264 Revieies. — Torrty and Grai/s Flora. 



REVIEWS. 



Art. I. Torrey and Gray's Flora of J\^orth America. Vol. 

 11. , Xo. 1. New York, 1S41. 



Number first of volume second was published at the end 

 of May, and contains the Caprifoliaces, ^ubiaceae, Valerian- 

 acea\ .Dipsacece, and a considerable part of the Compositje, 

 including VernonuJCftF, £upatoriacc(T, and most of the genera 

 of .isteroidea?. We are glad to see that the authors have 

 reduced many of the genera into which the old genus .J'ster 

 has been divided by the European botanists, with little regard 

 to any principle or system. In the genus .i'ster and the al- 

 lied 2;enera, they have had the advantage of the vast collection 

 of Sir William Hooker, sent over the Atlantic by that muni- 

 ficent botanist, for their use, and they have endeavored, and, 

 we believe, with great success, to do all that was possible to 

 determine and settle the multifarious species and varieties of 

 that most difficult genus. As the work proceeds, it increases 

 in accuracy and fullness of detail, and we would particularly 

 refer to the order iiosaces?, in the last number before this, as 

 a specimen of a most successful revision and description of an 

 interesting and important as weU as difficult order. 



Very few botanists can form an adequate conception of the 

 immense amount of time, expense, and most various and per- 

 plexing labor employed in the collection of the materials for 

 this work, or of the patient and persevering care, as well as 

 knowledge and sagacity, required in working up the materials 

 into the state in which they are presented to the public. 

 Though published in as cheap a form as possible, it is printed 

 with great beauty and accuracy, with a light and elegant type, 

 and is a credit to the New York press. 



This Flora is in every respect entitled to the character of 

 a national work. It is the only American work of the kind 

 adapted to present use, and its materials have been accumu- 

 lated by the silent labors of a vast number of botanists, for 

 many years, and a great part of these materials are now pub- 

 lished for the first time. In no similar publication, in any 

 country, has more labor and care been expended upon the 

 determinations, comparisons, and references of the species; 

 and executed as it is, by native American botanists, we may 



