The Romance of Plant Life. By G. F. Scott Elliot.
(Seeley and Co. 5s.)—Apparently there is no end to the astonishing facts that we have yet to learn about plants. Pouchet's "Universe" told us many marvels about birds and beasts and flowers, yet that interesting volume is a crude and elementary sketch of natural wonders compared to the collection of scientific facts which the indefatigable observers of to-day pile up for us to assimilate, and which Mr. Elliot describes in thirty-nine chapters. The development of wild plants by steady cultivation furnishes some examples upon which he dilates. Perhaps the best way to give our readers an idea of his method is to quote the titles of some of his chapters. Here are a few : "On Plants which Add to Continents," "On Fruits," "The Activity of Vegetables," "On Tea, Coffee, Chocolate, and Tobacco," "Plants Attacking Animals," and so on. Nor do these titles convey a just notion of the many extraordinary things that have been discovered, or that we are too blind to see. The most unimaginative reader cannot fail to be struck by some facts,—the immense energy of plants, especially weeds, whose roots go down several feet; their tenacity of life, and the inestimable benefit they confer on mankind; and finally, what one may almost call their instinct, for their powers of adapt- ing themselves to circumstances seem scarcely vegetable. Mr. Elliot handles his subject well, and he is evidently an enthusiast in plant life and its wider teaching. He is continually opening up fresh trails of knowledge, and attacks his subject from a variety of standpoints. In short, he brings out the perpetual wonder of it all. This, the biological aspect of plants, is a com- paratively modern phase. It is certainly the most interesting. We cannot imagine a more fascinating present than this volume to young people who love all green things.
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