141 
NEW BOTANICAL BOOKS. 
A Garden in Bogland, by ‘ H. E. S.’ (Siegell Hill & Co.,60 pp. 2/6 net). 
In this little volume ‘H. E.S.’ describes how a dreary peaty waste 
in the north of Ireland has been transformed into a veritable botanists’ 
paradise ; and how the difficulties of having beautiful plants where rabbits 
are so plentiful, was overcome by making islands in the bogland. Judging 
from the fine coloured plates, the effect has been wonderful, and we can 
appreciate the writer’s enthusiasm. There is a long list of plants which 
now are thriving in the garden. 
Mosses and Liverworts, by T. H. Russell (Sampson, Low, Marston «& Co., 
Ltd., 211 pp. and plates. 4/6 net). 
We reviewed the first edition of this excellent work to some length, and 
reproduced one of the plates, in The Naturalist for July, 1908. That a 
second edition has been called for so soon, supports the remarks we then 
made. The author has also thoroughly revised the present impression ; 
and we are glad to notice he has adpoted the suggestions we made, par- 
ticularly in reference to his use of the word * flowers. For this, the author 
has ‘somewhat reluctantly, substituted the less euphonious expression, 
‘reproductive organs.’’’ Four entirely new plates have also been added 
to the edition. It is a remarkably cheap book. 
Plant Life in Alpine Switzerland, by E. A. Newell-Arber, M.A., F.L.S., 
ete. (John Murray, 355 pp., 7/6 net) is a volume that will quickly sell. 
It is just the work which has; been wanted for a long time. As might be 
expected from the name of the author, it is thoroughly scientific, yet not 
technical ; and he has constantly in his mind the relationship of the various 
species with which he deals, to their surroundings. There is also much 
original research recorded in the pages, and, in addition, the ecological work 
of Kerner, Christ and Schroeter has been largely drawn upon. In recent 
years the author has paid many visits to Switzerland, and the numerous 
beautiful photographs of the flowers in their natural sorroundings are 
largely his own work. ‘ Plant Life in Alpine Switzerland’ should un- 
questionably be a part of the equipment of every visitor to Switzerland. 
The Oak: its Natural History, Antiquity and Folk Lore, by Charles 
Mosley (Elliot Stock, 126 pp., 5/- net) is by a contributor to this journal. 
In this volume Mr. Mosley seems to have gathered together all the informa- 
tion he can get dealing with the oak, from whatever source, and upon 
whatever aspect, one chapter being on ‘ The Oak in Holy Writ.’ The 
illustrations, though taken by the author, remind one very much of those 
in Mr. Step’s book, just referred to. Amongst the ‘Historic Veteran 
Oaks,’ mention is naturally made of the Cowthorpe Oak, and reference is 
made to the fact that ‘some years ago the Vicar of St. James’s, Wetherby, 
together with a number of churchwardens and school-children, ninety-five 
in all, got inside the hollow tree.’ Mr. Mosley gives a list of the various 
species of oak, and a real ‘ oak-board,’ if a thin one, is pasted on the 
cover. The price seems rather high for a small volume. 
The Wild Flowers, by J. H. Crawford, F.L.S. (T. N. Foulis, 232 pp, 
5/- net) is an artistic production, and its charm lies in the sixteen coloured 
plates by E. Alexander, A.R.W.S., with which the volume is embellished. 
These plates must not be looked upon as prepared for the purpose of 
identifying the species of plants, as for the most part they represent the 
commonest species ; but they exhibit the flowers as seen by an artist. 
For example, that entitled ‘ Bluebells,’ 7.e., Harebells (a really beautiful 
sketch), has the hind part of a bee as its most conspicuous feature. The 
book does not contain a survey of the leading features of the principal 
plants in our flora, but a series of well-written chapters containing the 
author’s various impressions of wild plant life. The book is printed on 
good paper, and is excellently bound. The fact that this is the second 
edition speaks for its popularity. 
1g1t Mar. 1. 
