BOOK REVIEWS. 



349 



BOOK REVIEWS. 



" Floral Rambles in Highways and Byways." By the Rev. 

 Professor Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S. 8vo. v + 294 pp. (S.P.C.K., 

 London, 1915.) 6s. net. 



The common (and some of the less common) British wild plants 

 are described, with interesting notes upon them, in a series of chapters 

 dealing with various plant habitats — such as " In the Water," " By 

 Bogs, on Fenlands and Moors," and so on. The main idea developed 

 all through the book is the author's well-known belief in the origin of 

 plant-form through adaptation to environment, and he reiterates 

 many of his ingenious suggestions as to the production of certain 

 plant structures, at the same time discoursing interestingly upon pro- 

 pagation, distribution, and the like. Students who can also use one 

 of the larger floras will find much suggestive illumination in this little 

 book. 



" The Handy Book on Pruning, Grafting, and Budding." By J. 

 Udale. Ed. 3, 8vo. 146 pp. (W. H. Smith, Evesham.) is. 6d. net. 



A comparison of the English and French systems of pruning 

 recalls the contrast between the old and new ideas of education. 

 The old school sought first to " break the spirit " of the pupil, and 

 it is often much in this manner that our pruners set about their task. 

 The Frenchman regards his tree as a pliable subject which can be 

 educated. The Englishman sets about his task with a certain savage 

 joy : one can almost hear the exclamation, " I'll learn you to make 

 too much wood ! " 



We do not suggest that the author of the little book before us 

 is animated by this spirit, but we cannot help thinking that he vastly 

 underrates the importance of summer pruning in the yearly routine. 

 While some hundred pages are devoted to winter pruning, summer 

 pruning occupies but one-and-a-half pages. It is true that it is spoken 

 of as an important operation ; but it is not mentioned when dealing 

 with the pruning of each fruit in detail. This book will not therefore, 

 we fear, tend to modify the winter onslaught. 



Another point which should be mentioned is the lack of some 

 information on the physiology of trees in general. A clear notion 

 of the respective importance of root-sap and leaf-sap will solve many 

 doubts in the mind of the student, and we venture to suggest that 

 such a chapter would be a valuable addition to a future edition. 



VOL. XLI. 2 A 



