Abstract
BY the completion of the work whose title is given above, we have the third valuable contribution to a knowledge of the rich vegetation of our Indian forests. In all three works, namely, Col. Beddome's “Flora Sylvatica of Southern India,” Brandis's and Stewart's “Forest Flora of North-West and Central India,” and the book now before us, there is much in common, and the plans of the two latter are very similar. There is, however, one great difference between Beddome's and Brandis's Floras and the present issue; while the first two are most profusely illustrated, the work under consideration is entirely without plates. This, perhaps, is not to be regretted considering that the work in its present form constitutes two good-sized volumes; and further than this, Indian plants have of late been very well represented, notably in the two forest floras just referred to. Another distinction, and perhaps one more affecting foresters generally, for whose benefit these floras are ostensibly prepared, is the meagre information regarding the uses of the plants mentioned. Mr. Kurz excuses himself for reducing this portion of his work to a minimum, and refers to Brandis's. “Forest Flora” for information on this head. We regret that Mr. Kurz did not see his way to greater condensation in his descriptions, and, if need be, the use of smaller type, so as to reduce the bulk of the book. At the same time its efficiency would have been much increased had he followed Dr. Brandis in giving extended notes as to the uses, for to no similar work can we point with so much satisfaction in this respect as to that of Dr. Brandis.
Forest Flora of British Burma.
By S. Kurz, Curator of the Herbarium, Royal Botanical Gardens, Calcutta. (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, 1877.)
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Forest Flora of British Burma . Nature 18, 517 (1878). https://doi.org/10.1038/018517a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/018517a0