470 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
winter), P. Beesiana, P. sinolisteri, and so on, all plants well known 
to frequenters of the R.H.S. exhibitions and readers of this Journal, 
and now becoming widely spread in gardens, find no mention. Some 
of the terms used, too, are obsolete, e.g., ' Azote/ on pp. 45 and 46 ; 
the information on artificial manures on pp. 768 and 769 is sadly in 
need of revision (but we must congratulate Mr. Murray (p. 769) on 
his active use of nitrates for 106 years — rarely indeed, even in the 
healthy occupation of gardening, can one make such a claim) ; nor 
are the paragraphs dealing with pests altogether reliable. The 
beetles commonly called ' soldiers ' and ' sailors ' in the south are 
not injurious, nor are they related to the skipjacks (p. 823) ; gas 
lime is not a remedy for club-root, nor can it now be obtained in 
many places ; Tylenchus devastatrix, the stem eelworm, does not 
produce galls on roots ; grease, if properly chosen, remains sticky 
on grease bands for longer than two or three days (p. 202) ; some- 
times we are told to spray, but not what to use ; sometimes we are 
told what to use, but not how to make it ; many important troubles 
are either omitted or mentioned casually, and indeed the whole of 
the paragraphs referring to pests need revision and amplification. 
We hope that a reprint of this extremely useful book will soon be 
required, and that the opportunity will be taken for the necessary 
revision and completion. 
" Potter's Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations." 
By R. C. Wren, F.L.S. With additions by E. M. Holmes, F.L.S. 
2nd ed. 8vo., xl + 339 pp. (Potter & Clarke, London, 1915.) 3s. 6d. 
This encyclopaedia comprises a list of all drugs of vegetable origin 
employed in pharmacy in this country. The plan of the book is as 
follows : The arrangement is alphabetical, the common name in 
general use for the drug being placed as a heading on the left-hand 
side of the page, with the Latin name and natural order on the right- 
hand side ; then follows descriptive matter divided into paragraphs 
with the following headings — synonyms, action, preparation, and 
distinctive character. The descriptions of the distinctive characters 
are a new and valuable feature, for which the eminent authority on 
drugs, Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., is responsible. Following the 
list are articles devoted to descriptions of the different forms of 
medicinal preparations and herbal compounds, also a glossary of 
botanical terms, and an interesting note on botanical names and 
their authorities. There is an excellent and full index to all the 
names of drugs mentioned. 
The appearance of this encyclopaedia at this time is particularly 
fortunate in view of the shortage of many common drugs and the 
efforts that are being made to cultivate supplies in this country. The 
work illustrates the scope of the subject and at the same time furnishes 
authoritative information which cannot fail to be of great value to 
all who cultivate or use botanical drugs. 
