586 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Part III. deals with zones and districts, and is divided into five 

 sections — tropical, temperate, arctic, mountain, and aquatic. Each of 

 them is dealt with in detail, occupying from two to ten chapters each. 



The object is not merely an enumeration of the plants occurring in 

 these localities, but to show how the external factors are the causes of the 

 forms of plants giving rise to the structures most suitable under the 

 circumstances of life. 



Numerous physiological phenomena are discussed, such as the import- 

 ance of the optima in temperatures, not merely for the entire plant, but 

 for each function. Periodic phenomena also show no absolute rest, but 

 independent cessations for the different functions. The book contains 

 five collotypes, four maps, and 497 other illustrations. 



" South African Flowering Plants." For the use of beginners, 

 students, and teachers. By Rev. Prof. G. Henslow, M.A., V.M.H. (Cr. 

 8vo. pp. 237, index ; Longmans & Co.) 5s. 



The purpose of this book is that anyone who wishes to acquire some 

 knowledge of South African plants may be able to lay a foundation for 

 further study, and also to assist teachers to bring before their pupils the 

 physiological aspect of botany in conjunction with morphology and 

 classification. 



This is the latest phase of educational botany. Formerly it was 

 customary to keep these departments rigidly apart ; so that it was not 

 until the structure and classification were well understood that the uses of 

 plant-organs were taught. Now, as soon as a structure, say of the stamen 

 and pistil, is known, the process and use of pollination are explained. It is 

 found by experience that this greatly enhances the interest of the pupils. 



A contributor to the Report of the Committee of the British 

 Association 1903, on " The Teaching of Botany in Schools," observes : 

 " Function in connection with structure should, we think, be prominent 

 in every part of the school course." 



The present author has pursued this course throughout ; as he did 

 with "How to Study Wild Flowers," which we remember met with 

 unqualified approval. 



Following this plan the author first gives a description of the common 

 Oxalis cemua as a type to illustrate a plant's organs and their uses. As 

 the structure of flowers leads to classification the various methods of 

 pollination are described. 



Next come the characteristic features of dry regions, as drought is 

 the chief feature of South African climate, with an account of the 

 various adaptations of plants. This gives rise to the Veld and Karroo 

 plants, which abound in tubers and bulbs. 



After a section on classification, the greater part of the book contains 

 descriptions of selected typical genera of typical orders, illustrated by 

 some 112 figures. 



" Monograph of the Coccid;e of the British Isles." By R. Newstead, 

 A.L.S., F.E.S., F.R.H.S. (Ray Society, London.) 



The second volume (which completes this most valuable work) has just 

 been published by the Ray Society, and that Society and the author are 



