556 PART II. REVIEWS. ART. I. The Villa and Cottage Florist's Directory; being a familiar Treatise on Floriculture, particularly the Management of the best Stage, Bed, and Border Flowers usually cultivated in Britain. To which are added Directions for the Management of the Greenhouse, Hot-house, and Conservatory; with the different Modes of raising and propagating Exotic Plants: interspersed with many new Physiological Observations and various useful Lists. By James Main, A.L.S., Editor of the 23d Edition of Maw's Gardener's Calendar, and a Writer in various Departments of Gardening, Agriculture, and Natural History. London, 1830. 12mo. 6s. THIS work is intended for practical florists; and where the author adheres to what should have been his sole object, the communication of the information obtained from an apparently extensive and long experience in the management of the flower-garden, the green-house, hot-house, and conservatory, we know few works that more deserve the patronage of the public than this little volume. But, soaring above the ambition of the horticulturist, Mr. Main has unfortunately involved himself and his readers in clouds and vapours, in attempting to theorise on vegetable physiology. Whilst, therefore, on the first account, we can honestly recommend the volume as a practical guide to the young and inexperienced florist, it is our duty to prevent erroneous impressions from being made, where they are most likely to be received, and to become permanent, on the minds of the uninformed and credulous. It is to this portion of the work that it behoves us, reluctantly, to direct the attention of our readers. In describing the nature of bulbs, and the manner in which the offsets or young bulbs are produced, Mr. Main has given a kind of definition of the corculum, which, we confess, is far beyond our homely understanding. He informs us that it is " an indefinite series of dividual essences, which are annually brought forth in succession;" that "it is the most essential organ of a vegetable being;" and further, that it is "the fountain which first contains, and from whence flows all the productions of a plant." Now, previously to reading these passages, we flattered ourselves that we had some idea of what is usually understood by the word corculum, in reference to a bulb; we find, however, that we had quite mistaken the meaning of the term. But whether it is an essence, or an organ, or a fountain of vegetable production, our worthy author should have informed us, as assuredly it cannot be all three. We are still more puzzled to comprehend what follows. "It is," says our author, "variously located in the system: in some, it is confined to one place; in others, detached in groups from the first station; and, on the generality of trees and shrubs, it is diffused like a covering over the whole surface of the plant." (p. 2.) We are also informed that "the first, or highest in order," of this series of essences, ❝is, in the autumn before it is developed, composed of a surrounding envelope of thick fleshy bodies, like scales." Now, we candidly acknowledge that we have not capacity sufficient to understand this mysterious passage; but we are willing that our objections to it should be set down solely to the obtundity of our everyday intellect. We dare not attempt to follow our author in his profound lucubrations respecting the developement of the "processes of the senior part of the corculum," nor those regarding the increase in size of the vital principle (p. 3.); nor express our astonishment at the discovery, "that the essence which covers the whole surface of trees and shrubs is no bigger than a grain of mustard seed;" neither will we venture to dispute the still more extraordinary information respecting the influence of disease in hyacinths. We speak this advisedly; for our author informs us that the new bulb is formed "by the gouty basis of some of the last and this year's leaves embracing those, together with the stem and flower, which are to be expanded in the next." The transcendental philosophy is a mere joke, comparing it with the mysticism of that of our honest phytologist. It is surely unnecessary to say one word more on the physiology of this volume. We blame the author for his temerity in throwing away his bladders before he has learned to swim, and incautiously venturing beyond his depth: in plainer language, for introducing as physiology, vague, unintelligible, and crude ideas into his otherwise useful