246 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The idea of giving a list of the trees and shrubs to be found in the 

 various parks is a good one and worthy of extension. 



"Elementary Agricultural Chemistry." By Herbert Ingle, B.Sc. 

 8vo., 250 pp. (Griffin, London, 1908.) 4s. 6d. net. 



The writer treats very briefly, perhaps too briefly, of the Atomic 

 Theory, Properties of Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Sulphur, 

 Phosphorus, Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Iron, Chlorine, 

 and Silicon as an introduction. 



The Chapters on "The Plant," "Manures," "Crops," "The Animal 

 Body," "The Feeding of Animals," and "The Dairy" are particularly 

 well done. 



"Life Histories of Common Plants." By F. Cavers, D.Sc. Lond. 

 8vo., 363 pp. (Clive, London, 1908.) 3s. 



In this book the student is skilfully directed to find out things for 

 himself by the examination of fresh specimens, the foremost place being 

 rightly given to physiology and ecology. 



The earnest student who does not mind painstaking work will 

 appreciate this book, particularly as the necessary materials and apparatus 

 can be obtained at a trifling cost. If he works through it he will have 

 laid a solid foundation for a sound acquaintance with the structure and 

 life processes of plants, and the relation of plants to their surroundings. 



After taking the broad bean as a type under the heads of " Seeds and 

 Seedlings," "The Green Plant's Nutrition," " The Growth of Eoot and 

 Shoot," "Buds," "Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds," the life histories of 

 such plants as the sweet pea, vetches, clovers, and common repre- 

 sentatives of the Banunculaceae, Bosaceae, Violaceae, &c, are very well 

 worked out. 



" The Life of Philibert Commerson, D.M., Naturaliste du Roi. An old- 

 world story of French travel and science in the days of Linnaeus." By the 

 late Captain S. Pasfield Oliver, R.A. Edited by G. F. Scott-Elliot, F.L.S., 

 F.R.G.S. 8vo., 242 pp. (Murray, London, 1909.) 10s. 6d. net. 



Mr. Elliot first gives us a short account with portrait of Captain Oliver 

 and his travels, followed by the editor's preface, in which Oliver knowing 

 that his death was near entrusted all the materials to Mr. Elliot, who 

 although he says he takes " no credit " for his share has produced a most 

 interesting and fascinating work. 



The book contains thirteen chapters, which begin by carrying us 

 from his student days in the Montpellier Gardens and in various parts of 

 France, till he marries and moves to Paris. 



Then follows some account of Louis Antoine de Bougainville — whose 

 name is perpetuated in the well-known plant — with whom Commerson 

 subsequently travelled. He it was who carried the terms of surrender to 

 the British camp when Canada was definitely lost by the French (Sept. 8, 

 1 760), a man of most remarkable abilities. The sixth chapter describes his 

 journey to Buenos Ayres, his enthusiasm not only for botany but also fishes, 

 about which many interesting details are given. He reaches the Spice 



