CRITICAL NOTICES OP NEW PUBLICATIONS. 331 



servedly winning its way into public favour. The twenty-fifth 

 number^ amongst other valuable articles, contains " A comparative 

 view of Oxen and Horses for the purposes of Husbandry/' in which 

 the superiority of the former is made clearly manifest. Mr. Niven, 

 in a letter to the Editor, alludes to the cultivation of the new Ita- 

 lian Rye grass ( Lolium lialicumj, which he considers a most valua- 

 ble addition to our cultivated grasses, in the following terms : — 



" On the 9th of April, we had a small portion of the seeds of this grass 

 sown alongside of the common rye grass, or Lolium perenne^ and others ; the 

 soil being of a light gravelly quality, rather poor ; its progress, notwith- 

 standing, was quite astonishing, and in the short space of about two months, 

 completely outstripped the others, both in luxuriance and richness of ver- 

 dure. Being desirous to save the seeds, we let it remain uncut for about 

 three weeks after the common rye grass ; scarcely five weeks has elapsed 

 since the cutting took place, and there are specimens now lying before me of 

 the a/fer grass u]) wards of eighteen inches in length. I can truly testify that 

 this invaluable grass has fully supported the high character I receivea of it 

 when in Scotland, last autumn. 



" The following description of the Lolium IfaUciim may not be without use 

 to those who are not acquainted with the species. Corolla considerably 

 awned ; spikelets much longer than the calyx ; flowers lance-shaped ; root 

 fibrous ; stems, several from two to three feet high, round, rough at the 

 upper part, with tumid joints ; leaves numerous, linear, flat, lively green, 

 straited. Altogether a very different looking plant from the common rye 

 grass, or Lolium per enne." 



The following interesting observations " On the formation of a 

 Geological Arrangement of the Rocky Strata of Ireland, with the 

 Plants indigenous to the same," are from the pen of the same ta- 

 lented botanist, Mr. Niven ; and as the valuable hint thrown out is 

 alike applicable to all districts, we make the subjoined extract from 

 the communication : — 



" In the midst of the researches of scientific men, it must, doubtless, ever 

 be the matter of greatest importance, to make their discoveries tell upon the 

 community at large, by some practical results, some interesting and useful 

 exhibitions of the theories advanced ; or by some tangible proofs of their im- 

 portance and value. » • • 



" With these imi)ressions on the mind, I proceed shortly to shew how 

 practically useful and interesting the study of geology might be made to the 

 public at large, if some such arrangement were instituted as the following: 



" I^et us take, for instance, an appropriate piece of ground suited for the 

 exhibition of rocky strata, by its inequalities, elevation, &c. ; in such a place 

 (situated, we shall suppose, in a national garden), specimens might be con- 

 structed of the respective formations of many of the most geologically inter- 

 esting localities of the country ; exhibiting the primitive, transition, secon- 

 dary, alluvial, and volcanic formations respectively, with the plants indige- 

 nous to each ; the whole to be described by proper labels, on which the scien- 

 tific name of the rock or strata should be noted, with any other information of 

 an interesting nature that might be comprehended in a small space. 



" Specimens of the various genus and species of soils, arising from the de- 

 composition and mixture of the several rocks, &c., might form another fea- 

 ture highly useful in such an arangement, especially to the agriculturist. 

 Thus bringing geology to bear, by positive and easy demonstration, on the 

 kindred sciences of agriculture, horticulture, and botany. 



