March 4, 1875] 



NATURE 



345 



All mere 'dictionary " words " have now been ex- 

 cluded from the " Britannica " by Prof. Baynes, who has 

 thus gained a great deal of space for the illustration of 

 more important matter. Those who have an opportunity 

 of comparing the present with former editions will note 

 the advantage of this plan. In the matter of biography 

 great changes will doubtless be introduced, and mere 

 locality will now cease to have an influence in this 

 department ; already, we observe that the account of Dr. 

 Adam, an eminent Scotchman of the olden time, has 

 been compressed into a few lines, and a similar plan v. ill 

 doubtless be adopted throughout the work — (though 

 parenthetically let us ask why Aberdour on the Forth, an 

 insignificant watering-place, should have a place, while 

 Aberdour in the north of Aberdeenshire, notable in early 

 Scottish history, and in " the grand old ballad of 

 Sir Patrick Spence," be ignored ?) On the other 

 hand, subjects that have become important in our day 

 are discussed at sufficient length, and a fair balance 

 is kept up in the allocation of space. Adulteration 

 may be cited as an example of what we mean. The 

 article on that subject has been entrusted to Dr. Letheby, 

 and it very profitably occupies seven times the space 

 formerly allotted to it. The article /•£'j'//;^//Vj has grown 

 from a few lines into an excellent treatise, occupying no 

 less than twelve pages of the new edition. Prof. Huxley 

 has had over twenty pages allotted to his masterly 

 article on Amphibia ; he also contributes Aclinozoa. 

 Agriculiure is discussed at a length suited to its im- 

 portance ; the article is divided into twenty-one chap- 

 ters, and occupies 125 pages, and it is needless to 

 say that it embraces an account of the latest dis- 

 coveries and improvements in farming, including de- 

 scriptions of what has been achieved by steam power. 

 The article on America occupies forty-eight pages, and 

 seventeen pages besides have been devoted to a disqui- 

 sition on American Literature, by Prof. Nichol, of 

 Glasgow, the son of the author of the "Architecture 

 of the Heavens." The fact that the article Alps is 

 by Mr. John Ball is a guarantee of its completeness and 

 accuracy; the names and heights of all the chief peaks 

 of the different ranges and groups are given. A most 

 elaborate dissertation, by Prof Turner, on Anatomy, 

 occupies 109 pages of the volume, which concludes with 

 that subject. There is an interesting biographical sketch 

 of Agassiz. Afghanistan and Africa are, of course, 

 brought up to the latest date. The treatise on Algebra 

 has been revised — re-written, indeed — by Kelland ; and 

 in a recent number we alluded to Mr. Wallace's careful 

 paper on Acclimatisation. 



Prof. Baynes has taken the only safe method of securing 

 articles that shall embody the fullest, and highest, and 

 most accurate knowledge ; viz., by obtaining the services 

 of those who have proved themselves to be at the 

 summit in their particular departments. To the present 

 and to future generations, therefore, this ninth edition 

 of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" must be regarded as 

 indicating the highest tide-mark of the science, literature, 

 and att of the time ; and from this point of view the 

 successive editions of the book are peculiarly interesting 

 as showing the progress of knowledge during the periods 

 that have elapsed between the times of their publication. 

 We suspect that no edition will have required more modi- 



fications to bring it abreast of the time than the present 

 one ; and, as we have said. Prof. Baynes has taken the 

 best possible means to accomplish this purpose. In what- 

 ever other light it may be viewed, it must, when complete, 

 be regarded as a magnificent collection of masterly 

 treatises in every department of human learning. 



This is scarcely the place, nor have we the space, to 

 criticise the plan of the work. For mere purposes of ready 

 reference, we suspect that less gigantic works will be found 

 more useful. A really useful encyclopedia, one that would 

 serve the first and chief purpose of such a work — a book 

 of reference that may with the utmost facility be consulted 

 at any time for information concerning any topic— should 

 have its headings subdivided to the utmost possible limits. 

 This will by many be considered the weak point of the 

 " Britannica," and must be so, so long as the publishers 

 insist on its being mainly a collection of elaborate 

 treatises. This objection may to some extent be ob- 

 viated by a thoroughly exhaustive index ; but if an index 

 is to be the chief apparatus for consulting an encyclo- 

 pa:dia, then why not base the subdivision of the work on 

 a logical and not on the alphabetical method .' 



But in view of the value of the " Britannica" as a 

 treasury of the highest science and learning of our time, 

 -and the publishers, we think, are justified in still 

 retaining this as its chief characteristic — these objections 

 may be considered as of minor importance ; and of 

 its value from this point of view there can be no 

 manner of doubt. Prof. Baynes has already justified the 

 choice made of him as editor, and shown himself in all 

 respects competent to be the leader of such a splendid 

 undertaking. We congratulate him on the success he 

 has achieved, and wish him health and strength to carry 

 on the work to its conclusion. 



BROWX'S "MANUAL OF BOTANY" 

 A Manual of Botany, Anatomical and Physiological, for 

 the use of Students. By Robert Brown, M.A., Ph.D., 

 F.L.S., F.R.G.S. (Edinburgh : Blackwood, 1874.); 



AT the present time there is a manifest want of an 

 English text-book au couraiit with the modern state 

 of those branches of botanical science which have to do 

 with the minute structure, morphology, and physiology 

 proper of plant-forms. The best that we have are often 

 little more than introductions to the classificatory study 

 of flowering plants. They give copious definitions and 

 illustrations of the technical language which is needed in 

 drawing up descriptions for the purposes of what, are 

 known as " systematic " works, but they have litde to say 

 —and that little is altogether out of date— about the 

 important and various types which are lumped together 

 as Cryptogams. 



This state of things is obviously unsatisfactory. If the 

 study of Biology proper is ever to make any progress 

 amongst us, it must base its principles upon a compre- 

 hensive study of all living forms, and draw its illustra- 

 tions from a wide survey of the vegetable as well as of 

 the animal kingdom. If evolution is to be as fertile a 

 principle in the investigation of vegetable as it has been 

 in the case of animal development, it must take, in its 

 own domain, as wide a scope. Lastly, if we are to turn 



