835 



" In both these cases, the beans were considered the principal, and 

 the potatoes the secondary crop ; and, in 1845, fthe latter were twice 

 trodden down by a boy, to prevent their interfering with the blossom- 

 ing of the bean crop. In case the potato is considered the main 

 crop, carrots especially, or even mangel wurzel, or cabbages, would 

 be preferable in the alternate rows, as the insurance or secondary 

 crop. 



" At the time these remarks were read at the Polytechnic meeting, 

 the potato crop of 1846 had not been measured ; and they thus were 

 founded on the result obtained from the crops of 1845. The stems 

 of both crops were destroyed by the disease; but the tubers were 

 much less injured in 1846 than 1845: in both years the injury was 

 below the average." 



Notice of ' Species Filicum ; being Descriptions of all the known 

 Ferns, particularly of such as exist in the Author'' s Herbarium, 

 or are with sufficient accuracy described in Works to which he 

 has had access ; accompanied tvith numerous Figures. By 

 Sir William Jackson Hooker, K.H., D.C.L., F.R.S., V.P. 

 L.S., F.A.S., &c.. Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens of 

 Kew.' Vol. I., containing Gleichenia — Dictyoxyphium. Plates 

 I— LXX. London: Pamplin. 1846. 



The entire range of literature offers no subject more intensely in- 

 teresting than a general illustrated history of ferns. The extreme 

 beauty of the plants themselves, the ease with which they are now 

 cultivated, the impetus and ton given to their cultivation by the in- 

 troduction of Mr. Ward's cases in the drawing rooms of the nobility 

 and gentry ; the easily understood distinction of species ; the aptness 

 of the objects for characteristic and graceful illustration ; these, and 

 many other causes combine to render a ' Species Filicum ' the most 

 tempting book which a competent author or speculative publisher 

 could possibly undertake, and to promise an equal fund of amuse- 

 ment, instruction, renown, and profit : a return (5f quid pro quo to all 

 parties concerned, a mutual harvest of satisfaction. 



Sir William Hooker's deservedly high reputation considerably en- 

 hanced the eager expectation with which the appearance of the first 

 part was awaited : through a series of works and during a long course 

 of years, the learned author has maintained a botanical reputation 



