184 The hish Nahcralist. September, 



old restrictious ou Education. We agree, and are sorry that he can find 

 little to say that is good of the present Primary vSchool vSystem. Accounts 

 of twent3'-two Scientific Institutions follow in short chapters by various 

 writers, the whole edited by Prof. Carpenter ; among others described 

 are Trinity College, Royal College of Science, National Library, National 

 Museum, Albert Agricultural College, Forestry Station, Botanic and 

 Zoological Gardens. Good terse notes are given, but they are unequally 

 illustrated, a fault common to most sections of the sort in similar Guides. 

 Next follows the final Section — Industries and Commerce, edited bv 

 Dr. Adeney, which consists of eighteen short chapters b}' over a dozen 

 writers. Such subjects as ''The Port of Dublin," *' Fisheries," 

 "Electricity," and "Agriculture," are dealt with. In the last. 

 N. Leitch makes it clear that the much vaunted " Fat Lands of Royal 

 Meath " are anything but models of good and productive farming; while 

 the chapter on Tobacco growing in Ireland by J. R. Campbell shows 

 that there is evidently a chance of its becoming a staple of the country. 

 City of Dublin industries, such as brewing, distilling, Irish poplin, &c., 

 occupy about 23 pages, some being illustrated. An index, by no means 

 as full as it might be, is given at the end of the book, but the contents 

 table at the front is excellent. The illustrations, though numerous, are 

 unequally distributed ; most are good, some very good ; but others 

 would have been better left out. Such, for instance, as fig. 29, on page 

 250, would mar any book; while figs. 31 and 34 are little better. 

 The 37 plates on art paper are clearer of course, though a few have 

 printed slightly " rotten," or are unequall}' trimmed. Nos. 14, 16, and 17, 

 with some in the chapter on Dublin architecture, are examples of good 

 work, yet the average is not equal to those in last year's guide (Leicester), 

 while the book in all other respects is much superior. Two excellent 

 coloured maps, scale 4 miles to i inch, by Bartholomew are provided. 

 An area from about Clogher Head in Louth to Wicklow Head is given, 

 with an average width inland of about 28 miles, this taking in the most 

 westerly bend of the Liffey. One is a geological, the other a physical 

 and topographical sheet. INIaps of this size in a Handbook for open air 

 use should be mounted on linen, if at all possible. 



Taking the book as a whole we consider it unquestionably the best 

 and most accurate local handbook yet provided for the British Associa- 

 tion. This is what might be expected from a book edited jointly by 

 Professor Cole and R. LI. Praeger, Mho have been fortunate in their 

 sub-editors and contributors. There is little evidence of the careless 

 hurry at the last minute which often mars similar efforts. While the 

 book shows clearly the advances made in local scientific research since 

 1878, it is certain to remain the standard scientific reference book on 

 the Dublin district for many years to come. 



R. W. 



