184 
HARDY ANNUALS. 
' y In the course of this investigation, the paral- 
lels are drawn with great minuteness nearly 
all through the process of reproduction, in a 
manner equally instructive and inviting. Nor 
is there anything repulsive in the various 
gradations of nature's progress, as developed 
in the pages before us. The singularity of 
the means by which many of the lower order 
of animals continue their species by dividing 
themselves, the remarks on those species 
which have been considered as the doubtful 
link between animal and vegetable creation, 
afford the highest interest ; and the lover of 
natural history will peruse any page of the 
work with great satisfaction. As another in- 
stance of the tone of the work, which to those 
who contemplate its perusal by the younger 
branches is important, we cannot omit the 
concluding section : — 
"The unity of plan," says the author, "which 
is visible through the whole animal kingdom, 
is nowhere more remarkable than in the func- 
tion of which an outline has now been given, 
"We have seen that, however apparently dif- 
ferent, the essential character of the repro- 
ductive process is the same in the highest 
animal as in the lowest. It has been shown 
that the development of the highly-organized 
body of man, — which is to serve as the instru- 
ment of those exalted faculties, by the right 
employment of which he is made ' but a little 
lower than the angels,' — commences from the 
same starting point with that of the meanest 
creature living : for even man, in all the pride 
of his philosophy, and all the splendour of his 
luxury, was once but a single cell, undis- 
tinguishable, by all human means of observa- 
tion, from that which constitutes the entire 
fabric of one of the simplest plants. And 
when the physiologist is inclined to dwell 
unduly upon his capacity for penetrating the 
secrets of nature, it may be salutary for him 
to reflect that, — even when he has attained 
the furthest limits of his science, by advancing 
to those general principles which tend to place 
it on the elevation which others have already 
reached, — he yet knows nothing of those won- 
drous operations, which are the essential parts 
of every one of those complicated functions by 
which the life of the body is sustained. Why 
one cell should absorb, — why another, that 
seems exactly to resemble it, should assimi- 
late, — why a third should secrete, — why a 
fourth should prepare the reproductive germs, 
— and why, of two germs that seem exactly 
similar, one should be developed into the sim- 
plest zoophyte, and another into the complex 
fabric of man, — are questions that physiology 
is not likely ever to answer. All our science 
is but the investigation of the mode or plan 
on which the Creator acts; the power which 
operates is infinite, and therefore inscrutable 
to our limited comprehension. But when man 
shall have passed through this embryo state, 
and shall have undergone that metamorphosis, 
by which every thing whose purpose was tem- 
porary shall be thrown aside, and his perma- 
nent or immortal essence shall alone remain, 
then, we are encouraged to believe, his finite 
mind shall be raised more nearly to the cha- 
racter of the Infinite ; all his highest aspira- 
tions shall be gratified, and never-ending 
sources of delightful contemplation shall be 
continually opening to his view. The philo- 
sopher who has attained the highest summit 
of mortal wisdom, is he who, if he use his 
mind aright, has the clearest perception of the 
limits of human knowledge, and the most 
earnest desires for the lifting of the veil that 
separates him from the Unseen. He, then, 
has the strongest motives for that humility of 
spirit and purity of heart, without which, we 
are assured, none shall see God." — Pp. 
567, 568. 
The volume is got up with great taste; the 
embellishments are of the highest class of en- 
graving, and finely printed : indeed, it is alto- 
gether worthy of the series of volumes destined 
to win thousands over to the ranks of rational 
science, which, as promulgated in these works, 
is, in no instance, inconsistent with reason, 
common sense, and practice. 
HARDY ANNUALS. 
The following selection of Hardy Annuals 
is very suitable for the open borders, and 
may be sown any time from the end of March 
to the beginning of June ; the height, colour 
of bloom, and time of flowering will be a 
sufficient guide as to the situation they should 
occupy in the gardens. 
Adonis autumnaUs, (Flos Adonis, or Phea- 
sant's Eye). — Height 1 foot ; flower crimson ; 
June and August. 
A maranthus caudatus, (Love lies Bleeding.) 
— Height 2 feet ; flowers crimson ; June to 
September. 
Aster tenellus, (Slender Aster.) — Height 
6 inches; flowers varying in colour from nearly 
white to deep lilac ; August and September. 
Cacalia coccinea, (Scarlet-flowered Ca- 
calia.) — Height 1 foot ; flowers deep orange 
or scarlet ; August and September. 
Calendula pluvialis, (Cape Marygold.) — 
Height 1 foot ; flower white and purple ; 
June and August. 
Calliopsis bicolor, (Two-coloured Fair-eye.) 
— Height 2 to 3 feet ; flowers yellow, with a 
dark brown centre ; from July till October. 
Callistemma hortensis, (China Aster.) — 
Height 1 foot; flowers various; August and 
September. 
