436 JOUENAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



" Some plants, like Grammatophyllum speciosufn, produce bulbous 

 stems over 30 feet in height," which will be a new record, 

 and the term "bulbous" is commonly used for pseudo-bulbous. 

 The chapter, however, which is more likely to bring about disaster 

 than success is that at pp. 60 and 61, headed " Feeding," in which 

 extensive use of most potent manures is directed, without any guide 

 to the strength or the quantity of the manure to be used, the only 

 caution given being that the manure must not be used except when 

 the plant is in full growth and in bud and flower. Such passages 

 as the following are examples : — 



" Guano should be given twice a week, in a liquid form, and 

 Clay's Fertiliser and Canary Guano are the most satisfactory kinds 

 to use." 



" To prevent Oncidiums from deteriorating, feeding, supplemented 

 by annual re-panning, is of absolute necessity. Guano should be 

 given three times a week during the growing season and when in 

 flower. Add a teaspoonful of the dry Guano also to the compost 

 of Oyicidium macranthum, and 0. Marshalliammi. If few and 

 repanned annually, this deterioration will be effectually checked." 



A liberal interpretation of these and other instructions would bring 

 about failure. 



The book is excellently printed and embellished with twenty illus- 

 trations of popular orchids, and much useful information, especially 

 adapted for the small amateur, is to be found in its pages. 



"Plant-Life on Land, considered in some of its Biological 

 Aspects." By F. 0. Bower, Sc.D., F.E.S. 8vo., 172 pp. (University 

 Press, Cambridge, 1911.) Is. net. 



• The Evolution of Plants." By Dr. D. H. Scott, M.A., F.E.S. 

 8vo., 256 pp. (Williams and Norgate, London, 1911.) Is. net. 



" Plant Life. A Text-book of Botany for Schools and Colleges." 

 By Eug. Warming. 8vo., 244 pp. (Allen, London, 1911.) 4s. 6d.. 

 net. 



"Practical Plant Physiology." By F. Keeble, Sc.D. and M. 0. 

 Eayner, B.Sc. 8vo., 250 pp. (Bell, London, 1911.) 3s. 6,^^. 



"British Plants, their Biology and Ecology." By J. F. Bevis 

 B.Sc, and H. J. Jeffery, F.L.S. 8vo., 334 pp. (Eivers, Londo4 

 1911.) 4s. 6^^. net. 



These books show more or less the tendency of writers to superad 

 to morphology, phenomena of plant life m connexion with structure 

 i.e. the new aspect of botany called Ecology. ; 



Dr. Bower in his little book deals first with present-day botanyj 

 Then he treats of the beach and rocks with their vegetation; w^ith th| 

 structure and habits of tiie bracken fern. This is followed by th( 

 flower and its metamorphosis, in which he alludes to the " flowers ' 

 of the old geological times. Plant population, sand dunes, and gol 

 links are considered. As far as they go these somewhat disjointed 

 chapters are interesting. I 



