VEGETATION OF THE PEAK DISTRICT 227 



Dr. Moss has been a pioneer in this branch of botany, and has 

 made numerous substantial contributions to the study. His work 

 with Dr. W. G. Smith in Yorkshire, his account of the vegetation 

 of Somerset, and his paper on the Fundamental Units of Vegeta- 

 tion must be regarded as landmarks in the history of the study of 

 British vegetation from the plant geographer's point of view. 



The area investigated is that comprised in Sheet 99 of the 

 Ordnance Survey Series, together with the southern half of S. 86 

 and the northern half of S. Ill, i.e. an area of 360 square miles, 

 including portions of Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derby- 

 shire, and Yorkshire. The maps are printed in twelve colours, 

 each colour representing a different association ; where there is a 

 mixed association this is represented by stippling or patching. 



The maps are on the scale of one inch to the mile, the scale 

 which experience has shown to be a suitable one for maps in- 

 tended to show the distribution of the more important plant 

 associations of the British Isles. In the field, maps on the scale 

 of six inches to the mile were used. The present writer can bear 

 testimony to the care with which the mapping was done, and 

 many botanists have accompanied the author on lonely tramps 

 across the moors during the years in which the work was in pro- 

 gress. The northern map deals with the vegetation of the non- 

 calcareous sandstones and shales of the Coal-measure, the Mill- 

 stone Grit, and the Yoredale or Pendleside series. Here moorland 

 zonation is particularly well seen, the various associations stand- 

 ing out in sharp contrast. The southern map includes the vegeta- 

 tion of the calcareous Carboniferous limestone, and shows well 

 the distribution of ash woods. 



In the text there is so much matter of interest to the student 

 of all aspects of plant life that only a mere indication can be given 

 of the contents. In the introductory chapter many important 

 general points are considered, with special reference to the specific 

 area. Two exceedingly useful tables are provided, one giving the 

 chief geological strata and soils of the district and the general 

 character of the accompanying vegetation, the second dealing with 

 calcareous, siliceous, and acidic peaty soils and their characteristic 

 plants. Tables are also given of the average monthly rainfall for 

 the years 1870 to 1899 ; the temperature, the direction and velocity 

 of the wind, and the humidity of the atmosphere at 335, 500, and 

 700 metres during about 600 days of the years 1908 and 1909. 

 The consideration of such matters and their application to the 

 district show how thoroughly the author has entered into his 

 task. His concept of the units of vegetation — a concept which 

 was adopted in and really made possible the writing of the Types 

 of British Vegetation, edited by Mr. Tansley — is briefly but clearly 

 stated. The chief interest in the book to many phytogeographers 

 will be in the working out in detail of these concepts in a definite 

 area. The further chapters deal with Woodland, Scrub, Grass- 

 land, Eocks and Screes, Marsh and Aquatic associations, Moor- 

 land, and cultivated land. In each case lists of characteristic 

 plants are given, with an indication of the relative abundance of 



