505 



longitude by which we are separated from the inclement shores of 

 Kotzebue Sound, we cannot fail to be struck with the similarity of its 

 vegetation to that of the northern extremity of Great Britain, and 

 especially of our outlying islets, — a similarity in general character 

 rather than identity of species ; thus showing the importance of geo- 

 graphical botany as a science, and the precision with which results 

 may be predicated even with the diameter of the earth intervening 

 between the philosopher and the object of his speculations. We shall 

 be truly glad to receive the second instalment of this admirable work, 

 and in the mean time sincerely congratulate the author on the man- 

 ner in which this first part has been brought out. 



m Hooker's ' Journal of Botamj and Keiv Garden Miscellany,^ Nos. 39 



and 40, April and May, 1852. 



This periodical, after having been discontinued for a month, is now 

 re-issued ; but, its former price " being," in the words of Messrs. 

 Reeve, " insufficient to meet the cost of printing and paper," two 

 shillings will in future be charged for each number. We cannot con- 

 ceal our surprise that a journal with such means at its disposal should 

 have arrived at a state when its very continuation has become a matter of 

 uncertainty. This decline is owing to various reasons ; and the measure 

 now adopted is, in our opinion, not calculated to remove them : for al- 

 though there are many naturalists in this country who must take in the 

 publication, let the price be one or two shillings, yet a great number will 

 content themselves with those extracts w^hich other magazines will give. 

 The publishers are to blame for not taking any pains in making the 

 periodical known. We have never seen it advertised in any but 

 Messrs. Heeve's own sheets, and certainly never in any of the continental 

 journals. The editor also is to blame for inserting those long papers 

 on descriptive botany, containing nothing save diagnosis. They may 

 look very well in the Liunaean ' Transactions,' but are sadly out of 

 place in a monthly periodical which contains only thirty-two pages 

 of letter-press. The space ought to be filled up with readable mat- 

 ter ; dissertations on difficult genera and natural orders, reports on 

 scientific journeys, reviews, &c. 



No. 39 contains: — ' Eloge on Professor Ledebour; by C. F. P. 

 Marlius.' 'The Camphor-tree of Sumatra; by W. H. de Vriese ;' 