book; lessening his authority with his readers; and rendering them distrustful of 将 the practical instruction that he is so well fitted to afford to them, by the exposure of his ignorance of a subject which is altogether out of place in his volume. It is painful to be obliged to make these remarks, especially when the castigation is applied to an individual who is a very able floriculturist, and a most respectable man; but we have a public duty to perform paramount to every other consideration. We therefore recommend the purchasers of this book to pass their pens over what is termed the physiology; and then they will find it a very useful guide. But, leaving this part of the subject, we would correct a few errors that have crept into the better part of the volume. Thus tubers are frequently confounded with roots; and we are informed that the turnip and carrot are "bulbs differing only in form." Now we can most confidently assure our readers that neither bulbs nor tubers are ever the productions of roots, but of the stem, or ascending axis of the plant; and that the turnip, and also the carrot, is a real root or descending axis: it is of little importance, and does not invalidate the fact, that the portion of the stem usually producing bulbs and tubers is beneath the surface of the ground. We are more surprised that such an error should appear, after finding it stated, that tubers are productions of the stem. (p. 19.) We are also informed that the leaves are of no use in perfecting the young bulb; yet, in treating of the cultivation of polyanthus-narcissus, our author correctly admits that cutting off the leaves whilst in vigorous growth is detrimental. He doubts whether the crocus can be ranked as a bulbous plant. If it be not, what is it? The author's application of the phrase "vis inertia," to what he terms the sleep of the anemone, is perfectly new. In the use of well-known terms he is also frequently incorrect: thus he calls the support of the carnation a peduncle, whereas the immediate support of every flower is a pedicel; the prop of the pedicel, if it has one, is a peduncle. He uses the word fecundified instead of fecundated; and frequently other words peculiar to himself: thus, for example, cauline instead of caulinar. His employment of terms that *We cannot agree with our reviewer in this position. Unless the subject of vegetable physiology be altogether beyond the reach of cultivators, in what work can the application of its principles be more appropriately introduced than in a treatise on flowers? The fault of our excellent friend Mr. Main consists not in having introduced the subject; for that he appears to us to deserve great praise; but, as we have mentioned to our friend personally, in having mystified it. Mr. Main has too much good sense and good feeling, not to profit from the reviewer's remarks. — Cond. have very distinct meanings as synonymes is also curious: for instance, the phrase "bundled or pendulous tubers; " as if all pendulous tubers were produced in groups or bundles, whereas some, particularly in the Orchideæ, are invariably solitary. We would also caution him against the employment of Latin plurals, until he ascertain the gender of their singular number: the words Hybernaculum and Lilium are neuter nouns, and, consequently, cannot have the plural in a; thence Hybernaculæ and Liliæ are incorrect. We should be doing injustice to our author, if, notwithstanding there remarks, we did not admit, as we have already done, that the volume contains much valuable information to the young and inexperienced florist. A. T. T. ART. II. Catalogue of Works on Gardening, Agriculture, Botany, Rural Architecture, &c., published since June last, with some Account of those considered the most interesting. Our Hortus Britannicus being now published, we shall in future, in enumerating the plants figured in the Botanical Periodicals, place a star (*) against all those which are not enumerated in the Catalogue. This will direct the attention of our readers to these species, which will be collected together at the end of every year, and incorporated with other newly introduced or discovered species in the Annual Supplement to that work. BRITAIN. Curtis's Botanical Magazine, or Flower-Garden displayed; New Series. Edited by Dr. Hooker. In 8vo Numbers, monthly. 