298 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 4, 1903. 
REVIEWS of BOOKS 
Review copies of Books pertaining to the Garden should be sent as early 
as possible to The Editor, “ G. W.,” 37 and 38, Shoe Lane, London. 
Nature Studies * 
The subject of nature study is now engrossing the attention 
of teachers and those responsible for the education of the rising 
generation everywhere. The book under notice is a response to 
this demand, and is intended to put before teachers, in a con¬ 
crete form, something that will enable them to instruct their 
pupils on lines similar to those who have given the subject 
their attention. Last year nature study was made the object of 
an exhibition and conferences in the gardens of the Royal 
Botanic Society, at Regent’s Park. Something similar is carried 
on in connection with the School of Horticulture at Chelmsford, 
but the labours of the biological staff there are chiefly directed 
to taking their students into the field, which makes a very good 
sequel to the practical work in the laboratory in connection with 
the courses of instruction there. 
Taking a general view of the subject, we may say that nature 
study includes the teaching of botany, as it has been carried 
out for some years past in the various evening schools, coupled 
with the observations of such natural phenomena as have been 
recorded by the late Charles Darwin, by Lord Avebury, and 
other eminent naturalists. 
Mr. Elliot would seem to indicate the earliest instance of 
nature study when he mentions the discovery of Sprengel, in 
1787. concerning the structure and colour of flowers, which he 
considered were intended to attract and please the eyes of various 
insects. Many other botanists have, however, made important 
observations in the same field, but it is only in more recent 
times that the systematic study of the subject has been advo¬ 
cated and encouraged. 
In considering the flower the author deals with the why and 
wherefore of its structure. He tells us that the common 
characteristics of flowers, intended to attract bees, are purple, 
blue, and red colours, honey and peculiar structure. For in¬ 
stance, there are long-tubed flowers which only insects with a 
long tongue can reach, these being intended for bees, butterflies, 
or similar long-tongued insects. Butterflies, he says, will visit 
any conspicuous flower, but they are not particularly industrious. 
The reason of this is obvious, we should say, when it is under¬ 
stood or recognised that butterflies and their allies do^ not store 
the food they collect in the same manner as bees. They are 
satisfied when their temporary wants have been met. Those 
flowers which lay themselves open for visits from night flying 
insects display white colours, and give out sweet scents as a 
rule, because white is easily seen in the dusk of the evening, 
and scent always discovers its own whereabouts. The author 
touches lightly upon the geological evidence of insects in rela¬ 
tion to flowers, and states that flower-haunting insects mad© 
their appearance in the chalk period, the modern insects and 
the modern plants having representatives of their earliest 
relatives fossilised in the chalk formation. 
The chapter on fruits and colonisation by seed is very in¬ 
teresting, and deals with a. great variety of structures adapted 
to aid in the distribution of the seeds of various plants at matu¬ 
rity. It would be impossible here to,.deal with a tithe of these 
forms, but we may state that the most striking are those having 
berried fruits, meant to be eaten by birds and other animals ; 
secondly, those which have their fruits so modified as to be 
carried by the wind, and also those that are so constructed as 
to attach themselves to passing animals. In other oases the 
seeds adapt themselves for transportation by the wind or other 
means. A very curious coincidence is met with in the seeds of 
the Willow and the Willow Herb, which are furnished with 
plumy tufts of hairs, by means of which they may be carried 
about by the wind. Moreover, they belong to families in no- way 
related. Other fruits or seeds have parachutes, or some part of 
their structure may form catapults for the purpose of throwing 
seeds to a distance. 
Very interesting also are the methods adopted by plants for 
defending themselves against rain, wind, and various other 
enemies. Plants in a wild state are subjected to great dangers 
in a variety of ways, and take means to protect themselves" 
The involuntary influence of man in aiding the distribution of 
plants is a subject that has not hitherto been much discussed, 
but no one with the power of observation could fail to see that 
man, without any intention on his part, is a very important 
agent in the distribution of plants. How this may be is well 
discussed in this manual of three hundred and fifty-two pages. 
