Abstract
As the author informs us in his preface, the book is an endeavour to describe the beauties of our familiar trees. He further points out that “Their many associations have interests that appeal to the historian and the moralist, to the student of literature and of folk-lore, but little less than to those interested in botany.”... “The time has gone by when we could be content to stand agape at the wonders and beauties of the world of Nature; we require now some attempt, at least, at an analysis of the origin, purpose and significance of the objects of our admiration.” Mr. Boulger has certainly given a fairly interesting account of a few of the commoner trees and shrubs. In his introduction he defines trees as perennial plants with a principal stem of some considerable diameter, rising from the ground and forming wood. Their woodiness distinguishes them from all herbs, and their one principal stem from shrubs. In spite of this, however, he includes in his book of familiar trees shrubs and even climbers, while such familiar trees as the oak, beech, and the lime are omitted and the Scots pine dismissed with a passing reference.
Familiar Trees.
By Prof. G. S. Boulger. Pp. vi+160. (London: Cassell and Company, Ltd., n.d.) Price 6s.
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Familiar Trees . Nature 75, 319 (1907). https://doi.org/10.1038/075319b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/075319b0