REVIEWS. 
73 
this book will prove an interesting one. We say interesting because, 
whether they agree with the author or not as to the possibility or the im- 
possibility of the division of matter, there is no doubt that they will follow 
out many, indeed most, of his illustrations with the liveliest interest, and 
with a constantly enlarging view of the all-important question of the rela- 
tion between force and matter. That is to say, they will considerably 
enlarge their knowledge of the serious and difficult question whether it is 
possible to conceive of force entirely and completely without matter. 
Indeed, they will find in it a good deal of what we call, for illustration 
sake, Berkeleyism. But apart from this, we cannot see the value of the 
work. We are willing to confess that we may be blind to the great 
practical importance of having a belief fixed and definite on a subject which, 
to our minds, must inevitably and for ever remain utterly indistinct. And 
if this is so, of course there may be a value in Mr. Stewart’s book ; but for 
ourselves we confess to our inability to see it. His style is marvellously 
good, but many of his passing illustrations, taken from other subjects than 
that to which he has been devoted, are manifestly unsound. 
HEBE appears to be too much matter in the present work. We fancy 
that had the author left a good deal of his text for another volume, he 
would have done well. Still, the book is unquestionably a useful one, and 
its number of woodcuts on really important points renders its usefulness still 
greater. It has of course a number of coloured illustrations, which we 
assume that the publishers think of value. We, however, should prefer the 
volume without them completely ; for we must say, that anything more 
horribly barbarous we have seldom, w@ might add never, beheld. But on 
all questions concerning the management of greenhouses, the various forms 
of building, and how you may put up a very cheap and also a very expensive 
structure, this book is certainly a valuable monitor. Then, again, as regards 
the contents of the greenhouse — their variety, form, care and management 
in culture, and their liability to pests or to disease — the remainder of the 
book gives ample information. It is unquestionably the sort of volume 
which a Londoner, who desires to a put up ” a greenhouse, ought to possess. 
T HAT this book is in its fourth edition, and is considerably enlarged, is in 
itself sufficient proof of its great practical value, and of the high 
esteem in which it is held by the assaying world generally. It was a book 
* u The Amateur’s Greenhouse and Conservatory.” By Shirley Hibberd. 
London : Groombridge & Co., 1873. 
f “A Manual of Practical Assaying.” By John Mitchell, F.C.S. 4th 
edition. Edited by William Crookes, F.B.S. London : Longmans, 1873. 
THE AMATEUB’S GBEENIIOUSE* 
PBACT1CAL ASSAYING.! 
