34 REVIEWS. 



PART II. 



REVIEWS. 



The general Management and Propagation of Slave, Green-house, and 

 Hardy Ilerbaceotts Plants, Hardy Trees and Shrubs, with the Soils 

 best suited lo their groivlh. By Mr. Joshua Mantell, Surgeon. 

 Octavo, 35 pages, 5s. Oil. 



It appears to be the object of the author of the work before us, to describe 

 the best mode of propagating plants, and to give a description of the soil best 

 suited to the growth of each. To effect this, very considei'able pains have 

 been taken to extract from other publications only such portions as are really 

 useful ; these, with the author's own concise and valuable remarks, comprise 

 more Floricultural information than we believe is given in the same limits iu 

 any other work. 



In addition to general directions for the culture of plants iu each depart- 

 ment, as the title of the work imports, alphabetical tables are given descrip- 

 tive of the soil suited to each geuus of plants, and of the best mode of propa- 

 gation. The author assumes that every species of each gen is requires the 

 same treatment, and the tables are thus arrauged. We do not agree with the 

 author in this particular; for although with a number of the geijus's of plants 

 it may be cori'ectly ajjplied, yet both the mode of propagation and suitable 

 soil which some species require, is very different from others in the same genus. 

 However, as much is elFected in the limits of the work as probably could be 

 done. 



The number of species included in the genus's, for which soil and propaga- 

 tion directions are given, is about thirty thousand. AVe also think the classi. 

 fication of the plants, " as given iu a diagram," might be improved. 



In giving a description of the tables, we shall quote the author's own in- 

 structions. There are descriptions given of 14 kinds of soil, each indicated 

 by a capital letter, and 21 modes of propagation described by figures. The 

 following is an illustration: — Abroma, among Stove plants, opposite to this 

 we find 1.6. E. On referring to the modes of propagation, it is stated, the 

 plant may be raised 1 by seeds, 6 by cuttings of the young wood, planted in 

 sand under a bell glass, and placed in a shady part of a Green-house, or Stove. 

 Under soils, E indicates equal parts of loam and peat, as proper soil for the 

 growth of the genus. A indicates annual, B biennial, H hardy, T tender, G 

 green house, S stove. Annuals and Biennials being generally propagated by 

 seeds, their habits and places of habitation are only given. After the tables, 

 very useful methods of cultivating several particular genus's of plants — as 

 Dahlia, Rose, Carnation, Tulip, &c. are given. We cordially recommend the 

 work to our readers, particularly lo young gardeners, apprentices, &c. 