3s. 6d. col. ; 3s. plain. No. XLII. for June, contains 2990 to 2996. Oncídium altíssimum. - Cròcus mínimus. A presumed British plant, unknown in our gardens, but as elegant and prettily varied with colour as any in the genus. Euphorbia corollata. Raised at Bury Hill, from seeds sent from North America by Mr. Nuttall. Sphácele Lindleyi. From Valparaiso; flowered in 1828. — Helènium autumnàle. - A'ster lævigàtus. *O'cymum montanum. No. XLIII. for July, contains 2997 to 3003.-Renanthèra coccínea.-*Ranúnculus cardiophyllus. "One of the many new discoveries made by Dr. Richardson and Mr. Drummond in the second over-land Arctic expedition, under the command of Captain Sir John Franklin." Found in the limestone districts of Canada, and in the alpine prairies of the Rocky Mountains, between lat. 52° and 55°. Large bright glossy yellow flowers, which remain a long time expanded; hardy. Whether a perennial or an annual is not mentioned; but "it is likely to prove a great acquisition to our collections of hardy plants." -*Indigofera sylvática. The I. speciòsa of the gardens. A showy conservatory plant, with bright rose-coloured flowers, inclining to purple.- *Begònia lóngipes. Trillium erythrocarpum. Pure white petals, marked with a bright purple stain. From Canada to the Glasgow botanic garden, by Mr. Cleghorn [? an old friend of ours].-*Eùtoca serícea; Hydrophylleæ. A pretty and perfectly hardy perennial alpine, from the Rocky Mountains, in North America, by Mr. Drummond. No. XLIV. for August, contains 3004 to 3010.- Terminàlia Catáppa; Combretàceæ. A tree of India, bearing a drupe, containing a nut, the kernel of which resembles that of an almond or filbert in flavour, and yields an oil equal to that of the olive. The fruit is abundantly eaten in India. - Didymocarpus Réx. From Southern Africa, by Mr. Bowie, to Kew. Crotalària ovális. — Moricándia arvensis. "The Glasgow botanic garden is indebted for the possession of this plant to Messrs. Young of Epsom, whose choice collection of plants is only equalled by the liberality with which they distribute them wherever they can be of real service to science, and who may justly be ranked among the first and most zealous cultivators in the kingdom.". Ribes cèreum. A much branched compact twiggy shrub, growing from 4 ft. to 6 ft. high, on the banks of the Columbia, whence it was introduced to the Horticultural Society by Mr. David Douglas. Ranúnculus millefoliatus. A native of Italy, in the north of Africa, and seeds of it were lately sent to the Glasgow botanic garden. - *Phrýnium coloratum; Cánneæ. Introduced from Brazil by Richard Harrison, Esq., and flowered in Lord Milton's stove in April last. No. XLV. for September, contains 3011 to 3017.-*Bignonia grandifolia. One of the handsomest of stove climbers. Lobèlia Kraússi. A stove plant, of moderate beauty, from Dominica, in 1828.- *Encyclia pàtens. A stove epiphyte, from Rio de Janeiro to the rich collection at Aigburgh.-Vanguièra velutìna; Rubiàceæ. A stove shrub, from Madagascar, of very little beauty.-*Ceropègia élegans; Asclepiadece. A most elegant stove twiner, showing its beautiful greenish white flowers, thickly spotted with purple, in January. It was sent to the Kew garden, by Dr. Wallich, in 1828.-*Brachystélma críspum; Asclepiadea. A most elegant bulb, sent from the Cape of Good Hope, by Mr. Bowie, to the select collection of Mr. Neill, at Cannon Mills. *Anthéricum bulbòsum. A handsome yellow-flowered Anthéricum, from New South Wales. Edwards's Botanical Register. Continued by John Lindley, F.R.S. L.S. &c. Professor of Botany in the London University. In 8vo Numbers, monthly. 4s. coloured. No. IV. for June, contains 1327 to 1334.- Anòna (menona or manoa, Malayan names) laurifòlia. A small tree, from the islands of the Caribean Sea, flowering in August; blossoms large, of a deep orange; foliage handsome; fruit of no value. Mammillaria púlchra.- *Mimulus propinquus. *Cactus (subgen. Epiphyllum) Ackermánni. From Mexico, by Mr. George Ackermann, in compliment to whom it was named by Mr. Haworth. It is remarkable," that about the same time that Mr. Tate's imported plant blossomed, our artist was summoned by Mr. Mackay to make a drawing of a seedling raised by Mr. Smith, gardener to Lord Liverpool, at Combe Wood, which proved so similar to this as to give rise to doubts as to the originality of the species. We understand that the flower of this seedling is rather larger, and its colour deeper red than that of the Mexican plant. It was first brought into bloom by John Brampton, Esq., of Stoke Newington, a gentleman who cultivates a small but very select collection of stove and green-house plants." The young |