BOOK REVIEWS, 



729 



seed should be used, and (2) from what particular altitude, situation 

 or country should these be obtained. 



Already it is well known that a spurious and sadly degenerate 

 variety of Scots Pine is widely scattered over the British Isles, and 

 except in a few situations, such as in Bedfordshire, Aberdeenshire, 

 and Carnarvonshire, the timber produced by this inferior tree is 

 comparatively valueless for construction purposes. Even in Aspley 

 Wood we found the quality of timber to be by no means uniform, and 

 this the lath-renders and timber merchants in the district knew full 

 well. No doubt, too, soil has much to do with the quality of timber, 

 and it is a somewhat curious coincidence that at Gwydyr Castle and 

 in the pass of Nant Francon in Wales, as well as in at least two English 

 stations, the composition of soil nearly approaches that from Balloch- 

 buie and other Scottish forests where the finest quality of Scots Pine 

 wood is produced. But this is only mentioned incidentally to point 

 out the necessity for a careful study of the particular tree that produces 

 the most valuable timber. 



The numerous tables which are provided at much labour and 

 expense, though highly interesting, are of no great value ; indeed, the 

 main scope of inquiry appears hardly to be in the right direction. 



Why the Weymouth Pine (Pimis Strobus) is excluded from the list 

 of such as are considered to be of economic value is hard to say, for in 

 some parts of the country when suitably situated as to soil and 

 surroundings it produces a greater quantity of much more valuable 

 timber than either Pinus Pinaster, P. insignis, or the Corsican. In 

 Aspley Wood too, where observations are being carried out, the natural 

 reproduction of the tree is somewhat remarkable. 



" Fruit and its Cultivation." By T. W. Sanders, F.L.S., F.R.H.S. 

 8vo., 366 pp. (Collingridge, London, 1913.) 6s. net. 



To add another book to the already voluminous literature of 

 fruit culture requires for its justification either the need to publish 

 the results of researches or the ability to state its principles in an 

 exact and clear manner. The work before us claims no originality, 

 and is written for the owners of small gardens and for small-holders. 

 It is necessary, therefore, only to see if the old and well-known 

 truths are clearly and justly stated. 



The author treats of the cultivation of all hardy fruits, and gives 

 a chapter to each of them, divided into historical, descriptive, and 

 cultural sections, and it will be convenient to examine them in this 

 order. 



In the historical part the author has relied largely on one Henry 

 Phillips, who published a history of fruits in the early part of the 

 last century. Now, Phillips was a bookmaker. We therefore see 

 once again that Lucullus brought the cherry to Italy from Kerasoun, 

 and other legends of equal authenticity which our great-grandfathers 

 were taught and which, it seems, despite de Candolle, Hehn and others, 

 will be dished up again to our grandchildren. On other historical 



