STANDARD CYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. Sll 



is included, and references to figures (often with criticisms) and 

 botanical and horticultural literature. Varieties and hybrids are 

 treated, and useful critical information is given regarding the 

 origin of horticulturists' varieties. The geographical distribution 

 also receives attention, and floricultural hints and the time of 

 flowering are usually appended. In smaller type over thirty other 

 species are briefly described. The authorities for the species are 

 given, a point which is often neglected in horticultural works ; a 

 reference to the original description of the species would have been 

 a useful addition. 



J. K. Bamsbottom. 



BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, ETC. 



The July number of Oldfeld Past and Present — the magazine 

 of the Friends' School near Swanage — contains an account of the 

 efforts there made to co-operate with the Herb-Growing Associa- 

 tion in utilising the vegetable resources of the country. At the 

 suggestion of Prof. Oliver, Sixirtina Toivnsendii has been collected 

 with a view to experiments being made upon it by paper manu- 

 facturers, who may possibly find it an efficient substitute for 

 esparto-grass. The Report, however, shows the importance of 

 knowing beforehand what is required ; " So far our attempts to 

 help have ended in complete failure with the exception of one 

 item — elder-flower." The account of wholesale and useless de- 

 struction of Henbane is rather sad reading, and suggests that it 

 may be necessary to take steps to prevent the extermination of 

 British plants of economic value : " We made an excursion to 

 Chapman's Pool to gather henbane. We brought some 60 lbs. 

 back, but found when submitted to the authorities that it was out 

 of season and quite useless. We gathered the whole plant and 

 did not dry it. We have found since that all that is wanted is 

 the leaves dried. However, we hope to be able to gather the seed 

 and prevent its absolute destruction on the ground where it grows, 

 much to the chagrin of the farmer who owns the land." 



We are sure that all those who obtain so much enjoyment 

 from rambles in the country, and who admire the ferns, prim- 

 roses and violets growing in their natural surroundings will agree 

 that strong measures should be taken to stop the trade carried on 

 by those who merely go out to collect them for sale. In order 

 to check the practice, two of the horticultural journals — The 

 Gardeners Magazine and Amateur Gardenijig — have decided not 

 to accept in future advertisements inviting orders by post for 

 ferns and other wild plants, excepting from those who cultivate 

 them for commerce. It is suggested that local authorities should 

 obtain powers, if they do not already possess them, to prosecute 

 offenders, and thus preserve one of the most attractive features 

 of the countryside. 



The Proceedings of the Royal Society contains a preliminary 

 report by Messrs. Clement Eeid and James Groves on the fossil 



