NOTICES OP BOOKS. 317 



li>attce^ of 25oo&^* 



Vorlesungen ilher Dend/rologie. Gehalten zu Berlin ini Winterhalbjatir 

 1874-75, von Kael Koch, Mecl. & Phil. Dr., Professor der 

 Botanik in der Friedrich-Wilhelm TJniversitat zu Berlin. — 

 Stuttgart : Verlag von Perdinand Eukes, 1875. 



Pbofessok Koch has for many years taken a most lively interest in 

 the improvement of horticulture. His studies have been made from 

 original observation in Germany, Prance, Great Britain, Italy, and 

 the Russian Empire, and his extraordinary zeal has been acknow- 

 ledged by an enthusiastic reception from the most talented practical 

 and theoretical men. Our author is not one of those who are satisfied 

 with having knowledge for themselves, but he has a sincere wish to 

 let others enjoy the fruits^ of his experience. One of the numerous 

 results of his studies was a course of lectures on Dendrology, which 

 he gave last winter at Berlin to a selected public, but which were un- 

 fortunately interrupted by Professor Koch's then bad health. These 

 lectures have now been published in this most interesting book. 



The first of the three parts contains a history of gardening. It is 

 very gratifying to see that Professor Koch holds the opinion that horti- 

 culture gives expression to the characters of different nations. The 

 Chinese alone are mentioned as a great exception, for they have 

 long had the free natural parks of the English, though themselves the 

 most pedantic and enslaved nation during many centuries. Our author 

 believes that they must have had a period of free thought at some ante- 

 rior date. It would be impossible to give an abstract of this part, which 

 is so very rich, and yet so very condensed, that it might have been treated 

 on a far wider scale. There is a resume of exceedingly numerous and 

 highly valuable investigations. We regard it as the gem of the book. 

 The gardens of the Egyptians and the Semitic nations, of the Persians, 

 Chinese, Japanese, old Greeks and Romans, are fully described. Then 

 the Professor speaks of the gardens of the modern Italians, French, 

 and Dutch. Finally, the last lecture is devoted to the independent 

 style of the gardens and parks in England, France, Germany, and 

 North America. 



The second part is devoted to the anatomy, morphology, and physi- 

 ology of trees, andtto the influence of woods on the health of mankind, 

 and on climate. Our woods, which had been regarded as useless to 

 the health of men by certain authors, are reinstalled in their old 

 dignity for richness in ozone, and Professor Koch is even inclined to 

 regard them as excellent barriers against the cholera. He most 

 earnestly recommends the inhabitants of big towns to surround their 

 habitations with plantations of trees. This question of the influence 

 of the destruction of woods is exceedingly well treated, and should be 

 well considered by our French and Swiss brethren. 



The third part treats of the Conifers: Araucarinece, Sequojacem, 

 Ahietacece, Cupressacem, Taxacece. Here is a grand store of most 

 valuable remarks. 



We hope that Professor Koch may be able to give a continuation 



