Current Literature. 



Guide to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Peradeniya.— By H. F. Mag- 

 MiLLAN. — This guide has just lately been published, and may now be obtained at the 

 Garden gates for Rs. 2. Though the price may seem high, the guide is well worth 

 the money for the sake of the numerous photos, reproduced for the first time, that 

 it contains. 



The Guide consists of 40 pages of elongated 4 to prints about half of which 

 are covered with illustrations. As worthy of special remark, we may call attention 

 to the views of Monument Road (p. 11) the flower garden (p. 15) the flood scene 

 (p. 18) Flying Foxes (p. 21) the screw pine (p. 23) the Fernery (p. 31) Monument 

 view (p. 33) and the Satinwood Bridge (p. 38). A good presentation of the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens Staff is given on xoage but the author has omitted t6 give their 

 names, and the date should be 1904, not 1906, several changes having occured since 

 then. 



The text consists of a detailed account of a route round the gardens, with 

 descriptions of the more interesting plants. This is very well done, but is just a 

 little too detailed for the casual visitor : for the visitor with time at his disposal it 

 is excellent. 



Every one who is interested in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya — 

 and who in Ceylon is not ?— should possess himself of this excellent guide without 

 delay. 



The Diseases op the Horse's Foot— By H. Caulton Reeks.— A copy of 

 this valuable and up-to-date work has reached us during the month. While 

 being of moderate size it embraces the Regional Anatomy— Physiology— Methods 

 of examination — Operations— Conformation and Diseases of the tissues of the foot 

 of the horse, all of which are dealt with clearly and fully with excellent illustrations. 

 It is a book written for professional men and students in whose library it should 

 find a prominent place. 



Nevertheless much information may be gained by anyone desirous of under- 

 standing the conformation and complex structure of the horse's foot. 



It is published by Messrs. Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, Henrietta Street, 

 London. Price 10.9. Qd. 



Land Revenue Administration in the Central Provinces op India.— 

 This is a compilation on the land settlement question in the Central Provinces of 

 India. It is compiled by the Tenants' and Landlords' Association of Jabalpur and 

 published at the office of that Association. Price Rl. 



Correspondence. 



SARSAPARILLA. 



Sir,— The author of the paper on " Sarsaparilla " in the February number of 

 the Society's Magazine apparently accepts the fact quoted by him from a corres- 

 pondent's letter — that Sarsaparilla (the officinal drug) grows wild in Ceylon. 



As far as I can gather the correspondent quoted is referring to Indian 

 Sarsaparilla (Sinhalese Iramusu) Hemidesmus indicus, while Mr. Etherington writes 

 of Jamaica Sarsaparilla — Smilax officinalis. 



Some time ago there was a demand from Europe for the Iramusu which is 

 a weed in Ceylon, but I am not aware that it is exported at present, though that is 

 quite likely, as I know of a party who has been collecting native drug plants and 

 sending them away to Europe. 



