298 Mcyle's Antiquity of Hindoo Medicine. 



seeking for it in the families of plants which are already known to 

 contain some possessed of such propei'ties as we desiderate." (p. 4.) 



The system of arrangement alone applicable for this purpose, 

 Dr.Royle next observes, "is that called the natural method, which, 

 enabling us to discuss questions concerning the structure of its 

 several groups, in conjunction with climate, geographical distri- 

 bution, medical and physical properties, makes modern botany a 

 highly interesting and philosophical study." (p. 5.) 



As examples of generalising according to the natural system, 

 he says, no one who has studied this system " is surprised at 

 hearing that the Graminea of tropical regions are as fitted for 

 food as those of European countries ; or that the oak of the 

 Himalaya yields excellent timber ; or that pines abound in tur- 

 pentine, and may be made to yield tar wherever they are found. 

 So the Rosacece afford us our best fruits; among the Papilionaceie 

 are found all the legumes used as food in different parts of the 

 world ; and the Labiatce yield most of our odoriferous herbs, as 

 lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, savory, marjoram, and mint." 

 (p. 5.) In a subsequent page, the author mentions an important 

 discovery which he made while generalising in this way ; viz. that 

 all the plants which yielded caoutchouc belonged to the milky- 

 juiced families of Cichoraceae, luoheMdcece, ^pocynese, ^scle- 

 \Aa.de(je, Euphorbmc^*^, andArtociarpeae, a tribe of f/rticese. (p. 9.) 

 It next struck Dr. Royle as singular that so many plants, which 

 silkworms prefer next to the mulberry, should be found in those 

 families which yield caoutchouc ; which ultimately led to the con- 

 clusion that all milky plants may be made to produce caout- 

 chouc, and that, without this ingredient, the silkworms cannot 

 produce silk. 



These extracts are sufficient to show that this work may be 

 perused with instruction by the cultivator, no less than by the me- 

 dical man. 



With respect to the main object of the work, the antiquity of 

 Hindoo medicine, it may be sufficient to state that Dr. Royle's 

 researches confirm the theory, that, where civilisation generally 

 is of the greatest antiquity, there also the antiquity of all the 

 arts which constitute civilisation will be found the greatest. 



Art. XII. Literary Notices. 

 The Suburban Gardener, atid Villa Compafiion, will be completed 

 on July l.,in one vol. 8vo, price 155. Immediately after which will 

 be commenced 2%e Suburban Cidtivator, to appear monthly, in 

 one-shilling numbers, and to be completed in one volume, also 

 price 155. Each work will be complete in itself; and sold 

 separately. 



The Book of the Farm; being a systematic work on practical 



