664 Barnes's Flora of YorJcshire. 



Art. IV. The Flora of Yorkshire. By Henry Baines, Sub-curator 

 to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. 8vo, pp. 159, two maps. 

 London, 1840. 



The botanical riches of Yorkshire, the author informs us, " are little known 

 to the public in general, though the county contains many rare species." 



" It is not merely because of its large geographical area that Yorkshire is 

 more rich in vegetable forms than most other English counties : its surface 

 exhibits several distinct characters of soil and stratification, accompanied by 

 gradations of elevation, from the sea-shore to mountains of 24'00 and even 

 2600 ft. high ; its climate varies accordingly ; and it lies in such a geogra- 

 phical position as to unite, in a considerable degree, the characters of Scottish 

 and English vegetation. 



" The mean temperature of York, which is about 50 ft. above the sea, is 

 very nearly 48° Fahr., and there is little variation in different parts of the 

 county, except what unequal elevation above the sea occasions. The effect 

 of this on Mickle Fell, the highest mountain in Yorkshire, may be estimated 

 at 8° of Fahr., so that the extremes of mean temperature in Yorkshire vary 

 from 40° to 48°. From similar data we may state the range of highest mean 

 daily temperature, in the shade (in July), at from 34° to 62° ; and the range of 

 lowest mean daily temperature (in January) at 25° to 33°. The most pre- 

 valent winds are south-easterly during all the year, excepting about a month 

 after the vernal equinox, when, in all the eastern parts, north-easterly winds 

 prevail. The quantity of rain falling at York is 24 inches, and it is below the 

 average of the county, of which the western parts are the most rainy. 



" Of 1002 flowering plants noticed in the catalogue, only three are pe- 

 culiar to Yorkshire, viz. : — Arabis hispida, Dryas octopetala, and Juncus 

 polycephalus. 



" One not peculiar to the county, flowers no where else in England, viz., 

 Cornus suecica. 



" Twelve attain in Yorkshire their southern limits, viz. : — 



Actaea spicata Ribes petraeum* Bartsia alpina* 



Potentilla fruticosa* Saxifraga umbrosa Rhinanthus major 



Rosa sarmentacea Saxifraga hirculus* Trientalis europse 



Sedum villosum* Gentiana verna* Tofieldia palustris* 



" It is interesting to observe that of these the greater proportion, marked 

 by the asterisk, occur only in the most northerly and mountainous districts of 

 the county." 



There are in Yorkshire " six principal physical regions, which correspond to 

 as many great groups of the subjacent mineral aggregates. Several of these may 

 require further subdivision ; as, for example, the great central vale, from which 

 the low terrace of rnagnesian limestone which limits it on the west may be 

 separated. We must also notice the line of sea coast, and thus we shall have 

 eight botanical divisions, viz. : — 1. The North- Western or Mountain Lime- 

 stone district. 2. The South-Western or Coal district. 3. The Magnesian 

 Limestone tract. 4. The great central Vale. 5. The North-Eastern or 

 Oolitic Hills. 6. The Chalk Wolds or South-Eastern Hills. 7. The district 

 of Holderness. 8. The Sea Coast." 



These extracts will show the very interesting nature of the work before us, 

 which may be characterised as one of the most scientific local British Floras 

 yet pubhshed. 



Art. V. Every Lady her oton Floiver-Gardener. Addressed to the 

 Industrious and Economical only. By Louisa Johnson. 12mo, 

 pp.136 Sd edit. London, 1840. 



Compiled, the authoress informs us, for many of her companions who re- 

 qmre a work in a small compass, not deluged with Latin words and technical 



