276 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



" A First Course in Practical Botany." By G. F. Scott-Elliot. 8vo., 

 344 pp. (Blackie, London.) 



The plan of this book is to supply " Notes "on " Twenty-five Days." 

 Though the matter is for the most part sound and good, we think that 

 there is too much in each " Day " and too disconnected. The first objec- 

 tion is easily remedied, and will doubtless be done by the student in not 

 keeping strictly to the quantity per diem ; but the combination of matters 

 treated of will trouble him somewhat. Thus, the second day consists of 

 Morphology and Climbing Plants. Two pages deal with the growth of 

 roots and stems, which is really physiology and not morphology ; then 

 follow descriptions of climbing plants (4 pages), a paragraph on the leaf, 

 one on ivy roots, and another on stipules. "Demonstration specimens " 

 comes next, then follows a complete account of the common nettle, Calluna 

 vulgaris, Epilobium montanum, and dahlia, concluding with " microscopic 

 work." A student is not likely to get all these plants on one and the 

 same day ; dahlias, for example, not flowering till late in the season ; 

 hence a beginner would be misled if he thought he ought to study all 

 these on his second day. It would be better, we think, to have selected 

 examples following the seasons, as the student will doubtless begin as 

 soon as flowers are open ; it would then be possible to follow the principles 

 of classification at the same time ; thus, buttercups and wallflowers 

 (Thalamiflorce), blackthorn and may (Calyciflorce), and so on. We repeat, 

 the way subjects are described is very good, but the treatment is far too 

 heterogeneous for beginners. Another matter for regret is that there is 

 no allusion to ecology, for the accumulation of facts herein described 

 should have for their object their place in the life-history of plants as 

 grown in Nature. This should have been repeatedly emphasised in 

 describing various structures and their uses. A few statements may be 

 criticised. The author states that flowers are " directly influenced by 

 light " (p. 12) as in opening. Mr. F. Darwin attributed this to heat 

 (" Phys. of Plants," p. 219). "We have found that tulips open under a 

 gaselier but not under electric light, the former being much the hotter ; 

 while crocuses expand in warm sunny weather in a garden, but not in 

 cold weather. The supposed symbiotic nature of Mycorhiza has been 

 shown by M. Gallaud to be more of that of a parasite, but the host may 

 subsequently consume it ( £l Bev. Gen. de Bot." vol. xvii. p. 5 fl\). 



In the "List of Experiments " (p. 333) each should be referred to the 

 page on w T hich it occurs. Numbers alone give great trouble. 



In describing Ranunculus Ficaria (p. 266) the leaves should be " dis- 

 tichous," not " opposite," a natural result of there being only one cotyledon. 

 No explanation is given (on p. 267) as to why three sepals and eight 

 petals prevail, this being the easiest sequence from ^ or ^ phyllotaxis. 



The figure of Campanula rotundifolia has unfortunately no round 

 leaves at all. The basal leaves should have been shown. It is called 

 'Bluebell,' i.e. its Scotch name, but it is misleading for English students, 

 whose bluebell is Scilla nutans. Dipsacus (p. 30) is exstipulate. The 

 author repeats the popular idea that " thorns and spines defend the 

 foliage from grazing animals, which are usually numerous in dry 

 climates." Facts, however, are contrary to this. Spinescence is charac- 

 teristic of deserts, where browsing animals are conspicuous by their 



