212 Bibliogra^y hical Notices. 



enlightened views as but the mechanism by which the true principles 

 of science are to be worked out. Although Britain can boast of 

 possessing some among the foremost in the rank of philosophical 

 botanists, and of having contributed her full share of the most im- 

 portant discoveries of recent times, she must be content to remain 

 far behind in regard to general knowledge of the science as long 

 as the prevailing ignorance of its progress abroad shall continue to 

 exist. To this our insular situation in part contributes ; and it is 

 partly due to the small amount of attention paid to natural history 

 as a branch of general education. On both these points, however, 

 we look for rapid improvement. Rail-roads and steam-boats will 

 have an important influence on the progress of science as well as on 

 the extension of commerce. The period is surely now commencing 

 when "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." 

 And in regard to education, we see many indications of an important 

 change. There is a growing feeling amongst those who are en- 

 gaged in it that the minds of the young may be trained with advan- 

 tage to observe and reason upon the wondrous phsenomena of the 

 universe ; — that to neglect the pages in which the works of the Cre- 

 ator are displayed to us is an error comparable with that of neglect- 

 ing his word; — and that, for the object of intellectual discipline, the 

 study of thi?igs may often be substituted for that of words, with 

 the double advantage of interesting the pupil, and of giving him a 

 store of knowledge which will be subsequently valuable. To this 

 revolutionary innovation upon the old system the University of 

 London has given its sanction, by requiring from candidates for its 

 degree in Arts a knowledge not only of classics and mathematics, 

 but of natural philosophy, chemistry, natural history, and physiology. 

 In this we see much that augurs well for the progress of science in 

 England. The youthful mind is much more apt in the acquirement 

 of elementary knowledge than the adult, whose observing powers 

 have been allowed to lie dormant at the time of their greatest acti- 

 vity ; and, if a good foundation be early laid, we have no fear of a 

 deficiency of motives for subsequent labour. 



"We have always regarded the study of Vegetable Physiology as 

 the department of natural history best adapted to engage the atten- 

 tion of the young, from the facilities which offer themselves to its 

 pursuit, and its freedom from those drawbacks so common in other 

 branches. Its objects are never out of reach ; for barren indeed must 

 be that country which affords no shelter to the products of the ve- 

 getable kingdom. The meanest and most common herbs are in 

 the eye of the physiologist as interesting as the majestic tree or the 



