BOOK REVIEWS, 



I29 



BOOK REVIEWS. 



" The Exploitation of Plants." By various writers. Edited by F. W, 

 Oliver, F.R.S, 8vo. vii + 170 pp. (Dent, London, 1917.) 2s. 6d. net. 



The contributions to this little volume, from the Introduction by the Editor 

 to the final chapter on Coal, are all alike worth reading for their interest and 

 suggestiveness, though, as the Preface indicates, the subjects dealt with are 

 far from covering the ground the title would lead one to suppose. The titles 

 of the chapters are " Plant Food and Soil Problems," by W. B. Bottomley ; 

 " Waste Lands," by F. W. Oliver ; " Timber Production in Britain," by E. J. 

 Salisbury ; " Tropical Exploitation, with Special Reference to Rubber," by J. C. 

 Willis; "The Cotton Plant, its Dependent Industries, and Natural Science," 

 by W. L. Balls ; " Vegetable Dyes," by S. M. Baker ; " Tea-Making," by S. E. 

 Chandler ; " The Plant as Healer," by E. N. Thomas ; and " Plants as a Source 

 of National Power — Coal," by M. C. Stopes. 



Large as the area covered by these articles is, the field is larger still, and, 

 while parts of it are well tilled, others are merely scratched, and others again 

 overgrown by weeds. This is particularly true perhaps for the lands of much 

 of our great overseas Empire, but true also for much at home, and until a more 

 liberal outlook towards scientific botany is established, it is likely to be true. 

 The exploitation of plants depends not only upon labour and commerce, though 

 both are important ; not only upon a demand for ample supplies, though this 

 is essential ; but also upon the supply of properly trained, scientifically equipped 

 men who will be able to do their part in the great work still to be done. The 

 means of training such men exist but need to be developed, the men for training 

 will not be difficult to find when the one thing necessary is established, i.e. 

 opportunity for work between the time of initial training and the time of taking 

 up responsible posts. Co-operative effort on the part of those who will chiefly 

 benefit by progress in plant exploitation, so that the sums of money required, 

 not really very large, to provide for the training and subsequent experience may 

 be forthcoming, is the direction in which we must look for such progress. When 

 we consider that more than 50 per cent, of the trade of Great Britain is directly 

 dependent upon plant products, it is scarcely too much to hope that the funds 

 may be forthcoming. 



" The Book of the Rothamsted Experiments." By A. D. Hall, F.R.S. 

 Ed. 2. Revised byE. J. Russell, F.R.S. 8vo. xl + 332 pp, (Murray, London, 

 1917.) 10s. 6d. net. . 



We reviewed the first edition of this excellent summary of Rothamsted's 

 unique contributions to the science of agriculture soon after it appeared in 

 1905. This second edition adds ten years to the tables showing the results of 

 the experiments, and points out how these results modify, although the modifica- 

 tions are very small, the conclusions previously arrived at. These additions 

 and the chapter on the secondary effects of manures by Sir Daniel Hall, and 

 one on the recent investigations of living activities in the soil are the only 

 changes made, and they serve to bring the book quite up to date, 



" Seaside Planting : For Shelter, Ornament, and Profit." By A. D. Webster, 

 La. 8vo. 156 pp. (Unwin, London, 1918.) 18s. net. 



Tree and shrub planting as well as the planting of Marram Grass and other 

 grasses, plays an important part in the reclamation of waste lands near the 

 sea, and their protection from drifting sands, salt winds, and flying foam. 



Mr. Webster's wide experience in tree planting in all sorts of situations 

 has enabled him to give an account of methods and types of planting which 

 have been successful in different soils and situations around the English coast, 

 and to show what a wealth of material is at the disposal of the English planter 

 who wishes to plant near the sea " for shelter, ornament, and profit." 



Not only are the trees and shrubs most suitable dealt with, and their 

 characteristics, virtues and faults plainly stated, but the extraneous aids, such 

 as wattle hurdles, used at different times are also described and their values 

 in certain circumstances pointed out. 



Insect and fungus pests are also dealt with, 



VOL. XLIV. K 



