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REVIEW 
from the type are not infrequent. In the ecological parts Clements’ termino- 
logy has been adopted. Let us hope that these represent a “socies” and not 
a “society” and that somebody will soon propose terms more acceptable 
than “prisere,” “oxysere,” etc. 
The second chapter gives an artificial key to the genera and species of 
S.A. Grasses. There is certainly a need for such a key as even a professional 
botanist cannot always get satisfactory results with Stapf’s keys in the Flora 
Capensis. Whether Dr Bews has succeeded where such a masterhand has not 
always given satisfaction can only be found out by prolonged use for which 
the writer has had no opportunity yet. Hackel has stated that amongst 
grasses “no single tribe, no large genus numbering over 50 species can be 
definitely characterised,” and it seems, therefore, hopeless to expect a satis- 
factory key for the genera. 
With the third chapter giving “ecological notes on the principal species 
in each genus” we leave the dry bones and enter upon a portion of the subject 
in which the author is particularly at home. This, like the two concluding 
chapters, will appeal to a wide circle of readers both in South Africa and 
abroad. The fourth is the longest chapter. It gives a “general sketch of the 
grasslands of South Africa and their development.” In the last chapter 
“economic applications” are dealt with. This is followed by an appendix 
containing a list of English, Dutch, Zulu and Sesuto names of grasses. 
The mass of facts in the three last chapters is very imposing. A few points 
only can be referred to here. Transverse sections of the leaves of a number of 
grasses are diagrammatically illustrated chiefly with a view to demonstrate 
the amount of sclerenchyma in them which the author correlates with the 
nutritive value of grasses as pasturage. This is a happy inspiration which no 
doubt gives useful indications, but a word of caution is required not to carry 
its application too far. In the first place the anatomy of grassleaves varies 
considerably according to locality (and perhaps also according to varying 
seasonal rainfall). Further it seems to the writer that the amount of silica 
in the leaves should be taken into account and lastly, stock do not only eat 
grassleaves but also grass-stems and their anatomy should be studied side by 
side with that of the leaves. Danthonia purpurea, a valuable pasturage grass 
although xerophytic, to which Dr Bews had introduced us in a previous 
publication, is again fully dealt with. No doubt we shall soon hear of its 
introduction into the more arid parts of America and Australia, after which 
our South African farmers will realise its value. 
Some of the vital questions affecting the future prosperity of South Africa 
are grass-burning, overstocking and the attendant evil of soil-erosion. On 
all these Dr Bews gives most valuable information and it will always be to his 
credit that he was the first to show that, while in certain places and under 
certain conditions the burning of the veld should be stopped, in other places 
