330 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



she endeavoured to imitate the classical distribution and versification 

 of this elegant writer." The author " recommends Martyn's letters 

 on Botany and Lee's Introduction" for the "farther improrement" 



of her readers, especially for the plates which accompany these works, 

 the excellence of which induced her " to suppress the plates she 

 intended to have added." 



The " Preliminary Lessons " begin with a tabular statement : 

 " Botany Treats of Plants : Plants are composed of Root, Stem, Leaves, 

 Props, and Fructification " : the " props " include " Stipula, Bractea, 

 Spina, Aculeus, Cirrhus, Glaudula (sic), Pilus," each of which is defined, 

 with references to plants exemplifying each. Then come definitions 

 of the classes and orders, with numerous examples ; after these 

 follow the "poetical" descriptions, to each of which are appended 

 footnotes giving much useful and well-chosen information about the 

 plants and showing considerable aquaintance with the botanical and 

 other literature of the period. Of the poetical treatment the follow- 

 ing, containing as it does references to two persons (Francis Masson 

 and Lady Anne Monson) whose botanical history has been recorded 

 in these pages (see Journ. Bot. 1S81-6 for the former and 1918, 347 

 for the latter), may be cited as an example — it may be remembered 

 that the Monsonia was introduced by Masson : — 



" Hush, ye rude storms, blow mild, ye western gales, 

 On the wide sea triumphant beauty sails. 

 Whence gloomy Afric spreads her sable wings 

 A glitt'ring gem exploring Masson brings. 

 Yvomjive strange tribes a crowd of tawny swains 

 Sing round the maid their rude untutor'd strains : 

 Twelve modest virgins near her toilette stand, 

 And deck her form with Taste's fantastic hand. 

 ' Accept,' he cried, ' this prize, accomplish'd maid,' 

 As at young Anna's feet the flow'r he laid ; 

 ' Sweet emblem of thyself, Oh ! let it bloom, 

 Nor find in Britain's soil an early tomb.' 

 With timid hand the proffer'd boon she took, 

 And on its beaut} r cast a tender look ; 

 ' Adopted child,' she said, ' here take thy rest ' ; 

 And plac'd it gently on her snowy breast. 

 Her modest blush fell on the op'ning flow'r ; 

 It bow'd its head, and own'd a rival's pow'r, 

 Received Monsonia's name with flatt'ring pride, 

 And bloom'd unenvious by bright beauty's side." 



The " five strange tribes " of " tawny swains " are, of course, the 

 bundles of stamens ; the " simplicity' of female education " seems to 

 have required a euphemistic treatment of stamens and pistils: thus 

 Butomus (Ennrandria, llexaggnia) has " nine Tritons" and "six 

 young naiads " ; 



"Two simple swains entwine GlrcJioma's, bow'r," 

 and are accompanied by "two infant boys "■ — i. e. two long and two 

 short stamens; and so on. 



The Introduction seems to have had a considerable circulation, as 



