526 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
theory is upheld ; objections are answered and suggestions made, all in the 
simplest possible way ; the author’s name has to lie incidentally made out 
by a reference to a list of the committee : not to gain applause, but to be 
useful, is evidently his aim, and we need hardly say that we heartily wish 
him success. 
North Yorkshire ; Studies of its Botany , Geology, Climate, and Physical 
Geography. By John Gilbert Baker. Longmans. 18G3. Cvo., 
pp. 353. 
TTAHIS is the most philosophical attempt at a local iiora which has yet 
1 been produced ; a really noteworthy work, which, although treating 
largely of geology and kindred topics, must be regarded essentially as a 
botanical book. It is in nowise a popular treatise, nor is it abstruse, yet 
thoroughly scientific ; the author being an original observer, who is content 
to write objectively, simply recording his facts in logical sequence, leaving 
the reader to make his own inferences, lienee the several sections are so 
far complete in themselves, that their consecutive dependance is by no 
means clear at a glance ; the young geologist and botanist, the scientific 
tourist, local resident, and biological philosopher might each suppose the 
book made for his special use. Altogether it is well done. 
The work is divided into three parts ; in the first of which the geology, 
climate, and soils are treated with a view to their influence on the flora ; 
in the second part are given the physical geography and topography, 
showing the localities and conditions under which the rarer plants occur ; 
and, lastly, the botany, in which the flora is given in its relations to all 
these preceding circumstances. 
As the studies on which it is founded have for the most part been made 
in the field, it is rather a book for out-door use and subsequent reference 
than one of those tourists’ guides which beguile the hours of travel. 
The chapter on geology is illustrated with a capital geological map, 
coloured to show all the important stratigraphical divisions. But the text 
confines itself to describing the physical features — subdivisions of strata, 
their thicknesses and trimmings out, appearance in the country, quarries 
and places where well seen — omitting all reference to the fossils and 
theoretical parts of the science. 
The climatology also has a coloured map, showing the zones of altitude 
into which the Riding may be divided, which become the more interesting 
as corresponding for the most part with the limits of geological formations. 
The text gives abundant information on the zones, temperature, rainfall, 
winds, &c., with some account of the influences of these on cultivation 
and the indigenous flora. 
The chapter on soils also has a coloured map, indicating the hardness 
and power of absorbing moisture of the different parts of the district, 
outlines which, as might be expected, correspond with those of geological 
deposits. These conditions necessarily affect climate and physical geo- 
graphy, and arc indispensable to understanding the distribution of the 
flora. 
