386 Miscellanies. 



the surface subsequently smoothed with a thin coat of mortar, simi- 

 larly composed to that above described ; the use of hydraulic lime is, 

 that the beton and mortar may set more rapidly. "When the whole is 

 quite dry, and not till then, the Mosaic pattern may be set out in the 

 mortar, and by means of flat iron bars, rings, &c. of the proper thick- 

 ness (about half an inch) the moulds are formed, into which the fluid 

 mastic is poured, and spread as before described." pp. 11, 12, 13. 



8. Rafinesque's Botanical Worlcs. — (Communicated.) — Professor 

 Rafinesque of Philadelphia, began to print and publish in 1836, two 

 great botanical works, which he states to be the result of his botani- 

 cal researches for forty years, since 1796, in the two hemispheres. 



The first is Flora Telluriana, or Synoptical Mantissa of two 

 thousand new or corrected families, genera and species of plants, from 

 all parts of the earth, and thus the first work ever published in Amer- 

 ica, upon the general botany of both hemispheres. Three parts of 

 three hundred and six pages, large 8vo. have been published already. 

 One of one hundred and four pages, containing the introduction, nat- 

 ural classification, and generic rules ; the second of one hundred and 

 twelve pages, and the third of one hundred pages, include eight hun- 

 dred new or revised and corrected genera and species with some new 

 natural orders. He has particularly revised the families of Saxifra- 

 ges, Gentianea, Polygones, Asphodelides, Helonides, Orchides, Astor- 

 ides, Atriplexides, Labiatae, Resedines, &c. This work is supple- 

 mental to De Candolle and Lindley, and contains many American 

 genera. 



The second work is New Flora and Botany of North Amer- 

 ica, supplemental to all other American floras, containing the gen- 

 era and species omitted or mistaken by Pursh, Michaux, Torrey, 

 Hooker, Beck, Elliot, <fec. Three parts have also been published, 

 forming a half volume of three hundred pages, 8vo. The first con- 

 tains the introduction, geography, lexicon and monographs ; the sec- 

 ond, a historical sketch, and Neophyton of three hundred new or re- 

 vised species of herbaceous plants, whereof eighty six are monoco- 

 tyledons ; the third, sylvan sketch and new Sylva of two hundred 

 and thirty four new or corrected trees and shrubs. There are several 

 complete Monographs of the genera Celtis, Morus, Spirea, Hydran- 

 gea, Hamamelis, Fagus, Forestiera, Ceanothus, and some new genera, 

 Nestronia, Cladastis, Nudilus, Zanthyosis. Also, monographs of 

 Lechea, Amphicarpa, Kuhnia, Peltandra, Eclipta, Crotalaria, Cap- 

 sella, Baptisia, Gerardia, Iris, Tradescantia, &.c. 



Both are sold by the author, for one dollar each part, or five dollars 

 for the six parts already published. We understand that he accorarao- 



