Japanese Botany; being a facsimile of a Japanese Book, with introductory notes and translations. Philadelphia: Published by J. B. Lippincott & Co. $1.25.

When the Japan expedition was first proposed, no class of our fellow citiizens felt a greater interest in its success, apart from national considerations, than did we as horticulturists. Japan had been so long something of a sealed book, that our curiosity was excited at the prospect of a peep at the inside. By the prying of some enterprising Dutch botanists we had already been delighted with a Paulownia, some fine Clematises Hydrangeas, and many other acquisitions ; we hoped that our friend Perry, and others of his command, would he able to minister still to our desires.

Nor have we been altogether disappointed. Many opportunities did not occur to them, but the few that did were eagerly made available, and every thing that could throw any light on the Horticulture or Botany of Japan, was carefully preserved and brought to us.

The present book we owe to the energy of Dr. Wilson of the expedition; and while it is an interesting contribution to the flora of Japan, it is at the same time a genuine literary curiosity. The work is small quarto, and even including the binding, exactly an imitation of the original copy. Forty papers are devoted to the drawings, which we are surprised to find much superior as artistic productions to what we were led to believe the Japanese capable of. Amongst the figures are several quite new to us, especially two Caryophyllaceous plants, allied to the well known Chinese Pink, (of which also a drawing is given,) and which appears to be very beautiful. Our old friends Onis Chi-nensis, and Silium speciosum, with other stranger forms allied to them, we readily recognize. One plate is occupied with a bunch of Chrysanthemums, representing pretty well such specimens' as were in cultivation with us twenty years ago. Could we send our Japan brethren a collection of their favorite flowers, as modern French florists have improved them, they would scarcely see in them the same species.

The work has other interesting features besides these we have specified. The editor has translated the characters, and placed the interpretations side by side with the inscriptions, thus affording an insight into the nature and construction of their language.

We have no doubt that all interested in Japanese curiosities, especially floral and botanical ones, will agree with us in wishing the publishers a remunerative sale for their spirit in getting up this treat for us.

Those Japanese are odd fellows at a dodge. We have opened a port or two and thought ourselves in contact with them at last; but they value our coin too low to make trade an object, and moreover declare they have nothing to sell! Of course no trade can result, and we must be content with their seeds and flowers. Artful dodgers indeed.