and of Rural Improvement generally, during 1839. 729 



beautiful shimbs, and other plants, not yet either named or in- 

 troduced, which he has received from his correspondents at the 

 Swan River and other settlements. Many of these will be 

 found described in Dr. Lindley's Appendix to the Botanical Re- 

 gister, mentioned below. 



Garden Literature. — A variety of useful publications have 

 appeared in the course of the year; and the Sertum Qrchidaceum 

 of Dr. Lindley, and the Orchidacea of Mexico and Guatemala 

 of Mr. Bateman, continue to be the most splendid. Ranking 

 with these works in artistical merit, but addressed to a much 

 more extensive class of readers, is the Ladies' Flower-Garde?i of 

 Ornamental Annuals, by Mrs. Loudon, already mentioned (p. 88. 

 and 723.). This work is the commencement of a series, which 

 is intended to include one volume of hardy annuals (now nearly 

 completed) ; one of hardy biennials ; one of hardy bulbs, tubers, 

 corms, &c. ; two or more of hardy herbaceous perennials ; one of 

 garden roses; one of hardy shrubs; one of hardy trees ; one or 

 more of green-house plants ; and one or more of hot-house plants. 

 The peculiar characteristic of each of these volumes will be, 

 that several figures will be grouped together on the same plate ; 

 in consequence of which, the purchaser obtains figures of a much 

 greater number of plants in proportion to the price of the 

 book, than in any other work whatever. To this may be added, 

 that by the kinds most nearly allied being placed together on 

 the same plate, their distinctive differences are better recognised, 

 and that the purchaser will find at one view all the plants of 

 the same habit, which may be grown together. Each volume 

 will be distinct, and quite complete in itself; so that the pos- 

 sessor of a small garden need not encumber himself with any 

 green-house or hot-house plants ; nor the florist who wishes to 

 grow plants in pots, with any that are only fit for an open 

 garden ; while the possessor of the whole work will have a 

 greater number of figures of ornamental plants, than he could 

 obtain at the same cost, and in the same space, in any other 

 work whatever. The object of this series of works is to 

 popularise botany and ornamental gardening ; and, from the 

 very superior manner in which they are got up, and the very low 

 price at which they are sold, they can hardly fail of the intended 

 effect. 



We may here mention a work which we intend to produce, 

 nearly allied to the above. It will contain coloured plates, hi 

 groups, of all the plants in the world that have been described by 

 botanists, arranged according to their natural orders, giving a 

 group of plants belonging to each order, as far as this can be 

 accomplished from documents accessible in London or Paris. 

 There are others, we are aware, who could produce such a book 

 better than ourselves ; and, if Professor Lindley, Royle, or Hen- 

 Vol. XV. — No. 117. 3 c 



