dedicated, accompanied by an as popularly written account of the subject as the matter will admit of, serves for the immediate and imperishable record of species, which never after lose their place in the forthcoming systems of natural history; while they remain a standard for compilers to refer to, serving at the same time to lighten their labour. We believe that many a tolerable botanist has been made by these works, and still more collectors, ever upon the alert to assemble the curious and new objects of their pursuits, that they may behold them a part of the general history of nature, and be taught their story, while they themselves become the means of having a value stamped upon things which had none before. A plant, for instance, that is to remain unknown to its possessor except by its fugitive blossoms, or till the owner becomes a botanist, is valueless, and escapes attention; while by the publications to which we allude, the pursuits and expenses of the collector and the florist, otherwise lost and useless, are rendered important to knowledge, and are made to enlarge the sphere of its activity, as well as to contribute to the amount of its treasures. It is not much above thirty years that a work of this kind appeared amongst us, and the diffusion of a taste for the study of nature has, to our certain knowledge and observation at least kept pace with that appearance. Formerly the rarest vegetable bloomed for its master alone, or perhaps to the desert air; now a blossom no sooner expands than its representation is spread, not only over this country, but in a short period reaches the abode of every botanist, even of him who dwells at the foot of Mount Caucasus, and makes an addition to the general fund of literature, while it brings in contact the learned and lovers of science in every region. The reference to a figure enables the inhabitant of Petersburgh and Vienna to acquire the plant he wishes to possess from the nurseryman in London; while a name without a figure had long proved a source of irremediable confusion and imposition between the two. The more costly works published by the assistance of the continental governments, are useful only to the rich, and to the student who has access to their libraries; to the bulk of mankind they are unknown, and of no avail. To detect a species, in the general enumerations of plants, is only within the power of one already versed in the science; to others these works are unfathomable."

To these observations we may add one word more upon the utility of the scientific and theoretical speculations which are introduced into the most important of these publications; and to this we are particularly induced by the knowledge

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that it is the opinion of many amateurs, that in works specially intended for their use, abstract disquisitions should be purposely avoided. Indeed nothing is more common than to hear people crying out that botany is merely a science of idle speculation, and charging its professors with an absolute neglect of the only essential object connected with its study, that of the properties of plants. But these gentlemen forget, as an ingenious French writer has truly said, that the same observations apply to every other branch of science, which is in its essence pure and theoretical, and that the utility of a particular science is only developed by placing it in combination with several other sciences, when it for the first time becomes applicable to the wants of mankind. The reason of this is obvious. A particular science abstractedly considered, looks at its integral parts in one point of view only, while on the contrary a knowledge of its relation to others is absolutely indispensable before any substance whatsoever can be successfully applied to the purposes of man. It is also forgotten by those who affect to despise the study of the vegetable kingdom in a theoretical view, that it often happens that the moment when the labours of the botanist appear to be furthest removed from the wants of society, is precisely that at which he is about to offer an important discovery. For by the peculiar mode of his arrangements, he gives to the world a power of consulting all the writings upon a given subject which have ever appeared, and so places the experience and the knowledge of all countries and all ages in a right point of view; and by an attentive, and as, it appears to ignorant people, by an unnecessary examination of the characters and peculiarities of a new vegetable, he arrives at a knowledge of the natural relation which it bears to others already known, whence the chemist or the physician may be enabled to form a tolerably accurate notion of the purposes to which it may be applicable.

We shall now advert to the publications at the head of this article. The Botanical Magazine owes its existence to the late Mr. Wm. Curtis, a sincere lover of nature for her own sake, by whom it was commenced in the year 1787, for the purpose, as its title-page still states, of making ladies and gentlemen scientifically acquainted with the plants they cultivate. At first, the numbers appeared at considerable intervals of time, but the rapid increase which, after the appearance of the few first volumes, took place in its sale, induced the publishers to make arrangements for its more speedy delivery. Artists of acknowledged talent were employed in preparing the plates, the drawings for which were at first supplied by Mr. James Sowerby, and eventually by Mr.

Sydenham Edwards, who, perhaps, has never been equalled for the skill he possessed of transferring an accurate resemblance of the largest plants to the small space of an octavo page. After the death of Mr. Curtis, the editorship was confided to Dr. John Sims, by whom it is now held. The work has arrived at the large extent of 52. volumes, and many hundred plates. The latter are now executed under the direction of Mr. Curtis, an artist of deserved reputation, and are remarkable for the fidelity with which they are prepared. The colours are, however, generally dim, and the letter-press is less copious than it used to be when the bodily health of the excellent and venerable writer was more vigorous.

The Botanical Register, which derived its origin from a misunderstanding between the proprietors of the Botanical Magazine and some of their previous supporters, was commenced in 1815, under the management of Mr. Sydenham Edwards, as draughtsman, and of John Bellenden Ker, Esq., an acute and very skilful botanist, to whom the Botanical Magazine had been for a long time principally indebted for its scientific reputation. The work has now reached the extent of 11 volumes and 948 plates, the latter parts of which have appeared under the direction of Mr. Lindley. The plates of this publication are better filled by their subjects than those of the Botanical Magazine, and the letter-press has altogether a different character. The latter may be considered as a register for the old school of botany, the former for the modern; this of the principles of the French botanists, and of those in this country who think with them, that of the opinions formerly inculcated by Linnæus.

