BOOK REVIEWS. 



77 



by one thoroughly conversant with the many varieties of the plants he 

 deals with. Mr. Dallimore's position as foreman of the Arboretum at 

 the Royal Gardens, Kew, has given him unique opportunities for 

 studying the peculiarities of all the varieties under his charge. Very 

 valuable information is given on the habits of varieties of holly, yew, and 

 box, and cultural descriptions are treated in a masterly manner. It is 

 scarcely necessary to state that the work is well up to date, as proved by 

 the inclusion of varieties new to this country from China, collected by 

 Mr. E. H. Wilson for Messrs. J. Veitch. Many old and rare varieties 

 are described, making the work one of special interest to tree and 

 shrub lovers. A small portion at the end of the book is devoted to 

 the evergreen oak, the laurel, and other evergreens, all as much worthy of 

 the reader's attention as the other parts of the work. We predict this 

 will be considered the standard book on the holly, yew, and box. The 

 index is excellent. 



" The Care of Natural Monuments with special reference to Great 

 Britain and Germany." By H. Conwentz, Prussian State Commissioner 

 for the Care of Natural Monuments. With ten illustrations. 8vo., pp. 

 xii. and 185. (Cambridge University Press, 1909.) 2s. 6c7. net. 



We are not sure that the term " natural monument," the German 

 Naturdenkmal, is either self-explanatory or otherwise satisfactory, 

 though we cannot suggest anything better. Professor Conwentz makes 

 out a good case for his neologism. Not only can he urge that standard 

 works are styled monuments of literature, and that lake-dwellings, which 

 were certainly never " established in commemoration " of any body or event, 

 are termed prehistoric monuments ; but that Humboldt long ago spoke of 

 big trees as monuments de la nature. 



This modest but usefully comprehensive little volume, which originated 

 in a lecture delivered by the author at the Leicester (1907) meeting of the 

 British Association, practically begins with a classification of the natural 

 monuments in danger. It then deals with the means of preservation and 

 the extent to which these are realized in the various countries of the 

 world, concluding with suggestions for the future. 



Professor Conwentz groups the monuments of which he treats under 

 seven heads ; views, water (especially falls), rocks, such as the Cheddar 

 gorge, the Marlborough Sarsen stones, or erratic boulders, fens, woods, 

 plants, and animals. The three aims to which preservative efforts should 

 be directed are, he says, an inventory and map, actual preservation in loco, 

 and the publication of accounts of these monuments. As to the means 

 adopted in various countries to realize these ideals, we have government 

 surveys and maps, voluntary associations for similar purposes, such as our 

 Central Committee for the Survey and Study of British Vegetation, and 

 the work of individuals, such as Hewett Watson. Secondly we have 

 national reservations; a state office, such as that in Prussia of which Herr 

 Conwentz is the head ; areas protected by public corporations, such as the 

 London County Council, which controls not only public parks, but also 

 open spaces such as Riddlesdown, and the Corporation of London, with 

 Epping Forest and Burnham Beeches ; and voluntary bodies such as our 

 excellent National Trust. There is actual legislation such as our Wild 



