LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. IxxxHi 



•where, in this as in all general treatises, some recent correctionB of 

 old views may have been overlooked, yet the whole work, as far as I 

 have gone into it, appears to me to be admirably done, and to form a 

 most useful guide for all practical followers of systematic botany. 



From French systematic botanists we have otherwise had but 

 very little during the last two years, and that little is chiefly of 

 local interest. I believe that some important monographs are in 

 preparation, but have not yet appeared. MM. Brongniart and 

 De Gris proceed but very slowly, and only in a few detailed 

 descriptions, in making known to us the results of the active 

 exertions of their collectors in New Caledonia, We should, indeed, 

 have been almost ignorant of the rich materials afforded by that 

 colony for the elucidation of the afllnities and geographical relations 

 of tlio eastern section of the general Australasian flora, but for the 

 spirited liberality with which M. Lenormand of Caen has transmitted 

 to Kew sets of the plants received from his Ncw-Calcdoniau friends. 

 M. Baillon and his friends continue the ' Adansonia ' mentioned in 

 my former Address, M. Baillon's own contributions containing 

 many excellent observations, accompanied, however, by views in 

 which few botanists will probably concur, and occasionally attended 

 by symptoms of hasty rivalry much to be regretted. With regard to 

 French Floras, Ardoino has published one, of the newly annexed 

 Department of the Alpes Maritimes ; and Mr. Munby has given us a 

 revised and complete enumeration of Algerine plants. The nume- 

 rous detached papers on French plants have chiefly related to local 

 forms and so-called critical plants, and need no further mention 

 on the present occasion. I cannot, however, forbear the expression 

 of a regret that MM. Jordan and Fourreau should have wasted so 

 much talent and expense on their splendidly illustrated work entitled 

 ' Icoiies ad floram Europse novo fundamento instaurandam spectantes,' 

 devoted as it is to the elucidation of the most trifling varieties of well- 

 known plants. 



The ' Annalcs dcs Sciences Naturellcs,' the ' Comptcs llendus,' 

 the ' Bulletin de la Societe Botanique,' and the Transactions of 

 provincial Societies contain numerous useful papers on various 

 points of vegetable physiology. M. Naudin continues his researches 

 'on Cucurbitacece ; and M. Godron has published some new experi- 

 ments on hybridity. M. Trecul has added several new papers to 

 his observations on the laticiferous and other vessels, M. E. A. 

 •Carriere on the production and fixation of varieties, M. Chatin on 

 tendrils and on anthers, M. Planchon on dimoi-phism in the flowers 



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