M'lntosJis Flora and Pomona. 581 



and Modern Horticulturist : " Flora and Pomona, or British Fruit and 

 Flower-Garden j containing Descriptions of. the most valuable and inte- 

 resting Flowers and Fruits cultivated in the Gardens of Great Britain, 

 with Figures drawn and coloured after Nature ; accompanied by a con- 

 cise Analysis of their botanical and pomological Character, their Nature, 

 and Mode of Culture ; including a Definition of the Technical Terms 

 used in the Science of Botany, with familiar Instructions for the Draw- 

 ing and Colouring of Fruits and Flowers. London. 4to and 8vo. Price 

 1*. 6d. and 2s. 6d. ; or coloured, 2s. and 3s. 



The object of the present work seems to be to promote a taste for 

 botany and gardening among amateurs ; and those who have hitherto been 

 accustomed to look at plants in gardens in a cursory and unscientific man- 

 ner. It contains " a concise though luminous description of the origin, the 

 botanical and pomological character of each fruit and flower, the period of 

 their introduction into this country, with other general and useful observ- 

 ations on their nature and mode of culture, it is intended to give a defini- 

 tion of the scientific terms which may be used in their description." An 

 " original feature " in this work is, " instructions, on easy and scientific 

 principles, for drawing and colouring fruits and flowers, including the 

 requisite directions for properly mixing the colours, and other minutiae." 

 Such are the very laudable objects of this work; and it remains only to 

 examine how far they have been attained. After looking over the first nine 

 parts, it gives us much pleasure to state that the descriptions and remarks 

 are well calculated to promote the end in view : they are scientific, and, 

 under the direction of so distinguished a gardener as Mr. M'Intosh, and so 

 excellent an artist as Mr. Smith, it is almost needless to add, they are prac- 

 tical. The work is rather too expensive for a young gardener ; neverthe-' 

 less, we would recommend those of this class who can afford it to purchase 

 one or two coloured parts, as a drawing-book, for the sake of the instruc- 

 tions which are given at the end of each part for drawing and colouring 

 the flowers and fruits contained in it. Parts i. and ii., for example, con- 

 tain Cactus Jenkinsonii, Calceolaria corymbdsa (improperly printed on the 

 plate with a capital C : capitals in specific names being limited, with regard 

 to adjectives, to such as are derivedfrom names of persons), Green-fleshed 

 Melon, Noblesse Peach, Morello Cherry, and Gloxinia caulescens (misspelt 

 on the plate caulessens). The colouring of the figures is not altogether so 

 well as might be expected from the superintendence of Mr. Smith ; but still 

 the objects are good resemblances of nature, every one of them being taken 

 " from the subject itself, in its highest perfection." On the whole, we can 

 safely recommend the work both to the scientific and practical reader ; and, 

 as we understand it has a very considerable sale, we have pleasure in reflect- 

 ing that it will do much good. Every one ought to acquire some knowledge 

 of gardening, agriculture, and natural history ; because, though they may 

 never have a garden of their own, this knowledge will greatly enhance their 

 enjoyments when looking at the gardens and farms of others, or travelling 

 generally in the country. To promote the same object, we recommend 

 Mr. M'Intosh to introduce occasionally notices respecting the insects, 

 worms, birds, &c, which infest fruits and flowers; and it would be easy to 

 give coloured figures of such small objects on the same plate with the fruit 

 or flower, in the manner of Mr. Curtis. The value of the work would be 

 doubled by something of this kind. As it is, however, we strongly recom- 

 mend it to all who can afford the expense. To all those who are person- 

 ally acquainted with Mr. M'Intosh, or have had an opportunity of seeing 

 the high order and keeping of every thing under his care at Claremont, the 

 excellent crops in the kitchen-garden, and the great improvements he is 

 making in the shrubbery and pleasure-ground, what we have said of this 

 book, or shall say of any other which may be entirely under his control, 

 will be superfluous. 



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