NOTICES OF BOOKS, 23 



seen, of germinating, and so spreading the disease. The striking of 

 an ergotted head against a healthy plant will communicate the 

 disease. This has been tested by experiment by Bonorden, and con- 

 firmed by Eoze. It is not possible, however, to interpose at this 

 stage of the malady with the view of arresting it. Tlie diseased 

 grains are difficult to discover in the field, and it would be hopeless to 

 attempt to pick them out. The disease can only be effectually dealt 

 with while the plant is in its dormant state as an ergot, as already 

 pointed out. — [Extracts from a paper in the Journal of the Iloyal 

 Agricultural Society of England, 1874.] 



^mtt0 of 25ooft.0» 



I 



The Forest Flnri of North West and Central India. Commenced by 

 the late J. LiisusAr .Siewaut, M.D. Continued and completed by 

 DrEiRrCH Brandis, Ph. D. 8vo., pp. 608. lllmtrations accom- 

 panying the above, 4to., tab. 70. London : W. H. Allen and Co. 

 1874. 



There can be no greater proof of the growing interest in the Forest 

 vegetation of British India than the simultaneous preparation of three 

 elaborate works — Brandis' " Eorest Flora of JN'orth West and Central 

 India;" Beddome's "Flora Sylvatica of Southern India," published 

 at Madras ; and Kurz's " Forest Flora of British Burma " (in the press 

 at Calcutta). These works comprise descriptions of all the important 

 trees and shrubs, a knowledge of which is needful to the Forest 

 Officers in India. 



The volumes now before us were prepared at the Kew Herbarium, 

 and published under the authority of the Secretary of State for India. 

 Their appearance has been expected for some time, but was delayed 

 by the death of Dr. Stewart, conservator of Forests, Punjab, noticed 

 at p. 319 of the volume of this Journal for 1873. No one living was 

 better fitted for completing the work than the Inspector-General of 

 Forests to the Government of India, and the great labour and care he 

 has bestowed upon it are evident throughout. 



This manual fulfils admirably the objects for which it was in- 

 tended — a text book for Forest Officers ; and is full of original and 

 most valuable information, including the geographical distribution of 

 trees, the seasons of flowering and fruiting, the specific gravity of the 

 timber, with remarks on the structure of the wood as distinguished 

 under a common lens. In typography, nomenclature, and arrange- 

 ment it resembles the Colonial Floras prepared at Kew. 8000 

 vernacular names have been brought together, and the Sanscrit, 

 Arabic, Persian, and Burmese names verified with great care ; copious 

 English and Botanical indices add greatly to the utility of the work. 

 There is much interesting information regarding the climatic condi- 

 tions which influence the Forest vegetation of our Indian possessions, 

 and the geographic limits of the more valuable trees are frequently 

 indicated so far as known. 



