By Dr. George Lincoln Goodale. New York: Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co. 1885.

When we read of Dr. Asa Gray, we think of him as we all know him, an active man, busily engaged in work, and accomplishing as much as the youngest among us. We can hardly realize the fact, when we take up the work before us, that it is only a few years of half a century ago - 1842 - when the first edition appeared. That edition, though hastily prepared, and imperfect, was so well received, that another had to follow in 1845. In 1857 the fifth appeared. Soon after this botany had advanced to so great an extent that it was evident that a very much larger work would be required, and that the whole field would have to be gone over, and the work reconstructed. The task become too large for one man. Dr. Gray prepared himself the portion of the science embraced under Structural botany, and which was published in 1879; the portion devoted to Physiological botany he remanded to his eminent pupil, Professor Goodale, and this is what we have before us today, completing the new edition of Gray's Textbook of Botany, or edition sixth.

Some idea of the vast progress made in our knowledge of botany since the first appearance of the work may be gathered from the fact, that while the second edition now before us was complete in 509 pages, the portion of the new devoted to Structural botany, alone occupies 442 pages, and this second volume by Prof. Goodale 499 pages.

Horticulturists of all classes in the community, will be thankful to Professors Gray and Goodale for the completion of this work. A man may grow cabbages and potatoes, or raise roses or geraniums, without the slightest knowledge of botany; yet not only the pleasures but the actual cash profits of gardening are manifoldly multiplied by a study of the structure and life-history of plants.