CXXXViii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



BOOKS FOR THE LIBRARY. 



The Natural History of Plants. (London, Glasgow, and Dublin : 

 Blackie & Son.) 



Most people will agree that it is by no means an easy task to 

 investigate every phase of plant life, and at the same time to give 

 to the world a scientifically correct and comprehensive description 

 of the marvels that exist throughout the vegetable kingdom, from the 

 most simple to the most complex forms. 



Such a herculean task, however, has been courageously undertaken 

 and satisfactorily accomplished by Prof. Anton Kerner von Marilaun, 

 of the University of Vienna ; and an English edition of it is now, we 

 are glad to say, appearing, published by Messrs. Blackie & Son 

 in sixteen monthly parts. Sufficient guarantee of the importance and 

 utility of the work lies in the fact that the translation has been under- 

 taken by Dr. F. W. Oliver, Quain Professor of Botany in the University 

 of London, with the assistance of Miss Busk, B.Sc, and Miss 

 Ewart, B.Sc. 



In the original, Professor Kerner calls his book " Pflanzenleben," 

 but the English title, " Natural History of Plants," adopted by Prof. 

 Oliver is extremely appropriate, as the author really surveys with 

 Darwinian precision every form of plant life, beginning with the 

 simplest, and gradually yet swiftly initiating the student into the 

 deeper mysteries of vegetable life, which forms such a fascinating 

 study for gardeners and botanists alike. Indeed, Professor Kerner 

 himself says that he aimed at writing " a book not only for specialists 

 and scholars, but also for the many," and he has undoubtedly 

 succeeded. After studying his subject for a quarter of a century, and 

 bringing to bear upon it his great knowledge, experience, and skill, 

 he has produced a work as scientifically accurate as it is charmingly 

 written. It is no small compliment to say that while dealing with a 

 most technical subject the author avoids technical language, and by 

 the use of simple words imparts his knowledge in a manner which 

 savours more of romance than reality, taking for his motto the text, 

 ' Prove all things ; hold fast that which is good." 



After noticing the various views held by ancient writers in regard 

 to plants, and having traced the development of botanical science, 

 the author tells us all about plants in their varied natural surround- 

 ings, how they obtain food under all sorts of conditions, how they 

 grow, and build themselves up, adapting themselves to the force of 

 circumstances, reproducing their species, and then dying. 



The contrast between animals and plants of the higher orders is 



