and certain rules are to be observed in obtaining accurate delineations of individual trees. In proposing his botanical arrangement, which occupies the third part of the work, Mr Loudon has wisely adopted the natural system. Most authors, from Evelyn downwards, have merely arranged the species indiscriminately, or at best alphabetically, and without the slightest regard to system. But a good index answers all the purposes of an alphabetical arrangement, while a systematic classification. must necessarily convey to those who are not in the least instructed in botany, some degree of information respecting the relationship which exists between different genera.

With respect to the manner in which Mr Loudon has treated this part of his subject, he has our decided approbation; though there are many botanists who will not be inclined to agree with us. We more particularly allude to the enumeration of species, and to the reduction of many forms, usually considered as distinct species, to the rank of varieties only. Where Mr Loudon has felt quite positive, from personal inspection, that two or more so-called species should be reduced to one, he has not scrupled to act accordingly; but where he has not been able to verify the fact, though convinced in his own mind, he has compromised the matter with those who differ from him, by retaining the specific names of each plant, and arranging them as distinct species; but, at the same time, he inserts, in a bracket between the generic and specific names, the names also of the species of which he conceives them to be only varieties. Thus, in the case of the genus Fraxinus, Mr Loudon conceives there are only three true species hitherto known, though not less than forty-one are enumerated in his 'Hortus Britannicus.' Thirty of these are here referred to Fraxinus Americana, two to F. lentiscifolia, and the rest to F. excelsior. A species referred to F. Americana as F. pubescens, for instance, is then recorded as F. (A) pubescens.

It may be asked, Whether it would not be better to make distinct genera of these three species? To which we answer, That it would not; because they are all so obviously of the same general appearance, as evidently to belong to the same family. There would be the same objection to separating the oak family into different genera; though we think it highly probable that there are not a dozen aboriginal species of each in the world. Such are the principles we have adopted to guide us in arranging species, races, and varieties, from a perfect conviction of their truth. If we had not had an opportunity of observing, for several years past, the collections of trees and shrubs in the neighbourhood of London, and of studying them at every season of the year, with a view to the production of this work, we should never have been able to arrive at these

principles, or to adopt them from others, with any degree of satisfaction to our own minds. We are, however, perfectly satisfied that we are in the right path; and we feel convinced that all practical botanists who have had an opportunity of making similar observations, and who have made them, will approve of our arrangement.-P. 217.

In reviewing the contents of the third part of Mr Loudon's work, we shall restrict our observations chiefly to this question of the specific distinctions of some of the more important kinds of timber-trees, and to the evidence which would exclude certain species from our indigenous flora. That our island was formerly extensively clothed with forest, is a fact too well established to need a comment. Whether we have lost any of our indigenous timber by the destruction of these forests, and whether any of the species which now spring up spontaneously in our woods and copses, were originally wanting, is a curious and important question in determining the laws by which the natural distribution of plants over the earth's surface has been effected.

THE LIME. The lime-tree and its varieties are deserving the planter's attention as an ornamental tree, more especially for promenades, and as affording an important material for the use of the carver, &c. Mr Loudon reduces the numerous forms of the lime-tree noticed in catalogues, to two distinct species; the one, European (Tilia Europea), and the other, North American (Tilia Americana). All the European forms he considers, as did Linnæus, to be merely varieties of the first of these species; but, on account of the very distinct appearance assumed by T. alba, he has kept that tree separate. The question of the specific distinction of the various forms of lime-tree, is more likely to be satisfactorily decided by such a practical remark as the following, contained in the Agrémens de la Campagne,' than by the most elaborate descriptions of theoretical botanists. The author of that work, after stating it to be best to propagate the different sorts of lime-trees by layers, observes- because those which are raised 'from seed come up in different species (varieties), and almost all in hybrids, such as the poplar-leaved lime, or the birch-leaved lime, which never arrive at the size of large trees, or become 'finally furnished with leaves.'-P. 367. We are more inclined than Mr Loudon seems to be, to admit the lime to be strictly indigenous; and this even from reviewing the evidence which he has himself produced in its favour. But it does not appear likely that we can claim any other form than the small-leaved variety (T. E. microphylla), which is common as underwood in some countries, and is particularly abundant in a wood near Worcester. The doubts which have been entertained against this tree being indigenous, must have arisen, we presume, from the more con

spicuous varieties being usually cultivated, and growing only in situations where they were evidently planted. These varieties come from more southern latitudes, but readily ripen their seeds with us. We presume, therefore, that T. E. microphylla must be the form naturally assumed by this species in our climate; though the other varieties originating in other climates are capable of attaining a large size with us. Besides the large proportion of underwood composed of the small-leaved lime in the wood alluded to, near Worcester, there are trees in that neighbourhood estimated to be 300 years old. The largest lime-tree on record is in Wurtemburg, where the town of Neustadt an der Linde takes its name from an individual tree of enormous dimensions. Its girth is fifty-four feet, height about 100, and the branches extend nearly 100 feet from all sides of the trunk; some of these are supported by stone and some by wooden pillars.

