BOTANICAL LITERATURE. 
6 9 
obviously unwise to recommend such works only as are of very high price, how¬ 
ever estimable in a scientific point of view. Hence, I fear Mr. Swainson’s re¬ 
commended list of ornithological books in Lardner’s Cabinet Cyclopaedia , amount¬ 
ing to about £400, has met with but few respondents. It is, however, impor¬ 
tant to know what has been accomplished in every science, and as inquiry has 
been made for botanical works in The Naturalist (Vol. II., p. 359), I will proceed 
to indicate a few of the most curious and remarkable, as well as those absolutely 
indispensable to the collector of British indigenous plants. This becomes the 
more necessary, as Mr. Lankester, in his mention of botanieal books in the 
December number of this periodical (Vol. II., p. 470), has scarcely done more 
than given his opinion as to the best elementary treatises on the tc Natural Sys¬ 
tem.” No doubt Professor Lindley is the most learned and able English inter¬ 
preter of that system, but I can neither agree with him or Mr. Lankester that 
the Linnsean system is “prejudicial to the advancement of the science of 
Botany.” Surely there is something unphilosophical in so summarily and almost 
petulantly attempting to extinguish a favourite plan of a great master, that still 
has its advocates, merely, as appears to me, because in some respects it seems to 
offer greater facilities for tempting votaries to the temple of Flora. Hence I 
think it but fair to mention Drummond’s First Steps to Botany , 12mo., an ex¬ 
cellent and interesting botanical primer, and Sir J. E. Smith’s Introduction to 
Botany , 7th Edit., 8vo., edited by Hooker, though both these are expounders of 
the Linnsean system. Dr. Lindley, in his 'Ladies' Botany , seems to imply that 
the natural system requires “ a royal road ” to soften its asperities, and he has 
there attempted, after the plan of Rousseau’s celebrated letters, to familiarize 
the subject, but unfortunately he supposes himself to be addressing mere chil¬ 
dren. The plates are very superior, however, and if they were made to illustrate 
a short botanical grammar at a less price than is charged for the Ladies' 
Botany , it would be of universal application. The Elements of Botany , 
by Richard, and translated by Macgillivray, 8vo., is in many respects an 
excellent work for the student, but almost every Introduction to Botany is too 
lengthy upon Vegetable Physiology, and contested opinions upon various hypo¬ 
thetical points, upon which a beginner, as he can form of course no decided opi¬ 
nion, ought not to be perplexed about, or have his judgment biassed. I should 
certainly consider Dr. Lindley’s Introduction absolutely necessary to every one 
studying botany professionally, and the work in Lardner’s Cabinet Cyclopaedia , 
by the Rev. Professor Henslow, is well deserving of perusal and attention. The 
Outlines of Botany , by the late Professor Burnett, is a magazine of collected 
research, but its wearisome and excessively spun-out terminology is unindurable. 
Perhaps the most extensive “ Explanation of the terms used in Botany,’’ both in 
Latin and English, will be found prefixed to Gray’s Natural Arrangement of 
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