REVIEWS OF BOOKS. 



543 



the size of a small apple, " exceedingly ruddy and of a most agreeable 

 odour." But in this country it is yellowish when mature, and possesses 

 no marked odour, and is smaller than any edible apple, being no larger 

 than the Dartmouth crab. But the subject is beset with difficulties, and 

 it is almost impossible in the present state of our knowledge to identify 

 many of the plants and drugs mentioned by ancient writers. Professor 

 Henslow's work must rank as the most recent on the subject, containing 

 much fresh material and worthy of consultation by all interested in the 

 plants of the Bible, although it is quite possible that in the course of 

 time still further light may be thrown upon points that must be regarded 

 as undetermined at present. 



" Food from the Tropics." By T. M. Macknight. Small 8vo., 116 pp. 

 (Thacker, London.) 3s. 6d. 



Under this title Mr. Macknight, who has had experience as a produce 

 merchant in tropical countries, has brought together much useful infor- 

 mation concerning tropical plants, vegetables, edible roots, and cereal 

 produce which should serve a very useful purpose, since so many foreign 

 fruits and vegetables are gradually entering commerce in this country. 

 At present few, except those who have lived abroad, know how such 

 fruits as the mango, Avocado pear, egg fruit, &c, and such vegetables as 

 yams, choco, and aubergines, should be eaten or cooked. Mr. Macknight 

 gives full directions how to prepare all the foreign produce he describes 

 for table use, and in an appendix gives a table of their comparative food 

 values. The vernacular names are mentioned as well as the botanical 

 names. 



Information about tropical produce is so scattered in the literature 

 of different countries that a handy little work like the present should be 

 exceedingly convenient and ought to have a ready sale. In a future 

 edition a little more information about the varieties of the banana would 

 add to its value ; for although the mango is given in three classes not 

 even one variety of banana is mentioned nor one of the pineapple. The 

 author also requires to correct the synonyms given to the East African 

 cardamom. 



The Korarima cardamom (Amomum Korarima) is quite a different 

 plant from the Longozy of Madagascar {Amomum angustifolium), and 

 Habselia (Habzelia ethiopica) is quite a different plant from Melagueta 

 pepper (Amomum Melagueta). But no perfect book has ever yet been 

 published, and these small errata detract but little from the general 

 usefulness of the work, of which every fruiterer and greengrocer in the 

 country ought to obtain a copy. 



"A Treatise on Mango." By Probodh Chundra De, F.R.H.S. Second 

 edition, 12mo., 141 pp. (Dass, Calcutta.) 1 rupee. 



This little treatise contains all that a grower of mangos could 

 desire to know. In England the knowledge of this fruit is very limited, 

 although in India it is probably more grown and more generally used 

 than any other fruit. Very little is exported, partly because it does not 

 bear carriage well, and partly because it is so largely used where it is 

 grown. The varieties in cultivation are exceedingly numerous and vary 



