506 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Inquiry," and four on " Toxins and Antitoxins " ; concluding with 

 " The Effects of Physical Agents on Bacterial Life," a glossary, a list 

 of publications, and an index. The lectures were all delivered at the 

 Royal Institution, where the author was the Fullerian Professor. 



It would be useless to attempt to give even a summary of the con- 

 tents. Every lecture is replete with matter compressed into a small 

 compass, yet clearly expressed. Commencing with the description and 

 vital phenomena of the cell, the reader is carried on to a consideration 

 of the tissues ; protoplasmic response to stimuli is treated at length, and 

 the ferments or enzymes are discussed ; a brief, but terse, account of 

 bacteria and ptomaines, and diseases caused by them, is also given. 



We cannot speak too highly of the book, which must be in the hands 

 of every student whose duty it is to know all he can of the subject. 



" The Young Botanist." By W. P. Westell and C. S. Cooper; with 

 coloured and uncoloured illustrations by C. F. Newall. 8vo., 199 pp. 

 (Methuen, London, 1908.) 3s. 6d. net. 



" The purpose of this little book is to serve as a guide to the young 

 botanist in the identification of the more familiar wild flowers " 

 (Preface). 



It commences with hints for the young botanist, there are instruc- 

 tions as to how, where, what, and when to collect, and so on. The 

 principles of classification, with a description of classes, orders, &c, 

 follow. Leaves, inflorescences, pollination and fertilization, and fruits 

 are discussed. 



We note the authors have a section on " Contrivances to prevent self- 

 pollination." As any intention is a subjective inference only, it would 

 have been better to have said " contrivances which hinder self-fertilization." 



As Muller observes, there are countless ways in which plants usually 

 crossed revert to self-fertilization when neglected by insects ; it seems 

 more probable that they, by becoming adapted to insects, become inadapted 

 to self-pollination. 



In the " Description of Natural Orders and Species' only a selection 

 of the latter is made. A brief description, giving just the most prominent 

 facts, is provided for each, but they are not all figured. The illustrations 

 are neat and pretty, but very rarely are any details of the floral structures 

 given. These would have greatly assisted the young botanist, especially 

 if a diagram of the flower had been added. 



"Old West Surrey: Some Notes and Memories." By Gertrude 

 Jekyll. Hvo., 320 pp. ; illustrated. (Longmans, London, 1904.) 

 13s net. 



Though it seems rather "late in the day " to review such a deservedly 

 well-known book as Miss Jekyll's "Old West Surrey," these remarks may 

 meet the eye of some who have not read the book and who may be induced 

 to do so. Notwithstanding that the old cottages, their occupants and 

 contents, are more fully described than the gardens and the plants which 

 grow in them, there is a delightful chapter on cottage gardens, illustrated 

 by a do/on excellent photographs. The book. is a most valuable and 

 interesting record of the life which the cottagers lived in the early and 



