THE PLANT WORLD. 



BOOK REVIEWS. 



Plant Structures. A Second Book of Botany. By elohn M. Coul- 

 ter. New York. D. Appleton & Co. 



This is the companion volume to Professor Coii\ter''s I*lant lielat/'ons, 

 notice of which was given in September number of The Plant World. 

 That book it will be recalled was devoted almost exclusively to the 

 ecological side of botany, this being in the judgment of the author 

 the side best adapted for the first contact of the youthful mind with, 

 plants. Recognizing, however, that many teachers may prefer to 

 begin with the mor[)hological standpoint, he has prepared the present 

 volume, in which morphology is the dominant subject, the two books 

 together making a comprehensive and thoroughly satisfactory intro- 

 duction to plant life. A teacher of botany who is properly conver- 

 sant with his subject is never at loss for matter to teach, but certain 

 limitations, as length of time that may be devoted to the study, age 

 and previous preparation of the pupils, etc., constantly come in, and 

 it becomes largely a matter of individual judgment as to just what 

 phase had best ])e taken up. Plant Relations or the present Plant 

 Structures will each prove valuable pathways for introducing the 

 young student to the great kingdom of plants. 



The first twelve chapters ' 'form a connected whole, presenting the 

 general story of the evolution of plants from the lowest to the highest." 

 A few types in each of the groups are selected and their life-history 

 recounted at sufficient length to give the student a fair knowledge of 

 their economy and importance. The author announces that he is op- 

 posed to the use of technical terms, unless absolutely necessary, and 

 when they are employed they are sim})lified as far as possible. Pro- 

 fessor Coulter is a master of English, and his descriptions become as 

 perfect word pictures as it is possible to make. 



The typography of the book is quite up to the standard of its 

 companion volume, and it is well illustrated, many of the figures 

 being new. It the hands of proper teachers it will undoubtedly prove 

 of marked value. — F. H. K. 



