183 



The genera are arranged alpliaLetically, and a systematic 

 method of description obtains throughout. In the first place, a 

 general description of the genus is given, followed by descriptions 

 of the important species with any special cultural remarks that 

 may be necessary. The fuOowiug description of Betula lenta is 

 typical of the descriptions of species throughout the work, excej)t 

 that whenever possible a reference is given to a figure of tlie 

 plant, and important s^-nonymous names are inserted wlien such 

 exist and are likely to cause confusion. 



'' B. LENTA, Linnaeus ^ Black or Chp:iiry Birch. 



A tree up to TO or 80 ft, high in a wild state ; the bark of the 

 trunk not peeling, dark, almost black; young shoots silky-hairy 

 when very young, soon becoming smooth and shiny brown; Leaves 

 ovate or ovate-oblong, mostly heart-shaped at the base, pointed, 

 2\ to 6 ins. long, 1| <o 3| ins. wide, toothed (often doubly so), 

 dark glossy green and ultimately smooth above, paler gfeen and 



m ten to 

 e catkins 

 2 to 3 ins. long. Fruiting catkins 1 in. or rather more long, \ in. 

 in diameter, scarcely stalked; scales not downy, the lateral lobes' 

 rather wider than the middle one. 



Native of Eastern ^N". America, where it yields a valuable 

 timber; introduced in 1759, according to Alton. When bruised, 

 the young bark has a sweety aromatic taste and smell, and by 

 distillation vields an aromatic oil. This birch is allied to B. 



silky-hairy on the raid-rib and veins beneath; veins i 

 thirteen pairs; leaf-stalk ^ to 1 in. long, hairy. Mai 



I 



lutea, but differs in the darker bark of the trunk, the sweeter- 

 tnsted young bark, and especially by the smooth scales of the 

 fruit catkin. In my experience it is nr)t so wfll-doing a tree as 



B. lutea in this country." 



From such a description a person who is quite ignorant regard- 

 ing the species can form a good idea of its general character and 

 peculiarities, whilst the technical terms used are such as ran be 



readily understood. 



In addition to descriptions of the older trees and shrubs being 

 given, attention has been paid to new introductions, and a large 

 7iumber of plants introduced to European gardens within the last 



15 3'ears are well described. 



The work is well illustrated by full-page photographs by Mr. 

 E. J. Wallls and by line drawings, made from photographs, by 

 Miss E. Goldring. The publisher is Mr. J. Murray, and both 

 author and publisher are to be congratulated upon the produc- 

 tion of such a valunble and long desired book. 



* Wild Rubber and Selection.— Dr. Cramer of Buitenzorg, in 

 a paper under this title, gives some useful hints to growers on 

 the selection of Ilevea. This subject, he points out, has been 

 neglected, or at any rate undertaken on wrong lines. The selec- 

 tion of Hevea should commence Avitli the seed-bearers, and not 



the seedlings. According 

 personal observationB of both wild and cultivated 



Dr. P. J. S. Cramer in Tnteraational Rubber-Congres Met Tentoon- 

 stelling, Batavia, 1911— Rubber recueil. 



be entirely confined to the seeds or 

 to the author's personal observationB 



