REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS!, 
279 
boniferous formation. The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Milne for 
his valuable communication, and it was determined to request him to allow of its 
publication in the Transactions. 
REVIEWS OE NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
The Rose-Fancier s Manual. By Mrs. Gore. London: Henry Colburn , 
Great Marlborough Street. 1838. 8vo. pp. 434. 
Although we have the assurance of Charles Waterton that a lady can never 
be a good ornithologist, we are not aware that the fair sex has ever been declared 
incompetent to Rose-fancying. Had such an assertion gone forth, we should 
have suspected Mrs. Gore of publishing her work principally with a view of 
proving either that the statement was false, or else that she was an exception to 
a general rule. We intend no fulsome flattery or empty compliment to our 
authoress, since her production enjoys a full share of the failings incident to other 
human labours ; but if, on the one hand, a critical eye notices a non sequitur or 
an undue assumption here and there in important points, Mrs. Gore must, on the 
other hand, at least receive credit for a scientific earnestness, an impartiality, and 
a desire to attain the truth, which we would gladly notice in many works of 
higher pretensions and more elaborate execution. A desire for truth brings us 
half-way towards its attainment; the power of acquiring it completes the object 
in view. 
Gardening has for many years been a rising art in Britain, partly through the 
beneficial influence of the Horticultural Society of London, partly from the zealous 
and indefatigable exertions of Mr. Loudon and other enlightened naturalists in 
its behalf, and in different degrees through various other causes. In the culture 
of Roses, however, we appear to be excelled by the French. Mrs. Gore’s re¬ 
sidence on the Continent, consequently, affords her a favourable centre for her 
researches. 
Our authoress considers that there are only three species of Roses, viz.: Rosa 
simplicifolia (or berberifolia), R. lutea , and R. mutabilis , and to these three she 
traces all the existing varieties throughout the globe. On this point we extract 
as follows :— 
“ Our motives for the adoption of three species* in preference to the multitude lately created, are 
as follows. Accepting as specific characters only such as are invariable, and having minutely 
examined the organic distinctions between all the species of Roses now in existence, we decide 
that only two characters are invariable—a pure yellow colour, as opposed to white or red ; and 
single leaves, as opposed to composite. All the Roses in existence we consider but as varieties 
derived from these fundamental types, the mere result of accident or difference of culture or 
