86 
REVIEW. 
thrive best in excessively humid localities, or receive naturally only a moderate 
supply of atmospheric moisture ; and last, though not least, whether they receive 
that moisture in the way of evaporation from the soil, by distillation from rain, or 
from their united influence and agency. With such data, the gardener or amateur 
cannot fail to cultivate this much -admired tribe of plants to the highest state of 
perfection ; and we are fully convinced that the absence of such information has 
been the chief cause why so little success was attained in their cultivation till 
within the last few years. These difficulties, however, have now been in a great 
measure surmounted by the intelligence of the present age ; and the progress that 
has been made in the cultivation of these plants during the past ten years is truly 
astonishing. Still we are yet comparatively ignorant of their true nature and 
habits, and many particulars relative to their cultivation yet remain to be 
investigated ; and as few possess more ample opportunities of so doing than 
ourselves, we shall always feel great pleasure in laying before our readers and the 
public the result of our observations, considering ourselves abundantly rewarded by 
the gratification of contributing in the smallest degree to correct any erroneous 
impression that may exist, or to effect any improvement in the cultivation and 
management of this extremely beautiful and interesting tribe of plants. 
REVIEW. 
A very useful work has lately appeared, by the Rev. Patrick Keith, Clerk, 
F.L.S., author of " A System of Physiological Botany," under the following title, 
" A Botanical Lexicon, or Expositor of the Terms, Facts, and Doctrines of the 
Vegetable Physiology, brought down to the present time." The Book contains 
407 pages of letter-press, in which is embodied much interesting and profitable 
reading on the terms used in Vegetable Physiology ; all useful to the gardener, 
and indispensable to the botanical student. At the conclusion are given some 
preliminary remarks on the subject of Zoology, which may also be advantageously 
consulted. 
We make the following extracts of the two or three first pages, from which 
our readers may form some idea of the author's merits : — 
" A, in the composition of botanical terms, is merely the alpha privative of the Greeks, 
and denotes negation, as aphyllous, without leaves ; acotyledonous, without cotyledons. 
" Abbreviated. — Of two organs in comparison, the shorter is said to be abbreviated ; 
an abbreviated calyx— a calyx shorter than the corolla. 
" Abortive.— Barren ; as a flower that falls without producing fruit. 
" Abrupt. — Winged leaves, that have no odd leaflet or tendril, are said to be abrupt, 
or abruptly winged. 
" Absorption.— The process by which vegetables take up their aliment is termed 
absorption. But as plants are not furnished with any individual organ similar to the mouth 
of animals, how, after all, it may be said, is the absorption of their food effected ? Is it by 
