34:2 THE JOURNAL OP BOTANY 



cover to cover in 1 acid-looking, lavishly -spaced, diagrammatic 

 tables, and amazingly cheap, this Manual invites the attention 

 of every reader. The title is, perhaps, a little imposing for so 

 small a work ; and after reading three or four chapters one begins 

 to feel that the book should have been either much larger, so as 

 to justify its title, or, better still, much more elementary. Men- 

 delism, we know, involves mathematics ; but Mr. Wilson has given 

 us too much mathematics ; and we look askance at the dedica- 

 tion to a former mathematical teacher. Nevertheless the author 

 has made this mathematical side as attractive as possible, and 

 as clear, perhaps, as possible. But this has been done at the 

 expense of the more interesting side of the subject, especially the 

 historical side. The introductory chapters are too short ; Mr. 

 Wilson, evidently a master of his subject, has shown little 

 sympathy with the general reader ; and to the expert he must 

 appear one-sided. 



Again, too little concession has been made to the botanist ; 

 CEnothera is not even mentioned ; the horticulturist feels some- 

 what lost in this maze of poultry and cattle, milk and eggs ; 

 while the cattle-breeder and poultry-farmer would look with awe, 

 if not suspicion, on these figures, algebraic signs, and squared- 

 paper diagrams. 



In fact, the book will only appeal to a small circle, namely, 

 that of the speciaHst in the study of heredity. Mendelism, surely, 

 is a subject of fascinating interest ; and this Manual leaves the 

 general reader cold, disappointed of the promise raised by its 

 first appearance. H. F. W. 



lUastrations of the British Flora : a Series of Wood Engravings 

 with Dissections, of British Plants, drawn by W. H. Fitch, 

 F.L.S., with additions by W. G. Smith, F.L.S. Fourth 

 Eevised Edition. 8vo, cloth, pp. xvi, 338, 1335 figures. 

 Lovell Reeve & Co. Price 9s. net. 



This new edition of the useful and handy volume which was 

 prepared as a companion to Bentham's Handbook of the British 

 Flora contains certain features which differentiate it from 

 previous issues and entitle it to rank as an edition. The 

 anonymous editor has added the key to the arrangement of 

 the orders, now somewhat antiquated, from the Handbook, with 

 other introductory matter ; a certain amount of synonymy is 

 added, thus rendering the book a useful companion to other 

 floras, as well as English names, real and manufactured : of the 

 latter "Holly-leaved Naiad" for Naias marina and " Long- 

 bracted Carex " for Carex extensa may be taken as examples of 

 names which no one has ever used nor will use. The contraction 

 of the specific names in synonymy is justified on the ground of 

 limitation of space, but in many cases there is room for them 

 in full — " Juncoides ar." and " Obione loo." for example. The 

 colour of the flowers is indicated with somewhat startling results : 

 it will be news to most that Trifoliiim arvense, T. stellaticm 

 and T. ochroleuctmi have crimson flowers, although the last is 



