BOOK REVIEWS. 



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on record from materials which are in existence, such as Johnson's 

 Ericetum and Trimen and Dyer's Flora of Middlesex (1869), a history 

 of the progressive diminution of the wild flowers of Hampstead. 

 Mr. Tansley seems curiously ignorant of the almost entirely recent and 

 artificial character of the vegetation in and around the ponds. 



The chapters dealing with animal life seem well done ; and, among 

 the various photographic illustrations of individual trees, that of a 

 Cornish Elm in Hampstead Cemetery strikes us as the most char- 

 acteristic. The general get-up of the book is excellent, and we have 

 noticed but very few misprints, and those of a trivial character. 



" Beautiful Flowering Trees and Shrubs for British and Irish 

 Gardens." By J. Weathers, F.R.H.S. With 33 full-page coloured 

 plates by John Allen. 8vo., 152 pp. (Simpkin, Marshall, London, 

 1913.) Cheaper re-issue, is. 6d. net. 



There is nothing new in this volume and the title hardly upholds 

 the contents, for many of the trees, such as the elm, poplar, and oak, 

 cannot by the greatest stretch of imagination be called beautiful- 

 flowering. The lists of trees and shrubs, varieties in particular, are 

 very incomplete, and the descriptions quite inadequate for the purpose 

 of recognition. No doubt the book will be useful to amateurs, but 

 what is really required is a comprehensive illustrated volume dealing 

 with the really ornamental flowering trees and shrubs. Those already 

 published, though much in advance of the present book, are hardly 

 sufficient for the cultivator. 



Why is Actinidia chinensis, the hardiest and best for English 

 gardens, omitted from this genus, or Caslanopsis and Pyrus lobata 

 from the list of shrubs that are suitable for town planting ? 



The book is well illustrated and nicely printed. 



" Garden Work : A Practical Manual of School Gardening." By 

 Wm. Good, F.R.H.S. 8vo., xvi + 399 pp. (Blackie, London.) 

 3s. 6d. net. 



This is the same book as the author's " Garden Work " reviewed 

 on p. 244, with the addition of an appendix on School Gardening, con- 

 taining some excellent hints on the method of teaching gardening in 

 elementary schools. In it the author rightly emphasizes the great 

 importance of having the right type of teacher, the first requisite of 

 successful education. 



" Insects : their Life-Histories and Habits." By Harold Bastin. 

 8vo., xii + 349 pp- (Jack, London, 1913.) js. 6d. 



There has been no book recently written dealing solely with the 

 insect world in general in a popular fashion, and this one will therefore 

 be sure to find a ready market. The opening chapters deal with 

 structure and life-histories of insects in general, and their classification. 

 Those following relate some of the particularly interesting parts which 

 insects play in the world, their curious and often highly organized 

 social relationships, and the remarkable protective and aggressive 



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