The Botanical Cabinet was established in 1815, by Messrs. Loddiges, the celebrated nurserymen at Hackney, as a means. of making the public acquainted, in a cheap form, with the plants in their own possession. It is an unpretending work, remarkable for the neatness of the figures and the useful information which it contains upon the cultivation of plants. It is the only publication of the kind in which we remember to have seen a feeling of religion the most distinguishing characteristic. It has now reached the extent of ten volumes

and 1040 plates.

The Exotic Flora is a work of a different kind from any which have been yet noticed. While the others, from their cheapness, are altogether precluded the advantages of botanical dissections, the latter form a principal object of the Exotic Flora, which is published by Dr. Hooker, chiefly from materials afforded him by the botanic gardens of the northern parts of this kingdom. The execution of the work

is like that of all the botanical publications of the indefatigable author, excellent; and its high price enables it to assume an appearance of finish and perfection, to which neither the Botanical Magazine nor Register can externally lay claim.

As

The Geraniacea, the Cistinea and the British Flower Garden, are all three works carried on simultaneously by Mr. Robert Sweet, a well known excellent cultivator and good practical botanist. The Geraniacea will comprize all the species or varieties of that extensive and fashionable order which from time to time may make their appearance in the gardens. hybrid varieties of all descriptions are included, the author's labour is not likely soon to terminate. We observe that Decandolle takes this work as the text-book of his species of Geraniaceæ. The Cistineæ, or history of the pretty tribe of plants called rock roses, is just commenced, and from what has yet appeared, seems likely to be a useful repository of figures, which we think are, upon the whole, both better drawn, and more carefully coloured than in the Geraniaceæ. The British Flower Garden is intended to represent such hardy plants as may appear deserving of notice. The execution of the letter

press is equal to that of the author's other works, but that of the plates bears no sort of comparison with the neatness and accuracy we are accustomed to expect in works of this nature. We hope this hint will not be thrown away upon the publishers.

The Flora Conspicua is a work lately brought forward by Mr. Richard Morris, and seems intended to include figures of all such plants as are handsome subjects for a fine plate, without regard to their novelty or importance otherwise. We confess we do not perceive the utility of this work as a botanical publication, but we must, nevertheless, do justice to the execution of the plates by Mr. Clark, which are really beautiful specimens of art. Such talents deserve to be better employed than in drawing and engraving subjects like Azalea Pontica, and other well known things.

The Botanic Garden is a little work published by Mr. B. Maund in monthly numbers, each containing one plate, representing figures of four plants neatly coloured, and four leaves of letter press. Like the Flora Conspicua it is destined to receive only hardy plants. The plates are very well executed, and do credit to the artists employed; but each subject being confined to a very small size, the largest and the smallest plants appear by the side of each other of the same dimensions; this inconvenience is however diminished by the degree in which the figure of a given plant is reduced below its natural size, being explained upon the plates. The letter press is respectably written; and is of much the same character as that of the Flora Conspicua.

62

ART. II. Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London. Vol. V. Bulmer & Co. 1824. Price £7.

THE essence of all that is in the first four volumes of these Transactions, will be found in the second edition of the Encyclopædia of Gardening, including also a part of this fifth volume. We shall, therefore, begin at where we have left off, so that those who are in possession of the Encyclopædia, and who read this Magazine, will be made acquainted with every improvement published by the Horticultural Society.

In the Preface, which is dated December 1824, it is stated, that in this volume will be found "a greater variety of matter, interesting to the horticulturist, than is to be found in any of the preceding volumes." At the date of the Preface to Volume IV., "The total number of Fellows of the Society was 1520; it has since been augmented to 1915, making an absolute accession of near 400 in about two years and a half. The list of the Society contains altogether the names of 2197 persons connected with it, either as Fellows, Honorary Members, Foreign Members, or Corresponding Members; an extension which, in the infancy of its establishment, was never contemplated, and which certainly cannot be considered as having arrived at its maximum, since fresh additions are made at each succeeding meeting of the Society.

"The increase in the list of the Members has not arisen solely from British subjects: the knowledge of the operations and objects of the Society has so extended to foreign countries, as to induce the Sovereigns of several of the European states to honour it, by enrolling their names among its fellows; a circumstance which must prove highly beneficial, since it insures a ready protection and countenance to its communications with foreigners." Pref. p. 2.

The beneficial influence of the Society is noticed, "as inspiring a general taste for gardening; adding to our stock of fruits and vegetables, and encreasing the number of ornamental plants. For these purposes three collectors had been sent to different parts of the world, of whom it is melancholy to add, that only one, Mr. George Don, survives."

Mr. John Potts was sent to Bengal and China, and introduced a large stock of Chinese and Indian plants. He outlived his return but a few weeks, and died in October 1822.

Mr. John Forbes was sent to the east coast of Africa; he died at Senna, while making his way up the Zambezi river, in August 1823, having, during the interval between his depar