80 THE PI.ANT WORLD 



J. M. Thorburn & Co. have issued their seed catalogue for 1904. 

 This is a brochure of 144 pages, with the contents arranged in alpha- 

 betical order, and contains a great amount of valuable information. 

 Those who are fortunate enough to teach in schools with gardens can 

 not do more wisely than to use this catalogue as a basis of choice of seed. 

 It is certainly the most scientifically arranged and compiled trade pub- 

 lication relating to plants issued in America. 



Book Reviews. 



The Desert Botanical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution. 

 By Frederick V. Coville and Daniel Trembly MacDougal. Publica- 

 tion No. 6, Washington, U. S. A. The Carnegie Institution, Novem- 

 ber, 1903. 58 pp., 29 full-page illustrations, 4 figs. 



A most important account of the deserts of North America has just 

 been issued by the Carnegie Institution under the above title. It is im- 

 possible in a few words to review fully this splendid paper, but we may 

 take occasion to say that teachers who have not enjoyed the experience 

 of seeing desert vegetation for themselves will find in it a most vivid por- 

 trayal of its chief general features. The illustrations are unsurpassed, 

 and would serve admirably to beautify the laboratory wall when properly 

 framed in groups. The educational value of the paper is enhanced by 

 the historical and economic descriptions. Geography teachers, for ex- 

 ample, would find the account, accompanied by figures, of the develop- 

 ment of our geographic knowledge of the deserts very valuable. For 

 the first time an account of the Indians' method of obtaining water from 

 the cactus for drinking is given. This is another work which should find 

 its way to the school reference library. F. E. L. 



The Physiology of Plants. A Treatise upon the Metabolism and 

 Sources of Energy in Plants. By Dr. W. Pfeffer. Second fully re- 

 vised edition, translated and edited by Alfred J. Ewart. With many 

 illustrations. Volume II. Oxford : The Clarendon Press. 

 It is a pleasure to welcome the second volume of Professor Ewart's 

 excellent translation of Pfeffer's scholarly work, corresponding to Theil I 

 Band II of the German edition. This part deals with growth in its va- 

 rious phases ; with the influence of external conditions on growth ; the 

 differentiation of cells and organs ; reproduction, variation and heredity ; 

 and the power of resistance to extremes. 



The book was reviewed in these pages at the time of the appearance 

 of the first volume (see The Plant World 3, 112), and it is only neces- 

 sary to add that the second volume is equally attractive in binding and 

 typography. As the author himself has said, the work is in no sense a 

 text book but a complete presentation of our knowledge of plant physi- 

 ology at the present day. C. L. P. 



