NOTICES OF BOOKS RECEIVED. 



159 



drawn by Mr. H. G. Moon are unrivalled as far as the portraiture of 

 the plants is concerned, and what they lack in botanical detail is amply 

 made up for in the analytical drawings which accompany the text. 



Bulbous Irises. By Prof. Michael Foster, Sec. R.S., F.R.H.S., 

 &C. London : Royal Horticultural Society. 1893. 



There has been a great advance of late years in our knowledge of 

 Bulbous Irises, more than twice as many species being now known to 

 us as there were twenty years, or even fifteen years ago; and Professor 

 Foster's book upon them comes just when it is most wanted, and forms 

 a complete monograph of Bulbous Irises as at present known. About 

 thirty species with their varieties are described in minutest detail, and 

 cultural requirements are given so clearly and so fully that the book 

 should be of the utmost value to all practical growers of this most 

 lovely and interesting group of plants. In addition to the popular 

 account of each species and its varieties, a synopsis is given, with par- 

 ticulars as to synonymy, time of flowering, habitat, and the standard 

 works in which figures and illustrations may be found. It should be 

 mentioned that as many as fifty-eight woodcuts and diagrammatic 

 sketches of the flowers are given, thereby greatly enhancing the value 

 of the treatise, and enabling the reader at a glance to identify any 

 flower he may be searching for. Professor Foster, himself a practical 

 gardener, has treated his subject chiefly from the gardener's point of 

 view, and it is in the gardener's loose meaning, and not in the 

 botanist's restricted sense, that he uses the term " bulbous." A bulb 

 he defines as being " a specially fed bud which separates of its own 

 accord from the mother stock in order to live an independent existence." 

 This definition is probably somewhat more than a botanist could 

 accept, but it will admirably serve for all the practical purposes of a 

 gardener. The handbook is published at the Society's offices at 5*., 

 but may be obtained by Fellows (and no Fellow should be without it) 

 at half that price. 



Tin: Gkncs Masdkv allia. Issued by the Marquis of Lothian, K.T. 

 London : R. H. Porter. 



The genus Masdevallia is a deservedly popular one with orchidists, 

 many of whom take a pride in the enlargement of their collections by 

 every possible means, and with hardly a thought of the expense which 

 their enthusiasm entails. To these Masdevallia lovers the magnificent 

 monograph of the genus which is being issued by the Marquis of 

 Lothian should prove not only interesting but valuable. Four parts 

 have now been issued, each one containing ten beautifully coloured 

 drawings (natural size) of as many species by Miss Florence H. 

 Woolward, who has made them for the most part from plants in the 

 Marquis of Lothian's collection at Newbattle Abbey. The value of 