The MAPLE TRIBE.-The common maple (Acer campestris) is unquestionably indigenous; and the only other species of the same family for which a similar claim has been sometimes advanced, is the sycamore (Acer pseudo-platanus). The free manner in which this latter tree ripens its seeds with us, and the readiness with which these germinate in our woods, might seem to warrant such a conclusion; but there is strong evidence of the contrary. We are not aware of its having ever been found of large dimensions in natural woods; and we believe no specimens of its timber have occurred in any of our ancient turfbogs or fens-those natural Herbaria of the primæval vegetation of a country. The earlier botanists, Gerard, Parkinson, Ray, &c., disclaim it as a native; and they were still less likely to be mistaken than ourselves, now that it has become so thoroughly naturalized among us. Martyn has justly observedIf it were indigenous, the country would have been full of it, since the tree comes up with such wonderful facility from the 'seed.' It is particularly abundant in Switzerland, and is found in various other parts of Europe, in mountainous situations; but we must not conclude it to be indigenous in Asia and Africa, merely because the translators of our Bible, ignorant of natural history, have stated this to be the tree into which Zaccheus climbed to see our Saviour pass, on his way to Jerusalem. The Ficus sycomorus, a species of fig-tree, is alluded to in the original, and it was of this also that the sycamore mummy cases of the Egyptians were formed.

Mr Loudon has enumerated nineteen species of this useful and highly ornamental tribe, now growing in England; and there are nearly as many more known to botanists, which, in all pro

bability, would flourish equally well with us. are natives of the Himalaya.

Several of them

FURZE. The common furze (Ulex Europaeus) is occasionally, in severe winters, killed to the ground in England, and this circumstance has given rise to the supposition that it may not be strictly indigenous. This argument is by no means conclusive; for during the last severe winter (1837-1838), not only the furze, but the butchers'-broom (Ruscus aculeatus), the two periwinkles (Vinca major and minor), and even the ivy (Hedera helix), were materially affected in certain situations. The furze ripens its seed with the greatest freedom in England, and springs up spontaneously in numerous places. The fact of its being occasionally killed to the ground, may indicate its having attained its extreme northern range in our latitude, but nothing more. It is impossible, perhaps, without recourse to careful experiment, to feel positive that the dwarf, Provence, and Irish furze, are merely varieties of this, though Mr Loudon is strongly inclined to this opinion.

The LOCUST-TREE, or FALSE ACACIA. Few trees have afforded a topic for so much discussion as this (Robinia pseud-acacia), which is most commonly known in England by the name of the ' acacia'-a name first given to it in North America (where alone it is a native), from the general resemblance of its foliage, mode of growth, and seed-vessels, to that of the true acacia of Africa; but the latter has very different flowers, and belongs to a different tribe of leguminose plants. The name of locust-tree was given it, on account of some resemblance which its seed-vessels bear to those of the locust-tree of Spain and the Levant, otherwise called the carcb-tree. The heart wood of the false acacia has very long been celebrated; and various authors, American, French, German, and English, have loudly extolled its virtues. But most of them, arguing from a few unquestionably excellent properties of the wood, have inconsiderately proposed a multiplicity of uses to which they conceived it might be applicable, and have urged its extended cultivation with a zeal unwarranted by the test of experience. Mr Cobbett, it is well known, was a warm advocate for its culture, recommending the landed proprietors of England to purchase the seeds and plants, which he largely imported from America.

Cobbett imported the seeds in tons, but when he ran short of real American ones, he procured them, as well as young plants, from the London nurseries. We do not say that there was any thing wrong in Cobbett's doing this; but, had the public known that the locust seeds and locust plants were so easily to be procured, it is probable that the locust mania would never have attained the height it did. We have our

selves several times accompanied planters to Cobbett's nursery to procure trees; and went once with a gentleman who had purchased a large estate in South Wales, who bought some thousands of locust plants to send to it. When he mentioned to us his intention, we told him that he might purchase the plants at half the price in the British Nursery ; and that, from the comparative shortness of the distance, he would not only save a considerable expense in carriage, but that the plants would be in a much fresher state, and consequently more likely to grow when they arrived at his place. No arguments of ours, however, were of any avail; and Cobbett's locust-trees were decidedly preferred, at any cost, to Miller's robinias.'-P. 616.

How futile would such quackery become, if the trifling information necessary to put the ignorant on their guard, were a little more diffused; and who that read such a passage as the following, would then run any risk of being deceived by it :

The time will come, and it will not be very distant, when the locusttree will be more common in England than the oak; when a man would be thought mad if he used any thing but locust in the making of sills, posts, gates, joists, feet for rick-stands, stocks, and axletrees for wheels, hop-poles, pales, or for any thing where there is liability to rot. This time will not be distant, seeing that the locust grows so fast. The next race of children but one-that is to say, those who will be born sixty years hence will think that locust-trees have always been the most numerous trees in England; and some curious writer, of a century or two hence, will tell his readers that, wonderful as it may seem, the locust was hardly known in England until about the year 1823, when the nation was introduced to a knowledge of it by William Cobbett. What he will say of me, besides, I do not know; but I know that he will say this of me. I enter upon this account, therefore, knowing that I am writing for centuries and centuries to come.'-(Woodlands, § 851, p. 621.)

That the false acacia furnishes wood of real value for many purposes, there can be no question, and it may safely be concluded that sound (false) acacia wood is heavier, harder, stronger, more rigid, more elastic and tougher, than that of the best English oak; and consequently that it is more fit than oak for trenails.'-P. 619. The great drawback to its extensive culture in this country for economical purposes, is its comparative tenderness as a plant; for though it will grow almost any where, it will not thrive sufficiently to form sound heart-wood, except in particular soils and situations. The roots also creep extensively, and near the surface of the soil, and impoverish it for corn crops. and other produce. Mr Loudon has so fully discussed the history of this tree, that we cannot do better than refer those who are interested about it to his pages.

The PLUM. Whether the cultivated plums are improvements on the common wild sloes and bullaces of our hedges, is an unde