44 SELECTED PAPERS FROM THE KEW BULLETIN. 
intense cold, and the long season when they can absorb no moisture 
has caused them to develop characters such as we find in desert- 
plants. 
Dr. Schimper has treated the whole subject in an exhaust 
and scientific manner, and has sh how outward form a 
ve 
nd 
adapt themselves to their environment and live under the most 
adverse conditions. Copious bibliographies and a wealth of illus- 
trations enhance the usefulness of the book, of which we understand 
an English translation is in preparation. 
Selected Papers from the Kew Bulletin. I. Vegetable Fibres. H. M. 
Stationery Office. 8vo, boards, pp. 280. Price 3s. 6d. 
From the prefatory note contributed by Dr. Dyer to this volume, 
we learn that it ‘‘may from time to time be followed by similar 
collections.’””’ We venture therefore to offer a few suggestions 
which, if adopted, will contribute materially to the usefulness of 
future issues. 
It seems incredible that a collection of this kind should be 
issued without the faintest ghost of an index; but such is the case. 
re is an entirely inadequate ‘‘ table of contents,’’ in which 
each paper is entered in the order of its appearance, prefaced by the 
number of the ‘‘article’’ in Roman numerals—surely an obsolete 
and inconvenient method of enumeration — but of index there is 
none; and the ‘‘ convenience’”’ of reference, which is the ostensible 
object with which this collection is issued, could not be more com- 
pletely ignored. d, to make matters worse, there are no head- 
ings to the pages ! 
The articles seem to have been brought together without any at 
tempt at combination ; so that, for example, the entry “‘ XXI. Ramie’’ 
is followed by four other numbers ealled «« Ramie (continued),’”’ and 
this heading duly figures as many times in the body of the book. 
The purely formal headings to what is often a purely formal corre- 
spondence are published in full ; many of the letters—mere official 
acknowledgements of documents or specimens—cannot be of the 
slightest possible interest or value. We hay always wondered 
why they were included in the Kew Bulletin, but their republica- 
tion is incomprehensible. ’ 
no opinion), that value depends mainly upon tle readiness with 
which their contents are made available for consultation, 
sss el 
