Paxtonh Poclcet Botanical Dictionary. 557 



The plants which will be figured in Part II. are. Begonia punctata, Astero- 

 trichion siddides, ikfalvacese ; Hohenbergia strobilacea, 5isyrinchium ma- 

 jale, Spiranthes Lindleyana, Lenne« umbellata, Pittosporacese. 



Art. III. A Pocket Dictionary, comprising the Names, History, 



and Culture oj" all Plants known in Britain j toith a full Explana-- 



tion of technical Terms. By Joseph Paxton, F.L.S., H.S., &c., 



assisted by Professor Lindley, Ph.D., F.R.S., &c. 8vo, pp. 354. 



London, 1840. Price 15*. 



In order to give oiir readers a clear idea of what this book is intended to 

 be, we shall quote from the preface; and afterwards, in order to show what it 

 is, we shall give a specimen page. 



It is certainly a great comfort to a conscientious author, when the book he 

 produces does not interfere directly with any other work of the kind already 

 in circulation. Hence Mr. Paxton observes : " When an author offers to the 

 public a work, the greater part of the information contained in which is already 

 available in detached fragments or other forms, his first duty is to exhibit the 

 propriety of its publication ; and prove, beyond question, that he has been 

 instigated to his task by no unworthy desire of fame, but by a distinct and 

 certified persuasion of its demand and utihty. 



" Happily, in the present case, we are enabled to court scrutiny into our 

 motives, being fully prepared to explain and justify them. During the nume- 

 I'ous interviews enjoyed by us with the leading patrons of floriculture, the want 

 of a pocket companion, such as that now furnished, has ever been especially 

 and foi'cibly urged. There are, it is true, catalogues, encyclopaedias, lexicons, 

 and cultural directories, all highly valuable in their respective spheres ; and 

 essential adjuncts to a gardener's or amateui-'s library ; but they are too elabo- 

 rate, verbose, technical, or uninteresting, to be readily and thoroughly appro- 

 priated. The expense, also, of several is necessarily enormous, and beyond 

 the means of the great majority of those who thirst after botanical and flori- 

 cultural literature; and no single one, much less set, embracing all the subjects 

 of this Dictionary, is conveniently portable, or can even be carried, without 

 discomfort, beyond the porch of the proprietor's domicile. 



" Comprehensive compendiums, in which scientific and popular details are 

 abridged, combined, and thus brought within the pecuniary reach as well as 

 easy examination of those whose income and time are subjected to many other 

 more pressing exactions, are highly commendable if attentively and clearly 

 arranged ; but their usefulness is in proportion to the precision and accuracy 

 of the manner in which they are compiled. 



" The PociiET Botanical Dictionary, then, has been prepared solely as 

 an instant resource, and standard of consultation; and, for this purpose, will 

 be found invaluable to the professors and lovers of horticulture, in all its 

 branches, and of every grade. Within its columns is compressed all the most 

 important information, relative to admired plants, which its small size and 

 avowed design would admit. With this in his pocket the possessor or culti- 

 vator of plants may pei'ambulate his own garden, visit those of his friends or 

 public establishments, and attend floricultural exhibitions, in the full assurance 

 that if any particular object engage his attention, he may at once derive every 

 fact of interest respecting both it and its congeners, which is yet known in this 

 country, and form an idea of the facility or difficult}', and consequent expense, 

 attending its conservation. Such is, cursorily, the prime purport of this pub- 

 lication, and the aim of its author." (p. vi.) 



We are indebted to the publisher for the following specimen page, in which 

 the reader will observe how effectively Mr. Paxton and Dr. Lindley have 

 attained their object, and how truly useful this Dictionary will be to an 

 immense number of pei'sons. We have not a single objection to the work, 

 unless it be that the type, notwithstanding its clearness, is somewhat too small 

 for our eyes. 



o o 3 



