300 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW 
SHORT NOTICES. 
Mushrooms * * * § and Toadstools * — We have never yet known a student of 
fungi who did not try to persuade his acquaintances to eat the objects of his 
study; and Mr Worthington Smith is no exception to the rule. As his 
little hook has reached a third edition, we may hope tha*- he has found 
numerous proselytes ; and we can safely recommend it as a guide not only to 
intending- agaricoph agists. ; f such a term he admissible, but also to all wan- 
derers in country places who wish to learn something ..bout the curious 
plants of which it treats. Mr. Smith notices and figures twenty-nine 
common species of edible mushrooms, and thirty-one poisonous forms. 
Window Gardening^ — Mr. Mollison has produced an exceedingly elegant 
ittle manual for the guidance of all who desire to adorn their rooms with 
growing plants. He describes the management of plants in pots, window- 
boxes, and hanging frames jf'the different constructions of these articles best 
adapted for various purposes, the arrangement and management of Wardian 
cases, and the more ambitious window conservatories ; notices the best 
plants for cultivation under various circumstances, and even descends from 
the balcony to the area, and gives directions for ito adornment in a style 
which ought to earn him the gratitude of those worthy people of whose 
flirtations it is popularly supposed to be the scene. The little work is illus- 
trated with coloured plates and numerous woodcuts. 
The Morse Alphabets — “ Ce n’est que le premier pas qui cofite” is the 
motto of the anonymous author of very little pamphlet which Proposes to 
teach anyone the Morse alphabet in half an hour. This first step, at any 
rate, only costs fourpence. The idea is to represent the dots and dashes of 
the Morse alphabet by the syllables ot words, the initial letter of which 
shall be the one represented by the combination. Thus “ against ” repre- 
sents the which stands for A. The author has been rather hard 
put to it to find suitable words, and in several cases he has not been suc- 
cessful, as may be understood from the fact that he has been compelled to 
make syllables short or long according as their vowel is followed by one or 
two consonants, without regard to pronunciation. 
The Carbon Process .§ — It is said that Michael Angelo, in obedience to* 
* 11 Mushrooms and Toadstools : how to Distinguish easily the Differences 
between Edible and Poisonous Fungi.” By Worthington G. Smith, F.L.S. 
Third Edition, small 8vo. London : Hardwicke& Bogue. 1876. 
t “ The new Practical Window Gardener ; being Practical Directions for 
the Cultivation of Flowering and Foliage Plants in Windows and Glazed' 
Cases and the Arrangement of Plants and Flowers for the Embellishment 
of the Household.” By John B. Mollison. Small 8vo. London: Groom- 
bridge & Sons. 1877. 
t “ How to Learn the Morse Alphabet in Half an Hour.” By the Author 
0 f International Communication by Means of Numbers.” Small 8vo. 
London : E. Marlborough & Co. 1876. 
§ “ Die Kohle-Druck und dessen Anwendung beim Vergrosserungs-Ver 
fahren nebst einer Notiz fiber Photomikrographie.” Yon Dr. Paul E. Liese* 
gang. ? Ffinfte Auflage. Dfisseldorf : Phot. Archiv. Berlin : T. Grieben. 
