German Works. 287 



retrospective criticism on our review will be found in the same volume, p. 349. 

 In this second edition of the Bee-Keeper'' s Manual, " the author has been 

 induced to extend the original design and application of this little book, by 

 entering somewhat more generally into the subject of the economy and ma- 

 nagement of bees. Practical utility, without unnecessary prolixness, has still 

 been his main object ; and we trust that the improved arrangement, additional 

 information, and variety of illustration, which have been introduced, will render 

 superfluous any apology for an unavoidable increase in the size of the book. 



" If we shall have contributed to aid in abolishing, the still too prevalent and 

 cruel custom of destroying bees in order to obtain their honeyed stores (a 

 practice nearly unknown beyond our own country), the author will deem no 

 time or trouble misapplied in showing that the interest of the proprietor is 

 best consulted by an observance of the claims of gratitude and humanity." 

 (Pref.) 



The work is illustrated by various additional engravings, and may be con- 

 sulted with advantage by every one who keeps bees, and more especially by 

 such as have tried Nutt's hives, or any hives the object of which is to take 

 the honey without destroying the bees. The author has noticed all the 

 various systems that have been adopted for this purpose, and given his 

 opinion of them with candour and impartiality. 



The only circumstance to be regretted with respect to Taylor's hives and 

 Nutt's hives is, that they are rather too dear for the labouring man. Now 

 this evil might very easily be remedied, if some of the patrons of bee culture 

 would induce a Scotch joiner to go and settle anywhere in Norway ; say, for 

 example, at Christiania or Dram, and there manufacture bee-hives, cottage 

 furniture, and innumerable other articles for the poor, and send them over to 

 this country. The price of labour and material is so much lower in Norway, 

 that the articles could be furnished in any British port, ready made, for less 

 than we should be obliged to pay for our material. As a proof that this is 

 really the case, we refer to the garden fold-up seats, which are sent over from 

 Norway to Liverpool, and which, after being carried to London, are sold in 

 Charlwood's seed-shop, and at various other places, at 2s. 6d. each. We 

 hope some one, Mr. Laing, for example, or John White, Esq., of Westbourne 

 Green, who has an extensive estate in Norway (see Arb.Brit., vol. iv. p. 2170), 

 will open the eyes of the Norwegians to this source of industry and commerce. 

 We understand that the Norwegians build portable wooden houses for 

 Australia, and we see no reason why they should not manufacture minor 

 articles of deal and oak for Britain and other parts of the world. It would 

 certainly contribute greatly to the comfort of the cottager, if he could get all 

 his household furniture, and his hot-bed frame, shelves, bee structures, and 

 tool handles, at a fourth part of the price which he does at present. 



GERMAN. 



Grundziige einer neUcn Theorie der Pflanzenzeugung. A new Theory of the 

 Reproduction of Plants. By Stephen Endlicher. Pamph. 8vo, pp. 22. Vienna, 

 1838. 



We notice this tract in gratitude to the esteemed friend who sent it us ; 

 for the subject is far too hypothetical to be entered into with the slightest 

 probability of its being useful to practical men. In the dedication, " An 

 Herrn Robert Brown, Esq., in London," the author states that, in 1835, he 

 endeavoured to explain his views to that gentleman, on whose discoveries he 

 says he has founded his New Theory. Dr. Brown " listened with forbearance " 

 to a doctrine which " appeared paradoxical ;" viz. that the pollen was not, as 

 hitherto supposed, a fertilising powder, but the actual seeds of the plant, 

 which, being sown on the stigma, germinate on it, and strike down their roots 

 to the ovule. 



