Reviews. — Herbaceous Plants of ^Massachusetts. 229 



he sets forth in our flora a catalogue of roses, which we always 

 supposed were woody, and in that sense shrubs. And on this 

 head, our readers must be delighted to understand that "sev- 

 eral species of the rose have been introduced, and are found 

 in many gardens and yards." — p. 55. 



A white fruited variety of strawberry "is abundant in the 

 fields in the east part of Berkshire County," and "sought for, 

 from its sweetness, though it has not quite so fine a flavor, or 

 rather, has a weaker flavor than the comnrjon red strawberry. 

 The leaves are somewhat villous, and the plant may be a per- 

 manent variety of F. virginidna.^^ — p. 59. Could some of 

 these plants be forwarded to our gardens in this vicinity, their 

 merits would be fully tested, and their capabihty for culture 

 ascertained. 



Under the head of Geranium, as a genus, of which three 

 native species are properly mentioned, we learn that "many 

 species of geranium are cultivated for ornament, as they have 

 fine flowers and foliage. Many are beautiful plants for the 

 parlor." Our parlor culturists and other florists are in the 

 habit of cultivating the varieties and species of pelargonium, 

 whose flowers, we believe, exceed those of geranium. But 

 this may be only a botanical nicety; yet distinctness in lan- 

 guage is no detriment to a botanical report. Errors calculated 

 to mislead, however trifling they may seem individually, should 

 be carefully avoided; e. g., »5'ster phlogifolius, we think, de- 

 fines a species of aster with the leaves of a phlox, rather than 

 one with "red or flame-colored petals, whence its name." — 

 p. 135. 



For whose benefit and edification, whether the botanist's or 

 that of the common reader, the following is given, we do not 

 decide. 



" In adverting to the use of the grasses for the food of man, 

 it should be remarked that the potato, buckwheat, yams, mani- 

 hot, batatas, bananas, bread fruit, several palms, and some es- 

 culent species of arum, by means of which so many millions 

 are supported, belong to other orders of the vegetable king- 

 dom. The same remark should be made in respect to the 

 pea, bean, cabbage, turnip, pumpkin, squash, and various other 

 plants."— p. 229^^. 



In conclusion, we were sorry, on perusal of this voluminous 

 report, that it was published for the purpose for which it was 

 designed. If we are not mistaken, its author has distinguished 



