rome WORD: 
—m—A FLORA of Orkney has long been greatly 
wat desired by those who take an interest in 
the wild flowers of these islands. For over two 
centuries the only available information on the sub- 
ject has consisted of various lists more or less 
incomplete and usually buried in periodicals inac- 
cessible to the general reader. 
The appearance of Mr Spence’s “Flora” is 
especially opportune at the present time, when 
Nature Study is one of the educational fashions of 
the day, and when agricultural science is receiving 
so much attention. 
This book is the result of many years of careful 
observation and research, and the author has spared 
neither time nor trouble in making his work as full 
and accurate as possible. Having lived tor many 
years in Stenness and then in Deerness, Mr Spence 
has had exceptional opportunities of investigating 
the plants indigenous to both the West and East 
Mainland, while, during his holidays, he has carefully 
examined the vegetation of the other more important 
islands. His long and intimate acquaintance with 
Orkney has thus eminently fitted him for the 
