Departments 
Book Reviews 
Wild Flowers of New South Wales, by Florence Sulman. 
Angus and Robertson, Sydney. 
Of unusual interest are the two volumes of AVild Flowers of 
New South "Wales. Australia is already taking up the problem 
which is engrossing flower lovers in this country. The book is 
published with "the object of encouraging interest in and 
preserving the native flora." The volumes are well arranged, 
with clear descriptions amply illustrated by fine drawings. 
Although the Eucalypts form three quarters. of the vegeta- 
tion of Australia, the remaining quarter embraces a wealth of 
plants both strange and beautiful. 
The Acacias, Mimosas or "Wattles," to give them their 
popular name, form a large and interesting section. Three 
hundred of the five hundred known varieties of Acacia belong 
to Australia. Only one of these, Acacia farnesiana, grows out- 
side the continent. The mass of golden bloom and fine feathery 
foliage covering every hillside and ravine in August, September 
and October, must rival the Cherry blossoms of Japan as a 
floral spectacle. 
Orchids are more widely distributed throughout the world 
than are the Acacias, but there are many beautiful varieties 
that remain exclusively Australian. 
A large number of strange plants rejoice both in beauty and 
weird nomenclature. The genus Telopea, for instance, which 
has conspicuous heads of crimson flowers, bears the native name 
of Waratah. This is given to all the species. The Lillipillies are 
another genus of shrubs, with distinctive berries. I should like 
to see a Lillipilly ! Still another shrub bears the striking name 
of Geebung. There is even a Hairy Geebung. 
The flower-lover who reads this book will wonder how many 
of these strangely named plants would succeed in this country 
and how many of them have already been tried. At the first 
opportunity I shall enquire of some botanical authority. My 
soul yearns for a Lillipilly of my very own. 
Early British Botanists and their Gardens, based on Unpublished 
Writings of Goody er, Tradescant and Others. By R. T. Gunther. 
With 9 plates and 21 other illustrations. 
(Oxford: Printed for the author at the University Press.) 
There were naturalists in Hampshire before Gilbert White of 
Selborne, of whom none is more worthy of notice than John 
Goodyer, born at Alton in 1592. He appears to have been steward 
and estate factotum to Sir Thomas Bilson, of Mapledurham, in 
that county. 
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