146 REVIEWS — HOW PLANTS GROW. 



and skill in the selection and arrangement of materials ; a clear, correct 

 and very pleasing style, and an abundance of useful illustrations not 

 repeated or imitated from other works, but drawn generally from nature 

 by a master band. The highest work in Dr. Gray's series has been 

 longest before the public — has passed through several editions, and has 

 been highly appreciated in Europe as well as in America — contributing 

 its full share, with his labours of another kind, to the establishment of 

 the author's world-wide reputation as a Botanist of the first class. Two 

 years ago this was followed by First Lessons in Botany and Vegetable 

 Physiology, a work intended as a school book, and as an introduction 

 to the use of the author's Manual of the Botany of the Northern United 

 States, and which in our higher schools would be found most valuable,but 

 which, from the fulness, accuracy and judicious arrangement of its 

 materials, its convenient size, and moderate price, is well fitted for a 

 text-book for a junior college class. No sooner was this work issued 

 than the author appears to have turned his thoughts to completing his 

 series of Botanical instruction by a still more elementary volume. — 

 This he has given us in the work now under our consideration — and 

 it is little to say that it is worthy of its predecessors. The dryness 

 and repulsiveness of elementary treatises often arises from their being 

 compiled by those who have not acquaintance with the subject, or strong 

 interest in it, whilst the most extensive knowledge and warmest love of 

 any science are the very qualifications for attracting the mere beginner 

 and offering what is suitable to his wants and capacities. In this little 

 book Dr. Gray seems to have brought together just what is adapted to 

 its object — as much structural botany as is necessary to right ideas of 

 the nature of plants, and the foundations of classification, as much 

 physiology as will be immediately useful, and will create a taste for 

 further knowledge — and as much of system as will render its use fam- 

 iliar, and its utility obvious, leaving difficulties and minute subdivision 

 for a more advanced stage of progress. The object proposed is to give 

 knowledge, which every one needs, and open the way to botanical 

 studies. The object has been accomplished at once effectively and 

 pleasingly. We are persuaded that all real lovers of botanical science, 

 especially on this continent, will feel grateful to the learned professor, 

 for assisting to bring its truths within reach of all, and to render the 

 approach so easy and pleasant to that temple of science, which in his 



other works he has contributed to strengthen and adorn. 



W. H. 



