THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 59 



of a popular nature on any branch of Natural History to 

 be had. The best thing the market afforded was that well- 

 known volume, "Wood's Natural History," a British 

 work which he vainly tried to fit to the fauna and flora of 

 Eastern America. Any book from which could have been 

 learned merely the names of the animals and plants in his 

 vicinity would have been hailed with joy. To be sure, even 

 at that date there were various text-books or manuals, 

 but the average boy, without a teacher, stands little 



show of success with text-books. 



* * 

 * 



Looking now at the great array of popular books on 

 every subject from mushrooms to wildflowers, butterflies, 

 birds and trees, it seems impossible that the first of these 

 was iSvSued scarcely more than ten years ago. When once 

 the current set in this direction, however, they appeared 

 in a way that well made up for lost time. Whether an in- 

 terest in Nature has demanded the books, or the publica- 

 tion of so many books has increased the interest in Nature 

 is hard to decide. The principal point is, that never more 

 will the bo3^ or girl who really wants to know, be obliged 



to go without that knowledge. 



* * 

 * 



The spring announcements of various publishers indi- 

 cate that a lull has come in the publishing of Nature 

 books. This, however, need not be taken as an indication 

 that a lull has come in the interest in Nature, nor give 

 grounds for assuming that nature study is a fad. There 

 are those who have "taken up" nature in a patronizing 

 way, who will later turn to other wa3'S of amusing them- 

 selves, but Nature studs- is likely never to go into the de- 

 cline that sooner or later overtakes all fads. The richness 

 that an acquaintance with our surroundings adds to life 

 will be suflScIent reason for the spread of the study. 

 Nature study differs from all things that have been dubbed 

 fads, in that it has for its foundation a desire for useful 

 know^ledge. In such things the American people do not go 

 backward. 



