270 
and mosses were to be enumerated by their scientific names as 
well as those used in the language of the natives. He was to dry 
specimens of all that were worthy of being brought home and 
all that could be procured, either living plants or seeds, so that their 
names and qualities could be ascertained at His Majesty’s gardens 
at Kew. Any curious or valuable plants that could not be 
propagated from seeds were to be dug up and planted in the glass 
frame provided for the purpose.” The present work deals with 
the portion of Menzies’ journal covering the period April to 
October 1792, whilst the expedition coasted Western North 
America from latitude 35° 25’ north, off Northern California, 
to latitude 52° 18’, where the survey for the season ended at Port 
Menzies in Burke Channel, and it forms Memoir No. V. of the 
Archives of British Columbia, under the editorship of Dr. C. F. 
Newcombe. The extracts from the journal chiefly deal with 
boat journeys conducted amongst the numerous islands, bays and 
straits for the purpose of surveying the coast-line, and from a 
botanical point of view they are disappointing. Land journeys 
appear to have been limited in number and extent, and the collec- 
tion of plants must have been carried on under great difficulties. 
Nevertheless there are numerous references to interesting plants. 
being planted in the glazed frame on the quarter deck of Captain 
Vancouver’s ship, and the foundation was laid for the subsequent 
highly successful exploration of the forest flora of Western North 
America by David Douglas. The pages contain a great deal 
of interesting information concerning the physical, ethnological, 
zoological and general botanical characteristics of the region, 
although we should have expected to have heard more of the 
impression created by the wonderful vegetation of what was 
practically a new country. Nearly 300 forms of plant life were 
collected, which included flowering plants, ferns, mosses, lichens, 
and marine algae. Dr. Newcombe has presented his work in an 
attractive manner, while an introductory biographical note by 
Mr. J. Forsyth is full of interest. 
W. D. 
The Destructive Distillation of Wood.*—The destructive 
distillation of wood is an increasingly important factor in the 
economic working of forest areas and timber yards, for by this 
means it is now possible to turn to good account material that 
was at one time wasted. The demand for methyl alcohol alone 
suggests that wood distillation will occupy an even more important 
position in the future than at present, whereas the uses for 
acetic acid, charcoal, tar, tar oils, resin, turpentines, and other 
products are constant. Thus the appearance of an exhaustive 
treatise upon the subject is very gratifying, and particularly 
so when produced by a man of such wide understanding as Mr. 
Bunbury. 
2 
H. M. Bun - The Destructive Distillation of Wood. Benn 
Brothers, Limited, London, 1923. Price 35s. net. : 
