REVIEWS. 95 



can be relied upon, and that within a small compass is given an amazing 

 amount of condensed information, the result of much research. In all its 

 features the work may be specially commended as a cheap and useful 

 manual of popular information for both teachers and learners. We have 

 not detected a single error or misstatement; which is much to say in a work 

 covering so wide a field of observation. 



A Handbook to the Museums of Economic Botany of the Royal 

 Gardens, Kew. London : W. H. Smith. 



This new official guide to the Kew Museums has been prepared by Dr 

 Oliver, Librarian to the Herbarium of the Royal Gardens, and Professor of 

 Botany in University College. Although published at a cheaper price (6d.), 

 it is scarcely, we think, an improvement on the old edition of this popular 

 guide, issued by the Director, Sir W. J. Hooker. It contains (within a 

 few pages) nearly the same amount of matter as the former ' Guide ;' but it is 

 printed in a larger type, and is deficient of any plan and woodcuts ; whilst 

 we also miss many interesting notes and remarks which added value to the 

 ' Guide.' It is ai*ranged on the same plan of the natural orders, and the 

 prominent objects are indicated by numbers. The Museum has increased so 

 largely of late years, having outgrown even the second building appro- 

 priated to the collection, that a system of compression has necessarily had 

 to be used to keep pace with the enumeration ; for nearly 530 objects are 

 here prominently specified or described, — although necessarily but a very 

 brief notice can be given to each. The statistics of import and consumption 

 of the principal articles are added for the last year (1860); and there is a 

 very full index, facilitating reference. 



Annales de l' Agriculture des Colonies. Vols. I. to III., and No. 13, 

 for July. Paris : J. Louvier. 



A great deal of research is evident in the range of subjects and wide 

 field of observations over which this semi-monthly publication extends. 

 Although Algeria and the French Colonies are chiefly treated of, yet the 

 products of other tropical regions receive due attention. 



Besides several very excellent papers by the learned Editor, Mr 

 Paul Madinier, including one on the Agriculture and Colonisation of Natal, 

 there are interesting articles, in the present number, on the Pandanus 

 odoratissimus, by M. Cuzent ; on the Colonisation and Commercial and 

 Political Value of Madagascar, by M. Leon Bequet ; on the Culture of Coffee 

 on the highlands in Guiana, by M. Vauquelin ; and on the Culture of 

 Vanilla in Reunion, by Capt. Lowther. 



The Jamaica Quarterly Journal of Literature, Science, and Art, 

 for July. Kingston : James Gall and Co. 



This is the first number of a new series, under new management, and 

 both the literary and typographical departments of the work reflect great 

 credit on all concerned. The publication will bear favourable comparison 

 with any existing Colonial publication. Our only fear is, that, judging from 

 past experience of West Indian magazines, the field is too limited to 

 insure such a measure of support as will maintain the publication suc- 

 cessfully, especially as there appear to be other journals of a similar 

 character in the field. The 'Jamaica Quarterly,' looking at the range of 

 subjects it embraces, and the talented writers it has secured, ought to 

 succeed. There are two papers especially deserving of attention ; — one on 

 the Cultivation of Cotton in the West Indies, and the other on the Parish 

 of Hanover. 



