114 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



"Cassell's A 13 C of Gardening." By W. P. Wright. 8vo., Ml pp. 

 (Cassell, London, 1908.) 3s. 6d. 



This will rank as one of the not least useful of the many small books 

 on gardening written for amateurs, who, in addition to an outdoor garden, 

 possess glass houses. The author has included an enormous number of 

 genera in his alphabetical list, many of which are not likely to be met 

 with in ordinary gardens, as well as the more common plants, and about 

 each he has pithily told something of its requirements. The illustrations, 

 which, though crude and diagrammatic, are helpful to an understanding 

 of the text, are a feature of this book. 



"Handbook of Flower Pollination." By Dr. Paul Knuth. Trans, 

 by J. R. A. Davis. Vol. II. (II. Band, I. Teil of German edition.) 

 Observations on Flower Pollination made in Europe and the Arctic 

 Regions on Species belonging to the Natural Orders Ranunculaceac 

 to Styhdiaceae. With 210 figures in the text and a portrait of 

 Hermann Miiller. 8vo., 703 pp. (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1908.) 

 Cloth, 31s. M. net. 



All readers of Dr. Knuth's fascinating " Handbook of Flower 

 Pollination " (vol. i. of which, translated by Mr. Ains worth Davis, 

 was reviewed in this Journal, Vol. XXXI., December 1906, p. 270) 

 must welcome the appearance of vol. ii., done into English by the same 

 capable hand. Vol. i. described the marvellous devices and adaptations 

 by which Nature effects the pollination of flowering plants, arranging 

 them into three groups — Hydrophilae, Anemophilae, and Zoidiophilae — 

 according as they are water-, wind-, or animal-pollinated. Colours, per- 

 fumes, and specific structure were considered in relation to environment 

 and to the anatomical characters and visits of insects in particular, along 

 with the general relations subsisting between groups of flowers and 

 pollinating agents, which react on the structure of guest as well as host. 



Vol. ii. contains the classified observations hitherto made on flower 

 pollination in Europe and the Arctic regions. The natural orders (from 

 Banunculaceae to Stylidiaceae) are dealt with in sequence, with a general 

 description of the floral structure and arrangements characteristic of each, 

 and detailed particulars for the several genera and sub-species. This is 

 followed for each plant by as complete an account as possible of its 

 insect visitors and pollinators in different localities, based on the 

 classical work of Hermann Miiller and the notes of subsequent observers. 

 Competent zoologists (Alfkin, Costa, Dahn, and others) have revised these 

 observations on the morphology and habits of pollinating insects, and 

 the modifications they undergo in adapting themselves to the flowers 

 they frequent. The illustrations are admirable, and the geographical 

 distribution of plants and insects is indicated by charts. The abbrevia- 

 tions employed in the bibliographies are in line, as far as possible, with 

 those used in the " International Catalogue of Scientific Literature." 



"A Practical Guide to School, Cottage and Allotment Gardening." 

 By J. Weathers. 8vo., 218 pp. (Longmans, London, 1908.) 2s. 6d. net. 



Gardening as a subject of instruction in elementary schools is steadily 

 spreading, and its spread has called forth several now books. The present 