We feel sure that those who have not hitherto given the subject 
their attention will find a great deal in this book to interest 
them. 
The Horticultural Directory.' 
This annual publication is again to hand, and, like other 
publications of the kind, is indisp;nsable to gardeners and to 
people engaged in business more particularly. The memory 
cannot retain a list of everything; hence the necessity of lists, 
directories, dictionaries, and other books of that description. 
We do not complain of the want of lists in this particular pub¬ 
lication ; indeed, we think that fewer lists would serve the pur¬ 
pose, by making them more comprehensive and general. 
Nevertheless, there is little room for complaint, seeing that 
on page 105 we get an alphabetical list of nurserymen, seeds¬ 
men, and florists in Great Britain and Ireland.” Our island 
is but a small one, and it seems to us that one uniform list of 
this character would be much better than half a dozen. Why 
it should be necessary to have a separate list of counties for 
England, another for Scotland, a third for Wales, a. fourth 
for Ireland, and a fifth for the Channel Islands it puzzles us 
to see ; we do not say it of this particular directory, as others 
are guilty of the same thing, but it seems that an alphabetical 
list of the counties for the whole of the British Islands would 
be a great improvement upon the present system, and save a 
great deal of hunting for the particular list required. We offer 
the hint gratis, in the' hope that it may be instrumental in the 
near future of improving directories of this and various other 
kinds. At the same time, we are thankful to those who take 
the trouble of preparing these useful and indispensable 
statistics. 
Poultry Club Year Book, f 
We are reminded of the existence of the Utility Poultry 
Club by the arrival of the new Tear Book and Register, which 
is issued annually to the members. The book is intended to 
be of practical value to those engaged in poultry keeping. Not 
the least important feature of it" is a list of the names of some 
sixteen experts, lecturers to nearly as many county councils, 
who advise members gratuitously on poultry matters. We 
observe that poultry may be insured against loss by fire, theft, 
or burglary. Post-mortem examinations of stock, also examina¬ 
tions of poultry food and similar matter are dealt with to the 
advantage of members. Members can also obtain working plans 
of fowlhouses, trap nests, coops, etc., for a small fee. 
The club spends nearly the whole of its available income for A 
the good of the cause. One of the largest items of expense 
incurred is m connection with the “ Laying Competition ’ which 
is annually carried out under the direction of the competition 
authorities. The club is nevertheless in a sound position 
financially, having something like £25 in hand. The Year Book 
gives tables of weights and measures, lists of papers on poultry, > 
and tables on the chemical composition of something like thirty ; 
poultry foods. The register of breeds contains particulars of 
some seven hundred breeding pens belonging to members, so 
that they have ample facilities for interchanging or getting 
of fresh blood. The membership now stands at 5"60, and the 
membership fee is only 2s. 6d. 
Horticultural Book Catalogue. 
The above is the title of a pamphlet of some 20 pages, giving a 
list of books on gardening, botany, forestry, and kindred subject! 
In it will be found the names of various works, their authors, 
and prices. I he list is a fairly extensive one, and includes the 
titles of many well-known books, as well as others that are less 
fingered by the community. The pamphlet is published by- 
Messrs. Morgan and Co., 8, St. Mary-at-Hill, London E C 
♦“Nature Studies ( l lant L fe) ” By G. F. Scott-Tlliofi M. A.. Cantab. ; B. Sc., 
Edin. ; F.L S., F.R.G.S.. London : Blackie and Son, Ltd., 50, Old Bailey, E.C. ; 
Glasgow and Dublin. 1903. Price 3s, 6d. 
* A he Horticultural Directory and Year Book for 1903 ’ 
and Poultry Office, 12 Mitre Court Chambers, Fleet Street 
t The Ut Hey Poult y Club Year Book and Register.” 
Journal of Horticulture 
, London. E.C. Price Is. 
Edited by D. W. Horne. 
