so* Honlcei's Botanical Miscrllajii/. 



from the T.nmhniian Jfrrfinriin)!,'" and that " the characters of all the 

 peiicra and spocii's arc derived either from the ])Iant.s themselves, or from 

 the original authorities where authentic specimens could not he procured." 

 The scope and oliject of the hook are, as its title declares, to enable us to 

 accjuaint ourselves with the names of plants, their uses in medicine and in 

 <lomestic economy, and with the best modes of cultivating them. These are 

 deliuhtful objects, and only inferior to the volumes of sentimental associ- 

 ations which plants are ever suggesting. They address, and irresistibly ad- 

 dress, evcr\' passion and capacity of our souls. If, however, these latter 

 considerations are by some more esteemed than the detailed technicalities, 

 and even beyond the systematic combination of those technicalities, it is 

 right to assume and assert that the former will be most sensitively felt, and 

 their force and power most fully appreciated, by those best versed in the 

 latter, which arc the objects the l)ook includes. (.)ur inference is, then, that 

 to all who love plants, whatever be the grounds of their affection for them, 

 the book is valuable and indispensable. 



The book must and will be widely spread, and deserves to be, on every 

 account but one ; this is, its price. We think the publishers have erred in 

 naming it " A General System of (iardening; " this it is not, but rather a 

 directory on vegetable culture. We feel constrained also to remark that 

 the etlitor might, after Loiidoii's Ilorfii/; Jiritdjiiiicnx had passed through his 

 hands, have introduced, both profitably to himself and readers, the more 

 discriminative signs and characters of that work, or others ecjuivalcnt to 

 them : these would have concisely expressed several minor points, which 

 now, for the sake of avoiding circumlocution, are here and there left unde- 

 termined. — J. D. 



Hooker, J. W., LL.D. F.R.A. and L.S., and llcgius Professor of Botany 

 in the University of Glasgow : The Botanical Miscellany ; containing 

 Figures and Descriptions of such Plants as recommend themselves by 

 their Novelty, Rarity, or History, or by the Uses to which they are ap- 

 j)lied in the Arts, in Medicine, anil in Domestic Economy ; together with 

 occasional Botanical Notices and Information. Illustrated by numerous 

 Engravings. Lonilon, Murra}. In Qnarterl} 8vo Parts, lOs. Qd. each. 



Parts V. and vi. are each accompanied by ten coloured plates in quarto 

 additional to the usual supply of octavo j)lates in Part v. These twenty 

 coloured quarto plates are by Richard Wight, M.D., and are illustrative 

 of articles by him, in the Miscellany, on the botany of India, princii)ally 

 of that of the southern parts of the peninsula, The (juarto form was 

 chosen for these ex(|uisite |)lates, in order to do the plants figured more 

 perfect justice, but thecjuarto form [)roving objectionable. Part vi. informs 

 us that " in future the i)lates illustrative of Indian botany will be published 

 in a form so as to bind u|) \Nith the volinni-, instead of forming a separate 

 one of a larger size." 



We cannot now give any analysis of the contents of the late numbers 

 of the llolfimvfil Miscrllmii/, but venture to assert that it maintains the 

 character of originality which characterised the first number; and that 

 in conseijui'uce of the niw and important inl'ormation it iniparts ; the good 

 sup|)ly of letter-press, each part averaging more than 'iW) jiages ; and the 

 lil)eral sup|)ly of plates, mostly uncoloiired it is true, but drawn and en- 

 graved in a style of superior excellence; the work is, notwithstanding its 

 price, half a guinea, really a cheap one. — ./. J). 



Siucfair, Sir Jo/iii : Hints on Vegetation, the Agents necessary for the 

 Production of Plants, and those which are injurious or destructive to 

 them. 



This little pamphlet is a remarkable one, not so nnich for the inform- 

 ation it communicates, as for the republican manner and feeling in which 



