BETTISn WILD FLOWERS 267 



very establishment " of which " it was at once recognized that there 

 are genera and species." Such nomenclature, we are rightly informed, 

 " dates from 1753, when Sjiecies Plantarum was published," but it 

 is somewhat surprising to be told that " the adoption of the plant 

 names given at this date in preference to later names is due to Mr. Gr. 

 C. Druce in this country (in 1905) " (p. 3). Of the definitions the 

 following is an example : — " A genus is a collection of species which, 

 originally individuals all of the same type or species, have by degrees 

 become so markedly divergent that they represent a number of dif- 

 ferent species, but sufficiently closely related to be included in the 

 same genus " : incidental^ we learn that " there are Benthamian or 

 Linnean or comprehensive species, and Jordanean (sic) or elementary 

 species" ; " it is essential to remember that the species is the ultimate 

 individual or unit from which a starting-point can be made." The 

 subject of nomenclature is resumed at greater length in the section 

 (pp. 19S-213) on " The Names of Wild Flowers," which begins with 

 references to the title (rendered into English) of works by early 

 writers — " Lobelius, Notes of Plants, 1616 " puzzles us — and in- 

 cludes remarks on the origin of English names — " The monks in the 

 learned English period used the Latin Plantogo and transformed it 

 into Plantain " — Linnams's rules for nomenclature, and selections 

 from the Vienna Code. The chapter ends with some remarks on 

 popular nomenclature — " Synon3'ms cannot be associated together 

 under some one plant, and relegated to oblivion, because in this case 

 there is no science of nomenclature, and names are constantly being 

 duplicated for the same plant, whilst in other cases one name does 

 duty for several " — and the language of flowers — " Ivy has been 

 made the emblem of love and fidelity from its clinging habit (cf. 

 Iseult and Tristan)." A chapter on " The Folklore of Plants " 

 contains even more nonsense than is usual in such chapters ; and the 

 volume ends with an account of " Plants and their Uses to Man," 

 the most notable feature of which is the enumeration of the " various 

 ways in which British plants may be turned to economic advantage" — 

 e.g. "Spices are afforded by Clove Pinks, Melilot, Herb Bennett, 

 Salad Burnet, Celery, Caraway, Mugwort, Absynth, Ground Ivy. . . . 

 Mats, rennet, soda, rushlights, formerly flashlights for fireworks, 

 stuffing for casks, mattresses, cushions, or packing for glass and 

 china, and wicks, are a few miscellaneous uses." 



" Volumes II to IV " — we quote from the prospectus—" are 

 devoted to the special description and illustration of the 350 selected 

 types, arranged under their several groups. Thus, Volume II deals 

 with Fields and Meadows, Cornfields, and the Sea Coast ; Volume III 

 with Woods and Copses, and Roadsides and Hedges ; Volume IV with 

 Hills and Dry Places, Lakes and Rivers, and Waste Places ; Volume V 

 with Bogs and Marshes, Heaths and Moors, and Rocks and Walls." 



Considering how few plants are confined to any one of the 

 habitats indicated, such classification strikes us as unsatisfactory. 

 Each section begins with a summary of the plants it comprises, 

 Avritten in a style of which the following is a sample : " Where the 

 meadows roll into uplands and make rambling ramparts carved by 

 Nature's hands rise the lemon-tinted clusters of Hop Trefoil, giving 

 a touch of gold to the external green of the meadoAvs. . . . Trailing 



