eyes 
(4) This monograph is based on a close ex- 
amination of all the material of the genus con- 
tained in the principal European Herbaria, and 
the exhaustive nature of Mr. Wernham’s work 
may be judged from the fact that he adds no fewer 
than sixty-two new species to the forty-four 
already known. All the species are briefly but 
concisely described, and there is an extremely 
useful key for their ready determination. The 
monograph, which is illustrated by twelve care- 
fully lithographed plates, will be indispensable to 
all students of the Rubiaceze and to curators of 
Herbaria who desire to have their material cor- 
rectly labelled. 
(5) In this memoir Prof. Koehler continues his 
valuable studies on the Echinodermata in the 
collections of the Indian Museum, and publishes 
the results of his examination of the Irregular 
Echinoids of the Spatangus group. Two genera 
and seventeen species are described as new to 
science. Several of the species had been given 
provisional new names by Anderson, and though 
they were unaccompanied by any kind of descrip- 
tion, Prof. Koehler has, with characteristic 
courtesy, retained Anderson’s names in all cases. 
The descriptions appear very clear and detailed, 
and are throughout accompanied by a wealth of 
illustrations. The work maintains the high stan- 
dard set by Prof. Koehler the “six, earkier 
memoirs in this series, of which he is the sole or 
part author. WL ae 
in 
OUR BOOKSHELF. 
A Manual for Masons, Bricklayers, Concrete 
Workers and Piasterers. 
der Kloes. Revised and adapted to the require- 
ments of British and American readers by 
Alfred B: “Searle.” Pp. xii+-235.. (Loadene 
J. and A. Churchill, 1914.) Price 8s. 6d. net. 
In this book will be found much useful informa- 
tion regarding the composition of various kinds of 
mortar, together with the effects of mortar of un- 
suitable composition. These subjects occupy prac- 
tically the whole volume. The book opens with 
some physical and chemical principles, among 
which we note that the scaling of stone, brick and 
concrete structures is ascribed to osmotic pressure 
caused by the expansion of material in the pores. 
A valuable feature of the book is the number of 
photographs included showing defects in existing 
continental structures—similar defects may be 
found in many British buildings. ; 
In the section dealing with dams it is pointed 
out that engineers generally have confined them- 
selves to the results of tensile and crushing tests 
of the mortar employed, notwithstanding the fact 
that a mortar strong under test may become the 
cause of disintegration of the structure in conse- 
quence of its bad composition. Many of the dams 
built in the last half-century will be found to be 
NO. 2334, VOL. 93] 
NATUPE 
| leaking if they are examined carefully. 
By Prof. J. A: ‘vans 
[JuLy: 23, 1914 
The 
author gives photographs showing the defects in 
the Gileppe dam, near Verviers, in Belgium, and 
quotes it as the worst example known to him. 
This dam was built in 1870-75 and has a height 
of 157 ft.;.the thickness at the base is about 
220 ft. and the breadth at the top is 50 ft. Sand- 
stone and limestone from neighbouring quarries 
were used and the mortar was composed of five 
measures of hydraulic lime from Tournai, one 
measure of trass and four measures of sand, so 
that four to five times too much lime was used. 
The leakage at first amounted to 5570 gallons. a 
day, and after four years the outside of the dam 
remained permanently wet. In May, 1911, the 
upper part of the dam showed dry incrustations, 
lower ‘down the masonry was wet under the in- 
crustations, and at the lowest part of the steps 
the dripping water was like a small waterfall. 
We have probably quoted enough from the book 
to indicate the value of its contents to the engineer, 
| architect, builder, and student; it is, however, 
a matter of regret from the student’s point of 
view that the price of this useful volume has been 
fixed rather high. 
The History and Economics of Indian Famunes. 
By A. Loveday. Pp. x+163. (LondenaaG 
Bell and Sons, Ltd, ‘1914.) Price 2s-96d>.net. 
| Tue literature of Indian famines is so extensive 
that Mr. Loveday has had no light task in com- 
piling the main historical facts and formulating 
_the conclusions contained in this enlarged prize 
| essay. 
Famines are rightly regarded as natural 
calamities, caused by failures or irregularities of 
the monsoons. Indian. historians record their 
occurrence under native rule. The policy of the 
native rulers was rather prevention (by wrong 
methods) than cure: the mortality was fearful. 
Under the East India Company the famine policy 
was uncertain and unsuccessful, the systems of 
famine-relief were inadequate, the economic con- 
ditions different from the present. After 1858 the 
Government adopted, in the great famine of 1860 
in Upper India, a famine relief organisation which 
has been greatly developed but never abandoned. 
The Orissa failure, 1866-7; the excessive expendi- 
ture accompanying the success in Bengal, 1874; 
the great mortality in Madras, 1877, led to the 
Famine Commission of 1878-80. Since then 
Famine Codes have been framed for famine-relief 
administration. With subsequent experience, mis- 
takes have been corrected and the Codes perfected, 
so that now famines—of work rather then of food 
—are managed effectively. Mr. Loveday de- 
scribes briefly the various stages of policy, e.g. 
importation, emigration, poor houses, etc., etc. ; 
the later tendency has been to greater generosity 
and decentralisation. Irrigation works (when 
possible) to grow food are being extended; and 
“cailways to transport it to distressed tracts. 
Meanwhile the economic condition of India is vary- 
ing, changes must be recognised, protective mea- 
sures and the wider economic problems—indebted- 
ness, agriculture, cooperative societies, etc., etc. 
—must be considered together. B. 
