706 



small pretensions to beauty, yet in tbe distance they assume a deep purple hue, which 

 contrasts well with, aud breaks the uniformity of the green turf. In the summer, the 

 immense quantities of foxglove give a rich pink hue to the rocky slopes they cover, of- 

 ten mixed with the tall golden torches of the great mullein ; while in other spots a 

 purple mantle is created by the flowering of the wild thyme. As autumn slowly ap- 

 proaches, the gorsy patches sparkle most refulgently, though their golden splendour is 

 somewhat chastened by the burnt umber of the withered brakes extending far and wide, 

 and scorched by the blaze of August. In May, the hawthorns and mountain ashes 

 wave on the sides of many of the ravines in milk-white purity, while in autumn their 

 pendant coral berries give another phase of beauty to the inspiring and diversified 

 scene." — p. 3. 



We observe from the Enumeration given by Mr. Lees, that since 

 his paper was read before the Botanical Society, he has added to the 

 Malvern list 34 species of flowering plants and 112 species of Cryp- 

 togamia, thus raising the entire number from 1438 to 1584. 



The plants are distributed in the three grand divisions of Exogens, 

 Endogens and Acrogens ; and under each of these primary divisions 

 they are arranged according to the Linneean system, of which Mr. 

 Lees has always been the champion. We are also glad to see that 

 the artificial system of the illustrious Swede is not without advocates 

 among others who hold high rank in the science of Botany ; aud that 

 there are still some left, who would regret to see that system con- 

 signed to unmerited oblivion, because it has not effected what it was 

 never intended for, and consequently what we had no right to expect 

 from it. Let it not be supposed that we are advocating the Linnaean 

 system in consequence of being so prejudiced in its favour as to be 

 blind to the merits and the excellences of other methods — this would 

 be falling into the very error we are deprecating ; we only ask for fair 

 play — we claim for the Linnsean system a fair and unprejudiced exa- 

 mination, conducted in a spirit of candour, and with an especial refe- 

 rence to the end proposed by Linnaeus in framing it, not forgetting 

 that we are most undoubtedly indebted for the present advanced state 

 of botanical knowledge, to the invention and operation of this system 

 at a period when hardly any other means would have answered the 

 same end. This examination we claim for the Linnaean system ; for 

 we cannot help suspecting that perhaps nine-tenths of those who so 

 loudly and so clamorously decry it, are entirely ignorant both of the 

 system itself, of its practical working, and of the debt of gratitude due 

 to its illustrious author, from the present and all succeeding genera- 

 tions of botanists- A passage on this subject from the pen of Mr. 

 Babington has already graced our pages, (Phytol. 642) ; aud we think 

 we could not select a fitter place than this, for giving an extract on 



