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New Publications. ^389 



filed dissections are, of course, incompatible with a work where 

 it is intended to give as much useful information as possible, in 

 as small a compass ; yet, for the better illustration of the 

 Grasses, they are accompanied by analyses of the flowers. The 

 parts that struck us as being the least significant and the least 

 useful, are the figures illustrative of the Classes and Orders of 

 the Linnaan System^ for these marks are confessedly artificial ; 

 and to him who knows what a stamen and what a style are, it is 

 equally easy to call to mind the presence of one or two stamens, 

 or oi one or two styles, as to form the idea from their represen- 

 tation. The Tables of Abbreviations and References require 

 perhaps too much study ; and the old and highly characteristic 

 signs of Anmial and Biennial, he. are sacrificed, we think, 

 without any advantage being gained in their room. Both, we 

 allow, require explanation ; but many persons are acquainted 

 with the old figures •, and innovations, except arising from some 

 adequate or superior motive, should be avoided. The arrange- 

 ment of the whole genera and species is according to Linnaeus. 

 Following the characters of the genera, are the enumerations 

 and characters of the species : the former (the enumeration) 

 occupying the left hand page, accompanied by the initials of its 

 aiithor ; the English name, duration, period ofjlowering, name 

 of the natural order to which it belongs, station, date of intro- 

 duction, reference to figures, &c. &c. the latter occupying the 

 same line, and headed by the same number on the opposite page. 

 Below the figures, a space is devoted to the culture, uses, his- 

 tory, derivation of the name, and a vast mass of useful obser- 

 vation and research, collected with great labour and no incon- 

 siderable judgment. A sketch of the Natural Arrangement, 

 also we presume from the pen of Professor Lindley, and a 

 Glossary of Terms, conclude the work. The whole, we may 

 confidently assert, form a book perfectly siii genens. The 

 quantity of matter is truly astonishing ; and the entire publica- 

 tion is offered at a price so moderate (four and a half guineas), 

 that we can hardly dare to hope it will do more than cover the 

 expenses of the public-spirited booksellers, who have spared no 

 cost to render it, what we confidently pronounce it to be, the 

 most useful and the most popular botanical work that has ever 

 appeared in the English language. 



