362 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
might be a a introduction, a handbook of a physiology, 
or a Soe summary of plant-lore. Being devoted to British 
that ical but, although we are aware that “the young 
botanist” too often does not pursue his plant-hunting beyond the 
taloid monocotyledons, it is regrettable that such a volume as 
this should afford him no opportunity of doing so—so far as the 
book is concerned pondweeds, sedges, rushes and grasses might 
have no existence 
The introductory matter, which includes a useful chapter on 
pollination and fertilization, is carefully done, althou h we fear 
the vonintal student may be alarmed by the long list of terms and 
explanations and may want to “cut the cackle and come to the 
osses.” But if he does “he will soon be pulled up; for the 
a are eames! technical, and constant reference to the 
glossary— a good one—at the end of the book will be needed to 
make them intelligible to the tyro. rece ora are accurate 
them might pes been devoted “ polars a aticn as 
surely unnecessary, seeing that it appears at the head of each 
page and each order, to repeat the ordinal name in a separate line 
after each plan short paragraph about the plants not espe- 
cially treated should have been prefixed to each order, and some 
indication of related plants might usefully have accompanied the 
ae described—e. g. the space occupied by the two species 
of Plantago (pp. 145, 146) is amply sufficient for the inclusion of 
the other three, = _ applies equally to the Buttercups, Speed- 
wells, and other The information given under the head 
‘salient features ”’ is pee useful, a not always accurate—e. 9. 
it is en to suppos erie Veronica Beccabunga is “ often 
mistaken for Watercress,’ ery it were eaten no “dire results” 
would ee evidently Szwm ir is intended. Notes on the 
names are often given under ~ heading ; although on the whole 
they are fairly accurate, some should be accepted with caution, 
e.g. “the name Alchem care is derived from Alchemy, in which 
science the plant was made frequent use of” (p. 65)—we take 
leave to doubt both these statements. 
lo 
The 
exbeeinely eeble, reminding us of those i in Elliott’s unsatisfactory 
in recomm edition, cmeyioad up to date,” of this 
work hich is sabteibatiod. 4 to “J ohn”) the authors mean that issued 
b cK: poner stalks and stems of Ranunculus 
aa anno 0b 8 speak more favourably of a book 
vid sii easily have been made as useful as it is in skaiiale 
