THE PLANT WORLD 235 



Without presenting the details, the extremes of percentages at various 

 depths (3-9 dm) and positions (from dune marsh to the seaward limit of 

 vegetation) are 0.03% (in one instance) to 0.003% on the Atlantic, and 

 0.15% — 0.06% on the Pacific coast. Ordinary cultivated soils of the 

 Eastern United States contain soluble matters in percentages varying 

 between 0.02 — 0.2. The author concludes that the character of sea beach 

 and dune vegetation is xerophytic rather than halophytic, and it is to 

 be compared directly to the corresponding vegetation of the beaches and 

 dunes in inland and lake regions. 



Teachers will read with much profit an excellent essay by Mark 

 Sullivan, on "The Personality of President Eliot," in The Outlook for 

 August 6, 1904. The advance of scientific education in America is 

 attributable in no small degree to the influence of this broad-minded 

 scholar. To study his life and work is necessary to the proper culture 

 and education of the teacher of to-day. 



Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, in the September Ladies' Home Journal, 

 addresses to teachers some pertinent and valuable thoughts and suggestions. 



Book Reviews. 



Carter's Nature Study with Common Things. By M. H. Carter, 

 Department of Elementary Science, New York Training School for 

 Teachers. Cloth, square 12mo., 150 pages, with illustrations. Price, 

 60 cents. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago : American Book 

 Company. 



The object of this book is to teach young pupils how to observe nature, 

 to learn to answer the question ' ' What is it ? " as a preparation for the 

 future question, "Why is it?" The subjects of the lessons are fruits 

 and vegetables which can be readily and economically obtained for study. 

 The lessons are so arranged and of such length that they can be handled 

 each in a single recitation, even in classes where the teacher has had no 

 special training in science. They are planned to set forth what the child 

 can learn for himself in one hour about the subject of the day's study. 

 Each illustration tells a story, and is a model of arrangement and descrip- 

 tion, to be followed by the pupils, who are, however, to make their own 

 drawings direct from the object itself. These lessons have been tested 



