BOOKS FOR NATURE LOVERS. 
1 1.3 
BOOKS FOR NATURE LOVERS. 
The Making of Flowers , by the Rev. Prof. George Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., 
F. G.S., &c. , author of Botany for Beginners, Floral Dissections, The Origin of 
Floral Structures through Insect and other Agencies, Src. , ere. (Romance of 
Science Series). Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London, 1891. 
[Price 2s. 6d]. 
So much interest has been shown in the series of articles which Prof. Henslow 
has lately contributed to Nature Notes, that we doubt not that many of their 
readers will be eager to procure the book in which he has given a full, popular 
exposition of a most interesting theory, an account of which has hitherto been 
accessible only in the scientific terminology suitable for the transactions of the 
Linnean and other learned societies and a volume published in the “ International 
Scientific Series.” The Making of Flowers is in no way abstruse or repellent. It is 
couched in the simplest language and contains an explanation of almost all the 
terms which would be new to a non-botanical reader, though it would, perhaps, 
be well for the tyro to read it in conjunction with Prof. Oliver’s Lessons in 
Elementary Botany, or the author’s Botany for Beginners. How thoroughly it is 
written in the spirit of a nature lover, and how entirely it is free from that spirit 
of offensive dogmatism which marks some so-called scientific works, may be seen 
from the following opening sentences : — “ Few people are without interest in 
knowing how things are made. Indeed, to be conducted over a manufactory, and 
to examine the various processes in the construction of any of our common or 
useful articles, is to take a most fascinating excursion. Similarly, to find out how 
Nature manufactures her flowers is the pursuit of a branch of knowledge more 
profoundly interesting still. Unfortunately in most cases the process requires 
such an extended period, that we cannot easily see how it is done. We may 
strongly suspect such and such to be her methods, and we may give plenty of 
reasons for our suspicions ; but we cannot quite demonstrate by actual experiment 
that our ideas are right in every instance.” 
The writer proceeds to say that he hopes to produce, at any rate, a “ moral 
conviction ” of the truth of the views he advocates and to establish them by 
“ circumstantial evidence.” “And in so doing,” says Professor Henslow, with 
much truth, “ I think my readers will discover whether they be finally convinced 
or not how wonderfully interesting a subject it is. I hope, too, that it will at 
least stimulate them to observe for themselves, and will lead them to take a 
greater interest in Nature’s works than perhaps they have hitherto done.” 
Some of the principal features of Professor Henslow’s theory have been 
already explained in this magazine, and the present writer has discussed at length 
the views advocated in The Making of Flowers in a review of Floral Structures 
in the Journal of Botany (vol. xxvi., No. 310,) so that there is no need to 
say more now than that the author bears out in the fullest manner his statement 
as to the most interesting nature of his subject, so as to give his work a thorough 
claim to a place in the “Romance of Science” Series. Whether one agrees or 
disagrees with the conclusions of Professor Henslow one must admit that there 
are no unsupported statements or merely fanciful conjectures in his book ; each 
step of his reasoning is supported by a number of instances drawn from a pro- 
longed study of the habits and “behaviour” of plants, such as only a most 
patient student and accurate observer of Nature could collect. 
In congratulating the publishers of this volume on the good work they are 
doing in issuing a series of excellent books on Popular Science by the most 
approved authorities, we must commend the discretion they exhibit in declining 
to be identified with the views set forth by the various writers : — “ The General 
Literature Committee of the S.P.C.K. wish it to be understood that in publishing 
this book they do not mean to commit themselves to the particular theory by 
which the author connects and explains the phenomena of the flower-world.” 
If we remember rightly, a very similar statement was made in Nature Notes 
with regard to the first of the valuable articles by Professor Henslow, published 
in its columns. But all true lovers of Nature and lovers of Religion will rejoice at 
the wise and liberal spirit which now governs the publications of the venerable 
Society, especially since it has been happy in the choice of a not undistinguished 
