66 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



of the Koyal Society and accompanied by an excellent portrait, is 

 one of the most attractive. That of Sir Joseph Hooker by Prof. 

 Bower is also very well done, although we demur to the descrip- 

 tion of the Index Keicensis as "the fourth of [his] great syste- 

 matic works." There has always been a tendency to exaggerate 

 Hooker's connection with this important work, for which indeed, 

 as we pointed out in this Journal for 1893 (p. 311), his preface to 

 the Index (in which the name of the actual compiler, Dr. B. D. 

 Jackson, finds no place) is partly responsible. This is in no way 

 intended to depreciate Hooker's share in the book : its inception 

 is due to him, and he read the whole in proof, adding to or revising 

 the geographical distribution (which however is its weakest part) ; 

 but the bulk of the actual work fell to Dr. Jackson's share. 

 Professor Bayley Balfour's account of "The Edinburgh Pro- 

 fessors" from 1670 to 1887 abounds in interesting and little- 

 known information. 



Much more might be written of so suggestive a volume did 

 space permit ; but enough has been said to show its interest and 

 value. We hope that someone may be found to prepare a com- 

 panion volume, in which the actual " makers of British Botany " 

 shall be adequately recognized. 



Sylviculture in the Tropics. By A. F. Broun. Pp. xviii, 309. 

 Macmillan & Co. Price 8s. 6d. net. 

 The author, formerly a Forest Officer in India, Ceylon and the 

 Sudan, modestly apologises for the too comprehensive title of his 

 work, he having apparently no personal knowledge of Tropical 

 America and Australia. His book appears to us, however, as far 

 as we have tested it, to be eminently sound and practical, espe- 

 cially, perhaps, in Part i, dealing with the factors influencing the 

 existence of forests, and Part iv, on special measures of mainten- 

 ance and protection. Confessedly much indebted to Schimper, 

 the author has also made good use of more recondite sources of 

 information, such as the reports of various forest departments, 

 and speaks with the unquestionable authority of one who has 

 personally examined into the facts. Considerable lists of trees 

 characterizing various climates, soils and situations are given, the 

 aggravating practice of using vernacular names by themselves 

 being avoided and the scientific names correctly spelt. The result 

 is a very complete picture of tropical forest vegetation, its con- 

 ditions, enemies, and influence upon climate. The soils of India, 

 the distinctive climatic features of the tropical zone, and the 

 effects of grazing, are topics treated with special interest in 

 Part i ; while the tropical forest nursery, with its shadoofs, sakia, 

 and other irrigation methods ; the discussion of the various 

 methods of natural forest-regeneration and of fire-protection and 

 the fixing of shifting soil, are among the more prominent subjects 

 dealt with in the latter part of the book. The clear figures of 

 various useful tools, which should enable any native workman to 

 produce them, and, in fact, the book, as a whole, should prove of 

 real value in any of our tropical colonies. q. g Boulger 



