SHORT NOTES 251 



Elatine HEXA.NDRA IX SoUTH Hants. In June, when Canon 

 Bullock-Webster and I were exploring Sowley Pond, near Lymington, 

 for aquatic plants, we came across Elatine hexandra occurring in 

 small quantit\% on the flat sandy shore in company with Littorella, 

 Centunculus, Eleocharis acicularis, and such-like small plants. It is 

 not recorded for the vice-county in Townsend's Flora of HampHliire. 

 — James G-kotes. 



EEVIEWS. 



Tidal Lands : A Study of Shore Proilems. By A. E. Carey, 

 M.I.C.E., and F. W. Oliyer, F.E.S. London : Blackie & Son. 

 Demy 8vo, pp. xiv, 284, 29 plates. Price Vis. Qd. net. 



In this book the preservation and reclamation of land subjected to 

 the influences of tidal action are for the first time comprehensively 

 dealt with in the light of recent observation and experimental woi'k. 

 The writers speak with authority, each having for many years devoted 

 himself to foreshore aspects of his subject. The volume is thus 

 certain to prove of great service to those responsible for the proper 

 maintenance and improvement of our coastline: not only are the 

 causes of past failures indicated, but improved methods are suggested. 



The outstanding feature of interest is the setting forth of the 

 manner in which vegetation can be treated as a factor in eno-ineering:. 

 The first chapters, however, deal with the non-biological aspects 

 alone — of "Tidal Data," "The Tidal Compartment of a Kiver," and 

 " The Foi'eshore " respectively. These chapters are comprehensive 

 but, unfoi-tunately, not well written ; they are not easy to read and the 

 meaning is sometimes obscm'e : the following sentence, not an isolated 

 example, will not stand analysis : — " The questions of the velocity 

 of the ebb current and the period of time of the tidal flow are, within 

 limits, local in character, the great aim being to secure by regulated 

 control such conditions that the shipping normally frequenting the 

 river shall be navigated without let or hindrance, predetermined 

 depths of waterway being automatically maintained " (p. IG). More- 

 over, since the book is intended for landownei-s, technical terms 

 (e.f/. grout, berm, apron, &c., &c.) might with advantage have been 

 introduced with an explanation. 



The botanical aspect begins with a good chapter on "The Function 

 of Vegetation," which contains all the information necessary to enable 

 the lay reader to understand fully the later chapters. The sand 

 dune is then described, its vegetation and the methods by which 

 stabilisation of mobile dune by plants has been achieved being fully 

 dealt with. These chapters, which are well written and clearly sub- 

 divided, show us a problem approaching complete solution, indicating 

 liow man by skilful use of vegetation can master the combined forces 

 of wind and sand. Opportunity is seized to emphasize the economic 

 value of Psrrvima for pa]jer-making ; such natural resources should be 

 more fully exploited. The shingle b(,'acli is next described, and the 

 great value of certain .plants for stabilisation is again shown. Of 

 these Siiceda fruticosa is the most useful ; the I'esults of the bio- 

 logical study of this species are of far-reaching economic importance. 

 The term " anarhizophvte " is coined for plants which, like Suceda, 



