198 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



account. That the author has done his work well a perusal of the three 

 hundred pages, with excellent illustrations elucidating the text, clearly 

 points out. No less than 247 species are dealt with, in which the natural 

 orders, synonyms, sources of supply, physical characters, anatomical 

 characters of the wood, uses, and authorities quoted, are all legibly given. 

 The difficulty of distinguishing one wood from another has in the past 

 been very great ; but, thanks to the perseverance and keen insight of 

 Mr. Stone, a most valuable work on the subject has now been sent out, 

 which, to timber merchants and others interested in wood industries, 

 should prove of the greatest interest and value. 



" The Physiology of Plants." A treatise upon the metabolism and 

 source of energy in plants. By Dr. W. Pfeffer, Prof, of Bot. Univ. of 

 Leipzig. Second, fully revised edition, translated and edited by A. J. 

 Ewart, D. Sc., Ph. D., F.L.S. Vol. i., royal 8vo., 632 pp., cloth, 23s. net. ; 

 half morocco, 26s. net. Vol. ii., royal 8vo., 290 pp., cloth, 14s. ; half 

 morocco 16s. net. (Oxford, Clarendon Press.) 



This great work consists of two volumes. Vol. L contains ten chapters 

 with the following titles : Physiological Morphology ; Nutrition and 

 Molecular Structure ; Mechanism of Absorption and Translocation ; 

 Mechanism of Gaseous Exchange ; Movements of Water ; The Food of 

 Plants ; Constructive and Destructive Metabolism ; Kespiration and 

 Fermentation; and Translocation. Vol. II. deals with Growth, Re- 

 production, and Maintenance. 



It would be quite impossible to discuss the innumerable subjects 

 treated of. It can only be said that each is entered into exhaustively, 

 and the latest discoveries given, together with an abundance of references 

 as footnotes, chiefly, however, to German authors. There is an excellent 

 index to each volume, while the table of contents give the matter of 

 every section of each chapter. Every English student should master 

 these two most important volumes. 



"The Book of Orchids." By W. H. White, A.R.H.S. Sm. 8vo., 

 118 pp. (John Lane, London.) 2s. 6d. net. 



The name of the author is a sufficient guarantee for the excellence 

 of the work. To one with the vast experience which Mr. White has 

 had, the task of conveying information on every point bearing on Orchid 

 culture is an easy one. But the difficulty of imparting instruction on 

 the more important details of such a vast subject within the limits of 

 the 118 pages of this little book must have been great. 



Words have not been wasted, yet sufficient explanation of each matter 

 dealt with has been given, all difficult points being made clear in a 

 manner which only one who has had to contend with the difficulties 

 himself and has them at his fingers' end could possibly effect. 



The result is a neat little volume which can be carried in the pocket 

 for reference at all times when any subject on which enlightenment 

 is required presents itself. 



Hie cultivation of Orchids is the chief object of the work, and hence 

 the first part of the work is taken up by chapters on Orchid culture 



