BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, ETC. 87 



those European mediaeval compounds which cause us a shudder 

 and a smile ; but his own experience seems to show that, though 

 much of the pharmacopoeia is fantastic and worthless, there is a 

 residuum worthy of serious testing. On the whole, Mr. Wilson was 

 favourably impressed with the people of the country ; but he is de- 

 servedly severe on their want of thrift in clearing away the forests, 

 thus leaving a menacing problem for the near future ; also on the 

 poor quality of much of their fruit, the result of slovenly cultivation. 

 Charles Lamb, dilating on the catholicity of his taste, tells us 

 he banished from his shelves only such books as " no gentleman's 

 library should be without." This attitude should, and doubtless 

 would, have caused the great humourist to look askance on 

 A Naturalist in Western CJiina, for it answers fully the qualifica- 

 tion entailing such banishment, provided, of course, the "gentle- 

 man " in question has a taste for natural history ; not botany 

 alone, since zoologists, geologists, ethnologists, and sportsmen as 

 well as traders will all find something in these pages to claim 

 their attention. But the appeal in chief is to the botanist and 

 horticulturist, an appeal emphasized by Professor Sargent's 

 essay comparing the forest floras of China and Eastern North 

 America. We trust these handsome volumes, the outcome of 

 indomitable pluck and patience, will meet with the success they 

 so richly merit. S. M. 



BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, dc. 



The second volume (first in appearance) of the Cambridge 

 British Flora is announced to appear in March. It will contain 

 the orders Salicaceae, Myricacese, Fagacese, Corylaceoe, Betulacese 

 (by the Eev. E. S. Marshall), Ulmacese, Cannabaceae, Urticacese, 

 Santalaceae, Loranthaceae, Aristolochiacese, Polygonaceae, Amaran- 

 taceae, and will be mainly the work of the editor, Dr. Moss, who 

 in Chenopodiaceae will have the assistance of Mr. A. J. Willmott 

 in A triplex and of Mr. E. J. Salisbury in Salicornia, the genus 

 Salsola being treated by Mr. C. E. Salmon. The order Aizoaceae 

 is included in virtue of the Mesemhryanthemuvi naturalized in 

 Cornwall. The prospectus containing information as to price, 

 format, &c., of the work, with a specimen plate, may be obtained 

 from the Cambridge University Press. 



Of the Eev. E. F. Linton's Supplement to the " Set of British 

 Salices," to which reference was made in this Journal for 1913 

 (p. 232), two fascicles have been issued — the first in June last, 

 the second at the end of last year. From the information issued 

 with the second fascicle we learn that " The present venture has 

 been started on a co-operative basis ; much material has already 

 been sent in, and more has been offered or promised, by Dr. G. 

 Fogerty, Messrs. E. A. Phillips and A. E. Bradley, and Miss 

 L. Day, towards the first three fasciculi ; for the future, specimens 

 of any unusual form or supposed hybrid will be welcome on 

 approval, on the chance of their proving suitable for incorporation, 

 if a sufiicient quantity (about thirty-five sheets) from the same 

 stock can be furnished." The first fascicle (1912-13) contains 



