94 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



Plant Biology" is really an excellent little botanical manual' 

 for the laboratory study of plants mainly from the standpoint 

 of function. It begins as all such manuals should, and few 

 do, with some preliminary studies in common chemical pro-, 

 cesses, and then takes up the subject of beginning botany under 

 such heads as the nutritive organs of plants, reproduction 

 in plants, plant propagation and the like. Throughout the 

 book the study is carried on largely by experiment and the 

 principal criticism of the book must be directed against some 

 of these experiments which appear to be either not of enough 

 importance to warrant their inclusion in such a book or rather 

 more extensive in some points than seems necessary. As in 

 all other manuals tests for fats, starches, proteids and grape 

 sugar are given, but there is none for the often abundant cane 

 sugar. We note, also, that many of the expermients are to 

 "prove" or to "demonstrate" rather than to "discover," though 

 the difference is of much importance. Some of the experi- 

 ments prove altogether too much or perhaps nothing at all. 

 The book should be of great helpfulness to teachers for the 

 reason that the instructions for performing the experiments 

 are clearly given and the experiments, themselves, are so 

 numerous that a selection is readily made. The endeavor to 

 connect the functions of plants with the welfare of man is also 

 commendable. The book is also well illustrated. It is pub- 

 lished by the Macmillan Co. at 75 cents net. 



There is probably a better reason for the general pub- 

 lic to study the trees than other forms of vegetation. The 

 trees are the most permanent of plants. Some that are still 

 green and thrifty were already strong and vigorous trees at 

 the beginning of the Christian era, and there are few of the 

 less enduring that do not outlast the life-time of puny man. 

 When the mature man returns to his boyhood home, the con- 

 stituents of the scene that have changed the least are the trees. 

 Moreover, the trees have an individuality about them that is 



