Reviews. 313 



REVIEWS. 



Art. I. A Manual, of the Botany of the Northern United 

 States, frojn Neiv Enffla7id to Wisconsin^ and south, to 

 Ohio and Pemisylvania, inclusive, ^'c. (^'c. By Asa Gray, 

 M. D., Fisher Professor of Natural History in Harvard 

 University. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 710. Boston and Cam- 

 bridge, 1848. 



We have examined this late work of Professor Gray with 

 much pleasure and interest. The reputation, which this gen- 

 tleman sustains as a botanist, entitles to great respect what- 

 ever emanates from his pen. Enthusiasticall)'' and ardently 

 devoted to this branch of natural science, his attainments, as 

 well as the results to which he arrives, are equally subjects 

 of praise. With means and facilities, not ordinarily at com- 

 mand of American botanists, and in communication with 

 men of like science throughout the country, he has it in his 

 power to render his labors as practically correct as could be 

 reasonably anticipated. Surrounded with the rich treasures 

 of various herbaria from all quarters, and at the head of an 

 establishment long known for its native botanical value at 

 Cambridge, we can scarcely conceive a more facile or delight- 

 ful opportunity to secure, amidst the amenities of science, 

 the production of works of value to the student or to the 

 inquirer in the several departments of botany. 



It would, at the first glance, seem scarcely possible that a 

 new manual could have been needed among the profusion of 

 similar works and the abundance of local floras. Almost 

 every season has brought out some new hand-book of botany, 

 for these several years past. To judge from their almost 

 annual appearance, there must be a remarkable demand, or 

 else studies of this department of natural history are much 

 on the increase. We have looked into the greater proportion 

 of these, as we have had occasion to use them as authority, 

 or for the purpose of determining species coming under our 

 observation, from the earlier editions of the Florida Bosto- 

 niensis, of Dr. Bigelow, to the last appearance of the vener- 

 able Eaton's Manual, and the still latter volumes of Wood, 



VOL, XIV. NO. VII. 27 



