16 DECEMBER 1922, Page 27

The Director of the Cambridge Botanic Garden has written a

brief guide which is not only botanically impeccable but illuminated by interesting sidelights. A Scotsman who prides himself on referring to porridge as " them " will be pleased to learn that cooked rice in India is also a plural. We specially like the remarks on laurel. "Tiberius . . . wore a laurel crown on his head to protect himself from lightning. . . . Nowadays the leaves are used for flavouring milk puddings." The banana gives far more food per acre than any other crop.