66 Rhodora [MARCH 
Prof. L. R. Jones discussed the poisonous properties of the equise- 
tums and ferns. Although they were undoubted cases of horses 
being poisoned by Equisetum, the evidence showed the ferns free from 
any such stigma. The minor discussions centered about the new 
catalogue and were of unusual interest. The midsummer field 
meeting is to be held in Rutland on the 2nd and 3d of July.—C. D. 
Howe, Univ. of Vermont. 
In Tue Founpations or BorANv! Mr. Bergen follows in the 
main the plan of his earlier text-book, which the present attractive 
volume replaces. The amount of subject-matter is increased by new 
experiments and observational work, and new chapters on Ecology 
and on Types of Cryptogams (the latter by Mr. A. B. Seymour). 
With a new Key and Flora, describing nearly 700 species of common 
spring plants, the whole matter covers some 670 pages. 
Improvements in the teaching directions and many new and inter- 
esting exercises show the author's gain in the technique of botani- 
cal teaching in the years since the former book appeared. ‘The new 
sections are particularly good reading, and the text as a whole has 
gained in vivacity and the interest due to breadth of view combined 
with concrete treatment. The illustrations, while not entirely orig- 
inal, are well selected and well executed. Mr. Bergen has given 
the schools a most serviceable text-book. 
In case the school authorities allot but a half year to botany the 
good sense of the teacher (and school committee) should safe- 
guard the pupil from the only danger which besets him in the case 
of a book so attractive —the danger of being hurried through a 
great number of observations without time for proper compre- 
hension.— L. 
As it is now customary in binding scientific periodicals to include 
the covers, thus making them a permanent part of the volume, we 
shall be glad to furnish a correctly centered cover to replace that 
of our February issue which was by accident badly trimmed. 
1Ginn & Co., Boston, 1901. 
Vol. 3, No. 26, including pages rg to 40, was issued February 1, 1901. 
