376 
clinis, and other hard coniferous woods are graded with soft- 
woods. In the preparation of the work under review, Mr. Baker 
has been faced with this difficulty, and he has commenced break- 
ing down the distinction by including Callitris amongst 
Australian hardwoods. The work is in every way excellent, and 
it forms a valuable aid to the identification of the more important 
Australian timbers. It is divided into three parts. Part i. 
deals with the physical properties of timbers, and a good deal of 
attention is devoted to the colour of newly-worked wood as a 
means of identification. Mr. Baker has made a special study of 
this character, and upwards of 250 species are graded under the 
colours dark red, red, pink, grey, chocolate, yellow, pale, and 
white, whilst there are numerous coloured photographs of the 
wood of the more important species. In this section he also gives 
an account of the anatomy of wood. An interesting table is that 
devoted to the comparative combustibility of timbers. Of 117 
kinds enumerated the best fire resisters are Hucalyptus Fletcheri 
and Syncarpia laurifolia. Compared with British Oak the 
resistance is nearly eight and five times respectively. Part ii. 
is devoted to descriptions of woods, the genera er arr st in 
and eight, Then come the results of Hectad eeiste, followed 
by the anatomical features, and concluded with a veystematie 
description of the tree and its geographical ran he 
descriptions, with the necessary plates 
butts, Gumi SP rremints ‘haber; and Tpon barks: The different 
groups are distinguishable by the bark, and coloured photographs 
are given of the bark of each group. The third part is devoted 
to technical articles upon such subjects as nomenclature, season- 
ing, wood preservation and uses. The uses of Australian timbers 
are demonstrated by numerous photographs of constructive work, 
furniture, panelling, carving, etc. r. Baker is anxious that 
something should be done to limit the use of common names for 
timber, and suggests that greater use should Se made of oo 
names, particularly specific names in large genera. He in 
us that this is already an accomplished fact i in the aca oil 
industry of Australia and that it works well. The whole work 
is concluded with a very good index. Ww. D 
The Nature-Study of Plants*.—This book is divided into 
two parts, of which the first forms a general introduction 
to the study of plant-life and the second deals in detail with 
the life-history of the Herb Robert (Geranium Robertianum). 
* The e Nature-Study of Plants. By T. A. Dymes, F.L.S. don: Socie 
506 Lon ety 
viel Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1920; pp- 173; 53 illustrations; 
