BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, ETC. 287 



with a full and complete knowledge of the life-history of the parasites 

 producing the diseased condition, its prevention and cure will, it is 

 hoped, be an easy matter. The Ceyloii Observer of May 24 speaks 

 in very complimentary terms of Mr. Carruthers's work. 



We are glad to note that the examiners in botany at the London 

 University have recommended Mr. A. B. Reudle for the degree of 

 Doctor of Science. 



Mr. E. D. Marquand publishes in the Transactions of the Guernsey 

 Society of Natural Science for 1897 an enumeration of " The Fungi 

 of Guernsey." The list contains 456 species, two of which — Clito- 

 pilus sarnicus and Verticilliwn Marquandii — are new to science. 

 These are named by Mr. Massee, to whom "every specimen" 

 in the list has been submitted : unfortunately only the names of 

 these two novelties are published, without any diagnosis. 



A WORK will shortly be published by Messrs. Chapman & Hall 

 entitled Medical Works of the Fourteenth Century. It consists of 

 transcripts of four MSS. — three in the British Museum and one in 

 the possession of the editor, the Rev. Professor Henslow. These 

 MSS. are apparently miscellaneous collections of prescriptions, 

 including charms, etc., and illustrate the crude ideas of medicine 

 and surgery in the middle ages. The composition of drugs is often 

 remarkable for the number of plants used — from twenty to fifty 

 being not uncommonly employed in the same remedy. Mr. Henslow 

 has received help from Prof. Skeat, who has contributed notes to 

 the work. 



The "March" number of the Kew Bulletin (published in May) 

 contains a list (by Mr. J. M. Wood) of plants and fruits used by 

 natives of the Ubombo district of Zululand as food during times of 

 scarcity. The new number (the sixth) of the Journal of the Kew 

 Guild has a pleasant portrait of Prof. Daniel Oliver, accompanied 

 by a short biographical sketch by Mr. Hemsley. 



Messrs. Oolman have issued an advertisement card containing 

 small coloured figures of nearly a hundred British plants. Although 

 some of the figures — e. g. that of lucerne — are far from accurate, 

 the plants as a whole are fairly recognizable, and teachers in ele- 

 mentary schools might do worse than obtain a copy, though by so 

 doing they will of course be advertising the various wares of the 

 proprietors. But it is fair to add that, as things go, the advertise- 

 ment is unobtrusive. 



Mr. George Allen has issued a pretty little book of plant-gossip 

 under the title of Flower Favourites, by Lizzie Deas (sm. 8vo, pp. 229, 

 price 3s. 6d. net). The author deals with the "legends, symbolism, 

 and significance" of flowers, in the manner familiar to readers and 

 compilers of this kind of book. She quotes as authentic Forster's 

 spurious antique whicli figures in every popular work dealing with 

 flower-lore, and "old legends," whose age is at least doubtful. 

 Nor is her botany beyond reproach; e.g. she speaks of the "red- 

 blossomed sweet-scented clematis fiammula" (p. 145). The author 



