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LITERARY NOTICES. 
about the locality, as well as important objects of antiquarian research. While this work will thus 
form a most agreeable handbook to all who may only spend even a holiday Saturday in the district, 
it will, we hope, hare the salutary influence of directing the attention of holiday-makers and lovers of 
rural scenery to the delightful study of natural history, which opens the way for much pure enjoyment 
to every one who has opportunities of spending a day now and then in the country. The introduction 
of natural history details into a work such as the present, is a most pleasing sign of the times, and 
speaks well for the effectual popularising of the subject. Our author weds to an admirable style an 
extensive knowledge of natural science, and his observations on " things familiar " are calculated to 
strike the attention of every one. Mr. Fyfe's book likewise embraces details of the important gardens 
of the neighbourhood, and other interesting gardening information. The following account of the 
Lentil, and the attempts which have been so successful in its cultivation at Queensferry, by M. Guil- 
lerez, may be interesting to many of our readers : — " Queensferry bids fair to become celebrated in 
the history of our industrial resources, through the introduction by Monsieur Achille Francois 
Guillerez of a new field crop into the rotations of Scottish agriculture, founded on the successful 
acclimatation and culture of the Lentil [Ervum lens) in the open air at Queensferry. The Ervum lens 
is a legume of the most ancient cultivation, having formed, as expressly stated in Genesis, the mess of 
pottage for which Esau sold his birthright.* It has always been extensively used as food in the East. 
The Arabs account it the species of nourishment best adapted for long journeys through the desert. 
Certain varieties are, however, esteemed so delicate, as to find access to the tables of luxury ; and the 
food, which for twopence will dine six poor persons sumptuously, is, on the Continent, far from being 
disdained by the rich. Amongst ourselves, the Revalenta Arabica, Ervalenta, &c, offered as regimen 
for invalids, is or ought to consist of the flour of Lentils ; but these articles are frequently adulterated 
with the meal of peas, beans, and other legumes. It was when the Potato failure began to excite 
apprehensions respecting the popular subsistence that M. Guillerez, recollecting the extent to which 
Lentils are rendered available in France, Germany, &c, began to attempt then introduction for food 
into this country. He found that, although known as a green crop even three hundred years ago in 
Britain, beyond a small parcel or so grown scientifically in a nursery, the seed of the Ervum lens had 
never been ripened amongst us. He therefore introduced from France the seeds of two species in 
general cultivation, and has for several years in succession matured at Queensferry the prolific produce, 
both of the larger yellow Lentil and the small brown. It was a pleasant sight to witness the progress 
of this interesting crop, although growing upon an unfavourable exposure, in close drills, manured 
only with sea weed, after having been acclimatised, when it manifested great luxuriance. Its foliage 
is a delicate pea-green, its blossom a minute white flower, thickly studding the fairy-like tracery of its 
leaves, and its pods very multitudinous — those of the larger description containing generally only one, 
and those of the smaller or favourite kind always two, small grains or peas. The attention directed 
to these efforts by the ' Scottish Agricultural Journal' has not proved fruitless, for the subject has 
been brought before the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, specimens of the produce 
have been requested [and sent] for the Great Exhibition of 1851, and the matter has been warmly 
taken up by the press ; so that some of our enterprising agriculturists will doubtless follow up the 
enthusiastic effort of this intelligent French gentleman, by practically adding a new crop to those 
grown for food in Britain." Pp. 123-5. — L. 
Glenny's Golden Mules for Gardeners (Cox). — A book of lessons compressed into short sentences, 
and consisting of the pith of the author's writings in other publications, with reference to the works in 
which the more detailed treatises may be found. It thus forms a sort of index to a variety of subjects 
treated at length elsewhere, chiefly in the Horticultural Magazine ; and at the same time an abstract of 
the more complete papers. Some of the many rules given are really " golden " ones, and may be safely 
followed : with others we do not quite agree, as for instance, the following : — " Climbing plants should be 
trained in their places daily ; if neglected, they make their growth the wrong way, and never properly re- 
cover." However, as the author remarks, " much may be gleaned from it even by the man who believes he 
knows his business ;" and " neither the size nor price will make it one of the great evils of the day." — M. 
The Ornamental Flower Garden and Shrubbery (Willis, Covent Garden). — A cheap, well-got-up 
re-issue of the most striking plates originally published in the later volumes of the Botanical Register 
and in Sweet's British Flower Garden, with English descriptions, the text being entirely remodelled, 
and the plates (in the first number now before us) superior in colouring to the original issue. Those 
who are interested in possessing so useful a series of plates of the most beautiful flowers, should take 
the opportunity of subscribing. To gardeners and nurserymen it will be a book of utility, while 
ladies and amateurs will find in it, also, an elegant table-book. — M. 
* A paper on the Lentils of Scripture was published at vol. i. p. 141. 
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