explains, by description and by figures, the forms and qualities of planks and timbers most in request in the construction of ships; and then describes those means of cultivating trees, which he considers most effectively conducive to the production of these required planks and timbers." The review noted that Matthew listed suitable forest trees, described the relative merits of each, and also devoted 222 pages to critical reviews of other publications about timber. It said that "An appendix of 29 pages concludes the book, and receives some parenthetical evolutions of various extraneous points which the author struck upon in prosecuting the thesis of his book. This may be truly termed, in a double sense, an extraordinary part of the book. One of the subjects discussed in the appendix is the puzzling one of the origin of species and varieties; and if the author has herein originated no original views (and of this we are far from certain), he has certainly exhibited his own in an original manner." Anon. "Article VI: Dry Rot – Mr. Kyan's Patent". Quarterly Review, Vol 49 (1833), pp. 125–135 Out of the ten-page review for three titles, Matthew's is over in the first half-page, focussed on the book's coverage of timber decay and the failure of the Navy Board to do "something efficacious" about rot, and his proposal "that a 'rot-prevention-officer wood physician' should be appointed to each vessel of war", for which Matthew received a cordial yet dismissive dealing by the reviewer, for evidently not knowing his dry rot. Otherwise, it said the book was "on the whole, not a bad one". Anon (likely James Brown). "Notices to Correspondents: Books". Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette (30 June 1860), p. 604 Following the correspondence between Matthew and Darwin, another reader writes to ask for the title of the earlier publication. In the section "Notices to Correspondents", an editor responds with short but a favourable review firstly disclaiming that, "It is so little known that we were not aware of its existence until quite lately.", then proceeding to mention that, "it is full of practical information, along with which are speculations on 'What a British Gentleman should be; The apparent use of the infinite seedling varieties of plants; On Hereditary Nobility and Entail; Use of the Selfish Passions.' &c. This may account for a really valuable book having been passed by with little notice. It contains plenty