208 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



approximate return of the financial results has been arrived at. A hill 

 plantation on the estate of Balfour, in Scotland, was formed in 1842, 

 sixty- two years ago, and at forty- three years' growth the larches were 

 valued at 20s. each ; and a similar return was made from Carnarvon- 

 shire, in North Wales, only here the price was a few shillings higher. 

 Strathkyle plantations in Ross-shire, extending to upwards of 4,000 

 acres, at altitudes ranging to 1,200 feet, were planted in 1871 ; and those 

 of Lord Powerscourt, near Dublin, ten years earlier, or in 1861. 



Regarding both of these very full details of cost of planting, tending, 

 and value of the timber produced at various stages of growth, have been 

 recorded, and the results obtained justify us in recommending afforesta- 

 tion of heath and mountain lands on a very extended scale. If only for 

 statistics the value of this book must be apparent to every one interested 

 in forestry, and it is a welcome and suggestive omen that Professors of 

 Continental woodcraft are now becoming interested in British forestry 

 and our home timber supplies. 



"Physiography." By T. H. Huxley. Revised and partly rewritten 

 by Professor R. A. Gregory. 8vo., 423 pp. (Macmillan, London.) 4s. Qd. 



Very similar to, but in somewhat more popular style than, Lord 

 Avebury's " Scenery of England." Problems concerning the physical 

 structure of the earth and its surroundings are treated of in the simplest 

 possible language, there being a marked absence of all technical and 

 difficult terms that could possibly be avoided, and when quite unavoidable 

 they are always explained in footnotes, both as to meaning and derivation. 

 There are also 300 illustrations which vastly assist the understanding of 

 the text. Delightful, however, as the book is, the relations of plants and 

 plant life to physiography are very briefly touched upon, so that it is on 

 general grounds, and not from a horticultural point of view, that we 

 commend, as we do most heartily, this little volume. 



"Nature Teaching." By Francis Watts and W. G. Freeman. 8vo., 

 193 pp. (Murray, London.) 3s. 6d. 



A thoroughly good book, intended for schools, but useful in other 

 spheres, describing the life-history of plants from the seed upwards, with 

 the structure and functions of roots, stem, leaves, flowers, and fruit ; with 

 chapters on soils and plant foods, weeds and insects. Every chapter and 

 subject treated of has experiments or demonstrations suggested which the 

 student is advised to make for himself — and this is an excellent feature 

 which cannot be too highly commended, for one experiment or demonstra- 

 tion made or conducted for oneself will impress a fact more than reading 

 it ten times. 



"The Book of the Iris." By R. Irwin Lynch, A.L.S. 8vo., 214 pp. 

 (Lane, London.) 2s. 6r/. net. 



Having once glanced at the name of the author, one immediately 

 anticipates a book not only of general excellence but of the most minute 

 and scrupulous care bestowed on the smallest details, and accurate beyond 

 the possibility of criticism. And one is in no way disappointed. Mr. 

 Lynch is a most wonderful and most painstaking worker, and this book, 



