Literary Notices, 89 



Art. V. Literary Notices, 



Natural History of the Auricula. — Captain Thos. Brown, F.R.S.E. &c, 

 is preparing for publication a work on the auricula, which is to appear in 

 4to numbers every two months, containing four plates, coloured after 

 nature. This work will contain about sixty of the most beautiful varieties 

 of that esteemed flower, with a complete account of its natural history, 

 mode of cultivation, admixture of soils, &c, and a list of the known varie- 

 ties, by whom they were raised, together with a catalogue of the best 

 collections in Great Britain. {Brew. Ed. Jour, of Science, July, 1827.) 



The works of our celebrated botanist, Robert Brown, have recently been 

 translated into German, and published at Smalcalden, in 2 vols. 8vo. {Foreign 

 Quar. Rev., July, 1827.) 



A Vieiv of the Vegetable Kingdom of Java, by the celebrated Dutch na- 

 turalist, Dr. Blume, has recently been published at Batavia, in 15 parts. 

 The same botanist intends publishing an extensive work on the plants of the 

 Dutch East India possessions. {Ibid.) 



A Pomological Magazine is announced by Messrs. Ridgway, to appear 

 on the first of October next, in monthly 8vo numbers, with four coloured 

 plates, at 4s. 6d. each. The publishers state " that they have secured the 

 assistance of two gentlemen, whose intimate connection with the Horticul- 

 tural Society of London gives them ready access to the most authentic 

 sources of information upon all points connected with Pomology." One 

 of these two gentlemen must, of course, be Mr. Sabine; so that this work 

 may be considered as a substitute for the quarto one of which a prospectus 

 was issued two years ago {Gard. Mag., vol. i. p. 88.), at the same time that 

 a quarto work on plants was also announced. We have already expressed 

 our hope that the latter work would be given up {Gard.Mag., vol. ii. p. 343.), 

 and are now glad to find that the work on fruits will be published in such 

 a way, as to render it accessible to those readers to whom it will be most 

 useful — we mean the nurserymen. If the Pomological Magazine be got up 

 with that care which the present state of pomological science admits, it will 

 be of real value ; but, if it merely contain coloured figures of the fruits, 

 without buds, leaves, blossoms, shoots, branches, and, in many cases, the 

 general contour exhibiting the character of a full-grown tree of each 

 variety, its usefulness will be materially diminished. It is to be hoped that 

 only the very best sorts of each fruit will be commenced with, for the imme- 

 diate guidance of purchasers from the nurseries. (See p. 52.) 



The next periodical which we should like to see originated, would be a 

 Magazine of Natural History; not an expensive work of coloured plates, 

 but a vehicle of useful and curious information, chiefly on the plants, ani- 

 mals, and minerals of the country. When once all science is explored to 

 a certain extent, the greater part of the literature of the world will be 

 comprised in newspapers and periodicals. All that is worth knowing will be 

 acquired at school before the age of twenty-one; and whatever it is thought 

 worth while to add to the stock of knowledge will be obtained, as it arises, 

 from the particular periodicals that bear upon the leading pursuits of the 

 individual. If we had room, it would be easy to show that the general 

 tendency of things is to this result. After a certain stage in the progress of 

 knowledge, it will become easier for a youth to know every thing, than it is 

 now for him to know a good deal. 



Many branches of knowledge at present are rendered obscure by a mul- 

 tiplicity of words, and by mystical doctrines, which the growing taste for 

 facts will one day sweep entirely away. When very little is known of any 

 subject, it is natural to say a great deal about it, in order to conceal our 

 ignorance. 



