244 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



correction : 7. Jtexagona, it is recorded, is only known to have flowered 

 out of doors in one place in Britain, viz., the Cambridge Botanic 

 garden, but it produced flowers in my garden in 1910, though it 

 is true that a slug, with the unerring instinct of his race for any 

 uncommon food, ate off the buds. 



" The Ring of Nature." By G. G. Desmond. 8vo., xiii + 298 pp. 

 (Methuen, London, 1913.) 5s. net. 



The year month by month, with some of its natural wonders in 

 animal and plant life, is the theme of the present book. The essays 

 are well written, the observations evidently those of a field naturalist, 

 the few theories advanced the result of careful thought. It is 

 altogether a very readable book. 



" Genetics : An Introduction to the Study of Heredity." By 

 H. E. Walter. 8vo., xv -f- 272 pp. (Macmillan, New York, 1913.) 

 6s. 6d. net. 



An introduction to the study of any subject ought to give a clear 

 and definite statement of the main facts upon which hypotheses are 

 based ; a clear statement of the hypotheses themselves ; and a criticism 

 of each of those deemed worthy of inclusion, with an indication of the 

 ascertained facts that fail to fall into line with the hypotheses. At 

 the same time the author's own views ought not to be unduly 

 obtruded. Judged from this standpoint the present book is an 

 excellent one in all respects. 



We are glad to see the author makes a clear distinction between 

 the causes of variations and the facts of their occurrence. The two 

 phases need to be studied separately if progress is to be made. Further, 

 he clearly distinguishes between the effect on the life of the individual 

 of the three factors — heritage, environment, and training. No doubt 

 the last factor is largely conditioned by the second, but all must 

 be taken into consideration and separately studied if their relative 

 values are to be ascertained. Like the great majority of thinkers 

 on heredity he takes the attitude that " the inheritance of acquired 

 characters is by no means . . . established," and " the weight of 

 probability is decidedly against the time-honoured belief in the 

 inheritance of acquired characters." 



Of the application of Mendelian laws to the improvement of the 

 human race the author has some remarks to make, ending with the 

 pertinent inquiry " Who shall sit in judgment ? " 



" Garden Work : A Book for Garden Lovers." By William 

 Good, F.R.H.S. 8vo., xvi + 359 pp. (Blackie, London, 1913.) 

 5s. net. 



We can recommend this book to those who are interested in general 

 gardening, for it deals well with vegetable, fruit, and flower growing, 

 not neglecting some of the more prominent facts of soil and plant 



