BOOK REVIEWS. 



129 



BOOK REVIEWS. 



" Trees : A Woodland Notebook containing observations on 

 certain British and Exotic Trees." By the Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert 

 Maxwell, Bt., F.R.S., LL.D. (Glasgow), D.C.L. (Durham). 4to. 235 

 pp. ; illustrated. (MacLehose, Glasgow, 1915.) 21s. net. 



So many books of a trashy description have of late appeared on 

 the subject of trees and shrubs that it is quite refreshing to turn to 

 this sumptuous volume, which has been written by one who has devoted 

 a lifetime to their study and wants. There is nothing pretentious 

 about this book on our woodland trees, but incidentally, in addition to 

 being thoroughly practical, the keen observations of the writer, many of 

 which have not before been recorded, render the work one of the most 

 interesting and valuable of any that have yet appeared on the subject. 

 And in addition to its practical side the book is most pleasantly written, 

 the many interesting notes on trees, and dry humour of the author, 

 which crops out where least expected, luring one on to finish off the 

 reading of the volume at a sitting. 



The book is divided into thirty-four chapters, the leading 

 characteristics of our indigenous forest growth and exotic species of 

 trees that are likely to succeed in this country being exhaustively 

 dealt with. Soil, situation, rate of growth, and quality of timber all 

 come in for a share of attention. The book is well got up in good 

 readable type, is beautifully and copiously illustrated, and is altogether 

 thoroughly recommendable. 



" Flora of Jamaica, containing Descriptions of the Flowering 

 Plants known from the Island." By William Fawcett, B.Sc, F.L.S., 

 late Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Jamaica, and Alfred 

 Barton Rendle, M.A., D.Sc, F.L.S., Keeper of the Department of 

 Botany, British Museum (Natural History). Vol. hi., Dicotyledons 

 (Piperaceae to Connaraceae) . With 113 text illustrations and 5 

 plates. 8vo., xxiv-f-280 pp. (British Museum (Natural History), 

 London, 1914.) 155. 



When Sir William Hooker, some sixty years ago, persuaded the 

 British Government to have a series of Floras prepared for all parts 

 of the Empire, A. H. R. Grisebach, a German botanist, afterwards 

 well known as the author of " Die Vegetation der Erde," was employed 

 to produce the " Flora of the British West Indian Islands," which 

 appeared between 1859 and 1864. Good as Grisebach's work was, 

 not a few plants inevitably escaped his notice ; and Jamaica is fortu- 

 nate in having a complete Flora, by most competent hands, now devoted 



VOL. XLI. K 



