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A MANUAL OF BOTANY. 



scientific investigations. . . . The subject of the anatomy of plants 

 has been separated from that of morphology and made a separate 

 section. This has been almost entirely rewritten," &c. In short, 

 Prof. Green has not only had to build afresh, but to pull down the 

 old structure, and to take great care that parts of it came not about 

 his ears. There was no doubt of his ability to write an admirable 

 new book, and he is to be congratulated now on the greater power 

 of transforming an old one with many faults into a new one with 

 many virtues. Every part of it bears the mark of cautiously 

 weighed opinion, every fact is stated crisply and clearly. The 

 student who purchases the book may depend on thorough accuracy, 

 and need fear no examining foe with the contents of this book 

 secure in his memory. The botanical public have little idea of the 

 number of utterly shameless text-books that circulate among 

 medical, veterinary, and pharmaceutical students — books packed 

 full of gross inaccuracy, written for cramming purposes, sold for 

 small sums, and brought into the world purely for piratical purposes. 

 These books and their authors are quite unknown to the botanical 

 world, but are only too familiar to every teacher of botany in our 

 colleges who sees them circulate in his class. I have seen students 

 over and over again purchase their "Oliver," and carry it with one 

 of these pirate books throughout the course, absorbing the astounding 

 errors of the latter with an appetite that leaves no room for the 

 wholesome fare of the former. At examinations it is a common 

 observation that the errors of the pirate are retained in the 

 memory, when all else is a blank. What is the fascination ? The 

 pirate is not amusing, — to the elementary student at least, — his 

 style is bleak, and his "facts" are rocky. He exists, I fancy, 

 because he is sternly forbidden. If there were no law of libel to 

 protect him, it would be a public service to collect all these books 

 and review them at once — put them into the pillory. I suggest to 

 the Editor that he devote a Christmas number to a brief Manual of 

 Botany consisting of the errors of these books woven together, with 

 the authors' names appended. 



I have made this digression to show better the value of this 

 work of Professor Green. It will take the place, I hope, of many 

 worthless books. Dr. Scott's Structural Botany, in combination 

 with Prof. Oliver's Lessons, displaced many, and I trust this JSLanual 

 will also slay its thousands. There is a tendency towards too much 

 " Kernerism," if I may be excused the word, in some elementary 

 books. The admirable book I allude to is for reading by the general 

 cultivated public ; the more severe Manual is meant for students 

 who get their Kerner or its equivalent in lectures and class-rooms. 

 Prof. Green is, however, perhaps too formal, if anything, on ilie 

 whole, and he nowhere forgets for a moment tliat learning Botany 

 is a serious business. I ascribe this, if it be a fault at all, to the 

 basis of the Manual on the older Bentley, which was a portentously 

 dull book ; it is the clinging flavour of the old bottle, burst though 

 it be. This is a thoroughly honest and wholly good piece of work, 

 and deserves the wide circulation I heartily wish it. 



G. M. 



