EEVIEWS. 
227 
compiler, who, we believe, has been for years engaged in diffusing a know- 
ledge of Nature’s works among the people of his neighbourhood. “ Garden 
Botany ” extends over nearly nine hundred pages, and since it describes all 
the species that it proposes to deal with, it must prove a useful addition to 
the libraries of those who may be included in that very wide section of the com- 
munity — amateur botanists. The plan adopted in the arrangement of the 
letter-press is a good one, but is by no means original. In the first place 
comes an introduction to botany, in which the beginner is taught the names 
and characters of the various organs, &c., of the plant ; then follows an ana- 
lytical key, by the assistance of which a plant may with ease be referred to 
its natural order. Finally, the orders genera and species occupy the bulk of 
the volume. Mr. Grindon has conferred a boon upon the student by adding 
a general account of the mosses, lichens, fungi, charas, and seaweeds. We 
beg, however, to differ very decidedly from his assertion, “ that no work has 
ever been published in which the ‘ Natural Orders ’ have been described in a 
way equally intelligible, or in which the idea and compass of the Natural 
System have been exhibited so fully for practical purposes.” Bentham’s 
“ Handbook of the British Flora ” wiU be found to possess all the qualities 
v/hich Mr. Grindon so vehemently denies to all productions save his own ; 
nay, more, a careful comparison of the two volumes wiU show that there is a 
wonderful similarity between them in everything, save date of publication. 
Thus in both we observe that the natural system is the one adopted ; both 
possess analytical keys ; in both the first portion is devoted to an outline of 
botanical science ; and, finally, in both the genera and species are so arranged 
that the student, having ascertained the “ order,” proceeds to the identification 
of the species by employing a dichotomous scheme of analysis. Bentham’s 
book, however, was published in 1858, and the volume under review was 
issued last year (1864). Of course, it by no means follows, from the circumstance 
that there are points of resemblance between the two books, that therefore 
the later one was constructed upon the model of the earlier ; but it shows us 
that Mr. Grindon could hardly have been familiar with Bentham’s essay when 
preparing his own. The volume is, nevertheless, a well-arranged and nicely 
printed one, and merits our highest commendation. 
We regret that notices of the following works have been “ crushed out” 
through want of space : — 
“ A Series of Metric Tables,” by C. H. Dowling, C.E. London : Lock- 
wood. 1864. 
“ The Astronomical Observer,” by W. A. Darby, M.A., &c. London ; 
Hardwicke. 1864. 
“ Bee-keeping,” by the T-imes Bee-master. London: Sampson Low. 1864. 
“ Harmonic Maxims of Science and Eeligion,” by Kev. W. Baker. Long- 
man. 1864. 
“ Notes on the Errors of Geology,” by John Kelly, V.P.K.G.S.I. London : 
Longman. 1864. 
“ Homes without Hands.” Parts VI. to XII. Longman & Co. 
