1861.] REVIEWS. 253 



have been made, and that when it was either necessary or expe- 

 dient to employ the scientific names, all needless synonymy 

 should have been avoided. 



In this periodical it has never been the practice " to look a 

 gift-horse in the mouth," and we are disposed rather to be 

 thankful for what we get, than to fret ourselves and our readers 

 because we have not got more. 



All tourists and residents, and especially botanical visitors, will 

 appreciate the accurate and comprehensive lists of interesting 

 species here recorded. 



We can vouch for the accuracy of much that is here stated 

 about the botany of the island, because we have been there, and 

 have seen the plants growing, and "seeing is believing;" many 

 of our friends and correspondents have been there also, and they 

 have told us what they saw ; and besides all this, there is the 

 unimpeachable authority of the late Dr. Bromfield, than whom a 

 more careful, trustworthy, and conscientious observer and faithful 

 narrator never lived. It is self-evident also that the grouping of 

 the species into maritime, marsh, heath, and wood plants, is a 

 great improvement on the mere systematic arrangements. The 

 connection of certain species with certain soils, as Saginas and 

 sand. Trefoils with shingle. Orchids with chalk, etc., binds toge- 

 ther the two sciences Geology and Botany, which mutually eluci- 

 date each other. 



We are obliged to the author and publisher for setting before 

 us an example of a really useful guide to one of the most popular 

 resorts of our migratory and pleasure-seeking population ; and 

 we hope that the publisher will be encouraged to publish a series 

 of handbooks to the other favourite localities, of which we have 

 so many in our kingdom. 



BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUEKIES. 



Dates or Floweiung of Plants in the Vicinity of 

 Plymouth. 



As tlie ' Phytologist ' for June gives the dates of flowering of spring 

 plants observed in the vicinity of Ross, I send the dates at which the fol- 

 lowing were observed in flower in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, think- 

 ing it may interest some of the readers of the ' Phytologist ' to compare 

 the two lists : — 



