REVIEWS. 
141 
to the purposes to which they are applicable, with another and very elaborate 
one in reference to the form and arrangement of their leaves. The latter will 
greatly assist the botanical student, and both must be of essential service to the 
planter. 
Many passages might well be transferred to our pages with a view of showing 
the character of the work ; but it would require the most copious extracts to 
give a full idea of its varied contents. We have only room for two. The first 
is from the observations prefixed to each of the natural orders, and relates to 
Rosacece. 
" There are two characteristics of this order, with reference to its cultivatiorij which are of 
great importance to the gardener ; the first is, the Hability of ahnost all the species to sport, and 
produce varieties, differing, in many cases, more from one another, than they differ from other 
species ; and the second is, that they are remarkably subject to the attacks of insects and diseases. 
They almost all require a free loamy soil, not overcharged with moisture, and rich rather than 
poor ; and, while all the species are increased by seeds, which, for the most part, are produced 
freely in Britain, or by cuttings of the roots, almost all the varieties are best increased by grafting 
or budding j and not, as in some other orders, with equal ease, by cuttings of th shoots, or by 
layers. 
" With reference to landscape gardening, all the rosaceous trees have three properties, which 
deserve to be kept constantly in view by the improver of grounds ; 1st, they never attain a large 
size ; 2nd, they attain their natural size and shape in a very few years, in good soil not requiring 
more than from ten to twenty years ; and 3rd, they sooner take the character of old trees, than 
the trees of any other natural order of ligneous plants. A few exceptions may be taken from 
different orders, such as the common field maple, the common laburnum, &c. ; but we know of 
no natural order, in which, like the Rosacece, all the trees are low or middle-sized, and all take 
the character of age, while comparatively young. Hence their value in laying out small places, 
where the object is to make a new place appear old, or a small place appear large ; and, at the 
same time, to combine character of form with beautiful blossoms in spring, and showy (Crataegus, 
Cotoneaster, and Amelanchier) or useful (Pyrus and Prunus) fruit in autumn." 
No one can be at a loss to perceive the usefulness of such observations. But 
these are only general, and every genus is similarly remarked upon, together with 
each individual species that is sufficiently ornamental; so that the book is not 
merely occupied with botanical and popular descriptions and such like details, but 
is an admirable guide to the planter. And as trees and shrubs give the principal 
tone to a landscape, this work may be considered of the highest value to the 
landscape gardener. We cite another paragraph because it refers to a new plant 
that has excited much notice — Paiilotvnia imperialis. After giving the generic 
and specific characters, with other particulars, it is stated that the plant is a 
magnificent deciduous tree, native of the southern provinces of Japan, in 
exposed places. It grows in Japan to the height of thirty or forty feet, with 
a trunk two to three feet in diameter, and purplish flowers, which appear there 
in April. 
" The branches are few, but strong, and proceeding from the trunk at right angles. The 
flowers are in large bunches, which look, at a distance, like those of the horse-chestnut ; while the 
individual flowers, in form, size, and colour, resemble those oi Digitalis purpurea. The tree was 
introduced into Europe in 1837 ; and in the Jardin des Plantes, there is a specimen which has 
stood out three winters. In July, 1840, it was nearly twelve feet high; and, in all respects, 
