90 REVIEWS. [April, 



by Tradescant to Parkinson's 'Theatre of Plants;' — it occurs in 

 another book by the same writer, which seems much less known 

 to botanists, viz. the ' Paradisus Terrestris.' This work contains 

 descriptions of, and directions for rearing, the flowers, vegetables, 

 and fruits cultivated in gardens at the time of its publication, 

 and is a very curious record of the practice of horticulture in 

 those days. 



The Service-tree is said (Loudon's ' Encyclopaedia of Plants ') 

 to be still cultivated for its fruit in some parts of France, and 

 near Genoa. Is it ever planted in English gardens nowadays ? 

 Selby, in his 'British Forest Trees,' says that it is difficult to 

 propagate in this country '' from its fastidiousness as to soil and 

 situation." 



Robert C. Douglas. 



March lOtk, 1857. 



Eebtetos, 



Index Filicum : a Synopsis, ivith Characters of the Genera, and 

 an Enumeration of the Species of Ferns, with Synonyms, Re- 

 ferences, etc. By Thomas Moore, F.L.S., F.H.S., Author 

 of the ' Handbook of British Ferns,' etc., etc. London : 

 Pamplin. 



In this comprehensive Index to all that has ever been written 

 about Ferns, the learned author first defines the alliance Filicales, 

 and in sviccession the Orders PoLYPoniACEiE (true Ferns), Ma- 

 rattiacetE, Ophioglossace^, the alliance Lycopodales, and the 

 Orders Lycopodiace^ and Marsileace^. The tribes and sec- 

 tions are defined under their respective Orders. The generic 

 descriptions, which are both ample and perspicuous, are accom- 

 panied with the synonyms and examples of the genera, and 

 with references to works wherein the species are pictorially or 

 otherwise described. A sufficient account of the nature and 

 scope of the publication may be obtained from the advertisement 

 prefixed to the work, of which the following is given as a sample : 

 — " The attempt now made to produce a catalogue of Ferns, ar- 

 ranged on some uniform plan, of convenient bulk and moderate 

 price, as complete withal as a diligent research in the publica- 

 tions accessible to him has enabled the author to make it, has 



