474 



or some cause which did not take effect till the tubers were fully de- 

 veloped. 



2. A. Synopsis of the British Species of the genus Rubus. By 

 Mr. Charles C. Babington, M.A., F.L S., &c. 



In this paper the author describes about thirty species of British 

 Rubi, and numerous varieties. Several of the species are new to Bri- 

 tain, and for some the author is indebted to the researches of Dr. 

 Bell Salter.— W^. IV. E. 



Notice of ' Flora Calpensis.' By E. F. Kelaakt, M.D., F.L.S., &c., 

 Army Medical Staff. London : John Van Voorst, 1846. 



In the present day, when the advocates of fact and fiction are so 

 nearly balanced, we hail this little work, in which facts only are de- 

 tailed, as a valuable boon to the former. The ' Phytologist ' may, 

 with honest pride, claim the leadership of the fact party, and therefore 

 must regard with approbation every attempt to add to the general 

 store of knowledge. The celebrated remai'k of Savigny, that " Ento- 

 mologists multiply observations to admiration but dispense with all 

 attempts to generalize them," may perhaps equally apply to many 

 botanists; but if so, it is far more creditable than the opposite extreme 

 into which a few of our (self-styled) 'philosophical botanists' have 

 certainly fallen, that of generalizing without a prior knowledge of facts. 

 It was aptly said by Newton that " whatever is not deduced from facts 

 must be regarded as hypothesis," but hypothesis appears to us a title 

 too honourable for the crude guessings to which we allude. Such 

 guessings we hold to be highly derogatory to the dignity of our sci- 

 ence, and its great opprobrium as regards this country. Dr. Kelaart's 

 work comes opportunely : it is full of information for the labourers in 

 geographical Botany, while its unvarnished facts must of necessity 

 militate against the wild speculations now rife on the same subject. 



We know of no spot not absolutely an island more completely cir- 

 cumscribed geographically and politically than the Rock of Gibraltar. 

 Seen from the beautiful bay which bears its name, the Rock, rising 

 abruptly from the ocean, appears to be completely insulated, since the 

 narrow sandy level which connects it with the main land of Spain is 

 lost to sight and merges in the bright blue sea. The whole surface 

 is irregular and rugged, and rises to a height of 1439 feet above the 

 level of the sea. The entire area is estimated at two hundred acres, 

 and of this about forty acres are cultivated as gardens and parterres. 



