60 WiM Flowers ; how to see and how to gather them. 



paper we deem of so much practical value that we have transferred 

 t entire to our pages, recommending it to the careful perusal of 

 those of our readers, who are interested in the preservation of 

 ships or houses from injury by lightning. 



From this imperfect review of these Proceedings of the 

 Essex Institute, it will be manifest that its labours during the 

 year have been highly fruitful. Its original papers we hesitate 

 not to say, are real contributions to knowledge, and worthy of a 

 place in any scientific library. On reading them we have asked 

 ourself, Why could not Montreal produce something of equal 

 value and interest as this ? It is not for the want of men that we 

 do not. Science is represented among us by names of European 

 celebrity, and we have several Amateurs of ability and zeal. 

 There is therefore the material ; of this fact no one can doubt — 

 why is it then that we cannot as a Natural History Society occu- 

 py a higher place than we do ? The reason obviously is that with 

 but one or two honorable exceptions, our Scientific men whom we 

 honor and of whose works we are proud, stand almost entirely aloof 

 from our Society. We have men of liberal education and scien- 

 tific culture, not a few in our good city, who if they would but as- 

 sociate themselves together to advance the cause of literature and 

 Science would, we are persuaded, do incalculable service to the 

 city and Province. Why should the Canadian Institute of Toronto 

 be better off in this respect than we are? It embraces most, if 

 not all the men of science and literature in the city, and the result 

 is, that its light is shining with ever increasing brightness. If our 

 Natural History Society is not suitable for the rception of our 

 savans and cognoscenti, let it be reformed, or let a new one be in- 

 stituted of a kind more suitable to promote the objects of science. 

 Let not the reproach hang upon us that we are little better 

 than a nominal society. We have now erected a more suitable 

 building for our Museum, Meetings and Lectures. We trust, that this 

 will be the means of attracting many new members and of adding 

 to the ranks of old workers many lovers of Science who will be 

 something more than ornamental members of the time honored 

 Natural History Society of Montreal. 



Wild Flowers : how to see and hoiu to gather them. With re 

 marks on the economical and medicinal uses of our native 

 plants. By Spencer Thomson, M.D. New edition, revised ; 

 with illustrations from designs by Noel Humphreys. Lon- 

 don : G. Routled^e & Co. Montreal : B. Dawson & Son. 



