THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 63 



bad planting in which the author states his opinions and the 

 reasons therefor. An extensive appendix gives lists of plants for 

 various uses, and many other desirable bits of information. 

 The book sells for $1.10 net. 



One of the most valuable of botanical works that have 

 appeared in a long while is the two volume "Text-book of 

 Botany" issued by Doctors Coulter, Barnes and Cowles of the 

 University of Chicago and published by the American Book 

 Company. The matter is grouped under the three heads of 

 Plant Morphology, Plant Physiology and Plant Ecology and 

 it is apparent that each part was written by the specialist most 

 familiar with that phase of the work though the product 

 stands in the name of the three authors. No attempt is made 

 to give equal space to each subject and as a result the morph- 

 ology by Coulter and the physiology by Barnes occupy the first 

 volume, while the entire second volume is given up to ecology 

 by Cowles. As regards the first volume very little need be 

 said except in commendation of its excellence. The matter is 

 arranged in the recognized sequence, the facts are clearly stated 

 and the illustrations are good and for the most part original. 

 In the part devoted to physiology many new facts are found 

 and this rapidly progressing phase of the science is brought 

 up to date by a master of his specialty who, unfortunately did 

 not live to see this excellent piece of work completed. The 

 second volume, devoted to ecology and written by Dr. Cowles 

 is one of the most stimulating and instructive accounts of the 

 subject that have thus far appeared. The matter which fills 

 nearly five hundred pages is treated of in eight chapters, de- 

 voted to roots, leaves, stems, saprophytism and symbiosis, re- 

 production and dispersal, germination, plant associations and 

 adaptations. The author points out that plant ecology may be 

 considered either from the view-point of morphology and phy- 

 siology or from physiography, and takes up the subject from 

 the first view point as more nearly agreeing with the other 

 parts of the work. He also takes a stand-point unusual to 



