The Press Junior SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1939. The Study of Plants

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22895, 16 December 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Press Junior SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1939. The Study of Plants

' “Not only do plants contribute largely to our aesthetic tastes, but bn them we depend for our health and. very existence. We do well to remember with, thankfulness ‘the ' kindly fruits of the earth.’” This is Sir Arthur Hill’s introduction to a profusely illustrated book, “Earth’s Green Mantle, Plant Science for the General Reader,” by Professor Sydney Mangham of Southampton University. It is a general book in that it deals with almost every , conceivable part which the vegetable kingdom, in its many aspects, plays or has played in the past in the economic welfare of mankind. But it is by no means the kind of book that, by being general, becomes inaccurate. Professor Mangham’s careful illustrations, his painstaking references to vegetations in many different regions, and his clear prose make his book one -that will be found useful by.- every student of plant science as.-- well . as ,by the gardener, the- tramper,- and the general reader who reads simply to find out more interesting, facts. Sir Arthur .Hill, who is. director, of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, praises Professor Mangham’s work ' and reminds readers of some interesting things. “Those;of us who are not botanists tend to forget that the coal with which we warm ourselves, and the paper of our newspapers, are derived from the earth’s past or present plant covering. Nor is it generally known how much we owe to plants for bur knowledge of geography, since the search for economic plants especially spices—led to the discovery of the way round the Cape of Good Hope, and many battles between the maritime nations of . Europe have beep vaged for the possession of the , lucrative Spice Islands. Even the ships, in. which these discoveries were made and which took part in the, many naval engagements were built from our trees, while their sails and ropes were supplied from the vegetable kingdom.” Such very interesting by-paths ,to botany are pointed, out by . : Professor Mangham in his pages. One of these -interesting paths for the reader to follow leads to a consideration- of .the effects on the soil and-on natural vegetation of the prolonged operations of man. Another is the one that leads to the question of soil erosion and .the very important work that is being -done to combat this enemy of the farmer.. Professor’ Mangham: writes of erosion by wind and water, shows why this takes place, and describes the measures that are 1 taken against it in America, AusJ ’tralia,. and elsewhere to give pro- " tectiori; from wind and heavy ■ -.on artificially exposed { land.- .No one who reads this -.; bpok, should ever again see hill face or a reced-

ing valley without thinking of the trees that have been felledi the naturally matted grass roots and protecting tussochs that have been ploughed up, or without wondering what must be done to arrest the falling away of good; land; It is a book for everyone. And as it is a large book (322 pages) it is a good book for holiday time. It is published by.the English Universities Press for. 13s 6d, and is supplied in New Zealand ’ through Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. ' i