Literary Notices. 267 



The Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art ; exhibiting the most important Dis- 

 coveries a7id Improvements of the past Year, in Mechanics, Natural Philosophy, 

 Electricity, Chemistry, Zoology and Botany, Geology and Geography, Meteor- 

 ology and Astronomy. Illustrated with engravings. By the Editor of the 

 " Arcana of Science." Small 8vo, pp. 286. London, 1840. 

 In our preceding volume (p. 179.) we have strongly recommended this work 

 to such of our readers as desire, at an easy rate, to attain a knowledge of the 

 inventions, discoveries, and improvements which have taken place during the 

 last year. In the compilation for the year 1840 the editor has not spared 

 labour, taste, or judgment to secure an extension of public favour ; and this 

 we have no doubt he will obtain. To those who have not an opportunity of 

 perusing the scientific periodicals as they appear, monthly or quarterly, this 

 annual summary must be invaluable. 



The Principles and Practice of Levelling. By Edward Jones, Architect and 

 Civil Engineer. Second edition, revised and corrected. Post 8vo, pp. 70, 

 various woodcuts. London, 1840. 4s. 



A useful little work for the young gardener ; because, without a know- 

 ledge of the art of taking levels, he cannot possibly understand, how to 

 carry ground plans into execution. In the work before us, not only the art 

 of levelling is explained, but the principles on which it is founded ; and both 

 in so clear a manner, as to be understood even by those who have no pre- 

 vious geometrical knowledge. " Regardless of a profit from the sale," says the 

 author in his preface, " the present work is offered to the public, happy if it 

 shall meet with their approbation." 



London Architectural Precedents ; with Notes and Observations. Edited by an 

 Architect. Illustrated with working drawings, Svo, pp. 48, four copper- 

 plates. Part I. 1840. 



This promises to be a useful work, more especially for young architects; 

 and it will also be instructive to amateur builders. No. I. of the Precedents, 

 contains, " Plans and Elevation, Sections and Specification, and a Bill of 

 Quantities of second-rate Buildings." One thing is wanting to give this book 

 its full weight with the public, and that is, the name of the editor, which by 

 an advertisement appears to be, Alfred Bartholomew, Architect. 



Art. II. Literary Notices. 



Gardening for Ladies, by Mrs. Loudon, Author of " The Ladies' Flower- 

 Garden," in one volume post 8vo, illustrated with engravings, will appear 

 on the 1st of May, or before. 

 This will be found the best book for teaching ladies, how to garden with 



their own hands, that has hitherto been published. 



The Companion to the Ladies'' Flower-Garden, by Mrs. Loudon, is now print- 

 ing, and will be published in May or June. 



This work will contain a dictionary of all the plants, ligneous or herbaceous, 

 hardy or tender, cultivated in British gardens, that are truly ornamental, and 

 as such intended to be figured or otherwise noticed in the series of volumes 

 by Mrs. Loudon, now publishing under the title of " The Ladies' Flower- 

 Garden," and, as we have elsewhere mentioned, to include, before the whole 

 work is finished, perennials, shrubs, trees, and green-house and hot-house plants. 

 The Companion will enable those who cannot wait for the completion of 

 the several volumes, to go on selecting and cultivating in the meantime ; 

 and as it will contain not only a dictionary of plants, but of all the differ- 

 ent operations of culture, including articles on Air Plants, Alpine Plants, 

 Annual Plants, Aphis, Arboretum, Ashes, Bark, Bark-stove, Bast Mats, Beds, 



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