722 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



schemes they " should bear in mind that drawing is not an isolated 

 subject, and that it should be correlated with other subjects of the Time 

 Table, such as nature study " ; and the same tendency of harmonising the 

 Time Table by grouping the subjects is happily noticeable under geography, 

 where it is recommended that " expeditions should be made . . . and the 

 vegetation and forest trees observed." Useful notes on school gardens 

 are given on pages 82 and 83, and the classified lists of nature-study 

 topics on pages 104 and 109 appear to be fairly complete, and also 

 essentially practical and not too scientific. 



It is probably not saying too much to state that absence of such 

 practical teaching in the past, up to very recent times, is largely 

 responsible for many of the national evils of the present day. The 

 County Councils are now endeavouring to improve the position of the 

 working classes by lectures, housing schemes, and other means ; and 

 many associations, notably the local Horticultural Societies, are also 

 doing much towards stimulating a love of gardens and of nature. But 

 the main issue lies with the people themselves, and we warmly welcome 

 the Board of Education's " suggestions " as an honest attempt to train the 

 children to become useful and intelligent men and women. Although 

 primarily intended for teachers, the bock should be read by all who are 

 interested (and who is not ?) in schools and school-life. We hope that the 

 book will have an index on its second annual appearance. Some notice of 

 the Certificate Examinations for Teachers should have been added, such as 

 the R.H.S. examination in cottage and allotment gardening, which will be 

 held for the third time in succession on Wednesday, April 11, 1906. 



"Future Forest Trees." By A. Harold Unwin. 8vo., 108 pp. 

 (T. Fisher Unwin, London.) 7s. 6 d. net. 



The value of this work to the forest student in this country is hardly 

 sufficient to warrant the translation. Out of the fifty-five trees 

 enumerated only about ten can be recommended for economic planting 

 in this country, and possibly another dozen might be included for 

 ornamental purposes. The Weymouth Pine (Pinus Strobus), the Douglas 

 Fir (Pseudotsuga Douglasii), and the giant Arbor Vita 1 (Thuya gigantca) 

 may be used for afforesting purposes ; but it would be pure folly to plant 

 Picea alba, Pinus Banksiana, and P. rigida for the value of timber 

 produced or even as shelter-givers to other species. 



Nearly every tree mentioned within the pages of the book has been 

 tried over and over again in every part of our country, and invariably 

 found wanting, in so far at least as adaptability to our climate is 

 concerned. For German forestry, which, however, differs widely from 

 that practised in our own country, the information given in the pages of 

 this handy and neatly got-up publication may be of considerable value, but 

 to the British arboriculturist it is of little real benefit. 



" Variation in Animals and Plants." By H. M. Vernon, M.D. Crown 

 8vo., 415 pp. (Kegan Paul, London.) 5s. 



A slightly disappointing book, for though it is a very fair digest of 

 much previously published work, there is little, if any, new or original 

 research in it, at least regarding plants — indeed, all through the book 



