanation of 

 some of the most important botanical terms, closes this second volume ; 

 and we think it is not too much to say, that we have seldom noticed a 

 work with more pleasure than the present — rejoiced, as we always are, to 

 see the first steps to science made not only easy, but agreeable ; and, with 

 the following words of counsel and advice, which we extract from the 

 preface, we conclude : — " In prosecuting the science of botany, the student 

 must ever bear in mind, that it is only by the examination of plants, in 

 the garden and in the fields, by careful dissections, and by microscopical 

 investigations of living and dead tissues, that he can acquire a correct 

 knowledge of the subject. No work can make up for the want of this ; 

 no descriptions or illustrations can supply its place. All that the teacher 

 can do by his lectures and text-book is, to direct the pupil in his re- 

 searches, and to refer him to the book of nature in his investigations ; the 

 student must not be led away by human authority, however distinguished ; 

 his motto must be — 



" Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri." 



While he avails himself of all the aid supplied by eminent botanists, 

 he must endeavour, by personal observation, to ascertain the correctness 

 of their statements ; he must carefully avoid hasty generalization, and a 



* This paper can be had, of various sizes, on application to E. Newman, Esq., 9, 

 Bishopsgate-street, London. 



