486 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



native flora. The photographic illustrations are numerous and 

 excellent, and make one long to follow the writer's trail among such 

 interesting and beautiful plants. 



It is curious that Mr. Saunders cannot make the leaves of Schinus 

 molle dart on water, for it is an easy thing to do if one is careful to 

 break the leaflet itself, and not only tear it off from the central rachis, 

 and then drop it as evenly as possible on to water, so that the upper 

 surface of the leaflet rests on the water and the under surface is upper- 

 most and not wetted. Then the tiny boat should shoot along rapidly 

 with the discharge of the oil from the broken end of the leaflet. It 

 should never fail to go through the advertised performance if treated 

 thus, and a quantity of leaflets dashing in all directions is a very curious 

 and interesting sight. 



" Climbing Plants." By William Watson. (Jack, London and 

 Edinburgh [1915]-) 2s. 6d. net. 



The volumes of this deservedly popular series are too well known 

 to need any lengthy notice to recommend them to the majority of 

 Fellows of this Society. But this latest volume deals in such a com- 

 prehensive manner with one of the most interesting classes of plants 

 that all should read it, even if they do not feel they must possess it. 

 As in the former volumes, the editor has selected the man best fitted 

 for the work to undertake it. Mr. Watson's vast knowledge of plants, 

 and his exceptional opportunities of observing them under the favour- 

 able conditions provided by so large a garden as Kew, fit him to guide 

 us in the selection of the best climbing plants for all possible uses. 

 A glance at the chapter headings alone will show that he has given us 

 richly of his experience. Hardy, greenhouse, or stove climbers each 

 claim a chapter, and those suitable for pergolas and verandahs and 

 for clothing trees are similarly treated. Then follow chapters on 

 certain families ; the Clematis, Roses, Ivy, Vines, and Gourds, and even 

 Aroids and Climbing Orchids, have each their chapter. The latter 

 part of the book consists of an alphabetical list of genera, wonderfully 

 full for the size of the book. The best species of each are given, 

 with cultural notes as to their requirements. 



The illustrations are excellent, both the sixteen black-and-white and 

 the eight coloured ones. Of the latter Allamanda Schottii Hendersonii 

 is wonderfully good in its tones of yellow, but the brown buds and 

 green leaves are too dark. Ipomoea rubro-coerulea is charming, and 

 the red and white Lapagerias faithfully show the solidity of texture of 

 the real flower. Unfortunately a remarkably starry flower with blue 

 banded corona does duty for the pure ivory-white and rather 

 rounded Passi flora coenilea 'Constance Elliott.' 



I would not say that the form here figured is not as beautiful as 

 the white-flowered one, but comparison with H. G. Moon's beautiful 

 figure in The Garden for May 7, 1887, will show these two cannot 

 represent the same form. Mr. Watson has some hard words and 



