867 



is wholly omitted, does not effect any question which students are in-r 

 terested about ; in like manner, the obscure and disputed phenomena 

 of Vegetable Fertilization, of Irritability and other vital actions, of the 

 little modifications discoverable among seeds and fruits, the structure 

 of Cryptogams, belong to a class of facts which can only be dealt with 

 by those who have advanced beyond the state of pupillage." 



Of a work planned to meet this purpose, written by an experienced 

 teacher and botanist of the highest attainments, and improved and 

 corrected through five successive editions, — what can we say, or be 

 expected to say, except that the work is perfect after its kind; the 

 purpose and promise being fulfilled in a satisfactory manner. It may 

 signify little that we, while confessing ourselves inexperienced in 

 tuition, do nevertheless deem some of the excluded matters more im- 

 portant to students than are some of those which are allowed place 

 and notice in the volume. Such diversities of opinion are certain to 

 arise; and that they are not differences which arise only from the re- 

 lative position of the parties as instructors or the contrary, might be 

 made evident enough by comparing the elementary works of various 

 different teachers ; some of whom obviously attach great importance 

 to the very points which Dr. Lindley passes by. The instructor is 

 unavoidably biassed in judgment by the natural peculiarities of his 

 own mind, by those of his education, by his individual objects and pur- 

 suits in life, &c. So likewise must be the student ; whether medical, 

 agricultural, chemical, or otherwise. 



We take it, however, that Academical lectures to students, and 

 books to be used in connexion therewith, do apply, in far the majority 

 of cases, to medical students chiefly ; and to this class we believe that 

 the " obscure and disputed phenomena of Vegetable Fertilization, of 

 Irritability and other vital actions " are matters of much interest and 

 importance, because a comparison between the functions of animal 

 life and those of vegetable life tends to their mutual elucidation. 

 We take it this should be a leading object in botanical classes for me- 

 dical students. Our academical and professional lecturers on botany, 

 however, in their attempts to persuade medical students that botanical 

 science is oi some use to the medical practitioner, do seldom convince 

 them of anything better than the fact, that no practical advantage is 

 ever likely to arise to them, from the little knowledge of botany which 

 they are compelled by regulations to acquire. But to pursue this 

 subject here would be out of place. Could we have our own way, we 

 would absolve all medical students from their compulsory attendance 

 at botanical lectures; as consuming time and intellectual labour which 



