119 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
British Orchids. By A.D. Wesster. Bangor: Nixon & Jarvis, 
Pp. 103. Illustrated. Price 2s. 6d. 
One of the objects of the author in publishing this book has 
been, he tells us, to give suggestions for cultivating the British 
in obt 
Orchids; and he seems to en successful both 
plants of oe of the English species and in growing them 
ee. rrestrial re however, are Gane 80 on 
2 gal lovely as they often are. work, however, By 
to induce lovers of this group ¥ ‘lant ee try again to acclimatise 
them far from their native hau 
h species is described, Bee its pian in the garden 
discussed, in most cases with considerable a ceuracy. Perhaps the 
most unsatisfactory part is that which relates to Orchis sn 
and latifolia. The author here, in describing the well-known O 
apa superba, says ‘that it is a sport or hybrid between these two 
plants 1a maculata and latifolia) is admitted by all.” We do not 
see how n be a sport and a hybrid at the same time, but asa 
matter of por it is quite manifest that the true plant is not at all 
connected with O, latifolia, but a well-marked variety of O. maculata, 
Mr. Webster then describes a new variety, 0. maculata precox, 
the aii rata to pina this p si Re a new species, but 
on the recommendation of Prof. Dickson reduces it here vi a variety 
only. We have not seen type-specimens of the plant, but can 
guess pretty clearly what it is, name ely, the common heath form of 
0. maculata, almost the only form of the plant that one meets wi 
in the dry heaths and moorlands of Wales and Ireland, and very 
commonly i in the heath-country of the South of England. To one 
Whose district only furnishes this plant and the tall oe 
ere 
en, a grand addition to the garden. We sh uld like, too, to have 
seen some mention of O. mascula speciosa, : oa t well worthy of 
cultivation, and cannot agree that Finesse anes antha is only a 
form of H. bifolia, = that O. simia is but a variety of O. militaris. 
ae | pi author, by the way, deseribes the lip of O. simia as crimson; is 
ever so? In the only living specimens we have seen and inal 
the figures published it i grey, or the most —— violet. : 
