1859.] REVIEWS. 381 



secure a fair share of public support. The notice in the public 

 prints of a new and popular scientific periodical, led us to invest 

 in the purchase of the first number; and we rejoice to say that 

 our money was not thrown away. In the wide range of subjects 

 which the periodical embraces, botanical science, as we might 

 expect, occupies a prominent position. Of ten capital papers on 

 particular subjects, two have been devoted to difiereut depart- 

 ments of botanical lore. In addition to these, a list has been 

 given of the wild plants of the month ; also in Baron Humboldt, 

 of whose life a short sketch is given, botanists may surely claim 

 a part. Mr. Tuffen West^s paper, " How to gather Diatoms," fur- 

 nishes useful practical hints to those who are about to engage in 

 the study of that very remarkable tribe of microscopic plants. 

 " Wayside Weeds and their Teachings " is a good lesson for be- 

 ginners in the study of flowering plants, and well illustrated by 

 good bold outline sketches of the various parts of the plants of 

 which the author treats. Good elementary papers on the various 

 departments of science we consider to be of vast importance, both 

 in developing a taste for scientific subjects in the minds of the 

 reading public, and also in enabling beginners to master with 

 ease the difficulties which beset his way on his first outset in 

 quest of knowledge. There is one feature of this new periodical 

 of which we much approve : its scientific papers have (with one 

 exception) the authors' names appended : we regard this as a 

 guarantee to the public of the general good quality of the intel- 

 lectual fare to be provided for them month after month. Men 

 who pledge their names for the credibility of their statements, 

 are not likely to write at hazard, or make random assertions. 

 Mr. Editor of course always reserves the right to maintain his 

 incognito, though it seldom happens that the veil of secrecy 

 which he wears does not become so thin and rent as to prove no 

 protection to him whatever ; and were it not that custom rules 

 otherwise, he might as well set down his name in good black 

 capitals. We may appear fastidious in objecting to the heading 

 of the last column of ' Recreative Science :' " Mr. Noteworthy's 

 Corner/' smacks of the nursery, and we conceive that a good 

 manly heading, such as ''Things Worthy of Note," would be 

 more in keeping with the general tone and character of the 

 work. On the Avhole we regard ' Recreative Science ' as a valu- 

 able work, and worthy of that large success which we most 



