154 
Taken in its entirety this is certainly an excellent little work. 
It is written in a popular style and is especially adapted to stu- 
dents and teachers of horticulture. 
From the author’s discussion of variation we would gather 
that he is a devout Darwinian. Some of his statements are mis- 
leading, or to state it more clearly, unscientific. For example, to 
speak of “Fortuitous Variation,” or to state that the “inherent 
plasticity of organisms” permits the variation of organisms “ with- 
out any immediate inciting cause,” is certainly unscientific. Like- 
wise the statement “that very many—certainly more than half— 
of the organisms which are born are wholly useless in the struggle 
for life and very soon perish.” The very fact that an organism 
exists is evidence that it cannot be “ useless.” 
In the main the author’s opinions are sound and up to date. 
Many of his conclusions are based upon personal experiments. 
The subject-matter is well arranged. All, whether laymen or 
scientists, will find this book both interesting and instructive. 
Aus: 
Contributions from the U. S. National Herbarium, Volume ITI, 
During the past few months four numbers of this important 
publication of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Division of 
Botany, have been issued. The first of these is: 
“No. 3, issued September 14, 1895. Flora of the Sand Hills 
of Nebraska, by P. A. Rydberg.” 
This number is of more than ordinary importance, as the col- 
lector himself has given us the result of his work and observations 
in the field. Introductory to the “ Catalogue of Species” there are 
fifteen pages devoted to a discussion of the character and resources 
of the country. Here we find that the sand hills, like the sand 
dunes of the coast, are of a changeable and migratory nature, and 
if it were not for certain grasses which bind the sand together the 
wind would be continually changing the face of the country, and 
the ever-drifting sand would: give very little chance for vegetation 
to thrive. 
The region fails naturally into five divisions, each of which 
is described, and the characteristic plants noted. Examples of 
the weeds, native trees and shrubs and native forage plants, are 
listed. From an agricultural point of view the sand hills country 
