LITERARY NOTICES. 



419 



different depths ; the value of different 

 methods of manuring and applying ferti- 

 lizers ; and the comparative merits of dif- 

 ferent systems of culture. In connection 

 with this work chemical analyses were made ; 

 experiments were carried on in self- and 

 cross-fertilization ; investigations were made 

 in regard to the best treatment of certain 

 insect enemies and plant-diseases ; the cli- 

 matic conditions were carefully noted ; and 

 the work begun in practical forest-tree cult- 

 ure was extended. The results of the inves- 

 tigations are intelligently and intelligibly 

 described. We regard the document as a 

 good specimen of what such a report shoidd 

 be. 



An Introduction to the Study of the 

 Compounds of Carbon; or, Organic 

 Chemistry. By Ira Remsen, Professor 

 of Chemistry in the Johns Hopkins Uni- 

 versitv. Boston: Ginn, Heath & Co. 

 Pp. 364. Price, $1.30. 



The arrangement of this book is some- 

 what different from that commonly adopted 

 by teachers of organic chemistry. The low- 

 est two members of the paraffin series are 

 first considered, then, in order, their halo- 

 gen, oxygen, sulphur, and nitrogen deriva- 

 tives, and after these any peculiarities of 

 higher paraffins and of their derivatives. 

 Fifty pages are devoted to compounds which 

 are at the same time alcohols and acids or 

 aldehydes, etc. Next some account is given 

 of the series of hydrocarbons homologous 

 with the paraffins, and of their derivatives. 

 The benzene series follows, and the various 

 modifications and combinations of the ring 

 molecule are described. Only the more im- 

 portant compounds in each group, and the 

 more important reactions, receive attention. 

 General directions are given for eighty-two 

 experiments, a fair proportion of which the 

 author advises each student to perform ; 

 for details in regard to analysis, etc., larger 

 works are to be consulted. The author has 

 taken pains to make the student see for 

 himself the reasons for adopting the preva- 

 lent views in regard to the structure of the 

 compounds of carbon, and has aimed to 

 give a general view of the whole field, leav- 

 ing minute descriptions to the chemical dic- 

 tionaries. The book is a welcome addition 

 to the unsatisfactory list of text-books in 

 onranic chemistry. 



A Reprint of Annual Reports and other 

 Papers, on the Geology of the Vir- 

 ginias. By the late William Barton 

 Rogers. New York : D. Appleton & 

 Co. Pp. 832. With Maps. 

 This republication is made in answer to 

 requests by geologists and others for the 

 reports, which have been several years out 

 of print, or very rare. " Of the value of 

 the scientific discoveries, the generalizations, 

 and the descriptions of the geological forma- 

 tions contained in these reports," says the ed- 

 itor, "there can be no better evidence than 

 the frequency with which they are referred 

 to and quoted by all who are engaged in ex- 

 ploring the geology of the Virginias, and 

 the aid they have given to the development 

 of the industrial resources of these States, 

 which they foreshadowed, and in fact often 

 clearly pointed out, at a time when the ge- 

 ology of the State was unexplored." The 

 reports are arranged substantially in the or- 

 der in which they were made, with the pre- 

 liminary correspondence and the arguments 

 addressed to the Legislature for the continu- 

 ance of the appropriations, so that they have 

 an historical as well as scientific value. The 

 author himself desired to condense and codi- 

 fy the reports, and present them with his 

 special map and sections, as a single whole, 

 but time and opportunity never came for 

 doing so. Thus, the editor's work has been 

 simply to revise the reproduction of the origi- 

 nal reports and maps. But a number of pa- 

 pers additional to the reports, relating to 

 the geology of the Virginias, have 'been em- 

 bodied in the volume. 



An Introduction to Practical Chemistry, 

 including Analysis. By John E. Bow- 

 man, F. C. S. Edited by Charles L. 

 Bloxam, F. C. S. Eighth edition. Phila- 

 delphia : P. Blakiston, Son & Co. Pp. 

 248. Price, $2. 



In this manual is laid out a short course 

 of laboratory work, beginning with general 

 chemistry, and including something of both 

 qualitative and quantitative analysis. The 

 book has been made especially for college 

 students who have not studied chemistry, 

 and have time only to gain some familiarity 

 with chemical operations, without devoting 

 much attention to chemical philosophy. The 

 author has avoided the use of complicated 

 or expensive apparatus, and has aimed to 

 give clear and full explanatory details of 



