^P';'] ^0^^^' I8l 



the divisional supplements has already been issued, and con- 

 tains the fresh-water algai, compiled by Mr. G. I. Playfair, 

 Hon. Curator of Fresh-water Alga^, National Herbarium, 

 Sydney. Owing to the scarcity of books in English based on 

 Engler's system, a brief sketch of its arrangement may be 

 outlined here. The fundamental principle is the probable line 

 of evolution of plant life ; hence a commencement is made 

 with the ferns, concluding with the composites, as being the 

 most highly organized of the vegetable kingdom. The groups 

 usually known as orders are here termed families, one or more 

 of these being grouped together into series. The families are 

 variously subdivided where required into sub-families, tribes, 

 sub-tribes, sections, or under-sections. Under these headings 

 the genera and sub-genera are grouped according to their 

 affinities, so that plants with similar peculiarities are brought 

 closely together in the list. The author — ^for doubtless Mr. 

 Maiden will be generally regarded as the author — has not 

 hesitated to introduce well-marked varieties, for, as he says 

 in the preface, " the variet}/ of to-day may be the species of 

 to-morrow, and vice versa, since the rank is usually a matter 

 of individual judgment, and that may vary." The greai 

 value of the work lies in the excellence oi the refeiences, which 

 are very complete, the principal reference being to the volume 

 and page of Bentham's " Flora Australiensis," which, Mr. 

 Maiden says, " is still and will long remain the standard work 

 on our fl'«:)ra. The greater one's experience with it, the more 

 sincere is one's admiration of it." The list of works quoted is 

 almost a catalogue of existing botanical literature, and occupies 

 nearly ten pages. The list extends to just over 200 pages, 

 but there is no enumeration of the number of i)lants recorded. 

 The volume has been well produced by the Government Printer, 

 Sydney, but unfortunately no price is indicated. 



"The Gum Tree." — The hrst number, for March, of a new 

 quarterly. The Gum Tree, published as the official organ of the 

 Australian Forest League, is to hand. An announcement on 

 the cover states it to be " a journal devoted to the conserva- 

 tion, propagation, and utilization of Australian trees." The 

 present issue consists of sixteen pages, 7 inches by 10, and 

 includes two fine full-page illustrations which will serve to 

 give the world an idea of our big timber. An inspiring fore- 

 word by His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Ronald 

 Munro-Ferguson, G.C.M.G., who is an authority on forestry, 

 has been quite spoiled in the " making up," lines being mis- 

 placed and one or more dropped, so that its teaching is partly 

 lost. The history and aims of the Forest League naturally 

 occupy a prominent position, and an appeal for help takes 

 the form of an imaginary dialogue. Some notes on the recent 



