BOOK EEVIEAVS. 



421 



descriptions are accurate, yet it may be worth while to note the following 

 points. Speaking on the "advantages" of crossing, the author holds to 

 the long ago abandoned theory that crossing produces " better seed " 

 (p. 26). Yet he shows how violets depended entirely upon their self- 

 fertilized cleistogarnous buds (p. 52). 



The Virginia creeper does not climb by "rootlets," but metamorphosed 

 flowering branches (p. 33). 



Climbing stems cannot "revolve," but " circumnutate " (p. 33). 



Lime-leaves do not curl downwards on expansion to prevent " loss t>f 

 sap," but to avoid "radiation," as is the case with "sleeping" leaves 

 (p. 45). 



An " inferior " ovary has not a " calyx " but " receptacular tube," to 

 which it is adherent. 



Yew "fruits " are described as being harmless. This is a dangerous 

 mistake. The "seeds" — the yew has no "fruit" — are deadly, and 

 children when not careful to extract them have often been poisoned. 

 The scarlet cap only is harmless. 



In the " Glossary " we note the following : a "corymb," as described, 

 would include the " umbel," but the former is definite, the latter indefinite. 



"Panicle" is not limited to indefinite inflorescences; e.g. in Gypso- 

 phila paniculata, they are definite " cymes," but forming a panicle, &c. 



The book will be decidedly useful to those who are desirous of 

 knowing, and are contented with, the names of our wild flowers, but 

 desire little more knowledge of plant life and its marvels. 



" Der Konigliche Botanische Garten und das Konigliche Botanische 

 Museum zu Dahlem." By the Staff. 4to., 158 pp. (Horn & Eaasch, 

 Berlin, 1909.) 6s. 



The Botanic Garden at Dahlem has been established a comparatively 

 short time, but has already become famous on account of the amount -of 

 work accomplished and the novel plan on which it is arranged. The 

 present official publication gives an account of its arrangement, and the 

 illustrations (which are worthy of all praise) and plans of the garden 

 and the houses and museums give a good idea of the object in view in 

 the planning and the Avay in which the object has been attained. It is 

 in no sense a horticultural establishment — far less so than Kew has in 

 some ways become of late — but has for its main idea the illustration of 

 the vegetation of the earth grouped according to geographical dis- 

 tribution, while in other parts of the garden are collections to illustrate 

 systematic botany and morphology. A perusal of the book, which is 

 worthy of the great garden it describes — and that is high praise — will 

 give an excellent idea of the foremost German Botanic Garden. 



" Nature through the Microscope." By Wm. Spiers, M.A., F.R.M.S. 

 8vo., 355 pp. (Culley, London, 1909.) 7s. Qd. net. 



This is a book for the dilettante, if one may use the term in this 

 connexion, and not for the serious student of nature. It gives some 

 good advice on the choice of a microscope, advice that might with 

 advantage have been amplified, and it draws on all mundane nature for 

 objects to examine with the microscope, so that no one who desires need 



