Flora of central France. 69 



to the kind of utility which the author wished to give to 

 his work. 



First he indicates the principal elevations of central France 

 above the level of the sea. We must follow this indication 

 by an elementary summary of botany, and of the analytic 

 key of the Flora of central France ; a work which appears 

 to us in a high degree deserving the merit of exactitude. In 

 fine, the precautions we should take in the formation of a 

 Herbarium, on the properties, usages, and etymology of 

 plants, terminate the first volume. 



It remains for us to mention the second volume, which 

 treats of the Flora of the centre of France, properly so called ; 

 but although this part of M. Boreau's work is most important, 

 we cannot give even the most succinct analysis of it. The dis- 

 cussion of species, in effect, is ill suited to a work like ours, 

 for to do so properly, and in proportion to the merit of the 

 author, it, would be necessary to dedicate a space, the ex- 

 tent of which the nature of our Annals will not permit. It 

 is necessary therefore to expose the general plan of the Flora, 

 and indicate the manner by which the author has executed 

 its details. 



M. Boreau has followed the order of natural families and 

 the classification of the Prodromus of M. de Candolle, except 

 certain modifications which had been pointed out to him 

 by M. Auguste de Saint Hilaire. 



The synonymy of species is not very complicated, the 

 author using as often as he could the Linnaean nomenclature, 

 but still in relation with the progress of science, for when he 

 thought it necessary to adopt generic or specific mutations 

 in use in the present day, he has also given the Linnaean 

 synonymy. The common names are indicated as often as 

 they are applicable to well determined species. The des- 

 criptions of plants are not very long, but they suffice to dis- 

 tinguish the plant. However M. Boreau has often added 

 observations which complete descriptions, or furnish useful 



