i83 



NEW BOTANICAL BOOKS. 



Stocks, by R. P. Brotherston, and Lawns, by W. J. Stevens, are 



two further well-illustrated penny pamphlets issued by the London 

 Agricultural and Horticultural Association. 



Asters, by Walter Wright, F.R.H.S. London : Agricultural and 

 Horticultural Association. Price One Penny. 



This is the eighteenth ' One and All' garden book, and ought to be as 

 popular as any of its predecessors. The writer is well known and is 

 esteemed not only for his practical knowledge, but for a fine literary style. 

 The book is fully illustrated. A similarly illustrated pamphlet, dealing 

 with Tomatoes, by W. Iggulden, has also recently been issued from 

 the same house. 



Synopsis of the British Basidiomycetes. A descriptive Catalogue 

 of the Drawings and Specimens in the Department of Botany, British 

 Museum, by Worthington George Smith : British Museum, London. 

 531 pp., 10/-. 



A few years ago the British Museum acquired the MS. descriptions 

 drawn up by Mr. Worthington G. Smith, when preparing the fine series 

 of coloured drawings of British Fungi, exhibited in the Department 

 of Botany. These descriptions were accompanied by line drawings, 

 illustrating the characters of each genus. It was rightly considered by 

 the Trustees that these descriptions and drawings, if put in convenient 

 form, would prove a useful introduction to the study in the field of the 

 larger fungi. This volume is the result ; and from the care with which it 

 has been prepared, its arrangement, the wealth of clear sketches, as well 

 as its cheapness, there can be no doubt that it will at once take its place 

 as a constant guide and companion to every mycologist. There is a useful 

 glossary, and an exceptionally carefully compiled and complete Index. 

 Amongst the ' recent additions ' we notice the following Yorkshire records : 

 Tvicholoma carneolum, Pholiota sororia and Inocyhe commixta. 

 ~ Life Histories of Common Plants, by F. Cavers, D.Sc, etc. pp. XVI. 

 and 363, with 123 figures. W. B. Clive. 1908, price 3/-. 



In this book. Professor Cavers has brought together a large number 

 of interesting and reliable lessons on our common flowering plants. The 

 first chapter deals with the Bean plant in much detail. Chapters 2 to\6 

 are concerned with seeds and seedlings, nutrition, growth of shoot and 

 root, buds, flowers, fruits and seeds. Then follow ten chapters dealing 

 with the life histories of some three dozen common flowering plants. In 

 four chapters are described the more familiar trees, the concluding chapter 

 treats briefly on the ecology of plants. The book is intended primarily 

 for young teachers studying botany for the certificate examination, and 

 we know of no better book for this purpose. All the important facts are 

 clearly brought out, and no opportunity is lost of encouraging students to 

 make observations at first hand. The chapters on trees are more com- 

 plete than in any similar book we have seen, and it does not err like some 

 recent books in leaving so large a share of the facts to be discovered by 

 the student, as to become discouraging. The index is much better than 

 some in this series, and errors are few. On page 335, art. 194 should be 

 190, and coltsfoot rhizomes (p. 273) are misnamed ' runners.' In the 

 chapter dealing with ecology, a paragraph might usefully have been added 

 on the place of trees in vegetation. As it is, students will find here an 

 excellent guide and introduction to their botanical studies. 



Life Histories of Familiar Plants, by John J. Ward. Cassell & Co. 

 pp. XX. and 204, with 86 plates; Price 6/-. 



A mere glance at this book shews that the author has used his camera 

 to good purpose, and furnished a series of very interesting and for the most 

 part, useful photographs in illustration of his text. In all there are 121 

 figures, some from photo-micrographs. The book is intended for ' non- 

 professional nature investigators who seek the why and wherefore of details 



1909 May I. 



