REVIEWS 135 



REVIEWS. 



FIRST RECORDS OF BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS. By William 

 A. Clarke, F.L.S. Reprinted, with additions and corrections, from 

 the "Journal of Botany," 1892-96. (London: West, Newman, 

 and Co., 1897.) 



We have frequently had occasion to quote from Mr. Clarke's 

 compilation extracts relating to first records of plants from Scottish 

 localities ; and we very gladly welcome the issue of the work, which 

 in its completed state forms an octavo of 103 pages. Only those 

 that have attempted such work can fully appreciate the labour 

 required in its execution, and the care with which it has been 

 prepared. It deserves, and ought to find, a hearty welcome from all 

 interested in British botany, and especially from those who desire to 

 know something of the growth of systematic study of the flora. An 

 index of genera adds to its value for reference in its new form. 



A MANUAL AND DICTIONARY OF THE FLOWERING PLANTS 

 AND FERNS. By J. C. Willis, M.A. (Cambridge University 

 Press, 1897.) 



This work, in two small octavo volumes, is one of the 

 excellent " Cambridge Natural Science Manuals." Though not 

 specially devoted to British botany, it will be found most suggestive 

 and useful as a companion to the systematic floras, directing the 

 attention to points (not requiring a microscope for their investiga- 

 tion) in the structure and biology of the more important native 

 genera that are seldom touched on in such floras. The first 

 volume treats of such subjects as General Morphology, Variation, 

 Evolution, Classification, Forms of Vegetation, Geographical Distri- 

 bution, and Economic Botany. This part will repay careful perusal. 

 The second volume is prepared in the form of a dictionary for 

 reference. 



INVESTIGATIONS INTO APPLIED NATURE. By William Wilson, 

 Jun. (London : Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, and Co., 

 1896.) 



This little volume consists of a number of essays, some of which 

 had been read at the meetings of various societies, while others are 

 published in it for the first time. With the connecting link that all 

 relate more or less to agriculture, they range over a wide field in 

 their choice of subjects ; and, in consequence, a good many of them 

 are only Mr. Wilson's conceptions of information gleaned by him 

 from varied sources. Some of the papers, on the other hand, are 

 based on personal observations, and show power of observation 

 and love of the open-air study of natural history in its applications 

 to agriculture. 



